sea-lawyer

sea-lawyer (plural sea-lawyers)

1. Alternative form of sea lawyer
   • 1857, Household Words: A Weekly Journal - Volume, page 48:

     The learned Jesuit, Joseph Acosta, had certain experiences of sharks, or tiburons, Which do no discredit to the name of those hungry sea-lawyers. "I did wonder," he says, "at the incredible ravening of the tiburons or sharks, whenas I did see drawne from one, out of his gullet, a butcher's great knife, a great iron hooke, and a piece of a cowe's head with one whole horne, neither doe I know if both were there or no..."

   • 1878, Clara L. Matéaux, Odd Folks at Home, page 161:

     Shall I tell you how a Shark was once caught ? " It was THE DOG-FISH SHARK. a hot day, and I was strolling on deck, when suddenly one of the officers called me, and pointed out a dark, razor-like fin cutting its slow but steady way through the blue waters that circled our ship. " ' What's that ?' I asked, wonderingly. " ' Don't you know a sea-lawyer yet, sir ?' " ' Sea-lawyer ! Oh, you mean a Shark ; is that one ? ' "

   • 1893, Robert Bruce, Echoes from Coondambo, page 41:

     Where greedily sea-lawyers roam, And Neptune used to be at home, With barber rude and Triton ; Where sudden squalls with noisy wrath, Like bullies cross the vessel's path, Poor Jack to vent their spite on.