Brewer's: Buck-rider

(A). A dummy fare who enables a cabman to pass police-constables who prevent empty cabs loitering at places where cabs will be likely to be required, as at theatres, music-halls, and large hotels. A cabman who wants to get at such a place under hope of picking up a fare gives a “buck” a shilling to get into his cab that he may seem to have a fare, and so pass the police.

“Constables are stationed at certain points to spot the professional `buck-riders.' ” —Nineteenth Century (March, 1893, p. 576).

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