skulker

Agent noun of skulk; one who skulks.

1894, William Taylor Adams (as Oliver Optic), Brother Against Brother, or The War on the Border, Boston: Lee and Shepard, Chapter 22, p. 274, Our men, from their position, can’t see these skulkers, who will have a good chance to pick off some of them at their leisure.

The Lyonesse army cautiously advanced into the forest, but came upon no Daut resistance. Cassander’s dissatisfaction was compounded by the pulsing pain in his shoulder. He began to curse under his breath. “Where are the skulkers? Why do they not reveal themselves?”

Agent noun of skulk; one who skulks.

Afterwards he was again taken by Ethiopian Skulkers, and carry’d away into the Maritime Parts of Ethiopia.

1800, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (translator), The Death of Wallenstein by Friedrich Schiller, Act I, Scene 7, in Wallenstein. A Drama in Two Parts, London: Longman and Rees, p. 24, O that thou hadst believ’d me! Yester evening Did we conjure thee not to let that skulker, That fox, Octavio, pass the gates of Pilsen. Thou gav’st him thy own horses to flee from thee.

Agent noun of skulk; one who skulks.

When we appeared upon deck, the captain bid the doctor, who stood bowing at his right hand, look at these lazy, lubberly sons of bitches, who were good for nothing on board, but to eat the king’s provision, and encourage idleness in the skulkers.

John himself was no skulker in joy. He not only bestowed on Mr. Morland the high commendation of being one of the finest fellows in the world, but swore off many sentences in his praise.