1879. Sala, Paris Herself Again, i. We cooled our heels during the ordinary an intolerable half hour.
1888. Lynch, Mountain Mystery, ch. xlvi. That young gentleman, who had been cooling his heels for what seemed like half the night.
To lay by the heels, verb. phr. (common).—To confine; to fetter; to jail.
1601. Shakspeare, Henry VIII., v., 4. If the king blame me for it, I'll lay ye all By the heels, and suddenly.
1614. Jonson, Bartholomew Fair, iii. Sir, if you be not quiet the quicklier, Ill have you clapp'd fairly by the heels, for disturbing the Fair.
1663-1678. Butler, Hudibras, i., 3. Th' one half of man, his mind, Is, sui juris, unconfined, And cannot be laid by the heels.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1886. R. L. Stevenson, Kidnapped, p. 184. If they lay me by the heels, Alan, it's then that you'll be needing the money.
To lift one's heels, verb. phr. (venery).—To lie down for copulation; to spread (q.v.).
To turn (or topple) up the heels (or toes), verb. phr. (old).—To die. For synonyms, see Aloft.
1592. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse [Grosart], ii., 77. Our trust is . . . you will tourne up their heeles one of these yeares together, and prouide them of such vnthrifts to their heires, as shall spend in one weeke . . . what they got . . . all their lifetime.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe. Leaven thousand and fifty people toppled up their heels.
To take to (or show) a pair of heels, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To take to flight; to run away. For synonyms, see Amputate.
1593. Shakspeare, Comedy of Errors. Nay . . . Sir, I'll take my heels.
1864. Chambers' Journal, Dec. Once before he had 'found meanes yet at length to deceive his keepers, and took him to his heels' to the sea coast.
His heels, verb. phr. (gaming).—The knave of trumps at cribbage or all-fours. Hence 'two for his heels' = two points scored (at cribbage) for turning up this card.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
To tread upon (or to be at or upon) the heels, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To follow close or hard after; to pursue.
1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, iv., 7. One woe doth tread upon another's heels.
To go heels over head, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To turn a somersault; to be hasty; to fall violently. Also Top over Tail.
1540. Lyndsay, Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis, 3744. This fals warld is turnit top ouir taill.
To have (or get) the heels of, verb. phr. (old).—To outrun; to get an advantage.
1748. Smollett, Roderick Random. Thou hast got the heels of me already.
Down (or out) at heel, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Slipshod; shabby; in decay.
1605. Shakspeare, King Lear, ii., 2. A good man's future may grow out at heels.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1851-6. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, iii., 122. He was a little down at heel.
Heeled, adj. (American).—Armed.
[From the steel spur used in cock-fighting.]
Heeler, subs. (American).—1.
Followers or henchmen of a
politician or a party.
1888. Denver Republican, 29 Feb. The heelers and strikers, bummers and stuffers, otherwise known as practical
