1822. Scott, Fort. of Nigel, ch. xxiii. Men talk of high and low dice.
High-nosed, adj. phr. (colloquial). —Very proud in look and in fact; supercilious in bearing and speech; SUPERIOR (q.v.).
High- [or gay-] old (time, game, liar, etc.], adj. phr. (common).—A general intensitive: e.g., high old time = a very merry time indeed; HIGH OLD LIAR = a liar of might; high old drunk = an uncommon booze (q.v.).
1883. Referee, 11 Mar., p. 3, c. 2. All the children who have been engaged in the Drury Lane pantomime took tea on the stage, and had a high old time (while it lasted).
1888. J. McCarthy and Mrs. Campbell-Praed, Ladies' Gallery, ch. xxxv. I went down to Melbourne, intending to have a high old time.
1891. Murray's Mag., Aug., p. 202. There will be a Want of Confidence Motion, and a high old debate.
1891. J. Newman, Scamping Tricks, p. 7. You are a big fraud and a high old liar.
1892. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, p. 35. We'd the highest old game.
1892. F. Anstey, Voces Populi, 'The Riding Class,' p. 108. We've bin having a gay old time in 'ere.
High-pad (or Toby, or High-toby-splice), subs. (old).—1. The highway. Also, high-splice Toby. For synonyms, see Drum.
1567. Harman, Caveat, p, 86. Roge, Nowe bynge we a waste to the hygh pad, the ruffmanes is by.
c. 1819. Slang Song (quoted in notes to Don Juan, x., 19). On the high-toby-splice flash the muzzle In spite of each gallows old scout.
1836. H. M. Milner, Turpin's Ride to York, i., sc. 2. Come, lads a stirrup-cup at parting, and then hurrah for the game of high-toby.
1876. Hindley, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 4. Halting for a few hours at mid-day during the heat in the high spice-toby, as we used to call the main road.
2. (old).—A highwayman. Also, HIGH-TOBYMAN (or -GLOAK). For synonyms, see Road Agent.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. High Pad, a Highwayman, Highway Robber well Mounted and Armed.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1823. Bee, Dict. Turf, s.v. High toby-gloak, a highway robber well mounted.
1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. IV., ch i. Tom King, a noted high-toby gloak of his time.
1857. Punch, 31 Jan. (from slang song). That long over Newgit their Worships may rule, As the High-toby, mob, crack, and screeve model school.
3. (old).—Highway robbery.
1819, Vaux, Cant. Dict. High-toby, the game of highway robbery, that is exclusively on horseback.
High-pooped, adj. (colloquial).—Heavily buttocked.
High-rented, adj. (popular).—1. Hot.
2. (thieves').—Very well known to the police; HOT (q.v.).
High-roller, subs. (American).— A goer (q.v.); a fast liver; a heavy gambler; a highflyer (q.v.).
1887. Francis, Saddle and Moccasin, He's a high-roller, by gum!
High-ropes. To be on the high ropes, verb. phr. (common).—To be angry or excited. Also to put on airs; to stand on one's dignity; to ride the high-horse (q.v.).
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. To be on the high ropes, to be in a passion.
1869. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
