1866. Yates, Land at Last, ii. He's on the high ropes, is Master Charley! Some of you fellows have been lending him half a-crown, or that fool Caniche has bought one of his pictures for seven-and-six!
High-seasoned (or Highly-spiced), adj. (colloquial).—Obscene. For synonyms, see Spicy.
High-(or clouted-) shoon, subs. (old).—A countryman. For synonyms, see Joskin.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s..v.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
High-sniffing, adj. phr. (colloquial).—Pretentious; supercilious; very obviously better than one's company; high-nosed (q.v.).
High-stepper, subs, (common).—An exemplar, male or female, of what is fashionable in conversation, conduct, or attire; a SWELL (q.v.). Also, a person of spirit. Whence, adj., high-stepping (or HIGH-PACING) = conspicuously elegant or gallant in dress, speech, manner, conduct, anything.
1891. Gunter, Miss Nobody of Nowhere, ch. ix. From her actions and style I'm pretty certain she's English and a high-stepper.
High-stomached, adj. (colloquial). —Proud; disdainful; very valiant.
High-strikes, subs, (common).—A corruption of 'hysterics.'
1838. Selby, Jacques Strop, ii., 4. Capital! . . . didn't I do the high-strikes famously.
1860. Miss Wetherell, Say and Seal, ch. vii. She wants you to come. I'm free to confess she's got the high-strikes wonderful.
High-tea, subs. (colloquial).—A tea with meat, etc. In Lancashire Bagging (q.v.).
1888. Sporting Life, 15 Dec. Following run there will be high tea and a grand smoking concert, to which visitors are cordially invited.
HIGH-TI, subs. (American: Williams Coll.).—A showy recitation; at Harvard = a squirt (q.v.).
High-tide (or water) subs. (colloquial).—Rich for the moment; The state of being flush (q.v.). For synonyms, see Well Ballasted.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. High Tide when the Pocket is full of Money.
1725. New Cant. Dict.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1823. Bee, Dict. Turf, s.v. High-tide—plenty of the possibles; whilst 'low-water' implies empty clies.
Up to high-water mark, adv. phr. (colloquial).—In good condition; a general expression of approval.
High-toby. See High Pad.
1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v. Oh! the game of High-Toby for ever
High-toned, adj. (American).—Aristocratic; also, morally and intellectually endowed; spiritually beyond the common. High-souled = cultured; fashionable. High-toned nigger = a negro who has raised himself in social position. [Once literary; now utterly discredited and never used, save in ignorance or derision.] Stokes, the maniac who shot Garfield, described himself as a 'High-Toned Lawyer.'
1884. Phillips Woolley, Trottings of a Tender Foot. I never saw any so-called HIGH-TONED NIGGERS.
