1891. Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette, 23 Jan. Prince Alexis Soltykoff, who has been flying kites, and getting into trouble thereby, is the only son of Prince Soltykoff, the steward of the Jockey Club.
2. (thieves’).—To go out by the window.
3. (lodging-house).—To evacuate from a window.
4. (colloquial).—To attempt; to set one’s cap at.
1863. H. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, ch. xii. ‘They say that you flew your kite at that girl of George Cecil’s who has married that prig, Lord Mewstone.’
To fly the blue pigeon, verb. phr. (thieves’).—To steal lead from roofs. See Blue-pigeon. Fr., faire la mastar au gras-double, or la faire au mastar.
1785. Grose, Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter. Thieves who fly the blue pigeon, that is, who steal lead off houses, or cut pipes away … cut a hundredweight of lead, which they wrap round their bodies next to the skin. This they call a bible (q.v.), and what they steal and put in their pockets, they call a testament (q.v.).
1887. Judy, 27 April, p. 200. A burglar whose particular lay was flying the blue pigeon, i.e., stealing lead.
To let fly, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To hit out. [From cock-fighting.]