1886. Athenæum, 31 July, p. 139. Scores of tracts were issued in the Newgate region, from Giltspur Street to Blowbladder Street, whence numbers of flying stationers drew their supplies long before either of the Catnachs were born.
Flymy. Adj. (streets).—Knowing, fast (q.v.); roguish; sprightly. From Fly (q.v.).
1887. W. E. Henley, Villon’s Good Night. You flymy titters fond of flam.
Fly-my-kite, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A light.
Flymy-mess, to be in a flymy-mess, verb. phr. (military).—To be hungry and have nothing to eat. For synonyms, see peckish.
Fly-slicer, subs. (common).—A cavalry-man: cf., Mudcrusher. French lancers are allumeurs de gaz, their weapons being likened to a lamplighter’s rod. [[47]]
1785. Grose, Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. Fly-slicers: Life-guardmen, from their sitting on horseback, under an arch, where they are frequently observed to drive away flies with their swords.
Fly the Garter, subs. phr. (schoolboys’).—Leap-frog.
1863. G. A. Sala, Breakfast in Bed, Essay VIII., p. 187 (1864). He has very probably been playing fly-the-garter in the gutter instead of waiting his turn at the office.
Fly-trap, subs. (common).—1. The mouth. For synonyms, see Potato trap.