2. (old).—To rob: has survived, in Shropshire, as a provincialism. The heler (hider) is as bad as the heaver = the receiver is as bad as the thief.
1567. Harman, Caveat, p. 66. To heue a bough, to robbe or rifle a boweth.
1575. Awdeley, Fraternitye of Vacabondes. But hys chiefest trade is to rob bowthes in a faire, or to pilfer ware from staules, which they cal heaving of the bowth.
1608. Dekker, Belman of London in Wks. (Grosart) III., 102. But the end of their land-voiages is to rob Boothes at fayres, which they call Heaving of the Booth.
1671. R. Head, English Rogue, Pt. I., ch. xlv. p. 319 (1874). I met with an old comrade that had lately heav’d a booth, Anglice broken open a Shop.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Heave a bough. To rob a house.
1724. Coles, Eng. Dict., s.v.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary, (5th Ed.). Heave (v.) … and in the Canting Language, it is to rob or steal from any person or thing.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.