1663–1678. Butler, Hudibras, i., 3. Th’ one half of man, his mind, Is, sui juris, unconfined, And cannot be laid by the heels.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
1886. R. L. Stevenson, Kidnapped, p. 184. If they lay me by the heels, Alan, it’s then that you’ll be needing the money.
To lift one’s heels, verb. phr. (venery).—To lie down for copulation; to spread (q.v.).
To turn (or topple) up the heels (or toes), verb. phr. (old).—To die. For synonyms, see Aloft.
1592. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse [Grosart], ii., 77. Our trust is … you will tourne up their heeles one of these yeares together, and prouide them of such vnthrifts to their heires, as shall spend in one weeke … what they got … all their lifetime.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe. Leaven thousand and fifty people toppled up their heels.
To take to (or show) a pair of heels, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To take to flight; to run away. For synonyms, see Amputate.
1593. Shakspeare, Comedy of Errors. Nay … Sir, I’ll take my heels.
1864. Chambers’ Journal, Dec. Once before he had ‘found meanes yet at length to deceive his keepers, and took him to his heels’ to the sea coast.