High-fly. To be on the high-fly, verb. phr. (thieves’).—Specifically, to practise the begging-letter imposture, but (generally) to tramp the country as a beggar.
1839. Brandon, Poverty, Mendicity, and Crime, 163. The High-fly—beggars, with letters, pretending to be broken-down gentlemen, captains, etc. [[310]]
1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, (3rd ed.), p. 445. Begging letters—the highfly.
Highflyer, subs. (old).—1. Anything or anybody out of the common, in opinion, pretension, attire, and so forth: as a prostitute (high-priced and well-dressed); an adventurer (superb in impudence and luck). 2. A dandy, male or female, of the first water. 3. A fast coach.
1690. Dryden. Prol. to Mistakes in Wks., p. 473 (Globe). He’s no high-flyer—he makes no sky-rockets, His squibs are only levelled at your pockets.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. High-flyers, Impudent, Forward, Loose, Light Women. Also, bold adventurers.
1693. Congreve, Old Bachelor, i., 1. Well, as high a flyer as you are, I have a lure may make you stoop.
1706. R. Estcourt, Fair Example, Act i., p. 10. You may keep company with the highest flyer of ’em all.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, i. Mail-coach races against mail-coach, and high-flyer against high-flyer, through the most remote districts of Britain.