1780. Ramsay, Maggy Johnston, i., 25. The queff or cup is filled to the brim, then one of the company takes a pair of dice, and after crying Hy-jinks, he throws them out; the number he casts out points out the person that must drink; he who threw beginning at himself number one, and so round till the number of the person agree with that of the dice (which may fall upon himself if the number be within twelve); then he sets the dice to him, or bids him take them; he on whom they fall is obliged to drink, or pay a small forfeiture in money, then throws, and so on. But if he forgets to cry ‘Hy-jinks’ he pays a forfeiture into the bank. Now, he on whom it falls to drink (if there be anything in the bank worth drawing) gets it all if he drinks; then with a great deal of caution he empties his cup, sweeps up the money, and orders the cup to be filled again, and then throws; for if he errs in the articles he loses the privilege of drawing the money. The articles are—(1) Drink, (2) Draw, (3) Fill, (4) Cry ‘Hy-jinks,’ (5) Count just, (6) Chuse your doublet, man—viz., when two equal numbers of the dice is thrown, the person whom you chuse must pay a double of the common forfeiture, and so must you when the dice is in his hand (sic).
1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxxvi. The frolicsome company had begun to practise the ancient and now forgotten pastime of high jinks.
1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, lv. He had made an engagement to drive Lord Saltire, the next morning, up to Wargrave in a pony-chaise, to look at Barrymore House, and the place where the theatre stood, and where the game of high jinks had been played so bravely fifty years before.
2. See quot., and cf. sense 1.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue. A gambler at dice, who, having a strong head, drinks to intoxicate his adversary, or pigeon. Under this head are also classed [[312]]those fellows who keep little goes, take in insurances; also, attendants at the races, and at the E O tables; chaps always on the look out to rob unwary countrymen at cards, etc.
3. (common).—A frolic; a row. [From sense 1.]
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, i. All sorts of high jinks go on on the grass plot.
1872. Daily Telegraph, 13 Sept. ‘Filey the Retired.’ Frisky Filey cannot assuredly be called. There are no high jinks on her jetty; and, besides, she hasn’t got a jetty, only a ‘Brigg.’
1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 24 July, 4, 2. Yesterday and to-day there have been high jinks in Petworth Park, rich and poor for miles round being invited, and right royally feasted on the coming of age of Lord and Lady Leconfield’s eldest son.
1891. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 3 Apr. While Bank Holiday was being celebrated with such éclat at Kempton, they were carrying on high jinks over hurdles and fences at Manchester.