1892. Sala’s Journal, 2 July, p. 223. High jinks with the telephone have been the order of the day at Warwick Castle; taps and wires have been turned on and off, and floods of melody of various kinds have delighted listening ears.
1893. National Observer, 25 Feb., ix., 357. Time was when there were high jinks in that vast quadrangle.
To be at his high jinks, phr. (common).—To be stilted and arrogant in manner; to ride the high horse (q.v.). Fr., faire sa merde or sa poire.
High-kicker, subs. (colloquial).—Specifically, a dancer whose speciality is the high kick or the porte d’armes; whence, by metaphor, any desperate spreester (q.v.), male or female.
High-kilted, adj. (Scots’).—Obscene or thereabouts; full flavoured (q.v.).
Highland-bail, subs. (Scots’).—The right of the strongest; force majeure.
1816. Scott, Antiquary, ch. xxix. The mute eloquence of the miller and smith, which was vested in their clenched fists, was prepared to give Highland bail for their arbiter.
High-lawyer, subs. (old).—A highwayman. For synonyms, see Road Agent.
1592. John Day, Blind Beggar, p. 21 (Ed. Bullen). He wo’d be your prigger, your prancer, your high-lawyer.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 50 (H. Club’s Rept., 1874). He first gaue termes to robbers by the high-way, that such as robbe on horse-backe were called high lawyers, and those who robbed on foote, he called Padders.