High- [or gay-] old (time, game, liar, etc.), adj. phr. (common).—A general intensitive: e.g., high old time = a very merry time indeed; high old liar = a liar of might; high old drunk = an uncommon booze (q.v.).
1883. Referee, 11 Mar., p. 3, c. 2. All the children who have been engaged in the Drury Lane pantomime took tea on the stage, and had a high old time (while it lasted).
1888. J. McCarthy and Mrs. Campbell-Praed, Ladies’ Gallery, ch. xxxv. I went down to Melbourne, intending to have a high old time.
1891. Murray’s Mag., Aug., p. 202. There will be a Want of Confidence Motion, and a high old debate.
1891. J. Newman, Scamping Tricks, p. 7. You are a big fraud and a high old liar.
1892. Milliken, ’Arry Ballads, p. 35. We’d the highest old game.
1892. F. Anstey, Voces Populi, ‘The Riding Class,’ p. 108. We’ve bin having a gay old time in ’ere.
High-pad (or Toby, or High-toby-splice), subs. (old).—1. The highway. Also, high-splice toby. For synonyms, see Drum.
1567. Harman, Caveat, p, 86. Roge, Nowe bynge we a waste to the hygh pad, the ruffmanes is by.
c. 1819. Slang Song (quoted in notes to Don Juan, x., 19). On the high-toby-splice flash the muzzle In spite of each gallows old scout.