1836. H. M. Milner, Turpin’s Ride to York, i., sc. 2. Come, lads a stirrup-cup at parting, and then hurrah for the game of high-toby.
1876. Hindley, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 4. Halting for a few hours at mid-day during the heat in the high spice-toby, as we used to call the main road.
2. (old).—A highwayman. Also, high-tobyman (or -gloak). For synonyms, see Road Agent.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. High Pad, a Highwayman, Highway Robber well Mounted and Armed.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1823. Bee, Dict. Turf, s.v. High toby-gloak, a highway robber well mounted.
1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. IV., ch i. Tom King, a noted high-toby gloak of his time.
1857. Punch, 31 Jan. (from slang song). That long over Newgit their Worships may rule, As the High-toby, mob, crack, and screeve model school.
3. (old).—Highway robbery.
1819, Vaux, Cant. Dict. High-toby, the game of highway robbery, that is exclusively on horseback.