1821. Haggart, Life, p. 38. We were principally engaged upon the hoys and coreing.
Verb (thieves’).—1. To practise shop-lifting; to rob by means of the hoist (q.v.).
2. (American).—To run away; to decamp. For synonyms, see Amputate and Skedaddle.
1847. Porter, Quarter Race, etc., p. 174. Jist hist, and take yourself off.
3. (common).—To drink. E.g., Will you hoist? = will you have a liquor?; Hoisting = drinking; On the hoist = on the drunk. Also a hoist in.
To give a hoist, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To do a bad turn.
To have (or do) a hoist in, verb. phr. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms, see Greens and Ride.
Hoister, subs. (old).—1. A shop-lifter; a hoist (q.v., sense 1). Also a pickpocket.
1847–50. J. H. Jesse, London, i., 30. He that could take out a counter without any noise was allowed to be a public hoyster. N.B.—That a hoyster is a pickpocket.
2. (common).—A sot. For synonyms, see Lushington.