or high-toby, or high-toby-splice), subs. (old).—1. The highway. Also, HIGH-SPLICE TOBY. For synonyms, see DRUM.
1567. HARMAN, A Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors, 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. |
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. C. HINDLEY, ed. The Life and 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.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. HIGH PAD, a Highwayman, Highway Robber well Mounted and Armed.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1823. BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Dictionary of the Turf, etc., s.v. HIGH TOBY-GLOAK, a highway robber well mounted.
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, bk. IV., ch. i. Tom King, a noted HIGH-TOBY GLOAK of his time.
1857. Punch, 31 Jan., p. 49, ‘Dear Bill, This Stone-jug.’
| That long over Newgit their Worships may rule, | |
| As the HIGH-TOBY, mob, crack and screeve model-school. |
3. (old).—Highway robbery.
1819. J. H. VAUX, A Vocabulary of the Flash Language. HIGH-TOBY, the game of highway robbery, that is, exclusively on horseback.
