subs. (old).1. Anything or anybody out of the common, in opinion, pretension, attire, and so forth: as a prostitute (high-priced and well-dressed); an adventurer (superb in impudence and luck). 2. A dandy, male or female, of the first water. 3. A fast coach.
1690. DRYDEN, Prologue to Mistakes, in Wks., p. 473 (Globe).
Hes no HIGH-FLYERhe makes no sky-rockets, | |
His squibs are only levelled at your pockets. |
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. HIGH-FLYERS, Impudent, Forward, Loose, Light Women. Also, bold adventurers.
1693. CONGREVE, The Old Bachelor, i., 1. Well, as HIGH a FLYER as you are, I have a lure may make you stoop.
1706. R. ESTCOURT, The Fair Example, Act i., p. 10. You may keep company with the HIGHEST FLYER of em all.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.
1818. SCOTT, The Heart of Mid-lothian, i. Mail-coach races against mail-coach, and HIGH-FLYER against HIGH-FLYER, through the most remote districts of Britain.
1821. P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry, v. As you have your HIGHFLYERS at Almacks, at the West End, we have also some choice creatures at our All Max in the East.
1823. BADCOCK (Jon Bee), Dictionary of the Turf, etc., s.v. HIGH-FLYERSwomen of the town, in keeping, who job a coach, or keep a couple of saddle-horses at least.
1830. BULWER-LYTTON, Paul Clifford (Ed. 1854), p. 75. Howsomever, the HIGH-FLYERS doesnt like him; and when he takes peoples money, he need not be quite so cross about it!
1860. DICKENS, The Uncommercial Traveller, xxii. The old room on the ground floor where the passengers of the HIGHFLYER used to dine.
1864. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, i., 5. Mrs. Boffin, Wegg is a IGHFLYER at fashion.
1892. MILLIKEN, Arry Ballads, p. 40. Foller yer leader all who can carry sufficient skyscrapers to keep in the unt, with that IGHFLYER Arry.
4. (thieves).A beggar with a certain style; a begging-letter writer; a broken swell.
185161. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, vol. I., p. 268. While pursuing the course of a HIGH-FLYER (genteel beggar).
1858. A. MAYHEW, Paved with Gold, bk. III., ch. iii., p. 268. He was a HIGH-FLIER, a genteel beggar.
1887. Standard, 20 June, p. 5, c. 2. The pretended noblemen and knights who say they have suffered by war, fire, or captivity, or have been driven away, and lost all they had, are still represented by the HIGH-FLYERS or broken-down gentlemen.
5. (circus).A swing fixed in rows in a frame much in vogue at fairs.