Piper

subs. (common).—1.  A detective: specifically (in England) an omnibus spy: see NARK.

  2.  See PIPE, subs. 1.

  DRUNK AS A PIPER, phr. (old).—Very drunk: also PIPER-FOU: see FOU and SCREWED.

  1772.  R. GRAVES, The Spiritual Quixote, bk. X. ch. xxix. Jerry thought proper to mount the table, and harangue in praise of temperance; and, in short, proceeded so long in recommending sobriety, and in tossing off horns of ale, that he became AS DRUNK AS A PIPER.

  TO PAY THE PIPER (or FIDDLER), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To pay expenses; to assume responsibility. Fr. payer les violons.

  1695.  CONGREVE, Love for Love, ii. I warrant you, if he danced till doomsday, he thought I were TO PAY THE PIPER.

  1749.  SMOLLETT, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 69. We will make Doctor Oloroso PAY THE PIPER.… There is no reason why the forehead of a physician should be smoother than the brow of an apothecary.

  1819.  SCOTT, Ivanhoe, I. 267. ‘I like not that music, father Cedric.’… ‘Nor I either,’ said Wamba, ‘I greatly fear we shall have TO PAY THE PIPER.’

  d. 1868.  BROUGHAM [quoted in Century]. They introduce a new tax, and we shall have TO PAY THE PIPER.

  1881.  CARLYLE, Miscellanies, iv. 89. Negotiation there now was … Dupont de Nemours as daysman between a Colonel and a Marquis, both in high wrath;—Buffière TO PAY THE PIPER!