subs. (colloquial).—1. A telegram. Also as verb.
2. (thieves’).—An expert pickpocket: see THIEF.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, I. 410. He was worth 20l. a week, he said, as a ‘WIRE.’
1862. H. MAYHEW, The Criminal Prisons of London, 46. ‘Buzzers,’ who pick gentlemen’s pockets; ‘WIRES,’ who pick ladies’ pockets.
TO WIRE IN (or AWAY), verb. phr. (common).—To set to with a will, to apply oneself perseveringly and zealously.
1888. SIR HENRY POTTINGER, Elk-Hunting, in The Fortnightly Review, N.S., xliii. 93. In one fashion or another he ‘keeps WIRING AWAY.’
1900. HUME NISBET, In Sheep’s Clothing, 131. She is a fine girl if she is, and I think Mr. Lupus won’t object to me hanging my hat up there. I’ll WIRE IN and convert her first, though.
