or cligh, cly, verb (old).—To steal. For synonyms, see PRIG. An old Gloucestershire vulgarism for the hands is CLEES.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, p. 8 [Hunterian Club’s Reprint, 1874]. They are sure to be CLYD in the night by the angler, or hooker, or such like pilferers that liue upon the spoyle of other poore people.
1622. HEAD and KIRKMAN, Canting Song, in English Rogue.
| I met a Dell, I viewed her well, | |
| She was benship to my watch; | |
| So she and I did stall and CLOY, | |
| Whatever we could catch. |
1671. R. HEAD, The English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874). CLOY: to steal.
1706. E. COLES, English Dictionary. CLOY, c. Steal.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. To CLOY the clout; to steal the handkerchief. To CLOY the lour; to steal money.
1811. GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
