TO BE ON THE HIGH-FLY, verb. phr. (thieves’).—Specifically, to practise the begging-letter imposture, but (generally) to tramp the country as a beggar.
1839. W. A. MILES, Poverty, Mendicity, and Crime, 163. The HIGH-FLY—beggars, with letters, pretending to be broken down gentlemen, captains, etc.
1857. SNOWDEN, Magistrates Assistant (3rd ed.), p. 445. Begging letters—THE HIGHFLY.
