subs. (old).—A shoplifter; also a confederate hoisting or helping a thief to reach an open window. THE HOIST = shoplifting. TO GO UPON THE HOIST = to enter a house by an open window.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. HOIST. This is done by the assistance of a confederate, called THE HOIST, who leans his head against the wall, making his back a kind of step or ascent.
1819. J. H. VAUX, A Vocabulary of the Flash Language. HOIST, the game of shop-lifting is called THE HOIST; a person expert at this practice is said to be a good hoist.
1821. D. HAGGART, Life, p. 38. We were principally engaged UPON THE HOYS and coreing.
Verb (thieves’).—1. To practise shop-lifting; to rob by means of THE HOIST (q.v.).
1847. W. T. PORTER, ed., A Quarter Race in Kentucky, etc., p. 174. Jist HIST, and take yourself off.
3. (common).—To drink. E.g., Will you HOIST? = will you have a liquor?; HOISTING = drinking; ON THE HOIST = on the drunk. Also a HOIST IN.
TO GIVE A HOIST, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To do a bad turn.
