Verb. (old).—1. To steal; to convey (q.v.); specifically to steal
cattle and horses.
1591. Greene, Second Part Conny-catching [Grosart, vol. x. p. 118].
Some base roges that lift when they come into Alehouses quart
potts, platters ... or any such paltrie trash, which commonly is
called pilfering.
1600. Jonson, Cynthia’s Revels, i. 1. One other peculiar virtue you
possess in lifting, or leiger-du-main.
1817. Scott, Rob. Roy, xxvi. Live by stealing, reiving, lifting
cows.
1852. Judson, Mysteries etc. of New York, iii. ch. 7, p. 47. Well,
old gal, wot’s the swag! Wot ’ave you lifted.
1863. Fun, iv. 34. Mosstroopers bold did horses lift at some fierce
Baron’s order.
1883. G. A. Sala, in Ill. L. News, Nov. 24, p. 499, col. 1.
‘Paley’s Natural Theology’ is, from beginning to end, based on the
lines of the Dutchman, whose very language has, in many instances,
been coolly lifted by the English Church dignitary.
1890. Pall Mall Gazette, 19 April, p. 6, col. 1. The pushing and
struggling of all this miscellaneous mass at bushy parts of the
road, where it got mixed up with the eighty head of cattle which
Mr. Stanley had lifted.
1892. Kipling, Barrack Room Ballads, ‘The Lament of The Border
Cattle Thief.’ And heaved me into the central jail For lifting of
the kine.