Brewer's: Blue-pigeon Flyer

A man who steals the lead off of a house or church. “Bluey” is slang for lead, so called from its colour. To “pigeon” is to gull, cheat, or fub. Hence, blue-pigeon, one who cheats another of his lead, or fubs his lead. “Flyer,” of course, is one who flies off with the stolen lead.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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