Brewer's: Toby

(the dog), in Punchinello, wears a frill garnished with bells, to frighten away the devil from his master. This is a very old superstition. (See Passing Bell.)

The Chinese and other nations make a great noise at death to scare away evil spirits. “Keening” is probably based on the same superstition.

Toby

The high toby, the high-road, the low toby, the by-road. A highwayman is a “high tobyman;” a mere footpad is a “low tobyman.”

“So we can do a touch now ... as well as you grand gentlemen on the high toby.” —Boldrewood: Robbery under Arms, chap. xxvi.

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