surveyor of the highways, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

surveyor of the highways n.

[the drunkard’s frequent falling over]

1. (UK und.) a highwayman.

1725

Life and Glorious Actions of [...] Jonathan Wilde 58: He was now equipt with an able Horse and all Accoutrements necessary for a Gentleman Surveyor of His Majesty’s High Roads.

2. a drunkard.

c.1786		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue ms. additions n.p.: Surveyor of the High Ways. One Reeling Drunk.
1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn).
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.