Green’s Dictionary of Slang

altitudes n.

In phrases

in one’s altitudes (adj.) (also in the altitudes)

drunk.

1607		Rowlands Diogenes Lanthorne 8: How lookes yonder fellow? what’s the matter with him trow? has a eaten Bul-beefe? there’s a lofty slave indeede, hee’s in the altitudes.
1616		Beaumont & Fletcher Laws of Candy Act II: This woman’s in the altitudes, and he must be A good astrologer.
1629		Jonson New Inn I i: I have talk’d somewhat above my share, At large, and been in the altitudes, the extravagants.
1667		Dryden Sir Martin Mar-all V i: A rare topping Health this: Come, Sir John, now you and I will be in our Altitudes.
1687		C. Sedley Bellamira I i: Did I say such bug-words [...] ’Twas when I was in my Altitudes, what?
c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Altitudes, the Man is in his Altitudes, he is Drunk.
1705		Vanbrugh Confederacy Act V: clar.: Who makes thee cry out thus, poor Brass? brass: Why, your husband, madam; he’s in his altitudes here.
1719		A. Smith Lives of Most Notorious Highway-men, etc. (1926) 201: Altitudes, the man is in his altitudes, that is, he is drunk.
1740		R. North Examen 258: If we would see him in his Altitudes, we must go back to the House of Commons [...] There he cuts and slashes at another Rate.
1770		Gent.’s Mag. 559: To express the condition of an Honest Fellow, and no Flincher, under the Effects of good Fellowship, it is said that he is [...] In his altitudes.
1781		J. Burgoyne Lord of Manor II i: Clarissa Harlow in her altitudes; — what circulating library has supplied you with language and action upon this occasion?
1793		J. Caulfield Blackguardiana.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1859		Matsell Vocabulum.
1862		E. de la Bédollière Londres et les Anglais 312/1: to be in his altitudes, en argot français, être pochard, être paf.
1881		Trumble Sl. Dict. (1890).