a term or relation, importing one thing's being superior or above another: thus we say, a high mountain, the high court of parliament, high relieve, &c.

in Music, is sometimes used in the same sense with loud, and sometimes in the same sense with acute.

HIGH Dutch, is the German tongue in its greatest purity, &c. as spoken in Münster, &c.

HIGH Operation, in chirurgery, is a method of extracting the stone; thus called, because the stone is taken out at the upper part of the bladder. See SURGERY.

HIGH Places, were eminences on which the heathens used to worship their gods, chosen for that purpose as being supposed to be nearer heaven their constant residence. The Jews are frequently blamed for their attachment to high places, after the manner of the Gentiles; though their profecha were frequently upon mountains with groves planted about them. Where high-places are reprobated in scripture, therefore, we should understand them as abused and prostituted to idolatrous purposes. Before the temple was built, there was indeed nothing in the high-places very contrary to the law, provided God only was adored there, and that no incense or victims were offered to idols. Under the judges they seem to have been tolerated; and Samuel offered sacrifices in several places besides the tabernacle, where the ark was not present. Even in David's time, they sacrificed to the Lord at Shilo, Jerusalem, and Gibon; but after the temple was built, and a place prepared for the fixed settlement of the ark, it was no more allowed of to sacrifice out of Jerusalem. Solomon, in the beginning of his reign, went a pilgrimage to Gibon; but from that time we see no lawful sacrifices offered out of the temple.

HIGH Priest. See PONTIFEX and PRIEST.

HIGH Way, a free passage for the king's subjects: on which account it is called the king's high way, though the freehold of the soil belong to the owner of the land. Those ways that lead from one town to another, and such as are drift or cart ways, and are for all travellers in great roads, or that communicate with them, are high ways only; and as to their reparation, are under the care of surveyors.

HIGH-WAY-MEN, are robbers on the high way; for the apprehending and taking of whom, a reward of 40l. is given by the statute of 4 and 5 W. and M. to be paid within a month after conviction by the sheriff of the county; to which the statute 8 Geo. II. cap. 6. superadds 10l. to be paid by the hundred indemnified by such taking.

HIGHHAM FERRERS, an ancient borough of Northamptonshire in England, which has its name from the family of the Ferrers, to whom it formerly belonged, and who had a castle in its neighbourhood. It sends one member to parliament. E. Long. 1. 40. N. Lat. 52. 20.