fly-pitch

English

fly-pitch (third-person singular simple present fly-pitches, present participle fly-pitching, simple past and past participle fly-pitched)

To sell goods on the street without a vendor's licence, usually from a small suitcase, wooden crate, etc., ready to depart hurriedly if the authorities arrive.
- 1990, Anna King, Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries, →ISBN, page 10:
  “Oh, come on, Tiny”, the trader from the fruit stall said lightly trying to ease the tension, “we all started that way. I ’ad to fly pitch for months before I got me license.”
- 2011, Jessie Keane, The Make, →ISBN, page 104:
  He didn’t want involvement with the filth if he could avoid it, anyway; he’d done dodgy deals around town a few times, fly-pitching and ripping off a few tourists, minor stuff, but it was best to keep a low profile.

A temporary location on the street from which goods are sold.
- 1939, J.B. Priestly, Let the People Sing, page 217:
  “Bin workin’ a fly pitch in the Sat’day gaff,” said Micky Barnet.
- 2012, Jean Fullerton, Hold on to Hope, →ISBN, page 25:
  The road was packed with wagons and people going about their mid-morning business. Delivery carts piled high with furniture, hay and crates negotiated their way between the fly-pitch barrows selling the early catch from Billingsgate market half a mile away.