posh
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Unknown.
Most likely derived from Romani posh (“half”), either because posh-kooroona (“half a crown”) (originally a substantial sum of money) was used metaphorically for anything pricey or upper-class, or because posh-houri (“half-penny”) became a general term for money.
A period slang dictionary defines "posh" as a term used by thieves for "money : generic, but specifically, a halfpenny or other small coin".[1] An example is given from James Payn's The Eavesdropper (1888): "They used such funny terms: 'brads,' and 'dibbs,' and 'mopusses,' and 'posh' ... at last it was borne in upon me that they were talking about money."[2]
Evidence exists for a slang sense from the 1890s meaning dandy, which is quite possibly related.[3]
A popular folk etymology holds that the term is an acronym for "port out, starboard home",[4] describing the cooler, north-facing cabins taken by the most aristocratic or rich passengers travelling from Britain to India and back. However, there is no evidence for this claim.[5]
It could also possibly be a clipping of polished.[6][7]
See also the articles mentioned in the References section below for additional discussion.
Pronunciation[edit]
- (General American) IPA(key): /pɑʃ/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /pɒʃ/, IPA(key): /pəʊʃ/ (humorous or upper-class)
Audio (UK) (file) - Rhymes: -ɒʃ
Adjective[edit]
posh (comparative posher or more posh, superlative poshest or most posh)
- Associated with the upper classes.
- She talks with a posh accent.
- Stylish, elegant, exclusive (expensive).
- After the performance, they went out to a very posh restaurant.
- (usually offensive, especially in Scotland and Northern England) Snobbish, materialistic, prejudiced, under the illusion that one is better than everyone else.
- We have a right posh git moving in next door
Quotations[edit]
- 1919: "Well, it ain't one of the classic events. It were run over there." Docker jerked a thumb vaguely in the direction of France. "At a 'Concours Hippique,' which is posh for 'Race Meeting.' — Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 156, June 18, 1919
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
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Interjection[edit]
posh!
- An exclamation expressing derision.
- 1889: "The czar! Posh! I slap my fingers--I snap my fingers at him." — Rudyard Kipling, The Man Who Was
Noun[edit]
posh (uncountable)
Verb[edit]
posh (third-person singular simple present poshes, present participle poshing, simple past and past participle poshed)
References[edit]
- posh at OneLook Dictionary Search
- ^ Slang and its Analogues Past and Present, volume 5 (London, 1902), John S. Farmer and W.E. Henley (editors), page 261
- ^ James, Payn (1888) The Eavesdropper: An Unparalleled Experience[1], New York: Harper & brothers, page 78
- ^ Michael Quinion (1996–2023), “Posh”, in World Wide Words.
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22378819
- ^ snopes.com, [2]
- ^ Martin, Gary (May 09, 2011) POSH[3]
- ^ Jennings, Ken (2012) The Debunker: Is The Word "Posh" An Acronym?[4]
Anagrams[edit]
Maricopa[edit]
Noun[edit]
posh
Romani[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Old Armenian փոշի (pʿoši). Doublet of poshík.
Noun[edit]
posh
References[edit]
- Ačaṙean, Hračʿeay (1979), “փոշի”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), volume IV, 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, Yerevan: University Press, page 517a
- Vaillant, Jean-Alexandre (1868), “pos'”, in Grammaire, dialogues et vocabulaire de la langue des Bohémiens ou Cigains (in French), Paris: Maisonneuve, page 123a
- English terms with unknown etymologies
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