Wiktionary

posh

See also: Posh

English

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Etymology

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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”) came to refer to money generally.

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

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Adjective

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posh (comparative posher or more posh, superlative poshest or most posh)

  2. Associated with the upper classes.
    She talks with a posh accent.
  4. Stylish; elegant; exclusive; luxurious; expensive.
    Coordinate term: plush
    After the performance, they went out to a very posh restaurant.
  6. (usually offensive, especially in Ireland, Scotland, 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

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  • 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

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Translations

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Interjection

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posh

  1. An exclamation expressing derision.
    • 1889: "The czar! Posh! I slap my fingers--I snap my fingers at him." — Rudyard Kipling, The Man Who Was

Derived terms

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Noun

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posh (countable and uncountable, plural poshes)

  1. (uncountable) fragments produced by an impact
  2. (uncountable) slush
  3. (countable, UK, slang, obsolete) A halfpenny or other coin of little value.
  4. (uncountable, UK, slang, obsolete) Money.

Verb

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posh (third-person singular simple present poshes, present participle poshing, simple past and past participle poshed)

  1. (normally in the phrasal verb posh up) To make posh, or posher.
    Synonym: poshen

References

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  • “posh”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
  • (halfpenny; money): John Camden Hotten (1873) The Slang Dictionary
  1. ^ Slang and its Analogues Past and Present, volume 5 (London, 1902), John S. Farmer and W.E. Henley (editors), page 261
  2. ^ James, Payn (1888) The Eavesdropper: An Unparalleled Experience‎[1], New York: Harper & brothers, page 78
  3. ^ Michael Quinion (1996–2024) “Posh”, in World Wide Words.
  4. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22378819
  5. ^ snopes.com, [2]
  6. ^ Martin, Gary (2011 May 9) POSH‎[3]
  7. ^ Jennings, Ken (2012) The Debunker: Is The Word "Posh" An Acronym?‎[4]

Anagrams

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Maricopa

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Noun

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posh

  1. cat

Romani

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Old Armenian փոշի (pʻoši). Doublet of poshík.

Noun

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posh

  1. dust

References

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  • Ačaṙean, Hračʻeay (1979) “փոշի”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, volume IV, 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
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