posh

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.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /pɑʃ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /pɒʃ/, IPA^(key): /pəʊʃ/ (humorous or upper-class)

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒʃ

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

1. Associated with the upper classes.

   She talks with a posh accent.

2. Stylish, elegant, exclusive (expensive).

   After the performance, they went out to a very posh restaurant.

3. (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

• 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

• posh wank
• poshen
• poshdom
• poshful
• poshly
• poshness
• posho
• poshy

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

posh (uncountable)

1. fragments produced by an impact
2. slush

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

• posh at OneLook Dictionary Search

• Hosp., OHPs, PHOs, Soph, hops, hosp, phos, shop, soph

posh

1. cat

• push

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

posh

1. dust

• 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