posh

== English == === Etymology 1 === 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". 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." Evidence exists for a slang sense from the 1890s meaning dandy, which is quite possibly related. A popular folk etymology holds that the term is an acronym for "port out, starboard home", 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. It could also possibly be a clipping of polished. See also the articles mentioned in the References section below for additional discussion. ==== Pronunciation ==== (General American) IPA(key): /pɑʃ/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /pɒʃ/, IPA(key): /pəʊʃ/ (humorous or upper-class) Rhymes: -ɒʃ ==== Adjective ==== posh (comparative posher or more posh, superlative poshest or most posh) Associated with the upper classes. Synonym: upper-crust Stylish; elegant; exclusive; luxurious; expensive. Synonym: high-end Near-synonym: plush (usually offensive, especially in Ireland, Scotland, Northern England) Snobbish, materialistic, prejudiced, under the illusion that one is better than everyone else. Synonym: stuck-up ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Interjection ==== posh An exclamation expressing derision. ===== Derived terms ===== pish posh ==== Noun ==== posh (countable and uncountable, plural poshes) (countable, UK, slang, obsolete) A halfpenny or other coin of little value. (uncountable, UK, slang, obsolete) Money. ==== Verb ==== posh (third-person singular simple present poshes, present participle poshing, simple past and past participle poshed) (normally in the phrasal verb posh up) To make posh or posher (more posh). Synonym: poshen ==== References ==== “posh”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. (halfpenny; money): John Camden Hotten (1873), The Slang Dictionary === Etymology 2 === Compare pash (“smash, bash; of rain: fall heavily”). ==== Noun ==== posh (countable and uncountable, plural poshes) (chiefly dialectal) A sudden and heavy fall or gush of rain or water. 1897 March 6, Leamington Courier, quoted in the EDD: Did yer see what a posh the water came down the bruck ater the thaw, and no wonder the snow was a fut deep. (uncountable) Fragments produced by an impact. (uncountable) Slush. === Anagrams === Hosp., OHPs, PHOs, Soph, hops, hosp, phos, shop, soph == Maricopa == === Noun === posh cat == Mojave == === Alternative forms === poosh === Etymology === Borrowed from English puss. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /poʂ/ === Noun === posh cat Poshnych valytaym. ― The cat is big. === References === A Mojave Dictionary Languages of hunter-gatherers and their neighbors == Romani == === Alternative forms === push === Etymology === From Old Armenian փոշի (pʻoši). Doublet of poshík. === Noun === posh dust === References === 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