posh

posh
posh 1914, of uncertain origin; no evidence for the common derivation from an acronym of port outward, starboard home, supposedly the shipboard accommodations of wealthy British traveling to India on the P & O Lines (to keep their cabins out of the sun); see objections outlined in G. Chowdharay-Best, "Mariner's Mirror," Jan. 1971. More likely from slang posh "a dandy" (1890), from thieves' slang meaning "money" (1830), originally "coin of small value, halfpenny," possibly from Romany posh "half."
The cavalryman, far more than the infantryman, makes a point of wearing "posh" clothing on every possible occasion -- "posh" being a term used to designate superior clothing, or articles of attire other than those issued by and strictly conforming to the regulations. [E. Charles Vivian, "The British Army From Within," London, 1914]

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Posh — may refer to: * the adjective meaning either 1. Associated with the upper classes, or 2. Stylish, elegant, exclusive *Posh (album), an album by R B singer Patrice Rushen *Posh (TV series), a planned NBC series *Posh (Unix), a Policy compliant… …   Wikipedia

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  • posh — informal ► ADJECTIVE 1) elegant or stylishly luxurious. 2) chiefly Brit. upper class. ► ADVERB Brit. ▪ in an upper class way. ► VERB (posh up) Brit. ▪ smarten (something) up. DERIVATIVES …   English terms dictionary

  • Posh! — is an up tempo song and musical number from the popular 1968 Albert R. Broccoli motion picture, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It is written by the songwriting team of Sherman Sherman. It makes reference to the myth that the word posh is an acronym for …   Wikipedia

  • posh — [ paʃ ] adjective INFORMAL something that is posh looks expensive and attractive: a posh home/hotel/restaurant …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • posh — [päsh] adj. [prob. < obs. Brit slang posh, earlier push, poosh, a dandy < ?] Informal luxurious and fashionable; elegant poshly adv. poshness n …   English World dictionary

  • posh — [adj] luxurious, upper class chic, classy, deluxe, elegant, exclusive, fashionable, grand, high class, la di da*, luxury, modish*, opulent, rich, ritzy*, smart, swank, swanky*, swish*, trendy; concepts 334,589 Ant. destitute, lower class, poor …   New thesaurus

  • posh — [[t]pɒ̱ʃ[/t]] posher, poshest 1) ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n If you describe something as posh, you mean that it is smart, fashionable, and expensive. [INFORMAL] Celebrating a promotion, I took her to a posh hotel for a cocktail. ...a posh car. ...a… …   English dictionary

  • posh — I UK [pɒʃ] / US [pɑʃ] adjective Word forms posh : adjective posh comparative posher superlative poshest informal 1) something that is posh looks expensive and attractive a posh home/hotel/restaurant 2) British someone who is posh talks or behaves …   English dictionary

  • posh — posh1 [pɔʃ US pa:ʃ] adj informal [Date: 1900 2000; Origin: Perhaps from posh money, showy man (19 20 centuries)] 1.) a posh restaurant, hotel, car etc is expensive and looks as if it is used or owned by rich people ▪ a posh private school 2.) BrE …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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