posh

Meanings

1. Associated with the upper classes.
2. Stylish; elegant; exclusive; luxurious; expensive.
3. Snobbish, materialistic, prejudiced, under the illusion that one is better than everyone else.

1. An exclamation expressing derision.

1. A halfpenny or other coin of little value.
2. Money.

1. To make posh or posher (more posh).

1. A sudden and heavy fall or gush of rain or water.
2. Fragments produced by an impact.
3. Slush.

1. Peterborough United F.C., a football club from Peterborough, England.

Etymology

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.