POSH

Posh Victorian Gentleman

WOOD GREEN, LONDON

We were recently informed that “posh,” the ubiquitous British expression for fancy, expensive, upper-class, exclusive, is derived from the acronym for Port Out, Starboard Home.  This was a wonderful revelation.  I loved the fact that it was an acronym and derived from such a Victorian circumstance.  I imagined the 12 and a half day P&O steamer voyages between South Hampton and Bombay through the Suez Canal. Of course the well-heeled passengers knew to book a cabin on the side of the vessel protected from the direct sun so as to maintain their lovely, pasty complexions.  The other side of the vessel would be left for soldiers and servants.

Unfortunately the truth (according to Webster’s) is less romantic.  The Port Out, Starboard Home, posh was popularized in a 1968 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang musical song.  The real etymology is that “posh” is gypsy slang for the half penny.  Not much dough for the posh set! 


Peter