v. slang. [Of obscure origin.] trans. To bring to an end, stop, desist from (a matter, a practice); to quit (a place). Often imp. stash it! stash that! † To stash the glim: to cease using the light. To stash up: to bring to an abrupt end.
1811. Lex. Balatr., s.v., The cove tipped the prosecutor fifty quid to stash the business.
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v., Thus a thief determined to leave off his vicious courses will declare that he means to stash (or stow) prigging…. To stash drinking, card-playing, or any other employment you may be engaged in for the time present. Ibid., Stash it: see Stow it.
1823. ‘Jon Bee,’ Dict. Turf, s.v., ‘Stash the glim,’ to put out lights, or to place an extinguisher on the candle.
1889. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Robbery under Arms (1890), 99. The rest of us … as they was sold, stashed the camp and cleared out different ways.
1903. W. Craig, Adv. Austral. Goldfields, 229. She is requested to ‘stash’ tragedy and give them comedy.
1909. H. G. Wells, Tono-Bungay, III. iv. § 2. 395. She brought her [piano] playing to an end by—as schoolboys say—‘stashing it up.’
