subs. (thieves’).—1. Money: generic, but specifically, a halfpenny or other small coin: see RHINO.
1888. PAYN, The Eavesdropper, II. ii. They used such funny terms: ‘brads,’ and ‘dibbs,’ and ‘mopuses,’ and ‘POSH,’ and ‘stumpy.’ … But at last it was borne in upon me that they were talking about money.
1891. Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, 4 April. I am authorized by the executive council … to send you an invitation … to take care of the POSH.
1893. P. H. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, xx. She’d always get some POSH from them.
2. (society).—A dandy.
