or pouch up, verb. (colloquial).—1. To pocket.
1567. EDWARDS, Damon and Pithias [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, iv. 40]. [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 565. In p. 40 stands TO POUCH UP money (for his own use); in our time a liberal friend POUCHES schoolboys.]
1635. QUARLES, Emblems, i. 9. Come, bring your saint POUCH’D in his leathern shrine.
1821. SCOTT, The Pirate, vi. And for the value of the gowden piece, it shall never be said I POUCHED her siller.
1881. Scientific American, 55. They [the letters] have next to be ‘POUCHED.’
1886–96. MARSHALL, ‘Pomes’ from the Pink ’Un [‘Parkey’], 90. He POUCHED the change.
1889. Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette, 4 Jan. Two hundred solid quids he POUCHED, And then he slid.
2. (common).—To eat.
1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 49. Fancy POUCHING your prog on a terrace.
3. (common).—To tip; to provide with money.
1864. B. HEMYNG, Eton School Days, i. 4. “Did your governor POUCH you,” asked Purefoy, as they were going towards the Station. “Yes,” replied Butler Burke, “and so did the mater.”
