[Ads-l] Earlier Instance of Etymological Myth for "Posh"

[Laurence Horn]

On a closer examination of the historical record, it turns out that no
moment of silence is needed. We can fondly remember Michael's World Wide
Words site, no longer operative, and his participation in ADS-L, but he
himself is alive and, as far as I know, well.

Thanks for the correction, Ben.  As often, if not always, it's nice to be
proved wrong.  This is a variety of etymythologizing I'd rather not pursue.


LH

On Mon, Mar 28, 2022 at 11:22 AM Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at yale.edu>
wrote:

> Yes, thanks--this was one of my initial motivations for "etymythology",
> along with those other faux acronyms (including the 2+ versions of
> F.U.C.K.). And now let us observe a moment of silence to remember our
> colleague Michael Quinion:
> https://www.amazon.com/Port-Out-Starboard-Home-Language/dp/0140515348
>
> LH
>
> LH
>
> On Mon, Mar 28, 2022 at 5:18 AM ADSGarson O'Toole <
> adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Excellent citations for a fun topic. Thanks for sharing, Bonnie.
>> Garson
>>
>> On Sun, Mar 27, 2022 at 5:18 PM Bonnie Taylor-Blake
>> <b.taylorblake at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > In 2011 Fred and Garson discussed the earliest sightings of the origin
>> of
>> > "posh" as deriving from "Port Out, Starboard Home." See far below.
>> >
>> > Here are some appearances of this explanation from August 1932 and
>> February
>> > 1933, presumably now only available because of further digitization of
>> > British newspapers since that conversation took place. Nothing really
>> new
>> > here, though. (Hmm, or has someone already reported these?)
>> >
>> > -- Bonnie
>> >
>> > -------------------------------
>> >
>> > Dr. B.W. Ginsberg, the barrister, who is off next month on a visit to
>> > India, told me yesterday that "posh" was coined by P. and O. travellers.
>> >
>> > Going out the cabins on the port side afford the best shelter from the
>> sun.
>> > On the homeward-bound ships the starboard cabins are the most sought.
>> >
>> > Hence "Port Out, Starboard Home,"
>> > Hence "posh."
>> >
>> > [In "The Diary of a Man about Town," by Quex, News Chronicle (London), 5
>> > August 1932, p. 6. Via britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.]
>> >
>> > -------------------------------
>> >
>> > Experienced travellers between England and India long ago discovered
>> that
>> > on the outward voyage the port-side cabins were best protected from the
>> > heat of the sun and that the starboard cabins were cooler when homeward
>> > bound.
>> >
>> > Thus, they had a saying: "Port out, starboard home," and it is probable
>> > that the initials of these words are the origin of the slang term "posh"
>> > for anything that is specially comfortable or select.
>> >
>> > [From "Port and Starboard," The Burton (Staffordshire) Observer and
>> > Chronicle, 2 February 1933, p. 3. Via britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk.]
>> >
>> >
>> > On Mon, Sep 12, 2011 at 7:40 AM Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at yale.edu>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>> > > -----------------------
>> > > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>> > > Poster:       "Shapiro, Fred" <fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU>
>> > > Subject:      Earlier Instance of Etymological Myth for "Posh"
>> > >
>> > >
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> > >
>> > > I have discovered a pre-1935 occurrence of the "Port Out Starboard
>> Home"
>> > > etymology.  The Times of India refers to this etymology as the
>> probable one
>> > > in a children's column in its April 14, 1933 issue (page 23).
>> > >
>> > > Fred Shapiro
>> > > Editor
>> > > YALE BOOK OF QUOTATIONS (Yale University Press)
>>
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>> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>
>

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