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

[Laurence Horn]

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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>

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