[Ads-l] Earliest Known Occurrence of Etymythology of "Posh"

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Excellent citation, Fred. Below are additional details for other list
members. The British Newspaper Archive database specifies the
newspaper name "Daily News", but the front page identifies the
newspaper as "News Chronicle".

Date: August 5, 1932
Newspaper: News Chronicle
Newspaper Location: London, England
Article: The Diary of A Man About Town
Author: Quex
Quote Page 6, Column 4
Database: British Newspaper Archive

[Begin excerpt - double check for typos]
What "Posh" Means

I used the word "posh" in the sense of "select," "swagger," "up to the nines."

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."
[End excerpt]

Here is another match in August 1932. The text seems to be derived
from the citation above.

Date: August 20, 1932
Newspaper: Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore)
Newspaper Location: Lahore, Pakistan
Article: By The Way
Quote Page 3, Column 4
Database: British Newspaper Archive

[Begin excerpt - double check for typos]
THE MEANING OF "POSH"
"Posh" is an inelegant word but one which, nevertheless, has a wealth
of meaning. The expression, is, of course, vulgar in the extreme, but
it seems that India is to a degree responsible for its entry into the
English language.

Dr. B. W. Ginsberg, the barrister, who is shortly visiting this
country, maintains that "posh" was coined by P. and O. travellers. On
the journey to India 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 the dictum: "Port Out, Starboard Home," and
the subsequent birth of "Posh."
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 6:12 PM Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at yale.edu> wrote:
>
> I have previously posted about the earliest known occurrence of the "port out starboard home" etymythology for the word "posh" in 1933.  I see an earlier occurrence in the Daily News (London), 5 Aug. 1932, page 6 (British Newspaper Archive).
>
> Fred Shapiro
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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