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Language Myth 4 "Port out, starboard home" |
Article Submitted by: Gordon Rich
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
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The true origin of the word 'posh' is unknown, but one appealing (if completely unsubstantiated) theory is that it arose as an acronym for Port Out, Starboard Home, which was supposedly printed on the tickets of passengers on P&O ships between the UK and India during the days of the British Empire. Since both countries are in the northern hemisphere, the port side (the left-hand side when travelling east) would be on the more shaded side of the ship on the way out, while the starboard side would be shadier on the way home. These P.O.S.H. cabins would be the best and most expensive, and allegedly the people who travelled in them were the 'posh' people, hence the term.
However, there are no tickets bearing the initials P.O.S.H. dating from that era and P&O state they have never issued any, although even if this was the origin of the word 'posh', it would not necessarily have been stamped on the tickets. Also, there is evidence the word was used from the 1890s, whereas acronyms were rare before the 1920s. (The word 'acronym' itself was not coined until the 1940s.) Nor is there any reference to 'Port Out, Starboard Home' in any of the many documents and literature from the days of the Raj. One more plausible theory is that 'posh' might be derived from a Romany word for money or coin, which then gave the meaning 'moneyed', but this is also far from certain. However, the ‘Port Out, Starboard Home' theory is widely believed, probably because the associations of the word ‘posh' fit so neatly with our images of the British in India. Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com |
About The Author:
Gordon Rich is a self published author and translation expert. He regularly contributes articles on arabic translation and tape transcription. To know more visit http://www.global-lingo.com/
Gordon Rich is a self published author and translation expert. He regularly contributes articles on arabic translation and tape transcription. To know more visit http://www.global-lingo.com/
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