ORIGIN OF A WORD
The expression "posh" had its origin in the first years of the steamer traffic through the Suez Canal. In those early days the shippjng companies who catered for passengers used to charge for accommodation at rates which varied according to the location and size of the cabins—a practice which, of course, still continues. In the trade to the East through the Suez Canal the practice grew up of charging a premium on the outward passage for cabins on the port side of the steamer; on the homeward passage the premium was charged for cabins on the starboard side—the reason being that this selection gave passengers the coolest location on the slpps on both the outward and homeward runs. Passengers who desired the best and were prepared to pay for it, specified ''Port out, Starboard home"—.this was noted by the shipping cjerks as eventually the word "posh" came into use as signifying the "best" or belonging to the rich.
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Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 123, 27 May 1942, Page 6
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162ORIGIN OF A WORD Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 123, 27 May 1942, Page 6
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