bone
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To steal or appropriate what does not belong to you. BONED, seized, apprehended.—Old.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “bone” mean?
To steal or appropriate what does not belong to you. BONED, seized, apprehended.—Old.
Is “bone” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.