commons
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The allowance of anything sent out of the buttery or kitchen. "A COMMONS of bread," or "of cheese," for instance.—University. SHORT COMMONS (derived from the University slang term), a scanty meal, a scarcity.
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.
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Common questions
What does “commons” mean?
The allowance of anything sent out of the buttery or kitchen. "A COMMONS of bread," or "of cheese," for instance.—University. SHORT COMMONS (derived from the University slang term), a scanty meal, a scarcity.
Is “commons” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.
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