English · Slang Attested

comshaw

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

The practice of pilfering or bartering for surplus items.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

The practice was so common it was no longer considered stealing. It was comshaw. That kind of thinking made the Iran/Contra arms scandal and Watergate okay at the time. It's comshaw when you do it, but it's stealing when you get caught; it's politics when you do it, but it's illegal when you're foun

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “comshaw” mean?

The practice of pilfering or bartering for surplus items.

Is “comshaw” formal or informal?

comshaw is generally slang.

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