my tulip
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A term of endearment used by the lower orders to persons and animals; "‘Kim up, MY TULIP,’ as the coster said to his donkey when thrashing him with an ash stick."
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 “my tulip” mean?
A term of endearment used by the lower orders to persons and animals; "‘Kim up, MY TULIP,’ as the coster said to his donkey when thrashing him with an ash stick."
Is “my tulip” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.