pam

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

The knave of clubs at the game of loo; or, in street phraseology, while the "Judicious Bottleholder" was alive, Lord Palmerston.

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 “pam” mean?

The knave of clubs at the game of loo; or, in street phraseology, while the "Judicious Bottleholder" was alive, Lord Palmerston.

Is “pam” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.