pip emma
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Soldier slang in World War I for P.M. Originally telephonese, as on the phone "twelve pip emma*' cannot be misunderstood, whereas "twelve p.m.** might be. In the same way ack emma stands for A.M.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “pip emma” mean?
Soldier slang in World War I for P.M. Originally telephonese, as on the phone "twelve pip emma*' cannot be misunderstood, whereas "twelve p.m.** might be. In the same way ack emma stands for A.M.
Is “pip emma” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.