pope
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A figure burned annually every fifth of November, in memory of the gunpowder plot, which is said to have been carried on by the papists.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “pope” mean?
A figure burned annually every fifth of November, in memory of the gunpowder plot, which is said to have been carried on by the papists.
Is “pope” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.