English · Slang Historical

push

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

A robbery or swindle. "I’m in this PUSH," the notice given by one magsman to another that he means to "stand in."

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.

Topics: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “push” mean?

A robbery or swindle. "I’m in this PUSH," the notice given by one magsman to another that he means to "stand in."

Is “push” formal or informal?

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

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