put

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

A game at cards, once fashionable, but now played among thieves and costermongers only.

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 “put” mean?

A game at cards, once fashionable, but now played among thieves and costermongers only.

Is “put” formal or informal?

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