safe
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Trusty, worthy of confidence. A SAFE card is a man who knows "what’s o’clock." A SAFE man among betters is one who is sure to fulfil his engagements.
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 “safe” mean?
Trusty, worthy of confidence. A SAFE card is a man who knows "what’s o’clock." A SAFE man among betters is one who is sure to fulfil his engagements.
Is “safe” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.