satin
Preserved but no longer current.
Gin; "a yard of SATIN," a glass of gin. Term used by females on make-believe errands, when the real object of their departure from home is to replenish the private bottle. With servants the words "tape" and "ribbon" are more common, the purchase of these feminine requirements being the general excuse for asking to "run out for a little while." See WHITE SATIN.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
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 “satin” mean?
Gin; "a yard of SATIN," a glass of gin. Term used by females on make-believe errands, when the real object of their departure from home is to replenish the private bottle. With servants the words "tape" and "ribbon" are more common, the purchase of these feminine requirements being the general excuse for asking to "run out for a little while." See WHITE SATIN.
Is “satin” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.