shapes
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
"to cut up" or "show SHAPES," to exhibit pranks, or flightiness.
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 “shapes” mean?
"to cut up" or "show SHAPES," to exhibit pranks, or flightiness.
Is “shapes” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.