English · Slang Historical

teeth

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

"he has cut his eye TEETH," i.e., is old and ’cute enough.

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: Teeth Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “teeth” mean?

"he has cut his eye TEETH," i.e., is old and ’cute enough.

Is “teeth” formal or informal?

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

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