English · Slang Historical

wash

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

"It wont WASH," i.e., will not stand investigation, will not "bear the rub," is not genuine, can’t be believed.

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: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “wash” mean?

"It wont WASH," i.e., will not stand investigation, will not "bear the rub," is not genuine, can’t be believed.

Is “wash” formal or informal?

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

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