Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0000820, Sun, 12 Nov 1995 10:05:53 -0800

Subject
Re: poshlost discussion (fwd)
Date
Body
EDITORIAL NOTE. The "poshlost/poshlust" exchange seems a matter of eternal
fascination. Both Tom Seidrid (USC) and Roy Johnson (UK) have pointed out
the "traditional" etymology of POSH as indicated below. As the holder of a
doctorate in Slavic linguistics, I am (foolheartedly without checking my
etymological dictionary) prepared to say that there no connection
whatsoever between the Russian "poshlost'" popularized bu Gogol and
Nabokov and the Brit term POSH.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 1995 14:31:41 GMT
From: Roy Johnson <Roy@mantex.demon.co.uk>

(In reply to your message dated Wednesday 8, November 1995)

On the POSHLOST - POSH similarities, no such luck!

POSH in English means "rich and upper class".
Its origins lie in the colonial days of travelling by ship
between the UK and the Far East. In order to avoid the
heat o' the sun, those with the necessary funds could
book "Port Out, Starboard Home"
--
Dr Roy Johnson | Roy@mantex.demon.co.uk
PO Box 100 | Tel +44 0161 432 5811
Manchester 20 | Fax +44 0161 443 2766