topped herself
Just watched a BBC show which begins with the death of a woman who fell in front of the Tube. The police thought she'd topped herself which I presume means committed suicide. I'd never heard this...
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Excerpt from OED2's entry for "top, v.1:" 6. Orig., to put to death by hanging; perh. originally to behead; cf. topsman. Now usu. simply, to kill (someone); chiefly refl., to commit suicide. slang....
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Cassell's dates the phrase "top oneself" to the 1950s, with the meaning of commit suicide.
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Quote:From Ozzie's post: "1811 Lexicon Balatr. s.v., The cove was topped for smashing queer screens."Any ideas about what this means?
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Victorian thieves' cant (various reference sources including this):The man was killed for passing forged bank notes.edited link
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Thanks, ElizaD. Your revised link may have pipped me. I note that this source uses 'twisted' instead of 'topped.'www.harvestfields.netfirm.../31/20.htm"SCREEN. A bank note. Queer screens; forged bank...
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