The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #19247   Message #1152295
Posted By: GUEST,Barrie Roberts
01-Apr-04 - 05:30 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Pop Goes the Weasel - Meaning?
Subject: RE: Pop Goes the Weasel - Meaning?
'Pop goes the weasel' is nineteenth century London rhyming slang. A 'Weasel' meant a 'Weasel and stoat', ie an overcoat, which was regularly pawned when times got hard. 'Pop' was (and still is) general English slang for 'pawn'.