profeshn.1
/prəˈfɛʃ/, U.S. /prəˈfɛʃ/ slang.
A profession, esp. the theatrical profession; (with the and singular agreement) actors or other public performers collectively.The term is frequently taken to be suggestive of pretension or affectation, and thus often used ironically.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > actor > [noun] > collectively
qualitya1586
profesh1871
profession1899
pomping folk1968
1871 Harper's Mag. Apr. 799/1 No dead-heads except members of the profesh.
1893 Scribner's Mag. May 479/2 The whole profesh knows that Dolignan can act over the heads of most all the stars going.
1914 E. Pugh Cockney at Home 192 ‘Mr. Alexander,..being a hartist in his profesh, which there's only one thing as keeps him off the London stage at this present moment, and that is—’ ‘Eggs!’
1939 K. Fearing Hospital 223 The medical profesh is the biggest joke on earth.
2001 O. Watanna Half Caste i. 61 Can you prove that you belong to the profesh?
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
profeshn.2
/prəˈfɛʃ/, U.S. /prəˈfɛʃ/ Chiefly U.S. slang (ironic). Now historical and rare.
A full-time vagrant (in contrast to one who travels around only when unable to find a regular job); (with the and plural agreement) such vagrants collectively.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > [noun] > without fixed aim or wandering > vagrancy or vagabondage > vagabond or tramp > collectively
vagabondage1855
vagabondism1872
profesh1897
crusty1990
1897 J. London Road in J. London Rep. (1970) iii. 313 The Simon-pure tramp, hence professional, calls himself ‘The Profesh’.
1907 J. London Road 236 The profesh are the aristocracy of The Road.
1937 ‘D. Boyle’ Keeping in Trouble iii. 39 I ain't out to help out punks. I'm a profesh, see?
1987 R. A. Bruns Damndest Radical (2001) iv. 50 He consorted with the tomato-can vags as well as the profesh of the rails.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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