stoppon.
/ˈstɒpəʊ/ 1. slang. A rest from work.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > work > times or periods of work > [noun] > rest or resting from work
smoke-ho1874
spelling1911
stoppo1938
1938 J. Phelan Lifer xii. 120 What's the chances for a ‘stoppo’, Reg?
2. Criminals' slang. An escape, a get-away, esp. in phrase to take stoppo, to make a rapid escape in order to avoid detection. Frequently attributive, with reference to rapid escape by car, in stoppo car, stoppo driver, stoppo man.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > escape > [verb (intransitive)] > as thieves or criminals
to take stoppo1935
to cop out1942
to do a runner1980
the world > action or operation > safety > escape > [noun] > as thieves
getaway1849
get1897
mope1926
stoppo1974
1935 ‘G. Ingram’ Cockney Cavalcade v. 78 ‘I took stop-o.’ In other words, ran away from the police.
1949 E. Partridge Dict. Underworld 712/1 Take stoppo, to be obliged to run away... To take heed when the look-out cries ‘Stop!’
1974 Listener 7 Nov. 595/3 Boys who are going to be stoppo drivers—driving stolen escape cars.
1975 M. Kenyon Mr Big xx. 192 Walk, then, to the stoppo car... And wait... Till Slicker comes.
1978 J. Gardner Dancing Dodo xxxv. 279 Dobson..held the clutch down, took off the hand brake and let his toe press gently on the accelerator... ‘It's a stoppo man's take-off,’ the instructor said.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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n.1935