paw-paw, a. slang or colloq. ? Obs.
(ˈpɔːˌpɔː)
[Reduplication of paw a.]
A nursery expression for ‘nasty, improper, naughty’, used euphemistically for ‘indecent, obscene, immoral’.
| 1796 Grose's Dict. Vulgar T. (ed. 3), Paw paw Tricks, naughty tricks: an expression used by nurses, &c. to children. 1802–12 Bentham Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827) IV. 338 Administering a little fatherly or motherly correction..for paw-paw tricks. 1812 G. Colman Br. Grins, Two Parsons vii, All proprietors of paw-paw houses. 1825 T. H. Lister Granby ix. (1836) 55 Then went to say paw-paw things of Lady Mary Wortley Montague. 1830 Scott Jrnl. 9 July, Touching the songs, an old roué must own an improvement in the times, when all paw-paw words are omitted. |
Hence ˈpaw-ˌpawness.
| 1828 Examiner 434/1 Churches will cover a multitude of actresses. Our paw-pawness hedgeth with sacred stone, and abundantly excuseth itself with Glebe Houses. 1829 Ibid. 49/2 Proposals for the better rewarding of paw-pawness. |