wooden-top
See also: woodentop
English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editThe expression may be a reference to the wooden construction of a bobby's custodian helmet.
Pronunciation
editAudio (General Australian): (file)
Noun
editwooden-top (plural wooden-tops)
- (British, informal, idiomatic) A uniformed police officer.
- 1988, Derek Raymond, The Devil's Home on Leave, Ballantine Books, page 151:
- Immediately a big wooden-top came in. He was young and blond.
- 1991, Bill James, The Lolita Man, W. W. Norton & Company, page 41:
- It is Detective Chief Superintendent Cohn Harpur, one of the bosses, but just a wooden-top like all the rest.
Usage notes
editUsed by British police, Criminal Investigation Department detectives.
Synonyms
edit- (police officer): see Thesaurus:police officer
References
edit- wooden-top, on UK Police Slang and Acronyms.