sell against the box

English edit

(finance) To sell stock that one owns, but deliver stock acquired elsewhere, so that one is effectively selling short and protecting oneself from a fall in the stock.
- 1932, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Banking and Currency, Stock Exchange Practices: Hearings Before the Committee, page 332:
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. The large holdings I think I sold back in 1925 or 1926.
  Mr. Gray. Did you sell against the box then?