"up the spout"

Posted by Joe on August 17, 2005

Does somebody know where the phrase "up the spout" or "shove it up the spout" comes from? I've been seeing a lot in P.G. Wodehouse to refer to pawning something and was wondering where it came from.

• "Up the spout" Bruce Kahl 17/August/05
  • "Up the spout" David FG 18/August/05