To stiff someone

Posted by John on July 14, 2008 at 17:23

'To stiff someone', as in to not pay his bill, I believe came from the funeral industry. It may have derived from an executor's refusal to pay a dry cleaning bill for a burial suit (a suit previously left at the cleaner's by the deceased?), whether tendered by the undertaker or by the dry cleaner, I don't remember... obviously, my memory is unclear on the specifics.

• To stiff someone RRC 14/July/08
  • To stiff someone Smokey Stover 15/July/08