possible, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

possible n.

1. a coin, money [which makes things possible].

1823		‘Jon Bee’ Dict. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 139: High-tide – plenty of the possibles; whilst ‘low-water’ implies empty clies.
1824		Annals of Sporting 1 Apr. 261: he just come into possession of the possibles, and has started a prime team.
1852		Bell’s Life in Sydney 21 Feb. 3/3: [He] fined the defendant forty shillings [...] giving her, however, a week’s time to scrape up the possibles.
1908		Bulletin (Sydney) 30 July 14/2: But I ’adn’t th’ possible, so I bumped th’ ole pot f’ a fiver; but ’e wouldn’t spring, th’ cow, ’n’ feelin’ crewled, I went ’n’ guzzled me sorrer in devilled moisture.

2. in pl., necessities, supplies.

1841		T.J. Farnham Travels in the Great Western Prairies 55/1: The loss of their services in transporting their traps and furs, and ‘possibles,’ (clothing, cooking utensils, &c.,) was severely felt [DA].
1848		G.F. Ruxton Life in the Far West (1849) 69: Young Missourians, were [...] overhauling their own moderate kits or ‘possibles’.
1886		Outing (N.Y.) Dec. 198/2: Dick had a big tepé, [...] not ter speak uv a considerable lot of possibles ter make things comfortable [DA].
1947		J.H. Brown Outdoors Unlimited 296: Some of those ‘Possibles’ are a lot older than the rucksack [DA].

possible sack (n.) (orig. US)

1. a bag for personal belongings.

1846		Anti-Slavery Bugle (New Lisbon, OH) 27 Mar. 4/4: Among his accoutrements was what he called his possible sack — a long bag, made of skins [...] used on a horse or slung over the arm.
1870		Bossier Banner (Bellevue, LA) 16 Apr. 1/3: The ‘old woman’ [...] taking from her shoulder a large ‘possible sack,’ in which [...] she had a mite of flour.
1889		Outing (N.Y.) May 124/1: It is a good thing to have a bag twelve by eighteen inches for a ‘possible’ sack [DA].
1958		J. Woodworth Kodiak Bear 102: Each hoped I would let him carry my ‘possible’ sack.
2001		J. Price Truth Is a Bright Star 40: First of all we’ll pack the possible sack! [...] That’s this here bag. It carries everything possible a trapper might need.

2. (Can.) a bag containing items that can be taken to the pawnbroker.

1984

Partridge DSUE 913/2: c. 1895.

not have a possible (v.)

(Aus.) not have a chance.

1900		Bulletin (Sydney) 20 Oct. 24/1: Final acceptances (Monday) for Caulfield Cup saw nothing well-backed go out, while a lot that ‘haven’t a possible’ are still left in through sweep considerations.
1903		Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Sept. 13/4: These people have a ‘possible,’ but [...] the vast and complicated suit threatens to extend out to the day after Judgment. [Ibid.] 10 Dec. 37/4: M’Grath took the third more slowly, he felt there wasn’t a possible of another after that.