Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus.) a pawnshop; thus in Moscow, gone to Moscow, in pawn; Moscow ticket, a pawn ticket; also as v. Moscow, to pawn.

1900–10		Stephens & O’Brien Materials for a Dict. of Aus. Sl. [unpub. ms.] 100: MOSCOW: A pawnshop: to moscow anything is to pawn it.
1901		W.S. Walker In the Blood 161: I pinches ’em. Inter my pouch wiv one lot, an’ off ter ‘Moscow’ with the other.
1914		Truth (Melbourne) 10 Jan. 3/4: The owner, say, of a watch finds all the licensed Moscow establishments closed.
1915		Truth (Brisbane) 25 July 3/3: ‘If you get a bit short you can Moscow the trinks’.
1938		Williamstown Chron. (Vic.) 12 Nov. 3/3: If I get my suit out of ‘Moscow’ (pawn) and the five-to-twos (Jews) listen to my tale of woe, I’ll be there.
1941		Baker Popular Dict. Aus. Sl.
1953		D. Cusack Caddie 217: Me clobber’s already in Moscow, an’ so is me tan shoes.
1990		F.J. Hardy Retreat Aus. Fair 94: ‘Where would you get a dress suit?’ .. . ‘I’ve got one in Moscow and I got the money to get it out.’ [GAW4].