Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US, also Pomp) a generic name for a black slave, thus a servant [the use of classical names for slaves, e.g. Cassius].

1774		J. O’Keeffe Tony Lumpkin in Town (1780) 10: Give those cards to Pompey and bid him deliver them.
1825		in W.N. Glascock Naval Sketch-book I 17: [This] proved an irresistable source of mirth to most of the young urchins in attendance, but particularly Massa Pompey.
1833		Bell’s Life in London 5 May 4/1: This here chap [...] is Mr Burchell’s Pompey — ‘I say, Inky-face’ — did es see how he turned?
1832		Spirit of the Times (NY) 14 Apr. 4/1: Well might the poet say to the black boy, ‘take phsyic, Pomp’.
1836		T. Haliburton Clockmaker I (1840) 130: You one werry good nigger [...] I great opinion of you, Pompey; I make a man of you, you dam old tarbrush.
1840		T. Hood ‘Pompey’s Ghost’ Poetical Works (1906) 558/2: But Pompey’s Spirit could not come / Like spirits that are white, / Because he was a Blackamoor, / And wouldn’t show at night!
1844		Morn. Chron. (Sydney) 19 June 3/4: ‘Sambo, what’s your opinion ob dat bankrupt law?’ ‘Tink him fuss rate Pompey’.
1848		J.R. Lowell Biglow Papers (1880) 117: ’T worn’t very long afore I gut upon the nest o’ Pomp. [Ibid.] 118: Pomp wuz out ahoein’ / A leetle patch o’ corn he hed.
1850		Manchester Spy (NH) 21 Sept. n.p.: Nigger Pomp, if yer open that mill-clapper o’ your’n agin [etc] .
1856		M. Griffith Autobiog. of a Female Slave 15: Pompey told me the child was sold away from me.
1857		Bell’s Life in Victoria (Melbourne) 14 Mar. 3/6: Pompey: Come Samby — pay me you nig — you owe me two dollar.
1858		Wells Jrnl 6 Feb. 4/5: ‘How do I look, Pompey?’ said a young dandy to his serrvant [...] ‘Elegant, massa’.
1864		J.T. Trowbridge Cudjo’s Cave 118: There was Toby the Good, otherwise called Pomp, dignified, erect, of noble features.
1866		Echo I n.p.: I say, let’s go home, Pompey!
1881		Bulletin (Sydney) 5 Mar. 8/2: This lady’s singing recalled the story of the old negro who was discovered energetically kicking his shins against a fence. ‘Why. Pompey,’ said his master, ‘what are you doing that for?’.
1884		R.C. Hartranft Journal of Solomon Sidesplitter 20: ‘What are you about, you black rascal?’ [...] ‘Why,’ replied Pompey, ‘if you isn’t goin’ to git up, I must hab de sheet any how.’.
1894		Dover Exp. 9 Feb. 6/6: ‘Potatoes,’ said pompey, a learned darkey, conversing with another gentleman of colour.
1895		C. Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 60: Pompey, [...] a negro.
1902		J.D. Corrothers Black Cat Club 134: Darky’s name wuz Pompey; but dey called ’im ‘Pomp’ foh sho’t.
1904		Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 3 Feb. 3/4: ‘Star’ was taking his walks abroad, attended at a properly respectful distance by his ‘low-down niggah’ rubber, ‘Pompey’.
1931		Shelby & Stoney Po’ Buckra 178: I sarch dis country good; an’ widout Pompey Palmer, nobody wouldn’ serb.

2. (Aus.) a tobacconist’s dummy.

1895

C. Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 60: Pompey, a tobacconist’s dummy.

3. (orig. naut.) Portsmouth; also used in expressions such as Pompey Royal, a Hampshire-brewed beer [ety. unknown; poss. a ref. to the French vessel Pompée, captured in 1793 and moored at Portsmouth].

1770		Leeds Intelligencer 19 June 3/3: Imports [...] Southampton, [...] hemp and lathwood. Pompey, [...] tar, turpentine, slaves and rice.
[1841		J. Campbell Lives of the British Admirals (abridged) 453: One of the ships, (the Hautpoult) was captured by the Pompey and Castor, the other two escaped by superior sailing].
1898		W.A. Sun. Times (Perth) 27 Feb. 8/6: I met Jim in the main street of Pompey.
1904		Kipling ‘Their Lawful Occasions’ in Traffics and Discoveries 106: We are the Gnome, now in the Fleet Reserve at Pompey – Portsmouth, I should say.
1922		‘J.H. Ross’ Mint (1955) 58: For / She / Was / One / Of the good old Pompey whores!
1925		(con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 226: Pompey: Portsmouth.
1938		J. Curtis They Drive by Night 13: You’ll spend the end of your life doing a nice little piece of Preventive Detention in Portsmouth. Good old Pompey.
1945		D. Bolster Roll On My Twelve 27: ’Twas when the blitz was on Pompey.
1962		W. Granville Sailors’ Sl.
1969		I. Hebditch ‘Weekend’ unpub. thesis in Hewitt (2000) 134: This is Pompey territory, and we hate Southampton blokes.
1980		T. McClenaghan Submariners I ii: I went to Pompey and did a sonar operator’s course.
1993		J. Meades [bk title] Pompey.
1999		N. Cohn Yes We Have No 86: His lover, Pompey, a merchant seaman from Portsmouth.