Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to steal.

1879		‘Autobiog. of a Thief’ in Macmillan’s Mag. (London) XL 501: I piped three or four pair of daisy roots. So I claimed (stole) them and took the lid off my kipsy and put them inside.
1887		Morn. Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld) 16 Aug. 3/3: I claimed two wedge spoons, and was just going up the dancers when a slavey piped the spoons sticking out of my skyrocket and I got smugged.
1896		A. Morrison Child of the Jago (1982) 59: Claimed it auf a ol’ bloke w’en ’e was drinkin’ ’is tea.
2008		A. Wheatle Dirty South 55: When he was still I claimed his mobile and his wallet.

2. (UK Und.) to arrest; thus claimed, under arrest.

1885		M. Davitt Leaves from a Prison Diary I 152: I [...] boned the clock, which was a red one, but I was spotted by a copper who claimed me.
1936		J. Curtis Gilt Kid 17: Up comes the bastard and claims me. Loitering with intent to commit a felony.
1957		P. Beveridge Inside the C.I.D. 199: Claim Arrest.
1970		‘Metropolitan Police Sl.’ in P. Laurie Scotland Yard (1972) 321: claim, to: to arrest.
1974		G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 139: ‘Why don’t we go for a killing on this one ?’ he suggested. The DCS was listening. [...] I figure we might be able to claim a few more of those involved.
2009		L. McIlvanney All the Colours 114: ‘Jesus, for a minute there I thought I was claimed’.

3. (US black gang, also claim the ’hood) to claim membership in a gang.

1991		L. Bing Do or Die (1992) 56: These kids ain’t been courted in yet, even, but they claim the ’hood. [Ibid.] 65: You don’t wanna ’bang, you shouldn’t ’bang, man. You don’t have to claim.
1993		K. Scott Monster (1994) 150: You know cuz claimin’ Main Street now.
1997		G. Sikes 8 Ball Chicks (1998) 83: It would good to see some old friends, kids I knew in elementary school before I claimed Crip.
2001		(con. 1990s) in J. Miller One of the Guys 53: She ‘claimed [Folks, a gang] because that’s what my brother was so I wanted to be like that too’.
2019		C.D. Rosales Word Is Bone [ebook] ‘I mean what set you claim?’ ‘I’m from right here, man. I don’t want any shit’.
2023		Rayman & Blau Riker’s 14: A couple of gang members came up to me and asked me what I was claiming. If I was part of a gang or not.

4. to choose a victim.

2001		G. Coughlan Everyday Eng. and Sl. 🌐 Claim (v): if you claim somebody you are picking a fight. You are claimed!
2001		I. Welsh Glue 87: — That radge is fuckin claimed, Dozo says. Gentleman nods.
2021		L. McInerney Rules of Revelation 169: ‘They’re only bastards, Ryan. Whoever’s claiming you. I wouldn’t mind them’.