Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also pani, pawnce, pawni, pawnie, pawny) water.

1843		Bellew Memoirs of a Griffin I 192: The insidious habit of drinking brandy pauney, to which a hot climate offers strong and peculiar temptations.
1846		Swell’s Night Guide 65: ’Spose I can have some hot pawney, and crack slums to fake a bag o’sweet lap?
1869		Australasian (Melbourne) 17 July 8/3: At every step we have evidence of Hindoo origin. For instance, chur, a thief; maung, to beg; pane, water; tschib, the tongue.
1891		F.W. Carew Autobiog. of a Gipsey 14: I very well remember being sent out with some of the other chavvies to lel some pawni.
1927		(con. WW1) P. MacDonald Patrol 23: ‘You can bust those guts with pawny soon’.
1932		F. Jennings Tramping with Tramps 211: Pawnce – water.
1935		Thieves Slang ms list from District Police Training Centre, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwicks 8: Pawnie: Water.
1958		D. Reeve Smoke in the Lanes 48: ‘We ain’t got no pani!’ exclaimed Fangs, inspecting an old chipped enamel slop-bucket.

2. (Ling. Fr./Polari) tears (in the eyes).

1846		Swell’s Night Guide 76: She gammons to fake her smalls vith the vite vipe; but its a stall off to mop the pawney out of her blinkers.
1984		Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 856/1: C.20.