mosk, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

mosk v.

also mashkin, moskin, moss

[abbr. moskeneer v.; ? underpinned by the image of moss growing on the unredeemed article]

to pawn, esp. at a profit; thus mosking, n. and adj.

1883		Daily Gaz. for Middlesborough 21 July 5/6: A branch of the mosking business is to dispose of the pawn tickets [...] briefs my man called them.
1883		Daily Gaz. for Middlesborough 21 July 5/6: A pair of old-fashioned diamond shoe buckles trusted to me for ‘mosking,’ four pun’ five being the price set on ’em.
1886		Sporting Times 10 Apr. 3/3: The next day they fined me a fiver, / Which I maskined my ticker to pay.
1899		A. Binstead Houndsditch Day by Day 20: That little ‘clock’ with the naked ‘Gord-forbids’ on it is yer very own, to wear or moskin as the fancy pleases yer!
1907		Sun. Times (Perth) 21 Apr. 4/7: Uncle Kroog he vinks at der pridegroom und dells him if he vanst to moskin der presents to gum doo him!
1941		V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 254: Pawning is called ‘mossing’.

moskin man (n.)

(N.Z.) a pawnbroker.

1904

Sun. Times (Perth) 14 Aug. 4/7: There were moshkin men and Methodists, / And a gonaph from Donegal.

moskin shop (n.)

a pawnbroker’s shop.

1891		Sporting Times 31 Jan. 7/2: [He] entered a moskin shop and popped it [i.e. a kitbag].
1907		Sun. Times (Perth) 20 Oct. 1/1: Every morning he ambles down to the moskin-shop with one [girl] on each arm.