win, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

win v.

[euph.]

1. to steal.

c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: To Win, c. to Steal. Won, c. Stolen. The Cull has won a couple of Rum glimsticks, c. the Rogue has Stole a pair of Silver Candlesticks.
1725		New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1737, 1759, 1760, 1776		Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1859		Matsell Vocabulum.
1918		Dagger [London] Dec. I 15/2: To Scrounge. — To Come Upon what is obviously someone else’s when he isn’t there. To Win. — Dito, Ditto, Ditto, when he is there.
1925		(con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 304: Win, To: To steal.
1930		(con. 1914–18) Brophy & Partridge Songs and Sl. of the British Soldier.
c.1943		‘Bill O. Lading’ You Chirped a Chinful!! n.p.: Win Something; Steal something.
1978		A. Burgess 1985 (1980) 144: Wilfred nicked or won a small sack of potatoes.

2. (US und.) to trick, to cheat.

1895

S.F. Chron. 6 June 11/5: Den we turns a play at dice an’ wins a jasper for half a century.

SE in slang uses

In phrases

win a pair of gloves (v.) [the woman who does so was trad. rewarded with a pair of gloves]

to kiss a sleeping man.

c.1786		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue ms. additions n.p.: To Win a pair of Gloves; to kiss a man whilst he sleeps: for this a Pair of Gloves is due to any Lady who will thus earn them.
1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) .
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.

win on (v.)

(Aus.) to seduce a woman.

1965

W. Dick Bunch of Ratbags 166: On Sundays, Melbourne was as dead as an old maid and we were in the habit of going up to the Goodway Gardens to see if we could win-on with some sheilas.

win the shine-rag (v.)

see under shine-rag n.