What’s the origin of the phrase ‘Put paid to’?
The expression ‘Put paid to’ derives
from book-keepers literally putting
’Paid’ on invoices.
‘Put paid to’ derives from the practice of book-keepers of writing or stamping “Paid” on bills when the paperwork for a sale was completed. The term isn’t especially old and I can’t find any examples of it in print prior to the 20th century. An early citation comes from the Winnipeg newspaper The Manitoba Morning Free Press, October 1905. This appeared in a listing of English football results, which were presumably printed in a Canadian paper for the benefit of the many English immigrants:
“Wolverhampton Wanderers put paid to Bolton’s account, the scores being: 2-0”