_Dunciad_.
[37] _Sportsman’s Dictionary_, 1825, p. 15.
[38] This introduction was written in 1859, before the new edition of
_Worcester_, and Nuttall’s recent work, were published.
[39] Introduction to Bee’s _Sportsman’s Dictionary_, 1825.
[40] The Gipsies use the word Slang as the Anglican synonym for Romany,
the Continental (or rather Spanish) term for the Cingari or Gipsy
tongue. Crabb, who wrote the _Gipsies’ Advocate_ in 1831, thus mentions
the word:—“This language [Gipsy] _called by themselves_ Slang, or
Gibberish, invented, as they think, by their forefathers for secret
purposes, is not merely the language of one or a few of these wandering
tribes, which are found in the European nations, but is adopted by the
vast numbers who inhabit the earth.”
[41] The word Slang assumed various meanings amongst costermongers,
beggars, and vagabonds of all orders. It was, and is still, used to
express “cheating by false weights,” “a raree show,” “retiring by a back
door,” “a watch-chain,” their “secret language,” &c.
[42] North, in his _Examen_, p. 574, says, “I may note that the rabble
first changed their title, and were called the “mob” in the assemblies
of this [Green Ribbon] club. It was their beasts of burden, and called
first _mobile vulgus_, but fell naturally into the contraction of one
syllable, and ever since is become proper English.” In the same work, p.
231, the disgraceful origin of SHAM is given.
[43] I am afraid my predecessor was of a somewhat satirical turn of
mind, or else he had peculiar notions of melody.—ED.
[44] This latter is, as I take it, an error, as the sign was originally
intended to represent the king’s head and cross guns, and may still be
seen in parts of the country.—ED.
[45] Savez-vous cela?—[I fancy this is from the Spanish _sabe_. The
word is in great use in the Pacific States of America, and is obtained
through constant intercourse with the original settlers.—ED.]
[46] At page 24 of a curious old Civil War tract, entitled, _The Oxonian
Antippodes_, by I. B., Gent., 1644, the town is called Brummidgham, and
this was the general rendering in the printed literature of the
seventeenth century.—[This must have been the first known step towards
the present vulgar style of spelling, for properly the word is
Bromwich-ham, which has been corrupted into Brummagem, a term used to
express worthless or inferior goods, from the spurious jewellery, plate,
&c., manufactured there expressly for “duffers.”—ED.]
[47] This was more especially an amusement with medical students,
after the modern Mohocks had discarded it. The students are now a
comparatively mild and quiet race, with very little of the style of a
generation ago about them.
[48] _Edinburgh Review_, October, 1853.
[49] A term derived from the _Record_ newspaper, the exponent of this
singular section of the Low, or so-called Evangelical Church.
[50] A preacher is said, in this phraseology, to be “owned” when he
makes many converts, and his converts are called his “seals.” This is
Cant in its most objectionable form.
[51] “Swaddler” is also a phrase by which the low Irish Roman Catholics
denominate those of their body who in winter become Protestants, _pro
tem._, for the sake of the blankets, coals, &c., given by proselytizing
Protestants. It is hard to say which are the worse, those who refuse to
give unless the objects of their charity become converted, or those who
sham conversion to save themselves from starving, or the tender mercies
of the relieving officer. I am much afraid my sympathies are with the
“swaddlers,” who are also called “soupers.”—ED.
[52] “All our newspapers contain more or less colloquial words; in fact,
there seems no other way of expressing certain ideas connected with
passing events of every-day life with the requisite force and piquancy.
In the English newspapers the same thing is observable, and certain of
them contain more of the class denominated Slang words than our
own.”—_Bartlett’s Americanisms_, p. 10, edit. 1859.
[53] When this appeared, “all serene” was one of those street phrases
which periodically spring up, have their rage, and depart as suddenly as
they come into popularity. These sayings are generally of a most idiotic
nature, as their latest specimens, “I’ll warm yer,” “All serene,” and
“I’ll ’ave your hi”—used without any premonitory notice or regard to
context, and screeched out at the top of the voice—will testify. I
suppose we shall soon have another of these “ebullitions of popular
feeling.”—ED.
[54] The terms “leader” and “article” can scarcely be called Slang, yet
it would be desirable to know upon what authority they were first
employed in their present peculiar sense.
[55] The _Morning Herald_ was called “Mrs. Harris,” because it was said
that no one ever saw it, a peculiarity which, in common with its general
disregard for veracity, made it uncommonly like “Mrs. Gamp’s” invisible
friend as portrayed by Dickens. But the _Herald_ has long since departed
this life, and with it has gone the title of “Mrs. Gamp,” as applied to
the _Standard_, which is, though, as impulsive and Conservative as
ever.—ED.
[56] This is rhyming slang, and is corrupted into “lord” only.
“Touch-me,” a common term for a shilling, is also derived from the same
source, it being short for “touch-me-on-the-nob,” which is rhyming slang
for “bob” or shilling.
THE
SLANG DICTIONARY.
~A 1~, first-rate, the very best; “she’s a prime girl, she is; she is
A 1.”—_Sam Slick_. The highest classification of ships at Lloyd’s; common
term in the United States; also at Liverpool and other English seaports.
Another, even more intensitive form is “first-class, letter A, No. 1.”
Some people choose to say A I, for no reason, however, beyond that of
being different from others.
~Abigail~, a lady’s-maid; perhaps obtained from old comedies. Used in an
uncomplimentary sense. Some think the term is derived from Abigail Hill
(Mrs. Masham), lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne, and a typical ABIGAIL in
the way of intrigue.
~About Right~, “to do the thing ABOUT RIGHT,” _i.e._, to do it
properly, soundly, correctly; “he guv it ’im ABOUT RIGHT,” _i.e._, he
beat him severely.
~Abraham-man~, a vagabond, such as were driven to beg about the country
after the dissolution of the monasteries.—_See_ BESS O’ BEDLAM,
_infra_. They are well described under the title of _Bedlam
Beggars_.—_Shakspeare’s K. Lear_, ii. 3.
“And these, what name or title e’er they bear,
Jarkman, or Patrico, Cranke, or Clapper-dudgeon,
Frater, or ABRAM-MAN; I speak to all
That stand in fair election for the title
Of king of beggars.”—_Beaumont and Fletcher’s Begg. Bush._ II. 1.
It appears to have been the practice in former days to allow certain
inmates of Bethlehem Hospital to have fixed days “to go begging:” hence
impostors were said to “SHAM ABRAHAM” (the Abraham Ward in Bedlam having
for its inmates these mendicant lunatics) when they pretended they were
licensed beggars in behalf of the hospital.
~Abraham-sham~, or SHAM ABRAHAM, to feign sickness or distress. From
ABRAHAM-MAN, the _ancient Cant_ term for a begging impostor, or one who
pretended to have been mad.—_Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy_, vol. i.
p. 360. When Abraham Newland was Cashier to the Bank of England, and
signed their notes, it was sung:—
“I have heard people say
That SHAM ABRAHAM you may,
But you mustn’t SHAM ABRAHAM Newland.”
~Absquatulate~, to run away, or abscond; a hybrid _American_ expression,
from the Latin _ab_, and “squat” to settle.
~Acres~, a coward. From Bob Acres, in Sheridan’s _Rivals_.
~Adam’s Ale~, water.—_English._ The _Scotch_ term is ADAM’S WINE.
~Added to the List~, a euphuism current among sporting writers implying
that a horse has been gelded. As, “Sabinus has been ADDED TO THE LIST.”
Another form of expression in reference to this matter is that “the
knife has been brought into requisition.” “ADDED TO THE LIST” is simply
a contraction for “added to the list of geldings in training.”
~Addlepate~, a foolish fellow, a dullard.
~Admiral of the Red~, a person whose very red face evinces a fondness
for strong potations.
~Affygraphy.~ “It fits to an AFFYGRAPHY,” _i.e._, to a nicety—to a _T_.
~Afternoon Farmer~, one who wastes his best opportunity, and drives off
the large end of his work to the little end of his time.
~Against the Grain~, in opposition to the wish. “It went AGAINST THE
GRAIN to do it, but I knew I must,” is a common expression.
~Aggerawators~ (corruption of _Aggravators_), the greasy locks of hair
in vogue among costermongers and other street folk, worn twisted from
the temple back towards the ear. They are also, from a supposed
resemblance in form, termed NEWGATE KNOCKERS, and sometimes NUMBER
SIXES. This style of adorning the head is, however, fast dying out, and
the everyday costermonger or street thief has his hair cut like any one
else. The yearly militia drill may have had a good deal to do with this
alteration.
~Akeybo~, a slang phrase used in the following manner:—“He beats
AKEYBO, and AKEYBO beat the devil.”
~Albertopolis~, a facetious appellation given by the Londoners to the
Kensington Gore district. Now obsolete.
~Alderman~, a half-crown—possibly from its rotundity. Also a long pipe.
~Alderman~, a turkey; “ALDERMAN IN CHAINS,” a turkey hung with sausages.
~All of a Hugh!~ all on one side; falling with a thump; the word HUGH
being pronounced with a grunt.—_Suffolk._
~All my Eye~, a remark of incredulity made in reference to an improbable
story; condensation of “ALL MY EYE AND BETTY MARTIN,” a vulgar phrase
constructed from the commencement of a Roman Catholic prayer to St.
Martin, “Oh, mihi, beate Martine,” which in common with many another
fell into discredit and ridicule after the Reformation.
~All out~, by far;—“he was ALL OUT the best of the lot.”
_Old_—frequently used by Burton in his _Anatomy of Melancholy_.
~All-overish~, neither sick nor well; the premonitory symptoms of
illness. Also the feeling which comes over a man at a critical moment,
say just when he is about to “pop the question.” Sometimes this is
called, “feeling all over alike, and touching nowhere.”
~All-rounder~, a shirt collar going all round the neck and meeting in
front. Once fashionable, but little worn now.
~All Serene~, an ejaculation of acquiescence. Some years back a popular
street cry. With or without application to actual fact, the words ALL
SERENE were bawled from morning to night without any reference to the
serenity of the unfortunate hearers.—_See_ SERENE.
~Alls~, tap-droppings, refuse spirits sold at a cheap rate in
gin-palaces.
~All There~, in strict fashion, first-rate, “up to the mark;” a vulgar
person would speak of a handsome, well-dressed woman as being ALL THERE.
An artisan would use the same phrase to express the capabilities of a
skillful fellow-workman. Sometimes ALL THE WAY THERE. Always used as a
term of encomium.
~All to Pieces~, utterly, excessively; “he beat him ALL TO PIECES,”
_i.e._, excelled or surpassed him exceedingly. Also a term much in use
among sporting men and expressing want of form, or decadence. A boat’s
crew are said to “go ALL TO PIECES” when they through distress lose
their regularity. A woman is vulgarly said to “fall to pieces,” or
“tumble to pieces,” when she is confined.
~All to Smash~, or “GONE ALL TO PIECES,” bankrupt, ruined.
~Almighty Dollar~, an _American_ expression representing the manner in
which money is worshipped. Modernly introduced by Washington Irving in
1837. The _idea_ of this phrase is, however, far older than the time of
_Irving_. _Ben Jonson’s Epistle to Elizabeth, Countess of Rutland_,
commences thus—
“Whilst that for which all virtue now is sold,
And almost every vice, _almightie gold_.”
It seems almost obvious that the term must have been applied, not to
dollars certainly, but to money, long before the time of Irving.
~American Tweezers~, an instrument used by an hotel-sneak which nips the
wards end of a key, and enables him to open a door from the opposite
side to that on which it has been locked.
~Andrew Millar~, a ship of war.—_Sea._
~Ain’t~, the vulgar abbreviation of “am not,” “are not,” or “is not.”
~Anointed~, _i.e._, eminent; used to express great rascality in any one;
“an ANOINTED scoundrel,” king among scoundrels.—_Irish._
~Anointing~, a good beating. A case for the application of salve.
~Anonyma~, a lady of the _demi-monde_, or worse; a “pretty
horsebreaker.” INCOGNITA was the term at first. Product of the
squeamishness of the age which tries to thrust away fact by the use of
fine words.
~Antiscriptural~, oaths, foul language. Anything unfit for ordinary
society conversation.
~Apartments to Let~, a term used in reference to one who has a somewhat
empty head. As, “He’s got APARTMENTS TO LET.”
~Apostle’s Grove~, the London district known as St. John’s Wood. Also
called GROVE OF THE EVANGELIST.
~Apostles~, THE TWELVE, the last twelve names on the Poll, or “Ordinary
Degree” List at the Cambridge Examinations, when it was arranged in
order of merit, and not alphabetically, and in classes, as at present;
so called from their being _post alios_, after the others.—_See_ POLL.
The last of all was called ST. PAUL (or Saint Poll), as being the least
of the apostles, and “not meet to be called an apostle” (_see_ 1 Cor.
xv. 9). As in the “Honour” list (_see_ GULF), students who had failed
only slightly in one or more subjects were occasionally allowed their
degrees, and these were termed ELEGANT EXTRACTS.—_Camb. Univ. Slang._
~Apple-pie Bed~, a trick played at schools on new comers, or on any boy
disliked by the rest. One of the sheets is removed, and the other is
doubled in the middle, so that both edges are brought to the top, and
look as if both sheets were there; but the unhappy occupant is prevented
getting more than half-way down, and he has to remake his bed as best he
can. This trick is sometimes played by children of a larger growth.
~Apple-Cart~, the human structure, so far as the phrases with which it
is connected are concerned. As “I’ll upset your APPLE-CART,” “down with
his APPLE-CART.”
~Apple-pie Order~, in exact or very nice order.
~Appro~, contraction of approbation, a word much in use among jewellers.
Most of the extensive show of chains, watches, and trinkets in a shop
window is obtained “ON APPRO,” _i.e._, “on sale or return.”
~Area Sneak~, a thief who commits depredations upon kitchens and
cellars.
~Argol-bargol~, to bandy words.—_Scotch._
~Article~, derisive term for a weak or insignificant specimen of
humanity.
~Atomy~, a diminutive or deformed person. From ANATOMY, or ATOM.
~Attack~, to carve, or commence operations; “ATTACK that beef, and
oblige!”
~Attic~, the head; “queer in the ATTIC,” intoxicated or weak-minded.
Sometimes ATTIC is varied by “upper story.”
~Attic Salt~, wit, humour, pleasantry. Partly a reference to a
suggestive portion of Grecian literature, and partly a sly hit at the
well-known poverty of many writers.
~Auctioneer~, to “tip him the AUCTIONEER,” is to knock a man down. Tom
Sayers’s right hand was known to pugilistic fame as the AUCTIONEER.
~Audit Ale~, extra strong ale supposed to be drunk when the accounts are
audited.—_Camb. Univ._
~Auld-Reekie~, an affectionate term for the old town of Edinburgh.
Derived from its dingy appearance.
~Aunt Sally~, a favourite figure on racecourses and at fairs, consisting
of a wooden head mounted on a stick, firmly fixed in the ground; in the
nose of which, or rather where the nose should be, a tobacco-pipe is
inserted. The fun consists in standing at a distance and demolishing
AUNT SALLY’S pipe-clay projection with short bludgeons, very similar to
the halves of broom-handles. The Duke of Beaufort is a “crack hand” at
smashing pipe noses; and his performances some years ago on Brighton
racecourse, which brought the game into notoriety, are yet fresh in
remembrance. AUNT SALLY has, however, had her day, and once again the
inevitable “three shies a penny!” is chief among our outdoor amusements.
~Avast~, a sailor’s phrase for stop, shut up, go away,—apparently
connected with the _old Cant_, BYNGE A WASTE; or from the _Italian_,
BASTA, hold! enough.
~Awake~, or FLY, knowing, thoroughly understanding. “I’m awake,” _i.e._,
I know all. The phrase WIDE-AWAKE carries a similar meaning in ordinary
conversation, but has a more general reference.
~Awful~, a senseless expletive, used to intensify a description of
anything good or bad; “what an AWFUL fine woman!” “awfully jolly,”
“awfully sorry,” &c. The phrase is not confined to any section of
society.
~Ax~, to ask. Sometimes pronounced arks.
~Babes~, the lowest order of KNOCK-OUTS (which _see_), who are prevailed
upon not to give opposing biddings at auctions, in consideration of
their receiving a small sum (from one shilling to half-a-crown), and a
certain quantity of beer. They can, however, even after this agreement,
be secured on the other side for a little longer price. There is no
honour among thieves—at all events not among auction thieves—nowadays.
~Back~, to support by means of money, on the turf or otherwise.—_See_
LAY.
~Back~, “to get one’s BACK UP,” to annoy or enrage. Probably from the
action of a cat when preparing to give battle to an enemy.
~Back-end~, that portion of the year which commences with October. This
phrase is peculiar to the turf, and has its origin in the fact that
October was actually, and is now nearly, the finishing portion of the
racing season. Towards BACK-END the punters and “little men” generally
begin to look forward with anxiety to their winter prospects, and “going
for the gloves” is not only a frequent phrase, but a frequently
recurring practice.
~Back Out~, to retreat from a difficulty; reverse of GO AHEAD. Metaphor
borrowed from the stables.
~Back Slang It~, to go out the back way. Equivalent to “Sling your hook
out of the back-door,” _i.e._, get away quickly.
~Backslums~, the byeways and disreputable portions of a town.
~Back-Hander~, a blow on the face with the back of the hand, a
back-handed tip. Also a drink out of turn, as when a greedy person
delays the decanter to get a second glass. Anything done slyly or
secretly is said to be done in a back-handed manner.
~Backer~, one who places his money on a particular man or animal; a
supporter of one side in a contest. The great body of betting men is
divided into BOOKMAKERS and BACKERS.
~Back Jump~, a back window.—_Prison term._
~Bacon~, the body, “to save one’s BACON,” to escape.
~Bad~, “to go to the bad,” to deteriorate in character, to be ruined.
_Virgil_ has an almost similar phrase, _in pejus ruere_, which means, by
the way, to go to the worse.
~Bad~, hard, difficult. Word in use among sporting men who say, “He will
be BAD to beat,” when they mean that the man or horse to whom they refer
will about win.
~Bad Egg~, a scoundrel or rascal.
~Badger~, to tease, to annoy by “chaffing.” Suggestive of drawing a
badger.
~Bad Lot~, a term derived from auctioneering slang, and now generally
used to describe a man or woman of indifferent morals.
~Badminton~, blood,—properly a peculiar kind of claret-cup invented at
the Duke of Beaufort’s seat of that name. BADMINTON proper is made of
claret, sugar, spice, cucumber peel, and ice, and was sometimes used by
the patrons of the Prize Ring as a synonym for blood.
~Bad Words~, words not always bad of themselves but unpleasant to “ears
polite,” from their vulgar associations.
~Baffaty~, calico. Term used in the drapery trade.
~Bag~, to seize or steal, equivalent to “collar.”
~Bagman~, a commercial traveller. This word is used more in reference to
the old style of commercial travellers than to the present.
~Bags~, trousers. Trousers of an extensive pattern, or exaggerated
fashion, have sometimes been termed HOWLING-BAGS, but only when the
style has been very “loud.” The word is probably an abbreviation of
bumbags. “To have the BAGS off,” to be of age and one’s own master, to
have plenty of money. BAGS OF MYSTERY is another phrase in frequent use,
and refers to sausages and saveloys. BAG OF TRICKS, refers to the whole
of a means towards a result. “That’s the whole bag of tricks.”
~Baked~, seasoned, “he’s only HALF-BAKED,” _i.e._, soft, inexperienced.
~Baker’s Dozen~, thirteen. Originally the London bakers supplied the
retailers, _i.e._, chandlers’ shopkeepers and itinerants, with thirteen
loaves to the dozen, so as to make up what is known as the overweight,
the surplus number, called the _inbread_, being thrown in for fear of
incurring a penalty for short weight. To “give a man a BAKER’S DOZEN,”
in a slang sense, sometimes means to give him an extra good beating or
pummelling.
~Balaam~, printers’ slang for matter kept in type about monstrous
productions of nature, &c., to fill up spaces in newspapers that would
otherwise be vacant. The term BALAAM-BOX has often been used as the name
of a depository for rejected articles. Evidently from Scripture, and
referring to the “speech of an ass.”
~Bald-Faced Stag~, a term of derision applied to a person with a bald
head. Also, still more coarsely, “BLADDER-OF-LARD.”
~Bale up~, an Australian term equivalent to our “Shell out.” A demand
for instantaneous payment.
~Ballambangjang.~ The Straits of BALLAMBANGJANG, though unnoticed by
geographers, are frequently mentioned in sailors’ yarns as being so
narrow, and the rocks on each side so crowded with trees inhabited by
monkeys, that the ship’s yards cannot be squared, on account of the
monkey’s tails getting jammed into, and choking up, the brace
blocks.—_Sea._
~Ballast~, money. A rich man is said to be well-ballasted. If not proud
and over-bearing he is said to carry his ballast well.
~Balmy~, weak-minded or idiotic (not insane).
~Balmy~, sleep; “have a dose of the BALMY.”
~Bamboozle~, to deceive, make fun of, or cheat a person; abbreviated to
BAM, which is sometimes used also as a substantive—a deception, a sham,
a “sell.” _Swift_ says BAMBOOZLE was invented by a nobleman in the reign
of Charles II.; but this is very likely an error. The probability is
that a nobleman then first _used_ it in polite society. The term is
derived from the _Gipsies_.
~Bandannah~, originally a peculiar kind of silk pocket-handkerchief, now
slang used to denote all sorts of “stooks,” “wipes,” and “fogles,” and
in fact the generic term for a kerchief, whether neck or pocket.
~Banded~, hungry. From the habit hungry folks have of tying themselves
tight round the middle.
~Bandy~, or CRIPPLE, a sixpence, so called from this coin being
generally bent or crooked; old term for flimsy or bad cloth, temp. Q.
Elizabeth.
~Bang~, to excel or surpass; BANGING, great or thumping.
~Bang-up~, first-rate, in the best possible style.
~Bank~, to put in a place of safety. “BANK the rag,” _i.e._, secure the
note. Also “to bank” is to go shares.
~Bank~, the total amount possessed by any one, “How’s the BANK?” “Not
very strong; about one and a buck.”
~Bantling~, a child; stated in _Bacchus and Venus_, 1737, and by
_Grose_, to be a cant term. This is hardly slang now-a-days, and modern
etymologists give its origin as that of bands or swaddling clothes.
~Banyan-Day~, a day on which no meat is served out for rations; probably
derived from the BANIANS, a Hindoo caste, who abstain from animal food.
Quite as probably from the sanitary arrangements which have in hot
climates counselled the eating of BANYANS and other fruits in preference
to meat on certain days.—_Sea._
~Bar~, or BARRING, excepting; in common use in the betting-ring; “Two to
one bar one,” _i.e._, two to one against any horse with the exception of
one. The Irish use of BARRIN’ is very similar, and the words BAR and
BARRING may now be regarded as general.
~Barber’s Cat~, a half-starved sickly-looking person. Term used in
connexion with an expression too coarse to print.