vulgarly called vagabones, set forth for the utilitie and profit of his
naturall countrey, augmented and inlarged by the first author thereof;
whereunto is added the tale of the second taking of the counterfeit
crank, with the true report of his behaviour and also his punishment for
his so dissembling, most marvellous to the hearer or reader thereof,
newly imprinted, 4to. _Imprinted at London, by H. Middleton_, 1573.
Contains the earliest Dictionary of the Cant language. Four editions
were printed—
William Griffith, 1566
1567
1567
Henry Middleton, 1573
What _Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue_ was to the authors of the
earlier part of the present century, Harman’s was to the Deckers, and
Bromes, and Heads of the seventeenth.
~Harrison’s~ (William) Description of the Island of Britain (prefixed to
_Holinshed’s Chronicle_), 2 vols. folio. 1577.
Contains an account of English vagabonds.
~Hazlitt’s~ (William) Table Talk, 12mo, (vol. ii. contains a chapter on
Familiar Style, with a notice on Slang terms.)
~Head’s~ (Richard) English Rogue, described in the Life of Meriton
Latroon, a Witty Extravagant, 4 vols. 12mo. _Frans. Kirkman_, 1671-80.
Contains a list of Cant words, evidently copied from Decker.
~Hell upon earth~, or the most pleasant and delectable History of
Whittington’s Colledge, otherwise vulgarly called Newgate, 12mo. 1703.
~Henley’s~ (John, better known as ORATOR HENLEY) Various Sermons and
Orations. 1719-53.
Contains numerous vulgarisms and Slang phrases.
[~Hitching’s~ (Charles, formerly City Marshal, now a prisoner in
Newgate)] Regulator; or, a Discovery of the Thieves, Thief-Takers, and
Locks, _alias_ Receivers of Stolen Goods in and about the City of
London; also an account of all the flash words now in vogue amongst the
Thieves, &c., 8vo, very rare, _with a curious woodcut_. 1718.
A violent attack upon Jonathan Wild.
~Household Words~, No. 183, September 24.
Gives an interesting article on Slang, with many examples.
~Johnson’s~ (Dr. Samuel) Dictionary (the earlier editions). V. D.
Contains a great number of words italicized as _Cant_, low, or
barbarous.
~Jonson’s~ (Ben.) Bartholomew Fair, ii. 6.
Several Cant words are placed in the mouths of the characters.
~Jonson’s~ (Ben.) Masque of the Gipsies Metamorphosed, 4to. 16—.
Contains numerous Cant words.
~Kent’s~ (E.) Modern Flash Dictionary, containing all the Cant words,
Slang Terms, and Flash Phrases now in Vogue, 18mo, _coloured
frontispiece_. 1825.
~L’Estrange’s~ (Sir Roger) Works (principally translations). V.D.
Abound in vulgar and Slang phrases.
~Lexicon~ Balatronicum; a Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit,
and Pickpocket Eloquence, by a Member of the Whip Club, assisted by
Hell-fire Dick, 8vo. 1811.
One of the many reprints of Grose’s second edition, put forth under a
fresh, and what was then considered a more attractive title. It was
given out in advertisements, &c., as a piece of puff, that it was edited
by a Dr. H. Clarke, but contains scarcely a line more than Grose.
~Liber Vagatorum:~ Der Betler Orden, 4to. Translated into English, with
Notes, by John Camden Hotten, as The Book of Vagabonds and Beggars, with
a vocabulary of their Language (_Rotwelsche Sprach_); edited, with
preface, by Martin Luther, in the year 1528, 4to, _with woodcuts_. 1859.
The first edition of this book appears to have been printed at Augsburg,
by Erhard Oglin, or Ocellus, about 1514,—a small quarto of twelve
leaves. It was frequently reprinted at other places in Germany: and in
1528 there appeared an edition at Wirtemberg, with a preface by Martin
Luther, who says that the “Rotwelsche Sprach,” the Cant language of the
beggars, comes from the Jews, as it contains many Hebrew words, as any
one who understands that language may perceive. This book is divided
into three parts, or sections; the first gives a special account of the
several orders of the “Fraternity of Vagabonds;” the second, sundry
“_notabilia_” relating to the different classes of beggars previously
described; and the third consists of a “Rotwelsche Vocabulary,” or
“Canting Dictionary.” There is a long notice of the “Liber Vagatorum” in
the “Weimarisches Jahrbuch,” 10ter Band, 1856. Mayhew, in his _London
Labour_, states that many of our Cant words are derived from the Jew
fences. It is singular that a similar statement should have been made by
Martin Luther more than three centuries before.
~Life in St. George’s Fields;~ or, The Rambles and Adventures of
Disconsolate William, Esq., and his Surrey Friend, Flash Dick, with
Songs and a FLASH DICTIONARY, 8vo. 1821.
~Maginn~ (Dr.) wrote Slang songs in _Blackwood’s Magazine_. 1827.
~Mayhew’s~ (Henry) London Labour and the London Poor, 4 vols. 1851-61.
An invaluable work to the inquirer into popular or street language.
~Mayhew’s~ (Henry) Great World of London, 8vo. 1857.
An unfinished work, but containing several examples of the use and
application of Cant and Slang words.
~Middleton~ (Thomas) and ~Decker’s~ (Thomas) Roaring Girl; or Moll Cut
Purse, 4to. 1611.
The conversation in one scene is entirely in the so-called pedlar’s
French. It is given in _Dodsley’s Old Plays_.
~Modern Flash Dictionary~, 48mo. 1825.
The smallest Slang dictionary ever printed; intended for the
waistcoat-pockets of the “BLOODS” of the Prince Regent’s time.
~Moncrieff’s~ Tom and Jerry, or Life in London, a Farce in Three Acts,
12mo. 1820.
An excellent exponent of the false and forced “high life” which was so
popular during the minority of George IV. The farce had a run of a
hundred nights, or more, and was a general favourite for years. It
abounds in Cant, and the language of “gig,” as it was then often termed.
Mornings at Bow Street, by T. Wright, 12mo, _with Illustrations by
George Cruikshank_. _Tegg_, 1838.
In this work a few etymologies of Slang words are attempted.
New Canting Dictionary, 12mo. N. D.
A copy of this work is described in _Rodd’s Catalogue of Elegant
Literature_, 1845, part iv., No. 2128, with manuscript notes and
additions in the autograph of Isaac Reed, price £1. 8_s._
~New Dictionary~ of the Terms, Ancient and Modern, of the Canting Crew
in its several tribes of Gypsies, Beggars, Thieves, Cheats, &c., with an
addition of some _Proverbs, Phrases, Figurative Speeches, &c._, by
B. E., GENT., 12mo. N. D. [1710.]
Afterwards issued under the title of _Bacchus and Venus_, 1737, and in
1754 as the _Scoundrel’s Dictionary_.
~New Dictionary~ of all the Cant and Flash Languages used by every class
of offenders, from a Lully Prigger to a High Tober Gloak, small 8vo, pp.
62. 179-.
Mentioned by John Bee.
~Notes and Queries.~ The invaluable Index to this most useful periodical
may be consulted with advantage by the seeker after etymologies of Slang
and Cant words.
~Parker.~ High and Low Life, A View of Society in, being the Adventures
in England, Ireland, &c., of Mr. G. Parker, _A Stage Itinerant_, 2 vols.
in 1, thick 12mo. _Printed for the Author_, 1781.
A curious work, containing many Cant words, with 100 orders of rogues
and swindlers.
~Parker’s~ (Geo.) Life’s Painter of Variegated Characters, with a
Dictionary of Cant Language and Flash Songs, to which is added a
Dissertation on Freemasonry, _portrait_, 8vo. 1789.
~Pegge’s~ (Samuel) Anecdotes of the English Language, chiefly regarding
the Local Dialect of London and Environs, 8vo. 1803-41.
~Perry’s~ (William) London Guide and Stranger’s Safeguard against
Cheats, Swindlers, and Pickpockets, by a Gentleman who has made the
Police of the Metropolis an object of inquiry twenty-two years (no
wonder when the author was in prison a good portion of that time!) 1818.
Contains a dictionary of Slang and Cant words.
~Phillip’s~ New World of Words, folio. 1696.
~Pickering’s~ (F.) Vocabulary, or Collection of Words and Phrases which
have been supposed to be peculiar to the United States of America, to
which is prefixed an Essay on the present state of the English Language
in the United States, 8vo. _Boston_, 1816.
The remark made upon _Bartlett’s Americanisms_ applies equally to this
work.
~Picture of the Fancy~, 12mo. 18—.
Contains numerous Slang terms.
~Potter’s~ (H. T., of _Clay, Worcestershire_) New Dictionary of all the
Cant and Flash Languages, both ancient and modern, 8vo, pp. 62. 1790.
~Poulter.~ The Discoveries of John Poulter, _alias_ Baxter, 8vo, 48
pages. (1770?)
At pages 42, 43, there is an explanation of the “Language of Thieves,
commonly called Cant.”
~Prison-breaker~, The, or the Adventures of John Sheppard, a Farce,
8vo. _London_, 1725.
Contains a Canting song, &c.
~Punch~, or the London Charivari.
Often points out Slang, vulgar, or abused words. It also occasionally
employs them in jokes or sketches of character.
~Quarterly Review~, vol. x. p. 528.
Gives a paper on Americanisms and Slang phrases.
~Randall’s~ (Jack, the Pugilist, formerly of the “Hole in the Wall,”
Chancery Lane) Diary of Proceedings at the House of Call for Genius,
edited by Mr. Breakwindow, to which are added several of Mr. B.’s minor
pieces, 12mo. 1820.
Believed to have been written by Thomas Moore. The verses are mostly
parodies of popular authors, and abound in the Slang of pugilism, and
the phraseology of the fast life of the period.
~Randall~ (Jack), a Few Selections from his Scrap-book; to which are
added Poems on the late Fight for the Championship, 12mo. 1822.
Frequently quoted by Moore in _Tom Crib’s Memorial_.
~Scoundrel’s Dictionary;~ or, an Explanation of the Cant Words used by
Thieves, Housebreakers, Street-robbers, and Pickpockets about Town, with
some curious Dissertations on the Art of Wheedling, &c., the whole
printed from a copy taken on one of their gang, in the late scuffle
between the watchman and a party of them on Clerkenwell Green,
8vo. 1754.
A reprint of _Bacchus and Venus_, 1737.
~Sharp~ (Jeremy), The Life of an English Rogue, 12mo. 1740.
Includes a “Vocabulary of the Gypsies’ Cant.”
~Sherwood’s~ Gazetteer of Georgia, U.S., 8vo.
Contains a glossary of words, Slang and vulgar, peculiar to the Southern
States.
~Smith~ (Capt. Alexander), The Thieves’ Grammar, 12mo, p. 28. 17—.
A copy of this work is in the collection formed by Prince Lucien
Bonaparte.
~Smith’s~ (Capt.) Compleat History of the Lives and Robberies of the
most Notorious Highwaymen, Footpads, Shoplifters, and Cheats, of both
Sexes, in and about London and Westminster, 12mo, vol. i. 1719.
This volume contains “The Thieves’ New Canting Dictionary of the Words,
_Proverbs, &c., used by Thieves_.”
~Smith’s~ (Capt.) Thieves’ Dictionary, 12mo. 1724.
~Snowden’s~ Magistrate’s Assistant, and Constable’s Guide, thick small
8vo. 1852.
Gives a description of the various orders of cadgers, beggars, and
swindlers, together with a Glossary of the Flash Language.
~Sportsman’s Dictionary~, 4to. 17—.
By an anonymous author. Contains some low sporting terms.
~Stanley’s~ Remedy, or the Way how to Reform Wandring Beggars, Thieves,
&c., wherein is shewed that Sodomes Sin of Idleness is the Poverty and
the Misery of this Kingdome, 4to. 1646.
This work has an engraving on wood which is said to be the veritable
original of Jim Crow.
~Swift’s~ coarser pieces abound in vulgarities and Slang expressions.
~The Triumph of Wit~, or Ingenuity displayed in its Perfection, being
the Newest and most Useful Academy, Songs, Art of Love, and the Mystery
and Art of Canting, with Poems, Songs, &c., in the Canting Language,
16mo. _J. Clarke_, 1735.
What is generally termed a shilling _Chap Book_.
~The Triumph of Wit~, or the Canting Dictionary, being the Newest and
most Useful Academy, containing the Mystery and art of Canting, with the
original and present management thereof, and the ends to which it serves
and is employed, illustrated with Poems, Songs, and various Intrigues in
the Canting Language, with the Explanations, &c., 12mo. _Dublin_, N. D.
A Chap Book of 32 pages, _circa_ 1760.
~The Whole Art Of Thieving~ and Defrauding Discovered: being a Caution
to all Housekeepers, Shopkeepers, Salesmen, and others, to guard against
Robbers of both Sexes, and the best Methods to prevent their Villanies;
to which is added an Explanation of most of the Cant terms in the
Thieving Language, 8vo, pp. 46. 1786.
~Thomas~ (I.), My Thought Book, 8vo. 1825.
Contains a chapter on Slang.
~Tom Crib’s~ Memorial to Congress, with a Preface, Notes, and Appendix
by one of the Fancy [Tom Moore, the Poet], 12mo. 1819.
A humorous poem, abounding in Slang and pugilistic term, with a
burlesque essay on the classic origin of Slang.
~Vacabondes~, the Fraternatye of, as well as of ruflyng Vacabones, as of
beggerly, of Women as of Men, of Gyrles as of Boyes, with their proper
Names and Qualities, with a Description of the Crafty Company of
Cousoners and Shifters, also the XXV. Orders of Knaves; otherwyse called
a Quartern of Knaves, confirmed by Cocke Lorell, 8vo. Imprinted at
London by John Awdeley, dwellyng in little Britayne strete, without
Aldersgate. 1575.
It is stated in _Ames’ Typog. Antiq._, vol. ii. p. 885, that an edition
bearing the date 1565 is in existence, and that the compiler was no
other than old John Audley, the printer, himself. This conjecture,
however, is very doubtful. As stated by Watt, it is more than probable
that it was written by Harman, or was taken from his works, in MS. or
print.
~Vaux’s~ (Count de, a swindler and pickpocket) Life, written by himself,
2 vols., 12mo, to which is added a Canting Dictionary. 1819.
These Memoirs were suppressed on account of the scandalous passages
contained in them.
~Webster’s~ (Noah) Letter to the Hon. John Pickering, on the Subject of
his Vocabulary, or Collection of Words and Phrases supposed to be
peculiar to the United States, 8vo, pp. 69. _Boston_, 1817.
~Wild~ (Jonathan), History of the Lives and Actions of Jonathan Wild,
Thieftaker, Joseph Blake, _alias_ Blueskin, Footpad, and John Sheppard,
Housebreaker; together with a Canting Dictionary by Jonathan Wild,
_woodcuts_, 12mo. 1750.
~Wilson~ (Professor), contributed various Slang pieces to _Blackwood’s
Magazine_; including a Review of Bee’s Dictionary.
~Witherspoon’s~ (Dr., of America,) Essays on Americanisms, Perversions
of Language in the United States, Cant phrases, &c., 8vo, in the 4th
vol. of his works. _Philadelphia_, 1801.
The earliest work on American vulgarisms. Originally published as a
series of Essays, entitled the _Druid_, which appeared in a periodical
in 1761.
BALLANTYNE & COMPANY LTD
TAVISTOCK STREET COVENT GARDEN
LONDON
DICTIONARIES
THE READER’S HANDBOOK OF ALLUSIONS, REFERENCES, PLOTS, AND STORIES.
By the Rev. E. C. BREWER, LL.D. Crown 8vo, cloth, 3s 6d net.
A DICTIONARY OF MIRACLES: Imitative, Realistic, and Dogmatic. By the
Rev. E. C. BREWER, LL.D. Crown 8vo, cloth, 3s 6d net.
WORDS, FACTS, AND PHRASES: A Dictionary of Curious, Quaint, and Odd
Matters. By ELIEZER EDWARDS. Crown 8vo, cloth, 3s 6d.
FAMILIAR SHORT SAYINGS OF GREAT MEN: with Historical and Explanatory
Notes. By SAMUEL A. BENT, A.M. Crown 8vo, cloth, 7s 6d.
FAMILIAR ALLUSIONS. By WILLIAM A. and CHARLES J. WHEELER. Demy 8vo,
cloth, 7s 6d net.
THE SLANG DICTIONARY: Etymological, Historical, and Anecdotal. Crown
8vo, cloth, 6s 6d.
A DICTIONARY OF THE DRAMA. By W. DAVENPORT ADAMS. Vol. I (A to G).
Demy 8vo, cloth, 10s 6d net.
London: CHATTO & WINDUS, 111 St. Martin’s Lane, W.C.
* * * * *
Transcriber’s Note:
An advertisement for dictionaries has been moved from the beginning of
the text to the end.
The following are used inconsistently in the text:
banknote and bank-note
battles and battells
big-bird and big bird
blackguard and black-guard
boatrace and boat-race
Boozingken and Boozing-Ken
bow-Catcher and bowcatcher
brother-chip and brother-chip
Bubble-and-Squeak and Bubble and Squeak
chamberpot and chamber-pot
cherry-colour and cherry colour
chuck up and chuck-up
coalheaver and coal-heaver
cockshy and cock-shy
cocoanuts and cocoa-nuts
comb cut and comb-cut
coon and ’coon
corner men and corner-men
crabshells and crab shells
cutpurse and cut-purse
daylights and day-light
dead-heat and dead heat
dolly shop and dolly-shop
dunnyken and dunna-ken
everyday and every-day
fagot and faggot
fawney bouncing and fawney-bouncing
fyebuck and fye-buck
halfpence and half-pence
horse chaunter and horse-chaunter
housebreaking and house-breaking
kin-the-lamb and kin the lamb
knobstick and knob-stick
lovelock and love-lock
M. B. and M.B.
M. T. and M.T.
Merry Dun of Dover and merry dun of Dover
mountain pecker and mountain-pecker
necktie and neck-tie
newcomers and new-comers
now-a-days and nowadays
outdoor and out-door
overbearing and over-bearing
overnight and over-night
overreach and over-reach
P. P. and P.P.
parney and parny
percentages and per-centages
pillbox and pill-box
playhouse and play-house
purseproud and purse-proud
racehorse and race-horse
randem and random
reach me downs and reach-me-downs
ringdropping and ring-dropping
schofel and schoful
schoolboys and school-boys
seaport and sea-port
secondhand and second-hand
signpost and sign-post
Soft-soap and soft soap
speechmaking and speech-making
turncoat and turn-coat
turnout and turn-out
W. P. and W.P.
water-bewitched and water bewitched
watercloset and water-closet
wideawake and wide-awake
The following errors in the printed text have been corrected:
advertisement “W.,” changed to “W.”
advertisement “A to G)” changed to “(A to G)”
p. 15 “Bcck” changed to “Beck”
p. 17 “coined money” changed to “coined money.”
p. 29 “‘cribs’’” changed to “‘cribs’””
p. 41 “_Tam O’ Shanter_.”” changed to “_Tam O’ Shanter_.”
p. 68 “on’t—” changed to “on’t”—”
p. 74 “appearance” changed to “appearance.”
p. 74 “I Cor.” changed to “1 Cor.”
p. 82 “Dr” changed to “Dr.”
p. 83 “under-raduates” changed to “under-graduates”
p. 88 “BLUHEN” changed to “BLÜHEN”
p. 89 “ἄσπρόν” changed to “ἄσπρον”
p. 90 “the new police” changed to “the new police.”
p. 91 “belong to you” changed to “belong to you.”
p. 94 “Spit-curl,”” changed to “Spit-curl,”
p. 97 “Rothwalsch” changed to “Rothwälsch”
p. 97 “good fellow;” changed to “good fellow;””
p. 98 “at races” changed to “at races.”
p. 101 “large thick,” changed to “large, thick,”
p. 106 “tumble up,” changed to “tumble up”
p. 107 “contruction” changed to “contraction”
p. 111 “ny temporary” changed to “any temporary”
p. 114 “pay.—ED” changed to “pay.—ED.”
p. 115 “CHEESE your barrikin,”” changed to ““CHEESE your barrikin,””
p. 116 “Derivation obvious” changed to “Derivation obvious.”
p. 118 “and waistcoat” changed to “and waistcoat.”
p. 120 “first-rate” changed to “first-rate.”
p. 128 “Κορινθίαζ εσθαι” changed to “Κορινθιάζεσθαι”
p. 135 “Very often” changed to ““Very often”
p. 136 “Culloden;*” changed to “Culloden;”
p. 137 “CUT ONE’S” CHANGED TO ““CUT ONE’S”
p. 139 “interrupted Julian” changed to “interrupted Julian,”
P. 141 “SO LOOK OUT”” CHANGED TO “SO LOOK OUT.””
P. 152 “MEDIOCITY” CHANGED TO “MEDIOCRITY”
P. 161 “O FOURTEEN” CHANGED TO “OF FOURTEEN”
P. 168 ““OR IN BAD” CHANGED TO “OR “IN BAD”
P. 171 “FULLY committed for trial.” changed to “FULLY committed for
trial.””
p. 176 “crush hat” changed to “crush hat.”
p. 178 “by schoolboys” changed to “by schoolboys.”
p. 188 “unthinking” changed to “unthinking.”
p. 189 “~Harry-soph~” changed to “~Harry-soph~,”
p. 197 “Umh!” changed to ““Umh!”
p. 209 “_Gloucestershire_.” changed to “_Gloucestershire_,”
p. 217 “of the door,’” changed to “of the door,””
p. 219 “nothing five” changed to “nothing: five”
p. 224 “what a MEASLEY” changed to ““what a MEASLEY”
p. 229 “bad MOUNT.” changed to “bad MOUNT.””
p. 232 “_Neptune’s Triumph_, whch” changed to “_Neptune’s Triumph_,
which”
p. 233 “Shakspear ehas” changed to “Shakspeare has”
p. 234 “VAMOS.”” changed to “VAMOS.”
p. 236 ““Your NIBS,” yourself.”” changed to ““Your NIBS,” yourself.”
p. 237 “~Nix my dolly~once” changed to “~Nix my dolly~, once”
p. 243 “_i.e._, you” changed to “_i.e._, “you”
p. 247 “to the PARTY?”” changed to “to the PARTY?”
p. 247 “_Stephano._” changed to ““_Stephano._”
p. 250 “drive awa ;” changed to “drive away;”
p. 251 “Nor yet a single” changed to ““Nor yet a single”
p. 253 “dérobé”).” changed to “dérobé)”.”
p. 253 “English word” changed to “English word.”
p. 254 “its purity?” changed to “its purity?””
p. 254 “trrdesman” changed to “tradesman”
p. 256 “£100,0000,” changed to “£100,000,”
p. 258 “~Pops ~,pocket-pistols.” changed to “~Pops~, pocket-pistols.”
p. 264 “THICK UN a” changed to “THICK UN, a”
p. 265 “for the account”” changed to “for the account.””
p. 275 “in unproductive” changed to “an unproductive”
p. 285 “improvemennts” changed to “improvements”
p. 295 “voilently” changed to “violently”
p. 296 “a good beating,” changed to “a good beating.”
p. 297 “Sluieing” changed to “Sluicing”
p. 297 “tip-top nation.” changed to “tip-top nation.””
p. 299 “SNIDE ’UN.”” changed to “SNIDE ’UN.”
p. 304 “a person, to cease” changed to “a person,” to cease”
p. 305 “TEA-SPOON,” changed to “TEA-SPOON;”
p. 306 “prisoners, when,” changed to “prisoners, when”
p. 307 “~Stab-rag~” changed to “~Stab-rag~,”
p. 316 “first six months” changed to “first six months;”
p. 321 “that term” changed to “that term.”
p. 322 “upon TICKET.” changed to “upon TICKET.””
p. 331 “TWIG,’” changed to “TWIG,””
p. 334 “can you” changed to ““can you”
p. 338 “WORRIT, ro” changed to “or WORRIT,”
p. 334 “igin hougour” changed to “igin agan hougour”
p. 334 “Romany!” changed to “Romany?”
p. 340 “WHITE WINE.”” changed to “WHITE WINE.’””
p. 349 “end with two vowels” changed to “end with two consonants”
p. 354 “~Exis yanneps~xpence.” changed to “~Exis yanneps~, sixpence.”
p. 354 “an apple” changed to “an apple.”
p. 368 “of beer” changed to “of beer.”
p. 369 “centre slang, then,” changed to “Centre slang, then,”
p. 372 “_London_, 1809” changed to “_London_, 1809.”
p. 374 “part of the work” changed to “part of the work.”
p. 374 “attemp” changed to “attempts.”
p. 375 “1858” changed to “1858.”
p. 376 “1797” changed to “1797.”
p. 378 “1859” changed to “1859.”
p. 379 “Wiemarisches” changed to “Weimarisches”
p. 379 “10te” changed to “10ter”
Inconsistent use of small capitals and italics has been left as printed.
On p. 76, “will about win” has been left as printed.
On p. 121, “_See_ COAL” in the entry for “Coal” has been left as
printed.
On p. 195, “the blue jackets wont” has been left as printed.
On p. 379, “Wirtemberg” has been left as printed.
The following were not clearly printed and are conjectural:
Footnote to p. 53 “most objectionable”
p. 90 full stop in “Bethnal Green Museum.”
p. 94 the letter p in “person who steals”
p. 94 bracketed text in “swindler[, or a] lie”
p. 114 bracketed text in “Ch[aw] over”
p. 158 comma in “unfeminine accomplishment,”
p. 164 letter n and comma in “~Flim-flamn~,”
p. 181 bracketed text in “[tie]d.—_Sea._”
p. 197 last two digits in “1632.”
p. 207 last two digits in “1820.”
p. 211 bracketed text in “so[lic]ited”
p. 243 bracketed text in “descripti[on,]”
p. 248 semi-colon in “POIX);”
p. 262 “to” in “stratagem to excite”
p. 295 comma in “into a man,”
p. 337 comma in “WELSHER,”
There are a number of references to non-existent entries:
the entry for “Briefs” refers to “Reflectors”;
the entry for “Bub” refers to “Bibe”
the entry for “Harum-scarum” refers to “Tandem”;
the entry for “Lucky” refers to “Strike”;
the entry for “Man in the moon” refers to “Election Inquiries”;
the entry for “Random” refers to “Tandem”;
the entry for “Whiddle” refers to “Wheedle”.
In some cases entries of that name exist, but appear to be unrelated:
the entry for “Buz” refers to “Snooks” and “Walker”;
the entry for “Random” refers to “Sudden Death”.
The following possible error has been left as printed:
p. 254 “an ingenious candle-snuffers”
End of Project Gutenberg's The Slang Dictionary, by John Camden Hotten