SLANG, low, vulgar, unwritten, or unauthorised language. _Gipsey_,
SLANG, the secret language of the Gipseys, synonymous with GIBBERISH,
another Gipsey word. This word is only to be found in the Dictionaries
of _Webster_ and _Ogilvie_. It was, perhaps, first recorded by _Grose_,
in his _Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue_, 1785. SLANG, since it has
been adopted as an English word, generally implies vulgar language not
known or recognised as CANT; and latterly, when applied to speech, has
superseded the word FLASH.
SLANG, counterfeit or short weights and measures. A SLANG quart is a
pint and a half. SLANG measures are lent out at 2d. per day. The term
is used principally by costermongers.
SLANG, to cheat, to abuse in foul language.
SLANG, a travelling show.
SLANG, a watch chain.
SLANGY, flashy, vulgar; loud in dress, manner, and conversation.
SLANTINGDICULAR, oblique, awry,—as opposed to PERPENDICULAR.
SLAP, paint for the face, rouge.
SLAP, exactly, precisely; “SLAP in the wind’s eye,” _i.e._, exactly to
windward.
SLAP-UP, first-rate, excellent, very good.
SLAP-BANG, suddenly, violently.
SLAP-BANG SHOPS, low eating houses, where you have to pay down the
ready money with a SLAP-BANG.—_Grose._
SLAP-DASH, immediately, or quickly.
SLASH, a pocket in an overcoat.
SLASHER, a powerful roisterer, a pugilist; “the TIPTON SLASHER.”
SLATE, to pelt with abuse, to beat, to “LICK;” or, in the language of
the reviewers, to “cut up.”
SLATE, “he has a SLATE loose,” _i.e._, he is slightly crazy.
SLAVEY, a maid servant.
SLEWED, drunk, or intoxicated.—_Sea term._ When a vessel changes the
tack she, as it were, staggers, the sails flap, she gradually heels
over, and the wind catching the waiting canvas, she glides off at
another angle. The course pursued by an intoxicated, or SLEWED man, is
supposed to be analogous to that of the ship.
SLICK, an _Americanism_, very prevalent in England since the
publication of Judge Haliburton’s facetious stories. As an _adjective_,
SLICK means rapidly, effectually, utterly; as a _verb_, it has the
force of “to despatch rapidly,” turn off, get done with a thing.
SLICK A DEE, a pocket book.
SLING, to pass from one person to another.
SLIP, “to give the SLIP,” to run away, or elude pursuit. _Shakespere_
has “you _gave me the counterfeit_,” in Romeo and Juliet. GIVING THE
SLIP, however, is a _Sea phrase_, and refers to fastening an anchor
and chain cable to a floating buoy, or water cask, until such a time
arrives that is convenient to return and take them on board. In
fastening the cable, the home end is _slipped_ through the hawse pipe.
Weighing anchor is a noisy task, so that giving it the SLIP infers to
leave it in quietness.
SLIP, or LET SLIP; “to SLIP into a man,” to give him a sound beating;
“to LET SLIP at a cove,” to rush violently upon him, and assault with
vigour.
SLOG, or SLOGGER (its original form), to beat, baste, or wallop.
_German_, SCHLAGEN; or, perhaps a vulgar corruption of SLAUGHTER. The
pretended _Greek_ derivation from σλογω, which _Punch_ puts in the
mouth of the schoolboy, in his impression of 4th May, 1859, is of
course only intended to mystify grandmamma, there being no such word in
the language.
SLOGGERS, _i.e._, SLOW-GOERS, the second division of race-boats at
_Cambridge_. At _Oxford_ they are called TORPIDS.—_Univ._
SLOGGING, a good beating.
SLOP, cheap, or ready made, as applied to clothing, is generally
supposed to be a modern appropriation; but it was used in this sense in
1691, by _Maydman_, in his _Naval Speculations_; and by _Chaucer_ two
centuries before that. Slops properly signify sailors’ working clothes.
SLOP, a policeman. Probably at first _back slang_, but now general.
SLOPE, to decamp, to run, or rather _slip_ away. Originally from
LOPE, to make off; the _s_ probably became affixed as a portion
of the preceding word, as in the case of “_let’s lope_,” let us
run.—_Americanism._
SLOPS, chests or packages of tea; “he shook a slum of SLOPS,” _i.e._,
stole a chest of tea.
SLOUR, to lock, or fasten.
SLOUR’D, buttoned up; SLOUR’D HOXTER, an inside pocket buttoned up.
SLOWED, to be locked up—in prison.
SLUICERY, a gin shop or public house.
SLUM, a letter.
SLUM, a chest, or package.—_See_ SLOPS.
SLUM, gammon; “up to SLUM,” wide awake, knowing,
“And this, without more SLUM, began,
Over a flowing Pot-house can,
To settle, without botheration,
The rigs of this here tip-top nation.”
_Jack Randall’s Diary_, 1820.
SLUM THE GORGER, to cheat on the sly, to be an eye servant. SLUM in
this sense is _old cant_.
SLUMMING, passing bad money.
SLUMS, or BACK SLUMS, dark retreats, low neighbourhoods; “the
Westminster SLUMS,” favourite haunts for thieves.
SLUSHY, a ship’s cook.
SMACK SMOOTH, even, level with the surface, quickly.
SMALL BEER, “he does’t think SMALL BEER of himself,” _i.e._, he has a
great opinion of his own importance. SMALL COALS is also used in the
same sense.
SMASH, to become bankrupt, or worthless; “to go all to SMASH;” to
break, or “go to the dogs.”
SMASH, to pass counterfeit money.
SMASHER, one who passes bad coin.
SMASHFEEDER, a Britannia metal spoon,—the best imitation shillings are
made from this metal.
SMELLER, a blow on the nose, or a NOSER.
SMIGGINS, soup served to convicts on board the hulks.
SMISH, a shirt, or chemise. Corruption of the _Span_.—See MISH.
SMITHERS, or SMITHEREENS, “all to SMITHEREENS,” all to smash. SMITHER,
is a _Lincolnshire_ word for a fragment.
SMOKE, to detect, or penetrate an artifice.
SMUDGE, to smear, obliterate, daub. Corruption of SMUTCH.—_Times_, 10th
August, 1859.
SMUG, extremely neat, after the fashion, in order.
SMUG, to snatch another’s property and run.
SMUGGINGS, snatchings, or purloinings,—shouted out by boys, when
snatching the tops, or small play property, of other lads, and then
running off at full speed.
“Tops are in; spin ’em agin.
Tops are out; SMUGGING about.”
SMUT, a copper boiler. Also, the “blacks” from a furnace.
SMUTTY, obscene,—vulgar as applied to conversation.
SNACK, booty, or share. Also, a light repast.—_Old cant and Gipsey
term._
SNAFFLED, arrested, “pulled up,”—so termed from a kind of horse’s bit,
called a SNAFFLE. In _East Anglia_, to SNAFFLE is to talk foolishly.
SNAGGLE TEETH, uneven, and unpleasant looking dental operators.—_West._
SNAGS (_Americanism_), ends of sunken drift-wood sticking out of the
water, on which river steamers are often wrecked.
SNAGGLING, angling after geese with a hook and line, the bait being a
worm or snail. The goose swallows the bait, and is quietly landed and
bagged.
SNAGGY, cross, crotchetty, malicious.
SNAM, to snatch, or rob from the person.
SNAPPS, share, portion; any articles or circumstances out of which
money may be made; “looking out for SNAPPS,” waiting for windfalls,
or odd jobs.—_Old._ _Scotch_, CHITS,—term also used for “coppers,” or
halfpence.
SNEAKSMAN, a shoplifter; a petty, cowardly thief.
SNEEZER, a snuff box; a pocket-handkerchief.
SNEEZE LURKER, a thief who throws snuff in a person’s face and then
robs him.