The Slang Dictionary

by John Camden Hotten

Overview

Note.-The reader will bear in mind that this is a Dictionary of modern Slang, -a list of colloquial words and phrases in present use, -whether of ancient or modern formation. Whenever Ancient is appended to a word, it means that the expression was in respectable use in or previous to the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Old or Old English, affixed to a word, signifies that it was in general use as a proper expression in or previous to the reign of Charles II. Old Cant indicates that the term was in use as a Cant word during or before the same reign. The Publishers will be much obliged by the receipt of any cant, slang, or vulgar words not mentioned in the Dictionary. The probable origin, or etymology, of any fashionable or unfashionable vulgarism, will also be received with thanks

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781547052271
Publisher:	CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date:	06/06/2017
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.97(d)

Read an Excerpt

TO TOW RE, to see. TRYNINa, [trine,] han3ing. TYB OF TBE BUTERY, a goose. WALKING MORTE, womene, [who pas for widows.] WAPPINO [coition.] WHYDDES, wordes. WYN, a penny. [A correspondent of Notes and Quartet suggests the connexion of this word with the Welch GWYN, white—i. e., the white silver penny. See other examples under Bldnt, in the Dictionary; cf. also the Armorican, "owennek," a penny.] YANNAM, bread. Turning our attention more to the Cant of modern times, in connexion with the old, we find that words have been drawn into the thieves' vocabulary from every conceivable source. Hard or infrequent words, vulgarly termed crack-jaw, or jaw-breakers, were very often used and considered as Cant terms. And here it should be mentioned that at the present day the most inconsistent and far-fetched terms are often used for secret purposes, when they are known to be caviare to the million. It is really laughable to know that such words as incongruous, insipid, interloper, intriguing, indecorum, forestall, equip, hush, grapple, andc., andc., were current Cant words a century and a half ago; but such was the case, as any one may see in the Dictionary of Canting Words at the end of Bacchus and Venus 1737. They are inserted not as jokes or squibs, but as selections from the veritable pocket dictionaries of the Jack Sheppards and Dick Turpins of the day. If they were safely used as unknown and cabalistic terms amongst the commonalty, the fact would form a very curious illustration of the ignorance of our poor ancestors. One piece of information is conveyed to us—i.e., that the "knights" or "gentlemen of the road," using these polite words in those days of highwaymen, were reallywell-educated men,—which heretofore has always Tbla is a curious volume, and is worth ...