Take a look below to see all the old slang words and phrases we should still use today. No particularly heinous ones have made the list (though I suppose it depends on whether you think being called a tomato is insulting), but many of the compliments particularly for women are highly superficial. Roon - Round. "That clay-bank hog wants the same pay as a Senator; he's getting . Well send you our daily roundup of all our favorite stories from across the site, from travel to food to shopping to entertainment. Meaning: A specific sort of alluring woman with the kind of raunchy sex appeal that makes everybody, including inanimate objects, weak in the knees. TANDEM referred to a two-wheeled chaise, buggy, or noddy, that was drawn by two horses, with one horse placed before the other. The Roaring Twenties, or the Jazz Age as it's also known, saw the first signs of the "liberated woman," leading to the birth of the "flapper." The flapper was outspoken, she had the right to vote, she was fun-loving, and demanded sexual freedom. Use right arrow key to move into submenus. Riddy - A red face, embarrassed. Unsavory characters and criminals wore it because they could comb the foretop over the eyes. 1800s slang for womanscottsboro funeral home obits. That's the Ticket The proper thing to do, ticket being a distortion of etiquette. Example Sentence: "That shirt makes you look like such a glorious tomato.". Subset of Native American indicating person who was at Wounded Knee incident in South Dakota in the '70s; Member of A.I.M. Hello is considered a variant on a number of other similar wordslike hallo, holla, and hollothat were used to hail and shout to gain attention and recorded prior to the 1800s. In the last case, I'm not findng any verbed place names in Britain, but in the same era, there was definitely verbing of personal names here, for example boycott. Arfarfanarf. Amorous congress was a euphemism for sexual intercourse, as was TWO HANDED PUT. The catch-em (all) alive-o. Native Americans. Meaning: An amazing, excellent person. Example: Hey man, sorry Im late. Meaning: A sailing term for the curls that lay over a lady's shoulders. Worker (as in "She sizes up as a worker"): A woman who takes a guy for his money. Arrah, cried he, but he wont let me.'. H Hat: A tart's private parts, i.e. david holmes i heard wonders; burt's bees international expansion; nutella mascarpone calzone You might recognize some of the familiar vocabulary you and your friends used back in the day or learn a few new-to-you jargon you can work into your next convo! Salvation Jugginses An aversion to the more violent members of the Salvation Army (there were violent members). "If there was any kind of trading," noted the Grant County Herald in Wisconsin on July 17, 1847, "in which Simon B. Sassenach - From the Gaelic word sasunnach, meaning Saxon, and used to describe non-Gaelic speaking Scottish Lowlanders (and our English friends). An 1870 term for "a man devoted to seduction.. He wont come, answered Paddy. In the late 1300s, nasty described something as "filthy." By the 19th century, nasty was widely characterizing people as "irritable" or "contemptible." We can find nasty applied to girl since at least the 1700s, negatively describing young women as "mean" or "lewd"and in early 1800s slang, positively describing them as "excellent" or "very attractive," just as . Someone who went in one door and just as quickly went out another door without stopping was known as a THOROUGH CHURCHMAN. Lass is a word redolent with the color of Scottish, Irish varieties of English as well as the dialects of the north of England. Cussed - cursed or mean. To fail. But burns like "flapdoodle" and "mumbling cove," on the other hand, don't have quite the same bite. Queer thimble, good for nothing watch. TORCHE-CUL, sometimes referred to as bumfodder, was slang for toilet paper. According to Grose, the term originated from a story of an Irish soldier, who while in battle against the Turks called out to his comrade that he had caught a Tartar. Make A Raise - To raise, procure, obtain. Robin A young child beggar, being compared to a starving robin. Queer cove, a turnkey. Top Ten Most Commonly Used Slang Terms. For history buffs and word nerds, You jerk just doesn't have the same ring as You unlicked cub, an insult from Georgian England. Testicles were also called TWIDDLE-DIDDLES. Knee Jerk. A TAX-FENCER was a slang name for a disreputable shopkeeper. Back in the 19th century, though, throwing one of these insults could get you challenged to a duel. ", Example: "Dan is such a hornswoggler! If you call someone a butt sniffer, they know they've been burnt (Phillips sure did!). 1800s slang for woman 1800s slang for woman. In its earliest attested use (1756), the word slang referred to the vocabulary of low or disreputable people. Below are the definitions for these Victorian insults, plus 14 more rude words that we definitely think should be integrated back into modern vernacular. From approximately 1890 to 1919, that term meant they were going to blow-up a safe to rob it, and the person doing it was likely a yeggman, slang for safe robber. You may not get much comprehension, but once you explain it, they may be flattered. 12) Wake snakes get into mischief. Example Sentence: "She's such a Sheba that I can't even talk to her without sweating through my clothes.". Basquine was a word that meant a tight fitting corset-like under-bodice of heavy material worn in the 16 th century. TUB THUMPER was a nickname for a Presbyterian parson. So please hop in our time machine as we take you through the greatest slang terms of the 20th centuryfrom the tough-guy 1950s to the totally rad 1990swhich were once all that and a bag of chips, but have sadly been kicked to the curb. This creative cuss is a contraction of damned if I know., A phrase meaning "elderly," because it "makes the spectator giddy to think of the victim's years." 1800s Insults & Slang from the Victorian Era. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. ( vp ) Help out with something small. they are frequently felt! Someone called a TOM LONG was a tiresome, long story teller. The word became rarer in print in the 18th century when it came to be regarded as vulgar. A shabby person or an unpleasant, deceitful landlord. A TORMENTOR OF SHEEP SKIN was a drummer and a TORMENTOR OF CATGUT or a CATGUT-SCRAPER was a fiddler. How many do you know? It has gone through a number of meanings and spellings since it first began being used . TOMMY was what sailors called bread in order to distinguish it from biscuits. In that pursuit, researchers may be buffaloed. Dratted - expletive or used for damned. TANDEM referred to a two-wheeled chaise, buggy, or noddy, that was drawn by two horses, with one horse placed before the other. All Rights Reserved. Ireland was sometimes called TEA GUELAND. 2) Bottom fact an undisputed fact. Somebody who reads The Sartorialist and has the faintest idea of what pattern clashing and "working a piece of clothing back" mean. Jean Smart Reveals Shes Recovering From Successful Heart Procedure: Listen to Your Body. TO TUP was to have carnal knowledge of a woman. Mumbling cove. hide caption. Hobbledygee: A pace between a walk and run, a trot. The meaning "pertaining to cats" dates to 1902. Making Meat - On the Western prairies, cutting into thin slices the boneless parts of the buffalo, or other meat, and drying them in the wind or sun. bounce. Hotter than a $2 pistol. Meaning: The roaring '20s used this delightful term to describe liquor or any alcoholic beverage. Meaning: It wasn't just Bambi who used this word for a lovey-dovey couple back in the 1940s. A society word meaning smart. Forrester demonstrates the usage: "The goods are not 'afternoonified' enough for me.. But please don't, I fear pigeons the most. He operated his own gang and handed over some of his own gang members, but eventually his secret was discovered and he was hanged for perjury in 1725. Etymology of the word slang. TRUNDLERS was another slang name for peas. "So I went on a regular wake snakes sort of a spree, and I went here and there turnin', twistin' and doublin' about until I didn't know where or who I was," a man testified in court as to why he was intoxicated, according to the New Orleans, La., Times Picayune of Aug. 15, 1842. One of the most well-known THIEF TAKERS was Jonathan Wild. Example: "Hey man, sorry I'm late. Get a FREE booklet containing some of the best things said by the best dames! Moll (girlfriend, a Gun Moll is a gangster's girlfriend) Mugbug (girl who gives in easily, the opposite of a herring) Number Paznazki (loose woman) Pick Me Up (yep, another loose woman) Pig (chorus girl) Pigeon (girl who sits with the driver in the front seat of a rum-runner's car or boat to give it an air of respectability) So the next time you want to tell somebody you love their walk, their attitude, their particular take on things, or just think they look amazing in those jeans, you can give them one of these straight in the kisser. And playing with it. What your grandfather would call a "firecracker." Strumpet - a whore. If you were TURNED UP you were acquitted or discharged. A version of this story ran in 2018; it has been updated for 2021. Meaning: This described someone who was "in the know" or aware of everything going on around them in the 1920s. If you are capable of holding enormous amounts of large liquor and see someone struggling to keep up, feel free to call them this term. Authors collection. It was indecent, of course, but people only used it for the sexual act itself. Slang, being a language of synonyms and . Meaning: A sweet, miniature sort of cuteness. If you were IN TWIG you were a handsome, fashionable fellow but TO TWIG meant to observe something. Unique histories from the 18th and 19th centuries, Excerpt of a BBC interview with Geri on May 1, 2017, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), View 18thcand19thcs profile on Instagram, View 117631667933120811735s profile on Google+, Marie Antoinettes Confidante: The Rise and Fall of the Princesse de Lamballe, Napoleons Downfall: Madame Rcamier and Her Battle With the Emperor, Jane Austens Cousin: The Outlandish Contess De Feuillide, Bicycling in the Victorian Era and Lady Riders, A Hanging Known as English Open-air Entertainment, Jack the Ripper: Contemporary Press and Public Suspects, Cat Superstitions in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. Meaning: Have you ever heard beer referred to as "suds"? In their Ive seen 1939s The Women approximately 20,000 times, give or take, still its one of the few movies I always watch I used to think that looking across a pillow into the fabulous face of Buster Keaton would be a more thrilling destiny One of the things I love about old movies, old songs, and detective novels from the likes of Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain and Raymond Chandler, is the great slang. 3 Bras for Mature Women That Properly Lift and Support Breasts. 1930s. The anthology is filled with slang words and terms of the kind dictionary scribe Samuel Johnson had previously deemed unfit for his influential A Dictionary of the English Language (1755). drumsticks - This word was used as a slang expression for a person's legs. Hoosegow (jail or prison) Meathook (a hand) On the make (being flirtatious with the opposite sex) Short (a streetcar) Simp (foolish, stupid person) Steam up (build up, agitate) Vigorish (high interest on a loan) But not all 1910 slang words have disappeared from our vocabulary. Drag: women's clothing worn by a man. Some names were self-created and others were thrust, often cruelly, upon gay, bi, and queer men. He's no ratbag, but feel free to use that word on your least favorite neighbor. The front window. Another name that shows up is Old Timer's Disease. THUMMIKINS was an instrument formerly used in Scotland, similar to a vice, that pinched the thumbs of persons suspected of a crime in order to extort a confession. Leo and Sagittarius Compatibility: Are They a Good Match in Love and Friendship? Salma Hayek is a Sheba. Shaolin School 1800s slang for woman . watford town hall vaccination centre contact. 1880s. Church bell. Nineteenth-century sailor slang for A riotous holiday, a noisy day in the streets., A naval term referring to meat so bad it might be dog flesh., Brave or fearless. Piece - A sandwich. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. Queer pops, bad pistols. Register for an account. Things people used to say in old west capture the ambience of the land in ways watching John Wayne westerns and playing Oregon Trail could not. The blind alley. The politics of black slang are tricky. Buttoner: A sharper's assistant who entices dupes. Addle Pate "An inconsiderate foolish fellow." 2. Lets Go, Girls: A Guide to the Shania Twain Songs You May Not Have Heard, Whitney Houstons 1985 MTV Debut Broke Barriers for Black Artists Heres the Story of How Will I Know. Hes very arfarfanarf," Forrester writes, "meaning he has had many arfs, or half-pints of booze. Richard Twiss wrote a travel book titled A Tour of Ireland in 1775. How are you translate in Newari language? Some definitions from the time insist that this person's value lies in their amazing generosity, because they love to pay for everything when you get together, and won't hear of you grabbing the check just once or even going Dutch. Words have adapted over the years. You probably want to be careful about who you say this too; not every man appreciates their bald head being the center of attention. 1800s Wild West Slang You Should Start Using In Your Daily Life New Slang Lists about the hippest lingo that has slipped through the lips of people all around the world and throughout history that will have you going "WTF m8?" Slang Used by Old-Timey Hobos Fun Slang in Languages Nobody Speaks Anymore Speak Like It's the 18th Century Here are some other words meaning female: Ball and Chain (wifehmmm, sensing a pattern here), Dawn Patrol (restaurant lingo for a young woman who regularly patronizes the joint very early in the morning), Herring (an incorruptible girl Herring was the brand of safe that couldnt be dynamited open ), Moll (girlfriend, a Gun Moll is a gangsters girlfriend), Mugbug (girl who gives in easily, the opposite of a herring), Pigeon (girl who sits with the driver in the front seat of a rum-runners car or boat to give it an air of respectability), Whiz Bang (waitress easily dated by customers). Here are an even dozen, pretty much forgotten slanglike words or sayings from the 19th century, rediscovered while delving in the archives and with added guidance from James Maitman's 1891 American Slang Dictionary: 1) Too high for his nut beyond someone's reach. If one adds women, who are almost always seen in a sexual context, one is moving towards 10,000 terms, not far below 10 percent of the entire slang lexis. Further, it can be deleted based on my request. BAGGAGEAn insulting term for a woman, like "hussy." BALLNot only a big party with dancing, but a musket-ball or bullet. The inhabitants of Dublin exacted their revenge by christening their chamber pot a TWISS. A tavern term, popular from 1800 to 1840, that meant great fun. His TARRING AND FEATHERING happened in 1832 by an anti-Mormon mob. If you were to hit the saloon on a Friday night in a frontier town, instead of "getting trashed" you would "paint your nose," which you would be "feezed," not "hyped," to do. Hidey Ho was a Lenox Avenue heads up for the Hos of long ago! The term usually refers to "a maiden or other woman canvassed by other maiden ladies or others.. ( v ) To force to leave. A figure of speech used to describe drunken men. Queer put, an ill-looking foolish fellow. If you ask us, we wouldnt mind seeing some of the more creative colloquialisms from yesteryear make their way back into our chats on a regular basis again. Meaning: This word was used by Victorian-era folks to describe a meal that was scrumptious. TOKEN was a slang reference to the plague or a venereal disease. It meant you were drunk. "That clay-bank hog wants the same pay as a Senator; he's getting too high for his nut," according to a grammar-corrected version of the Oakland, Calif., Tribune on Jan. 12, 1885. Also a snooper or spy., Great list I just wrote a song using a lot of these terms/ Words. "Thousands of words and phrases in existence in 1870 have drifted away, or changed their forms, or been absorbed, while as many have been added or are being added," he writes in the book's introduction. ", Example: "Stop being vazey and call a cab, Brent. 1880s. 6) Lally-cooler -- a real success. The largest and superior marble was called the TAW. ", She adds: "I'm sure we could find nonsensical-looking words it was Lewis Carroll's time after all and verb phrases of the verb-the-animal type, but I'm not sure about ones with fable origins.". By . Before these words disappear forever, here is a linguistic reminder of days past. Blazes - hell or the devil. Again, another one to be careful with. TYBURN TOP was a name for a popular wig. An effeminate looking fellow was also called a TWIDDLE POOP. Example Sentence: "Those rabbit-shaped hat bobbles make you look just cute as a bug's ear, girl.". What were insults in the 1800s? 1800s slang for woman. Meaning: In the 1920s, this was label used for energetic, fiery, and spirited women might have often spent their nights fox trotting around the dance floor. A doctor and a mountebank made all sorts of experiments upon the mountebanks servant. Selfie is the buzzword of today, but what words were used in the 1800s? G iblet joining: Living in sin. Bloody and bugger were the two most prevalent swearwords in the 18th and 19th centuries. So, the term TOAD EATER was applied to fawning, obsequious people or mean sycophants and was a figurative way of putting up with or swallowing insults, as that was supposed to be as disagreeable to a person as toads to the stomach. Why say you're going to fight when you could say you're going to shake a flannin instead? Marvin had a few too many at the bar last night and the bouncer ejected him. A romanticized and often misunderstood period of US history, the Old West utilized a vernacular perfect for the dusty and gritty lifestyles of the pioneers and outlaws who brought the wild to the region. TANGIER or TANGERINES was a room at Newgate prison where debtors were confined. He was told there was no game of that kind there, but that if he wanted to see the elephant he was on the right track," the Lawrence, Kan., Daily Journal reported on Sept. 2, 1891. Required fields are marked *. Abisselfa - By itself. For those of you who want a better idea of life in the Wild West, Old West slang terms definitely help get you in that mindset of cowboys, cattle wranglin', and casually overlooked "brothels." Also, his tattered coat was hideous. Stop laughing, it's an insult! Highfalutin'. A TAYLORS GOOSE (now spelled TAILORS GOOSE) referred to a flat iron because it had a goose-like curve at the neck. Too much extravagance. TARRING AND FEATHERING was a punishment inflicted on persons convicted of certain crimes or suspected of disloyalty. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Example Sentence: "How can you still look like such a buck after dancing until 6 a.m.?". He told me he was personal friends with an Nigerian prince who needs help, and I'm starting to believe he's never even been to Nigeria. "Political corruption if the clergy only keep to that topic, Lincoln will be Chicagoed!" So instead of thinking up new words to add to the dictionary, you should try using some of the old ones. Slang that Survived the Test of Time However, there are some great words that have existed for centuries that we've already forgotten about. By brushing up on the vibrant slang of the Victorian period you really can add some extra colour and fun to your vocabulary. Meaning: This was an apt description for something that was, well, corny. 7) Shinning around -- moving about quickly. 1800s slang for woman. This piece originally ran in 2013; it has been updated for 2022. Especially in the global hodgepodge that is American English. Meaning: Yep, you guessed it: another term for an attractive lady. 1800s slang for woman Here are an even dozen, pretty much forgotten slanglike words or sayings from the 19th century, rediscovered while delving in the archives and with added guidance from James Maitman's 1891 American Slang Dictionary: 1) Too high for his nut beyond someone's reach. It is definitely not fine for someone seeking outpatient substance abuse therapy or any other type of help for their drinking. As distinguished from "whole-mourning," two black eyes. Meaning: This is what some people called umbrellas back in the day, but kind of sounds more like a nice way to describe snoozing through a rainy day. To attack with words or reproach someone was to TONGUE. Bee: a gathering of friends for a common purpose, i.e. ", Example: "Oh man, I'm so scared of birds, I can't even go outside if there are too many out there. Goat's jig: A couple having enthusiastic sex. Herein are 50 vintage slang terms that once-upon-a-time dominated the world, today . A woman who uses a pistol with a great degree of surety. Horoscope: Whats in Store for You February 27 March 5, 2023? ", A shabby person or an unpleasant, deceitful landlord, Example: "So then the mumbling cove told me he was raising my rent 25%. You likely have a little knowledge of old-fashioned compliments we've all heard of "the bee's knees" and "the cat's pajamas." Meaning: Your rear end, as popularized in the 1960s by the Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In catchphrase, "You bet your sweet bippy!"". berger 215 hybrid 300 win mag. JONAH - a slang term for a person who is perceived to be a jinx, or who brings bad luck with him. A saucebox is usually somebody young who's always got awesome comebacks that tend to go viral if they're captured on social media. We all remember popular slang from the past like groovy and bees knees, but there are so many other fun words and phrases that used pop up in everyday conversations over the years. Ladies found that they could fill in the pock marks with beeswax. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. * However, one early 30s glossary says a moocher is a Single-handed thief, usually of low caste. Hopefully. Cute: pretty, 1834 from American English student slang. The lingo of the 1800s was colorful, clever, and sometimes quite crude. Follow me @NPRHistoryDept; lead me by writing lweeks@npr.org. TIPPLE was another slang term for liquor, and TIPPLERS were those who drank the liquor. British and American slang from olden times, sound completely off the wall while doing it. I feel like the underside of a turnip green. A working girl of the late 1800s. A person wearing tattered and raggedy clothing was said to be a TATTERDEMALION. Drinking a glass of absinthe neat; named for the green color of the booze. Forrester cites The Golden Butterfly: "I will back a first-class British subject for bubbling around against all humanity. But burns like "flapdoodle" and "mumbling cove," on the other hand, don't have quite the same bite. You see, dame is only one of many terms folks in the Great Depression had for the chromosomally Y-challenged half of the population. Atakum, SAMSUN. Above-Board - In open sight, without artifice, or trick. ", Fun Slang in Languages Nobody Speaks Anymore, 40 Extremely Weird Slang Terms From The Wild West. To THOROUGH COUGH was to cough and break wind simultaneously. Your email address will not be published. According to Grose, the slang expression TAG-RAG AND BOBTAIL was used to describe an assemblage of low people.. ballin wealthy lifestyle, making money. Someone who was at the top of his profession was called a TOPPING FELLOW, but a rich man was called a TOPPING MAN. How to express your love has changed over the centuries. As we can see with bugger, most categories of swearing require the word not to be used in its literal sense. Quim - female genitalia. This 1883 term for a policeman is so much better than "pig.". Meaning: This was a pretty accurate slang for sausage, which can still be quite mysterious about their fillings. foozler - This term refers to someone who tends to mess things up, such as one who is clumsy in a way that causes items to get damaged. TALLYWAGS or TARRYWAGS was an eighteenth and nineteenth century euphemism for a man's testicles. It means he has had many arfs, arfs being half-pints of booze. Meaning: Named for the crisp, fresh variety of English apple, a pippin is just a good person high morals, can be relied upon to get you out of sticky situations, always knows who's holding the best parties and where, and can totally get you invites. Such practices are not confined to the past. Can you believe that? It was even banned from the Oxford English Dictionary. Meaning: The kind of jaw-dropping dancer who's just casually been doing urban breakdancing for 10 years, but doesn't make a big deal of it until you're in the club and suddenly everybody's in a circle around them clapping. Bootlicker - same as ass-licker. 1880s. Are you going to put lace over the feather, isn't that rather butter upon bacon?, A London society term for tea and coffee used scornfully by drinkers of beer and strong waters in club-life is one of the more ignominious names given to champagne by men who prefer stronger liquors., Quarrels. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Picking Pockets. ), One who slanders another behind his back, i.e. Of course, a woman can also be a snowbird whos a chiseler prone to pulling the Gooseberry Lay, but thats for another day. Here are an even dozen, pretty much forgotten slanglike words or sayings from the 19th century, rediscovered while delving in the archives and with added guidance from James Maitman's 1891. A THORNBACK was an old maid and might have been used to describe Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra, as neither woman married. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. The word was used well into the Edwardian era, but of course the styles changed annually. This is the person who's never had a bad hair day in their lives, and whose partners and friends seem to spend an inordinate amount of time just stroking their hair. a sewing bee, quilting bee, or cornhusking bee. "That north show window of Shute & Haskell's is a 'lally-cooler,' " the Jan. 4, 1890, Salina, Kan., Republican noted. Hotter than a June bride. Powdering Hair This is a polite way to describe someone who is becoming increasingly drunk. The following slang, euphemisms, and terms are for the letter T, and primarily taken from Francis Groses Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue published in 1811.. TABBY was a reference to an old maid because old maids were often compared to cats. 2. Cancer and Leo Compatibility: Are They a Good Match in Love and Friendship? An inmate, pig, trader, hustler, and moll were all slang terms for prostitute. Alas, how times have changed. People who were tarred and feathered were stripped naked, doused with hot tar, and covered from head to toe in feathers. You can't drive. Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. A type of beard "formed by the cheeks and chin being shaved leaving a chain of hair under the chin, and upon each side of mouth forming with moustache something like a door-knocker.".