BRITISH SLANG The following list gives well-established slang of a general type dating from the eighteenth century.
Abram-men, beggars pretending Carrots, a red-haired person. madness to palliate their thefts. Char, a task ; work of any kind.
Adam-tiler, a pickpocket's ally. Chink, money.
Alsatia, White Friars, an old dis- Chit, a child.
trict of London. Chop, to change ; barter.
Ambrol, navy word for admiral. Clack, a woman's tongue.
Babbler, a chatterbox. Claret, blood ; as, "tap his claret"; Baggage, a worthless woman. make one's nose bleed.
Balderdash, (a) unpleasant mix- Clink, gaol; a cold cell.
tures of wine, ale, etc. ; (b) Clodhopper, a ploughman.
rubbish, trash, nonsense. Clout, a handkerchief.
Bandy, crooked ; as, bandy-legged. Cocksure, very certain.
Barnacle, a good job, easily got. Cold tea, brandy.
Bawbee, a halfpenny. Corker, very good.
Bean, head. Cosset, to spoil with affection.
Beldam, a scolding old woman. Cove, a man; fellow.
Bilk, to cheat. Crack, to boast ; glorify.
Blab, to divulge secrets. Cully, a man; fop; rogue.
Blockhead, a silly fellow ; fool. Cut out for, suited to.
Bob, a shilling. Dab, an expert.
Bobby-dazzler, anything flashing Dace, twopence.
or brightly coloured. Dag, a gun.
Bog-landers, Irishmen. Darbies, handcuffs.
Bone, to steal. Dive, to pick a pocket.
Booze, liquor. Dowdy, coarse or ill-favoured.
Bounce, bragging, boasting. Dunderhead, a stupid fellow.
Brass, (a) impudence; "brazen- Egg on, to urge.
faced"; (b) money. Famms, hands.
Browbeat, to bully. Fambles, hands.
Cackle, to tell a secret. Fib, (a) to beat ; (b) a lie.
Cant, hypocrisy. File, to rob.
Fin, hand. Old Nick, the Devil.
Fleece, rob or plunder. Pad, a highwayman.
Flyers, shoes. Peeper, a looking-glass.
Fob, (a) a cheat, to fob off, to Peepers, eyes.
cheat ; (b) a small pocket. Phiz, face (from physiognomy).
Fop, a fool ; dandy. Pickled, drunk.
Freshman, a novice in a univer- Pig, sixpence.
sity. Pinch, to steal.
Gad, to go about aimlessly ; idle. Pins, legs.
Game, gamie, lame. Poke, a bag or sack.
Giglamps, spectacles. Ponk, to stink ; also, a bad smell.
Glaziers, eyes. Prig, (a) a thief ; (b) to steal.
Gob, the mouth. Puke, to be sick; vomit.
Grinders, teeth. Quack, an unqualified doctor.
Half seas over, almost drunk. Rant, to talk big.
Heave, to rob. Rap, to exchange.
Hedge, to make secure a desperate Reach-me-downs, a suit of ready bet. made ill-fitting clothes.
Hick, a foolish, easy person. Ready, ready money ; cash.
Hob, a plain country fellow. Rhino, ready money.
Hodge, a country clown. Ripper, something excellent.
Hog, a shilling. Rub, to run away.
Hoof it, to walk. Rum, queer ; strange.
Huckster, a sharp fellow. Runt, a short, insignificant man.
Hussy, a reproach for a woman. Sack, (a) pocket; (b) to get the Jabber, useless chatter. sack, to lose one's job.
Jackanapes, a young rascal. Sawny, a fool.
Jade, a lazy woman. Scab, a scoundrel.
Jail-birds, prisoners. Scout, a watch.
Jolly, to tease. Shark, a sharper ; trickster.
Josh, to tease. Sharp-set, very hungry.
Kid, to delude ; deceive. Shaver, a young boy.
Lace, to beat ; strike. Shop, a prison.
Lag, a prisoner. Sice, sixpence.
Lid, a hat. Simkin or simp, a fool.
Lift, to steal. Sly-boots, a seemingly silly, but Loon, a fool or a knave. subtle, fellow.
Lubber, a heavy, dull fellow. Snaffle, to appropriate.
Lugs, the ears. Sock, (a) a pocket ; (b) to beat.
Mab, a slattern. Split, inform against someone.
Minx, a forward girl or woman. Sponge, To sponge on someone, to Moppet, a pretty, saucy girl. live or drink at another's cost. Mumchance, one who sits mute. Stumps, legs.
Nab, (a) a hat, cap, or a head ; Swag, booty ; plunder.
(b) to take. Swap, to change; barter.
Nark, a police spy. Tanner, a sixpence.
Neb, the bill of a bird. Tar, a sailor.