18th Century Lingo

Malken Fitzroy

In the late 18th century, English slang was rich with unique terms and phrases that have since fallen out of common use. Here are some examples:

• Addle Pate: being inconsiderate and loud.

• Arsy Varsey: To fall arsy varsey, i.e. head over heels.

• Babes in the Woods: Criminals in the stocks, or pillory.

• Bags O' Mystery: Sausages

• Barking Irons: Pistols, from their explosion resembling the bow-wow or barking of a dog.

• Beardsplitter: A man much given to Wenching, or consorting with prostitutes.

• Bedswever: A married person that swerves from one person’s bed to another, aka an unfaithful partner.

• Betwattled: Confused or bewildered.

• Blunderbuss: A stupid, blundering fellow.

• Bone Box: The Mouth

• Bottle-Headed: Void of wit.

• Dicked in the nob: Silly or crazed.

• Gigglemug: A habitually smiling face.

• Gollumpus: A large, clumsy fellow.

• Pish Posh: Balderdash, Nonsense.

• Piss Prophet: A physician who judges of the diseases of his patients solely by the inspection of their urine. A urologist.

• Shipwrecked: Inebriated.

• Silent Flute: The virile member.

• Suggestionize: "To prompt," or to influence someone's thoughts or actions.

• Wake Snakes: Provoke to the uttermost.

These phrases were part of a vibrant slang culture that often evolved from the need for secrecy among criminals and the general evolution of language.

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https://colonialbrewer.com/2021/07/08/swear-and-profanity-in-18th-century-england/

https://sites.udel.edu/britlitwiki/eighteenth-century-grammars/

https://www.quia.com/jg/2252000list.html

https://www.ranker.com/list/great-18th-century-slang/zach-seemayer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English-language_idioms_of_the_19th_century

https://www.marquisofwinchesters.co.uk/words-and-phrases-of-the-seventeenth-century/