18th Century Lingo: Difference between revisions
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;[[Malken Fitzroy]] | ;[[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: | 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.'' | |||
* '''Afternoonified:''' ''"Smart," as in high-class, refined, or fashionable.'' | |||
* '''Arsy Varsey:''' ''To fall arsy varsey, i.e. head over heels.'' | * '''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''. | * '''Betwattled''': ''Confused or bewildered''. | ||
* '''Blunderbuss:''' ''A stupid, blundering fellow.'' | |||
* '''Bone Box:''' ''The Mouth'' | |||
* '''Bottle-Headed:''' ''Void of wit.'' | * '''Bottle-Headed:''' ''Void of wit.'' | ||
* '''Captain Queernabs:''' ''"A shabby, ill-dressed fellow."'' | |||
* '''Dicked in the nob''': ''Silly or crazed''. | * '''Dicked in the nob''': ''Silly or crazed''. | ||
* '''Fly Rink:''' ''"A polished bald head."'' | |||
* '''Gigglemug''': ''A habitually smiling face.'' | * '''Gigglemug''': ''A habitually smiling face.'' | ||
* '''Gollumpus''': ''A large, clumsy fellow.'' | * '''Gollumpus''': ''A large, clumsy fellow.'' | ||
* '''Irish Apricots:''' ''"Potatoes. It is a common joke against the Irish vessels [or boats] to say they are loaded with fruit and timber, that is, potatoes and broomsticks."'' | |||
* '''Nanny House:''' ''A cathouse.'' | |||
* '''Oil Of Gladness:''' ''"I will anoint you with the oil of gladness,' ironically spoken for, 'I will beat you."'' | |||
* '''Owl In An Ivy Bush:''' ''"Frequently said of a person with a large frizzled wig," or whose hair is dressed messily.'' | |||
* '''Pish Posh''': ''Balderdash, Nonsense''. | * '''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.'' | * '''Piss Prophet:''' ''A physician who judges of the diseases of his patients solely by the inspection of their urine. A urologist.'' | ||
* '''Quail-Pipe:''' ''"A woman's tongue; also a device to take birds of that name by imitating their call."'' | |||
* '''Rantum Scantum:''' ''"Playing at rantum scantum; making the beast with two backs."'' | |||
* '''Shipwrecked''': ''Inebriated''. | * '''Shipwrecked''': ''Inebriated''. | ||
* '''Silent Flute:''' ''The virile member.'' | * '''Silent Flute:''' ''The virile member.'' | ||
* '''Suggestionize:''' ''"To prompt," or to influence someone's thoughts or actions.'' | |||
* '''Sky Farmers:''' ''"Cheats who pretend they were farmers in the Isle of [Skye], or some other remote place, and were ruined by a flood, hurricane, or some such public calamity."'' | |||
* '''Skilamalink:''' ''"Secret, shady, or doubtful." Often used in Victorian London to refer to disreputable business dealings or clandestine rendezvous.'' | |||
* '''Wake Snakes:''' ''Provoke to the uttermost.'' | * '''Wake Snakes:''' ''Provoke to the uttermost.'' | ||
* '''Whipt Syllabub:''' ''"A flimsy, frothy discourse or treatise, without solidity." Essentially, meaningless conversation. Named after English dessert drinks that were "made from cream and wine and were served cold."'' | |||
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English-language_idioms_of_the_19th_century | 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/ | |||
Latest revision as of 18:28, 23 April 2025
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.
- Afternoonified: "Smart," as in high-class, refined, or fashionable.
- 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.
- Captain Queernabs: "A shabby, ill-dressed fellow."
- Dicked in the nob: Silly or crazed.
- Fly Rink: "A polished bald head."
- Gigglemug: A habitually smiling face.
- Gollumpus: A large, clumsy fellow.
- Irish Apricots: "Potatoes. It is a common joke against the Irish vessels [or boats] to say they are loaded with fruit and timber, that is, potatoes and broomsticks."
- Nanny House: A cathouse.
- Oil Of Gladness: "I will anoint you with the oil of gladness,' ironically spoken for, 'I will beat you."
- Owl In An Ivy Bush: "Frequently said of a person with a large frizzled wig," or whose hair is dressed messily.
- 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.
- Quail-Pipe: "A woman's tongue; also a device to take birds of that name by imitating their call."
- Rantum Scantum: "Playing at rantum scantum; making the beast with two backs."
- Shipwrecked: Inebriated.
- Silent Flute: The virile member.
- Suggestionize: "To prompt," or to influence someone's thoughts or actions.
- Sky Farmers: "Cheats who pretend they were farmers in the Isle of [Skye], or some other remote place, and were ruined by a flood, hurricane, or some such public calamity."
- Skilamalink: "Secret, shady, or doubtful." Often used in Victorian London to refer to disreputable business dealings or clandestine rendezvous.
- Wake Snakes: Provoke to the uttermost.
- Whipt Syllabub: "A flimsy, frothy discourse or treatise, without solidity." Essentially, meaningless conversation. Named after English dessert drinks that were "made from cream and wine and were served cold."
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.
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/