18th Century Lingo
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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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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/