Meaning: Yep, you guessed it: another term for an attractive lady. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. This piece originally ran in 2013; it has been updated for 2022. And smelling it. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. Candle to the devil, To hold a: To be evil. Also the creole and jargon spoken by thieves and the "surplus population." tied to an apron string. Lovers, partners, and significant others have been calling each other pet names for centuries. Meaning: This one's kind of cute. You should probably see a dermatologist. If you call someone a butt sniffer, they know they've been burnt (Phillips sure did!). Example Sentence: "He wouldn't even let us pay when we ordered truffles; what a darb.". ", A bungler, or one who does things clumsily, Example: "God, Karen you are such a foozler. BAGGAGEAn insulting term for a woman, like "hussy." BALLNot only a big party with dancing, but a musket-ball or bullet. Robin A young child beggar, being compared to a starving robin. I stick by my assertion that Barbara Stanwyck and Eve Arden are the quintessential dames of classic Hollywood. 9. If you were IN TWIG you were a handsome, fashionable fellow but TO TWIG meant to observe something. Hidey Ho was a Lenox Avenue heads up for the Hos of long ago! However, one thing you cannot see is the language that was used in yesteryear. I thought you had two left feet!". 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. Testicles were also called TWIDDLE-DIDDLES. To help inspire a resurgence of vintage slang, we looked back at some of the best words and phrases folks used from the 1800s to the 1960s. The 19th-century city produced some of the most delightfully obscure slang: 'it smells of garlic here', meant 'there are lesbians about' and 'chestnut gatherer' meant sodomite. It means his penis doesn't work. But please don't, I fear pigeons the most. Salma Hayek is a Sheba. 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! Arfarfanarf This is a figure of speech that was used to describe men that have had too much to drink. The blind alley. When you enter these venues its a cultural experience, from the dcor to the drinks served, you feel as though you are taking a trip back in time. If you enjoy visiting karaoke bars you will find plenty of opportunities to use this slang word. A woman who uses a pistol with a great degree of surety. As distinguished from "whole-mourning," two black eyes. women's adventure travel groups. By brushing up on the vibrant slang of the Victorian period you really can add some extra colour and fun to your vocabulary. You're such a butter and egg fly.". Take Minnie the Moocher (please). * However, one early 30s glossary says a moocher is a Single-handed thief, usually of low caste. But in the many centuries of English slang, there are huge swathes of forgotten material. How To Save Your Cat or Dogs Life if They Are Choking, Cant Bend to Clip Your Toenails? Queer pops, bad pistols. One of the most well-known THIEF TAKERS was Jonathan Wild. Queer vinegar, worn out woman's cloak. Meaning: In the 1800s, this was a tongue-in-cheek way to describe someone who was a big shot, but only for a small group of people. 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. Hep: Part of the current musical culture ("That cat is hep!").. hide caption. Queer put, an ill-looking foolish fellow. While some names have remained popular, others like "tomato" or "lambkin" have fallen out . TOKEN was a slang reference to the plague or a venereal disease. TYBURN TOP was a name for a popular wig. Part of the a360media Women's Service Group.Copyright a360media 2023. This term, Forrester writers, describes a person with a wilful determination to ignore the objectionable or inconvenient, at the same time assuming airs of superior virtue and noble resignation., An 18th-century tavern term that means getting drunk.. The Jacob's Ladder. Flummadiddle. TORCHE-CUL, sometimes referred to as bumfodder, was slang for toilet paper. "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. 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). You may not get much comprehension, but once you explain it, they may be flattered. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items. Another name that shows up is Old Timer's Disease. TO TUP was to have carnal knowledge of a woman. 6) Lally-cooler -- a real success. Abandons - Foundlings. Meaning: Similar to "small potatoes," this referred to things that were trivial or inconsequential. Describing an illustration, a reporter in the Gettysburg, Pa., People's Press of May 22, 1835, wrote: "A gentleman a little 'how came you so' with his hat on the back of his head, is staggering about in the presence of Miss Fanny, who appears to be quite shocked.". ballin wealthy lifestyle, making money. 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. Capricorn and Sagittarius Compatibility: Are They a Good Match in Love and Friendship? Malcolm got so boisterous in the bar they bounced him. TIPPLE was another slang term for liquor, and TIPPLERS were those who drank the liquor. Or you could ask them to mind the grease, which meant the same thing to Victorians. Bootlicker - same as ass-licker. I prefer my late-night hosts to have weak chins. Amorous congress was a euphemism for sexual intercourse, as was TWO HANDED PUT. Popular until 1870, this phrase meant Dont lie to me! Apparently, people who sold dogs back in the day were prone to trying to pass off mutts as purebreds. I'm not sure why I don't like her, but she sucks. 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. Horse godmother: A large, masculine woman. 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. Below are some of the tome's most hilarious, vivid, and archaic insults, arranged in alphabetical order for your put-down pleasure. Are you at least going to help me glue my '99 intramural basketball trophy back together? Hey, it smells delicious. ), One who slanders another behind his back, i.e. Buzzing: Stealing, esp. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. He wont come, answered Paddy. You likely have a little knowledge of old-fashioned compliments we've all heard of "the bee's knees" and "the cat's pajamas." And playing with it. A shabby person or an unpleasant, deceitful landlord. Example Sentence: "I take you, my oyster, to be my wedded wife.". He brings his own provisions and doesnt contribute at all to the resort hes visiting. 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. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. 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.". 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. How to express your love has changed over the centuries. Bull: Five shillings. "Notwithstanding all the calculations of the political economists, the great bottom fact is that one man's honest, steady work, rightly applied, especially if aided by machinery and improved modes of conveyance and distribution, suffices to supply the actual needs of a dozen burdensome loafers," according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle of Jan. 31, 1871. Hobbledygee: A pace between a walk and run, a trot. 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. Arfarfanarf. Above Snakes - If you were "above snakes," you were above ground - meaning still alive. Vote up the Wild West slang you'd like to bring back. 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. If you were TOP HEAVY it had nothing to do with your chest. Hotter than a $2 pistol. from the Plymouth, Ind., Weekly Democrat of June 7, 1860. A doctor and a mountebank made all sorts of experiments upon the mountebanks servant. watford town hall vaccination centre contact. You see, dame is only one of many terms folks in the Great Depression had for the chromosomally Y-challenged half of the population. She's a bearcat. 21 Jun June 21, 2022. Menu and widgets. 1800s Insults & Slang from the Victorian Era. 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. Bricky Brave or fearless.. It basically means the aesthetic cream of the crop the most beautiful person in the. It is definitely not fine for someone seeking outpatient substance abuse therapy or any other type of help for their drinking. A legal term from 1889 meaning to prompt., According to Forrester, this low-class phrase means "thoroughly understood.". ', A verbal attack, generally made via the press. But burns like "flapdoodle" and "mumbling cove," on the other hand, don't have quite the same bite. Anyone that could capture the ram by the tail and hold him, won the ram. As we can see with bugger, most categories of swearing require the word not to be used in its literal sense. Meaning: A sweet, miniature sort of cuteness. 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. 3 Bras for Mature Women That Properly Lift and Support Breasts. A figure of speech used to describe drunken men. You see, a moocher* is someone who gloms on to whatever he or she can get, hoochie-coocher means sexually promiscuous, a frail is a woman, and lowdown means, well, not so nice. TARTAR meant to catch or attack someone of superior strength. And to be Chicagoed is "a verbing of a place name. If they know the difference between types of collars and actually know how to use a pocket square, they're definitely a gorger. drumsticks - This word was used as a slang expression for a person's legs. ", Murphy, who also oversees the language-watching blog Separated by a Common Language, says: "English has a rich variety of means for making new words and then a lot of slang is just giving new meaning to old words.". And I, for one, am all in favor of bringing some of them back. 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. Also, his tattered coat was hideous. Horoscope: Whats in Store for You February 27 March 5, 2023? A person wearing tattered and raggedy clothing was said to be a TATTERDEMALION. Biddy: an old hen, later used as a derogatory term for an old woman. AW FUL No t rott en but awe-inspiring, as in "awful majesty." BACKWARDAs an adjective, often reluctant or shy. Cancer and Leo Compatibility: Are They a Good Match in Love and Friendship? To attack with words or reproach someone was to TONGUE. Queer cove, a turnkey. It's also a good name for cute kids. 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. Ireland was sometimes called TEA GUELAND. Scorpio and Cancer Compatibility: Are They a Good Match in Love and Friendship? Bring him along then, said he. 1800s slang for woman. Piece - A sandwich. Informal words and expressions that popped up in popular parlance, especially in the 19th century, says Lynne Murphy an American linguist who teaches at the University of Sussex in England are "going to stay fairly local, and so there can be a lot of variation not just between countries, but between cities, between social classes, et cetera. Previously (1731), as a shortened form of acute, the word meant "clever.". Hotter than a June bride. Native Americans. 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. 9) Some pumpkins -- a big deal. Some total church bell on the street wouldn't stop lecturing me about Scientology. "It is shinning around corners to avoid meeting creditors that is sapping the energies of this generation," opined the Dallas, Texas, Daily Herald on Oct. 31, 1877. Every generation comes up with their own vernacular for describing the world around them. Yes, I know it's the less common use, but that's what he is, Diane. A true friend was a TRUSTY TROJAN or TRUSTY TROUT. TOASTING IRON or CHEESE TOASTER referred to a sword. Bee: a gathering of friends for a common purpose, i.e. The largest and superior marble was called the TAW. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. In 1847, her owner, a newly converted Mormon named Robert Marion Smith, decided to strike out west like many other Americans. A working girl of the late 1800s. Of course, a woman can also be a snowbird whos a chiseler prone to pulling the Gooseberry Lay, but thats for another day. Hopefully. The information comes courtesy of Chambers Slang Dictionary by Jonathon Green, a noted author of several old-time urban dictionaries. Roon - Round. Absquatulate - To leave or disappear. TANGIER or TANGERINES was a room at Newgate prison where debtors were confined. 1800s slang for woman What were insults in the 1800s? Telefon: 0542 511 20 02 Whitney Houstons Greatest Hits Live On 11 Years After Her Death Here Are The Little-Known Stories Behind Them. Cant: A present; a free meal or quantity of some article. ", A prostitute, who presumably works in the countryside ("creeper" could also be substituted for "prowler" or "ranger"), Example: "See that hedge-creeper over in the cul-de-sac? In his book he gave an unfavorable description of the Irish character. Example Sentence: "Wow, that new curling iron makes your follow-me-lads look even better.". Cat lap is a term that was used to describe a weak drinker. TAWS was a childhood marble game played in schoolyards with small round balls made of stone dust and catted marbles. The lingo of the 1800s was colorful, clever, and sometimes quite crude. Bridget "Biddy" Mason is famous for being the first African-American woman to own land in Los Angeles, but that pales in comparison to many of her other accomplishments.Biddy was born into slavery in Mississippi. Jean Smart Reveals Shes Recovering From Successful Heart Procedure: Listen to Your Body. "That north show window of Shute & Haskell's is a 'lally-cooler,' " the Jan. 4, 1890, Salina, Kan., Republican noted. 1800s slang for woman. He's no ratbag, but feel free to use that word on your least favorite neighbor. Example Sentence: "I had no idea you were such an Oliver Twist. THATCH-GALLOWS referred to a rogue or a man of bad character. Many establishments and buildings take us on a history trip, helping us to learn about the days of the past. JONAH - a slang term for a person who is perceived to be a jinx, or who brings bad luck with him. Gullyfluff: The waste coagulated dust, crumbs, and hair which accumulates imperceptibly in the pockets of schoolboys. Then come along yourself, replied his comrade. 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. This YouTuber Invented a Hilarious Hack To Help, Need a Better Bra? Plus, if someone gets drunk a lot, we dont recommend encouraging it by making a joke, so theres a fine line with this one. 11) Tell a thumper -- construct a clever lie. Can you believe that? 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." : any of various chiefly Old World oscine birds (family Motacillidae) related to the pipits and having a long tail that they habitually jerk up and down. Eighteenth-Century Vocabulary 3 AUTHORNo t o nl y a wr iter , bu t any cr eato respecial ly God, who was said to be the aut hor of our being. Afternoonified. A TYBURN BLOSSOM was a young thief or pickpocket who it was believed would in time ripen and become an excellent thief or pickpocket. 1900s 1. Somebody who reads The Sartorialist and has the faintest idea of what pattern clashing and "working a piece of clothing back" mean. Make a Mash - Make a hit, impress someone. 1880s. Hanging: Excellent, outstanding ("Hanging new tie there, old man!"). She was not her mother or grandmother's old-fashioned woman. Above-Board - In open sight, without artifice, or trick. Atakum, SAMSUN. 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. 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. Cussed - cursed or mean. TANGIER or TANGERINES was a room at Newgate prison where debtors were confined. Wear iron: Carry a gun. Someone who went in one door and just as quickly went out another door without stopping was known as a THOROUGH CHURCHMAN. It basically means the aesthetic cream of the crop the most beautiful person in the room, the stunner you'd be lucky to talk to in a million years. Before these words disappear forever, here is a linguistic reminder of days past. Needless to say, most of these are no more complex or intellectual than calling somebody "bae" or saying that they're "slaying." ", A sexually incompetent man, who is either too young to have had sex or one who is too old to attempt it ("flapdoodle" also referred to nonsense or rubbish and ladyparts in the same time period), Example: "I read in Holly Madison's memoir that Hugh Hefner is a weird old flapdoodle, if you know what I mean.