Slang from before 1900

About this list

Much of it is thieves’ cant and street talk: a magistrate is a beak, a safe is a peter, and money is rhino. Dates run from the Middle Ages to the 1890s, oldest first, so a writer can stop reading at the year their story is set.

83 words, oldest first

body the 13th century

A murder.

gob the 16th century

The mouth.

cony-catching the 16th century

Deception, trickery.

scud 1530

Naked.

coal the late 16th century

Money.

limbo the late 16th century

Jail, prison; (countable) a jail cell or lockup.

hey diddle diddle 1569

The middle.

swagger 1595

Fashionable; trendy.

yellow boy the 17th century

A gold coin; a guinea or sovereign.

simon the 17th century

Sixpence coin.

rhino the 17th century

Money.

clap in the 17th century

to enter or leave a place vigorously (as a clap of thunder); to proceed vigorously.

beak the 17th century

A justice of the peace; a magistrate.

Scotch fiddle the 17th century

Scabies; an itch.

squab the 17th century

With a heavy fall; plump.

drop the 17th century

To lose, spend, or otherwise part with (money).

magic the 17th century

Complicated or esoteric code that is not expected to be generally understood.

tea around 1655

Good-looking, sexy.

peter the 18th century

A safe.

pop shop the 18th century

A pawnshop.

gage the 18th century

A pint pot.

cry carrots and turnips the 18th century

To be taken through the streets on a cart while being whipped, as a punishment for certain crimes.

Abraham Newland the 18th century

A British banknote.

muzz the 18th century

To study intently; to pore over.

touch the 18th century

To obtain money from, usually by borrowing (from a friend).

tip the 18th century

To drink.

drag the mid-18th century

A long open horse-drawn carriage with transverse or side seats.

on the game 1739

Working as a thief.

dolly the 1790s

A young woman, especially one who is frivolous or vapid.

lock and load 1793

A command to prepare a weapon for battle.

up the pole the 19th century

In favour or good repute; strait-laced; teetotal.

never-sweat the 19th century

An idle or lazy person.

see the elephant the early 19th century

To witness something unexpected and awe-inspiring.

legit the 19th century

A legitimate; a legitimate actor.

on the bum the 19th century

Living as a vagrant; homeless.

pi-jaw the 19th century

Lecturing or patronizing talk, especially from an adult to a child.

dub the 19th century

An unskillful, awkward person.

chippy the 19th century

A carpenter.

quiff the 19th century

A trick or ploy; a stratagem.

kibosh the 19th century

Bosh, nonsense.

little go the 19th century

Any minor or preliminary activity.

red-eye the 19th century

A strong but poor-quality whiskey.

factory the 19th century

A police station.

knock up the 19th century

To impregnate, especially out of wedlock or accidentally. See knocked up.

black and tan the 19th century

A bar, nightclub etc. which had both black and white customers, especially one that featured black entertainers.

blind pig the 19th century

A blind tiger or speakeasy.

dial the 19th century

A person's face.

quad the 19th century

A joke used to fill long days of setting type.

clap on the 19th century

To decide to make a concerted effort to do something; to operate with dedication and vigor.

peg out the 19th century

To die.

duff the 1800s

An error.

heeled the 19th century

Wealthy; having enough money.

blooper the 19th century

A fly ball that is weakly hit just over the infielders.

cut a shine 1819

To make a fine impression (by making a show or display).

buy it the 1820s

To die.

Black Maria the 1830s

A police van for transporting prisoners.

dog tent the mid-19th century

A small shelter tent, especially a tent composed of two shelter-halves.

dike the mid-19th century

To be well dressed.

scoff the mid-19th century

Food.

bird the mid-19th century

A man, fellow.

dingbat 1838

Anything that can be thrown or swung with force against something else.

block ornament 1843

A small fragment of cheap meat offered for sale by a butcher, particularly one of poor quality.

blocker 1848

Synonym of block ornament (“a cheap piece of meat of poor quality”).

the whole caboodle 1848

everything else

oof around 1850

Money.

translator 1851

A used and repaired shoe, boot, or other item of clothing.

mickey the 1860s

A young bull, especially one which is unbranded and running wild; a bullock.

gassed the 1860s

Drunk; intoxicated by alcohol.

Tar Heel 1863

Synonym of North Carolinian.

la-la the late 19th century

Something unusually good; (occasionally) something unusually bad.

bull con the late 19th century

A confidence trick, or deceptive speech by a swindler.

benny the late 19th century

An overcoat.

bumbershoot the late 19th century

An umbrella.

break the late 19th century

An error.

Sunday girl 1884

girlfriend

gangster 1884

Characteristic of a gangster; (especially) admirable and audacious.

dong the 1890s

A fool.

show 1892

A battle; local conflict.

on the hog train around 1893

Leading a life or an existence as a tramp or a vagrant, or traveling as such.

rug 1893

The female pubic hair.

fink 1894

A contemptible person.

dinkum 1894

Genuine, true, honest, on the level.

sourdough 1898

An old-timer, especially in Alaska.