ENGLISH ARMY SLANG
Gravel Crushers—infantry soldiers.
Poultice Wallahs—Royal Army Medical Corps men.
Doolally Tap—when a soldier becomes mentally unbalanced he is said to have received the "Doolally Tap." "Doolally" is a corruption of the name of an Indian town, Deolali.
Bun Wallah—a soldier who drinks nothing stronger than tea, and is in consequence supposed to eat voraciously of buns.
Chips—the regimental pioneer sergeant, who is usually a sergeant.
Lance Jack—a lance-corporal.
Quarter Bloke—the quartermaster.
Rookey—a recruit.
Scrounger—a man with plenty of resource in getting what he wants.
Yob—one who is easily fooled.
Bobygee—a soldier cook. In India a native one.
Baggies—sailors in the Navy.
Badgy—an enlisted boy.
Long-faced Chum—a cavalryman's term for his horse.
Rooty—bread.
Slingers—a meal of bread and tea.
Muckin—butter.
Bully Beef—the tinned meat ration.
Lamping—eating heartily.
C. B.—confined to barracks.
Chucking a Dummy—when a man faints on parade he is said to "have chucked a dummy."
Clink or Mush—the guard room.
Brief, Cheque or Ticket—discharge documents.
Dock—a military hospital.
Swinging the Lead—the equivalent of "telling the tale."
Weighed off—when a soldier has been awarded punishment for an offense he is said to have been "Weighed off."
High Jump—an appearance before the C.O. to answer a charge of breaking regulations.
Lost His Number—a man is said to have "lost his (regimental) number" when he is reported for any offense. It is "lost" because it is placed on the report sheet.
Stir—imprisonment in a detention barracks.
Chancing His Arm—committing an offence in expectation that it will not be discovered. A N.C.O. is said to be "chancing his arm" because he may be deprived of his stripes.
Jankers—defaulter's drill.
Dog's Leg—the first stripe received on promotion.
Bundook—a rifle.
Bobtack—powder mixed into a paste to clean buttons and brass work on equipment.
Muck-in—share in.
Square-Pushing—courting. Your best boots, cap, etc., are called square-pushing boots, etc.
Square-bit—your best girl.
Atcha—all right.
Blighty—home.