It must not be supposed, however, that the chaunter or patterer confines himself entirely to this Slang when conveying secret intelligence. On the contrary, although he speaks not a “leash of languages,” yet is he master of the beggars’ Cant, and is thoroughly “up” in street Slang. The following letter, written by a chaunter to a gentleman who took an interest in his welfare, will show his capabilities in this line.
Dear Friend,[59]
Excuse the liberty, since i saw you last i have not earned a thickun, we have had such a Dowry of Parny that it completely stumped or Coopered Drory the Bossmans Patter therefore i am broke up and not having another friend but you i wish to know if you would lend me the price of 2 Gross of Tops, Dies, or Croaks, which is 7 shillings, of the above mentioned worthy and Sarah Chesham the Essex Burick for the Poisoning job, they are both to be topped at Springfield Sturaban on Tuesday next. i hope you will oblige me if you can for it will be the means of putting a Quid or a James in my Clye. i will call at your Carser on Sunday Evening next for an answer, for i want to Speel on the Drum as soon as possible. hoping you and the family are All Square,
I remain Your obedient Servant,
————
GLOSSARY OF THE RHYMING SLANG.
- ABRAHAM’S WILLING, a shilling.
- ALACOMPAIN, rain.
- ALL AFLOAT, a coat.
- ANY RACKET, a penny faggot.
- APPLES AND PEARS, stairs.
- ARTFUL DODGER, a lodger.
- ARTICHOKE RIPE, smoke a pipe.
- BABY PAPS, caps.
- BARNET FAIR, hair.
- BATTLE OF THE NILE, a tile—vulgar term for a hat.
- BEN FLAKE, a steak.
- BILLY BUTTON, mutton.
- BIRCH BROOM, a room.
- BIRD LIME, time.
- BOB, MY PAL, a gal,—vulgar pronunciation of girl.
- BONNETS SO BLUE, Irish stew.
- BOTTLE OF SPRUCE, a deuce,—slang for twopence.
- BOWL THE HOOP, soup.
- BRIAN O’LINN, gin.
- BROWN BESS, yes—the affirmative.
- BROWN JOE, no—the negative.
- BULL AND COW, a row.
- BUSHY PARK, a lark.
- BUTTER FLAP, a cap.
- CAIN AND ABEL, a table.
- CAMDEN TOWN, a brown,—vulgar term for a halfpenny.
- CASTLE RAG, a flag,—slang term for fourpence.
- CAT AND MOUSE, a house.
- CHALK FARM, the arm.
- CHARING CROSS, a horse.
- CHARLEY LANCASTER, a handkercher,—vulgar pronunciation of handkerchief.
- CHARLEY PRESCOTT, waistcoat.
- CHERRY RIPE, a pipe.
- CHEVY CHASE, the face.
- CHUMP (OR CHUNK) OF WOOD, no good.
- COW AND CALF, to laugh.
- COVENT GARDEN, a farden,—Cockney pronunciation of farthing.
- COWS AND KISSES, mistress or missus—referring to the ladies.
- CURRANTS AND PLUMS, thrums,—slang for threepence.
- DAISY RECROOTS (so spelt by my informant of Seven Dials; he means, doubtless, recruits), a pair of boots.
- DAN TUCKER, butter.
- DING DONG, a song.
- DRY LAND, you understand.
- DUKE OF YORK, take a walk.
- EAST AND SOUTH, a mouth.
- EAT A FIG, to “crack a crib,” to break into a house, or commit a burglary.
- EGYPTIAN HALL, a ball.
- ELEPHANT’S TRUNK, drunk.
- EPSOM RACES, a pair of braces.
- EVERTON TOFFEE, coffee.
- FANNY BLAIR, the hair.
- FILLET OF VEAL, the treadwheel, house of correction.
- FINGER AND THUMB, rum.
- FLAG UNFURLED, a man of the world.
- FLEA AND LOUSE, a bad house.
- FLOUNDER AND DAB (two kinds of flat fish), a cab.
- FLY MY KITE, a light.
- FROG AND TOAD, the main road.
- GARDEN GATE, a magistrate.
- GERMAN FLUTES, a pair of boots.
- GIRL AND BOY, a saveloy,—a penny sausage.
- GLORIOUS SINNER, a dinner.
- GODDESS DIANA (pronounced DIANER), a tanner,—sixpence.
- GOOSEBERRY PUDDING (vulgo PUDDEN), a woman.
- HANG BLUFF, snuff.
- HOD OF MORTAR, a pot of porter.
- HOUNSLOW HEATH, teeth.
- I DESIRE, a fire.
- I’M AFLOAT, a boat.
- ISLE OF FRANCE, a dance.
- ISABELLA (vulgar pronunciation, ISABELLER), an umbrella.
- I SUPPOSE, the nose.
- JACK DANDY, brandy.
- JACK RANDALL (a noted pugilist), a candle.
- JENNY LINDER, a winder,—vulgar pronunciation of window.
- JOE SAVAGE, a cabbage.
- LATH AND PLASTER, a master.
- LEAN AND LURCH, a church.
- LEAN AND FAT, a hat.
- LINENDRAPER, paper.
- LIVE EELS, fields.
- LOAD OF HAY, a day.
- LONG ACRE, a baker.
- LONG ACRE, a newspaper. See the preceding.
- LORD JOHN RUSSELL, a bustle.
- LORD LOVEL, a shovel.
- LUMP OF COKE, a bloak,—slang term for a man.
- LUMP OF LEAD, the head.
- MACARONI, a pony.
- MAIDS A DAWNING (I suppose my informant means maids adorning), the morning.
- MAIDSTONE JAILOR, a tailor.
- MINCE PIES, the eyes.
- MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, water.
- MUFFIN BAKER, a Quaker.
- NAVIGATORS, taturs,—vulgar pronunciation of potatoes.
- NAVIGATOR SCOT, baked potatoes all hot.
- NEEDLE AND THREAD, bread.
- NEVER FEAR, a pint of beer.
- NIGHT AND DAY, go to the play.
- NOSE AND CHIN, a winn,—ancient cant for a penny.
- NOSE-MY, backy,—vulgar pronunciation of tobacco.
- OATS AND BARLEY, Charley.
- OATS AND CHAFF, a footpath.
- ORINOKO (pronounced ORINOKER), a poker.
- OVER THE STILE, sent for trial.
- PADDY QUICK, thick; or, a stick.
- PEN AND INK, a stink.
- PITCH AND FILL, Bill,—vulgar shortening for William.
- PLATE OF MEAT, a street.
- PLOUGH THE DEEP, to go to sleep.
- PUDDINGS AND PIES, the eyes.
- READ OF TRIPE (?), transported for life.
- READ AND WRITE, to fight.
- READ AND WRITE, flight.—See preceding.
- RIVER LEA, tea.
- ROGUE AND VILLAIN, a shillin,—common pronunciation of shilling.
- RORY O’MORE, the floor.
- ROUND THE HOUSES, trouses,—vulgar pronunciation of trousers.
- SALMON TROUT, the mouth.
- SCOTCH PEG, a leg.
- SHIP IN FULL SAIL, a pot of ale.
- SIR WALTER SCOTT, a pot,—of beer.
- SLOOP OF WAR, a whore.
- SNAKE IN THE GRASS, a looking glass.
- SORROWFUL TALE, three months in jail.
- SPLIT ASUNDER, a costermonger.
- SPLIT PEA, tea.
- SPORT AND WIN, Jim.
- STEAM PACKET, a jacket.
- ST. MARTINS-LE-GRAND, the hand.
- STOP THIEF, beef.
- SUGAR AND HONEY, money.
- SUGAR CANDY, brandy.
- TAKE A FRIGHT, night.
- THREE QUARTERS OF A PECK, the neck,—in writing, expressed by the simple “¾.”
- THROW ME IN THE DIRT, a shirt.
- TOMMY O’RANN, scran,—vulgar term for food.
- TOM TRIPE, a pipe.
- TOM RIGHT, night.
- TOP JINT (vulgar pronunciation of joint), a pint,—of beer.
- TOP OF ROME, home.
- TURTLE DOVES, a pair of gloves.
- TWO FOOT RULE, a fool.
- WIND DO TWIRL, a fine girl.
THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR LANGUAGE;
OR A LIST OF THE BOOKS WHICH HAVE BEEN CONSULTED IN COMPILING THIS WORK, COMPRISING NEARLY EVERY KNOWN TREATISE UPON THE SUBJECT.
Slang has a literary history, the same as authorised language. More than one hundred works have treated upon the subject in one form or another,—a few devoting but a chapter, whilst many have given up their entire pages to expounding its history and use. Old Harman, a worthy man, who interested himself in suppressing and exposing vagabondism in the days of good Queen Bess, was the first to write upon the subject. Decker followed fifty years afterwards, but helped himself, evidently, to his predecessor’s labours. Shakespere, Beaumont and Fletcher, Ben Jonson, and Brome, each employed beggars’ Cant as part of the machinery of their plays. Then came Head (who wrote “The English Rogue,” in 1680) with a glossary of Cant words “used by the Gipseys.” But it was only a reprint of what Decker had given sixty years before. About this time authorised dictionaries began to insert vulgar words, labelling them “Cant.” The Jack Sheppards and Dick Turpins of the early and middle part of the last century made Cant popular, and many small works were published upon the subject. But it was Grose, burly, facetious Grose, who, in the year 1785, collected the scattered glossaries of Cant and secret words, and formed one large work, adding to it all the vulgar words and Slang terms used in his own day. I am aware that the indelicacy and extreme vulgarity of the work renders it a disgrace to its compiler, still we must admit that it is by far the most important work which has ever appeared on street or popular language; indeed, from its pages every succeeding work has, up to the present time, drawn its contents. The great fault of Grose’s book consists in the author not contenting himself with Slang and Cant terms, but the inserting of every “smutty” and offensive word that could be raked out of the gutters of the streets. However, Harman and Grose are, after all, the only authors who have as yet treated the subject in an original manner, or have written on it from personal inquiry.
AINSWORTH’S (William Harrison) Novels and Ballads.
London, V.D.