yomp (1982) to march with heavy equipment over difficult terrain; a forced military march in full kit
YELLOW-BELLY
Not that everyone is equally eager to join the battle:
murcous (1684) of one who cuts off his thumb to escape military service
troppo (Australian slang) nervously affected by the privations of war service in the Tropics
ear-flip (Service slang) a very cursory salute
chamade (French 1684) the drum beat or trumpet blast which announces a surrender
poodle-faker (Service slang 1902) an officer always ready to take part in the social side of military life
WEIGHING ANCHOR
The navy, too, has developed some colourful jargon over the years:
anchor-faced someone, usually an officer, who lives and breathes the Royal Navy even when retired
mushroom troop a complaining description used by those who feel that they are not being told enough about what is happening (i.e. fed on dirt and kept in the dark)
Dockyard Olympics the old process of refitting a warship whereby all the tradesmen lined up at the start of the day and then raced off to various places within the ship
upstairs (submariner’s jargon) the surface of the sea
swallow the anchor to leave the navy
MAGNIFICENT MEN
Our newest military service was at first rather looked down on by the other two. But it didn’t take long to prove its usefulness:
spike-bozzle (1915) to destroy (an enemy plane)
bombflet (New Zealand 1940) a propaganda leaflet dropped from an aeroplane
brolly-hop (b.1932) a parachute jump
vrille (French 1918) an aerobatic spinning manoeuvre (twisting, like the tendril of a vine)
Whatever the difficulties…
socked in (aerospace jargon) an airfield shut for flying because of poor visibility
penguin (Air Force jargon 1915) an aeroplane unable to leave the ground
dangle the Dunlops (Royal Navy jargon) to lower an aircraft’s undercarriage prior to landing
or the dangers…
cigarette roll (US slang 1962) a parachute jump in which the parachute fails to open
angry palm tree (Royal Navy jargon) a burning and turning helicopter
buy the farm (US Service slang 1955) to crash an aircraft, usually fatally (referring to government compensation paid to a farmer when an aircraft crashes on his farm)
at least it had its compensations:
modoc(k) (US slang 1936) a man who becomes a pilot for the sake of the glamorous image it conveys
SHOCK AND AWE
As the airforce role becomes ever more important, and the machines more powerful and hi-tech, the lingo just keeps on coming:
green air (US slang) flying with night-vision goggles
play pussy (RAF jargon) to fly into cloud cover in order to avoid being discovered by hostile aircraft
glass ball environment (US intelligence jargon 2004) of the weather in Iraq being often conducive to collecting images from above
PANCAKCE! – SERVICES’ WATCHWORDS
popeye! (air intercept code) I am in cloud; I have reduced visibility
state tiger! (air intercept code) ‘I have sufficient fuel to complete my mission as assigned’
Geronimo! (1940s) the favoured shout of paratroopers as they leapt from airplanes
Pancake! (Service slang) the order given in the air to land
lumpy chicken! (US military use) loud and clear
SPOOKS
Our fourth service lurks in the shadows, complete with its own covert terms of communication:
cut-out someone acting as a middle-man in espionage
starburst losing a tail by having several similar cars suddenly drive off in different directions, making it hard to know which to follow
swallow a woman employed by the Soviet intelligence service to seduce men for the purposes of espionage
lion tamer in a blackmail operation, a strong-arm man who makes sure that the target, once told that he is being blackmailed, does not make an embarrassing and potentially destructive fuss which could thus ruin the operation
ill arrested on suspicion for questioning
demote maximally to kill one of your associates (the victim’s career as a spy certainly can fall no lower)
POLITICOS
We can only hope that all these fine operatives are given wise and honourable direction by that class of men and women we choose to run things for us:
tyrekicker (New Zealand 1986) a politician who discusses and debates but takes no action (from car sales where a person examines a car at length but does not buy it)
snollygoster (1846) a burgeoning politician (especially a shrewd or calculating one) with no platform, principles or party preference
dog-whistle politics (Australian slang 2005) to present your message so that only your supporters hear it properly
quockerwodger (mid 19C) a pseudo-politician; a politician acting in accordance with the instructions of an influential third party, rather than properly representing their constituents (a quockerwodger was a wooden toy figure which, when pulled by a string, jerked its limbs about)
moss-back (late 19C) a right-winger (as they move so slowly that moss could grow on their back)
doughnutting (UK slang 2005) a carefully created seating plan which places an ideal group of members of Parliament (women, photogenic, ethnic minority etc.) around a leader for the ideal television shot
mugwump (New York 1884) one who holds more or less aloof from party politics, professing disinterested and superior views
girouettism (1825) frequently altering one’s opinions or principles to follow trends
TWO CHEERS FOR DEMOCRACY
We live, after all, in the finest political system yet devised by man:
pot-waller (Somerset) one whose right to vote for a member of Parliament is based on his having a fireplace on which to boil his own pot
flusher (US slang 2008) a volunteer who rounds up non-voters on Election Day
astroturfing (US slang) a PR tactic in which hired acolytes are used to offer ostensibly enthusiastic and spontaneous grassroots support for a politician or business
barbecue stopper (Australian slang 2002) an issue of major public importance, which will excite the interest of voters
WORD JOURNEYS
opportune (15C from Latin via Old French) (of wind) driving towards the harbour; seasonable
bounce (13C) to beat, thump; then (16C) a loud, exploding noise
borough (Old English) a fortress
the devil to pay (1783) from the time of old sailing ships when the devil was a long seam beside the keel of a ship which was sealed with tar (if there was no hot pitch ready the tide would turn before the work could be done and the ship would be out of commission longer)
SCURRYFUNGE
Domestic life
A lyttle house well fylled,
a lytle ground well tylled and
a little wife well wylled
is best
(1545)
Pundits talk of the global village, but the world is still a huge and deeply varied place, offering any number of environments for people to settle in:
Periscii (1625) the inhabitants of the polar circles, so called because in summer their shadows form an oval
Ascians (1635) inhabitants of the Tropics, who twice a year have the sun directly overhead at noon (hence ‘without shadows’)
antiscian (1842) a person who lives on the opposite side of the Equator
epirot (1660) a person who lives inland
paralian (1664) a person who lives near the sea
owd standards (Lincolnshire) old folk who have lived in a village all their lives
carrot cruncher (UK slang) a person from the country, a rural dweller
BRIGHT LIGHTS
Countryside, town or something in between, take your pick:
agroville (1960) a community, a village strongh
old (relating to South Vietnam)
tenderloin district (1887) the area of a city devoted to pleasure and entertainment, typically containing restaurants, theatres, gambling houses and brothels
huburb (US slang) its own little city within another city
HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER
Local features may add to or subtract from the desirability of one’s residence:
hippo’s tooth (US slang) a cement bollard
witches’ knickers (Irish slang) shopping bags caught in trees, flapping in the wind
urbeach (US slang) an urban beach generally built along a riverbank
generica (US slang) features of the American landscape (strip malls, motel chains, prefab housing) that are exactly the same no matter where one is
packman’s puzzle (Wales) a street or housing estate where the house numbers are allocated in a complicated fashion which causes problems to visitors, tradesmen etc.
SOILED BY ASSOCIATION
If you stay too long in one place you might saddle your children with a nickname they never asked for:
beanbelly (17C) a native of Leicestershire (a major producer of beans)
malt-horse (17C) a native of Bedford (from the high-quality malt extracted from Bedfordshire barley)
yellow belly (18C) a native of Lincolnshire (especially of the southern or fenland part where the yellow-stomached frog abounds)
LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR
It’s generally wisest to try and meet the neighbours before you actually move in; though the horrid truth is that the people next door can change at any time:
baching (New Zealand 1936) living usually apart from a family and without domestic help, ‘doing for oneself’ (especially of a male)
scurryfunge (coastal American 1975) a hasty tidying of the house between the time you see a neighbour and the time she knocks on the door
exhibition meal (Hobo slang) a handout eaten on the doorstep: the madam wants the neighbours to witness her generosity
flying pasty (c.1790) excrement wrapped in paper that is thrown over a neighbour’s wall
to have the key of the street (b.1881) of a person who has no house to go to at night, or is shut out from his own
HOUSEPROUD
Once you’ve settled in, though, you’re free to make what you like of the rooms…
piggery (UK college slang early 20C) a room in which one does just as one wishes and which is rarely cleaned
chambradeese (Scotland) the best bedroom
ruelle (Tudor–Stuart) the space in a bedroom between the bed and the wall
but and ben (Geordie) outside and inside (refers to a two-roomed house with an outer and inner room)
though you’re all too likely to become swamped in the details of domesticity:
flisk (Gloucestershire) a brush to remove cobwebs
izels (Lincolnshire) particles of soot floating about in a room, indicating that the chimney needs to be swept
beggar’s velvet (1847) downy particles which accumulate under furniture from the negligence of housemaids
winter-hedge (Yorkshire 18C) a clothes-horse (from the way a full clothes-horse ‘hedged off’ a portion of a room: summer washing was dried out of doors)
wemble (Lincolnshire) to invert a basin or saucepan on a shelf so that dust does not settle on the inside
poss (Shropshire) to splash up and down in the water, as washerwomen do when rinsing their clothes
just make sure you don’t take it so far that that you upset your cohabitants…
spannel (Sussex) to make dirty foot marks on a clean floor
heel (Gloucestershire) to upset a bucket
spang (Lincolnshire) to shut a door by flicking the handle sharply so that it slams without being held
HOUSEWARMING
With the place spick and span, perhaps it’s time to throw that party:
tin-kettling (New Zealand 1874) a house-warming custom whereby a newly wed couple were welcomed by friends and neighbours circling the marriage home banging on kerosene tins until provided with refreshments
cuddle puddle (New York slang 2002) a heap of exhausted ravers
buff-ball (1880) a party where everyone dances naked
THE THREE NIGHT RULE
A well-known proverb says that fish and guests go off after three nights, so if you ask people to stay for longer, make sure you have some way of getting rid of them if need be:
thwertnick (Old English law) entertaining a sheriff for three nights
agenhina (Saxon law) a guest at an inn who, after having stayed for three nights, was considered one of the family
sit eggs (US black slang 1970s) to overstay one’s welcome (from the image of a hen awaiting her chicks)
BATHTIME
Because, in the end, what could be nicer than closing the front door to all outsiders and taking the relaxing ablution of your choice:
offald (Yorkshire) tired and dirty, in need of a bath
muck-rawk (Yorkshire) a dirty line (e.g. on neck) showing the limit of where it has been washed
cowboy (US slang) a quick bath using little water (since cowboys bathed sparingly)
psychrolutist (1872) one who bathes in the open air daily throughout the winter
BEDDY-BYES
Before sinking into a well-deserved rest, wherever in the house the fancy takes you:
nid-nod (1787) to nod off
counting rivets (Royal Navy jargon) going to sleep: it refers to lying down and looking at the rivets above the bunk
hypnopompic (1901) the fuzzy state between being awake and asleep
to sleep in puppy’s parlour (Newfoundland 1771) to sleep on the floor in one’s clothes
bodkin (1638) a person wedged in between two others when there is proper room for two only (a bodkin was a small sharp dagger)
admiral’s watch (underworld slang 1905) a good night’s sleep, especially at night
to drive one’s pigs to market (US 19C) to snore
WORD JOURNEYS
detect (15C from Latin) to unroof
climax (from Ancient Greek) a ladder; then (16C) in rhetoric, an ascending series of expressions
curfew (13C from Old French: couvre feu) to cover the fire
AW WHOOP
Animals
You may beat a horse till he be sad,
and a cow till she be mad
(1678)
In a world where dogs are unclean in some cultures and on the menu in others, the British Isles is one place where the life of the average mutt might not be so bad:
snuzzle (1861) to poke around with one’s nose, as dogs do
flew (1575) the pendulous corner of the upper lip of certain dogs, such as the bloodhound
lill (Gloucestershire) used of the tongue of a dog dropping his saliva
slink (Shropshire) to draw back, as a dog does when about to bite
pudding (underworld slang 1877) liver drugged for the silencing of house-dogs
ar dawg’s a sooner (Ulster) my dog prefers to pee on the carpet rather than go outside
GRIMALKIN
Our other favourite domestic animal is supposed to have nine lives and knows how to enjoy all of them:
ess-rook (Shropshire) a cat that likes to lie in the ashes on the hearth
tawl-down (Somerset) to smooth down a cat’s back
brebit (Shropshire) a cat that continually hunts for food
furs bush (Sussex) the cat’s tune when purring
PRANCERS AND DOBBINS
The Queen is said to prefer horses to people, and there’s little doubt they get to mix in the best company:
fossple (Cumberland 1783) the impression of a horse’s hoof upon soft ground
trizzling (Devon) the slow, lazy trot of horses
brills (1688) a horse’s eyelashes
skewboglish (Lincolnshire) a horse that is apt to shy
reeaster (Yorkshire) a horse making less effort than the others in a team
feague (UK slang b.1811) to put ginger or a live eel into
a horse’s anus to make him lively and carry his tail well
jipping (horsetraders’ slang mid 19C) staining part of a horse with Indian ink to conceal a blemish
LIVESTOCK
It’s all very well going to the races, but where would we be without the milk and cheese from our herds of Jerseys and Guernseys (to say nothing of the beef from Herefords, Galloways and Lincolns)?
ganners (Shetland Isles) the inside of a cow’s lips
noit (Yorkshire) the period during which a cow gives milk
tulchan (1789) calf’s skin set beside a cow to make her give milk freely
shick (Caithness) to set the head as a bull does when intending to toss
giddhom (Ireland) the frantic galloping of cows plagued with flies
LAND OF THE LONG WHITE FLEECE
Sheep are the animal most mentioned in the bible (lions and lambs came in second and third). In New Zealand, where there have long been more sheep than people, a whole separate language grew up for talking about them:
break back (1864) to run or dash in the reverse direction to the drive
pink (1897) to shear a sheep carefully and so closely that the skin shows
raddle (1910) to mark an unsatisfactorily shorn sheep
huntaway (1912) a noisy sheepdog trained to bark on command and drive sheep forward from behind
drummer (1897) the worst or slowest sheep-shearer in a team
cobbler (late 19C) the last and least willing sheep to be sheared
The Wonder of Whiffling Page 11
