A Dictionary of Modern Slang,Cant and Vulgar Words

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Title:ADictionaryofSlang,Cant,andVulgarWordsUsedatthePresentDayintheStreetsofLondon;theUniversitiesofOxfordandCambridge;theHousesofParliament;theDensofSt.Giles;andthePalacesofSt.James.

Author:ALondonAntiquary

ReleaseDate:October2,2014[EBook#47018]

Language:English

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ACADGERSMAPOFABEGGINGDISTRICT.

EXPLANATIONOFTHEHIEROGLYPHICS.

NOGOOD;toopoor,andknowtoomuch.STOP,ifyouhavewhattheywant,theywillbuy.Theyareprettyfly(knowing).GOINTHISDIRECTION,itisbetterthantheotherroad.Nothingthatway.BONE(good).Safeforacoldtatur,iffornothingelse.Cheeseyourpatter

(donttalkmuch)here.COOPERD(spoilt),bytoomanytrampscallingthere.GAMMY(unfavourable),likelytohaveyoutakenup.Mindthedog.FLUMMUXED(dangerous),sureofamonthinquod(prison).RELIGIOUS,buttidyonthewhole.

Seepage37.

ADICTIONARYOFMODERNSLANG,CANT,ANDVULGARWORDS,

USEDATTHEPRESENTDAYINTHESTREETSOFLONDON;THEUNIVERSITIESOFOXFORDANDCAMBRIDGE;THEHOUSESOFPARLIAMENT;THEDENSOFST.GILES;AND

THEPALACESOFST.JAMES.

PRECEDEDBYAHISTORYOFCANTANDVULGARLANGUAGE;WITHGLOSSARIESOFTWOSECRETLANGUAGES,SPOKENBYTHEWANDERINGTRIBESOFLONDON,THE

COSTERMONGERS,ANDTHEPATTERERS.

BYALONDONANTIQUARY.

Rabble-charmingwords,whichcarrysomuchwild-firewraptupinthem.SOUTH.

SECONDEDITION,REVISED,WITHTWOTHOUSANDADDITIONALWORDS.

LONDON:JOHNCAMDENHOTTEN,PICCADILLY.

1860.

LONDON:PRINTEDBYTAYLORANDGREENING,GRAYSTOKE-PLACE,

FETTER-LANE,E.C.

PREFACETOTHESECONDEDITION.TheFirstEditionofthisworkhadarapidsale,andwithinafewweeksafteritwaspublishedtheentireissuepassedfromthepublisher sshelvesintothehandsofthepublic.ASecondEdition,althoughurgentlycalledfor,wasnotimmediatelyattempted.TheFirsthadbeenfoundincompleteandfaultyinmanyrespects,andtheauthordeterminedtothoroughlyreviseandrecastbeforeagaingoingtopress.Thepresentedition,therefore,willbefoundmuchmorecompletethantheFirst;indeed,Imaysaythatithasbeenentirelyrewritten,andthat,whereastheFirstcontainedbut3,000words,thisgivesnearly5,000,withamassoffreshillustrations,andextendedarticlesonthemoreimportantslangtermsHUMBUG,forinstance.ThenoticesofaLinguaFrancaelementinthelanguageofLondonvagabondsispeculiartothisedition.

Mybestthanksareduetoseveralcorrespondentsforvaluablehintsandsuggestionsastotheprobableetymologiesofvariouscolloquialexpressions.

Oneliteraryjournalofhighreputerecommendedadivisionofcantfromslang;buttheannoyanceoftwoindicesinasmallworkappearedtometomorethancounterbalancethebenefitofastricterphilologicalclassification,soIhaveforthepresentadheredtotheoldarrangement;indeed,toseparatecantfromslangwouldbealmostimpossible.

RespectingtheHIEROGLYPHICSOFVAGABONDS,Ihavebeenunabletoobtainfurtherinformation;butthefollowingextractfromapopularmanualwhichIhavejustmetwithisworthrecording,although,perhaps,somewhatoutofplaceinaPreface.

Gipseysfollowtheirbrethrenbynumerousmarks,suchasstrewinghandfulsofgrassinthedaytimeatafourlaneorcrossroads;thegrassbeingstrewndowntheroadtheganghavetaken;also,byacrossbeingmadeonthegroundwithastickorknife,thelongestendofthecrossdenotestheroutetaken.Inthenighttimeacleftstickisplacedinthefenceatthecrossroads,withanarmpointingdowntheroadtheircomradeshavetaken.Themarksarealwaysplacedontheleft-handside,sothatthestragglerscaneasilyandreadilyfindthem.SnowdensMagistratesAssistant,1852,p.444.

Piccadilly,March15th,1860.

PREFACETOTHEFIRSTEDITION.Ifanygentlemanofastudiousturnofmind,whomayhaveacquiredthehabitofcarryingpencilsandnotebooks,wouldforoneyearresideinMonmouthCourt,SevenDials;sixmonthsinOrchardStreet,Westminster;threemonthsinMintStreet,Borough;andconsenttoundergoanotherthreemonthsontheextremelypopular,butverymuchdislikedtreadmill(vulgotheEverlastingStaircase),finishing,Iwillpropose,byasixmonthstramp,inthecharacterofacadgerandbeggar,overEngland,Ihavenottheleastdoubtbutthathewouldbeabletowriteaninterestingworkonthelanguages,secretandvulgar,ofthelowerorders.

InthematterofSLANG,ourstudiousfriendwouldhavetodividehistimebetwixtobservationandresearch.Conversationsontheoutsidesofomnibuses,onsteamboatpiers,oratrailwaytermini,woulddemandhismostattentivehearing,sowouldtheknotsofsemi-decayedcabmen,standingaboutinbundlesofworn-outgreat-coatsandhaybands,betwixtwateringpails,andconversinginadialecteverythirdwordofwhichiswithouthomeorrespectablerelations.Hewouldalsohavetostationhimselfforhoursneargatheringsofraggedboysplayingorfighting,buteverandanoncontributingtothenote-bookapurestreetterm.Hewouldhavetohangaboutlobbies,marktherefinedword-droppingsofmagniloquentflunkies,runafterallthepopularpreachers,gototheInnsofCourt,beupallnightandaboutalldayinfact,beaubiquitarian,withanote-bookandpencilinhand.

Asforresearch,hewouldhavetoturnovereachpageofourpopularliterature,wanderthroughalltheweeklyserials,wadethroughthenewspapers,fashionableandunfashionable,andsubscribetoMudies,andscourthenovels.Thisdone,andifhehasbeenanobservantman,Iwillengagetosay,thathehasmadeachoicegathering,andthatwemayreasonablyexpectaninterestinglittlebook.

Igivethisoutlineofpreparatorystudytoshowthereasonthetaskhasneverbeenundertakenbefore.Peopleinthepresentchaseafterrespectabilitydontcaretoturnblackguards,andexchangecardswiththeWhitechapelPeckerortheSharps-alleyChicken,forthesakeofafewvulgar,althoughcuriouswords;andwemayrestassuredthatitisquiteimpossibletowriteanyaccountofvulgarorlowlanguage,andremainseatedondamaskinonesowndrawingroom.Butafortunatecircumstanceattendedthecompilerofthepresentwork,andhehasneitherbeenrequiredtoresideinSevenDials,visitthetreadmill,orwanderoverthecountryinthecharacterofavagabondoracadger.

Incollectingoldballads,pennyhistories,andotherprintedstreetnarratives,asmaterialsforaHistoryofCheaporPopularLiterature,hefrequentlyhadoccasiontopurchaseinSevenDialsandtheBoroughafewoldsongsordyingspeeches,fromthechauntersandpattererswhoaboundinthoseneighbourhoods.Withsomeofthesemen(theirnameswouldnotintheleastinterestthereader,andwouldonlyservethepurposeofmakingthisPrefacelooklikeavulgarpagefromtheLondon

Directory)anarrangementwasmade,thattheyshouldcollectthecantandslangwordsusedbythedifferentwanderingtribesofLondonandthecountry.Someofthesechauntersaremenofrespectableeducation(althoughfillingavagabondscalling),andcanwritegoodhands,andexpressthemselvesfluently,ifnotwithorthographicalcorrectness.Topreventdeceptionandmistakes,thewordsandphrasessentinwerecheckedoffbyotherchauntersandtramps.Assistancewasalsosoughtandobtained,throughanintelligentprinterinSevenDials,fromthecostermongersinLondon,andthepedlarsandhucksterswhotraversethecountry.Inthismannerthegreaternumberofcantwordswereprocured,veryvaluablehelpbeingcontinuallyderivedfromMayhewsLondonLabourandLondonPoor,aworkwhichhadgoneovermuchofthesameground.Theslangandvulgarexpressionsweregleanedfromeverysourcewhichappearedtoofferanymaterials;indeedthereferencesattachedtowordsintheDictionaryfrequentlyindicatethechannelswhichaffordedthem.

AlthoughintheIntroductionIhavedividedcantfromslang,andtreatedthesubjectsseparately,yetintheDictionaryIhaveonly,inafewinstances,pointedoutwhichareslang,orwhicharecantterms.Thetaskwouldhavebeenadifficultone.Manywordswhichwereoncecantareslangnow.ThewordsPRIGandCOVEareinstancesinpoint.Oncecantandsecretterms,theyarenowonlystreetvulgarisms.

Theetymologiesattemptedareonlygivenascontributionstothesubject,andthederivationofnovulgartermisguaranteed.Theoriginofmanystreetwordswill,perhaps,neverbediscovered,havingcommencedwithaknotofilliteratepersons,andspreadamongstapublicthatcarednotafigforthehistoryoftheword,solongasitcametotheirtonguestogiveavulgarpiquancytoajoke,orrelishtoanexceedinglyfamiliarconversation.Thereferencesandauthoritiesgiveninitalicsfrequentlyshowonlythedirectionorprobablesourceoftheetymology.Theauthor,toavoidtediousverbiage,wasobliged,insosmallawork,tobecurtinhisnotesandsuggestions.

Hehastoexplainalsothatafewwordswill,probably,benoticedintheSlangandCantDictionarythatarequestionableascomingundereitherofthosedesignations.Thesehavebeenadmittedbecausetheywereoriginallyeithervulgarterms,orthecompilerhadsomethingnoveltosayconcerningthem.Themakersofourlargedictionarieshavebeenexceedinglycrotchetyintheirchoiceofwhattheyconsideredrespectablewords.ItisamusingtoknowthatRichardsonusedthewordHUMBUGtoexplainthesenseofotherwords,butomitteditinthealphabeticalarrangementasnotsufficientlyrespectableandancient.ThewordSLANG,too,heservedinthesameway.

Filthyandobscenewordshavebeencarefullyexcluded,althoughstreet-talk,unlicensedandunwritten,aboundsinthese.

Immodestwordsadmitofnodefence,Forwantofdecencyiswantofsense.

Itappearsfromthecalculationsofphilologists,thatthereare38,000wordsintheEnglish

language,includingderivations.IbelieveIhave,forthefirsttime,inconsecutiveorder,addedatleast3,000wordstothepreviousstock,vulgarandoftenveryobjectionable,butstilltermsinevery-dayuse,andemployedbythousands.Itisnotgenerallyknown,thatthepoliteLordChesterfieldoncedesiredDr.JohnsontocompileaSlangDictionary;indeed,itwasChesterfield,somesay,whofirstusedthewordHUMBUG.Words,likepeculiarstylesofdress,getintopublicfavour,andcomeandgoinfashion.Whengreatfavouritesanduniversaltheytrulybecomehouseholdwords,althoughgenerallyconsideredslang,whentheiroriginorantecedentsareinquiredinto.

Afewerrorsofthepress,Iamsorrytosay,maybenoticed;but,consideringthenoveltyofthesubject,andthefactthatnofixedorthographyofvulgarspeechexists,itwill,Ihope,bedeemedanotuninterestingessayonanewandverysingularbranchofhumaninquiry;for,asMayhewremarks,thewholesubjectofcantandslangis,tothephilologist,repletewithinterestofthemostprofoundcharacter.

THECOMPILERWILLBEMUCHOBLIGEDBYTHERECEIPT,THROUGHMR.CAMDENHOTTEN,THEPUBLISHER,OFANYCANT,SLANG,ORVULGARWORDSNOTMENTIONEDINTHEDICTIONARY.THEPROBABLEORIGIN,ORETYMOLOGY,OFANYFASHIONABLEORUNFASHIONABLEVULGARISM,WILLALSOBERECEIVEDBYHIMWITHTHANKS.

Piccadilly,June30th,1859.

CONTENTS.

THEHISTORYOFCANT,ORTHESECRETLANGUAGEOFVAGABONDS.PAGE

BlackandColouredVAGABONDSVagabondsalloverEuropeVagabondsUniversal 15EtymologyofCANTCantusedinoldtimesDifferencebetweenCantandSlang 57THEGIPSEYSGipseystaughtEnglishVagabondsTheGipsey-VagabondallianceThe

OriginofCantVulgarwordsfromtheGipseyGipseyelementintheEnglishlanguageThepoetMooreontheoriginofCantBorrowontheGipseylanguageTheinventorofCantingnothanged 715

OLDCANTwordsstillusedOldCantwordswithmodernmeaningsThewordsRumandQueerexplainedOldCantwordsentirelyobsolete 1619

THEOLDESTROGUESDICTIONARY 2026Jaw-breakers,orhardwords,usedasCantWereHighwaymeneducatedmen?

VagabondsusedForeignwordsasCantTheLinguaFranca,orBastardItalianCantderivedfromJewsandShowmenClassicwordsusedasEnglishCantOldEnglishwordsusedasCantOldEnglishwordsnotfashionablenowOuroldAuthorsveryvulgarpersonsWasShakespereapugilist?OldDramatistsusedCantwordsCurioussystemsofCant 2635

ACCOUNTOFTHEHIEROGLYPHICSUSEDBYVAGABONDS.MENDICANTFREEMASONRYHieroglyphicsofVagabondsMapsusedbyBeggarsAccount

ofaCadger sMapExplanationoftheHieroglyphicsDidtheGipseysinventthem?TheMurderer sSignalontheGallows 3643

THEHISTORYOFSLANG,ORTHEVULGARLANGUAGEOFFASTLIFE.SlangatBabylonandNinevehOldEnglishSlangSlanginthetimeofCromwell;andin

theCourtofCharlesII.SwiftandArbuthnotfondofSlangTheoriginofCabbageTheRealSimonPureTomBrownandNedWardDidDr.JohnsoncompileaSlangDictionary?JohnBeesabsurdetymologyofSlangThetrueoriginofthetermDerivedfromtheGipseysBurnsandhisfatfriend,GroseSlangusedbyallclasses,HighandLowSlanginParliament,andamongstourfriendsNewwordsnotsoreprehensibleasoldwordsburdenedwithstrangemeaningsThepoorForeigner sperplexityLongandwindySlangwordsVulgarcorruptions 4455

FASHIONABLESLANG 58PARLIAMENTARYSLANG 60MILITARYANDDANDYSLANG 62UNIVERSITYSLANG 64RELIGIOUSSLANG 66LEGALSLANG,orSlangamongsttheLawyers 70LITERARYSLANG,PunchonSlangandSanscrit 71THEATRICALSLANG,orSlangbothbeforeandbehindthecurtain 75

CIVICSLANG 77SLANGTERMSFORMONEYHerMajestyscoinisinsultedbyonehundredandthirtydistinct

SlangtermsOldSlangtermsformoneyTheclassicaloriginofSlangmoneytermsThetermsusedbytheAncientRomansvulgarismsintheNineteenthCentury 7882

SHOPKEEPERSSLANG 82WORKMENSSLANG,orSlangintheworkshopManySlangtermsformoneyderivedfrom

operatives 83SLANGAPOLOGIESFOROATHS,orshamexclamationsforpassionandtemperSlangswearing 85SLANGTERMSFORDRUNKENNESS,andthegraduatedscaleoffuddlementandintoxication 86

DICTIONARYOFMODERNSLANG,CANT,ANDVULGARWORDS;manywiththeiretymologiestraced,togetherwithillustrations,andreferencestoauthorities 89249

SOMEACCOUNTOFTHEBACKSLANG,thesecretlanguageofCostermongersTheprincipleoftheBackSlangBoysandgirlssoonacquireitTheBackSlangunknowntothePoliceCostermongerstermsformoneyArithmeticamongsttheCostermongers 251255

GLOSSARYOFBACKSLANG 257262SOMEACCOUNTOFTHERHYMINGSLANG,thesecretlanguageofChauntersandPatterersThe

originoftheRhymingSlangSpokenprincipallybyVagabondPoets,Patterers,andCheapJacksPattererswellupinStreetSlangCuriousSlangLetterfromaChaunter 263268

GLOSSARYOFTHERHYMINGSLANG 269273THEBIBLIOGRAPHYOFSLANG,CANT,ANDVULGARLANGUAGE,oralistofthebookswhichhave

beenconsultedinthecompilationofthiswork,comprisingnearlyeveryknowntreatiseuponthesubject 275290

LISTOFABBREVIATIONS 291OpinionsofthePressupontheFirstEditionofthisworkListofNewPublications,&c. 293300

THEHISTORYOFCANT,OR,THESECRETLANGUAGEOFVAGABONDS.

CANTandSLANGareuniversalandworld-wide.Nearlyeverynationonthefaceoftheglobe,politeandbarbarous,maybedividedintotwo

portions,thestationaryandthewandering,thecivilisedandtheuncivilised,therespectableandthescoundrel,thosewhohavefixedabodesandavailthemselvesoftherefinementsofcivilisation,andthosewhogofromplacetoplacepickingupaprecariouslivelihoodbypettysales,begging,ortheft.Thispeculiarityistobeobservedamongsttheheathentribesofthesouthernhemisphere,aswellastheoldestandmostrefinedcountriesofEurope.AsMayhewverypertinentlyremarks,itwouldappear,thatnotonlyareallracesdivisibleintowanderersandsettlers,butthateachcivilisedorsettledtribehasgenerallysomewanderinghordeintermingledwith,andinameasurepreyinguponit.InSouthAfrica,thenakedandmiserableHottentotsarepesteredbythestillmoreabjectSonquas;anditmaybesomesatisfactionforustoknowthatouroldenemiesattheCape,theKafirs,aretroubledwithatribeofrascalscalledFingoes,theformerterm,weareinformedbytravellers,signifyingbeggars,andthelatterwanderersandoutcasts.InSouthAmerica,andamongtheislandsofthePacific,mattersareprettymuchthesame.Sleekandfatrascals,withnotmuchinclinationtowardshonesty,fatten,orratherfasten,likebodyinsects,uponotherrascals,whowouldbeequallysleekandfatbutfortheirvagabonddependents.Luckilyforrespectablepersons,however,vagabonds,bothathomeandabroad,showcertainoutwardpeculiaritieswhichdistinguishthemfromthegreatmassoflawfulpeopleoffwhomtheyfeedandfatten.Personalobservation,andalittleresearchintobooks,enablemetomarktheseexternaltraits.Thewanderingracesareremarkableforthedevelopmentofthebonesoftheface,asthejaws,cheek-bones,&c.,highcrowned,stubborn-shapedheads,quickrestlesseyes,1andhandsnervouslyitchingtobedoing;2fortheirloveofgambling,stakingtheirveryexistenceuponasinglecast;forsensualityofallkinds;andfortheiruseofaCANTlanguagewithwhichtoconcealtheirdesignsandplunderings.

Thesecretjargon,orrudespeech,ofthevagabondswhohangupontheHottentotsistermedcuze-cat.InFinland,thefellowswhostealsealskins,pickthepocketsofbear-skinovercoats,andtalkCant,aretermedLappes.InFrance,thesecretlanguageofhighwaymen,housebreakers,andpickpocketsisnamedArgot.ThebrigandsandmoreromanticrascalsofSpain,termtheirprivatetongueGermania,orRobbersLanguage.Rothwalsch,orRedItalian,issynonymouswithCantandthievestalkinGermany.ThevulgardialectofMalta,andtheScalatownsoftheLevantimportedintothiscountryandincorporatedwithEnglishcantisknownastheLinguaFranca,orbastardItalian.AndthecrowdsoflazybeggarsthatinfestthestreetsofNaplesandRome,andthebrigandsthatAlbertSmithusedtodescribenearPompeiistoppingarailwaytrain,anddeliberatelyriflingthepocketsand

baggageofthepassengerstheirsecretlanguageistermedGergo.InEngland,asweallknow,itiscalledCantoftenimproperlySlang.

Mostnations,then,mayboast,orratherlament,avulgartongue,formedprincipallyfromthenationallanguage,thehereditarypropertyofthieves,tramps,andbeggars,thepestsofcivilisedcommunities.Theformationofthesesecrettonguesvary,ofcourse,withthecircumstancessurroundingthespeakers.AwriterinNotesandQueries,3haswellremarked,thattheinvestigationoftheoriginandprinciplesofCantandSlanglanguageopensacuriousfieldofenquiry,repletewithconsiderableinteresttothephilologistandthephilosopher.Itaffordsaremarkableinstanceoflingualcontrivance,which,withouttheintroductionofmucharbitrarymatter,hasdevelopedasystemofcommunicatingideas,havingalltheadvantagesofaforeignlanguage.

Aninquiryintotheetymologyofforeignvulgarsecrettongues,andtheiranalogywiththatspokeninEngland,wouldbecuriousandinterestingintheextreme,butneitherpresentspacenorpersonalacquirementspermitofthetask,andthereforethewriterconfineshimselftoashortaccountoftheoriginofEnglishCant.

ThetermsCANTandCANTINGweredoubtlessderivedfromchauntorchaunting,thewhiningtone,ormodulationofvoiceadoptedbybeggars,withintenttocoax,wheedle,orcajolebypretensionsofwretchedness.4FortheoriginoftheotherapplicationofthewordCANT,pulpithypocrisy,weareindebtedtoapleasantpageintheSpectator(No.147):CantisbysomepeoplederivedfromoneAndrewCant,who,theysay,wasaPresbyterianministerinsomeilliteratepartofScotland,whobyexerciseandusehadobtainedthefaculty,aliasgift,oftalkinginthepulpitinsuchadialectthattissaidhewasunderstoodbynonebuthisowncongregation,andnotbyallofthem.SinceMasterCantstimeithasbeenunderstoodinalargersense,andsignifiesallexclamations,whinings,unusualtones,and,infine,allprayingandpreachingliketheunlearnedofthePresbyterians.Thisanecdoteiscurious,ifitisnotcorrect.ItwasthecustominAddisonstimetohaveaflingatthebluePresbyterians,andthementionmadebyWhitelockeofAndrewCant,afanaticalScotchpreacher,andthesquibuponthesameworthy,inScotchPresbyterianEloquenceDisplayed,mayprobablyhavestartedthewhimsicaletymology.Asfarasweareconcerned,however,inthepresentinquiry,CANTwasderivedfromchaunt,abeggar swhine;CHAUNTINGbeingtherecognisedtermamongstbeggarstothisdayforbeggingorationsandstreetwhinings;andCHAUNTER,astreettalkerandtramp,theverytermstillusedbystrollersandpatterers.TheuseofthewordCANT,amongstbeggars,mustcertainlyhavecommencedataveryearlydate,forwefindTOCANTE,tospeake,inHarmanslistofRoguesWordsintheyear1566;andHarrisonaboutthesametime,5inspeakingofbeggarsandGipseys,says,theyhavedevisedalanguageamongthemselveswhichtheynameCANTING,butothersPedlarsFrenche.

NowthewordCANTinitsoldsense,andSLANG6initsmodernapplication,althoughusedbygoodwritersandpersonsofeducationassynonymes,areinrealityquitedistinctandseparateterms.CANT,

apartfromreligioushypocrisy,referstotheoldsecretlanguage,byallegoryordistinctterms,ofGipseys,thieves,tramps,andbeggars.SLANGrepresentsthatevanescent,vulgarlanguage,everchangingwithfashionandtaste,whichhasprincipallycomeintovogueduringthelastseventyoreightyyears,spokenbypersonsineverygradeoflife,richandpoor,honestanddishonest.7CANTisold;SLANGisalwaysmodernandchanging.Toillustratethedifference:athiefinCantlanguagewouldtermahorseaPRANCERoraPRAD,whileinslang,amanoffashionwouldspeakofitasaBITOFBLOOD,oraSPANKER,oraNEATTIT.Ahandkerchief,too,wouldbeaBILLY,aFOGLE,oraKENTRAG,inthesecretlanguageoflowcharacters,whilstamongstvulgarpersons,orthosewhoapedtheirspeech,itwouldbecalledaRAG,aWIPE,oraCLOUT.CANTwasformedforpurposesofsecrecy.SLANGisindulgedinfromadesiretoappearfamiliarwithlife,gaiety,town-humour,andwiththetransientnicknamesandstreetjokesoftheday.BothCantandSlang,Iamaware,areoftenhuddledtogetherassynonymes,buttheyaredistinctterms,andassuchshouldbeused.

TotheGipseys,beggarsandthievesareundoubtedlyindebtedfortheirCantlanguage.TheGipseyslandedinthiscountryearlyinthereignofHenrytheEighth.Theywereatfirsttreatedasconjurorsandmagicians,indeedtheywerehailedbythepopulacewithasmuchapplauseasacompanyofEnglishtheatricalsusuallyreceiveonarrivinginadistantcolony.TheycameherewithalltheiroldEasternartsofpalmistry,fortune-telling,doublingmoneybyincantationandburial,shredsofpaganidolatry;andtheybroughtwiththem,also,thedishonestyofthelowercasteofAsiatics,andthevagabondismtheyhadacquiredsinceleavingtheirancientdwellingplacesintheEast,manycenturiesbefore.Theypossessed,also,alanguagequitedistinctfromanythingthathadbeenheardinEngland,andtheyclaimedthetitleofEgyptians,andassuch,whentheirthievishwanderingpropensitiesbecameapublicnuisance,werecautionedandproscribedinaroyalproclamationbyHenryVIII.8TheGipseyswerenotlonginthecountrybeforetheyfoundnativeimitators.Vagabondismispeculiarlycatching.Theidle,thevagrant,andthecriminaloutcastsofsociety,caughtanideafromthesocalledEgyptianssooncorruptedtoGipseys.Theylearnedfromthemhowtotramp,sleepunderhedgesandtrees,totellfortunes,andfindstolenpropertyforaconsiderationfrequently,asthesayingruns,beforeitwaslost.Theyalsolearnedthevalueandapplicationofasecrettongue,indeedalltheaccompanimentsofmaundingandimposture,exceptthievingandbegging,whichwerewellknowninthiscountrylongbeforetheGipseyspaiditavisit,perhapstheonlynegativegoodthatcanbesaidintheirfavour.

Harman,intheyear1566,wroteasingular,nottosaydrollbook,entitled,ACaveatforcommenCvrsetors,vulgarleycalledVagabones,newlyaugmentedandinlarged,whereinthehistoryandvariousdescriptionsofroguesandvagabondsaregiven,togetherwiththeircantingtongue.Thisbook,theearliestofthekind,givesthesingularfactthatwithinadozenyearsafterthelandingoftheGipseys,companiesofEnglishvagrantswereformed,placesofmeetingappointed,districtsforplunderandbeggingoperationsmarkedout,andrulesagreedtofortheircommonmanagement.In

somecasesGipseysjoinedtheEnglishgangs,inothersEnglishvagrantsjoinedtheGipseys.Thefellowshipwasfoundconvenientandprofitable,asbothpartieswerealienstothelawsandcustomsofthecountry,livinginagreatmeasureintheopenair,apartfromthelawfulpublic,andoftenmeetingeachotheronthesamebye-path,orinthesameretiredvalley;butseldomintermarrying,andentirelyadoptingeachother shabits.Thecommonpeople,too,soonbegantoconsiderthemasofonefamily,allrogues,andfromEgypt.ThesecretlanguagespokenbytheGipseys,principallyHindooandextremelybarbaroustoEnglishears,wasfoundincomprehensibleandverydifficulttolearn.TheGipseys,also,foundthesamedifficultywiththeEnglishlanguage.Arude,rough,andmostsingularcompromisewasmade,andamixtureofGipsey,OldEnglish,newly-coinedwords,andcribbingsfromanyforeign,andthereforesecretlanguage,mixedandjumbledtogether,formedwhathaseversincebeenknownastheCANTINGLANGUAGE,orPEDLERSFRENCH;or,duringthepastcentury,ST.GILESGREEK.

SuchwastheoriginofCANT;andinillustrationofitsblendingwiththeGipseyorCingaritongue,duskyandOrientalfromthesunnyplainsofCentralAsia,IamenabledtogivetheaccompanyinglistofGipsey,andoftenHindoowords,with,inmanyinstances,theirEnglishadoptions.

Gipsey. English.BAMBOOZLE,toperplexormisleadbyhiding.

ModGip.BAMBOOZLE,todelude,cheat,ormakea

foolofanyone.BOSH,rubbish,nonsense,offal.GipseyandPersian. BOSH,stupidity,foolishness.CHEESE,thingorarticle,thatstheCHEESE,or

thing.GipseyandHindoo.CHEESE,orCHEESY,afirst-rateorverygood

article.CHIVE,thetongue.Gipsey. CHIVE,orCHIVEY,ashout,orloud-tongued.DADE,orDADI,afather.Gipsey. DADDY,nurserytermforfather.9

DISTARABIN,aprison.Gipsey. STURABIN,aprison.GAD,orGADSI,awife.Gipsey. GAD,afemalescold;awomanwhotramps

overthecountrywithabeggarorhawker.GIBBERISH,thelanguageofGipseys,synonymous

withSLANG.Gipsey.GIBBERISH,rapidandunmeaningspeech.

ISCHUR,SCHUR,orCHUR,athief.GipseyandHindoo. CUR,ameanordishonestman.LAB,aword.Gipsey. LOBS,words.LOWE,orLOWR,money.GipseyandWallachian. LOWRE,money.AncientCant.MAMI,agrandmother.Gipsey. MAMMY,orMAMMA,amother,formerly

sometimesusedforgrandmother.MANG,orMAUNG,tobeg.GipseyandHindoo. MAUND,tobeg.MORT,afreewoman,oneforcommonuse

amongstthemaleGipseys,soappointedbyGipseycustom.Gipsey.

MORT,orMOTT,aprostitute.

MU,themouth.GipseyandHindoo. MOO,orMUN,themouth.MULL,tospoilordestroy.Gipsey. MULL,tospoil,orbungle.PAL,abrother.Gipsey. PAL,apartner,orrelation.PAN,water.Gipsey.Hindoo,PAWNEE. PARNEY,rain.RIG,aperformance.Gipsey. RIG,afrolic,orspree.ROMANY,speechorlanguage.SpanishGipsey. ROMANY,theGipseylanguage.ROME,orROMM,aman.GipseyandCoptick. RUM,agoodman,orthing.IntheRobbers

languageofSpain(partlyGipsey)RUMsignifiesaharlot.

ROMEE,awoman.Gipsey. RUMY,agoodwomanorgirl.SLANG,thelanguagespokenbyGipseys.Gipsey. SLANG,low,vulgar,unauthorisedlanguage.TAWNO,little.Gipsey. TANNY,TEENY,little.TSCHIB,orJIBB,thetongue.GipseyandHindoo. JIBB,thetongue;JABBER,10quick-tongued,or

fasttalk.

HerethenwehavetheremarkablefactofseveralwordsofpureGipseyandAsiaticorigingoingtheroundofEurope,passingintothiscountrybeforetheReformation,andcomingdowntousthroughnumerousgenerationspurelyinthemouthsofthepeople.Theyhaveseldombeenwrittenorusedinbooks,andsimplyasvulgarismshavetheyreachedourtime.Onlyafewarenowcant,andsomearehouseholdwords.ThewordJOCKEY,asappliedtoadealerorriderofhorses,camefromtheGipsey,andmeansinthatlanguageawhip.Ourstandarddictionariesgive,ofcourse,nonebutconjecturaletymologies.Anotherword,BAMBOOZLE,hasbeenasoredifficultywithlexicographers.Itisnotintheolddictionaries,althoughextensivelyusedinfamiliarorpopularlanguageforthelasttwocenturies;infact,theverywordthatSwift,Butler,LEstrange,andArbuthnotwouldpickoutatonceasatellingandmostserviceableterm.Itis,aswehaveseen,fromtheGipsey;andhereImuststatethatitwasBoucherwhofirstdrewattentiontothefact,althoughinhisremarksontheduskytongue,hehasmadearidiculousmistakebyconcludingittobeidenticalwithitsoffspring,CANT.Otherparallelinstances,withbutslightvariationsfromtheoldGipseymeanings,couldbementioned,butsufficientexampleshavebeenadducedtoshowthatMarsden,thegreatOrientalscholarinthelastcentury,whenhedeclaredbeforetheSocietyofAntiquariesthattheCantofEnglishthievesandbeggarshadnothingtodowiththelanguagespokenbythedespisedGipseys,wasinerror.HadtheGipseytonguebeenanalysedandcommittedtowritingthreecenturiesago,thereiseveryprobabilitythatmanyscoresofwordsnowincommonusecouldbeatoncetracedtoitssource.Instancescontinuallyoccurnow-a-daysofstreetvulgarismsascendingtothedrawing-roomsofrespectablesociety.Why,then,maynottheGipsey-vagabondalliancethreecenturiesagohavecontributeditsquotaofcommonwordstopopularspeech?

IfeelconfidentthereisaGipseyelementintheEnglishlanguagehithertounrecognised;slenderitmaybe,butnot,therefore,unimportant.

Indeed,saysMoorethepoet,inahumorouslittlebook,TomCribsMemorialtoCongress,1819,theGipseylanguage,withtheexceptionofsuchtermsasrelatetotheirownpeculiarcustoms,differsbutlittlefromtheregularFlashorCantlanguage.Butthiswasmagnifyingtheimportanceofthealliance.MooreknewnothingoftheGipseytongueotherthanthefewCantwordsputintothemouthsofthebeggars,inBeaumontandFletchersComedyoftheBeggarsBush,andBenJonsonsMasqueoftheGipseysMetamorphosed,hencehisconfoundingCantwithGipseyspeech,andappealingtotheGlossaryofCantforsocalledGipseywordsattheendoftheLifeofBamfyldeMooreCarew,tobearhimoutinhisassertion.Stillhisremarkbearsmuchtruth,andproofwouldhavebeenfoundlongagoifanyscholarhadtakenthetroubletoexaminethebarbarousjargonofCant,andtohavecompareditwithGipseyspeech.AsGeorgeBorrow,inhisAccountoftheGipseysinSpain,eloquentlyconcludeshissecondvolume,speakingoftheconnectionoftheGipseyswithEuropeans:Yetfromthistemporaryassociationwereproducedtworesults:EuropeanfraudbecamesharpenedbycomingintocontactwithAsiaticcraft;whilstEuropeantongues,byimperceptibledegrees,becamerecruitedwithvariouswords(someofthemwonderfullyexpressive),manyofwhichhavelongbeenstumbling-blockstothephilologist,who,whilststigmatisingthemaswordsofmerevulgarinvention,orofunknownorigin,hasbeenfarfromdreamingthatalittlemoreresearchorreflectionwouldhaveprovedtheiraffinitytotheSclavonic,Persian,orRomaic,orperhapstothemysteriousobjectofhisveneration,theSanscrit,thesacredtongueofthepalm-coveredregionsofInd;wordsoriginallyintroducedintoEuropebyobjectstoomiserabletooccupyforamomenthisletteredattention,thedespiseddenizensofthetentsofRoma.

ButtheGipseys,theirspeech,theircharacterbadenoughasalltheworldtestifiestheirhistoryandtheirreligiousbelief,havebeentotallydisregarded,andtheirpoorpersonsbuffetedandjostledaboutuntilitisawonderthatanytraceoforiginornationalspeechexistsinthem.Onthecontinenttheyreceivedbetterattentionatthehandsoflearnedmen.Theirlanguagewastakendown,theirhistorytraced,andtheirextraordinarycustomsandpracticeoflivingintheopenair,andeatingraworputridmeat,explained.Theyatereptilesandtoldfortunes,becausetheyhadlearntitthroughtheirforefatherscenturiesbackinHindostan,andtheydevouredcarrionbecausetheHindooproverbthatwhichGodkillsisbetterthanthatkilledbyman,11wasstillintheirremembrance.Grellman,alearnedGerman,wastheirprincipalhistorian,andtohimwearealmostentirelyindebtedforthelittleweknowoftheirlanguage.12

GIPSEYthenstarted,andpartiallymergedintoCANT,andtheoldstorytoldbyHarrisonandothers,thatthefirstinventorofcantingwashangedforhispains,wouldseemtobeafable,forjargonasitis,itwas,doubtless,ofgradualformation,likeallotherlanguagesorsystemsofspeech.TheGipseysatthepresentdayallknowtheoldcantwords,aswellastheirowntongue,orratherwhatremainsofit.AsBorrowstates,thedialectoftheEnglishGipseysismixedwithEnglishwords.13Thoseofthetribewhofrequentfairs,andmixwithEnglishtramps,readilylearnthenewwords,astheyare

adoptedbywhatHarmancalls,thefraternityofvagabonds.Indeed,theoldCANTisacommonlanguagetovagrantsofalldescriptionsandoriginscatteredovertheBritishIsles.

AncientEnglishCANThasconsiderablyalteredsincethefirstdictionarywascompiledbyHarman,in1566.Agreatmanywordsareunknowninthepresenttrampsandthievesvernacular.Someofthem,however,bearstilltheirolddefinitions,whileothershaveadoptedfreshmeanings,toescapedetection,Isuppose.ABRAHAMMANisyetseeninourmodernSHAMABRAHAM,orPLAYTHEOLDSOLDIER,i.e.,tofeignsicknessordistress.AUTUMisstillachurchorchapelamongstGipseys;andBECK,aconstable,isourmoderncantandslangBEEK,apolicemanormagistrate.BENE,orBONE,standsforgoodinSevenDials,andthebackstreetsofWestminster;andBOWSEisourmodernBOOZE,todrinkorfuddle.ABOWSINGKENwastheoldcanttermforapublichouse,andBOOZINGKEN,inmoderncant,haspreciselythesamemeaning.BUFEwasthenthetermforadog,nowitisBUFFER,frequentlyappliedtomen.CASSANisbotholdandmoderncantforcheese;thesamemaybesaidofCHATTESorCHATTS,thegallows.COFE,orCOVE,isstillthevulgarsynonymeforaman.DRAWERSwashose,orhosen,nowappliedtotheliningfortrousers.DUDESwascantforclothes,wenowsayDUDDS.FLAGisstillafourpennypiece;andFYLCHEmeanstorob.KENisahouse,andLICKmeanstothrash;PRANCERisyetknownamongstroguesasahorse;andtoPRIG,amongsthighandlow,istosteal.Threecenturiesago,ifonebeggarsaidanythingdisagreeabletoanother,thepersonannoyedwouldsaySTOWYOU,orholdyourpeace;lowpeoplenowsaySTOWIT,equivalenttobequiet.TRINEisstilltohang;WYNyetstandsforapenny.Andmanyotherwords,aswillbeseenintheglossary,stillretaintheirancientmeaning.

Asspecimensofthosewordswhichhavealteredtheiroriginalcantsignification,ImayinstanceCHETE,nowwrittenCHEAT.CHETEwasinancientcantwhatchopisintheCanton-Chinese,analmostinseparableadjunct.EverythingwastermedaCHETE,andqualifiedbyasubstantive-adjective,whichshowedwhatkindofaCHETEwasmeant;forinstance,CRASHINGCHETESwereteeth;aMOFFLINGCHETE,anapkin;aGRUNTINGCHETE,apig,&c.&c.CHEATnow-a-daysmeanstodefraudorswindle,andlexicographershavetorturedetymologyforanoriginalbutwithoutsuccess.Escheatsandescheatourshavebeennamed,butwithgreatdoubts;indeed,Stevens,thelearnedcommentatoronShakespere,acknowledgedthathedidnotrecollecttohavemetwiththewordcheatinourancientwriters.14CHEAT,todefraud,then,isnootherthananoldCantterm,somewhatalteredinitsmeaning,15andassuchitshouldbedescribedinthenextEtymologicalDictionary.AnotherinstanceofachangeinthemeaningoftheoldCant,buttheretentionofthewordisseeninCLY,formerlytotakeorsteal,nowapocket;rememberingacertainclassoflowcharacters,acuriousconnectionbetweenthetwomeaningswillbediscovered.MAKEwasahalfpenny,wenowsayMAG,MAKEbeingmodernCantforappropriating,conveythewiseitcall.MILLINGstoodforstealing,itisnowapugilistictermforfightingorbeating.NABwasahead,lowpeoplenowsayNOB,theformermeaning,inmodernCant,tostealorseize.PEKwasmeat,westillsayPECKISH,whenhungry.

PRYGGES,dronkenTinkersorbeastlypeople,asoldHarmanwrote,wouldscarcelybeunderstoodnow;aPRIG,inthe19thcentury,isapickpocketorthief.QUIER,orQUEER,likecheat,wasaverycommonprefix,andmeantbadorwicked,itnowmeansodd,curious,orstrange;buttotheancientcantweareindebtedfortheword,whichetymologistsshouldremember.16ROME,orRUM,formerlymeantgood,orofthefirstquality,andwasextensivelyusedlikecheatandqueer,indeedasanadjectiveitwastheoppositeofthelatter.RUMnowmeanscurious,andissynonymouswithqueer,thus,aRUMMYoldfellow,oraQUEERoldman.Hereagainweseetheoriginofaneverydayword,scoutedbylexicographersandsnubbedbyrespectablepersons,butstillawordoffrequentandpopularuse.YANNAMmeantbread,PANNUMisthewordnow.Otherinstancescouldbepointedout,buttheywillbeobservedinthedictionary.

Severalwordsareentirelyobsolete.ALYBBEGnolongermeansabed,norASKEWacup.BOOGET,17now-a-days,wouldnotbeunderstoodforabasket;neitherwouldGANpasscurrentformouth.FULLAMSwastheoldcanttermforfalseorloadeddice,andalthoughusedbyShakespereinthissense,isnowunknownandobsolete.Indeed,asTomMooresomewhereremarks,thepresentGreeksofSt.Giles,themselves,wouldbethoroughlypuzzledbymanyoftheancientcantingsongs,takingforexample,thefirstverseofanoldfavourite:

Bingout,bienMorts,andtoureandtoure,Bingout,bienMorts,andtoure;

Forallyourdudsarebingdawast;Thebiencovehaththeloure.18

ButIthinkIcannotdobetterthanpresenttothereaderatonceanentirecopyofthefirstCantingDictionaryevercompiled.Asbeforementioned,itwastheworkofoneThos.Harman,agentlemanwholivedinthedaysofQueenElizabeth.SomewritershaveremarkedthatDecker19wasthefirsttocompileaDictionaryofthevagabondstongue;whilstBorrow,20andMoore,thepoet,statedthatRichardHeadperformedthatserviceinhisLifeofanEnglishRogue,publishedintheyear1680.Allthesestatementsareequallyincorrect,forthefirstattemptwasmademorethanacenturybeforethelatterworkwasissued.Thequaintspellingandold-fashionedphraseologyarepreserved,andthereaderwillquicklydetectmanyvulgarstreetwords,oldacquaintances,dressedinantiquegarb.21

ABRAHAM-MEN,bethosethatfaynthemselvestohavebeenemad,andhavebenekepteitherinBethelem,orinsomeotherprysonagoodtime.

ALYBBEG,abedde.ASKEW,acuppe.AUTEM,achurche.AUTEMMORTES,marriedwemenaschasteasacowe.BAUDYEBASKETS,beewomenwhogoewithbasketsandcapcasesontheirarmes,

whereintheyhavelaces,pinnes,nedles,whyteinkel,androundsylkegyrdelsofallcolours.

BECK[Beek],aconstable.BELLY-CHETE,apron.BENE,good.Benar,better.BENSHIP,verygood.BLETINGCHETE,acalfeorsheepe.BOOGET,atravellingtinker sbaskete.BORDE,ashilling.BOUNG,apurse[Friesic,pong].BOWSE,drink.BOWSING-KEN,aalehouse.BUFE[buffer,aman],adogge.BYNGEAWASTE,goyouhence.CACKLING-CHETE,acoke[cock],orcapon.CASSAN[cassam],cheese.CASTERS,acloake.CATETH,thevprightCofecatethtotheRoge[probablyashorteningormisprintof

Canteth].CHATTES,thegallowes.CHETE[seewhathasbeenpreviouslysaidaboutthisword].CLY[apocket],totake,receive,orhave.COFE[cove],aperson.COMMISSION[mish],ashirt.COUNTERFETCRANKE,thesethatdocounterfettheCrankebeyongknavesandyonge

harlots,thatdeeplydissemblethefallingsicknes.CRANKE[cranky,foolish],fallingevil[orwastingsickness].CRASHING-CHETES,teeth.CUFFEN,amanne[acuifinNorthumberlandandScotlandsignifiesaloutorawkward

fellow].DARKEMANS,thenight.DELL,ayongewench.DEWSE-A-VYLE,thecountrey.DOCK,todeflower.DOXES,harlots.DRAWERS,hosen.

DUDES[ordudds],clothes.FAMBLES,handes.FAMBLING-CHETE,aringononeshand.FLAGG,agroat.FRATER,abeggarwythafalsepaper.FRESHE-WATER-MARINERS,thesekindofcaterpillerscounterfetgreatlossesonthesea:

theirshippesweredrownedintheplayneofSalisbury.FYLCHE,torobbe:Fylch-man[arobber].GAGE,aquartpot.GAN,amouth.GENTRYCOFE,anobleorgentleman.GENTRY-COFES-KEN,anobleorgentlemanshouse.GENTRYMORT,anobleorgentlewoman.GERRY,excrement.GLASYERS,eyes.GLYMMAR,fyer.GRANNAM,corne.GRUNTING-CHETE,apygge.GYB,awriting.GYGER[jigger],adore.HEARING-CHETES,eares.JARKE,aseale.JARKEMAN,onewhomakewritingsandsetsealesfor[counterfeit]licencesandpasports.KEN,ahouse.KYNCHENCO[orcove],ayoungboyetraineduplikeaKynchingMorte.[Fromthe

GermandiminutiveKindschen.]KYNCHINGMORTE,isalittlegyrle,carriedattheirmothersbackeinaslate,orsheete,

whobringsthemupsauagely.LAG,water.LAGOFDUDES,abucke[orbasket]ofclothes.LAGE,towashe.LAP,butter,mylke,orwhey.LIGHTMANS,theday.LOWING-CHETE,acowe.LOWRE,money.LUBBARES,sturdyLubbares,countrybumpkins,ormenofalowdegree.

LYB-BEG,abed.LYCKE[lick],tobeate.LYP,toliedown.LYPKEN,ahousetolyein.MAKE[mag],ahalfpenny.MARGERIPRATER,ahen.MILLING,tosteale[bysendingachildinatthewindow].MOFLING-CHETE,anapkin.MORTES[motts],harlots.MYLL,torobbe.MYNT,gold.NAB[nob],aheade.NABCHET,ahatorcap.NASE,dronken.NOSEGENT,anunne.PALLYARD,abornebeggar[whocounterfeitssickness,orincurablesores.Theyaremostly

Welshmen,Harmansays].PARAM,mylke.PATRICO,apriest.PATRICOSKINCHEN,apygge[asatiricalhitatthechurch,Patricomeaningaparsonor

priest,andKinchenhislittleboyorgirl].PEK[peckish],meat.POPPELARS,porrage.PRAT,abuttocke.PRATLING-CHETE,atoung.PRAUNCER,ahorse.PRIGGEROFPRAUNCERS,behorsestealers,fortopriggesignifiethintheirlanguageto

steale,andaPrauncerisahorse,sobeingputtogether,thematterwasplayn.[ThuswritesoldThomasHarman,whoconcludeshisdescriptionofthisorderofpryggers,byveryquietlysaying,Ihadthebestgeldingstolenoutofmypasture,thatIhadamongstothers,whylethisbookwasfirstaprinting.]

PRYGGES,dronkenTinkers,orbeastlypeople.QUACKING-CHETE,adrakeorduck.QUAROMES,abody.QUIER[queer],badde[seewhathasbeenpreviouslysaidaboutthisword].QUYERCRAMP-RINGES,boltesorfetters.

QUIERCUFFIN,theiusticeofpeace.QUYER-KYN,aprysonhouse.REDSHANKE,adrakeorducke.ROGER,agoose.ROME,goode[nowcurious,noted,orremarkableinanyway.Rumisthemodern

orthography].ROMEBOUSE[rumbooze],wyne.ROMEMORT,theQueene[Elizabeth].ROMEVYLE[orRum-ville],London.RUFFPECK,baken[shortbread,commoninoldtimesatfarmhouses].RUFFMANS,thewoodsorbushes.SALOMON,aalterormasse.SKYPPER,abarne.SLATE,asheeteorshetes.SMELLINGCHETE,anose.SMELLINGCHETE,agardenororchard.SNOWTFAYRE[saidofawomanwhohasaprettyfaceoriscomely].STALL[toinitiateabeggarorrogueintotherightsandprivilegesofthecantingorder.

Harmanrelates,thatwhenanupright-man,orinitiated,first-classrogue,meteanybeggar,whetherhebesturdyorimpotent,hewilldemandofhimwhethereverhewasstalledtotherogeorno.Ifhesayhewas,hewillknowofwhom,andhisnameytstalledhim.Andifhebenotlearnedlyabletoshowhimthewholecircumstancethereof,hewillspoylehimofhismoney,eitherofhisbestgarment,ifitbeworthanymoney,andhauehimtothebowsingken:whichis,tosometypplinghousenextadjoyninge,andlayththeretogagethebestthingthathehathfortwentypenceortwoshillings:thismanobeyethforfeareofbeatinge.Thendooththisuprightmancallforagageofbowse,whichisaquartepotteofdrink,andpowresthesamevponhispeldpate,addingthesewords,I,G.P.dostallethe,W.T.totheRoge,andthatfromhenceforthitshallbelawfullfortheetocant,thatistoaskeorbeggeforthiliuiuginalplaces.SomethinglikethistreatmentisthepopularideaofFreemasonry,andwhatschoolboystermfreeing.]

STAMPES,legges.STAMPERS,shoes.STAULINGKEN,ahousethatwillreceyuestollenwares.STAWLINGE-KENS,tipplinghouses.STOWYOU[stowit],holdyourpeace.

STRIKE,tosteale.STROMMELL,strawe.SWADDER,orPedler[amanwhohawksgoods].THEHIGHPAD,thehighway.THERUFFIANCLYTHEE,thedeviltakethee.TOGEMANS[togg],acloake.TOGMAN,acoate.TOBOWSE,todrinke.TOCANTE,tospeake.TOCLYTHEGERKE,tobewhipped.TOCOUCHAHOGSHEAD,toliedownandslepe.TOCUTTE,tosay[cutitismodernslangforbequiet].TOCUTBENEWHYDDES,tospeakeorgivegoodwords.TOCUTTEQUYERWHYDDES,togiueeuilwordsoreuillanguage.TOCUTBENLE,tospeakgentle.TODUPYEGYGER[jigger],toopenthedore.TOFYLCHE,torobbe.TOHEUEABOUGH,torobbeorrifleaboweth[booth].TOMAUNDE,toaskeorrequire.TOMILLAKEN,torobbeahouse.TONYGLE[coition].TONYPABOUNG[nip,tosteal],tocutapurse.TOSKOWERTHECRAMPRINGES,toweareboltesorfetters.TOSTALL,tomakeorordain.TOTHERUFFIAN,totheDevil.TOTOWRE,tosee.TRYNING[trine],hanging.TYBOFTHEBUTERY,agoose.WALKINGMORTE,womene[whopassforwidows].WAPPING[coition].WHYDDES,wordes.WYN,apenny.YANNAM,bread.

TurningourattentionmoretotheCantofmoderntimes,inconnectionwiththeold,wefindthatwordshavebeendrawnintothethievesvocabularyfromeveryconceivablesource.Hardor

infrequentwords,vulgarlytermedcrack-jaw,orjaw-breakers,wereveryoftenusedandconsideredascantterms.Andhereitshouldbementionedthatatthepresentdaythemostinconsistentandfar-fetchedtermsareoftenusedforsecretpurposes,whentheyareknowntobecaviaretothemillion.Itisreallylaughabletoknowthatsuchwordsasincongruous,insipid,interloper,intriguing,indecorum,forestal,equip,hush,grapple,&c.&c.,werecurrentCantwordsacenturyandahalfago;butsuchwasthecase,asanyonemayseeintheDictionaryofCantingWords,attheendofBacchusandVenus,221737.Theyareinsertednotasjokesorsquibs,butasselectionsfromtheveritablepocketdictionariesoftheJackSheppardsandDickTurpinsoftheday.Iftheyweresafelyusedasunknownandcabalistictermsamongstthecommonalty,thefactwouldformaverycuriousillustrationoftheignoranceofourpoorancestors.Onepieceofinformationisconveyedtous,i.e.,thattheKnightsorGentlemenoftheroad,usingthesepolitewordsinthosedaysofhighwaymen,werereallywelleducatedmen,whichheretoforehasalwaysbeenahardpointofbelief,notwithstandingoldnovelsandoperas.

AmongstthoseCantwordswhichhaveeitheralteredtheirmeaning,orhavebecomeextinct,ImayciteLADY,formerlytheCantforaverycrooked,deformed,andill-shapenwoman;23andHARMAN,apairofstocks,oraconstable.Theformerisapleasantpieceofsatire,whilstthelatterindicatesasingularmethodofrevenge.HARMANwasthefirstauthorwhospeciallywroteagainstEnglishvagabonds,andforhistroublehisnamebecamesynonymouswithapairofstocks,andapolicemanoftheoldentime.

ApartfromtheGipseyelement,wefindthatCantaboundsintermsfromforeignlanguages,andthatitexhibitsthegrowthofmostrecognisedandcompletelyformedtongues,thegatheringofwordsfromforeignsources.InthereignofElizabethandofKingJamesI.,severalDutch,Spanish,andFlemishwordswereintroducedbysoldierswhohadservedintheLowCountries,andsailorswhohadreturnedfromtheSpanishMain,wholikemineancientPistolwerefondofgarnishingtheirspeechwithoutlandishphrases.ManyoftheseweresoonpickedupandadoptedbyvagabondsandtrampsintheirCantlanguage.TheAnglo-NormanandtheAnglo-Saxon,theScotch,theFrench,theItalian,andeventheclassiclanguagesofancientItalyandGreece,havecontributedtoitslistofwords,besidesthevariousprovincialdialectsofEngland.Indeed,asMayhewremarks,EnglishCantseemstobeformedonthesamebasisastheArgotoftheFrench,andtheRoth-SprcoftheGermans,partlymetaphorical,andpartlybytheintroductionofsuchcorruptedforeigntermsasarelikelytobeunknowntothesocietyamidwhichtheCantspeakersexist.ARGOTistheLondonthieveswordfortheirsecretlanguage,itis,ofcourse,fromtheFrench,butthatmattersnotsolongasitisincomprehensibletothepoliceandthemob.BOOZE,orBOUSE,Iamremindedbyafriendlycorrespondent,comesfromtheDutch,BUYSEN.DOMINE,aparson,isfromtheLatin;andDON,acleverfellow,hasbeenfilchedfromtheSpanish.DONNAANDFEELES,awomanandchildren,isfromtheLinguaFranca,orbastardItalian,althoughitsoundslikeanoddmixtureofSpanishandFrench;

whilstDUDDS,thevulgartermforclothes,mayhavebeenpilferedeitherfromtheGaelicortheDutch.FEELE,adaughter,fromtheFrench;andFROW,agirlorwife,fromtheGermanarecommontrampsterms.SoareGENT,silver,fromtheFrench,Argent;andVIAL,acountrytown,alsofromtheFrench.HORRID-HORN,afool,isbelievedtobefromtheErse;andGLOAK,aman,fromtheScotch.Asstatedbefore,theDictionarywillsupplynumerousotherinstances.

Thereisonesource,however,ofsecretstreetterms,which,inthefirsteditionofthiswork,wasentirelyoverlooked,indeed,itwasunknowntotheeditoruntilpointedoutbyafriendlycorrespondent,theLinguaFranca,orbastardItalian,spokenatGenoa,Trieste,Malta,Constantinople,Smyrna,Alexandria,andallMediterraneanseaporttowns.TheingredientsofthisimportedCantaremany.ItsfoundationisItalian,withamixtureofmodernGreek,German(fromtheAustrianports),Spanish,Turkish,andFrench.IthasbeenintroducedtothenoticeoftheLondonwanderingtribesbythesailors,foreignandEnglish,whotradetoandfromtheMediterraneanseaports,bytheswarmsoforganplayersfromallpartsofItaly,andbythemakersofimagesfromRomeandFlorence,allofwhom,indensethoroughfares,minglewithourlowerorders.Itwouldoccupytoomuchspaceheretogivealistofthesewords.TheyareallnotedintheDictionary.

ThereareseveralHebrewtermsinourCantlanguage,obtained,itwouldappear,fromtheintercourseofthethieveswiththeJewfences(receiversofstolengoods);manyoftheCantterms,again,areSanscrit,gotfromtheGipseys;manyLatin,gotbythebeggarsfromtheCatholicprayersbeforetheReformation;andmany,again,Italian,gotfromthewanderingmusiciansandothers;indeedtheshowmenhavebutlatelyintroducedanumberofItalianphrasesintotheirCantlanguage.24TheHindostanealsocontributesseveralwords,andthesehavebeenintroducedbytheLascarsailors,whocomeoverhereintheEastIndiamen,andlodgeduringtheirstayinthelowtrampslodginghousesattheEastendofLondon.Speakingofthelearnedtongues,Imaymentionthat,precariousandabandonedasthevagabondsexistenceis,manypersonsofclassicalorrefinededucationhavefromtimetotimejoinedtheranks,occasionallyfrominclination,asinthepopularinstanceofBamfyldeMooreCarew,butgenerallythroughindiscretion,andlossofcharacter.25ThiswillinsomemeasureaccountfornumerousclassicalandlearnedwordsfiguringasCanttermsinthevulgarDictionary.

Intheearlypartofthelastcentury,whenhighwaymenwerebyallaccountssoplentiful,agreatmanynewwordswereaddedtothecantingvocabulary,whilstseveraloldtermsfellintodisuse.CANT,forinstance,asappliedtothievestalk,wassupplantedbythewordFLASH.

Asingularfeature,however,invulgarlanguage,istheretentionandtherevivalofsterlingoldEnglishwords,longsincelaidupinancientmanuscripts,orthesubjectofdisputeamonglearnedantiquaries.Disraelisomewheresays,thepurestsourceofneologyisintherevivalofoldwords

WordsthatwiseBaconorbraveRawleighspake,

andDr.LathamhonoursoursubjectbyremarkingthatthethievesofLondonaretheconservatorsofAnglo-Saxonisms.Mayhew,too,inhisinterestingwork,LondonLabourandLondonPoor,admitsthatmanyCantandSlangphrasesaremerelyoldEnglishterms,whichhavebecomeobsoletethroughthecapricesoffashion.AndthereaderwholooksintotheDictionaryofthevagabondslingo,willseeataglancethatthesegentlemenwerequitecorrect,andthatwearecompelledtoacknowledgethesingulartruththatagreatmanyoldwords,oncerespectable,andinthemouthsofkingsandfineladies,arenowonlysomanysignalsforshrugsandshuddersamongstexceedinglypolitepeople.ABelgraviangentlemanwhohadlosthiswatchorhispocket-handkerchief,wouldscarcelyremarktohismammathatithadbeenBONEDyetBONE,inoldtimes,meanttostealamongsthighandlow.Andayoungladylivingintheprecinctsofdingy,butaristocraticMay-Fair,althoughenrapturedwithaJennyLindoraRistori,wouldhardlythinkofturningbackintheboxtoinformpapathatshe,RistoriorLind,madenoBONESofityetthephrasewasmostrespectableandwell-to-do,beforeitmetwithachangeofcircumstances.ACRACKarticle,howeverfirst-rate,would,asfarasspeechisconcerned,havegreatlydispleasedDr.JohnsonandMr.WalkeryetbothCRACK,inthesenseofexcellent,andCRACKUP,toboastorpraise,werenotconsideredvulgarismsinthetimeofHenryVIII.DODGE,acunningtrick,isfromtheAnglo-Saxon;andancientnoblesusedtogeteachother sDANDERUPbeforeappealingtotheirswords,quiteFLABERGASTING(alsoarespectableoldword)thehalfscoreoflookers-onwiththethumpsandcutsoftheirheavyweapons.GALLAVANTING,waitingupontheladies,wasaspoliteinexpressionasinaction;whilstaclergymanatPaulesCrosse,thoughtnothingofbiddinganoisyhearertoholdhisGAB,orshutuphisGOB.GADDING,roamingaboutinanidleandtrapesingmanner,wasusedinanoldtranslationoftheBible;andtodoanythingGINGERLYwastodoitwithgreatcare.PersonsofmoderntasteswillbeshockedtoknowthatthegreatLordBaconspokeofthelowerpartofamansfaceashisGILLS.

Shakespere,orastheFrenchsay,thedivineWilliam,alsousedmanywordswhicharenowcountedasdreadfullyvulgar.CLEANgone,inthesenseofoutofsight,orentirelyaway;youtookmeallA-MORT,orconfoundedme;itwontFADGE,orsuit,arephrasestakenatrandomfromthegreatdramatistsworks.ALondoncostermonger,orinhabitantofthestreets,insteadofsayingIllmakehimyield,orgivein,inafightorcontest,wouldsay,IllmakehimBUCKLEunder.Shakespere,inhisHenrytheFourth(Part2,Acti.,Scene1)hastheword,andMr.Halliwell,oneofthegreatestandmostindustriousoflivingantiquaries,informsus,thatthecommentatorsdonotsupplyanotherexample.Howstrange,then,thattheBardofAvon,andtheCockneycostermongers,shouldbejointpartnersandsoleproprietorsofthevulgarism.IfShakesperewasnotapugilist,hecertainlyanticipatedthetermsoftheprizeringortheywererespectablewordsbeforetheprizeringwasthoughtofforhehasPAY,tobeatorthrash,andPEPPER,withasimilarmeaning;alsoFANCY,inthesenseofpetsandfavourites,pugilistsareoftentermedtheFANCY.ThecantwordPRIG,fromtheSaxon,priccan,tofilch,isalsoShakesperian;soindeedisPIECE,acontemptuoustermforayoung

woman.Shakesperewasnottheonlyvulgardramatistofhistime.BenJonson,BeaumontandFletcher,Brome,andotherplay-writers,occasionallyputcantwordsintothemouthsoftheirlowcharacters,oremployedoldwordswhichhavesincedegeneratedintovulgarisms.CRUSTY,poortempered;twoofaKIDNEY,twoofasort;LARK,apieceoffun;LUG,topull;BUNG,togiveorpass;PICKLE,asadplight;FRUMP,tomock,areafewspecimenscasuallypickedfromtheworksoftheoldhistrionicwriters.

OneoldEnglishmodeofcanting,simpleandeffectivewhenfamiliarisedbypractice,wastheinsertingaconsonantbetwixteachsyllable;thus,takingg,Howdoyoudo?wouldbeHougdogyougdog?Thenameveryproperlygiventothisdisagreeablenonsense,weareinformedbyGrose,wasGibberish.

AnotherCanthasrecentlybeenattemptedbytransposingtheinitiallettersofwords,sothatamuttonchopbecomesacuttonmop,apintofstoutastintofpout;butitissatisfactorytoknowthatithasgainednoground.ThisiscalledMarrowskying,orMedicalGreek,fromitsusebymedicalstudentsatthehospitals.AlbertSmithtermsittheGower-streetDialect.

TheLanguageofZiph,Imayadd,isanotherrudemodeofdisguisingEnglish,inuseamongthestudentsatWinchesterCollege.

ACCOUNTOFTHEHIEROGLYPHICSUSEDBYVAGABONDS.OneofthemostsingularchaptersinaHistoryofVagabondismwouldcertainlybeanaccountoftheHieroglyphicsignsusedbytrampsandthieves.Thereadermaybestartledtoknowthat,inadditiontoasecretlanguage,thewanderingtribesofthiscountryhaveprivatemarksandsymbolicsignswithwhichtoscoretheirsuccesses,failures,andadvicetosucceedingbeggars;infact,thatthecountryisreallydottedoverwithbeggarsfingerpostsandguidestones.Theassertion,howeverstrangeitmayappear,isnofiction.ThesubjectwasnotlongsincebroughtundertheattentionoftheGovernmentbyMr.Rawlinson.26Thereis,hesaysinhisreport,asortofblackguardsliterature,andtheinitiatedunderstandeachotherbyslang[cant]terms,bypantomimicsigns,andbyHIEROGLYPHICS.ThevagrantsmarkmaybeseeninHavant,oncornersofstreets,ondoorposts,andonhousesteps.Simpleasthesechalklinesappear,theyinformthesucceedingvagrantsofalltheyrequiretoknow;andafewwhitescratchesmaysay,beimportunate,orpasson.

Anotherverycuriousaccountwastakenfromaprovincialnewspaper,publishedin1849,andforwardedtoNotesandQueries,27undertheheadofMENDICANTFREEMASONRY.Persons,remarksthewriter,indiscreetenoughtoopentheirpursestothereliefofthebeggartribe,woulddowelltotakeareadilylearnedlessonastothefollyofthatmisguidedbenevolencewhichencouragesandperpetuatesvagabondism.Everydoororpassageispregnantwithinstructionastotheerrorcommittedbythepatronofbeggars,asthebeggar-marksshowthatasystemoffreemasonryisfollowed,bywhichabeggarknowswhetheritwillbeworthhiswhiletocallintoapassageorknockatadoor.Letanyoneexaminetheentrancestothepassagesinanytown,andtherehewillfindchalkmarks,unintelligibletohim,butsignificantenoughtobeggars.Ifathousandtownsareexamined,thesamemarkswillbefoundateverypassageentrance.Thepassagemarkisacypherwithatwistedtail:insomecasesthetailprojectsintothepassage,inothersoutwardly;thusseemingtoindicatewhetherthehousesdownthepassageareworthcallingatornot.Almosteverydoorhasitsmarks:thesearevaried.Insomecasesthereisacrossonthebrickwork,inothersacypher:thefigures1,2,3,arealsoused.Everypersonmayforhimselftesttheaccuracyofthesestatementsbytheexaminationofthebrickworknearhisowndoorwaythusdemonstratingthatmendicityisaregulartrade,carriedoutuponasystemcalculatedtosavetime,andrealisethelargestprofits.Theseremarksrefermainlytoprovincialtowns,Londonbeinglookeduponasthetrampshome,andthereforetooFLY,orexperienced,tobedupedbysuchmeans.

TheonlyothernoticeofthehieroglyphicsofvagabondsthatIhavemetwith,isinMayhewsLondonLabourandLondonPoor.28Mayhewobtainedhisinformationfromtwotramps,whostatedthathawkersemploythesesignsaswellasbeggars.OnetrampthusdescribedthemethodofWORKING29asmalltown.Twohawkers(PALS29)gotogether,butseparatewhentheyenteravillage,

onetakingonesideoftheroad,andsellingdifferentthings;andsoastoinformeachotherastothecharacterofthepeopleatwhosehousestheycall,theychalkcertainmarksontheirdoorposts.AnotherinformantstatedthatifaPATTERER29hasbeenCRABBED(thatis,offended)atanyoftheCRIBS(houses),hemostlychalksasignalatornearthedoor.

Anotheruseisalsomadeofthesehieroglyphics.Chartsofsuccessfulbeggingneighbourhoodsarerudelydrawn,andsymbolicalsignsattachedtoeachhousetoshowwhetherbenevolentoradverse.30Inmanycasesthereisoverthekitchenmantel-pieceofatrampslodging-houseamapofthedistrict,dottedhereandtherewithmemorandumsoffailureorsuccess.31Acorrectfacsimileofoneofthesesingularmapshasbeenplacedasafrontispiece.Itwasobtainedfromthepatterersandtrampswhosuppliedagreatmanywordsforthiswork,andwhohavebeenemployedbymeforsometimeincollectingOldBallads,ChristmasCarols,DyingSpeeches,andLastLamentations,asmaterialsforaHistoryofPopularLiterature.Thereaderwillnodoubtbeamusedwiththedrawing.ThelocalitydepictedisnearMaidstone,inKent,andIaminformedthatitwasprobablysketchedbyawanderingSCREEVER32inpaymentforanightslodging.TheEnglishpracticeofmarkingeverything,andscratchingnamesonpublicproperty,extendsitselftothetribeofvagabonds.Onthemap,asmaybeseeninthelefthandcorner,someTRAVELLER32hasdrawnafavouriteornotedfemale,singularlynick-namedThree-quarterSarah.Whatwerethepeculiaraccomplishmentsofthisladytodemandsouncommonaname,thereaderwillbeatalosstodiscover,butapatterersaysitprobablyreferstoashufflingdanceofthatname,commonintrampslodging-houses,andinwhichSarahmayhavebeenaproficient.Aboveher,threebeggarsorhawkershavereckonedtheirdaysearnings,amountingto13s.;andontherightatolerablycorrectsketchofalowhawker,orcostermonger,isdrawn.ToDover,thenighway,istheexactphraseology;andhuphere,afairspecimenoftheself-acquirededucationofthetribeofcadgers.Nokeyorexplanationtothehieroglyphicswasgivenintheoriginal,becauseitwouldhavebeensuperfluous,wheneveryinmateofthelodging-houseknewthemarksfromtheircradleorrathertheirmother sback.

Shouldtherebenomap,inmostlodging-housesthereisanoldmanwhoisguidetoeveryWALKinthevicinity,andwhocantelleachhouseoneveryround,thatisgoodforacoldtatur.33Thehieroglyphicsthatareusedare:

NOGOOD;toopoor,andknowtoomuch.STOP,ifyouhavewhattheywant,theywillbuy.Theyareprettyfly(knowing).GOINTHISDIRECTION,itisbetterthantheotherroad.Nothingthatway.BONE(good).Safeforacoldtatur,iffornothingelse.Cheeseyourpatter

(donttalkmuch)here.COOPERD(spoilt),bytoomanytrampscallingthere.GAMMY(unfavourable),likelytohaveyoutakenup.Mindthedog.

FLUMMUXED(dangerous),sureofamonthinquod(prison).RELIGIOUS,buttidyonthewhole.

Wheredidthesesignscomefrom,andwhenweretheyfirstused?arequestionswhichIhaveaskedmyselfagainandagain,whilstendeavouringtodiscovertheirhistory.KnowingthecharacteroftheGipseys,andascertainingfromatrampthattheyarewellacquaintedwiththehieroglyphics,andhavebeenaslongagoaseverhecouldremember,Ihavelittlehesitationinascribingtheinventiontothem.AndstrangeitwouldbeifsomemodernBelzoni,orChampollion,discoveredinthesebeggarsmarksfragmentsofancientEgyptianorHindoohieroglyphicalwriting!Butthis,ofcourse,isasimplevagaryoftheimagination.

ThattheGipseyswereinthehabitofleavingmemorialsoftheroadtheyhadtaken,andthesuccessesthathadbefallenthem,therecanbenodoubt.Inanoldbook,TheTriumphofWit,1724,thereisapassagewhichappearstohavebeencopiedfromsomeolderwork,anditrunsthus:TheGipseyssetouttwiceayear,andscatteralloverEngland,eachparcelhavingtheirappointedstages,thattheymaynotinterfere,norhindereachother;andforthatpurpose,whentheysetforwardinthecountry,theystickupboughsinthewayofdiverskinds,accordingasitisagreedamongthem,thatonecompanymayknowwhichwayanotherisgone,andsotakeadifferentroad.TheworksofHoylandandBorrowsupplyotherinstances.

Icannotclosethissubjectwithoutdrawingattentiontotheextraordinaryfact,thatactuallyonthethresholdofthegibbetthesignofthevagabondistobemetwith!Themurderer ssignalisevenexhibitedfromthegallows;asaredhandkerchiefheldinthehandofthefelonabouttobeexecutedisatokenthathedieswithouthavingbetrayedanyprofessionalsecrets.34

SincethefirsteditionofthisworkwaspublishedtheauthorhasreceivedfromvariouspartsofEnglandnumerousevidencesofthestillactiveuseofbeggarsmarks,andmendicanthieroglyphics.OnegentlemanwritesfromGreatYarmouthtosaythatonlyashorttimesince,whilstresidinginNorwich,heusedfrequentlytoseethemonthehousesandstreetcorners.Fromanothergentleman,aclergyman,Ilearnthathehassofarmadehimselfacquaintedwiththemeaningsofthesignsemployed,thatbyhimselfmarkingthecharacters (Gammy)or (Flummuxed)onthegatepostsofhisparsonage,heenjoysasingularimmunityfromalms-seekersofallorders.

THEHISTORYOFSLANG,ORTHEVULGARLANGUAGEOFFASTLIFE.

SLANGisthelanguageofstreethumour,offast,high,andlowlife.CANT,aswasstatedinthechapteruponthatsubject,isthevulgarlanguageofsecrecy.Theyarebothuniversalandancient,andappeartohavebeenthepeculiarconcomitantsofgay,vulgar,orworthlesspersonsineverypartoftheworld,ateveryperiodoftime.Indeed,ifwearetobelieveimplicitlythesayingofthewiseman,thatthereisnothingnewunderthesun,thefastmenofburiedNineveh,withtheirknottyanddoor-mattylookingbeards,mayhavecrackedSlangjokesonthestepsofSennacheribspalace;andthestocksandstonesofAncientEgypt,andthebricksofvenerableandused-upBabylon,may,foraughtweknow,becoveredwithSlanghieroglyphicsunknowntomodernantiquarians,andwhichhavelongbeenstumbling-blockstothephilologist;soimpossibleisitatthisdaytosaywhatwasthenauthorised,orwhatthenvulgarlanguage.Slangisasoldasspeechandthecongregatingtogetherofpeopleincities.Itistheresultofcrowding,andexcitement,andartificiallife.Eventotheclassicsitwasnotunknown,aswitnessthepagesofAristophanesandPlautus,TerenceandAthenus.Martial,theepigrammatist,isfullofSlang.Whenanuninvitedguestaccompaniedhisfriend,theSlangofthedaystyledhimhisUMBRA;whenamanwastrussed,neckandheels,itcalledhimjocoselyQUADRUPUS.

OldEnglishSlangwascoarser,anddependedmoreupondownrightvulgaritythanourmodernSlang.Itwasajestingspeech,orhumorousindulgenceforthethoughtlessmoment,orthedrunkenhour,anditactedasavent-pegforafitoftemperorirritability;butitdidnotinterlardandpermeateeverydescriptionofconversationasnow.Itwasconfinedtonick-namesandimpropersubjects,andencroachedbuttoaverysmallextentuponthedomainofauthorisedspeech.Indeed,itwasexceedinglylimitedwhencomparedwiththevastterritoryofSlanginsuchgeneralfavourandcompletecirculationatthepresentday.Still,althoughnotanalarmingencumbrance,asinourtime,Slangcertainlydidexistinthiscountrycenturiesago,aswemayseeifwelookdownthepageofanyrespectableHistoryofEngland.CromwellwasfamiliarlycalledOLDNOLL,justthesameasBuonapartewastermedBONEY,andWellingtonCONKEY,orNOSEY,onlyafewyearsago.HisLegislature,too,wasspokenofinahigh-flavouredwayastheBAREBONES,orRUMPParliament,andhisfollowerswerenicknamedROUNDHEADS,andthepeculiarreligioussectsofhisprotectoratewerestyledPURITANSandQUAKERS.35TheCivilWarpamphlets,andthesatiricalhitsoftheCavaliersandtheCommonwealthmen,originatednumerousSlangwordsandvulgarsimiles,infulluseatthepresentmoment.HereisafieldofinquiryforthePhilologicalSociety,indeedImaysayaterritory,fortherearethirtythousandofthesepartisantracts.Laterstill,inthecourtofCharlestheSecond,thenaughtyladiesandthegaylords,withRochesterattheirhead,talkedSlang;andverynaughtySlangitwastoo!Fops,inthosedays,whenoverheadandearsindebt,andincontinualfearofarrest,termedtheir

enemies,thebailiffs,PHILISTINES36orMOABITES.Atalaterperiod,whencollarswereworndetachedfromshirts,inordertosavetheexpenseofwashinganobjectitwouldseemwithneedyswellsinallagestheyobtainedthenameofJACOBITES.OnehalfofthecoarsewitinButler sHudibraslurksinthevulgarwordsandphraseswhichhewassofondofemploying.TheyweremorehomelyandforciblethanthemildandelegantsentencesofCowley,andthepeople,therefore,hurrahdthem,andpronouncedButleroneofthemselves,or,asweshouldsay,inajoyfulmoment,ajollygoodfellow.OratorHenleypreachedandprayedinSlang,andfirstcharmedandthenswayedthedirtymobsinLincolnsInnFieldsbyvulgarisms.BurlyGrosementionsHenley,withtheremarkthatweoweagreatmanySlangphrasestohim.Swift,andoldSirRogerLEstrange,andArbuthnot,wereallfondofvulgarorSlanglanguage;indeed,wemayseefromaSlangwordusedbythelatterhowcuriousisthegradualadoptionofvulgartermsinourstandarddictionaries.Theworthydoctor,inordertoannihilate(or,asweshouldsaywithafittingrespecttothesubjectunderconsideration,SMASH)anopponent,thoughtproperonanoccasiontousethewordCABBAGE,notintheancientandesculentarysenseofaflatulentvegetableofthekitchengarden,butintheatonceSlangsenseofpurloiningorcribbing.Johnsonsoonmetwiththeword,lookedatit,examinedit,weighedit,andshookhishead,butoutofrespecttoabrotherdoctorinserteditinhisdictionary,labellingit,however,prominentlyCant;whilstWalkerandWebster,yearsafter,whentocabbagewastopilferalloverEngland,placedthetermintheirdictionariesasanancientandveryrespectableword.AnotherSlangterm,GULL,tocheat,ordelude,sometimesvariedtoGULLY,isstatedtobeconnectedwiththeDeanofSt.Patrick.GULL,adupe,orafool,isoftenusedbyourolddramatists,andisgenerallybelievedtohavegivenrisetotheverb;butacuriouslittleeditionofBamfyldeMooreCarew,publishedin1827,saysthatTOGULL,orGULLY,isderivedfromthewellknownGulliver,theheroofthefamousTravels.HowcrammedwithSlangarethedramaticworksofthelastcentury!Thewritersofthecomediesandfarcesinthosedaysmusthavelivedinthestreets,andwrittentheirplaysinthepublic-houses,sofilledaretheywithvulgarismsandunauthorisedwords.Thepopularphrases,Ioweyouone,thatsoneforhisnob,andkeepmoving,dad,aroseinthisway.37Thesecondofthesesayingswas,doubtless,takenfromthecardtable,foratcribbagetheplayerwhoholdstheknaveofthesuitturnedupcountsoneforhisnob,andthedealerwhoturnsupaknavecountstwoforhisheels.

InMrs.CentlivresadmirablecomedyofABoldStrokeforaWife,weseetheoriginofthatpopularstreetphrase,THEREALSIMONPURE.SimonPureistheQuakernameadoptedbyColonelFeignwellasatricktoobtainthehandofMistressAnneLovelyinmarriage.TheveritableQuaker,therealSimonPure,recommendedbyAminadabHoldfast,ofBristol,asafitsojournerwithObadiahPrim,arrivesatlasttothediscomfitureoftheColonel,who,tomaintainhispositionandgaintime,concoctsaletterinwhichtherealQuakerisspokenofasahousebreakerwhohadtravelledintheleatherconveniencyfromBristol,andadoptedthegarbandnameoftheWesternQuakerinordertopassoffastheREALSIMONPURE,butonlyforthepurposeofrobbingthehouseandcutting

thethroatoftheperplexedObadiah.ThesceneinwhichthetwoSimonPures,therealandthecounterfeit,meet,isoneofthebestinthecomedy.

TomBrown,offacetiousmemory,ashisfriendswerewonttosay,andNedWard,whowrotehumorousbooks,andwhentireddrewbeerforhiscustomersathisale-houseinLongAcre,38werebothgreatproducersofSlanginthelastcentury,andtothemweowemanypopularcurrentphrasesandhouseholdwords.

WrittenSlangwascheckedratherthanadvancedbythepensofAddison,Johnson,andGoldsmith,althoughJohnBee,thebottle-holderandhistoriographerofthepugilisticbandofbrothersintheyouthfuldaysofflat-nosedTomCrib,hasgravelystatedthatJohnson,whenyoungandrakish,contributedtoanearlyvolumeoftheGentlemansMagazineafewpages,bywayofspecimen,ofaSlangdictionary,theresult,Mr.Beesays,ofhismidnightramblings!39AndGoldsmith,Imustnotforgettoremark,certainlycoinedafewwords,although,asarule,hispenwaspureandgraceful,andadversetoneologisms.ThewordFUDGE,ithasbeenstated,wasfirstusedbyhiminliterarycomposition,althoughitoriginatedwithoneCaptainFudge,anotoriousfibber,nearlyacenturybefore.Street-phrases,nick-names,andvulgarwordswerecontinuallybeingaddedtothegreatstockofpopularSlanguptothecommencementofthepresentcentury,whenitreceivednumerousadditionsfrompugilism,horse-racing,andfastlifegenerally,whichsuddenlycameintogreatpublicfavour,andwasatitsheightwhenthePrinceRegentwasinhisrakishminority.SlanginthosedayswasgenerallytermedFLASHlanguage.Sopopularwasitwiththebloodsofhighlifethatitconstitutedthebestpayingliterarycapitalforcertainauthorsanddramatists.PierceEganissuedBoxiana,andLifeinLondon,sixportlyoctavovolumes,crammedwithSlang;andMoncrieffwrotethemostpopularfarceoftheday,TomandJerry(adaptedfromthelatterwork),which,tousenewspaperSlang,tookthetownbystorm,and,withitsthenfashionablevulgarisms,madethefortuneoftheoldAdelphiTheatre,andwas,withoutexception,themostwonderfulinstanceofacontinuoustheatricalRUNinancientormoderntimes.This,also,wasbrimfulofSlang.OtherauthorshelpedtopopulariseandextendSlangdowntoourowntime,whenithastakenasomewhatdifferentturn,droppingmanyoftheCantandoldvulgarwords,andassumingacertainquaintandfashionablephraseologyFrenchy,familiar,utilitarian,andjovial.Therecanbenodoubtbutthatcommonspeechisgreatlyinfluencedbyfashion,freshmanners,andthatgeneralchangeofideaswhichstealsoverapeopleonceinageneration.ButbeforeIproceedfurtherintotheregionofSlang,itwillbewelltosaysomethingontheetymologyoftheword.

ThewordSLANGisonlymentionedbytwolexicographersWebsterandOgilvie.Johnson,Walker,andtheoldercompilersofdictionaries,giveslangthepreteriteofsling,butnotawordaboutSLANGinthesenseoflow,vulgar,orunrecognisedlanguage.Theoriginofthewordhasoftenbeenaskedforinliteraryjournalsandbooks,butonlyoneman,asfarasIcanlearn,haseverhazardedanetymologyJonathanBee,thevulgarchronicleroftheprize-ring.40Witharecklessnesspeculiarto

pugilism,BeestatedthatSLANGwasderivedfromtheslangsorfetterswornbyprisoners,havingacquiredthatnamefromthemannerinwhichtheywereworn,astheyrequiredaslingofstringtokeepthemofftheground.BeehadjustbeennettledatPierceEganproducinganeweditionofGrosesDictionaryoftheVulgarTongue,andwasdeterminedtoexcelhiminavulgardictionaryofhisown,whichshouldbemoreracy,morepugilistic,andmoreoriginal.HowfarhesucceededinthislatterparticularhisridiculousetymologyofSlangwillshow.SLANGisnotanEnglishword,itistheGipseytermfortheirsecretlanguage,anditssynonymeisGIBBERISHanotherwordwhichwasbelievedtohavehadnodistinctorigin.41GrosestoutandburlyCaptainGrosewhowemaycharacteriseasthegreatestantiquary,joker,anddrinkerofporterofhisday,wasthefirstauthorwhoputthewordSLANGintoprint.ItoccursinhisClassicalDictionaryoftheVulgarTongue,of1785,withthesignificationthatitimpliesCantorvulgarlanguage.Grose,Imayremarkinpassing,wasagreatfavouritewiththepoetBurns,andsopleasedbyhisextensivepowersofstory-tellingandgrog-imbibing,thatthecompanionableandhumour-lovingScotchbardwroteforhisfatfriendor,tousehisownwords,thefine,fat,fodgelwighttheimmortalpoemofTamOShanter.

WithouttroublingthereaderwithalongaccountofthetransformationintoanEnglishtermofthewordSLANG,ImayremarkinpassingthatitiseasilyseenhowweobtaineditfromtheGipseys.Huckstersandbeggarsontramp,oratfairsandraces,associateandfrequentlyjoininanyroughenterprisewiththeGipseys.Thewordwouldbecontinuallyheardbythem,andwouldinthismannersoonbecomeCANT;42and,whencarriedbyfastorvulgarfashionablesfromthesocietyofthievesandlowcharacterstotheirowndrawing-rooms,wouldasquicklybecomeSLANG,andtherepresentativetermforallvulgarorSlanglanguage.

Anysuddenexcitement,peculiarcircumstance,orpopularliteraryproduction,isquitesufficienttooriginateandsetgoingascoreofSlangwords.Nearlyeveryelectionorpublicagitationthrowsoutoffshootsoftheexcitement,orscintillationsofthehumourintheshapeofSlangtermsvulgaratfirst,butatlengthadoptedassemi-respectablefromtheforceofhabitandcustom.ThereisscarcelyaconditionorcallinginlifethatdoesnotpossessitsownpeculiarSlang.Theprofessions,legalandmedical,haveeachfamiliarandunauthorisedtermsforpeculiarcircumstancesandthings,andIamquitecertainthattheclericalcalling,orthecloth,isnotentirelyfreefromthispeculiarity.Everyworkshop,warehouse,factory,andmillthroughoutthecountryhasitsSlang,andsohavethepublicschoolsofEton,Harrow,andWestminster,andthegreatUniversitiesofOxfordandCambridge.SeaSlangconstitutestheprincipalcharmofasailor syarn,andoursoldiersandofficershaveeachtheirpeculiarnicknamesandtermsforthingsandsubjectsproperandimproper.AwriterinHouseholdWords(No.183)hasgonesofarastoremark,thatapersonshallnotreadonesingleparliamentarydebate,asreportedinafirst-classnewspaper,withoutmeetingscoresofSlangwords;andthatfromMr.Speakerinhischair,totheCabinetMinisterswhisperingbehinditfrommovertoseconder,fromtrueblueProtectionisttoextremestRadicalMr.BarrysNewHouseechoesand

re-echoeswithSlang.ReallyitseemsasifourboastedEnglishtonguewasaverypaltryandill-providedcontrivanceafterall;orcanitbethatwearethemostvulgarofpeople?

TheuniversalityofSlangisextraordinary.Letanypersonforashorttimenarrowlyexaminetheconversationoftheirdearestandnearestfriends,aye,censor-like,evensliceandanalysetheirownsupposedcorrecttalk,andtheyshallbeamazedatthenumerousunauthorised,andwhatwecanonlycallvulgar,wordstheycontinuallyemploy.Itisnotthenumberofnewwordsthatweareeverintroducingthatissoreprehensible,thereisnotsomuchharminthispractice(frequentlytermedinbooksthelicenseofexpression)ifneologismsarereallyrequired,butitisthecontinuallyencumberingofoldwordswithfreshandstrangemeanings.Lookatthosesimpleandusefulverbs,do,cut,go,andtake,andseehowtheyarehamperedandoverloaded,andthenletusaskourselveshowitisthataFrenchorGermangentleman,beheeversowelleducated,iscontinuallyblunderingandflounderingamongstourlittlewordswhentryingtomakehimselfunderstoodinanordinaryconversation.Hemayhavestudiedourlanguagetherequiredtime,andhavegonethroughtheusualamountofgrinding,andpractisedthecommonallotmentofpatience,butalltonopurposeasfarasaccuracyisconcerned.IamawarethatmostnewwordsaregenerallyregardedasSlang,althoughafterwardstheymaybecomeusefulandrespectableadditionstoourstandarddictionaries.JABBERandHOAXwereSlangandCanttermsinSwiftstime;soindeedwereMOBandSHAM.43WordsdirectlyfromtheLatinandGreek,andCarlyleisms,areallowedbyanindulgentpublictopassandtaketheirplacesinbooks.SoundcontributesmanySlangwordsasourcethatetymologiststoofrequentlyoverlook.Nothingpleasesanignorantpersonmorethanahigh-soundingtermfulloffury.Howmelodiousanddrum-likearethosevulgarcoruscationsRUMBUMPTIOUS,SLANTINGDICULAR,SPLENDIFEROUS,RUMBUSTIOUS,andFERRICADOUZER.Whatapullthesharp-nosedlodging-housekeeperthinksshehasoverhervictimsifshecanbuthurlsuchtestimoniesofaliberaleducationatthemwhentheyaredisputinghercharges,andthreateningtoABSQUATULATE!IntheUnitedStatesthevulgar-genteelevenexcelthepoorstuck-upCockneysintheirformationofanativefashionablelanguage.HowcharmingtoarefinedearareABSKIZE,CATAWAMPOUSLY,EXFLUNCTIFY,OBSCUTE,KESLOSH,KESOUSE,KESWOLLOP,andKEWHOLLUX!Vulgarwordsrepresentingactionandbriskmovementoftenowetheirorigintosound.Mispronunciation,too,isanothergreatsourceofvulgarorslangwordsRAMSHACKLE,SHACKLY,NARY-ONEforneither,orneitherone,OTTOMYforanatomy,RENCHforrinse,arespecimens.Thecommonaltydislikefrequentlyoccurringwordsdifficultofpronunciation,andsowehavethestreetabridgmentsofBIMEBYforbyandby,CAZEforbecause,GINforgiven,HANKERCHERforhandkerchief,RUMATIZforrheumatism,BACKYfortobacco,andmanyothers,notperhapsSlang,butcertainlyallvulgarisms.ArchbishopWhately,inhisinterestingRemainsofBishopCopleston,hasinsertedaleaffromtheBishopsnote-bookonthepopularcorruptionofnames,mentioningamongothersKICKSHAWS,asfromtheFrench,quelqueschoses;BEEFEATER,thelubberlyguardianofroyaltyinaprocession,andthesupposeddevourerofenormousbeefsteaks,asbutavulgarpronunciationofthe

French,buffetier;andGEORGEandCANNON,thesignofapublic-house,asnothingbutacorruption(althoughsosoon!)ofthepopularpremierofthelastgeneration,GeorgeCanning.LiteraturehasitsSlangterms;andthedesireonthepartofwriterstosayfunnyandstartlingthingsinanovelandcuriousway(thelateHouseholdWords,44forinstance),contributesmanyunauthorisedwordstothegreatstockofSlang.

Fashionable,orUpper-classSlang,isofseveralvarieties.ThereistheBelgravian,militaryandnaval,parliamentary,dandy,andthereunionandvisitingSlang.ConcerningtheSlangofthefashionableworld,awriterinHouseholdWordscuriously,butnotaltogethertruthfully,remarks,thatitismostlyimportedfromFrance;andthatanunmeaninggibberishofGallicismsrunsthroughEnglishfashionableconversation,andfashionablenovels,andaccountsoffashionablepartiesinthefashionablenewspapers.Yet,ludicrouslyenough,immediatelythefashionablemagnatesofEnglandseizeonanyFrenchidiom,theFrenchthemselvesnotonlyuniversallyabandonittous,butpositivelyrepudiateitaltogetherfromtheiridiomaticvocabulary.Ifyouweretotellawell-bredFrenchmanthatsuchandsuchanaristocraticmarriagewasonthetapis,hewouldstarewithastonishment,andlookdownonthecarpetinthestartledendeavourtofindamarriageinsounusualaplace.Ifyouweretotalktohimofthebeaumonde,hewouldimagineyoumeanttheworldwhichGodmade,nothalf-a-dozenstreetsandsquaresbetweenHydeParkCornerandChelseaBunHouse.Thethdansante45

wouldbecompletelyinexplicabletohim.IfyouweretopointouttohimtheDowagerLadyGrimguffinactingaschaperontoLadyAmandaCreamville,hewouldimagineyouwerereferringtothepetitChaperonrougetolittleRedRidingHood.Hemightjustunderstandwhatwasmeantbyvis-a-vis,entremets,andsomeothersoftheflyinghordeoffrivolouslittleforeignslangismshoveringaboutfashionablecookeryandfashionablefurniture;butthree-fourthsofthemwouldseemtohimasbarbarousFrenchprovincialisms,or,atbest,butasantiquatedandobsoleteexpressions,pickedoutofthelettersofMademoiselleScuderi,orthetalesofCrebillontheyounger.Servants,too,appropriatethescrapsofFrenchconversationwhichfallfromtheirmastersguestsatthedinnertable,andforthwithintheworldofflunkeydomthewordknowisdisused,andtheladysmaid,indoubtonaparticularpoint,asksJohnwhetherornoheSAVEYSit?46What,too,canbemoreabominablethanthatheartlesspieceoffashionablenewspaperSlang,regularlyemployedwhenspeakingofthesuccessfulcourtshipofyoungpeopleinthefashionableworld:

MARRIAGEINHIGHLIFE.WeunderstandthatamarriageisARRANGED(!)betwixttheLady,&c.&c.,andtheHonourable,&c.&c.

ARRANGED!Isthatcold-bloodedSmithfieldorMark-lanetermforasaleorapurchasetheproperwordtoexpressthehopeful,joyous,goldenunionofyoungandtrustfulhearts?Whichistheproperwaytopronouncethenamesofgreatpeople,andwhatthecorrectauthority?LordCowper,weareoftenassured,isLordCooperonthisprincipleLordCowleywouldcertainlybeLordCooleyand

Mr.Carew,wearetold,shouldbeMr.Carey,PonsonbyshouldbePunsunby,EyreshouldheAire,CholmondeleyshouldbeChumley,St.JohnSingen,MajoribanksMarshbanks,DerbyDarby(itsancientpronunciation),andPowellshouldalwaysbePoel.IdontknowthattheseloftypersonshaveasmuchcausetocomplainoftheilliberalityoffateingivingthemdisagreeablenamesasdidthecelebratedPsyche(asshewastermedbyTomMoore),whoseoriginalname,throughherhusband,wasTeague,butwhichwasafterwardsalteredtoTighe.

ParliamentarySlang,exceptingafewpeculiartermsconnectedwiththeHouse(scarcelySlang,Isuppose),ismainlycomposedoffashionable,literary,andlearnedSlang.Whenmembers,however,getexcitedandwishtobeforcible,theyareoftennotveryparticularwhichofthestreettermstheyselect,providingitcarries,asgoodoldDr.Southsaid,plentyofwild-fireinit.SirHughCairnsverylatelyspokeofthathomelybutexpressivephrase,DODGE.OutoftheHouse,severalSlangtermsareusedinconnectionwithParliamentormembersofParliament.IfLordPalmerstonisknownbynametothetribesoftheCaucasusandAsiaMinorasagreatforeigndiplomatist,whenthenameofourQueenVictoriaisanunknowntitletotheinhabitantsofthosepartsaswasstatedintheTimesashorttimeago,IhaveonlytoremarkthatamongstthecostersandthewildinhabitantsofthestreetsheisbetterknownasPAM.IhaveoftenheardthecabmenontheranksinPiccadillyremarkofthelateChancelloroftheExchequer,whenhehasbeengoingfromhisresidenceatGrosvenorGate,toDerbyHouseinSt.JamessSquare,hollo,there!deyerseeoldDIZZYdoingastump?APLUMPERisasinglevoteatanelection,notaSPLIT-TICKET;andelectorswhohaveoccupiedahouse,nomatterhowsmall,andboiledapotinit,thusqualifyingthemselvesforvoting,aretermedPOT-WOLLOPERS.AquietWALKOVERisare-electionwithoutoppositionandmuchcost.ACAUCUSmeetingreferstotheprivateassemblingofpoliticiansbeforeanelection,whencandidatesarechosenandmeasuresofactionagreedupon.ThetermcomesfromAmerica.AJOB,inpoliticalphraseology,isagovernmentofficeorcontractobtainedbysecretinfluenceorfavouritism.OnlytheotherdaytheTimesspokeofthepatrioticmemberofParliamentPOTTEDOUTinadustylittlelodgingsomewhereaboutBury-street.ThetermQUOCKERWODGER,althoughreferringtoawoodentoyfigurewhichjerksitslimbsaboutwhenpulledbyastring,hasbeensupplementedwithapoliticalmeaning.Apseudo-politician,onewhosestringsofactionarepulledbysomebodyelse,isnowoftentermedaQUOCKERWODGER.ThetermRAT,too,inallusiontoratsdesertingvesselsabouttosink,haslongbeenemployedtowardsthoseturncoatpoliticianswhochangetheirpartyforinterest.WhothatoccasionallypassesneartheHousesofParliamenthasnotoftennoticedstoutorcarefulM.P.swalkbrisklythroughtheHallandonthecurb-stoneinfront,withumbrellaorwalkingcaneuplifted,shouttothecabmenontherank,FOUR-WHEELER!Thetermisausefulone,butIamafraidwemustconsideritSlang,untilitisstampedwiththemintmarkoflexicographicalauthority.47

Military,orOfficersSlangisonapar,andofacharacterwithDandySlang.Inconvenientfriends,orelderlyandlecturingrelatives,arepronouncedDREADFULBORES.Four-wheelcabsarecalled

BOUNDERS;andamemberoftheFour-in-handClub,drivingtoEpsomontheDerbyday,would,usingfashionableslangphraseology,speakofitasTOOLINGHISDRAGDOWNTOTHEDERBY.Avehicle,ifnotaDRAG(ordwag)isaTRAP,oraCASK;andiftheTURNOUThappenstobeinotherthanatrimcondition,itispronouncedatonceasnotDOWNTHEROAD.YourcityswellwouldsayitisnotUPTOTHEMARK;whilstthecostermongerwouldcallitWERYDICKEY.InthearmyabarrackormilitarystationisknownasaLOBSTER-BOX;tocramforanexaminationistoMUG-UP;torejectfromtheexaminationistoSPIN;andthatpartofthebarrackoccupiedbysubalternsisfrequentlyspokenofastheROOKERY.IndandyorswellSlang,anycelebrity,fromRobsonoftheOlympic,tothePopeofRome,isaSWELL.Wrinkledfacedoldprofessors,whoholddressandfashionabletailorsinabhorrence,arecalledAWFULSWELLS,iftheyhappentobeverylearnedorclever.ImayremarkthatinthisupperclassSlangatitleistermedaHANDLE;trousers,INEXPRESSIBLES;orwhenofalargepattern,ortheinflatedZouavecut,HOWLINGBAGS;asuperiorappearance,EXTENSIVE;afour-wheeledcab,aBIRDCAGE;adance,aHOP;diningatanothermanstable,sittingunderhisMAHOGANY;anythingflashyorshowy,LOUD;thepeculiarmakeorcutofacoat,itsBUILD;fulldress,FULL-FIG;wearingclotheswhichrepresenttheveryextremeoffashion,dressingtoDEATH;areunion,aSPREAD;afriend(oragoodfellow),aTRUMP;adifficulty,aSCREWLOOSE;andeverythingthatisunpleasant,frombadsherrytoawritfromatailor,JEUCEDINFERNAL.Themilitaryphrase,tosendamantoCOVENTRY,orpermitnopersontospeaktohim,althoughanancientsaying,muststillbeconsideredSlang.

TheUniversitiesofOxfordandCambridge,andthegreatpublicschools,arethehotbedsoffashionableSlang.Growingboysandhigh-spiritedyoungfellowsdetestrestraintofallkinds,andprefermakingadashatlifeinaSlangphraseologyoftheirown,toallthesetformsandsyntacticalrulesofAlmaMater.Manyofthemostexpressivewordsinacommonchit-chat,orfree-and-easyconversation,areoldUniversityvulgarisms.CUT,inthesenseofdroppinganacquaintance,wasoriginallyaCambridgeformofspeech;andHOAX,todeceiveorridicule,weareinformedbyGrose,wasmanyyearssinceanOxfordterm.Amongthewordsthatfastsocietyhasborrowedfromourgreatscholastic[Iwasgoingtosayestablishments,butIrememberedthelinendrapershorridandhabitualuseoftheword]institutions,IfindCRIB,ahouseorapartments;DEAD-MEN,emptywinebottles;DRAWINGTEETH,48wrenchingoffknockers;FIZZING,first-rate,orsplendid;GOVERNOR,orRELIEVINGOFFICER,thegeneraltermforamaleparent;PLUCKED,defeatedorturnedback;QUIZ,toscrutinise,orapryingoldfellow;andROW,anoisydisturbance.TheSlangwordsinuseatOxfordandCambridgewouldalonefillavolume.AsexamplesImayinstanceSCOUT,whichatOxfordreferstoanundergraduatesvalet,whilstthesamemenialatCambridgeistermedaGYP,popularlyderivedbytheCantabsfromtheGreek,GYPS(),avulture;SCULL,thehead,ormasterofacollege;BATTLES,theOxfordtermforrations,changedatCambridgeintoCOMMONS.ThetermDICKEY,ahalfshirt,Iamtold,originatedwiththestudentsofTrinityCollege,Dublin,whoatfirststyleditaTOMMY,fromtheGreek,,asection.CRIB,aliteraltranslation,isnowuniversal;GRINDreferstoawalk,orconstitutional;

HIVITEisastudentofSt.Beghs(St.Bees)College,Cumberland;toJAPAN,inthisSlangspeech,istoordain;MORTAR-BOARDisasquarecollegecap;SIMastudentofaMethodisticalturn,inallusiontotheRev.CharlesSimeon;SLOGGERS,atCambridge,referstotheseconddivisionofraceboats,knownatOxfordasTORPIDS;SPORTistoshoworexhibit;TROTTERisthejocosetermforatailor smanwhogoesroundfororders;andTUFTSarewealthystudentswhodinewiththeDONS,andaredistinguishedbygoldentufts,ortassels,intheircaps.TherearemanytermsinuseatOxfordnotknownatCambridge;andsuchSlangnamesasCOACH,GULF,HARRY-SOPH,POKER,orPOST-MORTEM,commonenoughatCambridge,areseldomorneverheardatthegreatsisterUniversity.FornumerousotherexamplesofcollegeSlang,thereaderisreferredtotheDictionary.

ReligiousSlang,strangeasthecompoundmayappear,existswithotherdescriptionsofvulgarspeechatthepresentday.Punch,ashorttimesince,inoneofthosehalf-humorous,half-seriousarticlesinwhichheissofondoflecturinganynationalabuseorpopularfolly,remarkedthatSlanghadlongsincepenetratedintotheForum,andnowwemeetitintheSenate,andeventhePulpititselfisnolongerfreefromitsintrusion.Iwouldnot,foronemoment,wishtoinferthatthepracticeisgeneral.Onthecontrary,andinjusticetotheclergy,itmustbesaidthattheprincipaldisseminatorsofpureEnglishthroughoutthecountryaretheministersofourEstablishedChurch.YetitcannotbedeniedbutthatagreatdealofSlangphraseologyanddisagreeablevulgarismhavegraduallycreptintotheverypulpitswhichshouldgiveforthaspurespeechasdoctrine.

DeanConybeare,inhisableEssayonChurchParties,49hasnoticedthiswretchedadditiontoourpulpitspeech.AsstatedinhisEssay,thepracticeappearstoconfineitselfmainlytotheexaggeratedformsoftheHighandLowChurchtheTractariansandtheRecordites.50Bywayofillustration,theDeancitestheeveningparties,orsocialmeetings,commonamongstthewealthierlaymembersoftheRecordite(exaggeratedEvangelical)Churches,wheretheprincipaltopicsdiscussedoneormorefavouriteclergymenbeingpresentinaquasi-officialmannerarethemeritsanddemeritsofdifferentpreachers,theapproachingrestorationoftheJews,thedateoftheMillennium,theprogressoftheTractarianheresy,andtheanticipatedperversionofHighChurchneighbours.ThesesubjectsarecanvassedinadialectdifferingconsiderablyfromcommonEnglish.ThewordsFAITHFUL,TAINTED,ACCEPTABLE,DECIDED,LEGAL,andmanyothers,areusedinatechnicalsense.WehearthatMr.A.hasbeenmoreOWNEDthanMr.B;andthatMr.C.hasmoreSEALS51thanMr.D.Again,thewordGRACIOUSisinvestedwithameaningasextensiveasthatattachedbyyoungladiestonice.Thus,wehearofaGRACIOUSsermon,aGRACIOUSmeeting,aGRACIOUSchild,andevenaGRACIOUSwhipping.ThewordDARKhasalsoanewandpeculiarusage.Itisappliedtoeveryperson,book,orplace,notimpregnatedwithRecorditeprinciples.Weoncewerewitnessesofaludicrousmisunderstandingresultingfromthisphraseology.Whatdidyoumean(saidA.toB.)bytellingmethatwassuchaveryDARKvillage?Irodeovertheretoday,andfoundthestreetparticularlybroadandcheerful,andthereisnotatreeintheplace.TheGospelisnotpreachedthere,wasB.s

laconicreply.Theconclusionofoneofthesesingulareveningpartiesisgenerallymarkedbyanexpositionanunseasonablesermonofnearlyonehour sduration,circumscribedbynotext,anddeliveredfromthetablebyoneoftheclericalvisitorswithaviewtoimprovetheoccasion.InthesameEssay,thereligiousSlangtermsforthetwogreatdivisionsoftheEstablishedChurch,receivesomeexplanation.Theold-fashionedHighChurchparty,richandstagnant,notedforitssluggishmediocrity,hatredofzeal,dreadofinnovation,abuseofdissent,blunderingandlanguidutterance,iscalledtheHIGHANDDRY;whilstthecorrespondingdivision,knownastheLowChurch,equallystagnantwiththeformer,butpoorer,andmorelazilyinclined(fromabsenceofeducation),todissent,receivesthenicknameoftheLOWANDSLOW.Alreadyhavethesetermsbecomesofamiliarthattheyareshortened,inordinaryconversation,totheDRYandtheSLOW.Theso-calledBroadChurch,Ishouldremark,isoftenspokenofastheBROADANDSHALLOW.

WhatcanbemoreobjectionablethantheirreverentandoffensivemannerinwhichmanyofthedissentingministerscontinuallypronouncethenamesoftheDeity,GodandLord.God,insteadofpronouncingintheplainandbeautifullysimpleoldEnglishway,G-O-D,theydrawloutintoGORDEorGAUDE;andLord,insteadofspeakingintheproperway,theydesecrateintoLOARDorLOERD,lingeringontheu,orther,asthecasemaybe,untilanhonesthearerfeelsdisgusted,andalmostinclinedtorunthegauntletofbeadlesanddeacons,andpullthevulgarpreacherfromhispulpit.Ihaveobservedthatmanyyoungpreachersstrivehardtoacquirethispeculiarpronunciation,inimitationoftheolderministers.Whatcanmoreproperly,then,becalledSlang,or,indeed,themostobjectionableofSlang,thanthisstudiousendeavourtopronouncethemostsacrednamesinauniformlyvulgarandunbecomingmanner.Iftheold-fashionedpreacherwhistledCantthroughhisnose,themodernvulgarreverendwhinesSlangfromthemorenaturalorgan.Thesevagariesofspeechwill,perhaps,byanapologist,hetermedpulpitpeculiarities,andthewriterdaredtointermeddlewithasubjectthatisorshouldberemovedfromhiscriticisms.ThetermsusedbythemobtowardstheChurch,howeverilliberalandsatiricallyvulgar,arewithinhisprovinceinsuchaninquiryasthepresent.Aclergyman,invulgarlanguage,isspokenofasaCHOKER,aCUSHIONTHUMPER,aDOMINE,anEARWIG,aGOSPELGRINDER,aGRAYCOATPARSONifheisalesseeofthegreattithes,ONEINTEN,PADREifspokenofbyanAnglo-Indian,aROOK,aSPOUTER,aWHITECHOKER,oraWARMINGPANRECTOR,ifheonlyholdsthelivingprotempore,orissimplykeepingtheplacewarmforhissuccessor.IfaTractarian,hisoutergarmentisrudelyspokenofasaPYGOSTOLE,orM.B.(MARKOFTHEBEAST)COAT.HisprofessionistermedTHECLOTH,andhispracticeTUBTHUMPING.Shouldhebelongtothedissentingbody,heisprobablystyledaPANTILER,oraPSALMSMITER,or,perhaps,aSWADDLER.Hischapel,too,isspokenofasaSCHISMSHOP.ARomanCatholic,Imayremark,iscoarselynamedaBRISKETBEATER.

Particularaslawyersgenerallyareaboutthemeaningofwords,theyhavenotpreventedanunauthorisedphraseologyfromarising,whichwemaytermLegalSlang.Soforciblydidthistruthimpressalatewriter,thathewroteinapopularjournal,YoumayhearSlangeverydayintermfrom

barristersintheirrobes,ateverymess-table,ateverybar-mess,ateverycollegecommons,andineveryclubdining-room.Swift,inhisArtofPoliteConversation(p.15),publishedacenturyandahalfago,statesthatVARDIwastheSlanginhistimeforverdict.Afewofthemostcommonandwell-knowntermsusedoutofdoors,withreferencetolegalmatters,areCOOK,tohashormakeupabalance-sheet;DIPPED,mortgaged;DUN,tosolicitpayment;FULLIED,tobefullycommittedfortrial;LAND-SHARK,asailor sdefinitionofalawyer;LIMBOFTHELAW,amildertermforthesameprofessional;MONKEYWITHALONGTAIL,amortgagephraseusedinthewell-knowncaseforlibel,Smithv.Jones;MOUTHPIECE,thecoster stermforhiscounsel;togothroughtheRING,totakeadvantageoftheInsolvencyAct;SMASH,tobecomebankrupt;SNIPE,anattorneywithalongbill;andWHITEWASHED,saidofanydebtorwhohastakenthebenefitoftheInsolventAct.Lawyers,fromtheirconnectionwiththepolicecourts,andtransactionswithpersonsineverygradeofsociety,haveampleopportunitiesforacquiringstreetSlang,whichincross-questioningandwranglingtheyfrequentlyavailthemselvesof.

IthasbeensaidthereexistsaLiterarySlang,ortheSlangofCriticismdramatic,artistic,andscientific.Suchwordsassthetic,transcendental,theharmonies,theunities,amyth:suchphrasesasanexquisitemorceauonthebigdrum,ascholarlikerenderingofJohntheBaptistsgreattoe,keepingharmony,middledistance,rialperspective,delicatehandling,nervouschiaroscuro,andthelike.MorethanoneliteraryjournalthatIcouldnamearefondofemployingsuchtermsintheirartcriticisms,butitisquestionable,afterall,whethertheyarenotallowableasthegenerousinflectionsandbendingsofabountifullanguage,forthepurposeofexpressingfreshphasesofthought,andideasnotyetprovidedwithrepresentativewords.52Thewell-knownandever-acceptablePunch,withhisfreshandchoicelittlepictorialbitsbyLeech,oftenemploysaSlangtermtogivepointtoajoke,orhumourtoalineofsatire.Ashorttimesince(4thMay,1859)hegaveanoriginaletymologyoftheschool-boy-ismSLOG.SLOG,saidtheclassicalandstudiousPunch,isderivedfromtheGreekwordSLOGO,tobaste,towallop,toslaughter.AnditwasnotlongagothatheamusedhisreaderswithtwocolumnsonSlangandSanscrit:

TheallegorywhichpervadestheconversationofallEasternnations,remarkedthephilosophicalPunch,isthefoundationofWesternSlang;andtheincreasednumberofstudentsoftheOrientallanguages,especiallysinceSanscritandArabichavebeenmadesubjectsfortheIndianCivilServiceExaminations,mayhavecontributedtosupplytheEnglishlanguagewithalargeportionofitsnewdialect.While,however,thespiritofallegorycomesfromtheEast,thereissogreatadifferencebetweenthebrevityofWesternexpressionandthemorecumbrousdictionoftheOriental,thattheoriginofaphrasebecomesdifficulttotrace.Thus,forinstance,whilsttheTurkishmerchantmightaddresshisfriendsomewhatasfollowsThatwhichseemsgoodtomyfatheristohisservantas

theperfumedbreathofthewestwindinthecalmnightoftheArabiansummer;theWesternnegociatorobservesmorebriefly,ALLSERENE!

Butthevulgarterm,BRICK,Punchremarksinillustration,

mustbeallowedtobeanexception,itsGreekderivationbeinguniversallyadmitted,correspondingsoexactlyasitdoesinitsrectangularformandcompactnesstotheperfectionofmanhood,accordingtotheviewsofPlatoandS