A Dictionary of Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words / Used at the Present Day in the Streets of London; the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge; the Houses of Parliament; the Dens of St. Giles; and the Palaces of St. James.

GLOSSARY OF THE BACK SLANG.

• BIRK, a “crib,”—house.
• COOL, to look.
• COOL HIM, look at him. A phrase frequently used when one costermonger warns another of the approach of a policeman.
• DAB, bad.
• DABHENO, one bad, or a bad market.—See DOOGHENO.
• DAB TROS, a bad sort.
• DA-ERB, bread.
• DEB, or DAB, a bed; “I’m on to the DEB,” I’m going to bed.
• DILLO-NAMO, an old woman.
• DLOG, gold.
• DOOG, good.
• DOOGHENO, literally “one-good,” or “good-one,” but implying generally a good market.
• DOOGHENO HIT, one good hit. A coster remarks to a “mate,” “Jack made a DOOGHENO HIT this morning,” implying that he did well at market, or sold out with good profit.
• DUNOP, a pound.
• ERTH, three.
• EARTH⁵⁷ GENS, three shillings.
• EARTH SITH-NOMS, three months.
• EARTH YANNOPS, or YENEPS, threepence.
• EDGABAC, cabbage.
• EDGENARO, an orange.
• E-FINK, knife.
• EKAME, a “make,” or swindle.
• EKOM, a “moke,” or donkey.
• ELRIG, a girl.
• ENIF, fine.
• ENIN GENS, nine shillings.
• ENIN YENEP, ninepence.
• ENIN YANNOPS, or YENEPS, ninepence.
• ENO, one.
• ERIF, fire.
• ERTH GENS, three shillings.
• ERTH-PU, three-up, a street game.
• ERTH SITH-NOMS, three months,—a term of imprisonment unfortunately very familiar to the lower orders.
• ERTH-YENEPS, threepence.
• ESCLOP, the police.
• ES-ROPH, or ES-ROCH, a horse.
• EVIF-YENEPS, five pence.
• EVLENET-GENS, twelve shillings.
• EVLENET SITH-NOMS, twelve months.
• EWIF-GENS, a crown, or five shillings.
• EWIF-YENEPS, fivepence.
• EXIS GENS, six shillings.
• EXIS-EWIF-GENS, six times five shillings, i.e., 30s. All moneys may be reckoned in this manner, either with YENEPS or GENS.
• EXIS-EVIF YENEPS, elevenpence,—literally, “sixpence and fivepence = elevenpence.” This mode of reckoning, distinct from the preceding, is also common amongst those who use the back slang.
• EXIS SITH-NOMS, six months.
• EXIS-YENEPS, sixpence.
• FI-HEATH, a thief.
• FLATCH, a half, or halfpenny.
• FLATCH KEN-NURD, half drunk.
• FLATCH YENEP, a halfpenny.
• FLATCH-YENORK, half-a-crown.
• GEN, twelvepence, or one shilling. Possibly an abbreviation of ARGENT, cant term for silver.—See following.
• GENERALIZE, a shilling, generally shortened to GEN.
• GEN-NET, or NET GENS, ten shillings.
• HEL-BAT, a table.
• HELPA, an apple.
• KENNETSEENO, stinking.
• KENNURD, drunk.
• KEW, a week.
• KEWS, or SKEW, weeks.
• KIRB, a brick.
• KOOL, to look.
• LAWT, tall.
• LEVEN, in back slang, is sometimes allowed to stand for eleven, for the reason that it is a number which seldom occurs. An article is either 10d. or 1s.
• LUR-AC-HAM, mackarel.
• MOTTAB, bottom.
• MUR, rum.
• NALE, or NAEL, lean.
• NAM, a man.
• NAMESCLOP, a policeman.
• NAMOW, a woman; DILLO NAMOW, an old woman.
• NEERGS, greens.
• NETENIN GENS, nineteen shillings.
• NEETEWIF GENS, fifteen shillings.
• NEETEXIS, or NETEXIS GENS, sixteen shillings.
• NETNEVIS GENS, seventeen shillings.
• NET-THEG GENS, eighteen shillings.
• NEETRITH GENS, thirteen shillings.
• NEETROUF GENS, fourteen shillings.
• NET-GEN, ten shillings, or half a sovereign.
• NET-YENEPS, tenpence.
• NEVELE GENS, eleven shillings.
• NEVELE YENEPS, elevenpence,—generally LEVEN YENEPS.
• NEVIS GENS, seven shillings.
• NEVIS STRETCH, seven years’ transportation, or imprisonment.—See STRETCH, in the Slang Dictionary.
• NEVIS YENEPS, sevenpence.
• NIRE, rain.
• NIG, gin.
• NI-OG OT TAKRAM, going to market.
• NITRAPH, a farthing.
• NOL, long.
• NOOM, the moon.
• NOS-RAP, a parson.
• OCCABOT, tobacco; “tib of OCCABOT,” bit of tobacco.
• ON, no.
• ON DOOG, no good.
• OWT GENS, two shillings.
• OWT YENEPS, twopence.
• PAC, a cap.
• PINURT POTS, turnip tops.
• POT, top.
• RAPE, a pear.
• REEB, beer.
• REV-LIS, silver.
• ROUF-EFIL, for life,—sentence of punishment.
• ROUF-GENS, four shillings.
• ROUF-YENEPS, fourpence.
• RUTAT, or RATTAT, a “tatur,” or potato.
• SAY, yes.
• SEE-O, shoes.
• SELOPAS, apples.
• SHIF, fish.
• SIR-ETCH, cherries.
• SITH-NOM, a month.
• SLAOC, coals.
• SLOP, a policeman.—See Dictionary of Slang and Cant Words.
• SNEERG, greens.
• SOUSH, a house.
• SPINSRAP, parsnips.
• SRES WORT, trowsers.
• STARPS, sprats.
• STOOB, boots.
• STORRAC, carrots.
• STUN, nuts.
• STUNLAWS, walnuts.
• SWRET-SIO, oysters.
• TACH, a hat.
• TAF, or TAFFY, fat.
• THEG, or TEAICH GENS, eight shillings.
• TEAICH-GUY, eight shillings,—a slight deviation from the numerical arrangement of GENS.
• TENIP, a pint.
• THEG YENEPS, eightpence.
• TIB, a bit, or piece.
• TOAC, or TOG, a coat. Tog is the old cant term.—See Dictionary of Slang, &c.
• TOAC-TISAW, a waistcoat.
• TOL, lot, stock, or share.
• TOP O’ REEB, a pot of beer.
• TOP-YOB, a pot boy.
• TORRAC, a carrot.
• TRACK (or TRAG), a quart.
• TROSSENO, literally, “one-sort,” but the costermongers use it to imply anything that is bad.
• WAR-RAB, a barrow.
• WEDGE, a Jew.
• YAD, a day; YADS, days.
• YADNAB, brandy.
• YENEP, a penny.
• YENEP-A-TIME, penny each time,—term in betting.
• YENEP-FLATCH, three halfpence,—all the halfpence and pennies continue in the same sequence.
• YAP-POO, pay up.
• YEKNOD, or JERK-NOD, a donkey.
• YENORK, a crown.
• YOB, a boy.
• ZEB, best.