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.