Colonial America

/fawr-SOOTH/

Truly; indeed

Origin: Middle English 'forsoth' (in truth)

"Forsooth, the harvest hath been bountiful."

/PRITH-ee/

Pray thee; please

Origin: Contraction of 'pray thee'

"Prithee, fetch me a tankard of cider."

/huh-ZAH/

Exclamation of joy or triumph

Origin: 17th c. sailors' cheer

"Huzzah for the new governor!"

/gad-ZOOKS/

Mild oath of surprise

Origin: Euphemism for 'God's hooks' (the nails of the cross)

"Gadzooks! The musket misfired again."

/GOOD-man/

Polite address for a man below gentry

Origin: Old English 'god mann'

"Greetings, Goodman Bradford."

/wench/

Young woman; serving maid (not pejorative then)

Origin: Middle English 'wenchel' (child)

"The wench brought us stew."

/VER-uh-lee/

Truly; certainly

Origin: Old French 'verai' (true)

"Verily, I say to thee, the parson is wroth."

/nayv/

Dishonest or tricky fellow

Origin: Old English 'cnafa' (boy)

"That knave shorted my measure of grain."

/KUP-shot-un/

To be visibly intoxicated or drunk.

Origin: 17th-century English compound of 'cup' and 'shot' (exhausted).

"He spent the night at the tavern and is now feeling quite cup-shotten."

/MOON-kur-sur/

A link-boy or criminal who prefers dark nights without a moon to commit crimes.

Origin: 17th-century underworld cant, implying they 'curse' the moonlight.

"Stay away from that moon-curser unless you wish to be robbed of your purse."

/SLOH-bak/

A lazy person or an idler.

Origin: Early 17th-century British slang brought to the colonies.

"The local blacksmith is a proper slow-back who never finishes his work on time."

/KOHL/

A slang term for money or cash.

Origin: 16th-century cant used through the late 18th century.

"Pay the man a bit of cole and he will let us pass the bridge."

/WIP-stur/

A slight, insignificant, or contemptible person; often a young upstart.

Origin: Late 16th-century English, used frequently in the 1700s.

"He is a mere whipster who thinks he can command a ship."

/TAY-king/

A state of great distress, agitation, or sorrow.

Origin: Late 16th-century usage, common in colonial diaries.

"The widow and her children are in a sad taking after the barn burned."

/PINGK of FASH-un/

The very peak or highest point of excellence or style.

Origin: Derived from the flower 'pink' (Dianthus), synonymous with perfection.

"That gown is quite the pink of fashion in Philadelphia this season."

/LIK-spit-ul/

A fawning flatterer or a parasite.

Origin: Mid-17th century, referring to someone so subservient they would lick spit.

"The mayor's son is a lick-spittle who follows the governor everywhere."

/SNEE-kur/

A small bowl or vessel used for drinking alcoholic beverages.

Origin: Commonly used in New England drinking culture, mid-18th century.

"I shall go to the tavern for a sneaker of punch before I head home."

/NITE of the ROHD/

A humorous or ironic term for a highway robber.

Origin: Euphemistic term arising in the late 17th century.

"The highwayman is a real knight of the road, though he'll still take your watch."

/GIB-ul GAB-ul/

Senseless or unintelligible chatter; nonsense.

Origin: Onomatopoeic formation from the early 17th century.

"I cannot understand a word of that gibble-gabble they speak at the docks."

/BLOH-un/

A showy woman, a mistress, or a prostitute.

Origin: Early 18th-century cant of unknown origin, possibly Germanic.

"She is a blowen whom many men admire, yet she has a sharp tongue."

/TIK/

A very brief moment of time; a second.

Origin: Mid-17th century, referring to the tick of a clock.

"Wait a tick, I forgot my hat in the parlor."

/RUM DOOK/

A queer, odd, or eccentric fellow.

Origin: 'Rum' (meaning odd/fine) and 'Duke' (person) from 17th-century cant.

"The local parson is quite a rum duke when he has had a few ales."

/BAM-ber-ee/

Nonsense, humbug, or a silly story.

Origin: Lower-class English slang that migrated to the colonies in the 1700s.

"The dinner theater was absolute bamberry, I want my shillings back."

/NIN-ee-ham-ur/

A simpleton, a fool, or a silly person.

Origin: Late 16th-century English, popular in colonial New England.

"The merchant is a total ninnihammer for believing that investment would pay."

/by my WIS-kurz/

An exclamation used to express surprise or emphasize a point.

Origin: Common 18th-century mild oath referring to facial hair.

"By my whiskers, that is the largest pumpkin I have ever seen!"

/KIK-shawz/

Fancy, delicate articles of clothing or small, elegant food items.

Origin: Corruption of the French 'quelque chose' (something).

"Take care not to get your kickshaws dirty in the mud."

/LOH-livd/

Vile, mean, or lacking in social standing and morals.

Origin: Early 18th-century Americanism describing the 'lower' classes.

"He made away with my pocket-book, the low-lived scoundrel!"

/GIG/

Fun, frolic, or a joke; general merriment.

Origin: 18th-century slang, predating the modern musical meaning.

"The soldiers are looking for a bit of gig after the long march."

/BROWNZ/

Copper coins, such as pennies or half-pennies.

Origin: 18th-century slang referring to the color of copper currency.

"I gave the porter a few browns for his trouble."

/MUR-in/

A plague or a curse, literally referring to a plague on cattle.

Origin: Medieval term that survived as common slang/insult through the 1700s.

"A murrain on your house for the way you treated my sister!"

/KLOD-pohl/

A stupid person or a blockhead.

Origin: 16th-century, combining 'clod' (dirt) and 'poll' (head).

"He is a mere clod-poll who doesn't know which end of the plow is which."

/JIG-urd/

To be surprised, confounded, or damned (a mild oath).

Origin: 18th-century nautical slang, later entering general use.

"I'll be jiggered if I’m going out in this blizzard to fetch wood."

/PUK-ur/

A state of confusion, flurry, or irritation.

Origin: Late 17th-century usage, often associated with a 'wrinkled' brow.

"The cook is in a pucker because the roast is burnt."

/FUS-tee-lugz/

A big, fat, gross, or messy person.

Origin: Early 17th-century English compound word.

"Stop being such a fustilugs and give some of that pie to your brother."

/LARK/

A spree or a frolic; acting in a mischievous or fun-loving way.

Origin: Early 18th-century, likely from the bird 'lark' known for high spirits.

"They went for a lark in the woods instead of doing their chores."

/DRY-boots/

A sly, humorous person or someone who is reserved but witty.

Origin: 17th-century slang for a 'dry' wit.

"The new schoolmaster is a bit of a dry-boots, don't you think?"

/BOB-tayl/

Anything short or cut off; also used for people of low social standing.

Origin: 17th-century, originally referring to a horse with a docked tail.

"That is a bob-tail ship and will likely tip in a high wind."

/uh-BLAK-ber-ee-ing/

To go wandering or idling when one should be working.

Origin: 18th-century Americanism derived from the casual pace of berry picking.

"I'm afraid he has gone a-blackberrying and won't return until nightfall."

/MUM-bul-MAT-inz/

Someone who speaks in a low, indistinct voice (originally a lazy priest).

Origin: 16th-century term that persisted in colonial vernacular.

"Do not be a mumble-matins and speak up so we can hear you!"

/KIL-dev-ul/

High-proof rum, known for its potency.

Origin: 17th-century term used in Barbados and the American colonies.

"Fetch me a dram of kill-devil to warm my bones."

/SAW-see/

Impertinent, bold, or cheekily disrespectful.

Origin: 16th-century English, extremely common in everyday colonial talk.

"She gave me a saucy look before turning her back."

/UP-ur BEN-juh-min/

A great-coat or outer coat.

Origin: Late 18th-century slang, named after a famous London tailor.

"Wait, I need to adjust my upper-benjamin before we leave."

/FLAM/

A lie, a trick, or a deceptive story.

Origin: 17th-century, likely a contraction of 'flamfew' (a trifle).

"The entire story was a mere flam to get us to pay for the drinks."

/TOP-ing/

Fine, excellent, or first-rate.

Origin: Common 18th-century adjective of approval.

"That is a topping horse you have purchased for the voyage."

/HUR-lee BUR-lee/

Uproar, confusion, or a noisy commotion.

Origin: Mid-16th-century reduplication of 'hurly' (commotion).

"The kitchen was all in a hurly-burly as the guests arrived."

/FLUM-er-ee/

Empty compliments or nonsense; also a type of bland dessert.

Origin: Welsh 'llymru' (a sour oatmeal), used figuratively from the 1740s.

"His speech about the taxes was absolute flummery."

/WOOD-kok/

A dupe or a gullible person, often one who is easily cheated.

Origin: 17th-century, named after the bird which was easy to catch in a snare.

"The woodcock is out tonight, so watch your purse near the tavern."

/MUMP-ur/

A professional beggar or a traveler who survives on charity.

Origin: 17th-century slang from the verb 'mump' (to cheat or beg).

"The old beggar is a mumper whom we see every Tuesday."

/BUSS/

A kiss; to kiss someone.

Origin: Dutch bussen, to kiss, common in colonial speech

"He stole a buss from the dairymaid behind the barn."

/FLAP-doo-dul/

Nonsense; foolish talk or ideas.

Origin: Early English cant, 17th century

"Pay him no mind — 'tis naught but flapdoodle he speaks."

/KLAP-er-duj-un/

A beggar born of beggars; a thoroughgoing rogue.

Origin: English cant, clapper + dudgeon, 16th–17th c.

"That clapperdudgeon hath pestered every shop on the lane."

/KWID-ling/

Wasting time on trifles; fussing over small matters.

Origin: From quiddle, dialectal English, 17th century

"Stop thy quiddling and fetch the firewood at once."

/BUJ/

A thief who sneaks into houses to steal cloaks.

Origin: English cant, late 16th–17th century

"Lock the door — there is a budge known to haunt this quarter."

/BEL-ee-tim-ber/

Food; provisions; victuals of any kind.

Origin: English colloquial, 17th century

"We are short of belly-timber and must reach the mill by nightfall."

/BUM-bay-lee/

A low bailiff who arrests debtors; a contemptible officer.

Origin: English slang, bum + bailiff, 17th century

"That bum-bailey dragged poor Fletcher into the street for two shillings."

/tat-er-deh-MAYL-yun/

A ragamuffin; a person in tattered, dirty clothing.

Origin: English, tatter + demalion, 17th century

"Some tatterdemalion arrived at the gate begging for bread."

/KACH-pole/

A petty sheriff's officer; a debt-collector's enforcer.

Origin: Anglo-French cachepol, fowl-chaser, medieval into colonial use

"The catchpoll seized his cart before the sun had fairly risen."

/NOO-dul/

A simpleton; a dull, foolish person.

Origin: English slang, possibly from noddle, 18th century

"Only a noodle would wager his land on a single throw of dice."

/SHAB/

To behave meanly; to cheat or sneak away from obligation.

Origin: English dialectal, shabby root, 17th–18th century

"He will shab out of any honest work given the chance."

/FUS-chun/

Pompous, empty, or inflated speech; pretentious bluster.

Origin: From fustian cloth, used figuratively from 16th century

"His sermon was pure fustian, full of noise and wanting in sense."

/DRAB/

A slovenly woman; also a small sum of money in trade.

Origin: Irish drabog, slattern, absorbed into colonial English

"That drab at the wharf was selling short weight to every sailor."

/GAL-ee-beg-er/

A scarecrow; also a frightening, gaunt figure of a person.

Origin: English dialectal, gally (frighten) + beggar, 17th century

"He stood in the field like some gallybeggar left over from harvest."

/MEE-kok/

A timid, effeminate, or overly gentle man; a milksop.

Origin: English, from meak + cock, 16th–17th century

"No meacock shall command this militia — we need a firm hand."

/JOL-oks/

Fat flesh; excessive flabbiness of body.

Origin: English dialectal, 17th–18th century

"The alderman's jollocks shook as he laughed at his own jest."

/SKOB-er-loch-er/

One who idles about; a lazy person who avoids all work.

Origin: English cant, 17th century

"Every scobberlotcher in the township found his way to the tavern."

/WHID-ul/

To inform on someone; to betray secrets to authorities.

Origin: English cant, 17th–18th century

"He whiddled to the magistrate and the whole gang was taken up."

/FOP-doo-dul/

A fool; an insignificant, contemptible simpleton.

Origin: English, fop + doodle, 17th century

"Do not send that fopdoodle to negotiate — he'll ruin the terms."

/SLANG-rel/

A thin, lanky, loose-jointed person; a gangling creature.

Origin: English dialectal, slang + diminutive, 17th century

"That slangrel of a boy could barely heft the axe off the ground."

/GRYP-fist/

A miser; a tightfisted, hoarding person.

Origin: English compound, gripe + fist, 17th–18th century

"The old gripe-fist would not part with a farthing for his own kin."

/LOB-lol-ee/

Thick gruel; also a clumsy, boorish fellow.

Origin: English nautical and dialectal, lob + lolly, 17th century

"We supped on loblolly three nights running and morale grew thin."

/PEER-ee/

Suspicious; slyly watchful; sharp-eyed and wary.

Origin: English cant, peer + y, 17th–18th century

"The innkeeper grew peery when we asked too many questions."

/RAT-ul-kap/

A giddy, reckless, scatter-brained person.

Origin: English compound, rattle + cap, 17th–18th century

"That rattle-cap boy has lost the mare again — imagine my wonder."

/MOH-pus/

A small coin; also a dull, listless, brooding person.

Origin: English cant, mope + us diminutive, 17th–18th century

"He sat in the corner like a mopus, scarcely fit for company."

/BRIM/

A lewd or brazen woman; a woman of loose character.

Origin: English dialectal, brimstone shortened, 17th century

"The parson warned the congregation against the brim at the docks."

/TROL-mee-damz/

Idle, gossiping women; also a bagatelle-like parlor game.

Origin: French trou-madame imported into English, 16th–17th century

"Leave the trolmydames to their chatter — there is work to be done."

/HEJ-kree-per/

A sneak thief; one who lurks along hedgerows to steal.

Origin: English compound, hedge + creeper, 17th century

"Some hedge-creeper made off with a bushel of onions in the night."

/KWAYK-but-uk/

A coward; one whose buttocks quake at the first sign of danger.

Origin: English compound, quake + buttock, 17th century

"That quakebuttock hid in the cellar whilst we faced the constable."

/STAM-ul/

A coarse red woolen cloth; by extension a ruddy, bawdy woman.

Origin: Old French estamel, red cloth, 16th–17th century English

"She wore stammel dyed so red it could be seen across the market."

/DOT-er-ul/

A fool easily duped; one who is easily tricked or gulled.

Origin: English, from the dotterel bird's tameness, 16th century

"Any dotterel could see the contract was fraudulent from the first."

/SNUJ/

A miserly fellow who lurks at home saving every penny.

Origin: English cant, 17th century

"Old Hadwick was a snudge who never once stood a round of drinks."

/PEET/

A darling; a pampered favorite child or pet; a term of endearment.

Origin: English, variant of pet, 16th–17th century

"She is the peat of the household and can do no wrong in her father's eyes."

/BLOWZ/

A ruddy-faced, coarse, disheveled woman; a wench.

Origin: English dialectal, bloused or flushed, 17th century

"The blowze behind the bar poured ale with a liberal hand."

/MICH-er/

A lazy truant; one who skulks and hides to avoid duty.

Origin: Old French muchier, to hide, into English, 13th–17th century

"That young micher had not attended meeting in three Sundays."

/GUL-groh-per/

A moneylender who preys on gamblers and spendthrifts.

Origin: English cant, gull + groper, 17th century

"Every gull-groper in town knew the squire's son was easy prey."

/FRIP-er-ee/

Cheap, showy finery; secondhand or tawdry clothing and goods.

Origin: French friperie, old clothes trade, 16th century

"She decked herself in frippery and fancied herself a lady of quality."

/kwod-uh-MOD-oh-tay-tiv/

Relating to a thing's particular mode of existence; overly pedantic.

Origin: Mock-scholastic English, satirical coinage, 17th century

"His quoddamodotative reasoning bored every soul in the assembly."

/CHOWZ/

To cheat or swindle; to trick someone out of their money.

Origin: Turkish chiaus, a dupe, entered English via 1607 scandal

"He was choused out of his inheritance by a sharping attorney."

/SLUB-er-deh-gul-yun/

A slovenly, slobbering, worthless rascal.

Origin: English compound, slubber + de + gullion, 17th century

"That slubber-degullion emptied the larder and left without a word."

/MAB/

A slatternly woman; a harlot; also a mop used to clean.

Origin: English, Mab as slovenly nickname, 17th century

"The mab at the corner stall never kept her counter clean."

/NUP-sun/

A simpleton; a gullible, witless fool easily imposed upon.

Origin: English dialectal, possibly from nuppy, 17th–18th century

"Only a nupson would have trusted that peddler's bill of goods."

/SNAF-ling LAY/

The practice of robbing on horseback; highway robbery.

Origin: English cant, snaffle + lay (scheme), 18th century

"He was hanged for pursuing the snaffling lay along the post road."

/BAW-dee-bas-ket/

A female peddler who sells obscene ballads and small wares.

Origin: English cant, Harman's Caveat 1567, persisted into 18th c.

"The bawdy-basket cried her papers outside the alehouse door."

/TWID-ul-poop/

An effeminate or foppish man; a weakling who meddles in trifles.

Origin: English compound, twiddle + poop, 17th–18th century

"That twiddle-poop spent the morning arranging his collar in the glass."

/SWY-pee/

Drunk; in a state of slight to moderate intoxication.

Origin: English cant, swipe (cheap beer) + y, 18th century

"He came home swipey again and woke the whole household."

/STAM-per/

A shoe; also a foot; used in reference to walking or running.

Origin: English cant, stamp + er, 17th–18th century

"My stampers are worn through — I need the cobbler before winter."

/JEN-tree KOHV/

A gentleman; a man of quality or breeding.

Origin: English cant, gentry + cove (man), 17th–18th century

"Some gentry cove rode through demanding directions to the tavern."

/RUM-pad-er/

A highwayman who rides a good horse; a skilled road-robber.

Origin: English cant, rum (fine) + padder (road thief), 17th–18th c.

"They say the rum-padder who took the paymaster rode a grey mare."

/KAY-ter-kuz-un/

A distant relation; a person of slight acquaintance called kin.

Origin: English, cater (buy food) + cousin, used 16th–18th century

"He introduced the stranger as some cater-cousin from Virginia."

/PAIR-ij/

Equal rank or birth; the standing one holds among one's peers.

Origin: Anglo-French parage, equality of birth, into colonial English

"He claimed parage with the governor's family — few believed him."

/WHIP-er-snap-er/

A young, insignificant, presumptuous person; an upstart.

Origin: English, whip-snapper extended, late 17th century

"Some whippersnapper of a clerk dared to correct the magistrate."