Antebellum & Wild West

/REK-uhn/

To suppose or believe

Origin: Old English 'gerecenian'

"I reckon we'll reach Dodge by sundown."

/HY-tayl/

To leave quickly

Origin: From animals raising tails when fleeing

"He hightailed it outta the saloon."

/YEL-oh-bel-ee/

Coward

Origin: 1840s American

"Don't be a yellow-belly, draw!"

/HORN-swog-uhl/

To swindle

Origin: 1820s frontier

"That card sharp hornswoggled the whole table."

/WIP-uhr-snap-uhr/

Impertinent young person

Origin: 17th c. 'snippersnapper'

"Listen here, you whippersnapper!"

/LIK-uh-tee-SPLIT/

Very fast

Origin: 1850s American

"She rode off lickety-split."

/SAW-bohnz/

Doctor or surgeon

Origin: 1830s

"Fetch the sawbones, he's been shot!"

/dood/

City slicker; dandy

Origin: 1880s Eastern slang for a fancy dresser

"Some dude from Boston bought the ranch."

/DED-wood/

To have an undeniable advantage or certain victory over someone.

Origin: 1840s gambling and bowling metaphor referring to fallen pins.

"He tried to run, but the law had the deadwood on him."

/FLAP-doo-dul/

Nonsense, foolish talk, or deceptive rubbish.

Origin: 1830s American colloquialism, likely a whimsical formation.

"That speech he gave was complete flapdoodle."

/SHIN-dig/

A large, boisterous party or dance, often involving drinking.

Origin: 1840s Southern US, likely from 'shindy' or kicking of shins during dancing.

"They had a regular shindig over at the barn last Saturday."

/ROKS/

A common slang term for money, specifically coins or gold.

Origin: 1830s-40s general American slang.

"I'm sorry, friend, but I'm clean out of rocks."

/PRAY-ree FLOW-er/

A beautiful or delicate woman living in the rugged western frontier.

Origin: 1850s western expansion literature and folk songs.

"That new schoolmarm is a real prairie flower."

/KOF-in VAR-nish/

Very strong, low-quality, or bootleg whiskey.

Origin: 1840s frontier slang describing the harshness of the alcohol.

"He got too far into the coffin varnish and couldn't stand up."

/BEL-ee AY-king/

To complain or grumble incessantly.

Origin: Mid-19th century American frontier colloquialism.

"Quit your belly-aching and get back to work."

/GAWN KOON/

A person in a hopeless predicament or someone who is doomed.

Origin: 1830s American political slang, popularized during the 1840 election.

"After the trial, he was a gone coon."

/the CHEEZ/

Something that is excellent, high-quality, or exactly what is needed.

Origin: 1830s, likely derived from the Persian/Urdu word 'chiz' meaning 'thing'.

"That fancy waistcoat is really the cheese!"

/BAWL-der-dash/

Senseless talk or writing; utter nonsense.

Origin: Originally 17th century, but saw a massive resurgence in 1840s American English.

"You're talking a lot of balderdash for someone who wasn't there."

/NAYL/

To secure, settle, or complete something successfully.

Origin: 1840s American idiom related to carpentry and fixing things in place.

"I managed to nail that job on the first try."

/WAWL-flow-er/

A person, typically a woman, who remains on the sidelines at a social event for lack of a partner.

Origin: Early 1830s, comparing the person to a plant that grows against a wall.

"She stayed at the dance until she was the last wallflower."

/on the SKWAIR/

To be honest, fair, or acting with integrity.

Origin: 1830s Masonic terminology that entered general frontier use.

"Don't worry, the boss will see you're treated on the square."

/a TYT PLAYS/

A difficult or dangerous situation; a predicament.

Origin: 1840s Southern and Western slang.

"If he don't pay up, he'll be in a tight place."

/PEE-kee/

Looking pale, sickly, or physically weak.

Origin: 1840s American colloquialism, possibly from the 'peaks' of one's facial bones showing.

"This cold snap has got me feeling quite peaky."

/SAND/

Courage, grit, or intestinal fortitude.

Origin: 1850s Western slang, referring to the grit required to withstand hardship.

"He's got plenty of sand, I'll give him that."

/TAYK a SHYN/

To take a sudden liking or fancy to someone or something.

Origin: 1830s American slang.

"I'm going to take a shine to that new mare."

/skuh-DAD-ul/

To run away hurriedly; to flee.

Origin: 1850s, though it became widespread during the Civil War.

"You'd better skedaddle before the Sheriff arrives."

/LARK/

A merry adventure or a mischievous escapade.

Origin: 1830s, likely from the 'skylark' behavior of sailors.

"I've been on a lark all afternoon in the city."

/GOWJ/

To overcharge or swindle someone out of money.

Origin: 1830s American frontier slang, originally referring to eye-gouging in rough fights.

"The storekeeper tried to gouge me on the price of coffee."

/BRIK/

A reliable, good-hearted, and solid person.

Origin: 1840s British university slang that became highly popular in Victorian America.

"He is a regular brick for helping us move the wagon."

/FLUM-er-ee/

A foolish or empty-headed person; nonsense.

Origin: 1840s, based on 'flummery', a soft, bland custard.

"Don't be a flummery-head, use your senses."

/WOOL-gath-er-ing/

Engaging in idle daydreaming or absent-mindedness.

Origin: Mid-19th century, from the literal act of gathering tufts of wool from bushes.

"He was just woolgathering while he should have been plowing."

/GAS-bag/

A person who talks excessively but says nothing of substance.

Origin: 1840s, popularized by the advent of hot air balloons and gas lighting.

"That big-talker is nothing but a gasbag."

/SWEL/

A wealthy, fashionable, or elegantly dressed person.

Origin: 1830s, referring to someone 'swelling' with pride or importance.

"The mayor's son is quite the swell in his new suit."

/BLOO-dev-uld/

Depressed, low-spirited, or suffering from melancholy.

Origin: 1830s, a precursor to 'the blues'.

"I'm feeling a bit blue-deviled after the harvest failed."

/DUST-up/

A physical fight, scuffle, or commotion.

Origin: 1840s American slang, referring to the dust kicked up during a brawl.

"He got into a dust-up at the saloon over a card game."

/SUN-day-GOH-too-MEE-tings/

One's finest clothes, reserved for church or special occasions.

Origin: 1830s New England colloquialism.

"Why are you all dressed up in your Sunday-go-to-meetings?"

/KOP-er-hed/

Deceptive, sneaky, or treacherous (often political).

Origin: 1840s, named after the venomous snake that strikes without warning.

"The whole plan is a copperhead scheme."

/WAYL/

An extraordinarily large or impressive example of something.

Origin: 1840s, likely from the whaling industry's peak.

"That's a whale of a story, if I ever heard one."

/HUN-ee-fyoo-gul/

To deceive or swindle someone through flattery or sweet talk.

Origin: 1840s Americanisms, roots in 'honey' and 'fugle' (to trick).

"He tried to honey-fugle her into signing the deed."

/BOHN to PIK/

To have a grievance or a matter to settle with someone.

Origin: 1830s, referencing a dog gnawing on a bone.

"I've got a bone to pick with you regarding that fence."

/HOG-wosh/

Something of poor quality; worthless or nonsensical.

Origin: 1840s, referring to the kitchen scraps fed to pigs.

"The food at that boarding house was total hog-wash."

/by JING-goh/

An exclamation of surprise or emphasis.

Origin: Though popularized later as jingoism, the exclamation 'by jingo' dates to 1840s US usage.

"By jingo, I think he's actually going to do it!"

/HARD KAYS/

A difficult, stubborn, or unreformed person; a criminal.

Origin: 1840s US slang for a character beyond help.

"He's a hard case who won't listen to reason."

/KASH/

To hide or store something in a secret place.

Origin: 1830s mountain man slang from the French 'cacher'.

"I reckon we'll have to cache the supplies until winter."

/PUL UP STAYKS/

To pack up and leave a place permanently.

Origin: 1840s, referring to the literal stakes used to secure a tent or mark a claim.

"You need to pull up your stakes and move west."

/sok-DOL-uh-jer/

A decisive blow or a finishing remark; a remarkable event.

Origin: 1830s American slang, a combination of 'sock' (to hit) and 'doxology'.

"The news was a real sockdolager to the community."

/SHAYKS/

A very short period of time; a moment.

Origin: 1830s, referring to 'two shakes' of a lamb's tail.

"Wait a shakes before you open that door."

/KREE-cher/

A humorous or euphemistic term for whiskey or spirits.

Origin: 1830s American slang, referring to 'creature comforts'.

"Let's settle this over a bit of the creature."