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."

/ab-SKWOCH-oo-layt/

To make off hastily; to abscond without warning.

Origin: American mock-Latin frontier coinage, 1830s

"He absquatulated before anyone could serve the writ on him."

/LAL-ee-gag/

To dawdle; to loiter or spend time aimlessly without purpose.

Origin: American frontier slang, origin uncertain, c. 1860s

"Quit lallygagging at the creek and help us pitch the camp."

/kat-uh-WOM-pus/

Fierce; destructive; also askew, diagonal, or out of order.

Origin: American frontier, cater- (diagonal) + wampus, 1840s

"The whole wagon tongue was set catawampus after the river crossing."

/HORN-swog-ul/

To cheat, swindle, or bamboozle in a crafty manner.

Origin: American frontier coinage, 1820s–1830s

"That horse trader hornswoggled me into buying a three-legged nag."

/SLIK az a PEELD UN-yun/

Exceptionally smooth, cunning, or clever.

Origin: American frontier simile, 19th century

"He talked his way out of that ambush slick as a peeled onion."

/skeh-DAD-ul/

To flee quickly; to run away in haste or alarm.

Origin: American, origin disputed, widespread by Civil War era 1860s

"The raiders skedaddled when they heard the cavalry coming down the draw."

/sok-DOL-ah-jer/

A decisive blow or argument; something absolutely conclusive.

Origin: American frontier, doxology corrupted, c. 1830s

"He hit the fellow with a sockdolager that ended the whole dispute."

/SKWINCH/

To squint or screw up the eyes; to flinch or cringe.

Origin: American dialectal, squint + flinch blend, 19th century

"He squinched at the sun and reached for his hat brim."

/BLATH-er-skyt/

A person who talks loudly and nonsensically; a blustering fool.

Origin: Scottish blether (blather) + skite (contemptible), into American

"Don't mind that blatherskite — he has never been west of the Missouri."

/tar-NAY-shun/

A mild oath expressing frustration or surprise; a euphemism for damnation.

Origin: American, tarnation as euphemism for damnation, 18th–19th c.

"Tarnation, the mules have broken through the fence again!"

/FROH-lik/

A spontaneous party, dance, or communal work-celebration.

Origin: American frontier, frolic as communal event, 18th–19th century

"We held a corn-husking frolic and half the county turned out for it."

/PAYN-ter/

A mountain lion or cougar; frontier pronunciation of panther.

Origin: American dialectal, panther > painter, frontier usage 19th c.

"Something killed the calf — tracks say it was a painter."

/GREEN-horn/

A newcomer or novice with no experience of frontier life.

Origin: English, young horned animal, applied to inexperienced persons

"Every greenhorn who came through thought the Rockies were a short walk."

/WOM-pum/

Shell beads used as currency; money in general on the frontier.

Origin: Algonquian wampumpeag, white string of beads, 17th–19th c.

"He had not a string of wampum left after the trading post visit."

/RUTH-er/

Would rather; a preference expressed in frontier vernacular.

Origin: American dialectal contraction of 'rather', 19th century

"I'd ruther sleep under the stars than in that leaky dugout."

/hy-fuh-LOO-tin/

Pompous; self-important; using inflated or pretentious language.

Origin: American frontier, high + flute/fluting, c. 1839

"His high-falutin talk about Eastern manners did not impress the camp."

/GUL-ee-wosh-er/

A heavy, violent rainstorm that fills gullies in moments.

Origin: American frontier weather slang, 19th century

"A gully-washer hit while we were crossing the flats — lost two mules."

/NY/

Nearly; almost; close to in distance or degree.

Origin: Old English neah, standard frontier vernacular usage, 19th c.

"We were nigh starved by the time we reached the settlement."

/DAN-der UP/

To become angry; to rouse someone's temper.

Origin: American, dander as dandruff/anger metaphor, early 19th century

"His accusations got my dander up and I told him so plainly."

/puh-LAV-er-ing/

Talking at length without purpose; flattering talk to deceive.

Origin: Portuguese palavra, word, into English and frontier slang, 19th c.

"He spent the afternoon palavering with the trapper instead of working."

/SNOL-ee-gos-ter/

A shrewd, unprincipled person, especially a crafty politician.

Origin: American frontier, origin uncertain, attested 1846

"That snollygoster promised three things and delivered none of them."

/KOONZ AYJ/

A very long time; an extended period.

Origin: American, raccoon's reputed long life, frontier slang, 19th c.

"I haven't seen a supply wagon in a coon's age out here."

/PY-zun/

Poison; also anything deeply unpleasant or harmful.

Origin: American dialectal pronunciation of poison, 19th century frontier

"That snake was full of pizen — the dog barely survived the bite."

/KIK thuh BUK-it/

To die; to expire suddenly.

Origin: English, bucket as yoke or beam, attested 1785, frontier use

"Old Jeb finally kicked the bucket last winter up in the high passes."

/PLUN-der/

One's personal belongings, baggage, or household goods.

Origin: American frontier, plunder as personal stuff, not just stolen goods

"Load your plunder in the wagon — we move out at first light."

/WHIT-ling/

Carving wood idly; by extension, thinking a matter through slowly.

Origin: American frontier, whittle as idle pastime, 19th century

"He sat whittling by the fire while the others argued about the route."

/BLAY-zing/

Marking trees with axe cuts to show a path through wilderness.

Origin: American frontier, blaze a trail, 18th–19th century

"He had been blazing through the timber for three days without rest."

/HOSS/

A horse; also a term of address for a dependable, capable man.

Origin: American dialectal, horse pronounced hoss, frontier 19th century

"That hoss of yours looks half-starved — you had better rest him."

/WAH/

An exclamation of surprise, disgust, or strong emotion.

Origin: Mountain man exclamation, attested in frontier literature 1830s–1850s

"Wagh! That bear nearly had my scalp afore I could raise the rifle."

/GON UN-der/

Killed; dead; defeated or ruined completely.

Origin: Mountain man slang, frontier America, 1820s–1840s

"Poor Fitzgerald went under at the Cimarron — Comanche got him."

/OWT-fit/

A group of men, animals, and equipment for a trail drive or expedition.

Origin: American frontier, outfit as collective, 19th century

"Our outfit was twelve men, thirty horses, and a chuck wagon."

/FIK-singz/

Equipment, accessories, or side dishes accompanying a main meal.

Origin: American frontier, fix + ings, all the trimmings, 19th century

"She served the venison with all the fixings from the root cellar."

/RAYZ HAIR/

To take a scalp in combat; to kill an enemy.

Origin: Mountain man and frontier slang, 19th century

"He had raised hair on three warriors before noon and was still standing."

/SHY-nin TYMZ/

A period of good fortune, excitement, or prosperity.

Origin: Mountain man slang, shine = brightness/luck, 1820s–1840s

"The rendezvous on the Green River were shinin' times for all the trappers."

/POS-ih-bulz/

A trapper's bag containing essential small tools and supplies.

Origin: Mountain man frontier, all possible necessities, 1820s–1850s

"He lost his possibles in the river crossing and was in a bad way."

/guh-LOOT/

A clumsy, foolish, or uncouth fellow; a simpleton.

Origin: American frontier, origin uncertain, attested 1812 nautical then land

"Some galoot rode through camp and knocked over the cook's iron pot."

/SAV-ee/

To understand; to know; common sense or practical knowledge.

Origin: Spanish sabe (knows), into frontier and cowboy English, 19th c.

"You savvy which trails are safe this time of year — lead the way."

/vah-MOOS/

To leave quickly; to depart in a hurry.

Origin: Spanish vamos (let's go), into frontier slang, mid-19th century

"When the shooting started, half the camp vamoosed into the brush."

/KAL-uh-boos/

A jail or prison; a lockup.

Origin: Spanish calabozo, dungeon, into American frontier use, 19th century

"The marshal threw him in the calaboose to sober up by morning."

/HAK-uh-mor/

A bitless bridle or halter used to control a horse by the nose.

Origin: Spanish jaquima, halter, into frontier cowboy speech, 19th century

"He broke the colt using nothing but a hackamore and patience."

/SINCH/

A saddle girth; also something certain and easy to accomplish.

Origin: Spanish cincha, girth strap, into cowboy English, mid-19th century

"Winning that race was a cinch — nobody else had a horse to match him."

/MAV-er-ik/

An unbranded calf; an independent person who follows no leader.

Origin: Samuel Maverick, Texas rancher who left cattle unbranded, 1850s

"He was a maverick who would not ride for any outfit more than one season."

/kuh-RAL/

To round up and confine; to gather or collect anything.

Origin: Spanish corral, enclosure, into frontier American English, 19th c.

"Corral those oxen before they wander into the brush again."

/HARD-skrab-ul/

A place or life of hardship where survival is barely possible.

Origin: American frontier, hard + scrabble, attested early 19th century

"They lived a hardscrabble life on the high plains and asked no sympathy."

/CHAW/

A chew of tobacco; to chew; also to think over a problem.

Origin: American dialectal, chew pronounced chaw, 19th century frontier

"He worked a chaw around in his jaw and said nothing for a long minute."

/RANG-ler/

A person who tends and manages horses on a trail drive.

Origin: American West, wrangle horses, wrangler attested 1880s–1890s

"The wrangler had the remuda moving before the sun showed over the ridge."

/KASH/

A hidden store of provisions, furs, or ammunition.

Origin: French cacher, to hide, into mountain man vocabulary, early 19th c.

"He found the cache of pemmican buried under the cottonwood."

/DOH-ghee/

A motherless or scrawny calf; any stray or weak animal.

Origin: American cowboy, origin uncertain, attested 1880s trail drives

"The dogies were the hardest to keep moving on the long drives north."

/CHUK/

Food; a meal; provisions on a trail drive.

Origin: American frontier, chuck as food, chuckwagon attested 1880s

"The cook had chuck ready before first light every morning without fail."

/DRY-gulch/

To ambush and attack someone in a narrow canyon or ravine.

Origin: American West, dry gulch as ambush site, 19th century

"They dry-gulched the payroll riders in a narrow cut near the river."

/SOW-er-doh/

An experienced frontiersman or miner; a veteran of hard winters.

Origin: American, sourdough starter as survival staple, Alaskan/frontier

"The old sourdough knew every pass in the Cascades by smell alone."

/SUN-dow-ner/

A drifter who arrives at a ranch at sundown to claim hospitality.

Origin: American frontier and Australian, sundowner as freeloader, 19th c.

"That sundowner showed up at dusk, ate his fill, and was gone by morning."

/RING-tayl ROR-er/

A boastful, ferocious, larger-than-life frontier braggart.

Origin: American tall-tale tradition, ringtail as fierce animal, 1830s–1840s

"He called himself a ringtail roarer and nobody in the saloon disputed it."