Gilded Age

/BUL-ee/

Excellent; first-rate

Origin: Dutch 'boel' (lover), positive 19th c. usage

"A bully day for a stroll in the park."

/SPIF-li-kay-tid/

Drunk

Origin: 1890s American slang

"He came home thoroughly spifflicated."

/GAD-uh-bowt/

One who flits from place to place

Origin: 16th c., popular in Victorian use

"Auntie is a dreadful gadabout."

/DOO-zee/

Something remarkable

Origin: 1880s, from Eleanora Duse or 'daisy'

"That hat is a real doozy."

/KODZ-wol-uhp/

Nonsense

Origin: Late Victorian British

"Pure codswallop, the lot of it."

/kad/

Dishonorable man

Origin: 18th c. 'caddie', shifted meaning

"He is no gentleman — he is a cad!"

/KAP-i-tuhl/

Excellent

Origin: British upper-class 1800s

"A capital idea, old chap!"

/mash/

A crush or flirtation

Origin: 1870s American theatrical

"She has a mash on the young vicar."

/CHUK/

A slang term for food or a hearty meal.

Origin: Mid-19th century American frontier origin, popularized in cities by the 1880s.

"After the opera, George took us to a lobster palace for some expensive chuck."

/SPARK-ler/

A bright or high-quality gemstone, usually a diamond.

Origin: Late 19th century underworld and high-society crossover term.

"That diamond stickpin is a real sparkler, isn't it?"

/BIG GUN/

An important, influential, or powerful person.

Origin: 1870s American colloquialism referring to heavy artillery.

"He thinks he's a big gun because he owns three dry goods stores."

/DAY-zee/

A person or thing that is excellent, remarkable, or highly attractive.

Origin: 1880s Americanism, used to describe someone "fresh" and pleasing.

"See that daisy in the velvet vest? He thinks he's quite the charmer."

/BOO-duhl/

Money, specifically money obtained through graft, corruption, or illicit means.

Origin: Dutch 'boedel' (property), became popular in 1880s New York politics.

"He spent all his boodle on racehorses and expensive champagne."

/CHAY-sing thuh DUK/

A slang term for drinking heavily or going on a bender.

Origin: 1870s saloon slang.

"I spent all night chasing the duck and now I can barely stand."

/BRIK/

A reliable, good-hearted, and courageous person.

Origin: Originally British, widely adopted in American colleges in the 1870s.

"He's a regular brick for helping me pay off that gambling debt."

/GAL-ee-nip-er/

An annoying, insignificant, or pestering person (originally a large mosquito).

Origin: Southern US folk term, widespread in the 1880s.

"Tell that gallinipper to stop buzzing in my ear and go home."

/DED-wayt/

The silent treatment or a cold, unresponsive attitude.

Origin: Late 19th century urban slang.

"Is he still giving you the dead-weight? You deserve a man who speaks."

/HEV-ee SWEL/

A wealthy, high-society man who dresses in the height of fashion.

Origin: 1870s term evolving from the British 'swell.'

"That heavy swell in the silk hat looks like he's never worked a day in his life."

/CHIN-myoo-zik/

Idle chatter, talk, or gossip.

Origin: 1870s Americanism, comparing the sound of talking to a rhythmic noise.

"Don't give me any of your chin-music, just get back to work!"

/IN thuh BOKS/

To be in a position of great difficulty, trouble, or poor health.

Origin: 1880s, possibly referring to a coffin or a tight spot.

"You'd better see a doctor; you look like you're in the box."

/KIL-ing/

Overwhelmingly attractive or fashionable; fascinating.

Origin: Mid-to-late 19th century colloquialism.

"She looked absolutely killing in that new Parisian gown."

/STRAYT TIP/

Reliable, inside information or the absolute truth.

Origin: 1880s horse racing slang.

"Give me the straight tip: which horse is going to win?"

/ON thuh FLY/

Moving quickly, or slightly intoxicated and "festive."

Origin: 1870s urban slang.

"He was a bit on the fly last night after three glasses of bourbon."

/KAYS noht/

A five-dollar bill.

Origin: 1880s, possibly from the "V" shape or ledger marking.

"Hand over a case note and we'll call the debt even."

/GRAF-ter/

A person who makes money through dishonest or shady practices.

Origin: 1890s American political and circus slang.

"That man is a common grafter who doesn't care who he cheats."

/KEEP yure SHURT on/

An injunction to stay calm or be patient.

Origin: 1870s Americanism; to take one's shirt off was the first step to a fight.

"Keep your shirt on, the train isn't leaving for another ten minutes!"

/RAT-uld/

Confused, nervous, or flustered.

Origin: 1880s Americanism.

"I was so rattled by the accident that I forgot my own name."

/BEE-fing/

Complaining or whining.

Origin: 1880s Old West origin, later widely used in cities.

"Quit your beefing and help me move this piano."

/DOOD/

A man overly concerned with his clothes and appearance.

Origin: Coined in the early 1880s, possibly from "Doodle."

"He's a regular dude with his high collar and shiny shoes."

/SHORT-kard/

Cheating at games of chance.

Origin: 1870s gambling slang.

"I suspect he's been playing the short-card on us all evening."

/RED SENT/

Absolutely no money at all.

Origin: 1880s, referring to the copper color of the penny.

"I haven't a red cent to my name until payday."

/THEE JEE-BEE/

The "Grand Bounce"; being dismissed or fired.

Origin: 1880s American urban slang.

"She gave him the G.B. before he could even ask for a dance."

/SNOOZ/

A short nap or to sleep.

Origin: Mid-19th century, became common parlance by the 1870s.

"I'm going to take a snooze before the dinner party begins."

/RA-zul DA-zul/

A state of confusion or a deceptive trick/hustle.

Origin: Late 1880s Americanism.

"He got the razzle-dazzle from the city slickers and lost his watch."

/A-pul-saws/

Nonsense, lies, or flattery.

Origin: Late 1890s, originating as a term for cheap filler food.

"That story is all applesauce; he wasn't even in Chicago last week!"

/UP thuh FLOOM/

To fail, die, or go bankrupt.

Origin: 1870s mining slang (California Gold Rush era residual).

"It’s time to go up the flume if we can’t pay the rent."

/JAM/

Excellent, elegant, or high-class.

Origin: 1880s British/American crossover slang.

"She's real jam, the finest lady in the county."

/LAY/

The current state of affairs or the "deal."

Origin: 1870s Americanism.

"What's the lay of the land regarding the new railroad contract?"

/WIND-bag/

A person who talks a lot but says very little of substance.

Origin: 1870s American political slang.

"Listen to that windbag talk about himself for hours."

/JIN-mil/

A low-class tavern or saloon.

Origin: 1870s temperance movement term.

"I'm going to the gin-mill for a quick nip before I head home."

/TOO-too/

Exaggeratedly elegant, precious, or "over the top."

Origin: 1880s Aesthetic movement slang (Oscar Wilde era).

"That new operetta is just too-too for my simple tastes."

/guh-LOOT/

A clumsy, foolish, or awkward man.

Origin: Sailor slang used widely on land by the 1870s.

"He made a total galoot of himself by tripping over his own cane."

/DED BURD/

A certainty or something that is easily accomplished.

Origin: 1880s American slang.

"That's a dead bird, I tells ya; it's a sure thing."

/BIG HED/

An inflated sense of vanity or self-importance.

Origin: 1870s Americanism.

"He's got a big head because his father was elected mayor."

/DAWG-er-ee/

A cheap, disreputable drinking saloon.

Origin: Common in the 1870s-80s, especially in the South/Midwest.

"Look at that doggery; I wouldn't trust the whiskey there."

/GET yure BAK UP/

To become angry or defensive.

Origin: Mid-19th century, standard slang by the 1880s.

"Don't get your back up just because I asked a question."

/kuh-POO-zul/

A confusing, crowded, or chaotic situation.

Origin: 1890s obscure urban slang.

"It was a regular tight capoozal of a meeting."

/TAF-ee/

Flattery or "soft soap" talk.

Origin: 1870s Americanism (sweetened talk).

"I believe you're giving me the taffy because you want a favor."