Revolutionary Era

/LOB-stuhr-bak/

British soldier (for their red coats)

Origin: Patriot insult, 1770s

"The lobsterbacks marched on Concord."

/TOR-ee/

Loyalist to the British Crown

Origin: Irish 'tóraidhe' (outlaw)

"Old Whitcomb is a Tory through and through."

/BUK-skin/

Frontiersman; rough fellow

Origin: From deerskin breeches

"A pack of buckskins came down from the hills."

/in uh PUK-uhr/

Anxious; flustered

Origin: Late 18th c. colloquial

"Father was in a pucker over the tax bill."

/DOK-see/

Sweetheart or mistress

Origin: 16th c. cant

"He called on his doxy at the boarding house."

/shayk uh leg/

Hurry up; also to dance

Origin: Late 1700s naval slang

"Shake a leg, the stagecoach won't wait!"

/HORN-swog-uhl/

To cheat or deceive

Origin: American frontier coinage, c. 1820

"Don't let that peddler hornswoggle you."

/KWOK-uhr-woj-uhr/

A puppet politician

Origin: British dialect, 1700s

"The new alderman is naught but a quockerwodger."

/in hiz AL-tih-tyoodz/

To be high-spirited, haughty, or significantly under the influence of alcohol.

Origin: Early 18th-century English colloquialism popular in the colonies.

"The general was in his altitudes after the victory at Saratoga."

/at SEE/

To be completely confused, bewildered, or lost.

Origin: Nautical origin, became common land-slang by the mid-1700s.

"The redcoats were all at sea when they entered the dense woods."

/BOH-nas-tee/

A man who dresses in fine clothes but is personally filthy or slovenly.

Origin: Late 18th-century satirical term for slovenly pickpockets or fops.

"That young dandy is quite the beau-nasty with his powdered wig and dirty boots."

/al-uh-MORT/

Struck dead, dejected, or in very low spirits.

Origin: Derived from the French 'à la mort,' used in English since the late 17th century.

"I cannot wait for the meeting; I am all-a-mort today."

/RYE-no/

A common slang term for ready money or cash.

Origin: 17th-century London slang that remained popular in the early Republic.

"He spent all his rhino at the tavern last night."

/BAM/

A cheat, a sham, or a deceptive story.

Origin: Shortening of 'bamboozle,' common by the 1770s.

"That tale is nothing but a bam intended to trick us."

/BITE/

A swindler, a cheat, or a deceptive person.

Origin: Rooted in the idea of 'biting' at a hook; common in the late 1700s.

"The merchant proved to be a bite after he sold me the lame horse."

/HAK-uhlz UP/

To become angry or defensive.

Origin: Referring to the feathers on the neck of a cock or dog that rise when agitated.

"Do not get your hackles up over a simple misunderstanding."

/KUP-shot-un/

Drunk or intoxicated to the point of incapacitation.

Origin: An archaic term dating back to the 16th century, still used in 18th-century rural America.

"He was so cupshotten he could barely find the door."

/BLOH-en/

A showy girl or a wench; sometimes used to imply a woman of loose morals.

Origin: Cant slang from the late 18th century.

"The kitchen-maid is a real blowen, isn't she?"

/BLUD/

A man of spirit, a rake, or a high-society fashion plate.

Origin: Late 18th-century term for a young 'man about town.'

"He thinks himself a blood of the first water."

/in thuh SUDZ/

To be in a sulky mood or in a state of embarrassment and difficulty.

Origin: Colloquialism from the mid-1700s referring to soapy water.

"After the raid, he was found to be in the suds."

/HOLE in a LAD-er/

A phrase describing someone who is extremely intoxicated.

Origin: Common 18th-century idiom for visual impairment due to drink.

"He was so drunk he could not see a hole in a ladder."

/NON-plus/

A state of being so perplexed that one can say or do no more.

Origin: From Latin 'non plus' (no more), widely used in 18th-century political discourse.

"I fear I am at a non-plus regarding these new taxes."

/MUM-bull-peg/

A person who is hesitant or slow to speak.

Origin: Derived from a children's game involving a peg and a knife, but used figuratively.

"Don't be such a mumble-peg; speak your mind!"

/RED-ee/

Another term for immediate cash or paper money on hand.

Origin: Abbreviation of 'ready money,' popularized in the mid-1700s.

"The soldier spent his ready at the apothecary."

/SKAR-uh-mouch/

A cowardly buffoon or a person who acts in a boastful but hollow manner.

Origin: From the stock character 'Scaramuccia' in Italian Commedia dell'arte.

"That fellow is a mere scaramouch, all talk and no action."

/SMALL-kloze/

The breeches or close-fitting trousers worn by men in the 18th century.

Origin: Euphemistic term for men's undergarments or breeches, late 1700s.

"Wait a moment while I adjust my smallclothes."

/KOG/

To cheat at dice or cards, particularly by controlling the fall of the die.

Origin: 16th-century slang that persisted through the colonial era.

"He was caught playing the cog at the card table."

/HUM/

A deception, a hoax, or a false report.

Origin: Common 18th-century slang, often shortened from 'humbug.'

"That speech was a regular hum; no one believed a word."

/KET-uhl uv FISH/

A mess, a muddle, or a confusing state of affairs.

Origin: Originally referring to a salmon-cooking picnic, turned figurative in the 1700s.

"You've made a fine kettle of fish of this encampment."

/JAW/

Impertinent talk, chatter, or verbal abuse.

Origin: Early 18th-century slang referring to the movement of the mouth.

"I'll have no more of your jaw, young man!"

/BRIDE-well-burd/

A person who has been frequenting or has just been released from prison.

Origin: Bridewell was a famous London prison; the name followed to the colonies.

"The thief is a known Bridewell-bird."

/NAY-bob/

A person of great wealth or prominence, often one who returned from colonies with a fortune.

Origin: Derived from the Hindi 'nawab' during the mid-1700s.

"He lived the life of a true nabob after returning from the West Indies."

/KREE-chur/

A drink of hard liquor, usually whiskey or rum.

Origin: Referring to 'creature comforts,' commonly used for spirits in the 18th century.

"A drop of the creature will warm us on this cold night."

/RAT-uhlz/

A state of nervousness, agitation, or the 'titters.'

Origin: 18th-century colloquialism for shaking or being nervous.

"The captain had the rattles and couldn't command the deck."

/GAL-oze-burd/

A person who deserves to be hanged or who looks like they belong on the gallows.

Origin: Common insult for criminals in the 1700s.

"That rogue is a real gallows-bird."

/BIB and TUK-er/

One's finest clothes or best formal attire.

Origin: A 'bib' and 'tucker' were specific items of 17th and 18th-century women's lace dress.

"Put on your best bib and tucker for the assembly tonight."

/MAG-ing/

To chatter, gossip, or talk incessantly.

Origin: Derived from the 'magpie,' a bird known for noisy chattering.

"Stop your magging and get back to work."

/TAY-pish/

To hang one's head or skulk about in a dejected or ashamed manner.

Origin: Rare 18th-century term related to the behavior of a hunted animal.

"He went tapish after he lost his inheritance."

/FINE-spun/

Over-refined, delicate, or excessively elegant.

Origin: Comparing a person's manners to finely spun thread; common in the late 1700s.

"She is a very fine-spun lady, indeed."

/WHIS-per-pot/

A person who constantly whispers or deals in secretive rumors.

Origin: 18th-century compound word for a busybody.

"The old gossip is a total whisper-pot."

/JAK-uh-dan-dee/

A little, foppish, or impertinent fellow.

Origin: 17th-century term that remained popular for describing vain young men.

"He’s a bit of a Jack-a-dandy with those silk stockings."

/FUDJ/

Nonsense, lies, or a made-up story.

Origin: Attributed to a Captain Fudge in the late 17th century; popular in the late 1700s.

"That story is all fudge and everyone knows it!"

/KEL-ter/

Good condition, order, or state of health/readiness.

Origin: Of uncertain origin, used frequently in New England during the 1700s.

"Keep your kelter in order if you want the farm to succeed."

/ALL-too-PEE-sez/

Completely ruined, failed, or fallen apart.

Origin: Colloquial American expression since the mid-1700s.

"The whole plan went all-to-pieces during the storm."

/PEEZ and KYOOZ/

Be on your best behavior or be very careful.

Origin: Likely from keeping track of Pints and Quarts at a tavern, mid-1700s.

"Mind your P's and Q's when the Governor arrives."

/MAYD a LEG/

To bow by drawing one leg back and bending the other.

Origin: Standard 18th-century description of a formal masculine bow.

"He made a leg to the lady before asking for a dance."

/JAYD/

A horse in poor condition, or a woman of questionable character.

Origin: Middle English but used heavily in 18th-century rural slang.

"That horse is a bit of a jade, I wouldn't buy him."

/NIN-ee-ham-er/

A simpleton, fool, or silly person.

Origin: Late 16th-century term still in common usage during the Revolutionary era.

"Stop being such a ninnyhammer and help me."

/TOR-ee-rid-un/

Dominated or oppressed by Loyalist sympathizers.

Origin: American political slang, Revolutionary period 1776–1783

"This county is tory-ridden and no Patriot can get a fair hearing."

/LOB-ster-bak/

A British soldier, from the red coat of the uniform.

Origin: American slang, Revolutionary War, c. 1775–1783

"Three lobsterbacks were billeted at the cooper's house against his will."

/MUG-howz/

A low alehouse where political talk and toasts were exchanged.

Origin: English mug-house clubs, imported to colonial tavern culture

"The committee of correspondence met every Tuesday at the mug-house."

/SHIRT-man/

A frontier rifleman wearing a hunting shirt; a Patriot irregular.

Origin: American, reference to rifle-shirt uniform of backcountry militia

"The shirtmen from the valley made the redcoats uneasy at Saratoga."

/dam-NAY-shun SEEZ-it/

A strong oath expressing frustration or utter exasperation.

Origin: American tavern vernacular, Revolutionary period

"Damnation seize it, the powder is wet and the enemy is upon us."

/SKIM-ing-tun/

A noisy, mocking public procession to shame a neighbor.

Origin: English skimmington ride, carried into American communities

"They gave the informer a skimington that lasted half the night."

/muh-LAS-iz GANG/

A rowdy group of rabble-rousers or street-level agitators.

Origin: American, reference to colonial molasses trade and mob politics

"The molasses gang tarred the customs man before dawn."

/HAF-fayst/

Cowardly; giving only partial commitment; two-faced in politics.

Origin: American frontier and political slang, late 18th century

"His half-faced support for the cause convinced no one at the hall."

/FRIB-ul/

A trifling, ineffectual person; also to waste time in trivialities.

Origin: English, fribble as verb and noun, 17th–18th century

"Do not fribble with the committee's time — state your position."

/RAT/

To desert a cause or party; to switch political sides for gain.

Origin: English, rats leaving sinking ships, in political use by 1780s

"He ratted to the Tories the moment the British took Philadelphia."

/TRIM/

To shift political allegiance for advantage; to equivocate.

Origin: English political slang, trimmer, late 17th into 18th century

"He will trim whichever way the wind blows come election day."

/BLOO-lyt/

A traitor or secret enemy sympathizer; one who signals the foe.

Origin: American naval slang, blue lights allegedly signaled British ships

"Someone on the dock was a blue-light — the frigate was warned off."

/KAW-fee-howz pol-IT-ih-shun/

An armchair theorist full of political opinions but no action.

Origin: American, from coffee-house debate culture of 18th century

"He is a coffee-house politician who has never faced a musket."

/KOR-sair/

A pirate or privateer; used loosely for any sea raider or smuggler.

Origin: Italian corsaro via French, in American maritime use by 1780s

"The corsair seized two merchantmen off the Carolina capes."

/PYOOK-stok-ing/

A country bumpkin; a rustic who wears coarse woolen stockings.

Origin: English, puke (coarse cloth) + stocking, 17th–18th century

"Those puke-stockings from the back counties vote as their parson bids."

/SWOB/

A low sailor; an uncouth or worthless fellow aboard ship.

Origin: English nautical, swab (mop) applied to a sailor, 18th century

"That swab had not a clean shirt to his name nor a civil word."

/DAR-beez/

Handcuffs; fetters; irons placed on prisoners.

Origin: English cant, Father Darby's bonds, 16th–18th century

"They clapped the darbies on the spy before he could reach the wharf."

/KRAKS-man/

A burglar who specializes in breaking into strongboxes or safes.

Origin: English cant, crack + man, 18th century

"A cracksman emptied the paymaster's chest the very night before battle."

/BIL-bohz/

A sliding bar and shackles used to confine prisoners aboard ships.

Origin: Spanish Bilbao, iron works, nautical use from 16th century

"Mutineers were put in bilboes below decks until they could be tried."

/SKUL-ker/

A shirker; one who avoids duty or hides to escape service.

Origin: English, skulk + er, in militia and naval use, 18th century

"The sergeant dragged every sculker from the barn at bayonet-point."

/PUMP-ship/

To urinate; a naval and tavern euphemism common in the period.

Origin: English nautical slang, pump-ship, 18th century

"Pardon, gentlemen — I must step out to pump-ship before the vote."

/HOH-goh/

A strong, rank, unpleasant smell; a stink.

Origin: French haut goût, high taste, into English slang, 17th–18th c.

"The barracks had such a hogo about them one could not enter willingly."

/RAT-ling LAY/

The occupation of a coachman or carter; also coach robbery.

Origin: English cant, rattle (coach) + lay (trade), 18th century

"He gave up the rattling lay after his horse was shot on the post road."

/KWEER SKREEN/

A counterfeit banknote; a fraudulent bill of credit.

Origin: English cant, queer (bad) + screen (bank note), 18th century

"The merchant refused the note, crying it was a queer screen."

/DUN-ij/

Personal baggage; one's clothing and belongings; sailor's gear.

Origin: English nautical, packing material generalized, 16th–18th c.

"Gather your dunnage quickly — we weigh anchor before the tide turns."

/JING-goh/

A mild oath meaning 'by God'; also an aggressive Patriot boaster.

Origin: English, by jingo as oath, 17th century; jingoism grew later

"By jingo, if the levy fails we shall raise the men ourselves."

/RAN-tih-pole/

A wild, reckless, romping young person; a heedless adventurer.

Origin: English, rant + pole, 17th–18th century

"That rantipole privateer has taken six prizes in as many weeks."

/SKRAG/

A thin, bony person or neck; also to hang by the neck.

Origin: English dialectal, scragged = hanged, 18th century slang

"They scragged the informant at the crossroads before dawn."

/BEEN MOR/

A pretty, well-spoken woman; a fine wench in cant vocabulary.

Origin: English cant, bene (good) + mort (woman), 16th–18th century

"The colonel's wife was accounted a bene mort by all at headquarters."

/KWEER KUF-in/

A justice of the peace; a magistrate feared by criminals.

Origin: English cant, queer + cuffin (man), 17th–18th century

"We had to bribe the queer cuffin to secure the captain's release."

/TIP thuh WINK/

To give a secret signal or warning with a wink or nod.

Origin: English slang, 18th century, tip (give) + wink

"She tipped him the wink as the constable entered the taproom."

/KLY/

A pocket; also to pick a pocket or steal from one.

Origin: English cant, 17th–18th century

"He had his cly picked of every farthing at the market celebration."

/NIB-ing KUL/

A hangman; the man whose business is execution by rope.

Origin: English cant, nib (beak/hang) + cull (fellow), 18th century

"The nibbing cull at Boston had more trade than he was used to."

/BUR-oh-mung-ger/

One who buys and sells parliamentary seats; a political corrupter.

Origin: English political slang, late 18th century reform era

"The borough-monger controlled six seats and sold them like cattle."

/STING-oh/

Strong ale or beer; also vigour or energy in an activity.

Origin: English slang, sting + o, strong drink, 17th–18th century

"Bring us a pot of your best stingo — we have a treaty to toast."

/TOH-bee/

The highway; the open road used by travellers and thieves alike.

Origin: Irish Shelta tober, road, into English cant, 18th century

"He walked the toby for a week before finding honest employment."

/FLIM-flam/

A trick or deception; nonsensical or fraudulent talk.

Origin: English reduplication, 16th–18th century

"That pamphlet is pure flimflam dressed up as constitutional argument."

/JIN-gam-bobz/

Gewgaws; trinkets; small, fancy but useless personal ornaments.

Origin: English, gingamob/gew-gaw variant, 17th–18th century

"He traded his gingambobs to the Indian traders for a warm blanket."

/SKURF/

A mean, worthless fellow; a scabby, contemptible person.

Origin: English, from scurf (skin condition) applied to persons, 18th c.

"That scurf sold bad powder to the militia and pocketed the difference."

/BILK/

To cheat; to avoid paying a debt; to leave without settling.

Origin: English cant, possibly from balk, 17th–18th century

"He bilked the landlord and was gone before morning light."

/PLAT-er-fayst/

Having a broad, flat, unattractively round face.

Origin: English compound, platter + faced, 17th–18th century

"The platter-faced sergeant was feared more for his temper than his looks."

/MAWLT-wurm/

A heavy drinker; a habitual frequenter of alehouses.

Origin: English, malt-worm, a lover of malt liquor, 16th–18th century

"Half the regiment were malt-worms who could barely march at sunrise."

/NIM-gim-er/

A surgeon or physician, especially one treating venereal diseases.

Origin: English cant, 17th–18th century

"The nimgimmer at the garrison kept busy among the sailors."

/BYOOB/

The pox; venereal disease; a hazard of camp and port life.

Origin: English cant, 17th–18th century, from bube

"Half the crew was laid low with the bube before they reached port."

/SNICH/

The nose; also to inform on someone; an informer.

Origin: English cant, 17th–18th century, early use of snitch as nose

"He turned snitch and the whole cell was arrested by morning."

/RUM-dub-er/

A skilled picker of locks; an expert at breaking into premises.

Origin: English cant, rum (fine) + dubber (lock-picker), 18th century

"Only a rum-dubber could have entered the armory without forcing the door."

/HUK-ul-my-BUF/

A drink of beer, eggs, and brandy mixed warm together.

Origin: English tavern slang, 18th century

"On a cold patrol night there was nothing like a huckle-my-buff."

/LUSH-ing-tun/

A habitual drunkard; a person devoted to strong drink.

Origin: English, Lushington as mock-surname for drinkers, 18th–19th c.

"Old Lushington himself would envy the tavern's nightly receipts."

/KWIL-dry-ver/

A clerk or scrivener; any person who writes for a living.

Origin: English compound, quill + driver, 17th–18th century

"Get a quill-driver to draw up the articles — I'll not trust memory."

/DUB-ul-jugd/

Having large, heavy jowls or cheeks; notably fat-faced.

Origin: English dialectal, jug (jowl) + doubled, 18th century

"The double-jugg'd magistrate huffed and puffed over every petition."

/SHUG-er-stik/

A term of endearment for a sweetheart; a sweet favourite.

Origin: American colonial and early republic vernacular, 18th century

"He called her his sugar-stick in every letter from the front."

/KRANK/

A person who feigns illness to beg; a fraudulent invalid.

Origin: English cant, crank as sham-sick beggar, 16th–18th century

"The crank near the statehouse had been perfectly well the week before."

/HEK-ter/

To bully or bluster; to intimidate with swagger and loud talk.

Origin: English, from Hector of Troy as bully type, 17th–18th century

"He hectored the customs officer until the crowd drove him off."