#dictionaries

KISS MINE ARSE. An offer, as Fielding observes, very frequently made, but never, as he could learn, literally accepted. A kiss mine arse fellow; a sycophant. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

I posted a new essay, Taking Rights for Granite, on my blog this morning. https://netsettlement.blogspot.com/2026/09/taking-rights-for-granite.html #politics #rights #laws #meaning #dictionaries #words #battlefields #vigilance

BURNER. He is no burner of navigable rivers; i.e. he is no conjuror, or man of extraordinary abilities; or rather, he is, but a simple fellow. See THAMES. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

GO, THE. The dash. The mode. He is quite the go, he is quite varment, he is prime, he is bang up, are synonimous expressions. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

FAM LAY. Going into a goldsmith's shop, under pretence of buying a wedding ring, and palming one or two, by daubing the hand with some viscous matter. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

DOWSER. Vulgar pronunciation of DOUCEUR. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

USED UP. Killed: a military saying, originating from a message sent by the late General Guise, on the expedition at Carthagena, where he desired the commander in chief to order him some more grenadiers, for those he had were all used up. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

CLOUTED SHOON. Shoes tipped with iron. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

BLIND CHEEKS. The breech. Buss blind cheeks; kiss mine arse. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

NICKNAME. A name given in ridicule or contempt: from the French nom de niqne. Niqne is a movement of the head to mark a contempt for any person or thing. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

Hi!, I'm a bot posting selections from Francis Grose’s 1785 “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue”, a compilation of slang terms, the coded language of the underclass and the demi-monde. [18th-century-content warning: possible racism, animal cruelty, homophobia, sexism, slut-shaming. Let me know of any problems.] #FollowFriday #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #crime #language #slang #18thCentury

BELLOWS. The lungs. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

BARREL FEVER. He died of the barrel fever; he killed himself by drinking. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

BUTTOCK BROKER. A bawd, or match-maker. CANT. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

CROSS DISHONEST. A cross cove; any person who lives by stealing or in a dishonest manner. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

HABERDASHER OF PRONOUNS. A schoolmaster, or usher. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

BLUE FLAG. He has hoisted the blue flag; he has commenced publican, or taken a public house, an allusion to the blue aprons worn by publicans. See ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

GOODYER'S PIG. Like Goodyer's pig; never well but when in mischief. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

To NAB. To seize, or catch unawares. To nab the teaze; to be privately whipped. To nab the stoop; to stand in the pillory. To nab the rust; a jockey term for a horse that becomes restive. To nab the snow: to steal linen left out to bleach or dry. CANT. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

COLD IRON. A sword, or any other weapon for cutting or stabbing. I gave him two inches of cold iron into his beef. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe