#slang

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

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

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Equal When used in the phrase 'I'm equal' it means 'I don't care' (coming from the Irish 'is cuma liom': 'I don't care', 'I don't mind', literally 'it is equal to me'). E.g. "It's equal to me where ye go." Griffin, "The Collegians": "It's equal to me any day, winter or summer, whether I go ten miles or twenty." Boucicault, "Shaugraun": "Claire: D'ye think I'm not equal to making the butter come?" #ireland #slang #language

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day:

Éirí in airde

This phrase has to meanings:

1. Exuberant behaviour, elation, high spirits, enthusiasm.
2. Putting on airs; acting above one's station in life. E.g. "Appeal to his éirí in airde and the meas (regard/esteem) he always had in himself!"

#ireland #slang #language

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Dander 'Dander' is a general Irish term for a short stroll: "It's a grand evening for a wee dander." In Cork it's meaning was closer to 'a sudden notion to take a walk'. And around Donegal it could have the meaning 'to saunter': "There she was, dandering down the road". The word is also a more general English-language colloquialism for 'anger', as in: "He really got his dander up." #ireland #slang #language

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Clip o' the reel (also: kip of the reel) This idiom describes an activity that would occasion disturbance and craic. "The same old clip o' the reel when the girls came home from the dance." The phrase comes directly from traditional Irish music and dance culture. A "reel" is a fast-paced, high-energy traditional dance in 4/4 time. Thus calling something a "clip o' the reel" means it has that same energetic and lively rhythm. #ireland #slang #language

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Clash of the Ash This is a phrase used to signify, romantically, the game of hurling: hurleys are traditionally made from the wood of the ash tree. The tree is supposed to be 30 years old, and the wood taken from where the roots spread, so that the grain of the wood will not go with the length of the stick, making it liable to split. #ireland #slang #language

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Circling Shannon This is a euphemism for being unwell, extremely drunk, and incapable of action, arising from an incident at Shannon Airport in 1994 when the Russian President Boris Yeltsin was unable to leave the plane, while the Irish Taoiseach Albert Reynolds waited. #ireland #slang #language

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

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Carnaptious (Also: "curnoptious") "Carnaptious" is an adjective meaning "irritable", "cranky," "bad-tempered". Its origins are unclear but the Oxford English Dictionary suggest that it could be a form of English ‘captious’ which has a similar meaning and gives its roots as Scottish and Irish dialect. OED also has the earliest attestation from the Ulster Journal of Archaeology of 1858: “A nivver seen wan so curnaptious.” #ireland #slang #language

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Caorán (Also: cadhrán, caofrán, caofróg) "Caorán" are small pieces of turf used to kindle a fire (mostly used in Co. Galway). In Kerry it usually refers to a broken sod of turf or a bit of turf, lighted and sent around the neighbourhood as a signal. Example of use: "Don't bring in all the big sods - throw the caoráns in too". #ireland #slang #language

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

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Cailleach (Also: "calleach", "callioch", "calyagh".) "Cailleach" is a word for an "old woman", "hag" (but it's distinct from "seanbhean"); the term is reserved for a very old woman or witch-like creature. Cailleach ('old woman' or 'hag' in modern Irish) comes from the Old Irish "caillech" (veiled one or nun), an adjectival form of "caille" (veil), an early loan from Latin "pallium" (woollen cloak). #ireland #slang #language

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Cailín (Also: "colleen") "Cailín" in it's variant spelling is probably one of the most familiar Hiberno-English words, it means, "girl" or "maiden". #ireland #slang #language

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