Victorian Slang Part One · 1:28pm Sep 27th, 2020
Victorian Slang Part One
Did you know that there were many slang words used in the Victorian era? These are some slang words that were used.
1. AFTERNOONIFIED
A society word meaning "smart.” Forrester demonstrates the usage: "The goods are not 'afternoonified' enough for me.”
2. ARFARFAN'ARF
A figure of speech used to describe intoxicated men. "He's very arf'arf'an'arf," Forrester writes, "meaning he has had many ‘arfs,'” or half-pints of booze.
3. BACK SLANG IT
Thieves used this term to indicate that they wanted "to go out the back way.”
4. BAGS O' MYSTERY
An 1850 term for sausages, "because no man but the maker knows what is in them. ... The 'bag' refers to the gut which contained the chopped meat.”
5. BANG UP TO THE ELEPHANT
This phrase originated in London in 1882, and means "perfect, complete, unapproachable.”
6. BATTY-FANG
Low London phrase meaning "to thrash thoroughly,” possibly from the French battre a fin.
7. BENJO
Nineteenth century sailor slang for "A riotous holiday, a noisy day in the streets.”
8. BOW WOW MUTTON
A naval term referring to meat so bad "it might be dog flesh.”
9. BRICKY
Brave or fearless. "Adroit after the manner of a brick," Forrester writes, "said even of the other sex, 'What a bricky girl she is.'”
10. BUBBLE AROUND
A verbal attack, generally made via the press. Forrester cites: "I will back a first-class British subject for bubbling around against all humanity."
11. BUTTER UPON BACON
Extravagance. Too much extravagance. "Are you going to put lace over the feather, isn't that rather butter upon bacon?”
I will update with more Victorian slang words soon.
You can also read more about this by clicking this article here: https://theweek.com/articles/567412/56-delightful-victorian-slang-terms-should-using
Do you know "mutton dressed as lamb?" :-)
5365224 I think I've seen it before. What does it mean again?
5365230
It means "an older person (usually a woman) dressed in fashions clearly meant for the young." And thus ridiculous.
The basis of the phrase is a pun on the verb "dress," which can mean both "to put on clothes" and "to cut away unwanted bits of a large piece of meat."
This is a reference to a Victorian trick of the butcher's trade. Back then you could only get lamb in the spring and it was expensive and hard to find. Unscrupulous shopkeepers would get bigger mutton chops from older animals and trim them down--"dress" them--until they looked like dainty little lamb chops. But it was still tough gamey mutton.
This still happens. I remember buying and roasting what was sold as a boned marinated "leg of lamb," at WalMart, but on first bite I knew it was probably old enough to vote.
5365241 That's a good one. Is it okay if I add it to the M section when I get there? I'll give you credit for it. :3
Finally, something I can use for Sir Pentious comics. Thank you!
5365254
Of course! Er, what is the M section, if you don't mind my asking?
Edit: oh, right, M for mutton!
5365275 Thank you for taking the time to read. And you are very welcome. :3
5365429 Thank you very much yor letting me use it.
And I'm listing the terms alphabetically, so the one you mentioned would go under the 'M' section.
"Butter upon bacon"
5366803 Nice reference. XD