Victorian Slang Part Two · 12:04pm Sep 28th, 2020
Victorian Slang Part Two
Did you know that there were many other slang words used in the Victorian era? These are some more slang words that were used.
1. CAT-LAP
A London society term for tea and coffee "used scornfully by drinkers of beer and strong waters ... in club-life is one of the more ignominious names given to champagne by men who prefer stronger liquors.”
2. CHURCH-BELL
A talkative woman.
3. CHUCKABOO
A nickname given to a close friend.
4. COLLIE SHANGLES
Quarrels. A term from Queen Victoria's journal, More Leaves, published in 1884: "I rode off with Beatrice, good Sharp going with us, and having occasional collie shangles (a Scottish word for quarrels or rows, but taken from fights between dogs) with collies when we came near cottages."
5. COP A MOUSE
To get a black eye. "Cop in this sense is to catch or suffer," Forrester writers, "while the colour of the obligation at its worst suggests the colour and size of the innocent animal named.”
6. DADDLES
A delightful way to refer to your rather boring hands.
7. DAMFINO
This creative cuss is a contraction of "damned if I know.”
8. DIZZY AGE
A phrase meaning "elderly," because it "makes the spectator giddy to think of the victim's years." The term is usually refers to "a maiden or other woman canvassed by other maiden ladies or others.”
9. DOING THE BEAR
"Courting that involves hugging."
10. DON'T SELL ME A DOG
Popular until 1870, this phrase meant "Don't lie to me!” Apparently, people who sold dogs back in the day were prone to trying to pass off mutts as purebreds.
11. DOOR-KNOCKER
A type of beard "formed by the cheeks and chin being shaved leaving a chain of hair under the chin, and upon each side of mouth forming with moustache something like a door-knocker."
12. ENTHUZIMUZZY
"Satirical reference to enthusiasm." Created by Braham the terror, whoever that is.
13. 15 PUZZLE
Not the game you might be familiar with, but a term meaning complete and absolute confusion.
14. FLY RINK
An 1875 term for a polished bald head.
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
