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