Tweet
Compiled & Edited by Craig Hadley
PERIOD SLANG
Humbug? Shecoonery? Useless truck or gum? Hornswoggling? Honey-fuggling? Not in this book, dear sir! I swan to mercy, a huckle- berry above anyone's persimmon. Some pumpkins, a caution, 100 percent certified by a Philadelfy lawyer. If not, dad-blame it, I'll hang up my fiddle, and you can sass me, knock me into a cocked hat, give me jesse, fix my flint, settle my hash, ride me out on a rail and have a conniption fit, you cussed scalawag. Now ain't that the beatingest language you ever did hear? Sure beats the Dutch! Pshaw! Do tell! Bully for you!
This is just a small example of the period slang of the 19th century that you would hear during the Civil War. This will help you build your first person character if you learn some of the lingo of the time.
WARNING: We have also included period curse words and obscenities in here as well. While the Civil War soldier was not supposed to curse in front of officers or NCOs, he certainly used them, so we felt it was important to include these as well. These are located at the end of the regular slang dictionary under a separate heading.
Many of these slang terms were taken from a book entitled “Writing for the 19th Century: A Writers Guide for all things Victorian”. It is filled with wonderful information regarding slang terms and other wonderful details of 19th century life. We have also included, when we could, when the first recorded time this phrase was known to be used, as well as a brief definition of the word.
And so, dear reader, here be but a microcosm of America's nineteenth-century colloquialisms and slang, some from the upper class, some from the lower, and much from the strata in between.
19th Century Slang (A Small Sample)
For much, much more, just download the attached PDF file at the bottom of this post. You must be a registered member to download the file. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FREE.
absquatulate: to take leave, to disappear.
1843: A can of oysters was discovered in our office by a friend, and he absquatulated with it, and left us with our mouth watering. Missouri Reporter, February 2
1862- Rumor has it that a gay bachelor, who has figured in Chicago for nearly a year, has skedaddled, absquatulated, vamoosed, and cleared out. Rocky Mountain News, Denver, May 10
accelerator: a velocipede. (See also Bicycling in Amusements, p. 19 1.)
acknowledge the corn: to admit the truth; to confess; to acknowledge one's own obvious lie or shortcoming.
1840: David Johnson acknowledged the corn, and said that he was drunk. Daily Pennant,St. Louis, July 14
1846: I hope he will give up the argument, or, to use a familiar phrase, acknowledge the corn. Mr. Speight, Mississippi, U.S. Senate, Congressional Globe, January 28
1850: He has not confessed the corn, as the saying is, that he did preach disunion? Mr. staniy, North Carolina, House of Reps., congressional Globe
across lots: to push on straight through despite obstacles.
1853: "Go to hell across lots." Brigham Young, journal of Discourses, March 27
1869: 1 came cross lots from Aunt Sawin's and I got caught in those pesky blackberry bushes in the graveyard. Harriet Beecher Stowe, Old Town Folks
algerine: a pirate.
1844: They have called the law for punishing treason an Algerine law; they have denominated us the Algerine party; and they have talked a great deal about Algerine cruelties. Mr. Potter, Rhode Island, House of Reps., Congressional Globe, March 12
all creation, all nature, all wrath: everything or everybody.
1819: Father and I have just returned from the balloon - all nature was there, and More too. Massachusetts Spy, November 3
1833: I could eat like all wrath ... I'll be down on him like all wrath anyhow. J.K. Paulding, Banks of the Ohio
1839: He pulls like all creation, as the woman remarked when the horse ran away with her. Yale Literary Magazine
all-fired: hell-fired.
1835: His boss gin him a most all-fired cut with a horsewhip. Boston Pearl, November 28
1852: In my opinion, Dan Baxter would make an all-fired good deacon. Knickerbocker Magazine, August
1866: 0 Sall, did you ever see such an all-fired sight of shoes? Seba Smith, Way Down East, p.289
1872: You were too all-fired lazy to get a stick of wood. J.M. Bailey, Folks in Danbury, p.80
all on one stick: a conglomeration or combination.
1830: He kept a kind of hotel and grocery store, all on one stick, as we say. N. Dana, A Mariner's Sketches, p.18
all-overish: uncomfortable.
1855: 1 grew - all-overish - no other phrase expresses it. Putnam's Magazine, December
allow: to admit; to be of the opinion.
1840: She said she would allow he was the most beautiful complected child she had ever seen. Knickerbocker Magazine
1866: Where is Hamlin? I allow that he is dead, or I would ask him too. C.,H. Smith, Bill Arp, p.23
all possessed, like: like someone or something possessed by the devil.
1857: He'd carry on like all possessed -dance and sing, and tell stories, jest as limber and lively as if he'd never hefted a timber. Putnam's Magazine, January
1878: She dropped a pan o' hot oysters into the lap of a customer and set him to swearin' and dancin' like all possessed. J.H. Beadle, Western Wilds, p.184
all to pieces: completely; absolutely.
1839: "I know him all to pieces," replied the gentleman. Charles Biiggs, Harry Franco
1847: I knew him all to pieces as soon as I caught sight of him. Charles Briggs, Tom Pepper
almighty: huge.
1848: I felt almighty blue. Stray Subjects, p.109
For much, much more, just download the attached PDF file. You must be a registered member to download the file. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FREE.