When we think of slang, we usually think in terms of modern day
speech. But slang talk has been around for quite awhile. While we don’t necessarily
use the following terms today, they were at one time used quite often, mainly
in the 19th century.
I’d have to say the most common slang that we are probably most
aware of is the way they cursed back then. Words such as dang,dash,
or dash it all, and tarnation were simply euphemisms for
the word damn or damnation. Sam Hill, (remember Bert saying this to
George Baily in “It’s a Wonderful Life?) is a euphemism for the devil. Such
as “What the Sam Hill are you hollering about, George?” Blazes was
another word used in place of devil or hell.
Of course,
the usual harsh swear words were used as well, but when in mixed company,
these milder words were substituted in their place.
Besides
cursing in slang, there were many other phrases and words used back then,
some which we still use today. The word shucks meant worthless. Just
like the shucks from corn or peas. They referred to both things and people
this way. Reckon meant to guess, or think, and a biddy wasn’t
an old woman, but a hen. (Of course, unless you were calling the old woman
a hen!) Let her rip, was used as early as the 1850’s and meant just
what it does today—to let her go. Greased lightning meant anything
that was very fast, and obviously the reason they used this to name the car
in “Grease.”If you had grit,
it meant you were brave, (remember True Grit?) and if you had a hankering,
it meant you had a strong desire for something. When referring to Gotham
(okay, Batman) one was referring to New York City. A coot was an idiot
and dead meat meant a corpse. To whip meant to defeat an opponent,
and a varmint was a wild animal. Old man or old woman
referred to one’s spouse or parent.
Sound familiar?
It’s amazing that so much slang has survived throughout the years. But what
about some phrases that we don’t hear very often anymore? I found some of
these quite interesting.
To wake
snakes, meant to raise a rukus. A sockdologer was a powerful blow,
and if one whipped one’s weight in wild cats, you’d better believe
he was good at fighting. To sin to Moses was something so bad, it would
shame Moses. Seven by nine wasn’t a Borg drone, but actually something
of common or inferior quality, the phrase starting as comparison to the size
of a common window pane.
Back then,
if someone called a person a puke, it didn’t mean he was sickly, but
rather a Missourian. One didn’t have much money if they were as poor as
Job’s turkey. And plug-ugly wasn’t necessarily referring to one’s
physical looks. It was the term used for a ruffian.
If you
owed money and were asked to pay in cash, you would have to plank down
or plank up the dough.If a woman was to turn down a man’s proposal,
she would be giving him the mitten, (not to be confused with giving
him the finger.)
It was
a good thing to be a huckleberry above a persimmon, because that was
a cut above the rest. Hooter was not a restaurant with sexy waitresses,
but rather it meant a tiny amount. A hoss was a horse and gum
was a lie. If a man was going to the grocery, don’t think he’s doing
shopping for food, because that was the word for a drinking establishment
back then. A doggery was the same.
If one
was as cold as a wagon tire, they were dead, and if one saw the
elephant, then they’d surely seen it all! It was a good thing to be the
biggest toad in the puddle, or a big bug, because that meant
you were someone of importance.
I’ll admit the truth,
or acknowledge the corn so to speak, that these slang words make me
feel right peart, or happy and fresh, and a rather rowdy g’hal,
girl, inspired to write that 19th century novel I’ve always
reckoned I would before I’m too tuckered out and decide to skedaddle.
Okay, before I’m forced to leave town, or ride out on a rail, I’d like
to tell you where to find more of these wonderful 19th century
slang words.
Writer’s
Digest puts out a great book calledThe Writer’s Guide to Everyday Life in the
1800’s by Marc McCutcheon, so check it out.And if you already know all of the slang I’ve
mentioned—then bully for you!
