GLOSSARY OF THE BACK SLANG.
Reading edition
BIRK, a “crib,”—house.
COOL, to look.
COOL HIM, look at him. A phrase frequently used when one costermonger warns another of the approach of a policeman.
DAB, bad.
DABHENO, one bad, or a bad market.—See DOOGHENO.
DAB TROS, a bad sort.
DA-ERB, bread.
DEB, or DAB, a bed; “I’m on to the DEB,” I’m going to bed.
DILLO-NAMO, an old woman.
DLOG, gold.
DOOG, good.
DOOGHENO, literally “one-good,” or “good-one,” but implying generally a good market.
DOOGHENO HIT, one good hit. A coster remarks to a “mate,” Jack made a DOOGHENO HIT this morning,” implying that he did well at market, or sold out with good profit.
DUNOP, a pound.
ERTH, three.
EARTH57 GENS, three shillings.
EARTH SITH-NOMS, three months.
EARTH YANNOPS, or YENEPS, threepence.
EDGABAC, cabbage.
EDGENARO, an orange.
E-FINK, knife.
EKAME, a “make,” or swindle.
EKOM, a “moke,” or donkey.
ELRIG, a girl.
ENIF, fine.
ENIN GENS, nine shillings.
ENIN YENEP, ninepence.
ENIN YANNOPS, or YENEPS, ninepence.
ENO, one.
ERIF, fire.
ERTH GENS, three shillings.
ERTH-PU, three-up, a street game.
ERTH SITH-NOMS, three months,—a term of imprisonment unfortunately very familiar to the lower orders.
ERTH-YENEPS, threepence.
ESCLOP, the police.
ES-ROPH, or ES-ROCH, a horse.
EVIF-YENEPS, five pence.
EVLENET-GENS, twelve shillings.
EVLENET SITH-NOMS, twelve months.
EWIF-GENS, a crown, or five shillings.
EWIF-YENEPS, fivepence.
EXIS GENS, six shillings.
EXIS-EWIF-GENS, six times five shillings, i.e., 30s. All moneys may be reckoned in this manner, either with YENEPS or GENS.
EXIS-EVIF YENEPS, elevenpence,—literally, “sixpence and fivepence = elevenpence.” This mode of reckoning, distinct from the preceding, is also common amongst those who use the back slang.
EXIS SITH-NOMS, six months.
EXIS-YENEPS, sixpence.
FI-HEATH, a thief.
FLATCH, a half, or halfpenny.
FLATCH KEN-NURD, half drunk.
FLATCH YENEP, a halfpenny.
FLATCH-YENORK, half-a-crown.
GEN, twelvepence, or one shilling. Possibly an abbreviation of ARGENT, cant term for silver.—See following.
GENERALIZE, a shilling, generally shortened to GEN.
GEN-NET, or NET GENS, ten shillings.
HEL-BAT, a table.
HELPA, an apple.
KENNETSEENO, stinking.
KENNURD, drunk.
KEW, a week.
KEWS, or SKEW, weeks.
KIRB, a brick.
KOOL, to look.
LAWT, tall.
LEVEN, in back slang, is sometimes allowed to stand for eleven, for the reason that it is a number which seldom occurs. An article is either 10d. or 1s.
LUR-AC-HAM, mackarel.
MOTTAB, bottom.
MUR, rum.
NALE, or NAEL, lean.
NAM, a man.
NAMESCLOP, a policeman.
NAMOW, a woman; DILLO NAMOW, an old woman.
NEERGS, greens.
NETENIN GENS, nineteen shillings.
NEETEWIF GENS, fifteen shillings.
NEETEXIS, or NETEXIS GENS, sixteen shillings.
NETNEVIS GENS, seventeen shillings.
NET-THEG GENS, eighteen shillings.
NEETRITH GENS, thirteen shillings.
NEETROUF GENS, fourteen shillings.
NET-GEN, ten shillings, or half a sovereign.
NET-YENEPS, tenpence.
NEVELE GENS, eleven shillings.
NEVELE YENEPS, elevenpence,—generally LEVEN YENEPS.
NEVIS GENS, seven shillings.
NEVIS STRETCH, seven years’ transportation, or imprisonment.—See STRETCH, in the Slang Dictionary.
NEVIS YENEPS, sevenpence.
NIRE, rain.
NIG, gin.
NI-OG OT TAKRAM, going to market.
NITRAPH, a farthing.
NOL, long.
NOOM, the moon.
NOS-RAP, a parson.
OCCABOT, tobacco; “tib of OCCABOT,” bit of tobacco.
ON, no.
ON DOOG, no good.
OWT GENS, two shillings.
OWT YENEPS, twopence.
PAC, a cap.
PINURT POTS, turnip tops.
POT, top.
RAPE, a pear.
REEB, beer.
REV-LIS, silver.
ROUF-EFIL, for life,—sentence of punishment.
ROUF-GENS, four shillings.
ROUF-YENEPS, fourpence.
RUTAT, or RATTAT, a “tatur,” or potato.
SAY, yes.
SEE-O, shoes.
SELOPAS, apples.
SHIF, fish.
SIR-ETCH, cherries.
SITH-NOM, a month.
SLAOC, coals.
SLOP, a policeman.—See Dictionary of Slang and Cant Words.
SNEERG, greens.
SOUSH, a house.
SPINSRAP, parsnips.
SRES WORT, trowsers.
STARPS, sprats.
STOOB, boots.
STORRAC, carrots.
STUN, nuts.
STUNLAWS, walnuts.
SWRET-SIO, oysters.
TACH, a hat.
TAF, or TAFFY, fat.
THEG, or TEAICH GENS, eight shillings.
TEAICH-GUY, eight shillings,—a slight deviation from the numerical arrangement of GENS.
TENIP, a pint.
THEG YENEPS, eightpence.
TIB, a bit, or piece.
TOAC, or TOG, a coat. Tog is the old cant term.—See Dictionary of Slang, &c.
TOAC-TISAW, a waistcoat.
TOL, lot, stock, or share.
TOP O’ REEB, a pot of beer.
TOP-YOB, a pot boy.
TORRAC, a carrot.
TRACK (or TRAG), a quart.
TROSSENO, literally, “one-sort,” but the costermongers use it to imply anything that is bad.
WAR-RAB, a barrow.
WEDGE, a Jew.
YAD, a day; YADS, days.
YADNAB, brandy.
YENEP, a penny.
YENEP-A-TIME, penny each time,—term in betting.
YENEP-FLATCH, three halfpence,—all the halfpence and pennies continue in the same sequence.
YAP-POO, pay up.
YEKNOD, or JERK-NOD, a donkey.
YENORK, a crown.
YOB, a boy.
ZEB, best.