GLOSSARY OF THE RHYMING SLANG.
Reading edition
ABRAHAM’S WILLING, a shilling.
ALACOMPAIN, rain.
ALL AFLOAT, a coat.
ANY RACKET, a penny faggot.
APPLES AND PEARS, stairs.
ARTFUL DODGER, a lodger.
ARTICHOKE RIPE, smoke a pipe.
BABY PAPS, caps.
BARNET FAIR, hair.
BATTLE OF THE NILE, a tile—vulgar term for a hat.
BEN FLAKE, a steak.
BILLY BUTTON, mutton.
BIRCH BROOM, a room.
BIRD LIME, time.
BOB, MY PAL, a gal,—vulgar pronunciation of girl.
BONNETS SO BLUE, Irish stew.
BOTTLE OF SPRUCE, a deuce,—slang for twopence.
BOWL THE HOOP, soup.
BRIAN O’LINN, gin.
BROWN BESS, yes—the affirmative.
BROWN JOE, no—the negative.
BULL AND COW, a row.
BUSHY PARK, a lark.
BUTTER FLAP, a cap.
CAIN AND ABEL, a table.
CAMDEN TOWN, a brown,—vulgar term for a halfpenny.
CASTLE RAG, a flag,—slang term for fourpence.
CAT AND MOUSE, a house.
CHALK FARM, the arm.
CHARING CROSS, a horse.
CHARLEY LANCASTER, a handkercher,—vulgar pronunciation of handkerchief.
CHARLEY PRESCOTT, waistcoat.
CHERRY RIPE, a pipe.
CHEVY CHASE, the face.
CHUMP (OR CHUNK) OF WOOD, no good.
COW AND CALF, to laugh.
COVENT GARDEN, a farden,—Cockney pronunciation of farthing.
COWS AND KISSES, mistress or missus—referring to the ladies.
CURRANTS AND PLUMS, thrums,—slang for threepence.
DAISY RECROOTS (so spelt by my informant of Seven Dials; he means, doubtless, recruits), a pair of boots.
DAN TUCKER, butter.
DING DONG, a song.
DRY LAND, you understand.
DUKE OF YORK, take a walk.
EAST AND SOUTH, a mouth.
EAT A FIG, to “crack a crib,” to break into a house, or commit a burglary.
EGYPTIAN HALL, a ball.
ELEPHANT’S TRUNK, drunk.
EPSOM RACES, a pair of braces.
EVERTON TOFFEE, coffee.
FANNY BLAIR, the hair.
FILLET OF VEAL, the treadwheel, house of correction.
FINGER AND THUMB, rum.
FLAG UNFURLED, a man of the world.
FLEA AND LOUSE, a bad house.
FLOUNDER AND DAB (two kinds of flat fish), a cab.
FLY MY KITE, a light.
FROG AND TOAD, the main road.
GARDEN GATE, a magistrate.
GERMAN FLUTES, a pair of boots.
GIRL AND BOY, a saveloy,—a penny sausage.
GLORIOUS SINNER, a dinner.
GODDESS DIANA (pronounced DIANER), a tanner,—sixpence.
GOOSEBERRY PUDDING (vulgo PUDDEN), a woman.
HANG BLUFF, snuff.
HOD OF MORTAR, a pot of porter.
HOUNSLOW HEATH, teeth.
I DESIRE, a fire.
I’M AFLOAT, a boat.
ISLE OF FRANCE, a dance.
ISABELLA (vulgar pronunciation, ISABELLER), an umbrella.
I SUPPOSE, the nose.
JACK DANDY, brandy.
JACK RANDALL (a noted pugilist), a candle.
JENNY LINDER, a winder,—vulgar pronunciation of window.
JOE SAVAGE, a cabbage.
LATH AND PLASTER, a master.
LEAN AND LURCH, a church.
LEAN AND FAT, a hat.
LINENDRAPER, paper.
LIVE EELS, fields.
LOAD OF HAY, a day.
LONG ACRE, a baker.
LONG ACRE, a newspaper. See the preceding.
LORD JOHN RUSSELL, a bustle.
LORD LOVEL, a shovel.
LUMP OF COKE, a bloak,—slang term for a man.
LUMP OF LEAD, the head.
MACARONI, a pony.
MAIDS A DAWNING (I suppose my informant means maids adorning), the morning.
MAIDSTONE JAILOR, a tailor.
MINCE PIES, the eyes.
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, water.
MUFFIN BAKER, a Quaker.
NAVIGATORS, taturs,—vulgar pronunciation of potatoes.
NAVIGATOR SCOT, baked potatoes all hot.
NEEDLE AND THREAD, bread.
NEVER FEAR, a pint of beer.
NIGHT AND DAY, go to the play.
NOSE AND CHIN, a winn,—ancient cant for a penny.
NOSE-MY, backy,—vulgar pronunciation of tobacco.
OATS AND BARLEY, Charley.
OATS AND CHAFF, a footpath.
ORINOKO (pronounced ORINOKER), a poker.
OVER THE STILE, sent for trial.
PADDY QUICK, thick; or, a stick.
PEN AND INK, a stink.
PITCH AND FILL, Bill,—vulgar shortening for William.
PLATE OF MEAT, a street.
PLOUGH THE DEEP, to go to sleep.
PUDDINGS AND PIES, the eyes.
READ OF TRIPE (?), transported for life.
READ AND WRITE, to fight.
READ AND WRITE, flight.—See preceding.
RIVER LEA, tea.
ROGUE AND VILLAIN, a shillin,—common pronunciation of shilling.
RORY O’MORE, the floor.
ROUND THE HOUSES, trouses,—vulgar pronunciation of trousers.
SALMON TROUT, the mouth.
SCOTCH PEG, a leg.
SHIP IN FULL SAIL, a pot of ale.
SIR WALTER SCOTT, a pot,—of beer.
SLOOP OF WAR, a whore.
SNAKE IN THE GRASS, a looking glass.
SORROWFUL TALE, three months in jail.
SPLIT ASUNDER, a costermonger.
SPLIT PEA, tea.
SPORT AND WIN, Jim.
STEAM PACKET, a jacket.
ST. MARTINS-LE-GRAND, the hand.
STOP THIEF, beef.
SUGAR AND HONEY, money.
SUGAR CANDY, brandy.
TAKE A FRIGHT, night.
THREE QUARTERS OF A PECK, the neck,—in writing, expressed by the simple “¾.”
THROW ME IN THE DIRT, a shirt.
TOMMY O’RANN, scran,—vulgar term for food.
TOM TRIPE, a pipe.
TOM RIGHT, night.
TOP JINT (vulgar pronunciation of joint), a pint,—of beer.
TOP OF ROME, home.
TURTLE DOVES, a pair of gloves.
TWO FOOT RULE, a fool.
WIND DO TWIRL, a fine girl.