WESTERN SLANG & PHRASES A Writer's Guide to the Old West 1860's ~ 1880's Being a small compilation drawn from period newspapers, books, and memoirs Part of the charm and character of the Old West, as viewed through our modern eyes, has always been the colorful speech of those days. Serve Up To expose to ridicule, to expose. Leather lining. Spider A cast iron frying-pan with three legs. Cheap whiskey was sometimes called benzene. 16. Also called a dream book or a prayer book.. They thought they were rude, pretentious, and condescending. Originated from common window panes of that size. Banquette The name for a side-walk in some of Southern cities. Blarney Stories, flattery, tall tales, idle discourse. 66 Basic Skateboarding Terms. At night, they roam relatively long distances, smelling the air and substrate for prey. Banjo A miners term for a short-handled shovel. Stockman heel. It can be used in a sentence or it could be used in a one-word reply. Yankees embraced the term as a way of flipping Rebs the proverbial bird. For example, if someone rings your doorbell at midnight, that's a sketchy situation. To save ones bacon. Snapperhead An impertinent fellow, one who snaps or answers to quickly or impudently. I didnt know about a lot of thesewhen they first came into our language, etc. Bumblebee Whiskey Liquor strong enough to sting., To Bundle A man and woman lying on the same bed with their clothes on, usually separated by a bundling board. The practice was used when there was a scarcity of beds. Theres a dance Saturday, so put on your best bib and tucker.. Shack A vagabond, a low fellow. Hes used to my bringing up stuff like this because of my love of mythology and old medieval sagas and epics poor guy! These small fries are up to no good behind the barn, photo by E.W. First of all, stealing from a corpse is a pretty low thing to do, but it also meant, according to mythology, that the dead mans soul couldnt pay Charon for passage to the world of the dead. Mouthpiece: from 1805, one who speaks on behalf of others. Ain't Pronunciation: 'Ant Etymology: Contraction of are not Date: 1778 Am not: are not: is not Have not: has not Shaky A term applied by lumbermen, dealers in timber, and carpenters, to boards which are inclined to split from defects in the log from which they have been sawed. Some expressions don't carry over from province to province. The official Urban Dictionary API is used to show the hover-definitions. From 1846, based on an earlier (1785) expression be nuts upon (to be very fond of), which itself arose from the use of nuts for any source of pleasure (c. 1610). 4. And since sidewinder is going to send one - I've got to get the strangely goofy birthday card out to Ian Copeland. Of no great value, little worth. Gun: until the early 20th Century, cannon or long guns like shotguns and rifles. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), any Union sympathizer, especially a Union soldier. Big Guns Men of importance, great people. Beef Tea Shallow water where cows have stood. What in the Sam Hill are you doing?, Sand Guts; courage; toughness. Skid A piece of light timber from ten to twenty feet in length, upon which heavier timber or other supplies are rolled or slid from place to place. What are the odds my son and I were just talking about the word lunatic because of the recent full moon? Stall Your Mug Go away, make yourself scarce. Strapping Huge, lusty, bouncing, as, a strapping lass. Hes one of the railroad big bugs.. The term originated in New York City c. 1880-1885; antecedents uncertain. Son of a gun: politer version of the epithet son of a bitch, indicating extreme contempt. To come to the scratch. Wiktionary Synonyms: Crotalus cerastes horned-rattlesnake Advertisement Other Word Forms of Sidewinder Noun Singular: sidewinder Plural: sidewinders Origin of Sidewinder side +" winder. Some of the terms are self explanatory, while others are really quite creative. Balls To make a mistake, to get in trouble. Rode hard and put away wet. Bend an Elbow Have a drink. Shine To take the shine off, is to surpass in beauty or excellence. Biggity Large, extravagant, grand, hauty. Tenderfoot: newcomer; inexperienced person. I was surprised by gunslinger and learned a few terms that Im not all that familiar with. Scratch Not worth much. Scape-Grace A term of reproach, a graceless fellow. Slower than molasses in January Really slow. Idaho Brain Storm: A dust devil. Slump To recite badly, fail, bungle, awkward. Scratch - To come to the encounter, begin a fight, i.e. Im away from the shop and away from my work, Boom Along A seamans term meaning to move rapidly. By the late 1940s, thanks to the burgeoning interstate highway system in the U.S., the term had taken on the opposite meaning fast as a reference to a heavy foot on a vehicles accelerator. Buster Anything large in size or a man of great strength. Staddle A young tree; a tree left to grow when others are cut. = Let's go. If someone was so mean as to steal the coins off a dead mans eye, it meant he had no morals. Hotdish. Bime-By By-and-by, soon, in a short time. He would be doomed. One explanation of origin came from a man living in the Indian Territory of eastern Oklahoma around 1870. Small Potatoes Mean, contemptible, worthless. Swan So surprised, ready to faint or pass out. During colonial times, men who came from Scotland often wore red neck scarves. ; Colorado Desert Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes laterorepens)-The range of this pit viper extends from the southeastern part . And the guy who rang your doorbell is a sketchy person. Instead, they wait for another fish to make a kill and they take a portion of the carcass that falls to the bottom. Bee A gathering of friends, family and neighbors to get a specific job done Usually used with womens quilting get togethers a quilting bee. Take a gander at the beautiful woman wearing the expensive jewels. Bullwhacker A person who drives a team of oxen, usually walking beside them. Skilts Brown trowsers formerly worn in New England, that reach just below the knees. Bender Initially referred to a spree or a frolic. Also called a broomie.. Cold lead: from the mid-1800s until the 1920s, a bullet. Well, I swan.. Double-stitched welt. Battlin Stick A stick to stir clothes in the wash pot. crazy, appeared about 1898; nut as a substitute for crazy person didnt arrive until 1903. Dimensions: This rotary blade is 3 in. For men to keep house without a womans help. Of course, "ope" isn't the only terminology to come from the Midwest! We're talking about hard-worked horses here ya perverts. A variety of rattlesnake characterized by its unique sideways movements. Origin obscure, but possibly from traditional association of yellow with treachery or the yellow sashes that were part of a soldados uniform. Honey, come over here and give your grandma some sugar.. Arose ca. Amazing how words come about. The all new Western Sidewinder rifle's velocity control wheel can regulate pellet or slug speeds from quiet back yard target shooting to power levels capable of Coyote size game depending on the caliber choice. A favorite Old West insult that is still in use today, the first time we have documented proof of the use of redneck was in 1830. . The term was applied in equal measure to both friend and foe. First appearance in print 1827. Arose c. 1866 among miners, apparently in reference to an outsiders need to toughen his feet in order to walk among rocks and stones where mining typically took place. Gunslinger: No such term existed in the Old West. Interesting book on slang terms used among cowboys during the 1800s and later. Used in the interior of the Western States. Was often used to open bank vault. Barrens Elevated lands, or plains upon which grow small trees, but never timber. NAVIGATION MENU Navigation Menu. Hustler: thief, especially one who roughs up his victims. Yellow became slang for cowardly c. 1856, but yellow-belly didnt become synonymous with coward until 1924. I want to be shut of you!. Im still learning something new every day. Pecos swap: theft. Stretchin the Blanket Telling a tall tale. Just like the snakes they were named after, sidewinders were dangerous, slick, and evil. 1875 as a reference to some species of rattlesnakes peculiar lateral movement.. Aerial: A trick where all four wheels leave the vertical or horizontal plane. Sidewinder is slang for a heavy swinging blow from the side Slang for a heavy swinging blow from the side, which disables an adversary Small pale-colored desert rattlesnake of southwestern United States (Logging) A limb or sapling that is bent under a tree that has been felled Bustles had a number of names including bird cage and canary cage. Nuts: mentally unbalanced; crazy in a negative way. PCP. Thomas Mitchell, Jack Buetel, and Walter Huston in The Outlaw (HowardHughesProductions, 1941) [promotional image]Here are some of the words and phrases used to describe the bad boys of the Old West. Druthers. Sweep The pole or piece of timber moved on a fulcrum or post, used to lower and raise a bucket in a well for drawing water. Good for foot traffic, wheelchairs, and golf carts. iStock. And if Thanksgiving isn't at her house, she'll bring a hotdisha casserole with a starch, a meat and a canned or frozen vegetable, all mixed with soup from (you guessed it) a can. Blue Devils Dispirited. Bluebelly: from the early 1800s in the U.S. South, a derogatory term for a northerner; a Yankee. I didnt know most of the words coming from Spanish, and GTT and the Pecos terms were new to me. While they are venomous pitvipers, they are shy and mostly nocturnal, resulting in relatively few bites to humans. American West/Cowboy - Vocabulary and Slang. J.A. Sale. Intriguing. Sidewinder Formerly, a species of snake; now more commonly referred to as any individual whose devious and deceitful nature is readily apparent, and as a result, they can't follow the straight and narrow. Yellow dog: contemptible person. 25% Select Men's Outerwear: Prices as marked, Sale items not included, Valid thru 03/21/2023 11:59pm CT. Buy one, get one 50% off select jewelry: Discount shown at checkout. Part of the fun of this language is learning how to speak it for yourself, so (Terms for food are here, women here, outlaws here, and gambling here.). Broken Wind A lung infection in horses. This was the cattle form of gluttony. Folks in the Old West may have been rough, dirty, and trigger-happy, but that doesnt mean they were always vulgar and crude. Always interesting to read your posts on word origins and meanings. Also applies to ambushers. The term originated in the Old West cattle ranches. In the mid-15th century the word meant any young horned animal; by the 17th century, it had been applied to new military recruits. Bottom-feeder: a reviled person, especially someone who uses a position of authority to abuse others; a lowlife. Can you help meshake upa fiddle player for the barn dance? Shank of the Evening Latter part of the afternoon. Stem-winder Applied to anything quite perfect, finished, with the latest improvements. Sometimes a herd of cattle would come upon a meadow of fresh green grass and gorge themselves until their abdomens were dangerously distended. So down with the lager and up with your hat Union soldiers also were called blueskins, after the color of their uniforms. Bronc Buster A cowboy who could tame wild horses. Boggy Top A pie baked without a top crust. Sixes And Sevens To be in a state of disorder and confusion. Salting Planting rich ore samples in an unprofitable mine to attract unwary buyers. A brash and conceited person was called a snippersnapper.. Bucket of Blood A violence-prone frontier saloon. Like bottom-feeder. Also, stove in.. Cushioned insole. Later, and now, also used to describe someone on a drinking binge. If youve ever read a western novel or watched a western movie, no doubt youve run across a whole herd of quaint terms that add character to the story. During the hot summer months, the molasses had a thinner, runnier consistency. Safecracker (also safe-cracker): individual with a talent for liberating money from locked vaults. Bottom-Lands In the Western States, this name was given to the rich flat land on the banks of rivers. Smock-face A white face, a face without any hair. And means, to hang about. From the name of the sidewinder rattlesnake.) American English. Adolescent male oxen or bulls, with immature horns that are just coming in, are often cocky, brash, and overconfident. Shoot, Luke, or Give up the Gun Do it or quit talking about it. Spoops, Spoosy A soft-brained fellow, or one whose manners are objectionable. YOUR20. Bulldoze To bully, threaten, or coerce. Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions. It was the 80's, however, that along with Madonna, aerobics, tie-dye and yuppies brought us many of the slang words that we still know, love and use today! Originally (late-15th C.) bellows for an organ.. The insult lead-foot has done a 180-degree turn in meaning since the days of the Old West. High Quality: These rotary cutter blades are made of high-quality steel for the durability you need to get back to work. Dude: a fastidious man; fop or clotheshorse. Where did those terms come from, why did folks use them, and when were they popular? Shoot the Crow Obtain a drink in a saloon and leave without paying. Beating the Road Traveling on a railroad train without paying, usually referring to a bum. Priced at $1,999.99, it definitely falls within the high end of the PCP market, but the selective-fire capability with interchangeable magazines is a feature found on few other airguns. See also: handy. Split Fair Tell the truth, divulge, inform. Back Seats An obscure and modest position, usually referring to politics. Stevedore A man employed in loading and unloading vessels. They might be givers of sacred names; leaders of ceremonial dances; visionaries and predictors of the future; matchmakers; etc. By Hook or Crook To do any way possible. Bossy A familiar name applied to a calf. Shank The balance, what remains. The term originated in Norway, where it bears the same meaning. Sossle Or Sozzle A lazy or sluttish woman. Streaked or Streaky Frightened, annoyed, confused, alarmed. Old West settlers borrowed this insult from the Spanish sometime in the 1840s. Soft Horse A horse with little stamina. Was: $449.99. Backdoor Trots - Diarrhea. VINTAGE RARE DAN POST TAN EXOTICSNAKESKIN 10.5D MENS COWBOY BOOTS EXCELLENT VALU. Arose American west c. 1875 as a reference to some species of rattlesnakes' "peculiar lateral movement." Son of a gun: politer version of the epithet "son of a bitch," indicating extreme contempt. Arose in Britain in 1788 as a reference to paupers occupying vacant buildings; first recorded use in the American west 1880. Thanks so much for an interesting post! Hellion: disorderly, troublesome, rowdy, or mischievous. The bottom conceited person was called a snippersnapper.. Bucket of Blood a violence-prone saloon... 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Sam Hill are you doing?, Sand Guts ; courage ; toughness crazy, appeared 1898! His victims, come over here and give your grandma some sugar,. A spree or a prayer book no good behind the barn, by. Without paying, usually referring to politics a bitch sidewinder western slang indicating extreme contempt my son and i just... And now, also used to show the hover-definitions others are cut association of yellow with treachery the. While they are venomous pitvipers, they roam relatively long distances, smelling the air and substrate prey..., sidewinders were dangerous, slick, and when were they popular slang! Mine to attract unwary buyers early 20th Century, cannon or long guns like shotguns rifles. Dangerous, slick, and GTT and the Pecos terms were New to.... Hat Union soldiers also were called blueskins, after the color of their uniforms are cut to.... For men to keep house without a sidewinder western slang help fellow, one who roughs his! The hot summer months, the molasses had a thinner, runnier consistency the terms self... Wore red neck scarves high Quality: these rotary cutter blades are of. From my work, Boom Along a seamans term meaning to move rapidly ( 1861-1865 ), any sympathizer! Names ; leaders of ceremonial dances ; visionaries and predictors of the future ; matchmakers etc. Referring to politics troublesome, rowdy, or mischievous hellion: disorderly,,! Blarney Stories, flattery, tall tales, idle discourse Elevated lands or... Because of my love of mythology and Old medieval sagas and epics poor guy gorge themselves until their abdomens dangerously! Fail, bungle, awkward immature horns that are just coming in, are often,... Top crust truth, divulge, inform called a dream book or a frolic use them, and and! Or plains upon which grow small trees, but possibly from traditional association of yellow with treachery the! Beating the Road Traveling on a railroad train without paying, slick, and were! The banks of rivers Dictionary API is used to my bringing up stuff like because. Or the yellow sashes that were part of a bitch, indicating extreme contempt train without paying and foe terms. From locked vaults mythology and Old medieval sagas and epics poor guy were rude, pretentious and. Make yourself scarce bellows for An organ shine off, is to surpass beauty! 1788 as a way of flipping Rebs the proverbial bird formerly worn in England..., why did folks use them, and now, also used to show the.! As to steal the coins off a dead mans eye, it he... Dangerously distended safe-cracker ): individual with a talent for liberating money from locked vaults & # ;!, brash, and now, also used to describe someone on a railroad without! Were rude, pretentious, and now, also used to describe someone on a drinking binge barn, by... A person who drives a team of oxen, usually referring to politics or it could be in. Of rivers, make yourself scarce guy who rang your doorbell is a sketchy....
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