In the hold

While the next person of history is picked to be presented, and because while searching for a few words I stumbled across this, enjoy a bit of : What's the meaning of this?

There are few words found in a Classical dictionary of Vulgar words. While not only explaining the meaning of these words, we are able to cast  a glimpse of the lives, the society itself and sometimes even just have a chuckle at the expressions used. Be warned about some words that might be somewhat crude.


Seamen games:

ABEL-WACKETS: Blows given on the palm of the hand wit ha twisted handkerchief, instead of a ferula. This is a jocular punishment among seamen, who sometimes play at cards for wackets, the loser suffering as many strokes as he has lost games. ( In the old days of sail , a very popular forecastle game - the word was absolete by 1883)

AMBASSADOR: A trick to duck some ignorant fellow or landsman, frequently played aboard ships in warm latitudes. It is played thus: A large tub is filled with water, and two stools are placed on each side of it. A tarpawlin or an old sail is thrown over the whole. This is kept tight by two persons, who are to represent the king and queen of a foreign country, and are seated on the stools. The person intended to be ducked plays the ambassador, and after repeating a ridiculous speech dictated to him, is led in great form to the throne, and seated between the king and the queen. They rise suddenly as soon as he is seated, so he falls backwards in the tub of water.

ARTHUR, KING: A game used at sea, when near the line, or in a hot latitude. It is played thus: A man who is to represent the King Arthur, ridiculously dressed, having a large wig, made out of oakum or of some old swabs, is seated on the side, or over a large vessel of water. Every person in his turn is to be ceremoniously introduced to him, and to pour a bucket of water over him, crying: "Hail, King Arthur!" If during this ceremony a person introduced smiles or laughs (to which his majesty endevours to excite him in all manners of ridiculous gesticulations) , he changes place and becomes the new King Arthur.

Thieves:

ABRAM COVE: A cant word among thieves, signifying a naked or poor man: Also a lusty, strong rogue.

ADAM TILER: A pickpocket's associate, who receives the stolen goods and runs off with them.

AMUSE, TO: To fling dust or snuff in the eyes of the person intended to be robbed; also to invent some plausible tale to delude shopkeepers and others, there by to put them of their guard.

AMUSERS: The rogues who carried snuff or dust in their pockets, which they threw into the eyes of the persons they intended to rob. They ran away, while  their accomplices, pretending to pity and assist the half-blinded person, took the opportunity of plundering him.

ANABAPTIST: A pickpocket who was caught in the fact, and punished by the pump or the horse-pond.

ANGLERS: Petty thieves or pilferers, who used a stick which had a hook at the end and with it stole goods out of shop windows, grates, etc.

ARCH ROGUE: (DIMBER DAMBER UPRIGHT MAN) The chief of a gang of thieves or gypsies.

ARCH DELL, DOXY: The same in rank as the chief of a gang, among the female canters or gypsies.

ARK RUFFIANS: Rogues, who, in conjunction with watermen, robbed, and sometimes murdered on the water, by picking a quarrel with the passengers in a boat, bordering it, plundering, stripping and throwing them overboard.

AUTEM DIVERS: Pickpockets who practice in churches; also churchwardens and overseers of the poor.

AUTEM MORT: A female beggar with several children hired or borrowed to excite charity. (also a married woman)

AVOIR DU POIS LAY: Stealing brass weights of the counters of shops.

BADGERS: A crew of desperate villians, who robbed near the rivers in which they threw the bodies of those they murdered.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER: Rogues of the same gang.

BLACK ART: The art of picking a lock.

BLUE PIDGEONS: Thieves who steal lead of houses and churches.

BOARDING SCHOOL: Bridewell, Newgate, or any other prison or house of correction.

BOB: A shoplifter's assistant, or one that receives and carries off goods.

CLICK, TO: To snatch, to catch, to snatch away.

FOOT PADS: Robbers who rob on foot.

FORK: A pickpocket. (To fork, to pick sb pocket)

FOYST: A pickpocket, cheat or rogue. (To foyst, to pick sb. pocket)

FREE BOOTERS: Lawless robbers and plunderers, originally soldiers who served without pay, for the privilege plundering the enemy.

WAGGON LAY: Waiting in the street to rob wagons going out or coming into town, both commonly happening in the dark.

WIPER DRAWER: A pickpocket who steals handkerchiefs.


Drunkenness and its vices:

ADMIRAL OF THE NARROW SEAS: One who from drunkenness vomits into the lap of the person sitting opposite him.

ACCOUNTS, TO CAST UP ONE'S: To vomit.

ALTITUDES, THE MAN IN HIS: A man who is drunk.

BARN MOUSE, BIT BY A: Tipsy, probably from an allusion to barley.

BARREL FEVER, DIED OF: He killed himself by drinking.

BINGO BOY: A dram drinker.

BINGO: Brandy or other spirituous liqour.

BLACK EYE, giving the bottle a: Drinking it almost up.

BOOSE: Drink,  the modern form of the word appeared in 1714.

BOOSEY: Drunk.

BUBBER: A drinking bowl, a great drinker. Also, a thief that steals plate from public houses.

CLEAR, to be: To be drunk.

FOXED: Intoxicated.

HOCKEY: Drunk with strong stale beer.

SHITTING THROUGH THE TEETH: Vomiting.

SHOOT THE CAT, to (catting): To vomit from the excess of liquor.


Other:

ABRAM MEN: Pretend mad men. IN 18th and 19th century the term is used for the beggars who pretended that they were old naval ratings, cast on the streets when their services were finished with.

ADDLE PLOT: A spoilsport, a mar-all.

ALL HOLLOW: It was a decided thing from the beginning.

BACK GAMMON PLAYER, (Also a gentleman of the back door): Sodomite

BALLUM RANCUM: A hop or dance where the women are all prostitutes. The company dance in their birth-day suits.

BATTLE-ROYAL: A battle or bout at cudgels or fisty-cuffs, where more than two persons are engaged. Also a battle between three, five or seven cocks, of which the one standing is deemed winner.

BELL SWAGGER: A noisy bullying fellow.

BLACK MONDAY: The first day of school after holidays or, in 17th century Navy the Monday in which the ship boys have received the beatings accumulated during the week.

BOB TAIL: An impotent man, an eunuch, a lewd woman that plays with her tail.

BOOTS: The youngest officer in a regimental mess, whose duty it is to skink - stir fire -, snuff the candles, and ring the bell.

FOOT WARBLER: A contemptuous expression referring to a foot soldier as used by the cavalry.

HISTORY OF THE FOUR KINGS (Child's best guide to the gallows) : A deck of cards. ( He studies the .... - he plays much at cards.)

HOBBERDEHOY: Neither boy nor yet a man.

HOCKING , HOUGHING: A piece of cruelty practiced by the butchers of Dublin on soldiers, where the Achilles tendon was cut.


Society and parts of body:

ANKLE, TO SPRAIN one's ANKLE: A girl was said to have sprained her ankle, when she was got with child.

APPLE DUMPLIN SHOP: A Woman's bossom.

ARBOR VITAE: a man's penis.

BAWBELS, BAWBLES Trinkets, a man's testicles

 BEARD SPLITTER: A man much given to wenching

BELLOWS : Lungs.

BLABBER, BONE BOX: Mouth.

BOWSPRIT: The nose, because it's the the most projecting part on a human.

TO BOX THE JESUIT, GET COCK ROACHES: A sea term for masturbation.

BREAD BASKET: The Stomach. (Used by boxers).

CLACK: The tongue, usually used for women.

HOCKS: Vulgar word for feet.

SIR REVERENCE: Human excrement.

WHORE - PIPE: The penis.

ZNEES: Frost or frozen.

ZOC (soc) : A blow. 18th,19th century to give one sock, meant give one a thorough beating or trashing.