A Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1811

Some selections from A Dictionary in the Vulgar Tongue, by Francis Grose, 1811. Just the thing for spicing up the dialogue in your next Regency novel, perhaps while the lovers are slumming, or while the heroine is being held captive by pirates.

APPLE DUMPLIN SHOP. A woman's bosom.

ARBOR VITAE. A man's penis.

ARCH ROGUE, DIMBER DAMBER UPRIGHT MAN. The chief of a gang of thieves or gypsies.

ARCH DELL, or ARCH DOXY, signifies the same in rank among the female canters or gypsies.

ARTHUR, KING ARTHUR, A game used at sea, when near the line, or in a hot latitude. It is performed thus: A man who is to represent king Arthur, ridiculously dressed, having a large wig made out of oakum, or 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 the person introduced laughs or smiles (to which his majesty endeavours to excite him, by all sorts of ridiculous gesticulations), he changes place with, and then becomes, king Arthur, till relieved by some brother tar, who has as little command over his muscles as himself.

ARTICLE. A wench. A prime article. A handsome girl.

BAGGAGE. Heavy baggage; women and children. Also a familiar epithet for a woman; as, cunning baggage, wanton baggage, etc.

BALDERDASH. Adulterated wine.

BENE. Good—BENAR. Better.

BENE BOWSE. Good beer, or other strong liquor.

BENE COVE. A good fellow.

BENE DARKMANS. Goodnight.

BENESHIPLY. Worshipfully.

NORWAY NECKCLOTH. The pillory, usually made of Norway fir.

OWLERS. Those who smuggle wool over to France.

QUEER, or QUIRE. Base, roguish, bad, naught or worthless. How queerly the cull touts; how roguishly the fellow looks. It also means odd, uncommon.

QUEER AS DICK'S HATBAND. Out of order, without knowing one's disease.

QUEER BIRDS. Rogues relieved from prison, and returned to their old trade.

QUEER COVE. A rogue.

QUEER CUFFIN. A justice of the peace; also a churl.

QUEER KEN. A prison.

QUEER KICKS. A bad pair of breeches.

QUEER MORT. A diseased strumpet.

QUEER NAB. A felt hat, or other bad hat.

QUEER PLUNGERS. Cheats who throw themselves into the water, in order that they may be taken up by their accomplices, who carry them to one of the houses appointed by the Humane Society for the recovery of drowned persons, where they are rewarded by the society with a guinea each; and the supposed drowned persons, pretending he was driven to that extremity by great necessity, also frequently sent away with a contribution in his pocket.

QUEER ROOSTER. An informer that pretends to be sleeping,and thereby overhears the conversation of thieves in night cellars.

QUEER STREET. Wrong. Improper. Contrary to one's wish. It is queer street, a cant phrase, to signify that it is wrong or different to our wish.

SPICE ISLANDS. A privy.

SURVEYOR OF THE HIGHWAYS. One reeling drunk.

WAGTAIL. A lewd woman.

WATER BEWITCHED. Very weak punch or beer.

WATER-MILL. A woman's private parts.