1811 dictionary of the vulgar tongue: a dictionary of buckish slang, university wit, and pickpocket eloquence

Article number 10124769

Unabridged from the original 1811 edition. 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. A DICTIONARY OF Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence. An entertaining insight into the slang, wit and humor of late 18th and early 19th century England, when a "Flybottomist" was a school teacher, a "Carrion Hunter" an undertaker, and a "Buttock Broker" a matchmaker. Many words had different meanings then—"High Living" meant "to lodge in a garret or cockloft," a "Faggot" was a stand-in soldier and, with special apologies to today's feminists, "To Lib" meant "to lie together." And, believe it or not, a "Pig" was a policeman. "Let me say that it is great fun to read through, or browse in, this gathering of words from long ago. They will delight and instruct you, shock and intrigue you, titillate and anger you, but they will not bore you. For this we owe Capt. Grose—and 'Hell-Fire Dick'—a loud huzzah." —Bob Cromie, The Chicago Tribune