Talk the Talk: A Complete Guide to Victorian Slang

Step back in time and immerse yourself in the vibrant linguistic landscape of the Victorian era! While powdered wigs and corsets might be relics of the past, the colorful slang of the 19th century continues to fascinate. This guide will equip you with the vocabulary and understanding to confidently converse (or at least comprehend) like a true Victorian.

Why Learn Victorian Slang?

Beyond the sheer fun of it, understanding Victorian slang offers several benefits:

* **Enhanced Historical Understanding:** Slang provides a window into the everyday lives, social anxieties, and humor of the Victorian people. It reveals nuances that formal historical accounts often miss.
* **Deeper Appreciation of Literature:** Encountering slang in Victorian novels and plays becomes far more rewarding when you understand its meaning and context. Authors like Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde sprinkled their works with slang to add realism and wit.
* **Impress Your Friends:** Let’s be honest, dropping a well-placed piece of Victorian slang is a guaranteed conversation starter. Imagine casually referring to a windy day as a “muffin worrier!”
* **Creative Inspiration:** Victorian slang is wonderfully imaginative and can spark creativity in your own writing and speech.

Getting Started: A Victorian Slang Primer

Before diving into specific categories, let’s establish a basic understanding of Victorian slang.

* **Sources of Slang:** Victorian slang originated from various sources, including:
* **Theatrical circles:** The stage was a breeding ground for new expressions.
* **Criminal underworld:** Thieves and con artists developed their own coded language.
* **Working class:** Everyday laborers and factory workers created slang to describe their experiences.
* **Public schools and universities:** Students invented terms for pranks, professors, and social situations.
* **Evolution of Slang:** Like all slang, Victorian slang was constantly evolving. Terms would rise in popularity, fade away, and sometimes reappear with new meanings.
* **Regional Variations:** Slang differed across regions, particularly between London and other parts of England. This guide will focus primarily on London slang, as it was the most widely documented.

A Guide to Victorian Slang Categories

Now, let’s explore some key categories of Victorian slang, complete with definitions and examples.

1. Describing People

The Victorians had a knack for colorful characterizations. Here are some choice terms for describing individuals:

* **Anonyma:** (Noun) A woman who is known by name but whose identity is unknown (usually in a disreputable context). Often used in connection with advertisements placed in newspapers.
* *Example:* “Have you seen the ‘Anonyma’ advertisement in the Times today? I wonder who she could be?”
* **Bag of mystery:** (Noun) A person of unknown qualities or background; something obscure or incomprehensible.
* *Example:* “That new fellow at the office is a real bag of mystery; no one knows where he came from.”
* **Bags o’ mystery:** (Noun) Sausages. Rhyming slang for mystery bags, referring to the unknown contents of cheap sausages. This highlights the often dubious quality of food available to the working class.
* *Example:* “Fancy some bags o’ mystery for supper tonight?”
* **Beeswaxer:** (Noun) A shoemaker.
* *Example:* “The beeswaxer is taking a long time to fix my boots.”
* **Blazer:** (Noun) A flashy person, or someone wearing a brightly coloured jacket.
* *Example:* “Look at that blazer showing off his new waistcoat!”
* **Bonce:** (Noun) The head.
* *Example:* “He took a knock to the bonce during the scuffle.”
* **Brass nail:** (Noun) A prostitute.
* *Example:* “He’s always hanging around with those brass nails.”
* **Butter upon bacon:** (Noun) Extravagance; something that is unnecessary and over the top.
* *Example:* “Buying that new carriage is just butter upon bacon, we can’t afford it!”
* **Cad:** (Noun) A vulgar or ill-mannered man.
* *Example:* “That fellow is a complete cad; he has no respect for women.”
* **Chaffer:** (Noun) A chatterer; someone who talks incessantly.
* *Example:* “That old chaffer never stops gossiping!”
* **Cheese-eater:** (Noun) A simpleton; someone easily fooled.
* *Example:* “Don’t be such a cheese-eater; you’ll believe anything!”
* **Chirper:** (Noun) A cheerful person.
* *Example:* “She’s always a chirper, no matter what the weather is like.”
* **Clyfaker:** (Noun) A pickpocket.
* *Example:* “Watch out for that clyfaker near the market stalls!”
* **Costermonger:** (Noun) A street seller of fruit and vegetables. A common sight in Victorian London, costermongers were known for their distinctive cries and often lived in poverty.
* *Example:* “The costermonger is selling fresh apples today.”
* **Crusher:** (Noun) A policeman. A common term still used today.
* *Example:* “Here comes a crusher; better watch what we’re doing.”
* **Duffer:** (Noun) A fool or an incompetent person.
* *Example:* “He’s such a duffer; he can’t even boil an egg!”
* **Dustman:** (Noun) A garbage collector.
* *Example:* “The dustman comes around early in the morning.”
* **Fawney rigger:** (Noun) A swindler who tricks people with fake jewelry.
* *Example:* “Beware of the fawney rigger selling cheap trinkets!”
* **Gamp:** (Noun) An umbrella, especially a large and unwieldy one, named after a character in Charles Dickens’ *Martin Chuzzlewit*.
* *Example:* “Don’t forget your gamp; it looks like it’s going to rain.”
* **Gammon:** (Noun) Nonsense or humbug; insincere talk.
* *Example:* “Don’t give me that gammon; I know you’re lying!”
* **Goon:** (Noun) A thief.
* *Example:* “That goon tried to snatch my purse!”
* **Greenhorn:** (Noun) A naive or inexperienced person.
* *Example:* “He’s a greenhorn in the city; he doesn’t know his way around.”
* **Grumbletonian:** (Noun) A constant complainer.
* *Example:* “Don’t be such a Grumbletonian; try to look on the bright side!”
* **Guff:** (Noun) Nonsense, empty talk.
* *Example:* “Don’t listen to his guff; he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
* **Gulper:** (Noun) Someone who is easily fooled or cheated.
* *Example:* “He’s a real gulper; he’ll believe anything you tell him.”
* **Haggler:** (Noun) Someone who bargains persistently.
* *Example:* “She’s a real haggler; she always gets the best prices at the market.”
* **Half-baked:** (Adjective) Stupid or foolish.
* *Example:* “That’s a half-baked idea; it will never work!”
* **Jobbernowl:** (Noun) A blockhead; a stupid person.
* *Example:* “Don’t be such a jobbernowl!”
* **Jonah:** (Noun) A person believed to bring bad luck. Named after the biblical figure.
* *Example:* “He’s a real Jonah; everything goes wrong when he’s around.”
* **Muffin Worrier:** (Noun) A windy day.
* *Example:* “It’s a muffin worrier out there today!”
* **Nanty Narking:** (Noun) Great pleasure or fun.
* *Example:* “We had a right old Nanty Narking at the fair!”
* **Nosey Parker:** (Noun) An excessively inquisitive person.
* *Example:* “Don’t be such a Nosey Parker; it’s none of your business!”
* **Swell:** (Noun) A fashionable or upper-class person.
* *Example:* “He thinks he’s a swell just because he wears expensive clothes.”
* **Tattler:** (Noun) A gossip.
* *Example:* “She’s a terrible tattler; she tells everyone’s secrets!”
* **Vamp:** (Noun) A seductive woman who exploits men.
* *Example:* “She’s a dangerous vamp; she’ll ruin you if you let her.”

2. Describing Places

Victorian slang also painted vivid pictures of locations, from grand estates to seedy back alleys:

* **Booby hatch:** (Noun) A lunatic asylum.
* *Example:* “They sent him to the booby hatch after his breakdown.”
* **Bone orchard:** (Noun) A cemetery.
* *Example:* “He’s resting in the bone orchard now.”
* **Bridewell:** (Noun) A prison, especially one for petty offenders. Named after a famous London prison.
* *Example:* “He spent a night in Bridewell for being drunk and disorderly.”
* **Dusthole:** (Noun) A slum or a dirty, neglected place.
* *Example:* “They live in a miserable dusthole in the East End.”
* **Fleet Street:** (Noun) The centre of British journalism and newspapers.
* *Example:* “He works on Fleet Street as a reporter.”
* **Ken:** (Noun) A house or dwelling place.
* *Example:* “Let’s go back to my ken for a cup of tea.”
* **Paddington Frisk:** (Noun) A form of robbery where a gang of thieves would search and rob a drunk or sleeping person.
* *Example:* “He got the Paddington Frisk after drinking too much at the pub.”
* **Salt box:** (Noun) A prison cell.
* *Example:* “He’s locked up in the salt box for the night.”
* **St Giles:** (Noun) A notorious slum area in London, known for its poverty and crime.
* *Example:* “It’s dangerous to walk through St Giles at night.”
* **Stone Jug:** (Noun) A prison.
* *Example:* “He’s doing time in the stone jug.”
* **The Mint:** (Noun) An area in Southwark, London, that was a sanctuary for debtors.
* *Example:* “He fled to the Mint to avoid his creditors.”
* **The Smoke:** (Noun) London, referring to its smog and pollution.
* *Example:* “I’m going up to The Smoke for a visit.”

3. Describing Actions and Events

The Victorians also had their own slang for describing various activities and occurrences:

* **Blowing the gaff:** (Verb) Revealing a secret or spoiling a surprise.
* *Example:* “Don’t blow the gaff; it’s supposed to be a surprise party!”
* **Catch a weasel asleep:** (Verb) To outsmart someone who is usually very clever.
* *Example:* “He managed to catch a weasel asleep and win the game.”
* **Dibs:** (Noun) Money.
* *Example:* “I haven’t got any dibs on me.”
* **Do a bunk:** (Verb) To run away or escape.
* *Example:* “He did a bunk when he saw the police.”
* **Dry up:** (Verb) To be quiet; to stop talking.
* *Example:* “Dry up! I’m trying to read.”
* **Fag:** (Verb) To tire or exhaust someone.
* *Example:* “This work is fagging me out.”
* **Fork Out:** (Verb) To pay money.
* *Example:* “He had to fork out a lot of money for the damages.”
* **Get the mitten:** (Verb) To be rejected by a suitor.
* *Example:* “He got the mitten from her after his proposal.”
* **Go to pot:** (Verb) To decline or deteriorate.
* *Example:* “The business has gone to pot since he took over.”
* **Hook it:** (Verb) To run away or leave quickly.
* *Example:* “Let’s hook it before the police arrive.”
* **In Queer Street:** (Adjective) In financial difficulty.
* *Example:* “He’s been in Queer Street ever since he lost his job.”
* **Kick up a dust:** (Verb) To create a commotion or disturbance.
* *Example:* “He kicked up a dust when he found out about the mistake.”
* **Lark:** (Noun) A prank or a playful adventure.
* *Example:* “They went on a lark to the seaside.”
* **Lob’s Pound:** (Noun) An imaginary place of confinement.
* *Example:* “He threatened to send him to Lob’s Pound if he didn’t behave.”
* **Mind your p’s and q’s:** (Verb) To be careful about one’s behavior and language.
* *Example:* “Mind your p’s and q’s when you meet her mother.”
* **On the nail:** (Adverb) Immediately; without delay.
* *Example:* “He paid me on the nail.”
* **Paddle your own canoe:** (Verb) To be independent and self-reliant.
* *Example:* “You’ll have to paddle your own canoe in this world.”
* **Pig’s whisper:** (Noun) Very quickly.
* *Example:* “He’ll be here in a pig’s whisper.”
* **Raining cats and dogs:** (Verb) Raining very heavily.
* *Example:* “It’s raining cats and dogs outside.”
* **Screwed:** (Adjective) Drunk.
* *Example:* “He was completely screwed after the party.”
* **Take a peg down:** (Verb) To lower one’s pride or arrogance.
* *Example:* “He had to take a peg down after his failure.”
* **Toe the line:** (Verb) To obey orders or conform to expectations.
* *Example:* “You’ll have to toe the line if you want to keep your job.”
* **Turn up one’s toes:** (Verb) To die.
* *Example:* “He finally turned up his toes after a long illness.”
* **Up the spout:** (Adjective) Broken, ruined, or pawned.
* *Example:* “His watch is up the spout, he had to pawn it.”

4. Victorian Insults and Put-Downs

The Victorians were masters of subtle and not-so-subtle insults. Here are a few choice examples:

* **Barking Irons:** (Noun) Teeth.
* *Example:* “Look at the size of his barking irons!”
* **Cabbage-head:** (Noun) A stupid person.
* *Example:* “Don’t be such a cabbage-head!”
* **Dunce:** (Noun) A stupid person.
* *Example:* “He’s a complete dunce; he can’t understand anything.”
* **Flummox:** (Verb) To confuse or perplex someone.
* *Example:* “That question completely flummoxed me.”
* **Gormless:** (Adjective) Lacking intelligence or wit.
* *Example:* “He’s a gormless young man; he doesn’t know anything.”
* **Nincompoop:** (Noun) A foolish or stupid person.
* *Example:* “Don’t be such a nincompoop!”
* **Nitwit:** (Noun) A foolish or stupid person.
* *Example:* “He’s a complete nitwit; he never gets anything right.”
* **Numskull:** (Noun) A stupid person.
* *Example:* “He’s a numskull; he can’t even add two and two together.”
* **Soft sawder:** (Noun) Flattery intended to deceive.
* *Example:* “Don’t fall for his soft sawder; he’s just trying to get something from you.”
* **Spoony:** (Adjective) Foolishly sentimental or amorous.
* *Example:* “He’s acting all spoony over her.”

How to Use Victorian Slang Effectively

Now that you have a vocabulary of Victorian slang, here are some tips for using it effectively:

* **Context is Key:** Slang is highly context-dependent. Consider the social setting, your audience, and your purpose before using slang. Using it inappropriately can sound jarring or even offensive.
* **Start Slowly:** Don’t try to cram every piece of slang you’ve learned into a single conversation. Introduce it gradually and naturally.
* **Listen to the Masters:** Read Victorian literature, watch period dramas, and pay attention to how slang is used in these contexts. This will help you develop a feel for the rhythm and tone of Victorian speech.
* **Don’t Force It:** Slang should enhance your communication, not hinder it. If you’re unsure whether a particular term is appropriate, err on the side of caution.
* **Have Fun!** Learning and using slang should be an enjoyable experience. Embrace the creativity and humor of the Victorian language.

Resources for Further Exploration

Want to delve deeper into the world of Victorian slang? Here are some valuable resources:

* **Books:**
* *A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English* by Eric Partridge: A comprehensive guide to slang from the 16th century to the present.
* *London Labour and the London Poor* by Henry Mayhew: A fascinating account of working-class life in Victorian London, filled with slang and colloquialisms.
* **Online Resources:**
* **The Online Slang Dictionary:** A searchable database of slang terms from various eras, including the Victorian period.
* **Victoriana Magazine:** An online magazine dedicated to all things Victorian, including articles on language and culture.
* **Museums:**
* **The Victorian and Albert Museum (London):** Explore Victorian art, design, and social history.
* **The Museum of London:** Discover the history of London from prehistoric times to the present, including exhibits on Victorian life.

Conclusion

Mastering Victorian slang is a rewarding journey into the past. By understanding the language of the Victorian era, you can gain a deeper appreciation of its history, literature, and culture. So, go forth and pepper your conversations with a touch of Victorian flair! Just remember to use your newfound knowledge wisely and have fun exploring the colorful world of Victorian slang. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to have a spot of Nanty Narking!