Cache-Control: public, max-age=1024000 Cant terms for Speech
18th Century Thieves Cant
Speech
Speech : Cant
CANTINGthe mysterious Language of Rogues, Gypsies, Beggars, Thieves, etc1737
CONCERNEDIn using many cant words, the lovers of flash, by way of variation, adopt this term, for an illustration of which, see Bolt-in-tun, Aldebmas Lushington, Mr. Palmer, &c.1819
FAKEa word so variously used, that I can only illustrate it by a few examples. To fake any person or place, may signify to rob them ; to fake a person, may also imply to shoot, wound, or cut; to fake a man out and out, is to kill him ; a man who inflicts wounds upon, or otherwise disfigures, himself, for any sinister purpose, is said to have faked himtelf; if a man's shoe happens to pinch, or gall his foot, from its being overtight, he will complain that his shoe fakes his foot sadly ; it also describes the doing any act, or the fabricating any thing, as, to fake your slangs, is to cut your irons in order to escape from custody ; to fake your pin, is to create a sore leg, or to cut it, as if accidentally, with an axe, &c., in hopes to obtain a discharge from the army or navy, to get into the doctor's list, &c.; to fake a screeve, is to write any letter, or other paper; to fake a screw, is to shape out a skeleton or false key, for the purpose of screwing a particular place ; to fake a cly, is to pick a pocket; &c., &c., &c.1819
FLASHthe cant language used by the family. To speak good flash is to be well versed in cant terms. 1819
FLASH LINGOThe canting or slang language.1811
FLASH-SONGa song interlarded with flash words, generally relating to the exploits of the prigging fraternity in their various branches of depredation.1819
OUT OF FLASHSee Flash.1819
PEDLARS FRENCHThe cant language. Pedlars pony; a walking-stick.1811
SLANGCant language.1811
STAM FLESHTo cant. CANT.1811
STAM-FLESHto Cant; as, The Cully Stamfleshes rumly; He cants very well.1737
Speech : General
BEAR-GARDEN JAW or DISCOURSERude, vulgar language, such as was used at the bear-gardens.1811
BEAR-GARDEN-DISCOURSEcommon, filthy, nasty talk.1737
BLUBBERINGmuch Crying.1737
COURT HOLY WATER, COURT PROMISESFair speeches and promises, without performance.1811
COURT-Holy-WaterCOURT-Promises; fair Speeches without Performance.1737
CRACK A WHIDto speak or utter: as, he crack'd some queer whids, he dropt some bad or ugly expressions : crack a whid for me, intercede, or put in a word for me.1819
DROP A WHIDto let fall a word, either inadvertently or designedly.1819
FLASHKnowing. Understanding anothers meaning. The swell was flash, so I could not draw his fogle. The gentleman saw what I was about, and therefore I could not pick his pocket of his silk handkerchief. To patter flash, to speak the slang language. See PATTER.1811
FLASHto be flash to any matter or meaning, is to understand or comprehend it, and is synonymous with being fly, down, or awake; to put a person flash to to any thing, is to put him on his guard, to explain or inform him of what he was before unacquainted with.1819
GRUMBLING of the Gizzardmurmuring, muttering, repining.1737
MANGto speak or talk. 1819
MAUNDRING-BrothScolding.1737
NAY WORDA bye-word, proverb.1811
NAY-WORDa By-word, or Proverb.1737
OFFICETo give the office; to give information, or make signs to the officers to take a thief.1811
OFFICEa hint, signal, or private intimation, from one person to another; this is termed officeing him, or giving him the office ; to take the office, is to understand and profit by the hint given.1819
PACKTHREADTo talk packthread; to use indecent language well wrapt up.1811
PATTERto talk ; as, He patters good flash, See.1819
PUT FLASHSee Flash.1819
SPANISH COINFair words and compliments.1811
SPANISH-MONEYfair Words and Compliments.1737
SPOUTINGTheatrical declamation.1811
SQUAWLa Voice; as, The Cove has a bien Squawl; The Fellow has a good Voice.1737
THROW OFFto talk in a sarcastical strain, so as to convey offensive allusions under the mask of pleasantry, or innocent freedom ; but, perhaps, secretly venting that abuse which you would not dare to give in direct terms ; this is called throwing off, a practice at which the flash ladies arc very expert, when any little jealousies arise among them. To begin to talk flash, and speak freely of robberies past, or in contemplation, when in company with family people, is also termed throwing off; meaning to banish all reserve, none but friends being present; also, to sing when called on by the company present. See Chaunt1819
TITTERto laugh at a Feather.1737
TITTLE-TATTLEidle, impertinent Talk.1737
TITTLE-TATTLEIdle discourse, scandal, womens talk, or small talk.1811
TWITTERto laugh much with little Noise; also to tremble.1737
WHIDDLEto speak of, or mention any thing, as, Don't you whiddle about so and so, that is, don't mention it.1819
WHIDDLERa talkative or tell-tale person, who is not fit to be trusted with a secret.1819
WHIDSWords.1737
WHIDSWords. Cant.1811
WHIDSwords. See Crack A Whid.1819
WHIMPERa low or small Cry.1737
WHIMPER, or WHINDLEA low cry.1811
WHINDLEa low or feigned Cry.1737
WHINEto cry squeekingly.1737
YELP(from the Yelping of a Dog) to cry, to bawl, to complain.1737
Speech : Puns, Quibbles and Whimsies
CARRY WITCHETA sort of conundrum, puzzlewit, or riddle.1811
CLENCHa Pun or Quibble.1737
CONUNDRUMSWhims, Maggots, and such like.1737
QUIBBLEto trifle or pun.1737
QUIPPSGirds, taunts, jests.1811
REBUSA riddle or pun on a mans name, expressed in sculpture or painting, thus: a bolt or arrow, and a tun, for Bolton; deaths head, and a ton, for Morton.1811
RIGGame, Diversion, Ridicule. See Fun.1737
RIGFun, game, diversion, or trick. To run ones rig upon any particular person; to make him a butt. l am up to your rig; I am a match for your tricks.1811
RIGMAROLERoundabout, nonsensical. He told a long rigmarole story.1811
TRINGUM-TRANGUMa Whim or Maggot.1737
VAGARIESwild Rambles, extravagant Frolicks.1737
WHIMa Maggot.1737
WHIMSICALmaggotish.1737
WORD PECKERA punster, one who plays upon words.1811
WORD-PECKERone that plays with Words: A Punster.1737
Speech : Quiet
CHEESE ITBe silent, be quiet, don't do it. Cheese it, the coves are fly; be silent, the people understand our discourse.1811
CHEESE ITThe same as Stow it.1819
CHEESE THATSee Stow That.1819
KNIFE ITSee Cheese It.1819
MUMAn interjection directing silence. Mum for that; I shall be silent as to that. As mute as Mumchance, who was hanged for saying nothing; a friendly reproach to any one who seems low-spirited and silent.1811
MUM FOR-THATnot a Word of the Pudding.1737
PETER-THATsynonymous with Stow-that.1819
STASH ITSee Stow It, which has the same meaning.1819
STOPas, I have stopt his Blubber; I have stopt his Mouth.1737
STOWi.e. You have said enough. Stow you, bene Cove; Hold your Peace, good Fellow. Stow your Whids and plant them; for the Cove of the Ken can cant them; Take care what you say; for the Man of the House understands you.1737
STOWStow you; be silent, or hold your peace. Stow your whidds and plantem, for the cove of the ken can cantem; you have said enough, the man of the house understands you.1811
STOWto stow any business, employment, or mode of life, is the same as to stash it, &c. See Stash.1819
STOW or STOW-MANGINGan intimation from one flash-cove to another in a mixed company to be silent, or drop the subject, he was upon. See Mang.1819
STOW THATWhen a person advances any assertion which his auditor believes to be false, or spoken in jest, or wishes the former to recant, the latter will say, stow that, if you please, or, cheese that; meaning don't say so, or that's out of the question.1819
STOW, STOW IT or STOW FAKINGan intimation from a thief to his pall, to desist from what he is about, on the occasion of some alarm, &c. See Awake.1819
STUBBLE ITHold your tongue. CANT.1811
STUBBLE-ITHold your Tongue.1737
TACESilence, hold your tongue. TACE is Latin for a candle; a jocular admonition to be silent on any subject.1811