* Certain terms are heard more in classes below the aristocracy, and when aristocrats use slang, it can be assumed they are not around their equals nor trying to present themselves as betters in working class or poor environments.
* Technology terms, item types, and their inspired social terms are used universally, though some consider slang to be impolite.
To see a complete list of traditional Victorian Slang, besides what is integrated here: Victorian Slang Glossary
Abbess - The female owner of a brothel, a madame.
Abbot - The husband of, or chosen male, of an Abbess.
Across the Pond - Over to America, the Pond being the Atlantic Ocean.
Airship - a vessel featuring an envelope (balloon) filled with air, carrying a large or small enclosed deck called a gondola. There are Zeppelins and different types of aero-sailers. Further broken down in to names of items for military use as well. Vessels of the Age
Bust a boiler - A way of referring to a person who is/has/may become angry. "Don't bust a boiler, Sean! It'll be alright!"
Barking Irons - (Barkers): Guns, pistols, revolvers, especially those with wider, double barrels. Barking Irons is also a type of revolver that gives the impression of hunting dogs 'bark' when fired.
Basker - One who finds a place in the parks or sun on a good day to enjoy the feel of the light, also one who literally 'basks' in the steam expelled from devices. Said to be good for the skin! The Basking industry is very popular among ladies searching for youth methods
Blooming / Bloody - Words that are not used in polite conversation, explicative, swear words.
Blow - To inform, share information
Blower - An informer, also a term for a disrespectful girl.
Cash Carrier - A pimp, ponce, or whore's minder. Someone keep int track of all of the earnings!
Bludgeon - A type of weapon, a club that is shorter and thicker, sometimes tipped with nails or other sharp objects. It also is a style of hitting or an act, as in to 'bludgeon someone against the head'.
Bobby(ies) - Police officer(s)
Bludger - A violent criminal, and in practice, one who is apt to use a bludgeon. Neo-Luddite terrorism is often committed with bludgers in tow.
Buck Cabbie - A dishonest cab driver, pertaining to those both of horse and horseless models. Buck Cabbie is most commonly used among those who drive horseless models for their dishonest pricing.
Candle to the devil - a phrase indicative of being evil. "To hold a candle to the devil."
Cant of Togs - A gift of clothing.
Caper - A criminal act, dodge or device.
Chaunting - Street singing, street performing for money.
Clanks - A term referring to individuals who possess rather loud, brutish sounding or looking artificial parts. Sometimes synonymous with the term 'tick-tock stock' .
Crib - A word that has multiple meanings and references; and in this case refers to a building, house, or lodging that one resides in the slums. Many times, a crib is usually referred to as one room, approximately 3 meters by 2.5 meters (10’x8’), constructed from most any material available, usually rough lumber with a tin roof, and is the worst place to live. To ensure that the prostitute’s customers could find her, the woman's name was painted on the door. The cribs were rented to a price of 10 shillings (40 US cents circa 1800s; $7 now) per day, payable in advance. The rooms were sparsely furnished and arranged for a quick turnover. On payday it was not unusual for a girl to entertain as many as 70 men. Disease, alcoholism and drug addiction were her destiny.
Daffy - A measurement term for small, especially used in reference to liquor.
Difference Diving/Diver - The act of building, disassembling, researching difference engines to the extreme. Many who "dive" are also claiming they have completed personal analytical engines.
Europa - Latin for "Europe", an elitist, romantic way of referring to the European continent.
Fine Wirer - A highly skilled pick pocket.
Flapperbind - The segments holding down the flapping, wing pieces on aerosailers. It's used as a term to suggest one should calm down. "He is in dire need of a flapperbind". A multiclass term.
Flapperwind - The opposite of flabberbinding, where in the bindings are wound up on shafts and chords to power the wings. It also can be used as an innocent term that one should perk up, or a common term among military persons, rookery, and middle air neighborhoods for relations behind closed doors. "Milly's in for a flapperwind tonight!"
Flash House - A public establishment whose patronage are criminals.
Gaff - An exhibition or show, usually referred to for low-penny, or working-class, theater.
Glock, Glocky - Half-wit, half-witted.
Grapher - One who sends messages via telegraph, or who seems to be stopped short when they speak, as in a telegraphs words + (stop) sequence. The term gains popularity in the stop portion use as telegraph lines outside of London have been harmed in mass amounts by Luddite activity. People are too afraid, however, to touch the line running from London to Paris.
Golden Chord - Referring to a line from London to Paris, and also the under-water telegraph cable from England to India. These, and other important chords for which the penalty is death, are never vandalized. This Golden Chord refers to a key concept, idea, possession, moment, etc.
Growler - A four wheeled cab. Growlers are also referred to as a general term for cabs, carriages, coaches in general no matter their make and model in the East End and Dockside areas of London.
Hammered for Life - A term referring to being married or marriage.
Horseless Carriage - A type of closed top coaches powered by outer steam engines and electro-light power.
Jack - A detective, used often in mixed sentences referring to police officers and detectives with "Bobbies and Jacks" by the lower and middle classes.
Jolly - A disturbance of scene, or a type of event causing joy/thrills. One can "start a jolly" in a bar, or "get their jollies" from a fight, game of cards, etc.
Knapped - to be or become pregnant.
London Particular - A term referring to the thick fog that usually surrounds London once it rolls in to place. Used in conjecture with/in place of "Pea Soup".
Love-lacing / lacer - an obsession with punch card mathematics for the purpose of machine programming. Many machines in London run on punch cards. Some have taken to selling their love-laced punch card talents and items to second, third, and fourth-hand machine shops. A love-lacer is then someone participates in love-lacing.
Machine Operated Major Domo - (M.O.M.D) - Those fortunate enough are able to afford the next generation in servant assistance, automated men powered by gear, steam, and some pulse power to do their bidding, welcome guests, and other necessary tasks. M.O.M.D's are very expensive. With the new interest in automated individuals coming again, many are merely polishing off decades on decades old automatons who wrote or danced in fairs to be refitted for this purpose. An invaluable asset to any household is both the valet and groundskeeper who can fix automated anything.
Machine Operated Magnificent Maiden[/b] - (M.O.M.M.) - the female equivalent of a M.O.M.D.
River Whistles - - small steam ships on a river.
Rookery - a colloquial term given in the 18th and 19th centuries to a city slum occupied by poor people and, most frequently, by criminals and prostitutes. Such areas were overcrowded, with low-quality housing and little or no sanitation. Poorly constructed dwellings, built with multiple stories and often crammed into any area of open ground, created densely-populated areas of gloomy, narrow streets and alleyways. Famous rookeries include the St Giles area of central London, Jacob's Island, and the Old Nichol Street Rookery in the East End of London. These locales are usually where a set of *cribs* are located.
Shudder (er, ing, ed) - one who shakes like a defective steam boiler or machine piece. "Shuddering" can also refer to steam or clockwork pleasure-seekers, using the method to induce themselves in to a stupor with opiates injectors, or the quake that happens when one is utilizing a tick-tock physical pleasure model in a brothel. The context of the word versus traditional meaning depends purely on company and conversation.
Steamships - A type of water vessel propelled by a steam engine and an outer wheel referred to as a paddle wheel. Large ships are steamers, small ships are river whistles.
Steam Pug - A term meaning nonsense, commonly used like 'hog wash'. Often associated with a popular pictorial humor seen here.
Slumming - a term referring to the act of going below one's station to interact with people, conduct business, or seek pleasure. One who is slumming is referred to as a slummer.
Tick-Tock(s) / Tick-Tock Girl - A strange London invention wherein a woman is given all likeness, shape, and qualities with the major difference being her parts are operated by clockwork gear. The older models require wind ups, the new ones are equipped with small engines to perpetually power them. They possess hot backsides (given they are powered by small boiler, after all). The better ones are run on code from difference engines powering the gears. Many enjoy finding them for the thrill.
Tick-Tock Monsieur - The male equivalent of a tick-tock girl.
Tick-Tock Stocks - A horrid form of punishment used in common law and gang relations where an individual, against their will, is gear-fused. They are then sent to work where their parts may benefit for any number of years when in law, and in gang relations, are often enslaved. This practice has also been used to 'count down' the years of indentured servitude by fixing the mechanical parts in one's arm, leg, or back.
Train - A type of transportation made of iron formed in to a central car that pulls additional ones called coaches, and runs along iron tracks.
Turn-the-crank - A clockwork term for winding up gears, or turning levers on machines in the present time. It's used for collective machines or ideas when one needs to get started. It is also a popular term among the middle class and even a few aristocrats for relations behind closed doors. It also applies to use tick-tock whores. One most, in some cases, turn a literal crank to operate them.
Whip-a-mill / whipped-the-mill - a term used among factory machinists to indicate a machine failure. It's not a favorite on the ears, it reminds one of luddite relations.
Wonk-a-wank - Another way of saying *turn-the-crank*. The crude way of referring to relations with a turn-the-crank humor twist. "A good wonk-a-wank for a good day." It can be shortened to merely "wonk" "wonking" "wonked".
Credit:
Much of the information was provided and/or researched by Livie Marie and William (me) from the defunct forum, Gears and Glass circa 2012, with updates for the forum Anachronistic Hearts
* Technology terms, item types, and their inspired social terms are used universally, though some consider slang to be impolite.
To see a complete list of traditional Victorian Slang, besides what is integrated here: Victorian Slang Glossary
Techno/Social Specific Terms & Items
Abbess - The female owner of a brothel, a madame.
Abbot - The husband of, or chosen male, of an Abbess.
Across the Pond - Over to America, the Pond being the Atlantic Ocean.
Airship - a vessel featuring an envelope (balloon) filled with air, carrying a large or small enclosed deck called a gondola. There are Zeppelins and different types of aero-sailers. Further broken down in to names of items for military use as well. Vessels of the Age
Bust a boiler - A way of referring to a person who is/has/may become angry. "Don't bust a boiler, Sean! It'll be alright!"
Barking Irons - (Barkers): Guns, pistols, revolvers, especially those with wider, double barrels. Barking Irons is also a type of revolver that gives the impression of hunting dogs 'bark' when fired.
Basker - One who finds a place in the parks or sun on a good day to enjoy the feel of the light, also one who literally 'basks' in the steam expelled from devices. Said to be good for the skin! The Basking industry is very popular among ladies searching for youth methods
Blooming / Bloody - Words that are not used in polite conversation, explicative, swear words.
Blow - To inform, share information
Blower - An informer, also a term for a disrespectful girl.
Cash Carrier - A pimp, ponce, or whore's minder. Someone keep int track of all of the earnings!
Bludgeon - A type of weapon, a club that is shorter and thicker, sometimes tipped with nails or other sharp objects. It also is a style of hitting or an act, as in to 'bludgeon someone against the head'.
Bobby(ies) - Police officer(s)
Bludger - A violent criminal, and in practice, one who is apt to use a bludgeon. Neo-Luddite terrorism is often committed with bludgers in tow.
Buck Cabbie - A dishonest cab driver, pertaining to those both of horse and horseless models. Buck Cabbie is most commonly used among those who drive horseless models for their dishonest pricing.
Candle to the devil - a phrase indicative of being evil. "To hold a candle to the devil."
Cant of Togs - A gift of clothing.
Caper - A criminal act, dodge or device.
Chaunting - Street singing, street performing for money.
Clanks - A term referring to individuals who possess rather loud, brutish sounding or looking artificial parts. Sometimes synonymous with the term 'tick-tock stock' .
Crib - A word that has multiple meanings and references; and in this case refers to a building, house, or lodging that one resides in the slums. Many times, a crib is usually referred to as one room, approximately 3 meters by 2.5 meters (10’x8’), constructed from most any material available, usually rough lumber with a tin roof, and is the worst place to live. To ensure that the prostitute’s customers could find her, the woman's name was painted on the door. The cribs were rented to a price of 10 shillings (40 US cents circa 1800s; $7 now) per day, payable in advance. The rooms were sparsely furnished and arranged for a quick turnover. On payday it was not unusual for a girl to entertain as many as 70 men. Disease, alcoholism and drug addiction were her destiny.
Daffy - A measurement term for small, especially used in reference to liquor.
Difference Diving/Diver - The act of building, disassembling, researching difference engines to the extreme. Many who "dive" are also claiming they have completed personal analytical engines.
Europa - Latin for "Europe", an elitist, romantic way of referring to the European continent.
Fine Wirer - A highly skilled pick pocket.
Flapperbind - The segments holding down the flapping, wing pieces on aerosailers. It's used as a term to suggest one should calm down. "He is in dire need of a flapperbind". A multiclass term.
Flapperwind - The opposite of flabberbinding, where in the bindings are wound up on shafts and chords to power the wings. It also can be used as an innocent term that one should perk up, or a common term among military persons, rookery, and middle air neighborhoods for relations behind closed doors. "Milly's in for a flapperwind tonight!"
Flash House - A public establishment whose patronage are criminals.
Gaff - An exhibition or show, usually referred to for low-penny, or working-class, theater.
Glock, Glocky - Half-wit, half-witted.
Grapher - One who sends messages via telegraph, or who seems to be stopped short when they speak, as in a telegraphs words + (stop) sequence. The term gains popularity in the stop portion use as telegraph lines outside of London have been harmed in mass amounts by Luddite activity. People are too afraid, however, to touch the line running from London to Paris.
Golden Chord - Referring to a line from London to Paris, and also the under-water telegraph cable from England to India. These, and other important chords for which the penalty is death, are never vandalized. This Golden Chord refers to a key concept, idea, possession, moment, etc.
Growler - A four wheeled cab. Growlers are also referred to as a general term for cabs, carriages, coaches in general no matter their make and model in the East End and Dockside areas of London.
Hammered for Life - A term referring to being married or marriage.
Horseless Carriage - A type of closed top coaches powered by outer steam engines and electro-light power.
Jack - A detective, used often in mixed sentences referring to police officers and detectives with "Bobbies and Jacks" by the lower and middle classes.
Jolly - A disturbance of scene, or a type of event causing joy/thrills. One can "start a jolly" in a bar, or "get their jollies" from a fight, game of cards, etc.
Knapped - to be or become pregnant.
London Particular - A term referring to the thick fog that usually surrounds London once it rolls in to place. Used in conjecture with/in place of "Pea Soup".
Love-lacing / lacer - an obsession with punch card mathematics for the purpose of machine programming. Many machines in London run on punch cards. Some have taken to selling their love-laced punch card talents and items to second, third, and fourth-hand machine shops. A love-lacer is then someone participates in love-lacing.
Machine Operated Major Domo - (M.O.M.D) - Those fortunate enough are able to afford the next generation in servant assistance, automated men powered by gear, steam, and some pulse power to do their bidding, welcome guests, and other necessary tasks. M.O.M.D's are very expensive. With the new interest in automated individuals coming again, many are merely polishing off decades on decades old automatons who wrote or danced in fairs to be refitted for this purpose. An invaluable asset to any household is both the valet and groundskeeper who can fix automated anything.
Machine Operated Magnificent Maiden[/b] - (M.O.M.M.) - the female equivalent of a M.O.M.D.
River Whistles - - small steam ships on a river.
Rookery - a colloquial term given in the 18th and 19th centuries to a city slum occupied by poor people and, most frequently, by criminals and prostitutes. Such areas were overcrowded, with low-quality housing and little or no sanitation. Poorly constructed dwellings, built with multiple stories and often crammed into any area of open ground, created densely-populated areas of gloomy, narrow streets and alleyways. Famous rookeries include the St Giles area of central London, Jacob's Island, and the Old Nichol Street Rookery in the East End of London. These locales are usually where a set of *cribs* are located.
Shudder (er, ing, ed) - one who shakes like a defective steam boiler or machine piece. "Shuddering" can also refer to steam or clockwork pleasure-seekers, using the method to induce themselves in to a stupor with opiates injectors, or the quake that happens when one is utilizing a tick-tock physical pleasure model in a brothel. The context of the word versus traditional meaning depends purely on company and conversation.
Steamships - A type of water vessel propelled by a steam engine and an outer wheel referred to as a paddle wheel. Large ships are steamers, small ships are river whistles.
Steam Pug - A term meaning nonsense, commonly used like 'hog wash'. Often associated with a popular pictorial humor seen here.
Slumming - a term referring to the act of going below one's station to interact with people, conduct business, or seek pleasure. One who is slumming is referred to as a slummer.
Tick-Tock(s) / Tick-Tock Girl - A strange London invention wherein a woman is given all likeness, shape, and qualities with the major difference being her parts are operated by clockwork gear. The older models require wind ups, the new ones are equipped with small engines to perpetually power them. They possess hot backsides (given they are powered by small boiler, after all). The better ones are run on code from difference engines powering the gears. Many enjoy finding them for the thrill.
Tick-Tock Monsieur - The male equivalent of a tick-tock girl.
Tick-Tock Stocks - A horrid form of punishment used in common law and gang relations where an individual, against their will, is gear-fused. They are then sent to work where their parts may benefit for any number of years when in law, and in gang relations, are often enslaved. This practice has also been used to 'count down' the years of indentured servitude by fixing the mechanical parts in one's arm, leg, or back.
Train - A type of transportation made of iron formed in to a central car that pulls additional ones called coaches, and runs along iron tracks.
Turn-the-crank - A clockwork term for winding up gears, or turning levers on machines in the present time. It's used for collective machines or ideas when one needs to get started. It is also a popular term among the middle class and even a few aristocrats for relations behind closed doors. It also applies to use tick-tock whores. One most, in some cases, turn a literal crank to operate them.
Whip-a-mill / whipped-the-mill - a term used among factory machinists to indicate a machine failure. It's not a favorite on the ears, it reminds one of luddite relations.
Wonk-a-wank - Another way of saying *turn-the-crank*. The crude way of referring to relations with a turn-the-crank humor twist. "A good wonk-a-wank for a good day." It can be shortened to merely "wonk" "wonking" "wonked".
Credit:
Much of the information was provided and/or researched by Livie Marie and William (me) from the defunct forum, Gears and Glass circa 2012, with updates for the forum Anachronistic Hearts
Moderators: Playerfiles