Dictionary of Unconventional English_12 pptx

Rhyming slang, ‘piles’, formed from the name of a popular television ‘quiz inquisitor’, host of Take Your Pick, 1955–68; or, less likely, from a US banjo playerUK , 2003 michael-munchern

meeja; meejah; meejernounmedia A phonetic slurring in

fashionable currency; slightly derogatory and generally used with

meeseadjectiveplain Recorded in contemporary gay useUK , 2003

meetnoun1a meeting, especially one convened to discuss illegal

mattersUK , 1865.2a session in which musicians collectively

improvise; a jam sessionUS , 1957

meetverbin poker, to make a bet equal to the previous betUS , 1990

meetingnoun< take a meetingto attend a business meeting

Entertainment industry terminology, used outside the industry in

a mocking, pretentious toneUS , 1977

meff’dadjectivedrunkUK , 2002

megaadjectivegreat, successful, excellent, special A multi-purpose

superlative, from Greek prefix mega- (great) UK , 1969

mega-prefixused for intensifyingUS , 1966

megablastnouna dose of crack cocaineUS , 1993

megabuckadjectivevery expensiveUS , 1992

mega dirtballnouna hospital patient with an appalling lack of

hygieneUS , 1989

megapennynounten thousand dollars (one cent times ten to the

sixth power)US , 1991

meggnouna marijuana cigaretteUS , 1942

meggernounin the television and film industries, a director From

the long-gone practice of directors’ using megaphonesUS , 1977

megillahnounall of something For observant Jews on Purim, the

reading of the entire Megillas Esther is deemed an obligationUS ,

1954

MEGOmy eyes glaze over US , 1977

Meg Ryannouna homosexual male Rhyming slang for ‘iron’ (IRON

HOOF),POOFformed from the name of the US film actress (b.1961)

UK , 1998

meignouna penny; a five-cent pieceUS , 1962

Mekong Deltanicknamea neigbourhood with a large number of

Vietnamese immigrants and businessesUS , 1979

melnounin the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, a

conven-tional, law-abiding citizenUS , 1994

melana creamnouna powerful variety of hashish from the Kulu

Valley in Himachel PradeshUK , 2003

Melbanoun< do a Melba(especially of an entertainer) to retire

and then come out of retirement over and over again Referring to

Dame Nellie Melba, 1861–1931, Australian opera singerAUSTRALIA ,

1971

Meldrewnouna middle-aged or elderly man who is a complainer or

a moaner, or is characteristically intolerant, pessimistic or

curmudgeonly Named after Victor Meldrew, the central character

in BBC situation comedy, One Foot in the Grave (from 1990),

written by David Renwick and played by Scottish character actor

Richard WilsonUK , 1990

mellownouna good friendUS , 1976

mellowverbto calmUS , 1974

mellowadjective1pleasing, relaxed, goodUS , 1938.2mildly and

pleasantly drunk or drug-intoxicatedUK , 1699.3(used of a friend)

closeUS , 1941

mellow dadjectiverelaxed, enjoyable A glorious pun on ‘melody’US ,

1973

mellow mannounan attractive maleUS , 1945

mellow yellownoun1fried banana skin scrapings, sold for their

nonexistent psychoactive effectUS , 1966.2LSDUS , 1971

melonnoun1the headAUSTRALIA , 1907.2a fool Probably a shortening

of melonhead .< bust your melonto confuse

Combines ‘bust’ (to break) withMELON(the head)US , 2002.< twist your melonto confuse, to scramble your thoughts Combines

‘twist’ (to derange) withMELON(the head) Survives as acatchphrase with the meaning barely understoodUK , 1990

melon gearnouna crash helmetUS , 2003

melon hut; melonnouna prefabricated red field hutANTARCTICA , 2000

melonsnounlarge female breastsUS , 1957

meltdownnounthe complete and total malfunctioning of a casinoslot machineUS , 1999

melted butternounsemenUS , 1980

melted outadjectivebroke; without fundsUS , 1948

meltonadjectivehot A pun on ‘melting’ originally recorded in 1885,however current use is probably freshly coined Recorded incontemporary gay useUK , 2003

Melvinnounthe condition that exists when someone pulls yourtrousers or underpants forcefully upwards, forming a wedgebetween buttock cheeksUS , 1989

Melvinverb1to seize someone’s testicles and twist them, especially

as a girl’s revenge for sexual harassment Obviously extends fromthe senses that convey a painful and forceful adjustment tosomeone’s underwearUK , 2003.2to dupeUS , 1991

Melvyn Bragg; melvynnoun1a cigarette Rhyming slang forFAG,based on the name of author and television presenter Lord Bragg

of Wigton (b.1939)UK , 1998.2an act of sexual intercourse Rhymingslang forSHAG, based on the name of author and televisionpresenter Lord Bragg of Wigton (b.1939); this term came into useshortly after the explicitly sexual television adaptation of his 1990

novel A Time to Dance was first broadcast in 1992 UK , 1992.3acontemptible person Rhyming slang forSLAG, based on the name

of author and television presenter Lord Bragg of Wigton (b.1939)

UK , 1998.4a sexually promiscuous woman, a slut Rhyming slang for

SLAG UK , 1998

membernouna fellow homosexualUS , 1970s

Memphis dominoesnoundiceUS , 1942

ménage à moinounan act of female masturbationUK , 2004

menalinounpotent hashish originating in the Himalayas, 1999

mendernounin circus and carnival usage, a claims adjusterUS , 1981

men in white coatsnoun1medical or laboratory personnelUK , 1967.

2psychiatric staff Usually humorous, and in a context thatquestions a person’s sanityUK , 1968

menopause manornounin the Canadian Forces, the Sergeants andWarrant Officers’ MessCANADA , 1995

mensch; mensh; menchnounan honourable person German

mensch (a person) into Yiddish US , 1953

menshnouna mention; also, as a verb, to mentionUK , 1984

mentalnounan outburst of anger or madnessAUSTRALIA , 1979

mentaladjective1insane, crazyUK , 1927.2wonderful, amazing, blowingUK , 1998.< go mentalto become very enraged, to have afit of ill-temperUK: SCOTLAND , 1985

mind-mental blooternouna spree of any kind of excessive behaviourUK , 1988

mentalistnouna crazy person; a lunatic; an eccentricUK , 1997

mentallernouna mad or crazy personUK , 2001

mentalnessnouna state of madnessUK: SCOTLAND , 1996

mental pygmynouna doltUS , 1968

menunoun1the list of services available in a brothelUS , 1993.

2grafitti describing sex preferences and telephone numbersUS , 1972

mercnouna mercenary With the official US use of the term ‘privatecivilian contractor’ instead of ‘mercenary’ in the invasion andoccupation of Iraq, use of the term ‘merc’ in the future isdoubtfulZIMBABWE , 1967

Mercnoun1a Mercedes car US , 1970.2a Mercury car US , 1951

Mercedesnoun1in horse racing, odds of 10–1 Rhyming slang,formed from Mercedes Benz .2a variety of MDMA,

the recreational drug best known as ecstasy After the luxury car;

describing the logo stamped on the pillUK , 1999

merchnounmerchandiseUS , 1995

merchantnouna prisoner who sells goods to other prisonersUS , 1958

merchant banker; merchant; bankernouna contemptible

person Rhyming slang forWANKER(a contemptible person), coined

in response toYUPPIE(a young upwardly mobile professional),

many of whom were merchant bankers, moving into the East End

of London during the 1980sUK , 1992

merck; merknouncocaine From the name of a pharmaceutical

companyUS , 1969

mercy!used for expressing mild surpriseUS , 1992

mercy buckets!thank you An intentional butchering of the French

UK , 1960

mercy Mary!used for expressing surprise in a melodramatic

fashionUS , 1970

mercy Miss Percy!used for embellishing any exclamationUS , 1953

mercy sakes!; mercy’s sakes alive!used euphemistically in

citizens’ band transmissions to register anger, shock, surprise, etc

US , 1976

mere gook rulenouna belief during the Vietnam war that a crime

committed against a Vietnamese person was not a crimeUS , 1976

Merlin the magician; merlinnouna pigeon Rhyming slangUK ,

1992

merrynounmarijuana A play on the name Mary, featured in many

slang terms for ‘marijuana’US , 1938

merry and brightnounlight, a light Rhyming slangUK , 1992

merry dancersnounthe northern lightsCANADA , 1946

merry-go-roundnoun1the visits to many different prison offices

the day before a prisoner is releasedUS , 1996.2a railway turntable

US , 1946.3a pound (£1) Rhyming slang; often reduced to ‘merry’

UK , 1961

merry hellnoun< play merry hell; raise merry hellto make a

disturbance, to complain or quarrel noisily and angrily, to make a

dinUS , 1911

merry lairdnouna beard Glasgow rhyming slang (a good rhyme in

the local accent)UK: SCOTLAND , 1988

merry old soulnoun1a hole Rhyming slangUK , 1992.2the anus

Rhyming slang forARSEHOLE; a specialism of the previous sense

Logically, this will be applied with irony to anyARSEHOLE(a

contemptible person)UK , 2003

merry syphilis and a happy gonorrhoeaused as a humorous

replacement for ’Merry Christmas and Happy New Year’AUSTRALIA ,

1985

merry widownoun1a bust-emphasising corsetUS , 1957.2in pool, a

cue stick with a butt made with a single, unspliced piece of wood

US , 1983

mershnounmarijuana that is commercially produced for a

mass-marketUS , 2004

Meryl Streep; merylnounsleep Rhyming slang, formed from the

name of the US film actress (b.1949)UK , 1998

mesc; mezcnounmescalineUS , 1970

meselfpronounmyself Representing a common Australian

pronunciationAUSTRALIA , 1898

meshnounon a computer keyboard, the # characterUS , 1983

meshugge; meshuga; meshuggener; meshigeneradjectivecrazy

YiddishUS , 1888

mesmericadjectiveused for expressing approvalUK , 2003

messnoun1a person who is dirty or untidy; a person who is

disorganised or incapable of being organisedUK , 1891.2excrement

UK , 1903.3a large amountUS , 1826.4drugsUS , 1978.5in poker, a draw

of replacement cards that fails to improve the handUS , 1979

mess; mess withverbto confront; to mess with; to interfere; to

messagesnounshopping; hence, message bag, shopping bag.DialectUK: SCOTLAND , 1911.< do the messagesto go on a smalllocal shopping tripAUSTRALIA , 1902

mess aroundverbto engage in sexual foreplay; to have sexUK , 1896

messed upadjectivedrunk or drug-intoxicatedUS , 1963

messengernouna bulletUS , 1962

messernouna jokerIRELAND , 1998

mess upverbto beat someone upUS , 1914

messyadjectivegood Another example ofBADmeaning ‘good’UK , 2002

metnounmethamphetamineUS , 1993

Metnoun< the MetLondon’s Metropolitan Police, established in

1829UK , 1962

meta-prefixused for indicating a higher level than super- or

hyper-UK , 2003

metabolic clinicnouna hospital tea-room Medical humourUK , 2002

metalheadnouna lover of heavy metal music and the attendantlifestyleUS , 1982

metal jacketnouna condomUS , 1993

metal mouthnounany person with orthodontiaUS , 1978

meternountwenty-five centsUS , 1945

-meter; -ometersuffixthe conventional suffix that creates a means

of measuring, when used to make a flippant or nonce-word,especially as a measurer of sexual arousal In 2003 a brief search ofthe Internet revealed ‘shagometer’, fromSHAG(to have sex),

‘hornometer’, fromHORN(an erection) and ‘pain-in-the-assometer’

UK , 1837

meter maidnouna policewoman who checks cars on city streets forparking infractionsCANADA , 1965

meter readernounin the US Air Force, a co-pilotUS , 1946

methnoun1methamphetamine hydrochloride, a powerful centralnervous system stimulant, brand name Methedrine™US , 1966.

2methadone (a drug prescribed as a substitute for heroin)US , 1980.

3marijuana An abbreviation ofMETHOD(marijuana)US , 1994

methernouna methylated spirits addictUK , 1995

meth headnouna habitual user of methamphetamineUS , 1966

methicalnounmarijuana A combination ofMETHODandTICAL, slangterms for ‘marijuana’ adopted as aliases by rap artist

Methical/Method Man US , 1994

meth monsternoun1an amphetamine addictUS , 1967.2anyparanoid delusion suffered after sustained methamphetamine use

US , 1989

methonoun1methylated spiritsAUSTRALIA , 1933.2a habitual drinker

of methylated spiritsAUSTRALIA , 1933

Methonouna MethodistAUSTRALIA , 1940

method; method murdernounmarijuanaUS , 1995

Methodist hellnounthe epitome of heatUS , 1975

methsnounmethylated spiritsAUSTRALIA , 1981

meth speedballnounmethamphetamine mixed with heroin Acombination ofMETH(methamphetamine) andSPEEDBALL(cocaineand heroin mixed, or anUPPERandDOWNERmixed), 2002

metric milesnounhaemorrhoids Rhyming slang for ‘piles’UK , 2003

metrosexualnounan urban, heterosexual male who, in matters ofstyle or recreation, has similar tastes to those stereotypically associ-ated with women or homosexual menUK , 1994

Metro Tuxnounin Los Angeles, the police officer’s uniform exceptfor his shirt, which is replaced by a white t-shirt With this slightmodification, policemen may drink at a bar without violating thedepartment rule against drinking in uniformUS , 1994

Mexnoun1a Mexican or Mexican-American OffensiveUS , 1847.2theSpanish languageUS , 1858

MexadjectiveMexican OffensiveUS , 1854

Mexi

Mexicannounin eastern Australia, a person from a state south of

one’s own In Queensland it refers to either New South Welshmen

or Victorians, whereas in New South Wales it refers to Victorians

AUSTRALIA , 1991

Mexican breakfastnounany combination of a glass of water, a

cigarette and the chance to urinateUS , 1960

Mexican brownnouninferior heroin that originates in Mexico The

adjective ‘Mexican’ has a negative valueUS , 1975

Mexican Buicknouna ChevroletUS , 1979

Mexican Cadillacnouna ChevroletUS , 1962

Mexican carwashnouna rainstormUS , 1950

Mexican cashmerenouna cotton sweatshirtUS , 1957

Mexican chromenounaluminium paintUS , 1955

Mexican cigarettenouna poorly made marijuana cigaretteUS , 1987

Mexican compromisenouna decision in which you lose property

but save your lifeUS , 1954

Mexican credit card; Mexican filling stationnouna siphon

used for stealing petrol from a parked carUS , 1979

Mexican diamondnouna stone cut and polished to look like a

dia-mondUS , 1950

Mexican fox-trotnoundiarrhoeaUS , 1979

Mexican greennounan inferior marijuana cultivated in MexicoUS ,

1961

Mexican hayridenouna car overloaded with passengersUS , 1962

Mexican horsenounbrown heroin originating in Mexico The

source plusHORSE(heroin)US , 1979

Mexican jumping bean; Mexican rednouna capsule of

barbitu-rate, especially Seconal™, manufactured in Mexico Named for the

capsule’s appearance, not its effect, which is sedativeUS , 1971

Mexican locoweed; Mexican tumbleweednounmarijuanaUS ,

1969

Mexican mudnounbrown heroin that originates in the Sierra

Madre mountains of Mexico; heroinUS , 1977

Mexican mufflernouna tin can stuffed with steel wool functioning

as a car silencerUS , 1953

Mexican mushroomnounpsylocybin or psylocin, powerful

psychedelic drugs extracted from Psilocybe mexicana and

Stropharia cubensis mushrooms which are native to Mexico US , 1969

Mexican nose guardnouna jock strap (an athletic support) An

unkind linkage of the penis and noseUS , 1979

Mexican overdrivenounwhile driving, coasting down a hill in

neutral gearUS , 1955

Mexican paintnounsilver paintUS , 1954

Mexican rednoun1a potent variety of marijuana with a red-brown

colour cultivated in MexicoUS , 1971.2a capsule of secobarbitral

sodium (trade name Seconal™), a central nervous system

Mexican standoffnoun1a situation in which nobody clearly has

the advantage or emerges a clear winnerUS , 1891.2the quitting of

a poker game when a player is slightly ahead, slightly behind, or

evenUS , 1958

Mexican straightnounin poker, any hand, a knife and a threat to

use the knife Reminiscent of the simple announcement, ‘My

Smith and Wesson beats your full house’US , 1979

Mexican strawberriesnoundried beansCANADA , 2002

Mexican timenounused for denoting a lack of punctualityUS , 1967

Mexican toothachenoundysenteryUS , 1960

Mexican traffic light

Mexican ValiumnounRohypnol™ (flunitrazepam), popularly known

as the ‘date-rape drug’US , 1995

Mextownnouna neighbourhood with a large population ofMexicans and Mexican-AmericansUS , 1957

mezznounmarijuana, a marijuana cigarette An eponym honouringMilton ‘Mezz’ Mezzrow, a jazz musician who was better known forhis missionary work on behalf of marijuana than his jazz, and who

is better remembered for his writing than his jazzUS , 1937

mezzony; mizzonynounthe money required for a purchase ofmarijuana A combination ofMEZZ(marijuana) and ‘money’US , 1936s

mezzroll; mezz roll; Mezz’s roll; meserole; messorole; mezzrownounan extra-large marijuana cigaretteUS , 1944

MF; em efnouna motherfuckerUS , 1959

MFInoun1MI5, the UK’s security intelligence agency From thename of the retail chain that pioneered self-assembly furniture inthe UK, and became the butt of many jokesUK , 2002.2a very largemyocardial infarction; a major heart attack Medical slang,elaborating the conventional abbreviation for the condition, MI,with F for, presumably,-FUCKING- MFI is also a well-known flat-packfurniture retailerUK , 2002

MFIC; MFWICnounthe person in charge of a situation An

abbrevi-ation of motherfucker (who’s) in charge US , 1968

mf-wordnounthe word motherfuck, motherfucker or motherfucking

micnoun a microphone Pronounced ‘mike’ US , 1927 8see:MICRODOT

michaelnounthe vaginaNEW ZEALAND , 1998

Michaelnounan alcoholic beverage that has been adulterated with

a strong tranquilliser; the narcotic that is so used An abbreviation

ofMICKEY FINN US , 1942

Michael Caine; michaelnouna pain Rhyming slang, formed fromthe name of the London-born film actor (b.1933)UK , 1992

Michael Miles; michaelsnounhaemorrhoids Rhyming slang,

‘piles’, formed from the name of a popular television ‘quiz

inquisitor’, host of Take Your Pick, 1955–68; or, less likely, from a

US banjo playerUK , 2003

michael-munchernouna person who enjoys performing oral sex on

a womanNEW ZEALAND , 1998

Michael Schumachernountobacco Rhyming slang, formed fromthe name of the German-born world champion Formula 1 racingdriver (b.1969); the rhyme, while not perfect, is informed withirony – Michael Schumacher has long been associated withMarlboro cigarettesUK , 1998

Michael Winnernoundinner Rhyming slang, formed from thename of the British film director (b.1935) perhaps better known,

in this context, as The Sunday Times restaurant critic (with his

column: ‘Winner’s Dinners’)UK , 1998

Michellenounin cricket, a score of five wickets taken in an innings.Rhyming slang, on the imperfect rhyme of the name of filmactress Michelle Pfeiffer (b.1958), with ‘five for ’UK , 2001

Michigan bankrollnouna single large-denomination note wrappedaround small-denomination notes, giving the impression of a greatdeal of moneyUS , 1914

Michigan handshakenouna firm handshake that imparts afarewell Newspaper advice columnist Ann Landers used the term

in a column on 27th June 1996, in which she urged ‘Embarrassed

in Pittsburgh’ to give her friend Fred ‘a Michigan handshake’ ‘andtell him to hit the bricks’ because he had taken a picture of hersleeping in the nude Landers’ use of the term generated anumber of inquiries as to its meaning, and placed the term intothe public lexicon Landers herself pointed to Traverse City,

Michoacan; Michoacan greennouna powerful grade of

marijuana, claimed to have been grown in the Mexican state of

MichoacanUS , 1973

micknoun1an Irish person or Irish-AmericanUS , 1850.2a car that is

used in Ireland before being imported into, and reregistered in,

England – the documentation on such a vehicle gives the

impression of a much newer car Car dealers’ termUK , 1968.3a

prisonerUS , 1950.4the vaginaNEW ZEALAND , 1998.5a young bull,

especially if unbranded A shortening ofMICKEY AUSTRALIA , 1894

Micknouna Catholic From Mick, hypocoristic form of Michael, a

common name amongst Catholics in AustraliaAUSTRALIA , 1902

mickadjective(used of a school or college course) easyUK , 1972

Mickadjective1IrishUS , 1849.2CatholicAUSTRALIA , 1985

mickeynoun1the vagina Earlier also ‘michael’ (1950) and ‘mick’

(1930s)AUSTRALIA , 1969.2the penisIRELAND , 1909.3a young bull,

especially if unbrandedAUSTRALIA , 1876.4an ordinary fellowUS , 1949.

5a potatoUS , 1936.6an alcoholic drink adulterated with knock-out

drops A shortened form ofMICKEY FINN US , 1936.< throw a

mickeyto throw a tantrum Perhaps related toMICKEY(a young

bull)AUSTRALIA , 1952

mickey; mickey outverbto drug someone’s drinkUS , 1946

mickey-dickverbto cheat, to engage in petty thieveryUK , 2005

Mickey D’snouna McDonald’s™ fast-food restaurantUS , 1977

Mickey-Finnverbto incapacitate someone with a drink that has

been adulterated with a tranquillizer From the nounUS , 2002

Mickey Finn; Mickey Flynn; Mickey’snounan alcoholic beverage

that has been adulterated with a strong tranquillizer; the narcotic

that is so usedUS , 1928

Mickey Housenounin poker, an unplayable handUS , 1988

mickey juicenounsexual vaginal secretionsAUSTRALIA , 1996

Mickey mannouna radar operatorUS , 1946

Mickey Mousenoun1a house Rhyming slangUK , 1960.2a

Liverpudlian Rhyming slang forSCOUSE, no doubt informed by the

use of ‘Mickey Mouse’ to mean ‘inferior’ Noted in mocking use

among London football supportersUK , 1992.3Famous Grouse™

whisky Glasgow rhyming slangUK: SCOTLAND , 1988.4a wrist watch

From the watches with the face of Mickey Mouse first popular in

the 1930sUS , 1959.5a variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best

known as ecstasy, identified by the embossed motifUK , 2002.6in

American casinos, a $2.50 chipUS , 1985.7an ultra-shortwave radar

used for aircraft spotting From a distance, the apparatus may be

said to resemble a mouseUS , 1947

Mickey Mouseadjective1inferior, trivial, cheap Originally coined to

describe inferior dance music, then given a broader senseUS , 1947.

2outmoded, old-fashioned or unnecessarily conventionalUS , 1971.

3excellent Rhyming slang forGROUSE AUSTRALIA , 1973

Mickey Mouse aroundverbto fool around School usageUS , 1961

Mickey Mouse bootsnounheavy rubber boots issued to soldiers

during the Korean warUS , 1952

Mickey Mouse missionnouna simple, undemanding, relatively

safe military taskUS , 1990

Mickey Mouse moneynoun1any unfamiliar or foreign currency;

an unfeasible amount of any money Originally used by the US

military for Japanese currency; contemporary usage may be

applied to, for instance, the Euro or Scottish banknotesUS , 1945.

2military scrip issued to soldiers in the Korean warUS , 1957

Mickey Mouse movienouna pornographic film that shows little or

no detailed activityUK , 1976

Mickey Mouser; mickeynouna person from Liverpool, a

Liverpudlian Rhyming slang forSCOUSER UK , 2000

Mickey Rooneynouna madman, a crazy person Rhyming slang for

LOONYformed from the name of US film actor and entertainer

(b.1920)UK , 1988

mickey’snounLSDUK , 2003

mickey-take; micky-takeverbto make fun of someone; to pull

someone’s leg; to jeer at, to deride FromTAKE THE MICKY(to

mickey-taking; micky-takingnounan act of derisive tauntingUK , 1959

mickienouna bottled alcoholic drinkUS , 1914

Mick Jaggernounlager Glasgow rhyming slang (a good rhyme inthe local accent), formed from the singer with The Rolling Stones(b.1943)UK: SCOTLAND , 1985

micksnounMichelin™ tyresUS , 1971

Mick’s bloodnounGuinness™ stout The quintessential Irish beer

micky munchernouna cunnilinguistAUSTRALIA , 1988

microbodnounin caving and pot-holing, a small adult or child withthe ability to fit into narrow passages and around difficult corners

UK , 2004

microchipnouna Japanese person Rhyming slang forNIP UK , 1992

microdot; mic; micro; mikenouna small tablet of LSDUK , 1996

Microsloth WindowsnicknameMicrosoft Windows™US , 1991

mid-airnounin the language of hang gliding, a collision involvingtwo fliersUS , 1992

middlenoun1in sports betting, a combination of bets that produce

a win no matter what the outcome of the gameUS , 1975.2the

waist From Old English middel and middil UK , 2002

middle combnounhair parted in the centre Hawaiian youth usage

US , 1982

middle legnounthe penis Still in popular useUK , 1896

middle namenounanything which is your passion or speciality oroutstanding characteristic may be claimed as your middle name

US , 1905

Middlesexadjectivehomosexual A pun on the placeUS , 1948

middle-sexedadjectivehomosexualUS , 1950

middle stumpnounthe penis From cricketUK , 1937

middlingsnounin the illegal production of alcohol, livestock feedused instead of grainUS , 1974

middy; middienouna ten ounce glass of beer; a serving of beer insuch a glassAUSTRALIA , 1945

midgetnoun1a very young member of a youth gangUS , 1981.2inmotor racing, a small, single-seat, open race carUS , 1980

midgyadjectivesmall Probably derived from ‘midget’UK , 1999

Midland Banknounan act of masturbation Rhyming slang for

WANK, formed from the name of a high street bankUK , 1998

midnightnounin dice games, a roll of 12US , 1919

midnight auto parts; midnight auto service; midnight auto supplynounstolen car parts; their notional sourceUS , 1966

midnight cowboynouna homosexual prostitute, originally one whowears cowboy clothes; hence a homosexual man Brought from

gay subculture into wider use by the flim Midnight Cowboy, 1969.

The less subtle, general sense resulted from the film’s successUS , 1972

midnight labnouna laboratory where illegal drugs aremanufacturedUS , 1970

midnight massnounan informer Rhyming slang (probably fromthe north of England by the accent required for the rhyme) for

GRASS(an informer)UK , 1996

midnight oilnounopiumUS , 1949

midnight overdrivenouncoasting down a hill with the car or truck

in neutral gearUS , 1971

midnight revuenounserial consecutive sex between one personand multiple partners, usually consensualUS , 1949

midnightsnounthe midnight shift, a work schedule beginning at

midnight shoppernouna burglarUS , 1976

midnight supply mannouna person who traffics in stolen

equipmentUS , 1954

midnight tokernouna person who smokes marijuana before

retiring to bedUS , 1973

midratsnouna meal served between midnight and 1am An

abbreviation of ‘midnight rations’US , 1973

midway bonusnounin circus and carnival usage, an extravagant,

empty promiseUS , 1981

MIG alleynounduring the Korean war, airspace controlled by North

Korea and its alliesUS , 1951

mightyadjectiveexcellentNEW ZEALAND , 1984

mightyadverbvery, greatly Often ironicUK , 1715

Mighty Joe Youngnouna central nervous system depressantUK , 1998

mighty mezznouna generous marijuana cigarette, or simply

marijuanaUS , 1946

mighty mitenoun1a marijuana variety with large budsCANADA , 2002.

2an airblower used by the military in Vietnam to blow smoke or

tear gas into enemy tunnels Also spelt ‘mity-mite’US , 1967

mighty QuinnnounLSDUS , 1975

mikenoun1a microgram (1/1,000,000th of a gram) The unit of

measure for LSD doses, even in the non-metric USUS , 1967.2a

microdot (of LSD), 1998.3a microphoneUS , 1927.4a minute From

the military phonetic alphabet – ‘mike’ for ‘m’, and ‘m’ for

‘minute’US , 1986.5a person who secretly finances a licensed

bookmakerAUSTRALIA , 1989

mike; mike upverbto equip with a microphoneUK , 1984

Mike Bliss; Micky Blissnounthe act of urination; urine Rhyming

slang forPISS, which leads toTAKE THE MICKY,TAKE THE MICHAELand

variants such asTAKE THE PISS(to jeer)UK , 1961

mike boatnouna military landing craftUS , 1977

mike checknounoral sex on a maleUS , 1992

mike frightnounan overwhelming fear that confronts an actor

when facing a microphoneUS , 1952

Mike Hunta fictitious name, used as a prank for waiting lists The

announcement ‘table for Mike Hunt’ sounds very much like ‘table

for my cunt’, thus a source of amusementUS , 1994

mike julietnounmarijuana Vietnam war usage The military

phonetic alphabet forMJ(marijuana)US , 1977

Mike Malonenouna telephone Rhyming slangUK , 1992

mike-mikenouna millimeter, or a weapon with a calibre measured

in millimeters From the military phonetic alphabet for ‘mm’US ,

1967

mik-e-niknouna car or truck mechanicUS , 1976

mileagenoun1any extra use or advantage that may be derived

from a situationUS , 1955.2a record of previous convictionsUK , 1996

Mile Endnouna friend Rhyming slang, formed from an area of east

LondonUK , 1992

Mile High Clubnouna collective noun for people who claim to

have had sex on an airborne plane Interestingly, the equivalent

‘club’ on a train is not measured in height but distance travelled:

‘the nine mile club’US , 1972

milesnoun< make some milesto drive (a truck)US , 1971

milesadverbmuchUK , 1885

milf; MILFnouna sexually appealing motherUS , 1999

milkverb1to exploit, to cheatUK , 1536.2to masturbateUK , 1616.3in

card games, to draw the top and bottom cards (off a new pack)

before the first shuffleUS , 1845.< get off and milk it!used for

heckling a bicyclist Mainly schoolchildren useUK , 1975.< milk a

rushwhile injecting a drug, to draw blood into the syringe and

slowly release the drug into the vein, controlling the immediate

effect of the drugUS , 1986.< milk itto squeeze the shaft of the

penis towards the head of the penisUS , 1978.< milk the

anaconda(of a male) to masturbateUS , 1985.< milk the bushes

to move a boat by pulling on shore bushesCANADA .< milk

the lizard(of a male) to masturbate; to cause sexual ejaculation

UK , 1997.< milk the one-eyed aphidof a male, to masturbate

UK , 2003

milk?used as a tease of someone whose demeanour is just a bitcattyUS , 1994

milk-ballnounany alcoholic beverage served with milkUS , 1983

milk barnounthe female breasts Probably dating from the 1950swhen conventional milk bars had their peak of popularityUK , 1984

milkbar cowboynouna motorcyclist given to frequenting milk bars

A term from the 1950s and 60sNEW ZEALAND , 1988

milk-dropnounan auction fraud in which the auctioneer inflatesthe price of an item by accepting non-existent bids before sellingthe item to the victim of the fraudUK , 2003

milkernounin poker, a player who bets only on a very good hand orwith very good oddsUS , 1988

milkie; milkynouna milkmanUK , 1886

milking stoolnounin electric line work, a yoke used for supportinghot line tension toolsUS , 1980

milkman’s horseadjective cross, angry Rhyming slang (the Cockney

accent should be obvious)UK , 1961

milkonouna milk vendorAUSTRALIA , 1907

milk ropenouna pearl necklaceUS , 1956

milk routenounan easy, lucrative sales routeUS , 1930.< do the milk routeas a prostitute, to visit late-night venues in search ofcustomersUS , 1987

milk runnoun1a routine trip, especially one that calls at severalplaces Originally military Also called a ‘milk round’UK , 1942.2asimple, undemanding, undangerous military taskUS , 1943.3the firstrun of a ski-lift on a given morning, or the first run down themountain of the dayUS , 1963

milkshakenoun1a solution of baking powder administered to aracehorse to improve its performanceNEW ZEALAND , 1990.2sementhat is sucked and swallowed from a rectumUS , 1987.3oral sexperformed on a maleNEW ZEALAND , 1998

milkshakeverbto administer a milkshake to a horseNEW ZEALAND , 1992

milksopnouna cowardly or effeminate manUK , 1382

milksuckernouna young childUS , 1975

milk-trainnouna train with an early morning scheduleUS , 1853

Milky Waynouna homosexual Rhyming slang forGAY, created from

a galaxy far far away, or, more likely, from a popular chocolateconfection with the well-remembered slogan: ‘the sweet you caneat between meals without spoiling your appetite’UK , 1998

millnoun1millimetre, especially as a measure of a gun’s calibre, or

a width of still- and cine-camera filmUS , 1960.2one thousanddollarsUS , 1961.3a million, especially and usually a million dollars

or pounds Sometimes simply ‘mile’US , 1942.4in hot rodding anddrag racing, an engineUS , 1918

Millennium Domenoun1a comb Rhyming slang, formed fromthe famous folly while it was no more than a building siteUK , 1998.

2a telephone Rhyming slang (that barely rhymes) UK , 2002

millennium domesnounfemale breasts that are enhanced tomisleading dimensions After the UK’s much-criticised celebration

of 2000 years: the Millennium DomeUK , 2002

Miller timenounhours spent drinking beer after work or play Anadvertising slogan by the Miller Brewing Company, expanded tonon-product-specific ironic usageUS , 1981

millingnounthe action of fighting a companion, no holds barred, as

a test of your ability MilitaryUK , 1810

millionnouna certainty, a safe bet Probably from gambling odds of1,000,000–1 Examples: (of a plan) ‘It’s a million’; (for promotion)

‘You’re a million’UK , 1970.< gone a millionutterly undone;defeated; unable to recoverAUSTRALIA , 1913

million dollar woundnounduring war, a wound that was seriousenough to get a soldier sent home but not so serious as to affectthe rest of their lifeUS

millioninounmillions An unnecessary elaboration phonetically

simi-lar to Italian milione (million) UK , 2001

Milli Vanillinounthe penis Rhyming slang forWILLY, formed from a

controversial US music duo of the late 1980s and early 90sUK , 2003

Millwall bricknouna weapon made from a tightly rolled newspaper

Named after, or by association with, Millwall Football Club and the

awesome reputation of its ‘fans’UK , 1999

Millwall Reserves; millwallsnounnerves Rhyming slang, formed

from a London football teamUK , 1998

Milton Keynes; miltonsnoun1beans, especially baked beans

when served on toast Rhyming slang, based on the

Buckinghamshire townUK , 1998.2homosexuals Rhyming slang for

QUEEN(S), based on the Buckinghamshire townUK , 1998.3jeans,

denims Rhyming slang, based on the Buckinghamshire townUK ,

2002

mimeonouna mimeograph machine; a document produced by

mimeographUS , 1970

Mimeo Minnienounthe stereotypical female office workerUS , 1953

miminounan act of urination From the MaoriNEW ZEALAND , 1983

Miminounthe vagina A given name punning the centrality of the

vagina to the user’s perception of herself – ‘me me’US , 1998

mimic-mannouna Trinidadian who has adopted European or

American mannerisms and styleTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1971

mimi hillnouna stop during a road trip to use the toilet From the

Maori for ‘urinating’NEW ZEALAND , 1998

mincenoun1rubbish, nonsenseUK: SCOTLAND , 1911.2anything

unpleasantUK: SCOTLAND , 1985.3used in similes for listlessness or

unintelligenceUK: SCOTLAND , 1985.4Guinness™ stoutUK: SCOTLAND ,

1988

minceadjectiveused of an unpleasant thing, especially when in the

wrong placeUK: SCOTLAND , 1985

mincedadjectivedrunkUK , 2002

mincemeatnoun< make mincemeat ofto defeat absolutelyUK ,

1876

mince pies; mincesnounthe eyes Rhyming slangUK , 1857

minchnounin circus and carnival usage, an unengaged,

low-spending customerUS , 1928

mincyadjectivestupid, sillyUK: SCOTLAND , 1988

mindnoun< give someone a piece of your mindto reprimand,

to censureUK , 1861.< the mind boggles!a catchphrase used as

an ironic comment on any marked absurdity Widely popularised

in the Daily Mirror cartoon strip The Perishers, by Maurice Dodd,

from the 1950s in print and the late 70s as an animationUK , 1984

mindverb1to work as a bodyguard, especially for a criminal; to look

after a criminal activityUK , 1924.2to bribe regularlyUK , 1970.

< don’t mind me!; don’t mind me, I only live here!; don’t

mind me, I only work here!used by someone who feels

disregarded as an ironic suggestion that whatever is happening,

and that has caused such feelings of alienation, should continue

(and continue to disregard the speaker)UK , 1937.< never mind!;

never you mind!mind your own business!, don’t let it trouble

you!UK , 1814

mind!pay attention!, note what I say!, used to add emphatic force

to a statementUK , 1779

mindbendernoun1anything that challenges your knowledge or

assumptionsUK , 1963.2a hallucinogenic drugUS , 1971

mindblowernoun1an event, experience or situation that

completley surprises or shocksUS , 1968.2a hallucinogenic drugUS ,

1973

mind-blowingadjective1of drugs, especially hallucinogenicUK , 1967.

2amazing, almost unbelievable HyperboleUK , 1967

mind-bogglingadjectiveastoundingUK , 1964

mind detergentnounLSD; any psycho-active drug, legal or

otherwise Coined during the Cold War, this term is suggestive of

mindernouna criminal’s bodyguard or enforcer Made very familiar

to the UK public with the television series Minder, 1979–94 UK , 1924

mindfucknoun1anything that causes an internal paradigm shiftUS ,

1971.2the mental aspects of sexUS , 1970

mindfuckverbto baffle; to manipulate psychologicallyUS , 1967

mind-fuckingadjectivehaving the quality to confuse, puzzle orastound Conventional use of ‘mind’ plusFUCK(to confound)US , 1971

mindlenouna stupid girl Possibly derived as a shortening of

‘mindless’ Recorded in contemporary gay useUK , 2003

mindlessadjective(used of waves) immense and powerfulUS , 1987

mind your back!; mind your backs!get out of the way!; alsoused to ‘warn’ of the presence of a male homosexualUK , 1983

minenounyour jobUS , 1954.< down the minelostAUSTRALIA , 1969

mineadjectivea ‘minus’ attached to a gradeUS , 1968

mine!used for acknowledging in shorthand form responsibility for aproblemUS , 1989

minehost; mine host; mine-hostnouna tavern keeper, a publandlordUK , 1904

minernoun< the miner’ssilicosisUS , 1951

miner’s connounsilicosis An abbreviation of ‘consumption’US , 1951

mingnounan unpleasant smellUK: SCOTLAND , 1985

mingverbto stinkUK: SCOTLAND , 1986

mingenoun1the vagina From the Latin mingere (to urinate) and

the mistaken belief that urine passes through the vaginaUK , 1903.

2the pubic hair Extends from the previous sense to include thegeneral pubic area A natural redhead is known as a ‘ginger minge’

UK , 1903.3a contemptible person Extending the sense as ‘vagina’,synonymous withCUNT UK , 2001

minge bagnouna contemptible woman CombinesMINGEwithBAG

(an unattractive woman)UK , 1982

minge-munchernouna person who enjoys performing oral sex onwomenNEW ZEALAND , 1998

mingernouna person who smells bad; hence, an unattractiveperson of either sex From ScottishMING(to stink) Pronouncedwith a hard ‘g’UK , 2003

Minge Whingenickname The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler.

Actors’ slang for the widely popular theatre pieceUK , 2003

ming-hoadjectivedrunk Deriving, perhaps, fromMING(to stink), thusplaying onSTINKING(very drunk)UK , 2002

mingingadjective1unattractive, unpleasant; descriptive of anthingbad Also shortened to ‘mingin’ From the verbMING(to stink),hence to lookSTINKING(disgusting)UK: SCOTLAND , 1985.2drunk RoyalNavy slang; fromMING(to stink) henceSTINKING(drunk)UK , 1987

minglewoodnouna hollowed cigar refilled with hashish and potentmarijuanaUS , 2004

mingonounan unpleasant person Perhaps a combination ofMING

(to stink) andMINGE(the vagina), or perhaps an evolution of theolder sense (1775) of the word as a ‘chamberpot’UK , 2001

mingranouna police officerUK , 1979

ming-raynouna mischievous ‘game’ of spreading a school-fellow’spossessions over as wide an area as possible without being noticed

by the victimUK , 2003

mingyadjective1mean, miserly Probably a blend of ‘mangy’(shabby) or ‘mean’, and ‘stingy’ (mean)UK , 1911.3in pool, a shotthat cannot be missed or a game that cannot be lostUS , 1990

mininouna mini-skirt, a very short skirtUK , 1966

mini-beannounan amphetamine capsule; a tablet of MDMA, therecreational drug best known as ecstasyUK , 2003

mini-bennienounan amphetamine or Benzedrine™ (amphetaminesulphate, a central nervous system stimulant) tablet or capsuleUS , 1977

mini Lnouna Pontiac Grand Prix car A car with a strong

mini-menouna smaller version of somebody From a character

introduced in 1997 in the Austin Powers films UK , 2003

Mini Mokenouna cigar, cigarette or pipe Rhyming slang forSMOKE,

formed on a type of small carUK , 1998

mini-moonounthe vagina.MOO(an unpleasant woman) playing on

Mini-Me, the miniature alter-ego of the villainous Dr Evil in the

film Austin Powers, The Spy Who Shagged Me, 1999 UK , 2001

mini skirtnouna womanUS , 1977

mini-tankernouna small mobile beer tank hired for social

gatheringsNEW ZEALAND , 1977

MiniWacnicknameBill Bennett, premier of British Columbia from

1975 to 86CANADA , 1989

minknoun1a female friend or loverUS , 1899.2a female whose

romantic interest in a man is overshadowed by her interest in his

financial worthUS , 1960

minkynounthe vaginaUK , 2001

Min Min light; Min Min; min minnouna will-o’-the-wisp

Probably from an Australian Aboriginal languageAUSTRALIA , 1956

Minnesota mulenouna prostitute recently arrived in New York City

from a small town or cityUS , 1987

Minnesota stripnicknamean area in New York City frequented by

minnieverbto minceUK , 2002

Minnie Mousenounof a woman, the pubic hair Named after a

cartoon characterUK , 2003

minnownouna poker player who joins a no-stakes game without

sufficient fundsUS , 1978

minnynouna minimum security jail or prison; the minimum

security wing of a jail or prisonUS , 1976

minooadjectivea ‘minus’ attached to a gradeUS , 1968

minor-leagueadjectivemediocre, less than impressive From the

minor leagues in US professional baseballUS , 1949

minorsnoun< the minorsin horse racing, the second and third

place finishesAUSTRALIA , 1989

minors!that’s not a problem! Hawaiian youth usageUS , 1981

mintnoun1a great deal of money From the coinage of coinsUK ,

1655.2moneyUS , 1997.3a tablet of MDMA, the recreational drug

best known as ecstasyUK , 1996

mintagenouna mint-flavoured breath freshener or hard sweetUS ,

1993

mintedadjective1very rich A play on conventional ‘mint’ (the place

where money is made) and being ‘made of money’UK , 1999.

2excellentUK: SCOTLAND , 1988

mintienouna lesbian who plays the aggressive or dominant roleUS ,

1972

mintox; montadjectiveexcellent Noted as being in use since the

1970sUK , 2001

mint rocks; mints; rocksnounsocks Rhyming slang; a latter day

variation ofALMOND ROCKSreflecting the predominant flavour of

modern seaside rockUK , 1996

mintweed; mintnounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known

as PCP or angel dustUS , 1981

mintyadjective1less than good, filthy, badUK , 2002.2fashionable,

stylishCANADA , 2002.3homosexual, effeminateUS , 1965.4excellent

US , 1987

miraclenounin the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, an

extra ticket for that night’s showUS , 1994

miracle meatnouna penis that is almost as large flaccid as erectUS ,

Miracle Milenicknamea stretch of Wilshire Boulevard, a main artery

in Los Angeles, California A nickname coined by an estate agentbut then accepted in the vernacularUS , 1987

Miracle of the Doughnutsnounan apparition of the image ofChrist which occurred in September 1998 at a doughnut shop inCape BretonCANADA , 2001

miracle ricenounIR8, a high-yielding variety of rice introduced inVietnam in the 1960s, doubling rice production yieldsUS , 1985

miraculousadjectiveextremely drunkUK: SCOTLAND , 1873

Mirandanouna warning read or recited to criminal suspects before

an interrogation, informing them of their consitutional rights inthe situation From a 1966 decision of the US Supreme CourtUS , 1966

mirrornouna military sentry’s enemy counterpartUS , 1992

mirror man; mirrornouna person with decision-making authoritywho avoids making decisions From the stock answer of ‘I’ll lookinto it’AUSTRALIA , 1987

misbehaveverbto shave Rhyming slangUK , 1992

mischiefnoun< do you a mischiefto cause you trouble or harm

UK , 1385

mischieviousadjectivemischievous A frequent solecism in bothspeech and writingUK , 1937

misdeenouna misdemeanour or minor crimeUS , 1992

miserableadjectivemiserly; stingyAUSTRALIA , 1903

miserynounlow quality coffeeUS , 1949.< the miserythe bleedperiod of the menstrual cycle EuphemismUS , 1999

misery fiddlenoun(among Canadian loggers) a cross-cut saw

misery machinenouna motorcyleUS , 1962

misery paradenounalcoholics pacing on the pavement waiting for

an off-licence or bar to open in the morningUS , 1998

misfeaturenounin computing, a feature of a program that wascarefully planned but that produces undesirable consequences in agiven situationUS , 1983

misfirenounan instance of sexual impotence or prematureejaculationUS , 1981

mishnounthe missionary position for sexual intercourse – man ontop of prone womanUS , 1995

mishegossnounnonsense; crazinessUS , 1969

missnoun< give something a miss; give it a missto avoiddoing somethingUK , 1919

missverbto inject a drug intravenously Humorous use of anantonym, 1998.< miss a trickto fail to take advantage of a situ-ationUK , 1943.< miss out onto lose an opportunity, to fail toachieve somethingUS , 1929.< miss the boatto lose anopportunity, to be late for something Originally nauticalUK , 1929.

< miss the busto lose an opportunityUK , 1915.< miss the pink and pot the brownto engage in heterosexual analintercourse A snooker metaphor playing on ‘pink’ (the openvagina) and ‘brown’ (the anus)UK , 1997

Miss Ann; Missy Annnounthe prototype of the white southernwomanUS , 1925

Miss Carrienouna small supply of drugs carried on the person of adrug addict Carried to get the addict through a short incarceration

in the event of an arrestUS , 1973

missesnoundice that have been weighted, either to throw a sevenless (for the opening roll in craps) or more (for subsequent rolls)than normalUS , 1962

Miss GreennounmarijuanaUS , 1952

missing

missing linknounzinc Rhyming slang, used by scrap-dealers in

GlasgowUK: SCOTLAND , 1988

missing you alreadyused as a farewell A popular catchphrase;

alas the sincerity of the sentiment is often undermined by

sarcasmUK , 2000

missionnoun1a search to buy crack cocaine Another Star Trek

metaphorUS , 1992.2an assignment given to a youth gang member

US , 1995

mission bum; mission stiffnouna tramp who frequents the

dining rooms and sleeping quarters offered to the desitute by

religious missionsUS , 1924

Mississippi flushnounin poker, any hand and a revolverUS , 1999

Mississippi marblesnoundiceUS , 1920

Mississippi mudflapnouna hairstyle: the hair is worn short at the

front and long at the back Best known as aMULLET US , 2001

Mississippi saxophonenouna harmonica, a mouth organUS , 1996

Miss Itnounused as a term of address to a person with excessive

self esteemUS , 1968

Miss Mugginsnouna notional seller of out-of-fashion clothing

BARBADOS , 1965

Missouri marblesnoundiceUS , 1962

Missouri passnounin the US, pulling off a road onto the hard

shoulder to pass a vehicle on the rightUS , 1999

Missouri stopnouna rolling stop at a traffic signal or stop signUS ,

1999

Miss Palmer and her five daughtersnounmasturbationBAHAMAS ,

1971

Miss Piggynoun1a fat, aggressive, loud homosexual man An

allusion to a main character on the Muppets children’s television

programmeUS , 1980.2a cigarette Rhyming slang forCIGGY UK , 1998

Miss Prissnounused as a friendly female-to-female term of address

US , 1996

Miss Thingnounused as a term of address for someone (female or

homosexual male) with excessive self-esteemUS , 1957

missusnoun1a wife A phonetic rendering of ‘Mrs’; ultimately from

‘mistress’ Always modified as either ‘the missus’, or ‘my’, ‘your’,

‘his missus’UK , 1833.2the ‘woman of the house’ on a country

property Counterpart of the masculineBOSS UK , 1836.3lady;

madam Used as a term of address to an unknown womanUK , 1861

mistnoun1phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or

angel dustUS , 1977.2the smoke produced when crack cocaine is

smokedUS , 1994

mistanounmister A deliberate misspellingUK , 1997

misternoun1the male manager of a homosexual brothelUS , 1966.

2a steady boyfriend or common-law husbandTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ,

1945

Mister; Mrnouna stereotype of the adjective that followsUS , 1940

Mister B; Mr BnicknameBilly Eckstine (1914–93), jazz vocalistUS ,

1948

Mister B-52; Mr B-52nicknameLt Colonel John Paul Vann

(1934–72), killed in a helicopter crash in VietnamUS , 1988

Mister Big; Mr Bignounthe head of an organisation, especially a

criminal enterpriseUS , 1940

Mister Bitchy; Mr Bitchynouna Mitsubishi carUS , 1992

Mister Brown; Mr Brownnounthe passive male in homosexual

anal sexUS , 1950

Mister Busy; Mr Busynounin prison, any officer with an

antagon-istic attitude toward the prisonersUK , 1996

Mister C; Mr CnicknamePerry Como (b.1912), US singerUS , 1982

Mister Charles; Mr Charlesnouna white manUS , 1970

Mister Charlie; Mr Charlienounused as a stereotypical

represen-tation of white authority over black people A piece of slang used

Mister Chatsby; Mr Chatsbynouna non-existent member of acircus administration used to fob off unwelcome visitors Possibly

an elaboration ofCHAT(a thing)UK , 1953

Mister Clean; Mr Clean; Miss Cleannouna person in the eye who maintains an image that is beyond reproachUS , 1974

public-Mister Dictionary has deserted us yet againused as ahumorous comment on profanityUS , 1994

Mister Fixit; Mr Fixitnounused as an informal title for someonewho is able to ‘fix’ things, whether from a technical knowledge orpolitical influence ‘Mr’ may be replaced with another title asappropriateUK , 1984

Mister Floppy; Mr Floppynounthe penis that has become flaccidwhen an erection is to be preferredUK , 2003

Mister Foot; Mr Footnounthe penis An imperial measure ofbraggingUK , 2001

Mister Geezer; Mr Geezernounthe penis Both parts of this bination indicate ‘a man’US , 2001

com-Mister Green; Mr GreennounmoneyUS , 1973

Mister Happy; Mr Happynoun1the penis Adopted from thecharacter created by UK cartoonist Roger Hargreaves (1935–88) for

his Mr Men children’s books US , 1984.2a nappy Glasgow rhymingslangUK: SCOTLAND , 1988

Mister Hawkins; Mr Hawkinsnouna cold winter wind Anembellishment and personification ofHAWK US , 1970

Mister Hyde; Mr Hydenounan untrustworthy person Rhymingslang forSNIDE, informed by rhyming slangJEKYLL AND HYDE(two-faced) and the character of Mr Hyde in Robert Louis Stevenson’s

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde UK , 1992

Mister Jones; Mr Jonesnounused as a personification of thedominant white cultureUS , 1971

Mister Lovely; Mr LovelynounmarijuanaUK , 2003

Mister Man; Mr Mannounused as a disparaging term of address

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1904

Mister Matey; Mr Mateynounthe penis A pet name; possibly areference to Matey™, a brand name bubble bath for children,marketed in a phallic-shaped character-bottle that is suited toplaying games in the bathUK , 2001

Mister Miggles; Mr MigglesnounheroinNEW ZEALAND , 1997

Mister Money; Mr Moneynouna Jewish personUS , 1980

Mister Nasty; Mr Nastynounthe penisUS , 2001

Mister Nice; Mr Nicenounone of the most powerful hybrid-strains

of marijuana Named in honour of Howard Marks, a campaignerfor the legalisation of cannabis ‘Mr Nice’ was one of forty-threealiases Marks used in his former career as marijuana smuggler andthe one by which he is publicly recognisedUK , 2002

Mister Period; Mr Periodnounused of a personification of thefact that a woman has missed her normal menstrual periodUS , 1980

Mister Sin; Mr Sinnouna police officer assigned to the vice squad

US , 1980

Mister Softy; Mr Softynouna flaccid penisUS , 1995

Mister Speaker; Mr Speakernouna handgunUS , 1945

Mister Television; Mr TelevisionnicknameMilton Berle, UScomedian of vaudeville, radio and television fame (1908–2002).Berle was the first superstar of US television, hosting the very

popular Tuesday night Texaco Star Theater Berle personified the

early days of television; when he died in March 2002, newspaperheadlines across the US proclaimed that ‘Mr Television’ had died

US , 1949

Mister TFX; Mr TFXnicknameAlbert W Blackburn, a special ant to Secretary of the Defense Robert McNamara in the early1960s and an advocate of the controversial TFX (Tactical Fighter,Experimental)US , 1967

assist-Mister Thirty; Mr Thirtynouna tiger During the Vietnam war,tigers were occasionaly seen near the end of the lunar month

Mister Truman’s Warnounthe Korean war A Republican party

coiningUS , 1964

Mister Twenty-six; Mr Twenty-sixnouna hypodermic needleUS ,

1973

Mister Winky; Mr Winkynounthe penis Especially in the phrase

‘giving Mr Winky an oral report’ (oral sex)US , 2001

Mister Wood; Mr Woodnouna police truncheon From the

crime-fighting technology employed at the timeUK , 1998

Mister Wood in the house; Mr Wood in the houseused to

describe a poorly attended circus performance It is easier to see

the wooden benches than the audience that should be sitting on

themUK , 1953

Mister Zippo; Mr Zipponounthe operator of a flame thrower

Vietnam war slang based on the Zippo™ manufacturing

company’s many cigarette lightersUS , 1991

mistie; mistynouna tablet of morphine sulphate Probably because

the sensation described by users is ‘misty’NEW ZEALAND , 2002

Mitcham Gypsynouna person who wishes, or pretends, to be a

gypsy Mitcham in Surrey is a town where a number of travelling

families have taken residence in housesUK , 2000

mites and licenounin poker, a hand with a pair of threes and a

pair of twosUS , 1967

mitsubishi; mitsinouna variety of MDMA, the recreational drug

best known as ecstasy From the Mitsubishi car manufacturer’s

logo embossed on the tabletUK , 2001

Mitsubishi Turbonouna tablet of PMA, a synthetic hallucinogen,

etched with the Japanese car manufacturer’s logoUK , 2001

mittnoun1the handUS , 1893.2in poker or other card games, a hand

of cardsUS , 1896

mittverbto grab, to seizeUS , 1915

mitt campnouna fortune-telling booth in a carnivalUS , 1980

mitten moneynounextra money, either in the form of a tip or a

bribe From the practice of sea-going pilots charging an extra fee

for winter workUS , 1975

mitt mannounin gambling, a cheat who switches cardsUS , 1997

mitt readernounin circus and carnival usage, a fortune teller who

reads palmsUS , 1981

Mitzinouna Mitsubishi carUK , 2002

mixnounkava, a tranquillity-inducing herbal beverageFIJI , 1995.< in

the mixinvolved with youth gang activityUS , 1995

mixverbto fightUS , 1895.< mix it1to stir up troubleUS , 1899.2to

fightUK , 1900.< mix your peanut butterto play the active role

in anal sexUS , 1971

mix and muddlenouna cuddle Rhyming slangUK , 1992

mixed jivenouncrack cocaineUK , 2003

mixed upadjectiveconfusedUS , 1884

mixernoun1a troublemaker, a mischief-makerUK , 1938.2a woman

who works in a bar, encouraging customers through flirtation to

buy drinks, both for themselves and for herUS , 1950

mix inverbto join a fightUK , 1912

mixing sticknounthe gear shift of a truckUS , 1961

mixmasternoun1a Cessna O-1 Super Skymaster aircraft, used in

forward air control missions in VietnamUS , 1951.2a complex

motorway interchangeUS , 1976.3a dance music disc jockey With

variant form ‘mixmeister’US , 1995

mixonouna bartenderUS , 1950

mixologistnouna bartenderUS , 1950

miz!that’s too bad! An abbreviation of ‘miserable’US , 1997

mizzinouna type of MDMA, the recreational drug best known as

ecstasyUK , 2000

mizzleverbto depart hurriedlyUK , 1781

MJ; mjnounmarijuana FromMARY JANE(marijuana)US , 1966

MLRnounin the Korean war, the main line of resistance or the front

MMMnounan automated cash machine An abbreviation ofMAGIC MONEY MACHINE; used widely in conversation in the 1990sNEW ZEALAND , 2002

’monouna homosexualUS , 1968

monoun1a momentUK , 1896.2in a prison, a prisoner subject tomental observationUS , 2000.3a moustacheAUSTRALIA , 1894.4amonthUS , 1928.5a homosexualUS , 1968

MOnoun1a criminal’s method of operating From the Latin modus operandi US , 1954.2marijuana Also without the capitalsUS , 1977

mo’adjectivemoreUS , 2002

moannouna complaint or grievance, an instance of spokencomplaining Originally military, probably from the verb ‘moan’ (togrumble)UK , 1911

moaning Minnienouna persistent grumbler Formed on a girl’sname but applied to moaners of either genderUK , 1962

moan-o-dramanouna romance story in a girls’ magazineCANADA , 1997

mobnoun1a group of friendsUS , 1939.2a group of people sharingsome connectionAUSTRALIA , 1848.3a gang of criminalsUK , 1791.4amilitary unitUK , 1894.5a group of surfersAUSTRALIA , 1964.6a group

of Aboriginal Australians; in Aboriginal English, a tribe, languagegroup or Aboriginal communityAUSTRALIA , 1828.7in circus andcarnival usage, the men employed by the show as a groupUS , 1981.

8a group of animals; a flock or herdAUSTRALIA , 1828

Mobnoun< the Moborganized crime; the MafiaUS , 1969

mobverb1to idle, to relax with friendsUS , 1995.2to surround, yell atand assaultUS , 1998

MOBmoney over bitches US , 1998

mobbed upadjectiveassociated with organized crimeUS , 1973

mobbienoun1a female willing to take any and all sexual partners

AUSTRALIA , 1985.2a member of an organized crime organisationUS , 1994

Mobenounthe Student Mobilization Committee Against the War inVietnam (SMC), the most powerful and visible anti-war group inthe US in the late 1960s and early 70sUS , 1970

mob-handedadjectiveused to denote that the person specified iswithin a group or accompanied by a gang of peopleUK , 1934

mobie; mobynouna mobile phoneUK , 1998

mobilenouna mobile phoneUK , 2005

mobileadjectivesexually attractiveUS , 1993

mobile parking lotnouna car transporterUS , 1976

moblog; mobloggingnouna diary or a miscellany of random vations, text-messages and pictures collected on a mobile phoneand posted on the Internet; the act of creating, keeping orupdating such a record From ‘mobile weblog’ (seeBLOG)UK , 2002

obser-mobotonnouna splendid example of somethingBARBADOS , 1965

mobsnouna great numberAUSTRALIA , 1927

Mobynouna completely depillated female pubis Named for thetotally bald-headed musician Moby (Richard Melville Hall, b.1965)

US , 2003

mobyadjectiveenormous A term brought into the world ofcomputer programming from the model railway club at MITUS , 1965

Moby Dicknouncocaine Refers to theGREAT WHITE WHALEin Moby Dick, the classic novel by Herman Melville (1819–91) Cocaine,

thereby, is claimed to be great and white (and you can have ‘awhale of a time’?)UK , 2001.< on the Moby Dick; on the moby

on sick leave Rhyming slangUK , 1992

Moby Dick; mobyadjectivesick Rhyming slangUK , 1992

moby grapenounan improvised mechanism for injecting drugs,consisting of a syringe with a rubber bulb from a child’s dummyattached to the end The connection between this term and thelate 1960s pyschedelic rock band by the same name seems

moccasin telegraphnounpassing information through rumour,

gossip or the Internet The original meaning referred to the use of

Indian people as runners to carry messages; it has been adapted

to the Internet worldUS , 1908

mockernounclothing; attire Origin unknown ‘Thirty-five’ (author of

a glossary of Australian prison slang) writing in 1950 gave the

defi-nition ‘a coat’AUSTRALIA , 1953

mockered upadjectivedressed upAUSTRALIA , 1938

mockersnoun< put the mockers on1to jinxAUSTRALIA , 1911.2to

thwart, to frustrate someone’s plans A variation of earlier ‘put the

mock(s) on’, which had a sense akin to ‘put a jinx on someone’

AUSTRALIA , 1949

mock fightingnounsimulated fightingUS , 1978

mockit; mawkitadjectivevery dirty Originally meant ‘maggoty’,

now applied equally to actual dirt and notional obscenityUK:

SCOTLAND , 1911

mockitnessnoundirtiness FromMOCKIT(very dirty)UK: SCOTLAND , 1988

mockneynounan ersatz London accent and vocabulary; someone

who affects such artificial speech and background in search of

cool A compound of ‘mock’ (false) and ‘Cockney’ (the accent and

identity of anyone born ‘within the sound of Bow bells’ or, loosely,

an East Ender)UK , 1989

mock outverbto imitateUS , 1960

mocksticknouna person who is the subject of mockeryBARBADOS ,

1965

mocky; mockienouna Jewish personUS , 1893

mocumentarynouna film or television entertainment in the style

of a documentaryUS , 1990

modnoun1a member of the 1960s youth cult that is characterised

by its detailed dress sense and use of motor-scooters Abbreviated

from ‘modernist’ Wittily defined in the 6th edition of The

Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, 1967, as ‘a

teenager unable to afford a motorcycle, and doing his damnedest

with a scooter’ and pedantically riposted by David Holloway, who

writes in his review of the dictionary: ‘"Mods" ride scooters

because the machines protect their clothes[.]’ ‘Mod’ survives in

C21 as a convenient music genre, and as small living-history

groups who dressup in period costumes, ride scooters and dance

to music marketed as ‘Mod’UK , 1960.2in computing, a

modifi-cationUS , 1991.3a percent sign (%) on a computer keyboardUS , 1991

modamsnounmarijuanaUS , 1977

mod connouna modern convenience From estate agent jargonUK ,

1934

moddernouna modifierUK , 2003

moddy boynouna young male who embraces the fashion and style

of the modsUK , 1983

modeverbto show disrespect; to exploitUS , 2001

modelnouna prostituteUK , 1995

model Cadjectiveapplied to teenagers in South Africa who attend

private schools or mixed-race public schoolsSOUTH AFRICA , 2003

model Dnouna black student who attends, or attended, a

government school in a township Scamto youth street slang

(South African townships)SOUTH AFRICA , 2005

modifiedadjectiveused of a car that has been in an accidentUK , 1981

modplodnouna member of the military police Combines the

acronym MOD (the Ministry of Defence) with ‘plod’ (the police)UK ,

1987

mods and rockers; modsnounthe female breasts Rhyming slang

forKNOCKERS, formed from two youth gangs who battled their way

into 1960s folkloreUK , 1992

mod squadnounany group of black and white people An allusion

to a US television series (1968–73) that featured three

hipper-than-hip juvenile delinquents turned police – Julie, Linc and Pete, one

black, one white and one blondeUS , 1971

modulate; modjitateverbto talk on a citizens’ band radio

moeras an expletive, used as an expression of rage or disgust; used

as an obscene and abusive form of address; in intensifyingphrases, ‘the moer’, ‘moer of a’, ‘moer and gone’, etc, a synonym

of hell From Afrikaans for ‘mother’ (of animals) or ‘womb’SOUTH AFRICA , 1946

moer; moeraverbto thrash, to beat-up Not in polite useSOUTH AFRICA , 1960

mofanounmarijuanaUS , 2001

moffnouna hermaphroditic animalAUSTRALIA , 1953

moffie; mophynouna homosexual male; a male transvestite.Deriving, probably, from ‘hermaphrodite’, but other etymological

theories are interesting; mofrodite (a castrated Italian opera singer); Dutch mof (an article of clothing); English ‘mauve’ (as a variant of

lavender, a colour associated with homosexuality) The word

‘moffie’ or ‘mophy’ first appears in South African sea slang in

1929 as ‘a delicate, well-groomed young man’SOUTH AFRICA , 1929

moffiedomnounhomosexual society FromMOFFIE(a homosexual)

SOUTH AFRICA , 1977

mofonounmotherfuckerUS , 1965

mognouna cat A docking ofMOGGY UK , 1927

mo-gasnoungasoline fuel used for ground vehicles Vietnam warusageUS , 1977

moggienounMogodon™, a brand name tranquillizerUK , 1998

moggy; moggienouna catUK , 1911

mogueverbto deceive, to foolUK , 1854.< and no mogue?used toimply a slight incredulity, ‘That’s true?’ From ‘mogue’ (todeceive); since late C19 a tailors’ catchphrase that slipped intopolariUK , 2002

mohaskynounmarijuana Variants include ‘mohaska’, ‘mohasty’ and

an advertisement for his dangerous sexuality This meaning,

how-ever, was not widely appreciated before the second Austin Powers

film opened in 1999, but it caught on quickly thereafterUS , 1999.

3hard drugs, especially powdered drugs: cocaine, heroin,morphine From the sense ‘a kind of magic’; first recorded in thissense as is ‘morphine’US , 1935.4an early version of the faxmachine Very slow, very cumbersome, but for its day a greatadvance, almost ‘magical’, hence the term Popularised by Hunter

molassesnounused as a euphemism for ‘shit’UK , 1994

molenoun1a promiscuous woman Commonly used as a term ofdisparagement implying promiscuity Merely a respelling ofMOLL

in the same sense, representing the usual Australian pronunciation

AUSTRALIA , 1965.2in electric line work, a lineman or cable-splicerwho works undergroundUS , 1980

mole holenounthe underground barracks where air attack alertcrews liveUS , 1963

mollnoun1an unmarried female companion of a criminalUK , 1823.

2a promiscuous woman Commonly used as a term of contempt,especially amongst teenagers, implying promiscuity Commonlypronounced to rhyme with ‘pole’AUSTRALIA , 1972.3a prostitute Nowobsolete in Britain but survives in AustraliaUK , 1604.< like a moll

at a christeninguncomfortably out of placeAUSTRALIA , 1945

moll buzz

moll-buzzernouna thief who specialises in snatching handbags

from women with children in prams or pushchairsUS , 1859

mollynoun1an effeminate male homosexualUK , 1709.2any central

nervous system stimulantUS , 1979.3MDMA, the recreational drug

best known as ecstasyUK , 2003

molly-boobynouna foolish personBARBADOS , 1965

mollycoddlenounan effeminate man, especially an effeminate

homosexual manUK , 1833

molly-dookernouna left-handed personAUSTRALIA , 1934

Molly Hogannounin logging, a wire strand, cut from cable, used as

a cotter pinCANADA , 1989

Molly Hogan dealnouna deal with a catch, something wrong

CANADA , 1966

Molly Maguiredadjectivetired Rhyming slang, formed, probably,

from the title of the 1970 film The Molly Maguires rather than the

C19 originalsUK , 1998

Molly Malone; mollynouna telephone Rhyming slang, formed

from the name of the tragic heroine of the traditional ballad,

‘Cockles and Mussels’UK , 1971

Molly O’Morgannounan organ (in any sense) Rhyming slang,

orig-inally for ‘a barrel organ’UK , 1961

molly the monkadjectivedrunk Rhyming slangAUSTRALIA , 1966

moloadjectivedrunk Origin unknownAUSTRALIA , 1906

MolsonlandnicknameCanadaCANADA , 2002

Molson musclenounthe rounded belly of the habitual beer drinker

Molson is one of the two largest breweries in CanadaCANADA , 2001

momnounthe ‘feminine’ or ‘passive’ member of a lesbian

relation-shipUS , 1957

mom-and-popadjectivesmall-time, small-scale From the image of a

small grocery store owned and operated by a husband and wifeUS ,

1943

momgramnounthe postcard that many US Marine recruits sent

home upon arriving at basic training in Parris Island, South

momsnouna motherUS , 1965

momzer; momsernouna bastard; a brute; a detestable man From

the Hebrew for ‘bastard’US , 1947

Monnicknamethe Monongahela RiverUS , 1982

Mona Lisanoun1a pizza Rhyming slang, formed from the English

name of the famous portrait by Leonardo da VinciUK , 1998.2a

freezer Rhyming slangUK , 1992

monarchnounin a deck of playing cards, a kingUS , 1988

Monday morning quarterbacknoun1in American football, a fan

who from the distance of the day after a game knows exactly what

should have been doneUS , 1967.2a self-styled expert who from the

safety of distance knows exactly what should have been done in a

given situation in which he was not a participantUS , 1950

Monday pillnounthe large, orange anti-malarial pill

(chloroquine-primaquine) taken once a week by US troops in VietnamUS , 1990

mondoadjectivelargeUS , 1982

mondoadverbveryUS , 1968

moneynoun1someone who is attractive, nice and generally a good

catch Popularised as a catchphrase by the film Swingers US , 1997.

2a close friend or trusted colleagueUS , 1992.3in prison, anything

of value in tradeUS , 1976.< have money to burnto be rich, to

have plenty to spendUS , 1896.< in the money1wealthy,

especially if exceptionally so; comfortably off . in horse

racing, finishing first, second or third in a raceUS , 1964.< it’s only moneysaid to yourself or another, as encouragement to spend orconsolation, when faced with an unwanted or unexpected expense

UK , 1984.< money talks and bullshit walksused as ahumorous suggestion that talk is cheapUS , 1984.< money to stone dogsa lot of money Pelting anything handy at foragingstray dogs is a common habit among the poor.JAMAICA , 2001.

< put your money where your mouth isto back up yourwords with a wager or a paymentUS , 1942.< you pays your money and you takes your choice!; you pays your money!

only if you contribute to something in some manner are youentitled to hold an opinion or take advantage of that something Acatchphrase Originally, and in its literal sense, a stallholder’s cry to

customers, recorded in Punch in 1846 Familiarity has shortened

the phrase without amending its senseUK , 2000

moneybagsnouna wealthy individualIRELAND , 1818

money ballnounin pool, a shot that if made will win a wagerUS , 1990

money boxnoun1a Royal Mail trainUK , 1970.2any money thatremains after the necessities of life are paid forNEW ZEALAND , 1984

money for jamnouneasily obtained or earned moneyAUSTRALIA , 1960

money for old ropenounmoney easily earned, hence anythinggained by little or no effortUK , 1936

money from homenounany money won easily, bettingUS , 1951

money-getternounthe vaginaUS , 1973

money-grabbernounin motor racing, a driver who enters an eventand competes only long enough to claim the fee for appearingand then quits the raceUS , 1993

money in the bank and cattle in the hillsnounindependentlywealthyUS , 1954

money machinenouna generous personUS , 1997

moneymakernoun1the genitals; the buttocksUK , 1896.2a success

US , 1899.3a low-priced, reliable truckUS , 1971

money playernounan athlete who performs well in critical ationsUS , 1922

situ-moneypukernounan automatic cash machineCANADA , 1993

money ridernounin horse racing, a winning jockeyUS , 1951

money rownouna type of bet in an illegal numbers game lottery

US , 1957

money shotnouna scene in a pornographic film or photograph of aman ejaculating outside his partner Perhaps because it is the oneshot that justifies the cost of the sceneUS , 1977

money-spinnernounanything that makes easy profitsUK , 1952

money talksthose who have money have powerUS , 1905

Monfort lanenounthe passing lane on a motorwayUS , 1977

mongnoun1a fool; used as an all-purpose insult Abbreviated fromthe offensive usage of ‘mongoloid’ (affected with Down’ssyndrome)UK , 1996.2a dog of mixed breed Shortening of

‘mongrel’AUSTRALIA , 1903

mong; mong outverb(of drugs) to intoxicate; to becomeintoxicated Derives from the conventional sense of ‘mongol’ (aperson affected by Down’s syndrome, also meaning ‘a stupidperson’)UK , 1996

mongedadjective1drunkUK , 2002.2being fatigued after drug useUK , 2002

monged-out; mongedadjectiveintoxicated with MDMA, the reational drug best known as ecstasy, or, occasionally, anotherdrug Derives from the conventional sense of ‘mongol’ (a personaffected by Down’s syndrome, also meaning ‘a stupid person’)UK , 2000

rec-mongeenouna good student who is socially inept School usageUS , 1961

mongienouna member of the Mongrel Mob gangNEW ZEALAND , 1982

mongieadjective1dirty, fusty, evil smelling; nasty Reported in useamongst Leicestershire children during the 1970s Presumably

expanding the insulting use derived from ‘mongoloid’UK , 1984.

2dull, stupid From ‘mongoloid’ Teen slangUK , 1984

mongishadjectivedull, stupid From ‘mongoloid’UK , 1980

mongonoun1an idiot Abbreviated from the offensive usage of

‘mongoloid’ (affected with Down’s syndrome); probably used

without thinkingUS , 1975.2the vaginaUS , 1998.3a member of the

Mongrel Mob gangNEW ZEALAND , 1977

mongoadjectivevery largeUS , 1985

mongoadverbin foot-propelled scootering, with the wrong foot

FromMONGO(an idiot)UK , 2000

mongo-footedadjectivein foot-propelled scootering, used of

someone who pushes with the wrong foot FromMONGO(an idiot)

UK , 2000

Mongolian clusterfucknounan orgyUS , 1986

mongrelnouna contemptible person Without any suggestion of

mixed breedingAUSTRALIA , 1902

mongreladjectivedispleasurable; unsatisfying; annoying Used as a

negative intensifierAUSTRALIA , 1967

mongyadjectivestupid FromMONG, ultimately ‘mongoloid’UK , 1998

moniker; monickernoun1a nickname or sobriquetUK , 1851.2a

signature Extended from the sense as ‘a person’s name’UK , 1851.

3the mark that identifies dice as being from a given casino or

gambling houseUS , 1950

moniker filenouna list of street names or aliases maintained by

the policeUS , 1981

monjareeverb 8see:MUNGAREE

monknouna monkeyUS , 1841.< have a monk onto be angryUK ,

1995.< out the monkcompletely drunkNEW ZEALAND , 1964

monkeynoun1an addiction, especially to heroin or another drugUS ,

1949.2five hundred pounds sterling; five hundred US dollars; five

hundred Australian dollarsUK , 1832.3fifty pounds sterling A prison

variation; the reduction in value from the outside world’s 500-unit

is an economic realityUK , 1950.4500 shares at £100 each, £50,000

(fifty thousand pounds worth of stock)UK , 1984.5a naughty rascal;

generally said of someone youngerUK , 1604.6in circus and carnival

usage, a gullible customer who has been swindledUS , 1922.7a

carnival worker who climbs to assemble ridesUS , 1966.8a press

photographer Journalists’ slang, allegedly from the ungainly gait a

press photographer adopts to manage all his equipment; a less

disingenuous possibility derives the term from the organ grinder

and his monkeyUK , 2004.9a gambler who complains to the police

about an illegal gambling operation after losingUS , 1950.10a band

leader A reference to the tuxedo, orMONKEY SUIT, worn by many

band leadersUS , 1942.11a poor poker playerUS , 1988.12in

motorcyle racing, the passenger in a sidecar who works in tandem

with the driverUS , 1973.13your boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s ‘other’

personUS , 1989.14a white personUS , 1992.15the vaginaUS , 1888.

16the penis As in phrasesSPANK THE MONKEY(to masturbate) and

MARINATE THE MONKEY(to perform oral sex)US , 1989.17a

two-wheeled trailer designed to carry extra long loadsUK , 1951.18in

horse racing, a $100 betUS , 1951.19nonsenseUS , 1997.20in card

games, a face cardUS , 1985 8see:MONKEY ON YOUR BACK.

< marinate the monkeyto perform oral sexUS , 2001.

< monkey has a nosebleedexperiencing the bleed period of

the menstrual cycle FromMONKEY(the vagina)US , 2001.< put it

where the monkey put the nuts!; shove them where the

monkey shoved his nuts!; stick it where the monkey stuck

his nuts!used as an angry expression of dismissal or refusal

Anatomically: ‘in the anus’; figuratively:UP YOUR ASS/ARSE! UK , 1879

monkeyverbto fiddle, to tamper, to fool around withUS , 1876

monkey around; monkey aboutverbto behave foolishly, to waste

timeUS , 1884

monkey bathnouna very hot bath So hot that when lowering

yourself into the water an involuntary (monkey-like?) cry of ‘Ooh!

Ooh! Aah! Aah!’ is emittedNEW ZEALAND , 2002

monkey bitenoun1a bruise on the skin produced by extended

suckingUS , 1942.2a painful pinchUS , 1997

monkey bootsnouna heavy work shoe embraced as a fashion

monkey boxnounthe vagina Either a combination ofMONKEY(thevagina) andBOX(the vagina) orMONKEY(the penis) andBOX(thevagina)US , 1998

monkey businessnounmischief; foolishness The term ispowerfully etched in American culture because of revelations in

1987 that Gary Hart, then a married US Senator campaigning forthe presidential nomination, had taken an overnight cruise toBimini with a stunningly attractive woman, Donna Rice, on theaptly named yacht ‘Monkey Business’ Hart withdrew from therace under attack as an adultererUS , 1883

monkey cage; monkey house; monkey hut; monkey wagon

nouna brakevan (caboose)US , 1977

monkey dicknouna link sausageUS , 1965

monkey drill; monkey pumpnouna hypodermic needle andsyringeUS , 1986

monkey dustnounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known asPCP or angel dustUS , 1981

monkey flushnounin poker, three cards of the same suit, unpairedand without valueUS , 1963

monkey-fulladjectivedrunkUK , 2002

monkey housenouna brothelUS , 1949

monkey mazenouna confusing, complicated traffic interchangeUS , 1962

monkey meatnounin Nova Scotia, the small white edible pods ornuts at the base of the fiddlehead fernCANADA , 1999

monkey moneynoun1an excessive price to pay; silly money.Acquired an earlier US usage, now obsolete, as ‘foreign money’UK ,

1999.2the salary paid to film extras in US films shot in Canada

CANADA , 2002.3on the railways, a pass to ride for freeUS , 1977

monkey motionnounin hot rodding and drag racing, unwantedmovement in any mechanical deviceUS , 1965

monkey-on-a-stickadjectivea style of horse racing using shortstirrups Popularised by jockey Ted Sloan (1874–1933), whoseabnormally short legs made the style – widely used today – anecessary innovation Also applied in the UK to the riding positionadopted on early motorcyclesUS , 1949

monkey on your back; monkeynoun1an addiction to drugs,especially heroin A tenacious monkey is hard to shake offUS , 1959.

2in sports, the inability to beat a certain opponent Used in manysports, but probably most commonly in tennisUS , 1988

monkey pantsnouna difficult situationTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1950

monkey-paradenounan informal but regular event, in some publicplace, in which (generally) young people, intent on meeting andflirting with the opposite sex, stroll in couples and groups offriends to advertise themselves to others similarly engaged.Recorded in London around the beginning of C20UK , 1914

monkey rumnounillegally manufactured alcohol coloured by assesUS , 1985

mol-monkey’s; monkey’s fucknouna notional article of no value Used

in the phrase ‘(not) give a monkey’s fuck’, an elaboration of (not)

GIVE A FUCK; generally reduced to ‘(not) give a monkey’s’UK , 1960

monkey see monkey do!a catchphrase warning against imitating

an action, or of doing something that may be imitated; usedteasingly of someone who copies an action; applied to an actionthat is performed by imitation but without understandingUS , 1977

monkey’s fistnouna knot tied on the end of a heaving lineUS , 1975

monkeyshinesnounfoolish antics, embarrassing behaviourUS , 1828

monkey’s nutsnouncigarette butts Rhyming slang in current use

by prison inmates; a possible play onDOG END(a cigarette butt) via

DOG’S BOLLOCKS(the best)UK , 2001

monkeyspunknounnonsenseUK , 2004

monkey’s tailnouna nail (for hammering) Rhyming slangUK , 1934

monkey strapnouna lifeline that secures a helicopter gunner to thehelicopter

monkey suitnoun1a formal evening dress suit; a tuxedoUS , 1895.

2any uniform worn by a railway employee on a passenger trainUS ,

1901

monkey’s unclenounused in non-profane oaths to register surprise

US , 1926

monkey wagonnoun 8see:MONKEY CAGE

Monkey WardnicknameMontgomery Ward, a department store

chain A play on the soundUS , 1912

monkey wrenchverbto repair (a car or truck engine)US , 1961

monk-onnouna gloomy, introspective moodANTARCTICA , 2003

mononoun1mononeucleosis glandular feverUS , 1964.2a black and

white television set; a monophonic sound reproduction system

An abbreviation of ‘monochrome’, ‘monaural’ or ‘monophonic’; a

term only needed, outside of its jargon application, until colour

television and stereo sound were widely availableUK , 1970

monobrownountwo eyebrows joined by hair growth above the nose

AUSTRALIA , 1990

monolithicadjectiveextremely drug-intoxicatedUS , 1971

mono-rumpnounthe buttocks formed into a single mass by a

garmentUS , 1974

monsoon bucketnouna helicopter-borne water container used for

aerial bombardment of forest firesCANADA , 1997

monstaadjectiveformidable; excellent A deliberate misspelling of

MONSTER(excellent)US , 1999

monsternoun1something that is extremely and unusually largeUK ,

1759.2a formidable piece of equipmentUS , 1955.3an immense

wave, surfed by a special and small class of surfersUS , 1987.4a

string of multiple Claymore mines arranged to detonate

sequen-tiallyUS , 1991.5in poker, a great hand or large amount of money

betUS , 1982.6any powerful drug; cocaineUS , 1975.7used as a term

of endearment Teen slangUS , 1954.8an extremely unattractive

woman who is seen as a sex object, especially one who is ravaged

by ageUK , 2002.9a sex offender, a convicted paedophile Prison

usageUK , 1996

monsterverb1to make a verbal attack on someone or something;

to put pressure onAUSTRALIA , 1967.2to harass, threaten or victimise

someoneAUSTRALIA , 1967

monsteradjective1large, formidable, impressiveUS , 1975.2excellent

Originally black usageUS , 1953

monsteredadjectivedrunkUK , 2003

monsteringnoun1a severe telling-off FromMONSTER(to attack

verbally), 1998.2a sudden swoop by paparazzi photographers on

their subjectUK , 2004

monster lanenounin the US, the lane used for overtaking; in the

UK, the slow laneUS , 1976

monster munchnounthe vagina Derives, probably, from Monster

Munch™, a branded savoury snack foodUK , 2001

monster netnounduring the Vietnam war, the secure radio network

connecting radios in the field and headquartersUS , 1990

monster shotnounin pornography, a close-up shot of genitalsUS ,

1970

monster trucknouna pickup truck with oversized wheels and tyres

(large enough to drive over and crush a standard passenger car)

and an enhanced engine and transmission Only in AmericaUS ,

1984

Montana maidennouna ewe Sheep will be sheep and men will be

men Collected from a former resident of Iowa, March 2001US , 2001

montenoun1a potent marijuana from Mexico; marijuana from

South America; marijuana From the Spanish for ‘bush’-BUSH

(marijuana) – or clipping ofMONTEZUMA GOLD US , 1980.2the three

card trick, also known as three card monteUK , 1977 8see:FULL

MONTY

MontenicknameMonte CarloUK , 1959

Monte Caironouna social security/benefits cheque Rhyming slang

for

Montezuma goldnounpotent marijuana cultivated in Mexico.From Montezuma II (1466–1520), the ninth Aztec emperor ofMexicoUS , 1978

montezumasnounbloomers (capacious underpants for women).Rhyming slangUK , 1992

Montezuma’s revengenoundiarrhoea suffered by tourists inMexico Montezuma II (1466–1520), the ninth Aztec emperor ofMexico, famously died as a result of his confrontation with Spanishinvaders Former US President Ronald Reagan in 1981 exhibitedwhat commentator David Brinkley referred to as ‘excruciatinglybad taste’ by telling a joke about Montezuma’s revenge at a statedinner in Mexico CityUS , 1960

month in Congressnouna period served in solitary confinement

US , 1976

monthliesnounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleUK , 1872

monthly billnounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS , 1989

monthly bluesnounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS , 1954

monthly evacuationsnounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycle

monthly turnsnounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS , 1999

monthly visitornounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS , 2001

month of Sundaysnouna long time, with time passing slowlyUS , 1986

montrelnouna watch From obsolete ‘montra’ (a watch)UK , 2002

montynoun1everything required within a given context An ation of theFULL MONTY UK , 2000.2a certaintyAUSTRALIA , 1894

abbrevi-moonoun1an unpleasant or contemptible woman A variation of

COW With the descriptor ‘silly’ the sense is often softened (foolishwoman), or even made affectionate Widely associated with mid-1960s BBC television bigot, the comic creation Alf Garnett, played

by Warren MitchellUK , 1967.2a silly personAUSTRALIA , 1970.3money

US , 1941

moochnoun1a person who gives his money to swindlers, a dupe

US , 1927.2in the car sales business, a customer who thinks thatwith arithmetic skills, a calculator and his sharp mind he canoutsmart the salesmanUS , 1975.< on the moochalert for anychance to beg or borrowUK , 1864.< the moochidling,scrounging, skulkingUK , 1859

moochverb1to wander without purpose; to loiterUK , 1851.2to begfrom friends, to spongeUK , 1857

moochernouna beggar; one who sponges off others, a freeloader

US , 1851

moochingnounin British Columbia, very simple, inexpensive fishing

CANADA , 1960

moo-cownouna cow ChildishUK , 1812

moodnoun< in the mooddesiring sex A euphemisticcolloquialismUK , 1984

moodiesnounfaked tablets of MDMA, the recreational drug bestknown as ecstasy By ellipsis fromMOODY(fake) andE(ecstasytablets)UK , 1996

moodyverb1to sulk or be bad-temperedUK , 1962.2to put into goodhumour by means of ingratiating talk, to wheedle, flatter orhumourUK , 1934

moodyadjectivesimulated, fakedUK , 1958

moody; old moodynoun1a fit of sulking May be preceded byeither ‘the’ or ‘a’, often in forms such as: ‘pull a/the moody’ and

‘throw a/the moody’UK , 1969.2lies, deceit, especially deceit byflattery, a confidence trick (see, especially, the 1977 citation)UK ,

1934.3a period of (extreme) moodinessUK , 1968.4in prison, a

Usually with ‘the’UK , 1945.< do a moodyto behave suspiciously.

Prison useUK , 1978

Moody and Sankey; moodynoundeception, trickery Rhyming

slang forHANKY PANKY, formed on US evangelists Dwight Lyman

Moody and Ira D Sankey, jointly known (and vilified) as Moody

and Sankey, who brought their message to the UK in the

mid-1870s This term may well have evolved separately or be bound

up withMOODY;OLD MOODY(lies, deception)UK , 1961

mooey; moey; mooenoun the mouth From Romany mooi

(mouth, face)UK , 1859

mooiadjective pretty, pleasant, fine, nice From Afrikaans mooi

(pretty)SOUTH AFRICA , 1850

moo juicenounmilkUS , 1942

mooknounan incompetent person who is to be more pitied than

despisedUS , 1930

mookseyadjectivedim-witted, stupid-lookingTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1993

moola; moolah; mullahnounmoneyUS , 1939

moo-moo makernounin Nova Scotia, a livestock callerCANADA , 1962

moonnoun1used as a quaint, indefinite measure of timeUS , 1988.

2a month’s imprisonmentUK , 1830.3a smooth, convex wheel

coverUS , 1980.4a flat, circular piece of hashishUS , 1972.5illegally

manufactured alcoholic drink An abbreviation ofMOONSHINE US ,

1928.< over the moonextremely pleased, delightedUK , 1974.

< the moonthe bleed period of the menstrual cycle

EuphemismUS , 1999

moonverb1to flash your exposed buttocks at someone From the

venerable sense as ‘the buttocks’US , 1963.2to experience the bleed

period of the menstrual cycle Emphasises the monthly rhythm of

the menstrual cycleUS , 2000.3to idle, especially to move listlessly

Generally combined with ‘about’, ‘along’, or ‘around’UK , 1848.4in a

split-pot game of poker, to declare or win both high and low An

abbreviation of ’shoot the moon’US , 1988

moonbeamnouna flashlightUS , 1991

mooneasnounin the Canadian West, a newcomer, a greenhorn The

word comes from Cree, where it originally meant ‘a white man’

CANADA , 1966

moonienoun1a deliberately provocative display of a person’s naked

buttocks From the verbMOON, 2000.2any blind, unthinking,

unquestioning follower of a philosophy or person An extension of

the early 1970s labelling of followers of the Reverend Sun Myung

MoonUS , 1991.< pull a moonieto deliberately display naked

buttocks FromMOONIE(a provocative display of naked buttocks);

logically you would ‘make a moonie’, however, among older

children and young teenagers in South Wales in 2003, ‘pull a

moonie’ appears to be the predominant formUK , 2003

moonlightnouna discreet and hurried departure to avoid debts,

especially of such an absconding made at night A shortening of

MOONLIGHT FLIT UK , 1958

moonlightverbto work a second job, especially at nightUS , 1957

moonlight expressnountrucking by an independent, illegal and

inexpensive operationUS , 1971

moonlight flitnouna discreet and hurried departure to avoid debts,

especially of such an absconding made at nightUK , 1824

moonlight flits; moonlightsnounthe female breasts Rhyming

slang forTIT(S)UK , 1998

moonlight freightnounfreight hauled illegallyUS , 1963

moonlight requisitionnounthe notional procedure attached to

stolen materialsUS , 1946

moon rocknounthe combination of heroin and crack cocaineUS ,

1989

moon rocksnouncrack cocaine An elaboration ofROCK UK , 2003

moonshinenoun1privately and illegally distilled alcoholUK , 1782.

2an aircraft used for dropping magnesium-based flares to

illuminate the ground at nightUS , 1990

moonshine 1; moonshine 2nounhybrid varieties of hashish

produced in Holland

moonshotnoun1anal sexUS , 1972.2outdoor sex at nightUS , 1986

moonstompverban ungainly dance associated with the skinheadyouth cult Popular with authors looking back to the 1960s and70sUK , 1999

moon-timenounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycle

Emphasises the monthly rhythm of the cycleUS , 2000

moonwalkverbto perform a dance-step which, when it is done well,gives the impression of walking forward whilst gliding in reverse.Popularised by pop singer Michael Jackson (b.1958); it derivesfrom a supposed similarity to walking on the moonUS , 1984

moonynounany slow or romantic dance, or the music for it, played

at an organised dance or disco, especially at the end of an evening

UK: SCOTLAND , 1988

moopnouna person suffering from chronic disorientation in Arcticregions or Antarctica produced by long days and then long nights

ANTARCTICA , 1959

moo poonouncow manureAUSTRALIA , 1994

Moornoun< the MoorDartmoor prison UK , 1869

moosenoun1in the Korean war, a girlfriend, mistress or prostitute

From the Japanese musume US , 1951.2an unattractive female

IRELAND , 1995.3in poker, a large potUS , 1996

moose callnouna howling sound emitted by the LockheedStarfighterCANADA , 1995

moose-eyedadjectiveinfatuated; in loveUS , 2000

moose farmnouna college sorority whose members are perceived

as not particularly attractiveUS , 1968

moose-goosernounan Alaska Railroad trainUS , 1948

moose knucklenounthe condition that exists when a tight-fittingpair of trousers, shorts, bathing suit or other garment forms awedge between a woman’s labia, accentuating their shapeUS , 1988

moose milknounan improvised alcoholic mixed drink, especially ahomebrew Yukon cocktail made of milk and rumUS , 1957

moose pasturenoun1in the Canadian West, worthless or unprovenmining claimsCANADA , 1962.2any worthless (or nonexistent) landsold as part of a confidence swindleUS , 1985

moose pasture connouna big con in which the victim is induced

to invest in a company that appears on the verge of a great secretsuccessUS , 1997

mooshnoun1the mouth AfterMUSH AUSTRALIA , 1916.2jail porridge

AUSTRALIA , 1944

mooshverbto shove in the faceUS , 1998

moosh; mush; mushie; mooshyadjectivefine, excellent, pleasant,nice, super, etcZIMBABWE , 1973

mooshaynouna light-skinned person; an unlikeable personSAINT KITTS AND NEVIS , 1998

mootnounthe vagina Origin unknownAUSTRALIA , 1978

mootanoun marijuana The Mexican Spanish slang mota

(marijuana) was smuggled north with the drug Variant spellingsinclude ‘moocah’, ‘mootah’, ‘mooter’, ‘mootie’, ‘mooster’,

‘mootos’, ‘motta’, ‘muta’ and ‘mutah’US , 1926

mootersnouna marijuana cigarette FromMOOTA UK , 2003

mopnoun1a head of hairUK , 1821.2your date for an evening TeenslangUS , 1954

MOPadjectivein the military, missing on purposeUS , 1985

mop and bucket!a general declaration of rejection or dimissal;may also imply resignation to, or acceptance of, a situation.Rhyming slang forFUCK IT! UK , 1992

Mop and Pailnickname the Toronto Globe and Mail newspaper This

derogatory nickname is surely jocular, as the newspaper is theforemost national newspaper of CanadaCANADA , 2001

mop boothnouna private booth where pornographic films areshown for a feeUS , 2001

mopenoun1a person who is not particularly bright From C16 toC19 a part of colloquial speech, ‘mope’ reappeared 200 years later

.

derogatory evolution of the term ‘medical outpatient’ US , 1994.3a

thugUS , 1997

mopeverba stealthy escapeUS , 1926

mope away; mopeverbto quit your job in the circusUS , 1980

mopednouna fat female; a promiscuous female From a joke,

because both are fun but you don’t want anybody to see you on

oneUS , 2001

moperynounincompetence, stupidityUS , 1907

mop jockeynouna janitor or custodianUS , 1958

moppverbto don protective clothing and breathing apparatus

against chemical warfare From the official designation ‘mission

oriented protective posture.’ US , 1993

moppernouna person who tends to wheedle drinks from friends

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1950

moppetnouna childUK , 1601

mop-squeezernounin a deck of playing cards, a queenUS , 1949

mopsynouna girlfriendTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1938

moptopnouna youth or a young man who wears his hair in a

fringed style popularised by the Beatles in the early 1960sUK , 1964

mop-upnounthe end-game of a conflict, in which the stragglers of

the losing side are rounded upUK , 1917

mop upverb1to winUK , 1861.2to consume drinks bought by others

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1971

mop-up boynouna worker performing janitorial work at an arcade

where men masturbate while watching videosUS , 1997

moragrifanounmarijuanaUS , 1966

moralnouna certainty From the phrase ‘a moral certainty’UK , 1861

morale-boosternounany stupid act by the authorities that has the

immediate effect of lowering moraleUS , 1968

morale-raising flournouncocaine A play on the name and

appearance of self-raising flourUK , 2002

morenounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or

angel dustUS , 1994

more foolused to describe the subject as foolish for acting in a

given manner Often as an exclamationUK , 1959

more hide than Jessieadjectiveextremely cheekyAUSTRALIA , 1951

more like; more like itadjectivewould be nearer, better, more

acceptable, more accurateUK , 1888

more or lessnouna dress Rhyming slangUK , 1992

more power to your elbow!a catchphrase of encouragement or

good wishes Used as a headlineUK , 1860

more pricks than a pincushionan alleged achievement of a

pro-miscuous womanAUSTRALIA , 1971

more tea, vicar(?)used humorously to acknowledge a fart or a

belchUK , 1985

more than somewhatadverbvery, extremely, to a great degree, very

much Coinage credited to US writer Damon RunyanUS , 1930

Moreton Bay fig; Moreton Bay; Moretonnoun1a busybody

Rhyming slangGIG From the name of a type of large native

figtreeAUSTRALIA , 1944.2a police informer Rhyming slang forGIG

May be spelt ‘Morton’AUSTRALIA , 1975

MORFused as Internet shorthand to mean ‘male or female’ US , 1997

morguenounin circus and carnival usage, a performance or series

of performances in a town that fail to attract more than a few

customersUS , 1904

Moriarty; morinoun a party, a celebration Rhyming slang;

informed, if not inspired, by one of two fictional characters: either

the arch-enemy of Sherlock Holmes or the comic creation of Spike

Milligan in The Goons UK , 1981

Mork and Mindyadjectivewindy Rhyming slang, based on cult US

television comedy Mork and Mindy (first broadcast 1978–82) UK ,

2002

Mormonsnounin hold ’em poker, a king and two queens An

morningnoun< the top of the morning!; top of the morning

to you!used as a cheery greeting A stereotypical Irish-ismIRELAND , 1815

morning after the night beforenouna morning hangover;applied generally (as a diagnosis) to someone suffering the effects

sex-morning linenounin horse racing, the odds established by theracetrack handicapper the morning before a raceUS , 1967

morning prayersnouna daily briefing on the work to be done Firstrecorded as ‘prayers, family prayers and morning prayers’ a WorldWar 2 military term for daily staff conference at HQUK , 1995

morning shotnouna drug user’s first injection that dayUS , 1986

morning woodnounan erection experienced upon wakingUS , 1997

Moroccan blacknouna variety of marijuana Named for its sourceand colourUK , 1996

moronnouna stupid person, a fool Adopted from the Greek in 1910

to classify a person with an IQ of between 50 and 70; this correcttechnical sense is now largely avoidedUS , 1921

moron corpsnounthe US Army during the Vietnam war The USArmed Forces qualification test passing score was loweredsubstantially in the late 1960s to help swell the ranks of the armywith poor urban black men, poor rural white men and Mexican-AmericansUS , 1990

morotgaranounheroinUS , 1977

morphverb1to change body shape or image Fromcinematographic jargon for blending one image into another bymeans of computer manipulationUK , 2002.2to create an electronicmessage in a manner that gives the appearance of having beensent by someone elseUS , 1997

morphingnounthe act of taking morphine A shape-changing pun

UK , 1996

morphynounan hermaphroditeBARBADOS , 1965

Morris Minornouna black eye Rhyming slang for ‘shiner’, formedfrom a type of car manufactured from 1948–71UK , 1992

mortnouna dolt Prison usageNEW ZEALAND , 1997

mortaladjectivedrunkUK , 1994

mortal combatnounvery potent heroinUS , 1997

mortalledadjectivedrunkUK: SCOTLAND , 1996

mortallernounliterally a mortal sin, figuratively a terrible thing

IRELAND , 2002

mortal locknounin horse racing, a bet that is sure to winUS , 1951

mortal nutsnounin poker, a hand that is sure to winUS , 1979

mortoadjectivemortifiedIRELAND , 2001

MOSnoun the typical man on the street US , 1997

MOSadjectivein television and film-making, said of a scene shotwithout soundUS , 1977

Moscownouna pawnshopAUSTRALIA , 1941

Moscow mulenouna cocktail of vodka, lager (or ginger ale) andlime ‘Moscow’ in honour of the vodka, ‘mule’ for the kickUK , 1967

moseyverbto move slowly and seemingly aimlessly; to amble.Introduces a folksy toneUS , 1829

mosey atverbto casually investigate or explore Possibly fromMOSEY

(to amble) combined with the sense of ‘nosey’ (inquisitive)UK , 2001

moshverb(at a rock music concert, especially hardcore, punk ormetal) to jump/dance in a violent and ungainly manner,deliberately crashing into other moshersUS , 1983

moshernouna dancer at a rock concert (especially hardcore, punk

bouncing – mainly off other moshers; by extension a dedicated

fan of a rock genreUK , 2002

moshienouna mosherAUSTRALIA , 1996

moshkynouna marijuana userUS , 1971

mosh pitnounan area in a dance hall where dancers moshUS , 1992

mosquitos; mosquitoesnouncocaineUS , 1994

mossnoun1hairUS , 1926.2seaweedBARBADOS , 1965

mossbacknoun1an old person with outmoded ideas and valuesUS ,

1878.2a promiscuous girlUS , 1982

mossie; mozzie; mozzynoun1a mosquitoAUSTRALIA , 1936.2a

sparrowSOUTH AFRICA , 1884

mostnoun< the mostthe bestUS , 1953

mostadverbveryUS , 1989

most def!; mos’ def!used for expressing emphatic agreementUS ,

1998

mostienouna sexually attractive womanNEW ZEALAND , 1998

most ricky tickadverbpromptly, immediately Mock pidgin, used by

US soldiers during the Vietnam warUS , 1987

MOTnouna Jewish person identified as such by another Jewish

personUS , 1989

MOTverbto conduct an MOT test of a vehicle’s roadworthiness

From the official abbreviation of the Ministry of Transport test,

introduced in 1960 and grown more stringent sinceUK , 2002

mot; mottnouna woman, a girlfriend, a wife Liverpool Irish usage

UK , 1785

mota; motonoun marijuana The Mexican Spanish slang mota (

marijuana) was smuggled north with the drug,US , 1933

motateverbto moveUS , 1967

MOT’dadjectiveof a vehicle, having passed the MOT test, having an

MOT certificateUK , 1984

motel timeused to signal that a bar is closing and that customers

must leaveUS , 1965

mothnounin horse racing, a groom or racehorse attendant who is

attracted to the bright lights of nightlifeAUSTRALIA , 1989

mothballnounan ether ball used to start a cold diesel truck engine

US , 1971

mothballverbto take out of service; to set against possible future

useUS , 1949

mothernoun1a man; a thing A slightly euphemisticMOTHERFUCKER;

sometimes a low form of abuse, sometimes merely jocular;US ,

1951.2used of, or to, a wife if she is also a motherUK , 1961.3a

male homosexual in relation to a man whom he has introduced

to homosexualityUS , 1946.4a (very) senior secretary Civil service

useUK , 1977.5a drug dealerUS , 1970.6marijuana Probably an

anglicised ‘mutha’US , 1968.7heroin; a heroin dealer; a homosexual

heroin dealer Perhaps a euphemistic reduction ofMOTHERFUCKER

US , 1992.< be motherto assume reponsibility for dispensing hot

drinks or refreshments Of either sex but reflecting a general

perception of a mother’s traditional roleUK , 1934.< you love your

mother better than your father; you love your father

better than your motherbetween schoolgirls, used as a

warning that a slip or petticoat can be seen below the hem of a

skirtUK , 1977.< your motherused as a self-reference by older

homosexual menUS , 1974

mother and father of allnounan epic, if not the epic, example

An elaboration ofMOTHER OF ALL UK , 2002

mother-ass; mother-arse; mudder assnounused as an abusive

term of address or term of referenceTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1958

mother blood!used for expressing surprise Almost certainly a

euphemism for ‘motherfucker!’BAHAMAS , 1982

Mother Brownnicknamethe West End of London Rhyming slang

for‘town’UK , 1992

Mother Corpnicknamethe Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

mother crushernounused euphemistically for ‘motherfucker’UK , 2002

mother-cuntnounused as an abusive term of address or term ofreferenceTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1972

mother dearnounmethedrine, a central nervous system stimulant

A phonic punUS , 1969

motheren; motherinnounused as a euphemism for

‘motherfucker’ or ‘motherfucking’US , 1959

motherfathernounused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucker’ Used

by comedian Redd Foxx on The Royal Family (CBS, 1991–92) US , 1992

motherferyernounused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucker’US , 1946

motherflippingadjectiveused as a euphemism for the intensifier

‘motherfucking’US , 1961

mother-for-younounused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucker’US , 1957

motherfoulernouna motherfuckerUS , 1947

motherfuckverbused to damn or curseUS , 1942

motherfuckernoun1a despised person In 1972, the US SupremeCourt reversed the conviction of a man who had used the word

‘motherfucker’ four times during remarks at a school boardmeeting attended by some 40 children and 25 women, accepting

‘motherfucker’ as constitutionally protected speech (Rosenfeld v.New Jersey, 1972)US , 1928.2a fellow, a personUS , 1958.3a difficultthing or situationUS , 1958.4used as a basis for extreme compari-sonsUS , 1962.5methamphetamine hydrochloride, a powerfulcentral nervous system stimulantUS , 1993

motherfuckers and beansnouncanned beans and frankfurtersserved as field rations by the US ArmyUS , 1980

mother-fuckingnounsexual intercourse between a son and hismother The literal sense which precedes the restUK , 2000

motherfuckingadjectiveused as an emphatic intensifier In 1972,the US Supreme Court found the statements ‘mother fuckingfascist pig cops’ and ‘god damned mother fucking police’ to beconstitutionally protected speech The following year, the CaliforniaSupreme embraced ‘white motherfucking pig’ as constitutionallyprotectedUS , 1897

motherfucking A!used for expressing dismay, surprise or strongassent An embellishedFUCKING A! US , 1977

motherfuggernounused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucker’US , 1948

motherfuggingadjectiveused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucking’

Found throughout Norman Mailer, The Naked and the Dead, 1948

motherhoppernounused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucker’US , 1977

Mother Hubbardnouna cupboard Rhyming slang, formed from anursery rhyme characterUK , 1992

motherhuggernounused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucker’US , 1956

motherhumpernounused as a clumsy euphemism for

motherjumpernounused as an affected euphemism for

‘motherfucker’US , 1949

motherjumpingadjectiveused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucking’

US , 1950

Mother Kellynoun1jelly; a jelly Rhyming slang, probably formed

from the music hall song ‘On Mother Kelly’s Doorstep’UK , 1992.

2television; a television Rhyming slang forTELLY, noted as ‘more

recent’ than the previous senseUK , 1992

motherlessadverbabsolutely, completely; especially in the phrase

‘motherless broke’ (penniless)AUSTRALIA , 1898

motherless brokeadjectivecompletely broke; bankrupt; destitute

AUSTRALIA , 1898

mother lovernounused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucker’US , 1950

mother lovingadjectiveused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucking’

Also used as an infix: ‘abso-mother-lovin’-lutely!’US , 1951

motherlumpingadjectiveused as a euphemism for the intensifier

‘motherfucking’US , 1961

mother McCree!used for expressing disapproval A signature line

of Colonel Sherman Potter on M*A*S*H (CBS, 1972–83) Repeated

with referential humourUS , 1976

mother naturenounmarijuanaUS , 1969

mother nature’s giftnounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycle

US , 1999

Mother Nature’s maracasnounthe testiclesUK , 2003

mother of alladjectivean epic, if not the epic, example From

Saddam Hussein’s somewhat hyperbolic prediction that the

western invasion of the Persian Gulf in 1991 would be the ‘mother

of all battles’ Hussein’s use of a common Arabic vernacular

expression immediately appealed to the American and British ear,

with hundreds of variations appearing over several years – ‘the

mother of all retreats’, ‘the mother of all confirmation hearings’,

‘the mother of all eclipses’, ‘the mother of all government

mistakes’, etcUS , 1991

mother of GodnounLSDUK , 2003

mother of pearlnouncocaineUS , 1983.< the old mother of

pearl; my old mother of pearla wife; my wife Rhyming slang

for ‘old girl’UK , 1960

mother of shit!used for registering surprise, rage, etc Variation on

the prayer ‘Mother of Christ’US , 1988

mother-rapernounused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucker’

Intended as a euphemism, but one which does not leave much

room for the affectionate side ofMOTHERFUCKER US , 1959

mother-rapingadjectiveused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucking’

mother’s daynoun1payday Because on payday you pay the

money you owe to one mother(fucker) after anotherUS , 1965.2the

day when welfare cheques arriveUS , 1973

mothersellernounused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucker’US , 1953

mother’s little helpernoun1any tranquillizer; meprobamate (trade

names Equanjill™, Meprospan™ and Miltown™), a habit-forming

antianxiety agentUS , 1977.2amphetaminesUK , 2003

mother’s pridenouna bride Rhyming slang, possibly influenced by

Mother’s Pride™, a popular brand of sliced breadUK , 1992

mother’s ruin; mothersnoungin Some claims have been made

that this should be noted as a piece of rhyming slang; the rhyme

is certainly slurred enough for gin to be an influenceUK , 1937

Mother Superiornounan older, experienced homosexual manUS ,

1941

mother wit

motion lotionnounmotor fuelUS , 1976

motionsnoun< go through the motionsto give the appearance

of doing something, without actually doing it, or without doing itwholeheartedly; to conform to social expectations for the sake ofappearancesUK , 1816

motivateverbto leaveUS , 1955

motonouna motivated self-starterUS , 1993 8see:MOTA

motornoun a motor car UK , 1984

motorverb1to perform a task very wellUK , 1983.2to leaveUS , 1980

Motor CitynicknameDetroit, Michigan Because of the carmanufacturing concerns in DetroitUS , 1961

motor crapnouncar parts made by Motorcraft, a Ford subsidiaryUS , 1992

motored outadjectivesaid of a scoring device in pinball which fails

to register a score because the scoring register is already in useUS , 1977

motorheadnoun1a person with more than a passing interest inthe internal combustion engineUS , 1974.2a foolUS , 1973

motormouthnounsomeone who talks without end, or when itwould be better not to talkUS , 1963

motor mouthverbto talk incessantlyUS , 1985

motor scooternounused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucker’US , 1960

motorwaynoun(when skiing) a broad, easy pisteUK , 1982

motorway drawnounmarijuana ExtendsDRAW(marijuana)UK , 2001

MotownnounDetroit, Michigan AfterMOTOR CITY, thus ‘motor town’

from Detroit’s motor industryUS , 1971

motser; motzer; motzanouna large sum of money Presumed to

be from Yiddish matse (bread):BREAD(money) Especially used ofgambling winningsAUSTRALIA , 1936

mottnounthe female genitalia FromMOT(a woman)UK , 1984

mottledadjectivedrunkUK , 2002

Mott the Hooplenouna scruple Rhyming slang, formed from theBritish rock band of the late 1960s and early 70sUK , 2004

mouldyadjectivedrunkIRELAND , 1996

mouldy fignouna very dull person; specifically, used by youngsupporters of modern jazz of any jazz aficionado who remainsloyal to a traditional formUS , 1945

Moulin Rougenouna stooge (a comedian’s assistant) Theatricalrhyming slangUK , 1980

moulynouna black personUS , 1990

mountnounin hot rodding, a driver’s car A deliberate and jocularborrowing from horse racingUS , 1948

mountverb< mount the red flagto have sex with a womanexperiencing the bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS , 1972

mountain canarynouna muleUS , 1997

mountain dewnoun1whisky, distilled illegallyUK , 1816.2rum,distilled illegallyTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1926

mountain goatnoun1a comic who made his name in the BorschtBelt and then came to New York clubs to performUS , 1973.2a coat.Glasgow rhyming slangUK , 1988

mountain oystersnounlamb or calf testicles as foodUS , 1857

mountain passesnoun spectacles, glasses Rhyming slang UK , 1960

mountain paynounworking on the railways, overtimeUS , 1977

Mountienickname1a member of the Royal Canadian MountedPolice (the Mounties) A colloquial term in such widespread use,especially via films (and the slogan: ‘The Mounties always get theirman’), that it is often accepted as conventionalCANADA , 1914.2astudent of the prestigious all-girl Dublin secondary school, MountAnvilleIRELAND , 2003

mousenoun1a bruiseUS , 1842.2in the used car business, acustomer or potential customerUS , 1968.3the soldier on point in

mouseverbto blackmail someoneUK , 1987

mouse droppingsnounin computing, single pixels on a computer

screen that do not reappear when the cursor of the mouse is

moved away from the spotUS , 1991

mouse housenoun1a finance companyUS , 1975.2in the used car

business, an enterprise that compartmentalises the different

functions in the sales processUS , 1968

mouse motornouna small-block Chevrolet V-8 engine Introduced

in 1955, it was relatively small for its powerUS , 1993

mousetrapnoun1any strong or inferior hard cheese From the use

of such cheeses to bait mousetrapsUK , 1947.2a series of exit

consoles on websites that link back on themselves, creating an

infinite loopUS , 2003.3in oil drilling, a type of tool used to retrieve

objects inadvertently dropped down a holeUS , 1954

mousetrapverbto ambush an enemy by drawing them into

pos-ition with some sort of baitUS , 1989

moustachenouna Moustache PeteUS , 1973

moustache mobnounfirst generation immigrants from Sicily or

southern ItalyUS , 1955

Moustache Petenounan older Italian-American criminal,

associ-ated with outdassoci-ated ways of doing thingsUS , 1938

moustache ridenounan act of oral sexUS , 1981

moustache ridernouna woman as the object of oral sex with a

manAUSTRALIA , 1985

mouthnoun1back-talk, insultsUK , 1896.2a dry or furry mouth

caused by too much eating or drinking Often elaborated on the

formula a ‘mouth like ’ – recorded examples vary from ‘the

bottom of a bird cage’ to ‘the inside of a Turkish wrestler’s

jockstrap’UK , 1937.3a play’s reputationUS , 1973.< give off a lot

of mouthto shout abuseUK , 1999.< have a mouth like a

cow’s cuntto be excessively or indiscreetly talkative An

exagger-ated variation ofBIG MOUTH UK , 1967.< in the mouthin poker,

said of the first player to act in a given situationUS , 1979.< with

his mouth wide opensaid of a racehorse that easily wins a race

US , 1951

mouthverbto inform on someone to the policeUS , 1965

mouth and trousersnouna braggartUK , 1998

mouth betnounin poker, a bet made without putting up the funds,

binding among friendsUS , 1889

mouth breathernouna foolUK , 1986

mouthfulnoun1a word or phrase that is difficult to speak (for

reasons of complexity or length, not content)UK , 1883.2something

spoken which has importance or other significance From earlier

use as ‘a long word’US , 1916.< give a mouthfulto swear or be

otherwise verbally abusive to someoneUS , 1941

mouth musicnounoral sex on a womanUK , 1977

mouth offverbto brag; to insult Derives from the synonymous

verbUS , 1958

mouth open, story jump outused for explaining why something

that was perhaps better unsaid was saidTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1988

mouthpiecenoun1a lawyerUK , 1857.2a spokespersonUK , 1805

mouth pignouna male homosexual who offers his mouth

anonymously to any penis that is presented through a glory hole

US , 1996

mouthwashing; mouthwashnouna non-conventional method of

drinking Cointreau™ (a branded liqueur): swill a measure of the

liquor around the mouth, swallow and immediately draw in a large

breath Also used as a verbUK , 2001

mouthyadjectiveloquacious, too talkativeUK , 1589

movenoun< get a move onto hurry Often as an imperativeUS ,

1888.< on the moveabout to commit a crime, especially a

burglaryUK , 1996.< put the move onto make sexual advances

US , 1987

moveverbto sell, especially in bulkUS , 1938.< get movingto

urgently begin to do or goUK , 1963.< move the linein sports

one team or the otherUS , 1975.< move under an ashen sailtorow a boat As paddles are often made out of ash wood, to say

‘he’s moving under an ashen sail’ is a jocular way of saying that

he is not sailing, but rowingCANADA , 1975

move inverbin poker, to bet your entire bankrollUS , 1979

movementnouncollectively the various organisations fighting forsocial justice and peace in the US in the 1960sUS , 1966

movernoun1someone who imports drugsUS , 1995.2a police ticketfor a moving violationUS , 1970.3in casino gambling, a dice cheatwho places his bet after a roll has startedUS , 1962

mover and shakernouna powerful person with powerfulconnectionsUS , 1972

movesnounsexual advances Always used with ‘the’US , 1968

movie jobnounsex, especially sex for pay, in cinemaUS , 1966

moviesnounpolice radar recordings of vehicle speedUS , 1977

movie star drugnouncocaine A reference to Hollywood’s tation for excess in the 1980s and 90sUK , 2001

repu-movin’adjectivegood, pleasurable, fashionable, popularUS , 1997

moving doctornouna medical doctor A jocular back-formationfrom the initials MDCANADA , 2002

mowverb1to shave Usually used in describing a woman shavingher legs or her pubic areaUS , 1991.2to eat with gusto and stamina

US , 1991.< mow the grass; mow the lawnto smoke marijuana.Punning onGRASS(marijuana)UK , 1998

mowed lawnnouna shaved vulvaUS , 1964

mox; moxynouna homosexual man Recorded in contemporary gayuseUK , 2003

moxennouna group of homosexual men The plural ofMOX,recorded in contemporary gay useUK , 2003

moxienounnerve, courage, gall Moxie was the first mass-marketedsoft drink in the US Founded in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1884 by

Dr Augustin Thompson, Moxie was touted as a patent medicineguaranteed to cure almost any ill including loss of manhood,

‘paralysis, and softening of the brain’ These claims were revisedwith the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906 Itssphere of influence was largely in New EnglandUS , 1930

moxyadjectivelousy, very badIRELAND , 1999

Mozart and Liszt; Mozartadjectivedrunk Rhyming slang for

PISSED(drunk)UK , 1945

mozznounbad luck; a jinx A shortening of obsolete ‘mozzle’, from

Hebrew mazzal (luck) Generally in the phrase ‘to put the mozz

ON THE KNOCKER(used of a door-to-door salesman); ultimately from

Yiddish mazel (good luck) and brocha (a blessing) UK , 1992

Mrsnoun< the Mrsthe vagina The conventional abbreviation for

‘mistress’ meaning ‘wife’; pronounced ‘missis’UK , 2001 8see:MRSMORE

Mrs Doylenouna boil Rhyming slang, formed from the name of a

character in UK Channel 4 television situation comedy Father Ted,

1995–98UK , 1998

Mrs Duckett!used as a general declaration of rejection or dimissal;may also imply resignation to, or acceptance of, a situation.Rhyming slang forFUCK IT! UK , 1960

Mrs Mop; Mrs Moppnoun1a woman who works as a cleaner, acharwoman After a character introduced in the fourth series of

the 1940s BBC radio comedy ITMA; Mrs Mopp, with the

catchphrase ‘Can I do you now, sir?’, was played by DorothySummersUK , 1948.2a shop Rhyming slang Also employed as averbUK , 1992

Mrs Moppingnounshopping Rhyming slang, extended fromMRS