Such prisoners are kept apart from the main body of the prison on rule number 43 UK, 1996.9in craps, any roll except the shooter’s point or a seven US, 1950.10a marijuana cigaretteUS, 19
Trang 1nuggetnoun1a fool, an idiot, especially if prone to violent
behaviour or mentally handicapped Figurative use of ‘nugget’ (a
lump) for ‘the head’US, 1990.2a new, inexperienced soldier or pilot
US, 1966.3an attractive girlUS, 1998.4a young enthusiast of heavy
metal musicUS, 1983.5an amphetamine tabletUS, 1994.6a piece of
crack cocaineUS, 1994.7a one-pound coin Prison slang, current
February 2002UK, 2002
nuggetsnounthe testiclesUS, 1963
nuggety; nuggettyadjective1(of a person) compact, strong and
tough; stockyAUSTRALIA, 1856.2(of an animal) small, sturdy and
strongAUSTRALIA, 1893
nugsnoun1female breastsUS, 1994.2great waves for surfingUS, 1991
nuisancenoun< the nuisancethe bleed period of the menstrual
cycle EuphemismUS, 1999
nuisance groundsnouna rubbish dumpCANADA, 2002
nukeverb1to attack with a nuclear bombUS, 1962.2to lay waste, to
ravage, to devastate A metaphorical, if less dramatic, senseUS, 1969.
3to heat in a microwave ovenUS, 1984.4in computing, to delete
US, 1991
nuke; nooknouna nuclear weaponUS, 1958
nuke and paveverbto reformat the hard drive of a computerUS,
2001
nuke-and-pukenouna microwave frozen dinnerUS, 1990
nuke-knobnouna bald or shaved headUS, 1997
numbernoun1a person, particularly someone attractive, originally
of a womanUS, 1896.2a prostitute’s client (especially in a male
homosexual context)US, 1967.3a casual sex-partnerUS, 1970.4sex
involving more than two peopleUS, 1973.5a situationUS, 1908.6a
job, a positionUK, 1948.7used as a vague catch-all susceptible of
several meanings, usually related to sex or drugsUS, 1978.8in
prison, a sex offender; a convicted paedophile Such prisoners are
kept apart from the main body of the prison on rule number 43
UK, 1996.9in craps, any roll except the shooter’s point or a seven
US, 1950.10a marijuana cigaretteUS, 1963.11a songUK, 1878.< do a
number on1to use emotional pressure, to humiliateUS, 1971.2to
killUS, 1982.< have your number; get your numberto
understand you, to know your weaknesses, to be in a position to
criticise youUK, 1853
number 3noun1cocaine.C(cocaine) is the third letter of the
alphabetUS, 1953.2heroinUK, 2003
number 9nounMDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy
UK, 2003
number crunchernouna computer designed especially for
arithmetic operationsUK, 1966
number dummy; number grabbernouna clerk in a railway yard
US, 1946
numbered off; on the numbersadjectivein prison, used of sex
offenders, convicted paedophiles, etc Such prisoners are kept
apart from the main body of the prison on rule number 43 UK, 1996
number four; number 4nounheroinUK, 1998
number onenoun1yourself, your own interestsUK, 1705.2urination
The plural variant ‘number ones’ is also usedUK, 1902.3a closely
cropped haircut Originally mililtary, from the most extreme setting
on the clippers; it is also possible to have a ‘number two’, etcUK,
1925
number one; numba oneadjectivethe very best Although coined
in the 1830s in a pure English sense, it took on a pidgin or mock
pidgin tone in the C20; very popular in the Vietnam warUS, 1838
numbersnoun1an illegal lottery based on guessing a number
determined by chance each dayUS, 1897.2a telephone numberUS,
2002.< by the numbersprecisely, correctlyUS, 1918.< do
numbersto urinate or defecateTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1990.< take
the numbers downin horse racing, to disqualify a horse from a
race and announce a new winnerUS, 1947.< the numbersin
prison, Rule 43, which allows a prisoner to be kept apart from the
main prison community for ‘safety of self or others’ Explained by
former Cabinet Minister Jonathan Aitken, describing his prison
experience 1999–2000, Have I Got News for You, 28th November,
2003UK, 2003
numbers bankernounthe operator of an illegal numbers racket or lotteryUS, 1959
numbers dropnouna place where bets on an illegal lottery are turned in or madeUS, 1957
numbers gamenounsex expressed in numeric terms The most common is, of course,69, with other lesser known variantsUS, 1964
number ten; numba tenadjectivethe very worst Southeast Asian pidgin, commonly used during the Vietnam warUK, 1953
number ten thousandadjectiveworse than the very worst Vietnam war usageUS, 1968
number threenounsexual relief, by any means (conventional, non-conventional or unaccompanied) The next in a logical sequence:
NUMBER ONE(urination);NUMBER TWO(defecation)UK, 1984
number twoadjectiveapplied to illegal or irregular activity ‘Number one’ is all things legal and above-boardINDIA, 2003
number two; number twosnoundefecation Adult usage of children’s bathroom vocabularyUS, 1936
number two mannouna skilled card cheat adept at dealing the second card instead of the top card in a deckUS, 1979
NumbiesnounPlayers’ Number 6™ cigarettesUK: SCOTLAND, 1988
numbnutsnounan idiotUS, 1960
NumbonounNumber 6, a branded cigaretteUK, 2001
numb outverbto feel or show the effects of crack cocaineUK, 1996
numbskull; numskullnouna dolt; a foolUK, 1742
numerologistnouna person who claims to have devised a winning system for an illegal numbers gambling lotteryUS, 1949
numero unonoun1the very best Spanish for ‘number one’US, 1960.
2yourselfUS, 1973
nummynouna fool, a dim-witted person A shortened ‘numbskull’
US, 1902
nummyadjectivedelicious Probably afterYUMMY(delicious)US, 1989
num-numsnounthe female breastsUS, 1993
numpty; numptienouna foolUK: SCOTLAND, 1911
nunce; nincenouna fool Student use; derogatoryUK, 2002
nunganounthe penisAUSTRALIA, 1971
nunga-munchernouna person who performs oral sex on men
AUSTRALIA, 1971
nun’s cuntnounused as a comparison for something that is cold, dry or tightCANADA, 1985
nun’s fartnouna treat made with leftover piecrust dough, cinnamon and sugarCANADA, 1992
nunu; nuzninounthe vaginaTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1994
nunyanounused for conveying that something is ‘none of your business’US, 2000
nurdsnounthe testiclesUS, 1981
Nuremburg trials; nuremburgsnounhaemorrhoids Rhyming slang for ‘piles’UK, 1998
nurseverbin a card game, to nervously fondle and adjust your cards
US, 1988
nurserynoun1a reformatory for juvenile offendersUS, 1950.2a gentle slope where beginning skiers practiceUS, 1963
nursery racenounin horse racing, a relatively short distance race for two-year-oldsUS, 1976
nursery rhymenoun time served in prison Rhyming slang UK, 2000
nursery rhymesnoun the Times Rhyming slang; ironically, perhaps,
suggesting that some content of the esteemed newspaper is of a similar character to the more newsworthy nursery rhymesUK, 1998
nu-skooladjectiveapplied to a new variation on an old themeUK, 2003
nutnoun1a regular and recurring expenseUS, 1909.2an act of sexual intercourse; sex as an activity Extending back fromNUT(an
Trang 2US, 1991.5the female breast Usually in the pluralUK, 2002.6the
head; hence, brains, intelligenceUK, 1846.7a crazy person, an
eccentric, a crank Probably by back-formation fromNUTTY(crazy)
US, 1908.8an enthusiastUS, 1934.9a personUK, 1856.10in horse
racing, a horse picked by a racing newspaper to win a raceUS, 1951.
11in horse racing, the tax levied on bets by the track and the state
US, 1990.12a bankrollUS, 1951.13a rugby ballNEW ZEALAND, 1998.
< crack the nutin gambling, to make enough money to meet
the day’s expensesUS, 1961.< do your nut1to explode with
angerUK, 1919.2to go mad, to feign madnessUK, 1959.< make
the nutto sufficeUS, 1966.< nod the nutto plead guilty
Formed onNUT(the head); from bending the head in unspoken
affirmativeAUSTRALIA, 1975.< off your nut1in a state of
drunkenness or drug intoxication Parallel to the sense as ‘mad’;
possibly the original sense, a variation ofOFF YOUR HEAD UK , 1860.
2in a state of madness A variation ofOFF YOUR HEAD UK , 1873.
< on the nutin horse racing, to have lost a large amount of
money bettingUS, 1951.< out of your nutdrunk or
drug-intoxicated A variation ofOUT OF YOUR HEAD UK , 1999
nutverb1to head-butt an opponent’s face Derives fromNUT(the
head)UK, 1937.2to executeIRELAND, 2001.3to have sexUS, 1971.4to
orgasm, especially of a maleUS, 1999
nut and gutadjectivemental and physicalUK, 2002
nutbagnouna mesh restraint used by police to restrain violent
peopleUS, 1997
nutboxnouna mental hospitalUS, 1965
nutcakenounan eccentric or crazy personUS, 1967
nut casenounan eccentric; a madman CombinesNUT(a lunatic)
with conventional medical use of ‘case’AUSTRALIA, 1944
nut-chokersnounmen’s underpants Formed onNUTS(the testicles)
AUSTRALIA, 1971
nutcrackernoun1a stern person; a strict disciplinarian, especially a
woman who crushes a man’s spiritUS, 1977.2a railway roundhouse
mechanicUS, 1977
nutcrackersnounthe testicles Rhyming slang forKNACKERS;
extending, and, possibly deliberately, disguising,NUTS(the testicles)
UK, 1998
nutcrushernouna hard man (or woman); a strict disciplinarian
Crushed nuts are a standard ingredient in many sweet recipes,
hence this readymade pun and variation ofBALLBREAKER UK , 1999
nutcutnounthe critical point in an enterprise or operationUS, 1972
nut-cuttingnounthe most critical and distasteful stage in a project
or operation An image from the West and cattle raisingUS, 1968
nut farmnouna hospital for the mentally illUS, 1940
nut flushnounin poker, a hand with all cards of the same suit and
an ace as the high cardUS, 1979
nut grafnounin journalism, the key paragraph in an articleUK, 2005
nut hatchnouna mental institutionUS, 1942
nuthousenouna mental hospitalUS, 1906
nut hustlenouna swindle involving a prostitute and a confederate
US, 1978
nut jobnounsomeone who is mentally unstableUS, 1972
nut mannouna male homosexualAUSTRALIA, 1985
nut mobnouna group operating three-shell games in carnivalsUS,
1950
nut nectarnounsemenUS, 1996
nut-nutnoun1a crazy person By reduplication ofNUT(a crazy
person)UK, 2000.2in high-low poker, a hand that is the best
poss-ible hand either high or lowUS, 1996
nut offverbto send a prisoner to a secure psychiatric hospital
FromNUT(a crazy person)UK, 1996
nut outverb1to think out; to work outAUSTRALIA, 1919.2to act
mentally illUS, 1966
nut playernounin poker, a player who only plays a hand that is
excellent as dealt FromNUTS(the best possible hand in a given
nutrientsnounfoodUS, 1993
nut rolenounthe act of feigning eccentricity or mild insanityUS, 1969
nut-role; nut-rollverbto feign mental instabilityUS, 1967
nut-runnernounin car repair, a pneumatic wrenchUS, 1993
nutsnoun1the testicles; the scrotumUS, 1863.2in poker, the best possible winning hand at a given momentUS, 1977.3the advantage
in a betUS, 1990.< do your nuts overto become infatuated with someoneAUSTRALIA, 1987.< get your nuts offto ejaculateUS, 1932.
< have your nuts in the wringerto be trapped in a very weak positionUK, 1998.< the nutsexcellent, outstanding, very impressive Possibly, a shortening ofMUTT’S NUTS UK , 2000.< the nuts are running the fruitcakeused of any situation that is managed by those who are incapable A neat variation, formed on
NUT(a mad person) andFRUITCAKE(a mad person) ofTHE LUNATICS
ARE RUNNING THE ASYLUM UK , 2001
nutsadjectiveenthusiastic about; having a strong liking for; sexually infatuatedUK, 1785
nuts!used as an expression of defiance From the sense as
‘testicles’, thusBALLS! US , 1910
nut sacknounthe scrotumUS, 1971
nutsonouna crazy person, an eccentric From ‘nuts’ (crazy)US, 1975
nutsoadjectivecrazyUS, 1979
nut splitter; nut busternouna railway machinistUS, 1903
nuts to !when combined with a name, a noun or a pronoun, used for expressing defiance of that person or thing Used as a
euphemism for ‘balls to !’UK, 1984
nutsyadjectiveeccentric, odd, crazyUS, 1923
nuttedadjectivedrug-intoxicatedUK, 1997
nutternouna crazy person; a lunatic; an eccentric Extended from
NUT(a lunatic)UK, 1958
nuttersadjectivecrazy, wildly madUK, 1982
nuttynounany confectionery; used generically for all chocolate and sweets Royal Navy slangUK, 1987
nuttyadjective1crazy, eccentricUS, 1892.2excellent A variation on
‘crazy’US, 1953
nutty as a fruitcakeadjectiveinsane, crazy An elaboration ofNUTTY
UK, 1935
nutty puttynounin electric line work, a compound formally known
as Seal-A-Conn, used for covering connectorsUS, 1980
nut upverb1to lose your composure completelyUS, 1972.2in poker,
to shift into a more conservative mode of bettingUS, 1982
nut wardnounthe psychiatric ward of a prisonUS, 1984
NWABadjective (of a girl) promiscuous, because she will neck with
any boy Youth usage US, 1949
n-wordnounthe word ‘nigger’ This clumsy euphemism was popularised during the 1995 O.J Simpson murder trial by F Lee Baily’s cross examination of Mark Fuhrman about a taped interview that Fuhrman had given in 1985US, 1987
nyaffnounan irritating or contemptible person, especially if that
person is short Probably derived from Scots nyaff (of a dog, to
bark)UK: SCOTLAND, 1985
nyamnounfood; something to eat From the verb West Indian, hence UK blackUK, 1828
nyamverbto eat African origins, from ‘yam’ (a sweet potato)JAMAICA, 1790
nylon disgustersnouna pair of men’s close-fitting and revealing nylon swimming trunksAUSTRALIA, 2003
nymphnouna nymphomaniacUS, 1916
nymphetnouna sexually attractive, or sexually adventurous, young girl First applied to a real, as opposed to mythic, creature by
Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita, 1955 UK, 1999
nymphonouna nymphomaniac A creature of men’s dreams; used
to disparage a woman whose sexual appetites may threaten to make the dream come true
Trang 3Onoun1an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) Used
by civil servants; suggestive of a casual familiarity with the honour
UK, 1961.2opiumUS, 1933.3an ovation Most commonly heard in
the term ‘standing O’US, 1984
Onicknamethe Nuestra Familia prison gangUS, 2000
-osuffixused for making colloquial or slang nouns and nicknames In
Australia, where there was no influence from Spanish, this suffix
originated from early nominal uses of the cries of various street
vendors Thus the milkman used to sing out ‘milk-oh!’ and so
became theMILKO, the rabbit seller cried ‘rabbit-oh!’ and so
became theRABBIT-O It is appended to monosyllablic words or to
the first syllable of polysyllabic wordsAUSTRALIA, 1865
OAEnounanybody who has spent at least one winter in Antarctica
An abbreviation of ‘old Antarctic explorer’ ANTARCTICA, 1960
oafonounan oaf, a socially inferior fool, a lout A conventional ‘oaf’
embellishedUK, 1959
Oak; the Austrian OaknicknameArnold Schwarzenegger (b.1947),
the dominant bodybuilder in the steroid-enhanced 1970sUS, 1984
oak and ashnouncash Rhyming slangUK, 1960
oaktoenounthe numbing of toes by cold water, creating the
sen-sation that your toes are wooden Surfing usageUS, 2004
OAPnounan over-anxious patient Doctors’ shorthand, playing on
the conventional abbreviation for ‘old age pensioner’UK, 2002
oarnoun< put your oar in; put in your oar; shove in your
oarto interfere in someone else’s businessUK, 1730
oars and rowlocksnounnonsense Rhyming slang forBOLLOCKS UK ,
1998
oasisnoun1a barUS, 1956.2in motor racing, a refreshment standUS,
1965
oatburner; oatmunchernounin horse racing, a racehorse that
does not perform wellUS, 1916
oaternouna cowboy film, story or songUS, 1946
oatienoun< go for an oatieto go to the toilet A darkly
humorous Antarctic euphemism recalling Captain Oates’s heroic
last words to his tent-mates in 1912: ‘I am going outside, and may
be some time’NEW ZEALAND, 1996
oatmealnouna small, mushy waveUS, 1991
oatmeal Chinamannounin mining in the Cariboo, a Canadian
CANADA, 1963
oatmeal savagenouna ScotsmanCANADA, 1954
oatsnoun1sexual gratification Usually in phrases such as: ‘have
your oats’, ‘get your oats’, ‘need’, ‘want’, etc Perhaps from ‘sow
your wild oats’ (to commit youthful indiscretion)UK, 1923.2money
which a carnival worker steals from his bossUS, 1985.3enthusiasm
US, 1831.< off your oatsoff your foodUK, 1890.< on his oats
(used of a racehorse) racing without the benefit of a stimulantUS,
1994
oats and barley; OatsnounCharley or Charlie Rhyming slang
Ostensibly and rarely a man’s given name but usually in its older
slang senses (a nightwatchman; to make a Charlie of; a ponce; etc)
UK, 1859
oat sodanounbeer An evolution ofBARLEY POP US , 1994
obbo; obo; obbs; obsnounsurveillance, observation; a lookout
Varying abbreviations for ‘observation’UK, 1933
OBEadjectiveovercome by events; overtaken by eventsUS, 1986
OBE(used of a bettor in debt) owes bookies everywhere AUSTRALIA,
1989
OBHnounsomeone who smokes marijuana constantly An
abbrevi-obies; OB’snounold brown sherry, a drink especially popular among students Formed on the initials OBSOUTH AFRICA, 1979
obitnounan obituaryUK, 1874
obliteratedadjectivevery drunkUS, 1987
oblivionnounthe state of complete intoxicationUS, 1984
oboynounmarijuana Presumably this drug is, on occasion, greeted with an exclamation of delight: ‘Oh boy!’UK, 2001
obsnoun1observation Probably military origin UK, 1999.2in a
hospital, obstetrics UK, 1985
obscureadjectivein computing, completely beyond all understanding
US, 1991
obscuroadjectiveweird, strange (or simply obscure)US, 1997
obzockyadjectivelacking grace and coordinationTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1956
OCnoun1organised crimeUS, 1975.2the synthetic opiate oxycodone used recreationallyUS, 2001
OCnicknameOrange County, California Immediately south of Los AngelesUS, 2001
ocal; opalnounthe eye Punning variations onOGLE(the eye)UK, 2002
occy; occinounan octopusAUSTRALIA, 1968
occy strap; ockie strapnounan elastic strap An abbreviation of
‘octopus strap’AUSTRALIA, 1981
oceannoun1in pool, the expansive centre of a tableUS, 1993.2in oil drilling, salt water encountered while drillingUS, 1954
ocean linernouna black eye Rhyming slang forSHINER UK , 1992
ocean ramblernouna herring; a sardineUK, 1961
oceansnouna large amount of somethingUK, 1840
-ocentricsuffixused with humour as a suffix attached to a person’s name, suggesting that they believe that the world revolves around themUS, 1996
ocker; Ockernoun1an Australian male who is especially boorish and uncouth; the stereotypical Australian male yob Originally a colloquial nickname for someone named Oscar It became associ-ated with typical male boorishness in the 1970s partly under the influence of a character named Ocker in the television comedy
The Mavis Bramston Show (1965 68) AUSTRALIA, 1971.2Australian EnglishAUSTRALIA, 1979
ocker; Ockeradjectivecharacteristic of an ockerAUSTRALIA, 1972
ockerdomnounthe state of being an ockerAUSTRALIA, 1974
O clubnounin the US armed forces, an officer’s clubUS, 1986
-ocracysuffixwhen linked with a subject, used to designate (and mock) a grouping that may be dominant, or aspiring to dominance, or pretending superiority within that subject-area A sarcastic or humorous application of ‘-cracy’ (power, rule), found in such words as ‘democracy’, ‘plutocracy’, etc The root in all con-ventional senses ends with an ‘o’; in colloquial or journalistic usage the ‘o’ is incorporatedUK, 1860
ocsnounthe synthetic opiate oxycodone used recreationallyUS, 2000
octopusnouna sexually aggressive boyUS, 1932
ODnouna drug overdoseUS, 1959
ODverbto overdose, to take an excessive dose of a drug, usually heroinUS, 1966
o-dark-hundrednounvery early in the morning Mock military time
US, 1982
odaynounmoney A Pig Latin construction ofDOUGH US , 1928
oddnoun1a small number over and above a round numberUK, 1845.
Trang 4oddballnounan eccentricUS, 1948
oddballadjectiveeccentric, peculiarUS, 1957
oddball tricknouna prostitute’s customer who pays for fetishistic
sexUS, 1973
odd bodnoun1an eccentricUK, 1955.2an extra person in a given
situationNEW ZEALAND, 1984
odd-lotnouna police carUK, 1958
oddsnoun1a vague number, as a part of a greater number A
vari-ation onODD UK , 1958.2(of money) small change A shortening of
‘odd coins’UK, 2002.< make no oddsto make no difference, not
better or worse Originally (from 1776) conventional, now
colloquialUK, 1826.< over the oddsmore than is expected; more
than is tolerableUK, 1922.< what’s the odds?what’s the
differ-ence?UK, 1840
oddsverbto risk, to chance; to avoid Perhaps deriving from ‘to bet
against the odds’UK, 1958
odds and sodsnounbits and pieces Now used as a variant of
con-ventional ‘odds and ends’; originally military slang for
‘miscellaneous men or duties’UK, 1935
odds-onadjective1very probable, most likely Adopted from
gambling use to denote any form of actuarial or notional
likelihoodUK, 1888.2in horse racing, said of odds that pay less than
even moneyUS, 1974
o-domnounan odometer (a milometer)US, 2000
OD’snouna drab olive military uniformUS, 1955
OEnounOld English™ malt liquorUS, 1997
Oedipus Rex; Oedipusnounsex Rhyming slang, based on a king
of ancient Thebes used by psychiatrists as a model for the sexual
relationship between a boy and his motherUK, 1979
ofaginzynouna white personUS, 1946
ofaynouna white person Origin unknown Suggestions of a Pig
Latin etymology (foe) are implausible More plausible are
suggestions of a basis in an African language or the French au fait
(socially proper)US, 1925
ofer; o-foradjectiveused to describe a male pornography performer
who either cannot achieve an erection or cannot ejaculate when
needed Borrowing from sports lingo, identifying the performer as
‘oh’ (zero) for however many triesUS, 1995
offnoun1the start of a race; the beginning of something, the start
of a journey From racingUK, 1959.2time off, a day off, etc By
ellipsisSOUTH AFRICA, 1966.3a warning given to an illegal betting
operation by corrupt police of a pending raidUS, 1952.4in
dominoes, a piece that does not contribute to the value of your
handUS, 1959
offverb1to killUS, 1967.2to sell, especially contrabandUS, 1960
offadjective1distant, aloof, negativeUK, about 1555.2having lost
interest in; averse toUK, 1908.3disgusting, revoltingAUSTRALIA, 1987.
4of a street-prostitute, being with a client (and, therefore, off the
street where the service is offered for sale)UK, 1959.5not using
drugsUS, 1952.< be off!; be off with you!go away!
Old-fashioned, but still in useUK, 1842
offbeatadjectiveunconventional, but not uniqueUS, 1938
off-brand cigarettenouna marijuana cigaretteUS, 1980
off-brand studnouna male homosexualUS, 1962
off-by-one errornounin computing, any simple and basic error,
such as starting at 1 instead of 0US, 1991
off colouradjective1applied to jokes that may be considered
impolite or indecentUK, 1875.2unwellUK, 1876
offensive potatoesnouncanned potatoesANTARCTICA, 2003
offerverb< offer someone outto challenge someone to a fight
AUSTRALIA, 1943
officenoun1a warning; a private signalUK, 1818.2any secret signal
used by gambling cheats to communicate among themselvesUS,
1950.3a hint or tipAUSTRALIA, 1874.< give the officein prison, to
explain the way things are, especially to a new inmate
office bikenouna woman who readily has sexual intercourse with fellow staff in an officeAUSTRALIA, 1945
office hoursnoun1minor discipline issued by a US Marine Corps company commanderUS, 1898.2in poker, pairs of 9s and 5s, or a straight from 9 to 5US, 1963
office pianonouna typewriterUS, 1945
officer materialnouna mentally deficient enlisted soldierUS, 1945
office workernouna shirker Rhyming slang, used by manual labourers, with a subtext of bitter ironyUK, 1992
offie; offynounan off-licence (a shop licensed to sell alcoholic
drinks for consumption off the premises) UK, 1977
off itadjectivedrug-intoxicated A variation ofOFF YOUR HEAD UK , 1998
offshoreadjectiveforeignUS, 1997
offsidernounan assistant Originally (late C19) an assistant/apprentice to a bullock-driver who worked on the ‘off side’AUSTRALIA, 1903
offskiverbto go away, to leaveUK, 2001
off to another NASA conventionused for humour when someone who has been displaying their ignorance leaves a room
US, 1991
off-trailadjectiveunconventional, eccentricUS, 1954
Offynouna racing engine or any other piece of equipment manufactured by Meyer-DrakeUS, 1993
OGnoun1your mother An abbreviation ofOLD GIRL US , 1878.2a founding member of a youth gang An abbreviation ofORIGINAL
GANGSTER US , 1993
ogginnounthe oceanANTARCTICA, 2003
oglenounthe eye Survives mainly as a part of the polari vocabulary; usually in the pluralUK, 1676
ogle; ogaleverbin homosexual use, to look longingly or amorously
at a man From the wider conventional sense first recorded in the 1680sUK, 1682
ogle and leernoungonorrhoea Rhyming slangUK, 2003
ogle fake; ogle riah fake; ogle fake riahnouna false eyelash Polari; literally ‘articles (of hair) made for the eye’UK, 1992
ogle fakesnounspectacles Polari; literally ‘articles made for the eye’
UK, 2002
ogle filtersnounsunglasses Polari; based onOGLE(the eye)UK, 2002
ogle riahsnouneyelashes Polari; a combination ofOGLE(the eye) andRIAH(the hair)UK, 2002
ogle ridersnounthe eyebrows or eyelashesUK, 2002
ogle shadesnounglasses; sunglasses Polari; based onOGLE(the eye)
UK, 2002
Ogopogonouna legendary monster in Okanagan Lake, British ColumbiaCANADA, 1964
ogoynounheroinUS, 1977
oh, behaveused as a catch-all catchphrase, usually in the context
of a sexual innuendo Wildly popular for several years after the
release of the first Austin Powers film in 1997 US, 1997
oh, fiddle-faddle!used as a non-profane expression of frustration
Used with regularity by the Aunt Bee character on The Andy
Griffith Show (CBS, 1960–68) Repeated with referential humour
US, 1963
Ohio bagnounone hundred grams of marijuana Under Ohio’s decriminalisation laws, this is the maximum amount for a fine for simple possessionUS, 1982
ohmigod!; omigod!used for expressing surprise or horrorUS, 1982
oh my Gawd; oh my good Gawdadjectivebald Rhyming slang; the second variation is reserved for extreme baldnessUK, 1992
oh my stars!used for expressing frustration Popularised by the
sexy blonde witch Samantha on Bewitched (ABC, 1964–72).
Repeated with referential humourUS, 1966
oh nelly!used for humorously expressing surprise or upset
Trang 5ohnosecondnounan instant of realisation when you have made a
mistake, especially in computing A punning combination of
‘nanosecond’ and the exclamation ‘oh no!’UK, 2002
oh-shitnouna criticismUS, 1997
oh snap!used as a mild oathUS, 2002
oh the pain, the shame!used as a humorous comment on
humiliation Coined on the television programme Lost in Space
(1965–68), and then revived and popularised by Keith Olberman
on ESPNUS, 1997
oh yeah?used in questioning veracity or likelihood, or confirming
that a person being addressed has understood or is in agreement
US, 1930
oi!; oy!a meaningless noise used to draw attention or cry in protest
Derives from the obsolete ‘hoy!’, which was a combination of ‘ho!’
and ‘hullo!’UK, 1936
oicerynounthe sleeping quarters of the officer in charge (OIC)
ANTARCTICA, 1959
-oidsuffixused as a suffix that embellishes without changing the
base word’s meaningUS, 1978
oiknounsomeone considered to be a social inferior; a disagreeable
youth Originally a public school coinage used to categorise status:
‘a townee’; then generalised as ‘working-class’; also used within
that circle as general abuse for an unpopular fellow pupil or
someone from a rival school Generated fromHOICK(to hawk and
spit)UK, 1925
oilnoun1alcoholUS, 1912.2a potent distillate of marijuana or
hashishUS, 1996.3heroinUK, 1998.4news; information about
something Metaphorically because oil is essential for the smooth
running of a machineAUSTRALIA, 1915.5in horse racing, confidential
and reliable information about a horseAUSTRALIA, 1989.6in pool,
extreme spin imparted to the cue ball to affect the course of the
object ball or the cue ball after striking the object ballUS, 1912.
< the oilthe complete truth, the lowdownNEW ZEALAND, 1998
oilverb1to inject yourself with a drug, especially heroinUS, 1981.2to
bribeUS, 1982.< oil itto study late into the nightUS, 1975
oil and water kingnounaboard ship, the engineer controlling fresh
water distillationUS, 1986
oil burnernoun1a serious drug addictionUS, 1938.2in trucking, a
diesel engineUS, 1971.3in horse racing, a fast horseUS, 1951
oil-burningadjective(used of a drug addiction) severeUS, 1972
oil cannouna railway tank wagonUS, 1946
oil-canverb(of a boat) to make a hollow booming sound striking
the waterUS, 1990
oiled; oiled upadjective1drunkUS, 1737.2readied; well-preparedUK,
1999
oiliesnounwork clothesUS, 1954
oil in the cannounin horse racing, a horse believed by its backers
to be a sure winnerUS, 1951
oil leaknouna Sikh Rhyming slangUK, 1998
oil merchantnouna smooth-talking swindlerUS, 1935
oil patchnounthe oil industryUS, 1980
oil slicknouna Spaniard Rhyming slang forSPIC UK , 1992
oil tankernounused as an all-purpose form of abuse Rhyming
slang forWANKER UK , 1992
oil wellnounin a deck of playing cards, an ace From the visual
comparison of an ‘A’ with an oil wellUS, 1988
oilyadjectivemean-spirited, toughUS, 1958
oily ragnoun1a worker’s assistantUK, 1994.2a cigarette Rhyming
slang forFAG(a cigarette) Also shortened to ‘oil-rag’ and ‘oily’UK,
1932
oinknouna police officer A far less common usage than the related
PIG(police)US, 1970
oinkverbto lure by greedUS, 1954
oinseach
OirishadjectiveIrish From the stereotypically Irish pronunciation of
‘Irish’UK, 1962
OJnoun1marijuana Possibly, an initialism of ‘oint-jay’ (JOINT) US ,
1970.2a marijuana cigarette dipped in liquid opium or heroin In
other words, an ‘opium joint’ Popular with US troops in Vietnam
US, 1970.3an online jockey who hosts Internet discussions.
Initialism, on the model of DJ (disc jockey)UK, 1998
OKwhen appended to a slogan, used as a strengthening affirmative,
especially when phrased ‘X rule (or rules) OK’ Nigel Rees, Graffiti
Lives, OK, 1979, writes: ‘The addition of "OK" to slogans first
became noticeable in Northern Ireland during the early 1970s, as
in "Provos Rule, OK" referring to the Provisional IRA’UK, 2002
OK; okaynoun1consent, approvalUS, 1841.2a bribe paid by an illegal gambling establishment to the authorities to stay in businessUS, 1979
OK; okayverbto approveUS, 1988
OK; okayadjective1comfortable, at ease Especially common as ‘OK about’ or ‘OK with’US, 1978.2safe, unhurtUS, 1839.3decent, mediocre, satisfactory In 1963, the late Allen Walker Read published his extensive and definitive research on the term, tracing its coinage to 1839 as an abbreviation of ‘oil korrect’, itself
a then-popular slang termUS, 1839
OK; okayused for expressing assent, approval, understanding, or agreementUS, 1839
OK Corralnouna group of men masturbating while watching a female An extrapolation of theGUN DOWNimage, alluding to the site of a famous American gun battle in 1881US, 2002
okenounused as an affectionate or patronising term of address or reference to a man or boy A shortened form ofOKIE SOUTH AFRICA , 1970
okey-dokenoun1a swindle or deceptionUS, 1969.2a wallet, especially its contents Rhyming slang forPOKEused by pickpockets Sometimes shortened to ‘okey’UK, 1961
okey-dokeused for communicating agreement A shortening of
OKEY-DOKEY US , 1936
okey-dokeyadjectiveacceptableUS, 1942
okey-dokeyused for communicating agreement An old-fashioned, affected, still popular perversion ofOK US , 1932
Oki; OkienounOkinawa Coined in World War 2, still used in VietnamUS, 1945
Okienouna poor, white resident or native of rural Oklahoma; a poor, white resident or native of the south-central US Used with derision or pride but not neutrallyUS, 1938
okie; oakienounused as an affectionate or patronising term of address or reference to a man or boy Anglicised form of Afrikaans
outjie SOUTH AFRICA, 1943
Okie blowernounin trucking, an air scoop attached to the air-intake systemUS, 1971
Okie chromenounaluminium paintUS, 1961
Okie trapnouna confusing, complicated traffic interchangeUS, 1962
Oklahoma credit cardnouna hose used to steal petrol by siphoning it from a parked car Presenting the myth of Oklahoma
as a state filled with poor, crafty and dishonest peopleUS, 1962
Oklahoma toothbrushnounthe penis In Oklahoma, known as a
‘Texas toothbrush’US, 1994
OK Yardienouna stereotypical Briton of the upper- or middle-class who lives in west London’s gangland A conflation of ‘OK, yah’ (a catchphrase cliché of the social grouping) andYARDIE(a Jamaican gangster)UK, 1998
-olasuffixa meaningless embellishment of a suffixUS, 1919
olalliechuknoun(on the Pacific coast) a homebrew made from berries The name comes from Chinook jargonCANADA, 1966
oldnouna dark lager-style beer brewed by the top-fermentation method As opposed toNEW AUSTRALIA , 1935
old; ol’; oleadjective1used to intensify some intensifiers A slight
Trang 6plentiful’ now mainly seen in such constructions as: ‘high old
time’ (1858) and ‘gay old boys’ (1887)UK, 1844.2old The first
headword is, of course, standard English; the second and third
variants are variously colloquial, informal and slang as
circumstances dictateUK, 1844.3used as a signal of familiarity with
the person so described As spoken in the southern US, not
necessarily indicative of affection, cordiality, or good humourUS,
1984.4tiresomeUS, 1864
old bagnoun1an unattractive or unloveable old woman
Disparaging; possibly a variant ofOLD BAT,cognisant of the
following sense as ‘an elderly prostitute’ which itself may derive
fromOLD BAT UK , 1949.2an elderly, slatternly prostitute; hence
pejorative for a younger prostituteUK, 1961
old bastardnouna man; fellow Used as an ironic form of friendly
personal address, generally amongst males Such is the love for
this expression amongst working-class Australians, a charity
organ-isation was formed in the 1970s under the name the Australasian
Order of Old Bastards Part of the rules of the order is that ‘On
encountering other O.B.’s in a bar one must administer a hearty
slap on the back, accompanied with the cheerful salutation, "Hello
you Old Bastard!" Membership card must be carried at all times
Failure to produce same when challenged by fellow O.B incurs a
penalty of one round of drinks’AUSTRALIA, 1944
old batnouna disagreeable, middle-aged or elderly woman An
elab-oration ofBAT(an ugly woman), originally ‘a prostitute’UK, 1886
old billnoun1the penisUK, 1998.2a signal, by hand or word, asking
‘Are there any other cheaters in this game?’US, 1979
Old Billnouna police officer; the police Original usage was singular,
now mainly collective Feasible etymologies, in no particular order
of likelihood: i) ‘Old Bill’, a cartoon strip character created by
Bruce Bairnsfeather (1888–1959), was a veteran of World War 1
with a distinctive ‘authoritarian-looking’ moustache – a status and
description shared by many pre-World War 2 policemen This
deri-vation may be reinforced by the 1917 UK government’s
advertising campaign, featuring Old Bill dressed as a special
constable, using the heading ‘Old Bill says ’ to disseminate
important wartime information ii) Derived from a blend of
popular song ‘Won’t You Come Home, Bill Bailey’ punning with
‘The Old Bailey’ (London’s Central Criminal Court) iii) ‘Old Bill’
was King William IV (1765–1837), during whose reign (1830–37)
the police force is wrongly thought to have been established iv)
‘Kaiser Bill’, Kaiser Wilhelm I of Prussia (1797–1888), visited
England in 1864 when the police uniform changed to helmet and
tunic v) Constables of the watch were nicknamed for the bills or
billhooks that they carried as weapons vi) In Victorian times the
‘old bill’ was the bill, or account, presented by police accepting
bribes, or for services rendered vii) New laws are introduced as
parliamentary bills viii) The London County Council registered all
public service vehicles (police, fire and ambulance) with number
plates BYL, leading villains to spot unmarked police cars as ‘old
Bill’ ix) Similarly, Scotland Yard’s ‘Flying Squad’ (established 1921)
was reportedly issued with BYL registrations so that the Squad
became known as ‘old Bill’, and hence the police in general x) In
the 1860s, Limehouse police sergeant Bill Smith, of apocryphal
memory, was nicknamed ‘Old Bill’UK, 1958
old birdnouna mature, older or old womanUK, 2003
old birdadjectiveof a prisoner, having traditional valuesUK, 2001
old blind Bobnounthe penisUK, 1974
old blokenounthe penisAUSTRALIA, 1992
Old Blue EyesnicknameFrank Sinatra, US singer (1915–98)US, 1984
old bollocksnounan older manUK, 2000
old boot; bootnounan unattractive woman, a woman with
qual-ities that are considered unattractiveUK, 1958
old boynoun1the penisUS, 1943.2used as a friendly form of address
to another man A colloquial vocative since the C17UK, 2000.3an
old manUK, 1500.4a fatherUK, 1892
old boy network; Old Boy networknouna social and, especially,
business connection between former public school pupils which is
presumed, by those without such a connection, to give unfair
also applied to connections made at university, and at other insti-tutions which may be considered as for the privilegedUK, 1959
old breednounthe First Marine Division, US Marine Corps, which saw service in World War 2, North China, Korea and VietnamUS, 1991
old catnounA Morris Minor car Citizens’ band radio slangUK, 1981
old chapnoun1used as a friendly form of address to another man
UK, 1822.2the penisUK, 1992
old comicnouna Vauxhall Victor car Citizens’ band radio slang; it sounds like a name a music hall comedian would useUK, 1981
Old CorncobnicknameGeneral Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) of the US Army From his love for a corncob pipeUS, 1982
old countrynoun1to the US armed forces at the end of World War
2, the United StatesUS, 1949.2Beverly Hills, California Used with irony by transplants, especially Jewish transplants, to the San Fernando ValleyUS, 2004
Old CountrynicknameEngland or the United KingdomAUSTRALIA, 1834
old cownouna despicable old womanAUSTRALIA, 1864
old Dnouna mother Initially ‘dear’ or ‘darling’UK, 1996
Old DartnicknameEngland or the United Kingdom; specifically, London First recorded in use in England in 1832 (Wilkes) ‘Dart’ represents the pronunciation of the word ‘dirt’ in the Essex dialect, and so ‘Old Dart’ would correlate with ‘old sod’ (one’s native district or country)AUSTRALIA, 1892
old dearnounan old womanUK, 1958 8see:OUL ONE
old dognouna Rover carUK, 1981
old facenouna chorus dancer whose long tenure makes her unmarketableUS, 1948
old faithfulnounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS, 1954
old fartnounan old or older person, especially one who is unpleasant or disliked Often elaborated as ‘boring old fart.’US, 1971
old-fashioned looknouna glance of quizzical disapprovalUK, 1961
old fellownoun1the penisAUSTRALIA, 1968.2a father (regardless of age)AUSTRALIA, 1954.3used as a friendly form of address to another man; a manUK, 1825
old fogeynouna small lump of dried nasal mucus Rhyming slang forBOGEY UK , 1998
old folksnoun1parents (regardless of age)AUSTRALIA, 1957.2in circus and carnival usage, monkeysUS, 1981
old fruit; my old fruitnounused as a friendly form of address to another manUK, 2003
old gentnounthe penisUK, 2000
old girlnoun1a mother; a wifeUK, 1887.2an old womanUK, 1791
old gitnounany man who is considered past his primeUK, 2000
old grindernouna promiscuous womanUK, 2000
old handnounan experienced person, an expertUK, 1785
old hatadjectiveold-fashioned, out-of-dateUK, 1911
old headnoun1an older prisonerUS, 2002.2a returning student to a schoolUS, 1963
old horseynounstrong, illegally manufactured whiskyUS, 1999
old housenounon the railways, a warehouse of salvaged partsUS, 1977
oldienoun1an older or elderly personUK, 1874.2a song from the past that is still popular A shortened form ofGOLDEN OLDIEor
‘oldie but goody’US, 1939
oldiesnounparents (regardless of age)AUSTRALIA, 1964
old iron and brass; old ironnoun2a pass Rhyming slang, in military useUK, 1992
old iron and grass; old ironnoun1grass Rhyming slangUK, 1992
old Joenounany sexually transmitted infectionUS, 1967
old King Colenoununemployment benefit; a government office
Trang 7forTHE DOLE; formed on the name of a nursery rhyme character –
he was ‘a merry old soul’ so this rhyme may be intentionally
ironicUK, 1960
old kit bagnouna cigarette Rhyming slang forFAG; possibly from
the song by George Asaf and Felix Powell: ‘Pack up your troubles
in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile’, 1915 – but still
fam-iliarUK, 1998
old ladnounused as a friendly form of address to another manUK,
1588
old ladynoun1a motherUS, 1877.2a wife, common-law or legal; a
girlfriendUS, 1836.3the more passive member of a same-sex
coupleUS, 1937.4any old womanUK, 1824
Old Lady of Threadneedle Streetnicknamethe Bank of England
From a cartoon by James GillrayUK, 1797
old lady white; old white ladynouna powdered drug: cocaine,
heroin or morphineUS, 1942
old lagnoun1a regular prisoner or one who has become
institutionalised, a recidivist FromLAG(a prisoner)UK, 1950.2a
prisoner who has been in jail for a long timeAUSTRALIA, 1950.3a
former prisonerAUSTRALIA, 1812.4a person who has been contracted
to a single employer for a very long time, especially of the armed
services Humorous use of the sense as ‘a convict who has been
imprisoned for many years’UK, 2001
old mannoun1a fatherUS, 1811.2a boyfriend or husbandUK, 1768.
3a commanding officer, military or policeUS, 1830.4a pimp in
relation to a prostituteUS, 1891.5an elder amongst the Australian
AboriginalsAUSTRALIA, 1848.6used as a form of address to another
manUK, 1885.7the penisUK, 1984.8a sharkUS, 1965
old man comfortsnounhigh-top shoes with ankle support and
extra lacesUS, 1973
old man kangaroo; old man ’roonounan adult male kangaroo
AUSTRALIA, 1834
old man’s aidnounin pool, a device used to support the cue stick
for a hard-to-reach shot As the terminology suggests, the device is
scorned by skilled playersUS, 1977
old man’s milknouncoconut water mixed with ginTRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO, 2003
old Mickadjectivenauseated, sick Rhyming slangUK, 1967
Old Missnicknamethe University of MississippiUS, 1989
old moneynounan earlier system of measuring, when applied to
anything except moneyUK, 2000
old navynounheroinUS, 2002
Old Nicknounmischief Nearly obsoleteUS, 1817
old oaknounLondon Probably rhyming slang forTHE SMOKE; used
by trainspotters; however, Garth Andrews, a retired deputy head of
Records and Archives at the British Railways Board, wrote to this
dictionary in May 2003, to suggest that ‘this has nothing to do
with rhyming slang for "smoke" Old Oak Common was the
premier engine shed on the Great Western Railway, providing the
motive power for crack expresses out of Paddington It is, of
course, possible that Old Oak Common provided the inspiration
for the rhyme – if rhyme it isUK, 1970
old pairnounparentsIRELAND, 2001
old peoplenounparents (regardless of age)AUSTRALIA, 1941
old person’s friendnounpneumoniaCANADA, 1987
old ragnouna flag Rhyming slangUK, 1992
old reliablenounthe Ninth Infantry Division, US ArmyUS, 1991
oldsnounparentsAUSTRALIA, 1979
old sailornouna Morris Marina car Citizens’ band radio slang; pun
on ‘mariner’UK, 1981
old schoolnouna past generation with an old-fashioned but reliable
way of doing thingsUS, 1970
old shakynouna C-124 long-range transport aircraftUS, 1986
old skool; old schoolnounthe original style of hip-hop music
not be categorised as house music; finally, any style of music under the hip-hop umbrella that is not absolutely currentUS, 1989
Oldsmobilenounin hold ’em poker, a nine and an eight as the first two cards dealt to a player An allusion to the Oldsmobile 98, a popular modelUS, 1981
Old Smokeynounthe electric chairUS, 1929
old soak; soaknouna drunkard From the verb sense (to drink immoderately)UK, 1820
Old SodnounIrelandUK, 1891
old sortnouna wife, a husband or any partner in a living-together relationshipUK, 2000
Old Sparkynounan electric chair, especially Florida’s electric chair
US, 1971
old stagernouna person of considerable age or experienceUK, 1570
oldsternounan older personUK, 1848
old StevenounheroinUS, 1936
old stylenounfashion sense that is excessive to the point of ridicule
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1956
old sweatnounan old soldier; a veteran police officerUK, 1919
old thing; dear old thingnounused as a term of address, usually
as an endearmentUK, 1864
oldtimer’s diseasenounAlzheimer’s diseaseUS, 1988
old Tomnounan aggressive, ‘mannish’ lesbianUS, 1978
old womannoun1a wife; a woman you cohabit withUK, 1775.2a motherUK, 1829.3a male who behaves like an old woman
AUSTRALIA, 1963
ole galnouna male roommateUS, 1947
o-levelsnounoral sex, especially when advertised as a service offered
by a prostitute A play on the name given to ‘ordinary-level’ exam-inations in the British education systemUK, 1978
olive oil; olivenounsilver foil (used in the preparation of heroin) Rhyming slangUK, 1996
Olivernounin circus and carnival usage, a police officerUS, 1981
Oliver Reed; Ollie; Ollynoun1tobacco; marijuana Rhyming slang forWEED(tobacco/marijuana), based on the name of actor Oliver Reed, 1938–99UK, 1992.2amphetamine Rhyming slang forSPEED
(amphetamine), based on the name of actor Oliver Reed, 1938–99
UK, 1992
Oliver Twistadjectivedrunk Rhyming slang forPISSED,formed from Charles Dickens’ eponymous heroUK, 1998
Oliver Twist!; oliver!a derisive suggestion that accompanies the offensive gesture of a raised middle finger An elaboration and extension ofTWIST!, formed from Charles Dickens’ famous heroUK, 2001
Ollie Beaknouna Sikh Rhyming slang, formed from a puppet – a Liverpudlian owl – that used to introduce children’s television programmes in the 1960sUK, 1998
Ollie, Molly and Dollynounin poker, three queensUS, 1948
olly; ollienounin skateboarding, a jumping manoeuvre, the basis of most skating tricksUS, 1989
OlynicknameOlympia, WashingtonUS, 1997
omnounMDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy Possibly from the Buddhist mantra ‘Om’, playing on the drug’s association with ‘trance’ (a contemporary dance music genre formed on repetitive rhythms), or, perhaps, an abbreviation of
OMEGA UK , 1996
OMnouna male; a partner; a husband An abbreviation of ‘old man’ Frequent usage by shortwave radio operators, carried over into citizens’ band radio slangUS, 1976
-omaticsuffixused as an embellishment that adds nothing to the meaning of the word embellishedUS, 1982
omee; omey; omer; ome; homee; homi; homie; homeynouna
man; a master; a landlord Polari, from Italian uomo (a man) UK,