A combination ofPISSalcohol with-HEADa userUK, 1961 piss-holenoun1the entrance to the urethraUS, 1996.2a urinalUK, 1959.3an unpleasant locationUK, 1973 piss-hole banditnouna homosexual m
Trang 1piss-headnouna drunk; a habitual drinker A combination ofPISS
(alcohol) with-HEAD(a user)UK, 1961
piss-holenoun1the entrance to the urethraUS, 1996.2a urinalUK,
1959.3an unpleasant locationUK, 1973
piss-hole banditnouna homosexual man who seeks sexual contact
in a public urinalUK, 1977
piss housenouna public toiletUS, 1947
piss inverbto win or achieve something easilyNEW ZEALAND, 1998
pissingadjectiveused as an intensifier, generally denoting disapproval
UK, 1984
pissing contestnouna duel of unpleasantriesUS, 1983
pissing matchnouna dispute based on mutual negative attacks
From the graphic if vulgar image of two men urinating on each
otherUS, 1992
pissing rainnounheavy or persistent rainfallUK, 2000
piss in the handnounsomething that is very simpleNEW ZEALAND,
1984
piss itverbto succeed or achieve very easilyUK, 1982
piss-offnounan annoyance, an irritationUK, 2000
piss offverb1to depart Also used in an exclamatory or imperative
senseUK, 1958.2to irritate or annoy someone First recorded in the
normally slang-free poetry of Ezra PoundUS, 1937.3to get rid of
someoneAUSTRALIA, 1972
piss playnounsexual behaviour involving urination and urineUS,
1999
piss-pooradjectiveextremely poor or feeble Brought into general
usage from British service usage during World War 2UK, 1946
pisspot; piss-potnoun1a vessel for urine Originally conventional;
it slipped into vulgar use during the C18 whilst still being very
much a household necessityUK, 1440.2a terrible thing or placeUS,
1964.3a drunkard; a despicable person Figurative use of the sense
as ‘a chamber pot’AUSTRALIA, 1969.4a US military M-1 helmetUS,
1990
piss-proudadjectivehaving an erect penis as a result of urinal
press-ureUK, 1788
piss-takenounan act of mockery or teasingUK, 1977
piss-takeverbto mock; to tease; to deride; to ridiculeUK, 2002
piss-takernouna mocker; a person who ridicules somethingUK, 1976
piss-takingnounmockeryUK, 1967
piss-to-windwardnounan entirely inept personBARBADOS, 1965
piss tube; pee pipenouna metal tube partially buried in the
ground, into which soldiers urinate Vietnam war usageUS, 1977
piss-upnouna drinking sessionUK, 1952 < couldn’t organise a
piss-up in a breweryused of an inefficient person or
organis-ation Formed onPISS-UP(a drinking session)UK, 1984
piss up; piss up largeverbto drink beer or other alcoholic
beveragesNEW ZEALAND, 1998
piss-weakadjectivepuny and cowardlyAUSTRALIA, 1971
pisswhackernouna type of cicada which releases a liquid when
heldAUSTRALIA, 1981
piss-willienouna despicable cowardUS, 1977
pissynouna heavy drinkerAUSTRALIA, 1979
pissyadjective1unpleasant, distastefulUK, 1997.2puny; insignificant;
weakAUSTRALIA, 1985.3angered, crotchety, fussyUS, 1973.4given to
drinkingAUSTRALIA, 1979.5drunkenAUSTRALIA, 1971
pissyadverbextremelyBAHAMAS, 1982
pissy-assadjectivedirty, inconsequentialUS, 1975
pissy-eyedadjectivedrunkNEW ZEALAND, 1998
pistolnoun1the penisUS, 2002.2a hired gunmanUS, 1964.3a reliable
personUS, 1984.4a lobster that has lost one or both clawsUS, 1975.
5in electric line work, an underground cable terminatorUS, 1980
pistolanouna cigarette enhanced with freebase cocaineUS, 1979
Pistol Pete
pistorically; pistoraticallyadverbvery (drunk)BARBADOS, 1965
pitnoun1the armpitUS, 1965.2the vein at the antecubital site, opposite the elbow, commonly used for drug injectionsUS, 1964.
3Pitocin™, a drug used for inducing labourUS, 1994.
4phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dust
US, 1994.5the area in a club or concert hall where dancers can slam dance An abbreviation ofMOSH PIT US , 1995.6a bedUK, 1948.
7an inside jacket pocketUS, 1958 < no pitno trouble From
‘armpit’ to ‘pit’ to ‘sweat’ to ‘trouble’US, 1968
pitverbto sweat under the armsUS, 1966
PITAused as Internet shorthand to mean ‘pain in the ass/arse’ US, 1995
pit bullnouna variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best known
as ecstasyUK, 1996
pitchnouna persuasive or exaggerated sales act or talkUK, 1876
pitchverbto play the active sexual role in a homosexual relationship
US, 1966 < pitch a stinkto complain loudlyBAHAMAS, 1982.
< pitch a tentto have an erectionUS, 2001 < pitch it strong; pitch it highto make a forceful case for somethingUK, 1837.
< pitch woo; pitch the wooto commence a courtshipUS, 1867
pitch and tossnouna boss Rhyming slangAUSTRALIA, 1945
pitchernoun1the active partner in homosexual sexUS, 1966.2a dealer in a casino card gameUS, 1973
pitchholenouna deep pothole in a roadCANADA, 1962
pitch inverb1to commence work in a vigorous manner; to join in with another, or others, doing such workUS, 1847.2to start eating;
to eat heartilyUS, 1937
pitch up; pitchverbto arriveUK, 2003
pit cupcakenounin motor racing, a female hanger-on in search of romance with drivers or members of the pit crewUS, 1992
pit girlnouna female casino employee whose job is to provide company and encouragement for heavy-betting gamblersUS, 1963
pit guardnounan underarm deodorantUS, 1968
pit lampverbto engage in illegal jacklighting in hunting; also, to dismiss someone from employment The first meaning of this slang term comes from the use of a lamp like a miner’s lamp
CANADA, 1966
pit roomnouna bedroomANTARCTICA, 2000
pitsnounin a hospital, the medical screening areaUS, 1978 < the pitsthe very bottom; the depths; the nadir; the worst Perhaps
from ‘armpits’ US, 1953
pit stopnoun1while driving, a stop at a restaurant, petrol station or rest area to use the lavatory and/or buy food and drink; a visit to the toiletUS, 1968.2a short stay in prison, especially one occasioned by a parole violationUS, 1984.3an underarm deodorant
US, 1969
Pitstopnicknameused as a humorous nickname for Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaUS, 1981
pitter-patterverb1to walk in small, quiet stepsUS, 1864.2to talk persuasively or gliblyUK, 1979
Pittsburgh feathersnouncoalUS, 1949
Pitt Street farmernoun(especially in New South Wales) a city person with a small country property, often run at a loss for tax purposes From Pitt Street, a principle street in SydneyAUSTRALIA, 1945
pittynouna pit bull dog Formerly known as a Staffordshire Terrier
or an American Pit Bull TerrierUS, 1990
pittyadjectivemessy, dirtyUS, 1975
pity potnounused in twelve-step recovery programmes such as Alcoholics Anonymous as a name for the imaginary place where the addict sits feeling sorry for himselfUS, 1995
pivvynouna very small amountBARBADOS, 1965
pixnounphotographs or films An abbreviation of the pronunciation
Trang 2pixienoun1a male homosexual The term was enshrined in US
popular/political culture during the McCarthy hearings in April,
1954 Joseph Welch, the lawyer for the US Army, demanded to
know the origins of a doctored photograph, asking if it had come
from a ‘pixie’, alluding to a suspected homosexual relationship
involving Roy Cohn, a member of McCarthy’s staff Senator
McCarthy asked Mr Welch to define the term, which he happily
did: "I should say, Mr Senator, that a pixie is a close relative of a
fairy"US, 1941.2a frequent user of marijuanaUK, 1983.3an
amphet-amine tabletUS, 1994.4hair that has been chemically straightened
US, 1972
pixiesnoun< away with the pixiesdaydreamingNEW ZEALAND, 1998
pixilatedadjectivewhimsical, slightly crazy; befuddled; drunkUS, 1848
pizlumnouna pig’s penisUS, 1952
pizzanoun1marijuanaUS, 1965.2a large area of grazed skin
Skateboarders’ slang; from the appearance of the woundUK, 1998
pizza cutternounin drag racing, an extremely narrow front wheel
US, 1993
pizza dudenounthe pizza delivery personUS, 1988
pizzafacenouna person with a bad case of acneUS, 1971
pizza platenounin electric line work, an insulated tool attachment
formally known as a fork suspension attachmentUS, 1980
pizzazz; pizazz; p’zazznounenergy, vim, vigour, excitementUS, 1937
PJnounan unofficial, unlicensed if not illegal, job An abbreviation of
‘private job’ TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1990
PJ’snounpyjamasUS, 1964
PKnoun preacher’s kid Used without regard to denomination or
even religion, applied even to children of rabbis; denotating a
certain bond among those who have grown up in the shadow of
organised religionUS, 2004
placanouna nickname, especially the artistic representation of the
nickname on a public wall Spanish slang used by English-speaking
Mexican-AmericansUS, 1974
placcy; placky; plakky; plaggy; plazzyadjectiveplasticUK, 1999
placenoun< you make the place untidy; you are making the
place untidyused as an ungracious or jocular invitation to be
seatedUK, 1978
placenta pokernounthe penis JocularUK, 2003
plaguenoun< the plague1the bleed period of the menstrual
cycleUK, 1961.2HIVUS, 1990
plagueverbto trouble, torment, tease, bother or annoy someone A
weakening of the conventional senseUK, 1594
plaguedadjectiveinfected with HIVUS, 1990
plaguernouna person infected with HIVUS, 1990
plain Janenoun1an unremarkably ordinary or unattractive woman
UK, 1912.2an innocent looking, performance-enhanced unmarked
motorway patrol carUS, 1992
plait your shit!used for registering dismissal, either of a notion or
a personAUSTRALIA, 1971
plamasnounflattery, exaggerationIRELAND, 1999
planeverbin the language of wind surfing, to hydroplaneUS, 1985
planetnounwhen combined with a personal characteristic or
interest, applied to a person’s narrow or exclusive focus on that
characteristic or interest A remote place that it is hard to contact
UK, 2001 < on another planetvery drug-intoxicatedUK, 1999
Planet Zognouna supremely unrealistic place; the home of
unrealistic ideas; where daydreamers go To be said to have arrived
from Planet Zog is ‘to have no idea what’s going on’UK, 2003
planknoun1a stupid person The phraseTHICK AS TWO SHORT PLANKS
(stupid) gave rise to the adjectivePLANKY(stupid), hence ‘plank’UK,
1999.2an electric guitar From the instrument’s original
construction in the late 1940s, and an insult hurled at early
Fender guitarsUK, 2000.3a heavy surfboard, especially an older
wooden oneUS, 1957 < make the plankin homosexual usage, to
take the passive position in anal sexUS, 1981 < put the plank to
someone
variation ofPLANK(to have sex) in which ‘plank’ is understood to
be a ‘penis’UK, 2001
plankverb1to have sex with A ‘plank’ may be a ‘floorboard’ or, possibly, a ‘table’; hence this probably originates from an occurrence on a wooden surface in much the same way asBED(to have sex); it may also be a reference to the erect penis which is,
no doubt, ‘stiff as a board’US, 1972.2to conceal somethingUK: SCOTLAND, 1823
plank-spankernouna guitarist FromPLANK(a guitar)UK, 1998
plank-whackernouna guitarist FromPLANK(a guitar)UK, 2001
plankyadjectivestupid FromTHICK AS TWO SHORT PLANKS UK , 1984
plantnoun1a person, such as a magician’s assistant, who has been secretly placed in an audience, in order to assist whoever is addressing or manipulating that crowdUS, 1926.2a police surveillance actionUS, 1984.3a cell used for solitary confinement
US, 1976.4an electrical generatorUS, 1985.5the equipment and work animals of a drover or other rural worker travelling through the countrysideAUSTRALIA, 1867
plantverb1to bury a bodyUS, 1855.2to deliver a blow; to drive a ball
UK, 1808.3to station a person for use in an underhand mannerUK,
1693.4to incriminate someone suspected of a crime by hiding evidence where it is certain to be found by the appropriate auth-oritiesUK, 1865 < plant itin motor racing, to accelerate to the fullest extent possibleUS, 1965
plantationnounany small gardenCAYMAN ISLANDS, 1985
plantingnouna burialUS, 1977
plant you now, dig you laterused as a farewellUS, 1947
plaque whackernouna dental hygienistUS, 2001
plaster-casternouna groupie who makes plaster casts of celebrities’ penisesUS, 1968
plasteredadjectivedrunkUS, 1912
plaster of Paris; plasternounthe backside, the buttocks Rhyming slang, extending the sequenceARIS–ARISTOTLE–BOTTLE;BOTTLE AND GLASS–ARSE UK , 1998
plasticnoun1a credit card; consumer credit in generalUS, 1979.2a person who is liable to act in an unpredictable mannerUK, 2003.3a condomUS, 1993 < on the plasticusing stolen credit cards, etc
UK, 1977 < pull plastic(used of a prisoner) to place your belongings in a plastic rubbish bag when you are transferredUS, 1997
plasticadjectiveconventional; superficial; shallowUS, 1967
plastic badgenouna private security guardUS, 2001
plastic fantasticnoun1a credit card or credit card transationNEW ZEALAND, 1995.2a yacht with a fibreglass hullNEW ZEALAND, 1986
plastic fantasticadjectivewonderful If not coined, widely popularised by Jefferson Airplane’s 1967 song, ‘Plastic Fantastic Lover’US, 1970
plastic gangster; plasticnouna tough guy who is not anywhere near as tough as he pretendsUK, 1996
plastic hippienouna person who assumes the outer trappings of the counterculture without fully immersing himself in itUS, 1967
plastic jobnouncosmetic surgeryUS, 1953
plastic moneynouna credit card or cards; consumer credit in generalUS, 1974
plasticsnounprison-issue plastic cutleryUK, 1996
platenoun1a plate of food brought by a guest to a party The notion of ‘bringing a plate’ to supplement the food laid on by the host is an Australian social traditionAUSTRALIA, 1961.2a badgeUS,
1949.3a phonograph recordUS, 1935 < on a plate; on a platter
easily acquired; with little or no effort requiredUK, 1935
plateverb1to engage in oral sex Rhyming slang for ‘plate of ham’,
GAM(to perform oral sex)UK, 1968.2to engage in oral stimulation
of the anusUK, 2003
plate and dish
Trang 3platernoun1in horse racing, a horse that competes in minor,
low-paying races From the practice of awarding a silver plate instead
of a cash prizeUS, 1923.2in horse racing, a farrierUS, 1976
plates and dishes; platesnouna wife Rhyming slang forMISSIS UK ,
1960
plates of meat; platesnounthe feet Rhyming slang, since 1857;
abbreviated to ‘plates’ since 1896UK, 1857
platsnounplatform shoesUS, 1997
platternouna phonograph recordUS, 1931
platter pushernouna radio disc jockeyUS, 1973
platters of meat; plattersnounthe feet Rhyming slang; an
elabor-ation ofPLATES OF MEATsince 1923; the abbreviation ‘platters’ since
1945UK, 1923
playnoun1sexual activityUS, 1995.2a manoeuvre; a tactical moveUS,
1982.3a legitimate scheme or a criminal venture From the
pre-vious senseUS, 2000.4the deception surrounding a confidence
swindleUS, 1940.5in horse racing, a betUS, 1994 < in playfalling
into a confidence swindleUS, 1997
playverbto work as a pimp; to hustleUS, 1977 < play ball1to have
sex Punning onBALL(to have sex) and ‘play ball’ (to cooperate
with)US, 2001.2to stop idling and start workingUS, 1977.3to
cooperate with someone else; occasionally applied to inanimate
objects such as computersUS, 1957 < play bingoto try to
determine the reason for a cash shortage by comparing orders
with receiptsUS, 1996 < play catch-upin an athletic contest, to
try to catch up and surpass an opponent that at the moment is
leadingUS, 1971 < play checkersto move from empty seat to
empty seat in a cinema, looking for a sexual partner Homosexual
usageUS, 1972 < play deadto act dumbUS, 1953 < play for the
other teamto be homosexualUS, 1997 < play handballto
smoke crack cocaine A highly euphemistic codeUS, 1993 < play
hard to getto resist amorous advances (especially while
intending to acquiesce); hence, more generally, to be reluctant to
comply with what is expectedUK, 1945 < play hookey; play
hookyto absent yourself from school or workUS, 1848 < play
inside rightto be mean with money Rhyming slang forTIGHT,
elaborated into football terminologyUK, 1998 < play it by earto
improvise as circumstances dictate As a musician picking up a
tune without sheet music to guideUK, 1984 < play it coolto
remain calm and composedUK, 1942 < play mums and dads;
play dads and mumsto have sex An adult version of a
children’s game ‘Play fathers and mothers’ is also recorded but in
the strongest current usages it seems that the female comes first
UK, 1967 < play past somethingto overcome an obstacle or
impediment to progressUS, 1972 < play silly buggersto be a
nuisance; to cause trouble or disruption; to ‘mess about’UK, 2001.
< play someone cheapto assume that someone is stupidUS,
1947 < play the blocksto idle on a street cornerBAHAMAS, 1982.
< play the chill1to act calmUS, 1920.2to snub someoneUS,
1985 < play the kerbsto sell drugs on the streetUS, 1989 < play
the queensto have sex with a passive, effeminate male prisoner
US, 1984 < play the whaleto vomitAUSTRALIA, 1971 < play them
as they layused as a wisely humorous acceptance of the need to
work with what has been given to youUS, 1992 < play too close
to take advantage of another’s good nature by excessive teasing or
abuseUS, 1992 < play took and banjoto sing or whistle a
secular tune on a Sunday or religious holidayBARBADOS, 1965.
< play up to someoneto humour someone; to flatter
someone, to take your cue from another; to behave according to
expectations Originally in theatrical useUK, 1809 < play with
yourselfto masturbate The earliest usage recorded of this sweet
little euphemism is by James JoyceIRELAND, 1922
play aroundverbto have an extra-marital amorous liaisonUS, 1943
play-awaynouna weekend at someone else’s place in the country
Upper-class society usage; predates BBC television childrens’
programme Playaway, 1984 UK, 1982
playbacknouna scheme by which the odds on a particular horse
race are engineered lower by heavy betting on that horseUS, 1963
Playboynouna tablet of MDMA, the recreational drug best known
as ecstasy < the Playboya pubic hairstyle
play doughnounbread found in a US Army combat ration Word play on the inedible mix of flour, water and salt called ‘play dough’ and played with by childrenUS, 1991
playedadjectiveout of moneyUS, 1984
playernoun1a person who takes pride in the number of sexual partners they have, not in the depth of any relationship; a selfish pleasure-seekerUS, 1968.2a pimpUS, 1972.3a schemer; an import-ant figure in a fieldUS, 1995.4a drug user or drug sellerUS, 1971.
5an active member of a terrorist organisation Used by police, military and other security servicesUK, 1995.6in casino gambling, a craps playerUS, 1974.7a hip-hop artist Also variant ‘playa’US, 1995
player haternounsomeone who is envious or jealous of another’s social successUS, 1999
player of the pink oboenouna person who performs oral sex on a man Coined by satirist Peter Cook (1937–95) for a sketch
performed in Amnesty International’s The Secret Policeman’s Ball.
UK, 1979
play-for-payadjective1available for paid sexUS, 1956.2receiving compensation while competing as an amateur athleteUS, 2003
playground’s muddynounexperiencing the bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS, 2001
playingnounamongst women prisoners, homosexual flirtation and involvementUK, 1980
playing bingoadjectivein prison, said of a sex offender From the call of the numbers inRULE FORTY-THREE UK , 1996
playing with confederate moneyadjectivehaving silicone breast implants Very impressive to look at but ultimately valueless
Coined for US television comedy Seinfeld, 1993–98 US, 2003
play-lunchnouna mid-morning break at primary school; also, the food eaten during this breakAUSTRALIA, 1962
playmatesnounthe testiclesUK, 2002
play outverb1(of a DJ) to perform in public; (of a dance record) to
be included in a DJ’s repertoireUK, 2003.2to escape from confine-mentUS, 1972
play-playadjectivemake-believeBARBADOS, 1965
playtimenouna time in a prison’s schedule when the inmates are out of their cells mixing with each other From school usageUK, 1996
please; per-lease; puh-leaseused for humorously asking please or expressing scepticism An affectation popularised in any number
of television situation comedies in the mid- to late 1980s and thereafter a staple of US popspeakUS, 1990
pleasure and painnounrain Rhyming slangUK, 1960
plebnoun1an unsophisticated or uneducated person An abbrevi-ation of conventional ‘plebeian’ (a lower-class person)UK, 1865.2an annoying person; a nuisance A generally derogative application of the sense as ‘a plebeian’UK, 1981
pleb; plebbie; plebbyadjectiveof a plebeian character; coarse; uneducatedUK, 1962
pleckienoun a plectrum UK: SCOTLAND, 1988
pledgesnouncashUS, 2003
plentyadverbveryUK, 1934
plenty-plentyadverbto a great extentBAHAMAS, 1982
pliernounin a confidence swindle or sales scheme, an agent who for a commission locates potential victimsUS, 1988
pliersnouna railway ticket inspector’s punchUS, 1946
plimmienouna plimsoll (a rubber-soled canvas shoe)UK, 1994
plingnounan exclamation mark (!) on a computer keyboardUS, 1991
plingverbin circus and carnival usage, to begUS, 1981
plinknouncheap wine Variant ofPLONKwith a change of vowel influenced by other couplets such as ‘ding dong, ‘sing song
AUSTRALIA, 1943
plinkernounan inexpensive, simply designed gun marketed for casual use
Trang 4plod; plodder; PC Plod; Mr Plod; the plodnouna uniformed
police officer; the police Derives from Mr Plod the Policeman, a
character in the Noddy stories of Enid Blyton (1897–1968),
poss-ibly a pun on ‘plodding the beat’ or, simply, ‘to plod’ (to proceed
tediously)UK, 1977
plodditenouna police officerUK, 2003
plod shopnouna police stationUK, 1996
ploktaverbin computing, to press keys randomly in an effort to
obtain a response from the computer An acronym of ‘press lots of
keys to abort’ US, 1991
plonknoun1cheap wine Alteration of French blanc, from vin blanc
(white wine); occasionally used of other alcoholic drinksAUSTRALIA,
1930.2alcohol, especially beerNEW ZEALAND, 1984.3a woman police
constableUK, 1996.4the surreptitious wagering of a large amount of
moneyAUSTRALIA, 1981
plonkverb1to place something, especially with a lack of finesse
AUSTRALIA, 1942.2(of a male), to have sex In use among National
Servicemen in the 1950sUK, 1984.3to wager moneyAUSTRALIA, 1981
plonker; plonknoun1the penisUK, 1947.2a fool; used (often
humorously) as an everyday form of abuse Euphemistic extension
of the previous sense for name-calling asPRICK Popularised from
the early 1980s by BBC television situation comedy Only Fools and
Horses UK, 1966
plonkieadjectivefoolish; displaying the qualities of a plonkerUK, 2001
plonkonounan alcoholicAUSTRALIA, 1963
plooadjectivea ‘plus’ attached to a gradeUS, 1968
plookyadjectivepimply, spotty Extended fromPLUKE;PLOOK(a spot)
UK: SCOTLAND, 1985
plooteredadjective drunk Probably from Scottish plouter (to splash
in water)UK, 1984
plopnounexcrementUS, 1984
plopverbto fall or to drop heavilyUK, 1839
plop downverbto lay down forcefully; to lie down with abandonUS,
1986
ploppynounan unskilled gambler who describes his systems to all
around himUK, 1996
plot upverb1to establish a singular, group or gang presence in an
area and represent it as the territory of that individual, group or
gangUK, 1999.2to conceal somethingUK, 2001
plotzedadjective drunk From German plotzen (to burst) via Yiddish
plotz (to burst) US, 1962
plownounmarijuana The means by which you becomePLOWED
(drug-intoxicated)UK, 2003 < get your plow cleanedto be killed
in combatUS, 1968
plowverb(used of a male) to have sexUS, 1970 < plow the fieldto
drive off the road at a high rate of speed into a fieldUS, 1962
plowboynouna rustic; an unsophisticated person from the far
reaches of the countryside DisparagingUK, 1569
plowedadjective1drunkUS, 1974.2drug-intoxicated From the
pre-vious senseUS, 1981
plow jockeynoun1a farmerUS, 1951.2a soldier who cannot keep
cadence when marching, who appears to be walking as if behind a
plough with one foot in the furrowUS, 1946
plunounteaAUSTRALIA, 1960
plucknoun1wineUS, 1964.2the recruiting of a prostitute to work for
a pimp; a prostitute recruited to work for a pimpUS, 1973
pluckverb1to recruit a prostitute into the services of a pimpUS,
1973.2(used of a male) to have sex with a virginBAHAMAS, 1982.
< pluck the chickento swindle a victim in a phony investment
or sales schemeUS, 1988
pluckyadjectivebrave, daringUK, 1842
plugnoun1a piece of publicity, a promotional pitchUS, 1902.2a
tampon Understood to be a variation on conventional ‘plug’,
possibly from abbreviation of technical jargon ‘catamenial plug’ (a
tampon) . a bullet hole . a poker player with a
steady, competent and predictable style of playUS, 1988.5a horse that has seen its best daysUS, 1860.6a temporary workerUS, 1997
plugverb1to support, to endorse, to promoteUS, 1927.2to shoot someoneUS, 1870.3(of a male) to have sex with someoneUK, 1888.
4to insert contraband items into the anus during a prison visitUK,
1996.5to engage in a fist fight without any weaponsUS, 1992.6on the railways, to use the reverse gear to help stop a trainUS, 1977.
7to tease or taunt someoneUS, 2002 < plug into help In the usage of counterculturalists associated with the Rainbow Nation gatheringsUS, 1997 < plug in both ways(of a male) to be bisexual A play onAC/DC UK , 1980 < plug your mugto stop talkingUS, 1947
plug away; plugverbto continue doing something or making an effort, to persist doggedlyUK, 1865
plugged inadjectiveconnected to something fashionableUS, 1989
plugged nickelnounliterally, a five-cent piece that has been altered
by the insertion of a plug of base metal; figuratively, something of
no valueUS, 1988
pluggernouna person whose job it is to promote a record or recording artistUS, 1945
plugholenoun< go down the plugholeto become lost; to go to waste; to fail A variation ofDOWN THE DRAIN UK , 1973
plug-uglynouna violent, rough personUS, 1856
pluke; plooknouna spot, boil or other pus-filled skin blemish
Directly from Scottish dialect plook UK, 1997
plumnoun1the testicle From its shape and fruitfulness One notable precursor to its unambiguous sense as a testicle is in the innuendo-laden song ‘Please Don’t Touch My Plums’ by Sammy
Cahn, 1913–93, written for the film The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox, 1976, in which it was sung in a Golden
Globe-winning performance by Goldie HawnUK, 2003.2a fool; used as a general term of abuse From the previous senseUK, 1982.3an exceptional person or thingAUSTRALIA, 1956.4in marketing, a married man with above-average income who is keen to improve his pension A specific sense of the general use of ‘plum’ as
‘something desirable’ The opposite is aLEMON UK , 1998.5in pool, the plum-coloured four-ballUS, 1990.6in pool, an easy shotUS, 1970
plumb; plumadverbabolutely; completely; utterly From the earlier, conventional sense (exactly)UK, 1587
plumbaynounthe vulva; a woman’s pubic moundTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
plumbernoun1a urologistUS, 1961.2a male pornography performer
US, 1995.3in the Royal Air Force, an armament tradesman Still in Royal Air Force use, 2002UK, 1942.4a golfer who is a good putter Built on ‘drain’ in the sense of putting into the holeUS, 2000
plumbingnoun1the reproductive systemUS, 1960.2any wind instrumentUS, 1935
plumbing problemnounthe inability of a male pornography performer either to maintain an erection or to ejaculate on demandUS, 1995
plum-in-the-mouthadjectiveupper-class, privilegedUK, 1926
plummernouna pickpocket Misspelling of ‘plumber’ recorded in prison use August 2002UK, 2002
plummyadjectiveused for describing an affectedly upper-class manner of speech The original meaning was ‘rich, desirable’UK, 1926
plum pud; plum puddnoungood Rhyming slangAUSTRALIA, 1927
plumsnounno sexual contact (when the expectation of intimacy is high) Royal Navy slang; derives, possibly, from a ‘plum’
representing the figure 0 (hence 00 = nothing, nowhere) AlternativelyPLUM(the testicle) henceBOLLOCKS(used as a general negative) A ‘plums rating’ is a sailor who has little luck with the opposite sexUK, 1989
plunderphonicsnounin music, a style of sampling that alters the original, usually without seeking permission from the copyright holder A compound of ‘plunder’ (to rob) and ‘phonic’ (of sound) Coinage is credited to electronic music artist John Oswald (b.1953)
Trang 5plungenoun1a surreptitious wagering of a great amount on a
high-odds horse; a large bet If bookmakers become aware that a great
deal of money is being bet on a horse, they shorten the odds
AUSTRALIA, 1895.2a large cumulative amount of money wagered on
a competitorAUSTRALIA, 1960
plungeverb1to stab someone; to kill someone by stabbingUK, 1996.
2to wager a great deal of moneyAUSTRALIA, 1877
plungernouna heavy bettorAUSTRALIA, 1895
plungeroonouna pinball enthusiastUS, 1945
plunkedadjectivepregnantNEW ZEALAND, 2002
plurryadjectivebloody The Australian Aboriginal English
pronunciation of the wordBLOODY, occasionally used in a jocular
or euphemistic way by non-AboriginalsAUSTRALIA, 1950
plurryadverbbloodyAUSTRALIA, 1988
PL-USnounlike-minded individuals Initialism contrived from
‘people like us UK, 1990s
plus-15snoun(pedestrian) overpasses connecting buildings in
Calgary, AlbertaCANADA, 2002
plushnounstuffed animalsUS, 1985
Plush familynounused as a humorous personification of empty
seats in a theatreUK, 1052
plush outverbto completely refurbish a car’s upholstery and
interiorUS, 1993
plus-minusadverbapproximately, about As the mathematical
for-mula represented by the symbol ±SOUTH AFRICA, 1970
Pluto pupnouna deep-fried battered saveloy on a stickAUSTRALIA, 1986
Pluto waternouna natural mineral water that acts as a strong
laxativeUS, 1972
plutyadjectivewealthy; upscale An abbreviation of ‘plutocratic’NEW
ZEALAND, 1984
Plymouth Argyllnouna file (a tool) Rhyming slang, formed on the
name of a football clubUK, 1992
PMnoun1a post mortem examination of a corpse US, 1989.2in
horse racing, the odds listed before a race Also known as the ‘PM
line’US, 1955
PMJIused as Internet discussion group shorthand to mean ‘pardon
my jumping in’ US, 1997
PMSnounsomething or someone irritating or unpleasant Ascribing
the stereotypical symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome US, 2001
PMSverb (of a woman) to feel the emotions associated with
pre-menstrual syndrome; thus to feel angry, irritable, irrational,
anxious, etc PMS is the recognised abbreviation for ‘pre-menstrual
syndrome’US, 1990
pneumonia holenouna car windowUS, 1973
pneumonia sedannouna truck with no window glass or being
driven with the windows down in cold weatherUS, 1971
ponoun1a chamber pot From the pronunciation of ‘pot’ in French
pot de chambre Survives, mainly, through the efforts of the
antique tradeUK, 1880.2in pool, position A horrid contraction, but
one that is in actual useUS, 1993.3a promiscuous girl, one who will
‘put out’ US, 1963
POnoun a probation officer or parole officer US, 1966
po’ boynouna public assistance chequeUS, 1971
pocautionnouncontraceptionBAHAMAS, 1982
poc docnouna short television documentary An abbreviation of
‘pocket documentary’ CANADA, 1995
pocketnoun< in pocketin possession of drugs to be soldUS, 1989.
< in the pocketin poker, dealt face-downUS, 1990 < in your
pocketof someone else, under your control or directionUK, 1851.
< out of pocketout of line; inappropriateUS, 1972
pocketverb< pocket the redto put the penis in the vagina A
pun from the game of billiards Snooker offers a wider choice of
puns with and
pocket billiardsnounthe manipulation of your testicles for masturbation or comfort, performed by your hand hidden in your trouser pocket Often in the phrase ‘play pocket billiards’UK, 1940
pocket changenouna small amount of drugs when that is all that
is left From private correspondence with rock musiciansUK, 2001
pocket clubnouna police truncheonUS, 1962
pocket enginenouna large pocket watchTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1939
pocket mannounin a functionally compartmentalised criminal enterprise, the person who holds the cashUS, 1987
pocket pistolnouna roasted cob of cornBARBADOS, 1965
pocket polenounthe penis Plays on branded Pocket Pals™, a range
of collectible ‘whimsies’US, 2001
pocket poolnounused of a man, self-stimulation or masturbation while clothed Word play based on ball play; the title of a song by Killer Pussy on the ‘Valley Girl’ soundtrackUS, 1960
pocket rocketnoun1the 1973–74 Oldsmobile Cutlass, the first small car from OldsmobileUS, 1992.2any small, fast, imported car
US, 1994.3an improvised syringe filled with a drug and ready for injectionUS, 1989.4marijuanaUK, 1998
poco locoadjective crazy; eccentric Directly from Spanish poco (little) and loco (mad) UK, 2003
podnoun1marijuanaUS, 1952.2a marijuana cigaretteCANADA, 1958.
3the headUS, 1960.4an orthopaedistUS, 1994.5the tail of a surfboardCANADA, 1977
PO’dadjective angry; pissed off US, 1957
poddleverbin bowling, to roll the ball into the gutterUS, 1962
poddynoun1a user of an iPod™ branded digital music player; often used as a nickname for an iPodUK, 2004.2a young, unbranded calf
From British dialect poddy (obese) AUSTRALIA, 1872
poddyverbto handfeed a young calf, lamb or foalAUSTRALIA, 1960
poddy-dodgeverbto steal unbranded cattleAUSTRALIA, 1919
poddy-dodgernouna person who steals unbranded cattleAUSTRALIA, 1919
poddy-dodgingadjectivethe theft of unbranded cattleAUSTRALIA, 1919
podgenouna short and fat person; fatness From conventional
PODGY UK , 1876
podgerverbto have sex A possible conflation ofPOKEandROGER UK:
SCOTLAND, 1996
podgynouna girlfriend, mistress or prostitute Korean war usage; from the Korean word for ‘vulva’US, 1968
podgyadjectivefatUK, 1846
podnernounused as a jocular term of address Approximating a Western drawl of ‘partner’US, 1986
podsnounthe female breastsUS, 1968
Podunknounany remote, small townUS, 1977
podunkadjectiveworthless, remoteUS, 1968
poegaaiadjectiveexhausted; drunkSOUTH AFRICA, 1942
poepnouna fart; faeces; hence, contemptuously, of a personSOUTH AFRICA, 1969
poepverbto fart From Afrikaans into impolite South African English
SOUTH AFRICA, 1983
poepadjectivebad, unpleasant From the noun sense as ‘faeces’
SOUTH AFRICA, 1970
poeticaladjectivedrunkUK, 2001
poets’ daynounFriday, especially when used as an excuse to finish
work early on a Friday An acronym for ‘piss off early – tomorrow’s Saturday’ or ‘push off early – tomorrow’s Saturday’ UK, 1984
po-facedadjectivehaving an impassive expression Influenced by
POKER FACE, but most likely to derive fromPO(a chamber pot) or
‘poh!’ (an old exclamation of rejection)UK, 1934
pogeynoun1a male homosexual who prefers the passive role in anal sex . unemployment insurance or welfare
Trang 6pogey baitnounany food with high calorific, low nutritional
content In prison, sweets, cigarettes or other inducements given
to men willing to play the passive role in anal sexUS, 1950
poggledadjectiveof a car, having had crash damage repaired A car
dealers’ termUK, 1968
pogglernoun1a purse; a walletUK, 1977.2a motor vehicle that has
had crash-damage repaired A car dealers’ termUK, 1977
pogonoun1a form of dancing (essentially wildly jumping up and
down on the spot) associated with punk rock musicUK, 1978.2a
contemptible person In army use, a member of the
administrative personnel, anyone not in the arms corps From
POGO STICK, rhyming slang forPRICKbut influenced by imagery of
aimlessly bouncing around as one does on a pogo-stickAUSTRALIA,
1972
pogo-pogonouncocaineUS, 1970
pogo sticknoun1the penis Rhyming slang forDICKorPRICK,
influenced by apt imageryUK, 2003.2a Chinese rocket launcher,
used in Vietnam by the Viet CongUS, 1966.3in electric line work,
any telescoping insulated line toolUS, 1980.4in poker, a player with
wildly fluctuating play and successUS, 1996
poguenoun1a homosexual male who plays the passive role during
anal sex, especially if young Deriving perhaps from Irish Gaelic
pogue (to kiss) US, 1941.2a member of the armed forces assigned
to the rear echelon, safely away from combat; a soldier newly
arrived in combat Seemingly unconnected to the C19 sense as
‘purse’ with ‘pogue-hunter’ as ‘pickpocket’US, 1975
pogynouna jail or prisonUS, 1970
poindexternouna serious studentUS, 1981
pointnoun1a hypodermic needle and syringeUS, 1961.2a pen; a
pencil Gay slangUK, 1971.3a percentage pointUS, 1981.4a man
who ensures that order reigns at a brothelUS, 1987
pointverb< point Dennis at the Doulton(of a male) to urinate
Doulton is a manufacturer of chinaAUSTRALIA, 1971 < point Percy
(of a male) to urinate A familiar shortening ofPOINT PERCY AT THE
PORCELAIN AUSTRALIA , 1971 < point Percy at the porcelain(of a
male) to urinate Conventionally ‘pointPERCY(the penis) at
porcelain (the china of a lavatory) Popularised in the UK in the
late 1960s and early 70s via a Private Eye magazine cartoon strip
and two films featuring Barry Mackenzie, anOCKER(a loutish
Australian) created by Barry Humphries (b.1934) Coincidentally,
the famously Australian Mr Humphries appeared in a 1974 film
called Percy’s Progress, about a man who had a penis transplant.
All of which lends credence to the unproven assertion that this
phrase is an Australian coinageAUSTRALIA, 1968 < point the bone
to point blame at someone; to accuse someone Figuratively
recalling the Australian Aboriginal ritual practice of pointing a
bone at a person in order to wish death upon themAUSTRALIA, 1943.
< point the fingerto testify on behalf of the prosecutionNEW
ZEALAND, 1982 < point the finger atto identify someone or
something as having a specific responsibilityUK, 1833
pointernoun1a criminally inclined youth, especially a youth gang
memberUS, 1963.2a large facial blemishUS, 1976
pointersnounfemale breasts with prominent pointed nipplesUS, 1983
point-fivenouna homosexualFIJI, 1995
point-outnouna member of a confidence swindle who introduces
the intended victim to someone whom he identifies as a former
acquaintance with good connections, who then lures the victim
further into the swindleUS, 1997
pointy-headnounan intellectual DerogatoryUS, 2000
pointy-head; pointy-headedadjectiveintellectual, if at the expense
of common sense DerogatoryUS, 1972
Poirotnouna Belgian police officer After Hercule Poirot, Agatha
Christie’s famous fictional detectiveUK, 2002
poisonnoun1a narcotic or an alcoholic drink, especially a person’s
favourite Used in a jocular toneUS, 1805.2narcotics, especially
heroinUS, 1984
poisonernouna cook to a group of rural workers, especially shearers
poison shopnouna pharmacyUS, 1988
pokenoun1a wallet or purseUS, 1859.2money; a roll of moneyUS,
1926.3the stomachUS, 1975.4power, especially horsepowerUK, 1965.
5a punch; a hard hitting verbal thrust Both uses derive from the conventional sense (a thrust, a push)UK, 1788.6an inhalation of marijuana or opium smokeUS, 1955.7marijuana From ‘pokeweed’,
Phytolacca americana, a strong smelling shrub native to North
AmericaUK, 2001.8a woman sexually objectifiedUK, 1937.9a poor person who attempts through demeaning behaviour to be accepted by upper-class peopleBAHAMAS, 1982
pokeverb1(from a man’s point of view) to have sex with a woman
UK, 1868.2used as an emphatic rejection Synonymous withSTUFF
orFUCK IT!UK, 2003.3to smoke marijuanaUS, 1982.4to inject a drug
UK, 2003 < poke borakto make fun of someone or something;
to deride someone or something; to ridicule someone or something Contextually in this phrase ‘borak’ means ‘rubbish; nonsense’ It has its origins in the Australian Aboriginal language Wathawurung where it expressed negationAUSTRALIA, 1873 < poke mullock atto deride someone; to make fun of someone
AUSTRALIA, 1916 < poke squid(of a male) to have sexUS, 1982
pokedadjectiveexhaustedNEW ZEALAND, 1978
pokeenounthe vagina Children’s vocabularyTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1974
pokernoun1the erect penisUS, 1969.2in fencing, any weapon with a stiff, heavy blade A derisory term, from the similarity to a conven-tional pokerUK, 1988
pokerarsenounsomeone who is not relaxed or easy goingIRELAND, 1992
poker facenouna blank expression that gives nothing awayUS, 1885
poker voicenounan even speaking tone that does not reveal any underlying emotionUS, 1986
pokeynouna jailUS, 1919
pokeyadjective1of an enclosed space, small and dark; inadequate
UK, 1849.2dawdling, slow FromSLOWPOKE US , 1991
pokienounan electronic poker machineNEW ZEALAND, 2002
polnouna politicianUS, 1942
Polack; Polaknouna Polish immigrant or a Polish-American DisparagingUS, 1898
Polack; PolakadjectivePolishUS, 1964
Polack fiddlenouna bucksaw, a one-man tool Because of the skill attributed to Polish loggers in handling a bucksawUS, 1975
Poland-and-Chinanouna black and white police carUS, 1962
polari; palare; parlarenouna slang vocabulary used by theatricals and homosexuals Variants include: ‘polare’ and ‘parlaree’
Probably from Italian parlare (to talk) This ‘language’ itself derives
in great part from Italian and Romany roots, incorporating back slang, Cockney rhyming slang and Yiddish among its influences The earliest form, known as ‘parleyaree’, was used by C17 actors who, as a despised section of society, needed a discreet means of communication; as theatricals achieved a degree of respectability
so the use of the language changed and polari emerged By the late 1930s the tolerance of theatre-life had attracted many homo-sexuals who, as a despised section of society, needed a discreet means of communicationUK, 1966
polari; palare; parlareverbto talk, especially to talk in polariUK, 1997
polari lobenounthe earUK, 2002
polari pipenouna telephoneUK, 2002
Polaroidnouna police radar unit used for measuring vehicles’ speed
US, 1976
polenoun1the penisUK, 1972.2an aircraft’s control columnUK, 1981.
3in planespotting, a telescopeUK, 2003 < up the pole1pregnant
IRELAND, 1922.2in a bad way; at a disadvantageAUSTRALIA, 1906.
3insaneUK, 1896
poleverb1from a male perspective, to have sexUK, 1984.2to steal somethingNEW ZEALAND, 1964 < pole onto impose on someone;
Trang 7poleaxeverbto shock someone into helplessness; to stupify
someone From the antique weapon that combines an axe and a
hammerUK, 2003
poleaxedadjectivedrunk From the sense ‘to render helpless; to
stupify’UK, 2002
pole buddynounin electric line work, a transformer ginUS, 1980
polecatnoun1a police car From the animal’s black and white fur
US, 1976.2in the television and film industries, a lamp supportUS,
1990
poleclimbersnounheavy work boots with steel-reinforced toes and
archesUS, 1995
poledadnounan annoying, new-to-the-sport skateboarderUS, 1964
pole dancenouna sexual dance performed with a vertical pole as a
main propUS, 2000
pole daynounin motor racing, the first day of qualifying heats
when the pole position is decidedUS, 1973
pole hognounin Canadian military aviation, a pilot who tries to
keep his hand on the control columnCANADA, 1995
pole in the holenicknamethe Spire monument in O’Connell Street,
DublinIRELAND, 2003
pole jockeynouna telephone or power linemanUS, 1960
pole orchardnounthe half-acre of utility poles at the Fort Gordon,
Georgia Signal Corps School where linemen are given climbing
instructionUS, 1968
polesnountrousers Vietnam war slangUS, 1991
pole worknounutilisation of a pole by a dancer in a sex clubUS, 2001
poley; polynouna hornless cow or bullAUSTRALIA, 1843
poleyadjective1of a beast, hornless From British dialect poly, polly,
poll, variant of polled (de-horned) AUSTRALIA, 1843.2of a container,
missing a handleAUSTRALIA, 1901
polgarizeverbduring the Vietnam war, to give unrealistic and
optimistic reports of the US progress in the war Named after
Thomas Polgar, CIA station chief in Saigon in the early 1970sUS,
1990
po-licenounthe police By stressing the first syllable, the
conven-tional term becomes unconvenconven-tionalUS, 1970
police discountnouna great, if not complete, reduction in the price
of goods or services provided to police in their area of dutyUS, 1975
policemannounin horse racing, a horse entered in a claiming race
solely for the purpose of permitting the owner to claim another
horse in the raceUS, 1951
policeman lesionnounin an x-ray, a lesion that is unmissable
Medical wit; the lesion must be so obvious that a policeman
would spot itUK, 2002
policeman’s helmetnounthe glans of the erect penis From a
similarity in shape to the traditional headwear of the British
constableUK, 1961
police pimpnounan informer to the policeAUSTRALIA, 1956
police psychologynounbrute physical forceUS, 1973
policynounan illegal lottery Better known as theNUMBERSracketUS,
1843
policy bankernounthe operator of an illegal numbers racket or
lotteryUS, 1975
polio weednounextremely potent marijuana Marijuana so strong
as to reduce the user to a ‘polio-like’ conditionUS, 1982
polisnounthe police; a police officer Mainly Scottish and Irish use
UK, 1878
poli scinounpolitical science College shorthandUS, 1971
polishnounoral sex performed on a manNEW ZEALAND, 1998
polishverb< polish the mugto wash your faceUS, 1962
polish and gloss; polishverb(of a male) to masturbate Rhyming
slang forTOSS UK , 1992
polishernounan alcoholic who drinks metal polishUK, 1966
Polish jew a firecracker
Polish martininouna shot of whisky and a glass of beerUS, 1982
Polish matched luggagenountwo shopping bags from Goldblatt’s,
a low-end Chicago department store chainUS, 1982
polish offverbto defeat someone; to finish or get rid of something;
to eat something without leaving anything (especially with gusto)
UK, 1873
Polish smoking jacketnouna sleeveless tee-shirt or undershirt vest
US, 2002
Polish victory lapnouncircling a track in the opposite direction to which a race has been run in celebration of victory A calculated creation in 1988 of driver Alan Kulwicki, who died in an aeroplane crash in 1993US, 1990
political holy waternounalcoholCANADA, 1999
politiciannounin prison, a trusted prisoner given responsibilities and liberties exceeding those of normal prisonersUS, 1946
politico; politickonouna politican either ambitious or unscrupulous, or both From the Italian or SpanishUK, 1893
pollakaunnouna hoard of money; savingsIRELAND, 2000
Pollard’s cellarnouna notional representation of homelessness
BARBADOS, 1965
pollaticadjectivedrunkUK, 2002
pollienouna politicianAUSTRALIA, 1967
pollutantnounamphetamine; MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy It makes youPOLLUTED(intoxicated)UK, 2003
pollutedadjective1drunkUS, 1976.2warped, perverseUS, 1988
pollynouna politicianUS, 1974
Polly Flindernoun1a window Rhyming slang, noted as a ‘shiner’s (window cleaner’s) term’UK, 1961.2a cinder, especially when used
to describe over-cooked food Rhyming slang, formed from the nursery rhyme character Polly FlindersUK, 1992
polly parrotnouna carrot Rhyming slangUK, 1992
polonouna mixture of heroin and a motion-sickness drug From the
middle syllables in ‘scopolamine’ UK, 2002
polo mintnoun1without money Rhyming slang forSKINT, based on the famous ‘mint with the hole’UK, 2002.2a girlfriend; a young woman Rhyming slang forBINT Also based on the branded mint sweetUK, 2003.3a traffic roundabout Citizens’ band radio slang, from the similarity of shape with Polo™ branded peppermintsUK, 1981
polone; pollone; polony; polonee;nouna woman; a girl; an effeminate man Polari Also variants with an ‘a’ to include
‘palone’, ‘paloney’ and ‘palogne’UK, 1934
Polskinouna Polish immigrant or Polish-AmericanUS, 1997
polvonoun1phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dustUS, 2001.2powdered drugs; heroin; cocaine Directly
from Spanish polvo (powder):POWDER(heroin) Also variant
‘polvito’UK, 1980
polvo blanconouncocaine From Spanish for ‘white powder’UK, 1998
polynoun1a person who loves and has sex with multiple partners
An abbreviation of ‘polyamorous’ US, 2000.2a polytechnic UK, 2002.
3marijuana of a supposedly Polynesian origin UK, 1997.4a
surfboard manufactured with polyurethane US, 1963 8see:POLEY
polyster queennouna girl or woman with no fashion senseUS, 1985
Pom; pomnounan English person, or more loosely, a person from Britain Shortening ofPOMMY AUSTRALIA , 1912
Pom; pomadjectiveEnglish, or more loosely, BritishAUSTRALIA, 1960
PomlandnicknameEnglandAUSTRALIA, 1984
Pommifiedadjectivehaving taken on an English characterAUSTRALIA, 1936
Pommy; Pommienounan English person, or more loosely, a person from Britain Originally used of English immigrants to Australia, it
is a shortening of the now obsolete ‘Pomegranate’, rhyming slang for ‘immigrant’ The rhyming slang term and the shortened variants ‘Pom’ and ‘Pommy’ all appear in the lexical record at the