"Dd" in Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English pot

Rhyming slang, always in the pluralUK, 1859 daitureadjective 8see:DACHA daknoun1marijuanaNEW ZEALAND, 1998.2a C-47A Skytrain plane, also known as a DC-3, most commonly used to transport

Dnoun1LSDUS, 1971.2Dilaudid™, a synthetic opiateUS, 1954.

3narcoticsUS, 1976.4used as a term of address, young man to

young man An abbreviation ofDUDE US , 1997.5a police detective

AUSTRALIA, 1882.6a (pre-decimalisation, 1971) penny From Latin

denarius, a rough equivalent of an old penny and used in the

standard abbreviation for pre-decimal Sterling: £sd or lsdUK, 1387.

7in poker, the fourth player to the left of the dealerUS, 1988.8a

demilitarised zone A shortening of DMZ, the official abbreviation

US, 1991

D&Dnoun dungeons and dragons (a genre of fantasy roleplay games)

UK, 2001

D-5nouna Sony TCD-5M analogue recording tape deck Favoured by

tapers of Grateful Dead concerts until the advent of digital audio

tape in the early 1990sUS, 1994

danounfather, a father An abbreviation of affectionate, informal or

childish ‘dad’ or ‘dada’,especially in ScotlandUK, 1851

DAnoun1a hair-style popular in the early 1950s; the hair was

tapered and curled on the nape of the neck like the feathers of a

duck’s tail Abbreviated fromDUCK’S ARSE/ASS US , 1951.2a drug

addict US, 1946.3a dumb ass US, 2003

da1the Fashionable respelling of phonetic slovening; an essential

element in Hawaiian youth usageUS, 1981.2so; very Hawaiian

youth usageUS, 1981

dabnoun1a fingerprint Police jargon, in everyday use, usually in

the pluralUK, 1926.2a moistened finger-tip covered in powdered

amphetamine Possibly as, and then only partly-inspired by, a

nostalgic reference to a children’s sweet, the Sherbert Dib Dab™, a

lolly dipped into a powdered sugar confectionUK, 2000.3in rugby, a

short, darting run with the ballNEW ZEALAND, 1970.4in cricket, a

batsman’s stroke that deflects the ball gently behind the wicketUK,

1969.5a criminal charge; a prison disciplinary chargeUK, 1996

dabverb1to ingest a powdered drug by sucking or licking the

powder collected on a moistened fingerUK, 2001.2in mountain

biking, to touch the ground unintentionally with any part of the

bodyUS, 1992.3of a batsman in cricket, to play a tentative stroke

that gently deflects the ball behind the wicketUK, 1985

dabblenounstolen propertyUK, 1981

dabbleverb1to use addictive drugs without succumbing to the

addictionUS, 1949.2to experiment with homsexualityUK, 1996.3to

operate an (occasional) trade in stolen or illegal goods, especially

antiques or drugsUK, 1996

dab-dabnounto participate in homosexual sex Prison usageUS, 1990

dacha; daiture; degeradjective ten From Italian dieci, via lingua

franca into polariUK, 1996

Dachaunounany military stockade Vietnam war usageUS, 1968

dachsnoun a dachshund UK, 1886

dachsie; dachsynoun a dachshund An affectionate elaboration of

DACHS UK , 1961

dack upverbto light or smoke (a marijuana cigarette)NEW ZEALAND,

1991

dadnoun1used as a term of address for a man, especially an older

man Often patronizingUS, 1928.2a homosexual prisoner’s ‘owner’

(protector and lover)US, 1992.< be like Dadto keep quiet; to say

nothing From the World War 2 slogan ‘be like Dad: keep Mum’,

playing onMUM(quiet)UK, 1996

-dadsuffixused as a nonce suffix attached to a friend’s nameUS, 1995

da-dah!used as a mock fanfareUK, 2000

Dad and Davenoun1a shave Rhyming slang, after the characters

Dad and Dave, the subject of well-known and well-loved humorous

sketches concerning pioneering life by ‘Steele Rudd’ (Arthur Hoey

Davis, 1868–1935)AUSTRALIA, 1944.2a grave Rhyming slang

UK, 1978.3a leader Originally prison slang, especially of a forcefulpersonality among borstal inmates; now in wider useUK, 2001.4thedominant partner in a male homosexual relationshipUS, 1932.5anaggressive, predatory male homosexualUS, 1996.6the woman whoplays the active, masculine role in a lesbian relationshipUS, 1940s.

7in the US Army, your supervising officerUS, 1968.8used as a term

of address to a manUK, 1681.9a marijuana cigaretteUK, 2001

daddy-come-to-churchnounan unusual eventUS, 1953

daddy macnounan attractive young manUS, 1997

daddy-onoun1a term of address for a man Also variant ‘daddio’

US, 1947.2the US Federal Communications CommissionUS, 1977

daddypoonounused as an embellishment of ‘daddy’, usually from

a woman to a manUS, 1966

daddy’s yachtnounused rhetorically as a representation of theprivileges of civilian life Military sarcasm, in several variations,most commonly ‘Where do you think you are? On your daddy’syacht’; directed mainly at National Service recruits (1945–62)UK, 1962

daddy tanknouna jail cell reserved for lesbian prisonersUS, 1971

dadgernounthe penis Variation ofTADGER(the penis)UK, 1997

dadrocknoun1990s rock music that sounds like music from a eration earlier, e.g Oasis play dadrock that bears obvious simi-larities to the BeatlesUK, 1999

gen-dadsnouna father, or in general address, a man A variation of ‘dad’

UK, 1984

Dad’s Armynicknamethe Home Guard (1940–45); hence, anygrouping of older men with a united purpose Gently derogatory.The term survives essentially as a piece of familiar nostalgiamainly because of the popularity of BBC television comedy series

Dad’s Army (1968–77, and which is still being repeated today).

The modern sense is therefore informed by the nature of thecharacters in the programme; variously bumptious and bumbling,etcUK, 1968

dad’s armyadjectivebarmy, foolish Rhyming slang, after the 1970stelevision comedy of the UK’s World War 2 Home GuardUK, 1992

daffnounexcrementIRELAND, 1989

daffiesnounstrong liquorUK, 1979

daffodilnouna homosexual manUS, 1935

daffynouna skiing stunt in which one ski is swung up in front ofthe skier while the other is brought up behind and parallel to thefirst, the whole being a form of mid-air splits ‘Daffy’ is listedunder the heading Freestyle skiing in the official lexicon for the

2002 Winter Olympic GamesUK, 1984

daffyadjectiveodd, eccentric, silly The original meaning of ‘slightlymad’ has softened over the yearsUK, 1884

daffydowndilly; daffadowndillyadjectivesilly Rhyming slang,formed on an informal name for the ‘daffodil’, or perhaps it issimply an elaboration ofDAFFY(silly, daft)UK, 1960

daffy-headedadjectivefeather-brained, daftUK, 1981

daftnicknameNova Scotia’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans

daft and barmynounan army Rhyming slang, Note also the

reversed rhyme:DAD’S ARMYfor ‘barmy’UK, 1979

daft as a brush; mad as a brushadjectivecrazy; stupidUK, 1945

daft Dorisnouna foolish womanUK, 2000

daftienouna daft personUK, 1872

dagnoun1a matted lock of wool and excrement on a sheep’s

behind From British dialectAUSTRALIA, 1891.2a person who is

eccentric and humorous; a real character; a wag Formerly

common, now obsolete (but see sense 3) Some have suggested

that the origin of this term lies in the British dialect term ‘a feat

set as a dare’, but the examples given are less than convincing

AUSTRALIA, 1875.3a person who is dull and conservative; a person

who has no sense of fashion; an uncool or unhip person Now the

commonest meaning It is widely believed that it derives from

sense 1, but this is not the case Probably partially from sense 2

and partially a backformation fromDAGGYsense 2 Formerly and

still to some extent quite an insult, equivalent toGEEKandNERD,

but recently also used in an affectionate manner, and jocularly

‘reclaimed’ as a term of approval This reclamation has led to a

semantic shift where the meaning can be ‘uncool in an amusing

or eccentric way’, and thus this sense now overlaps with that of

sense 2AUSTRALIA, 1966.4a daring actNEW ZEALAND, 1984

dagverb1to engage in anal sexUS, 2001.2to participate in serial,

reciprocal, homosexual oral sexUS, 1990

dag!used for expressing surpriseUS, 1987

dagdomnounthe notional realm of dagsAUSTRALIA, 1990

dagenouna foreigner, an immigrant FromDAGO(a foreigner, an

immigrant, etc.)AUSTRALIA, 1955

Dagenham dustbinnouna Ford car Citizens’ band radio slang

Dagenham in Essex is the best-known as the major manufacturing

base for Ford carsUK, 1981

dagganoun1marijuana Dagga is the common name in South

Africa for a relatively non-toxic herb (genus: Leonotis varieties:

Cape, red and wilde) which is smoked like tobacco; however, for a

slang user one herb predominatesSOUTH AFRICA, 1955.2a marijuana

cigaretteUS, 1955

dagga rookernouna marijuana smoker CombinesDAGGAwith

Afrikaans rooker (a smoker) In respectable circles a ‘dagga rooker’

is recorded as ‘a scoundrel; a wastrel’SOUTH AFRICA, 1998

daggernouna lesbian An abbreviation of the fullBULLDAGGER US , 1980

dagger of desirenounthe erect penis JocularUK, 2003

daggersnoun< throw daggers; give the daggersto look angrily

at someone Variations of the conventional form ‘look daggers’UK,

2002

daggilyadverbin a daggy mannerAUSTRALIA, 1972

dagginessnounthe state of being daggyAUSTRALIA, 1990

daggyadjective1unfashionable; uncoolAUSTRALIA, 1981.2(of clothes,

personal appearance, etc.) dirty, filthyAUSTRALIA, 1967.3cheap or

trashy looking in a sexually promiscuous wayUS, 1997.4(of sheep)

having dags; (of wool) soiled with excrementAUSTRALIA, 1895

dagonoun1an Italian or Italian-American A slur, originally applied

to Spaniards, then to Spaniards, Portuguese and Italians, and now

only to ItaliansUS, 1857.2any foreigner Liverpool useUK, 1968.3in

hot rodding, a dropped front axle, especially on older FordsUS, 1965

DagonicknameSan Diego, CaliforniaUS, 1931.< the DagoFrank

Sinatra, American singer (1915–1998)US, 1963

dagoadjectiveforeignAUSTRALIA, 1900

dago bombnouna type of fireworkUS, 1960

dago rednouninexpensive, inferior red wineUS, 1906

dagotownnouna neighbourhood dominated by Italian-Americans

US, 1960

Dagwoodnouna large and elaborate sandwich Named after the

sandwiches made by the Dagwood Bumstead character in the

Blondie comic strip US, 1948

Dagwood dognouna deep-fried battered frankfurter on a stick

daikon legsnounshort, pale and fat legs Hawaiian youth usage.The ‘daikon’ is also known as an Asian, Oriental or Chinese radish;

it is stubby and whiteUS, 1981

dailiesnounfilm scenes filmed one day, rush processed anddelivered for viewing by the director and others the same or nextdayUS, 1970s

dailynouna regular (daily) bet with a bookmakerUK, 1984

daily-dailynounduring the Vietnam war, anti-malaria pills takendaily, in addition to a second medication taken once a weekUS, 1982

daily doublenounin poker, two consecutive winning hands Aborrowing from horse racingUS, 1996

daily dozennounphysical exercises, performed on rising; hence, alimited group (or the measure thereof ) of anything (voluntarily)experienced on a daily basis It is unlikely that the ‘dozen’ wasever a precise sumUK, 1919

Daily Expressnouna dress Rhyming slang, formed on the title of aleading national newspaperUK, 1992

Daily Expressverbto dress Rhyming slang, formed on the title of aleading national newspaperUK, 1992

Daily Getsmuchworsenickname the Daily Express Coined in the 1970s by satirical magazine Private Eye UK, 1975

Daily Liarnickname the Daily Mail Jocular UK, 1984

Daily Mail; dailynoun1a tail; hence, rectum, arse Rhyming slang,based on the title of a major newspaperUK, 1956.2a tale, especially

‘glib patter’ or the story told by an informer; a trickster’s patter Rhyming slang, formed on the title of a leadingnational newspaperUK, 1960.3a prostitute; a sexually availablewoman Rhyming slang forTAIL(a woman objectified sexually) or

confidence-BRASS NAIL(a prostitute), formed on the title of a leading nationalnewspaperUK, 1977.4bail Rhyming slang, formed on the title of aleading national newspaperUK, 1977.5a nail Rhyming slang,formed on the title of a leading national newspaper; used bycarpentersUK, 1961.6ale Rhyming slangUK, 1960

Daily-Tell-the-Talenickname the Daily Mail UK, 1960

Daily Torygraphnickname the Daily Telegraph From the paper’s

political biasUK, 2003

daintiesnoununderwear, especially women’s underwear worn bytransvestitesUS, 1972

dairy; dairiesnounthe female breast(s) Elaborated as ‘dairyarrangements’ in 1923; most later use tends towards ‘dairy’ for ‘abreast’, with ‘dairies’ as a natural plural; however, ‘dairy’ is orig-inally recorded as both singular and plural (in the context of asingle female); it is current in the plural sense in Scamto (urbanyouth slang in South African townships)UK, 2005.< the dairythebest A play on conventional ‘cream’UK, 2003

dairy boxnouna sexually transmitted infection Rhyming slang,formed on a branded chocolate assortment manufactured byNestléUK, 1992

daisynoun1an excellent thing or personUS, 1757.2an attractiveyoung womanUS, 1876.3a male homosexual Often used in Peter

O’Donnell’s Modesty Blaise stories, 1962–2001 US, 1944

daisy bell!hell! Rhyming slang, formed on the name of a musichall song (‘Daisy Bell’ also known as ‘A Bicycle Made for Two’, byHarry Dacre, 1892)UK, 1992

daisy chainnoun1a group of people, arranged roughly in a circle,

in which each person is both actively and passively engaged inoral, anal, or vaginal sex with the person in front of and behindthem in the circle A term that is much more common than thepracticeUS, 1927.2an abstract grouping of people who have had sexwith the same person at different timesUS, 1990.3figuratively and

by extension, a series of events that return to the beginningUS,

1954.4in computing, a network architecture in which a singlecable connects all nodesUS, 1995.5a confidence swindle wherefunds from successive victims are used to keep the swindle alivewith the earlier victimsUS, 1985.6a series of (Claymore) minesattached to each other and rigged for sequential detonation From

daisy cutternoun1a 10,000 to 15,000 pound bomb used to clear

jungle and create an instant landing zone in VietnamUS, 1967.2in

cricket, a fast ball bowled in such a way that it barely clears the

surface of the pitchUK, 1863

Daisy Dormeradjectivewarmer, especially of the weather Rhyming

slang, formed on the name of a music hall entertainer; originally

used as a noun in the sense as a ‘bed-warmer’UK, 1960

Daisy Dukesnounvery short and very tight shorts Named after a

character on the unforgettable US television programme Dukes of

Hazzard US, 1993

daisy roots; daisies; daisysnounboots Rhyming slang, always in

the pluralUK, 1859

daitureadjective 8see:DACHA

daknoun1marijuanaNEW ZEALAND, 1998.2a C-47A Skytrain plane, also

known as a DC-3, most commonly used to transport people and

cargo, but also used as a bomber and fighterUS, 1975

dak; dackverbto pull another’s trousers down as a prankAUSTRALIA,

2000

dakhinouna black person Scamto youth street slang (South African

townships)SOUTH AFRICA, 2005

da kineused at any time to mean anything Hawaiian youth usage

Can be used as a noun, pronoun, adjective and suffixUS, 1951

daks; dacksnounshorts or trousers From a proprietary name

AUSTRALIA, 1970

dallackingverbplay acting, foolingIRELAND, 2000

Dallie; Dallynouna Dalmatian, especially an immigrant to New

Zealand from that area or the Balkans in generalNEW ZEALAND, 1940

Dallynouna New Zealander whose heritage is Croatian (Dalmatian)

NEW ZEALAND, 1950

dallyverbin western Canadian rodeos, to loop the lariat around the

saddle hornCANADA, 1987

dallyadjectivegood, kind, nice, sweet Possibly a variation ofDOLLY

(attractive)UK, 2002

damnouna menstrual cup (a device worn internally, used instead of

tampons)US, 2001

Damnickname< the DamAmsterdamUK, 1996

dama blancanouncocaine Spanish for ‘white lady’US, 1976

damagenoun1expense; cost Probably from damages awarded at

law Especially familiar in the (jocular) phrase, ‘what’s the

damage?’ (how much?)UK, 1755.2a problemUS, 1988.< do

damageto cost a lotUS, 1997

damaged goodsnoun1an ex-virginUS, 1916.2a person who is

mentally unstableUK, 2002

damenoun1a woman While the term originally reflected on the

woman involved (an implication of common status), it now

reflects more on the speaker, suggesting a tough or old-fashioned

viewpointUK, 1720.2in a deck of playing cards, a queenUS, 1996

Dame Judi Dench; Dame Judi; Judi Dench; Judinouna stench

Rhyming slang, formed from the name of celebrated actress Dame

Judi Dench (b.1934)UK, 1998

damfinoused as a jocular abbreviation of ‘damned if I know’US,

1882

dammitnounused, for the purposes of comparison, as the

represen-tation of something insignificant Adapted from ‘damn-it’

Examples include ‘soon as dammit’ (exceedingly quick, or almost

immediate); ‘near as dammit’ (very close indeed); etcUK, 1908

damnnounsomething of little or no worth Usually in phrases like

‘not worth a damn’, ‘not care a damn’ and ‘not give a damn’

There is a stongly fought historical argument that this derives

from ‘dam’ (an Indian coin of little value); the Oxford English

Dictionary prefers ‘damn’ (a ‘profane utterance’) as the object of

this etymologyUK, 1760

-damn-infixused as an intensifierUS, 1867

damn’; damnadjectivedamned; used for implying anything from

distaste to hate for whoever or whatever is so described A

shortening of

damn!; damn it!used for registering annoyance or irritationUK, 1589

damn allnounnothingUK, 1922

damn and bastardry!used as a mild oath Modelled on tional ‘damn and blast’UK, 2000

conven-damn and blastnounthe last position in a race Rhyming slangUK, 1992

damn and blastverbto curse, to condemnUK, 2003

damn and blast!used for expressing anger or frustration Acommon coupling ofDAMN!andBLAST! UK , 1943

damnation alleynounin roulette, the twelve-number column onthe left of the layout So named because a dealer may not see acheat place a late bet in the column, which is sometimes out ofthe dealer’s line of sightUS, 1979

damnedadjectiveused as an all-purpose intensifier, generally to tive effectUK, 1596.< as be damnedvery, extremelyIRELAND, 1939

nega-damned tootingused for expressing emphatic agreement Folksy

damn welladverbcertainly, assuredly, very muchUK, 1934

Damon Hill; damonnouna pill, especially an amphetamine.Rhyming slang, formed on the name of the UK’s Formula 1 WorldChampion (1996) racing driver Damon Hill (b.1960); a discreetlyplayful reference toSPEED(an amphetamine)UK, 1998

dampadjectiveallowing the importation of alcohol for personalconsumption but not for public sale A play on the extremes of

‘wet’ and ‘dry’US, 1991

damp blanketnounin the theatre, a bad reviewUS, 1981

dampernoun1a solitary confinement cell; a cellUS, 1992.2a safe depositbox in a bankUS, 1872.3a bankUS, 1932.4a simple, unleavened, savourybread traditionally cooked in the ashes of a campfire So namedbecause it ‘dampens’ the appetite Now also applied to a similarstyle of bread available at bakershopsAUSTRALIA, 1825

damperverbto mute, to quietUS, 1979

dampsnouncentral nervous system depressants A playful allusion

to ‘amps’ as ‘amphetamines’US, 1992

damp squibnouna failure; a dud; a fizzler A ‘damp squib’ is,literally, a ‘wet firework’AUSTRALIA, 1946

Dannoun1a man in charge of a male public convenience Fromthe children’s rhyme, ‘Dan, Dan, dirty old man, / Washed his face

in the lavatory pan’UK, 1954.2a Roman Catholic Glasgow slangUK: SCOTLAND, 1988

dancenouna fight Ice hockey usageCANADA, 1970.< what’s the

dance?what’s going on?; what’s going to happen? Used amongprisonersUK, 2002

danceverb1of a batsman in a game of cricket, to swiftly advancebeyond the crease to meet the pitch of a ballUK, 1995.2(used of awink in tiddlywinks) to wobble aroundUS, 1977.3to cause a car tobounce up and down by use of hydraulic liftsUS, 1980.< dance

assto ignore the needs of othersTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003.

< dance in the rain roomto take a shower in prisonUS, 1989.

< dance on the carpetto be called into a superior’s office forquestioning about possible misconduct or poor work performance

dance of deathnouna relationship or marriage between twoaddicts Used in twelve-step recovery programmes such as

dancernoun1a boxer who evades his opponent rather than

engaging himUS, 1949.2a cat burglar; a sneak thiefUK, Since C19

dancersnoun< have it on your dancersto run away A variation

of (have it)ON YOUR TOES UK , 1977

dancingnounin railway slang, the condition of locomotive wheels

slipping on the railUK, 1970

dancing academynounused as a euphemism and legal dodge for

an after-hours homosexual clubUS, 1974

dancing girlsnounin dominoes, the seven tiles with a fiveUS, 1959

Dan Daresnounflared trousers Rhyming slang for, ‘flares’, formed

on Dan Dare, the comic strip ‘pilot of the future’, first seen in The

Eagle in 1950 UK, 1996

D and Dverb1to leave a restaurant without paying your bill An

abbreviation ofDINE AND DASH US , 1997.2to fail to lead; to escape

responsibility Said to stand for (to) ‘delegate and disappear’

CANADA, 1995

D and Dadjective1drunk and disorderly Abbreviated from an

official cause of arrestUK, 1899.2deaf and dumb Usage is both

literal (applied to beggars) and figurative (applied to someone who

knows nothing and will say nothing).US, 1937

dandernoun1anger Possible etymologies: ‘dander’ (dandruff ),

‘dunder’ (ferment), or Romany dander (to bite), dando (bitten) UK,

1831.2a leisurely stroll Also used as a verb In the north of Ireland

it is pronounced ‘donder’IRELAND, 2002.< get your dander upto

become annoyed or angryUS, 1831

Dandiesnoun< the Dandiesthe Dandenong Ranges outside

MelbourneAUSTRALIA, 1981

D and Mnouna serious conversation, generally relating to personal

relationships Standing forDEEP AND MEANINGFUL AUSTRALIA , 1996

dandruffnoun1snowUS, 1976.2cocaineUK, 2001

dandynoun1anything first-rate or excellentUK, 1784.2a grade of ‘D’

US, 1965.3in South Australia, a small container for ice-cream

Origin unknown Perhaps originally a brand nameAUSTRALIA, 1954

D and Znouna demilitarised zoneUS, 1991

dangused as a mild oath or intensifier A euphemised ‘damn’US,

1821

dangeadjectiveextremely good Rhymes with ‘strange’, short for

‘dangerous’CANADA, 2002

dangedadjectiveused as a euphemism for ‘damned’US, 1962

dangernounan aggressive flirtFIJI, 1993

danger is my businessused as a humorous response to a

suggestion that a proposed activity is dangerous The motto of

cartoon secret agent Cool McCool (NBC, 1966–69), used with

referential humourUS, 1966

danger wanknounan act of masturbation with the threat of being

discovered as an added stimulusUK, 2003

danglenounthe penisUS, 1936

dangleverb< dangle the catto drive a Caterpillar truckUS, 1971

dangleberriesnounpieces of dried faecal matter clinging to the

hairs surrounding the anusUK, 1984

dangle fromverbfrom a male perspective, to have sex Heard in

the 1970s: ‘Cor! I could dangle from that!’ UK, 1961

danglernoun1the penisUS, 1971.2a person who has died by

hangingUS, 1987.3a lorry’s trailerUK, 1951.4a freight trainUS, 1977

dangling bitsnounthe external male genitals Variant ofDANGLY BITS

AUSTRALIA, 1979

dangly bitsnounthe external male genitalsAUSTRALIA, 2000

danielnounthe buttocksUS, 1946

Daniel Boone squad; Daniel Boone teamnounUS soldiers who

engaged in cross-border reconnaissance in Cambodia during the

Vietnam warUS, 1991

Danielsnounthe buttocksUS, 1973

Danish pastrynouna transsexual An allusion to Denmark’s

danknouna very potent marijuana In conventional English, ‘dank’conjures the ‘stinky’STINKWEED(marijuana) smell ofWEED

(marijuana) growing in a damp place; or possibly from the slangadjective ‘dank’ (excellent) Recorded with the use of ‘the’US, 1998

dankadjective1inferior; inefficient; bad; unpleasant Originallyrecorded as a military term, the semi-conventional usage arrived

on a US campus 40 years later providing the spur for the sensethat followsUK, 1984.2excellent; brilliant.BADis ‘good’,WICKEDis

‘excellent’US, 1989

Dan Lenonouna festive event, a jollification, especially a coach trip

to the seaside Rhyming slang for ‘a beano’ (a jollification); formed

on the professional name of Victorian comedian Dan Leno(George Galvin), 1860–1904UK, 1992

Danny La Rueadjectiveblue, applied to any shade whether actual orfigurative Rhyming slang, formed on the name of popular ‘comic

in a frock’ Danny La Rue (b.1926)UK, 1992

Danny La Rue; Dannynouna clue Rhyming slang, based onpopular ‘comic in a frock’ Danny La Rue (b.1926)UK, 2002

Danny Marrnouna car Rhyming slang, based on an unrecognisedsourceUK, 1996

Dan O’Learynouna tour of police duty in which the police officerworks every possible minuteUS, 1958

dan upverbto spruce upTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003

dapnouna handshake hooking thumbs, used by black US soldiers inVietnamUS, 1972

dapverbto greet another with a ritualistic handshake; to showrespect in greetingUS, 1973

dapadjectivewell-dressed, fashionable A shortened ‘dapper’US, 1956

DAPadjective dead-ass perfect Golf usage US, 2000

dap downverbto dress nicelyUS, 1980

dappernouna person dressed in styleUS, 1974

dapperadjectiveperfect, excellent, admirable Possibly punning onthe conventional sense of ‘dapper’ (neat and tidy) andTIDY(good,correct) Black usageUK, 2000

dapper Dannounany well-dressed manUS, 1970

dapsnoun1gym shoes, plimsolls, tennis shoes, trainers Originally

‘slippers’, certainly in this general sense since the 1950s, adapting

to succeeding fashionsUK, 1924.2proper respectUS, 1997

Dapto dognounan person of Mediterranean or Middle Easternbackground Rhyming slang forWOG Named after the Dapto Dogs,

a greyhound racing track at Dapto, south of SydneyAUSTRALIA, 1983

DARnoun a hard-working student; a damned average raiser US, 1955

darbadjectivein circus usage, excellentUS, 1981

darbiesnoun1a set of handcuffs or fetters; shackles Derives from aC17 moneylender’s bond called Father Darby’s or Derby’s bands

UK, 1665.2fingerprintsUK, 1950

Darbynoun< on your Darbyalone, on your own Rhyming slang,formed onDARBY AND JOAN(the conventional archetype of anelderly married couple or inseparable companions)UK, 1942

Darby and Joannoun1an inseparable couple, with connotations ofpossible homosexuality Extending the conventional sense of ‘anarchetypal elderly married couple’UK, 1975.2a telephone Rhymingslang, formed on the conventional archetype of an elderly marriedcouple or inseparable companions.UK, 1961.3a loan RhymingslangAUSTRALIA, 2002

Darby and Joanverbto moan Rhyming slang, formed (perhapsironically) on the conventional archetype of an elderly married orinseperable coupleUK, 1992

Darby bandsnounthe hands Rhyming slang, from the old (possiblyC16) expression ‘Father Darby’s bands’ (a binding agreementbetween a money lender and a borrower)UK, 1992

darenouna challenge, an act of defiance In conventional use fromlate C16 to late C19, usage thereafter is colloquialUK, 2002

dargnouna certain fixed amount of work for a given time period

darknoun< in the dark(used of a bet in poker) made without

having seen your cardsUS, 1990

darkverbto spoil, especially by behaving aggressivelyUK, 1990s

darkadjective1bad, inferior, unpleasant, nasty; used as an all-purpose

negativeUK, 1997.2unreachable by telephone A condition usually

resulting from a failure to pay your billUS, 2004.3good On theBAD

(good) model, the reverse of sense 1UK, 1998.4evil, 2000.5secret

AUSTRALIA, 1877.6untelevisedUS, 2000

dark and dirtynounrum and coke (Coca-Cola™ or similar) The

drink is made, and the term is formed, of dark rum and a fizzy

accompaniment the colour (some may think) of dirty water Royal

Marines coinageUK, 1979

dark as an abo’s arseholeadjectiveextremely darkAUSTRALIA, 1971

dark brownadjectiveof a voice, low, well-modulated and sexually

attractive Originally of a female voice, then more generalUK, 1946

dark cheatersnounsunglassesUS, 1949

dark daysnouna type of bet in an illegal numbers game lotteryUS,

1957

darkersnounsunglassesTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1987

dark eyesnoundizzinessBARBADOS, 1965

Dark Gablenouna handsome black man Punning on the name

Clark Gable The nickname has been taken by more than one, but

perhaps nobody more prominent than Mohammed Ali who briefly

called himself Dark Gable in 1981US, 1959

dark-greenadjective1excellentUS, 1954.2black Marine humour in

Vietnam – a black marine was said to be ‘dark-green’US, 1991

dark horsenoun1in horse racing, a horse that is deemed a poor

performer but one that might surprise all and winUS, 1951.2a

racehorse that has been trained in secretAUSTRALIA, 1877.3a person

who keeps things about themselves secretAUSTRALIA, 1917.4a

candidate or competitior of whom little is known A figurative use

of racing slangUK, 1865

darkienoun1used as a flattering and affectionate term of address

for an attractive, dark-skinned womanTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1990.2a

piece of excrementAUSTRALIA, 1972 8see also:DARKY

dark meatnouna black person as a sexual objectUS, 1888

dark money; dark timenounextra wages paid for night workUK,

1970

dark o’clocknounnightUK, 1995

darksnoundark glassesBERMUDA, 1985

dark shadownouna tightly-cropped hair cut that stops short of

absolute baldnessUK, 1999

darksidenouna category of rave musicUK, 2002

dark thirtynounlate at nightUS, 1984

dark timenounnightUS, 1976

darktownnouna neighbourhood populated largely by black people

US, 1916

dark ’unnounof dock-workers, a 24-hour shiftAUSTRALIA, 1957

dark-white paintnounused as the object of a prank errand for a

novice painterUS, 1966

darky; darkienoun1a black person Originally used in a

paternalistic, condescending manner, but now mainly to disparage

US, 1775.2an Australian AboriginalAUSTRALIA, 1845.3a Polynesian

personNEW ZEALAND, 1863

Darky Coxnoun a box in a theatre auditorium Rhyming slang, of

unknown derivationUK, 1961

darkytownnouna neighbourhood with a large population of black

peopleUS, 1971

darl; darlsnounused as an address or endearment, darlingUK, 1930

darlingnoun1used both as a general and a theatrically arch form of

addressUK, 1933.2used as a term of address between male

homo-sexualsUS, 1949

darlingadjectivecharming, sweet An affectedly feminine or

Darling Buds of May; Darling Budsadjectivehomosexual.Rhyming slang forGAYformed on the title of a 1958 novel by H.E.Bates and, especially, from a 1991 BBC television adaptationUK, 1992

darling daughternounwater Rhyming slang One of several termsthat have ‘daughter’ as the common (dispensible) elementUK, 1992

darlingsnounthe prostitutes of Darlinghurst and King’s Cross,SydneyAUSTRALIA, 1984

Darling showernouna dust storm Ironic; probably from areas ofthe outback by the western reaches of the Darling RiverAUSTRALIA, 1945

Darlonickname1Darlington, County DurhamUK, 1984.2Darlinghurst,SydneyAUSTRALIA, 1937

darlsnoundarlingAUSTRALIA, 1967

darn!; darn it!used for registering annoyance, frustration, etc Aeuphemistic variation ofDAMN! US , 1781

darnationnoundamnation Euphemistic; despite the weakening of

‘damnation’, there is still evidence of useUS, 1798

darnedadjectiveused as an intensifier Euphemistic forDAMNED US , 1807

darned tooting!used as a mock oath affirming that which has justbeen said Usually used in a self-mocking way, conjuring theimage of an older, confused, country bumpkinUS, 1963

darn straight!you are right! Used with irony, playing with the use

of the heavily euphemised ‘darn’US, 1994

Darren Goughnouna cough Rhyming slang, formed on the name

of Yorkshire and England cricketer (b.1970)UK, 1998

dartboardnoun< had more pricks than a second-hand

dartboardused of a sexually promiscuous woman Such awoman may be described as ‘a second-hand dartboard’ Currentlypopular in AustraliaUK, 1982

darunounrum From HindiBARBADOS, 1965

Darwin rignounan adaptation of the typical business suit worn bymen in far northern Australia Generally a short-sleeved shirt, andoften short trousers A tie is normally included, but a coat is defi-nitely not Named after Darwin, a major city in the tropical north

AUSTRALIA, 1964

Darwin stubbie; Darwin stubbynouna 2.25 litre bottle of beer

An ironic term: aSTUBBIEis one of the smallest bottle sizes Thecity of Darwin is located in the tropical north and is well knownfor prodigious beer-drinkingAUSTRALIA, 1972

dashnoun1a dashboardUK, 1902.2an escape from custodyUS, 1952.

< have a dash atto make an attempt, to try The survivingform of ‘do your dash’AUSTRALIA, 1923

dashverbto depart in a hurryUK, 1932

dash!; dash it!; dash it all!used as a general purpose expletive.Euphemistic only when deliberately replacingDAMN ! but note that

SHITis disguised in the extended variationsUK, 1800

dashedadjectivedamned Euphemistic; datedUK, 1881

dash on toverbto chastiseUK, 1979

dash-potnouna device that can be installed in a car engine toprevent the car from stalling when the driver suddenly lifts theirfoot off the acceleratorUS, 1960

dash up the channelnounfrom the male perspective, sexualintercourse A work-related coinage used by (southern) Englandcoastal fishermanUK, 1961

datnounporkJAMAICA, 2000

datenoun1a person with whom an appointment or romanticengagement is made From the conventional sense that definesthe appointmentUS, 1925.2a prostitute’s customerUS, 1961.3a sex-ual liaison between a prostitute and a customer An ironiceuphemismUS, 1957.4a prisoner’s expected date of release fromprisonUS, 1989.5a foolish or silly person Especially in the phrase

‘soppy date’; later use is generally affectionateUK, 1914.6the anus;the buttocks First recorded in Australia in 1919 as ‘a wordsignifying contempt’ Possibly a case of rhyming slang reduced to

dateverb1(used of a prostitute) to have sex with a customer for pay

US, 1951.2to caress the buttocks FromDATE(the buttocks)

AUSTRALIA, 1984.3to poke in the anus; to gooseAUSTRALIA, 1972

date and plum; datenounthe buttocks, the backside, the anus

Rhyming slang forBUM UK , 1998

date baitnoun1an attractive person of either sex who is

sought-after as a dateUS, 1944.2anything that might serve as an incentive

for a dateUS, 1986

date drillernounthe active participant in anal sexNEW ZEALAND, 1998

date-packernouna male homosexualAUSTRALIA, 1985

date rollnountoilet paperAUSTRALIA, 2003

date with DiPalmaverb(of a male) an act of masturbation

DiPalma alias ‘the hand’US, 2001

daughternoun1a form of address between homosexual men This

CAMPadoption of the feminine form is also reflected in the

cross-gender assignment of pronounsUK, 1992.2a male homosexual in

relation to the man who has introduced him to homosexualityUS,

1949

daunceyadjectivepregnant The ‘Lucy is Enceinte’ episode of the

television comedy I Love Lucy (1950–57), which aired on 8th

December 1952, was the first US television treatment of

pregnancy Lucy avoided the word ‘pregnant’, instead saying that

she was ‘feeling real dauncey’, explaining that it was a word that

her grandmother ‘made up for when you’re not really sick but you

just feel lousy’ The word enjoyed brief popular usageUS, 1952

Dave Clarkadjectivedark Rhyming slang, formed from the name of

UK drummer, leader of the Dave Clark Five (b.1942)UK, 2004

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tichadjectiverich Rhyming

slang, jocularly contrived from a 1960s UK pop groupUK, 2004

David Bowieadjectivewindy Rhyming slang for, ‘blowy’, formed on

the name of singer and musician David Bowie (David Robert

Jones, b.1947)UK, 1992

David Gower; Davidnouna shower Rhyming slang, based on the

name of cricketer and television personality David Gower (b.1957)

UK, 2002

Davina McCallsnounnonsense Rhyming slang forBALLS,formed

from the name of UK television presenter Davina McCall (b.1967)

UK, 2004

davvynouna sofa or couch A corruption of ‘Davenport’US, 1997

Davy Crockettnouna pocket Rhyming slang, formed on the name

of an American folk-hero who lived from 1786–1836; he was not

an inspiration for slang until the actor Fess Parker brought him to

life in 1954 and a succession of Disney-made television adventures

UK, 1961

Davy Jones’s locker; Davy Jones’s; Davy’s lockernoun1the

last resting place of those lost at sea; the sea Davy Jones has been

used as a personification for the ’spirit of the sea’ since 1751, his

locker is mentioned in The Journal of Richard Cresswell, 1774–7;

the etymology, however, is another mystery of the deep Jones

may arise from Jonah (and his biblical adventures at sea), Davy

may have been added by Welsh sailors in honour of St DavidUK,

1777.2a door knocker Rhyming slangUK, 1992

Davy Largenouna barge Rhyming slang, formed on the name of a

docker who later became a Trade Union officialUK, 1961

dawnouna silly, empty person; an obdurate unreasoning person

IRELAND, 1997

dawamesknounmarijuanaUK, 2003

daw-daw; daw-yawadjectiveslow-witted This seems to derive from

a yokelishDOH!Certainly the metropolitan notion of countrysiders

at the time this slipped into usage was through BBC radio’s

‘everyday story of country folk’, The Archers, first broadcast

nationally in 1951; actor Robert Mawdesley certainly introduced

such a meaningless syllable into his portrayal of Walter Gabriel, an

irascible rogue who gave the appearance of being more slow-witted

than he actually wasUK

dawgnoun1a dog A rural, southern ‘dog’US, 1979.2a fellow youth

dawnernounan engagement between a prostitute and customerthat lasts all night, until dawnUS, 1987

dawn patrolnounany activity that requires staying up all night orgetting up very early Originally a military term, later appliedfigurativelyUS, 1945

daynoun< not your day; it’s not your day; it just isn’t your

dayused for expressing a rueful, philosophical acceptance of a daywhen everything seems to go wrongUK, 1984

day!good day!, hello! An shortening ofG’DAY UK , 1907

day and nightnoun1a light ale Rhyming slang, first recorded in

1960, and still fairly currentUK, 1960.2light (illumination) RhymingslangUK, 1992

day-and-night merchantnouna lorry driver who breaks the law bydriving more than 11 hours in 24 to undercut other driversUK, 1964

day-for-dayadverbserving a prison sentence without any reduction

in the sentence for good behaviourUS, 1990

dayglo; day-gloadjectiveused of dazzlingly vivid, rebelliously bright,fluorescent colours Day-Glo™ paints were introduced in 1951, thename was soon applied to the wider world of tastelessnessUK, 1962

day jobnouna conventional job, usually used to finance a person’strue interest or passionUS, 1994

daylightnounin horse racing, the non-existent second-place finisher

in a race won by a large margin Used with humourAUSTRALIA, 1989.

< he (she) wouldn’t give you daylight in a dark cornersaid

of a person with a reputation for meanness Glasgow useUK, 1988

daylight in the swamp!used for rousing people from bed Alogger termUS, 1936

daylight robberynounan exorbitant priceUK, 1949

daylightsnoun 8see:LIVING DAYLIGHTS

day numbernounin an illegal number gambling lottery, a wager on

a number for a single day’s drawingUS, 1949

day playernounan actor who is called for a single day’s work on atelevision programme or film setUS, 1988

daysnoun< good old daysthe past, remembered fondly andbetter than it ever was Evolved from the early C19 ‘good oldtimes’UK, 1986

day’s dawning; days a dawningnounmorning Rhyming slangUK, 1960

days of ragenouna series of violent confrontations between radicalmembers of the Students for Democratic Society and the police indowntown Chicago in the autumn of 1969US, 1970

day to dayadjectiveunencumbered by thoughts of the long term,living one day at a timeUS, 1983

dazzle dustnounface powder Obsolete teen slangCANADA, 1946

DBnoun1a dead body US, 1973.2a socially inept person An ation ofDOUCHE BAG US , 2003

abbrevi-DBIa doctors’ (unofficial) code for classifiying a despicable,offensive or unhygienic person, in a measure indicated by a

suffixed numeral An initialism for dirt bag index’ UK, 2003

DCnouna hamburger with every possible trimming and condiment

US, 1966

DDnoun a person who is deaf and dumb US, 1926

DDadjectiveby extension, said of a criminal who gives up no mation at all if arrestedUS, 1950

infor-D daynounused as a designation for the start of an action.Originally applied to military actions, then expanded to generaluse For example, in a US veteran’s hospital, it is the routine daythat Ducolax™ suppositories are given bed-bound patientsUS, 1944

d-dognouna dog trained to detect hidden drugsUS, 1992

DDT!used for disparaging, urging the listener to drop dead twice.

Youth usage; punning on the insecticide now banned but usedwith great effectiveness to kill mosquitos in the years after WorldWar 2US, 1947

deacon

deaconverbto present a job or product in the best possible light,

placing more importance on the first impression than on the

actual qualityUS, 1855

deacon seatnoun1the seats nearest a fireUS, 1975.2in a lumber

camp, the long bench in the bunkhouseUS, 1851

deacon’s nosenounthe flat lobe at the nether end of a chicken

which is like a mammal’s tail, base for the tail-feathers This part

of the chicken or turkey is also known in the US as ‘the pope’s

nose’ and in the UK as ‘the parson’s nose’CANADA, 1967

deadnoun1a corpseBARBADOS, 1971.2in any card game, cards that

have been discardedUS, 1973

deadadjective1absoluteUK, 1894.2used for expressing a very high

degree of troubleUK, 2002.3(of a place) dull, boring; without

interestAUSTRALIA, 1945.4in a bar, used for describing any drink that

has been abandonedUK, 1985.5(of a racehorse) not run on its

merits; ridden to lose deliberatelyAUSTRALIA, 1957.6(used of dice)

weighted to have one face land up more often than the law of

averages would predictUS, 1993.7in bar dice games, no longer wild

If a game is played with ‘aces wild’ (assuming the point value of

any other die), a call of ‘aces dead’ after the first call of a hand

nullifies the ‘wild’ statusUS, 1976.8in pinball, said of a bumper that

scores when hit but does not propel the ball back into playUS, 1977.

9in pool, said of a shot made such that the cue ball stops

completely after striking the object ballUS, 1990.< not be found

dead with; not be seen dead withused to deny the possibility

that you will have anything whatsoever to do with someone or

somethingUK, 1915.< not be seen dead in; not be found

dead inused in expressions of dislike and dismissal for items of

clothing; may also, with slight variation, be applied to a placeUK,

1961

deadadverbvery, absolutely, extremely, completely A general

intensifierUK, 1589

dead airnounsilence Telecommunications usageUS, 1976

dead alivenounin Bingo (also House and Tombola), the number

fiveUK, 1981

dead-aliveadverbextremely slowlyTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1971

dead as discoadjectivecompletely dead From the meteoric rise

and fall of the disco fad in the 1970sUS, 1995

dead assnounthe buttocks in seated reposeUS, 1950

dead-assadjectivelacking energyUS, 1958

dead-assadverbabsolutelyUS, 1971

dead babiesnounsemenUS, 1998

dead-bangadjectivebeyond debateUS, 1934

dead-bangadverbabsolutelyUS, 1919

deadbeatnoun1a person who won’t pay his debts, especially one

who does not pay child support after divorce In modern use,

often construed with ‘dad’ or ‘parent’US, 1871.2a destitute person;

a bum or derelictAUSTRALIA, 1892

dead beatadjectiveexhaustedUK, 1821

dead birdnounin horse racing, a certaintyAUSTRALIA, 1889

Dead boardnounan Internet bulletin board system designed by,

and for, fans of the Grateful DeadUS, 1994

dead catnounin circus usage, a lion, tiger, or leopard that is on

display but does not performUS, 1981

dead cat on the linenounused as a representation of something

that is wrong or immoralUS, 1970

dead centrenouna cemetery JocularUK, 1961

dead certnoun a certainty Originally sporting and gambling usage

UK, 1889

dead-certadjectivecertainAUSTRALIA, 1993

dead cinchnouna certainty An intensification ofCINCH(a certainty)

UK, 1927

dead-cinchadjectivecertain From the noun senseUK, 2001

dead dropnounin espionage or a sophisticated criminal venture, a

location where a message can be left by one party and retrieved

dead ducknounan absolute failure, a person or thing with no bility of successUS, 1829

possi-dead endnounin bowls, an end (a stage of play) that has to bereplayed when the jack is driven out of boundsUK, 1990

deadersnounmeatJAMAICA, 2000

dead eye dicknouna person who is an excellent shotAUSTRALIA, 1986

deadfallnouna dishonest, disreputable, vice-ridden drinkingestablishmentUS, 1837

dead finishnounthe endAUSTRALIA, 1881

dead fishnouna gambler who places small bets to prolong theinevitableUS, 1963

deadfootnouna slow vehicleUS, 1976

dead from the neck upadjectivebrainless, stupid, insensitiveUK, 1930

dead gaffnouna premises with no-one inUK, 1956

dead give-awaynouna notable indication, or betrayal, of guilt, ordefectUS, 1882

dead handnounin poker, any hand held by a player who has bet all

of his chips or money on the handUS, 1947

deadheadnoun1a person who rides free on a railway, bus oraeroplane, usually because of their employment with the carrier

US, 1841.2a boring personUS, 1907.3a non-playing observer ofgamblingUS, 1974.4a person given a ticket or tickets for havingperformed minor services in a theatrical productionUS, 1973

Deadheadnouna follower of Grateful Dead, a band strongly ated with psychedelic drugs, seen by many to epitomise thehippie ideal Grateful Dead’s choice of name was the result ofbrowsing a dictionary; usually abbreviated to ‘The Dead’; their 30-year career as a live band came to an end in 1995 with the death

associ-of guitarist Jerry GarciaUS, 1972

deadheadverb1to discourage A gardening image of deadheadingroses to discourage growthUK, 2001.2to ignoreUK, 2002.3to coast in

a car with a depleted petrol supplyUS, 1976.4(used of an airline orrailway employee) to ride as a passenger in available seatingUS, 1854

deadheadadverbwithout cargoUS, 1987

dead heartnounthe arid inland regions of AustraliaAUSTRALIA, 1906

dead horsenountomato sauce Rhyming slangAUSTRALIA, 1966

dead housenouna funeral parlourBARBADOS, 1965

dead-legnoun1a useless personUK, 2003.2a corking of the thigh

AUSTRALIA, 1996

dead letter perfectadjectiveof an actor, absolutely certain of yourlinesUK, 1952

dead lice < dead lice are falling off; dead lice are dropping

offused for describing someone who is very slow-moving or lazy

deadlyadverbexcessively, extremely, veryUK, 1688

deadly embracenounin computing, the condition resulting whentwo processes cannot proceed because each is waiting for another

to do somethingUS, 1981

deadly treadlynouna bicycle Rhyming elaboration ofTREADLY, withthe suggestion that it is risky to rideAUSTRALIA, 2003

dead mannounan earth anchor for a wire or cableUK, 1840

dead man’s arm

dead man’s earsnounstewed dried apricotsNEW ZEALAND, 1992

dead man’s handnounin poker, a hand with a pair of aces and a

pair of eights Although it is the modern belief that this was the

hand held by Wild Bill Hickok when shot to death in 1876 in

Deadwood, Dakota Territory, early uses of the term (which also

sometimes referred to three jacks with two red sevens) make no

mention of Hickok In 1942, Damon Runyon wrote that the hand

with jacks was sometimes called the ‘Montana dead man’s hand’

US, 1888

dead man’s headnouna spherical plum puddingNEW ZEALAND, 1994

dead man’s pull-upsnounan exercise in which a person hangs

with their arms extended from a bar, lifts their chin over the bar,

and then lowers themself to the full arm-extended positionUS, 1996

dead man’s roundsnounammunition held pointed toward the

bearerUS, 1991

dead man’s zone; dead Marine zonenouna demilitarised zone

Back-formation from the initials DMZUS, 1984

dead marinenounan empty bottleAUSTRALIA, 1854

dead meatnoun1used for expressing a very high degree of trouble

Originally applied only in situations where death was certain, but

then softened to include lesser consquencesUS, 1974.2a prostitute

An allusion to the flesh that is sold in a butcher’s shop, as

opposed to that which is freshly givenUK, 1961

dead moneynoun1obviously counterfeit paper moneyUS, 1956.2in

poker, money bet by a player who has withdrawn from a handUS,

1992

deadnernouna blow, a thumpIRELAND, 2003

dead-nutsadverbcompletelyUS, 1887

deadonouna corpseUS, 1919

deado; dead-ohadjectivedeep asleep; unconscious Possibly from

the earlier sense (very drunk), howeverDEADin ‘dead drunk’ serves

as an intensifier, whereas the sense here may be a literal allusion

UK, 1984

dead-onadjectiveaccurateUK, 1889

dead on arrivalnoun1heroin From official jargon for those who

are delivered to hospital too lateUK, 1998.2phencyclidine, the

rec-reational drug known as PCP or angel dust In honour of the

drug’s fatal overdose potentialUS, 1993

dead pannouna complete lack of facial emotionUS, 1927

deadpanadjectivewithout expression; displaying no emotionUS, 1928

dead pigeonnoun1in a criminal enterprise, a double-crosserUS,

1964.2a person who is destined to loseUS, 1919

dead pony gaffnounof circus and fairgrounds, a bad site Used by

travelling showmenUK, 1961

dead presidentsnounUS currency notes of any dollar

denomination; hence, generically, US money From the portraits of

Washington, Lincoln, Hamilton etc., printed on the different value

notesUS, 1944

dead rabbitnounthe penis in a flaccid stateUS, 1964

dead ringnounan exact likenessAUSTRALIA, 1915

dead ringernounan exact likenessUS, 1891

dead roadnounMDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy

UK, 2003

dead set; dead-set; deadsetadjectivecomplete, utterAUSTRALIA, 1965

dead set; dead-set; deadsetadverb1completely, utterly From the

common collocation of ‘dead completely’ and ‘set against/for/on’

(determined (not) to do something or have something happen)

AUSTRALIA, 1947.2really; honestlyAUSTRALIA, 1987

deadshitnouna despicable personAUSTRALIA, 1961

dead skinnounthe white inner peel of an orangeBAHAMAS, 1982

dead slednounin the used car business, a car in extremely poor

conditionUS, 1997

dead soldiernounan empty alcohol bottle or beer canUS, 1899

dead spit an exact likeness

dead-stickverbto land an aircraft without engine functionUS, 1962

dead-stickadjective(used of landing an aircraft) without enginefunctionUS, 1999

Dead threadsnounin the language surrounding the Grateful Dead,the layers of clothes worn by a concert-goerUS, 1994

dead timenountime served in jail which does not count towardsfulfillment of the prisoner’s sentenceUS, 1973

dead to rightsdenoting an absolute certainty that fully justifiesarrest on a criminal charge, as when caught red-handed.DEAD

intensifies ‘to rights’ (fairly, legally)UK, 1859

dead to the worldadjectiveunconscious, deeply and soundly asleep;unaware of any outside stimulus Earlier use may also haveconnoted ‘drunk’UK, 1899

dead tree formatnounpaper on which computer output is printed

deadwoodnoun1an incompetent or otherwise useless personUS,

1887.2a flaccid penis Extended fromWOOD(the erect penis)US,

1995.3unsold tickets for a performanceUS, 1934.4non-playingobservers of gamblingUS, 1974.5a person caught outrightcommitting a crimeUS, 1992

dead yardnouna ceremony after burial in the deceased’s yard

dealnoun1a business transaction, a trade or a bargainUS, 1838.2anunderhand or secret transaction; a trade of questionable legality; amutually beneficial commercial or political arrangement A nuance

of the broader sense, (a trade, a bargain)US, 1881.3a small amount

of marijuana or hashishUK, 1978.< bad deal; raw deal; rough

dealill-treatment, exploitative or unfair usage; a swindleUS, 1912.

< fair deal; square dealan honest and equitable usage The

locus classicus of ‘square deal’ is in a speech delivered by US

President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903: ‘We must treat each man

on his worth and merits as a man We must see that each is given

a square deal, because he is entitled to no more and shouldreceive no less’US, 1876.< new deala new arrangementUS, 1834.

< the deal; the real dealthe very bestUS, 1986

dealverb1to sell drugsUS, 1958.2to supervise the blackjack game in

a casinoUS, 1980.< deal off the topto treat fairly From thegambling scheme of cheating by dealing off the bottom of a deck

US, 1969

dealadverbmuch Derived from the noun sense (a considerableamount)UK, 1756

dealer’s bandnounan elastic band used by a drug dealer to secure

or to facilitate the jetisoning of drugs for saleUS, 1966

dealy; dealienouna thing the correct name of which escapes or isnot important to the speakerUS, 1997

deannoun1a sharkAUSTRALIA, 1977.2a skilled and experienced pokerplayerUS, 1979

deaner; deener; dener; dienernouna shilling Until

decimalisation in 1971; probably from denier (a French coin, the

twelfth part of a sou) After the introduction of decimal currency

in Australia in 1966, it came to mean a ten cent piece, or its value,

a similar coin with about the same comparative value; dying outfrom the 1980s, now seldom heardUK, 1857

dean of mennouna prison wardenUS, 1949

dear!; oh dear!; dear oh dear!used as a mild register of anxiety,irritation, regret, etc Probably ‘dear God!’ or ‘dear Lord!’UK, 1694

dear dear!used as a mild exclamation or oath; often used to add amild or ironic emphasis to what is being said By reduplication of

dear dyin’ Moses!used as an elaborate, original curse in coastal

Nova ScotiaCANADA, 1999

deargnouna stab or a shot, a sharp punchIRELAND, 2000

dearienoun1used by women as a form of address A less intimate

variation of conventional ‘dear’ (a loved one)UK, 1681.2used as an

affected form of address among male homosexuals Camp

adoption of the previous senseUK, 1962

dearie me!; deary me!used for registering regret An elaboration

ofDEAR ME!that is more sorrowful in toneUK, 1785

Dear Janenouna letter to a girlfriend or wife breaking off the

relationshipUS, 1963

Dear John; Dear John letter; Johnny letternouna letter from a

woman to her husband or boyfriend ending their relationshipUS,

1945

dear me!used as a mild exclamation or oath; often used to add a

mild or ironic emphasisUK, 1773

dear oh dear! 8see:DEAR!

dear old thingnoun 8see:OLD THING

deathnoun1paramethoxyamphetamine or 4-methoxyamphetamine

(PMA), a synthetic hallucinogenAUSTRALIA, 1997.2someone or

something that is exquisitely perfectUS, 1965.3a difficult situation,

such as an exam, a hangover, etcUS, 1987.4in harness racing, the

position just behind and outside the leader Because the horse in

that position has to travel farther than horses on the inside and

does not have the benefit of a lead horse breaking the wind

resist-anceUS, 1997.< at the deathin the finish Figurative sense of a

conventional ‘end’UK, 1962.< like death; like death warmed

upfeeling or appearing extremely unwellUK, 1939.< to death1to

the extreme; superlativeUK, 1998.2frequently and ad nauseum UK,

1937

death adder; death adder mannounan unwelcoming man who

lives a solitary life in the Australian outback From the name given

to several species of venomous snake found in Australia

Historically ‘an outback gossip’ was also known as a ‘death adder’

death box; fun boxnounin snowboarding and skateboarding, an

improvised hollow platform such as a wooden or plasic box or

barrel, from which to bounce the boardUS, 1995

death cookienounin snowboarding, a rock hidden in snowUS, 1995

death drinkernouna vagrant alcoholicUK, 2000

death dropnounbutyl chloride when taken recreationallyUK, 1984

death metal; deathcorenouna category of heavy metal music

that draws on violent, blasphemous and mysogynistic imageryUK,

1992

death mittennounbags slipped over the hands of murder victims

to preserve evidenceUS, 1992

death on callnounBattery C, 4th Battalion, 77th Infantry of the US

Army A gunship unit with the boast of ‘kill by profession’US, 1990

death on truckersnounthe US Department of Transportation

From the agency’s initials: DOTUS, 1971

death pennouna designated pen with black indelible ink used in

hospitals for filling out death certificatesUS, 1994

death rattlenounin cricket, the noise made when a batsman’s

wicket is hit by the ballUK, 1958

death rimnounany expensive car wheel rim The rim is an

invitation to crime and violence, hence the nameUS, 1995

death rownouna type of bet in an illegal numbers game lotteryUS,

1957

death seatnoun1the front passenger seat of a car or truck From

likely to survive an accidentUS, 1975.2in a trotting race, the ition on the outside of the leader Derives from the difficulty ofovertaking from such a positionAUSTRALIA, 1982

pos-death spiralnouna downward spiral of an aeroplane from whichrecovery is nearly impossible and as a result of which impact withthe ground is inevitableUS, 1990

death touristnouna person who travels to a country whereeuthanasia is legal for the purpose of achieving a medicallyassisted suicideUS, 2003

death tripnoun1LSD enhanced with botanical drugs from plantssuch as Deadly Nightshade or JimsonweedUS, 1970.2heroinUK,

2002.3a fascination with deathUS, 1969

death watchnounattendance upon a man condemned to death.Hanging was institutionalised in C5 Britain; the death penalty wasabolished in the UK in November 1965 – except for the crimes oftreason, piracy with violence and arson in Royal DockyardsUK, 1950

death wishnounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP

or angel dustUS, 1986

deathynouna death adderAUSTRALIA, 1951

deazingusnouna dingus, or eye dropper used in drug injectingUS, 1973

debnoun1a debutante US, 1920.2a girl associated with a youth gang,either directly as a member or through a boyfriend A lovely ifironic borrowing from ‘debutante’US, 1946.3a depressant, sedative

or tranquillizer tablet From a slovenly pronunciation of ‘deps’(depressants); also recorded in the pluralUS, 1975.4a tablet orcapsule of amphetamine A reversal of the chemical effect in theearlier usage; also noted as a pluralUK, 2003.5a tablet of MDMA,the recreational drug best known as ecstasyUK, 2003

debagverbto remove someone’s trousers, often with humorousintention, always with some degree of force FromBAGS(trousers)

UK, 1914

deballverbto castrateUS, 1961

debaucheramanounan orgy Combines conventional ‘debauch’with a variation of the suffix- ‘orama’ (indicates largeness)UK, 2000

Debbie Chonnounan overweight soldier From the Korean; Koreanwar usageUS, 1982

deboneverbto bend a playing card so that it can be identified later

in another player’s handUS, 1968

debriefingnounan after-flight hotel party attended by a flight crewand flight attendantsUS, 2002

debrisnounmarijuana seeds and stems remaining after cleaningUS, 1971

debtheadnouna prisoner who is continually in debt and, therefore,untrustworthy A combination of conventional ‘debt‘ with-HEAD(aperson considered as a single attribute)UK, 1996

debtor’s colicnounany feigned illness whereby a man can get intohospital, or remain sick in his cell, in order to avoid meeting hiscreditorsUK, 1950

debtsnounin prison, a placing (of an inmate) on reportUK, 1996

debugverb1to clear an area of listening devicesUS, 1964.2to rectifyfaults of electrical, mechanical or operational nature; to removefaulty programming from a computerUK, 1945

debutverb1to subject a boy to his first homosexual experienceUK,

1978.2to acknowledge your homosexualityUS, 1964

decadence; deccadencenounMDMA, the recreational drug bestknown as ecstasyUK, 1998

decafnoundecaffeinated coffeeUS, 1956

decafadjectivedecaffeinatedUS, 1981

decapitationnounthe assassination of a head of state friendly military jargonUS, 2003

Media-decapitation strikenouna military attack intended to kill (orrender impotent) an enemy’s leaderUS, 2003

decayedadjectivedrunkUS, 1966

deceadjectiveexceptionally good, ‘wonderful’ A shortening of

‘decent’, pronounced ‘deece’

decentadjective1sufficiently dressed for standards of propriety,

especially in the phrase ‘are you decent?’ A specialised sense of

‘decent’, probably of theatrical originsUK, 1949.2good, pleasing,

excellentUS, 1979

decidernounof a sporting contest, the deciding factor: the final

heat, the final set; the winning stroke, the winning run, the

winning play From racing, when a ‘decider’ is a heat run after a

dead-heat Generally used with ‘the’UK, 1883

decimatedadjectivedrunkUK, 2002

decisionverbto win a boxing match by a decision of the judges as

opposed to with a knock-outUS, 1979

decknoun1a packet of a powdered drugUS, 1916.2a packet of

ciga-rettesUS, 1923.3a gramophone turntable A critical component of a

DJin the modern sense of the termUS, 1997.4the groundUK, 1836.

5in cricket, the pitchUK, 1995.6a pack of playing cards In

conven-tional use from late C16 until about 1720, then dialect and

colloquial In the early part of C20, usage was confined, more or

less, to the underworld; from the end of World War 2 it was in

common use in the UK and Australia and, by the 1970s, in general

and widespread informal use ‘Deck of cards’ was a UK number

one hit for Max Bygraves in 1973UK, 1948

deckverbto knock to the groundUS, 1945

deck apenounan enlisted sailor in the US NavyUS, 1944

deckedadjective1unconscious from abuse of alcohol or drugsUS,

1961.2dressed stylishlyUS, 1972

deckernouna lookAUSTRALIA, 1951

deckienouna deck-hand NauticalUK, 1913

deck monkeynouna deckhandUS, 1941

deckniciannouna disc jockey who is admired for skilful

manipu-lation and mixing of music on turntablesUK, 2003

deckonoun 8see:DEKKO

deck offverbto dress upTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1973

decksnountrousersUK, 1983

deck upverbto package a powdered drug for saleUS, 1964

declareverb< declare a gang(used of warring youth gangs) to

agree to discuss a truceUS, 1953

declare outverb(of the Canadian Armed Forces) to opt out of

service, to resign a commissionCANADA, 1959

decomp roomnounthe room in a morgue housing decomposed

bodiesUS, 1983

decorateverbto pay for something at a restaurant or bar Most

commonly in the phrase ‘decorate the mahagony’ for buying

drinks at a barUS, 1908

decorated with red rosesadjectivein the bleed period of the

menstrual cycle Remembered as World War 2 usageUS, 1999

decoynounan undercover police officer whose appearance leads

criminals to assume the officer is a promising victimUS, 1981

dedonounan informant From the Spanish for ‘finger’, used by

English speakers in the American southwestUS, 1995

dedudverbto clear unexploded artillery shells from a practice range

US, 1968

deenoun1a capsule of Dilaudid™, a pharmaceutical narcoticUS, 1986.

2a police detective Variant spelling ofD AUSTRALIA , 1882

deedanounLSD Possibly New York slangUS, 1967

dee deenounthe vaginaUS, 1998

deedeenouna drug (or dope) dealer A pronounced initialismUK, 1997

deefanouna dog Playing on ‘d for dog’NEW ZEALAND, 1998

deekverbto decoy an opposing player into making a wrong move

CANADA, 1942

deemernouna ten-cent piece From the colloquial ‘dime’US, 1926

deepadjective1filled with the specified number of referential

objects For example, ‘four deep’ would mean ‘four people in a

BAHAMAS, 1982.4habitual This seems to be used in the Blackcommunity onlyUK, 2000

deep!used for expressing approvalUK, 2003

deep and meaningfuladjectivea serious conversation, generallyabout emotions and relationshipsAUSTRALIA, 1988

deep-dickverb(from the male point of view) to have sexUS, 1997

deep endnoun< go off the deep end; go in off the deep end

to become excited, angry, emotional, passionate, maddened Afigurative application of the deep end of a swimmng poolUK, 1921

deep freezenounsolitary confinementUS, 1958

deep housenouna sub-category of house music but with amellower feel, often featuring profound, rolling bass lines andsamples from jazz recordsUK, 1996

deep kimchinounserious trouble Based on the unflattering parison of the Korean pickled delicacy with excrementUS, 1998

com-deep magicnounin computing, an understanding of a technique in

a program or system not known by the average programmerUS, 1991

Deep North; deep northnounthe far northern parts of theeastern state of Queensland Modelled on US ‘deep south’, withidentical connotationsAUSTRALIA, 1972

deep-pocketadjective(used of a defendant in civil litigation) wealthy,possessing considerable financial reservesUS, 1976

deep-sea divernouna fiver (£5) Rhyming slangUK, 1980

deep sea fishingnounexploratory surgeryUS, 1994

deep seriousadjectiveextremely critical, as bad as it gets Vietnamwar coinage and usageUS, 1985

deep shaftnounstrong, illegally manufactured whiskyUS, 1999

deep sixverbto discard; to rejectUS, 1952

deep throatnounoral sex performed on a man in which theperson doing the performing takes the penis completely into theirmouth and throat A term from the so-named 1972 classicpornography filmUS, 1991

deep throatverbto take a man’s penis completely into the mouthand throatUS, 1991

deep-water Baptistnouna member of a Baptist sect that practisesfull-immersion baptismUS, 1949

deez-nutsme The reference to ‘these nuts’ is an intimate, if crude,reference to yourselfUS, 1985

defadjectiveexcellent, superlativeUS, 1979

defadverbdefinitelyUS, 1942

de factonouna partner in a de facto relationshipAUSTRALIA, 1952

defectnouna school prefect A pun to delight the childishUK, 1961

deffo; defoadverbdefinitelyUK, 2001

defiledadjectivedrunkUS, 1997

definiteadjectiveused as a meaningless embellishmentUS, 1985

deft and dumbadjectivea catchphrase that defines desirable ities in a wife or mistressUS, 1961

qual-degombleverbto remove snow stuck to your clothes andequipment before going indoorsANTARCTICA, 1989

dehornnoun1denatured alcohol (ethyl alcohol to which apoisonous substance has been added to make it unfit forconsumption)US, 1926.2a person who is addicted to denaturedalcohol (ethyl alcohol to which a poisonous substance has beenadded to make it unfit for consumption)US, 1926

dehornverb1to have sex after a long period of celibacyUS, 1972.2todemote or discharge from employmentUS, 1946.3to cut

someone’s hairUS, 1972

dehoseverbto return a computer that is suspended in an operation

to functioningUS, 1991

dehydrateverbto become thirsty, especially for alcohol Coined ataround the same time as dehydrated foods became fairly

dehydrated waternounthe object of a prank errand for a new or

inexperienced workerUS, 1970

deja ditnouna sensation of having said something before; the

consequent boredom Adopted directly from French (already said),

following ‘déjà vu’UK, 1994

deja fucknounthe unsettling sensation that the person with whom

you are now having sex is a former sexual partnerUS, 2002

deja vu all over againnounthe same thing, once again, repeated

An assault on the language attributed to baseball great Yogi Berra

US, 1995

dekenouna decoyUS, 1950

dekko; deckonoun a look Ultimately from Hindi dekho (look!)

Originally British military use dating from the Raj era There is an

1854 example of ‘dekh ’used in Anglo-Indian English, though no

doubt the common Hindi imperative dekho! would have been in

common useAUSTRALIA, 1957

delayverbin Quebec, a time limit, an extensionCANADA, 2002

delayernouna railway dispatcherUS, 1946

delecadjectiveattractive An abbreviation of ‘delectable’NEW ZEALAND,

1998

deleteverbto leaveUS, 1993

Delhi bellynoundiarrhoea suffered by touristsUS, 1944

delinoun a delicatessen US, 1954

Delianouna recipe From Delia Smith (b.1941), arguably the UK’s

most celebrated cookery writer and broadcasterUK, 2004

delicaciesnounthe testiclesUK, 2002

delicateadjective< in a delicate state of health; in a delicate

conditionpregnant Now rare, but still understoodUK, 1850

delicatessen booknouna betting operation where the odds are

constantly cutUS, 1947

delish; deelishadjectivedeliciousUK, 1920

delivery boynounin poker, any young, inexperienced, unskilled

playerUS, 1996

delivery ordernouna request that a certain type of car be stolen

and sold to the requesting partyUS, 1983

dellverbto hit English gypsy useUK, 2000

delonouna delegateAUSTRALIA, 1961

delosisnouna pretty girlUS, 1953

delouseverbto clear an area of listening devices A pun on

synonymousDEBUG UK , 1969

delphnounthe teeth Possibly from a play on Delft chinaUK, 2002

Delta deltanouna female Red Cross volunteer in VietnamUS, 1990

Delta dustnounmarijuana grown in Vietnam A subtle pun on the

several scientific names for marijuana and its psychoactive

com-ponent that include ‘Delta 1’ or ‘Delta 9’US, 1991

delta sierranouna stupid person Using the phonetic alphabet for

DS –DUMB SHITor ‘dog shit’ US, 1987

Delta soxnounnylon socks that replaced wool socks for US Army

troops in Vietnam in 1970 The army concluded that nylon socks

were more suited for tropical wear, especially in areas such as the

Mekong Delta, than were wool socksUS, 1990

deltsnounthe deltoid musclesUS, 1981

delurkverbto post a message on an Internet discussion group after

previously observing without postingUS, 1995

deluxenounin circus usage, a box seatUS, 1981

demnoun1a demonstration; also, as a verb, to demonstrate,

especially how an article worksUK, 1968.2a capsule of merperidine

(trade name Demerol™), a synthetic opiateUS, 1992

Demnoun a Democrat US, 1875

demadjectivetheir West Indian and black English rendering of

‘them’ used ungrammatically or shortened from ‘belonging to

them’UK, 1994

dempronounthem West Indian and black English phonetic variation

dementedadjectivein computing, not functional and not useful Incomputing, the condition resulting when two processes cannotproceed because each is waiting for another to do somethingUS, 1983

dementonouna deranged personUS, 1977

demi-godnoun1a good-looking boyUS, 1983.2a person recognised

by the computing community as a major geniusUS, 1991

demmynouna capsule of Demerol™ (merperidine), a powerful andhabit-forming painkillerUS, 1956

demonoun1a demonstration model or recording US, 1963.2an act ofhaving sex in front of observers Apparently this had a vogueduring the 70sAUSTRALIA, 1971.3a political demonstration AUSTRALIA,

1904.4a demonstration of how something works or how an action

or activity ought to be doneUK, 1961.5demolition US, 1943.6a oratory pipette used to smoke crack cocaineUS, 1992

lab-demobnouna release from conscription or other contract of militaryservice An abbreviation of officialese ‘demobilisation’; hence

‘demob suit’ (clothes issued on return to civilian life), etcUK, 1945

demobverbto demobiliseUK, 1918

demoisellenounan odd-shaped pillar of clay or cemented gravel,caused by erosion The word comes from the French, meaning

‘young woman’, and is likely to be suggested by the shape, or theshape as it appears to a plains rider who hasn’t seen a woman for

a long timeCANADA, 1952

demolishnouncrack cocaineUK, 1998

demolition partynouna party held on the last night of a lease forthe purpose of destroying furniture, fixtures, etcNEW ZEALAND, 1987

demonnouna police detective, or, loosely, a police officer Originally

criminal slang The suggestion in the Oxford English Dictionary Supplement (1972) that it is somehow extracted from Van Diemen’s Land, a former name of the penal colony of Tasmania,

seems tenuous at bestAUSTRALIA, 1898

demonadjective1applied to someone, especially in cricket and othersports, who seems superhuman in action Originally used ofAustralian cricketer Fred Spofforth, 1853–1926UK, 1883.2excellent

US, 1983

demon tweaknoun1a motorcycle enthusiast who does his owntuning at homeUK, 1979.2in motor racing, a highly clever modifi-cation which may or may not improve the car’s performanceUS, 1980

demotonouna person lacking motivation; a self-non-starterUS, 1993

demsnoundemolitions MilitaryUK, 1995

denari; denarli; dinarlee; dinali; denalinounmoney PolariUK, 1914

Denis Lawnouna carpenter’s saw Rhyming slang, formed on thename of a Scottish footballer (b.1940)UK, 1992

Denmarknoun< go to Denmarkto undergo a sex change ation Homosexual usage; an allusion to the sex-altering operationperformed on Christine Jorgensen in DenmarkUS, 1957

oper-den mothernounan older, unofficial leader of a group of ual menUS, 1997

homosex-Dennis the Menacenouna variety of MDMA, the recreational drugbest known as ecstasy From the similarity between the red andblack stripes on the comic book character’s jumper and those onthe tabletUK, 1996

Dennistoun Palaisnounaluminium Glasgow rhyming slang, on

‘ally’, formed from a venue in the Dennistown area of the city;used by local scrap-dealersUK: SCOTLAND, 1988

dental flossnounLSDUK, 2003

dental flossernounsomeone who is considered to be worthless ordespicable Rhyming slang forTOSSER UK , 2003

dent for an E-flat buglenounan imaginary item for which anovice musician may be sent Military in origin, but remembered

as a fool’s errand enjoyed in the Boys’ Brigade during the early1960sUK, 1964

dentist

dentist’s friendnounin circus and carnival usage, any sweetUS, 1981

Denver mudnouna patent medicine applied as a poulticeUS, 1970

depnoun1a deposition (a copy of a transcript of evidence) Usually

in the pluralUK, 1996.2a deputy UK, 1851.3a deputy prison governor

UK, 1950.4in the theatre, a company representative of Equity (the

actors’ union)UK, 2001.5in Quebec, a corner store A short form of

the French word dépanneur, which is also used by anglophones

and allophones as well as Quebec French speakers, and is often

used to describe what in Ontario is known as a ‘confectionery’,

and in south and central Texas as an ‘icehouse’CANADA, 2001

departverbin the language of fighter pilots, to accelerate through

the plane’s limitsUS, 1990

department of fishy thingsnicknameNova Scotia’s Department of

Fisheries and OceansCANADA, 2002

Department of Holidaysnicknamethe British Columbia Ministry of

Transportation and HighwaysCANADA, 1989

department of the obviousnouna mythical agency that employs

people to state the obviousUS, 1991

departure loungenounin hospital, a geriatric ward Medical slang,

using humour to cope with imminent deathUK, 2002

depeditateverbin computing, to place text in a fashion that cuts

off the feet of the lettersUS, 1991

depending on what school you went toa catchphrase used

when two distinct pronunciations of a word are offeredAUSTRALIA,

1977

depend on it!; depend upon it!be certain; used as an assurance

that a statement is, or will be, trueUK, 1738

depth bombnounan amphetamine tabletUK, 1968

depth chargenoun1a shot of whisky served in a glass of beerUS,

1956.2a fig or a prune Of Royal Navy and Royal Air Force origins;

comparing an explosion in the deep, which is in the power of

such military hardware, to the laxative effect of the fruitsUK, 1943.

3any food that is heavy or stodgy, such as dumplings From the

effects on your lower depths; originally recorded in prison use but

soon in wider useUK, 1950

depth chargingnouna system of playing blackjack based not on a

count of the value of cards played but on the depth of the deck

dealtUS, 1991

deputynouna married person’s loverTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1975

deputy do-rightnouna police officerUS, 1980

der!you idiot! In origin representing a stalling articulation such as

‘um’ or ‘er’, implying that you need to spend time thinking about

something that is obvious Always said with a sarcastic tone

AUSTRALIA, 1979

derangeverb to bother, to trouble From the French déranger

CANADA, 2001

derbynoun1oral sexUS, 1969.2any sporting contest between

tra-ditional rivalsUK, 1999

derby kelly; darby kelly; derby kel; derby kell; derby; darby

nounthe stomach, the abdomen, the belly Rhyming slang for

‘belly’UK, 1906

derelnouna person lacking in basic intelligence An abbreviation of

the conventional ‘derelict’US, 1991

derelictnouna socially inept, slightly dim personUS, 1979

derm; deremnounan intestine; usually in plural, guts The phrases

‘my derms are clapping together’ and ‘my derms are flapping

together’ are vulgarisms for ‘hungry’SOUTH AFRICA, 1970

dermonoundermatitisAUSTRALIA, 1948

deronouna derelictAUSTRALIA, 1971

DEROS; derosverbto return to the US from combat duty in

Vietnam From the abbreviation for the ‘date of estimated return

from overseas’ US, 1968

derrick apple; derrick fruitnounin oil drilling, a nut, bolt or piece

derrièrenoun the vagina From French derrière (behind), a familiar

euphemism for ‘the buttocks’, ‘the behind’, adopted here for anew locationUS, 1998

derronouna derelictAUSTRALIA, 1972

derrynouna derelict houseUK, 1978

Derry & Tomsnounbombs Rhyming slang, formed during WorldWar 2 on the name of a London department store, which closed

desert lambnounkid goat’s meatAUSTRALIA, 1969

desert ratnounany longtime resident of any desert area, especially,

in modern usage, Las Vegas, NevadaUS, 1907

desert rosenouna military urinal used in the desertUK, 2002

deserveverb< deserve a medalsaid of a hard worker: to deservesome kind of reward for effort; also said in regard of an

achievment, especially of some act, however trivial, that you wouldnot like to have done (in either use, it is implicit that no reward orofficial acknowledgement of the act is likely)UK, 1961

desinounsomeone from IndiaUS, 1996

designeradjective(used of pornography) relatively high-brow,designed for couples and first-time viewersUS, 2000

designer drugnouna recreational drug sythesized to mimic theeffects of another more expensive or unlawful drugUS, 1996

desinessnouna recognisably Indian qualityUK, 2006

desk commandonouna military support worker who does not facecombatUK, 1958

desk cowboynouna military or police support worker who does notface combat or street dutyUS, 1942

deskfastnounbreakfast taken at your deskUS, 1996

desk jockeynounan office workerUS, 1953

desk pianonouna typewriterUS, 1945

desk pilotnouna military or police support worker who does notface combat or street dutyUS, 1955

desk ragenounan outburst of enraged hostility within an officeenvironmentUS, 2000

desk ridernouna military support worker who does not facecombat; an officious bureaucratUS, 1966

desmadrenouna disaster Border Spanish used in Englishconversation by Mexican-AmericansUS, 1974

Desmondnouna lower second-class degree, a 2:2 A clever punwhich may be considered rhyming slang, based on ArchbishopDesmond Tutu (b.1930)UK, 1998.< do a Desmondto undress,completely or largely, especially at a rock concert From Desmond

Morris, author of The Naked Ape US, 1983

desperadonoun1a person who is down and out; an unemployedperson scrounging a living from day to dayAUSTRALIA, 1977.2aperson who exhibits desperation in seeking sexual partners

AUSTRALIA, 1987.3a desperate gamblerUS, 1961

desperadoadjectivedesperate A borrowed word used as an ationUK, 2001

elabor-desperatenoun1a gambling addictAUSTRALIA, 1975.2a person whoexhibits desperation in seeking sexual partnersAUSTRALIA, 1979

desperateadjectivevery good Largely dependent on a melodramaticdelivery to impart the slang senseUS, 1951

desperateadverbveryCANADA, 1988

Desperate Dannouna tan Rhyming slang, formed on the name of

a comic strip hero who has appeared in the Beano since 1938 UK,

desperate moneynounin horse racing, money bet by someone

who is in a long losing streak and is very anxious to winAUSTRALIA,

1989

despizableadjectiveworse than despicableUS, 1975

des resa desirable residence A cliché of estate agent jargon UK, 1986

dessert cracknounnitrous oxide Small containers of nitrous oxide

used in canned dessert topping are a prime source of the gas for

young usersUS, 2002

dessienouna desert bootUK, 1995

destatverbto get rid of a property’s statutory tenantsUK, 1963

destructonounin surfing, a large and powerful waveUS, 1978

detnoun a detonator , 1962

detainernouna railroad dispatcherUS, 1946

detectorist; metal detectoristnouna person who, for recreation,

operates a metal detectorUK, 2002

dethroneverbto order someone to leave a public toilet to prevent

homosexual activity A royal image from the use ofQUEEN

(hom-osexual)US, 1941

detoxnouna facility where an alcoholic or drug addict can begin

treatment with the detoxification processUS, 1973

detoxverbto undergo, or subject to, a process of detoxificationUS,

1972

Detroit dieselnounany General Motors engineUS, 1971

Detroit ironnouna large, American carUS, 1950

Detroit vibratornouna Chevrolet big-rig truckUS, 1971

deucenoun1two of anything, such as two marijuana cigarettes, two

women, etcUS, 1943.2a two-year prison sentenceUS, 1925.3two

pounds or two dollarsUS, 1900.4in the restaurant business, a table

for twoUS, 1935.5an act of defecation From children’s toilet

vocabulary:NUMBER TWO(defecation)US, 2003.6in dice games, the

point twoUS, 1950.7in pool, the two-ballUS, 1878.8in card games, a

two of any suitUK, 1680.9two dollars’ worth of drugs Originally a

$2 package of heroin; with inflation other drugs became more

likely to fit the billUS, 1992.10heroin FromDEUCE BAG; DEUCE(a

two-dollar bag of heroin)UK, 1986.11two hundredUS, 1998.12two

hundred dollarsUS, 1973.13twenty dollarsUS, 1960.14in television

and film-making, a 2000 watt spotlightUS, 1990.15an arrest or

conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol California

Penal Code Section 502 prohibits driving under the influence of

alcohol, hence the ‘two’ referenceUS, 1971.16a 1932 Ford A

favourite of car enthusiasts, immortalised by the Beach Boys in

their 1963 song ‘Little Deuce Coupe’US, 1954.17a Chevrolet II car

made between 1962 and 1967US, 1993.18a small-time criminalUS,

1992.19used as a substitute for ‘the devil’ or ‘hell’UK, 1694.20the

Delta Dagger fighter aircraftUS, 1970.< deuce of bendersthe

kneesUS, 1947

deuceverb1to shear 200 sheep in a day Hence, ‘deucer’ (someone

capable of this feat)AUSTRALIA, 1950.2to back down from a

confrontationUS, 1950.3to supply someone with marijuanaUS, 1992

deuce and ace; deucenouna face Rhyming slang; dated and rare

UK, 1925

deuce-and-a-halfnouna two-and-a-half ton cargo truck Military

usage since World War 2US, 1944

deuce-and-a-quarternouna Buick Electra 225US, 1968

deuce bag; deucenouna two-dollar bag of heroinUS, 1971

deuceburgernouna prison sentence of two yearsUS, 1990

deucedadjectivedamned; confounded Dated, but occasionally used

with heavy ironyUK, 1782

deuce-dealverbto deal the second card in a deckUS, 1965

deuce-deucenouna 22 calibre weaponUS, 1990

deuce-deuce-fivenouna Buick Electra 225US, 1993

deuce-fivenouna 25 calibre gunUS, 2003

deuce gearnouna soldier’s rucksack and other items carried in the

fieldUS, 1991

deuce out

deuce-pointnounin a field patrol, the second soldier in lineUS, 1991

deucesnoun1dice that have been altered to have two twos, thesecond two being where one would expect to find a five Used incombination withFIVES, likely to produce a seven, an importantnumber in crapsUS, 1974.2a double lineUS, 1990.< deuces are in

in firefighter usage, pay cheques are prepared and ready to bedistributed From a gong signal of 2–2-2US, 1954

deuce upverbto line up in pairsUS, 1990

deucewaynounan amount of marijuana costing two dollarsUS, 1979

devilnoun1a barbiturate or other central nervous system ant, especially Seconal™ A truncated form ofRED DEVIL US , 1969.

depress-2the hallucinogen STPUS, 1971.3a printer’s apprentice or errandboyUK, 1683.4a white personUS, 1980.5in craps, a sevenUS, 1993.

< devil me arse!used as an expletive Of Anglo-Irish originsUK,

1984.< devil of aan extreme (originally diabolical) example ofsomething May be used with ‘a’ or ‘the’UK, 1767.< devil take

him!; devil take you!; devil take me!; devil take it!used forexpressing anger, impatience, frustration Often used with ‘the’UK,

1548.< go to the devilto fall into ruin From about 1460,although it is recorded in Latin more than a hundred years earlier

UK, 1460.< go to the devil!used as an angry expression ofdismissal If not an exclamation, certainly imperativeUK, 1859.

< how the devil!; what the devil!; when the devil!; where

the devil!; who the devil!; why the devil!used as animpatient intensification of how, what, when, where, who, why Inearly uses ‘the Devil’ was capitalised ‘What the devil’ since about

1385 ‘When the devil’ since 1562 ‘Where the devil’, 1687 ‘Whothe devil’, 1568 ‘Why the devil’, 1819UK, 1385.< little devil;

young devilused as a form of address Often in tones of ation to, for instance, a wilful child; conspiratorial or playful to a(mischievous) adultUK, 1931.< the devil is rolling his oatsit isthunderingCANADA, 1998.< the devil made me do it!used as ahumorous excuse for misconduct A catchphrase made wildly

exasper-popular by comedian Flip Wilson on The Flip Wilson Show (NBC,

1970–74) Repeated with referential humourUS, 1970.< the devil

to pay; the devil and all to pay; the very devil to payveryunpleasant consequences to face up to An echo of FaustUK, 1733

devil and demon; devilnounsemen Rhyming slangUK, 2003

devil bridlenounspittle dried around the mouthTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1951

devil dancing hournounvery late at nightTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1971

devil deviladjective(used of rough country) country broken up intoholes and hillocks From Aboriginal pidgin for an ‘evil spirit’

AUSTRALIA, 1844

devil-dognouna member of the US Marine CorpsUS, 1918

devil drugnouncrack cocaineUK, 2003

devilfishnounin poker, a skilled player who plays poorly to mask hisskill early in a gameUS, 1996

Devil’s Assholenicknamean area in the Mekong Delta south of SaDec with a strong Viet Cong presenceUS, 1990

devil’s bedpostnounin a deck of playing cards, the four of clubs

devil’s dicknouna crack cocaine pipeUS, 1992

devil’s dustnoun1crack cocaineUS, 1994.2phencyclidine, the reational drug known as PCP or angel dustUS, 1992

rec-devil’s half acrenouna neighbourhood catering to viceUS, 1959

devil’s herbnounhashish (cannabis resin or pollen)UK, 1994

devil’s luck; devil’s own lucknoununusually good luck; ally, bad luckUK, 1891

occasion-devil snatchernounlarva of the dragon flyCANADA, 1955

devil’s ownadjectivedevilish; troublesome, difficultUK, 1729

devil’s smokenouncrack cocaineUS, 1994

devil’s tar oil

devil weednoun1stramonium, a narcotic herb A plant that can be

eaten or smoked for drug intoxication and hallucinogenic effect,

and is sometimes mistaken for marijuana It is variously known as

known as ‘jimson weed’ (corrupted from Jamestown weed), ‘yerba

del diablo’ (devil’s herb), ‘devil’s apple’ and ‘thorn apple’ (from the

appearance of the fruit), ‘angel’s trumpet’ and ‘Gabriel’s trumpet’

(the flower) Native to south-western US, Mexico, Central America,

India and Asia; an occasional weed in BritainUS, 2001.2marijuana

Ironic, mocking those who condemn marijuanaUS, 1985

devonouna deviantAUSTRALIA, 1990

dewnoun1marijuana; hashishUS, 1971.2rum that has been

manufactured illegallyTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003.< knock the

dew off the lily; shake the dew off the lily(of a male) to

urinateUS, 1974

dewbabynouna dark-skinned black maleUS, 1972

dew dropnouna drop of clear nasal fluid or mucus that hangs from

the tip of the noseUK, 1984

Deweynouna socially inept social outcastUS, 1988

dewey; dooe; dooey; dueynoun two From Italian due via

parleyaree into polariUK, 1937

DEWLINEnounthe network of radar stations and airstrips for

interceptor aircraft across Canada’s North An abbreviation of

‘Distant Early Warning Line’ CANADA, 1957

dexnoun1Dexedrine™, a central nervous system stimulantUS, 1961.

2dextromethorphan (DXM), an active ingredient in

non-prescrip-tion cold and cough medicanon-prescrip-tion, often abused for non-medicinal

purposesUS, 2003.3MDMA, the recreational drug best known as

ecstasy FromDECADENCE(MDMA)UK, 2003 8see:ECSTASY

dexedrinenounMDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy

An elaboration ofDEX(MDMA) based on Dexedrine™, a branded

amphetamineUK, 2003 8see gloss at:ECSTASY

dexie; dexi; dexonounDexedrine™, a central nervous system

stimulantUS, 1951

dexternouna diligent, socially inept studentUS, 1985

DFAnoundescribes an imaginary effect employed in the recording

industry An initialism of ‘does fuck all’ UK, 2005

DFFLdope forever, forever loaded – a slogan of the Hell’s Angels

motorcyle gang that enjoyed somewhat wider popularityUS, 1966

D for dunce; deefernounmoney, profits, extras, undeclared

income Rhyming slang forBUNCE UK , 1992

DFPnounin pornography, a scene in a film or a photography

showing two men ejaculating on a woman’s face; a double facial

pop US, 1995

DFsnounDF118s, painkillers manufactured from synthetic opium,

used recreationallyUK, 1996

DHused as an exhortation while drinking An abbreviation of ‘down

the hatch!’ NEW ZEALAND, 1998

dhobi; dhobie; dohbienoun1a native Indian washerman From

Hindi dhobi or dhoby (a member of the ‘Scheduled Castes’ born

to wash and press clothes)INDIA, 1816.2laundry, washing From the

verb sense; originally a military usageUK, 2002

dhobi; dhobie; dohbieverbto wash (your clothes) From

Hindustani dhob (washing); originally a nautical usage, then

general in all military servicesUK, 1929

dhobi dustnounany washing powder Military; extended fromDHOBI

(laundry)UK, 1984

dhobi marknouna small laundry mark Anglo-IndianINDIA, 2003

dhobi’s itchnouna ring-worm infection of the armpit and groin in

areas of high humidity or temperature This ‘itch’ appears to

derive not fromDHOBI(the washerman) but fromDHOBI(the

laundry) as the condition was thought to spread via underwear

which had been washed togetherUK, 1890

dhobi wallahnouna native washerman serving the military Of

Anglo-Indian military origin An extension ofDHOBI(a washerman),

possibly a combination ofDHOBI(laundry) and ‘wallah’ (a man –

in relation to his occupation)INDIA, 1937

diablo

diabolicaladjectivedisgraceful ‘Possessed by the devil’ in aweakened senseUK, 1958

dialnounthe faceUS, 1842

dialverb1in a prayer group, to pray first Not much language used

by the religious qualifies as slang, but this certainly doesUS, 1990.

2in foot-propelled scootering, to get a trick rightUK, 2000.< dial a

trafto fart When the spelling of each word is reversed the sense

is revealed: ‘laid a fart’US, 1998

DIALadjective dumb in any language Said of truly incommunicative

hospital patientsUS, 1994

dial-a-winnernouna Dodge push-button automatic transmissionUS, 1968

dialed inadjective1in a state of concentration that excludes anyand all distractions Punning on ‘connected’ May be reduced toits first elementUS, 1995.2belonging to the inner circleUS, 1997

dialernouna telephone that when called automatically calls anothertelphone numberUS, 1976

dial in onverbto understand what motivates someone else; tograsp their personalityUS, 1997

dial outverbto ignoreUS, 1967

dialtonenouna personality-free personUS, 1990

diamaidnounin a deck of playing cards, a diamondTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003

diambistanounmarijuanaUS, 1954

diamondnoun1anything that is considered as the best, especially

as an assement of personal qualitiesUK, 1990.2an amphetaminetablet scored with a diamond-shapeUK, 2003.3a tablet of MDMA,the recreational drug best known as ecstasyUK, 2003.4a customdiamond-shaped car windowUS, 1980

Diamondnounthe central square of an Irish townIRELAND, 1992

diamondadjectiveexcellentUK, 1990

diamond cutternounthe erect penis A later variation on the penis

as a type of toolUS, 1975

diamond dustnouncrystallized ice in the airANTARCTICA, 1958

diamondsnoun1a type of bet in an illegal numbers game lottery

US, 1957.2the testicles An evolution from the commonFAMILY

JEWELS US , 1964

diamond seasonnounwarm weatherUS, 1987

Diamond Streetnickname47th Street just west of Fifth Avenue,New York Home to many diamond merchantsUS, 1982

diamond whitenouna white CadillacUS, 1998

Diana Dorsnounknickers, drawers Rhyming slang, formed on theprofessional name of ‘Blonde Bombshell’ actress Diana Fluck,1931–84 A humorous reference to women’s underwear, perhaps

by contrast with the enhanced and marketed sexuality that wasDiana DorsUK, 1992

diapernoun1a sanitary towelUS, 1980.2any winter covering on thefront of a truckUS, 1971.3a rubber insulating blanket used inoverhead electric line workUS, 1980

diaper dandynounan athlete in his first year of college Coined orpopularised by sports announcer Dick VitaleUS, 1993

diapersnouna flotation coat with between-the-legs button flapsissued by the National Science Foundation in AntarcticaANTARCTICA, 1991

diazzynouna diazepam tabletUK, 2001

dibbi dibbiadjectivestupid; worthless; insignificantUK, 1994

dibblenounan encounter with the police; the police; a policeofficer Appeared in this sense during the 1990s; after Officer

Dibble, the police character in cult television cartoon series Top Cat, Hanna Barbera, 1961 UK, 1994

dibblernounthe penisUS, 1998

dibbly-dobblernounan accurate, medium-pace cricket bowler; such

dib-dabsnouna condition of anxiety, uneasiness, nervousness A

variation of ‘abdabs’ reported by Commander C Parsons, 1984UK,

1984

dibsnoun1first right to, first claim on Among the earliest slang a

child in the US learns; derives from ‘dib’ (a portion or a share)

which was first recorded in the UK in 1889US, 1932.2moneyUK,

1807.3a livingUS, 1949.4a room, apartment or houseUS, 1993

dibs and dabsnoun1small amountsUS, 1960.2pubic lice Rhyming

slang forCRABS UK , 1961

dic; dicknoun a dictionary It has been suggested that this term was

coined by, or within the family of, Scottish philologist and first

lexicographer of the Oxford English Dictionary, Sir James Murray,

1837–1915; it would be nice if it were true ‘Dick’, in the sense

that someone who uses fine words is said to have ‘swallowed the

dick’, is recorded in 1873US, 1831

dicenoun1in motor racing, a duel between two cars within the field

of competitorsUS, 1962.2crack cocaineUK, 2003.3Desoxyn™, a

branded methamphetamine hydrochlorideUS, 1977.< dice on

the floor, seven at the doorused in casino gambling to

express the superstitious gambler’s belief that if the dice leave the

table and land on the floor during a game of craps, the next roll

will be a sevenUS, 1974

diceverb1to disparage or insult effectivelyUS, 1993.2to reject, to

throw away The probable derivation is from conventional ‘dice’ (to

lose or throw away)AUSTRALIA, 1944.3to throw away; reject; discard

AUSTRALIA, 1943

dice bitenouna wound on the hand of a gambler in casino craps

when struck by tossed diceUS, 1983

dice mobnouna group of two or more cheats in a dice gameUS,

1961

dicernoun1a hatUS, 1887.2a fast freight trainUS, 1927.3a ‘duel’

between two drivers Car racing drivers and commentators’ useUK,

1984

dice with deathverbto risk actual death or figurative demiseUK,

1941

dicey; dicyadjectiverisky, uncertainUK, 1944

dicey on the ubbleadjectivebalding Used by Teddy BoysUK, 1958

dicknoun1the penisUS, 1888.2the clitorisUS, 1964.3a manUS, 1914.

4sex with a manUS, 1956.5a police officer, especially a detective; a

private detectiveUS, 1886.6a despicable person Losing its taboo in

the US, but still chancy.US, 1966.7a foolUK, 1553.8nothing, zeroUK,

1925.9a look, a glance A variation ofDECKO; DEKKO UK , 1979.

10during the Vietnam war, the enemy From the Vietnamese dich

(enemy)US, 1991 8see:DIC.< cut dicks; talk dicksto speak

clearly and with an affected English accentVIRGIN ISLANDS, BRITISH,

1973.< get your dick tenderto have an emotional need to be

with a woman at all timesUS, 1972.< had the dickto be ruined

AUSTRALIA, 1971.< it’s just a dick thingused as a humorous

excuse for typical male behaviour A catchphrase from the film

Mo’ Better Blues US, 1991.< put dick(from the male point of

view) to have sexUS, 1973

dickverb1to exploit; to take advantage of; to harm In the 1968 US

presidential election, the bumper sticker ‘Dick Nixon Before Nixon

Dicks You’ raised eyebrowsUS, 1964.2(from the male point of view)

to have sex withUS, 1942.3to look A variation ofDECKO;DEKKO UK ,

1979.< have your dick suckedto be fawned upon; to be

flatteredUK, 1993

Dick & ’Arrynouna dictionaryUK, 1992

dick allnounnothing, nothing at allUK, 2005

dick aroundverb1to behave in a sexually promiscuous fashionUS,

1969.2to make a mess of; to inconvenienceUS, 2002.3to pass time

idlyUS, 1947

dickbrainnouna foolUS, 1971

dick-breathnounused as a term of abuseUS, 1972

dick cheesenounsmegmaCANADA, 2002

dick daksnouna pair of men’s close-fitting and revealing nylon

swimming trunks FromDICK(the penis) andDAKS(shorts)

dick-dipnounsexUS, 1967

dick docnoun1a urologistUS, 1994.2a military doctor or medic whoinspects male recruits for signs of sexually transmitted diseaseUS, 1964

Dick Emerynounmemory Rhyming slang, formed on the name of

a British comedian and comedy actor, 1917–83UK, 1992

dicken!; dickin!; dickon!used to express disgust or disbelief.Perhaps fromDICKENS! AUSTRALIA , 1894

dickens!used as an interjectional expletive to express surprise,impatience, etc, generally combined with how, what, where, etc.Euphemistic for ‘the devil’UK, 1598

dickernoun1a look-out, a scoutUK: NORTHERN IRELAND, 1995.2a

dictionary By application of the Oxford - ER UK , 1937

dickeroonouna police officerUS, 1945

dickeynoun(of clothing, in the Canadian north) a top covering The

word comes from Eskimo attike (a covering) CANADA, 1952

dickeyadjective1of plans or things, tricky, risky, ‘dicey’ Also spelt

‘dischy’UK, 1984.2foolishNEW ZEALAND, 1998 8see:UNCLE DICK

dickey-birdnoun1in oil drilling, a loud squeak caused by poorlylubricated equipmentUS, 1954.2the penis An elaboration ofDICKY

in schoolboy useCANADA, 1968

dickey-didonounthe external female genital parts Originallyrecorded (1887) as a word for ‘a fool’; this sense survives in thebawdy song ‘The Mayor of Bayswater’ (to the tune of ‘The AshGrove’): ‘One black one, one white one / And one with a lump ofshite on, / The hairs on her dickey-dido hang down to her knees’

UK, 1984

dick-eyenounused as an offensive term of address between males

UK, 2003

dickfacenouna contemptible foolUS, 1975

dick-fingeredadjectiveclumsyUS, 1984

dick flicknounan action-oriented film that appeals to a maleaudience An opposite and equal reaction toCHICK FLICK US , 2001

dickheadnounan inept, unlikeable person; an idiot A satisfyingembellishment ofDICK(the penis) As a term of abuse this is oftenaccompanied by, or even replaced with, a mime of the

masturbation of a flaccid penis, gesturally sited in the centre ofthe foreheadUS, 1964

dickheadedadjectivefoolishAUSTRALIA, 1981

dickienounthe penis Children’s vocabularyUS, 1962

dickie wackernouna disrespectful teenage boy who shows off

AUSTRALIA, 1985

dickjokenounany coarse jokeUS, 1991

dicklessnouna female police officer or detective A shortened form

ofDICKLESS TRACYthat plays on two meanings of dick – ‘penis’ and

‘detective’US, 1984

dicklessadjectiveused of men to intensify general abuse Literally:

‘without aDICK’ (a penis)US, 1984

dickless Tracynouna female police officer A neat pun onDICK(thepenis) and the popular comic book hero-detective Dick Tracycreated by Chester Gould in 1931; a contemptuous suggestionthat a female cannot be as effective as a maleUS, 1963

dickless wondernouna person of either sex who lacks courage orconvictionUS, 1997

dick-licknounused as a term of abuseUS, 1984

dicklickernoun1a cocksucker in all its sensesUS, 1968.2agreyhound racing enthusiast Used by horse racing enthusiasts

AUSTRALIA, 1989

dicklickingadjectivedespicableUS, 1978

dick mittensnounhands that were not washed after urinationUS, 2001

dicknosenounused as a term of abuseUS, 1974

dick offverbto waste time, to idle, to shun workUS, 1947

dickory docknoun1the penis Rhyming slang forCOCK(the penis),not an elaboration of . a clock Rhyming slang, based

on the nursery rhyme ‘Hickory dickory dock / A mouse ran up the

clock’UK, 1961

dick partitionnouna condom CombinesDICK(the penis) with a

barrierUK, 1998

dick pointersnouna pair of men’s close-fitting and revealing nylon

swimming trunksAUSTRALIA, 2003

dick pokersnouna pair of men’s close-fitting and revealing nylon

swimming trunksAUSTRALIA, 2003

dickrashnounan annoying or despicable person; a jerkAUSTRALIA, 1996

Dick’s hatbandnounused in comparisons, especially as the

epit-ome of tightnessUK, 1781

Dick Shot Offnoun the Distinguished Service Order, (a medal for

bravery) Punning onDICK(the penis)UK, 1937

dick-skinnernounthe handUS, 1971

dick-smackernouna prison guard Not kindUS, 1984

dicksmithnouna US Navy hospital corpsmanUS, 1974

Dick Smithnouna drug user or addict who does not socialise with

other usersUS, 1876

dickson! 8see:DICKEN

dicksplashnounan awkward or inept person, a foolUK, 2003

dick-steppernouna clumsy oafUS, 1983

dick stickersnouna pair of men’s close-fitting and revealing nylon

swimming trunksAUSTRALIA, 1996

dick-stringnouna male’s ability to achieve an erectionUS, 1965

dick suckernouna homosexual maleUS, 1995

dicksuckingnounoral sex performed on manUS, 1977

dick-suckingadjectivedespicableUS, 1972

dickswingingadjectiveused of an obviously arrogant person

(regardless of gender) Office jargon that reflects the macho nature

of the workplaceUK, 2005

dickteasenouna woman who creates the impression of being more

sexually available than she is A variant of the more common

PRICK-TEASER US , 1989

dick teasernouna girl who suggests that she will engage in sex but

will notUS, 1962

Dick the Shitnickname Shakespeare’s Richard III A play on ‘Richard

the turd’ in theatrical slangUK, 1985

dick togsnouna pair of men’s close-fitting and revealing nylon

swimming trunks FromDICK(the penis) andTOGS(a swimming

costume)AUSTRALIA, 2003

Dick Turpinnounthirteen Rhyming slang, used by dart players;

formed on the name of the infamous highwayman, born in 1706,

hanged in 1739UK, 1937

dickwadnounan unlikeable or despicable personUS, 1989

dick-waver; dicky-wavernouna male exhibitionistUS, 1973

dickweednouna despicable, dim-witted personUS, 1980

dickwhackernouna foolNEW ZEALAND, 2002

dick-whipped; dick-whuppedadjectivedominated by a man

Formed as an antonym forPUSSY-WHIPPED(dominated by a woman)

US, 1998

dickwipenouna despicable personUS, 1992

dickwitnounan idiot, a contemptible foolUK, 2001

dickynoun1the penis An extension ofDICK UK , 1891.2a windscreen

on a motorcycleUK, 1979

dickyadjective1inferior; in poor condition or health; insecure;

having an odd qualityUK, 1959.2idiotic or annoying; appearing silly

That is, of, or befitting, aDICK(HEAD)NEW ZEALAND, 1982 8see:DICKEY

dickybirdnoun1a little bird Childish As in the traditional nursery

rhyme, ‘Two little dicky-birds sitting a wall, / One named Peter, one

named Paul’UK, 1781.2a word; hence, a thing of little value, the

smallest thing Rhyming slang; most often given in full and usually

in the negative context, ‘not say a word’, hence the second part of

this sense In the theatre, ‘dickies’ are an actor’s script, ‘the words’

UK, 1932.< not a dickybirdnothingUK, 1975

dicky diddle; diddlenounurination Rhyming slang forPIDDLE;used by juveniles, perhaps playing onDICKY(the penis)UK, 1961

dicky dirt; dickynouna shirt Rhyming slang; also note

convention-al ‘dicky’ (a detachable shirt front, since 1811), in turn influenced

by obsolete slang ‘dicky’ (a dirty shirt, 1781)AUSTRALIA, 1905

dicky-dunkingnounsex from the male perspectiveUS, 1994

dictynouna snobUS, 1928

dictyadjective1excellentUS, 1947.2arrogant, haughty Also Spelt

‘dichty’US, 1923

didnouna capsule of Dilaudid™, a pharmaceutical narcoticUS, 1986

di-da, di-da, di-daused to extend an explanation or complaint,especially when reporting an instance thereof Usually mocking;but also as an alternative toBLAH BLAH When used by lyricists ofpop songs it tends to have no meaning whatsoeverUK, 1940

diddishadjectiveused to describe anything associated with ditional travellers, especially with regard to degrading ordenigratory treatment Used by late-1980s–early 90scounterculture travellersUK, 1999

tra-diddlenoun1an act of masturbation From conventional ‘diddle’ (tojerk from side to side)US, 2001.2a swindle, a deceptionUK, 1803.

3ginUK, 2003.< on the diddleengaged in swindling From

DIDDLE(a deception), on the model ofON THE FIDDLE(engaged in aswindle)UK, 2001

diddleverb1(from the male perspective) to have sexUS, 1870.2tomasturbateUS, 1934.3to swindleUK, 1806.4to cheatUS, 1972.5incomputing, to make a minor changeUS, 1983.6in computing, towork half-heartedlyUS, 1991.< diddled by the dirty digit of

destinyadversely affected by fateUS, 1977

diddlernoun1the penisUS, 1969.2a child molesterUS, 1976

diddlingnounpetty cheating, sharp practice, trivial swindling,chronic borrowingUK, 1849

diddling Miss Daisynounan act of female masturbation After the

1989 film Driving Miss Daisy UK, 2004

diddlynounanything at all An abbreviation ofDIDDLY-SHIT US , 1964

diddlybopper; diddybopper; dittybopper; diddley bop; diddy bopnouna street thugUS, 1958

diddly-dicknounnothing at allUS, 1972

diddly-dumadjectivefine, goodUK, 1976

diddly-shit; diddly-squatnounanything or nothing at allUS, 1955

diddumsnoun1used by adults for soothing and consoling babiesand very young children; hence, a childish endearmentUK, 1893.

2used for offering heavily sarcastic mock-sympathy to an adult orolder child and deride childish behaviour or for suggesting thatsuch behaviour or attitude is childish Adapted from the nonsenseendearment used to soothe very young children This nonsense isexpandable: ‘diddums doodums dumpling den’UK, 1893

diddynoun1a toilet Perhaps originally a fanciful term used whenspeaking with small children Also variant ‘didee’AUSTRALIA, 1958.

2the female breast or nipple Recorded in use in Glasgow andAustraliaUK, 1991.3a fool; used as a mild insult Glasgow slang,from the previous sense, and therefore aTIT UK , 1985.4a gypsy Afamiliar diminutive ofDIDICOIin all its variant spellings Can befurther reduced to ‘did’UK, 1953

diddyadjectivesmall Usage popularised by Liverpool comedian KenDodd (b.1927)UK, 1965

diddy around; diddy aboutverbto fool around FromDIDDY(afool)UK: SCOTLAND, 1985

diddy bag; ditty bagnouna small bag issued to soldiers forcarrying their personal effectsUS, 1947

diddy bopverbto take part in gang fightsUS, 1955

diddyboppernouna racially ambitious black person who rejectsblack culture and embraces the dominant white cultureUS, 1980

8see:DIDDLYBOPPER

diddy-dum slinger

Diddysnoun in the entertainment industry, per diems A back

for-mation, from per diem to the initials PD to the initials of rap

singer P DiddyUS, 2004

dideenouna water-closet Generally used with ‘the’AUSTRALIA, 1967

didgenounprice or cost A corruption of ‘digits’US, 1984

didgynouna dustbin Glasgow slangUK: SCOTLAND, 1985

didgyadjective1nervous, unsettled Possibly fromEDGY(nerves on

edge)UK, 1999.2digitalUK: SCOTLAND, 1985

didi; dee-deeverb to leave From the Vietnamese word di (goodbye)

adapted by US soldiers during the war and made into a verbUS,

1964

didicoi; diddicoinoungypsy; Romany; half-breed gypsyUK, 1853

didj; didgnouna didjeridoo (an Australian Aboriginal instrument)

AUSTRALIA, 1919

didn’t oughternouna daughter Rhyming slangUK, 1977

didonoun1mischief, a prankUS, 1807.2a petty complaint filed

against a police officer by a superiorUS, 1958

did you ever?; did you ever!would you believe it!UK, 1817

dieverb1to want something very muchUK, 1709.2in roller derby, to

fall after an extended and dramatic fightUS, 1999.< die for a tie

used as a humorous sobriquet for General MacArthur’s prediction

that the war in Korea would end in a stalemate unless he were

given approval to attack ChinaUS, 1976.< die in the arse; die in

the bumto fail completelyAUSTRALIA, 1976.< die on the lawon

the railways, to work the maximum allowed by the Hours of

Service ActUS, 1990.< die on your arseof a comedian, to fail to

entertainUK, 2004.< die the deathof an entertainer, especially a

comedian, to meet with a complete lack of response from an

audienceUK, 1984.< die with your boots onto die while in

actionUS, 1874.< to die forspectacular, wonderfulUS, 1983

die; dyenouna diazepam (trade name Valium™) tablet, used as an

anti-anxiety agentUS, 1986

die before me!used for acknowledging that someone has said

exactly what you said at the same timeTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1987

Diefenbaker meatnouncanned meat distributed to the poor

during the years John Diefenbaker was prime minister (late

1950s-mid 60s)CANADA, 1987

Diefenbunkernounthe secure fallout shelter for high Canadian

government officials to use in case of national disasterCANADA, 1995

dienernoun 8see:DEANER

die on the floor, seven at the door; on the floor, hit the

doorin casino craps, used as a prediction that the next roll after a

dice has bounced onto the floor will be a sevenUS, 1983

diesnountablets of diazepam, an anti-anxiety agent with central

nervous system depressant propertiesUS, 1997

dieselnoun1an aggressive, ‘manly’ lesbian An abbreviation of

DIESEL DYKE US , 1959.2a man with a great physiqueUS, 1993.3prison

tea Probably suggestive of the taste or appearanceUK, 1996.

4heroinUK, 1996

dieseladjectiveprojecting an aggressive and tough image Originally

applied to a lesbian type, theDIESEL DYKE, then to a broader field

US, 1995

diesel digitsnounchannel 19 on a citizens’ band radio, favoured by

truckersUS, 1976

diesel dorknouna large penisUS, 1994

diesel dyke; diesel dikenouna strong, forceful, aggressive lesbian

US, 1959

diesel fitter; dieselnounbitter (beer) Rhyming slangUK, 1992

diesel therapynounthe repeated transfer of a troublesome prisoner

from prison to prisonUS, 1996

diesonouna diesel mechanic An Australian addition to the slang of

the South PoleANTARCTICA, 1967

diet pillnounan amphetamine tablet From the drug’s association

diffnoun1differenceUS, 1896.2a differential in a motor vehicle

differentadjectiveout of the ordinary, special, unusual, recherchéUK,

1912.< different strokes for different folksdifferent thingsplease different people Singer Syleena ‘Syl’ Johnson released thesong ‘Different Strokes’ (J Cameron and J Zachary) with this line

in it in 1967; Sly and the Family Stone’s 1968 mega-hit ‘EverydayPeople’ put the phrase on the mapUS, 1966

differsnoundifference Anglo-IrishUK, 1959

diffynouna car or truck’s differentialNEW ZEALAND, 1956

dignoun1a punch, a blow Extends the conventional sense of ‘poke’

UK, 2001.2a jibe, an insult, a tauntUK, 1849.3an Australian or NewZealand soldier of either world war An abbreviation ofDIGGER.Commonly used as form of address to such a soldier Later also afriendly form of address to any man, and now generally only used

to men of an age to have fought in a world warAUSTRALIA, 1916.4aform of male address A shortening ofDIGGER AUSTRALIA , 1916.5anarchaeological excavation, an archaeological expeditionUK, 1896.6incricket, an inningsAUSTRALIA, 1966.7an injection of a drugUK, 2000.

8in volleyball, contact with the ball below the waistUS, 1972.9afisherman’s stretch or ‘area’ of waterAUSTRALIA, 1963.10a dragracing eventUS, 1993 8see:DIG IN THE GRAVE

digverb1to like, to appreciateUS, 1950.2to understandUS, 1934.3tobother, to concernAUSTRALIA, 1958.4to inject a drug intravenously,especially heroinUK, 1996.5in handball, to hit a low ball before itstrikes the floorUS, 1970.6in surfing, to paddle energeticallyUS, 1963.

< dig a drapeto buy a new dress Teen slang, reported by aToronto newspaper in 1946CANADA, 1946.< dig for goldto pickyour noseUS, 2003.< dig horrorsto be suffering; to live withtrouble GRENADA, 1975.< dig out your eyeto swindle; to cheat

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1935.< dig the man a neat ditchin oildrilling, to perform any job wellUS, 1954.< dig with the left

footbe a CatholicIRELAND, 1951.< dig with the right footto be

of the same religious persuasion, in Northern Ireland a Protestant

UK: NORTHERN IRELAND, 1997.< dig with the wrong footto be aCatholicCANADA, 1968

dig-awaynouna festering soreTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1989

Digby chickennouna smoked, salted small herring Digby is afishing port on the west (Fundy) shore of Nova ScotiaCANADA, 1995

dig downverbto demolishBARBADOS, 1965

diggernoun1a goldminerAUSTRALIA, 1849.2an Australian or NewZealand soldier of either world war Also extended to soldiersfighting in other military conflicts such as the Korean andVietnam wars Originally applied only to infantry soldiers of WorldWar 1 who spent much time digging and maintaining trenches Aterm of high approbationAUSTRALIA, 1916.3by extension, a term ofmale addressAUSTRALIA, 1920.4an undertakerUS, 1945.5a personwho buys a large number of tickets to a popular entertainmentand resells the tickets to a brokerUS, 1927.6a member of theDigger hippie counterculture support-network Named for a mid-C17 English sect that practised agrarian communismUS, 1966.7apickpocket, especially a clumsy oneUS, 1931.8a face-first fallUS, 1993.

9a solitary confinement cellUS, 1992.10a drag racing carUS, 1993.

11the grade ‘D’US, 1968

diggetyused in various combinations for expressing surprise orpleasureUS, 1928

diggidynounmarijuanaUK, 2001

digging for wormsnounvaricose vein surgery Medical slang,obvious imageryUK, 2002

diggingsnounlodgingsUS, 1837

diggitynoun heroin UK , 2003

diggysnoundigital scalesUK, 1999

dig inverb1to eat heartilyUK, 1912.2from a standstill, to accelerate a

dig in the grave; dignouna shave Rhyming slangAUSTRALIA, 1931

digitnouna number chosen as a bet in an illegal policy bank lottery

US, 1973

digital manipulationnoun(of a female) masturbation A simple

pun using computer technologyUS, 2001

digitheadnouna person whose enthusiasm for mathematics or

computers is never hiddenUS, 1994

digitsnouna telephone numberUS, 1995

digits dealernounan operator of an illegal numbers policy lottery

US, 1982

dignitynounthe vagina A political coinageUS, 1998

dig outnounhelp getting out of a difficult situationIRELAND, 1995

dig outverb1to work cheerfully and with a will; to make a real

effort Military usageUK, 1987.2to taunt, to insultUK, 1998.3in

trucking, to start fastUS, 1971

digsnoun1lodgings, be it a room, flat, or house An abbreviation of

the earlier (1830s) ‘diggings’ In the UK theatrical ‘digs’ have a long

and colourful history with most venues still providing a ‘digs-list’

for touring playersUK, 1893.2a jobUS, 1973

dig up; dig outverbto research and discover, or find and obtainUK,

1611

dig you laterused as a farewellUS, 1947

dikadjective1stupid Derived from its literal Afrikaans sense as

‘thick’SOUTH AFRICA, 1978.2tired of something or someone Often

in the expression ‘to be dik of’SOUTH AFRICA, 1986.3heavy, beefy,

big, fat, powerfully built From AfrikaansSOUTH AFRICA, 1970

dikbeknouna sulky or surly person From Afrikaans for ‘thick beak’

SOUTH AFRICA, 1970

dikenounstolen brass or copper sold as scrapUS, 1980 8see:DYKE

dikeverbin computing, to remove or disable something Derived

from the sense of ‘dikes’ as ‘diagonal cutters used in electrical

work’US, 1991

dilberrynouna foolNEW ZEALAND, 1952

Dilbertnoun1in poker, a player with a strong grasp of the

math-ematics and probabilities associated with the game but a poor set

of playing skillsUS, 1996.2a blunderUS, 1944

dilbertverbto disabuse an employee of work-place optimism From

the experiences of Dilbert the eponymous anti-hero of the Dilbert

comic stripUS, 1996

dildonouna despicable, offensive or dim-witted personUS, 1960

DILFnouna sexually attractive father A gender variation ofMILF(a

sexually appealing mother); an acronym of ‘dad I’d like to fuck’ US,

2003

dillnoun1a fool Back-formation fromDILLY(foolish)AUSTRALIA, 1941.

2the penisAUSTRALIA, 1988

dillberriesnounexcreta that cling to anal or pubic hair The original

spelling was ‘dilberries’UK, 1811

dill-brainnouna simpletonAUSTRALIA, 1975

dill-brainedadjectivefoolishAUSTRALIA, 1975

dill-docknouna dildoUS, 1949

dillholenounan easily disliked personUS, 1997

dilligafdo I look like I give a fuck? Collected as police slang US, 1999

dill piecenounthe penisUS, 2001

dillpot; dillypot; dillnouna fool Rhyming slang forTWOT, possibly

fromDILLY(silly)AUSTRALIA, 1941

dillynoun1an excellent or remarkable thing or person Usually used

in a sarcastic senseUS, 1908.2a capsule of Dilaudid™, a synthetic

morphine used by heroin addicts trying to break their habitUS, 1971

DillynicknamePiccadilly, an area of central London The area around

Piccadilly Circus was a popular location for street-walkers and

polari-speaking male prostitutesUK, 1936

dillyadjectivesilly, foolish Possibly fromDILLPOT(a fool) or, more

likely as the first recording of ‘dilly’ predates ‘dillpot’ by 35 years,

dilly bagnouna bag, generally small, for carrying odds and ends

From dilly a traditional Australian Aboriginal woven bag, from the

Australian Aboriginal language YagaraAUSTRALIA, 1906

dilly-bagsadjectivemuch, plenty, many An elaboration ofBAGS

AUSTRALIA, 1953

dilly boynouna young male prostitute TheDILLY(Piccadilly Circus)

is (perhaps was) renowned as a centre for male prostitutionUK, 1979

dilly-dallyverbto dawdle; hence to waste time A reduplication ofconventional ‘dally’ (to loiter)UK, 1741

dillzynounthe penis A variation on ‘dilly’ (penis)US, 1999

dimnounthe night; twilightUS, 1944

dimadjectiveunintelligent An antonym for the intellectually bright

UK, 1924

dimbanounmarijuana from west Africa A variation ofDJAMBA UK , 1998

dimbonoun 8see:DIMMO

dimenoun1ten dollarsUS, 1958.2one hundred dollarsUS, 1988.3onethousand dollarsUS, 1974.4ten years; a ten-year prison sentenceUS,

1967.5a pretty girl A product of a one-to-ten scale for ratingbeauty, with ten being the best; thus an updated way of saying ‘aten’US, 2002.< on a dimeprecisely, suddenlyUS, 1996

dimeverbto betray, to inform onUS, 1970

dime-a-dip dinnernouna fundraising mealUS, 1967

dime a dozenadjectiveused of anything in very plentiful supplyUS, 1930

dime bag; dimenouna packet of drugs sold for ten dollarsUS, 1970

dime-droppernouna police informantUS, 1966

dimelow; dinelow; dinelonouna fool, an idiotUK, 1900

dime-nickelnouna 105mm wheeled cannon capable of shootingshells at a high angleUS, 1991

dime notenouna ten-dollar noteUS, 1938

dime papernounten dollars worth of a powdered drug, especiallyheroinUS, 1972

dime special; dimenouncrack cocaineUS, 1998

dime-stackingnouna system of keeping track of drinks not rung up

on a bar’s cash register, enabling the bartender to calculate theamount that can be safely embezzled at the end of the shiftUS, 1992

dime storenoun1a store selling a variety of small itemsUS, 1938.2asmall casino or gambling establishment with low-stakes gamesUS, 1953

dime’s worthnounthe (variable) amount of heroin that is sufficient

to cause death UK , 2002

dimmo; dimbonouna stupid personCANADA, 1977

Dimmo; Dimonoun a Greek From the pronunciation of ‘Demo’, short for Demosthenes, a very common given-name among

GreeksUK, 1961

dimpnouna cigarette-end Originally military, then vagrantsUK, 1940

dimplenouna dent on a car’s bodyUS, 1997

dimpsnouna small amount of money, tobacco or other prisoncurrencyUK, 1996

dimwitnouna slow-witted fool Extends fromDIM(not very bright)

US, 1921

dimwittedadjectivestupid, slow The quality of aDIMWIT US , 1940

Dinahnoundynamite or nitroglycerinUS, 1949

dinarly; dinarla; dinaly; dinah; dinarleenounmoney Ultimately

from Latin dinarii into Italian or Spanish, via lingua franca to parleyaree; or, pehaps Larin dinarius, into Persian and wider Arabic dinar (various coins), via gypsy; thence general Cockney usage and

adoption as part of the polari vocabularyUK, 1851

din-dinnoundinner; a meal Children’s vocabularyUK, 1905

din-dinsnouna meal A variation ofDIN-DIN UK , 1920

dine

dineverb< dine at the Y; eat at the Yto perform oral sex on a

woman The Y is an effective pictogram for the groin of a woman

US, 1971

dine and dashverbto leave a restaurant without paying your billUS,

1997

dine inverbin prison, to eat in your cell rather than communally

Hence the derivatives ‘diner-in’ and ‘dining in’UK, 1950

dingnoun1the penisUS, 1965.2the buttocks A shortening ofDINGER

AUSTRALIA, 1957.3a party, especiallly a wild party A shortening of

WINGDING AUSTRALIA , 1956.4marijuanaUS, 1954.5a dent, scratch,

scrape or ripUS, 1945.6the expenses incurred in operating a

carnival concessionUS, 1985.7a mentally unstable person A

shortened form ofDINGBAT US , 1929.8a quasi-coercive request for

moneyUS, 1982

Dingnounan Italian; a GreekAUSTRALIA, 1940

dingverb1to physically beat another person This meaning is

attributed by the Oxford English Dictionary to dialectal use in East

AngliaUK, 1688.2to dent, scratch, scrape or ripUS, 1968.3in circus

and carnival usage, to borrowUS, 1981.4to rejectUS, 1965.5to

woundUS, 1968.6to kill Vietnam war usageUS, 1991.7to name for a

duty or responsibility MilitaryUK, 1984

dingagenoundamage to a surfboard or a surf-related injuryUS, 1991

ding-a-lingnoun1the penis A pet-name; ‘dangle’ (penis, also

conventionally ‘to hang down’), compounds with the nursery word

‘ding-dong’ (the ringing of a bell), to give an image of testicles as

bells and penis as a dangling bell-rope Originally black usage, the

success of Chuck Berry’s 1972 recording of a twenty-year-old song

made this term widely accessibleUS, 1952.2a foolUS, 1935

ding-a-lingadjectivefoolish, crazyUS, 1959

dingbatnoun1an odd, foolish or eccentric personUS, 1879.2used as

a (euphemistic) replacement for any noun the user cannot or will

not name Perhaps this sense is the inspiration for the selection of

symbols that comprise the Dingbats typefaceUS, 1923.3a daredevil

motorcyclistUK, 1979.< go like a dingbatgo fastUK, 1967.< mad

as a dingbatextremely mad; very angry A reference to delirium

tremens AUSTRALIA, 1942

dingbatsnoun delirium tremens NEW ZEALAND, 1911

dingbatsadjective1crazy, mad, delusionalAUSTRALIA, 1925.2stupid,

foolishAUSTRALIA, 1950

ding-dingnouna crazy personUS, 1970

dingdongnoun1the penisUS, 1944.2a sing-song Rhyming slang for

‘a song’UK, 1960.3a gas-powered railway coach used on a branch

lineUS, 1945.4a heated quarrelUK, 1922.5a party Extended from

the sense as ‘a sing-song’UK, 1936

ding-dongverbto telephoneUS, 1973

ding-dongadjective1of top quality; great; terrificAUSTRALIA, 1953.2(of

a fight, competition, etc) hard foughtAUSTRALIA, 1924

ding-dong bell; ding-dongnounhell Rhyming slang, used

orig-inally by World War 2 Royal Air ForceUK, 1961

dingenoun1a black person Derogatory, from conventional ‘dingy’

(dark)US, 1848.2a member of any dark-skinned race Adopted from

the US meaning ‘a black person’ Note, also, that during World

War 2 Royal Air Force bombing crews used ‘the dinge’ ‘for the

blackout’UK, 1934

dingedadjectiveconcussed, in a confused mental state Pronounced

with a hard ‘g’ From the conventional (if archaic) use (to hit)UK,

1970

dinged upadjectivebatteredAUSTRALIA, 1979

dinge queennouna white homosexual man who finds black men

attractive; a black homosexual manUS, 1964

dingernoun1the backside or anusAUSTRALIA, 1943.2an extraordinary

thing or person An abbreviation ofHUMDINGER US , 1809.3a railway

yardmasterUS, 1929.4a sniperUS, 1972.5a burglar alarm, especially

an intentionally visible oneUS, 1931

dinghynoun1a motorcycle sidecarUK, 1979.2the penisBAHAMAS, 1982

dingleberry honenounin car mechanics, a hone (a tool used toenlarge and smooth the inside of a hole) that uses a siliconcarbide ball attached to spring-like wires that flexUS, 1993

dinglebodynouna foolish, simple personUS, 1957

dingle-danglenounthe penisUK, 1937

dinglefuzzynounused in place of a person’s name which has beenforgottenUS, 1975

ding listnounin female college students’ slang, a notional list ofboys whom the keeper of the list does not likeUS, 1963

dingnuts!used for registering annoyance or frustration as aeuphemism for ‘bollocks!’ An elaboration ofNUTS!UK, 2000

dingonoun1a cowardly, treacherous or despicable person From

‘dingo’ the Australian native dog, to which the attributes ofcowardice and treachery have long been incorrectly applied bywhite peopleAUSTRALIA, 1869.2an AustralianNEW ZEALAND, 2002.

< turn dingo onto betray someoneAUSTRALIA, 1945

dingoverb1to behave in a treacherous or cowardly manner

AUSTRALIA, 1935.2to cancel, especially to cancel a date or romanticassignation Teen slangUK, 2003

dingo’s breakfastnounan act of urination and a good look round;

no breakfast at allAUSTRALIA, 1965

ding stringnouna cord attached to a surfer and his surfboard Thecord has the effect of reducing damage to the board after thesurfer falls offUS, 1991

ding teamnouna scout and sniper working togetherUS, 1991

dingusnoun1the penisUS, 1888.2an artificial penisUS, 1957.3usedfor identifying a thing, the correct name of which escapes thespeaker or is not important in context; a gadget, a contraptionUS,

1876.4an eye-dropper used in makeshift drug-injection equipment

US, 1973

ding wardnouna hospital ward for the mentally infirmUS, 1981

dingynouna police vanUS, 1970

dingyadjectiveeccentric, oddUS, 1907

dinknoun1a person from South Asia; especially, in later use, aVietnamese person Possibly Australian rhyming slang, formed on

CHINK(a Chinese person) It was adopted by the US military inVietnam in 1967AUSTRALIA, 1938.2a partner in a relationship that

can be defined as ‘double (or dual) income, no kids’, that is a

couple with two jobs and no children; or as an adjective applied tothe couple An acronymUS, 1987.3a clueless, unaware personUS,

1962.4the penisUS, 1888.5in volleyball, a tap of the ball after afaked hitting of the ball downward with great forceUS, 1972.6a lift

on a bicycle or, formerly, a horseAUSTRALIA, 1934

dinkverbto give someone a lift on a bicycle or, formerly, a horse

British dialect had dink (to dangle a baby) and this may be the

origin, but it is hardly conclusiveAUSTRALIA, 1932

dinkadjectivegenuine; true; honest Anbreviation ofDINKUM AUSTRALIA , 1980

dink aroundverbto idle or waste timeUS, 1978

dinki-di; dinky-dieadjectivegenuine An intensified variation of

DINKUM, often associated with nationalistic valuesAUSTRALIA, 1918

dinkie; dinkynouna partner in a relationship that can be defined

as ‘double (or dual), income no kids (yet)’, that is a couple with

two jobs and no children; also an adjective applied to the couple

US, 1986

dinkie downounmarijuana Originally used in the Vietnam war tomean ‘off the wall’ (crazy) – which was ascribed to marijuana,locally-grown or imported by the soldiers The US servicemenwent home in 1975 and took the word with themUS, 1968

dinkied up

dink packnouna six-pack of beer The word ‘dink’ is so close to

‘dinky’ that it seems to refer to the six-pack as less than a ‘real’

box of beer: a twelve or a two-fourCANADA, 1993

dink tanknouna condom CombinesDINK(the penis) with an

appropriate containerUK, 1998

dinkumadjective1seriousAUSTRALIA, 1962.2real, genuine Originally

meaning ‘work’, or ‘an allotted amount of work’, ‘dinkum’ comes

from the Lincolnshire and Derbyshire dialects of Britain The

phraseFAIR DINKUMwas recorded from north Lincolnshire in 1881

and first recorded in Australia in 1890 The conjecture that it is

from Cantonese dim kum (real gold), said to have been introduced

by Chinese miners during the gold rush (1860s), cannot be true

since it fails to explain how a Chinese mining term could have

made its way to the British midlandsAUSTRALIA, 1905.3honest;

upstandingAUSTRALIA, 1962

dinkumadverbreally; truly; honestlyAUSTRALIA, 1915

dinkum Aussiea person who embodies all those things seen as

characteristically AustralianAUSTRALIA, 1920

dinkum oilnounreliable informationAUSTRALIA, 1915

dinkynoun1an expensive car Wealthy humour, based on Dinky

ToysUK, 1980.2an old, dilapidated car From the older, more

common meaning (a kite)TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1986.3an electric

tram with controls at each endUS, 1923.4a small railway engine

used for yard switchingUS, 1905

dinkyadjective1small, unassumingUS, 1895.2neat, spruce, daintyUK,

1788.3of music, pleasant, easy-listeningUK, 1976.4wildly

enthusiastic, crazyUS, 1969.5fair; honestAUSTRALIA, 1941

dinky dauadjectivecrazy From the Vietnamese for ‘off the wall’

Vietnam war usageUS, 1965

dinky-di; dinky-die; dinki-diadjectivereal; genuine; true; honest

AUSTRALIA, 1962

dinky dowsnounmarijuana Vietnam war usageUS, 1992

dinky inkynounin television and film-making, a low watt spotlight

US, 1990

dinnersnounthe female breastsUS, 1953

dinnynounthe vaginaBAHAMAS, 1982

dinnyhaysernounan excellent thing or person From boxer Dinny

HayesNEW ZEALAND, 1998

dinnyhayzernouna heavy punch; a knockout blow

Commemorates the pugilist Dinny HayesAUSTRALIA, 1907

dinosaurnoun1any person who is old or considered to be out of

date, or bothUS, 1970.2an older heroin userUS, 2002.3any

computer that requires raised flooring and a dedicated power

sourceUS, 1991

dinosaur juicenounpetrol, gasolineUS, 1976

dinosaursnouna type of LSDUK, 2003

dipnoun1a pickpocketUS, 1859.2a short swimUK, 1843.3a foolish

personUS, 1932.4diphtheria; a patient suffering from diphtheria

and, therefore, classified by disease MedicalUK, 1961.5crack

cocaineUS, 1994.6a member of the Diplomatic Service UK, 1968.7a

cigarette that has been dipped in embalming fluidUK, 2003.8from

a male perspective, a swift act of sexual intercourseUK, 1976.9an

injection of a narcoticUS, 1959.10a pinch of chewing tobacco; the

chewing tobacco itselfUS, 1997.11a light Hence ‘dips! ’ (lights out!)

UK, 1947.< on the dipengaged in pickpocketingUS, 1949

dipverb1to pick pocketsUK, 1857.2to display an inappropriate

interest in another prisoner’s businessUS, 1976.3to eavesdropUS,

1987.4to fail in the commission of a crime, especially theft or

robberyAUSTRALIA, 1975.5to hurryUS, 1997.6to swerve through traffic

on a bicycleBERMUDA, 1985.7to use chewing tobaccoUS, 2001.8to

leaveUS, 1993.< dip southto search your pockets for moneyNEW

ZEALAND, 2002.< dip your left eye in hot cocky shit!get

stuffed!AUSTRALIA, 1972.< dip your lidto raise one’s hat as a

polite gesture Although no longer in common use since the

wearing of hats went out of fashion after World War 2, it is still

used occasionallyAUSTRALIA, 1915.< dip your wickto have sexUK,

dip-dunknounan unpleasant person, especially one who is not inthe knowUS, 1992

dipheadnouna social outcastUS, 1975

diplomacynoundeceptionTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1938

diplynouna socially inept outcastUS, 1965

dip outverb1to come off worse; to miss out on an opportunity; tofailUK, 1987.2to back out ofAUSTRALIA, 1952.3(used of a member ofcrack cocaine-selling crew) to remove small amounts of crack fromthe vials for sale, for later personal useUS, 1994.4on a bird-watching trip, to fail to see the object of the questUK, 1977

dippernouna pickpocketUK, 1889

dippingnounthe act of picking pocketsUK, 1882

dippyadjectivefoolish, unstable, sillyUS, 1899

dippy dognouna deep-fried battered frankfurter on a stickAUSTRALIA, 2003

dipshitnouna person of no consequence and no intelligenceUS, 1962

dipshitadjectiveoffensive, inconsequential, lacking in intelligenceUS, 1968

dip shopnounin the used car business, a small finance companywith very high interest rates that will offer loans to customers whomight not otherwise qualify for financingUS, 1975

dipsonouna person who suffers from an uncontrollable urge to

drink An abbreviated ‘dipsomaniac’ UK, 1880

dipsoadjectivedrunkUK, 2003

dip squadnouna police unit that targets pickpockets Formed on

DIP(a pickpocket)UK, 1977

dipsticknoun1the penisUS, 1973.2an inept fool, an idiot AeuphemisticDIPSHIT; possibly punning on the synonymous sense

ofPRICK In the UK, usage was popularised by BBC television

situ-ation comedy Only Fools and Horses, first broadcast in 1981 US, 1963

dipstickverbto test the abstract qualities of someone or something.From the device used to measure the depth of oil in a car’sengine; thus a play on ‘take the measure of’UK, 2003

dipsynouna gambling cheatUS, 1950

dipsy-doodlenoun1a zig-zag motion From baseball jargonUS, 1989.

2a long, end-around-end skidUS, 1962

dipwadnounan inept outcastUS, 1976

direadjectiveobjectionable, unpleasant A trivialisation of the tional senseUK, 1836

conven-direct actionnouna political act, especially a violent one, that maylead to arrestUS, 1968

dirgenouna Dodge truckUS, 1971

dirknoun1a knife or improvised cutting weaponUS, 1950.2a sociallyunacceptable personUS, 1964

dirtnoun1a man or group of men who will prey upon homosexuals

US, 1927.2gossip, criticism, rumourUS, 1844.3heroin Slightly lessjudgmental than ‘shit’US, 1973.4marijuanaUS, 1995.5a tobaccocigaretteUS, 1971.6a trump card, epecially when playedunexpectedlyUK, 1945.< down in the dirt(used of flying) close

to the groundUS, 1987.< have the dirt on someoneto knowsome scandal about someone or something; to have the newsabout someone or somethingUK, 1984.< in the dirtin trouble.Euphemistic forIN THE SHIT UK , 1964

dirtadverbveryUK, 1821

dirtbagnoun1a despicable or offensive personUS, 1941.2a prisonerwith poor personal hygeineUS, 1989

dirtballnouna dirty, despicable personUS, 1974

dirt bikenouna motorcyle designed for off-road useUS, 1970s?

dirtbirdnouna contemptible individual From the skua and its habit

of forcing other birds to regurgitate their stomach contents

dirt chutenounthe rectumUS, 1971

dirt-dobbernouna farmer; an unsophisticated rusticUS, 1947

dirt farmnounthe mythical source of gossipUS, 1980

dirt grassnounmarijuana of inferior qualityUS, 1971

dirtiesnounwork clothingUS, 1954

dirt napnoundeathUS, 1981

dirt roadnounthe anus and rectumUS, 1922

dirt surfernouna member of the counterculture who has

abandoned any pretence of personal hygiene or groomingUS, 1994

Dirt TownnicknameMcMurdo Station, AntarcticaANTARCTICA, 2003

dirt-trackernouna member of a touring sports team who is not

selected for the major eventsNEW ZEALAND, 2001

dirt weednounlow quality marijuanaUS, 1997

dirtynoun< do the dirtyto have sexUS, 1968.< do the dirty on

someoneto trick or otherwise treat someone unfairlyUK, 1914

8see:DIRTY DICK

dirtyverb< to dirty your Christmas cardin horse racing, to fail

dramatically and suffer a great loss of reputationAUSTRALIA, 1989

dirtyadjective1guiltyUS, 1927.2in possession of drugs or other

contrabandUS, 1927.3in urine testing, containing drug metabolites

US, 1990.4infected with a sexually transmitted infectionUS, 2003.

5angry, upset, annoyedAUSTRALIA, 1972.6in betting on horse racing,

said of a day of races that has produced wins for gamblers and

losses for bookmakersAUSTRALIA, 1989.7descriptive of electricity

with unstable voltage that causes problems with computersUS, 1991.

8of an aircraft, with undercarriage down and flaps suitably aligned

in order to fly as slowly as possibleUK, 1979

dirtyadverbvery, extremely; a general intensifier, especially of

adjectives of sizeUK, 1894

dirty airnounin motor racing, air turbulence on the race trackUS,

1980

dirty analnouna scene in a pornographic film or a photograph

depicting anal sex where traces of faeces are visible on that which

is being inserted anallyUS, 1995

dirty and rudeadjectivenude Rhyming slangUK, 1992

dirty armnouna drug addict’s arm showing the scars and infections

resulting from intravenous drug useUS, 1992

dirty barrelnounthe genitals of a person infected with a sexually

transmitted diseaseUS, 1967

dirty basingnouncrack cocaine The drug is cheaper and less pure

thanFREEBASEcocaineUK, 1998

dirty beastnouna priest Glasgow rhyming slangUK, 1988

dirty birdnounOld Crow™ whiskyUS, 1970

dirty boogienouna sexually suggestive danceUS, 1969

dirty casenounin hospital usage, an operation in which the

surgeons discover an infectionUS, 1980

dirty-danceverbto dance in an explicitly and intentionally sexual

mannerUS, 1994

dirty daughternounwater Rhyming slang One of several terms

that have ‘daughter’ as the common (dispensible) elementUK, 1961

Dirty Dennouna pen Rhyming slang, formed on the popular

nickname of a character in BBC television’s EastEnders; the

villainous Dennis Watts, who appeared in the first episode,

broadcast 19th February 1985, was nicknamed by the tabloid press

UK, 1992

dirty Dick; the dirtynouna police station, a prison Rhyming slang

forNICK UK , 1992

Dirty Dicksnouna ward for sexually transmitted diseases in a

military or other service hospital A pun onDICK(the penis)

CANADA, 1984

dirty-dirtynicknamethe southern United StatesUS, 1999

dirty dishnounfish Rhyming slangAUSTRALIA, 2002

dirty dishesnounevidence planted by police or investigators to

dirty dognouna despicable or untrustworthy person; a lecherUK, 1928

dirty dognicknamethe Greyhound Bus LinesUS, 1997

dirty dupenounin television and film-making, a crude, black andwhite, working printUS, 1990

dirty end of the sticknounan unfair position to be in, orinequitable treatmentUK, 1924

dirty girlnounan operating theatre nurse who is not deemed sterileand who is available for tasks that do not require disinfectingUS, 1980

Dirty Half Milenicknamea section of the Sydney inner-city suburb

of Kings Cross noted for prositution and viceAUSTRALIA, 1934

dirty laundrynounembarrassing informationUS, 1982

dirty legnouna woman with loose sexual mores; a commonprostituteUS, 1966

dirty leper; dirtnounpepper Rhyming slang, probably suggested orinformed by the appearance of ground black pepperUK, 1992

dirty looknouna look of contempt or strong dislikeUK, 1961

dirty mac; dirty mackintoshnounused as a generic descriptionfor any man who habitually resorts to sex-shops, strip-clubs andthe purchase of ‘top-shelf’ publicationsUK, 1975

dirty mac brigadenouna notional collection of sex-oriented oldermenUK, 1987

dirty mackverbto speak insults and slanderUS, 1999

dirty moneynoun1money that is the proceeds of crime, especially

money that can be traced Dirty Money (Un Flic) is a crime drama

in which a policeman targets a drug-smuggling operation, directed

by Jean-Pierre Melville, 1972UK, 2003.2extra pay for very dirty work

An employment issueUK, 1897

dirty movienouna sexual or pornographic filmUS, 1969

dirty old mannoun1a lecher; especially a middle-aged or olderman with sexual appetites considered more appropriate insomeone younger Given impetus in the UK in the late 1960s –

early 70s by television comedy series Steptoe and Son UK, 1932.

2any homosexual man older than the homosexual male speaker

US, 1964

dirty onadjectiveangry withAUSTRALIA, 1965

dirty poolnoununfair tactics From the game of poolUS, 1940

dirty Sancheznounan act of daubing your sex-partner’s upper lipwith a ‘moustache’ of his or her faeces This appears to have beencontrived with an intention to provoke shock rather than actually

as a practice, although, no doubt, some have experimented Theuse of a Mexican name merely suggests the shape of a droopingmoustacheUS, 2003

dirty sidenicknamethe eastern coast of the USUS, 1976

dirty smokenounmarijuanaUK, 2002

dirty stacknounin a casino, a stack of betting tokens of differentdenominationsUS, 1983

dirty stop-outnouna person who spends more time than expectedaway from home in pursuit of pleasure A jocular cliché when thestress on ‘dirty’ is admiring; may have an admonishing tone ifused by parents, or if ‘stop-out’ is alone or combined with aharsher adjectiveUK, 1906

dirty thingnouna person who behaves amorously, or flirts saucily

or unsubtly, especially with heavy innuendo Originally used byadolescent girls or amorous boysUK, 1961

dirty thirtynoun1in the Vietnam war, a US soldier who had killed

30 enemy soldiersUS, 1991.2the US Air Force pilots who served asco-pilots with Vietnamese Airforce crews in 1963 and 1964US, 1990

dirty tricksnounsecret tactics that are generally considered to beunfairUS, 1963

dirty tykenouna bike Rhyming slangUK, 1992

dirty upverb1to render an entertainment (radio, television, film,book, play, etc) more sexually titillatingUK, 1974.2to modify a

dirty waternoun< get the dirty water(s) off your chest(of a

male) to ejaculate, either with a partner or as a sole practitioner

UK, 1961

dirty weekendnouna romantic or sexually adventurous weekend

(away from home) spent with your lover; or with your partner or

spouse but without your childrenUK, 1963

dirty worknounin a strip or sex show, movements made to expose

the vaginaUS, 1971

dirty work at the crossroadsnounillegal activity, especially if

concealedUS, 1938

DISnoun death while in the saddle, or engaged in sexual intercourse

US, 1979

dis; dissverb1to insult in a competitive, quasi-friendly spirit,

especially in a competitive rap battleUS, 2000.2to show disrespect,

to disparageUS, 1982.3to release (from prison) An abbreviation of

‘discharge’ US, 1990

disappearverbto kill someone and dispose of the corpse in a

manner that assures it will never be discovered As a transitive

verb, a favourite term – and practice – of right wing death squads

and organised criminal enterprisesUS, 1964

dischuffedadjectivedispleased, offended; insulted Military usageUK,

1987

disconoun1an event where a DJ plays recorded music for dancing

The ubiquitous post-wedding-breakfast or after-dinner

entertainment; probably derives from the mobile discothèques

which proliferated in the 1970s to take advantage of the

then-fashionable disco sceneUK, 1964.2a venue for dancing to recorded

music Abbreviated from ‘discothèque’ US, 1964.3by extension, a

genre of dance musicUS, 1964

discoadjective1out of date, out of fashion, out-modedUS, 1993.

2acceptable, good From the film Pulp Fiction US, 1995

disco biscuitnoun1a tablet of MDMA, the recreational drug best

known as ecstasy A heavily ironic identity for a fashionable drug;

‘disco’ as a nightclub for an earlier generation that didn’t have

ECSTASYand hence, is considered extremely unfashionable, plus

‘biscuit’ in the conventional sense of ‘a basic supply (ship’s biscuit)

which can sustain life’ In short ‘MDMA brings life to clubs’UK,

1996.2the recreational drug methaqualone, best known as

Quaaludes™, a tablet of methaqualone From the popularity of the

drug in the 1970s disco sceneUS, 1993

disco bricknouna kilogram of cocaineUK, 2001

disco burgernouna tablet of MDMA, the recreational drug best

known as ecstasyUK, 1996

disco dancernoun1an opportunist Glasgow rhyming slang for

CHANCER UK , 1988.2cancer Rhyming slangAUSTRALIA, 1983

disco dosenouna mild dose of LSDUS, 1995

disco dustnouncocaineUK, 1999

disco gunnouna Walther PPK pistolUK, 1995

disco movenounany manoeuvre executed by a novice surferUS, 1991

disconnounthe criminal charge of ‘disorderly conduct’US, 1963

disco queennouna male homosexual who frequents discos The

title of a 1978 song by Paul Jabara glorifying the energy of the

song’s heroUS, 1979

disgustitudenounthe state of being disgustedUS, 1990

dishnoun1an attractive femaleUK, 1909.2the buttocks, the anus

PolariUK, 1965.3gossip, especially when disparaging, salacious or

scandalous From the verb senseUS, 1976.4on Prince Edward

Island, an undefined amount of alcoholCANADA, 1956.< put on

the dishto apply lubricant to the anus in preparation for anal sex

UK, 2002

dishverbto gossip, to disparage Originally ‘dish the dirt’ or ‘dish out

the dirt’US, 1941.< dish soupto sell cocaineUS, 1995.< dish the

dirt; dish itto gossip indiscreetly or with slanderous intentUS,

1926

DI shacknounthe quarters where drill instructors live and the

on-dish bitchnouna television journalist who, when on location, relies

on satellite communication for incoming information which isthen included in that journalist’s reportUK, 2005

dis-head; diss-headnouna person who will not conform and showrespect CombinesDIS(to show disrespect) with -HEAD(anenthusiast)US, 2000

dishlickernouna dog, especially a racing greyhoundAUSTRALIA, 1983

dishonourable dischargenounejaculation achieved throughmasturbationUS, 1964

dish outverb1to distribute Originally military and therefore used

of food or medalsUK, 1931.2to dispense (abuse)US, 1908.< dish it

outwhen fighting or arguing, to attack with punishing forceUS,

1930.< dish out the gravy; dish out the porridgeof a judge,

to deliver a severe sentence of imprisonmentUK, 1950

dish queennouna male homosexual who takes special pleasure ingossipUS, 1970

dishragnouna person or thing of no importanceUS, 1906

dish ragsnounin poker, poor cardsUS, 1996

dishwashernouna railway worker who cleans engines in aroundhouseUS, 1946

dishwaternounpoor quality beerAUSTRALIA, 1972

dishwater diarrhoeanouna notional disease that plagues thosereluctant to wash their dishesUS, 1969

dishyadjectivesexually attractive FromDISH(an attractive person)UK, 1961

disinfonoun disinformation UK, 1976

disk drivenounthe vaginaUK, 2001

dismantnouna bit of previously-used electrical or mechanical

equipment From ‘dismantle’ SOUTH AFRICA, 1974

dismonouna fanatic surfing enthusiast who never actually surfsUS, 1997

Disneylandnouna prison with relaxed rules that ease the difficulty

of serving a sentenceUS, 1992

Disneylandnickname1the Pentagon; military headquarters inVietnam A critical assessment of reality and fantasy in the militaryleadershipUS, 1963.2the brothel district near An Khe, Vietnam,near the 1st Cavalry Division baseUS, 1966

Disneyland-on-the-RideaunicknameNational DefenceHeadquarters, on the Rideau Canal in OttawaCANADA, 1995

disobeyverb< disobey the pope1to masturbate While this may

be another ecumenical variation ofBASH THE BISHOP(tomasturbate), it is certainly a literal reaction to the Catholic view ofonanism It is also theoretically possible to ‘please the pope’UK,

2001.2to have sex Here the use of frowned-upon contraceptionseems to be impliedUS, 2001

dispatchersnounin a dice game cheating scheme, improperlymarked diceUK, 1811

dispersalnounin prison, the system of managing Category Aprisoners by sending them to one of six high-security prisonsrather than concentrating them all in one maximum-securityfacilityUK, 2000

distressverbto impregnate outside marriageTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003

dis warnounan exchange of quasi-friendly insults as part of a rapbattle; a war of words Extended fromDIS(to show disrespect)US, 1995

ditnouna tale, a yarn Origin unknownAUSTRALIA, 1942

ditchnoun1the sea; the ocean; the Atlantic Ocean; the EnglishChannel Generally used with ‘the’UK, 1841.2the antecubial veininside the bend of the elbow, often used for injecting drugsUS,

1968.3the Tasman SeaNEW ZEALAND, 2002.4inferior marijuana,especially from Mexico FromDITCHWEED UK , 1998

ditchverb1to reject, discard, abandon; to eludeUS, 1899.2to release(from prison) An abbreviation and corruption of ‘discharge’US,

1990.3in an emergency, to bring an aircraft down in the seaUK,

ditchweednounmarijuana of inferior quality that grows wild in

roadside ditches, especially in MexicoUS, 1982

ditsonounan absent-minded, somewhat dim personUS, 1976

ditsoadjectiveabsent-minded, somewhat dimUS, 1987

dit-spinnernouna person adept at telling stories, anecdotes or the

likeAUSTRALIA, 1967

dittoI agree; the same goes for meUS, 1981

ditto-headnouna fan of radio entertainer Rush Limbaugh

Limbaugh conditioned his callers to begin conversations on the

radio with a simple ‘Dittos from [hometown]’ instead of gushing

admiration for himUS, 1992

dityadjectiveupset, nervousUS, 1978

ditznounan absent-minded, empty-headed personUS, 1982

ditzy; ditsyadjective(usually of a woman) scatterbrained, sillyUS, 1973

divnouna fool; a disagreeable individual Abbreviated fromDIVVY(a

fool)UK, 1983

divenoun1a disreputable establishmentUS, 1867.2an intentional

loss in a sporting eventUS, 1916.< take a diveto deliberately lose

a boxing match or other sporting contestUS, 1942

diveverbto lose a contest or competition intentionally, especially in

boxing From the image of a boxer diving towards the mat,

feigning a knock-out blowUS, 1921.< dive for pearlsto work

washing dishes in a restaurantUS, 1951

dive-bombverbto jump into water in a tucked position in order to

make a large splashAUSTRALIA, 1980

divebombingnounan act of picking up dog ends from the

pavement Vagrants’ useUK, 1980

divel a bissel!used by Nova Scotians of German descent as a mild

oathCANADA, 1999

divernoun1a pickpocketUK, 1611.2a hang gliderUS, 1992

DivernicknameCharles Jaco, CNN reporter in Saudi Arabia during

the US war against Iraq in 1991 Because of Jaco’s athletic dives

off camera when a missile attack alert was announcedUS, 1991

divheadnouna fool; a disagreeable individual Elaboration ofDIV UK ,

1997

dividendsnounmoneyUS, 1997

dividernouna marijuana cigarette that is shared among several

smokersUK, 2001

divineadjectivepleasant, ‘nice’ A trivial use of the conventional

senseUK, 1928

divine blowsnounenergetic sexTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003

Divine Brownnoun< go Divine Brown; go Divineto perform

oral sex Rhyming slang forGO DOWN(ON); aptly formed on the

professional name of a Los Angeles prostitute who enjoyed some

minor celebrity when, in 1995, she was apprehended performing

just such a service for film actor Hugh Grant (b.1960)UK, 1998

Divine Miss MnicknameBette Midler, American singer born in 1945

US, 1982

diving boardnounin electric line work, a work platform boardUS,

1980

diving gearnouna condomUS, 1990

diving suitnouna condomAUSTRALIA, 1984

divoonadjectivelovely, delightful A humorous elaboration of ‘divine’

US, 1944

divorcenounin the usage of organised pickpocket gangs, the loss of

a crew member to jailUS, 1949

divotnouna toupee Borrowed from golf’s ‘sliced piece of turf’UK,

1934

divvienouna person with instinctive knowledge Probably from

‘diviner’UK, 1978

divviesnoun1used for claiming a share of something that is being

dividedUS, 1958.2divinationUK, 1947

divvonouna fool A variation ofDIVVY UK , 1997

divvy a share or portion; a dividend . a fool

divvyadjectivedaft, foolish, idiotic FromDIVVY(a fool)UK, 1979

divvy upverbto divide into shares A phonetic abbreviation of

Dixienicknamethe southeastern United StatesUS, 1859

Dixie cupnoun1the traditional navy white hat, symbol of theAmerican sailor since the C19US, 1973.2a woman who speaks with

a southern accentUS, 1977.3a female Red Cross worker in Vietnam

US, 1990.4a person who is considered to be utterly dispensable,who is used and then discardedUS, 1997

dixie lidnouna child, a kid Rhyming slangUK, 1998

Dixie Trailnounanal sex facilitated by Dixie Peach hair dressing as alubricantUS, 1968

DIYadjective do-it-yourself, especially of household maintenance or

repair A colloquial abbreviationUK, 1955

DIYernoun a do-it-yourself-er, a person who tends to do his own

household repairs and maintenanceUK, 1984

DiznicknameDizzy Gillespie (1917–1993), a jazz trumpeterinstrumental in the creation of bebopUS, 1961

dizznoun1an odd, absent-minded personUS, 1963.2marijuanaUK, 2003

dizzverbsleep; to sleep A Royal Navy variation ofZIZZ, perhaps incombination with ‘doze’UK, 1945

dizzyadjectivescatterbrainedUS, 1878

dizzy limitnounthe utmostAUSTRALIA, 1916

dizzy threenouna C-47A Skytrain plane, also known as a DC-3,most commonly used to transport people and cargo, but also used

as a bomber and fighterUS, 1975

DJnoun1men’s formal evening wear, a dinner jacket UK, 1967.2anagent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation An allusion to the

Department of Justice, home to the FBI Sometimes spelt out as

‘deejay’US, 1935

dj; deejaynoun a disc jockey US, 1950

dj; deejayverbto work as a disc jockeyUS, 1985

djambanounmarijuana A West African word, now in wider usage

US, 1938

DKDCI don’t know, I don’t care Combining a lack of intelligence

with apathyUS, 1997

DLnoun< on the DLdown low, discreetly US, 1996

DM’snounDr Martens™ heavy-duty boots An abbreviation of thebrand name The boots were designed for industrial use and sub-sequently adopted as fashionwear, initially by skinheads andbootboys, then as a general fashion item for either sexUK, 1998

DMTnoundimethyltryptamine, a hallucinogenic drugUS, 1971

DMZnounany place between two opposing factions or social forces,controlled by neither yet ceded by neither Originally a militaryterm – ‘demilitarised zone’ – for an area dividing North andSouth KoreaUS, 1976

DNFin motorcyle racing, did not finish a race US, 1970s

donoun1a party or social functionUK, 1824.2an action, deed, formance or eventUK, 1960.3a person considered in terms of theirsexual performance or willingnessAUSTRALIA, 1950.4a dose of drugs

per-US, 1971.5in craps, a bet on the shooterUS, 1974.6a hairdoUS, 1966.

< do the doto have sexUS, 1993.< do your doto prepare yourhairdoUS, 1995

DOnoun in hot rodding, dual overhead camshafts US, 1948

doverb1to killUK, 1790.2to charge with, or prosecute for, or convict

of a crimeUK, 1784.3to use up your money, especially to squander

AUSTRALIA, 1889.4to assault, to beat upUK, 1796.5to injure (a part ofthe body)AUSTRALIA, 1963.6to robUK, 1774.7to swindle, to deceive,