"Pp" in Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English potx

From its effect of slowing down other drug highsUK, 2002 paradenounin a striptease show, the dancer’s fully clothed walk across the stage before beginning to stripUS, 1945 paradisenounth

Pnoun1pure or nearly pure heroinUS, 1971.2a Vietnamese piastre

US, 1965

Padjective1pretty Hawaiian youth usageUS, 1982.2a priceUK, 1997

-psuffixused for turning a word into a questionUS, 1981

P-38noun1a police-issue 38 calibre revolverUS, 1976.2in Vietnam

war usage, the small can-opener included with individual field

rations A humorous application of bureaucratic nomenclatureUS,

1968

P45noun< give someone their P45to break off a romantic

relationship with someone A P45 is the form given by an

employer to a dismissed employeeUK: SCOTLAND, 1996

panouna father; used to address your father An abbreviation of

‘papa’UK, 1811

PAa prosecuting attorneyUS, 1992

Pablonouncocaine In memory of Colombian Pablo Escobar

(1949–93) of the medellín CartelUK, 1996

Pachuconouna young Mexican-American, especially a tough or

gang member A highly stylised fashion sense, a private language

and a rage against white oppression of the 1940sUS, 1943

Pacific steroidnounthe Southeast Asian plant, taro Common in

conversation in New Zealand since the 1990sNEW ZEALAND, 2002

packnoun1a package of illegal drugs, especially heroin Also variant

‘packet’US, 1952.2marijuanaUK, 2003.3in the used car business, a

fixed amount that is added to the price the dealer has paid for the

carUS, 1975.< go to the packto deteriorateAUSTRALIA, 1919

packverb1to carry a weapon, usually a concealed oneUS, 1949.2to

tuck the male genitals into the left or right trouser legUS, 1972.3to

be fearful A shortening ofPACK SHIT AUSTRALIA , 1988.4while

snowboarding, to hit the snow hardUS, 1990.5to take someone

along on a motorcyle cruiseUS, 1966.< pack a punchof a thing,

to be powerful A figurative use of the pugilistic senseUS, 1938.

< pack a rodto carry a gun In literature by 1940US, 1940.

< pack a sadto break off a relationshipNEW ZEALAND, 1994.

< pack a shitty1to sulkAUSTRALIA, 1985.2to become angryNEW

ZEALAND, 1998.< pack deathto be fearfulAUSTRALIA, 1975.< pack

doubleto carry a passenger on a motorcyleUS, 2000.< pack

fudgeto play the active role in anal sexUS, 1987.< pack heatto

carry a gunUS, 1930.< pack itto be fearful Euphemistic forPACK

SHIT AUSTRALIA , 1945.< pack shit; pack the shitsto be fearful

The metaphor is of one so scared that they are straining not to

shit themselvesAUSTRALIA, 1971.< pack the cracksto endure

injections of collagenUS, 1997.< pack the paymentin new car

sales, to make a sale for a price slightly below what the customer

has said they are willing to spendUS, 1989.< pack’em; pack

themto be fearful Euphemistic forPACK THE SHITS AUSTRALIA , 1944

packagenoun1a man’s genitals as seen through trousersUS, 1997.

2a good-looking womanUS, 1945.3the female posteriorUS, 2001.4a

sexually transmitted infection, especially gonorrhoeaUS, 1950.5AIDS

or HIVUS, 2002

package of troublenounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycle

US, 1999

pack awayverbto consume food or drink with gustoAUSTRALIA, 1972

Packer-backer-makinouna beer-drinking, snow-suit wearing,

Skoal-chewing, snowmobile-riding fan of the Green Bay Packer

pro-fessional football team Michigan Upper Peninsula usageUS, 2004

packetnoun1the genitals, especially as may be hinted at or

imagined when dressed, usually male Gay slangUK, 2002.2a large

sum of moneyUK, 1922

packet of three; pack of threenouna packet of three condoms

A dated semi-euphemism that was widespread before the onset of

pack horsenouna person, usually a guard, who brings contrabandinto prisonUS, 1984

packienounan off-licence From US states where off-licences areknown as ‘package stores’US, 1991

pack in; pack upverbto stop; to cease an activity; to retireUS, 1942

pack of rocksnouna packet of ready-to-smoke marijuana fashioned

in the manner of cigarettes An abbreviation of ‘pack of rockets’

UK, 2003

pack outverbto unpackSOUTH AFRICA, 1969

pack-rapenounrape by a gang of men in successionAUSTRALIA, 1969

pack-rapeverb(of a gang of men) to serially rape a woman

AUSTRALIA, 1965

pack-rapistnouna person who commits pack-rapeAUSTRALIA, 1972

pack-sack citizennouna short-term resident of any place, living, as

it were, out of a packsack (backpack or rucksack)CANADA, 1966

pack upverbto cease doing something; to retire from work (of amachine, etc) to stop working because of a faultUK, 1925.< pack

up shopto cease tradingUK, 2003

pacoteenouna sexually available woman From the French andSpanish for ‘inferior goods’, at times corrupted back into English

as ‘pack o’ tea’TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1950

pacy; paceyadjectivefast, speedyUK, 1906

padnoun1an apartment or house; a room, especially a bedroom Inthe C18 ‘pad’ referred to a bed By the 1930s, it took on the newmeaning and was spread by jazz musicians Still heard, with a retrofeelUS, 1938.2a bedUK, 1718.3a prison cellUS, 1943.4a padded cell

UK, 1996.5the bribery paid by a criminal enterprise to policeUS,

1970.6an animal trackAUSTRALIA, 1893.< on the padbribedUS, 1971

padverb1to resideUS, 1963.2(used of police) to add to the narcoticsconfiscated from a suspect in order to render the charge againstthem more seriousUS, 1972.< pad the ringin horse racing, toplace many small bets on several horses in a race while placing alarge bet on one horse away from the track, hoping that the smallbets on other horses will drive the odds on your horse upUS, 1951

paddlenounon the railways, a semaphore signalUS, 1977

paddleverbin horse racing, to try hard without successAUSTRALIA,

1989.< paddle the pickle(of a male) to masturbateUS, 1967.

< paddle the pink canoe(of a female) to masturbateUK, 2004

paddle bullnouna young male moose, whose unbranched antlerslook like table tennis batsCANADA, 1989

paddle popnouna block of ice Rhyming slangNEW ZEALAND, 1998

paddock-bashernouna worn-out old vehicle used to drive around acountry propertyAUSTRALIA, 1983

pad downverbto go to sleepUS, 1993

paddynoun1a white personUS, 1945.2a police officerUS, 1946.3atemper, a rageUK, 1894

Paddynounan Irish personUK, 1780

Paddynicknameused as a nickname for any Irishman Diminutive ofthe name PatrickUK, 1959

Paddy and Micknoun a pick-axe Rhyming slang, drawing on the

stereotype of Irish labourersUK, 1998

Paddy and Mickadjectivestupid Rhyming slang forTHICK, drawing

on an lrish stereotypeUK, 1992

paddy hustlernouna criminal who targets white people as victims

US, 1970

Paddy McGuigannoundancing, jigging Glasgow rhyming slang for

‘jiggin’, formed on no Irishman in particular

Paddy McGuirenouna fire Glasgow rhyming slang, formed on no

Irishman in particularUK: SCOTLAND, 1988

Paddy O’Rourkeverbto talk Rhyming slang; derivation unknown

UK, 1998

Paddy’s DaynicknameSt Patrick Day A national holiday in Ireland

to celebrate St Patrick, Ireland’s patron saintIRELAND, 2003

Paddy’s pignounthe epitome of ignoranceNEW ZEALAND, 1974

Paddy’s taxinouna police ‘Panda’ carUK, 1969

paddy strengthnounin the Vietnam war, the combat strength of a

unit, measured by the actual number of troops in the fieldUS, 1974

Paddy’s Wigwamnicknamethe Roman Catholic Metropolitan

Cathedral in Liverpool ‘Wigwam’ is an obvious simile for the

shape of the 1960s building,PADDY(an Irishman) reflects a cultural

perception of Roman CatholicsUK, 2003

paddy wagonnouna police transport vanUS, 1909

Paddy waternounGuinness™ Irish stout FromPADDY(an Irish

person)UK, 2000

paddywoodnouna white person Not used kindlyUS, 1980

padiddlenouna car with only one headlight functioning A childish

word for the childish activity of spotting cars with one broken

headlightUS, 1976

padlocknounthe penis Rhyming slang forCOCK UK , 1972

pad matenounin prison, the inmate with whom a cell is shared

FromPAD(a cell)UK, 1996

pad rollnouna controlled roll of the dice by a skilled cheat, best

made on a blanket spread on the groundUS, 1950

pad-rollverbto roll dice in a controlled fashion So called because it

can best be made on a blanket, rug or other soft padUS, 1950

padrone; padroninouna boss (especially in a gangster-related

context) From Italian padrone (an owner, master), via films about

the mafia The plural is ‘padroni’ITALY, 2000

padsnountyres Biker (motorcyle) usageUS, 2003

pad sharknouna prisoner who steals from others’ cells FromPAD(a

cell)UK, 1996

paedie-pumpnouna prison-issue training shoe worn by sex

offenders Based on an abbreviation of ‘paedophile’ In use August

2002UK, 2002

paedonounused as a short form of paedophilia, paedophile and

related terms The Greek for ‘child’, used as the root for many

conventional terms, has lately been been associated in the public

imagination with the worst of its usesUK, 2002

Pagnoun the short opera Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo UK, 1987

pagenounone thousand doses of LSD soaked into paperUS, 1999

page biznounthe publishing business CombinesBIZ(a business)

with a small exampleUS, 2002

page onernouna screenplay in need of a complete rewriteUS, 1997

page three girlnouna girl whose scantily clad, or nude, picture

appears as a newspaper pin-up From a ‘Page Three’ feature in The

Sun but applied far more widely UK, 1975

paggerverbto break or smash; to wreck Market traders’ use;

influenced byBUGGER(to ruin)UK, 1979

paggeredadjectivedrunk FromPAGGER, hence ‘smashed’ (drunk)UK,

paidadjectivefinancially stable if not wealthyUS, 1998

pailnounthe stomach An abbreviation of ‘lunch pail’ (a container)

US, 1945

painnounan irritation; an annoying personUK, 1933

PainnounMain Street in Winnipeg, which at its crossing of Portage

is the exact centre ‘Pain’ for ‘Main’ at the intersection of Portage

Street is evocative of windy, very cold winter weather

pain in the ass; pain in the arse; pain in the backsidenounagreat nuisanceUS, 1934

pain in the necknoun1an irritating nuisanceUK, 1941.2a cheque.Rhyming slangUK, 1992

pain in the netnouna person who posts inflammatory attacks onInternet discussion groupsUS, 1991

pain slutnouna person who derives sexual satisfaction from cal and verbal abuseUK, 1996

physi-paintnoun1make upUK, 1660.2the inside rails of a horse racingtrackAUSTRALIA, 1965.3in card games, a face card or a tenUS, 1985.

< come round on the paintof a racehorse, to take a bend onthe insideAUSTRALIA, 1953

paintverb1to apply make upUK, 1382.2in lowball poker, to draw aface card to a hand of four low cardsUS, 1967.3in hearts, to play aheart on a non-heart trickUS, 1987.4to mark a target with laserbeams Gulf war usageUS, 1991.< paint the barnto applymakeupCANADA, 2002.< paint the busto change something’sappearance without changing its basic foundationsUS, 1974.

< paint the town redto have a raucous time on the townUS, 1884

painted ponynounin circus and carnival usage, a zebraUS, 1981

painternoun1a card cheat who marks cards for identification inanother player’s handUS, 1993.2a firefighter assigned to a hook-and-ladder truck Owing to the ladderUS, 1954

paintersnoun< have the painters in; painters are into be inthe bleed period of the menstrual cycle A euphemistic fact of life

UK, 1961

paint-strippernouncheap and nasty alcoholUK, 1999

paipseyadjectiveuglyBARBADOS, 1965

pairnoun1a pair of female breastsUS, 1957.2a pair of testicles,hence manliness or courageUS, 1985

pair of ducks; pairnounin cricket, the score of a batsman who isout for no score in each leg of a match FromDUCK(zero)UK, 2003

pair of fives; pair of nickelsnounfifty-five miles an hour, thenearly uniform road speed limit in the US in the mid-1970sUS, 1976

pair of nostrilsnouna sawn-off shotgun From the appearance ofthe gunUK, 2002

pair of pantiesnoun paragliding From the French term parapente

(paragliding)US, 1992

paisan; paisanonounan Italian-American; used as a term ofaddress that evokes a common heritage, especially ItalianUS, 1947

pajamanounthe vagina Something you slip into at bedtimeUS, 1998

pajama wagonnounin trucking, a truck cab with a manufactured sleeping compartmentUS, 1971

factory-PaknounPakistanUK, 2004

pakalolonouna variety of marijuana from HawaiiUS, 1981

pakapoo ticketnounsomething indecipherable or overlycomplicated Pakapoo is a Chinese gambling game that appears tooutsiders to be quite complicatedAUSTRALIA, 1951

PakiadjectivePakistaniUK, 1984

Paki; paki; pakki; Paknouna Pakistani; any Asian or Afro-Asianimmigrant; loosely, any native of the Indian subcontinent;Pakistan Derogatory or patronisingUK, 1964

Paki-basher; Pakki-bashernouna violent racist who, usually aspart of a group, attacks members of the Asian communityUK, 1970

Paki-bashing; Pakki-bashingnounan organised or opportunisticassaulting of Asian immigrants by gangs of white youths Politicaland racist agenda are claimed in an attempt to dignify theseattacks by thrill-seeking youths; however, it is worth noting that anaveragePAKI-BASHERis unable to draw a distinction betweentargeted races This social phenomenon seems to have originated

in London and continues, sporadically, nationwideUK, 1970

Paki poxnounsmallpox From ill-informed racist opinionUK, 1984

Pakistaner a big-breasted girl Teen slang

Pakistani black; paki blacknouna potent, black-brown marijuana

cultivated in Pakistan In other contexts the use of ‘Paki’ may be

seen as derogatory, in this case it is attached to a high quality

productUK, 1998

Paklishadjectiveof Anglo-Pakistani birthAUSTRALIA, 2003

palnoun1a close friend; used as a term of address, usually

sarcastically From the English, Turkish and Transylvanian Romany

tonguesUK, 1681.2a studio musicianUS, 1982

palacenouna brakevan (caboose)US, 1946

Palace of Varietiesnicknamethe House of Commons A derisive

allusion to a place of entertainmentUK, 1999

pal aroundverbto associate with; to socialise withUS, 1879

palaticadjectivedrunk A drunken slurring ofPARALYTIC(drunk)UK, 1885

palavernounbusiness; any activity or business that is complicated

or annoying, an unnecessary fussUK, 1899

palaververbto talk; to chat; to argueUK, 1733

paleetsnounused as a male-to-male term of address An

embellished ‘pal’TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1976

pale-facenounwhen spoken by a black person, a white person

From C18 American Indian usageUS, 1945

palfnounPalfium, a heroin substituteIRELAND, 1996

palintoshedadjectivedrunkUK, 2002

palled-inadjectivecohabiting with a womanUK, 1981

pallinessnouncomradeship, the condition of being palsUK, 1937

pallishadjectivefriendlyUK, 1892

Pall Mallnouna girl Rhyming slang, formed on the London street;

recorded as ‘now obsolete’ by Julian Franklyn, A Dictionary of

Rhyming Slang, 1960, who explained the rhyme as ‘Cockney

dialect makes Paow Maow – Gaow’ Despite Franklyn’s assertion, it

is apparently still in circulationUK, 1998

pallynouna friend; a comradeUS, 1979

pallyadjectivefriendlyUK, 1895

pally upverbto make friendly overtures; to make friendsUK, 2002

palmnounnapalm Vietnam war usageUS, 1991

palmingnounmasturbationBAHAMAS, 1982

palm oilnoun1a bribeUK, 1627.2a gratuityUS, 1949

palm shinernounin gambling, an object that reflects the image of

cards, small enough to be held in the user’s handUS, 1997

palm-walmernouna person who tipsUS, 1951

palone-omeenouna lesbian Polari; a combination of ‘palone’ (a

woman) and ‘omee’ (a man), the reverse order ‘omee-palone’

means a male homosexualUK, 2002

palonienouna circus pony used in comedy routinesUK, 1953

palookanouna person who is mediocre at their craft Originally a

boxing termUS, 1925

palsy-walsyadjectivefriendly, often with an undertone of insincerity

US, 1937

pal upverbto make friendsUS, 1953

pampverbto place or put something somewhereUK: SCOTLAND, 1990

pamphletnounone ounce of a drugUS, 1976

pannounthe faceUS, 1923.< on the pan(used of a truck driver)

summoned to appear before a public utility commission for

violations of driving lawsUS, 1961

panverb1to criticise something as unsuccessfulUS, 1911.2to utterly

defeat someone in a fight; to thrash someoneUK, 2002.3to beg An

abbreviation of ‘panhandle’US, 1997

Panama cutnouna variety of marijuana cultivated in PanamaUK,

1998

Panama gold; Panamanian goldnouna potent, gold-leafed

marijuana cultivated in PanamaUS, 1968

Panama red; Panamanian rednouna potent variety of marijuana

panatellanoun1a marijuana cigaretteUS, 1944.2potent marijuana,especially that originating in South or Central AmericaUS, 1956

panaticnouna devoted, die-hard fan of steelband musicTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1988

pan breidadjectivedead Glasgow rhyming slang for ‘pan bread’ (atype of crusty loaf )UK: SCOTLAND, 1988

pancakeverbusing hydraulic lifts operated from inside the car, todrop suddenly first the back and then the front of a carUS, 1980

pancake saddlenounin western Canada, an English saddleCANADA, 1987

panda car; pandanouna black and white police patrol car, hence apolice patrol car The logic is black and white: the car wasintroduced at a time when the pandas at London Zoo weremaking headlinesUK, 1966

Pandemonium World ScarewaysnicknameUS airline companyPan Am Most airlines attract jocular variations of their names:Pan Am’s include: ‘Painful, Nauseating and Miserable’ and

‘Passengers Always Neglected at Mealtimes’US, 2002

P and Qnoun solitary confinement in prison Abbreviated ‘peace and quiet’ US, 1982

panenouna dose of LSD on a tiny, clear gelatin chip A shortenedform ofWINDOWPANE US , 1994

panel-beaternounan employee in a car body shopAUSTRALIA, 1984

panel housenouna brothel with sliding walls through which thievessteal from the clothes of customersUS, 1848

panels of fencesnounin horse racing, a long leadAUSTRALIA, 1989

pangonadalotnounheroinUS, 1977

panhandleverbto begUS, 1884

panhandlernoun1a beggarUS, 1897.2a nurse Jocular reference tobedpansUS, 1976

panicnoun1a widespread unavailability of an illegal drugUS, 1937.2avery good timeUS, 1958

panic buttonnounany switch or button which activates anemergency alarm, or summons urgent assistance, or stops amechanical operationUK, 1971

panic flipnounin pinball, the premature activation of a flipperUS, 1977

panic merchantnouna person who habitually panicsAUSTRALIA, 1962

panic stationsnouna frenzied state of alarmed or confusedthinking A jocular adaptation of the military term ‘action stations’

UK, 1961

pan-loafadjectiveof a superior social status or well-to-do Glasgowrhyming slang forTOFF– a good rhyme in the local accent –formed from a type of bread with a soft crustUK: SCOTLAND, 1985

pannikin bossnouna person with a modest amount of authority; aminor boss; a foremanAUSTRALIA, 1898

pannonoun1a panel vanAUSTRALIA, 1998.2a foreman An ation ofPANNIKIN BOSS AUSTRALIA , 1957

abbrevi-panoramasnounpyjamas Rhyming slangUK, 1992

pan outverb(of an event) to turn out; to result A figurative cation of panning for goldUS, 1871

appli-pansynouna male homosexual; an effeminate manUK, 1929

pansy-assadjectiveeffeminate, weakUS, 2002

pansy-boynounan effeminate male homosexualAUSTRALIA, 1976

pansy-mannouna male homosexualANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, 1999

pansy patchnicknamean area in west Hollywood, California, largelypopulated by homosexual men since the 1960sUS, 1971

Pansy Pottersnounthe documents given to someone who isdismissed from employment Glasgow rhyming slang forJOTTERS,

formed on a comic strip characterUK: SCOTLAND, 1996

pansy prattlenounthe snide remarks and witty insults istic of male homosexual banterUS, 1980

character-pant trousers

panthernouna condom The image of a large black beast Collected

from UK prisoners in May, 2002JAMAICA, 2002

panther breathnounstrong, illegally manufactured whiskyUS, 1999

panther juicenounstrong, homemade alcoholUS, 1960

panther pissnounillegally manufactured, low quality alcoholUS, 1971

panther sweatnoun1surgical spirit and Italian vermouth mixed as

a potent drink After the US slang for inferior whisky Reported by

a correspondent of Partridge as in Beatnik use around 1959, but

not recorded until 1984UK, 1984.2low quality whiskyUS, 1977

pantloadnouna great deal of somethingUS, 1968

pant moustachenouna fringe of pubic hair that escapes the

con-fines of a female’s underwear or swimwearUK, 2003

pantomime cownouna row; an argument Rhyming slangUK, 1998

pantsnoun1rubbish, nonsense, often applied adjectivallyUK, 1998.

2sex In the spirit of ‘cunt’, ‘ass’ or ‘leg’, but a bit more restrained

US, 1965.< frighten the pants off; scare the pants offto

frighten or scare someone, especially severely or (when horror is

presented as entertainment) thrillinglyUK, 1967.< get into

someone’s pantsto seduce someone; to have sex with someone

US, 1952

pantsverbto pull someone’s trousers down as part of a prank or

practical jokeUS, 1989

pantsadjectiveapplied to something that is very easily doneUK:

SCOTLAND, 1996

pants and vest; pantsnoun best bitter beer Rhyming slang UK, 1992

pantsfulnouna great deal, especially of something bad A

suggestion of a lot of excrementUS, 1993

pantsmannouna womaniserAUSTRALIA, 1968

pants rabbitsnounpubic lice; body lice; fleasUS, 1949

panty hamsternounthe vaginaUK, 2002

pantymannounan effeminate heterosexual man; a homosexual

manTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1993

pantypopverbto fartUS, 2003

panty raidnouna college fad in which male students invade the

dormitories of female students, seizing underwear as trophies The

practice and term faded quickly with the onset of 1960s cultureUS,

1952

panty-stretchernouna heavy woman Also recorded in UK usage

US, 1976

pantywaistnouna weakling or coward; a homosexual manUS, 1936

pantzillanounSildenafil citrate marketed as Viagra, an

anti-impotence drug taken recreationally for performance

enhancement, in combination with other chemicals that stimulate

the sexual appetites A jocular reference to the monster in your

underpants The monster, of course, is GodzillaUK, 2001

pan upverbto prepare a powdered drug for heating prior to

injectionUS, 1971

Panzernouna Mercedes-Benz carUS, 1997

papverbto work as a press photographer who specialises in the

sensational and the celebrated A back-formation fromPAPARAZZI

UK, 2004

paparazzinounpress photographers who specialise in the

sensational and the celebrated, or a single photographer similarly

engaged From the Italian paparazzo which is the correct, though

rarely used, singular form Named after a character in La Dolce

Vita, a 1960 film by Frederico Fellini UK, 1968

papenouna Roman Catholic A shortening of ‘papist’UK: SCOTLAND,

1985

papernoun1moneyUS, 1974.2a cigarette paperUK, 1950.3personal

identification papersUS, 1982.4promotional literature produced as

part of a telephone sales swindleUS, 1988.5a free pass to a

per-formanceUK, 1785.6a chequeUS, 1972.7a speeding ticketUS, 1976.

8a deck of cards that have been marked for cheatingUS, 1977.

9heroin sold in a paper packet; a folded paper containing any

powdered drug . probation in lieu of a jail sentence;

parole from prisonUS, 1973.11an underworld contract to havesomeone killedUS, 1983

paperverb< paper the houseto give away free tickets to anevent in order to secure a large audienceUK, 1859

paper acidnounLSD, especially on blotting paperUS, 1977

paper and plasticnounin gambling, a combination of cash andbetting chips A play on the grocery clerk’s query to a customer –

‘Paper or plastic bag?’US, 1996

paper assholenounan adhesive reinforcement attached to holespunched on a piece of paper to prevent the page from ripping out

of a binder The object is shaped like a small life buoy, visuallyevocative to some of an anus Collected from union negotiatingcommittee members in northern California, September 2002US, 2002

paper bagnoun< go pop like a paper bag(of a woman) tocopulate vigorouslyAUSTRALIA, 1984.< you couldn’t fight your way out of a paper bag; you couldn’t punch your way out

of a paper bagaddressed to (or, in the third person, used of ) aperson boasting of strength or fighting abilityAUSTRALIA, 1961

paper bag; paperverbto nag someone Rhyming slangUK, 1992

paperbag casenounan ugly woman A suggestion that the paperbag be worn over her headUS, 1976

paper bluntnouna marijuana cigaretteUK, 2003

paper boynouna drug dealer, especially a heroin dealer Becauseheroin is often sold in paper envelopes; punning on a newspaperdelivery boyUS, 1970

paperedadjectiveused of a stadium or an auditorium filled bypeople given free ticketsUS, 1978

paper growernouna recycling bin for paperCANADA, 1989

paper-hangnounthe passing of counterfeit money or forgedsecuritiesUS, 1976

paper-hangernoun1a criminal whose expertise is the use offraudulent securitiesUS, 1954.2in trucking, a police officer writing aticketUS, 1976

paper hatnouna fool Rhyming slang forTWAT UK , 1998

paper mushroomsnounLSD LSD on blotting paper having thehallucinogenic properties ofMAGIC MUSHROOM(S) UK , 1998

paper-punchernounused as a jocular description of a handguntarget shooterUS, 1957

paper-pushernoun1a bureaucrat; in the military, anyone with adesk job and not in combatUS, 1980.2a person who placescounterfeit money into circulationUS, 1985

papersnounin prison, a person’s backgroundUS, 2000

paper soldiernouna rear-area military personnel who supportedthose in combatUS, 1990

paper timenounthe additional years added to a prison sentencebecause of publicity surrounding the crime, criminal and/or trial

US, 1962

paper topnouna convertible car topUS, 1973

paperweightnoun1in horse racing, a very small weight allowance

in a weight-handicapped eventAUSTRALIA, 1989.2a railway officeclerkUS, 1946

paperworknoun1any alteration of playing cards as part of acheating schemeUS, 1962.2a speeding ticketUS, 1976.3money;currency notesUK, 1997

papesnoun1cigarette rolling papersUS, 1997.2moneyUS, 2000

pappynouna father A childish, rural ringUK, 1763

pappy-mammynouna homosexual manTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1956

pappyshownouna fool, or someone who presents the appearance

of a fool A corruption of ‘puppet show’TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1940

papsnounpress photographers who specialise in the sensational andthe celebrated An abbreviation ofPAPARAZZI UK , 2002

parnoun< below par; under parless than average or less thanprojected A term that migrated from conventional English into

paranoun1a paratrooper US, 1990.2paranoia, especially as a result of

drug abuseUK, 1996

para; parroadjective1paranoidUK, 1996.2drunk A shortening of

PARALYTIC AUSTRALIA , 1988

parachutenoun1a combination of crack cocaine and phencyclidine,

the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dustUK, 1998.2heroin

From its effect of slowing down other drug highsUK, 2002

paradenounin a striptease show, the dancer’s fully clothed walk

across the stage before beginning to stripUS, 1945

paradisenounthe highest gallery in a theatreUK, 1952

paradise strokenoun(generally plural) the final thrust before male

orgasmUK, 1984

paradise white; paradisenouncocaineUK, 1998

paraffin lamp; paraffinnouna tramp, a homeless person; used as

an insult for someone in need of a wash Rhyming slangUK, 1997

paraffin oil; paraffinnounstyle Glasgow rhyming slang (a good

rhyme in a local accent)UK: SCOTLAND, 1988

parakeetnouna Puerto RicanUS, 1962

paralleladjectivelying down Hawaiian youth usageUS, 1982

paralysis by analysisnouninaction produced by over-thinking a

situationUS, 1971

paralytic; paraleticadjectivevery drunk; drunk and incapable

‘Paraletic’ is a phonetic misspellingAUSTRALIA, 1891

parboiledadjectivedrunkUS, 1960

parcelnouna quantity of stolen goods being delivered to the

receiver A specialisation of the conventional senseUK, 1981

pardnounpartner A definite Western flavour; a highly affected

shortening of ‘partner’US, 1850

pardnernounused as a term of address, male-to-male Used with an

intentional folksiness that harkens to cowboy filmsUS, 1795

pardon me for living!; pardon me for breathing!used as an

elaborate mock apology offered in answer for a minor error or

trivial criticismUK, 1961

Paree; Gay PareenounParis, France From the French

pronunciationUK, 1848

parental unitsnounyour parentsUS, 1982

parish bullnouna man with illegitimate childrenBERMUDA, 1985

parkverb1to (temporarily) place something or someone in a

pos-ition of some safety or convenience Often extended – in

worldwide variations – as an invitation or imperative: ‘park your

arse!’ ‘park your carcass!’ ‘park your fanny!’ ‘park your frame!’ and,

the nautically inspired, ‘park your stern!’UK, 1908.2to stay at a

place for a short timeAUSTRALIA, 1961.3to engage in sexual foreplay

in a parked carUS, 1972.4to give A shortening of obsoletePARKER

UK, 1972.< park a custardto vomit Upper-class society usageUK,

1982.< park a tiger; park the tigerto vomitAUSTRALIA, 1985.

< park it(of a person) to sit downAUSTRALIA, 1962.< park the

ballin pool, to leave the cue ball roughly in the centre of the

table after an opening break shotUS, 1992.< park your carcass

(of a person) to sit downAUSTRALIA, 1977.< where I’d like to park

my bikesaid by a man of a woman considered as a sexual object

The wheel of a bicycle is held in a slot, which puns on vaginaUK,

2003

parked outadjectivein horse racing, said of horses forced to the

outside on turnsUS, 1994

Parkernouna chauffeur The name of Lady Penelope’s chauffeur in

Thunderbirds (a cult television series of the early 1960s, relaunched

in the 90s) adopted as a generic nicknameUK, 1999

parkerverbto pay; to give From ‘parleyaree’, an early form of

POLARI UK , 1914

Parkheid smiddynounthe female breast Glasgow rhyming slang

for,DIDDY, from the local pronunciation of Parkhead Smithy, a

famous forge in Glasgow’s East EndUK: SCOTLAND, 1988

parkie; parkynouna park keeperUK, 2001

parking lotnoun1a traffic jamUS, 1976.2the vagina An obvious

pun until you start to seek an appropriate vehicle for the penis

1974.< in the parking lotin gambling, without further fundsUS, 1996

parking spacenouna graveUK, 1998

Park Lane No 2’snounmarijuana from Cambodia, often pre-rolledinto cigarettes The term was coined and popularised by USsoldiers in VietnamUS, 1970

parkyadjectiveof the weather, chilly, cold, very coldUK, 1895

parlaynouncrack cocaineUS, 1994

parlayverbto socialise at clubs, bars or partiesUS, 2000

parlooverbto masturbateNORFOLK ISLAND, 1992

parlournouna brakevan (caboose)US, 1946

parlour maidnouna rear railway brakemanUS, 1946

parlour pinknouna wealthy person who espouses socialist viewsfrom the safety of luxuryUS, 1920

parma violetnouna variety of MDMA, the recreational drug bestknown as ecstasy From the purple colour of the tablet and overallsimilarity to a sweet of the same nameUK, 2002

parneeverbto rain From the noun senseUK, 1859

parnee; parnie; parnynoun1rain; tears Polari, originally Indian, from ‘parnee’ (water)UK, 1859.2water Current in English

Anglo-gypsy use, from Romany pâni (water) UK, 1859

parole dustnounfog A term coined at the San Quentin statepenitentiary just north of San Francisco, where fog invites escapeattemptsUS, 1976

Parranounin the Sydney region, a visting non-resident of a

beachside area Derogatory Perhaps from Parramatta, a western

suburb of SydneyAUSTRALIA, 1985

Parrynicknamethe Paremoremo maximum security prisonNEW ZEALAND, 1982

parsleynoun1marijuana From the similarity of appearancebetween oneHERBand anotherUK, 1996.2phencyclidine, the rec-reational drug known as PCP or angel dust Because one method

of administration of the drug is to sprinkle it on parsleyUS, 1981

parsley budnounin British Columbia, a local variety of marijuana

CANADA, 2002

partadjectiveof mixed raceFIJI, 1995

partialnouna partial fingerprintUS, 1996.< partial tohaving afondness or liking for somethingUK, 1696

Partick Thistlenoun1a whistle Rhyming slang, formed on thename of a Scottish football club; also serves as a verbUK, 1992.2avariety of MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy,identified by PT embossed on the tablet Disguising PT with thename of a Scottish football teamUK, 2002

partied outadjectiveexhausted from excessive party-goingUS, 1992

partnernoun1a very close associate who can be counted on inalmost any situationUS, 1994.2any Audi car Motor trade slang Apun on ‘Howdy, partner’UK, 2004

partridgenouna good-looking girl or womanUS, 1947

partsnoun< get partsto engage in sexual activity short ofintercourseUS, 1979

parts changernounin car repair, a mechanic who replaces partsuntil a problem is solved instead of diagnosing the problem at theoutsetUS, 1993

part timernouna variety of MDMA, the recreational drug bestknown as ecstasy, identified by PT embossed on the tabletUK, 2002

partynoun1a person In conventional use from 1650 but sidered to be slang since later C19 Not to be confused with aparty to a legal actionUK, 1956.2a woman; a girlfriend Royal NavyslangUK, 1987.3sex, especially with a prostitute A prostituteeuphemismUS, 1956

con-partyverb1to enjoy a good time From the conventional nounsenseUS, 1922.2to have sex, especially with a prostituteUS, 1963.3touse drugsUS, 1999

par-ty!used as an exhortation to relax and enjoy yourself The break

party animalnouna person dedicated to making merry and having

a good time A creature born of the 1990sUS, 1997

party centralnounan apartment or house where parties are

frequently in progressUS, 2000

party favoursnoundrugsUS, 1989

party foulnouna faux pas; a substantial breach of etiquetteUS, 2004

party girlnouna prostituteUS, 1960

party hatnoun1the signal light(s) on the roof of a police car When

the light is flashing the police are said to have a ‘party hat on’US,

1976.2a condomUS, 1989

party heartyverbto party in a diligent fashionUS, 1979

party lightsnounthe coloured, flashing lights on top of a police car

US, 1992

party linenounthe ‘official version’ that must be adhered to

whether truthful or not Originally (1834) a political party’s policy;

thence into much wider usageUK, 1937

party napnouna nap taken in anticipation of a night of drinking

and partyingUS, 2004

party on!used as an encouragement for revelryUS, 1989

party packnouna packet of ten rolled marijuana cigarettes for sale

in Vietnam during the warUS, 1991

party piecenouna woman who makes herself sexually available at

Hell’s Angels gatherings’ A pun formed onPIECE(a woman as a

sexual object)UK, 1982

party pooper; party poopnouna killjoy; a spoilsportUS, 1954

party powdernouncocaineUK, 2003

party reptilenounan enthusiastic party-goerUS, 1986

pashnoun1a romanticised affection for someone; an infatuationUK,

1914.2a fiancée; the woman you enjoy more than a casual

relationship with; the primary girlfriend Royal Navy slang; an

abbreviated form of ‘passion’US, 1960.3a passionate kiss or kissing

session, especially French kissingAUSTRALIA, 1962

pash; pash offverbto kiss someone passionatelyAUSTRALIA, 1979

pashingnounkissing and pettingAUSTRALIA, 1964

pash onverbto spend time kissing and pettingAUSTRALIA, 1983

pashpienounan attractive boy or girl Teen slangUS, 1951

pash rashnounsore lips or irritation of the area surrounding the

mouth as a result of kissingAUSTRALIA, 2002

pashynouna passionate kiss An elaboration ofPASH UK , 2000

pashyadjectivepassionateUS, 1949

pasrayverb(used of a woman) to sit in an immodest position

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003

passnounan amorous approach to someone; an introductory

attempt at seductionUK, 1928

passverbto seek acceptance as white because of fair skin colouring

US, 1933.< pass changeto bribeTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1989.

< pass the time of dayto exchange greetings; to chat and

gossipUK, 1851

pass-bynouna strangerJAMAICA, 1958

passengernoun1a member of any group who does not fully

con-tribute and is ‘carried’ by the rest Originally sportingUK, 1852.2a

member of a prison clique Formed fromCAR(a clique)US, 1989

passenger stiffnouna railway passengerUS, 1977

passernoun1a person who places counterfeit money into

circulationUS, 1981.2a drug dealerUS, 1952

passersnoundice that have been altered so as to roll a seven less

often than normalUS, 1950

passion-killersnounsensible knickers Originally of military-issue

knickersUK, 1943

passion marknouna bruise caused by extended suckingUS, 1966

passion pitnouna drive-in cinema Teen slangUS, 1951

passion wagonnouna panel van or the like used for sexual

pass outverbto lose consciousness From an earlier sense ‘to die’

UK, 1915

passovernouna seizureBARBADOS, 1965

passover partynouna party where those who have been passedover for promotion drown their sorrowsUS, 1998

passportnounstanding permission from a youth gang to enter theterritory which they consider their ‘turf’US, 1972

pastadjective< past itbecause of your age or infirmity, to be nolonger able to do that which you used to Applied generally or to aspecific inabilityUK, 1928.< past its sell-by dateno longer ofinterest; out of fashion Adopted from product information onpackaged goodsUK, 2001

pastanouncocaine From ‘paste’, a step in the production process

US, 1984

pasta rocketnounany Italian sports carUS, 2004

pastenoun1finely crafted fake gemsUS, 1950.2the peanut butter incombat rationsUS, 1991.3crack cocaine From an intermediary step

in the production of crackUS, 1994

pasteverbto thrash someoneUK, 1846

pasteboardnounin horse racing, a dry track in good conditionUS, 1971

pastienouna fool; used as a friendly term of abuse Possibly fromthe thick crust of a Cornish pastieUK, 2004

pastiesnoundecorative coverings for a female dancer’s nipplesUS, 1961

pastingnouna beating Either physical or figurativeUK, 1851

pastonoun marijuana From Spanish pasto (pasture, grass), thus

GRASS(marijuana)US, 1980

pastry cutternouna person who applies pressure with the teethwhile performing oral sex on a manUK, 2002

pastry wagonnouna truck owned by the Pacific IntermountainExpress Back-formation from PIE, the company’s initialsUS, 1976

pasturenouna place where teenagers engage in various levels ofsexual activity in parked cars at nightUS, 1960.< out to pasture

of Patrick, is a stereotypically Irish nameUK, 1806

patverb< pat the padto go to bedUS, 1955

pataccaadjectiveused for describing inferior or fake jewellery,especially of a counterfeit Swiss watch An Italian slang term,

pronounced ‘pataka’, meaning ‘worthless; rubbish’; used at the

less-honest end of the jewellery trade, and amongst air stewards

UK, 1977

Pat and Micknounthe penis Rhyming slang forPRICK, formedfrom two stereotypical Irish names, often featured in jokes As thebutts of these jokes Pat and Mick are inevitably thick, a character-istic which may well pun here as an implied quality of girthUK, 1961

Pat and Mickadjectivesick Rhyming slangUK, 2003

Pat and Mikenouna bicycle Rhyming slang for ‘bike’UK, 1931

Pat Cashnounto urinate Rhyming slang forSLASH, based on thename of Australian tennis player Pat Cash (b.1965)UK, 1998

patchnoun1a district which is the responsibility of a specifiedpolice authority; a geographical area designated as theresponsibility of public servants, e.g probation officers, socialworkers; an area of specialist reponsibility Originally northern andMidland police, by the mid-1960s it had become common to allpublic servicesUK, 1963.2the territory claimed by a prostitute, adrug dealer or a gangUK, 1996.3a small communityUS, 1997.4thezone assigned to a military reconnaissance teamUS, 1991.5a smallpiece of material covering a striptease dancer’s vulvaUS, 1973.6agang emblem sewn to the back of a member’s jacket, signifyingfull membership in the gangNEW ZEALAND, 1975.7in computing, a

US, 1991.8in the circus or carnival, the person who adjusted legal

problemsUS, 1960.9an ad hoc payment to a police officer to allow

a crime to take placeUS, 2001.10the proceeds of a crime,

confiscated and kept by corrupt police in lieu of arrestUS, 1987.

< not a patch onnot in any way to be compared withUK, 1860

patchedadjectivethirstyUS, 1968

patchesnoun1a prison uniform issued to inmates who have been

assessed as potential escapeesUK, 2000.2a prisoner considered

likely to attempt an escape From the yellow patches worn on the

prisoner’s jacket and trousersUK, 1996

patch moneynounin a carnival, the money paid by concession

operators to the ‘patch’ or ‘fixer’ for adjusting legal problemsUS,

1985

patenoun a father Abbreviated from Latin pater US, 1988

patentnouna multiple bet, gambling on three different horses in

separate races in a total of seven betsUK, 1991

paternoun a father A familiar use of Latin pater (a father), mainly as

schoolboy slang, and often considered pretentiousUK, 1728

pathadjectivepathology; pathological Originally medical use now

widely known, mainly in ‘path lab’ (a pathology laboratory)UK, 1937

pat handnounin blackjack, a hand with points totalling between 17

and 21 A ‘pat hand’ is a potentially winning handUS, 1991

patheticadjectiveineffectual, contemptible From the conventional

sense (worthy of pity)UK, 1937

pathynouna pathologistUK, 1956

paticonouncrack cocaine Spanish slang used by English-speakers

who would not know what the word means in SpanishUS, 1994

patient zeronounthe first person to transmit a disease Usually

used in the context of AIDSUS, 1987

Pat Malonenounalone Rhyming slang for ‘on your own’AUSTRALIA,

1908

patootnounthe vaginaUS, 1974

patootienounthe arseUS, 1948

pat pokenounthe hip pocket Pickpocket usageUS, 1949

Patsnicknamethe New England Patriots professional football teamUS,

1971

patsynoun1a dupe; someone blamed for a crime or accident

Perhaps the most famous maybe-patsy of the C20 was Lee Harvey

Oswald, who told reporters shortly before being killed: ‘They’re

taking me in because of the fact that I lived in the Soviet Union

I’m only a patsy’US, 1903.2in poker, a hand that requires no draw

Conventionally known as a ‘pat hand’US, 1988.3a half-gallon jar

filled with beer A fairly complicated rhyme: Patsy Riggir is a

country music singer, and her last name evokesRIGGER, which is

another term for a half-gallon jar of beerNEW ZEALAND, 1998

Patsy Cline; Patsynouna dose of cocaine prepared for inhaling

Rhyming slang forLINE, based on country and western singer Patsy

Cline, 1932–63UK, 1996

patsy mouthnouna dryness of the mouth as a result of smoking

marijuana or hashishCANADA, 2004

Patsy Palmer and her five daughtersnounthe hand (seen in the

context of male masturbation) A variation ofMRS PALM AND HER

FIVE LOVELY DAUGHTERS , formed on the name of an actress who

came to prominence playing Bianca in the BBC television soap

opera EastEnders from 1994–99 UK, 2003

patternountalk, speechifyingUK, 1778

Patty Hearstnoun a first class degree Rhyming slang for ‘first’,

formed from the name of the heiress, who was kidnapped by

left-wing extremists, and involved in bank-robbery, before becoming a

professional actress (b.1954)UK, 1998

Paul Ankanounused as an all-purpose form of abuse Rhyming

slang forWANKER; formed from the name of the US singer (b.1941)

UK, 2004

Paul Wellernounbranded Belgian lager Stella Artois™ Rhyming

slang for ‘Stella’, based on the name of musician Paul Weller

pauseverb< pause for a causeto pull off the motorway to use atoiletUS, 1977

pavnoun a pavlova A type of meringue desert topped with fruit, named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova AUSTRALIA, 1966

Pavarottinounten pounds, £10 PunningTENNERon ‘tenor’; formed

on the great Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti (b.1935)UK, 1998

pavementnoun< the pavementthe streets, especially as an area

of criminal operationUK, 1998

pavement artistnouna criminal specialising in street fraudUK, 2001

pavement oysternounan expectoration of phlegm that has beendeposited in the streetUK, 1981

pavement pizzanouna splash of vomitAUSTRALIA, 1996

pavement-poundernouna prostitute who solicits customers on thestreetUS, 1960

pavement princessnouna prostitute, especially one who works attruck stopsUS, 1977

pavement surfingnounbeing thrown from a motorcyle Biker(motorcyle) usageUS, 2003

pavilionnouna brakevan (caboose)US, 1977

pawnounthe handUK, 1605

pawnnoun< got out of pawn; got outbornUK, 1992

paws upadjectivedead New York police slangUS, 1997

paynouna debtorUS, 1989

payverb< get paidto commit a successful robberyUS, 1987.

< pay blackto pay a blackmailer’s extortion Combines tional ‘pay’ with ‘black’ (blackmail)UK, 1984.< pay crow taxtolose a farm animal by accidental death or diseaseCANADA, 1992.

conven-< pay the grandstandin horse racing, to place a bet that willgenerate a huge earningAUSTRALIA, 1989.< pay through the nose

to pay a high (financial) price for somethingUK, 1672.< pay your duesto persevere through hardshipUS, 1956

pay and laynounused for describing the exchange of payment andservices involved in prostitutionUS, 1969

pay ballnounin pool, a shot that, if made, wins a wagerUS, 1993

pay dirtnounmoney; successUK, 1857

pay-for-playnounsex that is paid forUS, 1969

pay holenounin trucking, a truck’s highest gearUS, 1971

pay lawyernouna privately retained lawyer, as contrasted with oneprovided for indigents by the stateUS, 1992

payolanoun1an illegal payment to a radio station or individual toencourage the playing of a particular song The word leapt into theAmerican vocabulary in late 1959 as pay-off scandal after pay-offscandal toppled the first generation of rock ’n’ roll disc jockeys.Later broadened to include other forms of briberyUS, 1938.2rewardmoney for anonymous police informantsUK, 2002.3oilUS, 1984

pay out onverbto upbraid someone for a wrongdoing Originally ‘toget revenge; to mete out corporal punishment’, from British

dialect pay (to beat/thrash) Now only referring to verbal dressing

downAUSTRALIA, 1977

pay schoolnouna school charging a tuition feeUS, 1992

paywarenouncommercially available computer softwareUS, 1991

PBnicknamePacific Beach, San Diego, CaliforniaUS, 1993

PB and Jnouna peanut butter and jelly (jam) sandwich A culinarystaple of American youth for decadesUS, 1981

PCnoun1a latex finger glove used during digital examinations A

‘pinkie cheater’ US, 1958.2probable cause to arrest someoneUS, 1995.

3a percentage Applied to drug salesUS, 1956

PCadjective politically correct Originally used of left-on-left criticism,

appropriated and exploited by the right to marginalise any and alldissent from the leftUS, 1986

PCHnicknamethe Pacific Coast Highway, US route 1 in Los Angeles

US, 1981

PCODnoun pussy cut-off date When soldiers were returned to the

transmitted diseases To be sure that any problems were identified

and cured before that test, most stopped having sexual relations

before the end of their rotation to avoid any delay in returning

homeUS, 1991

P’colanounPensacola, Florida, home to a naval air station known as

the ‘cradle of Navy aviation’US, 1991

PCPnounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or

angel dustUS, 1969

PDadjective pretty disgusting UK, 1996

PDAnoun a public display of affection US, 1968

P-dogsnouncocaineUK, 2003

P-dopenounrelatively (20%–30%) pure heroinUS, 1997

PDQpretty damn quick UK, 1875

p’d upadjectiveparanoidUK, 2001

peanoun1in Keno, a small ball with a number between one and 80

painted on it, drawn to establish winning numbersUS, 1987.2in

pool, a small tally ball used as a scoring deviceUS, 1993.3a bullet

US, 1988.4a person expected to win; in racing, a favouriteAUSTRALIA,

peacegoodbye Dave Garroway, host of the morning television

news programme The Today Show from 1952 to 61, closed each

programme raising one hand and saying the single word ‘Peace’

In 1988, comedy host Arsenio Hall, whose programme ran until

1993, began to use the same sign-off, at times embellishing it with

‘Peace, and think number one’US, 1991

peace and quietnoun1solitary confinement in prisonUS, 1982.2a

diet Rhyming slangUK, 1992

peacemakernicknamethe MX missile Originally applied to the Colt

.45 revolver, which made peace by death Applied by US President

Reagan and his administration in 1982 to the missile that carries

thermonuclear warheads, apparently unaware of the irony of the

termUS, 1982

peaceniknouna person who is opposed to war or a warUS, 1963

peace ’n’ loveadjectivein the style of 1960s counterculture The

twin aims of the counterculture packaged as a marketing slogan;

often derogatoryUK, 2001

peace outused as a farewellUS, 1992

peace pillnouna combination of the hallucinogen LSD and the

stimulant methedrineUS, 1971

PeaCe Pill; peacenounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known

as PCP or angel dust A rather clumsy back-formation from the

peaceweednounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP

or angel dustUS, 1981

peachnoun1an excellent person or thingUK, 1863.2a sexually

attractive person, usually a womanUK, 1754.3the vaginaUS, 1997.4a

tablet of amphetamine sulphate (trade name Benzedrine™), a

central nervous system stimulantUS, 1967

peachverbto inform against or on someone In conventional use

from C16 to mid-C19, thereafter considered slang or colloquialUK,

peakyadjectivefeeling unwell, or appearing sicklyUK, 1821

peanutnoun1the penis An unusually modest pet name; similar tothe derogatory joke-description ‘hung like a cashew’UK, 2001.2atransvestite From northern England, likely to derive from thesense as ‘a small penis’UK, 1966.3a capsule of a barbiturate orother sedativeUS, 1967

peanut butternounlow quality, impure amphetamineUS, 1989

peanut gallerynounthe least expensive seats in a theatre; moreabstractly, an audienceUS, 1888

peanut grifternouna small-time swindlerUS, 1953

peanut heavennounthe uppermost gallery in a theatre or arenaUS, 1946

peanut pokernounpoker played for very small stakesUS, 1988

peanutsnouna very small sum of moneyUS, 1934

peanuts and donkey fartsnounin poker, three two’sUS, 1948

peanut smugglernouna woman whose nipples, especially whenerect, are apparent through her clothingAUSTRALIA, 2003

peanut wagonnounin trucking, a small tractor pulling a large trailer

pea podnoun< on your pea podalone Glasgow rhyming slang

on Cockney rhyming slang ‘on your tod’ (TOD SLOAN)UK: SCOTLAND, 1985

pearlnoun1an ampoule of amyl nitriteUS, 1971.2cocaineUS, 1984

pearl divenounwhen surfing, an occasion when you are forceddeep under the water by a waveUS, 1957

pearl diveverbto perform oral sex on a woman From themetaphor of the clitoris as a pearlUS, 1994

pearl-divernoun1a dishwasher in a restaurantUS, 1913.2a pound note; the sum of £5UK: SCOTLAND, 1985

five-pearl divingnounoral sexUS, 1949

pearlernounsomething exceptional Variant ofPURLER AUSTRALIA , 1941

Pearl Harbouradjectiveof weather, cold From the Japanese airattack on Pearl Harbour, 7th December 1941; punningNIP

(Japanese) and the conventional phrase ‘a nasty nip in the air’(cold weather) This term seems to have emerged following the

2001 release of the film Pearl Harbor UK, 2002

pearliesnoun1the teeth A shortened form ofPEARLY WHITES Alsovariant ‘pearls’UK, 1914.2a chronic shaking of the bowing armsuffered by violinistsUK, 1974

pearl necklacenounsemen ejaculated on a woman’s throat andbreasts, especially after penis-breast contactUS, 1984

pearl of a great pricenounin horse racing, a pure-bred ArabianracehorseAUSTRALIA, 1989

pearly gatenouna plate Rhyming slangUK, 1992

pearly gatesnoun1LSDUS, 1971.2morning glory seeds, rumoured

to have hallucinogenic powersUS, 1971

Pearly Girlnounin British Columbia, a local variety of marijuana

CANADA, 2002

pearly king; pearlynounthe anus Rhyming slang forRING, formed

on a traditional, well-decorated Cockney characterUK, 1992

pearly whitesnounthe teethUS, 1935

pear-shapedadjectiveno longer perfect; describing anything that isnow wrongUK, 2001

peas and rice boongy large buttocks

peasantnoun1a person below your station Originally British

military slangUK, 1943.2in circus and carnival usage, a customer

who does not show proper appreciation for a performanceUS, 1981

peasantsnoun< the peasants are revoltinga catchphrase that

is applied to a general swell of grumbling, used by more senior

officers of junior ranks in the military, of a workforce as distinct

from management, of students in relation to their educators, etc

A tireless pun on ‘revolting’UK, 1984

pease pudding hot; pease puddingnounnasal mucus Rhyming

slang forSNOT, formed on a traditional rhyme: ‘Pease pudding hot

/ Pease pudding cold / Pease pudding in the pot / Nine days old’

This is not a pun on the colour of peas – pease pudding is a

golden-hued dish, made from yellow split-peasUK, 1992

peashooternoun1a small-calibre handgunUS, 1950.2the nose

Rhyming slang forHOOTER UK , 1992

peas-in-a-pot; peas in the pot; peas; peasyadjectivehot

Rhyming slangUK, 1960

peas on a drumnounsmall female breastsUK, 1980

pea-soupnouna French-Canadian In the citation, Richler is

referring indirectly to the Montreal hockey team, the Canadiens

CANADA, 2002

pea-soupernoun1a dense yellowish fog From the adjective

PEA-SOUPY UK , 1890.2a French-Canadian This term derives from the

ubiquitous Quebec pea-soup, made with ham, still a favourite

despite the negative connotationsCANADA, 1978

pea-soupy; soupyadjectivedescriptive of dense, yellowish fogUK, 1860

peasy; peasieadjectiveused of hair, short and curled tightlyBAHAMAS,

1982

peata; patanouna spoiled child; a favourite childIRELAND, 1999

pebblenouna piece of crack cocaine TheROCKmetaphor used

again; the plural means crack generallyUS, 1989

pebble-dashverbto splatter a lavatory bowl with faeces as the result

of a dramatic expulsion of diarrhoeaUK, 2003

Pebble Millnoun1a pill, especially one that is taken recreationally

Rhyming slang, formed from an area of Birmingham that is best

known as the address of BBC television studios, and the title of a

programme broadcast from there, 1973–86UK, 1998.2a slight or

perfunctory kissUK, 1893.3on the railways, the lunch periodUS, 1977

peckverb1to eatUK, 1665.2to kiss someone in a slight or

perfunctory mannerUK, 1969

peckernoun1the penisUK, 1902.2by extension, a despicable person

US, 1988.3courage, especially in the phrase ‘keep your pecker up’

UK, 1853

pecker checkernoun1a military doctor or medic who inspects

male recruits for signs of sexually transmitted diseaseUS, 1967.2a

member of a police vice squad targeting homosexual activityUS,

1970

pecker-foolishnounused of a woman, overly obsessed with men

and sexUS, 1977

peckerheadnouna despicable or offensive person Formed from

PECKER‘penis’, notPECKERWOOD‘racist’US, 1802

peckermannouna rapistUS, 1990

peckernecknounon the railways, a newly hired apprenticeUS, 1975

pecker polenounan undersize tree, not worth loggingCANADA, 1989

pecker tracksnounstains from seminal fluidUS, 1964

peckerwoodnoun1a non-ItalianUS, 1980.2a white rural southerner,

especially an uncouth and racist one Not praise Also shortened

variants ‘peck’, ‘pecker’ and ‘wood’US, 1904

Peckham Rye; Peckhamnouna tie (an article of menswear)

Rhyming slang, after an area of south LondonUK, 1925

pecksnounfoodUS, 1958

peckyadjectivecharacterised by well developed chest musclesUS, 1997

pecsnounthe pectoralis major musclesUS, 1966

ped

pedalling with both feet; pedallingverb(used of a vehicle, ordriver of that vehicle) to achieve top speed Conjures a misleadingimage of pedalling a bicycle; the pedal in question is anacceleratorUS, 1976

pedal pushernouna bicyclistUS, 1934

pedal-pushersnouncalf-length trousers for women or girls.Originally designed to be suitable for aPEDAL PUSHER(a bicyclist),and variously in and out of fashion sinceUS, 1944

pedal to the metaladjectiveused of a motor vehicle, throttled tothe maximumUS, 1993

’ped boynouna young, male, moped rider; a younger, male, BMXcyclistUK, 2003

peddle and crankverbto masturbate Rhyming slang forWANK UK , 2003

peddlernoun1a prisoner who sells goods to other prisonersUS, 1980.

2on the railways, a local freight trainUS, 1960

peddle runnounin trucking, a job with frequent stops for deliveries

US, 1971

pedestrian spearnouna large, sharp car radiator ornamentUS, 1962

’ped-headnouna motor-scooter enthusiast Apparently derived from

‘moped’ and-HEAD(an enthusiast)UK, 2004

pedigreenouna person’s backgroundUS, 1976

pedigree chumnounsemen; an orgasm Rhyming slang forCOME,formed on branded dog food Pedigree Chum™UK, 1992

pedlar’s packnoundismissal from employment Rhyming slang for

peenounan act of urination; urineUK, 1902

peeverbto urinateUK, 1879.< pee yourself laughingto laughuproariouslyUK, 1946

pee haltnouna brief stop during a combat patrol so soldiers couldurinateUS, 1991

peeknoun< the peekin prison, the observation cellUK, 1950

peekabooadjective1said of a garment with decorative holes orslashesUS, 1895.2used of a mirror, see-through from outside theroomUS, 1992

peekernouna thief who operates by observing the numbers given

at a clockroom and then using a counterfeit check to retrievevaluable items that have been checked inUS, 1954

peek freaknoun1a voyeurUS, 1967.2a casino blackjack gamblerwho consistently tries to see the dealer’s down cardUS, 1981

peek mannouna lookout during an illegal or forbidden activity inprisonUS, 1976

peelnouna caustic chemical treatment of the skin (dermabrasion)

US, 1997

peelverb1to undressUK, 1785.2to perform a striptease Originally aterm used by and with athletes, later by and with stripteasersUS,

1948.3to pry something openUS, 1968.4(used of a pimp) to entice

a prostitute away from her current pimpUS, 1993.5to fire a gunUS,

2001.< get peeledwhen filming a film or television programme,

to extend the shooting into overtime for the crewUS, 1997.< peel capsto shoot someoneUS, 1993.< peel one offto fart Perhapsthis should be ‘peal’ for the ringing tonesUK, 1978.< peel wheels

to accelerate a car quickly, squealing the tyres and leaving rubbermarks on the road 1989US, 1989.< peel your bananato pullback the foreskin of your penis for inspection or as part ofmasturbatingUS, 2002

peeledadjectiveof the eyes, open, thus alert and observant ‘Keep

‘em peeled’ is a catchphrase associated with Shaw Taylor, presenter

of a television police assistance programme Police 5 since the early

peelernoun1a police officer After Robert Peel, as founder of the

Irish constabularyIRELAND, 1817.2a striptease dancerUS, 1948.3a fast,

well-developed waveUS, 1964

peel-offnouna theft of part of a common booty Criminal and

police slangUK, 1959

peel outverbto accelerate a car suddenly from a stopped position,

squealing the tyres on the roadUS, 1973

peelywallyadjective drunk From Scottish peelie-wallie (sickly) UK:

SCOTLAND, 2002

peenyadjectivevery smallBARBADOS, 1965

peeny-weenyadjectivetinyTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1993

peepnoun1a quick glanceUK, 1730.2a two-way mirrorUS, 1975.3a

clandestine photographerUS, 1982.4a sexually desirable woman An

abbreviation of the somewhat coarse ‘perfectly elegant eatin’

pussy’ US, 1977.5something spoken, especially in a negative context

UK, 1903

peepverb1to look at something, to discover something Variation

of conventional ‘peep’ (to look)US, 1992.2to listen to someone or

somethingUS, 2000.3to read musicUS, 1964.< peep the holecard

to gain deep insight into someone’s characterUS, 1981

pee padnouna motorcyle passenger seatUS, 2003

peepenounthe vaginaUS, 1998

pee-peenoun1urine; urination ChildishUK, 1923.2the penis

Children’s toilet vocabulary Also variant ‘pi-pi’US, 1967

peepernoun1an eye A definite old-fashioned feel to the term

Popularised in 1938 with the film Going Places and the song by

Harry Warren: ‘Jeepers, creepers/ Where’d you get them peepers?’

UK, 1700.2a voyeurUK, 1652.3a private investigator or private

detectiveUS, 1943.4a police detective From an earlier sense as

‘policeman’UK, 1996.5a card player who tries to see another

player’s cardsUS, 1988.6a one-way eye-hole in a door allowing the

person on the inside to see who is outside; a peepholeUS, 1996

peepersnoun1a vehicle’s headlightsUS, 1976.2night-vision

enhancing equipmentUS, 1991

peep freaknouna voyeurUS, 1975

peep-hole specialnounsex in a public toiletUS, 1966

pee pillnouna pill containing an agent that increases the excretion

of urineUS, 1968

peeping Tomnoun1a voyeur; a person who spies on othersUK, 1795.

2in poker or other card games, a player or spectator who tries to

see a player’s handUS, 1996.3a variety of MDMA, the recreational

drug best known as ecstasy, identified by PT embossed on the

peepsnounpeople; friends A probably coincidental usage, based on

accidental English, was popularised in the UK by ‘Stavros the Greek

kebab seller’, a character created by comedian Harry Enfield for

Channel 4 television’s Friday Night Live in 1988 US, 1995

peep shownounan arcade where it is possible to view pornographic

videos or a nude woman in private booths; formerly an arcade

where it was possible to view photographs of scantily clad women

US, 1947

peep thislook at thisUS, 1997

peer queernouna male homosexual who takes pleasure in

watching others have sexUS, 1970

pee-spoutnounthe penisUK, 1998

peetiesnoundice that have been altered with small weights to

produce a desired number when rolledUS, 1962

peevenounalcohol; drink Market traders and English gypsy useUK,

1979

peeviedadjectivedrunkUK, 2002

peewatnouna person of neither importance nor signficance

pee weeverbin dice games with no bank, to roll the dice to seewho will play firstUS, 1950

peeweeadjectivecomposed of childrenUS, 1877

peewee; pee weenoun1the penisUS, 1998.2a very young member

of a youth gangUS, 1981.3a small, tightly rolled marijuana cigarette

US, 1970.4crack cocaineUS, 1994.5in craps, a roll of threeUS, 1999

pegnoun1a lookAUSTRALIA, 1973.2a person’s legUK, 1878.3heroinUS,

1994.4a golf teeUS, 1946.< give a pegto reconnoitre, especiallywith criminal intentAUSTRALIA, 1975.< on the pegof driving, atthe speed limit Citizens’ band radio slangUK, 1981

pegverb1to watch or look at someoneAUSTRALIA, 1970.2to identifysomeone or somethingUS, 1940.3to push a disabled motorcylewith a second motorcyle by reaching out and putting your leg onthe foot-rest (peg) of the disabled motorcyleUS, 2000.4to throwsomethingAUSTRALIA, 1941.5to put someone on report Originallymilitary, then recorded in use in borstals and detention centresUK,

1948.6in a card cheating scheme, to prepare a deck for amanoeuvreUS, 1962.7to fix the market price of something.Originally Stock Exchange slang, then more generalUK, 1882.< peg

it1to walk; to walk fast; to run; to hurry A variation ofLEG IT

formed onPEG(the leg)UK, 2004.2to die A variation ofPEG OUT UK , 1994

peg awayverbto labour persistently; to continue to toilUK, 1818

peg boynounin male homosexual intercourse, a passive partnerUS, 1960

peggedadjectiveunder surveillanceUK, 1996

pegged outadjectivedead FromPEG OUT(to die)US, 2000

peggernouna toothBARBADOS, 1965

peggynouna person employed to make tea and lunch for labourers

peke-a-poonouna crossbreed of a pekinese and a poodleUS, 2001

Pekineseadjective< do the Pekinese pop-outto become eyed with shock or wonder An allusion to the appearance of apedigree Pekinese dogUS, 1999

wide-pekkie; perkienouna black person OffensiveSOUTH AFRICA, 1963

pelicannouna water bomber, for firefightingCANADA, 1997

pelletnouna tablet or capsule of LSDUS, 1990

peltnouna woman’s pubic hair; sex; a woman as a sex object.Building on the vulva-as-BEAVERimageUS, 1980.< stroke the pelt

(of a female) to masturbateUS, 2001

peltverb< pelt woodto thrust with vigour during sexTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003

pelternounin poker, a non-standard hand consisting of a 9, a 5, a 2,one card between 5 and 9 and one card between 2 and 5US, 1963

pennoun1a jail or prison Shortened from ‘penitentiary.’US, 1884.2adetention or holding room at a jail or courthouseUS, 1979

penalty boxnounthe area behind the back seat of an SUV orstation wagonUS, 2004

pen and ink; pennoun1a noisome smell; a stink Rhyming slang

UK, 1859.2a mink as an item of wardrobe Rhyming slangUK, 1956.

3a drink Rhyming slangNEW ZEALAND, 1963

pen and ink; penverb1to smell rank; to stink Rhyming slangUK,

1977.2to drinkAUSTRALIA, 1983

pen and pencil setnounin electric line work, a digging bar and

pen baitnouna girl under the age of sexual consent A variation on

the more commonJAILBAIT US , 1964

pencilnoun1the penis Perhaps borrowing a Mark Twain pun: ‘the

penis mightier than the sword’UK, 1937.2in a casino, the authority

to give a gambler compliementary drinks or meals Often phrased

as ‘power of the pencil’US, 1977

pencilverbto work as a pencillerAUSTRALIA, 1919

pencil dicknouna thin penis; used, generally, to insult a man by

attacking a perception of his masculinityUS, 1998

pencillernouna bookmaker’s clerk who writes out betting tickets

AUSTRALIA, 1891

pencil-neck geeknouna bookish, timid, weak man The term was

popularised, if not coined, by US professional wrestler ‘Classy’

Freddie Blassie to describe his opponents Blassie recorded a

novelty song so titled, written by Johnny Legend and Pete Cicero,

in 1979US, 1985

pencil-pushernoun1a person who works with words; a clerk or

sec-retary Usually derisiveUS, 1881.2in the US Air Force, the navigator

on a bomber aircraftUS, 1946

pencil-sharpenernounthe vagina Corresponds, quite logically, with

PENCIL(the penis)UK, 2003

pencil stiffnouna clerical worker DerisiveUS, 1957

pencil talknounbargaining over a price in a bazaar carried on by

writing down the offer Vietnam war usageUS, 1968

pencil-whipverb1to file constant lawsuits and complaints against

prison authoritiesUS, 1992.2to write someone a traffic ticket or

notice of a criminal infractionUS, 2001

pendverbto listen; to pay attentionUS, 1968

pendejonouna fool From the Spanish of Mexican-Americans,

literally translated as ‘a pubic hair’US, 1974

Penelopenouna well-built, attractive, somewhat dim woman The

personification of aBIMBO , probably named after an identified

celebrity, recorded in contemporary gay usageUK, 2003

penetrateverbto understand something after analysisJAMAICA, 2003

penguinnoun1LSD Presumably from the picture printed on the

blotting paper doseUK, 1998.2a prison officer From the black and

white uniformUK, 1996.3a nunUS, 1980.< go penguinin pool, to

enter a formal tournament A reference to the tuxedo that is

mandated by the dress code of some tournamentsUS, 1990

penguinadjectivepregnantAUSTRALIA, 1985

penguin foodnounanchovies Limited usage, but cleverUS, 1996

penguin suit; penguin outfitnouna tuxedo or formal evening

dressUK, 1967

penis breathnounused as a general-purpose insultUS, 1986

penitentiary pullnouninfluence within a prisonUS, 1985

penitentiary punknouna male who starts taking part in

homosex-ual sex in prisonUS, 1972

penitentiary turn-outnouna man who begins engaging in

homo-sexual sex in prisonUS, 1972

penmannouna forgerUK, 1865

penniesnouna substantial amount of moneyUK, 1999

penn’orth of chalk; penn’orthnouna walk Rhyming slangUK, 1938

Pennsynicknamethe Pennsylvania RailroadUS, 1953

Pennsylvania capsnounin trucking, tyres that have been recapped

with a seamless tread lineUS, 1971

pennynounone dollarUS, 1972.< the penny drops; the penny’s

dropped; the penny will drop in minute; did I hear a

penny drop?used in marking the belated understanding of

something, often of a delayed appreciation of humour There are

more variations on this theme than are shown hereUK, 1951

pennyverbto force pennies into the space between a door and the

jam near the hinges, making it difficult or, if done correctly,

impossible to open the door from the insideUS, 1989

penny a mile

penny-anteadjectivepetty, insignificant From a poker game with aone-cent ‘ante’ or buy-in, an insignificant stakeUS, 1935

penny a pound; pennynounthe ground Rhyming slangUK, 1932

penny bangernouna mistake Rhyming slang forCLANGER UK , 1992

penny black; pennynoun1the back Rhyming slang, based on afamously rare stampUK, 1992.2the floor By extension from ‘pennyblack’ (the back) via the sense to be knocked on your back, thusonto the floorUK, 2002

penny bunnoun1one, especially in connection with racing odds.Rhyming slangUK, 1984.2the sun Rhyming slangUK, 1992

penny for the guynouna pie Rhyming slang, formed from thecatchphrase of children collecting funds to celebrate Guy Fawkes’nightUK, 1998

penny gamenounthe gambling game two-upAUSTRALIA, 1966

penny locketnouna pocket Rhyming slangUK, 1998

penny-nickle-nicklenounan M-114 155-mm howitzer Thestandard infantry heavy artillery weapon during the Vietnam war

US, 1990

penny-pinchingadjectivefrugalUS, 1920

penny stampnouna tramp Rhyming slangUK, 1984

pensionnoun< on a pensionof a policeman, having been bribed

penthousenouna brakevan (caboose) cupolaUS, 1977

pen yannounopium; heroin Originally used of opium only andthought to be from a Chinese term for opium Many variants,including ‘pen yang’, ‘pan yen’, ‘pen yen’, ‘pen yuen’, ‘pin yen’,

‘pinyon’ and ‘pin gon’US, 1922

peonnounan ordinary computer user with no special privilegesUS, 1995

peoplenoun1narcotics policeUS, 1957.2a prisoner’s closest friendsand associatesUS, 1992

Peoplenoun< the Peoplethe masses, at least to the extent thatthe masses support the agenda advocated by the speaker.Egalitarian or communist undertonesUS, 1961

people zappernouna Vehicle Mounted Active Denial System orVMADS, a tank or jeep-mounted crowd control weaponUS, 2001

pepnoun1energyUK, 1912.2pepperoniUS, 1996.3phencyclidine, therecreational drug known as PCP or angel dustUS, 1982

pep-em-upnounan amphetamine or other central nervous systemstimulantUS, 1980

peppernoun1an inexperienced, gullible victim of a gambling cheat.Playing on ‘green’ as a colour and as a slang badge of inexperience

US, 1974.2cinders spread on a snowy roadUS, 1976

pepper and salt punternouna bettor who places bets bytelephone from homeAUSTRALIA, 1989

pepperbellynouna Mexican or Mexican-AmericanUS, 1970

pep pillnouna central nervous system stimulant in a tablet form Adeceptive yet accurate euphemism that persisted for severaldecades, especially with studentsUS, 1937

Pepsiadjectivesexually frigid Presumably because Pepsi™ is ‘bestserved chilled’UK, 2001

Pepsi; peppernouna French-Canadian Originally directed as aninsult, because it was said by anglophones that French-Canadianschose Pepsi™ over Coca-Cola™ because they thought the canswere larger, it has been adopted as a badge of pride, especially inthe derived form ‘pepper’CANADA, 1978

Pepsi habit; Pepsi Cola habitnounthe occasional use of a drug,short of an all-out addictionUS, 1970

pep talknouna brief, emotional speech made to encourage or

pep upverbto invigorate someone; to strengthen or enhance

somethingUK, 1925

pernounpercentageUS, 1974

perambulatornouna brakevan (caboose)US, 1977

percentagenouna profit; an advantage Originally militaryUK, 1948

percentage dicenoundice that have been altered to favour a

certain rollUS, 1975

percentage jointnouna carnival concession that relies on volume

for profitUS, 1985

percentage playernouna gambler who appreciates odds and

percentages, absorbing losses in the belief that the odds will

ulti-mately favour himUS, 1961

percenternounan ex-girlfriendBAHAMAS, 1982

perchnoun< drop off the perch; fall off the perchto dieUK,

1937

perchernounamong the police, an easy arrest or an easy victim; in

cricket, a very easy catchUK, 1977

percianouncocaineUK, 2003

percolateverbto meander; to be doing fineUS, 1945

percolatornouna carburettorUS, 1971

percussion adjustmentnouna blow to mechanical equipment

with a large hammer A jocular term for a popular technique, in

Royal Air Force useUK, 2002

Percynoun1the penis Used as the title of a 1971 British film

comedy about a penis-transplantUK, 1977.2an effeminate maleUS,

1955.3a rock band’s road managerUK, 1985.4cocaineUK, 1999

percyadverb per se (intrinsically) UK, 1994

Percy Throwernouna telephone Rhyming slang forBLOWER,

formed on the name of television’s first ‘gardening superstar’,

1913–88UK, 1992

perduenounin poker, an unplayable hand abandoned by a player

From the French for ‘lost’US, 1988

perfnouna performanceUK, 2004

perfverbto retire someone on medical grounds From the acronym

of the Police Employment Rehabilitation Fund NEW ZEALAND, 1991

perfadjectiveperfectAUSTRALIA, 1979

perfect highnounheroinUK, 1998

perfectionnounperfect surfing conditionsAUSTRALIA, 1992

perfectoadjectivefirst-class, perfect, wonderful A simple

embellishment in the Spanish styleUS, 1988

perfectsnoundice that are true to an extremely minute tolerance,

approximately 1/1000th of a inchUS, 1950

performverbto behave histrionicallyAUSTRALIA, 1891

performernouna person who behaves histrionicallyAUSTRALIA, 1960

perf surfnounexcellent surfing conditionsAUSTRALIA, 1987

periconouncocaine Spanish slang, adopted by some English

speakers; in Spanish Perico is a pet name for Pedro, and the name

PEDROalso serves in English slang as another alias for cocaineUS,

1994

perishnoun< do a perishto suffer great deprivation, especially of

water or sustenanceAUSTRALIA, 1897

perishernoun a person Usually contemptuous or pitying The

Perishers cartoon strip by Maurice Dodd and Dennis Collins/Bill

Melvin has appeared in Mirror Group newspapers since 1957UK,

1896

perishingadjectivevery cold Shortened from ‘perishing cold’UK, 2003

perishinginfixused as an intensifierUK, 1999

perjohnnynouna poor white personBARBADOS, 1965

perknoun1an advantage, in addition to salary, that is offered by a

particular employment An abbreviation of ‘perquisite’UK, 1869.2a

tablet of Percodan™, a painkiller Also variant ‘perc’US, 1971

perkverbto vomitAUSTRALIA, 1941

perk up

perkyadjectivesaid of a woman with large buttocks but otherwise aslender bodyUS, 2004

perlixverbto flaunt your technical skillsBARBADOS, 1965

permnounin hairdressing, a permanent waveUK, 1927

permverbto give hair a permanent wave hair treatmentUK, 1928

perma-prefixpermanent; permanently Acts as adjective or adverb

as requiredUK, 2004

permafriedadjectivedrug-intoxicatedUK, 2003

perma-tannoun a permanent suntan UK, 2003

perpnoun1a criminal suspect From ‘perpetrator’US, 1987.2wax andbaking soda made to look like crack cocaineUS, 1994

perpetrateverbto start a fightUS, 2001

perp walknouna purposeful display of a charged criminal,especially when being transported from jail to courtUS, 1994

Perrynouna member of a 1970s youth movement identified by a

uniform of casual wear From the branded Fred Perry casual shirts

they woreUK, 1996

Perry Comonouna homosexual Rhyming slang forHOMOformed,for no apparent reason other than rhyme, on the popular singer,1912–2001UK, 1992

persadjective personal UK, 1997

Persiannounheroin purportedly grown in or near IranUS, 1981

Persian brownnounheroinUS, 1993

Persian mafianouna group of influential IraniansUS, 1997

Persian rugsnoundrugs Rhyming slangUK, 2003

persnicketyadjectivefussy, snobbish An alteration of ‘pernickety’US, 1905

personality girlnouna popular woman who works in a bar,encouraging customers through flirtation to buy drinks, both forthemselves and for herUS, 1950

persuadernoun1any weapon, the more deadly the morepersuasiveUK, 1796.2a whip, as used by a bullock driver or a jockey

AUSTRALIA, 1890.3a linear amplifier for a citizens’ band radioUS, 1977

persuasionnounnationality; sex; kind From the conventional sense(religious belief or opinion)UK, 1864

Peruviannouncocaine, probably from PeruUK, 1998

Peruvian flakenouna powerful type of cocaine From its country

of originUS, 1984

Peruvian ladynouncocaineUS, 1994

Peruvian marching powdernouncocaine A variation of

BOLIVIAN/COLOMBIAN MARCHING POWDER US , 1995

Peruvian pinknouna type of cocaine originating in PeruUK, 2002

perv; pervenoun1a sexual pervert Sometimes ‘perv’ carries thesame force as its origin ‘pervert’, thus ‘someone with a kinky sex-ual bent’, ‘a person obsessed with sex’, ‘a lecher’ or ‘a homosex-ual’ (by those who regard this as unnatural) Can also be used in aweaker sense to refer to anyone whose sexual behaviour isunwantedAUSTRALIA, 1942.2in prison, a sex offender; a convictedpaedophile An abbreviation of ‘pervert’AUSTRALIA, 1949.3a personwatching or staring sexually; a voyeurAUSTRALIA, 1944.4a voyeuristiclookAUSTRALIA, 1963.5a lookAUSTRALIA, 1993

perv; perveverb1to lust after another person; to behave as avoyeurAUSTRALIA, 1941.2to look at or watch sexuallyAUSTRALIA, 1944.

3to look at; to observeAUSTRALIA, 1984

pervert squadnouna police sex crime investigative squadUS, 1996

pervingnounsexual ogling; voyeurismAUSTRALIA, 1967

pervyadjectivesexually perverted; pornographicUK, 1944

peskyadjectiveannoying, disagreeableUS, 1775

pessimaladjectiveas bad as bad can be Computer slangUS, 1983

pest controlnouna psychiatrist; psychiatrists Medical slangUK, 2002

petverb< pet the catto stroke the air or water while gettingthrough a difficult moment surfing

petalnounused as an informal or affectionate term of addressUK,

1980

Petenoun1a truck manufactured by PeterbiltUS, 1971.2nitroglycerin

US, 1949.< for Pete’s sakeused as a mild, non-profane oath used

in times of exasperation or annoyanceUS, 1924

pete mannouna criminal specialising in breaking into safesUS, 1931

Pete Murraynouna curry Rhyming slang, formed on the name of

a radio DJ (b.1928)UK, 1998

peternoun1the penisUK, 1902.2a cell in a prison or a police station

The likely derivation is in the the proper name Peter, which comes

from Greek petros perhaps influenced by petra – with the

impli-cation ‘firm as a rock’AUSTRALIA, 1890.3a safeUS, 1859

Peter and his fuzzy palsnounthe male genitals An elaboration of

PETER(the penis)US, 2001

peter-crazyadjectiveobsessed with having sex with menUS, 1972

peter drops; peter; petesnounspecifically, knock-out drops;

gener-ally, any central nervous system depressantUS, 1933

peter-eaternouna person who enjoys performing oral sex on men

US, 1978

peter-gazernouna prisoner who cannot hide his interest in other

men’s penises while in the showersUS, 2001

peter heaternoun1an act of urination while wearing a wetsuitUS,

1991.2in Canadian military aviation, the pitot heater The ‘pitot

tube’ is a small tube pointed forward into the airstream, to

compare inside and outside pressure and measure airspeed In

cold weather, it can freeze up and must be heated electrically

CANADA, 1995

petermannouna safe-breakerUK, 1900

Peter O’Toolenouna stool, especially a bar stool Rhyming slang,

formed from the name of the celebrated Irish actor (b.1932)UK,

1998

peter outverbto gradually cease; to come to an endUS, 1854

peter pannoun1a van Rhyming slang, formed from J.M Barrie’s

immortal hero Peter PanUK, 1992.2a pan used by prostitutes while

washing a customer’s penis A crude if smart allusion to J.M

BarrieUS, 1974

peter paradenouna mass inspection of soldiers for signs of

sexually transmitted infectionsUS, 1947

peter pilotnouna co-pilot, especially one in trainingUS, 1987

peter pocketnounthe vagina Seen as a container for aPETER (PENIS)

US, 2001

peter-puffernouna person who performs oral sex on a manUS, 1987

Peters and Lee; petersnounan act of urination Rhyming slang

forPEEorWEE,formed from a 1970s recording actUK, 1998

peter thiefnouna prisoner who steals from others’ cells From

PETER(a cell)AUSTRALIA, 1950

peter thinnouna prisoner who steals from others’ cells FromPETER

(a cell)UK, 1996

peter tracksnounstains from seminal fluidUS, 1993

Pete Tongnouna variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best

known as ecstasy, identified by PT embossed on the tablet

Disguising PT with the name of a UK DJ associated with theRAVE

sceneUK, 2002

Pete Tongadjectivewrong Rhyming slang, based on the name of

popular club and BBC Radio 1 DJ, Pete Tong (b.1960)UK, 1996

pethnoun Pethidine™ a branded central nervous system depressant

UK, 1998

petroadjectiveanxious, nervous, afraidUS, 2003

petrol bowsers; petrolsnountrousers Rhyming slang Petrol

bowser is a proprietary name for a pumpAUSTRALIA, 1971

petrol headnoun1a motor vehicle enthusiastAUSTRALIA, 1985.2a fast

and reckless driverNEW ZEALAND, 1998

petrol tanknounan act of masturbation Rhyming slang forWANK

Petticoat Lanenouna physical pain; a pain (a nuisance) Rhymingslang, formed on London’s famous Sunday marketUK, 1992

Petulanouncentral London Almost certainly a reference to singerPetula Clark (b.1932) who enjoyed lasting success with the songs

‘Downtown’ and ‘Don’t Sleep in the Subway’UK, 2003

Peyton Placenounthe face Rhyming slang, formed from the title

of 1956 novel by Grace Metalious, probably remembered here forthe television drama series, 1964–69UK, 1998

pezzy; pezadjectiveinferior, of poor quality Derives from ‘peasant’

UK, 2003

PFCnoun a private fucking citizen What a private first class became

upon his discharge from duty in VietnamUS, 1985

Pfizer risernoun sildenafil citrate marketed as Viagra™, an

anti-impotence drug Viagra™ is manufactured by Pfizer, and ‘riser’ is aconvenient rhyme that suggests the drug’s power to stimulate anerectionUS, 1998

PFOadjectivea hospital patient who was injured while drunk From

‘pissed, fell over’ AUSTRALIA, 1987

PFQpretty fucking quick A variation ofPDQ(pretty damn quick)UK, 1998

pfundnoun 8see:FUNT

p-funknoun1heroin After the drug-driven music of George

Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic UK, 1998.2crack cocaine andphencyclidine mixed for smokingUS, 1994

PGnoun1paregoric elixir, a flavoured tincture of opium designed toassuage painUS, 1953.2a paying guest An initialism UK, 1963

PGadjective excellent An abbreviation of ‘past gone’ US, 2004

PG&Enoun electric shock treatment From the electric utility Pacific Gas and Electric Company US, 1962

PG bagnoun a small bag for carrying your personal effects, your sonal gear US, 2000

per-PGTadjectivedoctors’ shorthand for the facetious diagnosis (applied

to a casualty patient): pissed (drunk), got thumped Recorded in an

article about medical slang in British (3 London and 1 Cambridge)hospitalsUK, 2003

PG Tipsnounthe lips Rhyming slang, formed from a well-knownbrand of tea; a product which is famously, perhaps notcoincidentally, advertised by chimpanzeesUK, 1992

phantasmagorianounan astonishing visual display The term wascoined for an 1802 exhibition of optical illusions in London It wasused throughout the C19, forgotten, and then briefly revived inthe hippie era of the 1960s and 70sUK, 1802

phantom gobblernounan anonymous giver of oral sexUK, 2002

phantom offverbin surfing, to end a ride voluntarilyAUSTRALIA, 1977

phantom punchnicknamethe punch thrown by Muhammed Ali(then Cassius Clay) that was not seen but which knocked out hisopponent Sonny Liston on 25th May 1965US, 1998

Phar Lap oddsnounin horse racing, very high odds Phar Lap(1926–32), one of the greatest racehorses of all time, often ranwith very high oddsAUSTRALIA, 1989

pharmiesnounprescription medicationUS, 2003

pharmingnounthe mixing and then consumption of the mixedprescription drugsUS, 2001

phase 4nouna pill of MDMA, the recreational drug best known asecstasy, mixed with sufficient amphetamine for a 4-hour effect.Similarly, a ‘phase 8’ has an 8-hour effectUK, 2002

phatadjectiveexcellent, admirable A deliberate misspelling ofFAT

(good); originally black usage, now widespread via hip-hop culture

US, 1999

phat 2 deathadjectiveextremely goodUS, 1999

phat-phat; put-putnouna motorcycle; a three-wheeled scooter taxi EchoicINDIA, 2003

motor-phatty!great!US, 1997

P-headnouna frequent user of phenobarbital, a central nervous

pheasantnounin a gambling cheating scheme, a victimUS, 1974

pheasant pluckernouna ‘pleasant fucker’ A popular Spoonerism

that is also part of the well-known tongue-twisters: ‘I’m not a

pheasant plucker / I’m a pheasant plucker’s son / And I’m only

plucking pheasants / ‘Til the pheasant plucker comes’ and ‘I’m not

the pheasant plucker / I’m the pheasant plucker’s daughter / And

I’m not plucking pheasants / When some pheasant plucker

oughta’ Often used ironically with the sense ‘unpleasant fucker’

phet freaknounan amphetamine addictUS, 1975

phew!used for expressing relief or suffering, as in the legendary,

clichéd tabloid weather headline ’Phew! What a scorcher!’ UK, 1604

Philadelphia bankrollnouna single large-denomination note

wrapped around small-denomination notes, giving the impression

of a great deal of moneyUS, 1968

Philadelphia lawyernouna shrewd and skilled lawyer who is not

guided by scruples or ethics One of many unwarranted slurs on a

fine cityUS, 1788

Philadelphia mafianounrecording artists, record producers and

radio personalities based in Philadelphia in the late 1950sUS, 1982

Philadelphia rollnouna Philadelphia bankrollUS, 1972

philenouna computer file intended to assist computer hackingUS,

1996

philharmonicnoun tonic water Rhyming slang UK, 1992

Philistinenouna usurerUS, 1974

Phillies Blunt; Phillies; Philly; Phillienouna cigar re-made to

contain marijuana Generic usage but originally made with a

brand name Phillies Blunt™ cigarUS, 1992

PhillynounPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaUS, 1891

philosophernouna card cheatUS, 1967

Phil the fluter; philnouna gun Rhyming slang forSHOOTER, from

the eponymous hero of an Irish comic ballad, ‘Phil the Fluter’s

Ball’, 1915UK, 1992

Phil the GreeknicknameHis Royal Highness Prince Philip (b.1921),

Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich, born

Prince of Greece and Denmark Probably coined by satirical

magazine Private Eye; it overlooks the fact that Prince Philip is

actually DanishUK, 1994

phishnounan instance of stealing credit card data on the Internet

US, 2004

phishverbto steal credit card data on the InternetUS, 2003

phishingnounthe act of stealing credit card data on the InternetUS,

1997

phiznoun1physics, especially as a subject of studyHONG KONG, 1984.

2the face; the expression on the face An abbreviation of

‘physiognomy’ Also variants ‘phizz’ and ‘phyz’UK, 1688

phizgignouna police informer Variant ofFIZGIG AUSTRALIA , 1956

phizog; physog; fizzognounthe face; the expression on the face

An abbreviation of ‘physiognomy’UK, 1811

Phoebenounin dice games, a roll of fiveUS, 1945

phoenixnounLSDUK, 2003

phonenounin prison, the toilet bowl in a cell When the bowl

empties of water, it is possible to talk to prisoners in other nearby

cells using the pipes to carry the soundwavesAUSTRALIA, 1978

phoneverb< phone it inof an entertainer, to go through the

motions; to produce a half-hearted performanceUK, 2003

as telecommunications hobbyists (John Markoff, Wired Style, 1996)

oper-phone wenchnouna female customer service representativeUS, 1996

phoney; phonyadjectivefraudulent; fake; without substanceUS, 1894

phoney; phonynouna person who lacks sincerity and substanceUS, 1900

phoney-baloneyadjectiveutterly falseUS, 1989

phonus balonusnounnonsense An elaboration ofPHONEY-BALONEY

US, 1932

phonynouna deck of playing cards that is either stacked or markedfor cheatingUS, 1979

phooeyused for registering disbelief or disgustUS, 1929

photiesnounphotographsUK, 2002

photo finish; photo; photernounGuinness™, the branded Irishstout Rhyming slangUK, 1960

photog; fotognouna photographerUS, 1913

photogenicverbto remember something or someone in graphic detailUK, 1996

photo-phuckedadjectivedrug-intoxicated Deliberate misspelling ofFUCKED

(intoxicated) inspired by widespread use ofPHAT(excellent)UK, 1999

phull onadjectiveenthusiastic Deliberate misspelling ofFULL ON

(absolute) probably inspired by the widespread use ofPHAT

(excellent)UK, 1999

phunky; phungkyadjectivefunky in all its senses, but especiallyfashionable or as a descriptor of music Deliberate misspellingsinspired by the widespread use ofPHAT(excellent)UK, 1994

phus-phusnounwhispering, murmuringTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1984

phwoarnouna sexually attractive person From the lecherousexclamation ‘phwoar!’UK, 2002

phwoar!; phoor!; fwoarrrgh!used for registering an enthusiastic,possibly lecherous, reaction to a sexy someone or somethingUK, 1980

phynounmethadone An shortening of Physeptone™, a brandedmethadone hydrochlorideUK, 1971

physicaladjective< get physicalto become violentUS, 1996

physical jerksnounphysical exercises Originally jocular, nowcommonplaceUK, 1919

physionoun1a physiotherapistAUSTRALIA, 1960.2physiotherapy

AUSTRALIA, 1988

physsienouna physical fitness enthusiastBARBADOS, 1965

PInouna pimpUS, 1955

piadjective pious UK, 1891

pianonoun< on the pianolostUS, 1968.< play the pianotosearch for particles of crack cocaine with your fingers in anobsessive and compulsive mannerUS, 1992

PIBnoun someone who dresses completely in black A ‘person in black’ US, 1990

picnoun1a pictureUK, 1884.2a phonograph recordUS, 1960

Picassonouna card cheat who marks cards for identification inanother player’s handUS, 1993

Picasso arsenouna woman whose knickers are too tight The works

of celebrated artist Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) inspire this abstract

Piccadilly; piccaadjectivesilly Rhyming slang, based on the famous

central London locationUK, 1992

Piccadilly Percynounmercy Rhyming slangUK, 1979

piccalillinounthe penis Rhyming slang forWILLY, formed on a

popular pickleUK, 1998

piccaninnynoun1an Australian Aboriginal child Considered

offensiveAUSTRALIA, 1817.2a small black child; children; occasionally

any black person From Spanish pequeño (small) or Portuguese

pequeno (small) Originally applied in the West Indies and US

without being considered racist; now highly offensive and

derogatory or, in a black-on-black context, judgemental and

nega-tive Also variants ‘piccanin’, ‘picaninny’, ‘pickaninny’ and ‘pickney’

UK, 1785

piccaninny daylight; piccaninny dawnnounthe beginning of

dawn; first lightAUSTRALIA, 1866

piccie; piccynouna pictureAUSTRALIA, 1967

piccolonoun1the penis, especially as the object of oral sexUS, 1967.

2a record playerUS, 1953

piccolo and flute; piccolonouna suit (of clothes) Rhyming slang;

a variation ofWHISTLE AND FLUTE UK , 1960

PiccynounPiccadilly, LondonUK, 1962

pichenounthe vaginaUS, 1998

picknoun1a pickpocketUS, 1949.2an oversized comb, used for

bushy hairUS, 2000.3a needle and syringeNEW ZEALAND, 1995.< on

the pickdrinking (alcohol) Based onPICK AND CHOOSE, this is the

rhyming slang equivalent ofON THE BOOZE UK , 1992

pickverb1to challenge someone to a fightAUSTRALIA, 1953.2to tease

or kid someoneUS, 2003.< pick fruitto find and select a

homo-sexual partnerUS, 1950.< pick lintto focus on petty

imperfections in a play or performanceUS, 1973.< pick the

cherryto drive through a red traffic lightUS, 1997.< pick up

your marbles and go hometo quit an effort, especially to do so

with a lack of good sportsmanshipUS, 1991.< pick your arseto

waste your timeUK, 1995.< pick your brainsto seek and obtain

information from someone with specialist knowledgeUK, 1838

pick and choose; picknounalcohol, drink Rhyming slang for

BOOZE UK , 1960

pick and paynounin a casino, a method of paying off bets in

blackjack, in which the dealer evaluates each player’s hand and

pays or collects that player’s bet, and then moves to the next

playerUS, 1980

pick-ed wissnounurination after a period of discomfort An

intentional spoonerism of ‘a wicked piss’US, 1968

pick ’emnounin sports betting, a game in which neither team is

favoured and the bettor must pick the winnerUS, 1991

pickem up trucknouna pickup truck JocularUS, 1976

pickernoun1a fingerUS, 1945.2a pickpocketUS, 1950

Pickettywitchnouna ditch Rhyming slang, jocularly contrived from

the name of a UK pop group of the late 1960s and early 70sUK,

2004

picklenoun1a predicament; a sorry plight; an unpleasant difficulty

UK, 1562.2a torpedoUS, 1948.3a handgunUS, 1950.4in horse racing,

a regular but uninformed bettorAUSTRALIA, 1989.5in lobstering, the

brine that accumulates in a bait box produced by decomposing

bait fish and the salt used to preserve the bait fishUS, 1978.< off

your pickledrunkUK, 2002

pickleverbto embalm a corpseUS, 1949

pickledadjectivedrunkUK, 1633

pickled onionnouna bunion Rhyming slangUK, 1998

pickled porknounchalk Rhyming slangUK, 1998

pickled punksnounin a carnival, a side-show display of jars, each

with a foetus preserved in formaldehydeUS, 1960

pickle forknounin electric line work, an insulated line tool formally

known as a prong tie stickUS, 1980

pickle me tit!used for expressing surpriseNEW ZEALAND, 1964

pickle party male masturbation

pickle, pull and climbverbto drop a load of bombs and thenclimb to evade groundfireUS, 1991

picklepussnounan overtly and infectiously unhappy person In thesame vein asSOURPUSS, with ‘pickle’ conveying the sour qualityUS, 1963

pickle-stabbersnounshoes or boots with sharply pointed toes

CANADA, 2001

pickle ticklenounan act of sexual intercourseUS, 2001

pick-me-upnoun1an alcoholic drinkUS, 1982.2a dose of a centralnervous system stimulantUS, 1984

pick moochnounin sports betting, a bettor who will not pay forhandicapping information, but instead bets as those who havepaid for the information betUS, 1997

pick offverbin poker, to catch a player bluffingUS, 1979

pick onverbto tease or victimise someoneUK, 1937

pick the bones out of that!1used as a challenge to unravel, orretort to, or refute, an argumentUK, 1961.2a catchphrase thataccompanies expectorationUK, 1984

pickupnoun1a short-term sexual partnerUS, 1871.2a police order todetain and bring a person to the station for questioningUS, 1977.

3in the entertainment industry, a commitment to finance duction of a set number of episodes of a television programmeUS, 1993

pro-pick upverb1to meet someone and form a casual liaison in which

at least one of the pair has sexual ambitions involving the other

UK, 1698.2to pay a bill, especially when the accounting is for morethan one person; to meet the expense of financing or sponsoringsomethingUS, 1945.3to smoke marijuanaUS, 1952.< pick up on

to comprehend somethingUS, 1959

pickup girlnouna street prostituteAUSTRALIA, 1956

pickup mannounin an illegal lottery, a person who takes bets fromplayers to a central location and pays off winning betsUS, 1963

pickyadjectiveused of hair, tightly curled and shortBAHAMAS, 1982

picky-headnouna black person with short hairBARBADOS, 1965

picky-pucknouna one-cylinder, two-stroke engine; a boat powered

by such an engineCANADA, 1986

picnicnoun1oral sex, especially on a manUS, 1964.2extendedforeplay and/or sexual intercourseUS, 1993.3sex involving manypeople and many acts; an orgyUS, 1964.4a difficult situationNEW ZEALAND, 1998.5something difficult, unpleasant, messy, confusing,etc An ironic useAUSTRALIA, 1896.< no picnica difficult situation

or circumstanceUK, 1888

picnicverb(used of fishing boats) to congregate in one area wherefish are plentifulBARBADOS, 1965

pic pacnounin the film industry, a contract to make a set number

of films An abbreviation of ‘picture package’US, 1990

picturenouna beautiful person or thing Often in the phrase ‘pretty

as a picture’UK, 1815.< get the pictureto understand a situation

UK, 1938.< in the pictureaware of what is going onUK, 1900

picture card; picturenounin a deck of playing cards, any jack,queen or kingUS, 1961

picture gallerynounin circus and carnival usage, a heavily tattooedpersonUS, 1960

picture of the queennouna sterling currency note Basically acopy of US ‘picture of Abe’ (a $5 note), except that the queen’sface appears on all denominations issued in England and WalesUK, 2002

picturesnounmoneyUS, 1972.< take picturesto use radar tomeasure a vehicle’s speedUS, 1976

picture-takernouna police officer using radarUS, 1976

picturizeverb1to explain something; to put someone in thepicture Royal Navy slangUK, 1987.2to film somethingINDIA, 1979

piddlenounurine; an act of urinationUK, 1901

piddleverb1to urinateUK, 1796.2to rainUK, 1887.3to stealsomethingUS, 1952.4in bar dice games, to roll the dice todetermine who will go first in the game . in tiddlywinks,

to make a minute change in a pileUS, 1977.6to build something

with matchsticksUS, 1989

piddle aboutverbto busy yourself doing nothingNEW ZEALAND, 1984

piddle aroundverbto loaf or fool aroundUK, 1545

piddlernounin prison, a prisoner assigned to work in a craft shop

US, 1990

piddlingadjectivesmall; trivial, insignificantUK: SCOTLAND, 1559

pienoun1the vulvaUS, 1981.2a woman as a sexual objectUS, 1975.

3a person who is overweight Probably from the chant ‘who ate all

the pies?’UK, 2003.4a pizza An abbreviation of the rarely used, full

‘pizza pie’US, 1997

pie and chipsused by women as a generic instance of the

differ-ence between the sexes, especially with an ironic regard to equal

opportunitiesUK, 1996

pie and liquor; pie and lickernouna vicar Rhyming slangUK, 1992

pie and mashnoun1an act of urination Rhyming slang forSLASH

UK, 1974.2radio interference Rhyming slang for citizens’ band

radio jargon ‘hash’ (channel interference)UK, 1981.3cash Rhyming

slangUK, 1992

pie and mashadjectiveshowy Rhyming slang forFLASH UK , 2002

pie and onenouna son; the sun Rhyming slangUK, 1961

pie booknouna railwayman’s meal ticketUS, 1977

pie carnounin the circus, a dining car on the circus trainUS, 1980

pie cardnouna meal ticket; a means of surviving; a union cardUS,

1909

pie cartnouna catering truckNEW ZEALAND, 1959

piecenoun1a woman as a sexual object; sexUS, 1942.2an ounce of

drugsUS, 1936.3cocaineUK, 2003.4crack cocaineUK, 2003.5a

handgun Conventional English from C16 until the late C19, then

dormant, then slang, chiefly used in the USUS, 1930.6a snackUS,

1970.7a slice of bread, especially bread and spread; a sandwich

Originally just ‘a slice of bread’ Also seen in English dialect use

from Northumbria to CornwallUK: SCOTLAND, 1787.8(especially with

children) a sandwich Used in the south and west of mainland

AustraliaAUSTRALIA, 2003.9a well executed work of graffiti art An

abbreviation of ‘masterpiece’US, 2001.10a domicile, be it a room,

apartment or houseUS, 2001

piece booknouna graffiti artist’s notebook containing ideas,

outlines, sketches and plans for future graffiti piecesUS, 1990

piece mannounan armed bodyguard; a hired killerUS, 1974

piece of assnouna woman as a sexual object; sexual intercourseUS,

1930

piece of brassnouna prostitute Elaboration ofBRASS NAIL;BRASS(a

prostitute), playing on ‘piece of arse’ (an attractive woman)UK, 2001

piece of cakenounanything that is considered to be easily

achieved or acquired Originally Royal Air Force usageUS, 1936

piece of changenouna sum of moneyUS, 1946

piece of cuntnounsex with a woman; a woman as a sexual object

US, 1947

piece of duffnouna young male homosexual prostitute, a rent boy

On the model ofPIECE OF ASS(a woman as a sex object); fromDUFF

(the buttocks), probably informed byDUFF(inferior), and possibly

by a rhyme ofPUFF(a homosexual male)UK, 1996

piece offverbto divide an ounce of drugs FromPIECE(an ounce)

US, 1984

piece of legnounsexUS, 1977

piece of meatnouna woman as a sexual object; sexUS, 1965

piece of pissnounanything that can be achieved easily This

alliterative variation onPIECE OF CAKEwas originally Royal Air Force

slangUK, 1949

piece of pistachionounanything that can be achieved easily

Euphemistic elaboration ofPIECE OF PISS UK , 2002

piece of shitnounsomething disgusting or of very poor quality; a

person who is greatly dislikedUS, 1986

piece of skin; piece of flesh

piece of steelnounin prison, a homemade knifeUK, 1996

piece of tradenouna male who self-identifies as a heterosexual butwill let homosexual men perform oral sex on himUS, 1965

piece of wet shitnounsomething disgusting or of very poor ity; a person who is greatly disliked A slight intensification ofPIECE

qual-OF SHIT US , 1979

piece of worknoun1a contemptible personUK, 1928.2a killingUS, 2001

piece-o-idiotnouna complete foolBARBADOS, 1998

pieces of eight; piecesnounweight Rhyming slangUK, 1992

pieceynouna slice of bread with a topping Used especially inVictoriaAUSTRALIA, 2003

pie-choppernounthe mouthUS, 1953

piecrustnouna thin layer of hard snow over soft snowANTARCTICA, 1911

piedrasnouncrack cocaine From the Spanish for ‘hailstones’, thusthe image of small white rocksUK, 1998

pie-eaternouna person of no consequence Calling to mind animage of someone whose principal fare is the meat pie, in otherwords, a person with a mundane and narrow view of the worldjudging by their culinary habits It is claimed that the word wascoined during World War 2, and referred then specifically toconscripted criminals who deserted and thence scrounged freepies from the army buffet in Hyde Park, Sydney There may besome truth in this, but there is an example of ‘pie-biter’ dating to

1911, and so perhaps ‘pie-eater’ may also predate the war

AUSTRALIA, 1944

pie-eatingadjectiveinconsequentialAUSTRALIA, 1944

pie-eyedadjectiveextremely drunkUS, 1904

pie factorynouna mental institutionUS, 1967

pie holenounthe mouthUS, 1994

pie horsenouna racehorse that has performed very poorly Sonamed because of the horse’s figurative future as the makings of

a meat pieAUSTRALIA, 1989

pie in the skynoununattainable dreams Often, ‘there’ll be pie inthe sky when you die’ denoting an illusory happy ever after; takenfrom a parody of the hymn ‘In the Sweet Bye and Bye’: ‘You willeat, bye and bye, / In that glorious land in the sky; / Work and pray,live on hay, / You’ll get pie in the sky when you die’ by radicallabour activist Joe Hill (aka Joel Haggstrom and Joseph Hillstrom),

‘The Preacher and the Slave’, ?1911 Joe Hill was executed in Utah

in 1915US, 2000

pierced upadjectiveused of someone who is ornamented with bodypiercingsUK, 1996

piercingnoungraffitiUS, 1997

piercingadjectiveoverbearingUS, 1960

pier ratnouna surfer with no regard for surf etiquetteUS, 1977

pier six brawlnounan all-out brawlUS, 1929

piesnounthe eyesUS, 1945

pie tasternouna person who enjoys performing oral sex on women

US, 1981

pie wagonnouna police transport truck or vanUS, 1904

piffverbto throw something Chiefly used in Victoria;

onomatopoeic of something whizzing through the airAUSTRALIA, 1999

pifflenounnonsense From the verb (to talk or act in a feeblemanner)UK, 1890

pignoun1a police officer; in the plural it may mean a number ofpolice personnel or the police in generalUK, 1811.2a malechauvinistUS, 1992.3a person who has a large or indiscriminateappetite A shortened form of ‘greedy pig’UK, 1546.4a chorusdancerUS, 1948.5a promiscuous womanUS, 1955.6an unattractivefemaleUK: SCOTLAND, 1988.7a prostituteCANADA, 1960.8an inferior orbad example of anything From an earlier sense as ‘an unpleasantperson’UK, 1925.9a ‘Humber’ one-ton 4x4 armoured personnel

the 1970s; taken out of service in the early 1990sUK, 1974.10an

M-60 machine gun Each squad in Vietnam was assigned an M-M-60,

the army’s general-purpose machine gun which entered the

service in the 1950s It was designed to be lightweight (23 pounds)

and easy to carry It produced a low ‘grunting’ sound and thus the

porcine allusionsUS, 1974.11in circus usage, an elephant, male or

femaleUK, 1934.12in a split-pot game of poker, a player who

declares both high and lowUS, 1988 8see:PIG IN THE MIDDLE.

< in pigpregnantUK, 1945.< kill your pigto spoil your chances

of doing somethingUK: NORTHERN IRELAND, 1996

pig boardnouna surfboard with a narrow, tapered point and a

broad tailUS, 1963

pig booknouna student directory with photographs of each student

US, 1969

pig-dognouna bull terrierAUSTRALIA, 1982

pig downverbto alter a car’s body or frameUS, 1947

pigeonnoun1a gullible victim of a swindleUK, 1593.2a young

woman, especially an attractive oneUK, 1586.3a new participant in

a twelve-step recovery programme such as Alcoholics Anonymous

US, 1998.4an informer A shortened form ofSTOOL PIGEON US , 1849.

5in horse racing, a losing ticket that someone tries to cash in for

winningsUS, 1947.6in shuffleboard, a disc straddling the 7/10 off

lineUS, 1967.7a urinary bottle used in hospitalIRELAND, 1999

pigeonverbto betray someone; to inform on someoneUS, 1959

pigeon dropnouna swindle in which two confederates pretend to

find a wallet and convince a third person to share in the proceeds

of the findUS, 1940

pigfootnounmarijuanaUS, 1960

pigfuckernouna despicable personUS, 1994

piggie banknounthe stockings worn by an overweight womanUS,

1981

piggiesnoun< make piggiesto have sexUS, 1969

piggingadjectiveused as an all-purpose intensifier, generally to

nega-tive effect; euphemistic for ‘fucking’, ‘sodding’, etcUK, 1974

pigglenounthe penis Children’s vocabularyTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1980

piggynounthe toe Childish, from the nursery rhyme ‘This little

piggy went to market, / This little piggy stayed at home’UK, 1984

piggybackverb1in casino blackjack, to place a bet in another

player’s squareUS, 1996.2to transport loaded tractor trailers on

railway flat wagonsUS, 1971

piggybackadjectiveused of a vehicle, stacked on top of another

vehicle for transportUS, 1936

piggybackingnounthe reclamation of an abandoned building, floor

by floorUS, 1989

piggy banknoun1savings After the traditional money boxUK, 1984.

2a toll booth on a turnpike roadUS, 1976.3an act of masturbation

Rhyming slang forWANK Also shortened form ‘piggy’UK, 1992

piggy in the middle; pig in the middlenouna person caught in

the middle of a dispute From the traditional children’s gameUK,

1962

piggy partsnounhamUS, 1996

pig-ignorantadjectivevery ignorantUK, 1972

pig in knickersnouna very unattractive female An elaboration of

PIG UK: SCOTLAND , 1988

pig in shitnoun< happy as a pig in shit; like a pig in shit

very happyUK, 1944

pig in the middle; pignounurine; an act of urination Rhyming

slang forPIDDLEorWIDDLE UK , 1992

pig in the wallnounan error in bricklaying in which opposite ends

of a new wall meet at different heightsUK, 1978

pig ironnoun1in horse racing, any illegal drug given to a racehorse

AUSTRALIA, 1989.2a carnival ride; the metal assembly of a carnival

rideUS, 1960

Pig Iron Expressnounthe steel-hauling division of Pacific

pig iron monkeynounin oil drilling, a derrick construction worker

US, 1954

pig killernounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP orangel dustUS, 1981

pig-outnouna session of gorging on foodUS, 1978

pig outverbto eat a lot quickly and messilyUS, 1978

pig partynounserial consensual sex between one person and tiple partnersUK, 1988

mul-pigpennoun1a police headquartersUS, 1993.2an illegal gamblingoperationUS, 1982.3in nine wicket croquet, the crossed centrewicketsUS, 1977

pig pilenounan orgy with homosexual menUS, 1972

pig-rootverb(of a horse) to prop with the front legs and kick up theback legsAUSTRALIA, 1900

pigsnoun< pigs toto hell withAUSTRALIA, 1906

pigs!used for registering derision or contempt An abbreviation of

PIG’S ARSE!AUSTRALIA, 1933

pig’s arse!nonsense! Although the earliest record of thisexclamation is from 1951, the existence of euphemistic formssuch as ‘pig’s ear’ (dating to 1919) show that it was clearly in usemuch earlierAUSTRALIA, 1951

pigs’ ballroomnouna bar or club where unattractive femalescongregateUK: SCOTLAND, 1988

pig’s bumnonsenseAUSTRALIA, 1998

pig scabsnounpork scratchings, a packaged snack sold in barsUK, 2003

pig’s earnounbeer Rhyming slang Sometimes shortened to ‘pigs’

in UK usageAUSTRALIA, 1924.< make a pig’s ear; make a pig’s

to bungle; to blunder; to make a mess of somethingUK, 1954

pig shit runnouna supply transport flight in the early years of USinvolvement in the Vietnam war, including transport of live farmanimals that left reminders of their presence in the planesUS, 1990

pig-sickadjectiveirritated; annoyed and disgustedUK, 1961

pigskinnouna saddleAUSTRALIA, 1989

pig’s Latinnounany coded language used by prison guardsUS, 1984

pig’s lattienouna sty Polari; a play onLATTIE(a house) giving ‘pig’shouse’UK, 2002

pig slicesnounhamUS, 1996

pig stationnounin prison, a guard control roomUS, 1984

pig-stickernoun1a knife, especially a large knifeUK, 1890.2a stickwith a nail or sharp metal point on one end used for picking uppaper litterUS, 1996

pig’s trotternouna squatter (an unauthorised occupant) RhymingslangUK, 1998

pigstynoun1a untidy or ill-kept placeUK, 1820.2a police stationUS, 1976

pigtailnoun1in trucking, an electrical cable that connects theelectrical systems of the trailer and the tractor cabUS, 1971.2inelectric line work, an insulated line tool formally known as a spirallink stickUS, 1980

pig waternounweak, low quality alcoholUS, 1958

pikenoun1a toll road, a toll motorwayUS, 1971.2a railwayUS, 1946.

3a glanceUS, 1950

pikeverb1in a card game, to peek at an opponent’s cardsUS, 1962.

2(of a man) to tape the penis and testicles to the body as part of

an effort to pass as a womanUS, 1987

pike outverbto back out of a commitmentNEW ZEALAND, 1984

pikernoun1a rank amateur or beginner; a gambler who makessmall, cautious betsUS, 1872.2a person who opts out of anagreement or abandons someone; a weak, cowardly person Aterm of high contempt in AustraliaAUSTRALIA, 1950

pikeynouna tramp; a gypsy; a traveller Generally used of travellers

actor Brad Pitt played a ‘pikey’ in the film Snatch, written and

directed by Guy Ritchie, 2000UK, 1847

pikkienoun1a photograph or filmNEW ZEALAND, 1998.2a small

person, a child, a small child; a small thing Directly from

Afrikaans pikkie Between children, usage may be contemptuous.

Also shortened form ‘pik’SOUTH AFRICA, 1948

pilchardnouna foolUK, 2001

pilenoun1a great deal of moneyUK, 1741.2in poker, the amount of

money (cash and/or chips) a player has in front of him available

for bettingUS, 1979.< on the pilein prisonUS, 1970

pileverb(from the male point of view) to have sexUS, 1968.< pile it

onto exaggerate; to show-off A variation ofPILE ON THE AGONY

[see:AGONY]US, 1876

pile drivernoun1a sexual position in which the woman stands on

her head and the man enters her directly and powerfully from

above A term (and practice) found more commonly in

pornography than real lifeUS, 1995.2the active participant in anal

sexUS, 1979.3a hole in a road, jarring to the driver when

encounteredUS, 1962

pile inverbto enter en masse, especially a vehicle or a barUS, 1841

pile of rocksnouna type of bet in an illegal numbers game lottery

US, 1957

pile-onnounan offensive, despicable person; a clumsy person; a

socially awkward person An image, perhaps, of this person as

victimINDIA, 2002

pilesnouncrack cocaineUK, 1998

pileup; pile-upnouna crash involving multiple vehicles Originally

World War 1 Royal Air Force for ‘a plane crash’, from an earlier

verb sense used by the navy Widely used by mid-C20, this sense

was virtually conventional by the mid-1970sUK, 2000

pilgrimnoun1in northwestern Canada, a tourist or newcomer; also,

a cow newly imported to the regionCANADA, 1962.2a newcomer to

a game of pokerUS, 1988

pillnoun1any central nervous system stimulantUS, 1966.2a tablet of

MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy A generic

usageUK, 1996.3a pellet of opiumUS, 1946.4a cigaretteUK, 1914.5a

rugby ballNEW ZEALAND, 2002.6in pool, a small tally ball used as a

scoring deviceUS, 1993.7an unpleasant personUK, 1871.< the pill

1the contraceptive pill Not in practical currency until the early

1960sUK, 1957.2the weekly anti-malaria pill taken by US troops in

Vietnam Playing on the birth control pill, then very much in

vogue back homeUS, 1991

pillar and postnouna ghost Rhyming slangUK, 1960

pilled; pilled upadjectiveunder the influence of central nervous

system stimulants or depressantsUS, 1966

pillheadnouna habitual user of amphetamines, barbiturates, or

MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasyUS, 1966

pillion pussynouna woman attracted to motorcyclists A ‘pillion’

(probably from the Scottish Gaelic or Irish Gaelic for ‘rug’) is a

motorcycle saddleNEW ZEALAND, 1956

pillocknoun a fool From a variation of dialect pillicock or pillcock

(the penis)UK, 1967

pillownoun1a weak, effeminate, gutless maleAUSTRALIA, 1992.2a

sealed polyethylene bag of drugsUS, 1970.< an extra pillowused

as a coded references for a prostitute arranged by a hotel

conciergeUK, 2005

pillow-biternouna homosexual male; specifically the passive

partner in anal intercourseAUSTRALIA, 1981

pillow-bitingadjectivehomosexualAUSTRALIA, 1985

pillowcasenounan empty-headed foolUS, 1988

pillow pigeonsnounbedbugsUS, 1947

pillow talknounintimate discussions in bed Suggests secrets

shared, not sexually oriented talkUS, 1977

pill partynounexecution in the gas chamber Pills of cyanide

dropped into a bucket of water produce the lethal gas, hence the

pill poppernouna habitual user of drugs in pill formUS, 1979

pill-pushernoun1a doctor, especially a specialist in internal cineUK, 1909.2a pharmacistUS, 1980

medi-pill-rollernouna doctorUS, 1951

pillsnounthe testiclesUK, 1937.< on pillsdieting Teen slangUS, 1958

pillynounan abuser of drugs in pill formUS, 1970

pilotnoun1a person who remains drug-free to guide anotherthrough an experience on a hallucinogenic drugUS, 1966.2a driver

of any heavy-load vehicle; a bus driverUK, 1936.3in horse racing, ajockeyUS, 1983.4a pimpBARBADOS, 1965

pilot errornounin computing, a user’s misconfiguration thatproduces errors that at first appear to be the fault of the program

US, 1991

pimnounthe clitorisTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003

pimpnoun1a man who, for a percentage of the income derived,arranges clients for a prostitute; a man who lives off the earnings

of a prostituteUK, 1600.2a charming man who attracts womenUS,

1997.3in a deck of playing cards, a jack or knaveUS, 1988.4aninformer to the police or other authoritiesAUSTRALIA, 1899.5cocaine

US, 1994

pimpverb1to work as a pimp; to exert control over a prostituteUS,

1972.2to take advantage ofUS, 1942.3to act in a stylised,fashionable wayUS, 1970.4to inform; to betrayAUSTRALIA, 1938.5towin away the affection of another person’s dateUS, 1966.< pimp your pipeto loan or rent a pipe used for smoking crack cocaine

US, 1994

pimpadjectiveexcellent, fashionable, stylishUS, 1970

pimp-assadjectivein the manner of a pimpUS, 1995

pimp-crazyadjectivepsychologically controlled by a pimpUS, 1972

pimp dustnouncocaine Before the era of crack cocaine, cocainewas an expensive drug enjoyed only by the wealthy, notably bypimpsUS, 1980

pimped-upadjectiveflashy; of a car, laden with flashy accessories,usually not related to the car’s performanceUS, 1993

pimpingadjectiveexpensive, fashionableUS, 2003

pimplenouna steep hill Hauliers’ slangUK, 1951

pimple and blotch; pimplenounScotch whisky Rhyming Slang for

pimp post; pimp restnounan armrest or console between thedriver’s seat and the passenger seat of a car Used for theGANGSTER

pimp shoes; pimping shoesnounflashy, expensive shoesUS, 1972

pimp slapverbto strike someone forcefully, usually with the back ofthe hand across the faceUS, 1997

pimp steaknouna frankfurterUS, 1970

pimp sticknouna cigarette holderUS, 1967

pimp sticksnounwire coathangers used by pimps to beatprostitutesUS, 1972

pimp suitnouna showy, extravagant, tasteless suitUS, 1980

pimpsy; pimpsadjectivetoo easy Upper-class society use; possibly

pimp titlenouna pimp’s claim on the loyalty, services and earnings

of a prostituteUS, 1979

pimp upverbto add flashy touches to something; to dress

something upUS, 1993

pinnoun1the leg or foot Usually in the pluralUK, 1530.2a

hypodermic syringe and needle used for the injection of narcotics

US, 1973.3a very thin marijuana cigaretteUS, 1967.4a person who

serves as a lookoutUS, 1992 8see:PIN POSITION

pinverb1to scrutinise someone or something to look at someone

or something intentlyUS, 1965.2to inject a drugUK, 2003.3to tattoo

something with improvised equipmentUS, 1972.4(from the male

perspective) to have sexUK, 1961.< pin for homeon the railways,

to leave work and go homeUS, 1977.< pin onto fix the blame on

someoneUK, 1979.< pin one onto consume a drinkAUSTRALIA, 1957

pin and needlenouna beetle Rhyming slang The plural is ‘pins

and needles’UK, 1992

pin artistnounan illegal abortionistUS, 1962

pin-brainnounan idiotUK, 1998

pinchnoun1an arrestUS, 1900.2a technique used by a man to

maintain an erection, compressing the base of his penisUS, 1995.

3very potent heroin, bought and used in small amountsUS, 1993.

4a small amount of marijuanaUK, 1996.5a dollar note or

five-dollar betting chipUS, 1988.6a steep inclineAUSTRALIA, 1846

pinchverb1to arrest someoneUK, 1837.2to steal somethingUK, 1656.

3in horse racing, to win A jockey may; ‘pinch’ a race A

bookmaker might manage to ‘pinch a little.’AUSTRALIA, 1989.

< pinch a loafto defecateUS, 1994

pinchadjectivesubstitute Back-formation from ‘pinch-hit’ (in

baseball, to bat as substitute)US, 2002

pinch and pressverbto cheat at gambling, secretly taking back

chips from your bet when dealt a bad hand and adding chips

when dealt a good handUS, 1985

pincheadjectiveused as an intensifier, roughly the same as ‘fucking’

Border Spanish used in English conversation by

Mexican-AmericansUS, 1974

pinchersnounshoes, especially tight shoesUS, 1945

pinch hitnouna single inhalation of marijuanaUS, 1993

pinch pipenouna small pipe designed to hold enough marijuana

for a single inhalation Small, easily hidden from parents and

teachers, and economicalUS, 1993

pin dicknouna male with a small penisUS, 2003

pin-drop silencenounabsolute silence Indian English, from the

familiar phrase ‘so quiet you could hear a pin drop’INDIA, 2001

pinenounmarijuanaUK, 2001

pineapplenoun1a hand grenade, especially a MK-2 hand grenade

or Type 59 grenadeUS, 1918.2a combination of cocaine and heroin

US, 1973.3a male homosexual Perhaps as a specialisation ofFRUIT,

possibly punning on anal sex as ‘taking theROUGH END OF THE

PINEAPPLE’UK, 1972.4a fifty dollar note From its yellowish colour

AUSTRALIA, 1992.5a chapel Glasgow rhyming slang, with a stress on

the second and third syllablesUK: SCOTLAND, 1982.6in electric line

work, a spool insulatorUS, 1980.7unemployment benefitUK, 1937

pineapple chunk; pineapplenoun1a bunk bed; a bunk (an act of

running away)UK, 1961.2semen Rhyming slang forSPUNK UK , 2003

Pineapple Expressnouna wind from the south, onshore in British

Columbia, which is said to have the scent of Hawaiian pineapples

and is warm, occasionally blowing in the winter An explanation for

the warmer climate on Canada’s west coast than inlandCANADA,

2001

pineapple juicenouna rain storm in HawaiiUS, 1991

pine box release; pine box parolenoundeath while in prisonUS,

1978

pine topnounstrong, illegally manufactured whiskyUS, 1999

pingnoun1an attempt; an effort; a shotAUSTRALIA, 1988.2an injection

of a drugNEW ZEALAND, 1982.3the sound caused in a car engine by

pingverb1to recognise or identify someone or something RoyalNavy slang; probably echoic of a radar’s noiseUK, 1987.2to hitsomething with a projectileAUSTRALIA, 1934.3of a racehorse, tojump wellUK, 2003.4to penalise or fine someone for for breaking arule or lawAUSTRALIA, 1934.< ping the pillto remove a smallamount of a drug from a capsule or packet for your later useUS, 1970

pingernouna chunk of gold that makes a noise as it hits the pan

ping-pongnouna small photographic portraitBARBADOS, 1965

pingpongverb(used of a doctor engaged in insurance fraud) toneedlessly refer a patient to a number of specialistsUS, 1982

pinheadnoun1a fool; an imbecileUS, 1896.2a person whoseinterest in playing pinball approaches the level of obsessionUS,

1977.3an amphetamine userUS, 1971.4in the language ofsnowboarding, a skierUS, 1990.5a railway brakemanUS, 1946

pinknoun1a white personUS, 1945.2a liberal; a socialist; acommunist sympathiserUS, 1927.3the open vagina Widely used inpornography, and beyondUS, 1991.4proof of car ownership Ashortened form ofPINK SLIP US , 1965.5a capsule of secobarbitalsodium (trade name Seconal™), a central nervous system depress-antUS, 1967.6a casino gambling token worth $2.50US, 1991.7inpoker, a flush consisting of either hearts or diamondsUS, 1963.8in

horse racing, a track police officer Derived from the Pinkerton

AgencyUS, 1947

Pinknouna ‘detective’ from the Pinkerton Agency Strikebreakingwas among the several roles played by the Pinkerton AgencyUS, 1904

pinkadjective1homosexual Traditionally ‘pink for a girl, blue for aboy’ As an absolutely negative association the colour pink wasused in Nazi Germany to label homosexuals for segregation,internment and extermination; in post-World-War-2 Britain, pinkhad connotations of effeminacy; in the 1970s politically activehomosexuals adopted the colour-coded symbolism and pink slowlytook on a generally positive tone both in the gay and widercommunity, especially as a marketing designationUK, 2003.2white;CaucasianUS, 1945.< all pinkin poker, a flush consisting of allhearts or all diamondsUS, 1967

pink 125nouna tablet of MDMA, the recreational drug best known

as ecstasy From the colour and the 125 mg dosageUK, 2002

pink-assedadjectivesomewhat angryUS, 1962

pink blottersnouna type of LSDUK, 1998

Pink Cadillacnouna variety of MDMA, the recreational drug bestknown as ecstasy The colour of the tablet inspires the ultimate inrock ’n’ roll luxury transportUK, 1996

pink champagnenoun1methamphetamine with a pinkish colourproduced by the presence of the stimulant pemolineUS, 1989.2amix of cocaine and heroinUK, 1996

pinkernounin poker, a timid bettorUS, 1967

pinkersnouna pink gin Naval in originUK, 1961

pink eyenoun1cheap, low grade whiskyCANADA, 1953.2specialcontact lenses worn by card cheats to see luminous markings onthe back of cardsUS, 1988

Pink Floydnouna potent type of LSD Honouring the rock groupPink Floyd, from their early days in the late 1960s when they wereconsidered avant garde and psychedelicUK, 1999

pink heartnounan amphetamine tabletUS, 1997

pinkienoun1the little finger Originally Scottish, mostly amongchildren, but now widespread Also variant ‘pinky’UK, 1808.2awhite person, especially a male Recorded in use by blackteenagersUK, 1967.3a pink-eyed albino Also variant ‘pinky’UK, 1962.

4the vaginaTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1986.5a bruised eyeUS, 1970.6in

.

races best from the outside positionAUSTRALIA, 1989.8in

Newfoundland, cheap wineCANADA, 1958.9an early model

long-wheel base ‘110’ Land Rover Used by the British militaryUK, 1995

8see:PINK SPEEDBALL

pinkie cheaternouna latex finger glove used during digital

examin-ationsUS, 1973

pinkie-loadnounin caving and pot-holing, a piece of equipment so

light that it can be picked up by a little finger; hence, a person in

a group who is not carrying his or her fair share FromPINKIE(the

little finger)UK, 2004

pinkie ring; pinky ringnouna ring worn on the little finger,

especially an ostentatious ring worn by a criminalUS, 1975

pinkiesnoununderwearUS, 1954

pink ladynouna capsule of secobarbital sodium (trade name

Seconal™), a central nervous system depressantUS, 1968

pink lemonadenouncleaning fluid injected intravenously An often

lethal substitute for methedrineUS, 1971

pink lintadjectivehaving little or no money, penniless Rhyming

slang forSKINT UK , 1961

pink mafianounany group of women banded together, especially

lesbiansUS, 1997

pinkonouna liberal; a socialist; a communist Originally applied to

Communist party members, subsequently (in the late 1950s) to

anyone who disagreed with the dominant culture and politics

Also used attributivelyUS, 1936

pink oboenounthe penis Coined by satirist Peter Cook (1937–95)

for a sketch performed in Amnesty International’s The Secret

Policeman’s Ball UK, 1979

pink palacenoun1a homosexual venue CombinesPINK

(homose-xual) with an alliterative locationUK, 2000.2the prison at Hobart

AUSTRALIA, 1995

Pink Panthernouna variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best

known as ecstasy, identified by the colour and embossed Pink

Panther motifUK, 2002

pink pantsnounrubbish An elaboration of ‘pants’ (rubbish)UK, 2004

pink piccolonounthe penisUK, 2001

pink puffernouna patient suffering from emphysemaUS, 1973

pink-ribbon casenouna criminal case that has been thoroughly

and professionally investigated by the police It is said that the

police hand the prosecutor a case like this with a pink ribbon tied

around itUS, 1962

pink robotsnouna type of LSDUS, 1998

pink slipnounthe proof of car ownershipUS, 1963

pink snappernounthe vagina CombinesPINK(the open vagina)

with ‘snapper’ (various fish are so-called), thusFISH(the vagina);

‘snapper’ also suggests the image of a mouth that closesUS, 2001

pink speedball; pinkienouna mixture of pharmaceutical cocaine

and Dipipanone, an opiate marketed under the brand name

Diconal™UK, 2001

pink teanounan effeminate male homosexualUS, 1957

pink-topnouna small vial of heroin sealed with a pink plastic cap

The pink plastic cap denotes a variation in purity and priceUS, 2002

pink torpedonounthe penis, especially when erect Aggressive

imageryUS, 1984

Pinkvillenounan area in the province of Quang Ngai, South

Vietnam Either named because of the area’s appearance on maps

or because of the strong presence of communist forces in the area

US, 1970

pink wedgenouna type of LSDUS, 1970

pink witchnouna type of LSDUS, 1970

pinkyverbin dice games with no bank, to roll the dice to see who

will play firstUS, 1950

Pinky and Perky; pinkynounturkey (meat) Rhyming slang,

formed on the puppets of twin pigs who, from 1957, became

pinky’s out of jail!your slip is showing!US, 1955

pin-moneynounspending money Originally a C16 practice of ahusband allotting to his wife a certain amount each year for per-sonal expensesUK, 1697

pinnedadjective1(used of eyes) constricted after opiate useUS, 1966.

2addicted to drugs FromPIN(a hypodermic syringe)US, 1997

pinned upadjectivedrug-intoxicated FromPINNED(the condition ofthe pupils when intoxicated)UK, 1996

pinnynouna pinaforeUS, 1851

pinnyadjectivevery smallBARBADOS, 1965

pin position; pinnounthe front position in an authorised taxi rank

UK, 1977

pin shotnounan improvised injection of a drug in which the skin ispricked and an injection made directly into the woundUS, 1949

pinsternouna bowlerUS, 1953

pintnouna short personUS, 1997

pintanoun1a pint of milk From the advertising slogan, ‘Drinkapinta milka day’UK, 1958.2a prison Spanish slang used by English-speaking Mexican-AmericansUS, 2000

pint potnouna pint glass, usually for draught beerUK, 1999

pint-size; pint-sizedadjectiveused of a person’s stature, smallUK, 1938

pin-upnouna photograph or printed reproduction of a sexuallyattractive person; the person who is the subject of, or has thecharacteristics required for, such a picture Originally, from the factthat such images were pinned up on wallsUS, 1941

PIO’snounin the language of hang gliding, over-control by the flier

An abbreviation of ‘pilot-induced oscillations’ US, 2004

pipnoun1the best, the finest From ‘pippin’ (the best)US, 1897.2astar worn by military officers as an indication of rankUK, 1917.3anunidentified spot on a radar screenUS, 1947.4a woman’s menstrualperiodUS, 2001.5in the whe-whe lottery game, a bet that is close

to the winning numberTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003.< give someone the pipto annoy someoneUK, 1896

pipverbto defeat someone by a narrow margin Sometimeselaborated to ‘pip at the post’UK, 1939

pipenoun1the penisUS, 1962.2any large vein, well suited for druginjectionUS, 1952.3any wind or reed instrumentUS, 1964.4anexhaust pipeUS, 1952.5a telephoneUK, 1951.6the firing chamber of

a handgunUS, 1987.7an electric outletBARBADOS, 1965.8a sufficientmeasure of marijuana for smoking in a pipe Recorded as

Afrikaans pyp in 1967 SOUTH AFRICA, 1970.9a measurement of time:the distance that could be travelled between rest periods at which

a pipe could be smokedCANADA, 1957.10the vertical bar (|) on acomputer keyboardUS, 1991.11an academically unchallengingcourseUS, 1968.< do the pipeto smoke crack cocaineUS, 1996.

< on the pipe1addicted to crack cocaineUS, 1991.2used of aconversation between two jail cells conducted through plumbingemptied of waterUS, 1992.< put that in your pipe and smoke it!; stick that in your pipe and smoke it!accept the situation,

or what you have been told, whether you wish to or notUK, 1824.

< take the pipeto commit suicideUS, 1982.< The Pipe

General Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) of the US Army Fromhis love of a corncob pipeUS, 1982.< the pipethe Greenwichtunnel (under the River Thames)UK, 2001

pipeverb1to smoke crack cocaine in a pipeUK, 2000.2to look atsomeone or somethingUK, 1874.3to fabricate a storyUS, 1976

pipe and drum; pipenounthe anus Rhyming slang forBUM,especially in the retort ‘up your pipe!’UK, 1961

pipe coursenounan easy course in college From the older, largelyforgotten sense of ‘pipe’ as ‘easy to accomplish’US, 1927

pipedadjectivedrunk or drug-intoxicatedUS, 1949

pipe downverbto be quieter; to shut up Often exclamatory Fromthe nautical sense (to dismiss by sounding the pipe)UK, 1965

pipeheadnouna crack cocaine addictUS, 1992

pipe jobnoun1oral sex performed on manUS, 1973.2an elaborate,fanciful fabricated story

pipelinenoun1a citizens’ band radio channel which is popularUS,

1976.2in the era of analogue phone exchanges, a telephone

number with a recorded message which several people could call

at the same time, circumvent the recorded message, and speak to

each otherUS, 1997.3the rapidly spreading curl of a breaking wave

US, 1965

pipelinernounin the era of analogue phone exchanges, a person

who called a number with a recording, where it was possible to

communicate with others calling at the same timeUS, 1997

pipe-openernounin horse racing, a short, intense workout several

days before a raceUS, 1976

pipernouna crack cocaine addictTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1993

pipesnoun1the vocal chordsUS, 1969.2the upper arm musclesUS,

1997

pipesmokernouna homosexual male An allusion to oral sexUS, 1997

pipe upverb1to commence speaking, especially in a situation

which may require a degree of boldness on the speaker’s partUK,

1889.2to smoke crack cocaineUS, 1992

pipickheadnouna stupid person The word is a combination of the

Yiddish pipick (navel/bellybutton) and the English word CANADA, 2002

pip jockeynouna radar operatorUS, 1947

pippedadjectivedrunkUS, 1982

pippernounin Canadian military aviation, an aiming device on a

fighter’s gunsightCANADA, 1995

pippienounthe penisBAHAMAS, 1982

pipsnounthe female breastsUS, 1981

pipsqueak; pip-squeaknounan insignificant personUK, 1910

piranhanouna poker player who bets aggressively on any hand with

any chance of winningUS, 1988

piratenounan unlicensed taxi driverUK, 1977

pirate’s dreamnouna flat-chested woman From the association of

pirates enjoying sex with captive teenage boys, or perhaps from

the punning association of a girl with ‘a sunken chest and a box

full of treasure’US, 1972

pishnounrubbish, nonsenseUK, 1988

pishverbused as an alternative spelling for ‘piss’ (to urinate); hence,

to rain heavilyUK, 1997

pishedadjectivedrunk A variation ofPISSED(drunk)UK: SCOTLAND, 1988

pishernouna person of no consequence Yiddish from German,

literally ‘a bed-wetter’US, 1968

pisoadjectivesomeone who is miserly with money Military usage;

derives from Indian currency: a pais or pice is one quarter of an

anna which, in turn, is one sixteenth of a rupeeUK, 1987

pissnoun1alcohol, especially beerAUSTRALIA, 1945.2the act of

urination; urine The verb produced the noun Late Middle English

then standard English, until it was deemed vulgar during C19 The

sound of the word echoes the sound of urinationUK, 1958.< on

the pisson a drinking bingeAUSTRALIA, 1965.< take the piss out

ofto satirise someone or something; to make a joke of someone

or something; to send up someone or somethingAUSTRALIA, 1976.

< the pissthe hellAUSTRALIA, 1976

pissverb1to urinate Derives from Old French pisser and has been

perfectly good English since C13, but from mid-C18 it has been

considered a vulgarismUK, 1290.2to rain heavilyIRELAND, 1991.3to

accomplish a task easilyUK, 1983.4to whingeUS, 1995.< I

wouldn’t piss in your ear if your brain was on fireI could

not care less about youAUSTRALIA, 1985.< I wouldn’t piss on you

if you were on fireused for expressing the utmost personal

contemptUK, 1994.< piss in someone’s pocketto ingratiate

yourself with someone; to flatter someoneAUSTRALIA, 1944.< piss

in the windto engage in a hapless, futile activityUS, 1974.< piss

into someone’s tentto impinge upon another’s interestsUK,

2002.< piss it into win easilyAUSTRALIA, 1996.< piss money

against the wall; piss it up the wallto squander or waste

money, especially on drinkingUK, 1785.< piss on1to despise or

feel contempt for someone or somethingUK, 2000.2to drink

heavily; to continue a drinking bingeAUSTRALIA, 1998.< piss your

trousers; piss your pantsto soil your clothing by accidentalurinationUK, 1966.< piss yourselfto laugh uproariously.Abbreviated from ‘piss yourself laughing’, from the notion that loss

of physical control is a consequence of overwhelming laughterUK, 1951

piss-prefixextremelyAUSTRALIA, 1963

piss aboutverbto play the fool, to waste time; to make a mess ofsomething; to inconvenience someoneUK, 1961

piss and moanverbto complain loud and longUS, 1971

piss and punknounbread and waterUS, 1970

piss and vinegarnounenergy, enthusiam, vigourUS, 1942

pissantnouna small personUS, 1946

pissantadjectiveinsignificant, small-timeUS, 1981

pissaphonenouna funnel-shaped urinal used by the military

piss artistnouna heavy drinkerAUSTRALIA, 1968

piss-assadjectivedespicable, unworthy, inconsequentialUS, 1974

piss awayverb1to waste or to squander somethingUS, 1948.2tomove away, especially at speedUK, 1978

piss-cannouna local police station or jailUS, 1950

piss-cutternoun1a clever, resourceful and tough personUS, 1941.2aperson who disparages a friendBAHAMAS, 1982.3in oil drilling, thethird man on a cable tool rigUS, 1954

piss downverbto rain heavilyUK, 1950

piss easyadjectivevery easyNEW ZEALAND, 1988

pissedadjective1drunkUK, 1929.2angry, annoyed An abbreviation of

PISSED OFF US , 1971

pissed as a bastardadjectivevery drunkUK, 2003

pissed as a cuntadjectiveextremely drunkUK, 1961

pissed as a fart; pissed as a brewer’s fartadjectivevery drunk

UK, 1998

pissed as a newtadjectivevery drunkAUSTRALIA, 1977

pissed as an owladjectivevery drunkAUSTRALIA, 1986

pissed as a parrotadjectiveextremely drunkAUSTRALIA, 1977

pissed as a ratadjectivevery drunkUK, 1980

pissed as arseholesadjectiveextremely drunkUK, 1984

pissed as a twatadjectivevery drunkUK, 2003

pissed offadjectivefed up; disgruntled; annoyed; angryUS, 1946

pissed out of your mind; pissed out of your skulladjectiveverydrunkAUSTRALIA, 1969

pissed upadjectivein a drunken condition A variation ofPISSED UK , 1999

piss-elegantadjectiveconceited, haughtyUS, 1957

pissernoun1a urinalUK, 1961.2the penis; the vaginaUK, 1901.3acriminal who urinates in their clothing when caught by authorities

AUSTRALIA, 2001.4an extraordinary person or thingUS, 1943.5anannoyance Literally something that willPISS OFF(annoy)US, 1943.

6during the Vietnam war, an observer of enemy supply trailsUS,

1991.7solitary confinement in prisonUS, 1990.8a pubNEW ZEALAND,

1998.9an electric pylon Perhaps from as sense as ‘the penis’ afterits phallic shapeUK, 1977.10a type of cicada which releases a liquidwhen heldAUSTRALIA, 1980.< pull your pisserto befool, ormislead, or tease someone A variation ofPULL YOUR LEG UK , 1969

piss-fart aroundverbto waste timeAUSTRALIA, 1988

piss fatnounan erection caused by a full bladderAUSTRALIA, 1984

piss flapsnoun the vaginal lips Roger’s Profanisaurus, 1997, also offers its use as an exclamation of disappointment: ‘Oh piss-flaps! I

never win the Lottery!’AUSTRALIA, 1985

piss-headnouna drunk; a habitual drinker A combination ofPISS

(alcohol) with-HEAD(a user)UK, 1961

piss-holenoun1the entrance to the urethraUS, 1996.2a urinalUK,

1959.3an unpleasant locationUK, 1973

piss-hole banditnouna homosexual man who seeks sexual contact

in a public urinalUK, 1977

piss housenouna public toiletUS, 1947

piss inverbto win or achieve something easilyNEW ZEALAND, 1998

pissingadjectiveused as an intensifier, generally denoting disapproval

UK, 1984

pissing contestnouna duel of unpleasantriesUS, 1983

pissing matchnouna dispute based on mutual negative attacks

From the graphic if vulgar image of two men urinating on each

otherUS, 1992

pissing rainnounheavy or persistent rainfallUK, 2000

piss in the handnounsomething that is very simpleNEW ZEALAND,

1984

piss itverbto succeed or achieve very easilyUK, 1982

piss-offnounan annoyance, an irritationUK, 2000

piss offverb1to depart Also used in an exclamatory or imperative

senseUK, 1958.2to irritate or annoy someone First recorded in the

normally slang-free poetry of Ezra PoundUS, 1937.3to get rid of

someoneAUSTRALIA, 1972

piss playnounsexual behaviour involving urination and urineUS,

1999

piss-pooradjectiveextremely poor or feeble Brought into general

usage from British service usage during World War 2UK, 1946

pisspot; piss-potnoun1a vessel for urine Originally conventional;

it slipped into vulgar use during the C18 whilst still being very

much a household necessityUK, 1440.2a terrible thing or placeUS,

1964.3a drunkard; a despicable person Figurative use of the sense

as ‘a chamber pot’AUSTRALIA, 1969.4a US military M-1 helmetUS,

1990

piss-proudadjectivehaving an erect penis as a result of urinal

press-ureUK, 1788

piss-takenounan act of mockery or teasingUK, 1977

piss-takeverbto mock; to tease; to deride; to ridiculeUK, 2002

piss-takernouna mocker; a person who ridicules somethingUK, 1976

piss-takingnounmockeryUK, 1967

piss-to-windwardnounan entirely inept personBARBADOS, 1965

piss tube; pee pipenouna metal tube partially buried in the

ground, into which soldiers urinate Vietnam war usageUS, 1977

piss-upnouna drinking sessionUK, 1952.< couldn’t organise a

piss-up in a breweryused of an inefficient person or

organis-ation Formed onPISS-UP(a drinking session)UK, 1984

piss up; piss up largeverbto drink beer or other alcoholic

beveragesNEW ZEALAND, 1998

piss-weakadjectivepuny and cowardlyAUSTRALIA, 1971

pisswhackernouna type of cicada which releases a liquid when

heldAUSTRALIA, 1981

piss-willienouna despicable cowardUS, 1977

pissynouna heavy drinkerAUSTRALIA, 1979

pissyadjective1unpleasant, distastefulUK, 1997.2puny; insignificant;

weakAUSTRALIA, 1985.3angered, crotchety, fussyUS, 1973.4given to

drinkingAUSTRALIA, 1979.5drunkenAUSTRALIA, 1971

pissyadverbextremelyBAHAMAS, 1982

pissy-assadjectivedirty, inconsequentialUS, 1975

pissy-eyedadjectivedrunkNEW ZEALAND, 1998

pistolnoun1the penisUS, 2002.2a hired gunmanUS, 1964.3a reliable

personUS, 1984.4a lobster that has lost one or both clawsUS, 1975.

5in electric line work, an underground cable terminatorUS, 1980

pistolanouna cigarette enhanced with freebase cocaineUS, 1979

Pistol Pete

pistorically; pistoraticallyadverbvery (drunk)BARBADOS, 1965

pitnoun1the armpitUS, 1965.2the vein at the antecubital site,opposite the elbow, commonly used for drug injectionsUS, 1964.

3Pitocin™, a drug used for inducing labourUS, 1994.

4phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dust

US, 1994.5the area in a club or concert hall where dancers canslam dance An abbreviation ofMOSH PIT US , 1995.6a bedUK, 1948.

7an inside jacket pocketUS, 1958.< no pitno trouble From

‘armpit’ to ‘pit’ to ‘sweat’ to ‘trouble’US, 1968

pitverbto sweat under the armsUS, 1966

PITAused as Internet shorthand to mean ‘pain in the ass/arse’ US, 1995

pit bullnouna variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best known

as ecstasyUK, 1996

pitchnouna persuasive or exaggerated sales act or talkUK, 1876

pitchverbto play the active sexual role in a homosexual relationship

US, 1966.< pitch a stinkto complain loudlyBAHAMAS, 1982.

< pitch a tentto have an erectionUS, 2001.< pitch it strong; pitch it highto make a forceful case for somethingUK, 1837.

< pitch woo; pitch the wooto commence a courtshipUS, 1867

pitch and tossnouna boss Rhyming slangAUSTRALIA, 1945

pitchernoun1the active partner in homosexual sexUS, 1966.2adealer in a casino card gameUS, 1973

pitchholenouna deep pothole in a roadCANADA, 1962

pitch inverb1to commence work in a vigorous manner; to join inwith another, or others, doing such workUS, 1847.2to start eating;

to eat heartilyUS, 1937

pitch up; pitchverbto arriveUK, 2003

pit cupcakenounin motor racing, a female hanger-on in search ofromance with drivers or members of the pit crewUS, 1992

pit girlnouna female casino employee whose job is to providecompany and encouragement for heavy-betting gamblersUS, 1963

pit guardnounan underarm deodorantUS, 1968

pit lampverbto engage in illegal jacklighting in hunting; also, todismiss someone from employment The first meaning of thisslang term comes from the use of a lamp like a miner’s lamp

CANADA, 1966

pit roomnouna bedroomANTARCTICA, 2000

pitsnounin a hospital, the medical screening areaUS, 1978.< the pitsthe very bottom; the depths; the nadir; the worst Perhaps

from ‘armpits’ US, 1953

pit stopnoun1while driving, a stop at a restaurant, petrol station orrest area to use the lavatory and/or buy food and drink; a visit tothe toiletUS, 1968.2a short stay in prison, especially oneoccasioned by a parole violationUS, 1984.3an underarm deodorant

Pittsburgh feathersnouncoalUS, 1949

Pitt Street farmernoun(especially in New South Wales) a cityperson with a small country property, often run at a loss for taxpurposes From Pitt Street, a principle street in SydneyAUSTRALIA, 1945

pittynouna pit bull dog Formerly known as a Staffordshire Terrier

or an American Pit Bull TerrierUS, 1990

pittyadjectivemessy, dirtyUS, 1975

pity potnounused in twelve-step recovery programmes such asAlcoholics Anonymous as a name for the imaginary place wherethe addict sits feeling sorry for himselfUS, 1995

pivvynouna very small amountBARBADOS, 1965

pixnounphotographs or films An abbreviation of the pronunciation