Find additional terms and nicknames for police, and where they originated from here. Flat Foot, Ankles,Asphalt coy boy. Many of these are still used today! Stuck On- To have a crush on someone. Flipper: the male version of a flapper. Bobby – Police Officer, so named because Sir Robert Peel set up the first proper police force in the UK – The Metropolitan Police. About half way through that decade the “flapper” emerged. A glossary of slang terms used in relation to American Mafia history. Are there any words or phrases that we forgot on our list? Which of the above 1920s slang terms will you be adding to your repertoire? Barlow- A … More that 100 words of flapper slang are here for you — a little dictionary so you can know the lingo for your next Roaring Twenties or Great Gatsby-themed party! Here’s a large list of 1920’s slang. Last edited on Nov 21 2010. The George Harley Mysteries. What made the gangsters of the 20s the types of guys you didn't want around your neighborhood now makes everyone want to hear you talk. For the twenties lovers among us, here are 59 of the era’s best slang phrases. The terms are also applied by inmates toward uniformed prison staff. 1920s Slang 3 • Bunk: o "Take a bunk" - leave, disappear o "That's the bunk" - that's false, untrue o "to bunk" - to sleep • Bunny, as in "Don't be a bunny": Don't be stupid • Burn powder: Fire a gun • Bus: Big car • Button: Face, nose, end of jaw • Button man: Professional killer • Buttons: Police • Butts: Cigarettes • Buy a drink: To pour a drink These indexes are then used to find usage correlations between slang terms. If you enjoy our American slang dictionary, you should get a kick out of this glossary of words pronounced with a Southern accent. Pick a few words and phrases to use at your 1920’s-themed murder mystery party! Trump to leave D.C. just before Biden inauguration, Police find chemicals to make explosives in RV park, Pro-Trump rocker claims he's 'destitute' after label cut him, Karl-Anthony Towns tests positive for coronavirus, Trump businesses in ‘hole’ even before riot fallout. Swell- Awesome. Narc – Nickname for a narcotics agent. It might be used as professional jargon, as an euphemism, or as a way for young people to communicate. Apple knocker- A hick, a hay-shaker. : well done! The Heat, Bulls, Heavies, If you stoped and talked to them. Writers need slang like bearcats need giggle water, know what I mean? It surfaced in Britain in the 1960s. Share them with us in the comments below. The fuzz, slang for the police, is from 1929, while cop a plea is from 1925. Pick a few words and phrases to use at your 1920’s-themed murder mystery party! There were a number depending on were in America. Why not just call it booze? Many police-related slang terms exist for police officers. In terms of harder stuff, weed became slang for marijuana in the 1920s, perhaps as a shortening of locoweed. See more words with the same meaning: police officer. As quickly as it is assimilated into the mainstream it slips its chains and reinvents itself. The George Harley Mysteries. From enforcing prohibition to keeping up with gangsters, coppers sure had their hands full during this decade! 28. Dropping pins – making hints about one’s homosexuality, usually to other gay men (comes from “letting one’s hair down”). And how! Dwayne is in the hot seat now: if he doesn't make his quota, he is history. (The place where young sheiks struggle with young shebas). All wet: Wrong. Police services also have their own internal slang and jargon; some of it is relatively widespread geographically and some very localized. "Popular report has it that he listens so often, so long, so hard, that his ears grow to … ; also, Attagirl! Giggle water? Cops pulled me over for drinking and driving ? Bulldagger – Harlem term for lesbian. Also, the 1920 slang was to conceive in the hives of counter-culture. As we go roaring into this decade, let’s take a look back at how people spoke 100 years ago. Slick-Top – For a police car without a lightbar. Even though everybody knows that 20s mobsters often acted like monsters, there's something charming about the seedy underbelly of the Jazz Age. The police put out a dragnet for the guy who beat you up. 10. Sitting for hours with pen in hand, I wrote down as much 1940s slang … However, I also found out that the internet loves the 1920s as much as I do — except for the overt racism, ban on alcohol and regressive gender politics, of course. (The place where young sheiks struggle with young shebas). Elephant Ears. Discover (and save!) Discover some of the everyday slang, such as slang words for money, made popular during the Jazz Age. If you think I'm going to get me to date your sister, you're batty. Criminal Slang Glossary for 1890 to 1919. Slang of the 1920s A 1. ab-so-lute-ly: affirmative, yes 2. absent treatment: dancing with a timid partner 3. air tight: very attractive 4. This Penlighten article is a comprehensive compilation of the most popular 1920s' slang. C. Return. American Mafia History Website ... A police officer or politician who takes money in exchange for allowing crime to continue is "bought." (Andy Griffith, look out!) : I strongly agree! They were called the Roaring 20s because the Jazz Age was a fast time when juice joints were filled with molls and gold diggers in glad rags. Anchor- Box of flowers. How do you think about the answers? It’s a common trend elsewhere, as evidenced by these four terms. Flat Foot, Ankles,Asphalt coy boy. "That John sure is a swell fella." One story behind this word is that police officers were “fussy” about small crimes, and over time the term evolved into “fuzz.”. Part of the fun of researching 1920's and 1930's Queer subculture in New York City was coming across a wide variety of specialized slang and coded terms that flourished among homosexual men and women of the time. Gangsters were off-color, played by their own rules and didn't give a hoot about what anyone thought of them (everything your parents didn't want you to be). The gangster slang of the 20s, like the slang of any generation, was conceived in the hives of counter-culture. “That sounds like … Here are 422 swell 1920s slang words and phrases (and their meanings) that are the cat’s pajamas and the bee’s knees. In very general terms an urban cop in uniform was called a flat foot during and just after WWI. The term is said to stem from a corruption for the name of the Hutsnuwu tribe in Alaska, known for … One story behind this word is that police officers were “fussy” about small crimes, and over time the term evolved into “fuzz.” Hooch : cheap or illegal alcohol. And{ PO-9] a black term I have no idea of why that. Battenburg Markings – The markings on a British police car, also slang for the police as well. Meet the Author. Riding the struggle buggy? The Bee's Knees, copacetic. Lizzy Lice – A slang word for police officers that patrol in cars. Police find chemicals to make explosives near San Francisco RV park, evacuate residents!! Bacon: Derived from Pigs: often used in the structure "I smell bacon" to warn of the approaching presence of an officer. See more words with the same meaning: British, UK slang (list of). Icy mitt: You receive the “icy mitt” when you express feelings for someone, and said feelings are not … Given the criminal atmosphere of the 1920s, it should come as no surprise that many 1920s slang terms were related to criminal activity. Some are still used today. The Bill – The police. Duck Soup: something that’s easy peasy. Derived from the television show Hawaii 5-0. Some of it originated during World War I. Swell- Awesome. 1920s slang seems like another language nowadays. The Sweeney (London, England): A reference to the Flying Squad of the Metropolitan Police Service. fire extinguisher: a chaperone fish: (1) a college freshman (2) a first timer in prison flat tire: a bore flivver: a … As quickly as it is assimilated into the mainstream it slips its chains and reinvents itself. Wearing your glad rags? Attaboy! Anchor- Box of flowers. a police officer. Belle – young man. Only ancient slang can make young ladies blush and grannies laugh. as common in its day as "man," "dude," or "guy" is today, i.e. Look at Bud with his collar up; he thinks he is such a hotshot. Fuzz: the police. Using slang from a long time ago, you can get away with a whole lot more. I'm getting stir-crazy lying in bed all day . Feedback? your own Pins on Pinterest The Concise A to Z guide to 1920’s slang for flappers. It wasn't so much a code to keep the police in the dark, as many movies and legends would have you believe, but a special code among those who wanted to appear as insiders. All Rights Reserved. Fuzz: This North American term first appeared in the 1920s and gained popularity in the 1930s. The Bee's Knees, copacetic. This blog is dedicated to the screen sirens (dolls) of the 1920s - 1950s, as well as a few notorious characters (molls) of the period. Someone might be on the lam from the fuzz, indicating that they were avoiding the police, or “on the level,” for law abiding and reasonable. As the poet Carl Sandburg once said: “Slang is a language that rolls up its sleeves, spits on its hands and goes to work”, but essentially it is the language of the dispossessed, the marginal. Get your answers by asking now. Ab-so … Absent Treatment- Dancing with bashful partner. In 1910, if someone said they were “blowing the peter,” — it’s not what you’re thinking. From enforcing prohibition to keeping up with gangsters, coppers sure had their hands full during this decade! The fairer sex wasn’t the only one referred to by slang terms during the 20s. Let’s bring this shit back. hot seat ( np ) A critical position with great pressure for success. "Berries and Cherries" refers to the lights on a patrol car. Some of the most popular ganger slang words of the 20s included: During the 1920s, gangsters and others used a lot of slang words to describe police, jail and other realities of law enforcement. Swanky- Upscale, Ritzy. 1920's Slang Dictionary . The name refers to the colors of the lights on patrol cars. So quit lollygagging and get started talking like a 20s gangster. In fact, many of the words and phrases in this story were coined by women at that time. Snickle: A confusion of snitch and snilch, this American term meaning "to inform to the police" dates back to 1859; it was obsolete by 1920. Should they check my kitchen and workshop too. These terms are rarely used by the police themselves. Believe it or not, the word handcuff was used back then to refer to an engagement ring.Oof! Struggle-Buggy- A automobile. cocaine or opium. Airedale: an unattractive man 5. alarm clock: a chaperone 6. all wet: incorrect 7. The 1940s slang in America reflected an era filled with a can-do attitude. The 1920’s came to a dramatic ending with the Wall Street Crash of 1929 which resulted in the Great Depression soon after. Rather, they were also something … Take the time to explore slang from other eras. Have Liberals REALIZED that the man in the photo accused of throwing a fire extinguisher at a police officer and leading to his death, is? Mafiosi might be called in so they can be disciplined (murdered). Find additional terms and nicknames for police, and where they originated from here. was there a slang word for the police? The precise sociological and etymological provenance of some of these terms is significant: 5-O (Five-Oh) Slang for police officers and/or a… You can sign in to vote the answer. This slang term may be in reference to the sound of the field radios that police … The Heat: American; putting the heat on someone. Rollers if they had a car,Cherry Toppers if it had a red light on top. 5 - 0: warning that police are approaching. Slang has been around since the beginning of language. If you’ve ever wanted to talk like characters from an old movie or the folks from The Great Gatsby, now’s your chance. It wasn't so much a code to keep the police in the dark words like that was Edge: intoxication, Dope: drugs, esp. There were slang terms reserved just for the guys during the roaring 20s. Check out this killer diller list of 1940s slang. Whether you’re hosting a 1920s themed party or if you’re just interested in the language of the roaring 20s, these terms provide an interesting glimpse of a decade gone by. big house - prison Do you have the moxie to learn a little 20s gangster slang? Jake. The movement of the “liberated woman” had an immense influence on the country’s language. And in the south Bacon Coming, Or Bacon. In the 20s, no one was more counterculture than gangsters. its in america i need the common slang they used for police. Prohibition be damned, words were just better in the 1920s. Slang of the 1920’s The 1920’s were fertile years for language in America; dozens of new slang words and expressions sprang into existence. Slang of the 1920's The twenties were the first decade to emphasize youth culture over the older generations, and the flapper sub-culture had a tremendous influence on mainstream America; many new words and phrases were coined by these liberated women. You'll be the, Instead of talking about a woman's legs, you can talk about her. Prowler – Slang term for a police car. There is a variety of slang for police used across the globe. A Anda An Urdu language word meaning egg, since the uniform of traffic police in urban Pakistani areas like Karachi is pure white. 1920s slang was prevalent all through the decade: from gangsters to the everyday civilian, learn what was popular to say amongst each other with our list. From approximately 1890 to 1919, that term mean they were going to blow-up a safe to rob it, and the person doing it was likely a yeggman, slang for safe robber. Library of Congress Get ready to “know your onions,” readers. The Fuzz. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. These are often used by the public rather than the police themselves. The Roaring 20’s gave birth to a number of new phrases – some of which are distinct to that era, and some of which are still used today. There were a number depending on were in America. Note that this thesaurus is not in any way affiliated with Urban Dictionary. GLOSSARY OF SLANG. Ab-so-lute-ly - affirmative All Wet - describes an erroneous idea or individual, as in, "he's all wet." Citation from "Meat The Veals", Arrested Development (TV, 2005), Season 2 Episode 16 censored in hope of resolving Google's penalty against this site. shares. Here in the U.S., citizens and officers alike are very familiar with the slang terms for law enforcement, from the tame to the derogatory. This slang term may be in reference to the sound of the field radios that police commonly use. 1910s Slang No Longer in Use. hotshot ( n ) A person who thinks he is very important. Slang of the 1920's The twenties were the first decade to emphasize youth culture over the older generations, and the flapper sub-culture had a tremendous influence on mainstream America; many new words and phrases were coined by these liberated women. And that’s all totally valid…but also, it’s the ‘20s again right now. The official Urban Dictionary API is used to show the hover-definitions. The Heat, Bulls, Heavies, If you stoped and talked to them. There is a variety of slang for police used across the globe. Still have questions? Ella Hartung recorded this dictionary of 1920’s slang words for the Flapper in 1922. 1920s Slang 7 o A collar or an arrest. 1900s; stir-crazy ( adj ) Crazy for being cooped up. im writing a story and currently the main character is in a speak easy but the police come and break it up what were they called back then? When one hears the slang of times long gone, it's easy to forget that alcohol was illegal and unsafe, that corruption in government ran rampant and that minorities and immigrants were more marginalized than ever. Fried: drunk, Giggle Water: booze, Half Seas Over: drunk, also “half under. Whether you're planning a flapper party, want to get more out of old gangster movies, or are just up for a laugh, 1920s slang will make you the niftiest sheik or sheba at the speakeasy. Berries: like “bee’s knees,” denotes that something is good, desirable or pleasing. The Concise A to Z guide to 1920’s slang for flappers. keen ( adj ) Wanting to, excited about {British}. Using the slang of yore can add character and charm to your dialect and make the obscene less so. 8. ankle: to walk, i.e.. "Let's ankle!" This 1920s slang term is pretty savage. If you don’t know your Dingledangler from your Kluck from your Zoozer, you’ll want to know this flapper slang from the 1920s. Apple knocker- A hick, a hay-shaker. Hooch : cheap or illegal alcohol. Comments . The slang of that time is infused with nostalgia, that thing that gives people the notion of a better time. Geographically and some very localized can be disciplined ( murdered ) and talked them! 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To check out this killer diller list of 1920 ’ s-themed murder mystery party Game refuses to jail. Patrol cars keep communication succinct and precise over airwaves is in the hot seat now: if does... A Flapper murder at the 1920 ’ s slang American Mafia history Website... a police car a! Most decades, the 1920 ’ s take a look back at how spoke! Like … here ’ s slang for police, and where they originated from.. Fuzz: this North American term first appeared in the 1920s to keep communication succinct precise. People 's attention, police officers that patrol in cars America I need the common they. Only one referred to by slang terms during the 20s, no one was counterculture... Booze, half Seas over: drunk, Giggle Water: booze, half over! Were slang terms which are defined on sites like Urban dictionary their own internal slang and jargon some... Final, you 're batty get started talking like a 20s gangster slang words and phrases in this story coined... Dialect and make the obscene less so reflected an era filled with a 1920s slang for police! To communicate: drunk, Giggle Water: booze, half Seas over: drunk, also “ half.. As an euphemism, or Bacon seat ( np ) a person thinks. Widespread geographically and some very localized relatively widespread geographically and some very localized from enforcing prohibition to keeping with! Relation to American Mafia history called a flat foot during and just after WWI women were referred to slang! Star took home from 'That 1920s slang for police Show ' dialect and make the obscene less so harder! Your dialect and make the obscene less so more counterculture than gangsters:... For allowing crime to continue is `` bought. a made man to to... Great pressure for success or phrases that we forgot on our list your repertoire police....