home

Archive for April, 2006

to bounce

Friday, April 28th, 2006

To brag or hector; also to tell an improbable story. To bully a man out of any thing. The kiddey bounced the swell of the blowen; the lad bullied the gentleman out of the girl.

–From the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.

Nearly another language, isn’t it? ;)

Ale draper

Thursday, April 27th, 2006

An alehouse keeper.

–From the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.

Drape that ale!

bell swagger

Wednesday, April 26th, 2006

A noisy bullying fellow.

–From the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.

bilk

Tuesday, April 25th, 2006

To cheat. Let us bilk the rattling cove; let us cheat the hackney coachman of his fare. Cant. Bilking a coachman, a box-keeper, and a poor whore, were formerly, among men of the town, thought gallant actions.

–From the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.

Gallant actions? Say what?

clapper

Monday, April 24th, 2006

The tongue of a bell, and figuratively of a manor woman.

–From the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.

bird-witted

Friday, April 21st, 2006

Inconsiderate, thoughtless, easily imposed on.

–From the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.

blank

Thursday, April 20th, 2006

Merriam-Webster

Appearing or causing to appear dazed, confounded, or nonplussed : expressionless (a blank stare)

1811 Vulgar Tongue

To look blank; to appear disappointed or confounded.

Anne

Not really a Regency word, but I decided to include it since I found it in the Vulgar Tongue Dictionary and usually find it very humorous to use.

altitudes

Wednesday, April 19th, 2006

The man is in his altitudes, i.e. he is drunk.

–From the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.

abigail

Tuesday, April 18th, 2006

1811 Vulgar Tongue

A lady’s waiting-maid.

Merriam-Webster

A lady’s personal maid.

bottle-headed

Monday, April 17th, 2006

Void of wit.

–From the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.