Glossary of Slang and Peculiar Terms in Use in the A.I.F.

Original Manuscript

1921-1924

This is a transcribed version of the second typescript of the Glossary, dated 1924. It retains all typographical errors and grammatical and other idiosyncrasies. It is occasionally misalphabetised. We hope to make available in the near future some scanned pages of both the first and second typescript versions of the Glossary.

This section contains a selection of AIF slangs Original Manuscript, their meanings, and their etymologies.

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D

DAB.

Expert, extremely proficient. An abbreviation of "Dabster."

Daddies, The

DAG.

Hard case, either as a humorist or disregarder of convention.

DARK.

Mode of addressing especially those with dark hair or complexion.

DATE.

(1) A term for the posterior orifice.

(2) An appointment.

DEAD MEAT TICKET.

See "Meat ticket."

DEARAUNTIE.

A phrase signifying utter weariness or disgust. It implies the well-known text of a fictitious soldier's letter: - DearAuntie, this ain't no ordinary war ITS A BLOODY BASTARD, and if you want to see your little Johnny again, get right down on your knees, and pray like hell.

DEAR BILL.

See "DearAuntie."

DEEP THINKER.

A reinforcement who arrived in a fighting unit late in the course of the war.

DIAL.

Face.

Diehards, the

DIGGER.

Mate, friend. Used in the second or third person. This term had been in use on the Aust. gold fields, and New Zealand Kauri gum fields for many years prior to the war. It was not until the end of 1917 or early 1918 that it came into universal use in the A.I.F. or N.Z.E.F. The first to use the term, to any extent were the N.Zealanders from whom it quickly spread through the A.I.F.

DINGBAT.

Batman, servant; also used in the plural to indicate that the person referred to had "rats" or was not speaking or acting in a rational manner.

DINKUM.

Good, genuine, honest.

DINKUM THE

The 2nd. Division. Also applied to the New ZEALANDERS.

DINKY-DIE.

An oath of truthfullness [sic].

DISASTER.

A piastre (Egyptian coin)

DIVVY.

Abbreviation of "Division" & dividend, meaning in the former case a Military formation, in the latter, one's fair share.

Dixie

DIZZY-LIMIT.

The last straw; incomparable; the height of "cheek."

DO; to do in.

To kill; to make away; "do your nut" - loose [sic] one's head.

DO A BUNK.

See "Bunk."

DOCK.

A Military Hospital.

DODGER.

Bread.

DOER.

A person unusually humorous, reckless, undisciplined, immoral or eccentric.

DOG FEVER.

A mild form of influenza.

DOG'S-LEG.

A lance corporal's stripe. so called on account of its shape.

DOING'S.

A place, billet or trench, a circumstance, an affair.

DOLL UP.

Ornament.

Dolphin (Sopwith)

DOMINO.

To kill; to knock out.

DON ACK PLONK.

Divisional Ammunition Column (D.A.C.) "Don Ack" is the Army method of pronouncing D.A. and "plonk" may have originated as a rhyme for "donk" the D.A.C.'s containing many mules. Another possible derivation is the adaption of the sound made by the sinking of the mule's leg into the mud.

DONG.

To hit, to punch.

DONK.

Mule. The average Australian soldier would rarely refer to anything by its proper name if he could find another as expressive.

DONK'S DINBAT.

A mule groom or Driver.

DOOK.

Hand.

DOOK 'IM ONE.

To salute an Officer.

DOOK IT.

Shake hands.

DOPE.

One who is absent-minded or eccentric; information; line of conduct; liquor; poison.

DOPEY.

Dazed, bemused; lacking in vitality.

DOUGH.

Money.

DOUSE THE GLIM.

Put out the light.

DOWN SOUTH.

Hidden, buried. In one's pocket.

DOWN - to have a down on.

To have a grudge against; to take a dislike to.

DRAFT UP or DRAFT VERTICAL.

See "Wind up."

DRAGGING SPARE.

Surplus, i.e. "Is anything dragging spare?" Sometimes abbreviation to dragging.

DREADNOUGHT.

V.D. Prophylactic outfit issued to troops before departing on leave.

DUCKBOARD.

A wooden frame about five feet long and 18" wide, on which are nailed crosswise, short pieces of wood in the form of a grating. The Military Medal Ribbon was frequently referred to by this term.

DUCKS BREAKFAST.

A drink of water and a wash.

DUCKS DISEASE.

A description of a person's physical build indicating that his legs are short and his buttocks are too near the ground.

DUCK'S EGG.

A half piastre nickel coin.

DUD.

A shell that fails to explode. An incapable person; no good.

DUG IN.

In a safe position.

DUGOUT.

One who avoids danger by trying to remain out of the danger zone or, if in the forward area, by rarely leaving his shelter. Also applied to elderly returned Officers called up for service at the outbreak of war. "Dug-out King" - an officer who remains at the bottom of a dug-out while his men are exposed to danger.

DUG-UP.

Found (usually an absentee)

Updated:  19 October 2017/Responsible Officer:  Head of School/Page Contact:  CASS Marketing & Communications