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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G

GABBARY.

A Military Prison near Alexandria, a goal [sic].

GADGET.

Any article, but chiefly a tool of some sort.

GAG.

An insincere reason; an idea; a joke.

GAME.

Courageous, prepared to attempt what may be put before one.

GAS-GONG.

Boy - from the French "Garcon."

GASOMETER.

Respirator.

GASPER.

Cigarette.

GAY and FRISKY.

Whisky.

GEEK.

Look.

GENERAL WEBB'S ENTANGLEMENT.

Webb equipment.

GET.

"Get you in one," I get you steve. "Get you in large lumps." Understand.

GET AN EYEFULL.

See "Eyefull."

GET ONE'S GUTS IN A KNOT.

Give way to anger.

GET THE STRENGTH. (or strong of)

Become possessed of sufficient information to enable one to form correct judgement in regard of the matter in question.

GET WELL FUCKED.

An exclamation expressing disgust and suggesting an unpleasant course of action to the person in question or a poor opinion of him.

GEZUMPHER.

A big shell.

GIBBIT.

Give. (Pidgin English)

GIDDY.

A boy scout; abbreviation of "giddy gout."

GIGGLE HOUSE.

A Lunatic Asylum.

GINNER.

See "Bluey."

GIPPO.

A native of Egypt.

GIVE IT A FLY.

To make the attempt. to try a certain course of action.

GIVE IT A PASSAGE.

"Throw it away."

GIVE YOUR ARSE A CHANCE.

Shut your mouth, stop talking.

GLASSY EYE.

A look of disappointment.

GLIM.

A light. Probably a corruption of "gleam."

GLIMMER.

"The Eye."

GO CROOK.

Become angry or abusive.

GODDAM-GUY.

An American.

GOGGLE-EYED.

Dazed.

GOLDIES.

Teeth.

GONE WEST.

Died; gone to the unknown. This term is probably a relic of pioneering days in Australia and America when those who travelled west and still further westward into the unknown country were not heard of by their friends until they returned if that ever happened.

GOOD - to make.

To succeed, to pull through, to deliver the goods. To carry out one's promise.

GOOD OIL.

"True information."

GOOSED.

Spoilt.

GO TO THE KENNEL.

Shut up, take yourself off.

GO TO THE PACK.

Deteriorate.

GOOD BLOKE.

See "Freeze-A."

GOOD GUTS.

Information; similarly, good oil.

GO YOUR HARDEST.

Do your worst or best, as the case may be.

Grandma

GRAPPLING IRONS.

Spurs.

GRASS.

Issue tobacco, hair. (Papuan Pigeon English)

GREASY.

A cook or butcher.

GREASIES ANTI-AIRCRAFT.

A Field Cooker.

GREENIE'S.

Abbreviation of "green envelope" a specially printed envelope in which soldiers might despatch correspondence without being subject to Unit censorship.

GROUSE.

Grumble.

GROUSER.

One who frequently growls.

GROUTER.

The acquisition of something for nothing, or on extremely favorable terms.

GUN-FODDER.

Men and Horses, ammunition.

GUTS.

The entrails, courage, determination. The substance or essential part of a matter; information.

GUTZER.

Removal from Office; a fall physically, the failure of a scheme, the removal from a comfortable appointment to one more or less remunerative. The term originated amongst swimmers as descriptive of a dive in which the diver instead of striking the water with hands head or feet first strikes with his stomach. A painful experience.

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