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.

Filter by alphabet

All  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

S

SALVOES.

Salvation Army.

SAND.

Sugar.

SAN-FAIRY-AN.

It does not matter, dont [sic] worry. Corruption of the French "Cela Ne Fait Rein."

SARGE.

Sergeant.

SARMAJOR.

Sergeant-Major.

SAUSAGE.

A Captive Balloon.

SAY-PAH.

Dont [sic] know. Corruption of the French "Jene Sais Pas."

SCALES.

To have scales on ones [sic] belly; to be a sycophant; a crawler.

SCAMPERER.

Runner; front line messenger.

SCRAG.

Man-handle.

SCRAN.

Food.

SCRAP.

A fight.

SCREW (To have a)

To look.

SCREWED.

Drunk.

SCROUNGE.

To pilfer; to cadge; to seize; a pilferer, a thief, scrounging, mean, sharp, always looking after number 1; scroungerer; a cadger esp. a cadger of cigarettes etc.

SELL A PUP.

To deceive; trick; fail to fulfill an obligation.

SEND ALONG.

See "Put up."

SEND HER DOWN STEVE.

Let it rain on.

SERGT. MAJOR.

The crown in "Crown and Anchor."

SHEILA.

A Girl.

SHELL HOLE SOLDIERS.

One who lages behind the advance.

SET.

Fixed; all arranged; adapted from "two-up" in which it is used to indicate that the money staked by the spinner has been covered by other bettors [sic]. "Got him set" - treating him unfairly through malice.

Seventyfive

Seventyseven

SHELL-SHOCKED.

Badly knocked about by artillery fire, usually used in reference to a village; dump etc.

SHICK.

Intoxicated.

SHINING STARS.

Officers commissioned in Australia and wearing bright brass badges etc. instead of the oxidized kind usually worn by infantry in France.

SHIRTY.

Angry.

SHOOTING GALLERY.

The front line.

SHOOTING-IRON.

18 pdr. field piece.

SHORT-ARM.

A medical inspection of the penis.

SHOT UP THE BACK.

Disconcerted; confused.

SHOW A POINT.

Deceive, use deceitfully. see "Sell a Pup."

SHRAP.

Abbreviation of shrapnel. Used as a name for paper currency in low denominations by the various communes and towns in France, principally because of its tendency to disintegrate after a little use, also on account of the number of notes required to amount to any considerable sum. Also "Pork & Beans."

SHRAPNEL BATTERY.

Field-Cooker.

SHREWD HEAD.

A cunning person.

SHREWDY.

See "Shrewd Head."

SHUT-EYE.

Sleep.

SILLY-GRIN.

An ironical ejaculation importing pain or misfortune.

SIN-SHIFTER.

An Army Chaplain.

SIT-PAT.

Remain quiet.

SIT ON THE TAIL.

To fly slightly above and in the rear of an enemy aeroplane.

SKIRT.

A Girl.

SKITTLED.

Killed.

SKY PILOT.

A Minister of religion; Chaplain.

SLANDER.

An improper or unfair action; or abuse.

SLANTER.

False play; deliberately trying to lose when running a race etc.

SLAP.

"To have a slap" - to make an attempt.

SLAP-UP.

Good.

SLAPPED UP.

Improvised; a hurried job.

SLATHERER.

See "Snifter."

SLING.

"Sling him one" or sling a salute.

SLIP.

To make a mistake; to lose an advantage (eg to slip for pay)

SLIPPERY-DICK.

See "Rubber-helled [sic] -Jack."

SLOOSH.

A wash. Corruption of "Sluice."

SLUG.

Strike; punch.

SLUSHEY.

A mess orderly.

SMACK.

Wound; an attempt.

SMUDGED.

Killed by being blown to pieces by a shell.

SNAG.

An obstacle; a dangerous man.

SNARE.

Acquire; steal.

SNAKY.

Angry (eg to turn snaky, irritable)

SNAVEL.

To steal or misappropriate.

Snipe (Sopwith)

SNIFTER or SNODGER.

Extraordinarily good or big.

SNOTTER.

Kill; "snottered", Killed.

SNOB-SHOP.

An army boot repairing shop.

SNOUTED.

In disfavor or under disfavor.

SNUFF OUT.

To die.

SOCK THE BOOT IN.

Literally to kick viciously. In a general sense - harsh treatment.

SOFT SNAP.

An easy matter.

SORE FINGER.

An overdressed person. (eg. "dolled" up like a sore finger.

SOUVENIR.

In the slang sense to appropriate articles belonging to a person or place, a euphemism for steal.

SPARE-COLONEL or SPARE PART.

See "Floating Kidney"

SPARK WELL.

To be in good health.

SPARKS.

A wireless operator on board ship.

SPIN (a rough)

A bad time. From "two up" in which the man who tossed the pennies in the spinner and has either a good or bad spin. It is applicable to the general experience of life.

SPLIT.

Unusual. An aeroplane on its side banking for a sharp turn.

SPOOK.

An army signaller, especially a wireless operator. How this term came to be applied in this sense is doubtful although probably it was because the signaller at the instrument was able to receive messages apparently from space.

SPOT.

Drink.

SPRING-HEEL.

A man who, on joining a fighting unit immediately finds a means of leaving it.

SQUARE-HEAD.

A German.

SQUARE Pushing

SQUEAL.

Cry for mercy or assistance to others.

STAR ARTIST.

"One star artist" - a Second lieutenant.

SQUID.

A German Prisoner.

SQUIRT.

A Revolver, any firearm.

S.R.D.

The brand on a rum jar (State Rum Distilleries); "seldom reaches destination;" "Soldiers rum diluted" and various other meanings were ascribed to these letters.

STALL.

A hoax; disappointment.

Stalling

STEADY LAPPER.

An inveterate drunkard.

STELLEMBOSCH

To transfer an Officer to a less important command. A division in the S. Cape Good Hope province, to which Officers who had failed in the Kaffir War were sent by way of being superseded without formal disgrace.

STEVE.

A casual acquaintance.

STEVES

STINK.

"To kick up a stink" - to cause a commotion or discussion.

STING.

Make a request for a loan or gift; also put in the stings.

STONKER.

Exterminate; kill; strike.

STOUSH.

Fight; to strike; defeat.

STOUSH MERCHANT.

A fighter.

STRAFE.

To punish; a heavy bombardment; abuse.

STRENGTH - to get the.

To understand thoroughly.

STRING-ON.

Deceive.

STRUTH.

An exclamation of surprise.

STUFF TO GIVE 'EM.

A popular catchword expressing superlative excellence. Supposed to have originated with Scottish troops.

STUNG.

Drunk; having been induced to lend.

STUNNED.

Drunk.

STUNT.

A Battle; an eccentric action; an idea; any form of activity.

SUCK-IN.

Sharp pratice [sic]; a cunning scheme; deceit.

SUDDEN.

Quick, thick and heavy. "Your sudden arn't you - a protesting question applied to a man who walks away with something belonging to someone else.

SUGAR.

Money.

SUICIDE CLUB.

Light trench mortar batteries. So called because when first introduced the mortars were unreliable and frequently caused casualties among the battery personal [sic]. Also applied to bombers or other soldiers who were believed to be exposed to more than the average risks.

SWANK.

Vanity; elegance; blatherskite.

SWEAT ON.

Eagerly awaiting.

SWING THE LEAD.

Scheme; malinger, see "Lead swinger."

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