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

A

ABDOMINAL.

Abbreviation of "Abdominal thud," or crash, which is a polite adaption of "Gutzer."

ACE

ACID.

See "put the acid on."

ACK I. FUF.

A.I.F. (Australian Imperial Force)

ABDUL.

Turkish Soldier, individually, and collectively. An Arabic proper name.

ACK.

Signalman's pronunciation of "A".

ACK. ACK. ACK.

Full stop. Three A's in a signal signifies the end of a sentence. Otherwise expressed as "three to a leaf," "three of a kind" etc. or "ackety ack."

AD-RIFT.

Absent without leave. Apparently derived from the inference that a soldier who is an illegal absentee is not under the control of the authorities.

ALF-A-MO.

"Wait a moment." Originally a request for the one spoken to, to pause for the convenience of the speaker. A small moustache, which was also frequently referred to as a cricket match (eleven a side)

ALLEY.

Go; "alley at the toot," go quickly. (Corruption of the French "Allez")

ALLYSLOPER'S CAVALRY

ANDEY MC NOON.

An unqualified idiot. From the Arabic "Inta machnoon" - a dammed [sic] fool.

ANNIE.

"Gentle Annie," - a big German Howitzer, which fired on Bailluel, during March & April, 1918. "Up in Annies Room," - facetious answer to questions as to the whereabouts of someone who cannot be found.

also Annie from Asia

ANTE UP.

To surrender an article that was "souvenired," to hand over, to settle an account.

ANTY.

Sugar - so called on account of the frequency with which ants found their way into the sugar receptacles.

ANZAC.

(1) Initial letters of Australian, New Zealand Army corps contracted.

(2) The area on the Gallipoli Peninsula occupied by the Anzac Corps.

(3) One who was on Anzac during the campaign.

(4) Used sarcastically in reference to Military Policemen. The Provost Corps was originally named "Anzac Provost Corps." The term "Anzac" also implied gallantry, another reason for its sarcastic application to the Military Police.

ANZAC SOUP.

Shell-hole water polluted by a corpse.

ANZAC STEW.

The ordinary Army stew diluted with water to a greater extent than usual.

ANZAC WAFER.

Name given to the Army Biscuit issued as portion of the Iron Ration, or when bread was not fully available. "Anzac" because of their constant use on Gallipoli, and "wafer" sarcastically because of their size and extreme hardness.

APRES LA GUERRE

ARCHIE.

Anti-aircraft shell or gun.

ARMY SAFETY CORPS.

Army Service Corps. The A.S.C. rarely had to operate under fire.

ARSAPEEK.

Upside Down.

ARSEY-TARSY.

To fall upside down.

ARTIST.

See "Star Artist."

AS NEAR AS DAMN IT.

Closely approximating the ideal.

ATCHA.

"Yes." "Alright," Hindustani used by the A.I.F. in Mesopot-amia.

ATMOSPHERE.

See "Vertical Atmosphere."

AUSSIE.

(1) Australians, (2) Australian made goods, (3) a wound of sufficient  severity to warrant the return of the recipient to Australia.

AXLE GREASE.

Butter.

A.W.L.

Absent without leave.

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