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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B

BABB-LING BROOK or Babbler.

An Army Cook. Originated in the rhyming slang as "Babbling Brook," one of the few terms so originated that were subjected to further adaption.

BABBLERS OFFSIDER.

See "Offsider."

Baby Elephant

BACK IN ONE'S CART.

Interfere, to ask for more.

BACK CHAT.

(1) An impertinent bandying of words.

(2) To answer back.

BAGS.

Plenty, a larger quantity. The sandbag revetted parapet of the trench (See "Hop the bags")

BALLS IN A KNOT. (to get)

To lose one's temper.

BANGER.

Sausage.

BANJO.

Shovel - so called by reason of the similarity in shape and also perhaps, because of the metallic ring of the steel when struck.

Bank, to

BARE.

Exactly so, with nothing to spare. The slang element in its use was due only to the unnecessarily frequent usage to which the word was put rather than to any corruption of orthodox meaning.

BARRAGE.

A French word officially a name for concentrated artillery, Trench Morter, or Machine Gun fire. In the slang sense the term means a communication; to comfound [sic] "A gas barrage," or oration.

BASE WALLAH.

A person employed at the Base.

BASE ATTACK.

A drinking bout, - a humorous corruption of "Gas attack", Base is a brand of English beer.

Bastard

A term of endearment.

BAT.

Language. Hindustani, used by Australians in Mesopotamia.

BATT.

Abbreviation of Battalion or Battery. Officially used in correspondence order etc; and vocally as slang.

Beachy Bill

BEAN.

A mode of address, as "Hello, old Bean,"

BEANO.

Treat, feast. From "bean feast."

BEANS.

WELL! see "Tray Beans", from the French, "bien."

BEAT IT.

Hurry away.

BEAT-OFF THE.

On the wrong track, getting away from the point.

BEEF IT OUT.

Call in a stentorian voice. From the simile of a roaring Bull.

BEER ESSES.

Flattery, Kidstakes. q.v. An abbreviation of "Bull Shit" q.v.

BEER PULL.

A control lever in an aeroplane (also Beer lever, Pump, Handle, Joy-stick)

BEER-SWIPER.

A Drunkard.

BEER-UP.

A Drunken orgy.

BELGIUM.

A fatal wound, as distinct from a "blighty" or an "Aussie."

BELLY-ACHE.

A mortal wound.

BERGOO.

Porridge.

BERNHARDI'S BOOTS.

A Regimental Band. So called from "Gen. Bernhardi the apostle of frightfullness [sic].

BERTHA.

A German long range gun, esp. one of those used by the Germans to bombard Paris. Named perhaps after Mme. Bertha Krupp, friend of the Ex Kaiser.

BEZOOKS.

Francs.

BIFF.

To hit or punch.

BILLY HARRIS.

Abbreviation of "Bilharzia" a disease common in Palestine.

BIMF.

See Bumf.

BINGE.

A drunken orgy.

BINT.

Girl (Arabic)

BIRD.

A person; a girl.

BIRDIE.

Abbreviation of General Sir Wm. Birdwood and used as a nickname.

BIRL.

To "give it a birl", a fair trail [sic]; sometimes a suggestion that a certain proceeding has gone far enough. (See cut it out)

BIRTHDAY.

A good time; satiety of good things; an attack, raid, or repulse of an enemy, effected with unexpected ease.

BIT - to do ones bit

To do ones share, to do something however small, especially towards winning the war.

BIT OF FLUFF.

Girl.

BITE.

(1) A borrowing, to borrow. (2) An attempt to borrow.

BITE THE DUST.

(1) Suffer humiliation. (2) See "Come a Gutzer."

BLACK HAND.

A Section of Bombers. (Infantry)

BLIGHTY.

(1) England. (2) A wound sufficiently serious to necessitate the recipient's removal to an English Hospital. Hindustani, Vilagaty, bilate, provincial Europe an[d] English.

BLANK, Blanky, Blankety.

Words used as a substitute for foul language.

BLIGHTER.

More or less mild invective, a familiar form of address. An obnoxious person.

BLIMP.

(1) A small dirigible airship. (2) A particular make of Naval Airship.

Blind Spot

BLITHERED.

Drunk.

BLITHERER.

Something or someone excellent.

BLOCK - did his.

Lost his temper.

BLOKE.

Fellow, used in the third person.

BLOODY.

(1) An expletive, (2) unpleasant.

BLOTTE.

Inebriated.

BLOODS WORTH BOTTLING.

A phrase expressive of admiration.

BLOW OFF.

Go away, clear out. To voice ones [sic] anger.

BLOW ONE'S BAG OUT.

To boast.

BLOOD BATH.

The Somme 1916. Thought to be a German expression.

BLOW OUT.

A big meal. To overthrow anothers contention.

BLOW-TO-FOOK.

Shatter to fragments.

BLUEY.

The usual nickname of an auburn haired man.

BLUDGED ON THE FLAG.

To fail to justify ones [sic] existence as a soldier.

BLUFF-STAKES.

A deceitful or mala fide attempt to influence the conduct of another.

BLUE LIGHT.

A prophylactic establishment.

BOSCHE.

A German, especially soldier.

BODY-SNATCHER.

A member of a raiding party. Raids were usually for identification purposes the method being to bring back if possible live Germans, but failing that, shoulder straps or any other means od [sic] identifying the opposing unit.

BOG IN.

An exhortation of vigorous action.

BOILS.

The name applied to the Aust. Corps in the line. THE BOIL; - Impossible to take the core (corps) out.

BOKO.

Nose

BOLO.

Speak, say "Bole the Bat" speak the language, used in Mesopotamia.

BOLLOCKS.

Absurd, an absurdity; an embellishment of "balls" (the testicles) used derisively.

BOMBING OFFICER.

The Moon. Moonlight nights were favoured for bombing operations.

BONZER.

Good, beautiful.

BOOB.

(1) Prison, or Guard Room. (2) One who is simple or incapable.

BOOM.

"Well in the boom" to be popular where such popularity might lead to advancement in the ranks; regarded highly by one's superior.

BOOKOO.

A lot, much - from the French "Beaucoup."

BOOZER.

(1) Public House or estaminet, (2) One addicted to the use of alcohol.

BOSHTER-BOSKER.

See "Bonzer."

BOTT.

(1) A cadger; a hanger on, (2) Plenty; much; many.

BOTTLING.

See "Blood's worth bottling."

BOUNCE

Arrogance; "to come on the bounce" - make an arrogant demand.

BOUNCE THE BALL.

To assert oneself.

BOWIE-KNIFE ARMY.

The American Expeditionary Force.

BOX-ON.

A fight, a battle, a tussle; an injunction to continue suspended action.

BOY WITH HIS BOOTS OFF.

A shell which bursts before the sound of its passage through the air is heard.

BRADS (Bradburys)

The £1 and 10/- (half-a-brad) currency notes bearing the signature of Sir John Bradbury.

BRANDING-PADDOCK.

The Parade Ground.

BRASS

Money.

BRASS HAT.

Senior Field or Staff Officers.

BRASS KING.

An Officer who insists that his men should assiduously polish the brass work on their equipment and uniforms.

BREADWINNERS.

Rifle.

BRIDE.

A young lady, she with whom one is seen in company.

BRIG.

Abbreviation of Brigadier.

BRIGAND.

(French) A rascal.

BROADS.

Playing cards.

BROKE TO THE WIDE.

Financially embarrassed; devoid of cash.

BROKEN-DOLL.

An inefficient Staff-Officer returned to his unit.

BUCK.

Refuse.

BUCKING-HORSE.

Sovereign (coin). Derived from the impression of St George and the Dragon.

BUCKOO.

Much - from French Beaucomp [sic].

BUCKS BOMBARDY.

Badly torn or broken - from French Beaucomp [sic] Bombarde.

BUG HOUSE.

Inferior.

BUCKSHEE.

A prize, a catch, a windfall, something for nothing. From Hindi, bakhshi: giver or bucksheesh gift, tip.

Bullet (Bristol)

BULLFODDER.

See "Bullshit."

BULL RING.

Ground on which intensive training was carried out at Base Depots.

BULL SHIT.

Insincerity; incorrect; flattery.

BULLY.

Abbreviation of Bully Beef. A name given to the preserved meat issued, usually in one pound tins.

BUMBRUSHER.

An Officers Servant.

BUMF.

That portion of the enormous mass of Official correspondence which was used for a more undignified purpose than the originally intended. Later applied more generally to correspondence and literature of little value.

BUNCH.