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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E

EAT CROWS.

Suffer humiliation; eat humble pie.

EATS.

Food.

EAT-UP.

A meal.

EDGE.

To discontinue.

EGGS-A-COOK.

The cry of the Egyptian egg vendors. Afterwards applied to the members of the third Australian Division who wore an oval color patch.

EGGS-A-FRIED.

Name applied to the 4th Div. Pioneer Battalion who wore a circular white patch with a smaller circular patchsuperimposed [sic].

EMMA EMMA ESSES.

Smoke-o (from the signal alphabet capital letters M.M.S. men may smoke). An order used on the march at attention when it is desired by the Officer Commanding to march at ease and allow smoking in the ranks.

EMMA PIP.