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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R

RABBIT-TRAP.

Mouth.

RAG-TIME.

Disorderly; haphazard; irregular.

RAINBOW.

A reinforcement, or member of non-combatant corps, who joined a fighting unit after the Armistice. Rainbow after the storm.

RAM.

A rake; one who leads an immoral life.

RAMMIES.

Breeches.

RAT (to)

To search a prisoner or a dead body; pick a pocket.

RAT (to have a)

To be crazy.

RATION CARRIERS.

Apart from its official meaning, a term used by orderly corporals and others in jocular vein when referring to (RC's) Roman Catholics on sick parade or their church parade.

RAT AND FOWL.

An Australian shelling.

RATIONS.

"Wet Rations;" cooked foods etc.; rain; mud; intoxicants; "Dry Rations;" uncooked food; a dust storm; sand or dust; a sermon.

RATTLED.

Embarrassed; grip of the situation lost.

RED CAP.

A Military Policeman.

RED LIGHT.

A Brothel. The licensed brothels in French towns exhibit a red or green light to indicate their business.

REGIMENTAL.

To come a Regimental - a regimental cadorna - crash etc. See "Gutzer."

REGIMENTALLY REDUCED.

To go and get seduced. A refusal accompanied by abuse.

REINSTOUCHMENTS.

Reinforcements.

REST CAMP.

A cemetary. (In the official sense a camp where war wearied troops were sent for a rest.)

RESPIGRATOR.

Anti-gas box resipator [sic].

REVVING.

Very Busy. Adapted from the simile of the revolutions of an aeroplane propellor.

RINGO.

See "Dope."

RING IT or RING HIS TAIL.

Play the coward.

RINGER.

An expert; a cheat; a coward.

RING IN.

Surreptitiously introduce.

RISSOLE KING.

Army Cook.

ROAR-UP.

Unbraid; abuse.

ROLL.

A sum of money; literally a roll of notes.

ROSELLA.

A Staff Officer, who with his gold lace, scarlet cap band, medal ribbon etc., was supposed to resemble the Rosella, an Australian parrot possessing a great variety of colors.

ROUGH AS BAGS.

See "Rough Stuff."

ROUGH CARPENTERS.

See "Ration Carriers."

ROUGHEY.

A statement diffcult to believe.

ROUGH HOUSE.

A fight; disorderly proceedings.

ROUGH STUFF.

An undisciplined, reckless, indecent, disorderly person or thing.

ROUGH UP.

A brawl; horseplay. An unmannerly, violent or irresponsibile [sic] person.

ROUND FEET.

Trench feet. A Foot disease caused by cold and damp.

ROUSE.

Up braid.

RUBBER-GUTZ

A clumsy person; a pompous person.

RUBBER HEELED JACK.

A German high velocity field gun, whose shells travels so fast as not to be heard until after the burst.

RUMBLE.

To discover someones [sic] trickery. To acquire by a trick, effect a swindle.

RUM-JAR.

A heavy type of trench mortar (German)

RUNNER.

The 1914-15 war ribbon.

RUN THE RULE OVER.

Search the man for valuables, to estimate his capabilities.

RIDE ON YOUR BACK.

Term of abuse signifying goat.

RISE & SHINE.

Reveille.

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