• AMP
adj. 1990s African-American sl. – stirred up, very emotional, ‘amplified’
n. 1. 1848 colloq. – an amputation of a part of the body
n. 2. 1866 Sc. – fear, terror; anxiety; esp. a restless state of mind which prevents one from sleeping; anxious anticipation
n. 3. 1929 colloq. – an amputee
n. 4. 1967 US sl. – an amplifier, esp. one for electric instruments
n. 5. 1968 UK sl. – an ampoule (a glass vessel of drugs intended for hypodermic injection)
n. 6. 1985 UK sl. – an ampoule of methadone, used to break a heroin addiction
n. 7. M20 US drugs usage – an amphetamine tablet or capsule; usually used in the plural
n. 8. 2000s US drugs sl. – marijuana dipped in formaldehyde, sometimes laced with phencyclidine
vb. 1914 Sc. – to be anxious, restless; to be unable to sleep
• AMPASSY
n. 1859 Sc. & Eng. dial. – the sign & (ampersand), formerly written at the end of the alphabet in schoolbooks
• AMP DOWN
vb. 1990s US college sl. – to calm down, to talk quietly
• AMPED
adj. 1. 1972 Amer. sl. – very excited, anxious or active; frenetically active; ready for anything; psyched up
adj. 2. 1972 US sl. – under the influence of a central nervous system stimulant, usually amphetamines or methamphetamine
adj. 3. 1993 US sl. – silent
adj. 4. 1995 US sl. – of a music system: equipped with powerful amplifiers
adj. 5. Bk2006 US sl. – angry
• AMPED OUT
adj. 1. 1972 Amer. sl. – very excited, anxious or active; frenetically active; ready for anything; psyched up
adj. 2. 1972 Amer. sl. – under the influence of an amphetamine or other stimulant
• AMPED UP
adj. 1. 1966 colloq. – of music, sound, etc.: put through an amplifier; very loud
adj. 2. 1972 Amer. sl. – very excited, anxious or active; frenetically active; ready for anything; psyched up
adj. 3. 1972 Amer. sl. – under the influence of an amphetamine or other stimulant
• AMPEL
adj. 1908 Sc. – greedy, eager
• AMPER
n. 1. 1790 Eng. dial. – an inflamed swelling, a pustule; a varicose vein; matter, pus
n. 2. 1790 Eng. dial. – a defect or flaw in cloth
n. 3. 1991 US sl. – an ampersand (&)
• AMPERED
adj. 1885 Eng. dial. – poisoned, festered; decayed
• AMPERLASH
n. 1879 Eng. dial. – saucy, abusive language
• AMPERSAND
n. 1. 1838 Amer. jocular – the rump; the buttocks
n. 2. 1859 Sc. & Eng. dial. – the sign &, formerly written at the end of the alphabet in schoolbooks
• AMPERY
adj. 1. 1736 Eng. dial. – of persons: sickly, unhealthy
adj. 2. 1790 Eng. dial. – of things, as cheese: rotten, beginning to decay
adj. 3. 1873 Eng. dial. – covered with blotches or pimples
• AMPHET
n. 1982 US sl. – amphetamine
• AMPHIBOLOUS
adj. 1. 1644 obs. – ambiguous; of double or doubtful character
adj. 2. 1647 – of language: ambiguous in sense
• AMP JOINT
n. 1998 UK sl. – marijuana and amphetamine (or possibly another drug) mixed and rolled for smoking in a cigarette
• AMPLECT
vb. 1525 obs. – to embrace, to clasp
• AMPLEFEYST
n. 1. B1900 Sc. – of persons or animals: a sulky humour; a fit of spleen
n. 2. B1900 Sc. – unnecessary talk; long stories
• AMPLE TRAMPLE
n. 1. Bk1947 Amer. sl. – large feet
n. 2. Bk1947 Amer. sl. – large shoes
• AMPLEX
vb. 1543 obs. – to embrace, to clasp
• AMPLIFICATE
vb. 1731 obs. – to amplify, to augment, to enlarge, to extend; to dwell long on a subject
• AMPLISH
n. 1833 Irish sl. – a disadvantage
vb. 1833 Irish sl. – to place at a disadvantage
• AMPLITUDINOUS
adj. 1904 – ample, capacious
• AMPLIVAGOUS
adj. 1731 obs. – wandering widely or at large; having a large sphere of action
• AMPLUSH
n. 1843 Ireland – a disadvantage, state of unreadiness
vb. 1848 Sc. & Ireland – to place at a disadvantage; to reduce to a dilemma, to confuse in argument
• AMPOT
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a hamper
• AMP OUT
vb. 1990s US sl. – to act in a highly neurotic, tense manner
• AMPS
n. 20C Amer. drugs sl. – amphetamines
• AMPSTER
n. 1941 Aust. sl. – the accomplice of a showman or trickster ‘planted’ in the audience to start the buying of tickets, goods, etc.
vb.1940s sl. – to work outside a carnival, sideshow, strip club, etc., touting the pleasures inside and pulling in the customers
• AMPULLOUS
adj. 1622 obs. – inflated or turgid in language; boastful, vainglorious
• AMP UP
vb. 1992 US sl. – to make a person very excited, agitated, or energetic through the consumption of amphetamines or another stimulant
• AMPUS-END
n. 19C sl. – the buttocks
• AM-PUSSY-AND
n. 19C sl. – the buttocks
• AMPUTATE
vb. 1842 Amer. sl. – to clear out, to abscond; to decamp; to take flight
• AMPUTATE ONE’S MAHOGANY
vb. Bk1890 sl. – to decamp; to run away
• AMPUTATE ONE’S TIMBER
vb. M19 sl. – to decamp; to run away
• AMPUTE
vb. 1623 obs. – to cut off, to amputate
• AM SAM
n. 1982 US sl. – American Samoa
• AMSCRAY
vb. 1934 Amer. sl. – to leave; to depart; to get out; to clear out
• AMSHA
n. 20C Irish sl. – misfortune
• AMSHACK
n. a1898 Sc. – an accident, a misfortune; an injury
• AMSTER
n. 1941 Aust. sl. – the accomplice of a showman or trickster ‘planted’ in the audience to start the buying of tickets, goods, etc.
vb. 1940s sl. – to work outside a carnival, sideshow, strip club, etc., touting the pleasures inside and pulling in the customers
• AMSTERDAM
n. 1. 1941 Aust. sl. – the accomplice of a showman or trickster ‘planted’ in the audience to start the buying of tickets, goods, etc.
n. 2. 20C Brit. rhyming sl. – jam
• AMUCK
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – drunk
• AMULET
n. 19C sl. – the vagina
• A-MULLOCK
adv. 1890 Eng. dial. – untidily; in a confused heap
• AMUSE
vb. 18C UK criminals’ sl. – to fool shopkeepers and other tradesmen in order to cheat or rob them
• AMUSER
n. M18 UK criminals’ sl. – one who throws dust (sometimes snuff or pepper) in his victim’s eyes and then runs off; a companion then appears and, while ostensibly offering his sympathy, picks the victim’s pockets
• AMUSING
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – excellent; first-rate
n. 1988 US sl. – a vacuous female celebrity or hanger-on (Actress, Model, Whatever)
• AMY
n. 1. 1966 US sl. – amyl nitrite; an ampoule of amyl nitrite, esp. when taken recreationally or to enhance sexual arousal
n. 2. 1969 Amer. sl. – a capsule or tablet containing an amphetamine
n. 3. M20 US drugs sl. – an Amytal sodium™ tablet or capsule, one of the barbiturates
• AMYCHOPHOBIA
n. Bk2008 – fear of being scratched
• AMY FLORENCE
n. 1760 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a loosely, untidily and tawdrily dressed female
• AMY-JOHN
n. M20 Amer. sl. – a lesbian, esp. one who plays the dominant role
• AMYL
n. 1971 US sl. – amyl nitrite or butyl nitrate, when taken recreationally or to enhance sexual arousal
• AMYL HOUSE
n. 1996 UK sl. – a dance music genre
• AMYL QUEEN
n. 1970s US homosexual sl. – a homosexual man who enjoys sniffing amyl nitrite, which is supposed to enhance male orgasm
• ANA
n. 1820 Sc. obs. – a river-island
• ANABAPTIST
n. L18 sl. – a pickpocket who, having been caught in the act, is ‘baptized’ by being placed beneath a pump or dumped into a pond
• ANABLEPOPHOBIA
n. Bk2008 – fear of looking up at high places
• ANACONDA
n. 1990s sl. – a mixture of strong beer and rough cider or scrumpy
• ANAEMIC
adj. 1898 colloq. – lacking in vigour, strength, or spirit
• ANAL
n. 2000 US sl. – anal sex
• ANAL AMIGO
n. 2003 UK sl. – a male homosexual
• ANAL AND ORAL
n. 2003 UK sl. – anal sex and oral sex when advertised as services offered by a prostitute
• ANAL APPLAUSE
n. Bk2006 Amer. sl. – the release of intestinal gas
• ANAL ASTRONAUT
n. 1990s sl. – a male homosexual
• ANAL BUCANEER
n. 1980s US homosexual sl. – a homosexual man
• ANAL CRUSADER
n. 1990s UK juvenile sl. – a male homosexual
• ANAL GROUNDSMAN
n. 1983 UK sl. – a homosexual man
• ANALKEN
vb. L19 tinkers’ usage – to wash
• ANALOG
adj. 1997 US sl. – in computing: pert. to the world outside the internet
• ANALOGUE
adj. 1993 colloq. – unaware of or unaffected by computer technology or digital communications; outdated, old-fashioned
• ANALPHABET
n. 1881 – one who is totally illiterate or unable to read
• ANALT
vb. L19 tinkers’ usage – to sweep
• ANAN?
pron. 1789 Amer. dial. – What? What did you say?
• ANANIAS
n. 1890 Eng. sl. – a liar
• ANANIASFEST
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an exchange of tall stories
• ANAPHRODITOUS
adj. 1879 – without sexual desire or appetite
• ANARCH
n. 1884 – an advocate of anarchy, an anarchist
• ANARCHISTS
n. 1910s Aust. sl. – non-safety matches
• ANARCHO
n. 1990s sl. – an anarchist
• ANARCHY
n. 1883 Amer. sl. – iodine
• ANAROOGIAN
n. 1. 1856 Amer. dial. – a crude, unruly person; a member of a rough party of fun-makers; orig. applied to residents of Fulton Co., Illinois
n. 2. 1912 Amer. dial. – a very rural old fellow
• ANATE
adj. B1900 Ireland – prepared
• ANATOMICAL
adj. E20 euphemism – lewd; sexually oriented; explicit about the breasts or genitals
• ANATOMIC BOMB
n. Bk1942 US sl. – an admirable or attractive female
• ANATOMY
n. 1. 1790 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a skeleton
n. 2. 1834 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a very thin, emaciated person or animal, a ‘bag of bones’
n. 3. 1885 Eng. dial. – a term of contempt for a man
n. 4. 20C US – one’s body, esp. the parts which are not visible in public; the buttocks
• ANBY
adv. 1825 Eng. dial. – presently, by and by
• ANCA
n. L19 sl. – a man
• ANCE
vb. 1. B1900 Sc. – to have regard to, to concern
vb. 2. B1900 Sc. – to heed, to care for
• ANCHOR
n. 1. a1425 – a person who provides stability, support, or confidence; esp. in an otherwise uncertain situation
n. 2. 1788 Eng. dial. – the chape of a buckle, the part by which it is attached to the belt, strap, etc.
n. 3. 1863 sl. – a pick; a pick-axe
n. 4. 1906 US Naval Academy usage – the midshipman having the lowest academic standing in his class
n. 5. 1910s US criminals’ sl. – a reprieve, a temporary suspension of a sentence
n. 6. 1936 sl., orig. trucking usage – an automobile brake
n. 7. 1940s criminals’ sl. – a stickpin
n. 8. 1942 Amer. dial. – among railroad workers: a brake, esp. a hand brake
n. 9. 1942 Amer. sl. – one’s wife
n. 10. 1943 UK sl. – a parachutist who hesitates before jumping
n. 11. 1950s sl. – one’s home, one’s address
n. 12. 1955 US sl. – an examination that has been postponed
n. 13. 1977 Amer. dial. – a caboose
n. 14. 20C Brit. sl. – a juror who has been bribed in order to influence fellow members to vote for an acquittal
n. 15. 20C Brit. sl. – a brake applied to a death sentence, a stay of execution
n. 16. 2003 UK sl. – a younger brother or sister; a small who cramps one style and social life
vb. 1. 18C Eng. colloq. – to sit down
vb. 2. 1906 Amer. sl. – to remain, to stay for a time
vb. 3. 1920s sl. – to grant a stay of execution
vb. 4. 1931 Amer. dial. – among railroad workers: to set the brakes
vb. 5. 1946 US sl. – to apply the brakes of a car or truck
• ANCHOR AND CHAIN
n. 1942 Amer. sl. – one’s wife
• ANCHOR AND PROP
n. 1940s US criminals’ sl. – a stickpin with a safety catch that anchors it to the tie
• ANCHOR BABY
n. 1993 US usually offensive – a child born to an immigrant mother living illegally in the United States, and thus qualifying for legal citizenship under U.S. law, esp. when considered as a means of securing citizenship or legal residency for other family members
• ANCHOR BRAND STRAWBERRY
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – among loggers: a prune
• ANCHOR-CHAIN LIBERTY
n. 1952 Amer. navy sl. – unauthorized liberty; absence without leave
• ANCHOR CHILD
n. 1986 – a child sent by his or her family to live in a foreign country in order to quality for citizenship or legal residency there, as a means of securing citizenship or legal residency for other family members
• ANCHOR-CLANKER
n. 1. 1952 Amer. sl. – a deck-hand; hence, a sailor
n. 2. 1973 Amer. sl. – something amusing
• ANCHORED
adj. 1968 Amer. dial. – married
• ANCHORED IN SOT’S BAY
adj. 20C nautical sl. – drunk
• ANCHOR-FROST
n. 1. 1854 Eng. dial. – a frost which causes ice to form along the bed of a running stream
n. 2. B1900 Eng. dial. – ice formed far below the surface of the water in a running stream; ground ice
• ANCHORHEAD
n. 1968 US military sl. – a sailor; used derisively
• ANCHOR ICE
n. 1. 1815 Eng. & Amer. dial. – ice which forms below the surface of a body of water and which can become attached to the bottom
n. 2. 1907 Amer. dial. – detached hunks of ice floating on a pond, lake, or river
• ANCHORMAN
n. 1. 1928 US Naval Academy usage – the student having the lowest academic standing in his class
n. 2. 1952 Amer. sl. – the last man in any group or sequence
n. 3. 1985 US sl. – (usually as ‘anchor man’) in casino blackjack: the gambler immediately to the dealer’s right
• ANCHOR OFF
vb. c1950 Amer. dial. – to amble
• ANCHOR RELATIVE
n. 1979 US – a legally recognized resident of a country who acts as a sponsor for a family member who wants to emigrate to his or her relative’s country
• ANCHORS
n. 1930s sl. – brakes
• ANCHORS AWAY
adj. 20C Brit. rhyming sl. – gay
• ANCHORSMITH
n. 1296 – a person who makes or manufactures anchors for ships
• ANCHOR STRAWBERRY
n. 1960 US nautical sl. – a prune
• ANCHOR THE CAN
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a children’s game in which the players set up a stone, a tin can, or something similar, and then try to knock it down
• ANCIENT
adj. 1. 1880 Eng. dial. – cunning, clever
adj. 2. 1887 Sc. & Eng. dial. – of children: staid, demure, precocious
adj. 3. Bk1997 Irish sl. – of scenery: picturesque
adj. 4. 2004 US sl. – unfashionable, out of style
n. 1. 1970 Amer. dial. – a rustic or countrified person
n. 2. 2004 US sl. – an old man; a quaint, old-fashioned person
• ANCIENT CHINESE SECRET
n. 1980s African-American teen sl. – a non-committal response when one is asked how one managed a task
• ANCIENT DOMINION
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – Virginia
• ANCIENT DUTCH
n. 1. L19 sl. – a woman
n. 2. L19 sl. – one’s wife
• ANCIENT HISTORY
n. 1838 colloq. – someone or something completely forgotten, esp. past romances
• ANCIENT MARINERS
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – seagulls (said to possess the souls of dead seamen)
• ANCIENT MARY
n. 1976 US sl. – an AM radio
• ANCIENTNESS
n. 1828 Sc. – antiquity
• ANCIENTRY
n. 1. 1866 Eng. dial. – old things; antiquities
n. 2. 1887 Sc. – antiquity
n. 3. 1887 Sc. – old-fashionedness in children; precocity
• ANCIENTS
n. B1900 Eng. dial. – ancestors
• ANCIENTY
n. 1677 Eng. dial. – antiquity
ANCIPITOUS
adj. 1652 obs. – doubtful, uncertain; ambiguous
• ANCLIFF
n. 1790 Sc. & Eng. dial. – the ankle
• ANCRAOPHOBIA
n. Bk1991 – an abnormal fear of wind
• AND
n. 1865 Eng. dial. – sea-mist
vb. B1900 Sc. obs. – to breathe; to whisper; to devise; to imagine
• AND A HALF
adj. 1832 sl. – remarkable, exceptional
• AND ALL THAT CAPER
n. 1964 UK sl. – et cetera
• AND ALL THAT JAZZ
n. 1959 US sl. – et cetera, and so on
• AND ALL THAT RAZZ
phr. 1950s Amer. sl. – all that stuff; all that nonsense; other such things, etcetera
• AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU TOO!
int. 1976 UK sl. – used ironically in response to a disparagement or an insult
• AND AND AND
phr. 1984 UK sl. – and so on, etc.
• AND AWAY WE GO!
int. 1954 US sl. – used as a humorous signal that something has just started
• AND-BUSH
n. 1841 Amer. dial. – an ambush
• AND DID HE MARRY POOR BLIND NELL?
phr. 1910s sl. – used to imply one’s disbelief in the previous statement
• ANDERS-MEAT
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – luncheon
• ANDERSON CART
n. 1987 Can. sl. – a cart made from a cut-down car and pulled by horses during the 1930s depression; later, any car that ran out of petrol or broke down
• ANDES CANDY
n. 1990 US drugs sl. – cocaine
• AND HOW!
int. 1865 Amer. sl. – I agree! emphatically so; yes, indeed
• ANDI
n. 1914 Sc. – stench, offensive smell
• AND LIKE IT!
int. 1943 UK navy sl. – used in anticipation of a grousing response to an order
• AND LIKE THAT
phr. 1977 US – et cetera; and so on
• AND MONKEYS MIGHT FLY OUT OF MY BUTT!
int. 1992 US sl. – used as a reflection of the high unlikelihood of something happening
• AND NO BOTTLES
phr. L19 sl. – without a doubt
• AND NO CHIPS
phr. L19 sl. – and no mistake
• AND NO ERROR
phr. E19 sl. – certainly, without any doubt
• AND NO FLIES
phr. M19 sl. – no doubt or hesitation about it
• AND NO MESSING ABOUT
phr. 1930s sl. – no doubt whatsoever
• AND NO MISTAKE (ABOUT IT)
phr. E19 sl. – certainly, without any doubt
• ANDOO
vb. 1866 Sc. – to keep a boat stationary by gentle motion of the oars; to keep a boat in position by rowing gently against wind or tide
• AND-PUSSY-AND
n. 19C sl. – the buttocks
• ANDRAMARTIN
n. 1894 Ireland – a silly trick; nonsense
• ANDRAMARTINS; ANDREMARTINS
n. 20C Irish sl. – irresponsible or frivolous behaviour; horseplay; fooling around
• ANDREW
n. 1. 1618 obs. rare – a broadsword, an ‘Andrea Ferrara’
n. 2. 1700 obs. rare – a valet, a gentleman’s servant
n. 3. E18 sl. – a lazy fellow
n. 4. 1839 Eng. dial. – a clown, a mountebank
n. 5. M19 sl. – a government department or authority
• THE ANDREW
n. 1867 sl. – the Royal Navy
• ANDREW MARTINING
n. 20C Irish sl. – irresponsible or frivolous behaviour
• ANDREW (MILLAR)
n. 1867 naval sl. – the Royal Navy
• ANDREW MILLAR’S LUGGER
n. 1819 naval sl. obs. – a ship, esp. of war; a king’s ship or vessel
• ANDREW MILLER
n. 1849 US Navy sl. – a warship
• ANDREW-OVER
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – a game in which you throw a ball over a low building
• ANDREX FART
n. 1990s sl. – a silent, smelly breaking of wind that lasts for quite some time
• ANDROCRACY
n. 1903 – the rule of man or the male; male supremacy
• ANDROGYNE
n. a1387 – a hermaphrodite
• ANDROID
n. 1994 US sl. – a patient with no normal laboratory values
• ANDROMANIA
n. Bk1991 – an obsession with men; nymphomania
• ANDROPHILIA
n. Bk1991 – a preference for males
• ANDROPHOBIA
n. Bk1991 – a hatred of males
• ANDROPHONOMANIA
n. Bk1991 – a homicidal mania
• AND THAT AIN’T HAY!
int. 1943 US sl. – used for humorous assertion that the topic of discussion is no small thing
• AND THAT’S THE TRUTH!
int. 1968 US sl. – used as a humorous affirmation of what you have just said
• AND THAT’S THE WAY IT IS!
int. 1962 US sl. – used as a humorous affirmation
• AND THE HORSE YOU RODE IN ON
phr. 1970s US sl. – a dismissive, antagonistic phrase
• AND THEN PLENTY!
int. 20C sl. – a rejoinder to the last speaker, that’s not all of it either!
• AND THEN SOME!
int. 20C sl. – a rejoinder to the last speaker, that’s not all of it either!
• AND THE REST?
phr. Bk1903 colloq. – a retort to anything incomplete, or in which something is being kept back
• ANDWURDE
vb. c885 obs. – to answer
• ANDY
n. 1. 1947 Amer. dial. – an outhouse, a privy
n. 2. 20C teen & high school sl. – the person in a band who is so insignificant that no one gives a care about him
• ANDY CAIN
n. 19C Brit. rhyming sl. – rain
• ANDY CAPP
n. 1960s rhyming sl. for ‘crap’ – defecation
vb. 1. 20C Brit. rhyming sl. for ‘tap’ = to borrow – to borrow
vb. 2. 20C Brit. rhyming sl. for ‘crap’ – to defecate
• ANDY GUMP
n. 20C Amer. sl., World War II usage – a person with a small chin and a prominent nose
• ANDY GUMP CHIN
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a conspicuously receding chin; an unusual chin or jaw, or ironically, a person with a prominent jaw
• ANDY-GUMP JAWED
adj. 1968 Amer. dial. – having a jaw that sticks out prominently
• ANDY MAGINN; ANDY MCGINN
n. 1934 Amer. rhyming sl. – the chin
• ANDY MAGUIRE
n. 20C Aust. rhyming sl. – a fire
• ANDY MCNISH
n. 20C rhyming sl. – fish
• ANDY MCNOON
n. 1910s Aust. sl. – an utter fool
• AND YOU KNOW THAT!
int. 1992 US sl. – used for expressing approval or praise
• AND YOU TOO!
int. 1910s sl. – a dismissive, antagonistic exclamation; an admonition to anyone listening after one has made a pronouncement to someone; i.e. ‘and that means you too’
• ANDY PANDY
n. 1. 1983 UK sl. – an effeminate man, heterosexual or homosexual
n. 2. 20C Brit. rhyming sl. – a shandy
n. 3. 2000s Brit. rhyming sl. – brandy
• ANDY ROONEY
n. 1996 US sl. – in poker: any player, usually short, who is inclined to complain
• ANDY UP
vb. 1968 Amer. dial. – to pay a debt; to contribute one’s share
Back to INDEX A
Back to DICTIONARY
Updated: September 5, 2022
Lexicophilia 