• ANT
vb. 1891 Sc. – to show attention to, to respect, to obey
• ANTARCTIC 10
n. 1991 Antarctica usage – any moderately good-looking person of the sex that attracts you
• ANTARCTICA MONSTER
n. 1977 Antarctica usage – fire
• ANT BEAR
n. 1545 – an aardvark
• ANT-BRAINED
adj. 1990s sl. – small-minded, petty
• ANT BUG
n. 1944 Amer. dial. – an ant
• ANTE
n. 1. 1843 colloq. – available cash, means; an amount paid in advance; a down payment
n. 2. 1942 Amer. dial. – in marble play: the stakes in a game of keeps (any marble game played with the understanding that any marbles won are to be kept)
n. 3. 20C Amer. sl. – an amount of money that must be contributed before playing certain card games such as poker
n. 4. 20C Amer. sl. – the charge or cost
vb. 1861 US sl. – to pay, to hand over, to contribute; hence, to do one’s share
• ANTEAMBULATE
vb. 1623 obs. – to walk before, as an usher
• ANTEATER
n. 1. 1971 US sl. – in trucking: a short-nosed C-model Mack tractor
n. 2. 1975 sl. – an uncircumcised penis; a man with an uncircumcised penis
n. 3. 1980s US homosexual sl. – an erect penis
• ANTEDILUVIAN
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – old
• ANTEEN
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – a horse of a dirty white colour
• ANTEGREDIENT
adj. 1686 obs. rare – preceding, going before
• ANTE LINE
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – in marble play: the line toward which the players roll their marbles before beginning a game, to determine the order of shooting
• ANTELOPE
n. 1. 1848 US sl. – a hog
n. 2. 1899 US sl. – a mule
• ANTEMERIDIAN
adj. 1650 – occurring before noon
• ANTENNA PLATOON
n. 1989 US sl. – during the Vietnam war: a platoon with an unusually large number of radios assigned to it
• ANTENUPTIAL
adj. 1810 – before marriage
• ANTEPAST
n. 1580 – a foretaste; an appetizer
• ANTEPONE
vb. 1656 – to prefer; to set before
• ANTER
n. 1881 Eng. dial. – an adventure, a misadventure; a story of adventure, an unlikely story
vb. 1742 Sc. obs. – to venture, to chance
• ANTERCAST
n. 1768 Sc. obs. – a misfortune
• ANTEROOM
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – a small enclosed porch erected either permanently or seasonally to protect an entrance door in cold weather
• ANTERS
adv. 1790 Eng. dial. – perhaps
conj. 1788 Eng. dial. – lest, in case that
• ANTETHUMOUS
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – before death
• ANTE UP
int. 1. 1955 Amer. dial. – Let’s begin!
int. 2. 1955 Amer. dial. – a call to start playing marbles
n. L19 Aust. sl. – (as ‘ante-up’) the game of poker
vb. 1. 1846 Amer. sl. – to pay out money in advance; to contribute
vb. 2. L19 Aust. sl. – to surrender something, to hand over; to pay one’s dues
vb. 3. L19 sl. – to explain oneself
vb. 4. 1927 Amer. dial. – to do one’s part or share
vb. 5. 1942 Amer. dial. – in marble play: to put marbles in a ring as a stake
vb. 6. 1969 Amer. dial. – to submit
• ANT HEAP
n. 1943 Amer. dial. – an abscess, a carbuncle
• ANTHEA (TURNER)
n. 1990s rhyming sl. for ‘earner’ – any job or plan that pays well, almost invariably criminal
• ANTHEM
n. 2003 UK sl. – in contemporary dance music and club culture of the 1980s, 1990s, and on: any song that fills the dance floor and gets clubbers singing along
• ANTHEM-CACKLER
n. E18 sl. – a dissenter, esp. a Puritan
• ANTHEM DIVER
n. 1. E18 sl. – a churchwarden or other petty official charged with responsibility for distributing alms to the poor; their charges regarded them as little more than licensed robbers
n. 2. E18 sl. – a pickpocket specializing in the robbery of church congregations
• ANTHERS
conj. 1788 Eng. dial. – lest, in case that
• ANTHETHUMOUS
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – before death
• ANTHOMANCY
n. Bk2003 – divination by the use of flowers
• ANTHOMANIA
n. Bk1991 – an extreme love for flowers
• ANTHOMANIAC
n. 1841 rare – a person who is intensely fond of flowers
• ANTHONY CUFFIN
n. 19C sl. – a man who has knock-knees
• ANTHONY PIG
n. 1. 1728 Eng. dial. – the smallest pig of a litter; the favourite one supposed to be dedicated to and under the special protection of St. Anthony, the patron saint of swineherds
n. 2. 1811 Eng. dial. – one who follows close at heel
• ANTHOPHOBIA
n. Bk1991 – an abnormal fear of flowers
• ANTHRACOMANCY
n. Bk1991 – divination through the study of burning coals
• ANTHROPOLATRY
n. Bk1991 – the deification and worship of a human being
• ANTHROPOMANCY
n. Bk1991 – divination using the entrails of dead men
• ANTHROPONYM
n. 1955 – a personal name
• ANTHROPOPHOBIA
n. Bk1991 – an abnormal fear of people, especially in groups
• ANTI
n. 20C Amer. sl. – a person opposed to a particular plan, action, etc.
• ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN
n. Bk1944 services’ sl. – a machine gun
• ANTI-BOD
n. M20 US sl. – a scrawny or underdeveloped male or an ugly, overweight woman
• ANTI-BY-GODLIN
adv. 1968 Amer. dial. – cater-cornered, diagonally, at an angle
• ANTIC
adj. 1. 1902 Amer. dial. – clownish, amusing, full of tricks; given to fun, capers, or pranks; joking, playful
adj. 2. 1903 Amer. dial. – frisky, lively, active, spry
adj. 3. 1936 Amer. dial. – irresponsible, ungovernable, wild
n. 1. 1825 Sc. – a foolish, ridiculous frolic
n. 2. 1895 Amer. dial – a clown, a buffoon
n. 3. 1932 Sc. – a person who is droll in speech or manner
vb. 1976 Amer. dial. – to fool around, to play
• ANTIC AS A JAYBIRD
adj. 1917 Amer. dial. – clownish, amusing, full of tricks; given to fun, capers, or pranks; joking, playful
• ANTICIPOINTMENT
n. Bk2006 US sl. – a disappointment about something that has been anticipated
• ANTIDOTE
n. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something unattractive
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an unattractive person; a very plain woman
• ANTIFOGMATIC; ANTIFOGMATICK
n. 1789 Amer. sl. – any alcoholic drink taken, usually in the morning, supposedly to counteract the bad effects of fog or dampness
• ANTI-FRANTIC
adj. 1983 US sl. – calm, collected
• ANTIFREEZE
n. 1. 1953 US sl. – alcohol, esp. cheap alcohol drunk by tramps and alcoholics
n. 2. 1994 Amer. drugs sl. – heroin
• ANTIFREEZED
adj. 20C Amer. sl. – alcohol intoxicated
• ANTI-GAS HEATER
n. 20C Amer. army sl., World War II usage – a gas mask
• ANTIGODDLE
vb. 1933 Amer. dial. – to stagger
• ANTIGODLE
vb. 1973 Amer. dial. – to walk sexily or flirtatiously
• ANTIGODLIN
adj. 1917 Amer. dial. – lopsided, askew, aslant, crooked
adv. 1905 Amer. dial. – cater-cornered, diagonally, at an angle
• ANTIGOGGLY
adv. 1967 Amer. dial. – slantwise, out of plumb
• ANTIGOGLE
vb. 1. 1949 Amer. dial. – to move in an erratic fashion
vb. 2. 1973 Amer. dial. – to walk sexily or flirtatiously
• ANTIGOGLIN
adj. 1930 Amer. dial. – askew, slanting, crooked
adv. 1905 Amer. dial. – slantwise, diagonally
• ANTIGOSLIN
adj. 1915 Amer. dial. – lopsided, askew, aslant
• ANTIJUDAIC
adj. 1885 – that is contrary to the Jews or Jewish opinion, policy, etc.
n. 1916 – one who opposed Jewish opinion, policy, etc.
• ANTILOQUIST
n. 1742 obs. – an opponent; one who contradicts; one who speaks against something
• ANTILOQUY
n. 1646 obs. – contradiction; a speaking against
• ANTI-LUNCH
n. 19C sl. – an appetizer, drink taken before lunch
• ANTIMAN
n. 1940s W. Indies sl. – an effeminate man; a male homosexual
• ANTIMIRE
n. 1903 Amer. dial. – an ant
• ANTIOUS
adj. B1900 Eng. dial. – ancient, beautiful with age, rare
• ANTIPODEAN
adj. M17 sl. – in a mess, chaotic
• THE ANTIPODES
n. 1. 19C Brit. sl. – the female genitals; the ‘exact opposite’ of the male genitals
n. 2. E19 sl. – the buttocks
• ANTIPODISE
vb. 1642 obs. – to turn upside down
• ANTIPOLEMIST
n. 1817 rare – a professed opponent of war
• ANTI-PROLIFERATION DEVICE
n. 1998 UK sl. – a condom
• ANTIQUARIANIZE
vb. 1828 colloq. – to act as an antiquary
• ANTIQUE BOZO
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an old man
• ANTIQUE DEALER
n. 1970s US homosexual sl. – a young man who courts elderly, wealthy men
• ANTIQUE HP
n. 2002 UK sl. – an old homosexual man (Homee Palone, a man)
• ANTI-SALOON
adj. 1888 US – opposed to the existence of drinking saloons
• ANTISIGODLIN
adj. 1931 Amer. dial. – lopsided, askew, aslant, crooked
• ANTISMASH
n. 1983 US military aviation usage – collision lights, as on ships or aircraft
• ANTISOCORDIST
n. a1680 obs. rare – an opponent of sloth or stupidity
• ANTI-STINK
n. Bk1964 US students’ sl. – deodorant
• ANTI-TUMP
n. 1879 Eng. dial. – an ant-hill
• ANTI-WALKUS
adv. 1970 Amer. dial. – cater-cornered, diagonally, at an angle
• ANTI-WHAMPUS
adj. 1967 Amer. dial. – askew, lopsided
• ANT-KILLER
n. 1. M19 US sl. – a person having large feet, or wears large shoes
n. 2. 1874 US sl. – in baseball: a sharply hit ground ball
• ANT KILLERS
n. 1845 Amer. dial. – the feet, esp. very large feet
• ANTLE
vb. 1907 Sc. – to keep on repeating some complaint or bit of fault-finding
• ANTLE-BEER
adv. 1746 Eng. dial. – crosswise, irregular
• ANTLING
n. 1782 rare – a small or young ant
• ANTLOPHOBIA
n. Bk1991 – an abnormal fear of floods
• ANT-MIRE
n. 19C US euphemism for ‘piss-ant’ – an ant
• ANTRIMS
n. 1. 1884 Eng. dial. – airs, whims, caprices, with an implication of temper; tantrums
n. 2. B1900 Eng. dial. – doubts, hesitations
• ANTRIN
adj. 1. 1785 Sc. – occasional, rare
adj. 2. Bk1898 N. Eng. dial. – different
• ANTRUM
n. 1. 1811 Sc. obs. – afternoon or evening
n. 2. 1887 Sc. obs. – afternoon or early evening meal
• ANTS
n. 1. 1935 Amer. sl. – an unrelaxed, disturbed condition; acute restlessness; anxiety
n. 2. 1941 Amer. sl. – sexual excitement; sex appeal
n. 3. 1950s Black British sl. – a parasite
vb. 1950s Black British sl. – to live as a parasite
• ANTSES
n. 1931 Amer. dial. – ants
• THE ANT’S EYEBROWS
n. c1920 US sl. – an outstanding or excellent person or thing
• ANTSINESS
n. 1970 colloq. – impatience, restlessness; agitation
• ANTS IN ONE’S BRITCHES
n. 1949 US sl. – restlessness, irritability; eagerness for action or sexual activity
• ANTS IN ONE’S PANTS
n. 1. 1931 Amer. sl. – an unrelaxed, disturbed condition; acute restlessness
n. 2. 20C Amer. sl. – sexual excitement
• ANTS IN ONE’S TOES
n. 1933 US sl. – restlessness, irritability; eagerness for action or sexual activity
• ANT-SMASHER
n. 1966 US sl. – a man who has large feet; one who wears large shoes
• ANT-SMASHERS
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – the feet, esp. very large feet
• ANT’S PANTS
n. 20C Aust. sl. – the height of fashion
• ANT-STOMPER
n. 1. 1960s US sl. – a large foot; a large, heavy shoe
n. 2. 1960s US sl. – a man who has large feet; one who wears large shoes
• ANTSY
adj. 1. 1838 Amer. dial. – restless, nervous, eager, anxious, annoyed
adj. 2. 1973 Amer. dial. – lively, spry
adj. 3. 1968 Amer. dial. – said of a woman who is very eager to get married
adj. 4. 20C Amer. sl. – sexually aroused; lustful
• ANTSY-PANTSY
adj. 1944 colloq. – restlessly impatient; agitated
• ANTTIC
n. 1905 Amer. dial. – an attic
• ANT-TUMP
n. 1879 Eng. dial. – an ant-hill
• ANTWACKY
adj. 2002 UK sl. – old-fashioned, esp. used of clothes
• ANTY
n. 1910s Aust. sl. – sugar
• ANTYMAR
n. 1931 Amer. dial. – an ant
• ANTYMIRE
n. 1899 Amer. dial. – an ant
• ANTYPISSMIRE
n. 1930 Amer. dial. – an ant
• ANTY-TUMP
n. 1879 Eng. dial. – an ant-hill
• ANTY UP
vb. 1917 Amer. dial. – to hurry up
• A NUMBER ONE
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – excellent; first-rate
n. 1924 US sl. – (A-number-one) oneself
• ANUNDER
adv. B1900 Eng. dial. – beneath, under (of actual position)
prep. 1768 Sc. & Eng. dial. – under, underneath
• ANUS
n. 1973 US sl. – a foolish or despicable person
• ANUS BANDIT
n. 1962 US sl. – a predatory male homosexual
• ANVIL
vb. 1968 Amer. dial. – of a galloping horse: to create sparks by striking the shoes of the hind feet against those of the forefeet
• ANVIL CHORUS
n. 1898 sl., orig. US – carping, negative criticism or critics
• ANVIL-CLOUDS
n. B1900 Eng. dial. – clouds of the shape of an anvil, supposed to betoken rain
• ANWILL
adj. c897 obs. – self-willed, stubborn, obstinate; persistently desirous, importunate
• ANWORD
n. Bk1852 obs. – an answer, a reply
• ANXIOUS
adj. 1944 African-American dial. – wonderful, excellent; good, fine
• ANXIOUS BENCH
n. 1832 Amer. dial. – at revival meetings or in church, a seat in front for people concerned about their spiritual well-being
• ANXIOUSED UP
adj. 1905 Amer. dial. – made anxious, impatient, excited
• ANXIOUS MEETING
n. L19 sl., orig. US – the gathering, after a revivalist meeting, of those earnest souls who are ‘anxious for salvation’
• ANXIOUS MOURNER
n. L19 sl. – a member of an ‘anxious meeting’
• ANXIOUS SEATER
n. 1943 Amer. dial. – one who is on the ‘anxious bench’
• ANXOM
adj. 1889 Eng. dial. – anxious
• ANXOMNESS
n. B1900 Eng. dial. – anxiety
• ANY-BIT
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – the rump of a cooked chicken
• ANYBODY IN THERE?
phr. 1995 Aust. sl. – do you have any intelligence?
• ANY DOG’S BOTTOM?
phr. 1930s Aust. sl. – used to enquire if someone is any use
• ANYESDER
n. Bk1898 Sc. – a sheep in its second year
• ANY GOD’S AMOUNT
n. Bk1914 Amer. dial. – an indefinitely large amount; a great many
• ANY GOD’S IMMENSE
n. 1914 Amer. dial. – an indefinitely large amount; a great many
• ANY GOD’S QUANTITY
n. 1943 Amer. dial. – an indefinitely large amount; a great many
• ANY-GO-FLUM-BUMS
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – diarrhoea
• ANY G.Q.
n. 1943 Amer. dial. – an indefinitely large amount; a great many
• ANYHOO
adv. 1924 colloq. – anyhow; esp. used to change topic, or return to a previous topic after a digression or interruption
• ANY HOW
adj. L19 sl. – disorganized, messy
adv. M19 sl. – indifferently, carelessly
• ANY KIN
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – of any kind of sort
• ANY KINE
n. 1981 Hawaii youth usage – anything
• ANY MORE FOR ANY MORE?
phr. 1977 UK sl. – does anyone want more food? also used to announce a final opportunity to purchase something
• ANYMOUSE
adj. 1979 US navy usage – anonymous
• ANY OLD HOW
adv. 1. 1933 UK sl. – in an untidy or disordered state
adv. 2. 1958 UK sl. – in any case, anyway
• ANY OLD THING
n. L19 US sl. – any thing whatsoever
• ANYONE FOR TENNIS?
phr. 1951 US sl. – used for humorously suggesting an activity
• ANYONYOU
n. 1911 Sc. – an eagle
• ANYPLACE
adv. 1819 US colloq. – anywhere
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – someplace, somewhere
• ANY RACKET
n. M19 rhyming sl. – a penny faggot
• ANYROAD
phr. 1896 UK sl. – anyway
• ANYS
n. 1958 Amer. dial. – in marble play: a call which, if said first, entitles the player to any of several advantages
• ANYTHING
adj. 2000s UK teen sl. – rude
• ANYTHING FOR A LAUGH
n. 1969 UK sl. – serves as a justification for doing something because you have no choice in the matter
• ANYTHING FOR A QUIET WIFE
phr. 1977 UK sl. – catchphrase meaning exactly what it says
• ANYTHING IN TROUSERS
n. L19 sl. – a man, any man
• ANYTHING MUCH
n. 1664 – a great amount; anything significant or important; often in negative context
• ANYTHINGS
n. 1958 Amer. dial. – in marble play: a call which, if said first, entitles the player to any of several advantages
• ANY-TO-COME
n. 2001 UK sl. – in gambling: a type of conditional bet in which all or part of a winning is returned on another bet
• ANYTOWN
n. 1992 Brit. sl. – a notional American town that represents the appearance or values of stereotypical small-town America
• ANYTOWN USA
n. 1992 Brit. sl. – a notional American town that represents the appearance or values of stereotypical small-town America
• ANYWAYS!
int. 1920s US college sl. – a dismissive exclamation
• ANY WEE GEORGIE?
phr. 1920s rhyming sl. for ‘Wee Georgie Wood’ – any good?
• ANY WHEN
adv. 1853 Eng. dial. – at any time
• ANYWHERE
adv. 1946 US sl. – in possession of drugs, as in ‘are you anywhere’
• ANY-WHICH-WAY
adv. 1989 Irish sl. – randomly, in disorderly manner
• ANZAC
n. 20C, World War I usage – an Australian or NZ soldier, esp. with the Gallipoli service
• ANZAC DAY DINNER
n. 1930s NZ sl. – a meal, usually lunch, that is mainly composed of alcohol
• ANZIO ANNIE
n. 1944 US sl. – a railroad gun employed by the German army to shell the Allied beachhead at Anzio, January – May, 1944
• ANZIO EXPRESS
n. 1944 US sl. – a railroad gun employed by the German army to shell the Allied beachhead at Anzio, January – May, 1944
Back to INDEX A
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Updated: September 5, 2022
Lexicophilia 