• ARM
n. 1. a1382 – a chief source of support or assistance; a prop, mainstay
n. 2. a1398 – a branch of a tree, esp. a main branch
n. 3. 1724 – any of the sails or blades of a windmill; usually plural
n. 4. 1930s US criminals’ sl. – the act of robbing someone by choking them from behind and thus rendering them immobile
n. 5. 1956 Amer. criminals’ sl. – a police officer
n. 6. 1960s sl. – influence, power
n. 7. 1960s S. Afr. drugs sl. – a measure of cannabis, approximately the size of a maize cob and weighing about 2 kg (4.25 lb.)
n. 8. 1970s sl. – an erection, sexual stimulation
n. 9. 1975 sl. – the penis
n. 10. 1990s Black British sl. – an armed robbery
vb. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to walk arm-in-arm
• ARMADILLO SCOUT
n. E20 Air Force usage – an aeroplane introduced by Armstrong-Whitworth in 1918
• ARMAGEDDON
n. 1811 – a final conflict on a great scale
• ARMAMENTARIUM
n. 1874 – the equipment of medicines, instruments, and appliances used by a medical man
• AN ARM AND A LEG
n. 1. 1924 colloq. – a large amount of money; an exorbitant price
n. 2. 1991 US sl. – a prison sentence of five to ten years
• ARM AND CROOK
adv. 1895 Eng. dial. – arm-in-arm; frequently applied to the walking together of couples in the courting state
• ARM BABY
n. 1939 Amer. dial. – a baby small enough to be held in the arms; by extension, the youngest and smallest child in a family
• ARM-BEND
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – the elbow-joint
• ARM BENDER
n. Bk1944 services’ sl. – a drinking party
• ARMBREAKER
n. 1990s sl. – energetic masturbation
• ARM CANDY
n. 1. 1992 colloq. – a physically attractive person, usually female, esp. one who attends social or public events with a more celebrated person with whom they have only a temporary or expedient association
n. 2. 2002 UK sl. – recreational drugs that are injected into the arm
• ARMCHAIR
adj. 1955 US sl. – removed from the action; said of an observer who acts as if he is a participant
• ARMCHAIR GENERAL
n. 1960 Amer. sl., orig. World War II usage – one who freely gives his opinions on technical matters with which he is not personally concerned and on which he may be ill informed
• ARMCHAIR RIDE
n. 1. 1898 colloq. – a smooth and easy accomplishment or victory
n. 2. 1976 US sl. – in horse racing: an easy victory
• ARM CIRCLE
n. a1382 obs. – a bracelet; an armlet
• ARM DROPPER
n. Bk1944 services’ sl. – a section chief or sergeant who signals to fire
• ARMED BEGGING
n. M20 sl. – ‘demanding money at pistol point, a hold up’
• ARMED FOR BEAR
adj. 1960s sl. – very heavily armed
• ARMED TO THE TEETH
adj. c1450 – well equipped with firearms; alert; fully prepared; awake to danger
• ARMENIAN CHROME
n. 1961 US sl. – aluminium paint
• ARMFUL
n. 1. 1579 – a large quantity; a lot, a great deal
n. 2. 1608 colloq. – a girl or woman, esp. a large or curvaceous one; a plump woman
n. 3. L17 sl. – a wife
n. 4. 1940s US sl. – an attractive woman
• ARM-GAUNT
adj. a1616 obs. – slender as the arm; lean; meagre
• ARM-GREAT
adj. c1405 – as large or thick as a man’s arm
• ARM-HOLE
n. 1693 – the armpit
• ARMING-CHAIR
n. 1881 Eng. dial. – an armchair
• ARM-IN-LINK
adv. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – arm-in-arm; frequently applied to the walking together of couples in the courting state
• ARMIPOTENT
adj. c1405 chiefly poetic usage – strong in arms or war
• ARM LABOUR
n. 1531 obs. rare – manual labour
• ARM MAN
n. 1. Bk1914 criminals’ sl. – a strong arm man; a highway robber; one who assaults his victims from behind and restrains them with a headlock
n. 2. 1930s US criminals’ sl. – one who robs someone by choking them from behind, thus rendering them immobile
• ARMO
n. 1999 NZ prison sl. – armed robbery
• ARMOMANCY
n. Bk1991 – divination involving the shoulders of animals
• ARMONICAL
adj. 1531 obs. – harmonious
• ARMOR
n. 1. Bk1944 services’ sl. – the steel helmet
n. 2. 1997 US sl. – a female’s figure
• ARMORAIDER
n. Bk1947 US Army sl. – a tank corpsman
• ARMORED BIKINI
n. 1971 US military sl. – a kind of protective supporter for a man’s groin
• ARMORED COW
n. 1941 US military sl. – canned milk
• ARMORED HEIFER
n. 1942 US military sl. – canned milk
• ARMORED TIT
n. 1958 US military sl. – canned milk US
• ARMOR PLATE
n. 1. 1916 US military sl. – hardtack
n. 2. 1918 US navy sl. – cash, change
• ARMOUR
n. 1708 sl. arch. – a condom or similar contraceptive device
• ARMOURED COW
n. 1940s sl. – tinned corned beef
• ARMOUR-PLATED
adj. 1894 – insensitive to attack; callous
• ARMPIECE
n. 1. 1983 US sl. – an attractive woman chosen as a social companion for the impression she makes on others
n. 2. 1990s sl. – a companion, i.e. one who is ‘on one’s arm’
• ARMPIT
n. 1. 1957 colloq. – the most dirty, disgusting, or insalubrious part of a thing or place
n. 2. 1968 US sl. – an extremely unpleasant or undesirable town or place
n. 3. 1968 US sl. – an obnoxious, unfriendly person
• ARMPIT OF THE NATION
n. 1968 sl., orig. US – the least appetizing, poorest, most run-down and potentially dangerous area of a city or town
• ARMPIT OF THE UNIVERSE
n. 1968 US sl. – the worst place; an unpleasant place
• ARMPIT OF THE WORLD
n. 1968 US sl. – the worst place
• ARMPITS!
int. 2000 UK students’ sl. – an exclamation of dismissal or derision
• ARM-POKE
n. 1818 Eng. dial. – the armpit
• ARM PROPS
n. c1820 sl. – crutches
• ARM PULL
n. 1973 Alaska – an Eskimo game of strength, in which two seated players interlock their arms and each attempts to pull the other over
• ARM PUNCHER
n. Bk1942 Amer. boxing sl. – a boxer who does not put his weight into his punches
• ARMS AND LEGS
n. L19 Eng. sl. – weak beer or tea; i.e. a drink that has ‘no body’
• ARMSHOUSE
n. 1990s Black British & teen sl. – armed gang warfare; a gang fight
• ARM-STRETCHER
n. 1992 US sl. – a heavy suitcase
• ARM-STRONG
adj. a1000 obs. rare – powerful in the arms; strong
• ARMSTRONG
adj. 1914 Amer. sl. – used to describe anything that is operated by hand rather than by machinery
adv. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – arm-in-arm
n. 1. 1923 Amer. sl. – a tool or machine operated or serviced by muscular strength rather than machinery; a hand-stoked locomotive
n. 2. 20C Amer. sl. – a high note or series of notes played on a trumpet, esp. in jazz
• ARMSTRONG HEATER(S)
n. 1920 Amer. dial. – one’s arms, when used to embrace another
• ARMSTRONG METHOD
n. 1987 Can. sl. – the technique of using hand and arm strength to get a job done
• ARMSTRONG PATENT
n. 1912 Amer. sl. – any of various heavy devices that must be operated by hand; also, muscular strength used for such work
• ARMSTRONG PLOW
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – a shovel
• ARMSTRONG STARTER
n. 1942 US sl. – the crank handle used on early trucks
• ARMTLE
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – an armful
• ARM TROPHY
n. 1994 US sl. – a stunning and sexually appealing companion, valued for the prestige attached to their presence
• ARM-TWISTER
n. 1. 1938 US sl. – a vehicle equipped with a manual starter; a car which must be hand cranked
n. 2. 20C Amer. sl. – someone who uses strong persuasion
• ARM-TWISTING
n. 20C colloq. – powerful persuasion
• ARM UP
vb. 1980s Aust. prison sl. – to arm oneself
• ARM-WAVER
n. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a politician
n. 2. 20C Amer. sl. – one whose enthusiasm, self-righteousness, patriotism, etc., leads to wild arguments or inappropriate speeches
• ARM-WRIST
n. 1655 Eng. dial. rare – the wrist
• ARMY
adj. 1786 Sc. – having many arms or branches
n. 1. 1930 US tramps’ sl. – a person, esp. a beggar, who has lost one or both arms
n. 2. 1990 US sl. – a large bankroll
• THE ARMY
n. 20C colloq. – the Salvation Army
• ARMY AND NAVY
n. 1910s rhyming sl. – gravy
• ARMY BANJO
n. Bk1944 services’ sl. – a shovel
• ARMY-BARMY
adj. c1955 army sl. – very keen on or dedicated to military life in all its aspects
• ARMY BIBLE
n. Bk1944 services’ sl. – army regulations
• ARMY BRAT
n. 1931 US sl. – a small child of an officer; a person who grew up the child of a career member of the army
• ARMY CHICKEN
n. 1942 US sl. – frankfurters and beans
• ARMY CRAPS
n. 1984 US sl. – a game of craps in which the shooter serves as the banker
• ARMY DICK
n. 20C Amer. sl., World War II usage – a military policeman
• ARMY FORM BLANK
n. World War II army sl., chiefly officers’ usage – toilet paper
• ARMY GAME
n. 1. 1890 US sl. – any game of chance played in an aggressive and/or dishonest fashion
n. 2. L19 US sl. – trickery, deceit, passing responsibility onto others
• ARMY GREENS
n. 1945 colloq. – army fatigues; army uniform, esp. that which is green in colour
• ARMY LATIN
n. 1864 US jocular usage – foul or profane language
• ARMY LID
n. 20C Amer. sl., World War II usage – a radio operator .
• ARMY MARBLES
n. 1963 US sl. – dice
• ARMY ODDS
n. 1. 1962 US sl. – in a dice game: the true odds, not approximate odds often used in street games
n. 2. 20C sl. – in gambling: the correct odds, as opposed to the adjusted casino odds which favour the house
• ARMY ROCKS
n. 20C UK sl., World War I usage – socks
• ARMY ROLL
n. 1963 US sl. – a controlled roll of the dice by a skilled cheat in a game of craps
• ARMY STRAWBERRIES
n. 20C Amer. sl., World War II usage – prunes
• ARMY STYLE
n. 1960s US homosexual sl. – oral sex followed by beating up the fellator, presumably to ‘prove’ one’s masculinity
• ARMY TANK
n. 1942 Aust. rhyming sl., prisoners-of-war usage, in the Far East – an American serviceman
• ARMY WORM
n. 20C Amer. sl., World War II usage – an informer; one who betrays a trust
• ARNBERRIES
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – raspberries
• ARNCHY
n. 1926 Amer. dial., African-American usage – a person who puts on airs
• ARNDERN
n. c1480 – the evening
• ARNICK
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – a clear glass playing marble
• ARNIE
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – a clear glass playing marble
• ARNIT
n. 1. 1853 Sc. – a shrimp
n. 2. 1927 Sc. – a blow
• ARNOLD
n. 1988 Jamaica sl. – pork
• ARNOT
n. 1853 Sc. – a shrimp
• AROHA JOB
n. 1985 NZ sl. – a job done out of friendship without charge or at reduced rates
• AROMA
n. 1980 US sl. – amyl nitrite or butyl nitrite
• AROMAL
adj. 1848 – pert. to aroma
• AROMA OF MAN
n. 1992 US sl. – an ampoule of amyl nitrite
• AROMATARY
n. 1657 obs. rare – a dealer in spices
• AROMATICAL
adj. 1578 obs. – sweet of savour, smelling like spice
• AROMATIC BOMB
n. 1945 army officers’ usage – atomic bomb
• AROMATIZATE
vb. 1576 obs. – to spice; to render fragrant
• AROMATIZE
vb. 1480 – to spice, to season with spices, to perfume
• AROMATOPOLA
n. Bk1708 obs. – a seller of spices, a grocer, a druggist
• AROMATOUS
adj. 1483 obs. rare – aromatic, containing aroma, or the principle of fragrance
• AROO!
int. 1945 Aust. sl. – goodbye!
• AROPO
vb. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to match, to resemble
• AROUND THE BEND
adj. 1. 1929 sl. – insane, mad, crazy
adj. 2. 20C Amer. sl. – having completed the longest, most difficult, or crucial part of a task
adj. 3. 20C Amer. sl. – alcohol or drug intoxicated
• AROUND THE HORN
n. 1951 US sl. – the oral stimulation of all parts of a partner’s body
int. 1958 Amer. dial. – among loggers: Watch out!
phr. 1930s US sl. – having experienced unpleasant treatment
• AROUND THE TWIST
adj. Bk1999 Aust. sl. – insane
• AROUND THE UNIVERSE
n. 1951 US sl. – the oral stimulation of all parts of a partner’s body
• AROUND THE WAY
adj. 1980s Black British teen sl. – from the neighbourhood
• AROUND-THE-WAY GIRL
n. 1990s African-American sl. – a young woman from the neighbourhood or ghetto; a casual girlfriend rather than a steady one
• AROUND-THE-WORLD
n. 1. 1963 Amer. dial. – a game played by shooting at opponent’s marble; his shooter, no boundaries
n. 2. 1966 Amer. dial. – a game similar to ‘mumblety-peg’, in which a knife is thrown at different places advancing around the circumference of a circle
n. 3. 1969 US sl. – (usually as ‘around the world’) in Keno: a bet made on the numbers found in the eight corners of a Keno ticket (1, 10, 31, 40, 41, 50, 71 and 80)
n. 4. 1951 US sl. – (usually as ‘around the world’) the oral stimulation of all parts of a partner’s body
• AROUT
adv. 1790 Eng. dial. – outside, out-of-doors
prep. 1870 Eng. dial. – without
vb. c1390 obs. – to assemble together
• AROVE
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. obs. – up and stirring
• ARP
n. 1946 S. Afr. – a marijuana cigarette
• ARPENTATOR
n. 1664 obs. – a measurer or surveyor of land
• ARPIT
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – quick, ready, precocious
• ARR
n. 1. 1781 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a scar or mark left by a wound
n. 2. 1830 Eng. dial. – a spot or freckle
n. 3. Bk1898 Sc. obs. – a grudge; ill feeling
n. 4. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a guilty recollection, leaving an impression on the conscience
n. 5. 1920 Sc. – dislike; fear
vb. 1. 1768 Sc. & Eng. dial. – of dogs: to snarl, to growl
vb. 2. 1841 Eng. dial. – to scar; to scratch; to beat
vb. 3. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to egg on; to incite to quarrel
vb. 4. 1929 Sc. – to have a feeling of loathing
• ARRABLE
adj. 1303 obs. – horrible
• ARRAH!
int. 1827-32 Ireland – an exclamation of surprise; frequently used in accosting a person, or in calling attention
• ARRALS
n. 1790 Eng. dial. – pimples; a rash or eruption on the skin; esp. applied to ringworm
• ARRAND-POISON
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – exceedingly poisonous or infectious
• ARRAND-SMITTLE
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – exceedingly poisonous or infectious
• ARRANGE
vb. 20C US euphemism – to castrate
• ARRANT
adj. 1740 Eng. dial. – downright, usually in a bad sense
• ARRANTLY
adv. 1750 Eng. dial. – entirely, thoroughly
• ARRAY
vb. L14 jocular usage – to thrash, to flog; to disfigure, to befoul
• ARRECT
adj. 1. 1646 obs. – set upright, pricked up, as the ears of a beast; having the faculties directed towards
adj. 2. 1646 obs. – fig. intent, attentive, on the alert
vb. 1. a1529 obs. – to raise, to lift up, to direct upwards
vb. 2. 1530 obs. – to set upright
vb. 3. 1530 obs. – to set right, to direct
• ARRED
adj. Bk1898 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – marked with scars; esp. of the marks left by smallpox
• ARRERS
n. 1990s sl. – the game of darts
• ARREST
vb. 1980s US college sl. – to accuse another of dressing unfashionably, usually behind their back
• ARRESTED BY THE BAILIFF OF MARSHAM
adj. 17C sl. – stricken with the fever
• ARRESTED BY THE BAILIFF OF MARSHLAND
adj. c1660 colloq. – stricken with ague
• ARRESTED BY THE WHITE SERJEANT
phr. L17 sl. – said of a man who has been fetched out of the tavern by his wife
• ARREST-ME-RED
n. 1992 US sl. – a bright red colour of paint on a car, bound to attract the attention and interest of law enforcement
• ARRETT
vb. c1340 obs. – to impute
• ARRIDE
vb. 1. 1599 arch. – to please well, to gratify, to delight, to content with delight
vb. 2. 1612 obs. – to smile at, to laugh at, to scorn
• ARRIDGE
n. 1852 Sc. & Eng. dial. – the angular edge of a block of stone, wood, etc; hence, the edge of anything
• ‘ARRIET
n. 1879 UK colloq. – a boisterous or jovial young Cockney woman, typically the notional wife or girlfriend of ‘Arry
• ‘ARRIS
n. 1979 UK rhyming sl. for Aristotle – Bottle – Bottle and Glass – arse – the backside; the buttocks; the anus
• ARRIS
n. 1. 1852 Sc. & Eng. dial. – the angular edge of a block of stone, wood, etc; hence, the edge of anything
n. 2. L19 rhyming sl./abbreviation for ‘Aristotle’ – a bottle
n. 3. 1950s rhyming sl./abbreviation for ‘Aristotle’ – the buttocks, the behind
• ARRISH
adj. 1878 Amer. dial. – chilly, cool
• ARRIVANCE
n. 1. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – origin, birthplace
n. 2. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – arrival, arrival of company
• ARRIVE
vb. 1. 20C Amer. sl. – to attain success; to become accepted in a profession or social group
vb. 2. c1935 Amer. sl., orig. jive usage – to become or be hip
• ARRIVE AT THE END OF THE SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY
vb. L19 sl. – of a man: to have sexual intercourse
• ARRIVE IN AN ARM CHAIR
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to arrive late
• ARRIVISTE
n. 1912 – one who is bent on making a good position for himself in the world; a pushful person
• ARRO
n. 1929 Sc. – young hen commencing to lay
• ARROW
n. 1. a1382 obs. – the penis
n. 2. c1880 darts-players’ sl. – a dart
n. 3. 1993 US sl. – an amphetamine tablet
vb. 2002 Singapore sl. – to assign a task to someone
• ARROW FINGER
n. 1875 – either of the fingers used to draw a bow; specifically, the index finger
• ARROW HAWK
n. 1935 Amer. dial. – a dragonfly
• ARROWHEAD
n. c1935 US students’ sl. – an unpopular girl; a wallflower
• ARROW OF DESIRE
n. 2003 UK sl. – the penis
• THE ARROWS GAME
n. L19 sl. – darts
• ARROY
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – disorder, confusion
• ‘ARRY
n. 1874 UK colloq. – a boisterous or jovial young Cockney man
• ‘ARRY AND ‘ARRIET
n. c1870 colloq. – a typical costermonger and his, or any, coster lass; hence, any low-bred and lively (esp. if not old) man and woman
• ‘ARRYDOM
n. L19 sl. – the world of the typical Cockney costermonger
• ‘ARRYISH
adj. c1880 colloq. – vulgarly jovial
• ‘ARRY’S GATORS
phr. c1943 Aust. sl. – thank you (arrigato)
• ‘ARRY’S WORRIER
n. L19 sl. – a concertina
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Updated: September 5, 2022
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