► CALF n. 1. an ignoramus; a dolt; a weakling; a fool, a simpleton; a stupid or loutish person; an awkward or silly boy or man; a meek, harmless person → 1553 sl.
n. 2. a mass of ice that has broken off a glacier, iceberg, or floe → 1818
n. 3. a small island lying close to a larger one → 1833
n. 4. a native of Essex, as used by those of Suffolk who look down on their southern neighbours → L19 Eng. dial.
n. 5. a deer, male or female, under one year old → 1940 US
n. 6. a Cadillac car → 1940 US African-American sl.
n. 7. 50p → 1940 rhyming sl. for ‘cow and calf = half = half a pound, orig. 10 shillings, now 50p
n. 8. a young teenage girl → 1959 US sl.
n. 9. a timid or cowardly person → 1967 Amer. sl.
vb. to vomit → 1968 sl.
► CALF AROUND vb. to loaf around → 1936 US cowboys’ usage
► CALF-BED n. the womb of a cow; the placenta of a cow → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALF-CLINGERS n. close-fitting trousers → 1884 sl.
► CALF-COUNTRY n. the place of one’s birth or early life → 1831 Sc.
► CALFDOZER n. a small bulldozer → 1945 World War II usage
► CALF-EYES n. a look expressive of tender or sentimental longing → 1949 Amer. dial.
► CALF-GROUND n. the place of one’s birth or early life → 1864 Sc.
► CALF-HEAD n. a foolish fellow → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALF-HEART n. a coward → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALF-HEARTED adj. timid, cowardly → 1889 Eng. dial.
► CALFISH adj. 1. stupid, untrained, immature, inexperienced → 1765
adj. 2. mean, shabby → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALF-LEG-DEEP adj. of water or snow: so deep as to reach up to the calf of the leg → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALF-LICK n. a tuft of hair on the forehead which will not lie smoothly and evenly → 1888 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALF-LICKED adj. having hair on the forehead which will not lie flat → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALFLING n. a little calf → 1598
► CALF-LOLLY n. an idle simpleton; a term of reproach; a stupid fellow; a dolt → 1708 obs.
► CALF-LOVE n. a youthful, romantic fancy; puppy love → 1823 sl.
► CALF-LYE n. the womb of the cow → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALF-NOPES n. slight blows that do not hurt → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALF-RASH n. a foolish fancy; boy’s love → 1882 Eng. dial.
► CALF ROUND vb. to idle about, to loaf → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► CALF’S EYES n. a look expressive of tender or sentimental longing → 1966 Amer. dial.
► CALF’S HEAD n. 1. a stupid, witless individual; a fool → 1600 sl.
n. 2. a white-faced man with a large head → 1860 sl.
► CALFSKIN n. the Bible → 1845 Amer. dial.
► CALFSKIN-FIDDLE n. a drum → 1785 sl.
► CALF-SKINS n. the sea ruffled by the wind in occasional spots → 1898 Sc. (Bk.)
► CALF-SLOBBER n. 1. meringue, as on pies; a meringue topping → L19 US sl.
n. 2. saliva → 1954 Amer. dial.
n. 3. nothing whatsoever → 1980 sl.
n. 4. foam on a glass of beer → 1983 sl.
► CALF-SLOBBERS n. 1. meringue on the top of a pie → 1927 Amer. dial.
n. 2. saliva → 1954 Amer. dial.
► CALF’S-SNOUT n. an old name of snapdragon, esp. of Antirrhinum Orontium → 1548
► CALF’S TAIL n. the cord attached to a railway whistle → 1946 US sl.
► CALF’S-TEETH n. milk teeth → 1599
► CALF-STICKING n. pretending that perfectly normal goods have supposedly been stolen; a greater price can thus be asked, since some customers like the idea of obtaining stolen goods → M19 UK criminals’ sl.
► CALF’S-TONGUE n. a person who is mild or harsh-spoken according to circumstance → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALF-TAIL n. 1. a silly fellow → 1857 Eng. dial.
n. 2. a three-cornered tear in a piece of clothing from catching it on something sharp → 1968 Amer. dial.
► CALF-TIME n. the period of youth → 1822
► CALF-TRINNELS n. the ruffles on a shirt or the flounces on a gown → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALF-TRUNDLES n. the ruffles on a shirt or the flounces on a gown → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALF-VIEW n. the heart, liver, and lights of a calf → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALF-WEEK n. the 3 weeks immediately before Christmas, characterized in shops and factories by an increasingly heavy workload → M19 sl.
► CALFY adj. uncoordinated → M16 sl.
n. a simpleton → 1892 Eng. dial.
► CALF-YARD n. the birthplace or home of one’s youth → 1818 Eng. dial.
► CALFY-COTTRELL n. a simpleton → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALFY-NOODLE n. a simpleton → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALGARTH n. a cabbage garden, a kale yard → 1483 obs.
► CALGARY REDEYE n. a drink made of tomato juice and beer → 1987 Can. sl.
► CALI adj. Californian → 1990 sl.
n. 1. California → 1930 US sl.
n. 2. MDMA (ecstasy), originating in California → 1999 sl.
► CALIBAN n. a man of degraded bestial nature → 1678
► CALIBASH n. a promissory note or IOU → M19 Aust. sl.
► CALIBOGUS n. a mixture of rum and spruce-beer → 1785 US
► CALIBRATE vb. to correct someone’s information or opinion → 2003 US sl.
► CALIBURN n. the name of King Arthur’s sword → 1297
► CALIC n. a woman → 1848 Amer. dial.
► CALICO adj. thin, attenuated, wasted → 18C colloq.
n. a woman or girl; women considered as sexual objects → 1848 US colloq.
vb. to court or spend time with a woman → 1887 Amer. dial.
► CALICO BALL n. a cheap public dance → 1860 colloq.
► CALICO-BALLY adj. somewhat fast → 1890 sl.
► CALICO CLUCK n. a female railway worker → 1975 US sl.
► CALICO COURSE n. a course popular with female students, or one in which the social element is more prominent than the educational → 1900 Amer. dial.
► CALICO FEVER n. the desire to pursue women → M19 US sl.
► CALICO HOP n. a cheap, popular public dance → M19 US sl.
► CALICO QUEEN n. 1. a fast woman of the saloons and honky-tonks → 19C US sl.
► n. 2. a prostitute → M19 US sl.
► CALICO ROW n. married quarters → 1893 US army sl.
► CALICOT n. 1. a ‘cad’; an ill-bred, vulgar fellow → 1885 sl.
n. 2. a counter-jumper, a shop assistant → L19 sl.
► CALICRAT n. an ant → 1596 obs. exc. Sc.
► CALID adj. warm, tepid; hot → 1599 arch.
► CALIDITY n. warmth, heat → 1528 obs.
► CALI DREAMERS n. a variety of MDMA → 1999 UK sl.
► CALIDUCT n. a duct or pipe for the convenience of heat by means of steam, hot water, or air → 1651
► CALIFAS n. California → 1974 US sl.
► CALIFINORIA n. California → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► CALIFORNIA n. money, a gold piece → 1860 sl.
vb. to throw an animal; to catch it by its neck, or by its ear, and its flank, and trip it by throwing your foot in front of its legs; the animal jumps, and tripping, goes clear over the thrower’s head; this method was used for large and unruly calves → 1966 Amer. dial.
► CALIFORNIA BANK NOTE n. a hide used as a medium of currency in pre-Gold Rush California → 1840 Amer. dial.
► CALIFORNIA BANKROLL n. a show bankroll in which 1 large-denomination note is exhibited on the outside, concealing a quantity of small bills → 1940 US African-American & gambling sl.
► CALIFORNIA BIBLE n. a deck of cards → M19 US sl.
► CALIFORNIA BLACKJACK n. in blackjack: an ace and a nine, which produce a score of 20, not 21 → 1982 US sl.
► CALIFORNIA BLANKETS n. newspapers used as bedding → 1926 Amer. tramps’ sl.
► CALIFORNIA C-NOTE n. a ten-dollar note → 1983 US sl.
► CALIFORNIA COFFEE n. inexpensive wine → 1976 US sl.
► CALIFORNIA COLLAR n. a noose, used for hangings → 19C US sl.
► CALIFORNIA CORNFLAKES n. cocaine → 1976 US sl.
► CALIFORNIA DEW n. a light rain → 1968 Amer. dial.
► CALIFORNIA GIRL n. a variety of marijuana → 2002 US sl.
► CALIFORNIA HOUSE n. an outside toilet building → 1970 Amer. dial.
► CALIFORNIA LION n. a mountain lion → 1850 Amer. dial.
► CALIFORNIA MIST n. a light rain → 1968 Amer. dial.
► CALIFORNIA MOCCASINS n. rags wrapped around the feet and ankles to provide warmth in cold weather → 1923 Amer. sl.
► CALIFORNIAN n. 1. a red, hard-dried herring → 1850
n. 2. a gold piece → 1860 sl.
n. 3. a variety of MDMA (ecstasy), originating in California → 1996 UK sl.
► CALIFORNIAN NORTHERN LIGHTS n. a hybrid marijuana grown in California → 1999 US drug culture sl.
► CALIFORNIAN PRAYER BOOK n. a deck of cards, esp. as used during the ‘gold rush’ days in California → 1932 Amer. dial., jocular usage
► CALIFORNIANS n. money; gold pieces → 1891 sl. (Bk.)
► CALIFORNIA OVERSHOES n. a makeshift foot covering made of a cloth sack worn instead of a sock or shoe → 19C Amer. dial.
► CALIFORNIA PEACOCK n. a roadrunner → 1956 Amer. dial., jocular usage
► CALIFORNIA PIMPING n. working as a pimp in a relaxed, low-pressure style → 1972 US sl.
► CALIFORNIA PRAYER BOOK n. a deck of cards, esp. as used during the ‘gold rush’ days in California → 1851 Amer. dial., jocular usage
► CALIFORNIA QUAIL n. a tablet of the recreational drug methaqualone, best known as Quaaludes™ → 1997 US sl.
► CALIFORNIA ROLL n. a show bankroll in which 1 large-denomination note is exhibited on the outside, concealing a quantity of small bills → 1940 US African-American & gambling sl.
► CALIFORNIA ROLLER n. one who carries a ‘California bankroll’ → 1940 US African-American & gambling sl.
► CALIFORNIA ROOM n. a sun room or lounge with big windows → 1975 Amer. dial.
► CALIFORNIA SHINPLASTER n. an animal hide, which was used as money in early 19th century California → M19 US sl.
► CALIFORNIA SOCK n. a makeshift foot covering made of a cloth sack worn instead of a sock or shoe → 1900 Amer. dial.
► CALIFORNIA STOP n. an instance of rolling slowly past a stop sign rather than stopping → 1960 Amer. sl.
► CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRIES n. prunes → 1945 World War II Amer. sl.
► CALIFORNIA SUNRISE n. 1. a variety of MDMA; a blend of amphetamine and caffeine marketed as MDMA → 1996 UK sl.
n. 2. LSD → 1998 UK sl.
► CALIFORNIA SUNSHINE n. LSD → 1977 drug culture sl.
► CALIFORNIA TILT n. a car with the bonnet (hood) sloping downward to a front end that is lower than the rear end → 1976 US sl.
► CALIFORNIA TIRES n. tires with little or no tread remaining → 1971 US trucking sl.
► CALIFORNIA TOOTHPICK n. a large knife → M19 US sl.
► CALIFORNIA TURNAROUND n. any powerful central nervous system stimulant → 1976 US sl.
► CALIFORNIA WIDOW n. a married woman whose husband is away from her for any extended period → 1891 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► CALIFORNICATE vb. 2. to overdevelop the land → 20C Amer. sl.
vb. 3. to seduce and infect with the moral and social standards of Southern California → 1990 Amer. sl.
► CALIFORNICATION n. an instance of Californicating (see CALIFORNICATE) → 1990 Amer. sl.
► CALIFORNICATOR n. a Californian, esp. one who has moved to Oregon or Washington state → 1978 US sl.
► CALIGINOUS adj. misty, dim, murky; obscure, dark → 1548 arch.
► CALIGULISM n. a mad extravagance such as Caligula committed → 1745
► CALIJUMPICS n. calisthenics → 1944 Amer. sl.
► CALIK n. a gossip → 1935 Sc.
► CALIMANCO n. a Spaniard → 1607
► CALIMANKER n. a calico or tortoiseshell cat → 1947 Amer. dial.
► CALION n. a boulder or pebble → 1459 obs.
► CALIPERS n. dice that are true to an extremely minute tolerance, approximately 1/1000th of an inch → 1950 US sl.
► CALI RED BEARD n. a distinctive marijuana grown in California → 1999 US drug culture sl.
► CALIWAMPUS adj. askew, awry, wrong → 1950 Amer. dial.
► CALK vb. 1. to calculate, to reckon, esp. astrologically → 1401 obs.
vb. 2. to throw → 1891 Eton College usage (Bk.)
► CALK DOWN vb. to charge a purchase → 1950 Amer. dial.
► CALKER n. 1. a calculator of nativities, etc.; an astrologer; a magician, a conjurer → 1535 obs.
n. 2. one who makes iron heel-plates, etc.; a country blacksmith → 1898 Sc. (Bk.)
n. 3. something excellent → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► CALL n. 1. a charge, an accusation; a summons to answer to a charge → 1400 obs.
n. 2. a person who lures or entices others → 1607
n. 3. a reason or occasion to go to a place → 1732 obs.
n. 4. a leading-string, broad tape fastened to young children when they first walk; generally used in plural → 1790 Eng. dial.
n. 5. a need of the human body to defecate or urinate → 1815 euphemism
n. 6. a summons to die; a sign of impending death → 1839
n. 7. a notification from an employer that (casual) work is available → 1851 obs.
n. 8. scolding, abuse → 1888 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 9. the movement of the surface of water when driven by the wind → 1898 Sc. & Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 10. a stew, esp. one consisting mainly of onions and potatoes → 1926 Amer. dial.
n. 11. the first feelings that follow drinking an alcoholic drink → 1960 sl.
n. 12. the immediate response to an injection of a drug ╬ 1960 drug culture sl.
n. 13. a name → 1966 Amer. dial.
n. 14. the initial flooding of sensations after injecting heroin → 1973 US drug culture sl.
n. 15. a decision → 1980 Amer. sl.
n. 16. an opinion, a prediction → 1999 US sl.
vb. 1. to bring a charge or accusation against a person; to accuse of → 1400 obs.
vb. 2. to receive a guest; to welcome and entertain → 1430 obs.
vb. 3. to let fly a weapon at a person → 1669 obs.
vb. 4. to bring up a topic of conversation → 1682 obs.
vb. 5. to move quickly, to submit to be driven → 1768 Sc.
vb. 6. to hunt an animal → 1768 Sc. obs.
vb. 7. to knock, hammer, drive into its place, to mend; to overturn, to knock over → 1790 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 8. to search a place by going through it thoroughly → 1806
vb. 9. to announce, to publish; to have cried by the public crier → 1808 Eng. dial.
vb. 10. to search out, to explore → 1810 Sc.
vb. 11. to abuse, to call names, to speak ill of; to scold → 1825 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 12. to travel round a place begging → 1835
vb. 13. to sell or hawk in a cart → 1843 Sc.
vb. 14. to publish the banns of marriage → 1843 Eng. dial.
vb. 15. to tattle, to gossip, to spread reports; to run about idly → 1872 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 16. to remember, to recall, usually of names → 1887 Amer. dial.
vb. 17. to consider, to estimate, to think → 1888 Eng. dial.
vb. 18. to be delirious → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
vb. 19. to crouch, to cower → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
vb. 20. to blame → L19 colloq.
vb. 21. to challenge to a fight → L19 sl.
vb. 22. to begin → 1950 Amer. dial.
vb. 23. to vomit → 1980 Aust. sl.
vb. 24. to embarrass → 1990 US students’ sl.
► CALLABO n. a collaboration → 2002 US sl.
► CALLABOOS n. a cook’s galley on a vessel → 1805 Amer. dial.
► CALL ABOUT vb. to search for → 1898 Sc. (Bk.)
► CALL A CAB vb. of a jockey: to wave one arm to balance oneself crossing a fence → 1940 horse racing sl.
► CALL A CHAIR vb. to appoint a ‘president’ at a tavern-party when discussion ensues → 1820 sl.
► CALLACK n. a young girl → 1898 Sc. (Bk.)
► CALL A COP vb. to stop → 1990 rhyming sl.
► CALLAESTHETIC ► CALLESTHETIC adj. relating to beauty → 1868
n. the philosophy of beauty; a system of principles for the appreciation of beauty; aesthetics → 1847 obs.
► CALLAESTHETICAL ► CALLESTHETICAL adj. relating to beauty → 1847
► CALLAESTHETICS ► CALLESTHETICS n. the philosophy of beauty → 1847
► CALL AGAIN vb. 1. to bring back, to restore → 1390
vb. 2. to contradict → 1898 Sc. (Bk.)
► CALL A GO vb. 1. to give up → M19 sl.
vb. 2. of a street-seller: to move on → M19 sl.
► CALLAHOOTING adv. moving very rapidly and noisily → 1880 Amer. dial.
► CALLALLOO n. a confused set of circumstances; a mix-up → 2003 Trinidad and Tobago
► CALL ALL TO PIECES vb. to abuse violently → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALLAN n. 1. a boy, a lad, a young man; also used as a term of affection to older persons → 1725 Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. a girl → 1794 Sc.
► CALLAND n. a girl → 1898 Sc. (Bk.)
► CALLAN PARK n. a psychiatric institution → 20C Aust. sl.
► CALLANT n. 1. a customer → 1502 Sc. obs.
n. 2. a companion; an associate → 1597 Sc. & Eng. dial. obs.
n. 3. a boy; a youth; a young fellow → 1686 Sc. & N. Eng.
n. 4. a girl → 1898 Sc. (Bk.)
► CALL APARTMENT n. a brothel → 1910 US sl.
► CALLARD & BOWSERS n. trousers → 1960 rhyming sl.
► CALLARDS n. cabbage; the leaves and shoots of cabbage → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CALL A SALE vb. to preside at an auction → 1944 Amer. dial.
► CALL A SPADE A BLOODY SHOVEL vb. to speak aggressively or vehemently; to speak with exaggerated or unnecessary bluntness → 1910 colloq.
► CALL A SPADE A SHOVEL vb. to speak aggressively or vehemently; to speak with exaggerated or unnecessary bluntness → 1910 colloq.
► CALL A SPADE A SPADE vb. to speak plainly or bluntly, not use euphemisms → 1580
► CALLAWAMPUS adj. big, fine, stout, grand → 1940 W. Indies sl.
► CALLBACK n. esp. in comedy or television: a reference to a previous event, joke, etc. → 1995
► CALL BIRD n. a product placed in a shop window in order to attract customers → 1958
► CALL BOY n. 1 .a person, usually a boy or young man, whose job is to assist the prompter, and call the actors when they are required on stage → 1776 theatrical usage
n. 2. a boy or young man employed on a steamer to convey orders from the captain to the engineer or helmsman → 1835
n. 3. a boy or young man employed to deliver messages and run errands; in the US, one employed in a hotel → 1848
n. 4. a boy or young man who called railway workers or firefighters to work → 1877
n. 5. a male prostitute who can be hired on the phone → 1942 US
Back to INDEX C
Back to DICTIONARY
Lexicophilia 