• CAN
n. 1. 1768 Sc. – power, ability
n. 2. 1768 Sc. – skill, knowledge
n. 3. 1833 – a chimney pot
n. 4. 1852 Sc. obs. – supernatural power, witchcraft
n. 5. 1859 Can. sl. – a dollar
n. 6. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – the hollow part of an elephant’s trunk
n. 7. 19C Brit. sl. – the female genitals
n. 8. 1900 US & Can. colloq. – a restroom or toilet
n. 9. 1905 Amer. students’ sl. – a party
n. 10. 1912 criminals’ sl. – a place of confinement; a prison; a cell
n. 11. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – the head
n. 12. 1914 sl., orig. and chiefly US – the buttocks
n. 13. Amer. World War I sl. – an airplane
n. 14. 1918 US Navy sl. – a depth charge
n. 15. 1923 Amer. sl. – a motor vehicle or aircraft, esp. if old or dilapidated
n. 16. 1925 Amer. criminals’ sl. – a safe
n. 17. 1929 US sl. – a bomb
n. 18. 1933 US drug culture sl. – one ounce of an illicit drug, esp. marijuana
n. 19. 1965 Amer. dial. – a woman’s breast
vb. 1. 1905 Amer. sl. – to get rid of, to expel, to discharge, to eject, to jilt, to dismiss; to discharge from employment
vb. 2. 1906 Amer. sl. – to stop or give up; to leave off
vb. 3. 1918 US colloq. – to record phonographically
vb. 4. 1929 US police sl. – to imprison; to lock up
vb. 5. 1930 Amer. sl. – to dispose of as garbage; hence, to cancel a project or the like
vb. 6. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to intoxicate; to make dead drunk
vb. 7. 1945-49 Amer. sl. – to copulate with anally
vb. 8. 1970 Can. sl.- in golf: to sink a putt
• THE CAN
n. 1. 1908 Amer. sl. – a dismissal, removal, expulsion, rejection
n. 2. 1912 sl., orig. US – prison
• CANACIN
n. 1673 obs. – the plague
• CANACK
n. 1891 Amer. dial. – a Canadian
• CANADA
n. Bk2004 World War I Can. sl. – no-man’s-land
• CANADA HONKER
n. 1929 Amer. dial. – a Canada goose
• CANADA HONKY
n. 1929 Amer. dial. – a Canada goose
• CANADA TRUMPETER
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a Canada goose
• CANADIAN BACON
n. 1970s US homosexual sl. – an uncircumcised penis
• CANADIAN BLACK
n. 1960s drug culture sl. – a type of marijuana said to be grown in Canada
• CANADIAN CAPER
n. 1960s Aust. rhyming sl. – a paper
• CANADIAN HONKER
n. 1929 Amer. dial. – a Canada goose
• CANADIAN SNOW GOOSE
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a Canada goose
• CANADIAN SOLDIER
n. 1. 1926 Amer. dial. – a mayfly
n. 2. 1965 Amer. dial. – a grasshopper
n. 3. 1965 Amer. dial. – an extra big mosquito
• CANADOE
n. E17 sl. – a drink
• CAN A DUCK SWIM?
phr. M19 sl. – a phrase used to emphasize one’s absolute agreement
• CAN A DUCK WHISTLE?
phr. M19 sl. – a sarcastic rejoinder
• CANAILLE
n. 1. 1676 – the rabble, the mob
n. 2. a1680 – a pack
• CANAIVE
vb. 1925 Sc. – to gossip, usually maliciously
• CANAKA
n. M19 orig. Aust. – a Pacific Islander, esp. one brought to Australia as an indentured labourer on the Queensland cotton or sugar plantations
• CANAKER
n. 1840 – a native of the South Sea Islands, esp. one employed in Queensland as a labourer on the sugar plantations
• CANAKIN
n. 1673 obs. – the plague
• CANAL
n. 1. c1449 obs. – a pipe used for conveying water or liquid
n. 2. 1711 obs. – a medium of communication, means, agency; now ‘channel’
• CANALAGE
n. 1854 rare – the construction of canals; canal-work
• CANAL BOAT
n. 1. 1926 Amer. sl. – big foot; big or clumsy shoes
n. 2. 1960s rhyming sl. for ‘tote’ – the Totalizator
• CANAL CONCH
n. 1985 Trinidad and Tobago – a promiscuous woman
• CANALLER
n. 1. M19 sl., orig. US – a canal boat
n. 2. M19 sl., orig. US – one who lives on a canal boat
• CANALLIARY
n. 1600 obs. rare – the ‘canaille’ collectively
• CANALLY; CANALLYE
n. 1708 Sc. – a rabble, a mob, a crew
• CANAL WRENCH
n. 1954 US sl. – a long-handled shovel
• CANALYIE
n. 1805 Sc. – a mob, a rabble
• CANAMO
n. 1971 US sl. – marijuana
• CAN-A-PISS
n. 1998 NZ sl. – a can of beer
• CANAPPA
n. 1938 US sl. – marijuana
• CANARD
n. 1864 – an extravagant, or absurd story circulated to impose on people’s credulity; a rumour, hoax, a false report
vb. 1862 – to fly abroad as a false report
• CANARIES
n. 1930s sl. – bananas
• CANARY
n. 1. 17C sl. – the vagina
n. 2. 18C sl. – a prostitute
n. 3. 18C sl. – a mistress
n. 4. 1821 nautical sl. – a bosun’s mate
n. 5. 1862 sl. – a woman
n. 6. 1842 sl. – a guinea; a sovereign; a gold coin
n. 7. 1862 US – a young woman or girl; esp. a female vocalist; a songster
n. 8. 1862 Eng. dial. – a burglar’s assistant
n. 9. 1862 thieves’ sl. – a female watcher
n. 10. 1876 US jocular usage – a donkey or mule; usually constructed with a place name, as ‘Arizona canary’
n. 11. Bk1891 sl. – in the Salvation Army: a written promise of a donation or subscription; at some of the meetings of the ‘Army’ instead of sending round the plate, the officers distribute slips of paper on which those present are invited to record their benevolent intentions; the original colour of the slips was yellow
n. 12. Bk1891 sl. – a prisoner; a very old cant term for habitual offenders; ‘a person used to be kept in a cage’
n. 13. 1898 US Army sl. – a Spaniard; used contemptuously
n. 14. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a glass of gin, rum, or any ardent spirits
n. 15. E19 sl. – a yellow silk handkerchief, as worn by a costermonger
n. 16. M19 sl. – a thief’s female accomplice
n. 17. M19 Aust. sl. – 100 strokes of the lash
n. 18. L19 Aust. & NZ sl. – a Chinese immigrant
n. 19. L19 UK prison sl. – a prisoner who has been caught in an escape attempt
n. 20. L19 sl. – a convict’s yellow jacket
n. 21. L19 sl. – a half-sovereign (50p)
n. 22. L19 sl. – an ornament worn at the hip
n. 23. 1900s US students’ sl. – a cigarette
n. 24. Bk1903 sl. – £1
n. 25. 1929 US sl. – an informer; a stool pigeon
n. 26. 1937 Amer. sl. – an unwanted squeak in machinery
n. 27. World War II Amer. sl. – a gas mask
n. 28. Bk1945 Aust. – a flogging of one hundred lashes
n. 29. 1980s Irish sl. – a fright
vb. 1. 1930s US sl. – of a criminal: to confess; to turn state’s evidence
vb. 2. 1930s US sl. – to work as a band vocalist; to sing
vb. 3. 1933 US sl. – to turn informer
• CANARY-BIRD
n. 1. 1673 cant – a prisoner; a very old cant term for habitual offenders; ‘a person used to be kept in a cage’
n. 2. 17C sl. – the vagina
n. 3. 17C sl. – a young villain
n. 4. 1785 sl. – formerly, a guinea; later, a sovereign
n. 5. 18C sl. – a mistress
n. 6. 18C sl. – a prostitute
n. 7. M19 sl. – a thief’s female accomplice
n. 8. 1940s Aust. sl. – a woman
• CANARY HATCH
n. 1966 US sl. – a psychiatric institution; a ‘loony bin’
• CANARY KID
n. 1940s US criminals’ sl. – a weakling; a coward
• CANARY WARD
n. 20C Brit. sl. – the venereal disease ward in Royal Navy hospital
• CANASTA
n. 1950s sl. – the male or female genitals
• CANAT
n. 20C Irish sl. – an impertinent, conceited youngster
• CANAVER
vb. 1916 Sc. – to frolic
• CANCELEER
vb. a1697 – to turn aside, to swerve or digress
• CANCELLATE
vb. 1647 obs. rare – to strike out, to cancel
• CANCELLED STAMP
n. 1920s US sl. – a shy person
• CANCELLED STICK
n. 1960s drug culture sl. – a marijuana cigarette
• CANCELMENT
n. 1621 – cancellation
• CANCEL ONE’S CHRISTMAS
vb. Bk2006 US criminals’ sl. – to kill someone; to destroy someone
• CANCELS
n. 1596 obs. – prison bars, limits, bounds, confines
• CANCEL SOMEONE OUT
vb. 1990s sl. – to murder someone
• CANCEL SOMEONE’S TICKET
vb. 1960s sl. – to murder, to assassinate
• CANCER
n. 1. 1562 – a crab
n. 2. 1970s US sl. – severe rust on an automobile
• CANCER ALLEY
n. 1980s US sl. – the industrial area of a city
• CANCER PILL
n. 1950s sl. – a cigarette
• CANCER STICK
n. 1958 sl. – a cigarette
• CANCER WARD
n. Bk1998 sl. – the smoking section of an eating establishment
• CANCERWEED
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a cigarette
• CANCH
n. 1. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a large piece of bread, cheese, etc.
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a small amount; a bit
• CANCRENATED
adj. 1582 obs. rare – affected with gangrene
• C. AND A.
adj. 20C Brit. rhyming sl. – gay
n. 20C Brit. sl. – a bisexual man; one who will have a stab at ‘cunts and arseholes’
• CANDEFY
vb. 1656 obs. – to make or become white
• CANDENCY
n. 1723 obs. rare – warmth, fervency
• CANDENT
adj. 1. 1577 obs. or arch. – at a white heat; glowing with heat
adj. 2. 1723 rare – fervent, impassioned
• CANDER
adv. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – yonder
• CANDESCENCE
n. 1880 – dazzling whiteness or brightness
• CANDESCENT
adj. 1824 rare – glowing with heat
• C AND H
n. 1960s African-American sl. – cocaine and heroin
• CANDICANCY
n. 1731 – a whitening or making fair
• CANDICANT
adj. 1657 obs. rare – growing white; inclining to white, whitish
• CANDICATE
vb. 1623 obs. – to grow white
• CANDID
adj. 1. 1630 obs. – white
adj. 2. 1633 obs. – gentle, courteous, kindly; not desirous to find faults
adj. 3. 1647 arch. – pure, clear; stainless, innocent
adj. 4. 1648 obs. – splendid, illustrious; fortunate
• CANDIDATE
adj. 1616 obs. rare, poetic usage – clothed in white .
vb. 1628 obs. rare – to make white; to whitewash (fig.)
• CANDID FRIEND
n. 1798 – one who claims to be a friend, and, in the name of candour, speaks unpleasant things
• CANDIDNESS
n. 1. 1643 obs. – favourable disposition; favour, courtesy
n. 2. 1654 obs. – purity, innocence
• CANDIED
adj. 1. 1602 – flattering, glozing
adj. 2. Bk2006 US sl. – addicted to cocaine
• CANDIFY
vb. 1656 obs. – to make or become white
• CANDLE
n. 1. 1858 – mucus hanging from the nose
n. 2. 19C Brit. sl. – the penis
n. 3. 1950 Amer. dial. – a shoot of new growth on a pine tree
• CANDLE-BASHER
n. E20 Brit. sl. – a spinster; a female masturbator
• CANDLE-BRANCH
n. 1599 obs. – a chandelier
• CANDLE BUG
n. 1959 Amer. dial. – a firefly
• CANDLE-COIL
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – the wick of a candle
• CANDLE-DOUP
n. 1896 Sc. – a candle-end
• CANDLE-DOUTING
n. 1746 Eng. dial. – morning, dawn
• CANDLE-EATER
n. 1942 Amer. sl. – a foreigner of Russian origin
• CANDLE-ENDS
n. a1626 – things of short duration or of little value; trifles, fragments, scraps
• CANDLE FLARE
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a firefly
• CANDLE FLY
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a firefly
• CANDLE-HOD
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a candlestick
• CANDLE-LEET-TIME
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – dusk
• CANDLE-LENGTH
n. 1894 Eng. dial. – the time a candle would take to burn
• CANDLE-LIGHT
n. 1663 – the time during, or at, which candles are lighted; dusk, nightfall
• CANDLELIGHTING
n. 1696 Amer. dial. – dusk; twilight; nightfall
• CANDLE MILLER
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a firefly
• CANDLE OF THE EYE
n. 1888 Eng. dial. – the pupil of the eye
• CANDLE-QUENCHER
n. 1382 obs. – an extinguisher
• CANDLER
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. obs. – a chandelier
• CANDLE-SHEARS
n. 1483 obs. – snuffers; candle extinguisher
• CANDLE-SNOT
n. 19C Eng. dial. – the burnt wick of a candle
• CANDLES OF THE NIGHT
n. 1790 – stars
• CANDLE-STAFF
n. c1000 obs. – a candlestick; the main stem or shaft of a branched candlestick
• CANDLESTICK
n. 1. 1870 Winchester College usage – a humorous corruption of ‘candidate’
n. 2. 19C Brit. sl. – the female genitals
• CANDLE-STICK-HEIGHT
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – of a child: very small
• CANDLESTICKS
n. 1851 colloq. – the fountains in Trafalgar Square, London
• CANDLE-TEENING
n. 1746 Eng. dial. – the time for lighting or seeing to the candles; evening, nightfall
• CANDLE-TENDING
n. 1519 – the time for lighting or seeing to the candles; evening, nightfall
• CANDLE-TINING
n. 1613 – the time for lighting or seeing to the candles; evening, nightfall
• CANDLE-WASTER
n. 1. 1599 – he who or that which wastes candles by late study at night
n. 2. Bk1888 – a small bit of burning wick that falls upon the substance of the candle and causes it to run
• C AND M
n. 1960s African-American sl. – cocaine and morphine
• CAN-DO
adj. 20C sl., orig. US – positive, enthusiastic, aggressive; confident and resourceful in the face of challenges
phr. 20C sl. – (as ‘can do’) it is possible, it is within my power
• CANDOUR
n. 1. 1610 obs. – stainlessness of character; purity, integrity, innocence
n. 2. 1634 obs. – brilliant whiteness; brilliancy
n. 3. 1653 obs. – freedom from malice; favourable disposition, kindliness; sweetness of temper
• C. AND S.
adj. Bk1913-17 Amer. navy sl. – clean and sober
• CANDY
adj. 1. 1785 Irish usage – drunk
adj. 2. L19 US criminals’ sl. – of dice: transparent
adj. 3. 1900s US college sl. – excellent, worthy of admiration
adj. 4. 1910s US sl. – of a person: soft, weak, effeminate
adj. 5. 1930s US sl. – of a job, crime, or other activity: easy, undemanding, ‘soft’
adj. 6. 1946 Amer. dial. – candid
n. 1. L19 US sl. – something admirable
n. 2. 1920s US criminals’ sl. – jewellery
n. 3. 1920s sl., orig. African-American – sexual intercourse
n. 4. 1930 drug culture sl. – cocaine
n. 5. 1930s sl. – a sexually desirable person of either sex
n. 6. 1930s US drug culture sl. – opium
n. 7. 1935 Amer. dial. – a showy, stylish person; a dandy; a fine fellow; a favourite
n. 8. 1950s US homosexual sl. – a pretty, young homosexual boy
n. 9. 1950s homosexual sl. – the passive partner in anal intercourse
n. 10. 1960s US teen sl. – a weakling
n. 11. 1960s drug culture sl. – any drug, esp. in capsule form
n. 12. 1980s drug culture sl. – heroin
n. 13. 20C US sl. – money
n. 14. 2000s African-American sl. – the decoration or customization of an automobile
n. 15. 2000s US drug culture sl. – crack cocaine
vb. 1592 – to sweeten; to render pleasant or palatable; to give a pleasant appearance to
• THE CANDY
n. 1900s US sl. – something excellent, admirable, desirable
• CANDY ANKLE
n. 1938 Amer. dial. – a weak or effeminate man
vb. Bk1934 college sl. – to date
• CANDY-ASS
adj. Bk2006 US sl. – timid; frightened; cowardly
n. M20 US sl. – a coward; a timid and helpless person
• CANDY-ASSED
adj. Bk2006 US sl. – timid; frightened; cowardly
• CANDYBOB
n. c1873 Sc. – a hawker, a ragman; they generally gave a kind of toffee, called candy, in exchange for rags, etc.
• CANDY BOY
n. 1. 1901 US sl. – a fellow who is lucky, successful, or held in high favour, esp. with women
n. 2. 1901 US sl. – a sweet or well-behaved person; hence, a sissy; an effeminate or cowardly person
n. 3. 1901 US sl. – a stylishly dressed person
• CANDY COCK
n. 1. 1925 US sl. – a fellow who is lucky, successful, or held in high favour, esp. with women
n. 2. 1925 US sl. – a sweet or well-behaved person; hence, a sissy; an effeminate or cowardly person
n. 3. 1925 US sl. – a stylishly dressed person
• CANDY KID
n. 1. 1905 US sl. – a sweet or well-behaved person; hence, a sissy; an effeminate or cowardly person
n. 2. 1906 US sl. – a fellow who is lucky, successful, or held in high favour, esp. with women
n. 3. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – a fine fellow; a showy, stylish person
• CANDY-LEG
n. 1920 US college sl. – a wealthy fellow who is attractive to women
• CANDY MAKER
n. 1960s US sl. – a male homosexual who masturbates (but does not fellate) a partner, then swallows the resultant semen
• CANDY-MAN
n. 1. 1863 – in the north of England a bum-bailiff or process-server; ‘in the great strike of coal miners in 1844, when a large number of extempore bailiffs were employed to eject the miners wholesale from the cottages, there were recognized among them some well-known sellers of ‘dandy candy’ from the Newcastle streets, whose appellation was transferred to persons employed in the unpopular office
n. 2. 1870 Sc. – (as ‘candyman’) a hawker, a ragman; they generally gave a kind of toffee, called candy, in exchange for rags, etc.
n. 3. 1913 US sl. – a fellow who is lucky, successful, or held in high favour, esp. with women
n. 4. 1913 US sl. – a stylish, showy person; a dandy; a lady’s man
n. 5. 1920s African-American sl. – a woman’s male partner or (illicit) lover
n. 6. 1969 US drug culture sl. – a seller of illicit drugs, esp. in capsule form
n. 7. 1980s African-American sl. – a pimp
• THE CANDYMAN
n. 1976 US sl. – the Federal Communications Commission or one of its field agents
• CANDY ROCK
n. 1990s Aust. drug culture sl. – cocaine hydrochloride
• CANDY STORE
n. Bk2006 US sl. – a liquor store
• CANDY-STRIPE
vb. 1974 US sl. – to work as a ‘candy-striper’
• CANDY-STRIPER
n. 1963 US sl. – a young woman who is a volunteer nurse’s aide
• CANDY WAGON
n. 1942 Amer. sl. – a light truck
• CANE
n. 1. 1789 Eng. dial. – a weasel
n. 2. 19C Brit. sl. – the penis
n. 3. 1983 US sl. – cocaine; crack cocaine
vb. 20C Brit. sl. – to copulate with a woman in the sense ‘beat’
• CANEBUCK
n. 20C Amer. dial. – strong, intoxicating liquor
• CANEL
n. 1. c1205 obs. – cinnamon
n. 2. a1300 obs. – the natural bed of a stream of water; a watercourse; now ‘channel’
n. 3. c1340 obs. – the neck
n. 4. c1380 obs. – the gutter or surface watercourse in a street, or by a road
n. 5. c1420 obs. – a pipe or tube
• CANELL
n. 1382 obs. – cinnamon
• CANELLE
n. c1460 obs. – cinnamon
• CANE NIGGER
n. Bk1892 W. Indian sl., ? offensive – a happy-go-lucky fellow, one devoid of care and anxiety
• CANE OF FIRE
n. 1550 obs. – a gun or firearm
• CANEOLOGY
n. 1837 humorous usage – the doctrine of the use of the cane in corporal punishment
• CANESCENCE
n. 1855 rare – hoariness, dull whiteness
• CANESCENT
adj. 1847 – rather hoary; greyish or dull white, like the down or hairs on the leaves of plants
• CANE-SEED-EATER
n. 1942 Amer. dial. – a Mormon
• CANFUL OF ANGLE-WORMS
n. 1927-28 US – a confused, complex, and distasteful state of affairs; a complicated enigma
• CANG
adj. a1225 obs. – foolish, silly
n. a1225 obs. – a fool
• CANGE
vb. 1. 1881 Eng. dial. – to waste away or moulder by degrees; said of persons and things
vb. 2. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to whine, to grumble, to complain
• CANGEANT
adj. a1618 obs. rare – changing
• CANGED
adj. a1225 obs. – foolish, besotted
• CANGLE
n. 1. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a tangle
n. 2. 1938 Sc. – noise, disturbance
vb. 1. 1619 Sc. – to dispute acrimoniously; to quarrel, to wrangle; to contend in argument
vb. 2. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to entangle
• CANGLER
n. 1730 Sc. – a wrangler; a quarrelsome disputant
• CANGLICHE
adv. a1225 obs. – foolishly
• CANGLING
adj. 1895 Sc. – quarrelsome, wrangling
n. 1876 Sc. – altercation, quarrelling
• CAN HOUSE
n. 1. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a public-house
n. 2. 20C US sl. – a brothel
• CANICIDE
n. 1852 – a dog-killer
• CANICK
n. 1958 Amer. dial. – a playing marble
• CANICULAR
adj. 1592 humorous usage – pert. to a dog
• CANICULTURE
n. Bk1888 humorous usage – the rearing of dogs
• CANIDDLING PIE
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – said to put off a child when they ask, “What are you making?”
• CANIFFLE
vb. 1. 1746 Eng. dial. – to dissemble; to flatter
vb. 2. 1873 Eng. dial. – to embezzle; to sponge
• CANIKIN
n. 1570 – a small can or drinking vessel
• CANINAL
adj. 1599 obs. – canine, dog-like
• CANINITY
n. 1. 1794 – canine quality or trait; dog nature or race
n. 2. 1864 – sympathy with dogs, kindness to dogs
• CANISTER
n. 1. 1704 obs. – a quantity of tea from 75 to 100 lbs. weight
n. 2. 1811 sl. – the head
n. 3. 1887 sl. – a hat
n. 4. 19C Brit. sl. – the female genitals
n. 5. Bk1914 criminals’ sl. – a firearm
n. 6. Bk1914 prison sl. – a prison
• CAN IT!
int. Bk1999 – stop doing that!; shut up!
• CANITUDE
n. 1656 obs. – hoariness, whiteness
• CANIVOROUS
adj. 1835 nonce word – dog-devouring
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Lexicophilia 