• C.H.
n. 1882 colloq. – a conquering hero
• CHA
int. 1827 Jamaica – used for registering impatience, disdain, or disappointment
n. 1919 Brit. sl. – tea
• CHABOBS
n. 1962 US sl. – a woman’s breasts
• CHA-CHA
adj. 1967 US sl. – stylish; nifty; chi-chi
n. 1944 Amer. dial. – a green grasshopper
• CHA-CHA-CHA!
int. 1967 Amer. dial. – a call to animals to urge them forward or urge them to come
• CHAD
n. 1980 Amer. dial. – the small bit of paper released when a ballot is punched, or a paper punch is used
• CHAETOPHOROUS
adj. 1. 19C – in need of a shave
adj. 2. 1877 – bristle-bearing
• CHAFF
n. 1. 1859 Amer. dial. – nonsense, humbug, foolishness, ridicule; small, unimportant things or acts
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. – the fallen needles from pine trees
vb. 1872 Amer. dial. – to talk nonsense, to joke; to banter, to tease, to make fun of; to trick, to deceive
• CHAFF-CUTTING
n. Bk1890 sl. – joking, jesting, playing on words
• CHAFFER
n. Bk1890 sl. – the mouth
• CHAFFEY
adj. 1859 Amer. dial. – boisterous, happy, jolly; bantering
• CHAFFING
n. 1859 Amer. dial. – talking; bantering
• CHAFFING CRIB
n. Bk1890 sl. – a drinking room where quizzing or bantering is carried on
• CHAFFY
adj. 1. 1859 Amer. dial. – boisterous, happy, jolly; bantering
adj. 2. 1967 Amer. dial. – of tobacco: light, thin, straw-coloured
• CHAGALAG
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – an old broken-down car
• CHAIN
n. sl. – the matched dominoes in play
• CHAIN DISHCLOTH
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – a scouring pad made of small interconnected links
• CHAIN DISHRAG
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – a scouring pad made of small interconnected links
• CHAINED LIGHTNING
n. 1843 Amer. dial. – strong, usually inferior, liquor
• CHAIN-JERK
n. 1938 US sl. – real or imagined mutual masturbation in which several males lie adjacent to each other; each individual grasps another’s penis
• CHAIN LIGHTNING
n. 1. 1834 Amer. dial. – something that moves at great speed
n. 2. 1837 US sl. – cheap potent whisky or rum
n. 3. 1866 US sl. – torment or misery, esp. a severe scolding; hell
n. 4. 1891 US sl. – a person who is extremely adept or formidable
• CHAIN-LOCKER
n. 1868 US nautical sl. – a cellar barroom; a dive
• CHAIN OF LIGHTNING
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – a yellow jacket
• CHAIN SCRATCHER
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a scouring pad
• CHAIN SCRUBBER
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – a scouring pad made of small interconnected links
• CHAIR
n. 1940 Amer. dial. – a cowboy’s saddle
• THE CHAIR
n. 1895 US colloq. – an electric chair; hence, death by electrocution
• CHAIRBACK
n. 1955 Amer. dial. – an unprofessional, part-time lay preacher
• CHAIRBACKER
n. 1955 Amer. dial. – an unprofessional, part-time lay preacher
• CHAIRBACK PREACHER
n. 1970 Amer. dial. – an unprofessional, part-time lay preacher
• CHAIRBORNE
adj. 1943 US military sl. – sedentary; assigned to rear-echelon clerical or administrative duty
• CHAIRBORNE COMMANDO
n. 1945 US Army sl. – a clerk-typist or administrative officer; used derisively
• CHAIRBORNE INFANTRY
n. 1944 US Army sl. – desk men in general; used derisively
• CHAIRBORNE RANGER
n. 1972 US Army sl. – a clerk-typist or administrative officer; used derisively
• CHAIR-FAST
adj. 1937 Amer. dial. – confined to a chair; unable to move around on one’s own
• CHAIRLIS THE MANE
n. c1475 Sc. obs. – Charles the Great, Charlemagne
• CHAIR-POUNDER
n. 1919 US sl. – a desk worker; used derisively
• CHAIR PUSHER
n. 1970 Amer. dial. – an unprofessional, part-time lay preacher
• CHAIR WALK
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – the game of musical chairs
• CHAIRWARMER
n. 1896 US sl. – person who sits or lounges idly in a chair; an idler, a loafer; used derisively
• CHALDEE
vb. M17 sl. – to trick; to swindle
• CHALE!
int. 1950 US – no! never!
• CHALEWA
n. 2001 Jamaica – marijuana pipe, usually made from coconut shell and tubing, used ritually by Rastas
• CHALFONTS
n. 1980 UK rhyming sl. for ‘piles’ (Chalfont St. Giles) – haemorrhoids
• CHALFONT ST. GILES
n. 1980 UK rhyming sl. for ‘piles’ – haemorrhoids
• CHALK
n. 1. 1796 US sl. – a quarter of a dollar
n. 2. 1934 US jocular usage – milk or cream
n. 3. 1934 US sl. – a lecture on football by a coach to the players
n. 4. 1945 African-American sl. – a White person; used contemptuously
• THE CHALK
n. 1. 1840 US sl. – the fashion
n. 2. 1843 US sl. – something that is genuine; truth
• CHALK EATER
n. 1937 US horse-racing sl. – a bettor who bets only on favourites
• CHALKER
n. 1. 18C Ireland – one who, at night, slashes the face of innocent citizens; generally in plural
n. 2. c1850 – a London milkman
• CHALK-EYE
vb. 1924 Amer. dial. – to act as golf caddy
• CHALK FARM
n. 1857 rhyming sl. – the arm
• CHALKIE
n. c1930 Aust. sl. – a schoolteacher
• CHALKIES
n. 1. 1843 US sl. – the teeth
n. 2. 1982 US juvenile sl. – mere tally marks as opposed to actual stakes
• CHALK OFF
vb. 1840 US sl. – to leave
• CHALK OUT
vb. 1. 1940 US sl. – to kill a person
vb. 2. 1941 US sl. – to die
• CHALK TALK
n. 1934 US sl. – a lecture on football by a coach to the players
• CHALK THE LAMPPOST
vb. 1857 US sl. – to pay a bribe
• CHALK WATER
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – thin milk
• CHALKY
adj. 1965 Amer. dial. – brittle; easily broken
• CHALK YOUR PULL!
int. 1887 printers’ usage – hold on! steady!
• CHALUBBIES
n. 1972 US sl. – a woman’s breasts
• CHAMBER
n. 1. 1829 Amer. dial. – a chamber pot
n. 2. 1969 Amer. dial. – a person’s face
n. 3. 1969 Amer. dial. – a cow’s udder
• CHAMBER BUCKET
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a chamber pot
• CHAMBER LYE
n. 1899 Amer. dial. – urine
• CHAMBERMAID
n. 1. 1928 Amer. dial. – a person who does the daily cleaning chores in a stable
n. 2. 1943 Amer. dial. – on the railroad: a machinist in roundhouse
• CHAMBERMAID TO THE MULES
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a stable caretaker
• CHAMBER MUG
n. 1948 Amer. dial. – a chamber pot
• CHAMBER MUSIC
n. L19 sl. – the sound of a chamber-pot being used
• CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
n. 1900s African-American & students’ sl. – a lavatory
• CHAMBER OF HORRORS
n. 1. 19C sl. – sausages
n. 2. L19 UK sl. – the Peeresses’ Gallery at the House of Lords
• CHAMBER PAIL
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a chamber pot
• CHAMBER POT
n. World War II Amer. sl. – a steel helmet
• CHAMBERWORK
n. 1870 Amer. dial. – housework; housecleaning
• CHAMELEON DIET
n. L17 sl. – a poor diet
• CHAMMERDINO
n. 19C gypsy usage – a slap on the cheek
• CHAMMING
n. M19 sl. – drinking champagne (to excess)
• CHAMP
adj. 1930s US sl. – first-rate
n. 1. L19 sl. – appetite
n. 2. 1910s sl. – an excellent, first-rate person; often used as a form of address
n. 3. 1960s drug culture sl. – a drug user who refuses to reveal their sources to the police
n. 4. 1990s US students’ sl. – one who does things to excess
• CHAMPAGNE CHARLIE
n. 1. M19 sl. – a devotee of champagne
n. 2. L19 sl. – a debauchee, a dissipated man
• CHAMPAGNE COUNTRY
n. E19 sl. – self-indulgence in eating and drinking
• CHAMPAGNE COUPONS
n. 1950s sl. – money
• CHAMPAGNE GLASS
n. L19 sl. – a prostitute
• CHAMPAGNER
n. L19 sl. – a fashionable prostitute
• CHAMPAGNE SHOULDERS
n. L19 UK society sl. – sloping shoulders
• CHAMPAGNE SOCIALIST
n. 1990s sl. – one who preaches socialism but espouses a capitalist lifestyle
• CHAMPAGNE TRICK
n. 1990s sl. – a particularly wealthy or generous client for a prostitute
• CHAMPAGNE WEATHER
n. L19 UK society sl. – bad weather
• CHAMP AT THE BIT
vb. c1645 – to be eager or impatient to start
• CHAMPER OFF
vb. 1914 Amer. dial. – to chop, rasp, or hack away bit by bit
• CHAMPERS
n. 1955 Brit. sl. – champagne
• CHAMPIES
n. 1888 Sc. – mashed potatoes
• CHAMPION
adj. L19 – first-rate, excellent
adv. L19 – excellently, perfectly
n. 1. 1900s sl. – the penis
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent
• CHAMPION SLUMP OF 1897
n. L19 sl. – the motorcar
• CHAMP PUG
n. Bk1942 Amer. boxing sl. – a champion boxer
• CHAMPY
n. L19 US sl. – champagne
• CHANCE
n. 1. 1830 – a specimen, an example → Amer. dial.
n. 2. 1923 – doubt → Amer. dial.
• CHANCE ALONG
n. 1975 – a fair wind with favourable weather → Amer. dial.
• CHANCE BLOW
n. 1852 – an illegitimate child → Amer. dial.
• CHANCE CHILD
n. M19 – an illegitimate child → sl.
• CHANCE HER
vb. E19 – to take risks, to gamble → sl.
• CHANCE IT
vb. E19 – to take risks, to gamble → sl.
• CHANCE OFF
vb. 1930 – to raffle something off → Amer. dial.
• CHANCE ONE’S ARM
vb. L19 – to take risks → sl.
• CHANCE ONE’S MITT
vb. L19 – to take risks → sl.
• CHANCER
n. 1. 1884 – someone who does outrageous or dishonest things at high risk of discovery → Brit. sl.
n. 2. 1990 – a bet, a wager → sl.
• CHANCY
adj. 1. 1903 – doubtful, uncertain → Amer. dial.
adj. 2. 1928 – lucky, fortunate; good-natured → Amer. dial.
• C. H. AND D.
adj. 1942 – cold, hungry, and dry → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• CHANG
adj. 1225 – foolish, silly → obs.
n. 1225 – a fool → obs.
• CHANGE
n. 1. 1903 – money → sl. (Bk.)
n. 2. 1913 – dessert → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
vb. 1. 1913 – to castrate → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
vb. 2. 1931 – to spay a domestic animal → Amer. dial.
• CHANGEABLE SEAT COVERS
n. 1942 – diapers → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• CHANGE A FLY INTO AN ELEPHANT
vb. 1809 – to undertake an impossible task
• CHANGEANT
adj. 1620 – changing → obs.
• CHANGED
adj. 1950 – of milk: slightly sour → Amer. dial.
• CHANGE OF CHEER
n. 1590 – a change of mood, expression, etc. → obs.
• CHANGE OFF
vb. 1954 – of the wind: to alter in direction; to decrease in velocity → Amer. dial.
• CHANGE ONE’S CHEER
vb. 1225 – to change one’s mood or mind, esp. for the better; to change one’s facial expression, as the result of anger, fear, shame, etc. → obs.
• CHANGES
n. 1930 – menstruation → Amer. dial. euphemism
• CHANGE SOMEONE’S FACE
vb. 1896 – to beat and disfigure someone’s face → Amer. sl.
• CHANGE-UP
n. 1905 – a change → Amer. dial.
vb. 1. 1905 – (as ‘change up’) to exchange; to shift positions → Amer. dial.
vb. 2. 1905 – (as ‘change up’) to reform, to do better → Amer. dial.
vb. 3. 1940 – (as ‘change up’) to change one’s clothes → Amer. dial.
• CHANGE WORDS
vb. 1942 – to exchange words, to speak → Amer. dial.
• CHANGE WORK
n. 1947 – an exchange of labour → Amer. dial.
vb. 1899 – to give and receive help reciprocally → Amer. dial.
• CHANGING CHAIRS
n. 1965 – the game of musical chairs → Amer. dial.
• CHANGING LIFE
n. 1968 – menopause → Amer. dial.
• CHANGING-PIECE
n. 17C – a term of contempt for one who is fickle or changeable → obs.
• CHANK
adj. 1225 – foolish, silly → obs.
n. 1. 1225 – a fool → obs.
n. 2. 1950 – a noisy or forceful act of chewing or biting → Amer. dial.
vb. 1895 – to eat noisily, to chew loudly → Amer. dial.
• CHANKINGS
n. 1895 – the rejected parts or chewed remains of fruit, esp. apples, and occasionally other foods → Amer. dial.
• CHANNER
n. 1. ..19C – gravel → Sc. & Irish
n. 2. ..19C – the suppressed noise between a bark and a whine which a dog makes when watching for a rat → Eng. dial.
n. 3. 1891 – strife, querulousness; complaining → Sc.
vb. 1375 – to mutter, grumble, murmur, fret, complain; to scold, not noisily, but constantly; to chide → Sc. & Eng. dial.
• CHANTIE
n. 1896 – a chamber-pot → Sc.
• CHAOUI
n. 1931 – a raccoon → Amer. dial.
• CHAP
n. 1. 1704 – a male person, a fellow → mainly Brit.
n. 2. 1860 – a young woman; a girl → Amer. dial.
n. 3. 1883 – a young child, a baby → Amer. dial.
vb. 1964 – to produce children → Amer. dial.
• CHAPARRAL
n. 1875 – a tangle, a thicket → Amer. dial.
• CHAPARRAL FOX
n. 1932 – a sneak, or a sly, tricky person → Amer. dial.
• CHAPERON
n. M18 – the professed gallant of a married woman → sl.
• CHAPESS
n. 1966 – a woman → Brit. jocular usage
• CHAPLAIN’S MATE
n. 1913 – a sailor of pronounced religious tendencies → Amer. navy sl. (Bk.)
• CHAPO
adj. 1932 – short, chubby, chunky → Amer. dial.
n. 1893 – a short, chubby person or horse → Amer. dial.
• CHAPPED
adj. 1670 – thirsty → sl.
• CHAPPER
n. 1909 – the mouth → London sl.
vb. 1909 – to drink → London sl. obs.
• CHAPPER-COT
n. 1892 – a bedstead with curtains → Anglo-Indian sl. (Bk.)
• CHAPPIE
n. 1. 1820 – orig. a little fellow
n. 2. 1880 – a chap, a fellow
n. 3. 1932 – a child, a young person → Amer. dial.
• CHAPPOW
n. 1860 – a raid → Anglo-Indian
• CHAPPRON
n. 1460 – an impudent fellow → obs.
• CHAPPY
adj. ..L17 – talkative → colloq.
n. 1. 1880 – a chap, a fellow
n. 2. 1932 – a child, a young person → Amer. dial.
• CHAPS ME THAT!
int. M19 – I claim that! → Sc. children’s colloq.
• CHAP SOMEONE’S ASS
vb. 1961 – to irritate or annoy someone → US sl.
• CHAP SOMEONE’S REAR
vb. 1961 – to irritate or annoy someone → US sl.
• CHAPT
adj. 1670 – thirsty → sl.
• THE CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS
n. 1871 – the unforeseen course of events
• CHAPULIN
n. 1. 1932 – a grasshopper → Amer. dial.
n. 2. 1932 – a person of a mean or petty disposition → Amer. dial.
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