• FAN
n. 1. 1640 poetic usage – a wing
n. 2. 1682 jocular usage, obs. – a fanatic
n. 3. 1839 criminals’ sl. – a waistcoat; a vest
n. 4. 1863 Eng. dial. – a large basket
n. 5. 1866 Sc. – a drift of snow
n. 6. 1889., orig. US – an enthusiast, orig. of sport
n. 7. M19 sl. – the vagina
n. 8. c1916 Royal Air Force usage – an aircraft propeller
n. 9. c1918 Royal Navy usage – a ship’s propeller
n. 10. 1958 US sl. – the preliminary touching of a targeted victim by a pickpocket
n. 11. 1993 US sl. – crack cocaine
vb. 1. c1400 obs. – of a bird: to flutter
vb. 2. 1671 rare – of the wind: to blow
vb. 3. 1785 sl. – to beat, to strike, esp. repeatedly or soundly; to deliver a blow to, esp. with a club; to hit, to spank
vb. 4. L18 colloq. – to berate
vb. 5. 1834 Amer. students’ sl. – to make a perfect recitation or do well in an examination
vb. 6. 1847 Amer. criminals’ sl. – to feel or touch the pocket of a victim for the presence of money or valuables; broadly, to rob in this manner
vb. 7. c1850 sl. – to search a person or his clothes
vb. 8. 1886 Amer. colloq. – in baseball, of a batter: to strike out
vb. 9. 1891 Amer. sl. – to strike the hammer of a revolver repeatedly and rapidly with the side of the free hand so as to fire several shots quickly; to fire a pistol in this manner
vb. 10. 1894 Eng. dial. – to tease, to banter; to vex, to annoy
vb. 11. 1899 US sl., esp. Western usage – to go about briskly; to ride or go fast, esp. on horseback
vb. 12. L19 US sl. – to move around quickly; to run; to escape
vb. 13. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – to stir as with a whisk
vb. 14. 1905 Amer. sl. – to converse, to chat
vb. 15. 1910s sl., orig. US – to conduct a search of a suspect’s clothes, possessions or premises
vb. 16. 1915 Amer. dial. – to strike a horse so as to urge it on, esp. by use of one’s hat
vb. 17. 1920s sl. – to pick pockets
vb. 18. 1929 Sc. rare – of snow: to form drifts
vb. 19. 1953 Amer. dial. – to set a door open
vb. 20. 1967 Amer. dial. – of an animal: to kick up the heels
vb. 21. 1970 Amer. dial. – to flaunt one’s self
vb. 22. 1970 Amer. sl. – in various sports: to fail to hit the ball, puck, etc.
vb. 23. 1971 US sl. – to calm someone down; to mollify
vb. 24. 1989 Amer. students’ sl. – to absent oneself from a class; to play truant
vb. 25. 20C Caribbean usage – to coit a woman; to cool a woman’s ardour
• FAN ABOUT
vb. 1899 Eng. & Amer. dial. – to move about quickly; to run
• FANAC
n. 1978 US sl. – an activity for a serious fan
• FANACLE
n. 1594 obs. rare – a small temple, shrine
• FANAD
n. 1920s army sl. – none, nothing
• FANAL
n. 1. 1471 obs. exc. arch. – a beacon, a lighthouse
n. 2. 1632 obs. exc. arch. – a ship’s lantern
• FANANNY WHACKER
n. 1977 Aust. sl. – a person who cheats at marbles by encroaching over the shooting line
• FANANNY WHACKING
n. 1985 Aust. sl. – cheating at marbles by edging your hand over the shooting line
• FAN BELT INSPECTOR
n. 1971 US sl. – an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigations
• FANC
n. 1340 obs. rare – mud
• FANCICAL
adj. 1671 rare exc. Eng. dial. – fanciful; whimsical
• FANCICLE
adj. 1895 Eng. dial. – fanciful, faddy, capricious, fickle
• FANCIFY
vb. 1. 1656 obs. – to have a fancy for; to like
vb. 2. 1748 obs. – to fancy, to imagine
vb. 3. 1890 – to make fanciful
• FANCINESS
n. 1990s W. Indies sl. – luxury items; jewellery; expensive clothing, etc.
• FANCOM
n. 1976 US sl. – a convention put on by fans
• FANCY
adj. 1. E19 sl. – pert. to boxing or prize-fighting
adj. 2. 1954 Amer. dial. – highfalutin, pretentious, putting on airs
adv. 1940s – fancily, affectedly
int. 1813 UK sl. – an exclamation of surprise
n. 1. 1559 obs. – amorous inclination, love
n. 2. M17 sl. – the vagina
n. 3. 1712 – an alleged name for the pansy
n. 4. 1836 Eng. dial. – a legend, a fanciful tale; a whim, an idea; delirious talk; general in plural
n. 5. 1841 Amer. sl. – on the Stock Market: a fraudulent or worthless security
n. 6. 1894 sl. – a girlfriend; a mistress; a man’s sweetheart
n. 7. E19 sl. – a man who lives on the earnings of a prostitute
n. 8. E19 sl. – a male lover, not always adulterous, but the relationship usually refers to a married or older woman
n. 9. 1936 Amer. dial. – a favourable impression
n. 10. 1986 US sl. – a man’s dress shirt with a coloured pattern
vb. 1. 1566 obs. – to be the fancy of; to please
vb. 2. 1598 UK – to desire, to wish for, to want
vb. 3. 1635 UK – to desire sexually, to find sexually attractive
vb. 4. 1896 Eng. dial. – to think, to believe
vb. 5. 1920s sl. – of a gambler: to select as worthy of a bet, usually of a horse or dog
• THE FANCY
n. 1. 1807 sl., orig. boxing usage – the world of professional boxers; followers of prizefighting; hence, rowdies or sporting and gaming enthusiasts collectively
n. 2. M19 US sl. – the aristocracy, the wealthy and powerful
n. 3. M19 Aust. & US sl. – the underworld
• FANCY A LOT
vb. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – to fancy something is wrong; to feel hurt or neglected
• FANCY-ASS
adj. 2000s sl. – showy, smart
• FANCY BIT
n. 19C sl. – the vagina; thus, a young woman
• FANCY BLOKE
n. 1. M19 sl. – a member of the sporting world
n. 2. L19 sl. – a male lover, not always adulterous, but the relationship usually refers to a married or older woman
• FANCY BOY
n. 1967 US sl. – in poker: a draw in the hope of completing a hand that is extremely unlikely
• FANCY COVE
n. 1. 19C sl. – a pimp, a procurer
n. 2. 19C sl. – a thief
• FANCY CRIB
n. 20C African-American sl. – a fashionable, chic, well-designed home
• FANCY DAMN
n. 1930s sl., orig. US – anything showy
• FANCY-DAN
adj. 1938 Amer. sl. – fancy; pretentious; affected
(nouns usually as ‘fancy dan’)
n. 1. 1927 Amer. sl. – a showy, usually ineffective, athlete
n. 2. 1930s Amer. sl. – a dandy; an affected or pretentious fellow; a show-off; a flashily dressed man; a ladies’ man
n. 3. 1930s sl., orig. US – a lady’s man
n. 4. 1930s sl., orig. US – anything showy
n. 5. 1949 Amer. sl. – in boxing: a boxer noted for cleverness rather than hitting ability
vb. 1955 Amer. sl., esp. sports usage – to show off
• FANCY DOO-DAD WOMAN
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a woman who is overly prim or conscious of decorum
• FANCY DUDE
n. 1954 Amer. dial. – any person who acts superior
• FANCYETTE
n. a1834 nonce word – a little fancy
• FANCY-FACE
n. Bk1942 Amer. college sl. – an attractive girl
• FANCY-FREE
adj. 1590 – free from the power of love
• FANCY GIRL
n. 1. 1812 sl. – the woman with whom a married man is having an affair
n. 2. 1812 sl. – a man’s girlfriend
n. 3. 1824 US sl. – a prostitute
n. 4. 1990s W. Indies sl. – a materialistic woman
• FANCY-HOUSE
n. 1864 sl. – a brothel
• FANCY-JOSEPH
n. 1. 19C Brit. sl. – a prostitute’s pimp or ponce
n. 2. 19C sl. – a boy or young man who is a favourite of prostitutes, but not a customer or pimp
• FANCY-LAY
n. 1. 19C sl. – the sport of boxing; prize-fighting
n. 2. 1910s UK criminals’ sl. – any form of swindling or robbery
• FANCY-LOOSE
adj. 1850 – ready to roam at will
• FANCY MAN
n. 1. 1811 sl. – the lover of a woman, esp. a man who lives on the earnings of a woman, usually a prostitute; broadly, a pimp
n. 2. 1818 Amer. nautical sl. – a member of a warship’s crew who does not stand watch; an idler; broadly, a person lacking practical experience
n. 3. 1821 Amer. sl., esp. nautical usage – a favourite or favoured fellow; a best friend; hence, contemptuously, a sycophantic fellow who acts as an informer
n. 4. a1835 – a man who is fancied; a sweetheart
n. 5. 1852 Amer. sl. – a man who is a patron of gambling, boxing, horse racing, etc.
n. 6. 1975 Amer. sl. – a male homosexual
n. 7. 1975 Amer. sl. – a transvestite
• FANCY MEN
n. 1847-8 – patrons of the cock-pit and the ring
• FANCY MOUSE
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – a chipmunk
• FANCY ONE’S CHANCES
vb. 20C – to feel confident of success
• FANCY ONESELF
vb. L19 sl. – to have a good opinion of oneself; to be conceited
• FANCY-PANTS
adj. 1949 Amer. sl. – fancy or snobbish; smart, pretentious; used derisively
n. 1. 1930s sl., orig. US – someone who puts on airs
n. 2. 1930s sl., orig. US – the social elite, the aristocracy
n. 3. 1934 sl., orig. US – a showily dressed, conceited person, esp. a man; a dandy, a snob; a pretentious, superior, self-important person
vb. 1. 1936 Amer. sl. – to act like a dandy or snob; to act in an arrogant, or supercilious manner
vb. 2. 1940s sl. – to play around, to ‘mess about’
• FANCY PIECE
n. 1. E18 Brit. sl. – orig. a gaudily dressed prostitute; later, a mistress, a ‘bit on the side’
n. 2. 1920s sl. – a girlfriend, a ‘best girl’
• FANCY SASH
vb. 20C Aust. rhyming sl. for ‘bash’ – to hit
• FANCY-SCHMANCY
adj. 1935 colloq. – extremely fancy, esp. in a pretentious or ostentatious way
• FANCY-SICK
adj. 1590 – subject to disordered fancy; lovesick
• FANCY STROLL
n. 1980s African-American sl. – the main street on which the high life happens
• FANCY THAT!
int. 1813 UK sl. – an exclamation of surprise
• FANCY THE MUFF OFF
vb. 2000 UK sl. – to find a woman extremely desirable
• FANCY THE PANTS OFF
vb. 2000 UK sl. – to find a woman extremely desirable
• FANCY THE TITS OFF
vb. 2000 UK sl. – to find a woman extremely desirable
• FANCY WOMAN
n. 1. 1812 sl., esp. criminals’ usage – a man’s sweetheart or mistress
n. 2. 1824 Amer. sl. – a demimondaine, esp. a prostitute
n. 3. E19 sl. – a man’s favourite girl or woman
• FANCY-WORK
n. 1. 19C Brit. sl. – the male genitals and pubic area
n. 2. L19 sl. – prostitution
n. 3. L19 sl. – sexual intercourse
• FANCY YOUR CHANCE(S)
vb. 1962 UK sl. – to presume that your charm or skill will suffice to achieve success
• FANCY YOURSELF
vb. 1866 UK sl. – to have too high an opinion of yourself
• FAND
n. 1. c1250 obs. – the act of trying; trial, proof, experience
n. 2. a1300 obs. – the state of being tried; a trial, a temptation
vb. 1. c893 obs. – to put to the proof, to try, to test a person or thing; to make trial of one’s strength or skill; to taste food, etc.
vb. 2. c1175 obs. – to endeavour to lead into evil; to tempt
vb. 3. a1225 obs. – to attempt, to try
vb. 4. c1225 obs. – to enquire; to seek, to look for; to enquire into a matter; to search a place, to examine a track
vb. 5. a1340 obs. – to go, to proceed
vb. 6. 1340-70 obs. – to ask
vb. 7. c1350 obs. – to busy oneself
• FANDABIDOZI!
int. 1978 UK sl. – wonderful!
• FAN DANCER
n. 1936 US sl. – a sexual dancer or striptease performer who employs a large fan in her dance
• FANDANGEE
adj. 2003 Trinidad and Tobago – overdressed or otherwise assuming an air of superiority
• FANDANGLE
n. 1. 1880 colloq. – fantastic ornament; nonsense, tomfoolery
n. 2. 1940s W. Indies sl. – stupidity, foolishness
vb. 1892 Ireland – to hang about, to trifle, to waste time, to ‘fool’ around
• FANDANGLEMENT
n. 1867 Eng. dial. – a whim, crotchet; a gewgaw
• FANDANGLES
n. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – ornaments, trinkets; antics, capers, as in dancing about
• FANDANGLING
adj. 1876 Amer. dial. – nonsensical
• FANDANGO
n. 1. 1848 Amer. dial. – a rowdy or boisterous social gathering
n. 2. 1856 rare – fantastic ornament; nonsense, tomfoolery
n. 3. 1890 Amer. dial. – a dance hall or room for dancing
• FANDANGO GIRL
n. M19 US sl. – a prostitute
• FANDANGO HOUSE
n. 1928 Amer. dial. – a brothel
• FANDANGOUS
adj. 1797 Eng. dial. – showy, pompous
• FANDANGS
n. 1876 Eng. dial. – the fanciful adornments in personal attire; trinkets
• FANDANGS AND FEATHERMENTS
n. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – trinkets, trifles, personal adornments
• FANDER
n. c1340 obs. – a tempter
• FAND-GARTH
n. 1790 Eng. dial. – a farmyard
• FANDING
n. 1. a1000 obs. – a trying to do or find out something; an attempt, an experiment
n. 2. c1000 obs. – temptation
n. 3. a1300 obs. – a testing or putting to the proof; a trial
• FAN DODGE
n. 1958 Amer. dial. – dysentery
• FANE
adj. 1766 Eng. dial. – glad, happy, well-pleased
n. 1. a1000 obs. – a flag, banner, pennant
n. 2. c1386 obs. – a weathercock
n. 3. a1400 obs. – a temple
n. 4. 1806 Sc. – an elf; a fairy
• FANED
n. 1982 US sl. – the editor of a single-interest fan magazine
• FANENT
adj. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – opposite
• FANEREL
n. 1819 Sc. – a rag, a tatter, a flapping piece of cloth
• FAN-FAN
n. 1834 – a pet dog
• FANFARADE
n. 1883 rare – fanfare
• FANFARON
adj. 1670-98 – boastful, bragging
n. 1. 1622 – a bully, blusterer, swaggerer; an empty boaster or braggart; a vain pretender
n. 2. 1848 obs. – fanfare; noisy or boastful parade; ostentation
n. 3. 1857 – one who makes a parade of something; a trumpeter of
• FANFARONADE
n. 1. 1652 – boisterous or arrogant language; boastful assertion, brag; ostentation; an instance of this
n. 2. 1812 – fanfare
vb. 1837 – to bluster, to swagger
• FANFARRADO
n. 1824 nonce word – fanfare
• FAN-FECKLED
adj. 1859 Eng. dial. – freckled, spotted with the sun
• FANFERLUCHE
vb. 1653 obs. – to trifle; to act wantonly
• FANFIC
n. 1998 US sl. – further stories and adventures for characters in familiar television programs and films written for pleasure by fans of the original, esp. widespread on the Internet
• FANFOOT
n. 1942 Amer. dial. – a woman who openly seeks sexual relations; a promiscuous woman
vb. 1935 Amer. dial. – to seek sexual favours; to ‘run around’
• FAN-FRECKLED
adj. 1859 Eng. dial. – freckled, spotted with the sun
• FANFRELUCHE
vb. 1653 obs. – to trifle; to act wantonly
• FANFREUCHLER
n. a1800 Sc. – a fornicator
• FAN FUCK
n. 2000 US sl. – a heterosexual pornographic film in which male fans of the female pornography star are selected to have sex with her
• FANFUCKINGTASTIC
adj. 1980s sl. – absolutely amazing; often used ironically
• FANG
n. 1. 1016 obs. exc. Sc. – that which is caught or taken; captured game; booty, plunder, spoils
n. 2. a1400-50 obs. – a capture, a catch; also, a tight grasp, a grip
n. 3. 1535 obs. – a noose, a trap
n. 4. 1731 obs. – a claw or talon
n. 5. 1742 Sc. – a slice, a large piece cut off from something, usually of food, and esp. of cheese; a chunk
n. 6. L18 sl. – a tooth
n. 7. 1802 Sc. – a coil or bend of a rope
n. 8. 1818 Sc. – a great bargain
n. 9. 1821 Sc. obs. – a fix, a predicament
n. 10. 1871 Sc. – a lout, a scamp, a disagreeable person
n. 11. 1900 Sc. – a burden, a heavy bundle, esp. when carried in the arms
n. 12. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a finger
n. 13. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a fin
n. 14. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – the prong of a fork of any kind
n. 15. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a fork or branch of a tree
n. 16. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – a twang, an ill taste or flavour
n. 17. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – earnings, takings; that which is received
n. 18. Bk1900 Sc. – a thong, a strip of leather; a whip-thong
n. 19. 1923 Sc. – something of little value or importance
n. 20. 1928 Sc. – a tall, thin person
n. 21. 1950s sl. – the penis
n. 22. 1951 Sc. – mental grasp, understanding; the ‘hang’ of a thing
n. 23. 1957 Aust. sl. – eating
n. 24. 1970 Aust. sl. – a drive taken at high speed
n. 25. 1988 Aust. sl. – a bite
vb. 1. c900 obs. exc. arch. obs. – to catch fish; to take in a snare
vb. 2. c1000 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to receive as a gift, or as one’s due; to earn as wages; also, to accept as one’s lot
vb. 3. 1016 obs. – to seize upon booty; to catch, to apprehend, to get into one’s power; to capture a city; to seize lands or possessions
vb. 4. c1175 obs. – to promise, to resolve, to undertake
vb. 5. c1200 obs. – to lay hold of; to grasp; to hold; to seize; to clasp. to embrace
vb. 6. c1275 obs. – to receive as a guest; to welcome
vb. 7. 1340-70 obs. – to get, to obtain, to procure; also, to get together; to collect
vb. 8. c1400 obs. – to take one’s way; to go, to proceed
vb. 9. c1730 Eng. dial. obs. – to reach; to fetch
vb. 10. 1807 Sc. – to captivate
vb. 11. 1825 Eng. dial. – to bind a limb so tightly as to stop the flow of blood
vb. 12. 1842 Eng. dial. – to find
vb. 13. 1888 Eng. dial. – to dam, to mop up water
vb. 14. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – to bang
vb. 15. 1910s Aust. sl. – to eat
vb. 16. 1910s Aust. sl. – to demand money; to cadge, to beg for a loan
vb. 17. 1960s Aust. sl. – to do something fast, to send something quickly
vb. 18. 1962 US sl. – to yell furiously
vb. 19. 1969 Aust. sl. – to drive fast
• FANG A-FIRE
vb. 1873 Eng. dial. – to catch fire
• FANG ARTIST
n. 1. 1970s Aust. sl. – a glutton
n. 2. 1970s Aust. sl. – a lecher; a womanizer
n. 3. 1970s Aust. sl. – one who is particularly adept at obtaining loans
• FANGAST
adj. c1660 Eng. dial. obs. – fit for marriage, marriageable
n. c1660 Eng. dial.. obs. – a marriageable maid
• FANG AWAY
vb. 1. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – to attack violently, to fight
vb. 2. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – to devour food eagerly and quickly, to snatch at one’s food
• FANG-BANDIT
n. 1950s Aust. sl. – a dentist
• FANG-CARPENTER
n. 1950s Aust. sl. – a dentist
• FANG-CHOVEY
n. M19 sl. – a dental surgery
• FANG DOWN
vb. 1996 Aust. sl. – to eat
• FANGER
n. 1. a1300 obs. – one who catches or captures
n. 2. 1981 medical sl. – a dentist or oral surgeon
• FANG FACTORY
n. 1970s sl. – a dental surgery
• FANG-FAKER
n. 19C Brit. cant – a dentist
• FANG-FARRIER
n. 20C nautical sl. – a dentist; a dental surgeon
• FANG IN
vb. 1950 Sc. – to eat greedily and in great gulps
• FANGING FOR
adj. 1910s Aust. sl. – desperate for
• FANGINGS
n. 1846 Eng. dial. – wages, earnings, takings
• FANG JOB
n. 1960s sl. – criticism, esp. a critical article
• FANGLE
n. 1. 1583 obs. – a fantastic, foppish, or silly contrivance; a piece of finery; foppery, fuss
n. 2. 1854 Eng. dial. – a conceit, a whim
vb. 1. 1615 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to fashion, to fabricate; to trick out
vb. 2. 1826 Sc. – to tangle, to ravel, to mix up
• FANGLEMENT
n. 1. a1670 – something fashioned or made; an invention; a contrivance
n. 2. c1861 Eng. dial. – a contrivance, a personal adornment
• FANGLER
n. 1859 Eng. dial. – a whim, conceit
• FANGLES
n. Bk1900 Eng. dial. – the prongs of a fork
• FANGLET
n. 1843 – a little fang or tooth
• FANG-LIFTER
n. 1930s US criminals’ sl. – a dentist
• FANG MAN
n. 1982 Aust. sl. – a man who is a hearty eater
• FANGOGGLING
n. 20C Brit. sl. – looking at naked women, either openly as in strip clubs, or secretly
• FANG ON
vb. 1893 Eng. dial. – to seize, to clutch
• FANGS
n. 1. 1950s jazz & African-American sl. – the lips
n. 2. 1950s sl. – the mouth; the jaws
n. 3. 1958 US sl. – musical ability
vb. 1929 Sc. – of an animal: to forage, to search round for food
• FANGSHAL
n. 1916 Sc. – a lout, a scamp, a disagreeable person
• FANGS-OUT
adj. 1983 military aviation usage – all-out; at full speed
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Updated: February 26, 2023
Lexicophilia 