Dictionary: HEM – HEZ

• HEM
vb. 1939 – to corner, to surround, to catch  
 
• HE-MALE
n. L19 sl. – a manly man  
 
• HEM AND HAW
vb. L15 sl. – to mutter, to mumble, to be indecisive
 
• HE-MAN DRINK
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a large glass or drink of liquor  
 
• HEMATIC
adj. 1854 – pert. to blood; containing blood; of a blood-red colour  
 
• HEM-HAW
vb. L15 sl. – to mutter, to mumble, to be indecisive
 
• HEM-HAW AROUND
vb. 1954 Amer. dial. – to speak hesitatingly; to avoid giving a clear answer; to be indecisive  
 
• HEMLOCK BUG
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – a bedbug  
 
• HEMLOCK STEAK
n. 1969 Amer. dial. –  any illegally shot deer or its meat  
 
• HEMO
n. 1. 1980s Aust. prison sl. – a prison officer  
n. 2. 1990s sl. – an annoying person  
vb. 1938 Hawaii – to loosen, to remove, to separate  
 
• HEMP
n. L19 drug culture sl. – marijuana
vb. L17 sl. – to hang, to choke to death
 
• HEMP BIRD
n. 1858 Amer. dial. – a goldfinch  
 
• HEMPEN CASEMENT
n. L18 UK criminals’ sl. – a hangman’s noose  
 
• HEMPEN CAUDLE
n. L16 jocular usage – hanging
 
• HEMPEN COLLAR
n. L16 sl. – a hangman’s noose  
 
• HEMPEN CONSUMMATION
n. E19 sl. – death by judicial hanging  
 
• HEMP FEVER
n. 1934 Amer. dial. – a hanging or lynching  
 
• HEMP OFFICE
n. M17 sl. – the condemned cell
 
• HEMP PARTY
n. 1892 Amer. dial. – a hanging or lynching  
 
• HEMP STRETCHING
n. 1949 Amer. dial. – a hanging or lynching  
 
• HEM UP
vb. 1941 – to corner, to surround, to catch  
 
• HE MUST HAVE BEEN DRINKING OUT OF A DAMP GLASS
phr. 20C Brit. – refers to someone who has caught a cold or who has a touch of rheumatism  
 
• HE MUST HAVE BEEN DRINKING OUT OF A DAMP MUG
phr. 20C Brit. – refers to someone who has caught a cold or who has a touch of rheumatism
 
• HE MUST HAVE BEEN DRINKING OUT OF A DAMP POT
phr. 20C Brit. – refers to someone who has caught a cold or who has a touch of rheumatism
 
• HE MUST HAVE GOT HIS LICENSE OUT OF A CORNFLAKES PACKET
phr. Bk1999 Aust. sl. – said of an incompetent driver, or of any ineffectual person
 
• HEN
n. 1. Bk1903 sl. – money
n. 2. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – an over-officious woman
 
• THE HEN AND BIDDIES
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – your immediate family group  
 
• HEN APPLE
n. 1939 Amer. dial. – an egg  
 
• HEN BERRY
n. 1960 Amer. dial. – an egg  
 
• HEN BIRD
n. 1955 Amer. dial. – a pileated woodpecker  
 
• HEN-CACKLE
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a meeting where there’s a lot of talking  
 
• HEN-CACKLING
n. 1968 Amer. dial.  – a meeting where there’s a lot of talking  
 
• HENCHER
n. 1887 Sc. – a lame person  
 
• HENCHIL
vb. 1825 Sc. – to rock from side to side in walking  
 
• HEND
vb. 1825 Eng. dial. – to throw, to fling; esp. to throw stones, etc.
 
• HEN-DROWNDER
n. 1960 Amer. dial. – a very heavy rain, a downpour  
 
• HENDY
adj. 1. a1250 obs. – of a person: courteous, civil, gracious; lovely, agreeable; noble, valiant
adj. 2. c1275 obs. – useful
n. a1350 obs. – a lovely or agreeable person
 
• HENE
adj. c825 obs. – mean, abject, poor; humble, lowly; abased, ignoble; miserable, wretched, dejected, humiliated; of little importance, trivial
vb. c950 obs. – to insult, to humiliate, to debase, to lower
 
• HEN-EATER
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – a French person  
 
• HEN EGG
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a lump on the head caused by a sharp blow or knock  
 
• HENFEST
n. 1942 Amer. sl. – a women’s gathering or party  
 
• HENFIGHT
n. 1926 Amer. sl. – a woman’s party
 
• HENFIRE NO!
int. 1967 Amer. dial. – an expression of strong denial  
 
• HENFLESH
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – gooseflesh  
 
• HEN FLEW ENDWAYS
n. c1960 Amer. dial., jocular usage – influenza  
 
• HEN-FLINT
n. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – chicken dung
 
• HEN FOOD
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – eggs  
 
• HEN FRUIT
n. 1854 Amer. dial. – eggs; an egg  
 
• HEN-HEADED
adj. B1900 Eng. & Amer. dial. – brainless, foolish  
 
• HEN-HEARTED
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – cowardly  
 
• HEN-HOUSE
n. 1785 – a house where the woman rules; a workplace dominated by women
 
• HEN-HUSBAND
n. 1960 Amer. dial. – a man who busies himself with women’s household affairs; an effeminate man  
 
• HEN-HUSSY
n. 1. 1890 Amer. dial. – a man who busies himself with women’s household affairs; an effeminate man  
n. 2. 1899 Amer. dial. arch. – a woman who looks after fowls  
n. 3. 1967 Amer. dial. – a woman who is very fond of men and is always trying to know more, if she’s not respectable about it  
n. 4. 1969 Amer. dial. – a meddlesome person; one who is always poking into other people’s affairs  
 
• HEN-HUZZY
n. 1899 Amer. dial. arch. – a woman who looks after fowls  
 
• HENIOUS
adj. 1908 Amer. dial. – heinous  
 
• HENKY-PENKY
n. 1886 Eng. dial. – trickery, underhand dealing, shuffling  
vb. B1900 Eng. dial. – to humbug, to cheat, to trick; to be up to tricks  
 
• HEN-MINDED
adj. 1892 Amer. dial. – brainless, flighty, capricious; foolish, silly, witless  
 
• HENNA?
phr. 1986 Amer. dial. – Is it not so?  
 
• HENNESSY
n. 1890 Amer. dial. – a man who busies himself with women’s household affairs; an effeminate man
 
• HENNIE
adj. 1924 Sc. – sparing  
 
• HENNY
adj. 1950 Amer. dial. – fussy, petty, finicky  
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – a person who is very particular or fussy; one who worries a lot about little things; a person who is always finding fault about unimportant things  
 
• A HEN ON
n. 1878 Amer. dial. – an urgent, important, or secret plan or project in the making  
 
• A HEN ON THE NEST
n. 1949 Amer. dial. – an urgent, important, or secret plan or project in the making  
 
• HENPECK
n. 1. 1967 Amer. dial. – a small, unimportant, or out-of-the-way place  
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. – illegible or hard to read handwriting  
 
• HENPECKS
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – illegible or hard to read handwriting  
 
• HEN PISS
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – nonsense  
 
• HENRY
n. 1928 Amer. dial. – an automobile, esp. a Ford  
 
• HEN-SCRATCH
n. 1. 1898 Amer. dial. – a short distance  
n. 2. 1899 Amer. dial. – handwriting that is difficult to read  
 
• HENSCRATCHES
n. 1899 Amer. dial. – bad handwriting  
 
• HEN-SCRATCHING
n. 1942 Amer. dial. – handwriting that is difficult to read  
 
• HEN-SCRIBBLING
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – handwriting that is difficult to read  
 
• HEN’S EGG
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a lump on the head from a sharp blow or knock  
 
• HEN’S GRASS
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – a short distance  
 
• HEN-SKIN
n. 1. 1902 Amer. dial. – a thin comforter or quilt, often stuffed with feathers
n. 2. 1942 Amer. sl. – a small or inferior saddle  
 
• HEN-SKINS
n. 1. 1957 Amer. logging usage – lightweight underwear  
n. 2. 1958 Amer. logging usage – thin-soled shoes not stout enough to take calks (spikes)  
 
• HEN’S-NOSE-FULL
n. B1900 Eng. dial. – a very small quantity of anything  
 
• A HEN’S RACE
n. 1898 Ireland – a very short distance  
 
• HEN’S TAIL
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – the navel  
 
• HEN’S TEETH
n. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – nonsense  
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. – a nonexistent item used as the basis of a practical joke  
 
• HEN’S TRACKS
n. 1928 Amer. dial. – handwriting that is hard to read  
 
• HEN TEETH
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a nonexistent item used as the basis of a practical joke  
 
• HEN TRACKS
n. 1854 Amer. dial. – illegible handwriting  
 
• HEN-WALLOW-JOSTLE
n. 1921 Amer. dial. – a lively movement in place, starting from the bottom and moving up, from the way a hen shakes all over in a dust bath  
 
• HEN WRANGLER
n. 1944 Amer. dial. – a chore boy on a farm or ranch  
 
• HE OWNS THE LOCK
phr. 1960s Amer. sl. – he has control over the situation  
 
• HEPAZOOTIS
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – an imaginary disease  
 
• HERB
n. 1. 1971 Amer. dial. – marijuana; a marijuana cigarette  
n. 2. 1975 Amer. dial. – an important person  
 
• HERBERGAGE
n. 1. a1300 obs. – a place of lodging or entertainment; an inn  
n. 2. c1386 obs. – lodging, entertainment
 
• HERBERGERY
n. 1. a1300 obs. – a place of lodging or entertainment; an inn  
n. 2. 1303 obs. – lodging, entertainment
 
• HERBERT
n. 1960 Brit. sl. – a foolish or ridiculous man  
 
• HERBERY
vb. 1. 1375 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – to shelter, to lodge  
vb. 2. 1513 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – to anchor a ship in a haven or harbour  
 
• HERBULENT
adj. 1656 obs. rare  – full of herbs or grass
 
• HERBS
n. 1970 Amer. dial. – marijuana; a marijuana cigarette  
 
• HERBSTER
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a herb doctor  
 
• HERCULEAN LABOUR
n. 1617 – a task requiring enormous strength
 
• HERD
vb. 1896 Amer. dial. – to take care of a child or children, to babysit  
 
• HERE-AND-THEREIAN
n. 1701 humorous nonce word – a person with no permanent place place of residence; one who moves about from place to place; a wanderer 
 
• HEREDATION
n. 1606 obs. rare – the act of inheriting; inheritance
 
• HEREDIPETOUS
adj. 1866 – legacy-hunting; hunting for an inheritance 
 
• HEREDITARIOUS
adj. 1527 obs. rare – hereditary
 
• HERE OR THERE THE HARE GOES AWAY
phr. 1600 – here or there the matter ended  
 
• HERE’S AT YOU
phr. 1835 Amer. dial. arch. – used to express assent or resolution  
 
• HERE’S HOW!
int. 1896 – a drinking toast  
 
• HERE’S MUD IN YOUR EYE!
int. 1927 – a drinking toast  
 
• HER EX
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a former sweetheart  
 
• HER INDOORS
n. 1979 Brit. sl. – a wife or other live-in female partner, often with the implication of a domineering woman
 
• HERIT
n. c1475 obs. – inheritance  
vb. a1533 obs. – to inherit  
 
• HERITRIX
n. c1575 – a female heir, an heiress
 
• HERKEN
vb. 1863 Eng. dial. – to listen, esp. to listen by stealth  
 
• HER LADYSHIP
n. 1887 Brit. nautical colloq. – a stuck-up female  
 
• HER MONKEY’S SICK
phr. 1967 Amer. dial. – she is menstruating  
 
• HER NIBS
n. 1821 Brit. sl. – herself; a self-important person; usually a mock title  
 
• HERO OF SAN JUAN HILL
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – Theodore Roosevelt, twenty-sixth US President  
 
• HERO OF THE QUILL
n. 1823 sl. – a distinguished author
 
• HERO OF THE SPIGOT
n. 1828 – one who indulges in liquor
 
• HER REDHEADED AUNT IS VISITING HER
phr. 1967 Amer. dial. – menstruation
 
• HERRIAL
n. 1871 Sc. – that which causes loss or ruin; also, a great expense  
 
• HERRIDGE
n. 1867 Eng. dial. – a disturbance; a bustle, fuss  
 
• HERRIMENT
n. 1787 Sc. – the act of robbing or plundering  
 
• HERRING-CHOKER
n. 1. 1899 Can. sl. – a native or inhabitant of the Maritime provinces
n. 2. 1944 US sl. – a Scandinavian
 
• HERRING-FARE
n. 1530 obs. – a voyage to catch herrings
 
• HERRING-GUTTED
adj. 1726 – having a narrow, thin body like a herring; lanky, thin, lean, bony
 
• HERRING-POND
n. 1686 humorous usage – the sea or ocean, esp. the North Atlantic ocean  
 
• HERRY
vb. 1. 1677 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to rob, to plunder, to pillage; used esp. of robbing birds’ nests  
vb. 2. 1818 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to harass, to oppress, to despoil, to ruin; to drag or carry off  
vb. 3. 1860 Eng. dial. – to harass, to tease, to worry, to bother; to overdo, to urge, to impel  
 
• HERRYING
adj. 1898 Sc. – robbing, plundering  
n. 1887 Sc. – the act of robbing or plundering  
 
• HERRY-WATER
n. Bk1902 Sc. – a selfish person who takes all he can get  
 
• HERSUM
adj. c900 obs. – ready to hear; obedient, compliant; dutiful, devout
vb. c900 obs. – to obey, to be obedient to; to revere
 
• HERSUMNESSE
n. c900 obs. – obedience
 
• HER THIGHS WOULDN’T STOP A PIG IN A HALL
phr. Bk1999 Aust. sl. – said of a woman with thin, widely-spaced legs
 
• HERY
vb. c735 obs. – to praise, glorify, exalt, honour, worship
 
• HE’S A CUNT AND A HALF
phr. L1950s sl. – said of an extremely objectionable youth or man  
 
• HE’S BEEN THROUGH THE HACKLES
phr. 1970 Amer. dial. – said of a person who has a lot of bad luck  
 
• HE’S BITING BUTTS
phr. Bk1944 services’ sl. – he’s broke and smoking butts
 
• HE’S GOT AN ALLIGATOR MOUTH AND A CANARY ASS
phr. 1950s US sl. – said of a person with an inclination to boast or brag but insufficient courage to back up their words  
 
• HE’S GOT AN ALLIGATOR MOUTH AND A HUMMINGBIRD ASS
phr. 1950s US sl. – said of a person with an inclination to boast or brag but insufficient courage to back up their words
 
• HE-SHE
n. a1661 obs. – an effeminate person
 
• HE SINGS MORE LIKE A WHORE’S BIRD THAN A CANARY
phr. L18 – the singer has a strong manly voice  
 
• HESITATIOUS
adj. 1657 obs. rare – characterized by hesitation
 
• HESITUDE
n. 1623 obs. rare – doubtfulness, hesitancy  
 
• HE’S LOST IT
phr. 20C sl. – he’s in a bad temper
 
• HE’S NO BULL-FIGHTER
phr. E20 US sl. – he’s effeminate, or a sissy .
 
• HESPERT
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – a rough, uncultivated fellow  
 
• HESPIN
n. 1781 Eng. dial. – a close-fisted person; a miser; a greedy and over-reaching man  
 
• HESS
adj. Bk1905 Sc. – hoarse
 
• HE’S STANDING ON THE TOP STEP
phr. 1950 cant – of a man standing trial: there is every prospect he will be given the maxim sentence  
 
• HE’S SUCH AN OLD THIEF, HE’D ROB JESUS CHRIST OF HIS SHOE-STRINGS
phr. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – said of a notorious thief  
 
• HESTER
vb. 1818 Sc. – to perplex, to tease, to pester, to vex, to harass a person  
 
• HESTERN
adj. 1577-87 obs. – pertaining to yesterday
 
• HE STRUCK A FAIR WIND
phr. 1916 Amer. dial. – he had a streak of luck  
 
• HET
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – heated  
 
• HETCHEL
vb. 1959 Amer. dial. – to tease, to call to account; to bother, to annoy; to nag  
 
• HETCHELING
n. 1890 Amer. dial. – a scolding  
 
• HETCHEL UP
vb. 1950 Amer. dial. – to improvise hastily; to put something together in a hurry; to find something to more or less suit an immediate need  
 
• HETERODOGMATIZE
vb. 1651 nonce word – to hold an opinion different from that generally held
 
• HETEROPHEMIZE
vb. 1875 – to say something different from what you mean to say
 
• HETH!
int. 1698 Sc. – a mild oath or exclamation or asseveration of surprise  
 
• HE THING
n. Bk1942 Amer. Western sl. – a bull  
 
• HET UP
adj. 1. 1902 sl. – frenzied, having lost one’s composure  
adj. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – heated  
 
• HEURISM
n. E20 – the educational process or principle of training pupils to discover things for themselves
 
• HEURISTIC
adj. 1. E19 – serving to find out or discover something
adj. 2. L19 – pert. to heurism in education
 
• HEVER
n. 1790 Eng. dial. – a he-goat, after he has been gelded
 
• HEVERLESS
adj. a1873 Sc. – ill-mannered  
 
• HEW
vb. L19 N. Amer. – to conform to
 
• HE-WEAN
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – a woman of masculine appearance  
 
• HEWERS OF WOOD AND DRAWERS OF WATER
n. 1382 – menial drudges; labourers
 
• HEWGAG
n. M19 US – a toy musical instrument, in which a piece of parchment, etc., is vibrated by blowing
 
• HE-WIFE
n. Bk1902 Sc. – a woman of masculine appearance  
 
• HE-WITCH
n. 1790 Eng. dial. – a wizard  
 
• HE-WOMAN
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – a woman of masculine appearance  
 
• HE WON’T GIVE A BEAN FOR A PEA
phr. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – he is very ungenerous or churlish  
 
• HE WORRIES THE DOG
phr. 1909 UK sl. – a phrase directed at a visitor whose approach repels even the house-dog  
 
• HE WOULD BET ON TWO FLIES WALKING UP THE WALL
phr. Bk1999 Aust. sl. – said of a compulsive gambler
 
• HE WOULD LIVE EVEN IN A GRAVEL PIT
phr. c1660 chiefly rural usage – applied to a cautious, niggardly person  
 
• HE WOULD LOSE HIS ARSE IF IT WERE LOOSE
phr. c1780 sl. – used of a careless person  
 
• HE WOULDN’T GIVE YOU DAYLIGHT IN A DARK CORNER 
phr. 1988 Sc. sl. – said of a person with a reputation for meanness  
 
• HE WOULDN’T PISS ON YOU IF YOU WERE ON FIRE
phr. Bk1999 Aust. sl. – said of an excessively mean-spirited person
 
• HE WOULDN’T PULL A SOLDIER OFF HIS MOTHER
phr. c1880 nautical sl. – a catchphrase directed at laziness or slacking
 
• HE WOULDN’T SHOUT IN A SHARK ATTACK
phr. Bk1999 Aust. sl. – said of an exceptionally parsimonious person, or of a dull-witted one
 
• HE WOULDN’T WORK IN AN IRON LUNG
phr. Bk1999 Aust. sl. – said of an excessively lazy person
 
• HE WOULD TALK A GLASS EYE TO SLEEP
phr. Bk1999 Aust. sl. – said of an excessively boring person
 
• HEX
n. 1. M19 – a witch; a woman resembling a witch
n. 2. E20 – a magic spell; a curse
 
• HEY!
int. ME – attracting attention or expressing joy, surprise, or inquiry, or enthusiastic approval for
 
• HEY-BEY
n. 1805 Eng. dial. – a hubbub, an uproar; a commotion, a disturbance  
 
• HEYDAY
int. E16 arch. – expressing joy, surprise, etc.
n. 1. L16 rare – a state of high spirits or passion  
n. 2. M18 – full bloom, flush, of youth, vigour, prosperity, etc.
 
• HEY-DIDDLE-DIDDLE
n. 1. Bk1999 Aust. rhyming sl. – a piddle
n. 2. Bk1999 Aust. rhyming sl. – the middle
 
• HEYMENT
n. 1770 Eng. dial. obs. – a fence or boundary
 
• HEY-MY-NANNIE
n. 1881 Eng. dial. – a goat  
 
• HEYNE
n. c1386 obs. – a term of reproach; a mean wretch, a niggard  
vb. 1787 Eng. dial. – to raise; to heighten; to raise in price
 
• HEY NONNY-NONNY
n. 1. 19C Brit. sl. – an oaf; a blockhead; a stupid person  
n. 2. 19C Brit. sl. – the female genitals
 
• HEY RUBE
n. 1935 sl., orig. US – a fight, orig. between circus workers and the general public