• LAM
int. 1886 US sl. – get out of the way quickly!
n. 1. 1896 Eng. dial. – a blow; a hard hit or swipe
n. 2. 1914 US sl. – an act of running or flight, esp. a dash to escape from custody; escape; a hasty or unceremonious departure
n. 3. 1990s sl. – an escape from work or duty
vb. 1. 1595 – to hit, to strike, to slap, to beat soundly, to thrash
vb. 2. 1848 US sl. – to defeat decisively, esp. in a fistfight; to drub
vb. 3. 1859 Amer. dial. – to shoot
vb. 4. 1886 Amer. dial. – to leave in a hurry; to run, to make a fast getaway
vb. 5. a1890 US sl. – in sports: to strike (a ball) hard
vb. 6. L19 Aust. sl. – to swindle
vb. 7. 1934 US criminals’ sl. – to chase
vb. 8. 1968 Amer. dial. – to throw
• LAMACHEELIE
n. 1925 Sc. – a noisy lamentation, a loud wail, an outcry
• LAMACHREE
n. 1925 Sc. – a noisy lamentation, a loud wail, an outcry
• LAM-AN-SALLY
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – a beating
• LAMANTIN
n. 1706 – the manatee
• LAMASTER
n. 1904 US prison & criminals’ sl. – a fugitive; an absconder
• LAM AWAY AT
vb. 1884 Amer. dial. – to make an attempt to
• LAMB
n. 1. c1000 – one who is meek, gentle, innocent, or weak as a lamb
n. 2. c1000 – a young member of a flock, esp. of the church
n. 3. a1553 – a term of endearment
n. 4. 1668 – a simpleton; an oaf; one who is cheated; esp. one who speculates and loses his money
n. 5. 1886 stock market usage – a gullible investor
n. 6. 1898 Sc. school sl. obs. – an expert skater
n. 7. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – a ruffian armed with a bludgeon, formerly hired at election time
n. 8. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – a vagrant committed to prison for three days only
n. 9. 1922 US sl., esp. prison usage – a catamite, esp. a much abused and passive one
n. 10. 1950 Amer. dial. – soft rolls of dust that collect on the floor under beds or other furniture
vb. 1. L16 sl. – to beat or strike
vb. 2. 1898 Sc. school sl. obs. – to skate expertly
vb. 3. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to depart hurriedly
• LAMBACK
n. 1591 obs. – a heavy blow, a whack
vb. 1589 obs. – to beat, to thrash
• LAMBACKER
n. 1592 obs. – one who beats or drubs
• LAMBAISE
vb. 1913 Sc. – to lambaste, to whack, to belabour
• LAMBASTE
vb. 1. 1637 sl. & Eng. & Amer. dial. – to beat, to thrash
vb. 2. 1886 – to rebuke or reprove severely
vb. 3. 1892 Ireland – of rain: to beat down
• LAMBASTED
adj. 1990s sl. – drunk
• LAMBASTING
n. 1694 sl. & Eng. & Amer. dial. – a beating; a thrashing
• LAMB-BLASTS
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – passing showers of snow, rain, or hail accompanied by high wind, occurring about the time of young lambs
• LAMB-BRAINED
adj. 1998 NZ sl. – foolish
• LAMB CANNON
n. 1990s sl. – the penis
• LAMB CHOP
n. 1. 1970s sl. – a term of affection, usually of a woman
n. 2. 1985 US sl. – an attractive girl
• LAMB DOWN
vb. 1. 1890 Aust. – to part with money; to pay down money, esp. recklessly
vb. 2. Bk1892 Aust. sl. – to beat
vb. 3. L19 Aust. & NZ sl. – to persuade someone to spend all their money on alcohol
vb. 4. L19 Aust. & NZ sl. – to squander one’s earnings on drink
vb. 5. L19 Aust. & NZ sl. – to calm someone down
• LAMB-DOWN SHOP
n. Bk1999 Aust. sl., obs. – a pub
• LAMBE
n. 1960s US sl. – a toady
• LAMBENCY
n. 1. 1817 – the state of shining with a clear soft light like a flame
n. 2. 1834 – the act of licking
n. 3. 1871 – brilliance and delicate play of wit or fancy
• LAMBENT
adj. 1. 1647 – of a flame (fire or light) : playing lightly upon or gliding over a surface without burning it, like a ‘tongue of fire’; shining with a clear light and without fierce heat
adj. 2. 1706 – licking, that licks; licking with the tongue
adj. 3. 1871 – of wit, etc.: playing lightly and brilliantly over its subjects; gracefully sportive
• LAMBER-DOWN
n. L19 Aust. & NZ sl. – a shanty-keeper or landlord who persuades men to spend all their money on drink
• LAMBETH
vb. L19 sl. – to wash
• LAMBETH WALK
n. 1930s rhyming sl. – the chalk used in billiards
• LAMB FRIES
n. 20C US sl. – lamb’s testicles eaten as food
• LAMB FUZZ
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – soft rolls of dust that collect on the floor under beds or other furniture
• LAMB-GIMMER
n. Bk1902 Sc. – a young sheep or ewe lamb of a year old
• LAMB-HOG
n. 1796 Eng. dial. – a young sheep before it is shorn
• LAMBICHE
n. 1960s US sl. – a toady
• LAMBIE
n. 1718 Sc. – a term of endearment for a lamb, and hence for a child or young person
• LAMBING-DOWN SHANTY
n. L19 Aust. sl. – a rural tavern
• LAMBING-DOWN SHOP
n. L19 Aust. sl. – a public house
• LAMBISH
adj. c1374 obs. rare – meek as a lamb
• LAMBITATE
vb. 1623 obs. rare – to lick or lap
• LAMBITION
n. 1658 obs. rare – a licking or lapping with the tongue; also, a going over a thing with a soft touch
• LAMBITIVE
adj. Bk1908 obs. rare – licking, that licks
• LAMB-KILLER
n. Bk1913 Amer. dial. – a heavy snow storm late in the spring
• LAMBKIN
n. 1. 1579 – a little lamb; a young lamb
n. 2. 1597 – a young tender person; chiefly used as a term of endearment
• LAMB IT
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to depart hurriedly
• LAMB IT OUT
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to depart hurriedly
• LAM BLACK
n. 1930s African-American sl. – a very dark-skinned Black person
• LAMB-LADY
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – the ladybird, Coccinella septempunctate
• LAMB LEG
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – nasal mucus; a bit of mucus hanging from the nostrils
• LAMB LICKER
n. 1936 Amer. dial., derogatory – a sheep-herder
• LAMBLING
n. 1591 rare – a young or little lamb
• LAMBLY
adj. 1868 nonce word – lamb-like, meek as a lamb
• LAMB-PIE
n. 1. 1607 – a beating or drubbing
n. 2. a1625 obs. – a young woman
• LAMB-PIE-SOTE-IT
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – the game of hide and seek
• LAMBSBREAD
n. 2002 Jamaica – marijuana from Jamaica, with especially large buds
• LAMB-SHOWERS
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – passing showers of snow, rain, or hail accompanied by high wind, occurring about the time of young lambs
• LAMBSKIN
n. 1546 obs. – a heavy blow
vb. 1589 obs. – to beat, to thrash
• LAMB-SKIN-MEN
n. a1700 obs. – the judges of the several courts
• LAMB’S LEGS
n. 1811 Sc. & Amer. dial. – nasal mucus; a bit of mucus hanging from the nostrils; the snivel of a child’s neglected nose
• LAMB’S QUARTERS
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – nasal mucus; a bit of mucus hanging from the nostrils
• LAMB’S TAIL
n. 1. 1950 Amer. dial. – nasal mucus; a bit of mucus hanging from the nostrils
n. 2. 1966 Amer. dial. – soft rolls of dust that collect on the floor under beds or other furniture
n. 3. 1967 Amer. dial. – a tagalong; one who always follows along behind others
n. 4. 1969 – a cirrus cloud; long trailing clouds high in the sky
• LAMB-STONES
n. a1613 – the testicles of a lamb
• LAMB-STORMS
n. 1790 Eng. dial. – passing showers of snow, rain, or hail accompanied by high wind, occurring about the time of young lambs
• LAMB’S-WOOL SKY
n. 1866 Eng. dial. – a collection of white orbicular masses of cloud
• LAMBY
n. 1894 US nautical sl. – a heavy woollen overcoat
• LAME
adj. 1. 1650 Sc. – made of earthenware or porcelain
adj. 2. 1790 Sc. – slow-footed, laggard; clumsy
adj. 3. 1854 US sl. – bankrupted by speculation or gambling
adj. 4. 1935 US sl., esp. African-American – socially unsophisticated; naive; ‘square’; hence, easily imposed upon; stupid; inept; ineffectual; incompetent; unaware; inexperienced
adj. 5. 1955 US sl. – of no interest or value; uninteresting, dull, boring; also, contemptible, offensive
adj. 6. 1960s Amer. sl. – out of style, pathetic
n. 1. 1708 Sc. – earthenware, china; a dish, crockery, dishes
n. 2. 1778 Eng. dial. – a hurt, injury, an accident
n. 3. 1861 Sc. – a piece of broken crockery or earthenware, esp. one used as a plaything
n. 4. 1926 Amer. dial. – lameness
n. 5. 1958 US sl., chiefly African-American – a person who is ‘lame’; a fool, an idiot; an unsophisticated person; one who does not fir in with a particular social group
n. 6. 1967 US drug culture sl. – a tobacco cigarette, as opposed to a marijuana cigarette
n. 7. 1968 US sl. – a non-criminal; a ‘square’; hence, one who may be taken advantage of; a victim
n. 8. 1968 US drug culture sl. – among addicts: a non-drug user
vb. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – to lay the blame on anyone
• LAMEBRAIN
n. 1919 US sl. – a dolt; a blockhead; a stupid person
• LAME-BRAINED
adj. 1922 US sl. – stupid, doltish
• LAME BRAINS
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. –stupidity
• LAME DUCK
n. 1. 1761, orig. stock market usage – a person bankrupted by stockjobbing or financial speculation
n. 2. 1814 sl. – a lame or incapacitated person, or one who is old, weak, or ineffective; an invalid; hence, someone or something of no use or value; an inefficient person
n. 3. 1875 US sl. – one not able to pay his way or meet debts; one who is dead broke
n. 4. 1876 US – a severely damaged or defenseless ship or aircraft
n. 5. 1910 US sl. – in politics, an elected official or legislative body whose term of office is nearing an end, esp. a legislator still in office after losing an election or a US president not running for re-election
n. 6. 1968 Amer. dial. – ducks and drakes, throwing a flat stone over the surface of water so that it jumps several times
• LAMEHEAD
n. 1978 US sl. – a dolt; a blockhead; a stupid person
• LAMELY
adj. 1885 Sc. – slow, halting
• LAMENTABLE
adj. Bk1902 N. Ireland – unpleasant, disagreeable
• LAMENTABLES
n. 1748 obs. – laments, complainings
• LAMENTADO
n. 1618 obs. rare – lament, lamentation
• LAMENTATE
vb. 1936 Amer. dial. – to lament, to complain
• LAMENTATIOUS
adj. 1387 obs. rare – marked by lamentation
• LAMENTATORY
adj. 1576 obs. rare – marked by lamentation
• LAMENTFUL
adj. 1876 rare – charged with lament; mournful
• LAME-O
n. 1977 US college sl. – a fool; an idiot; an unsophisticated person
• LAMER
n. 1. 1961 US sl. – a person who is ‘lame’; a fool, an idiot; an unsophisticated person
n. 2. 1997 sl. – an uninformed internet user who passes himself off as an expert
• LAME RAP
n. 1971 US sl. – an unfounded arrest
• LAMES
n. 1. 1861 Sc. –smithereens
n. 2. 1950s African-American sl. – a term of contempt or disparagement; a term of address
• LAME SCENE
n. 1950s African-American sl. – a disappointing, boring event, typically a tedious party
• LAME STAIN
n. 1997 US sl. – a completely inept, despised person
• LAMESTER
n. 1. 1639 – a lame person; a cripple
n. 2. 20C Ireland – one who is feeling unwell
n. 3. 1978 US sl. – a foolish or contemptible person
• LAME TALE
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – an excuse; a false story; a misrepresentation
• LAMETER
n. 1. 1804 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a lame person; a cripple
n. 2. 20C Ireland – one who is feeling unwell
• LAMGABBLICH
n. 1954 Sc. – a long rambling discourse; a rigmarole
• LAMGAMASHY
n. 1826 Sc. – a long-winded rambling story or discourse; a harangue, rigmarole
• LAMGAMMACHY
n. Bk1902 Sc. – a long. incoherent speech; a long. rambling description; much foolish talk
• LAMGAMMERIE
n. 1826 Sc. – a long-winded rambling story or discourse; a harangue, rigmarole
• LAMIA
n. 1382 – a fabulous monster supposed to have the body of woman and to prey upon human beings and suck the blood of children; also, a witch, a she-demon
• LAMIGER
n. 1829 Eng. dial. – a lame person; a cripple
• LAMIGERIN
adv. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – in crippled fashion
• LAMISTER
n. 1904 US prison & criminals’ sl. – a fugitive from justice; an absconder
• LAM IT
vb. 1886 Amer. dial. – to leave in a hurry; to run, to make a fast getaway
• LAMITER
n. 1804 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a lame person; a cripple
• LAMITOR
n. 20C Ireland – one who is feeling unwell
• LAM IT OUT
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to depart hurriedly
• LAMMACE
vb. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – to beat with heavy blows
• LAMMACING
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – a beating, a thrashing
• LAMMAS
vb. 1866 Eng. dial. – to run, to go off in a hurry, to disappear quickly
• LAMME
vb. L16 sl. – to beat or strike
• LAMMER
vb. 1955 Sc. – to beat, to batter
• LAMMERMOOR LION
n. 1721 Sc. – a sheep
• LAMMIE
n. 1. 1810 Sc. – a term of endearment
n. 2. 1933 US sl – a fugitive; an absconder
• LAMMIGER
n. 1847 Eng. dial. – a lame person, a cripple
• LAMMIKEN
n. 1874 Sc. – a term of endearment
• LAMMING
adj. 1816 Eng. & Amer. dial. – huge, great, violent
adv. 1956 Amer. dial. – very, exceptionally
n. 1611 – a beating, a thrashing
• LAMMING LOAD
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – a large amount of food taken into the body through gluttony
• LAMMISTER
n. 1911 US prison & criminals’ sl. – a fugitive; an absconder
vb. 1921 US sl. – to abscond; to flee from authorities
• LAMMIT
n. 1892 Sc. – a term of endearment, my lamb!
• LAMMOCK
n. 1. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – a large quantity
n. 2. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – a rogue, a rascal
vb. 1. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – to beat
vb. 2. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – to lounge lazily
vb. 3. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – to throw things about in a violent or wasteful manner
• LAMMOCKING
adj. 1863 Eng. dial. – ungainly, clumsy; slouching, loose-limbed
• LAMMUX
vb. 1925 Amer. dial. – to beat, to thrash
• LAMMY
n. 1. 1810 Sc. – a term of endearment
n. 2. 1860 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a kid
n. 3. 1894 US nautical sl. – a heavy woollen overcoat
• LAMO
n. 1993 US sl. – a person lacking fashion sense and social skills
• LAM OFF
vb. 2003 UK sl. – to escape, to run away
• LAM ON
vb. 1848 Amer. dial. – to work fast
• LAM ON TO
vb. 1950 Amer. dial. – to take something of small value that does not belong to you
• LAMOR
n. 2002 UK sl. – a kiss
• LAMOUS
adj. 1914 US sl. – of currency: flimsy; unsubstantial
• LAM OUT
vb. 1. 1886 Amer. dial. – to leave in a hurry; to run, to make a fast getaway
vb. 2. 1910s US sl. – to chase, to run after
vb. 3. 1940s sl. – to run away from someone
• LAM OUT ON
vb. 1940s sl. – to run away from someone
• LAMP
n. 1. 1811 UK sl. – the eye; usually in the plural
n. 2. 1874 Sc. – a long, firm or heavy step or stride
n. 3. 1926 US sl. – a look
n. 4. 1936 US sl. rare – a monocle
vb. 1. a1605 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to take long, springing or prancing steps; to stride, to step out, to walk smartly and deliberately; to walk quickly; to hurry onwards; to go quickly by taking long steps
vb. 2. 1609 – to shine, to gleam, to glitter, as the stars on a frosty night, to twinkle
vb. 3. 1808 Sc. – to beat, to thrash, to flog; to trounce, to defeat utterly, to vanquish, to conquer
vb. 4. 1808 – to light as with a lamp
vb. 5. 1907 US sl. – to look; to see; to examine .
vb. 6. 1988 US rap music usage – to pass time idly, without purpose; to loaf; to relax
• LAMPADARY
n. 1885 rare – a cluster of lamps; a candelabrum
• LAMPADOMANCY
n. 1652 – a mode of divination by the observation of substances burned in a lamp
• LAMP ALONG
vb. M19 Irish sl. – to go along at a great pace
• LAMPAY
vb. 1783 Eng. dial. – to beat, to chastise; chiefly applied to children
• LAMP-BEAM
n. 1565 obs. – ? a chandelier
• LAMPBLACK
n. 1. 1897 US railroad sl. – coal
n. 2. 1942 Amer. dial. – a very dark-skinned Black person
• LAMP BUG
n. 1. 1967 Amer. dial. – a large beetle, as June bug
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. – a firefly
n. 3. 1986 Amer. dial. – a moth
• LAMPER
n. 1. 1825 Sc. – one who walks with long, prancing steps, or smartly and deliberately; a tall woman
n. 2. 1950s W. Indies sl. – a confidence trickster
vb. 1. 1727 Eng. dial. – to walk heavily; to stride, to take long steps
vb. 2. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – of a hare: to jump leisurely
• LAMPERED
adj. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – mottled, stained
• LAMPERS
n. 1886 US colloq. – those who call each day and keep in perfect order the lamps of the household
• LAMP FLY
n. 1. 1840 – a firefly; a glow-worm
n. 2. 1986 Amer. dial. – a moth
• LAMPFUL
adj. 1598 poetic usage – of the sky: full of ‘lamps’, starry
• LAMP HABIT
n. 1. 1930s drug culture sl. – the passive inhalation of opium, which over a period can lead to addiction
n. 2. 1930s drug culture sl. – an opium addiction
• LAM-PIE
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – a beating
• LAMPIN’
n. Bk1902 Sc. – a beating, a defeat
• LAMPING
adj. 1. 1590 – flashing, beaming, resplendent
adj. 2. 1685 Sc. – striding, taking long steps
n. 1814 – a sudden blaze of light
• LAMPISH
adj. 2000s sl. – like a tramp
• LAMP-LIGHTING
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – hunting at night with a spotlight
• LAMP OF LIFE
n. 19C Brit. euphemism – the penis
• LAMP OF LIGHT
n. 19C sl. – the penis
• LAMP OF LOVE
n. 19C Brit. euphemism – the female genitals
• LAMP OIL
n. 1. 1581 – nocturnal labour or study
n. 2. 1944 Amer. sl. – whisky
• LAMPOON
vb. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – to beat down flat
• LAMP-O’-THE-WATTER
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – phosphorescence upon the sea
• LAMP OVER
vb. 1914 US sl. – to look; to see; to examine
• LAMP-POST
n. 1. L19 sl. – a tall, thin person
n. 2. 1920s US sl. – any large and noticeable piece of jewellery
vb. 1959 Amer. dial. rare – (as ‘lamppost’) to talk
• LAMPREY
n. 1802 Ireland & Eng. dial. – the hilt of a knife; a knife
• LAMPS
n. 1. 1423 – the stars or heavenly bodies in general
n. 2. 1590 orig. poetical, now sl. – the eyes
n. 3. 1866 naval sl. – a nickname for a sailor responsible for looking after the lamps on board ship
n. 4. 1907 US sl. – spectacles
n. 5. 1950s sl. – the female breasts
n. 6. 1960 Sc. – a beating, a thrashing
• LAMPSED
adj. 1746 Eng. dial. obs. – lamed, disabled, injured
• LAMPSIE
n. 1928 Sc. – a nickname for a slightly lame person
• LAMPS OF THE NIGHT
n. 1665 – the stars or heavenly bodies in general
• LAMPS OF THE WORLD
n. 1613 – the stars or heavenly bodies in general
• LAMPUS
adv. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – of a fall: suddenly, heavily, awkwardly
• LAMPY
adj. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – having a striding gait
• LAMRIE
n. 1924 Sc. – an ‘aumry’, a cupboard
• LAMSTER
n. 1904 US prison & criminals’ sl. – a fugitive; an absconder
• LAM THE JOINT
vb. 1932 US sl. – to escape from prison
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Updated: February 28, 2023
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