• ROACH
n. 1. a cockroach …1848 sl., chiefly US
n. 2. the cowlick (of hair) …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
n. 3. a promiscuous woman …1930 US sl., derogatory
n. 4. an unattractive woman …1930 US sl.
n. 5. an unpleasant or despicable person …1930 US sl.
n. 6. a police officer …1932 US sl.
n. 7. the butt end of a reefer, usually smoked ‘cocktailed’ in the cleaned-out end of a cigarette, held with tweezers or a roach clip, or impaled on the end of a toothpick …1938 African-American sl.
n. 8. an unpopular girl …1959 US sl.
n. 9. in new car sales: a bad credit risk …1989 US sl.
n. 10. Rohypnol™ (flunitrazepam), popularly known as the ‘date-rape drug’ …1995 US sl.
n. 11. a still-lit and smokeable cigarette end …1996 UK sl.
vb. to comb the hair so that it stays fixed …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• ROACH-AND-DACE
n. the face …Bk1903 rhyming sl.
• ROACHIE
n. Rohypnol™ (flunitrazepam), popularly known as the ‘date-rape drug’ …1995 US sl.
• ROAD
n. 1. 1598 sl. – the female pudendum
n. 2. Bk1903 sl. – a harlot
• THE ROAD
n. Bk1903 sl. – highway robbery
• ROAD-AGENT
n. 1. 1883 sl. – a highwayman
n. 2. Bk1903 sl. – a commercial traveller
• ROAD APPLES
n. horse droppings …1942 N. Amer. euphemism
• ROAD KID
n. a young tramp …1970 sl.
• ROAD-MAKING
n. menstruation …Bk1903 sl.
• ROAD MONKEY
n. one who repairs logging roads …Bk1913 Amer. dial.
• ROAD PIZZA
n. mature roadkill to truckers and other users of CB radio …Bk1998 sl.
• ROAD RASH
n. cuts and grazing caused by falling off a skateboard …1970 sl.
• ROADSTER
n. a person who prefers the road to cross country riding …1885 hunting jargon
• ROAD TALK
n. gossip, a rumour …1982 Bahamas
• ROAD TAR
n. truck-stop coffee …Bk1998 sl.
• ROAD TO HEAVEN
n. the female pudendum …Bk1903 sl.
• ROAD TO PARADISE
n. the female pudendum …Bk1903 sl.
• ROAD UP FOR REPAIRS
n. menstruation …Bk1903 sl.
• ROADWATCH ACCENT
n. an affectedly quasi-British accent, adopted by the middle-class in and around Dublin …1990s Irish sl.
• ROADWORK
n. the work of a travelling thief …1925 sl.
• ROAF
adj. Bk1903 back-slang – four
n. 1851 back-slang – four shillings or four pounds
• ROAF-GEN
n. four shillings …Bk1903 back-slang
• ROAF-YANNEPS
n. fourpence …Bk1903 back-slang
• ROAR
n. 1. 1808 Sc. – a loud report; a violent eructation
n. 2. 1853 Sc. – the noise made by a curling-stone travelling with velocity up the ice
n. 3. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – a protest
n. 4. 1920 Sc. – a call, a cry, as to a neighbour in passing; a doorstep visit
vb. 1. c1734 Sc. – to bewail, to lament over
vb. 2. 1741 Sc. – to weep, to cry, usually, but not necessarily, loudly
vb. 3. 1786 Sc. – of cracking ice: to make a resounding noise, to reverberate
vb. 4. 1805 Sc. – in curling, of a stone: to make a roaring noise as it moves on the ice with great velocity
vb. 5. 1819 Sc. – of bagpipes: to make a loud droning noise
vb. 6. Bk1903 sl. – to breathe hard
vb. 7. Bk1903 sl. – to riot; to swagger
vb. 8. Bk1903 sl. – of horses: to ‘rant’
vb. 9. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – to protest
• ROAR AND GREET
vb. to weep, to cry, usually, but not necessarily, loudly …1772 Sc.
• ROARATION
n. 1617 obs. – a roaring discourse; a loud or emphatic oration; a deep and prolonged noise
• ROARATORIO
n. 1785 sl. – an oratorio
• ROARER
n. 1. L16 sl. – a street bully
n. 2. Bk1903 sl. – a broken-winded horse
n. 3. Bk1903 sl. – a pushing news vendor
n. 4. Bk1903 sl. – a stump orator
n. 5. Bk1903 sl. – anything especially loud
n. 6. 1904 Sc. – a curling-stone moving too fast
n. 7. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent
• ROARING
adj. 1. 1658 sl. – riotous
adj. 2. 1831 sl. – brisk; successful; strong
n. 3. 1772 Sc. – weeping, lamentation
• ROARING-BLADE
n. a street bully …L16 sl.
• ROARING-BOY
n. a street bully …L16 sl.
• ROARING FU
adj. roaring drunk …1791 Sc.
• ROARING GAME
n. the game of curling …1877 Sc.
• ROARING-GIRL
n. a street bully …L16 sl.
• ROARING-LAD
n. a street bully …L16 sl.
• ROARING MATCH
n. a fit of weeping …1824 Sc.
• ROARING MEG
n. anything loud, efficient, or extraordinary …1602 sl.
• ROARING PLAY
n. the game of curling …1786 Sc.
• ROARING RINK
n. a curling-rink …1804 Sc.
• ROARING-RUFFIAN
n. a street bully …L16 sl.
• ROARING-STONE
n. a curling-stone …1844 Sc.
• ROAR SOMEONE UP
vb. to reprimand …1917 sl., chiefly Aust.
• ROAST
vb. 1. 1732 sl. – to ridicule
vb. 2. 1782 sl. – to speak or write critically or disparagingly of; to criticize
vb. 3. Bk1902 thieves’ sl. – to see, to watch; to spy
• ROAST BEEF
n. the dinner bugle call …US Civil War usage
• ROAST-BROWN
vb. to see, to watch; to spy …Bk1902 thieves’ sl.
• ROASTING-JACK
n. the female pudendum …Bk1903 sl.
• ROAST-MEAT CLOTHES
n. Sunday or holiday gear …Bk1903 sl.
• ROAST SNOW IN A FURNACE
vb. to attempt the unnecessary or absurd; to act foolishly and to no purpose …1883 sl.
• ROB-ALTAR
n. a sacrilegious plunderer …a1655 sl.
• ROBBERACEOUSLY
adv. 1772 obs. – in a manner suggestive of robbers
• ROB DE NIGHT
n. World War I Amer. sl. – a nightgown; (French ‘robe de nuit’)
• ROBERT TAYLOR
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a nickname for a handsome man
• ROBIATOR
n. c1745 Sc. – a plunderer; a violent, ruthless person; a lout, a boor, a bully
• ROBORATE
adj. a1475 obs. – confirmed, ratified, strengthened
vb. 1. a1475 obs. exc. Sc. – to confirm, to ratify, to corroborate (a charter, treaty, decision, etc.)
vb. 2. 1533 obs. – to give strength or support to; to invigorate; to fortify
vb. 3. 1652 obs. rare – to make obdurate, to harden a person’s heart
• ROB-POT
n. 1599 obs. – a deep drinker; a drunkard
• ROBUSTIOUS
adj. 1. a1548 – of persons: robust, vigorous, violent; stout and strong or healthy-looking
adj. 2. a1548 – of things: big and strong, massive
adj. 3. a1548 – boisterous, noisy, strongly self-assertive, pompous
adj. 4. 1612 – of storms or climate: violent, severe
• ROCHE
n. 1938 US sl. – the butt of a marijuana cigarette
• ROCK
n. 1. 1840 US sl. – a coin, spec. a dollar
n. 2. 1908 sl., orig. US – a diamond or other precious stone
n. 3. 1946 sl. – ice or an ice cube for use in a drink
n. 4. 1960s African-American sl. – pure cocaine; crystalline cocaine
vb. 1. 1900s African-American sl. – to dance with great vigour; to sway, to jump, to stomp, etc. to boogie or rock and roll music
vb. 2. 1900s African-American sl. – to have sexual intercourse
vb. 3. 20C sl., chiefly US – to impress by wearing an item of clothing, or playing a musical instrument
• ROCK A BEAT
vb. to play music …1990s African-American sl.
• ROCKABILLY
n. a type of popular music originating in the southeastern US, combining elements of rock and roll and hillbilly music; also a performer or devotee of this music …M20 orig. US
• ROCKABOOGIE
n. a type of popular music combining elements of rock and roll and boogie-woogie …M20
• ROCK ALONG
vb. to continue in typical fashion …20C US colloq.
• ROCK-A-LOW
n. a coat …Bk1891 sl.
• ROCK-BOTTOM
adj. of a price: unbeatable …1873
• ROCK CANDY
n. diamonds …1940s African-American sl.
• ROCK CHOPPER
n. a Roman Catholic …20C Aust. sl.
• ROCK-CRUSHER
n. in bridge: a superlative hand …1952
• ROCKED IN A STONE KITCHEN
adj. said of a fool, his brains having been disordered by the jumbling of his cradle …1809
• ROCKEFELLER
n. an immensely rich person; a millionaire …M20
• ROCKET FUEL
n. phencyclidine …1977 sl., orig. US
• ROCKER
n. 1. M19 – a skate with a curved blade
n. 2. M20 – a person who performs, dances to, or enjoys rock music; spec., one associated with long hair, leather jackets, and motorcycles
n. 3. M20 – a popular song with a strong beat; a rock song
• ROCKET
n. 1841 sl., orig.. military usage – a severe reprimand
vb. 1948 sl. orig. military usage – to reprimand severely
• ROCKET FUEL
n. phencyclidine …1977 sl., orig. US
• ROCKETING
n. a severe reprimand ….E20 colloq.
• ROCKETS
n. bullets …1990s African-American sl.
• ROCKET SCIENTIST
n. a very intelligent person (usually used in the negative) ….1982 colloq., orig US
• ROCK-HAPPY
adj. mentally unhinged from serving too long on a (Pacific) island …1946 US services’ sl.
• ROCK-HOG
n. a labourer engaged in tunnelling through rock …1909 chiefly Can.
• ROCKHOPPER
n. a fisherman who fishes from the rocks on the sea coast …20C Aust. colloq.
• ROCKHOUND
n. a geologist; an amateur mineralogist …20C N. Amer. colloq.
• ROCKING-CHAIR
adj. lacking or not involving first-hand experience …20C US
• ROCKISM
n. the theory that traditional rock music is a more authentic form of popular music than pop music …E20
• ROCKIST
n. an adherent or supporter of rockism (see noun) …L20
• ROCK JOCK
n. a mountaineer …20C sl.
• ROCKLED
adj. 1. 1790 Eng. dial. – of children: rash and forward
adj. 2. B1900 Eng. dial. – wrinkled
• ROCK OF AGES
n. 1937 rhyming sl. – wages
• ROCK OUT
vb. 1. 1970s African-American sl. – to pass out from drug intoxication
vb. 2. 20C colloq. – to perform rock music loudly and vigorously, to enjoy oneself enthusiastically esp. by dancing to rock music
• ROCK PILE
n. 1. 1888 US sl. – a prison
n. 2. 1940s African-American sl. – any tall building
• ROCKPILE CURE
n. a ‘cure’ for drug addiction that involves being in prison and working in the rock quarry …1930s US drug culture sl.
• ֳROCK-RIBBED
adj. resolute, uncompromising, esp. in political allegiance …1884 orig. & chiefly US
• ROCKS
n. 1. M19 US sl. – money
n. 2. 1948 sl. – testicles
n. 3. M20 sl., orig. US – cubed or crushed ice for use in a drink
n. 4. sl. – dominoes
n. 5. 1979 UK rhyming sl. – socks
• ROCKSTER
n. a performer of rock music …M20
• ROCK THE BOAT
vb. to cause trouble; to create a disturbance in the existing situation …1931 colloq.
• ROCK THE CRADLE
vb. to stand watch during the night …1851 US nautical sl.
• ROCK UP
vb. 1. 20C colloq. – to arrive, to turn up
vb. 2. 20C colloq. – to arrive late or unannounced
• ROCKY
adj. 1. L16 – of the heart or disposition: hard, unfeeling, unyielding
adj. 2. M18 – unsteady, tottering, shaky
adj. 3. M18 – tipsy, drunken
adj. 4. L18 – in poor health; ill, unwell
adj. 5. L19 – difficult, hard
adj. 6. L20 – characteristic of rock music; featuring loud distorted guitars and a strong rhythm
adj. 7. colloq. – of a person: dizzy; sickly; nauseated
n. E20 nautical sl. – a member of the Royal Navy Reserve
• ROD
n. 1. L19 – an angler
n. 2. L19 sl. – a manager or leader, usually a tough person or harsh disciplinarian
n. 3. 1902 sl. – the penis
n. 4. 1903 sl., chiefly US – a gun
n. 5. 1930s African-American sl. – a freight train
n. 6. M20 sl., chiefly US – a hot rod
• RODDER
n. sl., chiefly US – a hot-rodder; a person who converts cards into hot rods
• RODGER
n. 1. B1900 Sc. – anything big and ugly of its kind; a big, ugly animal
n. 2. B1900 Sc. – a big person of rude manners
vb. 1. 1711 sl. – of a male: to have sex
vb. 2. B1900 Sc. – to beat with violence
• A ROD IN A PICKLE
n. 1. 1871 – a punishment in store
n. 2. 20C Aust. sl. – a racehorse being unobtrusively prepared for a win and betting coup
• RODMAN
n. 1. 1865 – an angler
n. 2. 1929 sl., chiefly US – a gunman
n. 3. 1930s US tramps’ sl. – a tramp who travels by clinging onto the metalwork beneath a coach or wagon
• RODNEY
n. 1. M19 Eng. dial. & colloq. – a stupid or awkward person
n. 2. M19 Eng. dial. & colloq. – an idler; a loafer; a casual worker; a disreputable character
n. 3. 1960s sl. – the penis
• RODNEY KING
n. an arrest, esp. one involving brutality …1990s African-American sl.
• ROD OF IRON
n. severe discipline …1577
• RODOMONT
adj. 1626 arch. – bombastic, boasting, braggart
n. 1598 arch. – a great bragger; a vain or blustering boaster; a bully
• RODOMONTADE
adj. M18 – bragging, boastful, ranting
n. E17 – a brag; a boast; an extravagantly boastful or arrogant remark of speech
vb. L17 – to boast; to brag; to rant
• RODOMONTADER
n. M19 – a braggart
• RODOMONTADO
adj. M17 obs. – bragging, boastful, ranting
n. 1. L16 obs. – a brag; a boast; an extravagantly boastful or arrogant remark of speech
n. 2. E17 obs. – a great bragger or boaster
• ROD RIDER
n. a tramp who travels by clinging onto the metalwork beneath a coach or wagon …1930s US tramps’ sl.
• RODS
n. the metalwork (struts, supports, etc.) found under a railroad coach or wagon …1900s tramps’ sl.
• RODSMAN
n. a tramp who travels by clinging onto the metalwork beneath a coach or wagon …1930s US tramps’ sl.
• RODSTER
n. an angler …L19 rare
• ROD UP
vb. 1. 1929 US sl. – to arm oneself with a gun
vb. 2. 1970s US sl. – to convert a car by giving it a very powerful engine to make it go fast
• ROD WALLOPER
n. a masturbator …1960s sl., orig. Aust.
• ROE
n. semen …M19 sl.
• ROFE
n. 1. 1851 back-slang – four shillings or four pounds
n. 2. 1940s US prison back slang – four years imprisonment
• ROFEFIL
n. a life sentence …M19 back slang
• ROG
vb. to shake; to move to and fro …LME obs. exc. Eng. dial.
• ROGAN GOSH
n. money …2000s rhyming sl. for ‘dosh’
• ROGER
n. 1. M16 sl. obs. – a begging vagrant pretending to be a poor Oxford or Cambridge scholar
n. 2. M16 sl. obs. – a goose
n. 3. M17 colloq. rare – a man, a lad, a chap
n. 4. M17 sl. – the penis
vb. 1711 sl. – to copulate with a woman; to have sexual intercourse with
• ROGER’S BLAST
n. L19 Eng. dial. – a sudden and small localized whirlwind
• ROGGLE
n. Bk1904 Eng. dial. – a shaking
vb. 1398 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to shake or cause to shake; to rattle; to jumble
• ROGUE
adj. M20 – uncontrolled, undisciplined, irresponsible
n. 1. M16 obs. exc. hist. – an idle vagrant
n. 2. L16 – a mischievous person, now esp. a child; frequently used as a playful term of reproof or reproach
n. 3. L16 obs. derogatory – a servant
n. 4. L16 – a dishonest or unprincipled person, esp. a man
n. 5. L19 – a horse inclined to shirk on the racecourse or when hunting
vb. M19 – to deal dishonestly with; to swindle
• ROGUE AND VILLAIN
n. 1859 Brit. rhyming sl. – a shilling
• ROGUE’S BADGE
n. 1891 horse racing usage – the blinkers of a horse
• ROGUISH
adj. 1. L16 – acting like a rogue; unprincipled, dishonest
adj. 2. L17 – playfully mischievous
• ROGUY
adj. L16 obs. – acting like a rogue; unprincipled, dishonest
• ROID
adj. 1. a1400 obs exc. Eng. dial. – stout, strong; violent, rough
adj. 2. a1400 obs exc. Eng. dial. – large, unwieldy
adj. 3. a1400 obs exc. Eng. dial. – rude
adj. 4. c1477 obs. rare – stiff
• ROIL
n. 1. LME obs. – orig. a large powerful horse; later, an inferior or spiritless horse
n. 2. M16 obs. – a large, ungainly woman
n. 3. L17 – a confused mass
n. 4. L17 – a turbulent stretch of water
n. 5. L17 – agitation; disturbance
vb. 1. ME obs. – to roam or rove about
vb. 2. LME obs. – of the eyes: to roll
vb. 3. L16 – to disturb; to disorder
vb. 4. M18 – to disturb in temper; to irritate, to make angry
vb. 5. L18 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to play or frolic, esp. in a rough manner; to romp
• ROILY
adj. 1. 1823 Amer. dial. – of liquids, chiefly water: turbid, muddy; agitated
adj. 2. turbulent
• ROIN
vb. LME obs. – to growl
• ROINISH
adj. LME arch. – mean, base
• ROINOUS
adj. 1. c1366 obs. – coarse, mean, paltry, base, nasty, contemptible
adj. 2. 1377 obs. – covered with scale or scurf; scabby, scurvy
• ROIST
vb. M16 obs. – to roister; enjoy oneself noisily or boisterously; to behave uproariously; to revel
• ROISTER
n. M16 arch. – a roisterer
• ROISTER-DOISTER
n. a1553 obs. – a roisterer or swaggering or noisy reveller
• ROISTERER
n. E19 – a noisy reveller
• ROISTERING
adj. L16 – boisterous, uproarious
• ROISTEROUS
adj. L16 – boisterous, uproarious
• ROITELET
n. E17 arch. – a petty or minor king
• ROKE
n. ME – mist, fog; drizzle
vb. E17 – to be foggy or misty; to drizzle
• ROKO
n. 2003 India – a riot, a protest or demonstration
• ROKY
adj. LME – foggy, misty
Back to INDEX R
Back to DICTIONARY
Updated: February 28, 2023
Lexicophilia 