• SHE
n. 1. 1922 – the penis (UK sl.)
n. 2. 1966 – the vagina (US sl.)
n. 3. 2008 – cocaine (US drug culture sl.)
• SHEAF
n. 1. 1318 – a bundle or quiverful of 24 arrows
n. 2. a1728 – a cluster or bundle of things tied up together
• SHEAL
n. 1966 – the first thin ice that forms over the surface of a pond or pool (Amer. dial.)
• SHEAR
vb. 1. a1300 – to circumcise (obs.)
vb. 2. c1330 – to carve meat at table (obs.)
vb. 3. c1430 – to cut up, to chop fine, to mince (obs.)
vb. 4. 1530 – to gnaw through, to cut in pieces with the teeth (obs.)
vb. 5. 1608 – to fool, to trick (sl.)
vb. 6. 1930 – to own or keep sheep (Aust. & NZ)
• SHEAR AGAINST THE WOOL
vb. 1546 – to treat roughly (obs.)
• SHEAR CRAB
n. 1967 – small, freshwater crayfish (Amer. dial.)
• SHEARED
adj. 1616 – of a coin: clipped (obs.)
• SHEARER
n. 1. 1610 – an incisor (obs.)
n. 2. 1827 – a confidence trickster (UK sl.)
n. 3. 1902 – a bookmaker (Aust. sl.)
• SHEARER’S DELIGHT
n. 1924 – treacle (Aust. sl.)
• SHEARER’S JOY
n. 1. 1890 – beer (Aust. & NZ sl.)
n. 2. 1924 – treacle (Aust. sl.)
• SHEARING-DARG
n. 1550 – a day’s work performed by a shearer (Sc.)
• SHEARLING
n. 1378 – a sheep that has been shorn once
• SHEARS
n. 1. 1590 – a pair of wings
n. 2. 1682 – the pincer-like claws of a crustacean (obs.)
• ‘SHEART!
int. 1598 – a mild oath (UK obs.)
• ‘SHEARTLIKINS!
int. 1677 – a mild oath (UK)
• SHEARY
adj. 1597 – having a hard sharp edge (obs.)
• SHEAT
n. 1534 – a pig under a year old (Eng. dial.)
• SHEATHE
vb. 1. 1594 – to cover from view (rare)
vb. 2. 1602 – to lay aside, to cause to be laid aside, as hostility or malice (obs.)
vb. 3. 1820 – to mitigate the painfulness of
• SHEATHE UP
vb. 1661 – to envelop so as to confine or obstruct (obs.)
• SHEAVE
n. 1. c1480 – a slice of bread, a shive
n. 2. c1558 – a fragment, a splinter; a bit of fluff sticking up on the surface of cloth, etc.
• SHEAVES
n. 1865 – a large number, mass, or quantity
• SHEBA
n. 1. 1925 – an attractive, fashionable woman (US sl.)
n. 2. 1972Bk – a homosexual Black man (US homosexual sl.)
• SHEBANG
n. 1. 1859 – a hut, a shanty, a rude shelter; a disreputable tavern or other place of resort, a saloon, a bar
n. 2. 1863 – a house, a home, a dwelling place, a shop (US sl.)
n. 3. 1872 – a vehicle (US sl.)
n. 4. 1872 – a thing, an object (US sl.)
n. 5. 1902 – an event (US sl.)
n. 6. 1950 – a criminal rendezvous (US criminals’ sl.)
n. 7. 1950 – a prison cell (UK & US criminals’ sl.)
• SHEBEEN
n. c1787 – an unlicensed drinking place, an illegal, late-night drinking club (Irish sl.)
vb. 1. 1876 – to sell illicit alcohol (Sc.)
vb. 2. 1964 – to visit a shebeen (S. Afr. sl.)
• SHEBEENER
n. 1. 1864 – a seller of illicit alcohol (UK sl.)
n. 2. 1870 – a person who frequents an unlicensed drinking place (sl.)
• SHEBEEN HOUSE
n. 1800 – an unlicensed drinking place (UK sl.)
• SHEBEEN KING
n. 1968 – the owner of an unlicensed drinking establishment (S. Afr. sl.)
• SHEBEEN QUEEN
n. 1938 – the owner of an unlicensed drinking establishment (sl.)
• SHEBEEN SHOP
n. 1801 – an unlicensed drinking place (UK sl.)
• SHEBOODLE
n. 1966 – a large number; a large and miscellaneous collection of things or people (Amer. dial.)
• SHE-BOSS
n. 1848 – a female brothel-keeper (US sl.)
• SHE-BRO
n. 2000 – a very attractive woman (African-American sl.)
• SHE-CENTAUR
n. 1684 – a lesbian (UK sl.)
• SHECKLES!
int. 1906 – an exclamation (UK)
• SHED
n. 1. c1325 – the parting made in the hair by combing along the top of the head; also, the part of the head thus indicated, the top of the crown
n. 2. c1400 – a piece cut or broken off, a slice, a fragment; also, a clot of blood (chiefly Sc. & N. Eng. dial.)
n. 3. 1861 – a young salmon from one to two years old
n. 4. 1876 – a light fall of snow (rare)
n. 5. 1898 – the molted skin or shell of a snake or arthropod (Amer. dial.)
n. 6. 1928 – a solid-top car; a sedan (US sl.)
n. 7. 1940 – any form of depot or terminus, esp. of trains (US criminals’ sl.)
n. 8. 1997 – an unattractive, promiscuous young woman (UK sl.)
n. 9. 2001 – a poorly maintained motor vehicle (sl.)
vb. 1. c1225 – to spill liquids, to let fall crumbs, etc. (obs. exc. Eng. dial.)
vb. 2. a1387 – to part or divide the hair
vb. 3. 1873 – to rake out a fire (Eng. dial.)
vb. 4. 1930s – to rehearse; to practice one’s part, role, etc.; esp. to do so alone and rigorously (US jazz usage)
vb. 5. 1982 – to work very hard, esp. when cramming for an exam or test (US students’ sl.)
• SHED A TEAR
vb. 1. 1864 – to take a drink, esp. a quick one (UK sl.)
vb. 2. 1937 – to urinate (UK sl.)
• SHEDDED
adj. 1. 1575 – divided, cleft (obs.)
adj. 2. 1818 – cast off, fallen (rare)
adj. 3. 1844 – of hair or wool: parted, separated
• SHEDDER
n. 1827 – a counterfeit note (US sl.)
• SHEDER
n. 1579 – a female sheep; a lamb from eight or nine months old to her first shearing (Eng. dial.)
• SHED-FORK
n. 1559 – a pitchfork (obs.)
• SHE’D HAVE ANYTHING IN TROUSERS
phr. L19 – said of a woman who is considered sexually omnivorous and indiscriminate in her choice of partners ( sl.)
• SHEDLOAD
n. 1992 – a large amount or number (sl., chiefly UK)
• SHED ONE’S BABY TEETH
vb. 1894 – to reach (or have reached) the age by which maturity, experience, or shrewdness should have been gained (Amer. dial.)
• SHED RINERS WITH A WHAVER
vb. Bk1903 – to cap; to surpass (sl.)
• SHED THE SHANKS
vb. 1000 – to set the legs apart (Sc. obs.)
• SHEE!
int. 1972 – an exclamation of incredulity (Amer. dial.)
• SHEEBA
n. 1998 – marijuana (US drug culture sl.)
• SHEE-IT
int. 1951 – shit! (US sl.)
• SHEELA
n. 1910 – a man who takes excessive interest in stereotyped women’s affairs, as housework, gossip, and child-rearing (Irish sl.)
• SHEELAH
n. 1832 – a young woman; a girlfriend (Aust. & NZ sl.)
• SHEEN
adj. 1. 1000 – beautiful; said of persons, their appearance, etc.
adj. 2. 1000 – bright, shining, resplendent
n. 1. c1500 – the pupil of the eye (Sc. obs.)
n. 2. 1802 – gorgeous or bright attire
n. 3. 1839 – a counterfeit coin (UK sl.)
n. 4. 1882 – money (Aust. sl.)
n. 5. 1968 – a ‘machine’, either a car or a motorcycle (African-American sl.)
n. 6. 1970 – a very thin film or slick of oil, as on water
vb. c1420 – to shine
• SHEENA
n. Bk1972 – a Black homosexual man (US homosexual sl.)
• SHEENEY’S FEAR
n. 1889 – bacon (UK criminals’ sl.)
• SHEENLY
adv. 1340-70 – brightly (rare)
• SHEENY
adj. 1. 1824 – Jewish (UK sl.)
adj. 2. 1882 – counterfeit; said of money or other objects (US sl.)
adj. 3. 1937 – deceitful, dubious, fraudulent (UK sl.)
n. 1. 1816 – a Jew (sl.) (derogatory or offensive) (also, SHEENA, SHEENEY, SHEENIE, SHENEY, SHINEE, SHOONY)
n. 2. 1871 – a pawnbroker (US sl.)
n. 3. 1900 – a contemptible person; a stingy person, a mean, grasping person (Amer. dial.)
n. 4. 1900 – a bookmaker (Aust. sl.)
n. 5. 1932 – a person with dark skin, often of Mediterranean origin (derogatory) (UK sl.)
n. 6. 1941 – a rag-picker (Amer. dial.)
n. 7. 1982 – an Irishman (Amer. dial.)
vb. 1. 1894 – to cheat, to overcharge (Aust. sl.)
vb. 2. 1907 – to save money by performing small jobs (US sl.)
• SHEENY FUNERAL
n. 1912 – an order of pork chops; roast pork (US sl.)
• SHEENY FUNERAL WITH THE HEARSE
n. 1939 – pork chops without gravy (sl.)
• SHEENY FUNERAL WITH TWO ON HORSEBACK
n. 1925 – roast pork and boiled potatoes (sl.)
• SHEENYISH
adj. 1847 – reminiscent of the negative stereotypes of a Jew (US sl.)
• SHEENYLAND
n. 1955 – the Jewish area of a city; the Lower East Side of New York City (derogatory) (US sl.)
• SHEENY MAN
n. 1984 – a horse and cow dealer; a rag buyer (Amer. dial.)
• SHEENY WAGON
n. 1902 – a peddler’s wagon (US sl.)
• SHEEP
n. 1542 – a person who is as stupid, timid or poor-spirited as a sheep
• SHEEP-BITER
n. 1. 1589 – a malicious or censorious fellow (obs.)
n. 2. 1599 – a great mutton eater (obs.)
n. 3. 1611 – one who runs after ‘mutton’; a womanizer, a whoremonger (obs.)
n. 4. a1616 – a shifty, sneaking, or thievish fellow (obs.)
• SHEEP BUCK
n. 1949 – a ram (Amer. dial.)
• SHEEP CLOUDS
n. 1947 – long trailing clouds high in the sky (Amer. dial.)
• SHEEP COCKY
n. 1949 – a sheep farmer on a small scale (Aust. & NZ colloq.)
• SHEEP DIP
n. 1. 1877 – coarse tobacco, issued in prisons (US sl.)
n. 2. 1882 – inferior liquor; bad whisky (US sl.)
n. 3. 1896 – nonsense (sl.)
n. 4. 1939 – coffee (Amer. dial.)
n. 5. 1979 – strong tea (US lumberjack’s usage.)
• SHEEP-DODGING
n. 1936 – working as a sheep hand (Aust. sl.)
• SHEEP-DOG
n. 1897 – a chaperon
• SHEEP-DUMPLING
n. 1953 – a pellet of sheep dung (Amer. dial.)
• SHEEPFOLD
n. 1590 – a flock of sheep (obs.)
• SHEEP-GUTS
n. 1890 – a term of contempt (UK sl.)
• SHEEP-HEADED
adj. 1623 – foolish, stupid
• SHEEPHERDER
n. 1. 1930 – a lazy, stupid person (usually derogatory) (Amer. dial.)
n. 2. 1949 – a Mexican (usually derogatory) (Amer. dial.)
n. 3. 1958 – a useless man; a logger wearing a farmer’s bib overalls (Amer. dial.)
n. 4. 1963 – an American Indian from Montana or Wyoming (Native American students’ sl.)
n. 5. 1969 in trucking: a driver whose ability is questioned (US sl.)
• SHEEPHERDER’S COFFEE
n. 1967 – very strong coffee (Amer. dial.)
• SHEEPIE
int. 1948 – a call to sheep (Amer. dial.)
n. 1998 – a sheepskin coat or jacket (UK sl.)
• SHEEPINESS
n. 1663 – mean-spiritedness (obs.)
• SHEEPISH
adj. 1. c1175 – meek, innocent (obs.)
adj. 2. c1380 – simply, silly (obs.)
adj. 3. 1518 – excessively meek or submissive, fearful or timorous; mean-spirited
adj. 4. 1975 – long-haired: said of men (US students’ sl.)
• SHEEPISHNESS
n. 1574 – simplicity, stupidity; timorousness; excessive bashfulness or diffidence
• SHEEP-KILLING DOG
n. Bk1942 – a term of contempt (US Western sl.)
• SHEEPLE
n. 1945 – people likened to sheep in being docile, foolish, or impressionable (depreciative)
• SHEEP LEG
n. 1936 – a handgun (Amer. dial.)
• SHEEPLING
n. 1654 – a young sheep
• SHEEP MARBLES
n. 1983 – sheep manure (Amer. dial.)
• SHEEPNESS
n. c1380 – pusillanimity; cowardice; faintheartedness (obs.)
• SHEEPO • SHEEP-OH
n. 1. 1900 – a sheep-shearer; one who works in the catching sheds, filling the catching pens (Aust. & NZ sl.)
n. 2. 1988 – a shepherd’; a musterer of sheep into pens (NZ sl.)
• SHEEP PUNCHER
n. 1936 – a cowboy’s name for a sheepherder (Amer. dial.)
• SHEEP-REEVE
n. 1450 – a chief shepherd (obs.)
• SHEEPS
n. 1967 – soft rolls of dust that collect on the floor under beds or other furniture (Amer. dial.)
• SHEEP’S ARSE
n. 2000 – nonsense, deception (UK sl.)
• SHEEP’S EYES
n. 1520– shy amorous, lovesick glances; a glance indicative of infatuation
• SHEEP-SHAGGER
n. 1. 1958 – a man who engages in, or is said to engage in, sexual intercourse with sheep (derogatory) (sl.)
n. 1. 1974 – a peasant (UK sl.)
n. 2. 1979 – a Scot (derogatory) (Irish sl.)
n. 3. 1997 – a Welshman (UK sl.)
n. 4. 2003 – an Australian or New Zealander (depends on what nationality the speaker is) (Aust. & NZ sl.)
• SHEEP-SHAGGING
n. 1958 – committing bestiality with a sheep (Irish sl.)
• SHEEPS-HEAD
n. 1. 1542 – a foolish or stupid person
n. 2. 1965 – (as ‘sheepshead’) a white cumulus cloud, esp. a small one occurring in a group of similar clouds (Amer. dial.)
• SHEEPS-HEAD CLOCK
n. 1872 – a clock having the works exposed to view
• SHEEP’S HEART
n. a1616 – a timid person
• SHEEP-SHEAR
n. 1618 – to ‘fleece’, to swindle (obs.)
• SHEEP-SHEARER
n. 1608 – a swindler, a confidence trickster (UK sl.)
• SHEEP’S HERD
n. c1175 – a shepherd (obs.)
• SHEEPSKIN
n. 1. 1804 – a parchment diploma received on taking a degree (US colloq.)
n. 2. 1820 – a document (sl.)
n. 3. 1931 – a pardon or discharge certificate (US prison sl.)
n. 4. 1991 – a condom (US students’ sl.)
• SHEEPSKIN FIDDLE
n. 1811 – a drum (UK sl.)
• SHEEPSKIN FIDDLER
n. 1811 – a drummer (UK sl.)
• SHEEP’S LEG
n. 1951 – a handgun (Amer. dial.)
• SHEEP’S PISS
n. 2000 – weak alcohol, usually refers to beer (UK sl.)
• SHEEP-TAIL
n. 1974 – a bit of shirr-tail that protrudes through a hole in torn trousers (W. Indies sl.)
• SHEEP-WARD
n. 1609 – a shepherd (obs.)
• SHEEP-WASH
n. 1. 1900 – poor beer or spirits (Aust. sl.)
n. 2. 1900 – poor tobacco (Aust. sl.)
• SHEEPWOOL
n. 1967 – soft rolls of dust that collect on the floor under beds or other furniture (Amer. dial.)
• SHEEPY!
int. 1948 – a call to sheep (Amer. dial.)
• SHEER
adj. 1. c1400 – of hair: thin, sparse (obs.)
adj. 2. 1565 – bright; shining (obs.)
adj. 3. 1632 – of food: thin, not containing much substance (obs.)
adj. 4. 1632 – of an animal: lean (obs.)
vb. 1. c1250 – to clear or acquit from blame (obs.)
vb. 2. c1400 – to make bright or pure (obs.)
• SHEERLY
adv. 1. 1508 – brightly, clearly (obs.)
adv. 2. 1601 – completely, entirely, wholly; thoroughly; simply, purely
• SHEERNA
n. Bk1970 – a complete nothing; a waste (US sl.)
• SHEESH!
int. 1960 – a mild oath; Jesus! (US colloq.)
• SHEET
n. 1. 1637 – a sail (chiefly poetic usage)
n. 2. 1754 – a newspaper, a magazine (UK)
n. 3. 1893 – a shirt (US tramps’ sl.)
n. 4. 1889 – a dollar bill or a dollar (US sl.)
n. 5. 1931 – a cigarette paper (US criminals’ sl.)
n. 6. 1936 – a police record of convictions (US criminals’ sl.)
n. 7. 1958 – a one-pound note or a pound (UK sl.)
n. 8. 1994 – a perforated sheet of LSD-impregnated blotting paper which can be torn into 100 separate doses of LSD (sl.)
vb. 1. 1637 – to bed with (obs.)
vb. 2. 1990 – to charge with a prison misconduct (Aust. prison sl.)
• SHEET ALLEY
n. 1893 – bed (sl.)
• SHEET ANCHOR
n. 1524 – that on which one places one’s reliance when everything else has failed
• SHEET-BOY
n. 1936 – a bookmaker (Aust. sl.)
• SHEET CHANGE
n. 2001 – a very short prison sentence (NZ prison sl.)
• SHEET HOME
vb. 1846 – to prove something against (Aust. sl.)
• SHEET JUMPER
n. 2001 – one who commits suicide by hanging (NZ prison sl.)
• SHEET LANE
n. 1984 – bed (UK sl.)
• SHEET PASSER
n. 1928 – a person who passes counterfeit notes (US criminals’ sl.)
• SHEETS
n. 1979 – phencyclidine (US sl.)
• SHEET-SLINGER
n. 1878 – a chambermaid (US students’ sl.)
• SHEE-Y-IT!
int. 1920– an exclamation of annoyance
• SHEFFI
n. 1920 – a cook on a ranch or trail drive (Amer. dial.)
• SHEFFIELD HANDICAP
n. 1984 – an act of defecation (rhyming sl. for ‘crap’)
• SHE-FLUNKEY
n. 1877 – a lady’s maid (UK sl.)
• SHEG
vb. 1. 1943 – to annoy, to provoke, to vex (W. Indies)
vb. 2. 1943 – to cheat or betray (W. Indies)
vb. 3. 1958 – to seduce (W. Indies)
vb. 4. 1979 – to do badly, to make a mess of, to ruin, to botch, to bungle
• SHEGARRY
n. 2001 – annoyance, irritation (Black British sl.)
• SHEG ROUND
vb. 1943 – to work as a petty criminal (W. Indies)
• SHEG-UP
adj. 1. 1941 – deserving of contempt; worthless (W. Indies)
adj. 2. 1941 – in a state of disorder or disarray; ruined, messed up
adj. 3. 1950 – unpleasant, uncooperative (W. Indies)
n. 1943 – a confidence trickster, whose role is to appear as gullible as the potential victim (W. Indies)
vb. 1. 1995 – (as ‘sheg up’) to make a mess of (W. Indies)
vb. 2. 2011 – (as ‘sheg up’) to fail, to collapse (W. Indies)
• SHE HAS A DEGREE, A PH.D
phr. 1966 – a warning that one’s petticoat is showing (Amer. dial.)
• SHE-HE
n. 1946 – a transvestite or transsexual (US sl.)
• SHE-HOUSE
n. 1785 – a house in which a wife rules her husband (UK sl.)
• SHEIK(H)
n. 1. 1922 – a man held to be masterful and irresistibly charming to women; a romantic lover
n. 2. 1926 – a fashionably dressed young man (US sl.)
n. 3. 1974 – a condom (Amer.. sl.)
vb. 1926 – to go out looking for female conquests (sl., orig. US)
• SHEIKED OUT
adj. 1928 – dressed in a rakish style (sl., orig. US)
• SHEIKHA
n. 1923 – the female consort of a sheik (a man who considers himself irresistible to women (US sl.)
• SHEIK OF ARABY
n. 1969 – an unpleasant, unmannerly person (Amer. dial.)
• SHEIK UP
vb. 1924 – to smarten or dress oneself up (US sl.)
• SHEIKY
adj. 1924 – having the character of a lady-killer (UK sl.)
• SHEILA(H)
n. 1. 1797 – a young Irishwoman (sl.)
n. 2. 1832 – a young woman; a girlfriend (Aust. & NZ sl.)
n. 3. 1856 – the partner, not necessarily married, of a professional criminal (UK sl.)
n. 4. 1987 – a Black housemaid (S. Afr. sl.)
n. 5. 1963 – the girlfriend of an urban gangster (S. Afr. sl.)
n. 6. 2003 – excrement (S. Afr. homosexual sl.)
vb. 2003 – to defecate (S. Afr. homosexual sl.)
• SHEILA-DAY • SHEILA’S DAY
n. 1974 – Thursday, the day that most nannies and maids are allowed off work (S. Afr. Black sl.)
• SHEILA RORTER
n. 1990 – a prisoner who is obsessed with women (Aust. prison sl.)
• SHEILA TRAP
n. 1963 – a man’s flat or house, in which he attempts seductions (Aust. sl.)
• SHE-INMATE
n. 1592 – a brothel prostitute (UK sl.)
• SHEISTY
adj. 1855 – underhand, unethical, untrustworthy, criminal (African-American & students’ sl.)
• SHE-IT!
int. 1920– an exclamation of annoyance
• SHEKEL
vb. 1996 – to give, to hand out (US students’ sl.)
• SHEKEL IN
vb. 1945 – to contribute money for a group purchase (US sl.)
• SHEKELS
n. 1. 1871 – money, cash (sl.)
n. 2. 2001 – dollars (US sl.)
• SHELD
adj. 1507 – particoloured, pied, piebald (Eng. dial.)
• SHELF
n. 1. c1440 – a cupboard or cabinet (obs.)
n. 2. 1916 – one who betrays associates to the police or other authorities; an informer (Aust. sl.)
n. 3. 1935 – an isolation cell; a holding cell (US prison sl.)
n. 4. 1953 – a balcony in a theatre (Amer. dial.)
vb. 1. 1848 – to dismiss from a job, to lose status (UK sl.)
vb. 2. 1867 – to imprison (US criminals’ sl.)
vb. 3. 1906 – to betray an associate to the police or other authority; to inform on; to incriminate (Aust. sl.)
vb. 4. 1928 – to terminate a relationship; to leave a job (US sl.)
vb. 5. 2001 – to convict on the basis of faked-up evidence (NZ prison sl.)
• SHELF BACK
n. 1925 – the spine of a book (US)
• SHELFER
n. 1. 1908 – a boobkmaker (Aust. sl.)
n. 2. 1908 – one who betrays associates to the police or other authorities; an informer (Aust. sl.)
• SHELF ICE
n. 1910 – ice which forms a thick level layer on water but is attached to land
• SHELF JOB
n. 1996 – an informing; betrayal of confederate (Aust. criminals’ sl.)
• SHELF ONE’S ASS
vb. 1801 – to die (UK sl.)
• SHELF-WARMER
n. 1927 – an article which is laid on the shelf instead of being put to some use
• SHE-LION
n. 1785 – a shilling (5p) (UK sl.)
• SHELL
adj. 1. 1988 – crazy (US students’ sl.)
adj. 2. 1998 – bad, second-rate (US students’ sl.)
n. 1. 1577 – a drinking vessel (obs.)
n. 2. 1705 – the skeleton or carcass of a building or a ship
n. 3. 1740 – the vagina (UK sl.)
n. 4. 1754 – the female body (UK sl.)
n. 5. 1788 – a wooden coffin, esp. a rough or temporary one
n. 6. 1831 – the outer ear
n. 7. 1885 – a coffin (Aust. sl.)
n. 8. 1892 – a portion of opium (US sl.)
n. 9. 20C– a saucer-shaped arena or stadium
n. 10. 1900 – a corpse (Aust. & US sl.)
n. 11. 1906 – an ear (Aust. sl.)
n. 12. 1919 – a standard 8-oz beer glass; a drink of beer (Amer. dial.)
n. 13. 1923 – a hearse (UK sl.)
n. 14. 1935 – an old or weak cow or horse (Amer. dial.)
n. 15. 1935 – the skin or rind of a fruit (Amer. dial.)
n. 16. 1937 – the body of a car
n. 17. 1950 – a safe (US sl.)
n. 18. 1960 – the first thin coating of ice on a body of water (Amer. dial.)
n. 19. 1969 – the green leaves at the top of a strawberry (Amer. dial.)
vb. 1. 1831 – to hand over money; to contribute; to pay (UK sl.)
vb. 2. 1832 – to remove some or all of one’s clothes; e.g. preparatory to a fight (UK sl.)
vb. 3. 1970 – to drive fast (W. Indies)
vb. 4. 1986 – to remove painkilling drugs from their capsule before making home-produced narcotics (NZ drug culture sl.)
• SHELLAC • SHELLACK
vb. 1. 1930 – to defeat; to trounce (sl.)
vb. 2. 1930 – to beat, to thrash soundly (sl.)
vb. 3. Bk1942 – to intoxicate; to make dead drunk (US sl.)
• SHELLACKED
adj. 1922 – drunk (US sl.)
• SHELLACKING
n. 1. 1880 – a sound thrashing; severe defeat; a scolding, chastisement (sl.)
n. 2. 1931 – an utter defeat (sl.)
• SHELLBACK
n. 1. 1853 – a hardened or experienced sailor; an old sailor (jocular)
n. 2. 1860 – an ultra-conservative, slow-witted person (US sl.)
n. 3. L19 – a person who has crossed the equator by boat
n. 4. 1943 – someone with reactionary view (sl.)
• SHELL-BARK
n. 1941 – a rough, rugged person (Amer. dial..)
• SHE’LL BE APPLES
phr. 1940s – it will be satisfactory (Aust. & NZ sl.)
• SHE’LL BE RIGHT
phr. 1945 – used to reject offers of assistance; don’t worry, don’t fuss, everything will be fine in the end (Aust. sl.)
• SHELL- BIRD
n. 1973 – a tortoise
• SHELL CORN
vb. 1952 – to talk angrily to one; to speak bluntly or harshly (Amer. dial.)
• SHELL DOWN THE CORN
vb. 1. 1869 – to acknowledge one’s error (Amer. dial.)
vb. 2. 1905 – to pay the money (Amer. dial.)
• SHELLED
adj. 2000 – drunk; acting stupidly (African-American sl.)
• SHELLERY
n. 1737 – a grotto (depreciative)
SHELLFUL
n. 1649 – a small quantity
• SHELL GAME
n. 1. 1887 – a swindling game in which a small object is concealed under a walnut shell or the like; the manipulator then moves the shells around at speed, and bets are made on the shell under which the object is found (US sl.)
n. 2. 1972 – any trick; any confidence trick (US sl.)
• SHELL-HOUSE
n. c1660 – a grotto (obs.)
• SHELL ICE
n. 1. 1875 – thin ice of a milky white appearance in shallow places, from under which the water has receded (Can.)
n. 2. 1965 – the first thin coating of ice on a body of water (Amer. dial.)
• SHELLITIS
n. 1910s – initial horror and fear of war (US sl.)
• SHELL-LIKE
n. 1998 – the ear (Aust. sl.)
• SHELL MAN
n. 1890 – a person who operates a ‘shell game’ (US sl.)
• SHELL-MEAT
n. 1642 – edible shellfish
• SHELLMEX
n. 1992 – sex (UK rhyming sl.)
• SHELL OUT
vb. 1. 1798 – to hand over money; to contribute; to pay (colloq.)
vb. 2. 1881 – to run away precipitously, to leave or depart hastily (Amer. dial.)
vb. 3. 1923 – to take an opponent’s money when playing cards or dice (UK sl.)
vb. 4. 1941 – to do what is required or demanded (US sl.)
• SHELL OUT THE CORN
vb. 1841 – to pay the money (Amer. dial.)
• SHELLPAD
n. 1553 – a tortoise (obs.)
• SHELL PARROT
n. 1890 – the budgerigar
• SHELL-PEAR
n. 1672 – the avocado (obs.)
• SHELL PINK
n. 1993 – an ear (Aust. sl.)
• SHELL ROAD
vb. 1902 – to throw a person, often a woman who refuses to have sex, out of a vehicle and thus force them to walk home an inconvenient and possibly embarrassing distance (US sl.)
• SHELLS
n. 1. 1591 – money, esp. as taken from a victim by cut-purses or pickpockets (UK criminals’ sl., obs.)
n. 2. 1578 – fragments (obs.)
• THE SHELLS
n. 1. 1856 – the Glasgow lunatic asylum (Sc. sl.)
n. 2. 1896 – the game of ‘thimblerig’ (US criminals’ sl.)
• SHELL SHOCK
n. 1. 1920 – a term of address, implying that the subject has an ‘explosive’ personality (US sl.)
n. 2. 1935 – cocoa (UK sl.)
n. 3. 1984 – tea served in a casual ward or hostel (UK sl.)
n. 4. 1941 – a mixed alcoholic drink, usually very potent, as port and stout (Aust. & NZ sl.)
• SHELL-SHOCKER
n. 1935 – something that causes severe shock or surprise; an unexpected or startling event, revelation, etc.
• SHELL-SNAIL
n. 1585 – a retiring or shy person
• SHELL SPIELER
n. 1896 – a person who operates a ‘shell game’ (US sl.)
• SHELL SUIT
n. 1860 – a boy’s suit consisting of tight-fitting trousers buttoning on to a jacket (obs.)
• SHELL THE CORN DOWN
vb. 1952 – to talk angrily to one; to speak bluntly or harshly (Amer. dial.)
• SHELLS
n. Bk1903 – money (sl.)
• SHELL WORKER
n. 1896 – a person who operates a ‘shell game’ (US sl.)
• SHELL WROUGHTER
n. 1922 – a person who operates a ‘shell game’ (Aust. sl.)
• SHELLY
adj. 1. 1648 – hollow-sounding, empty
adj. 2. 1866 – of a thin, bony, and lanky build
adj. 3. 1896 – of ice: thin (Amer. dial.)
adj. 4. 1935 – inferior, of low grade, in poor condition (Amer. dial.)
• SHELLY-COAT
n. a1774 – ‘a sheriff’s messenger, or bum-bailiff, denominated perhaps from the badges of office on his coat’ (Sc.)
• SHELLY ICE
n. 1896 – the first thin coating of ice on a body of water (Amer. dial.)
• SHELMOZZLE
n. 1916 – a brawl; a commotion (sl.)
• SHELP
n. 1430 – a sandbank in a river or the sea; a shelf (obs.)
• SHELT
n. 1774 – a Shetland pony (Sc.)
• SHELTERAGE
n. 1. 1632 – a place of shelter
n. 2. 1650 – sheltering (obs.)
• SHELTER HOUSE
n. 1992 – a roofed structure built over a grave (Amer. dial.)
• SHELTIE
n. 1. 1612 – a Shetland pony (obs.)
n. 2. a1688 – any small pony
n. 3. 1888 – a person who is a native or inhabitant of the Shetland Islands
• SHELTRON
n. 1377 – a standard, gauge (obs.)
• SHELTY
n. 1834 – a hut, a shed (rare)
• SHELVED
adj. 1873 – put on one side for future use (UK sl.)
• SHE-MALE
adj. 1837 – female (UK sl.)
n. 1. 1776 – a woman, a female
n. 2. 1842 – a female transvestite (usually derogatory & offensive)
n. 3. 1952 – a male homosexual or transvestite (sl.)
n. 4. Bk1972 – a lesbian (US homosexual sl.)
n. 5. 1987 – a transsexual (US sl.)
• SHE-MAN
n. 1. a1613 – a person with both male and female attributes; a hermaphrodite (obs.)
n. 2. 1640 – a woman (Hebrew & biblical usage)
n. 3. 1675 – a man having characteristics considered to be feminine; an unmanly or effeminate man (usually derogatory)
n. 4. 1848 – a woman embodying characteristics typically considered to be masculine
• SHE-MEDICO
n. M19 – a female doctor (sl.)
• SHE-MI-A-PLAY-WID
n. 1954 – one’s female sweetheart (‘she plays with me’) (W. Indies)
• SHEMOZZLE
n. 1. 1886 – a fuss, disturbance; a brawl; a commotion; noise, uproar, excitement (UK sl.)
n. 2. 1889 – a state of difficulty (UK sl.)
n. 3. 1892 – bad luck (UK sl.)
n. 4. Bk1942 – a hasty or unceremonious departure (US sl.)
vb. 1902 – to depart hurriedly, to run off (US sl.)
• SHENA
n. 1855 – a prostitute (UK sl.)
• SHENANIGAN • SHENANIGANS • SHENNANIGANS
n. 1855 – deceit, trickery; dishonest or corrupt activity; mischief; prankishness (sl., orig. US)
• SHE-NAPPER
n. 1. a1674 – a madam (UK sl.)
n. 2. c1698 – a female pimp or procuress (UK sl.)
n. 3. c1698 – a female-thief taker (UK sl.)
• SHENCH
n. c950 – a cupful, drink of liquor (obs.)
vb. a1000 – to pour out liquor, to give a person drink (obs.)
• SHEND
n. c1400 – disgrace, ruin (obs.)
vb. 1. c825 – to put to shame or confusion; to confound, to disgrace (arch.)
vb. 2. c893 – to discomfit in battle or dispute (obs.)
vb. 3. c897 – to blame, to reproach or scold, to reprove (arch.)
vb. 4. a950 – to disfigure; to corrupt, to infect; to defile, to soil (obs.)
vb. 5. 1000 – to destroy, to ruin; to injure, to damage, to spoil (arch.)
vb. 6. 1530 – to shield, to defend (obs.)
• SHENDFUL
adj. c1225 – infamous, disgraceful (obs.)
• SHENDFULNESS
n. c1225 – vileness (obs.)
• SHENDLAC
n. a1225 – disgrace, infamy
• SHENDLY
adj. c1275 – disgraceful, infamous (obs.)
• SHENDNESS
n. c1000 – disgrace, ruin (obs.)
• SHENDSHIP
n. 1. 1303 – disgrace; a cause of disgrace (obs.)
n. 2. 1382 – shame (rare)
• SHENDSHIPFUL
adj. a1382 – disgraceful, ignominious (obs.)
• SHENE
vb. c1000 – to break (obs.)
• SHENEY • SHENY
n. 1816 – a Jew (derogatory or offensive) (sl.)
• SHENKBEER
n. 1872 – a very weak and insipid beer (US)
• SHENT
adj. 1. c1400 – overcome with fatigue; bewildered, stupefied (obs.)
adj. 2. c1400 – free, exempt (obs.)
adj. 3. c1440 – disgraced, lost, ruined; stupefied
n. c1480 – disgrace (Sc. obs.)
vb. c1540 – to hesitate (obs.)
• SHENT-PER-SHENT
n. L17 – a usurer (sl.)
• SHENT-PER-SHENTER
n. L17 – a usurer (sl.)
• SHENZI
adj. 1910 – barbarous, primitive, uncivilized (E. Afr., derogatory & offensive)
n. 1910 – a person regarded as barbarous, primitive, or uncivilized (E. Afr., derogatory & offensive)
• SHE-OAK
n. 1848 – Australian-brewed beer (Aust. sl.)
• SHEOGUE
n. 1852 – a fairy (Ireland)
• SHEP
n. c1381 – a shepherd (obs. exc. Eng. dial.)
• SHEPHERD
n. 1. a1300 – a spiritual guardian or pastor of a ‘flock’
n. 2. 1855 – a miner who holds a claim but does not work it (Aust.)
n. 3. Bk1902 – a police spy; an informer (sl.)
vb. 1. 1873 – to see, to watch; to spy (thieves’ sl.)
vb. 2. 1898 – to follow someone who is a potential target for robbery or fraud (UK criminals’ sl.)
• SHEPHERDLING
n. 1605 – a little or young shepherd (poetic usage, obs.)
• SHEPHERD’S BUSH
n. 1992 – dismissal (UK rhyming sl. for ‘push’)
• SHEPHERD’S CLOCK
n. 1879 – a kookaburra (Aust. sl.)
• SHEPHERD’S LAMP
n. 1827 – the evening star (Eng. dial.)
• SHEPHERD SPIDER
n. 1858 – a daddy longlegs (Amer. dial.)
• SHEPHERD’S PIE
n. 1. 1992 – the sky (UK rhyming sl.)
n. 2. 2001 – a $10 note (NZ prison sl.)
• SHEPHERD’S (PLAID)
adj. 1915 – bad (UK rhyming sl.)
• SHEPPECK • SHEPPICK
n. 1602 – a pitchfork (Eng. dial.)
• SHEPPEY
n. 1869 – a shed for sheep (rare)
• SHEPSTARE
n. 1563 – the starling (Eng. dial.)
• SHEPSTER
n. 1. 1377 – a female who cuts out material; a dressmaker (obs. exc. Eng. dial.)
n. 2. a1400 – a female ‘shaper’ of destinies (obs.)
• SHERBERT
n. 1971 – a woman; a young woman (sl.)
• SHERBET
n. 1. 1890 – a drink; any warm, alcoholic drink (sl.)
n. 2. 1957 – beer (Aust. sl.)
n. 3. 2000 – cocaine (UK sl.)
• SHERBET-CAN
n. 1890 – a container for alcohol (UK sl.)
• SHERBET (DAB)
n. 2002 – a taxi-cab (UK rhyming sl.)
• SHERBET DIP
n. 1992 – a tip (UK rhyming sl.)
• SHERBETTY • SHERBETY
adj. 1890 – drunk (sl.)
• SHERIFF
n. 1. 1990 – an informer (Aust. prison sl.)
n. 2. 2001 – a senior member of a biker or prison gang (NZ prison sl.)
n. 3. 2001 – a police drug detection dog (NZ prison sl.)
• SHERIFF’S BALL
n. 1785 – a hanging (sl.)
• SHERIFF’S BASKET
n. 1600 – a basket or tub placed outside a prison to receive charitable gifts for the prisoners
• SHERIFF’S BOARDING HOUSE
n. 1965 – a jail (US sl.)
• SHERIFF’S BRACELETS
n. 1785 – handcuffs (sl.)
• SHERIFF’S BREAKFAST
n. 1818 – a judicial hanging (UK sl.)
• SHERIFF’S HOTEL
n. 1785 – a prison (UK sl.)
• SHERIFF’S JOURNEYMAN
n. 1811 – the hangman (UK sl.)
• SHERIFF’S MAN
n. 1796 – the goldfinch (Eng. dial.)
• SHERIFF’S PICTURE FRAME
n. 1673 – the gallows or pillory (UK sl.)
• SHERIFF’S POSTS
n. 1599 – two painted posts, set up at the sheriff’s door, to which proclamations are affixed (UK sl.)
• SHERIFF’S TUB
n. E17– a basket or tub placed outside a prison to receive charitable gifts for the prisoners
• SHERK
n. 1. M17 – a cheating gamester (sl.)
n. 2. M17 – a sponger, a parasite (sl.)
• SHERLOCK
n. 1. 1900s – a crooked businessman (sl.)
n. 2. 1902 – a policeman or detective (US criminals’ sl.)
n. 3. 1996 – a friend (US students’ sl.)
vb. 1913 – to act as a detective; to deduce (sl.)
• SHERLOCK HOLMES
n. 1. 1957 – the police (African-American sl.)
n. 2. 2001 – an excessively inquisitive person (NZ prison sl.)
• SHERLOCK IT OUT
vb. 1913 – to act as a detective; to detect (sl.)
• SHERLOCKO
n. 1944 – a policeman or detective (US criminals’ sl.)
• SHERM
n. 1. 1981 – phencyclidine (African-American & drug culture sl.)
n. 2. 2000 – embalming fluid, formaldehyde (US sl.)
• SHERMAN (TANK)
n. 1. 1979 – an American (rhyming sl. for ‘Yank’)
n. 2. 1998 – masturbation (rhyming sl. for ‘wank’)
• SHERMED (UP)
adj. 1985 – drugs intoxicated; intoxicated by phencyclidine (African-American & drug culture sl.)
• SHERMHEAD
n. 1984 – one who is addicted to marijuana cigarettes dipped in phencyclidine (US drug culture sl.)
• SHERM STICK
n. 1984 – a plain cigarette or one composed of marijuana, laced with phencyclidine (US drugs culture & African-American sl.)
• SHERO
n. 1836 – a female hero; a heroine (US colloq.)
• SHERPA
n. 1959 – a mountain guide or porter; a guide
• SHERRIS
n. 1600 – sherry (arch.)
• SHERRY
adj. 1770 – under the influence of sherry; drunk
n. 1. 1821 – a scurry (sl.)
n. 2. 1859 – a sheriff (UK sl.)
n. 3. 1909 – cheap beer, sold at fourpence a quart (1.14 litres) (UK sl.)
vb. 1788 – to run away, to leave (UK sl.)
• SHERRYVALLIES
n. 1778 – pantaloons made of thick velvet or leather, buttoned on the outside of each leg, and generally worn over other pantaloons (US)
• SHERWOOD
n. 1562 – a grove (obs.)
• SHE’S APPLES
phr. 1943 – everything is satisfactory (Aust. & NZ sl.)
• SHE’S A TWENTY-NINE THIS MORNING
phr. 1999 – very angry or upset; usually said of a wife (Can. sl.)
• SHE’S GOT THE BLOODY MONTHLIES
phr. 1948 – refers to a woman’s menstruation (Amer. dial.)
• SHE’S GOT THE MONKEY
phr. she is menstruating …1967 (Amer. dial.)
• SHE-SHE
adj. 1970 – effeminate (W. Indies)
n. 1966 – a young woman (US sl.)
• SHE-SHE TALK
n. 1922 – woman’s talk, gabble, gossip (Amer. dial.)
• SHE’S JAKE
phr. 20C – everything is satisfactory (Aust. & NZ sl.)
• SHE-SPANKER
n. 1888 – an exceptional woman (UK sl.)
• SHE’S RIGHT
phr. 1938 – used to reject offers of assistance; don’t worry, don’t fuss, everything will be fine in the end (Aust. sl.)
• SHE’S SO THIN YOU CAN READ A NEWSPAPER THROUGH HER
phr. 1951 – said of a very thin female (Amer. dial.)
• SHE’S SO UGLY I WOULDN’T TAKE HER TO A BUZZARD FUCK
phr. 1974 – said of one who is very ugly (US sl.)
• SHE’S SWEET
phr. 1898 – everything is satisfactory (Aust. sl.)
• SHE-STOCK
n. 1937 – female cattle (Amer. dial.)
• SHE-STUFF
n. 1. 1920 – female cattle (Amer. dial.)
n. 2. 1958 – women (Amer. dial.)
• SHE SWALLOWED A PUNKIN SEED
phr. 1965 – she’s pregnant (Amer. dial.)
• SHE-TROOPER
n. 1654 – a prostitute (UK sl.)
• SHEVEL
adj. 1507 – distorted, twisted (Sc.)
vb. 1725 – to distort, to become distorted (Sc.)
• SHEVELLED
adj. 1613 – dishevelled (arch.)
• SHEVVLE
n. 19C – horse meat
• SHEW!
int. 1. 1943 – an expression of disdain or disgust (Amer. dial.)
int. 2. 1965 – used of a very bad smell (Amer. dial.)
• SHEWEL
n. c1250 – a scarecrow (obs. exc. Eng. dial.)
• SHE-WOLF
n. 1947 – a woman who actively pursues men or women for sex (US sl.)
• SHE-WOMAN
n. 1925 – a woman of exceptional power and strength
• SHEW, THAT WOULD STINK A DOG OFF A GUT WAGON!
int. 1965 – used of a very bad smell (Amer. dial.)
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Updated: May 29, 2023
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