• VIG
n. 1908 US sl. – profits of a bookmaker, a usurer, a criminal conspirator, a casino, etc.
• VIGERAGE
n. interest on a loan or debt – 1910s US sl.
• VIGGER
vb. to reckon, to do arithmetic – 1733 Eng. dial.
• VIGGERISH
n. the percentage deducted by the organizers of a game from the winnings of a gambler, and hence to the rate of interest on a usurious loan – 1912 US sl.
• VIGGRESH
n. interest on a loan or debt – 1910s US sl.
► VIGILATE vb. to be wakeful or sleepless → 1758 obs.
• VIGILOUS
adj. fierce, angry; of a horse: vicious – Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• VIGORISH
n. 1. the percentage deducted by the organizers of a game from the winnings of a gambler, and hence to the rate of interest on a usurious loan – 1912 US sl.
n. 2. profit – 2000s sl.
• VIG OUNCE
n. 1 oz (28g) of narcotics – 1970s US drug culture sl.
• VIGROUS
adj. vigorous; fierce, dangerous, bad-tempered – 1836 Amer. dial.
• VIGRUS
adj. of humans or animals: angry, vicious – Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• VIGUE-ROUS
adj. vigorous; fierce, dangerous, bad-tempered – 1798 Amer. dial.
• VIKE
vb. to move, to budge – 1887 Sc.
• VIKING
n. an inmate who has a very dirty or untidy cell – 2000s US prison sl.
vb. to live a good life, with plenty of material comforts, despite being incarcerated – 2000s US prison sl.
• VIKING CHEAT
n. a member of the Establishment, an authority; hence, an oppressor – 1990s W. Indies sl.
• VIKING QUEEN
n. 1. a (dyed) blond male – 1960s homosexual sl.
n. 2. one who prefers Nordic partners – 1960s homosexual sl.
• VIKKEND
adj. stout, sturdy, robust, well-made; usually of a young man or boy – 1929 Sc.
• VILD
adj. unpleasant, disagreeable, portending evil or mischief, disgusting, filthy – 1836 Sc.
• VILE
adj. 1. worthless – 1880 Sc. & Eng. dial.
adj. 2. devilish, cunning – Bk1905 Eng. dial.
adv. very, exceedingly – Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. a town or village – L17 sl
• VILIACO
n. a vile or contemptible person; a villain, a scoundrel, a coward – 1599 obs.
► VILIORATE vb. to make less good, to make worse → 1722 obs.
• VILIP
n. a violet – 1842 Eng. dial.
• VILIPEND
adj. disparaging, abusive – a1851 Sc.
• VILIPENDIOUS
adj. contemptible – 1536 obs. rare
• VILITANDE
vb. to skirmish – 1641 obs.
• THE VILLAGE
n. 1. London; chiefly in hunting/horseracing usage – 19C sl.
n. 2. the Lower East Side, New York City – L19 US sl.
n. 3. Greenwich Village, New York City – 1910s US sl.
• VILLAGE BIKE
n. a lesbian – 1950s rhyming sl. for ‘dyke’
• VILLAGE BUTLER
n. ‘old thieves, that would rather steal a dishclout than discontinue the practice of thieving’ – L18 sl.
• VILLAGE RAM
n. a local philanderer and ladies’ man – 1930s W. Indies sl.
• VILLAIN
n. a professional criminal – 1960s sl.
• ‘VILLE
n. Detroit, Michigan – 2000 US sl.
• VILLE
n. a town or village – L17 sl
• THE VILLE
n. 1. Pentonville prison, London – 1920 sl.
n. 2. Greenwich Village, New York City – 2000s sl.
• VILLYAROO
n. 1. foolish talk, idle silly chatter, nonsense – 1866 Sc.
n. 2. confusion, destruction, smithereens, a lost or scattered state – 1912 Sc.
• VIM
n. energy, vigour, vitality – 1843, orig. US
• VIMMER
n. a tremor – 1899 Sc.
vb. to quiver, to tremble – 1866 Sc.
• VINAIGROUS
adj. 1837 rare – vinegary, sour; sour-tempered, ill-tempered, unamiable, morose, crabbed, peevish
• VIN BLANC
n. cheap white wine – Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• VIN BLANK
n. cheap white wine – 1910s sl., orig. military usage
• VIN BLINC
n. cheap white wine – 1910s sl., orig. military usage
• VIN BLONG
n. cheap white wine – 1910s sl., orig. military usage
• VINCE
vb. to choose; to stake a claim or reserve a right to something – 1922 Amer. dial.
• VINCENT
n. the victim of a crooked gambling game – L16 UK criminals’ sl.
• VINCENT PRICE
n. ice – 1990s rhyming sl.
• VINCENT’S LAW
n. cheating for profit at bowls and, later, cards – L16 UK criminals’ sl.
• VINCIBLE
adj. conquerable – 1724 Sc. obs.
• VINCUS
vb. Bk1905 Sc. – to vanquish
• VINDAGE
n. 1377 obs. – vintage
• VINDICTIVOLENCE
n. 1865 – the desire of revenging oneself or of taking vengeance
• VINE
n. 1. a suit of clothes, esp. a stylish one, usually for a man – 1932 African-American usage
n. 2. any unofficial underground network of information – 1960s sl., orig. UK criminals’ usage
• THE VINE
n. wine – 1970s African-American sl.
• VINED
adj. dressed stylishly – .1970 African-American usage
• VINEDTO THE GILLS
adj. dressed stylishly – .1970 African-American usage
• VINEGAR
n. 1. a cloak, an overcoat – L17 UK criminals’ sl.
n. 2. semen – 2000s sl.
• VINEGAR BLINK
n. white wine (French ‘vin blanc’) – World War I Amer. sl.
• VINEGAR PISSER
n. a miser; a mean person – E17 sl.
• VINEGAR-PUSS
n. an unattractive person – Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• VINEGAR STICK
n. 1. a thin, stiletto-like knife – 1930s US criminals’ sl.
n. 2. the penis – 2000s sl.
• VINEGAR STROKES
n. the final thrusts of sexual intercourse – 1970s sl.
• VINE-GARTH
n. a vineyard – 1860 Eng. dial.
• VINEROUS
adj. hard to please – 1674 Eng. dial. obs.
• VINES
n. clothing, esp. one’s best clothes – 1932 African-American usage
• VINEW
n. mould, mouldiness, mustiness – 1538 obs.
vb. to grow mouldy – 1570 obs.
• VINEYARD
n. anywhere that alcoholics congregate – 1970s African-American sl.
• VING BLONG
n. cheap white wine – 1910s sl., orig. military
• VINIPOTE
n. a wine drinker – 1623 rare
• VINNAL
n. a narrow alley or lane between houses – 1702 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
• VINNED
adj. 1. mouldy, mildewed – 1825 Eng. dial.
adj. 2. peevish, querulous, bad-tempered; affected – 1834 Eng. dial.
adj. 3. of beer: sour – Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• VINNEL
n. an alley; a narrow lane or passage – 1853 Sc.
• VINNIDNESS
n. fitfulness, peevishness – 1842 Eng. dial.
• VINNIED
adj. 1. mouldy, mildewed – 1825 Eng. dial.
adj. 2. peevish, querulous, bad-tempered; affected – 1834 Eng. dial.
adj. 3. of beer: sour – Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• VINNIES
n. the Society of St. Vincent de Paul; hence, their second-hand clothes shops – 1980s Aust. & NZ sl.
• VINNY
adj. 1. mouldy, mildewed, musty; esp. used of bread or cheese – 1796 Eng. dial.
adj. 2. nervous; affected; of a child: spoiled – 1873 Eng. dial.
adj. 3. of beer: sour – Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 1. a scolding match; a share in something going on, a frolic – 1746 Eng. dial. obs.
n. 2. nervous irritability – 1881 Eng. dial.
n. 3. mouldiness – Bk1905 Eng. dial.
vb. to become mouldy or mildewed – Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• VINNY’S
n. the Society of St. Vincent de Paul; hence, their second-hand clothes shops – 1980s Aust. & NZ sl.
• VINO
n. 1. wine, often inferior wine – 1919 sl.
n. 2. a glass of wine – 1990s Aust. sl.
► VINOMADEFIED adj. soaked with wine → 1652
• VIN ROUGE
n. cheap red wine – Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• VINRUGE
n. cheap red wine – Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• VINTAGE
n. the year of one’s birth – L19 sl., orig. US
• VINTNER
n. a heavy drinker – E18 sl.
• VINY
adj. old or high tasted; generally applied to game that has been overkept – 1887 Sc.
• VINYA
n. a little scheme or project – 1929 Sc.
• VINYL
n. records, as opposed to tapes or CDs – 1970s sl.
• VINYL JUNKIE
n. one who is obsessed by records, rejecting all other forms of recorded music – 1970s sl.
• VIOLATE
vb. to accuse or find a prisoner on parole guilty of violating the conditions of parole – 1971 US sl.
• VIOLATE THE MARRIAGE-BED
vb. to commit adultery – 1712
• VIOLER
n. a player of the viol; a fiddler – 1808 Sc.
• VIOLET
n. 1. an onion – L19 sl.
n. 2. cabbage – 1920 sl.
• VIOLET CRUMBLE
n. to understand – 1990s Aust. rhyming sl. for ‘tumble’
• VIOLETS
n. spring onions or sage and onion stuffing – L19 sl.
• VIOLIN
n. 1. a machine gun – Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 2. an unusually large foot or shoe – 1967 Amer. dial.
• VIOLIN
n. a hypodermic syringe – 1980s Aust. drug culture & prison sl.
• VIOLIN CASE
n. an unusually large foot or shoe – 1917 Amer. dial.
• VIOLIN SPIDER
n. a recluse spider – 1963 Amer. dial.
• VIP
n. a miser – 1930s Aust. sl.
• VIPE
vb. 1. to smoke marijuana – 1930s Aust. sl.
vb. 2. to crave a marijuana cigarette – E20 US drug culture sl.
• VIPER
n. 1. a marijuana smoker, esp. one who has been at it for some years – 1950s US drug culture sl.
n. 2. a dealer in marijuana – 20C US drug culture sl.
n. 3. a regular user of heroin – 1970s drug culture sl.
n. 4. an injection of morphine and heroin – 1980s sl.
• VIPERISH
adj. regularly using marijuana – 1950s drug culture sl.
• VIPERLAND
n. the world of marijuana smokers – 1940s sl.
• VIPER’S DRAG
n. a marijuana cigarette – 1930s sl.
• VIPER’S WEED
n. marijuana – 1930s US drug culture sl.
• VIPOROUS
adj. venomous – 1827 Sc. obs.
• VIPOROUSLY
adv. venomously – Bk1905 Sc. obs.
• VIR
adv. forcefully – 1866 Sc.
n. 1. the noise made by an object in swift motion; a whirr – 1710 Sc.
n. 2. vigour, energy, activity, briskness, gusto, force, impetuosity – 1738 Sc.
vb. to move or walk with force – 1866 Sc.
• VIRE
adj. of persons, animals, or things: pretty, showy, handsome, well-made, or well-fed – 1929 Sc.
n. a great beauty; a belle; an outstanding person, animal, or thing; the best in a class; a prize specimen, a good price, etc.; something well done – 1908 Sc.
• VIRGA
n. the penis – 19C euphemism
• VIRGIE
adj. virginal – 1930s sl.
n. a virgin – 1930s sl.
• VIRGIN
adj. of drinks: unmixed with water – Bk1902 colloq,
n. 1. a martini, i.e. a mix of vermouth and gin – 1910s US sl.
n. 2. a cigarette made from Virginia tobacco – 1923 sl.
n. 3. a criminal with no convictions – 1970s US criminals’ sl.
• VIRGIN BRIDE
n. a ride – 20C Aust. rhyming sl.
• VIRGINHEAD
n. 1. the hymen – E17
n. 2. virginity – E17
• VIRGINIA
n. the vagina – 1990s US sl.
• VIRGINIA CAVIAR
n. a nickname for beans or peas – 1968 Amer. dial.
• VIRGINIE
n. Virginia – Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• VIRGIN-KNOT
n. 1. the hymen – Shakespeare usage
n. 2. virginity – Shakespeare usage
• VIRGIN MARY
n. 1. ‘an obviously pregnant single girl who insists she is merely gaining weight, then leaves town to go on a diet’ – 1966 US sl.
n. 2. the ladybird – 1966 Sc.
• VIRGIN PULLET
n. ‘ a young woman who though often trod has never laid’, i.e. no longer a virgin but not yet a mother – E19 sl.
• VIRGIN QUEEN
n. a homosexual male who will not engage in coition until after ‘marriage’ (a stable relationship) – 20C US homosexual usage
• VIRGINS’ BUS
n. the last bus to run westward from Piccadilly Circus – L19 sl.
• VIRGIN STATE
n. Virginia – Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• VIRGIN-TREASURE
n. the female genitals – E17 Brit. sl.
• VIRGIN VAULT
n. a female residence hall – 1990s US college sl.
• VIRGINY
n. Virginia – Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• VIRICIDE
n. the slaying of men or of husbands – 1766 nonce word
• VIRICUND
adj. 1599 obs. – in a green state
• VIRILE MEMBER
n. the penis – 18C
• VIRILIA
n. the external male genitals; the penis and the scrotum containing the testicles
► VIRIPOTENT adj. 1. of a woman: physically fit for marriage; of a marriageable age → 1587 obs.
adj. 2. possessed of strength and energy → 1646 obs.
• VIRL
n. 1. a small narrow collar; a gorget – 1823 Sc.
n. 2. a ring or eddy in water, esp. that caused by the stroke of an oar – 1908 Sc. obs.
• VIRMISH
vb. to be excited or worked up, to long anxiously for – 1963 Sc.
• VIRP
vb. 1. to vomit – 1908 Sc. obs.
vb. 2. of a dog: to whine – 1932 Sc. (possibly a mistake for ‘yirp’)
• VIRR
adv. forcefully – 1866 Sc.
n. 1. the noise made by an object in swift motion; a whirr – 1710 Sc.
n. 2. vigour, energy, briskness, gusto, force, impetuosity – 1738 Sc.
vb. to move or walk with force – 1866 Sc.
• VIRTUAL
adj. almost but not quite real – 20C students’ sl.
• VIRTUE
n. 1. female chastity – L16
n. 2. vice, i.e. drinking and womanizing – 19C Brit. sl.
n. 3. a charm; a supernatural quality – 1898 Eng. dial.
n. 4. strength, life, energy – Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 5. thrift – Bk1905 Sc.
• VIRTUE AFTER
n. a prostitute – 19C US
• VIRTUE REWARDED
n. prison – L19 sl.
• VIRTUOSO OF THE SKIN FLUTE
n. a masturbator – 20C sl.
• VIRTUOUS
adj. thrifty, industrious – Bk1905 Sc. obs.
• THE VIRUS
n. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS – 1980s euphemism, orig. US
• VI’S
n. Levi-Strauss jeans – 1960s US college sl.
• VISA-BODY
n. a human object of desire – 1990s W. Indies sl.
• VISCO
n. whisky – Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• VISFIGURE
vb. to disfigure – Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• VISIBILITY
n. an obvious fact, something apparent – 1834 Sc.
• VISION
n. 1. a puny, emaciated person or animal; one who is wasting away – 1825 Sc.
n. 2. an insignificant, characterless person – 1825 Sc.
n. 3. television – 1970s sl.
n. 4. a perverse child – 1973 Sc.
• VISIT
n. talk, conversation – 1988 US sl.
vb. to punish – 1878 Sc.
• VISITATE
vb. to visit for the purpose of inspecting or examining – 1731 Sc. obs.
• VISITATION-ACQUAINTANCE
n. a visiting acquaintance – 1822 Sc.
• VISIT FROM THE STORK
n. the arrival of a new baby – L19 UK society sl.
• VISITING CAFÉ LA MAMMA
n. breastfeeding – 1990s US sl.
• VISIT MRS. CHANT’S
vb. to go to the lavatory – 1950s sl.
• VISIT ONE’S UNCLE
vb. to go to the privy – L18 Brit. sl.
• VISITOR
n. 1. a woman’s menstrual period – 1942 Amer. sl.
n. 2. a head louse, or body louse – 1967 Amer. dial.
• VISITORS
n. menstruation – 1942 Amer. sl.
• VISIT THE SAND-BOX
vb. to retire to urinate – 20C euphemism
• VISK
n. a warped or perverse mood or disposition – a1838 Sc.
• VISKLE
n. a bundle; a wisp – 1899 Sc.
• VISSUCK
vb. to fumble – Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• VISTA
n. a short journey, a visit, a trip – 1888 Sc.
• VISTIE
n. a short journey, a visit, a trip – 1888 Sc.
Back to INDEX V
Back to DICTIONARY
Lexicophilia 