THEATRE
ADJECTIVES
► LETTER-PERFECT knowing one’s part to the letter → 1885 theatrical usage
NOUNS
► AMPHITHEATRE a theatre built around an open space, with rising tiers of seats → 1859
► ARTFUL FOX a theatrical box → 1882 music-hall rhyming sl.
► ATTIC the upper balcony in a theatre → 1966 Amer. dial.
► BALD BRIGADE in a theatre: the front row of seats at a stage performance, esp. a burlesque, presumably occupied by old men → 1900
► BALDHEAD ROW in a theatre: the front row of seats at a stage performance, esp. a burlesque, presumably occupied by old men → 1887 US sl.
► BALD-HEADED DEPARTMENT in a theatre: the front row of seats at a stage performance, esp. a burlesque, presumably occupied by old men → 1900
► BALDHEADED ROW in a theatre: the front row of seats at a stage performance, esp. a burlesque, presumably occupied by old men → 1889 US
► BOARDS, THE the stage of a theatre → 1768
► BUMPER a crowded house at a theatre → 1839 theatrical sl.
► BUZZARD ROOST ► BUZZARD’S ROOST an upper balcony in a theatre → 1920 Amer. sl.
► CACKLE the dialogue of a play → 1870 sl.
► CHARLES JAMES a theatrical box → L19 rhyming sl. (Charles James Fox)
► CHICKEN ROOST the upper balcony of a theatre → 1905 US sl.
► COD VERSION a burlesque version of a well-known play → 20C theatrical usage
► CONCERT a play; a show; any theatrical entertainment → 1992 UK sl.
► COOP the upper balcony in a theatre → 1967
► COULISSE one of the side scenes of the stage in a theatre → 1819
► CROW’S NEST the upper balcony of a theatre → 1965
► CROW’S ROOST the upper balcony of a theatre → 1965
► CRUSH-ROOM a room or hall in a theatre, opera-house, etc., in which the audience may promenade during the intervals of the entertainment → 1806
► DAMP BLANKET in the theatre: a bad review → 1981 US sl.
► DARKY COX a box in a theatre auditorium; the seating area in a theatre → 1961 UK rhyming sl.
► D.C. the Dress Circle in the theatre → 1900 Aust. sl.
► DECK the upper balcony of a theatre → 1965 Amer. dial.
► ETHIOPIAN HEAVEN the top gallery in a theatre → 20C US sl.
► ETHIOPIAN PARADISE the highest balcony in a segregated theatre → 1900 Amer. dial.
► FACE-ENTRY freedom of access to a theatre → 1874 theatrical usage obs.
► FACTORY, THE the theatre → 1952 UK actors usage
► FAKE 1. in the carnival and theatre: a performance → 1885 Amer. sl.
2. any unused or worn-out and worthless piece of property → 1889 theatrical usage
► FAKEMENT small properties, accessories → 1875 theatrical usage
► FAKES AND SLUMBOES properties; accessories → 1880 theatrical usage obs.
► FAT a part with good lines and telling situations, which gives the player an opportunity of appearing to advantage → 1883 theatrical usage
► FAUTEUILS theatre seats separated from the others → 1859
► FLIES the galleries running along the side of a stage where the scene ropes are worked → 1902 (Bk.)
► FLUFFY a sudden lapse of memory, and use of words to call the attention of the inattentive prompter → 1887 theatrical sl.
► FOOTS theatrical footlights → 1919 US sl.
► GAFF a cheap music hall or theatre → L18 sl.
► GRAVY easy laughs from a friendly audience → 1864 theatrical sl.
► GREEN BOX an upper box at a theatre → 1751 obs.
► GREEN (GAGE) the stage → 1931 UK rhyming sl.
► GREENY the curtain of a theatre → 1821 theatrical sl.
► HAYMOW the upper balcony in a theatre → 1968 Amer. dial.
► HEAVEN the upper balcony in a theatre → 1967 Amer. dial.
► HONKY-TONK a cheap, small-town theatre → 1997 (Bk.)
► HOUSE the audience at a theatre → 1921 Amer. sl.
► JIGGER in a theatre: the curtain → 1896 theatrical sl. (Bk.)
► LAKING-HOUSE a playroom; a theatre; a gaming-house → 1902 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► LEG SHOP a theatre devoted to burlesque, i.e. the display of women’s legs → L19 US sl.
► LOFT the upper balcony in a theatre → 1965 Amer. dial.
► LOVER’S HEAVEN the upper balcony in a theatre → 1967 Amer. dial.
► MAGOO in the theatre: a cream pie thrown in slapstick comedy → 1926 Amer. theatrical sl.
► MAIN KICK the stage or theatre → 1930 African-American sl.
► MAJOR MCFLUFFER a sudden lapse of memory, and use of words to call the attention of the inattentive prompter → 1887 theatrical sl.
► MONKEY ROOST the upper balcony in a theatre → 1970 Amer. dial.
► MUCK stage makeup → 1926 US sl.
► MUMMERDOM the theatrical world → 1893
► NABE a neighbourhood theatre → 1935 sl.
► NECKERS’ HEAVEN the upper balcony in a theatre → 1967 Amer. dial.
► NIGGER HEAVEN ► NIGGERS’ HEAVEN the highest balcony in a theatre → 1878 Amer. dial., derogatory
► NUMBER a theatrical piece; a routine → 20C Aust. sl.
► OAKLEY a free pass; orig. to a circus, but latterly to the theatre → 1920 US sl.
► PARADISE the upper gallery of a theatre → M19 sl.
► PEANUT GALLERY the topmost rows of a theatre → 1888 Amer. sl.
► PEANUT HEAVEN the highest gallery in a theatre → 1897 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► PEANUT ROOST the upper balcony in a theatre → 1966 Amer. dial.
► PENNY GAFF a low-class theatre, music-hall → 1851 sl.
► PENNY-ROOM a low-class theatre, music-hall → 1851 sl.
► PIGEON ROOST ► PIGEON’S ROOST the balcony of a theatre → 1905 Amer. dial.
► PROSCENIUM the part in a theatre from the drop-curtain to the orchestra → 1606
► RAG a theatre curtain → M19 sl.
► RAGS AND STICKS a travelling outfit; a theatrical booth → 1870 showmen’s and theatrical usage
► RIGGING-LOFT the space above a state from the scenery is manipulated → 1851
► ROOST the upper balcony of a theatre → 1905 Amer. dial.
► SEVENTH HEAVEN the upper gallery in a theatre → 1967 Amer. dial.
► SHELF a balcony in a theatre → 1966 Amer. dial.
► SHOWCASE an audience many of whom were admitted on free tickets → 1974 Amer. theatre use (Bk.)
► SHOW-SHOP a theatre → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SMALL-TIMER a small-time theatre → 1910
► SPEELKEN ► SPELLKEN a theatre → L18 sl.
► SPELL a theatre → M18 sl.
► STRAW-HAT a theatre operating in the summer only and presenting various productions or companies → 1935 US
► STRAW-HATTER a play presented in a straw-hat theatre → 1949 US
► TANK the top gallery of a theatre → 1900 Amer. students’ sl.
► THEATROMANIA a mania for the theatre → 1991 (Bk.)
► THEATROPHOBIA an abnormal fear of theatres → 1991 (Bk.)
► TIRE-HOUSE the wardrobe of a theatre → 1620 obs.
► TIRING-HOUSE a dressing-room; the room or place in which the actors dressed for the state → 1590 arch.
► TIRING-ROOM a dressing-room; the dressing-room of a theatre → 1623 arch.
► TURKEY an unsuccessful theatrical production → 1984 US sl. (Bk.)
► WOOD FAMILY used as a humorous description of empty seats in a theatre → 1952 UK sl.
► WOW a theatrical success → 1920 Amer. show business usage
► WROTH OF RESES a wreath of roses; said of a male singer who vocalizes too sentimentally → 1882 theatrical usage
NOUNS – PERSON
► ABONNÉ a person who subscribes to a periodical; a season-ticket holder at the theatre → 1858
► ACTOR-MAN a theatrical actor → 1796
► ANGEL a financial backer of an enterprise, esp. one who supports a theatrical production → 1894 sl., orig. US
► AUNT EDNA a typical theatre-goer of conservative taste → 1953
► BALADINE ► BALLADINE a theatrical dancer; a mountebank, a buffoon → 1599 obs.
► BOX-KEEPER an attendant at the boxes in a theatre → 1728
► BOX RUSTLER in the 1870s (theatre), a woman who did her song and dance on the stage, and then, in a costume considered the extreme of indecency, mingled with the customers in the boxes, and encouraged the sale of liquors → 1939 Amer. theatre usage
► CACKLE-CHUCKER in the theatre: a prompter → 1860 theatrical usage obs.
► CAGE GIRL a ticket seller in a theatre → 1952 US sl.
► CHORINE a member of a theatrical chorus → 1922
► DADDY a stage-manager → 1850 theatrical sl.
► DEADHEAD a person given a ticket or tickets for having performed minor services in a theatrical production → 1973 US sl.
► FLYMAN in the theatre: a stagehand who operates the scenery, curtains, etc. in the flies → 1883
► GAGAROOS barnstormers who often enlivened the dialogue with gag-filled impromptu dialogue → 1860 theatrical sl.
► GAIETY GIRL any of the Gaiety Theatre’s celebrated chorus girls (Gaiety Theatre – a former London theatre, famous for its musical comedies) → 1886
► GALLERY GOD a theatre-goer who sits in the uppermost balcony → 1853
► GALLERYITE one who occupies a seat in a gallery → 1895
► GAS ENGINEER in the theatre: a person responsible for lighting the stage and creating effects with gaslight → 1849 hist.
► GASMAN in the theatre: a man responsible for lighting the stage and creating effects with gas light → 1835 hist.
► GATHERER a money-taker at a theatre → 1600 obs.
► GENTLEMAN SUPER a theatre-super of some position or standing → 1909 theatrical usage (Bk.)
► GEORGE a theatre usher → 1950 Amer. rock-and-roll sl.
► GHOST a paymaster or cashier; a company treasurer → 1901 US theatre sl.
► GODS the occupants of the gallery in a theatre → M18 colloq.
► LITTLE DEERS young women who are involved in some way with the stage → L19 sl.
► MACHINIST one who constructs or manages the mechanical appliances used for the production of scenic effects → 1739 theatre usage
► MOKE a performer who plays several different instruments → 1890 theatre sl. obs.
► NAP-NIX an amateur player of minor parts for the sake of experience → 1902 theatrical sl. (Bk.)
► ORDINARY a stage prompter → 1602 obs.
► PIT CIRCLER an occupant of the pit → 1880 theatrical sl.
► PITTITE a person sitting in the pit at a theatre → 1807 colloq.
► QUEER CHECKER in the theatre: a swindling box-keeper → L18 theatrical sl.
► SCAFFOLDER an occupant of the gallery at a theatre → 1597 obs.
► TIRE-MAN a man in charge of the costumes at a theatre → 1599 obs.
► VENTILATOR a player that empties a house → 1904 theatrical usage (Bk.)
► WALK-ON one who plays a walk-on part in a dramatic production → 1902
► WRECKING CREW theatre insiders who watch a show’s early performances and spread negative comments about the show → 1973 US sl.
PHRASES
► NOT A DRY SEAT IN THE HOUSE used of a theatre audience that is helpless with laughter or a male audience that is sexually aroused → 1974 UK sl.
VERBS
► BE EGGED OFF to be pelted off state or platform with eggs, preferably rotten → 1930 colloq.
► BLOW to forget or blunder one’s lines in a stage show → 1975 (Bk.)
► FAKE ► FAKE UP to adapt for the theatre → 1887 theatrical usage
► HOLD A SPEAR to take a very minor non-speaking part → 1950 Aust. theatrical sl.
► HOLD UP THE BACKDROP to play a nonspeaking role, esp. as part of a group of bystanders → 1929 Amer. theatrical sl.
Lexicophilia 