Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-01-03
VOCABULARY OF SLANG.
The Singular Language with Which
q. Thoughts Are Concealed,
Origin Of some Popular Phrases--How the
Faeins and Crooks Talk-Three Thou
sand words aud Expressions in
the ROgues' Dialect.

| ordinary extent, ana IL - even heaIu w"
| sionally in the pulpit. The stage Is Verl
prolific Of slang, and many oil the expires
sions that come into common use are mrs
heard from behind the foOtlights. There arr
many kinds Of slang One includes eX
pressions Of American origin. In tnis class
| are found such phrases as "ln the soup .
"No flies on Us, ""You make me weary
and "Well, lshould smile"
Many Of the common words and phrases
used on the streets and even in society come
from the vocabulary Of rogues and thieves.
| The fraternity Of rogues have Jargon OF
| their own. But the older and most experl'
enced knaves never use II. They are 700
smart for that. The bank-burglar, the Skill
full forger, the confidence man, the mousse
breaker, are generally well educated, cool
and calculating, bland and suave. Inelr
good department Is their stock IN trace
They know that 20 use an uncommon dia-
lect would throw suspicion on them, ana IL
is only when they wish to communicate
with each other that the words In their
strange vocabulary are used First-class
detectives. too. while they are familiar with
this language, never use slang in public
II is the rounder, the saloon loafer, petty
thief and small criminal who makes the
greatest display of slang wisdom. The
detective who seldom catches any thing OF
more consequence than cold is also very
fond Of indulging to an alarming extent In
slang.
A few extracts from the rogues' "un-
written dictionary may be Of interest, says
the Indianapolis News. A 'night worker"
is a house breaker; one who climbs into
window, "second-story worker" go
pherp is a safe-bower. A "cracksman" is
one who opens safe with the most i'm
proved tools; an artist in the line OF safe
robbing, as it were. A pickpocket is a
"wire," "dipn or a "tool;" If he picks
mems pockets he is 'bloke buzzer," or
"knuck;n IL he robs a woman, "mol
buzzer;" II he phys his trade on the street.
oars or in q crowded place, ''car buzzer;"
stealing handkerchiefs Is "sneaNnR
wipes" The highwaymen who uses force
10 rob his victim or fights the officer is
'strong-armn man. "Bloke'' is man, "moll"
Is woman, "kidn q male person under
twenty years A ''stalp' is a well-dressed
man who dverts attention while the thief
does his work. nPapa" is the man who
furnishes bail for arrested crooks, nires
lawyers for them and aids them as much as
he can without getting into the meshes Of
the law himself A ''plant" is hidden plum
der; ''springng or flashing the plant" is
TO bring out the plunder after the officers
have abandoned the search for it. The
"fencen is the man who disposes Of the
stolen goods, a la Fagin in "Oliver Twist"
"Cadyi is a hat, and TO "tip the cady'' is TO
Jam the victims hat over his eyes that he
may be robbed easier. A ''crushn is the
man who creates disturbance in crowd
so that his friends will have better chance
70 pick pockets unmoested. A ''mob' is
four or more thieves working together. A
guy" "soft mara" "keuDen," Jason"
etc, is countryman unused to city life.
"Stag his nibs" means look at him. "Graft"
Is stealing. "Evening graftn Is robbery in
the evening. The "gun," lookout"
"piper,n is the man who stands guard while
his companion is robbing store or blowing
safe. "Pipng off lay'' is selecting a
house to be robbed. Piping off, is watch
ing a suspicious character, "Shadowing" Is
following a person. The "snipen peddles
goods for q confidence game or TO get into a
house 20 secure information for the gang
that intends TO rob II. "Stih'' has variety
Of meanings-a forged order, a fictitious
check, dead body (cadaver also) or a
forged letter. II means also ridiculous or
exaggerated statement. "Gving the Of
fee" low whistle, cough, or any sound to
put thief on his guard. A "markn q a
man who appears to have plenty of money.
''Red or yellow super" is a gold watch;
"super and slang" watch and chain.
Touched" means robbed
Thus: "He touched me for my yellow su-
per and slang,n and "pinched my 'spark,,u
signifies "He robbed me OF my gold watch
aud chain and extracted my diamond pin.n
To ring super" Is 10 take a watch
and leave the chain by twisting the ring
that fastens the watch TO the chain.
"dust," "dough," "wad," "rollm
'scads," "stuff," etc, are a few terms for
money.
"casen is apapor dollar; a Ucenturv.n !
ono hundred dollars; q "cartwheel,n silver |
dollari 'yellow hoys,n gold; "queern is
counterfeit money. A "cOuiackern makes
the spurious coin; q "boodle -carrierp deliv-
ers II, "cuttern or 'shover'i passes n
The "headworker" plans the robberles
. 'RAtuer' is train Of cars; "ducket - rail.
road ucRei; Tip" railroad office; Wgive-
away" cewspaper; ''scratcher for a give.
AwEE,' q fegDrlsT; ''prodn Is a horse.
Nag 30 q wagon; 'nipped,n arrested,
-ills tceass, -o1gpsr,p "peeler.n poIice'
u.sl- -tssea'si.ss'vy l1Wn signifies low or
iElf uI1rE
~LunE rzs' e serving sentenoe.
-t.rstel 4 ts- years; sK "luuasn or six
il-fas = al ssg1ths; cooler, - "ouod.n
- --il-s s,ssr, .El GO station house; "grand
iierr, sues prlsCu; tally "a a trial,
-sssliot' ls oo-Yictod and sentenced ~
fi'islt; '-El1gi -Tieoe'' is lawyer; "beak.u
B .z1Cg switch or "sQueAlern one who
s-rls STATE ; evidence; '.jugn is a bank.
gEErT Door; "rlim,n Hght,
''sl5ag1ot. Imprisoned; ''jervesu rs
an U1ts4de pocket; "piiment,n an inside
vest P,cEei, -over-ben," an oyercoat:
pelnle' oe@i; 'stamps,n shoes;
"spcaEs, " rubbers or shoes with felt soles
u is sad that ila thieves Of this oopntr,,
have nearly throc thousand words ana eS-
prussi1us they uss, but The few given hero
j. fair sample of them. How many can be
beard spoEen every day by many Of our
yuaug pooplei