The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-11
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IN THE MATTER OF SLANG.
what 1t Is, How 1t Is Used and what
Some of 1t Means
Megargee in Philadelphia Times.

Megargee in PHILADELPHIA. Times.
Someone is contending in the public
prints that custom is authority for the
misuse of language and that we Americans
should not be controlled in our lingual ex-
pressions by the laws and regulations of
our British ancestors. This has led TO a
query as to the origin of what we call
slang" It is said by Webster to be of
gypsy origin, and is defined to be low, vul-
gar, unauthorized language. All profess
IONS trades and occupations have their
slang, but it may safely be set down as
an axiom that the lower the calling the
richer it is in this delectable lingo. Slang
is universal. Every nation and tribe in
the known world has it's cant terms, and
though refined people deprecate their use
it cannot be denied that by the means of
slang term expression is often given to
an idea that 1t would take a sentence to
impertectly explain. 1t would be interest
ing to trace the history of slang, but the
limited confines of a chat with you for
bid such research. Sufficient for our pur-
pose that it exists and that it is used daily
often unconsciousy-by thousands ave,
millions, of people.
That the lower the calling the richer It
is in slang is fully exempliied in the case
of the dishoneSt-for thieves have q Vo-
cabulary almost as copius as Webster's
Unabridged. They "patter fiash"-that
Is, talk slang-almost constantly This is
caused by two reasons-frst, their desire
to keep secret as possible even their ordi-
nary thoughts, and, second their love of
being thought fly or Smart people
In thieves slang, an honest man is a
square bloke" and all who do not come
under that category are Crooks" or ION
the cross" A pickpocket is a ely fakir;"
burglar, 'cracksman;" a safe robber,
a gopher blower" while commoner
thieves are "sneaks" "knucks" "e1lns''
and 'goniffs." A thief's wife or female
companion is a "Moll," a drinking saloon
is "booZing" or a Gushing KEN" the
place where he sells or dissposes of his ill
gotten gains a fence" while the property
itself is "swag." His companions in crime
are his mob or gang" and his especial
enemies the police, are cops" or cop
pers He is never arrested but is 'col-
Jared" quite frequently, and when the
proof against him is conclusive he is cop
ped dead to rights
When he drinks he collars his booze"
If sent to prison he is "in quod" 'in stur,"
or 'jugged." Serving out a term of i'm
prisonment is doing time and it's length
is indicated by moons" for months and
Stretches for years. He has a hundred
terms for money. but dollar is invaria-
bly, a ease" and a hundred of them con-
stitute "a century" A silver watch is a
ticker" and gold one "a super"
Twisting a super" means wrnging a
gold watch off its chain. To tell aman
a lie is to give him a stiff" while to fat
ter him is TO give him "taffy;" hence the
oft-used expression: what are yer givin
me. taff?" A thief never betrays
another; he gives him away" His name
'monaker," and he never dies but
"croaks."
Next to thieves the disciples OF the prize
ring most love slang. A fighters head is
his nut or knowledge box:,' his eyes are
his "ogles' or his "glims" his nose is his
horn" his conk,' his smeller," ''his
cutwater' and his proboscis;" his mouth
Is his potato trap" or his "kisser," and his
ears are his 'lugs;" his arms are his
fins" or dukes" and his fists are his
"mauleys" and his punches Of fives;" his
stomach is his bread basket" and his
''victualizing department" and his legs
are his pins When he gets a good
humping and does not vince he is said TO
game" and to take "to his Cruel kindly"
When his opponent catches him around
the neck with one arm and pounds him
with the other he Is said TO be in "chan-
Gerry" The beating he gives or receives
Is punishment" and when from its re-
ception he is so weak that he can hardly
stand up he is said to be "groggy." in
which event his opponent is advised to go
in and finish him by putting on the XII
bosh.'
The turf is rich in slang, as might well
be expected. It's patrons are mainly d.
Vided into two classes-the "sharps" and |
the flats" The former prey upon the |
latter, and. in fact, II II were not for the |
fresh crops which every year produces |
they could not exist. The knowing ones" |
are frequently talked OF, but when their
knowledge proves to be transformation /
they come to "grieF' and dump their