Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-10-19
FONETIC SPELLING.
Inquirers Want to Know What Ger
tain Words Mean.

lnqulrers Want to Know What Ger
tain Words Mean.
Since the publication in The Chi
cago Chronicle of the definitions of
certain slang words and phrases and
an exposition of their use by the mas
tiers Of English literature so many re-
quests have poured in from Wellesley,
Ferry Hall at Evanston and other
ladies' seminaries for a supplementary
dictionary, inclosing several words
and phrases which puzzled the fair
correspondents, that the following
brief addendum to the dictionary is
presented. 1t would appear that the
spread Of highly expressive slang is
very rapid in institutions of learning
and the use of phrases which, while
obscure at first hearing, are full Of
meaning to the initiated is far more
common than some of the learned pro-
fessOrs are aware.
The attempts of Superintendent
Andrews to simplify spelling by adopt
ing to a certain extent the fonetic
system have been met with a ready
response by teachers and pupils alike
and there is reason to believe that a
broadening of the idea to include the
use of such slang phrases as are ex-
pressive to a high degree is not among
the impossibilities.
A
ALL OUT, adj. Tired; the condition
of being broke or winded; unable to
get up before the count of ten; NAL
achyed.
BAT, n. A state of inebriety lasting
several days; a good one. (b.) A blow
administered with the clenched fist
Six rogues in buchram-each one
did I bat.
BALL, n. A drink made with ice,
settler and other materials.
The trumpets are sounding from
castle and hall
And gayly each henchman is coping
a ball.
-Tennyson.
BITE, V. i. To accept as truth a fic-
titious story; to stand for the bull con.
mark, tending to the embarrassment Of
some listener.
Across the fields their pensive way
they take,
Silent and fearful lest they make a
break.
Pope.
cannot lose the third race; job in the
hall.
All day he struggled, yielding inch by
inch,
And grimly muttered; s death! this is
no cinch.
Scott.
| CREEPERS, n. Rubber shoes or
rubber heels affected by porch climbers
and second-story workers to facilitate
their labors.
CHOP, V. j. To quit; to cease work
or any other disagreeable task.
To chop or not to chop? That is the
question.
Shak.
DUCAT, n. A ticket of admission to
race track or other Enclosure; the
goods to get by the boy on the gate.
DAFFY, adj. Not of sound mind
nanny; little to the bad in the gar
| ret.
And the loud laugh that tips the daffy
guy.
Goldsmith.
FROST, n. A theatrical production
which receives scant favor; a turn
down; the delivery of the cracked ice.
When other lips and other hearts
To you but q frost.
Moore
FAKE, n. A twenty-round fight end
ing in a draw; anything not genuine;
a phony; a cablegram quoting Ad-
miral Dewey on international ques-
tons.
Fake! Fake! Fake! In lie cold gray
dawn, Oh, seei
And I know that my tongue ne'eI
uttered
The things they ascribe to me.
Dewey.
q.
GEEZER, n. Anyone described in &
conversation. Syn, guy"
GAZABO, n. A descriptive term ap.
piled to mankind generally; hobo.
Here rests his head upon the lap o.
earth
A poor gazabo who was Away:
broke.
Gray.
GOOD THING, n. A horse that vii
open at to 1, go to 20 to at the pos
and finish a bad last; any easy sourc%
Of money; mark.
The lark is up to meet the sun, the BET
is on the wing,
And out to Harlem I must run, for
have a good thing.
Old Rhyme.
2 GRAFT, n. A calling which brings il
: money without great physical effort
! the introduction Of farmers to seduc
r tive games o. chance.
t The skipper blew Whit from his pip
s and a scornful laugh he laughed
i '"Just tell the police to come" said be
= cts each man to his graft
Idylls of the Ivanhoe