147: Speaking of early black vocal groups, slang terms for the female genitalia or vagina, and errant pullulations in country music, mention might here be made of the Old South Quartette’s ‘Pussy Cat Rag’ of 1928 [...] From there, it was not far to Bo Chatman’s 1931 ‘Pussy ...
of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: bitch, a she dog or doggess; the most offensive appellation that can be given to an English woman, even more provoking than that of whore, as may be gathered from the regular Billingsgate or St. Giles’s answers, ‘I may be a whore, but can’t be a ...
Hopeless romantic spread as a phrase and character type in literature and literary magazines in the 1920 and ‘30s and was used for individuals who easily, recklessly, or repeatedly fall in love or chase after love for love’s sake, even when it’s impractical, unwise, or unseemly. The phr...
Anatoly Libermanwrites here an extensive account of the established origin of the word from the Northern England nounslang"a narrow piece of land running up between other and larger divisions of ground" and the verbslanger"linger, go slowly," which is of Scandinavian origin (compare Norwegiansle...
Sure, kids these days probably know that banks are closed on holidays and Sundays. But in the 1920s, the slang phrasebank's closedhad nothing to do with where you got your money from. Instead, this meant "no kissing" or "no making out." So you could tell that guy you're not intere...
1699 N. Ward London Spy IV 83: The mixtures of Scents that arose from Mundungus-Tobacco, foul Sweaty Toes, Dirty Shirts, the Sh—t Tub, stinking Breaths and uncleanly Carcasses. 1733 ‘The Gentleman’s Study’ Dublin Mag. 22: Nor overcome by stink of S--t, Which in the Pot, and ...
(b) a debtor’s prison near Southwark, for the King’s debtors who were never freed. 1670 167016801690170017101720 1723 1670 J. Ray Proverbs 244: There is no redemption from Hell. 1723 C. Walker Authentick Memoirs of Sally Salisbury 106: He employ’d Mr. Cannibal to arrest and put her ...
1938E. Hemingwayletter 5 May in BakerSel. Letters(1981) 467: The retreat from Mons [Belgium] was chickenshit alongside of this last show. 1940inRandolph & LegmanOzark Folksongs and Folklore(1992) I 564: Her lips are as pink as a rooster’s dink, / The hair on her pussy is brown, ...
1981J. EllroyBrown’s Requiem72: ‘Shake it, daddy, what else do you want to know?’ he said. Besides suffering from terminal cancer, he was suffering from terminal hipsterism. 1999Indep.Rev. 6 Aug. 5: One of the senior members of the community, someone known as a ‘decent daddy’....
1649 G. Daniel Trinarchodia Henry V ccxliii: The Sun (who quafft French blood, to Harrie’s health) knock’s of / And can noe more. 1683 R. Dixon Canidia II 23: Hired-Servants bargain wisely, / From six to six, knock off precisely. c.1698 B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Kn...