The Queen's English

[L Verge]

We certainly know that what is termed "the Queen's - or King's - English" has been seriously butchered over the years. And, of course, the Brits will blame it on us blimey Yanks. The Victorian era, however, added some interesting words and terms to the language.

I have just finished reading How to Be a Victorian (loved it), and it has given me a chance to administer a test to those of you on this forum who are always yearning for new knowledge. I am going to post a list of words that I discovered while reading this book and am asking you (without cheating, at first) to tell me what they refer to. Like me, most of you will probably know a few of these. I also learned that I really am old because I remember some of the things from this book being in my family's home while I was growing up.

1. Knocker-upper (it's not what you think, so don't even go there).
2. A vest
3. Gaiters
4. A topper
5. Straw boater
6. Crinolette
7. Pit girls
8. Jakesmen
9. The Great Stink
10. WC
11. Earth closet
12. Snood
13. Strop
14. Nappy
15. Colliery
16. Omnibus
17. a copper
18. Sluice room
19. Bellyband
20. Dipping women
21. Mangle
22. Tripe
23. a la francaise vs. a la russe
24. Porridge
25. Dolly and posser

Have fun! Remember that, with the increased emigration from the British Isles during the Victorian era, many of these terms would likely have been familiar to or incorporated into an American's vocabulary.

BTW: What were the two main sources of sustenance for the average Brit during the first half of the 19th century?