Antebellum and Civil War Slang

[BettyO]

Just for fun, I found this little bit of "period atmosphere" on the web -
The Vocabulum; or, The Rogue's Lexicon by George Washington Matsell, circa 1859.

This is a compilation of "every day slang" and "street talk" utilized in the middle half of Victorian era America and was apparently written to "assist" law enforcement at the time. Doubtless it also found it's way into the army - both North and South.

Here is a downloadable free eBook -

https://archive.org/details/cu31924073798740

A fun and informative read....

[RJNorton]

Vicki and I are going shopping on hangman's day and hope we don't encounter a bludget.

[BettyO]

I bought my sister a "tattler" for Christmas - I now have to "raise the wind" in order to pay for it by working late tonight!

[Eva Elisabeth]

I wonder if a caper cove is what I think it is, it seems a bit one of the odd ones out in the dominant word field, sounds rather like argot than street talk! Did common people use such slang?

However, the next one who nails a trivia question, I'll call clean, and I wish a chaffey Xmas.

[RJNorton]

However, the next one who nails a trivia question, I'll call clean, and I wish a chaffey Xmas.

I will sure try hard especially if you add a lot of coach vvhkhls as a prize.

[Gene C]

However, the next one who nails a trivia question, I'll call clean, and I wish a chaffey Xmas.

Is there a special ointment for that I can get at the drugstore?

[Rob Wick]

However, the next one who nails a trivia question, I'll call clean, and I wish a chaffey Xmas.

Is there a special ointment for that I can get at the drugstore?

Ask Rollo Diller.

Best
Roh

[Eva Elisabeth]

However, the next one who nails a trivia question, I'll call clean, and I wish a chaffey Xmas.

I will sure try hard especially if you add a lot of coach vvhkhls as a prize.

I'm afraid I could only offer €, strangely they are not mentioned...and not a lot as well as I'm lacking high tide.