Catherine Thrush's Blog
November 18, 2015
Pirate Word of the Day – Peery
From A New Look at Old Words originally found in the Dictionary of Nautical, University, Gypsy and Other Vulgar Tongues first published in 1859. Peery: suspicious, or inquisitive. (I suppose because you peer at or into things.) Filed under: Slang from the 1700s Tagged: pundefinediundefinedrundefinedaundefinedtundefinedeundefinedsundefinednundefinedaundefineduundefinedtundefinediundefinedcundefinedaundefinedlundefinedwundefinedrundefinediundefinedtundefinediundefined
November 17, 2015
Pirate Word of the Day – Peeler
From A New Look at Old Words originally found in the Dictionary of Nautical, University, Gypsy and Other Vulgar Tongues first published in 1859. Peepers: eyes; “painted Peepers,” eyes bruised or blackened from a blow (I remember a very old jingle, “jeepers, creepers, where’d you get those peepers.” Can’t however remember what it was for. I […]
November 16, 2015
Pirate Word of the Day – Peeler
From A New Look at Old Words originally found in the Dictionary of Nautical, University, Gypsy and Other Vulgar Tongues first published in 1859. Peeler: a policeman; so called from Sir Robert Peel (see Bobby); properly applied to the Irish constabulary rather than the City police, the former force having been established by Sir Robert Peel. […]
November 13, 2015
Pirate Word of the Day – Peck, Pecker, and Peckish
From A New Look at Old Words originally found in the Dictionary of Nautical, University, Gypsy and Other Vulgar Tongues first published in 1859. Peck: food; “Peck and booze,” meat and drink. —Lincolnshire. Ancient cant, Pek, meat. Pecker: “keep your Pecker up,” i.e., don’t get down-hearted, —literally, keep your beak or head well up, “never say […]
November 12, 2015
Pirate Word of the Day – Nymph of the Pave
From A New Look at Old Words originally found in the Dictionary of Nautical, University, Gypsy and Other Vulgar Tongues first published in 1859. Nymph of the pave: (French, Pave) a street-walker, a girl of the town. (Dollymop, Shakester… The slang book includes ten terms for Nymphs of the pave. I’m pretty sure we have more […]
November 11, 2015
Pirate Word of the Day – Nut, Nuts, and Nutty
From A New Look at Old Words originally found in the Dictionary of Nautical, University, Gypsy and Other Vulgar Tongues first published in 1859. Nut: to be “off one’s nut,” to be in liquor, or “All mops and brooms.” Nuts: to be Nuts upon anything or person is to be pleased with or fond of it; […]
November 10, 2015
Pirate Word of the Day – Nurse
From A New Look at Old Words originally found in the Dictionary of Nautical, University, Gypsy and Other Vulgar Tongues first published in 1859. Nurse: a curious term lately applied to competition in omnibuses. Two omnibuses are placed on the road to Nurse, or oppose, each opposition “buss,” one before, the other behind. Of course, the […]
November 9, 2015
Last days on Kickstarter: A New Look at Old Words
We’re finishing up a great run on Kickstarter! We’re at 186% of our goal. Only three days left to get all the spendiferous Pirate Words of the Day in one place, categorized, and with illustrations – and at an introductory price! A New Look at Old Words This book is a useful guide for writers, […]
Pirate Word of the Day – Nuddikin
From A New Look at Old Words originally found in the Dictionary of Nautical, University, Gypsy and Other Vulgar Tongues first published in 1859. Nuddikin: the head. (I like it! I wonder if this is related to the term noggin. I had a teacher who always told us to use our noggins. One mention of the […]
November 6, 2015
Pirate Word of the Day – Nub
From A New Look at Old Words originally found in the Dictionary of Nautical, University, Gypsy and Other Vulgar Tongues first published in 1859. Nub: a husband. (I don’t think I want to know where that one comes from. :-) I was going to say I have a wonderful nub, but that just sounds terrible.) Filed […]
