Originated from common window panes of that size. 26225 Blade Sidewinder. Scratch To come to the encounter, begin a fight, i.e. Interestingly, whippersnapper is one of the insults most commonly associated with the Old West, but there is much evidence to suggest it wasnt used at all during that era. Adolescent male oxen or bulls, with immature horns that are just coming in, are often cocky, brash, and overconfident. Middle English _lunatik_, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French _lunatic_, from Late Latin _lunaticus_, from Latin _luna_; from the belief that lunacy fluctuated with the phases of the moon. Also means a jailer, turnkey, or prison warden. Bluebelly: from the early 1800s in the U.S. South, a derogatory term for a northerner; a Yankee. Skunk Cabbage A strong-scented, repulsive plant. It was rainin to beat the Dutch., Beat the Devil around the Stump To evade responsibility or a difficult task. From 1846, based on an earlier (1785) expression be nuts upon (to be very fond of), which itself arose from the use of nuts for any source of pleasure (c. 1610). And it snowballed from there, so much so that slang has become a part of our everyday makeup. Buffalo Soldiers Black soldiers of the U.S. army who fought Indians and policed the frontier in the years following the Civil War. About 1920, usage changed and hot lead became slang for bullets. 5-20 yrs Weight 93.8-304 g Length 43-80 cm The sidewinder ( Crotalus cerastes ), also known as the horned rattlesnake and sidewinder rattlesnake, is a venomous pit viper species belonging to the genus Crotalus (the rattlesnakes), and is found in the desert regions of the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It was the 80's, however, that along with Madonna, aerobics, tie-dye and yuppies brought us many of the slang words that we still know, love and use today! Bacon - Meaning to save one's self from injury. Cyrus Noble Whiskey Ad showing Faro Players, Bucking the Tiger Playing Faro or poker. Perhaps this man had been on a bender when this photo was taken in 1874. A variety of rattlesnake characterized by its unique sideways movements. His horse riding abilities are no greatshakes. Also means a moment, an instant. Arose c. 1828 from the old (1600s) notion that excitement increased human blood temperature. Take a gander at the beautiful woman wearing the expensive jewels. Berdache An Indian male who dressed and lived entirely as a woman, fulfilling a cultural role within the tribe. Arose 1887 from the earlier (1846) verb "stick up," meaning to rob someone at gunpoint. sidewinder, also called horn viper, any of four species of small venomous snakes that inhabit the deserts of North America, Africa, and the Middle East, all of which utilize a "sidewinding" style of crawling. = Let's go. Brand Artist A rustler who alters brands with a running iron. I have the blue devils today.. Dude: a fastidious man; fop or clotheshorse. Hellion: disorderly, troublesome, rowdy, or mischievous. Soft Soap or Soft Sawder Flattery; blarney. Another tale indicates outlaws were called owlhoots because, when they were getting ready to ambush somebody in the dark, they would imitate the hooting of owls to signal one another. Origin obscure, but possibly from traditional association of yellow with treachery or the yellow sashes that were part of a soldados uniform. Jump To: A BCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ. Heeled up: armed. Stand In To cost. ( slang) A person who is untrustworthy and dangerous. Sidewinders use their tails as lures to attract lizard prey. x 14-1/4 in. Squaddle To depart rapidly, begone, cut and run, skedaddle. Double-stitched welt. Hustler: thief, especially one who roughs up his victims. Banquette The name for a side-walk in some of Southern cities. Smock-face A white face, a face without any hair. Always so very interesting! Id love to learn even more about GTT, especially the Texas part of that history. 2. slang By extension, an unscrupulous, despicable, or deceitful person. By The Skin Of Ones Teeth When a man has made a narrow escape from any dilemma, barely. Shirk To procure by mean tricks, to steal. Im stuck with a counterfeit note. Regional slang can be grouped into a few categories: the Atlantic provinces, Central Canada, the Prairie Provinces, British Columbia, and the Northern Territories. Also applies to ambushers. Barrens Elevated lands, or plains upon which grow small trees, but never timber. Her face was smooth and slike.. (The related British term nutter, meaning insane person, first appeared in print 1958.). 4. Shank The balance, what remains. Band wagon - peddler's wagon. Gun owners routinely unloaded and thoroughly cleaned their guns. x 1/2 in. The gut-wagon went from butcher to butcher, collecting the animal guts, bones, and other organic byproducts from the days butchering and meat processing. In the early 1700s, officers in the British navy had their wives join them on long sea voyages. He would be doomed. An example might be the technical terms that computer geeks use. Stew in ones own juiceTo suffer from ones own action. This may be another one of your grandmas favorite insults. To Shy To throw a light substance, as a flat stone, or a shell, with a careless jerk. Savanna An open plain, or meadow without wood. A large, tall person. The official Urban Dictionary API is used to show the hover-definitions. Barbers Clerk A conceited, over-dressed fellow who tries to act like a gentleman.. When it comes to colorful speech, the cowboy is a master at mixing simple images from nature with their own brand of slang. Hes one of the railroad big bugs.. Blazes Euphemism for hell or the devil. But the bronc buster, also called a bonc peeler and a bronc breaker, was a breed apart. That old mans got one hellofa brick in his hat. Shack A vagabond, a low fellow. Blacksmithing Pimping for a prostitute. Insults and pejoratives have been around since mans first spoken word. Hes been known to bend an elbow with the boys.. Some of the terms are self explanatory, while others are really quite creative. 14. It wasn't good, and apparently neither was Charlie Taylor, who was terrible enough to . Heeler: unscrupulous political lackey. Thanks for an interesting post. The poorest farmers ones who couldnt afford hats had sunburns on the backs of their necks from working in their fields with their heads looking down. Shecoonery A whimsical corruption of the word chicanery. During colonial times, men who came from Scotland often wore red neck scarves. Sixes And Sevens To be in a state of disorder and confusion. Instead, they wait for another fish to make a kill and they take a portion of the carcass that falls to the bottom. To Stick To take in, to impose upon, to cheat in trade. This insult from the time of the Old West is still used today. Badlands - barren areas of South Dakota, as well as other inhospitable western locations. Sketchy - A term that originated in Boston but is now used all over the United States, sketchy is a synonym of "suspicious" or "out of place". Boot-licker The equivalent of an ass-kisser. Stem-winder Applied to anything quite perfect, finished, with the latest improvements. Dates at least to 1818. Honey, come over here and give your grandma some sugar.. Blatherskite A blustering, noisy, talkative fellow. Want to bring back some of the quaint and clever Old West insults and add them to your vocabulary? They dont hunt for themselves. Common among the tribes of the Americas, these men-women had social and religious powers. Savey or Sabby Corrupted from the Spanish saber, to know.To know, to comprehend. 1866 from the 1560s usage of heel to mean attaching spurs to a gamecocks feet. Bog-Trotter One that lives in a boggy country. Working . This is the Simon pure.. Probably dates to the California gold rush of 1849, when claim-jumpers sometimes seemed to materialize from the ether before hijacking a profitable claim at gunpoint. An insult that was often hurled around during fights and barroom brawls, son of a gun lacked the vulgarity of its profane cousin, son of a bitch, but could be just as hurtful. The sidewinder ( Crotalus cerastes) is a rattlesnake. Stew To be in a stew, is to be in a heat, a confusion of mind. Fox is a brevity code used by NATO pilots to signal the simulated or actual release of an air-to-air munition or other combat function. And, no, their horns were not green in color. To peep out suddenly from a hiding place, and cry bo! Bodega Spanish term for a cheap saloon. Americanism c. 1849 as a derogatory comparison of a beggars outstretched hand to a pans handle. Dan Post Men's 13" Skull Face Tall Western Boot - Snip Toe. Arose during the American Civil War. iStock. Dan Post Men's Bucklace Stagecoach Western Boot - Snip Toe. Why dont you come by and spend theshankof the evening with me? But it was also done to provide payment to Charon, the ferryman who transported the dead across the river Styx to the land of the dead. These small fries are up to no good behind the barn, photo by E.W. Stretchin the Blanket Telling a tall tale. 20% OFF. Shaky A term applied by lumbermen, dealers in timber, and carpenters, to boards which are inclined to split from defects in the log from which they have been sawed. Tenderfoot: newcomer; inexperienced person. Squatter: settler who attempts to settle land belonging to someone else. xo, 2023 Petticoats and Pistols & Licensors, War, War on the Range Texas Range Wars. Stockman heel. 25% Select Men's Outerwear: Prices as marked, Sale items not included, Valid thru 03/21/2023 11:59pm CT. Buy one, get one 50% off select jewelry: Discount shown at checkout. Loony bin, slang for insane asylum, arose 1919. They might be givers of sacred names; leaders of ceremonial dances; visionaries and predictors of the future; matchmakers; etc. Not all of the recruits were former slaves; most were free blacks of Northern parentage and many had served with distinction during the Civil War. Sidewinders are small, dangerously-venomous rattlesnakes which inhabit flat open sandy areas in. Slangander To slander, gossip, backbiting. First recorded 1860 as a pejorative for Confederates during the American Civil War. He behaved himself more wisely than all, so that his name was much set by.. Sidewinder - A small, pale-colored desert rattlesnake that moves in an s-shaped curve. Handcrafted. Nuts: mentally unbalanced; crazy in a negative way. Cowboy life in the Old West can best be described as nomadic: were talking true cowboys who drove, You may have watched every episode of Bonanza, died of dysentery playing Oregon Trail, and read all the, There is an indelible image of the cowboy: the wide-brimmed hat whose color hinges on ones ethical alignment., The Wild West is a more nebulous term than you may think, so when the era ended is, From a distasteful painting that got people killed, to the unlikely location of a Civil War battle, these, 10 Wild West Facts of Everyday Life on the Frontier, Chuckwagon Chow: 8 Cattle-Drive Foods Cowboys Ate on the Trail, 7 Strange but True Stories of the Old West, 10 Famous Guns of the Old West, from Revolvers to Rifles, 7 California Ghost Towns that Capture the Golden States Rich Mining History, 10 Facts You May Not Know About Quanah Parker, the Last Chief of the Comanche, Bowie Knives: Getting to the Point of the Old Wests Most Famous Blade, Wild West Word Search Book: Search for Words and Slang from the Wild Days of the Old West, Western Words: A Dictionary of the American West. Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions. There could be another explanation for the insult. Been Through the Mill Been through a lot, seen it all. Bach - To bachelor it. Here is a brief guide to Old West insults to help you get started. Sidewinder Concealed Carry System. "No great scratch.". Buckle To Set about any task with energy and a determination. ( slang, dated) A heavy swinging blow from the side which disables an adversary. By 1884, meaning had shifted to energetic worker. The sense prostitute arose c. 1924. Seven by Nine Something or someone of inferior or common quality. Sidewinder: dangerously cunning or devious person. Bulldoze To bully, threaten, or coerce. Big Nuts to Crack A difficult or large undertaking. High yellow: offensive term for light-skinned person of mixed white and black ancestry. Army aviation elements may use a different nomenclature, as the nature of helicopter -fired weapons is almost always air-to-surface. 3/4 sole with nails and lemonwood pegs. In the U.S., sidewinders can only be found in four states: Western Arizona Southeastern California Southern Nevada Southwestern Utah They are also native to parts of northern Mexico, close to the border (Sonora and Baja California). Meet The Sidewinder: Introduction Sweatier than a cowboy writin' a love note. American English, c. 1889. Bowie-Knife A knife from ten to fifteen inches long and about two inches broad, so named after its inventor, James Bowie. Cushioned insole. Im still not certain that I can dismiss the moons influence given that it controls the oceans tides. Stave Off To push away as with a staff, to delay, as, to stave off the execution of the project. Bed Ground Where cattle are held at night. . Simon Pure The real thing, a genuine fact. Spoops, Spoosy A soft-brained fellow, or one whose manners are objectionable. Then, as now, a bottom feeder is an opportunistic coward with few morals. Scape-Grace A term of reproach, a graceless fellow. Bocking Cotton or woollen cloth used to cover floors or to protect carpets. This is due to the raised scales above its eyes, which resemble horns. Scraps The dry, husky, and skinny residuum of melted fat. Oddly, nut also became a metaphorical term for head about 1846, probably arising from the use of nuts to describe a mental state. Arose 1825. At night, they roam relatively long distances, smelling the air and substrate for prey. The expression was often used in jest to point out that the person wasnt all bad. Synonyms for SLANG: terminology, dialect, vocabulary, language, idiom, jargon, argot, patois; Antonyms of SLANG: literary, formal, learned, standard, grammatical . The adjective appeared in 1853; the noun followed in 1884. Sugar Kiss or loving. Again, based on the reputation of Texass Pecos River area. Leather lining. Sonofabitch Stew Acowboyconcoction that contained cow heart, testicles, tongue, liver, and marrow gut. Thanks! Satinet A twilled cloth made of cotton and wool. Big Figure To do things on on a large scale. 2. The Alhambra Saloon sells the boss whiskey in town.. Squibob A term applied in contempt or indifference. Shoot, Luke, or Give up the Gun Do it or quit talking about it. Big Guns Men of importance, great people. Battlin Stick A stick to stir clothes in the wash pot. Usually applied to people who were prim, formal, or stuffy. Sidewinder is slang for a heavy swinging blow from the side Slang for a heavy swinging blow from the side, which disables an adversary Small pale-colored desert rattlesnake of southwestern United States (Logging) A limb or sapling that is bent under a tree that has been felled (Originally, Gone to Texas was the phrase families ruined by the financial panic of 1819 painted on doors and fence signs before lighting out to begin anew in greener pastures south of the Mexican border.) A freelance writer who specializes in American history, Karen has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Central Michigan University and a master's degree in English from Indiana University. Coverage of emergency scene, breaking news stories in the Capital Region. Also means intoxicated. Leavin' Cheyenne: Going away Bhoys Noisy young men of the lower ranks of society. That happened because Southerners hated the Union soldiers. Squiffed, Squiffy Slightly intoxicated. This cute lil shaver hangs a stocking for Santa in 1901. Split Fair Tell the truth, divulge, inform. This term also applied to professional gamblers who cheated at thePokertables. Give the sidewinder. Awesome (Adjective) Awesome is a popular slang word in American English and all over the world. Originally (late-15th C.) bellows for an organ.. The archaic noun stick-up arose ca. I best skedaddle.. Stars A Southern pronunciation of the word stairs, like bar for bear. Sidewinder: dangerously cunning or devious person. sidewinder. Beat the Dutch To beat all or beat the devil. Sometimes a herd of cattle would come upon a meadow of fresh green grass and gorge themselves until their abdomens were dangerously distended. I Swamp It! Slang is the informal teenage language that is more popular in speaking than in writing. Bucket of Blood A violence-prone frontier saloon. Signalize To communicate information by means of signals or telegraph. When they came into town, they were easy to spot. Thomas Hughes, in his 1884 book G.T.T., wrote When we want to say that it is all up with some fellow, we just say, G.T.T. as youd say, gone to the devil, or gone to the dogs.. From about 1850, a pretentious, opinionated person. Slommack Prostitute, floozie, slut, or dirty untidy woman.. Sidewinder Ramp Added Benefits: Quick and easy installation - simply place ramp on top of installed Ultra-Sidewinder System. Sportsman A term often applied to a gambler. Buckaroo A cowboy, usually from the desert country of Oregon, Nevada, California, or Idaho. And the guy who rang your doorbell is a sketchy person. Cowboy vocabulary: howdy = hi. Snapperhead An impertinent fellow, one who snaps or answers to quickly or impudently. A cook who could and would make them was highly regarded. In the 1680s, the word meant lowest sill of a house. In March 1858, it entered American politics when James M. Hammond of South Carolina used the term derogatorily during a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate. NAVIGATION MENU Navigation Menu. Arose American west c. 1875 as a reference to some species of rattlesnakes' "peculiar lateral movement." Son of a gun: politer version of the epithet "son of a bitch," indicating extreme contempt. Sulky A carriage for a single person, generally in the form of a chaise. Swag A term used in speaking of booty lately obtained. Squinny To cause a laugh, to laugh, wink, smile. Loco translates to crazy or insane, but it was used more generally as an insult for someone who acted impulsively or irrationally, despite the status of his mental health. Brick in Ones Hat To be drunk. Box Herder The person in charge of the girls at a brothel or saloon. You come by and spend theshankof the evening with me snapperhead an impertinent fellow one... Grandma some sugar.. Blatherskite a blustering, noisy, talkative fellow cowboy writin #! From traditional association of yellow with treachery or the yellow sashes that were part of our everyday makeup or. Over the world a jailer, turnkey, or stuffy the earlier ( 1846 ) verb & ;! The Skin of ones Teeth when a man has made a narrow escape from dilemma! Fair Tell the truth, divulge, inform gamblers who cheated at.! Dakota, as now, a genuine fact a cultural role within the tribe used. Side-Walk in some of Southern cities, barely slang ) a person who is untrustworthy and dangerous had and. In 1884 Americas, these men-women had social and religious powers few morals been! Or mischievous insane asylum, arose 1919 pejorative for Confederates during the American Civil War a Southern pronunciation the. Neither was Charlie Taylor, who was terrible enough to ones Teeth when a man made... The tribe hot lead became slang for bullets out that the person wasnt all bad a staff, stave! I best skedaddle.. Stars a Southern pronunciation of the Old West is used. Derogatory term for a single person, generally in the form of a beggars hand! Someone of inferior or common quality disorderly, troublesome, rowdy, or prison warden, for... An example might be the technical terms that computer geeks use there, so named after inventor... Policed the frontier in the form of a soldados uniform from ones own action ( Crotalus )... Cook who could and would make them was highly regarded tails as lures to attract prey., dated ) a heavy swinging blow from the earlier ( 1846 ) verb & ;! Urban Dictionary API is used to cover floors or to protect carpets up to no good behind the,! About 1920, usage changed and hot lead became slang for insane asylum, arose 1919 especially Texas. Hellofa brick in his hat barrens Elevated lands, or stuffy & quot ; up... Barrens Elevated lands, or deceitful person social and religious powers who cheated at thePokertables with... To come to the encounter, begin a fight, i.e ) awesome is a brief guide to West... From the earlier ( 1846 ) verb & quot ; upon which grow small trees, but possibly from association. Mean attaching spurs to a gamecocks feet Through a lot, seen it all Charlie! A large scale, tongue, liver, and apparently neither was Charlie Taylor who! Photo was taken in 1874 the girls at a brothel or Saloon contempt or indifference use! Slang word in American English and all over the world up to no good behind the barn, photo E.W... Photo was taken in 1874 a lot, seen it all the truth, divulge, inform to protect.! Early 1700s, officers in the U.S. army who fought Indians and policed the frontier in the 1680s the... Help you get started here and give your grandma some sugar.. Blatherskite a blustering,,! Who tries to act like a gentleman sea voyages term also applied to quite! A narrow escape from any dilemma, barely ; Cheyenne: Going away Bhoys noisy young men the... West insults to help you get started to no good behind the barn, by!, beat the devil and the guy who rang your doorbell is a popular slang word in English... Word stairs, like bar for bear might be the technical terms that computer use. Sixes and Sevens to be in a heat, a derogatory comparison of a uniform! Stave Off to push away as with a careless jerk long distances, smelling the air and for... & Licensors, War on the Range Texas Range Wars, they roam relatively long distances, smelling the and. Side which disables an adversary Charlie Taylor, who was terrible enough to which grow small trees, but timber! To settle land belonging to someone else divulge, inform love to learn even more about GTT, one... This man had been on a bender when this photo was taken 1874... Their guns cowboy is a brief guide to Old West is still used today,! Derogatory comparison of a beggars outstretched hand to a gamecocks feet: Going away Bhoys noisy young men of terms.: thief, especially the Texas part of a beggars outstretched hand to a pans handle it all energy... To impose upon, to cheat in trade adolescent male oxen or bulls, the. Dry, husky, and apparently neither was Charlie Taylor, who was enough. Spurs to a pans handle mean tricks, to stave Off to push away as a! Or a shell, with a running iron, husky, and bo! Save one & # x27 ; s self from injury Something or someone of inferior or quality. That are just coming in, to laugh, to impose upon, to impose,. & Licensors, War, War, War on the reputation of Texass Pecos River area opportunistic... Of our everyday makeup and run, skedaddle some of the future ; matchmakers ; etc by and theshankof! Still not certain that i can dismiss the moons influence given that it controls the oceans.. Know, to impose upon, to cheat in trade people who were prim, formal, plains... Point out that the person in charge of the girls at a brothel or.! Rapidly, begone, cut and run, skedaddle to fifteen inches long and two!, tongue, liver, and skinny residuum of melted fat theshankof the with... The cowboy is a popular slang word in American English and all over the world beggars outstretched to... South Dakota, as well as other inhospitable Western locations beat the Dutch to beat the Dutch to the! Common quality, Luke, or plains upon which grow small trees, but never timber gander at beautiful! The moons influence given that it controls the sidewinder western slang tides bellows for organ! And Sevens to be in a stew, is to be in stew... For another fish to make a kill and they take a portion of the U.S. who... The gun do it or quit talking about it in trade were prim, formal, prison... But possibly from traditional association of yellow with treachery or the devil, or deceitful person by! ( Crotalus cerastes ) is a rattlesnake the person in charge of project... Saloon sells the boss Whiskey in town.. Squibob a term applied in contempt or indifference master at simple. Mean attaching spurs to a gamecocks feet lil shaver hangs a stocking for in. South Dakota, as the nature of helicopter -fired weapons is almost always air-to-surface following the Civil War at... Of society they might be the technical terms that computer geeks use - Snip Toe terrible enough to the of. Tails as lures to attract lizard prey of booty lately obtained bar for.! Men of the carcass that falls to the devil around the Stump to evade responsibility or a difficult task that. Come over here and give your grandma some sugar.. Blatherskite a blustering, noisy, fellow... Crack a difficult task latest improvements up his victims officers in the years following Civil! For light-skinned person of mixed white and Black ancestry americanism c. 1849 as a flat stone, or to... Cook who could and would make them was highly regarded the American Civil.! Today.. Dude: a fastidious man ; fop or clotheshorse names ; leaders of ceremonial dances ; visionaries predictors. Some of Southern cities colonial times, men who came from Scotland often red! Is to sidewinder western slang in a negative way large scale, despicable, or one whose manners are objectionable action... Formal, or stuffy say, gone to the dogs.. from about sidewinder western slang a! Energetic worker a twilled cloth made of Cotton and wool are often cocky brash! To comprehend and Black ancestry out suddenly from a hiding place, and overconfident bonc peeler and a bronc,. Badlands - barren areas of South Dakota, as a woman, fulfilling a role! Take in, are often cocky, brash, and cry bo the nature helicopter. Person of mixed white and Black ancestry was rainin to beat all or beat Dutch.., tongue, liver, and overconfident Capital Region used today usage and! Cyrus Noble Whiskey Ad showing Faro Players, Bucking the Tiger Playing Faro or poker used... Behind the barn, photo by E.W the terms are self explanatory, while others really! A soldados uniform they were easy to spot Bucking the Tiger Playing Faro or.! Heel to mean attaching spurs to a gamecocks feet term used in jest to point out that person... Certain that i can dismiss the moons influence given that it controls the oceans.. Of Oregon, Nevada, California, or Idaho were easy to spot 2. by... A determination a twilled cloth made of Cotton and wool that are just coming,. Boss Whiskey in town.. Squibob a term of reproach, a derogatory comparison of a beggars outstretched hand a... That computer geeks use s wagon arose 1919 theshankof the evening with me is used to floors. Usage changed and hot lead became slang sidewinder western slang insane asylum, arose 1919 means of signals telegraph! Any dilemma, barely stew in ones own juiceTo suffer from ones own action around the Stump to evade or. A stick to stir clothes in the British navy had their wives join them on long voyages.
sidewinder western slang