Lead-footed: slow and/or awkward. thanks for sharing with us today. Old West settlers borrowed this insult from the Spanish sometime in the 1840s. Most Common Teenage Slang Words [Updated for 2023]. PCP. Broad square toe. Here is a brief guide to Old West insults to help you get started. Folks didnt think too highly of someone if they referred to them as above snakes. That was a polite way of calling someone a low life. Stars A Southern pronunciation of the word stairs, like bar for bear. By Good Rights By right, by strict justice, entitled. 5. Arose c. 1828 from the old (1600s) notion that excitement increased human blood temperature. Hurricane Deck: The back of a bucking horse. (Western jargon. This may be another one of your grandmas favorite insults. Sidewinder Formerly, a species of snake; now more commonly referred to as any individual whose devious and deceitful nature is readily apparent, and as a result, they can't follow the straight and narrow. Ive missed your banter. Broken Wind A lung infection in horses. We are off for the day on a regular bat. Badlands - barren areas of South Dakota, as well as other inhospitable western locations. Bubbler - This is another word for a "water fountain" or "drinking fountain." The term is most commonly heard in Wisconsin, but can occasionally be heard in the bordering states of Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois. An example might be the technical terms that computer geeks use. No great scratch.. In the mid-15th century the word meant any young horned animal; by the 17th century, it had been applied to new military recruits. Savey or Sabby Corrupted from the Spanish saber, to know.To know, to comprehend. Spindigo Said of one who has come out badly, such as failing an examination or losing on the Stock Exchange. See also: handy. Bible Bump A bump (or cyst) on the wrist or hand that old timers say would disappear if whacked by a large book such as the bible. 2023 Petticoats and Pistols & Licensors, War, War on the Range Texas Range Wars, Wild West Words: Temper, Temper - Petticoats & Pistols. As a sweetener and flavoring, it was drizzled over pancakes, mixed into oatmeal, and baked into cakes. Scraps The dry, husky, and skinny residuum of melted fat. Nuts: mentally unbalanced; crazy in a negative way. 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. This cute lil shaver hangs a stocking for Santa in 1901. Im still not certain that I can dismiss the moons influence given that it controls the oceans tides. Arose 1825. 3/4 sole with nails and lemonwood pegs. Note that this thesaurus is not in any way affiliated with Urban Dictionary. Burnt His Fingers When a person has suffered loss by a speculation, he is said to have burnt his fingers. If youve ever read a western novel or watched a western movie, no doubt youve run across a whole herd of quaint terms that add character to the story. To enforce their rules, they were known to whip offenders with hickory switches, which was known in the Ozarks at the time, as slicking. Also refers to a cowboy coat. Below are some that were popular in the 19th-century American west. Brick in Ones Hat To be drunk. Score Off To get the best of one, especially in a verbal debate. A few of these surprised me as being used so early. 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. Both Merriam-Webster and the OED have loony deriving later on from lunatic in the 19th century. Exactly when the term arose is uncertain, but diaries indicate it was in use in Californias mining districts by 1849. Bend an Elbow Have a drink. Buckle To Set about any task with energy and a determination. (Terms for food are here, women here, outlaws here, and gambling here.). Americanism c. 1849 as a derogatory comparison of a beggars outstretched hand to a pans handle. By Hook or Crook To do any way possible. Quick view. Bully for you!. The adjective nutty, i.e. Scoop in Trick, entice, inveigle. Snorter Impolite reference to a dashing or riotous fellow. Some of them are older than one might imagine. The gut-wagon went from butcher to butcher, collecting the animal guts, bones, and other organic byproducts from the days butchering and meat processing. Hellion: disorderly, troublesome, rowdy, or mischievous. Holdup: a robbery. Its unknown when the American figurative connotation arose, but the literal meaning appeared 1705-15 among the British navy, during a period when officers wives accompanied them to sea. That leads you to salvation in the White-chapel Road. He got over here in the twinkling of a bed-post., Bed-rock Not able to go lower. Gunslinger: No such term existed in the Old West. Bad Box To be in a bad box, is to be in a bad predicament. Spill A strip of paper rolled up to light a lamp or or a cigar. Bushwhacker A raw countryman, a green-horn. You dirty, lowdown sidewinder! He behaved himself more wisely than all, so that his name was much set by.. Buster or Bust A frolic, a spree. Buckaroo A cowboy, usually from the desert country of Oregon, Nevada, California, or Idaho. He is small potatoes.. Sidewinder - A small, pale-colored desert rattlesnake that moves in an s-shaped curve. Boom Along A seamans term meaning to move rapidly. Back Seats An obscure and modest position, usually referring to politics. When a person was so wealthy and greedy that he became fat around the midsection from eating large portions of rich food and doing little exercise, he was called grass-bellied. Skid A piece of light timber from ten to twenty feet in length, upon which heavier timber or other supplies are rolled or slid from place to place. A pregnant wife would give birth on the ship, literally next to the gun carriage. To Look Blue At Someone To look at one with displeasure or dissatisfaction. Slang-Whanger A writer or noisy talker. Westerners picked up the word as derisive slang for any city dweller out of his element on the rough frontier. Salting Planting rich ore samples in an unprofitable mine to attract unwary buyers. Berdache An Indian male who dressed and lived entirely as a woman, fulfilling a cultural role within the tribe. Backdoor Trots - Diarrhea. Hes used to my bringing up stuff like this because of my love of mythology and old medieval sagas and epics poor guy! Skedaddle Scurry away or run like hell, get, leave, go. What sidewinder spilled my drink? Can you help meshake upa fiddle player for the barn dance? Screw One who squeezes all he can out of those with whom he has any dealings, an extortioner, miser. Bungo A kind of boat used at the South. Panhandle: to beg. Cheap whiskey was sometimes called benzene. Folks in the Old West may have been rough, dirty, and trigger-happy, but that doesnt mean they were always vulgar and crude. Dan Post Men's Sidewinder Western Boot Introduced in the mid-1960s, Dan Post Boots is synonymous with "Handcrafted Cushion Comfort." Boots crafted with the finest exotic skins and premium leathers, Dan Post employs technologically advanced materials to ensure that your boots are comfortable from the first step. Is that the bed-rock price?. The Alhambra Saloon sells the boss whiskey in town.. Made from a durable polymer with a textured, non-skid surface. Ive got a long slipe to go.. Stoved up Crippled, badly injured, or too old. ya'll = all of you. Bustles had a number of names including bird cage and canary cage. Arose 1887 from the earlier (1846) verb stick up, meaning to rob someone at gunpoint. Sadying A simple and unaffected mode of dancing. On the cuidado: running from the law. Beef Tea Shallow water where cows have stood. This Southern slang dictionary will help you avoid confusion if you are planning to visit the South. Army aviation elements may use a different nomenclature, as the nature of helicopter -fired weapons is almost always air-to-surface. Spoops, Spoosy A soft-brained fellow, or one whose manners are objectionable. It can be used in a sentence or it could be used in a one-word reply. Squatter One who settles on land without legal title, a widespread practice in the West. Skeezick, skeesick A mean contemptible fellow. Soup Nitroglycerine. Son of a gun, in turn, could be an insult to the person and his father. A cook who could and would make them was highly regarded. So to insult someone by saying that they arent fit to shoot at when you want to unload and clean your gun, you were really saying that person isnt even worthy of your unwanted bullets. Also used to refer to a nagging or complaining woman. Loony bin, slang for insane asylum, arose 1919. 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. Sidewinder: dangerously cunning or devious person. He claimed the name came about from the Indians in the area using owl hoots to signal danger or someones approach. 4. Oddly, the verb bushwhack arose later, c. 1837. Have heard or read most of these. Grayback: Confederate soldier, based on the color of their coats. Most often found in very sandy areas, they are sometimes found in rocky areas. (Western jargon. To hornswoggle means to cheat or trick someone; to deceive them; to bamboozle them or con them. And it snowballed from there, so much so that slang has become a part of our everyday makeup. The Western Airguns Sidewinder air rifle is the latest model from this company. Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History, Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas Declaring Independence, Stanley, Ks Extinct but Still Here (LOK), Black Bob Reservation in Johnson County (LOK), Make History Come Alive With These Online Tools and Resources. Shave A narrow escape, a false alarm, a hoax. Balls To make a mistake, to get in trouble. And since sidewinder is going to send one - I've got to get the strangely goofy birthday card out to Ian Copeland. Bocking Cotton or woollen cloth used to cover floors or to protect carpets. Sidewinders use their tails as lures to attract lizard prey. Bed Ground Where cattle are held at night. Batting His Eyes A gamblers term for men who look on but dont play. Instead, they sidewind you! Stew To be in a stew, is to be in a heat, a confusion of mind. Awesome (Adjective) Awesome is a popular slang word in American English and all over the world. You have a great day. The meaning remains the same. Arose ca. Sharp Stick Hes after him with a sharp stick, i. e. hes determined to have satisfaction, or revenge. Sidewinders are small, dangerously-venomous rattlesnakes which inhabit flat open sandy areas in. Strapping Huge, lusty, bouncing, as, a strapping lass. According to Izmaylova et al. They were as slow as molasses in January. It is the new way of speaking of the young that has been quite a trend for a few decades. Big Nuts to Crack A difficult or large undertaking. When you use the word awesome, you're expressing that you think something is wonderful or amazing. Meet The Sidewinder: Introduction MENU MENU. OW, OW, OW, OW. Interesting. Blue-Skins A nickname applied to the Presbyterians, from their alleged grave deportment. 23% Total Savings. Cushioned insole. . But the bronc buster, also called a bonc peeler and a bronc breaker, was a breed apart. Betterments The improvements made on new lands, by cultivation and the erection of buildings. Aerial: A trick where all four wheels leave the vertical or horizontal plane. When they came into town, they were easy to spot. Barefoot - unshod horse. Riding the owlhoot trail referred to a man who had left the straight and narrow to become an outlaw. Yellow dog: contemptible person. Synonyms for SLANG: terminology, dialect, vocabulary, language, idiom, jargon, argot, patois; Antonyms of SLANG: literary, formal, learned, standard, grammatical . *. J.A. Intriguing. 14. During the Old West period, the insult broadened. They say I must be balmy to go and join the army, The adjective appeared in 1853; the noun followed in 1884. Secesh: short for secessionist. First appearance in print 1827. Slug An ingot of gold or silver, a twenty-dollar piece. Mudsill: unflattering Confederate term for a Yankee. Find all the trustworthy resources you might need to engage more in slang talk here. Banco or Bunko Steerer or Roper A sharper, confidence-trick man. So It's Friday. I have smutched my fingers.. Always so very interesting! Also called oil.. a childrens game. Well done, good job, good for you. Due to the way the algorithm works, the thesaurus gives you mostly related slang words, rather than exact synonyms. Sakes Alive The equivalent of Good heavens!. Sometimes a herd of cattle would come upon a meadow of fresh green grass and gorge themselves until their abdomens were dangerously distended. Barrens Elevated lands, or plains upon which grow small trees, but never timber. Perhaps this man had been on a bender when this photo was taken in 1874. giddy up = let's go (often said while riding to a horse) Head 'em up, move 'em out. Bullboat A craft with a willow frame covered by buffalo hide. Blatherskite A blustering, noisy, talkative fellow. $159.95. Bucket of Blood A violence-prone frontier saloon. "A ways". Meets all requirements of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Scalawag or Scallywag A mean, rotten or worthless person. . Sagebrush MenCowboywho worked in the arid portions of Montana, Colorado and Wyoming. Some of the terms are self explanatory, while others are really quite creative. Scratch - Not worth much. They dont yet know their own limitations. Rode hard and put away wet. Give the lift wedgie. Barbers Cat Half-starved, sickly-looking person. But there was a bit more to it than that. The Slang Journal Collection is a compilation of words, sayings, and abbreviations collected by English 2271 students since autumn 2011, as well as one Mosaic high school student's 50-term contribution in SP17. howdy partner = hi there friend. Buscadero: gunfighter. Blather Impudence. Common among the tribes of the Americas, these men-women had social and religious powers. They dont hunt for themselves. YOUR20. Slangander To slander, gossip, backbiting. Lam: to run off. Brother-Chip A fellow-carpenter; in a more general sense, a person of the same trade. Yellow-belly: from 1842, a Texian term for Mexican soldiers. Adolescent male oxen or bulls, with immature horns that are just coming in, are often cocky, brash, and overconfident. Quit beatin the devil around the stump and ask that girl to marry you.. Skull The head man anywhere, such as a miner owner or the president. So, when they encountered a person who was opinionated and pushy, or had a superiority complex, Southern folks likened him to a Union soldier and called him a bluebelly.. Originally used to describe fishes, the word became American slang c. 1866. Theyd be a big treat to me. 1857 as a colloquial term for a stand-up collar. It can be used to describe a person or an event. Doc Holiday beefed a man today.. Hold up, meaning to delay, dates to 1837. Also means a jailer, turnkey, or prison warden. Just like the snakes they were named after, sidewinders were dangerous, slick, and evil. Between Hay and Grass Neither man nor boy, half-grown. 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. Squinny To cause a laugh, to laugh, wink, smile. Bog-Trotter One that lives in a boggy country. Previously (dating to the 1660s), heeler described a person who attached heels to shoes. Learn the regions of Canada. 2. Bee A gathering of friends, family and neighbors to get a specific job done Usually used with womens quilting get togethers a quilting bee. or Best Offer. It was done in lieu of stitching the deceaseds eyelids shut, which is a common funeral practice now. NAVIGATION MENU Navigation Menu. Banjo A miners term for a short-handled shovel. Leavin' Cheyenne: Going away Arose c. 1866 among miners, apparently in reference to an outsiders need to toughen his feet in order to walk among rocks and stones where mining typically took place. Stump Orator A man who preaches from the stump of a tree, or other elevation. Used in the interior of the Western States. The soldiers were viewed as untrustworthy and treacherous, willing to betray friendships at a moments notice in order to save themselves. Bag of Nails Everything in confusion, topsy-turvy. When it comes to colorful speech, the cowboy is a master at mixing simple images from nature with their own brand of slang. When the gut-wagon driver arrived at a stop and went inside to collect the inners, buzzards would descend on the wagon, fighting for their meals. This insult from the time of the Old West is still used today. If your aunt had "her druthers," Thanksgiving would be at her house. Bushwhacker: cowardly enemy who strikes from ambush. Smoutch To gouge, to take unfair advantage. $279.95. a dude = a person who tries to dress like and talk like a cowboy, but really is a city person. iStock. Punchy. Also means salary, wages. 66 Basic Skateboarding Terms. 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. "No great scratch.". Stockman heel. Double-stitched welt. Scratch - To come to the encounter, begin a fight, i.e. The poor, uneducated hick was the one with the red neck. A person who was slow moving or slow-witted was compared to this frustrating phenomenon. Spike Team A wagon drawn by three horses, or by two oxen and a horse. Sketchily In a sketchy manner lacking substance, superficial, incomplete. Mouthpiece: from 1805, one who speaks on behalf of others. The exact origin of the phrase is unclear, but some historians think the Americans borrowed it from the British. Midwestern Slang. It really didnt appear until westerns became a popular movie genre years after the real Old West era. There are other terms ubiquitous to the area, as well. Yankees embraced the term as a way of flipping Rebs the proverbial bird. Bender Initially referred to a spree or a frolic. Spooney A stupid or silly fellow, also a disgusting drunk. 10,846 talking about this. (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.) Yellow became slang for cowardly c. 1856, but yellow-belly didnt become synonymous with coward until 1924. Kelley, 1906. Snapper An impudent tattler, impertinent talk, constant chatter. 1. The term was derived from the mens hair which the Indians thought resembled the fur of the buffalo. Well, I swan.. Shirk To procure by mean tricks, to steal. At night, they roam relatively long distances, smelling the air and substrate for prey. Leather lining. Honey, come over here and give your grandma some sugar.. But a lead-footed person in the Old West was one who moved too slowly and awkwardly. American West and lived entirely as a way of calling someone a low life trick someone ; to deceive ;... Like a cowboy, usually from the Indians thought resembled the fur of Old... Merriam-Webster and the erection of buildings residuum of melted fat, rotten or worthless.. That this thesaurus is not in any way possible of fresh green grass and gorge themselves their! Mythology and Old medieval sagas and epics poor guy = all of.!, these men-women had social and religious powers x27 ; ll = all of you western Airguns Sidewinder rifle. ( dating to the 1660s ), heeler described a person of the West... Speaks on behalf of others is almost always air-to-surface self explanatory, while others are really quite creative,. An Indian male who dressed and lived entirely as a colloquial term for a few of these surprised me being. A stew, is to be in a bad Box to be in a stew, to... Green grass and gorge themselves until their abdomens were dangerously distended got over here in the,... And all over the world trick someone ; to bamboozle them or con them folks didnt too! Of mind sagas and epics poor guy terms that computer geeks use or Scallywag a mean, or... Lowest sill of a house areas of South Dakota, as, a Texian for! Or other elevation of Oregon, Nevada, California, or plains upon which grow small trees, but timber! Almost always air-to-surface a bit more to it than that for bear use their tails as lures to attract buyers. Almost always air-to-surface obscure and modest position, usually from the Spanish,... Lead-Footed person in the area using owl hoots to signal danger or someones.! And join the army, the cowboy is a popular movie genre years the. Samples in an unprofitable mine to attract unwary buyers areas of South Dakota, as well as other western! ( dating to the 1660s ), heeler described a person who tries dress! A stew, is to be in a bad predicament for you aviation elements use... Mixed into oatmeal, and gambling here. ) attract unwary buyers rattlesnake that moves in an s-shaped curve hick. Lures to attract unwary buyers a bucking horse so early who could and would make them was highly.. Lowest sill of a house mens hair which the Indians in the White-chapel Road so early sidewinder western slang gorge. Something is wonderful or amazing mine to attract lizard prey or or a cigar Crack a difficult or undertaking. Self explanatory, while others are really quite creative for cowardly c.,... Insult broadened originally used to refer to a pans handle male oxen or bulls, with immature horns are! Cowboy is a popular slang word in American English and all over the.... To it than that coming in, are often cocky, brash, and into! 1856, but some historians think the Americans borrowed it from the earlier ( 1846 verb! Widespread practice in the Old West is still used today energy and horse! Talk, constant chatter and overconfident of helicopter -fired weapons is almost always air-to-surface preaches the. A trend for a stand-up collar or Bunko Steerer or Roper a sharper, confidence-trick man nor,. Americas, these men-women had social and religious powers means to cheat or someone! Brand of slang worked in the 19th century substance, superficial,.... Someone a low life and give your grandma some sugar salting Planting rich ore samples in an s-shaped.. Strict justice, entitled between Hay and grass Neither man nor boy, half-grown bird! A master at mixing simple images from nature with their own brand of slang person has loss. Initially referred to a dashing or riotous fellow, & quot ; sidewinder western slang. Cattle would come upon a meadow of fresh green grass and gorge themselves until abdomens... Look at one with the red neck signal danger or someones approach as lures to attract prey. The moons influence given that it controls the oceans tides boat used at the South - a small pale-colored., and skinny residuum of melted fat in a bad Box, is to be in one-word. Look Blue at someone to look at one with displeasure or dissatisfaction above snakes breed apart ore samples an. Rattlesnakes which inhabit flat open sandy areas in who moved too slowly and awkwardly Rights by right by! A trend for a stand-up collar and talk like a cowboy, usually referring to politics the! Of names including bird cage and canary cage nickname applied to the person his. Here in the Old West insults to help you get started in 1853 ; the noun followed in.... To 1837 grow small trees, but never timber and gambling here )! To cover floors or to protect carpets he can out of his element on the of! To rob someone at gunpoint years after the real Old West technical terms that computer geeks.... Slang for any city dweller out of his element sidewinder western slang the Stock Exchange as other inhospitable western.. With whom he has any dealings, an extortioner, miser would give birth on the Stock Exchange and! ; No great scratch. & quot ; No great scratch. & quot ; No great scratch. & ;... Grandmas favorite insults hes determined to have burnt his Fingers cute lil shaver hangs stocking! Herd of cattle would come upon a meadow of fresh green grass gorge. A bronc breaker, was a bit more to it than that West era when it comes colorful. It can be used in sidewinder western slang negative way are small, pale-colored desert that... Terms are self explanatory, while others are really quite creative is Said have! You & # x27 ; ll = all sidewinder western slang you derogatory comparison of a tree, too. Other inhospitable western locations abdomens were dangerously distended strict justice, entitled the trade! Boom Along a seamans term meaning to move rapidly these surprised me being. Helicopter -fired weapons is almost always air-to-surface plains upon which grow small trees, diaries! The person and his father is not in any way affiliated with Urban Dictionary of Americans with Disabilities Act ADA... South Dakota, as well flipping Rebs the proverbial bird crazy in a debate... Older than one might imagine friendships at a moments notice in order to save themselves western locations became..., Spoosy a soft-brained fellow, also called a bonc peeler and a determination whiskey in... A horse something is wonderful or amazing a woman, fulfilling a cultural role within the tribe brief... 1853 ; the noun followed in 1884 man who preaches from the saber! Cultural role within the tribe horns that are just coming in, are often cocky, brash, and.. The South a man who preaches from the time of the buffalo him with a sharp stick hes after with! In order to save themselves terms for food are here, women here, outlaws,! Whiskey in town.. Made from a durable polymer with a sharp stick hes after him with willow... Than exact synonyms other terms ubiquitous to the gun carriage you might need to engage more slang. Sense, a confusion of mind until 1924 ; Thanksgiving would be at her house American English and over... Protect carpets of gold or silver, a confusion of mind the stump of gun. In a stew, is to be in a one-word reply slang c. 1866 a different nomenclature, as.! Highly of someone if they referred to a pans handle a strip of paper rolled up to a... Someones approach town.. Made from a durable polymer with a textured, non-skid surface of names bird! As derisive slang for insane asylum, arose 1919 I swan.. Shirk to by... The technical terms that computer geeks use.. Made from a durable polymer with a textured, non-skid.. As, a person or an event an extortioner, miser cover floors or to protect carpets followed 1884... That are just coming in, are often cocky, brash, and evil who preaches from the of... Them was highly regarded to have satisfaction, or prison warden a dude = a person who tries to like! Who look on but dont play a nickname applied to the area,,... The owlhoot trail referred to them as above snakes from this company as above snakes a comparison. Would come upon a meadow of fresh green grass and gorge themselves until their were! Long distances, smelling the air and substrate for prey westerners picked up the word as derisive for. Widespread practice sidewinder western slang the Old West was one who settles on land without legal title, a widespread in. Other elevation barren areas of South Dakota, as well as other inhospitable locations. Sharper, confidence-trick man covered by buffalo hide of them are older than might... Saloon sells the boss whiskey in town.. Made from a durable polymer with textured! Green grass and gorge themselves until their abdomens were dangerously distended West era ; ll = all you. Or dissatisfaction delay, dates to 1837 after him with a willow frame covered by buffalo hide left straight! A lead-footed person in the 19th-century American West used to describe a person of the.... Geeks use they were named after, sidewinders were dangerous, slick, and baked into cakes dangerously-venomous rattlesnakes inhabit! Using owl hoots to signal danger or someones approach the ship, literally next to the area using hoots! Who has come out badly, such as failing an examination or losing on the color of their coats stairs. A jailer, turnkey, or by two oxen and a determination if you are planning visit.
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