Chicago Gang Slang, Circa 1927 It’s dated, but not as dated as you’d think—the already anachronistic “gat” was in use. But don’t go around saying “bullshiner,” “hook ’em,” or “tipper-tapper”; that’d just be embarrassing.

Via @moneywithwings and Calumet 412 312 , “the argot of the gang” from Frederic Thrasher’s legendary 1927 study The Gang: A Study of 1,313 Gangs in Chicago (scheduled to be republished in November).

Using most of these will get you laughed at today, but gat, punk, and hang are still viable over 80 years later. (By 1927 “gat” was already something of an anachronism, coming as it did after the Civil War-era gatling gun.)

Share







