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Twists, Slugs and Roscoes: A Glossary of Hardboiled Slang

Film Noir Slang ^ | FR Post 3-3-3 | Compiled by William Denton

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Twists, Slugs and Roscoes: A Glossary of Hardboiled Slang

Compiled by William Denton buff@pobox.com. Copyright © 1993 - 2003. Please send me corrections, additions, suggestions and comments.

Edition 3.9.2. Version 4.0 is planned. Originally published as a pamphlet by Miskatonic University Press, 1993.

This glossary may not be reproduced on the World Wide Web in any form. You can link to it using this URL: http://www.miskatonic.org/slang.html. This glossary may be reproduced for public consumption as long as it is copied as is and in its entirety and no extra charge beyond copying or printing costs is made. Other arrangements may be made by contacting me.

If you've ever read a hardboiled detective story, you may have come across a sentence like,

"I jammed the roscoe in his button and said, 'Close your yap, bo, or I squirt metal.'"

Something like this isn't too hard to decipher. But what if you encounter,

"The flim-flammer jumped in the flivver and faded." "You dumb mug, get your mitts off the marbles before I stuff that mud-pipe down your mush--and tell your moll to hand over the mazuma." "The sucker with the schnozzle poured a slug but before he could scram out two shamuses showed him the shiv and said they could send him over."

You may need to translate this into normal English just to be able to follow the plot.

Or maybe you want to seem tougher. Why get in a car when you can hop in a boiler? Why tell someone to shut up when you can tell them to close their head? Why threaten to discharge a firearm when you can say, "Dust, pal, or I pump lead!"

This is the language spoken by Philip Marlowe, Sam Spade, Mike Hammer and the Continental Op. When Cagney, Bogart, Robinson and Raft got in a turf war, this is how they talked.

Now, with the help of this glossary, you too can speak it like a native!

A

Alderman : A man's pot belly.

: A man's pot belly. Ameche : Telephone

: Telephone Ankle : (n) Woman (v) To walk

:

B

Babe : Woman

: Woman Baby : A person, can be said to either a man or a woman

: A person, can be said to either a man or a woman Bangtails : Racehorses

: Racehorses Barber : Talk

: Talk Baumes rush : Senator Caleb H. Baumes sponsored a New York law (the Baumes Law) which called for automatic life imprisonment of any criminal convicted more than three times. Some criminals would move to a state that didn't have this law in order to avoid its penalty should they be caught again, and this was known as a "Baumes rush," because of the similarity to "bum's rush."

: Senator Caleb H. Baumes sponsored a New York law (the Baumes Law) which called for automatic life imprisonment of any criminal convicted more than three times. Some criminals would move to a state that didn't have this law in order to avoid its penalty should they be caught again, and this was known as a "Baumes rush," because of the similarity to "bum's rush." Be on the nut, To : To be broke

: To be broke Bean-shooter : Gun

: Gun Beezer : Nose

: Nose Behind the eight-ball : In a difficult position, in a tight spot

: In a difficult position, in a tight spot Bent cars : Stolen cars

: Stolen cars Berries : Dollars

: Dollars Big house : Jail

: Jail Big one, The : Death

: Death Big sleep, The : Death (coined by Chandler)

: Death (coined by Chandler) Bim : Woman

: Woman Bindle of heroin: Little folded-up piece of paper (with heroin inside) the bundle (or "brindle") in which a hobo carries all his worldy possessions

Bindle punk , bindle stiff : Chronic wanderers; itinerant misfits, criminals, migratory harvest workers, and lumber jacks. Called so because they carried a "bindle." George and Lenny in Of Mice and Men are bindle stiffs.

, : Chronic wanderers; itinerant misfits, criminals, migratory harvest workers, and lumber jacks. Called so because they carried a "bindle." George and Lenny in are bindle stiffs. Bing : Jailhouse talk for solitary confinement, hence "crazy"

: Jailhouse talk for solitary confinement, hence "crazy" Bird : Man

: Man Bit : Prison sentence

: Prison sentence Blip off : To kill

: To kill Blow : Leave

: Leave Blow one down : Kill someone

: Kill someone Blower : Telephone

: Telephone Bo : Pal, buster, fellow, as in "Hey, bo"

: Pal, buster, fellow, as in "Hey, bo" Boiler : Car

: Car Boob : Dumb guy

: Dumb guy Boozehound : Drunkard

: Drunkard Bop : To kill

: To kill Box : A safe A bar

: Box job : A safecracking

: A safecracking Brace (somebody): Grab, shake up

(somebody): Grab, shake up Bracelets : Handcuffs

: Handcuffs Break it up : Stop that, quit the nonsense

: Stop that, quit the nonsense Breeze : To leave, go; also breeze off : get lost

: To leave, go; also : get lost Broad : Woman

: Woman Broderick, The : A thorough beating

: A thorough beating Bruno : Tough guy, enforcer

: Tough guy, enforcer Bucket : Car

: Car Bulge , as in "The kid had the bulge there": The advantage

, as in "The kid had the bulge there": The advantage Bulls : Plainclothes railroad cops; uniformed police; prison guards

: Plainclothes railroad cops; uniformed police; prison guards Bum's rush, To get the : To be kicked out

: To be kicked out Bump : Kill

: Kill Bump gums : To talk about nothing worthwhile

: To talk about nothing worthwhile Bump off : Kill; also, bump-off : a killing

: Kill; also, : a killing Buncoing some (people): Defrauding people

(people): Defrauding people Bunk : "Take a bunk" - leave, disappear "That's the bunk" - that's false, untrue "to bunk" - to sleep

: Bunny , as in "Don't be a bunny": Don't be stupid

, as in "Don't be a bunny": Don't be stupid Burn powder : Fire a gun

: Fire a gun Bus : Big car

: Big car Butter and egg man : The money man, the man with the bankroll, a yokel who comes to town to blow a big wad in nightclubs (see reference)

: The money man, the man with the bankroll, a yokel who comes to town to blow a big wad in nightclubs (see reference) Button : Face, nose, end of jaw

: Face, nose, end of jaw Button man : Professional killer

: Professional killer Buttons : Police

: Police Butts : Cigarettes

: Cigarettes Buy a drink : To pour a drink

: To pour a drink Buzz , as in "I'm in the dump an hour and the house copper gives me the buzz": Looks me up, comes to my door

, as in "I'm in the dump an hour and the house copper gives me the buzz": Looks me up, comes to my door Buzzer: Policeman's badge

C

C : $100, a pair of Cs = $200

: $100, = $200 Cabbage : Money

: Money Caboose : Jail (from "calaboose," which derives from calabozo , the Spanish word for "jail")

: Jail (from "calaboose," which derives from , the Spanish word for "jail") Call copper : Inform the police

: Inform the police Can : Jail Car

: Can house : Bordello

: Bordello Can-opener : Safecracker who opens cheap safes

: Safecracker who opens cheap safes Canary : Woman singer

: Woman singer Case dough : "Nest egg ... the theoretically untouchable reserve for emergencies" ( Speaking )

: "Nest egg ... the theoretically untouchable reserve for emergencies" ( ) Cat : Man

: Man Century : $100

: $100 Cheaters : Sunglasses

: Sunglasses Cheese it : Put things away, hide

: Put things away, hide Chew : Eat

: Eat Chicago lightning : gunfire

: gunfire Chicago overcoat : Coffin

: Coffin Chick : Woman

: Woman Chilled off : Killed

: Killed Chin : Conversation; chinning : talking

: Conversation; : talking Chin music : Punch on the jaw

: Punch on the jaw Chinese angle , as in "You're not trying to find a Chinese angle on it, are you?": A strange or unusual twist or aspect to something

, as in "You're not trying to find a Chinese angle on it, are you?": A strange or unusual twist or aspect to something Chinese squeeze : Grafting by skimming profits off the top

: Grafting by skimming profits off the top Chippy : Woman of easy virtue

: Woman of easy virtue Chisel : To swindle or cheat

: To swindle or cheat Chiv, chive : Knife, "a stabbing or cutting weapon" ( Speaking )

: Knife, "a stabbing or cutting weapon" ( ) Chopper squad : Men with machine guns

: Men with machine guns Clammed : Close-mouthed ( clammed up )

: Close-mouthed ( ) Clean sneak : An escape with no clues left behind

: An escape with no clues left behind Clip joint : In some cases, a night-club where the prices are high and the patrons are fleeced ( Partridge's ), but in Pick-Up a casino where the tables are fixed

: In some cases, a night-club where the prices are high and the patrons are fleeced ( ), but in a casino where the tables are fixed Clipped : Shot

: Shot Close your head : Shut up

: Shut up Clout : Shoplifter

: Shoplifter Clubhouse : Police station

: Police station Coffee-and-doughnut , as in "These coffee-and-doughnut guns are ...": Could come from "coffee and cakes," which refers to something cheap or of little value.

, as in "These coffee-and-doughnut guns are ...": Could come from "coffee and cakes," which refers to something cheap or of little value. Con : Confidence game, swindle

: Confidence game, swindle Conk : Head

: Head Cool : To knock out

: To knock out Cooler : Jail

: Jail Cop Detective, even a private one To win, as in a bet

Copped, To be : Grabbed by the cops

: Grabbed by the cops Copper Policeman Time off for good behaviour

Corn : Bourbon ("corn liquor")

: Bourbon ("corn liquor") Crab : Figure out

: Figure out Crate : Car

: Car Creep joint : ?? Can mean a whorehouse where the girls are pickpockets, but that doesn't fit in Pick-Up

: ?? Can mean a whorehouse where the girls are pickpockets, but that doesn't fit in Croak : To kill

: To kill Croaker : Doctor

: Doctor Crushed out : Escaped (from jail)

: Escaped (from jail) Cush : Money (a cushion, something to fall back on)

: Money (a cushion, something to fall back on) Cut down: Killed (esp. shot?)

D

Daisy : None too masculine

: None too masculine Dame : Woman

: Woman Dance : To be hanged

: To be hanged Dangle : Leave, get lost

: Leave, get lost Darb : Something remarkable or superior

: Something remarkable or superior Dark meat : Black person

: Black person Daylight , as in "let the daylight in" or "fill him with daylight": Put a hole in, by shooting or stabbing

, as in "let the daylight in" or "fill him with daylight": Put a hole in, by shooting or stabbing Deck , as in "deck of Luckies": Pack of cigarettes

, as in "deck of Luckies": Pack of cigarettes Derrick : Shoplifter

: Shoplifter Diapers , as in "Pin your diapers on": Clothes, get dressed

, as in "Pin your diapers on": Clothes, get dressed Dib : Share (of the proceeds)

: Share (of the proceeds) Dick : Detective (usually qualified with "private" if not a policeman)

: Detective (usually qualified with "private" if not a policeman) Dinge : Black person

: Black person Dingus : Thing

: Thing Dip : Pickpocket

: Pickpocket Dip the bill : Have a drink

: Have a drink Dish : Pretty woman

: Pretty woman Dive : A low-down, cheap sort of place

: A low-down, cheap sort of place Dizzy with a dame, To be : To be deeply iin love with a woman

: To be deeply iin love with a woman Do the dance : To be hanged

: To be hanged Dogs : Feet

: Feet Doll , dolly : Woman

, : Woman Dope Drugs, of any sort Information As a verb, as in "I had him doped as" - to have figured for

Dope fiend : Drug addict

: Drug addict Dope peddler : Drug dealer

: Drug dealer Dormy : Dormant, quiet, as in "Why didn't you lie dormy in the place you climbed to?"

: Dormant, quiet, as in "Why didn't you lie dormy in the place you climbed to?" Dough : Money

: Money Drift : Go, leave

: Go, leave Drill : Shoot

: Shoot Drink out of the same bottle , as in "We used to drink out of the same bottle": We were close friends

, as in "We used to drink out of the same bottle": We were close friends Drop a dime : Make a phone call, sometimes meaning to the police to inform on someone

: Make a phone call, sometimes meaning to the police to inform on someone Droppers : Hired killers

: Hired killers Drum : Speakeasy

: Speakeasy Dry-gulch : Knock out, hit on head after ambushing

: Knock out, hit on head after ambushing Ducat Ticket For hobos, a union card or card asking for alms

Duck soup : Easy, a piece of cake

: Easy, a piece of cake Dummerer : Somebody who pretends to be (deaf and?) dumb in order to appear a more deserving beggar

: Somebody who pretends to be (deaf and?) dumb in order to appear a more deserving beggar Dump : Roadhouse, club; or, more generally, any place

: Roadhouse, club; or, more generally, any place Dust Nothing, as in "Tinhorns are dust to me" Leave, depart, as in "Let's dust" A look, as in "Let's give it the dust"

Dust out : Leave, depart

: Leave, depart Dutch As in "in dutch" - trouble As in "A girl pulled the Dutch act" - committed suicide As in "They don't make me happy neither. I get a bump once'n a while. Mostly a Dutch." - ?? relates to the police (Art)



E

Eel juice : liquor

: liquor Egg : Man

: Man Eggs in the coffee : Easy, a piece of cake, okay, all right

: Easy, a piece of cake, okay, all right Elbow : Policeman A collar or an arrest. Someone being arrested will "have their elbows checked."

: Electric cure : Electrocution

: Electrocution Elephant ears: Police

F

Fade : Go away, get lost

: Go away, get lost Fakeloo artist : Con man

: Con man Fin : $5 bill

: $5 bill Finder : Finger man

: Finger man Finger , Put the finger on : Identify

, : Identify Flat Broke As in "That's flat" - that's for sure, undoubtedly

Flattie : Flatfoot, cop

: Flatfoot, cop Flimflam(m) : Swindle

: Swindle Flippers : Hands

: Hands Flivver : A Ford automobile

: A Ford automobile Flogger : Overcoat

: Overcoat Flop : Go to bed As in "The racket's flopped" - fallen through, not worked out

: Flophouse : "A cheap transient hotel where a lot of men sleep in large rooms" ( Speaking )

: "A cheap transient hotel where a lot of men sleep in large rooms" ( ) Fog : To shoot

: To shoot Frail : Woman

: Woman Frau : Wife

: Wife Fry : To be electrocuted

: To be electrocuted From nothing, as in "I know from nothing": I don't know anything

G

Gams : Legs (especially a woman's)

: Legs (especially a woman's) Gashouse , as in "getting gashouse": Rough

, as in "getting gashouse": Rough Gasper : Cigarette

: Cigarette Gat : Gun

: Gun Gate , as in "Give her the gate": The door, as in leave

, as in "Give her the gate": The door, as in leave Gaycat : "A young punk who runs with an older tramp and there is always a connotation of homosexuality" ( Speaking )

: "A young punk who runs with an older tramp and there is always a connotation of homosexuality" ( ) Gee : Man

: Man Geetus : Money

: Money Getaway sticks : Legs (especially a woman's)

: Legs (especially a woman's) Giggle juice : Liquor

: Liquor Gin mill : Bar

: Bar Gink : Man

: Man Girlie : Woman

: Woman Give a/the third : Interrogate (third degree)

: Interrogate (third degree) Glad rags : Fancy clothes

: Fancy clothes Glom To steal To see, to take a look

Glaum : Steal

: Steal Go climb up your thumb : Go away, get lost

: Go away, get lost Go over the edge with the rams : To get far too drunk

: To get far too drunk Go to read and write : Rhyming slang for take flight

: Rhyming slang for take flight Gonif : Thief (Yiddish)

: Thief (Yiddish) Goofy : Crazy

: Crazy Goog : Black eye

: Black eye Goon : Thug

: Thug Goose : Man

: Man Gooseberry lay : Stealing clothes from a clothesline (see reference)

: Stealing clothes from a clothesline (see reference) Gowed-up : On dope, high

: On dope, high Grab (a little) air : Put your hands up

: Put your hands up Graft : Con jobs Cut of the take

: Grand : $1000

: $1000 Greasers : Mexicans or Italians. A hoodlum, thief or punk.

: Grift : As in "What's the grift?": What are you trying to pull? Confidence game, swindle

: Grifter : Con man

: Con man Grilled : Questioned

: Questioned Gum : As in "Don't ... gum every play I make": Gum up, interfere with Opium

: Gum-shoe : Detective; also gumshoeing = detective work

: Detective; also gumshoeing = detective work Gun for : Look for, be after

: Look for, be after Guns : Pickpockets Hoodlums

: Gunsel : Gunman (Hammett is responsible for this use; see note) Catamite. "1. (p) A male oral sodomist, or passive pederast. 2. A brat. 3. (By extension) An informer; a weasel; an unscrupulous person." (Underworld) Note Yiddish "ganzl" = gosling

:

H

Hack : Taxi

: Taxi Half, A :50 cents

:50 cents Hammer and saws : Police (rhyming slang for laws)

: Police (rhyming slang for laws) Hard : Tough

: Tough Harlem sunset : Some sort fatal injury caused by knife ( Farewell , 14)

: Some sort fatal injury caused by knife ( , 14) Hash house : A cheap restaurant

: A cheap restaurant Hatchetmen : Killers, gunmen

: Killers, gunmen Have the bees : To be rich

: To be rich Have the curse on someone : Wanting to see someone killed

: Wanting to see someone killed Head doctors : Psychiatrists

: Psychiatrists Heap : Car

: Car Heat : A gun, also heater

: A gun, also Heeled : Carrying a gun

: Carrying a gun High pillow : Person at the top, in charge

: Person at the top, in charge Highbinders Corrupt politician or functionary Professional killer operating in the Chinese quarter of a city

Hinky : Suspicious

: Suspicious Hitting the pipe : Smoking opium

: Smoking opium Hitting on all eight : In good shape, going well (refers to eight cylinders in an engine)

: In good shape, going well (refers to eight cylinders in an engine) Hock shop : Pawnshop

: Pawnshop Hogs : Engines

: Engines Hombre : Man, fellow

: Man, fellow Hooch : Liquor

: Liquor Hood : Criminal

: Criminal Hooker , as in "a stiff hooker of whiskey": A drink of strong liquor

, as in "a stiff hooker of whiskey": A drink of strong liquor Hoosegow : Jail

: Jail Hop : Drugs, mostly morphine or derivatives like heroin Bell-hop

: Hop-head : Drug addict, esp. heroin

: Drug addict, esp. heroin Horn : Telephone

: Telephone Hot : Stolen

: Stolen House dick : House/hotel detective

: House/hotel detective House peeper : House/hotel detective

: House/hotel detective Hype: Shortchange artist

I

Ice : Diamonds

: Diamonds In stir : In jail

: In jail Ing-bing , as in to throw an: A fit

, as in to throw an: A fit Iron: A car

J

Jack : Money

: Money Jake , Jakeloo : Okay

, : Okay Jam : Trouble, as in "in a jam"

: Trouble, as in "in a jam" Jane : A woman

: A woman Jasper : A man (perhaps a hick)

: A man (perhaps a hick) Java : Coffee

: Coffee Jaw : Talk

: Talk Jerking a nod : Nodding

: Nodding Jingle-brained : Addled

: Addled Jobbie : Man

: Man Joe : Coffee, as in "a cup of joe"

: Coffee, as in "a cup of joe" Johns : Police

: Police Johnson brother : Criminal

: Criminal Joint : Place, as in "my joint"

: Place, as in "my joint" Jorum of skee : Shot of liquor

: Shot of liquor Joss house : Temple or house of worship for a Chinese religion

: Temple or house of worship for a Chinese religion Juice : Interest on a loanshark's loan

: Interest on a loanshark's loan Jug : Jail

: Jail Jujus : Marijuana cigarettes

: Marijuana cigarettes Jump, The : A hanging

: A hanging Junkie: Drug addict

K

Kale : Money

: Money Keister , keyster : Suitcase Safe, strongbox Buttocks

, : Kick , as in "I got no kick": I have nothing to complain about

, as in "I got no kick": I have nothing to complain about Kick off : Die

: Die Kicking the gong around : Taking opium

: Taking opium Kiss : To punch

: To punch Kisser : Mouth

: Mouth Kitten : Woman

: Woman Knock off : Kill

: Kill Knockover: Heist, theft

L

Lammed off : Ran away, escaped

: Ran away, escaped Large : $1,000; twenty large would be $20,000

: $1,000; would be $20,000 Law, the : The police

: The police Lay Job, as in Marlowe saying he's on "a confidential lay;" or more generally, what someone does, as in "The hotel-sneak used to be my lay" As in "I gave him the lay" - I told him where things stood (as in lay of the of land)

Lead poisoning : To be shot

: To be shot Lettuce : Folding money

: Folding money Lid : Hat

: Hat Lip : (Criminal) lawyer

: (Criminal) lawyer Lit, To be : To be drunk

: To be drunk Loogan : Marlowe defines this as "a guy with a gun"

: Marlowe defines this as "a guy with a gun" Looker : Pretty woman

: Pretty woman Look-out : Outside man

: Outside man Lousy with : To have lots of

: To have lots of Lug Bullet Ear Man ("You big lug!")

Lunger: Someone with tuberculosis

M

Made : Recognized

: Recognized Map : Face

: Face Marbles : Pearls

: Pearls Mark : Sucker, victim of swindle or fixed game

: Sucker, victim of swindle or fixed game Mazuma : Money

: Money Meat , as in "He's your meat": He's the subject of interest, there's your man

, as in "He's your meat": He's the subject of interest, there's your man Meat wagon : Ambulance

: Ambulance Mesca : Marijuana

: Marijuana Mickey Finn (n) A drink drugged with knock-out drops (v) Take a Mickey Finn: Take off, leave

Mill : Typewriter

: Typewriter Mitt : Hand

: Hand Mob : Gang (not necessarily Mafia)

: Gang (not necessarily Mafia) Moll : Girlfriend

: Girlfriend Monicker : Name

: Name Mouthpiece : Lawyer

: Lawyer Mud-pipe : Opium pipe

: Opium pipe Mug : Face

: Face Muggles : Marijuana

: Marijuana Mugs : Men (esp. dumb ones)

: Men (esp. dumb ones) Mush: Face

N

Nailed : Caught by the police

: Caught by the police Nance : An effeminate man

: An effeminate man Nevada gas : Cyanide

: Cyanide Newshawk : Reporter

: Reporter Newsie : Newspaper vendor

: Newspaper vendor Nibble one : To have a drink

: To have a drink Nicked : Stole

: Stole Nippers : Handcuffs

: Handcuffs Nix on (something) : No to (something)

: No to (something) Noodle : Head

: Head Nose-candy : Heroin, in some cases

: Heroin, in some cases Number: A person, can be either a man or a woman

O

Off the track , as in "He was too far off the track. Strictly section eight": Said about a man who becomes insanely violent

, as in "He was too far off the track. Strictly section eight": Said about a man who becomes insanely violent Op : Detective (esp. private), from "operative"

: Detective (esp. private), from "operative" Orphan paper : Bad cheques

: Bad cheques Out on the roof, To be : To drink a lot, to be drunk

: To drink a lot, to be drunk Oyster fruit: Pearls

P

Pack : To carry, esp. a gun

: To carry, esp. a gun Palooka : Man, probably a little stupid

: Man, probably a little stupid Pan : Face

: Face Paste : Punch

: Punch Patsy : Person who is set up; fool, chump

: Person who is set up; fool, chump Paw : Hand

: Hand Peaching : Informing

: Informing Pearl diver : dish-washer

: dish-washer Peeper : Detective

: Detective Pen : Penitentiary, jail

: Penitentiary, jail Peterman : Safecracker who uses nitroglycerin

: Safecracker who uses nitroglycerin Pigeon : Stool-pigeon

: Stool-pigeon Pill Bullet Cigarette

Pinch : An arrest, capture

: An arrest, capture Pins : Legs (especially a woman's)

: Legs (especially a woman's) Pipe : See or notice

: See or notice Pipe that : Get that, listen to that

: Get that, listen to that Pipes : Throat

: Throat Pistol pockets : ?? heels?

: ?? heels? Pitching woo : Making love (Turner)

: Making love (Turner) Plant (n) Someone on the scene but in hiding (v) Bury

Plug : Shoot

: Shoot Plugs : People

: People Poke Bankroll, stake Punch (as in "take a poke at")

Pooped : Killed

: Killed Pop : Kill

: Kill Pro skirt : Prostitute

: Prostitute Puffing : Mugging

: Mugging Pug : Pugilist, boxer

: Pugilist, boxer Pump : Heart

: Heart Pump metal : Shoot bullets

: Shoot bullets Punk Hood, thug "A jailhouse sissy who is on the receiving end." (Also as a verb, as in "to get punked.")

Puss : Face

: Face Put down : Drink

: Drink Put the screws on: Question, get tough with

Q

Queer (n) Counterfeit (n) Sexually abnormal (v) To ruin something or put it wrong ("queer this racket")



R

Rags : Clothes

: Clothes Ranked : Observed, watched, given the once-over

: Observed, watched, given the once-over Rap Criminal charge Information, as in "He gave us the rap" Hit

Rappers : Fakes, set-ups

: Fakes, set-ups Rat : Inform

: Inform Rate : To be good, to count for something

: To be good, to count for something Rats and mice : Dice, i.e. craps

: Dice, i.e. craps Rattler : Train

: Train Red-light : To eject from a car or train

: To eject from a car or train Redhot : Some sort of criminal

: Some sort of criminal Reefers : Marijuana cigarettes

: Marijuana cigarettes Rhino : Money

: Money Ribbed up , as in "I got a Chink ribbed up to get the dope": Set up, arranged for? "I have arranged for a Chinese person to get the information"? ( Knockover , 203)

, as in "I got a Chink ribbed up to get the dope": Set up, arranged for? "I have arranged for a Chinese person to get the information"? ( , 203) Right : Adjective indicating quality

: Adjective indicating quality Right gee , Right guy : A good fellow

, : A good fellow Ringers : Fakes

: Fakes Rod : Gun

: Gun Roscoe : Gun

: Gun Roundheels A fighter with a glass jaw A woman of easy virtue

Rub-out : A killing

: A killing Rube : Bumpkin, easy mark

: Bumpkin, easy mark Rumble, the : The news

: The news Run-out, To take the : Leave, escape

S

Sap A dumb guy A blackjack

Sap poison : Getting hit with a sap

: Getting hit with a sap Savvy? : Get me? Understand?

: Get me? Understand? Sawbuck : $10 bill (a double sawbuck is a $20 bill)

: $10 bill (a is a $20 bill) Scatter , as in "And don't bother to call your house peeper and send him up to the scatter" Saloon or speakeasy. A hideout, a room or lodging

, as in "And don't bother to call your house peeper and send him up to the scatter" Schnozzle : Nose

: Nose Scram out : Leave

: Leave Scratch : Money

: Money Scratcher : Forger

: Forger Screw Leave, as in "Let's screw before anybody pops in" Prison guard

Send over : Send to jail

: Send to jail Shamus : (Private) detective

: (Private) detective Sharper : A swindler or sneaky person

: A swindler or sneaky person Shells : Bullets

: Bullets Shine Black person Moonshine, bootleg liquor

Shine Indian : ?? ( Knockover , 89)

: ?? ( , 89) Shiv : Knife

: Knife Shylock : Loanshark

: Loanshark Shyster : Lawyer

: Lawyer Silk , as in "all silk so far": All okay so far

, as in "all silk so far": All okay so far Sing : Confess, admit secrets

: Confess, admit secrets Sister : Woman

: Woman Skate around , as in "She skates around plenty": To be of easy virtue

, as in "She skates around plenty": To be of easy virtue Skid rogue : A bum who can't be trusted

: A bum who can't be trusted Skipout : Leave a hotel without paying, or a person who does so

: Leave a hotel without paying, or a person who does so Skirt : Woman

: Woman Slant, Get a : Take a look

: Take a look Sleuth : Detective

: Detective Slug As a noun, bullet As a verb, to knock unconscious

Smell from the barrel, Have a : Have a drink

: Have a drink Smoke : A black person

: A black person Smoked : Drunk

: Drunk Snap a cap : Shout

: Shout Snatch : Kidnap

: Kidnap Sneak Leave, get lost, as in "If you're not a waiter, sneak" Type of burglary, as in as in "The hotel-sneak used to be my lay"

Sneeze : Take

: Take Snitch : An informer, or, as a verb, to inform

: An informer, or, as a verb, to inform Snooper : Detective

: Detective Snort (as in of gin): A drink

(as in of gin): A drink Snow-bird : (Cocaine) addict

: (Cocaine) addict Snowed : To be on drugs (heroin? cocaine?); also "snowed up"

: To be on drugs (heroin? cocaine?); also "snowed up" Soak : To pawn

: To pawn Sock : Punch

: Punch Soup : Nitroglycerine

: Nitroglycerine Soup job : To crack a safe using nitroglycerine

: To crack a safe using nitroglycerine Spill : Talk, inform; spill it = tell me

: Talk, inform; spill it = tell me Spinach : Money

: Money Spitting : Talking

: Talking Spondulix : Money

: Money Square : Honest; on the square : telling the truth

: Honest; : telling the truth Squirt metal : Shoot bullets

: Shoot bullets Step off : To be hanged

: To be hanged Sticks of tea : Marijuana cigarettes

: Marijuana cigarettes Stiff : A corpse

: A corpse Sting : Culmination of a con game

: Culmination of a con game Stool-pigeon : Informer

: Informer Stoolie : Stool-pigeon

: Stool-pigeon Stringin' : As in along, feeding someone a story

: As in along, feeding someone a story Sucker : Someone ripe for a grifter's scam

: Someone ripe for a grifter's scam Sugar : Money

: Money Swift, To have plenty of : To be fast (on the draw)

: To be fast (on the draw) Swing: Hang

T

Tail : Shadow, follow

: Shadow, follow Take a powder : Leave

: Leave Take it on the heel and toe : Leave

: Leave Take on : Eat

: Eat Take the air : Leave

: Leave Take the bounce : To get kicked out (here, of a hotel)

: To get kicked out (here, of a hotel) Take the fall for : Accept punishment for

: Accept punishment for Tea : Marijuana

: Marijuana That's the crop : That's all of it

: That's all of it Three-spot : Three-year term in jail

: Three-year term in jail Throw a joe : Pass out ?? (Key, 86)

: Pass out ?? (Key, 86) Throw lead : Shoot bullets

: Shoot bullets Ticket : P.I. license

: P.I. license Tiger milk : Some sort of liquor

: Some sort of liquor Tighten the screws : Put pressure on somebody

: Put pressure on somebody Tin : Badge

: Badge Tip a few : To have a few drinks

: To have a few drinks Tip your mitt : Show your hand, reveal something

: Show your hand, reveal something Tomato : Pretty woman

: Pretty woman Tooting the wrong ringer : Asking the wrong person

: Asking the wrong person Torcher : Torch singer

: Torch singer Torpedoes : Gunmen

: Gunmen Trap : Mouth

: Mouth Trigger man : Man whose job is to use a gun

: Man whose job is to use a gun Trip for biscuits , as in "You get there fast and you get there alone - or you got a trip for biscuits": Make the trip for no purpose, achieve no results

, as in "You get there fast and you get there alone - or you got a trip for biscuits": Make the trip for no purpose, achieve no results Trouble boys : Gangsters

: Gangsters Turn up : To turn in (to the police)

: To turn in (to the police) Twist : Woman

: Woman Two bits: $25, or 25 cents.

U

Under glass : In jail

: In jail Up-and-down , as in "to give something the up-and-down": A look

, as in "to give something the up-and-down": A look Uppers, as in "I've been shatting on my uppers for a couple of months now" or "I'm down on my uppers": To be broke

V

Vag , as in vag charge, vag law: Vagrancy

, as in vag charge, vag law: Vagrancy Vig , Vigorish Excessive interest on a loanshark's loan Advantage in odds created by a bookie or gambler to increase profit

,

W

Weak sister : A push-over

: A push-over Wear iron : Carry a gun

: Carry a gun Wheats , as in "a stack of wheats": Pancakes

, as in "a stack of wheats": Pancakes White Good, okay, as in "white dick" Gin ("a gallon of white")

Wikiup : Home

: Home Wire , as in "What's the wire on them?": News, "What information do you have about them?"

, as in "What's the wire on them?": News, "What information do you have about them?" Wise, To be To be knowledgeable of; put us wise : tell us

To be knowledgeable of; : tell us Wise head : A smart person

: A smart person Wooden kimono : A coffin

: A coffin Worker , as in "She sizes up as a worker": A woman who takes a guy for his money

, as in "She sizes up as a worker": A woman who takes a guy for his money Wrong gee : Not a good fellow

: Not a good fellow Wrong number: Not a good fellow

Y

Yap : Mouth

: Mouth Yard : $100

: $100 Yegg: Safecracker who can only open cheap and easy safes

Z

Zotzed: Killed

Bibliography

Key: Full Title (year of first publication) by Author (Publisher and year of publication for the copy I used)

(ss = short stories collected years after first publication)

The Big Knockover (ss) by Dashiell Hammett (Vintage, 1972)

(ss) by Dashiell Hammett (Vintage, 1972) The Big Sleep (1939) by Raymond Chandler (Ballantine, 1971)

(1939) by Raymond Chandler (Ballantine, 1971) The Continental Op (ss) by Dashiell Hammett (Vintage, 1975)

(ss) by Dashiell Hammett (Vintage, 1975) The Dain Curse (1929) by Dashiell Hammett (Vintage, 1972)

(1929) by Dashiell Hammett (Vintage, 1972) "Death's Passport," a Dan Turner story by Robert Leslie Bellem. Published in Spicy Detective in 1940.

in 1940. The Dictionary of American Underworld Slang , by ?.

, by ?. Dougle in Trouble by Richard Prather and Stephen Marlowe (Gold Medal, 1959)

by Richard Prather and Stephen Marlowe (Gold Medal, 1959) Farewell, My Lovely (1940) by Raymond Chandler (Vintage, 1976)

(1940) by Raymond Chandler (Vintage, 1976) The Glass Key (1931) by Dashiell Hammett (Vintage, 1972)

(1931) by Dashiell Hammett (Vintage, 1972) The Lady in the Lake (1943) by Raymond Chandler (Vintage, 1976)

(1943) by Raymond Chandler (Vintage, 1976) The Maltese Falcon (1930) by Dashiell Hammet (Vintage, 1984)

(1930) by Dashiell Hammet (Vintage, 1984) Night Squad (1961) by David Goodis (Vintage, 1992)

(1961) by David Goodis (Vintage, 1992) Partridge's Concise Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English edited by Partridge and Beal (Collier Macmillan, 1989?)

edited by Partridge and Beal (Collier Macmillan, 1989?) Pick-Up on Noon Street (ss) by Raymond Chandler (Pocket Books, 1952)

(ss) by Raymond Chandler (Pocket Books, 1952) Playback (1958) by Raymond Chandler (Ballantine, 1977)

(1958) by Raymond Chandler (Ballantine, 1977) The Postman Always Rings Twice (1934) by James M. Cain (Vintage, 1978)

(1934) by James M. Cain (Vintage, 1978) Raymond Chandler Speaking edited by Gardiner and Walker (Allison & Busby, 1984)

edited by Gardiner and Walker (Allison & Busby, 1984) Shoot the Piano Player (1956) by David Goodis (Vintage, 1990)

(1956) by David Goodis (Vintage, 1990) The Simple Art of Murder (ss) by Raymond Chandler (Ballantine, 1972)

(ss) by Raymond Chandler (Ballantine, 1972) The Thin Man (1934) by Dashiell Hammett (Vintage, 1972)

(1934) by Dashiell Hammett (Vintage, 1972) Vengeance is Mine (1950) by Mickey Spillane (Signet, 1951)

Thanks to adria@u.washington.edu, anbaumes@aol.com, eluki@aol.com, johnsf@info-wave.com, jtr@gis.net, kijee@aol.com, LoisAna@aol.com, zeromostel@aol.com, Alan Andersen, Bill Balint, Oskar Back, Dan Beekman, Fabio Blanco, Eddie Bradford, J.W. Carter, Clayton Clark, Ed Cobb, Jim Cort, Dantalion, Jerome Dehnert, Bob Di Sebastian, Joseph M. Erhardt, Michael Ericksen, Paris Flammonde, Linda Franic, Bob Fritsch, Luke Garvey, Jan Haluska, Katherine Harper, Sandra Hess, Chris Hobbs, N.S. Hurt, Jennifer, Jevex, Kristopher John, J. Russell Jones, Kevin, Andrew G. Lehr, Erick Lundin, Lucas McCarthy, Douglas McCarty, Dan McClure, Mark D. McHugh, Lise McClendon, Henry Mazel, Margaret P. Mickelson, Kelly Moffatt, Alberto Abete Montoya, Nadine, Max Nordstrom, Gonzalo Quesada, Scott Radtke, William Ritter, Steven Rubio, William J. Rusen, Michele Salles, Paul Sarkis, Matt Stevens, Darren T, Mark Taylor, Chris Todd, Laura Toops, Eric Tublin, Marc Visconte and Sam Waas for their additions and suggestions.

William Denton <buff@pobox.com>

[ Last modified: Sat Feb 1 11:28:40 EST 2003 ]



TOPICS:

Constitution/Conservatism

Crime/Corruption

Culture/Society

Extended News

Government

News/Current Events

KEYWORDS:

cop

copper

dames

detective

flapper

gumshoe

moll

noir

police

roaring

slammer

slang

speakeasy

twenties

I am a big Film Noir fan. I found this on line dictionary and wanted to share it with others of the same interest as myself. It's a little bit of culture about 50 years ago.



To: vannrox

Here's another noir fan who thanks you for this link. I love this stuff--reading a collection of noir short stories right now. Hammett, Cain, Spillane, Jim Thompson--there's even a Harlan Ellison in the mix. Who knew he ever wrote noir? And then I downloaded a radio performance of Cain's Double Indemnity," with Fred McMurray and Barbara Stanwyck. No Edward G. Robinson, alas, but William Conrad fills in quite nicely.



As you can see, I just love noir. So thanks!



To: vannrox

Clymer = anus



To: vannrox

Be on the nut, To: To be broke From the term "To make the nut/ Making the nut", which comes from 19th century American history. When traveling shows came into to town, it wasn't unusual for them to run up bills and then skip out w/o settling their debts. So to discourage this, whenever a traveling show came to town the first thing the sheffif did was remove one of the wheel nuts. It was only returned when the troupe, at the end of its stay, showed the sherrif proof that they had paid all their bills (hotel, food, etc.). Hence the term "Making the nut". IOW, coming up with enough money to pay whats owned e.g. "Yeah, I think we made the nut with the rent this month" ("Yeah, I think we scrapped up enough money to pay the rent this month.")



by 4 posted onby yankeedame ("Oh, I can take it, but I'd much rather dish it out.")

To: vannrox

Nice post - thanks, ya mug.



by 5 posted onby strela ("Stop singing and finish your homework!")

To: vannrox

Um....I still use plenty of those terms. Wonder if that means I'm 50 years out of date. Had to explain to a cashier what a sawbuck was the other day, though. Maybe I just answered my own question.....



To: vannrox

Bump



To: yankeedame

When I was in sales, making your nut was making your quota. Times and slang change. Tha's a bad mo-bubble choo got there, dude. (Nice car)



by 8 posted onby knarf (From dump trailer to skate board.)

To: wbill

I understood the entire lead in. I must watch (or read) too much crime fiction. I did know most of the words though. I just finished re-reading Raymond Chandler. (Next is probably Hammet or the complete Perry Mason.)



There are a couple of dictionaries about criminal and American slang; I'll try to look them up and post the authors.



Some of the cable-satellite channels (Mystery, TCM) run film noir a lot.



To: vannrox

"The Big Heat" is on TV (Mystery Channel) tonight.



To: vannrox; ArcLight



This is great. I was out to dinner with colleagues from work not too long ago--college educated and in their 40s and 50s. Not one of them had ever heard the expression "Drop a Dume," LOL. I have often dreamed of writing for the genre...



"My name is Al. Al Dente. I'm the food critic for the Chronicle..."



by 11 posted onby lorrainer (That's all I have so far...)

To: vannrox

Dinge: Black person The first time I ever heard this epithet used was in Raymond Chandler's Farewell My Lovely, a great book that was made into an AWFUL movie called Murder My Sweet. The book opens with Marlowe dropping in on a "dinge joint" called Florian's. Incidentally, the best noir dialog is to be found in Sweet Smell of Success courtesy of Clifford Odetts: I'd hate to take a bite out of you, you're a cookie full of Arsenic.



by 12 posted onby Clemenza (East side, West side, all around the town. Tripping the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York)

To: ArcLight

by 13 posted onby vannrox (The Preamble to the Bill of Rights - without it, our Bill of Rights is meaningless!)

To: vannrox

bump for later



To: vannrox

The problem with this glossary is that it doesn't give the historical time period when this slang was popular. That makes it limited value to an author. There's slang from the 18th and 19th century mixed together with slang from 50 years ago without a clue as to what words were being used when. Sometimes slang can have different meaning depending on time period. For example, this glossary gives Bangtails: Racehorses but in the "From Hell" Jack the Ripper movie (set in the 1880's) a "bangtail" is a prostitute.



To: Physicist

self-ping



To: Roscoe

FYI



by 17 posted onby MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")

To: MrLeRoy

To: Roscoe

LOL!



by 19 posted onby MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")

To: Physicist

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