Some of the more unusual words and phrases used in Bartlett's adaptation. If you have words to add, let me know!
This section also includes a list of insults.
This section also includes a list of insults.
A
affablest – the most friendly and pleasant
avaracious – having insatiable greed
avidity – eagerness; greediness
avaracious – having insatiable greed
avidity – eagerness; greediness
B
baddin – a “bad one”
Beadle – a minor officer of a parish; in this case, he runs the parish workhouse
“blow upon” – inform against
blunt – money
“brought to it by bread and water” – made to succumb in prison
Beadle – a minor officer of a parish; in this case, he runs the parish workhouse
“blow upon” – inform against
blunt – money
“brought to it by bread and water” – made to succumb in prison
C
charity boy – a poor boy who attends a school run by a charity organization
chunter – grumble
cove / covey – fellow
crape – ridged / ruffled fabric, usually part of a mourning gown; alt. spelling of crepe
chunter – grumble
cove / covey – fellow
crape – ridged / ruffled fabric, usually part of a mourning gown; alt. spelling of crepe
D
demogalization – bastardization of "demoralization"
drab – a cheap prostitute
drain – drink (usually gin)
drab – a cheap prostitute
drain – drink (usually gin)
E
earwigged – brainwashed, convinced by principles
evinced – made evident
extant – still existing
evinced – made evident
extant – still existing
F
fence – receiver and seller of stolen goods
G
gaff – home, in this case hideout
gallows – where criminals are hanged, but also used here to mean people sentenced to hang
Greenland – country of “greenhorns,” i.e. naive newcomers
gruel – thin water and meal substance of very little nutritional value
gallows – where criminals are hanged, but also used here to mean people sentenced to hang
Greenland – country of “greenhorns,” i.e. naive newcomers
gruel – thin water and meal substance of very little nutritional value
H
housebreaker – a thief who breaks into and enters houses, as opposed to a pickpocket, who steals from citizens
hue and cry – a policy that requires citizens to assist in the apprehension of a criminal
hue and cry – a policy that requires citizens to assist in the apprehension of a criminal
I
“incher” – “ain’t ya”
inexorable – unyielding
indigence – poverty
inexorable – unyielding
indigence – poverty
J
Jack Ketch – British slang for a hangman
K
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L
lucky – escape
M
magistrate – minor judicial officer
morrice – make haste
“my fascinator” – term of endearment
morrice – make haste
“my fascinator” – term of endearment
N
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O
Old Bailey – Central Criminal Court
obstinately – firmly, without yielding
“on your pins” – “hop to it”; “on your toes”
obstinately – firmly, without yielding
“on your pins” – “hop to it”; “on your toes”
P
“pad the hoof” – move it along, get going on foot
parish – the smallest unit of local government
parochial – of the parish, or having gone through a parish school
peach – inform against
prentice-boy – an apprentice
presentiment – foreboding
“Plummy and Slam!” – nineteenth-century underworld slang, likely coined by Dickens
pole magistrate – police magistrate
parish – the smallest unit of local government
parochial – of the parish, or having gone through a parish school
peach – inform against
prentice-boy – an apprentice
presentiment – foreboding
“Plummy and Slam!” – nineteenth-century underworld slang, likely coined by Dickens
pole magistrate – police magistrate
Q
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R
Red Lion, The [Old] – tavern near the Angel in London
running noose – a type of knot that tightens when the rope is pulled
row – a conflict; here it means “the matter,” as in "what's the row"
running noose – a type of knot that tightens when the rope is pulled
row – a conflict; here it means “the matter,” as in "what's the row"
S
scarper – scamper
sharpish – quickly
skulk – to slink; to move stealthily with a dark purpose
Solomon Grundy – refers to the nursery rhyme, which is: Solomon Grundy / Born on a Monday / Christened on
Tuesday / Married on Wednesday / Took ill on Thursday / Grew worse on Friday / Died on Saturday / Buried on
Sunday / That was the end / of Solomon Grundy
“snitched, nabbed, and lagged for a lifer” – informed upon, captured, and sent to prison for life
superlative – to the highest degree
sharpish – quickly
skulk – to slink; to move stealthily with a dark purpose
Solomon Grundy – refers to the nursery rhyme, which is: Solomon Grundy / Born on a Monday / Christened on
Tuesday / Married on Wednesday / Took ill on Thursday / Grew worse on Friday / Died on Saturday / Buried on
Sunday / That was the end / of Solomon Grundy
“snitched, nabbed, and lagged for a lifer” – informed upon, captured, and sent to prison for life
superlative – to the highest degree
T
togs – clothes
toil – trap; snare
transported – sent to a colony (such as America or Australia) to undergo harsh reform
trap – police officer
toil – trap; snare
transported – sent to a colony (such as America or Australia) to undergo harsh reform
trap – police officer
U
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V
victuals – food, provisions
W
wash’ouse – public laundry place
wipes – handkerchiefs
Workhouse / “workhus” – Noah’s derogatory name, referring to a poorhouse, paid for through public funding and taxes, where impoverished citizens labored in exchange for food and shelter
wipes – handkerchiefs
Workhouse / “workhus” – Noah’s derogatory name, referring to a poorhouse, paid for through public funding and taxes, where impoverished citizens labored in exchange for food and shelter
X, Y, Z
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List of Insults
blab - fool
flat - inexperienced fool
hick jop - country-boy fool
hick sam - country-boy fool
lob - fool
spooney - heavy fool
blunderbuss - fool
bottle-head - fool
mouth - novice, fool
noddle - empty-headed fool
These were taken from a Victorian "Flash Dictionary."
flat - inexperienced fool
hick jop - country-boy fool
hick sam - country-boy fool
lob - fool
spooney - heavy fool
blunderbuss - fool
bottle-head - fool
mouth - novice, fool
noddle - empty-headed fool
These were taken from a Victorian "Flash Dictionary."