W77 archived entries
wallah(Anglo-Indian)someone concerned with or responsible for a certain thing. For instance, char wallah referred to the person responsible for making tea. Cf. Punkwallalh.
someone concerned with or responsible for a certain thing. For instance, char wallah referred to the person responsible for making tea. Cf. Punkwallalh.
Link to this entryWack. Sir, pal. The word may come from an old army word for rations, with the implication of sharing same and therefore comraderie. Wack also means chore, or portion of work assigned.
Wackedfatigued
Wacky Backymarijuana
Wagonbed
wagon drop-offsstolen goods, which were supposed to have dropped off a wagon
wagon fatinferior margarine brands
wait a tickwait a minute
Walker. Make yer name Walker, wack. Please go away.
Wall-bina special type of garbage bin built into alley walls and easily capable of being tilted outward for emptying purposes.
a special type of garbage bin built into alley walls and easily capable of being tilted outward for emptying purposes.
Link to this entrywallopto consume, take in at the mouth. Wallop also regularly refers to beer or ale.
to consume, take in at the mouth. Wallop also regularly refers to beer or ale.
Link to this entryWallythe quintessential idiot or imbecile; a feeble or worthless person
the quintessential idiot or imbecile; a feeble or worthless person
Link to this entryWankermasturbator; although abusive, the term in does not always imply anything about sexual behavior, just general contempt for or displeasure with someone.
masturbator; although abusive, the term in does not always imply anything about sexual behavior, just general contempt for or displeasure with someone.
Link to this entryWanna. I wannaI want to.
Warpaintmake-up
warrant key, aa sledge hammer used to gain entry when a warrant entitles police to do so and other methods have failed.
a sledge hammer used to gain entry when a warrant entitles police to do so and other methods have failed.
Link to this entrywaspie beltswide elastic belts worn by teenagers during the fifties, often with full skirts.
wide elastic belts worn by teenagers during the fifties, often with full skirts.
Link to this entryWater-tight dooranother word for diaper
Wearifiedtired
Webs. Me webs. My feet.
Wee and cackinfant talk for urination and excretion
Weedscannabis
weighed off, to beto have gotten what the employer owes a person
Wellerbackground singer
Wellied. Ee wuz wellied. He was kicked. The term comes Wellington boots used by the kicker against the kickee.
Welsh-buttysandwich containing cheese and sliced raw onion
welt, to be on theto be taking an unauthorized break on the job
to be taking an unauthorized break on the job
Link to this entryWeltrest period. Among dockers, one person would work, while two or three others would watch him, taking turns every twenty minutes. This was called welting, or bobbing, or ghosting.
rest period. Among dockers, one person would work, while two or three others would watch him, taking turns every twenty minutes. This was called welting, or bobbing, or ghosting.
Link to this entryWerkin fer de Queen(dockers)drawing unemployment benefit
wet the tea, toto make the tea
wet soda futile talker, a thorough bore
Wet neller (or wet nelly)Nelson cake. Siegl describes this as"A cake made from compressed, broken biscuits, pastry remnants, etc. with dried fruit added, the whole soaked in syrup or burnt sugar and stacked in great piles." Spiegl passes on Frank Shaw'a recollection "that the lowest slices were the most sought-after, since the syrup soaked to the bottom of the pile."
Nelson cake. Siegl describes this as"A cake made from compressed, broken biscuits, pastry remnants, etc. with dried fruit added, the whole soaked in syrup or burnt sugar and stacked in great piles." Spiegl passes on Frank Shaw'a recollection "that the lowest slices were the most sought-after, since the syrup soaked to the bottom of the pile."
Link to this entryWet the baby's head, tohave a drink, perhaps just one. The term might be traditional at Christenings, but it is used in almost any context to mean "well, maybe just one." In Lancashire, after the birth of a child, there would be a"merry meal," with tea and rum aplenty. The wife's female friends would attend this, and the event was known as "wetting the baby's head."
have a drink, perhaps just one. The term might be traditional at Christenings, but it is used in almost any context to mean "well, maybe just one." In Lancashire, after the birth of a child, there would be a"merry meal," with tea and rum aplenty. The wife's female friends would attend this, and the event was known as "wetting the baby's head."
Wezzer, Thethe old West Derby cinema
Whale Oil Beef Hookeda phrase which disguises in the spelling, but not too thoroughly, the obscenity in the exclamation
a phrase which disguises in the spelling, but not too thoroughly, the obscenity in the exclamation
Link to this entryWhat. Yer wha? Do I hear you aright?
What's yer...? What is the price of...?
whim-whampinwheel
pinwheel
Link to this entryWhingeingcoinage fusing cringeing and whining. Whinge can mean to cry wearily and incessantly.
coinage fusing cringeing and whining. Whinge can mean to cry wearily and incessantly.
Link to this entrywhipto confiscate or steal:
Whip behind!in earlier times, this was a carter's warning as he lashed backwards to keep urchins from stealing off the back of his cart
in earlier times, this was a carter's warning as he lashed backwards to keep urchins from stealing off the back of his cart
Link to this entryWhip on, whip offto board or to alight
whip-rounda subscription of cash made by several persons for a given purpose, usually a colleague's misfortune such as a lost pay packet.
a subscription of cash made by several persons for a given purpose, usually a colleague's misfortune such as a lost pay packet.
Link to this entrywhirlies, getting thebeginning to feel the effect of a fair amount of alcohol
Whistle (rhyming)suit Rhyming components: whistle and flute
White liver suspecta term referring to a woman who is constantly burying husbands, and who perhaps has been poisoning them
a term referring to a woman who is constantly burying husbands, and who perhaps has been poisoning them
Link to this entrywhite slaves(obsolete)another term for washerwomen
whizzera tin disc with serrated edge, with two holes for threading a loop of string. It could be whirled around, often making exotic patterns and sounds. They were known as cheesecutters in some neighborhoods. They could also cut like a saw and were really quite dangerous.
a tin disc with serrated edge, with two holes for threading a loop of string. It could be whirled around, often making exotic patterns and sounds. They were known as cheesecutters in some neighborhoods. They could also cut like a saw and were really quite dangerous.
Link to this entrywhole cheese, to feel theto be quite satisfied with oneself, to feel as though one has really "arrived."
wicked, theblack colloquial name for police
Wicker. I wanna new wicker wackerI require a new suit, my man.
Widow's memoriesbawdy term for bangers, or sausages
Wind instrumentspeas, beans
Wind someone up, toto be fooling, to be putting someone onor stringing them along
wingeto cry wearily and persistently. This is a composite of wail and cringe
Wingera ship's steward
Wingy. A person with one arm.
winkleshortened form of periwinkle, a type of edible sea snail. People are said to "winkle" them out with a pin or a small knife. See also kewins and quins.
shortened form of periwinkle, a type of edible sea snail. People are said to "winkle" them out with a pin or a small knife. See also kewins and quins.
winkle picker shoesvery long shoes, popular in the fifties
Winnickclumsy, retarded, simple. The word comes from the asylum/hospital at Winwick. Cf. Rainhill on this list.
clumsy, retarded, simple. The word comes from the asylum/hospital at Winwick. Cf. Rainhill on this list.
Link to this entrywinter-warmers(obsolete)tin cans stuffed with rags soaked in petrol, oil, or tar, the sides of the cans punctured with air holes. The cans were lit and swung about, and were not of any help against the cold.
tin cans stuffed with rags soaked in petrol, oil, or tar, the sides of the cans punctured with air holes. The cans were lit and swung about, and were not of any help against the cold.
Link to this entryWinwick(now obsolete)the insane asylum
wise Herbert, aa tricky, untrustworthy person
Witteringchattering nonsensically
wobbler(obsolete)an ambulatory patient in a military hospital. More recently it has come to mean a staid, conservative person, a "square."
an ambulatory patient in a military hospital. More recently it has come to mean a staid, conservative person, a "square."
Link to this entryWobbler, to throw ato go beserk, to lose all sense of personal control. Sometimes this shows as "to chuck a wobbly."
to go beserk, to lose all sense of personal control. Sometimes this shows as "to chuck a wobbly."
wogan illness, as in "stomach wog." Cf. Lancashire "bally warch" for belly ache.
an illness, as in "stomach wog." Cf. Lancashire "bally warch" for belly ache.
Link to this entryWoggieshead lice. See also "biddies" on this list.
WolliesWoolworth's
Wooden hillsstairs in a house
WoodyWoodbine cigarette. Woody also can mean a sexual erection
Woolidomusually refers to Lancashire , where the woolybacks (lankies) live, or to the countryside outside of the city of Liverpool.
usually refers to Lancashire , where the woolybacks (lankies) live, or to the countryside outside of the city of Liverpool.
Link to this entryWoolyshort for "woolly-back," someone who lives outside Liverpool in the surrounding region, and therefore must not be a true scouser. More recently, since "wooly-backs" are sheep with black faces, the term has come to refer to ethnic minorities.
short for "woolly-back," someone who lives outside Liverpool in the surrounding region, and therefore must not be a true scouser. More recently, since "wooly-backs" are sheep with black faces, the term has come to refer to ethnic minorities.
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