#slang

Fionnbharr @Fionnbharr@mastodon.ie · Aug 05, 2026

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Clip o' the reel (also: kip of the reel) This idiom describes an activity that would occasion disturbance and craic. "The same old clip o' the reel when the girls came home from the dance." The phrase comes directly from traditional Irish music and dance culture. A "reel" is a fast-paced, high-energy traditional dance in 4/4 time. Thus calling something a "clip o' the reel" means it has that same energetic and lively rhythm. #ireland #slang #language

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Fionnbharr @Fionnbharr@mastodon.ie · Aug 03, 2026

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Clash of the Ash This is a phrase used to signify, romantically, the game of hurling: hurleys are traditionally made from the wood of the ash tree. The tree is supposed to be 30 years old, and the wood taken from where the roots spread, so that the grain of the wood will not go with the length of the stick, making it liable to split. #ireland #slang #language

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Fionnbharr @Fionnbharr@mastodon.ie · Aug 02, 2026

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Circling Shannon This is a euphemism for being unwell, extremely drunk, and incapable of action, arising from an incident at Shannon Airport in 1994 when the Russian President Boris Yeltsin was unable to leave the plane, while the Irish Taoiseach Albert Reynolds waited. #ireland #slang #language

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The Vulgar Tongue @TheVulgarTongue@zirk.us · Aug 01, 2026

GO, THE. The dash. The mode. He is quite the go, he is quite varment, he is prime, he is bang up, are synonimous expressions. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

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The Vulgar Tongue @TheVulgarTongue@zirk.us · Jul 30, 2026

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FAM LAY. Going into a goldsmith's shop, under pretence of buying a wedding ring, and palming one or two, by daubing the hand with some viscous matter. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

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Fionnbharr @Fionnbharr@mastodon.ie · Jul 28, 2026

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Carnaptious (Also: "curnoptious") "Carnaptious" is an adjective meaning "irritable", "cranky," "bad-tempered". Its origins are unclear but the Oxford English Dictionary suggest that it could be a form of English ‘captious’ which has a similar meaning and gives its roots as Scottish and Irish dialect. OED also has the earliest attestation from the Ulster Journal of Archaeology of 1858: “A nivver seen wan so curnaptious.” #ireland #slang #language

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Fionnbharr @Fionnbharr@mastodon.ie · Jul 27, 2026

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Caorán (Also: cadhrán, caofrán, caofróg) "Caorán" are small pieces of turf used to kindle a fire (mostly used in Co. Galway). In Kerry it usually refers to a broken sod of turf or a bit of turf, lighted and sent around the neighbourhood as a signal. Example of use: "Don't bring in all the big sods - throw the caoráns in too". #ireland #slang #language

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The Vulgar Tongue @TheVulgarTongue@zirk.us · Jul 27, 2026

DOWSER. Vulgar pronunciation of DOUCEUR. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

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The Vulgar Tongue @TheVulgarTongue@zirk.us · Jul 26, 2026

USED UP. Killed: a military saying, originating from a message sent by the late General Guise, on the expedition at Carthagena, where he desired the commander in chief to order him some more grenadiers, for those he had were all used up. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

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The Vulgar Tongue @TheVulgarTongue@zirk.us · Jul 26, 2026

CLOUTED SHOON. Shoes tipped with iron. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

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The Vulgar Tongue @TheVulgarTongue@zirk.us · Jul 25, 2026

BLIND CHEEKS. The breech. Buss blind cheeks; kiss mine arse. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

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Fionnbharr @Fionnbharr@mastodon.ie · Jul 24, 2026

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Cailleach (Also: "calleach", "callioch", "calyagh".) "Cailleach" is a word for an "old woman", "hag" (but it's distinct from "seanbhean"); the term is reserved for a very old woman or witch-like creature. Cailleach ('old woman' or 'hag' in modern Irish) comes from the Old Irish "caillech" (veiled one or nun), an adjectival form of "caille" (veil), an early loan from Latin "pallium" (woollen cloak). #ireland #slang #language

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Fionnbharr @Fionnbharr@mastodon.ie · Jul 23, 2026

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Cailín (Also: "colleen") "Cailín" in it's variant spelling is probably one of the most familiar Hiberno-English words, it means, "girl" or "maiden". #ireland #slang #language

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The Vulgar Tongue @TheVulgarTongue@zirk.us · Jul 23, 2026

NICKNAME. A name given in ridicule or contempt: from the French nom de niqne. Niqne is a movement of the head to mark a contempt for any person or thing. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

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The Vulgar Tongue @TheVulgarTongue@zirk.us · Jul 23, 2026

Hi!, I'm a bot posting selections from Francis Grose’s 1785 “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue”, a compilation of slang terms, the coded language of the underclass and the demi-monde. [18th-century-content warning: possible racism, animal cruelty, homophobia, sexism, slut-shaming. Let me know of any problems.] #FollowFriday #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #crime #language #slang #18thCentury

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Fionnbharr @Fionnbharr@mastodon.ie · Jul 21, 2026

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Cadráil ("Cadráil" is the Irish for "chatter" or "gossip"; a "cadrálaí" is a "chatterbox".) Generally in Ireland "cadráil" means any type of empty chatter. In Cork it means "long-winded talk" and "cadrálaí" is one given to foolish prattling. Whilst in Kerry "cadaráiling" is used to describe idle gossiping, eg "stop your cadaráiling and come over here". #ireland #slang #language

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The Vulgar Tongue @TheVulgarTongue@zirk.us · Jul 21, 2026

BELLOWS. The lungs. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

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Fionnbharr @Fionnbharr@mastodon.ie · Jul 20, 2026

Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day: Cabús (Also: "caboose") In Ireland a "cabús" is a nook on each side of an open fire in which tea, tobacco, etc. was left to keep dry. "Put it in the cabús in the corner." (Not to be confused with caboose's use in the USA [a railway wagon with accommodation for the train crew, typically attached to the end of the train] or the UK [a person's buttocks].) #ireland #slang #language

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The Vulgar Tongue @TheVulgarTongue@zirk.us · Jul 19, 2026

BARREL FEVER. He died of the barrel fever; he killed himself by drinking. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

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The Vulgar Tongue @TheVulgarTongue@zirk.us · Jul 17, 2026

BUTTOCK BROKER. A bawd, or match-maker. CANT. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons@a.gup.pe

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