envelope to challenge current parameters. From aviation where
ENVELOPE is the limit of a plane’s range and powers, via 1990s’
marketing speak US, 1998. < push up the daisies; pushing up
the daisies
to be dead, especially dead and buried; use is
occasionally extended to the dying. An image first sketched as
dated ‘turn up your toes to the daisies’ in 1842 – from which we
derive turn up your toes, (to die). Other variations that have
slipped from use: ‘under the daisies’, ‘kick up daisies’ and, less
certainly, ‘grin at the daisy-roots’, which may also relate to ‘roots’
(boots)
UK, 1918. < push your luck to take a risk UK, 1911
push-bike noun a bicycle. The ‘push’ providing a motive distinction
from a motorbike UK, 1913
pushed adjective short of something, usually time or money UK, 1942
pusher noun 1 a drug dealer US, 1935. 2 in the circus or carnival, a
foreman
US, 1980
push-in noun a robbery accomplished by knocking on a door and
pushing your way into a house or apartment US, 1982
pushing adverb of years of age, approaching, nearly UK, 1974
push in the bush noun vaginal sex US, 1980
push in the truck noun an instance of sexual intercourse. Rhyming
slang for FUCK in the transport industry UK, 1992
pushke noun a drive soliciting funds. The term comes from Yiddish,
and derives from a charitable collection box in Jewish homes
passed around on Sabbath eve to collect for philanthropic
purposes
CANADA, 2002
push-me-toe noun any thong sandal TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
push-oline noun gasoline, petrol US, 1977

push out in the language of hang gliding, used as an all-purpose
greeting or farewell US, 1992
pushover noun 1 someone who is gullible or easily manipulated; a
person who is easily persuaded into sexual activity US, 1944.
2 something that is easy to do US, 1906
pushunder noun a chamber pot BARBADOS, 1965
push water noun petrol or diesel fuel US, 1977
pushy adjective 1 self-assertive, especially when unpleasantly so US,
1936. 2 used of a woman, in the second stage of labour US, 1994
pusillanimous polecat noun used as a general term of disapproval.
A term used by George ‘Gramps’ Miller, played by George
Cleveland, on the television drama Lassie (CBS, 1954–57).
Repeated with referential humour US, 1957
puss noun 1 the vagina; sex UK, 1958. 2 a girl or woman; an effeminate
man UK, 1991. 3 a ‘feminine’ lesbian UK, 1977. 4 the mouth; the face.
A term hatched simultaneously in Ireland and the US US, 1891 . 5 a
disgruntled facial expression. From Irish pus IRELAND, 2004
puss-ball; pus-ball noun a contemptible person UK, 2003
puss boots noun trainers, sneakers JAMAICA, 1996
pusser; pusser’s adjective official. Royal Navy slang, adapted from
the old navy rank of Purser; used in many combinations UK, 1987
pusser’s noun rum. Royal Navy slang; derives from ‘pusser’s ’
(official issue), not to be confused with branded Pusser’s Rum UK,
1989
pusser’s brown noun toilet paper. Royal Navy slang UK, 1984
pusser’s cow noun tinned milk. Naval slang AUSTRALIA, 1943
pusser’s dip noun a candle. Royal Navy slang; originally ‘purser’s
dip’
UK, 1948
pusser’s dirk noun a service clasp-knife. Royal Navy slang; a variant

of ‘pusser’s dagger’
UK, 1960
pusser’s dust noun instant coffee powder. Royal Navy slang UK, 1988
pusser’s fix-all noun WD40™, a multi-purpose lubricant. Royal Navy
slang UK, 1988
pusser’s hard noun navy-issue soap. Royal Navy slang UK, 1962
pusser’s leaf noun navy-issue rolling tobacco. Royal Navy slang UK,
1988
pusser’s medal noun a food stain on clothing. Royal Navy slang UK,
1988
pussified adjective effeminate US, 1994
pussin noun the vagina; a woman as a sexual object TRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO
, 1993
pussy noun 1 the vagina; a woman as a sexual object; sex UK, 1880.
2 the mouth (as an object of sexual penetration) US, 1988 . 3 a weak
or effeminate boy or man; a coward
US, 1942. 4 a fur skin or fur
garment. Criminals’ slang
UK, 1937. 5 anchovies. Based on the
puerile comparison of the smell of fish and the vagina
US, 1996.
6 the middle position in the back seat of a car US, 1980. < pet the
pussy
(of a female) to masturbate US, 2001. < sling pussy to work
as a prostitute
US, 1990
pussy adjective weak; effeminate; not manly US, 1986
pussy; pussy in verb to move quietly; to enter unobtrusively. To a
degree synonymous with conventional ‘pussyfoot’ AUSTRALIA, 1975

pussy-ass noun a weak or effeminate man; a coward US, 1995
pussy beard noun female pubic hair US, 1967
pussy bumping noun genital-to-genital lesbian sex US, 1949
pussycat; pussy cat noun 1 the vagina US, 1980. 2 a sexually attractive
woman US, 1965. 3 a pleasant, surprisingly gentle or amenable
person US, 1978
pussy cat has a nosebleed a woman who is in the bleed period
of the menstrual cycle. A euphemistic elaboration on PUSSYCAT (the
vagina) US, 2001
pussyclot; pussyclaat noun someone despicable. Combines PUSSY
(vagina) and ‘clot’ (West Indian pronunciation of ‘cloth’) to mean
‘sanitary towel’; however ‘clot’ may be understood conventionally
as coagulated blood which intensifies the insult JAMAICA, 1978
pussy cloth noun any improvised sanitary towel JAMAICA, 1985
pussy collar noun a desire for sex US, 1963
pussycratic adjective obsessed with sex JAMAICA, 1976
pussy drunk noun a sex offender; a rapist UK, 1996
pussy eater noun a practitioner of oral sex on women US, 2002
pussy fart noun an eruption of trapped air from the vagina during
sexual intercourse US, 1995
pussyfence noun a receiver of stolen furs UK, 1956
pussy finger noun the index finger US, 1977
pussyfoot verb to act with such caution that your behaviour appears
evasive or cowardly. From the cautious progress of cats US, 1903
pussyfooter noun a railway police officer US, 1977
pussy game noun prostitution US, 1978
pussy hair noun female pubic hair US, 1969
pussy holder noun the passenger seat on a motorcyle US, 1967
pussy hole noun a despicable person or object; used abusively. A
synonym for CUNT; seemingly euphemistic but possibly more

derogatory than the original PUSSY (the vagina), with extra detail UK,
1994
pussyhole noun a despised person UK, 2006
pussy hook noun a thief who specialises in stealing furs. A combi-
nation of PUSSY (a fur) and HOOK (a thief) UK, 1956
pussy hound noun a man obsessed with sex and women US, 1984
pussy lips noun the labia US, 1969
pussy man noun a pimp US, 1967
pussy Nellie; pussy Nelly noun a male homosexual. Mainly naval
usage, apparently from early in the C20 UK, 1984
pussy out verb to back out of a task because of fear US, 1992
pussy patrol; pussy posse; pussy squad noun a police vice squad
focusing on prostitution US, 1973
pussy posse noun 1 a police vice squad UK, 1963. 2 a group of female
friends US, 2001
pussy queer noun a lesbian US, 1982
pussy-seller noun a prostitute BAHAMAS, 1982
pussysucker; pussysugger noun the mouth US, 1964
521 push-bike | pussysucker; pussysugger
pussywhip verb (used of a woman) to dominate a man US, 1974
pussy-whipped adjective dominated by a woman US, 1956
pussy whisker noun a pubic hair US, 1986
pussy willow noun a pillow. Rhyming slang UK, 1968
pussy-wood noun stolen firewood. Coalminers’ use UK, 1984
put verb to dilute a drug US, 1992. < put a (number) on to dilute a
drug by the identified numerical factor
US, 1971. < put it about to
be sexually promiscuous
UK, 1975. < put it on to declare hostilities
with another youth gang US, 1953. < put it to someone to have

sex with someone
UK, 2001. < put me in give me some drugs UK,
1985. < put next to to introduce one person to another or to
acquaint one person with another US, 1906. < put on to fool
someone, to tease someone, to deceive someone
US, 1958. < put
one on
1 to plan a crime UK, 1996. 2 to hit or punch someone UK,
1974. < put paid to to put a stop to something UK, 1919. < put
yourself about 1 to get around and be seen. Originally police
usage, now widespread probably as a result of television and film
crime dramas UK, 1970. 2 to work as a prostitute. A variation of the
previous sense UK, 1980
puta noun a sexually promiscuous woman; a prostitute. From
Spanish puta (a whore)
US, 1964
put away verb 1 to eat or drink something especially in large quan-
tities UK, 1878. 2 to put someone in jail UK, 1883. 3 to bribe a jockey
to lose a race UK, 1978
put-down noun a verbal belittling or criticism UK, 1984
put down verb 1 to belittle someone; to treat someone with
humiliating contempt US, 1958. 2 to euthanise an animal UK, 1899.
3 to implicate someone as guilty US, 1965
put it there used as a greeting, soliciting a handshake US, 1978
puto noun a male homosexual. Border Spanish used by English-
speakers in the American southwest US, 1965
puto mark verb to cross something out. Puto is Spanish slang for ‘a
male prostitute’ US, 2000
put-on adjective affected, insincere UK, 1621
put out verb 1 to consent to sex US, 1947. 2 to be deserving of some

punishment
IRELAND, 1997
put-put noun 8see: PHAT-PHAT
putrid adjective excellent; brilliant AUSTRALIA, 1993
put some water on it! used as a demand that a person using a
communal toilet flush to rid the room of the smell of faeces
US, 2001
putt verb to fart. Also used as noun; a childish variation of POOT,
probably coined in the mid-1990s by Sylvia Branzei for Grossology
US, 1996
putter noun in hot rodding, a car that has been customised for show
rather than performance and is used for ‘putting around’
US, 1993
put the name in the hat verb to inform UK, 1996
putting green noun in pool, the largest regulation-size table US, 1990
putt-putt noun a boat or vehicle with a puny motor US, 1959
putty noun < up to putty no good AUSTRALIA, 1916
put up verb to serve time in prison US, 1976
put-up job noun a pre-arranged deception UK, 1838
put up or shut up! used as a challenge to take action to defend
what you say, or be quiet US, 1878
put you up to verb to incite, induce or persuade you to do
something UK, 1824
putz noun 1 the penis US, 1934. 2 by extension, an inept, contemptible
person
US, 1964
putz verb < putz ar ound to idle; to do nothing; to waste time US,
1972
PW adjective dominated by a female. An abbreviation of PUSSY-
WHIPPED US

, 1966
p-whipped adjective dominated by a female. An abbreviated and
euphemised
PUSSY-WHIPPED US, 1999
pyjama cricket; pyjama game noun one-day cricket. So-called
from the colourful uniforms worn by players instead of the usual
cricket whites AUSTRALIA, 1982
pyjama-python noun the penis AUSTRALIA, 1971
pylons noun the legs US, 1947
PYO Pick-Your-Own, applied to soft fruits and farm vegetables.
Usually seen in roadside advertising UK, 1982
pyro noun a pyromaniac; pyrotechnics UK, 1977
python noun the penis AUSTRALIA, 1971
Pythonesque adjective of an event, or series of events, more than
bizarre but less than surreal. From the television comedy series
Monty Python’s Flying Circus, BBC, 1969–74 UK, 1979
pussywhip | Pythonesque 522
Qq
Q noun 1 a homosexual. An abbreviation of QUEER US, 1968. 2 of drugs,
generally marijuana, a quarter of an ounce
UK, 1997. 3 the rec-
reational drug methaqualone, best known as Quaaludes™
US, 1977.
4 in a deck of playing cards, a queen US, 1991. 5 barbecue US, 2001.
6 in American casinos, a $25 chip. An abbreviation of QUARTER US,
1983
Q nickname the San Quentin state prison in San Rafael, California US,
1951
Q and A a question and answer session US, 1997
qat noun 1 methcathinone US, 2003. 2 leaves of catha edulis, astimu-

lant also called K, khat or kat, originating in the Horn of Africa and
the Arabian peninsula, legally available in the UK and similar to
amphetamine in effect when chewed. Also known as ‘qaadka’
UK,
1996
Q boat noun an unmarked police car with plain clothes officers.
From the name given to disguised naval vessels in World War 1 UK,
1977
QE verb to turn Queen’s Evidence (to give evidence for the
prosecution against your alleged accomplices)
UK, 1996
Q-ship noun among hot rodders, a high-performing car that appears
to be a conventional car. Taken from the early C20 meaning of an
armed and camouflaged merchant ship used as a decoy
US, 1965
Q-sign noun of a very sick hospital patient, the open mouth with the
tongue hanging out. Medical wit; the ‘Q’ is an image of the mouth
and tongue as described. The O-SIGN is not quite as serious UK, 2002
QT noun < on the QT quietly, in strict confidence UK, 1884
Qtipnoun in poker, a queen and a ten US, 1996
quack noun 1 a doctor of medicine. Following an earlier (mid-C17)
sense as ‘a pretended doctor’, abbreviated from ‘quacksalver’ (one
who sells his salves by noisy patter or ‘quacking’). The current
sense, spread through military use, does not imply any lack of
qualification or a degree of salesmanship AUSTRALIA, 1919. 2 a
hospital patient who feigns symptoms in order to receive
attention, prescription medication or both
US, 1978. 3 in poker, a
player who complains loudly when losing US, 1979 . 4 the recreational
drug methaqualone, best known as Quaaludes™ US, 1985. 5 a

firefighter. New York police slang US, 1997. 6 a novice surfer US, 1977
quacker noun a Kawasaki motorcycle UK, 1979
quackery noun forensic scientists; a forensic science department.
Police use; always used with ‘the’. Probably a pun on QUACK (a
doctor) UK, 1971
quackie noun a white person TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1971
quack-quack noun 1 a duck. An echoic term, used by, or to, infants
UK, 1865. 2 a commotion TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1982
quad noun 1 a quadriplegic US, 1980. 2 in trucking, a quadriplex trans-
mission that provides twenty forward gears and four reverse US,
1971. 3 the recreational drug methaqualone, best known as
Quaaludes™ US, 1980. 4 a carburettor with four barrels US, 1965 . 5 a
clumsy, inept fool. An evolved SQUARE CANADA, 1993
quad-fifty noun a quadruple mount .50 calibre machine gun, a
devastating truck-drawn trailer-mounted weapon. Originated in
World War 2
US, 1953
quadruplets noun in poker, four cards of the same rank US, 1979
quads noun 1 the quadriceps muscles US, 1984. 2 in poker, a hand with
all four cards of the same rank
US, 1996
quaff verb to drink alcohol UK, 1955
quail noun 1 a woman US, 1859. 2 a girl under the legal age of consent.
A shortened form of SAN QUENTIN QUAIL US, 1976. 3 a twenty-five cent
betting token used in of craps US, 1983
Quaker oat noun a coat. Rhyming slang, formed from Quaker
Oats™, a brand of porridge
UK, 1932
quality noun < the quality anyone who is not a member of the
travelling community

IRELAND, 1993
quango noun a government-financed, notionally independent body
with a powerful interest in a given field of interest. An acronym for
Quasi Non-Government(al) Organisation or Quasi-Autonomous
National Government Organisation
UK, 1973
quanker noun in Nova Scotia, a duck-calling device CANADA, 1945
quare adjective mediocre UK, 1983
quare hawk noun someone who is unconventional in some way
IRELAND, 1989
quare one noun wife IRELAND, 1997
quar ice noun water that has oozed through the ground through
snow and frozen on the surface CANADA, 1955
quarked out adjective under the influence of drugs US, 1999
quarm verb (used of a man) to behave in an exaggerated, effeminate
manner
BAHAMAS, 1982
quart noun 1 a twenty-five cent piece BARBADOS, 1965. 2 in poker, four
cards of the same suit in sequence US, 1979
quarter noun 1 a quarter of an ounce of drugs, especially cocaine US,
1968. 2 a quarter of a kilo of drugs UK, 1996. 3 twenty-five dollars’
worth of drugs. Also called a ‘quarter bag’ US, 2001. 4 a prison
sentence of 25 years
US, 1964. 5 a jail sentence of three months.
Also referred to as ‘quarter bit’ and ‘quarter stretch’ UK, 1977. 6 in
American casinos, a $25 chip US, 1980. 7 twenty-five pounds of
weights used in lifting US, 1989. 8 a cigarette US, 1958
quarter bird noun one quarter pound of cocaine US, 1999
quarter-deck verb during US Marine Corps basic training, to
administer physical discipline or Incentive Physical Training US, 2004

quarter house noun a place where mid-level heroin dealers do
business US, 1978
quarter rock noun crack cocaine US, 1993
quart store noun a store that sells beer on the retail level US, 1997
quartz noun methamphetamine that is smoked UK, 1998
Quasar noun a woman. A strained allusion to a Quasar television
advertising slogan – ‘works in a drawer’, and then punning on
‘drawers’ as an item of female underwear US, 1976
quashie noun a country-dweller; an unsophisticated peasant. Possibly
from C18 Quashee, an African name, adopted by white people as
a general name for any black person UK, 1997
Quasimodo noun soda water. Rhyming slang, formed from ‘The
Hunchback of Notre Dame’ UK, 1992
quat noun in betting, odds of 4–1 UK, 1991
quater noun twenty-five cents. A corruption of ‘quarter’ US, 1980
quater; quarter; quaterer adjective four. Polari, from Italian quattro
UK, 1996
quaver verb 1 to dither, especially over whether or not to make a
purchase UK, 1979. 2 to potter about; to tinker UK, 1979
quaverer noun a vacillating, or uncertain, customer. From QUAVER UK,
1979
quawk noun uncooked frozen meat or fish CANADA, 1947
quay; quas noun the recreational drug methaqualone, best known as
Quaaludes™ US, 1997
quean noun 1 an effeminate male homosexual; an ageing passive
homosexual
UK, 1935. 2 a lesbian. A term used by male homosex-
uals
UK, 1984
quean up verb in male homosexual society, to adopt girlish

mannerisms and affectations; to use cosmetics and to primp.
British gay slang
UK, 1972
queased out adjective nauseated, sick US, 1993
Quebec wrench noun a beer bottle opener. The high consumption
rate of beer in Quebec is the source of this oral slang item
CANADA,
2001
queber noun a social outcast US, 1987
queeb noun a bisexual US, 1988
queef noun the passing of air from the vagina US, 2002
queef verb to expel air from the vagina, intentionally or not US, 2000
queen noun 1 an obviously homosexual male AUSTRALIA, 1924. 2 a
mother. As the ruler of the house
UK, 2002. 3 a popular girl US, 1959.
4 a girlfriend, mistress or prostitute US, 1968. 5 an enthusiast of the
preceding thing or activity
US, 1999
Queen noun < for the Queen used to describe extra days added as
punishment to a sentence of imprisonment
UK, 1996. < go
Queen’s; turn Queen’s
to turn Queen’s evidence, that is, to give
evidence against co-defendants, usually to your own advantage UK,
1996. < the Qu een the National Anthem. Before this we stood for
‘the King’ UK, 1952
Queen Anne is dead a catchphrase retort on old news. Later vari-
ations – ‘Queen Elizabeth and my Lord Baldwin’ – have not
survived
UK, 1722

queen bee noun 1 the alpha male in a group of homosexuals.
Punning on QUEAN. The Guild Dictionary of Homosexual Terms,
1965, offers this definition: ‘usually, but not always, an auntie with
money, an entourage, and numbers (sex-partners). Frequently he is
elderly and, most always, an agreeable person.’
US, 1965. 2 a hetero-
sexual woman who seeks out the company of homosexual men
US, 1957
Queen Charlotte tuxedo noun a heavy grey Stanfield’s undershirt
CANADA, 1989
queenie noun a prostitute US, 1964
Queenie nickname Queensland, Australia AUSTRALIA, 1994
Queen Mary noun 1 a surfboard that is too big for the surfer using
it. Named after the ocean liner, not a royal female US, 1964. 2 a large
tank truck. An ocean liner reference US, 1954
Queen of Mean nickname Leona Helmsley (b.1920), American
hotelier and prototype of greed during the Reagan era US, 1997
Queen of the Jukebox nickname Dinah Washington (1924–1963), a
brilliant vocalist in the jazz, pop and R&B genres US, 1975
Queen of the South noun the mouth. Rhyming slang, formed from
the name of a Scottish football club UK, 1992
Queen’s Cowboys nickname the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
CANADA, 1989
queen’s gaff noun the anus. An allusion to WINDSOR CASTLE,aroyal
GAFF (residence) in Berkshire which also serves as rhyming slang
for ‘arsehole’ UK, 1992
Queenslander noun a type of weatherboard house raised on stilts
AUSTRALIA, 1994
Queen’s Necklace nickname in Mumbai, the view after dark of the
sparkling lights on Marine Drive (now Netaji Subhash Road) INDIA,

2002
Queens Park Ranger noun a stranger. Rhyming slang, formed from
the full name of QPR, the London football club, Queens Park
Rangers UK, 1961
queen’s row noun an area in a prison reserved for blatantly homo-
sexual prisoners US, 1967
Queen Street bushie; Queen Street cowboy; Queen Street
ringer noun in Queensland, a city person with pretences to country
living, such as dressing like a cowboy or driving a 4WD
AUSTRALIA,
2003
queen tank noun a jail holding cell reserved for flamboyantly
effeminate homosexual men
US, 1988
queeny adjective 1 blatantly homosexual US, 1979. 2 showy,
melodramatic, affected
US, 1997
queer noun 1 a homosexual man or a lesbian. Usually pejorative, but
also a male homosexual term of self-reference within the gay
underground and subculture
US, 1914. 2 counterfeit money UK, 1812
queer verb to spoil something; to ruin something; to interfere with
something
UK, 1812. < queer a pitch to spoil a situation or a
circumstance; to undermine someone’s efforts UK, 1875
queer adjective 1 homosexual. Derogatory from the outside, not from
within US, 1914. 2 catering to or patronised by homosexuals US, 1957.
3 driven by deep and perverse sexual desires US, 1967. 4 not good;
out of fashion. Like ‘gay’, ‘queer’ has been hijacked from its
homosexual context US, 1997. 5 counterfeit US, 1951. < to be queer

for
to be fond of someone or something US, 1953
queer and nasty, try another service nickname the Australian
airline QANTAS. Most airlines seem to be the subject of jocular
puns. ‘Queers and Nancies Trading as Stewards’ had some
circulation in the 1980s
AUSTRALIA, 2002
queer as a clockwork orange adjective 1 obviously homosexual.
Plays on
QUEER (unusual/homosexual) UK, 1973. 2 unusual or
suspicious. Predates the novel Clockwork Orange (1962) by
Anthony Burgess UK, 1980
queer as a four-speed walking stick adjective unusual;
ostentatiously homosexual. Popularised by raconteur ‘Blaster’ Bates
(b.1922)
UK, 1984
queer as a left-handed corkscrew adjective unusual;
ostentatiously homosexual UK, 1970s
queer as a nine-bob note adjective 1 ostentatiously homosexual.
Plays on QUEER (unusual/homosexual) UK, 1984. 2 unusual or
suspicious. The most ‘queer’ (unusual) thing about a nine BOB
(shilling) note is that it has never existed; the phrase survived
decimalisation in 1971, which ‘bob’ failed to do
UK, 1984
queer as a nine-bob watch adjective suspicious. So cheap it must
be suspect
UK, 1984
queer as a three-dollar bill adjective ostentatiously homosexual US,
1966
queer as fuck adjective definitely homosexual; ostentatiously gay.

QUEER (homosexual) plus ‘as fuck’ (an intensifier); punned in the
popular television drama series about gay culture, Queer As Folk
AUSTRALIA, 1997
queerbait; queer-bait noun a man who commands the attention
of homosexual men, whether he is homosexual or not
US, 1957
queer-bashing verb an attack (usually physical) of a homosexual
because of his sexuality UK, 1970
queer beer noun weak, watery beer. More commonly reduplicated as
‘near beer’
US, 1976
queerie noun a homosexual NEW ZEALAND, 1998
queer jack noun counterfeit money US, 1949
queer-rolling noun the practice of attacking and robbing homosex-
uals UK, 1977
queer’s lunch box noun the male crotch US, 1964
Queer Street noun < in Queer Street; on Queer Street
experiencing difficulties, especially financial difficulties; in a vulner-
able position UK, 1952
queeve verb to experience a loss of energy US, 1984
quegg noun a homosexual. Possibly a compound of QUEER (homose-
xual or odd) and
EGG (a person) UK, 2001
Quel Chagrin noun Queen’s Counsel. From the initials QC CANADA,
2002
query noun a test or examination US, 1976
ques noun the question mark (?) character on a computer keyboard
US, 1991
queue noun < put on a queue (of a woman) to have sex with a
line of partners, one after the other AUSTRALIA, 1970

quezzie noun a question UK, 2002
quiche-eater noun a sensitive male; an effeminate male US, 1984
quiche out verb to concede defeat in a cowardly manner; to behave
in a weak or effeminate manner. Probably from the notion that
‘real men don’t eat quiche’ UK, 2006
quean up | quiche out 524
quick and dirty adjective constructed as quickly as possible US, 1991
Quickdraw McGraw noun the US Secret Service agent who is
closest to the president. Quickdraw McGraw was a Hanna Barbera
cartoon that first aired in 1959; ironically, the character Quickdraw
McGraw was not a quick draw, but his name has survived,
implying that which the character was not
US, 1981
quick-go noun in a sport, a player who does not last very long on a
team US, 1972
quickie noun 1 a sexual encounter that is carried out quickly US, 1950.
2 an alcoholic drink taken hastily AUSTRALIA, 1969. 3 something that is
accomplished quickly
US, 1940. 4 an unexpected, quickly executed
manoeuvre or piece of trickery US, 1950
quickie adjective carried out quickly US, 1940
quick-lunch noun a fast-food small restaurant CANADA, 1959
quickness noun < with a quickness as soon as possible US, 1997
quick one noun an unexpected act of betrayal US, 1950
quick one off the wrist noun 8see: ONE OFF THE WRIST
quick pussy noun a secure NATO communications system CA NADA,
1995
quick-smart adverb quickly AUSTRALIA, 1952
quick-starts noun running shoes US, 1990
quick thinking, Batman! used for a humorous, if sarcastic,

response to another’s observation or conclusion. From the
Batman comic and television series (1966–1968). The television
series launched several catchphrases into the vocabulary to a far
greater extent than the comic books had
US, 1968
quick-turn burn noun the refuelling and reloading of an F-18 fighter
jet in less than five minutes US, 1991
quid noun 1 a pound sterling; pounds sterling. Deriving perhaps from
Latin quid (what?), later suggesting ‘the wherewithal’. Note too UK
dialect quid (a wad of tobacco). The quid has survived
decimalisation (1971) and several centuries of inflation; originally
coined as ‘a guinea’ (1 pound, 1 shilling), in C 19 it became ‘a
sovereign’
UK, 1688. 2 some money. Still in use despite the fact that
pounds went out in 1966 when Australia changed over to decimal
currency (dollars and cents) AUSTRALIA, 1976. 3 five dollars. If a pound
is five dollars, so must be a quid US, 1988. < not the full quid
without a full complement of intelligence AUSTRALIA, 1944
quid deal noun a drug sale involving one pound’s worth of drugs,
usually marijuana
UK, 1983
quids noun a large amount of money AUSTRALIA, 1930. < not for
quids
not for anything AUSTRALIA, 1941. < wouldn’t be dead for
quids
I am generally happy with my life and circumstances
AUSTRALIA, 1986
quids in adjective prospering; at an advantage. Figurative use of
actual profit measured by the
QUID ( £1) UK, 1919

quietie noun a quiet drink AUSTRALIA, 1995
quiet-side adjective secret US, 1976
quiff noun 1 the vagina; a woman as sex object; a prostitute. Archaic
in the US, but understood in context
UK, 1923. 2 by extension, a
male homosexual
US, 1977
quill noun 1 anything used to snort powdered drugs; the drugs
themselves
US, 1935. 2 cocaine UK, 1998. 3 heroin UK, 1996
quill pig noun a porcupine. Michigan Upper Peninsula usage US, 2003
quilty adjective luxurious US, 1976
quim noun the vagina; used objectively as a collective noun for
women, especially sexually available women
UK, 1735
quimby noun a person completely lacking in social graces US, 1997
quimmo noun a fool; an unpleasant individual. Extending QUIM (the
vagina) as a synonym for
CUNT UK, 1999
quince noun an effeminate male; a homosexual AUSTRALIA, 1941.
< get on your quince to annoy you AUSTRALIA, 1941
quinella noun in horse racing, a bet on the first two to finish in
either order
US, 1991
quinine noun inthegameofcraps,thenumbernineUS, 1950
quint noun in poker, five cards of the same suit in sequence US, 1979
quint major noun in poker, a sequence of five cards, same suit,
ending with the face cards
US, 1988
quitter noun a suicide US, 1982

quiver noun 1 a selection of surfboards used for different surf con-
ditions
US, 1977. 2 cocaine UK, 1999
quivver-giver noun an attractive person US, 1947
quiz noun a roadside sobriety test US, 1976
quiz room noun a room where the North Vietnamese interrogated
US prisoners of war US, 1990
quizzy adjective nosey NEW ZEALAND, 1988
quoit noun theanus;thebacksideAUSTRALIA, 1919
quokka soccer noun on Rottnest Island, running around kicking
quokkas as a type of entertainment. The ‘quokka’ is a small rare
native marsupial, Setonix brachyurus, of southwestern West
Australia AUSTRALIA, 1999
quong noun the testicle. Usually in the plural UK, 2002
quorum noun in poker, the agreed-upon minimum number of
players to continue a game US, 1979
quote verb in criminal circles, to vouch for someone UK, 2000
quo vadis noun unfashionable or unpopular music. Probably refers
to the 1951 film Quo Vadis and the rock group Status Quo,formed
in 1967 and, in 2003, still working, with the implication that both
entertainments are dated UK, 2003
quozzie; quoz noun a disabled or deformed person. Derived from
Quasimodo, ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ UK, 2000
525 quick and dirty | quozzie; quoz
Rr
RA noun < the RA the Irish Republican Army IRELAND, 2003
raas noun 1 an arse; hence your being JAMAICA, 1994. 2 a contemptible
person. Probable origin in the phrase ‘your arse’, although some
suggest Dutch raas (rage). The early, especially West Indian, sense
was considered extremely offensive, however modern UK black

usage is roughly equivalent to
ARSE or ARSEHOLE. There is a, poss-
ibly disingenuous, belief amongst some Jamaicans that Raas was a
king of Africa
JAMAICA, 2000. 3 nonsense. From West Indian. Black
usage UK, 2000. < the raas used in order to intensify. Synonymous
with ‘the hell’, ‘the fuck’, etc UK, 1994
raasclat noun used as an extreme derogative. Combines RAAS (arse)
and ‘clat’ (West Indian pronunciation of ‘cloth’) to mean ‘a
sanitary towel’
JAMAICA, 1978
raashole noun a contemptible person; used as a general term of
abuse. A cross-cultural variation on
ARSEHOLE, using West Indian
and UK black
RAAS (an arse) UK, 2000
rabbi noun a mentor or protector US, 1970
rabbit noun 1 a woman who has a large number of children.
Collected at a UK prison, August 2002 JAMAICA, 2002. 2 a man who
ejaculates with little stimulation US, 1987. 3 a white person US, 1991 .
4 a nervous, timid, cautious person US, 1951. 5 a new member of a
Rastafarian gang
NEW ZEALAND, 1988. 6 a prisoner who is known for
attempting to escape prison US, 1972. 7 a person who regularly
borrows money from an illegal money lender and pays back
promptly US, 1950. 8 on the railways, a side track on a downhill
incline used to divert runaway trains and prevent crashes US, 1946.
9 a poor poker player US, 1967. < go like a rabbit to demonstrate
eagerness during sex UK, 1972. < the rabbit died used for indicat-
ing a state of pregnancy. From the (former) methodology used to

test pregnancy that was introduced in 1949
UK, 1998. < the
rabbit’s hopping
experiencing the bleed period of the menstrual
cycle. A reversal of the phrase
THE RABBIT DIED (pregnant) US, 2001
rabbit verb to run away UK, 1887
rabbit and pork; rabbit noun the act of talking; a conversation.
Rhyming slang for ‘talk’ UK, 1980
rabbit and pork; rabbit verb to talk. Rhyming slang. ‘To rabbit on’
is ‘to talk at length’ UK, 1941
rabbit blood noun a seemingly unstoppable urge to try to escape
from prison US, 1950
rabbit ears noun 1 a v-shaped aerial placed on top of a television set
US, 1967. 2 in a casino Keno game, the two clear plastic tubes
through which the number balls are blown
US, 1993. 3 an athlete or
official who is quick to take offence at teasing US, 1967
rabbiter’s breakfast noun a visit to the toilet and a cigarette NEW
ZEALAND
, 1975
rabbit fever noun the urge to try to escape from prison US, 1962
rabbit food; rabbit’s food noun any salad vegetable, especially
lettuce. A generally dismissive term from the carnivorous lobby UK,
1936
rabbit hunt verb in poker, to look through undealt cards after a
hand is completed to see what might have been US, 1967
rabbit hutch noun the crutch or crotch. Rhyming slang UK, 1980
rabbit-killer noun a short and vicious punch to the neck, generally
with the open hand AUSTRALIA, 1941

rabbit -oh; rabbit-o noun a door-to-door seller of slaughtered rabbits.
From the cry ‘rabbit oh!’, used by the vendor to attract attention
AUSTRALIA, 1902
rabbit season noun spring, when prisoners are inclined to try to
escape US, 1967
rabbit’s paw; rabbit verb to talk. Rhyming slang for JAW. The
shortened form is identical in sense to the shortened form of
RABBIT AND PORK UK, 1961
rabbit tracks noun in craps, a six rolled with a pair of threes US, 1985
rabbit turds noun Italian sausage. Limited usage, but graphic US, 1996
race noun 1 a single game in an illegal numbers lottery US, 1963. 2 a
single game of Keno
US, 1973. < not in the race not having any
chance of success AUSTRALIA, 1904. < the race the game of roller
derby
US, 1960s and 70s
race verb < race for pink slips (pinks) in drag racing, to compete
for the prize of ownership of the opponent’s car US, 2003. < race
off
to conduct a person away to some other place for the purpose
of seduction
AUSTRALIA, 1965
race bird noun an enthusiastic fan of horse racing US, 1971
race face noun in motor racing, the look of total concentration and
focus seen on drivers just before a race begins US, 1993
racehorse noun 1 an accomplished, sought-after prostitute US, 1972 .
2 a thinly rolled cigarette AUSTRALIA, 1944
racehorse Charlie; racehorse Charley noun heroin; cocaine.
Perhaps from the long-ago brand name White Horse US, 1936
race record noun a recording by a black artist; rock ’n’ roll before

whites discovered rock ’n’ roll
US, 1927
racerhead noun in mountain biking, someone who competes in
races. A mild put-down to describe riders so into competition that
they have lost their perspective on the cosmic absurdity of
mountain biking
US, 1992
racers noun close-fitting nylon swimwear used for competitive
swimming. So-called because they are used in competitive
swimming AUSTRALIA, 2003
races noun < at the races unsuccessful, uncompetitive IRELAND, 2003
racetracker noun in horse racing, a person who makes their living
in some capacity at racetracks US, 1951
racing stripe noun a faecal stain in the underpants US, 1991
racing tackle noun amphetamines or other central nervous system
stimulants UK, 1983
rack noun 1 a woman’s breasts US, 1982. 2 a set of antlers US, 1945.
3 bed US, 1955. 4 a room or apartment US, 1993 . 5 a maximum
security prison cell US, 1982. 6 a hotel’s front desk US, 1954. 7 afoil-
wrapped package of amphetamines US, 1997 . 8 a packet of five bar-
biturate capsules or other drugs, give or take several US, 1972 . 9 a
one-month supply of birth control pills US, 1980. 10 a six-pack (of
beer) US, 1991. 11 a case (24 cans) of beer US, 2000. < hit the rack
to go to bed; to go to sleep US, 1973. < on the rack available for
prostitution
US, 1977
rack verb 1 to go to sleep US, 1993. 2 to steal US, 1997. 3 to shoplift US,
2001. 4 to perform well US, 1955. 5 to load (a gun) US, 1997. 6 in the
television and film industries, to adjust the camera lens in the
middle of a shot to keep the subject in focus US, 1990. < rack the

bars
to open or close a prison cell door US, 1992
rack attack noun a nap; sleep US, 1975
racked adjective asleep US, 1075
racked up adjective upset US, 1970
racket noun 1 a criminal enterprise; a swindle or a means of
deception. Any illicit or dubious enterprise may be termed a
‘racket’ by prefixing the area of criminal operation, hence
‘narcotics racket’, ‘loan-shark racket’, etc
UK, 1894. 2 a job, trade or
profession. A jocular reference: ‘What racket are you in?’ or ‘What’s
your racket?’ UK, 1891. 3 a private, police-only party US, 1987. 4 any
rigged carnival game or attraction US, 1960
racket boy noun a member of an organised criminal enterprise US,
1953
racket jacket noun the jacket of a zoot suit US, 1945
racketty coo noun a Jewish person. Rhyming slang for ‘Jew’
AUSTRALIA, 1971
rackety adjective noisy US, 1975
rackey noun a boy who affects a style of dressing reminiscent of a
gangster. Teen slang US, 1955
rack face noun lines on your face left from a blanket, sheet or pillow
US, 1996
rack monster noun a person who spends a great deal of time in
bed
US, 1976
rack off verb to go away. Commonly but not exclusively used in the
imperative. A euphemistic alternative to
PISS OFF and FUCK OFF.
Origin unknown. The Oxford English Dictionary (supplement)

suggests a connection with ‘rack’ meaning ‘of a horse, to move by
alternately raising two legs on one side’, but this seems hardly
creditable due to the rarity of that term in Australia
AUSTRALIA, 1975
rack off hairy legs! go away! An intensive form of the usual RACK
OFF
with the rather feeble insult ‘hairy legs’ tacked on AUSTRALIA, 1988
rack out verb to go to sleep US, 1991
rack up verb 1 to accumulate things; to score points US, 1961. 2 in a
casino or gambling establishment, to have your chips placed in a
chip rack to be cashed in US, 1982. 3 to prepare lines of cocaine UK,
1997. 4 in prison, to return prisoners to their cells US, 1990
racy bopper noun a female fan of motor racing whose attraction to
the sport is a function of her attraction to the race participants US,
1993
rad noun 1 a political radical UK, 1973. 2 a radiator UK, 1935. 3 a radio UK,
1996
rad adjective extreme; intense; exciting; good. An abbreviated ‘radical’
US, 1982
radar noun a petty thief. Someone who will ‘pick up anything’
AUSTRALIA, 1989
radar alley noun any stretch of a motorway heavily patrolled by
radar; especially, Interstate 90 between Cleveland and the New
York state line
US, 1971
radar Charlie noun a poker player with a strong intuitive sense of
other players’ hands US, 1988
RadCan noun Radio Canada, the francophone side of the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation. The ‘Rad’ in RadCan suggests ‘radical’, a
view held by Canadian federalists of Radio Canada (pronounced,

even by anglophone speakers, in the French way, as ‘Raaahdio
Canada’) CANADA, 2002
raddie noun 1 an Italian or Anglo-Italian living in London. From the
raddled-seeming complexion of some Italians compared to that of
a pale Londoner, possibly influenced by REDDY (an Italian).
Originally used of Italian families in Clerkenwell UK, 1938. 2 a politi-
cal radical UK, 1964
radge noun a psychotic; a madman UK, 1995
radge adjective 1 used in order to express approval UK, 2003. 2 mad;
psychotic
UK, 2003. 3 silly. Northen dialect radgy (mad) UK, 1961
radgepot noun a fool. Probably direct from Northern dialect radge
(mad). Natural derivations are ‘radgy’ and ‘radgified’ UK, 1979
radiate verb < radiate a mortgage in Quebec, to cancel a
mortgage CANADA, 2001
radiator whiskey noun strong, homemade whisky US, 1999
radic noun a police officer, especially armed police. Shortened from
‘eradicator’ UK, 1994
radical adjective extreme; outrageous; good. Originally surfer slang,
then migrated into the argot of the San Fernando Valley and then
into mainstream US youth slang
US, 1967
radio noun a prisoner who talks loudly and without paying attention
to who might be listening
US, 1976
Radio Ones noun diarrhoea. Rhyming slang for THE RUNS,formedon
(the verbal out-pourings of the DJs on) BBC Radio One
UK, 1992
radio rental; radio rentals; rentals adjective wonderful, amazing;
insane, crazy. Rhyming slang for

MENTAL; based on Radio Rentals, a
high street shop UK, 1973
radio that!; radio that shit! used in prison as a demand for quiet
US, 1981
’rado noun a Cadillac El Dorado car US, 1980
rad pad noun in skateboarding, a rubber wedge used as a shock pad
that changes the angles at which the axle assembly is mounted US,
1976
rads noun the police UK, 2000
Rafferty’s rules; Rafferty rules noun an entire lack of rules
altogether. From the Irish surname Rafferty, with the implication
that the Irish were unruly. Connection with the Northumberland
dialect word raffety ‘irregular; applied by sinkers to stratified
deposits’, and the Lincolnshire term raffatory ‘refractory’ (see
English Dialect Dictionary), amount to nothing more than hopeful
guesswork
AUSTRALIA, 1918
raffle ticket; raffle noun a mistake. Rhyming slang for RICKET UK,
1992
raft noun a large amount US, 1830
rag noun 1 a sanitary towel US, 1966. 2 the bleed period of the
menstrual cycle
US, 1971. 3 a despicable person US, 1997. 4 a
newspaper, especially a disreputable one UK, 1889. 5 a used car that
is in very poor condition US, 1980. 6 a well-worn tyre US, 1961. 7 a
banknote; paper money UK, 1817. 8 in pool, a cushion US, 1985. 9 in
horse racing, an outsider (a horse considered unlikely to win a
race) UK, 1991. 10 in poker, a useless card in the dealt hand or a
drawn card that does not improve the hand
US, 1978. 11 in a

carnival midway game, a small prize in a plastic bag US, 1985. 12 a
railway pointsman US, 1946 . < get your rag out to lose your
temper. A combination of
LOSE YOUR RAG and the earlier ‘get your
shirt out’
UK, 1956. < lose your rag to lose your temper UK, 1959.
< on the rag; have the rag on 1 experiencing the bleed period
of the menstrual cycle US, 1974. 2 figuratively, to be distracted and
irritable US, 1963
rag verb to mock, bully, tease or ridicule someone UK, 1808
rag adjective unpleasant, bad NEW ZEALAND, 1998
ragamuffin noun the bleed period of the menstrual cycle. A play on
RAG (a sanitary towel) AUSTRALIA, 2001
rag and bone noun 1 a telephone. Rhyming slang UK, 1984. 2 a
lavatory pedestal and receptacle, especially the lavatory seat.
Rhyming slang for
THRONE UK, 1992
rag and boner noun a telephone. Extended from rhyming slang RAG
AND BONE
(telephone) UK, 1984
raga-raga adjective of clothes, worn-out, ragged. A variation on con-
ventional ‘ragged’ JAMAICA, 1943
ragbag noun 1 an odd assortment UK, 1999. 2 an untidily or shabbily
dressed person UK, 1888. 3 in circus and carnival usage, a show that
has fallen on hard times or is fundamentally dishonest US, 1981
rage noun a large wave US, 1991
rage verb 1 to enjoy a party with great enthusiasm US, 1992. 2 to
dominate someone or something US, 1984
-rage suffix when combined with a subject noun, an outburst of
enraged hostility within or occasioned by that subject area UK, 1998

rager noun 1 a skilled, aggressive surfer or skateboarder US, 1997. 2 a
large party US, 1990
ragga; ragamuffin; raggamuffin noun a ruffian, usually of West
Indian racial origin. Originally a West Indian and UK black term
with an approving tone; probably derived from the conventional
sense of a ‘raggedy’ (a disreputable person); ultimately from
Ragamoffyn, a demon in the Middle English poem ‘Piers
Plowman’ by William Langland (perhaps 1330–86). The derivation
is likely to be influenced by Jamaican ‘raga-raga’ (ragged) and
‘ragamofi’ (ragged clothes)
UK, 1996
raggagansta; raggagangsta noun a West Indian/UK black gangster.
Compounds RAGGAMUFFIN (a ruffian) with GANGSTA (a gangster) UK,
1997
527 rack et boy | raggagansta; raggagangsta