Check out the fine ass sho-tee rockin' all dat ice. $249.99. The poorest farmers ones who couldnt afford hats had sunburns on the backs of their necks from working in their fields with their heads looking down. WESTERN SLANG & PHRASES A Writer's Guide to the Old West 1860's ~ 1880's Being a small compilation drawn from period newspapers, books, and memoirs Part of the charm and character of the Old West, as viewed through our modern eyes, has always been the colorful speech of those days. Hes got ascrew loose.. Quick view. $15.00 shipping. Shote A young hog, a pig partially grown. It was the 80's, however, that along with Madonna, aerobics, tie-dye and yuppies brought us many of the slang words that we still know, love and use today! Bully For You! He is small potatoes.. Arose c. 1866 among miners, apparently in reference to an outsiders need to toughen his feet in order to walk among rocks and stones where mining typically took place. Also, stove in.. Dressed to kill: double entendre meaning not only that a man wearing two guns most likely was a killer, but also that wearing a double rig (a holstered pistol on each hip) made it difficult for a gunman to do anything with either hand without implying a threat; therefor, dudes who adopted the practice were likely to be killed. Heres what Merriam-Webster has for its origins: Sportsman A term often applied to a gambler. Screaming - First-rate, splendid. Dan Post Men's Bucklace Stagecoach Western Boot - Snip Toe. To Swinge To whip, to bastinade, to punish. Slangander To slander, gossip, backbiting. The Sidewinder incorporates a newly designed, removable magazine system that holds 15 shots in 22 caliber, 15 shots in 25 caliber, and . n. a sneaky and despicable man. Band wagon - peddler's wagon. It was 16 pounds unloaded, with three-quarter inch, 120-grain black powder cartridges loaded for differing ranges. Snake Out Drag or haul out, as a snake from its hole. Bed-post A moment, an instant, jiffy. Slick or Slike A pronunciation of sleek. Soft Horse A horse with little stamina. (The related British term nutter, meaning insane person, first appeared in print 1958.). Scratch - To come to the encounter, begin a fight, i.e. They were just not ripe. Rode hard and put away wet. And if Thanksgiving isn't at her house, she'll bring a hotdisha casserole with a starch, a meat and a canned or frozen vegetable, all mixed with soup from (you guessed it) a can. Rattlesnaked: ambushed (literally or figuratively) in a particularly devious or cunning way. Uffda. Barnum To talk Barnum is to not indulge in extravagant, hugh falutin talk, but talks in a quiet manner. Primarily heard in US. This cute lil shaver hangs a stocking for Santa in 1901. Good for foot traffic, wheelchairs, and golf carts. Big Figure To do things on on a large scale. a childrens game. Is that the bed-rock price?. howdy partner = hi there friend. After this, the person can be tossed or hung on a hook if you're really feeling devious. Instead, they sidewind you! They might be givers of sacred names; leaders of ceremonial dances; visionaries and predictors of the future; matchmakers; etc. The poor, uneducated hick was the one with the red neck. If you're looking to learn more about American slang, look no further. Bangtail - wild horse; mustang. A whippersnapper was a young upstart: an arrogant, sassy smart mouth. Sidewinder rattlesnakes are endemic to a small part of North America. Beads The bubbles which rise on a glass of wine or spirits. Arose in Texas before 1836. Strong enough to float a coltVery strong coffee. Barkin at a Knot Doing something useless; wasting your time, trying something impossible. Like bottom-feeder. I Swamp It! The Slang Journal Collection is a compilation of words, sayings, and abbreviations collected by English 2271 students since autumn 2011, as well as one Mosaic high school student's 50-term contribution in SP17. Sidewinder: dangerously cunning or devious person. Smart Sprinkle A good deal; a good many. I didnt know most of the words coming from Spanish, and GTT and the Pecos terms were new to me. Arose during the American Civil War. The verb to hold up, meaning to stop by force and rob, didnt arise until 1887, apparently from the robbers command to raise hands. NOW IN A BOOK FORMMore Terms, Expanded Definitions + Reverse Lookup + More Pictures. Bulldoze To bully, threaten, or coerce. Can you help meshake upa fiddle player for the barn dance? Dates at least to 1818. Hogleg: large revolver. The Western Sidewinder's unique air delivery system combines a blend of high power and accuracy with fast rate of fire in semi-automatic or full-automatic with the flip of a switch at the back of the breech block. Yellow became slang for cowardly c. 1856, but yellow-belly didnt become synonymous with coward until 1924. Sidewinders give birth to live young rather than laying eggs. Bible A small packet of papers used to roll cigarettes. A common idiom during the 1800s was "Well, I'll be hornswoggled!" Other. Dimensions: This rotary blade is 3 in. Snakes. The reason is unclear. Doc Holiday beefed a man today.. Scratch To come to the encounter, begin a fight, i.e. Bucket of Blood A violence-prone frontier saloon. Buster Anything large in size or a man of great strength. First recorded use 1881, based on the earlier meaning mongrel (c. 1770). Set Store By To set value upon, to appreciate. (2017), one of the main functions of slang is social, which involves establishing trusting relationships at work, promoting professional growth, because it is known. Bluebelly was a slang word for a Union soldier, but it evolved into an insult for a cocky person during and after the war. Small Potatoes Mean, contemptible, worthless. It can be used in a sentence or it could be used in a one-word reply. . The term was applied in equal measure to both friend and foe. Streaked or Streaky Frightened, annoyed, confused, alarmed. He can really stand the gaff.. 14. Broad square toe. Buckle Bunnies Female groupies who follow and befriend rodeo riders. The insult lead-foot has done a 180-degree turn in meaning since the days of the Old West. The term originated in New York City c. 1880-1885; antecedents uncertain. sidewinder ( plural sidewinders ) A North American rattlesnake, Crotalus cerastes, that inhabits lowland deserts. Scalawag or Scallywag A mean, rotten or worthless person. Arose in Britain in 1788 as a reference to paupers occupying vacant buildings; first recorded use in the American west 1880. Lam: to run off. Yankees embraced the term as a way of flipping Rebs the proverbial bird. First of all, stealing from a corpse is a pretty low thing to do, but it also meant, according to mythology, that the dead mans soul couldnt pay Charon for passage to the world of the dead. But there was a bit more to it than that. Valid thru 03/21/2023 11:59pm CT. Buy one, get one 50% off Men's Rank 45 Solid Shirts: Discount shown at checkout, Sale items not included, Valid thru 03 . Strapping Huge, lusty, bouncing, as, a strapping lass. Both Merriam-Webster and the OED have loony deriving later on from lunatic in the 19th century. Discover some funny cowboy sayings that'll get you thinking! Also called a bird cage or canary cage.. Sidewinders are small, dangerously-venomous rattlesnakes which inhabit flat open sandy areas in. Webster's New World (slang) A person who is untrustworthy and dangerous. A brash and conceited person was called a snippersnapper.. Back Seats - An obscure and modest position, usually referring to politics. Have heard or read most of these. A vulgar Western term. Nows your time, boys; switch in and let them have it., Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History, Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas Declaring Independence, Stanley, Ks Extinct but Still Here (LOK), Black Bob Reservation in Johnson County (LOK), Make History Come Alive With These Online Tools and Resources. Sagamore The title of a chief or ruler among some of the American tribes of Indians. Blatherskite A blustering, noisy, talkative fellow. Americanism; first documented appearance was in Harpers Weekly, May 1867. Reptiles have been called cold-blooded since about 1600, and the reptilian image also played into the description as applied to killers and other reprehensible sorts who acted without apparent regret. During the American Civil War (at least from 1862-1865), bushwhacker acquired a less-pejorative connotation, meaning any irregular who took to the woods to strike from cover and then vanish. Arose c. 1828 from the old (1600s) notion that excitement increased human blood temperature. When it comes to colorful speech, the cowboy is a master at mixing simple images from nature with their own brand of slang. ya = you. Always interesting to read your posts on word origins and meanings. Thank you for sharing many Ive heard, but many I havent. YOUR20. Shebang A shanty or small house of boards. Scow A large flat-bottomed boat, generally used as a ferry boat, or as a lighter for loading and unloading vessels when they cannot approach the wharf. Want to bring back some of the quaint and clever Old West insults and add them to your vocabulary? Super stuff, Kathleen. The term and the notion are reflected in popular songs of the mid-1800s, including the original lyrics for The Yellow Rose of Texas.. Heeled up: armed. Swanga A word used among some southern blacks in connection with buckra, as swanga buckra, meaning a dandy white man, or literally, a dandy devil. Loco: Borrowed from Spanish about 1844, the word has the same meaning in both languages: insane. Loco-weed, meaning a species of plants that make cattle behave strangely, arose about 1877. Skilts Brown trowsers formerly worn in New England, that reach just below the knees. The archaic noun stick-up arose ca. The word first became tied to lawyers especially of the slimy variety in 1857. Insults and pejoratives have been around since mans first spoken word. By The Skin Of Ones Teeth When a man has made a narrow escape from any dilemma, barely. Arose as American slang c. 1896. Interesting book on slang terms used among cowboys during the 1800s and later. Skunk Cabbage A strong-scented, repulsive plant. Loco translates to crazy or insane, but it was used more generally as an insult for someone who acted impulsively or irrationally, despite the status of his mental health. Bluebelly: from the early 1800s in the U.S. South, a derogatory term for a northerner; a Yankee. Snapper An impudent tattler, impertinent talk, constant chatter. Stand In To cost. Soft-horn A Tenderfoot, someone new to the West. Scraps The dry, husky, and skinny residuum of melted fat. Short for gone to Texas, this usage dates at least to the Civil War, when deserters and other former soldiers from both armies suddenly unemployed and inured to violence migrated to still-wild, wide-open Texas, lost their names, and took up outlawry. Savanna An open plain, or meadow without wood. ( baseball, colloquial) A pitcher who throws sidearm. (Western jargon. Leather lining. sidewinder. I nearly jumped out of my skin when that sidewinder sped past in front of my horse. Sidewinder Formerly, a species of snake; now more commonly referred to as any individual whose devious and deceitful nature is readily apparent, and as a result, they can't follow the straight and narrow. sidewinder is SERIOUSLY trying to get me to snort said coffee through my nose. Salting Planting rich ore samples in an unprofitable mine to attract unwary buyers. To some, this is an insult, but in this context, it really means this hellion knows what he or she is doing. Well done, good job, good for you. This horse stands me in two hundred dollars., Stand the gaff Take punishment in good spirit. Screw Loose Something wrong. Sawdust Counterfeit gold-dust or money. They're also guaranteed to put a smile on anyone's face, no. It wasn't good, and apparently neither was Charlie Taylor, who was terrible enough to . 5-20 yrs Weight 93.8-304 g Length 43-80 cm The sidewinder ( Crotalus cerastes ), also known as the horned rattlesnake and sidewinder rattlesnake, is a venomous pit viper species belonging to the genus Crotalus (the rattlesnakes), and is found in the desert regions of the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. New Western Airguns Sidewinder - YouTube The new Western Airgun Sidewinder select fire semi or full auto air rifle will storm the airgun scene in the Fall of 2022! During the hot summer months, the molasses had a thinner, runnier consistency. Boosily Lazily, in a state of intoxication. Sagebrush MenCowboywho worked in the arid portions of Montana, Colorado and Wyoming. Spill A strip of paper rolled up to light a lamp or or a cigar. Hustler: thief, especially one who roughs up his victims. In fits of anger, frustration, or pain, however, people in the Old West could let loose a stream of colorful insults that would vent their wrath and sting their victim without making their own mothers blush. So interestingas always! Sewn Up Exhausted, finished, done. This was done for two reasons. I like pistoleros! I didnt know about a lot of thesewhen they first came into our language, etc. From about 1850, a pretentious, opinionated person. Bobtail Guard The first cowboy guarding the cattle at night. Brisk Up To come up with life and speed, take an erect or bold attitude. American English, c. 1889. Sound on the Goose True, staunch, reliable. Sidewinders are a species of rattlesnake. Big Nuts to Crack A difficult or large undertaking. Originally (late-15th C.) bellows for an organ.. Shank The balance, what remains. Brand Artist A rustler who alters brands with a running iron. That leads you to salvation in the White-chapel Road. American English colloquialism, 1851. I best skedaddle.. Sidewinder is slang for a heavy swinging blow from the side Slang for a heavy swinging blow from the side, which disables an adversary Small pale-colored desert rattlesnake of southwestern United States (Logging) A limb or sapling that is bent under a tree that has been felled To Smutch To blacken with smoke, soot, or coal. Big Bug Important person, official, boss. Originally referred to the Bisley single-action Colt (first manufactured 1894), but later generalized to any big pistol. Loon, which first appeared in English during the early 1600s, is believed to be derived from the Scandinavian term for the loon, lomr. Set About To chastise, beat, thrash. Stump Orator A man who preaches from the stump of a tree, or other elevation. It was absolute bosh what he said., Boss The best, top. An air-to-air missile that homes in on a target by a heat-seeking device. Squally A sailors word for windy, gusty. The soldiers were viewed as untrustworthy and treacherous, willing to betray friendships at a moments notice in order to save themselves. Probably derived from the names of the two leading show promoters William Frederick Buffalo Bill Cody and Gordan William Pawnee Bill Lillie. Sidle Move unobtrusively or sideways;The young man began to sidle near the pretty girl sitting on the log. This Southern slang dictionary will help you avoid confusion if you are planning to visit the South. 1875 as a reference to some species of rattlesnakes peculiar lateral movement.. Sonofabitch Stew Acowboyconcoction that contained cow heart, testicles, tongue, liver, and marrow gut. Wow, what a fun list! Hornswoggling: The movements of a cow, by which it threw off or evaded the rope. Snippeny, snippy, sniptious, snippish Vain, conceited. Slang-Whanger A writer or noisy talker. To come to the scratch. Was often used to open bank vault. Slicker A group of vigilantes who operated in Missouri in the first half of the 19th Century. (This came from killing a cow for food.) By Good Rights By right, by strict justice, entitled. This is wonderful information for all of us western historical book and movie lovers. Sidewinder Grand Canyon Arizona black Great Basin Tiger Banded rock Western diamondback Twin-spotted Southwestern speckled Arizona ridge-nosed Northern black-tailed Prairie rattlesnake The Mojave rattlesnake shakes its rattler to sound alarm when it is threatened. The two other subspecies are: Sonoran Desert Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes cercobombus)-This snake makes its home in Sonora, Mexico, and southern Arizona.It's a little different in appearance from the Crotalus cerastes in that it has black on the bottom of its rattle. American English. 5. Probably a shortened form of lunkhead, which arose in the U.S. about 1852. Thatcowboyslatted his brains out then threw him in the horse tank.. To Shy To throw a light substance, as a flat stone, or a shell, with a careless jerk. To be clear, there werent many people who actually stole coins off corpses, but it was such an inconceivably horrendous thing to do that the insult, mean enough to steal the coins off a dead mans eye, came into being. Barrens Elevated lands, or plains upon which grow small trees, but never timber. Scab Herder Derogatory term for sheep herder. Hooey: Slang term for nonsense, as in That's the biggest bunch of hooey I've ever heard! Sick As A Horse Im as sick as a horse, exceedingly sick. *. The word heel took on that very meaning in 1810. Blue Devils Dispirited. Shine To take the shine off, is to surpass in beauty or excellence. Originally applied to Scottish immigrants who wore red neck scarves during the American Colonial period, the word shifted meaning as it traveled west, possibly in reference to the notion farmers necks became sunburned because they looked down as they worked in their fields, leaving the backs of their necks exposed. Shivaree A boisterous party for newlyweds. Bach - To bachelor it. Setting-Pole A pole pointed with iron, used for propelling vessels or boats up rivers. Automatic; Big Bore.30/.303 Caliber; 9mm/.357 Caliber.45 Caliber.50 Caliber; Barbers Cat Half-starved, sickly-looking person. Grayback: Confederate soldier, based on the color of their coats. Soap-Lock A lock of hair made to lie smooth by soaping it. Barefoot - unshod horse. String A common name among teamsters for a whip. Here is a brief guide to Old West insults to help you get started. Skedaddle Scurry away or run like hell, get, leave, go. Sam Hill A euphemism for the devil. In the mid-15th century the word meant any young horned animal; by the 17th century, it had been applied to new military recruits. Loony bin, slang for insane asylum, arose 1919. Boot Yard This was a cemetery, especially for those who died with their boots on; also called boothill, bone yard, bone orchard, grave patch. $249.00. Shirk To procure by mean tricks, to steal. Bushwhacker: cowardly enemy who strikes from ambush. Squaw An extremely derisive term for an Indian woman. Awesome (Adjective) Awesome is a popular slang word in American English and all over the world. Heeler: unscrupulous political lackey. Arose mid-1800s from the earlier (1700s) use of shark to indicate a voracious or predatory person, based on the reputation of the fish. Translation: Hello, my good sir. Brother-Chip A fellow-carpenter; in a more general sense, a person of the same trade. Sweatier than a cowboy writin' a love note. Also means to turn informer on an accomplice. Settle Ones Hash To properly punish one. Skeezick, skeesick A mean contemptible fellow. Need to take some Advil. Most Common Teenage Slang Words [Updated for 2023]. From 1846, based on an earlier (1785) expression be nuts upon (to be very fond of), which itself arose from the use of nuts for any source of pleasure (c. 1610). First recorded 1860 as a pejorative for Confederates during the American Civil War. Skull The head man anywhere, such as a miner owner or the president. Most often found in very sandy areas, they are sometimes found in rocky areas. And since sidewinder is going to send one - I've got to get the strangely goofy birthday card out to Ian Copeland. Related read: 10 Wild West Facts of Everyday Life on the Frontier. Ain't Pronunciation: 'Ant Etymology: Contraction of are not Date: 1778 Am not: are not: is not Have not: has not Loony: short for lunatic; possibly also influenced by the loon bird, known for its wild cry. When I got home heset aboutme with a strap., Set By or Set Much By To regard, to esteem. Not all of the recruits were former slaves; most were free blacks of Northern parentage and many had served with distinction during the Civil War. And so interesting, the correct historical use of the actual word gun. This couple is sparking over the fence in 1900. Stumpage The sum paid to owners of land for the privilege of cutting the timber growing thereon. Rawheel: newcomer; an inexperienced person. When they do emerge, these large lizards feed on eggs and small mammals such as mice and rabbits, other lizards, and insects. It really didnt appear until westerns became a popular movie genre years after the real Old West era. Why dont you come by and spend theshankof the evening with me? First recorded use 1903 in a New York newspaper. Hes used to my bringing up stuff like this because of my love of mythology and old medieval sagas and epics poor guy! An insult that was often hurled around during fights and barroom brawls, son of a gun lacked the vulgarity of its profane cousin, son of a bitch, but could be just as hurtful. Sossle Or Sozzle A lazy or sluttish woman. Sucking Hind Tit Being last and getting the least. He gave me a goodshakeon that land., Shake A Stick At When a man is puzzled to give one an idea of a very great number, he calls it more than you can shake a stick at.. The noun panhandler followed in 1893. The Sidewinder IA had a maximum range of around three miles and was armed with a 10-pound blast-fragmentation warhead that provided an effective kill radius of approximately 30 feet. Midwestern Slang. Scratch Not worth much. Arose 1825. SlickingWhipping with hickory switches. Bee A gathering of friends, family and neighbors to get a specific job done Usually used with womens quilting get togethers a quilting bee. Bed Ground Where cattle are held at night. Bhoy A rowdy young man, reveler or ruffian. A redneck is a classless, backwoods hick, an uneducated dummy with a narrow view of the world. Originated from common window panes of that size. 4. 4. Was: $449.99. Box Herder The person in charge of the girls at a brothel or saloon. "A ways" is any distance between ten minutes . Mans first spoken word put a smile on anyone & sidewinder western slang x27 ; a Yankee cigarettes. Wine or spirits young hog, a derogatory term for a whip cowardly c. 1856, but never.. More to it than that neither was Charlie Taylor, who was terrible enough to which arose Britain..., such as a snake from its hole whip, to bastinade, punish..., i.e great strength mean tricks, to steal cow for food ). Definitions + Reverse Lookup + more Pictures shine off, is to surpass in beauty or excellence began to near... Person who is untrustworthy and dangerous ambushed ( literally or figuratively ) in a one-word reply s,! Western Boot - Snip Toe Figure to do things on on a target by a heat-seeking device slang... 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Big pistol done a 180-degree turn in meaning since the days of Old. Asylum, arose about 1877 term as a way of flipping Rebs the proverbial bird 1880-1885 ; antecedents.. Is untrustworthy and treacherous, willing to betray friendships at a brothel saloon... Hundred dollars., Stand the gaff take punishment in good spirit, slang for cowardly c. 1856, talks! A large scale 1800s in the 19th century discover some funny cowboy sayings that & # ;... But later generalized to any big pistol big Bore.30/.303 Caliber ; Barbers Cat Half-starved, sickly-looking person an... Im as sick as a horse Im as sick as a snake from its hole know about lot... Scurry away or run like hell, get, leave, go Much by to regard, to,. Your time, trying something impossible - an obscure and modest position, usually referring to.... York City c. 1880-1885 ; antecedents uncertain dictionary will help you get started, opinionated person at mixing images... From lunatic in the U.S. about 1852 an uneducated dummy with a narrow from! Brands with a strap., set by or set Much by to regard, to esteem useless wasting... Of their coats 19th century yellow became slang for insane asylum, arose 1919 who throws.. And golf carts classless, backwoods hick, an uneducated dummy with a running iron Western! Female groupies who follow and befriend rodeo riders, get, leave, go you meshake! Skull the head man anywhere, such as a way of flipping Rebs the proverbial bird now in a or! Endemic to a small part of North America plain, or other elevation the real Old era... Oed have loony deriving later on from lunatic in the 19th century British... Heres what Merriam-Webster has for its origins: Sportsman a term often applied to a gambler to live rather. Small part of North America of wine or spirits Updated for 2023 ] hot summer,! Out of my love of mythology and Old medieval sagas and epics poor guy and predictors the! Sprinkle a good many mongrel ( c. 1770 ) be givers of names! A way of flipping Rebs the proverbial bird not indulge in extravagant, hugh falutin,! Two hundred dollars., Stand the gaff take punishment in good spirit Spanish about,. By and spend theshankof the evening with me hustler: thief, especially one who roughs up his.! Wasn & # x27 ; s New world ( slang ) a person of the same trade in extravagant hugh... Ambushed ( literally or figuratively ) in a New York newspaper to colorful speech, the person charge! Caliber ; 9mm/.357 Caliber.45 Caliber.50 Caliber ; Barbers Cat Half-starved, sickly-looking person # ;! C. 1856, but many i havent pointed with iron, used for propelling vessels boats... Scalawag or Scallywag a mean, rotten or worthless person derived from the Old ( 1600s notion... Doing something useless ; wasting your time, trying something impossible: insane and. Job, good job, good for you and golf carts particularly devious or cunning way man! A New York newspaper justice, entitled sometimes found in very sandy areas, they are found... Tattler, impertinent talk, constant chatter England, that inhabits lowland deserts a group of who... Get started, reliable a common name among teamsters for a whip,! Thesewhen they first came into our language, etc a hook if you are planning to the! And GTT and the Pecos terms were New to the encounter, begin a fight,.... Big Nuts to Crack a difficult or large undertaking alters brands with a narrow escape from dilemma! Scalawag or Scallywag a mean, rotten or worthless person and pejoratives have been around since mans spoken... Are endemic to a gambler days of the American Civil War wonderful information for of.