J82 archived entries
jabbing salutea player giving the fans "the finger," but in a mock fascist salute
Jacanory(also spelled Jackanory)rhyming slang for a glib excuse. The unstated rhyming component is "story." From a children's TV show where books were serialised.
rhyming slang for a glib excuse. The unstated rhyming component is "story." From a children's TV show where books were serialised.
Jack, toto quit ( in the building trade). One dissatisfied construction worker might say to the other, "let's jack it in."
to quit ( in the building trade). One dissatisfied construction worker might say to the other, "let's jack it in."
Link to this entryJacka detective. Sly jack: a shop or store detective.
Jack Sharpssmall lake fish, a translation of the Gaelic "kickshawn." The word then was cut down to "Jackie."
small lake fish, a translation of the Gaelic "kickshawn." The word then was cut down to "Jackie."
Link to this entryJacks and Ollieschildren's game (also known as Fivestones). The stones are the jacks, to be tossed in the air (five of them, one at a time), as the marbles are picked up. In Lancashire the game was played with a marble and the knuckle bones of sheep.
children's game (also known as Fivestones). The stones are the jacks, to be tossed in the air (five of them, one at a time), as the marbles are picked up. In Lancashire the game was played with a marble and the knuckle bones of sheep.
Link to this entryjacksie(sometimes jaxie)one's rear end
Jam butty carpolice patrol car Jam butty is a jam sandwich, and the allusion is to the red stripe painted on some police cars.
police patrol car Jam butty is a jam sandwich, and the allusion is to the red stripe painted on some police cars.
Link to this entryJam butty. Bread smeared with jam
Jam(rhyming)parole The rhyme is with jam roll
jammylucky, someone who lands on his feet
jam rolly pollytreat served at the school canteen
Janglera piano
Jangler-wanglera pianist or a teacher of the piano.
janglinggossiping
Jankers, to be onto be put in a stockade or a military jail
Janner(also Jenner)a Cornishman, or generally a person from the West Country, usually identifiable by a Devon accent and burr.
a Cornishman, or generally a person from the West Country, usually identifiable by a Devon accent and burr.
Link to this entryJannockthe real truth I'm tellin' yer an' that's jannock
jarhalf a pint of beer
jarks(obsolete)seals
Jars outannouncement that beer can be bought on a carry out basis Shaw says that "jars out" also describes a "do" at which there will be tremendous quantities of beer.
announcement that beer can be bought on a carry out basis Shaw says that "jars out" also describes a "do" at which there will be tremendous quantities of beer.
Link to this entryJasperscockroaches
jaws harpa jew's harp
jaxie(or jacksie)arse, bottom
Jeff'urination
jelly mana safe breaker
jerkbumpt, to be(obsolete)to be given a sore behind, a hot bottom
jerkers, thepiece of playground equipment which the youngsters used to go back and forth on and make slam against a top railing
piece of playground equipment which the youngsters used to go back and forth on and make slam against a top railing
Link to this entryJerkyl and Hydean obnoxious person of unpredictable temperament
Jerry(or jirry)chamber pot
Jerry chandeliersillumination shells dropped by German bombers during the Liverpool Blitz
Jesus Fluidholy water
Jesus-boots. Purra Jesus-boots. Pair of sandals.
jib, toto buck, to be uncooperative?
Jiboshort for jiggaboo, a racial insult
Jiggerback alley, passageway. Jowlers were usually situated at the top and bottom ends of a section of housing. They usually led from one street into the next and allowed access to horse drawn bin wagons and coal wagons. The jowlers were linked by the jiggers which ran between the back to back houses.
back alley, passageway. Jowlers were usually situated at the top and bottom ends of a section of housing. They usually led from one street into the next and allowed access to horse drawn bin wagons and coal wagons. The jowlers were linked by the jiggers which ran between the back to back houses.
Link to this entryjigger-jerkerone who has or claims to have had frequent amorous adventures in back alleys.
one who has or claims to have had frequent amorous adventures in back alleys.
Link to this entryJigger-rabbit. De jigger-rabbit. A stray cat. Some scousers also use this to refer to an alley rat.
Jiggeredtired, disaffected; this sometimes to refers to post-coital "letdown."
Jimmy Riddle, to have a(rhyming)to urinate
Jinka Jonah, a bringer of bad luck. (back-formation from jinx, assumed to be plural)
a Jonah, a bringer of bad luck. (back-formation from jinx, assumed to be plural)
Link to this entryjinkingrapid change of direction which is to throw the opposing players off the play
rapid change of direction which is to throw the opposing players off the play
Link to this entryJinny Greenteeththe ghost of a child-eating female said to haunt St. James Cemetery. In Lancashire tradition, Jinny Greenteeth was literally the green scum on ponds, but supposed to imply the presence of a water-sprite, or "boggart," a terror to children as they would pass a pond in which that appearance was seen. Old Lancashire saying to children: "Jenny Greenteeth'll fot thee if theaw'rt no' good." Jenny resembled Grindelow, a water demon said to lurk at the bottom of a deep pit, and to stretch out its long arms to seize children who loiter near the banks, and drag them down below the surface, keeping them there until they are drowned. A variant on that is Jenny lung arms, a water spirit supposed to clutch at little children and pull them into the stream or pit which it haunted.
the ghost of a child-eating female said to haunt St. James Cemetery. In Lancashire tradition, Jinny Greenteeth was literally the green scum on ponds, but supposed to imply the presence of a water-sprite, or "boggart," a terror to children as they would pass a pond in which that appearance was seen. Old Lancashire saying to children: "Jenny Greenteeth'll fot thee if theaw'rt no' good." Jenny resembled Grindelow, a water demon said to lurk at the bottom of a deep pit, and to stretch out its long arms to seize children who loiter near the banks, and drag them down below the surface, keeping them there until they are drowned. A variant on that is Jenny lung arms, a water spirit supposed to clutch at little children and pull them into the stream or pit which it haunted.
Link to this entryjinxesbeer bottle tops
Job spikevertical metal spike on which messages about jobs to be done were placed. In some businesses, it was known as a conker. Cf. "spike dancing" on this list.
vertical metal spike on which messages about jobs to be done were placed. In some businesses, it was known as a conker. Cf. "spike dancing" on this list.
Link to this entryjockeya wedge of cheese used as a makeweight by the grocer to bring the cheese up to the requested weight, and sometimes a bit over that. Often the jockey would be given to children who were accompanying the buyer. It could also be a piece of bread added to get a loaf up to the legal weight, to the joy of the children who were sent to bring it home.
a wedge of cheese used as a makeweight by the grocer to bring the cheese up to the requested weight, and sometimes a bit over that. Often the jockey would be given to children who were accompanying the buyer. It could also be a piece of bread added to get a loaf up to the legal weight, to the joy of the children who were sent to bring it home.
Jockeyextra pay(dockers)
Jockeydriver of a stolen car
Jockey-bar. I'm livin jockey-bar. I am living in sin.
Jockeysfrench fried potatoes
Jockstesticles
Joe Bloggsanother generic form of reference or address, as for instance Joe Blow, etc.
Joe Gerk'sprison, usually the Walton gaol, (also known as "ther Gurk"). Cf. "gerk butty" on this list.
prison, usually the Walton gaol, (also known as "ther Gurk"). Cf. "gerk butty" on this list.
Link to this entryJoe Baksi (rhyming)taxi
Joe Palookad(rhyming)snookered, lured into a losing situation.
Joe Soapa generic name for John Q. Citizen, i.e., Joe Blow, etc
a generic name for John Q. Citizen, i.e., Joe Blow, etc
Link to this entryJoeythreepenny piece, or it could refer to the old silver sixpenny piece.
threepenny piece, or it could refer to the old silver sixpenny piece.
Link to this entryJofferrebellious child?
John Peelone who boasts of his amatory successes
Johnniesforeign seamen; among some people, it seems to have become just another name for Pakestanis.
foreign seamen; among some people, it seems to have become just another name for Pakestanis.
johnny, aa contraceptive (male condom)
Join the mountiesto have sexual intercourse
Jollopmedicine, expecially a liquid laxative. Jollop powder was a popular purgative, too. According to some memories, it was used to restart menstrual cycles, even sold as a magic powder to be sprinkled on the underwear of a desired mate. Some credited it with the power to remove an evil spell from the house.
medicine, expecially a liquid laxative. Jollop powder was a popular purgative, too. According to some memories, it was used to restart menstrual cycles, even sold as a magic powder to be sprinkled on the underwear of a desired mate. Some credited it with the power to remove an evil spell from the house.
Link to this entryjones, to get ato feel the need for, to have an addiction to
joss sticksincense sticks burned to conceal the smell of cannabis
Jowlerback alley, passageway, a lane between back to back houses. Partridge cites Frank Shaw's opinion that it was a space where people passed cheek by jowl, but notes that one dialectal meaning of "jowl" is to bump into, which may explain the usage. Other sources take "jowler" to mean a rather wider alley than a "jigger," which is also a "back entery." Cf. "jigger" on this list.
back alley, passageway, a lane between back to back houses. Partridge cites Frank Shaw's opinion that it was a space where people passed cheek by jowl, but notes that one dialectal meaning of "jowl" is to bump into, which may explain the usage. Other sources take "jowler" to mean a rather wider alley than a "jigger," which is also a "back entery." Cf. "jigger" on this list.
Link to this entryJowler-yowleran alley cat
Joy-boya male prostitute
Jud. George.
Judas Burningthe custom in Liverpool's South End involving local children burning an effigy of Judas on Good Friday. Some Scousers think the custom was peculiar to Dingle. Many of the procedures there echo those of Guy Fawkes Day, but Judas Burning itself has Mediterranean roots, particularly in Portugal and Spain. No other English city is thought to show any trace of Judas Burning.
the custom in Liverpool's South End involving local children burning an effigy of Judas on Good Friday. Some Scousers think the custom was peculiar to Dingle. Many of the procedures there echo those of Guy Fawkes Day, but Judas Burning itself has Mediterranean roots, particularly in Portugal and Spain. No other English city is thought to show any trace of Judas Burning.
Link to this entryJudas Hole, thethe observation slit in a cell door
Judy. Me judy. My lady-friend.
Judy-scufferwoman police officer.
juga pint
Jug, therthe Walton Jail
Jugeto crowd in, or to nestle together
Jump Sundaythe Sunday prior to the Grand National when the public tours and inspects the jumps; a reluctant lover or inadequate husband is said to save it for Jump Sunday
the Sunday prior to the Grand National when the public tours and inspects the jumps; a reluctant lover or inadequate husband is said to save it for Jump Sunday
Link to this entryjumped upThis is said (often implying conceit or arrogance) of someone who has recently or suddenly risen in status or importance. See "jump up."
This is said (often implying conceit or arrogance) of someone who has recently or suddenly risen in status or importance. See "jump up."
jumpers(obsolete)bedbugs
jumping figureschildren's game
jump-upa person envied for having made progress; one thought of as having gained undeserved promotion.
a person envied for having made progress; one thought of as having gained undeserved promotion.
Link to this entry