K64 archived entries
Kangolbrand name for the flat caps of workingmen in the North of Britain
Kavleya sing-song or musical get-together. Cf.Irish "ceilidh"
Kay-fistedleft-handed
kaylieddrunk. The word probably refers to a straight-sided wine bottle known as a kali bottle.
drunk. The word probably refers to a straight-sided wine bottle known as a kali bottle.
Link to this entrykeckin'(Lancashire)spying
KecksTrousers. Dis pur a kecks is too tight. These trousers are too tight. Spiegl notes that "kicks" is eighteenth century thieves' slang for trousers. But I notice that in Lancashire "kecks" referred to the hollow stems of the common hemlock. It was used by lads to shoot peas with, and also to make flute like instruments. Since "drainies" referred in the sixties and seventies to the way narrow and closely fitting young men's pants resembled drain pipes, I would not rule out a connection between hemlock stems and trousers. Kecks can also mean underpants, usually female.
Trousers. Dis pur a kecks is too tight. These trousers are too tight. Spiegl notes that "kicks" is eighteenth century thieves' slang for trousers. But I notice that in Lancashire "kecks" referred to the hollow stems of the common hemlock. It was used by lads to shoot peas with, and also to make flute like instruments. Since "drainies" referred in the sixties and seventies to the way narrow and closely fitting young men's pants resembled drain pipes, I would not rule out a connection between hemlock stems and trousers. Kecks can also mean underpants, usually female.
Link to this entrykeepers(obsolete)a common name for the police who patrolled the various town markets
Keepin it in the familyincest
Keepin' dousekeeping watch.
Keeping dixiekeeping watch in a criminal venture. The person who does this is the "specky man."
keeping watch in a criminal venture. The person who does this is the "specky man."
Link to this entryKekkato shut, as in "kekka mush": shut your mouth.
Kelly's BarnSt. George's Hall
Kenone's house
Kennythe Kensington area of Liverpool
Kent, Der Duke of (rhyming)the rent
Kerb crawlerperson who drives slowly up and down streets looking for prostitutes
Kettle scraped, to have one'sto go to confession
Kettlewatch This probably comes from the French "Quelle heure est-il?" Peter Moloney says that the connection might be with the proverb about the watched kettle never boiling.
watch This probably comes from the French "Quelle heure est-il?" Peter Moloney says that the connection might be with the proverb about the watched kettle never boiling.
Kewins. Kewins ate wid a pinSmall shellfish (cockles,mussels, winkles, periwinkles) Shaw says that the name comes from an old fish-dealer named McKewan.
Small shellfish (cockles,mussels, winkles, periwinkles) Shaw says that the name comes from an old fish-dealer named McKewan.
Link to this entryKick-de-cantin can baseball variant
KidAre kid. My brother (possibly senior to the speaker, and of any age). Cf. "are kid" on this list.
Are kid. My brother (possibly senior to the speaker, and of any age). Cf. "are kid" on this list.
Link to this entrykid soupa bath with carbolic in it
kiddaaffectionate form of address between men or brothers.
kidden (obsolete)a place which fronts as a lodging , but actually is a place where children are sexually abused
a place which fronts as a lodging , but actually is a place where children are sexually abused
Link to this entryKing Edwardsan oval variety of potato with a white skin mottled with red.
king o' ther middena conceited person; one who puts on airs
King Kongderisory name for a weedy, undersized individual
kippersad face, e.g., "he came 'ome each night wid a kipper like a fiddle." Kipper can also mean the tie someone is wearing.
sad face, e.g., "he came 'ome each night wid a kipper like a fiddle." Kipper can also mean the tie someone is wearing.
Link to this entrykippercured herring
kipper seasonlean times, probably from "kipper time," the period (May 3 to January 6) when salmon fishing was forbidden in the Thames, by act of Parliament.
lean times, probably from "kipper time," the period (May 3 to January 6) when salmon fishing was forbidden in the Thames, by act of Parliament.
KipperCockney slang for female genitalia
kipwackbaby food
Kirkby Kisshead-butting the face, also known as "a mouthful of dandruff."
head-butting the face, also known as "a mouthful of dandruff."
Link to this entryKithogue(Irish)lefthanded, clumsy
kiting (or kiter)check book and bank card frauds, also called "grafting."
kitted upequipped for theft. Similar to "tooled up" and "GEFT,", meaning going equipped for theft.
equipped for theft. Similar to "tooled up" and "GEFT,", meaning going equipped for theft.
Link to this entryknacker, toto wear something out
Knacker's yardsaid of a place that looks a complete mess. It can also refer to a slaughter yard for aging livestock, i.e., the "glue factory."
said of a place that looks a complete mess. It can also refer to a slaughter yard for aging livestock, i.e., the "glue factory."
Link to this entryKnackeredfatigued, tuckered out. In modern Dublin, a knacker is a member of the blue collar work force.
fatigued, tuckered out. In modern Dublin, a knacker is a member of the blue collar work force.
Knackerstesticles. The earlier meaning was castanets, from"knack." meaning to make a sharp crackling noise.
testicles. The earlier meaning was castanets, from"knack." meaning to make a sharp crackling noise.
Link to this entryknee-bendera pious person
Knee-tremblersexual intercourse while standing
knees up, Mother Brownsometimes shouted at a drunken elderly woman
Knees up, to have ato have a lively social evening, usually with a great deal of dancing
Knife 'n' fork teasubstantial early-evening meal, or a meal in which the host has included some kind of meat.
substantial early-evening meal, or a meal in which the host has included some kind of meat.
Link to this entryknit!be quiet, i.e., attend to your knitting, sewing, etc.
knob, aa small lump of something, for instance a knob of butter or sugar.
Knock and Runchildren's game
Knock offstolen property, as in "selling knock off."
Knock back, toto turn down a sexual proposition. To be knocked back means to be turned down, rejected.
to turn down a sexual proposition. To be knocked back means to be turned down, rejected.
Link to this entryknockers-up(obsolete)people with poles used to knock on windows, particularly those of dockers, so that they could get to their shifts on time.
people with poles used to knock on windows, particularly those of dockers, so that they could get to their shifts on time.
Link to this entryknocked rottento be knocked silly or to be beaten into a stupor
Knockerdoor to door salesman
Knocking shopa brothel; derived from knock, meaning to have sex with.
Knocking to orderproviding specific stolen goods on demand from a customer. Knock-off refers to stolen goods.
providing specific stolen goods on demand from a customer. Knock-off refers to stolen goods.
Link to this entryknotted, geta kiss off remark to an individual or a group, usually intended in bantering good humor. The work "knotted" is usually applied to a person with problems or suffering from a hangup.
a kiss off remark to an individual or a group, usually intended in bantering good humor. The work "knotted" is usually applied to a person with problems or suffering from a hangup.
Link to this entryKnotty Ashdistrict in Liverpool often alluded to get a humorous response. The comedian Ken Dodd is often called the "Squire of Knotty Ash."
district in Liverpool often alluded to get a humorous response. The comedian Ken Dodd is often called the "Squire of Knotty Ash."
knuckle buttiea punch in the face
knucksa brass knuckleduster or anything used in lieu, such as a piece of chain wrapped around the fist.
a brass knuckleduster or anything used in lieu, such as a piece of chain wrapped around the fist.
Link to this entryKocker it off, toto get along
kokumseasoning, experience
Kop. De KopA favorite point of vantage at Liverpool Football Ground. Spion Kop is Afrikaans for a steep sided hill with trees and exposed rocks on top. In Afrikaans, Spion Kop meant "vantage point hill." It was the site of either a bloody defeat or a Phyrric victory for the British (including a Liverpool regiment) in the Boer War, depending on which commentator you read.
A favorite point of vantage at Liverpool Football Ground. Spion Kop is Afrikaans for a steep sided hill with trees and exposed rocks on top. In Afrikaans, Spion Kop meant "vantage point hill." It was the site of either a bloody defeat or a Phyrric victory for the British (including a Liverpool regiment) in the Boer War, depending on which commentator you read.
Link to this entryKosher Nostra, thewhimsical notion about an Israeli Mafia. Cf. the equally whimsical Welsh equivalent, The Taffia, more recently refined to the "Viet Taff.".
whimsical notion about an Israeli Mafia. Cf. the equally whimsical Welsh equivalent, The Taffia, more recently refined to the "Viet Taff.".
Link to this entryKru(or Kroo)now an obsolete term, it referred to early non-European settlers in Liverpool who came from the Liberian coast It came to mean any black African seaman.
now an obsolete term, it referred to early non-European settlers in Liverpool who came from the Liberian coast It came to mean any black African seaman.
Link to this entry