L89 archived entries
LaI say, young man. Also: my friend, mon vieux ; the feminine equivalent of this word here is "sis."
I say, young man. Also: my friend, mon vieux ; the feminine equivalent of this word here is "sis."
lace, toto lash, beat, or thrash someone or something
Lady Muck of Muck Halla woman who puts on airs, has a condescending manner and is regarded as excessively conceited.
a woman who puts on airs, has a condescending manner and is regarded as excessively conceited.
Link to this entryLady de Blobswitch ( comparatively rare)a woman who puts on airs
Laffin' bags, to beto be satisfied, happy, with no worries, in luck
Lagto urinate
Lagjailbird. See "sheila" on this list.
Lal. Harry.
lamp, toto "brain" someone, perhaps by putting their head into sudden contact with a lamp post
to "brain" someone, perhaps by putting their head into sudden contact with a lamp post
Link to this entryLampin. De Quare feller's lampin. The stranger is watching.
Lanny. De Lanny. The floating landing stage at the Pier Head.
lap of honor, to doa victory parade or strut, after a successful race
Larriken(Australian)a street rowdy
lascar rope(obsolete)cheap lodging house "He was a foulmouthed little b.... as much at home in a lascar rope as a child or rich folk might have been in his nursery." For a very small amount, individuals, many of them drunken seamen, could stand half draped over a rope and get what sleep they could. See "lascars" on this list.
cheap lodging house "He was a foulmouthed little b.... as much at home in a lascar rope as a child or rich folk might have been in his nursery." For a very small amount, individuals, many of them drunken seamen, could stand half draped over a rope and get what sleep they could. See "lascars" on this list.
Link to this entryLascars, sometimes spelled lasker(obsolete)originally thie meant East Indian sailors, who were known on ships as stokers from the hot seas. Some referred to them as smoked Irishmen.
originally thie meant East Indian sailors, who were known on ships as stokers from the hot seas. Some referred to them as smoked Irishmen.
Link to this entryLash-upcontroversy
Lashinsplenty of. A full mean is one with "lashins" of food and drink.
Lassy bandsrubber bands or elastic strings
Last back-endthe latter part of the previous year. The phrase "back-end" refers to the fall.
the latter part of the previous year. The phrase "back-end" refers to the fall.
Link to this entryLast Supper, Thersardonic name for fish and chips
Latchlifter. De latchlifterThe price of a half-a-pint of beer. Spiegl notes that this is the minimum sum of money required to gain entrance to a public house, in the hope that further drinks will be bought by others.
The price of a half-a-pint of beer. Spiegl notes that this is the minimum sum of money required to gain entrance to a public house, in the hope that further drinks will be bought by others.
Link to this entryLauder, 'Arry, to give(rhyming)to give order and quiet down
Launching Pad, theProtestant phrase for the Catholic Cathedral in Liverpool. See also Paddy's Wigwam and the Mersey Funnel.
Protestant phrase for the Catholic Cathedral in Liverpool. See also Paddy's Wigwam and the Mersey Funnel.
Link to this entrylay the table, toto set the table
laying outon payday the housewife would put the money due on top of each collection book
Lazzie and upsvariant of marbles game.
leather a child, toto punish with a strap
leb goldcannabis resin in block form
lecky railway, deThe Mersey Underground Railway
Lecky man. De lecky man. The electric meter reader.
Left tit(rhyming)another name for threepence, or threepenny bit
Left-footer. A Catholic. In Northern Ireland, the inquiry as to which foot you dig with is really an attempt to find out whether you are Catholic or Protestant. The belief is that Catholics dig with the left foot, Protestants with the right. According to Terry Eagleton, two different kinds of spade were traditionally used in Ireland, one in (mainly Catholic) Munster and Connacht, and the other in (partly Protestant) Ulster. One spade was notched on the right side for digging, the other notched on the left. But actually the Catholic spade was notched on the right, the Protestant one on the right. Folklore prevailedthe Catholic "Other" had to be consigned to the left; calling them "right" would have involved dangerous ironies.
the Catholic "Other" had to be consigned to the left; calling them "right" would have involved dangerous ironies.
left-handedCatholic. Cf."left-footer."
left standing on four bricks, to beto be a sexually aroused male, hopes and everything else up, and then suddenly rejected or abandoned.
to be a sexually aroused male, hopes and everything else up, and then suddenly rejected or abandoned.
Link to this entryLeg over, getting a leghaving a sexual tryst
Leg itto get away quickly
Leglessextremely intoxicated
Lemmin pelter, a (lemon pelter)member of the Loyal Order of the Orange Lodge
Lemonjitisbeing partial to a wedge of lemon with Friday fish
lett'nsa Corporation housing department. Source: "lettings," an office where living accommodation is let.
a Corporation housing department. Source: "lettings," an office where living accommodation is let.
Link to this entryLezzya lesbian woman
liberty bodicesyoung girls's undergarments.
liberty, a bit of ataking an unfair advantage, usually in the courting game. LS3
taking an unfair advantage, usually in the courting game. LS3
Link to this entryLice Palace, TherThe Lyceum Theatre, Liverpool. Also called the Old Licey
light o'lovesprostitutes
Like. Y'know like a much used but meaningless interjection
limberartillery caisson
limpeta shelled mollusc which adheres tightly to rocks
LinenNewspaper
Lippielipstick
liquorice(obsolete) another word for chewing tobacco in bulk form
Little Man in a Boat, Hotspotclitoris
littly, aa child
livener, ahair of the dog the morning after a night of drinking
Liverpool Kiss, asame as a Kirkby Kiss, which means butting the head of the recipient.
livin'-on merchanta pimp
Loaf of Bread(rhyming)the head Also: barnet, bonce
Lobboa thoroughly confused situation. The word can also be an instruction to hand something over.
a thoroughly confused situation. The word can also be an instruction to hand something over.
loblollyfood which bubbles in the boiling as it is being prepared. In Lancashire, a lob lolly was a person engaged in odd jobs or rough work.
food which bubbles in the boiling as it is being prepared. In Lancashire, a lob lolly was a person engaged in odd jobs or rough work.
Link to this entrylock fields(obsolete) wasteland along a canal
Locust beans, sometimes spelled locus beanscarob beans used in the manufacture of cattle-food; considered a delicacy by children
carob beans used in the manufacture of cattle-food; considered a delicacy by children
Link to this entryLolbelieved by some to be an acronym for "laugh out loud," or "lots of love," or perhaps "Loyal Orange Lodge."
believed by some to be an acronym for "laugh out loud," or "lots of love," or perhaps "Loyal Orange Lodge."
Link to this entryLollipop manChildren's crossing guard. The lollipop man or woman carries a stick surmounted by a disk reading "Stop. Children crossing."
Children's crossing guard. The lollipop man or woman carries a stick surmounted by a disk reading "Stop. Children crossing."
Link to this entrylolly icefrozen fruit flavored water on a stick
lolly watersoft drink, sometimes colored, usually mentioned by someone who would prefer something stronger
soft drink, sometimes colored, usually mentioned by someone who would prefer something stronger
Link to this entrylong string o' miserya person who whines; a perpetual complainer
long haired one, theone's wife
long string o' summat-er-othersaid of a person who is disliked
Long One, aone thousand pounds, also called a grand.
looking at the deada favorite children's pastime in former years. Children would arrive at a home in which the body of the deceased was on display and ask to see it. It was though unlucky to refuse young children entry for that purpose. Often the real attraction was the wake food.
a favorite children's pastime in former years. Children would arrive at a home in which the body of the deceased was on display and ask to see it. It was though unlucky to refuse young children entry for that purpose. Often the real attraction was the wake food.
Looks. Ed lewks like de unchback a Knotty Ash. He is of grotesque appearance.
Loop de loop(rhyming)soup
Loosiescigarettes sold loose.
Lord Muck of Muck Halla bombastic person; a swollen-headed man who likes to assert his authority.
Lose a quarter, to(or lose a quart of)to have indigestion (vomiting or diarrhea) after a great deal of drinking.
lotionyet one more name for an alcoholic beverage
loud-hailerelectronic speaker frequently used in street meetings
Louse Ladderssideburns
ludoindoor game
lug(Lancashire)the ear
Luggy. A person with one ear.
Lugole, 'is. His ear.
Luke Har (mimicking upper class pronunciation)a person regarded as having a precious accent; one who speaks with strained correctness and in a condescending manner.
a person regarded as having a precious accent; one who speaks with strained correctness and in a condescending manner.
Link to this entrylumber, to be into be in a catastrophic situation. Lumber can also mean a brawl. In Lancashire, lumber means mischief.
to be in a catastrophic situation. Lumber can also mean a brawl. In Lancashire, lumber means mischief.
Link to this entrylump on the sconea knot on the head from an injury. This usually refers to a child's injury.
lumpersa lump sum paid as compensation for loss of employment
a lump sum paid as compensation for loss of employment
Link to this entryLurk (or lerk)a job, occupation, especially a racket or paying hobby. Spiegl thinks this is a mispronunciation of the Cockney "lark." Moloney suggests that the word is a corruption of "lurch," as in "left in the lurch," or abandoned in mid-task.
a job, occupation, especially a racket or paying hobby. Spiegl thinks this is a mispronunciation of the Cockney "lark." Moloney suggests that the word is a corruption of "lurch," as in "left in the lurch," or abandoned in mid-task.
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