N68 archived entries
NaishIgnatius.
nalleredcaptured, arrested (a fusion of nailed and collared)
nancean effeminate male. Also: a Nancy
Nanny Goat(rhyming)coat
nark, toto give information to the police about a crime
Narka dispute, a quarrel
a dispute, a quarrel
Link to this entryNarkyirritable, bad-tempered
Nash, Thereither the Grand National horse-race, or the National Assistance Board
Nat King, der(rhyming)the dole, collecting social benefits
naughty pin(sometimes naughty legs)legs which are not particularly shapely
necessary, thea euphemism for animal droppings, sometimes much sought after by gardeners
necessary place, thethe lavatory
needle matcha match involving personal or traditional club rivalries or resentments
Needs his head feltshould see a psychoanalyst
neeps( as in "mashed neeps")turnips
Nellie(also Nelly)an effeminate or homosexual male; also a feeble or soft person
Nelly, not on yourhighly unlikely In rhyming slang, the full phrase was "not on your Nelly ruff," which rhymed with puff, meaning the air in your lungs or the breath of life.
highly unlikely In rhyming slang, the full phrase was "not on your Nelly ruff," which rhymed with puff, meaning the air in your lungs or the breath of life.
Nelson's Bloodrum. After the Battle of Trafalgar, Nelson's slain body was put in a barrel of rum, pending its return home. Tradition has it that when the body was removed for a proper ceremonial burial homeside, several sailors came upon the barrel and finished off the contents. They caroused on Nelson's blood in that sense, and from then on among Royal Navy sailors, rum had a new name.
rum. After the Battle of Trafalgar, Nelson's slain body was put in a barrel of rum, pending its return home. Tradition has it that when the body was removed for a proper ceremonial burial homeside, several sailors came upon the barrel and finished off the contents. They caroused on Nelson's blood in that sense, and from then on among Royal Navy sailors, rum had a new name.
Link to this entryNeshnot very hardy, not able to stand the cold. In Lancashire, nesh means tender, weak, delicate, soft.
not very hardy, not able to stand the cold. In Lancashire, nesh means tender, weak, delicate, soft.
Link to this entryNetherfield Road Navythe bands of the Loyal Order of Orange Lodges, usually dressed in quasi-naval uniforms. Cf. "The Good Ship Neverbudge" on this list.
the bands of the Loyal Order of Orange Lodges, usually dressed in quasi-naval uniforms. Cf. "The Good Ship Neverbudge" on this list.
Link to this entryneuralgicLiverpudlianism for nostalgic
never-never, thethe weekly installment plan.some say it refers to the intention not to pay the rest of what is owed, others say that "never-never" refers to the never-ending payments.
the weekly installment plan.some say it refers to the intention not to pay the rest of what is owed, others say that "never-never" refers to the never-ending payments.
Link to this entryNews of the Screwsone of several names for a newspaper for National Servicemen. Other names: Whore's Gazette, Red Light News, Piccadilly Part Two Orders, and Screws of the World
one of several names for a newspaper for National Servicemen. Other names: Whore's Gazette, Red Light News, Piccadilly Part Two Orders, and Screws of the World
Link to this entryNiagra Falls(rhyming)testicles The rhyming component should be obvious
nick, theprison, or police station, or a military guard room. Nick can also mean an "arrest."
prison, or police station, or a military guard room. Nick can also mean an "arrest."
Link to this entrynick, therthe Walton Jail
Nicksteal
Nick off, toto run off for some illegitimate or larcenous reason.
nicker, aa one pound note
Nickerscigarette butts. Spiegl thinks this comes from the habit of nicking(pinching) a cigarette to put it out and keeping it for future use.
cigarette butts. Spiegl thinks this comes from the habit of nicking(pinching) a cigarette to put it out and keeping it for future use.
Link to this entrynickers in a twist, to getto get strongly upset about something or other
Night-mansocial worker who comes at night to check on overcrowding in slum dwellings
social worker who comes at night to check on overcrowding in slum dwellings
nig-nogan insulting reference to a person of color
niggers' eyeballsnow no longer heard, a highly objectionable term for semolina pudding. Semolina, or some other unflavored pudding, if sprinkled with raisins, was called "niggers in the snow."
now no longer heard, a highly objectionable term for semolina pudding. Semolina, or some other unflavored pudding, if sprinkled with raisins, was called "niggers in the snow."
Link to this entrynight on the tilesrefers to a night of drinking on the bar room tiles
Nin. Me nin. My grandmother, or favorite aunt, or just a friendly neighbor.
nip out toto go out, sometimes stealthily, as in "to nip out for a pint."
Nippya waitress. The word probably refers to how fast a waitress was expected to perform her duties.
a waitress. The word probably refers to how fast a waitress was expected to perform her duties.
Link to this entryNix, to keepto keep lookout for the police
No-boot brigade(obsolete)the Liverpool underclass
noak, to(obsolete)to keep watch (criminal)
nob(obsolete)someone of wealth or high social position; the term usually implies contempt.
nobble, toto tamper with, also to catch or to trap in police parlance. Nobble meant to drug a horse to keep it from winning; it referred generally to reducing someone's ability or power.
to tamper with, also to catch or to trap in police parlance. Nobble meant to drug a horse to keep it from winning; it referred generally to reducing someone's ability or power.
Link to this entrynobs( as in "I'll be there with nobs on")a very general intensifier, conveying the sense of "for sure," or "indeed."
noddy bikesmall motor-scooter formerly used by police on patrol
Noddya fool, a simpleton, a noodle Partridge notes that in the Enid Blyton stories there is a hero who is a rather stupid elf called Noddy
a fool, a simpleton, a noodle Partridge notes that in the Enid Blyton stories there is a hero who is a rather stupid elf called Noddy
Link to this entryNogsieNorris Green Park
Nomarka nonentity, a person who draws no attention
Noncea sex-offender
Nook, Thea very popular bar in Liverpool's Chinatown, whose gambling dens were freqently raided. The occupants protested that there was no gambling going on there, but the problem was more than semantic.
a very popular bar in Liverpool's Chinatown, whose gambling dens were freqently raided. The occupants protested that there was no gambling going on there, but the problem was more than semantic.
Link to this entryNorth and South (rhyming)the mouth,
noshto eat (usually, to eat ravenously)
Not the full quidmentally deficient. Also: not the full shilling
Not wert a light. Of no value.
Not elevenpence for a shillinga foolish person (insult)
Not too foulbeautiful
Nowse(also nous)skill, flair, knowledge, good sense, intelligence Spiegl thinks the word comes from the Greek nous , or mind, which would make it an unusual survival in popular speech. It shows up in Lancashire too, and is Greek, but probably by way of university slang.
skill, flair, knowledge, good sense, intelligence Spiegl thinks the word comes from the Greek nous , or mind, which would make it an unusual survival in popular speech. It shows up in Lancashire too, and is Greek, but probably by way of university slang.
Link to this entrynowtnothing
nuck nosesnoses flattened from being pressed against a window
Nudgerlong sandwich made from an elongated bread roll. Spiegl notes that "nudger" is a dysphemism for penis, so the term may be unwelcome in the "better" establishments.
long sandwich made from an elongated bread roll. Spiegl notes that "nudger" is a dysphemism for penis, so the term may be unwelcome in the "better" establishments.
Link to this entryNut, to do one'sto be or get angry, to go berserk Cf. "Doin' me ed in"
Nut-crackerpoliceman (nut being a reference to heads cracked)
Nut-poxRingworm
nutmeg, toin soccer, to send the ball through the legs of an opposing player or goalie, who then loses face.
in soccer, to send the ball through the legs of an opposing player or goalie, who then loses face.
Link to this entry