Today's early 20th century US criminal slang term is "shilliver," which was "an epithet applied to apprentice crooks."
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
See you Monday!
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
See you Monday!
October 23, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Today's early 20th century US criminal slang term is "shilliver," which was "an epithet applied to apprentice crooks."
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
See you Monday!
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
See you Monday!
Today's early 20th century US criminal slang term is "cose," meaning "a five-cent piece."
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
October 22, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Today's early 20th century US criminal slang term is "cose," meaning "a five-cent piece."
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
Today's early 20th century US criminal slang term is "kitty hop," meaning "a heads-I-win-tails-you-lose situation or proposition; a 'double-cross;' a 'frame-up,' in which 'both ends may be played against the middle.' Also used to indicate a practical joke."
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
October 21, 2026 at 9:35 AM
Today's early 20th century US criminal slang term is "kitty hop," meaning "a heads-I-win-tails-you-lose situation or proposition; a 'double-cross;' a 'frame-up,' in which 'both ends may be played against the middle.' Also used to indicate a practical joke."
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
Today's early 20th century US criminal slang term is "flaggings," meaning "meat of any description, usually applied to cold victuals."
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
October 20, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Today's early 20th century US criminal slang term is "flaggings," meaning "meat of any description, usually applied to cold victuals."
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
Today's early 20th century US criminal slang term is "broad spieler," meaning "an expert at Three Card Monte."
www.wikihow.com/3-Card-Monte
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
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www.wikihow.com/3-Card-Monte
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
(2 of 2)
3 Card Monte: Card Trick and Scam Explained
Learn this classic trick and how to recognize scammers with our guideThe 3-card monte, also known as "Follow the Lady" or the "Three Card Trick," is one of the oldest tricks in the book. While it star...
www.wikihow.com
October 19, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Today's early 20th century US criminal slang term is "broad spieler," meaning "an expert at Three Card Monte."
www.wikihow.com/3-Card-Monte
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
(2 of 2)
www.wikihow.com/3-Card-Monte
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
(2 of 2)
Hello! This week we'll look at early 20th century US criminal slang. Our source is "A Vocabulary Of Criminal Slang With Some Examples Of Common Usages," by Louis E. Jackson and C. R. Hellyer.
See Project Gutenberg: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/76632
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
(1 of 2)
See Project Gutenberg: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/76632
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
(1 of 2)
A vocabulary of criminal slang : with some examples of common usages by Jackson
A vocabulary of criminal slang : with some examples of common usages by Jackson. Free eBook digitized and proofread by volunteers.
www.gutenberg.org
October 19, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Hello! This week we'll look at early 20th century US criminal slang. Our source is "A Vocabulary Of Criminal Slang With Some Examples Of Common Usages," by Louis E. Jackson and C. R. Hellyer.
See Project Gutenberg: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/76632
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
(1 of 2)
See Project Gutenberg: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/76632
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
(1 of 2)
September 18th: The outdated word for today is "godcund," meaning "sacred." Its antonym is "weorld-cund" ("secular").
Pronunciation: gud-CUHND.
Source: Earle, J. (1884.) Anglo-Saxon Literature. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
See you Monday!
Pronunciation: gud-CUHND.
Source: Earle, J. (1884.) Anglo-Saxon Literature. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
See you Monday!
October 2, 2026 at 10:32 AM
September 18th: The outdated word for today is "godcund," meaning "sacred." Its antonym is "weorld-cund" ("secular").
Pronunciation: gud-CUHND.
Source: Earle, J. (1884.) Anglo-Saxon Literature. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
See you Monday!
Pronunciation: gud-CUHND.
Source: Earle, J. (1884.) Anglo-Saxon Literature. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
See you Monday!
October 1st: The outdated term for today is "ebb-water," meaning "when there's but little money left in the pocket."
Source: "B. E., Gentleman." (1699.) A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. London: W. Hawes, P. Gilbourne, W. Davis.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
Source: "B. E., Gentleman." (1699.) A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. London: W. Hawes, P. Gilbourne, W. Davis.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
October 1, 2026 at 10:40 AM
October 1st: The outdated term for today is "ebb-water," meaning "when there's but little money left in the pocket."
Source: "B. E., Gentleman." (1699.) A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. London: W. Hawes, P. Gilbourne, W. Davis.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
Source: "B. E., Gentleman." (1699.) A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. London: W. Hawes, P. Gilbourne, W. Davis.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
September 30th: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Antick," adj. "Odd; ridiculously wild; buffoon in gesticulation."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
"Antick," adj. "Odd; ridiculously wild; buffoon in gesticulation."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
September 30, 2026 at 8:47 AM
September 30th: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Antick," adj. "Odd; ridiculously wild; buffoon in gesticulation."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
"Antick," adj. "Odd; ridiculously wild; buffoon in gesticulation."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
September 29th: The outdated term for today is "elevator," early 20th-century slang for "a lifter; a booster; a hoister; a 'stick-up' man."
Source: Jackson, L. E. (1914.) A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang. Portland, OR: Modern Printing Company.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
Source: Jackson, L. E. (1914.) A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang. Portland, OR: Modern Printing Company.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
September 29, 2026 at 10:18 AM
September 29th: The outdated term for today is "elevator," early 20th-century slang for "a lifter; a booster; a hoister; a 'stick-up' man."
Source: Jackson, L. E. (1914.) A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang. Portland, OR: Modern Printing Company.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
Source: Jackson, L. E. (1914.) A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang. Portland, OR: Modern Printing Company.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
September 28th: The outdated word for today is "girdelstede," meaning "waist" (literally "the place where the girdle lives.")
Pronunciation (I think): gir-DELL-sted-EH.
Source: Tolkien, J.R.R. (1922.) A Middle English Vocabulary. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): gir-DELL-sted-EH.
Source: Tolkien, J.R.R. (1922.) A Middle English Vocabulary. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
September 28, 2026 at 10:19 AM
September 28th: The outdated word for today is "girdelstede," meaning "waist" (literally "the place where the girdle lives.")
Pronunciation (I think): gir-DELL-sted-EH.
Source: Tolkien, J.R.R. (1922.) A Middle English Vocabulary. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): gir-DELL-sted-EH.
Source: Tolkien, J.R.R. (1922.) A Middle English Vocabulary. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
September 18th: The outdated word for today is "laguflōd," meaning "sea" (literally "flow of liquid").
Pronunciation (I think): lah-YU-flohd.
Source: Earle, J. (1884.) Anglo-Saxon Literature. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
See you Monday!
Pronunciation (I think): lah-YU-flohd.
Source: Earle, J. (1884.) Anglo-Saxon Literature. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
See you Monday!
September 25, 2026 at 9:21 AM
September 18th: The outdated word for today is "laguflōd," meaning "sea" (literally "flow of liquid").
Pronunciation (I think): lah-YU-flohd.
Source: Earle, J. (1884.) Anglo-Saxon Literature. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
See you Monday!
Pronunciation (I think): lah-YU-flohd.
Source: Earle, J. (1884.) Anglo-Saxon Literature. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
See you Monday!
September 24th: The outdated term for today is "lurched," meaning "beaten at any game." This is somehow related to the expression "left in the lurch."
Source: "B. E., Gentleman." (1699.) A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. London: Hawes, Gilbourne, Davis.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
Source: "B. E., Gentleman." (1699.) A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. London: Hawes, Gilbourne, Davis.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
September 24, 2026 at 10:37 AM
September 24th: The outdated term for today is "lurched," meaning "beaten at any game." This is somehow related to the expression "left in the lurch."
Source: "B. E., Gentleman." (1699.) A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. London: Hawes, Gilbourne, Davis.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
Source: "B. E., Gentleman." (1699.) A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. London: Hawes, Gilbourne, Davis.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
September 23rd: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Trucklebed," noun. "A bed that runs on wheels under a higher bed."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
"Trucklebed," noun. "A bed that runs on wheels under a higher bed."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
September 23, 2026 at 9:21 AM
September 23rd: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Trucklebed," noun. "A bed that runs on wheels under a higher bed."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
"Trucklebed," noun. "A bed that runs on wheels under a higher bed."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
September 22nd: The outdated term for today is "carrying the banner" early 20th-century slang meaning "to walk the streets all night."
Source: Jackson, L. E. (1915.) A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang. Portland, OR: Modern Printing Company.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
Source: Jackson, L. E. (1915.) A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang. Portland, OR: Modern Printing Company.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
September 22, 2026 at 6:47 AM
September 22nd: The outdated term for today is "carrying the banner" early 20th-century slang meaning "to walk the streets all night."
Source: Jackson, L. E. (1915.) A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang. Portland, OR: Modern Printing Company.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
Source: Jackson, L. E. (1915.) A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang. Portland, OR: Modern Printing Company.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
September 21st: The outdated word for today is "fyked," the past tense of the word meaning "to flinch."
Pronunciation (I think): FIKE'd.
Source: Tolkien, J.R.R. (1922.) A Middle English Vocabulary. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): FIKE'd.
Source: Tolkien, J.R.R. (1922.) A Middle English Vocabulary. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
September 21, 2026 at 9:10 AM
September 21st: The outdated word for today is "fyked," the past tense of the word meaning "to flinch."
Pronunciation (I think): FIKE'd.
Source: Tolkien, J.R.R. (1922.) A Middle English Vocabulary. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): FIKE'd.
Source: Tolkien, J.R.R. (1922.) A Middle English Vocabulary. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
September 18th: The outdated word for today is "seonoþ," meaning "synod."
Pronunciation (I think): say-OH-nuth.
Source: Earle, J. (1884.) Anglo-Saxon Literature. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
See you Monday!
Pronunciation (I think): say-OH-nuth.
Source: Earle, J. (1884.) Anglo-Saxon Literature. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
See you Monday!
September 18, 2026 at 9:41 AM
September 18th: The outdated word for today is "seonoþ," meaning "synod."
Pronunciation (I think): say-OH-nuth.
Source: Earle, J. (1884.) Anglo-Saxon Literature. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
See you Monday!
Pronunciation (I think): say-OH-nuth.
Source: Earle, J. (1884.) Anglo-Saxon Literature. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
See you Monday!
September 17th: The outdated term for today is "Yarmouth-coach," meaning "a sorry low cart to ride on, drawn by one horse."
Source: "B. E., Gentleman." (1699.) A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. London: W. Hawes, P. Gilbourne, W. Davis.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
Source: "B. E., Gentleman." (1699.) A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. London: W. Hawes, P. Gilbourne, W. Davis.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
September 17, 2026 at 10:25 AM
September 17th: The outdated term for today is "Yarmouth-coach," meaning "a sorry low cart to ride on, drawn by one horse."
Source: "B. E., Gentleman." (1699.) A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. London: W. Hawes, P. Gilbourne, W. Davis.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
Source: "B. E., Gentleman." (1699.) A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. London: W. Hawes, P. Gilbourne, W. Davis.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
September 16th: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Relume," verb. "To light anew; to rekindle."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
"Relume," verb. "To light anew; to rekindle."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
September 16, 2026 at 10:22 AM
September 16th: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Relume," verb. "To light anew; to rekindle."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
"Relume," verb. "To light anew; to rekindle."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
September 15th: The outdated term for today is "gaff," early 20th-century slang meaning "an offensive action, thing, or condition, of vague, complex, or undetermined meaning."
Source: Jackson, L. E. (1915.) A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang. Portland, Oregon.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
Source: Jackson, L. E. (1915.) A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang. Portland, Oregon.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
September 15, 2026 at 10:23 AM
September 15th: The outdated term for today is "gaff," early 20th-century slang meaning "an offensive action, thing, or condition, of vague, complex, or undetermined meaning."
Source: Jackson, L. E. (1915.) A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang. Portland, Oregon.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
Source: Jackson, L. E. (1915.) A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang. Portland, Oregon.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
September 14th: The outdated word for today is "ioparde," meaning "hazard." This comes from the Old French "ju parti," meaning "doubtful chance."
Pronunciation (I think): yeh-OH-PARD-uh.
Source: Tolkien, J.R.R. (1922.) A Middle English Vocabulary. Clarendon Press.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): yeh-OH-PARD-uh.
Source: Tolkien, J.R.R. (1922.) A Middle English Vocabulary. Clarendon Press.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
September 14, 2026 at 9:35 AM
September 14th: The outdated word for today is "ioparde," meaning "hazard." This comes from the Old French "ju parti," meaning "doubtful chance."
Pronunciation (I think): yeh-OH-PARD-uh.
Source: Tolkien, J.R.R. (1922.) A Middle English Vocabulary. Clarendon Press.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): yeh-OH-PARD-uh.
Source: Tolkien, J.R.R. (1922.) A Middle English Vocabulary. Clarendon Press.
#OutdatedWords #MiddleEnglish
September 4th: The outdated term for today is "to unload pewter," 19th-century British slang meaning "to drink beer."
Source: Anonymous. (Circa 1848.) Sinks of London Laid Open. London: J. Duncombe.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
See you Monday!
Source: Anonymous. (Circa 1848.) Sinks of London Laid Open. London: J. Duncombe.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
See you Monday!
September 4, 2026 at 10:13 AM
September 4th: The outdated term for today is "to unload pewter," 19th-century British slang meaning "to drink beer."
Source: Anonymous. (Circa 1848.) Sinks of London Laid Open. London: J. Duncombe.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
See you Monday!
Source: Anonymous. (Circa 1848.) Sinks of London Laid Open. London: J. Duncombe.
#OutdatedWords #ModernEnglish
See you Monday!
September 3rd: The outdated word for today is "tygel," meaning "pulling-rope" or "rein." This is the ancestor of the Modern English "tail."
Pronunciation (I think): ty-YUL.
Source: Wright, T., Wülker, R. P. (1884.) Old English Vocabularies. London.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): ty-YUL.
Source: Wright, T., Wülker, R. P. (1884.) Old English Vocabularies. London.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
September 3, 2026 at 8:42 AM
September 3rd: The outdated word for today is "tygel," meaning "pulling-rope" or "rein." This is the ancestor of the Modern English "tail."
Pronunciation (I think): ty-YUL.
Source: Wright, T., Wülker, R. P. (1884.) Old English Vocabularies. London.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
Pronunciation (I think): ty-YUL.
Source: Wright, T., Wülker, R. P. (1884.) Old English Vocabularies. London.
#OutdatedWords #OldEnglish
September 2nd: The outdated word for today is "wafer-woman," meaning "a seller of wafer-cakes, freq. mentioned as employed in amorous embassies."
Source: Skeat, W., Mayhew, A.L. (1914.) A Glossary of Tudor and Stuart Words. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
Source: Skeat, W., Mayhew, A.L. (1914.) A Glossary of Tudor and Stuart Words. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
September 2, 2026 at 3:32 PM
September 2nd: The outdated word for today is "wafer-woman," meaning "a seller of wafer-cakes, freq. mentioned as employed in amorous embassies."
Source: Skeat, W., Mayhew, A.L. (1914.) A Glossary of Tudor and Stuart Words. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
Source: Skeat, W., Mayhew, A.L. (1914.) A Glossary of Tudor and Stuart Words. Clarendon Press (Oxford).
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish
September 1st: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Frenchify," verb. "To infect with the manner of the French; to make a coxcomb."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
"Frenchify," verb. "To infect with the manner of the French; to make a coxcomb."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
September 1, 2026 at 9:17 AM
September 1st: Today’s outdated word is from Dr. Johnson's 1755 dictionary.
"Frenchify," verb. "To infect with the manner of the French; to make a coxcomb."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson
"Frenchify," verb. "To infect with the manner of the French; to make a coxcomb."
Source: Johnson, S. (2006). A Dictionary Of The English Language. Penguin Classics.
#OutdatedWords #EarlyModernEnglish #DrSamuelJohnson