Slang Entry # 7 - wellington

wellington noun a condom. A figurative application of waterproof footwear. 'Welly boot' is also a variant UK, 2003

Slang Entry # 6 - poomp

poomp noun to fart BAHAMAS, 1982

Slang Entry # 5 - dope stick

dope stick noun a cigarette US, 1904

Slang Entry # 4 - hairtree

hairtree noun a man who wears his hair long and styled as a fashion statement US, 1996

Slang Entry # 3 - half-cock

half-cock noun > go off at half-cock generally, to start without being ready; in sex, to ejaculate prematurely or without being fully erect. A variation of HALF-COCKED UK, 1904

half-cock adjective ill-considered; inferior UK, 2002. > at half-cock not fully prepared or ready UK, 2000

half-cocked adjective 1 not fully capable; not completely thought out; unfinished; incomplete. Derives from the mechanism of a gun US, 1833. 2 drunk AUSTRALIA, early C19. > go off half-cocked generally, to start without being fully erect. Gun imageny UK, 1809

Slang Entry # 2 - duh

duh noun an offensive, despicable person; a clumsy person; a socially awkward person. From the expression of disgust at someone's stupidity SOUTH AFRICA, 1976

duh! used for expressing disgust at the stupidity of what has just been said. A single syllable with a great deal of attitude US, 1963

Poll Quiz # 1 - lifted

Vote for what you think "lifted" means on The Slang Blog's first Poll Quiz! It is located to the right of the posts if you scroll down.

The correct definition will be posted at the end of November and a new Poll Quiz will be posted each month.

Slang Entry # 1 - shiznit

shiznit noun the very best; something of great quality. Used with 'the'. A euphemistic embellishment of THE SHIT US, 1996

An Introduction to The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English

Welcome to The Slang Blog – a blog devoted to the words we don’t share with everyone. This is our place to celebrate (or otherwise) the joys of slang and unconventional English around the world.

The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English is named for one of the greatest philologists and lexicographers in living memory, Eric Partridge. His legacy is the beginning of our vocabulary, recorded with a unique spirit and personality. When Tom Dalzell and I were approached by Routledge we were more in awe of the giant shoulder we clambered on than the five years and more it would take to prepare our dictionary.

I was just browsing through The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English – in the shops November 5th, hotly pursued by Sex Slang and Vice Slang which will have bookshelves groaning in time for Christmas – when, on page 458, I tripped over my favourite slang word of all time: nincompoop. Now it’s used with an amused disdain to name a fool; back in the day, the late eighteenth century to be a little more precise, it was defined as ‘one who never saw his wife’s ****’ (the asterisks are in the original – I’m less likely to beat about the bush).

So, here we are, looking forward to your contributions – with or without asterisks. As dictionary makers we do not censor, we record what’s out there. Let us know.

Terry Victor, Editor, etc.

Note from Routledge: You can find the afformentioned titles by clicking on the direct hyperlinks or at www.routledge.com. Questions or comments may be directed to languages@routledge.com.