Cab Calloway's Hepster's Dictionary: Language of Jive (1939)

Source

Instruments: Guitar: Git Box or Belly-Fiddle Bass: Doghouse Drums: Suitcase, Hides, or Skins Piano: Storehouse or Ivories Saxophone: Plumbing or Reeds Trombone: Tram or Slush-Pump Clarinet: Licorice Stick or Gob Stick Xylophone: Woodpile Vibraphone: Ironworks Violin: Squeak-Box Accordion: Squeeze-Box or Groan-Box Tuba: Foghorn Electric Organ: Spark Jiver Jive Terminology: A A hummer (n.)—exceptionally good. Ex., “Man, that boy is a hummer.” Ain’t coming on that tab (v.)—won’t accept the proposition. Usually abbr. to “I ain’t coming.” Alligator (n.)—jitterbug. Apple (n.)—the big town, the main stem, Harlem. Armstrongs (n.)—musical notes in the upper register, high trumpet notes. B Barbecue (n.)—the girl friend, a beauty Barrelhouse (adj.)—free and easy. Battle (n.)—a very homely girl, a crone. Beat (adj.)—(1) tired, exhausted. Ex., “You look beat” or “I feel beat.” (2) lacking anything. Ex, “I am beat for my cash”, “I am beat to my socks” (lacking everything). Beat it out (v.)—play it hot, emphasize the rhythm. Beat up (adj.)—sad, uncomplimentary, tired. Beat up the chops (or the gums) (v.)—to talk, converse, be loquacious. Beef (v.)—to say, to state. Ex., “He beefed to me that, etc.” Bible (n.)—the gospel truth. Ex., “It’s the bible!” Black (n.)—night. Black and tan (n.)—dark and light colored folks. Not colored and white folks as erroneously assumed. Blew their wigs (adj.)—excited with enthusiasm, gone crazy. Blip (n.)—something very good. Ex., “That’s a blip”; “She’s a blip.” Blow the top (v.)—to be overcome with emotion (delight). Ex., “You’ll blow your top when you hear this one.” Boogie-woogie (n.)—harmony with accented bass. Boot (v.)—to give. Ex., “Boot me that glove.” Break it up (v.)—to win applause, to stop the show. Bree (n.)—girl. Bright (n.)—day. Brightnin’ (n.)—daybreak. Bring down ((1) n. (2) v.)—(1) something depressing. Ex., “That’s a bring down.” (2) Ex., “That brings me down.” Buddy ghee (n.)—fellow. Bust your conk (v.)—apply yourself diligently, break your neck. C Canary (n.)—girl vocalist. Capped (v.)—outdone, surpassed. Cat (n.)—musician in swing band. Chick (n.)—girl. Chime (n.)—hour. Ex., “I got in at six chimes.” Clambake (n.)—ad lib session, every man for himself, a jam session not in the groove. Chirp (n.)—female singer. Cogs (n.)—sun glasses. Collar (v.)—to get, to obtain, to comprehend. Ex., “I gotta collar me some food”; “Do you collar this jive?” Come again (v.)—try it over, do better than you are doing, I don’t understand you. Comes on like gangbusters (or like test pilot) (v.)—plays, sings, or dances in a terrific manner, par excellence in any department. Sometimes abbr. to “That singer really comes on!” Cop (v.)—to get, to obtain (see collar; knock). Corny (adj.)—old-fashioned, stale. Creeps out like the shadow (v.)—“comes on,” but in smooth, suave, sophisticated manner. Crumb crushers (n.)—teeth. Cubby (n.)—room, flat, home. Cups (n.)—sleep. Ex., “I gotta catch some cups.” Cut out (v.)—to leave, to depart. Ex., “It’s time to cut out”; “I cut out from the joint in early bright.” Cut rate (n.)—a low, cheap person. Ex., “Don’t play me cut rate, Jack!” D Dicty (adj.)—high-class, nifty, smart. Dig (v.)—(1) meet. Ex., “I’ll plant you now and dig you later.” (2) look, see. Ex., “Dig the chick on your left duke.” (3) comprehend, understand. Ex., “Do you dig this jive?” Dim (n.)—evening. Dime note (n.)—ten-dollar bill. Doghouse (n.)—bass fiddle. Domi (n.)—ordinary place to live in. Ex., “I live in a righteous dome.” Doss (n.)—sleep. Ex., “I’m a little beat for my doss.” Down with it (adj.)—through with it. Drape (n.)—suit of clothes, dress, costume. Dreamers (n.)—bed covers, blankets. Dry-goods (n.)—same as drape. Duke (n.)—hand, mitt. Dutchess (n.)—girl. E Early black (n.)—evening Early bright (n.)—morning. Evil (adj.)—in ill humor, in a nasty temper. F Fall out (v.)—to be overcome with emotion. Ex., “The cats fell out when he took that solo.” Fews and two (n.)—money or cash in small quantity. Final (v.)—to leave, to go home. Ex., “I finaled to my pad” (went to bed); “We copped a final” (went home). Fine dinner (n.)—a good-looking girl. Focus (v.)—to look, to see. Foxy (v.)—shrewd. Frame (n.)—the body. Fraughty issue (n.)—a very sad message, a deplorable state of affairs. Freeby (n.)—no charge, gratis. Ex., “The meal was a freeby.” Frisking the whiskers (v.)—what the cats do when they are warming up for a swing session. Frolic pad (n.)—place of entertainment, theater, nightclub. Frompy (adj.)—a frompy queen is a battle or faust. Front (n.)—a suit of clothes. Fruiting (v.)—fickle, fooling around with no particular object. Fry (v.)—to go to get hair straightened. G Gabriels (n.)—trumpet players. Gammin’ (adj.)—showing off, flirtatious. Gasser (n, adj.)—sensational. Ex., “When it comes to dancing, she’s a gasser.” Gate (n.)—a male person (a salutation), abbr. for “gate-mouth.” Get in there (exclamation.)—go to work, get busy, make it hot, give all you’ve got. Gimme some skin (v.)—shake hands. Glims (n.)—the eyes. Got your boots on—you know what it is all about, you are a hep cat, you are wise. Got your glasses on—you are ritzy or snooty, you fail to recognize your friends, you are up-stage. Gravy (n.)—profits. Grease (v.)—to eat. Groovy (adj.)—fine. Ex., “I feel groovy.” Ground grippers (n.)—new shoes. Growl (n.)—vibrant notes from a trumpet. Gut-bucket (adj.)—low-down music. Guzzlin’ foam (v.)—drinking beer H Hard (adj.)—fine, good. Ex., “That’s a hard tie you’re wearing.” Hard spiel (n.)—interesting line of talk. Have a ball (v.)—to enjoy yourself, stage a celebration. Ex., “I had myself a ball last night.” Hep cat (n.)—a guy who knows all the answers, understands jive. Hide-beater (n.)—a drummer (see skin-beater). Hincty (adj.)—conceited, snooty. Hip (adj.)—wise, sophisticated, anyone with boots on. Ex., “She’s a hip chick.” Home-cooking (n.)—something very dinner (see fine dinner). Hot (adj.)—musically torrid; before swing, tunes were hot or bands were hot. Hype (n, v.)—build up for a loan, wooing a girl, persuasive talk. I Icky (n.)—one who is not hip, a stupid person, can’t collar the jive. Igg (v.)—to ignore someone. Ex., “Don’t igg me!) In the groove (adj.)—perfect, no deviation, down the alley. J Jack (n.)—name for all male friends (see gate; pops). Jam ((1)n, (2)v.)—(1) improvised swing music. Ex., “That’s swell jam.” (2) to play such music. Ex., “That cat surely can jam.” Jeff (n.)—a pest, a bore, an icky. Jelly (n.)—anything free, on the house. Jitterbug (n.)—a swing fan. Jive (n.)—Harlemese speech. Joint is jumping—the place is lively, the club is leaping with fun. Jumped in port (v.)—arrived in town..

K Kick (n.)—a pocket. Ex., “I’ve got five bucks in my kick.” Kill me (v.)—show me a good time, send me. Killer-diller (n.)—a great thrill. Knock (v.)—give. Ex., “Knock me a kiss.” Kopasetic (adj.)—absolutely okay, the tops. L Lamp (v.)—to see, to look at. Land o’darkness (n.)—Harlem. Lane (n.)—a male, usually a nonprofessional. Latch on (v.)—grab, take hold, get wise to. Lay some iron (v.)—to tap dance. Ex., “Jack, you really laid some iron that last show!” Lay your racket (v.)—to jive, to sell an idea, to promote a proposition. Lead sheet (n.)—a topcoat. Left raise (n.)—left side. Ex., “Dig the chick on your left raise.” Licking the chops (v.)—see frisking the whiskers. Licks (n.)—hot musical phrases. Lily whites (n.)—bed sheets. Line (n.)—cost, price, money. Ex., “What is the line on this drape” (how much does this suit cost)? “Have you got the line in the mouse” (do you have the cash in your pocket)? Also, in replying, all figures are doubled. Ex., “This drape is line forty” (this suit costs twenty dollars). Lock up—to acquire something exclusively. Ex., “He’s got that chick locked up”; “I’m gonna lock up that deal.” M Main kick (n.)—the stage. Main on the hitch (n.)—husband. Main queen (n.)—favorite girl friend, sweetheart. Man in gray (n.)—the postman. Mash me a fin (command.)—Give me $5. Mellow (adj.)—all right, fine. Ex., “That’s mellow, Jack.” Melted out (adj.)—broke. Mess (n.)—something good. Ex., “That last drink was a mess.” Meter (n.)—quarter, twenty-five cents. Mezz (n.)—anything supreme, genuine. Ex., “this is really the mezz.” Mitt pounding (n.)—applause. Moo juice (n.)—milk. Mouse (n.)—pocket. Ex., “I’ve got a meter in the mouse.” Muggin’ (v.)—making ‘em laugh, putting on the jive. “Muggin’ lightly,” light staccato swing; “muggin’ heavy,” heavy staccato swing. Murder (n.)—something excellent or terrific. Ex., “That’s solid murder, gate!” N Neigho, pops—Nothing doing, pal. Nicklette (n.)—automatic phonograph, music box. Nickel note (n.)—five-dollar bill. Nix out (v.)—to eliminate, get rid of. Ex., “I nixed that chick out last week”; “I nixed my garments” (undressed). Nod (n.)—sleep. Ex., “I think I’l cop a nod.” O Ofay (n.)—white person. Off the cob (adj.)—corny, out of date. Off-time jive (n.)—a sorry excuse, saying the wrong thing. Orchestration (n.)—an overcoat. Out of the world (adj.)—perfect rendition. Ex., “That sax chorus was out of the world.” Ow!—an exclamation with varied meaning. When a beautiful chick passes by, it’s “Ow!”; and when someone pulls an awful pun, it’s also “Ow!” P Pad (n.)—bed. Pecking (n.)—a dance introduced at the Cotton Club in 1937. Peola (n.)—a light person, almost white. Pigeon (n.)—a young girl. Pops (n.)—salutation for all males (see gate; Jack). Pounders (n.)—policemen. Q Queen (n.)—a beautiful girl. R Rank (v.)—to lower. Ready (adj.)—100 per cent in every way. Ex., “That fried chicken was ready.” Ride (v.)—to swing, to keep perfect tempo in playing or singing. Riff (n.)—hot lick, musical phrase. Righteous (adj.)—splendid, okay. Ex., “That was a righteous queen I dug you with last black.” Rock me (v.)—send me, kill me, move me with rhythym. Ruff (n.)—quarter, twenty-five cents. Rug cutter (n.)—a very good dancer, an active jitterbug. S Sad (adj.)—very bad. Ex., “That was the saddest meal I ever collared.” Sadder than a map (adj.)—terrible. Ex., “That man is sadder than a map.” Salty (adj.)—angry, ill-tempered. Sam got you—you’ve been drafted into the army. Send (v.)—to arouse the emotions. (joyful). Ex., “That sends me!” Set of seven brights (n.)—one week. Sharp (adj.)—neat, smart, tricky. Ex., “That hat is sharp as a tack.” Signify (v.)—to declare yourself, to brag, to boast. Skins (n.)—drums. Skin-beater (n.)—drummer (see hide-beater). Sky piece (n.)—hat. Slave (v.)—to work, whether arduous labor or not. Slide your jib (v.)—to talk freely. Snatcher (n.)—detective. So help me—it’s the truth, that’s a fact. Solid (adj.)—great, swell, okay. Sounded off (v.)—began a program or conversation. Spoutin’ (v.)—talking too much. Square (n.)—an unhep person (see icky; Jeff). Stache (v.)—to file, to hide away, to secrete. Stand one up (v.)—to play one cheap, to assume one is a cut-rate. To be stashed (v.)—to stand or remain. Susie-Q (n.)—a dance introduced at the Cotton Club in 1936. T Take it slow (v.)—be careful. Take off (v.)—play a solo. The man (n.)—the law. Threads (n.)—suit, dress or costuem (see drape; dry-goods). Tick (n.)—minute, moment. Ex., “I’ll dig you in a few ticks.” Also, ticks are doubled in accounting time, just as money isdoubled in giving “line.” Ex., “I finaled to the pad this early bright at tick twenty” (I got to bed this morning at ten o’clock). Timber (n.)—toothipick. To dribble (v.)—to stutter. Ex., “He talked in dribbles.” Togged to the bricks—dressed to kill, from head to toe. Too much (adj.)—term of highest praise. Ex., “You are too much!” Trickeration (n.)—struttin’ your stuff, muggin’ lightly and politely. Trilly (v.)—to leave, to depart. Ex., “Well, I guess I’ll trilly.” Truck (v.)—to go somewhere. Ex., “I think I’ll truck on down to the ginmill (bar).” Trucking (n.)—a dance introduced at the Cotton Club in 1933. Twister to the slammer (n.)—the key to the door. Two cents (n.)—two dollars. U Unhep (adj.)—not wise to the jive, said of an icky, a Jeff, a square. VVine (n.)—a suit of clothes.V-8 (n.)—a chick who spurns company, is independent, is not amenable. W What’s your story?—What do you want? What have you got to say for yourself? How are tricks? What excuse can you offer? Ex., “I don’t know what his story is.” Whipped up (adj.)—worn out, exhausted, beat for your everything. Wren (n.)—a chick, a queen. Wrong riff—the wrong thing said or done. Ex., “You’re coming up on the wrong riff.” Y Yarddog (n.)—uncouth, badly attired, unattractive male or female. Yeah, man—an exclamation of assent. Z Zoot (adj.)—exaggerated Zoot suit (n.)—the ultimate in clothes. The only totally and truly American civilian suit.

Sex in the Romance

Source. A helpful compilation of cliches and jargon.

Kissing

Locations for Sex
Skin - Smooth and Naked
Breasts
Nipples
Male Physique
Vulva
Penis, the Staff of Life
Penetration
Motion
Breathing
Male Orgasm
Female Orgasm - You Came, Therefore I Am

Drunktionary

Vernacular of drink. Excessive.

A to B
C to D
E to H

I to O
P to S

T to Z 

Quotes

Vintage Ad Pitches from William Sunners’ 1949 American Slogans

Courtesy of: Radium and You.

Quite a guide. Sample below.
A-D   E-L   M-R   Q-Z.

Quality beyond the call of duty (Nunn-Bush Shoes).
Quality in tires is the key to safety (U. S. Rubber).
Quality tells, economy sells (Red & White Food Stores).
Quality you can taste (Adhor Dairy).
Racy, embracy story of a gal who lived and yearned, The (movie)
Ralston’s puts the B-1 in breakfast (cereal).
Red and blue make white (Gilbert Paper).
Red by chance and READ by choice (Redbook Magazine).
Refresh! Rejoice! Remember! Pabst gets the call (Beer).
Refrigerator you hear about, but never HEAR (Electrolux).
Regal guy deserves a Regal tie, A (Regal Ties).

See also: Advertising Slogans on Wikiquotes.

Etexts of old pulp magazines

Searchable by Author and magazine. Extensive.

Louis Ferdinand Celine Online (In translation)

Trifles for a Massacre

What Happens in Vagueness Stays in Vagueness by Clark Whelton

Source.

My friend Sophie posted this on Facebook. While I get that the argument is that of the grammatical imperialist throwing up his hands before the neigh victorious barbarians (usage is bad! the empire declines!) the thing also reads like a stylistic points guide to mumblecore.

Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit, by Joel Chandler Harris (1907)

Source.

Fargo (1997)

Script here.

50's Slang (Abridged)

Source.

A Actor — Show-off.  Agitate the Gravel  — To leave (hot-rodders). Ankle-biter  — A child. Antsville  — A place full of people. Ape — Used with go - to explode or be really mad. Are You Writing a Book?  — You're asking too many questions. B Baby — Cute girl, term of address for either sex. Back Seat Bingo — Necking in a car. Bad News — Depressing person. Bash — Great party. Bent eight — V-8 engine (hot-rodders). Big Daddy — An older person. Big Tickle — Really funny. Bit — An act. Blast — A good time. Blow off — To defeat in a race (hot-rodders). Bobbed — Shortened. Boss — Great. Bread — Money. Bug —    "You bug me" — to bother. Burn Rubber — To accelerate hard and fast (hot-rodders). C Cast an Eyeball — To look. Cat  —  A hip person (Beats). Chariot  —  Car (Beats). Cherry  —  Originally, an unaltered car. Later, anything attractive (hot-rodders, originally). Chick in Skins  —  Woman in a fur coat. Chrome-plated  — Dressed up (hot-rodders, originally). Circled  —  Married. Classy Chassis  — Great body. Cloud 9  — Really happy. Clyde  — Term of address, usually for a normal person (Beats). Cook, Cookin' —  Doing it well. Cooties  —  Imaginary infestations of the truly un-cool. Cranked  —  Excited (Beats). Cream  — Originally, to dent a car. Later, to badly damage (hot-rodders, originally). Cruisin' for a Bruisin' — Looking for trouble. Cube —  A normal person. Cut the Gas  — Be quiet! Cut out  —  Leave. D D.D.T. —  (Drop Dead Twice) Response: What, and look like you?. Deuce  — A 1932 Ford (hot-rodders). Dibs  —  A claim - as in "got dibs" on that seat. Dolly  —  Cute girl. Don't Have a Cow  —  Don't get so excited. Drag     (hot-rodders) —  A short car race; (Beats) A bore. Duck Butt or D.A. —  Hairstyle of greasers where hair in back is combed to the middle, then with end of comb, make a middle part. E      Earthbound  —  Reliable. Epistle  — Letter. Eyeball  —  Look around. F      Fake Out  —  A bad date. Fast  —  Someone who was sexually active. Fat City  —  A great thing or place; Happy. Fire up  —  Start your engine (hot-rodders). Flat out  —  Fast as you can. Flat-top  —  Men's hairstyle. A crewcut which is flat across the top. Flick  —  A movie. Flip  —  To get very excited. Flip-top  —  A convertible car. Floor it  —  Push the accelerator to the floor (hot-rodders). Fracture  —  To amuse. Fream —  Someone who doesn't fit in. Front Burner  —  Current crisis. Frosted  —  Angry. G Germsville —  An illness - Buzzed by germsville means put in the hospital. Get Bent! —  Disparaging remark as in "drop dead."     Get with it  —  Understand. Gig  — Work, job (Beats). Ginchiest  —  Coolest. Go Ape  —  Get very excited. Go for Pinks  —  A drag race where the stakes are the car's pink slip (hot-rodders). Goof  —  Someone who makes mistakes. Goopy —  Messy. Goose it  —  Accelerate the car fully (hot-rodders). Greaser  —  A guy with tons of grease in his hair, which later came to describe an entire. group of people. Grody —  Sloppy, messy or dirty. H      Hang  —  As in "hang out" which means to do very little. Haul Ass  —  Drive very fast (hot-rodders). Heat  —  Police (Beats). Heels on Fire  —  In a hurry. Hopped up  —  A car modified for speed (hot-rodders). Horn  —  Telephone. Hottie —  A very fast car (hot-rodders). I      Illuminations  —  Good ideas, thoughts. In Orbit  —  In the know. International Intrigue Dodge  —  Private eye business. Ivy Leaguer  —  Pants style. Also any person who attended an Ivy League college. J      Jacked up  —  Car with raised rear end. (hot-rodders). Jacketed  —  Going steady. Jelly Roll  —  Men's hair combed up and forward on both sides, brought together in the middle of the forehead. Jets  —  Smarts, brains.

K      Kick  —  A fun or good thing; Also, a fad. Kill  —  To really impress. Knuckle Sandwich  —  A fist in the face Kookie  —  Nuts, in the nicest possible way L Later, also Later, Gator  —  Goodbye. See ya later, alligator. Response: after while crocodile. Lay a Patch  —  To accelerate so rapidly that you leave a patch of rubber on the road. Lay on  —  To give (Beats). Lighting up the Tilt Sign  —  Lying. Like Crazy; Like Wow  —  Really good, better than cool. Long Green  —  Money. M Machine  —  A car (hot-rodders). Made in the Shade  —  Success guaranteed. Make out  —  A kissing session. Make the Scene  —  To attend an event or activity. Meanwhile, back at the Ranch  —  From TV Westerns. Usually used to get a storyteller back on track. Mirror Warmer  —  A piece of pastel fabric (often cashmere) tied around the rear view. mirror. A 50s version of the Medieval wearing your lady's colors. Most  —  As in "the most" - high praise usually of the opposite sex. Mushroom People  —  People who come out at night to play. N Nerd  —  Same as now. Bill Gates without the money.      Nest  —  A hair-do. Nod  —  Drift off to sleep. Nosebleed  —  As in hey, nosebleed - hey, stupid. Not a compliment!. No Sweat  —  No problem. Nowhere  —  Opposite of cool. Nowheresville was a boring, bad place to be. (Beats) Nuggets  —  Loose change. O     Odd Ball  —  Someone a bit off the norm. Off the Line  —  Start of a drag race (hot-rodders). On the Stick  —  Pulled together. Bright, prepared. P      Pad  —  Home. Paper Shaker  —  Cheerleader or Pom Pom girl. Party Pooper  —  No fun at all. Passion Pit — Drive-in movie theatre. Peel out — To accelerate hard and fast (hot-rodders). Peepers — Glasses. Pile up Z's — Get some sleep. Pooper — No fun at all. Pop the Clutch — Release the clutch pedal quickly so as to get a fast start. Pound — Beat up. Punch it — Step on the gas (hot-rodders). Put down — To say bad things about someone. R Radioactive — Very popular. Rag Top — A convertible car. Rap — To tattle on someone (Beats). Rattle your Cage — Get upset. Raunchy — Messy or gross in some other way. Razz my Berries — Excite or impress me. Real Gone — Very much in love. Also unstable. Hmm, there's a difference? Reds — The Communists. Righto —  Okay. Rock — A diamond Rocket — A car (hot-rodders). Rod — A car (hot-rodders). Royal Shaft — Badly or unfairly treated. S      Scream — Go fast. Screamer — A hot rod. Shoot Low, They're Riding Shetlands — Be careful. Shot down — Failed. Shuck, Shuckster — A deceiver, liar or cheat Sides — Vinyl records. Sing — To tattle or inform on someone (Beats). Smog in the Noggin' — Memory loss. Sounds — Music. Souped up — A car modified to go fast. Spaz — Someone who is uncoordinated. A clutz. Split — Leave. Square — A regular, normal person. A conformist. Stable the Horses — Park the cars. Stacked  — A woman with large breasts. Stack up — To wreck a car (hotrodder). Submarine Races — While waiting for the submarines to race, which might take quite. awhile :>) couples found creative ways of killing the time. T     Tank — A large sedan (usually driven by parents). Tear Ass — Drive (or go) very fast. That's Close — Something wrong or not true. Think Fast — Usually said right before someone threw something at you. Threads — Clothes. Tight — Good friends. Total — To completely destroy, most often in reference to a car. T.T.T.S. — Take two their small. U     Unreal — Exceptional. W     Wail — Go fast. Washington — A dollar. Wazoo — Your rear end. Weed — A cigarette. Wet Rag — Someone who's just no fun. Word from the Bird — The truth (Beats). What's Buzzin, Cuzzin — What's new? What's your Tale, Nightingale — What's the story? Wheelie — Lift the car's front wheels off the ground by rapid acceleration.