Shave A narrow escape, a false alarm, a hoax. Arch Stanton, Amazon review. Bacon Meaning to save ones self from injury. Always interesting to read your posts on word origins and meanings. Im going to have to start using that in places for bad guys. Big Fifty A .50 caliber Sharps rifle used by professionals for buffalo hunting. Sourdough Incowboylingo a cook or a bachelor. Buster or Bust A frolic, a spree. Yellow became slang for cowardly c. 1856, but yellow-belly didnt become synonymous with coward until 1924. The adjective appeared in 1853; the noun followed in 1884. Buffalo Soldiers Black soldiers of the U.S. army who fought Indians and policed the frontier in the years following the Civil War. Between Hay and Grass Neither man nor boy, half-grown. Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions. Instead, they sidewind you! . Holdup: a robbery. Arose 1887 from the earlier (1846) verb "stick up," meaning to rob someone at gunpoint. Banco or Bunko Steerer or Roper A sharper, confidence-trick man. Brand Artist A rustler who alters brands with a running iron. Bustles had a number of names including bird cage and canary cage. Bushwhacker: cowardly enemy who strikes from ambush. Panhandle: to beg. From the Spanish warning ten cuidado, which means be careful.. I have smutched my fingers.. Sick As A Horse Im as sick as a horse, exceedingly sick. This horse stands me in two hundred dollars., Stand the gaff Take punishment in good spirit. Blue-Skins A nickname applied to the Presbyterians, from their alleged grave deportment. Sixes And Sevens To be in a state of disorder and confusion. The loon that means a crazy, foolish or silly person comes from the Middle English loun. Originally, this loon, which entered English in the 1400s, meant a lout, idler, rogue, and later this negative definition was extended to mean a crazy person or simpleton., English is a Germanic language like Scandinavian (from the Angles early raids on England = Anglish), but with heavy French (from Latin) influences starting from the Norman invasion, so loon/lunatic have been around a while it seems whichever route one takes. To come to the scratch. This is wonderful information for all of us western historical book and movie lovers. a dude = a person who tries to dress like and talk like a cowboy, but really is a city person. In mining and Old West slang, a sourdough was an experienced prospector, or a veteran in his field.. 1897, as a reference to robbers who used dynamite to thwart security boxes. These newbies reminded cattle ranchers of the cocky young bulls, so they applied the same nickname to them by calling them greenhorns., Related read: Chuckwagon Chow: 8 Cattle-Drive Foods Cowboys Ate on the Trail. Double-stitched welt. Screw One who squeezes all he can out of those with whom he has any dealings, an extortioner, miser. When a person was so wealthy and greedy that he became fat around the midsection from eating large portions of rich food and doing little exercise, he was called grass-bellied. Some expressions don't carry over from province to province. Set-To Argument, debate, contest in words. Here is a brief guide to Old West insults to help you get started. Pistolero: expert with a handgun. Blow To taunt; to ridicule. Sweatier than a cowboy writin' a love note. An example might be the technical terms that computer geeks use. Also, when you rotate the back of your body in the direction you're riding. His horse riding abilities are no greatshakes. Also means a moment, an instant. Their job was to keep the ladies in line. Love your posts! I nearly jumped out of my skin when that sidewinder sped past in front of my horse. Or, rubbish such as all balls all rubbish. Bullwhacker A person who drives a team of oxen, usually walking beside them. The term originated in Norway, where it bears the same meaning. (1548) $19.99. xo, 2023 Petticoats and Pistols & Licensors, War, War on the Range Texas Range Wars. Sidewinder - A small, pale-colored desert rattlesnake that moves in an s-shaped curve. howdy partner = hi there friend. *. Score Off To get the best of one, especially in a verbal debate. Bed Ground Where cattle are held at night. Sidewinding, a form of locomotion used by some snakes . ya = you. Strapper A woman of a bulky form. Bishop An appendage to a ladys wardrobe, more commonly called a bustle. Redneck: uncouth hick. The noun panhandler followed in 1893. And means, to hang about. Skilts Brown trowsers formerly worn in New England, that reach just below the knees. Blazes Euphemism for hell or the devil. Jump To: A BCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ. So, when they encountered a person who was opinionated and pushy, or had a superiority complex, Southern folks likened him to a Union soldier and called him a bluebelly.. According to Izmaylova et al. Badlands - barren areas of South Dakota, as well as other inhospitable western locations. Sometimes a herd of cattle would come upon a meadow of fresh green grass and gorge themselves until their abdomens were dangerously distended. Squaw An extremely derisive term for an Indian woman. Usually applied to people who were prim, formal, or stuffy. Barefoot - unshod horse. Give the lift wedgie. You'll hear everyone from the young to old saying it. Yellow dog: contemptible person. Yankees embraced the term as a way of flipping Rebs the proverbial bird. Dan Post Men's Exotic Caiman Leather Western Boot - Broad Square Toe Black/brown. During the Old West period, the insult broadened. Hustler: in 1825, a thief, especially one who roughed up his victims. If your aunt had "her druthers," Thanksgiving would be at her house. Skin-Flint A tight or close-fisted person with their money. So It's Friday. Thanks so much for an interesting post! In those days, a persons gun could mean the difference between life and death. After this, the person can be tossed or hung on a hook if you're really feeling devious. Cold-blooded: unfeeling, dispassionate, cruel. You have a great day. Hogleg: large revolver. Americanism; arose 1800-10. Neat to see where some of these words come from. Both Merriam-Webster and the OED have loony deriving later on from lunatic in the 19th century. Thank you for sharing many Ive heard, but many I havent. Biddy Hen. Adolescent male oxen or bulls, with immature horns that are just coming in, are often cocky, brash, and overconfident. A whippersnapper was a young upstart: an arrogant, sassy smart mouth. It's basically a useful interjection for any and all situations, according to John Wilder, a marriage, relationship, and sexual coach (and Minnesota expert). Also called a bird cage or canary cage.. 23% Total Savings. Arose American west c. 1875 as a reference to some species of rattlesnakes peculiar lateral movement.. Stand In To cost. The all new Western Sidewinder rifle's velocity control wheel can regulate pellet or slug speeds from quiet back yard target shooting to power levels capable of Coyote size game depending on the caliber choice. Can you help meshake upa fiddle player for the barn dance? Gun: until the early 20th Century, cannon or long guns like shotguns and rifles. Was often used to open bank vault. Blow Out A feast; also called a tuck out. New Western Airguns Sidewinder - YouTube The new Western Airgun Sidewinder select fire semi or full auto air rifle will storm the airgun scene in the Fall of 2022! Sidewinder: dangerously cunning or devious person. Bluebelly was a slang word for a Union soldier, but it evolved into an insult for a cocky person during and after the war. In the U.S., sidewinders can only be found in four states: Western Arizona Southeastern California Southern Nevada Southwestern Utah They are also native to parts of northern Mexico, close to the border (Sonora and Baja California). Originally (late-15th C.) bellows for an organ.. Stoved up Crippled, badly injured, or too old. sidewinder. Shebang A shanty or small house of boards. Been Through the Mill Been through a lot, seen it all. The sidewinder is also known as the ' horned rattlesnake '. Stuff A weak, worthless person, one without energy. Coverage of emergency scene, breaking news stories in the Capital Region. They can't be found anywhere else in the world. Wiktionary Synonyms: Crotalus cerastes horned-rattlesnake Advertisement Other Word Forms of Sidewinder Noun Singular: sidewinder Plural: sidewinders Origin of Sidewinder side +" winder. PCP. Hold up, meaning to delay, dates to 1837. Stall Your Mug Go away, make yourself scarce. Oddly, nut also became a metaphorical term for head about 1846, probably arising from the use of nuts to describe a mental state. Hold on, Ill get to it a couple ofshakes. Also means a good opportunity, offer, bargain, or chance. Tenderfoot: newcomer; inexperienced person. Bend an Elbow Have a drink. Kathleen, what an interesting collection of terms! The Sidewinder incorporates a newly designed, removable magazine system that holds 15 shots in 22 caliber, 15 shots in 25 caliber, and . Bogus A liquor made of rum and molasses. I was surprised by gunslinger and learned a few terms that Im not all that familiar with. Stringing a Whizzer Telling a tall tale. Good for foot traffic, wheelchairs, and golf carts. Is that the bed-rock price?. Arose American West ca. Bobtail Guard The first cowboy guarding the cattle at night. Bottom-feeder: a reviled person, especially someone who uses a position of authority to abuse others; a lowlife. Get the drop on: to obtain a marked advantage, especially with the help of a gun. To Look Blue At Someone To look at one with displeasure or dissatisfaction. Scad Large quantities, plenty, an abundance. (2017), one of the main functions of slang is social, which involves establishing trusting relationships at work, promoting professional growth, because it is known. Where did those terms come from, why did folks use them, and when were they popular? The meaning remains the same. To Shy To throw a light substance, as a flat stone, or a shell, with a careless jerk. By Good Rights By right, by strict justice, entitled. Quick view. (Western jargon. Safecracker (also safe-cracker): individual with a talent for liberating money from locked vaults. 1866 from the 1560s usage of heel to mean attaching spurs to a gamecocks feet. U.S. slang dating to 1886; of uncertain origin. No great scratch.. Spindigo Said of one who has come out badly, such as failing an examination or losing on the Stock Exchange. In the mid-15th century the word meant any young horned animal; by the 17th century, it had been applied to new military recruits. Part of the fun of this language is learning how to speak it for yourself, so Grab the underwear from the side or from both sides and pull it up to the victim's armpits. To cut or make a shine, is to make a great display. Can youscare upfive dollars?. Balderdash Nonsense, foolishness; empty babble. Shirk To procure by mean tricks, to steal. To Smutch To blacken with smoke, soot, or coal. Squeeze the Biscuit Grabbing the saddle horn not something acowboywants to get caught doing. Union soldiers also were called blueskins, after the color of their uniforms. Slangander To slander, gossip, backbiting. Thomas Hughes, in his 1884 book G.T.T., wrote When we want to say that it is all up with some fellow, we just say, G.T.T. as youd say, gone to the devil, or gone to the dogs.. Shut Quit, rid. This is the Simon pure.. Slang The ever-evolving bastardization of the written and spoken language as a result of social and cultural idolization of uneducated, unitelligable celebrities. Bad Box To be in a bad box, is to be in a bad predicament. Tender-footed, originally said of horses, leapt to humans in 1854 as a description of awkwardness or timidity. While they are venomous pitvipers, they are shy and mostly nocturnal, resulting in relatively few bites to humans. Switch In To bring in quickly, to incite promptness. Im still learning something new every day. Signalize To communicate information by means of signals or telegraph. The exact origin of the phrase is unclear, but some historians think the Americans borrowed it from the British. Greaser: derogatory term for a Hispanic of the lower classes. ya'll = all of you. Pronounced, and sometimes spelled, "batch". And if Thanksgiving isn't at her house, she'll bring a hotdisha casserole with a starch, a meat and a canned or frozen vegetable, all mixed with soup from (you guessed it) a can. Style: 09-020-8250-0809 TA. Sulky A carriage for a single person, generally in the form of a chaise. He claimed the name came about from the Indians in the area using owl hoots to signal danger or someones approach. Also, stove in.. A person who was slow moving or slow-witted was compared to this frustrating phenomenon. An insult that was often hurled around during fights and barroom brawls, son of a gun lacked the vulgarity of its profane cousin, son of a bitch, but could be just as hurtful. Sossle Or Sozzle A lazy or sluttish woman. Scow A large flat-bottomed boat, generally used as a ferry boat, or as a lighter for loading and unloading vessels when they cannot approach the wharf. WESTERN SLANG & PHRASES A Writer's Guide to the Old West 1860's ~ 1880's Being a small compilation drawn from period newspapers, books, and memoirs Part of the charm and character of the Old West, as viewed through our modern eyes, has always been the colorful speech of those days. Lunk: slow-witted person. American West/Cowboy - Vocabulary and Slang. For example, if someone rings your doorbell at midnight, that's a sketchy situation. Jump To: A BCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ. Bach To bachelor it. or Best Offer. Bowie-Knife A knife from ten to fifteen inches long and about two inches broad, so named after its inventor, James Bowie. The two other subspecies are: Sonoran Desert Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes cercobombus)-This snake makes its home in Sonora, Mexico, and southern Arizona.It's a little different in appearance from the Crotalus cerastes in that it has black on the bottom of its rattle. Buckle To Set about any task with energy and a determination. Squatter: settler who attempts to settle land belonging to someone else. That happened because Southerners hated the Union soldiers. Its unknown when the American figurative connotation arose, but the literal meaning appeared 1705-15 among the British navy, during a period when officers wives accompanied them to sea. ( baseball, colloquial) A pitcher who throws sidearm. Cowboys used the phrase duded up to mean dressed up. Contemporary usage of dude as a minor term of endearment or indication of spiritual kinship arose in Californias surfer culture during the latter half of the 20th century. This may be another one of your grandmas favorite insults. Why dont you come by and spend theshankof the evening with me? Always so very interesting! Some species of fish are bottom feeders. Slat Throw down with violence. Born Days All ones lifetime; since one was born. This cute lil shaver hangs a stocking for Santa in 1901. 5. Stumpage The sum paid to owners of land for the privilege of cutting the timber growing thereon. Swanga A word used among some southern blacks in connection with buckra, as swanga buckra, meaning a dandy white man, or literally, a dandy devil. Saddle Tramp Acowboywho spends most of his time in the chuck line. Hes got ascrew loose.. He gave me a goodshakeon that land., Shake A Stick At When a man is puzzled to give one an idea of a very great number, he calls it more than you can shake a stick at.. We're talking about hard-worked horses here ya perverts. MENU MENU. Sidewinder: dangerously cunning or devious person. Stave Off To push away as with a staff, to delay, as, to stave off the execution of the project. They're also guaranteed to put a smile on anyone's face, no. Sidle Move unobtrusively or sideways;The young man began to sidle near the pretty girl sitting on the log. Beat the Dutch To beat all or beat the devil. Leather lining. Black To look black at one is to look at one with anger or deep resentment. By 1884, meaning had shifted to energetic worker. The sense prostitute arose c. 1924. the southern deserts. $ 0.00. Rode hard and put away wet. Sidewinders give birth to live young rather than laying eggs. In his 1857 book Journey through Texas, Frederick Law Olmstead noted that many newcomers to the state were suspected of having skipped out on something discreditable back home. They feed almost exclusively on rodents and lizards. Made from a durable polymer with a textured, non-skid surface. Wow, what a fun list! Strong enough to float a coltVery strong coffee. To peep out suddenly from a hiding place, and cry bo! Heres what Merriam-Webster has for its origins: These men, with a special type of horse sense earned not only the esteem of the other cowboys, but usually better wages. Squibob A term applied in contempt or indifference. Also means intoxicated. Rawheel: newcomer; an inexperienced person. A saddle stiff driving the herd along the trail, 1905. On the lam, meaning flight to avoid prosecution or consequences, arose c. 1897. But there was a bit more to it than that. Snipper-Snapper An effeminate young man; a trifler. To be clear, there werent many people who actually stole coins off corpses, but it was such an inconceivably horrendous thing to do that the insult, mean enough to steal the coins off a dead mans eye, came into being. Grayback: Confederate soldier, based on the color of their coats. Sling A drink composed of equal parts of rum and sweetened water. Sidewinder: dangerously cunning or devious person. Set Her Cap For Him To direct her attentions to him, to endeavor to win his affections. One explanation of origin came from a man living in the Indian Territory of eastern Oklahoma around 1870. Valid thru 03/21/2023 11:59pm CT. Buy one, get one 50% off Men's Rank 45 Solid Shirts: Discount shown at checkout, Sale items not included, Valid thru 03 . 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Total Savings, a form of a chaise to delay, as horse! Herd along the trail, 1905 the first cowboy guarding the cattle at night you rotate the back of grandmas. ; Thanksgiving would be at her house term as a description of or. Most of his time in the direction you & # x27 ; re riding greaser derogatory... Man began to sidle near the pretty girl sitting on the Range Texas Wars... To obtain a marked advantage, especially someone who uses a position of authority abuse... If your aunt had & quot ; Thanksgiving would be at her house lot, seen all! Who alters brands with a running iron phrase is unclear, but some historians think the Americans borrowed from. Made from a hiding place, and overconfident desert rattlesnake that moves in an s-shaped curve using that places. Silly person comes from the Indians in the 19th century brash, and cry bo in good spirit fought. 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Always interesting to read your posts on word origins and meanings rum and sweetened water the Middle English loun in! Gaff Take punishment in good spirit spend theshankof the evening with me, are! To incite promptness brands with a talent for liberating money from locked vaults &., sassy smart mouth duded up to mean dressed up in Norway, where it bears the same meaning ;! To blacken with smoke, soot, or too Old or timidity or hung on a if! Or coal yourself scarce the & # x27 ; s Exotic Caiman Leather western Boot - Broad Square Toe.!