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Clement Skitt’s Word of the Day

Clement Skitt’s Word of the Day published on No Comments on Clement Skitt’s Word of the Day

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“I was out to get a sinker for nooning and some Big Six shambles in front of me without so much as a mind the grease.  I was all glimflashy!  But, I didn’t want to go waking snakes so I cheesed it before starting a bobbery.”

What was that now?

Sinker – a doughnut ( Flapperspeak: Dictionary of Words From the 1920’s and 1930’s )

Nooning – an interval for rest and refreshment at midday, as in the harvest field  (1891 American Slang Dictionary by James Maitland)

Big six – a strong man; from auto advertising, for the new and powerful; six cylinder engines ( Flapperspeak: Dictionary of Words From the 1920’s and 1930’s )
 
TO SHAMBLE – To walk awkwardly. Shamble-legged:  one that walks wide, and shuffles about his feet.  (1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose)
 
Mind the Grease – When walking or otherwise getting around, you could ask people to let you pass, please. Or you could ask them to mind the grease, which meant the same thing to Victorians.
 
GLIMFLASHY – Angry, or in a passion. CANT.  (1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose)
 
Waking snakes – getting into trouble  (1891 American Slang Dictionary by James Maitland)
 
CHEESE IT – Be silent, be quiet, don’t do it. Cheese it, the coves are fly; be silent, the people understand our discourse.  (1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose)
 
Bobbery – a tumult or bother  (1891 American Slang Dictionary by James Maitland)
 
In other words:  “I was out to get a doughnut for my midday break and some muscle bound guy shuffles in front of me without so much as an excuse me.  I was so angry!  But, I didn’t want to go getting into trouble so I kept my mouth shut before starting a tumult.”
 
 
 

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