Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue
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The Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue dates from 1811 and this is probably the only full, uncensored and searchable version of this dictionary on the internet. All the original crudities have been restored and it offers an interesting perspective on Common English from the time of the Regency and Jane Austen.

Select a letter or type a word and click Find. Searches are automatically wild-carded and clicking on words in the first column will look for all occurrences of that word, or related word.

Example:You click A and one of the results is ARSE. If you now click on ARSE the full list of related content will be displayed.

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

 

VAGARIES  Frolics, wild rambles.
 
VAIN-GLORIOUS, or OSTENTATIOUS MAN  One who boasts without reason, or, as the canters say, pisses more than he drinks.
 
VALENTINE  The first woman seen by a man, or man seen by a woman, on St. Valentine's day, the 14th of February, when it is said every bird chuses his mate for the ensuing year.
 
VAMP  To pawn any thing. I'll vamp it, and tip you the cole: I'll pawn it, and give you the money. Also to refit, new dress, or rub up old hats, shoes or other wearing apparel; likewise to put new feet to old boots. Applied more particularly to a quack bookseller.
 
VAMPER  Stockings.
 
VAN  Madam Van; see MADAM.
 
VAN-NECK  Miss or Mrs. Van-Neck; a woman with large breasts; a bushel bubby.
 
VARDY  To give one's vardy; i.e. verdict or opinion.
 
VARLETS  Now rogues and rascals, formerly yeoman's servants.
 
VARMENT  Natty, dashing. He is quite varment, he is quite the go. He sports a varment hat, coat, etc.; he is dressed like a gentleman Jehu.
 
VAULTING SCHOOL  A bawdy-house; also an academy where vaulting and other manly exercises are taught.
 
VELVET  To tip the velvet; to put one's tongue into a woman's mouth. To be upon velvet; to have the best of a bet or match. To the little gentleman in velvet, ie: the mole that threw up the hill that caused Crop (King William's horse) to stumble; a toast frequently drank by the tories and catholics in Ireland.
 
VENERABLE MONOSYLLABLE  Pudendum muliebre.
 
VENUS'S CURSE  The venereal disease.
 
VESSELS OF PAPER  Half a quarter of a sheet.
 
VICAR OF BRAY  See BRAY.
 
VICE ADMIRAL OF THE NARROW SEAS  A drunken man that pisses under the table into his companions' shoes.
 
VICTUALLING OFFICE  The stomach.
 
VINCENT'S LAW  The art of cheating at cards, composed of the following associates: bankers, those who play booty; the gripe, he that betteth; and the person cheated, who is styled the vincent; the gains acquired, termage.
 
VINEGAR  A name given to the person who with a whip in his hand, and a hat held before his eye, keeps the ring clear, at boxing-matches and cudgel-playing; also, in cant terms, a cloak.
 
VIXEN  A termagant; also a she fox, who, when she has cubs, is remarkably fierce.
 
VOWEL  A gamester who does not immediately pay his losings, is said to vowel the winner, by repeating the vowels I. O. U. or perhaps from giving his note for the money according to the Irish form, where the acknowledgment of the debt is expressed by the letters I. O. U. which, the sum and name of the debtor being added, is deemed a sufficient security among gentlemen.