BABB-LING BROOK or Babbler.
An Army
Cook. Originated in the rhyming slang as "Babbling Brook," one of
the few terms so originated that were subjected to further adaption.
BABBLERS OFFSIDER.
See "Offsider."
Baby Elephant
BACK IN ONE'S CART.
Interfere,
to ask for more.
BACK CHAT.
(1) An
impertinent bandying of words.
(2) To
answer back.
BAGS.
Plenty,
a larger quantity. The sandbag revetted parapet of the trench (See "Hop
the bags")
BALLS IN A KNOT. (to get)
To lose
one's temper.
BANGER.
Sausage.
BANJO.
Shovel
- so called by reason of the similarity in shape and also perhaps, because
of the metallic ring of the steel when struck.
Bank, to
BARE.
Exactly
so, with nothing to spare. The slang element in its use was due only to the
unnecessarily frequent usage to which the word was put rather than to any
corruption of orthodox meaning.
BARRAGE.
A French
word officially a name for concentrated artillery, Trench Morter, or Machine
Gun fire. In the slang sense the term means a communication; to comfound [sic]
"A gas barrage," or oration.
BASE WALLAH.
A person
employed at the Base.
BASE ATTACK.
A drinking
bout, - a humorous corruption of "Gas attack", Base is a brand of
English beer.
Bastard
A term
of endearment.
BAT.
Language.
Hindustani, used by Australians in Mesopotamia.
BATT.
Abbreviation
of Battalion or Battery. Officially used in correspondence order etc; and
vocally as slang.
Beachy Bill
BEAN.
A mode
of address, as "Hello, old Bean,"
BEANO.
Treat,
feast. From "bean feast."
BEANS.
WELL!
see "Tray Beans", from the French, "bien."
BEAT IT.
Hurry
away.
BEAT-OFF THE.
On the
wrong track, getting away from the point.
BEEF IT OUT.
Call in
a stentorian voice. From the simile of a roaring Bull.
BEER ESSES.
Flattery,
Kidstakes. q.v. An abbreviation of "Bull Shit" q.v.
BEER PULL.
A control
lever in an aeroplane (also Beer lever, Pump, Handle, Joy-stick)
BEER-SWIPER.
A Drunkard.
BEER-UP.
A Drunken
orgy.
BELGIUM.
A fatal
wound, as distinct from a "blighty" or an "Aussie."
BELLY-ACHE.
A mortal
wound.
BERGOO.
Porridge.
BERNHARDI'S BOOTS.
A Regimental
Band. So called from "Gen. Bernhardi the apostle of frightfullness [sic].
BERTHA.
A German
long range gun, esp. one of those used by the Germans to bombard Paris. Named
perhaps after Mme. Bertha Krupp, friend of the Ex Kaiser.
BEZOOKS.
Francs.
BIFF.
To hit
or punch.
BILLY HARRIS.
Abbreviation
of "Bilharzia" a disease common in Palestine.
BIMF.
See Bumf.
BINGE.
A drunken
orgy.
BINT.
Girl (Arabic)
BIRD.
A person;
a girl.
BIRDIE.
Abbreviation
of General Sir Wm. Birdwood and used as a nickname.
BIRL.
To "give
it a birl", a fair trail [sic]; sometimes a suggestion that a certain
proceeding has gone far enough. (See cut it out)
BIRTHDAY.
A good
time; satiety of good things; an attack, raid, or repulse of an enemy, effected
with unexpected ease.
BIT - to do ones bit
To do
ones share, to do something however small, especially towards winning the
war.
BIT OF FLUFF.
Girl.
BITE.
(1) A
borrowing, to borrow. (2) An attempt to borrow.
BITE THE DUST.
(1) Suffer
humiliation. (2) See "Come a Gutzer."
BLACK HAND.
A Section
of Bombers. (Infantry)
BLIGHTY.
(1) England.
(2) A wound sufficiently serious to necessitate the recipient's removal to
an English Hospital. Hindustani, Vilagaty, bilate, provincial Europe an[d]
English.
BLANK, Blanky, Blankety.
Words
used as a substitute for foul language.
BLIGHTER.
More or
less mild invective, a familiar form of address. An obnoxious person.
BLIMP.
(1) A
small dirigible airship. (2) A particular make of Naval Airship.
Blind Spot
BLITHERED.
Drunk.
BLITHERER.
Something
or someone excellent.
BLOCK - did his.
Lost his
temper.
BLOKE.
Fellow,
used in the third person.
BLOODY.
(1) An
expletive, (2) unpleasant.
BLOTTE.
Inebriated.
BLOODS WORTH BOTTLING.
A phrase
expressive of admiration.
BLOW OFF.
Go away,
clear out. To voice ones [sic] anger.
BLOW ONE'S BAG OUT.
To boast.
BLOOD BATH.
The Somme
1916. Thought to be a German expression.
BLOW OUT.
A big
meal. To overthrow anothers contention.
BLOW-TO-FOOK.
Shatter
to fragments.
BLUEY.
The usual
nickname of an auburn haired man.
BLUDGED ON THE FLAG.
To fail
to justify ones [sic] existence as a soldier.
BLUFF-STAKES.
A deceitful
or mala fide attempt to influence the conduct of another.
BLUE LIGHT.
A prophylactic
establishment.
BOSCHE.
A German,
especially soldier.
BODY-SNATCHER.
A member
of a raiding party. Raids were usually for identification purposes the method
being to bring back if possible live Germans, but failing that, shoulder straps
or any other means od [sic] identifying the opposing unit.
BOG IN.
An exhortation
of vigorous action.
BOILS.
The name
applied to the Aust. Corps in the line. THE BOIL; - Impossible to take the
core (corps) out.
BOKO.
Nose
BOLO.
Speak,
say "Bole the Bat" speak the language, used in Mesopotamia.
BOLLOCKS.
Absurd,
an absurdity; an embellishment of "balls" (the testicles) used derisively.
BOMBING OFFICER.
The Moon. Moonlight nights were favoured for bombing
operations.
BONZER.
Good,
beautiful.
BOOB.
(1) Prison,
or Guard Room. (2) One who is simple or incapable.
BOOM.
"Well
in the boom" to be popular where such popularity might lead to advancement
in the ranks; regarded highly by one's superior.
BOOKOO.
A lot,
much - from the French "Beaucoup."
BOOZER.
(1) Public
House or estaminet, (2) One addicted to the use of alcohol.
BOSHTER-BOSKER.
See "Bonzer."
BOTT.
(1) A
cadger; a hanger on, (2) Plenty; much; many.
BOTTLING.
See "Blood's
worth bottling."
BOUNCE
Arrogance;
"to come on the bounce" - make an arrogant demand.
BOUNCE THE BALL.
To assert
oneself.
BOWIE-KNIFE ARMY.
The American
Expeditionary Force.
BOX-ON.
A fight,
a battle, a tussle; an injunction to continue suspended action.
BOY WITH HIS BOOTS OFF.
A shell
which bursts before the sound of its passage through the air is heard.
BRADS (Bradburys)
The £1
and 10/- (half-a-brad) currency notes bearing the signature of Sir John Bradbury.
BRANDING-PADDOCK.
The Parade
Ground.
BRASS
Money.
BRASS HAT.
Senior
Field or Staff Officers.
BRASS KING.
An Officer
who insists that his men should assiduously polish the brass work on their
equipment and uniforms.
BREADWINNERS.
Rifle.
BRIDE.
A young
lady, she with whom one is seen in company.
BRIG.
Abbreviation
of Brigadier.
BRIGAND.
(French)
A rascal.
BROADS.
Playing
cards.
BROKE TO THE WIDE.
Financially
embarrassed; devoid of cash.
BROKEN-DOLL.
An inefficient
Staff-Officer returned to his unit.
BUCK.
Refuse.
BUCKING-HORSE.
Sovereign
(coin). Derived from the impression of St George and the Dragon.
BUCKOO.
Much -
from French Beaucomp [sic].
BUCKS BOMBARDY.
Badly
torn or broken - from French Beaucomp [sic] Bombarde.
BUG HOUSE.
Inferior.
BUCKSHEE.
A prize,
a catch, a windfall, something for nothing. From Hindi, bakhshi: giver or
bucksheesh gift, tip.
Bullet (Bristol)
BULLFODDER.
See "Bullshit."
BULL RING.
Ground
on which intensive training was carried out at Base Depots.
BULL SHIT.
Insincerity;
incorrect; flattery.
BULLY.
Abbreviation
of Bully Beef. A name given to the preserved meat issued, usually in one pound
tins.
BUMBRUSHER.
An Officers
Servant.
BUMF.
That portion
of the enormous mass of Official correspondence which was used for a more
undignified purpose than the originally intended. Later applied more generally
to correspondence and literature of little value.
BUNCH.
A number,
unit.
BUNCH OF GRAPES.
The club
suit in a pack of cards.
BUNG OR Bung-hole
Cheese.
So called by its alleged constipating effect.
BUNK.
Abscond,
or "do a bunk." Bed.
BUNK-UP.
A lifting
up.
BURL.
A try,
a shot, a fair burl.
BUS.
A contraction
of omnibus applied in the army to aeroplane omnibuses or motor lorries used
by the British Army.
BUTCH.
Doctor
- abbreviation of Butcher.
BUTCHER.
The king
in a pack of cards.
BUTT-IN.
To interfere,
intrude.
BUZZ.
To beg,
cadge.
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