C

World War I home          Original Home        Annotated C

CAB RANK.

Transport lines.

CADORNA.

See "Gutzer." Came into use after the defeat of Gen. Cadorna the Itilian [sic] Commander in Chief.

Cakem Gaol

CAGE.

Prisoner of War Compound.

Camel (Sopwith)

CAMEL-DUNG.

Egyptian Cigarettes.

CAMOUFLAGED AUSSIE.

An Englishman serving with the A.I.F.

CANNED.

Intoxicated.

CARK SUCKER.

An American Soldier.

CANE-UP.

Damaged, harras [sic], goad see "Tripe roared out."

CARTWHEEL.

Five Franc Piece, a silver coin of a large size.

CAT-SOU.

Twopence - from the French Quatre Sous.

CELLULOID.

Money. The inference being its rapid burning propensities.

C'EST LA GUERRE.

It's the war (a phrase used on every and any occasion.)

CENTRE.

The amount of money staked on the toss of the coin in two-up.

CHARLIE CHAP.

A moustache resembling that of the famous film comedian.

CHAT.

The vermin that infested clothing, blankets & Dug-outs. To search clothing for Chats.

CHAT.

To tell a person something; See "Hard word."

CHATTY.

Verminous underclothing.

CHEER-OH or CHEERIO

Keep your pecker up, dont [sic] be downhearted.

CHEW THE RAG.

To suffer chargin [sic]

CHIP.

Taunt, ask an unpleasant question, make an uncomplimentary remark.

CHOP-IN.

Take a part, interfere.

CHIV.

Chin or jaw, alos [sic] see "Chip-in.

CHIVOO.

A Celebration.

CHOCS.

The 8th Brigade, A.I.F.  ("Tivey's chocolate soldiers.")

CHOP.

Share. "To hop in for ones [sic] chop," to enter in, in order to secure a priviledge [sic] or benefit.

CHRISTEN THE SQUIRT.

To bayonet a man for the first time with that particular bayonet.

CHUCK A SEVEN.

See "Throw a seven."

CHUCK IT UP.

Give in, surrender.

CHUM (choom)

Form of address amongst English Troops, used by Australians as a nickname for Englishmen.

CIRCUS.

A Flying Squadron.

CIVVY-IES.

Civilian people or clothes.

CLICK.

To promiscuously make the acquaintance of a young lady.

CLINAH.

Girl. This term with most others with the same meaning was in use in Australia before the war.

CLICKETY-CLICK.

Number 66 in the game of "House."

CLINK.

Prison, field punishment compound, or Guard Room.

CLOBBER.

Clothes.

CLOUT.

A wound or hit.

COAL BOX.

A type of German shell from which, upon explosion, a dense cloud of smoke (black) emanated.

COBBER.

Mate, friend. Used in the second or third person. Was largely superseded as a mode of address by "Digger."

COFFIN NAILS.

Cigarettes.

COG-WHEELS.

"To have cog-wheels" to be demented.

COLD.

Dead.

COLD FEET.

Fear, "Coldfooter," one who was afraid to enlist for active service.

COLLEGE.

Nickname for 39 General Hospital and No. 2 Stationery Hospital, when Venereal Disease was the chief if not the only ailment treated. A soldier who received full treatment was regarded as having graduated.

COIL-UP.

To go to sleep.

COME-AT.

Undertake.

COME OVER.

Deliver, "of the enemy to attack."

COME THE DOUBLE.

Demand ones due after having already received it.

COMFORTS FUND.

Shells.

CONCRETE MACAROON.

Army Biscuits.

COLD STORAGE.

"To go into cold storage" - to be killed during the 1916 winter.

COMMON-TALLY-PLUNK.

"How are you." A mutilation of the French "Comment-Alley-Vous."

COLUMN OF LUMPS.

In disorderly formation.

COMPREE

Understand. From the French "Comme Ca."[sic]

COMME SA.

Like that. From the French "Comme Ca."

COMME SI COMME SA.

So-So, indifferently. From the French "Comme Ci Comme Ca."

Conchy.

A conscientious objector [sic] to the Military Service Act 1916.

COOLER.

Prison or Guard Room.

COOL OFF.

To take things easily.

COOTIES.

Lice, chats.

COUSHAY.

Sleep; "Coushay full marching order" - to go to bed with ones [sic] clothing on.

COUGH-UP.

Part with; speak.

COW.

The vilest of invective; to refer to anything as a "fair cow" was the worst that could be said of it.

COWPUNT ROAD.

Horseferry Road, the location of the A.I.F. H.Q. in London and abhorred by the fighting forces.

CORPSE FACTORY.

The Western Front.

CRABS.

Shells; shelling; parasites.

CRACK.

Hit; punch; cracked; crazy.

CRASH.

To suffer misfortune (See Gutzer)

CREAM PUFFS.

Shell bursts.

CROOL THE PITCH.

To spoil a chance, or the further exploitation of some enterprise.

CROW-EATER.

A South Australian.

CRUMBY.

Infested by lice.

CRUMP.

Explosion of a heavy shell.

CRUSH.

Unit, i.e. "What crush do you belong to."

CUSHY.

Soft, easy, safe, comfortable, the "Cushy job."

CUT.

See "Chop."

CUTHBERT.

A man with a cushy job in a Government Office, esp. one who avoided Military Service on the score of occupation. Personal name supposedly suggestive of effiminacy.

CUT-IT-OUT.

Desist.

CUT-OFF.

"To push in ones [sic]  cut-off" - to stop talking.

CUT-THROATS.

See "Nose-bleeds."

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