S
World War I home Original Home Annotated S
SALVOES.
Salvation
Army.
SAND.
Sugar.
SAN-FAIRY-AN.
It does
not matter, dont [sic] worry. Corruption of the French "Cela Ne Fait
Rein."
SARGE.
Sergeant.
SARMAJOR.
Sergeant-Major.
SAUSAGE.
A Captive
Balloon.
SAY-PAH.
Dont [sic]
know. Corruption of the French "Jene Sais Pas."
SCALES.
To have
scales on ones [sic] belly; to be a sycophant; a crawler.
SCAMPERER.
Runner;
front line messenger.
SCRAG.
Man-handle.
SCRAN.
Food.
SCRAP.
A fight.
SCREW (To have a)
To look.
SCREWED.
Drunk.
SCROUNGE.
To pilfer;
to cadge; to seize; a pilferer, a thief, scrounging, mean, sharp, always looking
after number 1; scroungerer; a cadger esp. a cadger of cigarettes etc.
SELL A PUP.
To deceive;
trick; fail to fulfill an obligation.
SEND ALONG.
See "Put
up."
SEND HER DOWN STEVE.
Let it
rain on.
SERGT. MAJOR.
The crown in "Crown and Anchor."
SHEILA.
A Girl.
SHELL HOLE SOLDIERS.
One who
lages behind the advance.
SET.
Fixed;
all arranged; adapted from "two-up" in which it is used to indicate
that the money staked by the spinner has been covered by other bettors [sic].
"Got him set" - treating him unfairly through malice.
Seventyfive
Seventyseven
SHELL-SHOCKED.
Badly
knocked about by artillery fire, usually used in reference to a village; dump
etc.
SHICK.
Intoxicated.
SHINING STARS.
Officers
commissioned in Australia and wearing bright brass badges etc. instead of
the oxidized kind usually worn by infantry in France.
SHIRTY.
Angry.
SHOOTING GALLERY.
The front
line.
SHOOTING-IRON.
18 pdr.
field piece.
SHORT-ARM.
A medical
inspection of the penis.
SHOT UP THE BACK.
Disconcerted;
confused.
SHOW A POINT.
Deceive,
use deceitfully. see "Sell a Pup."
SHRAP.
Abbreviation
of shrapnel. Used as a name for paper currency in low denominations by the
various communes and towns in France, principally because of its tendency
to disintegrate after a little use, also on account of the number of notes
required to amount to any considerable sum. Also "Pork & Beans."
SHRAPNEL BATTERY.
Field-Cooker.
SHREWD HEAD.
A cunning
person.
SHREWDY.
See "Shrewd
Head."
SHUT-EYE.
Sleep.
SILLY-GRIN.
An ironical
ejaculation importing pain or misfortune.
SIN-SHIFTER.
An Army
Chaplain.
SIT-PAT.
Remain
quiet.
SIT ON THE TAIL.
To fly
slightly above and in the rear of an enemy aeroplane.
SKIRT.
A Girl.
SKITTLED.
Killed.
SKY PILOT.
A Minister
of religion; Chaplain.
SLANDER.
An improper
or unfair action; or abuse.
SLANTER.
False
play; deliberately trying to lose when running a race etc.
SLAP.
"To
have a slap" - to make an attempt.
SLAP-UP.
Good.
SLAPPED UP.
Improvised;
a hurried job.
SLATHERER.
See "Snifter."
SLING.
"Sling
him one" or sling a salute.
SLIP.
To make
a mistake; to lose an advantage (eg to slip for pay)
SLIPPERY-DICK.
See "Rubber-helled
[sic] -Jack."
SLOOSH.
A wash.
Corruption of "Sluice."
SLUG.
Strike;
punch.
SLUSHEY.
A mess
orderly.
SMACK.
Wound;
an attempt.
SMUDGED.
Killed
by being blown to pieces by a shell.
SNAG.
An obstacle;
a dangerous man.
SNARE.
Acquire;
steal.
SNAKY.
Angry
(eg to turn snaky, irritable)
SNAVEL.
To steal
or misappropriate.
Snipe (Sopwith)
SNIFTER or SNODGER.
Extraordinarily
good or big.
SNOTTER.
Kill;
"snottered", Killed.
SNOB-SHOP.
An army
boot repairing shop.
SNOUTED.
In disfavor
or under disfavor.
SNUFF OUT.
To die.
SOCK THE BOOT IN.
Literally
to kick viciously. In a general sense - harsh treatment.
SOFT SNAP.
An easy
matter.
SORE FINGER.
An overdressed
person. (eg. "dolled" up like a sore finger.
SOUVENIR.
In the
slang sense to appropriate articles belonging to a person or place, a euphemism
for steal.
SPARE-COLONEL or SPARE PART.
See "Floating
Kidney"
SPARK WELL.
To be
in good health.
SPARKS.
A wireless
operator on board ship.
SPIN (a rough)
A bad
time. From "two up" in which the man who tossed the pennies in the
spinner and has either a good or bad spin. It is applicable to the general
experience of life.
SPLIT.
Unusual.
An aeroplane on its side banking for a sharp turn.
SPOOK.
An army
signaller, especially a wireless operator. How this term came to be applied
in this sense is doubtful although probably it was because the signaller at
the instrument was able to receive messages apparently from space.
SPOT.
Drink.
SPRING-HEEL.
A man
who, on joining a fighting unit immediately finds a means of leaving it.
SQUARE-HEAD.
A German.
SQUARE Pushing
SQUEAL.
Cry for
mercy or assistance to others.
STAR ARTIST.
"One
star artist" - a Second lieutenant.
SQUID.
A German
Prisoner.
SQUIRT.
A Revolver,
any firearm.
S.R.D.
The brand
on a rum jar (State Rum Distilleries); "seldom reaches destination;"
"Soldiers rum diluted" and various other meanings were ascribed
to these letters.
STALL.
A hoax;
disappointment.
Stalling
STEADY LAPPER.
An inveterate
drunkard.
STELLEMBOSCH
To transfer
an Officer to a less important command. A division in the S. Cape Good Hope
province, to which Officers who had failed in the Kaffir War were sent by
way of being superseded without formal disgrace.
STEVE.
A casual
acquaintance.
STEVES
STINK.
"To
kick up a stink" - to cause a commotion or discussion.
STING.
Make a
request for a loan or gift; also put in the stings.
STONKER.
Exterminate;
kill; strike.
STOUSH.
Fight;
to strike; defeat.
STOUSH MERCHANT.
A fighter.
STRAFE.
To punish;
a heavy bombardment; abuse.
STRENGTH - to get the.
To understand
thoroughly.
STRING-ON.
Deceive.
STRUTH.
An exclamation
of surprise.
STUFF TO GIVE 'EM.
A popular
catchword expressing superlative excellence. Supposed to have originated with
Scottish troops.
STUNG.
Drunk;
having been induced to lend.
STUNNED.
Drunk.
STUNT.
A Battle;
an eccentric action; an idea; any form of activity.
SUCK-IN.
Sharp
pratice [sic]; a cunning scheme; deceit.
SUDDEN.
Quick,
thick and heavy. "Your sudden arn't you - a protesting question applied
to a man who walks away with something belonging to someone else.
SUGAR.
Money.
SUICIDE CLUB.
Light
trench mortar batteries. So called because when first introduced the mortars
were unreliable and frequently caused casualties among the battery personal
[sic]. Also applied to bombers or other soldiers who were believed to be exposed
to more than the average risks.
SWANK.
Vanity;
elegance; blatherskite.
SWEAT ON.
Eagerly
awaiting.
SWING THE LEAD.
Scheme;
malinger, see "Lead swinger."
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