A
World War I home Original Home Annotated A
ABDOMINAL.
Abbreviation
of "Abdominal thud," or crash, which is a polite adaption of "Gutzer."
ACE
ACID.
See "put the acid on."
ACK I. FUF.
A.I.F.
(Australian Imperial Force)
ABDUL.
Turkish
Soldier, individually, and collectively. An Arabic proper name.
ACK.
Signalman's
pronunciation of "A".
ACK. ACK. ACK.
Full stop.
Three A's in a signal signifies the end of a sentence. Otherwise expressed
as "three to a leaf," "three of a kind" etc. or "ackety
ack."
AD-RIFT.
Absent
without leave. Apparently derived from the inference that a soldier who is
an illegal absentee is not under the control of the authorities.
ALF-A-MO.
"Wait
a moment." Originally a request for the one spoken to, to pause for the
convenience of the speaker. A small moustache, which was also frequently referred
to as a cricket match (eleven a side)
ALLEY.
Go; "alley
at the toot," go quickly. (Corruption of the French "Allez")
ALLYSLOPER'S CAVALRY
ANDEY MC NOON.
An unqualified
idiot. From the Arabic "Inta machnoon" - a dammed [sic] fool.
ANNIE.
"Gentle
Annie," - a big German Howitzer, which fired on Bailluel, during March
& April, 1918. "Up in Annies Room," - facetious answer to questions
as to the whereabouts of someone who cannot be found.
also Annie from Asia
ANTE UP.
To surrender
an article that was "souvenired," to hand over, to settle an account.
ANTY.
Sugar
- so called on account of the frequency with which ants found their way into
the sugar receptacles.
ANZAC.
(1) Initial
letters of Australian, New Zealand Army corps contracted.
(2) The
area on the Gallipoli Peninsula occupied by the Anzac Corps.
(3) One
who was on Anzac during the campaign.
(4) Used
sarcastically in reference to Military Policemen. The Provost Corps was originally
named "Anzac Provost Corps." The term "Anzac" also implied
gallantry, another reason for its sarcastic application to the Military Police.
ANZAC SOUP.
Shell-hole
water polluted by a corpse.
ANZAC STEW.
The ordinary
Army stew diluted with water to a greater extent than usual.
ANZAC WAFER.
Name given
to the Army Biscuit issued as portion of the Iron Ration, or when bread was
not fully available. "Anzac" because of their constant use on Gallipoli,
and "wafer" sarcastically because of their size and extreme hardness.
APRES LA GUERRE
ARCHIE.
Anti-aircraft
shell or gun.
ARMY SAFETY CORPS.
Army Service
Corps. The A.S.C. rarely had to operate under fire.
ARSAPEEK.
Upside
Down.
ARSEY-TARSY.
To fall
upside down.
ARTIST.
See "Star
Artist."
AS NEAR AS DAMN IT.
Closely
approximating the ideal.
ATCHA.
"Yes."
"Alright," Hindustani used by the A.I.F. in Mesopot-amia.
ATMOSPHERE.
See "Vertical
Atmosphere."
AUSSIE.
(1) Australians,
(2) Australian made goods, (3) a wound of sufficient severity to warrant
the return of the recipient to Australia.
AXLE GREASE.
Butter.
A.W.L.
Absent without leave.
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