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Friday, March 9, 2012

Books Selections from My Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang

Posted by Courtney Ferguson on Fri, Mar 9, 2012 at 4:29 PM

Slangy shows that squirrel whos boss.
  • Slangy shows that squirrel who's boss.

Continuing my Blogtown series, where I peruse my favorite book in the world, the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume I, A-G by J.E. Lighter.

This week's slang is brought to you by the letter "D."

daddy-o n. 1. a boyfriend, male lover, or husband
1944: "I'm your daddy-o, you're my baby-O, and Queen Bee, that's what she wrote!"
2. Jazz. fellow.
1992 As the World Turns: "If you get my drift, daddy-o."

Dickless Tracy n. Police. a woman who is a police officer—used contemptuously—usu. considered vulgar.
1979 Playboy: "I refer to the sexual harassment by the 'Dickless Tracy' division of all local police departments, whereby policewomen entrap helpless males into soliciting them for acts of prostitution... The man is... convicted... on the word of a Dickless Tracy."

dump n. Restaurant. an egg.
1885: "Mr. Boru has no equal in his noble profession [waiter] and his... 'Two dumps wid hard on the side!' and 'Coffee in the dark!' are familiar as household words in the ears of our best citizens."

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