Mark Twain Slang (1862)

One of the things I love about writing my series P.K. Pinkerton Mysteries – set in Nevada Territory in 1862 and 1863 – is the flashing-eyed, pistol-packing, hard-drinking Mark Twain. Aged 27 in 1862/3, he was always trying out the latest slang in his letters home and early works. Here is a little ABC of some of my favourite early Mark Twain [slang] words.

Absquatulate = to leave abruptly
Bach (or Batch) = to live like a bachelor
Cheese it! = Shut up!
Dunderhead = fool, idiot
Eagle = a gold coin worth $10

Flapdoodle = Nonsense
Gimcracks = A Knicknack
Hurry-Skurry = Rushed
Ironikle = Ironic
Jollification = Party, Celebration
Killickinick = Twain’s beloved, yet cheap pipe tobacco
Lucifer = Match
Mulligrubs = Grumpiness, Depression
Nabob = Wealthy and Important Man

Octaroon = Person w/ one Negro great-grandparent
Poltroon = Utter coward
Quirk = a Taunt, Retort
Rough = a Thug, Ruffian
Spondulicks = Money
Toper = Drunkard
Undress Uniform = Long Johns
Vamoose = to depart hurriedly
Whale = to Beat, Thrash someone
Xeromyrum = Dry Ointment
You bet! = common exclamation
Zephyr = a Gale

The first book in my P.K. Pinkerton Mysteries series is The Case of the Deadly Desperados. It is available in hardback, paperback, Kindle and MP3 audio download. 

2012-11-25 22:02:21

Source: http://flavias.blogspot.com/2012/11/mark-twain-slang-1862.html