Page 4 - eMuse Vol.9 No.05_Classical

Walking-distiller: See “Carry means of access by means
the keg.” of a false key; in this ease,
by taking too great a swag,
Wanted: when any of the traps at first, the proprietors
or runners have a private would discover the defi-
information against a family ciency, and take measures
person, and are using means to prevent future depreda-
to apprehend the party, they tion. To weed the swag is to
say, such a one is wanted; embezzle part of the booty,
and it becomes the latter, on unknown to your palls, be-
An on-going series of words and phrases no longer receiving such intimation to fore a division takes place,
keep out if the way, until the
in use or shifted in meaning. stink is over, or until he or a temptation against which
very few of tm family are
Convict Speak she can find means to stash proof, if they can find an
the business through the
Around 1812, James Hardy Vaux was coerced into medium of Mr. Palmer, or by opportunity. A flash-cove,
on discovering a deficiency
writing his book “Flash Language” in return for a some other means. in his purse or property,
sentence reduction and other privileges. Water-sneak: robbing ships or which he cannot account
During our early convict era, “powers that be” vessels on a navigable river, for, will declare that he, (or
could not understand the jargon of the streets. or canal, by getting on board it, naming the article,) has
been weeded to the ruffian.
unperceived, generally in
Vaux’s book became a handy reference book to the night. The water-sneak,
bridge the language barrier that existed between is lately made a capital of- Weeding dues: speaking of
any person, place, or prop-
upper and lower levels of society and within the fence. erty, that has been weed-
Sydney colonial legal system. Wear it: to wear it upon a per- ed, it is said weeding dues
In part, some of these same words are among the son, (meaning to wear a have been concerned. See
foundation of Australian English of today. The fol- nose, or a conk,) is synony- “Dues.”
mous with nosing, conking,
lowing definitions are direct quotes from Vaux with splitting, or coming it, and is Weigh Forty: term used by
the police, who are as
his spelling and almost no additional comment. merely one of those fanciful well versed in flash as the
Where editorial observations occur, my comments variations so much admired thieves themselves. It is
are in italics and followed by my initials, “WF”. by flash people. often customary with the
Unslour: to unlock, unfasten, Wear the Bands: See “Bands.” traps, to wink at depreda-
tions of a petty nature,
or unbutton. See Slour. Wedge: silver; as a wedge- and for which no reward
Speaking of a person whose feeder, a silver spoon, etc.;
coat is buttoned, so as to but silver coin, as well as would attach, and to let a
thief reign unmolested till
obstruct the access to his silver plate, are both com- he commits a capital crime.
pockets, the knucks will say prehended under the name They then grab him, and, on
to each other, the cove is of wedge. See “Ridge” and conviction, share (in many
dour’d up, we must unslour “Speak to.”
him to get at his kickseys. cases) a reward of 40l*., or
Weed: tobacco. upwards; therefore these
Unthimble: to unthimble a Weed: to pilfer or purloin a gentry will say, Let him
man, is to rob, or otherwise A typical vardo alone at present, we don’t
deprive him of his watch. wagons survived to the pre- small portion from a large want him till he weighs his
quantity of any thing; of-
sent as it was the custom weight, meaning, of course,
Unthimbled: having been di- to burn the vardo when ten done by young or timid forty pounds. (£40)
vested of one’s watch. depredators, in the hope of
the owner died. incidently, escaping detection, as, an Well: to well your accomplice,
Up in the Stirrups: a man who Romani have been part of or put him in the well, is
is in swell street, that is, the Australian scene since apprentice or shopman will explained under the word
weed his master’s lob, that
having plenty of money, is the First Fleet. WF ) is, take small sums out of the “Garden”.
said to be up in the stirrups. Vardo-gill: a waggoner. till when opportunity offers,
Upon the cross. See “Cross.” Wack: to share or divide any which sort of peculation Whiddle: to speak of, or men-
tion any thing, as, Don’t you
Upon the square: See “Square.” thing equally, as wack the may be carried on with im- whiddle about so and so,
blunt, divide the money, punity for a length of time; that is, don’t mention it.
Upon the Suit, etc; See “Suite.” etc. but experienced thieves
Upper-ben, Upperbenjamin, Wack: a share or equal propor- sometimes think it good Whiddler: a talkative or tell-
tale person, who is not fit
judgment to weed a place,
or Upper-tog: a great-coat. tion, as give me my wack, in order that it may be good to be trusted with a secret.
Vardo: a waggon. (A waggon in that is, my due part. again, perhaps for a consid- Whids: words. See “Crack a
popular use by the Romani, Walker: an ironical expression, erable length of time, as in whid.”
aka Gypsies, of Britain from synonymous with bender, the instance of a warehouse
c 1850 to 1920. Few exam- and used in the same man- or other depot for goods, to Wistlers: See “Browns and
ples of these characteristic ner. which they may possess the Whistlers.”

4 eMuse May 2020