A Pocket Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue - by Captain Francis Grose (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Originally published in 1785, the Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue was one of the first lexicons of English slang, compiled by a militia captain who collected the terms he overheard on his late-night excursions to London's slums, dockyards, and taverns. Some of the terms have found their place in common English idiom today (e.g. "birthday suit" for nakedness.) Others, not so much, which is a shame. This handy pocket-sized edition gathers the most amusing and useful terms and phrases from the dictionary and helpfully presents them to be deployed in the colorful (some might say vulgar) conversations of our modern day. Also included are topical list of words (for money, drunkenness, the amorous congress, male and female naughty bits . . .) and many spot illustrations. Portable and powerful, it is just the thing for handling an ADDLE-PATE in want of a NOPE to his BLIND CUPID"--

Book Synopsis

A Pocket Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue is a profane guide to the slang from the backstreets and taverns of 18th-century London.

This slang dictionary gathers the most amusing and useful terms from English history and helpfully presents them to be used in the conversations of our modern day.

Originally published in 1785, the Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue was one of the first lexicons of English slang, compiled by a militia captain who collected the terms he overheard on his late-night excursions to London's slums, dockyards, and taverns. Now the legacy lives on in this colorful pocket dictionary.

- Learn the origin of phrases like "birthday suit" and discover slang lost to time.
- Handy pocket-sized edition allows you to whip out vintage curse words whenever needed.
- An unexpected marriage of lowbrow humor and highbrow wit

Discover long lost antique slang and curse words and learn how to incorporate them into modern conversation.

A Pocket Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue is perfect for enlivening contemporary conversation with historical phrases; it includes a topical list of words for money, drunkenness, the amorous congress, male and female naughty bits, and so on.

- A funny gift for wordplay, language, swearing, and insult fans, as well as fans of British humor and culture
- Perfect for those who loved How to Speak Brit: The Quintessential Guide to the King's English, Cockney Slang, and Other Flummoxing British Phrases by Christopher J. Moore; Knickers in a Twist: A Dictionary of British Slang by Jonathan Bernstein; and The Official Dictionary of Sarcasm by James Napoli

About the Author

Captain Francis Grose (1731-1791) was an English lexicographer with a special interest in documenting the language as it was actually spoken in London's dockyards, taverns, and underworld.

Steve Mockus is a San Francisco-based editor.