Slang Words Starting With "A," from 1874 London Quiz

Answer: A-1

The slang even developed its own slang variations. Some people said "first-class, letter A, No. I." Others said "A I," the two letters, just to be different. The Online Etymology Dictionary dates it to 1837, still based on Lloyd's insurance categories: "The letter refers to the condition of the hull of the ship itself, and the number rating to the equipment."

Answer: normal swear words for the situation

Antiscriptural meant "oaths, foul language. Anything unfit for ordinary society conversation," according to the 1874 Slang Dictionary. Most other sources seem to treat the word "antiscriptural" seriously, saying it meant against the scriptures, a theological argument, missing this sly little side meaning.

Answer: arranging the sheets so the boy can't get between them

The 1874 Slang Dictionary describes an apple-pie bed as: "a trick played at schools on new comers, or on any boy disliked by the rest. One of the sheets is removed, and the other is doubled in the middle, so that both edges are brought to the top, and look as if both sheets were there; but the unhappy occupant is prevented getting more than half-way down, and he has to remake his bed as best he can.

This trick is sometimes played by children of a larger growth." The trick was apparently much older.

The Online Etymology Dictionary says, "Apple-pie bed as a name for a childish prank is recorded from 1781; supposedly from the way of making apple turnovers, but some think it a folk etymology of French nappe pliée 'folded sheet.'"

Answer: avast

The 1874 Slang Dictionary suggests it might come from Italian "basta," meaning "hold! enough." Modern etymologists lean toward a Dutch origin: "houd vast" meaning "hold fast," and after repetition it becomes the sound "avast." The Oxford Dictionary also dates it to an early 17th Century Dutch origin and gives an example of usage: "a sailor is expected to keep hauling until the mate hollers 'Avast!'"

Answer: someone who put off work until there was little time to do it

The 1874 Slang Dictionary said an afternoon farmer was "one who wastes his best opportunity, and drives off the large end of his work to the little end of his time." The book "Slang and Its Analogues Past and Present," 1890, said it is "a provincialism.

It is quoted in more than one of the English Dialect Society's Glossaries as a very common phrase for one who is always behind." The 2015 "New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English" found an example used in 1960 Canada with the same meaning.

Answer: he had a somewhat empty head

The 1874 Slang Dictionary says: "Apartments to Let, a term used in reference to one who has a somewhat empty head. As, 'He's got apartments to let.'" Cassell's Dictionary of Slang, 2005, said it was a mid 19th Century slang phrase and explained "the image is of a certain emptiness in the 'upper storey.'"

Answer: they didn't believe it

The 1874 Slang Dictionary said "All my Eye, a remark of incredulity made in reference to an improbable story; [was a] condensation of 'all my eye and Betty Martin,' a vulgar phrase constructed from the commencement of a Roman Catholic prayer to St. Martin, 'Oh, mihi, beate Martine,' which in common with many another fell into discredit and ridicule after the Reformation."

Answer: "awful" had become a word like "very," just used to intensify the rest of the meaning

The 1874 "Slang Dictionary" said awful was "a senseless expletive, used to intensify a description of anything good or bad; 'what an awful fine woman!' 'awfully jolly,' 'awfully sorry,' &c. The phrase is not confined to any section of society." The Online Etymology Dictionary says awfully was attested to from c.1830 "as a simple intensifier, 'very, exceedingly.'"

Answer: he "knows it all," know more than you do, or knows secrets

According to the 1874 Slang Dictionary, awake meant to know all, but "the phrase wide-awake carries a similar meaning in ordinary conversation, but has a more general reference." The Wide Awakes were a group that supported the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 USA, which used the phrase with a related meaning, implying they were vigilant and looking out for danger.

Answer: beat or defeated them thoroughly, not necessarily physically but perhaps made them look foolish in a game

The 1874 Slang Dictionary said it meant "utterly, excessively; 'he beat him all to pieces,' i.e., excelled or surpassed him exceedingly. Also a term much in use among sporting men and expressing want of form, or decadence. A boat's crew are said to 'go all to pieces' when they through distress lose their regularity."