Enhance your Living History speak with our guide to C17th slang. One thing to remember is that during the 17th Century people spoke with a Birmingham (Brummy) accent. Keep visiting as this page as more diverse lingo is constantly added!

Drink & Drinking...
Begin thy health - A toast
Distemper - drunkenness
Halfcon - a tapster noted for short measures
Taphouse - tavern
Tapster - tavern keeper
Angel's Food - strong ale
Barg pitcher - a drunkard
Benbowse - drunk
Bumpsy - drunk
Cupshot - drunk
Coppernose - the red nose of a drinker
Drink as a fish - to be constantly drinking
One of the faithful - a drunkard
To swallow a hare - to get exceedingly drunk
In the gun - tipsy
Jugbitten - tipsy
Merry go down - very strong ale
Overseen - drunk
Pay the shot - pay the bill
Pot walk - a drinking session
Wamblety - overhung
Be well to live - to be drunk


Women & Ladies of the night...
Nice as a nanny hen - Prim and proper girl
Occupying House - Brothel
Occupant - Prostitute
Punk - Prostitute
Baggage - Prostitute
Ploll-cat - Prostitute
Pug-nasty - Prostitute
Rig-mutton - Prostitute
Buttock-Banquetting - Use your imagination!!
Hoyden - Illbred Woman
Camp follower - Woman or civilian who follows the army

Clothing & Equipment..
Gawds - Baubles (on garments)
Guards - Garment Trimmings Montero - Peaked Felt Hat
Baldrick - shoulder belt for sword
Bollock dagger - A dagger with a testicular shaped handle!
Tassets - armoured panels to cover the manly bearings
Back & Breast plates - pikemans back & chest armour
Lobster pot - Cavalry helmet
Morion - Pikemans helmet
Montero / Monmouth cap - soft wool hat
Cassock / Casque - large buttoned coat
Bucket tops - long leather boots
Start-ups - boots
Latchetts - straight lasted shoes
Snapsack - soldiers bag
Tuck/hangar - cheap sword issued to troops
Pike - 18 foot ash pole
Bandolier - Belt of small powder flasks worn slung over the shoulder

Millitary...
Brothers of the Blade - Fellow Soldiers Officer - someone you bow to
Sergeant - someone who shouts
Fall on - call to attack
Have a care - attention / beware
Rank - line of men side by side
File - line of men one behind the other
Colour - the flag
Tertio - group of regiments making one large fighting unit

General...
Talk Ducdame - Talk gibberish
Fintums - Ideas
Fedary - Fellow Men

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© Copyright 1998-2007 Sir John Owens Regiment of Foote.