Believe it or not, Victorians had their own rich and varied slang, which they used to express themselves in unique and often humorous ways.
Victorian slang was a colourful and creative aspect of language during the reign of Queen Victoria, from 1837-1901.
Throughout the era, the slang evolved with new terms emerging and falling out of fashion.
It encompassed a wide range of terms, reflecting social classes and describing love lives, bad bosses, wild nights out, and a number of other situations.
The slang drew from various sources, including Cockney rhyming slang, maritime vocabulary, tavern slang, popular literature and music, fashion trends, and even local dialects.
Here are some of the most common slang phrases from this period:
‘Coffee sisters’ – This refers to women who frequently gather together, often over coffee, to chat and gossip. It’s a way of describing close female friends or women known for their social gatherings and conversations, sometimes including a bit of gossip.
‘Doing the bear’ – This was a specific term used to describe a particular style of courtship where physical affection, specifically hugging, was part of the interaction.
‘Got the morbs’ – This was how people would express that they were feeling sad or in low spirits.
‘Skilamink’ – This term was used to describe someone who was being dishonest or “messy.” It was also used to describe someone who cheats at cards or swindles others, or someone who is sly and manipulative.
‘Butter upon bacon’ – This slang was used to describe someone who is overdoing something. It highlights the idea of going too far with luxury, similar to other Victorian expressions like “paint the lily” or “gild refined gold”.
‘It’s champagne weather’ – This was used to describe heavy rain. It was a rather sarcastic term used in society, likely originating around 1860, to describe conditions that were the opposite of what one would expect when celebrating with champagne.
‘Don’t sell me a dog’ – This basically meant “don’t lie to me” and was popular till around 1870. It stemmed from the practice of deceitful dog sellers who would try to pass off mutts as purebreds.
Slang is inherently dynamic and Victorian slang was no exception, with new terms and phrases constantly emerging and evolving.
Some slang was used to create a sense of exclusivity, particularly among certain social groups like criminals or those in specific professions. This secret language helped to establish trust and maintain privacy, like “cant” which was a form of deception.
Studying Victorian slang provides insights into the social dynamics, cultural values, and evolving nature of language itself.