Regency Words/Cant/Phrases:
A
a bruiser: a boxer
a mill: a fist fight
all the crack: the height of fashion
B
bang up to the knocker: well-dressed, wearing the finest apparel
barouche: a four wheeled carriage with a driver's seat in front of two facing inside seats that had a collapsible hood on the forward facing seat.
bear-leader: tutor
Bluestocking: A lady with an unfashionable interest in books and learning.
blunt: money
bottom: someone that has courage and can take a beating.
C
cattle: horses
chit: a young unexceptional girl. (considered an insult)
coxcomb:a man full of himself, a conceited dandy. (considered an insult)
cut-direct: to turn your attention away from someone as if they did not exist. A public insult to a person considered beneath respect or acknowledgement.
D
dandy: a gentleman whose dress and appearance are his upmost concern.
debtor's prison: to be imprisoned for owing debt until that debt was paid.
debutante: a young woman making a formal entry into society.
driving to the inch: a superb driver. One who could control their team of horses' gait, judge distance and with precision guide their horses through narrow passages, around corners or obstructions.
F
fop: a man preoccupied with and often vain about his clothes and manners. (considered an insult)
flushed with funds: a person with money.
G
Gossipmonger: one who gossips
green girl: an inexperienced/naive girl
H
haymarket ware: prostitute. (considered an insult)
heir-apparent: an heir whose legal right to receive property, money, or title cannot be taken away because it is impossible for somebody with a stronger claim to be born.
high in the instep: arrogant. A stickler for society rules.
Holland covers: sheets placed over furniture when rooms are not being used; usually when a house is being closed for a period of time.
I
impressment: the act or policy of seizing people or property for public service or use.
in the petticoat line: a man who has affairs.
M
marriage mart: otherwise known as the Season. The time from April-June when Parliament is in full session and noble families gather in London to hosts balls and events to contract marriages for their children.
mushroom: someone who pops up out of nowhere and claims nobility.
N
Nonesuch: A person unequalled. There is none such as he.
O
on dit: gossip
on the shelf: a lady past her prime for marriage.
P
parson's noose: marriage
plant a facer: to hit someone in the face.
plump in the pocket: to have ready money available.
P.P.C: an abbreviation for the French phrase "pour prendage conge." The letters were written on a person's calling card when they wanted to communicate that they were temporarily leaving the area.
purchased by the yard: books purchased by the yard to fill library shelves to impress guests with the volume of a collection; versus purchasing to satisfy the owner's pleasure and interest.
R
rake: a man who enjoys bachelorhood through drink, gaming, and bedding women.
romp: a forward girl.
S
salad days: the time when a gentleman was young and inexperienced.
soiled goods: a lady who lost her virginity without benefit of marriage.
smelling of April and May: madly in love.
swell :an upperclass/fashionable gentleman
T
tidbit: a morsel of gossip
to draw his cork: to give someone a bloody nose
ton: upper echelons of society; comes from the French word meaning "style." Members of the peerage who had good breeding, manners, and style were considered bon ton (good ton).
tot: a small amount of strong liquor.
V
vowels: I.O.U. a signed piece of paper acknowledging a debt
W
watering pot: crier
