Archaic slang

[Twilkes]

When I was at school in the early to mid 80s, if something was of good calibre it was 'ace', 'skill'*, and for a very short time 'rad' or 'radical'.

The current youth slang term for something of good calibre is apparently 'epic', but around twelve years ago it was, for some reason, 'minty'.

And when I was very young, if a gentleman showed a tendency towards campness, my mother termed him a 'woolly woofter'.

What no-longer-used terms do you remember?

• This one sometimes led to the trap-conversation 'Have you got skill?' 'Yes.' 'Urgh, it's an African bum disease!'

[Hoofy]

"Wicked".

[Vipers]

Queer as a nine bob note.

[Troubleatmill]

OP - I think you want the lounge

[eldar]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polari

[Toltec]

The title made me think more of Chaucer or even Shakespeare than a couple of decades ago.


Does archaic mean something different in modern slang?

[groundcontrol]

'Class' seems to have dropped out of popularity.

[Kiltie]

I remember, when doubting the truth of someone's story, we would say; "spin on" while stroking the chin between thumb and forefinger.

[Mastodon2]

"Class" is still very much in use up in Newcastle. I also use "rad" and "radical" on a regular basis.

I was talking about foods that have old names the other day when I was at work, mainly turnips being referred to as "snadge" and sausages being referred to as "snags". No one had heard those terms, but at the last company I worked for there were a few blokes who knew what they meant.

[LikesBikes]

Benny on the loose

[wildcat45]

Mud 80s we had an American kid at school. If it was good he would say 'Tubular'. But pronounce it 'toobular'

In Newcastle 'Lush' was good. If it was really good it became 'Learshhh'.

Newcastle kids still say 'Mint' for good.

I heard a chav describe a Corsa or such like as 'Pure Sexual'. I assume he liked it.

My Dad used to say 'Queer as a coot' when referring to a gay person.

Police in Newcsstle were the 'Pollis'.

And for people of a certain age (ashamed to say I was one) A 'Joey' or a 'Deacon'. Was a horrible term for anyone you thought to be stupid based upon a rather brave disabled guy who appeared on Blue Peter circa 1980.

[Quhet]

We used to call chavs 'Kevs'. Wrenk meant that something was horrible or disgusting. A stig was someone who was poor and consequently many places became stiggy.

[Kenty]

Hippy

[43034]

Mega.

[davhill]

Potty...contraction of 'crackpot', meaning insane, crazy.

Biz...contraction of 'business', meaning st. As in 'It's a load of biz.'

Bonkers...crazy.

Doolally...wartime interpretation of 'Deolali' in India, meaning crazy. Often 'He's gone doolally tap'.

Bog...toilet. or car body filler (North West).

Octut...st (Derbyshire, infantile)

[Brigand]

"Skill", "Lush", "Mint" and "Classic" were good one's from the late 80's / early 90's.

I also remember people asking someone if they were a "Cool Dude", and if they said yes you'd reply with "Ugh, that's a spot on a dog's dick".

[Ekona]

Brigand said:

I also remember people asking someone if they were a "Cool Dude", and if they said yes you'd reply with "Ugh, that's a spot on a dog's dick".

Hah, was a camel's dick round our way!

[TheEnd]

Twilkes said:

• This one sometimes led to the trap-conversation 'Have you got skill?' 'Yes.' 'Urgh, it's an African bum disease!'

I remember that, citation needed!

[RobinBanks]

Ekona said:

Brigand said:

I also remember people asking someone if they were a "Cool Dude", and if they said yes you'd reply with "Ugh, that's a spot on a dog's dick".

Hah, was a camel's dick round our way!

Here too.

"are you a dude?"
"yeah"
"haha! You're a camel's foreskin"

[RobinBanks]

I suppose it's massively politically incorrect but I also remember my late grandfather referring to the milkman as a 'spade' because he was black.
He also called guy people 'irons'. Does anyone know where that one comes from?