Search -
A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words, Used at the Present Day in the Streets of London
A Dictionary of Modern Slang Cant and Vulgar Words Used at the Present Day in the Streets of London Author:John Camden Hotten Title: A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words, Used at the Present Day in the Streets of London; the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge; the Houses of Parliament; the Dens of St. Giles; and the Palaces of St. James General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1860 Original Publisher: J. C. Hotten Subjects: ... more »Cambridge (England) Oxford (England) London (England) English language Cant Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: ACCOUNT HIEROGLYPHICS USED BY VAGABONDS. One of the most singular chapters in a History of Vagabondism would certainly be an account of the Hieroglyphic signs used by tramps and thieves. The reader may be startled to know that, in addition to a secret language, the wandering tribes of this country have private marks and symbolic signs with which to score their successes, failures, and advice to succeeding beggars; in fact, that the country is really dotted over with beggars' finger posts and guide stones. The assertion, however strange it may appear, is no fiction. The subject was not long since brought under the attention of the Government by Mr. Rawlinson. " There is," he says in his report, " a sort of blackguards5 literature, and the initiated understand each other by Mr. Bawlinson's Report to the General Board of Health, Parish of Havant, Hampshire. slang [cant] terms, by pantomimic signs, and by Hieroglyphics. The vagranfs mark may be seen in Havant, on corners of streets, on door posts, and on house steps. Simple as these chalk lines appear, they inform the succeeding vagrants of all they require to know ; and a few white scratches may say, i be importunate,' or 'pass on? " Another very curious account was taken from a provincial newspaper, pu...« less