Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 9.djvu/470

 384 NOTES AND QUERIES. [i 2 s.ix.Nov.i2,io 2 i. STUCK INTO (TO GET). To attack. ' properly stuck into Jerry." j TOBY. A shrapnel helmet. ! TOOTHPICK. Bayonet (see ante, p. 345). We got ROYAL STANDBACKS. A legendary unit that suffered from " cold feet " " the Royal Standbacks, last into the field and first out." (Contributor adds, " This is a good old ex- pression 1 first heard thirty years ago in the north.") SAMMY. An American soldier. SILENT SERVICE (THE). The Royal Navy, with a shade of jocular ironic meaning when used AUSSIE (ALSO AUSSIE-LAND). Australia, as well by soldiers. . Qe Qn AIW*IHMI *^, Substitute for a man's name. C. MISCELLANEOUS. ALL THE WAY. To the bitter end ; to any limit. Derisive reference to con- SONNY. SPARE FILE. Military term for odd man in ranks : used to designate anybody loitering, doing nothing. SPARE GENERAL. ceited N.C.O. SPARKY. Nickname for wireless operator. SUICIDE CLUB. The Machine Gun Corps. Also applied to other units at different tunes. TERRIERS. Territorial troops. WASBIRD. An elderly man say 40 or more who wanted to enlist. B. MILITARY TERMS. BEGNET. Jocks' word for " bayonet " ; also called " knife " and " sword." BUZZER. Signalling instrument. CAMOUFLAGE. Innumerable variants of this j word were current. A Sergeant-Major always called flower." Do ONE FOR THE KING. To do a twenty-four hours armed guard. DUCKBOARD. A board laid down to facilitate getting about in mud, only wide enough for single file. E LEPHANT. A hut having the sides and top made of rounded sheets of iron. HATE (MORNING AND EVENING). Terms applied to the daily bombardment of our line, gener- ally for the purpose of registering distances, by the German artillery early in the war. certain M.G.C. quickly, lied it "camel CLICK WITH as an Australian soldier. BEGGAR ONE'S CONTRACT. Spoil anything, make- it not worth while. BINTING (GO). To go on leave to Cairo to seek female society. (Bint, a girl, Arabic.) BLIND. Very drunk. Also " blind to the world."" BOUNCE (ON THE). At an opportune moment. BRITISH WARM. A short overcoat much worn, by officers of all ranks, but not a uniform garment. CHANCE ONE'S ARM. Get into trouble (whereby a N.C.O. might lose a stripe). CHEWED UP (TO BE). To be " told off," repri- manded. CHRISTMAS-TREE ORDER (IN). Said of a man with his full equipment and all his possessions- on him. OFF AT THE TOUTE (SUITE). Get away A GIRL. Make her acquaintance without formal introduction. CLOBBER. Clothing or equipment lying about in an untidy state. COFFEE AVEC. Coffee with a drop of rum, cognac, or any spirit. DINKUM. Truly, honestly. DORK (ALSO DOORSTEP). A thick slice of bread. DUB-DUB. A complete failure. DUD. A shell which has failed to burst. Hence- anyone or anything of little or no use. DUNNAGE. Clothing. DUNNAGE-BAG. Canvas bag to carry clothing. How. Howitzer. JAM TIN. The early type of bomb made in a discarded jam tin. LOZENGES. Revolver ammunition. Probable origin : when it had coughed a bit give it some more lozenges. PIASSER. A cleaning rod used for cleaning 4in. Stokes mortars. " There were only four Companies of these mortars and I only heard the term used in No. 1 Company. I never heard it in No. 3, nor do I know any- one who knew of its being used in Nos. 2 and 4. Origin quite unknown. It turned up and remained in use until I left the unit in January, 1917." J. M. O. MEAT-SKEWER. Bayonet. PDLL-BOX. A miniature fort constructed chiefly of concrete, sometimes upon a steel founda- tion and immensely strong. POOP (POUP). Off. Used of artillery firing. QUARTER TO TEN. 9*45in. trench mortar. ROGER. A gas cylinder. The word was used as a code word to denote gas cylinders in an operation just prior to July 1, 1915, and hence came into current speech. SHOOTING-IRON. A rifle. SHOOT UP. To fire rapidly in goine: into a town or village : "to shoot up the village." SOLDIER'S FRIEND. Rifle. GET AWAY WITH IT. To be " crimed " and found not guilty. GET OFF WITH A GIRL. Make the acquaintance of a girl without formal introduction. GLASSHOUSE. Military prison. GONG. A medal. GREASE (TO). To get away. GRIFFEN (TO GIVE THE). To give a secret warn- ing, or "to give the wire." HUMP. To carry a load. HUMP YOUR PACK (TO). To march on foot carrying all your gear. JOY-RIDE. An unauthorized trip in an Army car or aircraft, or the use of an Army car or aircraft otherwise than on duty. JUMP. Get a free ride on (e.g., jump a lorry). LORRY HOP (LORRY JUMP). To get a lift on the road by jumping (on to) a lorry. MAT (ON THE). Said of an officer or soldier who was in trouble and appeared before his superior officer for admonition or correction. MINGLE. Officer's hospital slang. Used of occa- sions when nurses and patients met socially on equal terms under official approbation (and supervision). MITTS. Hands. MUMP (TO). To cadge. OIL (ON THE). A drinking bout.