THE HISTORY OF CANT, OR THE SECRET LANGUAGE
OF VAGABONDS.

Black and Coloured VAGABONDS-Vagabonds all over Europe-Vaga-
bonds Universal,
Etymology of CANT-Cant used in old times-Difference between
Cant and Slang,

The GIPSIES-Gipsies taught English Vagabonds-The Gipsy-
Vagabond alliance-The Origin of Cant-Vulgar words from
the Gipsy-Gipsy element in the English language-
poet Moore on the origin of Cant-Borrow on the Gipsy lan-
guage-The inventor of Canting not hanged,

-

-The

PAGE

I-3

3-5

5-11

Old CANT words still used-Old Cant words with modern meanings
-The words "Rum" and "Queer" explained-Old Cant words
entirely obsolete,

THE OLDEST "ROGUE'S DICTIONARY,"

II-14

“Jaw-breakers,” or hard words, used as Cant-Were Highwaymen
educated men?-Vagabonds used Foreign words as Cant-The
Lingua Franca, or Bastard Italian-Cant derived from Jews and
Showmen-Classic words used as English Cant-Old English
words used as Cant-Old English words not fashionable now—
Our old Authors very vulgar persons-Was Shakspeare a pugi-
list-Old Dramatists used Cant words-Curious systems of
Cant,

ACCOUNT OF THE HIEROGLYPHICS USED BY

VAGABONDS.

MENDICANT FREEMASONRY-Hieroglyphics of Vagabonds-Maps
used by Beggars-Account of a Cadger's Map-Explanation of
the Hieroglyphics-Did the Gipsies invent them?—The Mur-
derer's Signal on the Gallows,

14-20

20-26

27-32

A SHORT HISTORY OF SLANG, OR THE VULGAR LAN-
GUAGE OF FAST LIFE.

Slang at Babylon and Nineveh-Old English Slang-Slang in the
time of Cromwell, and in the Court of Charles II.-Swift and
Arbuthnot fond of Slang-The origin of "
Cabbage"-"The
Real Simon Pure"-Tom Brown and Ned Ward-Did Dr
Johnson compile a Slang Dictionary-John Bee's absurd ety-
mology of Slang-The true origin of the term-Derived from
the Gipsies-Burns and his fat friend, Grose-Slang used by
all classes, High and Low-Slang in Parliament, and amongst
our friends-New words not so reprehensible as old words bur-
dened with strange meanings-The poor Foreigner's perplexity
-Long and windy Slang words-Vulgar corruptions,

FASHIONABLE SLANG,

PARLIAMENTARY SLANG,

MILITARY AND DANDY SLANG,

UNIVERSITY SLang,

LEGAL SLANG, or Slang amongst the Lawyers,

PAGE

33-42

42

45

47

48

49

52

LITERARY SLANG-Punch on "Slang and Sanscrit,' n

53

THEATRICAL SLANG, or Slang both before and behind the curtain,
CIVIO SLANG,

SLANG TERMS FOR MONEY-Her Majesty's coin is insulted by one
hundred and thirty distinct Slang terms-Old Slang terms for
money-The classical origin of Slang money-terms-The terms
used by the Ancient Romans vulgarisms in the Nineteenth
Century,
SHOPKEEPERS' SLANG,

WORKMEN'S SLANG, or Slang in the workshop-Many Slang terms for
money derived from operatives,

SLANG APOLOGIES FOR OATHS, or sham exclamations for passion and
temper-Slang swearing,

SLANG TERMS FOR DRUNKENNESS, and the graduated scale of fuddle-
ment and intoxication,

56

57

58-61

61

62

633

64

DICTIONARY OF MODERN SLANG, CANT, AND VULGAR WORDS; many with their etymologies traced, together with illustrations, and references to authorities,

SOME ACCOUNT OF THE BACK SLANG, the secret language of Costermongers-The principle of the Back Slang-Boys and girls soon acquire it-The Back Slang unknown to the PoliceCostermongers' terms for money-Arithmetic amongst the Costerinongers,

GLOSSARY OF THE BACK SLANG, .

SOME ACCOUNT OF THE RHYMING SLANG, the secret language of
Chaunters and Patterers-The origin of the Rhyming Slang
-Spoken principally by Vagabond Poets, Patterers, and
Cheap Jacks-Patterers "well up" in Street Slang-Curious
Slang Letter from a Chaunter,

GLOSSARY OF THE RHYMING SLANG,

THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SLANG, Cant, and VULGAR LANGUAGE, or a list of the books which have been consulted in the compilation of this work, comprising nearly every known treatise upon the subject,

PAGE

65-274

275-279

280-284

285-288

289-292

293-305

A SHORT HISTORY OF SLANG, OR THE VU GUAGE OF FAST LIFE.

Slang at Babylon and Nineveh-Old English Slangtime of Cromwell, and in the Court of Charles Arbuthnot fond of Slang-The origin of “Ce Real Simon Pure"-Tom Brown and Ned W Johnson compile a Slang Dictionary?—John Be mology of Slang-The true origin of the termthe Gipsies-Burns and his fat friend, Grose— all classes, High and Low-Slang in Parliamen our friends-New words not so reprehensible as dened with strange meanings-The poor Foreig -Long and windy Slang words—Vulgar corrny FASHIONABLE SLANG,

LEGAL SLANG, or Slang amongst the Lawyers, LITERARY SLANG-Punch on "Slang and Sanscrit,"

THEATRICAL SLANG, or Slang both before and behi CIVIO SLANG,

SLANG TERMS FOR MONEY-Her Majesty's coin: hundred and thirty distinct Slang terms-0 money-The classical origin of Slang moneyused by the Ancient Romans vulgarisms: Century,

SHOPKEEPERS' SLANG,

WORKMEN'S SLANG, or Slang in the workshop-M money derived from operatives,

SLANG APOLOGIES FOR OATHS, or sham exclamati temper-Slang swearing,

SLANG TERMS FOR DRUNKENNESS, and the gradu ment and intoxication,

ICTIONARY.

R