18th-Century Insights

Language:

London in 1749 was a mixture of societies, cultures, and a diverse population. This allowed for unique words to weave into the British vernacular. The Bottle Conjuror novel is full of unique words and phrases that might seem odd to us in the 21st century. For example:

Bloody-Back - slang for a British soldier.

Bootneck - slang for a British Royal Marine.

Bow Street Runners - one of several paid private security forces in 18th-century London

Blunderbuss - a firearm with a short, large-caliber barrel, and flared at the muzzle. It is considered to be an early predecessor of the shotgun.

Baxt - Romani word for "clean - pure"

Bod - Polari* slang for "body."

Cushats - Romani word for "pigeons."

Duke of Limbs - a tall, awkward fellow.

Flapdragon - slang for a sexually-transmitted disease.

Gorgers - Romani word for non-Romani people - an insult.

Gundiguts - a fat, pursy fellow.

Handbag - Polari slang for "money."

Ladz - Romani word for "unclean - disgraced"

Lobster-backs - slang for British infantry soldiers.

Luppers - Polari slang for "fingers."

Mother's Ruin - slang for "gin."

Ogles - Polari slang for "eyes."

Patrin - a Romani guide post sign.

Petard - a type of bomb notably mentioned in a Shakespearean play; "hoisted by one's petard" meant literally blowing yourself up with your own bomb, a metaphor for being foiled by your own plans.

Romani - Indo-Aryan people, traditionally nomadic and living mostly in Europe; more commonly known as Gypsies, which Romanis consider to be pejorative.

Tongue enough for two sets of teeth - a very talkative person.

Vardo - a Romani wagon that functions as a mobile home.

*Polari was a coded language used in pubs in the London docks area in the 18th-century. It was later adopted by English homosexuals to be able to communicate with each other without being arrested (homosexuality was against the law in England until 1967).