block
n.— «Judy Hines holds the distinction of being one of Denver’s longest working prostitutes. “I started when I was 15, in 1974, working out of an apartment building behind Colfax and Pearl,” said the 46-year-old Hines. “It was easy money. When the easy money left, I decided to hit the block.” The block—slang for the street—is where Hines stayed, for the most part, until January.» —“A lifeline vs. life on the streets” by Amy Herdy Denver Post (Colo.) Mar. 28, 2005. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Oofless is an antiquated bit of British slang that describes someone temporarily short on cash. It’s from ooftisch, a Yiddish-derived term for “cash placed on the table,” from German auf Tisch. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of...
Carpe diem! A new book reveals the surprisingly unfamiliar stories behind familiar quotations. Also: Rock climbers have gumbies, and surfers have kooks. What do those words say about beginners who have more confidence than experience? Plus, if...