ricket
n.— Note: The Oxford English Dictionary has one cite for this word from 1958, defining it as criminals’ slang meaning “a blunder, mistake.” «Hearn is still involved in snooker, supplying Sky with the premier league tournament. However, he made a ricket, in Dagenham parlance, with the sport. “I make a lot of mistakes,” he says, “and usually I keep them quiet. I got a bit complacent with snooker and I gave it back to the governing body.”» —“Bowls? It’s just Hearn’s cup of tea” by Hugh MacDonald The Herald (Glasgow, Scotland) Feb. 27, 2008. (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...