Samantha Harvey’s novel Orbital is a sensuous, exhilarating meditation about the strangeness of life on a space station, with its mix of tedious tasks and jaw-dropping views. And: a musician who rode the rails in his youth shares the slang he...
Steve, a singer-songwriter from Rock Springs, Wyoming, shares some slang he picked up while months riding the rails and busking. Spanging refers to panhandling, from asking for “spare change.” The term bull refers to a type of security...
fly signs v. phr.— «He said he’s been arrested several times for “flying signs,” street lingo for panhandling on a street corner, and for theft of food and hygiene items at a Roth’s store.» —“Street kids and authority...
cardboard technician n.— «The first thing you should know about David is that he is not a panhandler. He was quick to explain the difference to me. “Panhandlers are those guys you see milling around the 7-Eleven shaking their cups...
bubble n.— «Someone who offers them money is said to “flip them a bill,” and police officers are affectionately known as “bubbles.”» —“Beggars can be choosers” by Dina Chaiffetz Denver...
spang v. to beg for money. Also spange. Hence, spanger, a person who begs for money. Editorial Note: Rhymes with change or range. Etymological Note: Usually said to be a corruption of spare change. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)