punkin n.— «Punkin: An apprentice ironworker who does jobs such as running for coffee and getting tools for the journeymen.» —“Chicago Speak” by Anne Keegan Chicago Tribune Feb. 3, 1994. (source: Double-Tongued...
Joe McGee
n.— «Joe McGee: An ironworker who is sloppy at his job and makes mistakes. (The derivation is unknown.)» —“Chicago Speak” by Anne Keegan Chicago Tribune Feb. 3, 1994. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
headache ball n.— «Headache ball: The large, round, steel ball weighing 500 to 1,000 pounds that hangs from the end of a construction crane’s cable. It has a hook on the bottom and is used to keep the cable from rolling back up on itself...
do-si-do
n.— «Doing a do-si-do: Swinging a large steel beam 180 degrees from the direction it’s going.» —“Chicago Speak” by Anne Keegan Chicago Tribune Feb. 3, 1994. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
pea whistle n.— «Doing a do-si-do: Swinging a large steel beam 180 degrees from the direction it’s going. Pea whistle: Same as a do-si-do (derivation unknown).» —“Chicago Speak” by Anne Keegan Chicago Tribune Feb...
sparks
n.— «Sparks: A welder.» —“Chicago Speak” by Anne Keegan Chicago Tribune Feb. 3, 1994. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)