banjee n.— «Most band members wore tank tops emblazoned with the word “banjee” (a slang term for gay men of color who project a tough image).» —“Live: Hercules and Love Affair” by Ann Powers Los Angeles...
cud n.— «Major Die Breaks are often referred to as “cuds,” a slang holdover term from the 1960s that stuck. A cud occurs when a section of the die face and corresponding shank breaks away and leaves a void in the die in its...
This week’s Slang This! contestant is from Boston. She shares a slang phrase making the rounds among her friends at MIT: “find your pants.” She then tries to guess the meaning of the slang term boilover and the obscure word...
Welcome to another newsletter from A Way with Words! This newsletter was originally supposed to go out on Monday, May 12th, but our service provider had a snafu and the messages disappeared into the ether. There are a lot of creatures on planets...
Zola from San Diego asks about the military slang Jody, usually spelled J-O-D-Y, for a man back home who steals a deployed soldier’s girlfriend or wife. The name appears to have developed from the older Joe the Grinder or Joe D. Grinder, with...
poofer n.— «Poofers: A slang term for girls who suddenly disappear from their community in order to take part in an arranged marriage. The girls are either kept hidden or moved to another state or country. This term is most often used by...