# 19th century American slang

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/19th-century-american-slang/28452>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 7, 2000, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/19th-century-american-slang/28452 "2000-08-07T19:15:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CW\_theOpera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@CW\_theOpera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CW_theOpera)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/19th-century-american-slang/28452/1 "2000-08-07T19:15:03Z")

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Does anyone know of a good online dictionary of 19th  
century slang that includes Western mining slang/terms?  
We are doing a production of The Ballad of Baby Doe this season and I want  
to include a slang dictionary in the educational materials that I send out  
to teachers.

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/19th-century-american-slang/28452/2 "2000-08-07T19:22:53Z")

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You actually get quite a bit by searching “19th century slang” at google.

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**Author:** ![labradorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@labradorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labradorian)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/19th-century-american-slang/28452/3 "2000-08-07T22:55:04Z")

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I doubt that it’s online, but I highly recommend finding a copy of the Dictionary of Americanisms on Historical Principles at your local major reference library (city or university.) And don’t ignore the OED or a classic Webster’s (1913 edition and its immediate derivatives, not a more modern edition or a non-Webster’s Webster’s) for digging up obscure senses and forgotten words and compounds.

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**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/19th-century-american-slang/28452/4 "2000-08-08T01:20:30Z")

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I love the Internet. I really do. This suggestion is very NON Internet. Jerome , Arizona. FAMOUS OLD mining town. Call Az information, get the phone number for the Jerome, Arizona Town Hall. Call 'em up, I betcha dollars to doughnuts that they have a book with the kinds of phrases that you seek. In paperback. For sale !!! Just a thought…

Cartooniverse