A Pocket Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

A Pocket Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue is a pocket-sized guide to profane slang from the backstreets and taverns of 18th-century London. It gathers amusing and useful terms from English history for use in modern conversation, including the origins of familiar phrases such as “birthday suit” and slang that has fallen out of use.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Originally published in 1785, the Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue was one of the first lexicons of English slang. It was compiled by a militia captain who collected terms overheard during late-night excursions to London’s slums, dockyards, and taverns. This pocket dictionary carries on that legacy.