What if you could talk to someone who lived
at the time of the Civil War? You would probably have a hard time understanding
some of the things they said. Below is a list of words and phrases used
during the Civil War. The words in parentheses is the meaning. Where do
the terms come from? Which ones are still in use? What new words do we
use today that mean the same thing?
1. Chief cook and bottle washer (person capable of
doing many things)
2. Sheet iron crackers (hardtack)
3. sardine box (cap box)
4. bread basket (stomach)
5. greenbacks (money)
6. graybacks (Southern soldiers, lice)
7. Arkansas toothpick (large knife)
8. pepperbox (pistol)
9. Zu - Zu (Zuoave soldier)
10. fit to be tied (angry)
11. horse sense (smart, on the ball)
12. top rail #1 (first class)
13. hunkey dorey (great!)
14. greenhorn, bugger, skunk (officers)
15. snug as a bug (comfortable, cozy)
16. sawbones (surgeon)
17. skedaddle (run, scatter)
18. hornets (bullets)
19. bully (hurrah! yeah!)
20. possum (a buddy, pal)
21. blowhard (big shot)
22. fit as a fiddle (in good shape, healthy)
23. Uppity (conceited)
24. scarce as hen's teeth (rare or scarce)
25. grab a root (have dinner, potato)
26. tight, wallpapered (drunk)
27. bark juice, tar water (liquor)
28. nokum stiff, joy juice (liquor)
29. hard case (tough)
30. bluff (cheater)
31. jailbird (criminal)
32. hard knocks (beaten up)
33. been through the mill (done a lot)
34. quick-step (diarrhea)
35. played out (worn out)
36. toeing the mark (doing the job)
37. Jonah (bad luck)
38. goobers (peanuts)
39. Sunday soldiers, kid glove boys, parlor soldiers
(insulting words for soldiers)
40. fresh fish (raw recruits)
41. whipped (beaten)
Sources: "The Life of Johnny Reb" by Bell Irwin Wiley
The Life of Billy Yank" by Bell Irwin Wiley (Courtesy of U.S. Department
of Interior, National Park Service)
CIVIL
WAR SLANG 
