Want to know the meaning of those odd, but colorful, Regency words or phrases? Would you like a Regency vocabulary guide, a Regency glossary? Taa daah, here it is!
Regency era lingo can get a trifle ticklish at first, but take heart, this handy Regency glossary will make it easy for you.
NOTE: If there’s a word stumping you that isn’t on my list please drop me an email and I’ll add it to our glossary. Meanwhile, have a lovely day and enjoy many hours of pleasant reading.
Need a printable copy of Kathleen Baldwin’s Regency glossary? Click here and a PDF will open up.
|
Word or Phrase |
Meaning |
| Addle-pated | Not right in the head, mentally deficient |
| agog | A farcical word used to mean fabulously eager. “Oh my dear, I am simply all agog to hear the latest on dit (gossip or rumor).” |
| apoplexy | to suffer a stroke or a heart attack, but usually used as an exaggeration. “That stunt of yours you nearly gave me apoplexy.” |
| arse | The back end of a donkey. As in, “Don’t be an arse.” |
| balderdash | To spout lies or nonsense. She waved him away, “Balderdash. I don’t believe it.” |
| Balmy | insane, or deluded, a screw loose, not quite right in the head. (See daft) “Aye, the lad’s a trifle balmy, but he does make me laugh.” |
| Banbury Tale | A childish tale or fib, an unbelievable story told to avoid the truth. Banbury is drawn from a nursery rhyme of that name, and the fact that Banbury, England was where many fairy tales were published. Some etymologists say that Georgette Heyer coined this phrase. Although it may not be an authentic Regency phrase, it was eagerly adopted as part of the accepted Regency vernacular. |
| Beau Monde | French for ‘the beautiful people.’ Refers to the elite members of London’s high society. (See also Ton) |
| blackguard | Pronounced: bla-gerd. A villain, or a black-hearted man. “He’s a handsome devil, but a blackguard through and through.” |
| bombazine | a twill-woven black silk, often used for mourning clothes. A stiffer fabric, it rustles more than regular silk and creases and wrinkles easily. |
| brambles | a prickly hedge or bush, but it is often used to describe a person in trouble. “Poor lad, he took his father’s phaeton without asking and landed himself in the brambles. After the whooping he got, I doubt he’ll be able to sit down for a week.” |
| cabriolet | A small two wheeled carriage, usually for hire. The forerunner of today’s word for a cab. |
| chit | A pert young woman. May have originated from kitten. |
| coming out | Very different from its current meaning, during the Regency, Victorian, and early American centuries, coming out referred to a young lady’s formal introduction into high society (generally to find a husband). During the first year of her ‘coming out,’ she would be referred to as a debutante. |
| Corsican | Someone from Corsica. For instance, Napoleon was actually Corsican rather than French. |
| Corinthian | A fashionably dressed high-society gentleman of low morals; gambler, womaniser. |
| countenance | One’s appearance or facial expression. “Judging by his countenance, Lord Wesmont was about to burst his spleen.” (Get very angry) |
| cudgel | A short club. Footpads (highwaymen without a horse) and street thieves used a cudgel to hit people over the head. |
| cur | A slur that literally means a mongrel dog, used to describe a man of reprehensible behavior. |
| cut direct | To snub or turn up one’s nose and treat the other person as if they do not exist—a severe public condemnation. |
| daft | Foolish, silly, or stupid. As in, “Don’t be daft.” |
| debutante | A young lady recently introduced into high society. (See coming out.) |
| de rigueur | Required behavior. French for: You simply must do this to be acceptable in society. “Oh, but my darling, you must wear a hat. It is simply de rigour.” |
| Doing it up too brown | This expression has changed meaning, but during the Regency, it meant to overdo a compliment or an action for nefarious reasons, to achieve criminal, immoral, or selfish ends. |
| Feetham machine | An innovative early version of a shower. The showering machine was hand-pumped and recycled the water, invented in 1767 by William Feetham. |
| folderol | Nonsense. As in, “Folderol! You’re spouting pure poppycock.” |
| foolscap | A sturdy parchment made from animal skins. “You’d best write it on a sheet of foolscap.” |
| foxed | Drunk. Very drunk. “Oye!” He laughed and pointed at Lord Sloshpants. “He is well and truly foxed.” |
| Frog
|
A pejorative term for a French man. Originated with Queen Elizabeth who was so delighted by the dancing jumps and leaps of one of her French suitors, that she called him “my frog.” Snarky courtiers began using the term derisively. |
| frogs (a clothing frog) | a military type shoulder epaulette. |
| fustian | To have pompous or highly affected speech. “Oh, what fustian!” Used to scoff at what another person is saying. |
| greatcoat | a long heavy manly looking gentleman’s overcoat, very popular during the Regency. Think Matrix. |
| gammon | Telling a fib in order to trick or tease someone. ”Pish posh. Stop gammoning me.” |
| high in the instep | This is a criticism of a snobbish aristocrat who thinks they are better than everyone else. “Oh dear, did you see her turn up her nose and give the cut direct to Sir Newfellow?” “Hhm, yes. She thinks he’s beneath her. I daresay, Lady Stuffgarter is rather too high in the instep.” |
| high alt | To be excessively happy or excited. (see ‘up in the boughs’) |
| jibe – gibe (jībe) | A tease, barb, or a jest. Gibe was more commonly used. Jibe is a variant, not to be confused with jib, which is a type of sail. |
| Jackanapes | A young man who behaves foolishly, stupidly, or impertinently. |
| jaw-me-dead | When someone delivers a long-winded lecture or scold. |
| laudanum | Liquid opium used for dulling pain, very addictive. |
| Leech | A doctor, a general practitioner, referred to as a leech because of the common practice of applying leeches. “She’s sick! Send for the Leech.” (see also Sawbones) |
| Lightskirt | A woman of low moral character. “Psst. That’s no lady, she’s a lightskirt.” |
| macadam | tar and stone pavement for roads |
| mad | Instead of angry, this word is used to mean crazy, insane, or having a wild idea. “You’re going to join the Circus? Have you run mad?” |
| mad as a hatter | Insane. Derived from observing hatters who used harsh chemicals in hat-making, which caused tremors and other nervous symptoms, giving them the behaviors and appearance of madness. |
| milk of human kindness | A phrase from Macbeth by Shakespeare, meaning to have proper human feelings or empathy for others. Often used in reverse. “The lady seems to be lacking the milk of human kindness.” |
| missish | To behave girlishly, or to be overly squeamish or prim. “Oh Betsy, it’s just a wee little spider. Stop being so missish” |
| missive | A letter. However, they didn’t yet use the word envelope in respect to a letter. |
| modiste | Think of her as a fashionable personal gown designer for the wealthy ladies of the Beau Monde. The word is derived from the French word, mode, which means fashion. |
| muddle | In the middle of a rather sticky wicket (a problem or predicament.) “I say, George, this is quite the muddle you’ve gotten yourself into.” |
| Mullioned glass | small panes of glass divided by strips of metal or wood. Old mullioned glass often has a slightly lumpy characteristic because glass is actually a super thick liquid, not a solid. Over time (centuries), the glass slowly drips and is no longer smooth. |
| nightrail | night gown, also called a bed dress, and it really was a dress, long sleeve high collar, ruffle along the bottom. |
| ninny or ninnyhammer | Stupid or slow. Often said with affection the way we say silly (see also slowtop.) |
| Oak Galls | A growth on oak trees generally caused by insects. Galls have been used to produce ink since the Romans.
Photo of a gall taken in Winchester UK by Bob Embleton, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2113912 |
| Old Bailey | The central criminal court of England and Wales. “Jack nicked a bloke’s purse, got pinched and strung up (hung) at the Old Bailey.” You can read actual court cases here: https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/ |
| on dit | A bit of gossip or a rumor. |
| overset | to be upset, distraught, or crying |
| patten | a heavy wooden clog worn for work in the garden or to walk through mud. |
| pelisse |  An outer garment worn for warmth but often decorative as well.
Sleeves may be short or long, garment is buttoned or tied in the front, generally, the skirt extends full length to three quarters length. |
| Portmanteau | a large two-sided trunk or suitcase |
| Prince Regent | A prince who rules in place of an incapacitated father. In this case Prince George rules because his father, King George, had a debilitating mentally illness. |
| promenade | This multifaceted French word means to take a walk. But during the Regency it often refered to the walk couples take around the room preceding a waltz. It also refers to a particular walk in Brighton that offered a view of the Pavilion and the Steyne. |
| puffed off | when a young lady is married off, (usually to a wealthy man) much to her mama’s delight. |
| quizzing glass | a single lens spectacle with a short ornate handle generally worn on a ribbon or chain around the neck |
| Rake | The typical Regency bad-boy. |
| ratafia | A macerated fruit punch liqueur, flavored with almond extract. Sometimes a touch of brandy is added. |
| Regency | The years 1811-1820, when Prince George ruled as Regent during his father, King George’s, mental illness. |
| River Tick | To be deeply in debt. In the old days, credit was drawn on a ticket—hence the shortened word ‘tick.’ If I don’t find a rich husband soon, my family will be up the River Tick. (Flat broke and headed for debtor’s prison.) See Up the River Tick |
| Roly-poly | A very old word with two original meanings: 1. Biscuit spread with jam. 2. Rowle Powle, a chubby buffoon. This slur derived from two sources: a 16th-century rolling-ball game, and William Rowles, an actor, who played a short fat buffoon (a silly clown) at Paul’s theater, often called Powles. |
| roundaboutation | To dance around an issue verbally rather than coming straight to the point. |
| Sawbones | surgeon or doctor, originally meant army surgeon so often called upon to saw off bones. As soldiers returned home, the usage enlarged to include all doctors. (See also Leech) |
| scratching on the door | This was the common practice instead of knocking. |
| Season | The Season was when parliament was in session because it meant all the Lords were in town, along with their eligible sons and daughters. The Season usually began directly after Easter and lasted until mid-summer, when the Parliament session usually let out. However, there were a few historical exceptions when the session lasted a bit longer. |
| shilly-shallying | To be indecisive; hesitating or taking too long to act. “For pity’s sake, Beatrice, do stop shilly-shallying and pick a ribbon.” |
| Slowtop | Derogatory term meaning someone is stupid or slow-witted. (see also ninny.) |
| Stick/stuck his spoon in the wall | He die, passed away. “Poor fellow, got a chill and stuck his spoon in the wall.” |
| switch (as in applied to one’s backside) |
A switch is a slender flexible branch used to deliver a spanking, often a willow branch, stick or rod, used for giving a whipping. The law declared it legal for a man to beat his wife so long as the ‘rod’ was not bigger than his thumb. Hence the phrase ‘rule of thumb‘. |
| termagant | An ill-tempered or overbearing woman, a shrew. |
| “the sticking point” | To bring a gentleman ‘up to scratch’, or ‘to the sticking point’ meant when a young man is brought to the point where he is either willing or forced to propose marriage, or enter reluctantly into some other agreement. |
| Thomas Coke | Thomas William Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester (6 May 1754 – 30 June 1842) known for many things, but his brilliant innovations in agriculture are mentioned in my books. |
| Ton | A shortened French euphemism for Le Bon Ton, ‘the upper ten thousand.’ The elite members of London’s high society. (See also Beau Monde) |
| topsy-turvy | When things are in utter confusion, or matters are turned upside down. Derived from the obsolete 1528 English word terve to turn upside down. |
| up in the boughs | “Emotions flying as high as the treetops” Excessively emotional due to being upset or overly elated. (see also high alt) |
| Up the River Tick | Bound for debtor’s prison. “So poor one does not even have a mattress with which to float up the river tick.” Origins: Debtor’s notes were called tickets – shortened to tick, meaning a river of debt and in prison they had to provide their own mattress. |
| Water Closet | Alexander Cumming’s sliding valve water closet was an early version of a flushing toilet, invented in 1733, with significant advances made in 1775. |
| Widgeon | A widgeon, or in modern vernacular a wigeon, is a white duck or goose. The term was sometimes an endearment, other times a slight insult, meaning someone behaved like a silly goose or duck. |
| Window Tax | During the Regency every window was taxed. (And you thought our taxes were excessive.) |
