It was a runaway success when published in 1811 by soldier Francis Grose, but now the Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue can be viewed online. Here is our round up of the best words:
ABBESS: Mistress of a brothel.
BABES IN THE WOOD: Criminals in stocks or pillory.
BLIND CUPID: Backside.
BOB TAIL: Lewd woman. Also an impotent man or a eunuch.
My Jolly is full of King's Pictures, Queer plungers, twiddle-diddles, and vampers on twiddle-poops. Don't call me a Xantippe! Check out these old words here.
