1943 Army Slang Dictionary (Part 2)

Tue May 11 02:21:23 UTC 1999

     This is from ARMY TIMES, 23 October 1943, pg. 10:

     H
HALT AND FREEZE--Assume position of attention.
HAM--Amateur radio operator.
HAMMOCK--Any bunk aboard ship.
HARD MONEY--Silver coins.
HARD ROLLER--Packaged cigarettes.
HARDTACKS--Hardbread, biscuits.
HASHBURNER--Cook.
HASH MARK--A service stripe.
HAY BURNER--A horse or mule.
HEDGEHOPPING--Flying barely high enough to clear surface obstructions.
HELL BUGGY--Tank.
HELL CADETS--Field musicians; drummers and buglers.
HEN FRUIT--Eggs.
HERD--To drive or direct.
HERDBOUND--Soldier or animal unfit for further military duty.
HIGHER THAN A GEORGIA PINE--Unduly excited.
HIKING A POLE--To climb a telephone pole (SIgnal Corps).
HI, SUGAR, ARE YOU RATIONED?--Are you going steady?
HIT-THE-DECK!--Get ready for action.  Tough proposition.
HIT THE HAY--To go to bed.
HIT THE SILK--To bail out.  Use a parachute.
HITCH--An enlistment period.
HIVE--To discover, to catch.
HIVEY--Quick to learn (West Point).
HOB--Provost marshall.
HOBBY LOBBY--Cleaning with mops the hotel lobby floors.  Minor punishment.
HOLD IT DOWN--Suppress the noise, as in classroom, etc.
HOLY FLAW--An expression of extreme surprise, disgust, or joy (Air Corps).
HOLY JOE--Chaplain.
HOMING DEVICE--A pass or furlough.
HONEY-CART--Garbage wagon or barge.
HOOKS--Chevrons.
HOP--A dance.
HOT PILOT--One who is exceptionally good.
HOT SHOT--Anybody who is good at his job.
HOUSEWIFE--Sewing kit.  Invaluable little set of needles, thread, scissors
and other accessories necessary for minor repairs.
HOW!--Form of salutation.
HYPO HAPPY--Interested in photography.
     I
IC--Inspected and condemned.
INTERVAL--Space between elements in the direction parallel to the front.
I'M GOING' FISHIN'--I'm looking for a date.
     J
JAMOKE OR JOE--Coffee or "mud."
JOE-POT--Coffee pot.
JUNGLE SQUADRON--An AAF organization preparing to go overseas.
JAWBONE--Credit.  To buy without money.  To shoot a weapon over a
qualification course when it doesn't count for record.
JIMMYLEGS--Master of arms aboard ship.  He has to keep ship orderly.
     K
KHAKI WHACKI--Girl who likes soldiers.
KICK--A dishonorable discharge.
KP--Kitchen police.
KP PUSHER--Man who keeps KPs hard at work.
KNOCK-IT-OFF!--"Quit whatever you're doing.  Right now."
KNOT-HEAD--A not very clever character, slow on the up-take.
KNUCKLEHEAD--The same, only worse.
     L
LANCE JACK--A temporary or acting corporal with the same duties and authority
of a regularly appointed corporal, but without the pay of the grade.
LATRINOGRAM--Wild rumor.
LET HER EAT--Drive at full speed.
LIBERTY--Service word for "leave from duty."
LIBERTY HOUND--This guy has gone when liberty call sounds and isn't heard
from again until liberty is up.
LIB--Apprentice operator.  An incompetent operator.  (Signal Corps).
LIFT HIM--To discharge an operator (Signal Corps).
LIMP LINE--Men reporting at Sick Call.
LITTLE POISON--37 mm. gun.
LOWER THE BOOM--To deliver a knock-out punch.
     M
MAC--Any Marine.
MAGGIE'S DRAWERS--Red flag used on rifle range to indicate a miss on the
target.  Object of much derision.
MAKE--To appoint a cadet officer; one recently appointed (West Point).
MAKINGS--Cigarette tobacco and paper.
MASKEE--"All right.  O. K."
MAYTAG--Piper Grasshopper or any small liaison plane.  Also called "Singer
Stuka."
MARFAK--Butter.
MASH IN--To push in the clutch pedal.
MAX--A complete success (West Point).
MEAT WAGON--Ambulance.
MEAT GRINDER--A multi-motored obsolete plane.
MECHANICAL RATS--Two-way loudspeaker system connecting barrack sleeping
quarters with non-coms' room.
MEDICS--The Medical Corps.
MESS GEAR--A soldier's individual mess kit, knife, fork, spoon and cup.
MICE--Small balls of lint on floor.  See "rats."
MILITARY--Word to describe anything tough or uncomfortable.  "Military wind,
military bunk."
MILL-Guardhouse.
MILL--A typewriter (SIgnal Corps).
MISSED TOO MANY BOATS--Stayed too long in a foreign post.
MITT FLOPPER--A soldier who does favors for his superiors, or salutes
unnecessarily; a "yes" man.
MOLE HOLE--Photographic dark room.
MOTOR POOL--Garage.
MOTORIZED FOOT LOCKER--Bantam car.
MOTORIZED FRECKLES--Insects.
MONKEY CLOTHES--Full dress uniform.
MOTHER McCREA--A sob story.
MULE SKINNER--A teamster.
MUD--Coffee.
MUSTARD--A smart pilot.
      N
NCO OR NON-COM--A non-commissioned officer.
NON-REG RIG--Clothing or equipment altered to conform with the wearer's
fancy.  Not regulation.
NERVOUS IN THE SERVICE--Jittery about the outcome of something.
NORTH DAKOTA RICE--Hot cereal.
NUMBER 1 MAN--A machine gun operator.
     O
O.A.O.--One and only (West Point).
O.C.--Officer in charge.
OD--Olive drab; officer of the day.
OFF THE BEAM--Incorrect (Air Corps).
OFFICER'S LINE--A row of houses occupied by officers and their families.
OLD FILE--An old soldier.
OLD FOGY PAY--Extra pay for assitional service after four years.
OLD MAN--The commanding officer, no matter how young.
ON THE CARPET--Called before the commanding officer for disciplinary actions.
ONE BREW--Light drinking.
ONE STRIPER--Private first class.
ON THE DOUBLE--In a hurry.
O.P.--In the field, observation post.
ORDERLY ROOM--Company headquarters.
OVER THE HILL--To desert.
OVER THE HUMP--To retire after service of 30 years.
OVERHEAD--Ceiling.
     P
PACE--A step 30 inches long.
PADRE--The chaplain.
PARING KNIFE--Bayonet.
PARTED HIS TEETH--Scored a bull's eye.
PEARL DIVER--Kitchen police.
PEASHOOTER--A pursuit plane.
PEEP (SON OF A JEEP)--Bantam car; used in organizations in which "jeep" is
applied to larger vehicles.
PEEP SIGHT--An expert gunner.
PENCIL PUSHER--Clerk.
PERSUADER--Inertia starter switch on planes.
PFC--Private first class.
PICK UP YOUR BRASS--Get out of the way.
PIECE--The Army Rifle.
PIG--Torpedo planes.
PILL ROLLER--Medical department enlisted man or hospital attendant.
PINEAPPLE--Hand grenade.
PLEBE--Cadet of Fourth Class, or first year at Military Academy (West Point).
P.M.E.--Practical Military Engineering; a box lunch.
PODUNK--A cadet's home town or its newspaper (West Point).
POGIE BAIT--Candy or sweets.
POLICE--To throw away; to clean up.
POLISHING THE APPLE--Flattering your superiors--handshaking.
POLLYWOG--Man who has never been across the equator.
PONCHO--Rubberized blanket-like affair with hole in center head.  Serves as a
raincoat.
POOP SHEET--Drill schedule or any written announcement.
POPEYE--Spinach.
POPSICKLE--Motorcycle.
PRAIRIE DOG SNARL--Mine cables twisted together.
PRO--Proficient (West Point).
PROP WASH--An expression of disbelief (Air Corps).
P.S.--Parlor snake; to escort visitors around post.
PUDDLE JUMPER--New Type amphibious bantam automobile.
PUNGYO--Chinese for "comrade" or "buddy."
PUNK--Bread.
PUP TENT--Shelter tent.
PUSH BUTTON PILOTS--Pilots using PT-13's or PT-11's for training; easier to
operate.
PX--Post Exchange.
PX COUPONS--Post Exchange checks.
P-38--A good number, a slick chick, a solid sender, etc.
     Q
QUARTERMASTER GAIT--A step longer than the regulation thirty-inch pace.
QUILL--To report for a delinquency (West Point).