1943 Army Slang Dictionary (Part 3)

Tue May 11 03:27:46 UTC 1999

     This is from ARMY TIMES, 30 October 1943, pg. 10:

     R
RACHEL--High gear (See Grandma).
RAIN ROOM--Bath house.
RAT RACE--Mounted review in Armored Force.
RATS--Balls of lint that suddenly appear on the floor during an inspection of
quarters.
RANKED OUT--To be compelled to defer to a senior, as to be ranked out of
quarters.
RAUNCHY--A name applied to anything that is in bad shape or dirty.  (Air
Corps).
RED LEAD--Catsup.
RED LEG--Artilleryman.
REFUGEES--Recruits or newly arrived selectees.
REGIMENTAL MONKEY--The drum major.
REGULAR--A regular army soldier.
REMOUNT--Recruit or green horse.
RE-UP or TAKE-ON--To re-enlist.
RIP-HO--Drill instructor's contraction of the command "To the Rear, March!"
RISE AND SHINE--Call used to awaken soldiers.
ROGER--Expression used instead of "Okay" or "Right."
ROLL UP YOUR FLAPS--Stop talking (Flying Cadets).
ROLLINGS--Cigarette tobacco.
RUN THE GUARD--Leave or enter camp furtively.
RUNT--Short cadet; opposite of "flanker."  (West Point).
     S
ST. VITUS DAVENPORT--A tank.
SAD SACK--A poor excuse for a soldier.
SAD LACK OF SITUATION--A sorry state of affairs.
SALVAVATE--To knock out.
SALVA--Butter.
SAND AND DIRT--Salt and pepper.
SAND-RAT--A soldier on duty in rifle pit at direct practice.
SARGE--Sergeant.
SAW-BONE--The doctor.
SCANDAL-SHEET--The monthly pay roll.
SCATTER GUN--Machine gun.
SCIVVIES--Underwear.
SCRIPT--Special orders.
SEA DADDY--Older man who takes a recruit in hand and teaches him.
SEA DUST--Salt.
SEAGULL--Chicken.  Sunday fare and a swell meal.
SEA HAG--Ugly woman.
SEA LAWYER--No matter where you've been or what you've done, the sea lawyer
has been there first and did it better.
SECOND GRADER--First or technical sergeant.
SECTION EIGHT--Insane or mentally deficient soldier.
SEE THE CHAPLAIN--Stop grousing.
SERUM--Intoxicating beverages.
SEVENTY-TWO--Three-day leave.
SEWER TROUT--White fish.
SHACK MAN--Married man.
SHACK RAT--Garrison soldier who has made a friend in the city and usually
goes to town every night.
SHAVETAIL--A second lieutenant.
SHOOT--Go ahead and talk.
SHOOTING THE BREEZE--Talking things over.
SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE EAR PHONES--A mental lapse.
SHORTSTOP--Man who stops a platter of food from being passed to someone
farther down the table.
SHORT TIMER--A soldier with a short time to serve before current enlistment
is completed.
SHOTS--Innoculation.
SHOT GUN--Machine gun.
SHOVE OFF--Scram, beat it.
SHOW TENT--Motion picture theater.
SHUTTERS--Sleeping pills.
S.I.--Saturday Inspection (West Point).
SICK BAY--Hospital dispensary.
SICK CALL--Hospital call.
SIDE ARMS--Cream and sugar.
SIDE MEAT--Well pleased.
SIDE SWIPER--Speed key on a transmitter.
SINKERS--Doughnuts.
SKAG--Cigarette (West Point).
SKIN--Same as "quill" (West Point).
SKIPPER--Company commander.
SKIRT PATROL--Search for feminine companionship.
SKY SCOUT--The chaplain.
SKYLARKING--Fooling around when there's work to be done.
SKY WINDER--Air corps man.
SKY WIRE--An antenna (Signal Corps).
SLAPPING IT ON--Fining a soldier for a petty offense.
SLIPPING THE CLUTCH--Talking or criticizing.
SLOPCHUTE--Beer joint or other place that serves drinks.
SLUFF OFF--Same as fluff off.
SLUG--Special punishment for a serious offense; a disagreeable duty.
SLUM--Food.
SLUM BURNER--A cook.
SLUM GULLION--Hash.
SMOKE-BLOWER--Modified form of ear banger.
SNAFU--Situation normal.  All fouled up.
SNAKE PIT--Post exchange 3.2 beer tavern.
SNAP-IN--Practice for almost anything.
SNAP-TO--Come to attention.
SOAPSUDS ROW--NCO's living quarters and area--because their wives do own
laundry.
SOFT MONEY--Paper currency.
SOIREE--Unwelcome task; also used as verb.
SOUND OFF--Command to speak up.
SOUP--Dynamite.
SOUP--Rain; Fog (Air Corps).
SPARKS--Ship radio operator (Signal Corps).
SPEC--To memorize (West Point).
SPECIAL DUTY--Soldiers used for special jobs; clerks, typists, etc.
SPIN IN--Go to bed or take a nap. (Air Corps).
SPIN, IN A--Mentally unsettled (Air Corps).
SPIN ON--To fall down or to get excited (Air Corps).
SPOOKS--Women.
SPOON UP--To clean up (West Point).
SPOONY--Neat in appearance (West Point).
SQUARE FROM DELAWARE--Sad apple or a drip.
SQUARED AWAY--Another form for ship-shape.
STANDING LIGHTS--Lights left burning all night.
STARTS TO SPOIL--Intoxicated.
STATIC AGITATORS--Radio students.
STEAM SHOVEL--Potato peeler.
STEP OUT--To hurry (West Point).
STREET MONKEYS--Members of band.
STRIKER--A soldier who works for an officer during his spare time, receiving
pay.
STRICTLY CUT PLUG--Well pleased.
STRIPE-HAPPY--State of delirium induced by vision of more chevrons.
SUGAR REPORT--A letter from girl.
SUMMARY--Summary court martial given for serious offenses.
SUPERMAN DRAWERS--Woolen underwear.
SWAB--To mop.
SWACKED--Intoxicated.
SWAMPED--Intoxicated.
SWANKS--A soldier's best clothes.
SWEATING--Anticipating.
SWEETHEART--Rifle.
SWILL--Beer.
     T
TAILOR-MADE--Term applied to anything not issued by the government.
TAKE-OFF--To leave at a high rate of speed.
TARBUCKET--Full dress hat (West Point).
TARGET PASTE--Creamed chipped beet or gravy.  Often served for breakfast.
TAXI UP--Come here (Air Corps).
TEAR 'EM OUT--Clash gears.
THIRD GRADER--Staff Sergeant.
THIRD STRIPER--Sergeant.
THROW THE BOOK--Give maximum punishment.
TIE UP--To blunder (West Point).
TIGER--Keep your mouth shut.
TIGER MEAT--Beef.
TIN HAT--Steel Helmet.
TOMMY GUN--A Thompson sub-machine gun.
TOOTHPICK VILLAGE--New type of wooden barracks for selectees at Army posts.
TOP--First sergeant.  The man with all the answers.
TOUGH ROW OF BUTTONS TO SHINE--Hard job.
TOPSIDE--Upstairs.
TURKSHEAD McGUIRK--Man skilled in tying knots.
TURNBACK--Cadet dismissed and readmitted to lower class (West Point).
TURN 'EM OVER--Start engines.
TURNED IN--Reported for misconduct.
TWIST-A-DIZZY--Roll a cigaret.
TWO-STRIPER--Corporal.
TYPEWRITER--.30 caliber machine gun.
     U
UNCLE SAM'S PARTY--Payday.
UP AND DOWN--To run.
     W
WORMS--Spaghetti.
WAGON SOLDIERS--Field artillerymen.
WALKIE-TALKIE--Portable radio receiving and sending apparatus.
WAR SHOES--Heavy shoes.
WARD MAN--Hospital attendant.
WASH OUT--To be eliminated from flight training.
WASHING MACHINE--The flight commander's airplane.
WEATHER-KROCK--Meteorologist.
WEED--Cigaret.
WHITE DISCHARGE--Any form of discharge, other than dishonorable.
WHOOFIN'--To tell an improbable yarn.
WIFE--Roommate (West Point).
WINDJAMMER--Bugler.
WING-HEAVY--Inebriated.
WOODEN--Dense, dull, slow (West Point).
WOOF WOOF--Battalion sergeant major (West Point).
WOOLIES--Winter clothing.
WRIT--An examination (West Point).
     Y
YEHUDI--The little man who cracks you on the back of the head with a mallet.
YARD BIRD--A raw recruit.
YEARLING--Selectee.
YELLOW LEGS--Cavalryman.
YOU'RE GIGGED--Means that one has been reported for violating a rule or
regulation.
     Z
ZOOM BAT--Funny looking.
ZOMBIE--Soldier who falls in next to lowest category in Army classification
tests.