"The Teen-agers" (YANK, 24 March 1945)

[Barry A. Popik]

      While looking for military slang, I found "The Teen-agers" in the
China-Burma-India edition of YANK, 24 March 1945, pg. 18, cols. 2-3:

Some of today's teen-agers--pleasantly not many--talk the strange new
language of "sling swing."  In the bright lexicon of the good citizens of
tomorrow, a girl with sex appeal is an "able Grable" (not in RHHDAS, nor in
Dalzell's FLAPPERS 2 RAPPERS--ed.) or a "ready Hedy" (not in RHHDAS nor F2R).
 A pretty girl is "whistle bait" (not in F2R).  A boy whose mug and muscles
appeal to the girls is a "mellow man" (RHHDAS has this exact YANK cite as
March 2), a "hunk of heartbreak" or a "glad lad" (in F2R).  A prude is a
"hair shirt" (not in RHHDAS nor F2R).  A grind is a "book beater" (this
pre-"nerd" term is not in RHHDAS nor F2R, but the latter has "bookbuster").
A teacher's pet is a "gone Quisling."  A fancy dancer is a "jive bomber" (in
F2R) or a "cloud walker" (not in RHHDAS nor F2R).  A boy given to hugging the
girls--sentimental little rascals, some of these lads--is a "wolf on a
scouter" or an "educated fox."  A boy who is crazy is "slack-happy" and
"khaki-wacky" (RHHDAS 1944).  To be jilted is to be "shot down in flames."