Underworld Lingo (LA TImes, 1931)

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   The ProQuest LOS ANGELES TIMES is now up to December 31, 1933.  Still no "tinsel town" or "Cobb salad."  We're getting close to "Oscar" and "Shirley Temple cocktail."
   I don't know if this article was picked up by the HDAS.  I'll type just the definitions, but a sentence follows that uses each term in context.


   Underworld "Lingo" Brought Up-to-Date
BEN KENDALL. Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los Angeles, Calif.: Nov 8, 1931. p. K3 (2 pages)

_Gangsters have an Esperanto_
   _all their own_

(...)
   A
ALKY:  Straight alcohol.
ALLEY CAT:  A private watchman.
AIREDALE:  A special guard.
ANGLE:  A plan; a lead.
APPLE-KNOCKER:  A yokel; a blunderer.
   B
BANG:  A tip off; information.
BAT:  A woman of the streets.
BENDER:  A thief; cheater; petty.
BLISTER:  Same as bat.
BEEF:  Complaint.
BLOW DOWN:  TO modify; to soften; to quash.
BOILER:  Moonshine still.
BIT:  A share.
BREEZE:  To depart.
BROTHER-IN-LAW:  A man who has two women of the street working for him.
BUG:  A burglar alarm.
BUILD:  TO work up a confidence, or a pretended friendship.
BUZZER:  A badge.
BOOSTER:  A shoplifter.
   C
CANNON:  A pickpocket.
CASES:  The last few dollars.
CONNECTION:  An understanding; an agreement.
CHIV:  A knife.
CHISELER:  A petty grafter; a borrower; a price cutter.
COOKER:  Moonshiner.
CUT:  Same as bit.
CREEPER (creep joint:)  A bawdy house.
   D
DOG-HOUSE:  In disfavor.
DROPPER:  Professional killer; machine gunner: a sure-shot gunman.
   F
FAN:  To search.
FIN:  A five dollar bill.
FINGER:  To accuse.
FOG:  TO shoot.
FRONT:  TO lead the way; to assume blame.
FRITZED:  Out of business; ruined.
   G
GEETUS:  Money, bankroll.
GO:  To come to terms; to agree.
GLOM:  Steal; to take.
GIG:  A dance hall sheik.
GOLDFISH:  Third degree; a police beating.
GUN MOB:  A pickpocket trio.
GREASE:  Trouble, blame.
GRAND:  One thousand dollars.
GOW:  TO catch; to jail.
   H
HAY-WIRE:  Mental aberration.
HEAT:  Same as grease.
HEATER:  A gun.
HEIST:  To hijack; to rob a liquor shipment.
HOOD:  Hoodlum; a petty gangster.
HOT:  Wanted by the police; stolen goods; watched.
   I
IN:  On the inside of a deal; influence.
IT:  Death.
   J
JAM:  Same as grease; trouble.
JACK-ROLL:  To rob a drunk, or sleeping man.
JALOPPY:  Automobile.
JIGGABOO:  Negro.
   K
KEESTER:  A traveling bag.
KICK:  Pockets.
KICK-BACK:  A return of money; a boomerang.
KLINK:  To hit with a black jack, or butt of a gun.
KLUCK:  A boob; a no-good.
KNOCK-OVER:  A raid.
   L
LAM:  To flee.
LEAN:  To strike with the fist.
LEFT-TURN:  A blunderer.
LOOGAN:  A minor hoodlum; a satelite; a helper.
LUG:  A stupid fellow; a hanger-on.
   M
MAKE:  To obtain; covetous; to seek unethically.
McCOY:  Real Bourbon whisky.
MEAT-WAGON:  Ambulance.
McGIMPER:  A man who lives on the earnings of a woman of the streets.
MICKEY FINN:  Knock-out powders.
MIDDLE:  A compromising position; holding the bag.
MUSCLE IN:  To force one's way in for a cut on the profits of a venture.
(Continued on Page Sixteen)
   N
NAILED:  Caught, trapped; arrested.
NANCY:  An effeminate fellow.
NEEDLED:  Near beer, or a beverage into which alcohol or ether has been injected.
NUT:  A debt; the cost; credit.
   O
OFFICE:  Signal.
ON THE SPOT:  Marked for death, or vengeance.
OUT:  An excuse; an alibi.
   P
PAT POKE:  A wallet carried in the hip pocket.
PAY-OFF:  Protection money; monetary tribute.
PLANT:  To produce fraudulent evidence.
POWDER:  To depart; to flee.
PROWLER:  A burglar; one who searches stealthily.
   Q
QUILL:  Genuine whisky.
QUIM:  Anybody's sweetheart.
   R
RACKET:  Any questionable business, or undertaking.
RAP:  An accusation.
RIB:  To influence; to goad.
RIDE:  The fatal journey.
ROCKS:  Diamonds.
ROSCO:  A pistol.
RUN-AROUND:  Deceit; double-cross.
   S
SAP:  A black-jack.
SCREWY:  Crazy.
SCRAM:  Leave; get away; move.
SETTLED:  Imprisoned in the penitentiary.
SHAKE:  Extortion; forced tribute.
SHAG:  Hurry; hustle.
SPILL:  Railroad station.
SPRING:  To release from jail.
STASH:  A hiding place for loot.
STIR:  Pentitentiary.
STALL:  Pickpocket who distracts victim's attention while confederate works.
   T
TAKE:  Share.
TOMMY:  A hand machine gun.
TORPEDO:  A machine gunner; a gnagster bodyguard.
TOPPED:  Hanged.
TUMBLE:  To get wise; understand.
TWIST:  A girl.
   U
UP AND UP:  Square; legitimate.
   W
WHITE:  Gin; alcohol.
WIRE:  The skilled pickpocket who actually extracts the money.
WING-DING:  A fit; berserk.
WRONG:  One who will not confederate.
WORKS:  A beating; third degree; rough treatment.
   Y
YEN:  Desire.
YENTZ:  Outsmart; defeat.