Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue from 1811 becomes online hit

[Jazzy]

It was a runaway success when published in 1811 by soldier Francis Grose, but now the Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue is getting tongues wagging again after being published online.



It was first available when Britain was under threat from Napoleon but it has now been re-published for free at the Project Gutenberg online digital library.



The book includes gems suchs as 'ace of spades' for a widow, 'all-a-mort' to be struck dumb, and 'angling for farthings', which means to beg out of a prison window with a cap or box.



The dictionary has already become an online hit. A selection of words can be found here.



Explaining the book in the preface at the time, the author writes The merit of Captain Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue has been long and universally acknowledged.



But its circulation was confined almost exclusively to the lower orders of society: he was not aware, at the time of its compilation, that our young men of fashion would at no very distant period be as distinguished for the vulgarity of their jargon as the inhabitants of Newgate.



Full article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/9103258/Dictionary-of-the-Vulgar-Tongue-from-1811-becomes-online-hit.html



Some of the words I don't find vulgar at all. In fact some of them are quite funny.



Question: Anyone interested in getting this free book?

 

[DrLeftover]

I think I've got a printed version of it, or something very similar.



But I downloaded it anyway, just to have for reference.



Thank you dear lady.

 

[Jazzy]

I think I've got a printed version of it, or something very similar.



But I downloaded it anyway, just to have for reference.



Thank you dear lady.

You're very welcome and glad you can use this for reference.