Baggage - Women & children accompanying the army
Bitch Booby - A country wench
To be in his Black Books - To have been convicted of crime or misdemeanour and entered into the Regimental punishment books which had black covers
Black Guard - A low, or shabby person/beggar who hung around Horse Guards and offered to black the boots of troopers for a small fee
Brim or Brimstone - An abandoned woman
Butcher's Bill - Medical Officer's casualty returns
Chosen Man - Man ready for promotion to NCO rank of Corporal when a vacancy arises
Crapaud - Nickname for a French soldier
Croaker - A complainer or pessimist
Dutch Courage - The practice acquired in the Low Countries of drinking strong liquor before going into battle to bring out the soldiers irrational aggressive tendencies
Feather in his cap - Regiments that particularly distinguished themselves in battle were allowed to wear white feathers in their hats. Most notable for this during the Napoleonic period were the 5th (Northumberland) Foot
Firelock - Flintlock musket
Flash in the pan - If the touchhole of a musket became blocked then the powder in the priming pan would ignite without setting off the main charge, i.e. the weapon would misfire
Forlorn Hope - Advance storming party, most of whom were expected to die especially in the attack on a breach
Fugelman - Trained soldier who stood in front of the ranks during drill
Gentlemen’s Sons - Nickname given to the Footguard Regiments
Goddams - French nickname for British Soldiers in view of their Protestant beliefs
Going off half cocked - The safety position on a musket is known as ‘half cock’. If the hammer slips from this position the bullet may well be fired prematurely and before the weapon can be properly aimed
Grog - A mixture of rum and water
Gruel - Mixture of flour, water and ground beef
Haversack - Fabric bag used for carrying provisions; sometimes referred to as the bread bag
Jack (tar) - A sailor
Jonathan - Nickname for the Americans
Knapsack - Infantry backpack; sometimes referred to as a Trotter
Light Bobs - Light Infantry
Lobster - Redcoat infantryman
Mohair - Contemptuous slang expression for a civilian
Necessaries - Items of personal kit provided at the soldier's own expense
Nightingale - A soldier who cried out whilst being flogged
Old Trousers - Derisory British nickname for the French drum-call "Pas de Charge"
Patlander - Slang for an Irishman
Pong - Slang for bread
Punk - Soldiers female companion or commonly a prostitute
Ruffler - Beggar who pretended to be a wounded soldier or sailor
Scotch Greys - Lice
Skilly - Thin, watery soup
Skulker - Someone who feined illness to avoid duty
Stirabout - Stew or stock-pot
Sutler - Purveyor of food and drink to soldiers
Toad eater - Flatterer who sort to ingratiate himself with his superiors
Trull - A soldier's female companion
Whiskers - Facial hair
Worn out - A soldier no longer fit for active service
Article by:
Chsm Brian James
1 Coy No. 7, 2/44 (East Essex) Regiment of Foot
Napoleonic Words, Phrases & Expressions
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