Barking Irons

Pistols (plural) gats

Bring yer barking irons. dere's going 't be a fight.

by Bob Prochko September 21, 2005

Ballum-rancum

A ball where all of the dancers are theives and prostitutes.

'E 'ad a 'ell uv a ballum-rancum 't thursday.

by Bob Prochko September 21, 2005

baptize

To water or dilute, as in liquor.

Be sure to baptize that gin before you put the bottle on the shelf!

by Bob Prochko September 21, 2005

Addle-cove

A foolish man. (see Cove, Addle-pate)

It's only an Addle-cove what don't vote Tammany.

by Bob Prochko September 21, 2005

anointed

Flogged. This term commonly used in the criminal underworld in the days when flogging was still a legal punishment in this country, it is still occasionaly used in gay and straight SM circles.

I was anointed in the Tombs after I got fresh wid de turnscrew.

by Bob Prochko September 21, 2005

Ace of Spades

A widow. esp. an attractive young widow. Refers to the practice of ladies in mourning wearing black.

Common slang of the lower class New Yorkers in the 1860's.

Catch a gander at the Ace of spades across d' Cain and Abel, bucko.

by Bob Prochko September 21, 2005

Beans

Five dollar gold pieces. (Five dollar pieces were about the size of small butterbeans or Lima beans.)

'E's got a pocket full o' beans.

by Bob Prochko September 21, 2005