croatalin's definitions
British slang dating from the mid-nineteenth century, meaning soldiers. It stems from a snide expression used by music hall comedians to get a cheap laugh "where the army goes the pong goes", pong meaning smell. This quickly became pongoes meaning soldiers plural and pongo meaning an individual. Still in use today although not common.
When a regiment is given the freedom of a city, the pongoes are allowed to march through it bayonets fixed and colours flying.
by Croatalin January 27, 2014
Get the Pongoesmug. TABU is an British Army acronym and stands for Typical Army Balls Up and is used to describe the things that shouldn't go wrong but do. Is used in a similar context to the US Army SNAFU.
During the Korean War, American REMFs in charge of logistics and supply were told to supply American troops before their allies. What was meant of course was to ensure that American troops had ammunition and essentials before supplying these to their allies. This was misunderstood and as a result, American troops were being supplied with Coca Cola before British troops were getting ammunition.
When informed of the situation the Colonel of one British regiment supposedly grimaced and muttered TABU before ensuring that the situation was corrected. Though whether by TABU he meant the error in the supply priorities or the Americans being in charge of supply is open to conjecture.
When informed of the situation the Colonel of one British regiment supposedly grimaced and muttered TABU before ensuring that the situation was corrected. Though whether by TABU he meant the error in the supply priorities or the Americans being in charge of supply is open to conjecture.
by Croatalin November 18, 2013
Get the TABUmug. BVA is a medical acronym and stands for Breathing Valuable Air. Believed to have originated in Los Angeles, it is used to describe patients who are demanding, objectionable, unpleasant, aggressive, or anything else that makes them a pain in the ass.
by Croatalin December 9, 2013
Get the BVAmug.