Hash House Lingo

The Slang of Soda Jerks, Short-Order Cooks, Bartenders, Waitresses, Carhops and Other Denizens of Ye

Jack Smiley, Scott Russo, Paul Dickson

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9780486287843
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Communication Studies
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Originally published in 1941, this pocket-sized treasury preserves the language of diners and roadside restaurants during their golden age in the '30s and '40s. From `all hot` (baked potato) and `dog soup` (water) to `perk` (coffee) and `first lady` (spare ribs), the long-lost terms are fascinating, funny, and sometimes politically incorrect by today's standards. Historic photos from the Library of Congress add nostalgic appeal.

B and B—bread and butter

Baby—small glass or bottle of milk

Baby kisser—politician

Baby sauce—mustard

Backbiter—deceitful person

Back scratcher—one who praises you for your praise of him

Back teeth afloat—intoxicated

Bad breath—onions

Bad news—restaurant check

Baggage—wife

Baked Alaska—baked Swiss steak

Baked Bean—native of Boston

Bald headed row—restaurant booths

Baled hay—shredded wheat

Ball and chain—wife

Ball of fire—glass of brandy

Balloon juice—seltzer

Bang berries—baked beans

Bang up—profitable

Bank—cash register

Banner—restaurant check

Bark at the moon—to sing

Barked pie—fruit cobbler

Barks—frankfurters

Barley broth—beer

Bar mop—towel

Barn stormer—itinerant restaurant worker

Base runner—itinerant restaurant worker

Beadsteader—sleepy counterman

Beagle—native of Virginia

Bean buster—heavy eater

Bedbug—amorous person

Beef—to complain

Beef a la mode—beef stew

Beef stick—bone

Beer slinger—bartender

Bees—American cheese

Beetle—policeman

Beetle blood—ale

Beggars—5¢ and 10¢ checks

Belch water—carbonated water

Belly-aching—complaining

Belly-bumper—physician

Belly busters—baked beans

Belly cheat—apron

Belly chokers—doughnuts

Belly furniture—food

Belly robber—chef

Belly timber—food

Belly walloper—physician

Belly warmer—cup of coffee

Bellywash—beer

Bender—an employee having food concealed on his person when leaving his work

Bending an elbow—drinking beer at a bar

Bend the crab—overcharge a disagreeable person

Bennie—overcoat

Bernice—aspirin tablets

Berries—dollars; eggs

Bessie—roast beef

Better half—wife

Bib—napkin

Bible—cook-book

Biddies on a raft (board)—poached eggs on toast

Biddy—young woman

Biddy board—French toast

Big noise—restaurant owner

Bilge water—soup

Bim—young woman

Bimbo—young woman

Bindle stiff—hobo

Bing—small restaurant

Birdie—one dollar

Bird seed—Grape-Nuts cereal

Biscuit—the heart

Biscuit grabber—glutton

Biscuit shooter—baker

Bison—Italian

Biters—teeth

Black and white—chocolate soda with vanilla ice cream (fountain); cup of black coffee with cream on the side

Black ball—discharge from job; chocolate ice cream

Black bottom—chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup

Black box—safe (money)

Black cow—chocolate milk

Black gang—boiler room gang

Blackleg—strike-breaker

Blackout—black coffee

Black moo—chocolate milk

Black stick—chocolate ice cream cone

Black water—root beer

Bleat—complain

Bleed—to empty; to overcharge

Blimp—stout woman

Blind pig—place where liquor is sold illegally

Blind robins—fried herring

Blind tiger—waterfront restaurant

Blinkers—eyes

Blister—contemptible person

Blood—catsup

Bloodhounds—frankfurters

Blood sucker—loan broker

Bloomer—an un...