Wise-crack dictionary

Wise-crack dictionary by George H. Maines and Bruce Grant is a slang dictionary compiled in the early 20th century. It gathers American vernacular and wisecracks from everyday life, drawing especially on the Jazz Age’s diverse subcultures. The likely topic is a lively survey of colloquial expressions—humorous, streetwise, and often profession- or scene-specific—intended to help readers understand current talk. The book presents an A–Z compendium of more than a thousand slang terms and punchy phrases, each followed by a brief, often jokey definition. It ranges across circus and stage patter, hobo and criminal argot, flapper and Broadway lingo, cowboy talk, and the chatter of gamblers, bootleggers, and city dwellers. Entries capture Prohibition-era habits (drinks, speakeasies), new technologies (radio, aviation, automobiles), social life (dating, dancing, fashion), money and the underworld (grifts, cops, jail), and everyday ribbing and repartee. A short foreword explains the sources (notably a newspaper prize contest) and the book’s aim to record living American speech; the tone throughout is brisk, humorous, and occasionally rough, reflecting its time.

Wise-crack dictionary, from the public domain. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #77369.