This work is one that I have found to be entertaining from several reads. This is definately not a sit down and plow through it book, but rather one can pick up and put down as needed. As a whole, I found in interesting from a perspective of much of what we consider normal everyday language these days was only a couple of hundred years ago considered the ebonics of the time. It does very much carry the tone and verbage of the day, fans of Victorian, Edwardian, or Elizabethan period speech should adore this, as well those whom are interested in such through some of the more fanciful spin offs such as Steampunk fans.
I would say that this if you are looking for new (old) ways to spew forth vulgar phrases you will be disappointed, but if you are looking for phrases and even the occasional insult of Shakespearan wit, you can find more than a few gems within this book.
Here are te first few in A to give you a fun taste:
ABBESS, or LADY ABBESS, A bawd, the mistress of a brothel.
ABEL-WACKETS. Blows given on the palm of the hand with a twisted handkerchief, instead of a ferula; a jocular punishment among seamen, who sometimes play at cards for wackets, the loser suffering as many strokes as he has lost games.
ABIGAIL. A ladys waiting-maid.
ABRAM. Naked. CANT.
ABRAM COVE. A cant word among thieves, signifying a naked or poor man; also a lusty, strong rogue.
ABRAM MEN. Pretended mad men.
TO SHAM ABRAM. To pretend sickness.
ACADEMY, or PUSHING SCHOOL. A brothel. The Floating Academy; the lighters on board of which those persons are confined, who by a late regulation are condemned to hard labour, instead of transportation.?Campbells Academy; the same, from a gentleman of that name, who had the contract for victualling the hulks or lighters.
ACE OF SPADES. A widow.
ACCOUNTS. To cast up ones accounts; to vomit.
ACORN. You will ride a horse foaled by an acorn, i.e. the gallows, called also the Wooden and Three-legged Mare. You will be hanged.?See THREE-LEGGED MARE.