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This category page forms the central hub of our glossary of words and phrases of the Armed Forces of Great Britain during the Great War. These words and phrases include slang of the trenches and the Air Force; British and American service terms and expressions in everyday use; nicknames, sobriquets, and the titles of British and Commonwealth Regiments and their origins; and warfare in general. These words and phrases are contemporary with the war, which is reflected in the language used, some of which may seem derogatory by today's standards.
The following sources have been used in compiling this glossary of words and phrases:
Although the majority of terms listed here are gleaned from these publications (no longer in copyright), there are various entries listed from other sources. These have been referenced accordingly. In addition to this glossary, there is an index of people, places, ships etc., with events compiled in chronological date format. These are sourced primarily from the comprehensive three-volume publication of Chronology of the War (1918–1920) by Lord Edward Gleichen. This is independent of these glossary words and phrases, and can be seen on the main Great War Index category page.
Pages in category "Glossary of words and phrases"
The following 200 pages are in this category, out of 1,300 total.
(previous page) (next page)A
- Glossary of words and phrases/A
- A baralong fate
- A do
- A fancy religion
- A friendly
- Abdominal crash
- Abdul
- About turn
- Ack
- Ack Emma
- Acting rabbit pie
- AD Corps
- Adam and Eve (rhyming slang)
- Adam and Eve on a raft
- Adam and Eve wrecked
- ADC
- Addressed to
- Adjutant (rank)
- Admiral (rank)
- Admiralty ham
- Admiralty to all ships
- Adrift
- AEC
- AEF
- Aeroplane
- Afters
- Aggie
- Ah wee
- Aide-de-camp
- Air pills
- Air raid
- Air torpedo
- Airship
- Ak Dum
- Alice
- Alien
- All arms and legs
- All callio
- All cando
- All cut
- All highest
- All kiff
- All of a doodah
- All out
- All over oneself
- All spruced up
- Alley
- Alley at the toot
- Alleyed
- Alleyman
- Allies
- Allumettes
- Ammo
- Ammos
- An 'alf a mo
- An agony
- An air flapper
- An angel
- An egg
- Andrew, The
- Angel face
- Angel's whisper
- Angels of Mons
- Angry cat
- Annie's room
- Ante-up
- Anticks
- Antonio
- Antwerp expresses
- Anty
- Any more for any more?
- Anzac
- AO
- AOC
- AP
- APC
- APM
- Apples and pears (rhyming slang)
- Apree la Gare
- Archie
- Archie (Archibald)
- Archie barrage
- Area shoot
- Armadillo scout
- Arminteers
- Armistice
- Armstrong hut
- Army
- Army Council
- Army Service Corps
- Arrival
- Artillery
- As many faces as a churchyard clock
- As you were
- ASC
- Ash can
- Asiatic and Egyptian theatres
- Asiatic Annie
- Askaris
- Asquiths
- At the word, fix
- Atkins
- Attaboy
- Attack in detail
- AVC
- Avec
B
- Glossary of words and phrases/B
- BAA Lamb
- BAB
- Babbler
- Baby
- Baby crying
- Baby Killers
- Baby monitors
- Baby's head
- Back-chat
- Backwash
- Badgy
- Bag of
- Bag of rations
- Baggies
- Bagonet
- Bake
- Balb
- Ball and bat (rhyming slang)
- Ball of lead (rhyming slang)
- Balloo
- Balloon
- Band party
- Bandagehem
- Bandook
- Bandstand
- Bangalore torpedo
- Banjo
- Barber's Cat
- Barishnya
- Barker
- Baron
- Barrage
- Base of Operations
- Base Wallah
- Bashi-Bazook
- Bat
- Bat Boat
- Batchy
- Bath Mats
- Batman
- Bats in the Belfry
- Battalion
- Battery (artillery)
- Battle surplus
- Battle-Bag
- Battle-Bowler
- Battling L's
- Bayonet
- Bayonet trench
- Bazaar Motor Vans
- BB's
- BE
- Beachy Bill
- Beaucoup
- Beer
- Beetle-Off
- Being fatted for the slaughter
- Belgeek
- Bellied
- Belligerents
- Belly Band
- Belly flopping
- Bender
- Bert
- Bevvy
- BF
- Biff
- Big Bertha
- Big boys
- Big noise
- Big stuff
- Big Willie
- Bilge
- Bill Harris
- Bill Jim
- Billet
- Billy Wells
- Binge
- Bint
- BIO
- Bird
- Birdcage
- Birdseed
- Biscuits
- Bivouac
- Bivvy
- Bivvy sheet
- BL
- Black Cow