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Cover of 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

Written by Francis Grose

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English language

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About this book

"1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue" by Francis Grose is a lexicon of slang and colloquial expressions compiled in the early 19th century. The book provides an extensive collection of terms used by various social classes, particularly focusing on the jargon of the lower orders of society, including thieves, pickpockets, and bawds, as well as terms from university slang. The work aims to document and make comprehensible the colorful and often bawdy language that characterized the period. At the start of this dictionary, we are introduced to the premise that Captain Grose’s original work has been revised and expanded with modern additions to better reflect the changing vernacular. The preface discusses the need for understanding the unique slang used by different social groups, emphasizing that the wealthy and fashionable were developing their own vulgarisms. Grose argues for the moral significance of understanding these terms, suggesting that the dictionary will help mitigate the influence of vulgar language in wider society, particularly among women. The opening also includes examples of terms from the dictionary, illustrating a diverse array of entries ranging from playful to risqué, showcasing the vibrant linguistic fabric of the time.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • intermediate
  • informative
  • historical
  • humorous

“1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue” by Francis Grose is a pivotal lexicographical work documenting early 19th-century English slang and colloquialisms. Revised and expanded from Grose's original, it meticulously compiles terms from diverse social strata, particularly the lower classes and specialized groups like thieves and university students. The preface underscores the moral imperative of understanding these “vulgarisms” to mitigate their influence and highlights the evolving linguistic landscape across all societal tiers. Serving as both a linguistic archive and a social commentary, the dictionary offers a vivid, often bawdy, snapshot of the period's vibrant vernacular, showcasing the era's unique linguistic fabric.

“The necessity of a work like the present, to every one desirous of understanding the peculiar language of different classes of society, has long been generally admitted.”

Key themes

Language and Social Stratification
The dictionary explicitly highlights how different social classes—from the 'lower orders' including criminals to the 'wealthy and fashionable'—develop and use distinct forms of slang and colloquialisms. This demonstrates language as a marker and reinforce of social hierarchy, creating linguistic boundaries between groups.
Linguistic Preservation and Change
The very act of compiling this dictionary is an attempt to preserve and document a rapidly changing linguistic landscape. Grose and his revisers recognized the fluidity of language, with new terms emerging and old ones fading. The work serves as a snapshot, capturing a moment in time for a dynamic, ephemeral form of speech.
Morality and Linguistic Influence
The preface makes a strong moral argument for the dictionary's existence, suggesting that understanding vulgar language can help 'mitigate its influence' and enable 'women of character to avoid the use of any expression that may incur the censure of indelicate conversation.' This reveals contemporary anxieties about the perceived corrupting power of language and its impact on societal norms, particularly regarding female propriety.

Worth discussing

How does the dictionary reflect the social hierarchies and divisions of early 19th-century British society?

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