The Officers' Manual by Major James A. Moss, 24th U.S. Infantry, fifth edition printed April 1917, copyright 1911, contains the following list of slang terms. Because the book was written prior to America's entry into the First World War these slang terms are probably more representative of the speech of U.S. Army regulars before the war than that of volunteers and conscripts during the war. A few of these terms survive to this day.
b-ache—to complain.
beans—the commissary sergeant.
bean-shooter—a commissary officer.
belly-ache—to complain.
black strap—liquid coffee.
blind—sentenced by a court-martial to forfeiture of pay without confinement.
bob-tail—a dishonorable discharge, or a discharge without honor; to be bobtailed—to be dishonorably discharged or to be given a discharge without honor.
bone—to study, to try, to cultivate.
bone bootlick on—to cultivate the favor of.
bootlick—to flatter.
bow-legs—cavalrymen.
buck-private—a term usually used in referring to a private.
bucking for orderly—giving clothing and accoutrements extra cleaning so as to compete for orderly.
bunkie--a soldier who shares the shelter of a comrade.
bust—to reduce a noncommissioned officer to private.
butcher—the company barber.
canned horse—canned beef.
chief—name by which the chief musician of the band is usually called by the enlisted men.
cit—a civilian.
cits—civilian clothes.
C.O.—commanding officer.
coffee cooler—one who seeks easy details away from troops; one who is always looking for an easy job.
cold feet—fear, lack of courage (to have cold feet is to be afraid, to lack courage).
commissaries—groceries.
crawl—to admonish.
dog-robber—name by which the enlisted men call the soldier who works for an officer. (An offensive term, the use of which usually causes trouble.)
dough-boy—infantryman.
dough-puncher—the baker.
duff-any sweet edible.
file—a number on the lineal list.
fogy—ten percent increase of officers’ pay for each five years’ service.
found—to be found deficient or wanting in anything, especially an examination.
French leave—unauthorized absence. Absent on French leave—absent without authority.
gold brick—an unattractive girl.
gold fish—salmon.
goat—junior officer in post, regiment, etc.
goaty—awkward, ignorant.
guardhouse lawyer—a soldier with a smattering of knowledge of regulations and military law; quite loquacious and liberal with advice and counsel to men in the guardhouse or other trouble.
hardtack—hard bread, biscuits.
hive—to discover, to catch.
hobo—the provost sergeant.
holy Joe—the chaplain.
hop—a dance.
how—form of salutation in drinking, meaning "Here's to your health." "My regards," etc.
I.C.—condemned by an inspector. [Inspected Condemned]
jaw-bone—credit (to buy things on "jaw-bone," to buy on credit).
jump—to admonish.
K.O.—the commanding officer.
major—name by which the sergeant-major is usually called by the enlisted men.
mule-skinner—a teamster.
non-com—noncommissioned officer.
O.D.—officer of the day.
O.G.—officer of the guard (rare).
officers’ line, officers’ row—the row of houses where the officers and their families live.
old issue—an old soldier.
old file—an old officer.
on official terms—not to be on speaking terms except officially.
on the carpet—called before the commanding officer for admonition.
openers—cathartic pills.
orderly bucker—a soldier, who, when going on guard, strives by extra neatness to be designated as orderly for the commanding officer.
orderly room—company office.
pills—the hospital steward, sometimes used in reference to the surgeon.
punk—light bread.
Q.M.—the quartermaster.
Q.M.D. quartermaster’s department.
ranked-out—to be compelled to vacate by a senior, as "to be ranked out of quarters."
red-tape—official formality; that is, the close or excessive observance of forms and routine in the transaction of business.
regimental monkey—the drum major.
reup—to reenlist at once.
rookie—a new recruit.
sand-rat—an officer or soldier on duty in the rifle pit at target practice.
saw-bone—the doctor.
shave-tail--a new second lieutenant. So called after the young, unbroken mules in the Quartermaster's Department ("Shave-tails").
shutters—camphor or opium pills.
sinkers—dumplings.
sky-scout—the chaplain.
sky-pilot—the chaplain.
slap-jacks—pan cakes.
slum—a stew of meat, potatoes and onions, mostly potatoes and onions.
soap suds row—the laundresses’ quarters.
soldier, to—to soldier, to serve; also to shirk.
soldiers’ one percent—one hundred per cent.
sow-belly—bacon.
stars and stripes—beans.
striker—a soldier who works for an officer.
take-on—to reenlist before the expiration of three months after discharge.
the old man—term used by officers and soldiers in referring to the commanding officer; sometimes used by soldiers in referring to their company commander.
to take another blanket—same as take-on.
top sergeant—first sergeant.
yellow-leg—cavalryman.
youngster—a young officer (a first or second lieutenant).
wagon-soldier—light or field artilleryman.
wind-jammer—a trumpeter or bugler.
wood-butcher—company artificer.
By: Brant
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