om--non-commissioned officer.
O. D.--the officer of the day.
Officers Line, or Officers Row--the row of houses where the officers
and their families live.
Old Issue--an old soldier.
Old File--an old officer.
Old Man--the company commander.
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 Buckle--a soldier when going on guard who strives by extra
neatness of appearance to be designated as orderly for the commanding
officer.
Orderly Room--company office.
Outfit--one's organization in the army.
Over-the-Hill--to desert.
P.--Prisoner.
Pills--the hospital steward.
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.
Re-up--to re-enlist 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.
Shoved up--to pawn.
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 Per Cent--one hundred per cent.
Sow-belly--bacon.
Stars and Stripes--beans.
Striker--a soldier who works for an officer.
Take-on--to re-enlist before the expiration of three months after
discharge.
The Old Man--term sometimes 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.
Up the Pole--to swear off drinking.
Yellow-leg--cavalryman.
Youngster--a young officer (a first or second lieutenant).
Wagon-soldier--light or field artilleryman.
Wind-jammer--a trumpeter or bandsman.
Wood-butcher--company artificer.
ENGLISH ARMY SLANG
Gravel Crushers--infantry soldiers.
|