Ex., “That’s a blip” “She’s a blip.”īlow the top (v.) - to be overcome with emotion (delight). Not colored and white folks as erroneously assumed.īlew their wigs (adj.) - excited with enthusiasm, gone crazy.īlip (n.) - something very good. Ex., “It’s the bible!”īlack and tan (n.) - dark and light colored folks. Ex., “He beefed to me that, etc.”īible (n.) - the gospel truth. Ex, “I am beat for my cash”, “I am beat to my socks” (lacking everything).īeat it out (v.) - play it hot, emphasize the rhythym.īeat up (adj.) - sad, uncomplimentary, tired.īeat up the chops (or the gums) (v.) - to talk, converse, be loquacious.īeef (v.) - to say, to state. Ex., “You look beat” or “I feel beat.” (2) lacking anything. to “I ain’t coming.”Īpple (n.) - the big town, the main stem, Harlem.Īrmstrongs (n.) - musical notes in the upper register, high trumpet notes.īarbecue (n.) - the girl friend, a beautyīattle (n.) - a very homely girl, a crone.īeat (adj.) - (1) tired, exhausted. Ex., “Man, that boy is a hummer.”Īin’t coming on that tab (v.) - won’t accept the proposition. I’m ready.Ī hummer (n.) - exceptionally good. Let’s blow their wigs.īust your conks in the comments section. Gammin’? Jeff? Hincty? Fruiting? Whatever you choose, I’m in. With luck some fine dinner whose star is on the rise will beef our word in public, preferably during a scandalous, much analyzed performance. The complete list is below.īy my calculation, we’ve got eleven months to identify a choice candidate, resurrect it, and integrate it into everyday speech. If only every amateur lexicographer were foxy enough to set his or her definitions to music, and creep them out like the shadow, as Calloway does above. It featured 200 expressions used by the “hep cats” when they talk their “jive” in the clubs on Lenox Avenue. It was also apparently the first dictionary authored by an African-American. The charismatic bandleader not only had a way with words, his love of them led him to compile a “Hepster’s Dictionary” of Harlem musician slang circa 1938.
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