Mrs Finnigan, housekeeper at The Regency Town House, author, wit and raconteur now adds lexicographer to her many talents.
It occurred to me that you, my gentle reader, might be a stranger to the language of the streets. I have therefore put together a short dictionary of the phrases and insults one may hear in the more common Brighton thoroughfares. I do not SUGGEST you should use them in your own speech – heaven offend! – but so you may understand what the stable lads and other ruffians shout behind your back.
Insults aimed at Men
Jack O’ Dandy (Bumptious man) Jack Nasty Face (a dirty unwashed man) Johnny Raw (a country man unused to the city) A Hodge (as above but even more foolish) A macaroni (a fop, a foolish well-dressed show off) A muckworm (a miser) Nulling cove (a violent man) Captain Hackum (a blustering bully)
Insults aimed at Women
Cooler, Dodsey, Gill, Hen, Judy, Mutton (a woman) Mrs Princum Prancum (a formal, precise lady) Light heeled wench, a romp, a ladybird, a jade, (women who are no better than they ought to be. There are many more words along these lines but I would not wish to scorch your eyes with such vocabulary) Rantipole (a rude woman) Mopsey (a plain, dowdy woman) An ape leader (an elderly spinster) Fussock (a lazy, fat old lady) Bloss (a young woman)
Oh dear, just writing these words has made me glimflashy (angry) and blue devilled (in low spirits). I expect you feel the same and probably a trifle spiflicated (confounded & confused) as well. I therefore draw this subject to a close.
On a LIGHTER note the cook at Number 64 has given me this recipe and I pass it on as it is both economical and best made at this time of the year. (I fear these may be its only virtues, but you must see for yourself.)
Carrot Wine
Boil 7lb of carrots in four gallons of water until they are soft but are not yet mushy. Drain the water and do not throw it away as this is what will become wine (so says the cook). Add 10 to 12 lb of lump sugar and boil for an hour, skimming any scum off the top. Add two tablespoons of yeast. Take it off the fire and let it stand for 10 days, stirring and skimming every day. Then bottle it up. It will be ready to drink in six to 12 months.
It occurs to me that the cook may be teetotaller
Would you like to be reminded/warned the next time MY educational and entertaining missive appears? Just click HERE and you’ll get a gentle nudge on the morning it is published. Not too early. The Regency Town House footman doesn’t go out until the streets are well-aired.
I would, myself, be very wary of using the term ‘Mrs Prinkum Prankum’ as it is rather too similar in construction to ‘Crinkum Crankum’ which is a singuarity which should never be mentioned in polite company and I suspect to be a phrase made ironically by those ‘Flash coves’ who ‘sport a bit of cant’ from time to time, and find the similarity amusing.
BRIDGET WHELAN writer 
I would, myself, be very wary of using the term ‘Mrs Prinkum Prankum’ as it is rather too similar in construction to ‘Crinkum Crankum’ which is a singuarity which should never be mentioned in polite company and I suspect to be a phrase made ironically by those ‘Flash coves’ who ‘sport a bit of cant’ from time to time, and find the similarity amusing.
Mrs Finnegan is red-faced with embarrassment
Mrs Finnegan has no need for embarassment; the shame should be upon whoever was indelicate enough to use the term in front of so respectable a matron.
wow, these are some zingers !
And these are only the mild ones, although see the comment above as they might not all be as mild as Mrs F had hoped.
no worries, we need all of them at times