Reliving History

Reliving History next month is all about re-enactments, living history and the people within the hobby. It is also about photography of the people and events that forms the public community for the group. Enjoy the site, the photographs and the stories.

A is for Absquatulate

Submitted by david d on Sat, 11/29/2008 - 22:14

Absquatulate: to take leave, to disappear.

  • 1843: A can of oysters was discovered in our office by a friend, and he absquatulated with it, and left us with our mouth watering. Missouri Reporter, February 2
  • 1862: Rumor has it that a gay bachelor, who has figured in Chicago for nearly a year, has skedaddled, absquatulated, vamoosed, and cleared out. Rocky Mountain News, Denver, May 10

Accelerator: a velocipede. (See also Bicycling in Amusements, p. 191.)

Acknowledge the corn: to admit the truth; to confess; to acknowledge one's own obvious lie or shortcoming.

  • 1840: David Johnson acknowledged the corn, and said that he was drunk. Daily Pennant, St. Louis, July 14
  • 1846: I hope he will give up the argument, or, to use a familiar phrase, acknowledge the corn. Mr. Speight, Mississippi, U.S. Senate, Congressional Globe, January 28
  • 1850: He has not confessed the corn, as the saying is, that he did preach disunion? Mr. Staniy, North Carolina, House of Reps., Congressional Globe

Across lots: to push on straight through despite obstacles.

  • 1853: "Go to hell across lots." Brigham Young, journal of Discourses, March 27
  • 1869: I came cross lots from Aunt Sawin's and I got caught in those pesky blackberry bushes in the graveyard. Harriet Beecher Stowe, Old Town Folks

Afeared: scared, frightened.

  • 1840: I was afeared you were a gone coon. C.F. Hoffman, Greyslaer, p.221

Algerine: a pirate.

  • 1844: They have called the law for punishing treason an Algerine law; they have denominated us the Algerine party; and they have talked a great deal about Algerine cruelties. Mr. Potter, Rhode Island, House of Reps., Congressional Globe, March 1

All creation, all nature, all wrath: everything or everybody.

  • 1819: Father and I have just returned from the balloon - all nature was there, and More too. Massachusetts Spy, November 3
  • 1833: I could eat like all wrath… I'll be down on him like all wrath anyhow. J.K. Paulding, Banks of the Ohio
  • 1839: He pulls like all creation, as the woman remarked when the horse ran away with her. Yale Literary Magazine

All-fired: hell-fired.

  • 1835: His boss gin him a most all-fired cut with a horsewhip. Boston Pearl, November 28
  • 1852: In my opinion, Dan Baxter would make an all-fired good deacon. Knickerbocker Magazine, August
  • 1866: 0 Sall, did you ever see such an all-fired sight of shoes? Seba Smith, Way Down East, p.289
  • 1872: You were too all-fired lazy to get a stick of wood. J.M. Bailey, Folks in Danbury, p.80

All on one stick: a conglomeration or combination.

  • 1830: He kept a kind of hotel and grocery store, all on one stick, as we say. N. Dana, A Mariner's Sketches, p.18

All-overish: uncomfortable.

  • 1855: I grew - all-overish - no other phrase expresses it. Putnam's Magazine, December

Allow: to admit; to be of the opinion.

  • 1840: She said she would allow he was the most beautiful complected child she had ever seen. Knickerbocker Magazine
  • 1866: Where is Hamlin? I allow that he is dead, or I would ask him too. C.H. Smith, Bill Arp, p.23

All possessed, like: like someone or something possessed by the devil.

  • 1857: He'd carry on like all possessed -dance and sing, and tell stories, jest as limber and lively as if he'd never hefted a timber. Putnam's Magazine, January
  • 1878: She dropped a pan o' hot oysters into the lap of a customer and set him to swearin' and dancin' like all possessed. J.H. Beadle, Western Wilds, p.184

All to Pieces: completely; absolutely.

  • 1839: "I know him all to pieces," replied the gentleman. Charles Biiggs, Harry Franco
  • 1847: I knew him all to pieces as soon as I caught sight of him. Charles Briggs, Tom Pepper

Almighty: huge.

  • 1848: I felt almighty blue. Stray Subjects, p.109

Amalgamation: mixing, especially of blacks and whites.

  • 1839: The Senator further makes the broad charge that Abolitionists wish to enforce the unnatural system of amalgamation. We deny the fact. Mr. Morris, Ohio, U.S. Senate, Congressional Globe
  • 1847: Amalgamation, even by marriage, is not at all dreaded [in Texas]. Parties of white and colored persons not unfrequently come over from Louisiana. Life of Benjamin Lundy, p.117

Anti-fogmatic: raw rum or whiskey.

  • 1829: The takers of anti-fogmatics, juleps, or other combustibles. Savannah Mercury, July
  • 1852: Tom Nettles [was] mixing a couple of rosy anti-fogmatics. As Good as a Comedy, p.134
  • 1855: A thirsty throat, to which anything like delay in an anti-fogmatic is almost certain bronchitis. W.G Simms, Border Beagles, p.55

Arkansas toothpick: a long knife. Also known as a California or Missouri toothpick.

  • 1855: We mistrust that the author of that statement saw a Missouri toothpick, and was frightened out of his wits. Herald of Freedom, Lawrence, Kansas, June 9
  • 1869: A brace of faithful pistols in his belt, and a huge Arkansas toothpick, or bowie knife, in a leather sheath. A.K. McClure, Rocky Mountains, p.377