Dan Turner's Private Dictionary of Hollywood Slang

Listen, sweetheart, if you're plowin' through one of my yarns and wonderin' what the hell I'm talkin' about half the time, relax. I've been slingin' this lingo so long it's second nature to me, but I know it can twist a square john into knots. So here's a little glossary straight from the hawkshaw's kisser—my personal brand of patter, the way I call 'em in Tinseltown. No fancy explanations, just the straight dope.

ANCHORS – Brakes on the jalopy. I slap on the anchors when some dizzy dame steps into traffic.

BABE – A choice bit of feminine scenery, usually worth a second look.

BEEF – To kill somebody, or sometimes a complaint. “He beefed the guy” means he plugged him permanent.

BIM or BIMBO – A dame, sometimes a cheap one, sometimes just any skirt.

BOZO – Any guy. Usually a dumb one.

BUTT – Cigarette stub. Same as coffin-nail.

CANNON – Gun. A big one.

CHICK – Young dame, fresh and usually innocent-lookin'.

COFFIN-NAIL – Cigarette. Because they’ll kill you slow.

COOKIE – Same as cutie. A tasty dish.

CUTIE – Pretty girl, the kind that makes traffic stop.

DISH – Real looker. “She’s a dish” means she’s built right and knows it.

DOLL– Woman, usually a knockout.

FRILL – Girl, often a flashy one.

FRIED – Drunk. Fried to the hat = plastered.

GASPER – Cigarette. What I’m always lightin’ up.

GAT – Gun. Small one, usually a .32 automatic.

GEETUS, SCRATCH, CABBAGE, or CLAMS – Money. Important geetus = big bucks.

GLIMS – Eyes. “She gave me the glims” means she looked me over.

HAWKSHAW – Private detective. That’s me.

HEAP – Car. My jalopy when it’s feelin’ cranky.

JALOPY – Car. The crate I cruise Wilshire in.

JANE – Any woman. Plain and simple.

KISSER – Mouth or face. “I parked one on his kisser” means I socked him.

MAP or MUG – Face. Same as puss.

NOGGIN – Head. “I CLIPPED HIM ON THE NOGGIN.”

PEEPERS – Eyes. “She rolled the peepers at me.”

PUSS – Face. “He had a sour puss.”

ROSCOE – Gun. My favorite word for the rod I pack.

SNOOP, GUMSHOE, FERRET, or SHERLOCK – Private detective. Again, me.

STASH – Apartment. My bachelor stash is where I keep the Vat 69.

SWACKED, PLASTERED, or FRIED TO THE GILLS – Drunk as a lord.

WREN – Girl. Cute little bird.

YOWL, CATERWAUL, or YEEP – To yell or scream, usually a dame in trouble.

There you have it, pal—the basic toolkit. Read enough of my cases and you’ll be talkin’ like a Hollywood hawkshaw yourself. Just don’t go slingin’ it around the wrong mugs, or you might wind up on the wrong end of a roscoe. Capiche?