Dictionary of Americanisms: A Glossary of Words and Phrases Usually Regarded as Peculiar to the United States |
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Common terms and phrases
Abenaki ain't Allspice American Balt banks boys called colloquial common corruption Democratic denote dialects dictionaries dollars Dow's Sermons Dutch Eastford English English language expression fish give Glossary grass ground heard horse Human Nature Indian corn Jones's Courtship land language Letter Loco-foco maize Margaret means Menhaden Mexico Mississippi Mormons Mountains N. Y. Tribune negro never North Northern one's origin party peculiar person phrase Pickering plant political popular name prairies Pron pronunciation Providence Journal provincial in England Rhode Island river Sam Slick says sense Slick in England sometimes South South Carolina Southern Sketches Spanish real species speech Squatter tell term applied Texas thing tree United Virginia vulgar Washington Webster West West Indies Western Whig Widow Bedott Papers wild wood Worcester word writers Yankee York York Tribune
Popular passages
Page 276 - In the discussions to which this interest has given rise, and in the arrangements by which they may terminate, the occasion has been judged proper for asserting as a principle in which the rights, and interests of the United States are involved, that the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers.
Page 41 - This is the chosen season of revelry of the Bobolink. He comes amidst the pomp and fragrance of the season ; his life seems all sensibility and enjoyment, all song and sunshine. He is to be found in the soft bosoms of the freshest and sweetest meadows, and is most in song when the clover is in blossom.
Page 446 - Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white ; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.
Page 304 - Mussascus, is a beast of the forme and nature of our water Rats, but many of them smell exceeding strongly of muske.
Page 25 - To drink to-night with hearts as light, To loves as gay and fleeting As bubbles that swim on the beaker's brim, And break on the lips while meeting.
Page 492 - States, were then almost entirely new to them), said, 'he did not know, unless it meant Elbert Anderson and Uncle Sam,' — alluding exclusively, then, to the said ' Uncle Sam
Page xvi - DICTIONARY OF OBSOLETE AND PROVINCIAL ENGLISH, Containing Words from the English Writers Previous to the Nineteenth Century which are No Longer in Use or are Not Used in the Same Sense, and Words which are Now Used Only in the Provincial Dialects Edited by Thomas Wright Defines thousands of obsolete words used from the fourteenth to the nineteenth century.
Page 313 - Skin; but the general and current Species of all the Indians in Carolina, and, I believe, all over the Continent, as far as the Bay of Mexico, is that which we call Peak and Ronoak; but Peak more especially. This is that which at New York, they call Wampum, and have used it as current Money amongst the Inhabitants for a great many Years.
Page 190 - THE YANKEE'S RETURN FROM CAMP Father and I went down to camp, Along with Captain Gooding, And there we see the men and boys, As thick as hasty pudding. Chorus Yankee Doodle, keep it up,, Yankee Doodle, dandy, Mind the music and the step, And with the girls be handy.
Page 492 - Wilson. The joke took among the workmen, and passed currently ; and " Uncle Sam" himself being present, was occasionally rallied by them on the increasing extent of his possessions. Many of these workmen being of a character denominated