Jim Lewin received a stack of old magazines at his used bookstore that included some issues of The Flapper from the 1920s. A July 1922 issue contained "The Flapper's Dictionary," a glossary of hot slang terms of the time, which he posted in its entirety. Here's a small sample:
Ask your grandmother (or great-grandmother) if she remembers some of these words. Some I know from watching old movies, and my own mother gave me "mad money" before I went on a date. Link -via Boing Boing
Absent Treatment—Dancing with a bashful partner.
Airedale—A homely man.
Alarm Clock—Chaperone.
Anchor—Box of flowers.
Apple Knocker—A hick; a hay-shaker.
Apple Sauce--Flattery; bunk.
Barlow—A girl, a flapper, a chicken.
Bank’s Closed—No petting allowed; no kisses.
Barneymugging—Lovemaking.
Bee’s Knees—See “Cat’s Pajamas”
Bell Polisher—A young man addicted to lingering in vestibules at 1 a.m.
Ask your grandmother (or great-grandmother) if she remembers some of these words. Some I know from watching old movies, and my own mother gave me "mad money" before I went on a date. Link -via Boing Boing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grunge_speak
Not that it will stop me from trying to slip a few of these into conversation for a laugh.