English slang from the Great War

[RJG173]

This may be of interest to some.

http://getpocket.com/explore/item/20...=pocket-newtab

[Paukenschlager]

Very interesting, indeed! I've lways been fascinated by the topic.

In Italy, despite being at war for a year less than most European powers, the Great War had significant impact on the language.
Some words I recall coming from day-to-day WW1 military lingoand still being in use today are:

Cecchino, meaning Sniper. It was an ironic endearment of Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph's nickname, "Cecco Beppe".
Caporetto, used to describe a severe defeat. Clearly referring to the disastrous retreat of the Italian Army at the 12th Battle of the Isonzo, aka Battle of Caporetto.
Trincerarsi, to take a defensive attitude (literally, "to take to the trenches").
Naja, compulsory service in the Armed Forces. It was imported from a northern dialect word meaning "bad people" (i.e., in the soldiers minds, the officers)
Ghirba, one own's life. To save the "Ghirba" meant to save your neck in a dangerous situation. Originally, the word stood for a sheep skin used to carry wine

Furthermore, a German friend told me that in their language nullachtfünfzehn (literally "08/15") is still used to mean mediocre, a reference to the light, but still cumbersome machine gun of the same name.

[milcoll73]

ive got a book of slang from ww2. one for ww1 would be interesting.

[predhead]

ive got a book of slang from ww2. one for ww1 would be interesting.

It exists! I found a copy at Half Price Books. Soldier's Songs and Slangs From the Great War.

[Flying Helmut]

This is the one I own





A quick search of Amazon also found...