Victorian theatre slang
Definition
Theater
- The following is a selection from the rich lexicon of slang terms used in the London theater during the late 19th century:
bus (pronounced 'biz') short for stage business
daddy a stage manager
dagger a bottle
ducats money (from the former Venetian coinage mentioned inmany of Shakespeare's plays)
fox to criticize a fellow actor's performance
goose to hiss a play
make-up a personal appearance
menagerie the orchestra
mug-up to paint one's face (see mug)
mutton-walk the saloon at Drury Lane
peeper a mirror
sal salary
stab to help oneself to food or (especially) drink; theexpression 'stab yourself and pass the dagger' therefore meant 'help yourselfand pass the bottle'
stall to act a part
supe a supernumerary (i.e. extra)
trunks short trousers worn over hose or tights
see also corpse; green; pong.
