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List of words having different meanings in British and

American English

This is a list of words and phrases having differing meanings in British and American and British English
differences
American English.

Asterisked (*) meanings, though found chiefly in the specified region, have
also some currency in the other dialect; other definitions may be recognised
British English (BrE)
by the other as Briticisms or Americanisms respectively. Additional usage
notes are provided when useful.

Certain words are limited to regional or specific dialect use in either usage.
They will, however, be recognised and understood by most native English American English (AmE)
speakers in the country concerned. These are marked with their usual area Vocabulary
of use.
List of American words not
widely used in the United
Kingdom

List of British words not
Contents
widely used in the United
States
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
List of words having
different meanings in British
and American English
Pronunciation

American and British English
A pronunciation differences

Orthography
Meanings common to American American and British English
British English

Word British and American English spelling differences
meanings
English meanings Computing
accommodation housing something supplied; a (esp. in the past)
British and American
keyboards
("residential compromise; a loan a local public
accommodation") see also accommodation conveyance, esp. Fiction
(eye); lodging (as for a train
List of works with different
travellers) but often used see also titles in the UK and US
in the plural in US for this accommodation
meaning (law)
accumulator rechargeable one that accumulates, as a
battery (archaic) type of computer
processor register or a
a type of bet (US: hydraulic accumulator
parlay)
ace good, excellent a one in a suit of playing (v.) to perform
(1980s slang) cards outstandingly *;
someone who is very esp., to achieve
good at something an "A" (on a
fighter pilot who has shot school exam)
down a certain number of the best starting
enemy aircraft pitcher in a
rotation on a
baseball team
advocate (n.) Scottish also someone who supports
Jersey, Channel and/or speaks for a
Islands lawyer particular position
who appears in generic term for a lawyer
higher courts (v.) to recommend or
(rest of UK: support
barrister)
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aerial (n.) a radio (adj.) of, in or from the

antenna to air, as in aerial
transmit or photography, a dance
receive move in Lindy Hop, and a
electromagnetic front aerial in acro dance
waves (US: a type of skateboarding
antenna) trick
air marshal a senior air force an undercover law
officer enforcement officer on
(equivalent to an board a commercial
Army general or aircraft, also known as a
Navy admiral) sky marshal
à la mode fashionable with ice cream
alternate (adj.) done or occurring (adj.) constituting
by turns; every second, an alternative,
every other ("on alternate offering a choice
weeks") (UK usu. & US
(n.) one that alternates also alternative)
with another ("use alternate
routes")
"alternative",
unconventional
("alternate
lifestyles")

(n.) an alternative
*; a substitute
amber traffic light of orange-yellow colour
this colour (US: fossilised resin; a material
yellow light) used in the construction of
some tobacco pipes,
female given name
anaesthetist physician trained nurse or
(UK), to administer technician trained
anesthetist anaesthesia (US: to administer
(US) anesthesiologist) anaesthesia
anchor (1) a position in a tug-of- a type of radio or
war team (2) device for TV presenter ("a
mooring ships by news anchor").
providing a firm fix to the See news
seabed presenter for a
anchorman/anchorwoman, description of the
the last member of a relay different roles of
team to compete a newscaster, an
American news
anchor, and a
British
newsreader.
anorak a parka hooded, rainproof
(slang) a socially outerwear that lacks a
awkward person full-length zipper in the
obsessively front (UK: cagoule)
interested in
something (syn.
US: geek, nerd;
dweeb; etc.)
apartment suite of rooms set a set of rooms in
aside for a a building
particular person constituting a
(rare) usu. rented
housing unit *
(implies luxury in
UK; UK usu.
flat) – cf. s.v.
condominium
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appropriate to take (money) to take and assign to dispense

(v.), to oneself, to (money) (there is (money), to
appropriation filch or considerable overlap but budget
(n.) misappropriate difference of emphasis)
Asian originating from originating from the originating from
India, Pakistan, continent of Asia East Asia or
Bangladesh or Sri continental
Lanka (South Southeast Asia
Asian)
ass donkey (often vulgar)
slow-witted or stupid buttocks (UK:
person, often in arse); also, by
combination (smart-ass) synecdoche, the
person ("your ass
is dead"); also
(vulgar) anus
(short for
asshole)
(vulgar) sex ("get
some ass") (note:
the American
usage of ass is
becoming more
common in
British English)
also used as a
suffix to add
emphasis to an
adjective ("He
drove a big-ass
truck")

kick-ass: to beat
up or beat, e.g. "I
am going to kick
his ass" or, more
positively,
something that
beat (did better
than) everything
else, e.g. "The
opening band
was kick-ass".
athlete one who one who
participates in participates in
running, sports in general
throwing, and
jumping
competitions
athletics running, sport in general
throwing, and
jumping
competitions
(US: track and
field)
attorney an agent or representative (or attorney-at-
authorised to act on law) a lawyer
someone else's behalf (UK: barrister
("attorney-in-fact", (England,
"power of attorney") Northern Ireland,
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(Attorney General) main Wales)/advocate

legal advisor to the (Scotland) or
government solicitor,
depending on the
actual profession)
(District
attorney,
prosecuting
attorney) local
public official
who represents
the government
in the prosecution
of criminals
(archaic in Br.
Eng. for lawyer)
aubergine the plant an eggplant-like colour
Solanum (US also: eggplant)
melongena (US:
eggplant)
awesome inspiring awe, spectacular great, "cool" *
(largely used in
the 1980s,
recently revived;
can have various
connotations
depending on
context –
compare UK
brilliant)

B
Word British English meanings
banger (n.) a sausage, as in "bangers and
mash"
an old motorcar in a state of
disrepair (US: beater)
bang(s)
base
bash masturbate (vulgar slang)
(usu.Bash one out or Have a bash)
(but Have a bash more often
means the same as Have a go - to
try to achieve something, as in
"have a bash at this crossword")
bath (n.) plumbing fixture for bathing * (n.) the act of bathing
Meanings common to British
American English meanings
and American English
a type of firework a particularly club-friendly beat or
song
small explosions or reports; locks of hair on forehead (UK:
(v.) have sexual intercourse with fringe)
(vulgar slang) ( eg. "bang some
chick" or "he's banging her")
foundation, starting point; many in baseball, one of the three places
meanings in sciences, architecture, a runner can stand in safety; hence
politics, military instilation, etc.; in many fig. senses, off one's base
see base (crazy), to get to first base (esp. in
neg. constr., to get a first
important result); more recently
(slang), a metaphor for one of
three different stages in making
out (q.v.) – see baseball metaphors
for sex; more s.v. home run
to strike physically
to attack verbally
a party or celebration "they're
having a little bash this
weekend" (orig. US, but now
probably more common in UK
than US)
(n.) a bathroom (esp. a half bath

(US: bathtub)
(usu. pl.) swimming pool
(v.) to bathe, or give a bath to
bathroom room containing a bath (US:
bathtub) or shower, other washing
facilities, and usu. (but not
necessarily) a toilet
beaker drinking vessel without a handle, flat-bottomed vessel, with a lip,
or one (with or without handles) used as a laboratory container.
made of unbreakable plastic for
the use of children (US: sippy cup)
beater
beaver beard; a bearded man (archaic
slang)
bespoke (esp. of apparel) made to the
customer's specification (US:
custom-made, tailor-made)
bill The bill = the police (slang, poss.
from Old Bill)
billion (traditionally) a million millions
(1012) (US: trillion)
bin (v.) to throw away.
(bread bin) container for storing large receptacle or container for
bread (US: breadbox)
bird (n.) one's girlfriend or any young
female (slang; getting rarer[1] and an aircraft
considered derogatory by some)
prison sentence (slang)
biscuit (n.) baked sweet or savoury cake-like
item, usu. flat, which is hard when
a (financial) loss
person who flushes game from
concealment so it can be shot at by (UK: banger)
'the guns'
something or someone that beats
aquatic rodent known for building female pubic hair (slang)
dams
woman's undepilated external
genitalia (obscene slang)
pret. of bespeak
invoice; request for payment (also a piece of paper money (UK:
US: check, tab)
a proposed law before it is voted
on by a legislature
thousand million (109) (now most 109
common in both UK and US)
(traditional UK: milliard) (see also
Long and short scales)
(1) a waste container (2) a usu.
storage ("a grain bin"; "Scrooge
McDuck's money bin")
avian creature
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which has a sink and toilet but no
shower stall or bathtub, or a 3/4
bath which has a sink, toilet, and
shower stall, but no bathtub)
room, in a home or hotel room,
containing a toilet, related washing
facilities, and often, but not
necessarily, a shower and/or
bathtub (Hence "Going to the
bathroom" is a euphemism for
going to the toilet even in a setting
where one would not expect to
find a bath, e.g. a restaurant or
shop *) (a room without shower or
bathtub may also be known as a
powder room, but this usage may
be considered dated)
used car in very poor condition
(slang) wifebeater (q.v.)
a sleeveless undershirt (from the
stereotype that poor men who
wear them beat their wives,
perhaps from Jackie Gleason in
"The Honeymooners" TV series
(50s/60s U.S.) or more likely from
the costume of the character
Stanley in the play "A Streetcar
Named Desire (play)")
note/banknote)
insulting hand gesture involving
shaking one's fist towards
someone with knuckles pointing
towards the person being insulted
and the middle finger extended
(used chiefly in “flipping someone
the bird”) (slang)
type of quick bread served with
savory foods (UK: similar to a

baked and softens over time
(colloquially bikkies for sweet
biscuits) (US: cookie (sweet
biscuit), cracker savoury biscuit)
(to take the biscuit) to be very
surprising (US: take the cake)
blinder (n.) excellent performance in a game
or race (slang) "e.g. he played a
blinder"
blinkers leather flaps on a bridle used to
restrict a horse's lateral vision*
(US usu.: blinders)
block (n.) a building (block of flats, office
block)
bloody expletive used to express anger
("bloody car") or shock ("bloody accompanied by blood
hell"), or for emphasis ("not
bloody likely") (slang, today only
mildly vulgar) * (similar US:
damn ("damn car"))
blow off to break wind
bog (n.) toilet (slightly vulgar slang)
(bog off) go away (slightly vulgar appreciable peat deposits
slang, often jocular)
bogey dried nasal mucus usu. after
extraction from the nose (US:
booger) (informal)
boiler (n.) 1.an old fowl best cooked by
boiling;
2. (derogatory) an ugly woman
(usually in the phrase "old boiler")
bomb a striking success; used in the an explosive weapon
(slang) phrases "go (like) a bomb" and
"go down a bomb"; Go like a
bomb also means, when used of a
vehicle, to go very fast
bombardier corporal in the Royal Artillery -
see Bombardier (rank)
bonk act of sexual intercourse, or to
have sexual intercourse (slightly
vulgar slang) (US: boink)
bonking off to masturbate.
a solid piece of something
to obstruct
having, covered with or
to perform oral sex upon
wetland that accumulates
the score of one over par in golf
1. device (usu. oil or gas-fired) for
heating water for central heating
or hot water *, "central heating
boiler" (US furnace);
vessel in which steam is generated
blow to the head
(n. and v.) to suffer glycogen
depletion in an endurance sporting
event; see hit the wall
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savoury scone, or similar in
consistency to a croissant)
either of two flaps on a horse's
bridle to keep it from seeing
objects at its sides (UK: blinker,
also used in US)
lights on a car that indicate the
direction about to be taken * (UK:
indicators)
in a city, the portion of a street
between adjacent intersections* or
an informal rough unit of distance
derived from the length of the
same
considered a euphemism for more
emphatic swear words
to not turn up to meet somebody
(UK: blow out ("I'm just too busy,
I'll have to blow you out for this
evening.")
A plot of farmland used to grow
cranberries
(a cranberry bog)
an unidentified aircraft, often
assumed to be that of an enemy
alternate spelling of
"Bogie" (nickname of Humphrey
Bogart)
(v.) to be a failure ("the show
bombed"); also as n.
(n., used with the) something
outstanding ("that show was the
bomb"); sometimes spelled da
bomb
crew member of a bomber
responsible for assisting the
navigator in guiding the plane to a
bombing target and releasing the
aircraft's bomb load - see
Bombardier (air force) (UK: bomb
aimer)

bonnet hinged cover over the engine in a
car (US: hood)
various types of Scottish or Irish
soft hat
boob (n.) a mistake (slang); (v.) to make a
mistake
boob tube woman's shoulderless, strapless
top (US: tube top)
boost
boot storage compartment of a car (US: footwear covering lower leg
trunk) to kick something hard
to start up a computer
bottle courage ("he's got some bottle")
(slang) (US: moxie)
to fail to do something through
fear ("he's bottled out", "he bottled
it") (slang)
to attack somebody with a broken
bottle (slang)
Give it some bottle = put some
effort into it
box a gift in a box, hence Boxing Day
genital protector used in cricket
(US similar: cup)
(the box) television set (slang)
(US: idiot box, boob tube)
a box stall in a barn
any of various box-like structures,
such as:
signal box (US:
switch/signal/interlocking tower)
telephone box (US & UK also:
telephone booth), more at call box
witness box (US: witness stand)
either one of the two marked areas
adjacent to the goalmouth on a
football (soccer) pitch (see here)
see also box junction
braces over-the-shoulder straps to support
trousers * (US usu. suspenders)
brackets enclosing punctuation: ( ) (US &
UK also: parentheses); more at
braces
brew (n.) tea
brilliant excellent, of the highest quality
(rarely sarcastic)
bud
hat tied under chin worn by a baby
or (archaically) a woman
woman's breast (slightly vulgar
slang)
to (figuratively) lift up; to
improve, increase, revitalize.
container for liquids
(the bottle) alcohol, heavy
drinking (synechdocal slang)
(n.) rigid container
(v.) to attack using one's fists
(n.) general-purpose computer (e.
g. "this box needs its hard disk re-
formatted")
devices for straightening teeth
support that steadies or
strengthens something else
supports for shelves, etc. attached
to a wall
very bright (of a light or a brain)
very intelligent
undeveloped shoot which
normally occurs in the axil of a
leaf or at the tip of a plant stem
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stupid person
(the boob tube) television (slang)
to (literally) lift up, especially a
person: booster cushion*, a
cushion used to increase the height
of a seat (esp. in a car)
to steal, especially from a retail
establishment (i.e., shoplift)
(Denver boot, car boot) device
used to render cars immobile (UK:
wheel clamp)
to expel (UK: give someone the
boot)
to vomit (slang)
any of various areas on a baseball
diamond (as for the batter, or the
pitcher, the catcher, etc.)
female genitalia (obscene slang) *
(box canyon) a canyon with
vertical walls
(box car) a type of enclosed
railroad freight car (UK: goods
van)
leg supports (UK: callipers)
tertiary enclosing punctuation: { }
(UK: curly brackets)
secondary enclosing punctuation:
[] (UK: square brackets)
beer
stupid (sarcastic use)
marijuana (slang)
hand-rolled marijuana cigarette
(slang), compare joint
shortening of 'buddy', used to
address strangers assuming a non-
existent familiarity (UK: similar:
mate)

buffet railway carriage containing a
refreshment counter selling snacks
and drinks, esp. on a train on
which a full restaurant car (US:
dining car) service is not provided
bug
bugger to engage in or someone who
engages in anal sex
a form of address for either a
person or item, either jocular
("he's a generous bugger") or less
so ("he's a mean bugger") (slang)
(buggered) 1. broken, not working
(typically of mechanical devices,
e.g. "the engine's buggered")
(slang); 2. syn. for bothered (e.g.
"I didn't do it. I couldn't be
buggered.") (slang)
(bugger up) to make a mess of
something (slang)
(bugger off) (imperative) go away,
leave me alone (slang)
buggy 2-wheeled horse-drawn
lightweight carriage
baby transport vehicle also called see also dune buggy, beach buggy
(UK) pushchair (US: stroller)
any of various light cart or cars ("a
golf buggy")
bum to engage in anal sex (vulgar
slang)
bumps a type of rowing race
a method of marking someone's
birthday (see The bumps)
bunk to be absent without authorization: type of bed, where two small beds
bunk off, to play truant from
school (US: play hooky)
do a bunk, to abscond (US: go on room)
the lam)
bureau a type of writing table
burn (n.) (Scotland and Northern England) wound caused by heat, or
narrow river, stream – more s.v. chemical agents, etc.
creek
(the act of smoking) a cigarette
1.refreshment counter or bar;
2.a meal set out on a table, etc. for
diners to serve themselves
insect of the order Hemiptera
pathogen, bacteria, germ
covert listening device (orig. US)
defect in software (orig. in a
machine) (orig. US)
an enthusiast of something (orig.
US)
Volkswagen Beetle
(v.) to apply a covert listening
device (orig. US)
(slang) an automobile (orig. US)
see baby transport for details
(1)to cadge ("can I bum a cigarette hobo, homeless person
off you?") (slang)
(2) buttocks (slang) (US: butt)
a set of small protuberances
are stacked on top of each other
(UK bunk (up) with implies
sharing a bed, rather than merely a
nonsense as in "History is
bunk" (from bunkum)
a public office or government
agency
Page 8
a type of sideboard
any of various insects *
(nontechnical usage)
an important person ("a big bug");
also, someone crazy (as in
"firebug", a pyromaniac)
(v.) to annoy (colloquial) *
to go away, depart, also from a
responsibility (used with out)
(bug off) to go away (often as a
command) (from UK bugger, q.v.)
term of endearment, often used for
children (slang)
(in spoken English, the British
"bugger" is sometimes misheard
by Americans as "booger")
4-wheeled horse-drawn
lightweight carriage
baby transport vehicle also called
(US) baby carriage (UK: pram)
regional (esp. South) for shopping
cart (UK: trolley)
(marsh/swamp buggy) a type of
motor vehicle for marshland
(slang) caboose
(horse and buggy) something
obsolete (as from before the
invention of the automobile)
poor quality (slang)
to sadden (often used with "out")
group of plain beds used as no-
frills lodging (UK: dormitory, qv);
also used as a verb ("I bunked
with them in their room"; "The
cabin could bunk about 18")
a type of chest of drawers
clearing (as in a forest) made by
burning vegetation

bus (v.)
butcher (have a butcher's) to have a look to kill and cut up an animal for
(Cockney rhyming slang: butcher's meat
hook = look)
butchery slaughterhouse, abattoir
(n.)
butt (n.)
buzzard a hawk of the genus Buteo
C
Word British English meanings
call box (n.) telephone booth (UK also
telephone box)
call for (v.)
campsite (n.) area or park for people to
camp in (US: campground)
candy (n.) (candy floss) heated sugar
spun into thin threads and
collected into a mass, usually to sweeten
on a stick; something pleasing
but having little worth (US:
cotton candy for both senses)
canfield (n.) a patience (solitaire) card
game (US: Klondike)
canoe (n.)
car (n.) railway vehicle, only in
combination (e.g. "restaurant q.v.)/automobile
car")
(archaic) street tramway
vehicle
caravan towed recreational vehicle
containing accommodation
(US: travel trailer)
to take such a vehicle on
holiday
Page 9
to travel by bus to transport via bus
to clear (as tables) in a restaurant;
to work as a busboy
to make a big mess of things;
botch ("butcher it up"; "I
to kill messily, or someone who butchered the spelling")
does so
one who cuts and sells meat
a cruel massacre a botch
a butcher's trade
(n.) the (larger) end of anything, a (colloquial) buttocks (UK usu.
stub; also, a cigarette bum); hence butthead *
a sudden blow given by the head (n.) (butt-in) one who butts in
of an animal (v.) to cut off the end (of a log)
a large wooden cask (butt out) to stop interfering
a person mocked by a joke
(v.) to strike bluntly (as with the
head)
(butt in) to interfere when uncalled
for (orig. US)
vulture (slang)
Meanings common to British
American English meanings
and American English
roadside emergency telephone
to require to predict or anticipate ("The forecast
calls for rain")
spot for a particular person or group to
camp, often within a campground (UK:
pitch)
(v.) to sugarcoat, or boil with edible, sweet-tasting confection
sugar (as fruit) containing sugar, or sometimes
artificial sweeteners, and often flavored
with fruit, chocolate, nuts or artificial
flavours; a piece of candy * (UK:
sweets, confectionery)
(eye candy) someone particular
attractive in a sexy way.
a patience (solitaire) card game (UK:
Demon)
A (traditionally) skin-covered A similar boat propelled using a
boat propelled using one or double-bladed paddle (UK: kayak, also
two single-blade paddles (UK used in US)
also: Canadian canoe)
motorcar (n.) (UK, nonpowered unit in a railroad or
railway train ("railroad car"; "a
passenger/freight/parlor/dining/baggage
etc. car") (see s.v. motor car, trolley;
UK: cf. s.v. carriage, coach, wagon)
elevator (q.v.) cage
overland trading convoy

caretaker (n.) one who takes care of a
building, usu. a state-owned
building, i.e. school (US:
janitor; cf. s.v. custodian)
one put in charge of a farm
after eviction of tenant
carnival (v.)
carousel (n.)
carriage (n.) railway coach (q.v.) designed
for the conveyance of
passengers
the conveying of goods or the
price paid for it ("carriage-
paid"); "handling"
carry-on, (colloquial) carrying-on,
carryon unruly behaviour
cart a difficult or embarrassing
state ("he was put in the cart") vehicle (as that used in
casket (n.) a small box, as for jewels,
particularly an antique
casualty often, someone who has been
(person) wounded; hence casualty
department (US: emergency
room)
catapult small Y-shaped handheld
projectile weapon often used
by children (US: slingshot)
chaps [?] men and/or boys (but
increasingly used for people of
either sex; in the singular it
still almost exclusively refers
to a male, "Guys" has now
become a more popular phrase
in the UK) (US & UK: guys)
one's friends ("the chaps") (US
& UK: the guys)
cheeks - as in Bath Chaps -
stewed pigs' cheeks, a delicacy
check
checker
one who takes care of someone one who takes care of real estate in
or something
stopgap government or
provisional government
the days just preceding Lent
comic good times marked by
special events
a moving luggage/baggage
display unit, most often at
airports
4-wheeled horse-drawn private
passenger vehicle
usu. 2-wheeled one-horse
farming)
generally, someone who has
been injured or killed
a type of medieval siege
engine
an aircraft catapult
examine for a particular
purpose
a pattern of coloured squares
a warning given in chess
one that checks (e.g. an
inspector)
Page 10
exchange for rent-free living
accommodations *
a travelling circus or fair (UK: funfair)
comprising amusement rides
a rotating fairground ride (UK: merry-
go-round, roundabout)
(baby carriage) baby transport vehicle
featuring the infant laying down facing
the pusher (UK: perambulator, pram) –
more s.v. buggy
a shopping cart (primarily in North
Atlantic states)
luggage that can be carried aboard an
aircraft, bus, or train (UK: hand
luggage)
a lightweight wheeled vehicle, as for
shopping, serving, carrying baggage,
etc. (UK: trolley)
cartridge (primarily related to video
games)
The type of coffin with upholstery and
a half-open lid, any coffin
often, someone who has been killed;
see also casualty insurance
(v.) rise quickly
leather leggings worn by cowboys and
designed to protect the legs against
thorns (sometimes pronounced shaps),
short for "chaparajos"
leave items in the care of someone else
(e.g. at a cloakroom; hence checkroom)
(also check mark) mark used to denote
'correct' or indicate one's choice (UK:
tick, q.v.)
request for payment, especially at a
restaurant; bill
check is also the US spelling of UK
cheque
a store or shop cashier (almost always a
grocery store)
(checkers) a popular board game (UK:
draughts)
 Page 11

checker is also the US spelling of UK

chequer "pattern of alternating colored
squares"
cheers said to express gratitude in used as a toast or valediction
(interjection) England, or on parting (slang).
Also cheerio.
chemist pharmacist, pharmacy (US student or researcher of
similar: druggist, drugstore) chemistry
chip in to express one's opinion (as in to contribute (as money) (orig.
a conversation); to "chime in" US)
chips (food) French fries, although usu. French fries, in (orig. UK) thin slices of fried potato* (UK: crisps)
thicker cut than American fries phrase fish and chips
closer to American steak fries
chippie, carpenter (slang); loose woman (dated slang);
chippy fish-and-chip shop (slang) the N. American bird Chipping
(Scot, Ire: chipper) Sparrow
chum A popular brand of canned dog friend (sometimes sarcastic) (n.) waste products from fish
food (officially Pedigree processing (heads, tails, blood etc.)
Chum) often used for shark fishing
bum chum a derogatory term
for a male homosexual sex- (v.) to spread fish entrails etc. in the
partner. hope of luring sharks. "We chummed
the water all morning, but never spotted
any dorsal fins." Has some cross-over
usage metaphorically in non-fishing
situations.
cider an alcoholic drink derived a nonalcoholic drink derived from
from apples (US: hard cider) apples
Cinderella a team which underachieves, fairy tale character a lowly sports team or individual which
or is overshadowed by enjoys an unexpectedly good run in a
successful neighbouring rivals tournament
city a large town, in particular a a usually large or important
town created a city by charter municipality governed under a charter
and containing a cathedral granted by the state (however most
"The City": the City of smaller towns in the US are cities); an
London, London's financial element of a standard mailing address
centre, hence financial markets (UK "postal town")
and investment banking more
generally (c.f. US Wall Street)
clerk administrative worker (or salesclerk) store or shop worker
(UK: shop assistant)
hotel employee at the reservation desk
(UK: receptionist)
closet any small room (esp. Northern a private chamber for a cabinet or wardrobe, as for utensils or
England, Scotland, & Ireland); retirement apparel; in the latter case oftenest built-
hence water closet, a room in secret; (come out of the in; hence e.g. walk-in closet, linen
containing a flush toilet, later closet) to reveal what was closet, and skeleton in the closet * (UK
the toilet itself secret (especially in relation to also: in the cupboard) *
homosexuality)
coach bus with of higher standard of enclosed horse-drawn extracurricular sports teacher at a
comfort, usually chartered or passenger carriage school (UK: PE teacher)
used for longer journeys* sports trainer lowest class on a passenger aircraft
tutor, usu. private, who (UK: economy)
prepares pupils for
examinations *
railway carriage *
cob (mainly Northern & Central corncob The portion of a corn plant around
Eng.) a type of bread roll a building material which the kernels grow.
("Chip cob", "ham cob", "pack a type of horse
of six cobs please") a male swan
(pl.) large globules of sweat
("I'm sweating cobs")

cock (n.) form of address to a man
to gain attention or greet e.g. male chicken (US oftenest
"Wotcha cock!"
(n.) a popular personage e.g.
Cock o' the North
in cock up, to make a mess of
things; cock-up is the act or the
resulting state of affairs
collect To win a bet (from the idea of (v.) to gather together, to pick
picking up the winnings)
college part of the name of some state constituent part of some larger
secondary schools (US
approx.: high school) and
many independent schools (US
approx.: prep school)
educational institution between
school and university (e.g.
sixth form college, technical
college, college of further
education)
vocational training institution
professional association which
usu. grants some form of
professional qualifications,
mostly in the medical field
(e.g. Royal College of
Surgeons)
comforter a baby's dummy (q.v.)
commissioner professional head of the
Metropolitan Police and City
of London Police (US: chief of
police)
commode
compensation
concession reduction in price (discount)
for a certain category of person in politics, the action of a
condominium
Page 12
(n.) a male bird; esp., an adult
rooster)
(n.) penis (vulgar slang)
(v.) to set the hammer or firing
pin of a loaded firearm ready
for firing; likewise, to "cock
the shutter" of an old, spring-
activated camera
(n.) A type of tap, faucet, or
valve (e.g., a stopcock).
(adj., adv.) charged to the receiver ("to
up; (orig. US) to pick up a call collect", to reverse the charges) ("a
person or thing collect call") [from collect on delivery]
(n.) short prayer read during
the first part of a church
service as practised by certain
parts of the Christian faith;
mainly Anglican and Roman
Catholic.
an independent institution of higher
universities, especially ancient education (as a small university or a
universities division of a university) granting
bachelor's degrees
generic term for higher education, but
only at the undergraduate level
one who comforts quilted bedspread
political head of a police department
member of any commission
portable toilet for use in a normal toilet, in a bathroom (q.v.)
room without plumbing
the act of compensating remuneration received by employees
damages awarded for a legal (unemployment compensation)
wrong compensation paid to an unemployed
(workers' compensation) person (as a laid-off worker), arising
payment to injured workers from government resources
the action of conceding a lease or grant of premises or land for
a particular use, or the so contracted-
candidate yielding to another out service, as in concession stand, i.e.
an area within one country that a counter, stand or area at public
is administered by another entertainment venues where snacks
and/or drinks are sold, often at inflated
prices
a concession stand
a political territory (state or (also condo) a type of joint ownership
border area) in or over which of real property (as an apartment
two sovereign powers formally building)

constable technically, a police officer of
any rank, but usu. understood
to mean a police officer of the
lowest rank (one who holds no
other more specific rank) (US:
officer or patrolman)
construction
cooker an appliance for cooking food a pot or utensil for cooking in a person who cooks (UK always cook)
(US: cookstove, stove, range); ("pressure cooker", "rice
see also AGA cooker
a cooking apple, a large sour
apple used in cooking
cookie a bun (Scotland)
a biscuit of a particular variety, websites
usually containing chocolate
chips (often referred to as a
"chocolate chip cookie")
cop to take ("cop a look at this",
"cop one of these") (slang)
to be blamed for, be caught
("he'll cop it!") (slang)
copper low value coin, brown or
'copper' coloured (currently 1p police officer (slang, orig. UK)
and 2p coins)
large copper vessel used for
heating water and washing
clothes (archaic)
coriander the leaves of the coriander
plant, used as a herb (US:
cilantro or Chinese parsley)
corn wheat in England, oats in
Scotland and Ireland
any of various cereal plants or cob, corn flakes, popcorn
grains (US usu.: grain), also in horny swelling on the foot
combination (e.g. cornfield, a
field of any cereal)
(see also US)
cot infant bed; hence cot death
(US: crib)
coulee
court shoe a women's dress shoe with a
heel (US: pump, q.v.)
Page 13
in which portions of the
agree to share equally property are commonly owned and
dominium (in the sense of other portions are individually owned;
sovereignty) and exercise their an apartment in a condominium
rights jointly
peace officer in a township without an
organised police department
official who serves summonses (UK:
bailiff or sheriff's officer)
the act or process of building road construction and maintenance
or constructing; a structure; the work; roadwork ("a construction
construction industry area/zone") (UK: roadworks)
from construe: the assigning of
meaning to ambiguous terms
cooker", "slow cooker")
a small packet of information a small, flat baked cake * (UK usu.
stored on users' computers by biscuit, q.v.)
fellow, guy * ("a tough cookie"); also,
an attractive girl *
(that's the way the cookie crumbles)
that's how things go
(to toss one's cookies) to vomit
(cookie-cutter) trite, banal
a cook (army slang)
police officer (short for (cop a plea) (law, orig. slang) to plead
"copper") (slang) guilty to a lesser offence to not be tried
(cop a feel) to grope (slang) for a graver charge; compare plea
bargain
(cop a squat) to take a seat (slang)
the metallic element copper
the plant Coriandrum sativum
dried seeds of this plant
in both dialects, the principal Zea mays; originally known as Indian
crop cultivated in a particular corn (q.v.; UK usu.: maize or
region sweetcorn); hence cornfield, cornstarch
Indian Corn, in corn on the (UK: corn flour), corn bread, cornball,
cornblade, etc.
something corny *, hence cornball
camp bed
a (solidified) stream of lava (chiefly Western, orig. Canadian) a
deep steep-sided ravine formed by
erosion, or a small valley or stream
a type of athletic shoe used for sports
played on an indoor court, such as
volleyball or squash (UK similar:
plimsoll or regionally pump)
 Page 14

cowboy an unscrupulous or unqualified a cowhand working with livestock, a

tradesman
cracker small parcel that makes an
explosive report when pulled
from both ends, traditionally
pulled at Christmas
attractive woman (slang)
anything good ("the new
product is a cracker") (slang)
crèche day care, day nursery
creek tidal channel through a coastal
marsh (orig. sense)
crew
crib (n.) nativity scene, crèche (q.v.) *
crumpet an attractive female (slang)
cubicle A compartment in a bathroom A compartment in a larger area
with low walls that contains a separated from similar
toilet. (US: stall)
cuffs
cunt offensive (or sometimes
indulgent) term often applied
to men
custodian a football (soccer) goalkeeper
thin, hard, unsweetened biscuit an unsophisticated, typically rural
(formerly chiefly US, now
common everywhere)
body of people manning a
vehicle of any kind
gang of manual workers (e.g.
road crew)
group of friends or colleagues
("I saw him and his crew at the
bar")
a manger or rack, or stall for
cattle
a plagiarism, as of a student
("crib sheet")
cribbage
A savoury waffle-like cake
made from flour or potato and
yeast
adjoining compartments by
low walls, such as in an office
area.
The ends of a garment's
sleeves, furthest from the
wearer
short for handcuffs
vagina (usu. obscene)
a keeper or guardian of a
person or thing
legendary archetype found in wild west
genre works (UK: drover)
white person (also white cracker;
derogatory slang, southeastern US);
also, someone from Georgia or Florida
nativity scene, manger scene, crib
(q.v.) *
any inland stream of water smaller than
a river (other terms: UK: rill, gill; N.
Eng. & Scot.: burn; Eng. & New Eng.:
brook; Midland US: run)
rowing as a sport
small enclosed bedstead for a child;
hence crib death (UK: cot)
(informal) one's house or apartment
a bin for storing Indian corn
a structure of logs to be anchored with
stones; used for docks, dams, etc.
(orig. Canada) a small raft of timber
An arrangement at the bottom of
trouser-legs, in which the material is
folded back upon itself to form a trough
externally around the bottom of the leg.
(UK: turn-ups)
offensive, obscene term usu. applied to
women
one who cleans and maintains a
building; a building superintendent, a
janitor

D
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
daddy crane fly daddy long-legs spider harvestman
longlegs,
daddy-
long-legs
davenport a type of writing table * [both prob. from the names of their a type of couch, often convertible
resp. manufacturers; both old- into a bed
fashioned]
 Page 15

dead (of a cup, glass, or bottle) empty, deceased

finished with completely, perfectly ("dead
very, extremely ("dead good", straight", "dead on", "dead right")
"dead heavy", "dead rich") extremely quiet (e.g. business or
nightlife)
(dismissive usage) boring
dead beat, exhausted (slang) (US: dead tired) an idler; someone who does not
deadbeat pay their debts, often in
construction ("deadbeat dad")
(slang)
DC Detective Constable, a police direct current District of Columbia
officer who works in or with a (see also other expansions)
branch of CID.
deck (n.) the floor or level of a ship or
a pack of cards
other types of vehicles a wooden, raised platform
the roadway of a bridge adjoining a house, usu. enclosed
a recording device by a railing
(v.) to decorate for a festivity a packet of narcotics (slang)
("deck the halls with boughs of (v.) to pile up (logs) on a deck of
holly", "decked out with flags") logs or a skidway
to hit a person hard enough such (on deck) in baseball, the hitter due
that they fall to the floor (orig. US)
up next ("Albert is on deck, so
they must be careful to not walk
this batter."). A general usage
connotes availability, e.g. "Who's
on deck?" (Who is available to do
this?). Occasionally used to
indicate who is next in line.
depot a location (large building or piece a storehouse or depository; a a railroad station or bus terminal
of land) where buses, trams or location for the storage of military or station; also, an air terminal
trains are stored when not in use or naval supplies. A slow-release
and maintained drug injection (usu. psychiatric)
DI Detective inspector (police) Drill instructor (military)
diary personal calendar * (US: personal journal
appointment book, appointment
calendar, datebook)
digital a radio that receives a DAB signal. a radio with a digital display
radio
die (n.) tool used in metalworking to form singular of dice, numbered cube
a part under pressure used in games of chance (UK: dice
for both singular and plural)
dim (trans. to reduce the intensity of a to lower a vehicle headlight's
v.), domestic, industrial or other light; beam, typically when approaching
dimmer hence dimmer (switch) vehicles travelling in the opposite
(switch) direction at night (UK: dip); hence
dimmer switch (UK: dip switch)
diner one who dines ("a picky diner") railroad dining car (UK:
restaurant car)
a type of restaurant (especially
prevalent in New Jersey),
traditionally but not necessarily
often resembling a dining car
dip (trans. to lower a vehicle headlight's to lower into a liquid; esp., a sheep
v.), dip beam, typically when approaching or dog in chemical solution; to
switch vehicles travelling in the opposite lower and then raise
direction at night (US: dim); hence
dip switch (distinguished from
DIP switch) (US: dimmer switch)
(n.) a pickpocket (slang)
 Page 16

dirt substance(s) rendering something earth, soil *

unclean
incriminating evidence ("we've got
the dirt on him now")
diversion circuitous route to avoid deviation; recreation; tactic used to
roadworks (US: detour) draw attention away from the
action
dock water between or next to a pier or (v.) to reduce an employee's constructed place to moor a boat
wharf (US: berth, also used in UK, wages, usu. as discipline or engage in water sports (largely
or slip) interchangeable with pier or
section of a courtroom where the wharf, although often with a
accused sits during a trial * modifier, such as "ferry dock",
"swimming dock", etc.)
docker dockworker, stevedore * (US: one that docks (as tails of animals)
longshoreman)
dogging various kinds of public sexual pursuing diligently as a dog would insulting in a persistent fashion,
activity often referring to the dozens
dollar 5 shilling coin or equivalent major unit of currency of the USA
amount (obsolete; used in slang
until early 1970s, especially in
"half-dollar" = half-crown, but
some re-stamped Spanish dollar
coins were used in the UK in the
late 18th/early 19th century)
dormitory, (n. or usu. adj.) (part of) a town (n.) large sleeping-room with building with many small private
dorm where commuters live, usually many beds,* typically in a rooms, as for housing the students
dormitory town (US: bedroom or boarding school ("a sleeping of a college (UK: hall(s) of
bedroom community) dormitory"; usu. abbreviated to residence, hostel)
dorm)
dormitory car — railway sleeping
car
drape (v.) to hang limply (n., usu. pl.) curtain
draw (n.) cannabis (slang) an act of drawing, or something a ditch that draws water off an area
drawn of land
a game result in which no a shallow valley or gully
player/team wins (also tie)
dresser a type of cupboard or sideboard a chest of drawers, usu. with a
(furniture) esp. for kitchen utensils * looking glass (UK: dressing-table)
drop (of several (fluid) ounces ("just a drop droplet (less than a milliliter)
liquid) of tea, please") (meiotic usage)
duck a score of zero by a batsman in (n.) a bird of the family Anatidae
cricket, supposedly derived from
the zero-like shape of a duck's egg. (v.) to lower the head or body
Hence to "break one's duck": to suddenly, to dodge
score one's first run. c.f. US: "get (v.) to plunge under the surface of
the monkey off one's back" water
(n.) a heavy cotton fabric
a term of endearment
duff of poor quality a type of pudding vegetable matter on the forest floor
non-functional coal dust * (also in Scotland)
(up the duff) pregnant (slang, buttocks (colloquial)
originally Australian)
dummy rubber teat for babies (US: mannequin, especially for
pacifier) automobile crash tests
fake, usu. legal
idiot (slang)
the contract bridge player who
faces his hand after the
bidding/auction
dungarees sturdy protective bib trousers (cf. (slightly dated) jeans (blue denim
s.v. overall) jeans)
 Page 17

duplex composed of two parts (or duplex house) an often

two direction (electronical
signalling)
vertically divided two-family
dwelling *
(or duplex apartment) an
apartment on two levels *
(duplex locomotive) a large steam
locomotive with two sets of
driving wheels

E
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
earth safety connection of an electrical the planet Earth
circuit, or to connect (an electrical soil
device) to this (US: ground) the burrow of some animals
efficiency the quality of being efficient (or efficiency apartment) a
minimal often furnished
apartment, similar to a studio
apartment (UK: compare bedsit)
el (L) letter identifying a learner the letter L an elevated railway (as that of
driver; see L-plate Chicago or the now-defunct Third
Avenue El in New York City)
elevator flap on the back of an aeroplane platform or cage moved vertically
used to control pitch in a shaft to transport people and
moving belt to transport grain, hay goods to various floors in a
bales, etc. building (UK: lift)
building for grain storage (in full
grain elevator)
engaged in use – of a toilet/bathroom stall committed; involved in something
(adj.) (US: occupied; but the opposite is betrothed
vacant in both); of a telephone line
(US & UK also: busy), hence
engaged tone (US: busy signal)
engineer a technician or a person that one employed to design, build or one who operates an engine, esp. a
mends and operates machinery repair equipment locomotive (UK: engine driver)
practitioner of engineering
entrée starter (q.v.) of a meal (usu. "the entrée") right of entry, main course of a meal
(traditionally, the course served insider-type access
between the fish and the joint, but
now used for any starter)
estate any defined area of real property, grounds of a large piece of real
as in housing estate (US: property which features a mansion
subdivision), council estate (US: and beautiful landscaping
housing project) or trading estate property left by a deceased person
(US: industrial park)
car with van-shaped body (US:
station wagon)
evergreen non-deciduous, a non-deciduous (n.) branchlets or sprigs of an
plant evergreen tree, usually a conifer
eternally youthful, new etc. such as pine, spruce or fir, often
used as a Christmas decoration
wrapped around human-made
structures

F
Word British English meanings
faculty
fag cigarette (slang) *
(in England; obs.) young public
schoolboy who acted as a servant
for older pupils
drudgery, chore ("it is such a fag –
I come back tired to death" – J.
Austen)
faggot kind of meatball (see faggot
(food)), bundle of sticks, usu. for
use as firewood (old-fashioned;
often spelled fagot).
fall to become pregnant. (Either as in 'I descend or tumble
fell pregnant' or as in 'She fell for a become sick, come down with an
baby.');
fancy (v.) (v.) exhibit a fondness or
preference for something; exhibit
an interest in or willingness to:
date/court someone, commit some
act, or accept some item of trade
fanny vagina (slang), vulva (vulgar
slang)
(fanny about or fanny around, very
mildly vulgar slang) to mess about
or prevaricate ("Stop fannying
about and hit it with the hammer")
featherbed bed or mattress stuffed with
feathers (usually 2 words)
(v.) to pamper, to spoil
fender
fifth
filth (the filth) the police (derogatory dirt, disgusting substance
slang)
first
degree
first floor the floor above ground level (US:
(of a second floor)
building)
Page 18
Meanings common to British American English meanings
and American English
division of a university, dealing academic staff of a school, college
with a specific group of disciplines or university
(e.g. faculty of arts)
(v.) to tire, exhaust ("the fagged male homosexual (short for
whale abated his speed" – H. faggot) (insulting slang) *
Melville) (obs. usage in US)
Male homosexual (insulting slang)
(see faggot (slang)).
autumn
illness ("he fell ill") (uncommon in
US)
US colloq. equiv. of "to fancy" is
"to like" something or someone (or
regarding tastes and preferences,
"to love"); "fancy" as a verb is
now used in the US almost solely
by UK ex-pats, but was once oft-
used by Southern gentility (landed
gentry)
buttocks (colloquial); hence fanny
pack (UK: bum bag)
to require that more workers are quilt, or comforter, stuffed with
hired than are needed, often by feathers for use on top of the
agreement with trade unions mattress (but underneath a sheet
and the sleeping person) (UK:
mattress topper)
a fire screen fender (vehicle): the part of an
a cushioning device to protect the automobile, motorcycle or other
side of a boat, ship, or dock vehicle body that frames a wheel
well (UK: mudguard or wing)
a frame fitted in front of a vehicle
(locomotive or automobile) to
absorb shock (UK: bumper - see
Bumper (automobile))
ordinal number 5: 20% (one-fifth) bottle of spirits ("A fifth of
bourbon"); such bottles
traditionally contain 1/5 of a US
gallon; to "plead the Fifth
(Amendment)"(esp. testifying
against oneself in an incriminating
manner)
obscene material
the least serious category of burn the most serious category of a
(see article) crime; of murder, carries a lifetime
prison- or death-sentence (also
informal murder one; see article)
the floor at ground level (often,
but not always, the same floor as a
building's lobby) (UK: ground
floor)

fit (adj.) (of a person) attractive, sexy
(slang)
fix (v.) to make firm, fasten, or attach *
(the original sense, no longer very to sterilise (an animal)
common in US)
to set or arrange (as a date) * ("A underhandedly ("To fix a fight by
time has been fixed")
flapjack flat oat cake (US: granola bar)
flannel a cloth for washing the face or
body (US: washcloth)
flat (n.) self-contained housing unit
(US: apartment)
(adj., of a battery) discharged,
exhausted, dead
flip-flop
fluid liquid measure equal to 28.41
ounce (fl. millilitres
oz.)
flyover elevated road section (i.e. long
road bridge, US: overpass)
football (usually) Association football (US:
soccer). Less frequently applied to
Rugby football (espec. Rugby
Union in English private schools).
footpath a paved strip for pedestrian use,
especially along the side of a road traffic
(US: sidewalk)
forty (40)
forward one who plays in a forward
position in rugby, i.e. one who
takes part in scrums.
(of a person) in good physical
condition
suitable for some purpose (usu.
followed by for or to)
to repair (orig. US)
to manipulate usually
paying a boxer to take a dive.")
particular type of fabric/material
used for the manufacture of
trousers or suits, but more
commonly recognised in America
as a fabric used in warm winter
night clothes and sheets
(adj.) level and smooth
structured at a single level, not
hierarchical
a type of footwear (see article for an about-face or U-turn (UK also:
synonyms)
a type of electronic circuit
a narrow trail suitable only for foot
the number 4 × 10
an area to the front
an outgoing disposition
a position in football (soccer) in
front of midfielders
Page 19
to adjust or prepare, esp. food or
beverage * ("I'll fix you a
sandwich")
(esp. South) to get ready ("I'm
fixing to retire")
to get even with (someone) [1]
(fix up) to provide
pancake
(n.) a flat tyre/tire *
an apartment that occupies the
entire floor of a small building
(upstate New York); used also in
phrases such as railroad flat
about-turn), as in politics
liquid measure equal to 29.57
milliliters
ceremonial aircraft flight (UK:
flypast)
an elongated left-turn ramp
passing over or under the whole
highway interchange
the flyover is a term for middle
America, as distinct from the
'coasts'.
American football
a 40 acre parcel of land,
specifically one sixteenth of a
section, constituting the smallest
unit of agricultural land commonly
surveyed ("back 40", "front 40").
an undeveloped plot of land (as on
a farm, ranch, etc.) of unspecified
size.
in an urban or youth setting, "a 40-
ounce beer".
a position in basketball, nowadays
split into power forwards, who
tend to play closer to the basket,
and small forwards, who tend to
either shoot from the perimeter or
drive from the perimeter to the
basket.
 Page 20

fourth
fringe arrangement of locks of hair on the the outer area of something
forehead (US: bangs)
frock (or smock-frock) outer garment
formerly common in rural Europe,
see also overall
(also short frock) indoor garment knee length, usually worn as an
for children and young girls *
a woman's dress or gown (dated) *
frog French person (insulting slang)
full stop punctuation mark used at the end
of a sentence, sometimes used in
speech for emphasis ("Whom does
he support? Arsenal, full stop!")
(US: period, q.v.)
furnace
next after third (e.g. the fourth one of four equal parts into which
person, fourth floor) something is divided (UK & US
sometimes also quarter, q.v.)
A musical interval
a decorative border e.g. on
clothing
holding an extreme political
position ("lunatic fringe")
habit of monks and friars
(also frock coat) a style of
gentleman's jacket or coat, cut at
outer garment.
an amphibian
complete stop (as of traffic) [2]
large hearth or container for principal domestic heat source in
heating or melting metal, usually central heating based on water or
for an industrial process steam (UK: boiler)

G
Word British English meanings
gagging (especially as in gagging for it)
desperate, especially for sex
gallon 4.54609 litres (about 6/5 of US
gallon)
garage fuel filling station, e.g. "a Texaco
(see also garage" (also petrol station, US:
pronunciation gas station)
differences) a genre of music
garnish
gas
geezer gangster, man (esp. Cockney)
general The second highest rank in the
British army (second to field
marshal).
give way to give the right of way (to
vehicles, pedestrians, etc.); hence
give way sign (US: yield [the
right of way] )
Meanings common to British
American English meanings
and American English
choking
fighting the urge to vomit ("that
was so disgusting, I was
gagging")
3.78541 litres (about 5/6 of UK
gallon)
place where vehicles are repaired (parking garage) building serving
building attached to or in the as a public parking facility (UK:
grounds of a residence for storing multistorey car park or just
a car multistorey)
(n. (v.)) (to add) decorative or (v.) to take (as a debtor's wages)
savory touches to (food or drink) by legal authority
(v.)to furnish
state of matter (see gas) gasoline, hence gas station (UK:
natural gas petrol)
gas pedal (UK: accelerator)
flatulence
air trapped in the stomach or
intestines (UK: wind)
old person (derogatory; UK: old
geezer [not derog.])
The basics of a subject. The Highest rank in the US army.
to retreat; to break down
 Page 21

glaze general term for thin shiny a slippery coating of ice (also
coatings applied to food, painted known as sleet, q.v.); a stretch of
surfaces, clayware, etc.; a glossy ice
surface
gob (n.) mouth; (v., slang) to spit lump a large amount ("gobs of")
(slang) a sailor
go down to leave a university (as Oxford) to be accepted or remembered to go on, happen (often a major
(fig.) to come down (with an illness) event, e.g. a drug bust "it's going
down right now!" or "it went
down last week". But also used as
a greeting, "What's going
down?"); oral sex
goods items to be transported (as by useful objects or services;
railway) ("a goods train") (US & products; merchandising;
UK also: freight) personal property
incriminating evidence ("we have
the goods on him")
gooseberry supernumerary third person a green hairy summer fruit
preventing a couple from courting (Ribes hirtellum in the USA),
(US: third wheel) (Ribes grossularia in Europe)
government the cabinet or executive branch the act or office of governing the collective agency through
(US: the administration) which government is exercised
the political party supporting the (UK: the state)
cabinet in parliament all such individual agencies (UK:
the public sector)
grade a level of music examination (n. & v.) teacher's assessment of a level or year of a student in
(education) ("Guitar grade 4". Usually refers student's work (UK also mark) elementary, middle, or high
to ABRSM. school ("in 10th grade") (UK
equiv.: year); hence grader, a
student in a specified grade ("a
10th grader")
(grade school, the grades)
elementary school
see also Grade Point Average
grade (other) (n.) a rating, degree, or level; (v.) (n.) slope, gradient, or elevation;
to lay out in grades also ground level ("at grade",
[US meaning generated grade "over grade"); hence grade
separation and the idiom make crossing (UK: level crossing)
the grade] (v.) to level (as a roadbed), hence
grader, construction machine for
doing this *
graduate (v.) to finish university with a degree to move from a lower to higher to finish studying at any
(education) relating to a student at the point stage; to effect change in steps; to educational institution by passing
graduate of gaining, or who has recently mark with units of measurement relevant examinations
(adj.) completed, a degree or other divisions. relating to a student taking a
(education) higher degree (UK equiv.:
"postgraduate"), eg. graduate
school
graft hard work to join or connect two separate
but similar items (typically in
biology, especially medicine and
horticulture)
a form of political-economic
corruption
grass an informant (often to the police) green ground cover grazing; to feed (livestock) with
(to grass on) to tell on somebody marijuana grass (UK: at grass, to put out to
(US: to squeal) grass)
grammar a type of secondary school, elementary school (less common
school normally a selective state funded today)
school
 Page 22

grill to cook directly under a dry heat to question intensely (informal) to cook over a gas or coal fire
source (US: broil) (UK: barbecue)
ground floor the floor at ground level (US lower of two floors that are each
(of a usu.: first floor) at a different ground level due to
building) sloping terrain (UK: lower
ground floor)
guard the official in charge of a railway to watch over for security military division used to help the
train (US & now UK also: one who guards country after a disaster
conductor) a protective device
in football, one of two offensive
positions on either side of the
center or a defensive position
across from the center (nose-
guard)
one of two positions in
basketball, usually players who
are the best ball-handlers and
shooters. Usually smaller than the
forwards or center. Most common
division is between point guards
(playmakers) and shooting guards
(more often score-first).
guff extraneous or useless things, nonsense, insolent talk, back talk
ideas, or
paperwork/documentation; also to
break wind ("Have you guffed,
Dr Watson?")
gum cement consisting of a sticky a type of confectionery composed
substance that is used as an of chicle used for chewing
adhesive (US usually: glue)
gutted disappointed and upset (informal) past tense of gut: eviscerated;
plundered; despoiled; made
powerless and/or ineffectual
(of a building) stripped of interior
structure, leaving only frame and
exterior walls (e.g.by fire)
gyro (see also giro) gyroscope a sandwich, the Greek gyro, more
familiar to Americans than the
similar Turkish döner kebab,
which is more common in Britain

H
Word British English meanings
haberdasher a dealer in small items and
accessories, as for sewing; hence
haberdashery (US: notions)
half half pint of beer, cider or lager
halfway a place where victims of child
house abuse, orphans or teenage
runaways can stay, a shelter
hamper large basket for food (especially
picnic hamper, Christmas
hamper)
hash number sign, octothorpe (#) (US:
pound sign)
Meanings common to British
American English meanings
and American English
a dealer in men's apparel and
accessories; hence haberdashery
fifty percent/0.5 times.
drug rehabilitation or sex offender
centre
to impede or hinder basket for clothes that need
washing (UK: Linen basket or
laundry basket)
hashish
Hash (food), beef and other
ingredients mashed together into a
coarse paste

highway (chiefly in official use) public
road; see Highway Code
hike
hire to rent * (as a car); rental
(hire purchase) a purchase carried
out over time by making regular
payments (US: installment plan)
hob the flat top surface of a cooking trouble (as in "raising hob" -
stove (US: cooktop)
a part of a fireplace
an elf
hock a German wine ("down their four- hock (zoology)
and-twenty throats went four-and-
twenty imperial pints of such rare
old hock" – Charles Dickens) (US:
Rhine wine)
Hock tide, an ancient holiday
hockey hockey played with a ball on grass hockey played on a hard surface hockey played on ice with a puck
(field hockey) *
hog (dialect) a yearling sheep
hole-in-the- automatic teller machine, cash
wall machine (informal)
holiday see Bank Holiday
(often pl.) time taken off from
work, school, etc., including the
period between school terms (US:
break, vacation)
recreational trip away from home
(US: vacation)
home (noun): condition of domesticity,
or one's permanent and regular
shelter, but not the physical
structure or property.
(highway robbery) something too main road (as between cities)
expensive; see also highwayman (divided or dual highway) a road
a usu. recreational walk
chiefly US)
(UK has less common "playing
hob")
(e.g. concrete) or indoors
to take more than one's fair share adult pig
of something
(road hog) motorist who holds up such as a Harley-Davidson
other traffic by driving slowly or
out of lane; any bad driver
day when people are generally
exempt from work, school, etc.
Page 23
with two roadways and at least
four lanes (UK: dual carriageway)
(highway post office) in the past, a
bus transporting mail that was
sorted en route
an increase in amount (as in
wages) *
(to take a hike) to go away (also
used as a command)
to employ, recruit *; a person who
is recruited
pawn (n. & v.) ("I can borrow a
dime from the barber, an' I got
enough junk to hock for a
blowout" – Jack London); prison
(both from Dutch) *
debt
the end of a smoked ham *
to hock-a-loogie, to spit.
(ice hockey) *
motorcycle, especially a large one
a small, out-of-the-way place, as a
restaurant, with a negative
connotation. However, often used
to preface a compliment, e.g. "just
a hole-in-the-wall place you've
never heard of, but they serve the
best steak in the city."
see Federal holiday
(the Holidays) the days
comprising Christmas and New
Year's Day (and Hanukkah), and
often also Thanksgiving (used esp.
in the phrase "happy Holidays")
festival, whether or not generally
entailing a public holiday:
"Halloween is my favorite
holiday"
In AmE widely used also to mean
the physical structure and
property, and references to them,
e.g., "home loans",
"homeowners", and "tract homes".
This usage is overwhelmingly
predominant in commercial
language and public discourse,
e.g. "the home mortgage crisis".
 Page 24

home run final part of a distance, final effort a success (from baseball) (also homer) a four-base hit in
needed to finish (US: baseball
homestretch) (slang) sexual intercourse; more
s.v. base
homely (of a house) comfortable, cozy, (only used of a person) plain, ugly
rustic (US: homey)
(of a person) home-loving,
domesticated, house-proud
hood the folding fabric top on a head covering forming part of a hinged cover over the engine in a
convertible car (US: convertible garment car (UK: bonnet)
top) component of academic regalia a contraction of neighborhood,
especially regarding a poor
neighborhood
short for hoodlum, a tough,
destructive young man, or
generically any criminal
hooker in rugby football, the player prostitute (informal) *
position in the centre front of the
scrum
hooter steam whistle or siren in a factory (hooters) female breasts (vulgar
or other large workplace sounded slang)
as a signal for beginning or
ceasing work
car horn
nose
horny (adj., sexually attractive sexually excited craving sexual satisfaction
slang)
hump a state of depression (dated) ("to a rounded mass sticking out from (n. & v.) (to make) a vigorous
be in a hump") its surroundings effort ("hump yourself", "to get a
a state of annoyance ("to get the (v., vulgar slang) engage in sexual hump on") (regional)
hump") intercourse, animals breeding or (n.) a mountain barrier to be
a traffic calming tool ("a speed trying to breed crossed (as by air)
hump") * (US & UK: speed see also rail terminology (hump day) Wednesday
bump)
to move a heavy load by human
effort a short distance

I
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
icebox cabinet containing ice for food refrigerator
refrigeration
ice pick ice axe, a tool with a pointed end small awl-like tool for breaking
used by rock- and mountain- ice into small pieces for drinks
climbers for splitting ice
immediately (conj., informal) as soon as ("I (adv.) directly; in no time
await your call immediately you
get this message")
Indian corn Zea mays (historical or technical; A particular variety of maize/corn,
usually, UK maize or sweetcorn, with multicolored kernels, used
US corn, q.v.) for decorations
indicator direction-indicator light on a one that indicates
vehicle (US: turn signal)
inspector lowest supervisory rank above senior rank in some police
(police) sergeant (rough US equivalent: departments (rough UK
lieutenant) equivalent: superintendent)
intern replacement (v.) to confine (as during a war, or (n.) one (as a graduate or college
to a hospital)
(adj., archaic) internal
 Page 25

student) temporarily employed for

practical training, e.g. in the
science, engineering, or
technology fields; esp., in the
medical field, a physician (rough
UK equivalent: houseman) in
their first year of postgraduate
training
(v.) to work as an intern
international Pertaining to or common to more Foreign, not from the USA.
than one country. ("International version of software
for country xxx", in British
English this is a contradiction in
terms.)
interval break between two performances a gap in space or time; see interval (esp. New England, also spelled
or sessions, as in theatre (US: (music), interval (mathematics), intervale) low-lying land, as near
intermission) interval (time) a river (US also bottomland)
inventory itemisation of goods or objects (of the stock of an item on hand in a
an estate, in a building, etc.) store or shop
the process of producing an
inventory in a store or shop (UK:
stocktaking)
IRA Irish Republican Army [listed Individual Retirement Account
here to reflect common usage]

J
Word British English meanings
jab an injection with a hypodermic
needle, as in the case of an
inoculation (US: shot)
jam a preserve made from fruits boiled
in sugar and set with pectin (US:
jelly), especially including the
seeds of the fruit
jelly a fruit flavoured dessert set with
gelatin (US: Jell-O (trademark),
gelatin dessert (generic))
Jesse (often as Big Jesse, derogatory
insult for a man) Non-macho,
effeminate, sometimes gay.
jock a Scotsman or a Scottish Terrier
(Scottie) (slang)
a private soldier (slang) (UK:
squaddie)
joint piece of meat for carving *
(slang) hand-rolled cigarette
containing cannabis and tobacco
jolly very (informal) (as in jolly good) happy; jovial
jug any container with a handle and a (jugs) breasts (slang)
mouth or spout for liquid (US:
pitcher)
jumper a knitted upper body garment (US: jump shot in basketball
sweater)
Meanings common to British
and American English
(informal) to stab, thrust, or
penetrate
traffic hold-up
a preserve made from the liquid of
fruits boiled in sugar and set with
pectin, without pieces of fruit
(e.g.'redcurrant jelly')
A male name (uncommon in the
UK). A shortening of the female
name Jessica.
connection between two objects or (slang) hand-rolled cigarette
bones
an establishment, especially a
disreputable one ("a gin joint";
"let's case the joint") (slang, orig.
US)
Non-permanent electrical
connection, especially on a PCB
American English meanings
certain kinds of fruit preserve,
especially the kinds with pieces of
fruit left in: strawberry jam
a preserve made from fruits boiled
in sugar and set with pectin (UK:
jam), especially including the
seeds of the fruit
slang term for an athlete
slang term for the undergarment
called an athletic supporter or jock
strap
containing only cannabis
(slang) prison ("in the joint")
large container with a narrow
mouth and handle for liquids
(similar to UK pitcher)
pinafore dress
jump suit

K
Word British English meanings
kebab commonly a döner kebab
(sometimes doner or donner
kebab), strips of meat (usu. lamb
or chicken) cooked by being
heated on a revolving device and
served stuffed in a pita bread (In
the US, the Greek varieties
souvlaki or gyro are better known
than the Turkish döner)
keen eager or intent on, example: he is
keen to get to work on time.
keeper a curator or a goalkeeper
kit clothing, esp. a sports uniform
(e.g. football kit)
klaxon (slang) a fool, idiot
kleenex
knickers women's underwear (US: panties)
knob A dim-witted person
The penis, or specifically the glans
(slang, vulgar) ("polishing the
knob")
knock up to practise before tennis
to awaken or summon by
knocking
L
Word British English meanings
ladder a run (vertical split) in the fabric of a vertical or inclined set of rungs
tights
lavatory toilet
lay by (v.), (n.) roadside parking or rest area (v.) to lay aside
lay-by (n.) for drivers
Page 26
Meanings common to British
American English meanings
and American English
(often spelled "kabob" in the US)
meat served on a skewer together
with onions, tomatoes, etc. (e.g.
shish kebab)
desirable or just right, example:
"peachy keen" – "That's a pretty
keen outfit you're wearing." (slang
going out of common usage)
one that keeps (as a gamekeeper or a type of play in American football
a warden) ("quarterback keeper")
something of significance ("that's
a keeper"). Can be used in many
contexts. Often used in sports
fishing to refer to a fish not
released.
any of various sets of equipment a group of person or objects ("the
or tools whole kit and (ca) boodle/billing")
a set of parts to be assembled, e.g.
into a scale model
Trademark (somewhat generic) for
a mechanical alarm or horn used in
submarines and early automobile
models
specific brand of disposable paper any disposable paper handkerchief
handkerchief (Kleenex) (from tradename)
knickerbockers
a rounded door handle
to prepare quickly ("Knock us up to impregnate* (slang, sometimes
something to eat" — L.M. Alcott) vulgar)
Meanings common to British
American English meanings
and American English
or steps.
closet in passenger vehicles (e.g. washbasin, place for washing
trains) containing a toilet and
washbasin/sink.
(n.) a last cultivating in the
to stow growing of a crop
(v.) to cultivate (a crop) for the last
time

lead (rhyming with "speed") a cable
(US: cord), or a dog's leash
leader newspaper editorial
main violin in an orchestra (US:
concertmaster)
see also Leader of the Opposition
lecturer the entry-level academic rank at a
university (below Senior Lecturer,
Reader, and Professor) (US:
"assistant professor")
lemonade clear, carbonated, lemon-flavoured
drink similar to Sprite and 7Up
(lemon and lime flavoured)
let to rent (as real property) * ("rooms
to let")
(n.) the act of renting; rented
premises
(let out) to reveal
levee, an early afternoon assembly held
by the King or Queen, to which
only men were admitted (Always
levée, with accent)
leverage
liberal a person who generally supports
(politics) the ideas of the UK Liberal
Democrats, a centre left-party
life a type of weapon for self-defence
preserver (US: blackjack)
lift (n.) platform or cage moved vertically ride as a passenger in a vehicle (as an elevation in mood, "I got a lift
in a shaft to transport people and in, to give someone a lift)
goods to various floors in a
building (US: elevator)
line (see also track)
liquor the broth resulting from the
prolonged cooking of meat or
vegetables. Green liquor is
traditionally served with pie and
mash in the East End of London
to guide through
one who leads
someone who gives a lecture
allow, give permission.
leave (as in let him be or let it be)
ease (as in let up on the
accelerator)
indicate (as in don't let on)
a first bad serve which is allowed
to be retaken, as in tennis, table
tennis, and volleyball
a reception in honour of a
particular person
mechanical advantage of a lever
a person who holds the political
ideals of Liberalism.
item placed in shoe to increase the
height of the wearer, normally
plural (lifts, elevator shoes)
a breadthless length
Page 27
a pipe for carrying water ("rain
water leader")
non-carbonated drink made by
mixing lemon juice, sugar, and
water (UK: traditional lemonade)
(let out) to end (of school,
meetings, etc.)
an embankment on a river (as the
Mississippi River)
the steep bank of a river, or border
of an irrigated field
(esp. Southern & Western US) a
landing place or quay
take advantage of a capability
(business)
the use of debt finance (UK:
gearing)*
knowledge not immediately
revealed to be used to one's
advantage
a person who advocates modern
liberalism; see American
liberalism
life vest, personal flotation device
(UK: lifebelt or lifejacket)
just talking with her."
a group of persons, usually waiting
for something, arranged in order of
arrival (UK: queue)
a lie, short for a line of bull
a phrase used for hitting on
women, short for pickup line
to hit a line drive (a hard straight
shot) in baseball
a distilled beverage *
(hard liquor) strongly alcoholic
beverage; spirits
(liquor store) retail establishment
selling liquor (usu. for
consumption off the premises)
(UK similar: off-licence) ("I held
up and robbed a hard liquor store"
– Paul Simon)
 Page 28

loaded the state of a firearm with bullets drunk or high

or shells in its firing chamber.
bearing a load.
(slang; of a person) rich
lot (the lot) the whole thing (US (a lot) a great deal a measured plot of land; a portion
similar: the whole schmear or a number of things (or, informal, of land set for a particular purpose
enchilada or ball of wax or people) taken collectively ("a building lot"), e.g. for parking
shebang) fate, fortune ("parking lot") or selling ("used
a prize in a lottery car lot") automotive vehicles. But
also a "vacant lot"
a film studio
lounge a room for relaxation and a room for relaxation in a public a bar
entertainment in a house place
(lounge bar) part of a pub
love (in informal term of address beloved person, darling (- often a
addressing term of endearment)
people)
loveseat a seat which accommodates two a two-seater couch
people facing in opposite
directions. Can be wooden or
padded.
lox liquid oxygen (engineering) thin-sliced smoked salmon,
commonly consumed on bagels
lugs (n.) ears (lugholes) a small projection (engineering) a lug nut fastens a tire to the
wheel, (UK wheel nut).
a "big lug" is usually a term of
endearment for a large shy, goofy
man.
lumber (n.) disused items (as furniture)*; (v.) to move awkwardly or heavily (n.) timber that has been sawed
hence lumber room ("he lumbered out the door") and (partly) prepared for
(v.) to encumber (as with such construction or woodworking;
items) ("I was lumbered with hence lumberyard (UK:
work") timberyard), lumber camp,
lumberjack, lumberman, lumber
wagon, lumber town, etc.
(v.) to log and prepare timber
to make a rolling sound (dated)
lush attractive (usu. used by women in luxuriant an alcoholic * especially female
(slang; of reference to men - principally
a person) West Country)

M
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
mac raincoat; abbreviation of a brand of Apple inc. computers; (Slang; proper n.) A term of
Macintosh abbreviation of Macintosh. informal address used with male
strangers; generally implies more
unfriendliness or disapproval than
the more neutral 'pal' or 'buddy':
"Get your car out of my way,
Mac!" Stereotypically used by
working-class New Yorkers such
as cab drivers. UK generally
'mate'. Cf. 'Jack.'
macintosh raincoat (often shortened to mac) a brand of Apple inc. computers
(often shortened to Mac)
(wrongly) McIntosh Red, a type
of apple
 Page 29

mad eccentric * insane enraged *

very, or a large amount of
something (slang, as in "he has
mad skills")
mail (used in Royal Mail, the name of (n.) the postal system of a nation (v.) send a letter (UK: post or
the British postal system; cf. letters, packages, etc. sent by post; send); noun originated mail
postal) as delivered to individual, orig. carrier & mailman (UK:
(Scot.) a payment (tax, rent, etc.) US, UK often post postman), mailbox (UK: postbox;
(Scot.) a travelling bag or pack (n. & v.) email letter box), mail slot, mail drop,
etc.
mailbox a file for storing electronic mail an item of street furniture serving
(UK: mail (or related computing or as a receptacle for outgoing mail
box) voicemail usage) (UK: post box; letter box; pillar
box); a receptacle for incoming
paper mail (UK: letter box)
main line, a major railway line (as the West a major vein (as for drug injection a railroad's primary track, or a
mainline Coast Main Line); compare trunk purposes) (orig. 1930s US slang); primary artery, route, road, or
also used as a v. connection
Pennsylvania Main Line
mainline Protestant churches
major (in the past, in English public important or significant (n.) a college/university student's
schools) used to denote the eldest (n.) rank between captain and main field of specialization ("his
of two or more pupils with the lieutenant colonel in the army and major is physics"); the student
same surname ("Bloggs major") marines. himself ("he is a physics major");
(v.) to pursue a major ("he
majored in physics") (compare
minor; UK: compare read)
(n.) rank between captain and
lieutenant colonel in the air force
(UK squadron leader) and in some
police agencies (UK approx.
superintendent).
majority the greatest number of votes more than half of all votes (UK:
(politics) difference of votes between first absolute majority)
and second place (US: plurality)
make out to draw up, to seek to make it to kiss (see Making out) (UK: to
appear, to fabricate a story snog)
to see with difficulty; to to succeed or profit ("She made
understand the meaning of out well on that deal.") *
mangle a machine with two rollers, used to damage, disfigure, mutilate or
to extract water from wet fabric destroy
(US: wringer)
marinara a sauce containing seafood, usu. a sauce containing tomatoes and
(sauce) in a tomato base herbs, with no seafood or meat
(UK: napolitana sauce)
marquee large, open-sided tent installed signage placed over the entrance
outdoors for temporary functions to a hotel, theatre, or cinema
* (attrib.) the ability (of a show) to
draw audience, "box
office" ("marquee value")
a prominent celebrity or athlete
("marquee player")
mate friend (US: pal) animal's sexual partner spouse or partner
informal term of address ("hello checkmate, the winning of a game
mate") of chess
an officer on a merchant ship
mean (adj.) stingy, miserly, selfish * of inferior quality, contemptible unpleasant, unkind, vicious *
a statistical average (see mean)
median a statistical average (see median) the portion of a divided highway
geometric median used to separate opposing traffic
median nerve (UK central reservation)
 Page 30

meet with to face (as a situation), experience to have a meeting with (as people)
("If you can meet with triumph ("Vice president meets with Iraqi
and disaster, and treat those two officials", CNN) * (UK generally
impostors just the same" - meet (transitive) or meet up with)
Kipling) [3]
meter measuring instrument, including the basic unit of length in the
electric meter, gas meter, etc. metric system * (UK usu.: metre)
mezzanine intermediate floor between main lowest balcony in a theatre, or the
floors of a building first few rows of seats thereof
(UK usu. dress circle)
mid-Atlantic in the middle of the Atlantic middle of the Atlantic coast of the
Ocean, half-way between UK & USA (exact definition of Mid-
US Atlantic States may vary)
military [?] relating specifically to the British relating to armed forces in general (adj.) relating to any of the
Army individual branches of the armed
forces
(n.) armed forces
minor (in the past, in English public not very important (n.) secondary academic subject
schools) used to denote the see minor (law), minor (music) (compare major) ("has a major in
youngest of two or more pupils (n.) a person under the age of 18 biology and a minor in English");
with the same surname ("Bloggs years, generally, and for legal (v.) to study as one's minor ("she
minor") reasons more specifically (as in minored in English")
"the name of the defendant is minor league;
withheld because he is a minor"),
or under an age legally required
for certain behavior (such as
purchasing alcohol), or under the
age of consent.
miss out to omit to lose a chance; usu. used with
on
mobile (n.) mobile phone (US: cell phone) decorative structure suspended so
as to turn freely in the air
mobile a mobile, non-motorised piece of a type of manufactured dwelling
home equipment with living facilities; a transported to the home site using
caravan (q.v.) wheels attached to the structure
momentarily for a moment in a moment; very soon
mono (adj.) monophonic (of reproduced (n.) infectious mononucleosis, a
sound, e.g. radio or CD player disease caused by Epstein-Barr
using a single speaker) virus (UK: glandular fever)
monochrome
moot (adj.) debatable ("a moot point") (adj.) irrelevant ("a moot point")
(v.) to bring up for debate (orig. legal, now in common use)
(these meanings are fading from (v.) to make irrelevant
use in US English) (incorrect/uneducated usage)

see also moot court

mortuary building or room (as in a hospital) funeral home, funeral parlour
(n.) for the storage of human remains
(US: morgue)
motorbike a motorcycle a lightweighted, small motorcycle
motor car, (formal) a car (motor vehicle) a self-propelled railway vehicle
motorcar (US: automobile)
MP Member of Parliament Military police officer [?]
other expansions
muffin a thick round baked yeast roll, a confection similar to a cupcake
usually toasted and served with but unfrosted and less sweet,
butter (US: English muffin) sometimes even savory (e.g., corn
muffin) * (UK: American muffin)
muffler a scarf device to silence an automobile
(UK: silencer) or gramophone

mummy mother, as addressed or referred
to by her child (US: mommy)
N
Word British English meanings
nancy nancy-boy: effeminate or
homosexual male
napkin nappy (q.v.), diaper (dated, not
well known)
nappy folded cloth or other absorbent
material drawn up between the
legs and fastened around the waist,
usu. worn by infants to counter
incontinence (US: diaper)
nervy nervous, fidgety *
nick prison or police station (slang)
to steal (slang)
to arrest (slang)
nickel
nonplussed
nonce a sex offender; in particular, a
child molestor (slang)
nor neither ("'She didn't come.' 'Nor
did he.'")
(Scotland & Ireland) than
("someone better nor me")
notion
O
Word British English meanings
office (cap.) a government department
("Colonial Office", "Foreign and function
Commonwealth Office")
(pl.) the outbuildings and
dependencies of a dwelling (as an Office")
estate)
optician (dispensing optician) professional
who dispenses lenses and
spectacles
(ophthalmic optician) professional
who tests eyes and prescribes
lenses (US: optometrist)
optometrist
Page 31
a chemically preserved corpse,
such as those of ancient
Egyptians.
Meanings common to British
American English meanings
and American English
Woman's given name
piece of material used to protect (oftenest, sanitary napkin)
garments from spilled food or to absorbent piece of material worn
remove food residues from around by a woman while menstruating *
the mouth [formerly esp. US; (UK usu. sanitary towel)
alternative UK term serviette is
obsolescent]
twisted or kinked, considered
insulting when applied to hair, esp.
that of persons of African descent
(also called napped)
bold, presumptuous
small cut
(computer jarg.) nickname
the metallic element (Ni) 5 cent coin
bewildered, unsure how to respond unfazed (incorrect usage)
the present moment
a word used only once
a single-use token in a
cryptographic protocol
and not, or (not) ("neither sad nor
happy"; "he never eats, nor does
he ever feel hungry")
concept, conception, inclination (pl.) small items and accessories,
esp. for sewing (UK:
haberdashery, q.v.); hence notion
store, notion counter, etc.
Meanings common to British
American English meanings
and American English
a place of business; a position or the place where a physician or
dentist practises (UK: surgery)
a particular division of an
administrative unit ("Patent
professional who dispenses lenses
and spectacles
ophthalmic optician in the U.S., optometrist and
ophthalmologist are separate,
opticians are the same as UK
dispensing opticians

ouster a person who ousts
outside the part of the road nearest the
lane vehicles going in the opposite
direction, used especially by faster concerned)
vehicles (US: inside lane)
overall (n.) loose-fitting protective outer
garment (US: coverall)
P
Word British English meanings
pacifier
panda police car (slang)
pantomime traditional Christmas time holiday
theatre
pants underpants (also briefs or boxers)
of poor quality (slang)
(of a situation) bad, unfortunate
(slang).
paraffin kerosene
paralytic extremely drunk (slang)
park a tract of ground kept in its naturaloutdoor area for recreational uses any of various areas designated
state, about or adjacent to a
residence, as for the preservation
of game, for walking, riding, or
the like
(esp. Scotland) a pasture or field
area for the parking of motor
vehicles ("a car park")
(sports) a soccer or rugby field
see also country park
parking
parkway a railway station with parking
areas intended for commuters
pass out to graduate from a training centre to become unconscious
of a disciplined service (military,
police etc)
patience any of a family of one-player card the quality of being patient
games (US: solitaire, q.v.)
pavement a paved strip at the side of a road,
reserved for pedestrians (US:
sidewalk)
(in both cases the term applies to the part of the road nearest the
the rightmost lane in the direction edge, used especially by slower-
Meanings common to British
and American English
something or somebody that
brings peace
giant panda, red panda
relating to or affected by paralysis
("Central Park", "Hyde Park")
national park (orig. US)
the act of parking (a vehicle)
Page 32
the act of forcing the removal of
someone from a position of
influence or power
moving vehicles (UK: inside lane)
(in pl.) sturdy protective bib
trousers; dungarees
American English meanings
rubber teat for babies (UK:
dummy)
silent acting, usu. without props,
by mime artist (UK: mime)
usually, any trousers, exc. in "to
get into her pants", etc., in which
it denotes women's
underclothing*
a waxy fraction of petroleum
commonly used to make candles
(UK: paraffin wax)
for certain purposes *, such as
amusement park, theme park,
industrial park, trailer park,
memorial park (a cemetery)
(sports) enclosed ground for ball
games, oftenest the ballpark
a level valley among the
mountains (as the Rocky
Mountains); also, an area of open
grassland, or one for cultivation,
esp. if among the woods
To engage in romantic intimacy in
a parked vehicle. (regional) turf
strip between sidewalk and street
(many regional synonyms exist;
there is no standard name).
generally, an open landscaped
limited-access highway (q.v.) (see
article)
regional term for parking (q.v.)
to die *
to distribute *
the road surface *

PC police constable
pecker courage, pluck (slang, used in the
phrase "keep your pecker up",
remain cheerful)
peckish slightly hungry, snackish *
peg (n.) (often clothes peg) a wooden
or plastic device for fastening
laundry on a clothesline (US:
clothespin)
(v.) to fasten (laundry) on a
clothesline
penny (pl. pence, or, when referring to
coins, pennies) 1/100 (formerly,
1/240) of the Pound Sterling
[listed here to reflect ordinary
usage]
period
pint about 6/5 of US measure, 20
Imperial fluid ounces (19.2 US fl.
oz.), 568 ml
pint of beer, lager or cider ("Pour
us a pint")
piss (on the piss) drinking heavily,
going out for the purpose of
drinking heavily
(to take the piss) to mock
pissed intoxicated, drunk (often pissed as
a newt; sometimes pissed up)
pitch outdoor site for a stall or some
other business
site for a tent (US: campsite, q.v.)
playing field for a particular sport
(football pitch, rugby pitch,
cricket pitch, etc.) (US: field)
pitcher a large container (often
earthenware), usually round with
a narrow neck, used for holding
water or another liquid [4] (US:
jug)
pitman a miner working in a pit
politically correct
personal computer
other expansions
(n.) a cylindrical wooden, metal
etc. object used to fasten or as a
bearing between objects
(v.) to fix or pin down
(v.) to hit with a projectile
a small amount usu. in contrast to (pl. pennies) a cent (esp. the coin)
a larger one ("Penny wise, Pound
foolish", common phrase in both (penny-ante) trivial, small-time.
British and American usage)
section of time
menstruation, Time period, The
Periodic Table.
urine (usu. vulgar)
urinate (usu. vulgar)
low-quality beer (vulgar)
urinated (usu. vulgar)
(pissed off) angry, irritated
an attempt to persuade somebody
to do something, usu. to accept a
business proposal
a sticky black substance obtained
from tar
the slope of a roof
rotation on a lateral axis (as an
aircraft or spacecraft)
the frequency of a sound
to erect a tent
to discard (in various card games,
e.g., bridge)
the man that stands in a pit when
sawing timber (with another man
standing above)
Page 33
penis (slang)
irritable or angry (rare)
(n.) a throw (as in baseball)
(v.) to identify or classify (as
someone) *
punctuation mark used at the end
of a sentence
(interj.) used at the end of a
statement to emphasise its finality
* ("You are not going to that
concert, period!") (UK: full stop
for both senses)
about 5/6 of British (Imperial)
measure, 16 US fluid ounces
(16.65 Imperial fl. oz), 473 ml
angry, irritated
in baseball, the delivery of a
baseball by a pitcher to a batter
"pitching a tent" (slang): to have
an erection (describes the shape of
the fabric covering one)
(slang) to dispose
a brief summary of a broader
work or idea meant to be
attractive to a third party e.g.
"What's the pitch?"
any container with a handle and
lip or spout for liquids* [5] (UK:
jug)
baseball player who pitches
(throws) baseball towards the
batter (UK: bowler)
(gay slang, from baseball) a top or
dominant partner
a connecting rod (as in a sawmill)
a master barbecuer, the person
responsible for managing a
barbecue pit.
 Page 34

plaster an adhesive bandage placed on a a pastelike mixture that hardens

minor cut or scrape (UK also: when applied to walls and
sticking/sticky plaster, ceilings;
Elastoplast; US: Band-aid); plastered - drunk
a cast of plaster of Paris ("a leg in
plaster")
plimsoll, noun: a rubber-soled cloth shoe; a waterline to show the level the
plimsol, sneaker. water should reach when the ship
plimsole. is properly loaded [syn: load line],
named after Samuel Plimsoll
point (pl.) railway turnout * (US: (see article) piece of land jutting into any body
switch) of water, esp. a river ("points and
(power point) electrical socket bends"); a prominence or peak (of
(US: outlet) mountains, hills, rocks), also an
cape or promontory jutting into extremity of woods or timber
sea
(full point) syn. with full stop
(q.v.)
pontoon blackjack, twenty-one a buoyant device
pop a sharp explosive sound father (colloquial)
popular music (v.) to kill
carbonated soft drink (US usage is
regional; also: soda, soda pop)
porter doorman, gatekeeper, or building bearer of burdens railway sleeping car attendant
maintenance worker * a style of beer
post (v.) to send a letter * (US: mail) to display on a noticeboard or to announce ("the company posted
bulletin board, Internet forum, etc. a first-quarter profit of $100
million")
to inform ("keep me posted") *
postal related to the paper mail system (used in the name of the United
States Postal Service; see mail)
(to go postal) to commit a sudden,
irrational burst of rage (slang)
pound sign symbol of the Pound Sterling (£) number sign, octothorpe (#) (UK:
(GBP) hash sign)
precinct a pedestrian zone in a city or town a space enclosed (as by walls) subdivision of a county, town, etc.
("a shopping precinct") for the purpose of conducting
elections
section of a city patrolled by a
police unit; the police station in
such a section
prep (in England) fee-paying private fee-paying private senior school
(aratory) junior school (which prepares (which prepares pupils for
school pupils for public school) university) (UK: public school or
independent school)
pressman, a journalist employed by a one who operates a printing press
presswoman newspaper (US:
newspaperman/newspaperwoman
(rare), or by specific job)
pressurise insistently influence, or attempt to subject a volume of gas or liquid
(UK), influence, someone else ("The to physical pressure, as the
pressurize manager pressurised his assistant atmospheric pressure within an
(US & UK) to work late") (US & UK also: aircraft ("For the passengers'
pressure) comfort, the airliner's cabin was
pressurized to 10000 ft")
proctor variant of the word procurator, is an examination supervisor (UK:
a person who takes charge or acts invigilator)
for another.
professor holder of a chair in a university, academic faculty of all ranks:
the highest academic rank (the Assistant Professor, Associate
usual order being Lecturer, Senior
Lecturer, Reader, Professor)

project
prom shortening of 'promenade concert',
originally one of a series of
concerts (The Proms) held as part
of a classical music festival that
takes place in the late summer
based around the Royal Albert
Hall in London, but now also used
elsewhere
shortening of 'promenade', a
raised walk next to the beach in
seaside resorts
protest (v.t.)
public long-established and prestigious
school fee-paying independent school in
England or Wales (note that not
all private schools are classed as
public schools) (US: prep school)
pud short for pudding, especially in
"Christmas
pud" (pronounced /ɑpȚd/)
pudding dessert course of a meal
a heavy dessert or main course
(e.g. steak and kidney pudding),
often suet-based
used in the name of some other
savoury dishes (e.g. black
pudding, pease pudding)
pull to persuade someone to be one's
date or sex partner (slang)
(on the pull) seeking a date or sex
partner (slang)
pull off (of a vehicle) to start moving
pump (regional) a plimsoll (US:
(shoe) sneaker)
punk
purse feminine money container or
wallet (US: coin purse)
a plan; a temporary endeavour
undertaken to create a unique
product or service
to forcefully express an opinion,
to advocate: "The prisoner
protested his innocence."
to move something towards
oneself
an injury to a muscle, tendon, or
ligament, e.g. "I've pulled my
hamstring."
to succeed in a task
the word (of unknown origin) has
variously denoted a pantofle, a
low thin sole shoe, a formal men's
shoe
(Reebok Pump) a brand of athletic
shoe with an internal inflation
mechanism
follower of Punk music
in boxing etc, the money to be
awarded in a prize fight
Page 35
Professor, and (Full) Professor
(the latter being largely equivalent
to the UK meaning)
publicly subsidised usu. low-
income housing development –
see public housing in the United
States and Canada (UK: cf. s.v.
estate)
dance/party held for pupils to
celebrate the end of a school
year/graduation, a shortening of
'promenade', a formal parade *
to campaign or demonstrate
against: "The prisoner's friends
protested the judge's
decision." (UK: protest against)
tax-supported school controlled
by a local governmental authority
(UK: state school) * (also in
Scotland & Northern Ireland)
slang term for penis
(pronounced /ɑpȜd/) (from
'pudendum')
a creamy dessert
to carry out a task (esp. milit.) ("to
pull guard duty")
usu. women's high(ish) heeled
shoe (UK similar: court shoe,
q.v.)
worthless person; from
conventional societal perspective
any young outlaw or tough; from
perspective of outlaws and others
valuing physical fighting, a
coward
handbag
 Page 36

pussy a cat (becoming less common in a weakling

pylon electricity pylon, part of an
electric power transmission
network * (US: mast or
transmission tower)
the US, due to the other
meanings)
Slang term for vagina
A large architectural feature, traffic cone; temporary traffic lane
usually found as one of a pair at separator.
the entrance to ancient Egyptian support structure for suspension
temples - see Pylon (architecture) bridge or highway

Q
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
quart 1/4 (UK) gallon or 2 (UK) pints. 1/4 (US) gallon or 2 (US) pints.
Liquid measure approximately Liquid measure equal to 0.946
1.136 litres (6/5 of an American litres (5/6 of a British quart).
quart).
quarter one of four equal parts into which 25 cents (a fourth of a dollar)
something is divided, as a quarter
hour or, especially for financial
purposes, a quarter of a year; in
generic usage (as in fractions), US
usu. fourth
queue a group of persons, usually waiting an ordered sequence of objects,
for something, arranged in order of from which the first one in is also
arrival * (US: line) the first one out (cf. Stack (data
structure))
quid colloquial term for pound sterling a measure (mouthful) of chewing
(plural is quid also; in Ireland it tobacco
can refer to the punt or Euro)
quite to some extent or degree, e.g. in to the fullest extent or degree ("All
the phrase "quite good" meaning art is quite useless" – Oscar Wilde)
"mediocre, acceptable" or "good, to a great extent or degree
well done" (a meiotic usage,
depending on voice intonation)

agreeing with a given statement,

often expressing reluctant
agreement or disbelief ("I'm
innocent, and this document
proves it!" "Quite.") according to
intonation)

R
Word British English meanings
rabbit (v.) (slang) to talk at length,
usually about trivial things;
usually to 'rabbit on'
railroad tramway (obsolete)
railway the general term for the system of
mass transit using trains running
on rails: see usage of the terms
railroad and railway
Meanings common to British
and American English
(n.) the animal rabbit, a lagomorph
(v.) to coerce
to convict with undue haste or
with insufficient evidence
American English meanings
the general term for the system of
mass transit using trains running
on rails: see usage of the terms
railroad and railway
(v.) to work on the railroad
to transport by railroad
see also at underground
tramway

raisin (UK usage excludes currants and
sultanas)
rambler one that rambles (as a hiker), see
Ramblers' Association
randy a slang term meaning sexually
aroused (American horny)
range a line, collection, etc. of products
or merchandise, as in top of the
range (US: top of the line)
a type of kitchen stove like that
featured on the TV programme
The 1900 House
raunchy
read to study a subject at university
("he is reading physics") (roughly
approximate US: major (in))
reader the second highest academic rank
at a university, below professor
(US equivalent: associate
professor)
receptionist hotel reservation desk worker (US:
clerk) see also concierge
recess
(time)
redcap a military police officer
redundant laid off from employment, usu.
because no longer needed ("The
company made 100 workers
redundant")
regular
remit (n.) set of responsibilities ("within (v.) to defer; in law, to transfer a
my remit"; "to have a remit")
(pronounced /ɑriəmǺt/)
restroom a room for staff to take their
breaks in; a staffroom (US:
breakroom)
retreat
a large dark grape, dried
a type of rose
one who talks excessively, often
without making cohesive points
(to ramble on)
a series of things in a line (as
mountains)
a sequence or scale between limits livestock
a place where shooting is practised a series of townships (q.v.), a
an area over which a species of
animal or plant is found
Lewd, vulgar, sexually explicit
to peruse written material
one who reads
front desk employee in business
establishments, organisations, or
hospitals
remission or suspension of
business or procedure
unnecessary; repetitive
normal, customary
following a uniform pattern in
space or time
(of a geometric shape) having
equal sides and angles
frequent
one who frequents a place
a full-time professional member of
a military organisation (see
Structure of the British Army and
Regular Army)
case to a lower court; to send
money; to cancel.
(pronounced /rǺɑmǺt/)
(v.) to go backwards, especially
Page 37
any dried grape
a style of house, usu. a ranch
house
(see also Rambler (automobile),
Nash Rambler)
a male or female given name or
nickname deriving from the names
Randall, Randolph, or Miranda
a cooking stove with an oven and
burners on the top surface
an open area for the grazing of
Public Land Survey System unit
of land east or west from a
Principal Meridian
foul-smelling, dirty
raunch (n.): stench, miasma
a teaching assistant who reads and
grades examination papers.
pause between classes at school
(UK: break, playtime, Lunchtime)
a baggage porter (as at a train
station)
of an ordinary kind; also, nice or
agreeable ("a regular guy")
of an ordinary or medium size *
unmodified, especially non-
dietary/sugar-free/fat-free *
non-decaffeinated coffee
lowest grade of gasoline
(historically: leaded gasoline)
a room in a public place,
containing a toilet
a period of group withdrawal for
study or instruction under a group
leader
 Page 38

(military) to move away from the

enemy; to withdraw
(n.) a period of withdrawal from
society for prayer or meditation
review to reassess, inspect, perform a to study again (as in preparing for
subsequent reading an examination) (UK: revise),
to write a review hence review (n.)
revise to study again (as in preparing for to inspect, amend, correct,
an examination) (US: review), improve, esp. written material
hence revision
ring (v.) to call (someone) by telephone to sound a bell (ring up) * to total up a customer's
purchases on a cash register
rise an increase in wages (US: raise) an increase in amount, value,
(increase) price, etc.
roast (colloquial) to reprimand severely. (v.) to cook in an oven; (n.) meat (n.) an event where an individual
so cooked is ridiculed for the sake of
comedy; (v.) to host or perform
such an event
roommate a person with whom one shares a (also roomie) a person with whom
bedroom one shares a house or apartment
(UK: housemate or flatmate)
root (v.) to have sex with (vulgar slang) to fix; to rummage; to take root or to cheer ("I will be rooting for
(orig. Australian) grow roots you"); to dig or look for (root
around) *
rotary a machine acting by rotation a circular road intersection (US
(cap.) organisation whose also traffic circle, UK usu.
members comprise Rotary Clubs roundabout; see articles)
roundabout a merry-go-round a detour or circuitous path a type of men's jacket used in the
a circular road intersection * (US past (see e.g. Mark Twain)
usu. traffic circle or rotary, q.v.)
row (n.) (Pronounced /'raȚ/, to rhyme (Pronounced /'roȚ/, to rhyme a series of prison cells ("death
with "cow") with "toe") row")
a noisy quarrel *; a continual loud a line of objects, often regularly a particular street or area of a town
noise ("Who's making that row?") spaced (as seats in a theatre, (as in skid row, dilapidated
vegetable plants in a garden etc.) neighbourhood haunted by
vagrants, misfits, etc.)
a line of entries in a table, etc. (as a series of row houses
opposed to a column) (row house) town house, q.v.
an instance of rowing (as in a
boat)
rubber pencil eraser the duration of a match in certain condom
(countable games (e.g., bridge)
noun) waterproof rain boot (UK:
wellington)
run (n.) a leisure drive or ride ("a run (v.) senses orig. US and now (v.) to propose (someone) as a
in the car") common are: to be a candidate in candidate
an election (UK also stand); to to drive past ("to run a red light")
manage or provide for (a business, to hunt (as the buffalo or the deer)
a family, etc.); the idioms run (n.) an instance of running for
scared, run into. More s.v. home office
run; see wiktionary for additional a creek (q.v.)
meanings, a type of cage which is
made so that animals (eg.
Hamsters, rabbits, Guinea pigs,
etc.) can run around in it.
run-in the final part of a race; approach an argument or altercation *
to something, also run-up (q.v.)
rundown a reduction (as of an a detailed summary (orig. US a type of play in baseball
(n.) establishment) slang) tired, depressed.

run-up the period preceding an event (as the act of running up a sudden increase (as in price)
an election) * (orig. Stock exchange) *
 Page 39

S
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
saloon closed car having two or (usu.) officers' dining room on a bar, especially in the Wild West
four doors, a front and rear seat merchant ship
and a separate boot/trunk (US: bar that serves only spirits and no
sedan) food
(saloon bar) posh bar within a a room in a house used for
pub or hotel receiving guests; a salon
passengers' lounge on a liner or
luxury train (US approx.: parlor
car)
scalp (v.) to cut the scalp off; to take to resell (as tickets) at higher
something away prices (UK: tout)

to trade (as stocks) for quick

scheme official systematic plan (as of the
government) ("a pension
scheme")
(Scotland) Low-cost public
housing (US: project)
school place of primary or secondary
education
scrappy not neatly organised or poor
a plan, often secret or devious; a
plot ("criminal scheme")
grouping of departments or large
department within a university
faculty (among other meanings,
e.g., a group of experts sharing
perspective or methods, or a
group of fish)
fragmentary
profits
any educational institution; in
school: state of being a pupil in
any school normally serving
minor children of any age, or in a
college or university at any level;
at school: usually, physically
present on campus. (UK: at
school for both)
bellicose or fightingly determined

a scrappy player is one who a scrappy player is one who

sometimes plays well, but often compensates for a lack of size or
plays badly. speed with grit and
determination.
second (v.) to transfer temporarily to to endorse, support, or bring
alternative employment reinforcements
(pronounced /sǸɑkǢnd/, to
rhyme with "beyond")
section (v.t.) to detain under the Mental Health to cut or slice into sections
Act 1983
On section, detained in a mental
hospital.
sedan a chair or windowed cabin, a common car body style (UK:
carried by at least two porters in saloon, q.v.)
front and behind
seeded with the seeds left in having had the seeds removed
(grapes, etc.) (uncommon usage) (also
seedless, used in UK)
semi semi-detached house (US: semi-trailer truck (UK:
duplex) articulated lorry)
series a single batch of episodes of a all of the episodes of a particular
(television) television programme (US: television program
season)

set square a triangular object used in
technical drawing (US: triangle)
shade
shag to copulate, or copulate with
[understood in the US also]
shattered exhausted
sherbet a fizzy powdered confectionery
sheriff chief royal peace officer of a
county, now (as high sheriff)
largely only a ceremonial role
(England and Wales)
local judge, in full sheriff-depute
or sheriff-substitute (Scotland)
shingle pebbles, particularly those on the to cut a woman's hair in an
seashore *
ship (verb),
shipping
shop consumer retail establishment of
any size (US: store); hence
shopfront (US: storefront), shop-
soiled (US: shopworn), shop
assistant (US: (sales) clerk)
workshop, only in combination
("machine shop")
shorts strong alcoholic drinks served in short trousers (US: pants)
multiples of 25 ml, sometimes
with mixers (US & UK also:
shots)
shower
sic
sick (off sick) not at work because of
illness
Page 40
a T-square (also used in technical
drawing)
penumbra, partial obscurity; window blind
nuance
(pl.) sunglasses (orig. US);
reminder of the past
a seabird (various members of the (v.) to chase after; to chase and
cormorant family) fetch (as a fly ball in baseball)
a kind of a dance, associated with a style of long hair with
"beach music," esp. from the numerous layers (not matted or
Carolinas (orig. US) untidy)
a kind of fabric with a thick, long
strands; often used in carpets
long, matted hair (cf. Shaggy
from the Scooby Doo cartoon)
a type of shredded coarse tobacco
broken into many small pieces.
devastated emotionally
a type of frozen dessert (also
spelled sherbert)
elected chief legal officer of a
county, usu. also in charge of the
county's law enforcement service;
elsewhere any member of a
county (vs. state or local) police
sign proclaiming one's name and
overlapping style calling ("hang a shingle out")
(shingles) a painful disease of the to cover something like a
skin, caused by the chickenpox shingled roof
virus
wooden roof tile
to cover a roof with wooden tiles
To transport goods by sea, To transport goods, movement of
movement of goods by sea goods
Shipping (fandom) Shipping & handling, standard
form of charge for delivery of
goods (UK: Postage & packing)
small or specialized consumer
retail establishment (e.g. coffee
shop, dress shop)
workshop; practical class at
school taught in a workshop
underpants, boxers
spray of water used to wash a celebratory party where gifts
oneself are given to an individual e.g. a
baby shower to celebrate an
a short period of rain imminent birth
Latin for "Thus", "just so" — pronunciation spelling of "seek"
states that the preceding quoted used as a dog command, and by
material appears exactly that way extension as a verb meaning to
in the source, usu. despite errors set (as a dog, etc.) to attack
of spelling, grammar, usage, or someone ("I'll sic my attorney on
fact. you")
(to be sick) to vomit unwell
(slang) disgusting (corruption of (out sick) not at work because of
sickening) illness
(slang) cool, good, interesting

sideboard (pl.) sideburns, side-whiskers
siding
silencer device to silence a
car/automobile (US: muffler)
silk a Queen's Counsel
silverware things made from silver,
including bowls, spoons, etc.
Also trophy's won by a sports
team (ie. FA Cup, Challenge
Cup...)
skillet (regional dialect) a frying pan
a type of stir-fried food item
skip (n.) large rubbish container (US
approx: Dumpster)
skive (v.) to avoid work or school (play
truant)
skivvy a scullery maid or lowest servant [origin of both senses is
doing menial work, somebody at unknown; they are likely
the bottom of the pecking order unrelated] [note that skivvy has a
slag (derogatory) promiscuous woman A product from the iron-smelting
(US & UK also: slut)
a general insult directed at
someone of either sex
slash (colloq.) an act of urinating ("to to cut drastically
have a slash")
slate (v.) to disparage ("many critics
have slated the film"), hence
slating
sleeper A horizontal member which lies
beneath, and binds together, the
rails of a railway. (US: railroad
tie, crosstie)
sleet snow that has partially thawed on
its fall to the ground
slough (usu. pronounced /ɑslaȚ/, to
(wetland) rhyme with "plough")
an item of furniture also known
as buffet
a dead-end railway track leading a short section of railroad track
off the main line and used to
store rolling-stock
device to silence a firearm
material made from unwound
silkworm cocoons
an act of leaping or omitting; see one who disappears without
skip (radio), skip (in record
player)
v. to cut or pare leather/rubber; n.
an indentation made from skiving
third distinct meaning in
Australian English]
blast furnace; mainly used in
tarmac production
the symbol '/' (orig. US) (also
virgule, solidus; UK also:
oblique, stroke)
(n.) a type of rock; a greyish
colour
(v.) to cover with slate
A railway vehicle providing
sleeping accommodation (a
sleeping car).
Sleeper (espionage) - A deep
cover secret agent
a marshy area, a swamp
Page 41
connected by switches with a
main track, enabling trains on the
same line to pass (UK: loop)
external wall covering, cladding,
weatherboarding
the silky, pistillate flower of corn
(maize)
a parachute (orig. slang of the
United States Air Force)
eating implements (spoon, fork,
knife) (UK: cutlery; US also
flatware)
a frying pan, often cast iron
a long-handled stewing pan or
saucepan, often having short legs
or feet
paying their debts ("finding a
good skip tracer is harder than
finding your debtors")
(pl.) men's underwear
(colloquial)
an open tract in a forest strewn
with debris, especially from
logging
a swampy area
(v.) to schedule * ("slated for
demolition")
to designate (a candidate, as for
political office)
(n.) a list of candidates
Sleeper (car), an automobile
modified for high performance
but with a normal-looking
exterior (UK: Q-car)
(partially) frozen raindrops, ice
pellets; a mixture of rain and
snow or hail; also, glaze (q.v.)
a secondary channel; a small
backwater; a pond (usu.
pronounced /ɑsluə/ and often
spelled slew)

smashed
smokestack
smudge
snout police informant
tobacco (slang)
sod unpleasant person, originally
short for sodomite ("He's a sod,
isn't he?")
unfortunate person when prefixed
by 'poor' ("The poor sod's had his
wallet nicked.") or 'silly' ("The
silly sod really got it knackered.")
soda carbonated water, or any non-
alcoholic drink made with it, but
not usu. one sold ready-mixed
solicitor lawyer who advises clients,
represents them in the lower
courts, and prepares cases for
barristers to try in higher courts *
(considered overly formal in US)
solitaire peg-jumping puzzle game (see
peg solitaire)
sort (v.) to deal with; hence sorted as
expression of appreciation;
(slang) to be adequately supplied
with narcotics
all used with out:
to arrange or take care of
(something) *
to solve an esp. difficult situation
(also reflexive) *
(informal) to set (someone)
straight, or to get even with
(someone)
sorted, to have or get fixed, have
problems worked out, so things
are working correctly ("He's
really got it sorted now.")
spanner general term for a tool used for
turning nuts, bolts, etc. (US:
wrench, q.v.)
something interfering (US:
(monkey) wrench)
spaz (offensive) Incompetent, useless,
disabled person (from spastic)
beaten, destroyed as in it was
smashed
a system (as a pipe) for venting
hot gases and smoke: such a
system on buildings, locomotives
(UK primarily: chimney or
funnel), and ships (UK & US
also: funnel)
a blurry spot or streak
pig's nose
nose (slang)
layer of grass and earth (in UK in turf
a formal/literary sense)
any of various chemical
compounds containing sodium
(as sodium bicarbonate or sodium
carbonate), carbonated water
to arrange or classify; often used
with out
Page 42
Exceedingly drunk
(attrib.) heavy industry,
manufacturing industry *
("smokestack industries",
"smokestack stocks")
a smouldering mass placed on the
windward side to protect from
frost or keep insects away (as in
smudge pot)
(regional) carbonated soft drink,
usu. one sold ready-mixed (also
'pop,' 'soda pop') (UK: fizzy drink
or colloquially (fizzy) pop)
one that solicits (e.g.
contributions to charity), an
advertiser, a promoter; often
annoying
chief law officer of a city, town,
or government department
any of a family of one-player
card games (see solitaire) (UK:
patience)
a wrench with holes or pins at its
end for meshing with the object
to be turned (UK: C spanner)
uncoordinated, messing
something up. Can be used self-
referentially. Has less offensive
connotations in American usage.
 Page 43

spigot a spile in a cask a tap or faucet

spook a ghost; a spy, government a black person (insulting)
undercover agent (both orig. US)
spotty pimply ("a spotty teenager") of inhomogeneous quality ("a
spotty record")
sprouts (n.) brussels sprouts alfalfa sprouts
spunk (vulgar) seminal fluid (US: cum) courage, daring, or enthusiasm
squash (n.) fruit cordial drink (squash sport (squash (sport))* vegetable (squash (vegetable))*
(drink)) (UK also gourd)
squat (n.) premises occupied by (n.) nothing (slang; short for
squatters (v.) diddly-squat)
to occupy (as premises) illegally (more at cop)
to bend deeply at the knees while
resting on one's feet
(n.) the act of squatting
an exercise in weightlifting
stabiliser (pl.) additional wheels to help something that stabilises, as
(UK), learner cyclists (US: training stabilizer (aircraft) or stabilizer
stabilizer (US wheels) (chemistry)
& UK)
stall (pl.) front seats in a theatre (US: compartment for an animal in a compartment containing a shower
(enclosure) orchestra) barn or toilet (UK: cubicle)
a booth or counter (as in a a marked-off parking space
marketplace) enclosure for a locomotive in a
seat in a church's choir roundhouse
(box stall) compartment in a barn
where an animal can move
untethered (UK: loose box)
stand (v.) to be a candidate in an election * to be vertical; to remain
(US: run) stationary; to buy (someone)
(something)
starter first course of a meal * (US usu. one that starts (as a device to start transportation dispatcher or
appetizer); more s.v. entree an engine) elevator (q.v.) dispatcher
starting pitcher (baseball)
the official who starts a track
race.
stash (v.) to quit, put an end to ("to (v.) to store away [old criminals' (n.) a hiding place, or something
stash it") slang revived in US] (esp. drug or liquor) stored
away*
stone (pl. usu. stone) 14 pounds in a small rock
weight (14 lb), normally used
when specifying a person's
weight ("My weight is twelve
stone four", meaning 12 stone
and 4 pounds; US "172 pounds")
stood (colloquial, mainly Northern past tense and participle of stand
English) standing ("I've been
stood here for an hour")
stoop A post or pillar, especially a forwards bend of the spine raised porch or entrance veranda
gatepost. (Rare except in dialect). bringing the shoulders in front of (orig. Dutch; esp. Northeast).
the hips Also refers to the external stairs
dive of a predatory bird towards leading up to a row house,
its prey "Sitting on the stoop."
store place for storage of items not large consumer retail consumer retail establishment of
needed for immediate use* establishment (as department any size (UK: shop), e.g. grocery
store or superstore) store, hardware store,

stove a hothouse or greenhouse for
plants
the grate of a fireplace
straight away, (usu. spaced) immediately, right
straightaway away *
strike a good solid shot, as in scoring a
goal in soccer
(Strike off) to remove a
professional's license (e.g., for
attorneys: US disbar) ("What do
you call a priest who's been
stricken off?" – Dick Francis)
student
stuff (v) to have sex - often used as a
milder form of "fuck", eg "Get
stuffed!" (for "Fuck off!"), "Our
team got stuffed in the match",
etc.
sub to subsidise (pay for something in
place of someone else - often
used for any sort of informal
loan)
(in newspaper publishing) edit
copy for length and/or house
style (in full: sub-edit)
subscription (UK: membership
dues, as in an association or club)
sub-lieutenant (Royal Navy rank)
subaltern (British Army second
lieutenant or lieutenant)
subdivision
subway pedestrian underpass
Glasgow subterranean railway
suds
superintendent senior police rank (US approx.:
deputy inspector)
suspenders elasticated support for stockings
(US: garter)
swede Swedish (yellow) turnip (US:
rutabaga)
sweet (n.) An after-meal dessert, more
s.v. candy
wood- or coal-burning room-
heating appliance
to temporarily stop working
(often as part of a union)
knock down all pins in bowling
to ignite a match
person studying at a post- person studying at any
secondary educational institution educational institution *
to pack tightly with, especially
with food: "I'm stuffed" = "I've
eaten too much".
subscription: a purchase by
prepayment for a certain number
of issues, as of a periodical
submarine
(n. & v.) substitute (usu. in sport)
(sexual) submissive
the process or an instance of
subdividing
(Subway) restaurant chain for
submarine sandwiches
(n.) froth, lather; (v.) to lather
senior official in various
undertakings (railways, public
works, etc.)
(Swede) a person from Sweden
(adj.) Sweet-tasting; (adj.) to
describe someone who is kind,
gentle, or giving
Page 44
convenience store, dime store;
hence storefront (UK: shopfront),
storekeeper (UK: shopkeeper)
(or cookstove) appliance for
cooking food * – compare range
(UK usu. cooker)
see also Franklin stove
(solid) a straight (in a road,
racecourse, etc.)
to miss, as to miss the ball with
the bat in baseball
substitute teacher (UK: supply
teacher)
to teach in place of the normal
teacher
(regional) submarine sandwich*
the division of a tract of land into
lots (q.v.) for the purpose of sale,
or the tract of land so divided.
(UK:estate, development)
underground commuter railway
(v.) to form suds; hence sudser (a
soap opera) and adj. sudsy (in
both lit. & fig. senses)
(n.) beer
person in charge of a building
(UK: caretaker)
the head of a school district or a
State Department of Education
sometimes, the head of a police
department
(dated) a train conductor
elasticated support for trousers
(UK: braces)
(n.) Short for sweetheart. Also, to
be sweet on someone is to have a
crush on them.
(adj.) used to describe something
as good ("That car is sweet!")
 Page 45

switch (n.) see electric switch, telephone (n.) mechanism that allows a
switch, network switch railway vehicle to change tracks
(v.) to operate a switch (UK: points); hence switch
to exchange, swap, make a shift engine or switcher (UK: shunter),
switchyard (UK: marshalling
yard), switch tower (UK: signal
box)
(v.) to change tracks by means of
a switch
see also bait and switch
switchback a road or railway that alternately a zigzagging road or railway, usu.
ascends and descends in the mountains; also, a hairpin
a roller coaster turn in a road or trail

T
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
tab a cigarette (Geordie) a small projection, flap, etc. a formal account for services at a
to run; often used in the military an informal credit account, usu. at restaurant or bar ("May I have the
to refer to double-time or quick- a bar ("Put it on my tab") tab?", "Pick up the tab") (UK
time marching. From the always bill in this context)
abbreviation Tactical Advance to
Battle.
table (verb) (also lay on the table) to raise for (also lay on the table) to suspend
(as a consideration from consideration, to shelve;
parliamentary (colloquial) to postpone
procedure or
in the context
of a meeting)
tailback queue of vehicles, traffic jam offensive backfield position in
(US: gridlock, backup) American football
tank top jumper (US: sweater) without sleeveless t-shirt (UK: vest, q.v.)
sleeves (also see wifebeater) *
tanner slang for a pre-decimalisation one who tans
sixpence coin or sixpence value
tap valve through which liquid is a spile or spigot in a cask; a to select, designate; esp. to
drawn and dispensed * (US usu.: device for dispensing beer from a publicly select for a special
faucet, spigot) keg honour from one's peers as in the
(phone tap) a device for listening (possibly apocryphal) American
to other people's telephone calls Indian ceremony ("She was
(tap up) to covertly enter tapped for the position of CEO")
negotiations ("The manager and as in being designated a
accused the other team of tapping college fraternity pledge.
up his player") vulgar slang for "have sex with"
(tap dance) A type of dance e.g.
"I go to tap every Saturday"
tart female prostitute (adj) sour-flavoured, sarcastic
(In US, generally understood but (n) any of several forms of sweet
not generally used except in pop dessert or snack consisting of
tart [overly sexualised female filling (usually fruit) in a pastry
singer]) shell
tea afternoon snack (US: late lunch) a hot beverage made by infusing Iced tea sometimes taken with
evening meal (sometimes called Camellia sinensis leaves (hot lemon and/or sugar
high tea) tea);

Herb tea a tea-like beverage

made from herbs (UK infusion
(archaic))
 Page 46

on the having a working telephone (now talking on the telephone

telephone rare, since most people do)
teller one that tells (as stories) a bank clerk or cashier who
a person who counts the votes in receives and pays out money *;
an election hence automated teller machine
terrace row of identical or mirror-image a type of veranda or walkway or (regional) parking (q.v.)
houses sharing side walls * (US: area close to a building
row house, townhouse) see also terrace (agriculture),
terrace (gardening), stream
terrace
terrier member of the Territorial Army one of various smallish breeds of
(slang). Also, record of land dog
ownership (e.g. by local
authority).
theatre (UK (or operating theatre) hospital a place where stage plays are cinema ("movie/motion picture
& US), room for surgical operations (US: performed theater")
theater (US) operating room)
through "Open through 6pm Monday", Up to, until.
(time) "through" is not used in relation
to time in British English.

In other contexts it is taken to

mean "Through and out the other
side", for example "if you go
through the tunnel you will be in
Kent". In the context of time it
would mean "Open until at least
6pm Monday, maybe later". More
usual in British English is to say:
"Open until 6pm Monday".
tick the symbol (US: check mark) blood-sucking arachnid (see tick)
a moment ("just a tick") sound of an analogue clock
credit ("on tick")
tick off to admonish to annoy
tie a game between two teams e.g. an article of clothing worn around
Manchester won the tie against the neck
London a game result in which neither
player/team wins (also draw)
tights nylons, usu. sheer, which also skin-tight, often opaque, trousers
cover the groin (US: pantyhose if (UK: leggings) or one-piece
sheer) trousers and top (UK: unitard),
such as worn by gymnasts
tip (n.) a place where rubbish is (n.) pointed or narrow end (tip one's hand) to disclose one's
disposed (US: dump (also UK), advice intentions or opinions
landfill) voluntary gratuity paid (as at a
(v.) to pour restaurant)
(v.) (tip off) to advise
(v.) to (cause to) lean to one side
tit various species of small bird of woman's breast (vulgar slang)
the genus Parus (US: chickadee,
titmouse)
idiot (slang)
toasted (v) lightly cooked on both sides (eg somewhat drunk
of a slice of bread)
toilet room containing a toilet apparatus for excretion
(US:restroom)
"Do you need to use the toilet?" is
perfectly acceptable in UK but
"uncomfortable" in American
English

tom prostitute
-- hence tomming (pp.), the
activity of prostitution
a private in the Parachute
Regiment (slang)
torch handheld device that emits light
(US: flashlight)
tosser idiot (literally, someone who
masturbates, a derogatory term
similar to wanker)
tough (interj.)
tout (v.) to resell tickets at higher
prices (US: scalp)
to get and sell information on
racehorses
(n.) one who resells tickets (US:
scalper)
one who gets and sells
information on racehorses
(n.) a police informer (mainly
used in Northern Ireland and the
Republic of Ireland [6] [7]) (US:
stool pigeon, England: grass)
tower, a fortified keep, too small to be
tower block named a "castle", e.g. along the
English/Scottish Border ("a peel
tower"), along the English coast
& elsewhere (inc. occas. U.S.
Eastern Seaboard) ("a Martello
tower"), around the Jersey
(Channel Islands) coast ("a Jersey
tower");
tower block — a high-rise block
(q.v.) of flats
townhouse, historically, residence of a peer or a house in town (as opposed to
town house member of the aristocracy in the one in the country)
capital or major city
(Scots) town hall
(modern usage) a fashionable
urban house, usu. terraced, often
at least 3 storeys
township in the past, a subdivision used to
administer a large parish
(Scotland) a very small
agricultural community
track
unneutered male cat
flaming club used as a light
source
one that tosses
I don't care
(v.) to importune, solicit, or
canvass
(n.) one who does this [the n.
appears to be in more general use
in UK; cf. s.v. US solicitor]
man-made structure, taller than it power line transmission structure
is wide (see control tower,
watchtower, water tower)
a trail
a footprint
awareness ("keep/lose track")
recorded material
distance between wheels of a
vehicle
a racetrack or racecourse
the rails of a railway (UK often:
line)
Page 47
(v.) commit an act of arson. (n.)
an arsonist.
not a hoarder; someone who gets
rid of things ie "are you a keeper
or tosser?"
that's unfortunate (short for
"tough luck")
(v.) to promote, recommend ("the
movie was touted as a
masterpiece")
(UK usu. & US occas. pylon,
q.v.);
railroad building containing
levers for working switches (q.v.)
and signals ("an interlocking
tower") (UK: signal box)
hence towerman, person in charge
of any such tower (UK, for a
signal box: signalman)
one of two or more single-family
houses of uniform design and
joined by common sidewalls *
(US also rowhouse, UK usu.
terraced house for more than two,
or semi(-detached) for two joined
houses)
an approx. 36-square-mile
(93 km2) division of land
comprising 36 sections
a unit of local government, see
civil township
used in railway stations (as with
following number) to denote the
place where a train arrives at and
departs from ("Is that the
Chattanooga choo choo, track
29?") (UK: platform)
track and field, athletics, esp. the
sports performed on the running
track
categorisation of students
according to their needs
 Page 48

tradesperson a person who sells goods in a (n.) a skilled manual worker in a

store; a person who travels to particular field; a journeyman
customers' homes to sell things or
who delivers goods to a
customer's home
trainer a padded sport shoe (US similar: one who trains
sneaker)
tramp homeless person who moves loose or promiscuous woman;
(tramps) from town to town (US prostitute *
also: hobo)
transit act or instance of passing means of public transportation
see astronomical transit, (q.v.) (esp. of people) ("mass
navigational transit, transit transit", "rapid transit", "public
(surveying) transit") – see transit
(transportation)
transport the system or the business of the act of transporting
transporting goods or passengers an emotion ("transports of
or the vehicles used in such a delight")
system ("public transport") *
transportation the act of transporting the system or the business of
penal transportation transporting goods or passengers
or the vehicles used in such a
system *
trapezium a quadrilateral with one pair of a quadrilateral with no parallel
parallel sides sides
trapezoid (obsolete) a quadrilateral with no in anatomy, the trapezoid bone a quadrilateral with one pair of
parallel sides and trapezoid ligament parallel sides *
trick (n.) an action intended to deceive (n.) what a prostitute does for a
an effective way of doing client
something (adj.) unstable (of a joint of the
body) *
trillion (traditionally) million million 12
million million (10 ) (traditional
million (1018) (US & modern UK: billion, now rare)
UK: quintillion)
trim (n.) good condition ("in trim") woodwork, frameworks etc. in a
clothing, decoration house
a finishing haircut storefront or shopfront display
adjustment (as of sails on a vessel (slang, somewhat offensive)
or airfoils on an aircraft) Female genitalia (usu. as "Get
an automobile interior some trim")
ornamentation or upholstery
(orig. US)
triplex composed of three parts, as a type a 3-storey apartment or 3-
of cardboard, a cinema, etc. apartment dwelling (see duplex)

a large steam locomotive with

trolley cart or wheeled stand used for
conveying something (as food or
books) ("a supermarket trolley";
"a tea trolley") (US: see s.v. cart,
wagon)
(off one's trolley) insane
(trolleyed) very drunk
troop to carry (the flag or colors) in a
ceremonial way before troops
a mechanism that rolls along a
suspended rail or track
a group of persons, particularly in an individual member of the
a military or scouting context.
Generally, a group of two or more
platoons and headquarters staff.
three sets of driving wheels
(or trolley car) a streetcar (UK:
tram) electrically powered by
means of a trolley; hence trolley
line, trolley road, and trackless
trolley (a trolleybus)
military (neologism)

cavalry horse troopship (obs.)
trooper rank held by a private in the
Household Cavalry, Royal
Armoured Corps or SAS
truck railway vehicle for carrying
goods; can be open ("a coal
truck") or covered ("a cattle
truck") – cf. s.v. wagon
trunk primary road (trunk road)
(trunk call) long-distance
telephone call (dated)
tube (often cap.) the London
subterranean railway system ("the
London Underground") (very
strictly, only the deep lines of the
London Underground, not the
sub-surface ("cut and cover")
lines); (sometimes incorrectly
applied to that of other cities, e.g.
"the Berlin tube")
turnout strike, walkout
twat someone who is being stupid
(offensive; considered vulgar by
some)
to hit someone or something hard
("say that again and I'll twat
you!"
(pronounced /ɑtwæt/)
twister
tyke someone from Yorkshire
(informal, sometimes
disparaging)
U
Word British English meanings
underground (often cap.) subterranean railway subterranean
system, esp. the ones in London & illicit
Glasgow (US: subway or metro) -- a subterranean space or channel
see also tube
any of various vehicles for
carrying esp. things or animals, as cargo * (UK usu. lorry); see also
a forklift truck or a pickup truck garbage truck (UK: dustcart),
the human torso
the main stem of a tree
large (person-sized) container
(also travelling chest)
proboscis, particularly that of an City) (UK: main line)
elephant
a cylindrical structure or device television
number of people taking part in
an event ("voter turnout")
a railroad switch or point
equipment
output
vulva (vulgar)
something that twists; see also
Twister (game)
term of endearment for a child,
like "little rascal"
Meanings common to British
and American English
grapevine (in the sense of an
informal communication network)
Page 49
state police officer ("state
trooper")
(slang) a heroic person that
prevails against the odds or takes
on a difficult labor without
complaint
motor vehicle for carrying heavy
truck stop (UK: transport cafe)
produce grown for the market;
hence truck farm (UK: market
garden)
a hand-truck (UK: trolley)
in a railroad car, the
undercarriage assembly
incorporating wheels, suspension,
and brakes (UK: bogie)
(v.) to transport by or drive a
truck; to move around carelessly
storage compartment of a car
(UK: boot)
(trunk line) a main railway line
(as from Chicago to New York
a place along a highway for
slower cars to pull over, in order
to let others pass, or for brief
parking (UK: layby)
(pronounced /ɑtwǡət/)
a tornado
a young animal
American English meanings
(Underground Railroad or
Railway) (before 1863) the
network of clandestine routes by
which slaves were helped to
escape to free states and Canada
 Page 50

us objective case of I (i.e. alternative objective case of we ("he saw us")

to "me") (informal), esp. in the
North of England ("lend us a
tenner")

V
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
vacation (UK also: vac) period between university terms (n.) time off from work or school
recreational trip away from home
(UK: holiday for both senses) (v.)
to take a vacation
valve Vacuum tube, as in pre-1960 a device to control the flow of
electronics liquids or gases
vanity pride in one's appearance a sink-unit in a bathroom
vest garment, usu. sleeveless, worn sleeveless garment worn over a
under a shirt (US: undershirt) shirt (UK: waistcoat) (e.g. Kevlar
sleeveless garment worn as an vest *)
only visible top
vet (n) veterinarian war veteran or a person who has
(v) to appraise or verify for served honorably in the military
accuracy or validity
visit (v.) (trans.) to go and see (a person or (intrans.) to pay a visit, stay as a
place) guest, or be engaged in informal
conversation ("visiting together",
"visit with a friend")

W
Word British English meanings
waffle (v.) to speak to no purpose; ramble A type of pancake with a pattern
wagon railway vehicle for transporting
goods (US: freight car)
walk out, (v.) "walk out with", to be
walkout romantically involved with
(archaic)
warden any of various officials (a "traffic gener., one in charge of something
warden")
an official in certain universities
wash up to wash the dishes; to clean after
eating food, hence washing-up
liquid (US dish soap)
watershed (orig. sense, now nontech.) a ridge (fig.) a turning point
of hills (which "sheds water")
Meanings common to British
and American English
of square dents in it, made in a
waffle iron.
4-wheeled orig. animal-drawn
vehicle (UK also spelled waggon
esp. in the past);
state of abstaining from alcohol
(orig. US slang)
a delivery van ("the milk wagon")
(v.) to leave a meeting in protest
to strike (orig. US)
to abandon someone, or to drop
out ("she walked out on me")
(orig. US)
(n.) a kind of strike action (orig.
US)
the act of leaving a meeting in
protest
American English meanings
(v.) to equivocate, waver, speak
evasively
small wheeled food service table
(UK: trolley); see also paddy
wagon (used in the UK, but non
PC), station wagon, chuck wagon,
wagon train
(adj.) (of a room in a building)
featuring outdoor access; (n.) such
an access ("full walkout
basement", "walkout to the deck")
(n.) one who goes out of a store or
shop without buying anything
official in charge of a prison *
(UK usu. governor)
in compounds: fire warden
to wash one's hands and face; to
clean before eating food
a drainage basin/water catchment
area (shift from orig. sense) *

separating two river drainage
basins; water parting * (old-
fashioned or nontechnical in US;
US usu. divide)
the time of day before which
programme content of a specified
or implied kind may not be
screened and after which it is
permissible
well really (colloquial, used for
emphasis) ("that was well funny") healthy, in good form
wicked (interjection) used for something (adj.) evil; fierce; roguish; vile
very good, astounding or
interesting ("Wicked!")
wifebeater, (slang) the beer Stella Artois
wife- (perh. also related to "A Streetcar wife
beater Named Desire")
wing panel of a car that encloses the
(vehicles) wheel area (US: fender)
wingnut (n.) derogatory term for a person
with prominent, sticking out, ears
wink (n.) "winker", slang term for a turn (n. & v.) the closing of one eye
indicator (US: see blinker)
wrangle
(v.)
wreck (n.)
wrench
X
Word British English meanings
xerox
adverb of good
pit sunk to obtain water or oil
(wife beater) one who beats up his
apparatus used to create lift in
aeronautics
a type of spoiler (on racecars)
the act of carrying out an activity
with little or no planning, To wing
something, "Let's wing it!" (slang)
(n.) a nut with projections to allow (n.) (mild) a crazy or strange
application of greater torque with person
the fingers
a type of tree
to bicker or quarrel angrily and
noisily
shipwreck
that which remains of something
wrecked
someone who is unwell or out of
sorts (e.g. "nervous wreck")
a sudden pull or twist
emotional distress
Meanings common to British
and American English
the Xerox Corporation
Page 51
(adverb) very (esp. New England)
("Wicked good")
a sleeveless undershirt (such as
that worn by Marlon Brando in "A
Streetcar Named Desire") * (also
Scotland)
Wingnut (politics), an
uncomplimentary term for
someone of right-wing or
conservative views
(esp. West) to herd horses or other
livestock; back-formation from
wrangler
to achieve through contrivance; to
wangle
a usu. major road, rail, or air
accident or collision
a tool used for tightening nuts and
bolts * (used in UK chiefly in
combination, e.g. torque wrench)
something disrupting (often
monkey wrench) ("that will throw
a monkey wrench into my plans")
(UK usu. spanner for both senses)
American English meanings
(n.) A photocopied document *
(v.) To photocopy *
 Page 52

Y
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
yankee, (sometimes disparaging, esp. when someone from the U.S. (n.)a New Englander or patriot
yank shortened to yank) from the American Revolution, in
the South, someone from the
Northern US (often disparaging).
A Minnesotan would not consider
himself a Yankee or use the word
regularly, but would consider
someone from Connecticut to be a
yankee, a Texan would consider
both yankees, but not himself, and
would be much more likely to use
the word;
a player for the New York
Yankees baseball team
yard a courtyard enclosed area of land surrounding
an enclosed space used for a a dwelling, usu. comprising lawn
particular activity (as a railway and play area (UK usu.: garden)
service area, a lumberyard or (yard sale) see garage sale
timber yard, a junkyard, etc.) a campus (e.g. Harvard Yard)
a unit of length a place (as in a forest) where deer
gather in winter
100 dollars (slang)
a billion (slang, finance)
go yard, to hit a home run

Z
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
z (pronounced /ɑzǫd/) the last letter of the alphabet (pronounced /ɑziə/)
a nap ("to catch some z's")
zero or no ("I have z cash right
now.")
zebra (zebra crossing) a type of an African equine mammal a referee (as in American football)
pedestrian crossing (from their striped uniforms)
(pronounced /ɑzǫbrǩ/) * (pronounced /ɑziəbrǩ/)
zip (short for zip fastener) a fastening a sharp, hissing sound zero (often in scores, similar to the
device (US: zipper) impetus UK's nil)
file format for compressed files (often all cap.) the ZIP Code (from
("archive.zip") Zone Improvement Plan), the
postal code used by the USPS

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