WWI era slang was quite colorful. Some of my favorites (and their meanings) stem from typical adolescent preoccupations, namely sex, cars, and booze: Hayburner (gas-guzzling car); iron (motorcycle); iron one’s shoelaces (go to the restroom); orchid (expensive item); skatey (vulgar, cheap); struggle buggy (car for making out); barney mugging (having sex); mazuma (money); and splifficated (drunk). Discover additional bygone slang expressions in BEHIND THE STORY and read more about popular culture during the WWI era in On the Shore (see NOVELS).
