"Vv" in Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English potx

Vv
V noun 1 Valium™ US, 1984. 2 sildenafil citrate marketed as Viagra™, an
anti-impotence drug taken recreationally for performance
enhancement, in combination with other chemicals that stimulate
the sexual appetites
UK, 2000. 3 a V-sign UK, 2002. 4 a visit US, 2002. 5 a
five year prison sentence. From the Roman numeral for five US,
1945
. 6 five dollars US, 1962. 7 marijuana US, 1979
v adjective very. Upper-class society origins (perhaps from abbreviation
use in school) into wider middle-class usage
UK, 1982
V-8 gang noun a youth gang that uses large American cars NEW
ZEALAND
, 1984
V-8s noun men’s shorts US, 1972
VA noun the vagina. Adopted from the standard abbreviation for the
state of Virginia, punning the phonetic similarity US, 1998
Vaalie; Valie noun an inhabitant of the region formerly known as
Transvaal. Often derogatory or patronising SOUTH AFRICA, 1976
vac noun a vacation UK, 1709
vacation noun time spent in jail or prison US, 1971
vacaya noun 1 any mechanical or electrical device that produces
sound; a jukebox; a record player
UK, 2002. 2 a mobile phone. From
the earlier, more general sense (a device that produces sound)
UK,
2002
vada; varda; vardi; vardo; vardy verb to see; to look; to observe.
Polari UK, 1859
vadavision; vardavision noun a television UK, 2002

VAF! (when first noticing an attractive person) ‘look!’. Polari; an
acronym for ‘VADA absolutely FANTABULOSA!’ UK, 2002
vag noun 1 a vagrant US, 1868. 2 vagrancy; a criminal charge of
vagrancy
US, 1859
vag verb to charge someone with vagrancy US, 1859
vage; vag; vadge; vaj noun the vagina US, 1986
vaggerie; vagary; vagarie verb to go; to leave; to travel. Probably
from Italian vagare (to roam) UK, 2002
vagina vandal noun a rapist US, 1962
val noun 1 a tablet of diazepam (trade name Valium™), an anti-
anxiety agent US, 1986. 2 value UK, 2000. 3 a resident of the San
Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, California US, 1982
valentine noun a very short jail sentence US, 1949
Valentine noun in college, a notification of academic deficiency US,
1968
Valentine Dyalls; valentines noun haemorrhoids. Rhyming slang
for PILES, formed on the actor Valentine Dyall, 1908–85 UK, 1998
valet noun in a deck of playing cards, a jack or knave US, 1988
vali; vallie; vally noun Valium™, a branded tranquillizer UK, 1996
valley noun the antecubital vein at the inside of the elbow, a prime
site for intravenous drug injections
US, 1970
Valley noun < the Valley 1 the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles
County, California US, 1994. 2 a low-lying area east of Seventh
Avenue in Harlem, New York
US, 1966
valley dolls noun LSD UK, 2003
Valleyite noun a resident of the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles US,
1985

valve job noun sex in a car US, 1997
vamoose verb to go; to leave. Spanish vamanos (let us go) US, 1834
vamp noun a woman that makes it her habit or business to captivate
men by an unscrupulous employment of her sexual charms UK,
1911
vamp verb 1 (of a woman) to flirt, and otherwise employ an obvious
sexuality to attract a mate
UK, 1927. 2 to smell bad TRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO
, 1973
vampire noun a medical operative who draws off a patient’s or
donor’s blood; a member of any National Blood Transfusion
collecting team. Jocular and affectionate, usually UK, 1961. < take
the vampire’s kiss; take the vampires
to tease someone, to
pull someone’s leg. Rhyming slang for
TAKE THE PISS UK, 1998
van noun a brakevan (caboose) US, 1977
Van nickname the city of Vancouver, British Columbia CANADA, 2002
V and A nickname Victoria and Albert Museum UK, 1937
vandoo noun in the Canadian Forces, a member of the Royal 22nd
Regiment, the francophone army unit
CANADA, 1995
V and T noun vodka and t onic UK, 1997
V and X noun in carnival usage, a five-and-ten cent store US, 1981
Van Gogh noun a trucker operating with a citizens’ band radio. A
trucker without a citizens’ band radio is said to be driving ‘without
ears’, and hence the artistic allusion US, 1976
Vangroovy noun Vancouver, British Columbia CANADA, 2002
vanilla adjective 1 white-skinned, Caucasian. Originally black usage,

now widespread US, 1994. 2 ordinary, simple, basic. Derives from the
plainest ice-cream variety US, 1977. 3 of sex, conventional; of homo-
sexual sex, gentle, traditional, emotional
US, 1984. 4 used of
pornography, relatively high-brow, designed for couples and first-
time viewers US, 2000
vanilla fudge noun a judge. Rhyming slang UK, 2004
Vanity Fair noun a chair. Rhyming slang, formed from the title of
Thackeray’s novel UK, 1961
Vanna noun used as a term of address between homosexual males.
From Vanna White, of television game show fame US, 1990
Vanouver noun any vacuum cleaner. Rhyming slang for HOOVER UK,
1992
vap verb when throwing dice, to snap your fingers BARBADOS, 1965
vap; vaps noun an impulse; a sudden urge TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1957
vapour lock noun a temporary loss of common sense or memory.
An allusion to a mechanical problem with the carburettor of an
internal combustion engine US, 1996
vapourware noun in computing, a program that is announced well
before it is completed and released US, 1991
varda d’amour noun the look of love. A combination of polari and
French UK, 1992
varder; varda noun a look. Polari UK, 1996
vardo noun in gypsy or traveller use, a trailer, a wagon, a caravan UK,
1934
varicose alley noun the platform that extends from a stage used by
strippers out into the audience US, 1945
varicose vein noun a baby; a child. Glasgow rhyming slang on
Scottish dialect wean (pronounced ‘wayne’) UK: SCOTLAND, 1996
vark noun used as a term of abuse, especially applied to a police

officer. A contemptuous term, from Afrikaans vark (pig) SOUTH
AFRICA
, 1975
varnish noun on the railways, a passenger train US, 1946
varnish verb < varnish the cane (from the male perspective) to
have sex
US, 1968
vasso noun vaseline AUSTRALIA, 1998
VAT noun vodka and tonic. Initialism, punning on value added tax;
made popular by 1980s television series Minder
UK, 1994
Vatican roulette noun birth control by the rhythm method US, 1979
vato; bato noun a guy. Border Spanish used in English conversation
by Mexican-Americans
US, 1950
vato loco; bato loco noun a wild guy US, 1965
vault noun a hotel baggage checkroom US, 1954
va va voom noun style; a powerful or seductive style. Used as a song
title by Cinerama ‘Va Va Voom’, 1998, and as an advertising strap
line for Renault’s Clio™ (2001+)
US, 1996
VC noun the Viet Cong; a member of the Viet Cong US, 1966 8see:
VICTORIA CROSS
V-card noun a person’s virginity US, 2001
VCR noun a vicious campus rumour US, 1966
VD bonnet noun a condom. A reference to the prevention of
venereal disease US, 1972
V-Dub; Vee-Dub noun a Volkswagen motor vehicle. Shortening of
vee double-u,thatis,Volkswagen AUSTRALIA, 1970
veal cutlet noun in gambling cheating schemes, a victim US, 1962

veal of the sea noun the green sea turtle BAHAMAS, 1982
veddy adverb very. A jocular pronunciation, approximating a child’s,
or an American’s (attempting a ‘British’ accent), rendering of ‘very’
UK, 1859
vee noun sex involving three people, two of whom are focused on
the pleasure of the third US, 1995
veeblefetzer noun a corporate manager. Not a term of endearment
US, 1997
vee dub noun a completely depillated female pubis. Also as a verb
and, thus, an adjectival participle. From a similarity in shape and
finish to the bonnet of a Volkswagen Beetle US, 2003
veep noun a vice president US, 1949 8see: VIP
vee wee noun a Volkswagen motor vehicle UK, 1984
veg noun vegetables UK, 1898
Vegemite-driller noun a male homosexual AUSTRALIA, 1985
Vegemite valley noun the anus and rectal passage. Use is often
suggestive of homosexual activity. Vegemite™ is a dark brown
foodstuff AUSTRALIA, 2003
vegetable noun 1 a person who is mentally and physically incapaci-
tated to a degree that renders the comparison with a plant
organism fair if cruel UK, 1921. 2 a person with an inactive,
undemanding lifestyle. A derogatory use arising from the semi-
conventional medical sense above UK, 2001
vegetable garden noun a group of neurologically depressed hospital
patients
US, 1978
vegetation noun relaxation US, 1986
vegged out adjective relaxed and inactive US, 2001
veggie noun 1 a vegetable US, 1955. 2 a vegetarian. The variant spelling
‘veggy’ is also used UK, 1975

vegie adjective of school subjects, of the easiest grade AUSTRALIA, 1992
vego noun a vegetarian AUSTRALIA, 1996
vego adjective vegetarian AUSTRALIA, 1988
veg out verb to relax and do nothing US, 1995
veins noun < get veins in bodybuilding, to achieve definition, or
well-developed and sculpted muscles US, 1984
velcro noun a lesbian. Figurative use of Velcro™, from the French
velours croché (hooked velvet), a branded material fastener UK, 2000
velvet noun 1 gambling winnings US, 1974. 2 a passenger train carriage
US, 1977. < on velvet in good shape US, 1997
velvet fog nickname singer Mel Tormé (1925–99) US, 2000
vendor noun ajukeboxUS, 1965
vendor’s noun a commercial bottled beer, even when obtained from
a bootlegger CANADA, 1999
vengeance noun < with a vengeanc e to a great degree, very
much
UK, 1568
vent verb to express frustrations in larger-than-life dimensions. What
an earlier generation would have called ‘let off some steam’
US, 1996
vent; vent act noun a ventriloquist UK, 1893. < take it to the vent
to commit suicide US, 1989
ventilate verb to shoot someone. From the image of bullet holes
ventilating the body
US, 1947. < ventilate the block in hot
rodding and drag racing, to blow a rod out through the engine
US,
1960s
ventilator noun a machine gun US, 1962
Vera Lynn; Vera noun 1 gin. Rhyming slang, based on the name of

singer Vera Lynn (b.1917) known from World War 2 as ‘the forces’
sweetheart’ UK, 1952. 2 a cigarette paper. Rhyming slang for SKIN (a
cigarette paper)
UK, 1992
verandah over the toy shop noun a paunch or beer-belly AUSTRALIA,
1987
vera vice; victoria vice; veras noun the police vice squad. A CAMP
elaboration UK, 1996
verbal; verbals noun 1 a conversation, a talk UK, 1997. 2 a verbal
statement given to the police, often self-incriminatory UK, 1963
verbal; verbal up verb to fake a confession of criminal guilt UK, 1979
verbal diarrhoea noun unwarranted verbosity UK, 1823
verballing noun the act of faking a criminal confession UK, 1974
vergla noun freezing rain. The word is borrowed, modified but
pronounced fairly correctly, from the French verglas, which means
the same thing CANADA, 2002
Veronica Lake noun steak. Rhyming slang, formed from the name
of the US film actress, 1919–73 UK, 1992
verrrry in-ter-est-ing; very interesting, but stupid used as a
humorous comment on a remark or event; used for humorously
dismissing what has just been said. A signature line on Rowan and
Martin’s Laugh-In (NBC, 1968–73), uttered by Arte Johnson while
playing a wacky Nazi soldier. Repeated with referential humour US,
1969
versatile adjective bisexual UK, 2002
versing preposition < be versing to compete against. A corruption
of the preposition ‘versus’, almost always heard in the progressive
form US, 1984
versioning noun a technique in hip-hop music of blending different
periods and styles of recorded music US, 2000

vert noun in skateboarding, an almost vertical ramp UK, 2003
vertical bacon sandwich noun the vagina. From the resemblance
UK, 2002
vertical jockey noun an elevator operator US, 1953
very adjective excellent US, 1989
very adverb very much, absolutely UK, 2002
very à la adjective absolutely in fashion. Generally contemptuous,
disparaging or ironic in tone UK, 1984
vest noun a show-off US, 1965
vestibules noun the testicles UK, 2003
vestige noun a brassiere. Recorded as a contemporary gay usage UK,
2003
vest out verb to retire from police service after vesting in the
pension plan with 15 years of service. New York police slang US,
1997
vet noun 1 an ex-member of the military US, 1848. 2 a prison doctor
SOUTH AFRICA, 1974
veterano noun an experienced, respected gang member. Spanish
used by English-speakers US, 1975
veterinarian noun a physician who regards his patients as of animal
intelligence
US, 1978
Vette noun aCorvettecarUS, 1994
vex verb to engage someone in an abusive verbal attack UK, 2001
VG adjective very good. Abbreviation UK, 1982
Vatican roulette | VG 680
Vgirlnoun a woman who is attracted to men in military uniform US,
1960
Viaggy noun a Viagra™ tablet UK, 2002
vibe verb to create and enjoy a good atmosphere UK, 2001

vibe; vibes noun the atmosphere generated by any event; mood;
nuances intimately related to all senses. An abbreviation of
‘vibration’, which has the same meaning US, 1960
vibed up adjective excited; in the mood UK, 1983
vibe off verb to take inspiration from someone or something UK, 1999
vibe out verb to intimidate someone UK, 1983
vibes noun a vibraphone UK, 1940
vibey adjective fashionably atmospheric; in tune with the zeitgeist.
From the 1990s; a positive sense of VIBE (the atmosphere of an
event)
UK, 1999
vibrations noun the atmosphere generated by any event; mood;
nuances intimately related to all senses US, 1966
vibrator noun a motorcyle US, 1962
vic noun 1 a victim US, 1968. 2 a sucker or an easy target for crime US,
1969
Vic nickname Victoria, a southern state of Australia AUSTRALIA, 1902
Vicar of Bray noun 1 a tray. Rhyming slang, formed from a C18
song UK, 1960. 2 the number three; three. Rhyming slang for TREY
UK
, 1960
vice noun a police vice squad. Usually used with ‘the’ UK, 1966
vice president noun in poker, the player with the second best hand
US, 1988
vice versa noun reciprocal oral sex between two lesbians. The
earliest known lesbian periodical in the US (1947) was named Vice
Versa
US, 1963
vicey adjective sinful; depraved TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1993
vicious adjective handsome US, 1982

vick verb to steal. Probably an evolution from ‘victim’ US, 1993
Vicky noun a Ford Victoria sedan, first built in the 1930s and then
revived in the 1950s US, 1965
vicky; vick noun a two-fingered gesture that is used to insult or
otherwise cause offence. Glasgow slang; the forefinger and the
middle finger are extended to form a V shape, with the palm
turned in towards the gesturer UK: SCOTLAND, 1985
vicky-verky vice-versa. Used as a song title by Squeeze, 1981 UK, 1961
Victor Charlie nickname the Viet Cong US, 1966
Victoria noun used of a person otherwise described as nouveau
riche. After singer and footballer’s wife Victoria Beckham (b.1975);
recorded as a contemporary gay usage UK, 2003
Victoria Cross; VC noun something of little or no value. Rhyming
slang for TOSS, formed from the highest military honour for valour
UK, 1992
Victoria Monk noun semen. Rhyming slang for SPUNK, after the
music hall singer, best remembered for ‘Won’t You Come Home,
Bill Bailey?’, Victoria Monks, 1884–1972
UK, 1960
Victory V noun 1 urine; an act of urination. Rhyming slang for PEE
or WEE, formed from the Churchillian gesture or Victory V branded
medicinal-confectionery UK, 1998. 2 a Triumph car. Citizens’ band
radio slang; ‘victory’ as a synonym for ‘triumph’ UK, 1981
vid noun 1 a video cassette, a video recording UK, 2000. 2 amusic
video
US, 1985
video-nasty noun an exceptionally unpleasant horror film, available
on video UK, 1982
vidrio noun heroin. The Spanish for GLASS (heroin) UK, 2003
Viet noun a Vietnamese person US, 1966

Vietnam rose noun any sexually transmitted infection AUSTRALIA, 1988
Viet shits noun diarrhoea US, 1991
vig noun 1 interest owed on an illegal loan. A shortened form of
VIGORISH US, 1990. 2 profit. Freely adapted from VIGORISH (interest on
a loan) UK, 2001
vigorish noun the interest owed on an illegal loan. Yiddish slang
from the Russian vyigrysh (winnings-out-to-pay)
US, 1966
vikes noun the prescription drug Vicodin™ US, 1996
Viking queen noun in homosexual usage, a muscular, blonde man
US, 1987
vill noun a village or town. Found in the poetry of the early C18, but
not particularly thereafter until the war in Vietnam
US, 1976
village noun a notional community of racecourse bookmakers UK,
1991
Village noun < the Village Greenwich Village, New York, a small
neighbourhood below 14th Street and west of Broadway, haven to
Bohemians US, 1952
village adjective unsophisticated, out of touch with trends US, 2002
village bike noun 1 a promiscuous woman. As with the TOWN BIKE,
‘everyone has ridden her’ UK, 1995. 2 a lesbian. Rhyming slang for
DYKE UK, 2003
village pump noun a girl who is free and easy sexually CANADA, 1992
village ram noun a sexually aggressive male TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1964
villain noun a professional criminal; someone with a criminal record
UK, 1945
Ville noun < the Ville Pentonville prison, London UK, 1903
-ville suffix used for making or emphasising an adjective; used in
combination with a characteristic to describe a place or a con-

dition. Modern usage began with the US beats and travelled back
to the UK. By the mid-1970s the US form was presumed obsolete
having been replaced by ‘-city’. It survives in the UK without
obvious irony US, 1891
Vincent nickname the Viet Cong; a member of the Viet Cong US, 1965
Vincent Price; vincent noun ice. Rhyming slang, formed from the
US actor, 1911–93, particularly famed for his roles in horror films
UK, 1992
Vincent Van Gogh; vincent noun a cough. Rhyming slang, based
on the predominant UK pronunciation of impressionist artist
Vincent Van Gogh (1853–90) UK, 2002
vine noun 1 a men’s suit; clothing US, 1932. 2 the penis US, 1972
vine down verb to dress up US, 1969
vinegar stroke; vinegar noun the final penile thrust culminating in
ejaculation when copulating or masturbating. Alluding to the facial
expression of the male. Also, in the plural, ‘the final thrusts pre-
ceding ejaculation’. UK comedian Phill Jupitus, who uses this term
to describe the closing moments of his act, explains: ‘Just before a
bloke comes he looks like you’ve popped a teaspoon of vinegar
into his mouth’
AUSTRALIA, 1961
viney bones noun rubber bands. Used by motorcyclists. Douglas
Dunford, of the Beaulieu Motor Museum, gives the following
etymology: ‘Originated with the famous [motorcycle] trials rider
Hugh Viney of the ‘30s who used to cut up old inner-tubes and
supply his mates with bands to fix their riding numbers.’ UK, 1984
Vinnies; St Vinnies nickname a St Vincent de Paul charity store
AUSTRALIA, 1970
vino noun 1 wine, especially cheap wine. From Spanish and Italian
vino (wine) AUSTRALIA, 1919. 2 a drinker of doctored cheap wine UK,

1966
vinyl noun used generically for musical recordings produced on such
material UK, 1976
violet noun < come up smelling of violets to emerge unscathed
from a difficult or troublesome situation, used especially of
someone who is consistently and remarkably lucky. Probably
somewhat dated by the time it was recorded. The form survives as
‘come up smelling of roses’
UK, 1981
violin cases noun large, heavy shoes US, 1946
vip; veep noun a very important person US, 1945
681 V girl | vip; veep
viper noun 1 a marijuana dealer US, 1958. 2 a marijuana user. A term
of the 1930s with some lingering use until the 1960s
US, 1938
viper’s weed; viper’s drag noun marijuana; a marijuana cigarette
US, 1938
VIP massage noun a sexual service offered in some massage
parlours, in which a hand-massage includes masturbation of the
client UK, 2003
VIP services noun sexual intercourse, as distinct from masturbation,
when advertised as a service offered by a prostitute
UK, 2003
viral marketing noun word-of-mouth as a deliberate marketing
tactic
US, 2000
virgin noun 1 a person who has not contracted a sexually transmitted
infection
US, 1947. 2 a letter which has not been postmarked US, 1977
virgin adjective used of a green on a par-3 hole, untouched by any

ball of a foursome
US, 2000
virgin bride; virgin noun a ride, especially in the sense an act of
sexual intercourse. Rhyming slang, now rare AUSTRALIA, 1902
virgin ears noun used, usually in the first person, for a claim of
innocence in matters sexual US, 1970
Virgin f or short – but not for long applied to girls named
Virginia. Part-catchphrase, part-nickname; often irresistible, always
hilarious UK, 1984
virginia noun the vagina BAHAMAS, 1982
Virginia vitamin noun any central nervous system stimulant US, 1977
virginity curtain noun a canvas screen secured to the underside of
a warship’s accommodation to preserve the modesty of those who
go up and down the gangway from those who look up. Similar in
purpose and design to a CUNT SCREEN UK, 1969
Virgin Mary noun a non-alcoholic version of the Bloody Mary, made
with tomato juice, horseradish, Worcestershire and/or Tabasco
sauce, celery, salt and black pepper; unadulterated tomato juice. A
tasty pun, using ‘virgin’ as ‘non-alcoholic’ US, 1993
virgin pie noun cherry pie US, 1952
virgin principle noun the belief among gamblers that a beginner
will have good luck US, 1993
virgin state noun the period when a person has started using an
addictive drug but is not yet fully addicted US, 1970
virtual Friday noun the last day in a working week shortened by a
holiday at the end of the week US, 1991
virus noun 1 HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus US, 1992. 2 in
computing, a program that duplicates itself maliciously when it
finds a host, often with a mechanism that enables it then to
spread to new hosts US, 1990

visit verb < to visit Aunt Lillian to experience the bleed period of
the menstrual cycle US, 1968
visitations noun < the visitations the bleed period of the
menstrual cycle US, 1999
visit from the cardinal noun the bleed period of the menstrual
cycle. Playing on the colour of a cardinal’s robes US, 2000
visit from the French lady noun the bleed period of the menstrual
cycle. Euphemism, credited to Stella Tilyard, Aristocrats, 1994 US,
1994
visiting card noun an act of defecation at the scene of the crime by
the criminal US, 1945
visitor noun the bleed period of the menstrual cycle US, 1949
visuals noun hallucinations experienced under the influence of
psychoactive mushrooms or peyote
US, 1992
vitamin A noun LSD. From the common term ACID US, 1997
vitamin B noun beer US, 1990
vitamin C noun cocaine US, 1984
vitamin D noun dextromethorphan (DXM), an active ingredient in
non-prescription cold and cough medication, often abused for
non-medicinal purposes
US, 2003
vitamin DB noun Dominion Breweries draught bitter NEW ZEALAND,
1998
vitamin E noun MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy.
An elaboration of
E UK, 1998
vitamin H noun haloperidol, a potent tranquillizer US, 1989
vitamin K; vit K noun ketamine hydrochloride, an anaesthetic used
as a hallucinogen

US, 1989
vitamin M noun Motrin™ US, 1994
vitamin N noun nicotine; a cigarette US, 2004
vitamin P noun 1 sex. ‘P’ is for PUSSY US, 1989. 2 the game of poker US,
1996
vitamin Q noun the recreational drug methaqualone, best known as
Quaalude™ US, 1982
vitamins noun 1 drugs in tablet or capsule form UK, 1996. 2 any
central nervous system stimulant
US, 1977
vitamin T noun marijuana US, 1997
vitamin V noun valium US, 1994
vittles noun food. An American corruption of the C14 ‘victual’ US, 1946
vizzo noun in prison, a visit UK, 1996
VJ; veejay noun a video jockey, a television presenter of music
videos; a visual artist who mixes lights and images in a club
environment. Initialism, on the model of DJ
US, 1982
VO noun a beautiful woman. An abbreviation of ‘visual orgasm’ US,
1997
voce; votch; voche noun the voice, especially a singing voice; a
singer. Theatrical, polari; from Italian voce UK, 1989
vod noun vodka US, 1986
vodders noun vodka UK, 2002
voddie; voddy noun vodka UK, 1988
vodka acid noun LSD UK, 2003
vogue noun 1 a posture that implies, or is part of, a fashion-style US,
2003. 2 a cigarette. Polari UK, 1992. 3 a wheel rim US, 2001
vogue verb 1 to engage in a style competition that values posturing
US, 1995. 2 to light a cigarette. From VOGUE (a cigarette) UK, 1993

voice verb to telephone US, 1991
vol noun in prison, a volunteer UK, 1996
volcano noun the bleed period of the menstrual cycle CANADA, 2001
Volks noun a Volkswagen car US, 1964
Volksie noun a Volkswagen car, especially the ‘Beetle’ SOUTH AFRICA,
1962
volley noun an abusive verbal attack UK, 1996
volley verb to hit someone. Tennis jargon, ‘volley’ (to strike a ball
before it bounces) adopted for a less sporting use UK, 1999
volley dolly noun a woman attracted to male volleyball players US,
1990
volley off verb to engage in an abusive verbal attack UK, 2001
vom verb to vomit CANADA, 1993
vomatose adjective extremely disgusting US, 1983
vomit comet noun 1 any late-night public transport used by drunken
passengers. From the probable outcome of movement and alcohol
UK, 2003. 2 the modified KC-135A reduced-gravity aircraft. The
aircraft flies parabolas in order to investigate the effects of zero
gravity; passengers are often sick to their stomachs US, 1999
vomiting viper noun the penis UK, 1984
vonce noun 1 marijuana US, 1960. 2 the butt of a marijuana cigarette
US, 1965
vonka noun the nose UK, 2002
Von T rapp noun excrement; nonsense, rubbish. Rhyming slang for
CRAP, formed from the family whose story is told in The Sound of
Music UK, 2003
vote verb to propose something that you want UK, 1814
voyou noun in Quebec, a hoodlum, or more specifically a striker
who commits vandalism against the company. The French word
viper | voyou 682

here used in English carries the sense of ‘outside the law’ CANADA,
2002
VP noun a sex offender. An initialism of ‘vulnerable prisoner’ UK,
1996
VPL a visible panty line, the most heinous of fashion crimes.
Popularised by Paul Simon in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall
US, 1967
VRB noun vodka and Red Bull™. Initialism for a popular cocktail (Red
Bull is a brand name ‘energy’ drink)
UK, 2001
vroom verb to leave noisily US, 1967
vrot adjective rotten; hence, drunk. From Afrikaans SOUTH AFRICA, 1910
VS noun an injection of drugs into a vein. Initialism of a ‘vein SHOT’
US, 1938
V-sign noun a gesture that is used to insult or otherwise cause
offence, especially when made in conjunction with threatening or
abusive language, e.g. ‘fuck off!’ or ‘up yours!’ with which the sign
may be considered synonymous. The forefinger and the middle
finger are extended to form a V shape, the palm turned in towards
the gesturer; as an obscene gesture it is confined almost entirely
to the UK. There is a legend that French archers, when captured
by the British at the Battle of Agincourt (1415), had their middle
and forefingers – those necessary to draw the bowstring –
chopped off. The Welsh bowmen are said to have waggled their
two fingers, taunting the French. The earliest written description
of a v-sign as both threat and insult is French: ‘[Pangurge]
stretched out the forefinger, and middle finger or medical of his
right hand, holding them asunder as much as he could, and
thrusting them towards Thaumast’ (François Rabelais, 1532).
Further derivations abound: 1) Farmer and Henley’s Slang and its

Analogues (1890) suggests a representation of cuckold’s horns,
however this is traditionally made with the first and fourth fingers.
2) Symbolic of the phallus; the raised middle finger (
FLIP THE BIRD)
has been known since Roman times and, it is suggested, the v-sign
enlarges the penis or doubles the quotient; or disguises the single
finger insult. 3) The fingers represent themselves inserted in the
vagina – though why this should be insulting is not explained. 4)
Symbolic of female legs or labia spread wide; or represents the tri-
angular shape of female pubic hair. 5) A corrupted victory sign –
however the Churchillian symbol is first recorded in 1941,
contrived by a Belgian Lawyer named Victor De Lavelaye. Probably
more than one of the above, except 5, is the truth
UK, 1948
Vspotnoun a five-dollar note US, 1949
Vulcan nerve pinch noun when operating a computer, the keyed-
combination of the characters Ctrl-Alt-Delete used to restart the
machine. A figurative application of a fictional technique used in
the television science fiction series, Star Trek
US, 2004
vulture noun in trucking, a police plane used for spotting speeders
US, 1971
VW noun a variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best known as
ecstasy, identified by VW embossed on the tablet UK, 2002
683 VP | VW