Old West Words and Phrases

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Well now, if you walk the walk you oughta be able to talk the talk.  Let's see how well you can.  Tell me what these mean.

Nailed to the counter

Oh-be-joyful

Hot as a w___ehouse on nickel night

Flannel mouth 

[Four-Eyed Buck]

OooppppS, forgot i had the day off! ::)Oh be joyfull was what the CW soldiers called their home brew concoctions taking the place of regular libations in camp..........Buck

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

OooppppS, forgot i had the day off! ::)Oh be joyfull was what the CW soldiers called their home brew concoctions taking the place of regular libations in camp..........Buck

One down, three to go.  I think "Oh be joyful" eventlually became slang for most any intoxicating beverage.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Flannel mouth - I would think it meant that the mouth was as dry as flannel/cotton. 

Slim

[Delmonico]

Flannel-Mouth talks to much.

Nailed ta the counter I'll guess, hard ta steal.

Hotter than, well busy, kinda a like the day after Thanksgivin' sales.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Flannel-Mouth talks to much.

Like flapping in the breeze?

Slim

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Flannel mouth ~ an overly smooth or fancy talker, especially politicians or salesmen. "I swear that man is a flannel-mouthed liar."

Nailed to the counter ~ proven a lie.

Hot as a w___ehouse on nickel night ~ pretty danged hot.

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Next batch:

Quirley

Shoot, Luke, or give up the gun

Who-hit-John

Got the bulge

[Russ T Chambers]

Next batch:

Quirley

Shoot, Luke, or give up the gun

Who-hit-John

Got the bulge

Who-hit-john     Whiskey or corn liquor?
Got the bulge    Holding a gun on the person or is it just showing you're carryin'

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

You're battin' 500 on this one, Russ T.

Who-hit-John ~ Liquor, beer, intoxicating spirits. "He had a little too much who-hit-John."

Got the bulge ~ have the advantage. "We'll get the bulge on him, and take his gun away."



Still lookin' for definitions of these:

Shoot, Luke, or give up the gun

Quirley

[Silver Creek Slim]

Quirley  Cigarette?

Slim

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Quirley  Cigarette?

Slim

Well looky here, ol' Slim went an' done it again.

Quirley ~ roll-your-own cigarette.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Quirley  Cigarette?

Slim

Well looky here, ol' Slim went an' done it again.

Quirley ~ roll-your-own cigarette.

It's in a Marty Robbins song.

Slim

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Each night on cattle drives, a cowboy would be tasked to herd the remuda and then bring them in and have them ready to go in the morning.  What did they call the cowboy "lucky" enough to catch that duty?

[Delmonico]

Night Hawk

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Night Hawk

Del had no ifs, ands, or buts, just the correct answer.  Hope he ain't becomin' a man of few words.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Night Hawk

Del had no ifs, ands, or buts, just the correct answer.  Hope he ain't becomin' a man of few words.

I doubt that. 

Slim

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Here's some new ones:

A hog-killin' time

Bear sign

Take the rag off

Rip

and here's one that is still unanswered:

Shoot, Luke, or give up the gun

[Delmonico]

Bear sign is a thing like a doughnut that is lust rolled out kinda like a big playdough snake and looks like, well "bear sign".  Kinda like the old saying, "does a bear sign in tha woods."

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Bear sign is a thing like a doughnut that is lust rolled out kinda like a big playdough snake and looks like, well "bear sign".  Kinda like the old saying, "does a bear sign in tha woods."

Only at Bear Crossings.  Guess ya 'spect me ta bear with ya on this, but I'm bearly able to bear the brunt of yore loss of bearings.  D Boone kill a bar on this tree.