Beatnik Dictionary


Learning to Talk Like Keith Richards - A Hipster's Lexicography!

The Beats helped popularize dozens of new words and phrases during their years as the arbiters of hip. Some are still part of everyday use: "Far out"; "loot"; "groovy"; "play it cool"; and, of course, "hippie," meaning a junior member of the hip scene. The Beat Generation borrowed quite a bit from the jazz world, and African-American culture in general, but it managed to put a unique twist on a lot of language. Here are some of the indispensable terms. Included are translations into square-city jive put ons for those Clydes who don't make the scene and can't blow nutty riffs. Dig?
A Action: What's happening Apple: Naive, unsophisticated Axe: Any musical instrument; any tool you use to make your living B Baby: Term of endearment, applied to men or women Blow: To play an instrument; to depart; to make Box: Record player Bread: Money C Casbah: Lover's lane Cat: A cool male -City: Suffix used for emphasis ("That scene was drag-city .") Clyde: Bumpkin, square Cool it: Relax, calm down; leave Cut, Cut out: Leave, split D Dad, Daddy: Endearment for males, sometimes sarcastic Dig: Understand; look or listen to; pay attention Drag: Come-down, disappointment E Eye, the: Television Eyes, have: Desire; like F Fall by: Visit Fallout: Go rest Flip: Go nuts over Fuzz: Police G Gas: An exciting thing or event Grease: Money; food H Hipster: One who is cool, and part of the scene Holding: In possession of money or drugs J Jim: A derogatory term for males Jive: Offensive; no-good L Later: Goodbye; forget it Lay on: Give; loan M Man, the: Police Most: Greatest; furthest out N Nutty: Good; wild; hip P Pad: Home or other residence Pick up on: Understand; listen or pay attention to Put on: To string along a square who's not aware of being teased R Riff: Story: conversation S Salty: Rude Scoff: Eat; food Score: Succeed, acquire Short: Automobile Sides: Phonograph records Square: Un-hip; one who is not cool Swing, to: To be happy or contented T Tapped: Broke: arrested Tossed: Searched by the fuzz Turn on: Take drugs; become interested in W Wail: Play; sing; talk Wig: Brain; mind Wig, to: Get very excited Taken from 'The Beat Generation' by Rhino Word/Beat. All copyrights remain with them. Reproduced for reference purposes only. This is strictly a non-profit making site and no financial gain should be earned from the above without the permission of the copyright holders.