"Over the Top," by an American Soldier Who Went: Together with Tommy's Dictionary of the TrenchesEmpey, Arthur Guy
History
"Over the Top," by an American Soldier Who Went: Together with Tommy's Dictionary of the Trenches
Empey, Arthur Guy
English language -- Slang -- Dictionaries; World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives
Button Stick. A contrivance made of brass ten inches long which slides
over the buttons and protects the tunic in cleaning.
C
"Called to the colors." A man on reserve who has been ordered to
report for service.
"Camel Corps." Tommy's nickname for the Infantry because they look
like overloaded camels, and probably because they also go eight days,
and longer, without a drink, that is, of the real stuff.
Candle. A piece of wick surrounded by wax or tallow used for lighting
purposes. One candle among six men is the general issue.
Canister. A German trench mortar shell filled with scraps of iron and
nails. Tommy really has a great contempt for this little token of
German affection and he uses the nails to hang his equipment on in the
dugouts.
Canteen. A mess tin issued to Tommy, who, after dinner, generally
forgets to wash it, and pinches his mates for tea in the evening.
"Carry on." Resume. Keep on with what you are doing. Go ahead.
"Carrying in." Machine gunners' term for taking guns, ammunition,
etc., into front-line trench.
Caterpillar. Is not a bug, but the name given to a powerful engine
used to haul the big guns over rough roads.
C.C.S. Casualty Clearing Station. A place where the doctors draw lots
to see if Tommy is badly wounded enough to be sent to Blighty.
Chalk Pit. A white spot on a painted landscape used at the Machine
Gunners' School to train would-be gunners in picking out distinctive
objects in landscapes and guessing ranges.
Challenge. A question, "Who goes there?" thrown at an unknown moving
object by a sentry in the darkness, who hopes that said moving object
will answer, "Friend."
Char. A black poisonous brew which Tommy calls tea.
"Chevaux-de-frise." Barbed-wire defenses against cavalry.
"Chucking his weight about." Self-important. Generally applied to a
newly promoted non-commissioned officer or a recruit airing his
knowledge.
Chum. An endearing word used by Tommy to his mate when he wants to
borrow something or have a favor done.
"Clicked it." Got killed; up against it; wounded.
"Clock." "Trench" for the face.
"Coal Box." The nickname for a high explosive German shell fired from
a 5.9 howitzer which emits a heavy black smoke and makes Tommy's hair
stand on end.
Coal Fatigue. A detail on which Tommy has to ride in a limber and fill
two sacks with coal. It takes him exactly four hours to do this. He
always misses morning parade, but manages to get back in time for
dinner.
"Cole." Tommy's nickname for a penny. It buys one glass of French
beer.
"Coming it." Trying to "put something over."
"Coming the add." Boasting; lying about something.
Communication Trench. A zigzag ditch leading from the rear to the
front-line trench, through which reinforcements, reliefs, ammunition,
and rations are brought up. Its real use is to teach Tommy how to
swear and how to wade through mud up to his knees.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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