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  • Published: 15 June 2011
  • ISBN: 9780753522851
  • Imprint: Virgin Books
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 192

Gangster Speak

A Dictionary of Criminal and Sexual Slang



A DICTIONARY FOR THE DAVE COURTNEY MARKET

An Aladdin's cave of criminal slang as spoken in the UK, America and Australia. If you're scratching or set tripping, if you're viper mad or coming heavy, if the ming are on the wing and you've no idea what any of this means, then you need Gangster Speak.
From the shocking to the ridiculous, Gangster Speak contains over 2,500 linguistic gems:
Ghosting - the practice of transferring a troublesome prisoner to another establishment during the night without warning
Hobbit - a prisoner who complies with or sucks up to the system
Put on armour - layer oneself with magazines to deflect knife wounds in a prison fight
Hooch - 'illicit liquor'
A Bernie - a victim who might be armed and prepared to use a weapon, after Bernard Goetz who killed a robber on the subway

Providing a useful guide to the nicknames of criminals, as well as fascinating word histories and multiple definitions for different uses of a word around the globe, with Gangster Speak you'll never be lost for words.

  • Published: 15 June 2011
  • ISBN: 9780753522851
  • Imprint: Virgin Books
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 192

About the author

James Morton

Previously a solicitor for twenty-five years, James Morton then worked as editor of Law Journal and Criminal Lawyer. He is now a full-time writer and author of the bestselling Gangland series.

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