An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/35286
36 | “Cha” And All That! “Cha” And All That! BY AN OFFICER When I laid aside my pen and took up the old sword (actually it was a bayonet) in the autumn of ‘39 I swore a mighty oath that I would write no more until I was back on Reserve - if I ever did. However, a fair columnist, writing in the popular press to the effect that the Army was too young to have yet evolved a distinctive slang of its own, and a soldier of the “Corps” writing in An Cosantóir to the effect that the Army was too youthful to have any traditions and as a consequence, had no words to its bugle calls, drove me to despair, drink and this article. Pride of place in our Military Vocabulary, must go to that one time dear friend, that strong robust friend, now so anaemic, of the private, NCO and officer “Cha,” You may remember it as tea, Lady, but to us it will be forever “Cha,” the oul’ mug of “cha.” Other less reminiscent examples are: Lifted out of it Bawled off Liver Coming the hound Proper order All edge Pig iron Tucks Hackle Ball Hop Dug in Verbal reproval (and how!) from superior officer Ditto Bad-temper Excessive use of authority Quite correct, as it should be Very smart - consciously so An annoyance, i.e. kit inspection at the end of a 30-mile march Large quantities The act of resting An unfounded rumour A comfortable appointment. Not liable for guard duty, etc How’s the enemy What’s the time Right height Mac D.P. Appropriate for the task Anybody in the Army (a form of address among equal ranks). In slang means a dud, useless Snake Charmers Pipers, A pipe band Digger Guard Room Detention cell Kungee House Detention Barracks The Fix In slang, means handing around cigarette Angel’s Whisper The bugle call for Defaulters File Cushy Jildi Louse Trap Scoff Anybody in the Army (must be qualified by adjective: i.e., dry tile, a liverish file Easy going Severe, harsh (means ‘double up’ in the British Army) A Fumigator. (In the Eastern Command it means a bed) Food Daisy Bell march A cycle march Blowing his coal Boasting Main Switch An Cosantóir July 2011 Quarter Guard This article first appeared in the July 4th , 1941 (Vol 1 No 28) issue of An Cosantóir and highlights the barrack room slang that might be familiar to some of you Old Sweats. The cartoons were also a regular feature in the original magazine.