[Note: This blog posting is a continuation from a previous one in which I presented Britishism that began with the letters “a” through “l.” Today, I’m presenting Britishisms beginning with “m” through “r”—in addition to the previous ones.]
Once upon a time, I worked for a very large New York City book publisher, who, periodically, gave me British books to “Americanize” before publishing the books for American readers. I changed both British spellings and British words that were foreign to Americans. Of course, being an Anglophile, I loved this task!
In the United States, nearly all book publishers today use the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a reference for spelling and word meanings—while UK editors use the Oxford English Dictionary. The Merriam-Webster dictionary is a direct descendant of the famous dictionary that Noah Webster wrote, An American Dictionary of the English Language. Webster, a Connecticut Yankee who studied at Yale, was a lexicographer and English spelling reformer. He thought British spellings were unnecessarily complex and simplified them—thus, for example, giving us “honor” instead of “honour.” With two English-speaking countries calling upon different dictionaries to supply “proper English,” little wonder American English and British English parted ways. Such would have been the case anyway, with the distance between our countries, but differing reference books helped cement the deal.
When I first started Americanizing books, I was quite surprised to find almost all of the unfamiliar words in the British books were, actually, in the Merriam-Webster dictionary—but they were typically labeled “chiefly British variant.” Seeing words used in wonderful new ways fascinated me! And like any good Anglophile, I soon incorporated them into my own vocabulary. I hope you will too!
Below is an index of British words that confound many Americans. Because the entire list is a bit long, I’ll present it in several blogs postings. Enjoy!
Once upon a time, I worked for a very large New York City book publisher, who, periodically, gave me British books to “Americanize” before publishing the books for American readers. I changed both British spellings and British words that were foreign to Americans. Of course, being an Anglophile, I loved this task!
In the United States, nearly all book publishers today use the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a reference for spelling and word meanings—while UK editors use the Oxford English Dictionary. The Merriam-Webster dictionary is a direct descendant of the famous dictionary that Noah Webster wrote, An American Dictionary of the English Language. Webster, a Connecticut Yankee who studied at Yale, was a lexicographer and English spelling reformer. He thought British spellings were unnecessarily complex and simplified them—thus, for example, giving us “honor” instead of “honour.” With two English-speaking countries calling upon different dictionaries to supply “proper English,” little wonder American English and British English parted ways. Such would have been the case anyway, with the distance between our countries, but differing reference books helped cement the deal.
When I first started Americanizing books, I was quite surprised to find almost all of the unfamiliar words in the British books were, actually, in the Merriam-Webster dictionary—but they were typically labeled “chiefly British variant.” Seeing words used in wonderful new ways fascinated me! And like any good Anglophile, I soon incorporated them into my own vocabulary. I hope you will too!
Below is an index of British words that confound many Americans. Because the entire list is a bit long, I’ll present it in several blogs postings. Enjoy!
Britishism / Americanism
A
advert = ad, advertisement
amongst = among
aubergine = eggplant
B
banger = sausage
barmy = nutty
barrister = trial lawyer
baths = public swimming pool
beefburger = hamburger
blighter = contemptible person
bloke = a guy (informal)
bloody = damn (mildly offensive)
bobby = cop
bonnet (of car) = car hood
boot (of car) = car trunk
braces = suspenders
brilliant = great, fantastic, cool
bum = butt, buns
busker = street musician
C
car park = parking lot
cashpoint = ATM machine
castor sugar = confectioners’ sugar
chap = guy or fellow
cheeky = nervy/sassy/bold
cheerio = good-bye
cheers = thanks or good-bye
chemist (store) = drugstore, pharmacy
chips = French fries
christian name = first name
cinema = movie theater
city center = downtown
cling film = plastic wrap, such as Saran Wrap
cloakroom = coat-check room or bathroom (i.e., toilets)
concession (when buying admission tickiets) = discount
conk = nose
copper = cop
cornet (for ice cream) = cone
cot = baby crib
council estate = public housing project
crisps = potato chips
cuppa = cup of tea
c.v. (curriculum vitae) = resume or curriculum vitae
D
daft = stupid
demerara sugar = brown sugar
digestive biscuit = similar to a graham cracker
draughts = checkers (game)
dressing gown = bathrobe
dummy (for infant) = pacifier
E
Elastoplast (brand name) = Band-Aid (brand name)
elevenses = mid-morning tea break
en suite = a sleeping room (in home or hotel) with attached bathroom
estate agent = real-estate agent
F
fag = cigarette
faggot = type of meatball
fire (gas or electric) = heater
fizzy drink = carbonated soda
flannel = wash cloth
flat = apartment (rented or owned, such as a condo)
flatmate = roommate
flautist = flutist
football (game or ball) = soccer (game or ball)
fortnight = two weeks
freehold = unrestricted ownership of real estate
fringe (hair) = bangs
G
garden = yard
gawp = gawk
git (person) = a fool
goods lift = freight elevator
goose-pimples = goose bumps
greengroceries = fresh produce
gymkhana = horse-show competition
H
hair slide = barrette
headmaster/headmistress = principal
hire = rent
hob = stove cook-top
holiday = vacation
holiday-maker = vacationer
hooter = nose
Hoover (trade name) = vacuum
hot flush = hot flash
housing estate = subdivision
I
ice lolly = popsicle
immersion heater = hot water heater
indicator (on a car) – turn signal
inverted commas = quotation marks
J
jam = jelly
jelly = Jell-o (trade name)
jim-jams = jammies, pajamas
Jobcentre = employment office
joiner = cabinetmaker
judder = vibrate
jumper = sweater
K
kerfuffle = fuss, commotion
kettle = tea kettle
kip = sleep
kirby grip = hairpin
knackered = tired, exhausted
knickers = panties
L
ladybird = ladybug
larder = pantry
launderette = Laundromat
lavatory = bathroom, rest room
lead (electrical) = electrical cord
leasehold = property that may be purchased or sold but belongs to a third-party
let = offer for rent
letter-box = mailbox
lido = public outdoor swimming pool
lift = elevator
lipsalve = ChapStick (trade name)
litter bin = trash can
loft = attic
loo = john, toilet
lounge = family room
luv = hon (term of endearment)
M
mac, mackintosh = raincoat
Madeira cake = pound cake
maisonette = apartment with its own exterior door
managing director (MD) = president (CEO)
mate = buddy
maths = math
minced meat = ground meat
“Mind the gap!” (subway system) = Watch your step! (i.e., Don’t trip over the gap between the train and platform)
muck about = fool around
mudguard = fender
mum = mom
N
naff = tacky, inferior
nappy = diaper
nick = steal
nipper = kid (usually boy)
nosh up = eat
number plate = license plate
O
OAP (old age pensioner) = senior citizen
outsize = extra large
P
P&P (postage and packing) = S&H (shipping and handling)
paddle = wade (walk through shallow water)
paddling pool = wading pool
paraffin = kerosene
pawky = artfully shrewd
perambulator = baby carriage
puckish = hungry
pensioner = senior citizen
petro = gasoline
piffle = trivial nonsense
pillar-box = free-standing mailbox
pinafore dress = jumper
pinch = steal
pip = seed, fruit pit
plait = braid
plaster (for wound) = Band-Aid (trade name)
Plasticine (trade name) = Play-Doh (trade name)
plonk = cheap wine
podgy = pudgy
polo-neck = turtleneck
porridge = oatmeal
postcode = zip code
postie = mailperson
power point = electrical outlet
pram = baby carriage
prat = foolish person
prefect = school monitor
press-studs = snaps
purse = change purse
pushchair = baby stroller
put-you-up = sofa bed
Q
quay = wharf
queue up = line up
quid = a pound (money)
R
ramble = hike
randy = frisky, lustful
rasher = slice of bacon
rates = local tax
ratty = irritable
redundancies = layoffs
return ticket = roundtrip ticket
ring-up = call on telephone
rise (in pay) = pay raise
roomer = lodger
rubber = eraser
rug = blanket (especially for an animal)
A
advert = ad, advertisement
amongst = among
aubergine = eggplant
B
banger = sausage
barmy = nutty
barrister = trial lawyer
baths = public swimming pool
beefburger = hamburger
blighter = contemptible person
bloke = a guy (informal)
bloody = damn (mildly offensive)
bobby = cop
bonnet (of car) = car hood
boot (of car) = car trunk
braces = suspenders
brilliant = great, fantastic, cool
bum = butt, buns
busker = street musician
C
car park = parking lot
cashpoint = ATM machine
castor sugar = confectioners’ sugar
chap = guy or fellow
cheeky = nervy/sassy/bold
cheerio = good-bye
cheers = thanks or good-bye
chemist (store) = drugstore, pharmacy
chips = French fries
christian name = first name
cinema = movie theater
city center = downtown
cling film = plastic wrap, such as Saran Wrap
cloakroom = coat-check room or bathroom (i.e., toilets)
concession (when buying admission tickiets) = discount
conk = nose
copper = cop
cornet (for ice cream) = cone
cot = baby crib
council estate = public housing project
crisps = potato chips
cuppa = cup of tea
c.v. (curriculum vitae) = resume or curriculum vitae
D
daft = stupid
demerara sugar = brown sugar
digestive biscuit = similar to a graham cracker
draughts = checkers (game)
dressing gown = bathrobe
dummy (for infant) = pacifier
E
Elastoplast (brand name) = Band-Aid (brand name)
elevenses = mid-morning tea break
en suite = a sleeping room (in home or hotel) with attached bathroom
estate agent = real-estate agent
F
fag = cigarette
faggot = type of meatball
fire (gas or electric) = heater
fizzy drink = carbonated soda
flannel = wash cloth
flat = apartment (rented or owned, such as a condo)
flatmate = roommate
flautist = flutist
football (game or ball) = soccer (game or ball)
fortnight = two weeks
freehold = unrestricted ownership of real estate
fringe (hair) = bangs
G
garden = yard
gawp = gawk
git (person) = a fool
goods lift = freight elevator
goose-pimples = goose bumps
greengroceries = fresh produce
gymkhana = horse-show competition
H
hair slide = barrette
headmaster/headmistress = principal
hire = rent
hob = stove cook-top
holiday = vacation
holiday-maker = vacationer
hooter = nose
Hoover (trade name) = vacuum
hot flush = hot flash
housing estate = subdivision
I
ice lolly = popsicle
immersion heater = hot water heater
indicator (on a car) – turn signal
inverted commas = quotation marks
J
jam = jelly
jelly = Jell-o (trade name)
jim-jams = jammies, pajamas
Jobcentre = employment office
joiner = cabinetmaker
judder = vibrate
jumper = sweater
K
kerfuffle = fuss, commotion
kettle = tea kettle
kip = sleep
kirby grip = hairpin
knackered = tired, exhausted
knickers = panties
L
ladybird = ladybug
larder = pantry
launderette = Laundromat
lavatory = bathroom, rest room
lead (electrical) = electrical cord
leasehold = property that may be purchased or sold but belongs to a third-party
let = offer for rent
letter-box = mailbox
lido = public outdoor swimming pool
lift = elevator
lipsalve = ChapStick (trade name)
litter bin = trash can
loft = attic
loo = john, toilet
lounge = family room
luv = hon (term of endearment)
M
mac, mackintosh = raincoat
Madeira cake = pound cake
maisonette = apartment with its own exterior door
managing director (MD) = president (CEO)
mate = buddy
maths = math
minced meat = ground meat
“Mind the gap!” (subway system) = Watch your step! (i.e., Don’t trip over the gap between the train and platform)
muck about = fool around
mudguard = fender
mum = mom
N
naff = tacky, inferior
nappy = diaper
nick = steal
nipper = kid (usually boy)
nosh up = eat
number plate = license plate
O
OAP (old age pensioner) = senior citizen
outsize = extra large
P
P&P (postage and packing) = S&H (shipping and handling)
paddle = wade (walk through shallow water)
paddling pool = wading pool
paraffin = kerosene
pawky = artfully shrewd
perambulator = baby carriage
puckish = hungry
pensioner = senior citizen
petro = gasoline
piffle = trivial nonsense
pillar-box = free-standing mailbox
pinafore dress = jumper
pinch = steal
pip = seed, fruit pit
plait = braid
plaster (for wound) = Band-Aid (trade name)
Plasticine (trade name) = Play-Doh (trade name)
plonk = cheap wine
podgy = pudgy
polo-neck = turtleneck
porridge = oatmeal
postcode = zip code
postie = mailperson
power point = electrical outlet
pram = baby carriage
prat = foolish person
prefect = school monitor
press-studs = snaps
purse = change purse
pushchair = baby stroller
put-you-up = sofa bed
Q
quay = wharf
queue up = line up
quid = a pound (money)
R
ramble = hike
randy = frisky, lustful
rasher = slice of bacon
rates = local tax
ratty = irritable
redundancies = layoffs
return ticket = roundtrip ticket
ring-up = call on telephone
rise (in pay) = pay raise
roomer = lodger
rubber = eraser
rug = blanket (especially for an animal)
***********************************************
Buy: OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY
Go to: BRITISH BOOKS
Go to: BRITISH MOVIES
Go to: CHAT FORUM
Go to: HOMEPAGE
Buy: OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY
Go to: BRITISH BOOKS
Go to: BRITISH MOVIES
Go to: CHAT FORUM
Go to: HOMEPAGE
