LGBT slang, LGBT speak or gay slang in linguistics refers to a form of English slang used predominantly among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.
Although there are differences, modern gay slang has adopted many polari words, as detailed in the table below:
Source: Fantabulosa: A Dictionary of Polari and Gay Slang[1]
| Glossary of gay slang taken from Polari |
| Word |
Approximate meaning |
| basket |
the bulge of male genitals through clothes |
| bumming |
the act of anal sex |
| shirtlifter |
guy into anal sex |
| shirtlifterz |
plural descriptor gay social network |
| chicken |
young boy |
| cottaging |
having or looking for sex in a public toilet |
| zhoosh |
style |
Cultural impact
Many terms that originated as gay slang have become part of the popular lexicon. For example, the word drag was popularized by Hubert Selby, Jr. in his book Last Exit to Brooklyn. "Drag" has been traced back by the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) to the late 19th Century. Conversely, words such as banjee, while well-established in a subset of gay society, have never made the transition to popular use.
See also
- ^ (Baker, 2002)
References
- Baker, Paul (2002). Fantabulosa, a dictionary of Polari and gay slang. Continuum. pp. 242 pages. ISBN 0826459617.
- Rodgers, Bruce (1972). The Queens' Vernacular : a gay lexicon. Straight Arrow Books. pp. 265 pages. ISBN 0879320265.
External links
- Gay Slang Dictionary
- List of words and phrases
- Dictionary of Gay Slang and Historical Terms
- GLTB Slang Dictionary
- Lavender Linguistics, from Guardian Unlimited
- Polari: British Gay Slang
- Queer Slang in the Gay 90's
- [1]
- "Gay Language Guide" - gay slang in various languages: French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Hungarian, Russian, Thai
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