Prison slang

Prison slang is an argot used primarily by criminals and/or detainees in correctional institutions. As might be expected, many of the terms deal with criminal behavior, sex or violence. Prison slang has existed as long as there have been crime and prisons; in Charles Dickens' time it was known as "thieves' cant." Words from prison slang often eventually migrate into common usage, such as "snitch" and "Narc."

Prison slang, like other types of slang and dialects, varies regionally.

External links

Look up Appendix:U.S. prison slang in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• A Prisoner's Dictionary
• Correctional officers' guide to prison slang
• British prison slang

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