Prison slang is an argot used primarily by criminals and detainees in correctional institutions. It is a form of anti-language.Mayr, A. 2012. Prison Language. The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics. Many of the terms deal with criminal behavior, incarcerated life, legal cases, street life, and different types of inmates. Prison slang varies depending on institution, region, and country. Prison slang can be found in other written forms such as diaries, letters, tattoos, ballads, songs, and poems. 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", "ducking", and "narc". Terms can also lose meaning or become obsolete such as "slammer" and "bull-derm."
Examples
Prison slang, like other types of slang and dialects, varies by region. For that reason, the origins and the movement of prison slang across prisons are of interest to many linguists and cultural anthropologists.
Some prison slang are quite old. For example, "to cart", meaning to transfer to another prison, has been in use in Glasgow since 1733.
A two-year study was done by Bert Little, Ph.D. on American English slang with the main focus being in the coastal plain region of the Southeast U.S. His study published by The Trustees of Indiana University on behalf of the Anthropological Linguistics journal goes on to provide an extensive glossary of common prison slang terms that he found circling through the prison systems. Studies by Alicja Dziedzic-Rawska from the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Poland describe prison slang as "extremely rich and creative" with new words being formed on a daily basis. These are mainly used as a means of security against unauthorized parties receiving a certain message and, in some cases, can be a way to ensure a prison inmate's survival within the cells.
Australia and New Zealand
TermDefinitionBangA drug injection (other terms include 'fix', 'hit' or 'shot').The boneyardProtective custodyBooshwa/fitSyringeBupe/subbieBuprenorphine/subutexCanA can of soft drink used as a commodityCellieCellmateChiefThe title prisoners are expected to use to address prison officersCockatooAn inmate tasked with alerting other inmates that prison officers are approachingCrimCriminal/inmateDogAn informantGreensPrison clothingLaggonPrison sentenceThe poundSolitary confinementRed light'Red light' is the code-word used by inmates to warn that prison officers are approachingRock spiderChild sex offenderScrewPejorative term for prison officerScrimPejorative term for inmates who work in clerical positions within the prison. Portmanteau of 'Screw' and 'Crim'.SegroSegregation wingShivMakeshift stabbing weaponSpinnerAn inmate acting strangely, highly associated with mental health issuesSweeperAn inmate paid by the prison to do domestic dutiesTurtlesThe Squad. Specially trained and heavily equipped prison officers tasked with searching cells and riot controlUncle BullyAn inmate convicted of child sex offences; a reference to a character from the film Once Were Warriors.
United Kingdom
TermDefinitionAll-dayerA prisoner serving a life sentenceBatts / Burn Cigarettes / tobaccoChokeyCategory A prisonBaconNonce (sex offender). Rhyming slang from 'bacon bonce'BirdDoing time. Rhyming slang from 'bird lime'Cell warriorSomeone who acts tough in their cell but is cowardly in personE-manSomeone who has tried to escape from prisonNickerPrison ChaplainPompeyNorthern England slang for a prison, possibly originating from a notorious prison ship named HMS Pompee, that was anchored in Portsmouth Harbour in the early nineteenth centuryPorridgeOne time main meal (alleged) used as term for doing a prison sentence. Popularised by the popular BBC series Porridge – which in turn popularized many prison slang wordsScrewPrison OfficerSnitch / GrassAn informantStirServing a sentence (literally 'prison' in "in stir" or "doing stir")Shank An improvised stabbing weaponVanilla A judge. Rhyming slang from vanilla fudge
United States
TermDefinitionBagmanIn organized crime, one who is charged with "collecting or distributing the money involved"BangA drug injection (other terms include 'fix', 'hit' or 'shot')BooksInmate cash account. Alternatively books of postage stamps which can be used as currencyBitchAn institutionally taboo epithet suggesting an inmate's femininity, helplessness and sexual submissivenessBunkieA cell mateCell warriorA prisoner who acts like a tough guy when locked in his cell, but is cowardly in personCho-MoInmate incarcerated for child molestationCop / C.O.Correctional OfficerFishA new or inexperienced inmateGassingThrowing feces or other bodily fluids at a prison staff member or other inmateThe HoleA separate, isolated unit with reduced privileges (such as payphones, television, games); alternately, solitary confinementHoop or hoopingStoring items or contraband in an inmate's rectumIcedA term for killing another inmate or prison guardJailhouse lawyerAn inmate who provides legal advice, possibly unqualified or specious, or an inmate who represents themselvesJ-CatA disruptive inmate who causes disorder through highly irregular behavior in a jail module or prison yard, typically associated with those with drug or mental health issues.KiteA contraband note written passed to others.LongjohnA person who is not incarcerated and is having sexual relations with an inmate's wifeO.G.'Original Gangster'; an older inmateP.C.Protective custodyPunkAn inmate perceived by other prisoners to not be masculine enough; may be used to refer to homosexuality but not necessarilyRatAn Informant (an inmate who informs prison officials of any illicit activity within the prison system including prisoners and guards), also "snitch"Shank/ShivAn improvised stabbing weaponSlopAn institutionally prepared entrée consisting of bland or poorly prepared vegetablesTake FlightTo initiate a fight with or jump another inmateTicketA disciplinary reportWham Whams / Zoo ZoosSugary treats like cookies and candy
Zimbabwe TermDefinitionBaseMattressBombExplosive or banned commoditiesBomaPrisonBongirlfayaTranslates to the word "wildcat," means "peeping" (in reference to a cat's vision and sly behavior)CashMoney/bathing soap (due to soap being a commodity)ChitimaTranslates to the word "train," means "inmates who water the garden in a 'line' form"ChikepeTranslates to the words "boat" or "ship," means "escaping from prison" (an allusion to a lonely ship smoothly sailing in a large sea)ChikopokopoTranslates to the word "helicopter," means "tractor" (an allusion to a tractor's noise in a quiet environment)ChibhondaA person who was homeless or living on the streets before they arrived to prisonChibhengebhengeTranslates to "useless person," means "noise" (an ideophone of a person's unproductive speech)DambarefuTranslates to "long play," means "a life sentence or a sentence that is ten years or longer" (in reference to the Long Play Record)DzokufaTranslates to "beans," means "the dead ones" (in reference to dried beans)GavhungaRoughly cut green vegetablesGumbakumbaTranslates to "UD Nissan truck used to transport prisoners," means "collect" or "grab" (in reference to the Shona idiom that a person or animal that is not picky collects anything and everything)GozhlaGroceriesGinyabvuTranslates to "an inmate charged with rape," means "to force" or "forcefully take"Getsi getsi pascreenTranslates to "opening statement when someone is telling a story or movie," means "power" or "light on the screen"Jega mudhuriTranslates to "leaning on the wall when the officers are counting prisoners in the cells," means "to carry the wall"KazaCarKuleA respectful way of saying "grandfather" or "uncle"Kudhonza tamboTranslates to "pretending to be sick", means "to pull a string" (in reference to wasting time)KuchekaTranslates to "sexual intercourse," means "to cut" (could be in reference to homosexual sex, painful sex, or could be used by inmates to throw off officers from its original meaning)MakadhibhokisiTranslates to "an inmate who leaks information to prison officers," means a snitch (in reference to the image of leaking)MwanaTranslates to "child" (in reference to a man taking a female role)MatabawoTablets/medicationMutsaraTranslates to "line," means "meat" (in reference to meat being a scarce commodity, thus becoming a "line" to opportunities)Musoro wechitimaTranslates to "head of the train," means "gang leader"MunyoroTranslates to "soft one," means "a new inmate"MuchiniTranslates to "machine," means "needle"MbuyaA respectful way of saying "grandmother" or "aunt"Mavhiri mudengaTranslates to "wheels in the air," means a beating underneath the feetMariTranslates to "money," refers to commodities that can be tradedNgayayaMarijuanaNzondoraTranslates to "chicken feet," refers to homosexual (in reference to chicken feet being a delicacy, could be in reference to enjoying something pleasurable)NoczimCooking oil (in reference to the acronym for National Oil Company of Zimbabwe)NdegeManiac or mentally-challengedOK (Supermarket)Rubbish pitPanzeOutsidePoliceA snitch (in reference to an inmate cooperating with the police who is then considered an ally of the police)RazorA small space where an inmate sleeps onStodartStory telling or movie watchingSeridhaCellShop dambuTranslates to "breaking a shop," means shoplifting (in reference to breaking into a shop and shoplifting)ThornhillManiac or mentally-challenged (in reference to the Thornhill Airbase, an allusion to an airplane)TV (television)WindowTM (Supermarket)Rubbish pitWhitersFresh or sour cow's milkZvibhezhiA hospital, clinic, or dispensaryZviwanikwaTranslates to "discoverable," means illegal items (in reference to valuable commodities)
References
External links
Prison Slang (US and UK) A vocabulary of criminal slang: with some examples of common usages by Jackson