Then and Now - A Canting Tale @cantingthroughtheages-blog - Tumblr Blog

academy

Then: a brothel, bagnio.

Now: a secondary or high school, especially a private one.

#academy #cantingdictionary

acting

Then: the deceitful, performing, mumming.

Now: to perform and portray a character from a true or fictional story intended to entertain a wider audience.

#acting #cantingdictionary

affair of honour

Then: killing an innocent man in a duel.

#bonus #affair of honour #cantingdictionary

aunt

Then: a bawd, sometimes called mother.

Now: the sister of one's father or mother; the wife of one’s uncle.

#aunt #cantingdictionary

babes in the wood

Then: rogues in the stocks or pillory.

#bonus #babes in the wood #cantingdictionary

badger

Then: to confound, perplex, or tease.

Now: to bother incessantly.

#badger #cantingdictionary

bag the swag

Then: pocket your portion, hide your whack.

#bonus #bag the swag #cantingdictionary

baggage

Then: a slut, a common prostitute.

Now: an issue regarding a person's past that can affect their current disposition: addictions, debt, diseases, bad habits, past relationships (significant other or family), or kids.

#baggage #cantingdictionary

barnacle(s)

Then: spectacles.

Now: a person who attaches to you and is extremely clingy.

#barnacles #barnacle #cantingdictionary

bawd

Then: a procuress, a woman that keeps a brothel.

Now: a woman prostitute, a woman who runs a brothel.

#bawd #cantingdictionary

biddy

Then: a fowl, a capon, or chicken; a young chicken.

Now: chicks, babes, or females.

#biddy #cantingdictionary

bingo

Then: spirituous liquors.

Now: a form of lotto in which balls or slips, each with a number and one of the letters B, I, N, G, or O, are drawn at random and players cover the corresponding numbers printed on their cards, the winner being the first to cover five numbers in any row or diagonal or, sometimes, all numbers on the card.

#bingo #cantingdictionary #and bingo was his name-o

bobtail

Then: a lewd woman, or prostitute.

Now: a short or docked tail.

#bobtail #cantingdictionary

body snatchers

Then: bailiffs, police officers.

Now: those persons who steal corpses; graverobbers.

#body snatchers #cantingdictionary

bounce

Then: to lie, to swagger.

Now: to exit a location or situation.