A Cockney Rhyming Slang Database.


More Information.

The database accessed by this page is a simple text file consisting of tab delimited name value pairs. The names are common usage words (some not so common in polite circles) and the values are rhyming slang alternatives. The database file is stored in the scripts folder and is called cockney.js (scripts/cockney.js). The file is accessed by a JavaScript programme located in the script section of this page. For more information about rhyming slang click the ‘more information’ link above.


Type in a word and click on the link to show the Cockney rhyming slang





About Rhyming Slang



Rhyming slang is a sort of word replacement thing whereby a single word is replaced by a two or three word phrase the last word of which rhymes with the original word. Example; -stairs becomes apple and pairs. Quite often only the first word of the phrase is used so in the previous example stairs would be apples (add appropriate plural inflection as required). I guess cockney rhyming slang is somewhere on the Venn diagram intersect of slang, idiom and code but I’m not sure. This form of informal vocabulary is said to have evolved in 18th East London to confuse law enforcement agents but I (and most people) doubt this, rhyming slang can be tricky for the uninitiated but it’s not exactly AES-256 (Advanced Encryption Standard with a 256-bit key). However, wherever and for whatever reason rhyming slang came into existence it is now heard throughout the english speaking world1. Despite geographically wide spread usage, rhyming slang in many peoples minds is still associated with the working class ‘geezers’ of East London2 hence the common prefix Cockney.

Notes

1Notable exceptions include, but are not limited to, most of North America, all English speaking African Nations, all English speaking Caribbean Islands, Australia (mostly) New Zealand etcetera etcetera etcetera.

2This species is on the brink of extinction due to habitat (affordable housing) loss.