Appendix:Glossary of British military slang and expressions

The British Armed Forces consist of the Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Marines (RM), the British Army, and the Royal Air Force (RAF).

7Ps

prior planning and preparation prevents piss poor performance

5s and 20s

Checking your immediate surroundings (5m and 20m)

90

See MOD90

ablutions

Toilet and / or bathroom for airmen (RAF slang).

Term for the act of morning Shower, Sh*t & Shave (Army Slang)

All Girlie Corps

Slang for the Adjutant Generals Corps.

ally, allie, ali, alle

Used to describe items of kit or clothing that are not issued (potentially against regulations) but function better than issued equipment, but also used as a word meaning a combination of “cool/against the rules”. Source: THE MEANING OF ALLY

All-in

Meal made from combined leftover ration packs. Quality varies from Cordon Bleu to Cordon Poo

AK

Avtomat Kalashnikova ("Kalashnikov-pattern Automatic Rifle"). Derived from the AK-47 and the popular culture surrounding it, generic reference to enemy small arms.

Andrew

(Army) Royal Navy/RN Sailor

ARAB

Arrogant Regular Army Bastard

A Regiment far superior to the Cavalry

The Royal Tank Regiment

Babies' heads

individual tinned steak and kidney puddings in the old Compo rations. Or more commonly the round grass tufts in wet moorlands that easily twist ankles when trodden in but easily slipped off.

The Badge

regimental Sergeant Major, named for the large crown on the WO1 rank badge. Now more usually used to refer to the RSM or Regimental Sergeant Major. "You're to report to the Badge"

Ball of chalk, all went for a ball of chalk

Situation deteriorated beyond repair, about as much use as a ball of chalk

Bandy

(RM) musician (i.e. member of the Royal Marines Band Service)

Barrack Stanchion

(RN) A naval rating who spends most of his / her time in shore based draft rather than at sea

Beasted

(Army Slang) Made to perform an action to excess e.g. Drill or PT (often during Basic Training in the 70's, or used against soldiers locked up in guard house or the Mil Prison Colchester.)

Bedicopter

(Army - especially TA) a 4 ton troop carrying truck. A sarcastic name deriving from the number of times that helicopters are promised for a movement, but 4 ton Bedfords turn up

Beer Tokens

Money

Belt-fed

(Army) A lively sexual partner. e.g. "She goes like a belt-fed mortar".

Bennie

A Falkland Islander, from the Benny from Crossroads style woolly hats. His character was mentally challenged, so an insult. When challenged by senior officers, this changed to "Stills" as in: "Still f-ing Bennies". When challenged again this changed to “Weenoes” as in: “We know they’re still f-ing Bennies”.

Bergen

Your big fuckoff backpack, taller than most pygmies

Biff

As in ‘on the biff’, Anyone on the sick, injured or on light duties

Biff chit

You can only be on the biff if issued with one of these by the MO. Excused various duties, depending on injury, but most good RSMs will find a way round this.

Bimble

(Army/RAF) To walk out of step as a squad/troop. Sarcastic reference to a long tactical movement or march

bine

(Army) Cigarette (derived from "Woodbine" a non-filtered cigarette typically sold in packs of five, until the late 60s/early 70s)

Bing Bong (Army)

A station/camp wide tannoy system used to make announcements. Onomatopoetic for the two-tone audio signal before an announcement was made.

Black nasty/Bodge tape

Army-issue black duct tape without which the Army would fall apart. Used for almost everything from insulating metal cups to holding the wheels on tanks. Often likened to “The Force” from the Star Wars films…it has a light side, a dark side, and it binds the universe together.

Blanket stacker

(Army) All Logistics Corps personnel regardless of actual trade.

Blighty

The UK (originated in India, where bilāyatī meant "foreign country")

BLR

(Army) Beyond local repair (requires backloading to a central repair depot)

Blue jobs (or bluejobs)

members of the R.A.F.

Blunty

(RAF) A person not on the 'sharp' end of the stick. Typically work in personnel support or another non-frontline role.

Bodysnatcher

(Army) stretcher bearer

Bone

extremely. "Bone idle" - extremely lazy. Also "stupid" as in "head solid bone" (RM). Also boring as in "bone dry" (Army) eg. "Sorry, this lesson is going to be a bit bone".

Boots Combat High, or BCH

The replacement for the DMS (Direct Moulded Sole) boot. A good quality, high leg boot. These were replaced by the CAB (Combat Assault Boot) - an unsuccessful, shoddy quality attempt to replace BCH with something more modern. Given the poor quality of the plastic-y leather, also called "Boots Cardboard Horrible."

Bootneck/bootie

(Army) Royal Marine

Bowser Mong

AAC term for Bowser Operator

Boxheads

(BAOR) Bundeswehr personnel

Brag Rags

(Army) Medals

Brat

(RAF) Apprentice or a child born into any of the Forces or junior soldiers who went in at 16.

brew

(Army/RAF) a hot drink, a cup of tea or coffee. "Want a brew?" = would you like a hot drink?

Brew bitch

(RAF) person stuck with making hot drinks see also ‘spoons’

brown job

(RM/RAF) the British Army

buckshee

easy/free/superfluous/unnecessary "I've just got a buckshee daysack" (from "baksheesh" meaning gratuity, from India or Egypt)

bull

High polish on Parade Boots

Bundook

Rifle (from India, "gun")

buzz

gossip, rumours

BV

Boiling Vessel, most important part of a vehicles inventory, Used for making the hot liquid without which the Army comes to a standstill.

Cabbage Head

Commando

Cats Arsehole

Refers to the chamber of the SA80 rifle or sausage roll

Casevac

casualty evacuation

Cannon Fodder

Infantry

Cha, Char

(Army) tea

Charlie

Vietnam era - the enemy (Viet Cong-VC-Victor Charlie)

Charlie Delta / CD

casualty dead

Charlie Foxtrot / CF / cluster fuck

Chaotic situation with all plans disintegrating in all directions

Cheese Possessed

Tinned processed "cheese" found in Compo rations. Can also be wrapped in black nasty (once out of the tin) to provide a ball for a game of compo cricket.

Cheggers

persons whose name isn’t important. “Who’s that?, just some cheggers.”

Chin-strapped

(Army) tired, knackered

Civi, civy, civvy

Civilian

Civies

Civilian clothing

Clacky

(Army) chocolate

Cloggy

(RN/RM) A member of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps

Cloggie

(BAOR) All Dutch military.

Coy

abbreviation for company

Crab Crabby

(Royal Navy) someone who doesn't wash, is unhygienic and smells.

Crab or crabfat

(Royal Navy & Army) a person in the RAF.

Crab air

(army) RAF

Crabfat

was a naval slang for a treatment for pubic crabs which happened to be the same colour as the RAF uniform. Also from a drill move where the men move sideways / diagonally only practised by the RAF.

Craphat

Military slang used by members of the parachute regiment to denote what they class as lesser regiments.Taken from the fact that they wear the coveted Maroon beret that no-one else wears.

Crayon Eater (RAF)

Armourer. Because of their lack of intullygenss. Crayons are used on paperwork. Many are accidently eaten. Note, in 2017 the yellow crayola was no longer produced. Shame as apparently lemon was the best flavour.

Crow/ Crow bag

Cant Read Or Write. Derived from a term used with WW1 recruits, now refers to a new recruit or inexperienced soldier. OR Combat Recruit of war! or Casualty Replacement Of War

Crow cannon

L86A2 Light Support Weapon craved by the raw recruit - who quickly hates the weight of the ammunition and the weapon after a few days on Basic.But wanted to carry it solely based on the Ally factor.

CV

command vehicle

Cunt Cap

(Army) mainly used by instructors and recruits of the Infantry Training Centre Catterick, in referral to the DPM/MTP combat caps the recruits wear in their first 9-10 weeks of training. Also an officers’ side-hat, which is said to resemble....

Cabbie

(Army) To get a ride in a piece of equipment you don't normally use ie Helicopter, tank etc

Collie

As in “Sent to Collie”, being sent to the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) (prison) at Colchester. Even the prisoner escorts taking a prisoner to Colchester got beasted by the Staff.

daisy cutter

(RAF) faultless landing

Dhobi dust

(Navy/RM/Army/RAF) washing powder (detergent); derived from the [[w:Indian language word dobi, meaning "washing" or "laundry"

Dhobi Engine

(RAF/Navy/RM/Army) Washing machine.

dip stick

(RM) idiot

Digger

An Australian Soldier

Diggers

Implements for eating with. Also ‘KFS’ (Knife, Fork, Spoon’).

Dit

A story.

Ditmeister

(Army) Soldier with an anecdote for every occasion. "Jones was the Unit DitMeister, he had a funny story from every tour, remember the dead pigeon?"

DMS boots

Direct Moulded Sole ankle boots, issued from the 1960s to the mid-1980s. Also stands for "Dem's Moi Shooz!"

DMS Spanner

(Royal Engineers) Use the above to make something fit!

DOB

Pronounced as (D - O - B) Devoid of Brain - Someone who has joined the Armed Forces with half a brain cell.

Donkey Walloper

Cavalry especially HCR

Doris

Female member of the Armed Forces.

Doss down

(Army) To sleep

Doss Bag

(RM/Army) Sleeping bag

Diffy

Deficient. Gone missing or AWOL "Pvt nutbags went diffy".

DS

Directing Staff, often referring to instructors on any military course.

Dicker/Dicking/Being Dicked

(Army/RM) Member of an opposing force (generally during insurgency conflicts) who spies on friendly forces/the act of spying/being spied upon

Dicked (Army)

To be directed to undertake a task one doesn't want to do. "I've been dicked to clean the Turdis for gobbing off at the Badge."

D shape

A pasty of that shape - thats more frozen and still frozen that the Artic, even when issued in extreme heat situations in the middle its like block of ice.

DAZ CHALLENGE

when a pads wife places a box of washing powder in her window when the husband is away hoping she will get finger blasted by 5-10 drunk squaddies

Egg Banjo

A fried egg sandwich so called because when it is eaten, generally with the one hand that is free, egg yolk squirts onto the eater's shirt/jacket resulting in them raising their sandwich to approximately ear height whilst they attempt to "strum" the egg from their shirt with their free hand.

EGYPTIAN PT

Laying on your Pit (bed)

ENDEX

Every soldiers favourite words means the exercise or event is over and have a shower for the first time in weeks.

E&E

Escape and evasion.

Fairy

(RAF) Avionics Technician. Also generic term for electrical tradesperson after multi skilling came to be. Note in context of the NEM whole trade score. Superior beings compared to the mong like riggers (see below).

Fat Albert

RAF, a Hercules transport plane

FEFSC

Foresight, Economy, Flexibility, Simplicity, Cooperation (in making a plan)

FIBUA

acronym, Fighting In Built-Up Areas.

FISH

acronym, Fighting in someone's house. FIBUA

FISH n' CHIPS

acronyms, Fighting In Someone's House and Causing Havoc In People's Streets. Humourous slang for FIBUA.

Fish-head

(Navy/ RAF) RN Slang term given by WAFUs to members of the General Service. Slang term for a member of the Royal Navy.

Fizzer

(RAF) On a charge, using Form 252 Charge Sheet.

Flying Crab

(Army) RAF Pilot

Flat Dick: (Army) Member of the WRAC

FOB

Forward Operating Base

FUBAR

(Army) acronym, Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition/Recovery. "The situation's gone FUBAR!" = it's a mess!

Full Screw

The term 'Full Screw' is British Army slang used to describe someone holding the rank of Corporal.

Furry Crocodile

(Army) Dog

Foxtrot Oscar

(Army) Polite way of telling someone to go play on a motorway.

Gary Stacks

(RAF) Name used for addressing every Supplier regardless of their real name or rank.

Gary

Issued goretex waterproof clothing "He went full Gary" (He wore all his goretex clothing)

Gash

(RN/RM/Army) waste such as food wrappers. (Army) Females.

Gash

(RAF/Army) Poor quality workmanship or inadequate kit/food, relates to above. "His application of black nasty was complete Gash".

Gash

(Army) vagina

Gat

(Army) derived from Gat Gun, an archaic air gun produced until the mid 1990s. Refers to an infantryman's personal weapon (rifle)

The Glasshouse

(Army) military prison

Gobbling rods

see KFS

Gobbing off

(Army) A verbal outbreak, can be back chatting a senior rank or to exaggerate your role in an action.

Goffer

(Royal Navy) A large wave (usually breaking) and also a refreshing drink

Gong

a campaign medal

Gopping

nasty, horrible, unenjoyable. That exercise was totally gopping

Gucci

slang for privately bought gear that is better or 'shinier' than standard issue

Guzz

(RN/RM) Plymouth, said to have originated from the World War I radio ID letters for the city's port (GUZ)

Gen

slang for genuine "Whats the gen?" Whats the true gossip?

God

SWO/RSM

GIMPY (pronounced ‘Jimpy’)

The L7A2 GPMG, or 'GIMPY', is a 7.62x61mm belt-fed general purpose machine gun. The GPMG has been in service with the British military for decades. The Royal Marine version is "Geep" (‘GP’; pronounced “Jeep").

Gibbering

Cold

Gizit/Gizus

From "Give It". To get something for nothing i.e. "Gizus a loan car",

Gleaming

Really good

Graft

work/effort. “That was hard graft.”

Grand Slam

Navy & Army, To vomit, urinate and defecate in your place of sleep due to excess drink. "He/I grand slammed in his pit / in the mess square last night....

Green Slime

Army, military intelligence personnel

grow bag

(RAF) Slang term for Aircrew Flying Suit (as in "He's wearing his grow bag in the mess"); Slang term for Aircrew SNCO on account of being made a SNCO purely due to their job.(my memory from 1970's this refered to the imersion suit, permenantly required and despiseded kit despite hot weather by Victor and other crews, green and rubberised and akin to the horticultural type. 'Bunny suit' was the fluffy thermal we wore under it.)

Green time machine/Green Maggot

A sleeping bag.

Grot

(Army) unpleasent,nasty

Hat

Hat or Crap hat is a derogatory term for the standard (originally khaki, now dark blue) beret worn by regular soldiers in the British Army, in contrast to those worn in the special regiments (typically red or green). The term is also used by special regiment members like paratroopers and commandos to refer to other soldiers.

Headshed

Planning room, part of military intelligence, or to describe commanders or the ‘command’ function at any level.

Herman

Germans

Honking

RN/RM Something really smelly."That bird/bloke/pongo/crab is an absolute Honking piece of NATO equipment."

RAF 'to honk' = to vomit

Harry Von Wankbats

- Something really crap. "That briefing was a harry von wankbats."

Horror bag

Army/RAF packed lunch. Usually contains two flaccid sandwiches, one of which may contain Mystery Fish paste, half frozen sausage roll, unknown brand crisps ( often 'Paprika' in BAOR) an apple, a Kit-Kat and a tin of cola. Avoid.

JAFFA

Abbrev: Just Another Fat F*****g Arsehole

Jack

Selfish, lazy, workshy. "He's Jack as f***!" = He's as selfish/lazy/workshy as can be! Sarcastically, "I'm alright, Jack, pull the ladder up!" = You're being selfish!

Jack Tar

(RN) A sailor, sometimes 'Jolly Jack Tar'

Jenny, Jenny Wrens

members of the (former) Women's Royal Naval Service

Jock

(Army) a Scottish soldier or a soldier in a Scottish regiment (now amalgamated into the Royal Regiment of Scotland

Jockey

(RAF) Pilot

Jockey

(Army) Derogatory term. Slop Jockey an Army Chef, desk jockey AGC pers.

Jap Cap

Term used in he Army in the 70's and 80's to described the DPM Combat cap.

Junglee or Junglies

(Army) RN troop carrying helicopter or RN troop carrying helicopter's crew.

K9P

(RAF) dog urine. Practical joke used on newbies - Go up to the dog section and ask for some K9P

KFSM

Knife, fork, spoon, mug. Issued day 1.

Kiwi

Anything from New Zealand.

Kit-Kat arse

marks on the skin of the backside that come from sitting for hours on the benches in the back of a four-tonner, that remind you of a Kit-Kat bar.

Laminated ‘Biff chit’

Someone on long term or permanent sick is said to have one of these.

Lumpy Jumper

(Army/RAF) A female soldier as the woolly pully often exagerated the female form

Lizard

(Army) A individual who screws up in the most idiotic way, someone who routinely screws up or a civilian wearing military clothing such as airsofters.

Lance Jack

(Army) Somebody who holds the rank of Lance Corporal

Maggot

One of a number of terms for Army Sleeping Bag.

March-in/March-out

Moving into/out of a military quarter.

Matelot

A Navy sailor, from French, pronounced /ˈmæt.ləʊ/

Meister

(Army) An addendum to any word or honorific. Ditmeister, a funny dit spinner or "That medic was Meister he squared my blisters away, I feel almost Human". German origin, a Master or Minister.

Mincing

A term used meaning procrastinating or carrying out a task slowly.

Mincing

(Army) A derogatory term, to imply someone is effeminate. "JONES, stop mincing across my parade square" shouted the Badge.

Minging

Grotty, drunk, ugly,

MINTUA

"Mind In Neutral - Thumb Up Arse" Not a clue

Minime

Slang Name for the Light Machine Gun (LMG) given to soldiers with the bigger balls in the section

Mk 1 Peter’s

The most basic of all pasties. 11% meat at best.

Mk 1 Eyeball

took look rather than rely upon RADAR, SONAR or other equipment.

MOD90 (aka "90")

(Army) Your ID card - DON'T FUCKING LOSE IT YOU NOBS!

Monkey

Royal Military Police

Moonie

new arrival on base in Far East (e.g. Singapore), named for their lack of tan.

Mucker

A comrade a friend brother in arms. brought back with the Army from India (Muckergee).

mufti

civilian dress; also used in a non-military context in other Commonwealth countries (https://en.wikipedia.orghttps://dictious.com/en/Mufti_(dress)

Muppet

ATR Pirbright slang "Most useless person Pirbright ever trained” Someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing, or is in other ways ineffectual. Also "Most Useless Person Possible Except Trainee".

Mystery Fish

unknown source of fish paste. Nobody actually knows what sort the fish was once upon a time or even if it ever was actually a fish. To be found in sandwiches in Horror Bags.

nails

Hard (as nails)

NAAFI Growler

A greasy pie or pasty from the NAAFI vending machines.

NATO (as in ‘NATO Standard’)

How do you want your brew? NATO! Milk +2 sugars (less importantly) the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

NEM

(Tri service) New Employment Model. Where the old broken pay system was replaced by a system in which technical trades got rodgered harder. All lower ranks pay was cut. But it wasn't a cost saving exercise. Note, officers were not affected by the change.

Newbie

(RAF) New recruit or new to unit

NFI'd

Not Flipping Interested - Had enough I'm not playing soldiers anymore

nineteen canteen

a long time ago, as in "Old Yorkie joined way back in nineteen canteen and so knows it all (or thinks that he does)."

nutty

(RN/RM) term for Chocolate

nosebag

(Army) Cookhouse prepared packed lunch.

NIGS

New In Greens - Any Soldier Straight Out Of Training

Nipples like Scammell starter buttons

Self explanatory

Netley

ie He has been sent to Netley. 70's term for soldiers sent to Military Hospital Netley for mental treatment (& drink related) reasons.

oggin

(RN) water. "on the oggin" = at sea

oppo

A fellow soldier or partner, especially in the "buddy-buddy system" or in back-to-back tasks: "Make sure your oppo doesn't get left behind!"; from opposite number

One Pip Wonder

(Army) Derogatory Term for Lt often one his first posting after Sandhurst. "That one pip wonder, he's just a private with an education".

OR

Other Ranks. Everyone not an officer. The playthings of Ruperts

OROS

On receipt of spares.

Outstanding

Late, or done to a poor standard. Very much not outstanding.

P8

(Army) Mental health issue, old Army medical form for mental health was numbered P8. " poor bugger has gone P8 in the block".

'P' Wing

The psychiatric department of British Military Hospitals. Used to be military rehab for piss heads.

Paddy

an Irish soldier

Padre

"Father" generic term for clergyman, priest, chaplain. Origin Irish Catholic soldiers in the 1812 Peninsular War, Spanish for Father being Padre.

Para

member of the Parachute Regiment

PBI

Acronym for Poor Bloody Infantry

Piccadilly Cowboys

HCMR Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge.

plumber

(RAF) armourer

pongo

(RN/RM) army soldier. "Everywhere the army goes, the pong (stink) goes."; derived from the supposed inferior washing facilities in the field compared to those on a navy vessel.

Piss wrapped

Soaking wet

PONTI

Person Of No Tactical Importance. A more polite form of REMF (unpopular)

Plank

member of the Royal Artillery or Royal Pioneer Corps

Platform Four

meaning that you have been kicked out of a course and returned to your home unit

PAD

married quarters

Also term used for any married soldier in quarters

PADS BRAT

Offsping of soldier in military quarter.

PAD RAT

a married soldiers daughter who had had sexual intercourse with half the garrison

PADS WIFE

a woman usually in the 20-25 stone weight category who will perform sexual acts on other soldiers while her husband is away on exercise or operations.

Penguins

Term used up to 1980 to describe female members of the RAF. As at that time females didn't fly. Also used by soldiers (in a jocular way, of course) to describe the R.A.F. in general: "Penguins, all flap and no fly."

Porridge Wog

(Army) A serviceman of Jockanese origin.

Pukka

Real as in “Pukka Gen” real information, not made up or assumed.

Pull the Black and Yellow

To leave. From the colour of ejector seat handle.

Pull Up A Sand Bag

(Army) To tell A Story

PUFO

Pronounced "poofo". Pack Up and Fuck Off.

Racing Spoon

(Army) Main eating implement. Good ones prized.

Racing Snake

(Army) A fit individual. "That lad finished his PFT in quick time, he is definitely a racing snake".

Range stew

Consisting of the chefs leftovers from the meal the night before. High in Calories because its swimming in lard.

Rasman

RSM

recce

reconnaissance

Redders

Hot, warm

Red Arse

(Army) A derogatory term, a newbee or derogatory on issue of a exchange uniform " Jesus Staff, that new uniform, you look like a Red arse".

Red Cap

(Army) A member of the Royal Military Police

REMF

Rear Echelon Mother Fucker. Originated in US forces during the Vietnam War, anyone off the front line, also used to refer to 'uncool' styles of dress or attitudes associated with those from 'rear echelons'

Rigger

(RAF) Airframes Technician. Also generic term for Aircraft Mechanical Tradesperson after multi skilled tech came to be. Note riggers are in context of the NEM whole trade score, lesser people than the god like AV trades.

Rigger

(RAF) Aerial Erector

RHQ

regimental headquarters

Rodney

(RAF & Army) Officer; commissioned from the ranks.

rock ape

RAF Regiment

rubber dagger

(RM) Royal Marines Reservist

Rubber Dicked

Picked.

rubber winged dagger

(SAS) Special Air Service Reservist

Rupert

a commissioned officer, including medical officers (physicians) having gone directly through Sandhurst

Rug Rat

Any thing that is forth coming from the loins of a pad

Sawbones

(RN/RM) Doctor, specifically a surgeon

Scaley(RAF)

Married airmen/women living in quarters, given they were paid Scale E

Scaley Brat

(RAF) Airmen's/Women's offspring

Scaley, Scaley back

(Army) Radio operator/signaller (historically, from battery acid burns to the back from carrying radio packs, or from the plated body armour worn by WW1 linemen). Any member of Royal Signals

Scoff

(Army) Food

Scab Lifter

(RN/RM) Medical personnel

Scran

(RN/RM/Army) Food

Scran spanners

(RN/RM) see KFS

Screw

(Army) a corporal of some description

Scuffer

(RAF) for RAF Police

Sea dad

(RN) experienced submariner assigned to train in a new boatmate

Secret squirrels

MI5/6 operatives, spies.

Septic/seppo

(Army/RM) An American serviceman/woman. From Cockney rhyming slang; Septic Tank = Yank = American

Sheep's head

(Army) Feeling hungover after a particularly long drinking session. " My god, I have such a Sheeps head after last night, did everyone get back alive".

Shiny

(Army) Fancy or non-issue kit/free gubbins up for grabs/favourite or magpies

Shiny ass/arse

(RAF) derogatory slang for admin workers who sit at desks all day getting shiny arses (instead of grafting/working).

Shufty

(Army) To take a look.

Skate

(Army/RAF) A member of the Royal Navy. Derived from propensity of sailors during the age of sail nailing flat fish to the decks of ships and fucking them (when not buggering each other)

SNAFU

Situation normal, all fucked-up.

Sneaky Beaky

(Army) Special operations

Snowdrop

Royal Air Force Police - in relation to their white SD caps

SNEC

(RAF) sergeant. Derived from senior non comissioned officer (SNCO).

Spin a dit

(RN/RM/Army) tell a story

Sprog/Sproggy

(Army/RN) Recruit. Also offspring

Spook

MI5/6 operatives

Spoon

(RAF) or newbie - as in least experienced or lowest rank using a teaspoon to make hot drinks (brews) for everyone (also known as brewbitches)

Stag, on stag, stagging on

Guard duty

sticky

chocolate bar / sticky: bun or cake RN. Member of IRA to RM

Stripey

(Army) A sergeant

Still/Stills

Still a Bennie (see above) after orders not to refer to them in a derogatory way ("Still a Benny")

Stolly

(BAOR) Alvis Stalwart vehicle

squaddies

(Army) soldiers

squipper

(RAF) RAF safety equipment fitter (can make you anything)

STAB

(Army) Stupid Territorial Army Bastard or Simply the armies best

Stumbly

Stumblies (Army) RAF helicopter: RAF helicopter crew.

SOGI

(generic) Senior Officers Good Idea - detrimental term

Sumpy

(RAF) Aircraft Engine Technician

Sneaky-Beaky

Security Services/Military Intelligence

Singly

Any soldier Reguardless if rank or marital status living in Barracks.

Shnurggle

To Sneak, Stalk, Creep, etc.

TAB

(Army) acronym for "Tactical Advance to Battle", a forced march in battle dress order, either ending in battle or during training. Seep ‘Yomp’ (RM).

Tab

(Army) cigarette.

Taffy, Taff

a Welsh soldier

Terry/Terence

Member of the Taliban. Good for shooting and little else.

Threaders/Threadpigs

RM\RN speak Really upset. "I was really threaders/threadpigs with everyone getting seen off to the max!"

TLA

(Army/RAF) acronym for "Three Letter Acronym". The British Army & RAF are made of them

Tom or Tommy (Tommy Atkins)

soldier in the British Army

Tracky

(BAOR) AFV432 Personel carrier.

Turdis

(Army) A Portaloo, from its resemblance to Dr Who's box.

Ulu

(Army) a remote or rural area, Unsure of origin. Originally thought to be from Malay but ulu translates Into = interior person. (From Malay - Jungle. Living away from the coast i.e in the interior which was thick, primary jungle). Boonies (US).

Volley Ball Player

(RAF) Fire Fighter. Slow to respond to fire incidents. Because they are busy finishing their game of volleyball or tending to the PH levels in the swimming pool they have installed in the new theatre of operation. Fingers usually smell of waff's (see below) crab hole on a friday morning.

Vet

Anyone who has military Service and now in Civy Street

WAGI

(Army) Acronym for "what a good idea". Said to officers. Sarcastic.

Wallah

(Army) A desk jockey or general mundane job role, can be both derogatory and complimentary. "Bloody Staff wallah, what do they know" or "he was a complete Staff wallah and could get you on overseas AT, legend" or Drop your uniform into the Dhobi wallah for cleaning. Hindi in origin, one in charge.

Walt / Walter Mitty

A person who makes up stories about their time in service, or pretends to have served and won unearned medals. Either a civilian claiming military service, or a serviceman claiming service with units they have not served with, or medals they have not been awarded. From the fictional character Walter Mitty who daydreamed of being a war hero. See Military impostor.

Warry

Looking aggressive, WARlike even...

Weapon

Complete idiot. "Don't be such a weapon"

Webster’s

Rubbish (Army)

Websters

Ultimate Jackness, originated from two brothers that always needed other people to sort their admin out for them. Often leading to those described as Webster as being mutiple divorcees.

WAAF

(RAF) Women's Auxiliary Air Force - became WRAF (qv) on 1 Feb 1949.

Wet

(RN) a drink (‘hot-wet’, or ‘cold-wet’), usually a cup of tea/coffee. "Want a wet?" = would you like a hot drink?

Wet Bitch

(RN/RM) The boy who makes the tea.

White Crap

Derogatory term for RAF Police. Can be used safely over the radio as indistinguishable from their actual callsign (whitecap).

Wibble

(RN, Army) spec. Submarine Service) crazy; "to go wibble" means to go crazy after being at sea too long (Blackadder reference). Army. Temporary non effective on mental health, i.e. "After his 3rd tour Cpl Jones went wibble".

Whizzer

(Army) Sleeping bag.

Winky Pot

(Army) The flashing light attached to vehicles while travelling in convoy on roads, motorways, autobahns etc

Wooden-top

(Army) a soldier from the Guards Division

Waste of Rations/Fresh Air/Uniform/Training

Someone who serves no useful purpose or can't do the job

Wooly-Pully

Army Jumper

Wooly

(Army) Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital (QEMH) Woolwich.

Working his/her ticket

(Army) 40s/50s Term for military personnel trying to get out of doing something.

Wracks

(Army) 70/80s term for members of the Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC) before their disbandment. Based on the acronym for the corps.

Weekly Ration

(Army) Cu#t.

WRAF

(RAF) Women's Royal Air Force - merged into the RAF in 1994.

Work Wife

(Army) Senior Officer term for their Staff assistant, "Thank god work wife was there, I can't organise my diary for toffy". Home wife is normally in charge of off duty periods and Work Wife duty periods.

Whisky Tango Foxtrot

In military terms "WTF".

Yomp

(RM) your own marching pace. To force march with a heavy load

yoyo

Young Officer, an officer in training

Zob (RAF)

a commissioned officer. Plastic Zob (RAF): New officer just out of training (You can still see the mould marks)

• “Trim the festive norman aft: a guide to submarine slang”, in The Guardian‎, 2012 August 21