BOONTLING

            This list of definitions is not meant to be comprehensive but rather an aid to help fiction writers make their character’s dialog sound “authentic”. Some are occupational slang. Recording studio musicians for example detest “clams” (sour notes). Others are basic terms. To a sailor a hold is where cargo is stowed aboard a ship. To a gambler a hold is the percentage held back by a casino.

BOONTLING:

“Invented” in the 1880s in the small Northern California town of Boonville, boontling is still heard today. Many of the thousand plus words have their origins in the town’s history. A photograph for example is a charley walker after an early photographer.  How often a fictional character might speak “boont” is, well, probably not often. But it is such a fun thing it would be a shame not to find some use for it. So don’t be feather-legged, hoist a horn of zeece and have a boll harp, even if you’re just harping a slip!

                                                                                                    Michael McKeever    

borp:                         pork, a pig. 

boll:                           good, wonderful.

boo:                           potatoes.

boshing harem:           hunting dog.

bright lighter:              city person.

bucky walter:             telephone.

cuttin’ buckeye:          relaxing, taking it easy.

dumplin dust:              flour.

Easter:                       egg.

feather-legged:           officious, know-it-all person.

gorm:                         to eat.

greeley:                      journalist, writer.

harp:                          conversation.

harping a slip:             making small talk.

hedger:                      barber.

hedger region:            barbershop.

horn of zeece:            cup of coffee.

kimmie:                      man, male.

nook:                         home.

ottoins:                       job.

pike:                          drive a car.

relf:                            rail fence.

skipe:                         clergy.

tom bacon:                 mustache.

trash mover:               storm.

tweed:                       child.

  

BOOKS-PRINTING, SALES

This list of definitions is not meant to be comprehensive but rather an aid to help fiction writers make their character’s dialog sound “authentic.” Some are occupational slang. Recording studio musicians for example detest “clams” (sour notes). Others are basic terms. To a sailor a hold is where cargo is stowed aboard a ship. To a gambler a hold is the bet percentage held back by a casino.

So…a writer in your novel is about to be published (as hopefully you are in real life). Congratulations, the manuscript has passed the final blues. But before you count that based on points earn-out, pray for good real estate, hopefully including a dump. Otherwise you might soon be stripped.

                                                                        Michael McKeever

BOOKS-PRINTING, SALES:

blues:               printer’s manuscript copy, last stage before printing.

dump:              cardboard bookshop display case.

dust cover:      paper cover to protect book.

earn-out:         total royalties.

galleys:            proofreader’s manuscript.

points:             royalties based on book’s retail price.

polybag:          clear plastic protecting both book and dust cover.

real estate:       bookshop shelf space.

stripping:         tearing covers off unsold paperbacks to return to publisher after books have been destroyed.

trade books:    large-format paperback books.

    

    

BICYCLING-TRAIL/MOUNTAIN

            This list of definitions is not meant to be comprehensive but rather an aid to help fiction writers make their character’s dialog sound “authentic.” Some are occupational slang.  Recording studios for example hate “clams” (sour notes). Others are basic terms. To a sailor a hold is where cargo is stowed aboard a ship. To a gambler a hold is the bet percentage held back by a casino.

            A popular “great outdoors” sport is riding a sturdy ATB (All Terrain Bicycle) over rough trails. Or maybe no trail at all.  So if you’re going to gonzo just be sure you have good knobbies before you settle on the saddle!

                                                                                                        Michael McKeever

BICYCLING-TRAIL/MOUNTAIN:

ATB:               All Terrain Bicycle: sturdy bike for riding across rough terrain.

cables:             control wires between handle bars and either derailleur or brakes.

cadence:          peddling rhythm.

coaster brake: brake that engages when bike is pedaled backward.

dab:                 keeping bike upright by moving foot from pedal to ground.

derailleur:        on rear wheel hub, shifts chain between sprockets.

fat tire:            wide tire.

feathering:       slowing bike by pressing and releasing brake cables.

gonzo:             riding fast over rough terrain.

knobbies:         heavy tread tires for riding across rough terrain.

racing tires:      hard, thin tires.

saddle:             bicycle seat.

    

BASKETBALL

            This series of definitions is not meant to be comprehensive but rather an aid to help fiction writers make their characters’ dialog sound “authentic.” Some are occupational slang. Recording studio musicians for example hate “clams” (sour notes). Others are basic terms. To a sailor a hold is where cargo is stowed aboard a ship. To a gambler a hold is the bet percentage held back by a casino.

            In 1891 James A. Naismith of the Y.M.C.A. College in Springfield, Massachusetts came up with the idea for a new game. Played indoors or out it required no more equipment than a large bouncing ball and two peach baskets attached to walls on a rectangular court. He called it Basketball.

            The peach baskets have long since been replaced by nets but most of the rules laid down by Naismith are followed to this day. And whether your hoops are big league or pickup, hope your players are good at boxing out and foul shots but no palming allowed and that’s not just talking trash.

                                                                        Michael Mckeever

BASKETBALL:

boxing out:    stepping in front of opposing player to keep them from getting ball.

double-teaming: guarding single defensive player with two defenders.

dribbling:       moving ball forward by rapid bouncing.

foul shot:       unchallenged free throw.

hoops:                        another name for basketball.

jumper:           tossing ball while jumping.

palming:         illegally scooping up ball with a hand before dribbling.

set shot:         tossing ball through hoop while standing.

shooting:       tossing ball through hoop.

talking trash: trying to rattle another player by yelling, jeering, etc.

traveling:        walking or running with the ball.

BASEBALL GAME and BASEBALL CARDS

            This series of definitions is not meant to be comprehensive but rather an aid to help fiction writers make their characters’ dialog sound “authentic.” Some are occupational slang. Recording studio musicians for example hate “clams” (sour notes). Others are basic terms. To a sailor a hold is where cargo is stowed aboard a ship. To a gambler a hold is the bet percentage held back by a casino.

            The lingo of baseball, that most American of sports, can be heard from major league ballparks to dusty back lots. So when your player pitches the apple make sure he’s not a rag arm who lets the batter hit a dinger! 

   

BASEBALL:

apple:             baseball.

beanball:         accidentally hitting player at bat with pitched ball.

cellar:              last place in baseball league.

dinger:             home run.

dusted off:       hit by a beanball.

grand slam:      hitting home run with bases loaded.

jug handle:       curve ball.

lumber:            baseball bat.

pill:                  baseball.

rag arm:           poor pitcher.

rookie:             new player.

smoker:           fastball.

thumbed out:   ordered off the field by the umpire.

woodpile:        bat storage rack.

  

BASEBALL CARDS:

            Overall there are two types of baseball card collectors. Boys who collect for fun, often building their collections through trading. And adults who collect cards as serious investments (often for serious cash). And who knows? Maybe that player on a rookie card will one day grace a star card (though no longer a tobacco card). 

                                                                                                               Michael McKeever

common card: card not in demand, usually a little-known or average player.

disc:                circular-shaped card instead of the usual rectangle.

double-print:   doubling a card’s print.

layering:          card damaged by separating (paper, finish) layers.

reprint:            reproduction of an earlier popular card.

rookie card:     new player’s first card.

star card:         famous player’s card.

tobacco card:  issued by tobacco companies from late 19^th through early 20^th centuries.