Regency Slang Trivia Quiz

Answer: They are high society gents, wearing breeches which are the height of fashion

George Bryan, known as 'Beau Brummel' (1778-1840) was the fashion icon of Regency England. Many of the rich young men slavishly followed his every fashion whim, taking it sometimes to ridiculous lengths. Brummel had a small circle of favoured, aristocratic companions and was a friend of the Prince Regent, who later became King George IV.

Answer: She is a widow looking for a rich husband

In the days when most women relied entirely on men for money, a widow, especially one with children, could find herself in dire straits if she did not marry again (whether she wanted to or not). Many a disastrous marriage was contracted to save a woman from 'Queer Street' (poverty).

Button's was a famous 17/18th century coffee house where men went to discuss politics and other worldy affairs. Starbucks stands on the site today.

Answer: Pelting criminals imprisoned in the stocks

Stocks were wooden frames sited on a highway, square, market-place or green. Perpetrators of crimes were fastened in them by the head, hands and feet as a public humiliation.

Answer: A pair of pistols

Duelling was a popular, if illegal, pastime in Regency times amongst army officers and other rich 'young bloods', so a good and accurate pair of pistols was a vital part of every young-man-about-town's equipment.

Answer: Thoroughbred horses

Young men with money spent it on horses which they either raced or used simply to show off. The measure of a man's wealth lay in the kind of horse he could parade.

Answer: The man was recently married after getting drunk and is now hen-pecked

'To eat Hull cheese' was only one of the many colourful expressions for getting drunk; others included, 'be malt above water, foxed and in his cups'.

'Jerry Sneak' was a figure in a contemporary play by Foote; a man 'under petticoat government' - in other words, bossed about by his wife.

Answer: The man lied; they were not genuine Manton pistols

To lie was to 'tell farradiddles', or 'cut a sham' or even 'pitch the gammon'. Whatever you called it - it wasn't the truth. The pistol seller had said the guns were designed and made by Joseph Manton (1766-1835) a British gunsmith. When watching duels, popular in those days, Manton noticed that the recoil on the pistols forced the protagonists' elbows upwards. By increasing the weight at the end of the barrel he corrected this flaw - and made his fortune.

Answer: That his stomach is empty and you should find somewhere to eat

'Eggs in Nests' was a typical Regency dish (a simple one, not served at a banquet). Cut a hole in the middle of a buttered slice of thick bread, drop an egg into it. Salt and pepper it and bake in a medium oven for 30 mins.

Answer: He's broke and wants you to lend him money

If he'd been spending his money without thought of the future, you could accuse him of 'drawing the bustle too freely' but if he's in debt from gambling, then he's 'done up'.

Answer: She's very beautiful and has just been presented at court

'Coming out' in Regency times meant coming out of the home (and schoolroom) into society as a debutante after completing one's education. Very few aristocratic young ladies went to school in those days. At about age 17 the young lady was presented at court to the reigning monarch and could then attend the many balls, soirees and parties given by families looking for eligible partners for their children.

So who could be presented at court? Daughters of the aristocracy (anyone who was, even remotely, related to the royal family), country gentry, bankers and financiers and in fact the daughters of anyone whose 'good birth', wealth, connections and position made them eligible.

"The Habits of Good Society" by Jane Aster tells us that "The daughters ... of the clergy, of military and naval officers, of physicians and barristers can be presented. These are the aristocratic professions, but the wives and daughters of general practitioners and of solicitors are not entitled to a presentation .... and daughters of merchants, or of men in business (excepting bankers), are not entitled to presentation". Obviously, presentation at court involved considerable expense on dress, not to mention lessons in deportment, how to walk gracefully when wearing a long, often heavy gown and all the other things a well-bred young lady needed to know.

An Abigail was a lady's maid.

Incredible as it may sound, the last presentation of debutantes to the reigning monarch took place in 1958! The practice was then ended as an anachronism. Thereafter, private presentations to a Duchess were organized as a substitute, but lacked the lustre and status of presentation at court.