LAWhammer Lexicon Part 4 (Patreon)

And here's part 4 of the in-progress LAWhammer lexicon. Like Part 2, Euphimisms, Idioms, and Slang, and Part 3, Thieves' Cant, A Glossary this post about noble slang has more to be added, so if you have any new and awesome terms you think I should include, leave a comment here or on the LAWhammer Discord and I'll take a look. Indeed, I think there is a lot that could be added here that's more firmly Warhammer, so please do share any ideas you have.

So, let's have a look at some genteel banter, or the slang of the upper classes.

Gentile Banter

Or the gentle chaffing of correct Reikspiel.

The Emperor’s Reikspiel may be codified by the dusty scholars of the ICCLE, but it has not been so tightly constrained by grammatical rules, strict units, and immutable orders that it can’t be repurposed as needed. This not only guarantees the good folk of the Empire can use Reikspiel in manifold ways, it also guarantees Reikspiel can be used in manifold ways by the good folk of the Empire, and, indeed, guarantees there are manifold ways the good folk of the Empire can use Reikspiel. I could go on.

However, for all its eclectic utility, few brandish Reikspiel with much skill, preferring to hammer words home with naught but utility in mind. Standing astride these bumbling masses, a blessed few, perhaps touched by Verena herself, wield language like it were the Sword of Judgement itself, cutting deep with wit and charm where others stumble and fall.

Nowhere is this more in evidence than the great courts of the Empire. There, deft control of the Emperor’s Reikspiel is not just preferred, it is required in order to avoid appearing an awkward, ill-educated buffoon. And those that ply their trade in the courts, most notably the greatest members of the blessed noble Houses of Sigmar’s Empire, have become true experts, and keepers, of the Emperor’s Reikspiel.

However, it should be noted that the Emperor’s Reikspiel, the language accepted as ‘proper’ and not ‘slang’, is not exactly the same as the upper-class Reikspiel spoken at court. Many upper-class words are used somewhat differently to the Emperor’s Reikspiel, or not even used at all. Indeed, to sound ‘noble’, you have to be just as careful about the words you do not use just as much as the words you do.

For example, the nobility rarely use the word meal to mean food served to be eaten. Nobles may eat breakfast, luncheon, or dinner, but they never eat a meal. Meal, they claim, is for chickens and peasants, not for them.

Similarly, euphemisms are also generally avoided by the nobility. This is because idiomatic use of Reikspiel is considered to be improper, fear-filled, and antagonistic to clear speaking. So, saying I’m sorry to hear Johanna passed through the Portal is, to most nobles, quite unacceptable. Instead, they would prefer the plainer, I am sorry to hear that Johanna has died.

Standing contrary to this preference to avoid improper language, there is also a widely used slang spoken almost exclusively by the upper classes. Given the light-hearted name banter, but more formally known as chaffing, this informal noble repartee is either deployed in a self-mocking fashion by the older generations, or more commonly used in a gently rebellious manner by noble-born youths, many of whom have claimed and recycled the words of their elders for their own purposes. Given many nobles are classically educated, it should come as no surprise that noble banter also includes many loan words and older phrases, something that causes traditionalist factions of the ICCLE to throw their arms up in horror.

As an example of how noble banter expresses, the following selected lexicon provides a list of some of the more common phrases and words encountered when stalking the courts of the Empire. The correct use of these words and phrases marks one out as being correctly educated or perhaps even noble, but be very careful not to use them incorrectly.

The following words and phrases are commonly known by those with Etiquette (Nobles), and can be understood with an Int Test.

Entries marked as informal are not strictly the Emperor’s Reikspiel, and likely draw frowns from the older generations.

A

Afraid. Feel regret.

‘I’m afraid to inform you that is impossible.’ I regret to inform you that it is impossible.

B

Banter. Informal Slang.

Balls, The. The 20 formal balls held in the Altdorf from the beginning of Nachhexen to the end of Jahrdrung.

Bally. Informal Bloody; 2) Damned.

Considered blasphemous by the more educated in the Cult of Sigmar as the word refers to the Blood God, but usage is nevertheless widespread.

Bate. Mood.

‘No need to fly into a bate, darling.’ No need to be moody, my friend.

Beastly. Informal Unpleasant.

Bind. A problematic situation.

Blighter. Informal Contemptible person; 2) A rotten person; 3) A man.

Considered blasphemous by the more educated in the Cult of Sigmar as the word refers to the Plague Lord, but usage is nevertheless widespread.

Blotto. Informal Drunk.

‘I’m absolutely blotto.’ I’m very drunk.

Blue End. Informal 1) Arse; 2) The rear.

‘Bally man took it in the blue end!’ Damned warship took a hit to its rear!

Brick. Trustworthy, supportive, or reliable person.

‘The captain's an absolute brick!’ The captain has been very supportive.

By Cracky. Informal [Exclamation for emphasis or surprise]

‘By Cracky, what a fine day!’ This is a particularly fine day.

Considered blasphemous by the more educated in the Cult of Sigmar as the term supposedly calls upon the Lord of Change, but usage is nevertheless widespread.

C

Catch-fart. Informal. A footman.

Chaffing. 1) To use noble banter; 2) To mock or tease in a good-natured fashion; 3) To waste time by talking nonsense.

‘They chaffed all morning.’ They wasted their time talking nonsense all morning.

Chimneypiece. Mantlepiece.

Chin-chin. Informal 1) A polite speech; 2) A light-hearted conversation; 3) To make a speech; 4) To converse light-heartedly; 5) [A toast to someone’s health]; 6) [A greeting or farewell].

From Cathayan qǐng-qǐng please-please.

Confirmed Bachelor. A noble man who does not wish to marry.

D

Daily. A servant that does not live on-premises.

Darling. 1) [a familiar term of address]; 2) Informal Cute, charming, or delightful.

‘What a darling child!’ What a delightful child.

Deb. Informal A young, inexperienced woman.

Contraction of Bretonnian débutante female beginner.

Deb’s Delight. Informal An attractive, unmarried man.

Débutante. A young woman of noble birth who is presented to court at the beginning of the Social Season when of marriageable age.

Dinner. An evening meal.

Dinner is never an afternoon meal.

Dishy. 1) Good looking; 2) Attractive.

E

Eligible Bachelor. A young, unmarried noble man who has significant social or financial standing.

F

Fancy. Liking.

‘I’ve taken a fancy to that dishy catch-fart.’ I like the look of that attractive footman.

Finished. Tired or exhausted.

First-rate. The best.

Chiefly Reikland, Nordland, and Ostland. Originally from the Imperial Navy’s ratings for different warships.

Frightfully. Informal Very.

H

Huzzah! [Expression of approval or joy.]

Chiefly Reikland, Nordland, and Ostland. Originally from the Old Reikspiel sailor’s cry hissen to hoist.

I

I say. 1) [Phrase used for emphasis]; 2) [Expression of surprise].

‘I say, my good man, take my velvet, won’t you.’ This is important, my good, man: take my cloak.

J

Jollies. Informal Sexual thrills.

‘Did you not hear about it, darling? Why, she gets her jollies from the ‘Doll-ups’! Did you not hear about it, my friend? Why, she gets her thrills from watching Halfling strip shows!

Jolly. Very.

L

Lickspittle. A subordinate.

M

Man. Informal 1) Man-o’-war. 2) Any ship with cannons.

Midder. Informal Middenball, a popular sport of the Empire.

‘Anyone up for a game of Midder?’ Anyone like to play Middenball?

Miffed. Mildly upset.

‘Rather miffed that Ilse didn’t drop by.’ I’m mildly upset that Ilse didn’t visit.

Morr’s Garden. Graveyard.

Nobles almost never use the term graveyard, which is deemed to be informal slang used by the lower orders.

N

Nitwit. An idiot.

From Old Reikspiel Nichtwitz not having any wits.

Ninny. A fool.

From a shortening of innocent.

Ninnyhammer. The leader of fools, and a greater fool in turn.

Often used in reference to other nobles.

P

Pantry politics. Servant talk.

Pettifogger. Informal. Disreputable lawyer.

From Bretonnian petit small + Old High Reikspiel fogger lawyer.

Pip pip. Informal. Goodbye.

Posh. Informal Gaudy, unsophisticated, and affected in a misguided attempt to appear refined and elegant.

‘The merchant is frightfully posh.’ The merchant believes he appears refined, but instead appears gaudy and unsophisticated.

R

Rather! 1) [Emphatically yes!]; 2) Very.

Chiefly used as an interjection.

Ravenstone. Gravestone

From Morr, the God of Death’s, sacred animal, the raven.

S

Seedy. Ill.

Slut. Slovenly person.

‘He’s a dreadful slut!’ He’s noted for being dishevelled.

Smart. 1) Good taste; 2) Appears noble and sophisticated.

‘I’m afraid to say that merchant is rather smart’ I must admit that the merchant has good taste and appears noble.

Social Season. The annual period, usually from the end of winter to midsummer, when the noble houses hold important social events including balls, dinner parties, charity events, and sporting displays. Typically, during Social Season many nobles take residence in their local capital to socialise and engage in politics.

Informal Also known as The Season.

Spiffing. Excellent.

‘I’ve a spiffing overcoat for you.’ I’ve an excellent overcoat for you.

Squiffy. Informal A superior of any kind

From askew + whiff slightly off-smell, idiomatically meaning slightly drunk. So-called because the higher the rank, the more likely it is the individual will be drunk.

T

Thrall. Servant.

Chiefly used in Nordland and Ostland.

Tickety-boo. Progressing smoothly.

Tight. Informal Drunk.

‘I’ve been at the wine all morning, darling, and I’m afraid to report I’m now rather tight.’ I’ve been drinking wine all morning, my friend, and I regret to report that I’m very drunk.

Top-hole. Splendid.

Trumpery. 1) Something that that looks good, but is worthless; 2) Foolish talk or actions.

V

Velvet. Informal Cloak.

W

Weekend. 1) The days of Angestag and Festag.

Many nobles refuse to do anything significant on the weekend, preferring to hunt on the Angestag and attend throng on the Festag. Because of this, most universities are closed at the weekend. Chiefly used in Reikland and Wissenland.

What? (Interrogative requesting information.)

Nobles never use pardon, which they see as a misuse of the word by the lower-orders. After all, none have the right to pardon nobles but their lieges!

What-ho! 1) Hello, there! 2) What’s ahead?

Chiefly used as a greeting or to attract attention.

Wag off. 1) Avoid duties; 2) Skive.

Wastelander Dues. Informal A payment that will never be reclaimed.

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And that's all the core elements posted. Once I'm happy with everything, I'll combine all the Lexicon posts I've made so far and post it as a pdf.