List of words having different meanings in British and American English

This is the list of words having different meanings
Meaning (linguistics)
In linguistics, meaning is what is expressed by the writer or speaker, and what is conveyed to the reader or listener, provided that they talk about the same thing . In other words if the object and the name of the object and the concepts in their head are the same...

in British
British English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...

and American English
American English
American English is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the world's native speakers of English live in the United States....

: A–L.

For the second portion of the list, see List of words having different meanings in British and American English: M–Z.

Asterisked (*) meanings, though found chiefly in the specified region, also have some currency in the other dialect; other definitions may be recognised by the other as Briticisms or Americanisms respectively. Additional usage notes are provided when useful.

A

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
AA	The Automobile Association (US: AAA)	Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...	American Atheists
A&E	the accident and emergency (casualty) department of a hospital (US: emergency room, ER)		Arts & Entertainment (name of a television network)
accumulator	rechargeable battery Rechargeable battery A rechargeable battery or storage battery is a group of one or more electrochemical cells. They are known as secondary cells because their electrochemical reactions are electrically reversible. Rechargeable batteries come in many different shapes and sizes, ranging anything from a button cell to... (archaic) a type of bet Gambling Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods... (US: parlay)	one that accumulates, as a type of computer processor register Accumulator (computing) In a computer's central processing unit , an accumulator is a register in which intermediate arithmetic and logic results are stored. Without a register like an accumulator, it would be necessary to write the result of each calculation to main memory, perhaps only to be read right back again for... or a hydraulic accumulator Hydraulic accumulator A 'hydraulic accumulator' is an energy storage device. It is a pressure storage reservoir in which a non-compressible hydraulic fluid is held under pressure by an external source. That external source can be a spring, a raised weight, or a compressed gas...
ace Ace (disambiguation) An ace is a playing card representing a single symbol of that card's suit.Ace, Aces, ACE or ACES may also refer to:- In sports :* Ace , the best starting pitcher on a baseball team* Ace , a hole in one...	good, excellent (1980s slang)	a one in a suit of playing card Playing card A playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic, marked with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing card games... s someone who is very good at something. A term in tennis for a point won for the server without the opponent returning his or her serve. fighter Fighter aircraft A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets... pilot Aviator An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne... who has shot down at least 5 enemy aircraft Aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...	(v.) to perform outstandingly *; esp., to achieve an A (on a school exam) the best starting pitcher in a rotation on a baseball team
advocate Advocate An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man... (n.)	Scottish Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... also the Isle of Man, Channel Islands and South African lawyer Lawyer A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political... who appears in higher court Court A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law... s (rest of UK: barrister Barrister A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions... )	someone who supports or speaks for a particular position generic term for a lawyer (v.) to recommend or support
air marshal Air Marshal Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...	a senior air force officer (equivalent to a USAF Lt. General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General.... )	an undercover law enforcement officer on board a commercial aircraft, also known as a sky marshal Sky marshal A sky marshal is an undercover law enforcement or counter terrorist agent on board a commercial aircraft to counter aircraft hijackings...
à la mode		fashionable	with ice cream (ex. Apple pie à la mode)
alternate		(adj.) done or occurring by turns; every second, every other ("on alternate weeks") (n.) one that alternates with another	(adj.) constituting an alternative, offering a choice (UK usu. & US also alternative) ("use alternate routes") "alternative", unconventional ("alternate lifestyles") (n.) an alternative *; a substitute
amber Amber (disambiguation) Amber is a fossilized tree resin.Amber may also refer to:-Music:* Amber , pop music artist* Amber , by pop artist Amber* Amber * Amber * Amber, a 1987 David Darling album...	traffic light of this colour (US: yellow light)	orange-yellow- blue color fossilised resin Resin Resin in the most specific use of the term is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly coniferous trees. Resins are valued for their chemical properties and associated uses, such as the production of varnishes, adhesives, and food glazing agents; as an important source of raw materials... ; a material used in the construction of some tobacco pipes' stems, female given name; (sealed in amber) state of being oblivious to changing circumstances
anæsthetist (UK), anesthetist (US)	physician trained to induce anesthesia (US: anesthesiologist Anesthesiologist An anesthesiologist or anaesthetist is a physician trained in anesthesia and peri-operative medicine.... )	someone who induces anesthesia.	a critical care experienced graduate level educated Registered Nurse who is nationally certified to induce anesthesia
anchor Anchor (disambiguation) Anchor may refer to:- Devices :* Anchor, a device that attaches to the sea bottom to prevent a boat from drifting* Anchor bolt, to attach objects or structures to concrete* Anchor , used in rock climbing* Anchor plate, to strengthen buildings...		(1) a position in a tug of war Tug of war Tug of war, also known as tug o' war, tug war, rope war or rope pulling, is a sport that directly pits two teams against each other in a test of strength. The term may also be used as a metaphor to describe a demonstration of brute strength by two opposing groups, such as a rivalry between two... team (2) device for mooring ships by providing a firm fix to the seabed (3)(anchorman/anchorwoman) the last member of a relay team to compete	a type of radio or TV presenter ("a news anchor"). See news presenter News presenter A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather... for a description of the different roles of a newscaster, an American news anchor, and a British newsreader.
anorak Anorak An anorak or parka is a type of heavy jacket with a hood, often lined with fur or fake fur, so as to protect the face from a combination of freezing temperatures and wind...	a parka Anorak An anorak or parka is a type of heavy jacket with a hood, often lined with fur or fake fur, so as to protect the face from a combination of freezing temperatures and wind... (slang Anorak (slang) In British slang an anorak is a person who has a very strong interest, perhaps obsessive, in niche subjects. This interest may be unacknowledged or not understood by the general public... ) a socially awkward person obsessively interested in something (syn. US: geek Geek The word geek is a slang term, with different meanings ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to... , nerd Nerd Nerd is a derogatory slang term for an intelligent but socially awkward and obsessive person who spends time on unpopular or obscure pursuits, to the exclusion of more mainstream activities. Nerds are considered to be awkward, shy, and unattractive... ; dweeb; etc.)	hooded, rainproof outerwear that lacks a full-length zipper in the front of me brah (UK: cagoule)
apartment Apartment An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...	suite of rooms set aside for a particular person (rare), usu. rented housing unit in a larger building implying luxury (In other words a narrower definition than the US.) (Overlapping with the rare usage in reference to stately homes or historic properties which have been converted into residential units.)		usu. rented housing unit in a larger building (usu. flat in UK)– cf. s.v. condominium
appropriate (v.), appropriation (n.)	to take (money) to oneself, to filch or misappropriate	to take and ass (money) (there is considerable overlap but difference of emphasis)	to dispense (money), to budget
Asian	originating from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka (South Asian)	originating from the continent of Asia	originating from East Asia or continental Southeast Asia
ass		donkey Donkey The donkey or ass, Equus africanus asinus, is a domesticated member of the Equidae or horse family. The wild ancestor of the donkey is the African Wild Ass, E... slow-witted or stupid person, often in combination (dumb-ass)	(often vulgar) buttocks Buttocks The buttocks are two rounded portions of the anatomy, located on the posterior of the pelvic region of apes and humans, and many other bipeds or quadrupeds, and comprise a layer of fat superimposed on the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles. Physiologically, the buttocks enable weight to... (UK: arse Arse (disambiguation) Arse or ARSE may refer to:* the British/Irish-English vulgarism for the buttocks, equivalent to "ass" in American or Canadian English** "arsehole," a similar British/Irish term for the anus, equivalent to "asshole" in American or Canadian English... ); also, by synecdoche Synecdoche Synecdoche , meaning "simultaneous understanding") is a figure of speech in which a term is used in one of the following ways:* Part of something is used to refer to the whole thing , or... , the person ("your ass is dead"); also (vulgar) anus (short for asshole) (vulgar) sex ("get some ass") (adv.) a postpositive intensive (i.e., to add emphasis to an adjective) ("He drove a big-ass truck") kick-ass: to beat up or beat, e.g. "I am going to kick his ass" or, more positively, something that beat (did better than) everything else, e.g. "The opening band was kick-ass." (vulgar) someone acting inappropriately or offensively ("That guy was an ass!")
athletics	Sport comprising the events in track and field Track and field Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area... , cross country running Cross country running Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road... , road running Road running Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners... and racewalking		Athletic sports in general, (e.g. College athletics College athletics College athletics refers primarily to sports and athletic competition organized and funded by institutions of tertiary education . In the United States, college athletics is a two-tiered system. The first tier includes the sports that are sanctioned by one of the collegiate sport governing bodies... )
attorney		an agent or representative authorised to act on someone else's behalf ("attorney-in-fact", "power of attorney Power of attorney A power of attorney or letter of attorney is a written authorization to represent or act on another's behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter... ") (Attorney General Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person... ) main legal advisor to the government	(or attorney-at-law) a lawyer (UK: barrister Barrister A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions... (England, Northern Ireland, Wales)/advocate (Scotland) or solicitor Solicitor Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title... , depending on the actual profession) (District attorney District attorney In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of... , prosecuting attorney) local public official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminals (archaic in Br. Eng. for lawyer)
aubergine	the plant Solanum melongena, or the fruit thereof (US: eggplant)	an aubergine-like colour (US also: eggplant)
awesome		inspiring awe, spectacular	great, "cool" *(largely used in the 1980s, recently revived; can have various connotations depending on context – compare UK brilliant)

B

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
balmy (adj.)	insane (although usually spelt barmy today)	(usu. climate) pleasantly warm
banger (n.)	a sausage, as in "bangers and mash" an old motorcar in a state of disrepair (US: beater)	a type of firework	a particularly club-friendly beat or song a gang member (gang-banger)
bang(s)		small explosions or reports; (v.) have sexual intercourse with (vulgar slang) ( e.g. "bang some chick" or "he's banging her")	locks of hair on forehead (UK: fringe)
base		foundation, starting point; many meanings in sciences, architecture, politics, military installation, etc.; see base	in baseball Baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond... , one of the three places a runner can stand in safety; hence in many fig. senses, off one's base (crazy), to get to first base (esp. in neg. constr., to get a first important result); more recently (slang), a metaphor for one of three different stages in making out (q.v.) – see baseball metaphors for sex Baseball metaphors for sex In the culture of American adolescents, the game of baseball is often used as a euphemistic metaphor for the degree of sexual intimacy achieved in intimate encounters or relationships... ; more s.v. home run
bash	masturbate (vulgar slang) (usu.Bash one out or Have a bash) (but Have a bash more often means the same as Have a go – to try to achieve something, as in "have a bash at this crossword") an improvised shelter (shortened form of 'basha Basha (tarpaulin) A Basha is a waterproof canvas or plastic sheet with eyelets or loops on the perimeter, which is used in camping, outdoor, or military situations to act as a shelter, in the form of an impromptu tent and/or groundsheet, usually supported with rope or even bungee cords attached to trees.-Military... ')	to strike physically to attack verbally a party or celebration "they're having a little bash this weekend" (orig. US, but now probably more common in UK than US)
bath	(usu. pl.) swimming pool Swimming pool A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool... (v.) to bathe, or give a bath to, example have a bath (US: take a bath meaning bathe)	(n.) plumbing fixture for bathing *(US: bathtub) (n.) the act of bathing a (financial) loss	(n.) a bathroom (esp. a half bath which has a sink and toilet but no shower stall or bathtub, or a 3/4 bath which has a sink, toilet, and shower stall, but no bathtub)
bathroom Bathroom A bathroom is a room for bathing in containing a bathtub and/or a shower and optionally a toilet, a sink/hand basin/wash basin and possibly also a bidet....	room containing a bath (US: bathtub Bathtub A bath , bathtub , or tub is a large container for holding water in which a person may bathe . Most modern bathtubs are made of acrylic or fiberglass, but alternatives are available in enamel over steel or cast iron, and occasionally waterproof finished wood... ) or shower, other washing facilities, and usu. (but not necessarily) a toilet Toilet A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet/bathroom/lavatory...		room, in a home or hotel room, containing a toilet Toilet A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet/bathroom/lavatory... , related washing facilities, and often, but not necessarily, a shower Shower A shower is an area in which one bathes underneath a spray of water.- History :... or bathtub Bathtub A bath , bathtub , or tub is a large container for holding water in which a person may bathe . Most modern bathtubs are made of acrylic or fiberglass, but alternatives are available in enamel over steel or cast iron, and occasionally waterproof finished wood... (Hence "Going to the bathroom" is a euphemism for going to the toilet even in a setting where one would not expect to find a bath, e.g. a restaurant or shop *) (a room without shower or bathtub may also be known as a powder room, but this usage may be considered dated)
batty	arse, homosexual (orig. Jamaican word)	crazy, insane (slang)
beaker	drinking vessel without a handle, or one (with or without handles) made of unbreakable plastic for the use of children (US: sippy cup)	flat-bottomed vessel, with a lip, used as a laboratory container.
beater		person who flushes game from concealment so it can be shot at by 'the guns' something or someone that beats	used car or bicycle in very poor condition (UK: banger) (slang) wifebeater (q.v.) a sleeveless undershirt (from the stereotype that poor men who wear them beat their wives, perhaps from Jackie Gleason in "The Honeymooners" TV series (50s/60s U.S.) or more likely from the costume of the character Stanley Kowalski Stanley Kowalski Stanley Kowalski is a fictional character in Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire.-In the play:Stanley lives in the working class Faubourg Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans with his wife, Stella , and is employed as a factory parts salesman. He was an Army engineer in WWII, having... in the play "A Streetcar Named Desire (play) A Streetcar Named Desire (play) A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1947 play written by American playwright Tennessee Williams for which he received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948. The play opened on Broadway on December 3, 1947, and closed on December 17, 1949, in the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. The Broadway production was... ") (UK: vest)
beaver Beaver The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...	beard; a bearded man (archaic slang)	aquatic rodent known for building dams woman's undepilated external genitalia (obscene slang)	female pubic hair Pubic hair Pubic hair is hair in the frontal genital area, the crotch, and sometimes at the top of the inside of the legs; these areas form the pubic region.... (slang)
bender	derogatory expression for a gay man, referring to the act of bending over to permit buggery.	an expression for a binge drinking spree, referring to the act of bending over to vomit.
bespoke Bespoke Bespoke is a term employed in a variety of applications to mean an item custom-made to the buyer's specification...	(esp. of apparel) made to the customer's specification (US: custom-made, tailor-made)	pret. of bespeak
bill	The bill=the police (slang, poss. from Old Bill)	invoice; request for payment (also US: check, tab) a proposed law before it is voted on by a legislature	a piece of paper money (UK: note/banknote)
billion	(traditionally) a million millions (10¹²) (US: trillion)	thousand million (10⁹) (now most common in both UK and US) (traditional UK: milliard) (see also Long and short scales Long and short scales The long and short scales are two of several different large-number naming systems used throughout the world for integer powers of ten. Many countries, including most in continental Europe, use the long scale whereas most English-speaking countries use the short scale... )	10⁹
bin	(v.) to throw away. (bread bin) container for storing bread Bread Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened... (US: breadbox Breadbox A breadbox or a bread bin is a container for storing bread and other baked goods to keep them fresh. They were a more common household kitchen item until bread started being made commercially with food preservatives and wrapped in plastic... )	(1) a waste container Waste container A waste container is a container for temporarily storing refuse and waste. Different terms are in use, depending on the language area, the design and material and the respective site .The most general terms are waste receptacle and container bin.Common terms include dustbin ,... (2) a usu. large receptacle or container for storage ("a grain bin"; "Scrooge McDuck Scrooge McDuck Scrooge McDuck is a cartoon character created in 1947 by Carl Barks and licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Scrooge is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a red or blue frock coat, top hat, pince-nez glasses, and spats... 's money bin")
bird (n.)	one's girlfriend or any young female (slang; getting rarer and considered derogatory by some) prison sentence (slang)	avian creature Bird Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from... an aircraft	insulting hand gesture involving shaking one's fist towards someone with knuckles pointing towards the person being insulted and the middle finger extended Finger (gesture) In Western culture, the finger , also known as the middle finger, is an obscene hand gesture, often meaning the phrases "fuck off" , "fuck you" or "up yours"... (used chiefly in "flipping someone the bird") (slang)
biscuit Biscuit A biscuit is a baked, edible, and commonly flour-based product. The term is used to apply to two distinctly different products in North America and the Commonwealth Nations.... (n.)	baked sweet or savoury cake-like item, usu. flat, which is hard when baked and softens over time (colloquially bikkies for sweet biscuits) (US: cookie Cookie In the United States and Canada, a cookie is a small, flat, baked treat, usually containing fat, flour, eggs and sugar. In most English-speaking countries outside North America, the most common word for this is biscuit; in many regions both terms are used, while in others the two words have... (sweet biscuit), cracker Cracker (food) A cracker is a baked good commonly made from grain flour dough and typically made in quantity in various hand-sized or smaller shapes. Flavorings or seasonings, such as salt, herbs, seeds, and/or cheese, may be added to the dough or sprinkled on top before baking... savoury biscuit) (to take the biscuit) to be very surprising (US: take the cake)		type of quick bread served with savory foods (UK: similar to a savoury scone Scone (bread) The scone is a small Scottish quick bread especially popular in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,Belgium and Ireland, but are also eaten in many other countries. They are usually made of wheat, barley or oatmeal, with baking powder as a leavening agent... , or similar in consistency to a croissant)
blinder (n.)	excellent performance in a game or race (slang) "e.g. he played a blinder"		either of two flaps on a horse's bridle to keep it from seeing objects at its sides (UK: blinker, also used in US) (wear blinders) (colloq.) state of being oblivious, unresponsive to changing circumstances. Myopic, tunnel vision.
blinkers	leather flaps on a bridle Bridle A bridle is a piece of equipment used to direct a horse. As defined in the Oxford English Dictionary, the "bridle" includes both the headstall that holds a bit that goes in the mouth of a horse, and the reins that are attached to the bit.... used to restrict a horse Horse The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today... 's lateral vision*(US usu.: blinders)		lights on a car that indicate the direction about to be taken *(UK: indicators)
block (n.)	a building (block of flats, office block)	a solid piece of something to obstruct (basketball) a blocked shot Block (basketball) In basketball, a block , not to be confused with blocking, occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player. The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot... , or (plural) in the low post position near the basket, as in "on the blocks"	in a city, the portion of a street between adjacent intersections*or an informal rough unit of distance derived from the length of the same
bloody Bloody Bloody is the adjectival form of blood but may also be used as an expletive attributive in Australia, Britain, Ireland, Canada, Singapore, South Africa , New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Anglophone Caribbean and Sri Lanka...	expletive attributive Expletive attributive Expletive comes from the Latin verb explere, meaning "to fill", via expletivus, "filling out". It was introduced into English in the seventeenth century to refer to various kinds of padding—the padding out of a book with peripheral material, the addition of syllables to a line of poetry for... used to express anger ("bloody car") or shock ("bloody hell"), or for emphasis ("not bloody likely") (slang, today only mildly vulgar) *(similar US: damn ("damn car"))	having, covered with or accompanied by blood	considered a euphemism Euphemism A euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience... for more emphatic swear words
blow off	to break wind	to perform oral sex Oral sex Oral sex is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a sex partner by the use of the mouth, tongue, teeth or throat. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on females while fellatio refer to oral sex performed on males. Anilingus refers to oral stimulation of a person's anus... upon	to not turn up to meet somebody (UK: blow out) ("I'm just too busy, I'll have to blow you off for this evening.")
bog Bog A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens.... (n.)	toilet Toilet A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet/bathroom/lavatory... (slightly vulgar slang) (bog off) go away (slightly vulgar slang, often jocular)	wetland Wetland A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions.... that accumulates appreciable peat Peat Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world... deposits	A plot of artificially floodable farmland used to grow cranberries Cranberry Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in the subgenus Oxycoccus of the genus Vaccinium. In some methods of classification, Oxycoccus is regarded as a genus in its own right... (a cranberry bog)
bogey	dried nasal mucus Dried nasal mucus Dried nasal mucus, pieces of which are colloquially known as bogeys in English and boogers in American, is commonly found in the nose and is a result of drying of the normally viscous colloidal mucus .-Formation:... usu. after extraction from the nose (US: booger Booger (disambiguation) Booger may refer to:* Mucus or snot, usually dried nasal mucus * A ghost or hobgoblin, used to frighten children; also boogerbear, boogerman or bogeyman .- People :... ) (informal)	the score of one over par in golf Golf Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....	an unidentified aircraft, often assumed to be that of an enemy alternate spelling of "Bogie" (nickname of Humphrey Bogart Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart was an American actor. He is widely regarded as a cultural icon.The American Film Institute ranked Bogart as the greatest male star in the history of American cinema.... )
boiler Boiler A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications.-Materials:... (n.)	1.an old fowl best cooked by boiling; 2. (derogatory) an ugly woman (usually in the phrase "old boiler")	1. device (usu. oil or gas-fired) for heating water for central heating or hot water *, "central heating boiler" (US furnace Furnace A furnace is a device used for heating. The name derives from Latin fornax, oven.In American English and Canadian English, the term furnace on its own is generally used to describe household heating systems based on a central furnace , and sometimes as a synonym for kiln, a device used in the... ); vessel in which steam is generated	A car (1930s slang)
bomb	a striking success; used in the phrases "go (like) a bomb" and "go down a bomb"; Go like a bomb also means, when used of a vehicle, to go very fast	an explosive weapon	(v.) to be a failure ("the show bombed"); also as n. (n., used with the) something outstanding ("that show was the bomb"); sometimes spelled da bomb
bombardier	corporal Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4.... in the Royal Artillery Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:... – see Bombardier (rank) Bombardier (rank) Bombardier is a rank used in artillery units in the armies of Commonwealth countries instead of corporal. Lance-bombardier is used instead of lance-corporal....		crew member of a bomber responsible for assisting the navigator in guiding the plane to a bombing target and releasing the aircraft's bomb load – see Bombardier (air force) Bombardier (air force) A bombardier , in the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force, or a bomb aimer, in the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces, was the crewman of a bomber responsible for assisting the navigator in guiding the plane to a bombing target and releasing the aircraft's bomb... (UK: bomb aimer)
bonk	act of sexual intercourse, or to have sexual intercourse (slightly vulgar slang) (US: boink) bonking off to masturbate.	blow to the head (n. and v.) to suffer glycogen depletion in an endurance sporting event; see hitting the wall
bonnet	hinged cover over the engine in a car (US: hood) various types of Scottish or Irish soft hat	hat tied under chin worn by a baby or (archaically) a woman
boob (n.)	a mistake (slang); (v.) to make a mistake (US: blooper)	woman's breast (slightly vulgar slang)	stupid person
boob tube	woman's shoulderless, strapless top (US: tube top Tube top A tube top is a shoulderless, sleeveless "tube" that wraps the torso. Such a top is generally very tight over the breasts in order to prevent the garment from falling... )		(the boob tube) television (slang)
boost		to (figuratively) lift up; to improve, increase, revitalize.	to (literally) lift up, especially a person: booster cushion*, a cushion used to increase the height of a seat (esp. in a car) to steal, especially from a retail establishment (i.e., shoplift)
boot	storage compartment of a car (US: trunk)	footwear covering lower leg to kick something hard to start up a computer Computer A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...	(Denver boot, car boot) device used to render cars immobile (UK: wheel clamp Wheel clamp A wheel clamp, also known as wheel boot or Denver boot, is a device that is designed to prevent vehicles from being moved. In its most common form, it consists of a clamp that surrounds a vehicle wheel, designed to prevent removal of both itself and the wheel.In the United States, these devices... ) to expel (UK: give someone the boot *)("I have been given the Order of the Boot", Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice... ) to vomit (slang) to shoot up (with intravenous drugs) (ex: to boot cocaine or heroin; slang)
boss		the person you report to at work	cool, totally awesome (slang) e.g. "That is a boss Zefron poster"
bottle Bottle A bottle is a rigid container with a neck that is narrower than the body and a "mouth". By contrast, a jar has a relatively large mouth or opening. Bottles are often made of glass, clay, plastic, aluminum or other impervious materials, and typically used to store liquids such as water, milk, soft...	courage ("he's got some bottle") (slang) (US: moxie) to fail to do something through fear ("he's bottled out", "he bottled it") (slang) to attack somebody with a broken bottle (slang) Give it some bottle=put some effort into it	container for liquids (the bottle) alcohol Alcoholic beverage An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption... , heavy drinking (synecdochical Synecdoche Synecdoche , meaning "simultaneous understanding") is a figure of speech in which a term is used in one of the following ways:* Part of something is used to refer to the whole thing , or... slang)
box	a gift in a box, hence Boxing Day Boxing Day Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as... genital protector used in cricket Cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the... (US similar: cup) (the box) television set (slang) (US: idiot box, boob tube) a box stall in a barn any of various box-like structures, such as: signal box Signal box On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable... (US: switch/signal/interlocking tower) telephone box (US & UK also: telephone booth Telephone booth A telephone booth, telephone kiosk, telephone call box or telephone box is a small structure furnished with a payphone and designed for a telephone user's convenience. In the USA, Canada and Australia, "telephone booth" is used, while in the UK and the rest of the Commonwealth it is a "telephone... ), more at call box witness box Witness box A witness box is part of a courtroom. It is the section of the room set aside for witnesses to stand or sit in while giving their testimony or presenting evidence. In U.S. English, it is known as the witness stand or merely the stand.... (US: witness stand) either one of the two marked areas adjacent to the goalmouth on an association football pitch (see here) see also box junction Box junction A box junction is a traffic control measure designed to prevent gridlock at busy road junctions. The surface of the junction is marked with a criss-cross grid of diagonal painted lines , and vehicles may not enter the area so marked unless their exit from the junction is clear A box junction is a...	(n.) rigid container Box Box describes a variety of containers and receptacles for permanent use as storage, or for temporary use often for transporting contents. The word derives from the Greek πύξος , "box, boxwood".... (v.) to attack using one's fists (n.) general-purpose computer Computer A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem... (e. g. "this box needs its hard disk re-formatted") (think "out of the box") to be original, inventive, innovative (cliched phrase)	any of various areas on a baseball Baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond... diamond (as for the batter, or the pitcher, the catcher, etc.) female genitalia (obscene slang) * (box canyon) a canyon Canyon A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of... with vertical walls (boxcar Boxcar A boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads... ) a type of enclosed railroad freight car (UK: goods van), a three-ball "frame" for one player in candlepin bowling Candlepin bowling Candlepin bowling is a variation of Bowling that is played primarily in the Canadian Maritime provinces, Ontario, Quebec, and the New England states of Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, where it is more common than ten-pin bowling.... (New England New England New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut... )the genital area kicked in the box
brace bracers braces	over-the-shoulder straps to support trousers *(US usu. suspenders, q.v.)	support that steadies or strengthens something else devices for straightening teeth	leg supports (UK: callipers) tertiary enclosing punctuation: { } (UK: curly brackets)
brackets	enclosing punctuation: (US & UK also: parentheses); more at braces	supports for shelves, etc. attached to a wall	secondary enclosing punctuation: [] (UK: square brackets)
brew (n.)		tea	beer coffee
brilliant	excellent, of the highest quality (rarely sarcastic)	very bright (of a light or a brain) very intelligent
bud Bud In botany, a bud is an undeveloped or embryonic shoot and normally occurs in the axil of a leaf or at the tip of the stem. Once formed, a bud may remain for some time in a dormant condition, or it may form a shoot immediately. Buds may be specialized to develop flowers or short shoots, or may have...		undeveloped shoot which normally occurs in the axil of a leaf or at the tip of a plant stem	marijuana Cannabis (drug) Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana... (slang) hand-rolled marijuana cigarette (slang), compare joint shortening of 'buddy', used to address strangers assuming a non-existent familiarity (UK: similar: mate)
buffet Buffet (disambiguation) A buffet is a meal laid out on a table or sideboard so that guests may serve themselves.Buffet may also refer to:* Sideboard, a piece of furniture* Buffet , aerodynamic turbulence on a fixed-wing aircraft prior to a stall...	railway carriage containing a refreshment counter selling snacks and drinks, esp. on a train on which a full restaurant car (US: dining car) service is not provided	refreshment counter or bar Buffet A buffet is a system of serving meals in which food is placed in a public area where the diners generally serve themselves. Buffets are offered at various places including hotels and many social events... ; a meal set out on a table, etc. for diners to serve themselves	a type of sideboard Sideboard A sideboard is an item of furniture traditionally used in the dining room for serving food, for displaying serving dishes such as silver, and for storage. It usually consists of a set of cabinets, or cupboards, and one or more drawers, all topped by a flat display surface for conveniently holding...
bug		insect of the order Hemiptera Hemiptera Hemiptera is an order of insects most often known as the true bugs , comprising around 50,000–80,000 species of cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and others... pathogen Pathogen A pathogen gignomai "I give birth to") or infectious agent — colloquially, a germ — is a microbe or microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, prion, or fungus that causes disease in its animal or plant host... , bacteria, germ covert listening device Covert listening device A covert listening device, more commonly known as a bug or a wire, is usually a combination of a miniature radio transmitter with a microphone. The use of bugs, called bugging, is a common technique in surveillance, espionage and in police investigations.A bug does not have to be a device... (orig. US) defect in software (orig. in a machine) (orig. US) an enthusiast of something (orig. US) Volkswagen Beetle Volkswagen Beetle The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003... (v.) to apply a covert listening device (orig. US)	any of various insects (nontechnical usage) an important person ("a big bug"); also, someone crazy (as in "firebug", a pyromaniac) (v.) to annoy (colloquial) to go away, depart, also from a responsibility (used with out) (bug off) to go away (often as a command) (from UK bugger, q.v.)
bugger	to engage in or someone who engages in anal sex Anal sex Anal sex is the sex act in which the penis is inserted into the anus of a sexual partner. The term can also include other sexual acts involving the anus, including pegging, anilingus , fingering, and object insertion.Common misconception describes anal sex as practiced almost exclusively by gay men... a form of address for either a person or item, either jocular ("he's a generous bugger") or less so ("he's a mean bugger") (slang) (buggered) 1. broken, not working (typically of mechanical devices, e.g. "the engine's buggered") (slang); 2. syn. for bothered (e.g. "I didn't do it. I couldn't be buggered.") (slang) (bugger up) to make a mess of something (slang) (bugger off) (imperative) go away, leave me alone (slang)		term of endearment, often used for children (slang) (in spoken English, the British "bugger" is sometimes misheard by Americans as "booger Booger (disambiguation) Booger may refer to:* Mucus or snot, usually dried nasal mucus * A ghost or hobgoblin, used to frighten children; also boogerbear, boogerman or bogeyman .- People :... ")
buggy	2-wheeled horse-drawn lightweight carriage baby transport vehicle also called (UK) pushchair (US: stroller) any of various light cart or cars ("a golf buggy")	(slang) an automobile (orig. US) see baby transport Baby transport Baby transport consists of devices for transporting and carrying infants. A "child carrier" or "baby carrier" is a device used to carry an infant or small child on the body of an adult... for details see also dune buggy Dune buggy A dune buggy is a recreational vehicle with large wheels, and wide tires, designed for use on sand dunes or beaches. The design is usually a modified vehicle and engine mounted on an open chassis. The modifications usually attempt to increase the power-to-weight ratio by either lightening the...	4-wheeled horse-drawn lightweight carriage baby transport vehicle also called (US) baby carriage (UK: pram) regional (esp. South) for shopping cart Shopping cart A shopping cart is a cart supplied by a shop, especially supermarkets, for use by customers inside the shop for transport of merchandise to the check-out counter during shopping... (UK: trolley) (marsh/swamp buggy Swamp buggy The Swamp Buggy is a vehicle used to traverse the vast, boggy swamps of the American South. Invented by Ed Frank[1], in Naples, Florida, the swamp buggy proved valuable during early development of the Everglades in the 1930s and 1940s.... ) a type of motor vehicle for marshland (slang) caboose Caboose A caboose is a manned North American rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.-Function:The caboose provided the... (horse and buggy Horse and buggy A horse and buggy or horse and carriage refers to a light, simple, two-person carriage of the late 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, drawn usually by one or sometimes by two horses... ) something obsolete (as from before the invention of the automobile)
bum	to engage in anal sex (vulgar slang)	(1)to cadge ("can I bum a cigarette off you?") (slang) (2) buttocks (slang) (US: butt)	hobo Hobo A hobo is a term which is often applied to a migratory worker or homeless vagabond, often penniless. The term originated in the Western—probably Northwestern—United States during the last decade of the 19th century. Unlike 'tramps', who work only when they are forced to, and 'bums', who do not... , homeless person poor quality (slang) to sadden (often used with "out")
bumps	a type of rowing race Bumps race A bumps race is a form of rowing race in which a number of boats chase each other in single file, each boat attempting to catch and "bump" the boat in front without being caught by the boat behind.... a method of marking someone's birthday (see Birthday customs and celebrations)	a set of small protuberances
bunk	to be absent without authorization: bunk off, to play truant from school (US: play hooky) do a bunk, to abscond (US: go on the lam)	type of bed, where two small beds are stacked on top of each other (UK bunk (up) with implies sharing a bed, rather than merely a room) nonsense as in "History is bunk" (from bunkum)	group of plain beds used as no-frills lodging (UK: dormitory, qv); also used as a verb ("I bunked with them in their room"; "The cabin could bunk about 18")
bureau	a type of writing table Writing table A writing table has a series of drawers directly under the surface of the table, to contain writing implements, so that it may serve as a desk...	a public office or government agency	a type of chest of drawers Chest of drawers A chest of drawers, also called a dresser or a bureau, is a piece of furniture that has multiple parallel, horizontal drawers stacked one above another...
burn (n.)	(Scotland and Northern England) narrow river, stream – more s.v. creek (the act of smoking) a cigarette	wound caused by heat, or chemical agents, etc.	clearing (as in a forest) made by burning vegetation
bus (v.)		to travel by bus	to clear (as tables) in a restaurant; to work as a busboy Busboy Busser, busboy and busgirl are terms used in the United States for someone who works in the restaurant and catering industry clearing tables, taking dirty dishes to the dishwasher, setting tables and otherwise assisting the waiting staff....
butcher	(have a butcher's) to have a look (rhyming slang: butcher's hook=look)	to kill and cut up an animal for meat to kill messily, or someone who does so one who cuts and sells meat	to make a big mess of things; botch ("butcher it up"; "I butchered the spelling")
butchery (n.)	slaughterhouse, abattoir	a cruel massacre a butcher's trade	a botch
butt (n.)		(n.) the (larger) end of anything, a stub; also, a cigarette a sudden blow given by the head of an animal a large wooden cask a person mocked by a joke (v.) to strike bluntly (as with the head) (butt in) to interfere when uncalled for (orig. US)	(colloquial) buttocks (UK usu. bum); hence butthead * (n.) (butt-in) one who butts in (v.) to cut off the end (of a log) (butt out) to stop interfering
buzzard	a hawk Hawk The term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,... of the genus Buteo Buteo Buteo is a genus of medium to fairly large, wide-ranging raptors with a robust body and broad wings. In the Old World, members of this genus are called "buzzards", but "hawk" is used in North America...		vulture Vulture Vulture is the name given to two groups of convergently evolved scavenging birds, the New World Vultures including the well-known Californian and Andean Condors, and the Old World Vultures including the birds which are seen scavenging on carcasses of dead animals on African plains... (slang)

C

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
callbox Callbox A call box or callbox is a box containing a special-purpose direct line telephone or other telecommunications device, which has been used by various industries and institutions as a way for employees or clients at a remote location to contact a central dispatch office.- Police and taxicab... (n.)	telephone booth Telephone booth A telephone booth, telephone kiosk, telephone call box or telephone box is a small structure furnished with a payphone and designed for a telephone user's convenience. In the USA, Canada and Australia, "telephone booth" is used, while in the UK and the rest of the Commonwealth it is a "telephone... (UK also telephone box)		roadside emergency telephone Emergency telephone An emergency telephone is a phone specifically provided for making calls to emergency services and is most often found in a place of special danger or where it is likely that there will only be a need to make emergency calls....
call for (v.)		to require or advocate	to predict or anticipate ("The forecast calls for rain")
can (n.)		small metal container	can (v.): to fire someone from a job (UK: sack) can (n.): bathroom (slang), jail (UK: gaol)
canteen (n.)	basic food service location usually at a work place or institution (US:Cafeteria Cafeteria A cafeteria is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a school dining location is also referred to as a dining hall or canteen... ).	a box with compartments for storing eating utensils, silverware etc. a military mess kit water bottle, typically used for military or camping purposes.
campsite Campsite A campsite or camping pitch is a place used for overnight stay in the outdoors. In British English a campsite is an area, usually divided into a number of pitches, where people can camp overnight using tents or camper vans or caravans; this British English use of the word is synonymous with the... (n.)	area or park for people to camp in (US: campground)		spot for a particular person or group to camp, often within a campground (UK: pitch)
candy (n.)	(candy floss) heated sugar spun into thin threads and collected into a mass, usually on a stick; something pleasing but having little worth (US: cotton candy for both senses)	(v.) to sugarcoat, or boil with sugar (as fruit) to sweeten edible, sweet-tasting confection containing sugar, or sometimes artificial sweeteners, and often flavored with fruit, chocolate, nuts or artificial flavours; a piece of candy (UK: sweets, confectionery)	(eye candy) (derog.) someone particular who is physically attractive (See also arm candy.)
canfield (n.)	a patience (solitaire) card game (US: Klondike Klondike (solitaire) Klondike is a Patience game . Many people refer to Klondike as patience or solitaire .- Rules :... )		a patience (solitaire) card game (UK: Demon Canfield (solitaire) Canfield is a solitaire card game with a very low probability to win. According to legend, it is originally a casino game, named after the casino owner who is said to have invented it. In England, it is known as Demon.-The story behind the game:... )
car Car (disambiguation) A car, or automobile, motor car, is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers.Car or CAR may also refer to:-Vehicles:* Railroad car, a vehicle on a train that is towed by the locomotive* The cab of an elevator... (n.)	railway vehicle, only in combination (e.g. "restaurant car", except London Underground London Underground The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England... "carriage") (archaic) street tramway vehicle	motorcar (n.) (UK, q.v.)/automobile Automobile An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...	nonpowered unit in a railroad or railway train ("railroad car Railroad car A railroad car or railway vehicle , also known as a bogie in Indian English, is a vehicle on a rail transport system that is used for the carrying of cargo or passengers. Cars can be coupled together into a train and hauled by one or more locomotives... "; "a passenger/freight/parlor/dining/baggage etc. car") (see s.v. motor car, trolley; UK: cf. s.v. carriage, coach, wagon) elevator (q.v.) cage
caravan	towed recreational vehicle Recreational vehicle Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:... containing accommodation (US: travel trailer Travel trailer A travel trailer or caravan is towed behind a road vehicle to provide a place to sleep which is more comfortable and protected than a tent . It provides the means for people to have their own home on a journey or a vacation, without relying on a motel or hotel, and enables them to stay in places... ) to take such a vehicle on holiday	overland trading convoy Convoy A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...	a type of minivan Minivan Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon.... sold in the United States (see Dodge Caravan Dodge Caravan The Dodge Caravan is a family minivan manufactured by Chrysler Group LLC and sold under its Dodge brand. Along with its nameplate variant, the Plymouth Voyager, the Caravan was introduced for the 1984 model year. In 1987, the Dodge Grand Caravan long-wheelbase model was introduced and sold... )
caretaker Property caretaker A Property caretaker is a person, group or organization that cares for real estate for trade or financial compensation, and sometimes as a barter for rent-free living accommodations... (n.)	one who takes care of a building, usu. a state-owned building, i.e. school (US: janitor; cf. s.v. custodian) one put in charge of a farm after eviction of tenant	one who takes care of someone or something stopgap government or provisional government Provisional government A provisional government is an emergency or interim government set up when a political void has been created by the collapse of a very large government. The early provisional governments were created to prepare for the return of royal rule...	one who takes care of real estate in exchange for rent-free living accommodations *
carnival Carnival Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...	(n.) the festive days just preceding Lent Lent In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and... (US: Mardi Gras Mardi Gras The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday... )	(adj.) suggesting a festive atmosphere	(n.) a travelling circus Circus A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists... or fair Fair A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ... (UK: funfair) comprising amusement rides
carousel Carousel A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders... (n.)		a moving luggage/baggage display unit, most often at airports	a rotating fairground ride (UK: merry-go-round, roundabout)
carriage Carriage A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,... (n.)	railway coach (q.v.) designed for the conveyance of passengers the conveying of goods or the price paid for it ("carriage-paid"); "handling"	4-wheeled horse-drawn private passenger vehicle	(baby carriage) baby transport Baby transport Baby transport consists of devices for transporting and carrying infants. A "child carrier" or "baby carrier" is a device used to carry an infant or small child on the body of an adult... vehicle featuring the infant laying down facing the pusher (UK: perambulator, pram) – more s.v. buggy a shopping cart (primarily in North Atlantic states)
carry-on, carryon	(colloquial) carrying-on, unruly behaviour		luggage that can be carried aboard an aircraft, bus, or train (UK: hand luggage or baggage)
cart Cart A cart is a vehicle designed for transport, using two wheels and normally pulled by one or a pair of draught animals. A handcart is pulled or pushed by one or more people...	a difficult or embarrassing state ("he was put in the cart")	usu. 2-wheeled one-horse vehicle (as that used in farming)	a lightweight wheeled vehicle, as for shopping Shopping cart A shopping cart is a cart supplied by a shop, especially supermarkets, for use by customers inside the shop for transport of merchandise to the check-out counter during shopping... , serving, carrying baggage, etc. (UK: trolley) cartridge ROM cartridge A ROM cartridge, sometimes referred to as a cart, is a removable enclosure containing read-only memory devices designed to be connected to a computer or games console.... (primarily related to video games)
casket (n.)	a small box, as for jewels, particularly an antique		The type of coffin Coffin A coffin is a funerary box used in the display and containment of dead people – either for burial or cremation.Contemporary North American English makes a distinction between "coffin", which is generally understood to denote a funerary box having six sides in plan view, and "casket", which... with upholstery and a half-open lid, any coffin
casualty (person) Casualty (person) A casualty is a person who is the victim of an accident, injury, or trauma. The word casualties is most often used by the news media to describe deaths and injuries resulting from wars or disasters...	often, someone who has been wounded; hence casualty department (US: emergency room)	generally, someone who has been injured or killed	often, someone who has been killed; see also casualty insurance Casualty insurance Casualty insurance, often equated to liability insurance, is used to describe an area of insurance not directly concerned with life insurance, health insurance, or property insurance. It is mainly used to describe the liability coverage of an individual or organization's for negligent acts or...
catapult Catapult A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during...	small Y-shaped handheld projectile weapon often used by children (US: slingshot)	a type of medieval siege engine Siege engine A siege engine is a device that is designed to break or circumvent city walls and other fortifications in siege warfare. Some have been operated close to the fortifications, while others have been used to attack from a distance. From antiquity, siege engines were constructed largely of wood and... an aircraft catapult Aircraft catapult An aircraft catapult is a device used to launch aircraft from ships—in particular aircraft carriers—as a form of assisted take off. It consists of a track built into the flight deck, below which is a large piston or shuttle that is attached through the track to the nose gear of the aircraft, or in...	(v.) rise quickly
chaps Chaps Chaps are sturdy coverings for the legs consisting of leggings and a belt. They are buckled on over trousers with the chaps' integrated belt, but unlike trousers they have no seat and are not joined at the crotch. They are designed to provide protection for the legs and are usually made of leather... [?]	men or boys (but increasingly used for people of either sex; in the singular it still almost exclusively refers to a male, "Guys" has become a more popular phrase in the UK) (US & UK: guys) one's friends ("the chaps") (US & UK: the guys) cheeks – as in Bath Chaps – stewed pigs' cheeks, a delicacy		leather leggings worn by cowboys and designed to protect the legs against thorns (sometimes pronounced shaps), short for "chaparajos"
check		examine for a particular purpose a pattern of coloured squares a warning given in chess Chess Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...	leave items in the care of someone else (e.g. at a cloakroom; hence checkroom) (also check mark) mark used to denote 'correct' or indicate one's choice (UK: tick, q.v.) request for payment, especially at a restaurant; bill written order for a bank to pay money (UK: cheque)
checker		one that checks (e.g. an inspector)	a store or shop cashier (almost always a grocery store) (checkers) a popular board game (UK: draughts Draughts Draughts is a group of abstract strategy board games between two players which involve diagonal moves of uniform pieces and mandatory captures by jumping over the enemy's pieces. Draughts developed from alquerque... ) to mark with alternating colored squares (UK: chequer)
cheers (interjection)	said to express gratitude in England, or on parting (slang). Also cheerio.	used as a toast or valediction
chemist	pharmacist, pharmacy (US similar: druggist, drugstore)	student or researcher of chemistry Chemistry Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
chink	an expression of incredulity, similar to crap in American English	a crack, fissure (A chink in one's armor)weak spot, vulnerability a racial slur for those of Chinese or east Asian ancestry
chip in	to express one's opinion (as in a conversation); to "chime in"	to contribute (as money) (orig. US)
chips (food)	Long cuts of deep fried potato, usu. thick cut resembling American steak fries	French fries French fries French fries , chips, fries, or French-fried potatoes are strips of deep-fried potato. North Americans tend to refer to any pieces of deep-fried potatoes as fries or French fries, while in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, long, thinly cut slices of deep-fried potatoes are... , in (orig. UK) phrase fish and chips Fish and chips Fish and chips is a popular take-away food in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada...	thin slices of fried potato*(UK: crisps)
chippie, chippy	carpenter (slang); fish-and-chip Fish and chips Fish and chips is a popular take-away food in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada... shop (slang) (Scot, Ire: chipper)	(adj.; chippy only) aggressively belligerent, especially in sport	loose woman (dated slang); the N. American bird Chipping Sparrow Chipping Sparrow The Chipping Sparrow is a species of American sparrow in the family Emberizidae. It is widespread, fairly tame, and common across most of its North American range.-Description:...
chum	A popular brand of canned dog food Dog food Dog food refers to food specifically intended for consumption by dogs. Though technically omnivorous, dogs exhibit a natural carnivorous bias, have sharp, pointy teeth, and have short gastrointestinal tracts better suited for the consumption of meat... (officially Pedigree Chum) bum chum a derogatory term for a male homosexual sex-partner.	friend (sometimes sarcastic)	(n.) waste products from fish processing (heads, tails, blood etc.) often used for shark Shark Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago.... fishing (v.) to spread fish entrails etc. in the hope of luring sharks. "We chummed the water all morning, but never spotted any dorsal fins." Has some cross-over usage metaphorically in non-fishing situations.
cider Cider Cider or cyder is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% abv to 8.5% abv or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, such as Germany and America, cider may be termed "apple wine"...	an alcoholic drink derived from apples (US: hard cider)		a nonalcoholic drink derived from apples
Cinderella Cinderella (sports) In American and Canadian sports, a Cinderella or "Cinderella Story" refers to a team or player who advances much further in a tournament or career than originally anticipated. Cinderellas tend to gain much media and fan attention as they move closer to the championship game at the end of the...	a team which underachieves, or is overshadowed by successful neighbouring rivals*	fairy tale character Cinderella "Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...	a lowly sports team or individual which enjoys an unexpectedly good run in a tournament
city	a large town, in particular a town created a city by charter and containing a cathedral City status in the United Kingdom City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions... "The City": the City of London, London's financial centre, hence financial markets and investment banking more generally (c.f. US Wall Street Wall Street Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or... )		a usually large or important municipality governed under a charter granted by the state (however most smaller towns in the US are cities); an element of a standard mailing address (UK "postal town")
clerk		administrative worker	(or salesclerk) store or shop worker (UK: shop assistant) hotel employee at the reservation desk (UK: receptionist)
closet Closet A closet is a small and enclosed space, a cabinet, or a cupboard in a house or building used for general storage or hanging clothes. A closet for food storage is usually referred to as a pantry...	any small room (esp. Northern England, Scotland, & Ireland); hence water closet, a room containing a flush toilet Flush toilet A flush toilet is a toilet that disposes of human waste by using water to flush it through a drainpipe to another location. Flushing mechanisms are found more often on western toilets , but many squat toilets also are made for automated flushing... , later the toilet itself	a private chamber for retirement in secret; (come out of the closet Closeted Closeted and in the closet are metaphors used to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and intersex people who have not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity and aspects thereof, including sexual identity and sexual behavior.-Background:In late 20th... ) to reveal what was secret (especially in relation to homosexuality Homosexuality Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same... )	a cabinet or wardrobe, as for utensils or apparel; in the latter case oftenest built-in; hence e.g. walk-in closet, linen closet, and skeleton in the closet (UK also: in the cupboard)
coach	bus with of higher standard of comfort, usually chartered or used for longer journeys* tutor, usu. private, who prepares pupils for examinations * railway carriage *	enclosed horse-drawn passenger carriage sports trainer	extracurricular sports teacher at a school (UK: PE teacher) lowest class on a passenger aircraft (UK: economy)
cob	(mainly Northern & Central Eng.) a type of bread roll Bread roll A bread roll is a piece of bread, usually small and round and is commonly considered a side dish. Bread rolls are often used in the same way as sandwiches are—cut transversely, with fillings placed between the two halves.-Various forms:... ("Chip cob", "ham cob", "pack of six cobs please") (pl.) large globules of sweat ("I'm sweating cobs")	The portion of a corn Maize Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable... plant around which the kernels grow. a building material a type of horse a male swan
cock	(n.) form of address to a man to gain attention or greet e.g. "Wotcha cock!" a popular personage e.g. Cock o' the North (v.) (cock up) *to make a mess of things; cock-up (n.) is the act or the resulting state of affairs	(n.) a male bird; esp., an adult male chicken (US oftenest rooster Rooster A rooster, also known as a cockerel, cock or chanticleer, is a male chicken with the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels... ) (n.) penis (vulgar slang) (v.) to set the hammer or firing pin of a loaded firearm ready for firing; likewise, to "cock the shutter" of an old, spring-activated camera (n.) A type of tap, faucet, or valve (e.g., a stopcock Stopcock A stopcock is a valve used to restrict or isolate the flow of a liquid or gas through a pipe.In Great Britain a stopcock, not to be confused with a gate valve or a DiCiaccio branch, is used to prevent flow of water into a domestic water system. There are usually two stopcocks for a home... ).
collect	To win a bet (from the idea of picking up the winnings)	(v.) to gather together, to pick up; (orig. US) to pick up a person or thing (n.) short prayer read during the first part of a church service as practised by certain parts of the Christian faith; mainly Anglican Anglicanism Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English... and Roman Catholic.	(adj., adv.) charged to the receiver ("to call collect", to reverse the charges) ("a collect call") [from collect on delivery]
college College A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...	part of the name of some state secondary schools (US approx.: high school) and many independent school Independent school An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the... s (US approx.: prep school) educational institution between school and university (e.g. sixth form college, technical college, college of further education) vocational training institution	constituent part of some larger universities, especially ancient universities	professional association which usu. grants some form of professional qualifications, mostly in the medical field (e.g. Royal College of Surgeons, American College of Surgeons American College of Surgeons The American College of Surgeons is an educational association of surgeons created in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.-Membership:... ) an independent institution of higher education (as a small university or a division of a university) granting bachelor's degree Bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world... s generic term for higher education, but only at the undergraduate level
comforter Comforter A comforter is a type of blanket. Comforters are intended to keep the user warm, especially during sleep, although they can also be used as mattress pads. Comforters are generally large and rectangular in shape, filled with natural or synthetic insulative material and encased in a shell/covering....	a baby's dummy (q.v.)	one who comforts	quilted bedspread (UK: duvet)
commissioner Commissioner Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....	professional head of the Metropolitan Police Service Metropolitan Police Service The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police... and City of London Police City of London Police The City of London Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the City of London, England, including the Middle and Inner Temple. The service responsible for law enforcement within the rest of Greater London is the Metropolitan Police Service, a separate... (US: chief of police)		political head of a police department member of any commission
commode	small cabinet Commode A commode, commode with legs, or commode on legs is any of several pieces of furniture. The word commode comes from the French word for "convenient" or "suitable", which in turn comes from the Latin adjective commodus, with similar meanings.Originally, in French furniture, a commode introduced...	portable toilet Toilet A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet/bathroom/lavatory... for use in a room without plumbing	normal toilet, in a bathroom (q.v.)
compensation		the act of compensating damages Damages In law, damages is an award, typically of money, to be paid to a person as compensation for loss or injury; grammatically, it is a singular noun, not plural.- Compensatory damages :... awarded for a legal wrong Tort A tort, in common law jurisdictions, is a wrong that involves a breach of a civil duty owed to someone else. It is differentiated from a crime, which involves a breach of a duty owed to society in general... (workers' compensation Workers' compensation Workers' compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee's right to sue his or her employer for the tort of negligence... ) payment to injured workers	remuneration Remuneration Remuneration is the total compensation that an employee receives in exchange for the service they perform for their employer. Typically, this consists of monetary rewards, also referred to as wage or salary... received by employees (unemployment compensation) compensation paid to an unemployed person (as a laid-off worker), arising from government resources
concession	reduction in price (discount) for a certain category of person	the action of conceding in politics, the action of a candidate yielding to another an area within one country that is administered by another	a lease or grant of premises or land for a particular use, or the so contracted-out service, as in concession stand, i.e. a counter, stand or area at public entertainment venues where snacks or drinks are sold, often at inflated prices a concession stand
condominium		a political territory Condominium (international law) In international law, a condominium is a political territory in or over which two or more sovereign powers formally agree to share equally dominium and exercise their rights jointly, without dividing it up into 'national' zones.Although a condominium has always been... (state or border area) in or over which two sovereign powers formally agree to share equally dominium (in the sense of sovereignty) and exercise their rights jointly	(also condo) a type Condominium A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights... of joint ownership of real property (as an apartment building) in which portions of the property are commonly owned and other portions are individually owned; an apartment in a condominium
constable Constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...	technically, a police officer of any rank, but usu. understood to mean a police officer of the lowest rank (one who holds no other more specific rank) (US: officer or patrolman)		peace officer in a township without an organised police department official who serves summonses (UK: bailiff or sheriff's officer)
construction Construction In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...		the act or process of building or constructing; a structure; the construction industry from construe: the assigning of meaning to ambiguous terms	road construction and maintenance work; roadwork ("a construction area/zone") (UK: roadworks Roadworks Roadworks occur when part of the road, or in rare cases, the entire road, has to be occupied for work relating to the road, most often in the case of road surface repairs... )
cooker	an appliance for cooking food (US: cookstove, stove, range); see also AGA cooker AGA cooker The AGA cooker is a stored-heat stove and cooker invented in 1929 by the Nobel Prize-winning Swedish physicist Gustaf Dalén , who was employed first as the chief engineer of the Swedish AGA company... a cooking apple, a large sour apple used in cooking	a pot or utensil for cooking in ("pressure cooker", "rice cooker", "slow cooker")	a person who cooks (UK always cook)
cookie	a bun (Scotland) a biscuit of a particular variety, usually containing chocolate chips (often referred to as a "chocolate chip cookie")	a small packet of information HTTP cookie A cookie, also known as an HTTP cookie, web cookie, or browser cookie, is used for an origin website to send state information to a user's browser and for the browser to return the state information to the origin site... stored on users' computers by websites	a small, flat baked cake Cookie In the United States and Canada, a cookie is a small, flat, baked treat, usually containing fat, flour, eggs and sugar. In most English-speaking countries outside North America, the most common word for this is biscuit; in many regions both terms are used, while in others the two words have... (UK usu. biscuit, q.v.) fellow, guy ("a tough cookie"); also, an attractive girl * (that's the way the cookie crumbles) that's how things go (to toss one's cookies) to vomit (cookie-cutter) trite, banal a cook (army slang)
cop	to take ("cop a look at this", "cop one of these") (slang) to be blamed for, be caught ("he'll cop it!") (slang)	police officer (short for "copper") (slang) (cop a feel) to grope (slang)	(cop a plea) (law, orig. slang) to plead guilty to a lesser offence to not be tried for a graver charge; compare plea bargain Plea bargain A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to... (cop a squat) to take a seat (slang)
copper	low value coin, brown or 'copper' colored (currently 1p and 2p coins) large copper vessel used for heating water and washing clothes (archaic)	the metallic element copper Copper Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish... police officer (slang, orig. UK)
coriander Coriander Coriander is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. Coriander is native to southern Europe and North Africa to southwestern Asia. It is a soft, hairless plant growing to tall. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the...	the leaves of the coriander plant, used as a herb (US: cilantro or Chinese parsley)	the plant Coriandrum sativum dried seeds of this plant
corn	wheat in England, oats in Scotland and Ireland any of various cereal plants or grains (US usu.: grain), also in combination (e.g. cornfield, a field of any cereal) (see also US)	in both dialects, the principal crop cultivated in a particular region Indian corn, in corn on the cob Corn on the cob Corn on the cob is a culinary term used for a cooked ear of freshly picked maize from a cultivar of sweet corn. The ear is picked while the endosperm is in the "milk stage" so that the kernels are still tender... , corn flakes Corn flakes Corn flakes are a popular breakfast cereal originally manufactured by Kellogg's through the treatment of maize. A patent for the product was filed on May 31, 1895, and issued on April 14, 1896.-History:... , popcorn Popcorn Popcorn, or popping corn, is corn which expands from the kernel and puffs up when heated. Corn is able to pop because, like sorghum, quinoa and millet, its kernels have a hard moisture-sealed hull and a dense starchy interior. This allows pressure to build inside the kernel until an explosive... horny swelling on the foot	Zea mays; originally known as Indian corn (q.v.; UK usu.: maize Maize Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable... or sweetcorn); hence cornfield, cornstarch Cornstarch Corn starch, cornstarch, cornflour or maize starch is the starch of the corn grain obtained from the endosperm of the corn kernel.-History:... (UK: corn flour), cornbread Cornbread Cornbread is a generic name for any number of quick breads containing cornmeal and leavened by baking powder.-History:Native Americans were using ground corn for food thousands of years before European explorers arrived in the New World... , cornball, cornblade, etc. something corny *, hence cornball
cot	infant bed Infant bed An infant bed is a small bed specifically for infants and very young children, generally up to 3 years old.... ; hence cot death Sudden infant death syndrome Sudden infant death syndrome is marked by the sudden death of an infant that is unexpected by medical history, and remains unexplained after a thorough forensic autopsy and a detailed death scene investigation. An infant is at the highest risk for SIDS during sleep, which is why it is sometimes... (US: crib)	camp bed Camp bed A camp bed, or cot in North America, is a small portable, lightweight bed used in situations where larger permanent beds cannot be used. Camp beds are generally used by armies or government organizations....
coulee Coulee Coulee is applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley or drainage zone.The word coulee comes from the Canadian French coulée, from French word couler meaning "to flow"....		a (solidified) stream of lava	(chiefly Western Western United States .The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time... , orig. Canadian Canadian French Canadian French is an umbrella term referring to the varieties of French spoken in Canada. French is the mother tongue of nearly seven million Canadians, a figure constituting roughly 22% of the national population. At the federal level it has co-official status alongside English... ) a deep steep-sided ravine formed by erosion, or a small valley or stream
court shoe Court shoe Court shoes or pumps are shoes with a low-cut front and usually without a fastening. However, some have ankle straps...	a women's dress shoe with a heel (US: pump, q.v.)		a type of athletic shoe used for sports played on an indoor court, such as volleyball or squash (UK similar: plimsoll or regionally pump)
cowboy Cowboy A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...	an unscrupulous or unqualified tradesman	a legendary archetype found in Wild West genre works (derog.) one who is reckless, uncontrollable.	a cowhand working with livestock (UK: drover)
cracker	small parcel that makes an explosive report when pulled from both ends, traditionally pulled at Christmas Christmas Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days... attractive woman (slang) anything good ("the new product is a cracker") (slang)	thin, hard, unsweetened biscuit (formerly chiefly US, now common everywhere)	an unsophisticated, typically rural white person (also white cracker Cracker (pejorative) Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a pejorative term for white people. It is an ethnic slur that is especially used for the white inhabitants of the U.S. states of Georgia and Florida , but it is also used throughout the United States.-Etymology:One theory holds that the term comes from the... ; derogatory slang, southeastern US); also, someone from Georgia or Florida
crèche	day care Day care Child care or day care is care of a child during the day by a person other than the child's legal guardians, typically performed by someone outside the child's immediate family... , day nursery		nativity scene Nativity scene A nativity scene, manger scene, krippe, crèche, or crib, is a depiction of the birth of Jesus as described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke... , manger scene, crib (q.v.) *
creek Stream A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...	tidal channel Creek (tidal) A tidal creek, tidal channel, or estuary is the portion of a stream that is affected by ebb and flow of ocean tides, in the case that the subject stream discharges to an ocean, sea or strait. Thus this portion of the stream has variable salinity and electrical conductivity over the tidal cycle... through a coastal marsh (orig. sense)		any inland stream Stream A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or... of water smaller than a river (other terms: UK: rill, gill; N. Eng. & Scot.: burn; Eng. & New Eng.: brook; Midland US: run)
crew		body of people manning a vehicle of any kind gang of manual workers (e.g. road crew) group of friends or colleagues ("I saw him and his crew at the bar")	rowing as a sport
crib (n.)	nativity scene Nativity scene A nativity scene, manger scene, krippe, crèche, or crib, is a depiction of the birth of Jesus as described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke... , crèche (q.v.) *	a manger or rack, or stall for cattle a plagiarism, as of a student ("crib sheet") cribbage Cribbage Cribbage, or crib, is a card game traditionally for two players, but commonly played with three, four or more, that involves playing and grouping cards in combinations which gain points...	small enclosed bedstead for a child; hence crib death Sudden infant death syndrome Sudden infant death syndrome is marked by the sudden death of an infant that is unexpected by medical history, and remains unexplained after a thorough forensic autopsy and a detailed death scene investigation. An infant is at the highest risk for SIDS during sleep, which is why it is sometimes... (UK: cot) (informal) one's house or apartment a bin for storing maize Maize Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable... a structure of logs to be anchored with stones; used for docks, dams, etc. (orig. Canada Canadian English Canadian English is the variety of English spoken in Canada. English is the first language, or "mother tongue", of approximately 24 million Canadians , and more than 28 million are fluent in the language... ) a small raft of timber
crisp	fried potato slices with salt, sometimes with flavour (US: potato chips)	when something sounds clear and dry.	a term to sunburning. For example: Because he didn't have sunscreen, Jack was burnt to a crisp.
crumpet Crumpet A crumpet is a savoury griddle cake made from flour and yeast. It is eaten mainly in the United Kingdom and other nations of the Commonwealth. Crumpets are somewhat similar in appearance, not in flavor, to North American pancakes, where both have pores caused by expanding air bubbles.- Etymology...	an attractive female (slang)	A savoury waffle-like cake made from flour or potato and yeast
cubicle	A compartment in a bathroom with low walls that contains a toilet. (US: stall)	A compartment in a larger area separated from similar adjoining compartments by low walls, such as in an office area.
cuffs		The ends of a garment's sleeves, furthest from the wearer short for handcuffs	An arrangement at the bottom of trouser-legs, in which the material is folded back upon itself to form a trough externally around the bottom of the leg. (UK: turn-ups)
cunt Cunt Cunt is a vulgarism, primarily referring to the female genitalia, specifically the vulva, and including the cleft of Venus. The earliest citation of this usage in the 1972 Oxford English Dictionary, c 1230, refers to the London street known as Gropecunt Lane...	offensive (or sometimes indulgent) term often applied to men	vagina (usu. obscene)	offensive, obscene term usu. applied to women
custodian	an association football goalkeeper Goalkeeper In many team sports which involve scoring goals, a goalkeeper is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by intercepting shots at goal...	a keeper or guardian of a person or thing	one who cleans and maintains a building; a building superintendent Building superintendent A building superintendent or building supervisor is a manager responsible for repair and maintenance in a residential building. They are the first point of contact for residents of the building. They are expected to take care of minor issues and repairs, such as small leaks or blockages, the... , a janitor Janitor A janitor or custodian is a professional who takes care of buildings, such as hospitals and schools. Janitors are responsible primarily for cleaning, and often some maintenance and security...

D

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
daddy longlegs, daddy-long-legs	crane fly Crane fly A crane fly is an insect in the family Tipulidae. Adults are very slender, long-legged flies that may vary in length from though tropical species may exceed to ....	daddy long-legs spider Daddy long-legs spider Pholcidae, commonly known as cellar spiders, are a spider family in the suborder Araneomorphae.Some species, especially Pholcus phalangioides, are commonly called granddaddy long-legs spider, daddy long-legs spider, daddy long-legger, or vibrating spider...	Opiliones Opiliones Opiliones are an order of arachnids commonly known as harvestmen. , over 6,400 species of harvestmen have been discovered worldwide, although the real number of extant species may exceed 10,000. The order Opiliones can be divided into four suborders: Cyphophthalmi, Eupnoi, Dyspnoi and Laniatores...
davenport	a type of writing table Davenport desk A Davenport desk, is a small desk with an inclined lifting desktop attached with hinges to the back of the body. Lifting the desktop accesses a large compartment with storage space for paper and other writing implements, and smaller spaces in the forms of small drawers and pigeonholes... *	[both prob. from the names of their resp. manufacturers; both old-fashioned]	a type of couch Davenport (sofa) Davenport is the name a series of sofas made by the now-defunct Massachusetts furniture manufacturer A. H. Davenport Company. Due to the popularity of the furniture at the time, the name "Davenport" has become a genericized trademark. It is often used as a synonym for "sofa", especially in the... , often convertible into a bed
dead	(of a cup, glass, bottle or cigarette) empty, finished with very, extremely ("dead good", "dead heavy", "dead rich")	deceased completely, perfectly ("dead straight", "dead on", "dead right") extremely quiet (e.g. business or nightlife) (dismissive usage) boring
dead beat, deadbeat	exhausted (slang) (US: dead tired)		an idler; someone who does not pay their debts, often in construction ("deadbeat dad Deadbeat dad Deadbeat parent is a term referring to obligor parents of either gender that have freely chosen not to be a financially supportive parent in their children's lives... ") (slang)
DC	Detective Constable, a police officer who works in or with a branch of CID Criminal Investigation Department The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,... .	direct current Direct current Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through... (see also other expansions)	District of Columbia Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
deck		(n.) the floor or level of a ship Deck (ship) A deck is a permanent covering over a compartment or a hull of a ship. On a boat or ship, the primary deck is the horizontal structure which forms the 'roof' for the hull, which both strengthens the hull and serves as the primary working surface... or other types of vehicles the roadway of a bridge a recording device Tape recorder An audio tape recorder, tape deck, reel-to-reel tape deck, cassette deck or tape machine is an audio storage device that records and plays back sounds, including articulated voices, usually using magnetic tape, either wound on a reel or in a cassette, for storage... (v.) to decorate for a festivity ("deck the halls with boughs of holly", "decked out with flags") to hit a person hard enough such that they fall to the floor (orig. US)	a pack of cards Playing card A playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic, marked with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing card games... a wooden, raised platform Deck (building) In architecture, a deck is a flat surface capable of supporting weight, similar to a floor, but typically constructed outdoors, often elevated from the ground, and usually connected to a building... adjoining a house, usu. enclosed by a railing a packet of narcotics (slang) (v.) to pile up (logs) on a deck of logs or a skidway (on deck) in baseball, the hitter due up next ("Albert is on deck, so they must be careful to not walk this batter."). A general usage connotes availability, e.g. "Who's on deck?" (Who is available to do this?). Occasionally used to indicate who is next in line.
Dennis the Menace Dennis the Menace Dennis the Menace may refer to:* Dennis the Menace , a daily US syndicated newspaper comic strip since March 12, 1951.Various television and film adaptations of the comic strip:*Dennis the Menace...	a character and comic strip developed by Ian Chisholm and Davey Law, debuted in March 1951 (US: Dennis)		a character and comic strip developed by Hank Ketcham, debuted in March 1951
depot	a location (large building or piece of land) where buses, trams or trains are stored when not in use and maintained	a storehouse or depository; a location for the storage of military or naval supplies A slow-release drug injection (usu. psychiatric)	a railroad station or bus terminal or station; also, an air terminal
DI	Detective inspector (police)		Drill instructor Drill instructor A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer or Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in the armed forces or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. In the U.S. armed forces, they are assigned the duty of indoctrinating new recruits entering the military into the customs and... (military)
diary Diary A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...	personal calendar *(US: appointment book, appointment calendar, datebook)	personal journal
digital radio		any radio that receives a digital signal	a radio with a digital display
die (n.)		tool used in metalworking to form a part under pressure	singular of dice, numbered cube used in games of chance (UK: dice for both singular and plural)
dim (trans. v.), dimmer Dimmer Dimmers are devices used to vary the brightness of a light. By decreasing or increasing the RMS voltage and, hence, the mean power to the lamp, it is possible to vary the intensity of the light output... (switch)		to reduce the intensity of a domestic, industrial or other light; hence dimmer (switch)	to lower a vehicle headlight's beam, typically when approaching vehicles travelling in the opposite direction at night (UK: dip); hence dimmer switch (UK: dip switch)
diner Diner A diner, also spelled dinor in western Pennsylvania is a prefabricated restaurant building characteristic of North America, especially in the Midwest, in New York City, in Pennsylvania and in New Jersey, and in other areas of the Northeastern United States, although examples can be found throughout...		one who dines ("a picky diner")	railroad dining car Dining car A dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant.... (UK: restaurant car) a type of restaurant, traditionally but not necessarily often resembling a dining car
dip (trans. v.), dip switch	to lower a vehicle headlight's beam, typically when approaching vehicles travelling in the opposite direction at night (US: dim); hence dip switch (distinguished from DIP switch DIP switch DIP switches are manual electric switches that are packaged in a group in a standard dual in-line package... ) (US: dimmer Dimmer Dimmers are devices used to vary the brightness of a light. By decreasing or increasing the RMS voltage and, hence, the mean power to the lamp, it is possible to vary the intensity of the light output... switch) (n.) a pickpocket (slang)	to lower into a liquid; esp., a sheep or dog in chemical solution; to lower and then raise	to use smokeless tobacco Dipping tobacco Dipping tobacco, traditionally referred to as moist snuff, is a type of finely ground or shredded, moistened smokeless tobacco product. It is commonly and idiomatically known by various terms – most often as dip and sometimes rub or chew...
dirt		substance(s) rendering something unclean incriminating evidence ("we've got the dirt on him now")	earth, soil *
diversion	circuitous route to avoid roadworks Roadworks Roadworks occur when part of the road, or in rare cases, the entire road, has to be occupied for work relating to the road, most often in the case of road surface repairs... (US: detour)	deviation; recreation; tactic used to draw attention away from the action
dock	water between or next to a pier or wharf (US: berth, also used in UK, or slip) section of a courtroom where the accused sits during a trial *	(v.) to reduce an employee's wages, usu. as discipline	constructed place to moor a boat or engage in water sports (largely interchangeable with pier or wharf, although often with a modifier, such as "ferry dock", "swimming dock", etc.)
docker	dockworker, stevedore *(US: longshoreman)	one that docks (as tails of animals)
dogging Dogging (sexual slang) Dogging is a British English euphemism for engaging in sexual acts in a public or semi-public place or watching others doing so. There may be more than two participants; both group sex and gang banging can be included. As observation is encouraged, voyeurism and exhibitionism are closely associated...	various kinds of public sexual activity	pursuing diligently as a dog would	insulting in a persistent fashion, often referring to the dozens The dozens The Dozens is a game that has its origins in African American slavery. The game originates from the devaluing and bargaining off of deformed or defective slaves in auction houses. This element of the African American oral tradition in which two competitors, usually males, go head-to-head in a... pursuing someone persistently
dollar	5 shilling coin or equivalent amount (obsolete; used in slang until early 1970s, especially in "half-dollar"=half-crown, but some re-stamped Spanish dollar coins were used in the UK in the late 18th/early 19th century)	major unit of currency of the USA
dormitory Dormitory A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students... , dorm	(n. or usu. adj.) (part of) a town where commuters Commuting Commuting is regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full time study. It sometimes refers to any regular or often repeated traveling between locations when not work related.- History :... live, usually dormitory town (US: bedroom or bedroom community)	(n.) large sleeping-room with many beds,*typically in a boarding school Boarding school A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals... ("a sleeping dormitory"; usu. abbreviated to dorm)	building with many small private rooms, as for housing the students of a college (UK: hall(s) of residence, hostel Hostel Hostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available... ) dormitory car — railway sleeping car Sleeping car The sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured...
drape		(v.) to hang limply	(n., usu. pl.) curtain
draw (n.)	cannabis (slang)	an act of drawing, or something drawn a game result in which no player/team wins (also tie)	a ditch that draws water off an area of land a shallow valley or gully
dresser (furniture)	a type of cupboard Cupboard A cupboard or press is a type of cabinet, often made of wood, used indoors to store household objects such as food, crockery, textiles and liquor, and protect them from dust,vermin and dirt.... or sideboard Sideboard A sideboard is an item of furniture traditionally used in the dining room for serving food, for displaying serving dishes such as silver, and for storage. It usually consists of a set of cabinets, or cupboards, and one or more drawers, all topped by a flat display surface for conveniently holding... esp. for kitchen utensils *		a chest of drawers Chest of drawers A chest of drawers, also called a dresser or a bureau, is a piece of furniture that has multiple parallel, horizontal drawers stacked one above another... , usu. with a looking glass (mirror Mirror A mirror is an object that reflects light or sound in a way that preserves much of its original quality prior to its contact with the mirror. Some mirrors also filter out some wavelengths, while preserving other wavelengths in the reflection... ) (UK: dressing-table)
drop (of liquid)	several (fluid) ounces ("just a drop of tea, please") (meiotic Meiosis (figure of speech) In rhetoric, meiosis is a euphemistic figure of speech that intentionally understates something or implies that it is lesser in significance or size than it really is. Meiosis is the opposite of auxesis, and also sometimes used as a synonym for litotes... usage)	droplet (less than a milliliter)
duck	a score of zero by a batsman in cricket Cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the... , supposedly derived from the zero-like shape of a duck's egg. Hence to "break one's duck": to score one's first run. c.f. US: "get the monkey off one's back" a term of endearment	(n.) a bird of the family Anatidae Anatidae Anatidae is the biological family of birds that includes ducks, geese and swans. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on all the world's continents except Antarctica and on most of the world's islands and island groups... (v.) to lower the head or body suddenly, to dodge (v.) to plunge under the surface of water (n.) a heavy cotton fabric
duff	of poor quality non-functional (up the duff) pregnant (slang, originally Australian)	a type of pudding coal dust Coal dust Coal dust is a fine powdered form of coal, which is created by the crushing, grinding, or pulverizing of coal. Because of the brittle nature of coal, coal dust can be created during mining, transportation, or by mechanically handling coal.-Explosions:...	vegetable matter on the forest floor *(also in Scotland) buttocks (colloquial)
dummy	rubber teat for babies (US: pacifier Pacifier A pacifier is a rubber, plastic, or silicone nipple given to an infant or other young child to suck upon. In its standard appearance it has a teat, mouth shield, and handle... )	mannequin Mannequin A mannequin is an often articulated doll used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, and others especially to display or fit clothing... , especially for automobile Automobile An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor... crash test Crash test A crash test is a form of destructive testing usually performed in order to ensure safe design standards in crashworthiness and crash compatibility for various modes of transportation or related systems and components.- Types :... s fake, usu. legal idiot (slang) the contract bridge Contract bridge Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table... player who faces his hand after the bidding/auction
dungarees		sturdy protective bib trousers (cf. s.v. bib overall)	(slightly dated) jeans (blue denim jeans)
duplex		composed of two parts two direction (electronical signalling) Duplex (telecommunications) A duplex communication system is a system composed of two connected parties or devices that can communicate with one another in both directions. The term multiplexing is used when describing communication between more than two parties or devices....	(or duplex house Duplex (building) The term duplex can be used to describe several different dwelling unit configurations:A duplex house is defined as a dwelling having apartments with separate entrances for two families. This includes two-story houses having a complete apartment on each floor and also side-by-side apartments on a... ) an often vertically divided two-family dwelling * (or duplex apartment) an apartment on two levels * (duplex locomotive Duplex locomotive A duplex locomotive is a steam locomotive that divides the driving force on its wheels by using two pairs of cylinders rigidly mounted to a single locomotive frame; it is not an articulated locomotive... ) a large steam locomotive with two sets of driving wheels

E

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
earth	safety connection of an electrical circuit, or to connect (an electrical device) to this (US: ground)	the planet Earth soil the burrow of some animals
efficiency		the quality of being efficient	(or efficiency apartment) a minimal often furnished apartment, similar to a studio apartment Studio apartment A studio apartment, also known as a studio flat , efficiency apartment or bachelor/bachelorette style apartment, is a small apartment which combines living room, bedroom, and kitchen or kitchenette into a single room... (UK: compare bedsit Bedsit A bedsit, also known as a bed-sitting room, is a form of rented accommodation common in Great Britain and Ireland consisting of a single room and shared bathroom; they are part of a legal category of dwellings referred to as Houses in multiple occupation.... )
el	(L) letter identifying a learner driver; see L-plate L-plate An L-plate is a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in many countries if its driver is a learner under instruction, or a motorcycle rider with provisional entitlement to ride restricted motorcycles.- Australia :In...	the letter L	an elevated railway (as that Chicago 'L' The L is the rapid transit system serving the city of Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs. It is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority... of Chicago Chicago Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... or the now-defunct Third Avenue El in New York City)
elevator Elevator An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...		flap on the back of an aeroplane Fixed-wing aircraft A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered... used to control pitch moving belt to transport grain, hay bales, etc.	platform or cage moved vertically in a shaft to transport people and goods to various floors in a building (UK: lift) building for grain storage (in full grain elevator Grain elevator A grain elevator is a tower containing a bucket elevator, which scoops up, elevates, and then uses gravity to deposit grain in a silo or other storage facility... ) (UK: silo)
elk	moose Moose The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration... (Alces alces), the largest species of deer		wapiti Elk The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:... (Cervus canadensis), the second largest species of deer
engaged (adj.)	in use – of a toilet/bathroom stall (US: occupied; but the opposite is vacant in both); of a telephone line (US & UK also: busy), hence engaged tone (US: busy signal)	committed; involved in something betrothed
English		of or pertaining to England the English language	(adj.) the foot-pound-second system of units (UK: Imperial) English (n.) spin placed on a ball in cue sports (UK: side)
engineer Engineer An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...	a technician or a person that mends and operates machinery	one employed to design, build or repair equipment practitioner of engineering Engineering Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...	one who operates an engine, esp. a locomotive Locomotive A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th... (UK: engine driver)
entrée Entrée An entrée is a dish served before the main course, or between two principal courses of a meal.The disappearance in the early 20th century of a large communal main course such as a roast as a standard part of the meal in the English-speaking world has led to the term being used to describe the main...	starter (q.v.) of a meal (traditionally, the course served between the fish and the joint, but now used for any starter)	(usu. "the entrée") right of entry, insider-type access	main course of a meal
estate	any defined area of real property Real property In English Common Law, real property, real estate, realty, or immovable property is any subset of land that has been legally defined and the improvements to it made by human efforts: any buildings, machinery, wells, dams, ponds, mines, canals, roads, various property rights, and so forth... , as in housing estate Housing estate A housing estate is a group of buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country. Accordingly, a housing estate is usually built by a single contractor, with only a few styles of house or building design, so they tend to be uniform in appearance... (US: subdivision), council estate (US: housing project) or trading estate (US: industrial park Industrial park An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development... ) car with van-shaped body (US: station wagon)	grounds of a large piece of real property which features a mansion Mansion A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms... and beautiful landscaping Landscaping Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including:# living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly referred to as gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal of creating a beautiful environment within the landscape.#... property left by a deceased person
evergreen Evergreen (disambiguation) Evergreen refers to plants that have leaves all year round.Evergreen may also refer to:-Places:In Canada:Evergreen Mobile Home Park in Edmonton, AlbertaEvergreen, Calgary, a suburb of Calgary, Alberta* Evergreen, Saskatoon...		non-deciduous, a non-deciduous plant eternally youthful, new etc.	(n.) branchlets or sprigs of an evergreen tree, usually a conifer such as pine, spruce or fir, often used as a Christmas decoration wrapped around human-made structures

F

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
faculty		division of a university, dealing with a specific group of disciplines (e.g. faculty of arts)	academic staff of a school, college or university
fag	cigarette Cigarette A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well... (slang) * (in England; obs.) young public schoolboy who acted as a servant for older pupils drudgery, chore ("it is such a fag – I come back tired to death" – J. Austen)	male homosexual (short for faggot)
faggot	kind of meatball Meatball A meatball is made from an amount of ground meat rolled into a small ball, sometimes along with other ingredients, such as breadcrumbs, minced onion, spices, and possibly eggs... (see faggot (food) Faggot (food) Faggots are a traditional dish in the UK, especially South and Mid Wales and the Midlands of England. It is made from meat off-cuts and offal, especially pork. A faggot is traditionally made from pig's heart, liver and fatty belly meat or bacon minced together, with herbs added for flavouring and... ), bundle of sticks, usu. for use as firewood (old-fashioned; often spelled fagot)	Male Male Male refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization... homosexual vulgar slang (see faggot (slang))
fall	to become pregnant. (Either as in 'I fell pregnant' or as in 'She fell for a baby.');	descend or tumble become sick, come down with an illness ("he fell ill") (uncommon in US) prove attractive ("fall for someone", "fall in love")	autumn
fancy (v.)	(v.) exhibit a fondness or preference for something; exhibit an interest in or willingness to: date/court someone, commit some act, or accept some item of trade		US colloq. equiv. of "to fancy" is "to like" something or someone (or regarding tastes and preferences, "to love"); "fancy" as a verb is now used in the US almost solely by UK ex-pats, but was once oft-used by Southern gentility (landed gentry)
fancy dress	a costume worn to impersonate a well-known character, animal etc., typically at a fancy dress party (US: costume party)		(colloq.) "formal" wear (usu. tuxedos for men and ball gowns for women.)
fanny	vagina (slang), vulva (vulgar slang) (fanny about or fanny around, vulgar slang) to mess about or procrastinate ("Stop fannying about and hit it with the hammer")		buttocks (colloquial); hence fanny pack Fanny pack A fanny pack , belt pack , belly bag , Buffalo pouch , hip sack , waist bag , hip pack , bum bag , cangurera , banano or moon bag is a small fabric pouch secured with a zipper and worn by use of a strap around the hips or... (UK: bum bag)
featherbed	bed or mattress stuffed with feathers (usually 2 words) (v.) to pamper, to spoil	to require that more workers are hired than are needed, often by agreement with trade union Trade union A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with... s	quilt, or comforter, stuffed with feathers for use on top of the mattress (but underneath a sheet and the sleeping person) (UK: mattress topper)
fender		a fire screen a cushioning device to protect the side of a boat, ship, or dock	fender (vehicle) Fender (vehicle) Fender is the US English term for the part of an automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle body that frames a wheel well . Its primary purpose is to prevent sand, mud, rocks, liquids, and other road spray from being thrown into the air by the rotating tire. Fenders are typically rigid and can be... : the part of an automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle body that frames a wheel well (UK: mudguard or wing) a frame fitted in front of a vehicle (locomotive or automobile) to absorb shock (UK: bumper – see Bumper (automobile))
fifth		ordinal number 5 one of five equal parts into which something is divided	bottle of spirits ("a fifth of bourbon"), traditionally 1/5 of a US gallon, now the metric near-equivalent of 750 mL to "plead the Fifth (Amendment)" Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, protects against abuse of government authority in a legal procedure. Its guarantees stem from English common law which traces back to the Magna Carta in 1215... , i.e. refuse to testify against oneself in an incriminating manner
filth	(the filth) the police (derogatory slang)	dirt, disgusting substance obscene material
first degree		the least serious category of burn (see article)	the most serious category of a crime; of murder, carries a lifetime prison- or death-sentence (also informal murder one; see article)
first floor Storey A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people... (of a building)	the floor above ground level (US: second floor)		the floor at ground level (often, but not always, the same floor as a building's lobby) (UK: ground floor)
fit (adj.)	(of a person) attractive, sexy (slang)	(of a person) in good physical condition suitable for some purpose (usu. followed by for or to)
fix (v.)	to make firm, fasten, or attach (the original sense, no longer very common in US) to set or arrange (as a date) ("A time has been fixed")	to repair (orig. US) to sterilise (an animal) to manipulate usually underhandedly ("To fix a fight by paying a boxer to take a dive.")	to adjust or prepare, esp. food or beverage *("I'll fix you a sandwich") (esp. South Southern United States The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States... ) to get ready ("I'm fixing to retire") to get even with (someone) (fix up) to provide
flapjack	flat oat cake (US: granola bar)		pancake
flannel	a cloth for washing the face or body (US: washcloth)	particular type of fabric/material used for the manufacture of trousers or suits, but more commonly recognised in America as a fabric used in warm winter night clothes and sheets
flat	(n.) self-contained housing unit (US: apartment Apartment An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building... ) (adj., of a battery) discharged, exhausted, dead	(adj.) level and smooth structured at a single level, not hierarchical	(n.) a flat tyre/tire * an apartment that occupies the entire floor of a small building (upstate New York New York New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... and San Francisco); used also in phrases such as railroad flat
flip-flop Flip-flop (disambiguation) Flip-flops are a simple type of footwear in which there is a band between the big toe and the other toes.Flip-flop may also refer to:* Flip-flop , the bistable multivibrator, a circuit with two stable states...		a type of footwear a type of electronic circuit Flip-flop (electronics) In electronics, a flip-flop or latch is a circuit that has two stable states and can be used to store state information. The circuit can be made to change state by signals applied to one or more control inputs and will have one or two outputs. It is the basic storage element in sequential logic...	an about-face or U-turn (UK also: about-turn), as in politics Flip-flop (politics) A "flip-flop" , U-turn , or backflip is a sudden real or apparent change of policy or opinion by a public official, sometimes while trying to claim that both positions are consistent with each other...
fluid ounce Fluid ounce A fluid ounce is a unit of volume equal to about 28.4 mL in the imperial system or about 29.6 mL in the US system. The fluid ounce is distinct from the ounce, which measures mass... (fl. oz.)	liquid measure equal to 28.41 millilitres		liquid measure equal to 29.57 milliliters
flyover	elevated road section (i.e. long road bridge, US: overpass)		ceremonial aircraft flight (UK: flypast Flypast Flypast is a term used in the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and other countries to denote ceremonial or honorific flights by groups of aircraft and, rarely, by a single aircraft... ) an elongated left-turn ramp passing over or under the whole highway interchange Interchange (road) In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which... Flyover country Flyover country Flyover country and flyover states are Americanisms describing the region of the United States between the East and the West Coasts. The terms, which are often used in a pejorative sense, refer to the regions of the country passed over during transcontinental flights – e.g., flights between the... is a term for (unsophisticated, poor, rural) middle America, as distinct from the 'coasts'.
football	(usually) Association football (US: soccer). Less frequently applies to Rugby football (espec. Rugby union Rugby union Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand... in English private schools).		American football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
footpath	a paved strip for pedestrian use, especially along the side of a road (US: sidewalk)	a narrow trail suitable only for foot traffic
forty (40)		the number 4 × 10	a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) parcel of land, specifically one sixteenth of a section Section (United States land surveying) In U.S. land surveying under the Public Land Survey System , a section is an area nominally one square mile, containing , with 36 sections making up one survey township on a rectangular grid.... , constituting the smallest unit of agricultural land commonly surveyed ("back 40", "front 40"). an undeveloped plot of land (as on a farm Farm A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single... , ranch Ranch A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though... , etc.) of unspecified size. in an urban or youth setting, "a 40-ounce beer".
forward	one who plays in a forward position in rugby Rugby football Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:... , i.e. one who takes part in scrums.	an area to the front an outgoing disposition a position in football (soccer) in front of midfielders a collective term for the ice hockey Ice hockey Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take... players Forward (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in... whose main role is to score goals, consisting of two wingers Winger (ice hockey) Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink... and a centre/center Centre (ice hockey) The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...	a position in basketball Basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... , nowadays split into power forwards Power forward (basketball) Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low... , who tend to play closer to the basket, and small forward Small forward The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall... s, who tend to either shoot from the perimeter or drive from the perimeter to the basket.
		next after third (e.g. the fourth person, fourth floor) A musical interval	one of four equal parts into which something is divided (UK & US sometimes also quarter, q.v.). (proper noun, used with the) short for The Fourth of July Independence Day (United States) Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain... (America's Independence Day Independence Day (United States) Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain... )
fringe	arrangement of locks of hair on the forehead (US: bangs)	the outer area of something a decorative border e.g. on clothing holding an extreme political position ("lunatic fringe")	(rare vulgar; chiefly 1980s) vulva ("He's gonna get some fringe.") q.v., US: trim
frock Frock Frock has been used since Middle English as the name for an article of clothing for men and women .- History of the frock :...	(or smock-frock Smock-frock A smock-frock or smock is an outer garment traditionally worn by rural workers, especially shepherds and waggoners, in parts of England and Wales from the early eighteenth century... ) outer garment formerly common in rural Europe, see also overall (also short frock) indoor garment for children and young girls * a woman's dress or gown (dated) *	habit Religious habit A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform... of monks and friars (also frock coat Frock coat A frock coat is a man's coat characterised by knee-length skirts all around the base, popular during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. The double-breasted style is sometimes called a Prince Albert . The frock coat is a fitted, long-sleeved coat with a centre vent at the back, and some features... ) a style of gentleman's jacket or coat, cut at knee length, usually worn as an outer garment.
frog	French person (insulting slang)*	an amphibian Amphibian Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
full stop	punctuation mark used at the end of a sentence, sometimes used in speech for emphasis ("Whom does he support? Arsenal, full stop!") (US: period, q.v.)		the state of automobiles barely moving in heavy traffic (also, a "dead stop")
furnace		large hearth or container for heating or melting metal, usually for an industrial process	principal domestic heat source in central heating. (UK: boiler)

G

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
gagging	(especially as in gagging for it) desperate, especially for sex	choking fighting the urge to vomit ("that was so disgusting, I was gagging")
gallon Gallon The gallon is a measure of volume. Historically it has had many different definitions, but there are three definitions in current use: the imperial gallon which is used in the United Kingdom and semi-officially within Canada, the United States liquid gallon and the lesser used United States dry...	4.54609 litres (about 6/5 of US gallon)		3.78541 litres (about 5/6 of UK gallon)
gangbanger	a participant in a "gang bang", a group sex activity		gang member; group rapist
garage (see also pronunciation differences American and British English pronunciation differences Differences in pronunciation between American English and British English can be divided into:* differences in accent... )	fuel filling station, e.g. "a Texaco garage" (also petrol station, US: gas station) a genre of music	place where vehicles are repaired building attached to or in the grounds of a residence for storing a car	(parking garage) building serving as a public parking facility (UK: multistorey car park or just multistorey)
garden (n.)	area around a residential structure (US: yard)		area within a yard (land) Yard (land) A yard is an enclosed area of land, usually tied to a building. The word comes from the same linguistic root as the word garden and has many of the same meanings.... for growing plants or vegetables (UK: vegetable garden, vegetable patch)
garnish		(n. (v.)) (to add) decorative or savory touches to (food or drink) (v.)to furnish	(v.) to take (as a debtor's wages) by legal authority
gas Gas (disambiguation) Gas is one of the phases of matter along with solid and liquid. This may also refer to:- Science and technology: gases and liquids :* Gasoline, a refined fossil fuel, also called petrol...		state of matter (see gas Gas Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons... ) natural gas Natural gas Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...	gasoline Gasoline Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain... , hence gas station (UK: petrol) gas pedal (UK: accelerator) flatulence air trapped in the stomach or intestines (UK: wind)
geezer	gangster, man (esp. Cockney Cockney The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End... )		old person (derogatory; UK: old geezer [not derog.])
general	The second highest rank in the British army (second to Field Marshal Field Marshal Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical... ).	The basics of a subject.	The highest rank in the US Army.
give way	to give the right of way (to vehicles, pedestrians, etc.); hence give way sign (US: yield [the right of way] sign Yield sign In road transport, a ' or ' traffic sign indicates that each driver must prepare to stop if necessary to let a driver on another approach proceed. A driver who stops has yielded the right of way to another... )	to retreat; to break down
glaze		general term for thin shiny coatings applied to food, painted surfaces, clayware, etc.; a glossy surface	a slippery coating of ice (also known as sleet, q.v.); a stretch of ice
gob	(n.) mouth; (v., slang) to spit	lump	a large amount ("gobs of") (slang—little used since the 1940s) a sailor
go down (fig.)	to leave a university (as Oxford) to come down (with an illness)	to be accepted or remembered (e.g. go down in history) to fail, esp. of a computer go down on, to engage in oral sex Oral sex Oral sex is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a sex partner by the use of the mouth, tongue, teeth or throat. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on females while fellatio refer to oral sex performed on males. Anilingus refers to oral stimulation of a person's anus...	to go on, happen (often a major event, e.g. a drug bust "it's going down right now!" or "it went down last week". But also used as a greeting, "What's going down?")
goods	items to be transported (as by railway) ("a goods train") (US & UK also: freight)	useful objects or services; products; merchandising; personal property incriminating evidence ("we have the goods on him")
gooseberry	supernumerary third person preventing a couple from courting (US: third wheel)	a green hairy summer fruit (Ribes hirtellum Gooseberry The gooseberry or ; Ribes uva-crispa, syn. R. grossularia) is a species of Ribes, native to Europe, northwestern Africa and southwestern Asia... in the USA), (Ribes grossularia Gooseberry The gooseberry or ; Ribes uva-crispa, syn. R. grossularia) is a species of Ribes, native to Europe, northwestern Africa and southwestern Asia... in Europe)
governor	boss (sometimes shortened to guv'nor), colloquial	a local official	the top official in a US state
government	the cabinet Cabinet (government) A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :... or executive branch (US: the administration Administration (government) The term administration, as used in the context of government, differs according to jurisdiction.-United States:In United States usage, the term refers to the executive branch under a specific president , for example: the "Barack Obama administration." It can also mean an executive branch agency... ) the political party Political party A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions... supporting the cabinet in parliament Parliament A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...	the act or office of governing	the collective agency through which government is exercised (UK: the state) all such individual agencies (UK: the public sector Public sector The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range... )
grade (education) Grade (education) Grades are standardized measurements of varying levels of comprehension within a subject area. Grades can be assigned in letters , as a range , as a number out of a possible total , as descriptors , in percentages, or, as is common in some post-secondary...	a level of music examination Music examination Music examinations are a method of formally assessing the accomplishments of pupils learning musical instruments.Although there are music examinations available to school and university students alongside other regular qualifications and assessments, there are also a number of independent bodies... ("Guitar grade 4". Usually refers to ABRSM Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music ABRSM is an internationally recognised educational body and charity that provides examinations in music The organisation, based in London, UK, runs exams in centres all over the world... .	(n. & v.) teacher's assessment of a student's work (UK also mark)	level or year of a student in elementary, middle, or high school ("in 10th grade") (UK equiv.: year); hence grader, a student in a specified grade ("a 10th grader") (grade school, the grades) elementary school see also Grade Point Average
grade (other)		(n.) a rating, degree, or level; (v.) to lay out in grades [US meaning generated grade separation Grade separation Grade separation is the method of aligning a junction of two or more transport axes at different heights so that they will not disrupt the traffic flow on other transit routes when they cross each other. The composition of such transport axes does not have to be uniform; it can consist of a... and the idiom make the grade]	(n.) slope Slope In mathematics, the slope or gradient of a line describes its steepness, incline, or grade. A higher slope value indicates a steeper incline.... , gradient Gradient In vector calculus, the gradient of a scalar field is a vector field that points in the direction of the greatest rate of increase of the scalar field, and whose magnitude is the greatest rate of change.... , or elevation; also ground level ("at grade", "over grade"); hence grade crossing (UK: level crossing Level crossing A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion... ) (v.) to level (as a roadbed), hence grader Grader A grader, also commonly referred to as a road grader, a blade, a maintainer, or a motor grader, is a construction machine with a long blade used to create a flat surface. Typical models have three axles, with the engine and cab situated above the rear axles at one end of the vehicle and a third... , construction machine for doing this *
graduate (v.) (education) graduate (adj.) (education)	to finish university with a degree relating to a student at the point of gaining, or who has recently completed, a degree	to move from a lower to higher stage; to effect change in steps; to mark with units of measurement or other divisions.	to finish studying at any educational institution by passing relevant examinations relating to a student taking a higher degree (UK equiv.: "postgraduate"), e.g. graduate school
graft	hard work	to join or connect two separate but similar items (typically in biology, especially medicine and horticulture)	a form of political-economic corruption
grass Grass (disambiguation) Grass may refer to:Plants:* Grass, a common name for plants with narrow blade-shaped leaves* Any of a number of plants in the family Poaceae with narrow blade-shaped leaves, or other unrelated plants of similar appearance...	an informant (often to the police) (to grass on) to tell on somebody (US: to squeal)	green ground cover marijuana Cannabis (drug) Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...	grazing; to feed (livestock) with grass (UK: at grass, to put out to grass)
grammar school Grammar school A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...	a type of secondary school, normally a selective state funded school		elementary school (less common today)
grill Grilling Grilling is a form of cooking that involves dry heat applied to the surface of food, commonly from above or below.Grilling usually involves a significant amount of direct, radiant heat, and tends to be used for cooking meat quickly and meat that has already been cut into slices...	to cook directly under a dry heat source (US: broil)	to question intensely (informal). to interrogate.	to cook over a gas or coal fire (UK and US: barbecue) a flat cooking surface a restaurant (freq. as "bar and grill")
ground floor (of a building)		the floor at ground level (US usu.: first floor)	lower of two floors that are each at a different ground level due to sloping terrain (UK: lower ground floor)
guard	the official in charge of a railway train (US & now UK also: conductor)	to watch over for security one who guards a protective device one of two positions in basketball Basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... , usually players who are the best ball-handlers and shooters. Usually smaller than the forwards or center. Most common division is between point guard Point guard Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that... s (playmakers) and shooting guard Shooting guard The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team... s (more often score-first).	military division used to help the country after a disaster in (American) football, one of two offensive positions on either side of the center or a defensive position across from the center (nose-guard)
guff	extraneous or useless things, ideas, or paperwork/documentation; also to break wind ("Have you guffed, Dr Watson?")		nonsense, insolent talk, back talk
gum	cement consisting of a sticky substance that is used as an adhesive (US usually: glue)	a type of confectionery Confectionery Confectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well... composed of chicle Chicle Manilkara chicle is a tropical evergreen tree native to Mexico and Central America. The tree ranges from Veracruz in Mexico south to Atlántico in Colombia... used for chewing the soft tissue around the teeth, or to chew something with no teeth (also, gum at)
gutted	disappointed and upset (informal)	past tense of gut: eviscerated; plundered; despoiled; made powerless or ineffectual (of a building) stripped of interior structure, leaving only frame and exterior walls (e.g.by fire)
gyro	(see also giro Giro A Giro or giro transfer is a payment transfer from one bank account to another bank account and instigated by the payer, not the payee... )	gyroscope Gyroscope A gyroscope is a device for measuring or maintaining orientation, based on the principles of angular momentum. In essence, a mechanical gyroscope is a spinning wheel or disk whose axle is free to take any orientation...	a sandwich, the Greek Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... gyro, more familiar to Americans than the similar Turkish Turkey Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe... döner kebab Döner kebab Doner kebab is a dish made of roasted meat cooked on a vertical spit. It is also known regionally as gyro , shawarma, and al pastor . It consists of shaved lamb, goat, chicken, turkey, beef, or mixed meats roasted on a spit. Less common alternatives include fish and sausage... , which is more common in Britain

H

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
haberdasher Haberdasher A haberdasher is a person who sells small articles for sewing, such as buttons, ribbons, zips, and other notions. In American English, haberdasher is another term for a men's outfitter. A haberdasher's shop or the items sold therein are called haberdashery.-Origin and use:The word appears in...	a dealer in small items and accessories, as for sewing Sewing Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread. Sewing is one of the oldest of the textile arts, arising in the Paleolithic era... ; hence haberdashery (US: notions Notion (accessory) In sewing and haberdashery, notions is the collective term for a variety of small objects or accessories. Notions can include items that are sewn or otherwise attached to a finished article, such as buttons, snaps, and collar stays, but the term also includes small tools used in sewing, such as... )		a dealer in men's apparel and accessories; hence haberdashery
half	half pint of beer, cider or lager	fifty percent/0.5 times.
halfway house Halfway house The purpose of a halfway house, also called a recovery house or sober house, is generally to allow people to begin the process of reintegration with society, while still providing monitoring and support; this is generally believed to reduce the risk of recidivism or relapse when compared to a...	a place where victims of child abuse, orphans or teenage runaways can stay, a shelter	drug rehabilitation or sex offender centre. (Archaic) An inn half way between two towns, still seen in many pub names.
hamper	large basket for food (especially picnic hamper, Christmas hamper)	to impede or hinder	basket for clothes that need washing (UK: Linen basket or laundry basket)
hash	number sign, octothorpe (#) (US: pound sign). Also 'to make a hash' of something is to mess it up.	hashish Hash (food) Hash (food) Hash is a dish consisting of meat, potatoes, and spices, that are mashed together into a smooth, creamy consistency, and then cooked either alone or with other ingredients such as onions.... , beef and other ingredients mashed together into a coarse paste
highway Highway A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...	(chiefly in official use) public road; see Highway Code Highway Code The Highway Code is the official road user guide for Great Britain. In Northern Ireland the applies while the Republic of Ireland has its own Rules of the Road. It contains 306 numbered rules and 9 annexes covering pedestrians, animals, cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers...	(highway robbery) something too expensive; see also highwayman Highwayman A highwayman was a thief and brigand who preyed on travellers. This type of outlaw, usually, travelled and robbed by horse, as compared to a footpad who traveled and robbed on foot. Mounted robbers were widely considered to be socially superior to footpads...	main road (as between cities) (divided or dual highway) a road with two roadways and at least four lanes (UK: dual carriageway Dual carriageway A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation... ) (highway post office) in the past, a bus transporting mail that was sorted en route
hike		a usu. recreational walk	an increase in amount (as in wages) * (to take a hike) to go away (also used as a command)
hire	to rent moveable property (e.g. a car) *; rental (hire purchase Hire purchase Hire purchase is the legal term for a contract, in this persons usually agree to pay for goods in parts or a percentage at a time. It was developed in the United Kingdom and can now be found in China, Japan, Malaysia, India, South Africa, Australia, Jamaica and New Zealand. It is also called... ) a purchase carried out over time by making regular payments (US: installment plan)	to employ, recruit *	a person who is recruited
hob	the flat top surface of a cooking stove (US: cooktop) a part of a fireplace an elf Elf An elf is a being of Germanic mythology. The elves were originally thought of as a race of divine beings endowed with magical powers, which they use both for the benefit and the injury of mankind...	trouble (as in "raising hob" – chiefly US) (UK has less common "playing hob")
hock	a German wine Hock (wine) Hock is an English term for German wine, sometimes wine from the Rhine regions and sometimes all German wine. It is short for the now obsolete word hockamore. The term is a corruption of the name of the German town of Hochheim on the Main river in the Rheingau wine region... ("down their four-and-twenty throats went four-and-twenty imperial pints of such rare old hock" – Charles Dickens) (US: Rhine wine) Hocktide Hocktide Hocktide or Hock tide[Heah-tit, Saxon,high festival] was a mediaeval festival that may have celebrated the massacre of the Danes in England or the death of Harthacanute in the 11th century. Traditionally the festivities consisted of a practice called binding: the men of the parish tying up the... , an ancient holiday	hock (zoology) Hock (zoology) The hock, or gambrel, is the joint between the tarsal bones and tibia of a digitigrade or unguligrade quadrupedal mammal, such as a horse, cat, or dog...	pawn Pawnbroker A pawnbroker is an individual or business that offers secured loans to people, with items of personal property used as collateral... (n. & v.) ("I can borrow a dime from the barber, an' I got enough junk to hock for a blowout" – Jack London); prison (both from Dutch) * debt the end Ham hock A ham hock or hough is the joint between the tibia/fibula and the metatarsals of the foot, where the foot was attached to the hog's leg... of a smoked ham * to hock-a-loogie, to spit (esp. mucus as opposed to saliva).
hockey	hockey played with a ball on grass (field hockey Field hockey Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks... ) *	hockey played on a hard surface (e.g. concrete) or indoors	hockey played on ice with a puck (ice hockey Ice hockey Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take... ) *
hog	(dialect) a yearling sheep	to take more than one's fair share of something (road hog) motorist who holds up other traffic by driving slowly or out of lane; any bad driver	adult pig motorcycle, especially a large one such as a Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression... (derived from Harley Owners Group Harley Owners Group The Harley Owners Group is a sponsored community marketing club, operated by Harley-Davidson for enthusiasts of that brand's motorcycles. The HOG is "the grandaddy of all community-building efforts," serving to promote not just a consumer product, but a lifestyle... , a club for Harley-Davidson motorcycle owners.)
hole-in-the-wall	automated teller machine Automated teller machine An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public... , cash machine (informal)		a small, out-of-the-way place, as a restaurant, with a negative connotation. However, often used to preface a compliment, e.g. "just a hole-in-the-wall place you've never heard of, but they serve the best steak in the city."
holiday	see Bank holiday Bank Holiday A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom or a colloquialism for public holiday in Ireland. There is no automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population is granted time off work or extra pay for working on these days, depending on their contract... (often pl.) time taken off from work, school, etc., including the period between school terms (US: break, vacation) recreational trip away from home (US: vacation)	day when people are generally exempt from work, school, etc.	see Federal holidays in the United States (the Holidays) the days comprising Christmas Christmas Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days... and New Year's Day New Year's Day New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome... (and Hanukkah Hanukkah Hanukkah , also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE... ), and often also Thanksgiving Thanksgiving (United States) Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,... (used esp. in the phrase "happy Holidays") festival, whether or not generally entailing a public holiday: "Halloween is my favorite holiday"
home	(noun): condition of domesticity, or one's permanent and regular shelter, but not the physical structure or property.		In AmE widely used also to mean the physical structure and property, and references to them, e.g., "home loans", "homeowners", and "tract homes". This usage is overwhelmingly predominant in commercial language and public discourse, e.g. "the home mortgage crisis".
home run	final part of a distance, final effort needed to finish (US: homestretch)	a success (from baseball)	(also homer) a four-base hit in baseball Home run In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process... (slang) sexual intercourse Sexual intercourse Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails... ; more s.v. base
homely	(of a house) comfortable, cozy, rustic Pastoral The adjective pastoral refers to the lifestyle of pastoralists, such as shepherds herding livestock around open areas of land according to seasons and the changing availability of water and pasturage. It also refers to a genre in literature, art or music that depicts such shepherd life in an... (US: homey) (of a person) home-loving, domesticated, house-proud		(only used of a person) plain, ugly
hood	the folding fabric top on a convertible car (US: convertible top)	head covering forming part of a garment component of academic regalia	hinged cover over the engine in a car (UK: bonnet) a contraction of neighborhood, especially regarding a poor neighborhood short for hoodlum, a tough, destructive young man, or generically any criminal
hoo-ha	argument		female genitalia
hooker	in rugby football Rugby football Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:... , the player position in the centre front of the scrum		prostitute (informal) *
hooter	steam whistle or siren in a factory or other large workplace sounded as a signal for beginning or ceasing work car horn nose		(hooters) female breasts (vulgar slang)
hull	(Hull) Kingston-upon-Hull, a large city in the north-east of England*	the outer skin of a ship, tank, aeroplane, etc.	the seed-case of various edible plants (maize, nuts, etc.) (v.t.) to remove the seed-case from (a nut, etc.) hulled (adj.) (of a nut, etc.) having the seed-case removed (UK: shelled)
hump	a state of depression (dated) ("to be in a hump") a state of annoyance ("to get the hump") a traffic calming Traffic calming Traffic calming is intended to slow or reduce motor-vehicle traffic in order to improve the living conditions for residents as well as to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Urban planners and traffic engineers have many strategies for traffic calming... tool ("a speed hump") *(US & UK: speed bump Speed bump A speed bump is a speed-reducing feature of road design to slow traffic or reduce through traffic, via... ) to move a heavy load by human effort a short distance	a rounded mass sticking out from its surroundings (v., vulgar slang) engage in sexual intercourse, animals breeding or trying to breed see also Glossary of rail terminology	(n. & v.) (to make) a vigorous effort ("hump yourself", "to get a hump on") (regional) (n.) a mountain barrier to be crossed (as by air) (hump day) Wednesday

I

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
icebox Icebox An icebox is a compact non-mechanical refrigerator which was a common kitchen appliance before the development of safe powered refrigeration devices.- Design :...		cabinet containing ice for food refrigeration	refrigerator Refrigerator A refrigerator is a common household appliance that consists of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump that transfers heat from the inside of the fridge to its external environment so that the inside of the fridge is cooled to a temperature below the ambient temperature of the room...
ice pick		ice axe Ice axe An ice axe, is a multi-purpose ice and snow tool used by mountaineers both in the ascent and descent of routes which involve frozen conditions. It can be held and employed in a number of different ways, depending on the terrain encountered... , a tool with a pointed end used by climbers on ice	small awl-like tool for breaking ice into small pieces for drinks
immediately	(conj., informal) as soon as ("I await your call immediately after you get this message")	(adv.) directly; in no time
Indian corn		Zea mays (historical or technical; usually, UK maize Maize Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable... or sweetcorn, US corn Maize Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable... , q.v.)	A particular variety of maize/corn, with multicolored kernels, used for decorations
indicator	direction-indicator light on a vehicle (US: turn signal)	one that indicates
inspector (police)	lowest supervisory rank above sergeant Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent.... (rough US equivalent: lieutenant)		senior rank in some police departments (rough UK equivalent: superintendent)
intern Intern Internship is a system of onthejob training for white-collar jobs, similar to an apprenticeship. Interns are usually college or university students, but they can also be high school students or post graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. They may also be as young as middle school or in...	replacement	(v.) to confine (as during a war, or to a hospital) (adj., archaic) internal	(n.) one (as a graduate or college student) temporarily employed for practical training, e.g. in the science, engineering, or technology fields; esp., in the medical field, a physician (rough UK equivalent: houseman) in their first year of postgraduate training (v.) to work as an intern
international International ----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...		Pertaining to or common to more than one country.	Foreign, not from the USA. ("International version of software for country xxx", in British English this is a contradiction in terms.)
interval	break between two performances or sessions, as in theatre (US: intermission Intermission An intermission or interval is a recess between parts of a performance or production, such as for a theatrical play, opera, concert, or film screening.... )	a gap in space or time; see interval (music) Interval (music) In music theory, an interval is a combination of two notes, or the ratio between their frequencies. Two-note combinations are also called dyads... , interval (mathematics) Interval (mathematics) In mathematics, a interval is a set of real numbers with the property that any number that lies between two numbers in the set is also included in the set. For example, the set of all numbers satisfying is an interval which contains and , as well as all numbers between them... , interval (time)	(esp. New England, also spelled intervale) low-lying land, as near a river (US also bottomland)
inventory Inventory Inventory means a list compiled for some formal purpose, such as the details of an estate going to probate, or the contents of a house let furnished. This remains the prime meaning in British English...		itemisation of goods or objects (of an estate, in a building, etc.)	the stock of an item on hand in a store or shop the process of producing an inventory in a store or shop (UK: stocktaking)
IRA	Irish Republican Army Provisional Irish Republican Army The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion... [not abbreviated in U.S. without context]		Individual Retirement Account Individual Retirement Account An individual retirement arrangement is the blanket term for a form of retirement plan that provides tax advantages for retirement savings in the United States...

J

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
jab	an injection with a hypodermic needle, as in the case of an inoculation (US: shot)	(informal) to stab, thrust, or penetrate. biting remark, sarcasm.
janitor	an officer in a Masonic Chapter Holy Royal Arch The Holy Royal Arch is a degree of Freemasonry. It is present in all main masonic systems, though in some it is part of 'mainstream' Freemasonry, and in others it is an 'additional' degree.... (specialist language)	a person employed to oversee the cleaning and security of a public building, e.g. a school.	a person employed to oversee the cleaning and security of a building (UK: caretaker, especially for private residences; for schools etc. janitor is also used in the UK)
jelly	a fruit flavoured dessert set with gelatin Gelatin Gelatin is a translucent, colorless, brittle , flavorless solid substance, derived from the collagen inside animals' skin and bones. It is commonly used as a gelling agent in food, pharmaceuticals, photography, and cosmetic manufacturing. Substances containing gelatin or functioning in a similar... (US: Jell-O Jell-O Jell-O is a brand name belonging to U.S.-based Kraft Foods for a number of gelatin desserts, including fruit gels, puddings and no-bake cream pies. The brand's popularity has led to it being used as a generic term for gelatin dessert across the U.S. and Canada.... (trademark) ) a type of condiment, e.g. mint jelly	a clear or translucent preserve made from the liquid of fruits boiled in sugar and set with pectin Pectin Pectin is a structural heteropolysaccharide contained in the primary cell walls of terrestrial plants. It was first isolated and described in 1825 by Henri Braconnot... , specifically without pieces of fruit (e.g. 'crab apple jelly')	(occasionally) fruit preserve with fruit pieces (UK: Jam)
Jesse	(often as Big Jesse, derogatory insult for a man) Non-macho, effeminate, sometimes gay.	A male name (uncommon in the UK). A shortening of the female name Jessica.
jock	a Scotsman Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... or a Scottish Terrier Scottish Terrier The Scottish Terrier , popularly called the Scottie, is a breed of dog. Initially one of the highland breeds of Terrier that were grouped under the name of Skye Terrier, it is one of five breeds of terrier that originated in Scotland, the other four being the modern Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, and... (Scottie) (slang) a private soldier (slang) (UK: squaddie)		slang term for an athlete slang term for the undergarment called an athletic supporter or jockstrap Jockstrap A jockstrap is an undergarment designed for supporting the male genitalia during sports or other vigorous physical activity...
joint	piece of meat for carving * (slang) hand-rolled cigarette containing cannabis and tobacco	connection between two objects or bones an establishment, especially a disreputable one ("a gin joint"; "let's case the joint") (slang, orig. US)	(slang) hand-rolled cigarette containing only cannabis (slang) prison ("in the joint")
jolly	very (informal) (as in jolly good)	happy; jovial
jug	any container with a handle and a mouth or spout for liquid (US: pitcher)	(jugs) breasts (slang)	large container with a narrow mouth and handle for liquids (similar to UK pitcher)
jumper	a knitted upper body garment (US: sweater Sweater A sweater, jumper, pullover, sweatshirt, jersey or guernsey is a garment intended to cover the torso and arms. It is often worn over a shirt, blouse, T-shirt, or other top, but may also be worn alone as a top... )	jump shot in basketball Non-permanent electrical connection, especially on a PCB Printed circuit board A printed circuit board, or PCB, is used to mechanically support and electrically connect electronic components using conductive pathways, tracks or signal traces etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate. It is also referred to as printed wiring board or etched wiring...	pinafore dress jump suit
just	(When used at the end of a sentence, as in: "I survived, but only just") barely	fair, equitable merely, simply, exactly, barely (when used before word it modifies)

K

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
kebab	commonly a döner kebab Döner kebab Doner kebab is a dish made of roasted meat cooked on a vertical spit. It is also known regionally as gyro , shawarma, and al pastor . It consists of shaved lamb, goat, chicken, turkey, beef, or mixed meats roasted on a spit. Less common alternatives include fish and sausage... (sometimes doner or donner kebab), strips of meat (usu. lamb or chicken) cooked by being heated on a revolving device and served stuffed in a pita bread (In the US, the Greek Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... varieties souvlaki or gyro are better known than the Turkish Turkey Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe... döner)	(often spelled "kabob" in the US) meat served on a skewer together with onions, tomatoes, etc. (e.g. shish kebab)
keen	eager or intent on, example: he is keen to get to work on time.		desirable or just right, example: "peachy keen" – "That's a pretty keen outfit you're wearing." (slang going out of common usage)
keeper	a curator Curator A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material... or a goalkeeper Goalkeeper In many team sports which involve scoring goals, a goalkeeper is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by intercepting shots at goal...	one that keeps (as a gamekeeper Gamekeeper A gamekeeper is a person who manages an area of countryside to make sure there is enough game for shooting, or fish for angling, and who actively manages areas of woodland, moorland, waterway or farmland for the benefit of game birds, deer, fish and wildlife in general.Typically, a gamekeeper is... or a warden)	a type of play in American football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by... ("Quarterback keeper Quarterback keeper A quarterback keeper or keeper in American football is a designed play in which the quarterback does not pass or hand off the ball to another player and instead rushes forward with it in an effort to gain yardage... ") a person well-suited for a successful, usu. romantic, relationship. (Don't let him go—he's a keeper) something of significance ("that's a keeper"). Can be used in many contexts. Often used in sports fishing to refer to a fish not released.
kit	clothing, esp. a sports uniform (e.g. football kit)	any of various sets of equipment or tools a set of parts to be assembled, e.g. into a scale model Scale model A scale model is a physical model, a representation or copy of an object that is larger or smaller than the actual size of the object, which seeks to maintain the relative proportions of the physical size of the original object. Very often the scale model is used as a guide to making the object in...	a group of person or objects ("the whole kit and (ca) boodle/billing")
kitty		affectionate term for a housecat collective source of funds (esp. for a group of people)	piggy bank Piggy bank Piggy bank is the traditional name of a coin accumulation and storage receptacle; it is most often, but not exclusively, used by children. The piggy bank is known to collectors as a "still bank" as opposed to the "mechanical banks" popular in the early 20th century. These items are also often used... vagina (vulgar slang) ("Singin' 'hey diddle diddle' with your kitty in the middle" – Aerosmith Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many... , Walk this Way Walk This Way "Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit... )
klaxon	(slang) a fool, idiot	Trademark (somewhat generic Genericized trademark A genericized trademark is a trademark or brand name that has become the colloquial or generic description for, or synonymous with, a general class of product or service, rather than as an indicator of source or affiliation as intended by the trademark's holder... ) for a mechanical alarm or horn used in submarines and early automobile models
kleenex		specific brand of disposable paper handkerchief (Kleenex Kleenex Kleenex is a brand name for a variety of toiletry paper-based products such as facial tissue, bathroom tissue, paper towels, and diapers. The name Kleenex is a registered trademark of Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Often used as a genericized trademark, especially in the United States, "Kleenex"... )	any disposable paper handkerchief (from tradename, example of a Genericized trademark Genericized trademark A genericized trademark is a trademark or brand name that has become the colloquial or generic description for, or synonymous with, a general class of product or service, rather than as an indicator of source or affiliation as intended by the trademark's holder... )
knickers	women's underwear (US: panties) or men's underwear (US: briefs)		knickerbockers Knickerbockers (clothing) Knickerbockers are men's or boys' breeches or baggy-kneed trousers particularly popular in the early twentieth century USA. Golfers' plus twos and plus fours were breeches of this type...
knob	The penis, or specifically the glans Glans penis The glans penis is the sensitive bulbous structure at the distal end of the penis. The glans penis is anatomically homologous to the clitoral glans of the female... (slang, vulgar) ("polishing the knob" * )	a rounded door handle fool, idiot, dim-witted person
knock over		to tip over something to cause an object to fall over.	to rob (esp. a store, slang) ("He knocked over a gas station.")
knock up	to practise before tennis to awaken or summon by knocking	to prepare quickly ("Knock us up something to eat" — L.M. Alcott Louisa May Alcott Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist. She is best known for the novel Little Women and its sequels Little Men and Jo's Boys. Little Women was set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts, and published in 1868... )	to impregnate*(slang, sometimes vulgar)

L

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
ladder	a run (vertical split) in the fabric of tights Tights Tights are a kind of cloth leg garment, most often sheathing the body from about the waist to the feet with a more or less tight fit, hence the name....	a vertical or inclined set of rungs or steps.
lavatory	toilet Toilet A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet/bathroom/lavatory...	closet in passenger vehicles (e.g. trains) containing a toilet and washbasin/sink.	washbasin, place for washing
lay by (v.), lay-by (n.)	(n.) roadside parking or rest area for drivers	(v.) to lay aside to stow	(n.) a last cultivating in the growing of a crop (v.) to cultivate (a crop) for the last time
lead Lead (disambiguation) Lead has two different pronunciations and several different meanings, usually related to either the chemical element lead or the verb to lead.- When pronounced :With this pronunciation, "lead" refers to:...	(rhyming with "speed") a cable (US: cord), or a dog's leash	to guide through	(n.) a clue or potential source of information (esp. in context of journalistic investigation) *
leader Leadership Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...	newspaper editorial Editorial An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:... main violin in an orchestra (US: concertmaster Concertmaster The concertmaster/mistress is the spalla or leader, of the first violin section of an orchestra. In the UK, the term commonly used is leader... ) see also Leader of the Opposition	one who leads	a pipe for carrying water ("rain water leader")
lecturer	the entry-level academic rank at a university University A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education... (below Senior Lecturer, Reader Reader (academic rank) The title of Reader in the United Kingdom and some universities in the Commonwealth nations like Australia and New Zealand denotes an appointment for a senior academic with a distinguished international reputation in research or scholarship... , and Professor Professor A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank... )	someone who gives a lecture
lemonade Lemonade Lemonade is a lemon-flavored drink, typically made from lemons, water and sugar.The term can refer to three different types of beverage:...	clear, carbonated, lemon-flavoured drink similar to Sprite Sprite (soft drink) Sprite is a transparent, lemon-lime flavored , caffeine free soft drink, produced by the Coca-Cola Company. It was introduced in the United States in 1961. This was Coke's response to the popularity of 7 Up, which had begun as "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda" in 1929... and 7 Up 7 Up 7 Up is a brand of a lemon-lime flavored non-caffeinated soft drink. The rights to the brand are held by Dr Pepper Snapple Group in the United States, and PepsiCo in the rest of the world, including Puerto Rico, where the concentrate is manufactured at the Pepsi facility in Cidra... (lemon and lime flavoured)		non-carbonated drink made by mixing lemon juice, sugar, and water (UK: traditional lemonade)
let	to rent Renting Renting is an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good, service or property owned by another. A gross lease is when the tenant pays a flat rental amount and the landlord pays for all property charges regularly incurred by the ownership from landowners... (as real property) *("rooms to let") (n.) the act of renting; rented premises (let out) to reveal	allow, give permission. leave (as in let him be or let it be) ease (as in let up on the accelerator) indicate (as in don't let on) a first bad serve which is allowed to be retaken, as in tennis, table tennis, and volleyball	(let out) to end (of school, meetings, etc.)
levee	an early afternoon assembly Levée (ceremony) Lever , adopted in English as levée—initially the simple act of getting up in the morning—has traditionally been a daily moment of intimacy and accessibility to a monarch or leader... held by the King or Queen, to which only men were admitted (Always levée, with accent)	a reception in honour of a particular person	an embankment on a river Levee A levee, levée, dike , embankment, floodbank or stopbank is an elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially constructed fill or wall, which regulates water levels... (as the Mississippi River Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains... ) the steep bank of a river, or border of an irrigated field (esp. Southern Southern United States The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States... & Western Western United States .The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time... US) a landing place or quay
leverage		mechanical advantage of a lever	take advantage of a capability (business) the use of debt finance (UK: gearing)* knowledge not immediately revealed to be used to one's advantage *
liberal (politics)	a person who generally supports the ideas of the UK Liberal Democrats Liberal Democrats The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the... , a centre left-party	a person who holds the political ideals of Liberalism Liberalism Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,... .	a person who advocates modern liberalism; see also Liberalism in the United States Liberalism in the United States Liberalism in the United States is a broad political philosophy centered on the unalienable rights of the individual. The fundamental liberal ideals of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion for all belief systems, and the separation of church and state, right to due process... for historic background
life preserver	a type of weapon for self-defence (US: blackjack)		life vest, personal flotation device Personal flotation device A personal flotation device is a device designed to assist a wearer, either conscious or unconscious, to keep afloat.Devices designed and approved by authorities for use by... (UK: lifebelt or lifejacket)
lift (n.)	platform or cage moved vertically in a shaft to transport people and goods to various floors in a building (US: elevator)	ride as a passenger in a vehicle (as in, to give someone a lift) item placed in shoe to increase the height of the wearer, normally plural (lifts, elevator shoes)	an elevation in mood, "I got a lift just talking with her."
line	(see also track)	a breadthless length	a group of persons, usually waiting for something, arranged in order of arrival (UK: queue) a lie, short for a line of bull a phrase used for hitting on women, short for pickup line to hit a line drive (a hard straight shot) in baseball
liquor	the broth resulting from the prolonged cooking of meat or vegetables. Green liquor is traditionally served with pie and mash Pie and mash Pie and mash is a traditional London working-class food.-History:Pie, mash and stewed eels shops have been in London since the 19th century and are still common in south and east London, in many parts of Essex and in places abroad, particularly Australia - where there are significant expatriate... in the East End of London East End of London The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...		a distilled beverage Distilled beverage A distilled beverage, liquor, or spirit is an alcoholic beverage containing ethanol that is produced by distilling ethanol produced by means of fermenting grain, fruit, or vegetables... * (hard liquor) strongly alcoholic beverage; spirits (liquor store) retail establishment selling liquor (usu. for consumption off the premises) (UK similar: off-licence) ("I held up and robbed a hard liquor store" – Paul Simon) (malt liquor Malt liquor Malt liquor is a North American term referring to a type of beer with high alcohol content. In legal statutes, the term often includes any alcoholic beverage above or equal to 5% alcohol by volume made with malted barley. In common parlance, however, it is used for high-alcohol beers made with... ) a type of beer with high alcohol content
loaded		the state of a firearm with bullets or shells in its firing chamber. bearing a load. (slang; of a person) rich	drunk or high
lolly	Frozen water-based dessert on a stick (US: popsicle).	(short for lollipop) candy on a stick.
lot		(a lot) a great deal a number of things (or, informal, people) taken collectively fate, fortune a prize in a lottery (the lot) the whole thing	a measured plot of land; a portion of land set for a particular purpose ("a building lot"), e.g. for parking ("parking lot") or selling ("used car lot") automotive vehicles. But also a "vacant lot" a film studio
lounge	a room for relaxation and entertainment in a house (lounge bar) part of a pub	a room for relaxation in a public place	a bar
love (in addressing people)	informal term of address	beloved person, darling (often a term of endearment)
loveseat	a seat which accommodates two people facing in opposite directions. Can be wooden or padded.		a two-seater couch
lox		liquid oxygen Liquid oxygen Liquid oxygen — abbreviated LOx, LOX or Lox in the aerospace, submarine and gas industries — is one of the physical forms of elemental oxygen.-Physical properties:... (engineering)	thin-sliced smoked salmon Smoked salmon Smoked salmon is a preparation of salmon, typically a fillet that has been cured and then hot or cold smoked. Due to its moderately high price, smoked salmon is considered a delicacy.-Presentation:... , commonly consumed on bagel Bagel A bagel is a bread product, traditionally shaped by hand into the form of a ring from yeasted wheat dough, roughly hand-sized, which is first boiled for a short time in water and then baked. The result is a dense, chewy, doughy interior with a browned and sometimes crisp exterior... s; Yiddish Yiddish language Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages... from German German language German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union.... 'Lachs', salmon.
lugs (n.)	ears (lugholes)	a small projection (engineering)	a lug nut fastens a wheel to the hub, (UK wheel nut). a "big lug" is usually a term of endearment for a large shy, goofy man.
lumber Lumber Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....	(n.) disused items (as furniture Furniture Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things... )*; hence lumber room Lumber room The phrase "lumber room" is found in British novels at least during the nineteenth century, and the use of the word lumber in this phrase is that found in many obsolescent turns of phrase heard in various English-speaking countries. Probably one of the most evocative references is the short story... (v.) to encumber (as with such items) ("I was lumbered with work")	(v.) to move awkwardly or heavily ("he lumbered out the door")	(n.) timber Timber Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S... that has been sawed and (partly) prepared for construction Construction In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking... or woodworking Woodworking Woodworking is the process of building, making or carving something using wood.-History:Along with stone, mud, and animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked by early humans. Microwear analysis of the Mousterian stone tools used by the Neanderthals show that many were used to work wood... ; hence lumberyard (UK: timberyard), lumber camp, lumberjack Lumberjack A lumberjack is a worker in the logging industry who performs the initial harvesting and transport of trees for ultimate processing into forest products. The term usually refers to a bygone era when hand tools were used in harvesting trees principally from virgin forest... , lumberman, lumber wagon, lumber town, etc. (v.) to log and prepare timber to make a rolling sound (dated)
lush (slang; of a person)	attractive (usu. used by women in reference to men – principally West Country)	luxuriant	an alcoholic *especially female

External links

The Septic's Companion: A British Slang Dictionary an online dictionary of British slang, viewable alphabetically or by category

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