"A Clockwork Orange" Nadsat Dictionary

Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange" Nadsat Dictionary

Upon writing "A Clockwork Orange" (ACO), Anthony Burgess made up a teenage argot he calls Nadsat. It is English with a polyglot of slang terms and jargon thrown in. The main sources for these additional terms is Russian. Although there are also contributions from Gypsy, French, Cockney/English slang and other miscellaneous sources such as Malay and Dutch (possibly via the Dutch influence on Malay) and his own imagination. The large number of Russian words in Nadsat is explained in the book as being due to propaganda and subliminal penetration techniques. This is probably because of the cold war (which was still quite "warm" when Burgess wrote ACO) which, in Burgess's ACO world, has apparently shifted into overdrive. If a meaning can be confused, e.g. Lomtick (slice) is a noun (as in "a slice oftoast"), not a verb, the meaning is clarified by use of an (n.) or (v.) etc.

Credits : I got hold of the contents of this file some time ago, while working my way through "A Clockwork Orange". After some googling around, I came across a very interesting, if badly-formatted and uncredited, version of this web page. After unsuccessfully trying to contact the supposed author, I gave it some minor reformatting and copied it to my web page (I did not take care to write down the orignal URL, though). Since then, Daniel Delany suggested an origin for "filly".

Word Meaning Origins Appypolly loggy Apology School boy speak Baboochka Old woman Russian: babooshka/grandmother Baddiwad Bad School boy speak Banda Band Russian: banda/band, gang Bezoomny Mad Russian: byezoomiyi/mad, insane Biblio Library Russian: biblioteka/library Bitva Battle Russian: bitva/battle Bog God Russian: Bog/God Bolnoy Sick Russian: bolnoy/sick Bolshy Big Russian: bolshoy/big Bratchny Bastard Russian: vnyebrachnyi/illegitimate Bratty Brother Russian: brat/brother Britva Razor Russian: britva/razor Brooko Belly Russian: bryukho/abdomen Brosay Throw Russian: brosat/to throw Bugatty Rich Russian: bogaty/wealthy Cal Shit Russian: kal/excrement, faeces Cancer Cigarette Standard slang term: ie. cancer stick Cantora Office Russian: kontora/office Carman Pocket Russian: karman/pocket Chai Tea Russian: chai/tea (c.f. English Slang: cha/tea) Charlie Chaplain/Priest Rhyming slang: Charlie Chaplin -> Chaplain Chasha Cup Russian: chashka/cup Chasso Guard Russian: chasovoy/sentry Cheena Woman Russian: zhenshcheena/woman Cheest Wash Russian: cheestit/to clean Chelloveck Fellow Russian: chelovyek/person, man Chepooka Nonsense Russian: chyepookha/nonsense Choodessny Wonderful Russian: choodesniyi/miraculous Chumble Mumble Invented slang: chatter + mumble (?) Clop Knock German: klop/hit & Dutch/Malay: kloppen/to hit Cluve Beak Russian: klyuv/beak Collocol Bell Russian: kolokol/bell Crark Yowl Unknown Crast Steal Russian: krast/steal Creech Scream Russian: kreechat/scream Cutter Money Rhyming slang: bread 'n' butter -> cutter Dama Lady Russian: dama/lady Ded Old Man Russian: ded/grandfather Deng Money Russian: dengi/money Devotchka Girl Russian: devochka/girl Dobby Good Russian: dobro/good Domy House Russian: dom/house Dook Ghost Gypsy: dook/magic & Russian: dukh: spirit/shost Dorogoy Valuable Russian: dorogoi/expensive, dear Drat Fight Russian: drat/to tear to pieces, to kill & drat'sya/to fight Drencrom A drug Invented slang: adrenochrome? Droog Friend Russian: droog/friend Dva Two Russian: dva/two Eegra Game Russian: igra/game Eemya Name Russian: imya/name Eggiweg Egg School boy speak Em Mum Invented slang: 'M' from "Mama" Fagged Tired English slang: tired Filly Play Possibly English: "filly" is a young female horse, and "to horse around" means to indulge in horseplay or frivolous activity, thanks to Daniel Delany!) Firegold A particular drink Invented slang: Unknown Forella Trout Russian: forel/trout Gazetta Newspaper Russian: gazeta/newspaper Glazz Eye Russian: glaz/eye Gloopy Stupid Russian: glupiyi/foolish, stupid Godman Priest Invented slang: 'man of God' Golly Unit of Money Invented slang: related to 'lolly' (money) Goloss Voice Russian: golos/voice Goober Lip Russian: guba/lip Gooly To Walk Russian: gulyat/to walk, stroll Gorlo Throat Russian: gorlo/throat Govoreet To speak or talk Russian: govorit/to speak, talk Grazhny Dirty Russian: gryuzniyi/dirty Grazzy Soiled Russian: gryuzniyi/dirty Gromky Loud Russian: gromkii/loud Groody Breast Russian: grud/breast Gruppa Group Russian: gruppa/group Guff Laugh Invented slang: short "guffaw" Gulliver Head Russian: golova/head Guttiwuts Guts School boy speak Hen-korm Chickenfeed Invented slang: hen-corn & Possibly Russian: korm/animal feed Horn To Cry Out Invented slang: sound a horn Horrorshow Good, well Russian: khorosho/good Hound-and-Horny corny Rhyming Slang: corny In-out-in-out Sex Invented slang: obvious Interessovat To interest Russian: interesovat/ to interest Itty To go Russian: idti/to go Jammiwam...

"A Clockwork Orange" Nadsat Dictionary

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