What would you say to some one who lived at the time of the Civil War? You would probably have a hard time understanding some of the things people said back then. Below is a list of words and phrases used during the Civil War (courtesy U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service):

1. Chief cook and bottle washer (person capable of doing many things)
2. Sheet iron crackers (hardtack)
3. Sardine box (cap box)
4. Breadbasket (stomach)
5. Greenbacks (money)
6. Graybacks (Southern soldiers; lice)
7. Arkansas toothpick (large knife)
8. Pepperbox (pistol)
9. Zu-zu (zouave soldier)
10. Fit to be tied (angry)
11. Horse sense (smart, on the ball)
12. Top rail #1 (first class)
13. Hunkey dorey (great)
14. Greenhorn, bugger, skunk (officers)
15. Snug as a bug (comfortable, cozy)
16. Sawbones (surgeon)
17. Skedaddle (run, scared)
18. Hornets (bullets)
19. Bully (Hurrah! Yeah!)
20. Possum (buddy, pal)
21. Blowhard (big shot)
22. Fit as a fiddle (in good shape, healthy)
23. Uppity (conceited)
24. Scarce as hen's teeth (rare or scarce)
25. Grab a root (have dinner, potato)
26. Tight, wallpapered (drunk)
27. Bark juice, tar water (liquor)
28. Nokum stiff, joy juice (liquor)
29. Hard case (tough)
30. Bluff (cheater)
31. Jailbird (criminal)
32. Hard knocks (beaten up)
33. Been through the mill (done a lot)
34. Quick-step (diarrhea)
35. Played out (worn out)
36. Toeing the mark (doing the job)
37. Jonah (bad luck)
38. Goobers (peanuts)
39. Sunday soldiers, kid glove soldiers, parlor soldiers (insulting words for soldiers)
40. Fresh fish (raw recruits)
41. Whipped (beaten)
42. Bummer (soldier that would take needed items from farmers and townspeople)
43. Housewife (small sewing kit)

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