The English language is always evolving, with new words regularly entering its vocabulary. This adaptability isn’t a new phenomenon; over the years, the language has been shaped by words and expressions from many different times. Slang that was created in the trenches of World War I has left a lasting mark on modern language, even if not every phrase from that era remains widely used today.
Napoo
Another expression that never made its way into modern heavy English use is “napoo.”
This World War I slang term has roots in the French language. It comes from the French phrase “il n’y a plus,” which translates to “there is no more.” English-speaking soldiers who served with the French in the trenches adopted and altered the phrase for easier pronunciation, leading to “napoo.”
It was often used to describe something that was finished, destroyed, or dead.
Blimp
The term “blimp,” commonly used to describe modern airships, first surfaced during World War I, though its precise origin remains uncertain.
One well-known theory ties the name to the classification system for airships, proposing that “limp airships” was a term for these flexible, non-rigid vessels that could expand and contract. In this context, they were labeled as Category B: Limp, leading to the idea that “blimp” combines the category code with the descriptive term.
Another theory, perhaps more credible, is that the name is onomatopoeic, imitating the sound an airship makes when fully inflated.
Skive
The term “skive” is believed to stem from an anglicized form of a French word. Its origins are somewhat unclear, but it initially surfaced as military slang in World War I. Linguists propose that it may have evolved from the French word “esquiver,” which means “to avoid” or “to escape.” “Skive” was used to describe the act of dodging a task or duty.
If this connection to the French word is accurate, it would be among the most remarkable French-derived slang terms to enter the English language.
Blighty
During World War I, British soldiers embraced a term with a deeper meaning: “Blighty.” Now a familiar nickname for Great Britain, Blighty’s origins trace back to Urdu. The words “Vilayat” and “vilayati” — meaning “settled land” and “foreign,” respectively — are the originals.
A regional adaptation of the Urdu term, “bilayati,” had made its way into British military vocabulary by the 1800s. However, Blighty signified more than just a place – it also referred to a particular type of injury. Serious enough to require a trip home but not life-threatening, a Blighty wound meant a welcome return to Blighty itself.
In a flap
If you’re feeling anxious about something, you might describe yourself as being “in a flap.” This expression originated in 1916, during the height of World War I, and was commonly used by naval personnel. It likely draws inspiration from the restless flapping behavior of birds.
The phrase also paved the way for the term “unflappable,” which appeared much later in the 1950s and means being “unfazed.”
No bon
A slang expression that originated in the trenches of World War I but didn’t last is “no bon.” This term, a combination of English and French, was commonly employed by British soldiers—where “no” is English and “bon” is French. It translates to “no good,” as “bon” means “good” in French.
Over the top
This World War I-era slang expression has seen a resurgence in recent years, but did die out post-conflict.
Today, it’s used to describe something that is excessive or unnecessary, which is quite far from its original meaning. During the First World War, the expression referred to an attack from the trenches, which required soldiers to climb over the sandbags or go over the top of the trench.
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At the time, the term was also used to describe the beginning of a dangerous venture that had a small chance of survival.
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