#heritage

Polari for to smarten, fluff or style up — the word that gave us modern 'zhuzh'.

Polari for a dull or unavailable man — 'naff' here meaning ordinary, possibly 'not available for...'.

Polari for wonderful or marvellous — a blend of fabulous and fantastic with extra flourish.

Polari for a gay man — literally 'man-woman', a coded self-name under criminalisation.

Polari and wider British slang for a drink, usually alcoholic — short for 'beverage'.

Polari for a woman or girl — likely from Italian 'paglione' or a Romance root.

Mature content — open to view.

Polari for none, no, or beware — a vital warning word in dangerous times.

Polari for the eyes, with 'ogles' a pair and 'ogle riahs' the eyelashes.

Mature content — open to view.

Polari for a man — from Italian 'uomo', and the root of many compound terms.

The name of the cant itself — and a verb meaning to talk — Britain's secret gay language.

Polari for the face — back-slang of 'ecaf', itself 'face' reversed.

Polari for to look at or to see — the verb of the discreet, knowing glance.

Polari for bad, naff or tacky — the opposite of bona.

Polari for good, fine or lovely — the warm thumbs-up at the heart of the cant.

Polari for a policeman — literally a 'searching man', the figure most feared by speakers.

Polari for a toilet, lavatory or house — from Italian 'casa', and the root of Cockney 'khazi'.

To run off or flee fast — Polari and Cockney for making a quick getaway.

Polari for hair — simply 'hair' spelled backwards, a classic back-slang coining.

Polari and gay slang for masculine or tough — a presentation, not a slur.

Polari for fortune or luck — a hopeful word from Romance roots.

Polari for pretty, nice or sweet — as in 'your dolly old eek'.

Polari for legs — the singular 'lally' meaning one leg.

Polari for a house, flat or room — your lattie was your private safe space.

Polari for make-up — the greasepaint of theatre folk, slapped on the eek.

Mature content — open to view.

Mature content — open to view.