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Begins with “N”
Nailed to the Counter– Proven a lie.
Nairn– None
Namby-pamby– Sickly, sentimental, saccharin.
Nancy or Nancy-boy– An effeminate man.
A Nanny poses for the camera.
Nanny– A prostitute.
NannyShop – Brothel
Nary– None, not, zero
Nary-One– Neither.
Navy Model– Colt firearms.
Necessary– Outhouse, water closet; bathroom.
Neck Oil– Whiskey.
Necktie Social or Necktie Party– A hanging or lynching, most often referred to in vigilante hangings.
Nester– A squatter who settled on government land, usually to farm.
Nibbler– A petty thief.
Nibble– To take or steal.
Ni**er In a Woodpile– Disappearance, unsolved mystery.
Nigh Unto– Nearly, almost.
Night Hawk– While the rest of thecowboysslept under the stars on a cattle drive, one unlucky soul who drew the short straw, the “night hawk”, had to stay up all night standing guard.
Nippent– Impudent, impertinent.
Nipper– A baby or small child.
Nobby, Nobbish– Fine, stylish.
No Count or No Account– Of no account, worthless. “That no count boy does nothing but get into trouble.”
Nohow– Not at all, no way.
No Odds– No difference, no consequence, no matter.
Nose Paint– Whiskey.
Nosey Parker–Someone who is nosey.
Not By a Jugful– No consideration, on no account, not at all.
Notch– An opening or narrow passage through a mountain or hill.
Nothing To Nobody– Nobody’s business.
Notions– A wide range of miscellaneous articles for sale.
Nubbin– Saddle horn.
Nurly– A corrupt pronunciation of gnarly, i. e. gnarled.
Nymphs du Prairie– Prostitutes.
Begins with “O”
Oats– To feel one’s oats, is to feel one’s importance.
Odd Fish or Odd Stick– A person who is eccentric or odd in his manners. “Ol’ Farmer Jones sure is an odd stick.”
Off his nut, off his rocker, off his chump– Weak in the head, crazy, illogical; someone who behaves strangely.
Offish– Distant, reserved, aloof.
Off one’s feed– Unable to eat, having no appetite.
Of the First Water– First class. “He’s a gentleman of the first water.”
Oh-be-joyful– Liquor, beer, intoxicating spirits. “Give me another snort of that oh-be-joyful.”
Old– Crafty, cunning. If someone tries to take advantage of someone else, who is too cunning to be deceived, he might say “I’m a little too old for you.”
Old Betsy or Old Blue– A gun.
Old Country– A term applied to Great Britain, originally by natives from that country, who had immigrated to the United States.
Old Countryman– A native of England, Scotland, Ireland, or Wales. The term was never applied to persons from the Continent of Europe.
Old Dan– Often used to refer to a trustworthy mule.
Old Epharim– A term that mountain men called both male or female grizzly bears.
Old Man– The ridge found between two sleepers in a feather bed.
Whiskey was called lots of names, one of which was “Old Orchard.”
Old Orchard– Whiskey.
Old Pie– An expression of admiration or approval.
Old Pod– Old man.
Old Rackatee– A gun.
Old Rats– Equivalent to “one of the boys,” a hearty old fellow.
Old Scratch– The devil.
Old Stager– One well initiated in anything.
Old States– Back East.
Old Tom –Gin.
Old Towse– Whiskey
Oldermost– Oldest. “He’s the oldermost fellow at the reunion.”
On One’s Own Hook– On one’s own account, for himself. “He is doing business on his own hook.
Onplush– Nonplus.
Old Woman– Thecowboy’scook. Though the cook was often the most popular man on the cattle drive, cooking was still considered to be “women work.”
Oil– Nitroglycerine. Was often used to open bank vault. Also called “soup.”
One-horse– Small, limited, inferior. “Well, if that ain’t a one-horse town.”
On or In A Pinch– On an emergency.
On the Dead– Gratis, free.
On the Dodge–Hiding out somewhere; laying low for a while.
On the half-shell– Applied to anything prepared and ready for use.
On the Prod– Full of piss and vinegar, looking for trouble, spoiling for a fight. Said of both people and critters.
On the Shoot– Looking for trouble. “Looks like he’s on the shoot, tonight.”
On the Win– Winning or making money.
Oof– Money
Opine– To be of the opinion.
Ourn– Ours.
Outlaw– A horse that cannot be tamed to ride.
Over Head And Ears– Completely overwhelmed. “He was over head and ears in debt.”
Out And Out– Wholly, completely, without reservation.
Out-and-outer– First-class.
On The Fence– Neutral or undecided.
Out Of Fix or Out of Sorts– Disarranged, in a state of disorder.
Over-Careful– Very careful.
Overland Trout– Bacon.
Owdacious– Audacious.
Owl Hoot– Anoutlaw
Owl Hoot Trail– The outlaw way of life.
Oxbows– Large, old-time wooden stirrups. Also known as oxyokes.
