Prison slang


Prison slang is an argot used primarily by criminals and detainees in correctional institutions. It is a form of anti-language. Many of the terms deal with criminal behavior, incarcerated life, legal cases, street life, and different types of inmates. Prison slang has existed as long as there have been crime and prisons; in Charles Dickens' time it was known as "thieves' cant". Words from prison slang often eventually migrate into common usage, such as "snitch", "ducking", and "narc".

Examples

Prison slang, like other types of slang and dialects, varies by region. For that reason, the origins and the movement of prison slang across prisons are of interest to many linguists and cultural anthropologists.
Some prison slang are quite old. For example, "to cart", meaning to transfer to another prison, has been in use in Glasgow since 1733.
A two-year study was done by Bert Little, Ph.D. on American English slang with the main focus being in the coastal plain region of the Southeast U.S. His study published by The Trustees of Indiana University on behalf of the Anthropological Linguistics journal goes on to provide an extensive glossary of common prison slang terms that he found circling through the prison systems. Studies by Alicja Dziedzic-Rawska from the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Poland describe prison slang as "extremely rich and creative" with new words being formed on a daily basis. These are mainly used as a means of security against unauthorized parties receiving a certain message and, in some cases, can be a way to ensure a prison inmate's survival within the cells.

United States

TermDefinition
BagmanSomeone who is in possession of drugs
BangA drug injection
ChesterSlang term for an inmate incarcerated for child molestation
ChomoAnother slang term for an inmate incarcerated for child molestation
Take FlightTo initiate a fight with or jump another inmate
The WallA place where prison justice is dispensed through violence
GreenA term for paper money
IcedA term for killing another inmate or prison guard
In the holeWhen an inmate is separated from the other inmates by the authorities in a separate, isolated unit
Longjohn/JodyA person who is not incarcerated and is having sexual relations with an inmate's wife
RatAn Informant
Shank/ShivAn improvised stabbing weapon
SnuffedA term for anyone who has been murdered
SegA term meaning solitary confinement
C.O./D.O.Correctional Officer/Detention Officer

United Kingdom

TermDefinition
NarkSquealer
Block/BoxSolitary confinement.
Nerk/nirkStupid/unpleasant person/inmate. Term of abuse used to the face.
NonceA person in prison for offences against children. Origin of the word is disputed.
PompeyNorthern England slang for a prison, possibly originating from a notorious prison ship named Pompee, that was anchored in Portsmouth Harbour in the early nineteenth century.
PorridgeOne time main meal used as term for doing a prison sentence. Popularised by the popular BBC series Porridge – which in turn popularized many prison slang words.
ScrewPrison Officer – probably originating from a Victorian form of punishment involving a wheel to be turned on which a screw could be turned to make it more or less difficult. Possibly also from the pattern of walking to the end of a row of cells, turning, and walking back, constantly rotating like a screw
Snout/burnerA cigarette
Squealer, Rat, GrassAnyone who gives information to another group – primarily to the prison authorities.

Australia

TermDefinition
BangA drug injection.
ChiefThe title prisoners are expected to use to address prison officers
The boneyardProtective custody
Booshwa/fitSyringe
Bupe/subbieBuprenorphine/subutex
CellieCellmate
CockatooAn inmate tasked with alerting other inmates that prison officers are approaching
CrimCriminal/inmate
DogAn informant
GreensPrison clothing
LaggonPrison sentence
The poundSolitary confinement
Red light'Red light' is the code-word used by inmates to warn that prison officers are approaching
ScrewPejorative term for prison officer
ScrimPejorative term for inmates who work in clerical positions within the prison. Portmanteau of 'Screw' and 'Crim'.
SegroSegregation wing
ShivMakeshift stabbing weapon
SpinnerAn inmate acting strangely, highly associated with mental health issues
SweeperAn inmate paid by the prison to do domestic duties
TurtlesThe Squad. Specially trained and heavily equipped prison officers tasked with searching cells and riot control
Uncle BullyAn inmate convicted of child sex offences; a reference to a character from the film Once Were Warriors.