Dead Men Kill Glossary

Stories from the Golden Age reflect the words and expressions used in the 1930s and 1940s, adding unique flavor and authenticity to the tales. While a character’s speech may often reflect regional origins, it also can convey attitudes common in the day. So that readers can better grasp such cultural and historical terms, uncommon words or expressions of the era, the following glossary has been provided.

bead on, drawing a: taking careful aim at. This term alludes to the bead, a small metal knob on a firearm used as a front sight.

bluecoats: policemen.

bullpen: a holding cell where prisoners are confined together temporarily; in the 1800s, jails and holding cells were nicknamed bullpens, in respect of many police officers’ bullish features—strength and short temper.

clubbed gun: a rifle, shotgun, etc., held by the barrel so as to use the stock as a club.

deuce, what the: what the devil; expressing surprise.

dick: a detective.

dint of, by: by means of.

flatfoot: a police officer; cop.

gourde: a paper money and monetary unit of Haiti.

ha’nt: a ghost.

hop: drugs, especially opium.

newshawk: a newspaper reporter, especially one who is energetic and aggressive.

papaloi: (Haitian dialect) voodoo priest.

proverbial straw: pertaining to the proverb (short popular saying): “A drowning man snatches at straws,” meaning a desperate person will try anything to save himself, no matter how unlikely.

rod: another name for a handgun.

scareheads: headlines in exceptionally large type.

spot: 1. to place or position on a particular place. 2. single out; pick out; identify.

swallowtails: the back part of a man’s fitted coat that descends in a pair of tapering skirts.

wee sma’s: wee small hours; the early hours of the morning, especially those just after midnight.

zombie: a reanimated human body devoid of consciousness; in voodoo, it is a dead person who has been revived by a voodoo priest, and remains under the control of the priest, since they have no will of their own.