R. F. C. Slang

Aerial age v.9 1919 Mar-Sep. P. 902

(R. Stanley Edwards in Flying)

It was on the flying ground.

“See the tripehound zooming ceilingwards yonder ?” inquired the young pilot, those wings still thrilled him each time his eyes lighted on them. “That one there-way beyond the old eggbeater. Can’t you see the one I mean? Hoicking toward the K. B. ahead of her? There! Right above that ground-louse. Got her? Well, she’s skippered by Nicholson, the chap who yanked off that stunt in the tabloid. You’ve read about it, of course. Crashed by a coalbox he was got his windstick plop and made him take a toss, all out. She flattened, however, and hoicked him into the sea unhurt.”

The day old Quirk smiled feebly. He had understood about two words, but knew the other was being amiable.
“What happened”, he asked, noncommittally.
“Oh, he was yanked out. But he had stark vertical breeze for months after”, and the pilot strolled away, tired of doing the honors.

(In order to make possible the translation of this specimen of “Flyese,” our British contemporary, Flying, has published the following list of aeronautic slang phrases, with which some of our airmen are no doubt familiar.)
Air Terms and Slang used by both R. N. A. S. and R. F. C.

FLYESE	MEANING
…	…
For Bombs to “ Straddle”	To drop on each side of the object aimed at
A Tabloid	A single seated Sopwith scout biplane
All Out	Full speed ahead
To Snooker or Stymy	To “make a bloomer” or to “do a man in”