1950s American Slang Word(s) of the Day #10

Our 1950's american slang word(s) of the day today is:

Hep; adj. Aware; informed; knowing; specifically self aware, aware of, wise to, informed of and with a comprehension of and appreciation for a specific field of endeavor, modern mode, fashion or way of life. Some student use since c.1915. Common use since c.1935 when the word became associated with jive and swing use. Still considered a jazz term and fairly common with students and young adults since c.1945. Superseded by "hip", especially in jazz and beat use.


Hep Cat; Hepcat; n. 1. A person who is hep or well informed. archaic. 2. specific. a devotee of jive or swing music. Mainly used by non devotees who don't understand the meaning of Hep or Hepcat. Archaic. 3. A dude. A sport. A young man who dresses fashionably and garishly. Knows the latest news, witty sayings and cynical opinions, and enjoys or pursues women, jazz, and a fast, tense, unrefined way of life. orig. Harlem negro use. the most common use by hep people. archaic since WWII.



Cab Calloway




Example: "oooooh Daddy, you look so hep in those smooth threads, just being near you has got Baby hot to go!"


Clarification: "Well I exclaim, my handsome male lover. You look so confident, self aware and fashionable in that fine suit that is also quite free of bumps and irregularities. Standing so close to you has made me ready and eager to kiss and caress you intimately and passionately."

1950's American Slang Word of the Day #4

The definitions for the 1950's slang word of the day come word for word straight out of 'The pocket dictionary of American Slang' pub.1960 and compiled by Harold Wentworth and Stuart Berg Flexner.


The 1950's American Slang Word of the Day is :

Cat. adj. Drunk. n. 1. A Spiteful woman; A malicious gossip. coloqu. 2. A Lion, a Tiger, a Leopard or any other member of the cat family. circus use. 3. A man who dresses in the latest fashions and pursues women. A dude. A Sport, one who Tomcats, one who is worldly, wise, or Hep. Probably from "Alligator", "Gator", "Gate", and then corrupted to "Cat", reinforced by "Tomcat". Mostly Negro use. 4. A Jazz musician associated with and popularized by Swing use.
Wide bop use but cool and far out musicians are not referred to as cats by their devotees. Fairly well known general use since c.1940. 5. A Devotee of Jive and Swing, a hepcat, jive and swing use 1935-1942. 6. A devotee or any member of a group that is or anyone that appreciates bop, cool, far out, or beat. Anyone who is a member of the avante garde of music, art or literature. Any Non conformist, specifically a hipster. used by members of these groups since c.1950 and fairly common general use since c.1955 mainly owing to the sensational newspaper articles about hipsters and the beat generation,. 7. A man, a fellow or guy. Any human being. 1. To court or seek women for sexual reasons. To consort with prostitutes or promiscuous women. 2. To gossip, to make disparaging remarks 3. To loaf or idle. To spend ones time idling on street corners. Some teenage street gang use since c.1950 .

Example: "Hey Chooch, that guy Paulo is a real smooth Cat. He a friend of yours?"

Clarification: "Hey Charles, that young man Paul is quite a polished and refined gentleman. Is he someone that you know well?"