Slang wasn't as common in the 1940s as it is now; most people alive now can't string a sentence together without using some form of slang, or a word that has been adopted from some type of slang.  

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I am in no way suggesting we should all start speaking with '40s slang, as the chances are each of us would only remember a few; resulting in none of us knowing what the other was really saying! However, some of these examples are quite interesting.

 

The following is a fairly comprehensive list of slang with those in BOLD being the most commonly used by soldiers in the U.S. Army during World War 2:
 

AB - Area bird; cadet walking punishment tours in area of barracks

AF - Audio-frequencies (Signal Corps)

AA - Anti-aircraft

ACK-ACK - Anti-aircraft fire

ALBATROSS - Chicken

ANDY GUMP - A person with a small chin and prominent nose, from the cartoon character of the same name.

ARMORED COW - Canned milk

ARMORED COW or ARMORED HEIFER  - Condensed milk, because it came in a metal can. 

ARMY BANJO - Shovel

ARMY BRAT - Son or daughter of Army officer

ARMY LIDS - Radio operators, so called because they "talk through their hats."    

ARMY STRAWBERRIES - Prunes

AT - Anti-tank

AUGUSTINE - Cadet who enters Military Academy in August (West Point)

AWOL - An unauthorized absence, standing for "absent without leave". Uttered either as ‘A-Wall’ or ‘A-W-O-L’

BA - Busted aristocrat; cadet officer reduced to ranks (West Point)

BCL - Broadcast listener (Signal Corps)

BJ - Before June; applied to ‘plebes’ lacking in respect for upperclassmen (West Point)

BS – Bull Shit; an irrelevant, untruthful or prolonged discussion (West Point)

BABY CARRIAGE - Cart used to carry heavy machine gun.

BABY - Mustard

B-ACHE - Complaint, or to complain

BAD TIME - Time spent in guardhouse, which must be made up

BAIL OUT - Parachute jump from plane

BARKER - Heavy artillery gun

BARRACKS 13 - Guardhouse

BATH TUB - Motorcycle sidecar

BATHROOM STATIONARY - Toilet paper.

BATTERY ACID - Coffee, also known as JOE, JAVA, INK, BLACKOUT, and PAINT REMOVER. 

BEAM, FLYING THE IRON - Pilot following railroad track

BEAM, FLYING THE WET - Pilot following river

BEAM, RIDING THE - To pretend innocence; to look at ceiling (Flying Cadets)

BEAN GUN - Mobile kitchen which often traveled with other vehicles including those which carried artillery.  

BEANS - Commissary officer

BEAST BARRACKS - Period of elementary training for new cadets (West Point)

BEAST - New cadet (West Point)

BEEF - a complaint

BEHAVIOR REPORT - Letter to a girl

BELLYACHE – to complain

BELLY ROBBER - Mess sergeant

BEND THE THROTTLE - To fly plane or drive vehicle above normal speed

BIBLE - Army regulations

BIG JOHN - A recruit from the country, a bumpkin.

BIRD DOGGING - Lower classman dancing with upper classman’s girl (Flying Cadets)

BISCUIT GUN - Imaginary appliance for shooting food up to pilots who are having difficulty in landing (Flying Cadets)

BLACK HAWK - Army necktie worn with the dress uniform.

BLACK STRAP - Coffee

BLACK WEDNESDAY - Calisthenics with rifles (Flying Cadets)

BLAME HITLER - The answer to all complaints of every variety.    

BLASE - Fresh; indifferent to correction (West Point)

BLIND - A money fine of a court-martial sentence. (Soldiers Handbook)

BLIND FLYING - A date with girl you have never seen

BLISTERFOOT - Infantryman

BLITZ IT - Polish it

BLITZ WAGON, or BUGGY - Staff car

BLITZES - Air patrols

BLOW YOUR TOP - Vocal loss of temper

BOARD FIGHT - Recitation in which problems are worked out at blackboards (West Point)

BOB-TAIL - A dishonorable discharge. (Soldiers Handbook)

BOG-POCKET - Tightwad

BONE - To study or strive for something; one would, “bone up on map work”

BOODLE - Candy, cake, ice-cream, etc (West Point). Boodle fight - any party at which boodle is served

BOOTLEG - Coffee

BOUDOIR - Squad tent

BOWLEGS - Cavalrymen

BRACE - Exaggerated position of attention

BRASS - Empty cartridge shells

BRASS HAT - GHQ officer; staff officer

BRASS POUNDER - Radio telegrapher (Signal Corps)

BREAD SERGEANT or MINE PLANTER - dining-room orderly

BRIG - Army jail. Also: can, clink, hoosegow, mill, playhouse, crow-bar hotel, and "in the moosh" among others.

BRUSS - An exaggerated brace (Flying Cadets)

BUBBLE DANCING - Dishwashing.

BUCK PRIVATE - A private without any specialist's rating.

BUCKING FOR ORDERLY - Extra personal appearance efforts when competing for orderly to the commanding officer.

BUCKING FOR SECTION 8 - Seeking discharge for mental instability or military ineptitude (not grounds for dishonorable discharge)

BUCKING - Extra attention to personal appearance when competing for higher rank or favors

BUDDY SEAT - Motorcycle sidecar

BUG - Instrument recording performance in Link Trainer (Air Corps)

BUG - Speed key on transmitter (Signal Corps)

BUGLE - To avoid reciting by standing at blackboard until end of period (West Point)

BUGS - Any solids found in soup

BUILT-IN HEAD WIND - Implication that plane designer has intentionally lowered cruising speed (Flying Cadets)

BULL PEN - Military prison yard

BULLY BEEF - Tinned Corned Beef

BUNK FATIGUE - Reclining on a bed during a lull in drills or on an afternoon off. (1939)

BUNK FLYING - Talking aviation in barracks (Air Corps)

BUNKIE - Close friend, or one who shares same shelter

BURN AND TURN - Game of blackjack

BUST - To reduce a noncommissioned officer to the grade of private. (Soldiers Handbook)

BUSTED - Reduced in rank

BUTCH - Medical officer

BUTCHER - An Army surgeon.

BUTT - Cigarette; Also Remainder; as ‘butt of the month.’ (West Point)

BUTT ME - Give me a cigarette

BUTTER BAR - First Lieutenant, after the gold rank insignia

BUTTON CHOPPER - The laundry. 

BUTTON UP - To close a tank (Armored Force)

BUTTONED UP - Orders carried out

BUZZING A TOWN - To do the town; in Air Corps, to fly over it

CABBAGE - American money.

CANS - Headphones (Signal Corps)

CANTEEN SOLDIER - One who wears non-regulation clothing or insignia

CAPTAIN OF THE HEAD - Latrine orderly

CARE BOY - Driver of tank (Armored Force)

CARRIER PIGEON - Serviceman acting as officer's messenger.

CARRYING A HEAVY LOAD - Fatigued or melancholy

CAT BEER - Milk.

CATHEAD KID - Soldier guarding a mine cable over the cathead (Mine Planters)

CHICKENSHIT - Pointless, unnecessary attention to military detail.

CHILI BOWL - Regulation Haircut. 

CHINA CLIPPER - Dishwasher.

CHINESE LANDING - One Wing Low (Air Corps)

CHOW HOUND - Heavy eater; "soldier who makes eating a career" according to Gone with the Draft.

CHOW HOUNDS - Men always at head of mess line

CIRCUS WATER - Iced drinks with meals.

CITS - Civilian clothing. (Soldiers Handbook)

CIVIES - Civilian clothing.

CLASS ‘A’ PASS - Reward for efficiency and good conduct; permits absence at all times when not on duty

CLASS ‘B’ PASS - Permits absence between retreat and reveille

CLUTCH, SLIPPING THE - Criticizing

CO or KO. - Commanding Officer. (Soldiers Handbook)

COCK PIT FOG - Mentally lost

COFFEE COOLER - One who seeks easy jobs

COFFIN NAIL - Cigarette

COLD - Without error (West Point)

COMB IT - Detailed inspection of a tank

COMMISSARIES - Groceries

COMPANY PUNISHMENT - Punishment fixed by company commander

COMPANY STOOGE - Company clerk

CON - Confinement to quarters (West Point)

COPENHAGEN - Chewing snuff

COSMOLINES - Artillery

COUNTRY CLUB - Randolph Field

COUSIN - Close friend

COW - Member of Second Class, third year at Military Academy (West Point)

CP - Command Post

CRASH - Omelet.

CRAWL - To admonish

CROSS BAR HOTEL - Guard House

CROW TRACKS - Chevrons

CRUMB HUNT - Kitchen inspection

D - Deficient (West Point)

DP - Dining permit (West Point)

DT - Double time

DAILY BULLETIN - Orders issued to regiment by regimental commander

DAILY DETAILS - Daily work schedule issued by 1st Sergeant

DAWN PATROLLING - To arise before reveille

DAY ROOM - Recreation room

DEADLINED - Vehicle laid up for repairs

DECK MONKEYS - Deck crew of Army Mine Planter

DECODE - To explain

DEMO (pronounced ‘deemo’) - A demerit (West Point)

DEVIL’S PIANO - Machine gun

DIDDIE BAG - Where soldier keeps valuables

DIHEDRAL OIL - Imaginary substance which recruits are sent to procure (Air Corps)

DING HOW - Everything O. K.

DIS - Discipline (West Point)

DIT DA ARTIST - Radio operator

DODO - Flying Cadet who has not yet made a solo flight

DOG FAT - Butter.  

DOG ROBBER - Orderly

DOG SHOW - Foot inspection

DOG TAGS - Identification disks

DOGFACE -  An enlisted soldier with long experience.   

DOODLE BUG - Reconnaissance car, or tank

DOOWHISTLE - See Ducrot

DOOWILLIE - See Ducrot

DOP KIT - Toiletry Bag

DOPES OFF - Acts stupidly

DOUGH PUNCHER - Army baker

DOUGHBOY (or DOUGH) - An infantryman.    

DOWNHILL - Second half of enlistment

DRAG - Equivalent to date; also, to apply water and shoe polish to a newly appointed cadet officer (West Point)

DRIVE IT IN THE HANGAR - Stop bunk flying

DRIVE UP - Come here

DRY RUN - To practice; a dress rehearsal

DS - Detached service; away from organization

DUAL - A flight with instructor; a date with chaperone (Flying Cadets)

DUCROT - Anything the name of which is not known; applied to all plebes, as ‘Mr. Ducrot.’ (West Point)

DUD - Unexploded shell

DUFF - Any sweet edible

DUFFLE BAG - Clothes bag

DUMBFLICKET - See Ducrot

DUMBGUARD - See Ducrot

DUMBJOHN - See Ducrot

DX MAN - Radio operator interested in contacting amateurs in foreign countries and distant places

EGG IN YOUR BEER - Too much of a good thing

ELEPHANT - Cadet taking dancing lessons (West Point)

ENGINEER - Cadet in top academic sections (West Point)

ETHER - Radio telephone (Signal Corps)

FD- Full dress

FART SACK - Sleeping bag

FAT FRIENDS - Observation balloons.

FATIGUE - Work detail

FATIGUES - Work clothes

FEATHER MERCHANT - Civilian working for the military.

FESS - A failure (West Point)

FIELD, IN THE - Campaigning against an enemy under actual or assumed conditions. (Soldiers Handbook)

FILE - A column of men, one behind the other (as opposed to a RANK where they stand side-by-side).         

FILE - Waste basket

FILE BONER - One striving to get ahead (West Point)

FIND - To discharge a cadet for failure in studies or conduct (West Point)

FIRST GRADER - Master Sergeant

FIRST MAN - First Sergeant

FLANKER - A tall person (West Point)

FLASH GUN - Machine gun used for training

FLOWER POT - Plane Power Turret (Air Corps)

FLYING BOXCAR - A bomber

FLYING CHINESE - One wing high-other wing low (Air Corps)

FOOT LOCKER - A barracks truck

FOOT SLOGGER - An Infantryman

FOUNDATION - Day on which list of those to be dismissed is published - See find (West Point)

FOUNDLING - A dismissed cadet (West Point)

FOXHOLE - Pit dug by a soldier, a one- man trench

FRENCH LEAVE - Unauthorized absence

FRESHMAN - A recruit

FRIED EGG - Insignia of U. S. Military Academy

FROG STICKER or PIG STICKER - A bayonet

FUNERAL GLIDE - Plane out of control (Flying Cadets)

G.I. - (1) Government issue; (2) individual infantryman, just as doughboy had been used in the Great War.

G.I. CANS – (1) Ashcans or garbage cans. (2) An artillery shell. (3) A cooking vessel.  (Army)

G.I. HAIRCUT - Hair cut to less than one inch. (Gone with the Draft) 

G.I. HOP or G.I. STRUGGLE - Dance held on the Post

G.I. SKY PILOT - Chaplain

G.I. WAR - Maneuver

G-2 - Inquisitiveness

GALVANIZED GELDING - Tank

GARRISON SHOES - Army dress shoes

GAS HOUSE GANG - Chemical Warfare Instructors

GAS HOUSE - Saloon or beer garden

GASOLINE COW BOY - Member of Armored Force

GEAR - Radio equipment (Signal Corps)

GEESE - Bombers in formation

GENERAL’S CAR - A wheelbarrow

GET A MOVE ON - Hurry up, move faster (see SHAKE A LEG)

GET EAGER - To strive to the utmost

GET THE LEAD OUT - Hurry up, move faster (see HUBBA-HUBBA)

GIG GETTER - A rifle which, in spite of all efforts at cleaning, fails to pass inspection

GIG - Unfavorable report

GLAMOUR BOY - Draftee, Selective Service trainee

GNOME - Member of second battalion; see runt (West Point)

GOAT - Junior officer in post, regiment, etc.

GOATY - Awkward, ignorant

GOING UP - To take off (Air Corps)

GOLDBRICK - Soldier with a talent for avoiding disagreeable work.

GOLDFISH - Salmon.

GOOFS OFF - Makes a mistake

GOON - Soldier who falls in lowest category in Army classification. - See Zombie

GRANDMA - Low gear. See Rachael

GRAVEL AGITATOR - Infantryman

GREASE MONKEY - Air mechanic’s assistant

GREASEBALL - A motor or aviation mechanic.

GREY GHOST - The stage Commander’s airplane, so named because it is the last plane one rides in before being washed out (Air Corps Training Centers)

GROSS - See wooden (West Point)

GROUND POUNDER - Infantryman

GROWLEY - Tomato ketchup; to blush (West Point)

GRUNT - Electrician’s helper (Signal Corps)

GUARD HOUSE LAWYER - A person who knows little but talks much about regulations, military law, and ‘soldier's rights.'

GUN - To gun anything is to have the waiter get it (Flying Cadets)

HALT AND FREEZE - Assume position of attention

HAM SHACK - Amateur radio station or building

HAM - Amateur radio operator

HARD ROLLED - Packaged cigarettes

HASH MARK - A service stripe

HASH BURNER - Cook

HEDGE HOP - Short flight

HELL BUGGY - Tank

HELL CADETS - Field musicians; drummers and buglers (West Point)

HERD BOUND - Soldier or animal unfit for further military duty

HIGH FREQ, or UHF - Ultra high frequency bands above 30 me (Signal Corps)

HIKE - To march. (Soldiers Handbook)

HIT THE DIRT - Take immediate cover

HIT THE SILK - Use a parachute

HITCH - An enlistment period

HIVE - To discover, to catch

HIVEY - Quick to learn (West Point)

HOB - Provost Marshal

HOLDING THE BAG - Left to take the blame

HOLY FLAW - An expression of extreme surprise, disgust, or joy (Air Corps)

HOMING DEVICE - A pass or furlough

HOOKS - Chevrons

HUBBA-HUBBA - Hurry up, move faster (see GET THE LEAD OUT); also used when a pretty girl is seen

HYPO HAPPY - Interested in photography

IC - Inspected and condemned. (Soldiers Handbook)

IN THE FIELD - Campaigning against an enemy under actual or assumed conditions

IRON HORSES - Tanks

IRON PONIES - Motorcycles

JACKSON - Form of address for any soldier

JAVA or JOE - Coffee

JAVA AND SIDEARMS - Coffee, milk, and sugar.

JAWBONE - Credit. To buy without money. To shoot a weapon over a qualification course when it doesn’t count for record

JEEP - A term applied to bantam cars, and occasionally to other motor vehicles; in the Air Corps, the Link trainer; in the Armored Force, the 1 1/2 ton command car. See peep

JEETER - A lieutenant

JERRY - German soldier

JOE BLOW - Any soldier.

JOKER - Wiseacre

JUICE JERKER - Electrician

JUMPING JEEP - Autogiro with jump take-off

KP - Kitchen police. (Soldiers Handbook) Writing in Our Army, Elbridge Colby noted that after the 1940 draft began, "… newspaper photographers like nothing better than to catch a Vanderbilt, a Rockefeller or a high government official peeling a pile of potatoes or onions into a bucket of water."

KEEPS DAINTY - Well behaved

KICK - A dishonorable discharge

KID - Bomber Co-pilot (Air Corps)

KIWI - A non-flying commissioned officer of the Air Corps

KNOCK IT OFF - Cease and desist

KNUCKLE BUSTER - Crescent wrench

KRAUT - German soldier

L.P. - Unattractive (West Point)

LANCE JACK - A temporary or acting corporal with the same duties and authority as a regularly appointed corporal, but without the pay of the grade

LANDING GEAR - Legs

LATRINE-O-GRAM - Unfounded reports

LATRINE RUMORS - Unfounded reports

LAUNDRY - Faculty board which passes on Flying Cadets. See Wash out

LEAD AND ZINC MINES - Planes (Flying Cadets)

LEADEN BREECHES - Inert, lazy

LET HER EAT - Drive at full speed

LID - Apprentice operator. An incompetent operator (Signal Corps)

LIFT HIM - To discharge an operator (Signal Corps)

LIMP LINE - Men reporting at Sick Call

LITTLE POISON - 37 mm. gun

LIVE AMMUNITION - Ball ammunition—full charge of lead and powder

LOW ON AMPS AND VOLTAGE - Lacking ambition and ideas (Air Corps)

LOWER THE BOOM - To deliver a knockout punch

LP - Listening Post

MP - Military police. (Soldiers Handbook)

MAGGIE’S DRAWERS - Red flag used on rifle range to indicate a miss

MAKE - To appoint a cadet officer; one recently appointed (West Point)

MARFAK - Butter

MASH IN - To push in the clutch pedal

MAX - A complete success (West Point)

MEAT BALL/MEATBALL -  (1) Inept soldier. (mg) (2) The last day of an enlistment, when a soldier turns in his equipment and is discharged at 11:00 a.m. So, when a soldier was asked how much time he has left, he was liable to say, "22 days and a meat ball."

MEAT WAGON - Ambulance

MECHANICAL RATS - Two-way loudspeaker system connecting barrack sleeping quarters with non-coms’ room

MESS GEAR - A soldier's individual mess kit, knife, fork, spoon, and cup. (Soldiers Handbook)

MICE - Small balls of lint on floor. See rats

MILL - A typewriter (Signal Corps); Guardhouse

MILLION DOLLAR WOUND - A non-fatal wound serious enough to warrant being shipped back to the Continental U.S.

MISERY PIPE - Bugle.

MISSOURI NATIONAL - A tune supposed to bring rain (West Point)

MITT FLOPPER - A soldier who does favors for his superiors, or salutes unnecessarily; a yes man

MOLE HOLE - Photographic dark room

MONKEY CLOTHES - Full dress uniform

MOTHER McCREA - A sob story

MOTOR POOL - Garage

MOTORIZED COCKTAIL SHAKER - a tank.

MOTORIZED DANDRUFF - Insects.

MOTORIZED FOOT LOCKER - Bantam car

MOTORIZED FRECKLES - Insects

MUCK - Muscle (West Point)

MUD FLATS - Army camp.   

MULE SKINNER - A teamster. (Soldiers Handbook)

MUSTARD - A smart pilot

NCO - A Non-Commissioned Officer

NETTED - Radio sender and receiver properly tuned on same frequency

NONCOM - A noncommissioned officer. (Soldiers Handbook)

NORTH DAKOTA RICE - Hot cereal

NUMBER 1 MAN - A machine gun operator

OAO - One and only (West Point)

OC - Officer in charge

OD - Olive drab, or officer of the day. (Soldiers Handbook)

OFF THE BEAM - Incorrect (Air Corps)

OFFICER’S LINE - A row of houses occupied by officers and their families

OLD FILE - An old soldier

OLD FOGY PAY - Extra pay for additional service after four years

OLD ISSUE - An old soldier

OLD MAN - Company or Regimental Commander (not used in the presence of the CO)

OLD NUM - The company commander; commanding officer. (Soldiers Handbook)

OLD SETTLER - An old soldier

ON THE CARPET - Called before the Commanding Officer for disciplinary action

ONE STRIPER - Private 1st class

OP - Observation Post

ORDERLY ROOM - Company headquarters

OVER THE HILL - To desert

OVER THE HUMP - To retire after service of 30 years

PCS - Previous condition of servitude; occupation before entering Military Academy (West Point)

PME - Practical Military Engineering; a box luncheon (West Point)

PS - Parlor snake; to escort visitors around post (West Point)

PACE - A step 30-inches long. (Soldiers Handbook)

PADRE - The Chaplain

PARING KNIFE - Bayonet

PARTED HIS TEETH - Scored a bull’s eye

PASTE YOU - punch someone

PEA SHOOTER - (1) rifle. (2) pursuit plane.

PEARL DIVER - Kitchen Police

PECKER CHECKER - A medic.  (A major job being checking for VD.)

PEEP (SON OF A JEEP) - Bantam car; used in organizations in which jeep is applied to larger vehicles

PEEP SIGHT - An expert gunner

PERSUADER - Inertia Starter Switch

PFC - Private 1st Class

PICK UP YOUR BRASS - Get out of the way

PIECE - Rifle or weapon. (Soldiers Handbook)

PIECE OF CAKE - Very easy or if sarcastically, very hard

PILLOW PIGEONS - Bed bugs.

PO'd - Pissed off

PODUNK - A cadet’s home town or its newspaper (West Point)

POLICE - To throw away; to clean up (to “police the area”); to be transferred to a lower academic section; to be thrown from a horse (West Point)

POOP SHEET - Drill schedule or any written announcement

POPEYE - Spinach. 

POPSICKLE - Motorcycle

POUNDING BRASS - Transmitting on a hand key (Signal Corps)

POUR ON THE COAL - Give it the throttle

POWER BIRDS OF WAR - Flying Cadets

PRAIRIE DOG SNARL - Mine cables twisted together (Coast Artillery Mine Planters)

PRED - Cadet’s predecessor at Military Academy (West Point)

PRO - Proficient (West Point)

PROP WASH - An expression of disbelief (Air Corps)

PRUNE - An "inefficient airman"

PTOMAINE DOMAIN - Mess hall.

PUNK AND PLASTER - Bread and butter.

PUNK - Bread

PUP TENT - Shelter tent. (Soldiers Handbook)

PUSH BUTTON PILOTS - Pilots using PT-13’s or PT-11’s for training; easier to operate

PX COUPONS - Post Exchange checks

PX - Post Exchange

QUARTERMASTER GAIT - A step longer than the regulation thirty-inch pace

QUILL - To report for a delinquency (West Point)

RHIP - Rank has its privileges (West Point)

RACHAEL - High gear. See grandma

RAIN ROOM - Bath house

RANK - A row of men, standing side-by-side (as opposed to a FILE where they stand one behind the other).

RANKED OUT - To be compelled to defer to a senior, as to be ranked out of quarters

RAT RACE - Mounted review in Armored Force

RATS - Balls of lint that suddenly appear on the floor during an inspection of quarters. See mice

RAUNCHY - A name applied to anything that is in bad shape or dirty (Air Corps)

RED LEG - Artilleryman

REFUGEES - Recruits or newly arrived selectees

REGIMENTAL MONKEY - The drum major

REGULAR - A Regular Army soldier

REMF - Rear Echelon Mother-Fucker; non-combat soldier whose duties keep him safe

REMOUNT - Recruit or Green Horse

REPPLE DEPPLE - Replacement Depot.

RE-UP or TAKE-ON - To reenlist

REVERSE - Disfavor (West Point)

RISE AND SHINE - Call used to awaken soldiers

ROGER** - Expression used instead of okay or right (Air Corps)

ROLL UP YOUR FLAPS - Stop talking (Flying Cadets)

ROLLINGS - Cigarette tobacco

ROOKIE - A recruit

RUN THE GUARD - Leave or enter camp furtively

RUNNER - A messenger

SAD SACK - A sloppy or disorganized soldier; a hopeless case

SALVE - Butter

SAND AND SPECKS - Salt and pepper.

SAND-RAT - A soldier on duty in rifle pit at direct practice

SCANDAL-SHEET - The monthly payroll

SCATTER GUN - Machine gun

SCRIPT - Special orders

SCUTTLEBUTT - Rumors

SECOND GRADER - First or Technical Sergeant

SEE THE CHAPLAIN - Stop grousing

SELECTEE - Men inducted into the army through the Selective Service Act of 1940 were known as selectees, after the act by which they were brought in.

SELF COMMENCER - Engine hand crank

SERUM - Intoxicating beverages

SEWER TROUT - White fish.

SHACK MAN - Married man

SHACK RAT - Garrison soldier who has made a friend in the city and usually goes to town every night

SHAKE A LEG/SHAKE IT/SHAKE YOUR TAIL - Hurry up, move faster (see GET A MOVE ON)

SHAVE TAIL - A second lieutenant. (Soldiers Handbook)

SHIT-ON-A-SINGLE or S.O.S. - Chipped or creamed beef on toast.

SHIVERING LIZ - Jello, also shimmy pudding.

SHORT ARM EXAM - Checking for VD (usually in a surprise, pre-revile "raid" by medics).

SHORT CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE EARPHONES - A mental lapse (Flying Cadets)

SHOT GUN - Machine gun

SHUTTERS - Sleeping pills

SICK CALL - Hospital call

SIDE ARMS - Cream and sugar

SIDE MEAT - Well pleased

SIDE SWIPER - Speed key on a transmitter (Signal Corps)

SIX AND TWENTIE TOOTSIE - Any bit of young enticing femininity who is responsible for a flying cadet returning late from a weekend leave; ‘6’ and '20' meaning 6 demerits and 20 punishment tours (Air Corps)

SKAG - Cigarette (West Point)

SKIN - Same as quill (West Point)

SKIPPER - The company commander (non-derogatory)

SKIRT PATROL - Search for feminine companionship

Skunk Hollow - The barracks.   

SKY SCOUT - The Chaplain

SKY WINDER - Air Corps man

SKY WIRE - An antenna (Signal Corps)

SLAPPING IT ON - Fining a soldier for a petty offense

SLIP - Recorded tape (Signal Corps)

SLIPPING THE CLUTCH - Talking or criticizing

SLUM - A palatable and nourishing form of liquid hash; sometimes applied to any meal, as in "It's time for slum."

SLUM BURNER – Army cook.

SNAFU (pronounced snaffoo) -  A completely confused situation, short for "situation normal all fucked (fouled) up". It is defined in a 1944 slang dictionary as "... temporary turmoil resulting from an abrupt change in orders ..."  The slang guides of the day insisted that the f-word was either "fouled" or "fuddled." The first report of the use of this term outside of the military came during the Louisiana Maneuvers when Henry Allen reported in his October 1, 1941 "Washington Merry-Go Round" in the Washington Post: "Popular expression in the new citizen army, 'Situation normal, everything snafu.'"

SNEAK AND PEEK - Reconnaissance patrol

SNORE SACK - Sleeping bag

SNOW THEM - To exaggerate or fool someone

SOAP SUDS ROW - NCO's living quarters and area—because their wives do own laundry

SOFT MONEY - Paper currency

SOIREE - Unwelcome task; also used as verb (West Point)

SOUP - Dynamite

SPEC - To memorize (West Point)

SPECIAL DUTY - Soldiers used for special jobs; clerks, typists, etc

SPEED ARTIST - An expert radio telegraph operator who can send at high speeds on a hand key (Signal Corps)

SPIN IN - Go to bed or take a nap (Air Corps)

SPOON UP - To clean up (West Point)

SPOONY - Neat in appearance (West Point)

ST. VITUS DAVENPORT - A tank

STACK - String of messages (Signal Corps)

STATIC AGITATORS - Radio students

STATIC BENDER - Radio Operator

STEAM SHOVEL - Potato peeler

STORM - Name applied to condition one is in when he is excited and doesn’t know what he is doing (Air Corps)

STRAIGHT LEG - Regular (non-airborne) infantryman, due to the unbloused trousers

STREET MONKEYS - Members of band

STRICTLY CUT PLUG - Well pleased

SUBMARINE - A bedpan.

SUGAR REPORT - Letter from a sweetheart. (Glossary)

SUNTANS** - Lightweight tan summer uniforms

SUPERMAN DRAWERS - Woolen underwear

SWACKED - Intoxicated

SWEATING - Anticipating (as in “sweating out the start of an attack”)

TAC - Officer of Tactical Department (West Point)

TAKE A POWDER - Run away

TAKE FIVE/TAKE TEN - Rest for 5 or 10 minutes

TAKE IT EASY - Relax or calm down

TAILOR MADES - Factory-made cigarettes

TARBUCKET - Full dress hat (West Point)

TAXI UP - Come here (Air Corps)

TC - Training cadre

TEAR ’EM OUT - Clash gears

TERRIER WITH SHAMROCKS - Corned-beef and cabbage.

THIRD GRADER - Staff Sergeant

THREE STRIPER - Sergeant

THROW THE BOOK - Give maximum punishment (as in “they threw the book at him for going AWOL).

TIE UP - To blunder (West Point)

TIGER MEAT - Beef

TIN HAT - Steel helmet

TOOTHPICK VILLAGE - Name for the wooden barracks hastily erected in the winter of 1940-41 and beyond.

TOP CUTTER - First Sergeant

TOP KICK - First Sergeant

TOUCHY - Overly sensitive

TOUGH ROW TO HOE - Hard job

TOUGH ROW OF BUTTONS TO SHINE - Hard job

TUB - Scout car

TUB, IN THE - About to be washed out (Flying Cadet)

TURKSHEAD McGUIRK - Man skilled in tying knots (Coast Artillery Mine Planters)

TURNBACK - Cadet dismissed and readmitted to lower class (West Point)

TURNED IN - Reported for misconduct

TWO STRIPER - Corporal

TYPE C - C-rations; canned rations.

TYPEWRITER - .30 Calibre Machine Gun

U.H.F. - Ultra high frequency bands (Signal Corps)

UNCLE SAM’S PARTY - Payday

VALLEY FORGE - Temporary tent city in cold weather

WAGON SOLDIERS - Field Artillerymen

WALKIE-TALKIE - Portable radio receiving and sending apparatus

WALKING DANDRUFF - Cooties.

WALRUS - One who cannot swim (West Point)

WAR SHOES - Heavy shoes

WARD MAN - Hospital attendant

WASH OUT - To be eliminated from training

WASHING MACHINE - The flight Commander’s airplane

WEATHER-KROCK - Meteorologist

WHITE DISCHARGE - Any form of discharge other than dishonorable

WINDJAMMER - Bugler

WING-HEAVY - Inebriated

WOODS, IN THE - On maneuvers

WOOF WOOF - Battalion sergeant major (West Point)

WRIT - An examination (West Point)

YANKEE KNOW-HOW - Clever inventiveness or problem-solving

YARD BIRD - A raw recruit

YEARLING - Draftee or selectee.

YEARLING - A member of Third Class (West Point)

YELLOW LEGS - Cavalryman

YOU’RE GIGGED - Means that one has been reported for violating a rule or regulation

YOU'RE KILLIN' ME - Driving me crazy; irritating me

ZEBRA - Non-commissioned officer (because of the stripes). 

ZOMBIE - Soldier who falls in next to lowest category in Army classification tests; see goon

 

Phonetic alphabet 

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During the Second World War, the most common phonetic alphabet used by the British and American militaries was as follows (with the current modern-day equivalent for each listed in parentheses):

- Able (Alfa)

- Baker (Bravo)

- Charlie (Charlie)

- Dog (Delta)

- Easy (Echo)

- Fox (Foxtrot)

- George (Golf)

- How (Hotel)

- Item (India)

- Jig (Juliett)

- King (Kilo)

- Love (Lima)

- Mike (Mike)

- Nan (November)

- Oboe (Oscar)

- Peter (Papa)

- Queen (Quebec)

- Roger* (Romeo)

- Sugar (Sierra)

- Tare (Tango)

- Uncle (Uniform)

- Victor (Victor)

- William (Whiskey)

- X-ray (X-ray)

- Yoke (Yankee)

- Zebra (Zulu)

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* Saying "Roger" at the end of a radio transmission has nothing to do with someone's name! It stems from the days of Morse code communications when the letter "R" was used to indicate "received" or "message understood." As radio communications became more popular and the technology evolved, the U.S. military adopted the term "roger" for the same reason.

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A few more general slang terms from 1940s life:
Gremlins (bugs or fictional creatures that mess up things - like airplanes)

Ticker (heart)
Jitterbug - the Lindy Hop
Cats (jazz fans)
Killer Diller (good stuff)
18 Karat (excellent)
Lay some skin on me Flynn! (greeting from a jazz fan)
Alligator or Gator (swing fan - see ya later…)
Beat me daddy, eight to the bar... (play it hot!)
Ball (good time)
Twern't me McGee! (denial - from Fibber Mcgee and Molly radio show)
Snap your cap (blow your cool, get angry)
The bomb (very good - cool)
Hooch or Booze (alcohol)
Licorice Stick (clarinet)
Greetings Gates (hello!)
Threads (clothing)
Well, allreet! (Alright!)
Dame or Broad (woman)
What do ya know, what do ya say? (Hello, how are you?)

Swell - The word "swell" was in common use by the late 30s, but by some it was considered vulgar. 

The list below comes from "I've Got Wings" Published by the U.S. Army Air Force, Office of Flying Safety.

Ace - a combat pilot with five or more victories.
Blanket Drill - sleeping.
Blind Flying - a date with a girl you've never seen.
Bumps - the effect of up-drafts and downdrafts encountered in flight.
Bunk Flying - talking aviation in quarters.
Buzzing - flying dangerously low over people or property on the ground; (taboo).
Caterpillar Club - a jump for life in a parachute qualifies for membership.
Chinese landing - one wing low.
Clinker - a poorly executed manoeuvre.
Conservatory - a power-operated; glass-enclosed machine gun turret.
Contact - a Warning called out by the pilot to inform the mechanic the ignition switch is on.
Cracking Good Show - highest possible praise of a performance.
Dead Stick - gliding plane, after the engine has conked.
Dogfight - combat between two planes.
Drive It in The Hangar - stop talking aviation.
Dummer - a bonehead act.
Dust Bin - underside rear gun turret in an enemy aircraft.
Eggs - bombs.
Fat Friends - balloons.
Flak - anti-aircraft fire.
Flying The Iron Beam or Iron Compass - pilot flying along railroad.
Flying Pig - aerial torpedo.
Flying the Gauges - instrument flying.
Gain Some Altitude - come to a more erect standing or sitting position. Used to correct the "civilian slouch" in new cadets.
Geese - enemy bomber formation.
Get Eager - do your best; strive to the utmost.
Give It The Gun - advance the throttle to accelerate engine speed.
Glasshouse - power operated turret.
Go Into A Tailspin - get mad.
Going Upstairs - gaining altitude; climbing.
Good Show - a commendable action.
Grab A Brace - come to a position of super attention; usually directed at new cadets.
Hangar Pilot - mechanic who talks a great flight.
Hedge Hopping - low flying.
He's in a Flat Spin - a bit touched.
Hit The Deck - when an aviator lands.
Hitting The Silk - to make a parachute jump.
Hot Crate - a speedy plane.
H. P. - a hot pilot.
Jinking - dodging anti-aircraft fire.
Lame Duck - damaged plane.
Laying The Eggs - dropping bombs.
Life Saver - a parachute.
Mustard - smart pilot.
Office - the pilot's cockpit, usually in a large airplane.
Onions - flaring anti-aircraft shells.
Overshoot - to glide beyond the landing field before landing.
Pea Shooters - the high-powered planes of the Air Forces.
Pulpit - the cockpit.
Ready Room - the room where pilots on duty assemble, ready for instant call to action.
Reef Back - pull back the stick in flying a plane.
Roll Up Your Flaps - stop talking.
Shoot landings - to acquire practice in landing a plane.
Short Snorter - a member of an unofficial flyers' club, each member of which carries a one-dollar bill autographed by fellow short snorters. Any members being unable to show the bill upon request of a fellow member, must forfeit a comparable bill or note to each short snorter present.
Shot Down In Flames - jilted by a girlfriend.
Show - action in the air.
Slap On The Coal - open the throttle to give a plane more gas.
Solo - flying alone; hence doing anything else without company.
Spin Off - take a nap; or go to bed.
Spit Curl - a side slip in a plane.
Sugar Report - a letter to or from a girlfriend.
Tear Off A Strip - to give someone a bawling out.
Tin Fish - an aerial torpedo.
Woofing - the telling of tall tales.