Trivia 3-13-19 Nickname

[Trivia Master]

Urban toughs in 19th century New York used this two-word slang term to refer to their pistols. It's derived from a loud noise that isn't usually associated with weapons. What did they call their guns?

Credit: @LoyaltyOfDogs

 

[captaindrew]

Barking Iron or Barker https://casanders.net/new-york-city-history/the-rogues-lexicon-nyc-slang-in-the-1850s/

 

[FarawayFriend]

While I thought the term would be "Bang-Bangs" or "Piff-Paff's" like in old German children's books , it seems that it is "Barking-irons". And as this question was submitted by @LoyaltyOfDogs - that even fits!

https://slate.com/human-interest/20...ury-rogue-s-vocabulary-by-george-matsell.html

 

[Jimklag]

Barking irons

 

[SWMODave]

I am going with "Barking Irons" as I found a source given by the NYC Chief of Police at the time and also, based on the OP's area of CW interest, I am thinking it is the answer saught. I can't say I have ever heard it used - but then again, I am not from New York.

Source

 

[General Casey]

Barking Irons

Source - https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/manly-slang-from-the-19th-century/

 

[Wallyfish]

My answer is Barking Iron.


https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/manly-slang-from-the-19th-century/

 

[Stony]

barking irons
source-https://slate.com/human-interest/20...ury-rogue-s-vocabulary-by-george-matsell.html

 

[DBF]

A appropriate question from someone that has a loyalty of dogs - an answer from one that shares the same loyalty - "Barking Irons".
Source - Wikivisually

 

[Brenal]

Barking Irons

 

[Northern Light]

The slang term was a barking iron. https://www.yourdictionary.com/barking-iron

 

[luinrina]

I think the term we're looking for is barking-irons (sometimes written with, sometimes without the hyphen).

Sources: https://slate.com/human-interest/20...ury-rogue-s-vocabulary-by-george-matsell.html with Vocabulum; or, The rogue's lexicon. Comp. from the most authentic sources by George W. Matsell as source (barking-irons on p. 10); A dictionary of slang and colloquial English by John S. Farmer, p. 30, defines "barker" as

8. Generic for firearms, spec. (in navy), a duelling pistol; also a lower deck gun. Barking iron is historically the older term (Grose).​

Also, https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/manly-slang-from-the-19th-century/ and this article on The Barking Iron Barber Shop.

 

[kholland]

Barking-irons

 

[Ole Miss]

Barking-irons
Regards
David

 

[TravellingVol]

Pistols were called Barking-Iron or Barkers

Edit - Correct, TravellingVol. Welcome to CivilWarTalk and to the trivia game.

If you haven't done so already, you're invited to stop by the New Recruits Meet & Greet forum and introduce yourself to some more CivilWarTalkers.

Hope you'll come back and play again.

hoosier

 

[Copperhead-mi]

Barking irons

Source-
The following list of slang terms is drawn from a book compiled by the first New York City Police Chief, George W. Matsell, in 1859

 

[Schwallanscher]

barking-irons - source

 

[JOHN42768]

Barking-irons: Pistols.
source: https://slate.com/human-interest/20...ury-rogue-s-vocabulary-by-george-matsell.html

 

[connecticut yankee]

Barking-Irons

 

[Caesar's Ghost]

Barking-Irons page 19
Vocabulum; or, The rogue's lexicon. Comp. from the most authentic sources
by Matsell, George Washington, 1811-1877

https://archive.org/details/cu31924073798740/page/n19