Gleaned from antiquated dictionaries, dialect glossaries, studies of folklore, nautical lexicons, historical writings, letters, novels, and miscellaneous sources, Informal English offers a captivating treasure trove of linguistic oddities that will not only entertain but also shed light on America's colloquial past. Among the gems are:
Surface-coal: • cow dung, widely used for fuel in Texas

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Bone-orchard: • in the Southwest slang for a cemetery

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Chawswizzled: • "confounded" in Nebraskan idiom. "I'll be chawswizzled!"

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Leather-ears: • to Cape Cod inhabitants, a person of slow comprehension

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Puncture lady: • a southwestern expression for a woman who prefers to sit on the sidelines at a dance and gossip rather than dance, often puncturing someone's reputation

Whether the entries are unexpected twists on familiar-sounding expressions or based on curious old customs, this wide-ranging assortment of vernacular Americanisms will amaze and amuse even the most hard-boiled curmudgeon.