The English language is always changing, continually adopting words and phrases from various times and cultures. During World War I, soldiers created a lively slang to express the hardships of trench warfare, the fleeting moments of humor that sustained morale, and the bonds of camaraderie that held them together. While many of these expressions have fallen out of use, a remarkable number have endured, remaining in everyday speech as enduring echoes of a war that deeply shaped both language and culture.
Napoo
One World War I term that never fully crossed into common English usage is “napoo.” Borrowed from the French expression il n’y a plus, meaning “there is no more,” soldiers serving near French units in the trenches adapted it into the simpler, anglicized “napoo.” The word was commonly used to convey that something was gone, broken, or no longer functional.
Blimp
The term “blimp,” often associated with modern airships, originated during World War I, though its exact origin is unknown.
One common theory connects the name to the airship classification system, proposing that these flexible, non-rigid vessels, able to expand and contract, were labeled as “limp airships.” Under this system, they were categorized as B: Limp, giving rise to the idea that “blimp” is a blend of the category designation and the descriptive term.
Another, perhaps more likely, theory suggests that the name is onomatopoeic, imitating the sound produced by an airship when it is fully inflated.
Skive
The term “skive” likely has roots in French, though its precise origin remains a bit unclear. It emerged as military slang during World War I, and many linguists suggest it derives from the French word esquiver, meaning “to avoid” or “to dodge.” Soldiers used “skive” to refer to shirking duties or evading work.
If this link to esquiver is correct, “skive” stands out as a fascinating instance of French slang that successfully entered and endured in the English language.
Blighty
During World War I, British soldiers embraced a term with a deeper meaning: “Blighty.” Now a familiar nickname for Great Britain, Blighty’s origins trace back to Urdu. The words “Vilayat” and “vilayati” — meaning “settled land” and “foreign,” respectively — are the originals.
A regional adaptation of the Urdu term, “bilayati,” had made its way into British military vocabulary by the 1800s. However, Blighty signified more than just a place – it also referred to a particular type of injury. Serious enough to require a trip home but not life-threatening, a Blighty wound meant a welcome return to Blighty itself.
In a flap
If anxiety is taking hold, you might describe yourself as being “in a flap.” This expression emerged in 1916, during the height of World War I, and was particularly favored by sailors. Its origin likely draws on the image of birds flapping their wings in panic.
Many years later, the term gave rise to the contrasting word “unflappable.” Coined in the 1950s, it refers to a person who remains calm and composed regardless of the situation.
No bon
A slang expression that originated in the trenches of World War I but didn’t last is “no bon.” This term, a combination of English and French, was commonly employed by British soldiers—where “no” is English and “bon” is French. It translates to “no good,” as “bon” means “good” in French.
Over the top
This slang term from World War I has made a comeback recently, despite fading from use after the war ended.
Nowadays, it’s often used to describe something excessive or pointless, a shift from its original meaning. Back then, it described soldiers climbing over sandbags to leave the safety of the trenches and charge into battle.
The phrase also captured the grim reality of starting a perilous mission with slim chances of making it back alive.