Британский и американский английский: различия в значениях слов (A–L)

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This is the List of words having different meanings in British and American English: A–L. For the second portion of the list, see List of words having different meanings in American and British English: M–Z. Asterisked (*) meanings, though found chiefly in the specified region, also have some currency in the other region; other definitions may be recognised by the other as Briticisms or Americanisms respectively. Additional usage notes are provided where useful.

WordBritish English meaningsMeanings common to British and American EnglishAmerican English meaningscalipers (n.)(n.) A metal support for a person's leg and/or ankle. (US: ankle braces, leg braces)(n.) An instrument for measuring external or internal dimensions, having two hinged legs resembling a pair of compasses and in turned or out turned points. canteen (n.)food service location usually at a work place or institution (US: cafeteria)a box with compartments for storing eating utensils, silverware etc. a military mess kitwater bottle, typically used for military or camping purposes. candy (n.)(candy floss) heated sugar spun into thin threads and collected into a mass, usually on a stick; something pleasing but having little worth (US: cotton candy for both senses)(v.) to sugarcoat, or boil with sugar (as fruit)to sweeten
edible, sweet tasting confection containing sugar, or sometimes artificial sweeteners, and often flavored with fruit, chocolate, nuts or artificial flavours; a piece of candy (UK: sweets, confectionery)(eye candy) (derog.) someone who is physically attractive (See also arm candy. )canfield (n.)a patience (solitaire) card game (US: Klondike) a patience (solitaire) card game (UK: Demon)car (n.)railway vehicle, only in combination (e. g. "restaurant car", except London Underground "carriage")(archaic) street tramway vehiclemotorcar (n.) (UK, q. v.)/automobilenonpowered unit in a railroad or railway train ("railroad car"; "a passenger/freight/parlor/dining/baggage etc. car") (see s. v. motor car, trolley; UK: cf. s. v. carriage, coach, wagon)elevator (q. v.) cagecaravantowed recreational vehicle containing accommodation (US: travel trailer)to take such a vehicle on holidayoverland trading convoya type of minivan sold in the United States (see Dodge Caravan)caretaker (n.)one who takes care of a building, e. g. a school (US: janitor; cf. s. v. custodian)one put in charge of a farm after eviction of tenantone who takes care of someone or somethingstopgap government or provisional governmentone who takes care of real estate in exchange for rent free living accommodations *carnival(n.) a street festival typically involving music, dancing and processions(adj.) suggesting a festive atmosphere(n.) a travelling circus or fair (UK: funfair) comprising amusement ridescarousel (n.) a moving luggage/baggage display unit, most often at airportsa rotating fairground ride (UK: merry go round, roundabout)carriage (n.)railway coach (q. v.) designed for the conveyance of passengersthe conveying of goods or the price paid for it ("carriage paid"); "handling"4 wheeled horse drawn private passenger vehicle(baby carriage) baby transport vehicle featuring the infant lying down facing the pusher (UK: perambulator, pram) – more s. v. buggya shopping cart (primarily in North Atlantic states)carry on, carryon(informal) have a love affair(colloquial) carrying on, unruly behaviour(v.) continue (Keep Calm and Carry On)luggage that can be carried aboard an aircraft, bus, or train (UK: hand luggage or baggage)cartusu. 2 wheeled one horse vehicle (as that used in farming)a lightweight wheeled vehicle, as for shopping, serving, carrying baggage, etc. (UK: trolley)cartridge (primarily related to video games)casket (n.)a small box, as for jewels, particularly an antique The type of coffin with upholstery and a half open lid, any coffincasualty (person)often, someone who has been wounded; hence casualty department (US: emergency room)generally, someone who has been injured or killedoften, someone who has been killed; see also casualty insurancecatapultsmall Y shaped handheld projectile weapon often used by children (US: slingshot)a type of medieval siege enginean aircraft catapult(v.) rise quicklychaps [? ]men or boys (but increasingly used for people of either sex; in the singular it still almost exclusively refers to a male, "Guys" has become a more popular phrase in the UK) (US & UK: guys)one's friends ("the chaps") (US & UK: the guys)cheeks – as in Bath Chaps – stewed pigs' cheeks, a delicacy leather leggings originally worn by cowboys and designed to protect the legs against thorns (sometimes pronounced shaps), short for "chaparajos", or the similar items worn by motorcyclists as a form of leg protectioncheck examine for a particular purposea pattern of coloured squaresa warning given in chessleave items in the care of someone else (e. g. at a cloakroom; hence checkroom)(also check mark) mark used to denote 'correct' or indicate one's choice (UK: tick, q. v.)request for payment, especially at a restaurant; billwritten order for a bank to pay money (UK: cheque)checker one who checks (e. g. an inspector)a store or shop cashier (almost always a grocery store)(checkers) a popular board game (UK: draughts)to mark with alternating colored squares (UK: chequer)cheers (interjection)said to express gratitude, or on parting (slang). Also cheerio. used as a toast or valediction chemistpharmacist, pharmacy (US similar: druggist, drugstore)student or researcher of chemistry chewa chewy sweet (US: taffy)to break down food with the teeth, masticate (chew on something, chew something over) (colloquial) to consider or discussreferring to or using chewing tobaccochip into express one's opinion (as in a conversation); to "chime in"to contribute (as money) (orig. US) chips (food)Long cuts of deep fried potato, usu. thick cut resembling American steak fries French fries, in (orig. UK) phrase fish and chipsthin slices of fried potato*(UK: crisps)chippie, chippycarpenter (slang);fish and chip shop (slang) (Ire: chipper) (adj. ; chippy only) aggressively belligerent, especially in sportloose woman (dated slang);the N. American bird Chipping sparrowchumfriend (sometimes sarcastic)(n.) waste products from fish processing (heads, tails, blood etc.) often used for shark fishing
(v.) to spread fish entrails etc. in the hope of luring sharks. "We chummed the water all morning, but never spotted any dorsal fins." Has some cross over usage metaphorically in non fishing situations. cideran alcoholic drink derived from apples (US: hard cider) unfiltered, unpasteurized, unfermented apple juiceCinderellaa team which underachieves, or is overshadowed by successful neighbouring rivals*fairy tale charactera lowly sports team or individual which enjoys an unexpectedly good run in a tournamentcitya large town, in particular a town created a city by charter and/or containing a cathedral. (Some cathedral cities, such as St Asaph, St David's and Wells, are mere villages. )"The City": the City of London, London's financial centre, hence financial markets and investment banking more generally (c. f. US Wall Street) A human settlement with a large populationa usually large or important municipality governed under a charter granted by the state (however some smaller towns in the US are cities); an element of a standard mailing address (UK "postal town")clerk administrative worker(or salesclerk) store or shop worker (UK: shop assistant)hotel employee at the reservation desk (US & UK: receptionist)closetany small room (esp. Northern England, Scotland, & Ireland); hence water closet, a room containing a flush toilet, later the toilet itselfa private chamber for retirementin secret; (come out of the closet) to reveal what was secret (especially in relation to homosexuality) (closet queen) (colloq., disparaging) someone who keeps their homosexuality secreta cabinet or wardrobe, as for utensils or apparel; in the latter case oftenest built in; hence e. g. walk in closet, linen closet, and skeleton in the closet *(UK also: in the cupboard) *coachbus with a higher standard of comfort, usually chartered or used for longer journeys*tutor, usu. private, who prepares pupils for examinations*railway carriage*enclosed horse drawn passenger carriagesports trainerextracurricular sports teacher at a school (UK: PE teacher)lowest class on a passenger aircraft (UK: economy)cob(mainly Northern & Central Eng.) a type of bread roll ("Chip cob", "ham cob", "pack of six cobs please")(pl.) large globules of sweat ("I'm sweating cobs")The portion of a corn plant around which the kernels grow. a building materiala type of horsea male swan cock(n.) form of address to a man to gain attention or greet e. g. "Wotcha cock!"(n.) nonsenseraw cottoncrowbarlong, straight, heavy, steel bar for digging or leverage (US digging bar)steel bar with one curved end, for prying things apartCrowbar (circuit), a form of electronic protectioncrumpetan attractive female (slang)A savoury waffle like cake made from flour or potato and yeast cubicleA compartment in a bathroom with low walls that contains a toilet. (US: stall) A compartment in a larger area separated from similar adjoining compartments by low walls, such as in an office area. cuffs The ends of a garment's sleeves, furthest from the wearershort for handcuffsAn arrangement at the bottom of trouser legs, in which the material is folded back upon itself to form a trough externally around the bottom of the leg. (UK: turn ups)cuntoffensive (or sometimes indulgent) term often applied to menvagina (usu. obscene)offensive, obscene term usu. applied to womencupboarda place to store things (US: closet)a cabinet or small recess with a door and typically shelves, used for storage(n.) an insurance excess disappointingly small and worthless Used in special senses in American English, in combinations such as dirt farmer, dirt floor, dirt roof, dirt roaddiversioncircuitous route to avoid roadworks (US: detour)deviation; recreation; tactic used to draw attention away from the action dockwater between or next to a pier or wharf (US: berth, also used in UK, or slip)section of a courtroom where the accused sits during a trial *(v.) to reduce an employee's wages, usu. as disciplineconstructed place to moor a boat or engage in water sports (largely interchangeable with pier or wharf, although often with a modifier, such as "ferry dock", "swimming dock", etc. )dockerdockworker, stevedore *(US: longshoreman)one who docks (as tails of animals) doggingvarious kinds of public sexual activitypursuing diligently or persistently, as a dog wouldinsulting in a persistent fashion, often referring to the dozensdollar5 shilling coin or equivalent amount (obsolete; used in slang until the early 1970s, especially in "half dollar"=half crown, but some re stamped Spanish dollar coins were used in the UK in the late 18th/early 19th century)major unit of currency of the US dormitory, dorm(n. or usu. adj.) (part of) a town where commuters live, usually dormitory town (US: bedroom or bedroom community)(n.) large sleeping room with many beds,*typically in a boarding school ("a sleeping dormitory"; usu. abbreviated to dorm)building with many small private rooms, as for housing the students of a college (UK: hall(s) of residence, hostel)
dormitory car — railway sleeping cardrape (v.) to hang limply(n., usu. pl.) curtaindraw (n.)an act of drawing, or something drawna game result in which no player/team wins (also tie)to suck smoke from a cigarette etc. a ditch that draws water off an area of landa shallow valley or gully. (n.)dresser (furniture)a type of cupboard or sideboard esp. for kitchen utensils * a chest of drawers, usu. with a looking glass (mirror) (UK: dressing table)drop (of liquid)several (fluid) ounces ("just a drop of tea, please") (meiotic usage)droplet (less than a milliliter) ducka score of zero by a batsman in cricket, supposedly derived from the zero like shape of a duck's egg. Hence to "break one's duck": to score one's first run. c. f. US: "get the monkey off one's back"
a term of endearment(n.) a bird of the family Anatidae
(v.) to lower the head or body suddenly, to dodge
(v.) to plunge under the surface of water
(n.) a heavy cotton fabric (v.) Leaving very quickly. "He ducked out like five minutes ago"duffof poor qualitynon functional(up the duff) pregnant (slang, originally Australian)a type of puddingcoal dustvegetable matter on the forest floor
buttocksdummyrubber teat for babies (US: pacifier), a feint (esp. in association football)mannequin, especially for automobile crash testsfake, usu. legalidiot (slang)the contract bridge player who faces his hand after the bidding/auction dungarees sturdy protective bib trousers (cf. s. v. bib overall)(slightly dated) jeans (blue denim jeans)duplex composed of two partstwo direction (electronical signalling)(or duplex house) an often vertically divided two family dwelling *(or duplex apartment) an apartment on two levels *(duplex locomotive) a large steam locomotive with two sets of driving wheels

WordBritish English meaningsMeanings common to British and American EnglishAmerican English meaningsearthsafety connection of an electrical circuit, or to connect (an electrical device) to this (US: ground)the planet Earthsoilthe burrow of some animals efficiency the quality of being efficient(or efficiency apartment) a minimal often furnished apartment, similar to a studio apartment (UK: compare bedsit)el(L) letter identifying a learner driver; see L platethe letter Lan elevated railway (as that of Chicago or the now defunct Third Avenue El in New York City)elevator flap on the back of an aeroplane used to control pitchmoving belt to transport grain, hay bales, etc. platform or cage moved vertically in a shaft to transport people and goods to various floors in a building (UK: lift)building for grain storage (in full grain elevator) (UK: silo)elkmoose (Alces alces), the largest species of deer wapiti (Cervus canadensis), the second largest species of deerengaged (adj. )in use – of a toilet/bathroom stall (US: occupied; but the opposite is vacant in both); of a telephone line (US & UK also: busy), hence engaged tone (US: busy signal)committed; involved in somethingbetrothed English of or pertaining to Englandthe English language(adj.) the foot pound second system of units (UK: Imperial)English (n.) spin placed on a ball in cue sports (UK: side)engineera technician or a person who mends and operates machineryone employed to design, build or repair equipmentpractitioner of engineeringone who operates an engine, esp. a locomotive (UK: engine driver)entréestarter (q. v.) of a meal (traditionally, the course served between the fish and the joint, but now used for any starter)(usu. "the entrée") right of entry, insider type accessmain course of a mealestateany defined area of real property, as in housing estate (US: subdivision), council estate (US: housing project) or trading estate (US: industrial park)car with van shaped body (US: station wagon)grounds of a large piece of real property which features a mansion and beautiful landscaping;property left by a deceased person evergreen non deciduous, a non deciduous planteternally youthful, new etc.(n.) branchlets or sprigs of an evergreen tree, usually a conifer such as pine, spruce or fir, often used as a Christmas decoration wrapped around human made structuresexpiration the exhalation of breath(UK: expiry)

WordBritish English meaningsMeanings common to British and American EnglishAmerican English meaningsgagging(especially as in gagging for it) desperate, especially for sex (colloquial)choking;fighting the urge to vomit ("that was so disgusting, I was gagging") gallon4.54609 litres (about 6/5 of US gallon) 3.78541 liters (about 5/6 of UK gallon)gangbangera participant in a "gang bang", a group sex activitygang member; group rapistgarage(see also pronunciation differences)fuel filling station, e. g. "a Texaco garage" (also petrol station, US: gas station)a genre of musicplace where vehicles are repaired;building attached to or in the grounds of a residence for storing a car(parking garage) building serving as a public parking facility (UK: multistorey car park or just multistorey)garbage (n.)piece of nonsensical prose, sequence of meaningless wordshousehold waste (UK "rubbish")garden (n.)area around a residential structure (US: yard) area within a yard (land) for growing plants or vegetables (UK: vegetable garden, vegetable patch)garnish (n. (v.)) (to add) decorative or savory touches to (food or drink)(v.)to furnish(v.) to take (as a debtor's wages) by legal authoritygas (n.) state of matter (see gas)(n.) natural gas(v.) to attack or kill with poisonous gas (state of matter)(v.) to emit gas (state of matter)(n.) gasoline, hence gas station (UK: petrol)(n.) gas pedal* (may be applied in the UK in the context of a driving lesson, for brevity; UK: accelerator)(n.) flatulence(n.) air trapped in the stomach or intestines (UK: wind)geezergangster, man (esp. Cockney) old person (derogatory; UK: old geezer [not derog. ])give wayto give the right of way (to vehicles, pedestrians, etc. ); hence give way sign (US: yield [the right of way] sign)to retreat; to break down glass(v.) to hit someone with a broken bottle or drinking glass(n.) a brittle, hard, transparent substance usually made from sand heated with soda or potash; (n.) drinking vessel made of glass  glaze general term for thin shiny coatings applied to food, painted surfaces, clayware, etc. ; a glossy surfacea slippery coating of ice (also known as sleet, q. v.); a stretch of icegob(n.) mouth; (v., slang) to spitlumpa large amount ("gobs of")(slang—little used since the 1940s) a sailorgo down (fig. )to leave a university (as Oxford)to come down (with an illness)to be accepted or remembered (e. g. go down in history)to fail, esp. of a computergo down on, to engage in oral sexto go on, happen (often a major event, e. g. a drug bust "it's going down right now!" or "it went down last week". But also used as a greeting, "What's going down? ")goodsitems to be transported (as by railway) ("a goods train") (US & UK also: freight)useful objects or services; products; merchandising; personal propertyincriminating evidence ("we have the goods on him") gooseberrysupernumerary third person preventing a couple from courting (US: third wheel)a green hairy summer fruit (Ribes hirtellum in the USA), (Ribes grossularia in Europe) governorboss (sometimes shortened to guv'nor), colloquiala local officialthe top official in a US stategovernmentthe cabinet or executive branch (US: the administration)the political party supporting the cabinet in parliamentthe act or office of governingthe collective agency through which government is exercised (UK: the state) all such individual agencies (UK: the public sector)grade (education)a level of music examination ("Guitar grade 4"). Usually refers to ABRSM or Trinity College London examinations.(n. & v.) teacher's assessment of a student's work (UK also mark)level or year of a student in elementary, middle, or high school ("in 10th grade") (UK equiv. : year); hence grader, a student in a specified grade ("a 10th grader")(grade school, the grades) elementary schoolsee also Grade Point Averagegrade (other) (n.) a rating, degree, or level; (v.) to lay out in grades[US meaning generated grade separation and the idiom make the grade](n.) slope, gradient, or elevation; also ground level ("at grade", "over grade"); hence grade crossing (UK: level crossing)(v.) to level (as a roadbed), hence grader, construction machine for doing this *graduate (v.) (education)graduate (adj.) (education)to finish university with a degreerelating to a student at the point of gaining, or who has recently completed, a degreeto move from a lower to higher stage; to effect change in steps; to mark with units of measurement or other divisions. to finish studying at any educational institution by passing relevant examinationsrelating to a student taking a higher degree (UK equiv. : "postgraduate"), e. g. graduate schoolgrafthard workto join or connect two separate but similar items (typically in biology, especially medicine and horticulture)a form of political economic corruptiongrassan informant (often to the police)(to grass on) to tell on somebody (US: to squeal, narc)green ground covermarijuanagrazing; to feed (livestock) with grass (UK: at grass, to put out to grass)grammar schoola type of secondary school, normally a selective state funded school elementary school (less common today)grillto cook directly under a dry heat source (US: broil)to question intensely (informal). to interrogate. to cook over a gas or coal fire (UK and US: barbecue)a flat cooking surfacea restaurant (freq. as "bar and grill")ground floor (of a building) the floor at ground level (US usu. : first floor)lower of two floors that are each at a different ground level due to sloping terrain (UK: lower ground floor)guardthe official in charge of a railway train (US & now UK also: conductor)to watch over for securityone who guardsa protective device
one of two positions in basketball, usually players who are the best ball handlers and shooters. Usually smaller than the forwards or center. Most common division is between point guards (playmakers) and shooting guards (more often score first). military division used to help the country after a disaster
in (American) football, one of two offensive positions on either side of the center or a defensive position across from the center (nose guard)guffextraneous or useless things, ideas, or paperwork/documentation; also to break wind ("Have you guffed, Dr Watson?") nonsense, insolent talk, back talkgumcement consisting of a sticky substance that is used as an adhesive (US usually: glue)a type of confectionery composed of chicle used for chewingthe soft tissue around the teeth, or to chew something with no teeth (also, gum at) gutteddisappointed and upset (informal)past tense of gut: eviscerated; plundered; despoiled; made powerless or ineffectual(of a building) stripped of interior structure, leaving only frame and exterior walls (e. g. by fire) gyro(see also giro)gyroscopea sandwich, the Greek gyro, more familiar to Americans than the similar Turkish döner kebab, which is more common in Britain

WordBritish English meaningsMeanings common to British and American EnglishAmerican English meaningshaberdashera dealer in small items and accessories, as for sewing; hence haberdashery (US: notions) a dealer in men's apparel and accessories; hence haberdasheryhalfhalf pint of beer, cider or lagera single measure of whisky or other distilled spirit (used mostly in Scotland, derived from the Scots word 'hauf')fifty percent/0.5 times. large bottle of spirits ("a half of bourbon"), traditionally 1/2 of a US gallon, now the metric near equivalent of 1750 mL; also "handle" as such large bottles often have a handlehalfway housea place where victims of child abuse, orphans or teenage runaways can stay, a shelterdrug rehabilitation or sex offender centre. (Archaic) An inn halfway between two towns, still seen in many pub names. a place for ex convicts to live while readjusting to society. hamperlarge basket for food (especially picnic hamper, Christmas hamper)to impede or hinderbasket for clothes that need washing (UK: Linen basket or laundry basket)hashnumber sign, octothorpe (#) (US: pound sign). Also 'to make a hash' of something is to mess it up. hashishHash (food), beef and other ingredients mashed together into a coarse paste herbculinary or medicinal herb, leaves of plants used to flavour food or treat ailmentsany herbaceous planthighway(chiefly in official use) public road; see Highway Code(highway robbery) something too expensive; see also highwaymanmain road (as between cities)(divided or dual highway) a road with two roadways and at least four lanes (UK: dual carriageway, motorway)(highway post office) in the past, a bus transporting mail that was sorted en routehike a usu. recreational walkan increase in amount (as in wages) *(to take a hike) to go away (also used as a command)hireto rent moveable property (e. g. a car) *; rental(hire purchase) a purchase carried out over time by making regular payments (US: installment plan)to employ, recruit *a person who is recruitedhobthe flat top surface of a cooking stove (US: cooktop)a part of a fireplacean elftrouble (as in "raising hob" – chiefly US)     (UK has less common "playing hob") hocka German wine ("down their four and twenty throats went four and twenty imperial pints of such rare old hock" – Charles Dickens) (US: Rhine wine)Hocktide, an ancient holidayhock (zoology)pawn (n. & v.) ("I can borrow a dime from the barber, an' I got enough junk to hock for a blowout" – Jack London); prison (both from Dutch) *debtthe end of a smoked ham *to hock a loogie, to spit (esp. mucus as opposed to saliva). hockeyhockey played with a ball on grass (field hockey) *hockey played on a hard surface (e. g. concrete) or indoorshockey played on ice with a puck (ice hockey) *hog(dialect, also hogg) a yearling sheepadult pig, esp. domesticated, castrated male reared for slaughter to take more than one's fair share of something(road hog) motorist who holds up other traffic by driving slowly or out of lane; any bad drivermotorcycle, especially a large one such as a Harley Davidson (derived from Harley Owners Group, a club for Harley Davidson motorcycle owners. )hole in the wallautomated teller machine, cash machine (informal) a small, out of the way place, as a restaurant, with a negative connotation. However, often used to preface a compliment, e. g. "just a hole in the wall place you've never heard of, but they serve the best steak in the city. "holidaysee Bank holiday(often pl.) time taken off from work, school, etc., including the period between school terms (US: break, vacation)recreational trip away from home (US: vacation)day when people are generally exempt from work, school, etc. see Federal holidays in the United States(the Holidays) the days comprising Christmas and New Year's Day (and Hanukkah), and often also Thanksgiving (used esp. in the phrase "happy Holidays")
festival, whether or not generally entailing a public holiday: "Halloween is my favorite holiday"home(noun): condition of domesticity, or one's permanent and regular shelter, but not the physical structure or property. In AmE widely used also to mean the physical structure and property, and references to them, e. g., "home loans", "homeowners", and "tract homes". This usage is overwhelmingly predominant in commercial language and public discourse, e. g. "the home mortgage crisis". home runfinal part of a distance, final effort needed to finish (US: homestretch)a success (from baseball)(also homer) a four base hit in baseball(slang) sexual intercourse; more s. v. basehomely(of a house) comfortable, cozy, rustic (US: homey)(of a person) home loving, domesticated, house proud (only used of a person) plain, uglyhoodthe folding fabric top on a convertible car (US: convertible top)head covering forming part of a garmentcomponent of academic regaliahinged cover over the engine in a car (UK: bonnet)a contraction of neighborhood, especially regarding a poor neighborhoodshort for hoodlum, a tough, destructive young man, or generically any criminalhoo haargument female genitaliahookerin rugby football, the player position in the centre front of the scrum  prostitute (informal) *hootersteam whistle or siren in a factory or other large workplace sounded as a signal for beginning or ceasing workcar hornnose (hooters) female breasts (vulgar slang)hull(Hull) Kingston upon Hull, a large city in the north east of England*the outer skin of a ship, tank, aeroplane, etc. the seed case of various edible plants (maize, nuts, etc.)(v. t.) to remove the seed case from (a nut, etc. )hulled (adj.) (of a nut, etc.) having the seed case removed (UK: shelled)humpa state of depression (dated) ("to be in a hump")a state of annoyance ("to get the hump")a traffic calming tool ("a speed hump") *(US & UK: speed bump)to move a heavy load by human effort a short distancea rounded mass sticking out from its surroundings(v., vulgar slang) engage in sexual intercourse, animals breeding or trying to breedsee also Glossary of rail terminology(n. & v.) (to make) a vigorous effort ("hump yourself", "to get a hump on") (regional)(n.) a mountain barrier to be crossed (as by air)(hump day) Wednesday

WordBritish English meaningsMeanings common to British and American EnglishAmerican English meaningsjaban injection with a hypodermic needle, as in the case of an inoculation (US: shot)(informal) to stab, thrust, or penetrate. biting remark, sarcasm. a straight punch used in various martial arts janitoran officer in a Masonic Chapter (specialist language)a person employed to oversee the cleaning and security of a public building, e. g. a school. a person employed to oversee the cleaning and security of a building (UK: caretaker, especially for private residences; for schools etc. janitor is also used in the UK)jellya fruit flavoured dessert set with gelatin (US: Jell O (trademark))a type of condiment, e. g. mint jellya clear or translucent preserve made from the liquid of fruits boiled in sugar and set with pectin, specifically without pieces of fruit (e. g. 'crab apple jelly')(occasionally) fruit preserve with fruit pieces (UK: Jam)JerseyA British Crown dependency off the coast of France. Also, a kind of buttonless, pullover shirt. An athlete's uniform shirt, also called a kit in British English. A colloquial term for the state of New JerseyJesse(often as Big Jesse, derogatory insult for a man) Non macho, effeminate, sometimes gay. A male name (uncommon in the UK). A shortening of the female name Jessica (usually spelled "Jessie"). jocka Scotsman (slang)a Scottish private soldier (slang) (UK: squaddie) slang term for an athleteslang term for the undergarment called an athletic supporter or jockstrapjointpiece of meat for carving *(slang) hand rolled cigarette containing cannabis and tobaccoconnection between two objects or bonesan establishment, especially a disreputable one ("a gin joint"; "let's case the joint") (slang, orig. US)(slang) hand rolled cigarette containing only cannabis(slang) prison ("in the joint")jollyvery (informal) (as in jolly good) an excursion or trip, usually at another's expense ("off on a jolly")happy; jovial jugany container with a handle and a mouth or spout for liquid (US: pitcher)(jugs) breasts (slang)large container with a narrow mouth and handle for liquids (similar to UK pitcher)jumpera knitted upper body garment (US: sweater)jump shot in basketballNon permanent electrical connection, especially on a PCBpinafore dressjump suitjumper cablejumping jacka form of jumping fireworka toy figure whose limbs are moved by string or a sticka form of exercise (UK star jump)just(When used at the end of a sentence, as in: "I survived, but only just") barelyfair, equitablemerely, simply, exactly, barely (when used before word it modifies)

WordBritish English meaningsMeanings common to British and American EnglishAmerican English meaningsladdera run (vertical split) in the fabric of tightsa vertical or inclined set of rungs or steps. lavatorytoiletcloset in passenger vehicles (e. g. trains) containing a toilet and washbasin/sink. washbasin, place for washinglay by (v.), lay by (n.)(n.) roadside parking or rest area for drivers (US: rest stop)(v.) to lay asideto stow(n.) a last cultivating in the growing of a crop(v.) to cultivate (a crop) for the last timelead(rhyming with "speed") a cable (US: cord), or a dog's leashto guide through(n.) a clue or potential source of information (esp. in context of journalistic investigation) *leadernewspaper editorialmain violin in an orchestra (US: concertmaster)see also Leader of the Oppositionone who leadsa pipe for carrying water ("rain water leader")lecturerthe entry level academic rank at a university (below Senior Lecturer, Reader, and Professor)someone who gives a lecturethe entry level academic rank at a university (below assistant professor, Associate Professor, and Professor)lemonadeclear, carbonated, lemon flavoured drink similar to Sprite and 7 Up (lemon and lime flavoured) non carbonated drink made by mixing lemon juice, sugar, and water (UK: traditional lemonade)letto rent out (as real property, and denoting the transaction from the owner's perspective); Tenants "take" or "rent" the property being let. *("rooms to let")
(n.) the act of renting; rented premises(let out) to revealallow, give permission. leave (as in let him be or let it be)ease (as in let up on the accelerator)indicate (as in don't let on)a first bad serve which is allowed to be retaken, as in tennis, table tennis, and volleyball(let out) to end (of school, meetings, etc. )leveean early afternoon assembly held by the King or Queen, to which only men were admitted (Always levée, with accent)a reception in honour of a particular personan embankment on a river (as the Mississippi River)the steep bank of a river, or border of an irrigated field(esp. Southern & Western US) a landing place or quayleverage mechanical advantage of a levertake advantage of a capability (business) the use of debt finance (UK: gearing)*knowledge not immediately revealed to be used to one's advantage *liberal (politics)a person who generally supports the ideas of the UK Liberal Democrats, a centre left partya person who holds the political ideals of Liberalism. a person who advocates modern liberalism; see also Liberalism in the United States for historic backgroundlife preservera type of weapon for self defence (US: blackjack) life vest, personal flotation device (UK: lifebelt or lifejacket)lift (n.)platform or cage moved vertically in a shaft to transport people and goods to various floors in a building (US: elevator)ride as a passenger in a vehicle (as in, to give someone a lift)item placed in shoe to increase the height of the wearer, normally plural (lifts, elevator shoes)an elevation in mood, "I got a lift just talking with her. "line(see also track)a breadthless lengtha group of persons, usually waiting for something, arranged in order of arrival (UK: queue)a lie, short for a line of bulla phrase used for hitting on women, short for pickup lineto hit a line drive (a hard straight shot) in baseballliquorthe broth resulting from the prolonged cooking of meat or vegetables. Green liquor is traditionally served with pie and mash in the East End of London a distilled beverage *(hard liquor) strongly alcoholic beverage; spirits(liquor store) retail establishment selling liquor (usu. for consumption off the premises) (UK similar: off licence) ("I held up and robbed a hard liquor store" – Paul Simon)(malt liquor) a type of beer with high alcohol contentloaded the state of a firearm with bullets or shells in its firing chamber. bearing a load. (slang; of a person) richdrunk or highlollyFrozen water based dessert on a stick (US: popsicle, ice pop (q. v.))(short for lollipop) candy on a stick lot(a lot) a great deala number of things (or, informal, people) taken collectivelyfate, fortunea prize in a lottery(the lot) the whole thinga measured plot of land; a portion of land set for a particular purpose ("a building lot"), e. g. for parking ("parking lot") or selling ("used car lot") automotive vehicles. But also a "vacant lot"a film studioloungea room for relaxation and entertainment in a house(lounge bar) part of a puba room for relaxation in a public placea barlove (in addressing people)informal term of addressbeloved person, darling (often a term of endearment) loveseata seat which accommodates two people facing in opposite directions. Can be wooden or padded. a two seater couchlox liquid oxygen (engineering)thin sliced smoked salmon, commonly consumed on bagels; Yiddish from German 'Lachs', salmon. lugs (n.)ears (lugholes)a small projection (engineering)a lug nut fastens a wheel to the hub, (UK wheel nut). a "big lug" is usually a term of endearment for a large shy, goofy man. lumber(n.) disused items (as furniture)*; hence lumber room(v.) to encumber (as with such items) ("I was lumbered with work")(v.) to move awkwardly or heavily ("he lumbered out the door")(n.) timber that has been sawed and (partly) prepared for construction or woodworking; hence lumberyard (UK: timberyard), lumber camp, lumberjack, lumberman, lumber wagon, lumber town, etc.(v.) to log and prepare timberto make a rolling sound (dated)lush (slang; of a person)attractive (usu. used by women in reference to men – principally West Country)luxuriantan alcoholic *especially female