The American Slang Dictionary by James Maitland (1891) is an enjoyable artifact from the middle of the 19th century- offering a glimpse into the language that was used by the people. ""This work, therefore, while aiming to present a full list of distinctively American slang, -that which is born of the soil will include also the recognized slang words and phrases of english origin and use. No such collection has heretofore been made"" - James Maitland