Here is a compiled list of Canadian and Commonwealth military slang from over the years. **If you offend easy, I recommend not reading any further into this post. Not sure if all that is here is legitimate slang and/or terms and can not account for the lists credibility.
The list is still a work in progress, so if you would like to add something...please do so.
Remember, this is all just in good fun and not intended to be serious in any way...now enjoy the read!
1000 Yard Stare - Sign of combat fatigue, wariness, concentration on peripheral vision
5 by 5 - Loud and clear, everything is working 100%
A rations - Fresh food
Act Lively! - Hurry up
Ackers - Money
After Supper Soldier - Reservist who conducts training on Thursday evenings
Air Force Gloves - Pockets: "I see you're wearing your Air Force gloves today." (see American gloves)
Aldershit - A term used to describe LFAATC Aldershot, where whenever there is training, the weather takes a nosedive. AKA Alderschwitz
Alleyman - British for a German (from the French Allemand, meaning German)
American Gloves - Pockets (see Air Force Gloves)
American Proof - Refers to any equipment or technique that is idiot proof to a degree that it may even be mastered by our colleagues from the US military - also 'Yank Proof' and "Infantry Proof"
Ammos - Standard issue boots
Amphibious Training - Particular to the summer, meaning to screw off early from work and head to the beach
Anchor Cranker - Naval personnel
Antonio - Portuguese soldier
Archie - Anti-aircraft fire
Artillery ears - Nerve damage from loud noises
Artillery punch - Alcoholic punch
Armourers - Weapons techs aka: Gun plumbers
Around when Centurion was a rank, not a tank - Old NCO (also referred to as having been Jesus Christs fire team partner or been in since Christ was a Corporal)
As you were! - Cancels previous command
Awaiting Parts - Refers to one who displays a lack of courage or intestinal fortitude
Baby shit - Mustard
Bag Drive - An extensive, excessive activity marked by great levels of physical and mental strain
Bag of Hammers - see Bag of Shit.
Bag of Shit - Someone or something that is or appears to be sloppy, clumsy, incompetent, useless, et cetera.
Balls up - Total confusion, similar to American "everything is balled up"
Banjo - Aussie for shovel
Barker - Sausage (thinking they were made of dog meat) also referred to a pistol
Battery acid - Mess hall coffee
Balls to Nut Sack - Members grouped uncomfortably close together
Balls to the Wall - Term coined by Canadian fighter pilots in WWII. Meaning is thought to be to jam the throttle controls to the instrument panel in order to accelerate fast.
Band Fag - CF musician
Band geek - Musician
Band-aid Tech - Medics who are notorious for their medical skills
Bandie, Bandy - Musician
Bang Stick - Rifle
Base Bunny - In reference to Buckle Bunny, a bull-rider's girlfriend, who wears his trophy buckle out of pride for her man. Battalion Bicycle - see Shack Rat
Beers Down Range - To drink socially
Belt Fed Cock - Any punishment or hardship high in intensity, and long in duration
Biff - Traitor, backstabber. See Buddy F***er (for members of the CF from Cape Breton it means to throw something or biff it)
Bin Rat - Supply Technician
Bint - Woman
Birth Control Glasses - Canadian Forces-issued combat spectacles that, while appropriate for eye protection in a tactical situation, are downright hideous
Bitter - Mis-pronounciation of German "Bitte" meaning "Please"
Biscuits - Crackers or cookies
Black Cadillacs - Combat boots. Used ironically in reference to use as a mode of transport
Black Death - Mess hall coffee
Black Hatter - Armoured crewman. Named after the black berets worn by the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. Does not apply to Navy personnel
Blade - See Biff. Can be used as a noun "He's a blade" or a verb "I got bladed."
Blanco - British trade name for color-cake used to color web equipment
Blanket Drill - Sleep
Blanket Stacker - Supply Technician
Blighty - Home
Blitz - Bombardment
Blivit - Nonsense word, used as profanity
Block Leave - A period of leave during which an entire unit or command is nowhere to be found. Usually happens in summer and at Xmas, but is forbidden to units or commands who work on a 365 basis (i.e. the Air Force).
Bloke - Guy
Blouse - Jacket or shirt
Blue Rocket - Standard portable toilet that can be found everywhere on a base. Has a rather nasty habit of tipping over when occupied and people are bored—if they're angry, on the door
Blue Water - The strategy that England depend on it's navy & avoid contact with continental armies
Boat - Ask any sailor, "it means submarine you idiot". If it sails above the water then it's a ship
Boat Person - Sailor - also Dory Plug or Fish Head
Boche - German
Bob - Shilling - 1/20th of an English pound
Bobbagee - Cook
BOHICA - Bend Over, Here It Comes Again
Boko - A lot (from the French beaucoup)
Bonk - To shell with artillery fire
Bonzer - Good, cool
Boonie Cap - Floppy field hat worn in field environment
Boot Camp - Basic training. For soldiers, this can also include the Soldier's Qualifications Course
Boot F***ed - Severe punishment, Sometimes the real boot up your ass, usually coming from a SGT or above. (Not legally used after 1994 harassment policy.)
Bos'n pay - Bananas
Box Kicker - Supply technician
Box Respirator - Gas mask with canister carried in bag connected to face mask with hose
Braces - Suspenders
Brain Fart - Slang for a short period of forgetfulness
Brain Housing Group - Slang for the skull
Brat - Military Brat - Someone who has spent their youth being raised by a regular-force member
Brit Hay Box - Refers to the "portable shitters" - British mess food is the shits
Buckshee - free or spare (i.e buckshee private = recruit)
Buddy F***er - Describes someone who, whether intentionally or not, acts in a manner totally inconsiderate to the welfare of his/her peers, potentially harming them in the process
Bugger off - To stop, Get lost
Bully Beef - English canned beef
Bum - Butt
Bumblef*** - Engage in activity with no purpose or end benefit
Bundook - Rifle
Bung - Cheese
Bunny suit - Chemical defense suit, used for defense against chemical warfare
Burgoo - Porridge
Buzzer - Field telephone
C Rations - Combat rations, canned food, C Rats, Charlie's Rats, Cees
CP - Command Post
C&E - Clothing & Equipment
Cadpat Garden - Army way of learning things (goes right along with <death>)
Calvados - Liquor
Canned Cow - Canned milk
Canary - Air Force: too pretty to shoot, too yellow to fight
Can Opener - Any anti armour weapon
Canteen Queen - Someone who always volunteers for the canteen
Capitol - Good, grand
Careborne - Slang for SAR Tech
Career Mangler - Career Manager. A senior member of your occupation at NDHQ who makes the decisions about your career development and your geographical and/or unit postings. Depending on his/her decisions, they are thought of as a great friend or your worst nightmare.
Casualties - Unavailable for military duty due to injury, disease or death
Cat Craps - Ontario Regiment nickname
Cement Head - Infantier: as in need a chisel and mallet to penetrate the thick skull
CFL - Corporal for life; Also Captain for life
Chairborne Ranger - Anyone whose primary duties are performed behind a desk
Chairforce - Air Force
Char - Tea
Char Wallah - Tea server
Charlie Foxtrot - The phonetic letters CF, abbreviation of cluster f***
Charpoy - Bed
Cheesie - Slang for SAR Tech, due to the bright orange suits they wear
Chief - The senior-most officer appointment of a branch, staffing, element, etc.
Chemist - The cook who conducts chemical experiments with food
Chicken F***ers - A most offensive nickname given to The Royal Canadian Regiment
Chicken Ranch - CFB Petawawa, home of 1RCR and 3RCR. See also Chicken F***ers
Chimo! - A form of greeting or war-cry used by the Canadian Military Engineers. Can mean the following: "Hello!", "Cheers" et cetera. It is normally shouted in unison after engineers are dismissed from parade, or as a compliment in place of "good job" or "have a good night!"
Chit - Written message, Voucher for money
Chub - Shut up!
Chuggernuts - Used as a nickname for stupid soldiers (e.g."Take a look at chuggernuts there" or "Going to find chuggernuts, be right back")
Cinderella leave - Shipboard leave expiring at, or before, 2359hrs. Usually for only for junior members of the Ship's Company or if the ship is sailing early
Circus Battalion - A Service Battalion, coined by not just how it rhymes, but also the nature of certain Service Battalion as being severely disorganized: "they set up tents, and are staffed by clowns"
Civvies - Civilian attire; civilians
Clear as mud - Usually used to ask if you understand something which is being taught during a military lesson.
Closed Up - Someone who is competent, alert and deports oneself in a professional manner. The opposite of shit pump
Clown - American (Revolutionary War)
Club Ed - Slang for Edmonton Detention Barracks
Coal/Newcastle Expression - "That's like hauling coal toNewcastle"
COCK - Confirmation Of Combat Knowledge
Cockmeat sandwich - A form of discipline received from more than one superior at more than one occasion for the same incident.
Combat Florist - Slang for the Signals trade, refers to the Hermes on their cap badge, resembling the FTD florist symbol. aka Herpes
Conchie - Conscientious objector
Cooties - Lice, crotch crickets
Copacetic - Allright (Amer.)
Cornflake - A tri-service cap badge affixed to a new CF member's beret in his or her early recruit stages. "Cornflake" also serves as a term for a member in this early stage of his or her career.
Cornflake treatment - The cornflake is normally a sign that the member is new to the Canadian Forces and is given according treatment: superiors will supervise them with more scrutiny, to note and correct their mistakes, discipline when necessary and behave as an example to follow.
Corned Willie - Corned Beef
Corpuscle - Corporal
Cowering Inferno - NDHQ
Crocker cocker - A derogatory term used for the poorly designed ambidextrous cocking handle latch on the upgraded C7A2 rifle which has the bad habit of getting caught on everything and breaks frequently.
Crump - Shell-burst
Crunch - To go to the bathroom number two, see also MOVEMENT.
Crunchie - An armoured term; dismounted infantry. Derived from what it is imagined to sound like when a tank runs over an infantry soldier.
C*** - "Candidate Under Normal Training", goes hand in hand with COCK. I.E. "I'm going to give those C***S some COCK!"
Cushy - Comfortable or easy
Cutest women across Canada/Quacks - CWAC's
D-bar - Emergency ration of chocolate with sugar,oat flour, vitamins, vanillin
Death Before Dismount - Unofficial Armoured Corps motto, usually used my non-Armoured types (i.e. crunchies) as humour.
Death by Powerpoint - An overly long, excruciatingly boring class or presentation that makes overuse of said program.
Deep Shit - Difficult situation
Deck Ape - Boatswain
Desert Stove - Tin can with sand & gasoline, or hole with water & some gasoline
Dharzi Wallah - Tailor
Dhobi Wallah - Laundry man
Dicey - Chancey
Dirty Cowboy - A member of the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry
Disneyland joke - A recurring joke often used by instructors on students during a recruit course, in order to gain volunteers for a mundane task. This can also involve ice cream or candy.
Disneyland on the Rideau - National Defense Headquarters
Dive bombing - Picking up litter
Digger - ANZAC
Dixie - Food container
Dogf*** - Engage in severe laziness, or severe procrastination.
Donkey - A foolish individual
Donut Dollies - Red Cross volunteers, biscuit bitches (Brit.)
Double Cock - Getting twice the amount of discipline. Or receiving discipline from two people at the same time.
Dozer - Aviation Technician
Drip pan - A female soldier in a Service Battalion who engages in promiscuity.
Drop Ass - To expel intestinal gas through the anus; break wind
Drop your cocks and grab your socks - Get out of bed
Duck board - The boards used to line the bottom of trenches
Egg - Hand grenade (or bomb)
Englishman - Brit, Tommy, Limey, Someone who is either unfriendly or needs something
Emma gee - Machine gun (phonetic)
Ersatz - German reserves - Replacements
Excuse me - Get out of my way. (Brit.)
Fag - Cigarette
Fall in! - Get into formation
Fanti - crazy/mad
FARB - Far be it from authentic
Fart sack - Sleeping bag
Fat pills - Slang for dessert items, i.e., cake, candy. Also known as; Jim booglies, fizzy pops; licky chewies
Field Force - Portion of British Army immediately available
FIGJAM - F*** I'm Good, Just Ask Me. Used when one has confidence in their ability and it shows.
FIGMO - F*** it, Got My Orders, generally refers to someone who is posted and has received their posting message and their lack of interest in their current position. Would hear someone who is posted say they are "Figmoed" means they are done.
Fill your boots - Take as much as you want. Help yourself
Fitter - A CF-18 Engine Tech
Fitter & Turner - A Cook: as he fits perfectly good food into pots and turns it into shit
FK9 - Slang for "F***ing the Dog"
Flap - Excitement or confusion
Flat Face Civvy - Person who has no idea what the military does - also reffers to oriental origin civilian.
Fleabag - Sleeping bag/bedroll (often referring to that of an officer)
Floor Chimp - Refers to Vehicle technician on account a trained monkey can do what they do.
FML - Term used when tasked with a job that is considered to be unpleasant. Standing for F*** My Life.
FNG - F***ing new guy
FOBIJAR - F*** Off Buddy I'm Just A Reservist. Might be heard from a reservist if given an undesirable task by a Regular Force member.
FOBit - Also FOB Hobit - A soldier who never leaves a forward operating base (FOB). See also KAFer, Hesco Hobit
Foot in your ass - Severe discipline. "If one of you isn't pulling your weight here, you will feel the shock of my foot in your ass!!!"
Football - Soccer
Fragiles - Avionics techs (pronounced like fraggle)
Fraternization - To associate with the enemy or conquered enemy
Fritz - A German
Frog - Frenchman
Frozen Chosen - Slang term for anyone having served a sentence at the end of the world, commonly known as CFS Alert
F***-o - An incompetent, obnoxious, bumbling oaf. Like a bag of shit but even worse. Perhaps a play on common officer titles such as 'Admin O' or 'Sup O'.
FUBAR - F***ed Up Beyond All Recognition
FUBB - F***ed Up Beyond Belief
F***-off - an auxiliary superlative. "Reference that big F***-off tree at 2 o'clock."
F*** off - F*** you/get away
F***ed up - Fouled up
Full time retard - Member of the regular forces
Funnel faggot - Any member of the Marine Engineering Branch.
Furphie - Aussie for rumour
GAFF - Give a F*** Factor i.e. "My GAFF is pretty low right now"
Gaggle F*** - A disorganized mass of people who aren't doing anything productive
Gagtown – A term used to refer to CFB Gagetown
Germans - Boche, Fritz, Kraut, Heinie, Hun, Jerry, Fritzie, Hermann, Lugerhead, Katsenjamer
Get on the dog/Get the dog on - To put one's best effort forward. Derived the naval term "Dog" which is what sailors use to control the sail of a ship.
Glamour Boys - Friendly nickname for the 48th Highlanders
Glue bag - A person who is a moron
Go to ground - To go to bed
Gods Gift to Horny Girls - Another nickname for the GGHG's. Probably invented within the ranks.
Gongs - Medals
Goo Goo Foo Goos/Girl Guides Fornicate Good - GGFG's
Good Show! - Approval (Brit.)
Grape smugglers - Slang for the swim trunks you get issued in basic training.
Gravel technician - Infantry soldier. Created on grounds that the Infantry spend much time digging.
Gravy - Having an easy time
Green light - Paratrooper. Taken from the 'Go'/'No Go' lights when jumping.
Green pyjamas - Collective term given to the former olive-green combat dress.
Grid Map angle reading - A reading which does not correct for magnetic declination
Ground pounder - Infantry soldier; gunner
Ground sheet - See drip pan. Taken from its literal form of noun— a padded mat on top of which soldiers sleep. Normally said in combat trades.
Growlies - Slang for food
Grunt - A large Bornian ground-dwelling ape that digs holes for no apparent reason (PONGO) —infantry soldier. Also: Government Reject Unfit Naval Training
Guard Order - Equipment worn while on guard (Brit.)
Gucci kit - Non issued kit or equipment bought by the soldier
Gun plumber - Weapons technician, responsible for repairing firearms.
Gunner - A trained private in the RCA, can also informally refer to an artillery soldier at any rank: "once a gunner, always a gunner." Also used as a call sign for the machine gunner in a formation of members who bear rifles.
Gugga Huggas - Nickname for the GGHG's
Guppy - Naval recruit
Gut Truck - Slang for the Coy Canteen vehicle. aka Roach Coach, Goodie truck
Gut Wrenches - Cutlery/eating utensils
Ham Fisted - Something that is so unbelievably tight that the person who installed it has hams for fists.
Hang dump - Slang for hovering over a cold blue rocket seat while defecating
Hasty P's/Plough Jockeys - Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
Have a go - Start something (Brit.)
Haybox - A large insulated container used for serving and storing food in field operations.
Head Shed - Any headquarters element.
Head shrinker - Slang for the base therapist.
Headspace and timing check - Slang for a visit to the base therapist.
Heine - German Soldier
Herbie - Canadian soldier
Herman the German - Figure printed on figure 11 targets at a rifle range
Hesco Hobitt - A timid creature who never strays from the protective embrace of an area surrounded by Hesco Bastions- see also FOBit, KAFer
Hindquarters and Pigs - Headquarters and Sigs(Signals) Squadron of any brigade
Hit the dirt! - Take cover
Hit the sack - Go to bed
Home Guard - Civilian army (Brit.)
Honey wagon - Slang term for the chemical toilet maintenance vehicle
Hooah!, HUA!—heard, understood, acknowledged, borrowed from the U.S. Army term or the USMC's "OOO-RAH! Used in a ironic manner, for a idiotic task that you have no enthusiasm in doing.
Hop the bags - Going over the top
Horse cock - A flexible spout used for pouring fuel from a jerry can to a vehicle.
Hump - Carry or lift a load, originally an Australian term meaning "to carry one's swag", also a forced march carrying full equipment loads.
Hurry up and wait—denotes a situation where something isn't well organized, is rushed into by personnel and some form of delay makes them all wait in the end.
I must puke - Individual Meal Pack (IMP), referring to a dislike for the pre-packaged food.
Idiot stick - Rifle or shovel
Igaree - Aussie for "hurry up!" (alternate spelling: Iggry)
Illegitimis non carborundum - Don't let the bastards wear you down (phony Latin)
Infantard - Infantry Solider. Based on the belief that most infantry soldiers are not quite as bright as their peers
Infantillery - Artillery Solider employed in an infantry role; artillerymen performing infantry-like tasks
Iron Fist - Hat badge of the Armoured Corps
Jacked up - To have one's faults corrected in a swift and severe manner.
Jag on - To get a jag on; to hurry up
Jammie - Everything is good to go
Jankers - On punishment duty/confined to barracks
Jerry - British chamberpot(German helmet) (Brit.)
Jesus ______ - An item that is of monumental, singular importance. For example, if a particular computer in an office should not fail or be tampered with whatsoever, it is the "Jesus Computer".
Jimmy - A member of the Signals branch. The Executive officer of HMC ships—from RN "Jimmy the One." Also the nickname of the statue of Hermes at the CFB Kingston main gate
Jimmy Jesus - St Andrew holding the cross
Jink - Weave to avoid gunfire
Johns,the - Regina Rifle Regiment. WWII
Joker - Wise guy
JOUT - Junior Officer Under Training
Jug F*** - A disaster in the making
KAFer - A soldier who never leaves the Kandahar Airfield while deployed in Afghanistan. See also FOBIT
Keener—Someone who is always too enthusiastic to do any task.
KFS - Knife, Fork, Spoon
Killed - Bought the farm, bought it, cashed it in,
Killick—Naval slang for a Leading Seaman. Really means spare anchor, from the anchor on the rank badge back in the pre-1960's Navy.
Kilroy - Legendary WWII graffiti artist
King's English - Proper English, as opposed to working class English or slang (Brit.)
Kit - Personal effects
Kitch - Aussie term for British soldiers (from Kitchener)
Knock it off! - Stop it
Knuckle dragger - Armourer, weapons tech
Lager - Vehicle camp (Ger.) (Law-gur)
Lake Soups - Lake Superior Regiment
Last post - British term for taps, the call to retire for the night
Lawn dart—Paratrooper
LBRT - Little Black Rubber Thingy. Used to tie down vehicle tarps.
LCF - Look Cool Factor. Used in reference to the look of a piece of equipment and its affect on fashion
Leaf of grief—Slang for one being promoted to Master Corporal, often accompanied by a large amount of extra responsibility and little reward.
Leg - Term used by members of the Airborne to refer to non-jumpers. Means "lacks enough guts".
Liberate - To confiscate, commandeer, or loot an object
Light colonel—lieutenant-colonel. Used referentially, never when addressing the officer.
Light up - Shooting at an enemy
Line ape - A member of the Lineman trade, in army signals.
Links and Winks - Lincoln & Welland Regiment
Live ammunition - Service ammunition as opposed to blank
Living the dream - A term quite often sarcasticly used when situations dictate the direct opposite
Log/Log Wog—a member of the Logistics branch. See Ren & Stimpy's 'Log Song' for more details.
London/Brick Expression - :"I'll bet London to a Brick that..."
Londonderry Air - London derriere (sex) (Brit.)
Lone bone—a Private bearing one chevron
Loo - Toilet, latrine (Brit.)
Lorry - Truck (Brit.)
Loudership - Refers to the art of leading by screaming
Lucifer - Match
Lung in a bag - I.M.P. (field ration) meal of omelet in mushroom sauce, referring to its appearance. Originally referred to the old Ham Omelet IMP from the 80s
Ma'am - see "Sir"
Maconochie - Canned stew
Mad minute - Intense fire for short period
Mag - Magnetic compass reading, magazine.
Maknoon - mad
Malingerer - Slang for a soldier who constantly uses the MIR to avoid work. See Sick, Lame and Lazy.
Marching Order - Equipment worn in the field when marching (Brit.)
Master Jack - Master Corporal.
Mate - Friend (Brit.)
Mayonnaise Highlanders/Maisies - Friendly nickname for Le Regiment de Maisonneuve from WWII.
Mayor of Tune Town - Band Officer
Meatbomb - Paratrooper
Meathead - Member of the Canadian Forces Military Police. Likely a reference to the scarlet beret that an MP wears, though it has said to have been used prior to the scarlet's wearing. May also refer to the contents of the beret.
Meat wagon - Ambulance (WWII)
Mess tools - Eating utensils
Metal bashers - Aircraft Structures Technician.
Mil - 6400 mils = 360 degrees, 1 mil angle is 1 unit off at 1000 units range.
Milverado - Slang for the MILCOT.
MIR Commando - A member of your unit who goes to the MIR (medical inspection room) frequently attempting to get out of work.
ML-acopter - Slang term for MLVW, when used on exercise to transport troops, when the budget is too small to pay for helicopter transport.
Moppers-up - Troops who stay behind an advancing column preventing attack from the rear. Also called a Shotgun
Moral Tech 00069 - A promiscuous female soldier
Morale booster - A female soldier who engages in promiscuity with multiple members of her unit
Mount up! - Get into vehicles
Movement - To go to the bathroom number two.
MRE - Abbreviation for Meal Ready to Eat (a soldier's food in the field) aka Meal rejected by Ethiopians
MSE Op - Means Mobile support equipment Operator, Also refered to as "ME Start Engine Sometimes...Maybe" Refers to Military Truck Drivers.
Muckle on - The act of sorting out troops, or solving a problem. i.e. "Pte Bloggins, muckle on to that broom and start sweeping"
Mudford - Term of 'endearment' for LFCATA Meaford. Said to be where 'happiness goes to die.'
Mukim - Butter
Muzzled - Wearing a gas mask
N/S - Non-serviceable, non-functioning, broken, official jargon.
Naik - Corporal
Napoo - Done, used up
NATO standard - A Tim Hortons (also referred to as Tango Hotel) Large regular or 1 n 1 coffee.
Navy gravy - Ketchup
Nervous Battalion - Refers to service battalion troops who go to the field or outside the wire.
Ninjas - The Special-Forces arm of the CF.
No guts no glory - Something said just before "going over the top"
No hook - A Private below his or her qualification course specific to trade, who does not have a chevron or "hook" on his or her epaulet, unlike trained Privates who do. Can also apply to an Ordinary Seaman, which is the naval equivalent to a no-hook.
Not On - Used to describe something that is unacceptable, or something that shouldn't happen—"that is NOT ON."
Numpty - Someone who is 'none too swift', see 'bag of shit'.
OD - Olive drab
Oh Dark Stupid - Refers to times where most military personel wake up
Omar the Tent Maker - Refers to Materials Technician
One hook - A Trained Private, whose hook signifies competency in his or her trade. Also denotes an Able Seaman in the Navy.
OPI - Usually referred to as Office of Primary Interest, but in this case it refers to "Only Person Interested".
Order of the Shovel - Mythical "Order of the Shovel" award (to be killed and buried)
Ossifer - Officer
Other Ranks - An older term for Non Commissioned Members of the Forces used by officers; it is considered very inappropriate today.
Overseas cap - Cap which folds over belt
P.T. - Physical Training (P.E.)
Paperclips - Refers to the crossed chain links on the badge of the Canadian Forces Logistics Branch, which to the untrained eye appear to be paperclips.
Parnee - Water
Part Changer/Wrench Bender - Slang for mechanics
Pecker Checker - Medic
Pee Halt - Halt in march to relieve oneself
Pencil-pusher - Admin clerk
Petrol - Gasoline (Brit.)
Phutt - To stop functioning
Piddley Gees/The Plugs - WWII nicknames for the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards.
Piddley shit - That which does not matter
Picklie/Pickly - A member of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (from PPCLI)
Picklies - The PPCLI
Pig - Term used for machine gun due to its weight, and appetite for ammunition.
Pigboat - Named given to the former Gate Vessels of the Naval Reserves. All 5 were decommissioned in the mid 1990s. Originally used to open harbor gates during WWII. It was said they were made of "Pig steel"
Pigsticker - Bayonet
Ping Pong Champions of Long Island - Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Please Protect Canada's Little Idiots - Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Plug - A very stupid or incompetent person. From the fuze plug/lifting eye that is screwed into the front of an artillery shell until the actual fuze is installed. See also "Shit Pump"
POC - Point Of Contact
Point man - Lead man on patrol
Point, press, and pray - Also known as marksmanship principles
PONTI - Person Of No Tactical Importance. See OCDT
Poontang - Sex, or woman as a sexual object, French:"putain" - whore)
Poultry molesters - Politically correct term for the RCR's, also known as poultry fornicators.
Possie - Aussie for position. As in "we"ve got a good possie here"
Possy - Jam. Not to be confused with "possie"
Potato masher - German grenade
Princess Picklies - Long slang for a member of the PPCLI
Private Bloggins, Gunner Bloggins, Sapper Bloggins etc. - The CF's Everyman.
Provo - Military Police
Pub - Bar (Brit.)
Purple Shaft - Mythical Order of the Purple Shaft with Barbed Wire Cluster
Puzzle Palace - Slang for National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.
Quarter-inch Admiral - A derogatory term for a CF Officer Cadet, whether Army, Navy or Air Force; refers to the thin gold rank braid worn by these members on their tunics.
Queers on the Run - Offensive nickname for The Queen's Own Rifles Regiment (QOR)
Quickest Outta Ridgeway - Another for the Queens Own Regt.(QOR)
Quid - English pound (Brit.)
Rack out - Go to sleep, or take a nap/ lie down. See 'rock out with your cock out'
Rag Picker - Supply Technician
Ragtime - Disorderly/absurd
Ranker - Soldier serving in the ranks (Brit.)
Recce by death—unofficial motto of armoured reconnaissance. Refers to the chance of survival of an unarmed, unarmoured Iltis, or G-Wagon, upon encountering the enemy.
Red Eye - Catsup (also "blood")
Red Lead - Fire Fighters
Regimental air mattress - see 'Ground Sheet'
Relish suit - Collective term for the CADPAT uniform
Rental - Reservist
Reserve Cock - Discipline coming from a Sgt. thinking that everything has to be stressed out. Or a tasking done to kill time that shouldn't really be done.
Rigamarole - Rambling or confused, incoherent talk
Rileys - Nickname for the RHLI
Ring Knocker - One who has attended RMC
Rise & Shine - Get up
Rock Out With Your Cock Out - Just finished a job, or duty, and now having nothing to do. You can relax and relax. see rack out, and smoke and joke
Roger Dildo - Slang for Roger Wilco
Rooti - Bread
Rooti-gong - Long service medal
Rosalie - French for bayonet
RTFO—Stands for "Right the F*** Out of er"
Rubber Head - Term used for Communicator Research Operator.
Run Chicken Run - Another friendly term for the RCR's
Sammy - Early name for American soldiers
San fairy ann - British term of resignation - "it just doesn't matter" (from the French Ca ne fait rien)
Sand - Mess hall sugar
Sand Box - Refers to Afghanistan
Sapper - A trained private combat engineer, or informally a combat engineer of any rank.
Sarge - Sergeant; used informally
SAS - Referenced to Reserve members and defined as Saturdays and Summers
Saturday soldier - Reservist
Sausage - Observation balloon
Sausage fest - Slang for a situation where there are no women, only a lot of men.
Saw! - British pronouncement of "Sir!"
Seagull - Mess hall chicken
Secret Squirrels - Members of JTF2
Sergeant Major Moustache - Term used to describe a moustache styled with wax in a manner that resembles the Pringles logo character. It is normally worn by senior non-commissioned members, such as Sergeants, Warrant Officers, hence its name. They are most popular in combat arms regiments.
Sewer trout - Mess hall fish
Shacks - Quarters of any time, not a reference to quality/comfort.
Shack hack - Any illness that has spread quickly in quarters.
Shack rat - A serviceman who is left in barracks to do extra clean-up for the day. Or, any female who enters quarters to engage in promiscuity with those living in the housing unit.
Shack whore - A civilian female who comes to the shacks to engages in promiscuity with anyone who will give them a beer or a smoke.
SHADS - Summer Holidays After Dinner Sailors. Term used for Naval Reservists.
Shat - Shit (past tense) (Brit.)
Shit pump - An individual marked by gross incompetence or stupidity, whose only skill is converting rations into feces.
Shit rat - A soldier who is always in trouble
Shit the bed - To f*** up something, make a gross mistake or otherwise disappointment.
Shit tickets - Slang for Army toilet paper. aka poop-on coupons
Shitter fitter - Naval Hull Technician
Sick, Lame and Lazy - A group of soldiers who are medically exempt from participating in physical activity.
Siggies - Signals
Silly Servant - Civil servant- civilian that works for DND
Silver Bullets/Cornwallis Cripplers - The high speed running shoes you get issued in basic training.
Sir - Someone who is addressed as 'Sir' (or 'Ma'am') by subordinates. Usually a response by a Warrant Officer or below when called sir "I am not a sir/ma'am; I work for a living."
Skilly - Gruel
Slack and Idle - Personnel without motivation or grossly out of shape
Sliders - Naval term meaning to screw off early. Particularly applicable to Fridays and before lunch.
Slit Trench - Foxhole, hasty pit, fighting hole, funk hole
SLJO - Shitty Little Jobs Officer
Smelly - SMLE "Rifle, Short Magazine, Lee-Enfield"
SNAFU - Situation Normal All F***ed Up
Sneak & Peak - Recon
SOL - Shit Out of Luck
SOP - Standard Operating Procedure
SOS - Shit On a Shingle, creamed chipped beef on toast, "creamed foreskins", Same Old Shit
Spanner - Wrench (Brit.)
Spare - Someone who, at the time being, really does not have a job to do.
Spark chaser - Avionics technician
Spend a penny - Urinate
Spinner - Someone who has a tendency to 'panic' when put under even the slightest stress and can't make a decision, i.e. 'they spin'.
Spit & Polish - Attention to dress
Split arse - Female
Spray & Pray - To shoot wildly in hopes of hitting a target - Usually with a machine gun from behind cover.
Shit, Shave and Run Boys - Friendly abbreviation for the South Sask. Regiment-SSR's
Stand at ease! - Similar to parade rest.
Stand Down - Assume lower level of combat readiness
Stand To - To be in position, waiting. From "stand to your arms"
Standards - "There is only ONE standard!" Problem is, everybody has one
Steel Pot - American M1 helmet
Steam - Moonshine, Liquor
Stiff upper lip - Inner resolve
Stone, Dust and Gravel boys - Stormont and Dundas Glengarry
Stonk/Stonking - Bombardment/ Being bombed
Stunt - An attack or raid
Squishie - See Crunchie
Suntans - Summer uniform, khaki colored cotton, tan color
Super Sailor - Nickname for members of the Boatswain Naval trade
Super Stoker - A member of the Marine Engineering Branch who attended a Marine Engineering Programme. Entering the 2 year course as a recruit and exiting the course as a Master Seaman.
SWAT - Refers to the reserves. As in Some Weekends And Thursdays. See also SAS, Toon, and Weekend Warrior.
Sweet Biscuit - Cookie (Brit.)
Switched On - See "Closed Up"
T/O - Table of Organization- number of men, rank, and assignment in unit organization
T/O & E - Table of Organization and Equipment. T/O plus list of vehicles, weapons, & Equipment
Tallyho - Enemy sighted (hunting call) (Brit.)
Tea - Afternoon refreshment with strong tea and cake or cookies (eg. 4:00 or so)
Territorials - British Territorial Army, auxiliary force similar to militia or reserves (not overseas)
TGIF - Thank God it's Friday
The Continent - The European mainland (Brit.)
The Dirty Four Dozen - 48th Highlanders Of Canada. WWII
Thudf*** - Someone who is totally useless
Thumper Head - Slang for Field Engineer
Thunder Box - Refers to one of two things: 1) a makeshift toilet out of cardboard in a field setting, 2) portable toilet.
Thunder Chicken - Refers to the thunderbird on the Canadian Forces Military Police badge.
Thunder In - Refers to someone who passes out. Usually during long periods of physical exertion.
Timmi Taliban - refers to Taliban enemy
Tin Hat - British or WWII soup-dish, dish pan or pie pan shaped helmet
Tinclad - Lightly armored vehicles such as half-tracks
To lay - To aim a weapon
To Step On One's Own - To really screw up
Toc emma - Trench mortar (phonetic)
Tommy - British soldier, from Thomas Atkins, British equivalent of John Doe
Tommy Cooker - British tank (Ger.)
Toon - Refers to the reserves. As in Cartoons. Not real, and only seen on the weekends. See S.A.S.
Tor Scots/The Horse Blankets - Toronto Scottish Regt.
Toque head - The effect encountered when wearing a toque too long. Symptoms include excessive build up of grease on scalp and extremely sensitive hair.
Torch - Flashlight (Brit.)
Tosser - Stupid or arrogant person(see Wanker)
Trooper - A trained private armoured soldier
Tuba tech - A CF musician, regardless of the instrument they play
Tune tech - Any CF Musician
Tune town - The band room or practice area
Twenty Mile Sniper - Artillery gunner
Two Bits - Twenty-five cents (Amer.)
Twin Tailed Plastic Fag Jet - A CF-18 Fighter Jet
Typewriter - Machine gun (Brit.)
Uncle Charlie - Full marching orders
Unicorn - Uniform
Un-f*** - To fix something or someone that's broken
Valcatraz - Slang for Valcartier, Quebec
Van Doos - Royal 22e Regiment. Name derives from vingt-deux, French for "twenty-two."
Verey Light - Flare signal (Brit.)
Vicar - Priest (Brit.)
Volun-told - A supposedly optional event, award, assignment, or activity in which a person (or persons) are required to attend either by persons-in-charge nominating them or their peers expecting them to be there. The individual often has no say in the matter, and non-attendance in frowned upon.
Walking out - Off-base, "walking-out order" is uniform used in town (Brit.)
Wanker - Stupid or arrogant person(see Tosser)
War Pig - Almost exclusively used in the Infantry, the term describes a very large, girthy and masculine female soldier
Watch Dogs - Military Police
Weekend warrior - Reservist
Weather machine - Rumoured device installed at LFCATA Meaford which provides the base with abysmal weather while all surrounding communities enjoy beautiful sunshine.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - The phonetic letter WTF; has the same meaning as the modern textspeak WTF "What the f***?"
Whistle head - Officer
White elephant - See White whale.
White whale - Large, white moving-company style wagon used to transport goods in a non-combat environment.
Wizard - Very good (Brit.)
WOG, wog - Without Guts/Without Guns. Synonymous with "sissy", "pussy", etc. A derogatory term for someone who is not a member of the combat arms. Can also be interpreted as "Without Gun." Sometimes "Western Oriental Gentleman" aka "Worn Out Grunt"
Yank Proof - see 'American Proof'
Yellow Bedroom - CF Crewcab truck which has a black hood and referenced in the joke: "What's black and yellow and sleeps four?"
YMCA - RCN
You can't see me suit - Cadpat camo uniform. See relish suit
Yperite - Mustard gas
Zipper Head - Armoured Crewman. From the old leather helmets used by early tankers. The pattern of stitching gave the appearance of a zipper running across the top of the head
Zombie - The nickname for conscript soldiers during WWII
Zoomie - Pilot or any members of the Air Operations branch
The list is still a work in progress, so if you would like to add something...please do so.
Remember, this is all just in good fun and not intended to be serious in any way...now enjoy the read!
1000 Yard Stare - Sign of combat fatigue, wariness, concentration on peripheral vision
5 by 5 - Loud and clear, everything is working 100%
A rations - Fresh food
Act Lively! - Hurry up
Ackers - Money
After Supper Soldier - Reservist who conducts training on Thursday evenings
Air Force Gloves - Pockets: "I see you're wearing your Air Force gloves today." (see American gloves)
Aldershit - A term used to describe LFAATC Aldershot, where whenever there is training, the weather takes a nosedive. AKA Alderschwitz
Alleyman - British for a German (from the French Allemand, meaning German)
American Gloves - Pockets (see Air Force Gloves)
American Proof - Refers to any equipment or technique that is idiot proof to a degree that it may even be mastered by our colleagues from the US military - also 'Yank Proof' and "Infantry Proof"
Ammos - Standard issue boots
Amphibious Training - Particular to the summer, meaning to screw off early from work and head to the beach
Anchor Cranker - Naval personnel
Antonio - Portuguese soldier
Archie - Anti-aircraft fire
Artillery ears - Nerve damage from loud noises
Artillery punch - Alcoholic punch
Armourers - Weapons techs aka: Gun plumbers
Around when Centurion was a rank, not a tank - Old NCO (also referred to as having been Jesus Christs fire team partner or been in since Christ was a Corporal)
As you were! - Cancels previous command
Awaiting Parts - Refers to one who displays a lack of courage or intestinal fortitude
Baby shit - Mustard
Bag Drive - An extensive, excessive activity marked by great levels of physical and mental strain
Bag of Hammers - see Bag of Shit.
Bag of Shit - Someone or something that is or appears to be sloppy, clumsy, incompetent, useless, et cetera.
Balls up - Total confusion, similar to American "everything is balled up"
Banjo - Aussie for shovel
Barker - Sausage (thinking they were made of dog meat) also referred to a pistol
Battery acid - Mess hall coffee
Balls to Nut Sack - Members grouped uncomfortably close together
Balls to the Wall - Term coined by Canadian fighter pilots in WWII. Meaning is thought to be to jam the throttle controls to the instrument panel in order to accelerate fast.
Band Fag - CF musician
Band geek - Musician
Band-aid Tech - Medics who are notorious for their medical skills
Bandie, Bandy - Musician
Bang Stick - Rifle
Base Bunny - In reference to Buckle Bunny, a bull-rider's girlfriend, who wears his trophy buckle out of pride for her man. Battalion Bicycle - see Shack Rat
Beers Down Range - To drink socially
Belt Fed Cock - Any punishment or hardship high in intensity, and long in duration
Biff - Traitor, backstabber. See Buddy F***er (for members of the CF from Cape Breton it means to throw something or biff it)
Bin Rat - Supply Technician
Bint - Woman
Birth Control Glasses - Canadian Forces-issued combat spectacles that, while appropriate for eye protection in a tactical situation, are downright hideous
Bitter - Mis-pronounciation of German "Bitte" meaning "Please"
Biscuits - Crackers or cookies
Black Cadillacs - Combat boots. Used ironically in reference to use as a mode of transport
Black Death - Mess hall coffee
Black Hatter - Armoured crewman. Named after the black berets worn by the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. Does not apply to Navy personnel
Blade - See Biff. Can be used as a noun "He's a blade" or a verb "I got bladed."
Blanco - British trade name for color-cake used to color web equipment
Blanket Drill - Sleep
Blanket Stacker - Supply Technician
Blighty - Home
Blitz - Bombardment
Blivit - Nonsense word, used as profanity
Block Leave - A period of leave during which an entire unit or command is nowhere to be found. Usually happens in summer and at Xmas, but is forbidden to units or commands who work on a 365 basis (i.e. the Air Force).
Bloke - Guy
Blouse - Jacket or shirt
Blue Rocket - Standard portable toilet that can be found everywhere on a base. Has a rather nasty habit of tipping over when occupied and people are bored—if they're angry, on the door
Blue Water - The strategy that England depend on it's navy & avoid contact with continental armies
Boat - Ask any sailor, "it means submarine you idiot". If it sails above the water then it's a ship
Boat Person - Sailor - also Dory Plug or Fish Head
Boche - German
Bob - Shilling - 1/20th of an English pound
Bobbagee - Cook
BOHICA - Bend Over, Here It Comes Again
Boko - A lot (from the French beaucoup)
Bonk - To shell with artillery fire
Bonzer - Good, cool
Boonie Cap - Floppy field hat worn in field environment
Boot Camp - Basic training. For soldiers, this can also include the Soldier's Qualifications Course
Boot F***ed - Severe punishment, Sometimes the real boot up your ass, usually coming from a SGT or above. (Not legally used after 1994 harassment policy.)
Bos'n pay - Bananas
Box Kicker - Supply technician
Box Respirator - Gas mask with canister carried in bag connected to face mask with hose
Braces - Suspenders
Brain Fart - Slang for a short period of forgetfulness
Brain Housing Group - Slang for the skull
Brat - Military Brat - Someone who has spent their youth being raised by a regular-force member
Brit Hay Box - Refers to the "portable shitters" - British mess food is the shits
Buckshee - free or spare (i.e buckshee private = recruit)
Buddy F***er - Describes someone who, whether intentionally or not, acts in a manner totally inconsiderate to the welfare of his/her peers, potentially harming them in the process
Bugger off - To stop, Get lost
Bully Beef - English canned beef
Bum - Butt
Bumblef*** - Engage in activity with no purpose or end benefit
Bundook - Rifle
Bung - Cheese
Bunny suit - Chemical defense suit, used for defense against chemical warfare
Burgoo - Porridge
Buzzer - Field telephone
C Rations - Combat rations, canned food, C Rats, Charlie's Rats, Cees
CP - Command Post
C&E - Clothing & Equipment
Cadpat Garden - Army way of learning things (goes right along with <death>)
Calvados - Liquor
Canned Cow - Canned milk
Canary - Air Force: too pretty to shoot, too yellow to fight
Can Opener - Any anti armour weapon
Canteen Queen - Someone who always volunteers for the canteen
Capitol - Good, grand
Careborne - Slang for SAR Tech
Career Mangler - Career Manager. A senior member of your occupation at NDHQ who makes the decisions about your career development and your geographical and/or unit postings. Depending on his/her decisions, they are thought of as a great friend or your worst nightmare.
Casualties - Unavailable for military duty due to injury, disease or death
Cat Craps - Ontario Regiment nickname
Cement Head - Infantier: as in need a chisel and mallet to penetrate the thick skull
CFL - Corporal for life; Also Captain for life
Chairborne Ranger - Anyone whose primary duties are performed behind a desk
Chairforce - Air Force
Char - Tea
Char Wallah - Tea server
Charlie Foxtrot - The phonetic letters CF, abbreviation of cluster f***
Charpoy - Bed
Cheesie - Slang for SAR Tech, due to the bright orange suits they wear
Chief - The senior-most officer appointment of a branch, staffing, element, etc.
Chemist - The cook who conducts chemical experiments with food
Chicken F***ers - A most offensive nickname given to The Royal Canadian Regiment
Chicken Ranch - CFB Petawawa, home of 1RCR and 3RCR. See also Chicken F***ers
Chimo! - A form of greeting or war-cry used by the Canadian Military Engineers. Can mean the following: "Hello!", "Cheers" et cetera. It is normally shouted in unison after engineers are dismissed from parade, or as a compliment in place of "good job" or "have a good night!"
Chit - Written message, Voucher for money
Chub - Shut up!
Chuggernuts - Used as a nickname for stupid soldiers (e.g."Take a look at chuggernuts there" or "Going to find chuggernuts, be right back")
Cinderella leave - Shipboard leave expiring at, or before, 2359hrs. Usually for only for junior members of the Ship's Company or if the ship is sailing early
Circus Battalion - A Service Battalion, coined by not just how it rhymes, but also the nature of certain Service Battalion as being severely disorganized: "they set up tents, and are staffed by clowns"
Civvies - Civilian attire; civilians
Clear as mud - Usually used to ask if you understand something which is being taught during a military lesson.
Closed Up - Someone who is competent, alert and deports oneself in a professional manner. The opposite of shit pump
Clown - American (Revolutionary War)
Club Ed - Slang for Edmonton Detention Barracks
Coal/Newcastle Expression - "That's like hauling coal toNewcastle"
COCK - Confirmation Of Combat Knowledge
Cockmeat sandwich - A form of discipline received from more than one superior at more than one occasion for the same incident.
Combat Florist - Slang for the Signals trade, refers to the Hermes on their cap badge, resembling the FTD florist symbol. aka Herpes
Conchie - Conscientious objector
Cooties - Lice, crotch crickets
Copacetic - Allright (Amer.)
Cornflake - A tri-service cap badge affixed to a new CF member's beret in his or her early recruit stages. "Cornflake" also serves as a term for a member in this early stage of his or her career.
Cornflake treatment - The cornflake is normally a sign that the member is new to the Canadian Forces and is given according treatment: superiors will supervise them with more scrutiny, to note and correct their mistakes, discipline when necessary and behave as an example to follow.
Corned Willie - Corned Beef
Corpuscle - Corporal
Cowering Inferno - NDHQ
Crocker cocker - A derogatory term used for the poorly designed ambidextrous cocking handle latch on the upgraded C7A2 rifle which has the bad habit of getting caught on everything and breaks frequently.
Crump - Shell-burst
Crunch - To go to the bathroom number two, see also MOVEMENT.
Crunchie - An armoured term; dismounted infantry. Derived from what it is imagined to sound like when a tank runs over an infantry soldier.
C*** - "Candidate Under Normal Training", goes hand in hand with COCK. I.E. "I'm going to give those C***S some COCK!"
Cushy - Comfortable or easy
Cutest women across Canada/Quacks - CWAC's
D-bar - Emergency ration of chocolate with sugar,oat flour, vitamins, vanillin
Death Before Dismount - Unofficial Armoured Corps motto, usually used my non-Armoured types (i.e. crunchies) as humour.
Death by Powerpoint - An overly long, excruciatingly boring class or presentation that makes overuse of said program.
Deep Shit - Difficult situation
Deck Ape - Boatswain
Desert Stove - Tin can with sand & gasoline, or hole with water & some gasoline
Dharzi Wallah - Tailor
Dhobi Wallah - Laundry man
Dicey - Chancey
Dirty Cowboy - A member of the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry
Disneyland joke - A recurring joke often used by instructors on students during a recruit course, in order to gain volunteers for a mundane task. This can also involve ice cream or candy.
Disneyland on the Rideau - National Defense Headquarters
Dive bombing - Picking up litter
Digger - ANZAC
Dixie - Food container
Dogf*** - Engage in severe laziness, or severe procrastination.
Donkey - A foolish individual
Donut Dollies - Red Cross volunteers, biscuit bitches (Brit.)
Double Cock - Getting twice the amount of discipline. Or receiving discipline from two people at the same time.
Dozer - Aviation Technician
Drip pan - A female soldier in a Service Battalion who engages in promiscuity.
Drop Ass - To expel intestinal gas through the anus; break wind
Drop your cocks and grab your socks - Get out of bed
Duck board - The boards used to line the bottom of trenches
Egg - Hand grenade (or bomb)
Englishman - Brit, Tommy, Limey, Someone who is either unfriendly or needs something
Emma gee - Machine gun (phonetic)
Ersatz - German reserves - Replacements
Excuse me - Get out of my way. (Brit.)
Fag - Cigarette
Fall in! - Get into formation
Fanti - crazy/mad
FARB - Far be it from authentic
Fart sack - Sleeping bag
Fat pills - Slang for dessert items, i.e., cake, candy. Also known as; Jim booglies, fizzy pops; licky chewies
Field Force - Portion of British Army immediately available
FIGJAM - F*** I'm Good, Just Ask Me. Used when one has confidence in their ability and it shows.
FIGMO - F*** it, Got My Orders, generally refers to someone who is posted and has received their posting message and their lack of interest in their current position. Would hear someone who is posted say they are "Figmoed" means they are done.
Fill your boots - Take as much as you want. Help yourself
Fitter - A CF-18 Engine Tech
Fitter & Turner - A Cook: as he fits perfectly good food into pots and turns it into shit
FK9 - Slang for "F***ing the Dog"
Flap - Excitement or confusion
Flat Face Civvy - Person who has no idea what the military does - also reffers to oriental origin civilian.
Fleabag - Sleeping bag/bedroll (often referring to that of an officer)
Floor Chimp - Refers to Vehicle technician on account a trained monkey can do what they do.
FML - Term used when tasked with a job that is considered to be unpleasant. Standing for F*** My Life.
FNG - F***ing new guy
FOBIJAR - F*** Off Buddy I'm Just A Reservist. Might be heard from a reservist if given an undesirable task by a Regular Force member.
FOBit - Also FOB Hobit - A soldier who never leaves a forward operating base (FOB). See also KAFer, Hesco Hobit
Foot in your ass - Severe discipline. "If one of you isn't pulling your weight here, you will feel the shock of my foot in your ass!!!"
Football - Soccer
Fragiles - Avionics techs (pronounced like fraggle)
Fraternization - To associate with the enemy or conquered enemy
Fritz - A German
Frog - Frenchman
Frozen Chosen - Slang term for anyone having served a sentence at the end of the world, commonly known as CFS Alert
F***-o - An incompetent, obnoxious, bumbling oaf. Like a bag of shit but even worse. Perhaps a play on common officer titles such as 'Admin O' or 'Sup O'.
FUBAR - F***ed Up Beyond All Recognition
FUBB - F***ed Up Beyond Belief
F***-off - an auxiliary superlative. "Reference that big F***-off tree at 2 o'clock."
F*** off - F*** you/get away
F***ed up - Fouled up
Full time retard - Member of the regular forces
Funnel faggot - Any member of the Marine Engineering Branch.
Furphie - Aussie for rumour
GAFF - Give a F*** Factor i.e. "My GAFF is pretty low right now"
Gaggle F*** - A disorganized mass of people who aren't doing anything productive
Gagtown – A term used to refer to CFB Gagetown
Germans - Boche, Fritz, Kraut, Heinie, Hun, Jerry, Fritzie, Hermann, Lugerhead, Katsenjamer
Get on the dog/Get the dog on - To put one's best effort forward. Derived the naval term "Dog" which is what sailors use to control the sail of a ship.
Glamour Boys - Friendly nickname for the 48th Highlanders
Glue bag - A person who is a moron
Go to ground - To go to bed
Gods Gift to Horny Girls - Another nickname for the GGHG's. Probably invented within the ranks.
Gongs - Medals
Goo Goo Foo Goos/Girl Guides Fornicate Good - GGFG's
Good Show! - Approval (Brit.)
Grape smugglers - Slang for the swim trunks you get issued in basic training.
Gravel technician - Infantry soldier. Created on grounds that the Infantry spend much time digging.
Gravy - Having an easy time
Green light - Paratrooper. Taken from the 'Go'/'No Go' lights when jumping.
Green pyjamas - Collective term given to the former olive-green combat dress.
Grid Map angle reading - A reading which does not correct for magnetic declination
Ground pounder - Infantry soldier; gunner
Ground sheet - See drip pan. Taken from its literal form of noun— a padded mat on top of which soldiers sleep. Normally said in combat trades.
Growlies - Slang for food
Grunt - A large Bornian ground-dwelling ape that digs holes for no apparent reason (PONGO) —infantry soldier. Also: Government Reject Unfit Naval Training
Guard Order - Equipment worn while on guard (Brit.)
Gucci kit - Non issued kit or equipment bought by the soldier
Gun plumber - Weapons technician, responsible for repairing firearms.
Gunner - A trained private in the RCA, can also informally refer to an artillery soldier at any rank: "once a gunner, always a gunner." Also used as a call sign for the machine gunner in a formation of members who bear rifles.
Gugga Huggas - Nickname for the GGHG's
Guppy - Naval recruit
Gut Truck - Slang for the Coy Canteen vehicle. aka Roach Coach, Goodie truck
Gut Wrenches - Cutlery/eating utensils
Ham Fisted - Something that is so unbelievably tight that the person who installed it has hams for fists.
Hang dump - Slang for hovering over a cold blue rocket seat while defecating
Hasty P's/Plough Jockeys - Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
Have a go - Start something (Brit.)
Haybox - A large insulated container used for serving and storing food in field operations.
Head Shed - Any headquarters element.
Head shrinker - Slang for the base therapist.
Headspace and timing check - Slang for a visit to the base therapist.
Heine - German Soldier
Herbie - Canadian soldier
Herman the German - Figure printed on figure 11 targets at a rifle range
Hesco Hobitt - A timid creature who never strays from the protective embrace of an area surrounded by Hesco Bastions- see also FOBit, KAFer
Hindquarters and Pigs - Headquarters and Sigs(Signals) Squadron of any brigade
Hit the dirt! - Take cover
Hit the sack - Go to bed
Home Guard - Civilian army (Brit.)
Honey wagon - Slang term for the chemical toilet maintenance vehicle
Hooah!, HUA!—heard, understood, acknowledged, borrowed from the U.S. Army term or the USMC's "OOO-RAH! Used in a ironic manner, for a idiotic task that you have no enthusiasm in doing.
Hop the bags - Going over the top
Horse cock - A flexible spout used for pouring fuel from a jerry can to a vehicle.
Hump - Carry or lift a load, originally an Australian term meaning "to carry one's swag", also a forced march carrying full equipment loads.
Hurry up and wait—denotes a situation where something isn't well organized, is rushed into by personnel and some form of delay makes them all wait in the end.
I must puke - Individual Meal Pack (IMP), referring to a dislike for the pre-packaged food.
Idiot stick - Rifle or shovel
Igaree - Aussie for "hurry up!" (alternate spelling: Iggry)
Illegitimis non carborundum - Don't let the bastards wear you down (phony Latin)
Infantard - Infantry Solider. Based on the belief that most infantry soldiers are not quite as bright as their peers
Infantillery - Artillery Solider employed in an infantry role; artillerymen performing infantry-like tasks
Iron Fist - Hat badge of the Armoured Corps
Jacked up - To have one's faults corrected in a swift and severe manner.
Jag on - To get a jag on; to hurry up
Jammie - Everything is good to go
Jankers - On punishment duty/confined to barracks
Jerry - British chamberpot(German helmet) (Brit.)
Jesus ______ - An item that is of monumental, singular importance. For example, if a particular computer in an office should not fail or be tampered with whatsoever, it is the "Jesus Computer".
Jimmy - A member of the Signals branch. The Executive officer of HMC ships—from RN "Jimmy the One." Also the nickname of the statue of Hermes at the CFB Kingston main gate
Jimmy Jesus - St Andrew holding the cross
Jink - Weave to avoid gunfire
Johns,the - Regina Rifle Regiment. WWII
Joker - Wise guy
JOUT - Junior Officer Under Training
Jug F*** - A disaster in the making
KAFer - A soldier who never leaves the Kandahar Airfield while deployed in Afghanistan. See also FOBIT
Keener—Someone who is always too enthusiastic to do any task.
KFS - Knife, Fork, Spoon
Killed - Bought the farm, bought it, cashed it in,
Killick—Naval slang for a Leading Seaman. Really means spare anchor, from the anchor on the rank badge back in the pre-1960's Navy.
Kilroy - Legendary WWII graffiti artist
King's English - Proper English, as opposed to working class English or slang (Brit.)
Kit - Personal effects
Kitch - Aussie term for British soldiers (from Kitchener)
Knock it off! - Stop it
Knuckle dragger - Armourer, weapons tech
Lager - Vehicle camp (Ger.) (Law-gur)
Lake Soups - Lake Superior Regiment
Last post - British term for taps, the call to retire for the night
Lawn dart—Paratrooper
LBRT - Little Black Rubber Thingy. Used to tie down vehicle tarps.
LCF - Look Cool Factor. Used in reference to the look of a piece of equipment and its affect on fashion
Leaf of grief—Slang for one being promoted to Master Corporal, often accompanied by a large amount of extra responsibility and little reward.
Leg - Term used by members of the Airborne to refer to non-jumpers. Means "lacks enough guts".
Liberate - To confiscate, commandeer, or loot an object
Light colonel—lieutenant-colonel. Used referentially, never when addressing the officer.
Light up - Shooting at an enemy
Line ape - A member of the Lineman trade, in army signals.
Links and Winks - Lincoln & Welland Regiment
Live ammunition - Service ammunition as opposed to blank
Living the dream - A term quite often sarcasticly used when situations dictate the direct opposite
Log/Log Wog—a member of the Logistics branch. See Ren & Stimpy's 'Log Song' for more details.
London/Brick Expression - :"I'll bet London to a Brick that..."
Londonderry Air - London derriere (sex) (Brit.)
Lone bone—a Private bearing one chevron
Loo - Toilet, latrine (Brit.)
Lorry - Truck (Brit.)
Loudership - Refers to the art of leading by screaming
Lucifer - Match
Lung in a bag - I.M.P. (field ration) meal of omelet in mushroom sauce, referring to its appearance. Originally referred to the old Ham Omelet IMP from the 80s
Ma'am - see "Sir"
Maconochie - Canned stew
Mad minute - Intense fire for short period
Mag - Magnetic compass reading, magazine.
Maknoon - mad
Malingerer - Slang for a soldier who constantly uses the MIR to avoid work. See Sick, Lame and Lazy.
Marching Order - Equipment worn in the field when marching (Brit.)
Master Jack - Master Corporal.
Mate - Friend (Brit.)
Mayonnaise Highlanders/Maisies - Friendly nickname for Le Regiment de Maisonneuve from WWII.
Mayor of Tune Town - Band Officer
Meatbomb - Paratrooper
Meathead - Member of the Canadian Forces Military Police. Likely a reference to the scarlet beret that an MP wears, though it has said to have been used prior to the scarlet's wearing. May also refer to the contents of the beret.
Meat wagon - Ambulance (WWII)
Mess tools - Eating utensils
Metal bashers - Aircraft Structures Technician.
Mil - 6400 mils = 360 degrees, 1 mil angle is 1 unit off at 1000 units range.
Milverado - Slang for the MILCOT.
MIR Commando - A member of your unit who goes to the MIR (medical inspection room) frequently attempting to get out of work.
ML-acopter - Slang term for MLVW, when used on exercise to transport troops, when the budget is too small to pay for helicopter transport.
Moppers-up - Troops who stay behind an advancing column preventing attack from the rear. Also called a Shotgun
Moral Tech 00069 - A promiscuous female soldier
Morale booster - A female soldier who engages in promiscuity with multiple members of her unit
Mount up! - Get into vehicles
Movement - To go to the bathroom number two.
MRE - Abbreviation for Meal Ready to Eat (a soldier's food in the field) aka Meal rejected by Ethiopians
MSE Op - Means Mobile support equipment Operator, Also refered to as "ME Start Engine Sometimes...Maybe" Refers to Military Truck Drivers.
Muckle on - The act of sorting out troops, or solving a problem. i.e. "Pte Bloggins, muckle on to that broom and start sweeping"
Mudford - Term of 'endearment' for LFCATA Meaford. Said to be where 'happiness goes to die.'
Mukim - Butter
Muzzled - Wearing a gas mask
N/S - Non-serviceable, non-functioning, broken, official jargon.
Naik - Corporal
Napoo - Done, used up
NATO standard - A Tim Hortons (also referred to as Tango Hotel) Large regular or 1 n 1 coffee.
Navy gravy - Ketchup
Nervous Battalion - Refers to service battalion troops who go to the field or outside the wire.
Ninjas - The Special-Forces arm of the CF.
No guts no glory - Something said just before "going over the top"
No hook - A Private below his or her qualification course specific to trade, who does not have a chevron or "hook" on his or her epaulet, unlike trained Privates who do. Can also apply to an Ordinary Seaman, which is the naval equivalent to a no-hook.
Not On - Used to describe something that is unacceptable, or something that shouldn't happen—"that is NOT ON."
Numpty - Someone who is 'none too swift', see 'bag of shit'.
OD - Olive drab
Oh Dark Stupid - Refers to times where most military personel wake up
Omar the Tent Maker - Refers to Materials Technician
One hook - A Trained Private, whose hook signifies competency in his or her trade. Also denotes an Able Seaman in the Navy.
OPI - Usually referred to as Office of Primary Interest, but in this case it refers to "Only Person Interested".
Order of the Shovel - Mythical "Order of the Shovel" award (to be killed and buried)
Ossifer - Officer
Other Ranks - An older term for Non Commissioned Members of the Forces used by officers; it is considered very inappropriate today.
Overseas cap - Cap which folds over belt
P.T. - Physical Training (P.E.)
Paperclips - Refers to the crossed chain links on the badge of the Canadian Forces Logistics Branch, which to the untrained eye appear to be paperclips.
Parnee - Water
Part Changer/Wrench Bender - Slang for mechanics
Pecker Checker - Medic
Pee Halt - Halt in march to relieve oneself
Pencil-pusher - Admin clerk
Petrol - Gasoline (Brit.)
Phutt - To stop functioning
Piddley Gees/The Plugs - WWII nicknames for the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards.
Piddley shit - That which does not matter
Picklie/Pickly - A member of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (from PPCLI)
Picklies - The PPCLI
Pig - Term used for machine gun due to its weight, and appetite for ammunition.
Pigboat - Named given to the former Gate Vessels of the Naval Reserves. All 5 were decommissioned in the mid 1990s. Originally used to open harbor gates during WWII. It was said they were made of "Pig steel"
Pigsticker - Bayonet
Ping Pong Champions of Long Island - Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Please Protect Canada's Little Idiots - Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Plug - A very stupid or incompetent person. From the fuze plug/lifting eye that is screwed into the front of an artillery shell until the actual fuze is installed. See also "Shit Pump"
POC - Point Of Contact
Point man - Lead man on patrol
Point, press, and pray - Also known as marksmanship principles
PONTI - Person Of No Tactical Importance. See OCDT
Poontang - Sex, or woman as a sexual object, French:"putain" - whore)
Poultry molesters - Politically correct term for the RCR's, also known as poultry fornicators.
Possie - Aussie for position. As in "we"ve got a good possie here"
Possy - Jam. Not to be confused with "possie"
Potato masher - German grenade
Princess Picklies - Long slang for a member of the PPCLI
Private Bloggins, Gunner Bloggins, Sapper Bloggins etc. - The CF's Everyman.
Provo - Military Police
Pub - Bar (Brit.)
Purple Shaft - Mythical Order of the Purple Shaft with Barbed Wire Cluster
Puzzle Palace - Slang for National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.
Quarter-inch Admiral - A derogatory term for a CF Officer Cadet, whether Army, Navy or Air Force; refers to the thin gold rank braid worn by these members on their tunics.
Queers on the Run - Offensive nickname for The Queen's Own Rifles Regiment (QOR)
Quickest Outta Ridgeway - Another for the Queens Own Regt.(QOR)
Quid - English pound (Brit.)
Rack out - Go to sleep, or take a nap/ lie down. See 'rock out with your cock out'
Rag Picker - Supply Technician
Ragtime - Disorderly/absurd
Ranker - Soldier serving in the ranks (Brit.)
Recce by death—unofficial motto of armoured reconnaissance. Refers to the chance of survival of an unarmed, unarmoured Iltis, or G-Wagon, upon encountering the enemy.
Red Eye - Catsup (also "blood")
Red Lead - Fire Fighters
Regimental air mattress - see 'Ground Sheet'
Relish suit - Collective term for the CADPAT uniform
Rental - Reservist
Reserve Cock - Discipline coming from a Sgt. thinking that everything has to be stressed out. Or a tasking done to kill time that shouldn't really be done.
Rigamarole - Rambling or confused, incoherent talk
Rileys - Nickname for the RHLI
Ring Knocker - One who has attended RMC
Rise & Shine - Get up
Rock Out With Your Cock Out - Just finished a job, or duty, and now having nothing to do. You can relax and relax. see rack out, and smoke and joke
Roger Dildo - Slang for Roger Wilco
Rooti - Bread
Rooti-gong - Long service medal
Rosalie - French for bayonet
RTFO—Stands for "Right the F*** Out of er"
Rubber Head - Term used for Communicator Research Operator.
Run Chicken Run - Another friendly term for the RCR's
Sammy - Early name for American soldiers
San fairy ann - British term of resignation - "it just doesn't matter" (from the French Ca ne fait rien)
Sand - Mess hall sugar
Sand Box - Refers to Afghanistan
Sapper - A trained private combat engineer, or informally a combat engineer of any rank.
Sarge - Sergeant; used informally
SAS - Referenced to Reserve members and defined as Saturdays and Summers
Saturday soldier - Reservist
Sausage - Observation balloon
Sausage fest - Slang for a situation where there are no women, only a lot of men.
Saw! - British pronouncement of "Sir!"
Seagull - Mess hall chicken
Secret Squirrels - Members of JTF2
Sergeant Major Moustache - Term used to describe a moustache styled with wax in a manner that resembles the Pringles logo character. It is normally worn by senior non-commissioned members, such as Sergeants, Warrant Officers, hence its name. They are most popular in combat arms regiments.
Sewer trout - Mess hall fish
Shacks - Quarters of any time, not a reference to quality/comfort.
Shack hack - Any illness that has spread quickly in quarters.
Shack rat - A serviceman who is left in barracks to do extra clean-up for the day. Or, any female who enters quarters to engage in promiscuity with those living in the housing unit.
Shack whore - A civilian female who comes to the shacks to engages in promiscuity with anyone who will give them a beer or a smoke.
SHADS - Summer Holidays After Dinner Sailors. Term used for Naval Reservists.
Shat - Shit (past tense) (Brit.)
Shit pump - An individual marked by gross incompetence or stupidity, whose only skill is converting rations into feces.
Shit rat - A soldier who is always in trouble
Shit the bed - To f*** up something, make a gross mistake or otherwise disappointment.
Shit tickets - Slang for Army toilet paper. aka poop-on coupons
Shitter fitter - Naval Hull Technician
Sick, Lame and Lazy - A group of soldiers who are medically exempt from participating in physical activity.
Siggies - Signals
Silly Servant - Civil servant- civilian that works for DND
Silver Bullets/Cornwallis Cripplers - The high speed running shoes you get issued in basic training.
Sir - Someone who is addressed as 'Sir' (or 'Ma'am') by subordinates. Usually a response by a Warrant Officer or below when called sir "I am not a sir/ma'am; I work for a living."
Skilly - Gruel
Slack and Idle - Personnel without motivation or grossly out of shape
Sliders - Naval term meaning to screw off early. Particularly applicable to Fridays and before lunch.
Slit Trench - Foxhole, hasty pit, fighting hole, funk hole
SLJO - Shitty Little Jobs Officer
Smelly - SMLE "Rifle, Short Magazine, Lee-Enfield"
SNAFU - Situation Normal All F***ed Up
Sneak & Peak - Recon
SOL - Shit Out of Luck
SOP - Standard Operating Procedure
SOS - Shit On a Shingle, creamed chipped beef on toast, "creamed foreskins", Same Old Shit
Spanner - Wrench (Brit.)
Spare - Someone who, at the time being, really does not have a job to do.
Spark chaser - Avionics technician
Spend a penny - Urinate
Spinner - Someone who has a tendency to 'panic' when put under even the slightest stress and can't make a decision, i.e. 'they spin'.
Spit & Polish - Attention to dress
Split arse - Female
Spray & Pray - To shoot wildly in hopes of hitting a target - Usually with a machine gun from behind cover.
Shit, Shave and Run Boys - Friendly abbreviation for the South Sask. Regiment-SSR's
Stand at ease! - Similar to parade rest.
Stand Down - Assume lower level of combat readiness
Stand To - To be in position, waiting. From "stand to your arms"
Standards - "There is only ONE standard!" Problem is, everybody has one
Steel Pot - American M1 helmet
Steam - Moonshine, Liquor
Stiff upper lip - Inner resolve
Stone, Dust and Gravel boys - Stormont and Dundas Glengarry
Stonk/Stonking - Bombardment/ Being bombed
Stunt - An attack or raid
Squishie - See Crunchie
Suntans - Summer uniform, khaki colored cotton, tan color
Super Sailor - Nickname for members of the Boatswain Naval trade
Super Stoker - A member of the Marine Engineering Branch who attended a Marine Engineering Programme. Entering the 2 year course as a recruit and exiting the course as a Master Seaman.
SWAT - Refers to the reserves. As in Some Weekends And Thursdays. See also SAS, Toon, and Weekend Warrior.
Sweet Biscuit - Cookie (Brit.)
Switched On - See "Closed Up"
T/O - Table of Organization- number of men, rank, and assignment in unit organization
T/O & E - Table of Organization and Equipment. T/O plus list of vehicles, weapons, & Equipment
Tallyho - Enemy sighted (hunting call) (Brit.)
Tea - Afternoon refreshment with strong tea and cake or cookies (eg. 4:00 or so)
Territorials - British Territorial Army, auxiliary force similar to militia or reserves (not overseas)
TGIF - Thank God it's Friday
The Continent - The European mainland (Brit.)
The Dirty Four Dozen - 48th Highlanders Of Canada. WWII
Thudf*** - Someone who is totally useless
Thumper Head - Slang for Field Engineer
Thunder Box - Refers to one of two things: 1) a makeshift toilet out of cardboard in a field setting, 2) portable toilet.
Thunder Chicken - Refers to the thunderbird on the Canadian Forces Military Police badge.
Thunder In - Refers to someone who passes out. Usually during long periods of physical exertion.
Timmi Taliban - refers to Taliban enemy
Tin Hat - British or WWII soup-dish, dish pan or pie pan shaped helmet
Tinclad - Lightly armored vehicles such as half-tracks
To lay - To aim a weapon
To Step On One's Own - To really screw up
Toc emma - Trench mortar (phonetic)
Tommy - British soldier, from Thomas Atkins, British equivalent of John Doe
Tommy Cooker - British tank (Ger.)
Toon - Refers to the reserves. As in Cartoons. Not real, and only seen on the weekends. See S.A.S.
Tor Scots/The Horse Blankets - Toronto Scottish Regt.
Toque head - The effect encountered when wearing a toque too long. Symptoms include excessive build up of grease on scalp and extremely sensitive hair.
Torch - Flashlight (Brit.)
Tosser - Stupid or arrogant person(see Wanker)
Trooper - A trained private armoured soldier
Tuba tech - A CF musician, regardless of the instrument they play
Tune tech - Any CF Musician
Tune town - The band room or practice area
Twenty Mile Sniper - Artillery gunner
Two Bits - Twenty-five cents (Amer.)
Twin Tailed Plastic Fag Jet - A CF-18 Fighter Jet
Typewriter - Machine gun (Brit.)
Uncle Charlie - Full marching orders
Unicorn - Uniform
Un-f*** - To fix something or someone that's broken
Valcatraz - Slang for Valcartier, Quebec
Van Doos - Royal 22e Regiment. Name derives from vingt-deux, French for "twenty-two."
Verey Light - Flare signal (Brit.)
Vicar - Priest (Brit.)
Volun-told - A supposedly optional event, award, assignment, or activity in which a person (or persons) are required to attend either by persons-in-charge nominating them or their peers expecting them to be there. The individual often has no say in the matter, and non-attendance in frowned upon.
Walking out - Off-base, "walking-out order" is uniform used in town (Brit.)
Wanker - Stupid or arrogant person(see Tosser)
War Pig - Almost exclusively used in the Infantry, the term describes a very large, girthy and masculine female soldier
Watch Dogs - Military Police
Weekend warrior - Reservist
Weather machine - Rumoured device installed at LFCATA Meaford which provides the base with abysmal weather while all surrounding communities enjoy beautiful sunshine.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - The phonetic letter WTF; has the same meaning as the modern textspeak WTF "What the f***?"
Whistle head - Officer
White elephant - See White whale.
White whale - Large, white moving-company style wagon used to transport goods in a non-combat environment.
Wizard - Very good (Brit.)
WOG, wog - Without Guts/Without Guns. Synonymous with "sissy", "pussy", etc. A derogatory term for someone who is not a member of the combat arms. Can also be interpreted as "Without Gun." Sometimes "Western Oriental Gentleman" aka "Worn Out Grunt"
Yank Proof - see 'American Proof'
Yellow Bedroom - CF Crewcab truck which has a black hood and referenced in the joke: "What's black and yellow and sleeps four?"
YMCA - RCN
You can't see me suit - Cadpat camo uniform. See relish suit
Yperite - Mustard gas
Zipper Head - Armoured Crewman. From the old leather helmets used by early tankers. The pattern of stitching gave the appearance of a zipper running across the top of the head
Zombie - The nickname for conscript soldiers during WWII
Zoomie - Pilot or any members of the Air Operations branch