Green’s Dictionary of Slang

pie n.

1. in sexual contexts, like the foodstuff as ‘sweet’ and ‘good enough to eat’.

(a) [mid-16C–17C; 1930s+] (orig. US, also pye-corner) the vagina.

(b) [mid-16C–18C] a woman.

(c) [1960s] a term of affection.

(d) [1960s+] (US campus) an attractive, sexually desirable woman; also used derog.

2. in sense of a ‘pie’ that can be cut up or distributed.

(a) [late 18C–1910s] political or other patronage or favours.

(b) [mid-19C+] (orig. US) a treat, a bribe, something highly desirable.

(c) [20C+] money.

3. [late 19C+] (orig. US) that which is easy or enjoyable.

(a) anything easy or simple [pie adj.1 ].

(b) in fig. uses whereby the pie intensifies a given adj.; usu. in phr. ...as pie.

4. [1990s+] (US black/drugs) 1kg of cocaine [the dealer will most likely ‘slice it up’ into smaller weights].

5. see pie-can

In compounds

pieman (n.)

see separate entry.

pie-woman (n.)

a prostitute.

SE in slang uses

In compounds

pie-can (n.) (also pie) [1900s–40s]

1. a fool, a simpleton.

2. a second-rate object.

pie-card (n.) (US)

1. [late 19C–1960s] a union-card, esp. when used as a credential for begging; thus pie-card artist, a union member.

2. [1900s–20s] a ticket that entitles one to a meal from a pie card mission.

3. [1920s–60s] one who begs for a meal.

4. [1920s–60s] the holder of a union-card.

piechopper (n.)

[1950s] (US black) the mouth.

pie-eater (n.) (also pie-biter) [ the negative stereotype of a greedy person who sees no further than immediate gratification] [late 19C+] (mainly Aus.)

1. an insignificant person.

2. one who is greedy for material possessions.

3. a fool, a simpleton; thus pie-eating adj.

4. a small-time criminal.

pie-eyed (adj.) [one’s wide eyes supposedly resemble a circular pie]

1. [20C+] drunk.

2. [1920s] exhausted.

3. [1940s] astonished, amazed.

4. [1980s+] under the influence of drugs.

pie out (v.) [pie-eyed ]

[1970s] (US campus) to become drunk.

pie shop (n.) [the popular belief that when in 1842 one Blauchard opened a pie shop in London, he used dead dogs as meat]

[mid–late 19C] a dog.

pie wagon (n.)

1. [20C+] (US) a police van, used to transport villains.

2. [1900s] a prison.

3. [1920s–30s] (US) a wagon used as sleeping quarters for chaingang workers.

In phrases

all pie and velvet (n.)

[1910s] (Aus.) total pleasure or enjoyment; usu. in negative.

like pie (adv.) [? enthusiastic eating]

[mid-late 19C] energetically, vigorously.

pie in the sky (n.) [the line ‘There’ll be pie in the sky when you die’, in the song ‘The Preacher and the Slave’ (1911) penned by Joe Hill, leader of the Industrial Workers of the World, a prototype US union]

[1910s+] (orig. US) fantasies, fond hopes and illusions; also as attrib. adj.