Green’s Dictionary of Slang

‘bad’ language, obscenity; rudeness, argument; also attrib. The sp. langwidge, while initially intended to indicate ‘working-class’ usage, is used specifically (at least in Aus.) to denote the criminal use of such speech .

1817		W. Scott Rob Roy (1883) 137: ‘I don’t value his language, Miss,’ said the clerk [...] ‘besides, impertinent is not an actionable word; but pettifogger is slander in the highest degree.’.
1825		‘All England Are Slanging It’ Universal Songster I 40/1: Flash is cant, cant is patter, patter is lingo, lingo is language, and language is flash.
1840		Launceston Advertiser (Tas.) 9 July 4/2: Had his marster ben anything but a justis of the peas, he wood av been feind at least ten pound; and I am conwinced made use of langwidge vich wood av cost any bodi els at wonse five bob for swarin.
[1851		Bell’s Life in Sydney 22 Mar. 2/5: Accompanying the attack with a torrent of language which was neither parliamentary or polite].
1853		H. Hayman Pawnbroker’s Daughter 32: Oh, what langwidge – oh, what houttridge!
1860		Dickens Uncommercial Traveller (1898) 52: Mr. Victualler’s assurance that he ‘never allowed any language, and never suffered any disturbance’.
1864		N. Australian (Brisbane) 16 June 7/3: And there was a lot of gas. / And halso a lot of bloe. / And halso a lot of langwidge / witch It seem’d oncommon low.
1879		‘’Arry on the River’ Punch 9 Aug. 57/1: When the swells see our bottles and bits, I’ve a notion some language ’ll fly.
1880		‘Ouida’ Moths I 231: What language!
1881		Gundagai Times 23 Dec. 2/3: She broke out with such langwidges as perfikly shok’d us [...] ‘Flopping rinosoreuses!’ ses she. ‘Kormak’s Gum Boils!’ ses she.
1884		Newcastle Morn. Herald (NSW) 27 Nov. 3/2: When a prisoner is charged with ‘langwidge’ do not fail to read it slowly out loud. It will prove a suitable dictation lesson to the inspiring larrikins.
1887		Port Augusta Dispatch (SA) 18 Feb. 4/2: [London newspaper sellers] ‘Some on ’em’s gen’l’men, others is—well, I won’t use langwidge,’ remarked one of the two women.
1887		Balmain Obs. (NSW) 6 Aug. 2/5: He was sentencd as follows: For drunkenness, 10s or forty-eight hours, for ‘langwidge,’ 40s or one month.
1890		Freeman’s Jrnl (Sydney) 26 Apr. 16/3: ‘Damit,’ the Teuton gasped, / To find himself by collar grasped. / No more a citizen at large, / But locked up on a ‘langwidge’ charge.
1891		Armidale Exp. (NSW) 14 Aug. 7/4: The weather [...] has been enough to make the most exemplary saint [...] indulge in what is generally known at the police courts as ‘langwidge’.
1892		Bird o’ Freedom (Sydney) 28 May 1/2: The Rugby Union officials will [...] rigorously deal with the ‘tough’ players and ‘langwidge’ gentry?
1898		W. Pett Ridge Mord Em’ly 177: ‘Less language,’ commanded Mord Em’ly. ‘Don’t forget you’re in the presence of ladies.’.
1902		Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Nov. 15/4: Bull swears at his men personally and offensively, whereas, though Jonathan is a real nigger-driver, his ‘language’ is directed at the work, and not at the men.
1902		Gundagai Indep. (NSW) 16 July 2/5: DRUNK AND ‘LANGWIDGE’ Malcolm [...] pleaded guilty and was fined 2/6 [...] For using bad language he was ordered to pay 40/-.
1910		H.G. Wells Hist. of Mr Polly (1946) 192: They stand and shout and scream and use language.
1912		Truth (Brisbane) 20 Oct. 5/6: [headline] ‘LANGWIDGE’ Fisher's Foaming Fury / FETCHES HlM A PHAT FHlNE.
1914		Truth (Melbourne) 28 Nov. 6/6: Sez the Wowser, ‘Go ter ’ell.’ / Leastwise he says something like it / [...] / For he wouldn’t not use Languidge / Like that there, I don’t suppose.
1916		‘Anzac’ On the Anzac Trail 111: One of our chaps let go his rifle; the rest contented themselves with language. No one was drowned.
1917		Boy’s Own Paper XL:3 115: Call her a ‘young lady’ – when she uses language like that?
1925		Truth (Brisbane) 1 Mar. 12/2: [headline] Seance of Swear and Swank— What the ‘Copper’ Heard at Midnight— Some Blue ‘Langwidge’ From a Lady and Two Gents.
1928		Hecht & MacArthur Front Page Act I: Now what kind of language is that?
1933		J.T. Farrell Gas-House McGinty 336: Jesus Christ! Watch your language.
1934		Land (Sydney) 9 Feb. 2/1: ‘Damn it all!’ shouted the burrcutter. ‘Cut out that blasted langwidge when there's ladies present,’ said his mate.
1934		Redman & Long [perf. Nellie Wallace] ‘The Blasted Oak’ 🎵 I said, ‘Please Mister Flying Squad / I want the Blasted Oak.’ / He answered, ‘Move on. You mustn’t use that language here’.
1940		E. O’Neill Iceman Cometh Act I: hope: This ain’t a cat-house! cora: (teasingly). My, Harry! Such language!
1947		J. Steinbeck Wayward Bus 203: Keep your pants on and watch your language. There’s ladies here.
1950		A. Christie Murder Is Announced (1958) 160: I told them off, the lazy b----s. Oh, excuse my language.
1965		E. Bond Saved Scene ix: Excuse my language.
1972		‘Hergé’ Tintin and the Land of Black Gold 18: Such language! Don’t listen to him, Tintin.
1983		S. King Christine 166: Watch your language in the halls.
1990		R. Doyle Snapper 102: Tell them to stop that language.
2004		L. Redhead Peepshow [ebook] ‘I’m not going to [...] take it up the arse from these cocksuckers any longer’ Reg’s forehead creased into a frown. ‘Language,’ he said disapprovingly.
2005		H. Mantel Beyond Black 288: They’ll be scorching along like buggery. Excuse my language.
2012		J. Cox Cradle of Thorns [ebook] ‘Crikey! That bloody hurt!’ ‘Language, if you don't mind!’.
2015		J.T. Winter Gumwood Tales 94: ‘Watch the language, if you don’t mind [...] “There is no need for it, and no one else here talks like that’.