Green’s Dictionary of Slang

ring n.

1. as a ‘circular’ part of the body.

(a) (also ring of love) the vagina.

[UK]‘Cambridg Libell’ in May & Bryson Verse Libel 342: O Harrie Sadler, Arraunt Knight, / Well mounted on a Gray, / Thow bear’st thye price that ring by ryght, / Though Gefferey Smyth say nay.
[UK]Gesta Grayorum in J. Nichols Progresses and Processions of Queen Elizabeth (1823) III 327: The Priories of Cunnington claime to hold as of the Burrow of Greter Cuniliana, in Borough English, to find a ringe for his Highnes Knights to runn, at every coronation.
[UK]Shakespeare Merchant of Venice V i: Well, while I live I’ll fear no other thing So sore as keeping safe Nerissa’s ring.
[UK]Dekker & Webster Northward Hoe I i: When my wiues ring does smoake for’t.
[UK] ‘The Threading of the Needle’ Sportive Wit in Bold (1979) 157: Yet I care not; for all that I will venture, / If you’ll give me leave, within your ring to enter.
[UK]T. Duffet Mock-Tempest III i: She [i.e. a whore] carries an enchanted Ring about her which turns Rich men to beggars, and makes an Ass of a Justice of the Peace.
[UK]‘Married Estate’ in Ebsworth Merry Drollery Compleat (1875) 23: For a Bodkin, a Ring, or the other fine thing.
[UK]T. Brown Comical View of London and Westminster in Works (1760) I 150: The famous Annulus Anticornutus, or a ring to prevent cuckoldom, very useful for all married person: ’Tis a hair-ring of a bright beautiful red within, and is of that wonderful efficacy and virtue, that so long as a man keeps it on his finger, he may defy all the Devils in Hell.
[UK]Laugh and Be Fat 24: They are the individual Jewels my Uncle bid me thirty thousand pounds for, but I would not part with them; and upon my Word they shall not be set to any Body’s Ring, but thy own.
[UK]Harris’s List of Covent-Garden Ladies 76: [She will] engage your champion of her ring with a grasp, till he is reduced to bend beneath the powerful squeeze and yield all the metal he has about him.
[UK]Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
[UK]Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 14: Anneau, m. the female pudendum; ‘the ring’.
[US]D. St John Memoirs of Madge Buford 91: Plunging his cock full tilt into my ring of love.

(b) the anus, the buttocks; thus ring-snatcher, a sodomite, ring-snatching, sodomy.

[UK]‘Cropt Comet’ in Hilaria 101: For I’ve been in the milky way, / And Saturn’s filthy ring, sir.
[UK]Partridge DSUE (1984) 977/1: late C.19–20.
[Aus]S .J. Baker Aus. Vulgarisms [t/s] 12: ring: The anus.
[Ire](con. 1940s) B. Behan Borstal Boy 47: Want to watch his ring, though.
[UK]G. Melly Owning Up (1974) 234: He goes running down the stairs holding onto ’is ring to get to the outside toilet in time.
[Aus](con. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 53: Never hit the fookers with y’r fist, Aussie [...] If y’do y’ll only hurt y’r hand. Give ’em a good boot up the ring. That fixes ’em.
[Aus]R.G. Barratt ‘TV Ads’ in What Do You Reckon (1997) [ebook] [W]e spent a week huddled under blankets, freezing our rings off.
[Aus]L. Davies Candy 184: I’m going to belt through your ring with my big fuckstick.
[US]T. Udo Vatican Bloodbath 78: ‘I’m afraid I must ask you to leave’ said the Pope, tossing up his cassock and baring his hideously saggy arse. [...] O’Brian obediently kissed the Pope’s ring.
[Aus]B. Matthews Intractable [ebook] ‘That was one fucking serious ring of fire I had. I was too scared to fart in case I shit myself’.
[Scot]T. Black Ringer [ebook] n.p.: There's a sting in my ring like I've just dropped some serious rocks.
Twitter 1 Aug. 🌐 ‘What’s your ringtone?’ Mick asks Paddy. ‘I’ve never looked,’ Paddy replies. ‘But I'm guessing pinkish-brown’.

(c) anal intercourse, sodomy.

[Ire](con. 1940s) B. Behan Borstal Boy 284: Ken [...] said quietly, in a low tone, ‘Ring’.

(d) (Irish) in the context of vomiting, the stomach and/or its contents .

[Ire]P. Howard The Joy (2015) [ebook] I throw me ring up. All that cider [...] comes gorging out.

(e) the mouth.

[UK]B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 116: Now, shut your fucking ring.

2. (UK Und.) with ref. to money [? SE ring, thus an object worth money, or the ringing noise the cash makes as it is thrown from the coach/into the begging bowl].

(a) the money that is stolen by a highwayman.

[UK]Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 7: The money so gotten, is The Ring.
[UK]B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Ring, money extorted by Rogues on the High-way, or by Gentlemen Beggers.
[UK]New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
[UK]Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. [as cit. c.1698].

(b) money that is procured by begging.

et seq. see sense 1.
[UK]Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
[UK]Lex. Balatronicum.
[UK]Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.

3. (Aus.) the site of a two-up game.

[UK](con. WWI) A.E. Strong in Partridge Sl. Today and Yesterday 287: Joe. I put across a beauty when I found the double-headed penny in the ring.
[Aus]Baker Popular Dict. Aus. Sl. 60: Ring, the scene of operations of a two-up school or the school itself.
[Aus]T.A.G. Hungerford Riverslake 125: The ring was not easily found, in a narrow gully hung over with gum-trees.
[Aus]F.J. Hardy in Great Aus. Lover Stories 5: A good ring keeper or any experienced swy player can pick up a butterflied penny from the genuine spinning article.

4. (W.I.) in pl., firearms [? the circular barrels].

[WI]Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Dict. 44: Rings firearms: u. go fi yuh rings/reach for your firearm.

5. see ringer n. (2b)

In compounds

ringbark (v.)

see separate entry.

ringburner (n.) [sense 1b + SE burner]

(UK society) diarrhoea, or very painful defecation.

[UK]Barr & York Sloane Ranger Hbk 159: ringburner n. The results of a heavy curry the morning after.
[UK]Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 977/2: 1960s.
ringpiece (n.) [sense 1b]

1. the anus; thus (1990s+) ringpiece licker, an anilinguist.

[UK]J. Orton Diaries (1986) 19 May 174: ‘He looks rather tight-arsed,’ I said. ‘Don’t you believe it, laddie, she’s had camels up her ring-piece.’.
[UK] ‘Abdul Abul Bul Amir’ in Bold (1979) 3: Old Abdul the fool left the flange of his tool / Up the ringpiece of Ivan Skavar!
[UK]Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 1279/2: twittering ringpiece [...] A state of extreme nervousness: RAF; since ca. 1939.
[UK]J. Baker Death Minus Zero (1998) 184: He had the trots, rushing off to the lavatory every five minutes. ‘My ringpiece is doing a dance,’ he said coming back for the fifth time.
[UK]N. Griffiths Stump 155: Have a fuckin ringpiece like a blood orange.
[Scot](con. 1980s) I. Welsh Skagboys 365: I feel shivers running up the backs ay my legs [...] as my ringpiece starts to go intae a spasm.

2. a general term of abuse.

OnLine Dict. of Playground Sl. 🌐 ringpiece n.adj. arsehole, idiot.
M. Hyde Guardian 26 Mar. 🌐 These are dark days for the ERG Brexit ultras. The Fellowship of the Ringpieces finds itself divided on their next move.
ring raider (n.)

a male homosexual, a sodomite.

Dave on Urban Dict. 🌐 ring raider A battyman or bum bandit ass bandit or gay Backs to the wall lads – there’s a ring raider on the loose.
ring-sting (n.) (also ring-stinger)

1. (Aus.) a loud breaking of wind.

S.J. Baker Aus. Vulgarisms [t/s] 12: ringstinger: A sharp, loud fart.

2. a painful act of defecation, attributed to a meal with an excess of hot spices.

[UK]Roger’s Profanisaurus in Viz 87 Dec. n.p.: ring sting n. Inflammation of the ring (qv) as a result of pissing rusty water (qv) such as after visiting the Rupali restaurant in Newcastle and sampling the world’s hottest curry.
[UK]N. Griffiths Grits 316: Oo. Big one ther. Birruver ring-stinger, that . . . a red-wine dump, poo, mud-out, crap, shite.
OnLine Dict. of Playground Sl. 🌐 ring-sting adj. the results of excreting stools heavily impregnated with chilli or last nights curry.

In phrases

ask for the ring (v.)

to perform anal intercourse.

[US]E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 158: A sizable vocabulary is associated with [anal intercourse...] (to ask for/buy the ring, to take on some backs, to throw a buttonhole on someone).
bit of ring (n.)

anal intercourse.

[US]A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 1/1: A bit of ring, buggery; sodomy (prison).
[US]G. Legman ‘Lang. of Homosexuality’ Appendix VII in Henry Sex Variants.
[US]Guild Dict. Homosexual Terms 4: bit of ring, to have a (v.): The act of pedication. (Prison slang.).
[US]Maledicta VI:1+2 (Summer/Winter) 147: From them she might pick up and more to startle than identify with her sisters use words and expressions such as peddle your ass, have a bit of ring (pedicate).
buy the ring (v.)

to perform anal intercourse.

[US]E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 158: A sizable vocabulary is associated with [anal intercourse] (to ask for/buy the ring, to take on some backs).
lose one’s ring (v.)

of a woman, to lose one’s virginity.

[UK]Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 977/1: C.19–early 20.
put a ring around (v.) [image of ringing important dates on a calendar]

(N.Z.) to be sure of, to be certain of, esp. in phr, you can put a ring around that one.

[NZ]G. Slatter Gun in My Hand 60: Gotta get a good possie on the bank and see the boys win. You can put a ring around that one.
[UK]F. Keinzly Tangahano 130: There’s still a couple of hundred that haven’t told me yet—but they will tonight. You can put a ring around it!
[NZ]B. Crump ‘A Good Keen Girl’ Best of Barry Crump (1974) 244: You’d never catch me volunteering [...] you can put a ring around that lot. I’d turn conchy first.
[NZ]V.G. O’Sullivan Boy, The Bridge, The River 130: ‘It had better be good weather then,’ Latty agreed. ‘You can put a ring round that,’ Len said.
[NZ]McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 127/2: you can put a ring around that you can be sure of that; from ringing some item with a pencil so it stands out on the page.
[NZ]McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988].
ring-dang-do (n.) [sense 1a]

1. (also ringadangdoo, ring-a-rang-roo) the vagina.

[US] in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) I 150: Her ring-dang-doo, pray what is that? / Furred all araounnn’ – lak’ a poosy-cat, / All kivvered with haiiir! – HAN’ split inn two; / That’s what you caaal – her ring-dand-doo.
[US] in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 184: Oh, the ring-dang-doo, now what is that? / It’s big and round like a pussy cat, / Covered with fur and split in two. / That’s what they call the ring-dang-doo.
[US] in Randolph & Legman Ozark Folksongs and Folklore (1992) I 148: I’ve got some pussy that’s mighty fine, / So young and old, come take a whack, / Take a whack at my ring-dang-doo.
[US] in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 183: Oh, the ring-a-rang-roo, now what is that? / It’s soft and round like a pussy cat. / It’s got a hole in the middle and split in two, / And that’s what they call the ring-a-rang-roo.
[US]A. Hine Unsinkable Molly Brown 9: Who’s going to take care of you when you’re wanting a little ring-dang-do.
[Aus](con. 1940s–60s) Hogbotel & ffuckes ‘The Ringadangdoo’ in Snatches and Lays 17: The Ringadangdoo, pray what is that? / It’s furry and soft, like a pussy-cat.

2. (Aus.) a spree, a party.

[UK]Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 977/2: since late 1940s.

3. (US) a complicated affair, a rigmarole.

[US]Chapman NDAS.
running at the ring (n.) [SE run at the ring, to compete for a circlet of metal suspended from a post which each of a number of riders endeavoured to carry off on the point of his lance]

(adulterous) sexual intercourse.

[UK]Gesta Grayorum (1688) 18: One Amazon, with a Ring to be run at by the Knights of the Prince’s Band.
[UK]Dekker & Webster Northward Hoe I i: There has bin old running at the ring since I went.
[UK]Fletcher Woman’s Prize I i: Oh my old Sir, When shall we see your worship run at Ring? That hour, a standing were worth money.
[UK]Rowley Woman never Vext 59: [We shall] run at the ring of your setting-up, and you must tell us who deserves most favour.
O. Feltham Character of the Low Countries 53: Where the Woman lyes in, the Ringle of the door does penance, and is lapped about with linnen, either to shew you that loud knocking may wake the child; Or else that for a moneth the Ring is not to be run at.
[UK] ‘News From Hide-Park’ Pepys Ballads (1987) III 257: That I all night long might have my repast to run at the ring Tan-tivee.
[UK]C. Cotton Erotopolis 108: The Shepherds will never Just unless the Shepherdesses will provide Rings, nor the Shepherdesses can ever be brought to run a-Tilt, unless the Shepherds provide Launces.
spew one’s ring (v.) (also puke one’s ring, throw up one’s ring)

1. to be violently sick.

[UK]F. Norman Guntz 187: Especially after I have [...] thrown up my ring.
[UK](con. WWII) B. Aldiss Soldier Erect 105: Sodding shitting Wog beer! [...] Makes me spew my ring every time!
[UK]M. Simpson ‘Prufrock Scoused’ Catching Up with Hist. 21: The doss houses [...] where thee spew der rings up.
[UK]M. Manning Get Your Cock Out 103: Matching him drink for drink, then spewing her ring in the backs of cabs.
[Ire]P. Howard Teenage Dirtbag Years 13: That porty in her gaff when I puked my ring up.
[UK](con. 1990s) N. ‘Razor’ Smith A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 406: I witnessed a mate of mine spewing his ring up in a cell in Wandsworth.
[UK]N. ‘Razor’ Smith Raiders 35: The man [...] threw up his ring into the [toilet] bowl.
[Ire]L. McInerney Glorious Heresies 65: He sent Karine a text, telling her he had caught the flu or something, got up and puked his ring out, went back to bed.
[Ire]P Howard Braywatch 323: [H]e storts spewing his ring up. He’s like, ‘BLEEEUUUGGGHHH!!! BLEEEUUUGGGHHH!!!’.

2. in fig. use, to talk openly, candidly.

[UK]F. Norman Guntz 234: One starts of by spewing one’s ring about things that one feels strongly about.

3. to back down, to be a coward.

[UK](con. WWII) B. Aldiss Soldier Erect 91: You spewed your fucking ring, didn’t you? [...] the great right-winger Stubbs chickened out of screwing a bibi at the last minute.

SE in slang uses

In compounds

ring chopper (n.)

(UK Und.) a swindler who sells counterfeit gold rings.

[UK]Awdeley Fraternitye of Vacabondes in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 11: There is another kinds of these Ring choppers, which commonly cary about them a faire gold ring in deede, and these haue counterfait rings made so lyke this gold ring, as ye shal nor perceiue the contrary.
ring dropping (n.)

see separate entry.

ring faller (n.)

see separate entry.

ringman (n.)

(Aus.) a bookmaker.

Sydney Sportsman(Surry Hills, NSW) 6 June 6/1: ‘Two to one’ hollered the ringmen when the Cup betting opened.

In phrases

have a ring through one’s nose (v.)

1. (US gambling) to bet heavily when losing badly, hoping to get even.

[US]J. Scarne Complete Guide to Gambling.

2. (US black/campus) to be obsessed, to the point of foolishness, with one other person, usu. a lover, by whom one can be led.

[US]Baker et al. CUSS 184: Ring in his nose Be excessively submissive to your girl friend.
[US]E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 126: Expressions like [...] to have a ring through your nose, or to be a turkey on a string mean to be deeply infatuated or in love with another.
[US]R. Shell Iced 132: This fifteen-year-old chick had me by my nose ring.
put the rings to (v.) [? the concentric rings on a target]

(US) to beat up, to assault.

[US]T. Robinson Hard Bounce [ebook] ‘So, we put the rings to the nephew of this town’s top organized criminal’.