trenches
long narrow ditches dug by troops to provide a place of shelter from enemy fire; also shorthand for the battlefields of northern France and Belgium in World War I ("the trenches")
Minnies
large mortar shells, named for the German Minnywerfer
cheero (also cheerio)
used as an expression of good wishes on parting; goodbye; synonym for cheers
The Boche
Germans, especially German soldiers, considered collectively; from the French word for rascal
tea
a hot drink made by infusing the dried crushed leaves of the tea plant in boiling water; also the term for a cooked evening meal or light afternoon meal
Jerry
slang term for Germans, referring to their helmets, which British soldiers believed resembled chamber pots, known as jerries
rubbish
waste material; refuse or litter; metaphorically, absurd, nonsensical, or worthless talk or ideas
ought
used to indicate duty or correctness, typically when criticizing someone's actions
pluck
spirited and determined courage
blithering
senselessly talkative, babbling; used chiefly as an intensive to express annoyance or contempt
hang about
loiter; wait around
righto
informal British exclamation to express agreement or assent
fluke
an unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck
no man's land
disputed ground between the front lines or trenches of two opposing armies
Very light
a flare fired into the air from a pistol for signaling or for temporary illumination
neuralgia
intense, typically intermittent pain along the course of a nerve, especially in the head or face
omit
leave out or exclude (someone or something), either intentionally or forgetfully
going potty
going insane; losing one's mind
jolly
very; extremely (i.e. jolly good)
tunic
a close-fitting short coat as part of a uniform, especially a police or military uniform