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ABS(ITUTE SECURITY, IIIG.
4il0l Kolomozoo S.E., Suilc 30
Cxqnd RoPids, Ml'19508
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GAI{GSLttSG
CONTEI$TS
TERJVIINOLOGy
PAGE #
IAMAICAIT PossE
STREET DRUG
STREET GA}IG
I
HISPA}TIC GA}IG
PzuSON GA}IG
9
JAMAICA.}T POSSE TERMINO I,OGY
Thc fotlowing glossery is an illusrration of somc of rhc tcrminorogy
end slang used
by vario us
]amaicans.
TERM
MEANING
Gatc
Housc, apafiment, ctc. In some
to drug
arcas, gatc housc rcfcrs
housc.
Stccp
Hot
You no scc
Mash
it
You don't understand or do you
un&rstand.
up
Handlc it, or could mean
dcsmrction.
Yus or Yatsv
Clothes
Dread
AIrc refers to "Rasta", i.e., ail clread
uP ln court.
Trans
Car
Chcck you out
Chcck
Going to visir someone in person.
it out
Look a score over to see if it is
worth doing, and thc risk of
gctrin g caught.
Brothcr
Fellow /am aican
Clap
Shot
Yellow papcr
Counrerfeit monev
Iuke
Holdup, rob or rip someone off.
Stcp
- Movc on somethirg,
.
Manifest
Plan a scorc.
York
Ncw York (Ciry or Sratc)
I
IAMAICAN POSSE TERMINOT,OGY
MEANING
TERM
famaica, Wcst Indies
Yard
B
Arrest
ite
ullc ts
I eeth
B
Beasts
Policc
Iric
ICs okay, its first class, or that
exccilcnt.
Ycng
Gun
Puppy or Dog
Gun
Tool
Gun
Gong
Gun
Shoory
Shotgun
Machinc
Machinc gun
Rings
Guns and bullets.
Ily
Marijuana
Corn
Marijuana
Food
Marijuana
Ganja
Marijuana
F
Policc approaching.
irc
P.N.P.
Pcople's National Parry
I.L.P.
)amaican Labour Parry
w.P.l.
WorkeCs PartY of )amaica
(Communist ParrY)
2
is
JA-IVIAICAN POSSE TER.U(INO [,OGY
TERM
MEANING
Labourites
_
Suppgrters of rhc ].L.P.
I.D.F.
]amaica's Defensc Force.
Brigadc
Cuban trained gucrrillas.
rig'adistas
Cuban rraincd gucrrillas.
Front Lincrs
Cuban rraincd guerriilas.
Hot
Cuban raincd guerriJlas.
B
Steppers
Baldheads
Srr''ights; undesirablc, as in "chase
thosc baldhcads out of town".
Babvlon
Thc world outside of the Rasta,s
world the powcr sftucturc, thc
police.
Bloodclot
B
'Offensivc term" (Blood Cloth)
Feminine san itary napkin.
umbaclot
Pussvclot
"O ffensivc
Term"
"Offcnsive
Tcrm"
Samc
as
Blooddot.
Ras clot
"Offensivc Term" Worsc than
Bloodclot.
Rass
Ass, as in 'You olc rass You."
R:s Tafari
Hailc Selassi, thc Lion of ]udah
and head of thc Ras Tafarian faith.
To thc rastaman, rcports of
Sclassi's death havc becn greatly
cxaggcrated.
D rcadlocks
B
raids most Rrstas wcar,
somctimes concealed under a hat.
3
JAMAICAN POSSE TERMINOTOGY
TERM
MEANING
IandI
I, wc, you and mc. Whcn a
R:stamen spcakg hc spcaks for all
R.astamcn and cvcn for Ras Tafari
h imsclf.
Jah
God. Thc old biblc namc for
)chovah end mosr oftcn uscd by
R:stafarians.
-.Manf
Mon
oftcn added ro othcr words,
Hcrb-man, I-man, Rasta-man.
Roots
Turc"
rcggac; rhc most spirirual
muslc.
Ru&boys
"Badboys"
Sccn
Do you scc! Do you undcrstand.
Shit Stcm
Socicry, rhc systcm.
Splift'
Pronounccd splccf. ]oing onc
ouncc of gaaja makes
approxirnarcly four (4) spliffs.
Don
Boss
Rankin
D nrg/Gan
High ranking mcmbcr of thc poisc.
ja Baron
Major drug
sm
ugglcr,
|ohtcd
Dismcmbcrcd or bchcadcd-
Concrctc Junglc
Housing schcmc in Kingston, /M,
callsd funq6 Gardcns. Namc camc
from thc late Bob Marlcy rcng,
Concrctc ]unglc.
Junglclitcs
]ameicans that lives or is from the
Concrcrc )un glc.
4
a
JA.U{AICAT{
PossE TERMINOT-GY
TERM
R-rga Muftin
MEAI{ING
An untidy person. Could also
mcan somcone who is tough and
'bad.
Higgler
Vendor. (Informal Commercial
Importation). Most higglers are
females.
Drugglcr
Drug dcaler
Lidsy Liclsy
A pcrson who has cxccssivc desire,
as in 'T-iclcy Liclcy Policcman" a
policcman on thc takc.
Mama Man
11o'',o5sa,r-l
Mad Man
A pcrson thar is menrally dcficient.
Shanking
Dancing
5
STREET. D RUG TERMINOLOGY
TERM
A Blast or Hit
MI.ANING
Smoking crack; taking a drag from
thc crack-filled srcm.
Basuco
Off-whitc pastel pre-processed
form of cocaine; smoked.
Beemcr
Crack smokcr
Bomb Squad
Namc of a crack-selling crew.
Bortles
Crack vials
Break Night
Staying up aII night and
se
eing dav
brcak
Bridge & Tunnel Pcoplc
People living outside thc Ciry who
usc bridgcs and tunnels ro reach
drug copping locations in
Manhartan.
Buek
To shoot somcone in thc head.
Carburctor
Creck stem attachment uscd when
stcm is brokcn or too short.
€arpct Patol
Crack smokcrs scarching on the
0oor for crumbs of crack.
Chasing thc Dragon
Smoking hcroin and crack
togcthcr; also smoking heroin or
morphinc on aluminum foil.
Ch icken Scratch
Searching on hands and knees for
Cocoa Puff
Smoking marijuana and cocaine in
bits of crack
a
joint.
Cracker ]acks
Crack smokcrs
Credit Card
Crack stem
6
STRX,ST DRUG TERMINOI.OGY
\_.
TERM
MI,ANBIG
Dcmo
Crack stem
Iag
Kceping thc high going.
Kibblcs & Bits
Small crumbs of crack.
On a Mission
Looking for craclq trying to buy
crack; high on crack.
Pimp your Pipc
Lcnding or rcnting your crack pipe
or stcm.
Power Pullcr
Rubbcr piece somctimcs artech ed
to crack stem; also called a
carburetor.
Pushcr
Mctal hangcr or umbrclla rod used
to scr:rpc crack stems of residue
that has collectcd-
Ringcr
Good hit of crack; users hcars
bcIIs.
Rockct Caps
Domc-shapcd qrps on crack vials.
Shakcr,lBakcrffiater
Matcrials nccded to frcebasc
cocaing i.c., shakcr bortlc, bakin g
sod:, watcr.
Shoot thc
Term uscd by nirrous oxidc uscrs;
"lcCs go inhalc nirrous oxidc".
B
reczc
Spacc Basing
Smoking a combination of crack
and an gel dust.
Squirrel
Combination of angel dust and
marijuana, sprinklcd.with cocaine
and smokcd in a joint, cigarerte, or
PiPc.
Cylinder used to smoke crack.
Stem
7
STREET DRUG TERMINOT,OGY
TERM
,T.CAPS''
MEPTNING
Small crack vials with '-I-' engraved
on its caps.
Thirst Monstcrs
Hcavy crack smokers.
2417
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
White Cloud
Smokc that collects in thc bomom
of thc crack pipc.
Yeyo
Cocainc (Spanish term)
8
STREET GANG TER.MINOI,OGY
TERM
MEANING
-A pcrson who is e God or Five
Righ tcous
Pcrccnter.
W'ord is Bond
My word is bond, I'm teiling you
thc rnrth. Take my lifc if I'm lying
(rcrson mry still bc lying).
Living Large
A pcrson with lors of money or
gold.,
Out of thc Box
No longer gcts into rroublg
docsn't do ccrtain things any morc.
]ust Say No
Undcrcover Policc in rhe. area.
Fivc "O"
Policc
Diss
One who disrcspccts enorher.
Wad
Lots of Moncy.
Thc Bcst
Very good et what you do,
Building
A pcrrcn who is srudying ro bc
Fivc Pcrccntcr.
e
(5 96)
Frcsh
RcaI cool
Put mc dccp
Tcll mc whet I necd ro know,
Give mc rhc rruth.
Threg
Fo
urth
A woman in thc Fivc Pcrccntcrs
who wears e drcss 3/4 long.
I.t
I-cevc thc erca quickly, run.
Swell
To bc vcry ups€t at somconc to
cxPress lngcr.
Perce
Saying good byc or until we mcet
again. Tcrm oftcn used by 596'crs.
9
STREET GANG TERMINOLOGY
TER}I
MEANING
Dope
Something that is rcal cool. Nice,
bcaurifi:I.
Yo Black
Caling a person of color.
G
klfrien d
A fricndly greering for females.
Picnrrc that
Do you rcally bclievc what you are
saying, b€causc I don't.
Smokin
Lyi"g
Riffm
Lying
Frontin
Lying
What are you speaking on
What are you ralkin g about,
Yo
Calling to someone.
You bertcr
work-
Pm not doing it.
Arc you dirry
Do you havc drugs I
cc
Cop on thc corncr/in the arca to
make an arrest.
'Com on down with that
You havc a doubt ro pay.
Dirry
D
Down with Five-O
Informant for the Police.
I'm Srrapped
I
IGB
I gct busy.
Kill that noise
Stop talking.
Locked
Uscd a lot of coceine.
l0
rugs
have a gun.
STREET GANG TERMINOT-GY
TER.}t
Rortcn
MEANING
You did a stupid thing.
Scnrc him
Assault him bad.
Going On
Evcryth
Crazy Bad
Talking or Acting srupid.
Swccr Bad
Talking or Acring intelligent.
Lampin
Collin Our
Ninja's
Drug cops in thc area.
Callin mc out
Do you wanr to figh
Yo
C,,-
ing is all about mc.
t
me.
WhaCs happcning Cripl
'
Yo Blood
Whads happcning Bloodl
I'm.6wolI
Pm mad or upset.
Down and dirry
Informan r for thc cops or selling
drugs on the sidc.
Bart Simpson
Having a new rypc of drug.
L87
To kiII somconc (Usua.lly in
Gratrd).
9 Mike, Mike
9
Benzo
Mcrccdes Benz Automobile
Book
Rrur, gct away, leave.
Iet
Run, gct away, lcavc.
M.IVL
handgun (Auromaric)
B
rcak
Run., gct away, leavc.
B
reakdown
Shotgun
II
STREET GANG TERLTINOT.OGY
TERM
Bumpcr Kit
B
ustcr
MEANING
Girls Bun
Young guy trying to bc a geng
mcmbcr or a fakc gang mcmber.
Chillin
Hanging Out
Chill Out
Stop
Dcuce
& HaIf
ig Don't do that, calm down.
.25 Automatic handgun
Doing a ]ack
Commicing a Robbery.
Trec
A woman
Jump a trec
Tricd to rapc a woman.
Tree ]umpcr
A Rapcr
Doing a Rambo_
Artacked a person (Armed).
Doubic O.G.
Sccond Gcneration of
mcmbcrs.
o.G.
Originat Gang Membcr.
Frog
I"r"p in anybody's
rrcaK
A good looking Girl.
G-ridc
Gangstcr ridc or stolen
Gang Bangcr
Gang Membcr/Gang Activiry
Gaugc
Shorgun
Get Down
Fight
[,emon
A ycllow car, or scarcd pcrson.
Hcad Huntcr
Femalc who docs scxual acts.
g:an
g
car.
c.ar.
STREET GANG TERMINO T.OGY
TERM
Hcad Up
MEANING
High Roller
Making good moncy/Drug Dealer
Holding Down
Coneolling Turf or area
Homc Boy
Fcllow Gang Mcmbcr
Moncy
Onc of thc bols from thc
ncighborhood-
Comc to my Ci6
Comc into my circlc.
Plant a sced
Makc love
S
Fight
tar
A black babv.
]uicc
Liar
*oJ
Girlfricnd
Don't gct brand ncw
Don't show off in front of vour
girlfricnds.
L.izard
B
utt
Udy S*i
Maricon
Homoscxual
Mud Duck
Udy
Nut Up
Angr,v, mad at someonc.
Onc Time
Policc Officcr/Pig/Cop
Thc Gamblcr
Thc Shcriff or Dirry Cop
Rock House
A hotrsc wherc Rock. Csceins i5
sold
Rosco
Small Gun/Sarur&y Night Special
13
S,rl
STREET GAI{G TERMINOI.OCY
\,
MEAIVING
TERTVT
Rushed
Artacked
Tray Eight
.38 caliber handgun
Trip
Too much, Somcthing Else.
Twcnry Cents
S20.00 worth of Cocaine'
UBN
Unitcd Blood Nation
Up on it
I{avc knowledge of dntgs a Pcrson
who is a successfirl drug deaier'
Blazing
I-ooking Good. Like get next to
Show me your back
I-cave
You got it likc that
You got it made, nothing to worr7
Diesef
Big
Sruin
Two or more grrys making lovc to
thc samc girl at thc same time and
yotL
about.
placa
Mack
A g;*ry or girl who tclls someonc a
lic and thcy bclicvc it.
You all right
A term uscd by drug dcdcrs, when
You want anYthing
Tcrm used bY drug deders who sell
Skunk Bitch
A low lifc woman.
asking someone
if thcY need drugs'
dnrgs.
I4
HISPA}IIC GAIVG TERMINOT-GY
Somc of thc words listcd hcrcin are not only slang uscd by Hispanic gangtr but are
words in chc Spanish languagc. Th.y arc includcd to assist in intcrprctirlg graffiti.
TERM
Aqui
MEA}IING
Ifcrc
Awetado
Ma4 firrious, upset.
Aztlan
Occupied Mexico (Californig Ncw
Mcxico, Tcxas, Arizona, Colorado,
Treaty ef Qq3rl'rlupc) South
W'cstcrn U.S.
Bale
Not worth anything.
Baile
Dancg but trscd, to mean fight.
Barrio
Neighborhood (not slang)
sJrnonymous with gang mosr of the
tirne.
Binia, Pisto
Bcer, Drink (Rcferring to Alcohol).
Blanca
Whitc (Fcmalc Refcrencc)
Blanco
White (MaIc Refercnce)
Borrego
Small bag
Caca
Drugs, Shit
Camarada
Fricnd, associatc
Califas
California
Calmatc Culo (Culero)
Cdm down assholc.
Canton
flomc, housc
Carcancha
Car (Junker)
Carnala
Sister
I5
I{ISPAIYIC GA}IG TERMINOTOGY
TERM
Carnal
MEANfNG
Brothcr
Carccl, Bote, Tanquc
Iail
Carcos
Shoes
Carrucha
'Car
Catorcc
Fourtecn
Cuarto
- Roorn
Culo
Hind-End
-
Dcdo
Finger, to finger someone.
Despensa
Excusc me.
Dimed
Informed ro rhe Man (Police).
Diseo
Non-Gang membcr, one inro the
disco sccne.
{Donde}
Whcre are you from?
EI
Thc
El Condado
Thc counry (Iail)
El Jalc
Thc job
EME
Phonctic writing of the lerter "M"
in Spanish.
EME
EIvIE (Mcxican Mafia)
ENE
Written to mean "Norte" Northern
California.
ENE EFE
Spanish for thc "NF" meaning
"Nuestra Familia".
I6
HISPANIC GANG TEIii{INOIOGY
TERM
iEsc!
MEANING
Hcyl Hcy Menl
Ese's
Chicanos
iEsc Vatol
Hcy Dudc!'Hcy Mrnl Thar
individuall
Farmcro
Mcmbcr of Nucsrra Familia (Prison
G*g)'
Ferria
Moncy, Change
Firmc
Good., streight pcrson, fine.
F
To light a cigarerte.
rajar
Frajos
Cig'arcnes
Fila
Knifc
FiIero
Kaifc
k
The Racc (Rcferring to Chicano
fuza
Racc).
La Trola
Thc match
Leva
Silcnt Trearmcnt
Mano
Hand
Maricon
Homoscxual
Marrano, (a)
Pig, Policc Officcr
Marricd
)oincd ()oined a Gang/Group)
Mayate, Tinto, Chanatc, Pina
Black Pcrson
Mecha
Match
L7
TIISPANIC GANG TERMINOT.OGY
MEANING
Idiot
TER-avl
Mcnso
.
Iv{-IvI
Medcan Mafia (Caurion - It can
mcan Mariana Maravilla
Ncighborhood G-g).
Mono
Movic
Mosa, Mosca
Pcst (Fly)
Mota
Marijuana
Mou, Dura, Concentra& Ache (H)
Hashish
Movi&'s
Rules and reguJations of thc
Chicanos.
-N-
North (Norte Cdifas)
Nada
Nothing
Negros
Blacks
Nel
No
Oraic
Okay, stop fooling around-
lOralcl
Hcyl Okayl Right Onl
Pachuco
Con tcm porary
Zuitc I 7n ot
Pece
PC (Protcctive
C
Relajc
Snitch, Turncoat
Riata, Pisiola
Out6t
Rifa
RuIc, rcign, "Wc Conrrol", Wc Are
Thc Best.
Rafa. fufan, fufamos
Rulc, wc ruJe, reign, conrrol
18
ustody)
I{ISPA}IIC GAI{G TERMINOT'GY
TERM
MEANTNG
Rola.s
Rccords
Ruk& Ruca
I-ady, old lady, gang chick
tSabes que esc)
You know what man
Sancho, Iody
Wifc's Boyfricnd
Siempre
Always, Forevcr
Simon
Ycs
Snizzlc
Snitch, Turncoat
Squcntar
Irave-Split
Sur
Southcrn Caiifornia
Talco
Cocainc, Powder
Terencs
Blacks'
Tinto
Black
Tip
G*g
Tonto
Dummy
Toricda
Locked up, CYA, prison, juvenile
hall, ctc.
Torcido
Twistcd, to be arrested, busred-
Toghes
Whites
Totai
AII thc way.
Trece
Thirtcen
Tres
Three
I9
?
EUSPA}IIC GA}IG TERMINOTSGY
TERM
MEAI{TNG
Trucha
W'arch Ourt Gct With Itt Look
Outt Be on thc I-ook-Out for The
Man, bc cautious.
L+-
Nortc (Northcrn Cdifornia)
I4-Nortc
Nortc Cdifas (Northcrn
California)
sRrw
Supcr Racc Is White
Varrio or Barrio
Mcaning the neighborhood or
viciniry of a particular gang.
Vatos
Spanish slang meaning guys.
Where You From?
A *ay of asking an individual
hc's a membcr of any gang.
a
20
if
PRISON GANG TER.LTINOI,OGY
TERM
AII is onc
MEANING
A tcrm uscd by rhc Disciples.
AII is weil
A tcrm uscd by thc Vice Lords.
Book
Run, get away, lcave.
Chcck
it out
Listcn to what
Colors
C
I
have to say.
Gang colors. This could be a
handkcrchicf, gymshocs/laces, etc.
rank
A mcntally unstable pcrson.
Demonstration
Gang fight
Donuts
Vicc I-ord tcrm used to "pur-down"
thc Disciples,
Drop
Snitch or tcll on rcmeonc.
a dimc
Dropping thc fldg'
Iraving thc gan g.
Evcrything is cvcrything
It's alright.
Flowcrs
Fcmalc Cobra Stoncs
Flying your colors
Rcprcscnting gan g colors.
Foll<s
Disciplcs and thcir afEliates
Gang Banger
Gang mcmbe
Gang Banging
Gang activiry
Get down
Fight
Gump
A homoscxual
Gun-Up
Gcrting rcady to
'toxing".
zl
r
flrgh
r, usually
PRISON GANG TERMINOI,OGY
TER.I}{
MEANING
Holding it down
Gang mcmbcrs concrolling thcir
arca, rurf, wing, dorm, ctc.
!{omc Bov
Someonc from thc same geng. A
fricnd-
Hooch
An dcoholic bcvcrage madc by
fermcnting a sugary syrug or liquid
end brcad.
Hood
Ncighborhood
Iiving
Artcmpting to fool someonc.
Kicking back
Rclaxing, killin g timc
Kirc
A lcrtcr
Kite in thc wind
A lcttcr in thc mail.
Kool
ICs all righr.
L.dy
Girl friend
Main Man
Bcst friend, back-up
Packing
Gang mcmbcr has a weapon on
him, uually a gun.
Peoplc
Vicc Lords and thcir affrliatcs
Playcr
Individu^l intercsted ma.inly in
womcn.
Police
A corrcctional officcr
Poppcd a cap
Shot ar someonc.
Ride
A car
Rocks
Cobra Stones
22
PRISON GANG TERMINOI,OGY
TERM
MEANING
A box or conta.incr fidI of items
collcctcd by a gang from othcr
inmatcs on rhc wing, cithcr by
intirni&tion or as payment for
proection. Thcsc itcms arc passed
or loancd out arnongst mcmbcrs of
thc cans. Thc ooor !6y i5 g5rrally.
but not always, kcpt in rhc wing
Poor Box
t
lcadcrrs ccll.
Ridc On/Rode On
Go to anothcr rival ncighborhood
or arca to amack thc other gang -usually in vchiclcs.
Roll
A cigarcce
Shank
|eil or prison knifc. Any itcm
madc in jail or prison to stab
- sorn€Gnc.
Squirc
A cigarcrtc
Stingcr
A &vicc uscd to hcat warcr.
fl5rr^lly madc of rwo (2) picces of
mctal, scparatcd by toothbrush
handlcs or spoon handles, with a
piccc of wire artachcd ro cach piece
of mctal. Wire is artachcd to 'livc"
wircs from a light fixrurc or
'plugged" into a socket on thc wall.
Storc
Commissary
Take Him Out Of Thc Box
To kill somconc. (i.c. a rival
g-an
mcmbcr).
Violation
To brcak a rulc or 1sp,. [J5r'rlly
rcfcrring ro gr.ng rulcs, etc.
Vicky Lo us
Disciplc tcrm uscd as a put-down
to thc Vice [,ords.
12.
g