Prison Argot: Language of Confinement Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What does 'Ace Duce' refer to?

Knife

Correctional officer

Best friend (correct)

Inmate's child

What does 'Back Door Parole' mean?

Transfer to another prison

Early release

To die in prison (correct)

Temporary leave

What is the meaning of 'Badge'?

A correctional officer (correct)

Violent inmates

A knife

Best friend

What are 'Ball Busters'?

Violent inmates Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Banger' refer to?

A knife Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Billys' refer to in prison terms?

White men Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'Boneyard'?

Conjugal visiting area Signup and view all the answers

Who is referred to as a 'Booty Bandit'?

An imprisoned sexual predator Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Bug Juice' refer to?

Antidepressant medications Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Cantones' mean?

Gang term for prisons Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'Catch Cold'?

To be killed Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'Cellie'?

A cellmate Signup and view all the answers

Who are 'Center Men'?

Inmates who are close to the staff Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Chester' mean?

Child molester Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Chota' refer to?

Correctional officer Signup and view all the answers

Who is a 'Croaker'?

A physician or doctor Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Dancing on the Blacktop' mean?

Being stabbed Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Diaper Sniper' refer to?

Child molester Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Diddler' mean?

Child molester or pedophile Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Dog' refer to?

Homeboy or friend Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Fag' mean in prison slang?

A natural (pre-prison) homosexual Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'Fish'?

A newly arrived inmate Signup and view all the answers

Who is a 'Gorilla'?

An inmate who uses force Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Got Stretched' mean?

Became angry Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Grandma's' refer to?

Gang headquarters Signup and view all the answers

What are 'Hacks' in prison slang?

Correction officers Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Hipsters' mean?

Young, drug-involved inmates Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Homeboy' mean?

An inmate from the same town Signup and view all the answers

What does 'In the Car' mean?

Circle of friends Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Ink' refer to?

Tattoos Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'Jointman'?

An inmate who acts like a correctional officer Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Kite' mean?

A letter Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Lemon Squeezer' refer to?

An inmate with an unattractive girlfriend Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Lugger' refer to?

An inmate who smuggles contraband Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Man Walking' mean?

Signal that a guard is coming Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Merchant' mean?

One who sells illegally Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Nimby' mean?

Not in my backyard Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Ninja Turtles' refer to?

Correctional officers dressed in riot gear Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Punk' mean in prison slang?

A submissive male inmate Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Rat' refer to?

An inmate who squeals Signup and view all the answers

What are 'Real Men' in prison terms?

Inmates respected by others Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Seed' mean?

An inmate's child Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Shank' refer to?

A knife Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Schooled' mean?

Informed about prison life Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Shakedown' refer to?

Search of a cell Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Shu' mean?

Special housing unit Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Sleeved' mean?

Covered with tattoos Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Slinging Rock' mean?

Selling crack Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Soda' refer to?

Cocaine Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Stainless-Steel Ride' refer to?

Lethal injection Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Toughs' refer to?

Inmates with violent backgrounds Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Tree Jumper' mean?

Rapist Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Turn Out' mean?

To make someone a punk Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Veterano' mean?

Long-time gang member Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Wolf' refer to?

An aggressive male inmate Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Prison Terminology Overview

Ace Duce: Refers to a best friend within the prison environment.
Back Door Parole: A euphemism indicating death while incarcerated.
Badge (Bull, Hack, "The Man," Screw): Slang for a correctional officer enforcing rules.
Ball Busters: Describes violent inmates, often involved in physical confrontations.
Banger (Burner, Shank, Sticker): A term used for a knife, significant in prison conflicts.
Billys: A colloquial term for white men, often used within inmate groups.

Living Conditions and Relationships

Boneyard: Refers to the area designated for conjugal visits with partners.
Booty Bandit: A predators who targets weaker inmates for sexual assault.
Cellie: Informal term for a cellmate, reflecting the importance of close living arrangements.
Center Men: Inmates who develop close relationships with staff, often respected or trusted.
Dog: A friendly term for a close friend or fellow inmate, highlighting camaraderie.

Criminal Activities and Threats

Catch Cold: A slang term meaning to be killed, indicating severe consequences in prison.
Gorilla: An inmate characterized by aggressive behavior, using force to obtain what desired.
Jointman: Refers to an inmate acting like a correctional officer, often seen as a traitor.
Lugger: An inmate specializing in smuggling contraband into prison.

Psychological and Medical Terms

Bug Juice: Medications like antidepressants or anti-psychotics administered in prison healthcare.
Cat-J (J-Cat): Refers to inmates needing psychological support or treatment.
Schooled: Indicates an inmate's understanding and knowledge of prison life dynamics.

Chester, Diaper Sniper, Diddler: Terms for child molesters within prison, highlighting social stigma.
Fag: A term for a male inmate believed to have a homosexual past before incarceration, impacting social standing.
Rat (Snitch): Inmates identified as informants who share information with guards or administration.
Real Men: Respected inmates, often seen as leaders or strong figures within the inmate community.

Communication and Codes

Kite: A contraband letter, often used for secret communication between inmates.
Man Walking: A phrase signaling the approach of a guard, important for avoiding punishment or conflict.

Slinging Rock: Refers to the act of selling crack cocaine, a common illegal activity in prison.
Soda: Slang for cocaine, indicates the types of drugs circulating in prison culture.
Stainless-Steel Ride: A euphemism for lethal injection as a form of capital punishment.

Gang Affiliations

Merchant (Peddler): An inmate who sells goods illegally, maintaining a business within the prison.
Veterano: Refers to long-term gang members, indicating their status and influence within the prison community.
Tree Jumper: A term for a rapist, reflecting violent sexual crimes among inmates.

Miscellaneous Terms

Nimby: Acronym for "Not in my back yard," expressing opposition to actions or policies.
Ink: Refers to tattoos that carry personal or gang significance, often marking identity.
Sleeved: Describes inmates heavily covered in tattoos, often seen as a badge of honor or affiliation.

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Description

This quiz covers specialized vocabulary used in prison environments, focusing on slang and terms commonly used among inmates. Become familiar with words like 'Ace Duce' and 'Back Door Parole' that define life behind bars. Ideal for those studying criminology or interested in the culture of confinement.