From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Members of the Industrial Workers of the World, known as the Wobblies, have used colorful language throughout the union's more than a century of existence. This page catalogs much of the Wobbly lingo that has been committed to print.

The following list includes technical language, jargon and historic slang. Words and phrases may have different meanings in different contexts, or in different geographic areas. Wobbly lingo developed not just from the specific needs of the organization, but also from the experiences of folks living the (often itinerant) working class lifestyle. For several decades, many hobos were members of, or sympathetic to the union. Therefore some of the lingo listed below describes a hobo's life — riding the rails, living in "jungles," dodging the "bulls." But the union tried to organize in all trades and occupations, so there are echos of mining camps, timber work, and farming.

Other derivations result from a confluence of native tongue, immigrant languages, or industry-specific terminology, and meanings may vary over time. Compare, for example, variations of the word Muckamuck:

Muckamuck (from Wobbly lingo)

Someone important, and probably arrogant

Hyas muckamuck (from Chinook jargon)

The chief, the big boss, management (modern usage). In modern blue-collar usage, this word is one of many mildly sarcastic slang terms used to refer to bosses and upper management (British Columbia). Var. "High Mucketymuck".

Some examples which are thought to have originated within the cultural ferment of the IWW have attained cultural significance beyond the IWW; for example, Joe Hill's use of the expression pie in the sky in the song The Preacher and the Slave has passed into common usage, referring to a "preposterously optimistic goal."^[1]

Contents 1 Glossary of Wobbly lingo 2 References 2.1 Additional references 3 See also

Accommodation 

Local freight train

AFL 

American Federation of Labor, frequently referred to by Wobblies as

the American Separation of Labor

Anchor 

A pick

Angel food 

Mission preaching about the Bread of Life

Assessment 

In the IWW, a voluntary or mandatory contribution (depending on the situation) in addition to union dues allocated for specific purposes, such as a General Defense Committee action, a strike fund, or to help out a particular group of workers.

AWO (Agricultural Workers Organization) 

The Agricultural Workers Industrial Union 400 (now IU 110) of the IWW which organized itinerant harvest workers between 1914-30. The AWO developed the roving delegate system, still used today by the IWW.

Axle swinging 

Riding under a railroad car

Balloon 

Bedroll, bindle

Banjo 

Short-handled shovel

Barnacle 

A fellow who sticks to one job a year or more; probably named for the stubborn tenacity of barnacles which must be scraped from the exterior surface of ocean-going vessels

Battleship 

A high-sided steel coal car usually with a hopper or dump bottom

Battleship, building the 

Raising the noise level to intolerable levels, by all means necessary including singing, pounding on bars, or slamming beds, by a group of Wobblies who have been imprisoned during a free speech fight

Beanmaster 

Cook

Big O 

A train conductor

Big Ole 

A worker who tries to impress the boss with his ability or strength

Big Smoke, the 

Pittsburgh

Bindle 

Bedroll in which a hobo wrapped his possessions

Black cat 

See Sab cat

Blind pig 

Illegal bar during prohibition

Bloke 

A guy

Blue streak 

Very fast

'Bo 

Hobo

Boil up 

To cook one's clothes, to eliminate crums

Boomer 

Construction worker who travels to the job, a transient railroad worker, or a seasonal or migratory worker

Booming 

Going from one job to another

Branch 

A chartered group of IWW members in the same job site, city, or region organized around a common workplace, industry, or regional grouping.

Bridal chamber 

A mining term meaning the miner's workplace. May also mean a flop house where the guests lie on the floor

Braky 

A brakeman

Bread and Milk Route 

Boston & Maine RR

Broken & Maimed 

Boston & Maine RR

Bucko mate 

Bully

Bull 

Policeman, or a railroad enforcer

Bullpen 

A makeshift pen designed to hold class war prisoners.

Bummery 

A pejorative term used by Daniel De León that referred to the Direct Action faction of the IWW that led to the 1908 split; also used to refer to IWW members with itinerant employment, such as lumber workers and agricultural workers. Also called "110 Cats".

Bum on the plush 

The idle rich. See Plush, on the

Bundle tosser 

Harvest hand who pitches bundles

Burg 

Town

Cacklers 

White collar workers

Calaboose 

Jail

California blankets 

Newspapers used while sleeping

Can 

Jail

Candy job 

A pleasant or "sweet" job

Canned Meat & Stale Punk 

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul RR

Cannon ball 

A fast train

Captain 

Hobo salutation of the head man or big shot

Card man 

A union man or a hobo with a red I. W. W. card

Car knocker 

A railroad yard man who works assembling trains

The Carry All 

Chicago & Alton RR

Carry the banner 

To walk the street all night for want of shelter

Cat 

Worker with a particular occupation; a worker well fitted in with some occupational subculture, such as "hep cat"; a worker who follows a specific occupation, such as "straw cat" for harvest hand. Or, sabotage cat.

Cat wagon 

Brothel on wheels that might follow the harvest crews

Cattle stiff 

A cowboy

Centralists 

During the 1920s split, one of the factions headed by Tom Doyle and Joe Fisher. They wanted a strong central organization with control over the IWW's industrial unions. Also referred to as the "Four Treyers."

Charter 

A document issued by the GEB or a GOC that officially recognizes a subordinate body of the IWW, such as a branch or district council.

Checkerboard crew 

Mixed crew of white and black workers

Chinwhisker 

A farmer

Christ killing 

To speak from the soap box giving the economic argument

Class War 

The struggle between the employing class (always looking to lower the costs of labor at workers' expense) and the working class (seeking to retain all that it produces).

Class War Prisoner 

Anyone jailed for their class conscious views or acts.

Clover kicker 

Farmer

Coal passer 

Fireman

Coffee an' 

Coffee and a doughnut

Coldcock 

To knock someone down

Cold, Hungry & Damp 

Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton RR

Come to Jesus 

A come-to-Jesus manner means to feign piety

Cooperative Commonwealth 

The ideal of a new social order which recognizes no national, occupational, or racial distinctions and represents the united economic force and social will of all workers in the world. Similar concepts include the Workers Commonwealth, and the Industrial Commonwealth

Cousin Jack 

Generally refers to a Cornish miner, but, like the term Cockney, may be applied to any Englishman

Crooked arm 

Signal from the boss that he wants more speed

Crums 

Lice

Crummy 

To be lousy, to have lice. Also refers to the caboose on a train

Crum up 

Same as boil up

CST (Central Secretary-Treasurer) 

The chief administrative officer of the IWW's General Defense Committee. The CST is elected annually to a one year term by a democratic vote of the entire IWW membership.

Cushions, Riding the 

Riding de luxe in a passenger train. Also see on the plush

Dehorn 

Denatured alcohol or bootleg whiskey of inferior quality; anything that makes a worker depart from prope class-conscious activity.

Dehorn squad 

Wobbly committee that would close up bars, speakeasies, and brothels during an IWW strike (usually during the Prohibition Era).

Delegate 

An IWW member empowered to collect dues from other members, sign up new IWW members, and represent the group of IWW members they represent at district councils and other assemblies of the IWW. Delegates are democratically elected by shops and branches; they serve one years terms.

Department 

An international coordinating body of closely related Industrial Unions, such as the Department of General Construction 300, which includes the General Construction Workers Industrial Union 310, the Ship Builders Industrial Union 320, and the Building Construction Workers Industrial Union 330. There are six such departments outlined by the IWW Constitution.

Dingoes 

Hoboes who refuse to work even though they claim to be looking for a job

Doughhead 

A baker

Doughnut philosopher 

A fellow who is satisfied with the price of a coffee and feed. He does not object to the doughnut hole getting larger because it will take more dough to go around it. He is the original breadline optimist

Dual carder 

Having a union card in two different unions. See dual unionism

Duds 

Clothes

Dyno or dino 

A rock man who handles dynamite

Eagle eye 

Locomotive engineer

Economic argument 

Soap-box talk about economics. Generally opposed to the religious argument called angel food

E-P (Emergency Program) 

A split from the IWW in 1924, led by James Rowan of the Lumber Workers Industrial Union. The E-Pers believed that the administration of the IWW was too strongly emphasizing "Political Action" as opposed to Organizing on the Job. The E-P claimed to oppose "centralism" in favor of "decentralism", but the E-P sought to centralize power within individual Industrial Unions.

EP'er 

Someone from the decentralist EP faction during the 1920s

Extra gang 

A crew that works on the railroad track

Fellow Worker (FW) 

How IWW members traditionally address each other (e.g. FW Lucy Parsons, or FW Ben Fletcher). Although the term is actually gender neutral, recently some members have adopted the unofficial term "Sister Worker" to refer to women members of the IWW. Some women prefer the term, but others do not.

Fielder 

A brakeman

Fink 

A strike breaker; an informer; possibly derived from "Pinkertons", a private detective agency frequently used by employers to break strikes.

Fix the Job 

Direct Action on the job; quickie strikes, passive resistance, deliberate bungling aimed to win better working conditions.

Flipping a rattler 

Boarding a moving box-car

Flop 

A place to stay

Fly-away 

A deserter from the army or navy

Footloose 

A worker who is not tied down by a job is said to be footloose

Foul Water & Dirty Cars 

Fort Worth & Denver City RR

4-3 (Four-Trey) 

The loyalist faction from the 1924 split; so named because its office was located at 3333 West Belmont in Chicago, IL.

Free speech fights 

When the cops won't let you speak, call all footloose rebels to town.

Frogskin 

Dollar bill

Galoot 

A fellow who doesn't fit in

Gandy dancer 

Someone who lays, or maintains, railroad track

GDC (General Defense Committee) 

An organization composed of IWW members and supporters whose function is to organize for the defense of workers indicted in the process of union organizing or other revolutionary activity. The GDC can be organized into locals and regional federations. The GDC is the only official committee that sympathetic employers may join (as non-IWW members).

GDC Local 

A Local branch of the General Defense Committee.

GEB (General Executive Board) 

The chief coordinating body of the Industrial Workers of the World, consisting of seven members elected to one year terms annually by a democratic vote of the entire IWW membership. The GEB's duties are outlined by Article III, Section 5A of the IWW Constitution.

General Assembly (GA) 

An annual assembly, held (US) Labor Day Weekend, where members, delegates and officers of the union meet to discuss union business, prepare for the annual election and referendum, and set union policy. The decisions of the General Assembly are subject to review by the entire IWW membership.

Glom the guts of a rattler 

Hop a freight

GMB (General Membership Branch) 

A chartered body of IWW members located in a local geographic area (usually a city or metropolitan area) composed of workers from many different industries. A GMB is a temporary structure designed to aid in the formation of Industrial Union Branches.

GOB (General Organization Bulletin) 

A (mostly) monthly, printed discussion bulletin issued to all members in good standing (except those who specifically ask not to receive it). The GOB includes the GST's report, the GEB report, Delegates reports, and branch reports. Sometimes the GOB includes correspondence from individual members as well.

GOC (General Organizing Committee) 

The chief coordinating body of an Industrial Union consisting of five members elected annually to a one-year term by a democratic vote of the membership of that Industrial Union.

Goon 

A thug

Graveyard shift 

Night work

Greasy spoon 

A cheap cafe, restaurant, or truck stop

GRU (General Recruiting Union) 

A chartered body consisting of members in multiple industries with fewer members in each industry than the number needed to form an IUB for each industry. Also called a Mixed Local.

GST (General Secretary-Treasurer) 

The chief administrative officer of the IWW. The GST is elected annually to a one year term by a democratic vote of the entire IWW membership. The GST is the only paid officer of the IWW.

Gunnells or guts 

The rods or trucks of the train where hobos ride (see rods)

Gunsel 

A thug with a gun

Gyppo 

Any piece-work system; a job where the worker is paid by the volume they produce, rather than by their time. A sub-contractor with poor equipment

Hall Cat 

An IWW Member who frequents IWW union halls, sometimes refers to a branch secretary-treasurer.

Hasher 

Cook

Hayrick 

A hay stack

Haywire 

When everything is balled up

Highball 

Very fast, as in a fast train

Highjack 

To rob, or hold up

Hit the ball 

To speed up on the job

Hit the grit 

To be forced off a fast moving train

Hobo 

A term of unknown origin that refers to an itinerant worker who "rides the rails" (stowing away on freight trains unknown to the railroads) in search of work. Not to be confused with "bums" or "yeggs" who simply ride the rails looking for an easy mark. Many Hoboes were IWW members between 1905-1920s.

Hobo Jungle 

A well organized hobo encampment, maintained collectively by those that live there. Hobo Jungles frequently offered a place for the hobo to lay his or her bindle, meals (cobbled together from food contributed by residents of the encampment), information about work, and music & song (provided by the hoboes themselves). Jungles were commonly frequented by IWW members between 1905 - 1920s.

Hog, on the 

Broken down, broke, out of money. Contrast with eating high on the hog, an American phrase suggesting affluent, perhaps eating the better cuts

Home Guard 

IWW members with relatively stable employment and places of residence (as opposed to the bummery), such as the Lawrence textile workers.

Honey dipping 

Working as a shovel stiff in a sewer

Hoosegow 

Jail

Hoosier 

A farmer, someone from the country, someone who is incompetent

Hoosier up 

To play dumb, or pretend innocence

House dog 

A fellow who hunts jobs from the housewife, beating carpets, etc.

IDC (Industrial District Council) 

A chartered regional coordinating body consisting of a council of delegates elected from the IUBs, Job Branches, IOCs, and GRUs in the same city or region.

Industrial Union (IU) 

All the workers in the same industry shall belong to the same Industrial Union within the IWW. A chartered Industrial Union will consist of all Industrial Union Branches, shops within that IU, and individual members within that IU. That IU shall elect a GOC according to the principles they charter. The term also refers to the name and number assigned to each individual member. The numbers have no particular meaning other than to distinguish each separate IU.

Industrial unionism 

A union organizing philosophy in which all workers in an industry join the same union. The IWW takes this concept to its logical conclusion, such that all workers join One Big Union and support each other's struggles.

Industrial Worker (IW) 

The official newspaper of the IWW, it is published monthly and available to all members in good standing. It is also available to non-members by subscription. Its editor is elected biannually to a two-year term by a democratic vote of the entire IWW membership.

International Workers of the World 

The IWW has also often been mistakenly called "International Workers of the World". The conservative media pundit Rush Limbaugh blamed the anti-WTO demonstrations in Seattle in 1999 on the "International Workers of the World". In the indexes of the books Timber Wars by Judi Bari and Been and Done by Gipsy Moon, the IWW was incorrectly listed under this name, although they were correctly named in the text. Fred Chase once joked that the Industrial Workers of the World should ask the International Workers of the World to join up, since they're such a large and influential organization. This mistake happens commonly, although the word International would obviously be redundant because of the words of the World.^[2]

IOC (Industrial Organizing Committee) 

A standing committee of members of a GMB grouped by Industrial Union working to build Job Branches and IUBs.

IUB (Industrial Union Branch) 

A chartered body of IWW members located in a local geographic area ( usually a city or metropolitan area) composed of workers from the same industry.

IWW 

Stands for Industrial Workers of the World of course, but has led to numerous other interpretations of the name, such as "I Won't Work", "I Want Whiskey", "International Wonder Workers", and "Irresponsible Wholesale Wreckers". On August 17, 1917, the Arizonan Senator Henry F. Ashurst even declared that "I.W.W. means simply, solely and only, Imperial Wilhelm's Warriors", falsely alleging a link between the IWW and German emperor Wilhelm II.^[3]

Java 

Coffee

Jawbone 

Credit. To buy in the company store against one's pay

Jerries 

Men who work on the section gang, or Jerry Gang. They do maintenance work while gandy dancers work on contract jobs

Jerusalem Slim 

Jesus, a secular folk hero. The name was adopted by Wobblies who believed that Jesus would have been an IWW member had he lived in their time, based on interpretations of New Testament Scripture that indicates that Jesus was likely a radical in his time, much like the Wobblies of today.

Jim Hill 

Railroad tycoon James J. Hill

Jim Hill's goat 

In North America, the Great Northern Railroad which ran from St. Paul to Seattle. Also called the Big "G", or the High Line

Job Branch 

A chartered body of five or more members in the same workplace (and by extension, the same IU) where union conditions do not prevail, working to build majority union representation.

Job Shop 

A chartered body of IWW members in the same workplace (and by extension the same IU) where union conditions prevail and where majority union representation has been established.

John Family 

A term sometimes applied to the farmers

Jungle 

Hobo camp along a road or a railroad line

Kangaroo court 

Mock court held in jail for the purpose of forcing new prisoners to divide their money

Kazoo 

Someone's butt

Kicks 

Shoes. Also called slides

Labor skate 

A union official who sees union office as a means to privilege and power

Little Red Songbook (LRS) 

A collection of labor songs written by IWW members "to fan the flames of discontent", published as a pocket size book with a red cover. There are at least 36 editions of the LRS.

Lizzie, tin 

A Model T or a cheap auto

Main stem 

The chief hobo street in town

Mick 

An Irishman

Milk and Honey route 

Railroads through Mormon territory

Mister Block 

A scissorbill. The term refers to the cartoons penned by Ernest Riebe about a blockheaded worker who, in spite of all his misfortunes, blindly sides with the employing class. He believes that the police always mean well, and that sharks are good fellows. Joe Hill popularized the cartoon in his song "Mr Block".

MTW (Marine Transport Workers) 

The Marine Transport Workers Industrial Union 510 of the IWW, active on the seas, especially on the west cost of North America. The MTW led to the formation of the Sailors Union of the Pacific (SUP) of the AFL, and participated in the 1934 General Strike of west coast Longshoremen. The MTW also controlled the Philadelphia waterfront in the 1920s and 1930s. MTW Local 8 of Philadelphia was led by Ben Fletcher. Also sometimes referred to as "510 Cats".

Muckamuck 

Someone important, and probably arrogant

Mucker 

A mine worker who shovels out the ore or the debris

Muck stick 

A long-handled shovel

Mug 

Someone's face

Never Come, Never Go 

Nevada County Narrow Gauge RR (Calif.)

Nose bag 

A lunch pail

OBU (One Big Union) 

Another name for the IWW, based on the notion that one big union of all the workers can overthrow or abolish the employing class and the wage system. Also a name for a short-lived Canadian union that formed in the 1930s based on the IWW, but more sympathetic to the Communist Party and Stalinism.

Octopus 

The Southern Pacific Railroad

Original Ham and Egg Route 

Oberlin, Hampton and Eastern RR

Overalls Brigade 

At the 1908 convention a group of twenty migrant workers styling themselves as the "overalls brigade" played a crucial role in the debate which established direct action as the guiding principle of the IWW.^[4]

Paul Bunyan 

A chronic but interesting liar

Pay streak 

A job that pays well

Pea soup 

A French Canadian, often a lumberjack

Peckerwood 

A poor white person from the country, often used disparagingly, especially in the South

Pendejo [Pen-DAY-hoe] 

A fool or a coward

Pennsylvania feathers 

Soft coal or coke

Piecard 

A union official that identifies more with the boss than with the workers, or who is "on the take." From the hobo definition, one who hangs around and lives on a remittance man or some other person with money

Pie in the sky 

A reward in heaven for working hard on earth while hungry. Used in a song by Joe Hill.

Plough jockey 

A farmer

Plug-ugly 

A thug or a goon

Plush, on the 

The rich man rides on the plush in the train, possibly in a private car. Described in the Utah Phillips song/poem Bum on the Rods, included on the album/CD "The Past Didn't Go Anywhere." The poem is originally entitled The Two Bums, from George Milburn's book, The Hobo's Hornbook.

Plutes 

Bosses or plutocrats

Poke 

A leather wallet

Prole 

A wage worker, a "proletarian."

Pusher 

The straw boss. One in charge of the job

Rattler 

A freight train

Rebel 

A class-conscious worker who wishes to end the capitalist system.

The Rebel Girl 

Elizabeth Gurley Flynn; also the title of a song by Joe Hill.

Red 

A revolutionary socialist, anarchist, or IWW member. Refers to the red flags and banners commonly used by radicals symbolizing workers control and revolution. After the 1930s, the term was specifically used to refer to leftists in General, but especially to members of the Communist Party and its supporters.

Red card 

Membership card for IWW members

Red IWW 

The IWW, based in Chicago (until the 1990s) as opposed to the short-lived rival IWW established by Daniel DeLeon in 1908. See Yellow IWW.

Red Socialists 

Refers to the left wing of the US based Socialist Party. The Reds were sympathetic to the IWW, direct action, and syndicalism.

Riding the Rails; Riding the Rods 

Hoboing.

Rigging 

A Delegate's supplies, including membership cards, dues stamps, IWW Constitutions, and Newspapers. Used to collect dues and sign up new members on the job.

ROC (Regional Organizing Committee) 

A body of IWW members in a specific region, especially a country dedicated to maintaining communication and administering union affairs, particularly where the local currency is worth significantly less (or more) than the US or Canadian dollar.

Rockpile 

A jail

Rods 

Drawrods beneath a freight train, one place where hobos used to ride. Most modern train cars no longer have riding space underneath.

Rotgut 

Cheap liquor

Roustabout 

An unskilled laborer. Also used as a carnival term

Rube 

A country bumpkin

Sab cat 

Symbol of the IWW, and sometimes a symbol for "sabotage" (i.e. inefficiency at the point of production by disgruntled workers), usually represented by a black cat with bared teeth. Also called "sab kitty", "sabo-tabby", or "the cat".

Sabotage 

The withdrawal of efficiency. Calling a strike, engaging in a slowdown, or somehow gumming up the works.

The Saint 

Refers to Vincent St. John

Sallies 

Salvation Army hotels and industrial workshops

Scab 

A strike breaker

Scissorbill 

A worker who identifies with the boss, or who lacks class consciousness. Hobo who thinks he can be President

Scratch 

Secretary; alternately, money or other assets

Sea stiff 

A sailor

Secretary-Treasurer 

The chief administrative officer of a branch or district council, elected by a democratic vote of the appropriate body's membership

Sewer hogs 

Ditch diggers

Shack 

The brakeman on a train. Often the fellow that hobos had to avoid.

Shanty man 

Same as gyppo contractor

Shark 

An employment agent who "sells" jobs for a fee

Short Stake 

Worker apt to quit when they have earned a small sum

Shuffler 

A jobless worker

Shyster 

A lawyer. Spoken in a non-perjorative fashion of labor attorneys

Side Car Pullman 

A hobo term for a Box Car

Silent agitator 

A sticker, or a mini-poster, used to propagandize. Sometimes called a silent organizer

Single O 

Working alone by preference

Singlet 

A man's jersey or undershirt

Sinker 

A doughnut

Sizzler 

A cook; alternately, a stove

Skid road 

Area of town where migrants gather, from the log roads in timber country. Also called skid row

Skinner 

One who drives mules, especially on construction jobs

Skipper 

The conductor

Sky pilot 

A highbrow preacher, one who expresses a boss point of view, that workers shouldn't complain-- just be patient and you'll get "pie in the sky when you die."

Slave market 

An employment agency, particularly in which there are high fees assessed for workers to get a job

SLP (Socialist Labor Party) 

Founded as the Socialistic Labor Party in 1878. Played a founding role in the IWW under its leader, Daniel DeLeon. The SLP was a political party that emphasized political action rather than direct action (organizing at the point of production.) The SLP separated from the IWW in 1908 and set up a short-lived, rival union called the Yellow IWW which folded in 1914.

Slum 

Food

Smilo joint 

A tavern that sold bootleg liquor

Snake 

Hobo and railroad term for switchman. A snake is more friendly than a shack to the hobos

Snipe 

A section hand

Speakeasy 

An illegal bar during Prohibition days

Spittoon philosopher 

A hanger-on about the gin mill or along the curbstone

Split 

At the 1924 convention, two factions appeared in the IWW. They each claimed to be the real IWW. In some cities there were two IWW halls, and Job Delegates for each union had their own cards to issue.

Stake 

A sum of money intended to last until the next job.

Stamps 

Dues stamps for the IWW, pasted into a Wobbly's red card, or dues book to show that the member is paid up

Stamp up 

To pay dues, or to collect dues from an IWW member

Stew builder 

A camp cook

Stiff 

A worker. For example, harvest stiffs, bridge stiffs, hospital stiffs

Stoolie 

An informer (stool pigeon)

Stump Rancher 

Someone who settles on logged off land and who usually continues to work, at least part time, for wages.

Swamper 

Fellow who cleans out the bar-room

Sweat board 

Concrete mixing by hand

Taking the whiskers off 

Harvesting

Tallow pot 

The fireman on the train

Tie pass 

Bogus permit from the railroad president allowing one to walk the railroad ties

Timber Beast 

Lumberjack. Sometimes also called a Timber Wolf

Tinhorn 

A smalltime gambler

Tramps 

Migrating non-working vagrants

Twist a dream 

Roll a cigarette

Vittles 

Food

Walking Delegate 

A union organizer who moves from job to job.

WFM (Western Federation of Miners) 

One of the original unions that founded the IWW. Founding Members William "Big Bill" Haywood and Vincent Saint John were also members of the WFM.

Wobbly (Sometimes shortened to "Wob") 

A nickname of unknown origin for a member of the Industrial Workers of the World. Many believe "wobbly" refers to a tool known as a "wobble saw." One often repeated anecdote has it that a sympathetic Chinese restaurant owner in Vancouver would extend credit to IWW members and, unable to pronounce the "W", would ask if they were a member of the "I Wobble Wobble."^[5] Another explanation is that the term was first used pejoratively by San Francisco Socialists around 1913 and adopted by IWWs as a badge of honor.^[6] In any case, the nickname has existed since the union's early days and is still used today.

Wood butcher 

A carpenter or a hobo who can do general repair jobs

Yard master 

Railroad employee who supervises the yard activity

Yellow IWW 

A rival version of the IWW established in 1908, based in Detroit by Daniel DeLeon, after he split from the IWW. The Yellow IWW emphasized political action as opposed to direct action at the point of production. The Yellow IWW was affiliated with the SLP. The Yellow IWW folded in 1914.

Yellow Socialists 

Refers to the right wing and centrists of the US based Socialist Party. The Yellows were generally hostile to the IWW (favoring the craft unionism of the AFL, advocating reform instead of revolution among unionists), direct action, and syndicalism.

Woolies 

Take a job as sheep herder

Yeggs 

Crooks

Break Their Haughty Power: Joe Murphy in the Heyday of the Wobblies, Eugene Nelson, glossary pages 12i-15i.

Official IWW Terminology used with permission, retrieved from http://www.iww.org/en/culture/official/dictionary February 2007.

The use of slang is a means of recognizing members of the same group, and to differentiate that group from society at large, while the use of jargon relates to a specific activity, profession, or group.

Slang terms are frequently particular to a certain subculture.

Also see Chinook jargon, especially for northwest timber country usage.