Slayer Slang

A distinguishing feature of the series Buffy was the way in which the show's writers play with language: making new words, changing existing ones, and turning common usage around. Michael Adams argues this creates a resonant lexicon reflecting power in both youth culture and television on the changes in American slang.

Michael Adams starts the book with a synopsis of the program's history and a defense of ephemeral language. The main body of the work is the detailed glossary of slayer slang, annotated with dialogue. The book concludes with a bibliography and a lengthy index, a guide to sources (novels based on the show, magazine articles about the show, and language culled from the official posting board) and an appendix of slang-making suffixes.

A few examples from the Slayer Slang glossary:

• bitca n

Willow

I mean, why else would she be acting like such a b-i-t-c-h?

Giles

(interrupting before Willow finishes the "h") can Willow, I think we're all a little old to be spelling things out.

Xander

A 'bitca'?

— Written by Joss Whedon, "When She Was Bad" (15 September 1997), p. 142

• break and enterish adj suitable for crime

Buffy

I'll go home and stock up on weapons, slip into something a little more break and enterish.

— Written by Doug Petrie, "Enemies" (16 March 1999), p. 145

• carbon-dated adj very out of date

Buffy

Deal with that outfit for a moment.

Giles

It's dated?

Buffy

It's carbon-dated.

— Written by Joss Whedon, "Welcome to the Hellmouth" (10 March 1997), p. 160

• cuddle-monkey n male lover

Xander

Every woman in Sunnydale wants to make me her cuddle-monkey.

— Written by Marti Noxon, "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" (10 February 1998), p. 166

"Buffy Speak" on TV Tropes