British slang for Morse code, particularly associated with World War One signallers. The name is onomatopoeic, mimicking the short (iddy) and long (umpty) sounds of dots and dashes. Used colloquially among military telegraphers and radio operators in the early 20th century. Now archaic.
The signaller tapped out the message in iddy-umpty while the rest of the trench slept.
No comments yet — say something.
(slang) Morse code.
No comments yet — say something.
Add your own interpretation of "iddy-umpty".
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.