raclan
British thieves' cant and back-slang from the 18th–19th centuries.
Definitions
British thieves' cant and back-slang from the 18th–19th centuries. 'Raclan' is likely back-slang for 'lancer' (a variant of 'nancy' or 'woman'). Used in flash vocabulary to refer to a wife — specifically in the context of a married criminal, distinguishing a partner in domestic life from a fleeting companion.
His raclan waited up every night, never knowing when — or if — he'd be home.
Comments
(UK, slang, obsolete) A married woman.
Raclan means: A married woman.. The word is mostly archaic or historical; you will only encounter it in old texts, period drama, or school history rather than current teen conversation. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
raclan means: A married woman.. Register: archaic, historical. Almost never used today; you will find it only in older texts, dictionaries of dialect, or historical writing. Avoid in active vocabulary. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
Comments
Used in
Have a better definition?
Add your own interpretation of "raclan".
🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang
UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.
See all British & Irish slang slang on Slangora.
Tags
Other words near "raclan" (R)
Browse all slang words starting with R.