Miners' Cant

Written by Barron

Overview

Miners' Cant is the argot of the miners of Perduro. Miners' Cant is often coarsely worded and coarsely spoken. It's blunt, it's straightforward, and it's overall not employed in polite company. The short slang found its home in the depths of the mountain, where miners often spend weeks at a time underground with their team. This lifestyle provided the foundation for a strange new plethora of terms based on their experiences.
Though it was born in the Mines, the large population of Miners and the global proliferation of mining culture ensured that this language of crude jargon entered the dialect of all Perdurians to some extent. It only became more prolific when the tourism industry exploded. Locals wished for a way to pick on newcomers behind their backs, and this crude dialect became the means to do it.

Insults

Barnaby

Calling someone Barnaby is to imply that they're utterly useless and disliked.

Barky

Annoying coworker who lets others do the heavy work.

Chasm

A floozy, a promiscuous person, esp. a female

He's quite good at counting

...and not at much else.

This insult refers to the fact that inventory counter is the lowest job in the mines, usually given to someone who can't be trusted with any other task.

You're just the silver in the plat mine.

This insult refers to the mining conditions where silver is almost considered the fools gold of the mine. It appears similar to other more valuable platinum group minerals but is worth nearly a quarter as much.

A big drill with a little bit

Referring to a hotheaded miner by implying he has a small phallus.

His hose lost its pressure

This particular turn of phrase is used to suggest that its target is impotent.

They put out as much as a fresh shaft blast

Referring to the target as overly promiscuous

Worm

The person who has to do a difficult task. A reference to the Canary Worm

"Oh, you gotta tell the foreman why the drill broke? Poor Worm."

Deadrock

Fired or unemployed. Perduran culture puts great value in having a job, and those without one are seen as a detriment to society.

Lil' Arty

Nickname for a coworker who consumes a lot of alcohol. Based on Artosen Khandea II (Digger)'s affinity for Alcohol

Digging Graves

Any work that is seen as dangerous as risky to one's life, career, or sanity. Originally referred to digging dangerous mineshafts that might collapse and kill the miners. Literally digging their own grave.

Compliments

Gunkoons

An endearing term that the miners have given themselves. The term is derived from the gunk-like substance miners have to wade through when seperating ore from the walls of the mine.

Canary

Referring to the 'lookout' of a group of miners, who watch for foremen approaching to warn the others.

Thank the Wheel we got Steve working Canary, getting a smoke out in the mine is a ballache.

Platinum or Plat

An Adjective for something good.

That was a plat of a meal!

Nugget

An endearing term for an attractive person.

Did you see that woman? Nugget, right there.

CoalMole

Nickname for the Black-painted Automatic Carrier Units used to haul ore from the mines. Also used to compliment someone who assisted with a hard task.

Thanks for gettin' that drill up again, real CoalMole move.

Big Arty

Nickname for a coworker who is proficent at partying. Based on Artosen Khandea II (Digger)'s affinity for having a good time.

Chief Nugget

An endearing term for a well-liked foreman.

You get to work for Sharja? Guy's a real Chief Nugget. Grats.

Never let your pick break.

A term used to motivate miners feeling down.

I owe you a rope

A term used to express owing someone a favor. Early days of mining used rope as a way to explore different natural tunnels

Stiller

A very gracious and giving person, named after miners who established illegal stills in the mines for the workers

Get-er-gone

Short slang for meta-assisted drilling tools, known as Digger's Shovels

I'm tired of pickin' away at this rock. Get an ol' Get-er-gone out here.

Navigate

Planet of Conception

Perduro

Time of Use

Melancholic Lacuna to Present Day

Notable Users

Artosen Khandea II (Digger)

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Enjoy reading about the language of the miners of Perduro? The three articles here explore these miners and their world more in depth. Why not dig deeper?