Slivolly

Containing elements of the words "sliver," "volley" and, especially, "shiv," it should come as no surprise that this euphonious word refers to a weapon and that, considering its Piccadillyesque tonal arrangement, it originates in the Australian outback circa early 19th century. The nature of the word, however, brought me very nearly to tears alternately from the comic portent of its meaning and from the truly despicable circumstances of its coinage. It merely follows the dictates of reason that, upon establishment of their peculiar nation, Australian's denizens - the sloughed of England's empire - found fit to establish their own network of jails...as perhaps it can be said of viruses that viruses grow on them as well. In one exceptionally miserable jail in the New South Wales penal colony (this christened New Newgate and well prior to the signing and ratification of the Australian Capital Territory Act of 1911), the unspeakable practice arose among the jailed - stripped as they were of all implements of violence outside their fists, brains and feet - of using food to attack each other. Casting light on this darkness is the following diary excerpt from a New Newgate warden named Hitchins, dated January 12th, 1874 (in which the initial C is understood to abbreviate the word convict):

"Conditions worsened. C. Arf gave C. Wilbers the Slivolly with a Blade whiddled (sic) from froze Porridge. Cut his Throat."

On February 7th the staff of life was used to bludgeon to death:

"C. Simovich pelted mortally with Volly (sic) of Hardtack Biscuit. If keeping track out there score now Slivolly Seven/Warden Zilch."

And again only three days later:

"Guard Eckhardt strangulated with Rotted Tubors. Filthiest Slivolly yet."

The word seemed to occupy an adaptable position straddling noun and verb. One could slivolly someone else using a slivolly. Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned here about the derivation of words from abhorrent acts: the caprice necessarily involved...sustenance is perverted into lethality and our vocabulary adopts a torpor, an immoral flexibility to accomodate it. 

O Slivolly. It is to laugh...and cry...