General
kool
What does kool mean?
As an imperative or interjection, 'kool!' meaning 'watch it' or 'look lively' — a quick verbal nudge between traders.
"Kool! The esclop's turned the corner — cover the cart."
Origin
Cockney back-slang from the 1840s ('look' reversed), recorded in the Mayhew (1851) and Hotten (1859) tradition; the word also fed into Polari, the gay and theatrical argot documented by Paul Baker, which absorbed Cockney back-slang alongside Italian and Yiddish.
Frequently asked questions
What does kool mean in back-slang?
It means to look or watch, and as an exclamation 'watch out'. It's 'look' reversed.
Is kool the same as the American 'cool'?
No — this 'kool' is back-slang for 'look' and predates the 20th-century American 'cool' (excellent/relaxed) entirely; the spellings just coincide.
How did kool reach Polari?
Polari magpied vocabulary from many sources including Cockney back-slang; Paul Baker's research traces these overlaps between street, fairground and gay argot.
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