Polari

Polari is a form of slang used mainly by gay men in Britain through much of the 20th century, when same-sex relationships were illegal. It let people speak openly in public without being understood by outsiders. Its vocabulary was a mix drawn from Italian, Romani, Cockney rhyming slang, Yiddish, thieves' cant, and the language of sailors, fairground workers, and theater. Common words included 'vada' (to look), 'bona' (good), 'omi' (man), and 'naff' (drab or worthless). An older ancestor called Parlyaree circulated among traveling entertainers in the 1800s. Polari reached a wide audience through the camp characters Julian and Sandy on the BBC radio show 'Round the Horne' (1965 to 1968). Use faded after decriminalization, though several words linger in British English.