cryptolect
nounUK /ˈkɹɪptə(ʊ)lɛkt/ · US /ˈkɹɪptəˌlɛkt/
Etymology From crypto- (prefix ‘hidden; secret’) + -lect (suffix denoting a language variety).
1
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences A secretive language form used by a subculture; an arcane cant.
- Cockney rhyming slang developed originally from the cryptolects of London’s thieves and vagabonds.
- Synonyms
- antilanguage, argot, cant, cryptolect
- Derived terms
- cryptolectal
- Coordinate terms
36 terms
intalk, jargon, lingo, acolutholect, acrolect, basilect, chronolect, communalect, dialect, doculect, ecolect, ethnolect, familect, genderlect, geolect, hyperlect, idiolect, isolect, matrilect, medialect, mesilect, mesolect, mimolect, monolectal, natiolect, panlectal, paralect, patrilect, polylectal, pubilect, regiolect, regionalect, similect, sociolect, topolect, xenolect