Graffiti Terms

Term	Meaning
187	Californian Penal Code for Homicide - so graffiti using 187 is literally making a death threat.
PIECE BOOK or BLACK BOOK	A writer's sketch book. Used for personal art and tag development and or the collection of other artists work.
3rd EYE	A look out.
5-O	Slang for Police. Derived form the Television series Hawaii 5-O.
ALL-CITY	When a writer or crew bombs all major tube or train lines.
BACK IN THE DAY	Refers to the "old days", old school, or when a writer first started writing. Also a Hip-Hop and rap term.
BACK JUMP	This is essentially a five to fifteen minute lay-up. At the end of some underground routes trains park in tunnels or on single lines for several minutes before going back into service. During this time the trains are written on. Due to time constraints back jumps are generally utilized for dubs and throw ups. It is one of the most dangerous approaches to writing.
BAD	A high compliment as in Bad means Good.
BATTLE	A pre-planned and well-organized competition between rival writers or crews to determine who is the best. Usually held at a HOF.
BEEF	Disagreement or conflict.
BENCH	Underground or Rail Station where writers congregate and watch trains.
BENCHING	The act of watching trains from certain location son a rail network.
BITE	Plagiarism – stealing another writer’ style.
BLEEDING	Where excessive paint is used and then allowed to run off parts of the design creating the impression that the tag is bleeding
BLOCK BUSTER	Wide lettered piece stretching from end to end done below window level on subway car.
BOMBING	Prolific writing.
BRAP	An abbreviation for the words Beer and Rap.
BTP	British Transport Police.
BUBBLE LETTERS	A type of graffiti letters, usually considered to be an older style. Often used for throw up letters because of their rounded shape this allows for a quick formation of the tag name.
BUFF	Removal of writing/art work.
BUFFED	A place that has had its writing/art work removed.
BURN	1. To out do or beat the competition. 2. To ware out.
BURNER	A technically and stylistically well-executed wild style piece. Generally done in bright colours, preferably seen as the sun is rising or setting. A piece held in high regard.
CAPS	(Fat, skinny, German thin) Interchangeable spray-can nozzles fitted to paint cans to vary width of spray deployed. These are sometimes referred to as Tips or Nibs.
CLEAN TRAIN	Current term for all London Underground Trains. They are becoming more difficult to hit and rarely go into service with writing on them.
COMPUTER STYLE	A certain style of wild style that looks digital or bitmapped, as if it came out of a computer.
CREW	Organized group of writers
CROSSING OUT	To scribble or write on someone else's name. It is considered highly disrespectful. Also known as Lining Out or Dogging.
D.G.A.	Don't Get Around
DEF	Excellent (derived from definite and death).
DESIGNS	Polka dots, checkers stars swirls are placed over the fill-in to enhance and compliment the fill-in. Designs are limited only by an artist’s imagination and technical ability.
DOG	A good or bad thing or person depending on the nature of the subject being discussed.
DOPE	Excellent, of the highest order.
DOWN	Part of a group or action
DOWN FOR	Loyal to.
DUB	The term used to describe a silver or chrome piece with a black outline.
DUTCH	A form of graffiti whereby the writer scratches his tag into the surface using sandpaper or drill bits.
END TO END or E2E	A window down piece which extends from one end of the of a Train or Subway coach to the other.
FADE	Graduation of colours.
FAMILYS	Rows of throw ups of the same name.
FATTIES	The mild though frequent abrasion from passengers heads eventually buffs (removes) tags on these locations. This is an undesirable location to tag.
FINAL OUTLINE	After fill-in and designs have been applied the outline is re-executed to define the letters.
FLOATERS	Throw ups done on subway coach panels at window level.
FREIGHTS	Rail freight wagons.
GETTING UP	When proliferation of a tag name has led to its high visibility.
GRAPHOTISM	A UK based Graffiti magazine.
HENRY SHOTS	Photographic technique developed by Henry Chalfant. The camera remains in one spot with automatic film advance while the subject (train) moves. The end result is a straight forward single image built from several frames providing more detail.
HIT	A single tag, throw-up or dub type piece.
HIT UP	The act of writing a tag etc.
HOF	Hall of Fame. A common wall usually tolerated, where writers can go to put up graffiti.
HOT 110	Synonymous with the term TOY.
INSIDES	Train or Subway coach interiors.
INVENT	Shoplifting or stealing. This term was used prior to 1974. The contemporary term is – RACK.
JUMP DOWN	Where writers jump down from a platform onto the railway tracks to attack an in service train stopped at the platform on the opposite side of the station.
KILL	To bomb excessively.
KING	The most accomplished writer in a given category or crew.
LAY-UP	A single or double track where trains are parked during off-peak hours. Both tunnel and elevated lay-ups exist.
LINE OUT	Writing over another writer’s name. It is the ultimate act of disrespect depending upon who you ask.
MOTION TAGGING	Writing on trains whilst they are in service. Also referred to as MOTIONING.
NEW SKOOL	Contemporary writing culture post 1984. This date can vary greatly
OLD SCHOOL	The writing culture prior to 1984. This date can vary greatly depending upon who you ask.
OUTLINE	The skeleton or frame work of a piece.
OVER	Succeeding.
PANEL PIECE	A painting below the windows and between the doors of a Train or Subway coach.
PIECE	A writer's painting, short for masterpiece, usually a lot more intricate than a Throw Up.
PIECING	The execution of a piece.
PIGS	Derogatory term for the Police.
PRODUCTION	Large scale murals with detailed pieces and illustrations. (Contemporary term used mainly for street murals.)
RACK	A store where shoplifting can be done.
RACKING or RACKING UP	Shoplifting or stealing. Generally refers to the theft of aerosol spray paints.
RIDGIE	A wagon or coach which has corrugated, stainless-steel sides. An undesirable surface for burners.
RINSING	Normally used by writers when referring to another that repeatedly paints in the same yard night after night.
ROLLER LETTERS	Names rendered with bucket paint and rollers.
RUNNER	An In-service train that is covered in graffiti.
SKINNY	Type of spray can nozzle.
STEEL	Any type of train. New school term used to distinguish train and wall work.
STENCILS	Small cardboard cut-outs through which paint is sprayed, leaving behind pictures or words, generally with a political or humorous theme.
STYLE WARS	1. Competition between artists to determine superior creative ability. 2. Documentary film on Hip Hop by Henry Chalfant and Tony Silver. Proved to be an extremely inspirational element for the New School.
SUBWAY ART	A magazine - the graffiti writer’s bible.
TAG	A writer's name and signature.
TAG BANGING	The use of violence to defend one’s tag.
TAGGING	The execution of a signature.
TAGGING THE HEAVENS	Breaking new ground by hitting up in a place that’s never been tagged before.
THE SYSTEM	The London Underground system
THROW UP	A quickly executed piece consisting of an outline with or without thin layer of spray paint for fill-in.
THROWIE	Contemporary term for throw-up.
TOP TO BOTTOM or T2B	A piece which extends from the top to the bottom of a Train or Subway coach.
TOY	1. New, inexperienced or incompetent writer. 2. A small felt tip marker.
UP	Describes a writer whose work appears regularly on the trains or through out the city.
WAK	Substandard or incorrect.
WALL PAPER	Repetition of a name written making enough coverage so that a pattern develops, much like wall paper.
WHOLE CAR	A piece that covers the entire side of a train or tube carriage.
WHOLE TRAIN	A piece that covers the entire side of every carriage of a train.
WILD STYLE	1. Bronx Crew from the 1970’s led by Tracy 168w from the 1970s 2. A complicated construction of interlocking letters. 3. Classic film on Hip Hop culture directed by Charlie Ahearn.
WINDOW DOWN	A piece done below the windows of a Train or Subway coach.