Charlie

[leonard]

Why is Charlie slang for Cocaine. Someone said that its Cockney Rhyming, and that its Charlie Chan, but that doesnt rhyme. Any ideas

[xyzzyplugh]

Speaking from hearsay and not experience, my 'guess' is that drugs, being illegal need code names. Some drugs had male names; e.g. Billy, BillyWhiz (cartoon character) as in speed = amphetamine due to it's stimulating effect. 'Harry (the Horse) was heroin but due to 'aitch dropping', Harry became 'Arry and got confusing in case they meant 'Arry Acid' which they didn't, cos that's Sid so they just called it 'H'. Cocaine became simply 'Charlie' because it sounded better than 'Colin'. So that's Billy, Sid, Harry and Charlie. Other drugs don't have boy's names (unless you know differently.).

[leonard]

ha ha, are you sure your not talking from experience!!

[Quizmonster]

In the international communications alphabet - alpha, bravo, delta, echo etc - the code-word for 'C' is 'charlie'. Just as 'H' became the code for 'heroin', being its opening letter, so did 'C' (and hence 'charlie') for 'cocaine'.

[Lynnieshell]

Following that pattern, then Heroin would be Hotel and Speed, Sierra etc etc....

[Quizmonster]

Quite, Lynnieshell, but then no 'authority' came out and said all drugs had to be nicknamed according to the cocaine pattern! Cocaine = C = Charlie is the answer here.

[Andromeda]

Hmm, Charlie is slang for priest from Charlie Chaplin (chaplain - priest) so that may be where that explanation comes from. No idea about why cocaine is known as Charlie as yet though. Will keep looking.

Andy

[paulperoni]

Charlie is actually called as such because of a chap who was a prominant member of the East India Company back in the 16th century. Not sure of the date. Anyway, he was notorious of his habit for cocaine and he was actually called charlie. if i had time, i'd actually look up his full name. He was actually someone who was somewhat of a pirate and a hindrance for the East India Company so they actually emplyed him to keep him settled. he subsequently worked his way up and because a very powerful man. but thats where charlie comes from.