The term salty has come into use more and more in today’s society.  Although, it is not being used for its original meaning.  Many people use this word when describing somebody’s emotional condition.  If someone seems irritated or angry they might be described as being salty.  The original meaning of this word is simply: containing salt, or tasting of salt.  The definition that can also be found is the slang meaning of the word.  The Oxford English Dictionary lists that the slang word salty means: angry, irritated or hostile.  To undergo a sudden change of mood or outlook and to become annoyed or angry with someone are two meanings also found in the OED.  This word is becoming more widely used and will eventually become an accepted form of slang speech as more people learn the meaning and usage of the word.

      The Oxford English Dictionary dates the word salty as far back as the mid fourteen hundreds.  A slang form of the word dates back to 1866.  During this time the word was used to mean racy or piquant.  “This…only makes the books more salty; and we must add, that the piquancy is not diminished.”  This sentence shows how people used the term salty in the slang form.  This word was used with a new meaning not long after this meaning was emitted into the OED.  This term was well known in U.S. nautical slang.  Tough; hard-bitten; aggressive, was the words new definition.  “We were all very ‘salty’ and ‘rolled’ fore and aft along the deck instead of walking.”  This sentence is an example on how the terms newly established meaning was used in many sea going men’s conversation.

      The most current use of this word in the slang form came from the phrase, “to jump salty,” which is a sudden change of mood or outlook or to become annoyed or angry with someone.  After some time, the “jump” in front of salty was eventually dropped.  In Winslow’s “Death of Angel” in 1975 he used the term in the sentence, “He was furious when I said I didn’t have any, and got very salty.”  Although this word came about many years ago, it seems that only now is it becoming a popular slang term.

      I use the word salty in conversation quite often. It can be inserted into many situations. My favorite way to describe another person would be to say, “That kid is one salty piece.”  To me, the meaning is light and carries no sternness about it.  The word seems to be used jokingly much of the time.  During a heated argument, someone would not be likely to say, “I am salty right now” because it has very little strength to it.  This word is an excellent word in the way that it is not offensive.

      Other slang words that have the same types of meanings to them are, ticked, fired up, or steamed.  Even though these three words carry nearly the same meaning as salty, they seem stronger in some ways.  Someone who would use one of these words, I would assume is quite serious.  This is why salty is a perfect word in many situations because it maintains its lightness quality.

      In today’s aggressive society where everyone seems to offend one another, salty is the perfect word to use when someone does not want to be offensive in any way.  Salty is an excellent way to describe someone who is acting irritated which does not cause them to feel the need to be defensive.  As this word grows people will begin to love the original qualities it carries with it. There is finally a word being used more and more every day, which does not have an offensive definition, and it should be embraced into today’s language because of that.