English

Noun

cryptolect ‎(plural cryptolects)

1. (linguistics) 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.

Derived terms

• cryptolectal

References

• “cryptolect, n.” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary (draft entry, March 2006)