Gold Rush Lingo
1 / 15Strike it rich with vocabulary from the California Gold Rush era (1848-1855)
15 quick questionsNo sign-upFree to playTap an answer below to begin ↓
During the Gold Rush, what was a 'forty-niner'?
About Gold Rush Lingo
Gold Rush Lingo is a free word games quiz with 15 multiple-choice questions aimed at mixed difficulty. Strike it rich with vocabulary from the California Gold Rush era (1848-1855) A typical run takes about 7 minutes, hints are always one tap away, and your streak ticks up the first time you finish a game on a given day.
A few sample questions
1. During the Gold Rush, what was a 'forty-niner'?
Answer: A prospector who came to California in 1849
2. What did 'pay dirt' mean in Gold Rush slang?
Answer: Soil or gravel containing enough gold to be profitable
3. In Gold Rush vocabulary, what was a 'placer' mine?
Answer: A mine where gold was extracted from surface deposits by washing
4. What was a 'stake' in Gold Rush terminology?
Answer: A claim to a piece of land for mining
5. During the Gold Rush, what did 'panning' refer to?
Answer: Using a shallow pan to wash gold from gravel in a stream
Frequently asked questions
What's a good follow-up after Gold Rush Lingo?
If you enjoyed this word games quiz, try the Daily Challenge — five rotating questions, refreshed every 24 hours, that count toward your streak. You can also use the Surprise Me button on the homepage to land on a different game type for variety.
Can I print Gold Rush Lingo?
Yes — use the Print button at the top of the page for a clean question sheet, or "Print with Answers" to make an answer key. Printed sheets work well for group play at home, in a classroom, or at a senior center.
Will I lose my progress if I close the page?
Your overall progress — XP, streaks, and badges — is saved in your browser automatically. A quiz that's underway restarts if you leave mid-game, but at about 7 minutes, Gold Rush Lingo fits comfortably in one sitting.
How many questions are in Gold Rush Lingo?
Gold Rush Lingo has 15 multiple-choice questions. Each one has four answer options and an explanation that appears after you answer, so you learn something even when you miss.
Explore related topics
More Word Games
Breaker Breaker! CB Radio Lingo Quiz
From truckers to family road-trippers, Citizens Band radio gave America its own secret language in the 1970s — how many of these colorful terms do you remember?
Elizabethan Era Language
Discover the rich vocabulary of Shakespeare's England during Queen Elizabeth I's reign (1558-1603)
Roaring Twenties Lingo
Get the lowdown on the snappy language of the 1920s party scene and social life
Sports Lingo
Can you decode these sports terms and expressions?
Totally Radical! 1980s Slang Quiz
Test your memory of the awesome words and phrases that defined the totally tubular 1980s — from Valley Girl vocabulary to MTV lingo and beyond.
Try Nostalgia Trivia
1960s Presidential Era
Camelot, the Great Society, and turbulent times. Test your knowledge of 1960s American presidents.
Try Nostalgia Trivia
1960s Psychedelic Rock
Turn on, tune in, and test your knowledge of the mind-expanding psychedelic rock era!
Free printables
Word Scramble Sheets
Printable word scramble sheets with answer keys.