The Folly Irregulars discussion
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The way rhyming slang tends to work, I would expect the transformation to go punter --> Billy Bunter --> billy!
Oh, had to check out 'tosser' too... a 'nicer' insult than 'wanker,' for someone who is 'foolish.' Originally refers to someone who masturbates a lot.
carol. wrote: "Oh, had to check out 'tosser' too... a 'nicer' insult than 'wanker,' for someone who is 'foolish.' Originally refers to someone who masturbates a lot.":D
"Berk", meaning an idiot of other stupid person, is also rhyming slang.In full "Berkshire Hunt", meaning the C word.
ahhhh. Thanks, Ronnie!British slang is tricky, at least, learning it from the internet :D
carol. wrote: "ahhhh. Thanks, Ronnie!British slang is tricky, at least, learning it from the internet :D"
It is tricky!
Can someone please define what "muppet" means in England? I know it's not the felt Henson creatures.
Oh, here's one I looked up: "Seawold's voice became pure mank" (Amongst Our Weapons, chapter 11). (UK, slang, originally Polari) Disgusting, repulsive. When he eats, he never closes his mouth. It's so mank. (UK, slang, originally Polari) Something that is disgusting or manky.
Not really what I expected, because in context, Seawold's accent is becoming more regional to show alliance with the locals. I was guessing 'guttural' at worst.
From Quora, 2019: “Muppet", in British slang means fool, idiot, plonker, etc. It isn't particularly insulting, however, and would be used of a close friend or family member: “Sylvia always forgets that I like three sugars in my tea, what a muppet!”
Manc, short for Mancunian. A native of Manchester.Seawoll is sort of modelled after actor Philip Glenister as DCI Gene Hunt in "Life On Mars", and its sequel series "Ashes to Ashes".
Gene would occasionally refer to himself as "the Manc lion".
Ah, Ronnie, that makes so much more sense!!
Anything else you need clearing up, let me know. :)
carol. wrote: "Oh, here's one I looked up: "Seawold's voice became pure mank" (Amongst Our Weapons, chapter 11). (UK, slang, originally Polari) Disgusting, repulsive. When he eats, he never closes his mouth. It..."
That's interesting. "Manky" is an everyday word for dirty in Scotland. I just assumed it was a Scots word because I've never heard anyone English use it!
carol. wrote: "ahhhh. Thanks, Ronnie!British slang is tricky, at least, learning it from the internet :D"
Not forgetting Scottish, Welsh and Irish slang, which are derived from entirely different languages!
Old Scot--you are too right! A list of Irish slang came up with 'mank' on it, but I didn't think that would be the right direction to go.
Language changes all the time.We all use common expressions and not really have any idea where they originally came from.
Oh, for sure. It's interesting to catch it out, though. I usually just get meaning from context and don't sweat the details. However, I've found as I aged that I was questioning some of our midwestern idioms that I heard around me and gradually realized they had some racist underpinnings. We talk about 'gypping' someone, etc. I was please to realize that 'scot-free' had no race underpinnings but was instead about the word 'scot' from the Old English 'tax.'
And apparently "cop" comes from "copper" because, in the past, police officers badges were made of copper.
Ronnie wrote: "And apparently "cop" comes from "copper" because, in the past, police officers badges were made of copper."Not quite. It's actually older than that. To cop something was to take it. Horse thieves in England were called horse-coppers. When the Bow Street Magistrates started arresting thieves they became known as thief-coppers. which was shortened to copper and then to cop. The word cop is still used to mean taking something. As in "cop a look at that!" or "he copped it sweet" (meaning he took his punishment).
Margaret wrote: "Ronnie wrote: "And apparently "cop" comes from "copper" because, in the past, police officers badges were made of copper."Not quite. It's actually older than that. To cop something was to take it...."
How'd you miss "to cop a feel"?! XD
Oh, that's really curious, Margaret! Entymology is so fascinating, and I can appreciate how internet sleuthing can be tricky.
carol. wrote: "Oh, that's really curious, Margaret! Entymology is so fascinating, and I can appreciate how internet sleuthing can be tricky."I have so many books on English slang and argot it's not funny. They form the backbone of my reference library for writing Sherlock Holmes pastiches.
carol. wrote: "Really? Fascinating!"Yup. My prize is a privately printed book of French slang and argot. Printed in English in 1877. Educated men would sometimes swear in French. It's been useful.
My late father used to claim that the only French he could remember from his schooldays was - "Excusez-moi monsieur, votre éléphant est debout sur mon pied."
Ronnie wrote: "My late father used to claim that the only French he could remember from his schooldays was - "Excusez-moi monsieur, votre éléphant est debout sur mon pied.""That's terrific, Ronnie. Not particularly applicable, except at a zoo, or jungle, but still, a useful phrase.
Prog from Amongst Our Weapon. It's weird, I have the sense it had to do with children, but everything I'm finding online says "'food/victuals,' or 'prowl as if looking for food or victuals." Alternatively, a short word from 'proctor,' which might mean 'to discipline.'
carol. wrote: "Prog from Amongst Our Weapon. It's weird, I have the sense it had to do with children, but everything I'm finding online says "'food/victuals,' or 'prowl as if looking for food or victuals." Altern..."Where in the story is that, Carol?
this is so hard for me, because I listen to the audio, practically non-stop. will do a deep dive, because I also might have misheard :)
Could that be a mishearing of "sprog"? I know that's a slang term for "child".
I bet it was, because it was in Amongst Our Weapons, somewhere talking about making an African mother happy.
Today I remembered to look up punters. (Amongst Our Weapons).
There's a variety of definitions, from slang for 'football fans' (Euro football, obvs), to slang for 'financial speculators/traders,' and another that said it is 'slang for a customer of a commercial establishment or prostitute,' but the most likely one I found said it is 'slightly derogatory term for customers,' and also notes that 'Billy Bunter' rhymes with it for rhyming slang.