I found this, quite by chance, tonight. It fascinated me and, at the same time, actually went some way to soothing my feelings toward so many of the people I get to hear about.
It was an aside reference to " The Septics Companion " ; A British Slang Dictionary.
I clicked the live link provided, on the forum I found it, and saw, under Random Words; " Glass vb." being described as the action of breaking a glass and then shoving the broken off bottom part into someones face. 'A favoured way of ending a fight between Pikeys.'
" Here we fucking go Again!!! ", I thought to myself. But, then I saw that the word " Pikey n. " was itself a live link. I clicked it. My hackles were up and I was wanting to find out what This idiot was telling the world " Pikey " meant.
I was, I'll admit, greatly surprised and even rather pleased to read this:
" pikey: n adj white trash. It’s an old English word meaning “gipsy,” but nowadays pikey is also applied to people in possession of track suits, Citroen Saxos with eighteen-inch wheels and under-car lighting, and pregnant fifteen-year-old girlfriends. "
I've read and heard worse. I guess it's a matter of syntax, how ye read " is also applied to ". But, fair do's. The guy's moving in the right direction.
The term, " Pikey " is Not a word from the Gypsy languages. It's a derogative term, dreamed up and used by Non Gypsys Against Gypsys. A deliberate and insulting use of term at that.
British (Purpose Built Slum) Council Estate dwelling types ~ ye know the sort of Council Estates I mean. Built to house, and even 'contain' the unemployable under class, rather than those offered to decent, hard working folk ~ Those types have revelled in the, seemingly self given, title of " Chav's ". Now they're known as " Pikeys ".
What ever the origin of the labels, I find it deeply pissing that there remains this constant, inferred connection between that sort and Gypsys. There really Is no connection; Beyond that of a society going to total rat shit, and looking for a scapegoat.
Honestly, the term 'Yank' is only derogatory to the seperatist Southerners who say it!! No one else is terribly bothered by it. Really, it's a perfectly acceptable term. It's always interesting how different cultures and countries, use the exact same terms with decidedly different inferences ! It's all geography. I might live the the wilds of North Wales now, but I will always be considered a 'Yank'. Ex Pat or no. Have missed you, Ditch ! Really enjoying 'catching up with you' by reading your blog.
ReplyDelete~~ NT ~~
Hyah, NT. Long time, no hear from. I understand the old place (The Sewer) has finally died? Never mind, eh? Sites will come and go. Buggers like us will just keep bobbing up amidst the wreckage! LOL!
ReplyDeleteRegards nomenclature? I guess it's the Intent behind the usage. I'm sure any of us could, laughingly, say, " You cunt! " to one another. No harm done what so ever. We know how we mean it.
Yet say " Din'", without the 'right' signals? That's fighting talk!
Same with the Dogs, Sam. Look at how the American Pit Bull Terrier has morphed into 'Pit Bull'. Then " Devil Dog ". Till now, Anything that bites a human will either be reported as a "Pit Bull Type ". Or else, if it's clearly a fucking Collie? " A Dog ".
And who now keeps these " Illegal Pit Bull Type Dogs " ....? Obviously; " Pikeys " !
And who Swallows that shit? The tremulous, Big Brother watching, Big Brother Watched, Castrated, like their Dogs, sold out and second classed by their own nannies, majority of brits.
A nation who, in living memory, held up the " British Bulldog " (Pit Bull, actually) as a National Icon.
Look at the majority of the breed now.
Ditch, I understood that the term "Pikey" referred to the habit of them gathering at turnpikes (tolls I think they are) on the roads to sell their wares ?
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