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.
