Cant words for groups of people.

Original Track ID

SA1954.94.B13

Original Tape ID

SA1954.094

Summary

Cant words for groups of people.

The Travellers called the townspeople of Aberdeen 'scaldies'. Another word for people was 'hantle'.

'Bucks', 'burr-boys' or 'shulas' were people who took to the road and tried to follow the Travellers' way of life.

The Travellers were known as 'nyaakins'. Hamish Henderson mentions 'dechs' which Jeannie Robertson translates as 'country yokels', from their eating big dechs of meal. They were also called 'neeps'. Hamish reminds her about another word for yokels, 'ruchies'. The farmers were likewise called 'dechs'.

Item Notes

'Hantle' is a Scots word for a large number. With 'burr-boys', cf. English slang 'burr' (a hanger-on). With 'shula', cf. Hiberno-English 'shuler' (a tramp, from Irish). With 'dech', cf. Scots 'daich' (dough). 'Neep' is Scots for 'turnip'. 'Ruch' is Central Scots for 'rough' (cf. North-Eastern 'roch').

Recording Location

Language

Scots, Traveller Cant (Scots/Romani)

Genre

Information

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good