Search

A verse or quotation partly in Romany, with explanation.

Date
Track ID 55609
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1960.145.B14

Original Tape ID

SA1960.145

Summary

A verse or quotation partly in Romany, with explanation.

Dell on, rye-gin,
Dell him on the mye-gin,
Up, my devil, an [push at?] him
Wi the coshtie underneath the vardie.

A caravan full of decent Gypsy women was being pestered by a "filthy man". One of the women urged her brother, in these words, to hit the man with a stick that was underneath the caravan.

Item Notes

The explanation given is not literal. 'Dell (on)' is a slang term meaning to 'beat'. 'Vardy' (wagon) and 'cosht' (stick) are Romany. With 'rye-gin' and 'mye-gin', cf. Romany 'rye' (gentleman) and 'mui' (face).

See:
'Romano Lavo-Lil. Word-Book of the Romany, or, English Gypsy Language' (George Borrow, 1874)

Recording Location

County - Aberdeenshire

Parish - Old Deer

Village/Place - Fetterangus

Language

Scots

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Fair