A smattering of Romany
One of English’s many underappreciated donor languages is
Romany. Sadly (& historically), like their language, the Roma people have been
similarly underappreciated.
In 1788 the word pal appeared in English. Pal
comes from a Romany word meaning brother
or comrade.
The noun cove, a word generally understood to
be English slang for fellow, chap or man,
arrived in English in the 1560s. Its source? A Romany word meaning that man.
Another colloquial English word for fellow, chap or man is bloke. Though some etymologists
argue that bloke may have Celtic origins, many connect it to the Romany
word loke,
meaning a man.
The phrase “put up your dukes” is likely born of
the Romany word dook, a word that refers to
a hand read in palmistry.
Since the 1890s the word lush has meant drunkard. This meaning of lush most likely comes from a Romany
word having to do with alcohol.
Though those of my era might assume the word nark
is a shortening of narcotics, its source is Romany. The verb nark appeared in English
in 1859 meaning to act as a police
informer, and most likely came from the Romany word meaning nose.
The Romani - or Roma - people arrived in Europe some time
around the 1100s from the region around India, and suffered incredible
prejudice. Many European nations enacted laws that expelled Romani. In Medieval
Denmark, England, & Switzerland Romani were simply put to death. In other
parts of Europe, Romani were enslaved, & this slavery continued as late as
the1800s. And during WWII two million Romani perished in Nazi “concentration
camps”.
Even after all that persecution, some twelve million
Romani still walk the earth (& give our language great words).
Big thanks to friend Aaron Keating, for suggesting this week’s topic,
& thanks to this week’s sources: Merriam-Webster, Wordnik,
Etymonline, Collins Dictionary, LiveScience, & the OED.
Wow. I had no idea about any of these. Words we use all the time. And we have no idea we're speaking Romani! Thanks for the enlightening!
ReplyDeleteDearest Miss Allen,
DeleteI am honored.