Comments on: Wowsers http://www.typeboard.com/2009/05/wowsers/ From the Community to the Community. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:34:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Loquacity http://www.typeboard.com/2009/05/wowsers/comment-page-1/#comment-1282 Loquacity Thu, 14 May 2009 02:29:32 +0000 http://www.typeboard.com/?p=1672#comment-1282 Sorry, Peter, I'm not following. How do you get from that to 'wowser'? L Sorry, Peter, I’m not following. How do you get from that to ‘wowser’?

L

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]]> By: peterh http://www.typeboard.com/2009/05/wowsers/comment-page-1/#comment-1280 peterh Thu, 14 May 2009 02:27:38 +0000 http://www.typeboard.com/?p=1672#comment-1280 i was going to head up the post with oo! oo! I know this one. i was going to head up the post with oo! oo! I know this one.

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]]> By: peterh http://www.typeboard.com/2009/05/wowsers/comment-page-1/#comment-1279 peterh Thu, 14 May 2009 02:23:24 +0000 http://www.typeboard.com/?p=1672#comment-1279 it is from the irish. the word struck a chord with me, after a discussion with my irish mate. used confirm from wikipedia... Irish Travellers distinguish themselves from the settled communities of the countries in which they live by their own language and customs. The language is known as Shelta, and there are two dialects of this language, Gammon (or Gamin) and Cant. It has been dated back to the eighteenth century, but may be older than that.[8] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Traveller it is from the irish. the word struck a chord with me, after a discussion with my irish mate. used confirm from wikipedia…

Irish Travellers distinguish themselves from the settled communities of the countries in which they live by their own language and customs. The language is known as Shelta, and there are two dialects of this language, Gammon (or Gamin) and Cant. It has been dated back to the eighteenth century, but may be older than that.[8]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Traveller

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]]> By: Loquacity http://www.typeboard.com/2009/05/wowsers/comment-page-1/#comment-1271 Loquacity Wed, 13 May 2009 22:07:20 +0000 http://www.typeboard.com/?p=1672#comment-1271 I'm familiar with the word, I just would like to know where it came from. L I’m familiar with the word, I just would like to know where it came from.

L

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]]> By: madepercy http://www.typeboard.com/2009/05/wowsers/comment-page-1/#comment-1260 madepercy Wed, 13 May 2009 07:39:42 +0000 http://www.typeboard.com/?p=1672#comment-1260 Hmmm, I was wrong about gammon. I remembered it in English use from Black Beauty, but it appears in its Australian use as an English mock-up of a similar-sounding Aboriginal word meaning 'fake'... Hmmm, I was wrong about gammon. I remembered it in English use from Black Beauty, but it appears in its Australian use as an English mock-up of a similar-sounding Aboriginal word meaning ‘fake’…

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]]> By: madepercy http://www.typeboard.com/2009/05/wowsers/comment-page-1/#comment-1259 madepercy Wed, 13 May 2009 07:26:15 +0000 http://www.typeboard.com/?p=1672#comment-1259 I grew up in Far North Qld, so the slang is a bit older there eg 'gammon' for lies or BS, an old, old English saying. I was surprised that more people didn't know the term 'wowser'. I must be getting on a bit... I grew up in Far North Qld, so the slang is a bit older there eg ‘gammon’ for lies or BS, an old, old English saying. I was surprised that more people didn’t know the term ‘wowser’. I must be getting on a bit…

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]]> By: Loquacity http://www.typeboard.com/2009/05/wowsers/comment-page-1/#comment-1252 Loquacity Wed, 13 May 2009 03:47:01 +0000 http://www.typeboard.com/?p=1672#comment-1252 I've sent the question in to <a href="http://www.worldwidewords.org/index.htm" rel="nofollow">World Wide Words</a>, and am now waiting with bated breath for an answer ;) L I’ve sent the question in to World Wide Words, and am now waiting with bated breath for an answer ;)

L

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]]> By: Dermott http://www.typeboard.com/2009/05/wowsers/comment-page-1/#comment-1251 Dermott Wed, 13 May 2009 03:42:29 +0000 http://www.typeboard.com/?p=1672#comment-1251 Sounds like a back-ronym. Sounds like a back-ronym.

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]]> By: Loquacity http://www.typeboard.com/2009/05/wowsers/comment-page-1/#comment-1247 Loquacity Wed, 13 May 2009 03:32:42 +0000 http://www.typeboard.com/?p=1672#comment-1247 "social evils" huh? :) L “social evils” huh? :)

L

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]]> By: peterh http://www.typeboard.com/2009/05/wowsers/comment-page-1/#comment-1243 peterh Tue, 12 May 2009 23:37:10 +0000 http://www.typeboard.com/?p=1672#comment-1243 wikipedia says"Wowser" was originally a slang expression, most commonly heard in Australian and New Zealand English. It originated in Australia, at first carrying a similar meaning to 'lout', i.e. an annoying or disruptive person, or even a prostitute. the best one from wikipedia is this one - inventive sth australians.... South Australians claim the present meaning originated from a temperance slogan there, "We Only Want Social Evils Remedied." wikipedia says”Wowser” was originally a slang expression, most commonly heard in Australian and New Zealand English. It originated in Australia, at first carrying a similar meaning to ‘lout’, i.e. an annoying or disruptive person, or even a prostitute.
the best one from wikipedia is this one – inventive sth australians….
South Australians claim the present meaning originated from a temperance slogan there, “We Only Want Social Evils Remedied.”

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]]> By: Loquacity http://www.typeboard.com/2009/05/wowsers/comment-page-1/#comment-1239 Loquacity Tue, 12 May 2009 21:53:42 +0000 http://www.typeboard.com/?p=1672#comment-1239 Hold on ... "drinking" and "Norman Lindsay's work" are both considered "Australian favourites"? That's a bit of a worry ... Any further info on the etymology of the word? It always seemed odd to me, as "wow" is an expression of wonder. A person who uses the word "wow" (thereby being a "wowser"), would be giving approval, or expressing a positive reaction, not a negative one. I'd love to know how it came to be used in this way. L Hold on … “drinking” and “Norman Lindsay’s work” are both considered “Australian favourites”? That’s a bit of a worry …

Any further info on the etymology of the word? It always seemed odd to me, as “wow” is an expression of wonder. A person who uses the word “wow” (thereby being a “wowser”), would be giving approval, or expressing a positive reaction, not a negative one. I’d love to know how it came to be used in this way.

L

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