"Wotcher" definition (was Re: Wizengamot)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 74135

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Ryana Smith" <ryana_ at h...> 
wrote:
> 
Ryana:
> Wotcher is supposed to be of Cockney origin, introduced in the 19th 
> Century.  It's short for "what cheer".  The problem I've been 
having is that whenever I read is I think of it as being the beginning 
> of 'wotcher doing' (as in, what are you doing) and I have to reread 
> it thinking I've missed a word. >>  


Self:
I'm not a Londoner by origin but lived in "Sarf Lunnon" from 1949-
1993. As a kid and a teenager, I often used "Wotcher" as a greeting  
to friends without knowing it's derivation. It was just a regular way 
of starting the talking.

Geoff