English slang (semi- sorta on topic)

[snazzzybird]

No: HPFGUIDX 80234

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "grannybat84112" 
<grannybat at h...> wrote:
> Sylviablundell wrote:
> > Berk is Cockney rhyming slang for an extremely rude name i.e. 
> > Berkshire Hunt.  Most people have forgotten the original meaning 
> > or they wouldn't use it so readily!  
> 
> Speaking as a clueless Yank...why is the (regional?) name of an 
> animal chase considered so rude?
> 
> Dawn

snazzzybird sez --

I'm a Yank too, mostly clueless, but I am familiar with Cockney 
rhyming slang.  The idea is that they first associate with the word a 
phrase that rhymes with it, then substitute the first syllable of the 
phrase for the word.  Here's an example:

The word "head" would first be associated with "loaf of bread".  
Then "loaf" would be Cockney rhyming slang for "head".  Someone might 
tell you to "Use your loaf."

Loaf of bread...  head.
Berkshire Hunt... [a one-syllable body part that rhymes with "hunt"].

That word was all over OoP, which I find a bit surprising now that I 
know the derivation.

--snazzzybird, who finds anything to do with words and wordplay 
fascinating.