question for any Brits re. slang in DH

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 174840

---  "muscatel1988" <cottell at ...> wrote:
>
> ---  Jennifer <elora_fay@> wrote:
> > "Berk". 
> > 
> > Can someone explain exactly what this means? Your help
> > is greatly appreciated.
> 
> http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_561501496/berk.html
> 
> Despite its etymology, it's a fairly innocuous word.  
> It's more generally used of men than women.
> 
> Mus, who suspects she might be one.
>

bboyminn:

Well, we are slightly off-topic here, but none the less,
I surge forward. This has been discussed in the OT group,
and while 'Berk' is innocuous in common usage, it is 
FAR FAR from innocuous in origin.

This comes from Cockney Rhyming Slang. Rhyming Slang
creates a two word rhyming substitute for another word.
The second word in the rhyming phrase rhymes with the
actual word.

For example:

Brown Bread = dead

Bowler Hat = Cat

Butchers Hook = look

Chewy toffee = coffee

Daisy Roots = boots

Dickie Bird = word

This further refined, to a shortened version.

For example -

"...give us a butchers..."

Equals 'give us a look'. 

Berk is short for 'Berkeley Hunt'. Remember the second
word rhymes with the word being substituted.

'Hunt' rhyme with a portion of the female anatomy
which some Brits might also refer to as a 'Fanny',
and which has no American 'polite' version that I 
am willing to use in this group. Though one American
variation would be a reference to a cute little cat.

So, this is actually a pretty vile word, but through
common usage has become softened into something that
is moderately acceptable in public speech.

http://www.businessballs.com/cockney.htm

For what it's worth.

Steve/bboyminn