A History of the Gipsies: with Specimens of the Gipsy LanguageSimson, Walter
History
A History of the Gipsies: with Specimens of the Gipsy Language
Simson, Walter
Romanies; Romanies -- Languages
_Gaugie_, man.
_Gourie_, man.
_Managie_, woman.
_Chauvie_, a person of either sex.
_Chauvies_, children.
_Been gaugie_, gentleman.
_Been gourie_, gentleman.
_Rajah_, a chief, governor.
_Baurie rajah_, the king.
_Greham_, horse.
_Grye_, horse.
_Seefer_, ass.
_Jucal_, dog.
_Mufler_, cat.
_Sloof_, sheep.
_Bashanie_, cock.
_Caunie_, hen.
_Borlan_, sun.
_Mang_, moon.
_Goff_, fire.
_Garlan_, ship.
_Heefie_, spoon.
_Keechan_, knife.
_Chowrie_, knife.
_Seaf_, hat.
_Mass_, flesh.
_Mass_, hand.
_Bar_, money.
_Lowie_, coin or money.
_Roug_, silver.
_Neel_, shilling.
_Deek_, to listen.
_Chee_, tongue.
_Chee chee_, hold your tongue.
_Chor_, thief.
_Choar_, to steal.
_Quad_, prison.
_Moolie_, death.
_Moolie_, I'll kill you.
_Bing_, the devil.
_Bing feck_, devil take you.
_Bing feck eelreelee_, devil take your soul.
_Choar a chauvie_, rob that person.
_Choar a gaugie_, steal from that man.
_Cheeteromanie_, a dram of whiskey.
_Glowie a lowa_, pay him the money.
The first expression which the Gipsies use in saluting one another, when
they first meet, anywhere, is "_Auteenie, auteenie_." Steedman, however,
did not give me the English of this salutation. He stated to me that, at
the present day, the Gipsies in Scotland, when by themselves, transact
their business in their own language, and hold all their ordinary
conversations in the same speech. In the course of a few minutes,
Steedman's fears returned upon him. He appeared to regret what he had
done. He now said he had forgotten the language, and referred me to his
father, old Andrew Steedman, who, he said, would give me every
information I might require. I imprudently sent him out, to bring the
old man to me; for, when both returned, all further communication, with
regard to their speech, was at an end. Both were now dead silent on the
subject, denied all knowledge of the Gipsy language, and were evidently
under great alarm. The old man would not face me at all; and when I went
to him, he appeared to be shaking and trembling, while he stood at the
head of his horses, in his own stable. Young Steedman entreated me to
tell no one that he had given me any words, as the Tinklers, he said,
would be exceedingly displeased with him for doing so. This man,
however, by being kindly treated, and seeing no intention of doing him
any harm, became, at an after period, communicative on various subjects
relative to the Gipsies.
The following are the words which I obtained during an hour's
interrogation of the woman that baffled me for seven years, and of whom
I have said something already:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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