The Zincali: An Account of the Gypsies of SpainBorrow, George
History
The Zincali: An Account of the Gypsies of Spain
Borrow, George
Romanies -- Languages; Romanies -- Spain
{348} It is not our intention to weary the reader with prolix specimens;
nevertheless, in corroboration of what we have asserted, we shall take
the liberty of offering a few. Piar, to drink, (p. 188,) is Sanscrit,
_piava_. Basilea, gallows, (p. 158,) is Russian, _becilitz_. Caramo,
wine, and gurapo, galley, (pp. 162, 176,) Arabic, _haram_ (which
literally signifies that which is forbidden) and _grab_. Iza, (p. 179,)
harlot, Turkish, _kize_. Harton, bread, (p. 177,) Greek, _artos_.
Guido, good, and hurgamandera, harlot, (pp. 177, 178,) German, _gut_ and
_hure_. Tiple, wine, (p. 197,) is the same as the English word tipple,
Gypsy, _tapillar_.
{351} This word is pure Wallachian (λοναρε), and was brought by the
Gypsies into England; it means ‘booty,’ or what is called in the present
cant language, ‘swag.’ The Gypsies call booty ‘louripen.’
{359} Christmas, literally Wine-day.
{360a} Irishman or beggar, literally a dirty squalid person.
{360b} Guineas.
{360c} Silver teapots.
{360d} The Gypsy word for a certain town.
{361a} In the Spanish Gypsy version, ‘our bread of each day.’
{361b} Span., ‘forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.’
{361c} Eng., ‘all evil _from_’; Span., ‘from all ugliness.’
{361d} Span., ‘for thine.’
{362} By Hungary is here meant not only Hungary proper, but
Transylvania.
{363a} How many days made come the gentleman hither.
{363b} How many-year fellow are you.
{363c} Of a grosh.
{363d} My name shall be to you for Moses my brother.
{364a} Comes.
{364b} Empty place.
{416} V. _Casinoben_ in Lexicon.
{417a} By these two words, Pontius Pilate is represented, but whence
they are derived I know not.
{417b} Reborn.
{419a} Poverty is always avoided.
{419b} A drunkard reduces himself to the condition of a hog.
{421a} The most he can do.
{421b} The puchero, or pan of glazed earth, in which bacon, beef, and
garbanzos are stewed.
{421c} Truth contrasts strangely with falsehood; this is a genuine Gypsy
proverb, as are the two which follow; it is repeated throughout Spain
_without being understood_.
{421d} In the original _wears a mouth_; the meaning is, ask nothing,
gain nothing.
{421e} Female Gypsy,
{423a} Women _understood_.
{423b} With that motive awoke the labourer. _Orig_.
{423c} Gave its pleasure to the finger, _i.e._ his finger was itching to
draw the trigger, and he humoured it.
{423d} They feared the shot and slugs, which are compared, and not
badly, to flies and almonds.
{428a} Christmas, literally Wine-day.
{428b} Irishman or beggar, literally a dirty squalid person.
{428c} Guineas.
{429a} Silver tea-pots.
{429b} The Gypsy word for a certain town.
{429c} As given by Grellmann.
{432} The English Gypsies having, in their dialect, no other term for
ghost than mulo, which simply means a dead person, I have been obliged to
substitute a compound word. Bavalengro signifies literally a wind thing,
or _form of air_.
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