"Schivi"

[GEORGE THOMPSON]

Tom Dalzell notes, regarding "skeevy": For "schivi," check out THE
PHILADELPHIA DIALECT DICTIONARY by Claudio R. Salvucci (Evolution
Publishing, 1996).  He lists "skeeve" as a verb (to disgust) from the
Italian "schifare" and "skeevie" as a noun for somthing disgusting.
He cites a March 1976 article in the Philadelphia Magazine, "How to
Talk Like a Philadelphian Part II."  Salvucci writes: "It is in
frequent use among those of Italian dscent;whether it occurs outside
this ethnic group I cannot say."

I distinctly remember hearing "skeevy" 15+ years ago in New York from
a young woman, probably late-20s/early 30s, of Jewish background.  I
also have a vague notion that I have heard it once or twice more, but
certainly not recently.

GAT