LL-L "Etymology" 2002.08.21 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 21.AUG.2002 (01) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
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From: "Daniel Prohaska" <daniel at ryan-prohaska.com>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2002.08.20 (07) [E/LS]

word: E "bloke", Wbster`s Dictionary lists it as chiefly Brit., origine
unknown; Collins dictionary states its origine to be Shelta;

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From: Criostoir O Ciardha <paada_please at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2002.08.20 (07) [E/LS]

Dear all,

Luc is thanked for his contribution concerning the use
of a "bloke" cognate in Flemish. Given the deep links
we have gradually uncovered between Nottingham English
and contemporary Dutch, Zeelandic, Frisian and
Flemish, I am content to accept there is some link
between the Nottingham English and Flemish, with the
Nottingham English (and Estuary English, whatever)
either a) becoming gradually specialised in meaning
over time; b) the wider meaning and prefixial use of
"blok" as "large, big" becoming lost over time; or c)
"blok" as "large, big man" exclusively borrowed in
Midland dialects from Flemish in the Middle Ages.
"Bloke" certainly doesn't appear to be an indigenous
Old English noun as far as I am aware, so it stands to
reason that it must be yet another import link with
the lowland mainland Europe.

Curiously enough, a number of older Australians I have
met zealously protect their ownership of the word,
claiming "bloke" as something borrowed from Australia
by the British working class! Same with the word
"mate", which they are assured is somehow indigenous
to Australia despite its widespread distribution
elsewhere.

Go raibh maith agaibh,

Criostoir.

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From: "Brad Thiele" <bradthiele at junglemate.com>
Subject: Etymology

Certainly the word "BLOKE" is alive and well in Australian english.  The
Macquarie (Australian) dictionary of slang describes it as follows:

"bloke", noun 1. man; fellow; guy. 2. an affectionate term used to refer
to a male animal. 3.  Obsolete a person in charge; the boss. 4.
Obsolete a prostitute's pimp. [formerly also spelt bloak; from British
working class slang, perhaps from Shelta (a tinkers' jargon of Ireland
and parts of Britain); cf. British underworld slang gloak a man; Celtic
ploc large stubborn person]

There even appears an entry for "BLOKETTE"!!
"blokette", noun (Jocular) a blokey woman: all the blokes and blokettes.

Regards,

Brad Thiele.
> From: Gary Taylor <gary_taylor_98 at yahoo.com>
> Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2002.07.24 (01) [E]>
> Dear All
>
> The word listed in the Lowlands Swadesh list for
> Nottingham 'man' is 'bloke'; also current in Estuary.
> Quickie questions - Is 'bloke' common in all British
> Englishes and Scots? - is it also used outside Britain
> (or only as a perculiarly British word)? - what's its
> etymology (it's not included in my etymology
> dictionary)? No special reason for my questions, just
> pure interest!
>
> Cheers

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