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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2733-0.txt b/2733-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fa58177 --- /dev/null +++ b/2733-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7847 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Romano Lavo-Lil, by George Borrow + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + + + + +Title: Romano Lavo-Lil + Word-Book of the Romany + + +Author: George Borrow + + + +Release Date: August 30, 2019 [eBook #2733] +[This file was first posted on July 2, 2000] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROMANO LAVO-LIL*** + + +Transcribed from the 1905 John Murray edition by David Price, email +ccx074@pglaf.org + + [Picture: Book cover] + + “Can you rokra Romany? + Can you play the bosh? + Can you jal adrey the staripen? + Can you chin the cost?” + + “Can you speak the Roman tongue? + Can you play the fiddle? + Can you eat the prison-loaf? + Can you cut and whittle?” + + + + + + ROMANO LAVO-LIL + + + WORD-BOOK OF THE ROMANY + OR, ENGLISH GYPSY LANGUAGE + WITH SPECIMENS OF GYPSY POETRY, AND AN + ACCOUNT OF CERTAIN GYPSYRIES OR + PLACES INHABITED BY THEM, AND + OF VARIOUS THINGS RELATING TO + GYPSY LIFE IN ENGLAND + + BY GEORGE BORROW + + * * * * * + + LONDON + JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. + 1905 + + * * * * * + + PRINTED BY + HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD., + LONDON AND AYLESBURY. + + * * * * * + +THE Author of the present work wishes to state that the Vocabulary, which +forms part of it, has existed in manuscript for many years. It is one of +several vocabularies of various dialects of the Gypsy tongue, made by him +in different countries. The most considerable—that of the dialect of the +Zincali or Rumijelies (Romany Chals) of Spain—was published in the year +1841. Amongst those which remain unpublished is one of the Transylvanian +Gypsy, made principally at Kolosvār in the year 1844. + +_December_ 1, 1873. + + + + +CONTENTS + + PAGE +THE ENGLISH GYPSY LANGUAGE 3 +ROMANO LAVO-LIL: WORD-BOOK OF THE ROMANY 15 +RHYMED LIST OF GYPSY VERBS 71 +BETIE ROKRAPENES: LITTLE SAYINGS 76 +COTORRES OF MI-DIBBLE’S LIL CHIV’D ADREY ROMANES: PIECES OF 85 +SCRIPTURE CAST INTO ROMANY +THE LORD’S PRAYER IN THE GYPSY DIALECT OF TRANSYLVANIA 92 +LIL OF ROMANO JINNYPEN: BOOK OF THE WISDOM OF THE EGYPTIANS 96 +ROMANE NAVIOR OF TEMES AND GAVIOR: GYPSY NAMES OF COUNTRIES 112 +AND TOWNS +THOMAS ROSSAR-MESCRO, OR THOMAS HERNE 118 +KOKKODUS ARTARUS 129 +MANG, PRALA: BEG ON, BROTHER 132 +ENGLISH GYPSY SONGS:— + WELLING KATTANEY: THE GYPSY MEETING 132 + LELLING CAPPI: MAKING A FORTUNE 136 + THE DUI CHALOR: THE TWO GYPSIES 138 + MIRO ROMANY CHI: MY ROMAN LASS 142 + AVA, CHI: YES, MY GIRL 146 + THE TEMESKOE RYE: THE YOUTHFUL EARL 146 + CAMO-GILLIE: LOVE-SONG 148 + TUGNIS AMANDE: WOE IS ME 150 + THE RYE AND THE RAWNE: THE SQUIRE AND LADY 152 + ROMANY SUTTUR GILLIE: GYPSY LULLABY 154 + SHARRAFI KRALYISSA: OUR BLESSED QUEEN 156 + PLASTRA LESTI: RUN FOR IT! 156 +FOREIGN GYPSY SONGS:— + THE ROMANY SONGSTRESS 161 + L’ERAJAI: THE FRAIR 162 + MALBRUN: MALBROUK 164 +THE ENGLISH GYPSIES:— + TUGNEY BESHOR: SORROWFUL YEARS 172 + THEIR HISTORY 174 +GYPSY NAMES 185 +FORTUNE-TELLING 197 + THE HUKNI 201 + CAURING 202 +METROPOLITAN GYPSYRIES:— + WANDSWORTH 207 + THE POTTERIES 228 + THE MOUNT 235 +RYLEY BOSVIL 241 +KIRK YETHOLM 253 + + + + +THE ENGLISH GYPSY LANGUAGE + + +THE Gypsies of England call their language, as the Gypsies of many other +countries call theirs, _Romany_ or _Romanes_, a word either derived from +the Indian _Ram_ or _Rama_, which signifies a husband, or from the town +Rome, which took its name either from the Indian _Ram_, or from the +Gaulic word, _Rom_, which is nearly tantamount to husband or man, for as +the Indian _Ram_ means a husband or man, so does the Gaulic _Pom_ signify +that which constitutes a man and enables him to become a husband. + +Before entering on the subject of the English Gypsy, I may perhaps be +expected to say something about the original Gypsy tongue. It is, +however, very difficult to say with certainty anything on the subject. +There can be no doubt that a veritable Gypsy tongue at one time existed, +but that it at present exists there is great doubt indeed. The +probability is that the Gypsy at present exists only in dialects more or +less like the language originally spoken by the Gypsy or Zingaro race. +Several dialects of the Gypsy are to be found which still preserve along +with a considerable number of seemingly original words certain curious +grammatical forms, quite distinct from those of any other speech. Others +are little more than jargons, in which a certain number of Gypsy words +are accommodated to the grammatical forms of the languages of particular +countries. In the foremost class of the purer Gypsy dialects, I have no +hesitation in placing those of Russia, Wallachia, Bulgaria, and +Transylvania. They are so alike, that he who speaks one of them can make +himself very well understood by those who speak any of the rest; from +whence it may reasonably be inferred that none of them can differ much +from the original Gypsy speech; so that when speaking of Gypsy language, +any one of these may be taken as a standard. One of them—I shall not +mention which—I have selected for that purpose, more from fancy than any +particular reason. + +The Gypsy language, then, or what with some qualification I may call +such, may consist of some three thousand words, the greater part of which +are decidedly of Indian origin, being connected with the Sanscrit or some +other Indian dialect; the rest consist of words picked up by the Gypsies +from various languages in their wanderings from the East. It has two +genders, masculine and feminine; _o_ represents the masculine and _i_ the +feminine: for example, _boro rye_, a great gentleman; _bori rani_, a +great lady. There is properly no indefinite article: _gajo_ or _gorgio_, +a man or gentile; _o gajo_, the man. The noun has two numbers, the +singular and the plural. It has various cases formed by postpositions, +but has, strictly speaking, no genitive. It has prepositions as well as +postpositions; sometimes the preposition is used with the noun and +sometimes the postposition: for example, _cad o gav_, from the town; +_chungale mannochendar_, evil men from, _i.e._ from evil men. The verb +has no infinitive; in lieu thereof, the conjunction ‘that’ is placed +before some person of some tense. ‘I wish to go’ is expressed in Gypsy +by _camov te jaw_, literally, I wish that I go; thou wishest to go, +_caumes te jas_, thou wishest that thou goest; _caumen te jallan_, they +wish that they go. Necessity is expressed by the impersonal verb and the +conjunction ‘that’: _hom te jay_, I must go; lit. I am that I go; _shan +te jallan_, they are that they go; and so on. There are words to denote +the numbers from one up to a thousand. For the number nine there are two +words, _nu_ and _ennyo_. Almost all the Gypsy numbers are decidedly +connected with the Sanscrit. + +After these observations on what may be called the best preserved kind of +Gypsy, I proceed to a lower kind, that of England. The English Gypsy +speech is very scanty, amounting probably to not more than fourteen +hundred words, the greater part of which seem to be of Indian origin. +The rest form a strange medley taken by the Gypsies from various Eastern +and Western languages: some few are Arabic, many are Persian; some are +Sclavo-Wallachian, others genuine Sclavonian. Here and there a Modern +Greek or Hungarian word is discoverable; but in the whole English Gypsy +tongue I have never noted but one French word—namely, _tass_ or _dass_, +by which some of the very old Gypsies occasionally call a cup. + +Their vocabulary being so limited, the Gypsies have of course words of +their own only for the most common objects and ideas; as soon as they +wish to express something beyond these they must have recourse to +English, and even to express some very common objects, ideas, and +feelings, they are quite at a loss in their own tongue, and must either +employ English words or very vague terms indeed. They have words for the +sun and the moon, but they have no word for the stars, and when they wish +to name them in Gypsy, they use a word answering to ‘lights.’ They have +a word for a horse and for a mare, but they have no word for a colt, +which in some other dialects of the Gypsy is called _kuro_; and to +express a colt they make use of the words _tawno gry_, a little horse, +which after all may mean a pony. They have words for black, white, and +red, but none for the less positive colours—none for grey, green, and +yellow. They have no definite word either for hare or rabbit; _shoshoi_, +by which they generally designate a rabbit, signifies a hare as well, and +_kaun-engro_, a word invented to distinguish a hare, and which signifies +ear-fellow, is no more applicable to a hare than to a rabbit, as both +have long ears. They have no certain word either for to-morrow or +yesterday, _collico_ signifying both indifferently. A remarkable +coincidence must here be mentioned, as it serves to show how closely +related are Sanscrit and Gypsy. _Shoshoi_ and _collico_ are nearly of +the same sound as the Sanscrit _sasa_ and _kalya_, and exactly of the +same import; for as the Gypsy _shoshoi_ signifies both hare and rabbit, +and _collico_ to-morrow as well as yesterday, so does the Sanscrit _sasa_ +signify both hare and rabbit, and _kalya_ to-morrow as well as yesterday. + +The poverty of their language in nouns the Gypsies endeavour to remedy by +the frequent use of the word _engro_. This word affixed to a noun or +verb turns it into something figurative, by which they designate, seldom +very appropriately, some object for which they have no positive name. +_Engro_ properly means a fellow, and _engri_, which is the feminine or +neuter modification, a thing. When the noun or verb terminates in a +vowel, _engro_ is turned into _mengro_, and _engri_ into _mengri_. I +have already shown how, by affixing _engro_ to _kaun_, the Gypsies have +invented a word to express a hare. In like manner, by affixing _engro_ +to _pov_, earth, they have coined a word for a potato, which they call +_pov-engro_ or _pov-engri_, earth-fellow or thing; and by adding _engro_ +to _rukh_, or _mengro_ to _rooko_, they have really a very pretty +figurative name for a squirrel, which they call _rukh-engro_ or +_rooko-mengro_, literally a fellow of the tree. _Poggra-mengri_, a +breaking thing, and _pea-mengri_, a drinking thing, by which they +express, respectively, a mill and a teapot, will serve as examples of the +manner by which they turn verbs into substantives. This method of +finding names for objects, for which there are properly no terms in +Gypsy, might be carried to a great length—much farther, indeed, than the +Gypsies are in the habit of carrying it: a slack-rope dancer might be +termed _bittitardranoshellokellimengro_, or slightly-drawn-rope-dancing +fellow; a drum, _duicoshtcurenomengri_, or a thing beaten by two sticks; +a tambourine, _angustrecurenimengri_, or a thing beaten by the fingers; +and a fife, _muipudenimengri_, or thing blown by the mouth. All these +compound words, however, would be more or less indefinite, and far beyond +the comprehension of the Gypsies in general. + +The verbs are very few, and with two or three exceptions expressive only +of that which springs from what is physical and bodily, totally +unconnected with the mind, for which, indeed, the English Gypsy has no +word; the term used for mind, _zi_—which is a modification of the +Hungarian _sziv_—meaning heart. There are such verbs in this dialect as +to eat, drink, walk, run, hear, see, live, die; but there are no such +verbs as to hope, mean, hinder, prove, forbid, teaze, soothe. There is +the verb _apasavello_, I believe; but that word, which is Wallachian, +properly means being trusted, and was incorporated in the Gypsy language +from the Gypsies obtaining goods on trust from the Wallachians, which +they never intended to pay for. There is the verb for love, _camova_; +but that word is expressive of physical desire, and is connected with the +Sanscrit _Cama_, or Cupid. Here, however, the English must not triumph +over the Gypsies, as their own verb ‘love’ is connected with a Sanscrit +word signifying ‘lust.’ One pure and abstract metaphysical verb the +English Gypsy must be allowed to possess—namely, _penchava_, I think, a +word of illustrious origin, being derived from the Persian _pendashtan_. + +The English Gypsies can count up to six, and have the numerals for ten +and twenty, but with those for seven, eight, and nine, perhaps not three +Gypsies in England are acquainted. When they wish to express those +numerals in their own language, they have recourse to very uncouth and +roundabout methods, saying for seven, _dui trins ta yeck_, two threes and +one; for eight, _dui stors_, or two fours; and for nine, _desh sore but +yeck_, or ten all but one. Yet at one time the English Gypsies possessed +all the numerals as their Transylvanian, Wallachian, and Russian brethren +still do; even within the last fifty years there were Gypsies who could +count up to a hundred. These were _tatchey Romany_, real Gypsies, of the +old sacred black race, who never slept in a house, never entered a +church, and who, on their death-beds, used to threaten their children +with a curse, provided they buried them in a churchyard. The two last of +them rest, it is believed, some six feet deep beneath the moss of a wild, +hilly heath,—called in Gypsy the _Heviskey Tan_, or place of holes; in +English, Mousehold,—near an ancient city, which the Gentiles call +Norwich, and the Romans the _Chong Gav_, or the town of the hill. + +With respect to Grammar, the English Gypsy is perhaps in a worse +condition than with respect to words. Attention is seldom paid to +gender; _boro rye_ and _boro rawnie_ being said, though as _rawnie_ is +feminine, _bori_ and not _boro_ should be employed. The proper Gypsy +plural terminations are retained in nouns, but in declension prepositions +are generally substituted for postpositions, and those prepositions +English. The proper way of conjugating verbs is seldom or never +observed, and the English method is followed. They say, I _dick_, I see, +instead of _dico_; I _dick’d_, I saw, instead of _dikiom_; if I had +_dick’d_, instead of _dikiomis_. Some of the peculiar features of Gypsy +grammar yet retained by the English Gypsies will be found noted in the +Dictionary. + +I have dwelt at some length on the deficiencies and shattered condition +of the English Gypsy tongue; justice, however, compels me to say that it +is far purer and less deficient than several of the continental Gypsy +dialects. It preserves far more of original Gypsy peculiarities than the +French, Italian, and Spanish dialects, and its words retain more of the +original Gypsy form than the words of those three; moreover, however +scanty it may be, it is far more copious than the French or the Italian +Gypsy, though it must be owned that in respect to copiousness it is +inferior to the Spanish Gypsy, which is probably the richest in words of +all the Gypsy dialects in the world, having names for very many of the +various beasts, birds, and creeping things, for most of the plants and +fruits, for all the days of the week, and all the months in the year; +whereas most other Gypsy dialects, the English amongst them, have names +for only a few common animals and insects, for a few common fruits and +natural productions, none for the months, and only a name for a single +day—the Sabbath—which name is a modification of the Modern Greek +_κυριακηὴ_. + +Though the English Gypsy is generally spoken with a considerable alloy of +English words and English grammatical forms, enough of its proper words +and features remain to form genuine Gypsy sentences, which shall be +understood not only by the Gypsies of England, but by those of Russia, +Hungary, Wallachia, and even of Turkey; for example:— + + Kek man camov te jib bolli-mengreskoenæs, + Man camov te jib weshenjugalogonæs. + + I do not wish to live like a baptized person. {11a} + I wish to live like a dog of the wood. {11b} + +It is clear-sounding and melodious, and well adapted to the purposes of +poetry. Let him who doubts peruse attentively the following lines:— + + Coin si deya, coin se dado? + Pukker mande drey Romanes, + Ta mande pukkeravava tute. + + Rossar-mescri minri deya! + Wardo-mescro minro dado! + Coin se dado, coin si deya? + Mande’s pukker’d tute drey Romanes; + Knau pukker tute mande. + + Petulengro minro dado, + Purana minri deya! + Tatchey Romany si men— + Mande’s pukker’d tute drey Romanes, + Ta tute’s pukker’d mande. + +The first three lines of the above ballad are perhaps the oldest specimen +of English Gypsy at present extant, and perhaps the purest. They are at +least as old as the time of Elizabeth, and can pass among the Zigany in +the heart of Russia for Ziganskie. The other lines are not so ancient. +The piece is composed in a metre something like that of the ancient +Sclavonian songs, and contains the questions which two strange Gypsies, +who suddenly meet, put to each other, and the answers which they return. + + + + +ROMANO LAVO-LIL—WORD-BOOK OF THE ROMANY + + +In using the following Vocabulary the Continental manner of pronouncing +certain vowels will have to be observed: thus _ava_ must be pronounced +like _auva_, according to the English style; _ker_ like _kare_, _miro_ +like _meero_, _zi_ like _zee_, and _puro_ as if it were written _pooro._ + + + +A + + +ABRI, _ad. prep._ Out, not within, abroad: soving abri, sleeping abroad, +not in a house. _Celtic_, Aber (the mouth or outlet of a river). + +Acai / Acoi, _ad._ Here. + +Adje, _v. n._ To stay, stop. _See_ Atch, az. + +Adrey, _prep._ Into. + +Ajaw, _ad._ So. _Wallachian_, Asha. + +Aladge, _a._ Ashamed. _Sans._ Latch, laj. + +Aley, _ad._ Down: soving aley, lying down; to kin aley, to buy off, +ransom. _Hun._ Ala, alat. + +Amande, _pro. pers. dat._ To me. + +An, _v. a. imp._ Bring: an lis opré, bring it up. + +Ana, _v._ a. Bring. _Sans._ Ani. + +Ando, _prep._ In. + +Anglo, _prep._ Before. + +Apasavello, _v. n._ I believe. + +Apopli, _ad._ Again. _Spanish Gypsy_, Apala (after). _Wal._ Apoi +(then, afterwards). + +Apré, _ad. prep._ Up: kair lis apré, do it up. _Vid._ Opré. + +Aranya / Araunya, _s._ Lady. _Hungarian Gypsy_, Aranya. _See_ Rawnie. + +Artav / Artavello, _v. a._ To pardon, forgive. _Wal._ Ierta. _Span. +Gyp._ Estomar. + +Artapen, _s._ Pardon, forgiveness. + +Artáros. Arthur. + +Asā / Asau, _ad._ Also, likewise, too: meero pal asau, my brother also. + +Asarlas, _ad._ At all, in no manner. + +Asa. An affix used in forming the second person singular of the present +tense; _e.g._ camasa, thou lovest. + +Astis, _a._ Possible, it is possible: astis mangué, I can; astis lengué, +they can. + +Ashā / Ashaw, _ad._ So: ashaw sorlo, so early. _Wal._ Asha. _See_ +Ajaw. + +Atch, _v. n._ To stay, stop. + +Atch opré. Keep up. + +Atraish, _a. part._ Afraid. _Sans._ Tras (to fear), atrāsït +(frightened). _See_ Traish. + +Av, _imperat._ of Ava, to come: av abri, come out. + +Ava, _ad._ Yes. _Sans._ Eva. + +Ava, _v. a._ To come. + +Avata acoi. Come thou here. + +Avali, _ad._ Yes. _Wal._ Aieva (really). + +Avava. An affix by which the future tense of a verb is formed, _e.g._ +mor-avava, I will kill. _See_ Vava. + +Aukko, _ad._ Here. + +Az, _v. n._ To stay. + + + +B + + +BAL, _s._ Hair. _Tibetian_, Bal (wool). _Sans._ Bala (hair). + +Baleneskoe, _a._ Hairy. + +Balormengro. A hairy fellow; Hearne, the name of a Gypsy tribe. + +Balanser, _s._ The coin called a sovereign. + +Ballivas, _s._ Bacon. _Span. Gyp._ Balibá. + +Bangalo, _a._ Devilish. _See_ Beng, bengako. + +Bango, _a._ Left, sinister, wrong, false: bango wast, the left hand; to +saulohaul bango, like a plastra-mengro, to swear bodily like a Bow-street +runner. _Sans._ Pangu (lame). _Hun._ Pang, pangó (stiff, lazy, +paralysed). + +Bar, _s._ A stone, a stoneweight, a pound sterling. _Span. Gyp._ Bar. +_Hun. Gyp._ Bar. _Hindustani_, Puthur. _Wal._ Piatre. _Fr._ Pierre. +_Gr. βάρος_ (weight). + +Bareskey, _a._ Stony. + +Bark, _s._ Breast, woman’s breast. + +Bas / Base, _s._ Pound sterling. _Wal._ Pes (a weight, burden). + +Bas-engro, _s._ A shepherd. _Run._ Bacso. + +Bashadi, _s._ A fiddle. + +Bata, _s._ A bee. _Sans._ Pata. + +Bau, _s._ Fellow, comrade. _See_ Baw. + +Baul, _s._ Snail. _See_ Bowle. + +Baulo, _s._ Pig, swine. The proper meaning of this word is anything +swollen, anything big or bulky. It is connected with the English bowle +or bole, the trunk of a tree; also with bowl, boll, and belly; also with +whale, the largest of fish, and wale, a tumour; also with the Welsh +_bol_, a belly, and _bala_, a place of springs and eruptions. It is +worthy of remark that the English word pig, besides denoting the same +animal as _baulo_, is of the same original import, being clearly derived +from the same root as big, that which is bulky, and the Turkish _buyuk_, +great, huge, vast. + +Baulie-mas, _s._ Pork, swine’s flesh. + +Bavano. Windy, broken-winded. + +Bavol, _s._ Wind, air. _Sans._ Pavana. _See_ Beval. + +Bavol-engro, _s._ A wind-fellow; figurative name for a ghost. + +Baw, bau, _s._ Fellow, comrade: probably the same as the English +country-word baw, bor. _Ger._ Bauer. Av acoi, baw, Come here, fellow. +Boer, in Wallachian, signifies a boyard or lord. + +Beano, _part. pass._ Born. + +Beano abri. Born out of doors, like a Gypsy or vagrant. + +Bebee, _s._ Aunt. _Rus._ Baba (grandmother, old woman, hag); Baba Yagā, +the female demon of the Steppes. + +Beng / Bengui, _s._ Devil. _Sans._ Pangka (mud). According to the +Hindu mythology, there is a hell of mud; the bengues of the Gypsies seem +to be its tenants. + +Bengako tan, _s._ Hell. Lit. place belonging to devils. + +Bengeskoe potan. Devil’s tinder, sulphur. + +Bengeskoe / Benglo, _a._ Devilish. + +Bengree, _s._ Waistcoat. _Span. Gyp._ Blani. _Wal._ (Blāni fur). + +Berro, béro, _s._ A ship, a hulk for convicts. _Span. Gyp._ Bero, las +galeras, the galleys; presidio, convict garrison. + +Ber-engro, _s._ A sailor. + +Bero-rukh, _s._ A mast. + +Bersh / Besh, _s._ A year. _Sans._ Varsha. He could cour drey his +besh, he could fight in his time. + +Bershor, _pl._ Years. + +Besh, _v. n._ To sit: beshel, he sits. + +Beshaley / Beshly, Gypsy name of the Stanley tribe. + +Besh-engri, _s._ A chair. _See_ Skammen. + +Beti, _a._ Little, small. + +Beval, _s._ Wind. _See_ Bavol. + +Bi, _prep._ Without: bi luvvu, without money. + +Bicunyie, _a._ Alone, undone: meklis _or_ mukalis bicunyie, let it +alone. + +Bikhin / Bin _v. a._ To sell. _Hin._ Bikna. + +Bikhnipen, _s._ Sale. + +Birk, _s._ Woman’s breast. _See_ Bark. + +Bis, _a._ Twenty. + +Bisheni, _s._ The ague. + +Bitch / Bitcha, _v. a._ To send. _Sans._ Bis, bisa. + +Bitched / Bitcheno, _part. pass._ Sent + +Bitcheno pawdel. Sent across, transported. + +Bitti, _s. a._ Small, piece, a little. This word is not true Gypsy. + +Bloen / Blowing, A cant word, but of Gypsy origin, signifying a sister in +debauchery, as Pal denotes a brother in villainy. It is the Plani and +Beluñi of the Spanish Gypsies, by whom sometimes Beluñi is made to +signify queen; _e.g._ Beluñi de o tarpe (tem opré), the Queen of Heaven, +the Virgin. Blower is used by Lord Byron, in his ‘Don Juan.’ Speaking +of the highwayman whom the Don shoots in the vicinity of London, he says +that he used to go to such-and-such places of public resort with—his +blowen. + +Bob, _s._ A bean. _Wal._ Bob: _pl._ bobbis, bobs. + +Boccalo, _a._ Hungry: boccalé pers, hungry bellies. + +Bokht, _s._ Luck, fortune: kosko bokht, good luck. _Sans._ Bhãgya. +_Pers._ Bakht. + +Bokra, _s._ A sheep. _Hun._ Birka. + +Bokra-choring. Sheep-stealing. + +Bokkar-engro, _s._ A shepherd: bokkar-engro drey, the dude, man in the +moon. + +Bokkari-gueri, _s._ Shepherdess. + +Bokkeriskoe, _a._ Sheepish, belonging to a sheep: bokkeriskey piré, +sheep’s feet. + +Bolla, _v. a._ To baptize. + +Bonnek, _s._ Hold: lel bonnek, to take hold. + +Booko, _s._ Liver. _See_ Bucca. + +Bolleskoe divvus. Christmas-day; _query_, baptismal day. _Wal._ Botez +(baptism). + +Bollimengreskoenaes. After the manner of a Christian. + +Boogones, _s._ Smallpox, pimples. _See_ Bugnior. + +Bor, _s._ A hedge. + +Boona, _a._ Good. _Lat._ Bonus. _Wal._ Boun. + +Booty, _s._ Work. + +Bori, _a. fem._ Big with child, enceinte. + +Booty, _v. a._ To work, labour. + +Boro, _a._ Great, big. _Hin._ Bura. _Mod. Gr. βαρὺς_ (heavy). + +Borobeshemeskeguero, _s._ Judge, _great-sitting-fellow_. + +Boro Gav. London, big city. _See_ Lundra. + +Boronashemeskrutan. Epsom race-course. + +Bosh, _s._ Fiddle. _Pers._ [Persian which cannot be reproduced] Bazee, +baz (play, joke), whence the English cant word ‘bosh.’ _See_ Bashadi. + +Boshomengro, _s._ Fiddler. + +Bosno / Boshno, _s._ A cock, male-bird. _Sans._ Puchchin. _Wal._ Bosh +(testicle). _Gaelic_, Baois (libidinousness). + +Boshta, _s._ A saddle. + +Bostaris, _s._ A bastard. + +Bovalo, _a._ Rich. _Sans._ Bala (strong). + +Bowle, _s._ Snail. _See_ Baul. + +Brishen / Brisheno, _s._ Rain. _Hun. Gyp._ Breshino. _Sans._ Vrish. +_Mod. Gr. βρέξιμον_. + +Brisheneskey, _a._ Rainy: brisheneskey rarde, a rainy night; +brisheneskey chiros, a time of rain. _Mod. Gr. καιρὸς βροχερός_. + +Bucca, _s._ Liver. _Sans._ Bucca (heart). _Wal._ Phikat. + +Bucca naflipen, _s._ Liver-complaint. + +Buchee, _s._ Work, labour. _See_ Butsi. + +Buddigur, _s._ A shop. _Span._ Bodega. + +Buddikur divvus, _s._ Shopping-day: Wednesday, Saturday. + +Bugnes / Bugnior, _s. pl._ Smallpox, blisters. _Gael._ Boc (a pimple), +bolg (a blister), bolgach (small-pox). _Wal._ Mougour (a bud). _Fr._ +Bourgeon. + +Buklo, _a._ Hungry: buklo tan, hungry spot, a common. _Hun. Gyp._ Buklo +tan (a wilderness). + +Bul, _s._ Rump, buttock. + +Bungshoror / Bungyoror, _s. pl._ Corks. + +Busnis / Busnior, _s. pl._ Spurs, prickles. _Mod. Gr. βάσανοω_ (pain, +torment). + +Buroder, _ad._ More: _ad._ ne buroder, no more. + +Bute, _a. ad._ Much, very. _Hin._ Būt. + +Butsi / Buty, _s._ Work, labour. + +Butying. Working. + + + +C + + +CAEN / Cane, _v. n._ To stink. + +Caenipen / Canipen, _s_. A stench. + +Caeninaflipen, _s._ Stinking sickness, the plague, gaol-fever. The old +cant word Canihen, signifying the gaol-fever, is derived from this Gypsy +term. + +Candelo / Cannelo, _a._ Stinking: cannelo mas, stinking meat. _Sans._ +Gandha (smell). + +Callico / Collico, _s._ To-morrow, also yesterday: collico sorlo, +to-morrow morning. _Sans._ Kalya. _Hin._ Kal (to-morrow, yesterday). + +Cana, _ad._ Now: cana sig, now soon. _See_ Kanau, knau. + +Cam, _s._ The sun. _Hin._ Khan. _Heb._ Khama (the sun), kham (heat). + +Cam. To wish, desire, love. + +Cam / Camello / Camo, _v. a._ To love. _Sans._ Cama (love). Cupid; +from which Sanscrit word the Latin Amor is derived. + +Cambori / Cambri, _a._ Pregnant, big with child. + +Camlo / Caumlo, Lovel, name of a Gypsy tribe. Lit. amiable. With this +word the English “comely” is connected. + +Camo-mescro, _s._ A lover; likewise the name Lovel. + +Can, _s._ The sun. + +Can, _s._ An ear. _See_ Kaun. + +Cana, _ad._ Now: cana sig, now soon. _See_ Kanau. + +Canáfi / Canapli, Turnip. + +Canairis. A Gypsy name. + +Canior / Caunor, _s. pl._ Pease. + +Canni. A hen. _Span. Gyp._ Cañi. _Hun. Gyp._ Cackni. _Gael._ Cearc. + +Cannis. Hens. + +Cappi, _s._ Booty, gain, fortune: to lel cappi, to acquire booty, make a +capital, a fortune. + +Cas, _s._ Hay: cas-stiggur, haystack; cas kairing, hay-making. + +Cas, _s._ Cheese. _Lat._ Caseus. This word is used by the pikers or +tramps, as well as by the Gypsies. _See_ Kael. + +Catches / Catsau, _s. pl._ Scissors. _Hun._ Kasza. _Wal._ Kositsie +(sickle). _Mod._ _Gr. κόσα_. _Rus._ Kosa. + +Cato, _prep._ To; more properly From. _Hun. Gyp._ Cado. _Wal._ Katre +(towards). + +Cavo, _pron. dem._ This. + +Cavocoi. This here. + +Cavocoiskoenoes. In this manner. + +Caur, _v. a._ To filch, steal in an artful manner by bending down. +_Heb._ [Hebrew which cannot be reproduced] Cara, incurvavit se. _Eng._ +Cower. + +Cayes, _s._ Silk. _Pers_. [Persian which cannot be reproduced] _Span. +Gyp._ Quequesa. _Sans._ Kauseya. + +Chal, _s._ Lad, boy, son, fellow. Connected with this word is the +Scottish Chiel, the Old English Childe, and the Russian Chelovik. _See_ +Romani chal. + +Cháro, _s._ Plate, dish. + +Chavali, _s.f._ Girl, damsel. + +Chavi, _s.f._ Child, girl, daughter. + +Cham, _s._ Leather: chameskie rokunies, leather breeches. _Sans._ +Charma (skin). + +Chavo, _s. m._ Child, son: _pl._ chaves. Cheaus is an old French +hunting term for the young ones of a fox. + +Charos / Cheros, _s._ Heaven. _Wal._ Cher. + +Chauvo, _s._ _See_ Chavo. + +Chaw, _s._ Grass. + +Chawhoktamengro, _s._ Grasshopper. _See_ Hokta. + +Chee, _a._ No, none: chee butsi, no work. _See_ Chi, chichi. + +Chericlo, _s._ Bird. _See_ Chiriclo. + +Chiricleskey tan, _s._ Aviary, birdcage. + +Chi, _s.f._ Child, daughter, girl: Romany chi, Gypsy girl. + +Chi / Chichi / Chiti, _s._ Nothing. + +Chin, _v. a._ To cut: chin lis tuley, cut it down. _Sans._ Chun (to cut +off). _Hin._ Chink. _Gaelic_, Sgian (a knife). + +Chin the cost. To cut the stick; to cut skewers for butchers and pegs +for linen-lines, a grand employment of the Gypsy fellows in the +neighbourhood of London. + +China-mengri, _s.f._ A letter; a thing incised, marked, written in. + +China-mengro, _s._ Hatchet. Lit. cutting-thing. + +Chinipen, _s._ A cut. + +Ching / Chingaro, _v. a._ To fight, quarrel. + +Chinga-guero, _s._ A warrior. + +Chingaripen, _s._ War, strife. _Sans._ Sangara. + +Chingring, _part. pres._ Fighting, quarrelling. + +Chik, _s._ Earth, dirt. _Span. Gyp._ Chique. _Hin._ Chikkar. + +Chiklo, _a._ Dirty. + +Chiriclo, _s. m._ Bird. _Hin._ Chiriya. + +Chiricli, _s.f._ Hen-bird. + +Chiros, _s._ Time. _Mod. Gr. καιρὸς_. + +Chiv / Chiva / Chuva, _v. a._ To cast, fling, throw, place, put: chiv +lis tuley, fling it down; chiv oprey, put up. _Rus._ Kyio (to forge, +cast iron). _Sans._ Kship. + +Chiving tulipen prey the chokkars. Greasing the shoes. + +Chofa, _s.f._ Petticoat. + +Chohawni, _s._ Witch. _See_ Chovahano. + +Chohawno, _s._ Wizard. + +Chok, _s._ Watch, watching. + +Chok-engro, _s._ Watchman. + +Chok, _s._ Shoe: chokkor, chokkors, shoes. _Hun._ Czókó (wooden shoe). + +Choko-mengro. Shoemaker. + +Choka, _s._ Coat. + +Chokni / Chukni, _s._ Whip. _Wal._ Chokini (a strap, leather). _Hun._ +Csakany (a mace, sledge hammer). _Hun. Gyp._ Chokano (a staff). _Wal._ +Chokan, chokinel (a hammer). + +Chukni wast, _s._ The whip-hand, the mastery. + +Chollo, _a. s._ Whole. + +Chomany, _s._ Something. _Span. Gyp._ Cormuñi (some); chimoni +(anything). _Wal._ Chineba (some one). For every chomany there’s a lav +in Romany: there’s a name in Gypsy for everything. + +Chong, _s._ Knee. _Hun._ Czomb. _Sans._ Chanu. _Lat._ Genu. + +Chongor, _pl._ Knees. + +Choom / Choomava, _v. a._ To kiss. _Sans._ Chumb. Choomande, kiss me. +_Span. Gyp._ Chupendi (a kiss), a corruption of Choomande. + +Choomia, _s._ A kiss. + +Choomo-mengro, one of the tribe Boswell. + +Choon, _s._ Moon. _Hun. Gyp._ Chemut. _Sans._ Chandra. + +Choot, _s._ Vinegar. _See_ Chute. + +Chore, _v. a._ To steal. _Sans._ Chur. + +Chore, _s._ Thief. _Hin._ Chor. + +Chories, _pl_. Thieves. + +Chor-dudee-mengri, _s. Κλεφτοφάναρον_ (thieves’ lantern, dark lantern). + +Choredo, a. Poor, poverty stricken. _Sans._ Dāridra. + +Choredi, _fem_. of Choredo. + +Choriness, _s._ Poverty. + +Choro, _a._ Poor. _Span. Gyp._ Chororo. _Hin._ Shor. + +Chovahan, _v. a._ To bewitch. + +Chovahani / Chowián, _s.f._ Witch. + +Chovahano, _s._ Wizard. + +Choveno, _a._ Poor, needy, starved. Perhaps derived from the Russian +Tchernoe (black, dirty, wretched); or from the Hungarian Csunya (hateful, +frightful); whence the Chungalo of the Hungarian, and also of the Spanish +Gypsies. + +Choveni, _fem_. of Choveno. + +Choveno ker, _s._ Workhouse, poorhouse. + +Chukkal, _s._ Dog. _Span. Gyp._ Chuquel. _Sans._ Kukkura. _Basque_, +Chacurra. _See_ Juggal. + +Chumba, _s._ Bank, hill. _Russ._ Xolm (a hill). + +Chungarava / Chungra, _v. a._ To spit. _Wal._ Ckouina. _Hun. Gyp._ +Chudel (he spits). + +Churi, _s._ Knife. _Sans._ Chhuri. _Hin._ Churi. + +Churi-mengro, _s._ Knife-grinder, cutler. + +Churo-mengro, _s._ A soldier, swordsman. + +Chute, _s._ Vinegar. _Mod. Gr. ζύδι_. _Wal._ Otset. + +Chute-pavi, _s._ Cyder; perhaps a crab-apple. Lit. vinegar-apple. + +Chuvvenhan, _s._ Witch. _See_ Chovahani. + +Cinerella. Female Gypsy name. + +Cocal, _s._ Bone. _Mod. Gr. κοκκαλον_, + +Cocalor, _pl._ Bones. + +Coco / Cocodus, _s._ Uncle. _Hin._ Caucau. + +Cocoro / Cocoros, _a. pro._ Alone, self: tu cocoro, thyself. + +Coin, _pro. interrog._ Who? _Hin._ Kaun. + +Collor, _s. pl._ Shillings: dui collor a crookos, two shillings a week. +In Spanish Germania or cant, two ochavos, or farthings, are called: dui +_calés._ + +Comorrus, _s._ A room, hall. _Hun._ Kamara. _Hin._ Cumra. _Ger._ +Kammer. + +Cong, congl, _v. a._ To comb. + +Congli / Congro, _s.f._ A comb. _Sans._ Kanagata. + +Congri, _s.f._ A church. + +Coor / Coorava, _v. a._ To fight. _Irish_, Comhrac [courac]. _Welsh_, +Curaw (to beat). + +Coorapen, _s._ Fight, a beating: I shall lel a curapen, I shall get a +beating. + +Cooroboshno, _s._ A fighting cock. + +Cooromengro, _s._ Fighter, boxer, soldier. + +Coppur, _s._ Blanket. _Rus._ Kovér (a carpet). _Wal._ Kovor, _id._ + +Corauni / Corooni, _s._ A crown: mekrauliskie corauni, royal crown. +_Wal._ Coroan. + +Cori, _s._ Thorn. Membrum virile. _Span._ Carajo [caraco]. _Gascon_, +Quirogau. + +Coro / Coru, _s._ Pot, pitcher, cup: coru levinor, cup of ale; boro +coro, a quart. _Span. Gyp._ Coro. _Hin._ Gharã. + +Coro-mengro, _s._ Potter. + +Coro-mengreskey tem. Staffordshire. + +Corredo, _a._ Blind. _Span. Gyp._ Corroro. _Pers._ کور _Wal._ Kior +(one-eyed). + +Cosht / Cost, _s._ Stick. _Sans._ Kāshtha. + +Cost-engres, _s. pl._ Branch-fellows, people of the New Forest, +Stanleys. + +Coshtno, _a._ Wooden. + +Covar / Covo, _s._ Thing: covars, things; covar-bikhning-vardo, a +caravan in which goods are carried about for sale. + +Crafni, _s._ Button. _Ger._ Knopf. + +Crafni-mengro, _s._ Buttonmaker. + +Creeor, _s. pl._ Ants, pismires. _Span. Gyp._ Ocrianse (the ant), +quiria (ant). + +Cricni / Crookey / Crookauros / Crookos, _s._ Week. _See_ Curco. + +Cuesni, _s._ Basket. _See_ Cushnee. + +Culvato (Gypsy name). Claude. + +Curaken, _s._ Fighting. _See_ Coorapen. + +Curepen, _s._ Trouble, affliction: curepenis, afflictions. + +Curkey / Curko, _s._ Week, Sunday. _Mod. Gr. κυριακὴ_. + +Curlo, _s._ Throat. _Pers._ گلو Chin his curlo, cut his throat. + +Curlo-mengri, _s._ A ruff, likewise a pillow; anything belonging to the +throat or neck. + +Cushnee / Cushni / Cusnee, _s._ Basket. _Wal._ Koshnitse. + +Cuttor, _s._ A piece, a guinea-piece: dui cuttor, two guineas; will you +lel a cuttor, will you take a bit? sore in cuttors, all in rags. + + + +D + + +DAD, _s._ Father. _Welsh_, Tâd. _Wal._ Tat. _Rus. Gyp._ Dad. + +Dado, _s._ Father. _Rus. Gyp._ Dado. + +Dand, _s._ Tooth. _Sans._ Danta. + +Danior, _pl._ Teeth. + +Dand, _v. a._ To bite. + +Daya / Dieya, _s._ Mother, properly nurse. _Sans._ Dhayas (fostering). +_Pers._ [Persian which cannot be reproduced] Daya. _Mod. Gr. θεῖα_. +_Rus. Gyp._ Daia. _Wal._ Doika. + +Deav, _v. a._ Give. _Sans._ Dā. _Wal._ Da. + +Del. He gives. + +Del-engro, _s._ A kicking-horse. + +Del-oprey, _v. a._ To read. + +Denne, _ad._ Than. + +Der. An _affix_, by which the _comparative_ is formed; _e.g._ Wafodu, +bad: wafodúder than dovor, worse than they. + +Desch, _a._ Ten. _Sans._ Dasan. _Wal._ Zetche. + +Desh ta yeck. Eleven. + +Desh ta dui. Twelve. + +Desh ta trin. Thirteen. + +Desh ta store. Fourteen. + +Desh ta pansch. Fifteen. + +Desh ta sho. Sixteen. + +Desh ta eft. Seventeen. + +Deshko. Eighteen (?): deshko hori, eighteenpence; properly, Desh ta octo +hori. + +Devel, _s._ God. _Sans._ Deva. _Lith._ Dēwas. _Lat._ Deus. _See_ +Dibble, Dovvel, Dubbel. + +Develeskoe, _s._ Holy, divine. _Sans._ Deva. + +Deyed, _pret._ of Deav. He gave. + +Dibble, _s._ God. _See_ Devel. + +Dic / Dico, _v. n._ To look: dic tuley, look down; dicking misto, +looking well. _Sans._ Iksh (to see, look). _Gaelic_, Dearcam (to see); +dearc (eye). + +Dickimengro, _s._ Overlooker, overseer. + +Dicking hev, _s._ A window, seeing-hole. + +Die, _s._ Mother. _Rus. Gyp._ Die. _See_ Daya. + +Dikkipen, _s._ Look, image. _Sans._ Driksha (aspect). _Welsh_, Drych +(aspect). + +Diklo, _s._ Cloth, sheet, shift. + +Dinnelo, _s._ A fool, one possessed by the devil. _Wal._ Diniele (of +the devil); louat diniele (possessed by the devil). + +Dinneleskoe, _a._ Foolish. + +Dinneleskoenoes. Like a fool. + +Dinnelipénes, _s. pl._ Follies, nonsense. + +Diverous. A Gypsy name. + +Diviou, _a._ Mad: jawing diviou, going mad. _Sans._ Déva (a god, a +fool). + +Diviou-ker, _s._ Madhouse. + +Diviou kokkodus Artáros. Mad Uncle Arthur. + +Divvus, _s._ Day. _Sans._ Divasa. + +Divveskoe / Divvuskoe, _a._ Daily: divvuskoe morro, daily bread. + +Diximengro, _s._ Overseer. _See_ Dickimengro. + +Dook, _v. a._ To hurt, bewitch: dook the gry, bewitch the horse. _Wal._ +Deokira (to fascinate, bewitch). _See_ Duke, dukker. + +Dooriya / Dooya, _s._ Sea. _Pers._ دریا _Irish_, Deire (the deep). +_Welsh_, Dwr (water). _Old Irish_, Dobhar. + +_Dooriya durril_, _s._ Currant, plum. Lit. Sea-berry. + +Dooriya durrileskie guyi, _s._ Plum pudding. + +Dori, _s._ Thread, lace: kaulo dori, black lace. _Hin._ Dora. + +Dosch / Dosh, _s._ Evil, harm: kek dosh, no harm. _Sans._ Dush (bad). + +Dosta, _s._ Enough. _Wal._ Destoul. _Rus._ Dostaet (it is +sufficient). _See_ Dusta. + +Dou, _imp._ Give: dou mande, give me. _See_ Deav. + +Dou dass. Cup and saucer. _See_ Dui das. + +Dovo, _pro. dem._ That: dovó si, that’s it. + +Dovor. Those, they: wafodúder than dovor, worse than they. + +Dov-odoy / Dovoy-oduvva, _ad._ Yonder. + +Dov-odoyskoenaes. In that manner. + +Doovel, _s._ God. _See_ Duvvel. + +Drab / Drav, _s._ Medicine, poison. _Pers_. [Persian which cannot be +reproduced] Daru. _Wal._ Otrav. + +Drab-engro / Drav-engro, _s._ A pothecary, poison-monger. + +Drab, _v. a._ To poison. _Wal_. Otribi. + +Drey, _prep._ In. + +Dubble, _s._ God: my dearie Dubbleskey, for my dear God’s sake. + +Dude, _s._ The moon. + +Dudee, _s._ A light, a star. _Sans._ Dyuti. + +Dude-bar, _s._ Diamond, light-stone. + +Drom, _s._ Road. _Wal._ Drom. _Mod. Gr. δρόμος_. + +Drom-luring, _s._ Highway robbery. + +Dui, _a._ Two. + +Duito, _s._ Second. + +Duito divvus, _s._ Tuesday. Lit. Second day. + +Dui das / Dui tas, _s._ Cup and saucer. + +Duke, _v. a._ To hurt, bewitch. _Sans._ Duhkha (pain). _Heb._ Dui +(languor, deadly faintness). + +Dukker, _v. a._ To bewitch, tell fortunes. _Wal._ Deokiea (to +fascinate, enchant). + +Dukker drey my vast. Tell my fortune by my hand. + +Dukkering, _s._ Fortune-telling. _Wal._ Deokiere (fascination). _Mod. +Gr. τύχη_ (fortune). + +Dukkipen, _s._ Fortune-telling. + +Dukker, _v. n._ To ache: my sherro dukkers, my head aches. _See_ Duke, +dukker. + +Dum / Dumo, _s._ Black. _Pers._ [Persian which cannot be reproduced] +(tail). + +Dur, _ad._ Far. _Sans._ Dur. _Pers._ دور + +Dur-dicki mengri, _s._ Telescope. Lit. far-seeing-thing. + +Durro, _ad._ Far. + +Durro-der, _ad._ Farther. + +Durriken, _s._ Fortune-telling. + +Durril, _s._ Any kind of berry, a gooseberry in particular. + +Durrilau / Durilyor, _pl._ Berries. + +Durrileskie guyi, _s._ Gooseberry pudding. + +Dusta, _a. s._ Enough, plenty: dusta foky, plenty of people. _See_ +Dosta. + +Duvvel, _s._ God. + + + +E + + +EANGE, _s._ Itch. + +Ebyok, _s._ The sea. _Sans._ Aapa (water). _Wal._ Ape. + +Eft, _a._ Seven. Few of the English Gypsies are acquainted with this +word; consequently, the generality, when they wish to express the number +seven, without being understood by the Gorgios or Gentiles, say Dui trins +ta yeck, two threes and one. + +En. A kind of _genitive particle_ used in compound words, being placed +between a noun and the particle ‘gro’ or ‘guero,’ which signifies a +possessor, or that which governs a thing or has to do with it: _e.g._ +lav-en-gro, a linguist or man of words, lit. word-of-fellow; wesh-en-gro, +a forester, or one who governs the wood; gurush-en-gre, things costing a +groat, lit. groat-of-things. + +Engri. A _neuter affix_, composed of the particles ‘en’ and ‘gro,’ much +used in the formation of figurative terms for things for which there are +no positive names in English Gypsy: for example, yag-engri, a fire-thing, +which denotes a gun; poggra-mengri, a breaking-thing or mill; ‘engri’ is +changed into ‘mengri’ when the preceding word terminates in a vowel. + +Engro. A _masculine affix_, used in the formation of figurative names; +for example, kaun-engro, an ear-fellow, or creature with ears, serving to +denote a hare; ruk-engro, or ruko-mengro, a tree-fellow, denoting a +squirrel; it is also occasionally used in names for inanimate objects, as +pov-engro, an earth-thing or potato. _See_ Guero. + +Escunyo, _s._ A wooden skewer, a pin. _Span. Gyp._ Chingabar (a pin). + +Escunyes, _pl._ Skewers. + +Escunye-mengro, _s._ A maker of skewers. + +Eskoe, _fem._ Eskie. A particle which affixed to a noun turns it into an +adjective: _e.g._ Duvel, God; duveleskoe, divine. It seems to be derived +from the _Wal._ Esk, Easkie. + +Eskey. An _affix_ or _postposition_, signifying, for the sake of: _e.g._ +Mi-dubble-eskey, for God’s sake. + +Ever-komi, _ad._ Evermore. + + + +F + + +FAKE, _v. a._ To work, in a dishonest sense; to steal, pick pockets. + +Fakement, _s._ A robbery, any kind of work: a pretty fakement that, a +pretty piece of work. A scoundrel—you ratfelo fakement, you precious +scoundrel; a man of any kind—he’s no bad fakement after all; a girl, St. +Paul’s Cathedral—what a rinkeny fakement, what a pretty girl, what a +noble church. + +Fashono, _a._ False, fashioned, made up. _Wal._ Fatche (to make); fatze +(face, surface). + +Fashono wangustis. Pretended gold rings, made in reality of brass or +copper. + +Fashono wangust engre. Makers of false rings. + +Fenella. A female Gypsy name. + +Ferreder, _a._ Better, more. _Gaelic_, Feairde. + +Fetér, _ad._ Better. _Pers._ بهتر _Span. Gyp._ Fetér. + +Figis, _s._ Fig. + +Figis-rookh, _s._ Fig-tree. + +Filisen, _s._ Country-seat. + +Fino, _a._ Fine. This word is not pure Gypsy: fino covar, a fine thing. + +Floure, _s._ Flower; a female Gypsy name. + +Fordel, _v. a._ Forgive; generally used for Artav, or Artavello, _q.v._, +and composed of the English ‘for’ and the Gypsy ‘del.’ + +Fordias / Fordios, _part. pass._ Forgiven. + +Foros, _s._ City. _See_ Vauros. + +Ful, _s._ Dung: ful-vardo, muck cart. + +Fuzyanri, _s._ Fern. _Hun._ Füz (willow), fácska (a shrub), füszár (a +stem). + + + +G + + +GAD, _s._ A shirt: pauno gad, a clean shirt. + +Gare, _v. n._, _v. a._ To take care, beware; to hide, conceal. _Sans._ +Ghar, to cover. + +Garridan. You hid: luvvu sor garridan, the money which you hid. + +Garrivava, _v. a._ I hide or shall hide, take care: to gare his +nangipen, to hide his nakedness. + +Gav, _s._ A town, village. _Pers._ [Persian which cannot be reproduced] + +Gav-engro, _s._ A constable, village officer, beadle, citizen. + +Gillie, _s._ A song. _Sans._ Khëli. + +Gillies. Songs. Sometimes used to denote newspapers; because these last +serve, as songs did in the old time, to give the world information of +remarkable events, such as battles, murders, and robberies. + +Gilyava. I sing, or shall sing. _Hin._ Guywuya. _Mod. Gr. κοιλαδῶ_. + +Gin, _v. a._ To count, reckon. _Sans._ Gan. _Hin._ Ginna. + +Ginnipen, _s._ A reckoning. + +Giv, _s._ Wheat. _Sans._ Yava (barley). _See_ Jobis. + +Giv-engro, _s._ Wheat-fellow, figurative name for farmer. + +Giv-engro ker, _s._ Farmhouse. + +Giv-engro puv, _s._ Farm. + +Godli, _s._ A warrant, perhaps hue and cry. _See_ Gudlie. _Span. Gyp._ +Gola (order). + +Gono, _s._ A sack. _Hin._ Gon. + +Gorgio, _s._ A Gentile, a person who is not a Gypsy; one who lives in a +house and not in a tent. It is a modification of the Persian word +[Persian which cannot be reproduced] Cojia, which signifies a gentleman, +a doctor, a merchant, etc. _Span. Gyp._ Gacho. + +Gorgiken rat. Of Gentile blood. + +Gorgie, _s._ A female Gentile or Englishwoman. + +Gorgikonaes, _ad._ After the manner of the Gentiles. + +Gooee, _s._ Pudding. _See_ Guyi. + +Gran, _s._ A barn: I sov’d yeck rarde drey a gran, I slept one night +within a barn (Gypsy song). + +Gran-wuddur, _s._ A barn door. + +Gran-wuddur-chiriclo. Barn-door fowl. + +Grasni / Grasnakkur, _s._ Mare, outrageous woman: what a grasni shan tu, +what a mare you are! Grasnakkur is sometimes applied to the _mayor_ of a +town. + +Grestur / Gristur, _s._ A horse. _Span. Gyp._ Gras, graste. + +Gry, _s._ A horse. _Sans._ Kharu. _Hin._ Ghora. _Irish_ and _Scottish +Gaelic_, Greadh. + +Gry-choring, _s._ Horse-stealing. + +Gry-engro, _s._ Horse-dealer. + +Gry-nashing. Horse-racing. + +Gudlee / Godli, _s._ Cry, noise, shout. _Hin._ Ghooloo. _Irish_, Gúl. +_Rus._ Gyl=gool (shout); Gólos (voice). + +Grommena / Grovena / Grubbena, _s._ and _v._ Thunder, to thunder. +_Sans._ Garjana. _Rus._ Groin (thunder). _Heb._ Ream, raemah. +_Gaelic_, Gairm (a cry). + +Gudlo, _a._, _s._ Sweet; honey, sugar. + +Gudlo-pishen, _s._ Honey-insect, bee. _See_ Bata. + +Gué. An _affix_, by which the dative case is formed: _e.g._ Man, I; +mangué, to me. + +Guero, _s._ A person, fellow, that which governs, operates. _Sans._ +Kãra (a maker). _Pers._ [Persian which cannot be reproduced] _Welsh_, +Gwr (a man). In the Spanish cant language, Guro signifies an alguazil, a +kind of civil officer. _See_ Engro. + +Gueri, _s.f._ Female person, virgin: Mideveleskey gueri Mary, Holy +Virgin Mary. + +Gush / Gurush / Gurushi, _a._ Groat: gurushengri, a groat’s worth. + +Guveni, _s._ Cow. _Sans._ Go. + +Guveni-bugnior, _s._ Cow-pox. + +Guveno, _s._ A bull. _Sans._ Gavaya. _Gaelic_, Gavuin, gowain +(year-old calf). + +Guyi, _s._ Pudding, black pudding. _Hin._ Gulgul. _Span. Gyp._ Golli. + +Guyi-mengreskie tan, _s._ Yorkshire. Lit. pudding-eaters’ country; in +allusion to the puddings for which Yorkshire is celebrated. + + + +H + + +HA / Haw, _v. a._ To eat. + +Habben, _s._ Food, victuals. + +Hal, _v. a._ To eat: mande can’t hal lis, I can’t eat it. _Sans._ Gala. + +Hanlo, _s._ A landlord, innkeeper. _Span. Gyp._ Anglanó. + +Hatch, _v. a._ To burn, light a fire. + +Hatchipen, _s._ A burning. + +Hatch, _v. n._ To stay, stop. _See_ Adje, atch, az. + +Hatchi-witchu, _s._ A hedgehog. This is a compound word from the _Wal._ +Aritche, a hedgehog, and the Persian Besha, a wood, and signifies +properly the prickly thing of the wood. In Spanish Gypsy, one of the +words for a pig or hog is Eriche, evidently the Wallachian Aritche, a +hedgehog. + +Hekta, _s._ Haste: kair hekta, make haste; likewise a leap. _See_ +Hokta. _Sans._ Hat’ha (to leap). + +Heres / Heris, _s. pl._ Legs. _Span. Gyp._ Jerias. Coshtni herri (a +wooden leg). + +Hetavava, _v. a._ To slay, beat, hit, carry off, plunder: if I can lel +bonnek of tute hetavava tute, if I can lay hold of you I will slay you. +_Heb._ Khataf (rapuit). _Sans._ Hat’ha (to ill-use, rapere). + +Hev, _s._ Hole: pawnugo hev, a water hole, a well; hev, a window; +hevior, windows. _Sans._ Avata. + +Heviskey, _a._ Full of holes: heviskey tan, a place full of holes. + +Hin, _s._ Dirt, ordure. _Mod. Gr. χυτὸν_. _Wal._ Gounoiou. _Irish_, +Gaineamh (sand). + +Hin, _v. a._ To void ordure. _Sans._ Hanna. _Mod. Gr. χύνω_. + +Hindity-mengré / Hindity-mescré, _s. pl._ Irish. Dirty, sordid fellows. + +Hoffeno, _s._ A liar. + +Hok-hornie-mush, s. A policeman. Partly a cant word. + +Hokka, _v. n._ To lie, tell a falsehood: hokka tute mande, if you tell +me a falsehood. + +Hokkano, _s._ A lie. _Sans._ Kuhanã (hypocrisy). + +Hokta, _v. a._ To leap, jump. _See_ Hekta. + +Hokta-mengro, _s._ Leaper, jumper. + +Hoofa, _s._ A cap. + +Hor / Horo, _s._ A penny. _Span. Gyp._ Corio an ochavo (or farthing). + +Horry, _s. pl._ Pence: shohorry, showhawry, sixpence. + +Horsworth, _s._ Pennyworth. + +Horkipen, _s._ Copper. _Hun. Gyp._ Harko. + +Huffeno, _s._ A liar. _See_ Hoffeno. + +Hukni, _s._ Ringing the changes, the fraudulent changing of one thing +for another. + + + +I + + +I, _pro._ She, it. + +I. A _feminine_ and _neuter termination_: _e.g._ Yag engr_i_, a +fire-thing or gun; coin _si_, who is she? so _si_, what is it? + +Inna / Inner, _prep._ In, within: inner Lundra, in London. _Span. Gyp._ +Enré. + +Iouzia, _s._ A flower. + +Is, _conj._ If; it is affixed to the verb—e.g. Dikiomis, if I had seen. + +Iv, _s._ Snow. _Hun. Gyp._ Yiv. _Span. Gyp._ Give. + +Iv-engri / Ivi-mengri, _s._ Snow-thing, snowball. + +Iuziou, _a._ Clean. _Mod. Gr. ὑγιὴς_ (sound, healthy). _See_ Roujio. + + + +J + + +JAL. To go, walk, journey. This verb is allied to various words in +different languages signifying movement, course or journey:—to the +Sanscrit Il, ila, to go; to the Russian Gulliat, to stroll, to walk +about; to the Turkish Iel, a journey; to the Jol of the Norse, and the +Yule of the Anglo-Saxons, terms applied to Christmas-tide, but which +properly mean the circular journey which the sun has completed at that +season: for what are Jol and Yule but the Ygul of the Hebrews? who call +the zodiac ‘Ygul ha mazaluth,’ or the circle of the signs. It is, +moreover, related to the German Jahr and the English Year, radically the +same words as Jol, Yule, and Ygul, and of the same meaning—namely, the +circle travelled by the sun through the signs. + +Já, _v. imp._ Go thou! + +Jal amande. I shall go. + +Jal te booty. Go to work. + +Jalno / Java / Jaw, v.a. I go. _Sans._ Chara. + +Jas, jasa. Thou goest: tute is jasing, thou art going. + +Jal, 3_rd pers. pres._ He goes. + +Jalla, _f._ She goes. + +Jalno ando pawni, _v. a._ I swim. Lit. I go in water. + +Jaw, _ad._ So: jaw si, so it is. _See_ Ajaw, asá, ashá. + +Jib, _s._ Tongue. _Sans._ Jihva. + +Jib, _v. n._ To live, to exist. _Sans._ Jiv. _Rus._ Jit. +_Lithuanian_, Gywenu. + +Jibben, _s._ Life, livelihood. _Sans._ Jivata (life), Jivika +(livelihood). _Rus._ Jivot, Tchivot. + +Jivvel, _v. n._ He lives: kai jivvel o, where does he live? + +Jin / Jinava, _v. n._ To know. _Sans._ Jna. + +Jinnepen, _s._ Wisdom, knowledge. _Sans._ Jnapti (understanding). + +Jinney-mengro, _s._ A knowing fellow, a deep card, a Grecian, a wise +man, a philosopher. + +Jinney-mengreskey rokrapénes. Sayings of the wise: the tatcho drom to be +a jinney-mengro is to dick and rig in zi, the true way to be a wise man +is to see and bear in mind. + +Jongar, _v. n._ To awake. _Sans._ Jagri. _Hin._ Jugana. + +Jôbis, _s._ Oats. _Sans._ Java (barley). _Wal._ Obia. _See_ Giv. + +Joddakaye, _s._ Apron; anything tied round the middle or hips. _Sans._ +Kata (the hip, the loins), Kataka (a girdle). + +Ju, _s._ A louse. _Sans._ Yuka. + +Juvalo, _a._ Lousy. + +Juvior, _s. pl._ Lice. + +Juggal / Jukkal, _s._ Dog. _Sans._ Srigãla (jackal). + +Jukkalor. Dogs. + +Jukkaelsti cosht, _s._ Dog-wood; a hard wood used for making skewers. + +Juva / Juvali, Woman, wife. + +Juvli, _s._ Girl. _See_ Chavali. + + + +K + + +KAEL, _s._ Cheese. + +Kaes, _s._ Cheese. + +Kah / Kai, _ad._ Where: kai tiro ker, where’s your house? kai si the +churi, where is the knife? _Sans._ Kva. + +Kair, _v. a._ To do. _Sans._ Kri, to do; kara (doing). + +Kair misto. To make well, cure, comfort. + +Kairipen, _s._ Work, labour. _Sans._ Karman. + +Kakkaratchi, _s._ Magpie; properly a raven. _Mod. Gr. κορακαζ_. + +Kanau / Knau, _ad._ Now. + +Karring. Crying out, hawking goods. _Span. Gyp._ Acarar (to call). +_See_ Koring. + +Kaulo, _a._ Black. _Sans._ Kãla. _Arab._ [Arabic which cannot be +reproduced] + +Kaulo chiriclo, _s._ A blackbird. + +Kaulo cori, _s._ A blackthorn. + +Kaulo durril, _s._ Blackberry. + +Kaulo Gav, _s._ Black-town, Birmingham. + +Kaulo guero, _s._ A black, negro. + +Kaulo guereskey tem, _s._ Negroland, Africa. + +Kaulo-mengro, _s._ A blacksmith. + +Kaulo ratti. Black blood, Gypsy blood: kaulo ratti adrey leste, he has +Gypsy blood in his veins. + +Kaun, _s._ An ear. _Sans._ Karna. + +Kaun-engro, _s._ An ear-fellow, thing with long ears; a figurative name +for a hare. + +Ke, _prep._ Unto. Likewise a _postposition_—_e.g._ lenké, to them. + +Keir / Ker, _s._ A house. _Sans._ Griha. + +Ker / Kerey / Ken, _ad._ Home, homeward: java keri, I will go home. + +Keir-poggring. House-breaking. + +Keir-rakli, _s._ A housemaid. + +Kek, _ad. a._ No, none, not: kek tatcho, it is not true. + +Kekkeno, _a._ None, not any: kekkeni pawni, no water. + +Kekkeno mushe’s poov, _s._ No man’s land; a common. + +Kekkauvi, _s.f._ Kettle. _Mod. Gr. κακκάβη_. + +Kekkauviskey saster, _s._ Kettle-iron; the hook by which the kettle is +suspended over the fire. + +Kekko, _ad._ No, it is not, not it, not he. + +Kekkomi. No more. _See_ Komi, Ever-komi. + +Kek-cushti. Of no use; no good. _See_ Koshto. + +Kem, _s._ The sun. _See_ Cam. + +Ken. A _particle_ affixed in English Gypsy to the name of a place +terminating in a vowel, in order to form a genitive; _e.g._ Eli_ken_ bori +congri, the great church of Ely. _See_ En. + +Ken, _s._ A house, properly a nest. _Heb._ [Hebrew which cannot be +reproduced] Kin. + +Kenyor, _s. pl._ Ears. _See_ Kaun. + +Ker / Kerava _v. a._ To do; make: kair yag, make a fire. _Sans._ Kri. +_Pers._ [Persian which cannot be reproduced] _Gaelic_, Ceaird (a trade), +ceard (a tinker). _Lat._ Cerdo (a smith). English, Char, chare (to work +by the day). + +Kerdo. He did. + +Kedast, 2_nd pers. pret._ Thou didst. + +Kedo, _part. pass._ Done. + +Kerri-mengro, _s._ Workman. + +Kerrimus, s. Doing, deed: mi-Doovel’s kerrimus, the Lord’s doing. +_Sans._ Karman (work). + +Kerrit, _p. pass._ Cooked, boiled. Anglo-Indian word, Curried. _Fr._ +Cuire. _Gaelic_, Greidh (to cook victuals). + +Kettaney, _ad._ Together. _Wal._ Ketziba (many). _See_ Kisi. + +Kidda, _v. a._ To pluck. + +Kil, _v. a._ To dance, play. _Hin._ Kelná. _Sans._ Kshvel. + +Killi-mengro, _s._ A dancer, player. + +Kil, _s._ Butter. + +Kin, _v. a._ To buy: kinning and bikkning, buying and selling. _Heb._ +Kana (he bought). + +Kin aley. To ransom, redeem, buy off. + +Kinnipen, _s._ A purchase. + +Kinnipen-divvus, _s._ Purchasing-day, Saturday. + +Kindo, _a._ Wet. + +Kipsi, _s._ Basket. _Span. Gyp._ Quicia. + +Kinyo. Tired. _Span. Gyp._ Quiñao. + +Kisaiya. A female Gypsy name. + +Kisi, _ad._ How much, to what degree: kisi puro shan tu, how old are +you? _Wal._ Kitze. _Span. Gyp._ Quichi. _Sans._ Kati (how many?) + +Kisseh / Kissi, _s._ A purse. _Sans._ Kosa. _Pers._ [Persian which +cannot be reproduced] + +Kistur, _v. a._ To ride. _Wal._ Keleri. + +Kistri-mengro / Kistro-mengro, _s._ Rider, horseman. + +Kitchema, _s._ Public-house, inn. _Hun._ Korcsma. _Wal._ Keirtchumie. + +Kitchema-mengro, _s._ Innkeeper. + +Klism / Klisn, _s._ A key. _Rus._ Cliotche. _Mod. Gr. κλείσμα_ +(shutting up). + +Klism-engri, _s._ A lock. Lit. key-thing. + +Klism-hev, _s._ A keyhole. + +Klop, _s._ A gate, seemingly a cant word; perhaps a bell. _Wal._ +Klopot. + +Kokkodus. Uncle: kokkodus Artáros, Uncle Arthur. + +Komi, _adv._ More: ever-komi, evermore. + +Koosho, _a._ Good: kooshi gillie, a good song. _Sans._ Kusala. + +Kora / Kore, _v. a._ To riot. _Wal._ Kiorei (to cry out, bawl, make a +tumult). _Heb._ Kara (he convoked, cried out). + +Koring, _part. pres._ Rioting. _Heb._ Kirivah (proclamation). + +Kora-mengro, _s._ A rioter. + +Kore, _v. a._ To hawk goods about, to cry out, to proclaim. + +Koring lil, _s._ Hawking-licence. + +Koring chiriclo, _s._ The cuckoo. + +Koshto, _a._ Good. _Pers._ خوب + +Koshtipen, _s._ Goodness, advantage, profit: kek koshtipen in dukkering +knau, it is of no use to tell fortunes now. + +Kosko, _a._ Good. + +Koskipen, _s._ Goodness. + +Krallis, _s._ King. _Rus._ Korol. _Hun._ Király. _Wal._ Kraiu. + +Kushto, _a._ Good: kushto si for mangui, I am content. + + + +L + + +LA, _pro. pers._ Her; accusative of ‘i’ or ‘ yoi,’ she. + +Laki, _pro. poss._ Her: laki die, her mother. + +Lasa / Lasar, With her; instrumental case of ‘i.’ + +Later. From her; ablative of ‘i.’ + +Lati. Genitive of ‘i’; frequently used as the accusative—e.g. cams tu +lati, do you love her? + +Lang / Lango, a. Lame. _Sans._ Lang. _Pers._ [Persian which cannot be +reproduced] Lenk. + +Lashi / Lasho, Louis. _Hungarian_, Lajos, Lazlo. Scotch, Lesley. + +Latch, _v. a._ To find. _Wal._ Aphla. + +Lav, _s._ Word. _Sans_. Lapa (to speak). _Eng._ Lip. + +Lavior, _pl._ Words. + +Lav-chingaripen, _s._ Dispute, word-war. + +Lav-engro, _s._ Word-master, linguist. + +Len, _pro. pers. pl._ To them: se len, there is to them, the have. + +Lendar, _ablative_. From them. + +Lende / Lunde, _gen. and acc._ Of them, them. + +Lensar. With them. + +Lengué, _pro. poss._ Their: lengue tan, their tent. + +Les, _pro. pers._ To him; dative of ‘yo,’ he: pawno stadj se les, he has +a white hat. + +Lescro, _pro. poss._ His, belonging to him: lescro prala, his brother. + +Leste. Of him, _likewise_ him; genitive and accusative of ‘yo.’ + +Lester. From him. + +Leste’s. His: leste’s wast, his hand; properly, lescro wast. + +Lesti. Her _or_ it: pukker zi te lesti, tell her your mind; he can’t +rokkra lesti, he can’t speak it. + +Leav / Ley, _v. a._ To take. _Wal._ Loua. + +Lel. He takes. + +Lel cappi. Get booty, profit, capital. + +Lennor, _s._ Summer, spring. + +Levinor, _s._ Ale; drinks in which there is wormwood. _Heb._ Laenah +(wormwood). _Irish_, Lion (ale). + +Levinor-ker, _s._ Alehouse. + +Levinor-engri. Hop. Lit. ale-thing. + +Levinor-engriken tem. Kent. Lit. hop-country. + +Li, _pron._ It: dovo se li, that’s it. + +Lidan, _v. a._ You took; 2_nd pers. pret._ of Ley. + +Lil, _s._ Book; a letter or pass. _Hun._ Level. _Sans._ Likh (to +write). _Hindustani_, Likhan (to write). + +Lillai, _s._ Summer. _Hun. Gyp._ Nilei. + +Linnow, _part. pass._ Taken, apprehended. + +Lis, _pro. dat._ To it: adrey lis, in it. + +Lollo / Lullo, _a._ Red. _Pers._ [Persian which cannot be reproduced] +Lal. + +Lolle bengres, _s. pl._ Red waistcoats, Bow Street runners. + +Lollo matcho, _s._ Red herring. Lit. red fish. + +Lolli plaishta, _s._ A red cloak. + +Lolli, _s._ A farthing. + +Lon / Lun, _s._ Salt. _Sans._ Lavana. _Hin._ Lon. + +Lou, _pro._ It: oprey-lou, upon it. _Wal._ Lou. + +Loure, _v. a._ To steal. _See_ Luripen. + +Lubbeny, _s._ Harlot. _Rus._ Liabodieitza (adultress), liobodeinoe +(adulterous). _Sans._ Lúbha (to inflame with lust, to desire). The +English word Love is derived from this Sanscrit root. + +Lubbenipen, _s._ Harlotry. + +Lubbenified. Become a harlot. + +Lundra. London. _Mod. Gr. Λόνδρα_. + +Luripen, _s._ Robbery, a booty. Lit. a seizure. _Wal._ Luare (seizure, +capture), Louarea Parizouloui (the capture of Paris). + +Lutherum, _s._ Sleep, repose, slumber. + +Luvvo, _s._ Money, currency. _Rus._ Lóvok (convenient, handy, quick, +agile). In Spanish Gypsy, a real (small coin) is called Quelati, a thing +which dances, from Quelar, to dance. + +Luvvo-mengro, _s._ Money-changer, banker. + +Luvvo-mengro-ker, _s._ Banker’s house, bank. + + + +M + + +MÁ, _ad._ Not; only used before the imperative: má muk, let not. +_Sans._ Mã. _Pers._ [Persian which cannot be reproduced] + +Maas, _s._ _Sans._ Mansa Mans. _Rus._ Maso. _See_ Mas. + +Maas-engro / Maaso-mengro, _s._ Butcher. + +Mailla, _s._ Ass, donkey. _Wal._ Megaroul. _Sans._ Baluya. + +Mailla and posh. Ass and foal. + +Malleco, _a._ False. + +Malúno / Maloney, _s._ Lightning. _Rus._ Mólnïya. + +Mam, _s._ Mother. _Wal._ Moume. _Welsh_, Mam. _Irish and Scottish +Gaelic_, Muime (a nurse). + +Man, _pron. pers._ I; very seldom used. _Hin._ Muen. + +Mande, _pron. pers. oblique_ of Man; generally used instead of the +nominative Man. + +Mander. Ablative of Man, from me: jã mander, go from me. + +Mande’s. My. Mande’s wast, my hand; used improperly for miro. + +Mangue. Dative of Man, to me; sometimes used instead of the nominative. + +Mansa. With me. + +Mang, _v. a._ To beg. _Hin._ Mangna. _Sans._ Mãrg. + +Mango-mengro, _s._ A beggar. + +Mangipen, _s._ The trade of begging. _Sans._ Mãrgana (begging). + +Manricley, _s._ A cake. _Span. Gyp._ Manricli. + +Manush, _s._ Man. _Sans._ Mãnasha. _Span. Gyp._ Manus. _See_ Monish. + +Manushi, _s._ Woman, wife. _Sans._ Manushi. + +Maricli, _s._ A cake. _See_ Maricley. + +Mash, _s._ Umbrella. A cant word. + +Matcho, _s._ A fish. _Sans._ Matsya. _Hin._ Muchee. + +Matcheneskoe Gav. Yarmouth. Lit. the fishy town. + +Matcheneskoe guero, _s._ A fisherman. + +Matchka, _s.f._ A cat. _Hun._ Macska. + +Matchko, _s. m._ A he-cat. + +Mattipen, _s._ Drunkenness. _Sans._ Matta (to be intoxicated). _Mod. +Gr. Μέθη_ (intoxication). _Welsh_, Meddwy (to intoxicate). + +Matto, _a._ Drunk, intoxicated. _Welsh_, Meddw. + +Matto-mengro, _s._ Drunkard. + +Mea, _s._ Mile: dui mear, two miles. _Wal._ Mie. + +Mea-bar, _s._ Milestone. + +Medisin, _s._ Measure, bushel. _Sans._ Mãna. + +Mek, _v. n._ Leave, let: meklis, leave off, hold your tongue, have done. +_Sans._ Moksh. + +Men, _pr._ We; _pl._ of Man. + +Men, _s._ Neck. _Gaelic_, Muineal. _Welsh_, Mwng. _Mandchou_, Meifen. + +Men-pangushi, _s._ Neckcloth. _See_ Pangushi. + +Mengro. A word much used in composition. _See_ Engro and Mescro. + +Mensalli, _s._ A table. _Wal._ Masi. + +Mer / Merava, _v. n._ To die. _Sans._ Mri. + +Merricley, _s._ A cake. _See_ Manricley. + +Merripen, _s._ Death. _Sans._ Mara. + +Merripen, _s._ Life, according to the Gypsies, though one feels inclined +to suppose that the real signification of the word is Death; it may, +however, be connected with the Gaulic or Irish word Mairam, to endure, +continue, live long: Gura’ fada mhaireadh tu! may you long endure, long +life to you! In Spanish Gypsy Merinao signifies an immortal. + +Mescro. A _particle_ which, affixed to a verb, forms a substantive +masculine:—_e.g._ Camo, I love; camo-mescro, a lover. Nash, to run; +nashi-mescro, a runner. It is equivalent to Mengro, _q.v._ + +Messalli, _s._ A table. _Wal._ Masi. + +Mestipen, _s._ Life, livelihood, living, fortune, luck, goodness. +_Span. Gyp._ Mestipen, bestipen. _Wal._ Viatsie. + +Mi, _pron._ I, my. + +Mi cocoro, _pron. poss._ I myself, I alone. + +Mi dearie Dubbeleskey. For my dear God’s sake. + +Mi develeskie gueri, _s.f._ A holy female. + +Mi develeskie gueri Mary. Holy Virgin Mary. + +Mi develeskoe Baval Engro. Holy Ghost. + +Mi dubbelungo, _a._ Divine. + +Mi duvvelungo divvus, _s._ Christmas Day. + +Millior, _s._ Miles; panj millior, five miles. + +Minge / Mintch, _s._ Pudendum muliebre. + +Miro, _pron. poss._ My, mine. + +Miri, _pron. poss. f._ My, mine. + +Misto / Mistos, _ad._ Well. + +Misto dusta. Very well. + +Mistos amande. I am glad. + +Mitch, _s._ _See_ Minge. + +Mizella. Female Gypsy name. + +Mokkado, _a._ Unclean to eat. _Wal._ Mourdar (dirty). + +Monish, _s._ Man. _See_ Manush. + +Mol, _s._ Wine. _See_ Mul. + +Mollauvis, _s._ Pewter. + +Moomli, _s._ Candle, taper. _See_ Mumli. + +Moomli-mengro, _s._ Candlestick, lantern. + +Moar, _v. a._ To grind. _See_ Morro. + +More / Morava, _v. a._ To kill, slay. _Sans._ Mri. _Wal._ Omori. + +Moreno, _part. pass._ Killed, slain. + +More, _v. a._ To shave, shear. _Hun. Gyp._ Murinow. + +Mormusti, _s.f._ Midwife. _Wal._ Maimoutsi. _Rus._ Mameichka (nurse). + +Moro, _pron. poss._ Our: moro dad, our father. + +Morro, _s._ Bread. Lit. that which is ground. _See_ Moar. _Span. +Gyp._ Manro. _Hun. Gyp._ Manro, also Gheum: sin gheum manro, gheum is +manro (bread). _Rus. Gyp._ Morroshka (a loaf). + +Morro-mengro, _s._ A baker. + +Mort, _s._ Woman, concubine; a cant word. + +Mosco / Moshko, A fly. _Lat._ Musca. _Wal._ Mouskie. _Span. Gyp._ +Moscabis (fly-blown, stung with love, picado, enamorado). + +Moskey, _s._ A spy: to jal a moskeying, to go out spying. _Fr._ +Mouchard. + +Mufta, _s.f._ Box, chest. _See_ Muktar. + +Mui, _s._ Face, mouth: lollo leste mui, his face is red. _Sans._ Mukha +(face, mouth). _Fr._ Mot (a word). _Provenzal_, Mo. + +Muk, _v. n._ To leave, let. _See_ Mek. + +Mukkalis becunye. Let it be. + +Muktar / Mukto, _s._ Box, chest. + +Mul, _s._ Wine. _Pers._ Mul. + +Mul divvus. Christmas Day. Lit. wine day. + +Mul-engris, _s. pl._ Grapes: mul-engri tan, vineyard. + +Mulleni muktar, _s._ Coffin. Lit. dead-chest. + +Mullodustie mukto. _Id._ + +Mulleno hev, _s._ Grave. + +Mulleno kêr, _s._ Sepulchre, cemetery. + +Mullo, _s._, _a._ Dead man, dead. + +Mullo mas, _s._ Dead meat; flesh of an animal not slain, but which died +alone. + +Mumli, _s.f._ Candle. + +Mumli-mescro, _s._ Chandler. + +Munjee, _s._ A blow on the mouth, seemingly a cant word. _Hin._ Munh, +mouth. _Ger._ Mund. + +Murces / Mursior, _s. pl._ Arms. _Span. Gyp._ Murciales. + +Muscro, _s._ Constable. _See_ Muskerro. + +Mush, _s._ Man. _Rus._ Mouge. _Finnish_, Mies. _Tibetian_, Mi. +_Lat._ Mas (a male). + +Mushi, _s._ Woman. + +Mushipen, _s._ A little man, a lad. _Toulousian_, Massip (a young man), +massipo (a young woman). + +Muskerro, _s._ Constable. + +Muskerriskoe cost, _s._ Constable’s staff. + +Mutra, _s._ Urine. + +Mutrava, _v. a._ To void urine. _Sans._ Mutra. + +Mutra-mengri, _s._ Tea. + +Mutzi, _s._ Skin. _Span. Gyp._ Morchas. + +Mutzior, _s. pl._ Skins. + + + +N + + +NA, _ad._ Not. + +Naflipen, _s._ Sickness. _Span. Gyp._ Nasallipen. _Mod. Gr. νόσευμα_. + +Naflo, _a._ Sick. + +Nai. Properly Na hi, there is not: nai men chior, we have no girls. + +Naior, _s. pl._ Nails of the fingers or toes. _Mod. Gr. νύχι_. + +Nangipen, _s._ Nakedness. + +Nango, _a._ Naked. + +Narilla / Narrila, A female Gypsy name. + +Nash, _v. a._ To run. _Span. Gyp._ Najar. + +Nashimescro, _s._ Runner, racer. + +Nashimescro-tan, _s._ Race-course. + +Nash, _v. a._ To lose, destroy, to hang. _Sans._ Nasa. _Span. Gyp._ +Najabar (to lose). _Sans._ Nakha (to destroy). _Eng._ Nacker (a killer +of old horses). + +Nashado, _part. pret._ Lost, destroyed, hung. + +Nashimescro, _s._ Hangman. + +Nashko, _part. pass._ Hung: nashko pré rukh, hung on a tree. + +Nasho, _part. pass._ Hung. + +Nástis, _a._ Impossible. _See_ Astis. + +Nav, _s._ Name. _Hun._ Nev. + +Naval, _s._ Thread. _Span. Gyp._ Nafre. + +Naes / Nes, _postpos._ According to, after the manner of: gorgikonaes, +after the manner of the Gentiles; Romano-chalugo-naes, after the manner +of the Gypsies. + +Ne, _ad._ No, not: ne burroder, no more; ne riddo, not dressed. + +Nevo, _a._ New. + +Nevi, _a. fem._ New: nevi tud from the guveni, new milk from the cow. + +Nevey Rukhies. The New Forest. Lit. new trees. + +Nevi Wesh. The New Forest. + +Nick, _v. a._ To take away, steal. _Span. Gyp._ Nicabar. + +Nick the cost. To steal sticks for skewers and linen-pegs. + +Nogo, _s._ Own, one’s own; nogo dad, one’s own father; nogo tan, one’s +own country. + +Nok, _s._ Nose. _Hin._ Nakh. + +Nok-engro, _s._ A glandered horse. Lit. a nose-fellow. + +Nokkipen, _s._ Snuff. + + + +O + + +O, _art. def._ The. + +O, _pron._ He. + +Odoi, _ad._ There. _Hun._ Ott, oda. + +Oduvvu, _pron. dem._ That. _Span. Gyp._ Odoba. + +Olevas / Olivas / Olivor, _s. pl._ Stockings. _Span. Gyp._ Olibias. +_Wal._ Chorapul. + +Opral / Opré / Oprey, _prep._ Upon, above. _Wal._ Pre, asoupra. + +Or. A plural termination; for example, Shock, a cabbage, _pl._ shock-or. +It is perhaps derived from Ouri, the plural termination of Wallachian +neuter nouns ending in ‘e.’ + +Ora, _s.f._ A watch. _Hun._ Ora. + +Ora, _s._ An hour: so si ora, what’s o’clock? + +Orlenda. Gypsy female name. _Rus._ Orlitza (female eagle). + +Os. A common termination of Gypsy nouns. It is frequently appended by +the Gypsies to English nouns in order to disguise them. + +Owli, _ad._ Yes. _See_ Avali. + + + +P + + +PA, _prep._ By: pá mui, by mouth. _Rus._ Po. + +Padlo, _ad._ Across: padlo pawnie, across the water, transported. + +Pahamengro, _s._ Turnip. + +Pailloes, _s._ Filberts. + +Pal, _s._ Brother. + +Pal of the bor. Brother of the hedge, hedgehog. + +Palal, _prep. ad._ Behind, after, back again: av palal, come back, come +again: palal the welgorus, after the fair. _Mod. Gr. πάλιν_ (again). +_Rus._ Opiat (_id._). + +Pali, _ad._ Again, back. + +Pand, _v. a._ To bind. _Sans._ Bandh. + +Pandipen, _s._ Pinfold, prison, pound. + +Pandlo, _part. pass._ Bound, imprisoned, pounded. + +Pand opre, _v. a._ To bind up. + +Pandlo-mengro, _s._ Tollgate, thing that’s shut. + +Pangushi, _s.f._ Handkerchief. + +Pãni, _s._ Water. _See_ Pawni. + +Panishey shock, _s._ Watercress. Lit. water-cabbage. _See_ Shok. + +Panj, _a._ Five. _See_ Pansch. + +Pani-mengro, _s._ Sailor, waterman. + +Panni-mengri, _s._ Garden. + +Panno, _s._ Cloth. _Lat._ Pannus. _Wal._ Penzie. + +Pansch, _s._ Five. _Hin._ Panch. + +Pappins / Pappior, _s. pl._ Ducks. _Mod. Gr. πάρια_. + +Paracrow, _v. a._ To thank: paracrow tute, I thank you. + +Parava / Parra, _v. a._ To change, exchange. _See_ Porra. + +Parriken, _s._ Trust, credit. _Mod. Gr. παρακαταθήκη_ (trusted goods). + +Parno, _a._ White. _See_ Pauno. + +Pas, _s._ Half. _See_ Posh. + +Pasherro, _s._ Halfpenny; _pl._ pasherie. _Pers._ [Persian which cannot +be reproduced] Pasheez (a farthing). + +Pas-more, _v. a._ Half-kill. + +Patch, _s._ Shame. _Span. Gyp._ Pachi, modesty, virginity. _Sans._ +Putchã. + +Patnies, _s. pl._ Ducks. + +Patrin, _s._ A Gypsy trail; handfuls of leaves or grass cast by the +Gypsies on the road, to denote to those behind the way which they have +taken. + +Pattin, _s._ A leaf. _Span. Gyp._ Patia. _Sans._ Patra. + +Pattinor. Leaves. + +Paub / Paubi, _s._ An apple. _Hung. Gyp._ Paboy. + +Paub tan, _s._ Orchard. + +Pauno, _a._ White. _Sans._ Pandu. _Gaelic_, Ban. + +Pauno gad. Clean shirt. + +Pauno sherro. Grey head, white head. + +Pauno, _s._ Flour. Lit. what is white. The Latin ‘panis’ seems to be +connected with this word. + +Pauno-mengro, _s._ A miller, white fellow. + +Pauno-mui, _s._ Pale face; generally applied to a vain, foolish girl, +who prefers the company of the pallid Gentiles to that of the dark +Romans. + +Pauvi, _s._ An apple. + +Pauvi-pãni, _s._ Cyder, apple-water. + +Pawdel, _ad._ Across, over: pawdel puve and pawni, across land and +water; pawdel the chumba, over the hill. + +Pawnee / Pawni, _s._ Water. _Sans._ Pãniya. _Hin._ Panie. _Eng._ +Pond. _See_ Pāni. + +Pawnugo, _a._ Watery: pawnugo hev, water-hole, well. + +Pazorrhus, _part. pass._ Indebted. _See_ Pizarris. + +Péava, _v. a._ To drink. _Sans._ Pã. + +Péa-mengri, _s._ Tea-pot. _Wal._ Bea. Lit. drinking thing. + +Peeapen, _s._ Health: ako’s your peeapen! here’s your health! + +Pea-mengro, _s._ Drunkard. + +Pedloer, _s._ Nuts; _prop._ Acorns. _Pers._ Peleed. + +Peerdie, _s._ Female tramper. + +Peerdo, _s._ Male tramper. + +Pek’d / Pekt, _part. pass._ Roasted. _Span. Gyp._ Peco. _Sans._ Pãka +(cooking). _Pers._ Pekhtan. _Rus._ Petsch (oven). + +Pele, _s. pl._ Testicles. _Sans._ P’hala. + +Pelengo gry / Pelengro gry, _s._ Stone-horse. + +Pen, a _particle_ affixed to an adjective or a verb when some property or +quality, affection or action is to be expressed, the termination of the +first word being occasionally slightly modified: for example, Kosko, +good, koskipen, goodness; Tatcho, true, tatchipen, truth; Camo, I love, +camipen, love; Chingar, to fight, chingaripen, war. It is of much the +same service in expressing what is abstract and ideal as Engro, Mescro, +and Engri are in expressing what is living and tangible. It is sometimes +used as a diminutive, _e.g._ Mushipen, a little fellow. + +Pen, _s._ Sister. + +Pen / Penav, _v. a._ To say, speak. _Wal._ Spoune. + +Penchava, _v. n._ To think. _Pers._ Pendashten. _Sans._ Vi-cit. + +Penliois, _s._ Nuts. _See_ Pedloer. + +Per, _s._ Belly. + +Per, _v. n._ To fall. _Span. Gyp._ Petrar. _Sans._ Pat. + +Per tuley. To fall down. + +Perdo, _a._ Full. _Sans._ Purva, to fill. + +Pes / Pessa, _v. a._ To pay. _Span. Gyp._ Plaserar. _Rus._ Platit. +_Wal._ Pleti. _Hun._ Fizetni. + +Pes apopli. To repay. + +Petul, _s._ A horse-shoe. _Mod. Gr. πέταλον_. _Wal._ Potkoavie. +_Heb._ Bedel (tin). + +Petul-engro, _s._ Horseshoe-maker, smith, tinker; the name of a Gypsy +tribe. + +Pi, _v. a._ To drink. _Sans._ Piva (drinking). _See_ Peava. + +Pias, _s._ Fun. _Mod. Gr. παίζω_ (to play). + +Pikkis / Pikkaris, _s. pl._ Breasts. _See_ Birk, bark. _Wal._ Piept. + +Pikko, _s._ Shoulder. + +Pios, _part. pass._ Drunken. Only employed when a health is drunk: +_e.g._ aukko tu pios adrey Romanes, your health is drunk in Romany. + +Píre, _s. pl._ Feet. + +Pirè, _s. pl._ Trampers. + +Pire-gueros, _s. pl._ Travellers, trampers. Lit. foot-fellows. + +Pireni, _s.f._ Sweetheart. + +Pireno, _s. m._ Sweetheart. + +Piro, _v. a._ To walk: pirel, he walks. + +Piro-mengro, _s._ Walker. + +Pirry, _s._ Pot, boiler. This is a west-country Gypsy word. _Span. +Gyp._ Piri. _Sans._ Pithara, pãtra. + +Pishen, _s._ Flea, any kind of insect: guldo pishen, honey-insect, bee, +honey. + +Pivli, _s._ A widow. + +Pivlo, _s._ A widower. + +Pivley-gueri, _s._ A widowed female. + +Pivley-guero, _s._ A widowed fellow. + +Pivley-raunie, _s._ A widow lady. + +Piya-mengro, _s._ Drunkard. _See_ Pea-mengro. + +Pizarris / Pizaurus, _part. pass._ Trusted, credited, in debt. _Sans._ +Vishvas (to trust). _Wal._ Se bizoui (to trust, to credit). _Mod. Gr. +πιστευθίες_ (he who has been credited). _Span. Gyp._ Bisarar (to owe), +bisauras (debts), pista (an account). + +Pizarri-mengro, _s._ A trusted person, a debtor. + +Plakta, _s._ Sheet: bero-rukiskie plakta, a ship’s sail. + +Plashta, _s._ Cloak: lolli plashta, red cloak. _Span. Gyp._ Plata. +Plakta and plashta are probably both derived from the Wallachian postat, +a sheet. + +Plastra, _v. a._ To run. + +Plastra lesti. Run it; run for your life. + +Plastra-mengro, _s. a._ A Bow Street runner, a pursuer. In Spanish +Gypsy, Plastañi means a company which pursues robbers. + +Poggado, _part. pass._ Broken. + +Poggado bavol-engro, _s._ Broken-winded horse. + +Poggado habben, _s._ Broken victuals. + +Poggra, _v. a._ To break. _Wal._ Pokni. + +Poggra-mengri, _s._ A mill. Lit. a breaking thing. + +Poknies, _s._ Justice of the peace. _Rus._ Pokoio (to pacify). + +Pokiniskoe ker, _s._ House of a justice of the peace. + +Pooshed / Poosheno, _part. pass._ Buried: mulo ta poosheno, dead and +buried. + +Por, _s._ Feather. _Pers._ Par. _Sans._ Parna. + +Por-engro, _s._ Pen-master, penman, one able to write. + +Por-engri-pen, _s._ Penmanship, writing. + +Porior, _s. pl._ Feathers. + +Pordo, _a._ Heavy. _Wal._ Povarie (a weight). _Lat._ Pondus. + +Porra, _v. a._ To exchange. + +Posh, _s._ Half. + +Posherro / Poshoro, _s._ Halfpenny. + +Possey-mengri, _s._ Pitchfork; improperly used for any fork. The +literal meaning is a straw-thing; a thing used for the removal of straw. +_See_ Pus. + +Potan, _s._ Tinder. _Wal._ Postabh (sheet, cloth). _Sans._ Pata +(cloth). + +Poov / Pov, _s._ Earth, ground. _Sans._ Bhu. + +Poov, _v._ To poov a gry, to put a horse in a field at night. + +Pov-engro, _s._ An earth thing, potato. + +Pov-engreskoe, _a._ Belonging to the potato. + +Povengreskoe gav. Potato town—Norwich. + +Povengreskoe tem. Potato country—Norfolk. + +Povo-guero, _s._ Mole, earth-fellow. + +Praio, _a._ Upper: praio tem, upper country, heaven. _Span. Gyp._ Tarpe +(heaven). _See_ Opré. + +Prala, _s._ Brother. + +Pude, _v. a._ To blow. + +Pude-mengri, _s._ Blowing thing, bellows. + +Pudge, _s._ Bridge. _Wal._ Pod, podoul. _Pers._ Pul. _Sans._ Pāli. + +Pukker, _v. a._ To tell, declare, answer, say, speak. _Span. Gyp._ +Pucanar (to proclaim). _Hin._ Pukar, pukarnar. + +Pur, _s._ Belly. _See_ Per. + +Pureno, _a._ Ancient, old: pureno foky, the old people. _Sans._ Purvya +(ancient). + +Puro, _a._ Old. _Sans._ Purã. + +Puro dad, _s._ Grandfather. + +Purrum, _s._ Leek, onion. _Lat._ Porrum. + +Purrum / Purrun, _n. pr._ Lee, or Leek; the name of a numerous Gypsy +tribe in the neighbourhood of London. _Wal._ Pur (onion). _Lat._ +Porrum. _Sans._ Purãna (ancient). + +Pus, _s._ Straw. _Sans._ Busa, chaff. + +Putch, _v. a._ To ask. _Hin._ Puchhna. + +Putsi, _s._ Purse, pocket. _Sans._ Putã, pocket. _Wal._ Pountsi. _Old +cant_, Boung. + +Putsi-lil, _s._ Pocket-book. + +Puvvo, _s._ Earth, ground. _See_ Poov. + +Puvvesti churi, _s. a._ Plough. + + + +R + + +RAIA, _s._ Gentleman, lord. _See_ Rye. + +Rak, _v. n._ To beware, take care; rak tute, take care of yourself. +_Sans._ Raksh (to guard, preserve). + +Rakli, _s.f._ Girl. + +Raklo, _s._ Boy, lad. + +Ran, _s._ Rod: ranior, rods. _Sans._ Ratha (cane, ratan). + +Rarde, _s._ Night. _Sans._ Rātri. + +Rardiskey, _a._ Nightly. + +Rardiskey kair poggring, _s._ Housebreaking by night, burglary. + +Rashengro, _s._ Clergyman. + +Rashi, _s._ Clergyman, priest. _Sans._ Rishi (holy person). + +Rashieskey rokkring tan, _s._ Pulpit. + +Ratcheta, _s._ A goose, duck. _See_ Retsa. + +Ratti, _s._ Blood. _Sans._ Rudhira. + +Ratniken chiriclo, _s._ Nightingale. + +Rawnie, _s._ Lady. + +Rawniskie dicking gueri, _s._ Lady-like looking woman. + +Rawniskie tatti naflipen, _s._ The lady’s fever, maladie de France. + +Retza, _s._ Duck. _Wal._ Rierzoiou. _See_ Rossar-mescro. _Hun._ +Récze. + +Reyna. A female Gypsy name. + +Riddo, _part. pass._ Dressed. _Span. Gyp._ Vriardao. + +Rig / Riggur / Riggurava, _v. a._ To bear, carry, bring. + +Rig in zi. To remember, bear in mind. + +Rig to zi. To bring to mind. + +Rinkeno, _a._ Handsome. + +Rivipen, _s._ Dress. Lit. linen clothes, women’s dress. _Wal._ Ruphe. +_Mod. Gr. ῥάπτης_ (a tailor). In Spanish Gypsy clothes are called +Goneles, from the Wallachian Khainele. + +Rodra, _v. a._ To search, seek. + +Roi, _s._ Spoon. + +Rokra, _v. a._ To talk, speak. _Rus._ Rek (he said). _Lat._ Loquor. + +Rokrenchericlo, _s._ Parrot, magpie. + +Rokrenguero, _s._ A lawyer, talker. _Gaelic_, Racaire (a chatterer). + +Rokrengueriskey gav. Talking fellows’ town—Norwich. + +Rokunyes, _s._ Trousers, breeches. _Hun. Gyp._ Roklia (gown). _Mod. +Gr. ῤόχρν_ (cloth). + +Rom, _s._ A husband. _Sans._ Rama (a husband), Rama (an incarnation of +Vishnu), Rum (to sport, fondle). _Lat._ Roma (City of Rama). _Gaelic_, +Rom (organ of manhood). _Eng._ Ram (aries, male sheep). _Heb._ Ream +(monoceros, unicorn). + +Rommado, _part. pass. s._ Married, husband. + +Romm’d, _part. pass._ Married. + +Romano Chal / Romany Chal, A Gypsy fellow, Gypsy lad. _See_ Chal. + +Romani chi. Gypsy lass, female Gypsy. + +Romanes / Romany, Gypsy language. + +Romaneskoenaes. After the Gypsy fashion. _Wal._ Roumainesk (Roumainean, +Wallachian.) + +Romano Rye / Romany Rye, Gypsy gentleman. + +Romipen, _s._ Marriage. + +Rook / Rukh, _s._ Tree. _Sans._ Vriksha. _Hun. Gyp._ Rukh. _Span. +Gyp._ Erucal (an _olive-tree_). + +Rookeskey cost. Branch of a tree. + +Rooko-mengro, _s._ Squirrel. Lit. tree-fellow. + +Roshto, _a._ Angry. _Wal._ Resti (to be angry). + +Rossar-mescro, _s._ Gypsy name of the tribe Heron, or Herne. Lit. +duck-fellow. + +Roujiou, _a._ Clean. _See_ Iuziou. + +Rove, _v. n._ To weep. _Sans._ Rud. + +Rup, _s._ Silver. _Sans._ Raupya. _Hin._ Rupee. + +Rupenoe, _a._ Silver: rupenoe péa-mengri, silver tea-pots. + +Ruslipen, _s._ Strength. + +Ruslo, _a._ Strong. _Mod. Gr. ῥῶσω_ (roborabo). _Rus._ Rosluy (great, +huge of stature). _Hun._ Erö (strength), erös (strong). + +Rye, _s._ A lord, gentleman. _Sans._ Raj, Rayã. + +Ryeskoe, _a._ Gentlemanly. + +Ryeskoe dicking guero. Gentlemanly looking man. + +Ryoriskey rokkaring keir, _s._ The House of Commons. _Lit._ the +gentlemen’s talking house. + + + +S + + +SACKI. Name of a Gypsy man. + +Sainyor, _s._ Pins. _Span. Gyp._ Chingabar (a pin). + +Sal, _v. n._ To laugh; properly, he laughs. _Span. Gyp._ Asaselarse. +_Sans._ Has. + +Salla. She laughs. + +Salivaris, _s.f._ Bridle. _See_ Sollibari. + +Sap / Sarp, _s._ Snake, serpent. _Wal._ Sharpelé. _Span. Gyp._ +Chaplesca. + +Sappors, _s. pl._ Snakes. + +Sap drey chaw. A snake in the grass: sap drey bor, a snake in the hedge. + +Sapnis, _s._ Soap. _Mod. Gr. σαποῦνι_. _Wal._ Sipoun. + +Sar, _postpos._, _prepos._ With: mensar, with us; sar amande, with me. + +Sar, _conjunct._ As. + +Sar, _ad._ How. + +Sar shin, How are you? Sar shin, meero rye? Sar shin, meeri rawnie? +How are you, sir? How are you, madam? + +Sas. If it were. _See_ Is. + +Sas, _s._ Nest. _See_ Tass. + +Sarla, _s._ Evening: koshti sarla, good evening. _See_ Tasarla. _Wal._ +Seara. _Mod. Gr. σίδηρον_. + +Saster, _s._ Iron. + +Saster-mengri, _s._ A piece of iron worn above the knee by the +skewer-makers whilst engaged in whittling. + +Saster-mengro, _s._ Ironmonger. + +Sasters, sastris. Nails: chokkiskey sastris, shoe-nails. + +Sau, _adv._ How. + +Sau kisi. How much? + +Saulohaul / Sovlehaul, _v. a._ To swear. + +Saulohaul bango. To swear falsely. + +Sauloholomus, _s._ Oath. _Span. Gyp._ Solája (a curse). _Arab._ +[Arabic which cannot be reproduced] Salat (prayer). _Lat._ Solemnis. +_Fr._ Serment. _Wal._ Jourirnint (oath). + +Savo, _pron._ Who, that, which. + +Saw, _v. n._ I laugh. Sawschan tu, you laugh. + +Scamp. Name of a small Gypsy tribe. _Sans._ Kshump (to go). + +Scourdilla, _s.f._ Platter. _Lat._ Scutella. + +Scunyes / Scunyor, _s. pl._ Pins, skewers. _See_ Escunyes. + +Se, 3_rd pers. sing. pres._ Is, there is: kosko guero se, he is a good +fellow; se les, there is to him, he has. + +Shab, _v. a._ Cut away, run hard, escape. _Hun._ Szabni. This word is +chiefly used by the tobair coves, or vagrants. + +Shan. You are, they are. _See_ Shin. + +Shauvo, _v._ To get with child. _See_ Shuvvli. + +Shehaury. Sixpence. _See_ Shohaury. + +Shello, _s._ Rope. _Span. Gyp._ Jele. + +Shello-hokta-mengro, _s._ Rope-dancer. + +Sher-engro, _s._ A head-man, leader of a Gypsy tribe. + +Sher-engri, _s._ A halter. + +Shero, _s._ A head. _Pers._ سر + +Sherro’s kairipen, _s._ Learning, head-work. + +Sheshu, _s._ Hare, rabbit. _See_ Shoshoi. + +Sherrafo, _a._ Religious, converted. _Arab._ Sherif. + +Shilleno / Shilleró / Shillo, _a._ Cold: shillo chik, cold ground. + +Shillipen, _s._ Cold. + +Shin. Thou art: sar shin, how art thou? + +Sho, _s._ Thing. + +Sho, _a._ Six. + +Shohaury, _s._ Sixpence. + +Shok, _s._ Cabbage: shockor, cabbages. _Span. Gyp._ Chaja. + +Shom, _v._ 1_st pers. pres._ I am. Used in the pure Roman tongue to +express necessity: _e.g._ shom te jav, I must go. _Lat._ Sum. _Hun. +Gyp._ Hom. + +Shoob, _s._ Gown. _Rus._ Shoob. _See_ Shubbo. + +Shoon, _v. n._ To hear. _Pers._ Shiniden. _Sans._ Sru. + +Shoonaben, _s._ Hearing, audience. To lel shoonaben of the covar, to +take hearing of the matter. + +Shoshoi, _s._ A hare or rabbit, but generally used by the Gypsies for +the latter. _Sans._ Sasa (a hare or rabbit). _Hun. Gyp._ Shoshoi. + +Shubbo, _s._ A gown. _Rus._ Shoob. _Wal._ Djoube. + +Shubley patnies, _s. pl._ Geese. + +Shun. A female Gypsy name. + +Shuvvali, _a._ Enceinte, with child. + +Si, 3_rd pers. sing. pres._ It is, she is: tatchipen si, it is truth; +coin si rawnie, who is the lady? sossi your nav, what is your name? + +Sicovar, _ad._ Evermore, eternally. _Hun. Gyp._ Sekovar. + +Si covar ajaw. So it is. + +Sig, _ad._ Quick, soon: cana sig, now soon. _Span. Gyp._ Singó. _Hun._ +Sietö. + +Sig, _s._ Haste. + +Sikkér, _v. a._ To show: sikker-mengri, a show. + +Simen, _s. a._ Equal, alike. _Sans._ Samãna. + +Simen. We are, it is we. _Wal._ Semeina (to resemble). + +Simmeno, _s._ Broth. _See_ Zimmen. + +Simmer, _v. a._ Pledge, pawn. + +Simmery-mengré, _s. pl._ Pawnbrokers. + +Sis. Thou art: misto sis riddo, thou art well dressed. + +Siva, _v. a._ To sew. _Sans._ Siv. + +Siva-mengri, _s._ A needle, sewing-thing. + +Siva-mengri, _s._ Sempstress. + +Siva-mengro, _s._ Tailor. + +Skammen, _s._ Chair. _Wal._ Skaun. _Mod. Gr. σκαμνί_. + +Skammen-engro, _s._ Chair-maker. + +Skraunior, _s. pl._ Boots. + +Slom / Slum, _v. a._ Follow, trace, track. _Rus._ Sliedovat. + +Smentini, _s._ Cream. _Wal._ Zmentenie. _Rus._ Smetána. + +So, _pron. rel._ Which, what: so se tute’s kairing, what are you doing? + +Sollibari, _s._ Bridle. _Mod. Gr. συλληβάρι_. + +Sonakey / Sonneco, _s._ Gold. _Sans._ Svarna. + +Sore / Soro, _a._ All, every. _Sans._ Sarva. + +Sorlo, _a._ Early. _Arab._ [Arabic which cannot be reproduced] Sohr, +Sahr (morning, day-break). _Wal._ Zorile. + +Soro-ruslo, _a._ Almighty. Dad soro-ruslo, Father Almighty. + +Se se? Who is it? + +So si? What is it? So si ora, what’s o’clock? + +Soskey, _ad._ Wherefore, for what. + +Sovaharri, _s._ Carpet, blanket. + +Sove, _v. n._ To sleep. _Hun. Gyp._ Sovella (he sleeps). _Span. Gyp._ +Sobelar (to sleep). _Danish_, Sove (to sleep). + +Sove tuley. To lie down. + +Sovie, _s._ Needle. _See_ Su. + +Soving aley. Lying down to sleep. + +Spikor, _s. pl._ Skewers. _Wal._ Spik. + +Spinyor, _s. pl._ Carrots. + +Spinyor, _s. pl._ Pins. _Span. Gyp._ Chingabar (a pin). + +Stadj, _s._ Hat. + +Stanya / Stanye, _s._ A stable. _Hun._ Sanya. _Wal._ Staula, steiníe +(sheepfold). + +Stanya-mengro, _s._ Groom, stable-fellow. + +Stardo, _part. pass._ Imprisoned. + +Staripen, _s._ Prison. + +Staro-mengro, _s._ Prisoner. + +Stannyi / Staunyo, _s._ A deer. + +Stiggur, _s._ Gate, turnpike. _Old cant_, Giger (a door). + +Stiggur-engro, _s._ Turnpike-keeper. + +Stor, _a._ Four. + +Storey, _s._ Prisoner. + +Stuggur, _s._ A stack. + +Su, _s._ Needle. _Hun._ Tü. + +Subie / Subye, _s._ Needle: subye ta naval, needle and thread. + +Sueti, _s._ People. _Lithuanian_, Swetas. + +Sungella, _v._ It stinks. + +Sutta / Suttur / Suta, _s._ Sleep. _Sans._ Subta (asleep). _Hin._ +Sutta (sleeping). _Lat._ Sopitus. + +Suttur-gillie, _s._ Sleep-song, lullaby. + +Swegler / Swingle, _s._ Pipe. + +Syeira. A female Gypsy name. + + + +T + + +TÃ, _conj._ And. + +Talleno, _a._ Woollen: talleno chofa, woollen or flannel petticoat. + +Tan, _s._ Place, tent. _Hun._ Tanya. + +Tard / Tardra, _v. a._ To raise, build, pull, draw: the kair is tardrad +opré, the house is built; tard the chaw opré, pull up the grass. _Hin._ +Tornã (to pluck). _Wal._ Tratze. _Gaelic_, Tarruinn. + +Tardra-mengre. Hop-pickers. + +Tas, _s._ Cup, nest of a bird. _See_ Dui tas, doo das. + +Tasarla / Tasorlo, _s._ To-morrow. Lit. to-early. _See_ Sorlo. + +Tasarla, _s._ The evening. This word must not be confounded with the +one which precedes it; the present is derived from the Wallachian Seari +(evening), whilst the other is from the Arabic Sohr, Sahar (morning). + +Tassa-mengri, _s._ A frying-pan. _See_ Tattra-mengri. + +Tatchipen, _s._ Truth. _Sans._ Satyata. + +Tatcho, _a._ True. _Sans._ Sat. + +Tatti-pãni / Tatti-pauni, _s._ Brandy. Lit. hot water. + +Tatti-pen, _s._ Heat. + +Tatto, _a._ Hot, warm. _Sans._ Tapta. Tap (to be hot). _Gaelic_, +Teth. + +Tatto yeck, _s._ A hot un, or hot one; a stinging blow given in some +very sensitive part. + +Tattra-mengri, _s._ A frying-pan. + +Tawno _m._ / Tawnie _f._, _a._ Little, small, tiny. _Sans._ Tarana +(young). _Wal._ Tienir (young). _Lat._ Tener. _Span. Gyp._ Chinoro. + +Tawnie yecks, _s. pl._ Little ones, grandchildren. + +Te, _prep._ To: te lesti, to her; this word is not properly Gypsy. + +Te, _conjunct._ That: te jinnen, that they may know, an optative word; O +beng te poggar his men, may the devil break his neck. _Wal._ Ci. + +Tel, _v. a. imp._ Hold: tel te jib, hold your tongue. + +Tem, _s._ Country. + +Temeskoe, _a._ Belonging to a country. + +Temno, _a._ Dark. _Rus._ Temnoy. _Sans._ Tama (darkness). + +Ten, _s._ _See_ Tan. + +Tikno, _s._ A child. _Mod. Gr. τέκνον_. + +Tikno, _a._ Small, little. _Span. Gyp._ Chinoro. _Lat._ Tener. + +Tippoty, _a._ Malicious, spiteful: tippoty drey mande, bearing malice +against me. + +Tiro, _pron._ Thine. + +Tobbar, _s._ The _Road_; a Rapparee word. Boro-tobbarkillipen (the Game +of High Toby—highway robbery). _Irish_, Tobar (a source, fountain). + +Tornapo. Name of a Gypsy man. + +Tororo, _s._ A poor fellow, a beggar, a tramp. _Sans._ Daridrã. + +Tove, _v. a._ To wash: tovipen, washing. _Sans._ Dhav. + +Toving divvus, _s._ Washing day, Monday. + +Traish, _v. a._ To frighten, terrify: it traishes mande, it frightens +me. + +Trihool, _s._ Cross: Mi doveleskoe trihool, holy cross. _Span. Gyp._ +Trijul. _Hin._ Trisool. + +Trin, _a._ Three. + +Tringrosh / Tringurushee, Shilling. Lit. three groats. + +Tringurushengre, _s. pl._ Things costing a shilling. + +Tringush, _s._ Shilling. + +Trito, _a._ Third. _Sans._ Tritïya. + +Trufféni. Female Gypsy name: Trufféni Kaumlo, Jack Wardomescrés dieyas +nav—Truffeni Lovel, the name of John Cooper’s mother. _Mod. Gr. +Τρυφωνία_. + +Truppior, _s. pl._ Stays. + +Trupo, _s._ Body. _Wal._ Troup. _Rus._ Trup + +Trushni, _s._ Faggot. + +Trusno, _a._ Thirsty, dry. _Sans._ Trishnaj. + +Tu, _pron._ Thou: shoon tu, dieya! do thou hear, mother! + +Tud, _s._ Milk. _Sans._ Duh (to milk). + +Tudlo gueri. Milkmaid. + +Tug, _a._ Sad, afflicted. + +Tugnipen, _s._ Affliction. + +Tugnis amande. Woe is me; I am sad. + +Tugno, _a._ Sad, mournful. + +Tulé / Tuley, _prep._ Below, under: tuley the bor, under the hedge. +_Slavonian_, dóly. + +Tulipen, _s._ Fat, grease. + +Tulo, _a._ Fat. + +Tute, _pron._ Accusative of Tu; generally used instead of the +nominative. + +Tuv, _s._ Smoke, tobacco. + +Tuvalo / Tuvvalo, _a._ Smoky. _Span. Gyp._ Chibaló (a cigar). + + + +V + + +VANGUS, _s._ Finger. _Sans._ Angula. + +Vangustri, _s._ Ring. _Sans._ Angulika, anguri. _See_ Wangustri. + +Vaneshu, _s._ Nothing. From the Wallachian Ba nitchi, not at all. + +Var, _s._ Flour: var-engro, a miller. _See_ Waro. + +Vardo, _s._ Cart. _See_ Wardo. + +Vassavo / Vassavy, _a._ Bad, evil. + +Vast, _s._ Hand. + +Vava. An _affix_, by which the future of a verb is formed, as Heta-vava. +It seems to be the Wallachian Wa-fi, he shall or will be. + +Vellin, _s._ A bottle. + +Vauros, _s._ A city. _Hun._ Város. _Sans._ Puri. _Hin._ Poor. _Wal._ +Orash. + +Vénor / Vennor, Bowels, entrails. _See_ Wendror, + + + +W + + +WAFO, _a._ Another. _Sans._ Apara. + +Wafo divvus, _s._ Yesterday. Lit. the other day. + +Wafo tem. Another country, foreign land. + +Wafo temeskoe mush, _s._ A foreigner, another countryman. + +Wafo tem-engre. Foreigners. + +Wafodu / Wafudo, _a._ Bad, evil. + +Wafodúder. Worse: wafodúder than dovor, worse than they. + +Wafodu-pen, _s._ Wickedness. + +Wafodu guero, _s._ The Evil One, Satan. + +Wafodu tan, _s._ Hell, bad place. + +Wangar, _s._ Coals, charcoal. _Sans._ Angara. _See_ Wongar. + +Wangustri, _s._ Ring. + +Warda, _v._ To guard, take care: warda tu coccorus, take care of +yourself. + +Wardo, _s._ Cart. _Sans._ Pattra. + +Wardo-mescro, _s._ Carter, cartwright, cooper, name of a Gypsy tribe. + +Waro, _s._ Flour. + +Waro-mescro, _s._ Miller. + +Wast, _s._ Hand. _See_ Vast. Wastrors, hands. _Gaelic_, Bas (the palm +of the hand). + +Weggaulus / Welgorus / Welgaulus, _s._ A fair. _Wal._ Bieltchiou. + +Wel, _v. a._ He comes; from Ava. Sometimes used imperatively; _e.g._ +Wel adrey, come in. + +Welling páli. Coming back, returning from transportation. + +Wen, _s._ Winter. + +Wendror, _s. pl._ Bowels, inside. _Wal._ Pentetche. _Lat._ Venter. + +Wentzelow. Name of a Gypsy man. + +Werriga, _s._ Chain. _Rus._ Veriga. _Wal._ Verigie (bolt). + +Wesh, _s._ Forest, wood. _Pers._ [Persian which cannot be reproduced] + +Wesh-engro, _s._ Woodman, gamekeeper. + +Weshen-juggal, _s._ Fox. Lit. dog of the wood. + +Woddrus / Wuddrus, _s._ Bed. _Hun. Gyp._ Patos. _Wal._ Pat. The +Spanish Gypsies retain the pure Indian word Charipé. + +Wongar, _s._ Coal. Also a term for money; probably because Coal in the +cant language signifies money. _See_ Wangar. + +Wongar-camming mush, _s._ A miser. Lit. one who loves coal. + +Wuddur, _s._ Door. _Span. Gyp._ Burda. _Wal._ Poartie. + +Wuddur-mescro, _s._ Doorkeeper. + +Wust, _v. a._ To cast, throw. + +Wusto-mengro, _s._ Wrestler, hurler. + + + +Y + + +YACK, _s._ Eye. _Sans._ Akshi. _Germ._ Auge. _Rus._ Oko. +_Lithuanian_, Akis. _Lat._ Oculus. + +Yackor. Eyes. + +Yag, _s._ Fire. _Sans._ Agni. _Rus._ Ogon. _Lithuanian_, Ugnis. +_Lat._ Ignis. _Irish_, An (water, fire). + +Yag-engri, _s._ Gun, fire-thing. + +Yag-engro / Yago-mengro, _s._ Gamekeeper, sportsman, fireman. + +Yag-kairepénes, _s._ Fireworks. + +Yag-vardo, _s._ Fire-car, railroad carriage. + +Yarb, _s._ Herb. + +Yarb-tan, _s._ Garden. + +Yeck, _a._ One. _Sans._ Eka. _Hin._ Yak. + +Yeckoro, _a._ Only: yeckoro chavo, only son. + +Yeckorus, _ad._ Once. + +Yo, _pron._ He. + +Yoi, _pron._ She. Sometimes used for La or Las, her; _e.g._ Mande +putch’d yoi, I asked _she_, her. + +Yokki, _a._ Clever, expert: a yokki juva, a yokki woman—a female expert +at filching, ringing the changes, telling fortunes, and other Gypsy arts. +_Sans._ Yoga (artifice, plan), Yuj (to combine, put together, plan). + +Yora, _s._ Hour. _See_ Ora. + +Yoro, _s._ An egg. _Wal._ Ou. + + + +Z + + +ZI, _s._ The heart, mind. _Hun._ Sziv. _Sans._ Dhi. + +Zimmen, _s._ Broth. _Wal._ Zmenteni (cream). + +Zoomi, _s. f._ Broth, soup. _Mod. Gr. ζουμὶ_. _Wal._ Zamie (juice). + +Zingaro. A Gypsy, a person of mixed blood, one who springs from various +races, a made-up person. _Sans._ Sangkara, compositus (made-up). + + + + +RHYMED LIST OF GYPSY VERBS + + + To dick and jin, + To bikn and kin; + To pee and hal, + And av and jal; + To kair and poggra, + Shoon and rokra; + To caur and chore, + Heta and cour, + Moar and more, + To drab and dook, + And nash on rook; + To pek and tove, + And sove and rove, + And nash on poove; + To tardra oprey, + And chiv aley; + To pes and gin, + To mang and chin, + To pootch and pukker, + Hok and dukker; + To besh and kel, + To del and lel, + And jib to tel; + Bitch, atch, and hatch, + Roddra and latch; + To gool and saul, + And sollohaul; + To pand and wustra, + Hokta and plastra, + Busna and kistur, + Maila and grista; + To an and riggur; + To pen and sikker, + Porra and simmer, + Chungra and chingra, + Pude and grommena, + Grovena, gruvena; + To dand and choom, + Chauva and rom, + Rok and gare, + Jib and mer + With camova, + And paracrova, + Apasavello + And mekello, + And kitsi wasror, + Sore are lavior, + For kairing chomany, + In jib of Romany. + + + + +BETIE ROKRAPENES +LITTLE SAYINGS + + + If foky kek jins bute, + Mà sal at lende; + For sore mush jins chomany + That tute kek jins. + + Whatever ignorance men may show, + From none disdainful turn; + For every one doth something know + Which you have yet to learn. + + + +BETIE ROKRAPENES + + +So must I ker, daiya, to ker tute mistos? + +It is my Dovvel’s kerrimus, and we can’t help asarlus. + +Mi Dovvel opral, dick tuley opré mande. + +If I could lel bonnek tute, het-avava tute. + +Misto kedast tute. + +Dovey si fino covar, ratfelo jukkal, sas miro. + + * * * * * + +The plastra-mengro sollohaul’d bango. + +Me camava jaw drey the Nevi Wesh to dick the purey Bare-mescrey. + +You jin feter dovey oduvu. + +Will you pes for a coro levinor? + +Mā pi kekomi. + +Mā rokra kekomi. + +Bori shil se mande. + +Tatto tu coccori, pen. + +Kekkeno pawni dov odoi. + +Sore simensar si men. + + * * * * * + +Tatto ratti se len. + +Wafudu lavior you do pen, miry deary Dovvel. + +Kair pias to kair the gorgies sal. + +Nai men chior. + +So se drey lis? + +Misto sis riddo. + +Muk man av abri. + +Ma kair jaw. + +Si covar ajaw. + +An men posseymengri. + +Colliko sorlo me deavlis. + +Pukker zi te lesti. + +Soving lasa. + +Tatto si can. + +Mande kinyo, nastis jalno durroder. + +Mã muk de gorgey jinnen sore lidan dovvu luvvu so garridan. + +Dui trins ta yeck ta pas. + +Pes apopli. + +Chiv’d his vast adrey tiro putsi. + +Penchavo chavo savo shan tu. + + * * * * * + +I’d sooner shoon his rokrapen than shoon Lally gil a gillie. + +Kekkeno jinava mande ne burreder denne chavo. + +Aukko tu pios adrey Romanes. + + +LITTLE SAYINGS + + +What must I do, mother, to make you well? + +It is my God’s doing, and we can’t help at all. + + * * * * * + +My God above, look down upon me! + +If I could get hold of you, I would slay you. + +Thou hast done well. + +That is a fine thing, you bloody dog, if it were mine. + +The Bow-street runner swore falsely. + +I will go into the New Forest to see the old Stanleys. + +You know better than that. + +Will you pay for a pot of ale? + +Don’t drink any more. + +Do not speak any more. + +I have a great cold. + +Warm thyself, sister. + +There is no water there. + +We are all relations: all who are with us are ourselves. + +They have hot blood. + +Evil words you do speak, O my dear God. + +Make fun, to make the Gentiles laugh. + +I have no girls. + +What is in it? + +Thou art well dressed. + +Let me come out. + +Don’t do so. + +The thing is so: so it is. + +Bring me a fork. + +To-morrow morning I will give it. + +Tell her your mind. + +Sleeping with her. + +The sun is hot. + +I am tired, I can go no farther. + +Don’t let the Gentiles know all the money you took which you hid. + +Seven pound ten. + +Pay again. + +Put his hand into your pocket. + +The boy is thinking who you are. + + * * * * * + +I would rather hear him speak than hear Lally sing. + +I know no more than a child. + +Here’s your health in Romany! + + + + +COTORRES OF MI-DIBBLE’S LIL CHIV’D ADREY ROMANES +PIECES OF SCRIPTURE CAST INTO ROMANY + + +THE FIRST DAY +Genesis i. 1, 2, 3, 4 + + + DREY the sherripen Midibble kair’d the temoprey tá the puv; + Tá the puv was chungalo, tá chichi was adrey lis; + Tá temnopen was oprey the mui of the boro put. + Tá Midibble’s bavol-engri besh’d oprey the pánior; + Tá Midibble penn’d: Mook there be dute! tá there was dute. + Tá Midibble dick’d that the doot was koosho-koshko. + Tá Midibble chinn’d enrey the dute tá the temnopen; + Tá Midibble kor’d the dute divvus, tá the temnopen kor’d yo rarde; + Tá the sarla, tá the sorlo were yeckto divvus. + + + +THE FIFTH DAY +Genesis i. 20, 21, 22, 23 + + + THEN Midibble penn’d; Mook sore the panior + Chinn tairie jibbing engris bute dosta, + Tá prey puv be bute dosta chiricles + To vol adrey the rek of the tarpe. + + Then Midibble kair’d the borie baulo-matches, + Tá sore covar that has jibbing zi adreylis, + The bute, bute tairie covars drey the panior + Sore yeck drey its genos kair’d Midibble, + + The chiricles that vol adrey the tarpe + Sore yeck drey its genos kair’d he lende: + Then Midibble dick’d that sore was koosho-koshko, + And he chiv’d his koshto rokrapen opreylen: + + Penn’d Midibble: Dey ye frute ever-komi, + Ever-komi be burreder your nummer, + Per with covars the panior tá durior, + Tá prey puv be burreder the chiricles! + + Then was sarla tá sorlo panschto divvus. + + + +THE CREATION OF MAN +Genesis i. 27, 28 + + + THEN Mi-dibble kair’d Manoo drey his dikkipen, + Drey Mi-dibble’s dikkipen kair’d he leste; + Mush and mushi kair’d Dibble lende + And he chiv’d his koshto rokrapen opreylen: + + Penn’d Mi-dibble: Dey ye frute ever-komi, + Ever-komi be burreder your nummer; + Per with chauves and chiyor the puvo + And oprey sore the puvo be krallior, + + Oprey the dooiya and its matches, + And oprey the chiricles of the tarpé, + And oprey soro covar that’s jibbing + And peers prey the mui of the puvo. + + + +THE LORD’S PRAYER + + +MEERY dearie Dad, sauvo jivves drey the tem oprey, be sharrafo teero nav, +te awel teero tem, be kedo sore so caumes oprey ye poov, sar kairdios +drey the tem oprey. Dey man to divvus meery divvuskey morro; tá for-dey +mande mande’s pizzaripenes, sar mande fordeava wafor mushes lende’s +pizzaripenes; mã mook te petrav drey kek tentacionos, but lel mande abri +from sore wafodupen; for teero se o tem, Mi-dibble, teero o ruslopen, tá +yi corauni knaw tá ever-komi. Si covar ajaw. + + + +THE APOSTLES’ CREED + + +APASAVELLO drey Mi-dovel; Dad sore-ruslo savo kerdo o praio tem, tá cav +acoi tulēy: tá drey lescro yekkero Chauvo Jesus Christus moro erray, +beano of wendror of Mi-develeskey Geiry Mary; was curredo by the wast of +Poknish Pontius Pilatos; was nash’d oprey ye Trihool; was mored, and +chived adrey ye puve; jall’d tulēy ye temno drom ke wafudo tan, bengeskoe +starriben; tá prey ye trito divvus jall’d yo oprey ke koshto tan, +Mi-dovels ker; beshel yo knaw odoy prey Mi-dovels tatcho wast, Dad +sore-ruslo; cad odoy avellava to lel shoonapen oprey jibben and merripen; +Apasavello drey Mi-dibbleskey Ducos; drey the Bori Mi-develesky Bollisky +Congri; that sore tatcho fokey shall jib in mestepen kettaney; that +Mi-dibble will fordel sore wafudopenes; that soror mulor will jongor, and +there will be kek merripen asarlus. Si covar ajaw. Avali. + + + + +THE LORD’S PRAYER IN THE GYPSY DIALECT OF TRANSYLVANIA + + +MIRO gulo Devel, savo hal oté ando Cheros, te avel swuntunos tiro nav; te +avel catari tiro tem; te keren saro so cames oppo puv, sar ando Cheros. +Dé man sekhonus miro diveskoe manro, ta ierta mangue saro so na he +plaskerava tuke, sar me ierstavava wafo manuschengue saro so na +plaskerelen mangue. Ma muk te petrow ando chungalo camoben; tama lel man +abri saro doschdar. Weika tiro sin o tem, tiri yi potea, tiri yi +proslava akana ta sekovar. + +Te del amen o gulo Del eg meschibo pa amara choribo. + +Te vas del o Del amengue; te n’avel man pascotia ando drom, te na hoden +pen mandar. + + Ja Develehi! + Az Develehi! + Ja Develeskey! + Az Develeskey! + Heri Devlis! + + * * * * * + +My sweet God, who art there in Heaven, may thy name come hallowed; may +thy kingdom come hither; may they do all that thou wishest upon earth, as +in Heaven. Give me to-day my daily bread, and forgive me all that I +cannot pay thee, as I shall forgive other men all that they do not pay +me. Do not let me fall into evil desire; but take me out from all +wickedness. For thine is the kingdom, thine the power, thine the glory +now and ever. + +May the sweet God give us a remedy for our poverty. + +May God help us! May no misfortune happen to me in the road, and may no +one steal anything me. + + Go with God! + Stay with God! + Go, for God’s sake! + Stay, for God’s sake! + By God! + + + +LIL OF ROMANO JINNYPEN +BOOK OF THE WISDOM OF THE EGYPTIANS + + +LIL OF ROMANO JINNYPEN + + +THE tawno fokey often putches so koskipen se drey the Romano jib? Mande +pens ye are sore dinneles; bute, bute koskipen se adrey lis, ta dusta, +dosta of moro foky would have been bitcheno or nash’d, but for the puro, +choveno Romano jib. A lav in Romany, penn’d in cheeros to a tawnie +rakli, and rigg’d to the tan, has kair’d a boro kisi of luvvo and wafor +covars, which had been chor’d, to be chived tuley pov, so that when the +muskerres well’d they could latch vanisho, and had kek yeckly to muk the +Romano they had lell’d opré, jal his drom, but to mang also his artapen. + +His bitchenipenskie cheeros is knau abri, and it were but kosko in leste +to wel ken, if it were yeckly to lel care of lescri puri, choveny romady; +she’s been a tatchi, tatchi romady to leste, and kek man apasavello that +she has jall’d with a wafu mush ever since he’s been bitcheno. + +When yeck’s tardrad yeck’s beti ten oprey, kair’d yeck’s beti yag anglo +the wuddur, ta nash’d yeck’s kekauvi by the kekauviskey saster oprey lis, +yeck kek cams that a dikkimengro or muskerro should wel and pen: so’s +tute kairing acai? Jaw oprey, Romano juggal. + +Prey Juliken yeckto Frydivvus, anglo nango muyiskie staunyi naveni +kitchema, prey the chong opral Bororukeskoe Gav, drey the Wesh, tute +dickavavasa bute Romany foky, mushor ta juvar, chalor ta cheiar. + +Jinnes tu miro puro prala Rye Stanniwix, the puro rye savo rigs a +bawlo-dumo-mengri, ta kair’d desh ta stor mille barior by +covar-plastring? + +He jall’d on rokkring ta rokkring dinneleskoenaes till mande pukker’d +leste: if tute jasas on dovodoiskoenaes mande curavava tute a tatto yeck +prey the nok. + +You putches mande so si patrins. Patrins are Romany drom sikkering +engris, by which the Romany who jal anglo muk lende that wels palal jin +the drom they have jall’d by: we wusts wastperdes of chaw oprey the puv +at the jalling adrey of the drom, or we kairs sar a wangust a trihool +oprey the chik, or we chins ranior tuley from the rukhies, and chivs +lende oprey drey the puv aligatas the bor; but the tatcho patrin is +wast-perdes of leaves, for patrin or patten in puro Romano jib is the uav +of a rukheskoe leaf. + +The tatcho drom to be a jinney-mengro is to shoon, dick, and rig in zi. + +The mush savo kek se les the juckni-wast oprey his jib and his zi is keck +kosko to jal adrey sweti. + +The lil to lel oprey the kekkeno mushe’s puvior and to keir the choveno +foky mer of buklipen and shillipen, is wusted abri the Raioriskey +rokkaring ker. + +The nav they dins lati is Bokht drey Cuesni, because she rigs about a +cuesni, which sore the rardies when she jals keri, is sure to be perdo of +chored covars. + +Cav acoi, pralor, se the nav of a lil, the sherrokairipen of a puro +kladjis of Roumany tem. The Borobeshemescrotan, or the lav-chingaripen +between ye jinneynengro ta yi sweti; or the merripenskie rokrapen chiv’d +by the zi oprey the trupo. + +When the shello was about his men they rigg’d leste his artapen, and +muk’d leste jal; but from dovo divvus he would rig a men-pangushi +kekkomi, for he penn’d it rigg’d to his zee the shello about his men. + +Jack Vardomescro could del oprey dosta to jin sore was oprey the mea-bars +and the drom-sikkering engris. + +The Romano drom to pek a chiriclo is to kair it oprey with its porior +drey chik, and then to chiv it adrey the yag for a beti burroder than a +posh ora. When the chik and the hatch’d porior are lell’d from the +chiriclesky trupos, the per’s chinn’d aley, and the wendror’s wusted +abri, ’tis a hobben dosta koshto for a crallissa to hal without lon. + +When Gorgio mushe’s merripen and Romany Chal’s merripen wels kettaney, +kek kosto merripen see. + +Yeckorus he pukker’d mande that when he was a bis beschengro he mored a +gorgio, and chived the mulo mas tuley the poov; he was lell’d oprey for +the moripen, but as kekkeno could latch the shillo mas, the pokiniuses +muk’d him jal; he penn’d that the butsi did not besh pordo pré his zi for +bute chiros, but then sore on a sudden he became tugnis and atraish of +the mulo gorgio’s bavol-engro, and that often of a rarde, as he was +jalling posh motto from the kitchema by his cocoro, he would dick over +his tatcho pikko and his bango pikko, to jin if the mulo mush’s +bavol-engro was kek welling palal to lel bonnek of leste. + + * * * * * + +Does tute jin the Romano drom of lelling the wast? + +Avali, prala. + +Sikker mande lis. + +They kairs it ajaw, prala. + +A chorredo has burreder peeas than a Romany Chal. + + * * * * * + +Tute has shoon’d the lav pazorrus. Dovodoy is so is kored gorgikonaes +“Trusted.” Drey the puro cheeros the Romano savo lelled lovvu, or wafor +covars from lescro prala in parriken, ta kek pess’d leste apopli, could +be kair’d to buty for leste as gry, mailla or cost-chinnimengro for a +besh ta divvus. To divvus kek si covar ajaw. If a Romano lelled lovvu +or wafu covars from meero vast in parriken, ta kek pessed mande apopli, +sar estist for mande te kair leste buty as gry, mailla, or +cost-chinnimengro for mande for yek divvus, kek to pen for sore a besh? + +Do you nav cavacoi a weilgorus? Ratfelo rinkeno weilgorus cav acoi: you +might chiv lis sore drey teero putsi. + +Kek jinnipenskey covar sé to pen tute’s been bango. If tute pens tute’s +been bango, foky will pen: Estist tute’s a koosho koshko mushipen, but +tatchipé a ratfelo dinnelo. + + * * * * * + +Car’s tute jibbing? + +Mande’s kek jibbing; mande’s is atching, at the feredest; mande’s a +pirremengri, prala! + + * * * * * + +Cauna Romany foky rokkerelan yeck sar wafu penelan pal ta pen; cauna dado +or deya rokkerelan ke lendes chauves penelan meero chauvo or meeri chi; +or my child, gorgikonaes, to ye dui; cauna chauves rokkerelan te dad or +deya penelan meero dad or meeri deya! + +Meero dado, soskey were creminor kair’d? Meero chauvo, that puvo-baulor +might jib by haIling lende. Meero dado, soskey were puvobaulor kair’d? +Meero chauvo, that tute and mande might jib by lelling lende. Meero +dado, soskey were tu ta mande kair’d? Meero chauvo, that creminor might +jib by halling mende. + +Sore giv-engres shan dinneles. When they shoons a gav-engro drey the tem +pen: Dov-odoy’s a fino grye! they pens: Kekkeno grye se; grasni si; +whether the covar’s a grasni or kekkeni. Kek jinellan the dinneles that +a grasni’s a grye, though a grye is kek a grasni. + +Kekkeni like Romano Will’s rawnie for kelling drey a chauro. + +Cauna Constance Petulengri merr’d she was shel tã desch beshor puri. + + * * * * * + +Does tute jin Rawnie Wardomescri? + +Mande jins lati misto, prala. + +Does tute cam lati? + +Mande cams lati bute, prala; and mande has dosta, dosta cheeros penn’d to +the wafor Romany Chals, when they were rokkering wafudo of lati: She’s a +rawnie; she lels care of sore of you; if it were kek for lati, you would +sore jal to the beng. + +So kerella for a jivipen? + +She dukkers, prala; she dukkers. + +Can she dukker misto? + +There’s kekkeny Romany juva tuley the can for dukkering sar Rawnie +Wardomescri; nastis not to be dukker’d by lati; she’s a tatchi chovahan; +she lels foky by the wast and dukkers lende, whether they cams or kek. + + * * * * * + +Kek koskipen si to jal roddring after Romany Chals. When tute cams to +dick lende nestist to latch yeck o’ lende; but when tute’s penching o’ +wafor covars tute dicks o’ lende dosta dosta. + +Mande will sollohaul neither bango nor tatcho against kekkeno; if they +cams to latch abri chomoni, muk lende latch it abri their cokkoré. + +If he had been bitcheno for a boro luripen mande would have penn’d chi; +but it kairs mande diviou to pentch that he was bitcheno, all along of a +bori lubbeny, for trin tringurishis ta posh. + +When he had kair’d the moripen, he kair’d sig and plastrar’d adrey the +wesh, where he gared himself drey the hev of a boro, puro rukh; but it +was kek koskipen asarlus; the plastra-mengres slomm’d his piré sore along +the wesh till they well’d to the rukh. + + * * * * * + +Sau kisi foky has tute dukker’d to divvus? + +Yeck rawnie coccori, prala; dov ody she wels palal; mande jins lati by +the kaulo dori prey laki shubba. + +Sau bute luvvu did she del tute? + +Yeck gurush, prala; yeck gurush coccoro. The beng te lilly a truppy! + +Shoon the kosko rokkrapen so Micail jinney-mengro penn’d ke Rawnie +Trullifer: Rawnie Trollopr, you must jib by your jibben: and if a base se +tukey you must chiv lis tuley. + + * * * * * + +Can you rokkra Romanes? + +Avali, prala! + +So si Weshenjuggalslomomengreskeytemskey tudlogueri? + +Mande don’t jin what you pens, prala. + +Then tute is kek Romano lavomengro. + + +BOOK OF THE WISDOM OF THE EGYPTIANS + + +THE young people often ask: What good is there in the Romany tongue? I +answers: Ye are all fools! There is plenty, plenty of good in it, and +plenty, plenty of our people would have been transported or hung, but for +the old, poor Roman language. A word in Romany said in time to a little +girl, and carried to the camp, has caused a great purse of money and +other things, which had been stolen, to be stowed underground; so that +when the constables came they could find nothing, and had not only to let +the Gypsy they had taken up go his way, but also to beg his pardon. + +His term of transportation has now expired, and it were but right in him +to come home, if it were only to take care of his poor old wife: she has +been a true, true wife to him, and I don’t believe that she has taken up +with another man ever since he was sent across. + +When one’s pitched up one’s little tent, made one’s little fire before +the door, and hung one’s kettle by the kettle-iron over it, one doesn’t +like that an inspector or constable should come and say: What are you +doing here? Take yourself off, you Gypsy dog. + +On the first Friday of July, before the public-house called the +Bald-faced Stag, on the hill above the town of the great tree in the +Forest, you will see many Roman people, men and women, lads and lasses. + +Do you know my old friend Mr. Stanniwix, the old gentleman that wears a +pigtail, and made fourteen thousand pounds by smuggling? + +He went on talking and talking foolishness till I said to him: If you +goes on in that ’ere way I’ll hit you a hot ’un on the nose. + +You ask me what are _patrins_. _Patrin_ is the name of the signs by +which the Gypsies who go before show the road they have taken to those +who follow behind. We flings handfuls of grass down at the head of the +road we takes, or we makes with the finger a cross-mark on the ground, we +sticks up branches of trees by the side the hedge. But the true patrin +is handfuls of leaves flung down; for _patrin_ or _patten_ in old Roman +language means the leaf of a tree. + +The true way to be a wise man is to hear, see, and bear in mind. + +The man who has not the whip-hand of his tongue and his temper is not fit +to go into company. + +The Bill to take up the no-man’s lands (comons), and to make the poor +people die of hunger and cold, has been flung out of the House of +Commons. + +The name they gives her is “Luck in a basket,” because she carries about +a basket, which every night, when she goes home, is sure to be full of +stolen property. + +This here, brothers, is the title of a book, the head-work of an old king +of Roumany land: the Tribunal, or the dispute between the wise man and +the world: or, the death-sentence passed by the soul upon the body. + +When the rope was about his neck they brought him his pardon, and let him +go; but from that day he would wear a neck-kerchief no more, for he said +it brought to his mind the rope about his neck. + +Jack Cooper could read enough to know all that was upon the milestones +and the sign-posts. + +The Roman way to cook a fowl is to do it up with its feathers in clay, +and then to put it in fire for a little more than half an hour. When the +clay and the burnt feathers are taken from the fowl, the belly cut open, +and the inside flung out, ’tis a food good enough for a queen to eat +without salt. + +When the Gentile way of living and the Gypsy way of living come together, +it is anything but a good way of living. + +He told me once that when he was a chap of twenty he killed a Gentile, +and buried the dead meat under ground. He was taken up for the murder, +but as no one could find the cold meat, the justices let him go. He said +that the job did not sit heavy upon his mind for a long time, but then +all of a sudden he became sad, and afraid of the dead Gentile’s ghost; +and that often of a night, as he was coming half-drunk from the +public-house by himself, he would look over his right shoulder and over +his left shoulder, to know if the dead man’s ghost was not coming behind +to lay hold of him. + + * * * * * + +Do you know the Gypsy way of taking the hand? + +Aye, aye, brother. + +Show it to me. + +They does it _so_, brother. + + * * * * * + +A tramp has more fun than a Gypsy. + +You have heard the word _pazorrus_. That is what is called by the +Gentiles “trusted,” or in debt. In the old time the Roman who got from +his brother money or other things on trust, and did not pay him again, +could be made to work for him as horse, ass, or wood cutter for a year +and a day. At present the matter is not so. If a Roman got money, or +other things, from my hand on credit, and did not repay me, how could I +make him labour for me as horse, ass, or stick-cutter for one day, not to +say for a year? + +Do you call this a fair? A very pretty fair is this: you might put it +all into your pocket. + +It is not a wise thing to say you have been wrong. If you allow you have +been wrong, people will say: You may be a very honest fellow, but are +certainly a very great fool. + + * * * * * + +Where are you living? + +Mine is not living; mine is staying, to say the best of it; I am a +traveller, brother! + + * * * * * + +When Roman people speak to one another, they say brother and sister. +When parents speak to their children, they say, my son, or my daughter, +or my child, _gorgiko_-like, to either. When children speak to their +parents, they say, my father, or my mother. + +My father, why were worms made? My son, that moles might live by eating +them. My father, why were moles made? My son, that you and I might live +by catching them. My father, why were you and I made? My son, that +worms might live by eating us. + +All farmers are fools. When they hear a citizen in the country say: +That’s a fine horse! they say: ’Tis no horse, ’tis a mare; whether the +thing’s a horse or not. The simpletons don’t know that a mare’s a horse, +though a horse is not a mare. + +No one like Gypsy Will’s wife for dancing in a platter. + +When Constance Smith died, she was a hundred ten years old. + + * * * * * + +Do you know Mrs. Cooper? + +I knows her very well, brother. + +Do you like her? + +I loves her very much, brother; and I have often, often said to the other +Gypsies, when they speaking ill of her: She’s a gentlewoman; takes care +of all of you; if it were not for her, you would all go to the devil. + +What does she do for a living? + +She tells fortunes, brother; she tells fortunes. + +Is she a good hand at fortune-telling? + +There’s no Roman woman under the sun so good at fortune-telling as Mrs. +Cooper; it is impossible not to have your fortune told by her; she’s a +true witch; she takes people by the hand, and tells their fortunes, +whether they will or no. + + * * * * * + +’Tis no use to go seeking after Gypsies. When you wants to see them ’tis +impossible to find one of them; but when you are thinking of other +matters you see plenty, plenty of them. + +I will swear neither falsely nor truly against any one; if they wishes to +find out something, let them find it out themselves. + +If he had been transported for a great robbery, I would have said +nothing; but it makes me mad to think that he has been sent away, all +along of a vile harlot, for the value of three-and-sixpence. + +When he had committed the murder he made haste, and ran into the wood, +where he hid himself in the hollow of a great old tree; but it was no use +at all; the runners followed his track all along the forest till they +came to the tree. + +How many fortunes have you told to-day? + +Only one lady’s, brother; yonder she’s coming back; I knows her by the +black lace on her gown. + + * * * * * + +How much money did she give you? + +Only one groat, brother; only one groat. May the devil run away with her +bodily! + + * * * * * + +Hear the words of wisdom which Mike the Grecian said to Mrs. Trullifer: +Mrs. Trollopr, you must live by your living; and if you have a pound you +must spend it. + +Can you speak Romany? + +Aye, aye, brother! + +What is Weshenjuggalslomomengreskeytemskeytudlogueri? + +I don’t know what you say, brother. + +Then you are no master of Romany. + + + + +ROMANE NAVIOR OF TEMES AND GAVIOR +GYPSY NAMES OF CONTRIES AND TOWNS + +Baulo-mengreskey tem Swineherds’ country, Hampshire +Bitcheno padlengreskey tem Transported fellows’ country, + Botany Bay +Bokra-mengreskey tem Shepherds’ country, Sussex +Bori-congriken gav Great church town, York +Boro-rukeneskey gav Great tree town, Fairlop +Boro gueroneskey tem Big fellows’ country, + Northumberland +Chohawniskey tem Witches’ country, Lancashire +Choko-mengreskey gav Shoemakers’ town, Northampton +Churi-mengreskey gav Cutlers’ town, Sheffield +Coro-mengreskey tem Potters’ country, Staffordshire +Cosht-killimengreskey tem Cudgel players’ country, Cornwall +Curo-mengreskey gav Boxers’ town, Nottingham +Dinelo tem Fools’ country, Suffolk +Giv-engreskey tem Farmers’ country, Buckinghamshire +Gry-engreskey gav Horsedealers’ town, Horncastle +Guyo-mengreskey tem Pudding-eaters’ country, + Yorkshire +Hindity-mengreskey tem Dirty fellows’ country, Ireland +Jinney-mengreskey gav Sharpers’ town, Manchester +Juggal-engreskey gav Dog-fanciers’ town, Dudley +Juvlo-mengreskey tem Lousy fellows’ country, Scotland +Kaulo gav The black town, Birmingham +Levin-engriskey tem Hop country, Kent +Lil-engreskey gav Book fellows’ town, Oxford +Match-eneskey gav Fishy town, Yarmouth +Mi-develeskey gav My God’s town, Canterbury +Mi-krauliskey gav Royal town, London +Nashi-mescro gav Racers’ town, Newmarket +Pappin-eskey tem Duck country, Lincolnshire +Paub-pawnugo tem Apple-water country, + Herefordshire +Porrum-engreskey tem Leek-eaters’ country, Wales +Pov-engreskey tem Potato country, Norfolk +Rashayeskey gav Clergyman’s town, Ely +Rokrengreskey gav Talking fellows’ town, Norwich +Shammin-engreskey gav Chairmakers’ town, Windsor +Tudlo tem Milk country, Cheshire +Weshen-eskey gav Forest town, Epping +Weshen-juggal-slommo-mengreskey Fox-hunting fellows’ country, +tem Leicestershire +Wongareskey gav Coal town, Newcastle +Wusto-mengresky tem Wrestlers’ country, Devonshire + +THOMAS ROSSAR-MESCRO, OR THOMAS HERNE + + +THOMAS ROSSAR-MESCRO + + +PREY Juniken bis diuto divvus, drey the besh yeck mille ochto shel +shovardesh ta trin, mande jaw’d to dick Thomas Rossar-mescro, a puro +Romano, of whom mande had shoon’d bute. He was jibbing drey a tan naveno +Rye Groby’s Court, kek dur from the Coromengreskoe Tan ta +Bokkar-engreskey Wesh. When mande dick’d leste he was beshing prey the +poov by his wuddur, chiving misto the poggado tuleskey part of a skammin. +His ker was posh ker, posh wardo, and stood drey a corner of the tan; kek +dur from lesti were dui or trin wafor ker-wardoes. There was a wafudo +canipen of baulor, though mande dick’d kekkeney. I penn’d “Sarshin?” in +Romany jib, and we had some rokrapen kettaney. He was a boro mush, as +mande could dick, though he was beshing. But though boro he was kek +tulo, ta lescré wastes were tarney sar yek rawnie’s. Lollo leste mui sar +yeck weneskoe paub, ta lescro bal rather lollo than parno. Prey his +shero was a beti stadj, and he was kek wafudo riddo. On my putching +leste kisi boro he was, ta kisi puro, he penn’d that he was sho piré sore +but an inch boro, ta enyovardesh ta dui besh puro. He didn’t jin to +rokkra bute in Romano, but jinn’d almost sore so mande rokkar’d te leste. +Moro rokkrapen was mostly in gorgiko jib. Yeck covar yecklo drey lescro +drom of rokkring mande pennsch’d kosko to rig in zi. In tan of penning +Romany, sar wafor Romany chals, penn’d o Roumany, a lav which sig, sig +rigg’d to my zi _Roumain_, the tatcho, puro nav of the Vallackiskie jib +and foky. He seem’d a biti aladge of being of Romany rat. He penn’d +that he was beano drey the Givengreskey Tem, that he was kek tatcho +Romano, but yeckly posh ta posh: lescro dado was Romano, but lescri daya +a gorgie of the Lilengreskoe Gav; he had never camm’d bute to jib +Romaneskoenaes, and when tarno had been a givengreskoe raklo. When he +was boro he jall’d adrey the Lilengrotemskey militia, and was desh ta +stor besh a militia curomengro. He had jall’d bute about Engli-tem and +the juvalo-mengreskey, Tem, drey the cheeros of the puri chingaripen, and +had been adrey Monseer-tem, having volunteered to jal odoy to cour agen +the parley-woo gueros. He had dick’d Bordeaux and the boro gav Paris. +After the chingaripen, he had lell’d oprey skamminengring, and had jall’d +about the tem, but had been knau for buter than trianda beshor jibbing in +Lundra. He had been romado, but his romadi had been mullee bute, bute +cheeros; she had dinn’d leste yeck chavo, so was knau a heftwardesh +beshengro, dicking bute puroder than yo cocoro, ta kanau lying naflo of a +tatti naflipen drey yeck of the wardes. He penn’d that at yeck cheeros +he could kair dosta luvvu by skammin-engring, but kanau from his bori +puripen could scarcely kair yeck tringurushee a divvus. “Ladjipen si,” I +penn’d, “that a mush so puro as tute should have to booty.” “Kosko zi! +kosko zi!” he penn’d; “Paracrow Dibble that mande is dosta ruslo to +booty, and that mande has koskey camomescres; I shan’t be tugnis to jib +to be a shel beshengro, though tatchipen si if mande was a rye mande +would kair kek booty.” His chaveskoe chavo, a trianda ta pansch +beshengro, well’d kanau ta rokkar’d mansar. He was a misto dicking ta +rather misto riddo mush, sar chimouni jinneymengreskey drey lescro mui. +He penn’d that his dadeskoe dad was a fino puro mush, savo had dick’d +bute, and that dosta, dosta foky well’d odoy to shoon lescré rokkrapenes +of the puro cheeros, of the Franciskie ta Amencanskie chingaripenes, and +of what yo had dick’d drey wafu tems. That tatchipen to pen there was a +cheeros when his drom was dur from kosko, for that he camm’d to cour, +sollohaul ta kair himself motto, but that kanau he was a wafu mush, that +he had muk’d sore curopen and wafudo rokkrapen, and, to corauni sore, was +yeck tee-totaller, yo cocoro having kair’d leste sollohaul that he would +pi kekomi neither tatti panie nor levinor: that he jall’d sore the +curques either to congri or Tabernacle, and that tho’ he kek jinn’d to +del oprey he camm’d to shoon the Miduveleskoe lil dell’d oprey to leste; +that the panishkie ryor held leste drey boro camopen, and that the +congriskoe rashi, and oprey sore Dr. P. of the Tabernacle had a boro +opinionos of leste, ta penn’d that he would hal the Miduveleskoe habben +sar moro Araunyo Jesus drey the kosko tem opral. Mande putch’d whether +the Romany Chals well’d often to dick leste? He penn’d that they well’d +knau and then to pen Koshto divvus and Sarshin? but dov’ odoy was sore; +that neither his dadeskoe dad nor yo cocoro camm’d to dick lende, because +they were wafodu foky, perdo of wafodupen and bango camopen, ta oprey +sore bute envyous; that drey the wen they jall’d sore cattaney to the +ryor, and rokkar’d wafodu of the puno mush, and pukker’d the ryor to let +lester a coppur which the ryor had lent leste, to kair tatto his choveno +puro truppo drey the cheeros of the trashlo shillipen; that tatchipen si +their wafodupen kaired the puro mush kek dosh, for the ryor pukker’d +lende to jal their drom and be aladge of their cocoré, but that it was +kek misto to pensch that yeck was of the same rat as such foky. After +some cheeros I dinn’d the puro mush a tawno cuttor of rupe, shook leste +by ye wast, penn’d that it would be mistos amande to dick leste a +shel-beshengro, and jaw’d away keri. + + +THOMAS HERNE + + +ON the twenty-second day of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred +and sixty-three, I went to see Thomas Herne, an old Gypsy, of whom I had +heard a great deal. He was living at a place called Mr. Groby’s Court, +not far from the Potteries and the Shepherd’s Bush. When I saw him, he +was sitting on the ground by his door, mending the broken bottom of a +chair. His house was half-house half-waggon, and stood in a corner of +the court; not far from it were two or three other waggon-houses. There +was a disagreeable smell of hogs, though I saw none. I said, “How you +do?” in the Gypsy tongue, and we had discourse together. He was a tall +man, as I could see, though he was sitting. But, though tall, he was not +stout, and his hands were small as those of a lady. His face was as red +as a winter apple, and his hair was rather red than grey. He had a small +hat on his head, and he was not badly dressed. On my asking him how tall +he was, and how old, he said that he was six foot high, all but an inch, +and that he was ninety-two years old. He could not talk much Gypsy, but +understood almost all that I said to him. Our discourse was chiefly in +English. One thing only in his manner of speaking I thought worthy of +remembrance. Instead of saying Romany, like other Gypsies, he said +Roumany, a word which instantly brought to my mind Roumain, the genuine, +ancient name of the Wallachian tongue and people. He seemed to be rather +ashamed of being of Gypsy blood. He told me that he was born in +Buckinghamshire, that he was no true Gypsy, but only half-and-half: his +father was a Gypsy, but his mother was a Gentile of Oxford; he had never +had any particular liking for the Gypsy manner of living, and when little +had been a farmer’s boy. When he grew up he enlisted into the Oxford +militia, and was fourteen years a militia soldier. He had gone much +about England and Scotland in the time of the old war, and had been in +France, having volunteered to go thither to fight against the French. He +had seen Bordeaux and the great city of Paris. After war he had taken up +chair-making, and had travelled about the country, but had been now for +more than thirty years living in London. He had been married, but his +wife had long been dead. She had borne him a son, who was now a man +seventy years of age, looking much older than himself, and at present +lying sick of a burning fever in one of the caravans. He said that at +one time he could make a good deal of money by chair-making, but now from +his great age could scarcely earn a shilling a day. “What a shame,” said +I, “that a man so old as you should have to work at all!” “Courage! +courage!” he cried; “I thank God that I am strong enough to work, and +that I have good friends; I shan’t be sorry to live to be a hundred years +old, though true it is that if I were a gentleman I would do no work.” +His grandson, a man of about five-and-thirty, came now and conversed with +me. He was a good-looking and rather well-dressed man, with something of +a knowing card in his countenance. He said that his grandfather was a +fine old man, who had seen a great deal, and that a great many people +came to hear his stories of the old time, of the French and American +wars, and of what he had seen in other countries. That, truth to say, +there was a time when his way was far from commendable, for that he loved +to fight, swear, and make himself drunk; but that now he was another man, +that he had abandoned all fighting and evil speaking, and, to crown all, +was a tee-totaller, he himself having made him swear that he would no +more drink either gin or ale: that he went every Sunday either to church +or Tabernacle, and that, though he did not know how to read, he loved to +hear the holy book read to him; that the gentlemen of the parish +entertained a great regard for him, and that the church clergyman and, +above all, Dr. P. of the Tabernacle had a high opinion of him, and said +that he would partake of the holy banquet with our Lord Jesus in the +blessed country above. On my inquiring whether the Gypsies came often to +see him, he said that they came now and then to say “Good day” and “How +do you do?” but that was all; that neither his grandfather nor himself +cared to see them, because they were evil people, full of wickedness and +left-handed love, and, above all, very envyous; that in the winter they +all went in a body to the gentlemen and spoke ill of the old man, and +begged the gentlemen to take from him a blanket which the gentlemen had +lent him to warm his poor old body with in the time of the terrible cold; +that it is true their wickedness did the old man no harm, for the +gentlemen told them to go away and be ashamed of themselves, but that it +was not pleasant to think that one was of the same blood as such people. +After some time I gave the old man a small piece of silver, shook him by +the hand, said that I should be glad to see him live to be a hundred, and +went away home. + + + + +KOKKODUS ARTARUS + + +DREY the puro cheeros there jibb’d a puri Romani juva, Sinfaya laki nav. +Tatchi Romani juva i; caum’d to rokkra Romany, nav’d every mush kokkodus, +ta every mushi deya. Yeck chavo was láki; lescro nav Artáros; dinnelo or +diviou was O; romadi was lesgué; but the rommadi merr’d, mukking leste +yeck chávo. Artáros caum’d to jal oprey the drom, and sikker his +nangipen to rawnies and kair muior. At last the ryor chiv’d leste drey +the diviou ker. The chávo jibb’d with his puri deya till he was a desch +ta pantsch besh engro. Yeck divvus a Romani juva jalling along the drom +dick’d the puri juva beshing tuley a bor roving: What’s the matter, +Sinfaya, pukker’d i? + + My chavo’s chavo is lell’d oprey, deya. + What’s he lell’d oprey for? + For a meila and posh, deya. + Why don’t you jal to dick leste? + I have nash’d my maila, deya. + O má be tugni about your maila; jal and dick leste. + +I don’t jin kah se, deya! diviou kokkodus Artáros jins, kek mande. Ah +diviou, diviou, jal amande callico. + + + + +MANG, PRALA +BEG ON, BROTHER + + +MANG, PRALA + + +ROMANO chavo was manging sar bori gudli yeck rye te del les pasherro. +Lescri deya so was beshing kek dur from odoy penn’d in gorgikey rokrapen: +Meklis juggal, ta av acoi! ma kair the rye kinyo with your gudli! and +then penn’d sig in Romany jib: Mang, Prala, mang! Ta o chavo kair’d ajaw +till the rye chiv’d les yeck shohaury. + + * * * * * + +[Something like the following little anecdote is related by the Gypsies +in every part of Continental Europe.] + + +BEG ON, BROTHER + + +A GYPSY brat was once pestering a gentleman to give him a halfpenny. The +mother, who was sitting nigh, cried in English: Leave off, you dog, and +come here! don’t trouble the gentleman with your noise; and then added in +Romany: Beg on, brother! and so the brat did, till the gentleman flung +him a sixpence. + + + + +ENGLISH GYPSY SONGS + + +WELLING KATTANEY: THE GYPSY MEETING + + + COIN si deya, coin se dado? + Pukker mande drey Romanes, + Ta mande pukkeravava tute. + + Rossar-mescri minri deya! + Vardo-mescro minro dado! + Coin se dado, coin si deya? + Mande’s pukker’d tute drey Romanes; + Knau pukker tute mande. + + Petuiengro minro dado! + Purana minri deya! + Tatchey Romany si men— + Mande’s pukker’d tute drey Romanes, + Ta tute’s pukker’d mande. + + +THE GYPSY MEETING + + + WHO’S your mother, who’s your father? + Do thou answer me in Romany, + And I will answer thee. + + A Hearne I have for mother! + A Cooper for my father! + Who’s your father, who’s your mother? + I have answer’d thee in Romany, + Now do thou answer me. + + A Smith I have for father! + A Lee I have for mother! + True Romans both are we— + For I’ve answer’d thee in Romany, + And thou hast answer’d me. + + + +LELLING CAPPI: MAKING A FORTUNE + + + “AV, my little Romany chel! + Av along with mansar! + Av, my little Romany chel! + Koshto si for mangue.” + + “I shall lel a curapen, + If I jal aley; + I shall lel a curapen + From my dear bebee.” + + “I will jal on my chongor, + Then I’ll pootch your bebee. + ‘O my dear bebee, dey me your chi, + For koshto si for mangue.’ + + “‘Since you pootch me for my chi, + I will dey you lati.’” + Av, my little Romany chel! + We will jal to the wafu tem: + + “I will chore a beti gry, + And so we shall lel cappi.” + “Kekko, meero mushipen, + For so you would be stardo; + + “But I will jal a dukkering, + And so we shall lel cappi.” + “Koshto, my little Romany chel! + Koshto si for mangue.” + + +MAKING A FORTUNE + + + “COME along, my little gypsy girl, + Come along, my little dear; + Come along, my little gypsy girl— + We’ll wander far and near.” + + “I should get a leathering + Should I with thee go; + I should get a leathering + From my dear aunt, I trow.” + + “I’ll go down on my two knees, + And I will beg your aunt. + ‘O auntie dear, give me your child; + She’s just the girl I want!’ + + “‘Since you ask me for my child, + I will not say thee no!’ + Come along, my little gypsy girl! + To another land we’ll go: + + “I will steal a little horse, + And our fortunes make thereby.” + “Not so, my little gypsy boy, + For then you’d swing on high; + + “But I’ll a fortune-telling go, + And our fortunes make thereby.” + “Well said, my little gypsy girl, + You counsel famously.” + + +LELLING CAPPI +No.2 + + + “AV, my little Rumni chel, + Av along with mansar; + We will jal a gry-choring + Pawdle across the chumba. + + “I’ll jaw tuley on my chongor + To your deya and your bebee; + And I’ll pootch lende that they del + Tute to me for romadi.” + + “I’ll jaw with thee, my Rumni chal, + If my dye and bebee muk me; + But choring gristurs traishes me, + For it brings one to the rukie. + + “’Twere ferreder that you should ker, + Petuls and I should dukker, + For then adrey our tanney tan, + We kek atraish may sova.” + + “Kusko, my little Rumni chel, + Your rokrapen is kusko; + We’ll dukker and we’ll petuls ker + Pawdle across the chumba. + + “O kusko si to chore a gry + Adrey the kaulo rarde; + But ’tis not kosko to be nash’d + Oprey the nashing rukie.” + + +MAKING A FORTUNE +No.2 + + + “COME along, my little gypsy girl, + Come along with me, I pray! + A-stealing horses we will go, + O’er the hills so far away. + + “Before your mother and your aunt + I’ll down upon my knee, + And beg they’ll give me their little girl + To be my Romadie.” + + “I’ll go with you, my gypsy boy, + If my mother and aunt agree; + But a perilous thing is horse-stealinge, + For it brings one to the tree. + + “’Twere better you should tinkering ply, + And I should fortunes tell; + For then within our little tent + In safety we might dwell.” + + “Well said, my little gypsy girl, + I like well what you say; + We’ll tinkering ply, and fortunes tell + O’er the hills so far away. + + “’Tis a pleasant thing in a dusky night + A horse-stealing to go; + But to swing in the wind on the gallows-tree, + Is no pleasant thing, I trow.” + + + +THE DUI CHALOR + + + DUI Romany Chals were bitcheney, + Bitcheney pawdle the bori pawnee. + Plato for kawring, + Lasho for choring + The putsi of a bori rawnee. + + And when they well’d to the wafu tem, + The tem that’s pawdle the bori pawnee, + Plato was nasho + Sig, but Lasho + Was lell’d for rom by a bori rawnee. + + You cam to jin who that rawnie was, + ’Twas the rawnie from whom he chor’d the putsee: + The Chal had a black + Chohauniskie yack, + And she slomm’d him pawdle the bori pawnee. + + +THE TWO GYPSIES + + + TWO Gypsy lads were transported, + Were sent across the great water. + Plato was sent for rioting, + And Louis for stealing the purse + Of a great lady. + + And when they came to the other country, + The country that lies across the great water, + Plato was speedily hung, + But Louis was taken as a husband + By a great lady. + + You wish to know who was the lady, + ’Twas the lady from whom he stole the purse: + The Gypsy had a black and witching eye, + And on account of that she followed him + Across the great water. + + + +MIRO ROMANY CHl + + + AS I was a jawing to the gav yeck divvus + I met on the drom miro Romany chi; + I pootch’d las whether she come sar mande, + And she penn’d tu sar wafo rommadis; + O mande there is kek wafo romady, + So penn’d I to miro Romany chi, + And I’ll kair tute miro tatcho romadi + If you but pen tu come sar mande. + + +MY ROMAN LASS + + + AS I to the town was going one day + My Roman lass I met by the way; + Said I: Young maid, will you share my lot? + Said she: Another wife you’ve got. + Ah no! to my Roman lass I cried: + No wife have I in the world so wide, + And you my wedded wife shall be + If you will consent to come with me. + + + +AVA, CHI + + + HOKKA tute mande + Mande pukkra bebee + Mande shauvo tute— + Ava, Chi! + + +YES, MY GIRL + + + IF to me you prove untrue, + Quickly I’ll your auntie tell + I’ve been over-thick with you— + Yes, my girl, I will. + + + +THE TEMESKOE RYE + + + PENN’D the temeskoe rye to the Romany chi, + As the choon was dicking prey lende dui: + Rinkeny tawni, Romany rawni, + Mook man choom teero gudlo mui. + + +THE YOUTHFUL EARL + + + SAID the youthful earl to the Gypsy girl, + As the moon was casting its silver shine: + Brown little lady, Egyptian lady, + Let me kiss those sweet lips of thine. + + + +CAMO-GILLIE + + + PAWNIE birks + My men-engni shall be; + Yackors my dudes + Like ruppeney shine: + Atch meery chi! + Mā jal away: + Perhaps I may not dick tute + Kek komi. + + +LOVE-SONG + + + I’D choose as pillows for my head + Those snow-white breasts of thine; + I’d use as lamps to light my bed + Those eyes of silver shine: + O lovely maid, disdain me not, + Nor leave me in my pain: + Perhaps ’twill never be my lot + To see thy face again. + + + +TUGNIS AMANDE + + + I’M jalling across the pāni— + A choring mas and morro, + Along with a bori lubbeny, + And she has been the ruin of me. + + I sov’d yeck rarde drey a gran, + A choring mas and morro, + Along with a bori lubbeny, + And she has been the ruin of me. + + She pootch’d me on the collico, + A choring mas and morro, + To jaw with lasa to the show, + For she would be the ruin of me. + + And when I jaw’d odoy with lasa, + A choring mas and morro, + Sig she chor’d a rawnie’s kissi, + And so she was the ruin of me. + + They lell’d up lata, they lell’d up mande, + A choring mas and morro, + And bitch’d us dui pawdle pãni, + So she has been the ruin of me. + + I’m jalling across the pāni, + A choring mas and morro, + Along with a bori lubbeny, + And she has been the ruin of me. + + +WOE IS ME + + + I’M sailing across the water, + A-stealing bread and meat so free, + Along with a precious harlot, + And she has been the ruin of me. + + I slept one night within a barn, + A-stealing bread and meat so free, + Along with a precious harlot, + And she has been the ruin of me. + + Next morning she would have me go, + A-stealing bread and meat so free, + To see with her the wild-beast show, + For she would be the ruin of me. + + I went with her to see the show, + A-stealing bread and meat so free, + To steal a purse she was not slow, + And so she was the ruin of me. + + They took us up, and with her I, + A-stealing bread and meat so free: + Am sailing now to Botany, + So she has been the ruin of me. + + I’m sailing across the water, + A-stealing bread and meat so free, + Along with a precious harlot, + And she has been the ruin of me. + + + +THE RYE AND RAWNIE + + + THE rye he mores adrey the wesh + The kaun-engro and chiriclo; + You sovs with leste drey the wesh, + And rigs for leste the gono. + + Oprey the rukh adrey the wesh + Are chiriclo and chiricli; + Tuley the rukh adrey the wesh + Are pireno and pireni. + + +THE SQUIRE AND LADY + + + THE squire he roams the good greenwood, + And shoots the pheasant and the hare; + Thou sleep’st with him in good green wood, + And dost for him the game-sack bear. + + I see, I see upon the tree + The little male and female dove; + Below the tree I see, I see + The lover and his lady love. + + + +ROMANY SUTTUR GILLIE + + + JAW to sutturs, my tiny chal; + Your die to dukker has jall’d abri; + At rarde she will wel palal + And tute of her tud shall pie. + + Jaw to lutherum, tiny baw! + I’m teerie deya’s purie mam; + As tute cams her tud canaw + Thy deya meerie tud did cam. + + +GYPSY LULLABY + + + SLEEP thee, little tawny boy! + Thy mother’s gone abroad to spae, + Her kindly milk thou shalt enjoy + When home she comes at close of day. + + Sleep thee, little tawny guest! + Thy mother is my daughter fine; + As thou dost love her kindly breast, + She once did love this breast of mine. + + + +SHARRAFI KRALYISSA + + + FINOR coachey innar Lundra, + Bonor coachey innar Lundra, + Finor coachey, bonor coachey + Mande dick’d innar Lundra. + + Bonor, finor coachey + Mande dick’d innar Lundra + The divvus the Kralyissa jall’d + To congri innar Lundra. + + +OUR BLESSED QUEEN + + + COACHES fine in London, + Coaches good in London, + Coaches fine and coaches good + I did see in London. + + Coaches good and coaches fine + I did see in London, + The blessed day our blessed Queen + Rode to church in London. + + + +PLASTRA LESTI + + + GARE yourselves, pralor! + Mã pee kek-komi! + The guero’s welling— + Plastra lesti! + + +RUN FOR IT! + + + UP, up, brothers! + Cease your revels! + The Gentile’s coming— + Run like devils! + + + + +FOREIGN GYPSY SONGS + + + OY die-la, oy mama-la oy! + Cherie podey mangue penouri. + + _Russian Gypsy Song_. + + + +THE ROMANY SONGSTRESS +FROM THE RUSSIAN GYPSY + + + HER temples they are aching, + As if wine she had been taking; + Her tears are ever springing, + Abandoned is her singing! + She can neither eat nor nest + With love she’s so distress’d; + At length she’s heard to say: + “Oh here I cannot stay, + Go saddle me my steed, + To my lord I must proceed; + In his palace plenteously + Both eat and drink shall I; + The servants far and wide, + Bidding guests shall run and ride. + And when within the hall the multitude I see, + I’ll raise my voice anew, and sing in Romany.” + + + +L’ERAJAI + + + UN erajai + Sinaba chibando un sermon; + Y lle falta un balicho + Al chindomar de aquel gao, + Y lo chanelaba que los Cales + Lo abian nicabao; + Y penela l’erajai, “Chaboró! + Guillate a tu quer + Y nicabela la peri + Que terela el balicho, + Y chibela andro + Una lima de tun chaborí, + Chabori, + Una lima de tun chabori.” + + +THE FRIAR +FROM THE SPANISH GYPSY + + + A FRIAR + Was preaching once with zeal and with fire; + And a butcher of the town + Had lost a flitch of bacon; + And well the friar knew + That the Gypsies it had taken; + So suddenly he shouted: “Gypsy, ho! + Hie home, and from the pot! + Take the flitch of bacon out, + The flitch good and fat, + And in its place throw + A clout, a dingy clout of thy brat, + Of thy brat, + A clout, a dingy clout of thy brat.” + + + +MALBRUN +FROM THE SPANISH GYPSY VERSION + + + CHALÓ Malbrun chingarár, + Birandón, birandón, birandéra! + Chaló Malbrun chingarár; + No sé bus truterá! + No sé bus truterá! + + La romi que le caméla, + Birandón, birandón, birandéra! + La romi que le camela + Muy curepeñada está, + Muy curepeñada está. + + S’ardéla á la felichá, + Birandón, birandón, birandéra! + S’ardéla á la felichá + Y baribu dur dicá, + Y baribu dur dicá. + + Dicá abillar su burno, + Birandón, birandón, birandéra! + Dicá abillar su burno, + En ropa callardá, + En ropa callardá. + + “Burno, lacho quirbó; + Birandón, birandón, birandéra! + Burno, lacho quiribó, + Que nuevas has diñar? + Que nuevas has diñar?” + + “Las nuevas que io térelo, + Birandón, birandón, birandéra! + Las nuevas que io terélo + Te haran orobar, + Te haran orobar. + + “Meró Malbrun mi eráy, + Birandón, birandón, birandéra! + Meró Malbrun mi eráy + Meró en la chingá, + Meró en la chingá. + + “Sinaba á su entierro, + Birandón, birandón, birandéra! + Sinaba á su entierro + La plastani sará, + La plastani sará. + + “Seis guapos jundunáres, + Birandón, birandón, birandéra! + Seis guapos jundunáres + Le lleváron cabañar, + Le lleváron cabañar. + + “Delante de la jestári, + Birandón, birandón, birandéra! + Delante de la jestári + Chaló el sacristá, + Chaló el sacristá. + + “El sacristá delante, + Birandón, birandón, birandéra! + El sacristá delante, + Y el errajai palá, + Y el errajai palá. + + “Al majaro ortaláme, + Birandón, birandón, birandéra! + Al majaro ortaláme + Le lleváron cabañar, + Le lleváron cabañar. + + “Y oté le cabañáron + Birandón, birandón, birandéra! + Y oté le cabañáron + No dur de la burdá, + No dur de la burdá. + + “Y opré de la jestári + Birandón, birandón, birandéra! + Guillabéla un chilindróte; + Sobá en paz, sobá! + Sobá en paz, sobá!” + + +MALBROUK + + + MALBROUK is gone to the wars, + Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra! + Malbrouk is gone to the wars; + He’ll never return no more! + He’ll never return no more! + + His lady-love and darling, + Birrandon, birrandón, birrandéra + His lady-love and darling + His absence doth deplore, + His absence doth deplore. + + To the turret’s top she mounted, + Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra! + To the turret’s top she mounted + And look’d till her eyes were sore, + And look’d till her eyes were sore. + + She saw his squire a-coming, + Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra! + She saw his squire a-coming; + And a mourning suit he wore, + And a mourning suit he wore. + + “O squire, my trusty fellow; + Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra! + O squire, my trusty fellow, + What news of my soldier poor? + What news of my soldier poor?” + + “The news which I bring thee, lady, + Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra! + The news which I bring thee, lady, + Will cause thy tears to shower, + Will cause thy tears to shower. + + “Malbrouk my master’s fallen, + Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra! + Malbrouk my master’s fallen, + He fell on the fields of gore, + He fell on the fields of gore. + + “His funeral attended, + Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra! + His funeral attended + The whole reg’mental corps, + The whole reg’mental corps. + + “Six neat and proper soldiers, + Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra! + Six neat and proper soldiers + To the grave my master bore, + To the grave my master bore. + + “The parson follow’d the coffin, + Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra! + The parson follow’d the coffin, + And the sexton walk’d before, + And the sexton walk’d before. + + “They buried him in the churchyard, + Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra! + They buried him in the churchyard, + Not far from the church’s door, + Not far from the church’s door. + + “And there above his coffin, + Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra! + There sings a little swallow: + Sleep there, thy toils are o’er, + Sleep there, thy toils are o’er.” + + + + +THE ENGLISH GYPSIES + + +TUGNEY BESHOR + + + THE Romany Chals + Should jin so bute + As the Puro Beng + To scape of gueros + And wafo gorgies + The wafodupen. + + They lels our gryor, + They lels our wardoes, + And wusts us then + Drey starripenes + To mer of pishens + And buklipen. + + Cauna volélan + Muley pappins + Pawdle the len + Men artavàvam + Of gorgio foky + The wafodupen. + Ley teero sollohanloinus opreylis! + + +SORROWFUL YEARS + + + The wit and the skill + Of the Father of ill, + Who’s clever indeed, + If they would hope + With their foes to cope + The Romany need. + + Our horses they take, + Our waggons they break, + And us they fling + Into horrid cells, + Where hunger dwells + And vermin sting. + + When the dead swallow + The fly shall follow + Across the river, + O we’ll forget + The wrongs we’ve met, + But till then O never: + Brother, of that be certain. + + + +THEIR HISTORY + + +THE English Gypsies call themselves Romany Chals and Romany Chies, that +is, Sons and Daughters of Rome. When speaking to each other, they say +“Pal” and “Pen”; that is, brother and sister. All people not of their +own blood they call “Gorgios,” or Gentiles. Gypsies first made their +appearance in England about the year 1480. They probably came from +France, where tribes of the race had long been wandering about under the +names of Bohemians and Egyptians. In England they pursued the same kind +of merripen {174} which they and their ancestors had pursued on the +Continent. They roamed about in bands, consisting of thirty, sixty, or +ninety families, with light, creaking carts, drawn by horses and donkeys, +encamping at night in the spots they deemed convenient. The women told +fortunes at the castle of the baron and the cottage of the yeoman; +filched gold and silver coins from the counters of money-changers; caused +the death of hogs in farmyards, by means of a stuff called drab or drao, +which affects the brain, but does not corrupt the blood; and subsequently +begged, and generally obtained, the carcases. The men plied tinkering +and brasiery, now and then stole horses, and occasionally ventured upon +highway robbery. The writer has here placed the Chies before the Chals, +because, as he has frequently had occasion to observe, the Gypsy women +are by far more remarkable beings than the men. It is the Chi and not +the Chal who has caused the name of Gypsy to be a sound awaking wonder, +awe, and curiosity in every part of the civilised world. Not that there +have never been remarkable men of the Gypsy race both abroad and at home. +Duke Michael, as he was called, the leader of the great Gypsy horde which +suddenly made its appearance in Germany at the beginning of the fifteenth +century, was no doubt a remarkable man; the Gitano Condre, whom Martin +del Rio met at Toledo a hundred years afterwards, who seemed to speak all +languages, and to be perfectly acquainted with the politics of all the +Courts of Europe, must certainly have been a remarkable man; so, no +doubt, here at home was Boswell; so undoubtedly was Cooper, called by the +gentlemen of the Fives Court—poor fellows! they are all gone now—the +“wonderful little Gypsy”;—but upon the whole the poetry, the sorcery, the +devilry, if you please to call it so, are vastly on the side of the +women. How blank and inanimate is the countenance of the Gypsy man, even +when trying to pass off a foundered donkey as a flying dromedary, in +comparison with that of the female Romany, peering over the wall of a +par-yard at a jolly hog! + + Sar shin Sinfye? + Koshto divvus, Romany Chi! + So shan tute kairing acoi? + + Sinfye, Sinfye! how do you do? + Daughter of Rome, good day to you! + What are you thinking here to do? + +After a time the evil practices of the Gypsies began to be noised about, +and terrible laws were enacted against people “using the manner of +Egyptians”—Chies were scourged by dozens, Chals hung by scores. +Throughout the reign of Elizabeth there was a terrible persecution of the +Gypsy race; far less, however, on account of the crimes which they +actually committed, than from a suspicion which was entertained that they +harboured amidst their companies priests and emissaries of Rome, who had +come to England for the purpose of sowing sedition and inducing the +people to embrace again the old discarded superstition. This suspicion, +however, was entirely without foundation. The Gypsies call each other +brother and sister, and are not in the habit of admitting to their +fellowship people of a different blood and with whom they have no +sympathy. There was, however, a description of wandering people at that +time, even as there is at present, with whom the priests, who are +described as going about, sometimes disguised as serving-men, sometimes +as broken soldiers, sometimes as shipwrecked mariners, would experience +no difficulty in associating, and with whom, in all probability, they +occasionally did associate—the people called in Acts of Parliament sturdy +beggars and vagrants, in the old cant language Abraham men, and in the +modern Pikers. These people have frequently been confounded with the +Gypsies, but are in reality a distinct race, though they resemble the +latter in some points. They roam about like the Gypsies, and, like them, +have a kind of secret language. But the Gypsies are a people of Oriental +origin, whilst the Abrahamites are the scurf of the English body +corporate. The language of the Gypsies is a real language, more like the +Sanscrit than any other language in the world; whereas the speech of the +Abrahamites is a horrid jargon, composed for the most part of low English +words used in an allegorical sense—a jargon in which a stick is called a +crack; a hostess, a rum necklace; a bar-maid, a dolly-mort; brandy, rum +booze; a constable, a horny. But enough of these Pikers, these +Abrahamites. Sufficient to observe that if the disguised priests +associated with wandering companies it must have been with these people, +who admit anybody to their society, and not with the highly exclusive +race the Gypsies. + +For nearly a century and a half after the death of Elizabeth the Gypsies +seem to have been left tolerably to themselves, for the laws are almost +silent respecting them. Chies, no doubt, were occasionally scourged for +cauring, that is filching gold and silver coins, and Chals hung for +grychoring, that is horse-stealing; but those are little incidents not +much regarded in Gypsy merripen. They probably lived a life during the +above period tolerably satisfactory to themselves—they are not an +ambitious people, and there is no word for glory in their language—but +next to nothing is known respecting them. A people called Gypsies are +mentioned, and to a certain extent treated of, in two remarkable +works—one a production of the seventeenth, the other of the eighteenth +century—the first entitled the ‘English Rogue, or the Adventures of +Merriton Latroon,’ the other the ‘Life of Bamfield Moore Carew’; but +those works, though clever and entertaining, and written in the raciest +English, are to those who seek for information respecting Gypsies +entirely valueless, the writers having evidently mistaken for Gypsies the +Pikers or Abrahamites, as the vocabularies appended to the histories, and +which are professedly vocabularies of the Gypsy language, are nothing of +the kind, but collections of words and phrases belonging to the +Abrahamite or Piker jargon. At the commencement of the last century, and +for a considerable time afterwards, there was a loud cry raised against +the Gypsy women for stealing children. This cry, however, was quite as +devoid of reason as the suspicion entertained of old against the Gypsy +communities of harbouring disguised priests. Gypsy women, as the writer +had occasion to remark many a long year ago, have plenty of children of +their own, and have no wish to encumber themselves with those of other +people. A yet more extraordinary charge was, likewise, brought against +them—that of running away with wenches. Now, the idea of Gypsy women +running away with wenches! Where were they to stow them in the event of +running away with them? and what were they to do with them in the event +of being able to stow them? Nevertheless, two Gypsy women were burnt in +the hand in the most cruel and frightful manner, somewhat about the +middle of the last century, and two Gypsy men, their relations, sentenced +to be hanged, for running away with a certain horrible wench of the name +of Elizabeth Canning, who, to get rid of a disgraceful burden, had left +her service and gone into concealment for a month, and on her return, in +order to account for her absence, said that she had been run away with by +Gypsies. The men, however, did not undergo their sentence; for, ere the +day appointed for their execution arrived, suspicions beginning to be +entertained with respect to the truth of the wench’s story, they were +reprieved, and, after a little time, the atrocious creature, who had +charged people with doing what they neither did nor dreamt of doing, was +tried for perjury, convicted, and sentenced to transportation. Yet so +great is English infatuation that this Canning, this Elizabeth, had a +host of friends, who stood by her, and swore by her to the last, and +almost freighted the ship which carried her away with goods, the sale of +which enabled her to purchase her freedom of the planter to whom she was +consigned, to establish herself in business, and to live in comfort, and +almost in luxury, in the New World during the remainder of her life. + +But though Gypsies have occasionally experienced injustice; though +Patricos and Sherengroes were hanged by dozens in Elizabeth’s time on +suspicion of harbouring disguised priests; though Gypsy women in the time +of the Second George, accused of running away with wenches, were scorched +and branded, there can be no doubt that they live in almost continual +violation of the laws intended for the protection of society; and it may +be added, that in this illegal way of life the women have invariably +played a more important part than the men. Of them, amongst other +things, it may be said that they are the most accomplished swindlers in +the world, their principal victims being people of their own sex, on +whose credulity and superstition they practise. Mary Caumlo, or Lovel, +was convicted a few years ago at Cardiff of having swindled a surgeon’s +wife of eighty pounds, under pretence of propitiating certain planets by +showing them the money. Not a penny of the booty was ever recovered by +the deluded victim; and the Caumli, on leaving the dock, after receiving +sentence of a year’s imprisonment, turned round and winked to some +_brother_ or _sister_ in court, as much as to say: “_Mande has gared the +luvvu_; _mande is kek atugni for the besh’s starripen_”—“I have hid the +money, and care nothing for the year’s imprisonment.” Young Rawnie P. of +N., the daughter of old Rawnie P., suddenly disappeared with the whole +capital of an aged and bedridden gentlewoman, amounting to nearly three +hundred pounds, whom she had assured that if she were intrusted with it +for a short time she should be able to gather certain herbs, from which +she could make decoctions, which would restore to the afflicted +gentlewoman all her youthful vigour. Mrs. Townsley of the Border was +some time ago in trouble at Wick, only twenty-five miles distant from +Johnny Groat’s House, on a charge of fraudulently obtaining from a +fisherman’s wife one shilling, two half-crowns, and a five-pound note by +promising to untie certain witch-locks, which she had induced her to +believe were entwined in the meshes of the fisherman’s net, and would, if +suffered to remain, prevent him from catching a single herring in the +Firth. These events occurred within the last few years, and are +sufficiently notorious. They form a triad out of dozens of a similar +kind, in some of which there are features so odd, so strangely droll, +that indignation against the offence is dispelled by an irresistible +desire to laugh. + +But Gypsyism is declining, and its days are numbered. There is a force +abroad which is doomed to destroy it, a force which never sleepeth either +by day or night, and which will not allow the Roman people rest for the +soles of their feet. That force is the Rural Police, which, had it been +established at the commencement instead of towards the middle of the +present century, would have put down Gypsyism long ago. But, recent as +its establishment has been, observe what it has produced. Walk from +London to Carlisle, but neither by the road’s side, nor on heath or +common, will you see a single Gypsy tent. True Gypsyism consists in +wandering about, in preying upon the Gentiles, but not living amongst +them. But such a life is impossible in these days; the Rural Force will +not permit it. “It is a hard thing, brother,” said old Agamemnon Caumlo +to the writer, several years ago; “it is a hard thing, after one has +pitched one’s little tent, lighted one’s little fire, and hung one’s +kettle by the kettle-iron over it to boil, to have an inspector or +constable come up, and say, ‘What are you doing here? Take yourself off, +you Gypsy dog!’” A hard thing, indeed, old Agamemnon; but there is no +help for it. You must e’en live amongst the Gorgios. And for years past +the Gypsies have lived amongst the Gorgios, and what has been the result? +They do not seem to have improved the Gentiles, and have certainly not +been improved by them. By living amongst the Gentiles they have, to a +certain extent, lost the only two virtues they possessed. Whilst they +lived apart on heaths and commons, and in shadowy lanes, the Gypsy women +were paragons of chastity, and the men, if not exactly patterns of +sobriety, were, upon the whole, very sober fellows. Such terms, however, +are by no means applicable to them at the present day. Sects and castes, +even of thieves and murderers, can exist as long as they have certain +virtues, which give them a kind of respect in their own eyes; but, losing +those virtues, they soon become extinct. When the salt loses its savour, +what becomes of it? The Gypsy salt has not altogether lost its savour, +but that essential quality is every day becoming fainter, so that there +is every reason to suppose that within a few years the English Gypsy +caste will have disappeared, merged in the dregs of the English +population. + + + + +GYPSY NAMES + + +THERE are many curious things connected with the Gypsies, but perhaps +nothing more so than what pertains to their names. They have a double +nomenclature, each tribe or family having a public and a private name, +one by which they are known to the Gentiles, and another to themselves +alone. Their public names are quite English; their private ones +attempts, some of them highly singular and uncouth, to render those names +by Gypsy equivalents. Gypsy names may be divided into two classes, names +connected with trades, and surnames or family names. First of all, +something about trade names. + +There are only two names of trades which have been adopted by English +Gypsies as proper names, Cooper and Smith: these names are expressed in +the English Gypsy dialect by _Vardo-mescro_ and _Petulengro_. The first +of these renderings is by no means a satisfactory one, as _Vardo-mescro_ +means a cartwright, or rather a carter. To speak the truth, it would be +next to impossible to render the word ‘cooper’ into English Gypsy, or +indeed into Gypsy of any kind; a cooper, according to the common +acceptation of the word, is one who makes pails, tubs, and barrels, but +there are no words in Gypsy for such vessels. The Transylvanian Gypsies +call a cooper a _bedra-kero_ or pail-maker, but _bedra_ is not Gypsy, but +Hungarian, and the English Gypsies might with equal propriety call a +cooper a _pail-engro_. On the whole the English Gypsies did their best +when they rendered ‘cooper’ into their language by the word for +‘cartwright.’ + +_Petulengro_, the other trade name, is borne by the Gypsies who are known +to the public by the English appellation of Smith. It is not very easy +to say what is the exact meaning of _Petulengro_: it must signify, +however, either horseshoe-fellow or tinker: _petali_ or _petala_ +signifies in Gypsy a horseshoe, and is probably derived from the Modern +Greek _πέταλον_; _engro_ is an affix, and is either derived from or +connected with the Sanscrit _kara_, to make, so that with great +feasibility _Petulengro_ may be translated horseshoe-maker. But _bedel_ +in Hebrew means ‘tin,’ and as there is little more difference between +_petul_ and _bedel_ than between _petul_ and _petalon_, _Petulengro_ may +be translated with almost equal feasibility by tinker or tin-worker, more +especially as tinkering is a principal pursuit of Gypsies, and to _jal +petulengring_ signifies to go a-tinkering in English Gypsy. Taken, +however, in either sense, whether as horseshoe-maker or tin-worker (and, +as has been already observed, it must mean one or the other), +_Petulengro_ may be considered as a tolerably fair rendering of the +English Smith. + +So much for the names of the Gypsies which the writer has ventured to +call the trade names; now for those of the other class. These are +English surnames, and for the most part of a highly aristocratic +character, and it seems at first surprising that people so poor and +despised as Gypsies should be found bearing names so time-honoured and +imposing. There is, however, a tolerable explanation of the matter in +the supposition that on their first arrival in England the different +tribes sought the protection of certain grand powerful families, and were +permitted by them to locate themselves on their heaths and amid their +woodlands, and that they eventually adopted the names of their patrons. +Here follow the English names of some of the principal tribes, with the +Romany translations or equivalents:— + +BOSWELL.—The proper meaning of this word is the town of Bui. The initial +_Bo_ or _Bui_ is an old Northern name, signifying a colonist or settler, +one who tills and builds. It was the name of a great many celebrated +Northern _kempions_, who won land and a home by hard blows. The last +syllable, _well_, is the French _ville_: Boswell, Boston, and Busby all +signify one and the same thing—the town of Bui—the _well_ being French, +the _ton_ Saxon, and the _by_ Danish; they are half-brothers of Bovil and +Belville, both signifying fair town, and which ought to be written +Beauville and Belville. The Gypsies, who know and care nothing about +etymologies, confounding _bos_ with _buss_, a vulgar English verb not to +be found in dictionaries, which signifies to kiss, rendered the name +Boswell by _Chumomisto_, that is, Kisswell, or one who kisses +well—_choom_ in their language signifying to kiss, and _misto_ +well—likewise by _choomomescro_, a kisser. Vulgar as the word _buss_ may +sound at present, it is by no means of vulgar origin, being connected +with the Latin _basio_ and the Persian _bousè_. + +GREY.—This is the name of a family celebrated in English history. The +Gypsies who adopted it, rendered it into their language by _Gry_, a word +very much resembling it in sound, though not in sense, for _gry_, which +is allied to the Sanscrit _ghora_, signifies a horse. They had no better +choice, however, for in Romany there is no word for grey, any more than +there is for green or blue. In several languages there is a difficulty +in expressing the colour which in English is called grey. In Celtic, for +instance, there is no definite word for it; _glas_, it is true, is used +to express it, but _glas_ is as frequently used to express green as it is +to express grey. + +HEARNE, HERNE.—This is the name of a family which bears the heron for its +crest, the name being either derived from the crest, or the crest from +the name. There are two Gypsy renderings of the _word_—_Rossar-mescro_ +or _Ratzie-mescro_, and _Balorengre_. _Rossar-mescro_ signifies +duck-fellow, the duck being substituted for the heron, for which there is +no word in Romany. The meaning of _Balor-engre_ is hairy people; the +translator or translators seeming to have confounded Hearne with +‘haaren,’ old English for hairs. The latter rendering has never been +much in use. + +LEE.—The Gypsy name of this tribe is _Purrum_, sometimes pronounced +_Purrun_. The meaning of _Purrurn_ is an onion, and it may be asked what +connection can there be between Lee and onion? None whatever: but there +is some resemblance in sound between Lee and leek, and it is probable +that the Gypsies thought so, and on that account rendered the name by +_Purrum_, which, if not exactly a leek, at any rate signifies something +which is cousin-german to a leek. It must be borne in mind that in some +parts of England the name Lee is spelt Legh and Leigh, which would hardly +be the case if at one time it had not terminated in something like a +guttural, so that when the Gypsies rendered the name, perhaps nearly four +hundred years ago, it sounded very much like ‘leek,’ and perhaps was +Leek, a name derived from the family crest. At first the writer was of +opinion that the name was _Purrun_, a modification of _pooro_, which in +the Gypsy language signifies old, but speedily came to the conclusion +that it must be _Purrum_, a leek or onion; for what possible reason could +the Gypsies have for rendering Lee by a word which signifies old or +ancient? whereas by rendering it by _Purrum_, they gave themselves a +Gypsy name, which, if it did not signify Lee, must to their untutored +minds have seemed a very good substitute for Lee. The Gypsy word +_pooro_, old, belongs to Hindostan, and is connected with the Sanscrit +_pura_, which signifies the same. _Purrum_ is a modification of the +Wallachian _pur_, a word derived from the Latin _porrum_, an onion, and +picked up by the Gypsies in Roumania or Wallachia, the natives of which +region speak a highly curious mixture of Latin and Sclavonian. + +LOVEL.—This is the name or title of an old and powerful English family. +The meaning of it is Leo’s town, Lowe’s town, or Louis’ town. The +Gypsies, who adopted it, seem to have imagined that it had something to +do with love, for they translated it by _Camlo_ or _Caumlo_, that which +is lovely or amiable, and also by _Camomescro_, a lover, an amorous +person, sometimes used for ‘friend.’ _Camlo_ is connected with the +Sanscrit _Cama_, which signifies love, and is the appellation of the +Hindoo god of love. A name of the same root as the one borne by that +divinity was not altogether inapplicable to the Gypsy tribe who adopted +it: _Cama_, if all tales be true, was black, black though comely, a +_Beltenebros_, and the Lovel tribe is decidedly the most comely and at +the same time the darkest of all the Anglo-Egyptian families. The faces +of many of them, male and female, are perfect specimens of black beauty. +They are generally called by the race the _Kaulo Camloes_, the Black +Comelies. And here, though at the risk of being thought digressive, the +writer cannot forbear saying that the darkest and at one time the +comeliest of all the _Caumlies_, a celebrated fortune-teller, and an old +friend of his, lately expired in a certain old town, after attaining an +age which was something wonderful. She had twenty-one brothers and +sisters, and was the eldest of the family, on which account she was +called “Rawnie P., pooroest of bis ta dui,” Lady P.—she had married out +of the family—eldest of twenty-two. + +MARSHALL.—The name Marshall has either to do with marshal, the title of a +high military personage, or marches, the borders of contiguous countries. +In the early Norman period it was the name of an Earl of Pembroke. The +Gypsies who adopted the name seem in translating it to have been of +opinion that it was connected with marshes, for they rendered it by +_mokkado tan engre_, fellows of the wet or miry place, an appellation +which at one time certainly became them well, for they are a northern +tribe belonging to the Border, a country not very long ago full of mosses +and miry places. Though calling themselves English, they are in reality +quite as much Scotch as English, and as often to be found in Scotland as +the other country, especially in Dumfriesshire and Galloway, in which +latter region, in Saint Cuthbert’s churchyard, lies buried ‘the old man’ +of the race,—Marshall, who died at the age of 107. They sometimes call +themselves _Bungyoror_ and _Chikkeneymengre_, cork-fellows and china +people, which names have reference to the occupations severally followed +by the males and females, the former being cutters of bungs and corks, +and the latter menders of china. + +STANLEY.—This is the name or title of an ancient English family +celebrated in history. It is probably descriptive of their original +place of residence, for it signifies the stony lea, which is also the +meaning of the Gaelic _Auchinlech_, the place of abode of the Scottish +Boswells. It was adopted by an English Gypsy tribe, at one time very +numerous, but at present much diminished. Of this name there are two +renderings into Romany; one is _Baryor_ or _Baremescre_, stone-folks or +stonemasons, the other is _Beshaley_. The first requires no comment, but +the second is well worthy of analysis, as it is an example of the strange +blunders which the Gypsies sometimes make in their attempts at +translation. When they rendered Stanley by _Beshaley_ or _Beshley_, they +mistook the first syllable _stan_ for ‘stand,’ but for a very good reason +rendered it by _besh_, which signifies ‘to sit, and the second for a word +in their own language, for _ley_ or _aley_ in Gypsy signifies ‘down,’ so +they rendered Stanley by _Beshley_ or _Beshaley_, which signifies ‘sit +down.’ Here, of course, it will be asked what reason could have induced +them, if they mistook _stan_ for ‘stand,’ not to have rendered it by the +Gypsy word for ‘stand’? The reason was a very cogent one, the want of a +word in the Gypsy language to express ‘stand’; but they had heard in +courts of justice witnesses told to stand down, so they supposed that to +stand down was much the same as to sit down, whence their odd rendering +of Stanley. In no dialect of the Gypsy, from the Indus to the Severn, is +there any word for ‘stand,’ though in every one there is a word for +‘sit,’ and that is _besh_, and in every Gypsy encampment all along the +vast distance, _Beshley_ or _Beshaley_ would be considered an invitation +to sit down. + +So much for the double-name system in use among the Gypsies of England. +There is something in connection with the Gypsies of Spain which +strangely coincides with one part of it—the translation of names. Among +the relics of the language of the Gitanos or Spanish Gypsies are words, +some simple and some compound, which are evidently attempts to translate +names in a manner corresponding to the plan employed by the English +Romany. In illustration of the matter, the writer will give an analysis +of _Brono Aljenicato_, the rendering into Gitano of the name of one +frequently mentioned in the New Testament, and once in the Apostles’ +Creed, the highly respectable, but much traduced individual known to the +English public as Pontius Pilate, to the Spanish as Poncio Pilato. The +manner in which the rendering has been accomplished is as follows: +_Poncio_ bears some resemblance to the Spanish _puente_, which signifies +a bridge, and is a modification of the Latin _pons_, and _Pilato_ to the +Spanish _pila_, a fountain, or rather a stone pillar, from the top of +which the waters of a fountain springing eventually fall into a stone +basin below, the two words—the _Brono Aljenicato_—signifying +bridge-fountain, or that which is connected with such a thing. Now this +is the identical, or all but the identical, way in which the names Lee, +Lovel, and Stanley have been done into English Romany. A remarkable +instance is afforded in this Gitano Scripture name, this _Brono +Aljenicato_, of the heterogeneous materials of which Gypsy dialects are +composed: _Brono_ is a modification of a Hindoo or Sanscrit, _Aljenicato_ +of an Arabic root. _Brono_ is connected with the Sanscrit _pindala_, +which signifies a bridge, and _Aljenicato_ is a modification of the Gypsy +_aljenique_, derived from the Arabic _alain_, which signifies the +fountain. But of whatever materials composed, a fine-sounding name is +this same _Brono Aljenicato_, perhaps the finest sounding specimen of +Spanish Gypsy extant, much finer than a translation of Pontius Pilate +would be, provided the name served to express the same things, in +English, which _Poncio Pilato_ serves to express in Spanish, for then it +would be _Pudjico Pani_ or Bridgewater; for though in English Gypsy there +is the word for a bridge, namely _pudge_, a modification of the Persian +_pul_, or the Wallachian _podul_, there is none for a fountain, which can +be only vaguely paraphrased by _pani_, water. + + + + +FORTUNE-TELLING + + +GYPSY women, as long as we have known anything of Gypsy history, have +been arrant fortune-tellers. They plied fortune-telling about France and +Germany as early as 1414, the year when the dusky bands were first +observed in Europe, and they have never relinquished the practice. There +are two words for fortune-telling in Gypsy, _bocht_ and _dukkering_. +_Bocht_ is a Persian word, a modification of, or connected with, the +Sanscrit _bagya_, which signifies ‘fate.’ _Dukkering_ is the +modification of a Wallaco-Sclavonian word signifying something spiritual +or ghostly. In Eastern European Gypsy, the Holy Ghost is called +_Swentuno Ducos_. + +Gypsy fortune-telling is much the same everywhere, much the same in +Russia as it is in Spain and in England. Everywhere there are three +styles—the lofty, the familiar, and the homely; and every Gypsy woman is +mistress of all three and uses each according to the rank of the person +whose _vast_ she _dukkers_, whose hand she reads, and adapts the luck she +promises. There is a ballad of some antiquity in the Spanish language +about the _Buena Ventura_, a few stanzas of which translated will convey +a tolerable idea of the first of these styles to the reader, who will +probably with no great reluctance dispense with any illustrations of the +other two:— + + Late rather one morning + cIn summer’s sweet tide, + Goes forth to the Prado + Jacinta the bride: + + There meets her a Gypsy + So fluent of talk, + And jauntily dressed, + On the principal walk. + + “O welcome, thrice welcome, + Of beauty thou flower! + Believe me, believe me, + Thou com’st in good hour.” + + Surprised was Jacinta; + She fain would have fled; + But the Gypsy to cheer her + Such honeyed words said: + + “O cheek like the rose-leaf! + O lady high-born! + Turn thine eyes on thy servant, + But ah, not in scorn. + + “O pride of the Prado! + O joy of our clime! + Thou twice shalt be married, + And happily each time. + + “Of two noble sons + Thou shalt be the glad mother, + One a Lord Judge, + A Field-Marshal the other.” + +Gypsy females have told fortunes to higher people than the young Countess +Jacinta: _Modor_—of the Gypsy quire of Moscow—told the fortune of +Ekatarina, Empress of all the Russias. The writer does not know what the +Ziganka told that exalted personage, but it appears that she gave perfect +satisfaction to the Empress, who not only presented her with a diamond +ring—a Russian diamond ring is not generally of much value—but also her +hand to kiss. The writer’s old friend, Pepíta, the Gitana of Madrid, +told the _bahi_ of Christina, the Regentess of Spain, in which she +assured her that she would marry the son of the King of France, and +received from the fair Italian a golden ounce, the most magnificent of +coins, a guerdon which she richly merited, for she nearly hit the mark, +for though Christina did not marry the son of the King of France, her +second daughter was married to a son of the King of France, the Duke of +M-, one of the three claimants of the crown of Spain, and the best of the +lot; and Britannia, the Caumli, told the good luck to the Regent George +on Newmarket Heath, and received ‘foive guineas’ and a hearty smack from +him who eventually became George the Fourth—no bad fellow by the by, +either as regent or king, though as much abused as Pontius Pilate, whom +he much resembled in one point, unwillingness to take life—the _sonkaypè_ +or gold-gift being, no doubt, more acceptable than the _choomapé_ or +kiss-gift to the Beltenebrosa, who, if a certain song be true, had no +respect for _gorgios_, however much she liked their money:— + + Britannia is my nav; + I am a Kaulo Camlo; + The gorgios pen I be + A bori chovahaunie; + And tatchipen they pens, + The dinneleskie gorgies, + For mande chovahans + The luvvu from their putsies. + + Britannia is my name; + I am a swarthy Lovel; + The Gorgios say I be + A witch of wondrous power; + And faith they speak the truth, + The silly, foolish fellows, + For often I bewitch + The money from their pockets. + +Fortune-telling in all countries where the Gypsies are found is +frequently the prelude to a kind of trick called in all Gypsy dialects by +something more or less resembling the Sanscrit _kuhana_; for instance, it +is called in Spain _jojana_, _hokano_, and in English _hukni_. It is +practised in various ways, all very similar; the defrauding of some +simple person of money or property being the object in view. Females are +generally the victims of the trick, especially those of the middle class, +who are more accessible to _the poor woman_ than those of the upper. One +of the ways, perhaps the most artful, will be found described in another +chapter. + + + +THE HUKNI + + +THE Gypsy makes some poor simpleton of a lady believe that if the latter +puts her gold into her hands, and she makes it up into a parcel, and puts +it between the lady’s feather-bed and mattress, it will at the end of a +month be multiplied a hundredfold, provided the lady does not look at it +during all that time. On receiving the money she makes it up into a +brown paper parcel, which she seals with wax, turns herself repeatedly +round, squints, and spits, and then puts between the feather-bed and +mattress—not the parcel of gold, but one exactly like it, which she has +prepared beforehand, containing old halfpence, farthings, and the like; +then, after cautioning the lady by no means to undo the parcel before the +stated time, she takes her departure singing to herself:— + + O dear me! O dear me! + What dinnelies these gorgies be. + +The above artifice is called by the English Gypsies the _hukni_, and by +the Spanish _hokhano baro_, or the great lie. _Hukni_ and _hokano_ were +originally one and the same word; the root seems to be the Sanscrit +_huhanã_, lie, trick, deceit. + + + +CAURING + + +THE Gypsy has some queer, old-fashioned gold piece; this she takes to +some goldsmith’s shop, at the window of which she has observed a basin +full of old gold coins, and shows it to the goldsmith, asking him if he +will purchase it. He looks at it attentively, and sees that it is of +very pure gold; whereupon he says that he has no particular objection to +buy it; but that as it is very old it is not of much value, and that he +has several like it. “Have you indeed, Master?” says the Gypsy; “then +pray show them to me, and I will buy them; for, to tell you the truth, I +would rather buy than sell pieces like this, for I have a great respect +for them, and know their value: give me back my coin, and I will compare +any you have with it.” The goldsmith gives her back her coin, takes his +basin of gold from the window, and places it on the counter. The Gypsy +puts down her head, and pries into the basin. “Ah, I see nothing here +like my coin,” says she. “Now, Master, to oblige me, take out a handful +of the coins and lay them on the counter; I am a poor, honest woman, +Master, and do not wish to put my hand into your basin. Oh! if I could +find one coin like my own, I would give much money for it; _barributer_ +than it is worth.” The goldsmith, to oblige the poor, simple, foreign +creature (for such he believes her to be), and, with a considerable hope +of profit, takes a handful of coins from the basin and puts them upon the +counter. “I fear there is none here like mine, Master,” says the Gypsy, +moving the coins rapidly with the tips of her fingers. “No, no, there is +not one here like mine—_kek yeck_, _kek yeck_—not one, not one. Stay, +stay! What’s this, what’s this? _So se cavo_, _so se cavo_? Oh, here +is one like mine; or if not quite like, like enough to suit me. Now, +Master, what will you take for this coin?” The goldsmith looks at it, +and names a price considerably above the value; whereupon she says: “Now, +Master, I will deal fairly with you: you have not asked me the full value +of the coin by three three-groats, three-groats, three-groats; by _trin +tringurushis_, _tringurushis_, _tringurushis_. So here’s the money you +asked, Master, and three three-groats, three shillings, besides. God +bless you, Master! You would have cheated yourself, but the poor woman +would not let you; for though she is poor she is honest”: and thus she +takes her leave, leaving the goldsmith very well satisfied with his +customer—with little reason, however, for out of about twenty coins which +he laid on the counter she had filched at least three, which her brown +nimble fingers, though they seemingly scarcely touched the gold, +contrived to convey up her sleeves. This kind of pilfering is called by +the English Gypsies _cauring_, and by the Spanish _ustilar pastesas_, or +stealing with the fingers. The word _caur_ seems to be connected with +the English _cower_, and the Hebrew _kãra_, a word of frequent occurrence +in the historical part of the Old Testament, and signifying to bend, +stoop down, _incurvare_. + + + + +METROPOLITAN GYPSYRIES + + +WANDSWORTH, 1864 + + +WHAT may be called the grand Metropolitan Gypsyry is on the Surrey side +of the Thames. Near the borders of Wandsworth and Battersea, about a +quarter of a mile from the river, is an open piece of ground which may +measure about two acres. To the south is a hill, at the foot of which is +a railway, and it is skirted on the north by the Wandsworth and Battersea +Road. This place is what the Gypsies call a _kekkeno mushes puv_, a no +man’s ground; a place which has either no proprietor, or which the +proprietor, for some reason, makes no use of for the present. The houses +in the neighbourhood are mean and squalid, and are principally inhabited +by artisans of the lowest description. This spot, during a considerable +portion of the year, is the principal place of residence of the +Metropolitan Gypsies, and of other people whose manner of life more or +less resembles theirs. During the summer and autumn the little plain, +for such it is, is quite deserted, except that now and then a wretched +tent or two may be seen upon it, belonging to some tinker family, who +have put up there for a few hours on their way through the metropolis; +for the Gypsies are absent during summer, some at fairs and races, the +men with their cocoa-nuts and the women busy at fortune-telling, or at +suburban places of pleasure—the former with their donkeys for the young +cockneys to ride upon, and the latter as usual _dukkering_ and +_hokkering_, and the other travellers, as they are called, roaming about +the country following their particular avocations, whilst in the autumn +the greater part of them all are away in Kent, getting money by picking +hops. As soon, however, as the rains, the precursors of winter, descend, +the place begins to be occupied, and about a week or two before Christmas +it is almost crammed with the tents and caravans of the wanderers; and +then it is a place well worthy to be explored, notwithstanding the +inconvenience of being up to one’s ankles in mud, and the rather +appalling risk of being bitten by the Gypsy and travelling dogs tied to +the tents and caravans, in whose teeth there is always venom and +sometimes that which can bring on the water-horror, for which no European +knows a remedy. The following is an attempt to describe the odd people +and things to be met with here; the true Gypsies, and what to them +pertaineth, being of course noticed first. + +On this plain there may be some fifteen or twenty Gypsy tents and +caravans. Some of the tents are large, as indeed it is highly necessary +that they should be, being inhabited by large families—a man and his +wife, a grandmother a sister or two and half a dozen children, being, +occasionally found in one; some of them are very small, belonging to poor +old females who have lost their husbands, and whose families have +separated themselves from them, and allow them to shift for themselves. +During the day the men are generally busy at their several avocations, +_chinning the cost_, that is, cutting the stick for skewers, making pegs +for linen-lines, _kipsimengring_ or basket-making, tinkering or +braziering; the children are playing about, or begging halfpence by the +road of passengers; whilst the women are strolling about, either in +London or the neighbourhood, engaged in fortune-telling or swindling. Of +the trades of the men, the one by far the most practised is _chinning the +cost_, and as they sit at the door of the tents, cutting and whittling +away, they occasionally sweeten their toil by raising their voices and +singing the Gypsy stanza in which the art is mentioned, and which for +terseness and expressiveness is quite equal to anything in the whole +circle of Gentile poetry: + + Can you rokra Romany? + Can you play the bosh? + Can you jal adrey the staripen? + Can you chin the cost? + + Can you speak the Roman tongue? + Can you play the fiddle? + Can you eat the prison-loaf? + Can you cut and whittle? + +These Gypsies are of various tribes, but chiefly Purruns, Chumomescroes +and Vardomescroes, or Lees, Boswells and Coopers, and Lees being by far +the most numerous. The men are well made, active fellows, somewhat below +the middle height. Their complexions are dark, and their eyes are full +of intelligence; their habiliments are rather ragged. The women are +mostly wild-looking creatures, some poorly clad, others exhibiting not a +little strange finery. There are some truly singular beings amongst +those women, which is more than can be said with respect to the men, who +are much on a level, and amongst whom there is none whom it is possible +to bring prominently out, and about whom much can be said. The women, as +has been already observed, are generally out during the day, being +engaged in their avocations abroad. There is a very small tent about the +middle of the place; it belongs to a lone female, whom one frequently +meets wandering about Wandsworth or Battersea, seeking an opportunity to +_dukker_ some credulous servant-girl. It is hard that she should have to +do so, as she is more than seventy-five years of age, but if she did not +she would probably starve. She is very short of stature, being little +more than five feet and an inch high, but she is wonderfully strongly +built. Her head is very large, and seems to have been placed at once +upon her shoulders without any interposition of neck. Her face is broad, +with a good-humoured expression upon it, and in general with very little +vivacity; at times, however, it lights up, and then all the Gypsy beams +forth. Old as she is, her hair, which is very long, is as black as the +plumage of a crow, and she walks sturdily, though with not much +elasticity, on her short, thick legs, and, if requested, would take up +the heaviest man in Wandsworth or Battersea and walk away with him. She +is, upon the whole, the oddest Gypsy woman ever seen; see her once and +you will never forget her. Who is she? you ask. Who is she? Why, Mrs. +Cooper, the wife of Jack Cooper, the fighting Gypsy, once the terror of +all the Light Weights of the English Ring; who knocked West Country Dick +to pieces, and killed Paddy O’Leary, the fighting pot-boy, Jack Randall’s +pet. Ah, it would have been well for Jack if he had always stuck to his +true, lawful Romany wife, whom at one time he was very fond of, and whom +he used to dress in silks and satins, and best scarlet cloth, purchased +with the money gained in his fair, gallant battles in the Ring! But he +did not stick to her, deserting her for a painted Jezebel, to support +whom he sold his battles, by doing which he lost his friends and backers; +then took from his poor wife all he had given her, and even plundered her +of her own property, down to the very blankets which she lay upon; and +who finally was so infatuated with love for his paramour that he bore the +blame of a crime which she had committed, and in which he had no share, +suffering ignominy and transportation in order to save her. Better had +he never deserted his _tatchie romadie_, his own true Charlotte, who, +when all deserted him, the painted Jezebel being the first to do so, +stood by him, supporting him with money in prison, and feeing counsel on +his trial from the scanty proceeds of her _dukkering_. All that happened +many years ago; Jack’s term of transportation, a lengthy one, has long, +long been expired, but he has not come back, though every year since the +expiration of his servitude he has written her a letter, or caused one to +be written to her, to say that he is coming, that he is coming; so that +she is always expecting him, and is at all times willing, as she says, to +re-invest him with all the privileges of a husband, and to beg and +_dukker_ to support him if necessary. A true wife she has been to him, a +_tatchie romadie_, and has never taken up with any man since he left her, +though many have been the tempting offers that she has had, connubial +offers, notwithstanding the oddity of her appearance. Only one wish she +has now in this world, the wish that he may return; but her wish, it is +to be feared, is a vain one, for Jack lingers and lingers in the +_Sonnakye Tem_, golden Australia, teaching, it is said, the young +Australians to box, tempted by certain shining nuggets, the produce of +the golden region. It is pleasant, though there is something mournful in +it, to visit Mrs. Cooper after nightfall, to sit with her in her little +tent after she has taken her cup of tea, and is warming her tired limbs +at her little coke fire, and hear her talk of old times and things: how +Jack courted her ’neath the trees of Loughton Forest, and how, when tired +of courting, they would get up and box, and how he occasionally gave her +a black eye, and how she invariably flung him at a close; and how they +were lawfully married at church, and what a nice man the clergyman was, +and what funny things he said both before and after he had united them; +how stoutly West Country Dick contended against Jack, though always +losing; how in Jack’s battle with Paddy O’Leary the Irishman’s head in +the last round was truly frightful, not a feature being distinguishable, +and one of his ears hanging down by a bit of skin; how Jack vanquished +Hardy Scroggins, whom Jack Randall himself never dared fight. Then, +again, her anecdotes of Alec Reed, cool, swift-hitting Alec, who was +always smiling, and whose father was a Scotchman, his mother an +Irishwoman, and who was born in Guernsey; and of Oliver, old Tom Oliver, +who seconded Jack in all his winning battles, and after whom he named his +son, his only child, Oliver, begotten of her in lawful wedlock, a good +and affectionate son enough, but unable to assist her, on account of his +numerous family. Farewell, Mrs. Cooper, true old Charlotte! here’s a +little bit of silver for you, and a little bit of a _gillie_ to sing: + + Charlotta is my nav, + I am a puro Purrun; + My romado was Jack, + The couring Vardomescro. + He muk’d me for a lubbeny, + Who chor’d a rawnie’s kissi; + He penn’d ’twas he who lell’d it, + And so was bitched pawdel. + + Old Charlotte I am called, + Of Lee I am a daughter; + I married Fighting Jack, + The famous Gypsy Cooper. + He left me for a harlot, + Who pick’d a lady’s pocket; + He bore the blame to save her, + And so was sent to Bot’ny. + +Just within the bounds of the plain, and close by the road, may +occasionally be seen a small caravan of rather a neat appearance. It +comes and goes suddenly, and is seldom seen there for more than three +days at a time. It belongs to a Gypsy female who, like Mrs. Cooper, is a +remarkable person, but is widely different from Mrs. Cooper in many +respects. Mrs. Cooper certainly does not represent the _beau ideal_ of a +Gypsy female, this does—a dark, mysterious, beautiful, terrible creature! +She is considerably above the middle height, powerfully but gracefully +made, and about thirty-seven years of age. Her face is oval, and of a +dark olive. The nose is Grecian, the cheek-bones rather high; the eyes +somewhat sunk, but of a lustrous black; the mouth small, and the teeth +exactly like ivory. Upon the whole the face is exceedingly beautiful, +but the expression is evil—evil to a degree. Who she is no one exactly +knows, nor what is her name, nor whether she is single woman, wife, or +widow. Some say she is a foreign Gypsy, others from Scotland, but she is +neither—her accent is genuine English. What strikes one as most singular +is the power she possesses of appearing in various characters—all Romany +ones it is true, but so different as seemingly to require three distinct +females of the race to represent them: sometimes she is the staid, quiet, +respectable Gypsy; sometimes the forward and impudent; at others the +awful and sublime. Occasionally you may see her walking the streets +dressed in a black silk gown, with a black silk bonnet on her head; over +her left arm is flung a small carpet, a sample of the merchandise which +is in her caravan, which is close at hand, driven by a brown boy; her +address to her customers is highly polite; the tones of her voice are +musical, though somewhat deep. At Fairlop, on the first Friday of July, +in the evening, she may be found near the Bald-faced Hind, dressed in a +red cloak and a large beaver; her appearance is bold and reckless—she is +_dukkering_ low tradesmen and servant girls behind the trees at sixpence +a head, or is bandying with the voice of a raven slang and obscenity with +country boors, or with the blackguard butcher-boys who throng in from +Whitechapel and Shoreditch to the Gypsy Fair. At Goodwood, a few weeks +after, you may see her in a beautiful half-riding dress, her hair +fantastically plaited and adorned with pearls, standing beside the +carriage of a Countess, telling the fortune of her ladyship with the +voice and look of a pythoness. She is a thing of incongruities; an +incomprehensible being! nobody can make her out; the writer himself has +tried to make her out but could not, though he has spoken to her in his +deepest Romany. It is true there is a certain old Gypsy, a friend of +his, who thinks he has made her out. “Brother,” said he one day, “why +you should be always going after that woman I can’t conceive, unless +indeed you have lost your wits. If you go after her for her Romany you +will find yourself in the wrong box: she may have a crumb or two of +Romany, but for every crumb that she has I am quite sure you have a +quartern loaf. Then as for her beauty, of which it is true she has +plenty, and for which half a dozen Gorgios that I knows of are running +mad, it’s of no use going after her for that, for her beauty she keeps +for her own use and that of her master the Devil; not but that she will +sell it—she’s sold it a dozen times to my certain knowledge—but what’s +the use of buying a thing, when the fool who buys it never gets it, never +has the ‘joyment of it, brother? She is _kek tatcho_, and that’s what I +like least in her; there’s no trusting her, neither Gorgio nor Romano can +trust her: she sells her _truppos_ to a Rye-gorgio for five _bars_, and +when she has got them, and the Gorgio, as he has a right to do, begins to +_kelna lasa_, she laughs and asks him if he knows whom he has to deal +with; then if he _lels bonnek of lati_, as he is quite justified in +doing, she whips out a _churi_, and swears if he doesn’t leave off she +will stick it in his _gorlo_. Oh! she’s an evil mare, a _wafodu grasni_, +though a handsome one, and I never looks at her, brother, without saying +to myself the old words: + + “Rinkeno mui and wafodu zee + Kitzi’s the cheeros we dicks cattanē.” + + A beautiful face and a black wicked mind + Often, full often together we find. + +Some more particular account than what has been already given of the +habitations of these Wandsworth Gypsies, and likewise of their way of +life, will perhaps not be unacceptable here. + +To begin with the tents. They are oblong in shape and of very simple +construction, whether small or great. Sticks or rods, called in the +Gypsy language _ranior_, between four and five feet in length, and +_croming_ or bending towards the top, are stuck in the ground at about +twenty inches from each other, a rod or two being omitted in that part +where the entrance is intended to be. The _cromes_ or bends serve as +supporters of a roof, and those of the side rods which stand over against +one another are generally tied together by strings. These rods are +covered over with coarse brown cloths, pinned or skewered together; those +at the bottom being fastened to the ground by pegs. Around the tent is +generally a slight embankment, about two or three inches high, or a +little trench about the same depth, to prevent water from running into +the tent in time of rain. Such is the tent, which would be exactly like +the Indian wigwam but for the cloth which forms the covering: the Indians +in lieu of cloth using bark, which they carry about with them in all +their migrations, though they leave the sticks standing in the ground. + +The furniture is scanty. Like the Arabs, the Gypsies have neither chairs +nor tables, but sit cross-legged, a posture which is perfectly easy to +them, though insufferable to a Gorgio, unless he happens to be a tailor. +When they eat, the ground serves them for a board, though they +occasionally spread a cloth upon it. Singularly enough, though they have +neither chairs nor tables, they have words for both. Of pots, pans, +plates, and trenchers, they have a tolerable quantity. Each grown-up +person has a _churi_, or knife, with which to cut food. Eating-forks +they have none, and for an eating-fork they have no word, the term +_pasengri_ signifying a straw- or pitch-fork. Spoons are used by them +generally of horn, and are called _royis_. They have but two culinary +articles, the _kekkauvi_ and _pirry_, kettle and boiler, which are +generally of copper, to which, however, may perhaps be added the +_kekkauviskey saster_, or kettle-iron, by which the kettle and boiler are +hung over the fire. As a fireplace they have a large iron pan on three +legs, with holes or eyes in the sides, in order that the heat of the fire +may be cast around. Instead of coals they use coke, which emits no flame +and little smoke, and casts a considerable heat. Every tent has a pail +or two, and perhaps a small cask or barrel, the proper name for which is +_bedra_, though it is generally called _pāni-mengri_, or thing for water. +At the farther end of the tent is a mattress, with a green cloth, or +perhaps a sheet spread upon it, forming a kind of couch, on which +visitors are generally asked to sit down:—_Av adrey_, _Romany Rye_, _av +adrey ta besh aley pawdle odoy_! Come in, Gypsy gentleman (said a polite +Gypsy one day to the writer); come in and sit down over yonder! They +have a box or two in which they stow away their breakable articles and +whatever things they set any particular value upon. Some of them have +small feather-beds, and they are generally tolerably well provided with +blankets. + +The caravans are not numerous, and have only been used of late years by +any of the English Gypsy race. The caravan called by the Gypsies _keir +vardo_, or waggon-house, is on four wheels, and is drawn by a horse or +perhaps a couple of donkeys. It is about twelve feet long by six broad +and six high. At the farther end are a couple of transverse berths, one +above the other, like those in the cabin of a ship; and a little way from +these is a curtain hanging by rings from an iron rod running across, +which, when drawn, forms a partition. On either side is a small glazed +window. The most remarkable object is a stove just inside the door, on +the left hand, with a metal chimney which goes through the roof. This +stove, the Gypsy term for which is _bo_, casts, when lighted, a great +heat, and in some cases is made in a very handsome fashion. Some +caravans have mirrors against the sides, and exhibit other indications of +an aiming at luxury, though in general they are dirty, squalid places, +quite as much as or perhaps more than the tents, which seem to be the +proper and congenial homes of the Gypsies. + +The mode of life of these people may be briefly described. They have two +regular meals—breakfast and supper. The breakfast consists of tea, +generally of the best quality, bread, butter, and cheese; the supper, of +tea and a stew. In spring time they occasionally make a kind of tea or +soup of the tender leaves of a certain description of nettle. This +preparation, which they call _dandrimengreskie zimmen_, or the broth of +the stinging-thing, is highly relished by them. They get up early, and +go to bed betimes. After breakfast the men sit down to _chin the cost_, +to mend chairs or make baskets; the women go forth to _hok_ and _dukker_, +and the children to beg, or to go with the donkeys to lanes and commons +to watch them, whilst they try to fill their poor bellies with grass and +thistles. These children sometimes bring home _hotchiwitches_, or +hedgehogs, the flesh of which is very sweet and tender, and which their +mothers are adepts at cooking. + +The Gypsies, as has been already observed, are not the sole occupiers of +Wandsworth grounds. Strange, wild guests are to be found there, who, +without being Gypsies, have much of Gypsyism in their habits, and who far +exceed the Gypsies in number. To pass them by without notice would be +unpardonable. They may be divided into three classes: Chorodies, +Kora-mengre, and Hindity-mengre. Something about each:— + +The Chorodies are the legitimate descendants of the rogues and outcasts +who roamed about England long before its soil was trodden by a Gypsy +foot. They are a truly detestable set of beings; both men and women +being ferocious in their appearance, and in their conversation horrible +and disgusting. They have coarse, vulgar features, and hair which puts +one wonderfully in mind of refuse flax, or the material of which mops are +composed. Their complexions, when not obscured with grime, are rather +fair than dark, evidencing that their origin is low, swinish Saxon, and +not gentle Romany. Their language is the frowsiest English, interlarded +with cant expressions and a few words of bastard Romany. They live in +the vilest tents, with the exception of two or three families, who have +their abode in broken and filthy caravans. They have none of the +comforts and elegancies of the Gypsies. They are utterly destitute of +civility and good manners, and are generally squalid in their dress, +though the women sometimes exhibit not a little dirty tawdriness. The +trades of the men are tinkering and basket-making, and some few “peel the +stick.” The women go about with the articles made by their husbands, or +rather partners, and sometimes do a little in the fortune-telling +line—pretty prophetesses! The fellows will occasionally knock a man down +in the dark, and rob him; the women will steal anything they can +conveniently lay their hands on. Singular as it may seem to those not +deeply acquainted with human nature, these wretches are not without a +kind of pride. “We are no Gypsies—not we! no, nor Irish either. We are +English, and decent folks—none of your rubbish!” The Gypsies hold them, +and with reason, in supreme contempt, and it is from them that they got +their name of Chorodies, not a little applicable to them. _Choredo_, in +Gypsy, signifies a poor, miserable person, and differs very little in +sound from two words, one Sanscrit and the other Hebrew, both signifying, +like the Gypsy term, something low, mean, and contemptible. + +Kora-mengre are the lowest of those hawkers who go about the country +villages and the streets of London, with caravans hung about with various +common articles, such as mats, brooms, mops, tin pans and kettles. These +low hawkers seem to be of much the same origin as the Chorodies, and are +almost equally brutal and repulsive in their manners. The name +Kora-mengre is Gypsy, and signifies fellows who cry out and shout, from +their practice of shouting out the names of their goods. The word +_kora_, or _karra_, is by no means bad Hebrew: _kora_, in the Holy +Language, signifies he cried out, called, or proclaimed: and a partridge +is called in Hebrew _kora_, from its continually crying out to its young, +when leading them about to feed. _Koran_, the name of the sacred book of +the Mahomedans, is of the same root. + +Lastly come the Hindity-mengre, or Filthy People. This term has been +bestowed upon the vagrant Irish by the Gypsies, from the dirty ways +attributed to them, though it is a question whether the lowest Irish are +a bit more dirty in their ways than the English Chorodies, or indeed so +much, and are certainly immeasurably superior to them in many respects. +There are not many of them here, seldom more than two families, and +sometimes, even during the winter, not a single Irish tent or cart is to +be seen. The trade they ostensibly drive is tinkering, repairing old +kettles, and making little pots and pans of tin. The one, however, on +which they principally depend, is not tinkering, but one far more +lucrative, and requiring more cleverness and dexterity; they make false +rings, like the Gypsy smiths, the _fashiono vangustengre_ of old, and +whilst speaking Celtic to one whom they deem their countryman, have no +hesitation in acknowledging themselves to be “Cairdean droich oir,” +workers of false gold. The rings are principally made out of old brass +buttons; those worn by old Chelsea pensioners being considered the very +best for the purpose. Many an ancient Corporal Trim, alter having spent +all his money at the public-house, and only become three-parts boozy, has +been induced by the Hindity-mengro to sell all his buttons at the rate of +three-halfpence a-piece, in order to have wherewithal to make himself +thoroughly royal. Each of these Hindity-mengre has his blow-pipe, and +some of them can execute their work in a style little inferior to that of +a first-rate working goldsmith. The rings, after being made, are rubbed +with a certain stuff out of a phial, which gives them all the appearance +of gold. This appearance, however, does not long endure, for after +having been worn two or three months, the ring loses its false appearance +entirely, and any one can see that it is worthless metal. A good many of +these rings are disposed of at good prices by the Hindity women, the +wives of these false-gold workers, to servant girls and the wives of +small shopkeepers, and not a few, at a lower rate, to certain gentry who +get their livelihood by the honourable profession of _ring-dropping_. + +What is ring-dropping? + +Ring-dropping is this. A gentleman overtakes you as you are walking in +some quiet street, passes by you, and at the distance of some fifteen +yards stops, and stooping down, seemingly picks up something, which he +inspects, and then uttering a “Dear me!” he turns to you, and says, “Sir, +we have been fortunate to-day. See! I have picked up this valuable!” +He then shows you a small case, in which is a large ring, seemingly of +the finest gold, with a little label attached to it, on which is marked +£2 15s. “Now, sir,” he continues, “I said _we_ were fortunate, because +as we were close to each other, I consider you as much entitled to gain +by this windfall as myself. I’ll tell you how it shall be: the price of +the ring, which was probably dropped by some goldsmith’s man, is, as you +see, two pound fifteen; however, as I am in a hurry, you shall only give +me a quid, a pound, and then the valuable shall be all your own; it shall +indeed, sir!” And then he stares you in the face. Such is +ring-dropping, to which many silly but greedy individuals, fall victims; +giving a pound for a fine-looking ring, which, however, with its scarlet +case—for the case is always of a scarlet colour—is not worth sixpence. +The best thing you can do in such a case is to put your thumb to your +nose, flattening your hand and sticking out your fingers far apart, +moving on at the same time, or to utter the cabalistic word “hookey”; in +either case the ring-dropper will at once drop astern, with a +half-stifled curse, for he knows that he has to do with “no flat,” and +that you are “awake to his little game.” Doing so is much better than +moving rapidly on, and affecting to take no notice of him, for then he +will infallibly follow you to the end of the street, offering you the +ring on more reasonable terms at every step, perhaps concluding at last, +as a ring-dropper once did to the writer, “I’ll tell you what, sir; as I +am in a hurry, and rather hard up, you shall have the valuable for a +bull, for a crown; you shall indeed, sir, so help me—” + +Three of the most famous of the Hindity smiths have been immortalised by +the Gypsies in the following bit of verse: + + Mickie, Huwie and Larry, + Trin Hindity-mengre fashiono vangust-engre. + + Mickie, Huwie and Larry bold, + Three Irish brothers, as I am told, + Who make false rings, that pass for gold. + +Of these _fashiono-vangust_ brothers, the most remarkable is Mike—Old +Mike, as he is generally called. He was born in the county Kerry, and +educated at a hedge-school, where he learned to read and write English, +after a fashion, and acquired the seventeen letters of the Irish +alphabet, each of which is named after a particular tree. Leaving school +he was apprenticed to a blacksmith, from whom he ran away, and enlisted +into the service of that illustrious monarch, George the Third, some of +whose battles he had the honour of fighting in the Peninsula and France. +Discharged from the army at the Peace, with the noble donation of thirty +shillings, or one month’s pay, he returned to Ireland, took to himself a +wife, and commenced tinker. Becoming dissatisfied with his native soil +he passed over to England, and settling for some time at “Brummagem,” +took lessons from certain cunning smiths in the art of making _fashiono +vangusties_. The next forty years of his life he spent in wandering +about Britain, attended by his faithful partner, who not only disposed of +his tin articles and false rings, but also bore him seventeen children, +all of whom are alive, somewhere or other, and thriving too, one of them +indeed having attained to the dignity of American senator. Some of his +adventures, during his wanderings, were in the highest degree +extraordinary. Of late years he has chiefly resided in the vicinity of +London, spending his winters at Wandsworth, and his summers on the Flats, +near Epping Forest; in one or the other of which places you may see Old +Mike on a Sunday evening, provided the weather is tolerably fine, seated +near his little caravan, with his wife by his side—not the wife who bore +him the seventeen children, who has been dead for some years, but his +second wife, a nice, elderly Irish _ban_ from the county of Cork, who can +tell fortunes, say her prayers in Irish, and is nearly as good a hand at +selling her lord and master’s tin articles and false rings as her +predecessor. Lucky for Mike that he got such a second partner! and +luckier still that at his age of seventy-nine he retains all his +faculties, and is able to work for his daily bread, with at least the +skill and cunning of his two brothers, both of whom are much younger men +than himself, whose adventures have been somewhat similar to his own, and +who, singularly enough, have come to live near him in his latter days. +Both these brothers are highly remarkable men. Huwie is the most +civil-spoken person in or about London, and Larry a man of the most +terrible tongue, and perhaps the most desperate fighter ever seen; always +willing to attack half a dozen men, if necessary, and afraid of no one in +the world, save one—Mike, old Mike, who can tame him in his fiercest +moods by merely holding up his finger. Oh, a truly remarkable man is old +Mike! and a pleasure and an advantage it is to any one of a philosophical +mind to be acquainted with him, and to listen to him. He is much more +than _a fashiono-vangust-engro_. Amongst other things he is a +theologian—Irish theologian—and quite competent to fill the chair of +theology at the University of Maynooth. He can tell you a great many +things connected with a certain person, which, with all your research, +you would never find in Scripture. He can tell you how the Saviour, when +hanging on the cross, became athirst, and told St. Peter, who stood at +the foot of it, to fetch Him a cup of water from a dirty puddle in the +neighbourhood, and how St. Peter—however, better not relate the legend, +though a highly curious one. Then he can repeat to you blessed verses, +as he calls them, by dozens; not of David, but of one quite as good, as +he will tell you, namely, Timothy O’Sullivan; and who, you will say, was +Timothy O’Sullivan? Why, Ty Gaelach, to be sure. And who was Ty +Gaelach? An Irish peasant-poet of the last century, who wrote spiritual +songs, some of them by no means bad ones, and who was called Gaelach, or +Gael, from his abhorrence of the English race and of the English +language, of which he scarcely understood a word. Then is Ty Irish for +Timothy? Why, no! though very stupidly supposed to be so. Ty is Teague, +which is neither Greek nor Irish, but a glorious old Northern name, +carried into Ireland by the brave old heathen Danes. Ty or Teague is the +same as Tycho. Ty or Teague Gaelach is as much as to say Tycho Gaelach; +and Tycho Brahe is as much as to say Teague Brahe. + + + +THE POTTERIES, 1864 + + +THE second great Gypsyry is on the Middlesex side of the river, and is +distant about three miles, as the crow flies, from that of Wandsworth. +Strange as it may seem, it is not far distant from the most fashionable +part of London; from the beautiful squares, noble streets, and thousand +palaces of Tyburnia, a region which, though only a small part of the +enormous metropolis, can show more beautiful edifices, wealth, elegance, +and luxury, than all foreign capitals put together. After passing +Tyburnia, and going more than halfway down Notting Hill, you turn to the +right, and proceed along a tolerably genteel street till it divides into +two, one of which looks more like a lane than a street, and which is on +the left hand, and bears the name of Pottery Lane. Go along this lane, +and you will presently find yourself amongst a number of low, +uncouth-looking sheds, open at the sides, and containing an immense +quantity of earthen chimney-pots, pantiles, fancy-bricks, and similar +articles. This place is called the Potteries, and gives the name of +Pottery Lane to the lane through which you have just passed. A dirty +little road goes through it, which you must follow, and presently turning +to your left, you will enter a little, filthy street, and going some way +down it, you will see, on your right hand, a little, open bit of ground, +chock-full of crazy, battered caravans of all colours—some yellow, some +green, some red. Dark men, wild-looking, witch-like women, and +yellow-faced children are at the doors of the caravans, or wending their +way through the narrow spaces left for transit between the vehicles. You +have now arrived at the second grand Gypsyry of London—you are amongst +the Romany Chals of the Potteries, called in Gypsy the _Koromengreskoe +Tan_, or the place of the fellows who make pots; in which place certain +Gypsies have settled, not with the view of making pots, an employment +which they utterly eschew, but simply because it is convenient to them, +and suits their fancy. + +A goodly collection of Gypsies you will find in that little nook, crowded +with caravans. Most of them are Tatchey Romany, real Gypsies, +“long-established people, of the old order.” Amongst them are +Ratzie-mescroes, Hearnes, Herons, or duck-people; Chumo-mescroes or +Bosvils; a Kaulo Camlo (a Black Lovel) or two, and a Beshaley or Stanley. +It is no easy thing to find a Stanley nowadays, even in the Baulo Tem, or +Hampshire, which is the proper home of the Stanleys, for the Bugnior, +pimples or small-pox, has of late years made sad havoc amongst the +Stanleys; but yonder tall old gentlewoman, descending the steps of a +caravan, with a flaming red cloak and a large black beaver bonnet, and +holding a travelling basket in her hand, is a Tatchey Beshaley, a +“genuine” Stanley. The generality, however, of “them Gyptians” are +Ratzie-mescroes, Hearnes, or duck-people; and, speaking of the Hearnes, +it is but right to say that he who may be called the Gypsy Father of +London, old Thomas Ratzie-mescro, or Hearne, though not exactly residing +here, lives close by in a caravan, in a little bit of a yard over the +way, where he can breathe more freely, and be less annoyed by the brats +and the young fellows than he would be in yonder crowded place. + +Though the spot which it has just been attempted to describe, may be +considered as the head-quarters of the London Gypsies, on the Middlesex +side of the Thames, the whole neighbourhood, for a mile to the north of +it, may to a certain extent be considered a Gypsy region—that is, a +district where Gypsies, or gentry whose habits very much resemble those +of Gypsies, may at any time be found. No metropolitan district, indeed, +could be well more suited for Gypsies to take up their abode in. It is a +neighbourhood of transition; of brickfields, open spaces, poor streets +inhabited by low artisans, isolated houses, sites of intended tenements, +or sites of tenements which have been pulled down; it is in fact a mere +chaos, where there is no order and no regularity; where there is nothing +durable, or intended to be durable; though there can be little doubt that +within a few years order and beauty itself will be found here, that the +misery, squalidness, and meanness will have disappeared, and the whole +district, up to the railroad arches which bound it on the west and north, +will be covered with palaces, like those of Tyburnia, or delightful +villas, like those which decorate what is called Saint John’s Wood. At +present, however, it is quite the kind of place to please the Gypsies and +wandering people, who find many places within its bounds where they can +squat and settle, or take up their quarters for a night or two without +much risk of being interfered with. Here their tents, cars, and caravans +may be seen amidst ruins, half-raised walls, and on patches of unenclosed +ground; here their children may, throughout the day, be seen playing +about, flinging up dust and dirt, some partly naked, and others entirely +so; and here, at night, the different families, men, women, and children, +may be seen seated around their fires and their kettles, taking their +evening meal, and every now and then indulging in shouts of merriment, as +much as to say,— + + What care we, though we be so small? + The tent shall stand when the palace shall fall; + +which is quite true. The Gypsy tent must make way for the palace, but +after a millennium or two, the Gypsy tent is pitched on the ruins of the +palace. + +Of the open spaces above mentioned, the most considerable is one called +Latimer’s Green. It lies on the north-western side of the district, and +is not far from that place of old renown called the Shepherd’s Bush, +where in the good ancient times highwaymen used to lurk for the purpose +of pouncing upon the travellers of the Oxford Road. It may contain about +five or six acres, and, though nominally under the control of trustees, +is in reality little more than a “no man’s ground,” where anybody may +feed a horse, light a fire, and boil a kettle. It is a great resort of +vagrant people, less of Gypsies than those who call themselves +travellers, and are denominated by the Gypsies Chorodies, and who live +for the most part in miserable caravans, though there is generally a +Gypsy tent or two to be seen there, belonging to some Deighton or Shaw, +or perhaps Petulengro, from the Lil-engro Tan, as the Romany call +Cambridgeshire. Amidst these Chorody caravans and Gypsy tents may +frequently be seen the _ker-vardo_, the house on wheels, of one who, +whenever he takes up his quarters here, is considered the cock of the +walk, the king of the place. He is a little under forty years of age, +and somewhat under five feet ten inches in height. His face is +wonderfully like that of a mastiff of the largest size, particularly in +its jowls; his neck is short and very thick, and must be nearly as strong +as that of a bull; his chest is so broad that one does not like to say +how broad it is; and the voice which every now and then proceeds from it +has much the sound of that of the mighty dog just mentioned; his arms are +long and exceedingly muscular, and his fists huge and bony. He wears a +low-crowned, broad-brimmed hat, a coarse blue coat with short skirts, +leggings, and high-lows. Such is the _kral o’ the tan_, the _rex loci_, +the cock of the green. But what is he besides? Is he Gypsy, _Chorody_, +or _Hindity mush_? I say, you had better not call him by any one of +those names, for if you did he would perhaps hit you, and then, oh dear! +That is Mr. G. A., a travelling horse-dealer, who lives in a caravan, and +finds it frequently convenient to take up his abode for weeks together on +Latimer’s Green. He is a thorough-bred Englishman, though he is married +to a daughter of one of the old, sacred Gypsy families, a certain Lurina +Ratziemescri, duck or heron female, who is a very handsome woman, and who +has two brothers, dark, stealthy-looking young fellows, who serve with +almost slavish obedience their sister’s lord and husband, listening +uncomplainingly to his abuse of Gypsies, whom, though he lives amongst +them and is married to one by whom he has several children, he holds in +supreme contempt, never speaking of them but as a lying, thievish, +cowardly set, any three of whom he could beat with one hand; as perhaps +he could, for he is a desperate pugilist, and has three times fought in +“the ring” with good men, whom, though not a scientific fighter, he beat +with ease by dint of terrible blows, causing them to roar out. He is +very well to do in the world; his caravan, a rather stately affair, is +splendidly furnished within; and it is a pleasure to see his wife, at +Hampton Court races, dressed in Gypsy fashion, decked with real gems and +jewels and rich gold chains, and waited upon by her dark brothers dressed +like dandy pages. How is all this expense supported? Why, by +horsedealing. Mr. G. is, then, up to all kinds of horsedealers’ tricks, +no doubt. Aye, aye, he is up to them, but he doesn’t practise them. He +says it’s of no use, and that honesty is the best policy, and he’ll stick +to it; and so he does, and finds the profit of it. His traffic in +horses, though confined entirely to small people, such as +market-gardeners, travellers, show-folks, and the like, is very great; +every small person who wishes to buy a horse, or to sell a horse, or to +swop a horse, goes to Mr. G., and has never reason to complain, for all +acknowledge that he has done the fair thing by them; though all agree +that there is no overreaching him, which indeed very few people try to +do, deterred by the dread of his manual prowess, of which a Gypsy once +gave to the writer the following _striking_ illustration:—“He will jal +oprey to a gry that’s wafodu, prawla, and coure leste tuley with the +courepen of his wast.” (He will go up to a vicious horse, brother, and +knock him down with a blow of his fist.) + +The arches of the railroad which bounds this region on the west and north +serve as a resort for Gypsies, who erect within them their tents, which +are thus sheltered in summer from the scorching rays of the sun, and in +winter from the drenching rain. In what close proximity we sometimes +find emblems of what is most rude and simple, and what is most artificial +and ingenious! For example, below the arch is the Gypsy donkey-cart, +whilst above it is thundering the chariot of fire which can run across a +county in half an hour. The principal frequenters of these arches are +Bosvils and Lees; the former are chiefly tinkers, and the latter +_esconyemengres_, or skewer-makers. The reason for this difference is +that the Bosvils are chiefly immigrants from the country, where there is +not much demand for skewers, whereas the Lees are natives of the +metropolis or the neighbourhood, where the demand for skewers has from +time immemorial been enormously great. It was in the shelter of one of +these arches that the celebrated Ryley Bosvil, the Gypsy king of +Yorkshire, breathed his last a few years ago. + + + +THE MOUNT + + +BEFORE quitting the subject of Metropolitan Gypsies there is another +place to which it will be necessary to devote a few words, though it is +less entitled to the appelation of Gypsyry than rookery. It is situated +in the East of London, a region far more interesting to the ethnologist +and the philologist than the West, for there he will find people of all +kinds of strange races,—the wildest Irish; Greeks, both Orthodox and +Papistical; Jews, not only Ashkenazim and Sephardim, but even Karaite; +the worst, and consequently the most interesting, description of Germans, +the sugar-bakers; lots of Malays; plenty of Chinamen; two or three dozen +Hottentots, and about the same number of Gypsies, reckoning men, women, +and children. Of the latter, and their place of abode, we have now only +to do, leaving the other strange, odd people to be disposed of on some +other occasion. + +Not far from Shoreditch Church, and at a short distance from the street +called Church Street, on the left hand, is a locality called Friars’ +Mount, but generally for shortness called The Mount. It derives its name +from a friary built upon a small hillock in the time of Popery, where a +set of fellows lived in laziness and luxury on the offerings of foolish +and superstitious people, who resorted thither to kiss and worship an +ugly wooden image of the Virgin, said to be a first-rate stick at +performing miraculous cures. The neighbourhood, of course, soon became a +resort for vagabonds of every description, for wherever friars are found +rogues and thieves are sure to abound; and about Friars’ Mount, +highwaymen, coiners, and Gypsies dwelt in safety under the protection of +the ministers of the miraculous image. The friary has long since +disappeared, the Mount has been levelled, and the locality built over. +The vice and villainy, however, which the friary called forth still cling +to the district. It is one of the vilest dens of London, a grand resort +for housebreakers, garotters, passers of bad money, and other +disreputable people, though not for Gypsies; for however favourite a +place it may have been for the Romany in the old time, it no longer finds +much favour in their sight, from its not affording open spaces where they +can pitch their tents. One very small street, however, is certainly +entitled to the name of a Gypsy street, in which a few Gypsy families +have always found it convenient to reside, and who are in the habit of +receiving and lodging their brethren passing through London to and from +Essex and other counties east of the metropolis. There is something +peculiar in the aspect of this street, not observable in that of any of +the others, which one who visits it, should he have been in Triana of +Seville, would at once recognise as having seen in the aspect of the +lanes and courts of that grand location of the Gypsies of the Andalusian +capital. + +The Gypsies of the Mount live much in the same manner as their brethren +in the other Gypsyries of London. They _chin the cost_, make skewers, +baskets, and let out donkeys for hire. The chief difference consists in +their living in squalid houses, whilst the others inhabit dirty tents and +caravans. The last Gypsy of any note who resided in this quarter was +Joseph Lee; here he lived for a great many years, and here he died, +having attained the age of ninety. During his latter years he was +generally called Old Joe Lee, from his great age. His wife or partner, +who was also exceedingly old, only survived him a few days. They were +buried in the same grave, with much Gypsy pomp, in the neighbouring +churchyard. They were both of pure Gypsy blood, and were generally known +as the Gypsy king and queen of Shoreditch. They left a numerous family +of children and grandchildren, some of whom are still to be found at the +Mount. This old Joe Lee in his day was a celebrated horse and donkey +witch—that is, he professed secrets which enabled him to make any +wretched animal of either species exhibit for a little time the spirit +and speed of “a flying drummedary.” He was illustriously related, and +was very proud on that account, especially in being the brother’s son of +old James, the _cauring mush_, whose exploits in the filching line will +be remembered as long as the venerable tribe of Purrum, or Lee, continues +in existence. + + + + +RYLEY BOSVIL + + +RYLEY Bosvil was a native of Yorkshire, a country where, as the Gypsies +say, “there’s a deadly sight of Bosvils.” He was above the middle +height, exceedingly strong and active, and one of the best riders in +Yorkshire, which is saying a great deal. He was a thorough Gypsy, versed +in all the arts of the old race, had two wives, never went to church, and +considered that when a man died he was cast into the earth, and there was +an end of him. He frequently used to say that if any of his people +became Gorgios he would kill them. He had a sister of the name of Clara, +a nice, delicate, interesting girl, about fourteen years younger than +himself, who travelled about with an aunt; this girl was noticed by a +respectable Christian family, who, taking a great interest in her, +persuaded her to come and live with them. She was instructed by them in +the rudiments of the Christian religion, appeared delighted with her new +friends, and promised never to leave them. After the lapse of about six +weeks there was a knock at the door; a dark man stood before it who said +he wanted Clara. Clara went out trembling, had some discourse with the +man in an unknown tongue, and shortly returned in tears, and said that +she must go. “What for?” said her friends. “Did you not promise to stay +with us?” “I did so,” said the girl, weeping more bitterly; “but that +man is my brother, who says I must go with him, and what he says must +be.” So with her brother she departed, and her Christian friends never +saw her again. What became of her? Was she made away with? Many +thought she was, but she was not. Ryley put her into a light cart, drawn +by “a flying pony,” and hurried her across England, even to distant +Norfolk, where he left her, after threatening her, with three Gypsy women +who were devoted to him. With these women the writer found her one night +encamped in a dark wood, and had much discourse with her, both on +Christian and Egyptian matters. She was very melancholy, bitterly +regretted having been compelled to quit her Christian friends, and said +that she wished she had never been a Gypsy. The writer, after exhorting +her to keep a firm grip of her Christianity, departed, and did not see +her again for nearly a quarter of a century, when he met her on Epsom +Downs, on the Derby day when the terrible horse Gladiateur beat all the +English steeds. She was then very much changed, very much changed +indeed, appearing as a full-blown Egyptian matron, with two very handsome +daughters flaringly dressed in genuine Gypsy fashion, to whom she was +giving motherly counsels as to the best means to _hok_ and _dukker_ the +gentlefolks. All her Christianity she appeared to have flung to the +dogs, for when the writer spoke to her on that very important subject, +she made no answer save by an indescribable Gypsy look. On other matters +she was communicative enough, telling the writer, amongst other things, +that since he saw her she had been twice married, and both times very +well, for that her first husband, by whom she had the two daughters whom +the writer “kept staring at,” was a man every inch of him, and her +second, who was then on the Downs grinding knives with a machine he had, +though he had not much manhood, being nearly eighty years old, had +something much better, namely a mint of money, which she hoped shortly to +have in her own possession. + +Ryley, like most of the Bosvils, was a tinker by profession; but, though +a tinker, he was amazingly proud and haughty of heart. His grand +ambition was to be a great man among his people, a Gypsy King. To this +end he furnished himself with clothes made after the costliest Gypsy +fashion: the two hinder buttons of the coat, which was of thick blue +cloth, were broad gold pieces of Spain, generally called ounces; the +fore-buttons were English “spaded guineas”; the buttons of the waistcoat +were half-guineas, and those of the collar and the wrists of his shirt +were seven-shilling gold pieces. In this coat he would frequently make +his appearance on a magnificent horse, whose hoofs, like those of the +steed of a Turkish sultan, were cased in shoes of silver. How did he +support such expense? it may be asked. Partly by driving a trade in +_wafodu luvvu_, counterfeit coin, with which he was supplied by certain +honest tradespeople of Brummagem; partly and principally by large sums of +money which he received from his two wives, and which they obtained by +the practice of certain arts peculiar to Gypsy females. One of his wives +was a truly remarkable woman: she was of the Petulengro or Smith tribe; +her Christian name, if Christian name it can be called, was Xuri or +Shuri, and from her exceeding smartness and cleverness she was generally +called by the Gypsies Yocky Shuri,—that is, smart or clever Shuri, +_yocky_ being a Gypsy word, signifying ‘clever.’ She could _dukker_—that +is, tell fortunes—to perfection, by which alone during the racing season +she could make a hundred pounds a month. She was good at the _big hok_, +that is, at inducing people to put money into her hands, in the hope of +its being multiplied; and, oh dear! how she could _caur_—that is, filch +gold rings and trinkets from jewellers’ cases; the kind of thing which +the Spanish Gypsy women call _ustilar pastesas_, filching with the hands. +Frequently she would disappear, and travel about England, and Scotland +too, _dukkering_, _hokking_, and _cauring_, and after the lapse of a +month return and deliver to her husband, like a true and faithful wife, +the proceeds of her industry. So no wonder that the Flying Tinker, as he +was called, was enabled to cut a grand appearance. He was very fond of +hunting, and would frequently join the field in regular hunting costume, +save and except that, instead of the leather hunting-cap, he wore one of +fur with a gold band around it, to denote that though he mixed with +Gorgios he was still a Romany-chal. Thus equipped and mounted on a +capital hunter, whenever he encountered a Gypsy encampment he would +invariably dash through it, doing all the harm he could, in order, as he +said, to let the _juggals_ know that he was their king and had a right to +do what he pleased with his own. Things went on swimmingly for a great +many years, but, as prosperity does not continue for ever, his dark hour +came at last. His wives got into trouble in one or two expeditions, and +his dealings in _wafodu luvvu_ began to be noised about. Moreover, by +his grand airs and violent proceedings he had incurred the hatred of both +Gorgios and Gypsies, particularly of the latter, some of whom he had +ridden over and lamed for life. One day he addressed his two wives:— + + “The Gorgios seek to hang me, + The Gypsies seek to kill me: + This country we must leave.” + + _Shuri_. + + “I’ll jaw with you to heaven, + I’ll jaw with you to Yaudors— + But not if Lura goes.” + + _Lura_. + + “I’ll jaw with you to heaven, + And to the wicked country, + Though Shuri goeth too.” + + _Ryley_. + + “Since I must choose betwixt ye, + My choice is Yocky Shuri, + Though Lura loves me best.” + + _Lura_. + + “My blackest curse on Shuri! + Oh, Ryley, I’ll not curse you, + But you will never thrive.” + +She then took her departure with her cart and donkey, and Ryley remained +with Shuri. + + _Ryley_. + + “I’ve chosen now betwixt ye; + Your wish you now have gotten, + But for it you shall smart.” + +He then struck her with his fist on the cheek, and broke her jawbone. +Shuri uttered no cry or complaint, only mumbled: + + “Although with broken jawbone, + I’ll follow thee, my Ryley, + Since Lura doesn’t jal.” + +Thereupon Ryley and Yocky Shuri left Yorkshire, and wended their way to +London, where they took up their abode in the Gypsyry near the Shepherd’s +Bush. Shuri went about _dukkering_ and _hokking_, but not with the +spirit of former times, for she was not quite so young as she had been, +and her jaw, which was never properly cured, pained her much. Ryley went +about tinkering, but he was unacquainted with London and its +neighbourhood, and did not get much to do. An old Gypsy-man, who was +driving about a little cart filled with skewers, saw him standing in a +state of perplexity at a place where four roads met. + + _Old Gypsy_. + + “Methinks I see a brother! + Who’s your father? Who’s your mother? + And what may be your name?” + + _Ryley_. + + “A Bosvil was my father; + A Bosvil was my mother; + And Ryley is my name.” + + _Old Gypsy_. + + “I’m glad to see you, brother! + I am a Kaulo Camlo. {247a} + What service can I do?” + + _Ryley_. + + “I’m jawing petulengring, {247b} + But do not know the country; + Perhaps you’ll show me round.” + + _Old Gypsy_. + + “I’ll sikker tute, prala! + I’m bikkening esconyor; {247c} + Av, av along with me!” + +The old Gypsy showed Ryley about the country for a week or two, and Ryley +formed a kind of connection, and did a little business. He, however, +displayed little or no energy, was gloomy and dissatisfied, and +frequently said that his heart was broken since he had left Yorkshire. + +Shuri did her best to cheer him, but without effect. Once, when she bade +him get up and exert himself, he said that if he did it would be of +little use, and asked her whether she did not remember the parting +prophecy of his other wife that he would never thrive. At the end of +about two years he ceased going his rounds, and did nothing but smoke +under the arches of the railroad, and loiter about beershops. At length +he became very weak, and took to his bed; doctors were called in by his +faithful Shuri, but there is no remedy for a bruised spirit. A Methodist +came and asked him, “What was his hope?” “My hope,” said he, “is that +when I am dead I shall be put into the ground, and my wife and children +will weep over me.” And such, it may be observed, is the last hope of +every genuine Gypsy. His hope was gratified. Shuri and his children, of +whom he had three—two stout young fellows and a girl—gave him a +magnificent funeral, and screamed, shouted, and wept over his grave. +They then returned to the “Arches,” not to divide his property amongst +them, and to quarrel about the division, according to Christian practice, +but to destroy it. They killed his swift pony—still swift, though +twenty-seven years of age—and buried it deep in the ground, without +depriving it of its skin. They then broke the caravan and cart to +pieces, making of the fragments a fire, on which they threw his bedding, +carpets, curtains, blankets, and everything which would burn. Finally, +they dashed his mirrors, china, and crockery to pieces, hacked his metal +pots, dishes and what-not to bits, and flung the whole on the blazing +pile. Such was the life, such the death, and such were the funeral +obsequies of Ryley Bosvil, a Gypsy who will be long remembered amongst +the English Romany for his buttons, his two wives, his grand airs, and +last, and not least, for having been the composer of various stanzas in +the Gypsy tongue, which have plenty of force, if nothing else, to +recommend them. One of these, addressed to Yocky Shuri, runs as follows: + + Tuley the Can I kokkeney cam + Like my rinkeny Yocky Shuri: + Oprey the chongor in ratti I’d cour + For my rinkeny Yocky Shuri! + +Which may be thus rendered: + + Beneath the bright sun, there is none, there is none, + I love like my Yocky Shuri: + With the greatest delight, in blood I would fight + To the knees for my Yocky Shuri! + + + + +KIRK YETHOLM + + +THERE are two Yetholms—Town Yetholm and Kirk Yetholm. They stand at the +distance of about a quarter of a mile from each other, and between them +is a valley, down which runs a small stream, called the Beaumont River, +crossed by a little stone bridge. Of the town there is not much to be +said. It is a long, straggling place, on the road between Morbuttle and +Kelso, from which latter place it is distant about seven miles. It is +comparatively modern, and sprang up when the Kirk town began to fall into +decay. Kirk Yetholm derives the first part of its name from the church, +which serves for a place of worship not only for the inhabitants of the +place, but for those of the town also. The present church is modern, +having been built on the site of the old kirk, which was pulled down in +the early part of the present century, and which had been witness of many +a strange event connected with the wars between England and Scotland. It +stands at the entrance of the place, on the left hand as you turn to the +village after ascending the steep road which leads from the bridge. The +place occupies the lower portion of a hill, a spur of the Cheviot range, +behind which is another hill, much higher, rising to an altitude of at +least 900 feet. At one time it was surrounded by a stone wall, and at +the farther end is a gateway overlooking a road leading to the English +border, from which Kirk Yetholm is distant only a mile and a quarter; the +boundary of the two kingdoms being here a small brook called Shorton +Burn, on the English side of which is a village of harmless, simple +Northumbrians, differing strangely in appearance, manner, and language +from the people who live within a stone’s throw of them on the other +side. + +Kirk Yetholm is a small place, but with a remarkable look. It consists +of a street, terminating in what is called a green, with houses on three +sides, but open on the fourth, or right side to the mountain, towards +which quarter it is grassy and steep. Most of the houses are ancient, +and are built of rude stone. By far the most remarkable-looking house is +a large and dilapidated building, which has much the appearance of a +ruinous Spanish _posada_ or _venta_. There is not much life in the +place, and you may stand ten minutes where the street opens upon the +square without seeing any other human beings than two or three women +seated at the house doors, or a ragged, bare-headed boy or two lying on +the grass on the upper side of the Green. It came to pass that late one +Saturday afternoon, at the commencement of August, in the year 1866, I +was standing where the street opens on this Green, or imperfect square. +My eyes were fixed on the dilapidated house, the appearance of which +awakened in my mind all kinds of odd ideas. “A strange-looking place,” +said I to myself at last, “and I shouldn’t wonder if strange things have +been done in it.” + +“Come to see the Gypsy toon, sir?” said a voice not far from me. + +I turned, and saw standing within two yards of me a woman about forty +years of age, of decent appearance, though without either cap or bonnet. + +“A Gypsy town, is it?” said I; “why, I thought it had been Kirk Yetholm.” + +_Woman_.—“Weel, sir, if it is Kirk Yetholm, must it not be a Gypsy toon? +Has not Kirk Yetholm ever been a Gypsy toon?” + +_Myself_.—“My good woman, ‘ever’ is a long term, and Kirk Yetholm must +have been Kirk Yetholm long before there were Gypsies in Scotland, or +England either.” + +_Woman_.—“Weel, sir, your honour may be right, and I dare say is; for +your honour seems to be a learned gentleman. Certain, however, it is +that Kirk Yetholm has been a Gypsy toon beyond the memory of man.” + +_Myself_.—“You do not seem to be a Gypsy.” + +_Woman_.—“Seem to be a Gypsy! Na, na, sir! I am the bairn of decent +parents, and belong not to Kirk Yetholm, but to Haddington.” + +_Myself_.—“And what brought you to Kirk Yetholm?” + +_Woman_.—“Oh, my ain little bit of business brought me to Kirk Yetholm, +sir.” + +_Myself_.—“Which is no business of mine. That’s a queer-looking house +there.” + +_Woman_.—“The house that your honour was looking at so attentively when I +first spoke to ye? A queer-looking house it is, and a queer kind of man +once lived in it. Does your honour know who once lived in that house?” + +_Myself_.—“No. How should I? I am here for the first time, and after +taking a bite and sup at the inn at the town over yonder I strolled +hither.” + +_Woman_.—“Does your honour come from far?” + +_Myself_.—“A good way. I came from Strandraar, the farthest part of +Galloway, where I landed from a ship which brought me from Ireland.” + +_Woman_.—“And what may have brought your honour into these parts?” + +_Myself_.—“Oh, my ain wee bit of business brought me into these parts.” + +“Which wee bit of business is nae business of mine,” said the woman, +smiling. “Weel, your honour is quite right to keep your ain counsel; +for, as your honour weel kens, if a person canna keep his ain counsel it +is nae likely that any other body will keep it for him. But to gae back +to the queer house, and the queer man that once ’habited it. That man, +your honour, was old Will Faa.” + +_Myself_.—“Old Will Faa!” + +_Woman_.—“Yes. Old Will Faa, the Gypsy king, smuggler, and innkeeper; he +lived in that inn.” + +_Myself_.—“Oh, then that house has been an inn?” + +_Woman_.—“It still is an inn, and has always been an inn; and though it +has such an eerie look it is sometimes lively enough, more especially +after the Gypsies have returned from their summer excursions in the +country. It’s a roaring place then. They spend most of their +sleight-o’-hand gains in that house.” + +_Myself_.—“Is the house still kept by a Faa?” + +_Woman_.—“No, sir; there are no Faas to keep it. The name is clean dead +in the land, though there is still some of the blood remaining.” + +_Myself_.—“I really should like to see some of the blood.” + +_Woman_.—“Weel, sir, you can do that without much difficulty; there are +not many Gypsies just now in Kirk Yetholm; but the one who they say has +more of his blood than any one else happens to be here. I mean his +grandbairn—his daughter’s daughter; she whom they ca’ the ‘Gypsy Queen o’ +Yetholm,’ and whom they lead about the toon once a year, mounted on a +cuddy, with a tin crown on her head, with much shouting, and with mony a +barbaric ceremony.” + +_Myself_.—“I really should like to see her.” + +_Woman_.—“Weel, sir, there’s a woman behind you, seated at the doorway, +who can get your honour not only the sight of her, but the speech of her, +for she is one of the race, and a relation of hers; and, to tell ye the +truth, she has had her eye upon your honour for some time past, expecting +to be asked about the qeeen, for scarcely anybody comes to Yetholm but +goes to see the queen; and some gae so far as to say that they merely +crowned her queen in hopes of bringing grist to the Gypsy mill.” + +I thanked the woman, and was about to turn away, in order to address +myself to the other woman seated on the step, when my obliging friend +said, “I beg your pardon, sir, but before ye go I wish to caution you, +when you get to the speech of the queen, not to put any speerings to her +about a certain tongue or dialect which they say the Gypsies have. All +the Gypsies become glum and dour as soon as they are spoken to about +their language, and particularly the queen. The queen might say +something uncivil to your honour, should you ask her questions about her +language.” + +_Myself_.—“Oh, then the Gypsies of Yetholm have a language of their own?” + +_Woman_.—“I canna say, sir; I dinna ken whether they have or not; I have +been at Yetholm several years, about my ain wee bit o’ business, and +never heard them utter a word that was not either English or broad +Scotch. Some people say that they have a language of their ain, and +others say that they have nane, and moreover that, though they call +themselves Gypsies, they are far less Gypsy than Irish, a great deal of +Irish being mixed in their veins with a very little of the much more +respectable Gypsy blood. It may be sae, or it may be not; perhaps your +honour will find out. That’s the woman, sir, just behind ye at the door. +Gud e’en. I maun noo gang and boil my cup o’tay.” + +To the woman at the door I now betook myself. She was seated on the +threshold, and employed in knitting. She was dressed in white, and had a +cap on her head, from which depended a couple of ribbons, one on each +side. As I drew near she looked up. She had a full, round, smooth face, +and her complexion was brown, or rather olive, a hue which contrasted +with that of her eyes, which were blue. + +“There is something Gypsy in that face,” said I to myself, as I looked at +her; “but I don’t like those eyes.” + +“A fine evening,” said I to her at last. + +“Yes, sir,” said the woman, with very little of the Scotch accent; “it is +a fine evening. Come to see the town?” + +“Yes,” said I; “I am come to see the town. A nice little town it seems.” + +“And I suppose come to see the Gypsies, too,” said the woman, with a half +smile. + +“Well,” said I, “to be frank with you, I came to see the Gypsies. You +are not one, I suppose?” + +“Indeed I am,” said the woman, rather sharply, “and who shall say that I +am not, seeing that I am a relation of old Will Faa, the man whom the +woman from Haddington was speaking to you about; for I heard her mention +his name?” + +“Then,” said I, “you must be related to her whom they call the Gypsy +queen.” + +“I am, indeed, sir. Would you wish to see her?” + +“By all means,” said I. “I should wish very much to see the Gypsy +queen.” + +“Then I will show you to her, sir; many gentlefolks from England come to +see the Gypsy queen of Yetholm. Follow me, sir!” + +She got up, and, without laying down her knitting-work, went round the +corner, and began to ascend the hill. She was strongly made, and was +rather above the middle height. She conducted me to a small house, some +little way up the hill. As we were going, I said to her, “As you are a +Gypsy, I suppose you have no objection to a _coro_ of _koshto levinor_?” +{259} + +She stopped her knitting for a moment, and appeared to consider, and then +resuming it, she said hesitatingly, “No, sir, no! None at all! That is, +not exactly!” + +“She is no true Gypsy, after all,” said I to myself. + +We went through a little garden to the door of the house, which stood +ajar. She pushed it open, and looked in; then, turning round, she said: +“She is not here, sir; but she is close at hand. Wait here till I go and +fetch her.” She went to a house a little farther up the hill, and I +presently saw her returning with another female, of slighter build, lower +in stature, and apparently much older. She came towards me with much +smiling, smirking, and nodding, which I returned with as much smiling and +nodding as if I had known her for threescore years. She motioned me with +her hand to enter the house. I did so. The other woman returned down +the hill, and the queen of the Gypsies entering, and shutting the door, +confronted me on the floor, and said, in a rather musical, but slightly +faltering voice: + +“Now, sir, in what can I oblige you?” + +Thereupon, letting the umbrella fall, which I invariably carry about with +me in my journeyings, I flung my arms three times up into the air, and in +an exceedingly disagreeable voice, owing to a cold which I had had for +some time, and which I had caught amongst the lakes of Loughmaben, whilst +hunting after Gypsies whom I could not find, I exclaimed: + +“Sossi your nav? Pukker mande tute’s nav! Shan tu a mumpli-mushi, or a +tatchi Romany?” + +Which, interpreted into Gorgio, runs thus: + +“What is your name? Tell me your name! Are you a mumping woman, or a +true Gypsy?” + +The woman appeared frightened, and for some time said nothing, but only +stared at me. At length, recovering herself, she exclaimed, in an angry +tone, “Why do you talk to me in that manner, and in that gibberish? I +don’t understand a word of it.” + +“Gibberish!” said I; “it is no gibberish; it is Zingarrijib, Romany +rokrapen, real Gypsy of the old order.” + +“Whatever it is,” said the woman, “it’s of no use speaking it to me. If +you want to speak to me, you must speak English or Scotch.” + +“Why, they told me as how you were a Gypsy,” said I. + +“And they told you the truth,” said the woman; “I am a Gypsy, and a real +one; I am not ashamed of my blood.” + +“If yer were a Gyptian,” said I, “yer would be able to speak Gyptian; but +yer can’t, not a word.” + +“At any rate,” said the woman, “I can speak English, which is more than +you can. Why, your way of speaking is that of the lowest vagrants of the +roads.” + +“Oh, I have two or three ways of speaking English,” said I; “and when I +speaks to low wagram folks, I speaks in a low wagram manner.” + +“Not very civil,” said the woman. + +“A pretty Gypsy!” said I; “why, I’ll be bound you don’t know what a +_churi_ is!” + +The woman gave me a sharp look; but made no reply. + +“A pretty queen of the Gypsies!” said I; “why, she doesn’t know the +meaning of _churi_!” + +“Doesn’t she?” said the woman, evidently nettled; “doesn’t she?” + +“Why, do you mean to say that you know the meaning of _churi_?” + +“Why, of course I do,” said the woman. + +“Hardly, my good lady,” said I; “hardly; a _churi_ to you is merely a +_churi_.” + +“A _churi_ is a knife,” said the woman, in a tone of defiance; “a _churi_ +is a knife.” + +“Oh, it is,” said I; “and yet you tried to persuade me that you had no +peculiar language of your own, and only knew English and Scotch: _churi_ +is a word of the language in which I spoke to you at first, Zingarrijib, +or Gypsy language; and since you know that word, I make no doubt that you +know others, and in fact can speak Gypsy. Come; let us have a little +confidential discourse together.” + +The woman stood for some time, as if in reflection, and at length said: +“Sir, before having any particular discourse with you, I wish to put a +few questions to you, in order to gather from your answers whether it is +safe to talk to you on Gypsy matters. You pretend to understand the +Gypsy language: if I find you do not, I will hold no further discourse +with you; and the sooner you take yourself off the better. If I find you +do, I will talk with you as long as you like. What do you call +that?”—and she pointed to the fire. + +“Speaking Gyptianly?” said I. + +The woman nodded. + +“Whoy, I calls that _yog_.” + +“Hm,” said the woman: “and the dog out there?” + +“Gyptian-loike?” said I. + +“Yes.” + +“Whoy, I calls that a _juggal_.” + +“And the hat on your head?” + +“Well, I have two words for that: a _staury_ and a _stadge_.” + +“_Stadge_,” said the woman, “we call it here. Now what’s a gun?” + +“There is no Gypsy in England,” said I, “can tell you the word for a gun; +at least the proper word, which is lost. They have a +word—_yag-engro_—but that is a made-up word signifying a fire-thing.” + +“Then you don’t know the word for a gun,” said the Gypsy. + +“Oh dear me! Yes,” said I; “the genuine Gypsy word for a gun is +_puschca_. But I did not pick up that word in England, but in Hungary, +where the Gypsies retain their language better than in England: _puschca_ +is the proper word for a gun, and not _yag-engro_, which may mean a +fire-shovel, tongs, poker, or anything connected with fire, quite as well +as a gun.” + +“_Puschca_ is the word, sure enough,” said the Gypsy. “I thought I +should have caught you there; and now I have but one more question to ask +you, and when I have done so, you may as well go; for I am quite sure you +cannot answer it. What is _Nokkum_?” + +“_Nokkum_,” said I; “_nokkum_?” + +“Aye,” said the Gypsy; “what is _Nokkum_? Our people here, besides their +common name of Romany, have a private name for themselves, which is +_Nokkum_ or _Nokkums_. Why do the children of the Caungri Foros call +themselves _Nokkums_?” + +“_Nokkum_,” said I; “_nokkum_? The root of _nokkum_ must be _nok_, which +signifieth a nose.” + +“A-h!” said the Gypsy, slowly drawing out the monosyllable, as if in +astonishment. + +“Yes,” said I; “the root of _nokkum_ is assuredly _nok_, and I have no +doubt that your people call themselves _Nokkum_ because they are in the +habit of _nosing_ the Gorgios. _Nokkums_ means _Nosems_.” + +“Sit down, sir,” said the Gypsy, handing me a chair. “I am now ready to +talk to you as much as you please about _Nokkum_ words and matters, for I +see there is no danger. But I tell you frankly that had I not found that +you knew as much as, or a great deal more than, myself, not a hundred +pounds, nor indeed all the money in Berwick, should have induced me to +hold discourse with you about the words and matters of the Brown children +of Kirk Yetholm.” + +I sat down in the chair which she handed me; she sat down in another, and +we were presently in deep discourse about matters _Nokkum_. We first +began to talk about words, and I soon found that her knowledge of Romany +was anything but extensive; far less so, indeed, than that of the +commonest English Gypsy woman, for whenever I addressed her in regular +Gypsy sentences, and not in _poggado jib_, or broken language, she would +giggle and say I was too deep for her. I should say that the sum total +of her vocabulary barely amounted to three hundred words. Even of these +there were several which were not pure Gypsy words—that is, belonging to +the speech which the ancient Zingary brought with them to Britain. Some +of her bastard Gypsy words belonged to the cant or allegorical jargon of +thieves, who, in order to disguise their real meaning, call one thing by +the name of another. For example, she called a shilling a ‘hog,’ a word +belonging to the old English cant dialect, instead of calling it by the +genuine Gypsy term _tringurushi_, the literal meaning of which is three +groats. Then she called a donkey ‘asal,’ and a stone ‘cloch,’ which +words are neither cant nor Gypsy, but Irish or Gaelic. I incurred her +vehement indignation by saying they were Gaelic. She contradicted me +flatly, and said that whatever else I might know I was quite wrong there; +for that neither she nor any one of her people would condescend to speak +anything so low as Gaelic, or indeed, if they possibly could avoid it, to +have anything to do with the poverty-stricken creatures who used it. It +is a singular fact that, though principally owing to the magic writings +of Walter Scott, the Highland Gael and Gaelic have obtained the highest +reputation in every other part of the world, they are held in the +Lowlands in very considerable contempt. There the Highlander, elsewhere +“the bold Gael with sword and buckler,” is the type of poverty and +wretchedness; and his language, elsewhere “the fine old Gaelic, the +speech of Adam and Eve in Paradise,” is the designation of every +unintelligible jargon. But not to digress. On my expressing to the +Gypsy queen my regret that she was unable to hold with me a regular +conversation in Romany, she said that no one regretted it more than +herself, but that there was no help for it; and that slight as I might +consider her knowledge of Romany to be, it was far greater than that of +any other Gypsy on the Border, or indeed in the whole of Scotland; and +that as for the _Nokkums_, there was not one on the Green who was +acquainted with half a dozen words of Romany, though the few words they +had they prized high enough, and would rather part with their heart’s +blood than communicate them to a stranger. + +“Unless,” said I, “they found the stranger knew more than themselves.” + +“That would make no difference with them,” said the queen, “though it has +made a great deal of difference with me. They would merely turn up their +noses, and say they had no Gaelic. You would not find them so +communicative as me; the _Nokkums_, in general, are a dour set, sir.” + +Before quitting the subject of language it is but right to say that +though she did not know much Gypsy, and used cant and Gaelic terms, she +possessed several words unknown to the English Romany, but which are of +the true Gypsy order. Amongst them was the word _tirrehi_, or +_tirrehai_, signifying shoes or boots, which I had heard in Spain and in +the east of Europe. Another was _calches_, a Wallachian word signifying +trousers. Moreover, she gave the right pronunciation to the word which +denotes a man not of Gypsy blood, saying _gajo_, and not _gorgio_, as the +English Gypsies do. After all, her knowledge of Gentle Romany was not +altogether to be sneezed at. + +Ceasing to talk to her about words, I began to question her about the +Faas. She said that a great number of the Faas had come in the old time +to Yetholm, and settled down there, and that her own forefathers had +always been the principal people among them. I asked her if she +remembered her grandfather, old Will Faa, and received for answer that +she remembered him very well, and that I put her very much in mind of +him, being a tall, lusty man, like himself, and having a skellying look +with the left eye, just like him. I asked her if she had not seen queer +folks at Yetholm in her grandfather’s time. “_Dosta dosta_,” said she; +“plenty, plenty of queer folk I saw at Yetholm in my grandfather’s time, +and plenty I have seen since, and not the least queer is he who is now +asking me questions.” “Did you ever see Piper Allen?” said I; “he was a +great friend of your grandfather’s.” “I never saw him,” she replied; +“but I have often heard of him. He married one of our people.” “He did +so,” said I, “and the marriage-feast was held on the Green just behind +us. He got a good, clever wife, and she got a bad, rascally husband. +One night, after taking an affectionate farewell of her, he left her on +an expedition, with plenty of money in his pocket, which he had obtained +from her, and which she had procured by her dexterity. After going about +four miles he bethought himself that she had still some money, and +returning crept up to the room in which she lay asleep, and stole her +pocket, in which were eight guineas; then slunk away, and never returned, +leaving her in poverty, from which she never recovered.” I then +mentioned Madge Gordon, at one time the Gypsy queen of the Border, who +used, magnificently dressed, to ride about on a pony shod with silver, +inquiring if she had ever seen her. She said she had frequently seen +Madge Faa, for that was her name, and not Gordon; but that when she knew +her, all her magnificence, beauty, and royalty had left her; for she was +then a poor, poverty-stricken old woman, just able with a pipkin in her +hand to totter to the well on the Green for water. Then with much +nodding, winking, and skellying, I began to talk about _Drabbing bawlor_, +_dooking gryes_, _cauring_, and _hokking_, and asked if them ’ere things +were ever done by the _Nokkums_: and received for answer that she +believed such things were occasionally done, not by the _Nokkums_, but by +other Gypsies, with whom her people had no connection. + +Observing her eyeing me rather suspiciously, I changed the subject; +asking her if she had travelled much about. She told me she had, and +that she had visited most parts of Scotland, and seen a good bit of the +northern part of England. + +“Did you travel alone?” said I. + +“No,” said she; “when I travelled in Scotland I was with some of my own +people, and in England with the Lees and Bosvils.” + +“Old acquaintances of mine,” said I; “why only the other day I was with +them at Fairlop Fair, in the Wesh.” + +“I frequently heard them talk of Epping Forest,” said the Gypsy; “a nice +place, is it not?” + +“The loveliest forest in the world!” said I. “Not equal to what it was, +but still the loveliest forest in the world, and the pleasantest, +especially in summer; for then it is thronged with grand company, and the +nightingales, and cuckoos, and Romany _chals_ and _chies_. As for +Romany-chals there is not such a place for them in the whole world as the +Forest. Them that wants to see Romany-chals should go to the Forest, +especially to the Bald-faced Hind on the hill above Fairlop, on the day +of Fairlop Fair. It is their trysting-place, as you would say, and there +they musters from all parts of England, and there they whoops, dances, +and plays; keeping some order nevertheless, because the _Rye_ of all the +Romans is in the house, seated behind the door:— + + Romany Chalor + Anglo the wuddur + Mistos are boshing; + Mande beshello + Innar the wuddur + Shooning the boshipen.” + + Roman lads + Before the door + Bravely fiddle; + Here I sit + Within the door + And hear them fiddle. + +“I wish I knew as much Romany as you, sir,” said the Gypsy. “Why, I +never heard so much Romany before in all my life.” + +She was rather a small woman, apparently between sixty and seventy, with +intelligent and rather delicate features. Her complexion was darker than +that of the other female; but she had the same kind of blue eyes. The +room in which we were seated was rather long, and tolerably high. In the +wall, on the side which fronted the windows which looked out upon the +Green, were oblong holes for beds, like those seen in the sides of a +cabin. There was nothing of squalor or poverty about the place. + +Wishing to know her age, I inquired of her what it was. She looked +angry, and said she did not know. + +“Are you forty-nine?” said I, with a terrible voice, and a yet more +terrible look. + +“More,” said she, with a smile; “I am sixty-eight.” + +There was something of the gentlewoman in her: on my offering her money +she refused to take it, saying that she did not want it, and it was with +the utmost difficulty that I persuaded her to accept a trifle, with +which, she said, she would buy herself some tea. + +But withal there was _hukni_ in her, and by that she proved her Gypsy +blood. I asked her if she would be at home on the following day, for in +that case I would call and have some more talk with her, and received for +answer that she would be at home and delighted to see me. On going, +however, on the following day, which was Sunday, I found the garden-gate +locked and the window-shutters up, plainly denoting that there was nobody +at home. + +Seeing some men lying on the hill, a little way above, who appeared to be +observing me, I went up to them for the purpose of making inquiries. +They were all young men, and decently though coarsely dressed. None wore +the Scottish cap or bonnet, but all the hat of England. Their +countenances were rather dark, but had nothing of the vivacious +expression observable in the Gypsy face, but much of the dogged, sullen +look which makes the countenances of the generality of the Irish who +inhabit London and some other of the large English towns so disagreeable. +They were lying on their bellies, occasionally kicking their heels into +the air. I greeted them civilly, but received no salutation in return. + +“Is So-and-so at home?” said I. + +“No,” said one, who, though seemingly the eldest of the party, could not +have been more than three-and-twenty years of age; “she is gone out.” + +“Is she gone far?” said I. + +“No,” said the speaker, kicking up his heels. + +“Where is she gone to?” + +“She’s gone to Cauldstrame.” + +“How far is that?” + +“Just thirteen miles.” + +“Will she be at home to-day?” + +“She may, or she may not.” + +“Are you of her people?” said I. + +“No-h,” said the fellow, slowly drawing out the word. + +“Can you speak Irish?” + +“No-h; I can’t speak Irish,” said the fellow, tossing up his nose, and +then flinging up his heels. + +“You know what _arragod_ is?” said I. + +“No-h!” + +“But you know what _ruppy_ is?” said I; and thereupon I winked and +nodded. + +“No-h;” and then up went the nose, and subsequently the heels. + +“Good day,” said I; and turned away; I received no counter-salutation; +but, as I went down the hill, there was none of the shouting and laughter +which generally follow a discomfited party. They were a hard, sullen, +cautious set, in whom a few drops of Gypsy blood were mixed with some +Scottish and a much larger quantity of low Irish. Between them and their +queen a striking difference was observable. In her there was both fun +and cordiality; in them not the slightest appearance of either. What was +the cause of this disparity? The reason was they were neither the +children nor the grandchildren of real Gypsies, but only the remote +descendants, whereas she was the granddaughter of two genuine Gypsies, +old Will Faa and his wife, whose daughter was her mother; so that she +might be considered all but a thorough Gypsy; for being by her mother’s +side a Gypsy, she was of course much more so than she would have been had +she sprung from a Gypsy father and a Gentile mother; the qualities of a +child, both mental and bodily, depending much less on the father than on +the mother. Had her father been a Faa, instead of her mother, I should +probably never have heard from her lips a single word of Romany, but +found her as sullen and inductile as the _Nokkums_ on the Green, whom it +was of little more use questioning than so many stones. + +Nevertheless, she had played me the _hukni_, and that was not very +agreeable; so I determined to be even with her, and by some means or +other to see her again. Hearing that on the next day, which was Monday, +a great fair was to be held in the neighbourhood of Kelso, I determined +to go thither, knowing that the likeliest place in all the world to find +a Gypsy at is a fair; so I went to the grand cattle-fair of St. George, +held near the ruined castle of Roxburgh, in a lovely meadow not far from +the junction of the Teviot and Tweed; and there sure enough, on my third +saunter up and down, I met my Gypsy. We met in the most cordial +manner—smirks and giggling on her side, smiles and nodding on mine. She +was dressed respectably in black, and was holding the arm of a stout +wench, dressed in garments of the same colour, who she said was her +niece, and a _rinkeni rakli_. The girl whom she called _rinkeni_ or +handsome, but whom I did not consider handsome, had much of the +appearance of one of those _Irish_ girls, born in London, whom one so +frequently sees carrying milk-pails about the streets of the metropolis. +By the bye, how is it that the children born in England of Irish parents +account themselves Irish and not English, whilst the children born in +Ireland of English parents call themselves not English but Irish? Is it +because there is ten times more nationality in Irish blood than in +English? After the smirks, smiles, and salutations were over, I inquired +whether there were many Gypsies in the fair. “Plenty,” said she, “plenty +Tates, Andersons, Reeds, and many others. That woman is an +Anderson—yonder is a Tate,” said she, pointing to two common-looking +females. “Have they much Romany?” said I. “No,” said she, “scarcely a +word.” “I think I shall go and speak to them,” said I. “Don’t,” said +she; “they would only be uncivil to you. Moreover, they have nothing of +that kind—on the word of a _rawnie_ they have not.” + +I looked in her eyes; there was nothing of _hukni_ in them, so I shook +her by the hand; and through rain and mist, for the day was a wretched +one, trudged away to Dryburgh to pay my respects at the tomb of Walter +Scott, a man with whose principles I have no sympathy, but for whose +genius I have always entertained the most intense admiration. + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + +{11a} A Christian. + +{11b} A fox. + +{174} “Merripen” means life, and likewise death; even as “collico” means +to-morrow as well as yesterday, and perhaps “sorlo,” evening as well as +morning. + +{247a} A Black Lovel. + +{247b} Going a-tinkering. + +{247c} I’ll show you about, brother! I’m selling skewers. + +{259} A cup of good ale. + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROMANO LAVO-LIL*** + + +******* This file should be named 2733-0.txt or 2733-0.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/3/2733 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + + + + +Title: Romano Lavo-Lil + Word-Book of the Romany + + +Author: George Borrow + + + +Release Date: August 30, 2019 [eBook #2733] +[This file was first posted on July 2, 2000] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROMANO LAVO-LIL*** +</pre> +<p>Transcribed from the 1905 John Murray edition by David Price, +email ccx074@pglaf.org</p> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/cover.jpg"> +<img alt= +"Book cover" +title= +"Book cover" + src="images/cover.jpg" /> +</a></p> +<blockquote><p>“Can you rokra Romany?<br /> +Can you play the bosh?<br /> +Can you jal adrey the staripen?<br /> +Can you chin the cost?”</p> +<p>“Can you speak the Roman tongue?<br /> +Can you play the fiddle?<br /> +Can you eat the prison-loaf?<br /> +Can you cut and whittle?”</p> +</blockquote> +<h1>ROMANO LAVO-LIL</h1> +<p style="text-align: center">WORD-BOOK OF THE ROMANY<br /> +OR, ENGLISH GYPSY LANGUAGE<br /> +<span class="GutSmall">WITH SPECIMENS OF GYPSY POETRY, AND +AN</span><br /> +<span class="GutSmall">ACCOUNT OF CERTAIN GYPSYRIES OR</span><br +/> +<span class="GutSmall">PLACES INHABITED BY THEM, AND</span><br /> +<span class="GutSmall">OF VARIOUS THINGS RELATING TO</span><br /> +<span class="GutSmall">GYPSY LIFE IN ENGLAND</span></p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">By</span> +GEORGE BORROW</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p style="text-align: center">LONDON<br /> +JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.<br /> +1905</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p style="text-align: center"><a name="pageiv"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. iv</span><span class="GutSmall">PRINTED +BY</span><br /> +<span class="GutSmall">HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD.,</span><br +/> +<span class="GutSmall">LONDON AND AYLESBURY.</span></p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p><a name="pagev"></a><span class="pagenum">p. v</span><span +class="smcap">The</span> Author of the present work wishes to +state that the Vocabulary, which forms part of it, has existed in +manuscript for many years. It is one of several +vocabularies of various dialects of the Gypsy tongue, made by him +in different countries. The most considerable—that of +the dialect of the Zincali or Rumijelies (Romany Chals) of +Spain—was published in the year 1841. Amongst those +which remain unpublished is one of the Transylvanian Gypsy, made +principally at Kolosvār in the year 1844.</p> +<p><i>December</i> 1, 1873.</p> +<h2><a name="pagevii"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +vii</span>CONTENTS</h2> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p> </p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span +class="GutSmall">PAGE</span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">The English Gypsy Language</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page3">3</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Romano Lavo-Lil</span>: <span +class="smcap">Word-Book of the Romany</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page15">15</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Rhymed List of Gypsy Verbs</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page71">71</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Betie Rokrapenes</span>: <span +class="smcap">Little Sayings</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page76">76</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Cotorres of Mi-Dibble’s Lil +chiv’d adrey Romanes</span>: <span class="smcap">Pieces of +Scripture cast into Romany</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page85">85</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">The Lord’s Prayer in the Gypsy +Dialect of Transylvania</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page92">92</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Lil of Romano Jinnypen</span>: <span +class="smcap">Book of the Wisdom of the Egyptians</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page96">96</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Romane Navior of Temes and +Gavior</span>: <span class="smcap">Gypsy Names of Countries and +Towns</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page112">112</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Thomas Rossar-mescro, or Thomas +Herne</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page118">118</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Kokkodus Artarus</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page129">129</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Mang, Prala</span>: <span +class="smcap">Beg on, Brother</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page132">132</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p><span class="smcap">English Gypsy +Songs</span>:—</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">Welling +Kattaney</span>: <span class="smcap">The Gypsy Meeting</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page132">132</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">Lelling +Cappi</span>: <span class="smcap">Making a Fortune</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page136">136</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">The Dui +Chalor</span>: <span class="smcap">The Two Gypsies</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page138">138</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">Miro Romany +Chi</span>: <span class="smcap">My Roman Lass</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page142">142</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">Ava</span>, <span +class="smcap">Chi</span>: <span class="smcap">Yes</span>, <span +class="smcap">my Girl</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page146">146</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">The Temeskoe +Rye</span>: <span class="smcap">The Youthful Earl</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page146">146</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">Camo-Gillie</span>: +<span class="smcap">Love-Song</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page148">148</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><a name="pageviii"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. viii</span><span class="smcap">Tugnis +Amande</span>: <span class="smcap">Woe is me</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page150">150</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">The Rye and the +Rawne</span>: <span class="smcap">The Squire and Lady</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page152">152</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">Romany Suttur +Gillie</span>: <span class="smcap">Gypsy Lullaby</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page154">154</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">Sharrafi +Kralyissa</span>: <span class="smcap">Our Blessed +Queen</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page156">156</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">Plastra +Lesti</span>: <span class="smcap">Run for it</span>!</p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page156">156</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Foreign Gypsy Songs</span>:—</p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"> </p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">The Romany +Songstress</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page161">161</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span +class="smcap">L’Erajai</span>: <span class="smcap">The +Frair</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page162">162</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">Malbrun</span>: +<span class="smcap">Malbrouk</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page164">164</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p><span class="smcap">The English +Gypsies</span>:—</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">Tugney +Beshor</span>: <span class="smcap">Sorrowful Years</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page172">172</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">Their +History</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page174">174</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Gypsy Names</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page185">185</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Fortune-Telling</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page197">197</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">The Hukni</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page201">201</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">Cauring</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page202">202</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"><p><span class="smcap">Metropolitan +Gypsyries</span>:—</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span +class="smcap">Wandsworth</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page207">207</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">The +Potteries</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page228">228</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p class="gutindent"><span class="smcap">The Mount</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page235">235</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Ryley Bosvil</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page241">241</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><span class="smcap">Kirk Yetholm</span></p> +</td> +<td><p style="text-align: right"><span class="indexpageno"><a +href="#page253">253</a></span></p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<h2><a name="page3"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 3</span>THE +ENGLISH GYPSY LANGUAGE</h2> +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Gypsies of England call their +language, as the Gypsies of many other countries call theirs, +<i>Romany</i> or <i>Romanes</i>, a word either derived from the +Indian <i>Ram</i> or <i>Rama</i>, which signifies a husband, or +from the town Rome, which took its name either from the Indian +<i>Ram</i>, or from the Gaulic word, <i>Rom</i>, which is nearly +tantamount to husband or man, for as the Indian <i>Ram</i> means +a husband or man, so does the Gaulic <i>Pom</i> signify that +which constitutes a man and enables him to become a husband.</p> +<p>Before entering on the subject of the English Gypsy, I may +perhaps be expected to say something about the original Gypsy +tongue. It is, however, very difficult to say with +certainty anything on the subject. There can be no doubt +that a veritable Gypsy tongue at one time existed, but that it at +present exists there is great doubt indeed. The probability +is that the Gypsy at present exists only in dialects more or less +like the language originally spoken by the Gypsy or Zingaro +race. Several dialects of the Gypsy are <a +name="page4"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 4</span>to be found +which still preserve along with a considerable number of +seemingly original words certain curious grammatical forms, quite +distinct from those of any other speech. Others are little +more than jargons, in which a certain number of Gypsy words are +accommodated to the grammatical forms of the languages of +particular countries. In the foremost class of the purer +Gypsy dialects, I have no hesitation in placing those of Russia, +Wallachia, Bulgaria, and Transylvania. They are so alike, +that he who speaks one of them can make himself very well +understood by those who speak any of the rest; from whence it may +reasonably be inferred that none of them can differ much from the +original Gypsy speech; so that when speaking of Gypsy language, +any one of these may be taken as a standard. One of +them—I shall not mention which—I have selected for +that purpose, more from fancy than any particular reason.</p> +<p>The Gypsy language, then, or what with some qualification I +may call such, may consist of some three thousand words, the +greater part of which are decidedly of Indian origin, being +connected with the Sanscrit or some other Indian dialect; the +rest consist of words picked up by the Gypsies from various +languages in their wanderings from the East. It has two +genders, masculine and feminine; <i>o</i> represents the +masculine and <i>i</i> the feminine: for example, <i>boro +rye</i>, a great gentleman; <i>bori rani</i>, a great lady. +There is properly no indefinite article: <i>gajo</i> or +<i>gorgio</i>, a man or gentile; <i>o gajo</i>, the man. +The noun has two numbers, the singular and the plural. It +has various cases formed by postpositions, but has, strictly +speaking, <a name="page5"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 5</span>no +genitive. It has prepositions as well as postpositions; +sometimes the preposition is used with the noun and sometimes the +postposition: for example, <i>cad o gav</i>, from the town; +<i>chungale mannochendar</i>, evil men from, <i>i.e.</i> from +evil men. The verb has no infinitive; in lieu thereof, the +conjunction ‘that’ is placed before some person of +some tense. ‘I wish to go’ is expressed in +Gypsy by <i>camov te jaw</i>, literally, I wish that I go; thou +wishest to go, <i>caumes te jas</i>, thou wishest that thou +goest; <i>caumen te jallan</i>, they wish that they go. +Necessity is expressed by the impersonal verb and the conjunction +‘that’: <i>hom te jay</i>, I must go; lit. I am that +I go; <i>shan te jallan</i>, they are that they go; and so +on. There are words to denote the numbers from one up to a +thousand. For the number nine there are two words, +<i>nu</i> and <i>ennyo</i>. Almost all the Gypsy numbers +are decidedly connected with the Sanscrit.</p> +<p>After these observations on what may be called the best +preserved kind of Gypsy, I proceed to a lower kind, that of +England. The English Gypsy speech is very scanty, amounting +probably to not more than fourteen hundred words, the greater +part of which seem to be of Indian origin. The rest form a +strange medley taken by the Gypsies from various Eastern and +Western languages: some few are Arabic, many are Persian; some +are Sclavo-Wallachian, others genuine Sclavonian. Here and +there a Modern Greek or Hungarian word is discoverable; but in +the whole English Gypsy tongue I have never noted but one French +word—namely, <i>tass</i> or <i>dass</i>, by which some of +the very old Gypsies occasionally call a cup.</p> +<p><a name="page6"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 6</span>Their +vocabulary being so limited, the Gypsies have of course words of +their own only for the most common objects and ideas; as soon as +they wish to express something beyond these they must have +recourse to English, and even to express some very common +objects, ideas, and feelings, they are quite at a loss in their +own tongue, and must either employ English words or very vague +terms indeed. They have words for the sun and the moon, but +they have no word for the stars, and when they wish to name them +in Gypsy, they use a word answering to +‘lights.’ They have a word for a horse and for +a mare, but they have no word for a colt, which in some other +dialects of the Gypsy is called <i>kuro</i>; and to express a +colt they make use of the words <i>tawno gry</i>, a little horse, +which after all may mean a pony. They have words for black, +white, and red, but none for the less positive colours—none +for grey, green, and yellow. They have no definite word +either for hare or rabbit; <i>shoshoi</i>, by which they +generally designate a rabbit, signifies a hare as well, and +<i>kaun-engro</i>, a word invented to distinguish a hare, and +which signifies ear-fellow, is no more applicable to a hare than +to a rabbit, as both have long ears. They have no certain +word either for to-morrow or yesterday, <i>collico</i> signifying +both indifferently. A remarkable coincidence must here be +mentioned, as it serves to show how closely related are Sanscrit +and Gypsy. <i>Shoshoi</i> and <i>collico</i> are nearly of +the same sound as the Sanscrit <i>sasa</i> and <i>kalya</i>, and +exactly of the same import; for as the Gypsy <i>shoshoi</i> +signifies both hare and rabbit, and <i>collico</i> to-morrow as +well as yesterday, so does the Sanscrit <a name="page7"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 7</span><i>sasa</i> signify both hare and +rabbit, and <i>kalya</i> to-morrow as well as yesterday.</p> +<p>The poverty of their language in nouns the Gypsies endeavour +to remedy by the frequent use of the word <i>engro</i>. +This word affixed to a noun or verb turns it into something +figurative, by which they designate, seldom very appropriately, +some object for which they have no positive name. +<i>Engro</i> properly means a fellow, and <i>engri</i>, which is +the feminine or neuter modification, a thing. When the noun +or verb terminates in a vowel, <i>engro</i> is turned into +<i>mengro</i>, and <i>engri</i> into <i>mengri</i>. I have +already shown how, by affixing <i>engro</i> to <i>kaun</i>, the +Gypsies have invented a word to express a hare. In like +manner, by affixing <i>engro</i> to <i>pov</i>, earth, they have +coined a word for a potato, which they call <i>pov-engro</i> or +<i>pov-engri</i>, earth-fellow or thing; and by adding +<i>engro</i> to <i>rukh</i>, or <i>mengro</i> to <i>rooko</i>, +they have really a very pretty figurative name for a squirrel, +which they call <i>rukh-engro</i> or <i>rooko-mengro</i>, +literally a fellow of the tree. <i>Poggra-mengri</i>, a +breaking thing, and <i>pea-mengri</i>, a drinking thing, by which +they express, respectively, a mill and a teapot, will serve as +examples of the manner by which they turn verbs into +substantives. This method of finding names for objects, for +which there are properly no terms in Gypsy, might be carried to a +great length—much farther, indeed, than the Gypsies are in +the habit of carrying it: a slack-rope dancer might be termed +<i>bittitardranoshellokellimengro</i>, or +slightly-drawn-rope-dancing fellow; a drum, +<i>duicoshtcurenomengri</i>, or a thing beaten by two sticks; a +tambourine, <i>angustrecurenimengri</i>, or a thing beaten by the +fingers; <a name="page8"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 8</span>and +a fife, <i>muipudenimengri</i>, or thing blown by the +mouth. All these compound words, however, would be more or +less indefinite, and far beyond the comprehension of the Gypsies +in general.</p> +<p>The verbs are very few, and with two or three exceptions +expressive only of that which springs from what is physical and +bodily, totally unconnected with the mind, for which, indeed, the +English Gypsy has no word; the term used for mind, +<i>zi</i>—which is a modification of the Hungarian +<i>sziv</i>—meaning heart. There are such verbs in +this dialect as to eat, drink, walk, run, hear, see, live, die; +but there are no such verbs as to hope, mean, hinder, prove, +forbid, teaze, soothe. There is the verb <i>apasavello</i>, +I believe; but that word, which is Wallachian, properly means +being trusted, and was incorporated in the Gypsy language from +the Gypsies obtaining goods on trust from the Wallachians, which +they never intended to pay for. There is the verb for love, +<i>camova</i>; but that word is expressive of physical desire, +and is connected with the Sanscrit <i>Cama</i>, or Cupid. +Here, however, the English must not triumph over the Gypsies, as +their own verb ‘love’ is connected with a Sanscrit +word signifying ‘lust.’ One pure and abstract +metaphysical verb the English Gypsy must be allowed to +possess—namely, <i>penchava</i>, I think, a word of +illustrious origin, being derived from the Persian +<i>pendashtan</i>.</p> +<p>The English Gypsies can count up to six, and have the numerals +for ten and twenty, but with those for seven, eight, and nine, +perhaps not three Gypsies in England are acquainted. When +they <a name="page9"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 9</span>wish to +express those numerals in their own language, they have recourse +to very uncouth and roundabout methods, saying for seven, <i>dui +trins ta yeck</i>, two threes and one; for eight, <i>dui +stors</i>, or two fours; and for nine, <i>desh sore but yeck</i>, +or ten all but one. Yet at one time the English Gypsies +possessed all the numerals as their Transylvanian, Wallachian, +and Russian brethren still do; even within the last fifty years +there were Gypsies who could count up to a hundred. These +were <i>tatchey Romany</i>, real Gypsies, of the old sacred black +race, who never slept in a house, never entered a church, and +who, on their death-beds, used to threaten their children with a +curse, provided they buried them in a churchyard. The two +last of them rest, it is believed, some six feet deep beneath the +moss of a wild, hilly heath,—called in Gypsy the +<i>Heviskey Tan</i>, or place of holes; in English, +Mousehold,—near an ancient city, which the Gentiles call +Norwich, and the Romans the <i>Chong Gav</i>, or the town of the +hill.</p> +<p>With respect to Grammar, the English Gypsy is perhaps in a +worse condition than with respect to words. Attention is +seldom paid to gender; <i>boro rye</i> and <i>boro rawnie</i> +being said, though as <i>rawnie</i> is feminine, <i>bori</i> and +not <i>boro</i> should be employed. The proper Gypsy plural +terminations are retained in nouns, but in declension +prepositions are generally substituted for postpositions, and +those prepositions English. The proper way of conjugating +verbs is seldom or never observed, and the English method is +followed. They say, I <i>dick</i>, I see, instead of +<i>dico</i>; I <i>dick’d</i>, I saw, instead of +<i>dikiom</i>; if I had <i>dick’d</i>, instead of +<i>dikiomis</i>. Some of the peculiar features <a +name="page10"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 10</span>of Gypsy +grammar yet retained by the English Gypsies will be found noted +in the Dictionary.</p> +<p>I have dwelt at some length on the deficiencies and shattered +condition of the English Gypsy tongue; justice, however, compels +me to say that it is far purer and less deficient than several of +the continental Gypsy dialects. It preserves far more of +original Gypsy peculiarities than the French, Italian, and +Spanish dialects, and its words retain more of the original Gypsy +form than the words of those three; moreover, however scanty it +may be, it is far more copious than the French or the Italian +Gypsy, though it must be owned that in respect to copiousness it +is inferior to the Spanish Gypsy, which is probably the richest +in words of all the Gypsy dialects in the world, having names for +very many of the various beasts, birds, and creeping things, for +most of the plants and fruits, for all the days of the week, and +all the months in the year; whereas most other Gypsy dialects, +the English amongst them, have names for only a few common +animals and insects, for a few common fruits and natural +productions, none for the months, and only a name for a single +day—the Sabbath—which name is a modification of the +Modern Greek +<i>κυριακηὴ</i>.</p> +<p>Though the English Gypsy is generally spoken with a +considerable alloy of English words and English grammatical +forms, enough of its proper words and features remain to form +genuine Gypsy sentences, which shall be understood not only by +the Gypsies of England, but by those of Russia, Hungary, +Wallachia, and even of Turkey; for example:—</p> +<blockquote><p><a name="page11"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +11</span>Kek man camov te jib bolli-mengreskoenæs,<br /> +Man camov te jib weshenjugalogonæs.</p> +<p>I do not wish to live like a baptized person. <a +name="citation11a"></a><a href="#footnote11a" +class="citation">[11a]</a><br /> +I wish to live like a dog of the wood. <a +name="citation11b"></a><a href="#footnote11b" +class="citation">[11b]</a></p> +</blockquote> +<p>It is clear-sounding and melodious, and well adapted to the +purposes of poetry. Let him who doubts peruse attentively +the following lines:—</p> +<blockquote><p>Coin si deya, coin se dado?<br /> +Pukker mande drey Romanes,<br /> +Ta mande pukkeravava tute.</p> +<p>Rossar-mescri minri deya!<br /> +Wardo-mescro minro dado!<br /> +Coin se dado, coin si deya?<br /> +Mande’s pukker’d tute drey Romanes;<br /> +Knau pukker tute mande.</p> +<p>Petulengro minro dado,<br /> +Purana minri deya!<br /> +Tatchey Romany si men—<br /> +Mande’s pukker’d tute drey Romanes,<br /> +Ta tute’s pukker’d mande.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>The first three lines of the above ballad are perhaps the +oldest specimen of English Gypsy at present extant, and perhaps +the purest. They are at least as old as the time of +Elizabeth, and can pass among the Zigany in the heart of Russia +for Ziganskie. The other lines are not so ancient. +The piece is composed in a metre something like that of the +ancient Sclavonian songs, and contains the questions which two +strange Gypsies, who suddenly meet, put to each other, and the +answers which they return.</p> +<h2><a name="page13"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 13</span>ROMANO +LAVO-LIL—WORD-BOOK OF THE ROMANY</h2> +<p><a name="page14"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 14</span>In +using the following Vocabulary the Continental manner of +pronouncing certain vowels will have to be observed: thus +<i>ava</i> must be pronounced like <i>auva</i>, according to the +English style; <i>ker</i> like <i>kare</i>, <i>miro</i> like +<i>meero</i>, <i>zi</i> like <i>zee</i>, and <i>puro</i> as if it +were written <i>pooro.</i></p> +<h3><a name="page15"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 15</span>A</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Abri</span>, <i>ad. prep.</i> Out, +not within, abroad: soving abri, sleeping abroad, not in a +house. <i>Celtic</i>, Aber (the mouth or outlet of a +river).</p> +<p>Acai / Acoi, <i>ad.</i> Here.</p> +<p>Adje, <i>v. n.</i> To stay, stop. <i>See</i> Atch, +az.</p> +<p>Adrey, <i>prep.</i> Into.</p> +<p>Ajaw, <i>ad.</i> So. <i>Wallachian</i>, Asha.</p> +<p>Aladge, <i>a.</i> Ashamed. <i>Sans.</i> +Latch, laj.</p> +<p>Aley, <i>ad.</i> Down: soving aley, lying down; to kin +aley, to buy off, ransom. <i>Hun.</i> Ala, alat.</p> +<p>Amande, <i>pro. pers. dat.</i> To me.</p> +<p>An, <i>v. a. imp.</i> Bring: an lis opré, bring +it up.</p> +<p>Ana, <i>v.</i> a. Bring. <i>Sans.</i> +Ani.</p> +<p>Ando, <i>prep.</i> In.</p> +<p>Anglo, <i>prep.</i> Before.</p> +<p>Apasavello, <i>v. n.</i> I believe.</p> +<p>Apopli, <i>ad.</i> Again. <i>Spanish Gypsy</i>, +Apala (after). <i>Wal.</i> Apoi (then, afterwards).</p> +<p>Apré, <i>ad. prep.</i> Up: kair lis apré, +do it up. <i>Vid.</i> Opré.</p> +<p>Aranya / Araunya, <i>s.</i> Lady. <i>Hungarian +Gypsy</i>, Aranya. <i>See</i> Rawnie.</p> +<p><a name="page16"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 16</span>Artav / +Artavello, <i>v. a.</i> To pardon, forgive. +<i>Wal.</i> Ierta. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Estomar.</p> +<p>Artapen, <i>s.</i> Pardon, forgiveness.</p> +<p>Artáros. Arthur.</p> +<p>Asā / Asau, <i>ad.</i> Also, likewise, too: meero +pal asau, my brother also.</p> +<p>Asarlas, <i>ad.</i> At all, in no manner.</p> +<p>Asa. An affix used in forming the second person singular +of the present tense; <i>e.g.</i> camasa, thou lovest.</p> +<p>Astis, <i>a.</i> Possible, it is possible: astis +mangué, I can; astis lengué, they can.</p> +<p>Ashā / Ashaw, <i>ad.</i> So: ashaw sorlo, so +early. <i>Wal.</i> Asha. <i>See</i> Ajaw.</p> +<p>Atch, <i>v. n.</i> To stay, stop.</p> +<p>Atch opré. Keep up.</p> +<p>Atraish, <i>a. part.</i> Afraid. +<i>Sans.</i> Tras (to fear), atrāsït +(frightened). <i>See</i> Traish.</p> +<p>Av, <i>imperat.</i> of Ava, to come: av abri, come out.</p> +<p>Ava, <i>ad.</i> Yes. <i>Sans.</i> Eva.</p> +<p>Ava, <i>v. a.</i> To come.</p> +<p>Avata acoi. Come thou here.</p> +<p>Avali, <i>ad.</i> Yes. <i>Wal.</i> Aieva +(really).</p> +<p>Avava. An affix by which the future tense of a verb is +formed, <i>e.g.</i> mor-avava, I will kill. <i>See</i> +Vava.</p> +<p>Aukko, <i>ad.</i> Here.</p> +<p>Az, <i>v. n.</i> To stay.</p> +<h3>B</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Bal</span>, <i>s.</i> Hair. +<i>Tibetian</i>, Bal (wool). <i>Sans.</i> Bala +(hair).</p> +<p>Baleneskoe, <i>a.</i> Hairy.</p> +<p>Balormengro. A hairy fellow; Hearne, the name of a Gypsy +tribe.</p> +<p>Balanser, <i>s.</i> The coin called a sovereign.</p> +<p>Ballivas, <i>s.</i> Bacon. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Balibá.</p> +<p>Bangalo, <i>a.</i> Devilish. <i>See</i> Beng, +bengako.</p> +<p><a name="page17"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 17</span>Bango, +<i>a.</i> Left, sinister, wrong, false: bango wast, the +left hand; to saulohaul bango, like a plastra-mengro, to swear +bodily like a Bow-street runner. <i>Sans.</i> Pangu +(lame). <i>Hun.</i> Pang, pangó (stiff, lazy, +paralysed).</p> +<p>Bar, <i>s.</i> A stone, a stoneweight, a pound +sterling. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Bar. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> +Bar. <i>Hindustani</i>, Puthur. <i>Wal.</i> +Piatre. <i>Fr.</i> Pierre. <i>Gr. +βάρος</i> (weight).</p> +<p>Bareskey, <i>a.</i> Stony.</p> +<p>Bark, <i>s.</i> Breast, woman’s breast.</p> +<p>Bas / Base, <i>s.</i> Pound sterling. <i>Wal.</i> +Pes (a weight, burden).</p> +<p>Bas-engro, <i>s.</i> A shepherd. <i>Run.</i> +Bacso.</p> +<p>Bashadi, <i>s.</i> A fiddle.</p> +<p>Bata, <i>s.</i> A bee. <i>Sans.</i> +Pata.</p> +<p>Bau, <i>s.</i> Fellow, comrade. <i>See</i> +Baw.</p> +<p>Baul, <i>s.</i> Snail. <i>See</i> Bowle.</p> +<p>Baulo, <i>s.</i> Pig, swine. The proper meaning of +this word is anything swollen, anything big or bulky. It is +connected with the English bowle or bole, the trunk of a tree; +also with bowl, boll, and belly; also with whale, the largest of +fish, and wale, a tumour; also with the Welsh <i>bol</i>, a +belly, and <i>bala</i>, a place of springs and eruptions. +It is worthy of remark that the English word pig, besides +denoting the same animal as <i>baulo</i>, is of the same original +import, being clearly derived from the same root as big, that +which is bulky, and the Turkish <i>buyuk</i>, great, huge, +vast.</p> +<p>Baulie-mas, <i>s.</i> Pork, swine’s flesh.</p> +<p>Bavano. Windy, broken-winded.</p> +<p>Bavol, <i>s.</i> Wind, air. <i>Sans.</i> +Pavana. <i>See</i> Beval.</p> +<p>Bavol-engro, <i>s.</i> A wind-fellow; figurative name +for a ghost.</p> +<p>Baw, bau, <i>s.</i> Fellow, comrade: probably the same +as the English country-word baw, bor. <i>Ger.</i> +Bauer. Av acoi, baw, Come here, fellow. Boer, in +Wallachian, signifies a boyard or lord.</p> +<p>Beano, <i>part. pass.</i> Born.</p> +<p><a name="page18"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 18</span>Beano +abri. Born out of doors, like a Gypsy or vagrant.</p> +<p>Bebee, <i>s.</i> Aunt. <i>Rus.</i> Baba +(grandmother, old woman, hag); Baba Yagā, the female demon +of the Steppes.</p> +<p>Beng / Bengui, <i>s.</i> Devil. <i>Sans.</i> +Pangka (mud). According to the Hindu mythology, there is a +hell of mud; the bengues of the Gypsies seem to be its +tenants.</p> +<p>Bengako tan, <i>s.</i> Hell. Lit. place belonging +to devils.</p> +<p>Bengeskoe potan. Devil’s tinder, sulphur.</p> +<p>Bengeskoe / Benglo, <i>a.</i> Devilish.</p> +<p>Bengree, <i>s.</i> Waistcoat. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Blani. <i>Wal.</i> (Blāni fur).</p> +<p>Berro, béro, <i>s.</i> A ship, a hulk for +convicts. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Bero, las galeras, the galleys; +presidio, convict garrison.</p> +<p>Ber-engro, <i>s.</i> A sailor.</p> +<p>Bero-rukh, <i>s.</i> A mast.</p> +<p>Bersh / Besh, <i>s.</i> A year. <i>Sans.</i> +Varsha. He could cour drey his besh, he could fight in his +time.</p> +<p>Bershor, <i>pl.</i> Years.</p> +<p>Besh, <i>v. n.</i> To sit: beshel, he sits.</p> +<p>Beshaley / Beshly, Gypsy name of the Stanley tribe.</p> +<p>Besh-engri, <i>s.</i> A chair. <i>See</i> +Skammen.</p> +<p>Beti, <i>a.</i> Little, small.</p> +<p>Beval, <i>s.</i> Wind. <i>See</i> Bavol.</p> +<p>Bi, <i>prep.</i> Without: bi luvvu, without money.</p> +<p>Bicunyie, <i>a.</i> Alone, undone: meklis <i>or</i> +mukalis bicunyie, let it alone.</p> +<p>Bikhin / Bin <i>v. a.</i> To sell. +<i>Hin.</i> Bikna.</p> +<p>Bikhnipen, <i>s.</i> Sale.</p> +<p>Birk, <i>s.</i> Woman’s breast. <i>See</i> +Bark.</p> +<p>Bis, <i>a.</i> Twenty.</p> +<p>Bisheni, <i>s.</i> The ague.</p> +<p>Bitch / Bitcha, <i>v. a.</i> To send. +<i>Sans.</i> Bis, bisa.</p> +<p>Bitched / Bitcheno, <i>part. pass.</i> Sent</p> +<p><a name="page19"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +19</span>Bitcheno pawdel. Sent across, transported.</p> +<p>Bitti, <i>s. a.</i> Small, piece, a little. This +word is not true Gypsy.</p> +<p>Bloen / Blowing, A cant word, but of Gypsy origin, signifying +a sister in debauchery, as Pal denotes a brother in +villainy. It is the Plani and Beluñi of the Spanish +Gypsies, by whom sometimes Beluñi is made to signify +queen; <i>e.g.</i> Beluñi de o tarpe (tem opré), +the Queen of Heaven, the Virgin. Blower is used by Lord +Byron, in his ‘Don Juan.’ Speaking of the +highwayman whom the Don shoots in the vicinity of London, he says +that he used to go to such-and-such places of public resort +with—his blowen.</p> +<p>Bob, <i>s.</i> A bean. <i>Wal.</i> Bob: <i>pl.</i> +bobbis, bobs.</p> +<p>Boccalo, <i>a.</i> Hungry: boccalé pers, hungry +bellies.</p> +<p>Bokht, <i>s.</i> Luck, fortune: kosko bokht, good +luck. <i>Sans.</i> Bhãgya. <i>Pers.</i> +Bakht.</p> +<p>Bokra, <i>s.</i> A sheep. <i>Hun.</i> Birka.</p> +<p>Bokra-choring. Sheep-stealing.</p> +<p>Bokkar-engro, <i>s.</i> A shepherd: bokkar-engro drey, +the dude, man in the moon.</p> +<p>Bokkari-gueri, <i>s.</i> Shepherdess.</p> +<p>Bokkeriskoe, <i>a.</i> Sheepish, belonging to a sheep: +bokkeriskey piré, sheep’s feet.</p> +<p>Bolla, <i>v. a.</i> To baptize.</p> +<p>Bonnek, <i>s.</i> Hold: lel bonnek, to take hold.</p> +<p>Booko, <i>s.</i> Liver. <i>See</i> Bucca.</p> +<p>Bolleskoe divvus. Christmas-day; <i>query</i>, baptismal +day. <i>Wal.</i> Botez (baptism).</p> +<p>Bollimengreskoenaes. After the manner of a +Christian.</p> +<p>Boogones, <i>s.</i> Smallpox, pimples. <i>See</i> +Bugnior.</p> +<p>Bor, <i>s.</i> A hedge.</p> +<p>Boona, <i>a.</i> Good. <i>Lat.</i> Bonus. +<i>Wal.</i> Boun.</p> +<p>Booty, <i>s.</i> Work.</p> +<p>Bori, <i>a. fem.</i> Big with child, enceinte.</p> +<p><a name="page20"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 20</span>Booty, +<i>v. a.</i> To work, labour.</p> +<p>Boro, <i>a.</i> Great, big. <i>Hin.</i> +Bura. <i>Mod. Gr. βαρὺς</i> +(heavy).</p> +<p>Borobeshemeskeguero, <i>s.</i> Judge, +<i>great-sitting-fellow</i>.</p> +<p>Boro Gav. London, big city. <i>See</i> Lundra.</p> +<p>Boronashemeskrutan. Epsom race-course.</p> +<p>Bosh, <i>s.</i> Fiddle. <i>Pers.</i> [Persian +which cannot be reproduced] Bazee, baz (play, joke), whence the +English cant word ‘bosh.’ <i>See</i> +Bashadi.</p> +<p>Boshomengro, <i>s.</i> Fiddler.</p> +<p>Bosno / Boshno, <i>s.</i> A cock, male-bird. +<i>Sans.</i> Puchchin. <i>Wal.</i> Bosh (testicle). +<i>Gaelic</i>, Baois (libidinousness).</p> +<p>Boshta, <i>s.</i> A saddle.</p> +<p>Bostaris, <i>s.</i> A bastard.</p> +<p>Bovalo, <i>a.</i> Rich. <i>Sans.</i> Bala +(strong).</p> +<p>Bowle, <i>s.</i> Snail. <i>See</i> Baul.</p> +<p>Brishen / Brisheno, <i>s.</i> Rain. <i>Hun. +Gyp.</i> Breshino. <i>Sans.</i> Vrish. <i>Mod. Gr. +βρέξιμον</i>.</p> +<p>Brisheneskey, <i>a.</i> Rainy: brisheneskey rarde, a +rainy night; brisheneskey chiros, a time of rain. <i>Mod. +Gr. καιρὸς +βροχερός</i>.</p> +<p>Bucca, <i>s.</i> Liver. <i>Sans.</i> Bucca +(heart). <i>Wal.</i> Phikat.</p> +<p>Bucca naflipen, <i>s.</i> Liver-complaint.</p> +<p>Buchee, <i>s.</i> Work, labour. <i>See</i> +Butsi.</p> +<p>Buddigur, <i>s.</i> A shop. <i>Span.</i> +Bodega.</p> +<p>Buddikur divvus, <i>s.</i> Shopping-day: Wednesday, +Saturday.</p> +<p>Bugnes / Bugnior, <i>s. pl.</i> Smallpox, +blisters. <i>Gael.</i> Boc (a pimple), bolg (a blister), +bolgach (small-pox). <i>Wal.</i> Mougour (a bud). +<i>Fr.</i> Bourgeon.</p> +<p>Buklo, <i>a.</i> Hungry: buklo tan, hungry spot, a +common. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Buklo tan (a wilderness).</p> +<p>Bul, <i>s.</i> Rump, buttock.</p> +<p>Bungshoror / Bungyoror, <i>s. pl.</i> Corks.</p> +<p>Busnis / Busnior, <i>s. pl.</i> Spurs, prickles. +<i>Mod. Gr. βάσανοω</i> +(pain, torment).</p> +<p>Buroder, <i>ad.</i> More: <i>ad.</i> ne buroder, no +more.</p> +<p>Bute, <i>a. ad.</i> Much, very. <i>Hin.</i> +Būt.</p> +<p><a name="page21"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 21</span>Butsi / +Buty, <i>s.</i> Work, labour.</p> +<p>Butying. Working.</p> +<h3>C</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Caen</span> / Cane, <i>v. n.</i> To +stink.</p> +<p>Caenipen / Canipen, <i>s</i>. A stench.</p> +<p>Caeninaflipen, <i>s.</i> Stinking sickness, the plague, +gaol-fever. The old cant word Canihen, signifying the +gaol-fever, is derived from this Gypsy term.</p> +<p>Candelo / Cannelo, <i>a.</i> Stinking: cannelo mas, +stinking meat. <i>Sans.</i> Gandha (smell).</p> +<p>Callico / Collico, <i>s.</i> To-morrow, also yesterday: +collico sorlo, to-morrow morning. <i>Sans.</i> Kalya. +<i>Hin.</i> Kal (to-morrow, yesterday).</p> +<p>Cana, <i>ad.</i> Now: cana sig, now soon. +<i>See</i> Kanau, knau.</p> +<p>Cam, <i>s.</i> The sun. <i>Hin.</i> +Khan. <i>Heb.</i> Khama (the sun), kham (heat).</p> +<p>Cam. To wish, desire, love.</p> +<p>Cam / Camello / Camo, <i>v. a.</i> To love. +<i>Sans.</i> Cama (love). Cupid; from which Sanscrit +word the Latin Amor is derived.</p> +<p>Cambori / Cambri, <i>a.</i> Pregnant, big with +child.</p> +<p>Camlo / Caumlo, Lovel, name of a Gypsy tribe. Lit. +amiable. With this word the English “comely” is +connected.</p> +<p>Camo-mescro, <i>s.</i> A lover; likewise the name +Lovel.</p> +<p>Can, <i>s.</i> The sun.</p> +<p>Can, <i>s.</i> An ear. <i>See</i> Kaun.</p> +<p>Cana, <i>ad.</i> Now: cana sig, now soon. +<i>See</i> Kanau.</p> +<p>Canáfi / Canapli, Turnip.</p> +<p>Canairis. A Gypsy name.</p> +<p>Canior / Caunor, <i>s. pl.</i> Pease.</p> +<p><a name="page22"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +22</span>Canni. A hen. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Cañi. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Cackni. <i>Gael.</i> +Cearc.</p> +<p>Cannis. Hens.</p> +<p>Cappi, <i>s.</i> Booty, gain, fortune: to lel cappi, to +acquire booty, make a capital, a fortune.</p> +<p>Cas, <i>s.</i> Hay: cas-stiggur, haystack; cas kairing, +hay-making.</p> +<p>Cas, <i>s.</i> Cheese. <i>Lat.</i> Caseus. +This word is used by the pikers or tramps, as well as by the +Gypsies. <i>See</i> Kael.</p> +<p>Catches / Catsau, <i>s. pl.</i> Scissors. +<i>Hun.</i> Kasza. <i>Wal.</i> Kositsie +(sickle). <i>Mod.</i> <i>Gr. +κόσα</i>. <i>Rus.</i> Kosa.</p> +<p>Cato, <i>prep.</i> To; more properly From. <i>Hun. +Gyp.</i> Cado. <i>Wal.</i> Katre (towards).</p> +<p>Cavo, <i>pron. dem.</i> This.</p> +<p>Cavocoi. This here.</p> +<p>Cavocoiskoenoes. In this manner.</p> +<p>Caur, <i>v. a.</i> To filch, steal in an artful manner +by bending down. <i>Heb.</i> [Hebrew which cannot be +reproduced] Cara, incurvavit se. <i>Eng.</i> Cower.</p> +<p>Cayes, <i>s.</i> Silk. <i>Pers</i>. [Persian which +cannot be reproduced] <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Quequesa. +<i>Sans.</i> Kauseya.</p> +<p>Chal, <i>s.</i> Lad, boy, son, fellow. Connected +with this word is the Scottish Chiel, the Old English Childe, and +the Russian Chelovik. <i>See</i> Romani chal.</p> +<p>Cháro, <i>s.</i> Plate, dish.</p> +<p>Chavali, <i>s.f.</i> Girl, damsel.</p> +<p>Chavi, <i>s.f.</i> Child, girl, daughter.</p> +<p>Cham, <i>s.</i> Leather: chameskie rokunies, leather +breeches. <i>Sans.</i> Charma (skin).</p> +<p>Chavo, <i>s. m.</i> Child, son: <i>pl.</i> chaves. +Cheaus is an old French hunting term for the young ones of a +fox.</p> +<p>Charos / Cheros, <i>s.</i> Heaven. <i>Wal.</i> +Cher.</p> +<p>Chauvo, <i>s.</i> <i>See</i> Chavo.</p> +<p>Chaw, <i>s.</i> Grass.</p> +<p>Chawhoktamengro, <i>s.</i> Grasshopper. <i>See</i> +Hokta.</p> +<p>Chee, <i>a.</i> No, none: chee butsi, no work. +<i>See</i> Chi, chichi.</p> +<p><a name="page23"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +23</span>Chericlo, <i>s.</i> Bird. <i>See</i> +Chiriclo.</p> +<p>Chiricleskey tan, <i>s.</i> Aviary, birdcage.</p> +<p>Chi, <i>s.f.</i> Child, daughter, girl: Romany chi, +Gypsy girl.</p> +<p>Chi / Chichi / Chiti, <i>s.</i> Nothing.</p> +<p>Chin, <i>v. a.</i> To cut: chin lis tuley, cut it +down. <i>Sans.</i> Chun (to cut off). <i>Hin.</i> +Chink. <i>Gaelic</i>, Sgian (a knife).</p> +<p>Chin the cost. To cut the stick; to cut skewers for +butchers and pegs for linen-lines, a grand employment of the +Gypsy fellows in the neighbourhood of London.</p> +<p>China-mengri, <i>s.f.</i> A letter; a thing incised, +marked, written in.</p> +<p>China-mengro, <i>s.</i> Hatchet. Lit. +cutting-thing.</p> +<p>Chinipen, <i>s.</i> A cut.</p> +<p>Ching / Chingaro, <i>v. a.</i> To fight, quarrel.</p> +<p>Chinga-guero, <i>s.</i> A warrior.</p> +<p>Chingaripen, <i>s.</i> War, strife. <i>Sans.</i> +Sangara.</p> +<p>Chingring, <i>part. pres.</i> Fighting, quarrelling.</p> +<p>Chik, <i>s.</i> Earth, dirt. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Chique. <i>Hin.</i> Chikkar.</p> +<p>Chiklo, <i>a.</i> Dirty.</p> +<p>Chiriclo, <i>s. m.</i> Bird. <i>Hin.</i> +Chiriya.</p> +<p>Chiricli, <i>s.f.</i> Hen-bird.</p> +<p>Chiros, <i>s.</i> Time. <i>Mod. Gr. +καιρὸς</i>.</p> +<p>Chiv / Chiva / Chuva, <i>v. a.</i> To cast, fling, +throw, place, put: chiv lis tuley, fling it down; chiv oprey, put +up. <i>Rus.</i> Kyio (to forge, cast iron). +<i>Sans.</i> Kship.</p> +<p>Chiving tulipen prey the chokkars. Greasing the +shoes.</p> +<p>Chofa, <i>s.f.</i> Petticoat.</p> +<p>Chohawni, <i>s.</i> Witch. <i>See</i> +Chovahano.</p> +<p>Chohawno, <i>s.</i> Wizard.</p> +<p>Chok, <i>s.</i> Watch, watching.</p> +<p>Chok-engro, <i>s.</i> Watchman.</p> +<p>Chok, <i>s.</i> Shoe: chokkor, chokkors, shoes. +<i>Hun.</i> Czókó (wooden shoe).</p> +<p><a name="page24"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +24</span>Choko-mengro. Shoemaker.</p> +<p>Choka, <i>s.</i> Coat.</p> +<p>Chokni / Chukni, <i>s.</i> Whip. <i>Wal.</i> +Chokini (a strap, leather). <i>Hun.</i> Csakany (a mace, +sledge hammer). <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Chokano (a staff). +<i>Wal.</i> Chokan, chokinel (a hammer).</p> +<p>Chukni wast, <i>s.</i> The whip-hand, the mastery.</p> +<p>Chollo, <i>a. s.</i> Whole.</p> +<p>Chomany, <i>s.</i> Something. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Cormuñi (some); chimoni (anything). <i>Wal.</i> +Chineba (some one). For every chomany there’s a lav +in Romany: there’s a name in Gypsy for everything.</p> +<p>Chong, <i>s.</i> Knee. <i>Hun.</i> Czomb. +<i>Sans.</i> Chanu. <i>Lat.</i> Genu.</p> +<p>Chongor, <i>pl.</i> Knees.</p> +<p>Choom / Choomava, <i>v. a.</i> To kiss. +<i>Sans.</i> Chumb. Choomande, kiss me. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Chupendi (a kiss), a corruption of Choomande.</p> +<p>Choomia, <i>s.</i> A kiss.</p> +<p>Choomo-mengro, one of the tribe Boswell.</p> +<p>Choon, <i>s.</i> Moon. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> +Chemut. <i>Sans.</i> Chandra.</p> +<p>Choot, <i>s.</i> Vinegar. <i>See</i> Chute.</p> +<p>Chore, <i>v. a.</i> To steal. <i>Sans.</i> +Chur.</p> +<p>Chore, <i>s.</i> Thief. <i>Hin.</i> Chor.</p> +<p>Chories, <i>pl</i>. Thieves.</p> +<p>Chor-dudee-mengri, <i>s. +Κλεφτοφάναρον</i> +(thieves’ lantern, dark lantern).</p> +<p>Choredo, a. Poor, poverty stricken. <i>Sans.</i> +Dāridra.</p> +<p>Choredi, <i>fem</i>. of Choredo.</p> +<p>Choriness, <i>s.</i> Poverty.</p> +<p>Choro, <i>a.</i> Poor. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Chororo. <i>Hin.</i> Shor.</p> +<p>Chovahan, <i>v. a.</i> To bewitch.</p> +<p>Chovahani / Chowián, <i>s.f.</i> Witch.</p> +<p>Chovahano, <i>s.</i> Wizard.</p> +<p>Choveno, <i>a.</i> Poor, needy, starved. Perhaps +derived from the Russian Tchernoe (black, dirty, wretched); or +from <a name="page25"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 25</span>the +Hungarian Csunya (hateful, frightful); whence the Chungalo of the +Hungarian, and also of the Spanish Gypsies.</p> +<p>Choveni, <i>fem</i>. of Choveno.</p> +<p>Choveno ker, <i>s.</i> Workhouse, poorhouse.</p> +<p>Chukkal, <i>s.</i> Dog. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Chuquel. <i>Sans.</i> Kukkura. <i>Basque</i>, +Chacurra. <i>See</i> Juggal.</p> +<p>Chumba, <i>s.</i> Bank, hill. <i>Russ.</i> Xolm (a +hill).</p> +<p>Chungarava / Chungra, <i>v. a.</i> To spit. +<i>Wal.</i> Ckouina. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Chudel (he +spits).</p> +<p>Churi, <i>s.</i> Knife. <i>Sans.</i> Chhuri. +<i>Hin.</i> Churi.</p> +<p>Churi-mengro, <i>s.</i> Knife-grinder, cutler.</p> +<p>Churo-mengro, <i>s.</i> A soldier, swordsman.</p> +<p>Chute, <i>s.</i> Vinegar. <i>Mod. Gr. +ζύδι</i>. <i>Wal.</i> Otset.</p> +<p>Chute-pavi, <i>s.</i> Cyder; perhaps a crab-apple. +Lit. vinegar-apple.</p> +<p>Chuvvenhan, <i>s.</i> Witch. <i>See</i> +Chovahani.</p> +<p>Cinerella. Female Gypsy name.</p> +<p>Cocal, <i>s.</i> Bone. <i>Mod. Gr. +κοκκαλον</i>,</p> +<p>Cocalor, <i>pl.</i> Bones.</p> +<p>Coco / Cocodus, <i>s.</i> Uncle. <i>Hin.</i> +Caucau.</p> +<p>Cocoro / Cocoros, <i>a. pro.</i> Alone, self: tu cocoro, +thyself.</p> +<p>Coin, <i>pro. interrog.</i> Who? <i>Hin.</i> +Kaun.</p> +<p>Collor, <i>s. pl.</i> Shillings: dui collor a crookos, +two shillings a week. In Spanish Germania or cant, two +ochavos, or farthings, are called: dui <i>calés.</i></p> +<p>Comorrus, <i>s.</i> A room, hall. <i>Hun.</i> +Kamara. <i>Hin.</i> Cumra. <i>Ger.</i> Kammer.</p> +<p>Cong, congl, <i>v. a.</i> To comb.</p> +<p>Congli / Congro, <i>s.f.</i> A comb. <i>Sans.</i> +Kanagata.</p> +<p>Congri, <i>s.f.</i> A church.</p> +<p>Coor / Coorava, <i>v. a.</i> To fight. +<i>Irish</i>, Comhrac [courac]. <i>Welsh</i>, Curaw (to +beat).</p> +<p><a name="page26"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +26</span>Coorapen, <i>s.</i> Fight, a beating: I shall lel +a curapen, I shall get a beating.</p> +<p>Cooroboshno, <i>s.</i> A fighting cock.</p> +<p>Cooromengro, <i>s.</i> Fighter, boxer, soldier.</p> +<p>Coppur, <i>s.</i> Blanket. <i>Rus.</i> +Kovér (a carpet). <i>Wal.</i> Kovor, <i>id.</i></p> +<p>Corauni / Corooni, <i>s.</i> A crown: mekrauliskie +corauni, royal crown. <i>Wal.</i> Coroan.</p> +<p>Cori, <i>s.</i> Thorn. Membrum virile. +<i>Span.</i> Carajo [caraco]. <i>Gascon</i>, Quirogau.</p> +<p>Coro / Coru, <i>s.</i> Pot, pitcher, cup: coru levinor, +cup of ale; boro coro, a quart. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Coro. <i>Hin.</i> Gharã.</p> +<p>Coro-mengro, <i>s.</i> Potter.</p> +<p>Coro-mengreskey tem. Staffordshire.</p> +<p>Corredo, <i>a.</i> Blind. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Corroro. <i>Pers.</i> کور +<i>Wal.</i> Kior (one-eyed).</p> +<p>Cosht / Cost, <i>s.</i> Stick. <i>Sans.</i> +Kāshtha.</p> +<p>Cost-engres, <i>s. pl.</i> Branch-fellows, people of the +New Forest, Stanleys.</p> +<p>Coshtno, <i>a.</i> Wooden.</p> +<p>Covar / Covo, <i>s.</i> Thing: covars, things; +covar-bikhning-vardo, a caravan in which goods are carried about +for sale.</p> +<p>Crafni, <i>s.</i> Button. <i>Ger.</i> Knopf.</p> +<p>Crafni-mengro, <i>s.</i> Buttonmaker.</p> +<p>Creeor, <i>s. pl.</i> Ants, pismires. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Ocrianse (the ant), quiria (ant).</p> +<p>Cricni / Crookey / Crookauros / Crookos, <i>s.</i> +Week. <i>See</i> Curco.</p> +<p>Cuesni, <i>s.</i> Basket. <i>See</i> Cushnee.</p> +<p>Culvato (Gypsy name). Claude.</p> +<p>Curaken, <i>s.</i> Fighting. <i>See</i> +Coorapen.</p> +<p>Curepen, <i>s.</i> Trouble, affliction: curepenis, +afflictions.</p> +<p>Curkey / Curko, <i>s.</i> Week, Sunday. <i>Mod. +Gr. κυριακὴ</i>.</p> +<p><a name="page27"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 27</span>Curlo, +<i>s.</i> Throat. <i>Pers.</i> گلو +Chin his curlo, cut his throat.</p> +<p>Curlo-mengri, <i>s.</i> A ruff, likewise a pillow; +anything belonging to the throat or neck.</p> +<p>Cushnee / Cushni / Cusnee, <i>s.</i> Basket. +<i>Wal.</i> Koshnitse.</p> +<p>Cuttor, <i>s.</i> A piece, a guinea-piece: dui cuttor, +two guineas; will you lel a cuttor, will you take a bit? sore in +cuttors, all in rags.</p> +<h3>D</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Dad</span>, <i>s.</i> Father. +<i>Welsh</i>, Tâd. <i>Wal.</i> Tat. <i>Rus. +Gyp.</i> Dad.</p> +<p>Dado, <i>s.</i> Father. <i>Rus. Gyp.</i> Dado.</p> +<p>Dand, <i>s.</i> Tooth. <i>Sans.</i> Danta.</p> +<p>Danior, <i>pl.</i> Teeth.</p> +<p>Dand, <i>v. a.</i> To bite.</p> +<p>Daya / Dieya, <i>s.</i> Mother, properly nurse. +<i>Sans.</i> Dhayas (fostering). <i>Pers.</i> [Persian +which cannot be reproduced] Daya. <i>Mod. Gr. +θεῖα</i>. <i>Rus. Gyp.</i> +Daia. <i>Wal.</i> Doika.</p> +<p>Deav, <i>v. a.</i> Give. <i>Sans.</i> +Dā. <i>Wal.</i> Da.</p> +<p>Del. He gives.</p> +<p>Del-engro, <i>s.</i> A kicking-horse.</p> +<p>Del-oprey, <i>v. a.</i> To read.</p> +<p>Denne, <i>ad.</i> Than.</p> +<p>Der. An <i>affix</i>, by which the <i>comparative</i> is +formed; <i>e.g.</i> Wafodu, bad: wafodúder than dovor, +worse than they.</p> +<p>Desch, <i>a.</i> Ten. <i>Sans.</i> Dasan. +<i>Wal.</i> Zetche.</p> +<p>Desh ta yeck. Eleven.</p> +<p>Desh ta dui. Twelve.</p> +<p>Desh ta trin. Thirteen.</p> +<p>Desh ta store. Fourteen.</p> +<p>Desh ta pansch. Fifteen.</p> +<p>Desh ta sho. Sixteen.</p> +<p>Desh ta eft. Seventeen.</p> +<p><a name="page28"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +28</span>Deshko. Eighteen (?): deshko hori, eighteenpence; +properly, Desh ta octo hori.</p> +<p>Devel, <i>s.</i> God. <i>Sans.</i> Deva. +<i>Lith.</i> Dēwas. <i>Lat.</i> Deus. <i>See</i> +Dibble, Dovvel, Dubbel.</p> +<p>Develeskoe, <i>s.</i> Holy, divine. <i>Sans.</i> +Deva.</p> +<p>Deyed, <i>pret.</i> of Deav. He gave.</p> +<p>Dibble, <i>s.</i> God. <i>See</i> Devel.</p> +<p>Dic / Dico, <i>v. n.</i> To look: dic tuley, look down; +dicking misto, looking well. <i>Sans.</i> Iksh (to see, +look). <i>Gaelic</i>, Dearcam (to see); dearc (eye).</p> +<p>Dickimengro, <i>s.</i> Overlooker, overseer.</p> +<p>Dicking hev, <i>s.</i> A window, seeing-hole.</p> +<p>Die, <i>s.</i> Mother. <i>Rus. Gyp.</i> Die. +<i>See</i> Daya.</p> +<p>Dikkipen, <i>s.</i> Look, image. <i>Sans.</i> +Driksha (aspect). <i>Welsh</i>, Drych (aspect).</p> +<p>Diklo, <i>s.</i> Cloth, sheet, shift.</p> +<p>Dinnelo, <i>s.</i> A fool, one possessed by the +devil. <i>Wal.</i> Diniele (of the devil); louat diniele +(possessed by the devil).</p> +<p>Dinneleskoe, <i>a.</i> Foolish.</p> +<p>Dinneleskoenoes. Like a fool.</p> +<p>Dinnelipénes, <i>s. pl.</i> Follies, +nonsense.</p> +<p>Diverous. A Gypsy name.</p> +<p>Diviou, <i>a.</i> Mad: jawing diviou, going mad. +<i>Sans.</i> Déva (a god, a fool).</p> +<p>Diviou-ker, <i>s.</i> Madhouse.</p> +<p>Diviou kokkodus Artáros. Mad Uncle Arthur.</p> +<p>Divvus, <i>s.</i> Day. <i>Sans.</i> Divasa.</p> +<p>Divveskoe / Divvuskoe, <i>a.</i> Daily: divvuskoe morro, +daily bread.</p> +<p>Diximengro, <i>s.</i> Overseer. <i>See</i> +Dickimengro.</p> +<p>Dook, <i>v. a.</i> To hurt, bewitch: dook the gry, +bewitch the horse. <i>Wal.</i> Deokira (to fascinate, +bewitch). <i>See</i> Duke, dukker.</p> +<p>Dooriya / Dooya, <i>s.</i> Sea. <i>Pers.</i> +دریا <i>Irish</i>, Deire (the +deep). <i>Welsh</i>, Dwr (water). <i>Old Irish</i>, +Dobhar.</p> +<p><i>Dooriya durril</i>, <i>s.</i> Currant, plum. +Lit. Sea-berry.</p> +<p><a name="page29"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 29</span>Dooriya +durrileskie guyi, <i>s.</i> Plum pudding.</p> +<p>Dori, <i>s.</i> Thread, lace: kaulo dori, black +lace. <i>Hin.</i> Dora.</p> +<p>Dosch / Dosh, <i>s.</i> Evil, harm: kek dosh, no +harm. <i>Sans.</i> Dush (bad).</p> +<p>Dosta, <i>s.</i> Enough. <i>Wal.</i> +Destoul. <i>Rus.</i> Dostaet (it is +sufficient). <i>See</i> Dusta.</p> +<p>Dou, <i>imp.</i> Give: dou mande, give me. +<i>See</i> Deav.</p> +<p>Dou dass. Cup and saucer. <i>See</i> Dui das.</p> +<p>Dovo, <i>pro. dem.</i> That: dovó si, +that’s it.</p> +<p>Dovor. Those, they: wafodúder than dovor, worse +than they.</p> +<p>Dov-odoy / Dovoy-oduvva, <i>ad.</i> Yonder.</p> +<p>Dov-odoyskoenaes. In that manner.</p> +<p>Doovel, <i>s.</i> God. <i>See</i> Duvvel.</p> +<p>Drab / Drav, <i>s.</i> Medicine, poison. +<i>Pers</i>. [Persian which cannot be reproduced] Daru. +<i>Wal.</i> Otrav.</p> +<p>Drab-engro / Drav-engro, <i>s.</i> A pothecary, +poison-monger.</p> +<p>Drab, <i>v. a.</i> To poison. <i>Wal</i>. +Otribi.</p> +<p>Drey, <i>prep.</i> In.</p> +<p>Dubble, <i>s.</i> God: my dearie Dubbleskey, for my dear +God’s sake.</p> +<p>Dude, <i>s.</i> The moon.</p> +<p>Dudee, <i>s.</i> A light, a star. <i>Sans.</i> +Dyuti.</p> +<p>Dude-bar, <i>s.</i> Diamond, light-stone.</p> +<p>Drom, <i>s.</i> Road. <i>Wal.</i> Drom. +<i>Mod. Gr. δρόμος</i>.</p> +<p>Drom-luring, <i>s.</i> Highway robbery.</p> +<p>Dui, <i>a.</i> Two.</p> +<p>Duito, <i>s.</i> Second.</p> +<p>Duito divvus, <i>s.</i> Tuesday. Lit. Second +day.</p> +<p>Dui das / Dui tas, <i>s.</i> Cup and saucer.</p> +<p>Duke, <i>v. a.</i> To hurt, bewitch. <i>Sans.</i> +Duhkha (pain). <i>Heb.</i> Dui (languor, deadly +faintness).</p> +<p>Dukker, <i>v. a.</i> To bewitch, tell fortunes. +<i>Wal.</i> Deokiea (to fascinate, enchant).</p> +<p><a name="page30"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 30</span>Dukker +drey my vast. Tell my fortune by my hand.</p> +<p>Dukkering, <i>s.</i> Fortune-telling. <i>Wal.</i> +Deokiere (fascination). <i>Mod. Gr. +τύχη</i> (fortune).</p> +<p>Dukkipen, <i>s.</i> Fortune-telling.</p> +<p>Dukker, <i>v. n.</i> To ache: my sherro dukkers, my head +aches. <i>See</i> Duke, dukker.</p> +<p>Dum / Dumo, <i>s.</i> Black. <i>Pers.</i> [Persian +which cannot be reproduced] (tail).</p> +<p>Dur, <i>ad.</i> Far. <i>Sans.</i> Dur. +<i>Pers.</i> دور</p> +<p>Dur-dicki mengri, <i>s.</i> Telescope. Lit. +far-seeing-thing.</p> +<p>Durro, <i>ad.</i> Far.</p> +<p>Durro-der, <i>ad.</i> Farther.</p> +<p>Durriken, <i>s.</i> Fortune-telling.</p> +<p>Durril, <i>s.</i> Any kind of berry, a gooseberry in +particular.</p> +<p>Durrilau / Durilyor, <i>pl.</i> Berries.</p> +<p>Durrileskie guyi, <i>s.</i> Gooseberry pudding.</p> +<p>Dusta, <i>a. s.</i> Enough, plenty: dusta foky, plenty +of people. <i>See</i> Dosta.</p> +<p>Duvvel, <i>s.</i> God.</p> +<h3>E</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Eange</span>, <i>s.</i> Itch.</p> +<p>Ebyok, <i>s.</i> The sea. <i>Sans.</i> Aapa +(water). <i>Wal.</i> Ape.</p> +<p>Eft, <i>a.</i> Seven. Few of the English Gypsies +are acquainted with this word; consequently, the generality, when +they wish to express the number seven, without being understood +by the Gorgios or Gentiles, say Dui trins ta yeck, two threes and +one.</p> +<p>En. A kind of <i>genitive particle</i> used in compound +words, being placed between a noun and the particle +‘gro’ or ‘guero,’ which signifies a +possessor, or that which governs a thing or has to do with it: +<i>e.g.</i> lav-en-gro, a linguist or man of words, lit. +word-of-fellow; wesh-en-gro, a forester, or one who governs the +wood; <a name="page31"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +31</span>gurush-en-gre, things costing a groat, lit. +groat-of-things.</p> +<p>Engri. A <i>neuter affix</i>, composed of the particles +‘en’ and ‘gro,’ much used in the +formation of figurative terms for things for which there are no +positive names in English Gypsy: for example, yag-engri, a +fire-thing, which denotes a gun; poggra-mengri, a breaking-thing +or mill; ‘engri’ is changed into ‘mengri’ +when the preceding word terminates in a vowel.</p> +<p>Engro. A <i>masculine affix</i>, used in the formation +of figurative names; for example, kaun-engro, an ear-fellow, or +creature with ears, serving to denote a hare; ruk-engro, or +ruko-mengro, a tree-fellow, denoting a squirrel; it is also +occasionally used in names for inanimate objects, as pov-engro, +an earth-thing or potato. <i>See</i> Guero.</p> +<p>Escunyo, <i>s.</i> A wooden skewer, a pin. +<i>Span. Gyp.</i> Chingabar (a pin).</p> +<p>Escunyes, <i>pl.</i> Skewers.</p> +<p>Escunye-mengro, <i>s.</i> A maker of skewers.</p> +<p>Eskoe, <i>fem.</i> Eskie. A particle which affixed to a +noun turns it into an adjective: <i>e.g.</i> Duvel, God; +duveleskoe, divine. It seems to be derived from the +<i>Wal.</i> Esk, Easkie.</p> +<p>Eskey. An <i>affix</i> or <i>postposition</i>, +signifying, for the sake of: <i>e.g.</i> Mi-dubble-eskey, for +God’s sake.</p> +<p>Ever-komi, <i>ad.</i> Evermore.</p> +<h3>F</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Fake</span>, <i>v. a.</i> To work, +in a dishonest sense; to steal, pick pockets.</p> +<p>Fakement, <i>s.</i> A robbery, any kind of work: a +pretty fakement that, a pretty piece of work. A +scoundrel—you ratfelo fakement, you precious scoundrel; a +man of any kind—he’s no bad fakement after all; a +girl, <a name="page32"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 32</span>St. +Paul’s Cathedral—what a rinkeny fakement, what a +pretty girl, what a noble church.</p> +<p>Fashono, <i>a.</i> False, fashioned, made up. +<i>Wal.</i> Fatche (to make); fatze (face, surface).</p> +<p>Fashono wangustis. Pretended gold rings, made in reality +of brass or copper.</p> +<p>Fashono wangust engre. Makers of false rings.</p> +<p>Fenella. A female Gypsy name.</p> +<p>Ferreder, <i>a.</i> Better, more. <i>Gaelic</i>, +Feairde.</p> +<p>Fetér, <i>ad.</i> Better. <i>Pers.</i> +بهتر <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Fetér.</p> +<p>Figis, <i>s.</i> Fig.</p> +<p>Figis-rookh, <i>s.</i> Fig-tree.</p> +<p>Filisen, <i>s.</i> Country-seat.</p> +<p>Fino, <i>a.</i> Fine. This word is not pure Gypsy: +fino covar, a fine thing.</p> +<p>Floure, <i>s.</i> Flower; a female Gypsy name.</p> +<p>Fordel, <i>v. a.</i> Forgive; generally used for Artav, +or Artavello, <i>q.v.</i>, and composed of the English +‘for’ and the Gypsy ‘del.’</p> +<p>Fordias / Fordios, <i>part. pass.</i> Forgiven.</p> +<p>Foros, <i>s.</i> City. <i>See</i> Vauros.</p> +<p>Ful, <i>s.</i> Dung: ful-vardo, muck cart.</p> +<p>Fuzyanri, <i>s.</i> Fern. <i>Hun.</i> Füz +(willow), fácska (a shrub), füszár (a +stem).</p> +<h3>G</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Gad</span>, <i>s.</i> A shirt: pauno +gad, a clean shirt.</p> +<p>Gare, <i>v. n.</i>, <i>v. a.</i> To take care, beware; +to hide, conceal. <i>Sans.</i> Ghar, to cover.</p> +<p>Garridan. You hid: luvvu sor garridan, the money which +you hid.</p> +<p>Garrivava, <i>v. a.</i> I hide or shall hide, take care: +to gare his nangipen, to hide his nakedness.</p> +<p>Gav, <i>s.</i> A town, village. <i>Pers.</i> +[Persian which cannot be reproduced]</p> +<p>Gav-engro, <i>s.</i> A constable, village officer, +beadle, citizen.</p> +<p><a name="page33"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 33</span>Gillie, +<i>s.</i> A song. <i>Sans.</i> Khëli.</p> +<p>Gillies. Songs. Sometimes used to denote +newspapers; because these last serve, as songs did in the old +time, to give the world information of remarkable events, such as +battles, murders, and robberies.</p> +<p>Gilyava. I sing, or shall sing. <i>Hin.</i> +Guywuya. <i>Mod. Gr. +κοιλαδῶ</i>.</p> +<p>Gin, <i>v. a.</i> To count, reckon. <i>Sans.</i> +Gan. <i>Hin.</i> Ginna.</p> +<p>Ginnipen, <i>s.</i> A reckoning.</p> +<p>Giv, <i>s.</i> Wheat. <i>Sans.</i> Yava +(barley). <i>See</i> Jobis.</p> +<p>Giv-engro, <i>s.</i> Wheat-fellow, figurative name for +farmer.</p> +<p>Giv-engro ker, <i>s.</i> Farmhouse.</p> +<p>Giv-engro puv, <i>s.</i> Farm.</p> +<p>Godli, <i>s.</i> A warrant, perhaps hue and cry. +<i>See</i> Gudlie. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Gola (order).</p> +<p>Gono, <i>s.</i> A sack. <i>Hin.</i> Gon.</p> +<p>Gorgio, <i>s.</i> A Gentile, a person who is not a +Gypsy; one who lives in a house and not in a tent. It is a +modification of the Persian word [Persian which cannot be +reproduced] Cojia, which signifies a gentleman, a doctor, a +merchant, etc. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Gacho.</p> +<p>Gorgiken rat. Of Gentile blood.</p> +<p>Gorgie, <i>s.</i> A female Gentile or Englishwoman.</p> +<p>Gorgikonaes, <i>ad.</i> After the manner of the +Gentiles.</p> +<p>Gooee, <i>s.</i> Pudding. <i>See</i> Guyi.</p> +<p>Gran, <i>s.</i> A barn: I sov’d yeck rarde drey a +gran, I slept one night within a barn (Gypsy song).</p> +<p>Gran-wuddur, <i>s.</i> A barn door.</p> +<p>Gran-wuddur-chiriclo. Barn-door fowl.</p> +<p>Grasni / Grasnakkur, <i>s.</i> Mare, outrageous woman: +what a grasni shan tu, what a mare you are! Grasnakkur is +sometimes applied to the <i>mayor</i> of a town.</p> +<p>Grestur / Gristur, <i>s.</i> A horse. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Gras, graste.</p> +<p>Gry, <i>s.</i> A horse. <i>Sans.</i> Kharu. +<i>Hin.</i> Ghora. <i>Irish</i> and <i>Scottish Gaelic</i>, +Greadh.</p> +<p><a name="page34"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +34</span>Gry-choring, <i>s.</i> Horse-stealing.</p> +<p>Gry-engro, <i>s.</i> Horse-dealer.</p> +<p>Gry-nashing. Horse-racing.</p> +<p>Gudlee / Godli, <i>s.</i> Cry, noise, shout. +<i>Hin.</i> Ghooloo. <i>Irish</i>, Gúl. +<i>Rus.</i> Gyl=gool (shout); Gólos (voice).</p> +<p>Grommena / Grovena / Grubbena, <i>s.</i> and <i>v.</i> +Thunder, to thunder. <i>Sans.</i> Garjana. +<i>Rus.</i> Groin (thunder). <i>Heb.</i> Ream, +raemah. <i>Gaelic</i>, Gairm (a cry).</p> +<p>Gudlo, <i>a.</i>, <i>s.</i> Sweet; honey, sugar.</p> +<p>Gudlo-pishen, <i>s.</i> Honey-insect, bee. +<i>See</i> Bata.</p> +<p>Gué. An <i>affix</i>, by which the dative case is +formed: <i>e.g.</i> Man, I; mangué, to me.</p> +<p>Guero, <i>s.</i> A person, fellow, that which governs, +operates. <i>Sans.</i> Kãra (a maker). +<i>Pers.</i> [Persian which cannot be reproduced] +<i>Welsh</i>, Gwr (a man). In the Spanish cant language, +Guro signifies an alguazil, a kind of civil officer. +<i>See</i> Engro.</p> +<p>Gueri, <i>s.f.</i> Female person, virgin: Mideveleskey +gueri Mary, Holy Virgin Mary.</p> +<p>Gush / Gurush / Gurushi, <i>a.</i> Groat: gurushengri, a +groat’s worth.</p> +<p>Guveni, <i>s.</i> Cow. <i>Sans.</i> Go.</p> +<p>Guveni-bugnior, <i>s.</i> Cow-pox.</p> +<p>Guveno, <i>s.</i> A bull. <i>Sans.</i> +Gavaya. <i>Gaelic</i>, Gavuin, gowain (year-old calf).</p> +<p>Guyi, <i>s.</i> Pudding, black pudding. +<i>Hin.</i> Gulgul. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Golli.</p> +<p>Guyi-mengreskie tan, <i>s.</i> Yorkshire. Lit. +pudding-eaters’ country; in allusion to the puddings for +which Yorkshire is celebrated.</p> +<h3>H</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Ha</span> / Haw, <i>v. a.</i> To +eat.</p> +<p>Habben, <i>s.</i> Food, victuals.</p> +<p>Hal, <i>v. a.</i> To eat: mande can’t hal lis, I +can’t eat it. <i>Sans.</i> Gala.</p> +<p><a name="page35"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 35</span>Hanlo, +<i>s.</i> A landlord, innkeeper. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Anglanó.</p> +<p>Hatch, <i>v. a.</i> To burn, light a fire.</p> +<p>Hatchipen, <i>s.</i> A burning.</p> +<p>Hatch, <i>v. n.</i> To stay, stop. <i>See</i> +Adje, atch, az.</p> +<p>Hatchi-witchu, <i>s.</i> A hedgehog. This is a +compound word from the <i>Wal.</i> Aritche, a hedgehog, and the +Persian Besha, a wood, and signifies properly the prickly thing +of the wood. In Spanish Gypsy, one of the words for a pig +or hog is Eriche, evidently the Wallachian Aritche, a +hedgehog.</p> +<p>Hekta, <i>s.</i> Haste: kair hekta, make haste; likewise +a leap. <i>See</i> Hokta. <i>Sans.</i> Hat’ha +(to leap).</p> +<p>Heres / Heris, <i>s. pl.</i> Legs. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Jerias. Coshtni herri (a wooden leg).</p> +<p>Hetavava, <i>v. a.</i> To slay, beat, hit, carry off, +plunder: if I can lel bonnek of tute hetavava tute, if I can lay +hold of you I will slay you. <i>Heb.</i> Khataf +(rapuit). <i>Sans.</i> Hat’ha (to ill-use, +rapere).</p> +<p>Hev, <i>s.</i> Hole: pawnugo hev, a water hole, a well; +hev, a window; hevior, windows. <i>Sans.</i> Avata.</p> +<p>Heviskey, <i>a.</i> Full of holes: heviskey tan, a place +full of holes.</p> +<p>Hin, <i>s.</i> Dirt, ordure. <i>Mod. Gr. +χυτὸν</i>. <i>Wal.</i> +Gounoiou. <i>Irish</i>, Gaineamh (sand).</p> +<p>Hin, <i>v. a.</i> To void ordure. <i>Sans.</i> +Hanna. <i>Mod. Gr. χύνω</i>.</p> +<p>Hindity-mengré / Hindity-mescré, <i>s. +pl.</i> Irish. Dirty, sordid fellows.</p> +<p>Hoffeno, <i>s.</i> A liar.</p> +<p>Hok-hornie-mush, s. A policeman. Partly a cant +word.</p> +<p>Hokka, <i>v. n.</i> To lie, tell a falsehood: hokka tute +mande, if you tell me a falsehood.</p> +<p>Hokkano, <i>s.</i> A lie. <i>Sans.</i> +Kuhanã (hypocrisy).</p> +<p>Hokta, <i>v. a.</i> To leap, jump. <i>See</i> +Hekta.</p> +<p>Hokta-mengro, <i>s.</i> Leaper, jumper.</p> +<p>Hoofa, <i>s.</i> A cap.</p> +<p>Hor / Horo, <i>s.</i> A penny. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Corio an ochavo (or farthing).</p> +<p><a name="page36"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 36</span>Horry, +<i>s. pl.</i> Pence: shohorry, showhawry, sixpence.</p> +<p>Horsworth, <i>s.</i> Pennyworth.</p> +<p>Horkipen, <i>s.</i> Copper. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> +Harko.</p> +<p>Huffeno, <i>s.</i> A liar. <i>See</i> Hoffeno.</p> +<p>Hukni, <i>s.</i> Ringing the changes, the fraudulent +changing of one thing for another.</p> +<h3>I</h3> +<p>I, <i>pro.</i> She, it.</p> +<p>I. A <i>feminine</i> and <i>neuter termination</i>: +<i>e.g.</i> Yag engr<i>i</i>, a fire-thing or gun; coin +<i>si</i>, who is she? so <i>si</i>, what is it?</p> +<p>Inna / Inner, <i>prep.</i> In, within: inner Lundra, in +London. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Enré.</p> +<p>Iouzia, <i>s.</i> A flower.</p> +<p>Is, <i>conj.</i> If; it is affixed to the +verb—e.g. Dikiomis, if I had seen.</p> +<p>Iv, <i>s.</i> Snow. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Yiv. +<i>Span. Gyp.</i> Give.</p> +<p>Iv-engri / Ivi-mengri, <i>s.</i> Snow-thing, +snowball.</p> +<p>Iuziou, <i>a.</i> Clean. <i>Mod. Gr. +ὑγιὴς</i> (sound, healthy). +<i>See</i> Roujio.</p> +<h3>J</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Jal</span>. To go, walk, +journey. This verb is allied to various words in different +languages signifying movement, course or journey:—to the +Sanscrit Il, ila, to go; to the Russian Gulliat, to stroll, to +walk about; to the Turkish Iel, a journey; to the Jol of the +Norse, and the Yule of the Anglo-Saxons, terms applied to +Christmas-tide, but which properly mean the circular journey +which the sun has completed at that season: for what are Jol and +Yule but the Ygul of the Hebrews? who call the zodiac ‘Ygul +ha mazaluth,’ or the circle of the signs. It is, +moreover, related to the German Jahr and the English Year, +radically <a name="page37"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +37</span>the same words as Jol, Yule, and Ygul, and of the same +meaning—namely, the circle travelled by the sun through the +signs.</p> +<p>Já, <i>v. imp.</i> Go thou!</p> +<p>Jal amande. I shall go.</p> +<p>Jal te booty. Go to work.</p> +<p>Jalno / Java / Jaw, v.a. I go. <i>Sans.</i> +Chara.</p> +<p>Jas, jasa. Thou goest: tute is jasing, thou art +going.</p> +<p>Jal, 3<i>rd pers. pres.</i> He goes.</p> +<p>Jalla, <i>f.</i> She goes.</p> +<p>Jalno ando pawni, <i>v. a.</i> I swim. Lit. I go +in water.</p> +<p>Jaw, <i>ad.</i> So: jaw si, so it is. <i>See</i> +Ajaw, asá, ashá.</p> +<p>Jib, <i>s.</i> Tongue. <i>Sans.</i> Jihva.</p> +<p>Jib, <i>v. n.</i> To live, to exist. <i>Sans.</i> +Jiv. <i>Rus.</i> Jit. <i>Lithuanian</i>, Gywenu.</p> +<p>Jibben, <i>s.</i> Life, livelihood. <i>Sans.</i> +Jivata (life), Jivika (livelihood). <i>Rus.</i> Jivot, +Tchivot.</p> +<p>Jivvel, <i>v. n.</i> He lives: kai jivvel o, where does +he live?</p> +<p>Jin / Jinava, <i>v. n.</i> To know. <i>Sans.</i> +Jna.</p> +<p>Jinnepen, <i>s.</i> Wisdom, knowledge. +<i>Sans.</i> Jnapti (understanding).</p> +<p>Jinney-mengro, <i>s.</i> A knowing fellow, a deep card, +a Grecian, a wise man, a philosopher.</p> +<p>Jinney-mengreskey rokrapénes. Sayings of the +wise: the tatcho drom to be a jinney-mengro is to dick and rig in +zi, the true way to be a wise man is to see and bear in mind.</p> +<p>Jongar, <i>v. n.</i> To awake. <i>Sans.</i> +Jagri. <i>Hin.</i> Jugana.</p> +<p>Jôbis, <i>s.</i> Oats. <i>Sans.</i> Java +(barley). <i>Wal.</i> Obia. <i>See</i> Giv.</p> +<p>Joddakaye, <i>s.</i> Apron; anything tied round the +middle or hips. <i>Sans.</i> Kata (the hip, the loins), +Kataka (a girdle).</p> +<p>Ju, <i>s.</i> A louse. <i>Sans.</i> Yuka.</p> +<p><a name="page38"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 38</span>Juvalo, +<i>a.</i> Lousy.</p> +<p>Juvior, <i>s. pl.</i> Lice.</p> +<p>Juggal / Jukkal, <i>s.</i> Dog. <i>Sans.</i> +Srigãla (jackal).</p> +<p>Jukkalor. Dogs.</p> +<p>Jukkaelsti cosht, <i>s.</i> Dog-wood; a hard wood used +for making skewers.</p> +<p>Juva / Juvali, Woman, wife.</p> +<p>Juvli, <i>s.</i> Girl. <i>See</i> Chavali.</p> +<h3>K</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Kael</span>, <i>s.</i> Cheese.</p> +<p>Kaes, <i>s.</i> Cheese.</p> +<p>Kah / Kai, <i>ad.</i> Where: kai tiro ker, where’s +your house? kai si the churi, where is the knife? +<i>Sans.</i> Kva.</p> +<p>Kair, <i>v. a.</i> To do. <i>Sans.</i> Kri, to do; +kara (doing).</p> +<p>Kair misto. To make well, cure, comfort.</p> +<p>Kairipen, <i>s.</i> Work, labour. <i>Sans.</i> +Karman.</p> +<p>Kakkaratchi, <i>s.</i> Magpie; properly a raven. +<i>Mod. Gr. +κορακαζ</i>.</p> +<p>Kanau / Knau, <i>ad.</i> Now.</p> +<p>Karring. Crying out, hawking goods. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Acarar (to call). <i>See</i> Koring.</p> +<p>Kaulo, <i>a.</i> Black. <i>Sans.</i> +Kãla. <i>Arab.</i> [Arabic which cannot be +reproduced]</p> +<p>Kaulo chiriclo, <i>s.</i> A blackbird.</p> +<p>Kaulo cori, <i>s.</i> A blackthorn.</p> +<p>Kaulo durril, <i>s.</i> Blackberry.</p> +<p>Kaulo Gav, <i>s.</i> Black-town, Birmingham.</p> +<p>Kaulo guero, <i>s.</i> A black, negro.</p> +<p>Kaulo guereskey tem, <i>s.</i> Negroland, Africa.</p> +<p>Kaulo-mengro, <i>s.</i> A blacksmith.</p> +<p>Kaulo ratti. Black blood, Gypsy blood: kaulo ratti adrey +leste, he has Gypsy blood in his veins.</p> +<p>Kaun, <i>s.</i> An ear. <i>Sans.</i> Karna.</p> +<p><a name="page39"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +39</span>Kaun-engro, <i>s.</i> An ear-fellow, thing with +long ears; a figurative name for a hare.</p> +<p>Ke, <i>prep.</i> Unto. Likewise a +<i>postposition</i>—<i>e.g.</i> lenké, to them.</p> +<p>Keir / Ker, <i>s.</i> A house. <i>Sans.</i> +Griha.</p> +<p>Ker / Kerey / Ken, <i>ad.</i> Home, homeward: java keri, +I will go home.</p> +<p>Keir-poggring. House-breaking.</p> +<p>Keir-rakli, <i>s.</i> A housemaid.</p> +<p>Kek, <i>ad. a.</i> No, none, not: kek tatcho, it is not +true.</p> +<p>Kekkeno, <i>a.</i> None, not any: kekkeni pawni, no +water.</p> +<p>Kekkeno mushe’s poov, <i>s.</i> No man’s +land; a common.</p> +<p>Kekkauvi, <i>s.f.</i> Kettle. <i>Mod. Gr. +κακκάβη</i>.</p> +<p>Kekkauviskey saster, <i>s.</i> Kettle-iron; the hook by +which the kettle is suspended over the fire.</p> +<p>Kekko, <i>ad.</i> No, it is not, not it, not he.</p> +<p>Kekkomi. No more. <i>See</i> Komi, Ever-komi.</p> +<p>Kek-cushti. Of no use; no good. <i>See</i> +Koshto.</p> +<p>Kem, <i>s.</i> The sun. <i>See</i> Cam.</p> +<p>Ken. A <i>particle</i> affixed in English Gypsy to the +name of a place terminating in a vowel, in order to form a +genitive; <i>e.g.</i> Eli<i>ken</i> bori congri, the great church +of Ely. <i>See</i> En.</p> +<p>Ken, <i>s.</i> A house, properly a nest. +<i>Heb.</i> [Hebrew which cannot be reproduced] Kin.</p> +<p>Kenyor, <i>s. pl.</i> Ears. <i>See</i> Kaun.</p> +<p>Ker / Kerava <i>v. a.</i> To do; make: kair yag, +make a fire. <i>Sans.</i> Kri. <i>Pers.</i> [Persian +which cannot be reproduced] <i>Gaelic</i>, Ceaird (a +trade), ceard (a tinker). <i>Lat.</i> Cerdo (a +smith). English, Char, chare (to work by the day).</p> +<p>Kerdo. He did.</p> +<p>Kedast, 2<i>nd pers. pret.</i> Thou didst.</p> +<p>Kedo, <i>part. pass.</i> Done.</p> +<p>Kerri-mengro, <i>s.</i> Workman.</p> +<p>Kerrimus, s. Doing, deed: mi-Doovel’s kerrimus, +the Lord’s doing. <i>Sans.</i> Karman (work).</p> +<p><a name="page40"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 40</span>Kerrit, +<i>p. pass.</i> Cooked, boiled. Anglo-Indian word, +Curried. <i>Fr.</i> Cuire. <i>Gaelic</i>, Greidh (to +cook victuals).</p> +<p>Kettaney, <i>ad.</i> Together. <i>Wal.</i> Ketziba +(many). <i>See</i> Kisi.</p> +<p>Kidda, <i>v. a.</i> To pluck.</p> +<p>Kil, <i>v. a.</i> To dance, play. <i>Hin.</i> +Kelná. <i>Sans.</i> Kshvel.</p> +<p>Killi-mengro, <i>s.</i> A dancer, player.</p> +<p>Kil, <i>s.</i> Butter.</p> +<p>Kin, <i>v. a.</i> To buy: kinning and bikkning, buying +and selling. <i>Heb.</i> Kana (he bought).</p> +<p>Kin aley. To ransom, redeem, buy off.</p> +<p>Kinnipen, <i>s.</i> A purchase.</p> +<p>Kinnipen-divvus, <i>s.</i> Purchasing-day, Saturday.</p> +<p>Kindo, <i>a.</i> Wet.</p> +<p>Kipsi, <i>s.</i> Basket. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Quicia.</p> +<p>Kinyo. Tired. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Quiñao.</p> +<p>Kisaiya. A female Gypsy name.</p> +<p>Kisi, <i>ad.</i> How much, to what degree: kisi puro +shan tu, how old are you? <i>Wal.</i> Kitze. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Quichi. <i>Sans.</i> Kati (how many?)</p> +<p>Kisseh / Kissi, <i>s.</i> A purse. <i>Sans.</i> +Kosa. <i>Pers.</i> [Persian which cannot be reproduced]</p> +<p>Kistur, <i>v. a.</i> To ride. <i>Wal.</i> +Keleri.</p> +<p>Kistri-mengro / Kistro-mengro, <i>s.</i> Rider, +horseman.</p> +<p>Kitchema, <i>s.</i> Public-house, inn. <i>Hun.</i> +Korcsma. <i>Wal.</i> Keirtchumie.</p> +<p>Kitchema-mengro, <i>s.</i> Innkeeper.</p> +<p>Klism / Klisn, <i>s.</i> A key. <i>Rus.</i> +Cliotche. <i>Mod. Gr. +κλείσμα</i> (shutting +up).</p> +<p>Klism-engri, <i>s.</i> A lock. Lit. key-thing.</p> +<p>Klism-hev, <i>s.</i> A keyhole.</p> +<p>Klop, <i>s.</i> A gate, seemingly a cant word; perhaps a +bell. <i>Wal.</i> Klopot.</p> +<p>Kokkodus. Uncle: kokkodus Artáros, Uncle +Arthur.</p> +<p>Komi, <i>adv.</i> More: ever-komi, evermore.</p> +<p>Koosho, <i>a.</i> Good: kooshi gillie, a good +song. <i>Sans.</i> Kusala.</p> +<p><a name="page41"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 41</span>Kora / +Kore, <i>v. a.</i> To riot. <i>Wal.</i> Kiorei (to +cry out, bawl, make a tumult). <i>Heb.</i> Kara (he +convoked, cried out).</p> +<p>Koring, <i>part. pres.</i> Rioting. <i>Heb.</i> +Kirivah (proclamation).</p> +<p>Kora-mengro, <i>s.</i> A rioter.</p> +<p>Kore, <i>v. a.</i> To hawk goods about, to cry out, to +proclaim.</p> +<p>Koring lil, <i>s.</i> Hawking-licence.</p> +<p>Koring chiriclo, <i>s.</i> The cuckoo.</p> +<p>Koshto, <i>a.</i> Good. <i>Pers.</i> +خوب</p> +<p>Koshtipen, <i>s.</i> Goodness, advantage, profit: kek +koshtipen in dukkering knau, it is of no use to tell fortunes +now.</p> +<p>Kosko, <i>a.</i> Good.</p> +<p>Koskipen, <i>s.</i> Goodness.</p> +<p>Krallis, <i>s.</i> King. <i>Rus.</i> Korol. +<i>Hun.</i> Király. <i>Wal.</i> Kraiu.</p> +<p>Kushto, <i>a.</i> Good: kushto si for mangui, I am +content.</p> +<h3>L</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">La</span>, <i>pro. pers.</i> Her; +accusative of ‘i’ or ‘ yoi,’ she.</p> +<p>Laki, <i>pro. poss.</i> Her: laki die, her mother.</p> +<p>Lasa / Lasar, With her; instrumental case of +‘i.’</p> +<p>Later. From her; ablative of ‘i.’</p> +<p>Lati. Genitive of ‘i’; frequently used as +the accusative—e.g. cams tu lati, do you love her?</p> +<p>Lang / Lango, a. Lame. <i>Sans.</i> Lang. +<i>Pers.</i> [Persian which cannot be reproduced] Lenk.</p> +<p>Lashi / Lasho, Louis. <i>Hungarian</i>, Lajos, +Lazlo. Scotch, Lesley.</p> +<p>Latch, <i>v. a.</i> To find. <i>Wal.</i> +Aphla.</p> +<p>Lav, <i>s.</i> Word. <i>Sans</i>. Lapa (to +speak). <i>Eng.</i> Lip.</p> +<p>Lavior, <i>pl.</i> Words.</p> +<p>Lav-chingaripen, <i>s.</i> Dispute, word-war.</p> +<p>Lav-engro, <i>s.</i> Word-master, linguist.</p> +<p>Len, <i>pro. pers. pl.</i> To them: se len, there is to +them, the have.</p> +<p>Lendar, <i>ablative</i>. From them.</p> +<p><a name="page42"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 42</span>Lende / +Lunde, <i>gen. and acc.</i> Of them, them.</p> +<p>Lensar. With them.</p> +<p>Lengué, <i>pro. poss.</i> Their: lengue tan, +their tent.</p> +<p>Les, <i>pro. pers.</i> To him; dative of +‘yo,’ he: pawno stadj se les, he has a white hat.</p> +<p>Lescro, <i>pro. poss.</i> His, belonging to him: lescro +prala, his brother.</p> +<p>Leste. Of him, <i>likewise</i> him; genitive and +accusative of ‘yo.’</p> +<p>Lester. From him.</p> +<p>Leste’s. His: leste’s wast, his hand; +properly, lescro wast.</p> +<p>Lesti. Her <i>or</i> it: pukker zi te lesti, tell her +your mind; he can’t rokkra lesti, he can’t speak +it.</p> +<p>Leav / Ley, <i>v. a.</i> To take. <i>Wal.</i> +Loua.</p> +<p>Lel. He takes.</p> +<p>Lel cappi. Get booty, profit, capital.</p> +<p>Lennor, <i>s.</i> Summer, spring.</p> +<p>Levinor, <i>s.</i> Ale; drinks in which there is +wormwood. <i>Heb.</i> Laenah (wormwood). +<i>Irish</i>, Lion (ale).</p> +<p>Levinor-ker, <i>s.</i> Alehouse.</p> +<p>Levinor-engri. Hop. Lit. ale-thing.</p> +<p>Levinor-engriken tem. Kent. Lit. hop-country.</p> +<p>Li, <i>pron.</i> It: dovo se li, that’s it.</p> +<p>Lidan, <i>v. a.</i> You took; 2<i>nd pers. pret.</i> of +Ley.</p> +<p>Lil, <i>s.</i> Book; a letter or pass. <i>Hun.</i> +Level. <i>Sans.</i> Likh (to write). +<i>Hindustani</i>, Likhan (to write).</p> +<p>Lillai, <i>s.</i> Summer. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> +Nilei.</p> +<p>Linnow, <i>part. pass.</i> Taken, apprehended.</p> +<p>Lis, <i>pro. dat.</i> To it: adrey lis, in it.</p> +<p>Lollo / Lullo, <i>a.</i> Red. <i>Pers.</i> +[Persian which cannot be reproduced] Lal.</p> +<p>Lolle bengres, <i>s. pl.</i> Red waistcoats, Bow Street +runners.</p> +<p>Lollo matcho, <i>s.</i> Red herring. Lit. red +fish.</p> +<p>Lolli plaishta, <i>s.</i> A red cloak.</p> +<p>Lolli, <i>s.</i> A farthing.</p> +<p><a name="page43"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 43</span>Lon / +Lun, <i>s.</i> Salt. <i>Sans.</i> Lavana. +<i>Hin.</i> Lon.</p> +<p>Lou, <i>pro.</i> It: oprey-lou, upon it. +<i>Wal.</i> Lou.</p> +<p>Loure, <i>v. a.</i> To steal. <i>See</i> +Luripen.</p> +<p>Lubbeny, <i>s.</i> Harlot. <i>Rus.</i> +Liabodieitza (adultress), liobodeinoe (adulterous). +<i>Sans.</i> Lúbha (to inflame with lust, to +desire). The English word Love is derived from this +Sanscrit root.</p> +<p>Lubbenipen, <i>s.</i> Harlotry.</p> +<p>Lubbenified. Become a harlot.</p> +<p>Lundra. London. <i>Mod. Gr. +Λόνδρα</i>.</p> +<p>Luripen, <i>s.</i> Robbery, a booty. Lit. a +seizure. <i>Wal.</i> Luare (seizure, capture), Louarea +Parizouloui (the capture of Paris).</p> +<p>Lutherum, <i>s.</i> Sleep, repose, slumber.</p> +<p>Luvvo, <i>s.</i> Money, currency. <i>Rus.</i> +Lóvok (convenient, handy, quick, agile). In Spanish +Gypsy, a real (small coin) is called Quelati, a thing which +dances, from Quelar, to dance.</p> +<p>Luvvo-mengro, <i>s.</i> Money-changer, banker.</p> +<p>Luvvo-mengro-ker, <i>s.</i> Banker’s house, +bank.</p> +<h3>M</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Má</span>, <i>ad.</i> Not; +only used before the imperative: má muk, let not. +<i>Sans.</i> Mã. <i>Pers.</i> [Persian which cannot +be reproduced]</p> +<p>Maas, <i>s.</i> <i>Sans.</i> Mansa Mans. +<i>Rus.</i> Maso. <i>See</i> Mas.</p> +<p>Maas-engro / Maaso-mengro, <i>s.</i> Butcher.</p> +<p>Mailla, <i>s.</i> Ass, donkey. <i>Wal.</i> +Megaroul. <i>Sans.</i> Baluya.</p> +<p>Mailla and posh. Ass and foal.</p> +<p>Malleco, <i>a.</i> False.</p> +<p>Malúno / Maloney, <i>s.</i> Lightning. +<i>Rus.</i> Mólnïya.</p> +<p>Mam, <i>s.</i> Mother. <i>Wal.</i> Moume. +<i>Welsh</i>, Mam. <i>Irish and Scottish Gaelic</i>, Muime +(a nurse).</p> +<p><a name="page44"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 44</span>Man, +<i>pron. pers.</i> I; very seldom used. <i>Hin.</i> +Muen.</p> +<p>Mande, <i>pron. pers. oblique</i> of Man; generally used +instead of the nominative Man.</p> +<p>Mander. Ablative of Man, from me: jã mander, go +from me.</p> +<p>Mande’s. My. Mande’s wast, my hand; +used improperly for miro.</p> +<p>Mangue. Dative of Man, to me; sometimes used instead of +the nominative.</p> +<p>Mansa. With me.</p> +<p>Mang, <i>v. a.</i> To beg. <i>Hin.</i> +Mangna. <i>Sans.</i> Mãrg.</p> +<p>Mango-mengro, <i>s.</i> A beggar.</p> +<p>Mangipen, <i>s.</i> The trade of begging. +<i>Sans.</i> Mãrgana (begging).</p> +<p>Manricley, <i>s.</i> A cake. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Manricli.</p> +<p>Manush, <i>s.</i> Man. <i>Sans.</i> +Mãnasha. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Manus. <i>See</i> +Monish.</p> +<p>Manushi, <i>s.</i> Woman, wife. <i>Sans.</i> +Manushi.</p> +<p>Maricli, <i>s.</i> A cake. <i>See</i> +Maricley.</p> +<p>Mash, <i>s.</i> Umbrella. A cant word.</p> +<p>Matcho, <i>s.</i> A fish. <i>Sans.</i> +Matsya. <i>Hin.</i> Muchee.</p> +<p>Matcheneskoe Gav. Yarmouth. Lit. the fishy +town.</p> +<p>Matcheneskoe guero, <i>s.</i> A fisherman.</p> +<p>Matchka, <i>s.f.</i> A cat. <i>Hun.</i> +Macska.</p> +<p>Matchko, <i>s. m.</i> A he-cat.</p> +<p>Mattipen, <i>s.</i> Drunkenness. <i>Sans.</i> +Matta (to be intoxicated). <i>Mod. Gr. +Μέθη</i> (intoxication). <i>Welsh</i>, +Meddwy (to intoxicate).</p> +<p>Matto, <i>a.</i> Drunk, intoxicated. <i>Welsh</i>, +Meddw.</p> +<p>Matto-mengro, <i>s.</i> Drunkard.</p> +<p>Mea, <i>s.</i> Mile: dui mear, two miles. +<i>Wal.</i> Mie.</p> +<p>Mea-bar, <i>s.</i> Milestone.</p> +<p>Medisin, <i>s.</i> Measure, bushel. <i>Sans.</i> +Mãna.</p> +<p>Mek, <i>v. n.</i> Leave, let: meklis, leave off, hold +your tongue, have done. <i>Sans.</i> Moksh.</p> +<p>Men, <i>pr.</i> We; <i>pl.</i> of Man.</p> +<p><a name="page45"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 45</span>Men, +<i>s.</i> Neck. <i>Gaelic</i>, Muineal. +<i>Welsh</i>, Mwng. <i>Mandchou</i>, Meifen.</p> +<p>Men-pangushi, <i>s.</i> Neckcloth. <i>See</i> +Pangushi.</p> +<p>Mengro. A word much used in composition. +<i>See</i> Engro and Mescro.</p> +<p>Mensalli, <i>s.</i> A table. <i>Wal.</i> Masi.</p> +<p>Mer / Merava, <i>v. n.</i> To die. <i>Sans.</i> +Mri.</p> +<p>Merricley, <i>s.</i> A cake. <i>See</i> +Manricley.</p> +<p>Merripen, <i>s.</i> Death. <i>Sans.</i> Mara.</p> +<p>Merripen, <i>s.</i> Life, according to the Gypsies, +though one feels inclined to suppose that the real signification +of the word is Death; it may, however, be connected with the +Gaulic or Irish word Mairam, to endure, continue, live long: +Gura’ fada mhaireadh tu! may you long endure, long life to +you! In Spanish Gypsy Merinao signifies an immortal.</p> +<p>Mescro. A <i>particle</i> which, affixed to a verb, +forms a substantive masculine:—<i>e.g.</i> Camo, I love; +camo-mescro, a lover. Nash, to run; nashi-mescro, a +runner. It is equivalent to Mengro, <i>q.v.</i></p> +<p>Messalli, <i>s.</i> A table. <i>Wal.</i> Masi.</p> +<p>Mestipen, <i>s.</i> Life, livelihood, living, fortune, +luck, goodness. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Mestipen, bestipen. +<i>Wal.</i> Viatsie.</p> +<p>Mi, <i>pron.</i> I, my.</p> +<p>Mi cocoro, <i>pron. poss.</i> I myself, I alone.</p> +<p>Mi dearie Dubbeleskey. For my dear God’s sake.</p> +<p>Mi develeskie gueri, <i>s.f.</i> A holy female.</p> +<p>Mi develeskie gueri Mary. Holy Virgin Mary.</p> +<p>Mi develeskoe Baval Engro. Holy Ghost.</p> +<p>Mi dubbelungo, <i>a.</i> Divine.</p> +<p>Mi duvvelungo divvus, <i>s.</i> Christmas Day.</p> +<p>Millior, <i>s.</i> Miles; panj millior, five miles.</p> +<p>Minge / Mintch, <i>s.</i> Pudendum muliebre.</p> +<p>Miro, <i>pron. poss.</i> My, mine.</p> +<p><a name="page46"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 46</span>Miri, +<i>pron. poss. f.</i> My, mine.</p> +<p>Misto / Mistos, <i>ad.</i> Well.</p> +<p>Misto dusta. Very well.</p> +<p>Mistos amande. I am glad.</p> +<p>Mitch, <i>s.</i> <i>See</i> Minge.</p> +<p>Mizella. Female Gypsy name.</p> +<p>Mokkado, <i>a.</i> Unclean to eat. <i>Wal.</i> +Mourdar (dirty).</p> +<p>Monish, <i>s.</i> Man. <i>See</i> Manush.</p> +<p>Mol, <i>s.</i> Wine. <i>See</i> Mul.</p> +<p>Mollauvis, <i>s.</i> Pewter.</p> +<p>Moomli, <i>s.</i> Candle, taper. <i>See</i> +Mumli.</p> +<p>Moomli-mengro, <i>s.</i> Candlestick, lantern.</p> +<p>Moar, <i>v. a.</i> To grind. <i>See</i> Morro.</p> +<p>More / Morava, <i>v. a.</i> To kill, slay. +<i>Sans.</i> Mri. <i>Wal.</i> Omori.</p> +<p>Moreno, <i>part. pass.</i> Killed, slain.</p> +<p>More, <i>v. a.</i> To shave, shear. <i>Hun. +Gyp.</i> Murinow.</p> +<p>Mormusti, <i>s.f.</i> Midwife. <i>Wal.</i> +Maimoutsi. <i>Rus.</i> Mameichka (nurse).</p> +<p>Moro, <i>pron. poss.</i> Our: moro dad, our father.</p> +<p>Morro, <i>s.</i> Bread. Lit. that which is +ground. <i>See</i> Moar. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Manro. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Manro, also Gheum: sin gheum manro, +gheum is manro (bread). <i>Rus. Gyp.</i> Morroshka (a +loaf).</p> +<p>Morro-mengro, <i>s.</i> A baker.</p> +<p>Mort, <i>s.</i> Woman, concubine; a cant word.</p> +<p>Mosco / Moshko, A fly. <i>Lat.</i> Musca. +<i>Wal.</i> Mouskie. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Moscabis (fly-blown, +stung with love, picado, enamorado).</p> +<p>Moskey, <i>s.</i> A spy: to jal a moskeying, to go out +spying. <i>Fr.</i> Mouchard.</p> +<p>Mufta, <i>s.f.</i> Box, chest. <i>See</i> +Muktar.</p> +<p>Mui, <i>s.</i> Face, mouth: lollo leste mui, his face is +red. <i>Sans.</i> Mukha (face, mouth). <i>Fr.</i> Mot +(a word). <i>Provenzal</i>, Mo.</p> +<p>Muk, <i>v. n.</i> To leave, let. <i>See</i> +Mek.</p> +<p><a name="page47"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +47</span>Mukkalis becunye. Let it be.</p> +<p>Muktar / Mukto, <i>s.</i> Box, chest.</p> +<p>Mul, <i>s.</i> Wine. <i>Pers.</i> Mul.</p> +<p>Mul divvus. Christmas Day. Lit. wine day.</p> +<p>Mul-engris, <i>s. pl.</i> Grapes: mul-engri tan, +vineyard.</p> +<p>Mulleni muktar, <i>s.</i> Coffin. Lit. +dead-chest.</p> +<p>Mullodustie mukto. <i>Id.</i></p> +<p>Mulleno hev, <i>s.</i> Grave.</p> +<p>Mulleno kêr, <i>s.</i> Sepulchre, cemetery.</p> +<p>Mullo, <i>s.</i>, <i>a.</i> Dead man, dead.</p> +<p>Mullo mas, <i>s.</i> Dead meat; flesh of an animal not +slain, but which died alone.</p> +<p>Mumli, <i>s.f.</i> Candle.</p> +<p>Mumli-mescro, <i>s.</i> Chandler.</p> +<p>Munjee, <i>s.</i> A blow on the mouth, seemingly a cant +word. <i>Hin.</i> Munh, mouth. <i>Ger.</i> Mund.</p> +<p>Murces / Mursior, <i>s. pl.</i> Arms. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Murciales.</p> +<p>Muscro, <i>s.</i> Constable. <i>See</i> +Muskerro.</p> +<p>Mush, <i>s.</i> Man. <i>Rus.</i> Mouge. +<i>Finnish</i>, Mies. <i>Tibetian</i>, Mi. +<i>Lat.</i> Mas (a male).</p> +<p>Mushi, <i>s.</i> Woman.</p> +<p>Mushipen, <i>s.</i> A little man, a lad. +<i>Toulousian</i>, Massip (a young man), massipo (a young +woman).</p> +<p>Muskerro, <i>s.</i> Constable.</p> +<p>Muskerriskoe cost, <i>s.</i> Constable’s +staff.</p> +<p>Mutra, <i>s.</i> Urine.</p> +<p>Mutrava, <i>v. a.</i> To void urine. <i>Sans.</i> +Mutra.</p> +<p>Mutra-mengri, <i>s.</i> Tea.</p> +<p>Mutzi, <i>s.</i> Skin. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Morchas.</p> +<p>Mutzior, <i>s. pl.</i> Skins.</p> +<h3>N</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Na</span>, <i>ad.</i> Not.</p> +<p>Naflipen, <i>s.</i> Sickness. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Nasallipen. <i>Mod. Gr. +νόσευμα</i>.</p> +<p><a name="page48"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 48</span>Naflo, +<i>a.</i> Sick.</p> +<p>Nai. Properly Na hi, there is not: nai men chior, we +have no girls.</p> +<p>Naior, <i>s. pl.</i> Nails of the fingers or toes. +<i>Mod. Gr. νύχι</i>.</p> +<p>Nangipen, <i>s.</i> Nakedness.</p> +<p>Nango, <i>a.</i> Naked.</p> +<p>Narilla / Narrila, A female Gypsy name.</p> +<p>Nash, <i>v. a.</i> To run. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Najar.</p> +<p>Nashimescro, <i>s.</i> Runner, racer.</p> +<p>Nashimescro-tan, <i>s.</i> Race-course.</p> +<p>Nash, <i>v. a.</i> To lose, destroy, to hang. +<i>Sans.</i> Nasa. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Najabar (to +lose). <i>Sans.</i> Nakha (to destroy). <i>Eng.</i> +Nacker (a killer of old horses).</p> +<p>Nashado, <i>part. pret.</i> Lost, destroyed, hung.</p> +<p>Nashimescro, <i>s.</i> Hangman.</p> +<p>Nashko, <i>part. pass.</i> Hung: nashko pré rukh, +hung on a tree.</p> +<p>Nasho, <i>part. pass.</i> Hung.</p> +<p>Nástis, <i>a.</i> Impossible. <i>See</i> +Astis.</p> +<p>Nav, <i>s.</i> Name. <i>Hun.</i> Nev.</p> +<p>Naval, <i>s.</i> Thread. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Nafre.</p> +<p>Naes / Nes, <i>postpos.</i> According to, after the +manner of: gorgikonaes, after the manner of the Gentiles; +Romano-chalugo-naes, after the manner of the Gypsies.</p> +<p>Ne, <i>ad.</i> No, not: ne burroder, no more; ne riddo, +not dressed.</p> +<p>Nevo, <i>a.</i> New.</p> +<p>Nevi, <i>a. fem.</i> New: nevi tud from the guveni, new +milk from the cow.</p> +<p>Nevey Rukhies. The New Forest. Lit. new trees.</p> +<p>Nevi Wesh. The New Forest.</p> +<p>Nick, <i>v. a.</i> To take away, steal. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Nicabar.</p> +<p>Nick the cost. To steal sticks for skewers and +linen-pegs.</p> +<p>Nogo, <i>s.</i> Own, one’s own; nogo dad, +one’s own father; nogo tan, one’s own country.</p> +<p>Nok, <i>s.</i> Nose. <i>Hin.</i> Nakh.</p> +<p><a name="page49"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +49</span>Nok-engro, <i>s.</i> A glandered horse. Lit. +a nose-fellow.</p> +<p>Nokkipen, <i>s.</i> Snuff.</p> +<h3>O</h3> +<p>O, <i>art. def.</i> The.</p> +<p>O, <i>pron.</i> He.</p> +<p>Odoi, <i>ad.</i> There. <i>Hun.</i> Ott, oda.</p> +<p>Oduvvu, <i>pron. dem.</i> That. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Odoba.</p> +<p>Olevas / Olivas / Olivor, <i>s. pl.</i> Stockings. +<i>Span. Gyp.</i> Olibias. <i>Wal.</i> Chorapul.</p> +<p>Opral / Opré / Oprey, <i>prep.</i> Upon, +above. <i>Wal.</i> Pre, asoupra.</p> +<p>Or. A plural termination; for example, Shock, a cabbage, +<i>pl.</i> shock-or. It is perhaps derived from Ouri, the +plural termination of Wallachian neuter nouns ending in +‘e.’</p> +<p>Ora, <i>s.f.</i> A watch. <i>Hun.</i> Ora.</p> +<p>Ora, <i>s.</i> An hour: so si ora, what’s +o’clock?</p> +<p>Orlenda. Gypsy female name. <i>Rus.</i> Orlitza +(female eagle).</p> +<p>Os. A common termination of Gypsy nouns. It is +frequently appended by the Gypsies to English nouns in order to +disguise them.</p> +<p>Owli, <i>ad.</i> Yes. <i>See</i> Avali.</p> +<h3>P</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Pa</span>, <i>prep.</i> By: +pá mui, by mouth. <i>Rus.</i> Po.</p> +<p>Padlo, <i>ad.</i> Across: padlo pawnie, across the +water, transported.</p> +<p>Pahamengro, <i>s.</i> Turnip.</p> +<p>Pailloes, <i>s.</i> Filberts.</p> +<p>Pal, <i>s.</i> Brother.</p> +<p>Pal of the bor. Brother of the hedge, hedgehog.</p> +<p>Palal, <i>prep. ad.</i> Behind, after, back again: av +palal, come back, come again: palal the welgorus, after the +fair. <i>Mod. Gr. πάλιν</i> +(again). <i>Rus.</i> Opiat (<i>id.</i>).</p> +<p><a name="page50"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 50</span>Pali, +<i>ad.</i> Again, back.</p> +<p>Pand, <i>v. a.</i> To bind. <i>Sans.</i> +Bandh.</p> +<p>Pandipen, <i>s.</i> Pinfold, prison, pound.</p> +<p>Pandlo, <i>part. pass.</i> Bound, imprisoned, +pounded.</p> +<p>Pand opre, <i>v. a.</i> To bind up.</p> +<p>Pandlo-mengro, <i>s.</i> Tollgate, thing that’s +shut.</p> +<p>Pangushi, <i>s.f.</i> Handkerchief.</p> +<p>Pãni, <i>s.</i> Water. <i>See</i> +Pawni.</p> +<p>Panishey shock, <i>s.</i> Watercress. Lit. +water-cabbage. <i>See</i> Shok.</p> +<p>Panj, <i>a.</i> Five. <i>See</i> Pansch.</p> +<p>Pani-mengro, <i>s.</i> Sailor, waterman.</p> +<p>Panni-mengri, <i>s.</i> Garden.</p> +<p>Panno, <i>s.</i> Cloth. <i>Lat.</i> Pannus. +<i>Wal.</i> Penzie.</p> +<p>Pansch, <i>s.</i> Five. <i>Hin.</i> Panch.</p> +<p>Pappins / Pappior, <i>s. pl.</i> Ducks. <i>Mod. +Gr. πάρια</i>.</p> +<p>Paracrow, <i>v. a.</i> To thank: paracrow tute, I thank +you.</p> +<p>Parava / Parra, <i>v. a.</i> To change, exchange. +<i>See</i> Porra.</p> +<p>Parriken, <i>s.</i> Trust, credit. <i>Mod. Gr. +παρακαταθήκη</i> +(trusted goods).</p> +<p>Parno, <i>a.</i> White. <i>See</i> Pauno.</p> +<p>Pas, <i>s.</i> Half. <i>See</i> Posh.</p> +<p>Pasherro, <i>s.</i> Halfpenny; <i>pl.</i> +pasherie. <i>Pers.</i> [Persian which cannot be +reproduced] Pasheez (a farthing).</p> +<p>Pas-more, <i>v. a.</i> Half-kill.</p> +<p>Patch, <i>s.</i> Shame. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Pachi, +modesty, virginity. <i>Sans.</i> Putchã.</p> +<p>Patnies, <i>s. pl.</i> Ducks.</p> +<p>Patrin, <i>s.</i> A Gypsy trail; handfuls of leaves or +grass cast by the Gypsies on the road, to denote to those behind +the way which they have taken.</p> +<p>Pattin, <i>s.</i> A leaf. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Patia. <i>Sans.</i> Patra.</p> +<p>Pattinor. Leaves.</p> +<p>Paub / Paubi, <i>s.</i> An apple. <i>Hung. +Gyp.</i> Paboy.</p> +<p><a name="page51"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 51</span>Paub +tan, <i>s.</i> Orchard.</p> +<p>Pauno, <i>a.</i> White. <i>Sans.</i> Pandu. +<i>Gaelic</i>, Ban.</p> +<p>Pauno gad. Clean shirt.</p> +<p>Pauno sherro. Grey head, white head.</p> +<p>Pauno, <i>s.</i> Flour. Lit. what is white. +The Latin ‘panis’ seems to be connected with this +word.</p> +<p>Pauno-mengro, <i>s.</i> A miller, white fellow.</p> +<p>Pauno-mui, <i>s.</i> Pale face; generally applied to a +vain, foolish girl, who prefers the company of the pallid +Gentiles to that of the dark Romans.</p> +<p>Pauvi, <i>s.</i> An apple.</p> +<p>Pauvi-pãni, <i>s.</i> Cyder, apple-water.</p> +<p>Pawdel, <i>ad.</i> Across, over: pawdel puve and pawni, +across land and water; pawdel the chumba, over the hill.</p> +<p>Pawnee / Pawni, <i>s.</i> Water. <i>Sans.</i> +Pãniya. <i>Hin.</i> Panie. <i>Eng.</i> +Pond. <i>See</i> Pāni.</p> +<p>Pawnugo, <i>a.</i> Watery: pawnugo hev, water-hole, +well.</p> +<p>Pazorrhus, <i>part. pass.</i> Indebted. <i>See</i> +Pizarris.</p> +<p>Péava, <i>v. a.</i> To drink. <i>Sans.</i> +Pã.</p> +<p>Péa-mengri, <i>s.</i> Tea-pot. <i>Wal.</i> +Bea. Lit. drinking thing.</p> +<p>Peeapen, <i>s.</i> Health: ako’s your peeapen! +here’s your health!</p> +<p>Pea-mengro, <i>s.</i> Drunkard.</p> +<p>Pedloer, <i>s.</i> Nuts; <i>prop.</i> +Acorns. <i>Pers.</i> Peleed.</p> +<p>Peerdie, <i>s.</i> Female tramper.</p> +<p>Peerdo, <i>s.</i> Male tramper.</p> +<p>Pek’d / Pekt, <i>part. pass.</i> Roasted. +<i>Span. Gyp.</i> Peco. <i>Sans.</i> Pãka +(cooking). <i>Pers.</i> Pekhtan. <i>Rus.</i> Petsch +(oven).</p> +<p>Pele, <i>s. pl.</i> Testicles. <i>Sans.</i> +P’hala.</p> +<p>Pelengo gry / Pelengro gry, <i>s.</i> Stone-horse.</p> +<p>Pen, a <i>particle</i> affixed to an adjective or a verb when +some property or quality, affection or action is to be expressed, +the termination of the first word being occasionally slightly +modified: for example, Kosko, good, koskipen, goodness; Tatcho, +true, tatchipen, truth; Camo, I love, camipen, love; Chingar, to +fight, <a name="page52"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +52</span>chingaripen, war. It is of much the same service +in expressing what is abstract and ideal as Engro, Mescro, and +Engri are in expressing what is living and tangible. It is +sometimes used as a diminutive, <i>e.g.</i> Mushipen, a little +fellow.</p> +<p>Pen, <i>s.</i> Sister.</p> +<p>Pen / Penav, <i>v. a.</i> To say, speak. +<i>Wal.</i> Spoune.</p> +<p>Penchava, <i>v. n.</i> To think. <i>Pers.</i> +Pendashten. <i>Sans.</i> Vi-cit.</p> +<p>Penliois, <i>s.</i> Nuts. <i>See</i> Pedloer.</p> +<p>Per, <i>s.</i> Belly.</p> +<p>Per, <i>v. n.</i> To fall. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Petrar. <i>Sans.</i> Pat.</p> +<p>Per tuley. To fall down.</p> +<p>Perdo, <i>a.</i> Full. <i>Sans.</i> Purva, to +fill.</p> +<p>Pes / Pessa, <i>v. a.</i> To pay. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Plaserar. <i>Rus.</i> Platit. <i>Wal.</i> +Pleti. <i>Hun.</i> Fizetni.</p> +<p>Pes apopli. To repay.</p> +<p>Petul, <i>s.</i> A horse-shoe. <i>Mod. Gr. +πέταλον</i>. +<i>Wal.</i> Potkoavie. <i>Heb.</i> Bedel (tin).</p> +<p>Petul-engro, <i>s.</i> Horseshoe-maker, smith, tinker; +the name of a Gypsy tribe.</p> +<p>Pi, <i>v. a.</i> To drink. <i>Sans.</i> Piva +(drinking). <i>See</i> Peava.</p> +<p>Pias, <i>s.</i> Fun. <i>Mod. Gr. +παίζω</i> (to play).</p> +<p>Pikkis / Pikkaris, <i>s. pl.</i> Breasts. +<i>See</i> Birk, bark. <i>Wal.</i> Piept.</p> +<p>Pikko, <i>s.</i> Shoulder.</p> +<p>Pios, <i>part. pass.</i> Drunken. Only employed +when a health is drunk: <i>e.g.</i> aukko tu pios adrey Romanes, +your health is drunk in Romany.</p> +<p>Píre, <i>s. pl.</i> Feet.</p> +<p>Pirè, <i>s. pl.</i> Trampers.</p> +<p>Pire-gueros, <i>s. pl.</i> Travellers, trampers. +Lit. foot-fellows.</p> +<p>Pireni, <i>s.f.</i> Sweetheart.</p> +<p>Pireno, <i>s. m.</i> Sweetheart.</p> +<p>Piro, <i>v. a.</i> To walk: pirel, he walks.</p> +<p>Piro-mengro, <i>s.</i> Walker.</p> +<p><a name="page53"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 53</span>Pirry, +<i>s.</i> Pot, boiler. This is a west-country Gypsy +word. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Piri. <i>Sans.</i> Pithara, +pãtra.</p> +<p>Pishen, <i>s.</i> Flea, any kind of insect: guldo +pishen, honey-insect, bee, honey.</p> +<p>Pivli, <i>s.</i> A widow.</p> +<p>Pivlo, <i>s.</i> A widower.</p> +<p>Pivley-gueri, <i>s.</i> A widowed female.</p> +<p>Pivley-guero, <i>s.</i> A widowed fellow.</p> +<p>Pivley-raunie, <i>s.</i> A widow lady.</p> +<p>Piya-mengro, <i>s.</i> Drunkard. <i>See</i> +Pea-mengro.</p> +<p>Pizarris / Pizaurus, <i>part. pass.</i> Trusted, +credited, in debt. <i>Sans.</i> Vishvas (to trust). +<i>Wal.</i> Se bizoui (to trust, to credit). <i>Mod. Gr. +πιστευθίες</i> +(he who has been credited). <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Bisarar (to +owe), bisauras (debts), pista (an account).</p> +<p>Pizarri-mengro, <i>s.</i> A trusted person, a +debtor.</p> +<p>Plakta, <i>s.</i> Sheet: bero-rukiskie plakta, a +ship’s sail.</p> +<p>Plashta, <i>s.</i> Cloak: lolli plashta, red +cloak. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Plata. Plakta and plashta +are probably both derived from the Wallachian postat, a +sheet.</p> +<p>Plastra, <i>v. a.</i> To run.</p> +<p>Plastra lesti. Run it; run for your life.</p> +<p>Plastra-mengro, <i>s. a.</i> A Bow Street runner, a +pursuer. In Spanish Gypsy, Plastañi means a company +which pursues robbers.</p> +<p>Poggado, <i>part. pass.</i> Broken.</p> +<p>Poggado bavol-engro, <i>s.</i> Broken-winded horse.</p> +<p>Poggado habben, <i>s.</i> Broken victuals.</p> +<p>Poggra, <i>v. a.</i> To break. <i>Wal.</i> +Pokni.</p> +<p>Poggra-mengri, <i>s.</i> A mill. Lit. a breaking +thing.</p> +<p>Poknies, <i>s.</i> Justice of the peace. +<i>Rus.</i> Pokoio (to pacify).</p> +<p>Pokiniskoe ker, <i>s.</i> House of a justice of the +peace.</p> +<p>Pooshed / Poosheno, <i>part. pass.</i> Buried: mulo ta +poosheno, dead and buried.</p> +<p>Por, <i>s.</i> Feather. <i>Pers.</i> Par. +<i>Sans.</i> Parna.</p> +<p>Por-engro, <i>s.</i> Pen-master, penman, one able to +write.</p> +<p><a name="page54"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +54</span>Por-engri-pen, <i>s.</i> Penmanship, writing.</p> +<p>Porior, <i>s. pl.</i> Feathers.</p> +<p>Pordo, <i>a.</i> Heavy. <i>Wal.</i> Povarie (a +weight). <i>Lat.</i> Pondus.</p> +<p>Porra, <i>v. a.</i> To exchange.</p> +<p>Posh, <i>s.</i> Half.</p> +<p>Posherro / Poshoro, <i>s.</i> Halfpenny.</p> +<p>Possey-mengri, <i>s.</i> Pitchfork; improperly used for +any fork. The literal meaning is a straw-thing; a thing +used for the removal of straw. <i>See</i> Pus.</p> +<p>Potan, <i>s.</i> Tinder. <i>Wal.</i> Postabh +(sheet, cloth). <i>Sans.</i> Pata (cloth).</p> +<p>Poov / Pov, <i>s.</i> Earth, ground. <i>Sans.</i> +Bhu.</p> +<p>Poov, <i>v.</i> To poov a gry, to put a horse in a field +at night.</p> +<p>Pov-engro, <i>s.</i> An earth thing, potato.</p> +<p>Pov-engreskoe, <i>a.</i> Belonging to the potato.</p> +<p>Povengreskoe gav. Potato town—Norwich.</p> +<p>Povengreskoe tem. Potato country—Norfolk.</p> +<p>Povo-guero, <i>s.</i> Mole, earth-fellow.</p> +<p>Praio, <i>a.</i> Upper: praio tem, upper country, +heaven. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Tarpe (heaven). <i>See</i> +Opré.</p> +<p>Prala, <i>s.</i> Brother.</p> +<p>Pude, <i>v. a.</i> To blow.</p> +<p>Pude-mengri, <i>s.</i> Blowing thing, bellows.</p> +<p>Pudge, <i>s.</i> Bridge. <i>Wal.</i> Pod, +podoul. <i>Pers.</i> Pul. <i>Sans.</i> Pāli.</p> +<p>Pukker, <i>v. a.</i> To tell, declare, answer, say, +speak. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Pucanar (to proclaim). +<i>Hin.</i> Pukar, pukarnar.</p> +<p>Pur, <i>s.</i> Belly. <i>See</i> Per.</p> +<p>Pureno, <i>a.</i> Ancient, old: pureno foky, the old +people. <i>Sans.</i> Purvya (ancient).</p> +<p>Puro, <i>a.</i> Old. <i>Sans.</i> Purã.</p> +<p>Puro dad, <i>s.</i> Grandfather.</p> +<p>Purrum, <i>s.</i> Leek, onion. <i>Lat.</i> +Porrum.</p> +<p><a name="page55"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 55</span>Purrum +/ Purrun, <i>n. pr.</i> Lee, or Leek; the name of a +numerous Gypsy tribe in the neighbourhood of London. +<i>Wal.</i> Pur (onion). <i>Lat.</i> Porrum. +<i>Sans.</i> Purãna (ancient).</p> +<p>Pus, <i>s.</i> Straw. <i>Sans.</i> Busa, +chaff.</p> +<p>Putch, <i>v. a.</i> To ask. <i>Hin.</i> +Puchhna.</p> +<p>Putsi, <i>s.</i> Purse, pocket. <i>Sans.</i> +Putã, pocket. <i>Wal.</i> Pountsi. <i>Old +cant</i>, Boung.</p> +<p>Putsi-lil, <i>s.</i> Pocket-book.</p> +<p>Puvvo, <i>s.</i> Earth, ground. <i>See</i> +Poov.</p> +<p>Puvvesti churi, <i>s. a.</i> Plough.</p> +<h3>R</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Raia</span>, <i>s.</i> Gentleman, +lord. <i>See</i> Rye.</p> +<p>Rak, <i>v. n.</i> To beware, take care; rak tute, take +care of yourself. <i>Sans.</i> Raksh (to guard, +preserve).</p> +<p>Rakli, <i>s.f.</i> Girl.</p> +<p>Raklo, <i>s.</i> Boy, lad.</p> +<p>Ran, <i>s.</i> Rod: ranior, rods. <i>Sans.</i> +Ratha (cane, ratan).</p> +<p>Rarde, <i>s.</i> Night. <i>Sans.</i> +Rātri.</p> +<p>Rardiskey, <i>a.</i> Nightly.</p> +<p>Rardiskey kair poggring, <i>s.</i> Housebreaking by +night, burglary.</p> +<p>Rashengro, <i>s.</i> Clergyman.</p> +<p>Rashi, <i>s.</i> Clergyman, priest. <i>Sans.</i> +Rishi (holy person).</p> +<p>Rashieskey rokkring tan, <i>s.</i> Pulpit.</p> +<p>Ratcheta, <i>s.</i> A goose, duck. <i>See</i> +Retsa.</p> +<p>Ratti, <i>s.</i> Blood. <i>Sans.</i> Rudhira.</p> +<p>Ratniken chiriclo, <i>s.</i> Nightingale.</p> +<p>Rawnie, <i>s.</i> Lady.</p> +<p>Rawniskie dicking gueri, <i>s.</i> Lady-like looking +woman.</p> +<p>Rawniskie tatti naflipen, <i>s.</i> The lady’s +fever, maladie de France.</p> +<p>Retza, <i>s.</i> Duck. <i>Wal.</i> +Rierzoiou. <i>See</i> Rossar-mescro. <i>Hun.</i> +Récze.</p> +<p>Reyna. A female Gypsy name.</p> +<p>Riddo, <i>part. pass.</i> Dressed. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Vriardao.</p> +<p><a name="page56"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 56</span>Rig / +Riggur / Riggurava, <i>v. a.</i> To bear, carry, bring.</p> +<p>Rig in zi. To remember, bear in mind.</p> +<p>Rig to zi. To bring to mind.</p> +<p>Rinkeno, <i>a.</i> Handsome.</p> +<p>Rivipen, <i>s.</i> Dress. Lit. linen clothes, +women’s dress. <i>Wal.</i> Ruphe. <i>Mod. Gr. +ῥάπτης</i> (a tailor). In +Spanish Gypsy clothes are called Goneles, from the Wallachian +Khainele.</p> +<p>Rodra, <i>v. a.</i> To search, seek.</p> +<p>Roi, <i>s.</i> Spoon.</p> +<p>Rokra, <i>v. a.</i> To talk, speak. <i>Rus.</i> +Rek (he said). <i>Lat.</i> Loquor.</p> +<p>Rokrenchericlo, <i>s.</i> Parrot, magpie.</p> +<p>Rokrenguero, <i>s.</i> A lawyer, talker. +<i>Gaelic</i>, Racaire (a chatterer).</p> +<p>Rokrengueriskey gav. Talking fellows’ +town—Norwich.</p> +<p>Rokunyes, <i>s.</i> Trousers, breeches. <i>Hun. +Gyp.</i> Roklia (gown). <i>Mod. Gr. +ῤόχρν</i> (cloth).</p> +<p>Rom, <i>s.</i> A husband. <i>Sans.</i> Rama (a +husband), Rama (an incarnation of Vishnu), Rum (to sport, +fondle). <i>Lat.</i> Roma (City of Rama). +<i>Gaelic</i>, Rom (organ of manhood). <i>Eng.</i> Ram +(aries, male sheep). <i>Heb.</i> Ream (monoceros, +unicorn).</p> +<p>Rommado, <i>part. pass. s.</i> Married, husband.</p> +<p>Romm’d, <i>part. pass.</i> Married.</p> +<p>Romano Chal / Romany Chal, A Gypsy fellow, Gypsy lad. +<i>See</i> Chal.</p> +<p>Romani chi. Gypsy lass, female Gypsy.</p> +<p>Romanes / Romany, Gypsy language.</p> +<p>Romaneskoenaes. After the Gypsy fashion. +<i>Wal.</i> Roumainesk (Roumainean, Wallachian.)</p> +<p>Romano Rye / Romany Rye, Gypsy gentleman.</p> +<p><a name="page57"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +57</span>Romipen, <i>s.</i> Marriage.</p> +<p>Rook / Rukh, <i>s.</i> Tree. <i>Sans.</i> +Vriksha. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Rukh. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Erucal (an <i>olive-tree</i>).</p> +<p>Rookeskey cost. Branch of a tree.</p> +<p>Rooko-mengro, <i>s.</i> Squirrel. Lit. +tree-fellow.</p> +<p>Roshto, <i>a.</i> Angry. <i>Wal.</i> Resti (to be +angry).</p> +<p>Rossar-mescro, <i>s.</i> Gypsy name of the tribe Heron, +or Herne. Lit. duck-fellow.</p> +<p>Roujiou, <i>a.</i> Clean. <i>See</i> Iuziou.</p> +<p>Rove, <i>v. n.</i> To weep. <i>Sans.</i> Rud.</p> +<p>Rup, <i>s.</i> Silver. <i>Sans.</i> Raupya. +<i>Hin.</i> Rupee.</p> +<p>Rupenoe, <i>a.</i> Silver: rupenoe péa-mengri, +silver tea-pots.</p> +<p>Ruslipen, <i>s.</i> Strength.</p> +<p>Ruslo, <i>a.</i> Strong. <i>Mod. Gr. +ῥῶσω</i> (roborabo). <i>Rus.</i> +Rosluy (great, huge of stature). <i>Hun.</i> Erö +(strength), erös (strong).</p> +<p>Rye, <i>s.</i> A lord, gentleman. <i>Sans.</i> +Raj, Rayã.</p> +<p>Ryeskoe, <i>a.</i> Gentlemanly.</p> +<p>Ryeskoe dicking guero. Gentlemanly looking man.</p> +<p>Ryoriskey rokkaring keir, <i>s.</i> The House of +Commons. <i>Lit.</i> the gentlemen’s talking +house.</p> +<h3>S</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Sacki</span>. Name of a Gypsy +man.</p> +<p>Sainyor, <i>s.</i> Pins. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Chingabar (a pin).</p> +<p>Sal, <i>v. n.</i> To laugh; properly, he laughs. +<i>Span. Gyp.</i> Asaselarse. <i>Sans.</i> Has.</p> +<p>Salla. She laughs.</p> +<p>Salivaris, <i>s.f.</i> Bridle. <i>See</i> +Sollibari.</p> +<p>Sap / Sarp, <i>s.</i> Snake, serpent. <i>Wal.</i> +Sharpelé. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Chaplesca.</p> +<p>Sappors, <i>s. pl.</i> Snakes.</p> +<p>Sap drey chaw. A snake in the grass: sap drey bor, a +snake in the hedge.</p> +<p>Sapnis, <i>s.</i> Soap. <i>Mod. Gr. +σαποῦνι</i>. +<i>Wal.</i> Sipoun.</p> +<p><a name="page58"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 58</span>Sar, +<i>postpos.</i>, <i>prepos.</i> With: mensar, with us; sar +amande, with me.</p> +<p>Sar, <i>conjunct.</i> As.</p> +<p>Sar, <i>ad.</i> How.</p> +<p>Sar shin, How are you? Sar shin, meero rye? Sar +shin, meeri rawnie? How are you, sir? How are you, +madam?</p> +<p>Sas. If it were. <i>See</i> Is.</p> +<p>Sas, <i>s.</i> Nest. <i>See</i> Tass.</p> +<p>Sarla, <i>s.</i> Evening: koshti sarla, good +evening. <i>See</i> Tasarla. <i>Wal.</i> Seara. +<i>Mod. Gr. +σίδηρον</i>.</p> +<p>Saster, <i>s.</i> Iron.</p> +<p>Saster-mengri, <i>s.</i> A piece of iron worn above the +knee by the skewer-makers whilst engaged in whittling.</p> +<p>Saster-mengro, <i>s.</i> Ironmonger.</p> +<p>Sasters, sastris. Nails: chokkiskey sastris, +shoe-nails.</p> +<p>Sau, <i>adv.</i> How.</p> +<p>Sau kisi. How much?</p> +<p>Saulohaul / Sovlehaul, <i>v. a.</i> To swear.</p> +<p>Saulohaul bango. To swear falsely.</p> +<p>Sauloholomus, <i>s.</i> Oath. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Solája (a curse). <i>Arab.</i> [Arabic which cannot +be reproduced] Salat (prayer). <i>Lat.</i> Solemnis. +<i>Fr.</i> Serment. <i>Wal.</i> Jourirnint (oath).</p> +<p>Savo, <i>pron.</i> Who, that, which.</p> +<p>Saw, <i>v. n.</i> I laugh. Sawschan tu, you +laugh.</p> +<p>Scamp. Name of a small Gypsy tribe. <i>Sans.</i> +Kshump (to go).</p> +<p>Scourdilla, <i>s.f.</i> Platter. <i>Lat.</i> +Scutella.</p> +<p>Scunyes / Scunyor, <i>s. pl.</i> Pins, skewers. +<i>See</i> Escunyes.</p> +<p>Se, 3<i>rd pers. sing. pres.</i> Is, there is: kosko +guero se, he is a good fellow; se les, there is to him, he +has.</p> +<p>Shab, <i>v. a.</i> Cut away, run hard, escape. +<i>Hun.</i> Szabni. This word is chiefly used by the tobair +coves, or vagrants.</p> +<p>Shan. You are, they are. <i>See</i> Shin.</p> +<p><a name="page59"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 59</span>Shauvo, +<i>v.</i> To get with child. <i>See</i> Shuvvli.</p> +<p>Shehaury. Sixpence. <i>See</i> Shohaury.</p> +<p>Shello, <i>s.</i> Rope. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Jele.</p> +<p>Shello-hokta-mengro, <i>s.</i> Rope-dancer.</p> +<p>Sher-engro, <i>s.</i> A head-man, leader of a Gypsy +tribe.</p> +<p>Sher-engri, <i>s.</i> A halter.</p> +<p>Shero, <i>s.</i> A head. <i>Pers.</i> +سر</p> +<p>Sherro’s kairipen, <i>s.</i> Learning, +head-work.</p> +<p>Sheshu, <i>s.</i> Hare, rabbit. <i>See</i> +Shoshoi.</p> +<p>Sherrafo, <i>a.</i> Religious, converted. +<i>Arab.</i> Sherif.</p> +<p>Shilleno / Shilleró / Shillo, <i>a.</i> Cold: +shillo chik, cold ground.</p> +<p>Shillipen, <i>s.</i> Cold.</p> +<p>Shin. Thou art: sar shin, how art thou?</p> +<p>Sho, <i>s.</i> Thing.</p> +<p>Sho, <i>a.</i> Six.</p> +<p>Shohaury, <i>s.</i> Sixpence.</p> +<p>Shok, <i>s.</i> Cabbage: shockor, cabbages. +<i>Span. Gyp.</i> Chaja.</p> +<p>Shom, <i>v.</i> 1<i>st pers. pres.</i> I am. Used +in the pure Roman tongue to express necessity: <i>e.g.</i> shom +te jav, I must go. <i>Lat.</i> Sum. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> +Hom.</p> +<p>Shoob, <i>s.</i> Gown. <i>Rus.</i> Shoob. +<i>See</i> Shubbo.</p> +<p>Shoon, <i>v. n.</i> To hear. <i>Pers.</i> +Shiniden. <i>Sans.</i> Sru.</p> +<p>Shoonaben, <i>s.</i> Hearing, audience. To lel +shoonaben of the covar, to take hearing of the matter.</p> +<p>Shoshoi, <i>s.</i> A hare or rabbit, but generally used +by the Gypsies for the latter. <i>Sans.</i> Sasa (a hare or +rabbit). <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Shoshoi.</p> +<p>Shubbo, <i>s.</i> A gown. <i>Rus.</i> Shoob. +<i>Wal.</i> Djoube.</p> +<p>Shubley patnies, <i>s. pl.</i> Geese.</p> +<p>Shun. A female Gypsy name.</p> +<p>Shuvvali, <i>a.</i> Enceinte, with child.</p> +<p>Si, 3<i>rd pers. sing. pres.</i> It is, she is: +tatchipen si, it is truth; coin si rawnie, who is the lady? sossi +your nav, what is your name?</p> +<p><a name="page60"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +60</span>Sicovar, <i>ad.</i> Evermore, eternally. +<i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Sekovar.</p> +<p>Si covar ajaw. So it is.</p> +<p>Sig, <i>ad.</i> Quick, soon: cana sig, now soon. +<i>Span. Gyp.</i> Singó. <i>Hun.</i> Sietö.</p> +<p>Sig, <i>s.</i> Haste.</p> +<p>Sikkér, <i>v. a.</i> To show: sikker-mengri, a +show.</p> +<p>Simen, <i>s. a.</i> Equal, alike. <i>Sans.</i> +Samãna.</p> +<p>Simen. We are, it is we. <i>Wal.</i> Semeina (to +resemble).</p> +<p>Simmeno, <i>s.</i> Broth. <i>See</i> Zimmen.</p> +<p>Simmer, <i>v. a.</i> Pledge, pawn.</p> +<p>Simmery-mengré, <i>s. pl.</i> Pawnbrokers.</p> +<p>Sis. Thou art: misto sis riddo, thou art well +dressed.</p> +<p>Siva, <i>v. a.</i> To sew. <i>Sans.</i> Siv.</p> +<p>Siva-mengri, <i>s.</i> A needle, sewing-thing.</p> +<p>Siva-mengri, <i>s.</i> Sempstress.</p> +<p>Siva-mengro, <i>s.</i> Tailor.</p> +<p>Skammen, <i>s.</i> Chair. <i>Wal.</i> Skaun. +<i>Mod. Gr. σκαμνί</i>.</p> +<p>Skammen-engro, <i>s.</i> Chair-maker.</p> +<p>Skraunior, <i>s. pl.</i> Boots.</p> +<p>Slom / Slum, <i>v. a.</i> Follow, trace, track. +<i>Rus.</i> Sliedovat.</p> +<p>Smentini, <i>s.</i> Cream. <i>Wal.</i> +Zmentenie. <i>Rus.</i> Smetána.</p> +<p>So, <i>pron. rel.</i> Which, what: so se tute’s +kairing, what are you doing?</p> +<p>Sollibari, <i>s.</i> Bridle. <i>Mod. Gr. +συλληβάρι</i>.</p> +<p>Sonakey / Sonneco, <i>s.</i> Gold. <i>Sans.</i> +Svarna.</p> +<p>Sore / Soro, <i>a.</i> All, every. <i>Sans.</i> +Sarva.</p> +<p>Sorlo, <i>a.</i> Early. <i>Arab.</i> [Arabic which +cannot be reproduced] Sohr, Sahr (morning, day-break). +<i>Wal.</i> Zorile.</p> +<p>Soro-ruslo, <i>a.</i> Almighty. Dad soro-ruslo, +Father Almighty.</p> +<p>Se se? Who is it?</p> +<p>So si? What is it? So si ora, what’s +o’clock?</p> +<p>Soskey, <i>ad.</i> Wherefore, for what.</p> +<p>Sovaharri, <i>s.</i> Carpet, blanket.</p> +<p><a name="page61"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 61</span>Sove, +<i>v. n.</i> To sleep. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Sovella (he +sleeps). <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Sobelar (to sleep). +<i>Danish</i>, Sove (to sleep).</p> +<p>Sove tuley. To lie down.</p> +<p>Sovie, <i>s.</i> Needle. <i>See</i> Su.</p> +<p>Soving aley. Lying down to sleep.</p> +<p>Spikor, <i>s. pl.</i> Skewers. <i>Wal.</i> +Spik.</p> +<p>Spinyor, <i>s. pl.</i> Carrots.</p> +<p>Spinyor, <i>s. pl.</i> Pins. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Chingabar (a pin).</p> +<p>Stadj, <i>s.</i> Hat.</p> +<p>Stanya / Stanye, <i>s.</i> A stable. <i>Hun.</i> +Sanya. <i>Wal.</i> Staula, steiníe (sheepfold).</p> +<p>Stanya-mengro, <i>s.</i> Groom, stable-fellow.</p> +<p>Stardo, <i>part. pass.</i> Imprisoned.</p> +<p>Staripen, <i>s.</i> Prison.</p> +<p>Staro-mengro, <i>s.</i> Prisoner.</p> +<p>Stannyi / Staunyo, <i>s.</i> A deer.</p> +<p>Stiggur, <i>s.</i> Gate, turnpike. <i>Old +cant</i>, Giger (a door).</p> +<p>Stiggur-engro, <i>s.</i> Turnpike-keeper.</p> +<p>Stor, <i>a.</i> Four.</p> +<p>Storey, <i>s.</i> Prisoner.</p> +<p>Stuggur, <i>s.</i> A stack.</p> +<p>Su, <i>s.</i> Needle. <i>Hun.</i> Tü.</p> +<p>Subie / Subye, <i>s.</i> Needle: subye ta naval, needle +and thread.</p> +<p>Sueti, <i>s.</i> People. <i>Lithuanian</i>, +Swetas.</p> +<p>Sungella, <i>v.</i> It stinks.</p> +<p>Sutta / Suttur / Suta, <i>s.</i> Sleep. +<i>Sans.</i> Subta (asleep). <i>Hin.</i> Sutta +(sleeping). <i>Lat.</i> Sopitus.</p> +<p>Suttur-gillie, <i>s.</i> Sleep-song, lullaby.</p> +<p>Swegler / Swingle, <i>s.</i> Pipe.</p> +<p>Syeira. A female Gypsy name.</p> +<h3><a name="page62"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 62</span>T</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Tã</span>, <i>conj.</i> +And.</p> +<p>Talleno, <i>a.</i> Woollen: talleno chofa, woollen or +flannel petticoat.</p> +<p>Tan, <i>s.</i> Place, tent. <i>Hun.</i> Tanya.</p> +<p>Tard / Tardra, <i>v. a.</i> To raise, build, pull, draw: +the kair is tardrad opré, the house is built; tard the +chaw opré, pull up the grass. <i>Hin.</i> +Tornã (to pluck). <i>Wal.</i> Tratze. +<i>Gaelic</i>, Tarruinn.</p> +<p>Tardra-mengre. Hop-pickers.</p> +<p>Tas, <i>s.</i> Cup, nest of a bird. <i>See</i> Dui +tas, doo das.</p> +<p>Tasarla / Tasorlo, <i>s.</i> To-morrow. Lit. +to-early. <i>See</i> Sorlo.</p> +<p>Tasarla, <i>s.</i> The evening. This word must not +be confounded with the one which precedes it; the present is +derived from the Wallachian Seari (evening), whilst the other is +from the Arabic Sohr, Sahar (morning).</p> +<p>Tassa-mengri, <i>s.</i> A frying-pan. <i>See</i> +Tattra-mengri.</p> +<p>Tatchipen, <i>s.</i> Truth. <i>Sans.</i> +Satyata.</p> +<p>Tatcho, <i>a.</i> True. <i>Sans.</i> Sat.</p> +<p>Tatti-pãni / Tatti-pauni, <i>s.</i> Brandy. +Lit. hot water.</p> +<p>Tatti-pen, <i>s.</i> Heat.</p> +<p>Tatto, <i>a.</i> Hot, warm. <i>Sans.</i> +Tapta. Tap (to be hot). <i>Gaelic</i>, Teth.</p> +<p>Tatto yeck, <i>s.</i> A hot un, or hot one; a stinging +blow given in some very sensitive part.</p> +<p>Tattra-mengri, <i>s.</i> A frying-pan.</p> +<p>Tawno <i>m.</i> / Tawnie <i>f.</i>, <i>a.</i> Little, +small, tiny. <i>Sans.</i> Tarana (young). <i>Wal.</i> +Tienir (young). <i>Lat.</i> Tener. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Chinoro.</p> +<p>Tawnie yecks, <i>s. pl.</i> Little ones, +grandchildren.</p> +<p>Te, <i>prep.</i> To: te lesti, to her; this word is not +properly Gypsy.</p> +<p>Te, <i>conjunct.</i> That: te jinnen, that they may +know, an <a name="page63"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +63</span>optative word; O beng te poggar his men, may the devil +break his neck. <i>Wal.</i> Ci.</p> +<p>Tel, <i>v. a. imp.</i> Hold: tel te jib, hold your +tongue.</p> +<p>Tem, <i>s.</i> Country.</p> +<p>Temeskoe, <i>a.</i> Belonging to a country.</p> +<p>Temno, <i>a.</i> Dark. <i>Rus.</i> Temnoy. +<i>Sans.</i> Tama (darkness).</p> +<p>Ten, <i>s.</i> <i>See</i> Tan.</p> +<p>Tikno, <i>s.</i> A child. <i>Mod. Gr. +τέκνον</i>.</p> +<p>Tikno, <i>a.</i> Small, little. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Chinoro. <i>Lat.</i> Tener.</p> +<p>Tippoty, <i>a.</i> Malicious, spiteful: tippoty drey +mande, bearing malice against me.</p> +<p>Tiro, <i>pron.</i> Thine.</p> +<p>Tobbar, <i>s.</i> The <i>Road</i>; a Rapparee +word. Boro-tobbarkillipen (the Game of High +Toby—highway robbery). <i>Irish</i>, Tobar (a source, +fountain).</p> +<p>Tornapo. Name of a Gypsy man.</p> +<p>Tororo, <i>s.</i> A poor fellow, a beggar, a +tramp. <i>Sans.</i> Daridrã.</p> +<p>Tove, <i>v. a.</i> To wash: tovipen, washing. +<i>Sans.</i> Dhav.</p> +<p>Toving divvus, <i>s.</i> Washing day, Monday.</p> +<p>Traish, <i>v. a.</i> To frighten, terrify: it traishes +mande, it frightens me.</p> +<p>Trihool, <i>s.</i> Cross: Mi doveleskoe trihool, holy +cross. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Trijul. <i>Hin.</i> +Trisool.</p> +<p>Trin, <i>a.</i> Three.</p> +<p>Tringrosh / Tringurushee, Shilling. Lit. three +groats.</p> +<p>Tringurushengre, <i>s. pl.</i> Things costing a +shilling.</p> +<p>Tringush, <i>s.</i> Shilling.</p> +<p>Trito, <i>a.</i> Third. <i>Sans.</i> +Tritïya.</p> +<p>Trufféni. Female Gypsy name: Trufféni +Kaumlo, Jack Wardomescrés dieyas nav—Truffeni Lovel, +the name of John Cooper’s mother. <i>Mod. Gr. +Τρυφωνία</i>.</p> +<p>Truppior, <i>s. pl.</i> Stays.</p> +<p>Trupo, <i>s.</i> Body. <i>Wal.</i> Troup. +<i>Rus.</i> Trup</p> +<p>Trushni, <i>s.</i> Faggot.</p> +<p>Trusno, <i>a.</i> Thirsty, dry. <i>Sans.</i> +Trishnaj.</p> +<p><a name="page64"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 64</span>Tu, +<i>pron.</i> Thou: shoon tu, dieya! do thou hear, +mother!</p> +<p>Tud, <i>s.</i> Milk. <i>Sans.</i> Duh (to +milk).</p> +<p>Tudlo gueri. Milkmaid.</p> +<p>Tug, <i>a.</i> Sad, afflicted.</p> +<p>Tugnipen, <i>s.</i> Affliction.</p> +<p>Tugnis amande. Woe is me; I am sad.</p> +<p>Tugno, <i>a.</i> Sad, mournful.</p> +<p>Tulé / Tuley, <i>prep.</i> Below, under: tuley +the bor, under the hedge. <i>Slavonian</i>, +dóly.</p> +<p>Tulipen, <i>s.</i> Fat, grease.</p> +<p>Tulo, <i>a.</i> Fat.</p> +<p>Tute, <i>pron.</i> Accusative of Tu; generally used +instead of the nominative.</p> +<p>Tuv, <i>s.</i> Smoke, tobacco.</p> +<p>Tuvalo / Tuvvalo, <i>a.</i> Smoky. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Chibaló (a cigar).</p> +<h3>V</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Vangus</span>, <i>s.</i> +Finger. <i>Sans.</i> Angula.</p> +<p>Vangustri, <i>s.</i> Ring. <i>Sans.</i> Angulika, +anguri. <i>See</i> Wangustri.</p> +<p>Vaneshu, <i>s.</i> Nothing. From the Wallachian Ba +nitchi, not at all.</p> +<p>Var, <i>s.</i> Flour: var-engro, a miller. +<i>See</i> Waro.</p> +<p>Vardo, <i>s.</i> Cart. <i>See</i> Wardo.</p> +<p>Vassavo / Vassavy, <i>a.</i> Bad, evil.</p> +<p>Vast, <i>s.</i> Hand.</p> +<p>Vava. An <i>affix</i>, by which the future of a verb is +formed, as Heta-vava. It seems to be the Wallachian Wa-fi, +he shall or will be.</p> +<p>Vellin, <i>s.</i> A bottle.</p> +<p>Vauros, <i>s.</i> A city. <i>Hun.</i> +Város. <i>Sans.</i> Puri. <i>Hin.</i> +Poor. <i>Wal.</i> Orash.</p> +<p>Vénor / Vennor, Bowels, entrails. <i>See</i> +Wendror,</p> +<h3><a name="page65"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 65</span>W</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Wafo</span>, <i>a.</i> +Another. <i>Sans.</i> Apara.</p> +<p>Wafo divvus, <i>s.</i> Yesterday. Lit. the other +day.</p> +<p>Wafo tem. Another country, foreign land.</p> +<p>Wafo temeskoe mush, <i>s.</i> A foreigner, another +countryman.</p> +<p>Wafo tem-engre. Foreigners.</p> +<p>Wafodu / Wafudo, <i>a.</i> Bad, evil.</p> +<p>Wafodúder. Worse: wafodúder than dovor, +worse than they.</p> +<p>Wafodu-pen, <i>s.</i> Wickedness.</p> +<p>Wafodu guero, <i>s.</i> The Evil One, Satan.</p> +<p>Wafodu tan, <i>s.</i> Hell, bad place.</p> +<p>Wangar, <i>s.</i> Coals, charcoal. <i>Sans.</i> +Angara. <i>See</i> Wongar.</p> +<p>Wangustri, <i>s.</i> Ring.</p> +<p>Warda, <i>v.</i> To guard, take care: warda tu coccorus, +take care of yourself.</p> +<p>Wardo, <i>s.</i> Cart. <i>Sans.</i> Pattra.</p> +<p>Wardo-mescro, <i>s.</i> Carter, cartwright, cooper, name +of a Gypsy tribe.</p> +<p>Waro, <i>s.</i> Flour.</p> +<p>Waro-mescro, <i>s.</i> Miller.</p> +<p>Wast, <i>s.</i> Hand. <i>See</i> Vast. +Wastrors, hands. <i>Gaelic</i>, Bas (the palm of the +hand).</p> +<p>Weggaulus / Welgorus / Welgaulus, <i>s.</i> A +fair. <i>Wal.</i> Bieltchiou.</p> +<p>Wel, <i>v. a.</i> He comes; from Ava. Sometimes +used imperatively; <i>e.g.</i> Wel adrey, come in.</p> +<p>Welling páli. Coming back, returning from +transportation.</p> +<p>Wen, <i>s.</i> Winter.</p> +<p>Wendror, <i>s. pl.</i> Bowels, inside. <i>Wal.</i> +Pentetche. <i>Lat.</i> Venter.</p> +<p>Wentzelow. Name of a Gypsy man.</p> +<p>Werriga, <i>s.</i> Chain. <i>Rus.</i> +Veriga. <i>Wal.</i> Verigie (bolt).</p> +<p>Wesh, <i>s.</i> Forest, wood. <i>Pers.</i> +[Persian which cannot be reproduced]</p> +<p><a name="page66"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +66</span>Wesh-engro, <i>s.</i> Woodman, gamekeeper.</p> +<p>Weshen-juggal, <i>s.</i> Fox. Lit. dog of the +wood.</p> +<p>Woddrus / Wuddrus, <i>s.</i> Bed. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> +Patos. <i>Wal.</i> Pat. The Spanish Gypsies retain +the pure Indian word Charipé.</p> +<p>Wongar, <i>s.</i> Coal. Also a term for money; +probably because Coal in the cant language signifies money. +<i>See</i> Wangar.</p> +<p>Wongar-camming mush, <i>s.</i> A miser. Lit. one +who loves coal.</p> +<p>Wuddur, <i>s.</i> Door. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Burda. <i>Wal.</i> Poartie.</p> +<p>Wuddur-mescro, <i>s.</i> Doorkeeper.</p> +<p>Wust, <i>v. a.</i> To cast, throw.</p> +<p>Wusto-mengro, <i>s.</i> Wrestler, hurler.</p> +<h3>Y</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Yack</span>, <i>s.</i> Eye. +<i>Sans.</i> Akshi. <i>Germ.</i> Auge. <i>Rus.</i> +Oko. <i>Lithuanian</i>, Akis. <i>Lat.</i> Oculus.</p> +<p>Yackor. Eyes.</p> +<p>Yag, <i>s.</i> Fire. <i>Sans.</i> Agni. +<i>Rus.</i> Ogon. <i>Lithuanian</i>, Ugnis. +<i>Lat.</i> Ignis. <i>Irish</i>, An (water, fire).</p> +<p>Yag-engri, <i>s.</i> Gun, fire-thing.</p> +<p>Yag-engro / Yago-mengro, <i>s.</i> Gamekeeper, +sportsman, fireman.</p> +<p>Yag-kairepénes, <i>s.</i> Fireworks.</p> +<p>Yag-vardo, <i>s.</i> Fire-car, railroad carriage.</p> +<p>Yarb, <i>s.</i> Herb.</p> +<p>Yarb-tan, <i>s.</i> Garden.</p> +<p>Yeck, <i>a.</i> One. <i>Sans.</i> Eka. +<i>Hin.</i> Yak.</p> +<p>Yeckoro, <i>a.</i> Only: yeckoro chavo, only son.</p> +<p>Yeckorus, <i>ad.</i> Once.</p> +<p>Yo, <i>pron.</i> He.</p> +<p>Yoi, <i>pron.</i> She. Sometimes used for La or +Las, her; <i>e.g.</i> Mande putch’d yoi, I asked +<i>she</i>, her.</p> +<p>Yokki, <i>a.</i> Clever, expert: a yokki juva, a yokki +woman—a female expert at filching, ringing the changes, +telling <a name="page67"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +67</span>fortunes, and other Gypsy arts. <i>Sans.</i> Yoga +(artifice, plan), Yuj (to combine, put together, plan).</p> +<p>Yora, <i>s.</i> Hour. <i>See</i> Ora.</p> +<p>Yoro, <i>s.</i> An egg. <i>Wal.</i> Ou.</p> +<h3>Z</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Zi</span>, <i>s.</i> The heart, +mind. <i>Hun.</i> Sziv. <i>Sans.</i> Dhi.</p> +<p>Zimmen, <i>s.</i> Broth. <i>Wal.</i> Zmenteni +(cream).</p> +<p>Zoomi, <i>s. f.</i> Broth, soup. <i>Mod. Gr. +ζουμὶ</i>. <i>Wal.</i> Zamie +(juice).</p> +<p>Zingaro. A Gypsy, a person of mixed blood, one who +springs from various races, a made-up person. <i>Sans.</i> +Sangkara, compositus (made-up).</p> +<h2><a name="page71"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 71</span>RHYMED +LIST OF GYPSY VERBS</h2> +<p class="poetry">To dick and jin,<br /> +To bikn and kin;<br /> +To pee and hal,<br /> +And av and jal;<br /> +To kair and poggra,<br /> +Shoon and rokra;<br /> +To caur and chore,<br /> +Heta and cour,<br /> +Moar and more,<br /> +To drab and dook,<br /> +And nash on rook;<br /> +To pek and tove,<br /> +And sove and rove,<br /> +And nash on poove;<br /> +To tardra oprey,<br /> +And chiv aley;<br /> +To pes and gin,<br /> +To mang and chin,<br /> +To pootch and pukker,<br /> +Hok and dukker;<br /> +To besh and kel,<br /> +To del and lel,<br /> +And jib to tel;<br /> +Bitch, atch, and hatch,<br /> +Roddra and latch;<br /> +<a name="page72"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 72</span>To gool +and saul,<br /> +And sollohaul;<br /> +To pand and wustra,<br /> +Hokta and plastra,<br /> +Busna and kistur,<br /> +Maila and grista;<br /> +To an and riggur;<br /> +To pen and sikker,<br /> +Porra and simmer,<br /> +Chungra and chingra,<br /> +Pude and grommena,<br /> +Grovena, gruvena;<br /> +To dand and choom,<br /> +Chauva and rom,<br /> +Rok and gare,<br /> +Jib and mer<br /> +With camova,<br /> +And paracrova,<br /> +Apasavello<br /> +And mekello,<br /> +And kitsi wasror,<br /> +Sore are lavior,<br /> +For kairing chomany,<br /> +In jib of Romany.</p> +<h2><a name="page73"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 73</span>BETIE +ROKRAPENES<br /> +<span class="GutSmall">LITTLE SAYINGS</span></h2> +<blockquote><p><a name="page75"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +75</span>If foky kek jins bute,<br /> +Mà sal at lende;<br /> +For sore mush jins chomany<br /> +That tute kek jins.</p> +<p>Whatever ignorance men may show,<br /> +From none disdainful turn;<br /> +For every one doth something know<br /> +Which you have yet to learn.</p> +</blockquote> +<h3><a name="page76"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 76</span>BETIE +ROKRAPENES</h3> +<p>So must I ker, daiya, to ker tute mistos?</p> +<p>It is my Dovvel’s kerrimus, and we can’t help +asarlus.</p> +<p>Mi Dovvel opral, dick tuley opré mande.</p> +<p>If I could lel bonnek tute, het-avava tute.</p> +<p>Misto kedast tute.</p> +<p>Dovey si fino covar, ratfelo jukkal, sas miro.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>The plastra-mengro sollohaul’d bango.</p> +<p>Me camava jaw drey the Nevi Wesh to dick the purey +Bare-mescrey.</p> +<p>You jin feter dovey oduvu.</p> +<p>Will you pes for a coro levinor?</p> +<p>Mā pi kekomi.</p> +<p>Mā rokra kekomi.</p> +<p>Bori shil se mande.</p> +<p>Tatto tu coccori, pen.</p> +<p>Kekkeno pawni dov odoi.</p> +<p>Sore simensar si men.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>Tatto ratti se len.</p> +<p>Wafudu lavior you do pen, miry deary Dovvel.</p> +<p>Kair pias to kair the gorgies sal.</p> +<p>Nai men chior.</p> +<p><a name="page78"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 78</span>So se +drey lis?</p> +<p>Misto sis riddo.</p> +<p>Muk man av abri.</p> +<p>Ma kair jaw.</p> +<p>Si covar ajaw.</p> +<p>An men posseymengri.</p> +<p>Colliko sorlo me deavlis.</p> +<p>Pukker zi te lesti.</p> +<p>Soving lasa.</p> +<p>Tatto si can.</p> +<p>Mande kinyo, nastis jalno durroder.</p> +<p>Mã muk de gorgey jinnen sore lidan dovvu luvvu so +garridan.</p> +<p>Dui trins ta yeck ta pas.</p> +<p>Pes apopli.</p> +<p>Chiv’d his vast adrey tiro putsi.</p> +<p>Penchavo chavo savo shan tu.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p><a name="page80"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +80</span>I’d sooner shoon his rokrapen than shoon Lally gil +a gillie.</p> +<p>Kekkeno jinava mande ne burreder denne chavo.</p> +<p>Aukko tu pios adrey Romanes.</p> +<h4><a name="page77"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 77</span>LITTLE +SAYINGS</h4> +<p>What must I do, mother, to make you well?</p> +<p>It is my God’s doing, and we can’t help at +all.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>My God above, look down upon me!</p> +<p>If I could get hold of you, I would slay you.</p> +<p>Thou hast done well.</p> +<p>That is a fine thing, you bloody dog, if it were mine.</p> +<p>The Bow-street runner swore falsely.</p> +<p>I will go into the New Forest to see the old Stanleys.</p> +<p>You know better than that.</p> +<p>Will you pay for a pot of ale?</p> +<p>Don’t drink any more.</p> +<p>Do not speak any more.</p> +<p>I have a great cold.</p> +<p>Warm thyself, sister.</p> +<p>There is no water there.</p> +<p>We are all relations: all who are with us are ourselves.</p> +<p>They have hot blood.</p> +<p>Evil words you do speak, O my dear God.</p> +<p>Make fun, to make the Gentiles laugh.</p> +<p>I have no girls.</p> +<p><a name="page79"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 79</span>What is +in it?</p> +<p>Thou art well dressed.</p> +<p>Let me come out.</p> +<p>Don’t do so.</p> +<p>The thing is so: so it is.</p> +<p>Bring me a fork.</p> +<p>To-morrow morning I will give it.</p> +<p>Tell her your mind.</p> +<p>Sleeping with her.</p> +<p>The sun is hot.</p> +<p>I am tired, I can go no farther.</p> +<p>Don’t let the Gentiles know all the money you took which +you hid.</p> +<p>Seven pound ten.</p> +<p>Pay again.</p> +<p>Put his hand into your pocket.</p> +<p>The boy is thinking who you are.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p><a name="page81"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 81</span>I would +rather hear him speak than hear Lally sing.</p> +<p>I know no more than a child.</p> +<p>Here’s your health in Romany!</p> +<h2><a name="page83"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +83</span>COTORRES OF MI-DIBBLE’S LIL CHIV’D ADREY +ROMANES<br /> +<span class="GutSmall">PIECES OF SCRIPTURE CAST INTO +ROMANY</span></h2> +<h3><a name="page85"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 85</span>THE +FIRST DAY<br /> +<span class="GutSmall">Genesis i. 1, 2, 3, 4</span></h3> +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Drey</span> the sherripen +Midibble kair’d the temoprey tá the puv;<br /> +Tá the puv was chungalo, tá chichi was adrey +lis;<br /> +Tá temnopen was oprey the mui of the boro put.<br /> +Tá Midibble’s bavol-engri besh’d oprey the +pánior;<br /> +Tá Midibble penn’d: Mook there be dute! tá +there was dute.<br /> +Tá Midibble dick’d that the doot was +koosho-koshko.<br /> +Tá Midibble chinn’d enrey the dute tá the +temnopen;<br /> +Tá Midibble kor’d the dute divvus, tá the +temnopen kor’d yo rarde;<br /> +Tá the sarla, tá the sorlo were yeckto divvus.</p> +</blockquote> +<h3><a name="page86"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 86</span>THE +FIFTH DAY<br /> +<span class="GutSmall">Genesis i. 20, 21, 22, 23</span></h3> +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Then</span> Midibble +penn’d; Mook sore the panior<br /> +Chinn tairie jibbing engris bute dosta,<br /> +Tá prey puv be bute dosta chiricles<br /> +To vol adrey the rek of the tarpe.</p> +<p>Then Midibble kair’d the borie baulo-matches,<br /> +Tá sore covar that has jibbing zi adreylis,<br /> +The bute, bute tairie covars drey the panior<br /> +Sore yeck drey its genos kair’d Midibble,</p> +<p>The chiricles that vol adrey the tarpe<br /> +Sore yeck drey its genos kair’d he lende:<br /> +Then Midibble dick’d that sore was koosho-koshko,<br /> +And he chiv’d his koshto rokrapen opreylen:</p> +<p>Penn’d Midibble: Dey ye frute ever-komi,<br /> +Ever-komi be burreder your nummer,<br /> +Per with covars the panior tá durior,<br /> +Tá prey puv be burreder the chiricles!</p> +<p>Then was sarla tá sorlo panschto divvus.</p> +</blockquote> +<h3><a name="page87"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 87</span>THE +CREATION OF MAN<br /> +<span class="GutSmall">Genesis i. 27, 28</span></h3> +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Then</span> Mi-dibble +kair’d Manoo drey his dikkipen,<br /> +Drey Mi-dibble’s dikkipen kair’d he leste;<br /> +Mush and mushi kair’d Dibble lende<br /> +And he chiv’d his koshto rokrapen opreylen:</p> +<p>Penn’d Mi-dibble: Dey ye frute ever-komi,<br /> +Ever-komi be burreder your nummer;<br /> +Per with chauves and chiyor the puvo<br /> +And oprey sore the puvo be krallior,</p> +<p>Oprey the dooiya and its matches,<br /> +And oprey the chiricles of the tarpé,<br /> +And oprey soro covar that’s jibbing<br /> +And peers prey the mui of the puvo.</p> +</blockquote> +<h3><a name="page88"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 88</span>THE +LORD’S PRAYER</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Meery</span> dearie Dad, sauvo jivves drey +the tem oprey, be sharrafo teero nav, te awel teero tem, be kedo +sore so caumes oprey ye poov, sar kairdios drey the tem +oprey. Dey man to divvus meery divvuskey morro; tá +for-dey mande mande’s pizzaripenes, sar mande fordeava +wafor mushes lende’s pizzaripenes; mã mook te petrav +drey kek tentacionos, but lel mande abri from sore wafodupen; for +teero se o tem, Mi-dibble, teero o ruslopen, tá yi corauni +knaw tá ever-komi. Si covar ajaw.</p> +<h3><a name="page89"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 89</span>THE +APOSTLES’ CREED</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Apasavello</span> drey Mi-dovel; Dad +sore-ruslo savo kerdo o praio tem, tá cav acoi tulēy: +tá drey lescro yekkero Chauvo Jesus Christus moro erray, +beano of wendror of Mi-develeskey Geiry Mary; was curredo by the +wast of Poknish Pontius Pilatos; was nash’d oprey ye +Trihool; was mored, and chived adrey ye puve; jall’d +tulēy ye temno drom ke wafudo tan, bengeskoe starriben; +tá prey ye trito divvus jall’d yo oprey ke koshto +tan, Mi-dovels ker; beshel yo knaw odoy prey Mi-dovels tatcho +wast, Dad sore-ruslo; cad odoy avellava to lel shoonapen oprey +jibben and merripen; Apasavello drey Mi-dibbleskey Ducos; drey +the Bori Mi-develesky Bollisky Congri; that sore tatcho fokey +shall jib in mestepen kettaney; that Mi-dibble will fordel sore +wafudopenes; that soror mulor will jongor, and there will be kek +merripen asarlus. Si covar ajaw. Avali.</p> +<h2><a name="page91"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 91</span>THE +LORD’S PRAYER IN THE GYPSY DIALECT OF TRANSYLVANIA</h2> +<p><a name="page92"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 92</span><span +class="smcap">Miro</span> gulo Devel, savo hal oté ando +Cheros, te avel swuntunos tiro nav; te avel catari tiro tem; te +keren saro so cames oppo puv, sar ando Cheros. Dé +man sekhonus miro diveskoe manro, ta ierta mangue saro so na he +plaskerava tuke, sar me ierstavava wafo manuschengue saro so na +plaskerelen mangue. Ma muk te petrow ando chungalo camoben; +tama lel man abri saro doschdar. Weika tiro sin o tem, tiri +yi potea, tiri yi proslava akana ta sekovar.</p> +<p>Te del amen o gulo Del eg meschibo pa amara choribo.</p> +<p>Te vas del o Del amengue; te n’avel man pascotia ando +drom, te na hoden pen mandar.</p> +<p class="poetry">Ja Develehi!<br /> +Az Develehi!<br /> +Ja Develeskey!<br /> +Az Develeskey!<br /> +Heri Devlis!</p> + +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p><a name="page93"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 93</span>My +sweet God, who art there in Heaven, may thy name come hallowed; +may thy kingdom come hither; may they do all that thou wishest +upon earth, as in Heaven. Give me to-day my daily bread, +and forgive me all that I cannot pay thee, as I shall forgive +other men all that they do not pay me. Do not let me fall +into evil desire; but take me out from all wickedness. For +thine is the kingdom, thine the power, thine the glory now and +ever.</p> +<p>May the sweet God give us a remedy for our poverty.</p> +<p>May God help us! May no misfortune happen to me in the +road, and may no one steal anything me.</p> +<p class="poetry">Go with God!<br /> +Stay with God!<br /> +Go, for God’s sake!<br /> +Stay, for God’s sake!<br /> +By God!</p> +<h3><a name="page95"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 95</span>LIL OF +ROMANO JINNYPEN<br /> +<span class="GutSmall">BOOK OF THE WISDOM OF THE +EGYPTIANS</span></h3> +<h4><a name="page96"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 96</span>LIL OF +ROMANO JINNYPEN</h4> +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> tawno fokey often putches so +koskipen se drey the Romano jib? Mande pens ye are sore +dinneles; bute, bute koskipen se adrey lis, ta dusta, dosta of +moro foky would have been bitcheno or nash’d, but for the +puro, choveno Romano jib. A lav in Romany, penn’d in +cheeros to a tawnie rakli, and rigg’d to the tan, has +kair’d a boro kisi of luvvo and wafor covars, which had +been chor’d, to be chived tuley pov, so that when the +muskerres well’d they could latch vanisho, and had kek +yeckly to muk the Romano they had lell’d opré, jal +his drom, but to mang also his artapen.</p> +<p>His bitchenipenskie cheeros is knau abri, and it were but +kosko in leste to wel ken, if it were yeckly to lel care of +lescri puri, choveny romady; she’s been a tatchi, tatchi +romady to leste, and kek man apasavello that she has jall’d +with a wafu mush ever since he’s been bitcheno.</p> +<p>When yeck’s tardrad yeck’s beti ten oprey, +kair’d yeck’s beti yag anglo the wuddur, ta +nash’d yeck’s kekauvi by the kekauviskey saster oprey +lis, yeck kek cams that a dikkimengro or muskerro should <a +name="page98"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 98</span>wel and pen: +so’s tute kairing acai? Jaw oprey, Romano juggal.</p> +<p>Prey Juliken yeckto Frydivvus, anglo nango muyiskie staunyi +naveni kitchema, prey the chong opral Bororukeskoe Gav, drey the +Wesh, tute dickavavasa bute Romany foky, mushor ta juvar, chalor +ta cheiar.</p> +<p>Jinnes tu miro puro prala Rye Stanniwix, the puro rye savo +rigs a bawlo-dumo-mengri, ta kair’d desh ta stor mille +barior by covar-plastring?</p> +<p>He jall’d on rokkring ta rokkring dinneleskoenaes till +mande pukker’d leste: if tute jasas on dovodoiskoenaes +mande curavava tute a tatto yeck prey the nok.</p> +<p>You putches mande so si patrins. Patrins are Romany drom +sikkering engris, by which the Romany who jal anglo muk lende +that wels palal jin the drom they have jall’d by: we wusts +wastperdes of chaw oprey the puv at the jalling adrey of the +drom, or we kairs sar a wangust a trihool oprey the chik, or we +chins ranior tuley from the rukhies, and chivs lende oprey drey +the puv aligatas the bor; but the tatcho patrin is wast-perdes of +leaves, for patrin or patten in puro Romano jib is the uav of a +rukheskoe leaf.</p> +<p>The tatcho drom to be a jinney-mengro is to shoon, dick, and +rig in zi.</p> +<p>The mush savo kek se les the juckni-wast <a +name="page100"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 100</span>oprey his +jib and his zi is keck kosko to jal adrey sweti.</p> +<p>The lil to lel oprey the kekkeno mushe’s puvior and to +keir the choveno foky mer of buklipen and shillipen, is wusted +abri the Raioriskey rokkaring ker.</p> +<p>The nav they dins lati is Bokht drey Cuesni, because she rigs +about a cuesni, which sore the rardies when she jals keri, is +sure to be perdo of chored covars.</p> +<p>Cav acoi, pralor, se the nav of a lil, the sherrokairipen of a +puro kladjis of Roumany tem. The Borobeshemescrotan, or the +lav-chingaripen between ye jinneynengro ta yi sweti; or the +merripenskie rokrapen chiv’d by the zi oprey the trupo.</p> +<p>When the shello was about his men they rigg’d leste his +artapen, and muk’d leste jal; but from dovo divvus he would +rig a men-pangushi kekkomi, for he penn’d it rigg’d +to his zee the shello about his men.</p> +<p>Jack Vardomescro could del oprey dosta to jin sore was oprey +the mea-bars and the drom-sikkering engris.</p> +<p>The Romano drom to pek a chiriclo is to kair it oprey with its +porior drey chik, and then to chiv it adrey the yag for a beti +burroder than a posh ora. When the chik and the +hatch’d porior are lell’d from the chiriclesky +trupos, the per’s <a name="page102"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 102</span>chinn’d aley, and the +wendror’s wusted abri, ’tis a hobben dosta koshto for +a crallissa to hal without lon.</p> +<p>When Gorgio mushe’s merripen and Romany Chal’s +merripen wels kettaney, kek kosto merripen see.</p> +<p>Yeckorus he pukker’d mande that when he was a bis +beschengro he mored a gorgio, and chived the mulo mas tuley the +poov; he was lell’d oprey for the moripen, but as kekkeno +could latch the shillo mas, the pokiniuses muk’d him jal; +he penn’d that the butsi did not besh pordo pré his +zi for bute chiros, but then sore on a sudden he became tugnis +and atraish of the mulo gorgio’s bavol-engro, and that +often of a rarde, as he was jalling posh motto from the kitchema +by his cocoro, he would dick over his tatcho pikko and his bango +pikko, to jin if the mulo mush’s bavol-engro was kek +welling palal to lel bonnek of leste.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>Does tute jin the Romano drom of lelling the wast?</p> +<p>Avali, prala.</p> +<p>Sikker mande lis.</p> +<p>They kairs it ajaw, prala.</p> +<p>A chorredo has burreder peeas than a Romany Chal.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>Tute has shoon’d the lav pazorrus. Dovodoy is so +is kored gorgikonaes “Trusted.” Drey the puro +cheeros the Romano savo lelled lovvu, or wafor covars from lescro +prala in parriken, ta <a name="page104"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 104</span>kek pess’d leste apopli, could +be kair’d to buty for leste as gry, mailla or +cost-chinnimengro for a besh ta divvus. To divvus kek si +covar ajaw. If a Romano lelled lovvu or wafu covars from +meero vast in parriken, ta kek pessed mande apopli, sar estist +for mande te kair leste buty as gry, mailla, or cost-chinnimengro +for mande for yek divvus, kek to pen for sore a besh?</p> +<p>Do you nav cavacoi a weilgorus? Ratfelo rinkeno +weilgorus cav acoi: you might chiv lis sore drey teero putsi.</p> +<p>Kek jinnipenskey covar sé to pen tute’s been +bango. If tute pens tute’s been bango, foky will pen: +Estist tute’s a koosho koshko mushipen, but tatchipé +a ratfelo dinnelo.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>Car’s tute jibbing?</p> +<p>Mande’s kek jibbing; mande’s is atching, at the +feredest; mande’s a pirremengri, prala!</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>Cauna Romany foky rokkerelan yeck sar wafu penelan pal ta pen; +cauna dado or deya rokkerelan ke lendes chauves penelan meero +chauvo or meeri chi; or my child, gorgikonaes, to ye dui; cauna +chauves rokkerelan te dad or deya penelan meero dad or meeri +deya!</p> +<p>Meero dado, soskey were creminor kair’d? Meero +chauvo, that puvo-baulor might jib by haIling lende. Meero +dado, soskey were puvobaulor kair’d? Meero chauvo, +that tute and mande might jib by lelling lende. Meero dado, +soskey were tu ta mande kair’d? Meero chauvo, that +creminor might jib by halling mende.</p> +<p><a name="page106"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 106</span>Sore +giv-engres shan dinneles. When they shoons a gav-engro drey +the tem pen: Dov-odoy’s a fino grye! they pens: Kekkeno +grye se; grasni si; whether the covar’s a grasni or +kekkeni. Kek jinellan the dinneles that a grasni’s a +grye, though a grye is kek a grasni.</p> +<p>Kekkeni like Romano Will’s rawnie for kelling drey a +chauro.</p> +<p>Cauna Constance Petulengri merr’d she was shel tã +desch beshor puri.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>Does tute jin Rawnie Wardomescri?</p> +<p>Mande jins lati misto, prala.</p> +<p>Does tute cam lati?</p> +<p>Mande cams lati bute, prala; and mande has dosta, dosta +cheeros penn’d to the wafor Romany Chals, when they were +rokkering wafudo of lati: She’s a rawnie; she lels care of +sore of you; if it were kek for lati, you would sore jal to the +beng.</p> +<p>So kerella for a jivipen?</p> +<p>She dukkers, prala; she dukkers.</p> +<p>Can she dukker misto?</p> +<p>There’s kekkeny Romany juva tuley the can for dukkering +sar Rawnie Wardomescri; nastis not to be dukker’d by lati; +she’s a tatchi chovahan; she lels foky by the wast and +dukkers lende, whether they cams or kek.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>Kek koskipen si to jal roddring after Romany Chals. When +tute cams to dick lende nestist to latch yeck o’ lende; but +when tute’s penching o’ wafor covars tute dicks +o’ lende dosta dosta.</p> +<p>Mande will sollohaul neither bango nor tatcho <a +name="page108"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 108</span>against +kekkeno; if they cams to latch abri chomoni, muk lende latch it +abri their cokkoré.</p> +<p>If he had been bitcheno for a boro luripen mande would have +penn’d chi; but it kairs mande diviou to pentch that he was +bitcheno, all along of a bori lubbeny, for trin tringurishis ta +posh.</p> +<p>When he had kair’d the moripen, he kair’d sig and +plastrar’d adrey the wesh, where he gared himself drey the +hev of a boro, puro rukh; but it was kek koskipen asarlus; the +plastra-mengres slomm’d his piré sore along the wesh +till they well’d to the rukh.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>Sau kisi foky has tute dukker’d to divvus?</p> +<p>Yeck rawnie coccori, prala; dov ody she wels palal; mande jins +lati by the kaulo dori prey laki shubba.</p> +<p>Sau bute luvvu did she del tute?</p> +<p>Yeck gurush, prala; yeck gurush coccoro. The beng te +lilly a truppy!</p> +<p>Shoon the kosko rokkrapen so Micail jinney-mengro penn’d +ke Rawnie Trullifer: Rawnie Trollopr, you must jib by your +jibben: and if a base se tukey you must chiv lis tuley.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>Can you rokkra Romanes?</p> +<p>Avali, prala!</p> +<p>So si Weshenjuggalslomomengreskeytemskey tudlogueri?</p> +<p>Mande don’t jin what you pens, prala.</p> +<p>Then tute is kek Romano lavomengro.</p> +<h4><a name="page97"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 97</span>BOOK +OF THE WISDOM OF THE EGYPTIANS</h4> +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> young people often ask: What +good is there in the Romany tongue? I answers: Ye are all +fools! There is plenty, plenty of good in it, and plenty, +plenty of our people would have been transported or hung, but for +the old, poor Roman language. A word in Romany said in time +to a little girl, and carried to the camp, has caused a great +purse of money and other things, which had been stolen, to be +stowed underground; so that when the constables came they could +find nothing, and had not only to let the Gypsy they had taken up +go his way, but also to beg his pardon.</p> +<p>His term of transportation has now expired, and it were but +right in him to come home, if it were only to take care of his +poor old wife: she has been a true, true wife to him, and I +don’t believe that she has taken up with another man ever +since he was sent across.</p> +<p>When one’s pitched up one’s little tent, made +one’s little fire before the door, and hung one’s +kettle by the kettle-iron over it, one doesn’t like that an +inspector or constable should come and <a name="page99"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 99</span>say: What are you doing here? +Take yourself off, you Gypsy dog.</p> +<p>On the first Friday of July, before the public-house called +the Bald-faced Stag, on the hill above the town of the great tree +in the Forest, you will see many Roman people, men and women, +lads and lasses.</p> +<p>Do you know my old friend Mr. Stanniwix, the old gentleman +that wears a pigtail, and made fourteen thousand pounds by +smuggling?</p> +<p>He went on talking and talking foolishness till I said to him: +If you goes on in that ’ere way I’ll hit you a hot +’un on the nose.</p> +<p>You ask me what are <i>patrins</i>. <i>Patrin</i> is the +name of the signs by which the Gypsies who go before show the +road they have taken to those who follow behind. We flings +handfuls of grass down at the head of the road we takes, or we +makes with the finger a cross-mark on the ground, we sticks up +branches of trees by the side the hedge. But the true +patrin is handfuls of leaves flung down; for <i>patrin</i> or +<i>patten</i> in old Roman language means the leaf of a tree.</p> +<p>The true way to be a wise man is to hear, see, and bear in +mind.</p> +<p>The man who has not the whip-hand of his <a +name="page101"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 101</span>tongue and +his temper is not fit to go into company.</p> +<p>The Bill to take up the no-man’s lands (comons), and to +make the poor people die of hunger and cold, has been flung out +of the House of Commons.</p> +<p>The name they gives her is “Luck in a basket,” +because she carries about a basket, which every night, when she +goes home, is sure to be full of stolen property.</p> +<p>This here, brothers, is the title of a book, the head-work of +an old king of Roumany land: the Tribunal, or the dispute between +the wise man and the world: or, the death-sentence passed by the +soul upon the body.</p> +<p>When the rope was about his neck they brought him his pardon, +and let him go; but from that day he would wear a neck-kerchief +no more, for he said it brought to his mind the rope about his +neck.</p> +<p>Jack Cooper could read enough to know all that was upon the +milestones and the sign-posts.</p> +<p>The Roman way to cook a fowl is to do it up with its feathers +in clay, and then to put it in fire for a little more than half +an hour. When the clay and the burnt feathers are taken +from the fowl, the belly cut open, and the inside <a +name="page103"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 103</span>flung out, +’tis a food good enough for a queen to eat without +salt.</p> +<p>When the Gentile way of living and the Gypsy way of living +come together, it is anything but a good way of living.</p> +<p>He told me once that when he was a chap of twenty he killed a +Gentile, and buried the dead meat under ground. He was +taken up for the murder, but as no one could find the cold meat, +the justices let him go. He said that the job did not sit +heavy upon his mind for a long time, but then all of a sudden he +became sad, and afraid of the dead Gentile’s ghost; and +that often of a night, as he was coming half-drunk from the +public-house by himself, he would look over his right shoulder +and over his left shoulder, to know if the dead man’s ghost +was not coming behind to lay hold of him.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>Do you know the Gypsy way of taking the hand?</p> +<p>Aye, aye, brother.</p> +<p>Show it to me.</p> +<p>They does it <i>so</i>, brother.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>A tramp has more fun than a Gypsy.</p> +<p>You have heard the word <i>pazorrus</i>. That is what is +called by the Gentiles “trusted,” or in debt. +In the old time the Roman who got from his brother money or other +things on trust, and <a name="page105"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 105</span>did not pay him again, could be made +to work for him as horse, ass, or wood cutter for a year and a +day. At present the matter is not so. If a Roman got +money, or other things, from my hand on credit, and did not repay +me, how could I make him labour for me as horse, ass, or +stick-cutter for one day, not to say for a year?</p> +<p>Do you call this a fair? A very pretty fair is this: you +might put it all into your pocket.</p> +<p>It is not a wise thing to say you have been wrong. If +you allow you have been wrong, people will say: You may be a very +honest fellow, but are certainly a very great fool.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>Where are you living?</p> +<p>Mine is not living; mine is staying, to say the best of it; I +am a traveller, brother!</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>When Roman people speak to one another, they say brother and +sister. When parents speak to their children, they say, my +son, or my daughter, or my child, <i>gorgiko</i>-like, to +either. When children speak to their parents, they say, my +father, or my mother.</p> +<p>My father, why were worms made? My son, that moles might +live by eating them. My father, why were moles made? +My son, that you and I might live by catching them. My +father, why were you and I made? My son, that worms might +live by eating us.</p> +<p><a name="page107"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 107</span>All +farmers are fools. When they hear a citizen in the country +say: That’s a fine horse! they say: ’Tis no horse, +’tis a mare; whether the thing’s a horse or +not. The simpletons don’t know that a mare’s a +horse, though a horse is not a mare.</p> +<p>No one like Gypsy Will’s wife for dancing in a +platter.</p> +<p>When Constance Smith died, she was a hundred ten years +old.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>Do you know Mrs. Cooper?</p> +<p>I knows her very well, brother.</p> +<p>Do you like her?</p> +<p>I loves her very much, brother; and I have often, often said +to the other Gypsies, when they speaking ill of her: She’s +a gentlewoman; takes care of all of you; if it were not for her, +you would all go to the devil.</p> +<p>What does she do for a living?</p> +<p>She tells fortunes, brother; she tells fortunes.</p> +<p>Is she a good hand at fortune-telling?</p> +<p>There’s no Roman woman under the sun so good at +fortune-telling as Mrs. Cooper; it is impossible not to have your +fortune told by her; she’s a true witch; she takes people +by the hand, and tells their fortunes, whether they will or +no.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>’Tis no use to go seeking after Gypsies. When you +wants to see them ’tis impossible to find one of them; but +when you are thinking of other matters you see plenty, plenty of +them.</p> +<p>I will swear neither falsely nor truly against <a +name="page109"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 109</span>any one; if +they wishes to find out something, let them find it out +themselves.</p> +<p>If he had been transported for a great robbery, I would have +said nothing; but it makes me mad to think that he has been sent +away, all along of a vile harlot, for the value of +three-and-sixpence.</p> +<p>When he had committed the murder he made haste, and ran into +the wood, where he hid himself in the hollow of a great old tree; +but it was no use at all; the runners followed his track all +along the forest till they came to the tree.</p> +<p>How many fortunes have you told to-day?</p> +<p>Only one lady’s, brother; yonder she’s coming +back; I knows her by the black lace on her gown.</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>How much money did she give you?</p> +<p>Only one groat, brother; only one groat. May the devil +run away with her bodily!</p> + +<div class="gapspace"> </div> +<p>Hear the words of wisdom which Mike the Grecian said to Mrs. +Trullifer: Mrs. Trollopr, you must live by your living; and if +you have a pound you must spend it.</p> +<p>Can you speak Romany?</p> +<p>Aye, aye, brother!</p> +<p>What is Weshenjuggalslomomengreskeytemskeytudlogueri?</p> +<p>I don’t know what you say, brother.</p> +<p>Then you are no master of Romany.</p> +<h2><a name="page111"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +111</span>ROMANE NAVIOR OF TEMES AND GAVIOR<br /> +<span class="GutSmall">GYPSY NAMES OF CONTRIES AND +TOWNS</span></h2> +<table> +<tr> +<td><p><a name="page112"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +112</span>Baulo-mengreskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p><a name="page113"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +113</span>Swineherds’ country, Hampshire</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Bitcheno padlengreskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Transported fellows’ country, Botany Bay</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Bokra-mengreskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Shepherds’ country, Sussex</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Bori-congriken gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Great church town, York</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Boro-rukeneskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Great tree town, Fairlop</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Boro gueroneskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Big fellows’ country, Northumberland</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Chohawniskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Witches’ country, Lancashire</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Choko-mengreskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Shoemakers’ town, Northampton</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Churi-mengreskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Cutlers’ town, Sheffield</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Coro-mengreskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Potters’ country, Staffordshire</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Cosht-killimengreskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Cudgel players’ country, Cornwall</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Curo-mengreskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Boxers’ town, Nottingham</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Dinelo tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Fools’ country, Suffolk</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Giv-engreskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Farmers’ country, Buckinghamshire</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Gry-engreskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Horsedealers’ town, Horncastle</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Guyo-mengreskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Pudding-eaters’ country, Yorkshire</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Hindity-mengreskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Dirty fellows’ country, Ireland</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Jinney-mengreskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Sharpers’ town, Manchester</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Juggal-engreskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Dog-fanciers’ town, Dudley</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Juvlo-mengreskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Lousy fellows’ country, Scotland</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Kaulo gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>The black town, Birmingham</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Levin-engriskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Hop country, Kent</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Lil-engreskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Book fellows’ town, Oxford</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Match-eneskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Fishy town, Yarmouth</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p><a name="page114"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +114</span>Mi-develeskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p><a name="page115"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +115</span>My God’s town, Canterbury</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Mi-krauliskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Royal town, London</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Nashi-mescro gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Racers’ town, Newmarket</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Pappin-eskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Duck country, Lincolnshire</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Paub-pawnugo tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Apple-water country, Herefordshire</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Porrum-engreskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Leek-eaters’ country, Wales</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Pov-engreskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Potato country, Norfolk</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Rashayeskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Clergyman’s town, Ely</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Rokrengreskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Talking fellows’ town, Norwich</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Shammin-engreskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Chairmakers’ town, Windsor</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Tudlo tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Milk country, Cheshire</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Weshen-eskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Forest town, Epping</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Weshen-juggal-slommo-mengreskey tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Fox-hunting fellows’ country, Leicestershire</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Wongareskey gav</p> +</td> +<td><p>Coal town, Newcastle</p> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><p>Wusto-mengresky tem</p> +</td> +<td><p>Wrestlers’ country, Devonshire</p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> +<h2><a name="page117"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +117</span>THOMAS ROSSAR-MESCRO, OR THOMAS HERNE</h2> +<h3><a name="page118"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +118</span>THOMAS ROSSAR-MESCRO</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Prey</span> Juniken bis diuto divvus, drey +the besh yeck mille ochto shel shovardesh ta trin, mande +jaw’d to dick Thomas Rossar-mescro, a puro Romano, of whom +mande had shoon’d bute. He was jibbing drey a tan +naveno Rye Groby’s Court, kek dur from the Coromengreskoe +Tan ta Bokkar-engreskey Wesh. When mande dick’d leste +he was beshing prey the poov by his wuddur, chiving misto the +poggado tuleskey part of a skammin. His ker was posh ker, +posh wardo, and stood drey a corner of the tan; kek dur from +lesti were dui or trin wafor ker-wardoes. There was a +wafudo canipen of baulor, though mande dick’d +kekkeney. I penn’d “Sarshin?” in Romany +jib, and we had some rokrapen kettaney. He was a boro mush, +as mande could dick, though he was beshing. But though boro +he was kek tulo, ta lescré wastes were tarney sar yek +rawnie’s. Lollo leste mui sar yeck weneskoe paub, ta +lescro bal rather lollo than parno. Prey his shero was a +beti stadj, and he was kek wafudo riddo. On my putching +leste kisi boro he was, ta kisi puro, he penn’d that he was +sho piré sore but an inch boro, ta enyovardesh ta dui besh +puro. He didn’t jin to rokkra bute in Romano, but +jinn’d almost sore so mande <a name="page120"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 120</span>rokkar’d te leste. Moro +rokkrapen was mostly in gorgiko jib. Yeck covar yecklo drey +lescro drom of rokkring mande pennsch’d kosko to rig in +zi. In tan of penning Romany, sar wafor Romany chals, +penn’d o Roumany, a lav which sig, sig rigg’d to my +zi <i>Roumain</i>, the tatcho, puro nav of the Vallackiskie jib +and foky. He seem’d a biti aladge of being of Romany +rat. He penn’d that he was beano drey the +Givengreskey Tem, that he was kek tatcho Romano, but yeckly posh +ta posh: lescro dado was Romano, but lescri daya a gorgie of the +Lilengreskoe Gav; he had never camm’d bute to jib +Romaneskoenaes, and when tarno had been a givengreskoe +raklo. When he was boro he jall’d adrey the +Lilengrotemskey militia, and was desh ta stor besh a militia +curomengro. He had jall’d bute about Engli-tem and +the juvalo-mengreskey, Tem, drey the cheeros of the puri +chingaripen, and had been adrey Monseer-tem, having volunteered +to jal odoy to cour agen the parley-woo gueros. He had +dick’d Bordeaux and the boro gav Paris. After the +chingaripen, he had lell’d oprey skamminengring, and had +jall’d about the tem, but had been knau for buter than +trianda beshor jibbing in Lundra. He had been romado, but +his romadi had been mullee bute, bute cheeros; she had +dinn’d leste yeck chavo, so was knau a heftwardesh +beshengro, dicking bute puroder than yo cocoro, ta kanau lying +naflo of a tatti naflipen drey yeck of the wardes. He +penn’d that at yeck cheeros he could kair dosta luvvu by +skammin-engring, but kanau from his bori puripen could scarcely +kair yeck tringurushee a divvus. “Ladjipen si,” +I penn’d, “that a mush so puro as tute should <a +name="page122"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 122</span>have to +booty.” “Kosko zi! kosko zi!” he +penn’d; “Paracrow Dibble that mande is dosta ruslo to +booty, and that mande has koskey camomescres; I shan’t be +tugnis to jib to be a shel beshengro, though tatchipen si if +mande was a rye mande would kair kek booty.” His +chaveskoe chavo, a trianda ta pansch beshengro, well’d +kanau ta rokkar’d mansar. He was a misto dicking ta +rather misto riddo mush, sar chimouni jinneymengreskey drey +lescro mui. He penn’d that his dadeskoe dad was a +fino puro mush, savo had dick’d bute, and that dosta, dosta +foky well’d odoy to shoon lescré rokkrapenes of the +puro cheeros, of the Franciskie ta Amencanskie chingaripenes, and +of what yo had dick’d drey wafu tems. That tatchipen +to pen there was a cheeros when his drom was dur from kosko, for +that he camm’d to cour, sollohaul ta kair himself motto, +but that kanau he was a wafu mush, that he had muk’d sore +curopen and wafudo rokkrapen, and, to corauni sore, was yeck +tee-totaller, yo cocoro having kair’d leste sollohaul that +he would pi kekomi neither tatti panie nor levinor: that he +jall’d sore the curques either to congri or Tabernacle, and +that tho’ he kek jinn’d to del oprey he camm’d +to shoon the Miduveleskoe lil dell’d oprey to leste; that +the panishkie ryor held leste drey boro camopen, and that the +congriskoe rashi, and oprey sore Dr. P. of the Tabernacle had a +boro opinionos of leste, ta penn’d that he would hal the +Miduveleskoe habben sar moro Araunyo Jesus drey the kosko tem +opral. Mande putch’d whether the Romany Chals +well’d often to dick leste? He penn’d that they +well’d knau and then to pen Koshto divvus and Sarshin? <a +name="page124"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 124</span>but +dov’ odoy was sore; that neither his dadeskoe dad nor yo +cocoro camm’d to dick lende, because they were wafodu foky, +perdo of wafodupen and bango camopen, ta oprey sore bute envyous; +that drey the wen they jall’d sore cattaney to the ryor, +and rokkar’d wafodu of the puno mush, and pukker’d +the ryor to let lester a coppur which the ryor had lent leste, to +kair tatto his choveno puro truppo drey the cheeros of the +trashlo shillipen; that tatchipen si their wafodupen kaired the +puro mush kek dosh, for the ryor pukker’d lende to jal +their drom and be aladge of their cocoré, but that it was +kek misto to pensch that yeck was of the same rat as such +foky. After some cheeros I dinn’d the puro mush a +tawno cuttor of rupe, shook leste by ye wast, penn’d that +it would be mistos amande to dick leste a shel-beshengro, and +jaw’d away keri.</p> +<h4><a name="page119"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +119</span>THOMAS HERNE</h4> +<p><span class="smcap">On</span> the twenty-second day of June, +in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, I went to +see Thomas Herne, an old Gypsy, of whom I had heard a great +deal. He was living at a place called Mr. Groby’s +Court, not far from the Potteries and the Shepherd’s +Bush. When I saw him, he was sitting on the ground by his +door, mending the broken bottom of a chair. His house was +half-house half-waggon, and stood in a corner of the court; not +far from it were two or three other waggon-houses. There +was a disagreeable smell of hogs, though I saw none. I +said, “How you do?” in the Gypsy tongue, and we had +discourse together. He was a tall man, as I could see, +though he was sitting. But, though tall, he was not stout, +and his hands were small as those of a lady. His face was +as red as a winter apple, and his hair was rather red than +grey. He had a small hat on his head, and he was not badly +dressed. On my asking him how tall he was, and how old, he +said that he was six foot high, all but an inch, and that he was +ninety-two years old. He could not talk much Gypsy, but +understood almost all that I said to him. Our <a +name="page121"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 121</span>discourse +was chiefly in English. One thing only in his manner of +speaking I thought worthy of remembrance. Instead of saying +Romany, like other Gypsies, he said Roumany, a word which +instantly brought to my mind Roumain, the genuine, ancient name +of the Wallachian tongue and people. He seemed to be rather +ashamed of being of Gypsy blood. He told me that he was +born in Buckinghamshire, that he was no true Gypsy, but only +half-and-half: his father was a Gypsy, but his mother was a +Gentile of Oxford; he had never had any particular liking for the +Gypsy manner of living, and when little had been a farmer’s +boy. When he grew up he enlisted into the Oxford militia, +and was fourteen years a militia soldier. He had gone much +about England and Scotland in the time of the old war, and had +been in France, having volunteered to go thither to fight against +the French. He had seen Bordeaux and the great city of +Paris. After war he had taken up chair-making, and had +travelled about the country, but had been now for more than +thirty years living in London. He had been married, but his +wife had long been dead. She had borne him a son, who was +now a man seventy years of age, looking much older than himself, +and at present lying sick of a burning fever in one of the +caravans. He said that at one time he could make a good +deal of money by chair-making, but now from his great age could +scarcely earn a shilling a day. “What a shame,” +said I, “that a man so old as you should have to <a +name="page123"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 123</span>work at +all!” “Courage! courage!” he cried; +“I thank God that I am strong enough to work, and that I +have good friends; I shan’t be sorry to live to be a +hundred years old, though true it is that if I were a gentleman I +would do no work.” His grandson, a man of about +five-and-thirty, came now and conversed with me. He was a +good-looking and rather well-dressed man, with something of a +knowing card in his countenance. He said that his +grandfather was a fine old man, who had seen a great deal, and +that a great many people came to hear his stories of the old +time, of the French and American wars, and of what he had seen in +other countries. That, truth to say, there was a time when +his way was far from commendable, for that he loved to fight, +swear, and make himself drunk; but that now he was another man, +that he had abandoned all fighting and evil speaking, and, to +crown all, was a tee-totaller, he himself having made him swear +that he would no more drink either gin or ale: that he went every +Sunday either to church or Tabernacle, and that, though he did +not know how to read, he loved to hear the holy book read to him; +that the gentlemen of the parish entertained a great regard for +him, and that the church clergyman and, above all, Dr. P. of the +Tabernacle had a high opinion of him, and said that he would +partake of the holy banquet with our Lord Jesus in the blessed +country above. On my inquiring whether the Gypsies came +often to see him, he said that they came now and then to say +“Good day” and “How do you do?” but that +was all; <a name="page125"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +125</span>that neither his grandfather nor himself cared to see +them, because they were evil people, full of wickedness and +left-handed love, and, above all, very envyous; that in the +winter they all went in a body to the gentlemen and spoke ill of +the old man, and begged the gentlemen to take from him a blanket +which the gentlemen had lent him to warm his poor old body with +in the time of the terrible cold; that it is true their +wickedness did the old man no harm, for the gentlemen told them +to go away and be ashamed of themselves, but that it was not +pleasant to think that one was of the same blood as such +people. After some time I gave the old man a small piece of +silver, shook him by the hand, said that I should be glad to see +him live to be a hundred, and went away home.</p> +<h2><a name="page127"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +127</span>KOKKODUS ARTARUS</h2> +<p><a name="page129"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 129</span><span +class="smcap">Drey</span> the puro cheeros there jibb’d a +puri Romani juva, Sinfaya laki nav. Tatchi Romani juva i; +caum’d to rokkra Romany, nav’d every mush kokkodus, +ta every mushi deya. Yeck chavo was láki; lescro nav +Artáros; dinnelo or diviou was O; romadi was +lesgué; but the rommadi merr’d, mukking leste yeck +chávo. Artáros caum’d to jal oprey the +drom, and sikker his nangipen to rawnies and kair muior. At +last the ryor chiv’d leste drey the diviou ker. The +chávo jibb’d with his puri deya till he was a desch +ta pantsch besh engro. Yeck divvus a Romani juva jalling +along the drom dick’d the puri juva beshing tuley a bor +roving: What’s the matter, Sinfaya, pukker’d i?</p> +<p class="poetry">My chavo’s chavo is lell’d oprey, +deya.<br /> +What’s he lell’d oprey for?<br /> +For a meila and posh, deya.<br /> +Why don’t you jal to dick leste?<br /> +I have nash’d my maila, deya.<br /> +O má be tugni about your maila; jal and dick leste.</p> +<p>I don’t jin kah se, deya! diviou kokkodus Artáros +jins, kek mande. Ah diviou, diviou, jal amande callico.</p> +<h2><a name="page131"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +131</span>MANG, PRALA<br /> +<span class="GutSmall">BEG ON, BROTHER</span></h2> +<h3><a name="page132"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +132</span>MANG, PRALA</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Romano</span> chavo was manging sar bori +gudli yeck rye te del les pasherro. Lescri deya so was +beshing kek dur from odoy penn’d in gorgikey rokrapen: +Meklis juggal, ta av acoi! ma kair the rye kinyo with your gudli! +and then penn’d sig in Romany jib: Mang, Prala, mang! +Ta o chavo kair’d ajaw till the rye chiv’d les yeck +shohaury.</p> + +<div class="gapshortline"> </div> +<p><a name="page133"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +133</span>[Something like the following little anecdote is +related by the Gypsies in every part of Continental Europe.]</p> +<h4>BEG ON, BROTHER</h4> +<p>A <span class="smcap">Gypsy</span> brat was once pestering a +gentleman to give him a halfpenny. The mother, who was +sitting nigh, cried in English: Leave off, you dog, and come +here! don’t trouble the gentleman with your noise; and then +added in Romany: Beg on, brother! and so the brat did, till the +gentleman flung him a sixpence.</p> +<h2><a name="page135"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +135</span>ENGLISH GYPSY SONGS</h2> +<h3><a name="page136"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +136</span>WELLING KATTANEY: THE GYPSY MEETING</h3> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Coin</span> si deya, coin +se dado?<br /> +Pukker mande drey Romanes,<br /> +Ta mande pukkeravava tute.</p> +<p class="poetry">Rossar-mescri minri deya!<br /> +Vardo-mescro minro dado!<br /> +Coin se dado, coin si deya?<br /> +Mande’s pukker’d tute drey Romanes;<br /> +Knau pukker tute mande.</p> +<p class="poetry">Petuiengro minro dado!<br /> +Purana minri deya!<br /> +Tatchey Romany si men—<br /> +Mande’s pukker’d tute drey Romanes,<br /> +Ta tute’s pukker’d mande.</p> +<h4><a name="page137"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 137</span>THE +GYPSY MEETING</h4> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Who’s</span> your +mother, who’s your father?<br /> +Do thou answer me in Romany,<br /> +And I will answer thee.</p> +<p class="poetry">A Hearne I have for mother!<br /> +A Cooper for my father!<br /> +Who’s your father, who’s your mother?<br /> +I have answer’d thee in Romany,<br /> +Now do thou answer me.</p> +<p class="poetry">A Smith I have for father!<br /> +A Lee I have for mother!<br /> +True Romans both are we—<br /> +For I’ve answer’d thee in Romany,<br /> +And thou hast answer’d me.</p> +<h3><a name="page138"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +138</span>LELLING CAPPI: MAKING A FORTUNE</h3> +<p class="poetry">“<span class="smcap">Av</span>, my little +Romany chel!<br /> + Av along with mansar!<br /> +Av, my little Romany chel!<br /> + Koshto si for mangue.”</p> +<p class="poetry">“I shall lel a curapen,<br /> + If I jal aley;<br /> +I shall lel a curapen<br /> + From my dear bebee.”</p> +<p class="poetry">“I will jal on my chongor,<br /> + Then I’ll pootch your bebee.<br /> +‘O my dear bebee, dey me your chi,<br /> + For koshto si for mangue.’</p> +<p class="poetry">“‘Since you pootch me for my +chi,<br /> + I will dey you lati.’”<br /> +Av, my little Romany chel!<br /> + We will jal to the wafu tem:</p> +<p class="poetry">“I will chore a beti gry,<br /> + And so we shall lel cappi.”<br /> +“Kekko, meero mushipen,<br /> + For so you would be stardo;</p> +<p class="poetry">“But I will jal a dukkering,<br /> + And so we shall lel cappi.”<br /> +“Koshto, my little Romany chel!<br /> + Koshto si for mangue.”</p> +<h4><a name="page139"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +139</span>MAKING A FORTUNE</h4> +<p class="poetry">“<span class="smcap">Come</span> along, +my little gypsy girl,<br /> + Come along, my little dear;<br /> +Come along, my little gypsy girl—<br /> + We’ll wander far and near.”</p> +<p class="poetry">“I should get a leathering<br /> + Should I with thee go;<br /> +I should get a leathering<br /> + From my dear aunt, I trow.”</p> +<p class="poetry">“I’ll go down on my two knees,<br +/> + And I will beg your aunt.<br /> +‘O auntie dear, give me your child;<br /> + She’s just the girl I want!’</p> +<p class="poetry">“‘Since you ask me for my child,<br +/> + I will not say thee no!’<br /> +Come along, my little gypsy girl!<br /> + To another land we’ll go:</p> +<p class="poetry">“I will steal a little horse,<br /> + And our fortunes make thereby.”<br /> +“Not so, my little gypsy boy,<br /> + For then you’d swing on high;</p> +<p class="poetry">“But I’ll a fortune-telling go,<br +/> + And our fortunes make thereby.”<br /> +“Well said, my little gypsy girl,<br /> + You counsel famously.”</p> +<h4><a name="page140"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +140</span>LELLING CAPPI<br /> +<span class="GutSmall">No.2</span></h4> +<p class="poetry">“<span class="smcap">Av</span>, my little +Rumni chel,<br /> + Av along with mansar;<br /> +We will jal a gry-choring<br /> + Pawdle across the chumba.</p> +<p class="poetry">“I’ll jaw tuley on my chongor<br /> + To your deya and your bebee;<br /> +And I’ll pootch lende that they del<br /> + Tute to me for romadi.”</p> +<p class="poetry">“I’ll jaw with thee, my Rumni +chal,<br /> + If my dye and bebee muk me;<br /> +But choring gristurs traishes me,<br /> + For it brings one to the rukie.</p> +<p class="poetry">“’Twere ferreder that you should +ker,<br /> + Petuls and I should dukker,<br /> +For then adrey our tanney tan,<br /> + We kek atraish may sova.”</p> +<p class="poetry">“Kusko, my little Rumni chel,<br /> + Your rokrapen is kusko;<br /> +We’ll dukker and we’ll petuls ker<br /> + Pawdle across the chumba.</p> +<p class="poetry">“O kusko si to chore a gry<br /> + Adrey the kaulo rarde;<br /> +But ’tis not kosko to be nash’d<br /> + Oprey the nashing rukie.”</p> +<h4><a name="page141"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +141</span>MAKING A FORTUNE<br /> +<span class="GutSmall">No.2</span></h4> +<p class="poetry">“<span class="smcap">Come</span> along, +my little gypsy girl,<br /> + Come along with me, I pray!<br /> +A-stealing horses we will go,<br /> + O’er the hills so far away.</p> +<p class="poetry">“Before your mother and your aunt<br /> + I’ll down upon my knee,<br /> +And beg they’ll give me their little girl<br /> + To be my Romadie.”</p> +<p class="poetry">“I’ll go with you, my gypsy boy,<br +/> + If my mother and aunt agree;<br /> +But a perilous thing is horse-stealinge,<br /> + For it brings one to the tree.</p> +<p class="poetry">“’Twere better you should tinkering +ply,<br /> + And I should fortunes tell;<br /> +For then within our little tent<br /> + In safety we might dwell.”</p> +<p class="poetry">“Well said, my little gypsy girl,<br /> + I like well what you say;<br /> +We’ll tinkering ply, and fortunes tell<br /> + O’er the hills so far away.</p> +<p class="poetry">“’Tis a pleasant thing in a dusky +night<br /> + A horse-stealing to go;<br /> +But to swing in the wind on the gallows-tree,<br /> + Is no pleasant thing, I trow.”</p> +<h3><a name="page142"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 142</span>THE +DUI CHALOR</h3> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Dui</span> Romany Chals +were bitcheney,<br /> +Bitcheney pawdle the bori pawnee.<br /> +Plato for kawring,<br /> +Lasho for choring<br /> +The putsi of a bori rawnee.</p> +<p class="poetry">And when they well’d to the wafu tem,<br +/> +The tem that’s pawdle the bori pawnee,<br /> +Plato was nasho<br /> +Sig, but Lasho<br /> +Was lell’d for rom by a bori rawnee.</p> +<p class="poetry">You cam to jin who that rawnie was,<br /> +’Twas the rawnie from whom he chor’d the putsee:<br +/> +The Chal had a black<br /> +Chohauniskie yack,<br /> +And she slomm’d him pawdle the bori pawnee.</p> +<h4><a name="page143"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 143</span>THE +TWO GYPSIES</h4> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Two</span> Gypsy lads were +transported,<br /> +Were sent across the great water.<br /> +Plato was sent for rioting,<br /> +And Louis for stealing the purse<br /> +Of a great lady.</p> +<p class="poetry">And when they came to the other country,<br /> +The country that lies across the great water,<br /> +Plato was speedily hung,<br /> +But Louis was taken as a husband<br /> +By a great lady.</p> +<p class="poetry">You wish to know who was the lady,<br /> +’Twas the lady from whom he stole the purse:<br /> +The Gypsy had a black and witching eye,<br /> +And on account of that she followed him<br /> +Across the great water.</p> +<h3><a name="page144"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 144</span>MIRO +ROMANY CHl</h3> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">As</span> I was a jawing to +the gav yeck divvus <br /> +I met on the drom miro Romany chi;<br /> +I pootch’d las whether she come sar mande,<br /> +And she penn’d tu sar wafo rommadis;<br /> +O mande there is kek wafo romady,<br /> +So penn’d I to miro Romany chi,<br /> +And I’ll kair tute miro tatcho romadi<br /> +If you but pen tu come sar mande.</p> +<h4><a name="page145"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 145</span>MY +ROMAN LASS</h4> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">As</span> I to the town was +going one day<br /> +My Roman lass I met by the way;<br /> +Said I: Young maid, will you share my lot?<br /> +Said she: Another wife you’ve got.<br /> +Ah no! to my Roman lass I cried:<br /> +No wife have I in the world so wide,<br /> +And you my wedded wife shall be<br /> +If you will consent to come with me.</p> +<h3><a name="page146"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 146</span>AVA, +CHI</h3> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Hokka</span> tute mande<br +/> +Mande pukkra bebee<br /> +Mande shauvo tute—<br /> +Ava, Chi!</p> +<h4>YES, MY GIRL</h4> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">If</span> to me you prove +untrue,<br /> +Quickly I’ll your auntie tell<br /> +I’ve been over-thick with you—<br /> +Yes, my girl, I will.</p> +<h3>THE TEMESKOE RYE</h3> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Penn’d</span> the +temeskoe rye to the Romany chi,<br /> +As the choon was dicking prey lende dui:<br /> +Rinkeny tawni, Romany rawni,<br /> +Mook man choom teero gudlo mui.</p> +<h4>THE YOUTHFUL EARL</h4> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Said</span> the youthful +earl to the Gypsy girl,<br /> +As the moon was casting its silver shine:<br /> +Brown little lady, Egyptian lady,<br /> +Let me kiss those sweet lips of thine.</p> +<h3><a name="page148"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +148</span>CAMO-GILLIE</h3> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Pawnie</span> birks<br /> +My men-engni shall be;<br /> +Yackors my dudes<br /> +Like ruppeney shine:<br /> +Atch meery chi!<br /> +Mā jal away:<br /> +Perhaps I may not dick tute<br /> +Kek komi.</p> +<h4><a name="page149"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +149</span>LOVE-SONG</h4> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">I’d</span> choose as +pillows for my head<br /> +Those snow-white breasts of thine;<br /> +I’d use as lamps to light my bed<br /> +Those eyes of silver shine:<br /> +O lovely maid, disdain me not,<br /> +Nor leave me in my pain:<br /> +Perhaps ’twill never be my lot<br /> +To see thy face again.</p> +<h3><a name="page150"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +150</span>TUGNIS AMANDE</h3> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">I’m</span> jalling +across the pāni—<br /> +A choring mas and morro,<br /> +Along with a bori lubbeny,<br /> +And she has been the ruin of me.</p> +<p class="poetry">I sov’d yeck rarde drey a gran,<br /> +A choring mas and morro,<br /> +Along with a bori lubbeny,<br /> +And she has been the ruin of me.</p> +<p class="poetry">She pootch’d me on the collico,<br /> +A choring mas and morro,<br /> +To jaw with lasa to the show,<br /> +For she would be the ruin of me.</p> +<p class="poetry">And when I jaw’d odoy with lasa,<br /> +A choring mas and morro,<br /> +Sig she chor’d a rawnie’s kissi,<br /> +And so she was the ruin of me.</p> +<p class="poetry">They lell’d up lata, they lell’d up +mande,<br /> +A choring mas and morro,<br /> +And bitch’d us dui pawdle pãni,<br /> +So she has been the ruin of me.</p> +<p class="poetry">I’m jalling across the pāni,<br /> +A choring mas and morro,<br /> +Along with a bori lubbeny,<br /> +And she has been the ruin of me.</p> +<h4><a name="page151"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 151</span>WOE +IS ME</h4> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">I’m</span> sailing +across the water,<br /> +A-stealing bread and meat so free,<br /> +Along with a precious harlot,<br /> +And she has been the ruin of me.</p> +<p class="poetry">I slept one night within a barn,<br /> +A-stealing bread and meat so free,<br /> +Along with a precious harlot,<br /> +And she has been the ruin of me.</p> +<p class="poetry">Next morning she would have me go,<br /> +A-stealing bread and meat so free,<br /> +To see with her the wild-beast show,<br /> +For she would be the ruin of me.</p> +<p class="poetry">I went with her to see the show,<br /> +A-stealing bread and meat so free,<br /> +To steal a purse she was not slow,<br /> +And so she was the ruin of me.</p> +<p class="poetry">They took us up, and with her I,<br /> +A-stealing bread and meat so free:<br /> +Am sailing now to Botany,<br /> +So she has been the ruin of me.</p> +<p class="poetry">I’m sailing across the water,<br /> +A-stealing bread and meat so free,<br /> +Along with a precious harlot,<br /> +And she has been the ruin of me.</p> +<h3><a name="page152"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 152</span>THE +RYE AND RAWNIE</h3> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">The</span> rye he mores +adrey the wesh<br /> + The kaun-engro and chiriclo;<br /> +You sovs with leste drey the wesh,<br /> + And rigs for leste the gono.</p> +<p class="poetry">Oprey the rukh adrey the wesh<br /> + Are chiriclo and chiricli;<br /> +Tuley the rukh adrey the wesh<br /> + Are pireno and pireni.</p> +<h4><a name="page153"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 153</span>THE +SQUIRE AND LADY</h4> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">The</span> squire he roams +the good greenwood,<br /> + And shoots the pheasant and the hare;<br /> +Thou sleep’st with him in good green wood,<br /> + And dost for him the game-sack bear.</p> +<p class="poetry">I see, I see upon the tree<br /> + The little male and female dove;<br /> +Below the tree I see, I see<br /> + The lover and his lady love.</p> +<h3><a name="page154"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +154</span>ROMANY SUTTUR GILLIE</h3> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Jaw</span> to sutturs, my +tiny chal;<br /> +Your die to dukker has jall’d abri;<br /> +At rarde she will wel palal<br /> +And tute of her tud shall pie.</p> +<p class="poetry">Jaw to lutherum, tiny baw!<br /> +I’m teerie deya’s purie mam;<br /> +As tute cams her tud canaw<br /> +Thy deya meerie tud did cam.</p> +<h4><a name="page155"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +155</span>GYPSY LULLABY</h4> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Sleep</span> thee, little +tawny boy!<br /> + Thy mother’s gone abroad to spae,<br /> +Her kindly milk thou shalt enjoy<br /> + When home she comes at close of day.</p> +<p class="poetry">Sleep thee, little tawny guest!<br /> + Thy mother is my daughter fine;<br /> +As thou dost love her kindly breast,<br /> + She once did love this breast of mine.</p> +<h3><a name="page156"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +156</span>SHARRAFI KRALYISSA</h3> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Finor</span> coachey innar +Lundra,<br /> +Bonor coachey innar Lundra,<br /> +Finor coachey, bonor coachey<br /> +Mande dick’d innar Lundra.</p> +<p class="poetry">Bonor, finor coachey<br /> +Mande dick’d innar Lundra<br /> +The divvus the Kralyissa jall’d<br /> +To congri innar Lundra.</p> +<h4>OUR BLESSED QUEEN</h4> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Coaches</span> fine in +London,<br /> +Coaches good in London,<br /> +Coaches fine and coaches good<br /> +I did see in London.</p> +<p class="poetry">Coaches good and coaches fine<br /> +I did see in London,<br /> +The blessed day our blessed Queen<br /> +Rode to church in London.</p> +<h3>PLASTRA LESTI</h3> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Gare</span> yourselves, +pralor!<br /> +Mã pee kek-komi!<br /> +The guero’s welling—<br /> +Plastra lesti!</p> +<h4>RUN FOR IT!</h4> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Up</span>, up, brothers!<br +/> +Cease your revels!<br /> +The Gentile’s coming—<br /> +Run like devils!</p> +<h2><a name="page159"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +159</span>FOREIGN GYPSY SONGS</h2> +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Oy</span> die-la, oy mama-la +oy!<br /> +Cherie podey mangue penouri.</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>Russian Gypsy Song</i>.</p> +</blockquote> +<h3><a name="page161"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 161</span>THE +ROMANY SONGSTRESS<br /> +<span class="GutSmall">FROM THE RUSSIAN GYPSY</span></h3> +<p class="poetry"> <span +class="smcap">Her</span> temples they are aching,<br /> + As if wine she had been taking;<br /> + Her tears are ever springing,<br /> + Abandoned is her singing!<br /> + She can neither eat nor nest<br /> + With love she’s so distress’d;<br /> + At length she’s heard to say:<br /> + “Oh here I cannot stay,<br /> + Go saddle me my steed,<br /> + To my lord I must proceed;<br /> + In his palace plenteously<br /> + Both eat and drink shall I;<br /> + The servants far and wide,<br /> + Bidding guests shall run and ride.<br /> +And when within the hall the multitude I see,<br /> +I’ll raise my voice anew, and sing in Romany.”</p> +<h3><a name="page162"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +162</span>L’ERAJAI</h3> +<p class="poetry"> <span +class="smcap">Un</span> erajai<br /> +Sinaba chibando un sermon;<br /> +Y lle falta un balicho<br /> +Al chindomar de aquel gao,<br /> +Y lo chanelaba que los Cales<br /> +Lo abian nicabao;<br /> +Y penela l’erajai, “Chaboró!<br /> +Guillate a tu quer<br /> +Y nicabela la peri<br /> +Que terela el balicho,<br /> +Y chibela andro<br /> +Una lima de tun chaborí,<br /> +Chabori,<br /> +Una lima de tun chabori.”</p> +<h4><a name="page163"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 163</span>THE +FRIAR<br /> +<span class="GutSmall">FROM THE SPANISH GYPSY</span></h4> +<p class="poetry"> A <span +class="smcap">Friar</span><br /> +Was preaching once with zeal and with fire;<br /> +And a butcher of the town<br /> +Had lost a flitch of bacon;<br /> +And well the friar knew<br /> +That the Gypsies it had taken;<br /> +So suddenly he shouted: “Gypsy, ho!<br /> +Hie home, and from the pot!<br /> +Take the flitch of bacon out,<br /> +The flitch good and fat,<br /> +And in its place throw<br /> +A clout, a dingy clout of thy brat,<br /> +Of thy brat,<br /> +A clout, a dingy clout of thy brat.”</p> +<h3><a name="page164"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +164</span>MALBRUN<br /> +<span class="GutSmall">FROM THE SPANISH GYPSY VERSION</span></h3> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Chaló</span> Malbrun +chingarár,<br /> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br /> +Chaló Malbrun chingarár;<br /> +No sé bus truterá!<br /> +No sé bus truterá!</p> +<p class="poetry">La romi que le caméla,<br /> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br /> +La romi que le camela<br /> +Muy curepeñada está,<br /> +Muy curepeñada está.</p> +<p class="poetry">S’ardéla á la +felichá,<br /> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br /> +S’ardéla á la felichá<br /> +Y baribu dur dicá,<br /> +Y baribu dur dicá.</p> +<p class="poetry">Dicá abillar su burno,<br /> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br /> +Dicá abillar su burno,<br /> +En ropa callardá,<br /> +En ropa callardá.</p> +<p class="poetry">“Burno, lacho quirbó;<br /> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br /> +Burno, lacho quiribó,<br /> +<a name="page165"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 165</span>Que +nuevas has diñar?<br /> +Que nuevas has diñar?”</p> +<p class="poetry">“Las nuevas que io térelo,<br /> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br /> +Las nuevas que io terélo<br /> +Te haran orobar,<br /> +Te haran orobar.</p> +<p class="poetry">“Meró Malbrun mi eráy,<br +/> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br /> +Meró Malbrun mi eráy<br /> +Meró en la chingá,<br /> +Meró en la chingá.</p> +<p class="poetry">“Sinaba á su entierro,<br /> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br /> +Sinaba á su entierro<br /> +La plastani sará,<br /> +La plastani sará.</p> +<p class="poetry">“Seis guapos jundunáres,<br /> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br /> +Seis guapos jundunáres<br /> +Le lleváron cabañar,<br /> +Le lleváron cabañar.</p> +<p class="poetry">“Delante de la jestári,<br /> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br /> +Delante de la jestári<br /> +Chaló el sacristá,<br /> +Chaló el sacristá.</p> +<p class="poetry"><a name="page166"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +166</span>“El sacristá delante,<br /> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br /> +El sacristá delante,<br /> +Y el errajai palá,<br /> +Y el errajai palá.</p> +<p class="poetry">“Al majaro ortaláme,<br /> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br /> +Al majaro ortaláme<br /> +Le lleváron cabañar,<br /> +Le lleváron cabañar.</p> +<p class="poetry">“Y oté le +cabañáron<br /> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br /> +Y oté le cabañáron<br /> +No dur de la burdá,<br /> +No dur de la burdá.</p> +<p class="poetry">“Y opré de la jestári<br /> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br /> +Guillabéla un chilindróte;<br /> +Sobá en paz, sobá!<br /> +Sobá en paz, sobá!”</p> +<h4><a name="page167"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +167</span>MALBROUK</h4> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Malbrouk</span> is gone to +the wars,<br /> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br /> +Malbrouk is gone to the wars;<br /> +He’ll never return no more!<br /> +He’ll never return no more!</p> +<p class="poetry">His lady-love and darling,<br /> +Birrandon, birrandón, birrandéra<br /> +His lady-love and darling<br /> +His absence doth deplore,<br /> +His absence doth deplore.</p> +<p class="poetry">To the turret’s top she mounted,<br /> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br /> +To the turret’s top she mounted<br /> +And look’d till her eyes were sore,<br /> +And look’d till her eyes were sore.</p> +<p class="poetry">She saw his squire a-coming,<br /> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br /> +She saw his squire a-coming;<br /> +And a mourning suit he wore,<br /> +And a mourning suit he wore.</p> +<p class="poetry">“O squire, my trusty fellow;<br /> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br /> +O squire, my trusty fellow,<br /> +<a name="page168"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 168</span>What +news of my soldier poor?<br /> +What news of my soldier poor?”</p> +<p class="poetry">“The news which I bring thee, lady,<br /> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br /> +The news which I bring thee, lady,<br /> +Will cause thy tears to shower,<br /> +Will cause thy tears to shower.</p> +<p class="poetry">“Malbrouk my master’s fallen,<br /> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br /> +Malbrouk my master’s fallen,<br /> +He fell on the fields of gore,<br /> +He fell on the fields of gore.</p> +<p class="poetry">“His funeral attended,<br /> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br /> +His funeral attended<br /> +The whole reg’mental corps,<br /> +The whole reg’mental corps.</p> +<p class="poetry">“Six neat and proper soldiers,<br /> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br /> +Six neat and proper soldiers<br /> +To the grave my master bore,<br /> +To the grave my master bore.</p> +<p class="poetry">“The parson follow’d the coffin,<br +/> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br /> +The parson follow’d the coffin,<br /> +And the sexton walk’d before,<br /> +And the sexton walk’d before.</p> +<p class="poetry"><a name="page169"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +169</span>“They buried him in the churchyard,<br /> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br /> +They buried him in the churchyard,<br /> +Not far from the church’s door,<br /> +Not far from the church’s door.</p> +<p class="poetry">“And there above his coffin,<br /> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br /> +There sings a little swallow:<br /> +Sleep there, thy toils are o’er,<br /> +Sleep there, thy toils are o’er.”</p> +<h2><a name="page171"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 171</span>THE +ENGLISH GYPSIES</h2> +<h3><a name="page172"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +172</span>TUGNEY BESHOR</h3> +<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">The</span> Romany Chals<br +/> +Should jin so bute<br /> +As the Puro Beng<br /> +To scape of gueros<br /> +And wafo gorgies<br /> +The wafodupen.</p> +<p class="poetry">They lels our gryor,<br /> +They lels our wardoes,<br /> +And wusts us then<br /> +Drey starripenes<br /> +To mer of pishens<br /> +And buklipen.</p> +<p class="poetry">Cauna volélan<br /> +Muley pappins<br /> +Pawdle the len<br /> +Men artavàvam<br /> +Of gorgio foky<br /> +The wafodupen.<br /> + Ley teero sollohanloinus +opreylis!</p> +<h4><a name="page173"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +173</span>SORROWFUL YEARS</h4> +<p class="poetry">The wit and the skill<br /> +Of the Father of ill,<br /> +Who’s clever indeed,<br /> +If they would hope<br /> +With their foes to cope<br /> +The Romany need.</p> +<p class="poetry">Our horses they take,<br /> +Our waggons they break,<br /> +And us they fling<br /> +Into horrid cells,<br /> +Where hunger dwells<br /> +And vermin sting.</p> +<p class="poetry">When the dead swallow<br /> +The fly shall follow<br /> +Across the river,<br /> +O we’ll forget<br /> +The wrongs we’ve met,<br /> +But till then O never:<br /> + Brother, of that be certain.</p> +<h3><a name="page174"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +174</span>THEIR HISTORY</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> English Gypsies call themselves +Romany Chals and Romany Chies, that is, Sons and Daughters of +Rome. When speaking to each other, they say +“Pal” and “Pen”; that is, brother and +sister. All people not of their own blood they call +“Gorgios,” or Gentiles. Gypsies first made +their appearance in England about the year 1480. They +probably came from France, where tribes of the race had long been +wandering about under the names of Bohemians and Egyptians. +In England they pursued the same kind of merripen <a +name="citation174"></a><a href="#footnote174" +class="citation">[174]</a> which they and their ancestors had +pursued on the Continent. They roamed about in bands, +consisting of thirty, sixty, or ninety families, with light, +creaking carts, drawn by horses and donkeys, encamping at night +in the spots they deemed convenient. The women told +fortunes at the castle of the baron and the cottage of the +yeoman; filched gold and silver coins from the counters of +money-changers; caused the death of hogs in farmyards, by means +of a stuff called drab or drao, which affects the brain, but does +not corrupt the blood; and subsequently begged, and generally +obtained, the carcases. The men plied tinkering and +brasiery, now and then stole horses, and occasionally ventured +upon highway robbery. The writer has here placed the Chies +before the Chals, because, as he has frequently had occasion to +observe, the Gypsy women are by far more <a +name="page175"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 175</span>remarkable +beings than the men. It is the Chi and not the Chal who has +caused the name of Gypsy to be a sound awaking wonder, awe, and +curiosity in every part of the civilised world. Not that +there have never been remarkable men of the Gypsy race both +abroad and at home. Duke Michael, as he was called, the +leader of the great Gypsy horde which suddenly made its +appearance in Germany at the beginning of the fifteenth century, +was no doubt a remarkable man; the Gitano Condre, whom Martin del +Rio met at Toledo a hundred years afterwards, who seemed to speak +all languages, and to be perfectly acquainted with the politics +of all the Courts of Europe, must certainly have been a +remarkable man; so, no doubt, here at home was Boswell; so +undoubtedly was Cooper, called by the gentlemen of the Fives +Court—poor fellows! they are all gone now—the +“wonderful little Gypsy”;—but upon the whole +the poetry, the sorcery, the devilry, if you please to call it +so, are vastly on the side of the women. How blank and +inanimate is the countenance of the Gypsy man, even when trying +to pass off a foundered donkey as a flying dromedary, in +comparison with that of the female Romany, peering over the wall +of a par-yard at a jolly hog!</p> +<blockquote><p>Sar shin Sinfye?<br /> +Koshto divvus, Romany Chi!<br /> +So shan tute kairing acoi?</p> +<p>Sinfye, Sinfye! how do you do?<br /> +Daughter of Rome, good day to you!<br /> +What are you thinking here to do?</p> +</blockquote> +<p><a name="page176"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 176</span>After +a time the evil practices of the Gypsies began to be noised +about, and terrible laws were enacted against people “using +the manner of Egyptians”—Chies were scourged by +dozens, Chals hung by scores. Throughout the reign of +Elizabeth there was a terrible persecution of the Gypsy race; far +less, however, on account of the crimes which they actually +committed, than from a suspicion which was entertained that they +harboured amidst their companies priests and emissaries of Rome, +who had come to England for the purpose of sowing sedition and +inducing the people to embrace again the old discarded +superstition. This suspicion, however, was entirely without +foundation. The Gypsies call each other brother and sister, +and are not in the habit of admitting to their fellowship people +of a different blood and with whom they have no sympathy. +There was, however, a description of wandering people at that +time, even as there is at present, with whom the priests, who are +described as going about, sometimes disguised as serving-men, +sometimes as broken soldiers, sometimes as shipwrecked mariners, +would experience no difficulty in associating, and with whom, in +all probability, they occasionally did associate—the people +called in Acts of Parliament sturdy beggars and vagrants, in the +old cant language Abraham men, and in the modern Pikers. +These people have frequently been confounded with the Gypsies, +but are in reality a distinct race, though they resemble the +latter in some points. They roam about like the Gypsies, +and, like them, have a kind of secret language. But the +Gypsies are a people of Oriental <a name="page177"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 177</span>origin, whilst the Abrahamites are +the scurf of the English body corporate. The language of +the Gypsies is a real language, more like the Sanscrit than any +other language in the world; whereas the speech of the +Abrahamites is a horrid jargon, composed for the most part of low +English words used in an allegorical sense—a jargon in +which a stick is called a crack; a hostess, a rum necklace; a +bar-maid, a dolly-mort; brandy, rum booze; a constable, a +horny. But enough of these Pikers, these Abrahamites. +Sufficient to observe that if the disguised priests associated +with wandering companies it must have been with these people, who +admit anybody to their society, and not with the highly exclusive +race the Gypsies.</p> +<p>For nearly a century and a half after the death of Elizabeth +the Gypsies seem to have been left tolerably to themselves, for +the laws are almost silent respecting them. Chies, no +doubt, were occasionally scourged for cauring, that is filching +gold and silver coins, and Chals hung for grychoring, that is +horse-stealing; but those are little incidents not much regarded +in Gypsy merripen. They probably lived a life during the +above period tolerably satisfactory to themselves—they are +not an ambitious people, and there is no word for glory in their +language—but next to nothing is known respecting +them. A people called Gypsies are mentioned, and to a +certain extent treated of, in two remarkable works—one a +production of the seventeenth, the other of the eighteenth +century—the first entitled the ‘English Rogue, or the +Adventures of Merriton Latroon,’ the other the ‘Life +of Bamfield Moore Carew’; but those works, though <a +name="page178"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 178</span>clever and +entertaining, and written in the raciest English, are to those +who seek for information respecting Gypsies entirely valueless, +the writers having evidently mistaken for Gypsies the Pikers or +Abrahamites, as the vocabularies appended to the histories, and +which are professedly vocabularies of the Gypsy language, are +nothing of the kind, but collections of words and phrases +belonging to the Abrahamite or Piker jargon. At the +commencement of the last century, and for a considerable time +afterwards, there was a loud cry raised against the Gypsy women +for stealing children. This cry, however, was quite as +devoid of reason as the suspicion entertained of old against the +Gypsy communities of harbouring disguised priests. Gypsy +women, as the writer had occasion to remark many a long year ago, +have plenty of children of their own, and have no wish to +encumber themselves with those of other people. A yet more +extraordinary charge was, likewise, brought against +them—that of running away with wenches. Now, the idea +of Gypsy women running away with wenches! Where were they +to stow them in the event of running away with them? and what +were they to do with them in the event of being able to stow +them? Nevertheless, two Gypsy women were burnt in the hand +in the most cruel and frightful manner, somewhat about the middle +of the last century, and two Gypsy men, their relations, +sentenced to be hanged, for running away with a certain horrible +wench of the name of Elizabeth Canning, who, to get rid of a +disgraceful burden, had left her service and gone into +concealment for a month, and on her return, in order to <a +name="page179"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 179</span>account for +her absence, said that she had been run away with by +Gypsies. The men, however, did not undergo their sentence; +for, ere the day appointed for their execution arrived, +suspicions beginning to be entertained with respect to the truth +of the wench’s story, they were reprieved, and, after a +little time, the atrocious creature, who had charged people with +doing what they neither did nor dreamt of doing, was tried for +perjury, convicted, and sentenced to transportation. Yet so +great is English infatuation that this Canning, this Elizabeth, +had a host of friends, who stood by her, and swore by her to the +last, and almost freighted the ship which carried her away with +goods, the sale of which enabled her to purchase her freedom of +the planter to whom she was consigned, to establish herself in +business, and to live in comfort, and almost in luxury, in the +New World during the remainder of her life.</p> +<p>But though Gypsies have occasionally experienced injustice; +though Patricos and Sherengroes were hanged by dozens in +Elizabeth’s time on suspicion of harbouring disguised +priests; though Gypsy women in the time of the Second George, +accused of running away with wenches, were scorched and branded, +there can be no doubt that they live in almost continual +violation of the laws intended for the protection of society; and +it may be added, that in this illegal way of life the women have +invariably played a more important part than the men. Of +them, amongst other things, it may be said that they are the most +accomplished swindlers in the world, their principal victims +being people of their own sex, on whose credulity and <a +name="page180"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +180</span>superstition they practise. Mary Caumlo, or +Lovel, was convicted a few years ago at Cardiff of having +swindled a surgeon’s wife of eighty pounds, under pretence +of propitiating certain planets by showing them the money. +Not a penny of the booty was ever recovered by the deluded +victim; and the Caumli, on leaving the dock, after receiving +sentence of a year’s imprisonment, turned round and winked +to some <i>brother</i> or <i>sister</i> in court, as much as to +say: “<i>Mande has gared the luvvu</i>; <i>mande is kek +atugni for the besh’s starripen</i>”—“I +have hid the money, and care nothing for the year’s +imprisonment.” Young Rawnie P. of N., the daughter of +old Rawnie P., suddenly disappeared with the whole capital of an +aged and bedridden gentlewoman, amounting to nearly three hundred +pounds, whom she had assured that if she were intrusted with it +for a short time she should be able to gather certain herbs, from +which she could make decoctions, which would restore to the +afflicted gentlewoman all her youthful vigour. Mrs. +Townsley of the Border was some time ago in trouble at Wick, only +twenty-five miles distant from Johnny Groat’s House, on a +charge of fraudulently obtaining from a fisherman’s wife +one shilling, two half-crowns, and a five-pound note by promising +to untie certain witch-locks, which she had induced her to +believe were entwined in the meshes of the fisherman’s net, +and would, if suffered to remain, prevent him from catching a +single herring in the Firth. These events occurred within +the last few years, and are sufficiently notorious. They +form a triad out of dozens of a similar kind, in some of which +there <a name="page181"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +181</span>are features so odd, so strangely droll, that +indignation against the offence is dispelled by an irresistible +desire to laugh.</p> +<p>But Gypsyism is declining, and its days are numbered. +There is a force abroad which is doomed to destroy it, a force +which never sleepeth either by day or night, and which will not +allow the Roman people rest for the soles of their feet. +That force is the Rural Police, which, had it been established at +the commencement instead of towards the middle of the present +century, would have put down Gypsyism long ago. But, recent +as its establishment has been, observe what it has +produced. Walk from London to Carlisle, but neither by the +road’s side, nor on heath or common, will you see a single +Gypsy tent. True Gypsyism consists in wandering about, in +preying upon the Gentiles, but not living amongst them. But +such a life is impossible in these days; the Rural Force will not +permit it. “It is a hard thing, brother,” said +old Agamemnon Caumlo to the writer, several years ago; “it +is a hard thing, after one has pitched one’s little tent, +lighted one’s little fire, and hung one’s kettle by +the kettle-iron over it to boil, to have an inspector or +constable come up, and say, ‘What are you doing here? +Take yourself off, you Gypsy dog!’” A hard +thing, indeed, old Agamemnon; but there is no help for it. +You must e’en live amongst the Gorgios. And for years +past the Gypsies have lived amongst the Gorgios, and what has +been the result? They do not seem to have improved the +Gentiles, and have certainly not been improved by them. By +living amongst the Gentiles they have, to a certain extent, <a +name="page182"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 182</span>lost the +only two virtues they possessed. Whilst they lived apart on +heaths and commons, and in shadowy lanes, the Gypsy women were +paragons of chastity, and the men, if not exactly patterns of +sobriety, were, upon the whole, very sober fellows. Such +terms, however, are by no means applicable to them at the present +day. Sects and castes, even of thieves and murderers, can +exist as long as they have certain virtues, which give them a +kind of respect in their own eyes; but, losing those virtues, +they soon become extinct. When the salt loses its savour, +what becomes of it? The Gypsy salt has not altogether lost +its savour, but that essential quality is every day becoming +fainter, so that there is every reason to suppose that within a +few years the English Gypsy caste will have disappeared, merged +in the dregs of the English population.</p> +<h2><a name="page183"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +183</span>GYPSY NAMES</h2> +<p><a name="page185"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 185</span><span +class="smcap">There</span> are many curious things connected with +the Gypsies, but perhaps nothing more so than what pertains to +their names. They have a double nomenclature, each tribe or +family having a public and a private name, one by which they are +known to the Gentiles, and another to themselves alone. +Their public names are quite English; their private ones +attempts, some of them highly singular and uncouth, to render +those names by Gypsy equivalents. Gypsy names may be +divided into two classes, names connected with trades, and +surnames or family names. First of all, something about +trade names.</p> +<p>There are only two names of trades which have been adopted by +English Gypsies as proper names, Cooper and Smith: these names +are expressed in the English Gypsy dialect by <i>Vardo-mescro</i> +and <i>Petulengro</i>. The first of these renderings is by +no means a satisfactory one, as <i>Vardo-mescro</i> means a +cartwright, or rather a carter. To speak the truth, it +would be next to impossible to render the word +‘cooper’ into English Gypsy, or indeed into Gypsy of +any kind; a cooper, according to the <a name="page186"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 186</span>common acceptation of the word, is +one who makes pails, tubs, and barrels, but there are no words in +Gypsy for such vessels. The Transylvanian Gypsies call a +cooper a <i>bedra-kero</i> or pail-maker, but <i>bedra</i> is not +Gypsy, but Hungarian, and the English Gypsies might with equal +propriety call a cooper a <i>pail-engro</i>. On the whole +the English Gypsies did their best when they rendered +‘cooper’ into their language by the word for +‘cartwright.’</p> +<p><i>Petulengro</i>, the other trade name, is borne by the +Gypsies who are known to the public by the English appellation of +Smith. It is not very easy to say what is the exact meaning +of <i>Petulengro</i>: it must signify, however, either +horseshoe-fellow or tinker: <i>petali</i> or <i>petala</i> +signifies in Gypsy a horseshoe, and is probably derived from the +Modern Greek +<i>πέταλον</i>; +<i>engro</i> is an affix, and is either derived from or connected +with the Sanscrit <i>kara</i>, to make, so that with great +feasibility <i>Petulengro</i> may be translated +horseshoe-maker. But <i>bedel</i> in Hebrew means +‘tin,’ and as there is little more difference between +<i>petul</i> and <i>bedel</i> than between <i>petul</i> and +<i>petalon</i>, <i>Petulengro</i> may be translated with almost +equal feasibility by tinker or tin-worker, more especially as +tinkering is a principal pursuit of Gypsies, and to <i>jal +petulengring</i> signifies to go a-tinkering in English +Gypsy. Taken, however, in either sense, whether as +horseshoe-maker or tin-worker (and, as has been already observed, +it must mean one or the other), <i>Petulengro</i> may be +considered as a tolerably fair rendering of the English +Smith.</p> +<p>So much for the names of the Gypsies which <a +name="page187"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 187</span>the writer +has ventured to call the trade names; now for those of the other +class. These are English surnames, and for the most part of +a highly aristocratic character, and it seems at first surprising +that people so poor and despised as Gypsies should be found +bearing names so time-honoured and imposing. There is, +however, a tolerable explanation of the matter in the supposition +that on their first arrival in England the different tribes +sought the protection of certain grand powerful families, and +were permitted by them to locate themselves on their heaths and +amid their woodlands, and that they eventually adopted the names +of their patrons. Here follow the English names of some of +the principal tribes, with the Romany translations or +equivalents:—</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Boswell</span>.—The proper meaning +of this word is the town of Bui. The initial <i>Bo</i> or +<i>Bui</i> is an old Northern name, signifying a colonist or +settler, one who tills and builds. It was the name of a +great many celebrated Northern <i>kempions</i>, who won land and +a home by hard blows. The last syllable, <i>well</i>, is +the French <i>ville</i>: Boswell, Boston, and Busby all signify +one and the same thing—the town of Bui—the +<i>well</i> being French, the <i>ton</i> Saxon, and the <i>by</i> +Danish; they are half-brothers of Bovil and Belville, both +signifying fair town, and which ought to be written Beauville and +Belville. The Gypsies, who know and care nothing about +etymologies, confounding <i>bos</i> with <i>buss</i>, a vulgar +English verb not to be found in dictionaries, which signifies to +kiss, rendered the name Boswell by <i>Chumomisto</i>, that is, +Kisswell, or one who kisses <a name="page188"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 188</span>well—<i>choom</i> in their +language signifying to kiss, and <i>misto</i> well—likewise +by <i>choomomescro</i>, a kisser. Vulgar as the word +<i>buss</i> may sound at present, it is by no means of vulgar +origin, being connected with the Latin <i>basio</i> and the +Persian <i>bousè</i>.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Grey</span>.—This is the name of a +family celebrated in English history. The Gypsies who +adopted it, rendered it into their language by <i>Gry</i>, a word +very much resembling it in sound, though not in sense, for +<i>gry</i>, which is allied to the Sanscrit <i>ghora</i>, +signifies a horse. They had no better choice, however, for +in Romany there is no word for grey, any more than there is for +green or blue. In several languages there is a difficulty +in expressing the colour which in English is called grey. +In Celtic, for instance, there is no definite word for it; +<i>glas</i>, it is true, is used to express it, but <i>glas</i> +is as frequently used to express green as it is to express +grey.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Hearne</span>, <span +class="smcap">Herne</span>.—This is the name of a family +which bears the heron for its crest, the name being either +derived from the crest, or the crest from the name. There +are two Gypsy renderings of the +<i>word</i>—<i>Rossar-mescro</i> or <i>Ratzie-mescro</i>, +and <i>Balorengre</i>. <i>Rossar-mescro</i> signifies +duck-fellow, the duck being substituted for the heron, for which +there is no word in Romany. The meaning of +<i>Balor-engre</i> is hairy people; the translator or translators +seeming to have confounded Hearne with ‘haaren,’ old +English for hairs. The latter rendering has never been much +in use.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lee</span>.—The Gypsy name of this +tribe is <i>Purrum</i>, sometimes pronounced <i>Purrun</i>. +The meaning of <i>Purrurn</i> is an onion, and it may be asked +what <a name="page189"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +189</span>connection can there be between Lee and onion? +None whatever: but there is some resemblance in sound between Lee +and leek, and it is probable that the Gypsies thought so, and on +that account rendered the name by <i>Purrum</i>, which, if not +exactly a leek, at any rate signifies something which is +cousin-german to a leek. It must be borne in mind that in +some parts of England the name Lee is spelt Legh and Leigh, which +would hardly be the case if at one time it had not terminated in +something like a guttural, so that when the Gypsies rendered the +name, perhaps nearly four hundred years ago, it sounded very much +like ‘leek,’ and perhaps was Leek, a name derived +from the family crest. At first the writer was of opinion +that the name was <i>Purrun</i>, a modification of <i>pooro</i>, +which in the Gypsy language signifies old, but speedily came to +the conclusion that it must be <i>Purrum</i>, a leek or onion; +for what possible reason could the Gypsies have for rendering Lee +by a word which signifies old or ancient? whereas by rendering it +by <i>Purrum</i>, they gave themselves a Gypsy name, which, if it +did not signify Lee, must to their untutored minds have seemed a +very good substitute for Lee. The Gypsy word <i>pooro</i>, +old, belongs to Hindostan, and is connected with the Sanscrit +<i>pura</i>, which signifies the same. <i>Purrum</i> is a +modification of the Wallachian <i>pur</i>, a word derived from +the Latin <i>porrum</i>, an onion, and picked up by the Gypsies +in Roumania or Wallachia, the natives of which region speak a +highly curious mixture of Latin and Sclavonian.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Lovel</span>.—This is the name or +title of an old and powerful English family. The meaning of +it is <a name="page190"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +190</span>Leo’s town, Lowe’s town, or Louis’ +town. The Gypsies, who adopted it, seem to have imagined +that it had something to do with love, for they translated it by +<i>Camlo</i> or <i>Caumlo</i>, that which is lovely or amiable, +and also by <i>Camomescro</i>, a lover, an amorous person, +sometimes used for ‘friend.’ <i>Camlo</i> is +connected with the Sanscrit <i>Cama</i>, which signifies love, +and is the appellation of the Hindoo god of love. A name of +the same root as the one borne by that divinity was not +altogether inapplicable to the Gypsy tribe who adopted it: +<i>Cama</i>, if all tales be true, was black, black though +comely, a <i>Beltenebros</i>, and the Lovel tribe is decidedly +the most comely and at the same time the darkest of all the +Anglo-Egyptian families. The faces of many of them, male +and female, are perfect specimens of black beauty. They are +generally called by the race the <i>Kaulo Camloes</i>, the Black +Comelies. And here, though at the risk of being thought +digressive, the writer cannot forbear saying that the darkest and +at one time the comeliest of all the <i>Caumlies</i>, a +celebrated fortune-teller, and an old friend of his, lately +expired in a certain old town, after attaining an age which was +something wonderful. She had twenty-one brothers and +sisters, and was the eldest of the family, on which account she +was called “Rawnie P., pooroest of bis ta dui,” Lady +P.—she had married out of the family—eldest of +twenty-two.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Marshall</span>.—The name Marshall +has either to do with marshal, the title of a high military +personage, or marches, the borders of contiguous countries. +In the early Norman period it was the name of an Earl of +Pembroke. The Gypsies who <a name="page191"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 191</span>adopted the name seem in translating +it to have been of opinion that it was connected with marshes, +for they rendered it by <i>mokkado tan engre</i>, fellows of the +wet or miry place, an appellation which at one time certainly +became them well, for they are a northern tribe belonging to the +Border, a country not very long ago full of mosses and miry +places. Though calling themselves English, they are in +reality quite as much Scotch as English, and as often to be found +in Scotland as the other country, especially in Dumfriesshire and +Galloway, in which latter region, in Saint Cuthbert’s +churchyard, lies buried ‘the old man’ of the +race,—Marshall, who died at the age of 107. They +sometimes call themselves <i>Bungyoror</i> and +<i>Chikkeneymengre</i>, cork-fellows and china people, which +names have reference to the occupations severally followed by the +males and females, the former being cutters of bungs and corks, +and the latter menders of china.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Stanley</span>.—This is the name or +title of an ancient English family celebrated in history. +It is probably descriptive of their original place of residence, +for it signifies the stony lea, which is also the meaning of the +Gaelic <i>Auchinlech</i>, the place of abode of the Scottish +Boswells. It was adopted by an English Gypsy tribe, at one +time very numerous, but at present much diminished. Of this +name there are two renderings into Romany; one is <i>Baryor</i> +or <i>Baremescre</i>, stone-folks or stonemasons, the other is +<i>Beshaley</i>. The first requires no comment, but the +second is well worthy of analysis, as it is an example of the +strange blunders which the Gypsies sometimes make in their <a +name="page192"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 192</span>attempts at +translation. When they rendered Stanley by <i>Beshaley</i> +or <i>Beshley</i>, they mistook the first syllable <i>stan</i> +for ‘stand,’ but for a very good reason rendered it +by <i>besh</i>, which signifies ‘to sit, and the second for +a word in their own language, for <i>ley</i> or <i>aley</i> in +Gypsy signifies ‘down,’ so they rendered Stanley by +<i>Beshley</i> or <i>Beshaley</i>, which signifies ‘sit +down.’ Here, of course, it will be asked what reason +could have induced them, if they mistook <i>stan</i> for +‘stand,’ not to have rendered it by the Gypsy word +for ‘stand’? The reason was a very cogent one, +the want of a word in the Gypsy language to express +‘stand’; but they had heard in courts of justice +witnesses told to stand down, so they supposed that to stand down +was much the same as to sit down, whence their odd rendering of +Stanley. In no dialect of the Gypsy, from the Indus to the +Severn, is there any word for ‘stand,’ though in +every one there is a word for ‘sit,’ and that is +<i>besh</i>, and in every Gypsy encampment all along the vast +distance, <i>Beshley</i> or <i>Beshaley</i> would be considered +an invitation to sit down.</p> +<p>So much for the double-name system in use among the Gypsies of +England. There is something in connection with the Gypsies +of Spain which strangely coincides with one part of it—the +translation of names. Among the relics of the language of +the Gitanos or Spanish Gypsies are words, some simple and some +compound, which are evidently attempts to translate names in a +manner corresponding to the plan employed by the English +Romany. In illustration of the matter, the writer will give +an analysis of <i>Brono Aljenicato</i>, <a +name="page193"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 193</span>the +rendering into Gitano of the name of one frequently mentioned in +the New Testament, and once in the Apostles’ Creed, the +highly respectable, but much traduced individual known to the +English public as Pontius Pilate, to the Spanish as Poncio +Pilato. The manner in which the rendering has been +accomplished is as follows: <i>Poncio</i> bears some resemblance +to the Spanish <i>puente</i>, which signifies a bridge, and is a +modification of the Latin <i>pons</i>, and <i>Pilato</i> to the +Spanish <i>pila</i>, a fountain, or rather a stone pillar, from +the top of which the waters of a fountain springing eventually +fall into a stone basin below, the two words—the <i>Brono +Aljenicato</i>—signifying bridge-fountain, or that which is +connected with such a thing. Now this is the identical, or +all but the identical, way in which the names Lee, Lovel, and +Stanley have been done into English Romany. A remarkable +instance is afforded in this Gitano Scripture name, this <i>Brono +Aljenicato</i>, of the heterogeneous materials of which Gypsy +dialects are composed: <i>Brono</i> is a modification of a Hindoo +or Sanscrit, <i>Aljenicato</i> of an Arabic root. +<i>Brono</i> is connected with the Sanscrit <i>pindala</i>, which +signifies a bridge, and <i>Aljenicato</i> is a modification of +the Gypsy <i>aljenique</i>, derived from the Arabic <i>alain</i>, +which signifies the fountain. But of whatever materials +composed, a fine-sounding name is this same <i>Brono +Aljenicato</i>, perhaps the finest sounding specimen of Spanish +Gypsy extant, much finer than a translation of Pontius Pilate +would be, provided the name served to express the same things, in +English, which <i>Poncio Pilato</i> serves to express in Spanish, +for then it would be <i>Pudjico Pani</i> or Bridgewater; <a +name="page194"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 194</span>for though +in English Gypsy there is the word for a bridge, namely +<i>pudge</i>, a modification of the Persian <i>pul</i>, or the +Wallachian <i>podul</i>, there is none for a fountain, which can +be only vaguely paraphrased by <i>pani</i>, water.</p> +<h2><a name="page195"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +195</span>FORTUNE-TELLING</h2> +<p><a name="page197"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 197</span><span +class="smcap">Gypsy</span> women, as long as we have known +anything of Gypsy history, have been arrant +fortune-tellers. They plied fortune-telling about France +and Germany as early as 1414, the year when the dusky bands were +first observed in Europe, and they have never relinquished the +practice. There are two words for fortune-telling in Gypsy, +<i>bocht</i> and <i>dukkering</i>. <i>Bocht</i> is a +Persian word, a modification of, or connected with, the Sanscrit +<i>bagya</i>, which signifies ‘fate.’ +<i>Dukkering</i> is the modification of a Wallaco-Sclavonian word +signifying something spiritual or ghostly. In Eastern +European Gypsy, the Holy Ghost is called <i>Swentuno +Ducos</i>.</p> +<p>Gypsy fortune-telling is much the same everywhere, much the +same in Russia as it is in Spain and in England. Everywhere +there are three styles—the lofty, the familiar, and the +homely; and every Gypsy woman is mistress of all three and uses +each according to the rank of the person whose <i>vast</i> she +<i>dukkers</i>, whose hand she reads, and adapts the luck she +promises. There is a ballad of some antiquity in the +Spanish language about the <i>Buena Ventura</i>, a few stanzas of +which <a name="page198"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +198</span>translated will convey a tolerable idea of the first of +these styles to the reader, who will probably with no great +reluctance dispense with any illustrations of the other +two:—</p> +<p class="poetry">Late rather one morning<br /> +cIn summer’s sweet tide,<br /> +Goes forth to the Prado<br /> + Jacinta the bride:</p> +<p class="poetry">There meets her a Gypsy<br /> + So fluent of talk,<br /> +And jauntily dressed,<br /> + On the principal walk.</p> +<p class="poetry">“O welcome, thrice welcome,<br /> + Of beauty thou flower!<br /> +Believe me, believe me,<br /> + Thou com’st in good hour.”</p> +<p class="poetry">Surprised was Jacinta;<br /> + She fain would have fled;<br /> +But the Gypsy to cheer her<br /> + Such honeyed words said:</p> +<p class="poetry">“O cheek like the rose-leaf!<br /> + O lady high-born!<br /> +Turn thine eyes on thy servant,<br /> + But ah, not in scorn.</p> +<p class="poetry">“O pride of the Prado!<br /> + O joy of our clime!<br /> +Thou twice shalt be married,<br /> + And happily each time.</p> +<p class="poetry"><a name="page199"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +199</span>“Of two noble sons<br /> + Thou shalt be the glad mother,<br /> +One a Lord Judge,<br /> + A Field-Marshal the other.”</p> +<p>Gypsy females have told fortunes to higher people than the +young Countess Jacinta: <i>Modor</i>—of the Gypsy quire of +Moscow—told the fortune of Ekatarina, Empress of all the +Russias. The writer does not know what the Ziganka told +that exalted personage, but it appears that she gave perfect +satisfaction to the Empress, who not only presented her with a +diamond ring—a Russian diamond ring is not generally of +much value—but also her hand to kiss. The +writer’s old friend, Pepíta, the Gitana of Madrid, +told the <i>bahi</i> of Christina, the Regentess of Spain, in +which she assured her that she would marry the son of the King of +France, and received from the fair Italian a golden ounce, the +most magnificent of coins, a guerdon which she richly merited, +for she nearly hit the mark, for though Christina did not marry +the son of the King of France, her second daughter was married to +a son of the King of France, the Duke of M-, one of the three +claimants of the crown of Spain, and the best of the lot; and +Britannia, the Caumli, told the good luck to the Regent George on +Newmarket Heath, and received ‘foive guineas’ and a +hearty smack from him who eventually became George the +Fourth—no bad fellow by the by, either as regent or king, +though as much abused as Pontius Pilate, whom he much resembled +in one point, unwillingness to take life—the +<i>sonkaypè</i> or gold-gift being, no doubt, more +acceptable than the <a name="page200"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 200</span><i>choomapé</i> or kiss-gift +to the Beltenebrosa, who, if a certain song be true, had no +respect for <i>gorgios</i>, however much she liked their +money:—</p> +<p class="poetry">Britannia is my nav;<br /> +I am a Kaulo Camlo;<br /> +The gorgios pen I be<br /> +A bori chovahaunie;<br /> +And tatchipen they pens,<br /> +The dinneleskie gorgies,<br /> +For mande chovahans<br /> +The luvvu from their putsies.</p> +<p class="poetry">Britannia is my name;<br /> +I am a swarthy Lovel;<br /> +The Gorgios say I be<br /> +A witch of wondrous power;<br /> +And faith they speak the truth,<br /> +The silly, foolish fellows,<br /> +For often I bewitch<br /> +The money from their pockets.</p> +<p>Fortune-telling in all countries where the Gypsies are found +is frequently the prelude to a kind of trick called in all Gypsy +dialects by something more or less resembling the Sanscrit +<i>kuhana</i>; for instance, it is called in Spain <i>jojana</i>, +<i>hokano</i>, and in English <i>hukni</i>. It is practised +in various ways, all very similar; the defrauding of some simple +person of money or property being the object in view. +Females are generally the victims of the trick, especially those +of the middle class, who are more accessible to <i>the poor +woman</i> than those of the upper. One of the ways, perhaps +the most artful, will be found described in another chapter.</p> +<h3><a name="page201"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 201</span>THE +HUKNI</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Gypsy makes some poor simpleton +of a lady believe that if the latter puts her gold into her +hands, and she makes it up into a parcel, and puts it between the +lady’s feather-bed and mattress, it will at the end of a +month be multiplied a hundredfold, provided the lady does not +look at it during all that time. On receiving the money she +makes it up into a brown paper parcel, which she seals with wax, +turns herself repeatedly round, squints, and spits, and then puts +between the feather-bed and mattress—not the parcel of +gold, but one exactly like it, which she has prepared beforehand, +containing old halfpence, farthings, and the like; then, after +cautioning the lady by no means to undo the parcel before the +stated time, she takes her departure singing to +herself:—</p> +<blockquote><p>O dear me! O dear me!<br /> +What dinnelies these gorgies be.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>The above artifice is called by the English Gypsies the +<i>hukni</i>, and by the Spanish <i>hokhano baro</i>, or the +great lie. <i>Hukni</i> and <i>hokano</i> were originally +one and the same word; the root seems to be the Sanscrit +<i>huhanã</i>, lie, trick, deceit.</p> +<h3><a name="page202"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +202</span>CAURING</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Gypsy has some queer, +old-fashioned gold piece; this she takes to some +goldsmith’s shop, at the window of which she has observed a +basin full of old gold coins, and shows it to the goldsmith, +asking him if he will purchase it. He looks at it +attentively, and sees that it is of very pure gold; whereupon he +says that he has no particular objection to buy it; but that as +it is very old it is not of much value, and that he has several +like it. “Have you indeed, Master?” says the +Gypsy; “then pray show them to me, and I will buy them; +for, to tell you the truth, I would rather buy than sell pieces +like this, for I have a great respect for them, and know their +value: give me back my coin, and I will compare any you have with +it.” The goldsmith gives her back her coin, takes his +basin of gold from the window, and places it on the +counter. The Gypsy puts down her head, and pries into the +basin. “Ah, I see nothing here like my coin,” +says she. “Now, Master, to oblige me, take out a +handful of the coins and lay them on the counter; I am a poor, +honest woman, Master, and do not wish to put my hand into your +basin. Oh! if I could find one coin like my own, I would +give much money for it; <i>barributer</i> than it is +worth.” The goldsmith, to oblige the poor, simple, +foreign creature (for such he believes her to be), and, with a +considerable hope of profit, takes a handful of coins from the +basin <a name="page203"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +203</span>and puts them upon the counter. “I fear +there is none here like mine, Master,” says the Gypsy, +moving the coins rapidly with the tips of her fingers. +“No, no, there is not one here like mine—<i>kek +yeck</i>, <i>kek yeck</i>—not one, not one. Stay, +stay! What’s this, what’s this? <i>So se +cavo</i>, <i>so se cavo</i>? Oh, here is one like mine; or +if not quite like, like enough to suit me. Now, Master, +what will you take for this coin?” The goldsmith +looks at it, and names a price considerably above the value; +whereupon she says: “Now, Master, I will deal fairly with +you: you have not asked me the full value of the coin by three +three-groats, three-groats, three-groats; by <i>trin +tringurushis</i>, <i>tringurushis</i>, <i>tringurushis</i>. +So here’s the money you asked, Master, and three +three-groats, three shillings, besides. God bless you, +Master! You would have cheated yourself, but the poor woman +would not let you; for though she is poor she is honest”: +and thus she takes her leave, leaving the goldsmith very well +satisfied with his customer—with little reason, however, +for out of about twenty coins which he laid on the counter she +had filched at least three, which her brown nimble fingers, +though they seemingly scarcely touched the gold, contrived to +convey up her sleeves. This kind of pilfering is called by +the English Gypsies <i>cauring</i>, and by the Spanish <i>ustilar +pastesas</i>, or stealing with the fingers. The word +<i>caur</i> seems to be connected with the English <i>cower</i>, +and the Hebrew <i>kãra</i>, a word of frequent occurrence +in the historical part of the Old Testament, and signifying to +bend, stoop down, <i>incurvare</i>.</p> +<h2><a name="page205"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +205</span>METROPOLITAN GYPSYRIES</h2> +<h3><a name="page207"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +207</span>WANDSWORTH, 1864</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">What</span> may be called the grand +Metropolitan Gypsyry is on the Surrey side of the Thames. +Near the borders of Wandsworth and Battersea, about a quarter of +a mile from the river, is an open piece of ground which may +measure about two acres. To the south is a hill, at the +foot of which is a railway, and it is skirted on the north by the +Wandsworth and Battersea Road. This place is what the +Gypsies call a <i>kekkeno mushes puv</i>, a no man’s +ground; a place which has either no proprietor, or which the +proprietor, for some reason, makes no use of for the +present. The houses in the neighbourhood are mean and +squalid, and are principally inhabited by artisans of the lowest +description. This spot, during a considerable portion of +the year, is the principal place of residence of the Metropolitan +Gypsies, and of other people whose manner of life more or less +resembles theirs. During the summer and autumn the little +plain, for such it is, is quite deserted, except that now and +then a wretched tent or two may be seen upon it, belonging to <a +name="page208"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 208</span>some tinker +family, who have put up there for a few hours on their way +through the metropolis; for the Gypsies are absent during summer, +some at fairs and races, the men with their cocoa-nuts and the +women busy at fortune-telling, or at suburban places of +pleasure—the former with their donkeys for the young +cockneys to ride upon, and the latter as usual <i>dukkering</i> +and <i>hokkering</i>, and the other travellers, as they are +called, roaming about the country following their particular +avocations, whilst in the autumn the greater part of them all are +away in Kent, getting money by picking hops. As soon, +however, as the rains, the precursors of winter, descend, the +place begins to be occupied, and about a week or two before +Christmas it is almost crammed with the tents and caravans of the +wanderers; and then it is a place well worthy to be explored, +notwithstanding the inconvenience of being up to one’s +ankles in mud, and the rather appalling risk of being bitten by +the Gypsy and travelling dogs tied to the tents and caravans, in +whose teeth there is always venom and sometimes that which can +bring on the water-horror, for which no European knows a +remedy. The following is an attempt to describe the odd +people and things to be met with here; the true Gypsies, and what +to them pertaineth, being of course noticed first.</p> +<p>On this plain there may be some fifteen or twenty Gypsy tents +and caravans. Some of the tents are large, as indeed it is +highly necessary that they should be, being inhabited by large +families—a man and his wife, a grandmother a sister or two +and half a dozen children, being, <a name="page209"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 209</span>occasionally found in one; some of +them are very small, belonging to poor old females who have lost +their husbands, and whose families have separated themselves from +them, and allow them to shift for themselves. During the +day the men are generally busy at their several avocations, +<i>chinning the cost</i>, that is, cutting the stick for skewers, +making pegs for linen-lines, <i>kipsimengring</i> or +basket-making, tinkering or braziering; the children are playing +about, or begging halfpence by the road of passengers; whilst the +women are strolling about, either in London or the neighbourhood, +engaged in fortune-telling or swindling. Of the trades of +the men, the one by far the most practised is <i>chinning the +cost</i>, and as they sit at the door of the tents, cutting and +whittling away, they occasionally sweeten their toil by raising +their voices and singing the Gypsy stanza in which the art is +mentioned, and which for terseness and expressiveness is quite +equal to anything in the whole circle of Gentile poetry:</p> +<p class="poetry">Can you rokra Romany?<br /> + Can you play the bosh?<br /> +Can you jal adrey the staripen?<br /> + Can you chin the cost?</p> +<p class="poetry">Can you speak the Roman tongue?<br /> + Can you play the fiddle?<br /> +Can you eat the prison-loaf?<br /> + Can you cut and whittle?</p> +<p>These Gypsies are of various tribes, but chiefly Purruns, +Chumomescroes and Vardomescroes, or Lees, Boswells and Coopers, +and Lees being by <a name="page210"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +210</span>far the most numerous. The men are well made, +active fellows, somewhat below the middle height. Their +complexions are dark, and their eyes are full of intelligence; +their habiliments are rather ragged. The women are mostly +wild-looking creatures, some poorly clad, others exhibiting not a +little strange finery. There are some truly singular beings +amongst those women, which is more than can be said with respect +to the men, who are much on a level, and amongst whom there is +none whom it is possible to bring prominently out, and about whom +much can be said. The women, as has been already observed, +are generally out during the day, being engaged in their +avocations abroad. There is a very small tent about the +middle of the place; it belongs to a lone female, whom one +frequently meets wandering about Wandsworth or Battersea, seeking +an opportunity to <i>dukker</i> some credulous +servant-girl. It is hard that she should have to do so, as +she is more than seventy-five years of age, but if she did not +she would probably starve. She is very short of stature, +being little more than five feet and an inch high, but she is +wonderfully strongly built. Her head is very large, and +seems to have been placed at once upon her shoulders without any +interposition of neck. Her face is broad, with a +good-humoured expression upon it, and in general with very little +vivacity; at times, however, it lights up, and then all the Gypsy +beams forth. Old as she is, her hair, which is very long, +is as black as the plumage of a crow, and she walks sturdily, +though with not much elasticity, on her short, thick legs, and, +if <a name="page211"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +211</span>requested, would take up the heaviest man in Wandsworth +or Battersea and walk away with him. She is, upon the +whole, the oddest Gypsy woman ever seen; see her once and you +will never forget her. Who is she? you ask. Who is +she? Why, Mrs. Cooper, the wife of Jack Cooper, the +fighting Gypsy, once the terror of all the Light Weights of the +English Ring; who knocked West Country Dick to pieces, and killed +Paddy O’Leary, the fighting pot-boy, Jack Randall’s +pet. Ah, it would have been well for Jack if he had always +stuck to his true, lawful Romany wife, whom at one time he was +very fond of, and whom he used to dress in silks and satins, and +best scarlet cloth, purchased with the money gained in his fair, +gallant battles in the Ring! But he did not stick to her, +deserting her for a painted Jezebel, to support whom he sold his +battles, by doing which he lost his friends and backers; then +took from his poor wife all he had given her, and even plundered +her of her own property, down to the very blankets which she lay +upon; and who finally was so infatuated with love for his +paramour that he bore the blame of a crime which she had +committed, and in which he had no share, suffering ignominy and +transportation in order to save her. Better had he never +deserted his <i>tatchie romadie</i>, his own true Charlotte, who, +when all deserted him, the painted Jezebel being the first to do +so, stood by him, supporting him with money in prison, and feeing +counsel on his trial from the scanty proceeds of her +<i>dukkering</i>. All that happened many years ago; +Jack’s term of transportation, a lengthy one, has long, +long been expired, but he has not come <a +name="page212"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 212</span>back, +though every year since the expiration of his servitude he has +written her a letter, or caused one to be written to her, to say +that he is coming, that he is coming; so that she is always +expecting him, and is at all times willing, as she says, to +re-invest him with all the privileges of a husband, and to beg +and <i>dukker</i> to support him if necessary. A true wife +she has been to him, a <i>tatchie romadie</i>, and has never +taken up with any man since he left her, though many have been +the tempting offers that she has had, connubial offers, +notwithstanding the oddity of her appearance. Only one wish +she has now in this world, the wish that he may return; but her +wish, it is to be feared, is a vain one, for Jack lingers and +lingers in the <i>Sonnakye Tem</i>, golden Australia, teaching, +it is said, the young Australians to box, tempted by certain +shining nuggets, the produce of the golden region. It is +pleasant, though there is something mournful in it, to visit Mrs. +Cooper after nightfall, to sit with her in her little tent after +she has taken her cup of tea, and is warming her tired limbs at +her little coke fire, and hear her talk of old times and things: +how Jack courted her ’neath the trees of Loughton Forest, +and how, when tired of courting, they would get up and box, and +how he occasionally gave her a black eye, and how she invariably +flung him at a close; and how they were lawfully married at +church, and what a nice man the clergyman was, and what funny +things he said both before and after he had united them; how +stoutly West Country Dick contended against Jack, though always +losing; how in Jack’s battle with Paddy <a +name="page213"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +213</span>O’Leary the Irishman’s head in the last +round was truly frightful, not a feature being distinguishable, +and one of his ears hanging down by a bit of skin; how Jack +vanquished Hardy Scroggins, whom Jack Randall himself never dared +fight. Then, again, her anecdotes of Alec Reed, cool, +swift-hitting Alec, who was always smiling, and whose father was +a Scotchman, his mother an Irishwoman, and who was born in +Guernsey; and of Oliver, old Tom Oliver, who seconded Jack in all +his winning battles, and after whom he named his son, his only +child, Oliver, begotten of her in lawful wedlock, a good and +affectionate son enough, but unable to assist her, on account of +his numerous family. Farewell, Mrs. Cooper, true old +Charlotte! here’s a little bit of silver for you, and a +little bit of a <i>gillie</i> to sing:</p> +<p class="poetry">Charlotta is my nav,<br /> +I am a puro Purrun;<br /> +My romado was Jack,<br /> +The couring Vardomescro.<br /> +He muk’d me for a lubbeny,<br /> +Who chor’d a rawnie’s kissi;<br /> +He penn’d ’twas he who lell’d it,<br /> +And so was bitched pawdel.</p> +<p class="poetry">Old Charlotte I am called,<br /> +Of Lee I am a daughter;<br /> +I married Fighting Jack,<br /> +The famous Gypsy Cooper.<br /> +He left me for a harlot,<br /> +Who pick’d a lady’s pocket;<br /> +He bore the blame to save her,<br /> +And so was sent to Bot’ny.</p> +<p><a name="page214"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 214</span>Just +within the bounds of the plain, and close by the road, may +occasionally be seen a small caravan of rather a neat +appearance. It comes and goes suddenly, and is seldom seen +there for more than three days at a time. It belongs to a +Gypsy female who, like Mrs. Cooper, is a remarkable person, but +is widely different from Mrs. Cooper in many respects. Mrs. +Cooper certainly does not represent the <i>beau ideal</i> of a +Gypsy female, this does—a dark, mysterious, beautiful, +terrible creature! She is considerably above the middle +height, powerfully but gracefully made, and about thirty-seven +years of age. Her face is oval, and of a dark olive. +The nose is Grecian, the cheek-bones rather high; the eyes +somewhat sunk, but of a lustrous black; the mouth small, and the +teeth exactly like ivory. Upon the whole the face is +exceedingly beautiful, but the expression is evil—evil to a +degree. Who she is no one exactly knows, nor what is her +name, nor whether she is single woman, wife, or widow. Some +say she is a foreign Gypsy, others from Scotland, but she is +neither—her accent is genuine English. What strikes +one as most singular is the power she possesses of appearing in +various characters—all Romany ones it is true, but so +different as seemingly to require three distinct females of the +race to represent them: sometimes she is the staid, quiet, +respectable Gypsy; sometimes the forward and impudent; at others +the awful and sublime. Occasionally you may see her walking +the streets dressed in a black silk gown, with a black silk +bonnet on her head; over her left arm is flung a small carpet, a +sample of the <a name="page215"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +215</span>merchandise which is in her caravan, which is close at +hand, driven by a brown boy; her address to her customers is +highly polite; the tones of her voice are musical, though +somewhat deep. At Fairlop, on the first Friday of July, in +the evening, she may be found near the Bald-faced Hind, dressed +in a red cloak and a large beaver; her appearance is bold and +reckless—she is <i>dukkering</i> low tradesmen and servant +girls behind the trees at sixpence a head, or is bandying with +the voice of a raven slang and obscenity with country boors, or +with the blackguard butcher-boys who throng in from Whitechapel +and Shoreditch to the Gypsy Fair. At Goodwood, a few weeks +after, you may see her in a beautiful half-riding dress, her hair +fantastically plaited and adorned with pearls, standing beside +the carriage of a Countess, telling the fortune of her ladyship +with the voice and look of a pythoness. She is a thing of +incongruities; an incomprehensible being! nobody can make her +out; the writer himself has tried to make her out but could not, +though he has spoken to her in his deepest Romany. It is +true there is a certain old Gypsy, a friend of his, who thinks he +has made her out. “Brother,” said he one day, +“why you should be always going after that woman I +can’t conceive, unless indeed you have lost your +wits. If you go after her for her Romany you will find +yourself in the wrong box: she may have a crumb or two of Romany, +but for every crumb that she has I am quite sure you have a +quartern loaf. Then as for her beauty, of which it is true +she has plenty, and for which half a dozen Gorgios that I knows +of are running mad, it’s of <a name="page216"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 216</span>no use going after her for that, for +her beauty she keeps for her own use and that of her master the +Devil; not but that she will sell it—she’s sold it a +dozen times to my certain knowledge—but what’s the +use of buying a thing, when the fool who buys it never gets it, +never has the ‘joyment of it, brother? She is <i>kek +tatcho</i>, and that’s what I like least in her; +there’s no trusting her, neither Gorgio nor Romano can +trust her: she sells her <i>truppos</i> to a Rye-gorgio for five +<i>bars</i>, and when she has got them, and the Gorgio, as he has +a right to do, begins to <i>kelna lasa</i>, she laughs and asks +him if he knows whom he has to deal with; then if he <i>lels +bonnek of lati</i>, as he is quite justified in doing, she whips +out a <i>churi</i>, and swears if he doesn’t leave off she +will stick it in his <i>gorlo</i>. Oh! she’s an evil +mare, a <i>wafodu grasni</i>, though a handsome one, and I never +looks at her, brother, without saying to myself the old +words:</p> +<p class="poetry">“Rinkeno mui and wafodu zee<br /> +Kitzi’s the cheeros we dicks cattanē.”</p> +<p class="poetry">A beautiful face and a black wicked mind<br /> +Often, full often together we find.</p> +<p>Some more particular account than what has been already given +of the habitations of these Wandsworth Gypsies, and likewise of +their way of life, will perhaps not be unacceptable here.</p> +<p>To begin with the tents. They are oblong in shape and of +very simple construction, whether small or great. Sticks or +rods, called in the Gypsy language <i>ranior</i>, between four +and five feet in length, and <i>croming</i> or bending towards +the top, are stuck in the ground at about twenty inches <a +name="page217"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 217</span>from each +other, a rod or two being omitted in that part where the entrance +is intended to be. The <i>cromes</i> or bends serve as +supporters of a roof, and those of the side rods which stand over +against one another are generally tied together by strings. +These rods are covered over with coarse brown cloths, pinned or +skewered together; those at the bottom being fastened to the +ground by pegs. Around the tent is generally a slight +embankment, about two or three inches high, or a little trench +about the same depth, to prevent water from running into the tent +in time of rain. Such is the tent, which would be exactly +like the Indian wigwam but for the cloth which forms the +covering: the Indians in lieu of cloth using bark, which they +carry about with them in all their migrations, though they leave +the sticks standing in the ground.</p> +<p>The furniture is scanty. Like the Arabs, the Gypsies +have neither chairs nor tables, but sit cross-legged, a posture +which is perfectly easy to them, though insufferable to a Gorgio, +unless he happens to be a tailor. When they eat, the ground +serves them for a board, though they occasionally spread a cloth +upon it. Singularly enough, though they have neither chairs +nor tables, they have words for both. Of pots, pans, +plates, and trenchers, they have a tolerable quantity. Each +grown-up person has a <i>churi</i>, or knife, with which to cut +food. Eating-forks they have none, and for an eating-fork +they have no word, the term <i>pasengri</i> signifying a straw- +or pitch-fork. Spoons are used by them generally of horn, +and are called <i>royis</i>. They have but two culinary +articles, the <i>kekkauvi</i> and <i>pirry</i>, kettle and +boiler, which are generally of copper, <a +name="page218"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 218</span>to which, +however, may perhaps be added the <i>kekkauviskey saster</i>, or +kettle-iron, by which the kettle and boiler are hung over the +fire. As a fireplace they have a large iron pan on three +legs, with holes or eyes in the sides, in order that the heat of +the fire may be cast around. Instead of coals they use +coke, which emits no flame and little smoke, and casts a +considerable heat. Every tent has a pail or two, and +perhaps a small cask or barrel, the proper name for which is +<i>bedra</i>, though it is generally called +<i>pāni-mengri</i>, or thing for water. At the farther +end of the tent is a mattress, with a green cloth, or perhaps a +sheet spread upon it, forming a kind of couch, on which visitors +are generally asked to sit down:—<i>Av adrey</i>, <i>Romany +Rye</i>, <i>av adrey ta besh aley pawdle odoy</i>! Come in, +Gypsy gentleman (said a polite Gypsy one day to the writer); come +in and sit down over yonder! They have a box or two in +which they stow away their breakable articles and whatever things +they set any particular value upon. Some of them have small +feather-beds, and they are generally tolerably well provided with +blankets.</p> +<p>The caravans are not numerous, and have only been used of late +years by any of the English Gypsy race. The caravan called +by the Gypsies <i>keir vardo</i>, or waggon-house, is on four +wheels, and is drawn by a horse or perhaps a couple of +donkeys. It is about twelve feet long by six broad and six +high. At the farther end are a couple of transverse berths, +one above the other, like those in the cabin of a ship; and a +little way from these is a curtain hanging by rings from an iron +rod running across, which, when drawn, forms a partition. +On either <a name="page219"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +219</span>side is a small glazed window. The most +remarkable object is a stove just inside the door, on the left +hand, with a metal chimney which goes through the roof. +This stove, the Gypsy term for which is <i>bo</i>, casts, when +lighted, a great heat, and in some cases is made in a very +handsome fashion. Some caravans have mirrors against the +sides, and exhibit other indications of an aiming at luxury, +though in general they are dirty, squalid places, quite as much +as or perhaps more than the tents, which seem to be the proper +and congenial homes of the Gypsies.</p> +<p>The mode of life of these people may be briefly +described. They have two regular meals—breakfast and +supper. The breakfast consists of tea, generally of the +best quality, bread, butter, and cheese; the supper, of tea and a +stew. In spring time they occasionally make a kind of tea +or soup of the tender leaves of a certain description of +nettle. This preparation, which they call +<i>dandrimengreskie zimmen</i>, or the broth of the +stinging-thing, is highly relished by them. They get up +early, and go to bed betimes. After breakfast the men sit +down to <i>chin the cost</i>, to mend chairs or make baskets; the +women go forth to <i>hok</i> and <i>dukker</i>, and the children +to beg, or to go with the donkeys to lanes and commons to watch +them, whilst they try to fill their poor bellies with grass and +thistles. These children sometimes bring home +<i>hotchiwitches</i>, or hedgehogs, the flesh of which is very +sweet and tender, and which their mothers are adepts at +cooking.</p> +<p>The Gypsies, as has been already observed, are not the sole +occupiers of Wandsworth grounds. <a +name="page220"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 220</span>Strange, +wild guests are to be found there, who, without being Gypsies, +have much of Gypsyism in their habits, and who far exceed the +Gypsies in number. To pass them by without notice would be +unpardonable. They may be divided into three classes: +Chorodies, Kora-mengre, and Hindity-mengre. Something about +each:—</p> +<p>The Chorodies are the legitimate descendants of the rogues and +outcasts who roamed about England long before its soil was +trodden by a Gypsy foot. They are a truly detestable set of +beings; both men and women being ferocious in their appearance, +and in their conversation horrible and disgusting. They +have coarse, vulgar features, and hair which puts one wonderfully +in mind of refuse flax, or the material of which mops are +composed. Their complexions, when not obscured with grime, +are rather fair than dark, evidencing that their origin is low, +swinish Saxon, and not gentle Romany. Their language is the +frowsiest English, interlarded with cant expressions and a few +words of bastard Romany. They live in the vilest tents, +with the exception of two or three families, who have their abode +in broken and filthy caravans. They have none of the +comforts and elegancies of the Gypsies. They are utterly +destitute of civility and good manners, and are generally squalid +in their dress, though the women sometimes exhibit not a little +dirty tawdriness. The trades of the men are tinkering and +basket-making, and some few “peel the stick.” +The women go about with the articles made by their husbands, or +rather partners, and sometimes do a little in the fortune-telling +line—pretty prophetesses! The fellows <a +name="page221"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 221</span>will +occasionally knock a man down in the dark, and rob him; the women +will steal anything they can conveniently lay their hands +on. Singular as it may seem to those not deeply acquainted +with human nature, these wretches are not without a kind of +pride. “We are no Gypsies—not we! no, nor Irish +either. We are English, and decent folks—none of your +rubbish!” The Gypsies hold them, and with reason, in +supreme contempt, and it is from them that they got their name of +Chorodies, not a little applicable to them. <i>Choredo</i>, +in Gypsy, signifies a poor, miserable person, and differs very +little in sound from two words, one Sanscrit and the other +Hebrew, both signifying, like the Gypsy term, something low, +mean, and contemptible.</p> +<p>Kora-mengre are the lowest of those hawkers who go about the +country villages and the streets of London, with caravans hung +about with various common articles, such as mats, brooms, mops, +tin pans and kettles. These low hawkers seem to be of much +the same origin as the Chorodies, and are almost equally brutal +and repulsive in their manners. The name Kora-mengre is +Gypsy, and signifies fellows who cry out and shout, from their +practice of shouting out the names of their goods. The word +<i>kora</i>, or <i>karra</i>, is by no means bad Hebrew: +<i>kora</i>, in the Holy Language, signifies he cried out, +called, or proclaimed: and a partridge is called in Hebrew +<i>kora</i>, from its continually crying out to its young, when +leading them about to feed. <i>Koran</i>, the name of the +sacred book of the Mahomedans, is of the same root.</p> +<p>Lastly come the Hindity-mengre, or Filthy <a +name="page222"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +222</span>People. This term has been bestowed upon the +vagrant Irish by the Gypsies, from the dirty ways attributed to +them, though it is a question whether the lowest Irish are a bit +more dirty in their ways than the English Chorodies, or indeed so +much, and are certainly immeasurably superior to them in many +respects. There are not many of them here, seldom more than +two families, and sometimes, even during the winter, not a single +Irish tent or cart is to be seen. The trade they ostensibly +drive is tinkering, repairing old kettles, and making little pots +and pans of tin. The one, however, on which they +principally depend, is not tinkering, but one far more lucrative, +and requiring more cleverness and dexterity; they make false +rings, like the Gypsy smiths, the <i>fashiono vangustengre</i> of +old, and whilst speaking Celtic to one whom they deem their +countryman, have no hesitation in acknowledging themselves to be +“Cairdean droich oir,” workers of false gold. +The rings are principally made out of old brass buttons; those +worn by old Chelsea pensioners being considered the very best for +the purpose. Many an ancient Corporal Trim, alter having +spent all his money at the public-house, and only become +three-parts boozy, has been induced by the Hindity-mengro to sell +all his buttons at the rate of three-halfpence a-piece, in order +to have wherewithal to make himself thoroughly royal. Each +of these Hindity-mengre has his blow-pipe, and some of them can +execute their work in a style little inferior to that of a +first-rate working goldsmith. The rings, after being made, +are rubbed with a certain stuff out of a phial, which gives them +all the appearance of <a name="page223"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 223</span>gold. This appearance, +however, does not long endure, for after having been worn two or +three months, the ring loses its false appearance entirely, and +any one can see that it is worthless metal. A good many of +these rings are disposed of at good prices by the Hindity women, +the wives of these false-gold workers, to servant girls and the +wives of small shopkeepers, and not a few, at a lower rate, to +certain gentry who get their livelihood by the honourable +profession of <i>ring-dropping</i>.</p> +<p>What is ring-dropping?</p> +<p>Ring-dropping is this. A gentleman overtakes you as you +are walking in some quiet street, passes by you, and at the +distance of some fifteen yards stops, and stooping down, +seemingly picks up something, which he inspects, and then +uttering a “Dear me!” he turns to you, and says, +“Sir, we have been fortunate to-day. See! I +have picked up this valuable!” He then shows you a +small case, in which is a large ring, seemingly of the finest +gold, with a little label attached to it, on which is marked +£2 15s. “Now, sir,” he continues, +“I said <i>we</i> were fortunate, because as we were close +to each other, I consider you as much entitled to gain by this +windfall as myself. I’ll tell you how it shall be: +the price of the ring, which was probably dropped by some +goldsmith’s man, is, as you see, two pound fifteen; +however, as I am in a hurry, you shall only give me a quid, a +pound, and then the valuable shall be all your own; it shall +indeed, sir!” And then he stares you in the +face. Such is ring-dropping, to which many silly but greedy +individuals, fall victims; giving a pound for a fine-looking +ring, which, however, with its <a name="page224"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 224</span>scarlet case—for the case is +always of a scarlet colour—is not worth sixpence. The +best thing you can do in such a case is to put your thumb to your +nose, flattening your hand and sticking out your fingers far +apart, moving on at the same time, or to utter the cabalistic +word “hookey”; in either case the ring-dropper will +at once drop astern, with a half-stifled curse, for he knows that +he has to do with “no flat,” and that you are +“awake to his little game.” Doing so is much +better than moving rapidly on, and affecting to take no notice of +him, for then he will infallibly follow you to the end of the +street, offering you the ring on more reasonable terms at every +step, perhaps concluding at last, as a ring-dropper once did to +the writer, “I’ll tell you what, sir; as I am in a +hurry, and rather hard up, you shall have the valuable for a +bull, for a crown; you shall indeed, sir, so help +me—”</p> +<p>Three of the most famous of the Hindity smiths have been +immortalised by the Gypsies in the following bit of verse:</p> +<p class="poetry">Mickie, Huwie and Larry,<br /> +Trin Hindity-mengre fashiono vangust-engre.</p> +<p class="poetry">Mickie, Huwie and Larry bold,<br /> +Three Irish brothers, as I am told,<br /> +Who make false rings, that pass for gold.</p> +<p>Of these <i>fashiono-vangust</i> brothers, the most remarkable +is Mike—Old Mike, as he is generally called. He was +born in the county Kerry, and educated at a hedge-school, where +he learned to read and write English, after a fashion, and +acquired the seventeen letters of the Irish alphabet, each of +which is named after a particular tree. Leaving <a +name="page225"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 225</span>school he +was apprenticed to a blacksmith, from whom he ran away, and +enlisted into the service of that illustrious monarch, George the +Third, some of whose battles he had the honour of fighting in the +Peninsula and France. Discharged from the army at the +Peace, with the noble donation of thirty shillings, or one +month’s pay, he returned to Ireland, took to himself a +wife, and commenced tinker. Becoming dissatisfied with his +native soil he passed over to England, and settling for some time +at “Brummagem,” took lessons from certain cunning +smiths in the art of making <i>fashiono vangusties</i>. The +next forty years of his life he spent in wandering about Britain, +attended by his faithful partner, who not only disposed of his +tin articles and false rings, but also bore him seventeen +children, all of whom are alive, somewhere or other, and thriving +too, one of them indeed having attained to the dignity of +American senator. Some of his adventures, during his +wanderings, were in the highest degree extraordinary. Of +late years he has chiefly resided in the vicinity of London, +spending his winters at Wandsworth, and his summers on the Flats, +near Epping Forest; in one or the other of which places you may +see Old Mike on a Sunday evening, provided the weather is +tolerably fine, seated near his little caravan, with his wife by +his side—not the wife who bore him the seventeen children, +who has been dead for some years, but his second wife, a nice, +elderly Irish <i>ban</i> from the county of Cork, who can tell +fortunes, say her prayers in Irish, and is nearly as good a hand +at selling her lord and master’s tin articles and false +rings as her predecessor. Lucky for <a +name="page226"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 226</span>Mike that +he got such a second partner! and luckier still that at his age +of seventy-nine he retains all his faculties, and is able to work +for his daily bread, with at least the skill and cunning of his +two brothers, both of whom are much younger men than himself, +whose adventures have been somewhat similar to his own, and who, +singularly enough, have come to live near him in his latter +days. Both these brothers are highly remarkable men. +Huwie is the most civil-spoken person in or about London, and +Larry a man of the most terrible tongue, and perhaps the most +desperate fighter ever seen; always willing to attack half a +dozen men, if necessary, and afraid of no one in the world, save +one—Mike, old Mike, who can tame him in his fiercest moods +by merely holding up his finger. Oh, a truly remarkable man +is old Mike! and a pleasure and an advantage it is to any one of +a philosophical mind to be acquainted with him, and to listen to +him. He is much more than <i>a +fashiono-vangust-engro</i>. Amongst other things he is a +theologian—Irish theologian—and quite competent to +fill the chair of theology at the University of Maynooth. +He can tell you a great many things connected with a certain +person, which, with all your research, you would never find in +Scripture. He can tell you how the Saviour, when hanging on +the cross, became athirst, and told St. Peter, who stood at the +foot of it, to fetch Him a cup of water from a dirty puddle in +the neighbourhood, and how St. Peter—however, better not +relate the legend, though a highly curious one. Then he can +repeat to you blessed verses, as he calls them, by dozens; not of +David, but <a name="page227"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +227</span>of one quite as good, as he will tell you, namely, +Timothy O’Sullivan; and who, you will say, was Timothy +O’Sullivan? Why, Ty Gaelach, to be sure. And +who was Ty Gaelach? An Irish peasant-poet of the last +century, who wrote spiritual songs, some of them by no means bad +ones, and who was called Gaelach, or Gael, from his abhorrence of +the English race and of the English language, of which he +scarcely understood a word. Then is Ty Irish for +Timothy? Why, no! though very stupidly supposed to be +so. Ty is Teague, which is neither Greek nor Irish, but a +glorious old Northern name, carried into Ireland by the brave old +heathen Danes. Ty or Teague is the same as Tycho. Ty +or Teague Gaelach is as much as to say Tycho Gaelach; and Tycho +Brahe is as much as to say Teague Brahe.</p> +<h3><a name="page228"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 228</span>THE +POTTERIES, 1864</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> second great Gypsyry is on the +Middlesex side of the river, and is distant about three miles, as +the crow flies, from that of Wandsworth. Strange as it may +seem, it is not far distant from the most fashionable part of +London; from the beautiful squares, noble streets, and thousand +palaces of Tyburnia, a region which, though only a small part of +the enormous metropolis, can show more beautiful edifices, +wealth, elegance, and luxury, than all foreign capitals put +together. After passing Tyburnia, and going more than +halfway down Notting Hill, you turn to the right, and proceed +along a tolerably genteel street till it divides into two, one of +which looks more like a lane than a street, and which is on the +left hand, and bears the name of Pottery Lane. Go along +this lane, and you will presently find yourself amongst a number +of low, uncouth-looking sheds, open at the sides, and containing +an immense quantity of earthen chimney-pots, pantiles, +fancy-bricks, and similar articles. This place is called +the Potteries, and gives the name of Pottery Lane to the lane +through which you have just passed. A dirty little road +goes through it, which you must follow, and presently turning to +your left, you will enter a little, filthy street, and going some +way down it, you will see, on your right hand, a little, open bit +of ground, chock-full of crazy, battered caravans of all +colours—some <a name="page229"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +229</span>yellow, some green, some red. Dark men, +wild-looking, witch-like women, and yellow-faced children are at +the doors of the caravans, or wending their way through the +narrow spaces left for transit between the vehicles. You +have now arrived at the second grand Gypsyry of London—you +are amongst the Romany Chals of the Potteries, called in Gypsy +the <i>Koromengreskoe Tan</i>, or the place of the fellows who +make pots; in which place certain Gypsies have settled, not with +the view of making pots, an employment which they utterly eschew, +but simply because it is convenient to them, and suits their +fancy.</p> +<p>A goodly collection of Gypsies you will find in that little +nook, crowded with caravans. Most of them are Tatchey +Romany, real Gypsies, “long-established people, of the old +order.” Amongst them are Ratzie-mescroes, Hearnes, +Herons, or duck-people; Chumo-mescroes or Bosvils; a Kaulo Camlo +(a Black Lovel) or two, and a Beshaley or Stanley. It is no +easy thing to find a Stanley nowadays, even in the Baulo Tem, or +Hampshire, which is the proper home of the Stanleys, for the +Bugnior, pimples or small-pox, has of late years made sad havoc +amongst the Stanleys; but yonder tall old gentlewoman, descending +the steps of a caravan, with a flaming red cloak and a large +black beaver bonnet, and holding a travelling basket in her hand, +is a Tatchey Beshaley, a “genuine” Stanley. The +generality, however, of “them Gyptians” are +Ratzie-mescroes, Hearnes, or duck-people; and, speaking of the +Hearnes, it is but right to say that he who may be called the <a +name="page230"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 230</span>Gypsy +Father of London, old Thomas Ratzie-mescro, or Hearne, though not +exactly residing here, lives close by in a caravan, in a little +bit of a yard over the way, where he can breathe more freely, and +be less annoyed by the brats and the young fellows than he would +be in yonder crowded place.</p> +<p>Though the spot which it has just been attempted to describe, +may be considered as the head-quarters of the London Gypsies, on +the Middlesex side of the Thames, the whole neighbourhood, for a +mile to the north of it, may to a certain extent be considered a +Gypsy region—that is, a district where Gypsies, or gentry +whose habits very much resemble those of Gypsies, may at any time +be found. No metropolitan district, indeed, could be well +more suited for Gypsies to take up their abode in. It is a +neighbourhood of transition; of brickfields, open spaces, poor +streets inhabited by low artisans, isolated houses, sites of +intended tenements, or sites of tenements which have been pulled +down; it is in fact a mere chaos, where there is no order and no +regularity; where there is nothing durable, or intended to be +durable; though there can be little doubt that within a few years +order and beauty itself will be found here, that the misery, +squalidness, and meanness will have disappeared, and the whole +district, up to the railroad arches which bound it on the west +and north, will be covered with palaces, like those of Tyburnia, +or delightful villas, like those which decorate what is called +Saint John’s Wood. At present, however, it is quite +the kind of place to please the Gypsies and wandering people, who +find <a name="page231"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +231</span>many places within its bounds where they can squat and +settle, or take up their quarters for a night or two without much +risk of being interfered with. Here their tents, cars, and +caravans may be seen amidst ruins, half-raised walls, and on +patches of unenclosed ground; here their children may, throughout +the day, be seen playing about, flinging up dust and dirt, some +partly naked, and others entirely so; and here, at night, the +different families, men, women, and children, may be seen seated +around their fires and their kettles, taking their evening meal, +and every now and then indulging in shouts of merriment, as much +as to say,—</p> +<blockquote><p>What care we, though we be so small?<br /> +The tent shall stand when the palace shall fall;</p> +</blockquote> +<p>which is quite true. The Gypsy tent must make way for +the palace, but after a millennium or two, the Gypsy tent is +pitched on the ruins of the palace.</p> +<p>Of the open spaces above mentioned, the most considerable is +one called Latimer’s Green. It lies on the +north-western side of the district, and is not far from that +place of old renown called the Shepherd’s Bush, where in +the good ancient times highwaymen used to lurk for the purpose of +pouncing upon the travellers of the Oxford Road. It may +contain about five or six acres, and, though nominally under the +control of trustees, is in reality little more than a “no +man’s ground,” where anybody may feed a horse, light +a fire, and boil a kettle. It is a great resort of vagrant +people, less of Gypsies than those who call themselves +travellers, <a name="page232"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +232</span>and are denominated by the Gypsies Chorodies, and who +live for the most part in miserable caravans, though there is +generally a Gypsy tent or two to be seen there, belonging to some +Deighton or Shaw, or perhaps Petulengro, from the Lil-engro Tan, +as the Romany call Cambridgeshire. Amidst these Chorody +caravans and Gypsy tents may frequently be seen the +<i>ker-vardo</i>, the house on wheels, of one who, whenever he +takes up his quarters here, is considered the cock of the walk, +the king of the place. He is a little under forty years of +age, and somewhat under five feet ten inches in height. His +face is wonderfully like that of a mastiff of the largest size, +particularly in its jowls; his neck is short and very thick, and +must be nearly as strong as that of a bull; his chest is so broad +that one does not like to say how broad it is; and the voice +which every now and then proceeds from it has much the sound of +that of the mighty dog just mentioned; his arms are long and +exceedingly muscular, and his fists huge and bony. He wears +a low-crowned, broad-brimmed hat, a coarse blue coat with short +skirts, leggings, and high-lows. Such is the <i>kral +o’ the tan</i>, the <i>rex loci</i>, the cock of the +green. But what is he besides? Is he Gypsy, +<i>Chorody</i>, or <i>Hindity mush</i>? I say, you had +better not call him by any one of those names, for if you did he +would perhaps hit you, and then, oh dear! That is Mr. G. +A., a travelling horse-dealer, who lives in a caravan, and finds +it frequently convenient to take up his abode for weeks together +on Latimer’s Green. He is a thorough-bred Englishman, +though he is married to a daughter of one of the old, sacred +Gypsy <a name="page233"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +233</span>families, a certain Lurina Ratziemescri, duck or heron +female, who is a very handsome woman, and who has two brothers, +dark, stealthy-looking young fellows, who serve with almost +slavish obedience their sister’s lord and husband, +listening uncomplainingly to his abuse of Gypsies, whom, though +he lives amongst them and is married to one by whom he has +several children, he holds in supreme contempt, never speaking of +them but as a lying, thievish, cowardly set, any three of whom he +could beat with one hand; as perhaps he could, for he is a +desperate pugilist, and has three times fought in “the +ring” with good men, whom, though not a scientific fighter, +he beat with ease by dint of terrible blows, causing them to roar +out. He is very well to do in the world; his caravan, a +rather stately affair, is splendidly furnished within; and it is +a pleasure to see his wife, at Hampton Court races, dressed in +Gypsy fashion, decked with real gems and jewels and rich gold +chains, and waited upon by her dark brothers dressed like dandy +pages. How is all this expense supported? Why, by +horsedealing. Mr. G. is, then, up to all kinds of +horsedealers’ tricks, no doubt. Aye, aye, he is up to +them, but he doesn’t practise them. He says +it’s of no use, and that honesty is the best policy, and +he’ll stick to it; and so he does, and finds the profit of +it. His traffic in horses, though confined entirely to +small people, such as market-gardeners, travellers, show-folks, +and the like, is very great; every small person who wishes to buy +a horse, or to sell a horse, or to swop a horse, goes to Mr. G., +and has never reason to complain, for all acknowledge that <a +name="page234"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 234</span>he has done +the fair thing by them; though all agree that there is no +overreaching him, which indeed very few people try to do, +deterred by the dread of his manual prowess, of which a Gypsy +once gave to the writer the following <i>striking</i> +illustration:—“He will jal oprey to a gry +that’s wafodu, prawla, and coure leste tuley with the +courepen of his wast.” (He will go up to a vicious +horse, brother, and knock him down with a blow of his fist.)</p> +<p>The arches of the railroad which bounds this region on the +west and north serve as a resort for Gypsies, who erect within +them their tents, which are thus sheltered in summer from the +scorching rays of the sun, and in winter from the drenching +rain. In what close proximity we sometimes find emblems of +what is most rude and simple, and what is most artificial and +ingenious! For example, below the arch is the Gypsy +donkey-cart, whilst above it is thundering the chariot of fire +which can run across a county in half an hour. The +principal frequenters of these arches are Bosvils and Lees; the +former are chiefly tinkers, and the latter <i>esconyemengres</i>, +or skewer-makers. The reason for this difference is that +the Bosvils are chiefly immigrants from the country, where there +is not much demand for skewers, whereas the Lees are natives of +the metropolis or the neighbourhood, where the demand for skewers +has from time immemorial been enormously great. It was in +the shelter of one of these arches that the celebrated Ryley +Bosvil, the Gypsy king of Yorkshire, breathed his last a few +years ago.</p> +<h3><a name="page235"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 235</span>THE +MOUNT</h3> +<p><span class="smcap">Before</span> quitting the subject of +Metropolitan Gypsies there is another place to which it will be +necessary to devote a few words, though it is less entitled to +the appelation of Gypsyry than rookery. It is situated in +the East of London, a region far more interesting to the +ethnologist and the philologist than the West, for there he will +find people of all kinds of strange races,—the wildest +Irish; Greeks, both Orthodox and Papistical; Jews, not only +Ashkenazim and Sephardim, but even Karaite; the worst, and +consequently the most interesting, description of Germans, the +sugar-bakers; lots of Malays; plenty of Chinamen; two or three +dozen Hottentots, and about the same number of Gypsies, reckoning +men, women, and children. Of the latter, and their place of +abode, we have now only to do, leaving the other strange, odd +people to be disposed of on some other occasion.</p> +<p>Not far from Shoreditch Church, and at a short distance from +the street called Church Street, on the left hand, is a locality +called Friars’ Mount, but generally for shortness called +The Mount. It derives its name from a friary built upon a +small hillock in the time of Popery, where a set of fellows lived +in laziness and luxury on the offerings of foolish and +superstitious people, who resorted thither to kiss and worship an +ugly wooden image of the Virgin, said to be a first-rate stick at +performing miraculous <a name="page236"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 236</span>cures. The neighbourhood, of +course, soon became a resort for vagabonds of every description, +for wherever friars are found rogues and thieves are sure to +abound; and about Friars’ Mount, highwaymen, coiners, and +Gypsies dwelt in safety under the protection of the ministers of +the miraculous image. The friary has long since +disappeared, the Mount has been levelled, and the locality built +over. The vice and villainy, however, which the friary +called forth still cling to the district. It is one of the +vilest dens of London, a grand resort for housebreakers, +garotters, passers of bad money, and other disreputable people, +though not for Gypsies; for however favourite a place it may have +been for the Romany in the old time, it no longer finds much +favour in their sight, from its not affording open spaces where +they can pitch their tents. One very small street, however, +is certainly entitled to the name of a Gypsy street, in which a +few Gypsy families have always found it convenient to reside, and +who are in the habit of receiving and lodging their brethren +passing through London to and from Essex and other counties east +of the metropolis. There is something peculiar in the +aspect of this street, not observable in that of any of the +others, which one who visits it, should he have been in Triana of +Seville, would at once recognise as having seen in the aspect of +the lanes and courts of that grand location of the Gypsies of the +Andalusian capital.</p> +<p>The Gypsies of the Mount live much in the same manner as their +brethren in the other Gypsyries of London. They <i>chin the +cost</i>, make skewers, <a name="page237"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 237</span>baskets, and let out donkeys for +hire. The chief difference consists in their living in +squalid houses, whilst the others inhabit dirty tents and +caravans. The last Gypsy of any note who resided in this +quarter was Joseph Lee; here he lived for a great many years, and +here he died, having attained the age of ninety. During his +latter years he was generally called Old Joe Lee, from his great +age. His wife or partner, who was also exceedingly old, +only survived him a few days. They were buried in the same +grave, with much Gypsy pomp, in the neighbouring +churchyard. They were both of pure Gypsy blood, and were +generally known as the Gypsy king and queen of Shoreditch. +They left a numerous family of children and grandchildren, some +of whom are still to be found at the Mount. This old Joe +Lee in his day was a celebrated horse and donkey witch—that +is, he professed secrets which enabled him to make any wretched +animal of either species exhibit for a little time the spirit and +speed of “a flying drummedary.” He was +illustriously related, and was very proud on that account, +especially in being the brother’s son of old James, the +<i>cauring mush</i>, whose exploits in the filching line will be +remembered as long as the venerable tribe of Purrum, or Lee, +continues in existence.</p> +<h2><a name="page239"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +239</span>RYLEY BOSVIL</h2> +<p><a name="page241"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 241</span><span +class="smcap">Ryley</span> Bosvil was a native of Yorkshire, a +country where, as the Gypsies say, “there’s a deadly +sight of Bosvils.” He was above the middle height, +exceedingly strong and active, and one of the best riders in +Yorkshire, which is saying a great deal. He was a thorough +Gypsy, versed in all the arts of the old race, had two wives, +never went to church, and considered that when a man died he was +cast into the earth, and there was an end of him. He +frequently used to say that if any of his people became Gorgios +he would kill them. He had a sister of the name of Clara, a +nice, delicate, interesting girl, about fourteen years younger +than himself, who travelled about with an aunt; this girl was +noticed by a respectable Christian family, who, taking a great +interest in her, persuaded her to come and live with them. +She was instructed by them in the rudiments of the Christian +religion, appeared delighted with her new friends, and promised +never to leave them. After the lapse of about six weeks +there was a knock at the door; a dark man stood before it who +said he wanted Clara. Clara went out trembling, had some +discourse with the man in an unknown tongue, and <a +name="page242"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 242</span>shortly +returned in tears, and said that she must go. “What +for?” said her friends. “Did you not promise to +stay with us?” “I did so,” said the girl, +weeping more bitterly; “but that man is my brother, who +says I must go with him, and what he says must be.” +So with her brother she departed, and her Christian friends never +saw her again. What became of her? Was she made away +with? Many thought she was, but she was not. Ryley +put her into a light cart, drawn by “a flying pony,” +and hurried her across England, even to distant Norfolk, where he +left her, after threatening her, with three Gypsy women who were +devoted to him. With these women the writer found her one +night encamped in a dark wood, and had much discourse with her, +both on Christian and Egyptian matters. She was very +melancholy, bitterly regretted having been compelled to quit her +Christian friends, and said that she wished she had never been a +Gypsy. The writer, after exhorting her to keep a firm grip +of her Christianity, departed, and did not see her again for +nearly a quarter of a century, when he met her on Epsom Downs, on +the Derby day when the terrible horse Gladiateur beat all the +English steeds. She was then very much changed, very much +changed indeed, appearing as a full-blown Egyptian matron, with +two very handsome daughters flaringly dressed in genuine Gypsy +fashion, to whom she was giving motherly counsels as to the best +means to <i>hok</i> and <i>dukker</i> the gentlefolks. All +her Christianity she appeared to have flung to the dogs, for when +the writer spoke to her on that very important subject, she made +no answer <a name="page243"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +243</span>save by an indescribable Gypsy look. On other +matters she was communicative enough, telling the writer, amongst +other things, that since he saw her she had been twice married, +and both times very well, for that her first husband, by whom she +had the two daughters whom the writer “kept staring +at,” was a man every inch of him, and her second, who was +then on the Downs grinding knives with a machine he had, though +he had not much manhood, being nearly eighty years old, had +something much better, namely a mint of money, which she hoped +shortly to have in her own possession.</p> +<p>Ryley, like most of the Bosvils, was a tinker by profession; +but, though a tinker, he was amazingly proud and haughty of +heart. His grand ambition was to be a great man among his +people, a Gypsy King. To this end he furnished himself with +clothes made after the costliest Gypsy fashion: the two hinder +buttons of the coat, which was of thick blue cloth, were broad +gold pieces of Spain, generally called ounces; the fore-buttons +were English “spaded guineas”; the buttons of the +waistcoat were half-guineas, and those of the collar and the +wrists of his shirt were seven-shilling gold pieces. In +this coat he would frequently make his appearance on a +magnificent horse, whose hoofs, like those of the steed of a +Turkish sultan, were cased in shoes of silver. How did he +support such expense? it may be asked. Partly by driving a +trade in <i>wafodu luvvu</i>, counterfeit coin, with which he was +supplied by certain honest tradespeople of Brummagem; partly and +principally by large sums of money which he received from <a +name="page244"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 244</span>his two +wives, and which they obtained by the practice of certain arts +peculiar to Gypsy females. One of his wives was a truly +remarkable woman: she was of the Petulengro or Smith tribe; her +Christian name, if Christian name it can be called, was Xuri or +Shuri, and from her exceeding smartness and cleverness she was +generally called by the Gypsies Yocky Shuri,—that is, smart +or clever Shuri, <i>yocky</i> being a Gypsy word, signifying +‘clever.’ She could <i>dukker</i>—that +is, tell fortunes—to perfection, by which alone during the +racing season she could make a hundred pounds a month. She +was good at the <i>big hok</i>, that is, at inducing people to +put money into her hands, in the hope of its being multiplied; +and, oh dear! how she could <i>caur</i>—that is, filch gold +rings and trinkets from jewellers’ cases; the kind of thing +which the Spanish Gypsy women call <i>ustilar pastesas</i>, +filching with the hands. Frequently she would disappear, +and travel about England, and Scotland too, <i>dukkering</i>, +<i>hokking</i>, and <i>cauring</i>, and after the lapse of a +month return and deliver to her husband, like a true and faithful +wife, the proceeds of her industry. So no wonder that the +Flying Tinker, as he was called, was enabled to cut a grand +appearance. He was very fond of hunting, and would +frequently join the field in regular hunting costume, save and +except that, instead of the leather hunting-cap, he wore one of +fur with a gold band around it, to denote that though he mixed +with Gorgios he was still a Romany-chal. Thus equipped and +mounted on a capital hunter, whenever he encountered a Gypsy +encampment he would invariably dash through it, doing all the +harm he could, in order, as he said, <a name="page245"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 245</span>to let the <i>juggals</i> know that +he was their king and had a right to do what he pleased with his +own. Things went on swimmingly for a great many years, but, +as prosperity does not continue for ever, his dark hour came at +last. His wives got into trouble in one or two expeditions, +and his dealings in <i>wafodu luvvu</i> began to be noised +about. Moreover, by his grand airs and violent proceedings +he had incurred the hatred of both Gorgios and Gypsies, +particularly of the latter, some of whom he had ridden over and +lamed for life. One day he addressed his two +wives:—</p> +<p class="poetry">“The Gorgios seek to hang me,<br /> +The Gypsies seek to kill me:<br /> +This country we must leave.”</p> +<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry"><i>Shuri</i>.</p> +<p class="poetry">“I’ll jaw with you to heaven,<br /> +I’ll jaw with you to Yaudors—<br /> +But not if Lura goes.”</p> +<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry"><i>Lura</i>.</p> +<p class="poetry">“I’ll jaw with you to heaven,<br /> +And to the wicked country,<br /> +Though Shuri goeth too.”</p> +<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry"><i>Ryley</i>.</p> +<p class="poetry">“Since I must choose betwixt ye,<br /> +My choice is Yocky Shuri,<br /> +Though Lura loves me best.”</p> +<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry"><i>Lura</i>.</p> +<p class="poetry">“My blackest curse on Shuri!<br /> +Oh, Ryley, I’ll not curse you,<br /> +But you will never thrive.”</p> +<p><a name="page246"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 246</span>She +then took her departure with her cart and donkey, and Ryley +remained with Shuri.</p> +<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry"><i>Ryley</i>.</p> +<p class="poetry">“I’ve chosen now betwixt ye;<br /> +Your wish you now have gotten,<br /> +But for it you shall smart.”</p> +<p>He then struck her with his fist on the cheek, and broke her +jawbone. Shuri uttered no cry or complaint, only +mumbled:</p> +<p class="poetry">“Although with broken jawbone,<br /> +I’ll follow thee, my Ryley,<br /> +Since Lura doesn’t jal.”</p> +<p>Thereupon Ryley and Yocky Shuri left Yorkshire, and wended +their way to London, where they took up their abode in the +Gypsyry near the Shepherd’s Bush. Shuri went about +<i>dukkering</i> and <i>hokking</i>, but not with the spirit of +former times, for she was not quite so young as she had been, and +her jaw, which was never properly cured, pained her much. +Ryley went about tinkering, but he was unacquainted with London +and its neighbourhood, and did not get much to do. An old +Gypsy-man, who was driving about a little cart filled with +skewers, saw him standing in a state of perplexity at a place +where four roads met.</p> +<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry"><i>Old +Gypsy</i>.</p> +<p class="poetry">“Methinks I see a brother!<br /> +Who’s your father? Who’s your mother?<br /> +And what may be your name?”</p> +<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry"><a +name="page247"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +247</span><i>Ryley</i>.</p> +<p class="poetry">“A Bosvil was my father;<br /> +A Bosvil was my mother;<br /> +And Ryley is my name.”</p> +<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry"><i>Old +Gypsy</i>.</p> +<p class="poetry">“I’m glad to see you, brother!<br +/> +I am a Kaulo Camlo. <a name="citation247a"></a><a +href="#footnote247a" class="citation">[247a]</a><br /> +What service can I do?”</p> +<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry"><i>Ryley</i>.</p> +<p class="poetry">“I’m jawing petulengring, <a +name="citation247b"></a><a href="#footnote247b" +class="citation">[247b]</a><br /> +But do not know the country;<br /> +Perhaps you’ll show me round.”</p> +<p style="text-align: center" class="poetry"><i>Old +Gypsy</i>.</p> +<p class="poetry">“I’ll sikker tute, prala!<br /> +I’m bikkening esconyor; <a name="citation247c"></a><a +href="#footnote247c" class="citation">[247c]</a><br /> +Av, av along with me!”</p> +<p>The old Gypsy showed Ryley about the country for a week or +two, and Ryley formed a kind of connection, and did a little +business. He, however, displayed little or no energy, was +gloomy and dissatisfied, and frequently said that his heart was +broken since he had left Yorkshire.</p> +<p>Shuri did her best to cheer him, but without effect. +Once, when she bade him get up and exert himself, he said that if +he did it would be of little use, and asked her whether she did +not remember the parting prophecy of his other wife that he would +never thrive. At the end of about <a +name="page248"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 248</span>two years +he ceased going his rounds, and did nothing but smoke under the +arches of the railroad, and loiter about beershops. At +length he became very weak, and took to his bed; doctors were +called in by his faithful Shuri, but there is no remedy for a +bruised spirit. A Methodist came and asked him, “What +was his hope?” “My hope,” said he, +“is that when I am dead I shall be put into the ground, and +my wife and children will weep over me.” And such, it +may be observed, is the last hope of every genuine Gypsy. +His hope was gratified. Shuri and his children, of whom he +had three—two stout young fellows and a girl—gave him +a magnificent funeral, and screamed, shouted, and wept over his +grave. They then returned to the “Arches,” not +to divide his property amongst them, and to quarrel about the +division, according to Christian practice, but to destroy +it. They killed his swift pony—still swift, though +twenty-seven years of age—and buried it deep in the ground, +without depriving it of its skin. They then broke the +caravan and cart to pieces, making of the fragments a fire, on +which they threw his bedding, carpets, curtains, blankets, and +everything which would burn. Finally, they dashed his +mirrors, china, and crockery to pieces, hacked his metal pots, +dishes and what-not to bits, and flung the whole on the blazing +pile. Such was the life, such the death, and such were the +funeral obsequies of Ryley Bosvil, a Gypsy who will be long +remembered amongst the English Romany for his buttons, his two +wives, his grand airs, and last, and not least, for having been +the composer of various stanzas in the Gypsy tongue, which have +plenty <a name="page249"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +249</span>of force, if nothing else, to recommend them. One +of these, addressed to Yocky Shuri, runs as follows:</p> +<p class="poetry">Tuley the Can I kokkeney cam<br /> + Like my rinkeny Yocky Shuri:<br /> +Oprey the chongor in ratti I’d cour<br /> + For my rinkeny Yocky Shuri!</p> +<p>Which may be thus rendered:</p> +<p class="poetry">Beneath the bright sun, there is none, there is +none,<br /> + I love like my Yocky Shuri:<br /> +With the greatest delight, in blood I would fight<br /> + To the knees for my Yocky Shuri!</p> +<h2><a name="page251"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 251</span>KIRK +YETHOLM</h2> +<p><a name="page253"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 253</span><span +class="smcap">There</span> are two Yetholms—Town Yetholm +and Kirk Yetholm. They stand at the distance of about a +quarter of a mile from each other, and between them is a valley, +down which runs a small stream, called the Beaumont River, +crossed by a little stone bridge. Of the town there is not +much to be said. It is a long, straggling place, on the +road between Morbuttle and Kelso, from which latter place it is +distant about seven miles. It is comparatively modern, and +sprang up when the Kirk town began to fall into decay. Kirk +Yetholm derives the first part of its name from the church, which +serves for a place of worship not only for the inhabitants of the +place, but for those of the town also. The present church +is modern, having been built on the site of the old kirk, which +was pulled down in the early part of the present century, and +which had been witness of many a strange event connected with the +wars between England and Scotland. It stands at the +entrance of the place, on the left hand as you turn to the +village after ascending the steep road which leads from the +bridge. The place occupies the lower portion of a hill, a +spur of the Cheviot range, behind which is another hill, much +higher, <a name="page254"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +254</span>rising to an altitude of at least 900 feet. At +one time it was surrounded by a stone wall, and at the farther +end is a gateway overlooking a road leading to the English +border, from which Kirk Yetholm is distant only a mile and a +quarter; the boundary of the two kingdoms being here a small +brook called Shorton Burn, on the English side of which is a +village of harmless, simple Northumbrians, differing strangely in +appearance, manner, and language from the people who live within +a stone’s throw of them on the other side.</p> +<p>Kirk Yetholm is a small place, but with a remarkable +look. It consists of a street, terminating in what is +called a green, with houses on three sides, but open on the +fourth, or right side to the mountain, towards which quarter it +is grassy and steep. Most of the houses are ancient, and +are built of rude stone. By far the most remarkable-looking +house is a large and dilapidated building, which has much the +appearance of a ruinous Spanish <i>posada</i> or +<i>venta</i>. There is not much life in the place, and you +may stand ten minutes where the street opens upon the square +without seeing any other human beings than two or three women +seated at the house doors, or a ragged, bare-headed boy or two +lying on the grass on the upper side of the Green. It came +to pass that late one Saturday afternoon, at the commencement of +August, in the year 1866, I was standing where the street opens +on this Green, or imperfect square. My eyes were fixed on +the dilapidated house, the appearance of which awakened in my +mind all kinds of odd ideas. “A strange-looking +place,” said I to <a name="page255"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 255</span>myself at last, “and I +shouldn’t wonder if strange things have been done in +it.”</p> +<p>“Come to see the Gypsy toon, sir?” said a voice +not far from me.</p> +<p>I turned, and saw standing within two yards of me a woman +about forty years of age, of decent appearance, though without +either cap or bonnet.</p> +<p>“A Gypsy town, is it?” said I; “why, I +thought it had been Kirk Yetholm.”</p> +<p><i>Woman</i>.—“Weel, sir, if it is Kirk Yetholm, +must it not be a Gypsy toon? Has not Kirk Yetholm ever been +a Gypsy toon?”</p> +<p><i>Myself</i>.—“My good woman, ‘ever’ +is a long term, and Kirk Yetholm must have been Kirk Yetholm long +before there were Gypsies in Scotland, or England +either.”</p> +<p><i>Woman</i>.—“Weel, sir, your honour may be +right, and I dare say is; for your honour seems to be a learned +gentleman. Certain, however, it is that Kirk Yetholm has +been a Gypsy toon beyond the memory of man.”</p> +<p><i>Myself</i>.—“You do not seem to be a +Gypsy.”</p> +<p><i>Woman</i>.—“Seem to be a Gypsy! Na, na, +sir! I am the bairn of decent parents, and belong not to +Kirk Yetholm, but to Haddington.”</p> +<p><i>Myself</i>.—“And what brought you to Kirk +Yetholm?”</p> +<p><i>Woman</i>.—“Oh, my ain little bit of business +brought me to Kirk Yetholm, sir.”</p> +<p><i>Myself</i>.—“Which is no business of +mine. That’s a queer-looking house there.”</p> +<p><i>Woman</i>.—“The house that your honour was +looking at so attentively when I first spoke to ye? A +queer-looking house it is, and a queer kind of <a +name="page256"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 256</span>man once +lived in it. Does your honour know who once lived in that +house?”</p> +<p><i>Myself</i>.—“No. How should I? I am +here for the first time, and after taking a bite and sup at the +inn at the town over yonder I strolled hither.”</p> +<p><i>Woman</i>.—“Does your honour come from +far?”</p> +<p><i>Myself</i>.—“A good way. I came from +Strandraar, the farthest part of Galloway, where I landed from a +ship which brought me from Ireland.”</p> +<p><i>Woman</i>.—“And what may have brought your +honour into these parts?”</p> +<p><i>Myself</i>.—“Oh, my ain wee bit of business +brought me into these parts.”</p> +<p>“Which wee bit of business is nae business of +mine,” said the woman, smiling. “Weel, your +honour is quite right to keep your ain counsel; for, as your +honour weel kens, if a person canna keep his ain counsel it is +nae likely that any other body will keep it for him. But to +gae back to the queer house, and the queer man that once +’habited it. That man, your honour, was old Will +Faa.”</p> +<p><i>Myself</i>.—“Old Will Faa!”</p> +<p><i>Woman</i>.—“Yes. Old Will Faa, the Gypsy +king, smuggler, and innkeeper; he lived in that inn.”</p> +<p><i>Myself</i>.—“Oh, then that house has been an +inn?”</p> +<p><i>Woman</i>.—“It still is an inn, and has always +been an inn; and though it has such an eerie look it is sometimes +lively enough, more especially after the Gypsies have returned +from their summer excursions in the country. It’s a +roaring place then. They spend most of their +sleight-o’-hand gains in that house.”</p> +<p><a name="page257"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +257</span><i>Myself</i>.—“Is the house still kept by +a Faa?”</p> +<p><i>Woman</i>.—“No, sir; there are no Faas to keep +it. The name is clean dead in the land, though there is +still some of the blood remaining.”</p> +<p><i>Myself</i>.—“I really should like to see some +of the blood.”</p> +<p><i>Woman</i>.—“Weel, sir, you can do that without +much difficulty; there are not many Gypsies just now in Kirk +Yetholm; but the one who they say has more of his blood than any +one else happens to be here. I mean his +grandbairn—his daughter’s daughter; she whom they +ca’ the ‘Gypsy Queen o’ Yetholm,’ and +whom they lead about the toon once a year, mounted on a cuddy, +with a tin crown on her head, with much shouting, and with mony a +barbaric ceremony.”</p> +<p><i>Myself</i>.—“I really should like to see +her.”</p> +<p><i>Woman</i>.—“Weel, sir, there’s a woman +behind you, seated at the doorway, who can get your honour not +only the sight of her, but the speech of her, for she is one of +the race, and a relation of hers; and, to tell ye the truth, she +has had her eye upon your honour for some time past, expecting to +be asked about the qeeen, for scarcely anybody comes to Yetholm +but goes to see the queen; and some gae so far as to say that +they merely crowned her queen in hopes of bringing grist to the +Gypsy mill.”</p> +<p>I thanked the woman, and was about to turn away, in order to +address myself to the other woman seated on the step, when my +obliging friend said, “I beg your pardon, sir, but before +ye go I wish to caution you, when you get to the speech of the +queen, not to put any speerings to her about <a +name="page258"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 258</span>a certain +tongue or dialect which they say the Gypsies have. All the +Gypsies become glum and dour as soon as they are spoken to about +their language, and particularly the queen. The queen might +say something uncivil to your honour, should you ask her +questions about her language.”</p> +<p><i>Myself</i>.—“Oh, then the Gypsies of Yetholm +have a language of their own?”</p> +<p><i>Woman</i>.—“I canna say, sir; I dinna ken +whether they have or not; I have been at Yetholm several years, +about my ain wee bit o’ business, and never heard them +utter a word that was not either English or broad Scotch. +Some people say that they have a language of their ain, and +others say that they have nane, and moreover that, though they +call themselves Gypsies, they are far less Gypsy than Irish, a +great deal of Irish being mixed in their veins with a very little +of the much more respectable Gypsy blood. It may be sae, or +it may be not; perhaps your honour will find out. +That’s the woman, sir, just behind ye at the door. +Gud e’en. I maun noo gang and boil my cup +o’tay.”</p> +<p>To the woman at the door I now betook myself. She was +seated on the threshold, and employed in knitting. She was +dressed in white, and had a cap on her head, from which depended +a couple of ribbons, one on each side. As I drew near she +looked up. She had a full, round, smooth face, and her +complexion was brown, or rather olive, a hue which contrasted +with that of her eyes, which were blue.</p> +<p>“There is something Gypsy in that face,” said I to +myself, as I looked at her; “but I don’t like those +eyes.”</p> +<p><a name="page259"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +259</span>“A fine evening,” said I to her at +last.</p> +<p>“Yes, sir,” said the woman, with very little of +the Scotch accent; “it is a fine evening. Come to see +the town?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said I; “I am come to see the +town. A nice little town it seems.”</p> +<p>“And I suppose come to see the Gypsies, too,” said +the woman, with a half smile.</p> +<p>“Well,” said I, “to be frank with you, I +came to see the Gypsies. You are not one, I +suppose?”</p> +<p>“Indeed I am,” said the woman, rather sharply, +“and who shall say that I am not, seeing that I am a +relation of old Will Faa, the man whom the woman from Haddington +was speaking to you about; for I heard her mention his +name?”</p> +<p>“Then,” said I, “you must be related to her +whom they call the Gypsy queen.”</p> +<p>“I am, indeed, sir. Would you wish to see +her?”</p> +<p>“By all means,” said I. “I should wish +very much to see the Gypsy queen.”</p> +<p>“Then I will show you to her, sir; many gentlefolks from +England come to see the Gypsy queen of Yetholm. Follow me, +sir!”</p> +<p>She got up, and, without laying down her knitting-work, went +round the corner, and began to ascend the hill. She was +strongly made, and was rather above the middle height. She +conducted me to a small house, some little way up the hill. +As we were going, I said to her, “As you are a Gypsy, I +suppose you have no objection to a <i>coro</i> of <i>koshto +levinor</i>?” <a name="citation259"></a><a +href="#footnote259" class="citation">[259]</a></p> +<p>She stopped her knitting for a moment, and <a +name="page260"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 260</span>appeared to +consider, and then resuming it, she said hesitatingly, “No, +sir, no! None at all! That is, not +exactly!”</p> +<p>“She is no true Gypsy, after all,” said I to +myself.</p> +<p>We went through a little garden to the door of the house, +which stood ajar. She pushed it open, and looked in; then, +turning round, she said: “She is not here, sir; but she is +close at hand. Wait here till I go and fetch +her.” She went to a house a little farther up the +hill, and I presently saw her returning with another female, of +slighter build, lower in stature, and apparently much +older. She came towards me with much smiling, smirking, and +nodding, which I returned with as much smiling and nodding as if +I had known her for threescore years. She motioned me with +her hand to enter the house. I did so. The other +woman returned down the hill, and the queen of the Gypsies +entering, and shutting the door, confronted me on the floor, and +said, in a rather musical, but slightly faltering voice:</p> +<p>“Now, sir, in what can I oblige you?”</p> +<p>Thereupon, letting the umbrella fall, which I invariably carry +about with me in my journeyings, I flung my arms three times up +into the air, and in an exceedingly disagreeable voice, owing to +a cold which I had had for some time, and which I had caught +amongst the lakes of Loughmaben, whilst hunting after Gypsies +whom I could not find, I exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Sossi your nav? Pukker mande tute’s +nav! Shan tu a mumpli-mushi, or a tatchi Romany?”</p> +<p>Which, interpreted into Gorgio, runs thus:</p> +<p><a name="page261"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +261</span>“What is your name? Tell me your +name! Are you a mumping woman, or a true Gypsy?”</p> +<p>The woman appeared frightened, and for some time said nothing, +but only stared at me. At length, recovering herself, she +exclaimed, in an angry tone, “Why do you talk to me in that +manner, and in that gibberish? I don’t understand a +word of it.”</p> +<p>“Gibberish!” said I; “it is no gibberish; it +is Zingarrijib, Romany rokrapen, real Gypsy of the old +order.”</p> +<p>“Whatever it is,” said the woman, +“it’s of no use speaking it to me. If you want +to speak to me, you must speak English or Scotch.”</p> +<p>“Why, they told me as how you were a Gypsy,” said +I.</p> +<p>“And they told you the truth,” said the woman; +“I am a Gypsy, and a real one; I am not ashamed of my +blood.”</p> +<p>“If yer were a Gyptian,” said I, “yer would +be able to speak Gyptian; but yer can’t, not a +word.”</p> +<p>“At any rate,” said the woman, “I can speak +English, which is more than you can. Why, your way of +speaking is that of the lowest vagrants of the roads.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I have two or three ways of speaking +English,” said I; “and when I speaks to low wagram +folks, I speaks in a low wagram manner.”</p> +<p>“Not very civil,” said the woman.</p> +<p>“A pretty Gypsy!” said I; “why, I’ll +be bound you don’t know what a <i>churi</i> is!”</p> +<p>The woman gave me a sharp look; but made no reply.</p> +<p><a name="page262"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +262</span>“A pretty queen of the Gypsies!” said I; +“why, she doesn’t know the meaning of +<i>churi</i>!”</p> +<p>“Doesn’t she?” said the woman, evidently +nettled; “doesn’t she?”</p> +<p>“Why, do you mean to say that you know the meaning of +<i>churi</i>?”</p> +<p>“Why, of course I do,” said the woman.</p> +<p>“Hardly, my good lady,” said I; “hardly; a +<i>churi</i> to you is merely a <i>churi</i>.”</p> +<p>“A <i>churi</i> is a knife,” said the woman, in a +tone of defiance; “a <i>churi</i> is a knife.”</p> +<p>“Oh, it is,” said I; “and yet you tried to +persuade me that you had no peculiar language of your own, and +only knew English and Scotch: <i>churi</i> is a word of the +language in which I spoke to you at first, Zingarrijib, or Gypsy +language; and since you know that word, I make no doubt that you +know others, and in fact can speak Gypsy. Come; let us have +a little confidential discourse together.”</p> +<p>The woman stood for some time, as if in reflection, and at +length said: “Sir, before having any particular discourse +with you, I wish to put a few questions to you, in order to +gather from your answers whether it is safe to talk to you on +Gypsy matters. You pretend to understand the Gypsy +language: if I find you do not, I will hold no further discourse +with you; and the sooner you take yourself off the better. +If I find you do, I will talk with you as long as you like. +What do you call that?”—and she pointed to the +fire.</p> +<p>“Speaking Gyptianly?” said I.</p> +<p>The woman nodded.</p> +<p>“Whoy, I calls that <i>yog</i>.”</p> +<p><a name="page263"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +263</span>“Hm,” said the woman: “and the dog +out there?”</p> +<p>“Gyptian-loike?” said I.</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Whoy, I calls that a <i>juggal</i>.”</p> +<p>“And the hat on your head?”</p> +<p>“Well, I have two words for that: a <i>staury</i> and a +<i>stadge</i>.”</p> +<p>“<i>Stadge</i>,” said the woman, “we call it +here. Now what’s a gun?”</p> +<p>“There is no Gypsy in England,” said I, “can +tell you the word for a gun; at least the proper word, which is +lost. They have a word—<i>yag-engro</i>—but +that is a made-up word signifying a fire-thing.”</p> +<p>“Then you don’t know the word for a gun,” +said the Gypsy.</p> +<p>“Oh dear me! Yes,” said I; “the +genuine Gypsy word for a gun is <i>puschca</i>. But I did +not pick up that word in England, but in Hungary, where the +Gypsies retain their language better than in England: +<i>puschca</i> is the proper word for a gun, and not +<i>yag-engro</i>, which may mean a fire-shovel, tongs, poker, or +anything connected with fire, quite as well as a gun.”</p> +<p>“<i>Puschca</i> is the word, sure enough,” said +the Gypsy. “I thought I should have caught you there; +and now I have but one more question to ask you, and when I have +done so, you may as well go; for I am quite sure you cannot +answer it. What is <i>Nokkum</i>?”</p> +<p>“<i>Nokkum</i>,” said I; +“<i>nokkum</i>?”</p> +<p>“Aye,” said the Gypsy; “what is +<i>Nokkum</i>? Our people here, besides their common name +of <a name="page264"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +264</span>Romany, have a private name for themselves, which is +<i>Nokkum</i> or <i>Nokkums</i>. Why do the children of the +Caungri Foros call themselves <i>Nokkums</i>?”</p> +<p>“<i>Nokkum</i>,” said I; +“<i>nokkum</i>? The root of <i>nokkum</i> must be +<i>nok</i>, which signifieth a nose.”</p> +<p>“A-h!” said the Gypsy, slowly drawing out the +monosyllable, as if in astonishment.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said I; “the root of <i>nokkum</i> is +assuredly <i>nok</i>, and I have no doubt that your people call +themselves <i>Nokkum</i> because they are in the habit of +<i>nosing</i> the Gorgios. <i>Nokkums</i> means +<i>Nosems</i>.”</p> +<p>“Sit down, sir,” said the Gypsy, handing me a +chair. “I am now ready to talk to you as much as you +please about <i>Nokkum</i> words and matters, for I see there is +no danger. But I tell you frankly that had I not found that +you knew as much as, or a great deal more than, myself, not a +hundred pounds, nor indeed all the money in Berwick, should have +induced me to hold discourse with you about the words and matters +of the Brown children of Kirk Yetholm.”</p> +<p>I sat down in the chair which she handed me; she sat down in +another, and we were presently in deep discourse about matters +<i>Nokkum</i>. We first began to talk about words, and I +soon found that her knowledge of Romany was anything but +extensive; far less so, indeed, than that of the commonest +English Gypsy woman, for whenever I addressed her in regular +Gypsy sentences, and not in <i>poggado jib</i>, or broken +language, she would giggle and say I was too deep for her. +I should say that the sum total of her vocabulary barely amounted +to three hundred words. Even of these <a +name="page265"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 265</span>there were +several which were not pure Gypsy words—that is, belonging +to the speech which the ancient Zingary brought with them to +Britain. Some of her bastard Gypsy words belonged to the +cant or allegorical jargon of thieves, who, in order to disguise +their real meaning, call one thing by the name of another. +For example, she called a shilling a ‘hog,’ a word +belonging to the old English cant dialect, instead of calling it +by the genuine Gypsy term <i>tringurushi</i>, the literal meaning +of which is three groats. Then she called a donkey +‘asal,’ and a stone ‘cloch,’ which words +are neither cant nor Gypsy, but Irish or Gaelic. I incurred +her vehement indignation by saying they were Gaelic. She +contradicted me flatly, and said that whatever else I might know +I was quite wrong there; for that neither she nor any one of her +people would condescend to speak anything so low as Gaelic, or +indeed, if they possibly could avoid it, to have anything to do +with the poverty-stricken creatures who used it. It is a +singular fact that, though principally owing to the magic +writings of Walter Scott, the Highland Gael and Gaelic have +obtained the highest reputation in every other part of the world, +they are held in the Lowlands in very considerable +contempt. There the Highlander, elsewhere “the bold +Gael with sword and buckler,” is the type of poverty and +wretchedness; and his language, elsewhere “the fine old +Gaelic, the speech of Adam and Eve in Paradise,” is the +designation of every unintelligible jargon. But not to +digress. On my expressing to the Gypsy queen my regret that +she was unable to hold with me a regular <a +name="page266"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +266</span>conversation in Romany, she said that no one regretted +it more than herself, but that there was no help for it; and that +slight as I might consider her knowledge of Romany to be, it was +far greater than that of any other Gypsy on the Border, or indeed +in the whole of Scotland; and that as for the <i>Nokkums</i>, +there was not one on the Green who was acquainted with half a +dozen words of Romany, though the few words they had they prized +high enough, and would rather part with their heart’s blood +than communicate them to a stranger.</p> +<p>“Unless,” said I, “they found the stranger +knew more than themselves.”</p> +<p>“That would make no difference with them,” said +the queen, “though it has made a great deal of difference +with me. They would merely turn up their noses, and say +they had no Gaelic. You would not find them so +communicative as me; the <i>Nokkums</i>, in general, are a dour +set, sir.”</p> +<p>Before quitting the subject of language it is but right to say +that though she did not know much Gypsy, and used cant and Gaelic +terms, she possessed several words unknown to the English Romany, +but which are of the true Gypsy order. Amongst them was the +word <i>tirrehi</i>, or <i>tirrehai</i>, signifying shoes or +boots, which I had heard in Spain and in the east of +Europe. Another was <i>calches</i>, a Wallachian word +signifying trousers. Moreover, she gave the right +pronunciation to the word which denotes a man not of Gypsy blood, +saying <i>gajo</i>, and not <i>gorgio</i>, as the English Gypsies +do. After all, her knowledge of Gentle Romany was not +altogether to be sneezed at.</p> +<p>Ceasing to talk to her about words, I began to <a +name="page267"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 267</span>question +her about the Faas. She said that a great number of the +Faas had come in the old time to Yetholm, and settled down there, +and that her own forefathers had always been the principal people +among them. I asked her if she remembered her grandfather, +old Will Faa, and received for answer that she remembered him +very well, and that I put her very much in mind of him, being a +tall, lusty man, like himself, and having a skellying look with +the left eye, just like him. I asked her if she had not +seen queer folks at Yetholm in her grandfather’s +time. “<i>Dosta dosta</i>,” said she; +“plenty, plenty of queer folk I saw at Yetholm in my +grandfather’s time, and plenty I have seen since, and not +the least queer is he who is now asking me +questions.” “Did you ever see Piper +Allen?” said I; “he was a great friend of your +grandfather’s.” “I never saw him,” +she replied; “but I have often heard of him. He +married one of our people.” “He did so,” +said I, “and the marriage-feast was held on the Green just +behind us. He got a good, clever wife, and she got a bad, +rascally husband. One night, after taking an affectionate +farewell of her, he left her on an expedition, with plenty of +money in his pocket, which he had obtained from her, and which +she had procured by her dexterity. After going about four +miles he bethought himself that she had still some money, and +returning crept up to the room in which she lay asleep, and stole +her pocket, in which were eight guineas; then slunk away, and +never returned, leaving her in poverty, from which she never +recovered.” I then mentioned Madge Gordon, at one +time the Gypsy queen of the Border, <a name="page268"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 268</span>who used, magnificently dressed, to +ride about on a pony shod with silver, inquiring if she had ever +seen her. She said she had frequently seen Madge Faa, for +that was her name, and not Gordon; but that when she knew her, +all her magnificence, beauty, and royalty had left her; for she +was then a poor, poverty-stricken old woman, just able with a +pipkin in her hand to totter to the well on the Green for +water. Then with much nodding, winking, and skellying, I +began to talk about <i>Drabbing bawlor</i>, <i>dooking gryes</i>, +<i>cauring</i>, and <i>hokking</i>, and asked if them ’ere +things were ever done by the <i>Nokkums</i>: and received for +answer that she believed such things were occasionally done, not +by the <i>Nokkums</i>, but by other Gypsies, with whom her people +had no connection.</p> +<p>Observing her eyeing me rather suspiciously, I changed the +subject; asking her if she had travelled much about. She +told me she had, and that she had visited most parts of Scotland, +and seen a good bit of the northern part of England.</p> +<p>“Did you travel alone?” said I.</p> +<p>“No,” said she; “when I travelled in +Scotland I was with some of my own people, and in England with +the Lees and Bosvils.”</p> +<p>“Old acquaintances of mine,” said I; “why +only the other day I was with them at Fairlop Fair, in the +Wesh.”</p> +<p>“I frequently heard them talk of Epping Forest,” +said the Gypsy; “a nice place, is it not?”</p> +<p>“The loveliest forest in the world!” said I. +“Not equal to what it was, but still the loveliest forest +in the world, and the pleasantest, especially in summer; for then +it is thronged with grand <a name="page269"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 269</span>company, and the nightingales, and +cuckoos, and Romany <i>chals</i> and <i>chies</i>. As for +Romany-chals there is not such a place for them in the whole +world as the Forest. Them that wants to see Romany-chals +should go to the Forest, especially to the Bald-faced Hind on the +hill above Fairlop, on the day of Fairlop Fair. It is their +trysting-place, as you would say, and there they musters from all +parts of England, and there they whoops, dances, and plays; +keeping some order nevertheless, because the <i>Rye</i> of all +the Romans is in the house, seated behind the door:—</p> +<p class="poetry">Romany Chalor<br /> +Anglo the wuddur<br /> +Mistos are boshing;<br /> +Mande beshello<br /> +Innar the wuddur<br /> +Shooning the boshipen.”</p> +<p class="poetry">Roman lads<br /> +Before the door<br /> +Bravely fiddle;<br /> +Here I sit<br /> +Within the door<br /> +And hear them fiddle.</p> +<p>“I wish I knew as much Romany as you, sir,” said +the Gypsy. “Why, I never heard so much Romany before +in all my life.”</p> +<p>She was rather a small woman, apparently between sixty and +seventy, with intelligent and rather delicate features. Her +complexion was darker than that of the other female; but she had +the same kind of blue eyes. The room in which we were +seated was rather long, and tolerably <a name="page270"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 270</span>high. In the wall, on the side +which fronted the windows which looked out upon the Green, were +oblong holes for beds, like those seen in the sides of a +cabin. There was nothing of squalor or poverty about the +place.</p> +<p>Wishing to know her age, I inquired of her what it was. +She looked angry, and said she did not know.</p> +<p>“Are you forty-nine?” said I, with a terrible +voice, and a yet more terrible look.</p> +<p>“More,” said she, with a smile; “I am +sixty-eight.”</p> +<p>There was something of the gentlewoman in her: on my offering +her money she refused to take it, saying that she did not want +it, and it was with the utmost difficulty that I persuaded her to +accept a trifle, with which, she said, she would buy herself some +tea.</p> +<p>But withal there was <i>hukni</i> in her, and by that she +proved her Gypsy blood. I asked her if she would be at home +on the following day, for in that case I would call and have some +more talk with her, and received for answer that she would be at +home and delighted to see me. On going, however, on the +following day, which was Sunday, I found the garden-gate locked +and the window-shutters up, plainly denoting that there was +nobody at home.</p> +<p>Seeing some men lying on the hill, a little way above, who +appeared to be observing me, I went up to them for the purpose of +making inquiries. They were all young men, and decently +though coarsely dressed. None wore the Scottish cap or +bonnet, but all the hat of England. Their countenances <a +name="page271"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 271</span>were rather +dark, but had nothing of the vivacious expression observable in +the Gypsy face, but much of the dogged, sullen look which makes +the countenances of the generality of the Irish who inhabit +London and some other of the large English towns so +disagreeable. They were lying on their bellies, +occasionally kicking their heels into the air. I greeted +them civilly, but received no salutation in return.</p> +<p>“Is So-and-so at home?” said I.</p> +<p>“No,” said one, who, though seemingly the eldest +of the party, could not have been more than three-and-twenty +years of age; “she is gone out.”</p> +<p>“Is she gone far?” said I.</p> +<p>“No,” said the speaker, kicking up his heels.</p> +<p>“Where is she gone to?”</p> +<p>“She’s gone to Cauldstrame.”</p> +<p>“How far is that?”</p> +<p>“Just thirteen miles.”</p> +<p>“Will she be at home to-day?”</p> +<p>“She may, or she may not.”</p> +<p>“Are you of her people?” said I.</p> +<p>“No-h,” said the fellow, slowly drawing out the +word.</p> +<p>“Can you speak Irish?”</p> +<p>“No-h; I can’t speak Irish,” said the +fellow, tossing up his nose, and then flinging up his heels.</p> +<p>“You know what <i>arragod</i> is?” said I.</p> +<p>“No-h!”</p> +<p>“But you know what <i>ruppy</i> is?” said I; and +thereupon I winked and nodded.</p> +<p>“No-h;” and then up went the nose, and +subsequently the heels.</p> +<p><a name="page272"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +272</span>“Good day,” said I; and turned away; I +received no counter-salutation; but, as I went down the hill, +there was none of the shouting and laughter which generally +follow a discomfited party. They were a hard, sullen, +cautious set, in whom a few drops of Gypsy blood were mixed with +some Scottish and a much larger quantity of low Irish. +Between them and their queen a striking difference was +observable. In her there was both fun and cordiality; in +them not the slightest appearance of either. What was the +cause of this disparity? The reason was they were neither +the children nor the grandchildren of real Gypsies, but only the +remote descendants, whereas she was the granddaughter of two +genuine Gypsies, old Will Faa and his wife, whose daughter was +her mother; so that she might be considered all but a thorough +Gypsy; for being by her mother’s side a Gypsy, she was of +course much more so than she would have been had she sprung from +a Gypsy father and a Gentile mother; the qualities of a child, +both mental and bodily, depending much less on the father than on +the mother. Had her father been a Faa, instead of her +mother, I should probably never have heard from her lips a single +word of Romany, but found her as sullen and inductile as the +<i>Nokkums</i> on the Green, whom it was of little more use +questioning than so many stones.</p> +<p>Nevertheless, she had played me the <i>hukni</i>, and that was +not very agreeable; so I determined to be even with her, and by +some means or other to see her again. Hearing that on the +next day, which was Monday, a great fair was to be held in the +neighbourhood of Kelso, I determined to go <a +name="page273"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 273</span>thither, +knowing that the likeliest place in all the world to find a Gypsy +at is a fair; so I went to the grand cattle-fair of St. George, +held near the ruined castle of Roxburgh, in a lovely meadow not +far from the junction of the Teviot and Tweed; and there sure +enough, on my third saunter up and down, I met my Gypsy. We +met in the most cordial manner—smirks and giggling on her +side, smiles and nodding on mine. She was dressed +respectably in black, and was holding the arm of a stout wench, +dressed in garments of the same colour, who she said was her +niece, and a <i>rinkeni rakli</i>. The girl whom she called +<i>rinkeni</i> or handsome, but whom I did not consider handsome, +had much of the appearance of one of those <i>Irish</i> girls, +born in London, whom one so frequently sees carrying milk-pails +about the streets of the metropolis. By the bye, how is it +that the children born in England of Irish parents account +themselves Irish and not English, whilst the children born in +Ireland of English parents call themselves not English but +Irish? Is it because there is ten times more nationality in +Irish blood than in English? After the smirks, smiles, and +salutations were over, I inquired whether there were many Gypsies +in the fair. “Plenty,” said she, “plenty +Tates, Andersons, Reeds, and many others. That woman is an +Anderson—yonder is a Tate,” said she, pointing to two +common-looking females. “Have they much +Romany?” said I. “No,” said she, +“scarcely a word.” “I think I shall go +and speak to them,” said I. +“Don’t,” said she; “they would only be +uncivil to you. Moreover, they have nothing of that +kind—on the word of a <i>rawnie</i> they have +not.”</p> +<p><a name="page274"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 274</span>I +looked in her eyes; there was nothing of <i>hukni</i> in them, so +I shook her by the hand; and through rain and mist, for the day +was a wretched one, trudged away to Dryburgh to pay my respects +at the tomb of Walter Scott, a man with whose principles I have +no sympathy, but for whose genius I have always entertained the +most intense admiration.</p> +<h2>FOOTNOTES</h2> +<p><a name="footnote11a"></a><a href="#citation11a" +class="footnote">[11a]</a> A Christian.</p> +<p><a name="footnote11b"></a><a href="#citation11b" +class="footnote">[11b]</a> A fox.</p> +<p><a name="footnote174"></a><a href="#citation174" +class="footnote">[174]</a> “Merripen” means +life, and likewise death; even as “collico” means +to-morrow as well as yesterday, and perhaps “sorlo,” +evening as well as morning.</p> +<p><a name="footnote247a"></a><a href="#citation247a" +class="footnote">[247a]</a> A Black Lovel.</p> +<p><a name="footnote247b"></a><a href="#citation247b" +class="footnote">[247b]</a> Going a-tinkering.</p> +<p><a name="footnote247c"></a><a href="#citation247c" +class="footnote">[247c]</a> I’ll show you about, +brother! I’m selling skewers.</p> +<p><a name="footnote259"></a><a href="#citation259" +class="footnote">[259]</a> A cup of good ale.</p> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROMANO LAVO-LIL***</p> +<pre> + + +***** This file should be named 2733-h.htm or 2733-h.zip****** + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/3/2733 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +This etext was prepared by David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk, +from the 1905 John Murray edition. + + + + + +ROMANO LAVO-LIL +WORD-BOOK OF THE ROMANY +OR, ENGLISH GYPSY LANGUAGE +WITH SPECIMENS OF GYPSY POETRY, AND AN +ACCONT OF CERTAIN GYPSYRIES OR +PLACES INHABITED BY THEM, AND +OF VARIOS THINGS RELATING TO +GYPSY LIFE IN ENGLAND. + +by George Borrow + + + + +Contents: + +The English Gypsy Language +Romano Lavo-Lil: Word-book of the Romany +Rhymed List of Gypsy Verbs +Betie Rokrapenes: Little Sayings +Cotorres of Mi-dibble's Lil. Chiv'd Adrey Romanes: Pieces of +Scripture cast into Romany +The Lord's Prayer in the Gypsy Dialect of Transylvania +Lil of Romano Jinnypen: Book of the Wisdom of the Egyptians +Romane Navior of Temes and Gavior: Gypsy Names of Countries and +Towns +Thomas Rossar-Mescro, or Thomas Herne +Kokkodus Artarus +Mang, Prala: Beg on, Brother +English Gypsy Songs + Welling Kattaney: The Gypsy Meeting + Lelling Cappi: Making a Fortune + The Dui Chalor: The Two Gypsies + Miro Romany Chi: My Roman Lass + Ava, Chi: Yes, my Girl + The Temeskoe Rye: The Youthful Earl + Camo-Gillie: Love Song + Tugnis Amande: Woe is me + The Rye and the Rawne: The Squire and Lady + Romany Suttur Gillie: Gypsy Lullaby + Sharrafi Kralyissa: Our Blessed Queen + Plastra Lesti: Run for it! +Foreign Gypsy Songs + The Romany Songstress + L'Erajai: The Frair + Malbrun: Malbrouk +The English Gypsies + Tugney Beshor: Sorrowful Years + Their History +Gypsy Names +Fortune-Telling + The Hukni + Cauring +Metropolitan Gypsyries + Wandsworth + The Potteries + The Mount +Ryley Bosvil +Kirk Yetholm + + + + +"Can you rokra Romany? +Can you play the bosh? +Can you jal adrey the staripen? +Can you chin the cost?" + +"Can you speak the Roman tongue? +Can you play the fiddle? +Can you eat the prison-loaf? +Can you cut and whittle?" + +The Author of the present work wishes to state that the Vocabulary, +which forms part of it, has existed in manuscript for many years. It +is one of several vocabularies of various dialects of the Gypsy +tongue, made by him in different countries. The most considerable-- +that of the dialect of the Zincali or Rumijelies (Romany Chals) of +Spain--was published in the year 1841. Amongst those which remain +unpublished is one of the Transylvanian Gypsy, made principally at +Kolosvar in the year 1844. + +December 1, 1873. + +{Special Project Gutenberg note: In this book a lot of non-European +characters are used which cannot easily be reproduced. Rather than +omit these entirely I have commented where they occur in the text. +If there's sufficient demand I'll try to produce an updated text with +these characters. David Price, 28 June 2000} + + + +THE ENGLISH GYPSY LANGUAGE + + + +The Gypsies of England call their language, as the Gypsies of many +other countries call theirs, Romany or Romanes, a word either derived +from the Indian Ram or Rama, which signifies a husband, or from the +town Rome, which took its name either from the Indian Ram, or from +the Gaulic word, Rom, which is nearly tantamount to husband or man, +for as the Indian Ram means a husband or man, so does the Gaulic Pom +signify that which constitutes a man and enables him to become a +husband. + +Before entering on the subject of the English Gypsy, I may perhaps be +expected to say something about the original Gypsy tongue. It is, +however, very difficult to say with certainty anything on the +subject. There can be no doubt that a veritable Gypsy tongue at one +time existed, but that it at present exists there is great doubt +indeed. The probability is that the Gypsy at present exists only in +dialects more or less like the language originally spoken by the +Gypsy or Zingaro race. Several dialects of the Gypsy are to be found +which still preserve along with a considerable number of seemingly +original words certain curious grammatical forms, quite distinct from +those of any other speech. Others are little more than jargons, in +which a certain number of Gypsy words are accommodated to the +grammatical forms of the languages of particular countries. In the +foremost class of the purer Gypsy dialects, I have no hesitation in +placing those of Russia, Wallachia, Bulgaria, and Transylvania. They +are so alike, that he who speaks one of them can make himself very +well understood by those who speak any of the rest; from whence it +may reasonably be inferred that none of them can differ much from the +original Gypsy speech; so that when speaking of Gypsy language, any +one of these may be taken as a standard. One of them--I shall not +mention which--I have selected for that purpose, more from fancy than +any particular reason. + +The Gypsy language, then, or what with some qualification I may call +such, may consist of some three thousand words, the greater part of +which are decidedly of Indian origin, being connected with the +Sanscrit or some other Indian dialect; the rest consist of words +picked up by the Gypsies from various languages in their wanderings +from the East. It has two genders, masculine and feminine; o +represents the masculine and i the feminine: for example, boro rye, +a great gentleman; bori rani, a great lady. There is properly no +indefinite article: gajo or gorgio, a man or gentile; o gajo, the +man. The noun has two numbers, the singular and the plural. It has +various cases formed by postpositions, but has, strictly speaking, no +genitive. It has prepositions as well as postpositions; sometimes +the preposition is used with the noun and sometimes the postposition: +for example, cad o gav, from the town; chungale mannochendar, evil +men from, i.e. from evil men. The verb has no infinitive; in lieu +thereof, the conjunction 'that' is placed before some person of some +tense. 'I wish to go' is expressed in Gypsy by camov te jaw, +literally, I wish that I go; thou wishest to go, caumes te jas, thou +wishest that thou goest; caumen te jallan, they wish that they go. +Necessity is expressed by the impersonal verb and the conjunction +'that': hom te jay, I must go; lit. I am that I go; shan te jallan, +they are that they go; and so on. There are words to denote the +numbers from one up to a thousand. For the number nine there are two +words, nu and ennyo. Almost all the Gypsy numbers are decidedly +connected with the Sanscrit. + +After these observations on what may be called the best preserved +kind of Gypsy, I proceed to a lower kind, that of England. The +English Gypsy speech is very scanty, amounting probably to not more +than fourteen hundred words, the greater part of which seem to be of +Indian origin. The rest form a strange medley taken by the Gypsies +from various Eastern and Western languages: some few are Arabic, +many are Persian; some are Sclavo-Wallachian, others genuine +Sclavonian. Here and there a Modern Greek or Hungarian word is +discoverable; but in the whole English Gypsy tongue I have never +noted but one French word--namely, tass or dass, by which some of the +very old Gypsies occasionally call a cup. + +Their vocabulary being so limited, the Gypsies have of course words +of their own only for the most common objects and ideas; as soon as +they wish to express something beyond these they must have recourse +to English, and even to express some very common objects, ideas, and +feelings, they are quite at a loss in their own tongue, and must +either employ English words or very vague terms indeed. They have +words for the sun and the moon, but they have no word for the stars, +and when they wish to name them in Gypsy, they use a word answering +to 'lights.' They have a word for a horse and for a mare, but they +have no word for a colt, which in some other dialects of the Gypsy is +called kuro; and to express a colt they make use of the words tawno +gry, a little horse, which after all may mean a pony. They have +words for black, white, and red, but none for the less positive +colours--none for grey, green, and yellow. They have no definite +word either for hare or rabbit; shoshoi, by which they generally +designate a rabbit, signifies a hare as well, and kaun-engro, a word +invented to distinguish a hare, and which signifies ear-fellow, is no +more applicable to a hare than to a rabbit, as both have long ears. +They have no certain word either for to-morrow or yesterday, collico +signifying both indifferently. A remarkable coincidence must here be +mentioned, as it serves to show how closely related are Sanscrit and +Gypsy. Shoshoi and collico are nearly of the same sound as the +Sanscrit sasa and kalya, and exactly of the same import; for as the +Gypsy shoshoi signifies both hare and rabbit, and collico to-morrow +as well as yesterday, so does the Sanscrit sasa signify both hare and +rabbit, and kalya tomorrow as well as yesterday. + +The poverty of their language in nouns the Gypsies endeavour to +remedy by the frequent use of the word engro. This word affixed to a +noun or verb turns it into something figurative, by which they +designate, seldom very appropriately, some object for which they have +no positive name. Engro properly means a fellow, and engri, which is +the feminine or neuter modification, a thing. When the noun or verb +terminates in a vowel, engro is turned into mengro, and engri into +mengri. I have already shown how, by affixing engro to kaun, the +Gypsies have invented a word to express a hare. In like manner, by +affixing engro to pov, earth, they have coined a word for a potato, +which they call pov-engro or pov-engri, earth-fellow or thing; and by +adding engro to rukh, or mengro to rooko, they have really a very +pretty figurative name for a squirrel, which they call rukh-engro or +rooko-mengro, literally a fellow of the tree. Poggra-mengri, a +breaking thing, and pea-mengri, a drinking thing, by which they +express, respectively, a mill and a teapot, will serve as examples of +the manner by which they turn verbs into substantives. This method +of finding names for objects, for which there are properly no terms +in Gypsy, might be carried to a great length--much farther, indeed, +than the Gypsies are in the habit of carrying it: a slack-rope +dancer might be termed bittitardranoshellokellimengro, or slightly- +drawn-rope-dancing fellow; a drum, duicoshtcurenomengri, or a thing +beaten by two sticks; a tambourine, angustrecurenimengri, or a thing +beaten by the fingers; and a fife, muipudenimengri, or thing blown by +the mouth. All these compound words, however, would be more or less +indefinite, and far beyond the comprehension of the Gypsies in +general. + +The verbs are very few, and with two or three exceptions expressive +only of that which springs from what is physical and bodily, totally +unconnected with the mind, for which, indeed, the English Gypsy has +no word; the term used for mind, zi--which is a modification of the +Hungarian sziv--meaning heart. There are such verbs in this dialect +as to eat, drink, walk, run, hear, see, live, die; but there are no +such verbs as to hope, mean, hinder, prove, forbid, teaze, soothe. +There is the verb apasavello, I believe; but that word, which is +Wallachian, properly means being trusted, and was incorporated in the +Gypsy language from the Gypsies obtaining goods on trust from the +Wallachians, which they never intended to pay for. There is the verb +for love, camova; but that word is expressive of physical desire, and +is connected with the Sanscrit Cama, or Cupid. Here, however, the +English must not triumph over the Gypsies, as their own verb 'love' +is connected with a Sanscrit word signifying 'lust.' One pure and +abstract metaphysical verb the English Gypsy must be allowed to +possess--namely, penchava, I think, a word of illustrious origin, +being derived from the Persian pendashtan. + +The English Gypsies can count up to six, and have the numerals for +ten and twenty, but with those for seven, eight, and nine, perhaps +not three Gypsies in England are acquainted. When they wish to +express those numerals in their own language, they have recourse to +very uncouth and roundabout methods, saying for seven, dui trins ta +yeck, two threes and one; for eight, dui stors, or two fours; and for +nine, desh sore but yeck, or ten all but one. Yet at one time the +English Gypsies possessed all the numerals as their Transylvanian, +Wallachian, and Russian brethren still do; even within the last fifty +years there were Gypsies who could count up to a hundred. These were +tatchey Romany, real Gypsies, of the old sacred black race, who never +slept in a house, never entered a church, and who, on their death- +beds, used to threaten their children with a curse, provided they +buried them in a churchyard. The two last of them rest, it is +believed, some six feet deep beneath the moss of a wild, hilly +heath,--called in Gypsy the Heviskey Tan, or place of holes; in +English, Mousehold,--near an ancient city, which the Gentiles call +Norwich, and the Romans the Chong Gav, or the town of the hill. + +With respect to Grammar, the English Gypsy is perhaps in a worse +condition than with respect to words. Attention is seldom paid to +gender; boro rye and boro rawnie being said, though as rawnie is +feminine, bori and not boro should be employed. The proper Gypsy +plural terminations are retained in nouns, but in declension +prepositions are generally substituted for postpositions, and those +prepositions English. The proper way of conjugating verbs is seldom +or never observed, and the English method is followed. They say, I +dick, I see, instead of dico; I dick'd, I saw, instead of dikiom; if +I had dick'd, instead of dikiomis. Some of the peculiar features of +Gypsy grammar yet retained by the English Gypsies will be found noted +in the Dictionary. + +I have dwelt at some length on the deficiencies and shattered +condition of the English Gypsy tongue; justice, however, compels me +to say that it is far purer and less deficient than several of the +continental Gypsy dialects. It preserves far more of original Gypsy +peculiarities than the French, Italian, and Spanish dialects, and its +words retain more of the original Gypsy form than the words of those +three; moreover, however scanty it may be, it is far more copious +than the French or the Italian Gypsy, though it must be owned that in +respect to copiousness it is inferior to the Spanish Gypsy, which is +probably the richest in words of all the Gypsy dialects in the world, +having names for very many of the various beasts, birds, and creeping +things, for most of the plants and fruits, for all the days of the +week, and all the months in the year; whereas most other Gypsy +dialects, the English amongst them, have names for only a few common +animals and insects, for a few common fruits and natural productions, +none for the months, and only a name for a single day--the Sabbath-- +which name is a modification of the Modern Greek [Greek text: ]. + +Though the English Gypsy is generally spoken with a considerable +alloy of English words and English grammatical forms, enough of its +proper words and features remain to form genuine Gypsy sentences, +which shall be understood not only by the Gypsies of England, but by +those of Russia, Hungary, Wallachia, and even of Turkey; for +example:- + + +Kek man camov te jib bolli-mengreskoenaes, +Man camov te jib weshenjugalogonaes. + +I do not wish to live like a baptized person. {1} +I wish to live like a dog of the wood. {2} + + +It is clear-sounding and melodious, and well adapted to the purposes +of poetry. Let him who doubts peruse attentively the following +lines:- + + +Coin si deya, coin se dado? +Pukker mande drey Romanes, +Ta mande pukkeravava tute. + +Rossar-mescri minri deya! +Wardo-mescro minro dado! +Coin se dado, coin si deya? +Mande's pukker'd tute drey Romanes; +Knau pukker tute mande. + +Petulengro minro dado, +Purana minri deya! +Tatchey Romany si men - +Mande's pukker'd tute drey Romanes, +Ta tute's pukker'd mande. + + +The first three lines of the above ballad are perhaps the oldest +specimen of English Gypsy at present extant, and perhaps the purest. +They are at least as old as the time of Elizabeth, and can pass among +the Zigany in the heart of Russia for Ziganskie. The other lines are +not so ancient. The piece is composed in a metre something like that +of the ancient Sclavonian songs, and contains the questions which two +strange Gypsies, who suddenly meet, put to each other, and the +answers which they return. + +In using the following Vocabulary the Continental manner of +pronouncing certain vowels will have to be observed: thus ava must +be pronounced like auva, according to the English style; ker like +kare, miro like meero, zi like zee, and puro as if it were written +pooro. + + + +ROMANO LAVO-LIL--WORD-BOOK OF THE ROMANY + +A + +ABRI, ad. prep. Out, not within, abroad: soving abri, sleeping +abroad, not in a house. Celtic, Aber (the mouth or outlet of a +river). + +Acai / Acoi, ad. Here. + +Adje, v. n. To stay, stop. See Atch, az. + +Adrey, prep. Into. + +Ajaw, ad. So. Wallachian, Asha. + +Aladge, a. Ashamed. Sans. Latch, laj. + +Aley, ad. Down: soving aley, lying down; to kin aley, to buy off, +ransom. Hun. Ala, alat. + +Amande, pro. pers. dat. To me. + +An, v. a. imp. Bring: an lis opre, bring it up. + +Ana, v. a. Bring. Sans. Ani. + +Ando, prep. In. + +Anglo, prep. Before. + +Apasavello, v. n. I believe. + +Apopli, ad. Again. Spanish Gypsy, Apala (after). Wal. Apoi (then, +afterwards). + +Apre, ad. prep. Up: kair lis apre, do it up. Vid. Opre. + +Aranya / Araunya, s. Lady. Hungarian Gypsy, Aranya. See Rawnie. + +Artav / Artavello, v. a. To pardon, forgive. Wal. Ierta. Span. +Gyp. Estomar. + +Artapen, s. Pardon, forgiveness. + +Artaros. Arthur. + +Asa / Asau, ad. Also, likewise, too: meero pal asau, my brother +also. + +Asarlas, ad. At all, in no manner. + +Asa. An affix used in forming the second person singular of the +present tense; e.g. camasa, thou lovest. + +Astis, a. Possible, it is possible: astis mangue, I can; astis +lengue, they can. + +Asha / Ashaw, ad. So: ashaw sorlo, so early. Wal. Asha. See Ajaw. + +Atch, v. n. To stay, stop. + +Atch opre. Keep up. + +Atraish, a. part. Afraid. Sans. Tras (to fear), atrasit +(frightened). See Traish. + +Av, imperat. of Ava, to come: av abri, come out. + +Ava, ad. Yes. Sans. Eva. + +Ava, v. a. To come. + +Avata acoi. Come thou here. + +Avali, ad. Yes. Wal. Aieva (really). + +Avava. An affix by which the future tense of a verb is formed, e.g. +mor-avava, I will kill. See Vava. + +Aukko, ad. Here. + +Az, v. n. To stay. + +B + +BAL, s. Hair. Tibetian, Bal (wool). Sans. Bala (hair). + +Baleneskoe, a. Hairy. + +Balormengro. A hairy fellow; Hearne, the name of a Gypsy tribe. + +Balanser, s. The coin called a sovereign. + +Ballivas, s. Bacon. Span. Gyp. Baliba. + +Bangalo, a. Devilish. See Beng, bengako. + +Bango, a. Left, sinister, wrong, false: bango wast, the left hand; +to saulohaul bango, like a plastra-mengro, to swear bodily like a +Bow-street runner. Sans. Pangu (lame). Hun. Pang, pango (stiff, +lazy, paralysed). + +Bar, s. A stone, a stoneweight, a pound sterling. Span. Gyp. Bar. +Hun. Gyp. Bar. Hindustani, Puthur. Wal. Piatre. Fr. Pierre. Gr. +[Greek: ] (weight). + +Bareskey, a. Stony. + +Bark, s. Breast, woman's breast. + +Bas / Base, s. Pound sterling. Wal. Pes (a weight, burden). + +Bas-engro, s. A shepherd. Run. Bacso. + +Bashadi, s. A fiddle. + +Bata, s. A bee. Sans. Pata. + +Bau, s. Fellow, comrade. See Baw. + +Baul, s. Snail. See Bowle. + +Baulo, s. Pig, swine. The proper meaning of this word is anything +swollen, anything big or bulky. It is connected with the English +bowle or bole, the trunk of a tree; also with bowl, boll, and belly; +also with whale, the largest of fish, and wale, a tumour; also with +the Welsh bol, a belly, and bala, a place of springs and eruptions. +It is worthy of remark that the English word pig, besides denoting +the same animal as baulo, is of the same original import, being +clearly derived from the same root as big, that which is bulky, and +the Turkish buyuk, great, huge, vast. + +Baulie-mas, s. Pork, swine's flesh. + +Bavano. Windy, broken-winded. + +Bavol, s. Wind, air. Sans. Pavana. See Beval. + +Bavol-engro, s. A wind-fellow; figurative name for a ghost. + +Baw, bau, s. Fellow, comrade: probably the same as the English +country-word baw, bor. Ger. Bauer. Av acoi, baw, Come here, +fellow. Boer, in Wallachian, signifies a boyard or lord. + +Beano, part. pass. Born. + +Beano abri. Born out of doors, like a Gypsy or vagrant. + +Bebee, s. Aunt. Rus. Baba (grandmother, old woman, hag); Baba Yaga, +the female demon of the Steppes. + +Beng / Bengui, s. Devil. Sans. Pangka (mud). According to the +Hindu mythology, there is a hell of mud; the bengues of the Gypsies +seem to be its tenants. + +Bengako tan, s. Hell. Lit. place belonging to devils. + +Bengeskoe potan. Devil's tinder, sulphur. + +Bengeskoe / Benglo, a. Devilish. + +Bengree, s. Waistcoat. Span. Gyp. Blani. Wal. (Blani fur). + +Berro, bero, s. A ship, a hulk for convicts. Span. Gyp. Bero, las +galeras, the galleys; presidio, convict garrison. + +Ber-engro, s. A sailor. + +Bero-rukh, s. A mast. + +Bersh / Besh, s. A year. Sans. Varsha. He could cour drey his +besh, he could fight in his time. + +Bershor, pl. Years. + +Besh, v. n. To sit: beshel, he sits. + +Beshaley / Beshly, Gypsy name of the Stanley tribe. + +Besh-engri, s. A chair. See Skammen. + +Beti, a. Little, small. + +Beval, s. Wind. See Bavol. + +Bi, prep. Without: bi luvvu, without money. + +Bicunyie, a. Alone, undone: meklis or mukalis bicunyie, let it +alone. + +Bikhin / Bin v. a. To sell. Hin. Bikna. + +Bikhnipen, s. Sale. + +Birk, s. Woman's breast. See Bark. + +Bis, a. Twenty. + +Bisheni, s. The ague. + +Bitch / Bitcha, v. a. To send. Sans. Bis, bisa. + +Bitched / Bitcheno, part. pass. Sent + +Bitcheno pawdel. Sent across, transported. + +Bitti, s. a. Small, piece, a little. This word is not true Gypsy. + +Bloen / Blowing, A cant word, but of Gypsy origin, signifying a +sister in debauchery, as Pal denotes a brother in villainy. It is +the Plani and Beluni of the Spanish Gypsies, by whom sometimes Beluni +is made to signify queen; e.g. Beluni de o tarpe (tem opre), the +Queen of Heaven, the Virgin. Blower is used by Lord Byron, in his +'Don Juan.' Speaking of the highwayman whom the Don shoots in the +vicinity of London, he says that he used to go to such-and-such +places of public resort with--his blowen. + +Bob, s. A bean. Wal. Bob: pl. bobbis, bobs. + +Boccalo, a. Hungry: boccale pers, hungry bellies. + +Bokht, s. Luck, fortune: kosko bokht, good luck. Sans. Bhagya. +Pers. Bakht. + +Bokra, s. A sheep. Hun. Birka. + +Bokra-choring. Sheep-stealing. + +Bokkar-engro, s. A shepherd: bokkar-engro drey, the dude, man in +the moon. + +Bokkari-gueri, s. Shepherdess. + +Bokkeriskoe, a. Sheepish, belonging to a sheep: bokkeriskey pire, +sheep's feet. + +Bolla, v. a. To baptize. + +Bonnek, s. Hold: lel bonnek, to take hold. + +Booko, s. Liver. See Bucca. + +Bolleskoe divvus. Christmas-day; query, baptismal day. Wal. Botez +(baptism). + +Bollimengreskoenaes. After the manner of a Christian. + +Boogones, s. Smallpox, pimples. See Bugnior. + +Bor, s. A hedge. + +Boona, a. Good. Lat. Bonus. Wal. Boun. + +Booty, s. Work. + +Bori, a. fem. Big with child, enceinte. + +Booty, v. a. To work, labour. + +Boro, a. Great, big. Hin. Bura. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] (heavy). + +Borobeshemeskeguero, s. Judge, great-sitting-fellow. + +Boro Gav. London, big city. See Lundra. + +Boronashemeskrutan. Epsom race-course. + +Bosh, s. Fiddle. Pers. [Persian: ] Bazee, baz (play, joke), whence +the English cant word 'bosh.' See Bashadi. + +Boshomengro, s. Fiddler. + +Bosno / Boshno, s. A cock, male-bird. Sans. Puchchin. Wal. Bosh +(testicle). Gaelic, Baois (libidinousness). + +Boshta, s. A saddle. + +Bostaris, s. A bastard. + +Bovalo, a. Rich. Sans. Bala (strong). + +Bowle, s. Snail. See Baul. + +Brishen / Brisheno, s. Rain. Hun. Gyp. Breshino. Sans. Vrish. +Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]. + +Brisheneskey, a. Rainy: brisheneskey rarde, a rainy night; +brisheneskey chiros, a time of rain. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]. + +Bucca, s. Liver. Sans. Bucca (heart). Wal. Phikat. + +Bucca naflipen, s. Liver-complaint. + +Buchee, s. Work, labour. See Butsi. + +Buddigur, s. A shop. Span. Bodega. + +Buddikur divvus, s. Shopping-day: Wednesday, Saturday. + +Bugnes / Bugnior, s. pl. Smallpox, blisters. Gael. Boc (a pimple), +bolg (a blister), bolgach (small-pox). Wal. Mougour (a bud). Fr. +Bourgeon. + +Buklo, a. Hungry: buklo tan, hungry spot, a common. Hun. Gyp. +Buklo tan (a wilderness). + +Bul, s. Rump, buttock. + +Bungshoror / Bungyoror, s. pl. Corks. + +Busnis / Busnior, s. pl. Spurs, prickles. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] +(pain, torment). + +Buroder, ad. More: ad. ne buroder, no more. + +Bute, a. ad. Much, very. Hin. But. + +Butsi / Buty, s. Work, labour. + +Butying. Working. + +C + +CAEN / Cane, v. n. To stink. + +Caenipen / Canipen, s. A stench. + +Caeninaflipen, s. Stinking sickness, the plague, gaol-fever. The +old cant word Canihen, signifying the gaol-fever, is derived from +this Gypsy term. + +Candelo / Cannelo, a. Stinking: cannelo mas, stinking meat. Sans. +Gandha (smell). + +Callico / Collico, s. To-morrow, also yesterday: collico sorlo, to- +morrow morning. Sans. Kalya. Hin. Kal (to-morrow, yesterday). + +Cana, ad. Now: cana sig, now soon. See Kanau, knau. + +Cam, s. The sun. Hin. Khan. Heb. Khama (the sun), kham (heat). + +Cam. To wish, desire, love. + +Cam / Camello / Camo, v. a. To love. Sans. Cama (love). Cupid; +from which Sanscrit word the Latin Amor is derived. + +Cambori / Cambri, a. Pregnant, big with child. + +Camlo / Caumlo, Lovel, name of a Gypsy tribe. Lit. amiable. With +this word the English "comely" is connected. + +Camo-mescro, s. A lover; likewise the name Lovel. + +Can, s. The sun. + +Can, s. An ear. See Kaun. + +Cana, ad. Now: cana sig, now soon. See Kanau. + +Canafi / Canapli, Turnip. + +Canairis. A Gypsy name. + +Canior / Caunor, s. pl. Pease. + +Canni. A hen. Span. Gyp. Cani. Hun. Gyp. Cackni. Gael. Cearc. + +Cannis. Hens. + +Cappi, s. Booty, gain, fortune: to lel cappi, to acquire booty, +make a capital, a fortune. + +Cas, s. Hay: cas-stiggur, haystack; cas kairing, hay-making. + +Cas, s. Cheese. Lat. Caseus. This word is used by the pikers or +tramps, as well as by the Gypsies. See Kael. + +Catches / Catsau, s. pl. Scissors. Hun. Kasza. Wal. Kositsie +(sickle). Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] Rus. Kosa. + +Cato, prep. To; more properly From. Hun. Gyp. Cado. Wal. Katre +(towards). + +Cavo, pron. dem. This. + +Cavocoi. This here. + +Cavocoiskoenoes. In this manner. + +Caur, v. a. To filch, steal in an artful manner by bending down. +Heb. [Hebrew: ] Cara, incurvavit se. Eng. Cower. + +Cayes, s. Silk. Pers. [Persian:] Span. Gyp. Quequesa. Sans. +Kauseya. + +Chal, s. Lad, boy, son, fellow. Connected with this word is the +Scottish Chiel, the Old English Childe, and the Russian Chelovik. +See Romani chal. + +Charo, s. Plate, dish. + +Chavali, s.f. Girl, damsel. + +Chavi, s.f. Child, girl, daughter. + +Cham, s. Leather: chameskie rokunies, leather breeches. Sans. +Charma (skin). + +Chavo, s. m. Child, son: pl. chaves. Cheaus is an old French +hunting term for the young ones of a fox. + +Charos / Cheros, s. Heaven. Wal. Cher. + +Chauvo, s. See Chavo. + +Chaw, s. Grass. + +Chawhoktamengro, s. Grasshopper. See Hokta. + +Chee, a. No, none: chee butsi, no work. See Chi, chichi. + +Chericlo, s. Bird. See Chiriclo. + +Chiricleskey tan, s. Aviary, birdcage. + +Chi, s.f. Child, daughter, girl: Romany chi, Gypsy girl. + +Chi / Chichi / Chiti, s. Nothing. + +Chin, v. a. To cut: chin lis tuley, cut it down. Sans. Chun (to +cut off). Hin. Chink. Gaelic, Sgian (a knife). + +Chin the cost. To cut the stick; to cut skewers for butchers and +pegs for linen-lines, a grand employment of the Gypsy fellows in the +neighbourhood of London. + +China-mengri, s.f. A letter; a thing incised, marked, written in. + +China-mengro, s. Hatchet. Lit. cutting-thing. + +Chinipen, s. A cut. + +Ching / Chingaro, v. a. To fight, quarrel. + +Chinga-guero, s. A warrior. + +Chingaripen, s. War, strife. Sans. Sangara. + +Chingring, part. pres. Fighting, quarrelling. + +Chik, s. Earth, dirt. Span. Gyp. Chique. Hin. Chikkar. + +Chiklo, a. Dirty. + +Chiriclo, s. m. Bird. Hin. Chiriya. + +Chiricli, s.f. Hen-bird. + +Chiros, s. Time. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]. + +Chiv / Chiva / Chuva, v. a. To cast, fling, throw, place, put: chiv +lis tuley, fling it down; chiv oprey, put up. Rus. Kyio (to forge, +cast iron). Sans. Kship. + +Chiving tulipen prey the chokkars. Greasing the shoes. + +Chofa, s.f. Petticoat. + +Chohawni, s. Witch. See Chovahano. + +Chohawno, s. Wizard. + +Chok, s. Watch, watching. + +Chok-engro, s. Watchman. + +Chok, s. Shoe: chokkor, chokkors, shoes. Hun. Czoko (wooden shoe). + +Choko-mengro. Shoemaker. + +Choka, s. Coat. + +Chokni / Chukni, s. Whip. Wal. Chokini (a strap, leather). Hun. +Csakany (a mace, sledge hammer). Hun. Gyp. Chokano (a staff). Wal. +Chokan, chokinel (a hammer). + +Chukni wast, s. The whip-hand, the mastery. + +Chollo, a. s. Whole. + +Chomany, s. Something. Span. Gyp. Cormuni (some); chimoni +(anything). Wal. Chineba (some one). For every chomany there's a +lav in Romany: there's a name in Gypsy for everything. + +Chong, s. Knee. Hun. Czomb. Sans. Chanu. Lat. Genu. + +Chongor, pl. Knees. + +Choom / Choomava, v. a. To kiss. Sans. Chumb. Choomande, kiss me. +Span. Gyp. Chupendi (a kiss), a corruption of Choomande. + +Choomia, s. A kiss. + +Choomo-mengro, one of the tribe Boswell. + +Choon, s. Moon. Hun. Gyp. Chemut. Sans. Chandra. + +Choot, s. Vinegar. See Chute. + +Chore, v. a. To steal. Sans. Chur. + +Chore, s. Thief. Hin. Chor. + +Chories, pl. Thieves. + +Chor-dudee-mengri, s. [Greek: ] (thieves' lantern, dark lantern). + +Choredo, a. Poor, poverty stricken. Sans. Daridra. + +Choredi, fem. of Choredo. + +Choriness, s. Poverty. + +Choro, a. Poor. Span. Gyp. Chororo. Hin. Shor. + +Chovahan, v. a. To bewitch. + +Chovahani / Chowian, s.f. Witch. + +Chovahano, s. Wizard. + +Choveno, a. Poor, needy, starved. Perhaps derived from the Russian +Tchernoe (black, dirty, wretched); or from the Hungarian Csunya +(hateful, frightful); whence the Chungalo of the Hungarian, and also +of the Spanish Gypsies. + +Choveni, fem. of Choveno. + +Choveno ker, s. Workhouse, poorhouse. + +Chukkal, s. Dog. Span. Gyp. Chuquel. Sans. Kukkura. Basque, +Chacurra. See Juggal. + +Chumba, s. Bank, hill. Russ. Xolm (a hill). + +Chungarava / Chungra, v. a. To spit. Wal. Ckouina. Hun. Gyp. +Chudel (he spits). + +Churi, s. Knife. Sans. Chhuri. Hin. Churi. + +Churi-mengro, s. Knife-grinder, cutler. + +Churo-mengro, s. A soldier, swordsman. + +Chute, s. Vinegar. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] Wal. Otset. + +Chute-pavi, s. Cyder; perhaps a crab-apple. Lit. vinegar-apple. + +Chuvvenhan, s. Witch. See Chovahani. + +Cinerella. Female Gypsy name. + +Cocal, s. Bone. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Cocalor, pl. Bones. + +Coco / Cocodus, s. Uncle. Hin. Caucau. + +Cocoro / Cocoros, a. pro. Alone, self: tu cocoro, thyself. + +Coin, pro. interrog. Who? Hin. Kaun. + +Collor, s. pl. Shillings: dui collor a crookos, two shillings a +week. In Spanish Germania or cant, two ochavos, or farthings, are +called: dui cales. + +Comorrus, s. A room, hall. Hun. Kamara. Hin. Cumra. Ger. Kammer. + +Cong, congl, v. a. To comb. + +Congli / Congro, s.f. A comb. Sans. Kanagata. + +Congri, s.f. A church. + +Coor / Coorava, v. a. To fight. Irish, Comhrac [courac]. Welsh, +Curaw (to beat). + +Coorapen, s. Fight, a beating: I shall lel a curapen, I shall get a +beating. + +Cooroboshno, s. A fighting cock. + +Cooromengro, s. Fighter, boxer, soldier. + +Coppur, s. Blanket. Rus. Kover (a carpet). Wal. Kovor, id. + +Corauni / Corooni, s. A crown: mekrauliskie corauni, royal crown. +Wal. Coroan. + +Cori, s. Thorn. Membrum virile. Span. Carajo [caraco]. Gascon, +Quirogau. + +Coro / Coru, s. Pot, pitcher, cup: coru levinor, cup of ale; boro +coro, a quart. Span. Gyp. Coro. Hin. Ghara. + +Coro-mengro, s. Potter. + +Coro-mengreskey tem. Staffordshire. + +Corredo, a. Blind. Span. Gyp. Corroro. Pers. [Persian:] Wal. Kior +(one-eyed). + +Cosht / Cost, s. Stick. Sans. Kashtha. + +Cost-engres, s. pl. Branch-fellows, people of the New Forest, +Stanleys. + +Coshtno, a. Wooden. + +Covar / Covo, s. Thing: covars, things; covar-bikhning-vardo, a +caravan in which goods are carried about for sale. + +Crafni, s. Button. Ger. Knopf. + +Crafni-mengro, s. Buttonmaker. + +Creeor, s. pl. Ants, pismires. Span. Gyp. Ocrianse (the ant), +quiria (ant). + +Cricni / Crookey / Crookauros / Crookos, s. Week. See Curco. + +Cuesni, s. Basket. See Cushnee. + +Culvato (Gypsy name). Claude. + +Curaken, s. Fighting. See Coorapen. + +Curepen, s. Trouble, affliction: curepenis, afflictions. + +Curkey / Curko, s. Week, Sunday. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Curlo, s. Throat. Pers. [Persian: ] Chin his curlo, cut his +throat. + +Curlo-mengri, s. A ruff, likewise a pillow; anything belonging to +the throat or neck. + +Cushnee / Cushni / Cusnee, s. Basket. Wal. Koshnitse. + +Cuttor, s. A piece, a guinea-piece: dui cuttor, two guineas; will +you lel a cuttor, will you take a bit? sore in cuttors, all in rags. + +D + +DAD, s. Father. Welsh, Tad. Wal. Tat. Rus. Gyp. Dad. + +Dado, s. Father. Rus. Gyp. Dado. + +Dand, s. Tooth. Sans. Danta. + +Danior, pl. Teeth. + +Dand, v. a. To bite. + +Daya / Dieya, s. Mother, properly nurse. Sans. Dhayas (fostering). +Pers. [Persian: ] Daya. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]. Rus. Gyp. Daia. +Wal. Doika. + +Deav, v. a. Give. Sans. Da. Wal. Da. + +Del. He gives. + +Del-engro, s. A kicking-horse. + +Del-oprey, v. a. To read. + +Denne, ad. Than. + +Der. An affix, by which the comparative is formed; e.g. Wafodu, bad: +wafoduder than dovor, worse than they. + +Desch, a. Ten. Sans. Dasan. Wal. Zetche. + +Desh ta yeck. Eleven. + +Desh ta dui. Twelve. + +Desh ta trin. Thirteen. + +Desh ta store. Fourteen. + +Desh ta pansch. Fifteen. + +Desh ta sho. Sixteen. + +Desh ta eft. Seventeen. + +Deshko. Eighteen (?): deshko hori, eighteenpence; properly, Desh ta +octo hori. + +Devel, s. God. Sans. Deva. Lith. Dewas. Lat. Deus. See Dibble, +Dovvel, Dubbel. + +Develeskoe, s. Holy, divine. Sans. Deva. + +Deyed, pret. of Deav. He gave. + +Dibble, s. God. See Devel. + +Dic / Dico, v. n. To look: dic tuley, look down; dicking misto, +looking well. Sans. Iksh (to see, look). Gaelic, Dearcam (to see); +dearc (eye). + +Dickimengro, s. Overlooker, overseer. + +Dicking hev, s. A window, seeing-hole. + +Die, s. Mother. Rus. Gyp. Die. See Daya. + +Dikkipen, s. Look, image. Sans. Driksha (aspect). Welsh, Drych +(aspect). + +Diklo, s. Cloth, sheet, shift. + +Dinnelo, s. A fool, one possessed by the devil. Wal. Diniele (of +the devil); louat diniele (possessed by the devil). + +Dinneleskoe, a. Foolish. + +Dinneleskoenoes. Like a fool. + +Dinnelipenes, s. pl. Follies, nonsense. + +Diverous. A Gypsy name. + +Diviou, a. Mad: jawing diviou, going mad. Sans. Deva (a god, a +fool). + +Diviou-ker, s. Madhouse. + +Diviou kokkodus Artaros. Mad Uncle Arthur. + +Divvus, s. Day. Sans. Divasa. + +Divveskoe / Divvuskoe, a. Daily: divvuskoe morro, daily bread. + +Diximengro, s. Overseer. See Dickimengro. + +Dook, v. a. To hurt, bewitch: dook the gry, bewitch the horse. +Wal. Deokira (to fascinate, bewitch). See Duke, dukker. + +Dooriya / Dooya, s. Sea. Pers. [Persian: ] Irish, Deire (the +deep). Welsh, Dwr (water). Old Irish, Dobhar. + +Dooriya durril, s. Currant, plum. Lit. Sea-berry. + +Dooriya durrileskie guyi, s. Plum pudding. + +Dori, s. Thread, lace: kaulo dori, black lace. Hin. Dora. + +Dosch / Dosh, s. Evil, harm: kek dosh, no harm. Sans. Dush (bad). + +Dosta, s. Enough. Wal. Destoul. Rus. Dostaet (it is sufficient). +See Dusta. + +Dou, imp. Give: dou mande, give me. See Deav. + +Dou dass. Cup and saucer. See Dui das. + +Dovo, pro. dem. That: dovo si, that's it. + +Dovor. Those, they: wafoduder than dovor, worse than they. + +Dov-odoy / Dovoy-oduvva, ad. Yonder. + +Dov-odoyskoenaes. In that manner. + +Doovel, s. God. See Duvvel. + +Drab / Drav, s. Medicine, poison. Pers. [Persian: ] Daru. Wal. +Otrav. + +Drab-engro / Drav-engro, s. A pothecary, poison-monger. + +Drab, v. a. To poison. Wal. Otribi. + +Drey, prep. In. + +Dubble, s. God: my dearie Dubbleskey, for my dear God's sake. + +Dude, s. The moon. + +Dudee, s. A light, a star. Sans. Dyuti. + +Dude-bar, s. Diamond, light-stone. + +Drom, s. Road. Wal. Drom. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Drom-luring, s. Highway robbery. + +Dui, a. Two. + +Duito, s. Second. + +Duito divvus, s. Tuesday. Lit. Second day. + +Dui das / Dui tas, s. Cup and saucer. + +Duke, v. a. To hurt, bewitch. Sans. Duhkha (pain). Heb. Dui +(languor, deadly faintness). + +Dukker, v. a. To bewitch, tell fortunes. Wal. Deokiea (to +fascinate, enchant). + +Dukker drey my vast. Tell my fortune by my hand. + +Dukkering, s. Fortune-telling. Wal. Deokiere (fascination). Mod. +Gr. [Greek: ] (fortune). + +Dukkipen, s. Fortune-telling. + +Dukker, v. n. To ache: my sherro dukkers, my head aches. See Duke, +dukker. + +Dum / Dumo, s. Black. Pers. [Persian: ] (tail). + +Dur, ad. Far. Sans. Dur. Pers. [Persian: ] + +Dur-dicki mengri, s. Telescope. Lit. far-seeing-thing. + +Durro, ad. Far. + +Durro-der, ad. Farther. + +Durriken, s. Fortune-telling. + +Durril, s. Any kind of berry, a gooseberry in particular. + +Durrilau / Durilyor, pl. Berries. + +Durrileskie guyi, s. Gooseberry pudding. + +Dusta, a. s. Enough, plenty: dusta foky, plenty of people. See +Dosta. + +Duvvel, s. God. + +E + +EANGE, s. Itch. + +Ebyok, s. The sea. Sans. Aapa (water). Wal. Ape. + +Eft, a. Seven. Few of the English Gypsies are acquainted with this +word; consequently, the generality, when they wish to express the +number seven, without being understood by the Gorgios or Gentiles, +say Dui trins ta yeck, two threes and one. + +En. A kind of genitive particle used in compound words, being placed +between a noun and the particle 'gro' or 'guero,' which signifies a +possessor, or that which governs a thing or has to do with it: e.g. +lav-en-gro, a linguist or man of words, lit. word-of-fellow; wesh-en- +gro, a forester, or one who governs the wood; gurush-en-gre, things +costing a groat, lit. groat-of-things. + +Engri. A neuter affix, composed of the particles 'en' and 'gro,' +much used in the formation of figurative terms for things for which +there are no positive names in English Gypsy: for example, yag- +engri, a fire-thing, which denotes a gun; poggra-mengri, a breaking- +thing or mill; 'engri' is changed into 'mengri' when the preceding +word terminates in a vowel. + +Engro. A masculine affix, used in the formation of figurative names; +for example, kaun-engro, an ear-fellow, or creature with ears, +serving to denote a hare; ruk-engro, or ruko-mengro, a tree-fellow, +denoting a squirrel; it is also occasionally used in names for +inanimate objects, as pov-engro, an earth-thing or potato. See +Guero. + +Escunyo, s. A wooden skewer, a pin. Span. Gyp. Chingabar (a pin). + +Escunyes, pl. Skewers. + +Escunye-mengro, s. A maker of skewers. + +Eskoe, fem. Eskie. A particle which affixed to a noun turns it into +an adjective: e.g. Duvel, God; duveleskoe, divine. It seems to be +derived from the Wal. Esk, Easkie. + +Eskey. An affix or postposition, signifying, for the sake of: e.g. +Mi-dubble-eskey, for God's sake. + +Ever-komi, ad. Evermore. + +F + +FAKE, v. a. To work, in a dishonest sense; to steal, pick pockets. + +Fakement, s. A robbery, any kind of work: a pretty fakement that, a +pretty piece of work. A scoundrel--you ratfelo fakement, you +precious scoundrel; a man of any kind--he's no bad fakement after +all; a girl, St. Paul's Cathedral--what a rinkeny fakement, what a +pretty girl, what a noble church. + +Fashono, a. False, fashioned, made up. Wal. Fatche (to make); fatze +(face, surface). + +Fashono wangustis. Pretended gold rings, made in reality of brass or +copper. + +Fashono wangust engre. Makers of false rings. + +Fenella. A female Gypsy name. + +Ferreder, a. Better, more. Gaelic, Feairde. + +Feter, ad. Better. Pers. [Persian: ] Span. Gyp. Feter. + +Figis, s. Fig. + +Figis-rookh, s. Fig-tree. + +Filisen, s. Country-seat. + +Fino, a. Fine. This word is not pure Gypsy: fino covar, a fine +thing. + +Floure, s. Flower; a female Gypsy name. + +Fordel, v. a. Forgive; generally used for Artav, or Artavello, q.v., +and composed of the English 'for' and the Gypsy 'del.' + +Fordias / Fordios, part. pass. Forgiven. + +Foros, s. City. See Vauros. + +Ful, s. Dung: ful-vardo, muck cart. + +Fuzyanri, s. Fern. Hun. Fuz (willow), facska (a shrub), fuszar (a +stem). + +G + +GAD, s. A shirt: pauno gad, a clean shirt. + +Gare, v. n., v. a. To take care, beware; to hide, conceal. Sans. +Ghar, to cover. + +Garridan. You hid: luvvu sor garridan, the money which you hid. + +Garrivava, v. a. I hide or shall hide, take care: to gare his +nangipen, to hide his nakedness. + +Gav, s. A town, village. Pers. [Persian: ] + +Gav-engro, s. A constable, village officer, beadle, citizen. + +Gillie, s. A song. Sans. Kheli. + +Gillies. Songs. Sometimes used to denote newspapers; because these +last serve, as songs did in the old time, to give the world +information of remarkable events, such as battles, murders, and +robberies. + +Gilyava. I sing, or shall sing. Hin. Guywuya. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]. + +Gin, v. a. To count, reckon. Sans. Gan. Hin. Ginna. + +Ginnipen, s. A reckoning. + +Giv, s. Wheat. Sans. Yava (barley). See Jobis. + +Giv-engro, s. Wheat-fellow, figurative name for farmer. + +Giv-engro ker, s. Farmhouse. + +Giv-engro puv, s. Farm. + +Godli, s. A warrant, perhaps hue and cry. See Gudlie. Span. Gyp. +Gola (order). + +Gono, s. A sack. Hin. Gon. + +Gorgio, s. A Gentile, a person who is not a Gypsy; one who lives in +a house and not in a tent. It is a modification of the Persian word +[Persian: ] Cojia, which signifies a gentleman, a doctor, a +merchant, etc. Span. Gyp. Gacho. + +Gorgiken rat. Of Gentile blood. + +Gorgie, s. A female Gentile or Englishwoman. + +Gorgikonaes, ad. After the manner of the Gentiles. + +Gooee, s. Pudding. See Guyi. + +Gran, s. A barn: I sov'd yeck rarde drey a gran, I slept one night +within a barn (Gypsy song). + +Gran-wuddur, s. A barn door. + +Gran-wuddur-chiriclo. Barn-door fowl. + +Grasni / Grasnakkur, s. Mare, outrageous woman: what a grasni shan +tu, what a mare you are! Grasnakkur is sometimes applied to the +mayor of a town. + +Grestur / Gristur, s. A horse. Span. Gyp. Gras, graste. + +Gry, s. A horse. Sans. Kharu. Hin. Ghora. Irish and Scottish +Gaelic, Greadh. + +Gry-choring, s. Horse-stealing. + +Gry-engro, s. Horse-dealer. + +Gry-nashing. Horse-racing. + +Gudlee / Godli, s. Cry, noise, shout. Hin. Ghooloo. Irish, Gul. +Rus. Gyl=gool (shout); Golos (voice). + +Grommena / Grovena / Grubbena, s. and v. Thunder, to thunder. Sans. +Garjana. Rus. Groin (thunder). Heb. Ream, raemah. Gaelic, Gairm (a +cry). + +Gudlo, a., s. Sweet; honey, sugar. + +Gudlo-pishen, s. Honey-insect, bee. See Bata. + +Gue. An affix, by which the dative case is formed: e.g. Man, I; +mangue, to me. + +Guero, s. A person, fellow, that which governs, operates. Sans. +Kara (a maker). Pers. [Persian: ] Welsh, Gwr (a man). In the +Spanish cant language, Guro signifies an alguazil, a kind of civil +officer. See Engro. + +Gueri, s.f. Female person, virgin: Mideveleskey gueri Mary, Holy +Virgin Mary. + +Gush / Gurush / Gurushi, a. Groat: gurushengri, a groat's worth. + +Guveni, s. Cow. Sans. Go. + +Guveni-bugnior, s. Cow-pox. + +Guveno, s. A bull. Sans. Gavaya. Gaelic, Gavuin, gowain (year-old +calf). + +Guyi, s. Pudding, black pudding. Hin. Gulgul. Span. Gyp. Golli. + +Guyi-mengreskie tan, s. Yorkshire. Lit. pudding-eaters' country; in +allusion to the puddings for which Yorkshire is celebrated. + +H + +Ha / Haw, v. a. To eat. + +Habben, s. Food, victuals. + +Hal, v. a. To eat: mande can't hal lis, I can't eat it. Sans. +Gala. + +Hanlo, s. A landlord, innkeeper. Span. Gyp. Anglano. + +Hatch, v. a. To burn, light a fire. + +Hatchipen, s. A burning. + +Hatch, v. n. To stay, stop. See Adje, atch, az. + +Hatchi-witchu, s. A hedgehog. This is a compound word from the Wal. +Aritche, a hedgehog, and the Persian Besha, a wood, and signifies +properly the prickly thing of the wood. In Spanish Gypsy, one of the +words for a pig or hog is Eriche, evidently the Wallachian Aritche, a +hedgehog. + +Hekta, s. Haste: kair hekta, make haste; likewise a leap. See +Hokta. Sans. Hat'ha (to leap). + +Heres / Heris, s. pl. Legs. Span. Gyp. Jerias. Coshtni herri (a +wooden leg). + +Hetavava, v. a. To slay, beat, hit, carry off, plunder: if I can +lel bonnek of tute hetavava tute, if I can lay hold of you I will +slay you. Heb. Khataf (rapuit). Sans. Hat'ha (to ill-use, rapere). + +Hev, s. Hole: pawnugo hev, a water hole, a well; hev, a window; +hevior, windows. Sans. Avata. + +Heviskey, a. Full of holes: heviskey tan, a place full of holes. + +Hin, s. Dirt, ordure. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] Wal. Gounoiou. Irish, +Gaineamh (sand). + +Hin, v. a. To void ordure. Sans. Hanna. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Hindity-mengre / Hindity-mescre, s. pl. Irish. Dirty, sordid +fellows. + +Hoffeno, s. A liar. + +Hok-hornie-mush, s. A policeman. Partly a cant word. + +Hokka, v. n. To lie, tell a falsehood: hokka tute mande, if you +tell me a falsehood. + +Hokkano, s. A lie. Sans. Kuhana (hypocrisy). + +Hokta, v. a. To leap, jump. See Hekta. + +Hokta-mengro, s. Leaper, jumper. + +Hoofa, s. A cap. + +Hor / Horo, s. A penny. Span. Gyp. Corio an ochavo (or farthing). + +Horry, s. pl. Pence: shohorry, showhawry, sixpence. + +Horsworth, s. Pennyworth. + +Horkipen, s. Copper. Hun. Gyp. Harko. + +Huffeno, s. A liar. See Hoffeno. + +Hukni, s. Ringing the changes, the fraudulent changing of one thing +for another. + +I + +I, pro. She, it. + +I. A feminine and neuter termination: e.g. Yag engri, a fire-thing +or gun; coin si, who is she? so si, what is it? + +Inna / Inner, prep. In, within: inner Lundra, in London. Span. +Gyp. Enre. + +Iouzia, s. A flower. + +Is, conj. If; it is affixed to the verb--e.g. Dikiomis, if I had +seen. + +Iv, s. Snow. Hun. Gyp. Yiv. Span. Gyp. Give. + +Iv-engri / Ivi-mengri, s. Snow-thing, snowball. + +Iuziou, a. Clean. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] (sound, healthy). See +Roujio. + +J + +JAL. To go, walk, journey. This verb is allied to various words in +different languages signifying movement, course or journey: --to the +Sanscrit Il, ila, to go; to the Russian Gulliat, to stroll, to walk +about; to the Turkish Iel, a journey; to the Jol of the Norse, and +the Yule of the Anglo-Saxons, terms applied to Christmas-tide, but +which properly mean the circular journey which the sun has completed +at that season: for what are Jol and Yule but the Ygul of the +Hebrews? who call the zodiac 'Ygul ha mazaluth,' or the circle of the +signs. It is, moreover, related to the German Jahr and the English +Year, radically the same words as Jol, Yule, and Ygul, and of the +same meaning--namely, the circle travelled by the sun through the +signs. + +Ja, v. imp. Go thou! + +Jal amande. I shall go. + +Jal te booty. Go to work. + +Jalno / Java / Jaw, v.a. I go. Sans. Chara. + +Jas, jasa. Thou goest: tute is jasing, thou art going. + +Jal, 3rd pers. pres. He goes. + +Jalla, f. She goes. + +Jalno ando pawni, v. a. I swim. Lit. I go in water. + +Jaw, ad. So: jaw si, so it is. See Ajaw, asa, asha. + +Jib, s. Tongue. Sans. Jihva. + +Jib, v. n. To live, to exist. Sans. Jiv. Rus. Jit. Lithuanian, +Gywenu. + +Jibben, s. Life, livelihood. Sans. Jivata (life), Jivika +(livelihood). Rus. Jivot, Tchivot. + +Jivvel, v. n. He lives: kai jivvel o, where does he live? + +Jin / Jinava, v. n. To know. Sans. Jna. + +Jinnepen, s. Wisdom, knowledge. Sans. Jnapti (understanding). + +Jinney-mengro, s. A knowing fellow, a deep card, a Grecian, a wise +man, a philosopher. + +Jinney-mengreskey rokrapenes. Sayings of the wise: the tatcho drom +to be a jinney-mengro is to dick and rig in zi, the true way to be a +wise man is to see and bear in mind. + +Jongar, v. n. To awake. Sans. Jagri. Hin. Jugana. + +Jobis, s. Oats. Sans. Java (barley). Wal. Obia. See Giv. + +Joddakaye, s. Apron; anything tied round the middle or hips. Sans. +Kata (the hip, the loins), Kataka (a girdle). + +Ju, s. A louse. Sans. Yuka. + +Juvalo, a. Lousy. + +Juvior, s. pl. Lice. + +Juggal / Jukkal, s. Dog. Sans. Srigala (jackal). + +Jukkalor. Dogs. + +Jukkaelsti cosht, s. Dog-wood; a hard wood used for making skewers. + +Juva / Juvali, Woman, wife. + +Juvli, s. Girl. See Chavali. + +K + +KAEL, s. Cheese. + +Kaes, s. Cheese. + +Kah / Kai, ad. Where: kai tiro ker, where's your house? kai si the +churi, where is the knife? Sans. Kva. + +Kair, v. a. To do. Sans. Kri, to do; kara (doing). + +Kair misto. To make well, cure, comfort. + +Kairipen, s. Work, labour. Sans. Karman. + +Kakkaratchi, s. Magpie; properly a raven. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Kanau / Knau, ad. Now. + +Karring. Crying out, hawking goods. Span. Gyp. Acarar (to call). +See Koring. + +Kaulo, a. Black. Sans. Kala. Arab. [Arabic: ] + +Kaulo chiriclo, s. A blackbird. + +Kaulo cori, s. A blackthorn. + +Kaulo durril, s. Blackberry. + +Kaulo Gav, s. Black-town, Birmingham. + +Kaulo guero, s. A black, negro. + +Kaulo guereskey tem, s. Negroland, Africa. + +Kaulo-mengro, s. A blacksmith. + +Kaulo ratti. Black blood, Gypsy blood: kaulo ratti adrey leste, he +has Gypsy blood in his veins. + +Kaun, s. An ear. Sans. Karna. + +Kaun-engro, s. An ear-fellow, thing with long ears; a figurative +name for a hare. + +Ke, prep. Unto. Likewise a postposition--e.g. lenke, to them. + +Keir / Ker, s. A house. Sans. Griha. + +Ker / Kerey / Ken, ad. Home, homeward: java keri, I will go home. + +Keir-poggring. House-breaking. + +Keir-rakli, s. A housemaid. + +Kek, ad. a. No, none, not: kek tatcho, it is not true. + +Kekkeno, a. None, not any: kekkeni pawni, no water. + +Kekkeno mushe's poov, s. No man's land; a common. + +Kekkauvi, s.f. Kettle. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Kekkauviskey saster, s. Kettle-iron; the hook by which the kettle is +suspended over the fire. + +Kekko, ad. No, it is not, not it, not he. + +Kekkomi. No more. See Komi, Ever-komi. + +Kek-cushti. Of no use; no good. See Koshto. + +Kem, s. The sun. See Cam. + +Ken. A particle affixed in English Gypsy to the name of a place +terminating in a vowel, in order to form a genitive; e.g. Eliken bori +congri, the great church of Ely. See En. + +Ken, s. A house, properly a nest. Heb. [Hebrew: ] Kin. + +Kenyor, s. pl. Ears. See Kaun. + +Ker / Kerava v. a. To do; make: kair yag, make a fire. Sans. Kri. +Pers. [Perisan: ] Gaelic, Ceaird (a trade), ceard (a tinker). Lat. +Cerdo (a smith). English, Char, chare (to work by the day). + +Kerdo. He did. + +Kedast, 2nd pers. pret. Thou didst. + +Kedo, part. pass. Done. + +Kerri-mengro, s. Workman. + +Kerrimus, s. Doing, deed: mi-Doovel's kerrimus, the Lord's doing. +Sans. Karman (work). + +Kerrit, p. pass. Cooked, boiled. Anglo-Indian word, Curried. Fr. +Cuire. Gaelic, Greidh (to cook victuals). + +Kettaney, ad. Together. Wal. Ketziba (many). See Kisi. + +Kidda, v. a. To pluck. + +Kil, v. a. To dance, play. Hin. Kelna. Sans. Kshvel. + +Killi-mengro, s. A dancer, player. + +Kil, s. Butter. + +Kin, v. a. To buy: kinning and bikkning, buying and selling. Heb. +Kana (he bought). + +Kin aley. To ransom, redeem, buy off. + +Kinnipen, s. A purchase. + +Kinnipen-divvus, s. Purchasing-day, Saturday. + +Kindo, a. Wet. + +Kipsi, s. Basket. Span. Gyp. Quicia. + +Kinyo. Tired. Span. Gyp. Quinao. + +Kisaiya. A female Gypsy name. + +Kisi, ad. How much, to what degree: kisi puro shan tu, how old are +you? Wal. Kitze. Span. Gyp. Quichi. Sans. Kati (how many?) + +Kisseh / Kissi, s. A purse. Sans. Kosa. Pers. [Persian: ] + +Kistur, v. a. To ride. Wal. Keleri. + +Kistri-mengro / Kistro-mengro, s. Rider, horseman. + +Kitchema, s. Public-house, inn. Hun. Korcsma. Wal. Keirtchumie. + +Kitchema-mengro, s. Innkeeper. + +Klism / Klisn, s. A key. Rus. Cliotche. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] +(shutting up). + +Klism-engri, s. A lock. Lit. key-thing. + +Klism-hev, s. A keyhole. + +Klop, s. A gate, seemingly a cant word; perhaps a bell. Wal. +Klopot. + +Kokkodus. Uncle: kokkodus Artaros, Uncle Arthur. + +Komi, adv. More: ever-komi, evermore. + +Koosho, a. Good: kooshi gillie, a good song. Sans. Kusala. + +Kora / Kore, v. a. To riot. Wal. Kiorei (to cry out, bawl, make a +tumult). Heb. Kara (he convoked, cried out). + +Koring, part. pres. Rioting. Heb. Kirivah (proclamation). + +Kora-mengro, s. A rioter. + +Kore, v. a. To hawk goods about, to cry out, to proclaim. + +Koring lil, s. Hawking-licence. + +Koring chiriclo, s. The cuckoo. + +Koshto, a. Good. Pers. [Persian: ] + +Koshtipen, s. Goodness, advantage, profit: kek koshtipen in +dukkering knau, it is of no use to tell fortunes now. + +Kosko, a. Good. + +Koskipen, s. Goodness. + +Krallis, s. King. Rus. Korol. Hun. Kiraly. Wal. Kraiu. + +Kushto, a. Good: kushto si for mangui, I am content. + +L + +LA, pro. pers. Her; accusative of 'i' or ' yoi,' she. + +Laki, pro. poss. Her: laki die, her mother. + +Lasa / Lasar, With her; instrumental case of 'i.' + +Later. From her; ablative of 'i.' + +Lati. Genitive of 'i'; frequently used as the accusative--e.g. cams +tu lati, do you love her? + +Lang / Lango, a. Lame. Sans. Lang. Pers. [Persian: ] Lenk. + +Lashi / Lasho, Louis. Hungarian, Lajos, Lazlo. Scotch, Lesley. + +Latch, v. a. To find. Wal. Aphla. + +Lav, s. Word. Sans. Lapa (to speak). Eng. Lip. + +Lavior, pl. Words. + +Lav-chingaripen, s. Dispute, word-war. + +Lav-engro, s. Word-master, linguist. + +Len, pro. pers. pl. To them: se len, there is to them, the have. + +Lendar, ablative. From them. + +Lende / Lunde, gen. and acc. Of them, them. + +Lensar. With them. + +Lengue, pro. poss. Their: lengue tan, their tent. + +Les, pro. pers. To him; dative of 'yo,' he: pawno stadj se les, he +has a white hat. + +Lescro, pro. poss. His, belonging to him: lescro prala, his +brother. + +Leste. Of him, likewise him; genitive and accusative of 'yo.' + +Lester. From him. + +Leste's. His: leste's wast, his hand; properly, lescro wast. + +Lesti. Her or it: pukker zi te lesti, tell her your mind; he can't +rokkra lesti, he can't speak it. + +Leav / Ley, v. a. To take. Wal. Loua. + +Lel. He takes. + +Lel cappi. Get booty, profit, capital. + +Lennor, s. Summer, spring. + +Levinor, s. Ale; drinks in which there is wormwood. Heb. Laenah +(wormwood). Irish, Lion (ale). + +Levinor-ker, s. Alehouse. + +Levinor-engri. Hop. Lit. ale-thing. + +Levinor-engriken tem. Kent. Lit. hop-country. + +Li, pron. It: dovo se li, that's it. + +Lidan, v. a. You took; 2nd pers. pret. of Ley. + +Lil, s. Book; a letter or pass. Hun. Level. Sans. Likh (to write). +Hindustani, Likhan (to write). + +Lillai, s. Summer. Hun. Gyp. Nilei. + +Linnow, part. pass. Taken, apprehended. + +Lis, pro. dat. To it: adrey lis, in it. + +Lollo / Lullo, a. Red. Pers. [Persian: ] Lal. + +Lolle bengres, s. pl. Red waistcoats, Bow Street runners. + +Lollo matcho, s. Red herring. Lit. red fish. + +Lolli plaishta, s. A red cloak. + +Lolli, s. A farthing. + +Lon / Lun, s. Salt. Sans. Lavana. Hin. Lon. + +Lou, pro. It: oprey-lou, upon it. Wal. Lou. + +Loure, v. a. To steal. See Luripen. + +Lubbeny, s. Harlot. Rus. Liabodieitza (adultress), liobodeinoe +(adulterous). Sans. Lubha (to inflame with lust, to desire). The +English word Love is derived from this Sanscrit root. + +Lubbenipen, s. Harlotry. + +Lubbenified. Become a harlot. + +Lundra. London. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]. + +Luripen, s. Robbery, a booty. Lit. a seizure. Wal. Luare (seizure, +capture), Louarea Parizouloui (the capture of Paris). + +Lutherum, s. Sleep, repose, slumber. + +Luvvo, s. Money, currency. Rus. Lovok (convenient, handy, quick, +agile). In Spanish Gypsy, a real (small coin) is called Quelati, a +thing which dances, from Quelar, to dance. + +Luvvo-mengro, s. Money-changer, banker. + +Luvvo-mengro-ker, s. Banker's house, bank. + +M + +Ma, ad. Not; only used before the imperative: ma muk, let not. +Sans. Ma. Pers. [Persian: ] + +Maas, s. Sans. Mansa Mans. Rus. Maso. See Mas. + +Maas-engro / Maaso-mengro, s. Butcher. + +Mailla, s. Ass, donkey. Wal. Megaroul. Sans. Baluya. + +Mailla and posh. Ass and foal. + +Malleco, a. False. + +Maluno / Maloney, s. Lightning. Rus. Molniya. + +Mam, s. Mother. Wal. Moume. Welsh, Mam. Irish and Scottish +Gaelic, Muime (a nurse). + +Man, pron. pers. I; very seldom used. Hin. Muen. + +Mande, pron. pers. oblique of Man; generally used instead of the +nominative Man. + +Mander. Ablative of Man, from me: ja mander, go from me. + +Mande's. My. Mande's wast, my hand; used improperly for miro. + +Mangue. Dative of Man, to me; sometimes used instead of the +nominative. + +Mansa. With me. + +Mang, v. a. To beg. Hin. Mangna. Sans. Marg. + +Mango-mengro, s. A beggar. + +Mangipen, s. The trade of begging. Sans. Margana (begging). + +Manricley, s. A cake. Span. Gyp. Manricli. + +Manush, s. Man. Sans. Manasha. Span. Gyp. Manus. See Monish. + +Manushi, s. Woman, wife. Sans. Manushi. + +Maricli, s. A cake. See Maricley. + +Mash, s. Umbrella. A cant word. + +Matcho, s. A fish. Sans. Matsya. Hin. Muchee. + +Matcheneskoe Gav. Yarmouth. Lit. the fishy town. + +Matcheneskoe guero, s. A fisherman. + +Matchka, s.f. A cat. Hun. Macska. + +Matchko, s. m. A he-cat. + +Mattipen, s. Drunkenness. Sans. Matta (to be intoxicated). Mod. +Gr. [Greek: ] (intoxication). Welsh, Meddwy (to intoxicate). + +Matto, a. Drunk, intoxicated. Welsh, Meddw. + +Matto-mengro, s. Drunkard. + +Mea, s. Mile: dui mear, two miles. Wal. Mie. + +Mea-bar, s. Milestone. + +Medisin, s. Measure, bushel. Sans. Mana. + +Mek, v. n. Leave, let: meklis, leave off, hold your tongue, have +done. Sans. Moksh. + +Men, pr. We; pl. of Man. + +Men, s. Neck. Gaelic, Muineal. Welsh, Mwng. Mandchou, Meifen. + +Men-pangushi, s. Neckcloth. See Pangushi. + +Mengro. A word much used in composition. See Engro and Mescro. + +Mensalli, s. A table. Wal. Masi. + +Mer / Merava, v. n. To die. Sans. Mri. + +Merricley, s. A cake. See Manricley. + +Merripen, s. Death. Sans. Mara. + +Merripen, s. Life, according to the Gypsies, though one feels +inclined to suppose that the real signification of the word is Death; +it may, however, be connected with the Gaulic or Irish word Mairam, +to endure, continue, live long: Gura' fada mhaireadh tu! may you +long endure, long life to you! In Spanish Gypsy Merinao signifies an +immortal. + +Mescro. A particle which, affixed to a verb, forms a substantive +masculine:- e.g. Camo, I love; camo-mescro, a lover. Nash, to run; +nashi-mescro, a runner. It is equivalent to Mengro, q.v. + +Messalli, s. A table. Wal. Masi. + +Mestipen, s. Life, livelihood, living, fortune, luck, goodness. +Span. Gyp. Mestipen, bestipen. Wal. Viatsie. + +Mi, pron. I, my. + +Mi cocoro, pron. poss. I myself, I alone. + +Mi dearie Dubbeleskey. For my dear God's sake. + +Mi develeskie gueri, s.f. A holy female. + +Mi develeskie gueri Mary. Holy Virgin Mary. + +Mi develeskoe Baval Engro. Holy Ghost. + +Mi dubbelungo, a. Divine. + +Mi duvvelungo divvus, s. Christmas Day. + +Millior, s. Miles; panj millior, five miles. + +Minge / Mintch, s. Pudendum muliebre. + +Miro, pron. poss. My, mine. + +Miri, pron. poss. f. My, mine. + +Misto / Mistos, ad. Well. + +Misto dusta. Very well. + +Mistos amande. I am glad. + +Mitch, s. See Minge. + +Mizella. Female Gypsy name. + +Mokkado, a. Unclean to eat. Wal. Mourdar (dirty). + +Monish, s. Man. See Manush. + +Mol, s. Wine. See Mul. + +Mollauvis, s. Pewter. + +Moomli, s. Candle, taper. See Mumli. + +Moomli-mengro, s. Candlestick, lantern. + +Moar, v. a. To grind. See Morro. + +More / Morava, v. a. To kill, slay. Sans. Mri. Wal. Omori. + +Moreno, part. pass. Killed, slain. + +More, v. a. To shave, shear. Hun. Gyp. Murinow. + +Mormusti, s.f. Midwife. Wal. Maimoutsi. Rus. Mameichka (nurse). + +Moro, pron. poss. Our: moro dad, our father. + +Morro, s. Bread. Lit. that which is ground. See Moar. Span. Gyp. +Manro. Hun. Gyp. Manro, also Gheum: sin gheum manro, gheum is manro +(bread). Rus. Gyp. Morroshka (a loaf). + +Morro-mengro, s. A baker. + +Mort, s. Woman, concubine; a cant word. + +Mosco / Moshko, A fly. Lat. Musca. Wal. Mouskie. Span. Gyp. +Moscabis (fly-blown, stung with love, picado, enamorado). + +Moskey, s. A spy: to jal a moskeying, to go out spying. Fr. +Mouchard. + +Mufta, s.f. Box, chest. See Muktar. + +Mui, s. Face, mouth: lollo leste mui, his face is red. Sans. Mukha +(face, mouth). Fr. Mot (a word). Provenzal, Mo. + +Muk, v. n. To leave, let. See Mek. + +Mukkalis becunye. Let it be. + +Muktar / Mukto, s. Box, chest. + +Mul, s. Wine. Pers. Mul. + +Mul divvus. Christmas Day. Lit. wine day. + +Mul-engris, s. pl. Grapes: mul-engri tan, vineyard. + +Mulleni muktar, s. Coffin. Lit. dead-chest. + +Mullodustie mukto. Id. + +Mulleno hev, s. Grave. + +Mulleno ker, s. Sepulchre, cemetery. + +Mullo, s., a. Dead man, dead. + +Mullo mas, s. Dead meat; flesh of an animal not slain, but which +died alone. + +Mumli, s.f. Candle. + +Mumli-mescro, s. Chandler. + +Munjee, s. A blow on the mouth, seemingly a cant word. Hin. Munh, +mouth. Ger. Mund. + +Murces / Mursior, s. pl. Arms. Span. Gyp. Murciales. + +Muscro, s. Constable. See Muskerro. + +Mush, s. Man. Rus. Mouge. Finnish, Mies. Tibetian, Mi. Lat. Mas +(a male). + +Mushi, s. Woman. + +Mushipen, s. A little man, a lad. Toulousian, Massip (a young man), +massipo (a young woman). + +Muskerro, s. Constable. + +Muskerriskoe cost, s. Constable's staff. + +Mutra, s. Urine. + +Mutrava, v. a. To void urine. Sans. Mutra. + +Mutra-mengri, s. Tea. + +Mutzi, s. Skin. Span. Gyp. Morchas. + +Mutzior, s. pl. Skins. + +N + +NA, ad. Not. + +Naflipen, s. Sickness. Span. Gyp. Nasallipen. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Naflo, a. Sick. + +Nai. Properly Na hi, there is not: nai men chior, we have no girls. + +Naior, s. pl. Nails of the fingers or toes. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Nangipen, s. Nakedness. + +Nango, a. Naked. + +Narilla / Narrila, A female Gypsy name. + +Nash, v. a. To run. Span. Gyp. Najar. + +Nashimescro, s. Runner, racer. + +Nashimescro-tan, s. Race-course. + +Nash, v. a. To lose, destroy, to hang. Sans. Nasa. Span. Gyp. +Najabar (to lose). Sans. Nakha (to destroy). Eng. Nacker (a killer +of old horses). + +Nashado, part. pret. Lost, destroyed, hung. + +Nashimescro, s. Hangman. + +Nashko, part. pass. Hung: nashko pre rukh, hung on a tree. + +Nasho, part. pass. Hung. + +Nastis, a. Impossible. See Astis. + +Nav, s. Name. Hun. Nev. + +Naval, s. Thread. Span. Gyp. Nafre. + +Naes / Nes, postpos. According to, after the manner of: +gorgikonaes, after the manner of the Gentiles; Romano-chalugo-naes, +after the manner of the Gypsies. + +Ne, ad. No, not: ne burroder, no more; ne riddo, not dressed. + +Nevo, a. New. + +Nevi, a. fem. New: nevi tud from the guveni, new milk from the cow. + +Nevey Rukhies. The New Forest. Lit. new trees. + +Nevi Wesh. The New Forest. + +Nick, v. a. To take away, steal. Span. Gyp. Nicabar. + +Nick the cost. To steal sticks for skewers and linen-pegs. + +Nogo, s. Own, one's own; nogo dad, one's own father; nogo tan, one's +own country. + +Nok, s. Nose. Hin. Nakh. + +Nok-engro, s. A glandered horse. Lit. a nose-fellow. + +Nokkipen, s. Snuff. + +O + +O, art. def. The. + +O, pron. He. + +Odoi, ad. There. Hun. Ott, oda. + +Oduvvu, pron. dem. That. Span. Gyp. Odoba. + +Olevas / Olivas / Olivor, s. pl. Stockings. Span. Gyp. Olibias. +Wal. Chorapul. + +Opral / Opre / Oprey, prep. Upon, above. Wal. Pre, asoupra. + +Or. A plural termination; for example, Shock, a cabbage, pl. shock- +or. It is perhaps derived from Ouri, the plural termination of +Wallachian neuter nouns ending in 'e.' + +Ora, s.f. A watch. Hun. Ora. + +Ora, s. An hour: so si ora, what's o'clock? + +Orlenda. Gypsy female name. Rus. Orlitza (female eagle). + +Os. A common termination of Gypsy nouns. It is frequently appended +by the Gypsies to English nouns in order to disguise them. + +Owli, ad. Yes. See Avali. + +P + +PA, prep. By: pa mui, by mouth. Rus. Po. + +Padlo, ad. Across: padlo pawnie, across the water, transported. + +Pahamengro, s. Turnip. + +Pailloes, s. Filberts. + +Pal, s. Brother. + +Pal of the bor. Brother of the hedge, hedgehog. + +Palal, prep. ad. Behind, after, back again: av palal, come back, +come again: palal the welgorus, after the fair. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] +(again). Rus. Opiat (id.). + +Pali, ad. Again, back. + +Pand, v. a. To bind. Sans. Bandh. + +Pandipen, s. Pinfold, prison, pound. + +Pandlo, part. pass. Bound, imprisoned, pounded. + +Pand opre, v. a. To bind up. + +Pandlo-mengro, s. Tollgate, thing that's shut. + +Pangushi, s.f. Handkerchief. + +Pani, s. Water. See Pawni. + +Panishey shock, s. Watercress. Lit. water-cabbage. See Shok. + +Panj, a. Five. See Pansch. + +Pani-mengro, s. Sailor, waterman. + +Panni-mengri, s. Garden. + +Panno, s. Cloth. Lat. Pannus. Wal. Penzie. + +Pansch, s. Five. Hin. Panch. + +Pappins / Pappior, s. pl. Ducks. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Paracrow, v. a. To thank: paracrow tute, I thank you. + +Parava / Parra, v. a. To change, exchange. See Porra. + +Parriken, s. Trust, credit. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] (trusted goods). + +Parno, a. White. See Pauno. + +Pas, s. Half. See Posh. + +Pasherro, s. Halfpenny; pl. pasherie. Pers. [Persian: ] Pasheez +(a farthing). + +Pas-more, v. a. Half-kill. + +Patch, s. Shame. Span. Gyp. Pachi, modesty, virginity. Sans. +Putcha. + +Patnies, s. pl. Ducks. + +Patrin, s. A Gypsy trail; handfuls of leaves or grass cast by the +Gypsies on the road, to denote to those behind the way which they +have taken. + +Pattin, s. A leaf. Span. Gyp. Patia. Sans. Patra. + +Pattinor. Leaves. + +Paub / Paubi, s. An apple. Hung. Gyp. Paboy. + +Paub tan, s. Orchard. + +Pauno, a. White. Sans. Pandu. Gaelic, Ban. + +Pauno gad. Clean shirt. + +Pauno sherro. Grey head, white head. + +Pauno, s. Flour. Lit. what is white. The Latin 'panis' seems to be +connected with this word. + +Pauno-mengro, s. A miller, white fellow. + +Pauno-mui, s. Pale face; generally applied to a vain, foolish girl, +who prefers the company of the pallid Gentiles to that of the dark +Romans. + +Pauvi, s. An apple. + +Pauvi-pani, s. Cyder, apple-water. + +Pawdel, ad. Across, over: pawdel puve and pawni, across land and +water; pawdel the chumba, over the hill. + +Pawnee / Pawni, s. Water. Sans. Paniya. Hin. Panie. Eng. Pond. +See Pani. + +Pawnugo, a. Watery: pawnugo hev, water-hole, well. + +Pazorrhus, part. pass. Indebted. See Pizarris. + +Peava, v. a. To drink. Sans. Pa. + +Pea-mengri, s. Tea-pot. Wal. Bea. Lit. drinking thing. + +Peeapen, s. Health: ako's your peeapen! here's your health! + +Pea-mengro, s. Drunkard. + +Pedloer, s. Nuts; prop. Acorns. Pers. Peleed. + +Peerdie, s. Female tramper. + +Peerdo, s. Male tramper. + +Pek'd / Pekt, part. pass. Roasted. Span. Gyp. Peco. Sans. Paka +(cooking). Pers. Pekhtan. Rus. Petsch (oven). + +Pele, s. pl. Testicles. Sans. P'hala. + +Pelengo gry / Pelengro gry, s. Stone-horse. + +Pen, a particle affixed to an adjective or a verb when some property +or quality, affection or action is to be expressed, the termination +of the first word being occasionally slightly modified: for example, +Kosko, good, koskipen, goodness; Tatcho, true, tatchipen, truth; +Camo, I love, camipen, love; Chingar, to fight, chingaripen, war. It +is of much the same service in expressing what is abstract and ideal +as Engro, Mescro, and Engri are in expressing what is living and +tangible. It is sometimes used as a diminutive, e.g. Mushipen, a +little fellow. + +Pen, s. Sister. + +Pen / Penav, v. a. To say, speak. Wal. Spoune. + +Penchava, v. n. To think. Pers. Pendashten. Sans. Vi-cit. + +Penliois, s. Nuts. See Pedloer. + +Per, s. Belly. + +Per, v. n. To fall. Span. Gyp. Petrar. Sans. Pat. + +Per tuley. To fall down. + +Perdo, a. Full. Sans. Purva, to fill. + +Pes / Pessa, v. a. To pay. Span. Gyp. Plaserar. Rus. Platit. Wal. +Pleti. Hun. Fizetni. + +Pes apopli. To repay. + +Petul, s. A horse-shoe. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] Wal. Potkoavie. Heb. +Bedel (tin). + +Petul-engro, s. Horseshoe-maker, smith, tinker; the name of a Gypsy +tribe. + +Pi, v. a. To drink. Sans. Piva (drinking). See Peava. + +Pias, s. Fun. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] (to play). + +Pikkis / Pikkaris, s. pl. Breasts. See Birk, bark. Wal. Piept. + +Pikko, s. Shoulder. + +Pios, part. pass. Drunken. Only employed when a health is drunk: +e.g. aukko tu pios adrey Romanes, your health is drunk in Romany. + +Pire, s. pl. Feet. + +Pire, s. pl. Trampers. + +Pire-gueros, s. pl. Travellers, trampers. Lit. foot-fellows. + +Pireni, s.f. Sweetheart. + +Pireno, s. m. Sweetheart. + +Piro, v. a. To walk: pirel, he walks. + +Piro-mengro, s. Walker. + +Pirry, s. Pot, boiler. This is a west-country Gypsy word. Span. +Gyp. Piri. Sans. Pithara, patra. + +Pishen, s. Flea, any kind of insect: guldo pishen, honey-insect, +bee, honey. + +Pivli, s. A widow. + +Pivlo, s. A widower. + +Pivley-gueri, s. A widowed female. + +Pivley-guero, s. A widowed fellow. + +Pivley-raunie, s. A widow lady. + +Piya-mengro, s. Drunkard. See Pea-mengro. + +Pizarris / Pizaurus, part. pass. Trusted, credited, in debt. Sans. +Vishvas (to trust). Wal. Se bizoui (to trust, to credit). Mod. Gr. +[Greek: ] (he who has been credited). Span. Gyp. Bisarar (to owe), +bisauras (debts), pista (an account). + +Pizarri-mengro, s. A trusted person, a debtor. + +Plakta, s. Sheet: bero-rukiskie plakta, a ship's sail. + +Plashta, s. Cloak: lolli plashta, red cloak. Span. Gyp. Plata. +Plakta and plashta are probably both derived from the Wallachian +postat, a sheet. + +Plastra, v. a. To run. + +Plastra lesti. Run it; run for your life. + +Plastra-mengro, s. a. A Bow Street runner, a pursuer. In Spanish +Gypsy, Plastani means a company which pursues robbers. + +Poggado, part. pass. Broken. + +Poggado bavol-engro, s. Broken-winded horse. + +Poggado habben, s. Broken victuals. + +Poggra, v. a. To break. Wal. Pokni. + +Poggra-mengri, s. A mill. Lit. a breaking thing. + +Poknies, s. Justice of the peace. Rus. Pokoio (to pacify). + +Pokiniskoe ker, s. House of a justice of the peace. + +Pooshed / Poosheno, part. pass. Buried: mulo ta poosheno, dead and +buried. + +Por, s. Feather. Pers. Par. Sans. Parna. + +Por-engro, s. Pen-master, penman, one able to write. + +Por-engri-pen, s. Penmanship, writing. + +Porior, s. pl. Feathers. + +Pordo, a. Heavy. Wal. Povarie (a weight). Lat. Pondus. + +Porra, v. a. To exchange. + +Posh, s. Half. + +Posherro / Poshoro, s. Halfpenny. + +Possey-mengri, s. Pitchfork; improperly used for any fork. The +literal meaning is a straw-thing; a thing used for the removal of +straw. See Pus. + +Potan, s. Tinder. Wal. Postabh (sheet, cloth). Sans. Pata (cloth). + +Poov / Pov, s. Earth, ground. Sans. Bhu. + +Poov, v. To poov a gry, to put a horse in a field at night. + +Pov-engro, s. An earth thing, potato. + +Pov-engreskoe, a. Belonging to the potato. + +Povengreskoe gav. Potato town--Norwich. + +Povengreskoe tem. Potato country--Norfolk. + +Povo-guero, s. Mole, earth-fellow. + +Praio, a. Upper: praio tem, upper country, heaven. Span. Gyp. +Tarpe (heaven). See Opre. + +Prala, s. Brother. + +Pude, v. a. To blow. + +Pude-mengri, s. Blowing thing, bellows. + +Pudge, s. Bridge. Wal. Pod, podoul. Pers. Pul. Sans. Pali. + +Pukker, v. a. To tell, declare, answer, say, speak. Span. Gyp. +Pucanar (to proclaim). Hin. Pukar, pukarnar. + +Pur, s. Belly. See Per. + +Pureno, a. Ancient, old: pureno foky, the old people. Sans. Purvya +(ancient). + +Puro, a. Old. Sans. Pura. + +Puro dad, s. Grandfather. + +Purrum, s. Leek, onion. Lat. Porrum. + +Purrum / Purrun, n. pr. Lee, or Leek; the name of a numerous Gypsy +tribe in the neighbourhood of London. Wal. Pur (onion). Lat. +Porrum. Sans. Purana (ancient). + +Pus, s. Straw. Sans. Busa, chaff. + +Putch, v. a. To ask. Hin. Puchhna. + +Putsi, s. Purse, pocket. Sans. Puta, pocket. Wal. Pountsi. Old +cant, Boung. + +Putsi-lil, s. Pocket-book. + +Puvvo, s. Earth, ground. See Poov. + +Puvvesti churi, s. a. Plough. + +R + +RAIA, s. Gentleman, lord. See Rye. + +Rak, v. n. To beware, take care; rak tute, take care of yourself. +Sans. Raksh (to guard, preserve). + +Rakli, s.f. Girl. + +Raklo, s. Boy, lad. + +Ran, s. Rod: ranior, rods. Sans. Ratha (cane, ratan). + +Rarde, s. Night. Sans. Ratri. + +Rardiskey, a. Nightly. + +Rardiskey kair poggring, s. Housebreaking by night, burglary. + +Rashengro, s. Clergyman. + +Rashi, s. Clergyman, priest. Sans. Rishi (holy person). + +Rashieskey rokkring tan, s. Pulpit. + +Ratcheta, s. A goose, duck. See Retsa. + +Ratti, s. Blood. Sans. Rudhira. + +Ratniken chiriclo, s. Nightingale. + +Rawnie, s. Lady. + +Rawniskie dicking gueri, s. Lady-like looking woman. + +Rawniskie tatti naflipen, s. The lady's fever, maladie de France. + +Retza, s. Duck. Wal. Rierzoiou. See Rossar-mescro. Hun. Recze. + +Reyna. A female Gypsy name. + +Riddo, part. pass. Dressed. Span. Gyp. Vriardao. + +Rig / Riggur / Riggurava, v. a. To bear, carry, bring. + +Rig in zi. To remember, bear in mind. + +Rig to zi. To bring to mind. + +Rinkeno, a. Handsome. + +Rivipen, s. Dress. Lit. linen clothes, women's dress. Wal. Ruphe. +Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] (a tailor). In Spanish Gypsy clothes are called +Goneles, from the Wallachian Khainele. + +Rodra, v. a. To search, seek. + +Roi, s. Spoon. + +Rokra, v. a. To talk, speak. Rus. Rek (he said). Lat. Loquor. + +Rokrenchericlo, s. Parrot, magpie. + +Rokrenguero, s. A lawyer, talker. Gaelic, Racaire (a chatterer). + +Rokrengueriskey gav. Talking fellows' town--Norwich. + +Rokunyes, s. Trousers, breeches. Hun. Gyp. Roklia (gown). Mod. +Gr. [Greek: ] (cloth). + +Rom, s. A husband. Sans. Rama (a husband), Rama (an incarnation of +Vishnu), Rum (to sport, fondle). Lat. Roma (City of Rama). Gaelic, +Rom (organ of manhood). Eng. Ram (aries, male sheep). Heb. Ream +(monoceros, unicorn). + +Rommado, part. pass. s. Married, husband. + +Romm'd, part. pass. Married. + +Romano Chal / Romany Chal, A Gypsy fellow, Gypsy lad. See Chal. + +Romani chi. Gypsy lass, female Gypsy. + +Romanes / Romany, Gypsy language. + +Romaneskoenaes. After the Gypsy fashion. Wal. Roumainesk +(Roumainean, Wallachian.) + +Romano Rye / Romany Rye, Gypsy gentleman. + +Romipen, s. Marriage. + +Rook / Rukh, s. Tree. Sans. Vriksha. Hun. Gyp. Rukh. Span. Gyp. +Erucal (an olive-tree). + +Rookeskey cost. Branch of a tree. + +Rooko-mengro, s. Squirrel. Lit. tree-fellow. + +Roshto, a. Angry. Wal. Resti (to be angry). + +Rossar-mescro, s. Gypsy name of the tribe Heron, or Herne. Lit. +duck-fellow. + +Roujiou, a. Clean. See Iuziou. + +Rove, v. n. To weep. Sans. Rud. + +Rup, s. Silver. Sans. Raupya. Hin. Rupee. + +Rupenoe, a. Silver: rupenoe pea-mengri, silver tea-pots. + +Ruslipen, s. Strength. + +Ruslo, a. Strong. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] (roborabo). Rus. Rosluy +(great, huge of stature). Hun. Ero (strength), eros (strong). + +Rye, s. A lord, gentleman. Sans. Raj, Raya. + +Ryeskoe, a. Gentlemanly. + +Ryeskoe dicking guero. Gentlemanly looking man. + +Ryoriskey rokkaring keir, s. The House of Commons. Lit. the +gentlemen's talking house. + +S + +SACKI. Name of a Gypsy man. + +Sainyor, s. Pins. Span. Gyp. Chingabar (a pin). + +Sal, v. n. To laugh; properly, he laughs. Span. Gyp. Asaselarse. +Sans. Has. + +Salla. She laughs. + +Salivaris, s.f. Bridle. See Sollibari. + +Sap / Sarp, s. Snake, serpent. Wal. Sharpele. Span. Gyp. +Chaplesca. + +Sappors, s. pl. Snakes. + +Sap drey chaw. A snake in the grass: sap drey bor, a snake in the +hedge. + +Sapnis, s. Soap. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] Wal. Sipoun. + +Sar, postpos., prepos. With: mensar, with us; sar amande, with me. + +Sar, conjunct. As. + +Sar, ad. How. + +Sar shin, How are you? Sar shin, meero rye? Sar shin, meeri rawnie? +How are you, sir? How are you, madam? + +Sas. If it were. See Is. + +Sas, s. Nest. See Tass. + +Sarla, s. Evening: koshti sarla, good evening. See Tasarla. Wal. +Seara. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]. + +Saster, s. Iron. + +Saster-mengri, s. A piece of iron worn above the knee by the skewer- +makers whilst engaged in whittling. + +Saster-mengro, s. Ironmonger. + +Sasters, sastris. Nails: chokkiskey sastris, shoe-nails. + +Sau, adv. How. + +Sau kisi. How much? + +Saulohaul / Sovlehaul, v. a. To swear. + +Saulohaul bango. To swear falsely. + +Sauloholomus, s. Oath. Span. Gyp. Solaja (a curse). Arab. [Arabic: +] Salat (prayer). Lat. Solemnis. Fr. Serment. Wal. Jourirnint +(oath). + +Savo, pron. Who, that, which. + +Saw, v. n. I laugh. Sawschan tu, you laugh. + +Scamp. Name of a small Gypsy tribe. Sans. Kshump (to go). + +Scourdilla, s.f. Platter. Lat. Scutella. + +Scunyes / Scunyor, s. pl. Pins, skewers. See Escunyes. + +Se, 3rd pers. sing. pres. Is, there is: kosko guero se, he is a +good fellow; se les, there is to him, he has. + +Shab, v. a. Cut away, run hard, escape. Hun. Szabni. This word is +chiefly used by the tobair coves, or vagrants. + +Shan. You are, they are. See Shin. + +Shauvo, v. To get with child. See Shuvvli. + +Shehaury. Sixpence. See Shohaury. + +Shello, s. Rope. Span. Gyp. Jele. + +Shello-hokta-mengro, s. Rope-dancer. + +Sher-engro, s. A head-man, leader of a Gypsy tribe. + +Sher-engri, s. A halter. + +Shero, s. A head. Pers. [Persian: ] + +Sherro's kairipen, s. Learning, head-work. + +Sheshu, s. Hare, rabbit. See Shoshoi. + +Sherrafo, a. Religious, converted. Arab. Sherif. + +Shilleno / Shillero / Shillo, a. Cold: shillo chik, cold ground. + +Shillipen, s. Cold. + +Shin. Thou art: sar shin, how art thou? + +Sho, s. Thing. + +Sho, a. Six. + +Shohaury, s. Sixpence. + +Shok, s. Cabbage: shockor, cabbages. Span. Gyp. Chaja. + +Shom, v. 1st pers. pres. I am. Used in the pure Roman tongue to +express necessity: e.g. shom te jav, I must go. Lat. Sum. Hun. +Gyp. Hom. + +Shoob, s. Gown. Rus. Shoob. See Shubbo. + +Shoon, v. n. To hear. Pers. Shiniden. Sans. Sru. + +Shoonaben, s. Hearing, audience. To lel shoonaben of the covar, to +take hearing of the matter. + +Shoshoi, s. A hare or rabbit, but generally used by the Gypsies for +the latter. Sans. Sasa (a hare or rabbit). Hun. Gyp. Shoshoi. + +Shubbo, s. A gown. Rus. Shoob. Wal. Djoube. + +Shubley patnies, s. pl. Geese. + +Shun. A female Gypsy name. + +Shuvvali, a. Enceinte, with child. + +Si, 3rd pers. sing. pres. It is, she is: tatchipen si, it is truth; +coin si rawnie, who is the lady? sossi your nav, what is your name? + +Sicovar, ad. Evermore, eternally. Hun. Gyp. Sekovar. + +Si covar ajaw. So it is. + +Sig, ad. Quick, soon: cana sig, now soon. Span. Gyp. Singo. Hun. +Sieto. + +Sig, s. Haste. + +Sikker, v. a. To show: sikker-mengri, a show. + +Simen, s. a. Equal, alike. Sans. Samana. + +Simen. We are, it is we. Wal. Semeina (to resemble). + +Simmeno, s. Broth. See Zimmen. + +Simmer, v. a. Pledge, pawn. + +Simmery-mengre, s. pl. Pawnbrokers. + +Sis. Thou art: misto sis riddo, thou art well dressed. + +Siva, v. a. To sew. Sans. Siv. + +Siva-mengri, s. A needle, sewing-thing. + +Siva-mengri, s. Sempstress. + +Siva-mengro, s. Tailor. + +Skammen, s. Chair. Wal. Skaun. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Skammen-engro, s. Chair-maker. + +Skraunior, s. pl. Boots. + +Slom / Slum, v. a. Follow, trace, track. Rus. Sliedovat. + +Smentini, s. Cream. Wal. Zmentenie. Rus. Smetana. + +So, pron. rel. Which, what: so se tute's kairing, what are you +doing? + +Sollibari, s. Bridle. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Sonakey / Sonneco, s. Gold. Sans. Svarna. + +Sore / Soro, a. All, every. Sans. Sarva. + +Sorlo, a. Early. Arab. [Arabic:] Sohr, Sahr (morning, day-break). +Wal. Zorile. + +Soro-ruslo, a. Almighty. Dad soro-ruslo, Father Almighty. + +Se se? Who is it? + +So si? What is it? So si ora, what's o'clock? + +Soskey, ad. Wherefore, for what. + +Sovaharri, s. Carpet, blanket. + +Sove, v. n. To sleep. Hun. Gyp. Sovella (he sleeps). Span. Gyp. +Sobelar (to sleep). Danish, Sove (to sleep). + +Sove tuley. To lie down. + +Sovie, s. Needle. See Su. + +Soving aley. Lying down to sleep. + +Spikor, s. pl. Skewers. Wal. Spik. + +Spinyor, s. pl. Carrots. + +Spinyor, s. pl. Pins. Span. Gyp. Chingabar (a pin). + +Stadj, s. Hat. + +Stanya / Stanye, s. A stable. Hun. Sanya. Wal. Staula, steinie +(sheepfold). + +Stanya-mengro, s. Groom, stable-fellow. + +Stardo, part. pass. Imprisoned. + +Staripen, s. Prison. + +Staro-mengro, s. Prisoner. + +Stannyi / Staunyo, s. A deer. + +Stiggur, s. Gate, turnpike. Old cant, Giger (a door). + +Stiggur-engro, s. Turnpike-keeper. + +Stor, a. Four. + +Storey, s. Prisoner. + +Stuggur, s. A stack. + +Su, s. Needle. Hun. Tu. + +Subie / Subye, s. Needle: subye ta naval, needle and thread. + +Sueti, s. People. Lithuanian, Swetas. + +Sungella, v. It stinks. + +Sutta / Suttur / Suta, s. Sleep. Sans. Subta (asleep). Hin. Sutta +(sleeping). Lat. Sopitus. + +Suttur-gillie, s. Sleep-song, lullaby. + +Swegler / Swingle, s. Pipe. + +Syeira. A female Gypsy name. + +T + +Ta, conj. And. + +Talleno, a. Woollen: talleno chofa, woollen or flannel petticoat. + +Tan, s. Place, tent. Hun. Tanya. + +Tard / Tardra, v. a. To raise, build, pull, draw: the kair is +tardrad opre, the house is built; tard the chaw opre, pull up the +grass. Hin. Torna (to pluck). Wal. Tratze. Gaelic, Tarruinn. + +Tardra-mengre. Hop-pickers. + +Tas, s. Cup, nest of a bird. See Dui tas, doo das. + +Tasarla / Tasorlo, s. To-morrow. Lit. to-early. See Sorlo. + +Tasarla, s. The evening. This word must not be confounded with the +one which precedes it; the present is derived from the Wallachian +Seari (evening), whilst the other is from the Arabic Sohr, Sahar +(morning). + +Tassa-mengri, s. A frying-pan. See Tattra-mengri. + +Tatchipen, s. Truth. Sans. Satyata. + +Tatcho, a. True. Sans. Sat. + +Tatti-pani / Tatti-pauni, s. Brandy. Lit. hot water. + +Tatti-pen, s. Heat. + +Tatto, a. Hot, warm. Sans. Tapta. Tap (to be hot). Gaelic, Teth. + +Tatto yeck, s. A hot un, or hot one; a stinging blow given in some +very sensitive part. + +Tattra-mengri, s. A frying-pan. + +Tawno m. / Tawnie f., a. Little, small, tiny. Sans. Tarana (young). +Wal. Tienir (young). Lat. Tener. Span. Gyp. Chinoro. + +Tawnie yecks, s. pl. Little ones, grandchildren. + +Te, prep. To: te lesti, to her; this word is not properly Gypsy. + +Te, conjunct. That: te jinnen, that they may know, an optative +word; O beng te poggar his men, may the devil break his neck. Wal. +Ci. + +Tel, v. a. imp. Hold: tel te jib, hold your tongue. + +Tem, s. Country. + +Temeskoe, a. Belonging to a country. + +Temno, a. Dark. Rus. Temnoy. Sans. Tama (darkness). + +Ten, s. See Tan. + +Tikno, s. A child. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] + +Tikno, a. Small, little. Span. Gyp. Chinoro. Lat. Tener. + +Tippoty, a. Malicious, spiteful: tippoty drey mande, bearing malice +against me. + +Tiro, pron. Thine. + +Tobbar, s. The Road; a Rapparee word. Boro-tobbarkillipen (the Game +of High Toby--highway robbery). Irish, Tobar (a source, fountain). + +Tornapo. Name of a Gypsy man. + +Tororo, s. A poor fellow, a beggar, a tramp. Sans. Daridra. + +Tove, v. a. To wash: tovipen, washing. Sans. Dhav. + +Toving divvus, s. Washing day, Monday. + +Traish, v. a. To frighten, terrify: it traishes mande, it frightens +me. + +Trihool, s. Cross: Mi doveleskoe trihool, holy cross. Span. Gyp. +Trijul. Hin. Trisool. + +Trin, a. Three. + +Tringrosh / Tringurushee, Shilling. Lit. three groats. + +Tringurushengre, s. pl. Things costing a shilling. + +Tringush, s. Shilling. + +Trito, a. Third. Sans. Tritiya. + +Truffeni. Female Gypsy name: Truffeni Kaumlo, Jack Wardomescres +dieyas nav--Truffeni Lovel, the name of John Cooper's mother. Mod. +Gr. [Greek: ] + +Truppior, s. pl. Stays. + +Trupo, s. Body. Wal. Troup. Rus. Trup + +Trushni, s. Faggot. + +Trusno, a. Thirsty, dry. Sans. Trishnaj. + +Tu, pron. Thou: shoon tu, dieya! do thou hear, mother! + +Tud, s. Milk. Sans. Duh (to milk). + +Tudlo gueri. Milkmaid. + +Tug, a. Sad, afflicted. + +Tugnipen, s. Affliction. + +Tugnis amande. Woe is me; I am sad. + +Tugno, a. Sad, mournful. + +Tule / Tuley, prep. Below, under: tuley the bor, under the hedge. +Slavonian, doly. + +Tulipen, s. Fat, grease. + +Tulo, a. Fat. + +Tute, pron. Accusative of Tu; generally used instead of the +nominative. + +Tuv, s. Smoke, tobacco. + +Tuvalo / Tuvvalo, a. Smoky. Span. Gyp. Chibalo (a cigar). + +V + +VANGUS, s. Finger. Sans. Angula. + +Vangustri, s. Ring. Sans. Angulika, anguri. See Wangustri. + +Vaneshu, s. Nothing. From the Wallachian Ba nitchi, not at all. + +Var, s. Flour: var-engro, a miller. See Waro. + +Vardo, s. Cart. See Wardo. + +Vassavo / Vassavy, a. Bad, evil. + +Vast, s. Hand. + +Vava. An affix, by which the future of a verb is formed, as Heta- +vava. It seems to be the Wallachian Wa-fi, he shall or will be. + +Vellin, s. A bottle. + +Vauros, s. A city. Hun. Varos. Sans. Puri. Hin. Poor. Wal. +Orash. + +Venor / Vennor, Bowels, entrails. See Wendror, + +W + +WAFO, a. Another. Sans. Apara. + +Wafo divvus, s. Yesterday. Lit. the other day. + +Wafo tem. Another country, foreign land. + +Wafo temeskoe mush, s. A foreigner, another countryman. + +Wafo tem-engre. Foreigners. + +Wafodu / Wafudo, a. Bad, evil. + +Wafoduder. Worse: wafoduder than dovor, worse than they. + +Wafodu-pen, s. Wickedness. + +Wafodu guero, s. The Evil One, Satan. + +Wafodu tan, s. Hell, bad place. + +Wangar, s. Coals, charcoal. Sans. Angara. See Wongar. + +Wangustri, s. Ring. + +Warda, v. To guard, take care: warda tu coccorus, take care of +yourself. + +Wardo, s. Cart. Sans. Pattra. + +Wardo-mescro, s. Carter, cartwright, cooper, name of a Gypsy tribe. + +Waro, s. Flour. + +Waro-mescro, s. Miller. + +Wast, s. Hand. See Vast. Wastrors, hands. Gaelic, Bas (the palm +of the hand). + +Weggaulus / Welgorus / Welgaulus, s. A fair. Wal. Bieltchiou. + +Wel, v. a. He comes; from Ava. Sometimes used imperatively; e.g. +Wel adrey, come in. + +Welling pali. Coming back, returning from transportation. + +Wen, s. Winter. + +Wendror, s. pl. Bowels, inside. Wal. Pentetche. Lat. Venter. + +Wentzelow. Name of a Gypsy man. + +Werriga, s. Chain. Rus. Veriga. Wal. Verigie (bolt). + +Wesh, s. Forest, wood. Pers. [Persian: ] + +Wesh-engro, s. Woodman, gamekeeper. + +Weshen-juggal, s. Fox. Lit. dog of the wood. + +Woddrus / Wuddrus, s. Bed. Hun. Gyp. Patos. Wal. Pat. The Spanish +Gypsies retain the pure Indian word Charipe. + +Wongar, s. Coal. Also a term for money; probably because Coal in +the cant language signifies money. See Wangar. + +Wongar-camming mush, s. A miser. Lit. one who loves coal. + +Wuddur, s. Door. Span. Gyp. Burda. Wal. Poartie. + +Wuddur-mescro, s. Doorkeeper. + +Wust, v. a. To cast, throw. + +Wusto-mengro, s. Wrestler, hurler. + +Y + +YACK, s. Eye. Sans. Akshi. Germ. Auge. Rus. Oko. Lithuanian, +Akis. Lat. Oculus. + +Yackor. Eyes. + +Yag, s. Fire. Sans. Agni. Rus. Ogon. Lithuanian, Ugnis. Lat. +Ignis. Irish, An (water, fire). + +Yag-engri, s. Gun, fire-thing. + +Yag- engro / Yago-mengro, s. Gamekeeper, sportsman, fireman. + +Yag-kairepenes, s. Fireworks. + +Yag-vardo, s. Fire-car, railroad carriage. + +Yarb, s. Herb. + +Yarb-tan, s. Garden. + +Yeck, a. One. Sans. Eka. Hin. Yak. + +Yeckoro, a. Only: yeckoro chavo, only son. + +Yeckorus, ad. Once. + +Yo, pron. He. + +Yoi, pron. She. Sometimes used for La or Las, her; e.g. Mande +putch'd yoi, I asked she, her. + +Yokki, a. Clever, expert: a yokki juva, a yokki woman--a female +expert at filching, ringing the changes, telling fortunes, and other +Gypsy arts. Sans. Yoga (artifice, plan), Yuj (to combine, put +together, plan). + +Yora, s. Hour. See Ora. + +Yoro, s. An egg. Wal. Ou. + +Z + +ZI, s. The heart, mind. Hun. Sziv. Sans. Dhi. + +Zimmen, s. Broth. Wal. Zmenteni (cream). + +Zoomi, s. f. Broth, soup. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ] Wal. Zamie (juice). + +Zingaro. A Gypsy, a person of mixed blood, one who springs from +various races, a made-up person. Sans. Sangkara, compositus (made- +up). + + + +RHYMED LIST OF GYPSY VERBS + + + +To dick and jin, +To bikn and kin; +To pee and hal, +And av and jal; +To kair and poggra, +Shoon and rokra; +To caur and chore, +Heta and cour, +Moar and more, +To drab and dook, +And nash on rook; +To pek and tove, +And sove and rove, +And nash on poove; +To tardra oprey, +And chiv aley; +To pes and gin, +To mang and chin, +To pootch and pukker, +Hok and dukker; +To besh and kel, +To del and lel, +And jib to tel; +Bitch, atch, and hatch, +Roddra and latch; +To gool and saul, +And sollohaul; +To pand and wustra, +Hokta and plastra, +Busna and kistur, +Maila and grista; +To an and riggur; +To pen and sikker, +Porra and simmer, +Chungra and chingra, +Pude and grommena, +Grovena, gruvena; +To dand and choom, +Chauva and rom, +Rok and gare, +Jib and mer +With camova, +And paracrova, +Apasavello +And mekello, +And kitsi wasror, +Sore are lavior, +For kairing chomany, +In jib of Romany. + + + +BETIE ROKRAPENES--LITTLE SAYINGS + + + +If foky kek jins bute, +Ma sal at lende; +For sore mush jins chomany +That tute kek jins. + +Whatever ignorance men may show, +From none disdainful turn; +For every one doth something know +Which you have yet to learn. + + + +BETIE ROKRAPENES + + + +So must I ker, daiya, to ker tute mistos? +It is my Dovvel's kerrimus, and we can't help asarlus. +Mi Dovvel opral, dick tuley opre mande. +If I could lel bonnek tute, het-avava tute. +Misto kedast tute. +Dovey si fino covar, ratfelo jukkal, sas miro. + +The plastra-mengro sollohaul'd bango. +Me camava jaw drey the Nevi Wesh to dick the purey Bare-mescrey. +You jin feter dovey oduvu. +Will you pes for a coro levinor? +Ma pi kekomi. +Ma rokra kekomi. +Bori shil se mande. +Tatto tu coccori, pen. +Kekkeno pawni dov odoi. +Sore simensar si men. + +Tatto ratti se len. +Wafudu lavior you do pen, miry deary Dovvel. +Kair pias to kair the gorgies sal. +Nai men chior. +So se drey lis? +Misto sis riddo. +Muk man av abri. +Ma kair jaw. +Si covar ajaw. +An men posseymengri. +Colliko sorlo me deavlis. +Pukker zi te lesti. +Soving lasa. +Tatto si can. +Mande kinyo, nastis jalno durroder. +Ma muk de gorgey jinnen sore lidan dovvu luvvu so garridan. +Dui trins ta yeck ta pas. +Pes apopli. +Chiv'd his vast adrey tiro putsi. +Penchavo chavo savo shan tu. + +I'd sooner shoon his rokrapen than shoon Lally gil a gillie. +Kekkeno jinava mande ne burreder denne chavo. +Aukko tu pios adrey Romanes. + + +LITTLE SAYINGS + + +What must I do, mother, to make you well? +It is my God's doing, and we can't help at all. + +My God above, look down upon me! +If I could get hold of you, I would slay you. +Thou hast done well. +That is a fine thing, you bloody dog, if it were mine. +The Bow-street runner swore falsely. +I will go into the New Forest to see the old Stanleys. +You know better than that. +Will you pay for a pot of ale? +Don't drink any more. +Do not speak any more. +I have a great cold. +Warm thyself, sister. +There is no water there. +We are all relations: all who are with us are ourselves. +They have hot blood. +Evil words you do speak, O my dear God. +Make fun, to make the Gentiles laugh. +I have no girls. +What is in it? +Thou art well dressed. +Let me come out. +Don't do so. +The thing is so: so it is. +Bring me a fork. +To-morrow morning I will give it. +Tell her your mind. +Sleeping with her. +The sun is hot. +I am tired, I can go no farther. +Don't let the Gentiles know all the money you took which you hid. +Seven pound ten. +Pay again. +Put his hand into your pocket. +The boy is thinking who you are. + +I would rather hear him speak than hear Lally sing. +I know no more than a child. +Here's your health in Romany! + + + +COTORRES OF MI-DIBBLE'S LIL CHIV'D ADREY ROMANES +PIECES OF SCRIPTURE CAST INTO ROMANY + + + +THE FIRST DAY--Genesis i. 1, 2, 3, 4 + + +Drey the sherripen Midibble kair'd the temoprey ta the puv; +Ta the puv was chungalo, ta chichi was adrey lis; +Ta temnopen was oprey the mui of the boro put. +Ta Midibble's bavol-engri besh'd oprey the panior; +Ta Midibble penn'd: Mook there be dute! ta there was dute. +Ta Midibble dick'd that the doot was koosho-koshko. +Ta Midibble chinn'd enrey the dute ta the temnopen; +Ta Midibble kor'd the dute divvus, ta the temnopen kor'd yo rarde; +Ta the sarla, ta the sorlo were yeckto divvus. + + +THE FIFTH DAY--Genesis i. 20, 21, 22, 23 + + +Then Midibble penn'd; Mook sore the panior +Chinn tairie jibbing engris bute dosta, +Ta prey puv be bute dosta chiricles +To vol adrey the rek of the tarpe. + +Then Midibble kair'd the borie baulo-matches, +Ta sore covar that has jibbing zi adreylis, +The bute, bute tairie covars drey the panior +Sore yeck drey its genos kair'd Midibble, + +The chiricles that vol adrey the tarpe +Sore yeck drey its genos kair'd he lende: +Then Midibble dick'd that sore was koosho-koshko, +And he chiv'd his koshto rokrapen opreylen: + +Penn'd Midibble: Dey ye frute ever-komi, +Ever-komi be burreder your nummer, +Per with covars the panior ta durior, +Ta prey puv be burreder the chiricles! + +Then was sarla ta sorlo panschto divvus. + + +THE CREATION OF MAN--Genesis i. 27, 28 + + +Then Mi-dibble kair'd Manoo drey his dikkipen, +Drey Mi-dibble's dikkipen kair'd he leste; +Mush and mushi kair'd Dibble lende +And he chiv'd his koshto rokrapen opreylen: + +Penn'd Mi-dibble: Dey ye frute ever-komi, +Ever-komi be burreder your nummer; +Per with chauves and chiyor the puvo +And oprey sore the puvo be krallior, + +Oprey the dooiya and its matches, +And oprey the chiricles of the tarpe, +And oprey soro covar that's jibbing +And peers prey the mui of the puvo. + + +THE LORD'S PRAYER + + +Meery dearie Dad, sauvo jivves drey the tem oprey, be sharrafo teero +nav, te awel teero tem, be kedo sore so caumes oprey ye poov, sar +kairdios drey the tem oprey. Dey man to divvus meery divvuskey +morro; ta for-dey mande mande's pizzaripenes, sar mande fordeava +wafor mushes lende's pizzaripenes; ma mook te petrav drey kek +tentacionos, but lel mande abri from sore wafodupen; for teero se o +tem, Mi-dibble, teero o ruslopen, ta yi corauni knaw ta ever-komi. +Si covar ajaw. + + +THE APOSTLES' CREED + + +Apasavello drey Mi-dovel; Dad sore-ruslo savo kerdo o praio tem, ta +cav acoi tuley: ta drey lescro yekkero Chauvo Jesus Christus moro +erray, beano of wendror of Mi-develeskey Geiry Mary; was curredo by +the wast of Poknish Pontius Pilatos; was nash'd oprey ye Trihool; was +mored, and chived adrey ye puve; jall'd tuley ye temno drom ke wafudo +tan, bengeskoe starriben; ta prey ye trito divvus jall'd yo oprey ke +koshto tan, Mi-dovels ker; beshel yo knaw odoy prey Mi-dovels tatcho +wast, Dad sore-ruslo; cad odoy avellava to lel shoonapen oprey jibben +and merripen; Apasavello drey Mi-dibbleskey Ducos; drey the Bori Mi- +develesky Bollisky Congri; that sore tatcho fokey shall jib in +mestepen kettaney; that Mi-dibble will fordel sore wafudopenes; that +soror mulor will jongor, and there will be kek merripen asarlus. Si +covar ajaw. Avali. + + +THE LORD'S PRAYER IN THE GYPSY DIALECT OF TRANSYLVANIA + + +Miro gulo Devel, savo hal ote ando Cheros, te avel swuntunos tiro +nav; te avel catari tiro tem; te keren saro so cames oppo puv, sar +ando Cheros. De man sekhonus miro diveskoe manro, ta ierta mangue +saro so na he plaskerava tuke, sar me ierstavava wafo manuschengue +saro so na plaskerelen mangue. Ma muk te petrow ando chungalo +camoben; tama lel man abri saro doschdar. Weika tiro sin o tem, tiri +yi potea, tiri yi proslava akana ta sekovar. + +Te del amen o gulo Del eg meschibo pa amara choribo. + +Te vas del o Del amengue; te n'avel man pascotia ando drom, te na +hoden pen mandar. + +Ja Develehi! +Az Develehi! +Ja Develeskey! +Az Develeskey! +Heri Devlis! + + +My sweet God, who art there in Heaven, may thy name come hallowed; +may thy kingdom come hither; may they do all that thou wishest upon +earth, as in Heaven. Give me to-day my daily bread, and forgive me +all that I cannot pay thee, as I shall forgive other men all that +they do not pay me. Do not let me fall into evil desire; but take me +out from all wickedness. For thine is the kingdom, thine the power, +thine the glory now and ever. + +May the sweet God give us a remedy for our poverty. + +May God help us! May no misfortune happen to me in the road, and may +no one steal anything me. + +Go with God! +Stay with God! +Go, for God's sake! +Stay, for God's sake! +By God! + + + +LIL OF ROMANO JINNYPEN + + + +The tawno fokey often putches so koskipen se drey the Romano jib? +Mande pens ye are sore dinneles; bute, bute koskipen se adrey lis, ta +dusta, dosta of moro foky would have been bitcheno or nash'd, but for +the puro, choveno Romano jib. A lav in Romany, penn'd in cheeros to +a tawnie rakli, and rigg'd to the tan, has kair'd a boro kisi of +luvvo and wafor covars, which had been chor'd, to be chived tuley +pov, so that when the muskerres well'd they could latch vanisho, and +had kek yeckly to muk the Romano they had lell'd opre, jal his drom, +but to mang also his artapen. + +His bitchenipenskie cheeros is knau abri, and it were but kosko in +leste to wel ken, if it were yeckly to lel care of lescri puri, +choveny romady; she's been a tatchi, tatchi romady to leste, and kek +man apasavello that she has jall'd with a wafu mush ever since he's +been bitcheno. + +When yeck's tardrad yeck's beti ten oprey, kair'd yeck's beti yag +anglo the wuddur, ta nash'd yeck's kekauvi by the kekauviskey saster +oprey lis, yeck kek cams that a dikkimengro or muskerro should wel +and pen: so's tute kairing acai? Jaw oprey, Romano juggal. + +Prey Juliken yeckto Frydivvus, anglo nango muyiskie staunyi naveni +kitchema, prey the chong opral Bororukeskoe Gav, drey the Wesh, tute +dickavavasa bute Romany foky, mushor ta juvar, chalor ta cheiar. + +Jinnes tu miro puro prala Rye Stanniwix, the puro rye savo rigs a +bawlo-dumo-mengri, ta kair'd desh ta stor mille barior by covar- +plastring? + +He jall'd on rokkring ta rokkring dinneleskoenaes till mande pukker'd +leste: if tute jasas on dovodoiskoenaes mande curavava tute a tatto +yeck prey the nok. + +You putches mande so si patrins. Patrins are Romany drom sikkering +engris, by which the Romany who jal anglo muk lende that wels palal +jin the drom they have jall'd by: we wusts wastperdes of chaw oprey +the puv at the jalling adrey of the drom, or we kairs sar a wangust a +trihool oprey the chik, or we chins ranior tuley from the rukhies, +and chivs lende oprey drey the puv aligatas the bor; but the tatcho +patrin is wast-perdes of leaves, for patrin or patten in puro Romano +jib is the uav of a rukheskoe leaf. + +The tatcho drom to be a jinney-mengro is to shoon, dick, and rig in +zi. + +The mush savo kek se les the juckni-wast oprey his jib and his zi is +keck kosko to jal adrey sweti. + +The lil to lel oprey the kekkeno mushe's puvior and to keir the +choveno foky mer of buklipen and shillipen, is wusted abri the +Raioriskey rokkaring ker. + +The nav they dins lati is Bokht drey Cuesni, because she rigs about a +cuesni, which sore the rardies when she jals keri, is sure to be +perdo of chored covars. + +Cav acoi, pralor, se the nav of a lil, the sherrokairipen of a puro +kladjis of Roumany tem. The Borobeshemescrotan, or the lav- +chingaripen between ye jinneynengro ta yi sweti; or the merripenskie +rokrapen chiv'd by the zi oprey the trupo. + +When the shello was about his men they rigg'd leste his artapen, and +muk'd leste jal; but from dovo divvus he would rig a men-pangushi +kekkomi, for he penn'd it rigg'd to his zee the shello about his men. + +Jack Vardomescro could del oprey dosta to jin sore was oprey the mea- +bars and the drom-sikkering engris. + +The Romano drom to pek a chiriclo is to kair it oprey with its porior +drey chik, and then to chiv it adrey the yag for a beti burroder than +a posh ora. When the chik and the hatch'd porior are lell'd from the +chiriclesky trupos, the per's chinn'd aley, and the wendror's wusted +abri, 'tis a hobben dosta koshto for a crallissa to hal without lon. + +When Gorgio mushe's merripen and Romany Chal's merripen wels +kettaney, kek kosto merripen see. + +Yeckorus he pukker'd mande that when he was a bis beschengro he mored +a gorgio, and chived the mulo mas tuley the poov; he was lell'd oprey +for the moripen, but as kekkeno could latch the shillo mas, the +pokiniuses muk'd him jal; he penn'd that the butsi did not besh pordo +pre his zi for bute chiros, but then sore on a sudden he became +tugnis and atraish of the mulo gorgio's bavol-engro, and that often +of a rarde, as he was jalling posh motto from the kitchema by his +cocoro, he would dick over his tatcho pikko and his bango pikko, to +jin if the mulo mush's bavol-engro was kek welling palal to lel +bonnek of leste. + +Does tute jin the Romano drom of lelling the wast? + +Avali, prala. + +Sikker mande lis. + +They kairs it ajaw, prala. + +A chorredo has burreder peeas than a Romany Chal. + +Tute has shoon'd the lav pazorrus. Dovodoy is so is kored +gorgikonaes "Trusted." Drey the puro cheeros the Romano savo lelled +lovvu, or wafor covars from lescro prala in parriken, ta kek pess'd +leste apopli, could be kair'd to buty for leste as gry, mailla or +cost-chinnimengro for a besh ta divvus. To divvus kek si covar ajaw. +If a Romano lelled lovvu or wafu covars from meero vast in parriken, +ta kek pessed mande apopli, sar estist for mande te kair leste buty +as gry, mailla, or cost-chinnimengro for mande for yek divvus, kek to +pen for sore a besh? + +Do you nav cavacoi a weilgorus? Ratfelo rinkeno weilgorus cav acoi: +you might chiv lis sore drey teero putsi. + +Kek jinnipenskey covar se to pen tute's been bango. If tute pens +tute's been bango, foky will pen: Estist tute's a koosho koshko +mushipen, but tatchipe a ratfelo dinnelo. + +Car's tute jibbing? + +Mande's kek jibbing; mande's is atching, at the feredest; mande's a +pirremengri, prala! + +Cauna Romany foky rokkerelan yeck sar wafu penelan pal ta pen; cauna +dado or deya rokkerelan ke lendes chauves penelan meero chauvo or +meeri chi; or my child, gorgikonaes, to ye dui; cauna chauves +rokkerelan te dad or deya penelan meero dad or meeri deya! + +Meero dado, soskey were creminor kair'd? Meero chauvo, that puvo- +baulor might jib by haIling lende. Meero dado, soskey were +puvobaulor kair'd? Meero chauvo, that tute and mande might jib by +lelling lende. Meero dado, soskey were tu ta mande kair'd? Meero +chauvo, that creminor might jib by halling mende. + +Sore giv-engres shan dinneles. When they shoons a gav-engro drey the +tem pen: Dov-odoy's a fino grye! they pens: Kekkeno grye se; grasni +si; whether the covar's a grasni or kekkeni. Kek jinellan the +dinneles that a grasni's a grye, though a grye is kek a grasni. + +Kekkeni like Romano Will's rawnie for kelling drey a chauro. + +Cauna Constance Petulengri merr'd she was shel ta desch beshor puri. + +Does tute jin Rawnie Wardomescri? + +Mande jins lati misto, prala. + +Does tute cam lati? + +Mande cams lati bute, prala; and mande has dosta, dosta cheeros +penn'd to the wafor Romany Chals, when they were rokkering wafudo of +lati: She's a rawnie; she lels care of sore of you; if it were kek +for lati, you would sore jal to the beng. + +So kerella for a jivipen? + +She dukkers, prala; she dukkers. + +Can she dukker misto? + +There's kekkeny Romany juva tuley the can for dukkering sar Rawnie +Wardomescri; nastis not to be dukker'd by lati; she's a tatchi +chovahan; she lels foky by the wast and dukkers lende, whether they +cams or kek. + +Kek koskipen si to jal roddring after Romany Chals. When tute cams +to dick lende nestist to latch yeck o' lende; but when tute's +penching o' wafor covars tute dicks o' lende dosta dosta. + +Mande will sollohaul neither bango nor tatcho against kekkeno; if +they cams to latch abri chomoni, muk lende latch it abri their +cokkore. + +If he had been bitcheno for a boro luripen mande would have penn'd +chi; but it kairs mande diviou to pentch that he was bitcheno, all +along of a bori lubbeny, for trin tringurishis ta posh. + +When he had kair'd the moripen, he kair'd sig and plastrar'd adrey +the wesh, where he gared himself drey the hev of a boro, puro rukh; +but it was kek koskipen asarlus; the plastra-mengres slomm'd his pire +sore along the wesh till they well'd to the rukh. + +Sau kisi foky has tute dukker'd to divvus? + +Yeck rawnie coccori, prala; dov ody she wels palal; mande jins lati +by the kaulo dori prey laki shubba. + +Sau bute luvvu did she del tute? + +Yeck gurush, prala; yeck gurush coccoro. The beng te lilly a truppy! + +Shoon the kosko rokkrapen so Micail jinney-mengro penn'd ke Rawnie +Trullifer: Rawnie Trollopr, you must jib by your jibben: and if a +base se tukey you must chiv lis tuley. + +Can you rokkra Romanes? +Avali, prala! +So si Weshenjuggalslomomengreskeytemskey tudlogueri? +Mande don't jin what you pens, prala. +Then tute is kek Romano lavomengro. + + + + +BOOK OF THE WISDOM OF THE EGYPTIANS + + +The young people often ask: What good is there in the Romany tongue? +I answers: Ye are all fools! There is plenty, plenty of good in it, +and plenty, plenty of our people would have been transported or hung, +but for the old, poor Roman language. A word in Romany said in time +to a little girl, and carried to the camp, has caused a great purse +of money and other things, which had been stolen, to be stowed +underground; so that when the constables came they could find +nothing, and had not only to let the Gypsy they had taken up go his +way, but also to beg his pardon. + +His term of transportation has now expired, and it were but right in +him to come home, if it were only to take care of his poor old wife: +she has been a true, true wife to him, and I don't believe that she +has taken up with another man ever since he was sent across. + +When one's pitched up one's little tent, made one's little fire +before the door, and hung one's kettle by the kettle-iron over it, +one doesn't like that an inspector or constable should come and say: +What are you doing here? Take yourself off, you Gypsy dog. + +On the first Friday of July, before the public-house called the Bald- +faced Stag, on the hill above the town of the great tree in the +Forest, you will see many Roman people, men and women, lads and +lasses. + +Do you know my old friend Mr. Stanniwix, the old gentleman that wears +a pigtail, and made fourteen thousand pounds by smuggling? + +He went on talking and talking foolishness till I said to him: If +you goes on in that 'ere way I'll hit you a hot 'un on the nose. + +You ask me what are patrins. Patrin is the name of the signs by +which the Gypsies who go before show the road they have taken to +those who follow behind. We flings handfuls of grass down at the +head of the road we takes, or we makes with the finger a cross-mark +on the ground, we sticks up branches of trees by the side the hedge. +But the true patrin is handfuls of leaves flung down; for patrin or +patten in old Roman language means the leaf of a tree. + +The true way to be a wise man is to hear, see, and bear in mind. + +The man who has not the whip-hand of his tongue and his temper is not +fit to go into company. + +The Bill to take up the no-man's lands (comons), and to make the poor +people die of hunger and cold, has been flung out of the House of +Commons. + +The name they gives her is "Luck in a basket," because she carries +about a basket, which every night, when she goes home, is sure to be +full of stolen property. + +This here, brothers, is the title of a book, the head-work of an old +king of Roumany land: the Tribunal, or the dispute between the wise +man and the world: or, the death-sentence passed by the soul upon +the body. + +When the rope was about his neck they brought him his pardon, and let +him go; but from that day he would wear a neck-kerchief no more, for +he said it brought to his mind the rope about his neck. + +Jack Cooper could read enough to know all that was upon the +milestones and the sign-posts. + +The Roman way to cook a fowl is to do it up with its feathers in +clay, and then to put it in fire for a little more than half an hour. +When the clay and the burnt feathers are taken from the fowl, the +belly cut open, and the inside flung out, 'tis a food good enough for +a queen to eat without salt. + +When the Gentile way of living and the Gypsy way of living come +together, it is anything but a good way of living. + +He told me once that when he was a chap of twenty he killed a +Gentile, and buried the dead meat under ground. He was taken up for +the murder, but as no one could find the cold meat, the justices let +him go. He said that the job did not sit heavy upon his mind for a +long time, but then all of a sudden he became sad, and afraid of the +dead Gentile's ghost; and that often of a night, as he was coming +half-drunk from the public-house by himself, he would look over his +right shoulder and over his left shoulder, to know if the dead man's +ghost was not coming behind to lay hold of him. + +Do you know the Gypsy way of taking the hand? +Aye, aye, brother. +Show it to me. +They does it so, brother. + +A tramp has more fun than a Gypsy. + +You have heard the word pazorrus. That is what is called by the +Gentiles "trusted," or in debt. In the old time the Roman who got +from his brother money or other things on trust, and did not pay him +again, could be made to work for him as horse, ass, or wood cutter +for a year and a day. At present the matter is not so. If a Roman +got money, or other things, from my hand on credit, and did not repay +me, how could I make him labour for me as horse, ass, or stick-cutter +for one day, not to say for a year? + +Do you call this a fair? A very pretty fair is this: you might put +it all into your pocket. + +It is not a wise thing to say you have been wrong. If you allow you +have been wrong, people will say: You may be a very honest fellow, +but are certainly a very great fool. + +Where are you living? + +Mine is not living; mine is staying, to say the best of it; I am a +traveller, brother! + +When Roman people speak to one another, they say brother and sister. +When parents speak to their children, they say, my son, or my +daughter, or my child, gorgiko-like, to either. When children speak +to their parents, they say, my father, or my mother. + +My father, why were worms made? My son, that moles might live by +eating them. My father, why were moles made? My son, that you and I +might live by catching them. My father, why were you and I made? My +son, that worms might live by eating us. + +All farmers are fools. When they hear a citizen in the country say: +That's a fine horse! they say: 'Tis no horse, 'tis a mare; whether +the thing's a horse or not. The simpletons don't know that a mare's +a horse, though a horse is not a mare. + +No one like Gypsy Will's wife for dancing in a platter. + +When Constance Smith died, she was a hundred ten years old. + +Do you know Mrs. Cooper? + +I knows her very well, brother. + +Do you like her? + +I loves her very much, brother; and I have often, often said to the +other Gypsies, when they speaking ill of her: She's a gentlewoman; +takes care of all of you; if it were not for her, you would all go to +the devil. + +What does she do for a living? + +She tells fortunes, brother; she tells fortunes. + +Is she a good hand at fortune-telling? + +There's no Roman woman under the sun so good at fortune-telling as +Mrs. Cooper; it is impossible not to have your fortune told by her; +she's a true witch; she takes people by the hand, and tells their +fortunes, whether they will or no. + +'Tis no use to go seeking after Gypsies. When you wants to see them +'tis impossible to find one of them; but when you are thinking of +other matters you see plenty, plenty of them. + +I will swear neither falsely nor truly against any one; if they +wishes to find out something, let them find it out themselves. + +If he had been transported for a great robbery, I would have said +nothing; but it makes me mad to think that he has been sent away, all +along of a vile harlot, for the value of three-and-sixpence. + +When he had committed the murder he made haste, and ran into the +wood, where he hid himself in the hollow of a great old tree; but it +was no use at all; the runners followed his track all along the +forest till they came to the tree. + +How many fortunes have you told to-day? + +Only one lady's, brother; yonder she's coming back; I knows her by +the black lace on her gown. + +How much money did she give you? + +Only one groat, brother; only one groat. May the devil run away with +her bodily! + +Hear the words of wisdom which Mike the Grecian said to Mrs. +Trullifer: Mrs. Trollopr, you must live by your living; and if you +have a pound you must spend it. + +Can you speak Romany? +Aye, aye, brother! +What is Weshenjuggalslomomengreskeytemskeytudlogueri? +I don't know what you say, brother. +Then you are no master of Romany. + + + +ROMANE NAVIOR OF TEMES AND GAVIOR +GYPSY NAMES OF CONTRIES AND TOWNS + + + +Baulo-mengreskey tem Swineherds' country, Hampshire +Bitcheno padlengreskey tem Transported fellows' country, Botany +Bay +Bokra-mengreskey tem Shepherds' country, Sussex +Bori-congriken gav Great church town, York +Boro-rukeneskey gav Great tree town, Fairlop +Boro gueroneskey tem Big fellows' country, Northumberland +Chohawniskey tem Witches' country, Lancashire +Choko-mengreskey gav Shoemakers' town, Northampton +Churi-mengreskey gav Cutlers' town, Sheffield +Coro-mengreskey tem Potters' country, Staffordshire +Cosht-killimengreskey tem Cudgel players' country, Cornwall +Curo-mengreskey gav Boxers' town, Nottingham +Dinelo tem Fools' country, Suffolk +Giv-engreskey tem Farmers' country, Buckinghamshire +Gry-engreskey gav Horsedealers' town, Horncastle +Guyo-mengreskey tem Pudding-eaters' country, Yorkshire +Hindity-mengreskey tem Dirty fellows' country, Ireland +Jinney-mengreskey gav Sharpers' town, Manchester +Juggal-engreskey gav Dog-fanciers' town, Dudley +Juvlo-mengreskey tem Lousy fellows' country, Scotland +Kaulo gav The black town, Birmingham +Levin-engriskey tem Hop country, Kent +Lil-engreskey gav Book fellows' town, Oxford +Match-eneskey gav Fishy town, Yarmouth +Mi-develeskey gav My God's town, Canterbury +Mi-krauliskey gav Royal town, London +Nashi-mescro gav Racers' town, Newmarket +Pappin-eskey tem Duck country, Lincolnshire +Paub-pawnugo tem Apple-water country, Herefordshire +Porrum-engreskey tem Leek-eaters' country, Wales +Pov-engreskey tem Potato country, Norfolk +Rashayeskey gav Clergyman's town, Ely +Rokrengreskey gav Talking fellows' town, Norwich +Shammin-engreskey gav Chairmakers' town, Windsor +Tudlo tem Milk country, Cheshire +Weshen-eskey gav Forest town, Epping +Weshen-juggal-slommo-mengreskey tem Fox-hunting fellows' country, +Leicestershire +Wongareskey gav Coal town, Newcastle +Wusto-mengresky tem Wrestlers' country, Devonshire + + +THOMAS ROSSAR-MESCRO + + + +Prey Juniken bis diuto divvus, drey the besh yeck mille ochto shel +shovardesh ta trin, mande jaw'd to dick Thomas Rossar-mescro, a puro +Romano, of whom mande had shoon'd bute. He was jibbing drey a tan +naveno Rye Groby's Court, kek dur from the Coromengreskoe Tan ta +Bokkar-engreskey Wesh. When mande dick'd leste he was beshing prey +the poov by his wuddur, chiving misto the poggado tuleskey part of a +skammin. His ker was posh ker, posh wardo, and stood drey a corner +of the tan; kek dur from lesti were dui or trin wafor ker-wardoes. +There was a wafudo canipen of baulor, though mande dick'd kekkeney. +I penn'd "Sarshin?" in Romany jib, and we had some rokrapen kettaney. +He was a boro mush, as mande could dick, though he was beshing. But +though boro he was kek tulo, ta lescre wastes were tarney sar yek +rawnie's. Lollo leste mui sar yeck weneskoe paub, ta lescro bal +rather lollo than parno. Prey his shero was a beti stadj, and he was +kek wafudo riddo. On my putching leste kisi boro he was, ta kisi +puro, he penn'd that he was sho pire sore but an inch boro, ta +enyovardesh ta dui besh puro. He didn't jin to rokkra bute in +Romano, but jinn'd almost sore so mande rokkar'd te leste. Moro +rokkrapen was mostly in gorgiko jib. Yeck covar yecklo drey lescro +drom of rokkring mande pennsch'd kosko to rig in zi. In tan of +penning Romany, sar wafor Romany chals, penn'd o Roumany, a lav which +sig, sig rigg'd to my zi Roumain, the tatcho, puro nav of the +Vallackiskie jib and foky. He seem'd a biti aladge of being of +Romany rat. He penn'd that he was beano drey the Givengreskey Tem, +that he was kek tatcho Romano, but yeckly posh ta posh: lescro dado +was Romano, but lescri daya a gorgie of the Lilengreskoe Gav; he had +never camm'd bute to jib Romaneskoenaes, and when tarno had been a +givengreskoe raklo. When he was boro he jall'd adrey the +Lilengrotemskey militia, and was desh ta stor besh a militia +curomengro. He had jall'd bute about Engli-tem and the juvalo- +mengreskey, Tem, drey the cheeros of the puri chingaripen, and had +been adrey Monseer-tem, having volunteered to jal odoy to cour agen +the parley-woo gueros. He had dick'd Bordeaux and the boro gav +Paris. After the chingaripen, he had lell'd oprey skamminengring, +and had jall'd about the tem, but had been knau for buter than +trianda beshor jibbing in Lundra. He had been romado, but his romadi +had been mullee bute, bute cheeros; she had dinn'd leste yeck chavo, +so was knau a heftwardesh beshengro, dicking bute puroder than yo +cocoro, ta kanau lying naflo of a tatti naflipen drey yeck of the +wardes. He penn'd that at yeck cheeros he could kair dosta luvvu by +skammin-engring, but kanau from his bori puripen could scarcely kair +yeck tringurushee a divvus. "Ladjipen si," I penn'd, "that a mush so +puro as tute should have to booty." "Kosko zi! kosko zi!" he penn'd; +"Paracrow Dibble that mande is dosta ruslo to booty, and that mande +has koskey camomescres; I shan't be tugnis to jib to be a shel +beshengro, though tatchipen si if mande was a rye mande would kair +kek booty." His chaveskoe chavo, a trianda ta pansch beshengro, +well'd kanau ta rokkar'd mansar. He was a misto dicking ta rather +misto riddo mush, sar chimouni jinneymengreskey drey lescro mui. He +penn'd that his dadeskoe dad was a fino puro mush, savo had dick'd +bute, and that dosta, dosta foky well'd odoy to shoon lescre +rokkrapenes of the puro cheeros, of the Franciskie ta Amencanskie +chingaripenes, and of what yo had dick'd drey wafu tems. That +tatchipen to pen there was a cheeros when his drom was dur from +kosko, for that he camm'd to cour, sollohaul ta kair himself motto, +but that kanau he was a wafu mush, that he had muk'd sore curopen and +wafudo rokkrapen, and, to corauni sore, was yeck tee-totaller, yo +cocoro having kair'd leste sollohaul that he would pi kekomi neither +tatti panie nor levinor: that he jall'd sore the curques either to +congri or Tabernacle, and that tho' he kek jinn'd to del oprey he +camm'd to shoon the Miduveleskoe lil dell'd oprey to leste; that the +panishkie ryor held leste drey boro camopen, and that the congriskoe +rashi, and oprey sore Dr. P. of the Tabernacle had a boro opinionos +of leste, ta penn'd that he would hal the Miduveleskoe habben sar +moro Araunyo Jesus drey the kosko tem opral. Mande putch'd whether +the Romany Chals well'd often to dick leste? He penn'd that they +well'd knau and then to pen Koshto divvus and Sarshin? but dov' odoy +was sore; that neither his dadeskoe dad nor yo cocoro camm'd to dick +lende, because they were wafodu foky, perdo of wafodupen and bango +camopen, ta oprey sore bute envyous; that drey the wen they jall'd +sore cattaney to the ryor, and rokkar'd wafodu of the puno mush, and +pukker'd the ryor to let lester a coppur which the ryor had lent +leste, to kair tatto his choveno puro truppo drey the cheeros of the +trashlo shillipen; that tatchipen si their wafodupen kaired the puro +mush kek dosh, for the ryor pukker'd lende to jal their drom and be +aladge of their cocore, but that it was kek misto to pensch that yeck +was of the same rat as such foky. After some cheeros I dinn'd the +puro mush a tawno cuttor of rupe, shook leste by ye wast, penn'd that +it would be mistos amande to dick leste a shel-beshengro, and jaw'd +away keri. + + +THOMAS HERNE + + +On the twenty-second day of June, in the year one thousand eight +hundred and sixty-three, I went to see Thomas Herne, an old Gypsy, of +whom I had heard a great deal. He was living at a place called Mr. +Groby's Court, not far from the Potteries and the Shepherd's Bush. +When I saw him, he was sitting on the ground by his door, mending the +broken bottom of a chair. His house was half-house half-waggon, and +stood in a corner of the court; not far from it were two or three +other waggon-houses. There was a disagreeable smell of hogs, though +I saw none. I said, "How you do?" in the Gypsy tongue, and we had +discourse together. He was a tall man, as I could see, though he was +sitting. But, though tall, he was not stout, and his hands were +small as those of a lady. His face was as red as a winter apple, and +his hair was rather red than grey. He had a small hat on his head, +and he was not badly dressed. On my asking him how tall he was, and +how old, he said that he was six foot high, all but an inch, and that +he was ninety-two years old. He could not talk much Gypsy, but +understood almost all that I said to him. Our discourse was chiefly +in English. One thing only in his manner of speaking I thought +worthy of remembrance. Instead of saying Romany, like other Gypsies, +he said Roumany, a word which instantly brought to my mind Roumain, +the genuine, ancient name of the Wallachian tongue and people. He +seemed to be rather ashamed of being of Gypsy blood. He told me that +he was born in Buckinghamshire, that he was no true Gypsy, but only +half-and-half: his father was a Gypsy, but his mother was a Gentile +of Oxford; he had never had any particular liking for the Gypsy +manner of living, and when little had been a farmer's boy. When he +grew up he enlisted into the Oxford militia, and was fourteen years a +militia soldier. He had gone much about England and Scotland in the +time of the old war, and had been in France, having volunteered to go +thither to fight against the French. He had seen Bordeaux and the +great city of Paris. After war he had taken up chair-making, and had +travelled about the country, but had been now for more than thirty +years living in London. He had been married, but his wife had long +been dead. She had borne him a son, who was now a man seventy years +of age, looking much older than himself, and at present lying sick of +a burning fever in one of the caravans. He said that at one time he +could make a good deal of money by chair-making, but now from his +great age could scarcely earn a shilling a day. "What a shame," said +I, "that a man so old as you should have to work at all!" "Courage! +courage!" he cried; "I thank God that I am strong enough to work, and +that I have good friends; I shan't be sorry to live to be a hundred +years old, though true it is that if I were a gentleman I would do no +work." His grandson, a man of about five-and-thirty, came now and +conversed with me. He was a good-looking and rather well-dressed +man, with something of a knowing card in his countenance. He said +that his grandfather was a fine old man, who had seen a great deal, +and that a great many people came to hear his stories of the old +time, of the French and American wars, and of what he had seen in +other countries. That, truth to say, there was a time when his way +was far from commendable, for that he loved to fight, swear, and make +himself drunk; but that now he was another man, that he had abandoned +all fighting and evil speaking, and, to crown all, was a tee- +totaller, he himself having made him swear that he would no more +drink either gin or ale: that he went every Sunday either to church +or Tabernacle, and that, though he did not know how to read, he loved +to hear the holy book read to him; that the gentlemen of the parish +entertained a great regard for him, and that the church clergyman +and, above all, Dr. P. of the Tabernacle had a high opinion of him, +and said that he would partake of the holy banquet with our Lord +Jesus in the blessed country above. On my inquiring whether the +Gypsies came often to see him, he said that they came now and then to +say "Good day" and "How do you do?" but that was all; that neither +his grandfather nor himself cared to see them, because they were evil +people, full of wickedness and left-handed love, and, above all, very +envyous; that in the winter they all went in a body to the gentlemen +and spoke ill of the old man, and begged the gentlemen to take from +him a blanket which the gentlemen had lent him to warm his poor old +body with in the time of the terrible cold; that it is true their +wickedness did the old man no harm, for the gentlemen told them to go +away and be ashamed of themselves, but that it was not pleasant to +think that one was of the same blood as such people. After some time +I gave the old man a small piece of silver, shook him by the hand, +said that I should be glad to see him live to be a hundred, and went +away home. + + + +KOKKODUS ARTARUS + + + +Drey the puro cheeros there jibb'd a puri Romani juva, Sinfaya laki +nav. Tatchi Romani juva i; caum'd to rokkra Romany, nav'd every mush +kokkodus, ta every mushi deya. Yeck chavo was laki; lescro nav +Artaros; dinnelo or diviou was O; romadi was lesgue; but the rommadi +merr'd, mukking leste yeck chavo. Artaros caum'd to jal oprey the +drom, and sikker his nangipen to rawnies and kair muior. At last the +ryor chiv'd leste drey the diviou ker. The chavo jibb'd with his +puri deya till he was a desch ta pantsch besh engro. Yeck divvus a +Romani juva jalling along the drom dick'd the puri juva beshing tuley +a bor roving: What's the matter, Sinfaya, pukker'd i? + +My chavo's chavo is lell'd oprey, deya. +What's he lell'd oprey for? +For a meila and posh, deya. +Why don't you jal to dick leste? +I have nash'd my maila, deya. +O ma be tugni about your maila; jal and dick leste. + +I don't jin kah se, deya! diviou kokkodus Artaros jins, kek mande. +Ah diviou, diviou, jal amande callico. + + + +MANG, PRALA + + + +Romano chavo was manging sar bori gudli yeck rye te del les pasherro. +Lescri deya so was beshing kek dur from odoy penn'd in gorgikey +rokrapen: Meklis juggal, ta av acoi! ma kair the rye kinyo with your +gudli! and then penn'd sig in Romany jib: Mang, Prala, mang! Ta o +chavo kair'd ajaw till the rye chiv'd les yeck shohaury. + +[Something like the following little anecdote is related by the +Gypsies in every part of Continental Europe.] + + +BEG ON, BROTHER + + +A Gypsy brat was once pestering a gentleman to give him a halfpenny. +The mother, who was sitting nigh, cried in English: Leave off, you +dog, and come here! don't trouble the gentleman with your noise; and +then added in Romany: Beg on, brother! and so the brat did, till the +gentleman flung him a sixpence. + + + +ENGLISH GYPSY SONGS + + + +WELLING KATTANEY + + + +Coin si deya, coin se dado? +Pukker mande drey Romanes, +Ta mande pukkeravava tute. + +Rossar-mescri minri deya! +Vardo-mescro minro dado! +Coin se dado, coin si deya? +Mande's pukker'd tute drey Romanes; +Knau pukker tute mande. + +Petuiengro minro dado! +Purana minri deya! +Tatchey Romany si men - +Mande's pukker'd tute drey Romanes, +Ta tute's pukker'd mande. + + +THE GYPSY MEETING + + +Who's your mother, who's your father? +Do thou answer me in Romany, +And I will answer thee. + +A Hearne I have for mother! +A Cooper for my father! +Who's your father, who's your mother? +I have answer'd thee in Romany, +Now do thou answer me. + +A Smith I have for father! +A Lee I have for mother! +True Romans both are we - +For I've answer'd thee in Romany, +And thou hast answer'd me. + + +LELLING CAPPI + + +"Av, my little Romany chel! +Av along with mansar! +Av, my little Romany chel! +Koshto si for mangue." + +"I shall lel a curapen, +If I jal aley; +I shall lel a curapen +From my dear bebee." + +"I will jal on my chongor, +Then I'll pootch your bebee. +'O my dear bebee, dey me your chi, +For koshto si for mangue.' + +"'Since you pootch me for my chi, +I will dey you lati.'" +Av, my little Romany chel! +We will jal to the wafu tem: + +"I will chore a beti gry, +And so we shall lel cappi." +"Kekko, meero mushipen, +For so you would be stardo; + +"But I will jal a dukkering, +And so we shall lel cappi." +"Koshto, my little Romany chel! +Koshto si for mangue." + + +MAKING A FORTUNE + + +"Come along, my little gypsy girl, +Come along, my little dear; +Come along, my little gypsy girl - +We'll wander far and near." + +"I should get a leathering +Should I with thee go; +I should get a leathering +From my dear aunt, I trow." + +"I'll go down on my two knees, +And I will beg your aunt. +'O auntie dear, give me your child; +She's just the girl I want!' + +"'Since you ask me for my child, +I will not say thee no!' +Come along, my little gypsy girl! +To another land we'll go: + +"I will steal a little horse, +And our fortunes make thereby." +"Not so, my little gypsy boy, +For then you'd swing on high; + +"But I'll a fortune-telling go, +And our fortunes make thereby." +"Well said, my little gypsy girl, +You counsel famously." + + +LELLING CAPPI--No.2 + + +"Av, my little Rumni chel, +Av along with mansar; +We will jal a gry-choring +Pawdle across the chumba. + +"I'll jaw tuley on my chongor +To your deya and your bebee; +And I'll pootch lende that they del +Tute to me for romadi." + +"I'll jaw with thee, my Rumni chal, +If my dye and bebee muk me; +But choring gristurs traishes me, +For it brings one to the rukie. + +"'Twere ferreder that you should ker, +Petuls and I should dukker, +For then adrey our tanney tan, +We kek atraish may sova." + +"Kusko, my little Rumni chel, +Your rokrapen is kusko; +We'll dukker and we'll petuls ker +Pawdle across the chumba. + +"O kusko si to chore a gry +Adrey the kaulo rarde; +But 'tis not kosko to be nash'd +Oprey the nashing rukie." + + +MAKING A FORTUNE--No.2 + + +"Come along, my little gypsy girl, +Come along with me, I pray! +A-stealing horses we will go, +O'er the hills so far away. + +"Before your mother and your aunt +I'll down upon my knee, +And beg they'll give me their little girl +To be my Romadie." + +"I'll go with you, my gypsy boy, +If my mother and aunt agree; +But a perilous thing is horse-stealinge, +For it brings one to the tree. + +"'Twere better you should tinkering ply, +And I should fortunes tell; +For then within our little tent +In safety we might dwell." + +"Well said, my little gypsy girl, +I like well what you say; +We'll tinkering ply, and fortunes tell +O'er the hills so far away. + +"'Tis a pleasant thing in a dusky night +A horse-stealing to go; +But to swing in the wind on the gallows-tree, +Is no pleasant thing, I trow." + + +THE DUI CHALOR + + +Dui Romany Chals were bitcheney, +Bitcheney pawdle the bori pawnee. +Plato for kawring, +Lasho for choring +The putsi of a bori rawnee. + +And when they well'd to the wafu tem, +The tem that's pawdle the bori pawnee, +Plato was nasho +Sig, but Lasho +Was lell'd for rom by a bori rawnee. + +You cam to jin who that rawnie was, +'Twas the rawnie from whom he chor'd the putsee: +The Chal had a black +Chohauniskie yack, +And she slomm'd him pawdle the bori pawnee. + + +THE TWO GYPSIES + + +Two Gypsy lads were transported, +Were sent across the great water. +Plato was sent for rioting, +And Louis for stealing the purse +Of a great lady. + +And when they came to the other country, +The country that lies across the great water, +Plato was speedily hung, +But Louis was taken as a husband +By a great lady. + +You wish to know who was the lady, +'Twas the lady from whom he stole the purse: +The Gypsy had a black and witching eye, +And on account of that she followed him +Across the great water. + + +MIRO ROMANY CHl + + +As I was a jawing to the gav yeck divvus +I met on the drom miro Romany chi; +I pootch'd las whether she come sar mande, +And she penn'd tu sar wafo rommadis; +O mande there is kek wafo romady, +So penn'd I to miro Romany chi, +And I'll kair tute miro tatcho romadi +If you but pen tu come sar mande. + + +MY ROMAN LASS + + +As I to the town was going one day +My Roman lass I met by the way; +Said I: Young maid, will you share my lot? +Said she: Another wife you've got. +Ah no! to my Roman lass I cried: +No wife have I in the world so wide, +And you my wedded wife shall be +If you will consent to come with me. + + +AVA, CHI + + +Hokka tute mande +Mande pukkra bebee +Mande shauvo tute - +Ava, Chi! + + +YES, MY GIRL + + +If to me you prove untrue, +Quickly I'll your auntie tell +I've been over-thick with you - +Yes, my girl, I will. + + +THE TEMESKOE RYE + + +Penn'd the temeskoe rye to the Romany chi, +As the choon was dicking prey lende dui: +Rinkeny tawni, Romany rawni, +Mook man choom teero gudlo mui. + + +THE YOUTHFUL EARL + + +Said the youthful earl to the Gypsy girl, +As the moon was casting its silver shine: +Brown little lady, Egyptian lady, +Let me kiss those sweet lips of thine. + + +CAMO-GILLIE + + +Pawnie birks +My men-engni shall be; +Yackors my dudes +Like ruppeney shine: +Atch meery chi! +Ma jal away: +Perhaps I may not dick tute +Kek komi. + + +LOVE-SONG + + +I'd choose as pillows for my head +Those snow-white breasts of thine; +I'd use as lamps to light my bed +Those eyes of silver shine: +O lovely maid, disdain me not, +Nor leave me in my pain: +Perhaps 'twill never be my lot +To see thy face again. + + +TUGNIS AMANDE + + +I'm jalling across the pani - +A choring mas and morro, +Along with a bori lubbeny, +And she has been the ruin of me. + +I sov'd yeck rarde drey a gran, +A choring mas and morro, +Along with a bori lubbeny, +And she has been the ruin of me. + +She pootch'd me on the collico, +A choring mas and morro, +To jaw with lasa to the show, +For she would be the ruin of me. + +And when I jaw'd odoy with lasa, +A choring mas and morro, +Sig she chor'd a rawnie's kissi, +And so she was the ruin of me. + +They lell'd up lata, they lell'd up mande, +A choring mas and morro, +And bitch'd us dui pawdle pani, +So she has been the ruin of me. + +I'm jalling across the pani, +A choring mas and morro, +Along with a bori lubbeny, +And she has been the ruin of me. + + +WOE IS ME + + +I'm sailing across the water, +A-stealing bread and meat so free, +Along with a precious harlot, +And she has been the ruin of me. + +I slept one night within a barn, +A-stealing bread and meat so free, +Along with a precious harlot, +And she has been the ruin of me. + +Next morning she would have me go, +A-stealing bread and meat so free, +To see with her the wild-beast show, +For she would be the ruin of me. + +I went with her to see the show, +A-stealing bread and meat so free, +To steal a purse she was not slow, +And so she was the ruin of me. + +They took us up, and with her I, +A-stealing bread and meat so free: +Am sailing now to Botany, +So she has been the ruin of me. + +I'm sailing across the water, +A-stealing bread and meat so free, +Along with a precious harlot, +And she has been the ruin of me. + + +THE RYE AND RAWNIE + + +The rye he mores adrey the wesh +The kaun-engro and chiriclo; +You sovs with leste drey the wesh, +And rigs for leste the gono. + +Oprey the rukh adrey the wesh +Are chiriclo and chiricli; +Tuley the rukh adrey the wesh +Are pireno and pireni. + + +THE SQUIRE AND LADY + + +The squire he roams the good greenwood, +And shoots the pheasant and the hare; +Thou sleep'st with him in good green wood, +And dost for him the game-sack bear. + +I see, I see upon the tree +The little male and female dove; +Below the tree I see, I see +The lover and his lady love. + + +ROMANY SUTTUR GILLIE + + +Jaw to sutturs, my tiny chal; +Your die to dukker has jall'd abri; +At rarde she will wel palal +And tute of her tud shall pie. + +Jaw to lutherum, tiny baw! +I'm teerie deya's purie mam; +As tute cams her tud canaw +Thy deya meerie tud did cam. + + +GYPSY LULLABY + + +Sleep thee, little tawny boy! +Thy mother's gone abroad to spae, +Her kindly milk thou shalt enjoy +When home she comes at close of day. + +Sleep thee, little tawny guest! +Thy mother is my daughter fine; +As thou dost love her kindly breast, +She once did love this breast of mine. + + +SHARRAFI KRALYISSA + + +Finor coachey innar Lundra, +Bonor coachey innar Lundra, +Finor coachey, bonor coachey +Mande dick'd innar Lundra. + +Bonor, finor coachey +Mande dick'd innar Lundra +The divvus the Kralyissa jall'd +To congri innar Lundra. + + +OUR BLESSED QUEEN + + +Coaches fine in London, +Coaches good in London, +Coaches fine and coaches good +I did see in London. + +Coaches good and coaches fine +I did see in London, +The blessed day our blessed Queen +Rode to church in London. + + +PLASTRA LESTI! + + +Gare yourselves, pralor! +Ma pee kek-komi! +The guero's welling - +Plastra lesti! + + +RUN FOR IT! + + +Up, up, brothers! +Cease your revels! +The Gentile's coming - +Run like devils! + + + +FOREIGN GYPSY SONGS + + + +Oy die-la, oy mama-la oy! +Cherie podey mangue penouri. +Russian Gypsy Song. + + +THE ROMANY SONGSTRESS +FROM THE RUSSIAN GYPSY + + +Her temples they are aching, +As if wine she had been taking; +Her tears are ever springing, +Abandoned is her singing! +She can neither eat nor nest +With love she's so distress'd; +At length she's heard to say: +"Oh here I cannot stay, +Go saddle me my steed, +To my lord I must proceed; +In his palace plenteously +Both eat and drink shall I; +The servants far and wide, +Bidding guests shall run and ride. +And when within the hall the multitude I see, +I'll raise my voice anew, and sing in Romany." + + + +L'ERAJAI + + + +Un erajai +Sinaba chibando un sermon; +Y lle falta un balicho +Al chindomar de aquel gao, +Y lo chanelaba que los Cales +Lo abian nicabao; +Y penela l'erajai, "Chaboro! +Guillate a tu quer +Y nicabela la peri +Que terela el balicho, +Y chibela andro +Una lima de tun chabori, +Chabori, +Una lima de tun chabori." + + +THE FRIAR +FROM THE SPANISH GYPSY + + +A Friar +Was preaching once with zeal and with fire; +And a butcher of the town +Had lost a flitch of bacon; +And well the friar knew +That the Gypsies it had taken; +So suddenly he shouted: "Gypsy, ho! +Hie home, and from the pot! +Take the flitch of bacon out, +The flitch good and fat, +And in its place throw +A clout, a dingy clout of thy brat, +Of thy brat, +A clout, a dingy clout of thy brat." + + +MALBRUN + + +Chalo Malbrun chingarar, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Chalo Malbrun chingarar; +No se bus trutera! +No se bus trutera! + +La romi que le camela, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +La romi que le camela +Muy curepenada esta, +Muy curepenada esta. + +S'ardela a la felicha, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +S'ardela a la felicha +Y baribu dur dica, +Y baribu dur dica. + +Dica abillar su burno, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Dica abillar su burno, +En ropa callarda, +En ropa callarda. + +"Burno, lacho quirbo; +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Burno, lacho quiribo, +Que nuevas has dinar? +Que nuevas has dinar?" + +"Las nuevas que io terelo, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Las nuevas que io terelo +Te haran orobar, +Te haran orobar. + +"Mero Malbrun mi eray, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Mero Malbrun mi eray +Mero en la chinga, +Mero en la chinga. + +"Sinaba a su entierro, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Sinaba a su entierro +La plastani sara, +La plastani sara. + +"Seis guapos jundunares, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Seis guapos jundunares +Le llevaron cabanar, +Le llevaron cabanar. + +"Delante de la jestari, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Delante de la jestari +Chalo el sacrista, +Chalo el sacrista. + +"El sacrista delante, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +El sacrista delante, +Y el errajai pala, +Y el errajai pala. + +"Al majaro ortalame, +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Al majaro ortalame +Le llevaron cabanar, +Le llevaron cabanar. + +"Y ote le cabanaron +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Y ote le cabanaron +No dur de la burda, +No dur de la burda. + +"Y opre de la jestari +Birandon, birandon, birandera! +Guillabela un chilindrote; +Soba en paz, soba! +Soba en paz, soba! + + + +MALBROUK +FROM THE SPANISH GYPSY VERSION + + + +Malbrouk is gone to the wars, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +Malbrouk is gone to the wars; +He'll never return no more! +He'll never return no more! + +His lady-love and darling, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera +His lady-love and darling +His absence doth deplore, +His absence doth deplore. + +To the turret's top she mounted, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +To the turret's top she mounted +And look'd till her eyes were sore, +And look'd till her eyes were sore. + +She saw his squire a-coming, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +She saw his squire a-coming; +And a mourning suit he wore, +And a mourning suit he wore. + +"O squire, my trusty fellow; +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +O squire, my trusty fellow, +What news of my soldier poor? +What news of my soldier poor?" + +"The news which I bring thee, lady, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +The news which I bring thee, lady, +Will cause thy tears to shower, +Will cause thy tears to shower. + +"Malbrouk my master's fallen, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +Malbrouk my master's fallen, +He fell on the fields of gore, +He fell on the fields of gore. + +"His funeral attended, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +His funeral attended +The whole reg'mental corps, +The whole reg'mental corps. + +"Six neat and proper soldiers, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +Six neat and proper soldiers +To the grave my master bore, +To the grave my master bore. + +"The parson follow'd the coffin, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +The parson follow'd the coffin, +And the sexton walk'd before, +And the sexton walk'd before. + +"They buried him in the churchyard, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +They buried him in the churchyard, +Not far from the church's door, +Not far from the church's door. + +"And there above his coffin, +Birrandon, birrandon, birrandera! +There sings a little swallow: +Sleep there, thy toils are o'er, +Sleep there, thy toils are o'er." + + + + +THE ENGLISH GYPSIES + + + + +TUGNEY BESHOR + + + +The Romany Chals +Should jin so bute +As the Puro Beng +To scape of gueros +And wafo gorgies +The wafodupen. + +They lels our gryor, +They lels our wardoes, +And wusts us then +Drey starripenes +To mer of pishens +And buklipen. + +Cauna volelan +Muley pappins +Pawdle the len +Men artavavam +Of gorgio foky +The wafodupen. +Ley teero sollohanloinus opreylis! + + + +SORROWFUL YEARS + + + +The wit and the skill +Of the Father of ill, +Who's clever indeed, +If they would hope +With their foes to cope +The Romany need. + +Our horses they take, +Our waggons they break, +And us they fling +Into horrid cells, +Where hunger dwells +And vermin sting. + +When the dead swallow +The fly shall follow +Across the river, +O we'll forget +The wrongs we've met, +But till then O never: +Brother, of that be certain. + + +The English Gypsies call themselves Romany Chals and Romany Chies, +that is, Sons and Daughters of Rome. When speaking to each other, +they say "Pal" and "Pen"; that is, brother and sister. All people +not of their own blood they call "Gorgios," or Gentiles. Gypsies +first made their appearance in England about the year 1480. They +probably came from France, where tribes of the race had long been +wandering about under the names of Bohemians and Egyptians. In +England they pursued the same kind of merripen {3} which they and +their ancestors had pursued on the Continent. They roamed about in +bands, consisting of thirty, sixty, or ninety families, with light, +creaking carts, drawn by horses and donkeys, encamping at night in +the spots they deemed convenient. The women told fortunes at the +castle of the baron and the cottage of the yeoman; filched gold and +silver coins from the counters of money-changers; caused the death of +hogs in farmyards, by means of a stuff called drab or drao, which +affects the brain, but does not corrupt the blood; and subsequently +begged, and generally obtained, the carcases. The men plied +tinkering and brasiery, now and then stole horses, and occasionally +ventured upon highway robbery. The writer has here placed the Chies +before the Chals, because, as he has frequently had occasion to +observe, the Gypsy women are by far more remarkable beings than the +men. It is the Chi and not the Chal who has caused the name of Gypsy +to be a sound awaking wonder, awe, and curiosity in every part of the +civilised world. Not that there have never been remarkable men of +the Gypsy race both abroad and at home. Duke Michael, as he was +called, the leader of the great Gypsy horde which suddenly made its +appearance in Germany at the beginning of the fifteenth century, was +no doubt a remarkable man; the Gitano Condre, whom Martin del Rio met +at Toledo a hundred years afterwards, who seemed to speak all +languages, and to be perfectly acquainted with the politics of all +the Courts of Europe, must certainly have been a remarkable man; so, +no doubt, here at home was Boswell; so undoubtedly was Cooper, called +by the gentlemen of the Fives Court--poor fellows! they are all gone +now--the "wonderful little Gypsy";--but upon the whole the poetry, +the sorcery, the devilry, if you please to call it so, are vastly on +the side of the women. How blank and inanimate is the countenance of +the Gypsy man, even when trying to pass off a foundered donkey as a +flying dromedary, in comparison with that of the female Romany, +peering over the wall of a par-yard at a jolly hog! + + +Sar shin Sinfye? +Koshto divvus, Romany Chi! +So shan tute kairing acoi? + +Sinfye, Sinfye! how do you do? +Daughter of Rome, good day to you! +What are you thinking here to do? + + +After a time the evil practices of the Gypsies began to be noised +about, and terrible laws were enacted against people "using the +manner of Egyptians"--Chies were scourged by dozens, Chals hung by +scores. Throughout the reign of Elizabeth there was a terrible +persecution of the Gypsy race; far less, however, on account of the +crimes which they actually committed, than from a suspicion which was +entertained that they harboured amidst their companies priests and +emissaries of Rome, who had come to England for the purpose of sowing +sedition and inducing the people to embrace again the old discarded +superstition. This suspicion, however, was entirely without +foundation. The Gypsies call each other brother and sister, and are +not in the habit of admitting to their fellowship people of a +different blood and with whom they have no sympathy. There was, +however, a description of wandering people at that time, even as +there is at present, with whom the priests, who are described as +going about, sometimes disguised as serving-men, sometimes as broken +soldiers, sometimes as shipwrecked mariners, would experience no +difficulty in associating, and with whom, in all probability, they +occasionally did associate--the people called in Acts of Parliament +sturdy beggars and vagrants, in the old cant language Abraham men, +and in the modern Pikers. These people have frequently been +confounded with the Gypsies, but are in reality a distinct race, +though they resemble the latter in some points. They roam about like +the Gypsies, and, like them, have a kind of secret language. But the +Gypsies are a people of Oriental origin, whilst the Abrahamites are +the scurf of the English body corporate. The language of the Gypsies +is a real language, more like the Sanscrit than any other language in +the world; whereas the speech of the Abrahamites is a horrid jargon, +composed for the most part of low English words used in an +allegorical sense--a jargon in which a stick is called a crack; a +hostess, a rum necklace; a bar-maid, a dolly-mort; brandy, rum booze; +a constable, a horny. But enough of these Pikers, these Abrahamites. +Sufficient to observe that if the disguised priests associated with +wandering companies it must have been with these people, who admit +anybody to their society, and not with the highly exclusive race the +Gypsies. + +For nearly a century and a half after the death of Elizabeth the +Gypsies seem to have been left tolerably to themselves, for the laws +are almost silent respecting them. Chies, no doubt, were +occasionally scourged for cauring, that is filching gold and silver +coins, and Chals hung for grychoring, that is horse-stealing; but +those are little incidents not much regarded in Gypsy merripen. They +probably lived a life during the above period tolerably satisfactory +to themselves--they are not an ambitious people, and there is no word +for glory in their language--but next to nothing is known respecting +them. A people called Gypsies are mentioned, and to a certain extent +treated of, in two remarkable works--one a production of the +seventeenth, the other of the eighteenth century--the first entitled +the 'English Rogue, or the Adventures of Merriton Latroon,' the other +the 'Life of Bamfield Moore Carew'; but those works, though clever +and entertaining, and written in the raciest English, are to those +who seek for information respecting Gypsies entirely valueless, the +writers having evidently mistaken for Gypsies the Pikers or +Abrahamites, as the vocabularies appended to the histories, and which +are professedly vocabularies of the Gypsy language, are nothing of +the kind, but collections of words and phrases belonging to the +Abrahamite or Piker jargon. At the commencement of the last century, +and for a considerable time afterwards, there was a loud cry raised +against the Gypsy women for stealing children. This cry, however, +was quite as devoid of reason as the suspicion entertained of old +against the Gypsy communities of harbouring disguised priests. Gypsy +women, as the writer had occasion to remark many a long year ago, +have plenty of children of their own, and have no wish to encumber +themselves with those of other people. A yet more extraordinary +charge was, likewise, brought against them--that of running away with +wenches. Now, the idea of Gypsy women running away with wenches! +Where were they to stow them in the event of running away with them? +and what were they to do with them in the event of being able to stow +them? Nevertheless, two Gypsy women were burnt in the hand in the +most cruel and frightful manner, somewhat about the middle of the +last century, and two Gypsy men, their relations, sentenced to be +hanged, for running away with a certain horrible wench of the name of +Elizabeth Canning, who, to get rid of a disgraceful burden, had left +her service and gone into concealment for a month, and on her return, +in order to account for her absence, said that she had been run away +with by Gypsies. The men, however, did not undergo their sentence; +for, ere the day appointed for their execution arrived, suspicions +beginning to be entertained with respect to the truth of the wench's +story, they were reprieved, and, after a little time, the atrocious +creature, who had charged people with doing what they neither did nor +dreamt of doing, was tried for perjury, convicted, and sentenced to +transportation. Yet so great is English infatuation that this +Canning, this Elizabeth, had a host of friends, who stood by her, and +swore by her to the last, and almost freighted the ship which carried +her away with goods, the sale of which enabled her to purchase her +freedom of the planter to whom she was consigned, to establish +herself in business, and to live in comfort, and almost in luxury, in +the New World during the remainder of her life. + +But though Gypsies have occasionally experienced injustice; though +Patricos and Sherengroes were hanged by dozens in Elizabeth's time on +suspicion of harbouring disguised priests; though Gypsy women in the +time of the Second George, accused of running away with wenches, were +scorched and branded, there can be no doubt that they live in almost +continual violation of the laws intended for the protection of +society; and it may be added, that in this illegal way of life the +women have invariably played a more important part than the men. Of +them, amongst other things, it may be said that they are the most +accomplished swindlers in the world, their principal victims being +people of their own sex, on whose credulity and superstition they +practise. Mary Caumlo, or Lovel, was convicted a few years ago at +Cardiff of having swindled a surgeon's wife of eighty pounds, under +pretence of propitiating certain planets by showing them the money. +Not a penny of the booty was ever recovered by the deluded victim; +and the Caumli, on leaving the dock, after receiving sentence of a +year's imprisonment, turned round and winked to some brother or +sister in court, as much as to say: "Mande has gared the luvvu; +mande is kek atugni for the besh's starripen"--"I have hid the money, +and care nothing for the year's imprisonment." Young Rawnie P. of +N., the daughter of old Rawnie P., suddenly disappeared with the +whole capital of an aged and bedridden gentlewoman, amounting to +nearly three hundred pounds, whom she had assured that if she were +intrusted with it for a short time she should be able to gather +certain herbs, from which she could make decoctions, which would +restore to the afflicted gentlewoman all her youthful vigour. Mrs. +Townsley of the Border was some time ago in trouble at Wick, only +twenty-five miles distant from Johnny Groat's House, on a charge of +fraudulently obtaining from a fisherman's wife one shilling, two +half-crowns, and a five-pound note by promising to untie certain +witch-locks, which she had induced her to believe were entwined in +the meshes of the fisherman's net, and would, if suffered to remain, +prevent him from catching a single herring in the Firth. These +events occurred within the last few years, and are sufficiently +notorious. They form a triad out of dozens of a similar kind, in +some of which there are features so odd, so strangely droll, that +indignation against the offence is dispelled by an irresistible +desire to laugh. + +But Gypsyism is declining, and its days are numbered. There is a +force abroad which is doomed to destroy it, a force which never +sleepeth either by day or night, and which will not allow the Roman +people rest for the soles of their feet. That force is the Rural +Police, which, had it been established at the commencement instead of +towards the middle of the present century, would have put down +Gypsyism long ago. But, recent as its establishment has been, +observe what it has produced. Walk from London to Carlisle, but +neither by the road's side, nor on heath or common, will you see a +single Gypsy tent. True Gypsyism consists in wandering about, in +preying upon the Gentiles, but not living amongst them. But such a +life is impossible in these days; the Rural Force will not permit it. +"It is a hard thing, brother," said old Agamemnon Caumlo to the +writer, several years ago; "it is a hard thing, after one has pitched +one's little tent, lighted one's little fire, and hung one's kettle +by the kettle-iron over it to boil, to have an inspector or constable +come up, and say, 'What are you doing here? Take yourself off, you +Gypsy dog!'" A hard thing, indeed, old Agamemnon; but there is no +help for it. You must e'en live amongst the Gorgios. And for years +past the Gypsies have lived amongst the Gorgios, and what has been +the result? They do not seem to have improved the Gentiles, and have +certainly not been improved by them. By living amongst the Gentiles +they have, to a certain extent, lost the only two virtues they +possessed. Whilst they lived apart on heaths and commons, and in +shadowy lanes, the Gypsy women were paragons of chastity, and the +men, if not exactly patterns of sobriety, were, upon the whole, very +sober fellows. Such terms, however, are by no means applicable to +them at the present day. Sects and castes, even of thieves and +murderers, can exist as long as they have certain virtues, which give +them a kind of respect in their own eyes; but, losing those virtues, +they soon become extinct. When the salt loses its savour, what +becomes of it? The Gypsy salt has not altogether lost its savour, +but that essential quality is every day becoming fainter, so that +there is every reason to suppose that within a few years the English +Gypsy caste will have disappeared, merged in the dregs of the English +population. + + + +GYPSY NAMES + + + +There are many curious things connected with the Gypsies, but perhaps +nothing more so than what pertains to their names. They have a +double nomenclature, each tribe or family having a public and a +private name, one by which they are known to the Gentiles, and +another to themselves alone. Their public names are quite English; +their private ones attempts, some of them highly singular and +uncouth, to render those names by Gypsy equivalents. Gypsy names may +be divided into two classes, names connected with trades, and +surnames or family names. First of all, something about trade names. + +There are only two names of trades which have been adopted by English +Gypsies as proper names, Cooper and Smith: these names are expressed +in the English Gypsy dialect by Vardo-mescro and Petulengro. The +first of these renderings is by no means a satisfactory one, as +Vardo-mescro means a cartwright, or rather a carter. To speak the +truth, it would be next to impossible to render the word 'cooper' +into English Gypsy, or indeed into Gypsy of any kind; a cooper, +according to the common acceptation of the word, is one who makes +pails, tubs, and barrels, but there are no words in Gypsy for such +vessels. The Transylvanian Gypsies call a cooper a bedra-kero or +pail-maker, but bedra is not Gypsy, but Hungarian, and the English +Gypsies might with equal propriety call a cooper a pail-engro. On +the whole the English Gypsies did their best when they rendered +'cooper' into their language by the word for 'cartwright.' + +Petulengro, the other trade name, is borne by the Gypsies who are +known to the public by the English appellation of Smith. It is not +very easy to say what is the exact meaning of Petulengro: it must +signify, however, either horseshoe-fellow or tinker: petali or +petala signifies in Gypsy a horseshoe, and is probably derived from +the Modern Greek [Greek: ]; engro is an affix, and is either derived +from or connected with the Sanscrit kara, to make, so that with great +feasibility Petulengro may be translated horseshoe-maker. But bedel +in Hebrew means 'tin,' and as there is little more difference between +petul and bedel than between petul and petalon, Petulengro may be +translated with almost equal feasibility by tinker or tin-worker, +more especially as tinkering is a principal pursuit of Gypsies, and +to jal petulengring signifies to go a-tinkering in English Gypsy. +Taken, however, in either sense, whether as horseshoe-maker or tin- +worker (and, as has been already observed, it must mean one or the +other), Petulengro may be considered as a tolerably fair rendering of +the English Smith. + +So much for the names of the Gypsies which the writer has ventured to +call the trade names; now for those of the other class. These are +English surnames, and for the most part of a highly aristocratic +character, and it seems at first surprising that people so poor and +despised as Gypsies should be found bearing names so time-honoured +and imposing. There is, however, a tolerable explanation of the +matter in the supposition that on their first arrival in England the +different tribes sought the protection of certain grand powerful +families, and were permitted by them to locate themselves on their +heaths and amid their woodlands, and that they eventually adopted the +names of their patrons. Here follow the English names of some of the +principal tribes, with the Romany translations or equivalents:- + +BOSWELL.--The proper meaning of this word is the town of Bui. The +initial Bo or Bui is an old Northern name, signifying a colonist or +settler, one who tills and builds. It was the name of a great many +celebrated Northern kempions, who won land and a home by hard blows. +The last syllable, well, is the French ville: Boswell, Boston, and +Busby all signify one and the same thing--the town of Bui--the well +being French, the ton Saxon, and the by Danish; they are half- +brothers of Bovil and Belville, both signifying fair town, and which +ought to be written Beauville and Belville. The Gypsies, who know +and care nothing about etymologies, confounding bos with buss, a +vulgar English verb not to be found in dictionaries, which signifies +to kiss, rendered the name Boswell by Chumomisto, that is, Kisswell, +or one who kisses well--choom in their language signifying to kiss, +and misto well--likewise by choomomescro, a kisser. Vulgar as the +word buss may sound at present, it is by no means of vulgar origin, +being connected with the Latin basio and the Persian bouse. + +GREY.--This is the name of a family celebrated in English history. +The Gypsies who adopted it, rendered it into their language by Gry, a +word very much resembling it in sound, though not in sense, for gry, +which is allied to the Sanscrit ghora, signifies a horse. They had +no better choice, however, for in Romany there is no word for grey, +any more than there is for green or blue. In several languages there +is a difficulty in expressing the colour which in English is called +grey. In Celtic, for instance, there is no definite word for it; +glas, it is true, is used to express it, but glas is as frequently +used to express green as it is to express grey. + +HEARNE, HERNE.--This is the name of a family which bears the heron +for its crest, the name being either derived from the crest, or the +crest from the name. There are two Gypsy renderings of the word-- +Rossar-mescro or Ratzie-mescro, and Balorengre. Rossar-mescro +signifies duck-fellow, the duck being substituted for the heron, for +which there is no word in Romany. The meaning of Balor-engre is +hairy people; the translator or translators seeming to have +confounded Hearne with 'haaren,' old English for hairs. The latter +rendering has never been much in use. + +LEE.--The Gypsy name of this tribe is Purrum, sometimes pronounced +Purrun. The meaning of Purrurn is an onion, and it may be asked what +connection can there be between Lee and onion? None whatever: but +there is some resemblance in sound between Lee and leek, and it is +probable that the Gypsies thought so, and on that account rendered +the name by Purrum, which, if not exactly a leek, at any rate +signifies something which is cousin-german to a leek. It must be +borne in mind that in some parts of England the name Lee is spelt +Legh and Leigh, which would hardly be the case if at one time it had +not terminated in something like a guttural, so that when the Gypsies +rendered the name, perhaps nearly four hundred years ago, it sounded +very much like 'leek,' and perhaps was Leek, a name derived from the +family crest. At first the writer was of opinion that the name was +Purrun, a modification of pooro, which in the Gypsy language +signifies old, but speedily came to the conclusion that it must be +Purrum, a leek or onion; for what possible reason could the Gypsies +have for rendering Lee by a word which signifies old or ancient? +whereas by rendering it by Purrum, they gave themselves a Gypsy name, +which, if it did not signify Lee, must to their untutored minds have +seemed a very good substitute for Lee. The Gypsy word pooro, old, +belongs to Hindostan, and is connected with the Sanscrit pura, which +signifies the same. Purrum is a modification of the Wallachian pur, +a word derived from the Latin porrum, an onion, and picked up by the +Gypsies in Roumania or Wallachia, the natives of which region speak a +highly curious mixture of Latin and Sclavonian. + +LOVEL.--This is the name or title of an old and powerful English +family. The meaning of it is Leo's town, Lowe's town, or Louis' +town. The Gypsies, who adopted it, seem to have imagined that it had +something to do with love, for they translated it by Camlo or Caumlo, +that which is lovely or amiable, and also by Camomescro, a lover, an +amorous person, sometimes used for 'friend.' Camlo is connected with +the Sanscrit Cama, which signifies love, and is the appellation of +the Hindoo god of love. A name of the same root as the one borne by +that divinity was not altogether inapplicable to the Gypsy tribe who +adopted it: Cama, if all tales be true, was black, black though +comely, a Beltenebros, and the Lovel tribe is decidedly the most +comely and at the same time the darkest of all the Anglo-Egyptian +families. The faces of many of them, male and female, are perfect +specimens of black beauty. They are generally called by the race the +Kaulo Camloes, the Black Comelies. And here, though at the risk of +being thought digressive, the writer cannot forbear saying that the +darkest and at one time the comeliest of all the Caumlies, a +celebrated fortune-teller, and an old friend of his, lately expired +in a certain old town, after attaining an age which was something +wonderful. She had twenty-one brothers and sisters, and was the +eldest of the family, on which account she was called "Rawnie P., +pooroest of bis ta dui," Lady P.--she had married out of the family-- +eldest of twenty-two. + +MARSHALL.--The name Marshall has either to do with marshal, the title +of a high military personage, or marches, the borders of contiguous +countries. In the early Norman period it was the name of an Earl of +Pembroke. The Gypsies who adopted the name seem in translating it to +have been of opinion that it was connected with marshes, for they +rendered it by mokkado tan engre, fellows of the wet or miry place, +an appellation which at one time certainly became them well, for they +are a northern tribe belonging to the Border, a country not very long +ago full of mosses and miry places. Though calling themselves +English, they are in reality quite as much Scotch as English, and as +often to be found in Scotland as the other country, especially in +Dumfriesshire and Galloway, in which latter region, in Saint +Cuthbert's churchyard, lies buried 'the old man' of the race,-- +Marshall, who died at the age of 107. They sometimes call themselves +Bungyoror and Chikkeneymengre, cork-fellows and china people, which +names have reference to the occupations severally followed by the +males and females, the former being cutters of bungs and corks, and +the latter menders of china. + +STANLEY.--This is the name or title of an ancient English family +celebrated in history. It is probably descriptive of their original +place of residence, for it signifies the stony lea, which is also the +meaning of the Gaelic Auchinlech, the place of abode of the Scottish +Boswells. It was adopted by an English Gypsy tribe, at one time very +numerous, but at present much diminished. Of this name there are two +renderings into Romany; one is Baryor or Baremescre, stone-folks or +stonemasons, the other is Beshaley. The first requires no comment, +but the second is well worthy of analysis, as it is an example of the +strange blunders which the Gypsies sometimes make in their attempts +at translation. When they rendered Stanley by Beshaley or Beshley, +they mistook the first syllable stan for 'stand,' but for a very good +reason rendered it by besh, which signifies 'to sit, and the second +for a word in their own language, for ley or aley in Gypsy signifies +'down,' so they rendered Stanley by Beshley or Beshaley, which +signifies 'sit down.' Here, of course, it will be asked what reason +could have induced them, if they mistook stan for 'stand,' not to +have rendered it by the Gypsy word for 'stand'? The reason was a +very cogent one, the want of a word in the Gypsy language to express +'stand'; but they had heard in courts of justice witnesses told to +stand down, so they supposed that to stand down was much the same as +to sit down, whence their odd rendering of Stanley. In no dialect of +the Gypsy, from the Indus to the Severn, is there any word for +'stand,' though in every one there is a word for 'sit,' and that is +besh, and in every Gypsy encampment all along the vast distance, +Beshley or Beshaley would be considered an invitation to sit down. + +So much for the double-name system in use among the Gypsies of +England. There is something in connection with the Gypsies of Spain +which strangely coincides with one part of it--the translation of +names. Among the relics of the language of the Gitanos or Spanish +Gypsies are words, some simple and some compound, which are evidently +attempts to translate names in a manner corresponding to the plan +employed by the English Romany. In illustration of the matter, the +writer will give an analysis of Brono Aljenicato, the rendering into +Gitano of the name of one frequently mentioned in the New Testament, +and once in the Apostles' Creed, the highly respectable, but much +traduced individual known to the English public as Pontius Pilate, to +the Spanish as Poncio Pilato. The manner in which the rendering has +been accomplished is as follows: Poncio bears some resemblance to +the Spanish puente, which signifies a bridge, and is a modification +of the Latin pons, and Pilato to the Spanish pila, a fountain, or +rather a stone pillar, from the top of which the waters of a fountain +springing eventually fall into a stone basin below, the two words-- +the Brono Aljenicato--signifying bridge-fountain, or that which is +connected with such a thing. Now this is the identical, or all but +the identical, way in which the names Lee, Lovel, and Stanley have +been done into English Romany. A remarkable instance is afforded in +this Gitano Scripture name, this Brono Aljenicato, of the +heterogeneous materials of which Gypsy dialects are composed: Brono +is a modification of a Hindoo or Sanscrit, Aljenicato of an Arabic +root. Brono is connected with the Sanscrit pindala, which signifies +a bridge, and Aljenicato is a modification of the Gypsy aljenique, +derived from the Arabic alain, which signifies the fountain. But of +whatever materials composed, a fine-sounding name is this same Brono +Aljenicato, perhaps the finest sounding specimen of Spanish Gypsy +extant, much finer than a translation of Pontius Pilate would be, +provided the name served to express the same things, in English, +which Poncio Pilato serves to express in Spanish, for then it would +be Pudjico Pani or Bridgewater; for though in English Gypsy there is +the word for a bridge, namely pudge, a modification of the Persian +pul, or the Wallachian podul, there is none for a fountain, which can +be only vaguely paraphrased by pani, water. + + + +FORTUNE-TELLING + + + +Gypsy women, as long as we have known anything of Gypsy history, have +been arrant fortune-tellers. They plied fortune-telling about France +and Germany as early as 1414, the year when the dusky bands were +first observed in Europe, and they have never relinquished the +practice. There are two words for fortune-telling in Gypsy, bocht +and dukkering. Bocht is a Persian word, a modification of, or +connected with, the Sanscrit bagya, which signifies 'fate.' +Dukkering is the modification of a Wallaco-Sclavonian word signifying +something spiritual or ghostly. In Eastern European Gypsy, the Holy +Ghost is called Swentuno Ducos. + +Gypsy fortune-telling is much the same everywhere, much the same in +Russia as it is in Spain and in England. Everywhere there are three +styles--the lofty, the familiar, and the homely; and every Gypsy +woman is mistress of all three and uses each according to the rank of +the person whose vast she dukkers, whose hand she reads, and adapts +the luck she promises. There is a ballad of some antiquity in the +Spanish language about the Buena Ventura, a few stanzas of which +translated will convey a tolerable idea of the first of these styles +to the reader, who will probably with no great reluctance dispense +with any illustrations of the other two:- + + +Late rather one morning +In summer's sweet tide, +Goes forth to the Prado +Jacinta the bride: + +There meets her a Gypsy +So fluent of talk, +And jauntily dressed, +On the principal walk. + +"O welcome, thrice welcome, +Of beauty thou flower! +Believe me, believe me, +Thou com'st in good hour." + +Surprised was Jacinta; +She fain would have fled; +But the Gypsy to cheer her +Such honeyed words said: + +"O cheek like the rose-leaf! +O lady high-born! +Turn thine eyes on thy servant, +But ah, not in scorn. + +"O pride of the Prado! +O joy of our clime! +Thou twice shalt be married, +And happily each time. + +"Of two noble sons +Thou shalt be the glad mother, +One a Lord Judge, +A Field-Marshal the other." + + +Gypsy females have told fortunes to higher people than the young +Countess Jacinta: Modor--of the Gypsy quire of Moscow--told the +fortune of Ekatarina, Empress of all the Russias. The writer does +not know what the Ziganka told that exalted personage, but it appears +that she gave perfect satisfaction to the Empress, who not only +presented her with a diamond ring--a Russian diamond ring is not +generally of much value--but also her hand to kiss. The writer's old +friend, Pepita, the Gitana of Madrid, told the bahi of Christina, the +Regentess of Spain, in which she assured her that she would marry the +son of the King of France, and received from the fair Italian a +golden ounce, the most magnificent of coins, a guerdon which she +richly merited, for she nearly hit the mark, for though Christina did +not marry the son of the King of France, her second daughter was +married to a son of the King of France, the Duke of M-, one of the +three claimants of the crown of Spain, and the best of the lot; and +Britannia, the Caumli, told the good luck to the Regent George on +Newmarket Heath, and received 'foive guineas' and a hearty smack from +him who eventually became George the Fourth--no bad fellow by the by, +either as regent or king, though as much abused as Pontius Pilate, +whom he much resembled in one point, unwillingness to take life--the +sonkaype or gold-gift being, no doubt, more acceptable than the +choomape or kiss-gift to the Beltenebrosa, who, if a certain song be +true, had no respect for gorgios, however much she liked their +money:- + + +Britannia is my nav; +I am a Kaulo Camlo; +The gorgios pen I be +A bori chovahaunie; +And tatchipen they pens, +The dinneleskie gorgies, +For mande chovahans +The luvvu from their putsies. + +Britannia is my name; +I am a swarthy Lovel; +The Gorgios say I be +A witch of wondrous power; +And faith they speak the truth, +The silly, foolish fellows, +For often I bewitch +The money from their pockets. + + +Fortune-telling in all countries where the Gypsies are found is +frequently the prelude to a kind of trick called in all Gypsy +dialects by something more or less resembling the Sanscrit kuhana; +for instance, it is called in Spain jojana, hokano, and in English +hukni. It is practised in various ways, all very similar; the +defrauding of some simple person of money or property being the +object in view. Females are generally the victims of the trick, +especially those of the middle class, who are more accessible to the +poor woman than those of the upper. One of the ways, perhaps the +most artful, will be found described in another chapter. + + + +THE HUKNI + + + +The Gypsy makes some poor simpleton of a lady believe that if the +latter puts her gold into her hands, and she makes it up into a +parcel, and puts it between the lady's feather-bed and mattress, it +will at the end of a month be multiplied a hundredfold, provided the +lady does not look at it during all that time. On receiving the +money she makes it up into a brown paper parcel, which she seals with +wax, turns herself repeatedly round, squints, and spits, and then +puts between the feather-bed and mattress--not the parcel of gold, +but one exactly like it, which she has prepared beforehand, +containing old halfpence, farthings, and the like; then, after +cautioning the lady by no means to undo the parcel before the stated +time, she takes her departure singing to herself:- + + +O dear me! O dear me! +What dinnelies these gorgies be. + + +The above artifice is called by the English Gypsies the hukni, and by +the Spanish hokhano baro, or the great lie. Hukni and hokano were +originally one and the same word; the root seems to be the Sanscrit +huhana, lie, trick, deceit. + + + +CAURING + + + +The Gypsy has some queer, old-fashioned gold piece; this she takes to +some goldsmith's shop, at the window of which she has observed a +basin full of old gold coins, and shows it to the goldsmith, asking +him if he will purchase it. He looks at it attentively, and sees +that it is of very pure gold; whereupon he says that he has no +particular objection to buy it; but that as it is very old it is not +of much value, and that he has several like it. "Have you indeed, +Master?" says the Gypsy; "then pray show them to me, and I will buy +them; for, to tell you the truth, I would rather buy than sell pieces +like this, for I have a great respect for them, and know their value: +give me back my coin, and I will compare any you have with it." The +goldsmith gives her back her coin, takes his basin of gold from the +window, and places it on the counter. The Gypsy puts down her head, +and pries into the basin. "Ah, I see nothing here like my coin," +says she. "Now, Master, to oblige me, take out a handful of the +coins and lay them on the counter; I am a poor, honest woman, Master, +and do not wish to put my hand into your basin. Oh! if I could find +one coin like my own, I would give much money for it; barributer than +it is worth." The goldsmith, to oblige the poor, simple, foreign +creature (for such he believes her to be), and, with a considerable +hope of profit, takes a handful of coins from the basin and puts them +upon the counter. "I fear there is none here like mine, Master," +says the Gypsy, moving the coins rapidly with the tips of her +fingers. "No, no, there is not one here like mine--kek yeck, kek +yeck--not one, not one. Stay, stay! What's this, what's this? So +se cavo, so se cavo? Oh, here is one like mine; or if not quite +like, like enough to suit me. Now, Master, what will you take for +this coin?" The goldsmith looks at it, and names a price +considerably above the value; whereupon she says: "Now, Master, I +will deal fairly with you: you have not asked me the full value of +the coin by three three-groats, three-groats, three-groats; by trin +tringurushis, tringurushis, tringurushis. So here's the money you +asked, Master, and three three-groats, three shillings, besides. God +bless you, Master! You would have cheated yourself, but the poor +woman would not let you; for though she is poor she is honest": and +thus she takes her leave, leaving the goldsmith very well satisfied +with his customer--with little reason, however, for out of about +twenty coins which he laid on the counter she had filched at least +three, which her brown nimble fingers, though they seemingly scarcely +touched the gold, contrived to convey up her sleeves. This kind of +pilfering is called by the English Gypsies cauring, and by the +Spanish ustilar pastesas, or stealing with the fingers. The word +caur seems to be connected with the English cower, and the Hebrew +kara, a word of frequent occurrence in the historical part of the Old +Testament, and signifying to bend, stoop down, incurvare. + + + +METROPOLITAN GYPSYRIES--WANDSWORTH, 1864 + + + +What may be called the grand Metropolitan Gypsyry is on the Surrey +side of the Thames. Near the borders of Wandsworth and Battersea, +about a quarter of a mile from the river, is an open piece of ground +which may measure about two acres. To the south is a hill, at the +foot of which is a railway, and it is skirted on the north by the +Wandsworth and Battersea Road. This place is what the Gypsies call a +kekkeno mushes puv, a no man's ground; a place which has either no +proprietor, or which the proprietor, for some reason, makes no use of +for the present. The houses in the neighbourhood are mean and +squalid, and are principally inhabited by artisans of the lowest +description. This spot, during a considerable portion of the year, +is the principal place of residence of the Metropolitan Gypsies, and +of other people whose manner of life more or less resembles theirs. +During the summer and autumn the little plain, for such it is, is +quite deserted, except that now and then a wretched tent or two may +be seen upon it, belonging to some tinker family, who have put up +there for a few hours on their way through the metropolis; for the +Gypsies are absent during summer, some at fairs and races, the men +with their cocoa-nuts and the women busy at fortune-telling, or at +suburban places of pleasure--the former with their donkeys for the +young cockneys to ride upon, and the latter as usual dukkering and +hokkering, and the other travellers, as they are called, roaming +about the country following their particular avocations, whilst in +the autumn the greater part of them all are away in Kent, getting +money by picking hops. As soon, however, as the rains, the +precursors of winter, descend, the place begins to be occupied, and +about a week or two before Christmas it is almost crammed with the +tents and caravans of the wanderers; and then it is a place well +worthy to be explored, notwithstanding the inconvenience of being up +to one's ankles in mud, and the rather appalling risk of being bitten +by the Gypsy and travelling dogs tied to the tents and caravans, in +whose teeth there is always venom and sometimes that which can bring +on the water-horror, for which no European knows a remedy. The +following is an attempt to describe the odd people and things to be +met with here; the true Gypsies, and what to them pertaineth, being +of course noticed first. + +On this plain there may be some fifteen or twenty Gypsy tents and +caravans. Some of the tents are large, as indeed it is highly +necessary that they should be, being inhabited by large families--a +man and his wife, a grandmother a sister or two and half a dozen +children, being, occasionally found in one; some of them are very +small, belonging to poor old females who have lost their husbands, +and whose families have separated themselves from them, and allow +them to shift for themselves. During the day the men are generally +busy at their several avocations, chinning the cost, that is, cutting +the stick for skewers, making pegs for linen-lines, kipsimengring or +basket-making, tinkering or braziering; the children are playing +about, or begging halfpence by the road of passengers; whilst the +women are strolling about, either in London or the neighbourhood, +engaged in fortune-telling or swindling. Of the trades of the men, +the one by far the most practised is chinning the cost, and as they +sit at the door of the tents, cutting and whittling away, they +occasionally sweeten their toil by raising their voices and singing +the Gypsy stanza in which the art is mentioned, and which for +terseness and expressiveness is quite equal to anything in the whole +circle of Gentile poetry: + + +Can you rokra Romany? +Can you play the bosh? +Can you jal adrey the staripen? +Can you chin the cost? + +Can you speak the Roman tongue? +Can you play the fiddle? +Can you eat the prison-loaf? +Can you cut and whittle? + + +These Gypsies are of various tribes, but chiefly Purruns, +Chumomescroes and Vardomescroes, or Lees, Boswells and Coopers, and +Lees being by far the most numerous. The men are well made, active +fellows, somewhat below the middle height. Their complexions are +dark, and their eyes are full of intelligence; their habiliments are +rather ragged. The women are mostly wild-looking creatures, some +poorly clad, others exhibiting not a little strange finery. There +are some truly singular beings amongst those women, which is more +than can be said with respect to the men, who are much on a level, +and amongst whom there is none whom it is possible to bring +prominently out, and about whom much can be said. The women, as has +been already observed, are generally out during the day, being +engaged in their avocations abroad. There is a very small tent about +the middle of the place; it belongs to a lone female, whom one +frequently meets wandering about Wandsworth or Battersea, seeking an +opportunity to dukker some credulous servant-girl. It is hard that +she should have to do so, as she is more than seventy-five years of +age, but if she did not she would probably starve. She is very short +of statue, being little more than five feet and an inch high, but she +is wonderfully strongly built. Her head is very large, and seems to +have been placed at once upon her shoulders without any interposition +of neck. Her face is broad, with a good-humoured expression upon it, +and in general with very little vivacity; at times, however, it +lights up, and then all the Gypsy beams forth. Old as she is, her +hair, which is very long, is as black as the plumage of a crow, and +she walks sturdily, though with not much elasticity, on her short, +thick legs, and, if requested, would take up the heaviest man in +Wandsworth or Battersea and walk away with him. She is, upon the +whole, the oddest Gypsy woman ever seen; see her once and you will +never forget her. Who is she? you ask. Who is she? Why, Mrs. +Cooper, the wife of Jack Cooper, the fighting Gypsy, once the terror +of all the Light Weights of the English Ring; who knocked West +Country Dick to pieces, and killed Paddy O'Leary, the fighting pot- +boy, Jack Randall's pet. Ah, it would have been well for Jack if he +had always stuck to his true, lawful Romany wife, whom at one time he +was very fond of, and whom he used to dress in silks and satins, and +best scarlet cloth, purchased with the money gained in his fair, +gallant battles in the Ring! But he did not stick to her, deserting +her for a painted Jezebel, to support whom he sold his battles, by +doing which he lost his friends and backers; then took from his poor +wife all he had given her, and even plundered her of her own +property, down to the very blankets which she lay upon; and who +finally was so infatuated with love for his paramour that he bore the +blame of a crime which she had committed, and in which he had no +share, suffering ignominy and transportation in order to save her. +Better had he never deserted his tatchie romadie, his own true +Charlotte, who, when all deserted him, the painted Jezebel being the +first to do so, stood by him, supporting him with money in prison, +and feeing counsel on his trial from the scanty proceeds of her +dukkering. All that happened many years ago; Jack's term of +transportation, a lengthy one, has long, long been expired, but he +has not come back, though every year since the expiration of his +servitude he has written her a letter, or caused one to be written to +her, to say that he is coming, that he is coming; so that she is +always expecting him, and is at all times willing, as she says, to +re-invest him with all the privileges of a husband, and to beg and +dukker to support him if necessary. A true wife she has been to him, +a tatchie romadie, and has never taken up with any man since he left +her, though many have been the tempting offers that she has had, +connubial offers, notwithstanding the oddity of her appearance. Only +one wish she has now in this world, the wish that he may return; but +her wish, it is to be feared, is a vain one, for Jack lingers and +lingers in the Sonnakye Tem, golden Australia, teaching, it is said, +the young Australians to box, tempted by certain shining nuggets, the +produce of the golden region. It is pleasant, though there is +something mournful in it, to visit Mrs. Cooper after nightfall, to +sit with her in her little tent after she has taken her cup of tea, +and is warming her tired limbs at her little coke fire, and hear her +talk of old times and things: how Jack courted her 'neath the trees +of Loughton Forest, and how, when tired of courting, they would get +up and box, and how he occasionally gave her a black eye, and how she +invariably flung him at a close; and how they were lawfully married +at church, and what a nice man the clergyman was, and what funny +things he said both before and after he had united them; how stoutly +West Country Dick contended against Jack, though always losing; how +in Jack's battle with Paddy O'Leary the Irishman's head in the last +round was truly frightful, not a feature being distinguishable, and +one of his ears hanging down by a bit of skin; how Jack vanquished +Hardy Scroggins, whom Jack Randall himself never dared fight. Then, +again, her anecdotes of Alec Reed, cool, swift-hitting Alec, who was +always smiling, and whose father was a Scotchman, his mother an +Irishwoman, and who was born in Guernsey; and of Oliver, old Tom +Oliver, who seconded Jack in all his winning battles, and after whom +he named his son, his only child, Oliver, begotten of her in lawful +wedlock, a good and affectionate son enough, but unable to assist +her, on account of his numerous family. Farewell, Mrs. Cooper, true +old Charlotte! here's a little bit of silver for you, and a little +bit of a gillie to sing: + + +Charlotta is my nav, +I am a puro Purrun; +My romado was Jack, +The couring Vardomescro. +He muk'd me for a lubbeny, +Who chor'd a rawnie's kissi; +He penn'd 'twas he who lell'd it, +And so was bitched pawdel. + +Old Charlotte I am called, +Of Lee I am a daughter; +I married Fighting Jack, +The famous Gypsy Cooper. +He left me for a harlot, +Who pick'd a lady's pocket; +He bore the blame to save her, +And so was sent to Bot'ny. + + +Just within the bounds of the plain, and close by the road, may +occasionally be seen a small caravan of rather a neat appearance. It +comes and goes suddenly, and is seldom seen there for more than three +days at a time. It belongs to a Gypsy female who, like Mrs. Cooper, +is a remarkable person, but is widely different from Mrs. Cooper in +many respects. Mrs. Cooper certainly does not represent the beau +ideal of a Gypsy female, this does--a dark, mysterious, beautiful, +terrible creature! She is considerably above the middle height, +powerfully but gracefully made, and about thirty-seven years of age. +Her face is oval, and of a dark olive. The nose is Grecian, the +cheek-bones rather high; the eyes somewhat sunk, but of a lustrous +black; the mouth small, and the teeth exactly like ivory. Upon the +whole the face is exceedingly beautiful, but the expression is evil-- +evil to a degree. Who she is no one exactly knows, nor what is her +name, nor whether she is single woman, wife, or widow. Some say she +is a foreign Gypsy, others from Scotland, but she is neither--her +accent is genuine English. What strikes one as most singular is the +power she possesses of appearing in various characters--all Romany +ones it is true, but so different as seemingly to require three +distinct females of the race to represent them: sometimes she is the +staid, quiet, respectable Gypsy; sometimes the forward and impudent; +at others the awful and sublime. Occasionally you may see her +walking the streets dressed in a black silk gown, with a black silk +bonnet on her head; over her left arm is flung a small carpet, a +sample of the merchandise which is in her caravan, which is close at +hand, driven by a brown boy; her address to her customers is highly +polite; the tones of her voice are musical, though somewhat deep. At +Fairlop, on the first Friday of July, in the evening, she may be +found near the Bald-faced Hind, dressed in a red cloak and a large +beaver; her appearance is bold and reckless--she is dukkering low +tradesmen and servant girls behind the trees at sixpence a head, or +is bandying with the voice of a raven slang and obscenity with +country boors, or with the blackguard butcher-boys who throng in from +Whitechapel and Shoreditch to the Gypsy Fair. At Goodwood, a few +weeks after, you may see her in a beautiful half-riding dress, her +hair fantastically plaited and adorned with pearls, standing beside +the carriage of a Countess, telling the fortune of her ladyship with +the voice and look of a pythoness. She is a thing of incongruities; +an incomprehensible being! nobody can make her out; the writer +himself has tried to make her out but could not, though he has spoken +to her in his deepest Romany. It is true there is a certain old +Gypsy, a friend of his, who thinks he has made her out. "Brother," +said he one day, "why you should be always going after that woman I +can't conceive, unless indeed you have lost your wits. If you go +after her for her Romany you will find yourself in the wrong box: +she may have a crumb or two of Romany, but for every crumb that she +has I am quite sure you have a quartern loaf. Then as for her +beauty, of which it is true she has plenty, and for which half a +dozen Gorgios that I knows of are running mad, it's of no use going +after her for that, for her beauty she keeps for her own use and that +of her master the Devil; not but that she will sell it--she's sold it +a dozen times to my certain knowledge--but what's the use of buying a +thing, when the fool who buys it never gets it, never has the +'joyment of it, brother? She is kek tatcho, and that's what I like +least in her; there's no trusting her, neither Gorgio nor Romano can +trust her: she sells her truppos to a Rye-gorgio for five bars, and +when she has got them, and the Gorgio, as he has a right to do, +begins to kelna lasa, she laughs and asks him if he knows whom he has +to deal with; then if he lels bonnek of lati, as he is quite +justified in doing, she whips out a churi, and swears if he doesn't +leave off she will stick it in his gorlo. Oh! she's an evil mare, a +wafodu grasni, though a handsome one, and I never looks at her, +brother, without saying to myself the old words: + + +"Rinkeno mui and wafodu zee +Kitzi's the cheeros we dicks cattane." +A beautiful face and a black wicked mind +Often, full often together we find. + + +Some more particular account than what has been already given of the +habitations of these Wandsworth Gypsies, and likewise of their way of +life, will perhaps not be unacceptable here. + +To begin with the tents. They are oblong in shape and of very simple +construction, whether small or great. Sticks or rods, called in the +Gypsy language ranior, between four and five feet in length, and +croming or bending towards the top, are stuck in the ground at about +twenty inches from each other, a rod or two being omitted in that +part where the entrance is intended to be. The cromes or bends serve +as supporters of a roof, and those of the side rods which stand over +against one another are generally tied together by strings. These +rods are covered over with coarse brown cloths, pinned or skewered +together; those at the bottom being fastened to the ground by pegs. +Around the tent is generally a slight embankment, about two or three +inches high, or a little trench about the same depth, to prevent +water from running into the tent in time of rain. Such is the tent, +which would be exactly like the Indian wigwam but for the cloth which +forms the covering: the Indians in lieu of cloth using bark, which +they carry about with them in all their migrations, though they leave +the sticks standing in the ground. + +The furniture is scanty. Like the Arabs, the Gypsies have neither +chairs nor tables, but sit cross-legged, a posture which is perfectly +easy to them, though insufferable to a Gorgio, unless he happens to +be a tailor. When they eat, the ground serves them for a board, +though they occasionally spread a cloth upon it. Singularly enough, +though they have neither chairs nor tables, they have words for both. +Of pots, pans, plates, and trenchers, they have a tolerable quantity. +Each grown-up person has a churi, or knife, with which to cut food. +Eating-forks they have none, and for an eating-fork they have no +word, the term pasengri signifying a straw- or pitch-fork. Spoons +are used by them generally of horn, and are called royis. They have +but two culinary articles, the kekkauvi and pirry, kettle and boiler, +which are generally of copper, to which, however, may perhaps be +added the kekkauviskey saster, or kettle-iron, by which the kettle +and boiler are hung over the fire. As a fireplace they have a large +iron pan on three legs, with holes or eyes in the sides, in order +that the heat of the fire may be cast around. Instead of coals they +use coke, which emits no flame and little smoke, and casts a +considerable heat. Every tent has a pail or two, and perhaps a small +cask or barrel, the proper name for which is bedra, though it is +generally called pani-mengri, or thing for water. At the farther end +of the tent is a mattress, with a green cloth, or perhaps a sheet +spread upon it, forming a kind of couch, on which visitors are +generally asked to sit down:- Av adrey, Romany Rye, av adrey ta besh +aley pawdle odoy! Come in, Gypsy gentleman (said a polite Gypsy one +day to the writer); come in and sit down over yonder! They have a +box or two in which they stow away their breakable articles and +whatever things they set any particular value upon. Some of them +have small feather-beds, and they are generally tolerably well +provided with blankets. + +The caravans are not numerous, and have only been used of late years +by any of the English Gypsy race. The caravan called by the Gypsies +keir vardo, or waggon-house, is on four wheels, and is drawn by a +horse or perhaps a couple of donkeys. It is about twelve feet long +by six broad and six high. At the farther end are a couple of +transverse berths, one above the other, like those in the cabin of a +ship; and a little way from these is a curtain hanging by rings from +an iron rod running across, which, when drawn, forms a partition. On +either side is a small glazed window. The most remarkable object is +a stove just inside the door, on the left hand, with a metal chimney +which goes through the roof. This stove, the Gypsy term for which is +bo, casts, when lighted, a great heat, and in some cases is made in a +very handsome fashion. Some caravans have mirrors against the sides, +and exhibit other indications of an aiming at luxury, though in +general they are dirty, squalid places, quite as much as or perhaps +more than the tents, which seem to be the proper and congenial homes +of the Gypsies. + +The mode of life of these people may be briefly described. They have +two regular meals--breakfast and supper. The breakfast consists of +tea, generally of the best quality, bread, butter, and cheese; the +supper, of tea and a stew. In spring time they occasionally make a +kind of tea or soup of the tender leaves of a certain description of +nettle. This preparation, which they call dandrimengreskie zimmen, +or the broth of the stinging-thing, is highly relished by them. They +get up early, and go to bed betimes. After breakfast the men sit +down to chin the cost, to mend chairs or make baskets; the women go +forth to hok and dukker, and the children to beg, or to go with the +donkeys to lanes and commons to watch them, whilst they try to fill +their poor bellies with grass and thistles. These children sometimes +bring home hotchiwitches, or hedgehogs, the flesh of which is very +sweet and tender, and which their mothers are adepts at cooking. + +The Gypsies, as has been already observed, are not the sole occupiers +of Wandsworth grounds. Strange, wild guests are to be found there, +who, without being Gypsies, have much of Gypsyism in their habits, +and who far exceed the Gypsies in number. To pass them by without +notice would be unpardonable. They may be divided into three +classes: Chorodies, Kora-mengre, and Hindity-mengre. Something +about each:- + +The Chorodies are the legitimate descendants of the rogues and +outcasts who roamed about England long before its soil was trodden by +a Gypsy foot. They are a truly detestable set of beings; both men +and women being ferocious in their appearance, and in their +conversation horrible and disgusting. They have coarse, vulgar +features, and hair which puts one wonderfully in mind of refuse flax, +or the material of which mops are composed. Their complexions, when +not obscured with grime, are rather fair than dark, evidencing that +their origin is low, swinish Saxon, and not gentle Romany. Their +language is the frowsiest English, interlarded with cant expressions +and a few words of bastard Romany. They live in the vilest tents, +with the exception of two or three families, who have their abode in +broken and filthy caravans. They have none of the comforts and +elegancies of the Gypsies. They are utterly destitute of civility +and good manners, and are generally squalid in their dress, though +the women sometimes exhibit not a little dirty tawdriness. The +trades of the men are tinkering and basket-making, and some few "peel +the stick." The women go about with the articles made by their +husbands, or rather partners, and sometimes do a little in the +fortune-telling line--pretty prophetesses! The fellows will +occasionally knock a man down in the dark, and rob him; the women +will steal anything they can conveniently lay their hands on. +Singular as it may seem to those not deeply acquainted with human +nature, these wretches are not without a kind of pride. "We are no +Gypsies--not we! no, nor Irish either. We are English, and decent +folks--none of your rubbish!" The Gypsies hold them, and with +reason, in supreme contempt, and it is from them that they got their +name of Chorodies, not a little applicable to them. Choredo, in +Gypsy, signifies a poor, miserable person, and differs very little in +sound from two words, one Sanscrit and the other Hebrew, both +signifying, like the Gypsy term, something low, mean, and +contemptible. + +Kora-mengre are the lowest of those hawkers who go about the country +villages and the streets of London, with caravans hung about with +various common articles, such as mats, brooms, mops, tin pans and +kettles. These low hawkers seem to be of much the same origin as the +Chorodies, and are almost equally brutal and repulsive in their +manners. The name Kora-mengre is Gypsy, and signifies fellows who +cry out and shout, from their practice of shouting out the names of +their goods. The word kora, or karra, is by no means bad Hebrew: +kora, in the Holy Language, signifies he cried out, called, or +proclaimed: and a partridge is called in Hebrew kora, from its +continually crying out to its young, when leading them about to feed. +Koran, the name of the sacred book of the Mahomedans, is of the same +root. + +Lastly come the Hindity-mengre, or Filthy People. This term has been +bestowed upon the vagrant Irish by the Gypsies, from the dirty ways +attributed to them, though it is a question whether the lowest Irish +are a bit more dirty in their ways than the English Chorodies, or +indeed so much, and are certainly immeasurably superior to them in +many respects. There are not many of them here, seldom more than two +families, and sometimes, even during the winter, not a single Irish +tent or cart is to be seen. The trade they ostensibly drive is +tinkering, repairing old kettles, and making little pots and pans of +tin. The one, however, on which they principally depend, is not +tinkering, but one far more lucrative, and requiring more cleverness +and dexterity; they make false rings, like the Gypsy smiths, the +fashiono vangustengre of old, and whilst speaking Celtic to one whom +they deem their countryman, have no hesitation in acknowledging +themselves to be "Cairdean droich oir," workers of false gold. The +rings are principally made out of old brass buttons; those worn by +old Chelsea pensioners being considered the very best for the +purpose. Many an ancient Corporal Trim, alter having spent all his +money at the public-house, and only become three-parts boozy, has +been induced by the Hindity-mengro to sell all his buttons at the +rate of three-halfpence a-piece, in order to have wherewithal to make +himself thoroughly royal. Each of these Hindity-mengre has his blow- +pipe, and some of them can execute their work in a style little +inferior to that of a first-rate working goldsmith. The rings, after +being made, are rubbed with a certain stuff out of a phial, which +gives them all the appearance of gold. This appearance, however, +does not long endure, for after having been worn two or three months, +the ring loses its false appearance entirely, and any one can see +that it is worthless metal. A good many of these rings are disposed +of at good prices by the Hindity women, the wives of these false-gold +workers, to servant girls and the wives of small shopkeepers, and not +a few, at a lower rate, to certain gentry who get their livelihood by +the honourable profession of ring-dropping. + +What is ring-dropping? + +Ring-dropping is this. A gentleman overtakes you as you are walking +in some quiet street, passes by you, and at the distance of some +fifteen yards stops, and stooping down, seemingly picks up something, +which he inspects, and then uttering a "Dear me!" he turns to you, +and says, "Sir, we have been fortunate to-day. See! I have picked +up this valuable!" He then shows you a small case, in which is a +large ring, seemingly of the finest gold, with a little label +attached to it, on which is marked 2 pounds 15s. "Now, sir," he +continues, "I said we were fortunate, because as we were close to +each other, I consider you as much entitled to gain by this windfall +as myself. I'll tell you how it shall be: the price of the ring, +which was probably dropped by some goldsmith's man, is, as you see, +two pound fifteen; however, as I am in a hurry, you shall only give +me a quid, a pound, and then the valuable shall be all your own; it +shall indeed, sir!" And then he stares you in the face. Such is +ring-dropping, to which many silly but greedy individuals, fall +victims; giving a pound for a fine-looking ring, which, however, with +its scarlet case--for the case is always of a scarlet colour--is not +worth sixpence. The best thing you can do in such a case is to put +your thumb to your nose, flattening your hand and sticking out your +fingers far apart, moving on at the same time, or to utter the +cabalistic word "hookey"; in either case the ring-dropper will at +once drop astern, with a half-stifled curse, for he knows that he has +to do with "no flat," and that you are "awake to his little game." +Doing so is much better than moving rapidly on, and affecting to take +no notice of him, for then he will infallibly follow you to the end +of the street, offering you the ring on more reasonable terms at +every step, perhaps concluding at last, as a ring-dropper once did to +the writer, "I'll tell you what, sir; as I am in a hurry, and rather +hard up, you shall have the valuable for a bull, for a crown; you +shall indeed, sir, so help me--" + +Three of the most famous of the Hindity smiths have been immortalised +by the Gypsies in the following bit of verse: + + +Mickie, Huwie and Larry, +Trin Hindity-mengre fashiono vangust-engre. + +Mickie, Huwie and Larry bold, +Three Irish brothers, as I am told, +Who make false rings, that pass for gold. + + +Of these fashiono-vangust brothers, the most remarkable is Mike--Old +Mike, as he is generally called. He was born in the county Kerry, +and educated at a hedge-school, where he learned to read and write +English, after a fashion, and acquired the seventeen letters of the +Irish alphabet, each of which is named after a particular tree. +Leaving school he was apprenticed to a blacksmith, from whom he ran +away, and enlisted into the service of that illustrious monarch, +George the Third, some of whose battles he had the honour of fighting +in the Peninsula and France. Discharged from the army at the Peace, +with the noble donation of thirty shillings, or one month's pay, he +returned to Ireland, took to himself a wife, and commenced tinker. +Becoming dissatisfied with his native soil he passed over to England, +and settling for some time at "Brummagem," took lessons from certain +cunning smiths in the art of making fashiono vangusties. The next +forty years of his life he spent in wandering about Britain, attended +by his faithful partner, who not only disposed of his tin articles +and false rings, but also bore him seventeen children, all of whom +are alive, somewhere or other, and thriving too, one of them indeed +having attained to the dignity of American senator. Some of his +adventures, during his wanderings, were in the highest degree +extraordinary. Of late years he has chiefly resided in the vicinity +of London, spending his winters at Wandsworth, and his summers on the +Flats, near Epping Forest; in one or the other of which places you +may see Old Mike on a Sunday evening, provided the weather is +tolerably fine, seated near his little caravan, with his wife by his +side--not the wife who bore him the seventeen children, who has been +dead for some years, but his second wife, a nice, elderly Irish ban +from the county of Cork, who can tell fortunes, say her prayers in +Irish, and is nearly as good a hand at selling her lord and master's +tin articles and false rings as her predecessor. Lucky for Mike that +he got such a second partner! and luckier still that at his age of +seventy-nine he retains all his faculties, and is able to work for +his daily bread, with at least the skill and cunning of his two +brothers, both of whom are much younger men than himself, whose +adventures have been somewhat similar to his own, and who, singularly +enough, have come to live near him in his latter days. Both these +brothers are highly remarkable men. Huwie is the most civil-spoken +person in or about London, and Larry a man of the most terrible +tongue, and perhaps the most desperate fighter ever seen; always +willing to attack half a dozen men, if necessary, and afraid of no +one in the world, save one--Mike, old Mike, who can tame him in his +fiercest moods by merely holding up his finger. Oh, a truly +remarkable man is old Mike! and a pleasure and an advantage it is to +any one of a philosophical mind to be acquainted with him, and to +listen to him. He is much more than a fashiono-vangust-engro. +Amongst other things he is a theologian--Irish theologian--and quite +competent to fill the chair of theology at the University of +Maynooth. He can tell you a great many things connected with a +certain person, which, with all your research, you would never find +in Scripture. He can tell you how the Saviour, when hanging on the +cross, became athirst, and told St. Peter, who stood at the foot of +it, to fetch Him a cup of water from a dirty puddle in the +neighbourhood, and how St. Peter--however, better not relate the +legend, though a highly curious one. Then he can repeat to you +blessed verses, as he calls them, by dozens; not of David, but of one +quite as good, as he will tell you, namely, Timothy O'Sullivan; and +who, you will say, was Timothy O'Sullivan? Why, Ty Gaelach, to be +sure. And who was Ty Gaelach? An Irish peasant-poet of the last +century, who wrote spiritual songs, some of them by no means bad +ones, and who was called Gaelach, or Gael, from his abhorrence of the +English race and of the English language, of which he scarcely +understood a word. Then is Ty Irish for Timothy? Why, no! though +very stupidly supposed to be so. Ty is Teague, which is neither +Greek nor Irish, but a glorious old Northern name, carried into +Ireland by the brave old heathen Danes. Ty or Teague is the same as +Tycho. Ty or Teague Gaelach is as much as to say Tycho Gaelach; and +Tycho Brahe is as much as to say Teague Brahe. + + + +THE POTTERIES, 1864 + + + +The second great Gypsyry is on the Middlesex side of the river, and +is distant about three miles, as the crow flies, from that of +Wandsworth. Strange as it may seem, it is not far distant from the +most fashionable part of London; from the beautiful squares, noble +streets, and thousand palaces of Tyburnia, a region which, though +only a small part of the enormous metropolis, can show more beautiful +edifices, wealth, elegance, and luxury, than all foreign capitals put +together. After passing Tyburnia, and going more than halfway down +Notting Hill, you turn to the right, and proceed along a tolerably +genteel street till it divides into two, one of which looks more like +a lane than a street, and which is on the left hand, and bears the +name of Pottery Lane. Go along this lane, and you will presently +find yourself amongst a number of low, uncouth-looking sheds, open at +the sides, and containing an immense quantity of earthen chimney- +pots, pantiles, fancy-bricks, and similar articles. This place is +called the Potteries, and gives the name of Pottery Lane to the lane +through which you have just passed. A dirty little road goes through +it, which you must follow, and presently turning to your left, you +will enter a little, filthy street, and going some way down it, you +will see, on your right hand, a little, open bit of ground, chock- +full of crazy, battered caravans of all colours--some yellow, some +green, some red. Dark men, wild-looking, witch-like women, and +yellow-faced children are at the doors of the caravans, or wending +their way through the narrow spaces left for transit between the +vehicles. You have now arrived at the second grand Gypsyry of +London--you are amongst the Romany Chals of the Potteries, called in +Gypsy the Koromengreskoe Tan, or the place of the fellows who make +pots; in which place certain Gypsies have settled, not with the view +of making pots, an employment which they utterly eschew, but simply +because it is convenient to them, and suits their fancy. + +A goodly collection of Gypsies you will find in that little nook, +crowded with caravans. Most of them are Tatchey Romany, real +Gypsies, "long-established people, of the old order." Amongst them +are Ratzie-mescroes, Hearnes, Herons, or duck-people; Chumo-mescroes +or Bosvils; a Kaulo Camlo (a Black Lovel) or two, and a Beshaley or +Stanley. It is no easy thing to find a Stanley nowadays, even in the +Baulo Tem, or Hampshire, which is the proper home of the Stanleys, +for the Bugnior, pimples or small-pox, has of late years made sad +havoc amongst the Stanleys; but yonder tall old gentlewoman, +descending the steps of a caravan, with a flaming red cloak and a +large black beaver bonnet, and holding a travelling basket in her +hand, is a Tatchey Beshaley, a "genuine" Stanley. The generality, +however, of "them Gyptians" are Ratzie-mescroes, Hearnes, or duck- +people; and, speaking of the Hearnes, it is but right to say that he +who may be called the Gypsy Father of London, old Thomas Ratzie- +mescro, or Hearne, though not exactly residing here, lives close by +in a caravan, in a little bit of a yard over the way, where he can +breathe more freely, and be less annoyed by the brats and the young +fellows than he would be in yonder crowded place. + +Though the spot which it has just been attempted to describe, may be +considered as the head-quarters of the London Gypsies, on the +Middlesex side of the Thames, the whole neighbourhood, for a mile to +the north of it, may to a certain extent be considered a Gypsy +region--that is, a district where Gypsies, or gentry whose habits +very much resemble those of Gypsies, may at any time be found. No +metropolitan district, indeed, could be well more suited for Gypsies +to take up their abode in. It is a neighbourhood of transition; of +brickfields, open spaces, poor streets inhabited by low artisans, +isolated houses, sites of intended tenements, or sites of tenements +which have been pulled down; it is in fact a mere chaos, where there +is no order and no regularity; where there is nothing durable, or +intended to be durable; though there can be little doubt that within +a few years order and beauty itself will be found here, that the +misery, squalidness, and meanness will have disappeared, and the +whole district, up to the railroad arches which bound it on the west +and north, will be covered with palaces, like those of Tyburnia, or +delightful villas, like those which decorate what is called Saint +John's Wood. At present, however, it is quite the kind of place to +please the Gypsies and wandering people, who find many places within +its bounds where they can squat and settle, or take up their quarters +for a night or two without much risk of being interfered with. Here +their tents, cars, and caravans may be seen amidst ruins, half-raised +walls, and on patches of unenclosed ground; here their children may, +throughout the day, be seen playing about, flinging up dust and dirt, +some partly naked, and others entirely so; and here, at night, the +different families, men, women, and children, may be seen seated +around their fires and their kettles, taking their evening meal, and +every now and then indulging in shouts of merriment, as much as to +say, - + + +What care we, though we be so small? +The tent shall stand when the palace shall fall; + + +which is quite true. The Gypsy tent must make way for the palace, +but after a millennium or two, the Gypsy tent is pitched on the ruins +of the palace. + +Of the open spaces above mentioned, the most considerable is one +called Latimer's Green. It lies on the north-western side of the +district, and is not far from that place of old renown called the +Shepherd's Bush, where in the good ancient times highwaymen used to +lurk for the purpose of pouncing upon the travellers of the Oxford +Road. It may contain about five or six acres, and, though nominally +under the control of trustees, is in reality little more than a "no +man's ground," where anybody may feed a horse, light a fire, and boil +a kettle. It is a great resort of vagrant people, less of Gypsies +than those who call themselves travellers, and are denominated by the +Gypsies Chorodies, and who live for the most part in miserable +caravans, though there is generally a Gypsy tent or two to be seen +there, belonging to some Deighton or Shaw, or perhaps Petulengro, +from the Lil-engro Tan, as the Romany call Cambridgeshire. Amidst +these Chorody caravans and Gypsy tents may frequently be seen the +ker-vardo, the house on wheels, of one who, whenever he takes up his +quarters here, is considered the cock of the walk, the king of the +place. He is a little under forty years of age, and somewhat under +five feet ten inches in height. His face is wonderfully like that of +a mastiff of the largest size, particularly in its jowls; his neck is +short and very thick, and must be nearly as strong as that of a bull; +his chest is so broad that one does not like to say how broad it is; +and the voice which every now and then proceeds from it has much the +sound of that of the mighty dog just mentioned; his arms are long and +exceedingly muscular, and his fists huge and bony. He wears a low- +crowned, broad-brimmed hat, a coarse blue coat with short skirts, +leggings, and high-lows. Such is the kral o' the tan, the rex loci, +the cock of the green. But what is he besides? Is he Gypsy, +Chorody, or Hindity mush? I say, you had better not call him by any +one of those names, for if you did he would perhaps hit you, and +then, oh dear! That is Mr. G. A., a travelling horse-dealer, who +lives in a caravan, and finds it frequently convenient to take up his +abode for weeks together on Latimer's Green. He is a thorough-bred +Englishman, though he is married to a daughter of one of the old, +sacred Gypsy families, a certain Lurina Ratziemescri, duck or heron +female, who is a very handsome woman, and who has two brothers, dark, +stealthy-looking young fellows, who serve with almost slavish +obedience their sister's lord and husband, listening uncomplainingly +to his abuse of Gypsies, whom, though he lives amongst them and is +married to one by whom he has several children, he holds in supreme +contempt, never speaking of them but as a lying, thievish, cowardly +set, any three of whom he could beat with one hand; as perhaps he +could, for he is a desperate pugilist, and has three times fought in +"the ring" with good men, whom, though not a scientific fighter, he +beat with ease by dint of terrible blows, causing them to roar out. +He is very well to do in the world; his caravan, a rather stately +affair, is splendidly furnished within; and it is a pleasure to see +his wife, at Hampton Court races, dressed in Gypsy fashion, decked +with real gems and jewels and rich gold chains, and waited upon by +her dark brothers dressed like dandy pages. How is all this expense +supported? Why, by horsedealing. Mr. G. is, then, up to all kinds +of horsedealers' tricks, no doubt. Aye, aye, he is up to them, but +he doesn't practise them. He says it's of no use, and that honesty +is the best policy, and he'll stick to it; and so he does, and finds +the profit of it. His traffic in horses, though confined entirely to +small people, such as market-gardeners, travellers, show-folks, and +the like, is very great; every small person who wishes to buy a +horse, or to sell a horse, or to swop a horse, goes to Mr. G., and +has never reason to complain, for all acknowledge that he has done +the fair thing by them; though all agree that there is no +overreaching him, which indeed very few people try to do, deterred by +the dread of his manual prowess, of which a Gypsy once gave to the +writer the following striking illustration: --"He will jal oprey to a +gry that's wafodu, prawla, and coure leste tuley with the courepen of +his wast." (He will go up to a vicious horse, brother, and knock him +down with a blow of his fist.) + +The arches of the railroad which bounds this region on the west and +north serve as a resort for Gypsies, who erect within them their +tents, which are thus sheltered in summer from the scorching rays of +the sun, and in winter from the drenching rain. In what close +proximity we sometimes find emblems of what is most rude and simple, +and what is most artificial and ingenious! For example, below the +arch is the Gypsy donkey-cart, whilst above it is thundering the +chariot of fire which can run across a county in half an hour. The +principal frequenters of these arches are Bosvils and Lees; the +former are chiefly tinkers, and the latter esconyemengres, or skewer- +makers. The reason for this difference is that the Bosvils are +chiefly immigrants from the country, where there is not much demand +for skewers, whereas the Lees are natives of the metropolis or the +neighbourhood, where the demand for skewers has from time immemorial +been enormously great. It was in the shelter of one of these arches +that the celebrated Ryley Bosvil, the Gypsy king of Yorkshire, +breathed his last a few years ago. + + + +THE MOUNT + + + +Before quitting the subject of Metropolitan Gypsies there is another +place to which it will be necessary to devote a few words, though it +is less entitled to the appelation of Gypsyry than rookery. It is +situated in the East of London, a region far more interesting to the +ethnologist and the philologist than the West, for there he will find +people of all kinds of strange races,--the wildest Irish; Greeks, +both Orthodox and Papistical; Jews, not only Ashkenazim and +Sephardim, but even Karaite; the worst, and consequently the most +interesting, description of Germans, the sugar-bakers; lots of +Malays; plenty of Chinamen; two or three dozen Hottentots, and about +the same number of Gypsies, reckoning men, women, and children. Of +the latter, and their place of abode, we have now only to do, leaving +the other strange, odd people to be disposed of on some other +occasion. + +Not far from Shoreditch Church, and at a short distance from the +street called Church Street, on the left hand, is a locality called +Friars' Mount, but generally for shortness called The Mount. It +derives its name from a friary built upon a small hillock in the time +of Popery, where a set of fellows lived in laziness and luxury on the +offerings of foolish and superstitious people, who resorted thither +to kiss and worship an ugly wooden image of the Virgin, said to be a +first-rate stick at performing miraculous cures. The neighbourhood, +of course, soon became a resort for vagabonds of every description, +for wherever friars are found rogues and thieves are sure to abound; +and about Friars' Mount, highwaymen, coiners, and Gypsies dwelt in +safety under the protection of the ministers of the miraculous image. +The friary has long since disappeared, the Mount has been levelled, +and the locality built over. The vice and villainy, however, which +the friary called forth still cling to the district. It is one of +the vilest dens of London, a grand resort for housebreakers, +garotters, passers of bad money, and other disreputable people, +though not for Gypsies; for however favourite a place it may have +been for the Romany in the old time, it no longer finds much favour +in their sight, from its not affording open spaces where they can +pitch their tents. One very small street, however, is certainly +entitled to the name of a Gypsy street, in which a few Gypsy families +have always found it convenient to reside, and who are in the habit +of receiving and lodging their brethren passing through London to and +from Essex and other counties east of the metropolis. There is +something peculiar in the aspect of this street, not observable in +that of any of the others, which one who visits it, should he have +been in Triana of Seville, would at once recognise as having seen in +the aspect of the lanes and courts of that grand location of the +Gypsies of the Andalusian capital. + +The Gypsies of the Mount live much in the same manner as their +brethren in the other Gypsyries of London. They chin the cost, make +skewers, baskets, and let out donkeys for hire. The chief difference +consists in their living in squalid houses, whilst the others inhabit +dirty tents and caravans. The last Gypsy of any note who resided in +this quarter was Joseph Lee; here he lived for a great many years, +and here he died, having attained the age of ninety. During his +latter years he was generally called Old Joe Lee, from his great age. +His wife or partner, who was also exceedingly old, only survived him +a few days. They were buried in the same grave, with much Gypsy +pomp, in the neighbouring churchyard. They were both of pure Gypsy +blood, and were generally known as the Gypsy king and queen of +Shoreditch. They left a numerous family of children and +grandchildren, some of whom are still to be found at the Mount. This +old Joe Lee in his day was a celebrated horse and donkey witch--that +is, he professed secrets which enabled him to make any wretched +animal of either species exhibit for a little time the spirit and +speed of "a flying drummedary." He was illustriously related, and +was very proud on that account, especially in being the brother's son +of old James, the cauring mush, whose exploits in the filching line +will be remembered as long as the venerable tribe of Purrum, or Lee, +continues in existence. + + + +RYLEY BOSVIL + + + +Ryley Bosvil was a native of Yorkshire, a country where, as the +Gypsies say, "there's a deadly sight of Bosvils." He was above the +middle height, exceedingly strong and active, and one of the best +riders in Yorkshire, which is saying a great deal. He was a thorough +Gypsy, versed in all the arts of the old race, had two wives, never +went to church, and considered that when a man died he was cast into +the earth, and there was an end of him. He frequently used to say +that if any of his people became Gorgios he would kill them. He had +a sister of the name of Clara, a nice, delicate, interesting girl, +about fourteen years younger than himself, who travelled about with +an aunt; this girl was noticed by a respectable Christian family, +who, taking a great interest in her, persuaded her to come and live +with them. She was instructed by them in the rudiments of the +Christian religion, appeared delighted with her new friends, and +promised never to leave them. After the lapse of about six weeks +there was a knock at the door; a dark man stood before it who said he +wanted Clara. Clara went out trembling, had some discourse with the +man in an unknown tongue, and shortly returned in tears, and said +that she must go. "What for?" said her friends. "Did you not +promise to stay with us?" "I did so," said the girl, weeping more +bitterly; "but that man is my brother, who says I must go with him, +and what he says must be." So with her brother she departed, and her +Christian friends never saw her again. What became of her? Was she +made away with? Many thought she was, but she was not. Ryley put +her into a light cart, drawn by "a flying pony," and hurried her +across England, even to distant Norfolk, where he left her, after +threatening her, with three Gypsy women who were devoted to him. +With these women the writer found her one night encamped in a dark +wood, and had much discourse with her, both on Christian and Egyptian +matters. She was very melancholy, bitterly regretted having been +compelled to quit her Christian friends, and said that she wished she +had never been a Gypsy. The writer, after exhorting her to keep a +firm grip of her Christianity, departed, and did not see her again +for nearly a quarter of a century, when he met her on Epsom Downs, on +the Derby day when the terrible horse Gladiateur beat all the English +steeds. She was then very much changed, very much changed indeed, +appearing as a full-blown Egyptian matron, with two very handsome +daughters flaringly dressed in genuine Gypsy fashion, to whom she was +giving motherly counsels as to the best means to hok and dukker the +gentlefolks. All her Christianity she appeared to have flung to the +dogs, for when the writer spoke to her on that very important +subject, she made no answer save by an indescribable Gypsy look. On +other matters she was communicative enough, telling the writer, +amongst other things, that since he saw her she had been twice +married, and both times very well, for that her first husband, by +whom she had the two daughters whom the writer "kept staring at," was +a man every inch of him, and her second, who was then on the Downs +grinding knives with a machine he had, though he had not much +manhood, being nearly eighty years old, had something much better, +namely a mint of money, which she hoped shortly to have in her own +possession. + +Ryley, like most of the Bosvils, was a tinker by profession; but, +though a tinker, he was amazingly proud and haughty of heart. His +grand ambition was to be a great man among his people, a Gypsy King. +To this end he furnished himself with clothes made after the +costliest Gypsy fashion: the two hinder buttons of the coat, which +was of thick blue cloth, were broad gold pieces of Spain, generally +called ounces; the fore-buttons were English "spaded guineas"; the +buttons of the waistcoat were half-guineas, and those of the collar +and the wrists of his shirt were seven-shilling gold pieces. In this +coat he would frequently make his appearance on a magnificent horse, +whose hoofs, like those of the steed of a Turkish sultan, were cased +in shoes of silver. How did he support such expense? it may be +asked. Partly by driving a trade in wafodu luvvu, counterfeit coin, +with which he was supplied by certain honest tradespeople of +Brummagem; partly and principally by large sums of money which he +received from his two wives, and which they obtained by the practice +of certain arts peculiar to Gypsy females. One of his wives was a +truly remarkable woman: she was of the Petulengro or Smith tribe; +her Christian name, if Christian name it can be called, was Xuri or +Shuri, and from her exceeding smartness and cleverness she was +generally called by the Gypsies Yocky Shuri,--that is, smart or +clever Shuri, yocky being a Gypsy word, signifying 'clever.' She +could dukker--that is, tell fortunes--to perfection, by which alone +during the racing season she could make a hundred pounds a month. +She was good at the big hok, that is, at inducing people to put money +into her hands, in the hope of its being multiplied; and, oh dear! +how she could caur--that is, filch gold rings and trinkets from +jewellers' cases; the kind of thing which the Spanish Gypsy women +call ustilar pastesas, filching with the hands. Frequently she would +disappear, and travel about England, and Scotland too, dukkering, +hokking, and cauring, and after the lapse of a month return and +deliver to her husband, like a true and faithful wife, the proceeds +of her industry. So no wonder that the Flying Tinker, as he was +called, was enabled to cut a grand appearance. He was very fond of +hunting, and would frequently join the field in regular hunting +costume, save and except that, instead of the leather hunting-cap, he +wore one of fur with a gold band around it, to denote that though he +mixed with Gorgios he was still a Romany-chal. Thus equipped and +mounted on a capital hunter, whenever he encountered a Gypsy +encampment he would invariably dash through it, doing all the harm he +could, in order, as he said, to let the juggals know that he was +their king and had a right to do what he pleased with his own. +Things went on swimmingly for a great many years, but, as prosperity +does not continue for ever, his dark hour came at last. His wives +got into trouble in one or two expeditions, and his dealings in +wafodu luvvu began to be noised about. Moreover, by his grand airs +and violent proceedings he had incurred the hatred of both Gorgios +and Gypsies, particularly of the latter, some of whom he had ridden +over and lamed for life. One day he addressed his two wives:- + + +"The Gorgios seek to hang me, +The Gypsies seek to kill me: +This country we must leave." + +Shuri. + +I'll jaw with you to heaven, +I'll jaw with you to Yaudors - +But not if Lura goes." + +Lura. + +"I'll jaw with you to heaven, +And to the wicked country, +Though Shuri goeth too." + +Ryley. + +"Since I must choose betwixt ye, +My choice is Yocky Shuri, +Though Lura loves me best." + +Lura. + +"My blackest curse on Shuri! +Oh, Ryley, I'll not curse you, +But you will never thrive." + + +She then took her departure with her cart and donkey, and Ryley +remained with Shuri. + + +Ryley. + +"I've chosen now betwixt ye; +Your wish you now have gotten, +But for it you shall smart." + + +He then struck her with his fist on the cheek, and broke her jawbone. +Shuri uttered no cry or complaint, only mumbled: + + +"Although with broken jawbone, +I'll follow thee, my Ryley, +Since Lura doesn't jal." + + +Thereupon Ryley and Yocky Shuri left Yorkshire, and wended their way +to London, where they took up their abode in the Gypsyry near the +Shepherd's Bush. Shuri went about dukkering and hokking, but not +with the spirit of former times, for she was not quite so young as +she had been, and her jaw, which was never properly cured, pained her +much. Ryley went about tinkering, but he was unacquainted with +London and its neighbourhood, and did not get much to do. An old +Gypsy-man, who was driving about a little cart filled with skewers, +saw him standing in a state of perplexity at a place where four roads +met. + + +Old Gypsy. + +"Methinks I see a brother! +Who's your father? Who's your mother? +And what may be your name?" + +Ryley. + +"A Bosvil was my father; +A Bosvil was my mother; +And Ryley is my name." + +Old Gypsy. + +"I'm glad to see you, brother! +I am a Kaulo Camlo. {4} +What service can I do?" + +Ryley. + +"I'm jawing petulengring, {5} +But do not know the country; +Perhaps you'll show me round." + +Old Gypsy. + +"I'll sikker tute, prala! +I'm bikkening esconyor; {6} +Av, av along with me!" + + +The old Gypsy showed Ryley about the country for a week or two, and +Ryley formed a kind of connection, and did a little business. He, +however, displayed little or no energy, was gloomy and dissatisfied, +and frequently said that his heart was broken since he had left +Yorkshire. + +Shuri did her best to cheer him, but without effect. Once, when she +bade him get up and exert himself, he said that if he did it would be +of little use, and asked her whether she did not remember the parting +prophecy of his other wife that he would never thrive. At the end of +about two years he ceased going his rounds, and did nothing but smoke +under the arches of the railroad, and loiter about beershops. At +length he became very weak, and took to his bed; doctors were called +in by his faithful Shuri, but there is no remedy for a bruised +spirit. A Methodist came and asked him, "What was his hope?" "My +hope," said he, "is that when I am dead I shall be put into the +ground, and my wife and children will weep over me." And such, it +may be observed, is the last hope of every genuine Gypsy. His hope +was gratified. Shuri and his children, of whom he had three--two +stout young fellows and a girl--gave him a magnificent funeral, and +screamed, shouted, and wept over his grave. They then returned to +the "Arches," not to divide his property amongst them, and to quarrel +about the division, according to Christian practice, but to destroy +it. They killed his swift pony--still swift, though twenty-seven +years of age--and buried it deep in the ground, without depriving it +of its skin. They then broke the caravan and cart to pieces, making +of the fragments a fire, on which they threw his bedding, carpets, +curtains, blankets, and everything which would burn. Finally, they +dashed his mirrors, china, and crockery to pieces, hacked his metal +pots, dishes and what-not to bits, and flung the whole on the blazing +pile. Such was the life, such the death, and such were the funeral +obsequies of Ryley Bosvil, a Gypsy who will be long remembered +amongst the English Romany for his buttons, his two wives, his grand +airs, and last, and not least, for having been the composer of +various stanzas in the Gypsy tongue, which have plenty of force, if +nothing else, to recommend them. One of these, addressed to Yocky +Shuri, runs as follows: + + +Tuley the Can I kokkeney cam +Like my rinkeny Yocky Shuri: +Oprey the chongor in ratti I'd cour +For my rinkeny Yocky Shuri! + + +Which may be thus rendered: + + +Beneath the bright sun, there is none, there is none, +I love like my Yocky Shuri: +With the greatest delight, in blood I would fight +To the knees for my Yocky Shuri! + + +KIRK YETHOLM + + + +There are two Yetholms--Town Yetholm and Kirk Yetholm. They stand at +the distance of about a quarter of a mile from each other, and +between them is a valley, down which runs a small stream, called the +Beaumont River, crossed by a little stone bridge. Of the town there +is not much to be said. It is a long, straggling place, on the road +between Morbuttle and Kelso, from which latter place it is distant +about seven miles. It is comparatively modern, and sprang up when +the Kirk town began to fall into decay. Kirk Yetholm derives the +first part of its name from the church, which serves for a place of +worship not only for the inhabitants of the place, but for those of +the town also. The present church is modern, having been built on +the site of the old kirk, which was pulled down in the early part of +the present century, and which had been witness of many a strange +event connected with the wars between England and Scotland. It +stands at the entrance of the place, on the left hand as you turn to +the village after ascending the steep road which leads from the +bridge. The place occupies the lower portion of a hill, a spur of +the Cheviot range, behind which is another hill, much higher, rising +to an altitude of at least 900 feet. At one time it was surrounded +by a stone wall, and at the farther end is a gateway overlooking a +road leading to the English border, from which Kirk Yetholm is +distant only a mile and a quarter; the boundary of the two kingdoms +being here a small brook called Shorton Burn, on the English side of +which is a village of harmless, simple Northumbrians, differing +strangely in appearance, manner, and language from the people who +live within a stone's throw of them on the other side. + +Kirk Yetholm is a small place, but with a remarkable look. It +consists of a street, terminating in what is called a green, with +houses on three sides, but open on the fourth, or right side to the +mountain, towards which quarter it is grassy and steep. Most of the +houses are ancient, and are built of rude stone. By far the most +remarkable-looking house is a large and dilapidated building, which +has much the appearance of a ruinous Spanish posada or venta. There +is not much life in the place, and you may stand ten minutes where +the street opens upon the square without seeing any other human +beings than two or three women seated at the house doors, or a +ragged, bare-headed boy or two lying on the grass on the upper side +of the Green. It came to pass that late one Saturday afternoon, at +the commencement of August, in the year 1866, I was standing where +the street opens on this Green, or imperfect square. My eyes were +fixed on the dilapidated house, the appearance of which awakened in +my mind all kinds of odd ideas. "A strange-looking place," said I to +myself at last, "and I shouldn't wonder if strange things have been +done in it." + +"Come to see the Gypsy toon, sir?" said a voice not far from me. + +I turned, and saw standing within two yards of me a woman about forty +years of age, of decent appearance, though without either cap or +bonnet. + +"A Gypsy town, is it?" said I; "why, I thought it had been Kirk +Yetholm." + +Woman.--"Weel, sir, if it is Kirk Yetholm, must it not be a Gypsy +toon? Has not Kirk Yetholm ever been a Gypsy toon?" + +Myself.--"My good woman, 'ever' is a long term, and Kirk Yetholm must +have been Kirk Yetholm long before there were Gypsies in Scotland, or +England either." + +Woman.--"Weel, sir, your honour may be right, and I dare say is; for +your honour seems to be a learned gentleman. Certain, however, it is +that Kirk Yetholm has been a Gypsy toon beyond the memory of man." + +Myself.--"You do not seem to be a Gypsy." + +Woman.--"Seem to be a Gypsy! Na, na, sir! I am the bairn of decent +parents, and belong not to Kirk Yetholm, but to Haddington." + +Myself.--"And what brought you to Kirk Yetholm?" + +Woman.--"Oh, my ain little bit of business brought me to Kirk +Yetholm, sir." + +Myself.--"Which is no business of mine. That's a queer-looking house +there." + +Woman.--"The house that your honour was looking at so attentively +when I first spoke to ye? A queer-looking house it is, and a queer +kind of man once lived in it. Does your honour know who once lived +in that house?" + +Myself.--"No. How should I? I am here for the first time, and after +taking a bite and sup at the inn at the town over yonder I strolled +hither." + +Woman.--"Does your honour come from far?" + +Myself.--"A good way. I came from Strandraar, the farthest part of +Galloway, where I landed from a ship which brought me from Ireland." + +Woman.--"And what may have brought your honour into these parts?" + +Myself.--"Oh, my ain wee bit of business brought me into these +parts." + +"Which wee bit of business is nae business of mine," said the woman, +smiling. "Weel, your honour is quite right to keep your ain counsel; +for, as your honour weel kens, if a person canna keep his ain counsel +it is nae likely that any other body will keep it for him. But to +gae back to the queer house, and the queer man that once 'habited it. +That man, your honour, was old Will Faa." + +Myself.--"Old Will Faa!" + +Woman.--"Yes. Old Will Faa, the Gypsy king, smuggler, and innkeeper; +he lived in that inn." + +Myself.--"Oh, then that house has been an inn?" + +Woman.--"It still is an inn, and has always been an inn; and though +it has such an eerie look it is sometimes lively enough, more +especially after the Gypsies have returned from their summer +excursions in the country. It's a roaring place then. They spend +most of their sleight-o'-hand gains in that house." + +Myself.--"Is the house still kept by a Faa?" + +Woman.--"No, sir; there are no Faas to keep it. The name is clean +dead in the land, though there is still some of the blood remaining." + +Myself.--"I really should like to see some of the blood." + +Woman.--"Weel, sir, you can do that without much difficulty; there +are not many Gypsies just now in Kirk Yetholm; but the one who they +say has more of his blood than any one else happens to be here. I +mean his grandbairn--his daughter's daughter; she whom they ca' the +'Gypsy Queen o' Yetholm,' and whom they lead about the toon once a +year, mounted on a cuddy, with a tin crown on her head, with much +shouting, and with mony a barbaric ceremony." + +Myself.--"I really should like to see her." + +Woman.--"Weel, sir, there's a woman behind you, seated at the +doorway, who can get your honour not only the sight of her, but the +speech of her, for she is one of the race, and a relation of hers; +and, to tell ye the truth, she has had her eye upon your honour for +some time past, expecting to be asked about the qeeen, for scarcely +anybody comes to Yetholm but goes to see the queen; and some gae so +far as to say that they merely crowned her queen in hopes of bringing +grist to the Gypsy mill." + +I thanked the woman, and was about to turn away, in order to address +myself to the other woman seated on the step, when my obliging friend +said, "I beg your pardon, sir, but before ye go I wish to caution +you, when you get to the speech of the queen, not to put any +speerings to her about a certain tongue or dialect which they say the +Gypsies have. All the Gypsies become glum and dour as soon as they +are spoken to about their language, and particularly the queen. The +queen might say something uncivil to your honour, should you ask her +questions about her language." + +Myself.--"Oh, then the Gypsies of Yetholm have a language of their +own?" + +Woman.--"I canna say, sir; I dinna ken whether they have or not; I +have been at Yetholm several years, about my ain wee bit o' business, +and never heard them utter a word that was not either English or +broad Scotch. Some people say that they have a language of their +ain, and others say that they have nane, and moreover that, though +they call themselves Gypsies, they are far less Gypsy than Irish, a +great deal of Irish being mixed in their veins with a very little of +the much more respectable Gypsy blood. It may be sae, or it may be +not; perhaps your honour will find out. That's the woman, sir, just +behind ye at the door. Gud e'en. I maun noo gang and boil my cup +o'tay." + +To the woman at the door I now betook myself. She was seated on the +threshold, and employed in knitting. She was dressed in white, and +had a cap on her head, from which depended a couple of ribbons, one +on each side. As I drew near she looked up. She had a full, round, +smooth face, and her complexion was brown, or rather olive, a hue +which contrasted with that of her eyes, which were blue. + +"There is something Gypsy in that face," said I to myself, as I +looked at her; "but I don't like those eyes." + +"A fine evening," said I to her at last. + +"Yes, sir," said the woman, with very little of the Scotch accent; +"it is a fine evening. Come to see the town?" + +"Yes," said I; "I am come to see the town. A nice little town it +seems." + +"And I suppose come to see the Gypsies, too," said the woman, with a +half smile. + +"Well," said I, "to be frank with you, I came to see the Gypsies. +You are not one, I suppose?" + +"Indeed I am," said the woman, rather sharply, "and who shall say +that I am not, seeing that I am a relation of old Will Faa, the man +whom the woman from Haddington was speaking to you about; for I heard +her mention his name?" + +"Then," said I, "you must be related to her whom they call the Gypsy +queen." + +"I am, indeed, sir. Would you wish to see her?" + +"By all means," said I. "I should wish very much to see the Gypsy +queen." + +"Then I will show you to her, sir; many gentlefolks from England come +to see the Gypsy queen of Yetholm. Follow me, sir!" + +She got up, and, without laying down her knitting-work, went round +the corner, and began to ascend the hill. She was strongly made, and +was rather above the middle height. She conducted me to a small +house, some little way up the hill. As we were going, I said to her, +"As you are a Gypsy, I suppose you have no objection to a coro of +koshto levinor?" {7} + +She stopped her knitting for a moment, and appeared to consider, and +then resuming it, she said hesitatingly, "No, sir, no! None at all! +That is, not exactly!" + +"She is no true Gypsy, after all," said I to myself. + +We went through a little garden to the door of the house, which stood +ajar. She pushed it open, and looked in; then, turning round, she +said: "She is not here, sir; but she is close at hand. Wait here +till I go and fetch her." She went to a house a little farther up +the hill, and I presently saw her returning with another female, of +slighter build, lower in stature, and apparently much older. She +came towards me with much smiling, smirking, and nodding, which I +returned with as much smiling and nodding as if I had known her for +threescore years. She motioned me with her hand to enter the house. +I did so. The other woman returned down the hill, and the queen of +the Gypsies entering, and shutting the door, confronted me on the +floor, and said, in a rather musical, but slightly faltering voice: + +"Now, sir, in what can I oblige you?" + +Thereupon, letting the umbrella fall, which I invariably carry about +with me in my journeyings, I flung my arms three times up into the +air, and in an exceedingly disagreeable voice, owing to a cold which +I had had for some time, and which I had caught amongst the lakes of +Loughmaben, whilst hunting after Gypsies whom I could not find, I +exclaimed: + +"Sossi your nav? Pukker mande tute's nav! Shan tu a mumpli-mushi, +or a tatchi Romany?" + +Which, interpreted into Gorgio, runs thus: + +"What is your name? Tell me your name! Are you a mumping woman, or +a true Gypsy?" + +The woman appeared frightened, and for some time said nothing, but +only stared at me. At length, recovering herself, she exclaimed, in +an angry tone, "Why do you talk to me in that manner, and in that +gibberish? I don't understand a word of it." + +"Gibberish!" said I; "it is no gibberish; it is Zingarrijib, Romany +rokrapen, real Gypsy of the old order." + +"Whatever it is," said the woman, "it's of no use speaking it to me. +If you want to speak to me, you must speak English or Scotch." + +"Why, they told me as how you were a Gypsy," said I. + +"And they told you the truth," said the woman; "I am a Gypsy, and a +real one; I am not ashamed of my blood." + +"If yer were a Gyptian," said I, "yer would be able to speak Gyptian; +but yer can't, not a word." + +"At any rate," said the woman, "I can speak English, which is more +than you can. Why, your way of speaking is that of the lowest +vagrants of the roads." + +"Oh, I have two or three ways of speaking English," said I; "and when +I speaks to low wagram folks, I speaks in a low wagram manner." + +"Not very civil," said the woman. + +"A pretty Gypsy!" said I; "why, I'll be bound you don't know what a +churi is!" + +The woman gave me a sharp look; but made no reply. + +"A pretty queen of the Gypsies!" said I; "why, she doesn't know the +meaning of churi!" + +"Doesn't she?" said the woman, evidently nettled; "doesn't she?" + +"Why, do you mean to say that you know the meaning of churi?" + +"Why, of course I do," said the woman. + +"Hardly, my good lady," said I; "hardly; a churi to you is merely a +churi." + +"A churi is a knife," said the woman, in a tone of defiance; "a churi +is a knife." + +"Oh, it is," said I; "and yet you tried to persuade me that you had +no peculiar language of your own, and only knew English and Scotch: +churi is a word of the language in which I spoke to you at first, +Zingarrijib, or Gypsy language; and since you know that word, I make +no doubt that you know others, and in fact can speak Gypsy. Come; +let us have a little confidential discourse together." + +The woman stood for some time, as if in reflection, and at length +said: "Sir, before having any particular discourse with you, I wish +to put a few questions to you, in order to gather from your answers +whether it is safe to talk to you on Gypsy matters. You pretend to +understand the Gypsy language: if I find you do not, I will hold no +further discourse with you; and the sooner you take yourself off the +better. If I find you do, I will talk with you as long as you like. +What do you call that?"--and she pointed to the fire. + +"Speaking Gyptianly?" said I. + +The woman nodded. + +"Whoy, I calls that yog." + +"Hm," said the woman: "and the dog out there?" + +"Gyptian-loike?" said I. + +"Yes." + +"Whoy, I calls that a juggal." + +"And the hat on your head?" + +"Well, I have two words for that: a staury and a stadge." + +"Stadge," said the woman, "we call it here. Now what's a gun?" + +"There is no Gypsy in England," said I, "can tell you the word for a +gun; at least the proper word, which is lost. They have a word--yag- +engro--but that is a made-up word signifying a fire-thing." + +"Then you don't know the word for a gun," said the Gypsy. + +"Oh dear me! Yes," said I; "the genuine Gypsy word for a gun is +puschca. But I did not pick up that word in England, but in Hungary, +where the Gypsies retain their language better than in England: +puschca is the proper word for a gun, and not yag-engro, which may +mean a fire-shovel, tongs, poker, or anything connected with fire, +quite as well as a gun." + +"Puschca is the word, sure enough," said the Gypsy. "I thought I +should have caught you there; and now I have but one more question to +ask you, and when I have done so, you may as well go; for I am quite +sure you cannot answer it. What is Nokkum?" + +"Nokkum," said I; "nokkum?" + +"Aye," said the Gypsy; "what is Nokkum? Our people here, besides +their common name of Romany, have a private name for themselves, +which is Nokkum or Nokkums. Why do the children of the Caungri Foros +call themselves Nokkums?" + +"Nokkum," said I; "nokkum? The root of nokkum must be nok, which +signifieth a nose." + +"A-h!" said the Gypsy, slowly drawing out the monosyllable, as if in +astonishment. + +"Yes," said I; "the root of nokkum is assuredly nok, and I have no +doubt that your people call themselves Nokkum because they are in the +habit of nosing the Gorgios. Nokkums means Nosems." + +"Sit down, sir," said the Gypsy, handing me a chair. "I am now ready +to talk to you as much as you please about Nokkum words and matters, +for I see there is no danger. But I tell you frankly that had I not +found that you knew as much as, or a great deal more than, myself, +not a hundred pounds, nor indeed all the money in Berwick, should +have induced me to hold discourse with you about the words and +matters of the Brown children of Kirk Yetholm." + +I sat down in the chair which she handed me; she sat down in another, +and we were presently in deep discourse about matters Nokkum. We +first began to talk about words, and I soon found that her knowledge +of Romany was anything but extensive; far less so, indeed, than that +of the commonest English Gypsy woman, for whenever I addressed her in +regular Gypsy sentences, and not in poggado jib, or broken language, +she would giggle and say I was too deep for her. I should say that +the sum total of her vocabulary barely amounted to three hundred +words. Even of these there were several which were not pure Gypsy +words--that is, belonging to the speech which the ancient Zingary +brought with them to Britain. Some of her bastard Gypsy words +belonged to the cant or allegorical jargon of thieves, who, in order +to disguise their real meaning, call one thing by the name of +another. For example, she called a shilling a 'hog,' a word +belonging to the old English cant dialect, instead of calling it by +the genuine Gypsy term tringurushi, the literal meaning of which is +three groats. Then she called a donkey 'asal,' and a stone 'cloch,' +which words are neither cant nor Gypsy, but Irish or Gaelic. I +incurred her vehement indignation by saying they were Gaelic. She +contradicted me flatly, and said that whatever else I might know I +was quite wrong there; for that neither she nor any one of her people +would condescend to speak anything so low as Gaelic, or indeed, if +they possibly could avoid it, to have anything to do with the +poverty-stricken creatures who used it. It is a singular fact that, +though principally owing to the magic writings of Walter Scott, the +Highland Gael and Gaelic have obtained the highest reputation in +every other part of the world, they are held in the Lowlands in very +considerable contempt. There the Highlander, elsewhere "the bold +Gael with sword and buckler," is the type of poverty and +wretchedness; and his language, elsewhere "the fine old Gaelic, the +speech of Adam and Eve in Paradise," is the designation of every +unintelligible jargon. But not to digress. On my expressing to the +Gypsy queen my regret that she was unable to hold with me a regular +conversation in Romany, she said that no one regretted it more than +herself, but that there was no help for it; and that slight as I +might consider her knowledge of Romany to be, it was far greater than +that of any other Gypsy on the Border, or indeed in the whole of +Scotland; and that as for the Nokkums, there was not one on the Green +who was acquainted with half a dozen words of Romany, though the few +words they had they prized high enough, and would rather part with +their heart's blood than communicate them to a stranger. + +"Unless," said I, "they found the stranger knew more than +themselves." + +"That would make no difference with them," said the queen, "though it +has made a great deal of difference with me. They would merely turn +up their noses, and say they had no Gaelic. You would not find them +so communicative as me; the Nokkums, in general, are a dour set, +sir." + +Before quitting the subject of language it is but right to say that +though she did not know much Gypsy, and used cant and Gaelic terms, +she possessed several words unknown to the English Romany, but which +are of the true Gypsy order. Amongst them was the word tirrehi, or +tirrehai, signifying shoes or boots, which I had heard in Spain and +in the east of Europe. Another was calches, a Wallachian word +signifying trousers. Moreover, she gave the right pronunciation to +the word which denotes a man not of Gypsy blood, saying gajo, and not +gorgio, as the English Gypsies do. After all, her knowledge of +Gentle Romany was not altogether to be sneezed at. + +Ceasing to talk to her about words, I began to question her about the +Faas. She said that a great number of the Faas had come in the old +time to Yetholm, and settled down there, and that her own forefathers +had always been the principal people among them. I asked her if she +remembered her grandfather, old Will Faa, and received for answer +that she remembered him very well, and that I put her very much in +mind of him, being a tall, lusty man, like himself, and having a +skellying look with the left eye, just like him. I asked her if she +had not seen queer folks at Yetholm in her grandfather's time. +"Dosta dosta," said she; "plenty, plenty of queer folk I saw at +Yetholm in my grandfather's time, and plenty I have seen since, and +not the least queer is he who is now asking me questions." "Did you +ever see Piper Allen?" said I; "he was a great friend of your +grandfather's." "I never saw him," she replied; "but I have often +heard of him. He married one of our people." "He did so," said I, +"and the marriage-feast was held on the Green just behind us. He got +a good, clever wife, and she got a bad, rascally husband. One night, +after taking an affectionate farewell of her, he left her on an +expedition, with plenty of money in his pocket, which he had obtained +from her, and which she had procured by her dexterity. After going +about four miles he bethought himself that she had still some money, +and returning crept up to the room in which she lay asleep, and stole +her pocket, in which were eight guineas; then slunk away, and never +returned, leaving her in poverty, from which she never recovered." I +then mentioned Madge Gordon, at one time the Gypsy queen of the +Border, who used, magnificently dressed, to ride about on a pony shod +with silver, inquiring if she had ever seen her. She said she had +frequently seen Madge Faa, for that was her name, and not Gordon; but +that when she knew her, all her magnificence, beauty, and royalty had +left her; for she was then a poor, poverty-stricken old woman, just +able with a pipkin in her hand to totter to the well on the Green for +water. Then with much nodding, winking, and skellying, I began to +talk about Drabbing bawlor, dooking gryes, cauring, and hokking, and +asked if them 'ere things were ever done by the Nokkums: and +received for answer that she believed such things were occasionally +done, not by the Nokkums, but by other Gypsies, with whom her people +had no connection. + +Observing her eyeing me rather suspiciously, I changed the subject; +asking her if she had travelled much about. She told me she had, and +that she had visited most parts of Scotland, and seen a good bit of +the northern part of England. + +"Did you travel alone?" said I. + +"No," said she; "when I travelled in Scotland I was with some of my +own people, and in England with the Lees and Bosvils." + +"Old acquaintances of mine," said I; "why only the other day I was +with them at Fairlop Fair, in the Wesh." + +"I frequently heard them talk of Epping Forest," said the Gypsy; "a +nice place, is it not?" + +"The loveliest forest in the world!" said I. "Not equal to what it +was, but still the loveliest forest in the world, and the +pleasantest, especially in summer; for then it is thronged with grand +company, and the nightingales, and cuckoos, and Romany chals and +chies. As for Romany-chals there is not such a place for them in the +whole world as the Forest. Them that wants to see Romany-chals +should go to the Forest, especially to the Bald-faced Hind on the +hill above Fairlop, on the day of Fairlop Fair. It is their +trysting-place, as you would say, and there they musters from all +parts of England, and there they whoops, dances, and plays; keeping +some order nevertheless, because the Rye of all the Romans is in the +house, seated behind the door:- + + +Romany Chalor +Anglo the wuddur +Mistos are boshing; +Mande beshello +Innar the wuddur +Shooning the boshipen." + +Roman lads +Before the door +Bravely fiddle; +Here I sit +Within the door +And hear them fiddle. + + +"I wish I knew as much Romany as you, sir," said the Gypsy. "Why, I +never heard so much Romany before in all my life." + +She was rather a small woman, apparently between sixty and seventy, +with intelligent and rather delicate features. Her complexion was +darker than that of the other female; but she had the same kind of +blue eyes. The room in which we were seated was rather long, and +tolerably high. In the wall, on the side which fronted the windows +which looked out upon the Green, were oblong holes for beds, like +those seen in the sides of a cabin. There was nothing of squalor or +poverty about the place. + +Wishing to know her age, I inquired of her what it was. She looked +angry, and said she did not know. + +"Are you forty-nine?" said I, with a terrible voice, and a yet more +terrible look. + +"More," said she, with a smile; "I am sixty-eight." + +There was something of the gentlewoman in her: on my offering her +money she refused to take it, saying that she did not want it, and it +was with the utmost difficulty that I persuaded her to accept a +trifle, with which, she said, she would buy herself some tea. + +But withal there was hukni in her, and by that she proved her Gypsy +blood. I asked her if she would be at home on the following day, for +in that case I would call and have some more talk with her, and +received for answer that she would be at home and delighted to see +me. On going, however, on the following day, which was Sunday, I +found the garden-gate locked and the window-shutters up, plainly +denoting that there was nobody at home. + +Seeing some men lying on the hill, a little way above, who appeared +to be observing me, I went up to them for the purpose of making +inquiries. They were all young men, and decently though coarsely +dressed. None wore the Scottish cap or bonnet, but all the hat of +England. Their countenances were rather dark, but had nothing of the +vivacious expression observable in the Gypsy face, but much of the +dogged, sullen look which makes the countenances of the generality of +the Irish who inhabit London and some other of the large English +towns so disagreeable. They were lying on their bellies, +occasionally kicking their heels into the air. I greeted them +civilly, but received no salutation in return. + +"Is So-and-so at home?" said I. + +"No," said one, who, though seemingly the eldest of the party, could +not have been more than three-and-twenty years of age; "she is gone +out." + +"Is she gone far?" said I. + +"No," said the speaker, kicking up his heels. + +"Where is she gone to?" + +"She's gone to Cauldstrame." + +"How far is that?" + +"Just thirteen miles." + +"Will she be at home to-day?" + +"She may, or she may not." + +"Are you of her people?" said I. + +"No-h," said the fellow, slowly drawing out the word. + +"Can you speak Irish?" + +"No-h; I can't speak Irish," said the fellow, tossing up his nose, +and then flinging up his heels. + +"You know what arragod is?" said I. + +"No-h!" + +"But you know what ruppy is?" said I; and thereupon I winked and nodded. + +"No-h;" and then up went the nose, and subsequently the heels. + +"Good day," said I; and turned away; I received no counter- +salutation; but, as I went down the hill, there was none of the +shouting and laughter which generally follow a discomfited party. +They were a hard, sullen, cautious set, in whom a few drops of Gypsy +blood were mixed with some Scottish and a much larger quantity of low +Irish. Between them and their queen a striking difference was +observable. In her there was both fun and cordiality; in them not +the slightest appearance of either. What was the cause of this +disparity? The reason was they were neither the children nor the +grandchildren of real Gypsies, but only the remote descendants, +whereas she was the granddaughter of two genuine Gypsies, old Will +Faa and his wife, whose daughter was her mother; so that she might be +considered all but a thorough Gypsy; for being by her mother's side a +Gypsy, she was of course much more so than she would have been had +she sprung from a Gypsy father and a Gentile mother; the qualities of +a child, both mental and bodily, depending much less on the father +than on the mother. Had her father been a Faa, instead of her +mother, I should probably never have heard from her lips a single +word of Romany, but found her as sullen and inductile as the Nokkums +on the Green, whom it was of little more use questioning than so many +stones. + +Nevertheless, she had played me the hukni, and that was not very +agreeable; so I determined to be even with her, and by some means or +other to see her again. Hearing that on the next day, which was +Monday, a great fair was to be held in the neighbourhood of Kelso, I +determined to go thither, knowing that the likeliest place in all the +world to find a Gypsy at is a fair; so I went to the grand cattle- +fair of St. George, held near the ruined castle of Roxburgh, in a +lovely meadow not far from the junction of the Teviot and Tweed; and +there sure enough, on my third saunter up and down, I met my Gypsy. +We met in the most cordial manner--smirks and giggling on her side, +smiles and nodding on mine. She was dressed respectably in black, +and was holding the arm of a stout wench, dressed in garments of the +same colour, who she said was her niece, and a rinkeni rakli. The +girl whom she called rinkeni or handsome, but whom I did not consider +handsome, had much of the appearance of one of those Irish girls, +born in London, whom one so frequently sees carrying milk-pails about +the streets of the metropolis. By the bye, how is it that the +children born in England of Irish parents account themselves Irish +and not English, whilst the children born in Ireland of English +parents call themselves not English but Irish? Is it because there +is ten times more nationality in Irish blood than in English? After +the smirks, smiles, and salutations were over, I inquired whether +there were many Gypsies in the fair. "Plenty," said she, "plenty +Tates, Andersons, Reeds, and many others. That woman is an Anderson- +-yonder is a Tate," said she, pointing to two common-looking females. +"Have they much Romany?" said I. "No," said she, "scarcely a word." +"I think I shall go and speak to them," said I. "Don't," said she; +"they would only be uncivil to you. Moreover, they have nothing of +that kind--on the word of a rawnie they have not." + +I looked in her eyes; there was nothing of hukni in them, so I shook +her by the hand; and through rain and mist, for the day was a +wretched one, trudged away to Dryburgh to pay my respects at the tomb +of Walter Scott, a man with whose principles I have no sympathy, but +for whose genius I have always entertained the most intense admiration. + + + +Footnotes: + + + +{1} A Christian. + +{2} A fox. + +{3} "Merripen" means life, and likewise death; even as "collico" +means to-morrow as well as yesterday, and perhaps "sorlo," evening as +well as morning. + +{4} A Black Lovel. + +{5} Going a-tinkering. + +{6} I'll show you about, brother! I'm selling skewers. + +{7} A cup of good ale. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Romano Lavo-Lil, by George Borrow + diff --git a/old/rmlav10.zip b/old/rmlav10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..db57c08 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/rmlav10.zip diff --git a/old/rmlav10h.htm b/old/rmlav10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d1e578c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/rmlav10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8632 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>New File</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {margin:10%; text-align:justify} +blockquote {font-size:14pt} +P {font-size:14pt} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> +<br> +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Romano Lavo-Lil, by George Borrow +<br> +The Project Gutenberg Etext Romany Dictionary, by George Borrow +<br> +The Project Gutenberg Etext Gypsy Dictinary, by George Borrow +<br> +#8 in our series George Borrow <br> +<br> +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +<br> +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! +<br> +<br> +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +<br> +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +<br> +electronic path open for the next readers. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +This etext was prepared by David Price, email +ccx074@coventry.ac.uk, <br> +from the 1905 John Murray edition. <br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +ROMANO LAVO-LIL<br> +WORD-BOOK OF THE ROMANY<br> +OR, ENGLISH GYPSY LANGUAGE<br> +WITH SPECIMENS OF GYPSY POETRY, AND AN<br> +ACCONT OF CERTAIN GYPSYRIES OR<br> +PLACES INHABITED BY THEM, AND<br> +OF VARIOS THINGS RELATING TO<br> +GYPSY LIFE IN ENGLAND.<br> +<br> +<br> +by George Borrow <br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +Contents:<br> +<br> +The English Gypsy Language<br> +Romano Lavo-Lil: Word-book of the Romany<br> +Rhymed List of Gypsy Verbs<br> +Betie Rokrapenes: Little Sayings<br> +Cotorres of Mi-dibble's Lil. Chiv'd Adrey Romanes: Pieces of +Scripture cast into Romany<br> +The Lord's Prayer in the Gypsy Dialect of Transylvania<br> +Lil of Romano Jinnypen: Book of the Wisdom of the Egyptians<br> +Romane Navior of Temes and Gavior: Gypsy Names of Countries and +Towns<br> +Thomas Rossar-Mescro, or Thomas Herne<br> +Kokkodus Artarus<br> +Mang, Prala: Beg on, Brother<br> +English Gypsy Songs<br> + Welling Kattaney: The Gypsy Meeting<br> + Lelling Cappi: Making a Fortune<br> + The Dui Chalor: The Two Gypsies<br> + Miro Romany Chi: My Roman Lass<br> + Ava, Chi: Yes, my Girl<br> + The Temeskoe Rye: The Youthful Earl<br> + Camo-Gillie: Love Song<br> + Tugnis Amande: Woe is me<br> + The Rye and the Rawne: The Squire and Lady<br> + Romany Suttur Gillie: Gypsy Lullaby<br> + Sharrafi Kralyissa: Our Blessed Queen<br> + Plastra Lesti: Run for it!<br> +Foreign Gypsy Songs<br> + The Romany Songstress<br> + L'Erajai: The Frair<br> + Malbrun: Malbrouk<br> +The English Gypsies<br> + Tugney Beshor: Sorrowful Years<br> + Their History<br> +Gypsy Names<br> +Fortune-Telling<br> + The Hukni<br> + Cauring<br> +Metropolitan Gypsyries<br> + Wandsworth<br> + The Potteries<br> + The Mount<br> +Ryley Bosvil<br> +Kirk Yetholm<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +"Can you rokra Romany?<br> +Can you play the bosh?<br> +Can you jal adrey the staripen?<br> +Can you chin the cost?"<br> +<br> +"Can you speak the Roman tongue?<br> +Can you play the fiddle?<br> +Can you eat the prison-loaf?<br> +Can you cut and whittle?"<br> +<br> +The Author of the present work wishes to state that the +Vocabulary, which forms part of it, has existed in manuscript for +many years. It is one of several vocabularies of various +dialects of the Gypsy tongue, made by him in different +countries. The most considerable - that of the dialect of the +Zincali or Rumijelies (Romany Chals) of Spain - was published in +the year 1841. Amongst those which remain unpublished is one of +the Transylvanian Gypsy, made principally at Kolosvār in the +year 1844.<br> +<br> +<p><i>December</i> 1, 1873.<br> +<br> +{Special Project Gutenberg note: In this book a lot of +non-European characters are used which cannot easily be +reproduced. Rather than omit these entirely I have commented +where they occur in the text. If there's sufficient demand I'll +try to produce an updated text with these characters. David +Price, 28 June 2000}<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +THE ENGLISH GYPSY LANGUAGE<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +The Gypsies of England call their language, as the Gypsies of +many other countries call theirs, <i>Romany</i> or +<i>Romanes,</i> a word either derived from the Indian <i>Ram</i> +or <i>Rama,</i> which signifies a husband, or from the town Rome, +which took its name either from the Indian <i>Ram,</i> or from +the Gaulic word, <i>Rom,</i> which is nearly tantamount to +husband or man, for as the Indian <i>Ram</i> means a husband or +man, so does the Gaulic <i>Pom</i> signify that which constitutes +a man and enables him to become a husband.<br> +<br> +Before entering on the subject of the English Gypsy, I may +perhaps be expected to say something about the original Gypsy +tongue. It is, however, very difficult to say with certainty +anything on the subject. There can be no doubt that a veritable +Gypsy tongue at one time existed, but that it at present exists +there is great doubt indeed. The probability is that the Gypsy +at present exists only in dialects more or less like the language +originally spoken by the Gypsy or Zingaro race. Several dialects +of the Gypsy are to be found which still preserve along with a +considerable number of seemingly original words certain curious +grammatical forms, quite distinct from those of any other +speech. Others are little more than jargons, in which a certain +number of Gypsy words are accommodated to the grammatical forms +of the languages of particular countries. In the foremost class +of the purer Gypsy dialects, I have no hesitation in placing +those of Russia, Wallachia, Bulgaria, and Transylvania. They are +so alike, that he who speaks one of them can make himself very +well understood by those who speak any of the rest; from whence +it may reasonably be inferred that none of them can differ much +from the original Gypsy speech; so that when speaking of Gypsy +language, any one of these may be taken as a standard. One of +them - I shall not mention which - I have selected for that +purpose, more from fancy than any particular reason.<br> +<br> +The Gypsy language, then, or what with some qualification I may +call such, may consist of some three thousand words, the greater +part of which are decidedly of Indian origin, being connected +with the Sanscrit or some other Indian dialect; the rest consist +of words picked up by the Gypsies from various languages in their +wanderings from the East. It has two genders, masculine and +feminine; <i>o</i> represents the masculine and <i>i</i> the +feminine: for example, <i>boro rye,</i> a great gentleman; +<i>bori rani,</i> a great lady. There is properly no indefinite +article: <i>gajo</i> or <i>gorgio,</i> a man or gentile; <i>o +gajo,</i> the man. The noun has two numbers, the singular and +the plural. It has various cases formed by postpositions, but +has, strictly speaking, no genitive. It has prepositions as well +as postpositions; sometimes the preposition is used with the noun +and sometimes the postposition: for example, <i>cad o gav</i>, +from the town; <i>chungale mannochendar,</i> evil men from, +<i>i.e.</i> from evil men. The verb has no infinitive; in lieu +thereof, the conjunction 'that' is placed before some person of +some tense. 'I wish to go' is expressed in Gypsy by <i>camov te +jaw,</i> literally, I wish that I go; thou wishest to go, +<i>caumes te jas,</i> thou wishest that thou goest; <i>caumen te +jallan,</i> they wish that they go. Necessity is expressed by +the impersonal verb and the conjunction 'that': <i>hom te +jay,</i> I must go; lit. I am that I go; <i>shan te jallan,</i> +they are that they go; and so on. There are words to denote the +numbers from one up to a thousand. For the number nine there are +two words, <i>nu</i> and <i>ennyo.</i> Almost all the Gypsy +numbers are decidedly connected with the Sanscrit.<br> +<br> +After these observations on what may be called the best preserved +kind of Gypsy, I proceed to a lower kind, that of England. The +English Gypsy speech is very scanty, amounting probably to not +more than fourteen hundred words, the greater part of which seem +to be of Indian origin. The rest form a strange medley taken by +the Gypsies from various Eastern and Western languages: some few +are Arabic, many are Persian; some are Sclavo-Wallachian, others +genuine Sclavonian. Here and there a Modern Greek or Hungarian +word is discoverable; but in the whole English Gypsy tongue I +have never noted but one French word - namely, <i>tass</i> or +<i>dass,</i> by which some of the very old Gypsies occasionally +call a cup.<br> +<br> +Their vocabulary being so limited, the Gypsies have of course +words of their own only for the most common objects and ideas; as +soon as they wish to express something beyond these they must +have recourse to English, and even to express some very common +objects, ideas, and feelings, they are quite at a loss in their +own tongue, and must either employ English words or very vague +terms indeed. They have words for the sun and the moon, but they +have no word for the stars, and when they wish to name them in +Gypsy, they use a word answering to 'lights.' They have a word +for a horse and for a mare, but they have no word for a colt, +which in some other dialects of the Gypsy is called <i>kuro;</i> +and to express a colt they make use of the words <i>tawno +gry,</i> a little horse, which after all may mean a pony. They +have words for black, white, and red, but none for the less +positive colours - none for grey, green, and yellow. They have +no definite word either for hare or rabbit; <i>shoshoi,</i> by +which they generally designate a rabbit, signifies a hare as +well, and <i>kaun-engro,</i> a word invented to distinguish a +hare, and which signifies ear-fellow, is no more applicable to a +hare than to a rabbit, as both have long ears. They have no +certain word either for to-morrow or yesterday, <i>collico</i> +signifying both indifferently. A remarkable coincidence must +here be mentioned, as it serves to show how closely related are +Sanscrit and Gypsy. <i>Shoshoi</i> and <i>collico</i> are nearly +of the same sound as the Sanscrit <i>sasa</i> and <i>kalya,</i> +and exactly of the same import; for as the Gypsy <i>shoshoi</i> +signifies both hare and rabbit, and <i>collico</i> to-morrow as +well as yesterday, so does the Sanscrit <i>sasa</i> signify both +hare and rabbit, and <i>kalya</i> tomorrow as well as +yesterday.<br> +<br> +The poverty of their language in nouns the Gypsies endeavour to +remedy by the frequent use of the word <i>engro.</i> This word +affixed to a noun or verb turns it into something figurative, by +which they designate, seldom very appropriately, some object for +which they have no positive name. <i>Engro</i> properly means a +fellow, and <i>engri,</i> which is the feminine or neuter +modification, a thing. When the noun or verb terminates in a +vowel, <i>engro</i> is turned into <i>mengro,</i> and +<i>engri</i> into <i>mengri.</i> I have already shown how, by +affixing <i>engro</i> to <i>kaun,</i> the Gypsies have invented a +word to express a hare. In like manner, by affixing <i>engro</i> +to <i>pov,</i> earth, they have coined a word for a potato, which +they call <i>pov-engro</i> or <i>pov-engri,</i> earth-fellow or +thing; and by adding <i>engro</i> to <i>rukh,</i> or +<i>mengro</i> to <i>rooko,</i> they have really a very pretty +figurative name for a squirrel, which they call <i>rukh-engro</i> +or <i>rooko-mengro,</i> literally a fellow of the tree. +<i>Poggra-mengri,</i> a breaking thing, and <i>pea-mengri,</i> a +drinking thing, by which they express, respectively, a mill and a +teapot, will serve as examples of the manner by which they turn +verbs into substantives. This method of finding names for +objects, for which there are properly no terms in Gypsy, might be +carried to a great length - much farther, indeed, than the +Gypsies are in the habit of carrying it: a slack-rope dancer +might be termed <i>bittitardranoshellokellimengro,</i> or +slightly-drawn-rope-dancing fellow; a drum, +<i>duicoshtcurenomengri,</i> or a thing beaten by two sticks; a +tambourine, <i>angustrecurenimengri,</i> or a thing beaten by the +fingers; and a fife, <i>muipudenimengri,</i> or thing blown by +the mouth. All these compound words, however, would be more or +less indefinite, and far beyond the comprehension of the Gypsies +in general.<br> +<br> +The verbs are very few, and with two or three exceptions +expressive only of that which springs from what is physical and +bodily, totally unconnected with the mind, for which, indeed, the +English Gypsy has no word; the term used for mind, <i>zi</i> - +which is a modification of the Hungarian <i>sziv</i> - meaning +heart. There are such verbs in this dialect as to eat, drink, +walk, run, hear, see, live, die; but there are no such verbs as +to hope, mean, hinder, prove, forbid, teaze, soothe. There is +the verb <i>apasavello,</i> I believe; but that word, which is +Wallachian, properly means being trusted, and was incorporated in +the Gypsy language from the Gypsies obtaining goods on trust from +the Wallachians, which they never intended to pay for. There is +the verb for love, <i>camova;</i> but that word is expressive of +physical desire, and is connected with the Sanscrit <i>Cama,</i> +or Cupid. Here, however, the English must not triumph over the +Gypsies, as their own verb 'love' is connected with a Sanscrit +word signifying 'lust.' One pure and abstract metaphysical verb +the English Gypsy must be allowed to possess - namely, +<i>penchava,</i> I think, a word of illustrious origin, being +derived from the Persian <i>pendashtan.</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br> +The English Gypsies can count up to six, and have the numerals +for ten and twenty, but with those for seven, eight, and nine, +perhaps not three Gypsies in England are acquainted. When they +wish to express those numerals in their own language, they have +recourse to very uncouth and roundabout methods, saying for +seven, <i>dui trins ta yeck,</i> two threes and one; for eight, +<i>dui stors,</i> or two fours; and for nine, <i>desh sore but +yeck,</i> or ten all but one. Yet at one time the English +Gypsies possessed all the numerals as their Transylvanian, +Wallachian, and Russian brethren still do; even within the last +fifty years there were Gypsies who could count up to a hundred. +These were <i>tatchey Romany,</i> real Gypsies, of the old sacred +black race, who never slept in a house, never entered a church, +and who, on their death-beds, used to threaten their children +with a curse, provided they buried them in a churchyard. The two +last of them rest, it is believed, some six feet deep beneath the +moss of a wild, hilly heath, - called in Gypsy the <i>Heviskey +Tan,</i> or place of holes; in English, Mousehold, - near an +ancient city, which the Gentiles call Norwich, and the Romans the +<i>Chong Gav,</i> or the town of the hill.<br> +<br> +With respect to Grammar, the English Gypsy is perhaps in a worse +condition than with respect to words. Attention is seldom paid +to gender; <i>boro rye</i> and <i>boro rawnie</i> being said, +though as <i>rawnie</i> is feminine, <i>bori</i> and not +<i>boro</i> should be employed. The proper Gypsy plural +terminations are retained in nouns, but in declension +prepositions are generally substituted for postpositions, and +those prepositions English. The proper way of conjugating verbs +is seldom or never observed, and the English method is followed. +They say, I <i>dick,</i> I see, instead of <i>dico;</i> I +<i>dick'd,</i> I saw, instead of <i>dikiom;</i> if I had +<i>dick'd,</i> instead of <i>dikiomis.</i> Some of the peculiar +features of Gypsy grammar yet retained by the English Gypsies +will be found noted in the Dictionary.<br> +<br> +I have dwelt at some length on the deficiencies and shattered +condition of the English Gypsy tongue; justice, however, compels +me to say that it is far purer and less deficient than several of +the continental Gypsy dialects. It preserves far more of +original Gypsy peculiarities than the French, Italian, and +Spanish dialects, and its words retain more of the original Gypsy +form than the words of those three; moreover, however scanty it +may be, it is far more copious than the French or the Italian +Gypsy, though it must be owned that in respect to copiousness it +is inferior to the Spanish Gypsy, which is probably the richest +in words of all the Gypsy dialects in the world, having names for +very many of the various beasts, birds, and creeping things, for +most of the plants and fruits, for all the days of the week, and +all the months in the year; whereas most other Gypsy dialects, +the English amongst them, have names for only a few common +animals and insects, for a few common fruits and natural +productions, none for the months, and only a name for a single +day - the Sabbath - which name is a modification of the Modern +Greek [Greek text: ].<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Though the English Gypsy is generally spoken with a considerable +alloy of English words and English grammatical forms, enough of +its proper words and features remain to form genuine Gypsy +sentences, which shall be understood not only by the Gypsies of +England, but by those of Russia, Hungary, Wallachia, and even of +Turkey; for example:-<br> +<br> +<br> +Kek man camov te jib bolli-mengreskoenaes,<br> +Man camov te jib weshenjugalogonaes.<br> +<br> +I do not wish to live like a baptized person. {1}<br> +I wish to live like a dog of the wood. {2}<br> +<br> +<br> +It is clear-sounding and melodious, and well adapted to the +purposes of poetry. Let him who doubts peruse attentively the +following lines:-<br> +<br> +<br> +Coin si deya, coin se dado?<br> +Pukker mande drey Romanes,<br> +Ta mande pukkeravava tute.<br> +<br> +Rossar-mescri minri deya!<br> +Wardo-mescro minro dado!<br> +Coin se dado, coin si deya?<br> +Mande's pukker'd tute drey Romanes;<br> +Knau pukker tute mande.<br> +<br> +Petulengro minro dado,<br> +Purana minri deya!<br> +Tatchey Romany si men -<br> +Mande's pukker'd tute drey Romanes,<br> +Ta tute's pukker'd mande.<br> +<br> +<br> +The first three lines of the above ballad are perhaps the oldest +specimen of English Gypsy at present extant, and perhaps the +purest. They are at least as old as the time of Elizabeth, and +can pass among the Zigany in the heart of Russia for Ziganskie. +The other lines are not so ancient. The piece is composed in a +metre something like that of the ancient Sclavonian songs, and +contains the questions which two strange Gypsies, who suddenly +meet, put to each other, and the answers which they return.<br> +<br> +In using the following Vocabulary the Continental manner of +pronouncing certain vowels will have to be observed: thus +<i>ava</i> must be pronounced like <i>auva,</i> according to the +English style; <i>ker</i> like <i>kare, miro</i> like <i>meero, +zi</i> like <i>zee,</i> and <i>puro</i> as if it were written +<i>pooro.</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br> +<br> +<br> +ROMANO LAVO-LIL - WORD-BOOK OF THE ROMANY<br> +<br> +A<br> +<br> +ABRI, <i>ad. prep.</i> Out, not within, abroad: soving abri, +sleeping abroad, not in a house. <i>Celtic,</i> Aber (the mouth +or outlet of a river).<br> +<br> +Acai / Acoi, <i>ad.</i> Here.<br> +<br> +Adje, <i>v. n.</i> To stay, stop. <i>See</i> Atch, az.<br> +<br> +Adrey, <i>prep.</i> Into.<br> +<br> +Ajaw, <i>ad.</i> So. <i>Wallachian,</i> Asha.<br> +<br> +Aladge, <i>a.</i> Ashamed. <i>Sans.</i> Latch, laj.<br> +<br> +Aley, <i>ad.</i> Down: soving aley, lying down; to kin aley, to +buy off, ransom. <i>Hun.</i> Ala, alat.<br> +<br> +Amande, <i>pro. pers. dat.</i> To me.<br> +<br> +An, <i>v. a. imp.</i> Bring: an lis opré, bring it +up.<br> +<br> +Ana, <i>v.</i> a. Bring. <i>Sans.</i> Ani.<br> +<br> +Ando, <i>prep.</i> In.<br> +<br> +Anglo, <i>prep.</i> Before.<br> +<br> +Apasavello, <i>v. n.</i> I believe.<br> +<br> +Apopli, <i>ad.</i> Again. <i>Spanish Gypsy,</i> Apala (after). +<i>Wal.</i> Apoi (then, afterwards).<br> +<br> +Apré, <i>ad. prep.</i> Up: kair lis apré, do it +up. <i>Vid.</i> Opré.<br> +<br> +Aranya / Araunya, <i>s.</i> Lady. <i>Hungarian Gypsy,</i> +Aranya. <i>See</i> Rawnie.<br> +<br> +Artav <i>/</i> Artavello, <i>v. a.</i> To pardon, forgive. +<i>Wal.</i> Ierta. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Estomar.<br> +<br> +Artapen, <i>s.</i> Pardon, forgiveness.<br> +<br> +Artáros. Arthur.<br> +<br> +Asā / Asau, <i>ad.</i> Also, likewise, too: meero pal asau, +my brother also.<br> +<br> +Asarlas, <i>ad.</i> At all, in no manner.<br> +<br> +Asa. An affix used in forming the second person singular of the +present tense; <i>e.g.</i> camasa, thou lovest.<br> +<br> +Astis, <i>a.</i> Possible, it is possible: astis mangué, +I can; astis lengué, they can.<br> +<br> +Ashā / Ashaw, <i>ad.</i> So: ashaw sorlo, so early. +<i>Wal.</i> Asha. <i>See</i> Ajaw.<br> +<br> +Atch, <i>v. n.</i> To stay, stop.<br> +<br> +Atch opré. Keep up.<br> +<br> +Atraish, <i>a. part.</i> Afraid. <i>Sans.</i> Tras (to fear), +atrāsït (frightened). <i>See</i> Traish.<br> +<br> +Av, <i>imperat.</i> of Ava, to come: av abri, come out.<br> +<br> +Ava, <i>ad.</i> Yes. <i>Sans.</i> Eva.<br> +<br> +Ava, <i>v. a.</i> To come.<br> +<br> +Avata acoi. Come thou here.<br> +<br> +Avali, <i>ad.</i> Yes. <i>Wal.</i> Aieva (really).<br> +<br> +Avava. An affix by which the future tense of a verb is formed, +<i>e.g.</i> mor-avava, I will kill. <i>See</i> Vava.<br> +<br> +Aukko, <i>ad.</i> Here.<br> +<br> +Az, <i>v. n.</i> To stay.<br> +<br> +B<br> +<br> +BAL, <i>s.</i> Hair. <i>Tibetian,</i> Bal (wool). +<i>Sans.</i> Bala (hair).<br> +<br> +Baleneskoe, <i>a.</i> Hairy.<br> +<br> +Balormengro. A hairy fellow; Hearne, the name of a Gypsy +tribe.<br> +<br> +Balanser, <i>s.</i> The coin called a sovereign.<br> +<br> +Ballivas, <i>s.</i> Bacon. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Balibá.<br> +<br> +Bangalo, <i>a.</i> Devilish. <i>See</i> Beng, bengako.<br> +<br> +Bango, <i>a.</i> Left, sinister, wrong, false: bango wast, the +left hand; to saulohaul bango, like a plastra-mengro, to swear +bodily like a Bow-street runner. <i>Sans.</i> Pangu (lame). +<i>Hun.</i> Pang, pangó (stiff, lazy, paralysed).<br> +<br> +Bar, <i>s.</i> A stone, a stoneweight, a pound sterling. +<i>Span. Gyp.</i> Bar. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Bar. <i>Hindustani,</i> +Puthur. <i>Wal.</i> Piatre. <i>Fr.</i> Pierre. <i>Gr.</i> +[Greek: ] (weight).<br> +<br> +Bareskey, <i>a.</i> Stony.<br> +<br> +Bark, <i>s.</i> Breast, woman's breast.<br> +<br> +Bas / Base, <i>s.</i> Pound sterling. <i>Wal.</i> Pes (a +weight, burden).<br> +<br> +Bas-engro, <i>s.</i> A shepherd. <i>Run.</i> Bacso.<br> +<br> +Bashadi, <i>s.</i> A fiddle.<br> +<br> +Bata, <i>s.</i> A bee. <i>Sans.</i> Pata.<br> +<br> +Bau, <i>s.</i> Fellow, comrade. <i>See</i> Baw.<br> +<br> +Baul, <i>s.</i> Snail. <i>See</i> Bowle.<br> +<br> +Baulo, <i>s.</i> Pig, swine. The proper meaning of this word is +anything swollen, anything big or bulky. It is connected with +the English bowle or bole, the trunk of a tree; also with bowl, +boll, and belly; also with whale, the largest of fish, and wale, +a tumour; also with the Welsh <i>bol,</i> a belly, and +<i>bala,</i> a place of springs and eruptions. It is worthy of +remark that the English word pig, besides denoting the same +animal as <i>baulo,</i> is of the same original import, being +clearly derived from the same root as big, that which is bulky, +and the Turkish <i>buyuk,</i> great, huge, vast.<br> +<br> +Baulie-mas, <i>s.</i> Pork, swine's flesh.<br> +<br> +Bavano. Windy, broken-winded.<br> +<br> +Bavol, <i>s.</i> Wind, air. <i>Sans.</i> Pavana. <i>See</i> +Beval.<br> +<br> +Bavol-engro, <i>s.</i> A wind-fellow; figurative name for a +ghost.<br> +<br> +Baw, bau, <i>s.</i> Fellow, comrade: probably the same as the +English country-word baw, bor. <i>Ger.</i> Bauer. Av acoi, +baw, Come here, fellow. Boer, in Wallachian, signifies a boyard +or lord.<br> +<br> +Beano, <i>part. pass.</i> Born.<br> +<br> +Beano abri. Born out of doors, like a Gypsy or vagrant.<br> +<br> +Bebee, <i>s.</i> Aunt. <i>Rus.</i> Baba (grandmother, old +woman, hag); Baba Yagā, the female demon of the Steppes.<br> +<br> +Beng / Bengui,<i>s.</i> Devil. <i>Sans.</i> Pangka (mud). +According to the Hindu mythology, there is a hell of mud; the +bengues of the Gypsies seem to be its tenants.<br> +<br> +Bengako tan, <i>s.</i> Hell. Lit. place belonging to +devils.<br> +<br> +Bengeskoe potan. Devil's tinder, sulphur.<br> +<br> +Bengeskoe / Benglo, <i>a.</i> Devilish.<br> +<br> +Bengree, <i>s.</i> Waistcoat. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Blani. +<i>Wal.</i> (Blāni fur).<br> +<br> +Berro, béro, <i>s.</i> A ship, a hulk for convicts. +<i>Span. Gyp.</i> Bero, las galeras, the galleys; presidio, +convict garrison.<br> +<br> +Ber-engro, <i>s.</i> A sailor.<br> +<br> +Bero-rukh, <i>s.</i> A mast.<br> +<br> +Bersh / Besh, <i>s.</i> A year. <i>Sans.</i> Varsha. He could +cour drey his besh, he could fight in his time.<br> +<br> +Bershor, <i>pl.</i> Years.<br> +<br> +Besh, <i>v. n.</i> To sit: beshel, he sits.<br> +<br> +Beshaley / Beshly, Gypsy name of the Stanley tribe.<br> +<br> +Besh-engri, <i>s.</i> A chair. <i>See</i> Skammen.<br> +<br> +Beti, <i>a.</i> Little, small.<br> +<br> +Beval, <i>s.</i> Wind. <i>See</i> Bavol.<br> +<br> +Bi, <i>prep.</i> Without: bi luvvu, without money.<br> +<br> +Bicunyie, <i>a.</i> Alone, undone: meklis <i>or</i> mukalis +bicunyie, let it alone.<br> +<br> +Bikhin <i>/</i> Bin <i>v. a.</i> To sell. <i>Hin.</i> +Bikna.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Bikhnipen, <i>s.</i> Sale.<br> +<br> +Birk, <i>s.</i> Woman's breast. <i>See</i> Bark.<br> +<br> +Bis, <i>a.</i> Twenty.<br> +<br> +Bisheni, <i>s.</i> The ague.<br> +<br> +Bitch / Bitcha, <i>v. a.</i> To send. <i>Sans.</i> Bis, +bisa.<br> +<br> +Bitched / Bitcheno, <i>part. pass.</i> Sent<br> +<br> +Bitcheno pawdel. Sent across, transported.<br> +<br> +Bitti, <i>s. a.</i> Small, piece, a little. This word is not +true Gypsy.<br> +<br> +Bloen / Blowing, A cant word, but of Gypsy origin, signifying a +sister in debauchery, as Pal denotes a brother in villainy. It +is the Plani and Beluñi of the Spanish Gypsies, by whom +sometimes Beluñi is made to signify queen; <i>e.g.</i> +Beluñi de o tarpe (tem opré), the Queen of Heaven, +the Virgin. Blower is used by Lord Byron, in his 'Don Juan.' +Speaking of the highwayman whom the Don shoots in the vicinity of +London, he says that he used to go to such-and-such places of +public resort with - his blowen.<br> +<br> +Bob, <i>s.</i> A bean. <i>Wal.</i> Bob: <i>pl.</i> bobbis, +bobs.<br> +<br> +Boccalo, <i>a.</i> Hungry: boccalé pers, hungry +bellies.<br> +<br> +Bokht, <i>s.</i> Luck, fortune: kosko bokht, good luck. +<i>Sans.</i> Bhãgya. <i>Pers.</i> Bakht.<br> +<br> +Bokra, <i>s.</i> A sheep. <i>Hun.</i> Birka.<br> +<br> +Bokra-choring. Sheep-stealing.<br> +<br> +Bokkar-engro, <i>s.</i> A shepherd: bokkar-engro drey, the dude, +man in the moon.<br> +<br> +Bokkari-gueri, <i>s.</i> Shepherdess.<br> +<br> +Bokkeriskoe, <i>a.</i> Sheepish, belonging to a sheep: +bokkeriskey piré, sheep's feet.<br> +<br> +Bolla, <i>v. a.</i> To baptize.<br> +<br> +Bonnek, <i>s.</i> Hold: lel bonnek, to take hold.<br> +<br> +Booko, <i>s.</i> Liver. <i>See</i> Bucca.<br> +<br> +Bolleskoe divvus. Christmas-day; <i>query,</i> baptismal day. +<i>Wal.</i> Botez (baptism).<br> +<br> +Bollimengreskoenaes. After the manner of a Christian.<br> +<br> +Boogones, <i>s.</i> Smallpox, pimples. <i>See</i> Bugnior.<br> +<br> +Bor, <i>s.</i> A hedge.<br> +<br> +Boona, <i>a.</i> Good. <i>Lat.</i> Bonus. <i>Wal.</i> +Boun.<br> +<br> +Booty, <i>s.</i> Work.<br> +<br> +Bori, <i>a. fem.</i> Big with child, enceinte.<br> +<br> +Booty, <i>v. a.</i> To work, labour.<br> +<br> +Boro, <i>a.</i> Great, big. <i>Hin.</i> Bura. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> +[Greek: ] (heavy).<br> +<br> +Borobeshemeskeguero, <i>s.</i> Judge, +<i>great-sitting-fellow.</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Boro Gav. London, big city. <i>See</i> Lundra.<br> +<br> +Boronashemeskrutan. Epsom race-course.<br> +<br> +Bosh, <i>s.</i> Fiddle. <i>Pers.</i> [Persian: ] Bazee, baz +(play, joke), whence the English cant word 'bosh.' <i>See</i> +Bashadi.<br> +<br> +Boshomengro, <i>s.</i> Fiddler.<br> +<br> +Bosno / Boshno, <i>s.</i> A cock, male-bird. <i>Sans.</i> +Puchchin. <i>Wal.</i> Bosh (testicle). <i>Gaelic,</i> Baois +(libidinousness).<br> +<br> +Boshta, <i>s.</i> A saddle.<br> +<br> +Bostaris, <i>s.</i> A bastard.<br> +<br> +Bovalo, <i>a.</i> Rich. <i>Sans.</i> Bala (strong).<br> +<br> +Bowle, <i>s.</i> Snail. <i>See</i> Baul.<br> +<br> +Brishen / Brisheno, <i>s.</i> Rain. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Breshino. +<i>Sans.</i> Vrish. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ].<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Brisheneskey, <i>a.</i> Rainy: brisheneskey rarde, a rainy +night; brisheneskey chiros, a time of rain. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> +[Greek: ]<i>.</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Bucca, <i>s.</i> Liver. <i>Sans.</i> Bucca (heart). +<i>Wal.</i> Phikat.<br> +<br> +Bucca naflipen, <i>s.</i> Liver-complaint.<br> +<br> +Buchee, <i>s.</i> Work, labour. <i>See</i> Butsi.<br> +<br> +Buddigur, <i>s.</i> A shop. <i>Span.</i> Bodega.<br> +<br> +Buddikur divvus, <i>s.</i> Shopping-day: Wednesday, +Saturday.<br> +<br> +Bugnes / Bugnior, <i>s. pl.</i> Smallpox, blisters. +<i>Gael.</i> Boc (a pimple), bolg (a blister), bolgach +(small-pox). <i>Wal.</i> Mougour (a bud). <i>Fr.</i> +Bourgeon.<br> +<br> +Buklo, <i>a.</i> Hungry: buklo tan, hungry spot, a common. +<i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Buklo tan (a wilderness).<br> +<br> +Bul, <i>s.</i> Rump, buttock.<br> +<br> +Bungshoror / Bungyoror,<i>s. pl.</i> Corks.<br> +<br> +Busnis / Busnior, <i>s. pl.</i> Spurs, prickles. <i>Mod. +Gr.</i> [Greek: ] (pain, torment).<br> +<br> +Buroder, <i>ad.</i> More: <i>ad.</i> ne buroder, no more.<br> +<br> +Bute, <i>a. ad.</i> Much, very. <i>Hin.</i> Būt.<br> +<br> +Butsi / Buty, <i>s.</i> Work, labour.<br> +<br> +Butying. Working.<br> +<br> +C<br> +<br> +CAEN / Cane, <i>v. n.</i> To stink.<br> +<br> +Caenipen / Canipen, <i>s</i>. A stench.<br> +<br> +Caeninaflipen, <i>s.</i> Stinking sickness, the plague, +gaol-fever. The old cant word Canihen, signifying the +gaol-fever, is derived from this Gypsy term.<br> +<br> +Candelo / Cannelo, <i>a.</i> Stinking: cannelo mas, stinking +meat. <i>Sans.</i> Gandha (smell).<br> +<br> +Callico / Collico, <i>s.</i> To-morrow, also yesterday: collico +sorlo, to-morrow morning. <i>Sans.</i> Kalya. <i>Hin.</i> Kal +(to-morrow, yesterday).<br> +<br> +Cana, <i>ad.</i> Now: cana sig, now soon. <i>See</i> Kanau, +knau.<br> +<br> +Cam, <i>s.</i> The sun. <i>Hin.</i> Khan. <i>Heb.</i> Khama +(the sun), kham (heat).<br> +<br> +Cam. To wish, desire, love.<br> +<br> +Cam / Camello / Camo,<i>v. a.</i> To love. <i>Sans.</i> Cama +(love). Cupid; from which Sanscrit word the Latin Amor is +derived.<br> +<br> +Cambori / Cambri, <i>a.</i> Pregnant, big with child.<br> +<br> +Camlo / Caumlo, Lovel, name of a Gypsy tribe. Lit. amiable. +With this word the English "comely" is connected.<br> +<br> +Camo-mescro, <i>s.</i> A lover; likewise the name Lovel.<br> +<br> +Can, <i>s.</i> The sun.<br> +<br> +Can, <i>s.</i> An ear. <i>See</i> Kaun.<br> +<br> +Cana, <i>ad.</i> Now: cana sig, now soon. <i>See</i> Kanau.<br> +<br> +Canáfi / Canapli, Turnip.<br> +<br> +Canairis. A Gypsy name.<br> +<br> +Canior / Caunor, <i>s. pl.</i> Pease.<br> +<br> +Canni. A hen. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Cañi. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> +Cackni. <i>Gael.</i> Cearc.<br> +<br> +Cannis. Hens.<br> +<br> +Cappi, <i>s.</i> Booty, gain, fortune: to lel cappi, to acquire +booty, make a capital, a fortune.<br> +<br> +Cas, <i>s.</i> Hay: cas-stiggur, haystack; cas kairing, +hay-making.<br> +<br> +Cas, <i>s.</i> Cheese. <i>Lat.</i> Caseus. This word is used +by the pikers or tramps, as well as by the Gypsies. <i>See</i> +Kael.<br> +<br> +Catches / Catsau, <i>s. pl.</i> Scissors. <i>Hun.</i> Kasza. +<i>Wal.</i> Kositsie (sickle). <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ] +<i>Rus.</i> Kosa.<br> +<br> +Cato, <i>prep.</i> To; more properly From. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> +Cado. <i>Wal.</i> Katre (towards).<br> +<br> +Cavo, <i>pron. dem.</i> This.<br> +<br> +Cavocoi. This here.<br> +<br> +Cavocoiskoenoes. In this manner.<br> +<br> +Caur, <i>v. a.</i> To filch, steal in an artful manner by +bending down. <i>Heb.</i> [Hebrew: ] Cara, incurvavit se. +<i>Eng.</i> Cower.<br> +<br> +Cayes, <i>s.</i> Silk. <i>Pers</i>. [Persian:] <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Quequesa. <i>Sans.</i> Kauseya.<br> +<br> +Chal, <i>s.</i> Lad, boy, son, fellow. Connected with this word +is the Scottish Chiel, the Old English Childe, and the Russian +Chelovik. <i>See</i> Romani chal.<br> +<br> +Cháro, <i>s.</i> Plate, dish.<br> +<br> +Chavali, <i>s.f.</i> Girl, damsel.<br> +<br> +Chavi, <i>s.f.</i> Child, girl, daughter.<br> +<br> +Cham, <i>s.</i> Leather: chameskie rokunies, leather breeches. +<i>Sans.</i> Charma (skin).<br> +<br> +Chavo, <i>s. m.</i> Child, son: <i>pl.</i> chaves. Cheaus is an +old French hunting term for the young ones of a fox.<br> +<br> +Charos / Cheros, <i>s.</i> Heaven. <i>Wal.</i> Cher.<br> +<br> +Chauvo, <i>s. See</i> Chavo.<br> +<br> +Chaw, <i>s.</i> Grass.<br> +<br> +Chawhoktamengro, <i>s.</i> Grasshopper. <i>See</i> Hokta.<br> +<br> +Chee, <i>a.</i> No,none: chee butsi, no work. <i>See</i> Chi, +chichi.<br> +<br> +Chericlo, <i>s.</i> Bird. <i>See</i> Chiriclo.<br> +<br> +Chiricleskey tan, <i>s.</i> Aviary, birdcage.<br> +<br> +Chi, <i>s.f.</i> Child, daughter, girl: Romany chi, Gypsy +girl.<br> +<br> +Chi / Chichi / Chiti, <i>s.</i> Nothing.<br> +<br> +Chin, <i>v. a.</i> To cut: chin lis tuley, cut it down. +<i>Sans.</i> Chun (to cut off). <i>Hin.</i> Chink. +<i>Gaelic,</i> Sgian (a knife).<br> +<br> +Chin the cost. To cut the stick; to cut skewers for butchers and +pegs for linen-lines, a grand employment of the Gypsy fellows in +the neighbourhood of London.<br> +<br> +China-mengri, <i>s.f.</i> A letter; a thing incised, marked, +written in.<br> +<br> +China-mengro, <i>s.</i> Hatchet. Lit. cutting-thing.<br> +<br> +Chinipen, <i>s.</i> A cut.<br> +<br> +Ching / Chingaro, <i>v. a.</i> To fight, quarrel.<br> +<br> +Chinga-guero, <i>s.</i> A warrior.<br> +<br> +Chingaripen, <i>s.</i> War, strife. <i>Sans.</i> Sangara.<br> +<br> +Chingring, <i>part. pres.</i> Fighting, quarrelling.<br> +<br> +Chik, <i>s.</i> Earth, dirt. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Chique. +<i>Hin.</i> Chikkar.<br> +<br> +Chiklo, <i>a.</i> Dirty.<br> +<br> +Chiriclo, <i>s. m.</i> Bird. <i>Hin.</i> Chiriya.<br> +<br> +Chiricli, <i>s.f.</i> Hen-bird.<br> +<br> +Chiros, <i>s.</i> Time. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ].<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Chiv / Chiva / Chuva, <i>v. a.</i> To cast, fling, throw, place, +put: chiv lis tuley, fling it down; chiv oprey, put up. +<i>Rus.</i> Kyio (to forge, cast iron). <i>Sans.</i> Kship.<br> +<br> +Chiving tulipen prey the chokkars. Greasing the shoes.<br> +<br> +Chofa, <i>s.f.</i> Petticoat.<br> +<br> +Chohawni, <i>s.</i> Witch. <i>See</i> Chovahano.<br> +<br> +Chohawno, <i>s.</i> Wizard.<br> +<br> +Chok, <i>s.</i> Watch, watching.<br> +<br> +Chok-engro, <i>s.</i> Watchman.<br> +<br> +Chok, <i>s.</i> Shoe: chokkor, chokkors, shoes. <i>Hun.</i> +Czókó (wooden shoe).<br> +<br> +Choko-mengro. Shoemaker.<br> +<br> +Choka, <i>s.</i> Coat.<br> +<br> +Chokni / Chukni, <i>s.</i> Whip. <i>Wal.</i> Chokini (a strap, +leather). <i>Hun.</i> Csakany (a mace, sledge hammer). <i>Hun. +Gyp.</i> Chokano (a staff). <i>Wal.</i> Chokan, chokinel (a +hammer).<br> +<br> +Chukni wast, <i>s.</i> The whip-hand, the mastery.<br> +<br> +Chollo, <i>a. s.</i> Whole.<br> +<br> +Chomany, <i>s.</i> Something. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Cormuñi +(some); chimoni (anything). <i>Wal.</i> Chineba (some one). For +every chomany there's a lav in Romany: there's a name in Gypsy +for everything.<br> +<br> +Chong, <i>s.</i> Knee. <i>Hun.</i> Czomb. <i>Sans.</i> Chanu. +<i>Lat.</i> Genu.<br> +<br> +Chongor, <i>pl.</i> Knees.<br> +<br> +Choom / Choomava, <i>v. a.</i> To kiss. <i>Sans.</i> Chumb. +Choomande, kiss me. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Chupendi (a kiss), a +corruption of Choomande.<br> +<br> +Choomia, <i>s.</i> A kiss.<br> +<br> +Choomo-mengro, one of the tribe Boswell.<br> +<br> +Choon, <i>s.</i> Moon. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Chemut. <i>Sans.</i> +Chandra.<br> +<br> +Choot, <i>s.</i> Vinegar. <i>See</i> Chute.<br> +<br> +Chore, <i>v. a.</i> To steal. <i>Sans.</i> Chur.<br> +<br> +Chore, <i>s.</i> Thief. <i>Hin.</i> Chor.<br> +<br> +Chories, <i>pl</i>. Thieves.<br> +<br> +Chor-dudee-mengri, <i>s.</i> [Greek: ] (thieves' lantern, dark +lantern).<br> +<br> +Choredo, a. Poor, poverty stricken. <i>Sans.</i> +Dāridra.<br> +<br> +Choredi, <i>fem</i>. of Choredo.<br> +<br> +Choriness, <i>s.</i> Poverty.<br> +<br> +Choro, <i>a.</i> Poor. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Chororo. <i>Hin.</i> +Shor.<br> +<br> +Chovahan, <i>v. a.</i> To bewitch.<br> +<br> +Chovahani / Chowián, <i>s.f.</i> Witch.<br> +<br> +Chovahano, <i>s.</i> Wizard.<br> +<br> +Choveno, <i>a.</i> Poor, needy, starved. Perhaps derived from +the Russian Tchernoe (black, dirty, wretched); or from the +Hungarian Csunya (hateful, frightful); whence the Chungalo of the +Hungarian, and also of the Spanish Gypsies.<br> +<br> +Choveni, <i>fem</i>. of Choveno.<br> +<br> +Choveno ker, <i>s.</i> Workhouse, poorhouse.<br> +<br> +Chukkal, <i>s.</i> Dog. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Chuquel. +<i>Sans.</i> Kukkura. <i>Basque,</i> Chacurra. <i>See</i> +Juggal.<br> +<br> +Chumba, <i>s.</i> Bank, hill. <i>Russ.</i> Xolm (a hill).<br> +<br> +Chungarava / Chungra,<i>v. a.</i> To spit. <i>Wal.</i> +Ckouina. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Chudel (he spits).<br> +<br> +Churi, <i>s.</i> Knife. <i>Sans.</i> Chhuri. <i>Hin.</i> +Churi.<br> +<br> +Churi-mengro, <i>s.</i> Knife-grinder, cutler.<br> +<br> +Churo-mengro, <i>s.</i> A soldier, swordsman.<br> +<br> +Chute, <i>s.</i> Vinegar. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ] <i>Wal.</i> +Otset.<br> +<br> +Chute-pavi, <i>s.</i> Cyder; perhaps a crab-apple. Lit. +vinegar-apple.<br> +<br> +Chuvvenhan, <i>s.</i> Witch. <i>See</i> Chovahani.<br> +<br> +Cinerella. Female Gypsy name.<br> +<br> +Cocal, <i>s.</i> Bone. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ]<br> +<br> +Cocalor, <i>pl.</i> Bones.<br> +<br> +Coco / Cocodus, <i>s.</i> Uncle. <i>Hin.</i> Caucau.<br> +<br> +Cocoro / Cocoros, <i>a. pro.</i> Alone, self: tu cocoro, +thyself.<br> +<br> +Coin, <i>pro. interrog.</i> Who? <i>Hin.</i> Kaun.<br> +<br> +Collor, <i>s. pl.</i> Shillings: dui collor a crookos, two +shillings a week. In Spanish Germania or cant, two ochavos, or +farthings, are called: dui <i>calés.</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Comorrus, <i>s.</i> A room, hall. <i>Hun.</i> Kamara. +<i>Hin.</i> Cumra. <i>Ger.</i> Kammer.<br> +<br> +Cong, congl, <i>v. a.</i> To comb.<br> +<br> +Congli / Congro, <i>s.f.</i> A comb. <i>Sans.</i> Kanagata.<br> +<br> +Congri, <i>s.f.</i> A church.<br> +<br> +Coor / Coorava, <i>v. a.</i> To fight. <i>Irish,</i> Comhrac +[courac]. <i>Welsh,</i> Curaw (to beat).<br> +<br> +Coorapen, <i>s.</i> Fight, a beating: I shall lel a curapen, I +shall get a beating.<br> +<br> +Cooroboshno, <i>s.</i> A fighting cock.<br> +<br> +Cooromengro, <i>s.</i> Fighter, boxer, soldier.<br> +<br> +Coppur, <i>s.</i> Blanket. <i>Rus.</i> Kovér (a carpet). +<i>Wal.</i> Kovor, <i>id.</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Corauni / Corooni<i>, s.</i> A crown: mekrauliskie corauni, +royal crown. <i>Wal.</i> Coroan.<br> +<br> +Cori, <i>s.</i> Thorn. Membrum virile. <i>Span.</i> Carajo +[caraco]. <i>Gascon,</i> Quirogau.<br> +<br> +Coro / Coru, <i>s.</i> Pot, pitcher, cup: coru levinor, cup of +ale; boro coro, a quart. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Coro. <i>Hin.</i> +Gharã.<br> +<br> +Coro-mengro, <i>s.</i> Potter.<br> +<br> +Coro-mengreskey tem. Staffordshire.<br> +<br> +Corredo, <i>a.</i> Blind. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Corroro. +<i>Pers.</i> [Persian:]<i> Wal.</i> Kior (one-eyed).<br> +<br> +Cosht / Cost, <i>s.</i> Stick. <i>Sans.</i> Kāshtha.<br> +<br> +Cost-engres, <i>s. pl.</i> Branch-fellows, people of the New +Forest, Stanleys.<br> +<br> +Coshtno, <i>a.</i> Wooden.<br> +<br> +Covar / Covo, <i>s.</i> Thing: covars, things; +covar-bikhning-vardo, acaravan in which goods are carried about +for sale.<br> +<br> +Crafni, <i>s.</i> Button. <i>Ger.</i> Knopf.<br> +<br> +Crafni-mengro, <i>s.</i> Buttonmaker.<br> +<br> +Creeor, <i>s. pl.</i> Ants, pismires. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Ocrianse (the ant), quiria (ant).<br> +<br> +Cricni / Crookey / Crookauros <i>/</i> Crookos, <i>s.</i> Week. +<i>See</i> Curco.<br> +<br> +Cuesni, <i>s.</i> Basket. <i>See</i> Cushnee.<br> +<br> +Culvato (Gypsy name). Claude.<br> +<br> +Curaken, <i>s.</i> Fighting. <i>See</i> Coorapen.<br> +<br> +Curepen, <i>s.</i> Trouble, affliction: curepenis, +afflictions.<br> +<br> +Curkey / Curko, <i>s.</i> Week, Sunday. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: +]<br> +<br> +Curlo, <i>s.</i> Throat. <i>Pers.</i> [Persian: ] Chin his +curlo, cut his throat.<br> +<br> +Curlo-mengri, <i>s.</i> A ruff, likewise a pillow; anything +belonging to the throat or neck.<br> +<br> +Cushnee / Cushni / Cusnee, <i>s.</i> Basket. <i>Wal.</i> +Koshnitse.<br> +<br> +Cuttor, <i>s.</i> A piece, a guinea-piece: dui cuttor, two +guineas; will you lel a cuttor, will you take a bit? sore in +cuttors, all in rags.<br> +<br> +D<br> +<br> +DAD, <i>s.</i> Father. <i>Welsh,</i> Tâd. <i>Wal.</i> +Tat. <i>Rus. Gyp.</i> Dad.<br> +<br> +Dado, <i>s.</i> Father. <i>Rus. Gyp.</i> Dado.<br> +<br> +Dand, <i>s.</i> Tooth. <i>Sans.</i> Danta.<br> +<br> +Danior, <i>pl.</i> Teeth.<br> +<br> +Dand, <i>v. a.</i> To bite.<br> +<br> +Daya / Dieya, <i>s.</i> Mother, properly nurse. <i>Sans.</i> +Dhayas (fostering). <i>Pers.</i> [Persian: ] Daya. <i>Mod. +Gr.</i> [Greek: ]. <i>Rus. Gyp.</i> Daia. <i>Wal.</i> +Doika.<br> +<br> +Deav, <i>v. a.</i> Give. <i>Sans.</i> Dā. <i>Wal.</i> +Da.<br> +<br> +Del. He gives.<br> +<br> +Del-engro, <i>s.</i> A kicking-horse.<br> +<br> +Del-oprey, <i>v. a.</i> To read.<br> +<br> +Denne, <i>ad.</i> Than.<br> +<br> +Der. An <i>affix,</i> by which the <i>comparative</i> is formed; +<i>e.g.</i> Wafodu, bad: wafodúder than dovor, worse than +they.<br> +<br> +Desch, <i>a.</i> Ten. <i>Sans.</i> Dasan. <i>Wal.</i> +Zetche.<br> +<br> +Desh ta yeck. Eleven.<br> +<br> +Desh ta dui. Twelve.<br> +<br> +Desh ta trin. Thirteen.<br> +<br> +Desh ta store. Fourteen.<br> +<br> +Desh ta pansch. Fifteen.<br> +<br> +Desh ta sho. Sixteen.<br> +<br> +Desh ta eft. Seventeen.<br> +<br> +Deshko. Eighteen (?): deshko hori, eighteenpence; properly, Desh +ta octo hori.<br> +<br> +Devel, <i>s.</i> God. <i>Sans.</i> Deva. <i>Lith.</i> +Dēwas. <i>Lat.</i> Deus. <i>See</i> Dibble, Dovvel, +Dubbel.<br> +<br> +Develeskoe, <i>s.</i> Holy, divine. <i>Sans.</i> Deva.<br> +<br> +Deyed, <i>pret.</i> of Deav. He gave.<br> +<br> +Dibble, <i>s.</i> God. <i>See</i> Devel.<br> +<br> +Dic / Dico, <i>v. n.</i> To look: dic tuley, look down; dicking +misto, looking well. <i>Sans.</i> Iksh (to see, look). +<i>Gaelic,</i> Dearcam (to see); dearc (eye).<br> +<br> +Dickimengro, <i>s.</i> Overlooker, overseer.<br> +<br> +Dicking hev, <i>s.</i> A window, seeing-hole.<br> +<br> +Die, <i>s.</i> Mother. <i>Rus. Gyp.</i> Die. <i>See</i> +Daya.<br> +<br> +Dikkipen, <i>s.</i> Look, image. <i>Sans.</i> Driksha +(aspect). <i>Welsh,</i> Drych (aspect).<br> +<br> +Diklo, <i>s.</i> Cloth, sheet, shift.<br> +<br> +Dinnelo, <i>s.</i> A fool, one possessed by the devil. +<i>Wal.</i> Diniele (of the devil); louat diniele (possessed by +the devil).<br> +<br> +Dinneleskoe, <i>a.</i> Foolish.<br> +<br> +Dinneleskoenoes. Like a fool.<br> +<br> +Dinnelipénes, <i>s. pl.</i> Follies, nonsense.<br> +<br> +Diverous. A Gypsy name.<br> +<br> +Diviou, <i>a.</i> Mad: jawing diviou, going mad. <i>Sans.</i> +Déva (a god, a fool).<br> +<br> +Diviou-ker, <i>s.</i> Madhouse.<br> +<br> +Diviou kokkodus Artáros. Mad Uncle Arthur.<br> +<br> +Divvus, <i>s.</i> Day. <i>Sans.</i> Divasa.<br> +<br> +Divveskoe / Divvuskoe, <i>a.</i> Daily: divvuskoe morro, daily +bread.<br> +<br> +Diximengro, <i>s.</i> Overseer. <i>See</i> Dickimengro.<br> +<br> +Dook, <i>v. a.</i> To hurt, bewitch: dook the gry, bewitch the +horse. <i>Wal.</i> Deokira (to fascinate, bewitch). <i>See</i> +Duke, dukker.<br> +<br> +Dooriya / Dooya, <i>s.</i> Sea. <i>Pers.</i> [Persian: ] +<i>Irish,</i> Deire (the deep). <i>Welsh</i>, Dwr (water). +<i>Old Irish</i>, Dobhar.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +</p> + +<p><i>Dooriya durril, s</i>. Currant, plum. Lit. Sea-berry.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Dooriya durrileskie guyi, <i>s.</i> Plum pudding.<br> +<br> +Dori, <i>s.</i> Thread, lace: kaulo dori, black lace. +<i>Hin.</i> Dora.<br> +<br> +Dosch / Dosh, <i>s.</i> Evil, harm: kek dosh, no harm. +<i>Sans.</i> Dush (bad).<br> +<br> +Dosta, <i>s.</i> Enough. <i>Wal.</i> Destoul. <i>Rus.</i> +Dostaet (it is sufficient). <i>See</i> Dusta.<br> +<br> +Dou, <i>imp.</i> Give: dou mande, give me. <i>See</i> Deav.<br> +<br> +Dou dass. Cup and saucer. <i>See</i> Dui das.<br> +<br> +Dovo, <i>pro. dem.</i> That: dovó si, that's it.<br> +<br> +Dovor. Those, they: wafodúder than dovor, worse than +they.<br> +<br> +Dov-odoy / Dovoy-oduvva, <i>ad.</i> Yonder.<br> +<br> +Dov-odoyskoenaes. In that manner.<br> +<br> +Doovel, <i>s.</i> God. <i>See</i> Duvvel.<br> +<br> +Drab / Drav, <i>s.</i> Medicine, poison. <i>Pers</i>. [Persian: +] Daru<i>. Wal.</i> Otrav<i>.</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Drab-engro / Drav-engro, <i>s</i>. A pothecary, +poison-monger.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Drab<i>, v. a</i>. To poison. <i>Wal</i>. Otribi.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Drey, <i>prep</i>. In.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Dubble, <i>s.</i> God: my dearie Dubbleskey, for my dear God's +sake.<br> +<br> +Dude, <i>s.</i> The moon.<br> +<br> +Dudee, <i>s.</i> A light, a star. Sans. Dyuti.<br> +<br> +Dude-bar, <i>s.</i> Diamond, light-stone.<br> +<br> +Drom, <i>s.</i> Road. Wal. Drom. Mod. Gr. [Greek: ]<br> +<br> +Drom-luring, <i>s.</i> Highway robbery.<br> +<br> +Dui, <i>a.</i> Two.<br> +<br> +Duito, <i>s.</i> Second.<br> +<br> +Duito divvus, <i>s.</i> Tuesday. Lit. Second day.<br> +<br> +Dui das / Dui tas, <i>s</i>. Cup and saucer.<br> +<br> +Duke, <i>v. a.</i> To hurt, bewitch. <i>Sans</i>. Duhkha +(pain). <i>Heb</i>. Dui (languor, deadly faintness).<br> +<br> +Dukker, <i>v. a</i>. To bewitch, tell fortunes. <i>Wal</i>. +Deokiea (to fascinate, enchant).<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Dukker drey my vast. Tell my fortune by my hand.<br> +<br> +Dukkering, <i>s.</i> Fortune-telling. <i>Wal.</i> Deokiere +(fascination). <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ] (fortune).<br> +<br> +Dukkipen, <i>s.</i> Fortune-telling.<br> +<br> +Dukker, <i>v. n.</i> To ache: my sherro dukkers, my head aches. +<i>See</i> Duke, dukker.<br> +<br> +Dum / Dumo, <i>s.</i> Black. <i>Pers</i>. [Persian: ] +(tail).<br> +<br> +Dur, <i>ad.</i> Far. <i>Sans.</i> Dur. <i>Pers.</i> [Persian: +]<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Dur-dicki mengri, <i>s.</i> Telescope. Lit. +far-seeing-thing.<br> +<br> +Durro, <i>ad.</i> Far.<br> +<br> +Durro-der, <i>ad.</i> Farther.<br> +<br> +Durriken, <i>s.</i> Fortune-telling.<br> +<br> +Durril, <i>s.</i> Any kind of berry, a gooseberry in +particular.<br> +<br> +Durrilau / Durilyor, <i>pl</i>.<i></i> Berries.<br> +<br> +Durrileskie guyi, <i>s.</i> Gooseberry pudding.<br> +<br> +Dusta, <i>a. s.</i> Enough, plenty: dusta foky, plenty of +people. <i>See</i> Dosta.<br> +<br> +Duvvel, <i>s.</i> God.<br> +<br> +E<br> +<br> +EANGE, <i>s.</i> Itch.<br> +<br> +Ebyok, <i>s.</i> The sea. <i>Sans.</i> Aapa (water). +<i>Wal.</i> Ape.<br> +<br> +Eft, <i>a.</i> Seven. Few of the English Gypsies are acquainted +with this word; consequently, the generality, when they wish to +express the number seven, without being understood by the Gorgios +or Gentiles, say Dui trins ta yeck, two threes and one.<br> +<br> +En. A kind of <i>genitive particle</i> used in compound words, +being placed between a noun and the particle 'gro' or 'guero,' +which signifies a possessor, or that which governs a thing or has +to do with it: <i>e.g.</i> lav-en-gro, a linguist or man of +words, lit. word-of-fellow; wesh-en-gro, a forester, or one who +governs the wood; gurush-en-gre, things costing a groat, lit. +groat-of-things.<br> +<br> +Engri. A <i>neuter affix,</i> composed of the particles 'en' and +'gro,' much used in the formation of figurative terms for things +for which there are no positive names in English Gypsy: for +example, yag-engri, a fire-thing, which denotes a gun; +poggra-mengri, a breaking-thing or mill; 'engri' is changed into +'mengri' when the preceding word terminates in a vowel.<br> +<br> +Engro. A <i>masculine affix,</i> used in the formation of +figurative names; for example, kaun-engro, an ear-fellow, or +creature with ears, serving to denote a hare; ruk-engro, or +ruko-mengro, a tree-fellow, denoting a squirrel; it is also +occasionally used in names for inanimate objects, as pov-engro, +an earth-thing or potato. <i>See</i> Guero.<br> +<br> +Escunyo, <i>s.</i> A wooden skewer, a pin. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Chingabar (a pin).<br> +<br> +Escunyes, <i>pl.</i> Skewers.<br> +<br> +Escunye-mengro, <i>s.</i> A maker of skewers.<br> +<br> +Eskoe, <i>fem</i>. Eskie. A particle which affixed to a noun +turns it into an adjective: <i>e.g.</i> Duvel, God; duveleskoe, +divine. It seems to be derived from the <i>Wal.</i> Esk, +Easkie.<br> +<br> +Eskey. An <i>affix</i> or <i>postposition,</i> signifying, for +the sake of: <i>e.g.</i> Mi-dubble-eskey, for God's sake.<br> +<br> +Ever-komi, <i>ad.</i> Evermore.<br> +<br> +F<br> +<br> +FAKE, <i>v. a.</i> To work, in a dishonest sense; to steal, pick +pockets.<br> +<br> +Fakement, <i>s.</i> A robbery, any kind of work: a pretty +fakement that, a pretty piece of work. A scoundrel - you ratfelo +fakement, you precious scoundrel; a man of any kind - he's no bad +fakement after all; a girl, St. Paul's Cathedral - what a rinkeny +fakement, what a pretty girl, what a noble church.<br> +<br> +Fashono, <i>a.</i> False, fashioned, made up. <i>Wal.</i> +Fatche (to make); fatze (face, surface).<br> +<br> +Fashono wangustis. Pretended gold rings, made in reality of +brass or copper.<br> +<br> +Fashono wangust engre. Makers of false rings.<br> +<br> +Fenella. A female Gypsy name.<br> +<br> +Ferreder, <i>a.</i> Better, more. <i>Gaelic,</i> Feairde.<br> +<br> +Fetér, <i>ad.</i> Better. <i>Pers.</i> [Persian: ] +<i>Span. Gyp.</i> Fetér.<br> +<br> +Figis, <i>s.</i> Fig.<br> +<br> +Figis-rookh, <i>s.</i> Fig-tree.<br> +<br> +Filisen, <i>s.</i> Country-seat.<br> +<br> +Fino, <i>a.</i> Fine. This word is not pure Gypsy: fino covar, +a fine thing.<br> +<br> +Floure, <i>s.</i> Flower; a female Gypsy name.<br> +<br> +Fordel, <i>v. a.</i> Forgive; generally used for Artav, or +Artavello, <i>q.v.,</i> and composed of the English 'for' and the +Gypsy 'del.'<br> +<br> +Fordias / Fordios,<i>part. pass.</i> Forgiven.<br> +<br> +Foros, <i>s.</i> City. <i>See</i> Vauros.<br> +<br> +Ful, <i>s.</i> Dung: ful-vardo, muck cart.<br> +<br> +Fuzyanri, <i>s.</i> Fern. <i>Hun.</i> Füz (willow), +fácska (a shrub), füszár (a stem).<br> +<br> +G<br> +<br> +GAD, <i>s.</i> A shirt: pauno gad, a clean shirt.<br> +<br> +Gare, <i>v. n., v. a.</i> To take care, beware; to hide, +conceal. <i>Sans.</i> Ghar, to cover.<br> +<br> +Garridan. You hid: luvvu sor garridan, the money which you +hid.<br> +<br> +Garrivava, <i>v. a.</i> I hide or shall hide, take care: to gare +his nangipen, to hide his nakedness.<br> +<br> +Gav, <i>s.</i> A town, village. <i>Pers</i>. [Persian: ]<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Gav-engro, <i>s.</i> A constable, village officer, beadle, +citizen.<br> +<br> +Gillie, <i>s.</i> A song. <i>Sans.</i> Khëli.<br> +<br> +Gillies. Songs. Sometimes used to denote newspapers; because +these last serve, as songs did in the old time, to give the world +information of remarkable events, such as battles, murders, and +robberies.<br> +<br> +Gilyava. I sing, or shall sing. <i>Hin.</i> Guywuya. <i>Mod. +Gr.</i> [Greek: ].<br> +<br> +Gin, <i>v. a.</i> To count, reckon. <i>Sans.</i> Gan. +<i>Hin.</i> Ginna.<br> +<br> +Ginnipen, <i>s.</i> A reckoning.<br> +<br> +Giv, <i>s.</i> Wheat. <i>Sans.</i> Yava (barley). <i>See</i> +Jobis.<br> +<br> +Giv-engro, <i>s.</i> Wheat-fellow, figurative name for +farmer.<br> +<br> +Giv-engro ker, <i>s.</i> Farmhouse.<br> +<br> +Giv-engro puv, <i>s.</i> Farm.<br> +<br> +Godli, <i>s.</i> A warrant, perhaps hue and cry. <i>See</i> +Gudlie. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Gola (order).<br> +<br> +Gono, <i>s.</i> A sack. <i>Hin.</i> Gon.<br> +<br> +Gorgio, <i>s.</i> A Gentile, a person who is not a Gypsy; one +who lives in a house and not in a tent. It is a modification of +the Persian word [Persian: ] Cojia, which signifies a gentleman, +a doctor, a merchant, etc. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Gacho.<br> +<br> +Gorgiken rat. Of Gentile blood.<br> +<br> +Gorgie, <i>s.</i> A female Gentile or Englishwoman.<br> +<br> +Gorgikonaes, <i>ad.</i> After the manner of the Gentiles.<br> +<br> +Gooee, <i>s.</i> Pudding. <i>See</i> Guyi.<br> +<br> +Gran, <i>s.</i> A barn: I sov'd yeck rarde drey a gran, I slept +one night within a barn (Gypsy song).<br> +<br> +Gran-wuddur, <i>s.</i> A barn door.<br> +<br> +Gran-wuddur-chiriclo. Barn-door fowl.<br> +<br> +Grasni / Grasnakkur,<i>s.</i> Mare, outrageous woman: what a +grasni shan tu, what a mare you are! Grasnakkur is sometimes +applied to the <i>mayor</i> of a town.<br> +<br> +Grestur / Gristur, <i>s.</i> A horse. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Gras, +graste.<br> +<br> +Gry, <i>s.</i> A horse. <i>Sans.</i> Kharu. <i>Hin.</i> +Ghora. <i>Irish</i> and <i>Scottish Gaelic,</i> Greadh.<br> +<br> +Gry-choring, <i>s.</i> Horse-stealing.<br> +<br> +Gry-engro, <i>s.</i> Horse-dealer.<br> +<br> +Gry-nashing. Horse-racing.<br> +<br> +Gudlee / Godli, <i>s.</i> Cry, noise, shout. <i>Hin.</i> +Ghooloo. <i>Irish,</i> Gúl. <i>Rus.</i> Gyl=gool +(shout); Gólos (voice).<br> +<br> +Grommena / Grovena / Grubbena, <i>s.</i> and<i>v.</i> Thunder, to +thunder. <i>Sans.</i> Garjana. <i>Rus.</i> Groin (thunder). +<i>Heb.</i> Ream, raemah. <i>Gaelic,</i> Gairm (a cry).<br> +<br> +Gudlo, <i>a., s.</i> Sweet; honey, sugar.<br> +<br> +Gudlo-pishen, <i>s.</i> Honey-insect, bee. <i>See</i> Bata.<br> +<br> +Gué. An <i>affix,</i> by which the dative case is formed: +<i>e.g.</i> Man, I; mangué, to me.<br> +<br> +Guero, <i>s.</i> A person, fellow, that which governs, +operates. <i>Sans.</i> Kãra (a maker). <i>Pers</i>. +[Persian: ] <i>Welsh,</i> Gwr (a man). In the Spanish cant +language, Guro signifies an alguazil, a kind of civil officer. +<i>See</i> Engro.<br> +<br> +Gueri, <i>s.f.</i> Female person, virgin: Mideveleskey gueri +Mary, Holy Virgin Mary.<br> +<br> +Gush / Gurush / Gurushi, <i>a.</i> Groat: gurushengri, a groat's +worth.<br> +<br> +Guveni, <i>s.</i> Cow. <i>Sans.</i> Go.<br> +<br> +Guveni-bugnior, <i>s.</i> Cow-pox.<br> +<br> +Guveno, <i>s.</i> A bull. <i>Sans.</i> Gavaya. <i>Gaelic,</i> +Gavuin, gowain (year-old calf).<br> +<br> +Guyi, <i>s.</i> Pudding, black pudding. <i>Hin.</i> Gulgul. +<i>Span. Gyp</i>. Golli.<br> +<br> +Guyi-mengreskie tan, <i>s.</i> Yorkshire. Lit. pudding-eaters' +country; in allusion to the puddings for which Yorkshire is +celebrated.<br> +<br> +H<br> +<br> +Ha / Haw, <i>v. a.</i> To eat.<br> +<br> +Habben, <i>s.</i> Food, victuals.<br> +<br> +Hal, <i>v. a.</i> To eat: mande can't hal lis, I can't eat it. +<i>Sans.</i> Gala.<br> +<br> +Hanlo, <i>s.</i> A landlord, innkeeper. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Anglanó.<br> +<br> +Hatch, <i>v. a.</i> To burn, light a fire.<br> +<br> +Hatchipen, <i>s.</i> A burning.<br> +<br> +Hatch, <i>v. n.</i> To stay, stop. <i>See</i> Adje, atch, +az.<br> +<br> +Hatchi-witchu, <i>s.</i> A hedgehog. This is a compound word +from the <i>Wal.</i> Aritche, a hedgehog, and the Persian Besha, +a wood, and signifies properly the prickly thing of the wood. In +Spanish Gypsy, one of the words for a pig or hog is Eriche, +evidently the Wallachian Aritche, a hedgehog.<br> +<br> +Hekta, <i>s.</i> Haste: kair hekta, make haste; likewise a +leap. <i>See</i> Hokta. <i>Sans.</i> Hat'ha (to leap).<br> +<br> +Heres / Heris, <i>s. pl.</i> Legs. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Jerias. +Coshtni herri (a wooden leg).<br> +<br> +Hetavava, <i>v. a.</i> To slay, beat, hit, carry off, plunder: +if I can lel bonnek of tute hetavava tute, if I can lay hold of +you I will slay you. <i>Heb.</i> Khataf (rapuit). <i>Sans.</i> +Hat'ha (to ill-use, rapere).<br> +<br> +Hev, <i>s.</i> Hole: pawnugo hev, a water hole, a well; hev, a +window; hevior, windows. <i>Sans.</i> Avata.<br> +<br> +Heviskey, <i>a.</i> Full of holes: heviskey tan, a place full of +holes.<br> +<br> +Hin, <i>s.</i> Dirt, ordure. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ] +<i>Wal.</i> Gounoiou<i>. Irish,</i> Gaineamh(sand).<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Hin, <i>v. a</i>. To void ordure. <i>Sans</i>. Hanna. <i>Mod. +Gr.</i> [Greek: ]<br> +<br> +Hindity-mengré / Hindity-mescré, <i>s. pl</i>. +Irish. Dirty, sordid fellows.<br> +<br> +Hoffeno, <i>s</i>. A liar.<br> +<br> +Hok-hornie-mush, s. A policeman. Partly a cant word.<br> +<br> +Hokka, <i>v. n</i>. To lie, tell a falsehood: hokka tute mande, +if you tell me a falsehood.<br> +<br> +Hokkano, <i>s</i>. A lie. <i>Sans</i>. Kuhanã +(hypocrisy).<br> +<br> +Hokta, <i>v. a</i>. To leap, jump. <i>See</i> Hekta.<br> +<br> +Hokta-mengro, <i>s</i>. Leaper, jumper.<br> +<br> +Hoofa, <i>s</i>. A cap.<br> +<br> +Hor / Horo, <i>s</i>. A penny. <i>Span. Gyp</i>. Corio an +ochavo (or farthing).<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Horry, <i>s. pl.</i> Pence: shohorry, showhawry, sixpence.<br> +<br> +Horsworth, <i>s.</i> Pennyworth.<br> +<br> +Horkipen, <i>s.</i> Copper. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Harko.<br> +<br> +Huffeno, <i>s.</i> A liar. <i>See</i> Hoffeno.<br> +<br> +Hukni, <i>s.</i> Ringing the changes, the fraudulent changing of +one thing for another.<br> +<br> +I<br> +<br> +I, <i>pro.</i> She, it.<br> +<br> +I. A <i>feminine</i> and <i>neuter termination: e.g.</i> Yag +eng<i>ri</i>, a fire-thing or gun; coin <i>si,</i> who is she? so +<i>si,</i> what is it?<br> +<br> +Inna / Inner, <i>prep.</i> In, within: inner Lundra, in London. +<i>Span. Gyp.</i> Enré.<br> +<br> +Iouzia, <i>s.</i> A flower.<br> +<br> +Is, <i>conj.</i> If; it is affixed to the verb - e.g. Dikiomis, +if I had seen.<br> +<br> +Iv, <i>s.</i> Snow. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Yiv. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Give.<br> +<br> +Iv-engri / Ivi-mengri, <i>s.</i> Snow-thing, snowball.<br> +<br> +Iuziou, <i>a.</i> Clean. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ] (sound, +healthy). <i>See</i> Roujio.<br> +<br> +J<br> +<br> +JAL. To go, walk, journey. This verb is allied to various words +in different languages signifying movement, course or journey: - +to the Sanscrit Il, ila, to go; to the Russian Gulliat, to +stroll, to walk about; to the Turkish Iel, a journey; to the Jol +of the Norse, and the Yule of the Anglo-Saxons, terms applied to +Christmas-tide, but which properly mean the circular journey +which the sun has completed at that season: for what are Jol and +Yule but the Ygul of the Hebrews? who call the zodiac 'Ygul ha +mazaluth,' or the circle of the signs. It is, moreover, related +to the German Jahr and the English Year, radically the same words +as Jol, Yule, and Ygul, and of the same meaning - namely, the +circle travelled by the sun through the signs.<br> +<br> +Já, <i>v. imp.</i> Go thou!<br> +<br> +Jal amande. I shall go.<br> +<br> +Jal te booty. Go to work.<br> +<br> +Jalno / Java / Jaw, v.a. I go. <i>Sans.</i> Chara.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Jas, jasa. Thou goest: tute is jasing, thou art going.<br> +<br> +Jal, <i>3rd pers. pres.</i> He goes.<br> +<br> +Jalla, <i>f.</i> She goes.<br> +<br> +Jalno ando pawni, <i>v. a.</i> I swim. Lit. I go in water.<br> +<br> +Jaw, <i>ad.</i> So: jaw si, so it is. <i>See</i> Ajaw, +asá, ashá.<br> +<br> +Jib, <i>s.</i> Tongue. <i>Sans.</i> Jihva.<br> +<br> +Jib, <i>v. n.</i> To live, to exist. <i>Sans.</i> Jiv. +<i>Rus.</i> Jit. <i>Lithuanian,</i> Gywenu.<br> +<br> +Jibben, <i>s.</i> Life, livelihood. <i>Sans.</i> Jivata (life), +Jivika (livelihood). <i>Rus.</i> Jivot, Tchivot.<br> +<br> +Jivvel, <i>v. n.</i> He lives: kai jivvel o, where does he +live?<br> +<br> +Jin / Jinava, <i>v. n.</i> To know. <i>Sans.</i> Jna.<br> +<br> +Jinnepen, <i>s.</i> Wisdom, knowledge. <i>Sans.</i> Jnapti +(understanding).<br> +<br> +Jinney-mengro, <i>s.</i> A knowing fellow, a deep card, a +Grecian, a wise man, a philosopher.<br> +<br> +Jinney-mengreskey rokrapénes. Sayings of the wise: the +tatcho drom to be a jinney-mengro is to dick and rig in zi, the +true way to be a wise man is to see and bear in mind.<br> +<br> +Jongar, <i>v. n.</i> To awake. <i>Sans.</i> Jagri. <i>Hin.</i> +Jugana.<br> +<br> +Jôbis, <i>s.</i> Oats. <i>Sans.</i> Java (barley). +<i>Wal.</i> Obia. <i>See</i> Giv.<br> +<br> +Joddakaye, <i>s.</i> Apron; anything tied round the middle or +hips. <i>Sans.</i> Kata (the hip, the loins), Kataka (a +girdle).<br> +<br> +Ju, <i>s.</i> A louse. <i>Sans.</i> Yuka.<br> +<br> +Juvalo, <i>a.</i> Lousy.<br> +<br> +Juvior, <i>s. pl.</i> Lice.<br> +<br> +Juggal / Jukkal, <i>s.</i> Dog. <i>Sans.</i> Srigãla +(jackal).<br> +<br> +Jukkalor. Dogs.<br> +<br> +Jukkaelsti cosht, <i>s.</i> Dog-wood; a hard wood used for +making skewers.<br> +<br> +Juva / Juvali, Woman, wife.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Juvli, <i>s.</i> Girl. <i>See</i> Chavali.<br> +<br> +K<br> +<br> +KAEL, <i>s.</i> Cheese.<br> +<br> +Kaes, <i>s.</i> Cheese.<br> +<br> +Kah / Kai, <i>ad.</i> Where: kai tiro ker, where's your house? +kai si the churi, where is the knife? <i>Sans.</i> Kva.<br> +<br> +Kair, <i>v. a.</i> To do. <i>Sans.</i> Kri, to do; kara +(doing).<br> +<br> +Kair misto. To make well, cure, comfort.<br> +<br> +Kairipen, <i>s.</i> Work, labour. <i>Sans.</i> Karman.<br> +<br> +Kakkaratchi, <i>s.</i> Magpie; properly a raven. <i>Mod. +Gr.</i> [Greek: ]<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Kanau / Knau, <i>ad.</i> Now.<br> +<br> +Karring. Crying out, hawking goods. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Acarar +(to call). <i>See</i> Koring.<br> +<br> +Kaulo, <i>a.</i> Black. <i>Sans.</i> Kãla. <i>Arab.</i> +[Arabic: ]<br> +<br> +Kaulo chiriclo, <i>s.</i> A blackbird.<br> +<br> +Kaulo cori, <i>s.</i> A blackthorn.<br> +<br> +Kaulo durril, <i>s.</i> Blackberry.<br> +<br> +Kaulo Gav, <i>s.</i> Black-town, Birmingham.<br> +<br> +Kaulo guero, <i>s.</i> A black, negro.<br> +<br> +Kaulo guereskey tem, <i>s.</i> Negroland, Africa.<br> +<br> +Kaulo-mengro, <i>s.</i> A blacksmith.<br> +<br> +Kaulo ratti. Black blood, Gypsy blood: kaulo ratti adrey leste, +he has Gypsy blood in his veins.<br> +<br> +Kaun, <i>s.</i> An ear. <i>Sans.</i> Karna.<br> +<br> +Kaun-engro, <i>s.</i> An ear-fellow, thing with long ears; a +figurative name for a hare.<br> +<br> +Ke, <i>prep.</i> Unto. Likewise a <i>postposition - e.g.</i> +lenké, to them.<br> +<br> +Keir / Ker, <i>s.</i> A house. <i>Sans.</i> Griha.<br> +<br> +Ker / Kerey / Ken, <i>ad.</i> Home, homeward: java keri, I will +go home.<br> +<br> +Keir-poggring. House-breaking.<br> +<br> +Keir-rakli, <i>s.</i> A housemaid.<br> +<br> +Kek, <i>ad. a.</i> No, none, not: kek tatcho, it is not +true.<br> +<br> +Kekkeno, <i>a.</i> None, not any: kekkeni pawni, no water.<br> +<br> +Kekkeno mushe's poov, <i>s.</i> No man's land; a common.<br> +<br> +Kekkauvi, <i>s.f.</i> Kettle. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ]<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Kekkauviskey saster, <i>s.</i> Kettle-iron; the hook by which +the kettle is suspended over the fire.<br> +<br> +Kekko, <i>ad.</i> No, it is not, not it, not he.<br> +<br> +Kekkomi. No more. <i>See</i> Komi, Ever-komi.<br> +<br> +Kek-cushti. Of no use; no good. <i>See</i> Koshto.<br> +<br> +Kem, <i>s.</i> The sun. <i>See</i> Cam.<br> +<br> +Ken. A <i>particle</i> affixed in English Gypsy to the name of a +place terminating in a vowel, in order to form a genitive; +<i>e.g.</i> Eli<i>ken</i> bori congri, the great church of Ely. +<i>See</i> En.<br> +<br> +Ken, <i>s.</i> A house, properly a nest. <i>Heb.</i> [Hebrew: ] +Kin.<br> +<br> +Kenyor, <i>s. pl.</i> Ears. <i>See</i> Kaun.<br> +<br> +Ker / Kerava <i>v. a.</i> To do; make: kair yag, make a fire. +<i>Sans.</i> Kri. <i>Pers.</i> [Perisan: ] <i>Gaelic</i>, +Ceaird (a trade), ceard (a tinker). <i>Lat</i>. Cerdo (a +smith). English, Char, chare (to work by the day).<br> +<br> +Kerdo. He did.<br> +<br> +Kedast, <i>2nd pers. pret</i>. Thou didst.<br> +<br> +Kedo, <i>part. pass</i>. Done.<br> +<br> +Kerri-mengro, <i>s</i>. Workman.<br> +<br> +Kerrimus, s. Doing, deed: mi-Doovel's kerrimus, the Lord's +doing. <i>Sans</i>. Karman (work).<br> +<br> +Kerrit, <i>p. pass.</i> Cooked, boiled. Anglo-Indian word, +Curried. <i>Fr.</i> Cuire. <i>Gaelic,</i> Greidh (to cook +victuals).<br> +<br> +Kettaney, <i>ad.</i> Together. <i>Wal.</i> Ketziba (many). +<i>See</i> Kisi.<br> +<br> +Kidda, <i>v. a.</i> To pluck.<br> +<br> +Kil, <i>v. a.</i> To dance, play. <i>Hin.</i> Kelná. +<i>Sans.</i> Kshvel.<br> +<br> +Killi-mengro, <i>s.</i> A dancer, player.<br> +<br> +Kil, <i>s.</i> Butter.<br> +<br> +Kin, <i>v. a.</i> To buy: kinning and bikkning, buying and +selling. <i>Heb.</i> Kana (he bought).<br> +<br> +Kin aley. To ransom, redeem, buy off.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Kinnipen, <i>s.</i> A purchase.<br> +<br> +Kinnipen-divvus, <i>s.</i> Purchasing-day, Saturday.<br> +<br> +Kindo, <i>a.</i> Wet.<br> +<br> +Kipsi, <i>s.</i> Basket. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Quicia.<br> +<br> +Kinyo. Tired. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Quiñao.<br> +<br> +Kisaiya. A female Gypsy name.<br> +<br> +Kisi, <i>ad.</i> How much, to what degree: kisi puro shan tu, +how old are you?<i> Wal.</i> Kitze. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Quichi. +<i>Sans.</i> Kati (how many?)<br> +<br> +Kisseh / Kissi, <i>s.</i> A purse. <i>Sans.</i> Kosa. +<i>Pers.</i> [Persian: ]<br> +<br> +Kistur, <i>v. a.</i> To ride. <i>Wal.</i> Keleri.<br> +<br> +Kistri-mengro / Kistro-mengro, <i>s.</i> Rider, horseman.<br> +<br> +Kitchema, <i>s.</i> Public-house, inn. <i>Hun.</i> Korcsma. +<i>Wal.</i> Keirtchumie.<br> +<br> +Kitchema-mengro, <i>s.</i> Innkeeper.<br> +<br> +Klism / Klisn, <i>s.</i> A key. <i>Rus.</i> Cliotche. <i>Mod. +Gr.</i> [Greek: ] (shutting up).<br> +<br> +Klism-engri, <i>s.</i> A lock. Lit. key-thing.<br> +<br> +Klism-hev, <i>s.</i> A keyhole.<br> +<br> +Klop, <i>s.</i> A gate, seemingly a cant word; perhaps a bell. +<i>Wal.</i> Klopot.<br> +<br> +Kokkodus. Uncle: kokkodus Artáros, Uncle Arthur.<br> +<br> +Komi, <i>adv.</i> More: ever-komi, evermore.<br> +<br> +Koosho, <i>a.</i> Good: kooshi gillie, a good song. +<i>Sans.</i> Kusala.<br> +<br> +Kora/ Kore, <i>v. a.</i> To riot. <i>Wal.</i> Kiorei (to cry +out, bawl, make a tumult). <i>Heb.</i> Kara (he convoked, cried +out).<br> +<br> +Koring, <i>part. pres.</i> Rioting. <i>Heb.</i> Kirivah +(proclamation).<br> +<br> +Kora-mengro, <i>s.</i> A rioter.<br> +<br> +Kore, <i>v. a.</i> To hawk goods about, to cry out, to +proclaim.<br> +<br> +Koring lil, <i>s.</i> Hawking-licence.<br> +<br> +Koring chiriclo, <i>s.</i> The cuckoo.<br> +<br> +Koshto, <i>a.</i> Good. <i>Pers</i>. [Persian: ]<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Koshtipen, <i>s.</i> Goodness, advantage, profit: kek koshtipen +in dukkering knau, it is of no use to tell fortunes now.<br> +<br> +Kosko, <i>a.</i> Good.<br> +<br> +Koskipen, <i>s.</i> Goodness.<br> +<br> +Krallis, <i>s.</i> King. <i>Rus.</i> Korol. <i>Hun.</i> +Király. <i>Wal.</i> Kraiu.<br> +<br> +Kushto, <i>a.</i> Good: kushto si for mangui, I am content.<br> +<br> +L<br> +<br> +LA, <i>pro. pers.</i> Her; accusative of 'i' or ' yoi,' she.<br> +<br> +Laki, <i>pro. poss.</i> Her: laki die, her mother.<br> +<br> +Lasa / Lasar, With her; instrumental case of 'i.'<br> +<br> +Later. From her; ablative of 'i.'<br> +<br> +Lati. Genitive of 'i'; frequently used as the accusative - e.g. +cams tu lati, do you love her?<br> +<br> +Lang / Lango, a. Lame. <i>Sans</i>. Lang. <i>Pers</i>. +[Persian: ] Lenk.<br> +<br> +Lashi / Lasho, Louis. <i>Hungarian</i>, Lajos, Lazlo. Scotch, +Lesley.<br> +<br> +Latch, <i>v. a</i>. To find. <i>Wal.</i> Aphla.<br> +<br> +Lav, <i>s</i>. Word. <i>Sans</i>. Lapa (to speak). <i>Eng</i>. +Lip.<br> +<br> +Lavior, <i>pl</i>. Words.<br> +<br> +Lav-chingaripen, <i>s</i>. Dispute, word-war.<br> +<br> +Lav-engro, <i>s</i>. Word-master, linguist.<br> +<br> +Len, <i>pro. pers</i>. <i>pl</i>. To them: se len, there is to +them, the have.<br> +<br> +Lendar, <i>ablative</i>. From them.<br> +<br> +Lende / Lunde, <i>gen. and acc.</i> Of them, them.<br> +<br> +Lensar. With them.<br> +<br> +Lengué, <i>pro. poss.</i> Their: lengue tan, their +tent.<br> +<br> +Les, <i>pro. pers</i>. To him; dative of 'yo,' he: pawno stadj +se les, he has a white hat.<br> +<br> +Lescro, <i>pro. poss.</i> His, belonging to him: lescro prala, +his brother.<br> +<br> +Leste. Of him, <i>likewise</i> him; genitive and accusative of +'yo.'<br> +<br> +Lester. From him.<br> +<br> +Leste's. His: leste's wast, his hand; properly, lescro wast.<br> +<br> +Lesti. Her <i>or</i> it: pukker zi te lesti, tell her your mind; +he can't rokkra lesti, he can't speak it.<br> +<br> +Leav / Ley, <i>v. a.</i> To take. <i>Wal.</i> Loua.<br> +<br> +Lel. He takes.<br> +<br> +Lel cappi. Get booty, profit, capital.<br> +<br> +Lennor, <i>s.</i> Summer, spring.<br> +<br> +Levinor, <i>s.</i> Ale; drinks in which there is wormwood. +<i>Heb.</i> Laenah (wormwood). <i>Irish,</i> Lion (ale).<br> +<br> +Levinor-ker, <i>s.</i> Alehouse.<br> +<br> +Levinor-engri. Hop. Lit. ale-thing.<br> +<br> +Levinor-engriken tem. Kent. Lit. hop-country.<br> +<br> +Li, <i>pron.</i> It: dovo se li, that's it.<br> +<br> +Lidan, <i>v. a.</i> You took; <i>2nd pers. pret.</i> of Ley.<br> +<br> +Lil, <i>s.</i> Book; a letter or pass. <i>Hun.</i> Level. +<i>Sans.</i> Likh (to write). <i>Hindustani,</i> Likhan (to +write).<br> +<br> +Lillai, <i>s.</i> Summer. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Nilei.<br> +<br> +Linnow, <i>part. pass.</i> Taken, apprehended.<br> +<br> +Lis, <i>pro. dat.</i> To it: adrey lis, in it.<br> +<br> +Lollo / Lullo, <i>a.</i> Red. <i>Pers.</i> [Persian: ] Lal.<br> +<br> +Lolle bengres, <i>s. pl</i>. Red waistcoats, Bow Street +runners.<br> +<br> +Lollo matcho, <i>s.</i> Red herring. Lit. red fish.<br> +<br> +Lolli plaishta, <i>s.</i> A red cloak.<br> +<br> +Lolli, <i>s.</i> A farthing.<br> +<br> +Lon / Lun, <i>s.</i> Salt. <i>Sans.</i> Lavana. <i>Hin.</i> +Lon.<br> +<br> +Lou, <i>pro.</i> It: oprey-lou, upon it. <i>Wal.</i> Lou.<br> +<br> +Loure, <i>v. a.</i> To steal. <i>See</i> Luripen.<br> +<br> +Lubbeny, <i>s.</i> Harlot. <i>Rus.</i> Liabodieitza +(adultress), liobodeinoe (adulterous). <i>Sans.</i> Lúbha +(to inflame with lust, to desire). The English word Love is +derived from this Sanscrit root.<br> +<br> +Lubbenipen, <i>s.</i> Harlotry.<br> +<br> +Lubbenified. Become a harlot.<br> +<br> +Lundra. London. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [<i>Greek</i>: ].<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Luripen, <i>s.</i> Robbery, a booty. Lit. a seizure. +<i>Wal.</i> Luare (seizure, capture), Louarea Parizouloui (the +capture of Paris).<br> +<br> +Lutherum, <i>s.</i> Sleep, repose, slumber.<br> +<br> +Luvvo, <i>s.</i> Money, currency. <i>Rus.</i> Lóvok +(convenient, handy, quick, agile). In Spanish Gypsy, a real +(small coin) is called Quelati, a thing which dances, from +Quelar, to dance.<br> +<br> +Luvvo-mengro, <i>s.</i> Money-changer, banker.<br> +<br> +Luvvo-mengro-ker, <i>s.</i> Banker's house, bank.<br> +<br> +M<br> +<br> +Má, <i>ad.</i> Not; only used before the imperative: +má muk, let not. <i>Sans.</i> Mã. <i>Pers</i>. +[Persian: ]<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Maas, <i>s. Sans.</i> Mansa Mans. <i>Rus.</i> Maso. <i>See</i> +Mas.<br> +<br> +Maas-engro / Maaso-mengro, <i>s.</i> Butcher.<br> +<br> +Mailla, <i>s.</i> Ass, donkey. <i>Wal.</i> Megaroul. +<i>Sans.</i> Baluya.<br> +<br> +Mailla and posh. Ass and foal.<br> +<br> +Malleco, <i>a.</i> False.<br> +<br> +Malúno / Maloney<i>, s.</i> Lightning. <i>Rus.</i> +Mólnïya.<br> +<br> +Mam, <i>s.</i> Mother. <i>Wal.</i> Moume. <i>Welsh,</i> Mam. +<i>Irish and Scottish Gaelic,</i> Muime (a nurse).<br> +<br> +Man, <i>pron. pers.</i> I; very seldom used. <i>Hin.</i> +Muen.<br> +<br> +Mande, <i>pron. pers. oblique</i> of Man; generally used instead +of the nominative Man.<br> +<br> +Mander. Ablative of Man, from me: jã mander, go from +me.<br> +<br> +Mande's. My. Mande's wast, my hand; used improperly for +miro.<br> +<br> +Mangue. Dative of Man, to me; sometimes used instead of the +nominative.<br> +<br> +Mansa. With me.<br> +<br> +Mang, <i>v. a.</i> To beg. <i>Hin.</i> Mangna. <i>Sans.</i> +Mãrg.<br> +<br> +Mango-mengro, <i>s.</i> A beggar.<br> +<br> +Mangipen, <i>s.</i> The trade of begging. <i>Sans.</i> +Mãrgana (begging).<br> +<br> +Manricley, <i>s.</i> A cake. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Manricli.<br> +<br> +Manush, <i>s.</i> Man. <i>Sans.</i> Mãnasha. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Manus. <i>See</i> Monish.<br> +<br> +Manushi, <i>s.</i> Woman, wife. <i>Sans.</i> Manushi.<br> +<br> +Maricli, <i>s.</i> A cake. <i>See</i> Maricley.<br> +<br> +Mash, <i>s.</i> Umbrella. A cant word.<br> +<br> +Matcho, <i>s.</i> A fish. <i>Sans.</i> Matsya. <i>Hin.</i> +Muchee.<br> +<br> +Matcheneskoe Gav. Yarmouth. Lit. the fishy town.<br> +<br> +Matcheneskoe guero, <i>s.</i> A fisherman.<br> +<br> +Matchka, <i>s.f.</i> A cat. <i>Hun.</i> Macska.<br> +<br> +Matchko, <i>s. m.</i> A he-cat.<br> +<br> +Mattipen, <i>s.</i> Drunkenness. <i>Sans.</i> Matta (to be +intoxicated). <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ] (intoxication). +<i>Welsh,</i> Meddwy (to intoxicate).<br> +<br> +Matto, <i>a.</i> Drunk, intoxicated. <i>Welsh,</i> Meddw.<br> +<br> +Matto-mengro, <i>s.</i> Drunkard.<br> +<br> +Mea, <i>s.</i> Mile: dui mear, two miles. <i>Wal.</i> Mie.<br> +<br> +Mea-bar, <i>s.</i> Milestone.<br> +<br> +Medisin, <i>s.</i> Measure, bushel. <i>Sans.</i> +Mãna.<br> +<br> +Mek, <i>v.</i> n. Leave, let: meklis, leave off, hold your +tongue, have done. <i>Sans.</i> Moksh.<br> +<br> +Men, <i>pr.</i> We; <i>pl</i>. of Man.<br> +<br> +Men, <i>s.</i> Neck. <i>Gaelic,</i> Muineal. <i>Welsh,</i> +Mwng. <i>Mandchou</i>, Meifen.<br> +<br> +Men-pangushi, <i>s.</i> Neckcloth. <i>See</i> Pangushi.<br> +<br> +Mengro. A word much used in composition. <i>See</i> Engro and +Mescro.<br> +<br> +Mensalli, <i>s.</i> A table. <i>Wal.</i> Masi.<br> +<br> +Mer <i>/</i> Merava, <i>v. n</i>. To die. <i>Sans.</i> Mri.<br> +<br> +Merricley, <i>s.</i> A cake. <i>See</i> Manricley.<br> +<br> +Merripen, <i>s.</i> Death. <i>Sans.</i> Mara.<br> +<br> +Merripen, <i>s.</i> Life, according to the Gypsies, though one +feels inclined to suppose that the real signification of the word +is Death; it may, however, be connected with the Gaulic or Irish +word Mairam, to endure, continue, live long: Gura' fada mhaireadh +tu! may you long endure, long life to you! In Spanish Gypsy +Merinao signifies an immortal.<br> +<br> +Mescro. A <i>particle</i> which, affixed to a verb, forms a +substantive masculine:<i>- e.g.</i> Camo, I love; camo-mescro, a +lover. Nash, to run; nashi-mescro, a runner. It is equivalent +to Mengro, <i>q.v</i>.<br> +<br> +Messalli, <i>s.</i> A table. <i>Wal.</i> Masi.<br> +<br> +Mestipen, <i>s.</i> Life, livelihood, living, fortune, luck, +goodness. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Mestipen, bestipen. <i>Wal.</i> +Viatsie.<br> +<br> +Mi, <i>pron.</i> I, my.<br> +<br> +Mi cocoro, <i>pron. poss.</i> I myself, I alone.<br> +<br> +Mi dearie Dubbeleskey. For my dear God's sake.<br> +<br> +Mi develeskie gueri, <i>s.f.</i> A holy female.<br> +<br> +Mi develeskie gueri Mary. Holy Virgin Mary.<br> +<br> +Mi develeskoe Baval Engro. Holy Ghost.<br> +<br> +Mi dubbelungo, <i>a.</i> Divine.<br> +<br> +Mi duvvelungo divvus, <i>s.</i> Christmas Day.<br> +<br> +Millior, <i>s.</i> Miles; panj millior, five miles.<br> +<br> +Minge / Mintch,<i>s.</i> Pudendum muliebre.<br> +<br> +Miro, <i>pron. poss.</i> My, mine.<br> +<br> +Miri, <i>pron. poss. f.</i> My, mine.<br> +<br> +Misto / Mistos, <i>ad.</i> Well.<br> +<br> +Misto dusta. Very well.<br> +<br> +Mistos amande. I am glad.<br> +<br> +Mitch, <i>s. See</i> Minge.<br> +<br> +Mizella. Female Gypsy name.<br> +<br> +Mokkado, <i>a.</i> Unclean to eat. <i>Wal.</i> Mourdar +(dirty).<br> +<br> +Monish, <i>s.</i> Man. <i>See</i> Manush.<br> +<br> +Mol, <i>s.</i> Wine. <i>See</i> Mul.<br> +<br> +Mollauvis, <i>s.</i> Pewter.<br> +<br> +Moomli, <i>s.</i> Candle, taper. <i>See</i> Mumli.<br> +<br> +Moomli-mengro, <i>s.</i> Candlestick, lantern.<br> +<br> +Moar, <i>v. a.</i> To grind. <i>See</i> Morro.<br> +<br> +More / Morava, <i>v. a.</i> To kill, slay. <i>Sans.</i> Mri. +<i>Wal.</i> Omori.<br> +<br> +Moreno, <i>part. pass.</i> Killed, slain.<br> +<br> +More, <i>v. a.</i> To shave, shear. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> +Murinow.<br> +<br> +Mormusti, <i>s.f.</i> Midwife. <i>Wal.</i> Maimoutsi. +<i>Rus.</i> Mameichka (nurse).<br> +<br> +Moro, <i>pron. poss.</i> Our: moro dad, our father.<br> +<br> +Morro, <i>s.</i> Bread. Lit. that which is ground. <i>See</i> +Moar. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Manro. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Manro, also +Gheum: sin gheum manro, gheum is manro (bread). <i>Rus. Gyp.</i> +Morroshka (a loaf).<br> +<br> +Morro-mengro, <i>s.</i> A baker.<br> +<br> +Mort, <i>s.</i> Woman, concubine; a cant word.<br> +<br> +Mosco / Moshko, A fly. <i>Lat.</i> Musca. <i>Wal.</i> Mouskie. +<i>Span. Gyp.</i> Moscabis (fly-blown, stung with love, +picado,enamorado).<br> +<br> +Moskey, <i>s.</i> A spy: to jal a moskeying, to go out spying. +<i>Fr.</i> Mouchard.<br> +<br> +Mufta, <i>s.f.</i> Box, chest. <i>See</i> Muktar.<br> +<br> +Mui, <i>s.</i> Face, mouth: lollo leste mui, his face is red. +<i>Sans.</i> Mukha (face, mouth). <i>Fr.</i> Mot (a word). +<i>Provenzal,</i> Mo.<br> +<br> +Muk, <i>v. n.</i> To leave, let. <i>See</i> Mek.<br> +<br> +Mukkalis becunye. Let it be.<br> +<br> +Muktar / Mukto, <i>s.</i> Box, chest.<br> +<br> +Mul, <i>s.</i> Wine. <i>Pers.</i> Mul.<br> +<br> +Mul divvus. Christmas Day. Lit. wine day.<br> +<br> +Mul-engris, <i>s. pl.</i> Grapes: mul-engri tan, vineyard.<br> +<br> +Mulleni muktar, <i>s.</i> Coffin. Lit. dead-chest.<br> +<br> +Mullodustie mukto. <i>Id.</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Mulleno hev, <i>s.</i> Grave.<br> +<br> +Mulleno kêr, <i>s.</i> Sepulchre, cemetery.<br> +<br> +Mullo, <i>s., a.</i> Dead man, dead.<br> +<br> +Mullo mas, <i>s.</i> Dead meat; flesh of an animal not slain, +but which died alone.<br> +<br> +Mumli, <i>s.f.</i> Candle.<br> +<br> +Mumli-mescro, <i>s.</i> Chandler.<br> +<br> +Munjee, <i>s.</i> A blow on the mouth, seemingly a cant word. +<i>Hin.</i> Munh, mouth. <i>Ger.</i> Mund.<br> +<br> +Murces <i>/</i> Mursior, <i>s. pl.</i> Arms. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Murciales.<br> +<br> +Muscro, <i>s.</i> Constable. <i>See</i> Muskerro.<br> +<br> +Mush, <i>s.</i> Man. <i>Rus.</i> Mouge. <i>Finnish,</i> Mies. +<i>Tibetian,</i> Mi. <i>Lat.</i> Mas (a male).<br> +<br> +Mushi, <i>s.</i> Woman.<br> +<br> +Mushipen, <i>s.</i> A little man, a lad. <i>Toulousian,</i> +Massip (a young man), massipo (a young woman).<br> +<br> +Muskerro, <i>s.</i> Constable.<br> +<br> +Muskerriskoe cost, <i>s.</i> Constable's staff.<br> +<br> +Mutra, <i>s.</i> Urine.<br> +<br> +Mutrava, <i>v. a.</i> To void urine. <i>Sans.</i> Mutra.<br> +<br> +Mutra-mengri, <i>s.</i> Tea.<br> +<br> +Mutzi, <i>s.</i> Skin. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Morchas.<br> +<br> +Mutzior, <i>s. pl.</i> Skins.<br> +<br> +N<br> +<br> +NA, <i>ad.</i> Not.<br> +<br> +Naflipen, <i>s</i>. Sickness. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Nasallipen. +<i>Mod. Gr</i>. [Greek: ]<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Naflo, <i>a.</i> Sick.<br> +<br> +Nai. Properly Na hi, there is not: nai men chior, we have no +girls.<br> +<br> +Naior, <i>s. pl.</i> Nails of the fingers or toes. <i>Mod. +Gr</i>. [Greek: ]<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Nangipen, <i>s.</i> Nakedness.<br> +<br> +Nango, <i>a.</i> Naked.<br> +<br> +Narilla / Narrila, A female Gypsy name.<br> +<br> +Nash, <i>v. a.</i> To run. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Najar.<br> +<br> +Nashimescro, <i>s.</i> Runner, racer.<br> +<br> +Nashimescro-tan, <i>s.</i> Race-course.<br> +<br> +Nash, <i>v. a.</i> To lose, destroy, to hang. <i>Sans.</i> +Nasa. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Najabar (to lose). <i>Sans.</i> Nakha +(to destroy). <i>Eng.</i> Nacker (a killer of old horses).<br> +<br> +Nashado, <i>part. pret.</i> Lost, destroyed, hung.<br> +<br> +Nashimescro, <i>s.</i> Hangman.<br> +<br> +Nashko, <i>part. pass.</i> Hung: nashko pré rukh, hung on +a tree.<br> +<br> +Nasho, <i>part. pass.</i> Hung.<br> +<br> +Nástis, <i>a.</i> Impossible. <i>See</i> Astis.<br> +<br> +Nav, <i>s.</i> Name. <i>Hun.</i> Nev.<br> +<br> +Naval, <i>s.</i> Thread. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Nafre.<br> +<br> +Naes / Nes, <i>postpos.</i> According to, after the manner of: +gorgikonaes, after the manner of the Gentiles; +Romano-chalugo-naes, after the manner of the Gypsies.<br> +<br> +Ne, <i>ad.</i> No, not: ne burroder, no more; ne riddo, not +dressed.<br> +<br> +Nevo, <i>a.</i> New.<br> +<br> +Nevi, <i>a</i>. <i>fem.</i> New: nevi tud from the guveni, new +milk from the cow.<br> +<br> +Nevey Rukhies. The New Forest. Lit. new trees.<br> +<br> +Nevi Wesh. The New Forest.<br> +<br> +Nick, <i>v. a.</i> To take away, steal. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Nicabar.<br> +<br> +Nick the cost. To steal sticks for skewers and linen-pegs.<br> +<br> +Nogo, <i>s.</i> Own, one's own; nogo dad, one's own father; nogo +tan, one's own country.<br> +<br> +Nok, <i>s.</i> Nose. <i>Hin.</i> Nakh.<br> +<br> +Nok-engro, <i>s.</i> A glandered horse. Lit. a nose-fellow.<br> +<br> +Nokkipen, <i>s.</i> Snuff.<br> +<br> +O<br> +<br> +O, <i>art. def.</i> The.<br> +<br> +O, <i>pron.</i> He.<br> +<br> +Odoi, <i>ad.</i> There. <i>Hun.</i> Ott, oda.<br> +<br> +Oduvvu, <i>pron. dem.</i> That. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Odoba.<br> +<br> +Olevas / Olivas / Olivor, <i>s. pl.</i> Stockings. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Olibias. <i>Wal.</i> Chorapul.<br> +<br> +Opral / Opré / Oprey,<i>prep.</i> Upon, above. +<i>Wal.</i> Pre, asoupra.<br> +<br> +Or. A plural termination; for example, Shock, a cabbage, +<i>pl.</i> shock-or. It is perhaps derived from Ouri, the plural +termination of Wallachian neuter nouns ending in 'e.'<br> +<br> +Ora, <i>s.f.</i> A watch. <i>Hun.</i> Ora.<br> +<br> +Ora, <i>s.</i> An hour: so si ora, what's o'clock?<br> +<br> +Orlenda. Gypsy female name. <i>Rus.</i> Orlitza (female +eagle).<br> +<br> +Os. A common termination of Gypsy nouns. It is frequently +appended by the Gypsies to English nouns in order to disguise +them.<br> +<br> +Owli, <i>ad.</i> Yes. <i>See</i> Avali.<br> +<br> +P<br> +<br> +PA, <i>prep.</i> By: pá mui, by mouth. <i>Rus.</i> +Po.<br> +<br> +Padlo, <i>ad.</i> Across: padlo pawnie, across the water, +transported.<br> +<br> +Pahamengro, <i>s.</i> Turnip.<br> +<br> +Pailloes, <i>s.</i> Filberts.<br> +<br> +Pal, <i>s.</i> Brother.<br> +<br> +Pal of the bor. Brother of the hedge, hedgehog.<br> +<br> +Palal, <i>prep. ad.</i> Behind, after, back again: av palal, +come back, come again: palal the welgorus, after the fair. +<i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ] (again). <i>Rus.</i> Opiat +(<i>id</i>.).<br> +<br> +Pali, <i>ad.</i> Again, back.<br> +<br> +Pand, <i>v. a.</i> To bind. <i>Sans.</i> Bandh.<br> +<br> +Pandipen, <i>s.</i> Pinfold, prison, pound.<br> +<br> +Pandlo, <i>part. pass.</i> Bound, imprisoned, pounded.<br> +<br> +Pand opre, <i>v. a.</i> To bind up.<br> +<br> +Pandlo-mengro, <i>s.</i> Tollgate, thing that's shut.<br> +<br> +Pangushi, <i>s.f.</i> Handkerchief.<br> +<br> +Pãni, <i>s.</i> Water. <i>See</i> Pawni.<br> +<br> +Panishey shock, <i>s.</i> Watercress. Lit. water-cabbage. +<i>See</i> Shok.<br> +<br> +Panj, <i>a.</i> Five. <i>See</i> Pansch.<br> +<br> +Pani-mengro, <i>s.</i> Sailor, waterman.<br> +<br> +Panni-mengri, <i>s.</i> Garden.<br> +<br> +Panno, <i>s.</i> Cloth. <i>Lat.</i> Pannus. <i>Wal.</i> +Penzie.<br> +<br> +Pansch, <i>s.</i> Five. <i>Hin.</i> Panch.<br> +<br> +Pappins / Pappior,<i>s. pl.</i> Ducks. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: +]<br> +<br> +Paracrow, <i>v. a.</i> To thank: paracrow tute, I thank you.<br> +<br> +Parava / Parra, <i>v. a.</i> To change, exchange. <i>See</i> +Porra.<br> +<br> +Parriken, <i>s.</i> Trust, credit. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ] +(trusted goods).<br> +<br> +Parno, <i>a.</i> White. <i>See</i> Pauno.<br> +<br> +Pas, <i>s.</i> Half. <i>See</i> Posh.<br> +<br> +Pasherro, <i>s.</i> Halfpenny; <i>pl.</i> pasherie. +<i>Pers</i>. [Persian: ] Pasheez (a farthing).<br> +<br> +Pas-more, <i>v. a.</i> Half-kill.<br> +<br> +Patch, <i>s.</i> Shame. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Pachi, modesty, +virginity. <i>Sans.</i> Putchã.<br> +<br> +Patnies, <i>s. pl.</i> Ducks.<br> +<br> +Patrin, <i>s.</i> A Gypsy trail; handfuls of leaves or grass +cast by the Gypsies on the road, to denote to those behind the +way which they have taken.<br> +<br> +Pattin, <i>s.</i> A leaf. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Patia. +<i>Sans.</i> Patra.<br> +<br> +Pattinor. Leaves.<br> +<br> +Paub / Paubi, <i>s.</i> An apple. <i>Hung. Gyp.</i> Paboy.<br> +<br> +Paub tan, <i>s.</i> Orchard.<br> +<br> +Pauno, <i>a.</i> White. <i>Sans.</i> Pandu. <i>Gaelic,</i> +Ban.<br> +<br> +Pauno gad. Clean shirt.<br> +<br> +Pauno sherro. Grey head, white head.<br> +<br> +Pauno, <i>s.</i> Flour. Lit. what is white. The Latin 'panis' +seems to be connected with this word.<br> +<br> +Pauno-mengro, <i>s.</i> A miller, white fellow.<br> +<br> +Pauno-mui, <i>s.</i> Pale face; generally applied to a vain, +foolish girl, who prefers the company of the pallid Gentiles to +that of the dark Romans.<br> +<br> +Pauvi, <i>s.</i> An apple.<br> +<br> +Pauvi-pãni, <i>s.</i> Cyder, apple-water.<br> +<br> +Pawdel, <i>ad.</i> Across, over: pawdel puve and pawni, across +land and water; pawdel the chumba, over the hill.<br> +<br> +Pawnee / Pawni, <i>s.</i> Water. <i>Sans.</i> Pãniya. +<i>Hin.</i> Panie. <i>Eng.</i> Pond. <i>See</i> Pāni.<br> +<br> +Pawnugo, <i>a.</i> Watery: pawnugo hev, water-hole, well.<br> +<br> +Pazorrhus, <i>part. pass.</i> Indebted. <i>See</i> +Pizarris.<br> +<br> +Péava, <i>v. a.</i> To drink. <i>Sans.</i> +Pã.<br> +<br> +Péa-mengri, <i>s.</i> Tea-pot. <i>Wal.</i> Bea. Lit. +drinking thing.<br> +<br> +Peeapen, <i>s.</i> Health: ako's your peeapen! here's your +health!<br> +<br> +Pea-mengro, <i>s.</i> Drunkard.<br> +<br> +Pedloer, <i>s.</i> Nuts; <i>prop.</i> Acorns. <i>Pers.</i> +Peleed.<br> +<br> +Peerdie, <i>s.</i> Female tramper.<br> +<br> +Peerdo, <i>s.</i> Male tramper.<br> +<br> +Pek'd / Pekt, <i>part. pass.</i> Roasted. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Peco. <i>Sans.</i> Pãka (cooking). <i>Pers.</i> +Pekhtan. <i>Rus.</i> Petsch (oven).<br> +<br> +Pele, <i>s. pl.</i> Testicles. <i>Sans.</i> P'hala.<br> +<br> +Pelengo gry / Pelengro gry, <i>s.</i> Stone-horse.<br> +<br> +Pen, a <i>particle</i> affixed to an adjective or a verb when +some property or quality, affection or action is to be expressed, +the termination of the first word being occasionally slightly +modified: for example, Kosko, good, koskipen, goodness; Tatcho, +true, tatchipen, truth; Camo, I love, camipen, love; Chingar, to +fight, chingaripen, war. It is of much the same service in +expressing what is abstract and ideal as Engro, Mescro, and Engri +are in expressing what is living and tangible. It is sometimes +used as a diminutive, <i>e.g.</i> Mushipen, a little fellow.<br> +<br> +Pen, <i>s.</i> Sister.<br> +<br> +Pen / Penav, <i>v. a.</i> To say, speak. <i>Wal.</i> +Spoune.<br> +<br> +Penchava, <i>v. n.</i> To think. <i>Pers.</i> Pendashten. +<i>Sans.</i> Vi-cit.<br> +<br> +Penliois, <i>s.</i> Nuts. <i>See</i> Pedloer.<br> +<br> +Per, <i>s.</i> Belly.<br> +<br> +Per, <i>v. n.</i> To fall. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Petrar. +<i>Sans.</i> Pat.<br> +<br> +Per tuley. To fall down.<br> +<br> +Perdo, <i>a.</i> Full. <i>Sans.</i> Purva, to fill.<br> +<br> +Pes <i>/</i> Pessa<i>, v. a.</i> To pay. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Plaserar. <i>Rus.</i> Platit. <i>Wal.</i> Pleti. <i>Hun.</i> +Fizetni.<br> +<br> +Pes apopli. To repay.<br> +<br> +Petul, <i>s.</i> A horse-shoe. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ]<i> +Wal.</i> Potkoavie. <i>Heb.</i> Bedel (tin).<br> +<br> +Petul-engro, <i>s.</i> Horseshoe-maker, smith, tinker; the name +of a Gypsy tribe.<br> +<br> +Pi, <i>v. a.</i> To drink. <i>Sans.</i> Piva (drinking). +<i>See</i> Peava.<br> +<br> +Pias, <i>s.</i> Fun. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ] (to play).<br> +<br> +Pikkis / Pikkaris, <i>s. pl.</i> Breasts. <i>See</i> Birk, +bark. <i>Wal.</i> Piept.<br> +<br> +Pikko, <i>s.</i> Shoulder.<br> +<br> +Pios, <i>part. pass.</i> Drunken. Only employed when a health +is drunk: <i>e.g.</i> aukko tu pios adrey Romanes, your health is +drunk in Romany.<br> +<br> +Píre, <i>s. pl.</i> Feet.<br> +<br> +Pirè, <i>s. pl.</i> Trampers.<br> +<br> +Pire-gueros, <i>s. pl.</i> Travellers, trampers. Lit. +foot-fellows.<br> +<br> +Pireni, <i>s.f.</i> Sweetheart.<br> +<br> +Pireno, <i>s. m.</i> Sweetheart.<br> +<br> +Piro, <i>v. a.</i> To walk: pirel, he walks.<br> +<br> +Piro-mengro, <i>s.</i> Walker.<br> +<br> +Pirry, <i>s.</i> Pot, boiler. This is a west-country Gypsy +word. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Piri. <i>Sans.</i> Pithara, +pãtra.<br> +<br> +Pishen, <i>s.</i> Flea, any kind of insect: guldo pishen, +honey-insect, bee, honey.<br> +<br> +Pivli, <i>s.</i> A widow.<br> +<br> +Pivlo, <i>s.</i> A widower.<br> +<br> +Pivley-gueri, <i>s.</i> A widowed female.<br> +<br> +Pivley-guero, <i>s.</i> A widowed fellow.<br> +<br> +Pivley-raunie, <i>s.</i> A widow lady.<br> +<br> +Piya-mengro, <i>s.</i> Drunkard. <i>See</i> Pea-mengro.<br> +<br> +Pizarris <i>/</i> Pizaurus, <i>part. pass.</i> Trusted, +credited, in debt. <i>Sans.</i> Vishvas (to trust). <i>Wal.</i> +Se bizoui (to trust, to credit). <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ] (he +who has been credited). <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Bisarar (to owe), +bisauras (debts), pista (an account).<br> +<br> +Pizarri-mengro, <i>s.</i> A trusted person, a debtor.<br> +<br> +Plakta, <i>s.</i> Sheet: bero-rukiskie plakta, a ship's +sail.<br> +<br> +Plashta, <i>s.</i> Cloak: lolli plashta, red cloak. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Plata. Plakta and plashta are probably both derived +from the Wallachian postat, a sheet.<br> +<br> +Plastra, <i>v.</i> a. To run.<br> +<br> +Plastra lesti. Run it; run for your life.<br> +<br> +Plastra-mengro, <i>s. a.</i> A Bow Street runner, a pursuer. In +Spanish Gypsy, Plastañi means a company which pursues +robbers.<br> +<br> +Poggado, <i>part. pass.</i> Broken.<br> +<br> +Poggado bavol-engro, <i>s.</i> Broken-winded horse.<br> +<br> +Poggado habben, <i>s.</i> Broken victuals.<br> +<br> +Poggra, <i>v. a.</i> To break. <i>Wal.</i> Pokni.<br> +<br> +Poggra-mengri, <i>s.</i> A mill. Lit. a breaking thing.<br> +<br> +Poknies, <i>s.</i> Justice of the peace. <i>Rus.</i> Pokoio (to +pacify).<br> +<br> +Pokiniskoe ker, <i>s.</i> House of a justice of the peace.<br> +<br> +Pooshed / Poosheno, <i>part. pass.</i> Buried: mulo ta poosheno, +dead andburied.<br> +<br> +Por, <i>s</i>. Feather. <i>Pers.</i> Par. <i>Sans.</i> +Parna.<br> +<br> +Por-engro, <i>s.</i> Pen-master, penman, one able to write.<br> +<br> +Por-engri-pen, <i>s.</i> Penmanship, writing.<br> +<br> +Porior, <i>s. pl.</i> Feathers.<br> +<br> +Pordo, <i>a.</i> Heavy. <i>Wal.</i> Povarie (a weight). +<i>Lat.</i> Pondus.<br> +<br> +Porra, <i>v. a.</i> To exchange.<br> +<br> +Posh, <i>s.</i> Half.<br> +<br> +Posherro / Poshoro, <i>s.</i> Halfpenny.<br> +<br> +Possey-mengri, <i>s.</i> Pitchfork; improperly used for any +fork. The literal meaning is a straw-thing; a thing used for the +removal of straw. <i>See</i> Pus.<br> +<br> +Potan, <i>s.</i> Tinder. <i>Wal.</i> Postabh (sheet, cloth). +<i>Sans.</i> Pata (cloth).<br> +<br> +Poov / Pov, <i>s.</i> Earth, ground. <i>Sans.</i> Bhu.<br> +<br> +Poov, <i>v.</i> To poov a gry, to put a horse in a field at +night.<br> +<br> +Pov-engro, <i>s.</i> An earth thing, potato.<br> +<br> +Pov-engreskoe, <i>a.</i> Belonging to the potato.<br> +<br> +Povengreskoe gav. Potato town - Norwich.<br> +<br> +Povengreskoe tem. Potato country - Norfolk.<br> +<br> +Povo-guero, <i>s.</i> Mole, earth-fellow.<br> +<br> +Praio, <i>a</i>. Upper: praio tem, upper country, heaven. +<i>Span. Gyp.</i> Tarpe (heaven). <i>See</i> Opré.<br> +<br> +Prala, <i>s.</i> Brother.<br> +<br> +Pude, <i>v. a.</i> To blow.<br> +<br> +Pude-mengri, <i>s.</i> Blowing thing, bellows.<br> +<br> +Pudge, <i>s.</i> Bridge. <i>Wal.</i> Pod, podoul. <i>Pers.</i> +Pul. <i>Sans.</i> Pāli.<br> +<br> +Pukker, <i>v. a.</i> To tell, declare, answer, say, speak. +<i>Span. Gyp.</i> Pucanar (to proclaim). <i>Hin.</i> Pukar, +pukarnar.<br> +<br> +Pur, <i>s.</i> Belly. <i>See</i> Per.<br> +<br> +Pureno, <i>a.</i> Ancient, old: pureno foky, the old people. +<i>Sans.</i> Purvya (ancient).<br> +<br> +Puro, <i>a.</i> Old. <i>Sans.</i> Purã.<br> +<br> +Puro dad, <i>s.</i> Grandfather.<br> +<br> +Purrum, <i>s.</i> Leek, onion. <i>Lat.</i> Porrum.<br> +<br> +Purrum / Purrun, <i>n. pr.</i> Lee, or Leek; the name of a +numerous Gypsy tribe in the neighbourhood of London. <i>Wal.</i> +Pur (onion). <i>Lat.</i> Porrum. <i>Sans.</i> Purãna +(ancient).<br> +<br> +Pus, <i>s.</i> Straw. <i>Sans.</i> Busa, chaff.<br> +<br> +Putch, <i>v. a.</i> To ask. <i>Hin.</i> Puchhna.<br> +<br> +Putsi, <i>s.</i> Purse, pocket. <i>Sans.</i> Putã, +pocket. <i>Wal.</i> Pountsi. <i>Old cant,</i> Boung.<br> +<br> +Putsi-lil, <i>s.</i> Pocket-book.<br> +<br> +Puvvo, <i>s.</i> Earth, ground. <i>See</i> Poov.<br> +<br> +Puvvesti churi, <i>s. a.</i> Plough.<br> +<br> +R<br> +<br> +RAIA, <i>s.</i> Gentleman, lord. <i>See</i> Rye.<br> +<br> +Rak, <i>v. n.</i> To beware, take care; rak tute, take care of +yourself. <i>Sans.</i> Raksh (to guard, preserve).<br> +<br> +Rakli, <i>s.f.</i> Girl.<br> +<br> +Raklo, <i>s.</i> Boy, lad.<br> +<br> +Ran, <i>s.</i> Rod: ranior, rods. <i>Sans.</i> Ratha (cane, +ratan).<br> +<br> +Rarde, <i>s.</i> Night. <i>Sans.</i> Rātri.<br> +<br> +Rardiskey, <i>a.</i> Nightly.<br> +<br> +Rardiskey kair poggring, <i>s.</i> Housebreaking by night, +burglary.<br> +<br> +Rashengro, <i>s.</i> Clergyman.<br> +<br> +Rashi, <i>s.</i> Clergyman, priest. <i>Sans.</i> Rishi (holy +person).<br> +<br> +Rashieskey rokkring tan, <i>s.</i> Pulpit.<br> +<br> +Ratcheta, <i>s.</i> A goose, duck. <i>See</i> Retsa.<br> +<br> +Ratti, <i>s.</i> Blood. <i>Sans.</i> Rudhira.<br> +<br> +Ratniken chiriclo, <i>s.</i> Nightingale.<br> +<br> +Rawnie, <i>s.</i> Lady.<br> +<br> +Rawniskie dicking gueri, <i>s.</i> Lady-like looking woman.<br> +<br> +Rawniskie tatti naflipen, <i>s.</i> The lady's fever, maladie de +France.<br> +<br> +Retza, <i>s</i>. Duck. <i>Wal.</i> Rierzoiou. <i>See</i> +Rossar-mescro. <i>Hun.</i> Récze.<br> +<br> +Reyna. A female Gypsy name.<br> +<br> +Riddo, <i>part. pass.</i> Dressed. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Vriardao.<br> +<br> +Rig / Riggur <i>/</i> Riggurava, <i>v. a.</i> To bear, carry, +bring.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Rig in zi. To remember, bear in mind.<br> +<br> +Rig to zi. To bring to mind.<br> +<br> +Rinkeno, <i>a.</i> Handsome.<br> +<br> +Rivipen, <i>s.</i> Dress. Lit. linen clothes, women's dress. +<i>Wal.</i> Ruphe. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ] (a tailor). In +Spanish Gypsy clothes are called Goneles, from the Wallachian +Khainele.<br> +<br> +Rodra, <i>v. a.</i> To search, seek.<br> +<br> +Roi, <i>s.</i> Spoon.<br> +<br> +Rokra, <i>v. a.</i> To talk, speak. <i>Rus.</i> Rek (he said). +<i>Lat.</i> Loquor.<br> +<br> +Rokrenchericlo, <i>s.</i> Parrot, magpie.<br> +<br> +Rokrenguero, <i>s.</i> A lawyer, talker. <i>Gaelic,</i> Racaire +(a chatterer).<br> +<br> +Rokrengueriskey gav. Talking fellows' town - Norwich.<br> +<br> +Rokunyes, <i>s.</i> Trousers, breeches. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> +Roklia (gown). <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ] (cloth).<br> +<br> +Rom, <i>s.</i> A husband. <i>Sans.</i> Rama (a husband), Rama +(an incarnation of Vishnu), Rum (to sport, fondle). <i>Lat.</i> +Roma (City of Rama). <i>Gaelic,</i> Rom (organ of manhood). +<i>Eng.</i> Ram (aries, male sheep). <i>Heb.</i> Ream +(monoceros, unicorn).<br> +<br> +Rommado, <i>part. pass. s.</i> Married, husband.<br> +<br> +Romm'd, <i>part. pass.</i> Married.<br> +<br> +Romano Chal / Romany Chal, A Gypsy fellow, Gypsy lad. <i>See</i> +Chal.<br> +<br> +Romani chi. Gypsy lass, female Gypsy.<br> +<br> +Romanes / Romany, Gypsy language.<br> +<br> +Romaneskoenaes. After the Gypsy fashion. <i>Wal.</i> Roumainesk +(Roumainean, Wallachian.)<br> +<br> +Romano Rye / Romany Rye, Gypsy gentleman.<br> +<br> +Romipen, <i>s.</i> Marriage.<br> +<br> +Rook / Rukh, <i>s.</i> Tree. <i>Sans.</i> Vriksha. <i>Hun. +Gyp.</i> Rukh. <i>Span.</i> <i>Gyp</i>. Erucal (an +<i>olive-tree).</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Rookeskey cost. Branch of a tree.<br> +<br> +Rooko-mengro, <i>s.</i> Squirrel. Lit. tree-fellow.<br> +<br> +Roshto, <i>a.</i> Angry. <i>Wal.</i> Resti (to be angry).<br> +<br> +Rossar-mescro, <i>s.</i> Gypsy name of the tribe Heron, or +Herne. Lit. duck-fellow.<br> +<br> +Roujiou, <i>a.</i> Clean. <i>See</i> Iuziou.<br> +<br> +Rove, <i>v. n.</i> To weep. <i>Sans.</i> Rud.<br> +<br> +Rup, <i>s.</i> Silver. <i>Sans.</i> Raupya. <i>Hin.</i> +Rupee.<br> +<br> +Rupenoe, <i>a.</i> Silver: rupenoe péa-mengri, silver +tea-pots.<br> +<br> +Ruslipen, <i>s.</i> Strength.<br> +<br> +Ruslo, <i>a.</i> Strong. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ] (roborabo). +<i>Rus.</i> Rosluy (great, huge of stature). <i>Hun.</i> +Erö (strength), erös (strong).<br> +<br> +Rye, <i>s.</i> A lord, gentleman. <i>Sans.</i> Raj, +Rayã.<br> +<br> +Ryeskoe, <i>a.</i> Gentlemanly.<br> +<br> +Ryeskoe dicking guero. Gentlemanly looking man.<br> +<br> +Ryoriskey rokkaring keir, <i>s.</i> The House of Commons. +<i>Lit</i>. the gentlemen's talking house.<br> +<br> +S<br> +<br> +SACKI. Name of a Gypsy man.<br> +<br> +Sainyor, <i>s.</i> Pins. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Chingabar (a +pin).<br> +<br> +Sal, <i>v. n.</i> To laugh; properly, he laughs. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Asaselarse. <i>Sans.</i> Has.<br> +<br> +Salla. She laughs.<br> +<br> +Salivaris, <i>s.f.</i> Bridle. <i>See</i> Sollibari.<br> +<br> +Sap / Sarp, <i>s.</i> Snake, serpent. <i>Wal.</i> +Sharpelé. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Chaplesca.<br> +<br> +Sappors, <i>s. pl.</i> Snakes.<br> +<br> +Sap drey chaw. A snake in the grass: sap drey bor, a snake in +the hedge.<br> +<br> +Sapnis, <i>s.</i> Soap. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ] <i>Wal.</i> +Sipoun.<br> +<br> +Sar, <i>postpos., prepos.</i> With: mensar, with us; sar amande, +with me.<br> +<br> +Sar, <i>conjunct.</i> As.<br> +<br> +Sar, <i>ad.</i> How.<br> +<br> +Sar shin, How are you? Sar shin, meero rye? Sar shin, meeri +rawnie? How are you, sir? How are you, madam?<br> +<br> +Sas. If it were. <i>See</i> Is.<br> +<br> +Sas, <i>s.</i> Nest. <i>See</i> Tass.<br> +<br> +Sarla, <i>s.</i> Evening: koshti sarla, good evening. +<i>See</i> Tasarla. <i>Wal.</i> Seara. <i>Mod. Gr</i>. [Greek: +].<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Saster, <i>s.</i> Iron.<br> +<br> +Saster-mengri, <i>s.</i> A piece of iron worn above the knee by +the skewer-makers whilst engaged in whittling.<br> +<br> +Saster-mengro, <i>s.</i> Ironmonger.<br> +<br> +Sasters, sastris. Nails: chokkiskey sastris, shoe-nails.<br> +<br> +Sau, <i>adv.</i> How.<br> +<br> +Sau kisi. How much?<br> +<br> +Saulohaul / Sovlehaul, <i>v. a.</i> To swear.<br> +<br> +Saulohaul bango. To swear falsely.<br> +<br> +Sauloholomus, <i>s.</i> Oath. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Solája +(a curse). <i>Arab.</i> [Arabic: ] Salat (prayer). <i>Lat.</i> +Solemnis. <i>Fr.</i> Serment. <i>Wal.</i> Jourirnint +(oath).<br> +<br> +Savo, <i>pron.</i> Who, that, which.<br> +<br> +Saw, <i>v. n.</i> I laugh. Sawschan tu, you laugh.<br> +<br> +Scamp. Name of a small Gypsy tribe. <i>Sans.</i> Kshump (to +go).<br> +<br> +Scourdilla, <i>s.f.</i> Platter. <i>Lat.</i> Scutella.<br> +<br> +Scunyes / Scunyor, <i>s. pl.</i> Pins, skewers. <i>See</i> +Escunyes.<br> +<br> +Se, <i>3rd pers. sing. pres.</i> Is, there is: kosko guero se, +he is a good fellow; se les, there is to him, he has.<br> +<br> +Shab, <i>v. a.</i> Cut away, run hard, escape. <i>Hun.</i> +Szabni. This word is chiefly used by the tobair coves, or +vagrants.<br> +<br> +Shan. You are, they are. <i>See</i> Shin.<br> +<br> +Shauvo, <i>v.</i> To get with child. <i>See</i> Shuvvli.<br> +<br> +Shehaury. Sixpence. <i>See</i> Shohaury.<br> +<br> +Shello, <i>s.</i> Rope. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Jele.<br> +<br> +Shello-hokta-mengro, <i>s.</i> Rope-dancer.<br> +<br> +Sher-engro, <i>s.</i> A head-man, leader of a Gypsy tribe.<br> +<br> +Sher-engri, <i>s.</i> A halter.<br> +<br> +Shero, <i>s.</i> A head. <i>Pers.</i> [Persian: ]<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Sherro's kairipen, <i>s.</i> Learning, head-work.<br> +<br> +Sheshu, <i>s.</i> Hare, rabbit. <i>See</i> Shoshoi.<br> +<br> +Sherrafo, <i>a.</i> Religious, converted. <i>Arab.</i> +Sherif.<br> +<br> +Shilleno / Shilleró / Shillo, <i>a.</i> Cold: shillo +chik, cold ground.<br> +<br> +Shillipen, <i>s.</i> Cold.<br> +<br> +Shin. Thou art: sar shin, how art thou?<br> +<br> +Sho, <i>s.</i> Thing.<br> +<br> +Sho, <i>a.</i> Six.<br> +<br> +Shohaury, <i>s.</i> Sixpence.<br> +<br> +Shok, <i>s.</i> Cabbage: shockor, cabbages. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Chaja.<br> +<br> +Shom, <i>v.</i> 1<i>st pers. pres.</i> I am. Used in the pure +Roman tongue to express necessity: <i>e.g.</i> shom te jav, I +must go. <i>Lat.</i> Sum. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Hom.<br> +<br> +Shoob, <i>s.</i> Gown. <i>Rus.</i> Shoob. <i>See</i> +Shubbo.<br> +<br> +Shoon, <i>v. n.</i> To hear. <i>Pers.</i> Shiniden. +<i>Sans.</i> Sru.<br> +<br> +Shoonaben, <i>s.</i> Hearing, audience. To lel shoonaben of the +covar, to take hearing of the matter.<br> +<br> +Shoshoi, <i>s.</i> A hare or rabbit, but generally used by the +Gypsies for the latter. <i>Sans.</i> Sasa (a hare or rabbit). +<i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Shoshoi.<br> +<br> +Shubbo, <i>s.</i> A gown. <i>Rus.</i> Shoob. <i>Wal.</i> +Djoube.<br> +<br> +Shubley patnies, <i>s. pl.</i> Geese.<br> +<br> +Shun. A female Gypsy name.<br> +<br> +Shuvvali, <i>a.</i> Enceinte, with child.<br> +<br> +Si, <i>3rd pers. sing. pres.</i> It is, she is: tatchipen si, it +is truth; coin si rawnie, who is the lady? sossi your nav, what +is your name?<br> +<br> +Sicovar, <i>ad.</i> Evermore, eternally. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> +Sekovar.<br> +<br> +Si covar ajaw. So it is.<br> +<br> +Sig, <i>ad.</i> Quick, soon: cana sig, now soon. <i>Span. +Gyp.</i> Singó. <i>Hun.</i> Sietö.<br> +<br> +Sig, <i>s.</i> Haste.<br> +<br> +Sikkér, <i>v. a.</i> To show: sikker-mengri, a show.<br> +<br> +Simen, <i>s. a.</i> Equal, alike. <i>Sans.</i> +Samãna.<br> +<br> +Simen. We are, it is we. <i>Wal.</i> Semeina (to resemble).<br> +<br> +Simmeno, <i>s.</i> Broth. <i>See</i> Zimmen.<br> +<br> +Simmer, <i>v. a.</i> Pledge, pawn.<br> +<br> +Simmery-mengré, <i>s. pl.</i> Pawnbrokers.<br> +<br> +Sis. Thou art: misto sis riddo, thou art well dressed.<br> +<br> +Siva, <i>v. a.</i> To sew. <i>Sans.</i> Siv.<br> +<br> +Siva-mengri, <i>s.</i> A needle, sewing-thing.<br> +<br> +Siva-mengri, <i>s.</i> Sempstress.<br> +<br> +Siva-mengro, <i>s.</i> Tailor.<br> +<br> +Skammen, <i>s.</i> Chair. <i>Wal.</i> Skaun. <i>Mod. Gr</i>. +[Greek: ]<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Skammen-engro, <i>s.</i> Chair-maker.<br> +<br> +Skraunior, <i>s. pl.</i> Boots.<br> +<br> +Slom / Slum, <i>v. a.</i> Follow, trace, track. <i>Rus.</i> +Sliedovat.<br> +<br> +Smentini, <i>s.</i> Cream. <i>Wal.</i> Zmentenie. <i>Rus.</i> +Smetána.<br> +<br> +So, <i>pron. rel. </i> Which, what: so se tute's kairing, what +are you doing?<br> +<br> +Sollibari, <i>s.</i> Bridle. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ]<br> +<br> +Sonakey / Sonneco, <i>s.</i> Gold. <i>Sans.</i> Svarna.<br> +<br> +Sore / Soro, <i>a.</i> All, every. <i>Sans.</i> Sarva.<br> +<br> +Sorlo, <i>a.</i> Early. <i>Arab</i>. [Arabic:]Sohr, Sahr +(morning, day-break). <i>Wal.</i> Zorile.<br> +<br> +Soro-ruslo, <i>a</i>. Almighty. Dad soro-ruslo, Father +Almighty.<br> +<br> +Se se? Who is it?<br> +<br> +So si? What is it? So si ora, what's o'clock?<br> +<br> +Soskey, <i>ad</i>. Wherefore, for what.<br> +<br> +Sovaharri, <i>s</i>. Carpet, blanket.<br> +<br> +Sove, <i>v. n.</i> To sleep. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Sovella (he +sleeps). <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Sobelar (to sleep). <i>Danish,</i> +Sove (to sleep).<br> +<br> +Sove tuley. To lie down.<br> +<br> +Sovie, <i>s.</i> Needle. <i>See</i> Su.<br> +<br> +Soving aley. Lying down to sleep.<br> +<br> +Spikor, <i>s. pl.</i> Skewers. <i>Wal.</i> Spik.<br> +<br> +Spinyor, <i>s. pl.</i> Carrots.<br> +<br> +Spinyor, <i>s. pl.</i> Pins. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Chingabar (a +pin).<br> +<br> +Stadj, <i>s.</i> Hat.<br> +<br> +Stanya / Stanye, <i>s.</i> A stable. <i>Hun.</i> Sanya. +<i>Wal.</i> Staula, steiníe(sheepfold).<br> +<br> +Stanya-mengro, <i>s.</i> Groom, stable-fellow.<br> +<br> +Stardo, <i>part. pass.</i> Imprisoned.<br> +<br> +Staripen, <i>s.</i> Prison.<br> +<br> +Staro-mengro, <i>s.</i> Prisoner.<br> +<br> +Stannyi / Staunyo, <i>s</i>. A deer.<br> +<br> +Stiggur, <i>s.</i> Gate, turnpike. <i>Old cant,</i> Giger (a +door).<br> +<br> +Stiggur-engro, <i>s.</i> Turnpike-keeper.<br> +<br> +Stor, <i>a.</i> Four.<br> +<br> +Storey, <i>s.</i> Prisoner.<br> +<br> +Stuggur, <i>s.</i> A stack.<br> +<br> +Su, <i>s.</i> Needle. <i>Hun.</i> Tü.<br> +<br> +Subie / Subye, <i>s.</i> Needle: subye ta naval, needle and +thread.<br> +<br> +Sueti, <i>s.</i> People. <i>Lithuanian,</i> Swetas.<br> +<br> +Sungella, <i>v.</i> It stinks.<br> +<br> +Sutta / Suttur / Suta, <i>s</i>. Sleep. <i>Sans.</i> Subta +(asleep). <i>Hin.</i> Sutta (sleeping). <i>Lat.</i> +Sopitus.<br> +<br> +Suttur-gillie, <i>s.</i> Sleep-song, lullaby.<br> +<br> +Swegler / Swingle, <i>s.</i> Pipe.<br> +<br> +Syeira. A female Gypsy name.<br> +<br> +T<br> +<br> +Tã, <i>conj.</i> And.<br> +<br> +Talleno, <i>a.</i> Woollen: talleno chofa, woollen or flannel +petticoat.<br> +<br> +Tan, <i>s.</i> Place, tent. <i>Hun.</i> Tanya.<br> +<br> +Tard / Tardra, <i>v. a.</i> To raise, build, pull, draw: the +kair is tardrad opré, the house is built; tard the chaw +opré, pull up the grass. <i>Hin.</i> Tornã (to +pluck). <i>Wal.</i> Tratze. <i>Gaelic,</i> Tarruinn.<br> +<br> +Tardra-mengre. Hop-pickers.<br> +<br> +Tas, <i>s.</i> Cup, nest of a bird. <i>See</i> Dui tas, doo +das.<br> +<br> +Tasarla / Tasorlo, <i>s.</i> To-morrow. Lit. to-early. +<i>See</i> Sorlo.<br> +<br> +Tasarla, <i>s.</i> The evening. This word must not be +confounded with the one which precedes it; the present is derived +from the Wallachian Seari (evening), whilst the other is from the +Arabic Sohr, Sahar (morning).<br> +<br> +Tassa-mengri, <i>s.</i> A frying-pan. <i>See</i> +Tattra-mengri.<br> +<br> +Tatchipen, <i>s.</i> Truth. <i>Sans.</i> Satyata.<br> +<br> +Tatcho, <i>a.</i> True. <i>Sans.</i> Sat.<br> +<br> +Tatti-pãni / Tatti-pauni, <i>s.</i> Brandy. Lit. hot +water.<br> +<br> +Tatti-pen, <i>s.</i> Heat.<br> +<br> +Tatto, <i>a.</i> Hot, warm. <i>Sans.</i> Tapta. Tap (to be +hot). <i>Gaelic,</i> Teth.<br> +<br> +Tatto yeck, <i>s.</i> A hot un, or hot one; a stinging blow +given in some very sensitive part.<br> +<br> +Tattra-mengri, <i>s.</i> A frying-pan.<br> +<br> +Tawno <i>m.</i> / Tawnie <i>f., a.</i> Little, small, tiny. +<i>Sans.</i> Tarana (young). <i>Wal.</i> Tienir (young). +<i>Lat.</i> Tener. <i>Span. Gyp</i>. Chinoro.<br> +<br> +Tawnie yecks, <i>s. pl.</i> Little ones, grandchildren.<br> +<br> +Te, <i>prep.</i> To: te lesti, to her; this word is not properly +Gypsy.<br> +<br> +Te, <i>conjunct.</i> That: te jinnen, that they may know, an +optative word; O beng te poggar his men, may the devil break his +neck. <i>Wal.</i> Ci.<br> +<br> +Tel, <i>v. a. imp.</i> Hold: tel te jib, hold your tongue.<br> +<br> +Tem, <i>s.</i> Country.<br> +<br> +Temeskoe, <i>a.</i> Belonging to a country.<br> +<br> +Temno, <i>a.</i> Dark. <i>Rus.</i> Temnoy. <i>Sans.</i> Tama +(darkness).<br> +<br> +Ten, <i>s. See</i> Tan.<br> +<br> +Tikno, <i>s.</i> A child. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ]<br> +<br> +Tikno, <i>a.</i> Small, little. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Chinoro. +<i>Lat.</i> Tener.<br> +<br> +Tippoty, <i>a.</i> Malicious, spiteful: tippoty drey mande, +bearing malice against me.<br> +<br> +Tiro, <i>pron.</i> Thine.<br> +<br> +Tobbar, <i>s.</i> The <i>Road;</i> a Rapparee word. +Boro-tobbarkillipen (the Game of High Toby - highway robbery). +<i>Irish,</i> Tobar (a source, fountain).<br> +<br> +Tornapo. Name of a Gypsy man.<br> +<br> +Tororo, <i>s.</i> A poor fellow, a beggar, a tramp. +<i>Sans.</i> Daridrã.<br> +<br> +Tove, <i>v. a.</i> To wash: tovipen, washing. <i>Sans.</i> +Dhav.<br> +<br> +Toving divvus, <i>s.</i> Washing day, Monday.<br> +<br> +Traish, <i>v. a.</i> To frighten, terrify: it traishes mande, it +frightens me.<br> +<br> +Trihool, <i>s.</i> Cross: Mi doveleskoe trihool, holy cross. +<i>Span. Gyp.</i> Trijul. <i>Hin.</i> Trisool.<br> +<br> +Trin, <i>a.</i> Three.<br> +<br> +Tringrosh / Tringurushee, Shilling. Lit. three groats.<br> +<br> +Tringurushengre, <i>s. pl.</i> Things costing a shilling.<br> +<br> +Tringush, <i>s.</i> Shilling.<br> +<br> +Trito, <i>a.</i> Third. <i>Sans.</i> Tritïya.<br> +<br> +Trufféni. Female Gypsy name: Trufféni Kaumlo, Jack +Wardomescrés dieyas nav - Truffeni Lovel, the name of John +Cooper's mother. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ]<br> +<br> +Truppior, <i>s. pl.</i> Stays.<br> +<br> +Trupo, <i>s.</i> Body. <i>Wal.</i> Troup. <i>Rus.</i> Trup<br> +<br> +Trushni, <i>s.</i> Faggot.<br> +<br> +Trusno, <i>a.</i> Thirsty, dry. <i>Sans.</i> Trishnaj.<br> +<br> +Tu, <i>pron.</i> Thou: shoon tu, dieya! do thou hear, +mother!<br> +<br> +Tud, <i>s.</i> Milk. <i>Sans.</i> Duh (to milk).<br> +<br> +Tudlo gueri. Milkmaid.<br> +<br> +Tug, <i>a.</i> Sad, afflicted.<br> +<br> +Tugnipen, <i>s.</i> Affliction.<br> +<br> +Tugnis amande. Woe is me; I am sad.<br> +<br> +Tugno, <i>a.</i> Sad, mournful.<br> +<br> +Tulé / Tuley, <i>prep.</i> Below, under: tuley the bor, +under the hedge. <i>Slavonian,</i> dóly.<br> +<br> +Tulipen, <i>s.</i> Fat, grease.<br> +<br> +Tulo, <i>a.</i> Fat.<br> +<br> +Tute, <i>pron.</i> Accusative of Tu; generally used instead of +the nominative.<br> +<br> +Tuv, <i>s.</i> Smoke, tobacco.<br> +<br> +Tuvalo / Tuvvalo, <i>a.</i> Smoky. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> +Chibaló (a cigar).<br> +<br> +V<br> +<br> +VANGUS, <i>s.</i> Finger. <i>Sans.</i> Angula.<br> +<br> +Vangustri, <i>s.</i> Ring. <i>Sans.</i> Angulika, anguri. +<i>See</i> Wangustri.<br> +<br> +Vaneshu, <i>s.</i> Nothing. From the Wallachian Ba nitchi, not +at all.<br> +<br> +Var, <i>s.</i> Flour: var-engro, a miller. <i>See</i> Waro.<br> +<br> +Vardo, <i>s.</i> Cart. <i>See</i> Wardo.<br> +<br> +Vassavo / Vassavy,<i>a.</i> Bad, evil.<br> +<br> +Vast, <i>s.</i> Hand.<br> +<br> +Vava. An <i>affix,</i> by which the future of a verb is formed, +as Heta-vava. It seems to be the Wallachian Wa-fi, he shall or +will be.<br> +<br> +Vellin, <i>s.</i> A bottle.<br> +<br> +Vauros, <i>s.</i> A city. <i>Hun.</i> Város. +<i>Sans.</i> Puri. <i>Hin.</i> Poor. <i>Wal.</i> Orash.<br> +<br> +Vénor / Vennor, Bowels, entrails. <i>See</i> Wendror,<br> +<br> +W<br> +<br> +WAFO, <i>a.</i> Another. <i>Sans.</i> Apara.<br> +<br> +Wafo divvus, <i>s.</i> Yesterday. Lit. the other day.<br> +<br> +Wafo tem. Another country, foreign land.<br> +<br> +Wafo temeskoe mush, <i>s.</i> A foreigner, another +countryman.<br> +<br> +Wafo tem-engre. Foreigners.<br> +<br> +Wafodu / Wafudo, <i>a.</i> Bad, evil.<br> +<br> +Wafodúder. Worse: wafodúder than dovor, worse than +they.<br> +<br> +Wafodu-pen, <i>s.</i> Wickedness.<br> +<br> +Wafodu guero, <i>s.</i> The Evil One, Satan.<br> +<br> +Wafodu tan, <i>s.</i> Hell, bad place.<br> +<br> +Wangar, <i>s.</i> Coals, charcoal. <i>Sans.</i> Angara. +<i>See</i> Wongar.<br> +<br> +Wangustri, <i>s.</i> Ring.<br> +<br> +Warda, <i>v.</i> To guard, take care: warda tu coccorus, take +care of yourself.<br> +<br> +Wardo, <i>s.</i> Cart. <i>Sans.</i> Pattra.<br> +<br> +Wardo-mescro, <i>s.</i> Carter, cartwright, cooper, name of a +Gypsy tribe.<br> +<br> +Waro, <i>s.</i> Flour.<br> +<br> +Waro-mescro, <i>s.</i> Miller.<br> +<br> +Wast, <i>s.</i> Hand. <i>See</i> Vast. Wastrors, hands. +<i>Gaelic,</i> Bas (the palm of the hand).<br> +<br> +Weggaulus / Welgorus / Welgaulus, <i>s.</i> A fair. <i>Wal.</i> +Bieltchiou.<br> +<br> +Wel, <i>v. a.</i> He comes; from Ava. Sometimes used +imperatively; <i>e.g.</i> Wel adrey, come in.<br> +<br> +Welling páli. Coming back, returning from +transportation.<br> +<br> +Wen, <i>s.</i> Winter.<br> +<br> +Wendror, <i>s. pl.</i> Bowels, inside. <i>Wal.</i> Pentetche. +<i>Lat.</i> Venter.<br> +<br> +Wentzelow. Name of a Gypsy man.<br> +<br> +Werriga, <i>s.</i> Chain. <i>Rus.</i> Veriga. <i>Wal.</i> +Verigie (bolt).<br> +<br> +Wesh, <i>s.</i> Forest, wood. <i>Pers</i>. [Persian: ]<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Wesh-engro, <i>s.</i> Woodman, gamekeeper.<br> +<br> +Weshen-juggal, <i>s.</i> Fox. Lit. dog of the wood.<br> +<br> +Woddrus / Wuddrus,<i>s.</i> Bed. <i>Hun. Gyp.</i> Patos. +<i>Wal.</i> Pat. The Spanish Gypsies retain the pure Indian +word Charipé.<br> +<br> +Wongar, <i>s.</i> Coal. Also a term for money; probably because +Coal in the cant language signifies money. <i>See</i> +Wangar.<br> +<br> +Wongar-camming mush, <i>s.</i> A miser. Lit. one who loves +coal.<br> +<br> +Wuddur, <i>s.</i> Door. <i>Span. Gyp.</i> Burda. <i>Wal.</i> +Poartie.<br> +<br> +Wuddur-mescro, <i>s.</i> Doorkeeper.<br> +<br> +Wust, <i>v. a.</i> To cast, throw.<br> +<br> +Wusto-mengro, <i>s.</i> Wrestler, hurler.<br> +<br> +Y<br> +<br> +YACK, <i>s.</i> Eye. <i>Sans.</i> Akshi. <i>Germ.</i> Auge. +<i>Rus.</i> Oko. <i>Lithuanian,</i> Akis. <i>Lat.</i> +Oculus.<br> +<br> +Yackor. Eyes.<br> +<br> +Yag, <i>s.</i> Fire. <i>Sans.</i> Agni. <i>Rus.</i> Ogon. +<i>Lithuanian,</i> Ugnis. <i>Lat.</i> Ignis. <i>Irish,</i> An +(water, fire).<br> +<br> +Yag-engri, <i>s.</i> Gun, fire-thing.<br> +<br> +Yag- engro / Yago-mengro, <i>s.</i> Gamekeeper, sportsman, +fireman.<br> +<br> +Yag-kairepénes, <i>s.</i> Fireworks.<br> +<br> +Yag-vardo, <i>s.</i> Fire-car, railroad carriage.<br> +<br> +Yarb, <i>s.</i> Herb.<br> +<br> +Yarb-tan, <i>s.</i> Garden.<br> +<br> +Yeck, <i>a.</i> One. <i>Sans.</i> Eka. <i>Hin.</i> Yak.<br> +<br> +Yeckoro, <i>a.</i> Only: yeckoro chavo, only son.<br> +<br> +Yeckorus, <i>ad.</i> Once.<br> +<br> +Yo, <i>pron.</i> He.<br> +<br> +Yoi, <i>pron.</i> She. Sometimes used for La or Las, her; +<i>e.g.</i> Mande putch'd yoi, I asked <i>she,</i> her.<br> +<br> +Yokki, <i>a.</i> Clever, expert: a yokki juva, a yokki woman - a +female expert at filching, ringing the changes, telling fortunes, +and other Gypsy arts. <i>Sans.</i> Yoga (artifice, plan), Yuj +(to combine, put together, plan).<br> +<br> +Yora, <i>s.</i> Hour. <i>See</i> Ora.<br> +<br> +Yoro, <i>s.</i> An egg. <i>Wal.</i> Ou.<br> +<br> +Z<br> +<br> +ZI, <i>s.</i> The heart, mind. <i>Hun.</i> Sziv. <i>Sans.</i> +Dhi.<br> +<br> +Zimmen, <i>s.</i> Broth. <i>Wal.</i> Zmenteni (cream).<br> +<br> +Zoomi, <i>s. f.</i> Broth, soup. <i>Mod. Gr.</i> [Greek: ]<i> +Wal.</i> Zamie (juice).<br> +<br> +Zingaro. A Gypsy, a person of mixed blood, one who springs from +various races, a made-up person. <i>Sans.</i> Sangkara, +compositus (made-up).<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +RHYMED LIST OF GYPSY VERBS<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +To dick and jin,<br> +To bikn and kin;<br> +To pee and hal,<br> +And av and jal;<br> +To kair and poggra,<br> +Shoon and rokra;<br> +To caur and chore,<br> +Heta and cour,<br> +Moar and more,<br> +To drab and dook,<br> +And nash on rook;<br> +To pek and tove,<br> +And sove and rove,<br> +And nash on poove;<br> +To tardra oprey,<br> +And chiv aley;<br> +To pes and gin,<br> +To mang and chin,<br> +To pootch and pukker,<br> +Hok and dukker;<br> +To besh and kel,<br> +To del and lel,<br> +And jib to tel;<br> +Bitch, atch, and hatch,<br> +Roddra and latch;<br> +To gool and saul,<br> +And sollohaul;<br> +To pand and wustra,<br> +Hokta and plastra,<br> +Busna and kistur,<br> +Maila and grista;<br> +To an and riggur;<br> +To pen and sikker,<br> +Porra and simmer,<br> +Chungra and chingra,<br> +Pude and grommena,<br> +Grovena, gruvena;<br> +To dand and choom,<br> +Chauva and rom,<br> +Rok and gare,<br> +Jib and mer<br> +With camova,<br> +And paracrova,<br> +Apasavello<br> +And mekello,<br> +And kitsi wasror,<br> +Sore are lavior,<br> +For kairing chomany,<br> +In jib of Romany.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +BETIE ROKRAPENES - LITTLE SAYINGS<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +If foky kek jins bute,<br> +Mà sal at lende;<br> +For sore mush jins chomany<br> +That tute kek jins.<br> +<br> +Whatever ignorance men may show,<br> +From none disdainful turn;<br> +For every one doth something know<br> +Which you have yet to learn.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +BETIE ROKRAPENES<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +So must I ker, daiya, to ker tute mistos?<br> +It is my Dovvel's kerrimus, and we can't help asarlus.<br> +Mi Dovvel opral, dick tuley opré mande.<br> +If I could lel bonnek tute, het-avava tute.<br> +Misto kedast tute.<br> +Dovey si fino covar, ratfelo jukkal, sas miro.<br> +<br> +The plastra-mengro sollohaul'd bango.<br> +Me camava jaw drey the Nevi Wesh to dick the purey +Bare-mescrey.<br> +You jin feter dovey oduvu.<br> +Will you pes for a coro levinor?<br> +Mā pi kekomi.<br> +Mā rokra kekomi.<br> +Bori shil se mande.<br> +Tatto tu coccori, pen.<br> +Kekkeno pawni dov odoi.<br> +Sore simensar si men.<br> +<br> +Tatto ratti se len.<br> +Wafudu lavior you do pen, miry deary Dovvel.<br> +Kair pias to kair the gorgies sal.<br> +Nai men chior.<br> +So se drey lis?<br> +Misto sis riddo.<br> +Muk man av abri.<br> +Ma kair jaw.<br> +Si covar ajaw.<br> +An men posseymengri.<br> +Colliko sorlo me deavlis.<br> +Pukker zi te lesti.<br> +Soving lasa.<br> +Tatto si can.<br> +Mande kinyo, nastis jalno durroder.<br> +Mã muk de gorgey jinnen sore lidan dovvu luvvu so +garridan.<br> +Dui trins ta yeck ta pas.<br> +Pes apopli.<br> +Chiv'd his vast adrey tiro putsi.<br> +Penchavo chavo savo shan tu.<br> +<br> +I'd sooner shoon his rokrapen than shoon Lally gil a gillie.<br> +Kekkeno jinava mande ne burreder denne chavo.<br> +Aukko tu pios adrey Romanes.<br> +<br> +<br> +LITTLE SAYINGS<br> +<br> +<br> +What must I do, mother, to make you well?<br> +It is my God's doing, and we can't help at all.<br> +<br> +My God above, look down upon me!<br> +If I could get hold of you, I would slay you.<br> +Thou hast done well.<br> +That is a fine thing, you bloody dog, if it were mine.<br> +The Bow-street runner swore falsely.<br> +I will go into the New Forest to see the old Stanleys.<br> +You know better than that.<br> +Will you pay for a pot of ale?<br> +Don't drink any more.<br> +Do not speak any more.<br> +I have a great cold.<br> +Warm thyself, sister.<br> +There is no water there.<br> +We are all relations: all who are with us are ourselves.<br> +They have hot blood.<br> +Evil words you do speak, O my dear God.<br> +Make fun, to make the Gentiles laugh.<br> +I have no girls.<br> +What is in it?<br> +Thou art well dressed.<br> +Let me come out.<br> +Don't do so.<br> +The thing is so: so it is.<br> +Bring me a fork.<br> +To-morrow morning I will give it.<br> +Tell her your mind.<br> +Sleeping with her.<br> +The sun is hot.<br> +I am tired, I can go no farther.<br> +Don't let the Gentiles know all the money you took which you +hid.<br> +Seven pound ten.<br> +Pay again.<br> +Put his hand into your pocket.<br> +The boy is thinking who you are.<br> +<br> +I would rather hear him speak than hear Lally sing.<br> +I know no more than a child.<br> +Here's your health in Romany!<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +COTORRES OF MI-DIBBLE'S LIL CHIV'D ADREY ROMANES<br> +PIECES OF SCRIPTURE CAST INTO ROMANY<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +THE FIRST DAY - Genesis i. 1, 2, 3, 4<br> +<br> +<br> +Drey the sherripen Midibble kair'd the temoprey tá the +puv;<br> +Tá the puv was chungalo, tá chichi was adrey +lis;<br> +Tá temnopen was oprey the mui of the boro put.<br> +Tá Midibble's bavol-engri besh'd oprey the +pánior;<br> +Tá Midibble penn'd: Mook there be dute! tá there +was dute.<br> +Tá Midibble dick'd that the doot was koosho-koshko.<br> +Tá Midibble chinn'd enrey the dute tá the +temnopen;<br> +Tá Midibble kor'd the dute divvus, tá the temnopen +kor'd yo rarde;<br> +Tá the sarla, tá the sorlo were yeckto divvus.<br> +<br> +<br> +THE FIFTH DAY - Genesis i. 20, 21, 22, 23<br> +<br> +<br> +Then Midibble penn'd; Mook sore the panior<br> +Chinn tairie jibbing engris bute dosta,<br> +Tá prey puv be bute dosta chiricles<br> +To vol adrey the rek of the tarpe.<br> +<br> +Then Midibble kair'd the borie baulo-matches,<br> +Tá sore covar that has jibbing zi adreylis,<br> +The bute, bute tairie covars drey the panior<br> +Sore yeck drey its genos kair'd Midibble,<br> +<br> +The chiricles that vol adrey the tarpe<br> +Sore yeck drey its genos kair'd he lende:<br> +Then Midibble dick'd that sore was koosho-koshko,<br> +And he chiv'd his koshto rokrapen opreylen:<br> +<br> +Penn'd Midibble: Dey ye frute ever-komi,<br> +Ever-komi be burreder your nummer,<br> +Per with covars the panior tá durior,<br> +Tá prey puv be burreder the chiricles!<br> +<br> +Then was sarla tá sorlo panschto divvus.<br> +<br> +<br> +THE CREATION OF MAN - Genesis i. 27, 28<br> +<br> +<br> +Then Mi-dibble kair'd Manoo drey his dikkipen,<br> +Drey Mi-dibble's dikkipen kair'd he leste;<br> +Mush and mushi kair'd Dibble lende<br> +And he chiv'd his koshto rokrapen opreylen:<br> +<br> +Penn'd Mi-dibble: Dey ye frute ever-komi,<br> +Ever-komi be burreder your nummer;<br> +Per with chauves and chiyor the puvo<br> +And oprey sore the puvo be krallior,<br> +<br> +Oprey the dooiya and its matches,<br> +And oprey the chiricles of the tarpé,<br> +And oprey soro covar that's jibbing<br> +And peers prey the mui of the puvo.<br> +<br> +<br> +THE LORD'S PRAYER<br> +<br> +<br> +Meery dearie Dad, sauvo jivves drey the tem oprey, be sharrafo +teero nav, te awel teero tem, be kedo sore so caumes oprey ye +poov, sar kairdios drey the tem oprey. Dey man to divvus meery +divvuskey morro; tá for-dey mande mande's pizzaripenes, +sar mande fordeava wafor mushes lende's pizzaripenes; mã +mook te petrav drey kek tentacionos, but lel mande abri from sore +wafodupen; for teero se o tem, Mi-dibble, teero o ruslopen, +tá yi corauni knaw tá ever-komi. Si covar +ajaw.<br> +<br> +<br> +THE APOSTLES' CREED<br> +<br> +<br> +Apasavello drey Mi-dovel; Dad sore-ruslo savo kerdo o praio tem, +tá cav acoi tulēy: tá drey lescro yekkero +Chauvo Jesus Christus moro erray, beano of wendror of +Mi-develeskey Geiry Mary; was curredo by the wast of Poknish +Pontius Pilatos; was nash'd oprey ye Trihool; was mored, and +chived adrey ye puve; jall'd tulēy ye temno drom ke wafudo +tan, bengeskoe starriben; tá prey ye trito divvus jall'd +yo oprey ke koshto tan, Mi-dovels ker; beshel yo knaw odoy prey +Mi-dovels tatcho wast, Dad sore-ruslo; cad odoy avellava to lel +shoonapen oprey jibben and merripen; Apasavello drey +Mi-dibbleskey Ducos; drey the Bori Mi-develesky Bollisky Congri; +that sore tatcho fokey shall jib in mestepen kettaney; that +Mi-dibble will fordel sore wafudopenes; that soror mulor will +jongor, and there will be kek merripen asarlus. Si covar ajaw. +Avali.<br> +<br> +<br> +THE LORD'S PRAYER IN THE GYPSY DIALECT OF TRANSYLVANIA<br> +<br> +<br> +Miro gulo Devel, savo hal oté ando Cheros, te avel +swuntunos tiro nav; te avel catari tiro tem; te keren saro so +cames oppo puv, sar ando Cheros. Dé man sekhonus miro +diveskoe manro, ta ierta mangue saro so na he plaskerava tuke, +sar me ierstavava wafo manuschengue saro so na plaskerelen +mangue. Ma muk te petrow ando chungalo camoben; tama lel man +abri saro doschdar. Weika tiro sin o tem, tiri yi potea, tiri yi +proslava akana ta sekovar.<br> +<br> +Te del amen o gulo Del eg meschibo pa amara choribo.<br> +<br> +Te vas del o Del amengue; te n'avel man pascotia ando drom, te na +hoden pen mandar.<br> +<br> +Ja Develehi!<br> +Az Develehi!<br> +Ja Develeskey!<br> +Az Develeskey!<br> +Heri Devlis!<br> +<br> +<br> +My sweet God, who art there in Heaven, may thy name come +hallowed; may thy kingdom come hither; may they do all that thou +wishest upon earth, as in Heaven. Give me to-day my daily bread, +and forgive me all that I cannot pay thee, as I shall forgive +other men all that they do not pay me. Do not let me fall into +evil desire; but take me out from all wickedness. For thine is +the kingdom, thine the power, thine the glory now and ever.<br> +<br> +May the sweet God give us a remedy for our poverty.<br> +<br> +May God help us! May no misfortune happen to me in the road, and +may no one steal anything me.<br> +<br> +Go with God!<br> +Stay with God!<br> +Go, for God's sake!<br> +Stay, for God's sake!<br> +By God!<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +LIL OF ROMANO JINNYPEN<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +The tawno fokey often putches so koskipen se drey the Romano +jib? Mande pens ye are sore dinneles; bute, bute koskipen se +adrey lis, ta dusta, dosta of moro foky would have been bitcheno +or nash'd, but for the puro, choveno Romano jib. A lav in +Romany, penn'd in cheeros to a tawnie rakli, and rigg'd to the +tan, has kair'd a boro kisi of luvvo and wafor covars, which had +been chor'd, to be chived tuley pov, so that when the muskerres +well'd they could latch vanisho, and had kek yeckly to muk the +Romano they had lell'd opré, jal his drom, but to mang +also his artapen.<br> +<br> +His bitchenipenskie cheeros is knau abri, and it were but kosko +in leste to wel ken, if it were yeckly to lel care of lescri +puri, choveny romady; she's been a tatchi, tatchi romady to +leste, and kek man apasavello that she has jall'd with a wafu +mush ever since he's been bitcheno.<br> +<br> +When yeck's tardrad yeck's beti ten oprey, kair'd yeck's beti yag +anglo the wuddur, ta nash'd yeck's kekauvi by the kekauviskey +saster oprey lis, yeck kek cams that a dikkimengro or muskerro +should wel and pen: so's tute kairing acai? Jaw oprey, Romano +juggal.<br> +<br> +Prey Juliken yeckto Frydivvus, anglo nango muyiskie staunyi +naveni kitchema, prey the chong opral Bororukeskoe Gav, drey the +Wesh, tute dickavavasa bute Romany foky, mushor ta juvar, chalor +ta cheiar.<br> +<br> +Jinnes tu miro puro prala Rye Stanniwix, the puro rye savo rigs a +bawlo-dumo-mengri, ta kair'd desh ta stor mille barior by +covar-plastring?<br> +<br> +He jall'd on rokkring ta rokkring dinneleskoenaes till mande +pukker'd leste: if tute jasas on dovodoiskoenaes mande curavava +tute a tatto yeck prey the nok.<br> +<br> +You putches mande so si patrins. Patrins are Romany drom +sikkering engris, by which the Romany who jal anglo muk lende +that wels palal jin the drom they have jall'd by: we wusts +wastperdes of chaw oprey the puv at the jalling adrey of the +drom, or we kairs sar a wangust a trihool oprey the chik, or we +chins ranior tuley from the rukhies, and chivs lende oprey drey +the puv aligatas the bor; but the tatcho patrin is wast-perdes of +leaves, for patrin or patten in puro Romano jib is the uav of a +rukheskoe leaf.<br> +<br> +The tatcho drom to be a jinney-mengro is to shoon, dick, and rig +in zi.<br> +<br> +The mush savo kek se les the juckni-wast oprey his jib and his zi +is keck kosko to jal adrey sweti.<br> +<br> +The lil to lel oprey the kekkeno mushe's puvior and to keir the +choveno foky mer of buklipen and shillipen, is wusted abri the +Raioriskey rokkaring ker.<br> +<br> +The nav they dins lati is Bokht drey Cuesni, because she rigs +about a cuesni, which sore the rardies when she jals keri, is +sure to be perdo of chored covars.<br> +<br> +Cav acoi, pralor, se the nav of a lil, the sherrokairipen of a +puro kladjis of Roumany tem. The Borobeshemescrotan, or the +lav-chingaripen between ye jinneynengro ta yi sweti; or the +merripenskie rokrapen chiv'd by the zi oprey the trupo.<br> +<br> +When the shello was about his men they rigg'd leste his artapen, +and muk'd leste jal; but from dovo divvus he would rig a +men-pangushi kekkomi, for he penn'd it rigg'd to his zee the +shello about his men.<br> +<br> +Jack Vardomescro could del oprey dosta to jin sore was oprey the +mea-bars and the drom-sikkering engris.<br> +<br> +The Romano drom to pek a chiriclo is to kair it oprey with its +porior drey chik, and then to chiv it adrey the yag for a beti +burroder than a posh ora. When the chik and the hatch'd porior +are lell'd from the chiriclesky trupos, the per's chinn'd aley, +and the wendror's wusted abri, 'tis a hobben dosta koshto for a +crallissa to hal without lon.<br> +<br> +When Gorgio mushe's merripen and Romany Chal's merripen wels +kettaney, kek kosto merripen see.<br> +<br> +Yeckorus he pukker'd mande that when he was a bis beschengro he +mored a gorgio, and chived the mulo mas tuley the poov; he was +lell'd oprey for the moripen, but as kekkeno could latch the +shillo mas, the pokiniuses muk'd him jal; he penn'd that the +butsi did not besh pordo pré his zi for bute chiros, but +then sore on a sudden he became tugnis and atraish of the mulo +gorgio's bavol-engro, and that often of a rarde, as he was +jalling posh motto from the kitchema by his cocoro, he would dick +over his tatcho pikko and his bango pikko, to jin if the mulo +mush's bavol-engro was kek welling palal to lel bonnek of +leste.<br> +<br> +Does tute jin the Romano drom of lelling the wast?<br> +<br> +Avali, prala.<br> +<br> +Sikker mande lis.<br> +<br> +They kairs it ajaw, prala.<br> +<br> +A chorredo has burreder peeas than a Romany Chal.<br> +<br> +Tute has shoon'd the lav pazorrus. Dovodoy is so is kored +gorgikonaes "Trusted." Drey the puro cheeros the Romano savo +lelled lovvu, or wafor covars from lescro prala in parriken, ta +kek pess'd leste apopli, could be kair'd to buty for leste as +gry, mailla or cost-chinnimengro for a besh ta divvus. To divvus +kek si covar ajaw. If a Romano lelled lovvu or wafu covars from +meero vast in parriken, ta kek pessed mande apopli, sar estist +for mande te kair leste buty as gry, mailla, or cost-chinnimengro +for mande for yek divvus, kek to pen for sore a besh?<br> +<br> +Do you nav cavacoi a weilgorus? Ratfelo rinkeno weilgorus cav +acoi: you might chiv lis sore drey teero putsi.<br> +<br> +Kek jinnipenskey covar sé to pen tute's been bango. If +tute pens tute's been bango, foky will pen: Estist tute's a +koosho koshko mushipen, but tatchipé a ratfelo +dinnelo.<br> +<br> +Car's tute jibbing?<br> +<br> +Mande's kek jibbing; mande's is atching, at the feredest; mande's +a pirremengri, prala!<br> +<br> +Cauna Romany foky rokkerelan yeck sar wafu penelan pal ta pen; +cauna dado or deya rokkerelan ke lendes chauves penelan meero +chauvo or meeri chi; or my child, gorgikonaes, to ye dui; cauna +chauves rokkerelan te dad or deya penelan meero dad or meeri +deya!<br> +<br> +Meero dado, soskey were creminor kair'd? Meero chauvo, that +puvo-baulor might jib by haIling lende. Meero dado, soskey were +puvobaulor kair'd? Meero chauvo, that tute and mande might jib +by lelling lende. Meero dado, soskey were tu ta mande kair'd? +Meero chauvo, that creminor might jib by halling mende.<br> +<br> +Sore giv-engres shan dinneles. When they shoons a gav-engro drey +the tem pen: Dov-odoy's a fino grye! they pens: Kekkeno grye se; +grasni si; whether the covar's a grasni or kekkeni. Kek jinellan +the dinneles that a grasni's a grye, though a grye is kek a +grasni.<br> +<br> +Kekkeni like Romano Will's rawnie for kelling drey a chauro.<br> +<br> +Cauna Constance Petulengri merr'd she was shel tã desch +beshor puri.<br> +<br> +Does tute jin Rawnie Wardomescri?<br> +<br> +Mande jins lati misto, prala.<br> +<br> +Does tute cam lati?<br> +<br> +Mande cams lati bute, prala; and mande has dosta, dosta cheeros +penn'd to the wafor Romany Chals, when they were rokkering wafudo +of lati: She's a rawnie; she lels care of sore of you; if it were +kek for lati, you would sore jal to the beng.<br> +<br> +So kerella for a jivipen?<br> +<br> +She dukkers, prala; she dukkers.<br> +<br> +Can she dukker misto?<br> +<br> +There's kekkeny Romany juva tuley the can for dukkering sar +Rawnie Wardomescri; nastis not to be dukker'd by lati; she's a +tatchi chovahan; she lels foky by the wast and dukkers lende, +whether they cams or kek.<br> +<br> +Kek koskipen si to jal roddring after Romany Chals. When tute +cams to dick lende nestist to latch yeck o' lende; but when +tute's penching o' wafor covars tute dicks o' lende dosta +dosta.<br> +<br> +Mande will sollohaul neither bango nor tatcho against kekkeno; if +they cams to latch abri chomoni, muk lende latch it abri their +cokkoré.<br> +<br> +If he had been bitcheno for a boro luripen mande would have +penn'd chi; but it kairs mande diviou to pentch that he was +bitcheno, all along of a bori lubbeny, for trin tringurishis ta +posh.<br> +<br> +When he had kair'd the moripen, he kair'd sig and plastrar'd +adrey the wesh, where he gared himself drey the hev of a boro, +puro rukh; but it was kek koskipen asarlus; the plastra-mengres +slomm'd his piré sore along the wesh till they well'd to +the rukh.<br> +<br> +Sau kisi foky has tute dukker'd to divvus?<br> +<br> +Yeck rawnie coccori, prala; dov ody she wels palal; mande jins +lati by the kaulo dori prey laki shubba.<br> +<br> +Sau bute luvvu did she del tute?<br> +<br> +Yeck gurush, prala; yeck gurush coccoro. The beng te lilly a +truppy!<br> +<br> +Shoon the kosko rokkrapen so Micail jinney-mengro penn'd ke +Rawnie Trullifer: Rawnie Trollopr, you must jib by your jibben: +and if a base se tukey you must chiv lis tuley.<br> +<br> +Can you rokkra Romanes?<br> +Avali, prala!<br> +So si Weshenjuggalslomomengreskeytemskey tudlogueri?<br> +Mande don't jin what you pens, prala.<br> +Then tute is kek Romano lavomengro.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +BOOK OF THE WISDOM OF THE EGYPTIANS<br> +<br> +<br> +The young people often ask: What good is there in the Romany +tongue? I answers: Ye are all fools! There is plenty, plenty of +good in it, and plenty, plenty of our people would have been +transported or hung, but for the old, poor Roman language. A +word in Romany said in time to a little girl, and carried to the +camp, has caused a great purse of money and other things, which +had been stolen, to be stowed underground; so that when the +constables came they could find nothing, and had not only to let +the Gypsy they had taken up go his way, but also to beg his +pardon.<br> +<br> +His term of transportation has now expired, and it were but right +in him to come home, if it were only to take care of his poor old +wife: she has been a true, true wife to him, and I don't believe +that she has taken up with another man ever since he was sent +across.<br> +<br> +When one's pitched up one's little tent, made one's little fire +before the door, and hung one's kettle by the kettle-iron over +it, one doesn't like that an inspector or constable should come +and say: What are you doing here? Take yourself off, you Gypsy +dog.<br> +<br> +On the first Friday of July, before the public-house called the +Bald-faced Stag, on the hill above the town of the great tree in +the Forest, you will see many Roman people, men and women, lads +and lasses.<br> +<br> +Do you know my old friend Mr. Stanniwix, the old gentleman that +wears a pigtail, and made fourteen thousand pounds by +smuggling?<br> +<br> +He went on talking and talking foolishness till I said to him: If +you goes on in that 'ere way I'll hit you a hot 'un on the +nose.<br> +<br> +You ask me what are <i>patrins. Patrin</i> is the name of the +signs by which the Gypsies who go before show the road they have +taken to those who follow behind. We flings handfuls of grass +down at the head of the road we takes, or we makes with the +finger a cross-mark on the ground, we sticks up branches of trees +by the side the hedge. But the true patrin is handfuls of leaves +flung down; for <i>patrin</i> or <i>patten</i> in old Roman +language means the leaf of a tree.<br> +<br> +The true way to be a wise man is to hear, see, and bear in +mind.<br> +<br> +The man who has not the whip-hand of his tongue and his temper is +not fit to go into company.<br> +<br> +The Bill to take up the no-man's lands (comons), and to make the +poor people die of hunger and cold, has been flung out of the +House of Commons.<br> +<br> +The name they gives her is "Luck in a basket," because she +carries about a basket, which every night, when she goes home, is +sure to be full of stolen property.<br> +<br> +This here, brothers, is the title of a book, the head-work of an +old king of Roumany land: the Tribunal, or the dispute between +the wise man and the world: or, the death-sentence passed by the +soul upon the body.<br> +<br> +When the rope was about his neck they brought him his pardon, and +let him go; but from that day he would wear a neck-kerchief no +more, for he said it brought to his mind the rope about his +neck.<br> +<br> +Jack Cooper could read enough to know all that was upon the +milestones and the sign-posts.<br> +<br> +The Roman way to cook a fowl is to do it up with its feathers in +clay, and then to put it in fire for a little more than half an +hour. When the clay and the burnt feathers are taken from the +fowl, the belly cut open, and the inside flung out, 'tis a food +good enough for a queen to eat without salt.<br> +<br> +When the Gentile way of living and the Gypsy way of living come +together, it is anything but a good way of living.<br> +<br> +He told me once that when he was a chap of twenty he killed a +Gentile, and buried the dead meat under ground. He was taken up +for the murder, but as no one could find the cold meat, the +justices let him go. He said that the job did not sit heavy upon +his mind for a long time, but then all of a sudden he became sad, +and afraid of the dead Gentile's ghost; and that often of a +night, as he was coming half-drunk from the public-house by +himself, he would look over his right shoulder and over his left +shoulder, to know if the dead man's ghost was not coming behind +to lay hold of him.<br> +<br> +Do you know the Gypsy way of taking the hand?<br> +Aye, aye, brother.<br> +Show it to me.<br> +They does it <i>so,</i> brother.<br> +<br> +A tramp has more fun than a Gypsy.<br> +<br> +You have heard the word <i>pazorrus.</i> That is what is called +by the Gentiles "trusted," or in debt. In the old time the Roman +who got from his brother money or other things on trust, and did +not pay him again, could be made to work for him as horse, ass, +or wood cutter for a year and a day. At present the matter is +not so. If a Roman got money, or other things, from my hand on +credit, and did not repay me, how could I make him labour for me +as horse, ass, or stick-cutter for one day, not to say for a +year?<br> +<br> +Do you call this a fair? A very pretty fair is this: you might +put it all into your pocket.<br> +<br> +It is not a wise thing to say you have been wrong. If you allow +you have been wrong, people will say: You may be a very honest +fellow, but are certainly a very great fool.<br> +<br> +Where are you living?<br> +<br> +Mine is not living; mine is staying, to say the best of it; I am +a traveller, brother!<br> +<br> +When Roman people speak to one another, they say brother and +sister. When parents speak to their children, they say, my son, +or my daughter, or my child, <i>gorgiko</i>-like, to either. +When children speak to their parents, they say, my father, or my +mother.<br> +<br> +My father, why were worms made? My son, that moles might live by +eating them. My father, why were moles made? My son, that you +and I might live by catching them. My father, why were you and I +made? My son, that worms might live by eating us.<br> +<br> +All farmers are fools. When they hear a citizen in the country +say: That's a fine horse! they say: 'Tis no horse, 'tis a mare; +whether the thing's a horse or not. The simpletons don't know +that a mare's a horse, though a horse is not a mare.<br> +<br> +No one like Gypsy Will's wife for dancing in a platter.<br> +<br> +When Constance Smith died, she was a hundred ten years old.<br> +<br> +Do you know Mrs. Cooper?<br> +<br> +I knows her very well, brother.<br> +<br> +Do you like her?<br> +<br> +I loves her very much, brother; and I have often, often said to +the other Gypsies, when they speaking ill of her: She's a +gentlewoman; takes care of all of you; if it were not for her, +you would all go to the devil.<br> +<br> +What does she do for a living?<br> +<br> +She tells fortunes, brother; she tells fortunes.<br> +<br> +Is she a good hand at fortune-telling?<br> +<br> +There's no Roman woman under the sun so good at fortune-telling +as Mrs. Cooper; it is impossible not to have your fortune told by +her; she's a true witch; she takes people by the hand, and tells +their fortunes, whether they will or no.<br> +<br> +'Tis no use to go seeking after Gypsies. When you wants to see +them 'tis impossible to find one of them; but when you are +thinking of other matters you see plenty, plenty of them.<br> +<br> +I will swear neither falsely nor truly against any one; if they +wishes to find out something, let them find it out +themselves.<br> +<br> +If he had been transported for a great robbery, I would have said +nothing; but it makes me mad to think that he has been sent away, +all along of a vile harlot, for the value of +three-and-sixpence.<br> +<br> +When he had committed the murder he made haste, and ran into the +wood, where he hid himself in the hollow of a great old tree; but +it was no use at all; the runners followed his track all along +the forest till they came to the tree.<br> +<br> +How many fortunes have you told to-day?<br> +<br> +Only one lady's, brother; yonder she's coming back; I knows her +by the black lace on her gown.<br> +<br> +How much money did she give you?<br> +<br> +Only one groat, brother; only one groat. May the devil run away +with her bodily!<br> +<br> +Hear the words of wisdom which Mike the Grecian said to Mrs. +Trullifer: Mrs. Trollopr, you must live by your living; and if +you have a pound you must spend it.<br> +<br> +Can you speak Romany?<br> +Aye, aye, brother!<br> +What is Weshenjuggalslomomengreskeytemskeytudlogueri?<br> +I don't know what you say, brother.<br> +Then you are no master of Romany.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +ROMANE NAVIOR OF TEMES AND GAVIOR<br> +GYPSY NAMES OF CONTRIES AND TOWNS<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p>Baulo-mengreskey tem Swineherds' country, +Hampshire<br> +</p> + +<p>Bitcheno padlengreskey tem Transported fellows' country, +Botany Bay<br> +</p> + +<p>Bokra-mengreskey tem Shepherds' country, Sussex<br> +</p> + +<p>Bori-congriken gav Great church town, York<br> +</p> + +<p>Boro-rukeneskey gav Great tree town, Fairlop<br> +</p> + +<p>Boro gueroneskey tem Big fellows' country, +Northumberland<br> +</p> + +<p>Chohawniskey tem Witches' country, Lancashire<br> +</p> + +<p>Choko-mengreskey gav Shoemakers' town, +Northampton<br> +</p> + +<p>Churi-mengreskey gav Cutlers' town, Sheffield<br> +</p> + +<p>Coro-mengreskey tem Potters' country, +Staffordshire<br> +</p> + +<p>Cosht-killimengreskey tem Cudgel players' country, +Cornwall<br> +</p> + +<p>Curo-mengreskey gav Boxers' town, Nottingham<br> +</p> + +<p>Dinelo tem Fools' country, Suffolk<br> +</p> + +<p>Giv-engreskey tem Farmers' country, +Buckinghamshire<br> +</p> + +<p>Gry-engreskey gav Horsedealers' town, +Horncastle<br> +</p> + +<p>Guyo-mengreskey tem Pudding-eaters' country, +Yorkshire<br> +</p> + +<p>Hindity-mengreskey tem Dirty fellows' country, +Ireland<br> +</p> + +<p>Jinney-mengreskey gav Sharpers' town, Manchester<br> +</p> + +<p>Juggal-engreskey gav Dog-fanciers' town, Dudley<br> +</p> + +<p>Juvlo-mengreskey tem Lousy fellows' country, +Scotland<br> +</p> + +<p>Kaulo gav The black town, Birmingham<br> +</p> + +<p>Levin-engriskey tem Hop country, Kent<br> +</p> + +<p>Lil-engreskey gav Book fellows' town, Oxford<br> +</p> + +<p>Match-eneskey gav Fishy town, Yarmouth<br> +</p> + +<p>Mi-develeskey gav My God's town, Canterbury<br> +</p> + +<p>Mi-krauliskey gav Royal town, London<br> +</p> + +<p>Nashi-mescro gav Racers' town, Newmarket<br> +</p> + +<p>Pappin-eskey tem Duck country, Lincolnshire<br> +</p> + +<p>Paub-pawnugo tem Apple-water country, +Herefordshire<br> +</p> + +<p>Porrum-engreskey tem Leek-eaters' country, Wales<br> +</p> + +<p>Pov-engreskey tem Potato country, Norfolk<br> +</p> + +<p>Rashayeskey gav Clergyman's town, Ely<br> +</p> + +<p>Rokrengreskey gav Talking fellows' town, +Norwich<br> +</p> + +<p>Shammin-engreskey gav Chairmakers' town, Windsor<br> +</p> + +<p>Tudlo tem Milk country, Cheshire<br> +</p> + +<p>Weshen-eskey gav Forest town, Epping<br> +</p> + +<p>Weshen-juggal-slommo-mengreskey tem Fox-hunting fellows' +country, Leicestershire<br> +</p> + +<p>Wongareskey gav Coal town, Newcastle<br> +</p> + +<p>Wusto-mengresky tem Wrestlers' country, +Devonshire<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +</p> + +<p><br> +THOMAS ROSSAR-MESCRO<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +Prey Juniken bis diuto divvus, drey the besh yeck mille ochto +shel shovardesh ta trin, mande jaw'd to dick Thomas +Rossar-mescro, a puro Romano, of whom mande had shoon'd bute. He +was jibbing drey a tan naveno Rye Groby's Court, kek dur from the +Coromengreskoe Tan ta Bokkar-engreskey Wesh. When mande dick'd +leste he was beshing prey the poov by his wuddur, chiving misto +the poggado tuleskey part of a skammin. His ker was posh ker, +posh wardo, and stood drey a corner of the tan; kek dur from +lesti were dui or trin wafor ker-wardoes. There was a wafudo +canipen of baulor, though mande dick'd kekkeney. I penn'd +"Sarshin?" in Romany jib, and we had some rokrapen kettaney. He +was a boro mush, as mande could dick, though he was beshing. But +though boro he was kek tulo, ta lescré wastes were tarney +sar yek rawnie's. Lollo leste mui sar yeck weneskoe paub, ta +lescro bal rather lollo than parno. Prey his shero was a beti +stadj, and he was kek wafudo riddo. On my putching leste kisi +boro he was, ta kisi puro, he penn'd that he was sho piré +sore but an inch boro, ta enyovardesh ta dui besh puro. He +didn't jin to rokkra bute in Romano, but jinn'd almost sore so +mande rokkar'd te leste. Moro rokkrapen was mostly in gorgiko +jib. Yeck covar yecklo drey lescro drom of rokkring mande +pennsch'd kosko to rig in zi. In tan of penning Romany, sar +wafor Romany chals, penn'd o Roumany, a lav which sig, sig rigg'd +to my zi <i>Roumain,</i> the tatcho, puro nav of the Vallackiskie +jib and foky. He seem'd a biti aladge of being of Romany rat. +He penn'd that he was beano drey the Givengreskey Tem, that he +was kek tatcho Romano, but yeckly posh ta posh: lescro dado was +Romano, but lescri daya a gorgie of the Lilengreskoe Gav; he had +never camm'd bute to jib Romaneskoenaes, and when tarno had been +a givengreskoe raklo. When he was boro he jall'd adrey the +Lilengrotemskey militia, and was desh ta stor besh a militia +curomengro. He had jall'd bute about Engli-tem and the +juvalo-mengreskey, Tem, drey the cheeros of the puri chingaripen, +and had been adrey Monseer-tem, having volunteered to jal odoy to +cour agen the parley-woo gueros. He had dick'd Bordeaux and the +boro gav Paris. After the chingaripen, he had lell'd oprey +skamminengring, and had jall'd about the tem, but had been knau +for buter than trianda beshor jibbing in Lundra. He had been +romado, but his romadi had been mullee bute, bute cheeros; she +had dinn'd leste yeck chavo, so was knau a heftwardesh beshengro, +dicking bute puroder than yo cocoro, ta kanau lying naflo of a +tatti naflipen drey yeck of the wardes. He penn'd that at yeck +cheeros he could kair dosta luvvu by skammin-engring, but kanau +from his bori puripen could scarcely kair yeck tringurushee a +divvus. "Ladjipen si," I penn'd, "that a mush so puro as tute +should have to booty." "Kosko zi! kosko zi!" he penn'd; +"Paracrow Dibble that mande is dosta ruslo to booty, and that +mande has koskey camomescres; I shan't be tugnis to jib to be a +shel beshengro, though tatchipen si if mande was a rye mande +would kair kek booty." His chaveskoe chavo, a trianda ta pansch +beshengro, well'd kanau ta rokkar'd mansar. He was a misto +dicking ta rather misto riddo mush, sar chimouni jinneymengreskey +drey lescro mui. He penn'd that his dadeskoe dad was a fino puro +mush, savo had dick'd bute, and that dosta, dosta foky well'd +odoy to shoon lescré rokkrapenes of the puro cheeros, of +the Franciskie ta Amencanskie chingaripenes, and of what yo had +dick'd drey wafu tems. That tatchipen to pen there was a cheeros +when his drom was dur from kosko, for that he camm'd to cour, +sollohaul ta kair himself motto, but that kanau he was a wafu +mush, that he had muk'd sore curopen and wafudo rokkrapen, and, +to corauni sore, was yeck tee-totaller, yo cocoro having kair'd +leste sollohaul that he would pi kekomi neither tatti panie nor +levinor: that he jall'd sore the curques either to congri or +Tabernacle, and that tho' he kek jinn'd to del oprey he camm'd to +shoon the Miduveleskoe lil dell'd oprey to leste; that the +panishkie ryor held leste drey boro camopen, and that the +congriskoe rashi, and oprey sore Dr. P. of the Tabernacle had a +boro opinionos of leste, ta penn'd that he would hal the +Miduveleskoe habben sar moro Araunyo Jesus drey the kosko tem +opral. Mande putch'd whether the Romany Chals well'd often to +dick leste? He penn'd that they well'd knau and then to pen +Koshto divvus and Sarshin? but dov' odoy was sore; that neither +his dadeskoe dad nor yo cocoro camm'd to dick lende, because they +were wafodu foky, perdo of wafodupen and bango camopen, ta oprey +sore bute envyous; that drey the wen they jall'd sore cattaney to +the ryor, and rokkar'd wafodu of the puno mush, and pukker'd the +ryor to let lester a coppur which the ryor had lent leste, to +kair tatto his choveno puro truppo drey the cheeros of the +trashlo shillipen; that tatchipen si their wafodupen kaired the +puro mush kek dosh, for the ryor pukker'd lende to jal their drom +and be aladge of their cocoré, but that it was kek misto +to pensch that yeck was of the same rat as such foky. After some +cheeros I dinn'd the puro mush a tawno cuttor of rupe, shook +leste by ye wast, penn'd that it would be mistos amande to dick +leste a shel-beshengro, and jaw'd away keri.<br> +<br> +<br> +THOMAS HERNE<br> +<br> +<br> +On the twenty-second day of June, in the year one thousand eight +hundred and sixty-three, I went to see Thomas Herne, an old +Gypsy, of whom I had heard a great deal. He was living at a +place called Mr. Groby's Court, not far from the Potteries and +the Shepherd's Bush. When I saw him, he was sitting on the +ground by his door, mending the broken bottom of a chair. His +house was half-house half-waggon, and stood in a corner of the +court; not far from it were two or three other waggon-houses. +There was a disagreeable smell of hogs, though I saw none. I +said, "How you do?" in the Gypsy tongue, and we had discourse +together. He was a tall man, as I could see, though he was +sitting. But, though tall, he was not stout, and his hands were +small as those of a lady. His face was as red as a winter apple, +and his hair was rather red than grey. He had a small hat on his +head, and he was not badly dressed. On my asking him how tall he +was, and how old, he said that he was six foot high, all but an +inch, and that he was ninety-two years old. He could not talk +much Gypsy, but understood almost all that I said to him. Our +discourse was chiefly in English. One thing only in his manner +of speaking I thought worthy of remembrance. Instead of saying +Romany, like other Gypsies, he said Roumany, a word which +instantly brought to my mind Roumain, the genuine, ancient name +of the Wallachian tongue and people. He seemed to be rather +ashamed of being of Gypsy blood. He told me that he was born in +Buckinghamshire, that he was no true Gypsy, but only +half-and-half: his father was a Gypsy, but his mother was a +Gentile of Oxford; he had never had any particular liking for the +Gypsy manner of living, and when little had been a farmer's boy. +When he grew up he enlisted into the Oxford militia, and was +fourteen years a militia soldier. He had gone much about England +and Scotland in the time of the old war, and had been in France, +having volunteered to go thither to fight against the French. He +had seen Bordeaux and the great city of Paris. After war he had +taken up chair-making, and had travelled about the country, but +had been now for more than thirty years living in London. He had +been married, but his wife had long been dead. She had borne him +a son, who was now a man seventy years of age, looking much older +than himself, and at present lying sick of a burning fever in one +of the caravans. He said that at one time he could make a good +deal of money by chair-making, but now from his great age could +scarcely earn a shilling a day. "What a shame," said I, "that a +man so old as you should have to work at all!" "Courage! +courage!" he cried; "I thank God that I am strong enough to work, +and that I have good friends; I shan't be sorry to live to be a +hundred years old, though true it is that if I were a gentleman I +would do no work." His grandson, a man of about five-and-thirty, +came now and conversed with me. He was a good-looking and rather +well-dressed man, with something of a knowing card in his +countenance. He said that his grandfather was a fine old man, +who had seen a great deal, and that a great many people came to +hear his stories of the old time, of the French and American +wars, and of what he had seen in other countries. That, truth to +say, there was a time when his way was far from commendable, for +that he loved to fight, swear, and make himself drunk; but that +now he was another man, that he had abandoned all fighting and +evil speaking, and, to crown all, was a tee-totaller, he himself +having made him swear that he would no more drink either gin or +ale: that he went every Sunday either to church or Tabernacle, +and that, though he did not know how to read, he loved to hear +the holy book read to him; that the gentlemen of the parish +entertained a great regard for him, and that the church clergyman +and, above all, Dr. P. of the Tabernacle had a high opinion of +him, and said that he would partake of the holy banquet with our +Lord Jesus in the blessed country above. On my inquiring whether +the Gypsies came often to see him, he said that they came now and +then to say "Good day" and "How do you do?" but that was all; +that neither his grandfather nor himself cared to see them, +because they were evil people, full of wickedness and left-handed +love, and, above all, very envyous; that in the winter they all +went in a body to the gentlemen and spoke ill of the old man, and +begged the gentlemen to take from him a blanket which the +gentlemen had lent him to warm his poor old body with in the time +of the terrible cold; that it is true their wickedness did the +old man no harm, for the gentlemen told them to go away and be +ashamed of themselves, but that it was not pleasant to think that +one was of the same blood as such people. After some time I gave +the old man a small piece of silver, shook him by the hand, said +that I should be glad to see him live to be a hundred, and went +away home.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +KOKKODUS ARTARUS<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +Drey the puro cheeros there jibb'd a puri Romani juva, Sinfaya +laki nav. Tatchi Romani juva i; caum'd to rokkra Romany, nav'd +every mush kokkodus, ta every mushi deya. Yeck chavo was +láki; lescro nav Artáros; dinnelo or diviou was O; +romadi was lesgué; but the rommadi merr'd, mukking leste +yeck chávo. Artáros caum'd to jal oprey the drom, +and sikker his nangipen to rawnies and kair muior. At last the +ryor chiv'd leste drey the diviou ker. The chávo jibb'd +with his puri deya till he was a desch ta pantsch besh engro. +Yeck divvus a Romani juva jalling along the drom dick'd the puri +juva beshing tuley a bor roving: What's the matter, Sinfaya, +pukker'd i?<br> +<br> +My chavo's chavo is lell'd oprey, deya.<br> +What's he lell'd oprey for?<br> +For a meila and posh, deya.<br> +Why don't you jal to dick leste?<br> +I have nash'd my maila, deya.<br> +O má be tugni about your maila; jal and dick leste.<br> +<br> +I don't jin kah se, deya! diviou kokkodus Artáros jins, +kek mande. Ah diviou, diviou, jal amande callico.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +MANG, PRALA<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +Romano chavo was manging sar bori gudli yeck rye te del les +pasherro. Lescri deya so was beshing kek dur from odoy penn'd in +gorgikey rokrapen: Meklis juggal, ta av acoi! ma kair the rye +kinyo with your gudli! and then penn'd sig in Romany jib: Mang, +Prala, mang! Ta o chavo kair'd ajaw till the rye chiv'd les yeck +shohaury.<br> +<br> +[Something like the following little anecdote is related by the +Gypsies in every part of Continental Europe.]<br> +<br> +<br> +BEG ON, BROTHER<br> +<br> +<br> +A Gypsy brat was once pestering a gentleman to give him a +halfpenny. The mother, who was sitting nigh, cried in English: +Leave off, you dog, and come here! don't trouble the gentleman +with your noise; and then added in Romany: Beg on, brother! and +so the brat did, till the gentleman flung him a sixpence.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +ENGLISH GYPSY SONGS<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +WELLING KATTANEY<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +Coin si deya, coin se dado?<br> +Pukker mande drey Romanes,<br> +Ta mande pukkeravava tute.<br> +<br> +Rossar-mescri minri deya!<br> +Vardo-mescro minro dado!<br> +Coin se dado, coin si deya?<br> +Mande's pukker'd tute drey Romanes;<br> +Knau pukker tute mande.<br> +<br> +Petuiengro minro dado!<br> +Purana minri deya!<br> +Tatchey Romany si men -<br> +Mande's pukker'd tute drey Romanes,<br> +Ta tute's pukker'd mande.<br> +<br> +<br> +THE GYPSY MEETING<br> +<br> +<br> +Who's your mother, who's your father?<br> +Do thou answer me in Romany,<br> +And I will answer thee.<br> +<br> +A Hearne I have for mother!<br> +A Cooper for my father!<br> +Who's your father, who's your mother?<br> +I have answer'd thee in Romany,<br> +Now do thou answer me.<br> +<br> +A Smith I have for father!<br> +A Lee I have for mother!<br> +True Romans both are we -<br> +For I've answer'd thee in Romany,<br> +And thou hast answer'd me.<br> +<br> +<br> +LELLING CAPPI<br> +<br> +<br> +"Av, my little Romany chel!<br> +Av along with mansar!<br> +Av, my little Romany chel!<br> +Koshto si for mangue."<br> +<br> +"I shall lel a curapen,<br> +If I jal aley;<br> +I shall lel a curapen<br> +From my dear bebee."<br> +<br> +"I will jal on my chongor,<br> +Then I'll pootch your bebee.<br> +'O my dear bebee, dey me your chi,<br> +For koshto si for mangue.'<br> +<br> +"'Since you pootch me for my chi,<br> +I will dey you lati.'"<br> +Av, my little Romany chel!<br> +We will jal to the wafu tem:<br> +<br> +"I will chore a beti gry,<br> +And so we shall lel cappi."<br> +"Kekko, meero mushipen,<br> +For so you would be stardo;<br> +<br> +"But I will jal a dukkering,<br> +And so we shall lel cappi."<br> +"Koshto, my little Romany chel!<br> +Koshto si for mangue."<br> +<br> +<br> +MAKING A FORTUNE<br> +<br> +<br> +"Come along, my little gypsy girl,<br> +Come along, my little dear;<br> +Come along, my little gypsy girl -<br> +We'll wander far and near."<br> +<br> +"I should get a leathering<br> +Should I with thee go;<br> +I should get a leathering<br> +From my dear aunt, I trow."<br> +<br> +"I'll go down on my two knees,<br> +And I will beg your aunt.<br> +'O auntie dear, give me your child;<br> +She's just the girl I want!'<br> +<br> +"'Since you ask me for my child,<br> +I will not say thee no!'<br> +Come along, my little gypsy girl!<br> +To another land we'll go:<br> +<br> +"I will steal a little horse,<br> +And our fortunes make thereby."<br> +"Not so, my little gypsy boy,<br> +For then you'd swing on high;<br> +<br> +"But I'll a fortune-telling go,<br> +And our fortunes make thereby."<br> +"Well said, my little gypsy girl,<br> +You counsel famously."<br> +<br> +<br> +LELLING CAPPI - No.2<br> +<br> +<br> +"Av, my little Rumni chel,<br> +Av along with mansar;<br> +We will jal a gry-choring<br> +Pawdle across the chumba.<br> +<br> +"I'll jaw tuley on my chongor<br> +To your deya and your bebee;<br> +And I'll pootch lende that they del<br> +Tute to me for romadi."<br> +<br> +"I'll jaw with thee, my Rumni chal,<br> +If my dye and bebee muk me;<br> +But choring gristurs traishes me,<br> +For it brings one to the rukie.<br> +<br> +"'Twere ferreder that you should ker,<br> +Petuls and I should dukker,<br> +For then adrey our tanney tan,<br> +We kek atraish may sova."<br> +<br> +"Kusko, my little Rumni chel,<br> +Your rokrapen is kusko;<br> +We'll dukker and we'll petuls ker<br> +Pawdle across the chumba.<br> +<br> +"O kusko si to chore a gry<br> +Adrey the kaulo rarde;<br> +But 'tis not kosko to be nash'd<br> +Oprey the nashing rukie."<br> +<br> +<br> +MAKING A FORTUNE - No.2<br> +<br> +<br> +"Come along, my little gypsy girl,<br> +Come along with me, I pray!<br> +A-stealing horses we will go,<br> +O'er the hills so far away.<br> +<br> +"Before your mother and your aunt<br> +I'll down upon my knee,<br> +And beg they'll give me their little girl<br> +To be my Romadie."<br> +<br> +"I'll go with you, my gypsy boy,<br> +If my mother and aunt agree;<br> +But a perilous thing is horse-stealinge,<br> +For it brings one to the tree.<br> +<br> +"'Twere better you should tinkering ply,<br> +And I should fortunes tell;<br> +For then within our little tent<br> +In safety we might dwell."<br> +<br> +"Well said, my little gypsy girl,<br> +I like well what you say;<br> +We'll tinkering ply, and fortunes tell<br> +O'er the hills so far away.<br> +<br> +"'Tis a pleasant thing in a dusky night<br> +A horse-stealing to go;<br> +But to swing in the wind on the gallows-tree,<br> +Is no pleasant thing, I trow."<br> +<br> +<br> +THE DUI CHALOR<br> +<br> +<br> +Dui Romany Chals were bitcheney,<br> +Bitcheney pawdle the bori pawnee.<br> +Plato for kawring,<br> +Lasho for choring<br> +The putsi of a bori rawnee.<br> +<br> +And when they well'd to the wafu tem,<br> +The tem that's pawdle the bori pawnee,<br> +Plato was nasho<br> +Sig, but Lasho<br> +Was lell'd for rom by a bori rawnee.<br> +<br> +You cam to jin who that rawnie was,<br> +'Twas the rawnie from whom he chor'd the putsee:<br> +The Chal had a black<br> +Chohauniskie yack,<br> +And she slomm'd him pawdle the bori pawnee.<br> +<br> +<br> +THE TWO GYPSIES<br> +<br> +<br> +Two Gypsy lads were transported,<br> +Were sent across the great water.<br> +Plato was sent for rioting,<br> +And Louis for stealing the purse<br> +Of a great lady.<br> +<br> +And when they came to the other country,<br> +The country that lies across the great water,<br> +Plato was speedily hung,<br> +But Louis was taken as a husband<br> +By a great lady.<br> +<br> +You wish to know who was the lady,<br> +'Twas the lady from whom he stole the purse:<br> +The Gypsy had a black and witching eye,<br> +And on account of that she followed him<br> +Across the great water.<br> +<br> +<br> +MIRO ROMANY CHl<br> +<br> +<br> +As I was a jawing to the gav yeck divvus<br> +I met on the drom miro Romany chi;<br> +I pootch'd las whether she come sar mande,<br> +And she penn'd tu sar wafo rommadis;<br> +O mande there is kek wafo romady,<br> +So penn'd I to miro Romany chi,<br> +And I'll kair tute miro tatcho romadi<br> +If you but pen tu come sar mande.<br> +<br> +<br> +MY ROMAN LASS<br> +<br> +<br> +As I to the town was going one day<br> +My Roman lass I met by the way;<br> +Said I: Young maid, will you share my lot?<br> +Said she: Another wife you've got.<br> +Ah no! to my Roman lass I cried:<br> +No wife have I in the world so wide,<br> +And you my wedded wife shall be<br> +If you will consent to come with me.<br> +<br> +<br> +AVA, CHI<br> +<br> +<br> +Hokka tute mande<br> +Mande pukkra bebee<br> +Mande shauvo tute -<br> +Ava, Chi!<br> +<br> +<br> +YES, MY GIRL<br> +<br> +<br> +If to me you prove untrue,<br> +Quickly I'll your auntie tell<br> +I've been over-thick with you -<br> +Yes, my girl, I will.<br> +<br> +<br> +THE TEMESKOE RYE<br> +<br> +<br> +Penn'd the temeskoe rye to the Romany chi,<br> +As the choon was dicking prey lende dui:<br> +Rinkeny tawni, Romany rawni,<br> +Mook man choom teero gudlo mui.<br> +<br> +<br> +THE YOUTHFUL EARL<br> +<br> +<br> +Said the youthful earl to the Gypsy girl,<br> +As the moon was casting its silver shine:<br> +Brown little lady, Egyptian lady,<br> +Let me kiss those sweet lips of thine.<br> +<br> +<br> +CAMO-GILLIE<br> +<br> +<br> +Pawnie birks<br> +My men-engni shall be;<br> +Yackors my dudes<br> +Like ruppeney shine:<br> +Atch meery chi!<br> +Mā jal away:<br> +Perhaps I may not dick tute<br> +Kek komi.<br> +<br> +<br> +LOVE-SONG<br> +<br> +<br> +I'd choose as pillows for my head<br> +Those snow-white breasts of thine;<br> +I'd use as lamps to light my bed<br> +Those eyes of silver shine:<br> +O lovely maid, disdain me not,<br> +Nor leave me in my pain:<br> +Perhaps 'twill never be my lot<br> +To see thy face again.<br> +<br> +<br> +TUGNIS AMANDE<br> +<br> +<br> +I'm jalling across the pāni -<br> +A choring mas and morro,<br> +Along with a bori lubbeny,<br> +And she has been the ruin of me.<br> +<br> +I sov'd yeck rarde drey a gran,<br> +A choring mas and morro,<br> +Along with a bori lubbeny,<br> +And she has been the ruin of me.<br> +<br> +She pootch'd me on the collico,<br> +A choring mas and morro,<br> +To jaw with lasa to the show,<br> +For she would be the ruin of me.<br> +<br> +And when I jaw'd odoy with lasa,<br> +A choring mas and morro,<br> +Sig she chor'd a rawnie's kissi,<br> +And so she was the ruin of me.<br> +<br> +They lell'd up lata, they lell'd up mande,<br> +A choring mas and morro,<br> +And bitch'd us dui pawdle pãni,<br> +So she has been the ruin of me.<br> +<br> +I'm jalling across the pāni,<br> +A choring mas and morro,<br> +Along with a bori lubbeny,<br> +And she has been the ruin of me.<br> +<br> +<br> +WOE IS ME<br> +<br> +<br> +I'm sailing across the water,<br> +A-stealing bread and meat so free,<br> +Along with a precious harlot,<br> +And she has been the ruin of me.<br> +<br> +I slept one night within a barn,<br> +A-stealing bread and meat so free,<br> +Along with a precious harlot,<br> +And she has been the ruin of me.<br> +<br> +Next morning she would have me go,<br> +A-stealing bread and meat so free,<br> +To see with her the wild-beast show,<br> +For she would be the ruin of me.<br> +<br> +I went with her to see the show,<br> +A-stealing bread and meat so free,<br> +To steal a purse she was not slow,<br> +And so she was the ruin of me.<br> +<br> +They took us up, and with her I,<br> +A-stealing bread and meat so free:<br> +Am sailing now to Botany,<br> +So she has been the ruin of me.<br> +<br> +I'm sailing across the water,<br> +A-stealing bread and meat so free,<br> +Along with a precious harlot,<br> +And she has been the ruin of me.<br> +<br> +<br> +THE RYE AND RAWNIE<br> +<br> +<br> +The rye he mores adrey the wesh<br> +The kaun-engro and chiriclo;<br> +You sovs with leste drey the wesh,<br> +And rigs for leste the gono.<br> +<br> +Oprey the rukh adrey the wesh<br> +Are chiriclo and chiricli;<br> +Tuley the rukh adrey the wesh<br> +Are pireno and pireni.<br> +<br> +<br> +THE SQUIRE AND LADY<br> +<br> +<br> +The squire he roams the good greenwood,<br> +And shoots the pheasant and the hare;<br> +Thou sleep'st with him in good green wood,<br> +And dost for him the game-sack bear.<br> +<br> +I see, I see upon the tree<br> +The little male and female dove;<br> +Below the tree I see, I see<br> +The lover and his lady love.<br> +<br> +<br> +ROMANY SUTTUR GILLIE<br> +<br> +<br> +Jaw to sutturs, my tiny chal;<br> +Your die to dukker has jall'd abri;<br> +At rarde she will wel palal<br> +And tute of her tud shall pie.<br> +<br> +Jaw to lutherum, tiny baw!<br> +I'm teerie deya's purie mam;<br> +As tute cams her tud canaw<br> +Thy deya meerie tud did cam.<br> +<br> +<br> +GYPSY LULLABY<br> +<br> +<br> +Sleep thee, little tawny boy!<br> +Thy mother's gone abroad to spae,<br> +Her kindly milk thou shalt enjoy<br> +When home she comes at close of day.<br> +<br> +Sleep thee, little tawny guest!<br> +Thy mother is my daughter fine;<br> +As thou dost love her kindly breast,<br> +She once did love this breast of mine.<br> +<br> +<br> +SHARRAFI KRALYISSA<br> +<br> +<br> +Finor coachey innar Lundra,<br> +Bonor coachey innar Lundra,<br> +Finor coachey, bonor coachey<br> +Mande dick'd innar Lundra.<br> +<br> +Bonor, finor coachey<br> +Mande dick'd innar Lundra<br> +The divvus the Kralyissa jall'd<br> +To congri innar Lundra.<br> +<br> +<br> +OUR BLESSED QUEEN<br> +<br> +<br> +Coaches fine in London,<br> +Coaches good in London,<br> +Coaches fine and coaches good<br> +I did see in London.<br> +<br> +Coaches good and coaches fine<br> +I did see in London,<br> +The blessed day our blessed Queen<br> +Rode to church in London.<br> +<br> +<br> +PLASTRA LESTI!<br> +<br> +<br> +Gare yourselves, pralor!<br> +Mã pee kek-komi!<br> +The guero's welling -<br> +Plastra lesti!<br> +<br> +<br> +RUN FOR IT!<br> +<br> +<br> +Up, up, brothers!<br> +Cease your revels!<br> +The Gentile's coming -<br> +Run like devils!<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +FOREIGN GYPSY SONGS<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +Oy die-la, oy mama-la oy!<br> +Cherie podey mangue penouri.<br> +</p> + +<p>Russian Gypsy Song.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +<br> +THE ROMANY SONGSTRESS<br> +FROM THE RUSSIAN GYPSY<br> +<br> +<br> +Her temples they are aching,<br> +As if wine she had been taking;<br> +Her tears are ever springing,<br> +Abandoned is her singing!<br> +She can neither eat nor nest<br> +With love she's so distress'd;<br> +At length she's heard to say:<br> +"Oh here I cannot stay,<br> +Go saddle me my steed,<br> +To my lord I must proceed;<br> +In his palace plenteously<br> +Both eat and drink shall I;<br> +The servants far and wide,<br> +Bidding guests shall run and ride.<br> +And when within the hall the multitude I see,<br> +I'll raise my voice anew, and sing in Romany."<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +L'ERAJAI<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +Un erajai<br> +Sinaba chibando un sermon;<br> +Y lle falta un balicho<br> +Al chindomar de aquel gao,<br> +Y lo chanelaba que los Cales<br> +Lo abian nicabao;<br> +Y penela l'erajai, "Chaboró!<br> +Guillate a tu quer<br> +Ynicabela la peri<br> +Que terela el balicho,<br> +Y chibela andro<br> +Una lima de tun chaborí,<br> +Chabori,<br> +Una lima de tun chabori."<br> +<br> +<br> +THE FRIAR<br> +FROM THE SPANISH GYPSY<br> +<br> +<br> +A Friar<br> +Was preaching once with zeal and with fire;<br> +And a butcher of the town<br> +Had lost a flitch of bacon;<br> +And well the friar knew<br> +That the Gypsies it had taken;<br> +So suddenly he shouted: "Gypsy, ho!<br> +Hie home, and from the pot!<br> +Take the flitch of bacon out,<br> +The flitch good and fat,<br> +And in its place throw<br> +A clout, a dingy clout of thy brat,<br> +Of thy brat,<br> +A clout, a dingy clout of thy brat."<br> +<br> +<br> +MALBRUN<br> +<br> +<br> +Chaló Malbrun chingarár,<br> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br> +Chaló Malbrun chingarár;<br> +No sé bus truterá!<br> +No sé bus truterá!<br> +<br> +La romi que le caméla,<br> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br> +La romi que le camela<br> +Muy curepeñada está,<br> +Muy curepeñada está.<br> +<br> +S'ardéla á la felichá,<br> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br> +S'ardéla á la felichá<br> +Y baribu dur dicá,<br> +Y baribu dur dicá.<br> +<br> +Dicá abillar su burno,<br> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br> +Dicá abillar su burno,<br> +En ropa callardá,<br> +En ropa callardá.<br> +<br> +"Burno, lacho quirbó;<br> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br> +Burno, lacho quiribó,<br> +Que nuevas has diñar?<br> +Que nuevas has diñar?"<br> +<br> +"Las nuevas que io térelo,<br> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br> +Las nuevas que io terélo<br> +Te haran orobar,<br> +Te haran orobar.<br> +<br> +"Meró Malbrun mi eráy,<br> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br> +Meró Malbrun mi eráy<br> +Meró en la chingá,<br> +Meró en la chingá.<br> +<br> +"Sinaba ásu entierro,<br> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br> +Sinaba á su entierro<br> +La plastani sará,<br> +La plastani sará.<br> +<br> +"Seis guapos jundunáres,<br> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br> +Seis guapos jundunáres<br> +Le lleváron cabañar,<br> +Le lleváron cabañar.<br> +<br> +"Delante de la jestári,<br> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br> +Delante de la jestári<br> +Chaló el sacristá,<br> +Chaló el sacristá.<br> +<br> +"El sacristá delante,<br> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br> +El sacristá delante,<br> +Y el errajai palá,<br> +Y el errajai palá.<br> +<br> +"Al majaro ortaláme,<br> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br> +Al majaro ortaláme<br> +Le lleváron cabañar,<br> +Le lleváron cabañar.<br> +<br> +"Y oté le cabañáron<br> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br> +Y oté le cabañáron<br> +No dur de la burdá,<br> +No dur de la burdá.<br> +<br> +"Y opré de la jestári<br> +Birandón, birandón, birandéra!<br> +Guillabéla un chilindróte;<br> +Sobá en paz, sobá!<br> +Sobá en paz, sobá!<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +MALBROUK<br> +FROM THE SPANISH GYPSY VERSION<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +Malbrouk is gone to the wars,<br> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br> +Malbrouk is gone to the wars;<br> +He'll never return no more!<br> +He'll never return no more!<br> +<br> +His lady-love and darling,<br> +Birrandon, birrandón, birrandéra<br> +His lady-love and darling<br> +His absence doth deplore,<br> +His absence doth deplore.<br> +<br> +To the turret's top she mounted,<br> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br> +To the turret's top she mounted<br> +And look'd till her eyes were sore,<br> +And look'd till her eyes were sore.<br> +<br> +She saw his squire a-coming,<br> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br> +She saw his squire a-coming;<br> +And a mourning suit he wore,<br> +And a mourning suit he wore.<br> +<br> +"O squire, my trusty fellow;<br> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br> +O squire, my trusty fellow,<br> +What news of my soldier poor?<br> +What news of my soldier poor?"<br> +<br> +"The news which I bring thee, lady,<br> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br> +The news which I bring thee, lady,<br> +Will cause thy tears to shower,<br> +Will cause thy tears to shower.<br> +<br> +"Malbrouk my master's fallen,<br> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br> +Malbrouk my master's fallen,<br> +He fell on the fields of gore,<br> +He fell on the fields of gore.<br> +<br> +"His funeral attended,<br> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br> +His funeral attended<br> +The whole reg'mental corps,<br> +The whole reg'mental corps.<br> +<br> +"Six neat and proper soldiers,<br> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br> +Six neat and proper soldiers<br> +To the grave my master bore,<br> +To the grave my master bore.<br> +<br> +"The parson follow'd the coffin,<br> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br> +The parson follow'd the coffin,<br> +And the sexton walk'd before,<br> +And the sexton walk'd before.<br> +<br> +"They buried him in the churchyard,<br> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br> +They buried him in the churchyard,<br> +Not far from the church's door,<br> +Not far from the church's door.<br> +<br> +"And there above his coffin,<br> +Birrandón, birrandón, birrandéra!<br> +There sings a little swallow:<br> +Sleep there, thy toils are o'er,<br> +Sleep there, thy toils are o'er."<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +THE ENGLISH GYPSIES<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +TUGNEY BESHOR<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +The Romany Chals<br> +Should jin so bute<br> +As the Puro Beng<br> +To scape of gueros<br> +And wafo gorgies<br> +The wafodupen.<br> +<br> +They lels our gryor,<br> +They lels our wardoes,<br> +And wusts us then<br> +Drey starripenes<br> +To mer of pishens<br> +And buklipen.<br> +<br> +Cauna volélan<br> +Muley pappins<br> +Pawdle the len<br> +Men artavàvam<br> +Of gorgio foky<br> +The wafodupen.<br> +Ley teero sollohanloinus opreylis!<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +SORROWFUL YEARS<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +The wit and the skill<br> +Of the Father of ill,<br> +Who's clever indeed,<br> +If they would hope<br> +With their foes to cope<br> +The Romany need.<br> +<br> +Our horses they take,<br> +Our waggons they break,<br> +And us they fling<br> +Into horrid cells,<br> +Where hunger dwells<br> +And vermin sting.<br> +<br> +When the dead swallow<br> +The fly shall follow<br> +Across the river,<br> +O we'll forget<br> +The wrongs we've met,<br> +But till then O never:<br> +Brother, of that be certain.<br> +<br> +<br> +The English Gypsies call themselves Romany Chals and Romany +Chies, that is, Sons and Daughters of Rome. When speaking to +each other, they say "Pal" and "Pen"; that is, brother and +sister. All people not of their own blood they call "Gorgios," +or Gentiles. Gypsies first made their appearance in England +about the year 1480. They probably came from France, where +tribes of the race had long been wandering about under the names +of Bohemians and Egyptians. In England they pursued the same +kind of merripen {3} which they and their ancestors had pursued +on the Continent. They roamed about in bands, consisting of +thirty, sixty, or ninety families, with light, creaking carts, +drawn by horses and donkeys, encamping at night in the spots they +deemed convenient. The women told fortunes at the castle of the +baron and the cottage of the yeoman; filched gold and silver +coins from the counters of money-changers; caused the death of +hogs in farmyards, by means of a stuff called drab or drao, which +affects the brain, but does not corrupt the blood; and +subsequently begged, and generally obtained, the carcases. The +men plied tinkering and brasiery, now and then stole horses, and +occasionally ventured upon highway robbery. The writer has here +placed the Chies before the Chals, because, as he has frequently +had occasion to observe, the Gypsy women are by far more +remarkable beings than the men. It is the Chi and not the Chal +who has caused the name of Gypsy to be a sound awaking wonder, +awe, and curiosity in every part of the civilised world. Not +that there have never been remarkable men of the Gypsy race both +abroad and at home. Duke Michael, as he was called, the leader +of the great Gypsy horde which suddenly made its appearance in +Germany at the beginning of the fifteenth century, was no doubt a +remarkable man; the Gitano Condre, whom Martin del Rio met at +Toledo a hundred years afterwards, who seemed to speak all +languages, and to be perfectly acquainted with the politics of +all the Courts of Europe, must certainly have been a remarkable +man; so, no doubt, here at home was Boswell; so undoubtedly was +Cooper, called by the gentlemen of the Fives Court - poor +fellows! they are all gone now - the "wonderful little Gypsy"; - +but upon the whole the poetry, the sorcery, the devilry, if you +please to call it so, are vastly on the side of the women. How +blank and inanimate is the countenance of the Gypsy man, even +when trying to pass off a foundered donkey as a flying dromedary, +in comparison with that of the female Romany, peering over the +wall of a par-yard at a jolly hog!<br> +<br> +<br> +Sar shin Sinfye?<br> +Koshto divvus, Romany Chi!<br> +So shan tute kairing acoi?<br> +<br> +Sinfye, Sinfye! how do you do?<br> +Daughter of Rome, good day to you!<br> +What are you thinking here to do?<br> +<br> +<br> +After a time the evil practices of the Gypsies began to be noised +about, and terrible laws were enacted against people "using the +manner of Egyptians" - Chies were scourged by dozens, Chals hung +by scores. Throughout the reign of Elizabeth there was a +terrible persecution of the Gypsy race; far less, however, on +account of the crimes which they actually committed, than from a +suspicion which was entertained that they harboured amidst their +companies priests and emissaries of Rome, who had come to England +for the purpose of sowing sedition and inducing the people to +embrace again the old discarded superstition. This suspicion, +however, was entirely without foundation. The Gypsies call each +other brother and sister, and are not in the habit of admitting +to their fellowship people of a different blood and with whom +they have no sympathy. There was, however, a description of +wandering people at that time, even as there is at present, with +whom the priests, who are described as going about, sometimes +disguised as serving-men, sometimes as broken soldiers, sometimes +as shipwrecked mariners, would experience no difficulty in +associating, and with whom, in all probability, they occasionally +did associate - the people called in Acts of Parliament sturdy +beggars and vagrants, in the old cant language Abraham men, and +in the modern Pikers. These people have frequently been +confounded with the Gypsies, but are in reality a distinct race, +though they resemble the latter in some points. They roam about +like the Gypsies, and, like them, have a kind of secret +language. But the Gypsies are a people of Oriental origin, +whilst the Abrahamites are the scurf of the English body +corporate. The language of the Gypsies is a real language, more +like the Sanscrit than any other language in the world; whereas +the speech of the Abrahamites is a horrid jargon, composed for +the most part of low English words used in an allegorical sense - +a jargon in which a stick is called a crack; a hostess, a rum +necklace; a bar-maid, a dolly-mort; brandy, rum booze; a +constable, a horny. But enough of these Pikers, these +Abrahamites. Sufficient to observe that if the disguised priests +associated with wandering companies it must have been with these +people, who admit anybody to their society, and not with the +highly exclusive race the Gypsies.<br> +<br> +For nearly a century and a half after the death of Elizabeth the +Gypsies seem to have been left tolerably to themselves, for the +laws are almost silent respecting them. Chies, no doubt, were +occasionally scourged for cauring, that is filching gold and +silver coins, and Chals hung for grychoring, that is +horse-stealing; but those are little incidents not much regarded +in Gypsy merripen. They probably lived a life during the above +period tolerably satisfactory to themselves - they are not an +ambitious people, and there is no word for glory in their +language - but next to nothing is known respecting them. A +people called Gypsies are mentioned, and to a certain extent +treated of, in two remarkable works - one a production of the +seventeenth, the other of the eighteenth century - the first +entitled the 'English Rogue, or the Adventures of Merriton +Latroon,' the other the 'Life of Bamfield Moore Carew'; but those +works, though clever and entertaining, and written in the raciest +English, are to those who seek for information respecting Gypsies +entirely valueless, the writers having evidently mistaken for +Gypsies the Pikers or Abrahamites, as the vocabularies appended +to the histories, and which are professedly vocabularies of the +Gypsy language, are nothing of the kind, but collections of words +and phrases belonging to the Abrahamite or Piker jargon. At the +commencement of the last century, and for a considerable time +afterwards, there was a loud cry raised against the Gypsy women +for stealing children. This cry, however, was quite as devoid of +reason as the suspicion entertained of old against the Gypsy +communities of harbouring disguised priests. Gypsy women, as the +writer had occasion to remark many a long year ago, have plenty +of children of their own, and have no wish to encumber themselves +with those of other people. A yet more extraordinary charge was, +likewise, brought against them - that of running away with +wenches. Now, the idea of Gypsy women running away with +wenches! Where were they to stow them in the event of running +away with them? and what were they to do with them in the event +of being able to stow them? Nevertheless, two Gypsy women were +burnt in the hand in the most cruel and frightful manner, +somewhat about the middle of the last century, and two Gypsy men, +their relations, sentenced to be hanged, for running away with a +certain horrible wench of the name of Elizabeth Canning, who, to +get rid of a disgraceful burden, had left her service and gone +into concealment for a month, and on her return, in order to +account for her absence, said that she had been run away with by +Gypsies. The men, however, did not undergo their sentence; for, +ere the day appointed for their execution arrived, suspicions +beginning to be entertained with respect to the truth of the +wench's story, they were reprieved, and, after a little time, the +atrocious creature, who had charged people with doing what they +neither did nor dreamt of doing, was tried for perjury, +convicted, and sentenced to transportation. Yet so great is +English infatuation that this Canning, this Elizabeth, had a host +of friends, who stood by her, and swore by her to the last, and +almost freighted the ship which carried her away with goods, the +sale of which enabled her to purchase her freedom of the planter +to whom she was consigned, to establish herself in business, and +to live in comfort, and almost in luxury, in the New World during +the remainder of her life.<br> +<br> +But though Gypsies have occasionally experienced injustice; +though Patricos and Sherengroes were hanged by dozens in +Elizabeth's time on suspicion of harbouring disguised priests; +though Gypsy women in the time of the Second George, accused of +running away with wenches, were scorched and branded, there can +be no doubt that they live in almost continual violation of the +laws intended for the protection of society; and it may be added, +that in this illegal way of life the women have invariably played +a more important part than the men. Of them, amongst other +things, it may be said that they are the most accomplished +swindlers in the world, their principal victims being people of +their own sex, on whose credulity and superstition they +practise. Mary Caumlo, or Lovel, was convicted a few years ago +at Cardiff of having swindled a surgeon's wife of eighty pounds, +under pretence of propitiating certain planets by showing them +the money. Not a penny of the booty was ever recovered by the +deluded victim; and the Caumli, on leaving the dock, after +receiving sentence of a year's imprisonment, turned round and +winked to some <i>brother</i> or <i>sister</i> in court, as much +as to say: "<i>Mande has gared the luvvu; mande is kek atugni for +the besh's starripen</i>" - "I have hid the money, and care +nothing for the year's imprisonment." Young Rawnie P. of N., the +daughter of old Rawnie P., suddenly disappeared with the whole +capital of an aged and bedridden gentlewoman, amounting to nearly +three hundred pounds, whom she had assured that if she were +intrusted with it for a short time she should be able to gather +certain herbs, from which she could make decoctions, which would +restore to the afflicted gentlewoman all her youthful vigour. +Mrs. Townsley of the Border was some time ago in trouble at Wick, +only twenty-five miles distant from Johnny Groat's House, on a +charge of fraudulently obtaining from a fisherman's wife one +shilling, two half-crowns, and a five-pound note by promising to +untie certain witch-locks, which she had induced her to believe +were entwined in the meshes of the fisherman's net, and would, if +suffered to remain, prevent him from catching a single herring in +the Firth. These events occurred within the last few years, and +are sufficiently notorious. They form a triad out of dozens of a +similar kind, in some of which there are features so odd, so +strangely droll, that indignation against the offence is +dispelled by an irresistible desire to laugh.<br> +<br> +But Gypsyism is declining, and its days are numbered. There is a +force abroad which is doomed to destroy it, a force which never +sleepeth either by day or night, and which will not allow the +Roman people rest for the soles of their feet. That force is the +Rural Police, which, had it been established at the commencement +instead of towards the middle of the present century, would have +put down Gypsyism long ago. But, recent as its establishment has +been, observe what it has produced. Walk from London to +Carlisle, but neither by the road's side, nor on heath or common, +will you see a single Gypsy tent. True Gypsyism consists in +wandering about, in preying upon the Gentiles, but not living +amongst them. But such a life is impossible in these days; the +Rural Force will not permit it. "It is a hard thing, brother," +said old Agamemnon Caumlo to the writer, several years ago; "it +is a hard thing, after one has pitched one's little tent, lighted +one's little fire, and hung one's kettle by the kettle-iron over +it to boil, to have an inspector or constable come up, and say, +'What are you doing here? Take yourself off, you Gypsy dog!'" A +hard thing, indeed, old Agamemnon; but there is no help for it. +You must e'en live amongst the Gorgios. And for years past the +Gypsies have lived amongst the Gorgios, and what has been the +result? They do not seem to have improved the Gentiles, and have +certainly not been improved by them. By living amongst the +Gentiles they have, to a certain extent, lost the only two +virtues they possessed. Whilst they lived apart on heaths and +commons, and in shadowy lanes, the Gypsy women were paragons of +chastity, and the men, if not exactly patterns of sobriety, were, +upon the whole, very sober fellows. Such terms, however, are by +no means applicable to them at the present day. Sects and +castes, even of thieves and murderers, can exist as long as they +have certain virtues, which give them a kind of respect in their +own eyes; but, losing those virtues, they soon become extinct. +When the salt loses its savour, what becomes of it? The Gypsy +salt has not altogether lost its savour, but that essential +quality is every day becoming fainter, so that there is every +reason to suppose that within a few years the English Gypsy caste +will have disappeared, merged in the dregs of the English +population.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +GYPSY NAMES<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +There are many curious things connected with the Gypsies, but +perhaps nothing more so than what pertains to their names. They +have a double nomenclature, each tribe or family having a public +and a private name, one by which they are known to the Gentiles, +and another to themselves alone. Their public names are quite +English; their private ones attempts, some of them highly +singular and uncouth, to render those names by Gypsy +equivalents. Gypsy names may be divided into two classes, names +connected with trades, and surnames or family names. First of +all, something about trade names.<br> +<br> +There are only two names of trades which have been adopted by +English Gypsies as proper names, Cooper and Smith: these names +are expressed in the English Gypsy dialect by <i>Vardo-mescro</i> +and <i>Petulengro.</i> The first of these renderings is by no +means a satisfactory one, as <i>Vardo-mescro</i> means a +cartwright, or rather a carter. To speak the truth, it would be +next to impossible to render the word 'cooper' into English +Gypsy, or indeed into Gypsy of any kind; a cooper, according to +the common acceptation of the word, is one who makes pails, tubs, +and barrels, but there are no words in Gypsy for such vessels. +The Transylvanian Gypsies call a cooper a <i>bedra-kero</i> or +pail-maker, but <i>bedra</i> is not Gypsy, but Hungarian, and the +English Gypsies might with equal propriety call a cooper a +<i>pail-engro.</i> On the whole the English Gypsies did their +best when they rendered 'cooper' into their language by the word +for 'cartwright.'<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Petulengro,</i> the other trade name, is borne by the +Gypsies who are known to the public by the English appellation of +Smith. It is not very easy to say what is the exact meaning of +<i>Petulengro:</i> it must signify, however, either +horseshoe-fellow or tinker: <i>petali</i> or <i>petala</i> +signifies in Gypsy a horseshoe, and is probably derived from the +Modern Greek [Greek: ]; <i>engro</i> is an affix, and is either +derived from or connected with the Sanscrit <i>kara,</i> to make, +so that with great feasibility <i>Petulengro</i> may be +translated horseshoe-maker. But <i>bedel</i> in Hebrew means +'tin,' and as there is little more difference between +<i>petul</i> and <i>bedel</i> than between <i>petul</i> and +<i>petalon, Petulengro</i> may be translated with almost equal +feasibility by tinker or tin-worker, more especially as tinkering +is a principal pursuit of Gypsies, and to <i>jal petulengring</i> +signifies to go a-tinkering in English Gypsy. Taken, however, in +either sense, whether as horseshoe-maker or tin-worker (and, as +has been already observed, it must mean one or the other), +<i>Petulengro</i> may be considered as a tolerably fair rendering +of the English Smith.<br> +<br> +So much for the names of the Gypsies which the writer has +ventured to call the trade names; now for those of the other +class. These are English surnames, and for the most part of a +highly aristocratic character, and it seems at first surprising +that people so poor and despised as Gypsies should be found +bearing names so time-honoured and imposing. There is, however, +a tolerable explanation of the matter in the supposition that on +their first arrival in England the different tribes sought the +protection of certain grand powerful families, and were permitted +by them to locate themselves on their heaths and amid their +woodlands, and that they eventually adopted the names of their +patrons. Here follow the English names of some of the principal +tribes, with the Romany translations or equivalents:-<br> +<br> +BOSWELL. - The proper meaning of this word is the town of Bui. +The initial <i>Bo</i> or <i>Bui</i> is an old Northern name, +signifying a colonist or settler, one who tills and builds. It +was the name of a great many celebrated Northern <i>kempions</i>, +who won land and a home by hard blows. The last syllable, +<i>well</i>, is the French <i>ville</i>: Boswell, Boston, and +Busby all signify one and the same thing - the town of Bui - the +<i>well</i> being French, the <i>ton</i> Saxon, and the <i>by</i> +Danish; they are half-brothers of Bovil and Belville, both +signifying fair town, and which ought to be written Beauville and +Belville. The Gypsies, who know and care nothing about +etymologies, confounding <i>bos</i> with <i>buss</i>, a vulgar +English verb not to be found in dictionaries, which signifies to +kiss, rendered the name Boswell by <i>Chumomisto</i>, that is, +Kisswell, or one who kisses well <i>- choom</i> in their language +signifying to kiss, and <i>misto</i> well - likewise by +<i>choomomescro,</i> a kisser. Vulgar as the word <i>buss</i> +may sound at present, it is by no means of vulgar origin, being +connected with the Latin <i>basio</i> and the Persian +<i>bousè.</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br> +GREY. - This is the name of a family celebrated in English +history. The Gypsies who adopted it, rendered it into their +language by <i>Gry,</i> a word very much resembling it in sound, +though not in sense, for <i>gry</i>, which is allied to the +Sanscrit <i>ghora,</i> signifies a horse. They had no better +choice, however, for in Romany there is no word for grey, any +more than there is for green or blue. In several languages there +is a difficulty in expressing the colour which in English is +called grey. In Celtic, for instance, there is no definite word +for it; <i>glas,</i> it is true, is used to express it, but +<i>glas</i> is as frequently used to express green as it is to +express grey.<br> +<br> +HEARNE, HERNE. - This is the name of a family which bears the +heron for its crest, the name being either derived from the +crest, or the crest from the name. There are two Gypsy +renderings of the <i>word - Rossar-mescro</i> or +<i>Ratzie-mescro,</i> and <i>Balorengre. Rossar-mescro</i> +signifies duck-fellow, the duck being substituted for the heron, +for which there is no word in Romany. The meaning of +<i>Balor-engre</i> is hairy people; the translator or translators +seeming to have confounded Hearne with 'haaren,' old English for +hairs. The latter rendering has never been much in use.<br> +<br> +LEE. - The Gypsy name of this tribe is <i>Purrum,</i> sometimes +pronounced <i>Purrun.</i> The meaning of <i>Purrurn</i> is an +onion, and it may be asked what connection can there be between +Lee and onion? None whatever: but there is some resemblance in +sound between Lee and leek, and it is probable that the Gypsies +thought so, and on that account rendered the name by +<i>Purrum,</i> which, if not exactly a leek, at any rate +signifies something which is cousin-german to a leek. It must be +borne in mind that in some parts of England the name Lee is spelt +Legh and Leigh, which would hardly be the case if at one time it +had not terminated in something like a guttural, so that when the +Gypsies rendered the name, perhaps nearly four hundred years ago, +it sounded very much like 'leek,' and perhaps was Leek, a name +derived from the family crest. At first the writer was of +opinion that the name was <i>Purrun,</i> a modification of +<i>pooro,</i> which in the Gypsy language signifies old, but +speedily came to the conclusion that it must be <i>Purrum,</i> a +leek or onion; for what possible reason could the Gypsies have +for rendering Lee by a word which signifies old or ancient? +whereas by rendering it by <i>Purrum,</i> they gave themselves a +Gypsy name, which, if it did not signify Lee, must to their +untutored minds have seemed a very good substitute for Lee. The +Gypsy word <i>pooro,</i> old, belongs to Hindostan, and is +connected with the Sanscrit <i>pura,</i> which signifies the +same. <i>Purrum</i> is a modification of the Wallachian +<i>pur,</i> a word derived from the Latin <i>porrum,</i> an +onion, and picked up by the Gypsies in Roumania or Wallachia, the +natives of which region speak a highly curious mixture of Latin +and Sclavonian.<br> +<br> +LOVEL. - This is the name or title of an old and powerful English +family. The meaning of it is Leo's town, Lowe's town, or Louis' +town. The Gypsies, who adopted it, seem to have imagined that it +had something to do with love, for they translated it by +<i>Camlo</i> or <i>Caumlo,</i> that which is lovely or amiable, +and also by <i>Camomescro,</i> a lover, an amorous person, +sometimes used for 'friend.' <i>Camlo</i> is connected with the +Sanscrit <i>Cama,</i> which signifies love, and is the +appellation of the Hindoo god of love. A name of the same root +as the one borne by that divinity was not altogether inapplicable +to the Gypsy tribe who adopted it: <i>Cama,</i> if all tales be +true, was black, black though comely, a <i>Beltenebros,</i> and +the Lovel tribe is decidedly the most comely and at the same time +the darkest of all the Anglo-Egyptian families. The faces of +many of them, male and female, are perfect specimens of black +beauty. They are generally called by the race the <i>Kaulo +Camloes,</i> the Black Comelies. And here, though at the risk of +being thought digressive, the writer cannot forbear saying that +the darkest and at one time the comeliest of all the +<i>Caumlies,</i> a celebrated fortune-teller, and an old friend +of his, lately expired in a certain old town, after attaining an +age which was something wonderful. She had twenty-one brothers +and sisters, and was the eldest of the family, on which account +she was called "Rawnie P., pooroest of bis ta dui," Lady P. - she +had married out of the family - eldest of twenty-two.<br> +<br> +MARSHALL. - The name Marshall has either to do with marshal, the +title of a high military personage, or marches, the borders of +contiguous countries. In the early Norman period it was the name +of an Earl of Pembroke. The Gypsies who adopted the name seem in +translating it to have been of opinion that it was connected with +marshes, for they rendered it by <i>mokkado tan engre,</i> +fellows of the wet or miry place, an appellation which at one +time certainly became them well, for they are a northern tribe +belonging to the Border, a country not very long ago full of +mosses and miry places. Though calling themselves English, they +are in reality quite as much Scotch as English, and as often to +be found in Scotland as the other country, especially in +Dumfriesshire and Galloway, in which latter region, in Saint +Cuthbert's churchyard, lies buried 'the old man' of the race, - +Marshall, who died at the age of 107. They sometimes call +themselves <i>Bungyoror</i> and <i>Chikkeneymengre,</i> +cork-fellows and china people, which names have reference to the +occupations severally followed by the males and females, the +former being cutters of bungs and corks, and the latter menders +of china.<br> +<br> +STANLEY. - This is the name or title of an ancient English family +celebrated in history. It is probably descriptive of their +original place of residence, for it signifies the stony lea, +which is also the meaning of the Gaelic <i>Auchinlech,</i> the +place of abode of the Scottish Boswells. It was adopted by an +English Gypsy tribe, at one time very numerous, but at present +much diminished. Of this name there are two renderings into +Romany; one is <i>Baryor</i> or <i>Baremescre,</i> stone-folks or +stonemasons, the other is <i>Beshaley.</i> The first requires no +comment, but the second is well worthy of analysis, as it is an +example of the strange blunders which the Gypsies sometimes make +in their attempts at translation. When they rendered Stanley by +<i>Beshaley</i> or <i>Beshley,</i> they mistook the first +syllable <i>stan</i> for 'stand,' but for a very good reason +rendered it by <i>besh,</i> which signifies 'to sit, and the +second for a word in their own language, for <i>ley</i> or +<i>aley</i> in Gypsy signifies 'down,' so they rendered Stanley +by <i>Beshley</i> or <i>Beshaley,</i> which signifies 'sit +down.' Here, of course, it will be asked what reason could have +induced them, if they mistook <i>stan</i> for 'stand,' not to +have rendered it by the Gypsy word for 'stand'? The reason was a +very cogent one, the want of a word in the Gypsy language to +express 'stand'; but they had heard in courts of justice +witnesses told to stand down, so they supposed that to stand down +was much the same as to sit down, whence their odd rendering of +Stanley. In no dialect of the Gypsy, from the Indus to the +Severn, is there any word for 'stand,' though in every one there +is a word for 'sit,' and that is <i>besh,</i> and in every Gypsy +encampment all along the vast distance, <i>Beshley</i> or +<i>Beshaley</i> would be considered an invitation to sit +down.<br> +<br> +So much for the double-name system in use among the Gypsies of +England. There is something in connection with the Gypsies of +Spain which strangely coincides with one part of it - the +translation of names. Among the relics of the language of the +Gitanos or Spanish Gypsies are words, some simple and some +compound, which are evidently attempts to translate names in a +manner corresponding to the plan employed by the English Romany. +In illustration of the matter, the writer will give an analysis +of <i>Brono Aljenicato</i>, the rendering into Gitano of the name +of one frequently mentioned in the New Testament, and once in the +Apostles' Creed, the highly respectable, but much traduced +individual known to the English public as Pontius Pilate, to the +Spanish as Poncio Pilato. The manner in which the rendering has +been accomplished is as follows: <i>Poncio</i> bears some +resemblance to the Spanish <i>puente,</i> which signifies a +bridge, and is a modification of the Latin <i>pons,</i> and +<i>Pilato</i> to the Spanish <i>pila,</i> a fountain, or rather a +stone pillar, from the top of which the waters of a fountain +springing eventually fall into a stone basin below, the two words +- the <i>Brono Aljenicato</i> - signifying bridge-fountain, or +that which is connected with such a thing. Now this is the +identical, or all but the identical, way in which the names Lee, +Lovel, and Stanley have been done into English Romany. A +remarkable instance is afforded in this Gitano Scripture name, +this <i>Brono Aljenicato,</i> of the heterogeneous materials of +which Gypsy dialects are composed: <i>Brono</i> is a modification +of a Hindoo or Sanscrit, <i>Aljenicato</i> of an Arabic root. +<i>Brono</i> is connected with the Sanscrit <i>pindala,</i> which +signifies a bridge, and <i>Aljenicato</i> is a modification of +the Gypsy <i>aljenique,</i> derived from the Arabic <i>alain,</i> +which signifies the fountain. But of whatever materials +composed, a fine-sounding name is this same <i>Brono +Aljenicato,</i> perhaps the finest sounding specimen of Spanish +Gypsy extant, much finer than a translation of Pontius Pilate +would be, provided the name served to express the same things, in +English, which <i>Poncio Pilato</i> serves to express in Spanish, +for then it would be <i>Pudjico Pani</i> or Bridgewater; for +though in English Gypsy there is the word for a bridge, namely +<i>pudge,</i> a modification of the Persian <i>pul,</i> or the +Wallachian <i>podul,</i> there is none for a fountain, which can +be only vaguely paraphrased by <i>pani,</i> water.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +FORTUNE-TELLING<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +Gypsy women, as long as we have known anything of Gypsy history, +have been arrant fortune-tellers. They plied fortune-telling +about France and Germany as early as 1414, the year when the +dusky bands were first observed in Europe, and they have never +relinquished the practice. There are two words for +fortune-telling in Gypsy, <i>bocht</i> and <i>dukkering. +Bocht</i> is a Persian word, a modification of, or connected +with, the Sanscrit <i>bagya,</i> which signifies 'fate.' +<i>Dukkering</i> is the modification of a Wallaco-Sclavonian word +signifying something spiritual or ghostly. In Eastern European +Gypsy, the Holy Ghost is called <i>Swentuno Ducos.</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br> +Gypsy fortune-telling is much the same everywhere, much the same +in Russia as it is in Spain and in England. Everywhere there are +three styles - the lofty, the familiar, and the homely; and every +Gypsy woman is mistress of all three and uses each according to +the rank of the person whose <i>vast</i> she <i>dukkers,</i> +whose hand she reads, and adapts the luck she promises. There is +a ballad of some antiquity in the Spanish language about the +<i>Buena Ventura,</i> a few stanzas of which translated will +convey a tolerable idea of the first of these styles to the +reader, who will probably with no great reluctance dispense with +any illustrations of the other two:-<br> +<br> +<br> +Late rather one morning<br> +In summer's sweet tide,<br> +Goes forth to the Prado<br> +Jacinta the bride:<br> +<br> +There meets her a Gypsy<br> +So fluent of talk,<br> +And jauntily dressed,<br> +On the principal walk.<br> +<br> +"O welcome, thrice welcome,<br> +Of beauty thou flower!<br> +Believe me, believe me,<br> +Thou com'st in good hour."<br> +<br> +Surprised was Jacinta;<br> +She fain would have fled;<br> +But the Gypsy to cheer her<br> +Such honeyed words said:<br> +<br> +"O cheek like the rose-leaf!<br> +O lady high-born!<br> +Turn thine eyes on thy servant,<br> +But ah, not in scorn.<br> +<br> +"O pride of the Prado!<br> +O joy of our clime!<br> +Thou twice shalt be married,<br> +And happily each time.<br> +<br> +"Of two noble sons<br> +Thou shalt be the glad mother,<br> +One a Lord Judge,<br> +A Field-Marshal the other."<br> +<br> +<br> +Gypsy females have told fortunes to higher people than the young +Countess Jacinta: <i>Modor</i> - of the Gypsy quire of Moscow - +told the fortune of Ekatarina, Empress of all the Russias. The +writer does not know what the Ziganka told that exalted +personage, but it appears that she gave perfect satisfaction to +the Empress, who not only presented her with a diamond ring - a +Russian diamond ring is not generally of much value - but also +her hand to kiss. The writer's old friend, Pepíta, the +Gitana of Madrid, told the <i>bahi</i> of Christina, the +Regentess of Spain, in which she assured her that she would marry +the son of the King of France, and received from the fair Italian +a golden ounce, the most magnificent of coins, a guerdon which +she richly merited, for she nearly hit the mark, for though +Christina did not marry the son of the King of France, her second +daughter was married to a son of the King of France, the Duke of +M-, one of the three claimants of the crown of Spain, and the +best of the lot; and Britannia, the Caumli, told the good luck to +the Regent George on Newmarket Heath, and received 'foive +guineas' and a hearty smack from him who eventually became George +the Fourth - no bad fellow by the by, either as regent or king, +though as much abused as Pontius Pilate, whom he much resembled +in one point, unwillingness to take life - the +<i>sonkaypè</i> or gold-gift being, no doubt, more +acceptable than the <i>choomapé</i> or kiss-gift to the +Beltenebrosa, who, if a certain song be true, had no respect for +<i>gorgios,</i> however much she liked their money:-<br> +<br> +<br> +Britannia is my nav;<br> +I am a Kaulo Camlo;<br> +The gorgios pen I be<br> +A bori chovahaunie;<br> +And tatchipen they pens,<br> +The dinneleskie gorgies,<br> +For mande chovahans<br> +The luvvu from their putsies.<br> +<br> +Britannia is my name;<br> +I am a swarthy Lovel;<br> +The Gorgios say I be<br> +A witch of wondrous power;<br> +And faith they speak the truth,<br> +The silly, foolish fellows,<br> +For often I bewitch<br> +The money from their pockets.<br> +<br> +<br> +Fortune-telling in all countries where the Gypsies are found is +frequently the prelude to a kind of trick called in all Gypsy +dialects by something more or less resembling the Sanscrit +<i>kuhana;</i> for instance, it is called in Spain <i>jojana, +hokano,</i> and in English <i>hukni.</i> It is practised in +various ways, all very similar; the defrauding of some simple +person of money or property being the object in view. Females +are generally the victims of the trick, especially those of the +middle class, who are more accessible to <i>the poor woman</i> +than those of the upper. One of the ways, perhaps the most +artful, will be found described in another chapter.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +THE HUKNI<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +The Gypsy makes some poor simpleton of a lady believe that if the +latter puts her gold into her hands, and she makes it up into a +parcel, and puts it between the lady's feather-bed and mattress, +it will at the end of a month be multiplied a hundredfold, +provided the lady does not look at it during all that time. On +receiving the money she makes it up into a brown paper parcel, +which she seals with wax, turns herself repeatedly round, +squints, and spits, and then puts between the feather-bed and +mattress - not the parcel of gold, but one exactly like it, which +she has prepared beforehand, containing old halfpence, farthings, +and the like; then, after cautioning the lady by no means to undo +the parcel before the stated time, she takes her departure +singing to herself:-<br> +<br> +<br> +O dear me! O dear me!<br> +What dinnelies these gorgies be.<br> +<br> +<br> +The above artifice is called by the English Gypsies the +<i>hukni,</i> and by the Spanish <i>hokhano baro,</i> or the +great lie. <i>Hukni</i> and <i>hokano</i> were originally one +and the same word; the root seems to be the Sanscrit +<i>huhanã,</i> lie, trick, deceit.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +CAURING<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +The Gypsy has some queer, old-fashioned gold piece; this she +takes to some goldsmith's shop, at the window of which she has +observed a basin full of old gold coins, and shows it to the +goldsmith, asking him if he will purchase it. He looks at it +attentively, and sees that it is of very pure gold; whereupon he +says that he has no particular objection to buy it; but that as +it is very old it is not of much value, and that he has several +like it. "Have you indeed, Master?" says the Gypsy; "then pray +show them to me, and I will buy them; for, to tell you the truth, +I would rather buy than sell pieces like this, for I have a great +respect for them, and know their value: give me back my coin, and +I will compare any you have with it." The goldsmith gives her +back her coin, takes his basin of gold from the window, and +places it on the counter. The Gypsy puts down her head, and +pries into the basin. "Ah, I see nothing here like my coin," +says she. "Now, Master, to oblige me, take out a handful of the +coins and lay them on the counter; I am a poor, honest woman, +Master, and do not wish to put my hand into your basin. Oh! if I +could find one coin like my own, I would give much money for it; +<i>barributer</i> than it is worth." The goldsmith, to oblige +the poor, simple, foreign creature (for such he believes her to +be), and, with a considerable hope of profit, takes a handful of +coins from the basin and puts them upon the counter. "I fear +there is none here like mine, Master," says the Gypsy, moving the +coins rapidly with the tips of her fingers. "No, no, there is +not one here like mine - <i>kek yeck, kek yeck -</i> notone, not +one. Stay, stay! What's this, what's this? <i>So se cavo, so +se cavo</i>? Oh, here is one like mine; or if not quite like, +like enough to suit me. Now, Master, what will you take for this +coin?" The goldsmith looks at it, and names a price considerably +above the value; whereupon she says: "Now, Master, I will deal +fairly with you: you have not asked me the full value of the coin +by three three-groats, three-groats, three-groats; by <i>trin +tringurushis, tringurushis, tringurushis.</i> So here's the +money you asked, Master, and three three-groats, three shillings, +besides. God bless you, Master! You would have cheated +yourself, but the poor woman would not let you; for though she is +poor she is honest": and thus she takes her leave, leaving the +goldsmith very well satisfied with his customer - with little +reason, however, for out of about twenty coins which he laid on +the counter she had filched at least three, which her brown +nimble fingers, though they seemingly scarcely touched the gold, +contrived to convey up her sleeves. This kind of pilfering is +called by the English Gypsies <i>cauring,</i> and by the Spanish +<i>ustilar pastesas,</i> or stealing with the fingers. The word +<i>caur</i> seems to be connected with the English <i>cower,</i> +and the Hebrew <i>kãra,</i> a word of frequent occurrence +in the historical part of the Old Testament, and signifying to +bend, stoop down, <i>incurvare.</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br> +<br> +<br> +METROPOLITAN GYPSYRIES - WANDSWORTH, 1864<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +What may be called the grand Metropolitan Gypsyry is on the +Surrey side of the Thames. Near the borders of Wandsworth and +Battersea, about a quarter of a mile from the river, is an open +piece of ground which may measure about two acres. To the south +is a hill, at the foot of which is a railway, and it is skirted +on the north by the Wandsworth and Battersea Road. This place is +what the Gypsies call a <i>kekkeno mushes puv,</i> a no man's +ground; a place which has either no proprietor, or which the +proprietor, for some reason, makes no use of for the present. +The houses in the neighbourhood are mean and squalid, and are +principally inhabited by artisans of the lowest description. +This spot, during a considerable portion of the year, is the +principal place of residence of the Metropolitan Gypsies, and of +other people whose manner of life more or less resembles theirs. +During the summer and autumn the little plain, for such it is, is +quite deserted, except that now and then a wretched tent or two +may be seen upon it, belonging to some tinker family, who have +put up there for a few hours on their way through the metropolis; +for the Gypsies are absent during summer, some at fairs and +races, the men with their cocoa-nuts and the women busy at +fortune-telling, or at suburban places of pleasure - the former +with their donkeys for the young cockneys to ride upon, and the +latter as usual <i>dukkering</i> and <i>hokkering,</i> and the +other travellers, as they are called, roaming about the country +following their particular avocations, whilst in the autumn the +greater part of them all are away in Kent, getting money by +picking hops. As soon, however, as the rains, the precursors of +winter, descend, the place begins to be occupied, and about a +week or two before Christmas it is almost crammed with the tents +and caravans of the wanderers; and then it is a place well worthy +to be explored, notwithstanding the inconvenience of being up to +one's ankles in mud, and the rather appalling risk of being +bitten by the Gypsy and travelling dogs tied to the tents and +caravans, in whose teeth there is always venom and sometimes that +which can bring on the water-horror, for which no European knows +a remedy. The following is an attempt to describe the odd people +and things to be met with here; the true Gypsies, and what to +them pertaineth, being of course noticed first.<br> +<br> +On this plain there may be some fifteen or twenty Gypsy tents and +caravans. Some of the tents are large, as indeed it is highly +necessary that they should be, being inhabited by large families +- a man and his wife, a grandmother a sister or two and half a +dozen children, being, occasionally found in one; some of them +are very small, belonging to poor old females who have lost their +husbands, and whose families have separated themselves from them, +and allow them to shift for themselves. During the day the men +are generally busy at their several avocations, <i>chinning the +cost,</i> that is, cutting the stick for skewers, making pegs for +linen-lines, <i>kipsimengring</i> or basket-making, tinkering or +braziering; the children are playing about, or begging halfpence +by the road of passengers; whilst the women are strolling about, +either in London or the neighbourhood, engaged in fortune-telling +or swindling. Of the trades of the men, the one by far the most +practised is <i>chinning the cost,</i> and as they sit at the +door of the tents, cutting and whittling away, they occasionally +sweeten their toil by raising their voices and singing the Gypsy +stanza in which the art is mentioned, and which for terseness and +expressiveness is quite equal to anything in the whole circle of +Gentile poetry:<br> +<br> +<br> +Can you rokra Romany?<br> +Can you play the bosh?<br> +Can you jal adrey the staripen?<br> +Can you chin the cost?<br> +<br> +Can you speak the Roman tongue?<br> +Can you play the fiddle?<br> +Can you eat the prison-loaf?<br> +Can you cut and whittle?<br> +<br> +<br> +These Gypsies are of various tribes, but chiefly Purruns, +Chumomescroes and Vardomescroes, or Lees, Boswells and Coopers, +and Lees being by far the most numerous. The men are well made, +active fellows, somewhat below the middle height. Their +complexions are dark, and their eyes are full of intelligence; +their habiliments are rather ragged. The women are mostly +wild-looking creatures, some poorly clad, others exhibiting not a +little strange finery. There are some truly singular beings +amongst those women, which is more than can be said with respect +to the men, who are much on a level, and amongst whom there is +none whom it is possible to bring prominently out, and about whom +much can be said. The women, as has been already observed, are +generally out during the day, being engaged in their avocations +abroad. There is a very small tent about the middle of the +place; it belongs to a lone female, whom one frequently meets +wandering about Wandsworth or Battersea, seeking an opportunity +to <i>dukker</i> some credulous servant-girl. It is hard that +she should have to do so, as she is more than seventy-five years +of age, but if she did not she would probably starve. She is +very short of statue, being little more than five feet and an +inch high, but she is wonderfully strongly built. Her head is +very large, and seems to have been placed at once upon her +shoulders without any interposition of neck. Her face is broad, +with a good-humoured expression upon it, and in general with very +little vivacity; at times, however, it lights up, and then all +the Gypsy beams forth. Old as she is, her hair, which is very +long, is as black as the plumage of a crow, and she walks +sturdily, though with not much elasticity, on her short, thick +legs, and, if requested, would take up the heaviest man in +Wandsworth or Battersea and walk away with him. She is, upon the +whole, the oddest Gypsy woman ever seen; see her once and you +will never forget her. Who is she? you ask. Who is she? Why, +Mrs. Cooper, the wife of Jack Cooper, the fighting Gypsy, once +the terror of all the Light Weights of the English Ring; who +knocked West Country Dick to pieces, and killed Paddy O'Leary, +the fighting pot-boy, Jack Randall's pet. Ah, it would have been +well for Jack if he had always stuck to his true, lawful Romany +wife, whom at one time he was very fond of, and whom he used to +dress in silks and satins, and best scarlet cloth, purchased with +the money gained in his fair, gallant battles in the Ring! But +he did not stick to her, deserting her for a painted Jezebel, to +support whom he sold his battles, by doing which he lost his +friends and backers; then took from his poor wife all he had +given her, and even plundered her of her own property, down to +the very blankets which she lay upon; and who finally was so +infatuated with love for his paramour that he bore the blame of a +crime which she had committed, and in which he had no share, +suffering ignominy and transportation in order to save her. +Better had he never deserted his <i>tatchie romadie,</i> his own +true Charlotte, who, when all deserted him, the painted Jezebel +being the first to do so, stood by him, supporting him with money +in prison, and feeing counsel on his trial from the scanty +proceeds of her <i>dukkering.</i> All that happened many years +ago; Jack's term of transportation, a lengthy one, has long, long +been expired, but he has not come back, though every year since +the expiration of his servitude he has written her a letter, or +caused one to be written to her, to say that he is coming, that +he is coming; so that she is always expecting him, and is at all +times willing, as she says, to re-invest him with all the +privileges of a husband, and to beg and <i>dukker</i> to support +him if necessary. A true wife she has been to him, a <i>tatchie +romadie,</i> and has never taken up with any man since he left +her, though many have been the tempting offers that she has had, +connubial offers, notwithstanding the oddity of her appearance. +Only one wish she has now in this world, the wish that he may +return; but her wish, it is to be feared, is a vain one, for Jack +lingers and lingers in the <i>Sonnakye Tem,</i> golden Australia, +teaching, it is said, the young Australians to box, tempted by +certain shining nuggets, the produce of the golden region. It is +pleasant, though there is something mournful in it, to visit Mrs. +Cooper after nightfall, to sit with her in her little tent after +she has taken her cup of tea, and is warming her tired limbs at +her little coke fire, and hear her talk of old times and things: +how Jack courted her 'neath the trees of Loughton Forest, and +how, when tired of courting, they would get up and box, and how +he occasionally gave her a black eye, and how she invariably +flung him at a close; and how they were lawfully married at +church, and what a nice man the clergyman was, and what funny +things he said both before and after he had united them; how +stoutly West Country Dick contended against Jack, though always +losing; how in Jack's battle with Paddy O'Leary the Irishman's +head in the last round was truly frightful, not a feature being +distinguishable, and one of his ears hanging down by a bit of +skin; how Jack vanquished Hardy Scroggins, whom Jack Randall +himself never dared fight. Then, again, her anecdotes of Alec +Reed, cool, swift-hitting Alec, who was always smiling, and whose +father was a Scotchman, his mother an Irishwoman, and who was +born in Guernsey; and of Oliver, old Tom Oliver, who seconded +Jack in all his winning battles, and after whom he named his son, +his only child, Oliver, begotten of her in lawful wedlock, a good +and affectionate son enough, but unable to assist her, on account +of his numerous family. Farewell, Mrs. Cooper, true old +Charlotte! here's a little bit of silver for you, and a little +bit of a <i>gillie</i> to sing:<br> +<br> +<br> +Charlotta is my nav,<br> +I am a puro Purrun;<br> +My romado was Jack,<br> +The couring Vardomescro.<br> +He muk'd me for a lubbeny,<br> +Who chor'd a rawnie's kissi;<br> +He penn'd 'twas he who lell'd it,<br> +And so was bitched pawdel.<br> +<br> +Old Charlotte I am called,<br> +Of Lee I am a daughter;<br> +I married Fighting Jack,<br> +The famous Gypsy Cooper.<br> +He left me for a harlot,<br> +Who pick'd a lady's pocket;<br> +He bore the blame to save her,<br> +And so was sent to Bot'ny.<br> +<br> +<br> +Just within the bounds of the plain, and close by the road, may +occasionally be seen a small caravan of rather a neat +appearance. It comes and goes suddenly, and is seldom seen there +for more than three days at a time. It belongs to a Gypsy female +who, like Mrs. Cooper, is a remarkable person, but is widely +different from Mrs. Cooper in many respects. Mrs. Cooper +certainly does not represent the <i>beau ideal</i> of a Gypsy +female, this does - a dark, mysterious, beautiful, terrible +creature! She is considerably above the middle height, +powerfully but gracefully made, and about thirty-seven years of +age. Her face is oval, and of a dark olive. The nose is +Grecian, the cheek-bones rather high; the eyes somewhat sunk, but +of a lustrous black; the mouth small, and the teeth exactly like +ivory. Upon the whole the face is exceedingly beautiful, but the +expression is evil - evil to a degree. Who she is no one exactly +knows, nor what is her name, nor whether she is single woman, +wife, or widow. Some say she is a foreign Gypsy, others from +Scotland, but she is neither - her accent is genuine English. +What strikes one as most singular is the power she possesses of +appearing in various characters - all Romany ones it is true, but +so different as seemingly to require three distinct females of +the race to represent them: sometimes she is the staid, quiet, +respectable Gypsy; sometimes the forward and impudent; at others +the awful and sublime. Occasionally you may see her walking the +streets dressed in a black silk gown, with a black silk bonnet on +her head; over her left arm is flung a small carpet, a sample of +the merchandise which is in her caravan, which is close at hand, +driven by a brown boy; her address to her customers is highly +polite; the tones of her voice are musical, though somewhat +deep. At Fairlop, on the first Friday of July, in the evening, +she may be found near the Bald-faced Hind, dressed in a red cloak +and a large beaver; her appearance is bold and reckless - she is +<i>dukkering</i> low tradesmen and servant girls behind the trees +at sixpence a head, or is bandying with the voice of a raven +slang and obscenity with country boors, or with the blackguard +butcher-boys who throng in from Whitechapel and Shoreditch to the +Gypsy Fair. At Goodwood, a few weeks after, you may see her in a +beautiful half-riding dress, her hair fantastically plaited and +adorned with pearls, standing beside the carriage of a Countess, +telling the fortune of her ladyship with the voice and look of a +pythoness. She is a thing of incongruities; an incomprehensible +being! nobody can make her out; the writer himself has tried to +make her out but could not, though he has spoken to her in his +deepest Romany. It is true there is a certain old Gypsy, a +friend of his, who thinks he has made her out. "Brother," said +he one day, "why you should be always going after that woman I +can't conceive, unless indeed you have lost your wits. If you go +after her for her Romany you will find yourself in the wrong box: +she may have a crumb or two of Romany, but for every crumb that +she has I am quite sure you have a quartern loaf. Then as for +her beauty, of which it is true she has plenty, and for which +half a dozen Gorgios that I knows of are running mad, it's of no +use going after her for that, for her beauty she keeps for her +own use and that of her master the Devil; not but that she will +sell it - she's sold it a dozen times to my certain knowledge - +but what's the use of buying a thing, when the fool who buys it +never gets it, never has the 'joyment of it, brother? She is +<i>kek tatcho,</i> and that's what I like least in her; there's +no trusting her, neither Gorgio nor Romano can trust her: she +sells her <i>truppos</i> to a Rye-gorgio for five <i>bars,</i> +and when she has got them, and the Gorgio, as he has a right to +do, begins to <i>kelna lasa</i>, she laughs and asks him if he +knows whom he has to deal with; then if he <i>lels bonnek of +lati</i>, as he is quite justified in doing, she whips out a +<i>churi</i>, and swears if he doesn't leave off she will stick +it in his <i>gorlo</i>. Oh! she's an evil mare, a <i>wafodu</i> +<i>grasni</i>, though a handsome one, and I never looks at her, +brother, without saying to myself the old words:<br> +<br> +<br> +"Rinkeno mui and wafodu zee<br> +Kitzi's the cheeros we dicks cattanē."<br> +A beautiful face and a black wicked mind<br> +Often, full often together we find.<br> +<br> +<br> +Some more particular account than what has been already given of +the habitations of these Wandsworth Gypsies, and likewise of +their way of life, will perhaps not be unacceptable here.<br> +<br> +To begin with the tents. They are oblong in shape and of very +simple construction, whether small or great. Sticks or rods, +called in the Gypsy language <i>ranior</i>, between four and five +feet in length, and <i>croming</i> or bending towards the top, +are stuck in the ground at about twenty inches from each other, a +rod or two being omitted in that part where the entrance is +intended to be. The <i>cromes</i> or bends serve as supporters +of a roof, and those of the side rods which stand over against +one another are generally tied together by strings. These rods +are covered over with coarse brown cloths, pinned or skewered +together; those at the bottom being fastened to the ground by +pegs. Around the tent is generally a slight embankment, about +two or three inches high, or a little trench about the same +depth, to prevent water from running into the tent in time of +rain. Such is the tent, which would be exactly like the Indian +wigwam but for the cloth which forms the covering: the Indians in +lieu of cloth using bark, which they carry about with them in all +their migrations, though they leave the sticks standing in the +ground.<br> +<br> +The furniture is scanty. Like the Arabs, the Gypsies have +neither chairs nor tables, but sit cross-legged, a posture which +is perfectly easy to them, though insufferable to a Gorgio, +unless he happens to be a tailor. When they eat, the ground +serves them for a board, though they occasionally spread a cloth +upon it. Singularly enough, though they have neither chairs nor +tables, they have words for both. Of pots, pans, plates, and +trenchers, they have a tolerable quantity. Each grown-up person +has a <i>churi,</i> or knife, with which to cut food. +Eating-forks they have none, and for an eating-fork they have no +word, the term <i>pasengri</i> signifying a straw- or +pitch-fork. Spoons are used by them generally of horn, and are +called <i>royis.</i> They have but two culinary articles, the +<i>kekkauvi</i> and <i>pirry,</i> kettle and boiler, which are +generally of copper, to which, however, may perhaps be added the +<i>kekkauviskey saster,</i> or kettle-iron, by which the kettle +and boiler are hung over the fire. As a fireplace they have a +large iron pan on three legs, with holes or eyes in the sides, in +order that the heat of the fire may be cast around. Instead of +coals they use coke, which emits no flame and little smoke, and +casts a considerable heat. Every tent has a pail or two, and +perhaps a small cask or barrel, the proper name for which is +<i>bedra,</i> though it is generally called +<i>pāni-mengri,</i> or thing for water. At the farther end +of the tent is a mattress, with a green cloth, or perhaps a sheet +spread upon it, forming a kind of couch, on which visitors are +generally asked to sit down:<i>- Av adrey, Romany Rye, av adrey +ta besh aley pawdle odoy</i>! Come in, Gypsy gentleman (said a +polite Gypsy one day to the writer); come in and sit down over +yonder! They have a box or two in which they stow away their +breakable articles and whatever things they set any particular +value upon. Some of them have small feather-beds, and they are +generally tolerably well provided with blankets.<br> +<br> +The caravans are not numerous, and have only been used of late +years by any of the English Gypsy race. The caravan called by +the Gypsies <i>keir vardo,</i> or waggon-house, is on four +wheels, and is drawn by a horse or perhaps a couple of donkeys. +It is about twelve feet long by six broad and six high. At the +farther end are a couple of transverse berths, one above the +other, like those in the cabin of a ship; and a little way from +these is a curtain hanging by rings from an iron rod running +across, which, when drawn, forms a partition. On either side is +a small glazed window. The most remarkable object is a stove +just inside the door, on the left hand, with a metal chimney +which goes through the roof. This stove, the Gypsy term for +which is <i>bo,</i> casts, when lighted, a great heat, and in +some cases is made in a very handsome fashion. Some caravans +have mirrors against the sides, and exhibit other indications of +an aiming at luxury, though in general they are dirty, squalid +places, quite as much as or perhaps more than the tents, which +seem to be the proper and congenial homes of the Gypsies.<br> +<br> +The mode of life of these people may be briefly described. They +have two regular meals - breakfast and supper. The breakfast +consists of tea, generally of the best quality, bread, butter, +and cheese; the supper, of tea and a stew. In spring time they +occasionally make a kind of tea or soup of the tender leaves of a +certain description of nettle. This preparation, which they call +<i>dandrimengreskie zimmen,</i> or the broth of the +stinging-thing, is highly relished by them. They get up early, +and go to bed betimes. After breakfast the men sit down to +<i>chin the cost,</i> to mend chairs or make baskets; the women +go forth to <i>hok</i> and <i>dukker,</i> and the children to +beg, or to go with the donkeys to lanes and commons to watch +them, whilst they try to fill their poor bellies with grass and +thistles. These children sometimes bring home +<i>hotchiwitches,</i> or hedgehogs, the flesh of which is very +sweet and tender, and which their mothers are adepts at +cooking.<br> +<br> +The Gypsies, as has been already observed, are not the sole +occupiers of Wandsworth grounds. Strange, wild guests are to be +found there, who, without being Gypsies, have much of Gypsyism in +their habits, and who far exceed the Gypsies in number. To pass +them by without notice would be unpardonable. They may be +divided into three classes: Chorodies, Kora-mengre, and +Hindity-mengre. Something about each:-<br> +<br> +The Chorodies are the legitimate descendants of the rogues and +outcasts who roamed about England long before its soil was +trodden by a Gypsy foot. They are a truly detestable set of +beings; both men and women being ferocious in their appearance, +and in their conversation horrible and disgusting. They have +coarse, vulgar features, and hair which puts one wonderfully in +mind of refuse flax, or the material of which mops are composed. +Their complexions, when not obscured with grime, are rather fair +than dark, evidencing that their origin is low, swinish Saxon, +and not gentle Romany. Their language is the frowsiest English, +interlarded with cant expressions and a few words of bastard +Romany. They live in the vilest tents, with the exception of two +or three families, who have their abode in broken and filthy +caravans. They have none of the comforts and elegancies of the +Gypsies. They are utterly destitute of civility and good +manners, and are generally squalid in their dress, though the +women sometimes exhibit not a little dirty tawdriness. The +trades of the men are tinkering and basket-making, and some few +"peel the stick." The women go about with the articles made by +their husbands, or rather partners, and sometimes do a little in +the fortune-telling line - pretty prophetesses! The fellows will +occasionally knock a man down in the dark, and rob him; the women +will steal anything they can conveniently lay their hands on. +Singular as it may seem to those not deeply acquainted with human +nature, these wretches are not without a kind of pride. "We are +no Gypsies - not we! no, nor Irish either. We are English, and +decent folks - none of your rubbish!" The Gypsies hold them, and +with reason, in supreme contempt, and it is from them that they +got their name of Chorodies, not a little applicable to them. +<i>Choredo,</i> in Gypsy, signifies a poor, miserable person, and +differs very little in sound from two words, one Sanscrit and the +other Hebrew, both signifying, like the Gypsy term, something +low, mean, and contemptible.<br> +<br> +Kora-mengre are the lowest of those hawkers who go about the +country villages and the streets of London, with caravans hung +about with various common articles, such as mats, brooms, mops, +tin pans and kettles. These low hawkers seem to be of much the +same origin as the Chorodies, and are almost equally brutal and +repulsive in their manners. The name Kora-mengre is Gypsy, and +signifies fellows who cry out and shout, from their practice of +shouting out the names of their goods. The word <i>kora</i>, or +<i>karra</i>, is by no means bad Hebrew: <i>kora</i>, in the Holy +Language, signifies he cried out, called, or proclaimed: and a +partridge is called in Hebrew <i>kora</i>, from its continually +crying out to its young, when leading them about to feed. +<i>Koran</i>, the name of the sacred book of the Mahomedans, is +of the same root.<br> +<br> +Lastly come the Hindity-mengre, or Filthy People. This term has +been bestowed upon the vagrant Irish by the Gypsies, from the +dirty ways attributed to them, though it is a question whether +the lowest Irish are a bit more dirty in their ways than the +English Chorodies, or indeed so much, and are certainly +immeasurably superior to them in many respects. There are not +many of them here, seldom more than two families, and sometimes, +even during the winter, not a single Irish tent or cart is to be +seen. The trade they ostensibly drive is tinkering, repairing +old kettles, and making little pots and pans of tin. The one, +however, on which they principally depend, is not tinkering, but +one far more lucrative, and requiring more cleverness and +dexterity; they make false rings, like the Gypsy smiths, the +<i>fashiono vangustengre</i> of old, and whilst speaking Celtic +to one whom they deem their countryman, have no hesitation in +acknowledging themselves to be "Cairdean droich oir," workers of +false gold. The rings are principally made out of old brass +buttons; those worn by old Chelsea pensioners being considered +the very best for the purpose. Many an ancient Corporal Trim, +alter having spent all his money at the public-house, and only +become three-parts boozy, has been induced by the Hindity-mengro +to sell all his buttons at the rate of three-halfpence a-piece, +in order to have wherewithal to make himself thoroughly royal. +Each of these Hindity-mengre has his blow-pipe, and some of them +can execute their work in a style little inferior to that of a +first-rate working goldsmith. The rings, after being made, are +rubbed with a certain stuff out of a phial, which gives them all +the appearance of gold. This appearance, however, does not long +endure, for after having been worn two or three months, the ring +loses its false appearance entirely, and any one can see that it +is worthless metal. A good many of these rings are disposed of +at good prices by the Hindity women, the wives of these +false-gold workers, to servant girls and the wives of small +shopkeepers, and not a few, at a lower rate, to certain gentry +who get their livelihood by the honourable profession of +<i>ring-dropping.</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br> +What is ring-dropping?<br> +<br> +Ring-dropping is this. A gentleman overtakes you as you are +walking in some quiet street, passes by you, and at the distance +of some fifteen yards stops, and stooping down, seemingly picks +up something, which he inspects, and then uttering a "Dear me!" +he turns to you, and says, "Sir, we have been fortunate to-day. +See! I have picked up this valuable!" He then shows you a small +case, in which is a large ring, seemingly of the finest gold, +with a little label attached to it, on which is marked £2 +15s. "Now, sir," he continues, "I said <i>we</i> were fortunate, +because as we were close to each other, I consider you as much +entitled to gain by this windfall as myself. I'll tell you how +it shall be: the price of the ring, which was probably dropped by +some goldsmith's man, is, as you see, two pound fifteen; however, +as I am in a hurry, you shall only give me a quid, a pound, and +then the valuable shall be all your own; it shall indeed, sir!" +And then he stares you in the face. Such is ring-dropping, to +which many silly but greedy individuals, fall victims; giving a +pound for a fine-looking ring, which, however, with its scarlet +case - for the case is always of a scarlet colour - is not worth +sixpence. The best thing you can do in such a case is to put +your thumb to your nose, flattening your hand and sticking out +your fingers far apart, moving on at the same time, or to utter +the cabalistic word "hookey"; in either case the ring-dropper +will at once drop astern, with a half-stifled curse, for he knows +that he has to do with "no flat," and that you are "awake to his +little game." Doing so is much better than moving rapidly on, +and affecting to take no notice of him, for then he will +infallibly follow you to the end of the street, offering you the +ring on more reasonable terms at every step, perhaps concluding +at last, as a ring-dropper once did to the writer, "I'll tell you +what, sir; as I am in a hurry, and rather hard up, you shall have +the valuable for a bull, for a crown; you shall indeed, sir, so +help me - "<br> +<br> +Three of the most famous of the Hindity smiths have been +immortalised by the Gypsies in the following bit of verse:<br> +<br> +<br> +Mickie, Huwie and Larry,<br> +Trin Hindity-mengre fashiono vangust-engre.<br> +<br> +Mickie, Huwie and Larry bold,<br> +Three Irish brothers, as I am told,<br> +Who make false rings, that pass for gold.<br> +<br> +<br> +Of these <i>fashiono-vangust</i> brothers, the most remarkable is +Mike - Old Mike, as he is generally called. He was born in the +county Kerry, and educated at a hedge-school, where he learned to +read and write English, after a fashion, and acquired the +seventeen letters of the Irish alphabet, each of which is named +after a particular tree. Leaving school he was apprenticed to a +blacksmith, from whom he ran away, and enlisted into the service +of that illustrious monarch, George the Third, some of whose +battles he had the honour of fighting in the Peninsula and +France. Discharged from the army at the Peace, with the noble +donation of thirty shillings, or one month's pay, he returned to +Ireland, took to himself a wife, and commenced tinker. Becoming +dissatisfied with his native soil he passed over to England, and +settling for some time at "Brummagem," took lessons from certain +cunning smiths in the art of making <i>fashiono vangusties.</i> +The next forty years of his life he spent in wandering about +Britain, attended by his faithful partner, who not only disposed +of his tin articles and false rings, but also bore him seventeen +children, all of whom are alive, somewhere or other, and thriving +too, one of them indeed having attained to the dignity of +American senator. Some of his adventures, during his wanderings, +were in the highest degree extraordinary. Of late years he has +chiefly resided in the vicinity of London, spending his winters +at Wandsworth, and his summers on the Flats, near Epping Forest; +in one or the other of which places you may see Old Mike on a +Sunday evening, provided the weather is tolerably fine, seated +near his little caravan, with his wife by his side - not the wife +who bore him the seventeen children, who has been dead for some +years, but his second wife, a nice, elderly Irish <i>ban</i> from +the county of Cork, who can tell fortunes, say her prayers in +Irish, and is nearly as good a hand at selling her lord and +master's tin articles and false rings as her predecessor. Lucky +for Mike that he got such a second partner! and luckier still +that at his age of seventy-nine he retains all his faculties, and +is able to work for his daily bread, with at least the skill and +cunning of his two brothers, both of whom are much younger men +than himself, whose adventures have been somewhat similar to his +own, and who, singularly enough, have come to live near him in +his latter days. Both these brothers are highly remarkable men. +Huwie is the most civil-spoken person in or about London, and +Larry a man of the most terrible tongue, and perhaps the most +desperate fighter ever seen; always willing to attack half a +dozen men, if necessary, and afraid of no one in the world, save +one - Mike, old Mike, who can tame him in his fiercest moods by +merely holding up his finger. Oh, a truly remarkable man is old +Mike! and a pleasure and an advantage it is to any one of a +philosophical mind to be acquainted with him, and to listen to +him. He is much more than <i>a fashiono-vangust-engro.</i> +Amongst other things he is a theologian - Irish theologian - and +quite competent to fill the chair of theology at the University +of Maynooth. He can tell you a great many things connected with +a certain person, which, with all your research, you would never +find in Scripture. He can tell you how the Saviour, when hanging +on the cross, became athirst, and told St. Peter, who stood at +the foot of it, to fetch Him a cup of water from a dirty puddle +in the neighbourhood, and how St. Peter - however, better not +relate the legend, though a highly curious one. Then he can +repeat to you blessed verses, as he calls them, by dozens; not of +David, but of one quite as good, as he will tell you, namely, +Timothy O'Sullivan; and who, you will say, was Timothy +O'Sullivan? Why, Ty Gaelach, to be sure. And who was Ty +Gaelach? An Irish peasant-poet of the last century, who wrote +spiritual songs, some of them by no means bad ones, and who was +called Gaelach, or Gael, from his abhorrence of the English race +and of the English language, of which he scarcely understood a +word. Then is Ty Irish for Timothy? Why, no! though very +stupidly supposed to be so. Ty is Teague, which is neither Greek +nor Irish, but a glorious old Northern name, carried into Ireland +by the brave old heathen Danes. Ty or Teague is the same as +Tycho. Ty or Teague Gaelach is as much as to say Tycho Gaelach; +and Tycho Brahe is as much as to say Teague Brahe.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +THE POTTERIES, 1864<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +The second great Gypsyry is on the Middlesex side of the river, +and is distant about three miles, as the crow flies, from that of +Wandsworth. Strange as it may seem, it is not far distant from +the most fashionable part of London; from the beautiful squares, +noble streets, and thousand palaces of Tyburnia, a region which, +though only a small part of the enormous metropolis, can show +more beautiful edifices, wealth, elegance, and luxury, than all +foreign capitals put together. After passing Tyburnia, and going +more than halfway down Notting Hill, you turn to the right, and +proceed along a tolerably genteel street till it divides into +two, one of which looks more like a lane than a street, and which +is on the left hand, and bears the name of Pottery Lane. Go +along this lane, and you will presently find yourself amongst a +number of low, uncouth-looking sheds, open at the sides, and +containing an immense quantity of earthen chimney-pots, pantiles, +fancy-bricks, and similar articles. This place is called the +Potteries, and gives the name of Pottery Lane to the lane through +which you have just passed. A dirty little road goes through it, +which you must follow, and presently turning to your left, you +will enter a little, filthy street, and going some way down it, +you will see, on your right hand, a little, open bit of ground, +chock-full of crazy, battered caravans of all colours - some +yellow, some green, some red. Dark men, wild-looking, witch-like +women, and yellow-faced children are at the doors of the +caravans, or wending their way through the narrow spaces left for +transit between the vehicles. You have now arrived at the second +grand Gypsyry of London - you are amongst the Romany Chals of the +Potteries, called in Gypsy the <i>Koromengreskoe Tan,</i> or the +place of the fellows who make pots; in which place certain +Gypsies have settled, not with the view of making pots, an +employment which they utterly eschew, but simply because it is +convenient to them, and suits their fancy.<br> +<br> +A goodly collection of Gypsies you will find in that little nook, +crowded with caravans. Most of them are Tatchey Romany, real +Gypsies, "long-established people, of the old order." Amongst +them are Ratzie-mescroes, Hearnes, Herons, or duck-people; +Chumo-mescroes or Bosvils; a Kaulo Camlo (a Black Lovel) or two, +and a Beshaley or Stanley. It is no easy thing to find a Stanley +nowadays, even in the Baulo Tem, or Hampshire, which is the +proper home of the Stanleys, for the Bugnior, pimples or +small-pox, has of late years made sad havoc amongst the Stanleys; +but yonder tall old gentlewoman, descending the steps of a +caravan, with a flaming red cloak and a large black beaver +bonnet, and holding a travelling basket in her hand, is a Tatchey +Beshaley, a "genuine" Stanley. The generality, however, of "them +Gyptians" are Ratzie-mescroes, Hearnes, or duck-people; and, +speaking of the Hearnes, it is but right to say that he who may +be called the Gypsy Father of London, old Thomas Ratzie-mescro, +or Hearne, though not exactly residing here, lives close by in a +caravan, in a little bit of a yard over the way, where he can +breathe more freely, and be less annoyed by the brats and the +young fellows than he would be in yonder crowded place.<br> +<br> +Though the spot which it has just been attempted to describe, may +be considered as the head-quarters of the London Gypsies, on the +Middlesex side of the Thames, the whole neighbourhood, for a mile +to the north of it, may to a certain extent be considered a Gypsy +region - that is, a district where Gypsies, or gentry whose +habits very much resemble those of Gypsies, may at any time be +found. No metropolitan district, indeed, could be well more +suited for Gypsies to take up their abode in. It is a +neighbourhood of transition; of brickfields, open spaces, poor +streets inhabited by low artisans, isolated houses, sites of +intended tenements, or sites of tenements which have been pulled +down; it is in fact a mere chaos, where there is no order and no +regularity; where there is nothing durable, or intended to be +durable; though there can be little doubt that within a few years +order and beauty itself will be found here, that the misery, +squalidness, and meanness will have disappeared, and the whole +district, up to the railroad arches which bound it on the west +and north, will be covered with palaces, like those of Tyburnia, +or delightful villas, like those which decorate what is called +Saint John's Wood. At present, however, it is quite the kind of +place to please the Gypsies and wandering people, who find many +places within its bounds where they can squat and settle, or take +up their quarters for a night or two without much risk of being +interfered with. Here their tents, cars, and caravans may be +seen amidst ruins, half-raised walls, and on patches of +unenclosed ground; here their children may, throughout the day, +be seen playing about, flinging up dust and dirt, some partly +naked, and others entirely so; and here, at night, the different +families, men, women, and children, may be seen seated around +their fires and their kettles, taking their evening meal, and +every now and then indulging in shouts of merriment, as much as +to say, -<br> +<br> +<br> +What care we, though we be so small?<br> +The tent shall stand when the palace shall fall;<br> +<br> +<br> +which is quite true. The Gypsy tent must make way for the +palace, but after a millennium or two, the Gypsy tent is pitched +on the ruins of the palace.<br> +<br> +Of the open spaces above mentioned, the most considerable is one +called Latimer's Green. It lies on the north-western side of the +district, and is not far from that place of old renown called the +Shepherd's Bush, where in the good ancient times highwaymen used +to lurk for the purpose of pouncing upon the travellers of the +Oxford Road. It may contain about five or six acres, and, though +nominally under the control of trustees, is in reality little +more than a "no man's ground," where anybody may feed a horse, +light a fire, and boil a kettle. It is a great resort of vagrant +people, less of Gypsies than those who call themselves +travellers, and are denominated by the Gypsies Chorodies, and who +live for the most part in miserable caravans, though there is +generally a Gypsy tent or two to be seen there, belonging to some +Deighton or Shaw, or perhaps Petulengro, from the Lil-engro Tan, +as the Romany call Cambridgeshire. Amidst these Chorody caravans +and Gypsy tents may frequently be seen the <i>ker-vardo,</i> the +house on wheels, of one who, whenever he takes up his quarters +here, is considered the cock of the walk, the king of the place. +He is a little under forty years of age, and somewhat under five +feet ten inches in height. His face is wonderfully like that of +a mastiff of the largest size, particularly in its jowls; his +neck is short and very thick, and must be nearly as strong as +that of a bull; his chest is so broad that one does not like to +say how broad it is; and the voice which every now and then +proceeds from it has much the sound of that of the mighty dog +just mentioned; his arms are long and exceedingly muscular, and +his fists huge and bony. He wears a low-crowned, broad-brimmed +hat, a coarse blue coat with short skirts, leggings, and +high-lows. Such is the <i>kral o' the tan,</i> the <i>rex +loci,</i> the cock of the green. But what is he besides? Is he +Gypsy, <i>Chorody,</i> or <i>Hindity mush</i>? I say, you had +better not call him by any one of those names, for if you did he +would perhaps hit you, and then, oh dear! That is Mr. G. A., a +travelling horse-dealer, who lives in a caravan, and finds it +frequently convenient to take up his abode for weeks together on +Latimer's Green. He is a thorough-bred Englishman, though he is +married to a daughter of one of the old, sacred Gypsy families, a +certain Lurina Ratziemescri, duck or heron female, who is a very +handsome woman, and who has two brothers, dark, stealthy-looking +young fellows, who serve with almost slavish obedience their +sister's lord and husband, listening uncomplainingly to his abuse +of Gypsies, whom, though he lives amongst them and is married to +one by whom he has several children, he holds in supreme +contempt, never speaking of them but as a lying, thievish, +cowardly set, any three of whom he could beat with one hand; as +perhaps he could, for he is a desperate pugilist, and has three +times fought in "the ring" with good men, whom, though not a +scientific fighter, he beat with ease by dint of terrible blows, +causing them to roar out. He is very well to do in the world; +his caravan, a rather stately affair, is splendidly furnished +within; and it is a pleasure to see his wife, at Hampton Court +races, dressed in Gypsy fashion, decked with real gems and jewels +and rich gold chains, and waited upon by her dark brothers +dressed like dandy pages. How is all this expense supported? +Why, by horsedealing. Mr. G. is, then, up to all kinds of +horsedealers' tricks, no doubt. Aye, aye, he is up to them, but +he doesn't practise them. He says it's of no use, and that +honesty is the best policy, and he'll stick to it; and so he +does, and finds the profit of it. His traffic in horses, though +confined entirely to small people, such as market-gardeners, +travellers, show-folks, and the like, is very great; every small +person who wishes to buy a horse, or to sell a horse, or to swop +a horse, goes to Mr. G., and has never reason to complain, for +all acknowledge that he has done the fair thing by them; though +all agree that there is no overreaching him, which indeed very +few people try to do, deterred by the dread of his manual +prowess, of which a Gypsy once gave to the writer the following +<i>striking</i> illustration: - "He will jal oprey to a gry +that's wafodu, prawla, and coure leste tuley with the courepen of +his wast." (He will go up to a vicious horse, brother, and knock +him down with a blow of his fist.)<br> +<br> +The arches of the railroad which bounds this region on the west +and north serve as a resort for Gypsies, who erect within them +their tents, which are thus sheltered in summer from the +scorching rays of the sun, and in winter from the drenching +rain. In what close proximity we sometimes find emblems of what +is most rude and simple, and what is most artificial and +ingenious! For example, below the arch is the Gypsy donkey-cart, +whilst above it is thundering the chariot of fire which can run +across a county in half an hour. The principal frequenters of +these arches are Bosvils and Lees; the former are chiefly +tinkers, and the latter <i>esconyemengres,</i> or skewer-makers. +The reason for this difference is that the Bosvils are chiefly +immigrants from the country, where there is not much demand for +skewers, whereas the Lees are natives of the metropolis or the +neighbourhood, where the demand for skewers has from time +immemorial been enormously great. It was in the shelter of one +of these arches that the celebrated Ryley Bosvil, the Gypsy king +of Yorkshire, breathed his last a few years ago.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +THE MOUNT<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +Before quitting the subject of Metropolitan Gypsies there is +another place to which it will be necessary to devote a few +words, though it is less entitled to the appelation of Gypsyry +than rookery. It is situated in the East of London, a region far +more interesting to the ethnologist and the philologist than the +West, for there he will find people of all kinds of strange +races, - the wildest Irish; Greeks, both Orthodox and Papistical; +Jews, not only Ashkenazim and Sephardim, but even Karaite; the +worst, and consequently the most interesting, description of +Germans, the sugar-bakers; lots of Malays; plenty of Chinamen; +two or three dozen Hottentots, and about the same number of +Gypsies, reckoning men, women, and children. Of the latter, and +their place of abode, we have now only to do, leaving the other +strange, odd people to be disposed of on some other occasion.<br> +<br> +Not far from Shoreditch Church, and at a short distance from the +street called Church Street, on the left hand, is a locality +called Friars' Mount, but generally for shortness called The +Mount. It derives its name from a friary built upon a small +hillock in the time of Popery, where a set of fellows lived in +laziness and luxury on the offerings of foolish and superstitious +people, who resorted thither to kiss and worship an ugly wooden +image of the Virgin, said to be a first-rate stick at performing +miraculous cures. The neighbourhood, of course, soon became a +resort for vagabonds of every description, for wherever friars +are found rogues and thieves are sure to abound; and about +Friars' Mount, highwaymen, coiners, and Gypsies dwelt in safety +under the protection of the ministers of the miraculous image. +The friary has long since disappeared, the Mount has been +levelled, and the locality built over. The vice and villainy, +however, which the friary called forth still cling to the +district. It is one of the vilest dens of London, a grand resort +for housebreakers, garotters, passers of bad money, and other +disreputable people, though not for Gypsies; for however +favourite a place it may have been for the Romany in the old +time, it no longer finds much favour in their sight, from its not +affording open spaces where they can pitch their tents. One very +small street, however, is certainly entitled to the name of a +Gypsy street, in which a few Gypsy families have always found it +convenient to reside, and who are in the habit of receiving and +lodging their brethren passing through London to and from Essex +and other counties east of the metropolis. There is something +peculiar in the aspect of this street, not observable in that of +any of the others, which one who visits it, should he have been +in Triana of Seville, would at once recognise as having seen in +the aspect of the lanes and courts of that grand location of the +Gypsies of the Andalusian capital.<br> +<br> +The Gypsies of the Mount live much in the same manner as their +brethren in the other Gypsyries of London. They <i>chin the +cost,</i> make skewers, baskets, and let out donkeys for hire. +The chief difference consists in their living in squalid houses, +whilst the others inhabit dirty tents and caravans. The last +Gypsy of any note who resided in this quarter was Joseph Lee; +here he lived for a great many years, and here he died, having +attained the age of ninety. During his latter years he was +generally called Old Joe Lee, from his great age. His wife or +partner, who was also exceedingly old, only survived him a few +days. They were buried in the same grave, with much Gypsy pomp, +in the neighbouring churchyard. They were both of pure Gypsy +blood, and were generally known as the Gypsy king and queen of +Shoreditch. They left a numerous family of children and +grandchildren, some of whom are still to be found at the Mount. +This old Joe Lee in his day was a celebrated horse and donkey +witch - that is, he professed secrets which enabled him to make +any wretched animal of either species exhibit for a little time +the spirit and speed of "a flying drummedary." He was +illustriously related, and was very proud on that account, +especially in being the brother's son of old James, the +<i>cauring mush,</i> whose exploits in the filching line will be +remembered as long as the venerable tribe of Purrum, or Lee, +continues in existence.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +RYLEY BOSVIL<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +Ryley Bosvil was a native of Yorkshire, a country where, as the +Gypsies say, "there's a deadly sight of Bosvils." He was above +the middle height, exceedingly strong and active, and one of the +best riders in Yorkshire, which is saying a great deal. He was a +thorough Gypsy, versed in all the arts of the old race, had two +wives, never went to church, and considered that when a man died +he was cast into the earth, and there was an end of him. He +frequently used to say that if any of his people became Gorgios +he would kill them. He had a sister of the name of Clara, a +nice, delicate, interesting girl, about fourteen years younger +than himself, who travelled about with an aunt; this girl was +noticed by a respectable Christian family, who, taking a great +interest in her, persuaded her to come and live with them. She +was instructed by them in the rudiments of the Christian +religion, appeared delighted with her new friends, and promised +never to leave them. After the lapse of about six weeks there +was a knock at the door; a dark man stood before it who said he +wanted Clara. Clara went out trembling, had some discourse with +the man in an unknown tongue, and shortly returned in tears, and +said that she must go. "What for?" said her friends. "Did you +not promise to stay with us?" "I did so," said the girl, weeping +more bitterly; "but that man is my brother, who says I must go +with him, and what he says must be." So with her brother she +departed, and her Christian friends never saw her again. What +became of her? Was she made away with? Many thought she was, +but she was not. Ryley put her into a light cart, drawn by "a +flying pony," and hurried her across England, even to distant +Norfolk, where he left her, after threatening her, with three +Gypsy women who were devoted to him. With these women the writer +found her one night encamped in a dark wood, and had much +discourse with her, both on Christian and Egyptian matters. She +was very melancholy, bitterly regretted having been compelled to +quit her Christian friends, and said that she wished she had +never been a Gypsy. The writer, after exhorting her to keep a +firm grip of her Christianity, departed, and did not see her +again for nearly a quarter of a century, when he met her on Epsom +Downs, on the Derby day when the terrible horse Gladiateur beat +all the English steeds. She was then very much changed, very +much changed indeed, appearing as a full-blown Egyptian matron, +with two very handsome daughters flaringly dressed in genuine +Gypsy fashion, to whom she was giving motherly counsels as to the +best means to <i>hok</i> and <i>dukker</i> the gentlefolks. All +her Christianity she appeared to have flung to the dogs, for when +the writer spoke to her on that very important subject, she made +no answer save by an indescribable Gypsy look. On other matters +she was communicative enough, telling the writer, amongst other +things, that since he saw her she had been twice married, and +both times very well, for that her first husband, by whom she had +the two daughters whom the writer "kept staring at," was a man +every inch of him, and her second, who was then on the Downs +grinding knives with a machine he had, though he had not much +manhood, being nearly eighty years old, had something much +better, namely a mint of money, which she hoped shortly to have +in her own possession.<br> +<br> +Ryley, like most of the Bosvils, was a tinker by profession; but, +though a tinker, he was amazingly proud and haughty of heart. +His grand ambition was to be a great man among his people, a +Gypsy King. To this end he furnished himself with clothes made +after the costliest Gypsy fashion: the two hinder buttons of the +coat, which was of thick blue cloth, were broad gold pieces of +Spain, generally called ounces; the fore-buttons were English +"spaded guineas"; the buttons of the waistcoat were half-guineas, +and those of the collar and the wrists of his shirt were +seven-shilling gold pieces. In this coat he would frequently +make his appearance on a magnificent horse, whose hoofs, like +those of the steed of a Turkish sultan, were cased in shoes of +silver. How did he support such expense? it may be asked. +Partly by driving a trade in <i>wafodu luvvu,</i> counterfeit +coin, with which he was supplied by certain honest tradespeople +of Brummagem; partly and principally by large sums of money which +he received from his two wives, and which they obtained by the +practice of certain arts peculiar to Gypsy females. One of his +wives was a truly remarkable woman: she was of the Petulengro or +Smith tribe; her Christian name, if Christian name it can be +called, was Xuri or Shuri, and from her exceeding smartness and +cleverness she was generally called by the Gypsies Yocky Shuri, - +that is, smart or clever Shuri, <i>yocky</i> being a Gypsy word, +signifying 'clever.' She could <i>dukker -</i> that is, tell +fortunes - to perfection, by which alone during the racing season +she could make a hundred pounds a month. She was good at the +<i>big hok,</i> that is, at inducing people to put money into her +hands, in the hope of its being multiplied; and, oh dear! how she +could <i>caur</i> - that is, filch gold rings and trinkets from +jewellers' cases; the kind of thing which the Spanish Gypsy women +call <i>ustilar pastesas,</i> filching with the hands. +Frequently she would disappear, and travel about England, and +Scotland too, <i>dukkering, hokking,</i> and <i>cauring,</i> and +after the lapse of a month return and deliver to her husband, +like a true and faithful wife, the proceeds of her industry. So +no wonder that the Flying Tinker, as he was called, was enabled +to cut a grand appearance. He was very fond of hunting, and +would frequently join the field in regular hunting costume, save +and except that, instead of the leather hunting-cap, he wore one +of fur with a gold band around it, to denote that though he mixed +with Gorgios he was still a Romany-chal. Thus equipped and +mounted on a capital hunter, whenever he encountered a Gypsy +encampment he would invariably dash through it, doing all the +harm he could, in order, as he said, to let the <i>juggals</i> +know that he was their king and had a right to do what he pleased +with his own. Things went on swimmingly for a great many years, +but, as prosperity does not continue for ever, his dark hour came +at last. His wives got into trouble in one or two expeditions, +and his dealings in <i>wafodu luvvu</i> began to be noised +about. Moreover, by his grand airs and violent proceedings he +had incurred the hatred of both Gorgios and Gypsies, particularly +of the latter, some of whom he had ridden over and lamed for +life. One day he addressed his two wives:-<br> +<br> +<br> +"The Gorgios seek to hang me,<br> +The Gypsies seek to kill me:<br> +This country we must leave."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p>Shuri.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +I'll jaw with you to heaven,<br> +I'll jaw with you to Yaudors -<br> +But not if Lura goes."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p>Lura.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +"I'll jaw with you to heaven,<br> +And to the wicked country,<br> +Though Shuri goeth too."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p>Ryley.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +"Since I must choose betwixt ye,<br> +My choice is Yocky Shuri,<br> +Though Lura loves me best."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p>Lura.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +"My blackest curse on Shuri!<br> +Oh, Ryley, I'll not curse you,<br> +But you will never thrive."<br> +<br> +<br> +She then took her departure with her cart and donkey, and Ryley +remained with Shuri.<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +</p> + +<p>Ryley.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +"I've chosen now betwixt ye;<br> +Your wish you now have gotten,<br> +But for it you shall smart."<br> +<br> +<br> +He then struck her with his fist on the cheek, and broke her +jawbone. Shuri uttered no cry or complaint, only mumbled:<br> +<br> +<br> +"Although with broken jawbone,<br> +I'll follow thee, my Ryley,<br> +Since Lura doesn't jal."<br> +<br> +<br> +Thereupon Ryley and Yocky Shuri left Yorkshire, and wended their +way to London, where they took up their abode in the Gypsyry near +the Shepherd's Bush. Shuri went about <i>dukkering</i> and +<i>hokking,</i> but not with the spirit of former times, for she +was not quite so young as she had been, and her jaw, which was +never properly cured, pained her much. Ryley went about +tinkering, but he was unacquainted with London and its +neighbourhood, and did not get much to do. An old Gypsy-man, who +was driving about a little cart filled with skewers, saw him +standing in a state of perplexity at a place where four roads +met.<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +</p> + +<p>Old Gypsy.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +"Methinks I see a brother!<br> +Who's your father? Who's your mother?<br> +And what may be your name?"<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p>Ryley.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +"A Bosvil was my father;<br> +A Bosvil was my mother;<br> +And Ryley is my name."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p>Old Gypsy.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +"I'm glad to see you, brother!<br> +I am a Kaulo Camlo. {4}<br> +What service can I do?"<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p>Ryley.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +"I'm jawing petulengring, {5}<br> +But do not know the country;<br> +Perhaps you'll show me round."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p>Old Gypsy.<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +"I'll sikker tute, prala!<br> +I'm bikkening esconyor; {6}<br> +Av, av along with me!"<br> +<br> +<br> +The old Gypsy showed Ryley about the country for a week or two, +and Ryley formed a kind of connection, and did a little +business. He, however, displayed little or no energy, was gloomy +and dissatisfied, and frequently said that his heart was broken +since he had left Yorkshire.<br> +<br> +Shuri did her best to cheer him, but without effect. Once, when +she bade him get up and exert himself, he said that if he did it +would be of little use, and asked her whether she did not +remember the parting prophecy of his other wife that he would +never thrive. At the end of about two years he ceased going his +rounds, and did nothing but smoke under the arches of the +railroad, and loiter about beershops. At length he became very +weak, and took to his bed; doctors were called in by his faithful +Shuri, but there is no remedy for a bruised spirit. A Methodist +came and asked him, "What was his hope?" "My hope," said he, "is +that when I am dead I shall be put into the ground, and my wife +and children will weep over me." And such, it may be observed, +is the last hope of every genuine Gypsy. His hope was +gratified. Shuri and his children, of whom he had three - two +stout young fellows and a girl - gave him a magnificent funeral, +and screamed, shouted, and wept over his grave. They then +returned to the "Arches," not to divide his property amongst +them, and to quarrel about the division, according to Christian +practice, but to destroy it. They killed his swift pony - still +swift, though twenty-seven years of age - and buried it deep in +the ground, without depriving it of its skin. They then broke +the caravan and cart to pieces, making of the fragments a fire, +on which they threw his bedding, carpets, curtains, blankets, and +everything which would burn. Finally, they dashed his mirrors, +china, and crockery to pieces, hacked his metal pots, dishes and +what-not to bits, and flung the whole on the blazing pile. Such +was the life, such the death, and such were the funeral obsequies +of Ryley Bosvil, a Gypsy who will be long remembered amongst the +English Romany for his buttons, his two wives, his grand airs, +and last, and not least, for having been the composer of various +stanzas in the Gypsy tongue, which have plenty of force, if +nothing else, to recommend them. One of these, addressed to +Yocky Shuri, runs as follows:<br> +<br> +<br> +Tuley the Can I kokkeney cam<br> +Like my rinkeny Yocky Shuri:<br> +Oprey the chongor in ratti I'd cour<br> +For my rinkeny Yocky Shuri!<br> +<br> +<br> +Which may be thus rendered:<br> +<br> +<br> +Beneath the bright sun, there is none, there is none,<br> +I love like my Yocky Shuri:<br> +With the greatest delight, in blood I would fight<br> +To the knees for my Yocky Shuri!<br> +<br> +<br> +KIRK YETHOLM<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +There are two Yetholms - Town Yetholm and Kirk Yetholm. They +stand at the distance of about a quarter of a mile from each +other, and between them is a valley, down which runs a small +stream, called the Beaumont River, crossed by a little stone +bridge. Of the town there is not much to be said. It is a long, +straggling place, on the road between Morbuttle and Kelso, from +which latter place it is distant about seven miles. It is +comparatively modern, and sprang up when the Kirk town began to +fall into decay. Kirk Yetholm derives the first part of its name +from the church, which serves for a place of worship not only for +the inhabitants of the place, but for those of the town also. +The present church is modern, having been built on the site of +the old kirk, which was pulled down in the early part of the +present century, and which had been witness of many a strange +event connected with the wars between England and Scotland. It +stands at the entrance of the place, on the left hand as you turn +to the village after ascending the steep road which leads from +the bridge. The place occupies the lower portion of a hill, a +spur of the Cheviot range, behind which is another hill, much +higher, rising to an altitude of at least 900 feet. At one time +it was surrounded by a stone wall, and at the farther end is a +gateway overlooking a road leading to the English border, from +which Kirk Yetholm is distant only a mile and a quarter; the +boundary of the two kingdoms being here a small brook called +Shorton Burn, on the English side of which is a village of +harmless, simple Northumbrians, differing strangely in +appearance, manner, and language from the people who live within +a stone's throw of them on the other side.<br> +<br> +Kirk Yetholm is a small place, but with a remarkable look. It +consists of a street, terminating in what is called a green, with +houses on three sides, but open on the fourth, or right side to +the mountain, towards which quarter it is grassy and steep. Most +of the houses are ancient, and are built of rude stone. By far +the most remarkable-looking house is a large and dilapidated +building, which has much the appearance of a ruinous Spanish +<i>posada</i> or <i>venta.</i> There is not much life in the +place, and you may stand ten minutes where the street opens upon +the square without seeing any other human beings than two or +three women seated at the house doors, or a ragged, bare-headed +boy or two lying on the grass on the upper side of the Green. It +came to pass that late one Saturday afternoon, at the +commencement of August, in the year 1866, I was standing where +the street opens on this Green, or imperfect square. My eyes +were fixed on the dilapidated house, the appearance of which +awakened in my mind all kinds of odd ideas. "A strange-looking +place," said I to myself at last, "and I shouldn't wonder if +strange things have been done in it."<br> +<br> +"Come to see the Gypsy toon, sir?" said a voice not far from +me.<br> +<br> +I turned, and saw standing within two yards of me a woman about +forty years of age, of decent appearance, though without either +cap or bonnet.<br> +<br> +"A Gypsy town, is it?" said I; "why, I thought it had been Kirk +Yetholm."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Woman</i>. - "Weel, sir, if it is Kirk Yetholm, must it not +be a Gypsy toon? Has not Kirk Yetholm ever been a Gypsy +toon?"<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Myself. -</i> "My good woman, 'ever' is a long term, and +Kirk Yetholm must have been Kirk Yetholm long before there were +Gypsies in Scotland, or England either."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Woman. -</i> "Weel, sir, your honour may be right, and I +dare say is; for your honour seems to be a learned gentleman. +Certain, however, it is that Kirk Yetholm has been a Gypsy toon +beyond the memory of man."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Myself.</i> - "You do not seem to be a Gypsy."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Woman.</i> - "Seem to be a Gypsy! Na, na, sir! I am the +bairn of decent parents, and belong not to Kirk Yetholm, but to +Haddington."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Myself.</i> - "And what brought you to Kirk Yetholm?"<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Woman</i>. - "Oh, my ain little bit of business brought me +to Kirk Yetholm, sir."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Myself.</i> - "Which is no business of mine. That's a +queer-looking house there."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Woman. -</i> "The house that your honour was looking at so +attentively when I first spoke to ye? A queer-looking house it +is, and a queer kind of man once lived in it. Does your honour +know who once lived in that house?"<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Myself.</i> - "No. How should I? I am here for the first +time, and after taking a bite and sup at the inn at the town over +yonder I strolled hither."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Woman.</i> - "Does your honour come from far?"<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Myself.</i> - "A good way. I came from Strandraar, the +farthest part of Galloway, where I landed from a ship which +brought me from Ireland."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Woman.</i> - "And what may have brought your honour into +these parts?"<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Myself.</i> - "Oh, my ain wee bit of business brought me +into these parts."<br> +<br> +"Which wee bit of business is nae business of mine," said the +woman, smiling. "Weel, your honour is quite right to keep your +ain counsel; for, as your honour weel kens, if a person canna +keep his ain counsel it is nae likely that any other body will +keep it for him. But to gae back to the queer house, and the +queer man that once 'habited it. That man, your honour, was old +Will Faa."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Myself.</i> - "Old Will Faa!"<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Woman.</i> - "Yes. Old Will Faa, the Gypsy king, smuggler, +and innkeeper; he lived in that inn."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Myself.</i> - "Oh, then that house has been an inn?"<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Woman.</i> - "It still is an inn, and has always been an +inn; and though it has such an eerie look it is sometimes lively +enough, more especially after the Gypsies have returned from +their summer excursions in the country. It's a roaring place +then. They spend most of their sleight-o'-hand gains in that +house."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Myself.</i> - "Is the house still kept by a Faa?"<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Woman.</i> - "No, sir; there are no Faas to keep it. The +name is clean dead in the land, though there is still some of the +blood remaining."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Myself.</i> - "I really should like to see some of the +blood."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Woman.</i> - "Weel, sir, you can do that without much +difficulty; there are not many Gypsies just now in Kirk Yetholm; +but the one who they say has more of his blood than any one else +happens to be here. I mean his grandbairn - his daughter's +daughter; she whom they ca' the 'Gypsy Queen o' Yetholm,' and +whom they lead about the toon once a year, mounted on a cuddy, +with a tin crown on her head, with much shouting, and with mony a +barbaric ceremony."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Myself.</i> - "I really should like to see her."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Woman.</i> - "Weel, sir, there's a woman behind you, seated +at the doorway, who can get your honour not only the sight of +her, but the speech of her, for she is one of the race, and a +relation of hers; and, to tell ye the truth, she has had her eye +upon your honour for some time past, expecting to be asked about +the qeeen, for scarcely anybody comes to Yetholm but goes to see +the queen; and some gae so far as to say that they merely crowned +her queen in hopes of bringing grist to the Gypsy mill."<br> +<br> +I thanked the woman, and was about to turn away, in order to +address myself to the other woman seated on the step, when my +obliging friend said, "I beg your pardon, sir, but before ye go I +wish to caution you, when you get to the speech of the queen, not +to put any speerings to her about a certain tongue or dialect +which they say the Gypsies have. All the Gypsies become glum and +dour as soon as they are spoken to about their language, and +particularly the queen. The queen might say something uncivil to +your honour, should you ask her questions about her +language."<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Myself.</i> - "Oh, then the Gypsies of Yetholm have a +language of their own?"<br> +<br> +</p> + +<p><i>Woman.</i> - "I canna say, sir; I dinna ken whether they +have or not; I have been at Yetholm several years, about my ain +wee bit o' business, and never heard them utter a word that was +not either English or broad Scotch. Some people say that they +have a language of their ain, and others say that they have nane, +and moreover that, though they call themselves Gypsies, they are +far less Gypsy than Irish, a great deal of Irish being mixed in +their veins with a very little of the much more respectable Gypsy +blood. It may be sae, or it may be not; perhaps your honour will +find out. That's the woman, sir, just behind ye at the door. +Gud e'en. I maun noo gang and boil my cup o'tay."<br> +<br> +To the woman at the door I now betook myself. She was seated on +the threshold, and employed in knitting. She was dressed in +white, and had a cap on her head, from which depended a couple of +ribbons, one on each side. As I drew near she looked up. She +had a full, round, smooth face, and her complexion was brown, or +rather olive, a hue which contrasted with that of her eyes, which +were blue.<br> +<br> +"There is something Gypsy in that face," said I to myself, as I +looked at her; "but I don't like those eyes."<br> +<br> +"A fine evening," said I to her at last.<br> +<br> +"Yes, sir," said the woman, with very little of the Scotch +accent; "it is a fine evening. Come to see the town?"<br> +<br> +"Yes," said I; "I am come to see the town. A nice little town it +seems."<br> +<br> +"And I suppose come to see the Gypsies, too," said the woman, +with a half smile.<br> +<br> +"Well," said I, "to be frank with you, I came to see the +Gypsies. You are not one, I suppose?"<br> +<br> +"Indeed I am," said the woman, rather sharply, "and who shall say +that I am not, seeing that I am a relation of old Will Faa, the +man whom the woman from Haddington was speaking to you about; for +I heard her mention his name?"<br> +<br> +"Then," said I, "you must be related to her whom they call the +Gypsy queen."<br> +<br> +"I am, indeed, sir. Would you wish to see her?"<br> +<br> +"By all means," said I. "I should wish very much to see the +Gypsy queen."<br> +<br> +"Then I will show you to her, sir; many gentlefolks from England +come to see the Gypsy queen of Yetholm. Follow me, sir!"<br> +<br> +She got up, and, without laying down her knitting-work, went +round the corner, and began to ascend the hill. She was strongly +made, and was rather above the middle height. She conducted me +to a small house, some little way up the hill. As we were going, +I said to her, "As you are a Gypsy, I suppose you have no +objection to a <i>coro</i> of <i>koshto levinor</i>?" {7}<br> +<br> +She stopped her knitting for a moment, and appeared to consider, +and then resuming it, she said hesitatingly, "No, sir, no! None +at all! That is, not exactly!"<br> +<br> +"She is no true Gypsy, after all," said I to myself.<br> +<br> +We went through a little garden to the door of the house, which +stood ajar. She pushed it open, and looked in; then, turning +round, she said: "She is not here, sir; but she is close at +hand. Wait here till I go and fetch her." She went to a house a +little farther up the hill, and I presently saw her returning +with another female, of slighter build, lower in stature, and +apparently much older. She came towards me with much smiling, +smirking, and nodding, which I returned with as much smiling and +nodding as if I had known her for threescore years. She motioned +me with her hand to enter the house. I did so. The other woman +returned down the hill, and the queen of the Gypsies entering, +and shutting the door, confronted me on the floor, and said, in a +rather musical, but slightly faltering voice:<br> +<br> +"Now, sir, in what can I oblige you?"<br> +<br> +Thereupon, letting the umbrella fall, which I invariably carry +about with me in my journeyings, I flung my arms three times up +into the air, and in an exceedingly disagreeable voice, owing to +a cold which I had had for some time, and which I had caught +amongst the lakes of Loughmaben, whilst hunting after Gypsies +whom I could not find, I exclaimed:<br> +<br> +"Sossi your nav? Pukker mande tute's nav! Shan tu a +mumpli-mushi, or a tatchi Romany?"<br> +<br> +Which, interpreted into Gorgio, runs thus:<br> +<br> +"What is your name? Tell me your name! Are you a mumping woman, +or a true Gypsy?"<br> +<br> +The woman appeared frightened, and for some time said nothing, +but only stared at me. At length, recovering herself, she +exclaimed, in an angry tone, "Why do you talk to me in that +manner, and in that gibberish? I don't understand a word of +it."<br> +<br> +"Gibberish!" said I; "it is no gibberish; it is Zingarrijib, +Romany rokrapen, real Gypsy of the old order."<br> +<br> +"Whatever it is," said the woman, "it's of no use speaking it to +me. If you want to speak to me, you must speak English or +Scotch."<br> +<br> +"Why, they told me as how you were a Gypsy," said I.<br> +<br> +"And they told you the truth," said the woman; "I am a Gypsy, and +a real one; I am not ashamed of my blood."<br> +<br> +"If yer were a Gyptian," said I, "yer would be able to speak +Gyptian; but yer can't, not a word."<br> +<br> +"At any rate," said the woman, "I can speak English, which is +more than you can. Why, your way of speaking is that of the +lowest vagrants of the roads."<br> +<br> +"Oh, I have two or three ways of speaking English," said I; "and +when I speaks to low wagram folks, I speaks in a low wagram +manner."<br> +<br> +"Not very civil," said the woman.<br> +<br> +"A pretty Gypsy!" said I; "why, I'll be bound you don't know what +a <i>churi</i> is!"<br> +<br> +The woman gave me a sharp look; but made no reply.<br> +<br> +"A pretty queen of the Gypsies!" said I; "why, she doesn't know +the meaning of <i>churi</i>!"<br> +<br> +"Doesn't she?" said the woman, evidently nettled; "doesn't +she?"<br> +<br> +"Why, do you mean to say that you know the meaning of +<i>churi</i>?"<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +"Why, of course I do," said the woman.<br> +<br> +"Hardly, my good lady," said I; "hardly; a <i>churi</i> to you is +merely a <i>churi</i>."<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +"A <i>churi</i> is a knife," said the woman, in a tone of +defiance; "a <i>churi</i> is a knife."<br> +<br> +"Oh, it is," said I; "and yet you tried to persuade me that you +had no peculiar language of your own, and only knew English and +Scotch: <i>churi</i> is a word of the language in which I spoke +to you at first, Zingarrijib, or Gypsy language; and since you +know that word, I make no doubt that you know others, and in fact +can speak Gypsy. Come; let us have a little confidential +discourse together."<br> +<br> +The woman stood for some time, as if in reflection, and at length +said: "Sir, before having any particular discourse with you, I +wish to put a few questions to you, in order to gather from your +answers whether it is safe to talk to you on Gypsy matters. You +pretend to understand the Gypsy language: if I find you do not, I +will hold no further discourse with you; and the sooner you take +yourself off the better. If I find you do, I will talk with you +as long as you like. What do you call that?" - and she pointed +to the fire.<br> +<br> +"Speaking Gyptianly?" said I.<br> +<br> +The woman nodded.<br> +<br> +"Whoy, I calls that <i>yog</i>."<br> +<br> +"Hm," said the woman: "and the dog out there?"<br> +<br> +"Gyptian-loike?" said I.<br> +<br> +"Yes."<br> +<br> +"Whoy, I calls that a <i>juggal</i>."<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +"And the hat on your head?"<br> +<br> +"Well, I have two words for that: a <i>staury</i> and a +<i>stadge</i>."<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +"<i>Stadge</i>," said the woman, "we call it here. Now what's a +gun?"<br> +<br> +"There is no Gypsy in England," said I, "can tell you the word +for a gun; at least the proper word, which is lost. They have a +word - <i>yag</i>-<i>engro</i> - but that is a made-up word +signifying a fire-thing."<br> +<br> +"Then you don't know the word for a gun," said the Gypsy.<br> +<br> +"Oh dear me! Yes," said I; "the genuine Gypsy word for a gun is +<i>puschca.</i> But I did not pick up that word in England, but +in Hungary, where the Gypsies retain their language better than +in England: <i>puschca</i> is the proper word for a gun, and not +<i>yag-engro,</i> which may mean a fire-shovel, tongs, poker, or +anything connected with fire, quite as well as a gun."<br> +<br> +"<i>Puschca</i> is the word, sure enough," said the Gypsy. "I +thought I should have caught you there; and now I have but one +more question to ask you, and when I have done so, you may as +well go; for I am quite sure you cannot answer it. What is +<i>Nokkum</i>?"<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +"<i>Nokkum</i>," said I; "<i>nokkum</i>?"<br> +<br> +"Aye," said the Gypsy; "what is <i>Nokkum</i>? Our people here, +besides their common name of Romany, have a private name for +themselves, which is <i>Nokkum</i> or <i>Nokkums.</i> Why do the +children of the Caungri Foros call themselves +<i>Nokkums</i>?"<br> +<br> +"<i>Nokkum</i>," said I; "<i>nokkum</i>? The root of +<i>nokkum</i> must be <i>nok,</i> which signifieth a nose."<br> +<br> +"A-h!" said the Gypsy, slowly drawing out the monosyllable, as if +in astonishment.<br> +<br> +"Yes," said I; "the root of <i>nokkum</i> is assuredly +<i>nok,</i> and I have no doubt that your people call themselves +<i>Nokkum</i> because they are in the habit of <i>nosing</i> the +Gorgios. <i>Nokkums</i> means <i>Nosems</i>."<br> +</p> + +<p><br> +"Sit down, sir," said the Gypsy, handing me a chair. "I am now +ready to talk to you as much as you please about <i>Nokkum</i> +words and matters, for I see there is no danger. But I tell you +frankly that had I not found that you knew as much as, or a great +deal more than, myself, not a hundred pounds, nor indeed all the +money in Berwick, should have induced me to hold discourse with +you about the words and matters of the Brown children of Kirk +Yetholm."<br> +<br> +I sat down in the chair which she handed me; she sat down in +another, and we were presently in deep discourse about matters +<i>Nokkum.</i> We first began to talk about words, and I soon +found that her knowledge of Romany was anything but extensive; +far less so, indeed, than that of the commonest English Gypsy +woman, for whenever I addressed her in regular Gypsy sentences, +and not in <i>poggado jib,</i> or broken language, she would +giggle and say I was too deep for her. I should say that the sum +total of her vocabulary barely amounted to three hundred words. +Even of these there were several which were not pure Gypsy words +- that is, belonging to the speech which the ancient Zingary +brought with them to Britain. Some of her bastard Gypsy words +belonged to the cant or allegorical jargon of thieves, who, in +order to disguise their real meaning, call one thing by the name +of another. For example, she called a shilling a 'hog,' a word +belonging to the old English cant dialect, instead of calling it +by the genuine Gypsy term <i>tringurushi,</i> the literal meaning +of which is three groats. Then she called a donkey 'asal,' and a +stone 'cloch,' which words are neither cant nor Gypsy, but Irish +or Gaelic. I incurred her vehement indignation by saying they +were Gaelic. She contradicted me flatly, and said that whatever +else I might know I was quite wrong there; for that neither she +nor any one of her people would condescend to speak anything so +low as Gaelic, or indeed, if they possibly could avoid it, to +have anything to do with the poverty-stricken creatures who used +it. It is a singular fact that, though principally owing to the +magic writings of Walter Scott, the Highland Gael and Gaelic have +obtained the highest reputation in every other part of the world, +they are held in the Lowlands in very considerable contempt. +There the Highlander, elsewhere "the bold Gael with sword and +buckler," is the type of poverty and wretchedness; and his +language, elsewhere "the fine old Gaelic, the speech of Adam and +Eve in Paradise," is the designation of every unintelligible +jargon. But not to digress. On my expressing to the Gypsy queen +my regret that she was unable to hold with me a regular +conversation in Romany, she said that no one regretted it more +than herself, but that there was no help for it; and that slight +as I might consider her knowledge of Romany to be, it was far +greater than that of any other Gypsy on the Border, or indeed in +the whole of Scotland; and that as for the <i>Nokkums,</i> there +was not one on the Green who was acquainted with half a dozen +words of Romany, though the few words they had they prized high +enough, and would rather part with their heart's blood than +communicate them to a stranger.<br> +<br> +"Unless," said I, "they found the stranger knew more than +themselves."<br> +<br> +"That would make no difference with them," said the queen, +"though it has made a great deal of difference with me. They +would merely turn up their noses, and say they had no Gaelic. +You would not find them so communicative as me; the +<i>Nokkums,</i> in general, are a dour set, sir."<br> +<br> +Before quitting the subject of language it is but right to say +that though she did not know much Gypsy, and used cant and Gaelic +terms, she possessed several words unknown to the English Romany, +but which are of the true Gypsy order. Amongst them was the word +<i>tirrehi,</i> or <i>tirrehai,</i> signifying shoes or boots, +which I had heard in Spain and in the east of Europe. Another +was <i>calches,</i> a Wallachian word signifying trousers. +Moreover, she gave the right pronunciation to the word which +denotes a man not of Gypsy blood, saying <i>gajo,</i> and not +<i>gorgio,</i> as the English Gypsies do. After all, her +knowledge of Gentle Romany was not altogether to be sneezed +at.<br> +<br> +Ceasing to talk to her about words, I began to question her about +the Faas. She said that a great number of the Faas had come in +the old time to Yetholm, and settled down there, and that her own +forefathers had always been the principal people among them. I +asked her if she remembered her grandfather, old Will Faa, and +received for answer that she remembered him very well, and that I +put her very much in mind of him, being a tall, lusty man, like +himself, and having a skellying look with the left eye, just like +him. I asked her if she had not seen queer folks at Yetholm in +her grandfather's time. "<i>Dosta dosta</i>," said she; "plenty, +plenty of queer folk I saw at Yetholm in my grandfather's time, +and plenty I have seen since, and not the least queer is he who +is now asking me questions." "Did you ever see Piper Allen?" +said I; "he was a great friend of your grandfather's." "I never +saw him," she replied; "but I have often heard of him. He +married one of our people." "He did so," said I, "and the +marriage-feast was held on the Green just behind us. He got a +good, clever wife, and she got a bad, rascally husband. One +night, after taking an affectionate farewell of her, he left her +on an expedition, with plenty of money in his pocket, which he +had obtained from her, and which she had procured by her +dexterity. After going about four miles he bethought himself +that she had still some money, and returning crept up to the room +in which she lay asleep, and stole her pocket, in which were +eight guineas; then slunk away, and never returned, leaving her +in poverty, from which she never recovered." I then mentioned +Madge Gordon, at one time the Gypsy queen of the Border, who +used, magnificently dressed, to ride about on a pony shod with +silver, inquiring if she had ever seen her. She said she had +frequently seen Madge Faa, for that was her name, and not Gordon; +but that when she knew her, all her magnificence, beauty, and +royalty had left her; for she was then a poor, poverty-stricken +old woman, just able with a pipkin in her hand to totter to the +well on the Green for water. Then with much nodding, winking, +and skellying, I began to talk about <i>Drabbing bawlor, dooking +gryes, cauring,</i> and <i>hokking,</i> and asked if them 'ere +things were ever done by the <i>Nokkums:</i> and received for +answer that she believed such things were occasionally done, not +by the <i>Nokkums,</i> but by other Gypsies, with whom her people +had no connection.<br> +<br> +Observing her eyeing me rather suspiciously, I changed the +subject; asking her if she had travelled much about. She told me +she had, and that she had visited most parts of Scotland, and +seen a good bit of the northern part of England.<br> +<br> +"Did you travel alone?" said I.<br> +<br> +"No," said she; "when I travelled in Scotland I was with some of +my own people, and in England with the Lees and Bosvils."<br> +<br> +"Old acquaintances of mine," said I; "why only the other day I +was with them at Fairlop Fair, in the Wesh."<br> +<br> +"I frequently heard them talk of Epping Forest," said the Gypsy; +"a nice place, is it not?"<br> +<br> +"The loveliest forest in the world!" said I. "Not equal to what +it was, but still the loveliest forest in the world, and the +pleasantest, especially in summer; for then it is thronged with +grand company, and the nightingales, and cuckoos, and Romany +<i>chals</i> and <i>chies.</i> As for Romany-chals there is not +such a place for them in the whole world as the Forest. Them +that wants to see Romany-chals should go to the Forest, +especially to the Bald-faced Hind on the hill above Fairlop, on +the day of Fairlop Fair. It is their trysting-place, as you +would say, and there they musters from all parts of England, and +there they whoops, dances, and plays; keeping some order +nevertheless, because the <i>Rye</i> of all the Romans is in the +house, seated behind the door:-<br> +<br> +<br> +Romany Chalor<br> +Anglo the wuddur<br> +Mistos are boshing;<br> +Mande beshello<br> +Innar the wuddur<br> +Shooning the boshipen."<br> +<br> +Roman lads<br> +Before the door<br> +Bravely fiddle;<br> +Here I sit<br> +Within the door<br> +And hear them fiddle.<br> +<br> +<br> +"I wish I knew as much Romany as you, sir," said the Gypsy. +"Why, I never heard so much Romany before in all my life."<br> +<br> +She was rather a small woman, apparently between sixty and +seventy, with intelligent and rather delicate features. Her +complexion was darker than that of the other female; but she had +the same kind of blue eyes. The room in which we were seated was +rather long, and tolerably high. In the wall, on the side which +fronted the windows which looked out upon the Green, were oblong +holes for beds, like those seen in the sides of a cabin. There +was nothing of squalor or poverty about the place.<br> +<br> +Wishing to know her age, I inquired of her what it was. She +looked angry, and said she did not know.<br> +<br> +"Are you forty-nine?" said I, with a terrible voice, and a yet +more terrible look.<br> +<br> +"More," said she, with a smile; "I am sixty-eight."<br> +<br> +There was something of the gentlewoman in her: on my offering her +money she refused to take it, saying that she did not want it, +and it was with the utmost difficulty that I persuaded her to +accept a trifle, with which, she said, she would buy herself some +tea.<br> +<br> +But withal there was <i>hukni</i> in her, and by that she proved +her Gypsy blood. I asked her if she would be at home on the +following day, for in that case I would call and have some more +talk with her, and received for answer that she would be at home +and delighted to see me. On going, however, on the following +day, which was Sunday, I found the garden-gate locked and the +window-shutters up, plainly denoting that there was nobody at +home.<br> +<br> +Seeing some men lying on the hill, a little way above, who +appeared to be observing me, I went up to them for the purpose of +making inquiries. They were all young men, and decently though +coarsely dressed. None wore the Scottish cap or bonnet, but all +the hat of England. Their countenances were rather dark, but had +nothing of the vivacious expression observable in the Gypsy face, +but much of the dogged, sullen look which makes the countenances +of the generality of the Irish who inhabit London and some other +of the large English towns so disagreeable. They were lying on +their bellies, occasionally kicking their heels into the air. I +greeted them civilly, but received no salutation in return.<br> +<br> +"Is So-and-so at home?" said I.<br> +<br> +"No," said one, who, though seemingly the eldest of the party, +could not have been more than three-and-twenty years of age; "she +is gone out."<br> +<br> +"Is she gone far?" said I.<br> +<br> +"No," said the speaker, kicking up his heels.<br> +<br> +"Where is she gone to?"<br> +<br> +"She's gone to Cauldstrame."<br> +<br> +"How far is that?"<br> +<br> +"Just thirteen miles."<br> +<br> +"Will she be at home to-day?"<br> +<br> +"She may, or she may not."<br> +<br> +"Are you of her people?" said I.<br> +<br> +"No-h," said the fellow, slowly drawing out the word.<br> +<br> +"Can you speak Irish?"<br> +<br> +"No-h; I can't speak Irish," said the fellow, tossing up his +nose, and then flinging up his heels.<br> +<br> +"You know what <i>arragod</i> is?" said I.<br> +<br> +"No-h!"<br> +<br> +"But you know what <i>ruppy</i> is?" said I; and thereupon I +winked and nodded.<br> +<br> +"No-h;" and then up went the nose, and subsequently the +heels.<br> +<br> +"Good day," said I; and turned away; I received no +counter-salutation; but, as I went down the hill, there was none +of the shouting and laughter which generally follow a discomfited +party. They were a hard, sullen, cautious set, in whom a few +drops of Gypsy blood were mixed with some Scottish and a much +larger quantity of low Irish. Between them and their queen a +striking difference was observable. In her there was both fun +and cordiality; in them not the slightest appearance of either. +What was the cause of this disparity? The reason was they were +neither the children nor the grandchildren of real Gypsies, but +only the remote descendants, whereas she was the granddaughter of +two genuine Gypsies, old Will Faa and his wife, whose daughter +was her mother; so that she might be considered all but a +thorough Gypsy; for being by her mother's side a Gypsy, she was +of course much more so than she would have been had she sprung +from a Gypsy father and a Gentile mother; the qualities of a +child, both mental and bodily, depending much less on the father +than on the mother. Had her father been a Faa, instead of her +mother, I should probably never have heard from her lips a single +word of Romany, but found her as sullen and inductile as the +<i>Nokkums</i> on the Green, whom it was of little more use +questioning than so many stones.<br> +<br> +Nevertheless, she had played me the <i>hukni,</i> and that was +not very agreeable; so I determined to be even with her, and by +some means or other to see her again. Hearing that on the next +day, which was Monday, a great fair was to be held in the +neighbourhood of Kelso, I determined to go thither, knowing that +the likeliest place in all the world to find a Gypsy at is a +fair; so I went to the grand cattle-fair of St. George, held near +the ruined castle of Roxburgh, in a lovely meadow not far from +the junction of the Teviot and Tweed; and there sure enough, on +my third saunter up and down, I met my Gypsy. We met in the most +cordial manner - smirks and giggling on her side, smiles and +nodding on mine. She was dressed respectably in black, and was +holding the arm of a stout wench, dressed in garments of the same +colour, who she said was her niece, and a <i>rinkeni rakli.</i> +The girl whom she called <i>rinkeni</i> or handsome, but whom I +did not consider handsome, had much of the appearance of one of +those <i>Irish</i> girls, born in London, whom one so frequently +sees carrying milk-pails about the streets of the metropolis. By +the bye, how is it that the children born in England of Irish +parents account themselves Irish and not English, whilst the +children born in Ireland of English parents call themselves not +English but Irish? Is it because there is ten times more +nationality in Irish blood than in English? After the smirks, +smiles, and salutations were over, I inquired whether there were +many Gypsies in the fair. "Plenty," said she, "plenty Tates, +Andersons, Reeds, and many others. That woman is an Anderson - +yonder is a Tate," said she, pointing to two common-looking +females. "Have they much Romany?" said I. "No," said she, +"scarcely a word." "I think I shall go and speak to them," said +I. "Don't," said she; "they would only be uncivil to you. +Moreover, they have nothing of that kind - on the word of a +<i>rawnie</i> they have not."<br> +<br> +I looked in her eyes; there was nothing of <i>hukni</i> in them, +so I shook her by the hand; and through rain and mist, for the +day was a wretched one, trudged away to Dryburgh to pay my +respects at the tomb of Walter Scott, a man with whose principles +I have no sympathy, but for whose genius I have always +entertained the most intense admiration.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +Footnotes:<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +{1} A Christian.<br> +<br> +{2} A fox.<br> +<br> +{3} "Merripen" means life, and likewise death; even as "collico" +means to-morrow as well as yesterday, and perhaps "sorlo," +evening as well as morning.<br> +<br> +{4} A Black Lovel.<br> +<br> +{5} Going a-tinkering.<br> +<br> +{6} I'll show you about, brother! I'm selling skewers.<br> +<br> +{7} A cup of good ale.<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +End of the Project Gutenberg eText Romano Lavo-Lil<br> +</p> +</body> +</html> + + diff --git a/old/rmlav10h.zip b/old/rmlav10h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..db9108a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/rmlav10h.zip |
