Ripper-Related Victorian Vocabulary

[Archaic]

Etymology of "Nark"

I was curious about the history of the term Nark, so decided to see if I could find a documented use of it before the late 1850's.

I found this English slang term from 1835: "NARK, a hard-hearted or savage person".

So I thought that must be the origin of the later term meaning "police informer", and then I found this which seemed to confirm it:

1874: "Knark, a hard-hearted or savage person. The word is now usually spelt NARK, and is applied to the lowest class of informers."

So I thought that clinched it- but then I found this from 1901:

' ETYMOLOGY OF "NARK"
In your review of the latest volume of the 'N.E.D.' (ante, p. 626) you say, "It is interesting to find the slang 'nark' (a police spy) identified with 'knark' ('a hard-hearted, unfeeling person,' cf. Danish knark, an old crabbed person)."

Unfortunately, like not a few other interesting etymologies, this is incorrect. A policeman's "nark," or " copper's nark," is the same thing as a policeman's "nose." The verbs "to nark" and "to nose," for "to spy," are also synonyms.

This gives us the clue to the right explanation, which is that nark, or in more scientific orthography "nak", is the Gipsy (Romany) word for "nose."


So there you go..."Nark" is apparently derived from the Gypsy word "Nak" or "Nose". '

Whew!
Archaic

(PS: I believe 'N.E.D.' stands for 'New English Dictionary'.)

[Rubyretro]

I've done my research, Jacob Isaacs was Jack the Nicker!
All the best.

[/QUOTE]

Jack/Knicker ? (Jack slash knicker)

[martin wilson]

Thanks,that tune has been playing in my head for a while now.

I've done my research, Jacob Isaacs was Jack the Nicker!
All the best.

[Archaic]

"Balling the Jack"

Thanks everyone.

Hi Martin. Those are good ones. Nice play on the idea of being "christened".

Watches had their inscriptions erased & sometimes new phony inscriptions added so they could be quickly sold after having been stolen- often within 24 hours. Same with their works. Watch theft was quite an industry.

Slang words employing the term 'Jack' are astoundingly common. An American example is the phrase "balling the jack" form the America. It means "to travel at full-speed," such as by train.

From railroad slang it became a Ragtime song & dance c. 1913, then via the Blues became sexual slang.

You may recall "balling the jack" is used in the great boogie-woogie song 'Choo-Choo-Ch-Boogie'.

Archaic

[martin wilson]

I knew someone in the navy,and both forms of jolly would suit him (sorry Clark,only joking!)

More from James Greenwood.

To erase the name and number from a watch and replace them with one that is fictitious - Christening Jack

To remove the works from one watch and replace them with another- Churching Jack

All the best.

[Cogidubnus]

Presumably that explains why the bullocks always rowed in the jollyboat...I've wondered about that for years...

On the other hand, having googled it, perhaps there's not a connection after all...oh well, it was a nice thought anyway

Dave

[Rubyretro]

I know the term "bullies" (from all those folk songs ) -so did it come from 'bullocks' ?

[Cogidubnus]

Bullocks

Oh sorry...it was an 18th/19th Century sailor's nickname for his Royal Marine colleagues on board...sailors were meant to be quick, nimble and flexible, whilst the Marines were meant to be stolid, rigidly disciplined and slightly clumpy...those were the stereotypes anyway...a touch of the old Hornblowers I'm afraid!

Dave

[Archaic]

Presumably that explains why the bullocks always rowed in the jollyboat...I've wondered about that for years...

What bullocks?

Archaic

[Cogidubnus]

Hi Colin

Presumably that explains why the bullocks always rowed in the jollyboat...I've wondered about that for years...

Cheers

Dave

[Bridewell]

Jolly

Well,perhaps he did it just for jolly wouldnt you,
From James Greenwood The 7 Curses Of London 1869

One who assists at a sham street row for the purpose of creating a mob and promoting robbery from the person - jolly.

All the best.

Hi Martin,

'Jolly' was also naval slang for a marine.

Regards, Bridewell.

[Archaic]

'Casual Ward', 'A Night in the Workhouse' & 'The Amateur Casual'

Oops, gotta get back to Ripper-related stuff!

Here is the definition of 'Casual Ward here for the benefit of new readers; this definition comes from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary-

'CASUAL WARD': a ward in which vagrants seeking temporary public relief are detained for brief specified periods."

This article might be of interest; it gives the background story for Greenwood's groundbreaking essay 'A Night In the Workhouse.' This was published in W.T. Stead's journal 'The Review of Reviews', 1893.


"THE AMATEUR CASUAL."

It was winter, and the question of the homeless and destitute was beginning to attract attention in the press. It occurred to Mr. Greenwood that it would be good business to get some one to spend a night in a casual ward. On reaching home Mr. Greenwood suggested to his brother James the expediency of undertaking the enterprise himself. His brother, who was a rough diamond, did not by any means jump at the proposal; which is not surprising, considering how exceedingly disagreeable a business it was. However, good nature prevailed, and good pay was offered for a good piece of work. "How much? "asked Mr. James. The answer was, "Thirty pounds down, and more if it turns out well."

After some further parleying, his brother decided to see what he could do. A friend of his, a young stockbroker named Bittlestone, expressed his willingness to take part in the adventure. By the sheerest good luck they happened to select Lambeth Workhouse. There seems to have been no. reason why Lambeth was chosen, but, as it happened, it was the very place which was most suitable for their purpose. The casual wards at Lambeth Workhouse would only accommodate sixty-one casuals. Any applicants over this number were placed in an open shed, without warmth, ‘but with plenty of ventilation’.

Here a herd of homeless wretches were stowed away, to pass the night as best they could. Mr. James Greenwood and his companion got themselves up in the most approved style of the regular dosser, and one bitterly cold January night Mr. Frederick Greenwood drove them to within easy walking distance of the casual ward. As he drove away, he saw his brother and Mr. Bittlestone sitting on the stones shivering, without any greatcoats, waiting until the attendant answered the bell. He drove home wondering how it would turn out, and not without some compassionate qualms for the misery which his emissaries would be suffering. Next morning he was there with the carriage, supplied with sandwiches and wine, ready to pick up his amateur casuals. After a time he saw two miserable looking objects walking down the street. "I never saw," said Mr. Greenwood, talking about it afterwards, "so great a change wrought in a single night in the - appearance of any human beings. When they went in they were well disguised, but any close observer would have perceived that they were got up for the occasion. After spending sixteen hours in the cold, squalor, and obscene brutality of the casual ward, they seemed absolutely to have become confirmed tramps and vagabonds."

When they got into the carriage they gave way to some natural exclamations of disgust, the only effective reply being sherry and sandwiches. After a while they calmed down, but they were still smarting under the recollection of the horrors through which they had passed, and it was not until they had got home, had a bath, and were comfortably warmed and fed, that they could be induced to talk quietly about their experience. Mr. James Greenwood then retired to write his story, which he knew well how to do, though he was greatly assisted by the independent observations of his companion. Four eyes were better than two, and one memory assisted the other.

The story being well got together (though much was omitted as "unfit for publication"), the editor retouched it by the light of what he had heard of the visit, as well as what had been written about it; and always with intent to avoid suspicion of exaggeration. Mr. Greenwood had good cause to be careful over this contribution. He had found the knife with which to cut the Pall Mall Gazette free. "



The phrase "much was omitted as "unfit for publication"" has always intrigued me; what was omitted? Greenwood also writes, "The conversation was horrible, the tales that were told more horrible still, and worse than either (though not by any means the most infamous things to be heard—I dare not even hint at them)" and "One word in conclusion. I have avoided the detail of horrors infinitely more revolting than anything that appears in this pamphlet."

Obviously Greenwood is referring to something that would greatly offend the sensibilities of the Pall Mall Gazette's 'respectable' readers. I'm pretty sure he's referring to sexual matters; certainly discussion and maybe activity.

Best regards,
Archaic

[Stephen Thomas]

Funny enough I could've sung this to my first wife around this time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7dyjo4aas4&feature=relmfu

What a great song and a deserved #1.

New Orleans Rock n' Roll legend Clarence 'Frogman' Henry did a great cover version....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx71z8-cOvI

[martin wilson]

Thanks for the kind words Archaic and Ruby, and thanks for posting the workhouse article, fairly conclusively proves where the phrase comes from.
James Greenwood is a good writer with a wonderful ear for voices, I'm plodding through The 7 curses on prostitution, particularly the 'dress lodgers' followed everywhere and not allowed gin,doesnt sound like our ladies!
I missed from All The Year Round that 'Boss' was being used in 1874, it confirms it as an American import,14 years before 1888.
All the best.

[Cogidubnus]

There ain't no pleasing you

Funny enough I could've sung this to my first wife around this time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7dyjo4aas4&feature=relmfu

Dave