Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4
#17282 01/27/01 07:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 427
addict
OP Offline
addict
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 427
These are two of my partner's favourite words to describe something slightly shabby or disreputable. I seem to have acquired them from him, and being a non-native speaker of English, I never doubted them as perfectly good English words. A friend of my partner's, however, insists that these words are not real English and he has made them up. Does anyone else know these words and use them?

P.S. If the answer is "no", then we'll just have to promote their usage all over the world... they are such beautiful, expressive words!



#17283 01/27/01 08:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear Marianna: It seems to me that neologisms are more likely to catch on, if there is some sort of clue in their sound to suggest origin. Perhaps skanky could combine features of skunk and cranky. Manky is a bit harder. I am thinking of manicky and manque, but can't see any blending of those two.
There used to be a cliche about "Run it up the flagpole, and see if anybody salutes it." I can't quite manage a salute. wwh


#17284 01/27/01 08:23 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 87
N
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
N
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 87
Skanky - yes, I've used it and my friends use it. I find the word rather unsavory and apply it accordingly! As to "manky," haven't heard that one! In what part of the world is it being used?


#17285 01/27/01 08:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 130
S
member
Offline
member
S
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 130
I've heard both the adjective skanky and the noun skank for 20+ years now. They both refer to promiscuity and uncleanliness (an unGodly combination!). As I recall they can be used in reference to 'skanks' of either sex. Manky I think is a bit newer, least 'round these parts.


#17286 01/27/01 08:33 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
W
wow Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Skank is a steady-paced dance performed to reggae music or -- in American slang -- a decidedly disreputable person.
It is quite common to make a sound-alike nonsense of the original word as a way to disparage it
Skanky-manky : meaning "so you are dancing around this, it doesn't change the fact you have to face it."
Or : "So this friend is a skank, makes no difference if you like her."
Or : "This is an off-kilter proposition so what difference does that make to what has to be done." Skanky-manky!
Those on this board with better poetic talents could probably give you more examples in this interpretation ... irreneverthelessgardless it is one meaning I am familiar with.
Any other info out there?
wow



#17287 01/27/01 08:34 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
skanky? manky?? good heavens... I'm going to quote "A Dictionary of Slang (slang and colloquialisms of the UK)" for you:
>>skanky Adj. Dirty, unnattractive, ugly, smelly <<
>>manky Adj. Scruffy, dirty, distasteful, disgusting. <<

in usage:
she's a skanky, manky ol' whoor...

"beautiful, expressive words" indeed.

#17288 01/27/01 09:15 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
J
jmh Offline
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
J
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
I'm very fond of "manky", as in "this bread looks a bit manky, I'm going to throw it out". If you had a cut and it looked like it needed antibiotics it would be "a bit manky", accompanied by screwed up face. I was going to say that a person would not be manky, only things but now I think about it someone badly in need of a bath could be described as manky.


#17289 01/27/01 10:30 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
tsuwm and DougS - I glad you's said it first, for I have never heard the word skanky describe anything but "whores".


#17290 01/27/01 10:51 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 427
addict
OP Offline
addict
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 427
Goodness. Our use of skanky and manky is extremely mild in comparison with the examples that have been proposed. In the same line as JMH, I'd say that potted plants start looking rather manky if you don't water them for ten days. And my boots might be skanky after a walk in a muddy area, for instance... A person wouldn't be manky... but yes, you could say someone is skanky if s/he looks unkempt, I guess.

The musical connection is interesting, and I do realise now that I am familiar with that Marley song "Easy Skanking"... thanks wow.

In any case, I'm glad to see more people know and use these words. And I still find them beautifully expressive, even if semantically they denote something not too pleasant!




#17291 01/28/01 01:42 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 130
S
member
Offline
member
S
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 130
Wow's musical connection is intriguing. One of the usages I found for skank was someone who refuses to face their responsibilities. Makes sense with her skanky-manky 'dancing around the issue' premise.
I have a feeling though, that this usage started in the UK or one of the two major punk centers in the US, NYC or LA. The term skanking was appropriated from the UK based Jamaican community as early as the late 70s, possibly earlier. My punk rock buddies and I used the term skanking for dancing in Virginia, cultural backwater that it was, as early as 1979. It wouldn't surprise me if one of it's original meanings, that of smelliness or dirtiness, was used by punk rock kids to describe their nasty, sweaty selves after a night of dancing. The rest may have just evolved from there.


Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 444 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5