Originally Posted By: zmjezhd
was it "The Shining"?

It was. Yob, if I am not mistaken, is from Polari, a kind of cant.


'Fraid not, zm - it comes from Cockney "backslang", a cant to confuse police, informers and others from whom the denizens of East London wished to hide their intentions (mostly nefarious!) and thoughts (mostly unprintable!)[google "backslang" - there is a wealth of sites explaining it]
So,
YOB = boy
ELRIG= girl
YENOM = Money
TAF SAY = Fat ***!
NAMOW = Woman
DELO =Old
YEEBAB = Baby

This is in addition to Cockney Rhyming slang, like "apples and pears" = Stairs; "whistle and flute" = suit; "bread and honey" = money. This was made less comprehensible by only the first word of the pharase being used, making it virtually incomprehensible to the uninitiated!
E.G.
" I went darn the frog in me new titfer and best whistle with plenty o' bread in me sky, on me way to the four, when me delo namow comes arter me!"

= " I went down the road (frog & toad) in my new hat (tit for tat) and best suit (above) with plenty of money (above) in my pocket (sky rocket)on my way to the races (four aces) when my old woman (i.e., wife) comes after me."

Last edited by Rhubarb Commando; 11/18/11 01:30 PM. Reason: typos
I'm immortal until proven otherwise