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#177773 06/25/2008 1:46 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1
stranger
stranger
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Does anyone know the origins of the word 'chiack', which in Australia means to tease and banter, but I think sometimes has a 'harder' meaning in the UK?

(See my blog post http://daysontheclaise.blogspot.com/2008/06/crow-brothers.html which has prompted this query)

Susan W #177774 06/25/2008 2:00 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
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OED gives it as a variant of "chi-hike", while Random House unabr. has "prob. alter. of cheek". in any case, jeering and banter can always become nasty.

-joe (one of the nasty boys) friday

Susan W #177792 06/26/2008 2:32 AM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
old hand
old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
I always thought it was 'shiack' - that's how it's pronounced - I don't know that I've ever seen it written down in a sentence. It means to skylark around, and maybe it is partly a homophoone of that word and another word combined? I don't know.


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