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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Netherkens #7001 09/26/2000 5:06 AM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4 Hobart, Tasmania Augusta stranger Augusta stranger Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4 Hobart, Tasmania This word appears in Bryce Courtenay's novel "The Potato Factory". On checking the OED, I find no reference. The word "Nether" I assume is "lower" and "Ken" from "to know". The context he uses seems to suggest a "Doss-house". Any ideas? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Netherkens #7002 09/26/2000 12:01 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie Carpal Tunnel Jackie Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky I seem to recall that word being in "The Quincunx", though not sure. From the context, I took it as an allusion to the netherworld, in this case referring to the filthiest, nastiest part of the city. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Netherkens #7003 09/26/2000 4:58 PM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass tsuwm Carpal Tunnel tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass but 'ken' is also a slang term - a rowdy house for thieves and beggars [W3 says "probably short for kennel"] Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Netherkens #7004 09/26/2000 10:37 PM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4 Hobart, Tasmania Augusta stranger Augusta stranger Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4 Hobart, Tasmania Jackie, on re-reading the context he uses it in, your allusion would seem correct by "referring to the filthiest, nastiest part of the city". The city in this case being the East End of London. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Netherkens #7005 09/27/2000 8:41 AM Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 2,204 RhubarbCommando Pooh-Bah RhubarbCommando Pooh-Bah Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 2,204 The city in this case being the East End of London. In which case tsuwm is undoubtedly correct (is he ever anything else, I hear you cry) Mayhew uses the term frequently to describe common lodging houses (i.e., doss-houses) in mid C19 London. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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