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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread blagging #121835 02/01/2004 3:33 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 Before there was "blogging", there was "blagging": blagging SYLLABICATION: blag·ging PRONUNCIATION: blgng NOUN: Caribbean Informal talk, usually among men, occurring in a public place: “the street corner, the rum shop, the crossroads, wherever hanging out, or . . . blagging, takes place” (Roger D. Abrahams). ETYMOLOGY: From French blaguer, to talk through one's hat, from blague, bladder, pouch, of Germanic origin, ultimately from Latin bulga, leather bag. See bulge. The only use of "blaguer" I have encountered is "Pas de blagues" = Cut out the jokes"/ Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: blagging #121836 02/01/2004 6:08 PM Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 3,230 Te Ika a Maui sjmaxq Carpal Tunnel sjmaxq Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 3,230 Te Ika a Maui blagging has been used here before, but in its UK meaning, rather than the Caribbean one. It means, according to one site: Verb. To lie, or use clever talk with profit as an objective, to wheedle or persuade for gain. E.g."I blagged a lift to work with my sister but had to get the bus home." Noun. 1. A con, a 'scam'. 2. A violent robbery or raid. noho ora mai http://maxqnzs.com/References.html Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: blagging #121837 02/02/2004 6:41 PM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,757 maverick Carpal Tunnel maverick Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,757 Yes, that's the usage I woudl recognise, and the spelling. But it seems like two separate meanings may have become conflated at some point... blag,n. slang. [Etym. unknown.] Robbery (with violence); theft. 1885 Session Paper 30 July 471 There has been another blag down round here. 1936 J. Curtis Gilt Kid 22, I don't want to say ‘O.K.’ and then find out that I've let myself in for+doing a blag on the crown jewels. 1960 Observer 24 Jan. 5/1 The top screwing teams, the ones who went in for the really big blags, violent robberies. Hence blag v., to rob (with violence); to steal. So "blagger, one who blags. 1933 C. E. Leach On Top of Underworld x. 137 Blag, snatch a watch chain right off. 1938 F. D. Sharpe S. of Flying Squad i. 15 Blaggers, screwsmen, [etc.]+abound in the Underworld of London. Ibid. 329 ‘Johnny blagged the till’—Johnny took the till. 1945 J. Henry What Price Crime? 93 Another is known as the ‘blagger’ or ‘snatcher’. These are usually young louts who specialize in snatching ladies' handbags and bolting off. Compare this to the entry for blague: [Fr.] Pretentious falsehood, ‘humbug.’ 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. (1857) II. iii. v. vi. 313 The largest, most inspiring piece of blague manufactured, for some centuries. 1865 Day of Rest Oct. 580 That is all blague. 1886 Huxley in Pall Mall G. 13 Apr. 13/2 It believes in shibboleths and sentimental blague. OED2 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 Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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