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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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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"/
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Joined: Jul 2003
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230 |
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.
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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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
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