New Post
Search
Help[Opinions] Re: Isn't this a slur? (warning: use of racial slurs)
in reply to a message by erb816
I've never heard of "Pike" / "Pikey" (I'm from England). Is this a regional word?
I've heard of the common "Gypsy" slur, but what is most common where I'm from is "Gyppo".
I say "where I'm from" I mean "from the people around me who actively continue to use racial slurs who are admittedly not many, but are mostly white men over 50". So perhaps the question I should be asking is "is this a new word?"
I've heard of the common "Gypsy" slur, but what is most common where I'm from is "Gyppo".
I say "where I'm from" I mean "from the people around me who actively continue to use racial slurs who are admittedly not many, but are mostly white men over 50". So perhaps the question I should be asking is "is this a new word?"
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
I first heard "pikey" in the late 90s/early 2000s, possibly when I went to university where I came into contact with people from other parts of the UK. Where I grew up "gyppo" was the usual insult for Gypsies or anyone poor /scruffy.
Pike itself reminds me of the Dad's Army character and also the fish.
Pike itself reminds me of the Dad's Army character and also the fish.
1
If you've ever seen Snatch (which is from 2000), you should know it. I think that where I learned the word. The first mention of Pikey meaning a Gypsy is from before 1850, so it isn't a new thing. I'm surprised it isn't a nationwide known thing. I thought it was. As far as I'm aware of Pike isn't used like that, just Pikey. Still, Pike reminded me of it.
1
It might be regional, but it’s not new. I learnt it when I moved to London in 2010 and it wasn’t new then.
1