Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Feb 11, 2012 05:34
12 yrs ago
English term
tenie
English
Art/Literary
Slang
In "Theodore Cyphon, or, The benevolent Jew: a novel", Volume 3, George Walker, 1796 there's the phrase
"... but continued on in the louting country gait, which I could imitate with exactness.
"Halloo! you tenie," cried one, "The top of the morning to you. ..."
http://books.google.ie/books?id=AGw1AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA21&dq="I c...
Here the character is walking in Essex, disguised as a peasant.
"Tenie" seems to be slang for a something like country bumpkin, possibly with an Irish connection.
Has anyone come across the word?
"... but continued on in the louting country gait, which I could imitate with exactness.
"Halloo! you tenie," cried one, "The top of the morning to you. ..."
http://books.google.ie/books?id=AGw1AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA21&dq="I c...
Here the character is walking in Essex, disguised as a peasant.
"Tenie" seems to be slang for a something like country bumpkin, possibly with an Irish connection.
Has anyone come across the word?
Responses
+3
1 hr
English term (edited):
tenny
Selected
tenny
NS OED lists an adjective 'tenny' (or 'tenné') as a heraldic colour meaning tawny, orange-brown, or bright chestnut. (attested to in the 16th c.)
I suppose it is just possible that back then in the 18th c. it might still have been in use in everyday language, presumably here referring to the tanned, weather-beaten apperance of people who work outdoors?
I suppose it is just possible that back then in the 18th c. it might still have been in use in everyday language, presumably here referring to the tanned, weather-beaten apperance of people who work outdoors?
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Vaddy Peters
: it may be an analogue to modern US "red-neck" (or "goat-rope" in some states)
26 mins
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Thanks, Vaddy! That connection hadn't occured to me.
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Charles Davis
: No alternatives in sight, and plausible for the reason you suggest: the very strong socio-historical association of whiteness with social refinement (when it was not cool to have a tan).
1 hr
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Thanks, Charles!
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Phong Le
18 hrs
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Thanks, Phong Le!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks Tony! That was a tough one!"
Discussion
Tawny/sun-tanned certainly seems plausible.
"Of a yellowish dark color, like things tanned, or persons who are sun-burnt; as a tawny Moor or Spaniard; the tawny sons of Numidia; the tawny lion."
http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definitions/tawny?...
Tennyson is derived untimately from Dionysius via Denis. Saint Denis is known as San Dionisio in Spanish. He it was who supposedly walked two leagues with his severed head, giving rise to the immortal remark of Mme du Deffand: "Il n'y a que le premier pas qui coûte".