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THE   DIALECT 


ENGLISH     GYPSIES 


BY 

B.  C.  SMART,  M.D.,  &  H.  T.  CROFTON. 


SECOND   EDITION. 
REVISED   AND    GREATLY    ENLARGED. 


LONDON : 
AS  HER    AND     CO., 

13,  BEDFORD  STREET,   CO  VENT  GARDEN. 
1S75. 

{All   Rights    Reserved.) 


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V 


TO 

DR.   ALEXANDRE   G.   PASPATI, 

OF  CONSTANTINOPLE,    AUTHOR  OF 

'etudes  sur  les  tchinghianes  de  l' empire  ottoman,' 
IN  token  of  their  high  appreciation 

OF   HIS   VALUABLE   WORK, 

AND    IN   ACKNOWLEDGMENT   OF  THE   GREAT  ASSISTANCE 

THEY   HAVE   DERIVED   THEREFROM 

IN    PROSECUTING   KINDRED   RESEARCHES, 

THIS   MONOGRAPH, 

ON   THE   DIALECT   OF  THE   ENGLISH   GYPSIES, 

IS   WITH    HIS    KIND    PERMISSION, 
INSCRIBED   BY 

THE  AUTHORS. 


NOTE   ON   ERRATA. 


The  critical  reader  is  particularly  referred  to  the 
list  of  "  Corrigenda "  at  the  end  of  this  volume,  to 
rectify  various  typographical  and  other  inaccuracies 
which  have  been  inadvertently  overlooked  in  revising 
the  proofs. 


PREFACE. 


LITTLE  requires  to  be  said  by  way  of  preface  to 
the  present  work,  unless  it  be  in  reference  to  its 
conjoint  authorship.  Although  termed  a  Second  Edition, 
and  so  far  as  one  of  its  authors  is  concerned  being  but 
an  extension  of  his  previously  published  researches,  yet 
it  is  far  from  being  a  r^iauffe  of  a  prior  publication. 
It  has  received  such  additions  to  its  material,  and  under- 
gone such  changes  in  its  arrangement,  that  we  think  it 
may  fairly  be  described,  in  the  prevalent  language  of  the 
day,  as  having  passed  through  a  process  of  evolution 
from  a  lower  to  a  higher  stage  of  development.  The 
infusion  into  the  work  of  fresh  blood,  and  the  contact 
with  younger  enthusiasm,  have  stirred  a  somewhat  stag- 
nating interest,  and  awakened  a  zymotic  activity,  which 
have  led  to  combined  and  successful  efforts  to  obtain 
further  facts  to  fill  former  vacancies. 

From  a  critical  point  of  view,  a  book  is  apt  to  suffer 
from  the  confusion  of  style  and  want  of  unity  which  are 
the  almost  necessary  features  of  literary  partnership. 
Such  considerations,  however,  are  of  little  moment  in 
connection  with  a  scientific  treatise  which  depends  for 
its  value,  not  upon  manner,  but  upon  matter.  There  are 
even  in  questions  of  fact  positive  advantages  to  be  gained 
by   collaboration,   and    notably   the    increased    authority 


VI  PREFACE. 

which  a  statement  derives  from  the  corroboration  of  a 
second  observer.  Accordingly,  we  have  in  most  instances 
carefully  tested  each  other's  results  before  adopting  them 
as  our  own. 

In  the  following  pages  we  have  endeavoured  accurately 
to  record  facts  as  we  found  them,  and  to  present  them  to 
our  readers  untinctured  by  the  personal  medium  through 
which  they  are  transmitted.  Whatever  be  the  merits  or 
defects  of  our  undertaking,  we  claim  an  equal  share  of 
the  praise  or  blame  which  may  be  bestowed  upon  it. 

BATH  C.  SMART. 

HENRY  THOMAS  CROFTON. 

Manchester, 

June  it^th,  1874. 


INTRODUCTION. 


IN  the  year  1861  a  short  paper  on  the  "Language  of 
the  English  Gypsies"  was  read  by  one  of  the  authors 
of  the  present  work  before  the  Ethnological  Section  of 
the  British  Association,  then  holding  its  annual  meeting 
at  Manchester.  This  paper  was  chiefly  based  upon  a 
vocabulary  which  was  submitted  to  the  inspection  of  the 
members  of  the  Section,  and  which  the  author,  at  that 
time  a  very  young  man  engaged  in  the  study  of  medi- 
cine, had  himself  collected  in  the  tents  of  various  Gypsy 
tribes.  Subsequently  this  vocabulary  was  presented  to  the 
London  Philological  Society,  in  conjunction  with  some 
remarks  upon  Grammar,  and  is  to  be  found  printed  in  its 
Transactions  for  the  year  1 86^,  where  it  is  entitled  "  The 
Dialect  of  the  English  Gypsies,  by  Bath  C.  Smart,  M.D." 
Since  the  publication  of  this  contribution  towards  a  fuller 
knowledge  of  English  Romanes,  little  has  been  written 
on  the  subject  in  this  country  of  any  scientific  preten- 
sion, until  the  recent  works  of  Borrow  and  Leland  issued 
from  the  press.  Both  these  writers  have  dealt  with  Gypsy 
topics  in  their  own  peculiar  way.  The  picturesque  man- 
nerism of  Mr.  Borrow's  well-known  style,  his  roving  ex- 
perience, and  evident  sympathy  with  Bohemian  life  and 
character,  impart  a  charm  to  all  his  works  quite  inde- 
pendent of  their  linguistic  value.     The  latest  production 


VUl  INTRODUCTION. 

of  his  pen  is  the  first  systematic  treatise  he  has  written 
on  the  English  Gypsy  dialect,  which  is  only  referred  to 
casually  in  his  previous  publications.  Whatever  be  the 
judgment  passed  upon  his  labours  from  a  philological 
point  of  view,  to  him  must  be  conceded  the  crown  as  the 
facile  princeps  of  English  Gypsy  writers.  His  infectious 
enthusiasm  awakens  in  the  hearts  of  even  staid,  respect- 
able readers  a  dangerous  longing  for  the  freedom  of  the 
wilds  ;  and  disposes  them  to  admire,  if  not  to  emulate, 
the  example  of  the  Oxford  scholar,  whose  romantic  story 
Mr.  Matthew  Arnold  has  commemorated  in  elegant  verse. 
He,  chafing  within  the  "studious  walls"  of  his  college, 
sick  of  the  culture  "  which  gives  no  bliss,"  at  length  broke 
through  the  restrictions  and  conventional  proprieties  of 
his  stately  Alma  Mater,  and,  yielding  to  the  "free  on- 
ward impulse"  of  a  nomadic  nature, 

"  One  summer  morn  forsook 
His  friends,  and  went  to  learn  the  Gypsy  lore, 
And  roamed  the  world  with  that  wild  brotherhood, 
And  came,  as  most  men  deemed,  to  little  good." 

Mr,  Leland  in  his  work  has  subordinated  the  scientific 
to  the  popular  clement ;  and  in  so  doing  has  evoked,  as 
he  probably  intended,  a  wider  interest  in  his  subject  than 
if  he  had  confined  his  remarks  within  severer  limits. 

The  books  of  both  these  authors  will  well  repay  the 
perusal  of  those  interested  in  Gypsy  literature,  but  still  . 
neither  of  them  has  exhausted  the  material  to  be  obtained 
by  a  diligent  investigator  in  the  same  field  of  research. 
Much  good  grain  yet  remains  to  be  gathered  in  before 
the  harvest  be  completed,  and  the  record  of  this  remark- 
able race  be  written  in  its  full  entirety.  Here  lies  the 
raison  d'etre  of  our  own  little  treatise.  We  believe  we 
have  new  matter  to  place  before  our  readers,  having  col- 


INTRODUCTION.  IX 

lected  sufficient  data  to  warrant  us  in  attempting,  what 
has  not  been  done  before  in  this  country,  a  tolerably 
complete  exposition  of  the  grammatical  forms  and  con- 
struction of  the  *  deepest '  extant  English  Romanes, 
namely,  that  spoken  by  the  oldest  members  of  the 
families  most  renowned  among  the  Gypsies  themselves  for 
a  knowledge  of  their  ancient  tongue. 

These  *  fathers  in  Israel,'  the  'jinomeskros'  or  pundits 
of  their  tribe,  are  well  acquainted  with  words  and  idioms 
which  are  unfamiliar  to  their  sons,  and  will  be  almost 
unintelligible  to  the  generation  which  shall  come  after 
them.  Little  else  than  bare  root-words  are  to  be  ob- 
tained from  the  modernized  Gypsy  of  the  period ;  but  in 
conversing  with  his  patriarchal  sire, 

"  Whose  spirit  is  a  chronicle 
Of  strange  and  occult  and  forgotten  things," 

we  have  often  been  rewarded  by  hearing  archaic  terms 
and  obsolete  inflexions  which,  like  the  bones  and  eggs 
of  the  Great  Auk,  or  the  mummified  fragments  of  a  Dodo, 
are  the  sole  relics  of  extinct  forms.  These  need  to  be 
eagerly  listened  for  and  carefully  treasured  as  the  broken 
utterances  of  an  expiring  language. 

Among  these  conservators  of  ancient  ways,  we  have 
met  with  no  Gypsy  anywhere  who  can  be  compared  with 
our  friend  Sylvester  Boswell,  for  purity  of  speech  and 
idiomatic  style.  No  'posh-and-posh'  mumper  is  he,  but  a 
genuine  specimen  of  a  fine  old  *  Romani  chal ' — a  regular 
blue-blooded  hidalgo — his  father  a  Boswell,  his  mother 
a  Heme — his  pedigree  unstained  by  base  'gaujo'  admix- 
ture. We  have  been  especially  indebted  to  him  both  for 
his  willingness  to  impart  information  and  for  the  intelli- 
gence which  has  enabled  him  satisfactorily  to  elucidate 
several  doubtful  points  in  the  language.     We  mention  his 


X  INTRODUCTION. 

name  here  with  emphasis,  because  he  himself  wishes  for 
some  public  acknowledgment  of  his  services,  and  because 
we  have  pleasure  in  claiming  for  him  a  *  double  first'  in 
classical  honours,  as  a  Romanes  scholar  of  the  'deepest' 
dye.  Sylvester  habitually  uses  in  his  conversation  what 
he  calls  the  "double  {i.e.,  inflected)  words,"  and  prides 
himself  on  so  doing.  He  declares  that  he  speaks  just 
like  his  father  and  mother  did  before  him,  but  that  many 
of  the  younger  folk  around  him  do  not  understand  him 
when  he  uses  the  old  forms  current  in  his  early  days. 
According  to  him,  these  degenerate  scions  of  an  ancient 
stock  only  speak  the  "dead  {i.e.,  unin fleeted)  words,"  and 
say,  when  at  a  loss  for  an  expression,  "  Go  to  Wester, — 
he  speaks  dictionary."  He  aflirms  that  none  can  use  the 
double  words  like  some  of  the  Hemes  and  Boswells ;  that 
most  of  the  old-fashioned  '  Romani  chals'  are  either  dead 
or  have  left  England  for  America  or  elsewhere;  but  that 
nevertheless  some  few  remain  scattered  over  the  country, 
though  even  they  have  lost  and  forgotten  a  great  deal* 
through  constant  intercourse  with  other  Gypsies  who  only 
speak  the  broken  dialect.  To  tell  the  truth,  Wester  him- 
self occasionally  lapses  from  his  lofty  pedestal,  and  we 
have  noted  from  his  lips  examples  of  very  dog- Romanes. 
He  would,  however,  often  recover  himself  from  these  slips, 
and  arrest  our  reporting  pencil  in  mid-career  with  "  Stop, 
don't  put  that  down!"  and,  after  thinking  for  a  moment, 
would  tell  us  the  same  thing  in  'deep'  Romanes,  or  even 
find  on  further  reflection  "in  the  lowest  deep  a  deeper 
still." 

There  are  several  dialects  of  the  Anglo-Romanes. 
Sylvester  Boswell  recounts  six :  ist,  that  spoken  by  the 
New  Forest  Gypsies,  having  Hampshire  for  its  head- 
quarters ;  2nd,  the  South-Eastern,  including  Kent  and  the 


INTRODUCTION.  XI 

neighbourhood ;  3rd,  the  Metropolitan,  that  of  London 
and  its  environs;  4th,  the  East  Anglian,  extending  over 
Norfolk,  Suffolk,  Cambs,  Lincolnshire,  Northampton,  and 
Leicestershire;  5th,  that  spoken  in  the  ' Korlo-tem,*  or 
Black  Country,  having  Birmingham  for  its  capital;  6th, 
the  Northern.  We  do  not  altogether  agree  vi^ith  this 
classification,  but  it  is  interesting  as  a  Gypsy's  own,  and 
we  give  it  for  what  it  is  worth. 

In  addition,  there  is  the  Kirk  Yetholm  or  Scotch  Gypsy 
dialect,  which  is  very  corrupt,  and  anything  but  copious. 
Lastly,  there  is  the  Welsh  Gypsy  dialect  spoken  by  the 
Woods,  Williamses,  Joneses,  etc.,  who  have  a  reputation 
for  speaking  'deep,'  but  who  mix  Romani  words  with 
*Lavenes,*  i.e.,  the  language  of  the  Principality. 

For  practical  purposes,  the  English  Gypsy  tongue  may 
be  conveniently  considered  as  consisting  of  two  great 
divisions,  viz., — 

1st.  The  Common  wide-spread  corrupt  dialect,  "quod 
semper,  quod  ubique,  quod  ab  omnibus,"  containing  but 
few  inflexions,  and  mixed  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  with 
English,  and  conforming  to  the  English  method  in  the 
arrangement  of  the  sentences.  This  is  the  vulgar  tongue 
in  every-day  use  by  ordinary  Gypsies.' 

2nd.  The  'Deep'  or  old  dialect,  known  only  to  a  few 
aged  Gypsies,  which  contains  many  inflexions  and  idioms ; 
which  has  its  own  'ordo  verborum;'  which  closely  re- 
sembles the  principal  Continental  Gypsy  dialects,  e.g.,  the 
German,  Turkish,  etc.;  and  which  contains  a  minimum 
admixture  of  English  words.  This  last,  which  will  soon 
cease  to  exist,  is  par  excellence  the  Gypsy  language,  of 
which  the  first  is  merely  the  corruption. 

Dialectical  variations,  whether  local  or  tribal,  un- 
doubtedly exist,  and  may  perhaps  help   to   explain  the 


XU  INTRODUCTION. 

discrepancies  to  be  found  in  the  writings  of  the  different 
authors  who  have  treated  on  the  language  of  the  English 
Gypsies.  We  think  there  is  now  sufficient  evidence  to 
enable  us  to  estimate  the  nature  and  extent  of  topo- 
graphical peculiarities.  The  materials  most  available  for 
this  purpose  are :  ist,  Dr.  Richard  Bright 's  imperfect  and 
scanty,  but  at  the  same  time  valuable,  examples  of  the 
dialect  of  the  Norwood  Gypsies,  published  in  1818;  2nd, 
Colonel  Harriot's  very  excellent  vocabulary  obtained  from 
the  New  Forest  Gypsies,  published  in  1830;  3rd,  our  own 
vocabulary,  principally  collected  in  the  North  of  England, 
but  partly  in  the  Eastern  Counties,  first  pubHshed  in  1863; 
4th,  the  recent  work  of  Mr.  Leland,  who  appears  to  have 
conducted  his  researches  principally  in  and  around  London, 
which  may  be  taken  to  illustrate  the  pecuHarities  of  the 
Metropolitan  district,  published  in  1873  ;  lastly,  the 
"Lavo-lil"  of  Mr.  Borrow,  published  in  1874,  who,  being 
an  old  resident  in  Norfolk,  might  be  regarded  as  the 
exponent  of  the  East  Anglian  dialect,  were  it  not  for  the 
intrinsic  evidence  in  his  writings  that  many  of  his  words 
have  been  procured  from  various  and  wide-spread  sources. 
A  comparative  examination  of  the  data  furnished  by  these 
works,  and  our  own  additional  experience,  strongly  in- 
cline us  to  the  opinion  that  mere  locality  has  very  little 
influence  in  the  formation  or  limitation  of  a  genuine 
Gypsy  dialect.  The  'deeper'  {i.e.,  purer)  Romanes  a 
Gypsy  speaks,  irrespective  of  his  whereabouts,  the  nearer 
he  approximates  to  one  common  standard.  The  language 
of  Dr.  Bright's  Norwood  Gypsies  in  181 8  closely  resembles 
that  of  our  Lancashire  Boswells  in  1874. 

Posh-Romanes,  the  corrupt  broken  dialect,  is  of  course 
intermixed  with  provincialisms,  and  this  varies  in  different 
parts  of  England.     If  an  infusion  of  broad  Yorkshire  be 


INTRODUCTION.  xiii 

the  excipient,  the  resultant  mixture  is  not  the  same  as 
when  the  vehicle  is  East  Anglian.  Seeing  that  Gypsies 
speak  English  like  that  of  the  surrounding  population,  it 
must  happen  that  in  turning  English  colloquialisms  into 
Romanes,  they  follow  the  prevailing  idiom  of  the  district 
they  frequent,  and  thus  may  arise  special  modes  of  ex- 
pression. Romanes  melts  into  the  shape  of  the  mould 
into  which  it  is  cast ;  or,  to  change  the  metaphor,  its 
stream  may  be  said  to  take  the  course  of  the  channel, 
and  to  become  impregnated  with  the  soil  of  the  country, 
through  which  it  flows. 

Our  conclusion,  then,  is  this :  that  local  colouring  does 
not  affect  Romanes  proper,  but  only  the  medium  in  which 
it  is  conveyed. 

But  if  we  attach  little  importance  to  territorial  variation, 
we  are  inclined  to  admit  the  probability  of  there  being 
tribal  differences  of  dialect.  Whether  these  depend  on 
the  greater  or  less  time  which  has  elapsed  since  the  sepa- 
ration of  particular  tribes  from  their  Continental  brethren, 
or  whether  on  original  and  longer-standing  peculiarities, 
are  only  matters  for  conjecture.  It  is  likely  that  the 
Gypsies  did  not  invade  this  island  in  a  body,  but  landed 
in  successive  detachments,  and  thus  a  straggling  immi- 
gration may  have  extended  over  a  considerable  period, 
and  in  that  case  the  latest  arrivals  might  be  expected  to 
speak  the  deepest  Romanes.  At  all  events,  it  is  now  a 
fact  that  certain  Gypsy  families  speak  their  own  language 
better  than  others ;  and  words  and  idiomatic  expressions 
habitually  used  in  one  tent  may  never  be  heard  in  another. 

Dr.  Paspati,  in  his  "  Memoir  on  the  Tchingianes  of  the 
Ottoman  Empire,"  minutely  discriminates  between  the 
idioms  spoken  respectively  by  the  *Sedentaires*  and  the 
•  Nomades.'     The  words  in  these  two  dialects,  as  he  gives 


XIV  INTRODUCTION. 

them,  are  sometimes  so  unlike  as  apparently  to  constitute 
separate  branches  of  a  common  stock.  In  England,  the 
distinction  between  the  sedentary  or  settled  Gypsies  and 
their  wandering  brethren  has  not  the  significance  which 
it  has  in  Turkey,  where,  especially  in  the  Danubian  pro- 
vinces, there  are  many  villages  inhabited  by  Gypsies  alone. 
Kirk-Yctholm  is  the  only  place  in  Great  Britain  where 
there  is  a  Gypsy  colony  of  any  magnitude,  although 
'  kairengros,*  or  house-dwellers,  are  to  be  found  scattered 
over  the  whole  country.  No  general  dialectical  distinc- 
tion, however,  can  be  drawn  between  English  Gypsies  on 
these  grounds.  Our  Gypsy  settlers  assimilate  their  speech 
more  or  less  closely  to  that  of  their  neighbours,  according 
as  the  rust  of  disuse,  and  the  forgetful  lapse  of  time, 
gradually  obliterate  their  primitive  language,  until  in  a 
generation  or  two  there  are  left  but  few  and  imperfect 
traces  of  their  original  mother-tongue.  In  spite  of  all  that 
has  been  said  by  Mr.  Simson,  in  his  "  History  of  the 
Gypsies,"  our  own  experience  supports  the  conclusion 
that  a  settled  life  is  not  favourable  to  the  preservation 
of  the  language,  but  that  those  who  use  it  with  greater 
average  purity  are  those  who  travel  about  the  most,  and 
have  therefore  greatest  need  for  a  secret  language,  and 
more  frequent  opportunities  for  its  exercise  and  cultiva- 
tion with  others  of  their  confraternity  across  whom  they 
may  come  in  the  course  of  their  wanderings. 

Most  of  our  Gypsies  cease  their  roving  habits  during 
the  colder  months  of  the  year,  and  take  up  their  abode  in 
or  near  our  larger  towns.  The  houses  they  temporarily 
occupy  there  present  the  same  empty  appearance  as  is 
seen  in  the  homes  of  the  sedentary  Gypsies  in  the  East, 
The  whole  household  will  be  found  squatting  on  the  floor, 
and  dispensing  with  all  unaccustomed  articles  of  furniture. 


INTRODUCTION.  XV 

Many  families  also  resort  to  towns  for  shelter  and  con- 
venience during  the  winter,  without  abandoning  their  tent 
life.  These  encamp  in  unused  yards,  or  on  waste  plots 
left  for  building  purposes,  for  which  they  often  pay  a  small 
ground-rent.  The  Gypsies'  inveterate  attachment  to  the 
tent  in  preference  to  a  house  is  indicated,  as  Paspati  points 
out,  in  their  very  language :  thus,  he  says,  the  Turkish 
Gypsies  have  twenty  words  applicable  to  a  tent  and  its 
appurtenances,  but  only  two  referring  to  a  house. 

But  the  dignity  of  a  town  residence  has  few  attractions 
even  for  the  half-domesticated  '  kairengro.'  The  nomadic 
instinct  underlies  his  assumed  character  of  a  householder, 
and  reappears  as  certainly  as  the  traditional  Tartar  on 
scratching  a  Russian.  With  the  first  spring  sunshine 
comes  the  old  longing  to  be  off;  and  soon  is  seen,  issuing 
from  his  winter  quarters,  a  little  calvacade,  tilted  cart, 
bag  and  baggage,  donkeys  and  dogs,  'rom,  romni,  and 
tickni  chavis,'  and  the  happy  family  is  once  more  under 
weigh  for  the  open  country.  With  dark  restless  eye  and 
coarse  black  hair  fluttered  by  the  fresh  breeze,  he  slouches 
along,  singing  as  he  goes,  in  heart,  if  not  in  precise  words, 

"  I  loiter  down  by  thorpe  and  town ; 
For  any  job  Pm  willing; 
Take  here  and  there  a  dusty  brown, 
And  here  and  there  a  shilling." 

No  carpet  can  please  him  like  the  soft  green  turf,  and 
no  curtains  compare  with  the  snow-white  blossoming 
hedgerow  thorn.  A  child  of  Nature,  he  loves  to  repose 
on  the  bare  breast  of  the  great  mother.  As  the  smoke 
of  his  evening  fire  goes  up  to  heaven,  and  the  savoury 
odour  of  roast  'hotchi-witchi'  or  of  'canengri'  soup  salutes 
his  nostrils,  he  sits  in  the  deepening  twilight  drinking 
in   with    unconscious  delight   all   the   sights  and  sounds 


XVI  INTRODUCTION. 

which  the  country  affords.     With  his  keen  senses  alive  to 

every  external  impression,  he  feels  that 

"  'Tis  sweet  to  see  the  evenizig  star  appear ; 
'Tis  sweet  to  listen  as  the  night  winds  creep 
From  leaf  to  leaf;" 

he  dreamily  hears  the  distant  bark  of  the  prowling  fox 
and  the  melancholy  hootings  of  the  wood-owls ;  he  marks 
the  shriek  of  the  "  night-wandering  weasel,"  and  the  rustle 
of  the  bushes,  as  some  startled  forest-creature  plunges  into 
deeper  coverts ;  or  perchance  the  faint  sounds  from  a  se- 
questered hamlet  reach  his  ears,  or  the  still  more  remote 
hum  of  a  great  city.  Cradled  from  his  infancy  in  such 
haunts  as  these,  "  places  of  nestling  green  for  poets  made," 
and  surely  for  Gypsies  too,  no  wonder  if,  after  the  fitful 
fever  of  his  town-life,  he  sleeps  well,  with  the  unforgotten 
and  dearly-loved  lullabies  of  his  childhood  soothing  him 

to  rest, — 

"  Beatus  ille,  qui  procul  negotiis, 
Ut  prisca  gens  mortalium." 

Gypsies  are  the  Arabs  of  pastoral  England — the  Bedouins 
of  our  commons  and  woodlands.  In  these  days  of  material 
progress  and  much  false  refinement,  they  present  the 
singular  spectacle  of  a  race  in  our  midst  who  regard 
with  philosophic  indifference  the  much-prized  comforts  of 
modern  civilization,  and  object  to  forego  their  simple  life 
in  close  contact  with  Nature,  in  order  to  engage  in  the 
struggle  after  wealth  and  personal  aggrandizement.  These 
people,  be  it  remembered,  are  not  the  outcasts  of  society; 
they  voluntarily  hold  aloof  from  its  crushing  organization, 
and  refuse  to  wear  the  bonds  it  imposes.  The  sameness 
and  restraints  of  civil  life ;  the  routine  of  business  and 
labour;  "the  dull  mechanic  pacings  to  and  fro;"  the  dim 
skies,  confined  air,  and  circumscribed  space  of  towns ;  the 
want  of  freshness  and  natural  beauty ; — these  conditions  of 


INTRODUCTION.  Xvii 

existence  are  for  them  intolerable,  and  they  escape  from 
them  whenever  they  can.  As  in  the  present  so  in  past 
time,  their  history  for  centuries  may  be  written  in  the 
words  of  the  Psalmist :  "  They  wandered  in  the  wilderness 
in  a  solitary  way ;  they  found  no  city  to  dwell  in." 

If  we  extend  our  survey  beyond  mere  provincial  limits, 
and  examine  the  English  Gypsy  dialect  in  relation  to 
geographical  variation,  we  find  that  it  has  been  influenced 
by  the  languages  of  different  countries  in  a  similar  way 
to  that  described  as  operating  over  district  areas. 

Dr.  Franz  Miklosich  of  Vienna,  the  well-known  Sla- 
vonic scholar,  has  made  a  comparative  study  of  the  great 
geographical  varieties  of  the  Gypsy  dialect  in  Europe. 
In  the  vocabulary  of  the  Anglo-Scottish  Gypsies,  he  finds 
Greek,  Slavonic,  Roumanian,  Magyar,  German,  and  French 
ingredients.  He  specifies  thirty  Slavonic  and  about  an 
equal  number  of  Greek  words,  which  constitute  the  most 
important  foreign  elements  in  Anglo-Romanes ;  and  con- 
cludes that  the  Gypsies  entered  England  after  they  had 
sojourned  among  Greeks,  Slaves,  Magyars,  Germans,  and 
French. 

But  if  the  Anglo- Gypsies  be  regarded  as  travellers  who 
arrived  at  their  destination  stained  with  the  dust  of  the 
road  along  which  their  journey  had  lain,  a  special  inte- 
rest has  since  attached  to  them  on  account  of  their  more 
complete  insulation  in  this  sea-girt  land  than  elsewhere, 
and  their  long  separation  from  the  cognate  tribes  of  the 
Continent.  It  is  curious  to  note  in  Anglo-Romanes  the 
rarity  or  absence  of  certain  words  which  seem  to  be  in 
common  use  in  other  countries ;  and,  conversely,  to  find  that 
our  Gypsies  have  retained  some  words  which  are  not  met 
with  in  any  other  European  Gypsy  dialect.  These  will  be 
especially  referred  to  in  a  subsequent  page. 

b 


Xviii  INTRODUCTION. 

A  detailed  analysis  of  the  English  Gypsy  Vocabulary 
shows  that  the  number  of  roots  is  comparatively  small. 
But  it  is  interesting  to  observe,  as  illustrating  the  natural 
growth  of  all  languages,  how  in  these  few  elements  resides 
a  potentiality  which  renders  the  language  equal  to  express 
the   simple   wants   and   ideas   of  a   nomadic  people.      A 
Gypsy  knows  how  to  make  the  best  use  of  his  limited 
stock  of  words,  and  is  rarely  at  a  loss  for  an  expression. 
He   is   an   adept   at   extemporary  word-building.     When 
requisite,  he  compounds  and  coins  new  names  and  phrases 
with  great  facility;    and  not   in  an   altogether  arbitrary 
fashion,  but  according  to  established  usage,  so  that  the 
fresh  word  sounds  natural,  and  conveys  a  meaning  to  the 
ears  of  his  fellows,  hearing  it  perhaps  for  the  first  time. 
His  comrades  sit  in  judgment  on  the  production,  and  after 
a  critical  examination,  "welcome  the  little  stranger,"  and 
commend  it  as  *a  good  lav,' or  crush  it  in  its  birth,  and 
pronounce  it  to  be  '  not  tatcho,'  if  it  doesn't  come  up  to 
average  excellence.     Language  is  plastic  in  the  Gypsy's 
mouth,  and  allows  itself  to  be  easily  moulded  into  new 
forms.     In  this  readiness  of  speech  he  presents  a  striking 
contrast  to  the  slowness  and  poverty  of  utterance  which 
characterizes   the   ordinary   English   rustic.     If  a   Gypsy 
cannot  find  or  frame  a  word  to  express  a  particular  sense, 
he  often  accomplishes  his  end  by  means  of  a  paraphrase. 
However  fluent  a  *  rokeromengro,'  or  conversationalist,  an 
outsider  may  be,  the  tongue  of  the  alien  is  apt  to  stumble 
over  the  blanks  which  abound  in  the  language  and  bar 
his  progress,  and  he  is  forced  to  throw  in  English  words 
to  fill  up  the  vacuities;  but  a  knowing  old  'Romani  dial' 
adroitly  doubles,  and  circumvents  most  such  difficulties  in 
a  periphrasis,  without  extraneous  aid  or  breaking  the  con- 
tinuity of  his   'rokeropen.'     In   these    linguistic   predica- 


INTRODUCTION.  XIX 

ments  the  'gaujo's'  extremity  is  the  Gypsy's  opportunity. 
The  superior  power  of  the  skilful  craftsman  is  best  shown 
in  the  way  he  overcomes  a  defect  in  his  tools.  Like 
Paganini  playing  on  one  string,  the  Gypsy  elicits  from  his 
imperfect  instrument  notes  and  phrases  which  a  *gaujo* 
in  vain  attempts  to  extract. 

Place  an  English  dictionary  alongside  of  the  Gypsy 
vocabulary,  and  on  comparison  many  of  our  words  will 
be  found  to  have  no  corresponding  Romani  ones  to  ex- 
press their  meaning ;  but  let  it  not  be  too  hastily  assumed 
that  in  such  a  case  a  Gypsy  is  unable  to  obviate  the 
deficiency.  "  There  is  always  a  way  of  saying  everything 
in  Romanes,  sir,"  a  Gypsy  once  remarked  to  us,  "if  you 
can  only  find  it  out." 

For  example :  the  Gypsy  has  no  single  word  answer- 
ing to  the  English  verb  '  to  untie.'  If  he  wishes  to  give 
the  direction,  *  Untie  the  string,'  he  says,  '  Mook  o  dori 
peero,'  ?>.,  Let  the  string  loose. 

There  is  no  word  for  'nephew' ;  but  a  Gypsy  expresses 
the  relationship  *  He  is  my  nephew'  by  reversing  the  order 
of  ideas,  and  saying  *  Lesko  koko  shorn,'  2>.,  I  am  his 
uncle. 

In  further  illustration  of  this  usage,  we  append  a  series 
of  questions  and  the  Romanes  answers  : — 

Q.  How  would  you  say  you  were  faint  ? 

Ans.  Mandi  shorn  naflo  pensa  jawin'  to  sooto, — i.e.,  I  am  ill  like 

going  to  sleep  (becoming  unconscious). 
Q.  How  would  you  say  'I  humbled  myself? 
Ans.  Kairddm  mi  kokkero  choorokond, — i.e.,  I  made  myself  poor 

(or  lowly). 
Q   How  do  you  say  '  Divide  it'  ? 
Ans.  Del  mandi  posh  ta  too  lei  posh, — i.e.,  Give  me  half,  and  do 

you  take  half. 
Q.  How  can  you  ask  for  a  spade  ? 


XX  INTRODUCTION. 

Ans.  Lei  the  kowa  to  chin  a  hev  adre  o  poov, — i.e..  Get  the  thmg 
for  cutting  a  hole  in  the  ground  (for  delving). 

Q.  ^^^lat  is  '  to  pray  to  God '  ? 

Ans.  To  del  kooshto  lavaw  kater  mi  Doovel, — i.e.,  To  give  good 
words  to  God. 

Q.  What  is  *  to  answer  him'? 

Ans.  To  del  lav  lesti,  i.e., — to  give  word  to  him. — (Comp.  with 
Germ,  ant-worten.) 

Some  of  the  descriptive  definitions  which  take  the  place 
of  a  substantive  designation  are  fanciful  and  poetical. 
Stars  are  '  Doods  adre  mi  Doovelesko  keri/  i.e\.  Lights  in 
my  God's  home.  Thunder  is  '  Mi  Doovelesko  Godli,'  i>., 
My  God's  noise  (or  voice).  Lightning  is  *  Mi  Doovelesko 
yog,'  i.e.,  My  God's  fire.  A  Gypsy  never  mentions  the 
name  of  God  without  prefixing  '  mi/  after  the  manner  of 
the  opening  invocation  in  Our  Lord's  Prayer. 

The  Gypsy  word  for  a  dog  is  'jookel/  which  becomes 
a  generic  term  in  constructing  names  for  allied  species 
which  have  no  proper  Romani  designation.  The  Gypsy 
unwittingly  adopts  a  strictly  scientific  nomenclature  not 
unlike  the  binomial  system  of  Linnaeus.     Thus: — 

Jookel        ...         ...         ...     =  Canis  familiaris  (the  dog). 

Lolo-veshkeno  jookel — the  )        ^     .        ,        ,  ,      ^     x 

-  =  Cams  vulpes  (the  fox), 
red  wood-dog ) 

Borohollomengro  jookel —  \ 

the  great  rapacious  (or  ^  =  Canis  lupus  (the  wolf). 

devouring)  dog  ...  ^ 

Naturalists  have  given  the  jackal  (Canis  aureus)  a  specific 
name  referring  to  its  colour,  which  is  analogous  to  the 
Gypsy  term  for  a  fox,  expressing  both  colour  and  habitat. 
Anotlier  instance  of  the  Gypsy's  perception  of  analogy 
(whether  scientific  or  culinary)  may  be  taken  from  tlie 
vegetable  kingdom.      The  Romani  word   for  cabbage  is 


INTRODUCTION.  XXI 

*shok/  but  this  is  also  applied  as  a  generic  name  to  the 
watercress,  which  is  called  *  panengri-shok/  i.e.^  water- 
cabbage  or  water-wort.  This  appellation  is  quite  correct, 
seeing  that  cabbages  and  cresses  are  closely  related 
botanically,  both  belonging  to  the  same  natural  order  of 
plants — the  Cruciferae. 

It  is  sometimes  difficult  to  discover  from  its  etymology 
how  a  particular  word  originated.  We  were  puzzled  to 
understand  why  'lilengro,'  from  Mil/  a  book,  should 
come  to  mean  a  star,  until  a  Gypsy  suggested  the  reason. 
It  has  an  astrological  significance,  and  refers  to  the  prac- 
tice of  fortune-tellers  and  nativity-casters,  who  profess  to 
read  the  heavens,  to  decipher  the  book  of  fate,  in  which 
the  secrets  of  the  unknown  future  are  written  in  the 
language  of  the  stars. 

There  are  a  few  words,  of  which  'beshopen*  may  be 
taken  as  a  good  sample,  which  are  singularly  appropriate 
translations  from  other  languages.  Our  word  'sessions,' 
from  Lat.  *sedo,'  to  sit,  is  represented  in  Romanes  by 
*  beshopen,'  from  '  besh,*  to  sit.  We  can  hardly  suppose 
that  uneducated  men  like  Gypsies  were  acquainted  with 
the  primary  meaning,  much  less  the  Latin  derivation,  of 
'sessions,'  and  yet  its  analogy  to  'beshopen'  is  so  exact 
that  it  can  scarcely  be  attributed  to  chance. 

Again,  'policeman,'  from  ttoX^?,  a  city,  is  turned  by 
Gipsy  tongues  into  'gavengro,'  from  'gav,'  a  town.  So 
too  'potatoes'  become  'poovengries*  from  'poov,'  earth, 
which  recalls  to  mind  the  German  'erdbirne,'  and  the 
French  'pomme  de  terre.' 

The  foregoing  examples  will  suffice  to  convey  a  general 
notion  of  the  Gypsies'  various  methods  of  procedure  in 
manipulating  their  mother-tongue  to  meet  the  exigencies 
of  circumstances. 


XXll  INTRODUCTION. 

Slang  and  cant  words  peculiar  to  each  country  have 
become  incorporated  in  the  different  Gypsy  dialects, 
sometimes  probably  through  a  want  of  discrimination  on 
the  part  of  the  reporter,  who  hearing  them  used  has  con- 
founded them  with  the  genuine  Gypsy  tongue.  Most 
English  Gypsies  distinguish  with  great  nicety  between 
Romanes  and  the  Cant  tongue,  in  the  use  of  which  latter 
the  greater  part  of  them  are  likewise  proficient.  "  That's 
not  a  'tatcho  lav,'"  is  a  frequent  Gypsy  comment  on  hear- 
ing a  canting  phrase  imported  into  a  conversation  which 
is  being  professedly  carried  on  in  their  own  proper  dialect. 
Cant  words  are  intermixed  with  Gypsy  in  the  same  way, 
and  on  exactly  the  same  principle,  as  ordinary  or  pro- 
vincial English,  but  to  nothing  like  the  same  extent. 
Possibly  some  words  of  this  class  may  have  inadvertently 
found  their  way  into  our  vocabulary ;  but  if  so,  they  do 
not  occur  in  Hotten's  Slang  Dictionary  (London,  1864), 
and  we  leave  them  to  be  relegated  to  their  proper  place 
by  those  who  may  detect  their  real  character. 

Before  concluding  these  introductory  remarks,  it  might 
be  expected  of  us  to  say  something  on  the  Ethnology  of 
the  Gypsy  race,  but  to  expatiate  on  this  subject  would  be 
beyond  the  scope  of  a  strictly  linguistic  treatise.  The 
Gypsy  language  is  a  member  of  the  great  Aryan  family, 
and  has  long  ago  been  ascertained  to  be  closely  allied  to 
the  Sanskrit.  It  is  for  scholars  better  versed  than  our- 
selves in  the  intricacies  of  comparative  philology  to  de- 
termine to  which  of  the  Indian  dialects  in  particular  the 
Gypsy  tongue  is  most  nearly  related.  Pott,  Ascoli,  Paspati, 
and  others,  have  severally  helped  to  solve  'the  Eastern 
question'  by  tracing  the  homologies  and  affinities  of  the 
Romani  vocabulary.  Our  first  list  of  words,  already  re- 
ferred to  as  published  in  the  Transactions  of  the  London 


INTRODUCTION.  XXlll 

Philological  Society,  had  the  advantage  of  being  over- 
looked by  the  Rev.  George  Small,  for  many  years  a 
resident  in  India,  who  corrected  and  added  to  the  column 
of  Oriental  derivations.  We  have  not  attempted  anything 
of  the  kind  in  the  present  work,  which  aims  at  being 
nothing  more  than  a  succinct  exposition  of  the  English 
dialect  of  the  Gypsy  language,  as  we  have  actually  heard 
it  spoken. 


GYPSY    GRAMMAR 


BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  THE  DIALECT. 

The  presence  of  Gypsies  in  Scotland  can  be  traced  as  far 
back  as  1506,  (Simson's  "History  of  the  Gypsies,"  p.  98,) 
and  in  England  as  far  back  as  1512  ("  Notes  and  Queries," 
1st  Series,  vol  xi.,  p.  326)  *  Down  to  1784,  various  statutes 
and  authors  mention  that  these  foreigners  spoke  a  language 
of  their  own^  but  we  have  not  been  able  to  learn  that  any 
examples  are  extant  of  earlier  date  than  1780. 

About  the  year  1783,  greater  interest  in  the  race  and 
their  language  seems  to  have  been  aroused  in  this  country, 
partly  by  the  repeal  (23  George  III.,  c.  51,)  of  the  statutes, 
rigorous  in  words,  but  obsolete  in  practice,  against  them, 
and  partly  by  the  publication  in  that  year  of  the  well- 
known  German  work  of  Grellman  (translated  into  English 
by  Raper,  1787). 

Dating  from  1780,  we  have  several  collections  and  speci- 
mens of  this  dialect,  of  more  or  less  value,  which  we  have 
arranged  chronologically  as  follows  : — 

1780. — A  collection  taken  down  from  the  liiOuths  of  Gypsies  in 
Somersetshire,  by  a  clergyman  resident  there  in  1780— 
Edited,  with  notes,  by  W.  Pinkerton,  Esq.,  F.L.S.  London, 
Hotten,  1865.     (Advertised,  but  never  published.) 

♦  On  the  authority  of  "  The  Art  of  Jugghng,"  etc.,  by  S.  R.  ;  see 
also  Bright's  Travels  {post),  pp.  537,  538,  and  the  authorities  there 
cited. 


2  GYPSY    GRAMMAR. 

1784. — Marsden,  William — "Archaeologia,"  vol.  vii.,  London, 
1785,  pp.  382 — 386.  Twenty-eight  words,  and  the  numerals 
from  I  to  10,  are  given,  and  are  stated  to  have  been  collected 
several  years  before  1784. 

1784. — Bryant,  Jacob — "  Archaeologia,"  vol.  vii.,  pp.387 — 391. 
A  considerable  vocabulary  arranged  in  the  alphabetical  order 
of  the  English  words,  and  also  stated  to  have  been  collected 
several  years  before  1784. 

1784. — "The  Annual  Register,"  p.  83,  Antiquities. — Bryant's 
vocabulary  repeated. 

1784. — Richardson,  Capt.  David — "Asiatic  Researches,"  vol. 

vii.,  p.   474. — Twenty-seven  of  the  words  are  taken   from 

Bryant's  vocabulary. 
1812-13. — "■■  Christian  Guardian," — A  conversation  by  a  Clergyman 

with  a  Gypsy  named  Boswell.    See  Hoyland  (next),  p.  189. 

1 81 6. — Hoyland,  John — "  Historical  Survey  of  the  Customs,  etc., 
of  the  Gypsies," — York.  Predari  mentions  an  edition  of  1832. 
Page  142,  Comparative  vocab.  of  several  words  and  numerals, 
apparently  taken  from  Marsden;  p.  188,  Specimens  of  their 
words,  procured  by  friends. 

1818. — Bright,  Dr.  Richard — "Travels  from  Vienna  through 
Hungary," — Edinburgh.  The  Appendix  (p.  Ixxix)  contains  a 
comparative  vocab.  of  the  English,  Spanish,  and  Hungarian 
Gypsy  dialects,  as  well  as  sentences  in  each  of  those  dialects. 
A  very  valuable  collection. 

18 1 9. — Irvine, ,— "On  the  Similitude  between  the  Gypsy  and 

Hindi  Eanguages."— Transactions  of  the  Literary  Society  of 
Bombay,  1819. 

181 9.— Harriot,  Col.  John  Staples— "  Observations  on  the 
Oriental  Origin  of  the  Romnichal."— Roy.  Asiatic  Soc.  of 
Great  Britain,  vol.  ii.,  London,  1830,  pp.  518—588,  read 
5th  Dec,  1829,  and  2nd  Jan.,  1830;  Predari,  pp.  213,  258, 
says  that  the  paper  was  read  before  the  Society  of  Calcutta, 
1 2th  April,  1822;  Harriot,  p.  520,  says  he  collected  his 
vocabulary  in  the  north  of  Hampshire,  181 9-1820.  The 
vocab.  is  arranged  in  the  alphabetical  order  of  the  English 
words,  and  is  an  important  addition  to  all  preceding  it. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY.  3 

1832. — Crabb,  James — "The  Gypsies'  Advocate," — London, 
Nisbet  Westley.  3rd  edit,  sm.  8vo,  price  y.  6d.  Page  14, 
Vocab.  of  26  words  besides  numerals  i — 10,  and  20,  taken 
from  Grellman,  Hoyland,  and  Richardson  ;  p.  27,  piz/iarris,  in 
debt ;  artmee  deviilesty,  God  bless  you. 

1835.— James,  G.  P.  R.— ''  The  Gipsy," 3  vols.,  London.  Vol.  i, 
p.  36,  gazo,  peasant ;  raye^  gentleman. 

1836. — Roberts,  Samuel — "  The  Gypsies,  their  Origin,  etc." 
London.  4th  edit.  (1839),  i2m.o;  5th  edit.  (1842),  post 
8vo,  Longman,  price  10s.  6d.;  pp.  97 — 100.  List  of  words 
collected  by  his  daughters  from  Clara  Hearn. 

1841. — Borrow,  George — "The  Zincali,  or  Gypsies  in  Spain," 
vol.  i.,  pp.  16 — 28,  gives  an  account  of  the  English  Gypsies* 
The  vocabulary  (vol.  ii.)  gives  one  or  two  words;  and  the 
Appendix  to  vol.  ii.  of  subsequent  editions  (1843,  1846, 
1 86 1,)  gives  a  short  dialogue  with  a  Gypsy,  and  translation 
of  the  Lord's  Prayer  and  Creed,  in  English  Romanes,  varying 
almost  with  each  edition. 

1841. — Baird,  Rev.  John — "  Report  to  the  Scottish  Church 
Society,"  printed  1841  ;  collected  181 7 — 1831, 

1844. — Pott,  Dr.  A.  F. — "Die  Zigeuner  in  Europa  und  Asien," 
2  vols.  Halle.  This  profoundly  learned  work  incorporates 
almost  all  the  foregoing  vocabularies. 

1 85 1. — Borrow,  George — "  Lavengro,"  etc.,  3  vols.,  containing 
many  words  scattered  throughout 

1851. — "Illustrated  London  News," — Gypsy  Experiences  by  a 
Roumany  Rei  :  13th  Dec,  pp.  655,  715,  777. 

1856. — "Illustrated  London  News," — "The  Roumany-chi,  or 
Gypsies;"  20th  Sept,  p,  304;  apparently  by  the  same 
writer  as  the  last.  This  article  was  reprinted  separately  at 
Bath,  in  1870,  by  J.  and  J.  Keene. 

1857. — Borrow,  George — "Romany  Rye,"  a  Sequel  to  "  Laven- 
gro,"  2  vols.,  containing  many  words  scattered  throughout. 

1858. — Norwood,  Rev.  T.  W.— "  On  the  Race  and  Language  of 
the  Gypsies  " — Report  of  the  British  Association,  etc.,  Leeds, 
p.  195  of  Transactions  of  the  Sections. 


4  GYPSY    GRAMMAR. 

i860.— Smart,  Dr.  B.  C— "  The  Dialect  of  the  English  Gypsies." 
Published  for  the  English  Philological  Society,  by  Asher  and 
Co.,  Berlin,  1863,  in  the  Society's  Transactions,  and  sepa- 
rately. The  vocab.  was  begun  in  i860,  and  some  remarks  on 
the  dialect  were  printed  in  the  British  Association  Trans- 
actions, 186  r,  and  Trans.  Ethnolog.  Soc,  vol.  ii. 

1862. — Borrow,  George — "Wild  Wales,"  3  vols. ;  chapter xcviii . 
contains  a  conversation  with  an  English  Gypsy.  From  this 
and  Mr.  Borrow's  preceding  works,  nearly  300  words  (including 
varieties  of  spelling)  may  be  collected.  From  passages  in 
chapters  xiv.  and  xcviii.^  and  on  p.  233  of  his  ''  Lavo-lil," 
(post),  it  would  seem  that  the  author  considered  Wales  without 
a  Gypsy  inhabitant,  which  is  by  no  means  the  case. 

1865. — SiMSON,  Walter — "  A  History  of  the  Gypsies,  with  speci- 
mens of  their  Language," — London,  Sampson,  Lowe,  and  Co. 
From  a  passage  on  p.  466,  the  work  seems  to  have  been  in 
MS.  before  1840.  Most  of  the  Gypsy  words  were  republished 
in  "  The  Adventures  of  Bampfylde  Moore  Carew,"  London, 
W.  Tegg,  1873;  and  several  of  them  are  quoted  by  Dr. 
Paspati. 

1872. — "The  Times"  (newspaper),  Oct.  11 — 17,  2nd  column,  p.  i, 
an  advertisement  in  English  Romanes,  copied  as  a  curiosity 
into  other  papers ;  translated  in  *«  Notes  and  Queries,"  4th 
Series,  vol.  xi.,  p.  462,  also  in  "  Leland's  English  Gypsies," 
p.  184. 

1873.— "Zelda's  Fortune,"— "Cornhill  Magazine,"  vols.  27,  28,29. 
There  are  several  words  and  sentences  used  in  the  course 
of  the  tale,  the  earlier  ones  resembling  Hungarian  rather 
than  English  Gypsy,  but  of  these  guesto,  p.  127,  resembles 
Marsden's  questo,  good  =  kooshto. 

1873.— Smith,  Hubert—"  Tent-life  with  English  Gypsies  in 
Norway," — London,  H.  S.  King  and  Co.,  price  21J.  Several 
words,  etc.,  are  scattered  throughout,  and  on  pp.  527 — 529 
is  a  comparative  vocab.  of  the  English  dialect,  and  that  of 
Norway  as  given  by  Sundt. 

1873.— MiKLosicH,  F.— "Uber  die  Mundarten  und  die  Wander- 
ungen  der  Zigeuner  Europas,"  iii.,  Wien,  Gerold's  Sohn,  con- 


ETYMOLOGY,    ETC.  5 

tains  remarks  on  this  dialect  grounded  on  some  of  the  fore- 
going works. 

1873. — Leland,  Charles  G. — "The  English  Gipsies  and  their 
Language."  London,  Triibner  and  Co.,  price  ']s.  6d.  Very- 
valuable,  both  as  respects  vocab.,  and  a  knowledge  of 
customs,  etc. 

1874. — Borrow,  George — "■  Romano  Lavo-lil,  Wordbook  of  the 
Romany,  or  English  Gypsy  Language," — London,  Murray, 
price  los.  6d.j  pp.  11 — loi  ;  vocab.  not,  however,  exhaustive 
of  the  words  used  in  this,  or  of  those  used  in  his  other  works. 

1874. — "The  Athenaeum"  (newspaper),  No.  2426,  April  25 — A 

Review  of  Sorrow's  "  Romano  Lavo-lil." 
1874. — "  The  Academy"  (newspaper).  No.  10 1  (new  issue),  June  13 

— A  Review  of  Miklosich,  Leland,  and  Borrow's  "  Lavo-lil." 
In  addition  to  the  above,  may  be  added  "  Notes  and  Queries," 

2nd  Series,  vol.  xi.,  p.  129;  p.  196,  on  Scotch  Gypsies  ;  4th 

Series,  vol.  xi.,  p.  443  ;  p.  462,  and  elsewhere. 


ETYMOLOGY,   etc. 

As  far  as  possible,  to  each  root-word  is  annexed  the  corre- 
sponding one  in  the  Turkish,  or  Asiatic,  Gypsy  dialects,  as 
given  by  Dr.  Paspati  in  his  "  Etudes  sur  les  Tchinghianes," 
published  in  French,  at  Constantinople,  in  1870.  Where 
Dr.  Paspati  has  afforded  no  comparison,  we  have  had 
recourse  to  the  German  Gypsy  dialect  as  given  by  Dr. 
Liebich  in  his  "  Die  Zigeuner,"  etc.,  published  in  German, 
at  Leipzig,  in  1863.  Further  than  this,  we  have  in  few 
instances  deemed  it  advisable  to  attempt  anything  that 
can  be  more  strictly  called  Etymology,  as  we  could  add 
nothing  original  in  this  respect  to  the  labours  of  Dr.  Pott, 
Dr.  Paspati,  and  Sr.  Ascoli,  who  have  appended  to  almost 
every  word  the  oriental  word  or  words  akin  to  it. 

The  comparisons  thus  made  will,  it  is  hoped,  add  an 
additional  interest  to  our  work,  as  showing  the  resemblance 


6  GYPSY    GRAMMAR. 

and  difference  in  the  two  dialects,  Turkish  and  English, 
after  so  long  a  separation  as  four  centuries.  We  say  four 
centuries,  for  Mr.  Borrow  in  his  *'  Lavo-lil,"  p.  212,  asserts 
that  the  Gypsies  first  made  their  appearance  in  England  in 
1480,  though  we  are  not  aware  of  his  authority. 

To  those  who,  like  M.  Bataillard  ("  Les  derniers  travaux 
relatifs  aux  Boh^miens  dans  I'Europe  orientale,"  Paris, 
1872,  pp.  47 — 53),  lean  to  the  theory  of  a  long  residence 
of  the  race  in  Turkey  prior  to  a  westerly  drifting  of  these 
nomads,  this  comparison  has,  we  venture  to  think,  much  to 
commend  itself. 


ORTHOGRAPHY. 

To  assist  ilic  pronunciation,  we  have  endeavoured  to 
adhere  to  a  phonetic  orthography,  based  on  the  Glossic 
system  invented  by  Mr.  A.  J.  Ellis,  and  used  by  the  English 
Dialect  Society  and  others. 

In  it  the  vowel  sounds  are  expressed  and  pronounced  as 
follows  :— 


At    as    in    Bait. 

t       as  in 

Knit. 

a          „        Gnat. 

^ 

Coal. 

aa        „        Baa. 

0          „ 

Not. 

an,  azi>,  as  in  Can/,  cazc. 

en         „ 

Fend. 

Final  /,  as  at  in  Bait. 

?'          » 

Nut. 

ce    as    in    Bed 

00         „ 

Cool,  OY  foot. 

e          ,         Net. 

oi         „ 

Foil. 

ei         ,,        Height. 

on        „ 

Font. 

must  be  borne  in  mind. 

however,  that  these  soun( 

and  more  especially  the  ti  sounds,  vary  according  to  the 
county  or  district  of  which  the  individual  is  a  native. 

As  to  the  consonants,  the  majority  are  pronounced  as  in 
English.     We  have  discarded  altogether  the  ambiguous  c, 


ACCENT.  7 

and  substituted  k  or  s,  according  as  c  would  take  the  hard 
or  soft  sound.     Throughout  the  book 

Ch  is  to  be  pronounced  as  in  Church. 

Sh  „  „  „      Shirt. 

G,  gh        „  „  „      Go  (never  soft,  as  in  gui). 

F  „  „  „     For  (never  dull,  as  in  of). 

Dj,  dg      „  „  „     Fudge. 

Besides  these,  there  is  a  deep  guttural  sound,  which  we 
have  represented  by  p^,  the  sound  being  nearly  that  of  ch 
in  German, 


ACCENT. 

In  the  Turkish  dialect,  the  accent  is  usually  on  the  last 
syllable ;  but  if  the  word  is  inflected,  or  liable  to  inflection, 
the  accent  is  placed  on  the  first  syllable  of  the  inflection,  e.g.y 

Bar-6,  great.     Gen.  bar-^skoro ;  pi.  bar-e. 
Beshdva,  I  sit ;  besh-ela,  He  sits. 

Relics  of  this  system  are  found  in  the  old  dialect  of  this 
country,  e.g.^ 

BaurS,  great;  pi.,  bmird. 
Bcsh-ova,  I  sit ;  besh-eia,  He  sits. 

Words  too  ending  in  -engro,  -eskro,  (elsewhere  shown 
to  be  inflections,)  invariably  take  the  accent  on  the  first 
syllable  of  those  terminations,  in  both  the  old  and  new 
dialects. 

In  the  new  dialect,  dissyllables  and  trisyllables  take  an 
accent  on  the  first  syllable,  and  words  of  four  or  five  syl- 
lables take  an  accent  on  the  first  and  third,  e.g., 

Bauro,  great  Beshto,  saddle 

Bengalo,  diabolic  Brisheuo,  rainy 


8  GYPSY    GRAMMAR. 

B<^romMgro,  sailor  Sdvlohdloben,  oath 

Boshofn^iigro,  fiddler        Tdssermengri,  frying-pan 

The  above  are  only  general  rules.     There  are  several 
exceptions, 


LETTER    CHANGES,  ELISIONS,  ETC. 

Interchanges  of  certain  letters,  initial  or  otherwise, 
frequently  occur  in  Gypsy  words,  but  always  according  to 
established  rules,  and  this  must  be  remembered  in  tracing 
their  derivations. 

Interchanges  take  place  between  the  following  letters : 
K  and  H,  K  and  P,  K  and  T,  K  and  F,  K  and  ^,  y^  ^"^ 
F,  F  and  S,  Sh  and  Dj,  Sh  and  Ch,  J  and  Y,  D  and  B, 
B  and  V,  V  and  W,  L  M  N  and  R, 

Examples, 

K  and  H. 
Kol,  Hoi,  eat,  Kdtcher,  Hotelier,  burn, 

K  and  P, 
Chuhii,  Chupni,  whip. 

K  and  T. 
Kushni,  Ttis/mi,  basket.  Kam,  Tarn,  sun. 

KoSshko,  Kodshto,  good. 

K  and  F. 
Jdrifa,  Jdrika,  apron. 

K  and  ;^. 
Ydrduka,  7orj6x<^,  apron. 

X  and  F. 
JorjSxa,  JorjSfa,  apron. 

F  and  S. 
Wdfedoj  Wdsedo,  bad.  Ndsfelo,  Ndfelo,  ill. 

Sh  and  Dj. 
Kaish,  Kaidj,  silk.    Minsk,  Mindj,  pudendum  muliebre. 


LETTER    CHANGES,    ELISIONS,    ETC.  Q 

Sh  and  Ch. 
Choom,  ShooHf  moon,  Chdrdoka,  Shdrdoka,  apron. 

J  and  Y. 
Jodkel,  Ydkel,  dog.  Jorj6')(a^  Ydrdwxa,  apron. 

D  and  B. 
Loddni,  Loobni,  harlot. 

B  and  V. 
Bokocho,  Vdkasho,  lamb,  Livena,  Liberia,  beer. 

V  and  W. 

Vdrdo,  Wdrdo,  cart.  Vast,  Wast,  hand. 

L,  M,  N,  R. 
SMrilo,  Shilino,  cold.  Dinilo,  Dinvero,  fool. 

Soom,  Soon,  smell,  Vdniso,  Vdriso,  any. 

The  English  Gypsies  are  in  the  frequent  habit  of  con- 
founding the  liquids ;  and  Mr.  Borrow  has  remarked  the 
same  of  the  Spanish  Gitanos  ("  Zincali,"  vol.  ii.,  p.  4,  pre- 
ceding vocab.)  According  to  Gilchrist  ("Hind.  Diet."  vol.  ii., 
1790,  p.  489),  the  natives  of  Hindustan  so  confuse  the  use 
of  the  Hquids  L,  N,  and  R,  that  it  is  often  difficult  to  say 
which  of  those  letters  ought  to  be  adopted  in  spelling. 

Besides  this  interchange  of  consonants,  the  Gypsies 
occasionally  transpose  them. 

Examples. 
Sovlohol,  Sulverkon,  to  swear. 
Doomdksjio,  for  Doomhk'no,  broken-backed. 
SheHksno,  for  SherdsUno,  lawyer. 

The  dialect  is  also  remarkable  for  its  systematic  elision 
of  the  letter  n  in  certain  words. 


Examples. 

English. 

Turkish. 

Meaning. 

Adr^ 

Andr^ 

Into 

Agldl 

Angldl 

Before 

lO  GYPSY   GRAMMAR. 


Euglish. 

Turkish. 

Meaning. 

Hauro 

KJiant  6 

Sword 

Mdiiro 

Manro 

Bread 

Mdrikli 

Manrikli 

Cake 

Me&o 

Minrd 

My 

Tedro 

Third 

Thy 

Ydra 

A  lira 

Egg 

etc. 

etc. 

etc. 

Of  the  full  forms,  Mr.  Borrow,  in  his  "  Lavo-lil,"  supplies 
us  with  ando,  anglo,  manro,  manreckly,  etc. 

Similar  instances  of  this  elision  could  be  adduced  in  other 
dialects,  but,  so  far  as  we  are  aware,  not  to  the  same  extent 
as  in  this. 


ARTICLE. 
Definite. 


Dr.  Paspati  f 'Tchinghian^s,"  1870,  p.  39)  says  the  Turkish 
Gypsies  have  borrowed  their  article  from  the  Greeks,  and 
the  Asiatic  Gypsies  have  none;  and  further  states  that 
among  the  wandering  tribes  in  Turkey  the  use  of  the  article 
is  less  frequent  than  among  the  Christian  (settled)  Gypsies. 
Amongst  the  Turkish  Gypsies,  the  article  is — masculine  0, 
feminine  i  in  the  nominative,  and  c  masculine  and  feminine 
in  all  other  cases,  of  the  singular;  and  o  masculine  and 
feminine  in  the  nominative,  and  c  masculine  and  feminine 
in  all  other  cases,  of  the  plural. 

The  English  Gypsies  have  a  masculine  definite  article  o, 
and  feminine  /',  but  now  hardly  ever  employ  any  other  than 
the  English  word  the,  which  they,  like  other  foreigners,  often 
pronounce  de.  Their  own  article,  however,  is  preserved 
in  certain  phrases  which  have  been  retained  in  common 
use,  e.g., 

Paudel  ipadni,  Over  the  water  (transportation). 


NOUN.  I  I 

Dr.  Bright,  in  his  "Travels  in  Hungary,"  Edinburgh,  1818, 
Appendix,  affords  the  following  examples,  obtained  from 
a  family  of  Gypsies  residing  at  Norwood  ; — 

Pre  si  0  kain,  The  sun  is  up. 

Le  0  gri,  Catch  the  horse. 

O  tascho  wast,  The  right  hand. 

Dalo  0  givy  Gives  the  snow  (it  snows). 

In  some  famiUes,  from  analogy  to  English,  o  is  indeclinable, 
being  used  wherever  the  occurs,  and  irrespective  of  gender 
or  case. 

The  Definite  article  is  frequently  omitted  altogether,  e.g., 

Boshda  jdokel.  Barks  (the)  dog,  for  The  dog  barks. 
Riserela  gdiro,  Trembles  (the)  man,  for  The  man 

trembles. 
Chooin  see  opre,  (The)  Moon  is  up. 

Indefinite. 

The  English  Gypsies  invariably  use  the  English  word  a 
for  the  indefinite  article,  and  say,  eg.,  Mdfidi  diks  a  gdiro^ 
not  Mandi  diks  yek  gairo,  which  would  mean  I  see  one  man. 
In  the  old  dialect  this  article  is  very  frequently  omitted 
entirely.     Example,  Dikova  gdiro,  I  see  a  man. 


NOUN. 

Gender. 
Some  of  the  nouns  have  a  masculine  termination  in 
-0,  and  a  feminine  in  -/.  There  are  also  masculine  nouns 
and  feminine  nouns  which  end  in  a  variety  of  consonants 
and  vowels,  but  usually  the  gender  is  determined  by  that 
of  the  corresponding  English  word,  e.g., 

Masculines  in  -o,  with  corresponding  feminines  in  -i. 

Chdvo,  boy  Cha{v)i,  Chei,  girl 

Chiriklo,  bird  Chhiklz,  bird 


12 


GYPSY   GRAMMAR. 


GairOy  man 
Gaiijo,  male  Gentile 
Pirino,  male  sweetheart 
Rdklo,  boy 
etc. 

Masculines  in  -o. 

BairdngrOy  sailor 
Bardngro,  stallion 
Bokromdngro,  shepherd 
Booko,  liver 
Gdno,  sack 
Koko,  uncle 
etc. 


Gdiri,  woman 
Gauji,  female  Gentile 
Piritti,  female  sweetheart 
Kdkli,  girl 
etc. 

Feminines  in  -i. 

Bedbi,  aunt 
Booti,  work 
Choofi,  knife 
Kdrmi,  hen 
Kekdvvi,  kettle 
Mthnbli,  candle 
etc. 


Masculine. 

ChoovikdUy  wizard 
Grei,  horse 
Grov,  bull 
yookel,  dog 
Kf'dlis,  king 
Manooshy  man 
j?t?w,  husband 
etc. 


Feminine. 

Chdojihdniy  witch 
Grdsni,  mare 
Grdvni,  cow 
7^^/&/2,  bitch 
Kralissi,  queen 
Manooshni,  woman 
Bdtnni,  wife 
etc. 


Z>a^,  father 
Pi?/,  brother 
/?^/,  gentleman 


Irregular. 

Dd,  mother 
P^fw,  sister 
Rduniy  lady. 


Declension. 

To  illustrate  the  declension,  examples,  from  pp.  50,  51, 
of  Dr.  Paspati's  "  Tchinghian^s,"  are  subjoined. 


SINGULAR. 


Nom.  O  raklS,  the  boy 

Gen.  e  rakldskoro,  of  the  boy 

Ace.  e  raklds,  the  boy 
1st  Dat.  e  rakldste,  to  the  boy 

2nd  „  e  rakldske,  in  the  boy 

Instr.  e  raklesa^  with  the  boy 

Abl.  e  rakldstar,  from  the  boy 

Voc.  e  rakldyuy  Boy  ! 


/  rakli,  the  girl  Rdi,  lord 

e  raklidkorOy  of  the  girl  raidskoro 

e  raklidy  the  girl  raids 

e  raklidte,  to  the  girl  raidste 

e  raklidke,  in  the  girl  raidske 

e  raklidsa,  with  the  girl  raidsa 

e  raklidtar,  from  the  girl  raidstar 

e  raklid.  Girl !  rdia 


NOUN.  13 


PLURAL. 

Norn.     Rakle,  boys 

Raklid,  girls 

Raid,  lords 

Gen.       raklengoro 

rakliengoro 

raidngoro 

Ace.        raklen 

raklien 

raie7i 

1st  Dat.  rakUnde 

raklicnde 

raimde 

2nd   „    rakleitghe 

raklienghe 

raidnghe 

Instr.      i-aklendja 

rakliendja 

raiendja 

Abl.        raklendar 

rakliJndar 

raiendar 

Voc.       rakldle 

rakldle 

raidle 

The  inflections  preserved  in  the  English  Gypsy  dialect 
may  be  classed  as  follows  : — 

Singular. 

Genitive,  -eskoro  (plural,  -e'ngoro). 

A  great  peculiarity  of  this  dialect  is  the  large  number  of 
words  ending  in  -eskro,  -meskro,  -omeskro  ;  -engro,  -meiigro, 
-om^ngro.  These  endings  were  originally  genitive  forms, 
as  will  be  gathered  from  the  above  declensions,  but  are 
now  added  to  verbs  and  adjectives,  as  well  as  nouns,  and 
thus  form  nouns  denoting  an  agent,  or  possessor,  the 
termination  -0  being  masculine,  and  -i  feminine  or  neuter, 
though  these  rules  of  gender  are  honoured  more  perhaps 
in  the  breach  than  the  observance. 

Examples. 

-eskro. 

Barhkro-grei,  stallion,  from  bar,  stone ;  grei,  horse. 

-meskro. 
P6gerf7ihkri,  hammer,  from  poger,  to  break. 

Sdstermeskro,  blacksmith,         „      sdster,  iron. 

-omeskro, 
CMnomhkro,  chopper,  from  chm,  to  cut. 

Pdrnomhkro,  miller,  „      pdrno,  flour. 

Ydgomhkro,  fire-range,  gun,     „     yog,  fire. 

-aigro. 
Barmgro,  stallion,  from  bar,  stone. 

-mengro, 
Tdttermingro,  fryingpan,        from  tatter,  to  heat. 
Bokoromengro,  shepherd,  ,,      bokoro,  sheep. 


14  GYPSY    GRAMMAR. 

-om^ngro. 
Chlnom^ngro,  hatchet,  from  chin,  to  cut. 

Sometimes  the  forms  -^ndri  and  -imongeri  occur,  eg.^ 

Kotorendri,  fragment,  from  kdtor,  piece. 

Muter-imongeri,  tea,  „      miiter,  urine. 

Dr.  Paspati  remarks,  in  a  letter  to  Dr,  Smart,  "  your 
-engro,  or  -mchigro^  is  our  (Turkish  Gypsy)  -koro,  rendered 
-?igo7'o  by  the  nasal  //.  Your  bokoromengro,  a  shepherd,  is 
here  (Constantinople)  bakreskoro ;  pi.  bakrengoro,  a  shepherd 
of  many  sheep,  baMnghcre,  shepherds  of  many  sheep." 

From  the  above  examples,  and  others  to  be  found  in  the 
vocabulary,  it  would  appear  that  the  in  is  euphonic,  and  was 
originally  added  to  nouns  ending  in  vowels;  and  that  the 
termination  -niengro^  which  was  thus  formed,  was  some- 
times with  and  sometimes  without,  the  preceding  vowel, 
attached  to  other  roots  as  a  termination  denoting  an  agent, 
or  possessor,  and  equivalent  to  the  English  termination  -er. 

Besides  -hkro,  etc.,  there  are,  in  the  English  Gypsy 
dialect,  the  terminations  -hko  and  -hto,  in  common  use, 
both  as  genitives  singular  and  adjectival  terminations. 

These  may  have  arisen  from  a  gradual  confusion  of  the 
inflections  for  the  genitive  masculine  {hkoro),  and  first  and 
second  Datives  masculine  {cste  and  hkc)  in  the  singular  (see 
declension  above),  due  to  the  influence  of  the  idiom  for  pos- 
session "  DoSva  stdrdi  see  lest  I''  That  hat  is  to  him,  =  That 
hat  is  his,  or  That  is  his  hat. 

Examples. 

-eskro. 
Barhkro-grei^  stallion,  from  bai\  stone ;  grci^  horse. 

'hko. 
Bdngesko-tem^  hell,  from  beng,  devil ;  tern,  country. 

Mi-ddovelisko-dood^  moon,  „      Mi-dodvel^  God ;  dood,  light. 

Ddsko  tan,  mother's  tent,  „      Dei,  mother ;  tan,  tent. 

R^iesko-kair,  gentleman's  house,  „      Rci,  gentleman  ;  kair,  house. 

(Bright)  O  tascho  wasteskee  wangesto,  The  finger  of  the  right  hand. 


NOUN. 


15 


-esto. 
Chiriklesto  kair,  birdcage,  from  chiriklo,  bird  ;  kair,  house. 

Gddesto-bei^  shirt-sleeve,  „      gad^  shirt ;  beiy  sleeve. 

Griiesto-koppa^  horserug,  „     greiy  horse  ;  koppa,  blanket, 

etc.  etc. 

Sometimes  the  forms  -rnisto  and  -omisto  occur,  from 
analogy  to  the  forms  -mesh'o,  -oineskro,  e.g., 

Pdrnoviesto,  miller,  from  porno,  flour. 

Pogeroviesto,  hammer,  „     poger^  to  break. 

The  genitive  is,  however,  usually  formed  by  adding  's  to 
the  nominative,  as  in  English,  e.g., 

Mi-do6vcV s-divviis,  Christmas  ;  lit.  my  god's  day. 

We  have  not  been  able  to  meet  with  any  example  of  the 
feminine  genitive  form  -dkoro. 

Accusative  :  -es. 

The  only  example  we  have  heard  is  pdlla  koorokess,  after 
Sunday. 

Dr,  Pott,  vol.  i.,  p.  232,  conjectures  that  "  Res,  nobleman," 
given  by  Col.  Harriot  ("  R.  Asiatic  Society  Transactions," 
1830),  is  the  accusative  of  rei,  gentleman,  (see  declension 
above), 

Mr.  Borrow,  in  "Lavengro,"  vol.  iii.,  pp.  53,  172,  edit.  185 1, 
has  put  '^  Hir  mi  devlisl'  and  in  "  Romany  Rye,"  vol.  i., 
p.  230,  edit.  1857,  has  put  *^  Hir  mi  diblis''  into  the  mouths 
of  English  Gypsies.  Devlis  and  diblis  appear  to  be  accu- 
sative forms.  The  same  expression,  '^ Heri  devlis','  occurs 
on  p.  126  of  his  "  Lavo-lil,"  at  the  foot  of  the  Lord's  Prayer 
the  Gypsy  dialect  of  Transylvania. 

Datives  :  ist,  -este;  2nd,  eske. 

Dr.  Bright  gives  the  following  example :  "  Deh  acove  a 
gresti  giv  cJiil'  Give  to  this  horse  corn,  girl.  See  also  re- 
marks on  the  terminations  -esko,  and  esto,  under  the  head 
of  genitive. 

Instrumental  :  -esa. 

According  to  Pott,  vol.  i.,  p.  192,  the  instrumental  case  of 


1 6  GYPSY   GRAMMAR. 

dewel,  god,  is  deweleha,  with  god — the  -eha  representing  -esa 
(Jt  =  J-  in  some  continental  Gypsy  dialects).  Mr.  Borrow, 
in  "Lavengro,"  vol.  i.,  p.  i86,  edit.  185 1,  has  put  '' Chal 
devlehiy'\Go  with  God  =  good-bye,  into  the  mouth  of  an 
English  Gypsy.  We  have  ourselves  met  with  no  examples 
of  this  inflection  amongst  nouns,  though  examples  will  be 
observed  amongst  the  pronouns. 
Vocative  :  -eya,  -a,  -e. 

The  only  instances  apparently  extant  in  this  dialect  are 
D£a,  Mother  !  and  Reia,  Sir  ! 

Plural. 
Nominative  :  -/. 

1.  The  few  who  still  retain  a  knowledge  of  the  old 
dialect,  sound  the  nominative  plural  oi  nouns  ending  in  -0 
in  the  singular,  with  an  accent  on  the  final  syllable,  which 
they  pronounce  -/. 

The  most  ordinary  instances  are  the  plurals  of  the  com- 
mon words  gairo,  man,  and  chSorodo,  mumper  or  tramp  ; 
plural  gair^,  men  ;  chSorod^,  mumpers  or  tramps, 

Many  other  instances  will  be  found  in  the  vocabulary, 
eg., 

BSkro,  sheep  ;  plural,  bokr^,  sheep.        Pasp.  bakrtf. 
Pe^ro,  foot  ;  „       peer^,  feet  „     //>/. 

„        PeU,  q.v.  „     pele. 

2,  3.  The  plurals  of  other  nouns  end  in  -aw,  or  -yaw^ 
equivalent  respectively  to  ~d  and  -id,  of  the  Turkish  Gypsy 
dialect,  and  less  correctly  represented  by  -or  and  -yor, 
there  being  no  true  r  sound  in  the  syllable.  The  difference, 
however,  between  -aw  and  -or,  -yaiv  and  -yor,  in  ordinary 
English,  is  almost,  if  not  quite,  imperceptible. 

Examples. 
ENGLISH  GYPSY.  TURKISH  GYPSY. 

SINGULAR.  PLURAL.  PLURAL. 

Grei,  horse  GrcHmv  Graid 

Hev,  hole  Hhiyaiv  Khevid 


NOUN. 

'SY. 

TURKISH  GYPSY, 

PLURAL. 

PLURAL. 

NSaw 

Naid 

Phiyaw 

Penid 

Vdstaw 

Vastd 

Yokaw 

Yakd 

17 

ENGLISH  GYPSY. 

SINGULAR. 

Nei,  nail 
Pen,  sister 
Vast,  hand 
Yoky  eye 

4.  More  frequently,  however, — and  this  is  becoming  the 
general  rule, — the  nominative  plural  is  formed  by  the  ad- 
dition of  s,  as  in  English,  e.g., 

Pen,  sister ;  Pens,  sisters. 
Vast,  hand  ;  Vasts,  hands. 
Yok,  eye  ;       Yoks,  eyes. 

5.  Sometimes  two  forms  are  combined,  e.g.. 

Bar,  stone  ;  Bdryaws,  stones. 
PooVj  field  ;  Pdovyaws,  fields. 
Ran,  rod  ;     Rdnyazvs,  rods. 
Genitive :  -htgoro. 

See  remarks  on  the  genitive  singular. 

Examples. 

Rookenghi,  or  Rook^ngri  Ch6-)(as  (Wester),  The  coats  of 
trees, — i.e.,  leaves.     ShusJiJnghi  h^vyaw,  Rabbit-burrows. 
Accusative  :  -en. 

We  have  not  met  with  any  examples. 
Dative:   1st,  -mde;  2nd,  -e'nghe. 

The  only  instance  that  has  occurred  to  us  is,  *'  Yov  see 
tdrderin    shdo  kotorendV,'  He  is  pulling  rope  to  pieces,  i.e., 
He  is  picking  oakum. 
Instrumental :   -endja;  Ablative  :  -aidar. 

These  cases  are  apparently  obsolete,  unless  gdver  in  the 
following  sentence  may  be  regarded  as  an  ablative  .•  M^ndi 
jalyek  gdver  kdter  wdver.  We  go  from  one  town  to  another. 
Vocative  :  -die. 

This  inflection  is,  so  far  as  we  know,  only  retained  in  the 
word  choopdle,  mates ;  a  word  which  has  a  variety  of  modi- 
fications of  sound,  and  is  by  no  means  uncommon. 


1 8  GYPSY   GRAMMAR. 

Locative. 

Dr.  Paspati  (p.  57)  says,  "  Sometimes  one  hears  the  loca- 
tive case,  which  probably  existed  formerly  in  the  tongue," 
and  quotes  from  p.  108  of  Burns'  Essay:  "The  termi- 
nation of  the  locative  e  is  the  same  in  the  two  tongues,"  i.e. 
in  Sanscrit  and  Pali,  and  amongst  other  examples  mentions 
kere  {djal  kere,  he  goes  home),  which  in  the  English  Gypsy 
dialect  would  be,  e.g.,  yov  jals  keri,  he  goes  home,  or,  yov 
see  ghilo  kere,  he  is  (has)  gone  home.  Dr.  Paspati  adds  that 
the  ab verbs  andre\  inwardly,  opr^,  above,  tel^,  below,  are 
in  the  locative  case.  These  forms  are  preserved  in  the 
English  adf'if,  in,  opr^,  upon,  tald,  down. 

Sometimes  nouns  appear  to  have  been  formed  from  the 
past  participles  of  verbs,  e.g., 

ENGLISH    DIALECT.  TURKISH   DIALECT. 

Bhhto,  saddle,  from  besh,  to  sit.       Beshdva,  p.  part.  beshtS. 

Boshno,  cock,  „     bosh,  to  crow.  Bashdva,        „      bashnd. 

Diklo,  handkerchief,      „     dik,  to  see.        Dikdva,  „     dikld. 

Moolo,  ghost,  „     7ner,  to  die.       Merdva,         „     muld. 

Diminutives. 

Dr.  Paspati  (p.  45)  states  that  the  Turkish  Gypsies  form, 
from  almost  all  nouns,  in  imitation  of  the  Turks  and  Greeks, 
diminutives  in  -oro,  as  well  as  some  in  -tchdy  a  form  borrowed 
from  the  Bulgarian  language. 

The  English  Gypsy  dialect  has  one  example  at  least  of 
the  latter  form,  viz.,  bSkocho,  lamb,  from  bdkoro,  sheep. 

Perhaps  Dr.  Bright's  "  chaori,  female  children,"  and  our 
chavori,  chicken,  are  examples  of  the  other  form. 

Abstract  Nouns. 

Dr.  Paspati  (p.  47)  says,  "  Abstract  nouns  are  formed 
from  verbs,  adjectives,  and  nouns  "  (p.  46) ;  "  they  are  very 
numerous,  and  always  end  in  be  or  pe!'  He  gives,  amongst 
other  examples, — 


NOUN.  I  g 

TURKISH    GYPSY. 

From  verbs,          Astaribe,  prize,  from  astardva,  I  seize. 

Djibd,  life,  „  djivdva,  I  live. 

Meribd,  death,  „  merdva,  I  die. 

From  adjectives,  Mattipe,  drunkenness,  „  matto,  drunk. 

Barvalipe,  wealth,  „  barvalo,  rich. 

Kalipe,  blackness,  „  kalo,  black. 

Nas/alibe,  illness,  „  nasfalo,  ill. 

Tchakhipc,  truth,  „  tchatcho,  true. 

From  nouns,        Bcttghipe,  devilry,  „  beng,  devil. 

Rupuibe,  silversmith  |  ... 

trade,     }  "  ^/^A  silver. 

Trushnibd,  thirst,  „    triish,  thirst. 

He  adds  that  inflections  of  these  nouns  are  rare,  but  that  the 
instrumental  case  shows  that  primitively  they  ended  in  pen. 
In  the  English  dialect,  also,  abstract  nouns  are  formed 
from  verbs,  adjectives,  and  nouns,  and  retain  the  primitive 
endings  oi pen  or  beii,  e.g.. 

From  verbs,  Stdriben,  prison,      from  astardva  (obsolete  in  Eng. 

dialect),  I  seize. 

Jivoben,  life,  „    j'iv,  to  live. 

M^?iben,  death,  „     mer,  to  die. 

From  adjectives,  Mottoben.  drunken- )  '^^     j       , 

ness,     f    "     '«^^^^>  drunk. 

Bdrvalipen,  wealth,    „  bdrvalo,  rich. 

Katilopeti,  blackness,  „  kaulo,  black, 

Ndjlopen,  illness,         „  nd_fio,  ill. 

Tdtchipetij  truth,  „  tdtcho,  true. 

From  nouns,        Chodmaben,  kissing,    „  chooma,  kiss,  n.  and  v. 

Breedopeu,  breed,         „  breed  (Eng.),  n.  and  v. 

Compound  Nouns. 

The  English  Gypsy  dialect  has,  in  analogy  to  the  English 
language,  many  compound  nouns  formed  by  the  union  of 
nouns  with  verbs,  adjectives,  and  nouns,  e.g., 

om  kanhigri,  hare ;  moosh,  man. 
kaiili,  black ;  ra^ni,  lady. 
Idlo,  red ;  mdtcho,  fish. 


Kanengri-rnoosh,  gamekeeper, 
Kaiili-rauni,  turkey, 
Lolo-mdtcJio,  herring, 
Mee'asto-bar,  milestone, 
Moosh-chdvi,  boy, 
Pookering-kosht,  signpost, 


meea,  mile  ;  bar,  stone. 
moosh,  man  ;  chdvi,  child. 
pookerin^,  telling ;  kosht,  post. 


20  GYPSY   GRAMMAR. 

Pdrni-rauni^  swan,  frompdrm,  white;  ratini,  lady. 

Simmering-boddega^  pawnshop,      „      simmering^  pawning ;    boddega, 

shop. 
Tdtto-padni,^^\x\X.%,  „      tdUo,  hot ;  padni,  water. 

etc.  etc. 

Punning  Appellatives. 

The  English  Gypsies  have  manufactured  and  adopted  a 
class  of  words  which  are  essentially  of  the  nature  of  puns. 
They  consist  of  words  in  which  a  fancied  resemblance  of 
sound  in  English  has  suggested  their  translation  into 
Romanes, 

The  German  Gypsies  have  done  the  same,  as  will  be 
seen  on  referring  to  p.  91  of  Dr.  Liebich's  "  Die  Zigeuner," 
Leipzig,  1863,  where  amongst  other  instances  he  mentions 
— Vienna,  gwinakro  foro  (honey  town), — German  Wien, 
Vienna,  sounding  like  the  German  Gypsy  word  ^w/;/, honey. 

The  following  are  examples  of  this  practice  by  English 
Gypsies  : — 

B^ngesko-mel,  Devil's  Die,  for  Devil's  Dyke,  Cambridge- 
shire. 

BoSko-padni-gav,  Liver-water-town,  for  Liverpool. 

Kdlesko-tem,  Cheese-country,  for  Cheshire. 

Kaulo-padni,  Black-water,  for  Blackpool,  Lancashire. 

Ldlo-gav,  Red-town,  for  Reading. 

Ldlo-pe^ro,  Red-foot,  for  Redford. 

M£lesto-gav,  Donkey's-town,  for  Doncaster. 

Mo6shke7ti-gav,  Man-town,  for  Manchester. 

o-g  <■',       \  A-norange-town,  for  Norwich. 
PSbomuskt-gav, ) 

Woodnis-gav-tern,  Bed-town-country,  for  Bedfordshire. 

Descriptive  Appellatives. 
They  have  also  invented  another  class  of  words,  nearly 
related  to  the  last,  and  descriptive  of  some  actual  or  fancied 
peculiarity. 

Examples. 
Cho6resto-gav,  knife-town,  for  Sheffield. 


NOUN.  21 

Ckdrkeno-tem,  Grassy-country,  | 

Bdrvalo-tem,  Rich-country,        j  Yorkshire. 

Kaiilo-gav^  Black-town,  Birmingham. 

Ldvines-tem,  Wordy-country,  Wales. 

Peero-deliii-tem,  Foot-kicking-country,  Lancashire. 

Pobesko-peemhkri-tem,    Apple-drink-country,    Hereford- 
shire. 

P6xtan-gai\  Cloth-town,  Manchester. 

Tdvesto-gav,  Cotton  (thread)-town,  Manchester. 

Tulo-maS'tem,  Fat-meat-country,  Lincolnshire, 
etc.  etc.  etc. 

The  following  tribes  have  punning  appellatives  in  Rd- 
manes : — 

Cooper —  Ward^ngro. 

Gray — Bal. 

H  erne — Mdtcho. 

Lee — Pooru  m. 

Lovell — Komomeskro,  KSmelo,  pi.  Kdmyaws. 

Pinfold — Pdndom^ngro. 

S  m  ith —  Petalhigro. 

Stan  ley — Barmgro. 

Taylor  —Sivovihigro. 

Young — Tdrno. 

To  these  Mr.  Borrow,  in  his  "  Lavo-lil,"  adds  Rossarmescro, 
Heme  {Duck,  for  Heron),  and  Chodma-misto,  Buss  [i.e.,  kiss)- 
well,  Choomomengro,  Busser  {i.e.,  kisser),  for  Boswell.  Both 
of  these  terms  are,  so  far  as  we  can  find,  unknown  in  the 
North,  which  is  the  more  remarkable  as  the  Hemes  and 
Boswells  are  the  chief  tribes  in  the  northern  counties. 

Nouns  peculiar  to  this  Dialect. 

Of  these,  the  following  appear  to  be  the  most  remarkable 
and  in  commonest  use  : — 

I.   Bdngheri,    n..    Waistcoat.     Bryant,    bringaree ;    Bright, 
bangeri ;   Borrow  ("Lavo-lil,"  p.  22),  bengree. 


22  GYPSY   GRAMMAR. 

2.  Bor,  n.,  Friend,  mate.     Irvine,  md  bd,  don't,  sir  ;  Smith 

("Tent  Life  in  Norway,"  p.  22),  baugh ;  Borrow 
("Lavo-lil,"  p.  21),  baw,  ban. 

3.  BSiiri,  n..  Snail.     Borrow  ("  Zincali,"  1861    ed.,  p.  58), 

boror,  snails;  Lid.  (Engl.  Gs.,  p.  32",  33,  34",  223,)  bawris. 

4.  Gdiro,  n.,  Man  ;   Gdiri,  Woman.     Bright,  purugero,  old 

man;  Borrow  ("  Zincali,"  1843  ed.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  145*), 
geiro,  gairy ;  ("  Zincali,"  1861  ed.,  p.  ly)  geiro ;  Simson 
("  History  of  the  Gypsies,"  1865,  pp.  295,  ll\),gourie  ; 
Leland  ("  English  Gipsies,"  pp.  146,  254),  geero;  (p.  221, 
241,  254,)  geeros,  pi. ;  57,  ^^^^/V,  gen.  ;  256,  geeris,  pi.  ; 
Borrow  ("  Lavo-lil,"  p.  48),  guero,  gueri. 

5.  JorjSxct,   n..  Apron.     Almost  every  family  pronounces 

this  word  differently.  We  have  heard  chdrdokay 
jdrifa,  Jdrika,  jorjoffa,  shdrdoka^  ydrdooka^  and  ya7'- 
duxa.  Simson  ("History  of  the  Gypsies,"  pp.  315, 
332),  j'air  dah ;  Leland  ("English  Gipsies,"  p.  C)6), 
iellico  ;  Borrow  ("  Lavo-lil,"  p.  54),  yW(^<'?/('^j^;  Roberts, 
shaducca. 

6.  Meila,  n.,  Ass.     Bryant,  niillan,  ass  ;  milo,  mule  ;   Hoy- 

land  (Survey,  etc.,  p.  188),  moila  ;  'Qright,  mila,  ineila  ; 
Harriot,  rnaila,  ass,  donkey;  tane  mail,  young  donkey  ; 
Irvine,  myla  ;  Borrow  ("  Lavengro,"  185 1  ed.,  vol.  iii., 
p.  228),  niailla ;  Smith  ("Tent  Life  in  Norway,"  pp. 
105,  106,  345,  etc.),  fnerle ;  Leland  ("English  Gipsies," 
pp.  29,  30,  90,  107,  etc.),  myla  ;  Borrow  ("Lavo-lil," 
p.  Gi),  mail  la, 

7.  Szi'dglcr,  swt^gler,  n.,  Pipe,  tobacco-pipe.     Bright,  sivegii  ; 

Smitli  (p.  \^2),  swaglcr ;  Leland  ("English  Gipsies," 
PP-  35.  Ii3)»  swdgler ;  Borrow  ("  Lavo-Hl,"  p.  93), 
szvegler,  szvingle. 

Various  Terminations. 
Class   I.  -ama,  -amns,  -imus,  -otnns. 

Bitchama,    sentence;    Rdkamus,    speech;    Kerimus, 
battle:   Tdrnomus,  youth. 


ADJECTIVE.  23 

Class  2.  -drtts,  -erus,  -ero. 

Monkdrus,  monkey ;  Rushdrus^  rush ;  Wesidrus, 
Sylvester ;  Bosherus,  cough  ;  Boshero^  fiddler. 

Class  3.  -dri,  -i. 

Besomdri^  besom-makers  ;  Burk-dri,  breasts  ;  Foosh- 
dri,  fern ;  RusMri,  rushes ;  Bluelegi,  bluelegs  ;  Ntiti, 
nuts. 

Class  4.  -er. 

Bdr-er,  stone  ;  Gdd-er,  shirt ;  Rdok-er,  tree. 
Class  5.  -tu,  -OS. 

Bostdrdus,  bastard  ;  Fdirus,  a  fair  ;   Hdnikos,  a  well. 
Class  6.  -um. 

Gooshum,  throat. 

Of  these  terminations,  -7mis  (i)  appears  in  many  words 
to  be  equivalent  to  the  termination  -pen,  or  -ben  ;  -dri  (3)  is 
probably  the  plural  form  of  -drns  (2),  and  the  two  forms 
-drus,  -dri,  may  owe  their  origin  perhaps  to  the  termina- 
tion -oro  (see  Diminutives)  ;  -us,  mus,  etc.,  are  apparently 
cant  terminations. 


ADJECTIVE. 

Adjectives,  in  the  singular,  almost  invariably  end  in  -0 
or  -i,  which  are  respectively  masculine  and  feminine  ter- 
minations, e.g., 

Masculine.  Feminine,  Meaning. 

Baiiro  Baiiri  Great 

Chikh  Chikli  Dirty 

CJiooro  Choori  Poor 

Rinkeno  Rinkeni  Pretty 

Roopno  RoSpni  Silver 

These  terminations  are  even  added  to  English  adjec- 
tives, e.g., 

Dear-i  dei,  dear  mother. 
Fine-o  peios,  fiiTe  fun. 


24  GYPSY    GRAMMAR. 

The  Gypsies  in  Germany  do  the  same,  as  is  shown  in  the 
following  example  taken  from  Pott : 

Biinto  bakro,  em  bimtes  Sckaf,  a  spotted  sheep. 

An  instance  in  which  a  German  word,  with  the  normal 
Gypsy  adjectival  termination,  appears  prefixed  to  a  Gypsy 
noun,  occurs  in  the  English  Gypsy  dialect,  viz., 

Stiffo-paly  brother-in-law  {stief-bruder). 

Stiffi-pen,  sister-in-law  {stief-schwester) . 

We  have  also  in  this  dialect  what  seems  to  be  an  example 
of  a  French  word  similarly  treated,  viz., — 
Bitti  chei,  little  girl  {petite  fille). 

For  the  plural,  those  who  speak  the  ordinary  dialect 
apparently  prefer  the  termination  -2,  and  the  very  few  who 
speak  the  old  dialect  make  use  of  -/. 

SINGULAR.  PLURAL. 

Chiklo  drovi,  dirty  road  Chikli  drdmaw,   dirty  roads    (ordinary 

dialect). 
Chdoro  gairo^  poor  man  Clwor^  gair^,  poor  men      \ 

Podro  gairo,  old  man  Poori gair^,  old  men  I  (old  dialect). 

Wdver  bdkro,  another  sheep   Waverd  bokr^^  other  sheep) 

The  following  examples  will  illustrate  the  agreement 
between  adjectives  and  nouns.  The  rule  is,  however, 
constantly  violated  by  every  Gypsy. 

SINGULAR.  PLURAL. 

Bauro  ret,  great  gentleman  Podri  dei,  old  mother 

Baiiro  padni,  great  water  Rinkeni  rdkti,  pretty  girl 

Kdisheno  diklo,  silk  handherchief   Rodpni  rot,  silver  spoon 

Many  of  the  adjectives  in  common  use  are  almost  pure 
Hindostani,  Sanscrit,  or  Persian  {vide  Paspati,  p.  59),  e.g., 


English  Gypsy  Adjective. 

Oriental  representative. 

Meaning. 

Bauro 

Bur  a,  Hind. 

Great 

BSkolo 

Bhookha,  Hind. 

Hungry 

Kaiilo 

Kala,  Hind. 

Black 

Kodshko 

Khoosh,  Pers. 

Good 

L6I0 

Lai,  Pers. 

Red 

ADJECTIVE. 

25 

iglish  Gypsy  Adjective. 

Oriental  representative. 

Meaning. 

Ldngo 

Lung,  Pers. 
.Ltmgra,  Hind.) 

Lame 

MoSlo 

Mooa,  Hind. 

Dead 

MStto 

Muttu,  Sans. 

Drunk 

Nevo 

Niivu,  Sans. 

New 

NSngo 

Nunga,  Hind. 

Naked 

Podro 

Boor  ha,  Hind. 

Old 

Shirilo 

Seer  a,  Hind. 

Cold 

Skodko 

Sookha,  Hind. 

Dry 

Tdtto 

Tiitta,  Hind. 

Hot 

etc. 

etc. 

etc. 

Some  adjectives  are 

\  formed  from  Gypsy 

nouns  by  adding 

0  or  -lo,  e.g., 

NOUN. 

ADJECTIVE. 

Chik,  dirt. 

Chik-lo, 

dirty. 

Kaish,  silk. 

Kaishnc 

>,  silken. 

Roop,  silver. 

Rodpno, 

silver. 

Dr.  Paspati,  p.  60,  says,  "  The  greater  number  of  Turkish 
Gypsy  adjectives  end  in  -/<?."  More  than  half  the  adjectives 
in  the  English  Gypsy  dialect  end  in  -lo  or  -no,  e.g., 

-io,  m. ;  -//,  f. 

Jo6vli,  lousy 
Kaulo,  black 
KSmelo,  loving 
M06I0,  dead 
Ndsfalo,  ill 
Peedlo,  drunk 


Bdlli,  hairy 
Bdrvalo,  rich 
B^ngalo,  wicked 
Bokolo,  hungry 
Chodralo,  bearded 
Goddlo,  sweet 
-no,  m. ;  -7ii,  f 
Ho'ino,  angry 
Joovni,  female 
Kdishno,  silken 
Kino,  tired 

Some  few  end  in  -do, 
Kindo,  wet 


Pehdo,  widowed 
Rdtvalo,  bloody 
Shirilo,  cold 
Shoobli,  pregnant 
TtUlo,  fat 
Tuvlo,  smoky 


Kdshno,  wooden  Rinkeno,  pretty 
Mooshkeno,  male  Rodpno,  silver 
Pdrno,  cloth  Tdrno,  young 

Paimo,  white         Tikno,  little 


e.g., 
Korodo,  blind 


P6rdo,  full,  etc. 


26  GYPSY    GRAMMAR. 

These  last  in  general  have  meanings  akin  to  past  parti- 
ciples ;  though  the  division  between  adjectives  in  -/o,  -no, 
-do,  and  past  participles  with  the  same  terminations,  is  by- 
no  means  distinct. 

Others  have  various  terminations. 

We  have  also  adjectives  in  -sko,  -sto,  formed  from  the 
genitive  singular,  e.g., 

Krdlisko,  royal,  from  krdlis,  king. 
V^nesto, 


J  relating  to  wmter,  from  ven,  winter. 

[See  remarks  on  the  declensions  of  nouns,  p.  14.] 

We  have  several  adjectives,  in  the  very  commonest  use, 
which  seem  to  be  almost  peculiar  to  the  English  Gypsy- 
dialect,  e.g., 

KoSshko,  good  (Persian,  koosh). 
The  word  occurs  in  Dr.  Pott's  work,  but  is  taken  from 
English  sources.  M.  Bohtlingk,  in  "  Melanges  Asiatiques," 
tome  ii.,  2me  livraison,  1854,  has  kdnsto,  good.  Dr. 
Paspati  says,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Smart,  "  This  word 
(kooshko)  is  unknown  to  me." 

The  word  Latscho,  or  Laczo,  takes  its  place  in  most 
dialects, — e.g.,  instead  of  KodsJiko  divvus,  Good  day,  one 
would  say  Latscho  dives. 

Almost  all  English  Gypsy  vocabularies  contain  the 
word  : — 

Bright — Coshko,  kosliko  (?  //  for  Ji). 

Harriot — Kashto,  kashko. 

I  rvi  ne — Kooshka. 

Borrow — Kosgo,  kosko,  koshto,  kusJito. 

"  Illustrated  London  News,"  13th  Dec,  1851 — Cushgar, 

kushgar. 
Hubert  Smith— O/^/j/y. 
Leland — Kushto,  etc. 

Another  adjective  which  appears  peculiar  to  this  dialect 

Rinkeno,  pretty. 


ADJECTIVE.  27 

Mr.  Hubert  Smith,  in  his  "Tent  Life  with  English  Gypsies 
in  Norway,"  London,  1873,  p.  332,  says,  "In  the  ItaHan 
Gypsy,  it  {rankny)  is  pronounced  rincaiwy  This  assertion 
may  perhaps  be  accounted  for  on  referring  to  Predari, 
"Origine  e  Vicende  dei  Zingari,"  etc.,  8vo,  Milan,  1841 
(see  "Tent  Life,"  etc.,  p.  165),  for  Predari  has  taken  words 
from  Kogalnitschan's  "  Esquisse  sur  I'hist.,  et  la  langue  des 
Cigains,"  8vo,  Berlin,  1837  (see  Pott,  i.  25),  and  Kog.  con- 
tains many  English  Gypsy  words  and  phrases  taken  from 
Roberts.* 

The  word  for  pretty ^  on  the  Continent,  is, — Liebich, 
Schukker  ;  Paspati,  Sukdr,  SJmkdr  ;  Pott,  Schakker,  Szukar, 
etc.,  which  is  represented  in  this  dialect  by  Shookdr,  an 
adverb  meaning  gently,  nicely,  easily. 

Rinkeno  is  represented  in  most  of  the  English  Gypsy 
vocabularies : — 

Bright — Richini. 

Harriot — Rickeno. 

Borrow — Rinkeno,  rikkeni. 

"Illustrated  London  News,"  13th  Dec,  185 1 — Rinckne; 
ditto,  20th  Sept.,  1856 — Rinkni. 

Hubert  Smith — Rankny. 

Leland — Rikkeno,  rijtkeni,  rinkni. 

Another  of  these  adjectives  is 

Vdsavo,  bad,  evil. 
The  pronunciation  varies  slightly  with   individuals.     The 
word  may  be  spelt  wdsedo,  wdfedo,  or  wdfro. 

The  only  word  resembling  these  is  Borrows  Spanish 
Gypsy  basto,  adj.,  evil,  which  is  apparently  connected  with 
his  bastardo,  s.a.,  affliction,  evil,  prison. 

Most  of  the  English  vocabularies  represent  this  word,  e.g., 

*  This  theory  of  the  origin  of  rincano  via  Kogal  is  strengthened 
by  the  statement  ("Tent  Life,"  p.  479,)  that  "the  French  Gypsies  use 
wuddress  for  bed,"  whereas  there  is  no  w  in  the  French  alphabet,  but 
"  ivuddress,  lit "  occurs  in  Kogal.,  who  wrote  his  book  in  French,  and 
rincana,  and  wuddress,  both  occur  in  Roberts. 


2  8  GYPSY   GRAMMAR. 

Bright—  Waffro. 

Harriot —  Vasavo,  vesavo. 

Borrow — Vassavo,  vassavy,  imssavie,  waftido,  wafodu^ 

wafitdup^nes  (sins). 
"Illustrated    London   News,"    13th    Dec,    185 1 — Va- 

fardes. 
Leland —  Vessavo,  wafro,  zvafri^  wafrodearer  (worse). 

A  fourth  peculiar  adjective  is 

Bitto,  little. 

Mr.  Hubert  Smith,  p.  527,  quotes  biitan  as  Norwegian 
Gypsy  for  little,  according  to  M.  Sundt. 

It  probably  owes  its  origin  to  the  French  petit.  The 
English  bit,  though  corresponding  with  this  adjective  in 
sound,  is  never  synonymous  with  small.  The  English  say 
indififerently  "  a  bit  of  bread  "  and  "  a  little  bread  " ;  and 
English  Gypsies  may  perhaps  have  confused  these  two 
phrases,  from  the  assonance  of  a  bitto  =  a  small,  and  a 
bit  0'  =  a.  bit,  or  small  piece,  of. 

The  following  forms  occur  in  former  collections  : — 

Bryant — Bittn,  bottoo. 

Bright— /^zV/^^,  bitto, 

Harriot — Bitta,  biti,  bite,  beti,  bete. 

Borrow — Biti,  beti. 

Leland— 5^7//. 


Comparison. 

The  comparative  degree  is  formed  by  adding  -dalr,  -ddr, 
or  -ddiro,  to  the  positive.  There  seems  to  be  no  form  for 
the  superlative  beyond  the  English  methods  of  adding  -est, 
or  prefixing  most,  to  either  the  positive  or  comparative, — 
in  the  former  of  which  cases  the  feminine  termination  -i 
seems  preferred  to  the  masculine.  At  times  the  compara- 
tive is  used  as  a  superlative. 


ADVERB.  29 

Examples. 

POSITIVE.  COMPARATIVE.  SUPERLATIVE. 

Batiro,  great  Ba^roddr  Bauriest,  bauroddrest,  most 

baurodar 
ChoSro,  poor  Chooroddr  Chooriest,  chooroddrest 

Pooro,  old  Pooroddr  Poortesi,  vaosX.  poorodar 

Tdrno,  young  Tdrnoddir  Tdrniest,  most  tarni 

So  bootoder  too  komdssa  f         What  do  you  want  most  ? 
O  koU  so  komova  feterdair.      The  things  I  want  most. 

These  forms  for  the  comparative  are  fast  dying  out,  and 
giving  way  to  English  formations  ;  they  are,  however,  still 
in  ordinary  use  in  several  families. 

The  Turkish  Gypsies  use  a  similar  termination.  Dr. 
Paspati,  p.  56,  gives 

Bard,  great ;  Bared^r. 
Kalo,  black  ;  Kaleddr. 
Tikno,  young  ;   Tikneddr. 

The  comparative  degree  in  Persian  is  formed  by  adding 

-tur  or  -tar,  e.g., 

Door;  Doortur. 

Sometimes  this  degree  in  the  English  Gypsy  dialect  is 
formed  irregularly,  e.g., 

Kodshko,  good  ;  F^tterddir,  better. 


ADVERB. 

Adverbs  are  formed  from  adjectives  by  adding  -nes  or 
-es,  e.g., 

Bongo,  lame  ;         Bonges,  lamely. 
Chooro,  poor  ;         Choorones,  poorly. 
Romano,  gypsy  ;  Romanes,  gypsily. 
Tdtcho,  true ;  Tdchenes,  truly. 

Some  are  formed  irregularly,  e.g.,  Ko6shko,^ooA\  mlshto, 
well.  Mishto  they  use  occasionally  as  an  adjective,  and  say 
mishto  divvus,  good  day. 


30  GYPSY   GRAMMAR. 

The   following  examples  are   from    Continental    Gypsy 
vocabularies : — 

Baro,  great ;      Bares. 
Latcho,  good  ;  Latches. 
Tc/ntlo,  fat ;       Tchules. 


SOME   ABSTRACT    NOUNS 

Are  formed  from  adjectives,  by  adding  -pen  or  -ben,     [See 
remarks  on  the  noun,  p.  19.] 


AUXILIARY  VERB. 


Dr.  Paspati  (p.  80)  gives  the  following,  as  the  inflection 
of  the  verb  to  be,  in  the  Turkish  Gypsy  dialect : — 

PRESENT.  IMPERFECT. 

SINGULAR.  PLURAL.  SINGULAR.  PLURAL. 


Me  isom,  I  am  Amen  isd^n,  We  are 

Tu  isdn^  Thou  art    Tumen  isdn,  Ye  are 
Ov  /j/,  He  is  01  isi,  They  are 


IsSmas  Isdmas 

Isdnas  Isdnas 

Isds  Isds 


In  the  English  Gypsy  dialect,  parts  of  this  verb  are  not 
unfrequently  employed  in  conversation,  e.g., 

PRESENT.  IMPERFECT. 

SINGULAR.  PLURAL.  SINGULAR.  PLURAL. 


Shorn  Shorn,  shem 

Shan  Shan 

See  See 


S ho  mas,  sas        Shiimas 
Shdnas  Shdnas 

Sas  Sas 


A  few  examples  will  serve  to  .show  the  use  now  made  of 

this  verb. 

Present. 

Kind  shorn,  I  am  tired. 

Sar  shan,  pal,  How  art  thou,  brother  } 

Sar  shan,  choovdli.  How  are  ye,  mates  } 

So  see,  What  is  it } 

Jinda  m^ndi  shem  akH,  He  knows  we  are  here. 

Doosta  RSmani-chdlaw  see  akH,  Many  Gypsies  are  here. 


auxiliary  verb.  3  i 

Imperfect. 
Mdndi  sas  keker  koordtto  'dre  mi  merripen,  I  was  never 

beaten  in  my  life. 
Beeno  shomas,  I  was  born  (Wester  Bos.) 
Too  shdnas  ndflo,  Thou  wast  ill. 
Yov  sas  be^no  agldl  fndndi,  He  was  born  before  me. 
Mendi  shiiinas  wdfedo,  We  were  bad. 
Wdvere  sas  willing,  Others  were  coming. 

It  is  also  used  in  the  sense  of  must^  e.g., 
So  sham  te  kerdw,  What  must  I  do  }     What  am  I  to  do  } 

It  occasionally  takes  the  meaning  of  have,  a  usage 
derived  from  the  form  Mdiidi  see.  To  me  there  is,  =  I  have 
{est  mihi),  e.g., 

Yov  see  a  porno  sidrdi,  He  has  a  white  hat. 

Too  shanas  tri7i  greiaw,  Thou  hadst  three  horses. 

To  be  able,  can  {posse). 

Mr.  Borrow  ("Romano  Lavo-lil,"  London,  Murray,  1874, 
p.  18,)  gives*  astis  mangu^,  I  can. 

Wester  Boswell  uses  the  following  forms,  viz. :  SastiSy 
or  Siistis  (can) ;  Nastis,  or  Nastissa  (cannot)  ;  TasHs,  or 
Tustis  (If  I  can).  Liebich  has  Sasti  (can),  Nasti  (cannot) ; 
but  does  not  represent  our  third  form.  Paspati  has  the 
second  form  only,  viz.,  Nasti  and  Nastik  (cannot). 

Examples. 

Sar  sastis  te yek  moosk  del?  How  can  one  man  give  } 
Pookerova  toot,  Rei,  tastis,  I  will  tell  you,  sir,  if  I  can. 
Yov' II  kair  toot  tdteho,  tastis.  He  will  cure  you,  if  he  can. 
Nastis  wantasova,  I  cannot  want. 
"  Hoi  doovay     "  Nastissa:'—''  Eat  that."    "  I  cannot." 

*  cf.  Pasp.,  p.  48  :  AsTi  (As)  it  is. 


32 


GYPSY   GRAMMAR. 


VERB. 

According  to  various  authorities,  the  German,  Hungarian, 
and  Turkish  Gypsies  have  a  pecuHar  conjugation  of  their 
own.  The  Gitanos  of  Spain  assimilate  their  verbs  to  the 
Spanish  conjugation.  In  this  country  the  Gypsy  dialect 
exhibits  only  remnants  of  the  ancient  mode  of  conjugating 
the  verb,  which  now  generally  conforms  to  the  English 
method  in  preference. 

To  elucidate  the  few  remarks  to  be  made  on  this  point, 
specimens  of  the  conjugation  of  the  Turkish  Gypsy  verb, 
taken  from  pp.  87  and  89  of  Dr.  Paspati's  recent  work,  are 
subjoined. 

Lava,  to  take.     Kerdva,  to  make. 

Participle. 
Lino,  f.  lini,  pi.  line.     Kerdo,  f.  kerdi,  pi.  kerde. 

Geru  nd. — Kerindds. 


Indicative. 

Present. 

SINGULAR. 

PLURAL.                   ,              SINGULAR. 

PLURAL. 

I  Ldva,  or  lav 

Ldsa,  las 

Kerdva,  -rdv 

Kerdsa,  -rds 

2  Ldsa,    „  las 

Ldna,  len 

Kerha,  -rds 

Kerina,  -rin 

Lha,    „  les 

Kerdla,  -ril 

Kerdna,  -rdn 

3  Ldla,    „  lal 

Ldna,  len 

Ula,    „  lei 

Imperfect. 

Ldvas 

Ldsas 

Kerdvas 

Kerdsas 

Ldsas 

Ldnas 

Kerdsas 

Kerdnas 

Ldas 

Ldnas 

Kerdlas 

Kerdnas 

First  A  oris t. 

According  to  the  Settled  Gypsies. 

SINGULAR, 

PLURAL.                            SINGULAR. 

PLURAL. 

Linidm,  lidnt 

Linidm 

Kerghiom 

Kerghidm 

Liuidn,  lidn 

Linidn 

Kerghidn 

Kerghidn 

Linids,  lids 

Linids 

Kerghids 

Kerghids 

VERB. 


33 


According  to  the  Wandering  Gypsies, 


Lindm 
Lindn 
Linds 

Lindm 
Lindn 
Linds 

Kerddm 
Kerddn 
Kerdds 

Kerddm 
Kerddn 
Kerdds 

Second  Aorist. 

According  to  the  Settled  Gypsies. 

Linidmas 
Linidnas 
Linids 

Linidmas 
Linidnas 
Linids 

Kerghidmas 
Kerghidnas 
Kerghids 

Kerghidmas 
Kerghidnas 
Kerghids 

According  to  the  Wandering  Gyysies. 


Lindmas 

Lindmas 

Kerddmas 

Kerddmas 

Lindnas 

Lindnas 

Kerddnas 

Kerddnas 

Linds 

Linds 

Kerdds 

Kerdds 

Kamaldva,  -Idv 
Kamaldsa^  -Ih 
KamaUla,  -Ul 


Future. 


Kamaldsa,  -Ids 
KamaUna,  -Idn 
Kamaldna,  -tin 


Kamakerdva 
Kamakerdsa 
Kamakerila 


Kamakerdsa 
Kamakerdna 
Kamakerdna 


2  Le,  lo 

3  Me  lei 


Imperative. 


Len 

Me  len 


Ker 

Me  kerdl 


Kerdn 

Me  kerdn 


Te  Idva,  -lav 
Tf  Idsa,  -les 
Te  lila,  -lei 


Subjunctive. 
Present. 


Te  Idsa,  -las 
Te  Idna,  -len 
Te  Una,  -len 


Te  kerdva 
Te  kerdsa 
Te  kerdla 


Te  kerdsa 
Te  kerdna 
Te  kerdna 


In  most  instances  the  English  Gypsy  verb  consists  of  the 
bare  root,  e.g., 

5 


34  GYPSY    GRAMMAR. 


1st  Pers.  Sing.,  Pres., 

English  Gypsy. 

Turkish  Gypsy. 

Meaning. 

Chin 

Tchin-dva 

Cut 

Jin 

Djan-dva 

Know 

Kair 

Ker-dva 

Make 

Kin 

Kin-dva 

Buy 

Koor 

Ktir-dva 

Fight 

Mor 

Mar-dva 

Kill 

Pen 

Pen-dva 

Say 

etc. 

etc. 

etc. 

The   few   inflections 

still    extant    may 

be   grouped   as 

Hows  : — 

Indicative. 

Present. 
1st  pers.,  sing.,  ~ov^  -ova. 

In  deep  Romanes  this  termination  is  still  used,  not  only 
for  the  present  tense,  but  the  future  also,  e.g., 

AndSva,  I  bring  DSva,    \        .  Jinova,  I  know 

Chindva,  I  cut  Deldva^)      ^'^^  JSva,    \ 

Chivdvay  I  put  HSva,  I  eat  Jaldva,'^      ^ 

Dikdva,  I  see  HdtcJurova,  I  burn  Kair  ova,  I  make 
etc.                        etc.  etc. 

The  same  termination  is  occasionally  added  to  English 
verbs,  e.g., 

T\{\wV.as6va,  I  think  ;  ^2.n\.as6va,  I  want. 

This  form  of  -Sva,  or  -dwva,  is  often  contracted  in  rapid 
conversation,  eg., 

Parikrdw,  or  Pdriko  toot,  Thank  you. 
Jindw,  I  know. 
Law,  I  take. 

As  comparisons  of  the  old  with  the  ordinary  dialect,  the 
following  examples  will  serve  : — 

Jdva  m^,  I  am  going        MdndHsjdlin' 
JinSva  m^,  I  know  Mdndijins 


VERB. 


3S 


A  *  v^'  which  appears  to  be  the  remains  of  -dva,  or  rather 
of  the  lengthened  form  -avdva,  is  found  in  the  English 
dialect  annexed  to  the  root  of  many  of  the  commonest 
verbs : — 


Hindustani. 

Root. 

Turkish  Gypsy. 

English  Gypsy. 

Meaning. 

^-na 

A- 

^-v-ava 

A-v 

Come 

Ro-ndi 

Ro- 

Ro-v-i.va 

Ro-v 

Cry 

See-na 

See- 

5/-v-ava 

Si-v 

Sew 

So-na. 

So- 

5<?-v-dva 

So-v 

Sheep 

D/to-na. 

Dho- 

To-v-iva 

To-v 

Wash 

etc. 

etc. 

etc. 

etc. 

etc. 

2nd  pers.,  sing.,  -dsa,  -ha. 

A  few  of  the  old  Gypsies  still  use  this  form,  pronouncing 
it  -dssa,  -hsa,  and  frequently  contracting  it  to  -ds,  -/i",  e.g., 

Too  jinesa^  thou  knowest  ;  jdsa,   goest ;    dikha,  seest ; 

jivha,    livest ;    kairesa,    or    kha,    doest  ;    komha,   or 

komh,  lovest ;  shoonha,  hearest. 
Too  rdkerdsa,  or  rSkerds,  thou  speakest ;  podkerds,  tellest. 

Examples. 
Jinesa  too  Westdnis  f  Do  you  know  Sylvester .' 
Komds  too  bdlovds  ?  Do  you  like  bacon  "i 
jfinova,  pal,  sorkon  koovaw  too  pookerds  mdndi  see  tdtcho^ 
I  know,  brother,  everything  thou  tellest  me  is  true. 

3rd  pers.,  sing.,  -da,  -//. 
This  termination  is  also  in  use  at  the  present  time,  e.g., 

Boshda,  barks.  Kairda,  makes. 

Brishinda  {brishin-ddd),  rains.    Nasherda,  loses. 
Chivda,  puts. 
jfdla,  goes. 
Kanda,  stinks. 

English  Gypsy  verbs,  in  the  ordinary  dialect,  are  fre- 
quently merely  contracted  forms  of  this  termination.  This 
is  generally  the  case  if  the  root  ends  in  a  vowel,  or  the 
liquid  r,  e.g., 


Rokerda,  talks. 
Trashda^  fears. 
Yivda  {yiv-dda),  snows. 


36  GYPSY    GRAMMAR. 

3rd  Pers.  Sing.,  Pres.,      English  Gypsy 


Root. 

according  to  Paspati. 

Verb. 

Meaning. 

D^- 

Dda 

Dd 

Give 

7a- 

Jala 

Jal 

Go 

U- 

Ula 

Ld 

Get 

Ker- 

Kerda 

Kd 

Play 

Kha- 

KhSla 

Kol,  hoi 

Eat 

Mer- 

Merda 

Md 

Die 

Per- 

Perda 

Pd 

Fall 

Ter- 

Terda 

Til 

Hold 

etc. 

etc. 

etc. 

etc. 

Examples  from  the  Old  Dialect. 

Ydijinda  man,  She  knows  me. 

Yov  jivda  posha  mdndi,  He  lives  near  me.  \ 

Yov peerda  fnisto,  He  walks  well. 

3rd  pers.,  plur.,  -^a,  -en. 

The  old  dialect  retains  this  termination,  e.g., 

ChivMna,  They  put.         Riggerdina,  or  rigger^n,  They 

carry. 
Jin^nna,  They  know.       WMiia,  or  wen,  They  come. 

Examples. 
Kek  n^ jinhina  yon,  They  do  not  know. 
Chiv^nna  yon  kek  gorgiokonh  adr^  Usti,   They  put  no 
English  in  it  (their  talk). 

Past  Forms  ;  vide  Paspati's  Aorists. 

There  appears  to  be  no  distinction  between  the  imperfect 
and  aorists,  but  only  one  form  for  both. 

1st  pers.,  sing,  and  plur.,  -ddm^  -6m. 

Bisserddm,  I  forgot  Hdnjeddm,  I  itched 

Didfn,     \  KairdSm,  I  made 

DeldSm)  ^  ^^^^  Lidm,  I  took 

ChidSm,  I  put  Peddm,  I  fell 


VERB.  37 

Ghioni,  1  went  Wooserdom,  1  threw 

Hodom,  I  ate 

Examples. 
Ghidm  ;«/,  I  went. 
Ghidm  mMdi,  We  went. 

These  are  contracted  forms  of  past  participles,  +  shorn, 
as  kairdo  -j-  sho7n  =  katrdSm,  I  made  ;  see  Paspati. 

2nd  pers.,  sing,  and  plur.,  -an. 

Lidn,  Thou  hast  got. 
Ghidn,  Ye  went. 
Muterddn,  Ye  micturated. 

Examples. 
Sdvo  che^rus  lidn  to  atch  akH,  What  time  hast  thou  got 

to  stay  here  (in  prison) } 
MiHterddn  too  ti-kSkero  ?  Have  you  wet  yourself  > 

These  are  contracted  forms  of  past  participles  +  skan,  as 
kairdo  +  shan  =  kairddn,  Thou  hast  done. 

3rd  pers.,  sing,  and  plur,,  -dds,  -tds,  -ds. 

Chingadds,  He  tore.  Jivdds,  He  lived. 

Bids,  He  gave.  Kairdds,  He  made. 

DookaddSy  He  hurt.  Kindds,  He  bought. 

Yon  ghids,  They  went.  Lids,  He  got. 

Pendds,  He  said.  Mooktds,  He  left. 
Yon  jinddSy  They  knew.     Pedds,  He  fell, 
etc.  etc. 

These  are  contracted  forms  of  past  participles  -h  see,  as 
kairdo  -f  see  —  kairdds,  He  made. 

Occasionally  this  termination  is  used  for  the  2nd  person 
singular,  somewhat  in  accordance  with  that  person  of  the 
imperfect  of  Paspati's  conjugation,  and  in  these  cases  some- 
times takes  a  final  *  a^  e.g., 

Bisserdds  too  ?  Hast  thou  forgotten  .? 

Diktdssa  too  f  Did  you  see  } 


38  GYPSY    GRAMMAR. 

3rd  pers.;  plur.,  /,  formed  from  past  participle  plural. 

Von  hod^,  =:  They  atej  .^ 
Yonped^,  =  They  fell)  ^^^'^^^  ^^'•>' 

The  following  sentences,  spoken  by  Sylvester  Boswell, 
well  illustrate  the  above  forms,  -6m,  -an,  -as, — 

Z)t6m    o    bitto  jodkel,  so   hodds  I  gave  away  the  little  dog,  which 

o  mas,  0  wdver    divvus,   too  ate  the  meat,  the  other  day,  thou 

kindds.  boughtedst. 

Didm   les  kdter  bitto   tdrno  rei  I  gave  it  to  a  little  young  gentle- 

akii,   ta  jivdla  posha  mdndi,  man  here,  that  lives   near  me, 

zxidiyov  lids  les  pdrdel  0  padni  and  he  took  it  over  the  water  to 

kdter  Booko-padni-gav,  Liverpool. 

Too  kairddn  0  mas  ?  Have  you  done  the  meat  ? 

Future. 
In  the  Turkish  dialect  this  tense  is  formed,  from  analogy 
to  modern  Greek,  by  prefixing  the  verb  kamdma,  to  wish, 
desire,  etc.  As  already  mentioned,  the  present  tense  in 
English  R6manes  serves  also  for  the  future,  the  meaning 
being  determined  by  the  context,  or  accompanying  circum- 
stances. 

Example. 
Dikdva  tdlla  0  hdtchiwitchi.  I  will  look  after  the  hedgehog. 

Mdndi  latchdva  yek.  I  will  find  one. 

Maurdva  Usti,  ta  fnorrov  Idsti.  I  will  slay  it,  and  shave  it. 

Yodsherdva  Usti,  I  will  clean  it. 

Chiv6va  Idsti  kdter  yog,  I  will  put  it  to  the  fire, 

Ta  kdrav  Idsti,  ta  hdva  Us  mdnghi.      And  cook  it,  and  eat  it  myself. 

Sylvester  Boswell. 

Imperative. 
2nd  pers.,  sing.     The  verbal  root,  as  dik,  see !  kair,  do  ! 

Although  the  forms  d^,  give,  and  U,  take,  exists  the 
English  Gypsies  generally  use  del  and  leL 

1st  pers.,  plural. 

According  to  Wester  Boswell's  usage,  this  is  formed  by 
the  addition  of -^  to  the  root,  with  the  accent  on  the  added 
syllable. 


VERB, 


39 


Examples. 

OLD  DIALECT.  NEW. 

J'ds  minghi,  Let  us  go  Mook's  jal 

Dik-ds  mendiy  Let  us  look  Mook's  dik 

Latch'ds  menghi,  Let  us  find  Mook's  latch 

Ker-ds  m^nghi.  Let  us  make  Mook's  kair 

Harriot  (see  Pott,  vol.  i.,  p.  348)  has  the  following  ex- 
amples : — 

Ne  pala  !  jas  amego,  (sic)  ti  chinnas  amege  (sic)  bete  giv, 

Now  mates,  let  us  go,  and  let  us  cut  a  little  corn. 
Pdravdsa^  Let  us  change. 
Jas  omingo,  (sic)  Let  us  go. 

Pott  (vol.  i.,  pp.  346,  475)  gives  several  instances  taken 
by  him  from  Puchmayer's  "  Romdni  Czib"  (Pott,  vol.  i., 
p.  20,  Source  25),  e.g.,  dschas,  shas,  3ind  j'avas,  let  us  go; 
dikkas  and  te  dikas,  let  us  see  ;  ma  das,  do  not  let  us  give ; 
and  conjectures  that  the  form  is  borrowed  from  the  ist 
person  plural  of  the  present  conjunctive. 


Subjunctive. 

The  Turkish  Gypsies  form  the  present  subjunctive  by 
prefixing  te  to  the  present  indicative.  The  English  Gypsies 
do  the  same. 


The  Beng  te  lei  dodva  Ret. 
ni  ckiv  a  choori  adrd  his 
rdttvali  zee. 

The  Beng  te  lei  to6ti. 

Beng  te  lei  toot. 

Deldva  meiro  lav  kdter  mi- 

Dodvel  yov  te  jal  kdter 

yov. 
Te  wel  tedro  krdlisom. 


Examples. 

The  Devil  take  that  Gentleman.  I'll  put 
a  knife  in  his  bloody  heart.  "  The  most 
wishfullest  thing  as  you  can  say  against 
any  one."  Charlie  Boswell. 

The  Devil  take  you.     Ned  Bosw£ll. 

Devil  take  you. 

I  will  give  my  word  (I  will  pray)  to  God 
that  he  may  go  to  him. 

May  thy  kingdom  come. 

Sylvester  Boswell. 


40 


GYPSY    GRAMMAR. 


Participle. 
Present. 
They  invariably  use  the  English  termination  -ing^  which 
they  pronounce  -eti  or  -in,  e.g., 

K6min\  loving.     Ko6ren\  fighting. 


Past, 
It  ends  in  -do,  -no,  or  -lo,  e.g., 

Chdrdo,  stolen,    from  Chor, 
Ddndo,  bitten, 
Modklo,  left, 
NdsherdOy  lost, 
Pogerdo,  broken, 
Dikno,  seen, 
etc. 


to  steal. 
Dan,        „    bite, 
Mook,      „    leave. 
NdsheVy  „    lose. 
Poger,     „   break. 
Dik,         „   see. 
etc. 


In  deep  R6manes  the  past  participle  ends  in  /  in  the 
plural,  and  is  used  for  the  3rd  person  plural  of  the  perfect. 
(See  above.) 

Some  verbs  are  formed  from  past  participles  of  verbs 
which  are  otherwise  believed  to  be  extinct  in  this  dialect,  e.g., 

And,  to  bring,       vide  andd,  p.  part,  of  Turk.  Gypsy  andva. 
Hinder,  QdiCdiXe,        „     khindd,      „  „  khidva. 

Kister,  to  ride,        „     uklistd,      „  „  uklidva. 

Lost  Verbs. 

Besides  those  last  mentioned,  there  are  other  verbs  which 
seem  to  be  lost  in  the  English  Gypsy  dialect,  though  their 
roots  are  retained  in  derivatives,  eg,, 


ENGLISH    GYPSY. 
Beino,  bom. 
BdlUsJ^Q-divvus,  Christmas  Day. 


Podsomingro,  fork. 
Stdrdo,  \ 

Stdriben,         \  prison. 
Stiripen,  etc. ) 


See   TURKISH    GYPSY. 

Bendva,  to  lie  in. 

Boldva,  to  baptize,  christen  (Bor- 
row, "  Lavo-lil,"  p.  24,  inserts 
this  verb). 

Pusavdva,  to  stick,  spur. 

Astardva,  to  seize,  arrest. 


PRONOUN.  41 

COxMPOUND  Verbs. 

These  are  numerous  and  in  most  cases  mere  literal  trans- 
lations from  the  English,  e.g., 

Atch  apr^,  Arise,  lit.  Stand  up. 

Del  apre,  Read,  „  Give  (attention)  on. 

Lei  apr^,  Arrest,  „  Take  up. 

Jal  adr^y  Enter,  „  Go  in. 

Wodser  apr^,  Vomit,  „  Throw  up. 

Jal pdlla,  Follow,  „  Go  after. 
etc.             etc.                     etc. 

In  every  case  the  inflection  is  added  to  the  verb,  e.g., 

Woosedom  apr^,  I  vomited. 
Ghidm  adr^y  I  entered. 
Ghidm  pdlla,  I  followed. 

Note. — The  pure  inflections  given  above  are  not  usually- 
met  with  in  the  ordinary  dialect,  which  inflects  its  verbs  after 
the  English  mode  in  preference.  Even  among  those  who 
still  retain  a  knowledge  of  the  old  dialect,  the  inflections 
are  frequently  confused,  -//«  being  used  for  -^sa,  -ha  for 
-Mna,  etc. 

Westdrus  (Sylvester)  Boswell  asserts  that  it  is  only  some 
of  the  Hemes  and   Boswells  who  know  how  to  use  th 
'double    words'  (inflected),  and   that    most   Gypsies   us. 
simply  the  'dead  words'  (uninflected). 


PRONOUN. 

Personal  Pronouns. 

The  following  are  the  inflections  of  the  Turkish  Gypsy 
pronouns  according  to  Dr.  Paspati,  "  Tchinghian^s,"  pp. 
66,  6^,  and  those  still  in  use  among  the  English  Gypsies, 
arranged  in  parallel  columns  for  more  convenient  com- 
parison. 


42 


GYPSY    GRAMMAR. 


O 


>r  -^ 


s  •;: 


1,2^    ^    i> 


.1 

^     ^^     ^ 


I 


^ 


f  f  1 

.^  :q  :§ 


:^  ^  :^  :^  ^  ^  :^ 


1^  "^  •*«  i^ 

^  e  g  g 


O    <    Q  ^    < 


^     ^     ^    li 
o     (u     u    J5 

iz;  o  <  Q 


PRONOUN. 

43 

V2 

1 

^ 

^  ^ 

^^ 

pq 

"o" 

5^^. 

H 
2 

P. 

s 

> 

1 

t 

i  ? 

1 

jp 

^5 

a 

"i 

^? 

^ 

2 

3 

o 

2 

^ 

5          ^ 

s 

X 

!*»^ 

^ 
i^'^ 
^ 

ȣ>> 

3 

pq 

1 

i 
1 

i 

^ 
•»*^ 

1 

pq    W 

If 

C/3 

s 

^ 
^ 

^ 

^ 

2," 

a. 

c/5 

s? 

^:i 

»-H 

-N 

H 

^ 

rs 

R^ 

a 

< 

^^ 

'Z 

(—1 

i 

O 

t/3 

M 

U 
2 
J 

& 

s  ^ 

CO 

o 

a 

N 

1 

1 

►^ 

NO 

d 

> 

2 

O 

O 

(3h 

M 

1 
1  .. 

^ 
1 

* 

1 

1 — 1 

1 

5 

■a 

1 

pq 

< 

C/D 

1 

5 

!,3 

:3^  f^ 

Pi 

1 

:3    d 

^ 

3 

i 

1 

< 

1 

W   «:> 

(^ 

V 

ti 

2-^ 

1 

i  ^ 

? 

1 

1 

<1 

g§ 

^3 

4 

5  5 

5 

:3 

^ 

M 

c 

>^ 

^ 

c3 

S   2 

s 

Q 

^   < 

w 

C/3 

ffl 

M 

C/3 

z  W 

^ 

s 

is 

1 

3 

1 

1 

ID 

H 

5 

Ldngoro 
Len 

i 

O 

8 
< 

Q 

u 

1— 1 

i 

z 

p  <  s 

44  GYPSY    GRAMMAR. 

L6,  He  ;  pi.,  //,  They. 

Besides  the  forms  yov  and  yoi^  he  and  she — pi.,  yon^ 
they — we  have  met  with  lo,  he  (of  which  the  feminine 
would  be  //,  she),  and  U,  they.  These  pronouns  are  only 
used  after  the  auxiliary  verb  to  be,  so  far  as  we  can  find. 
Dr.  Pott  (vol.  i.,  p.  242)  quotes  the  same  remark  as  having 
been  made  by  Graffunder,  though  he  adduces  instances 
from  other  writers  showing  that  this  is  not  an  invariable 
rule. 

The  following  sentences  we  noted  down  as  we  heard 
them  : — 

O  rashei,  kooshto  sas-l6,  The  clergyman  was  a  good 

man  ;  lit,  good  was  he. 
'Jaw  wdfedo  see-id  adre  lesko  zee,  He  is  so  jealous  ;  lit., 

so  evil  is  he  in  his  heart. 
Pookeromengri  see-U,  They  are  '  informers.' 
KoshU  see-U  kondw.  They  (hedgehogs)  are  good   (to 

eat)  now. 
T06I0  see-U,  They  are  fat. 

POSSESSIVES. 

Mi,  mine  ;  Pasp.,  mo,  mi,         Ti,  thine  ;  Pasp.,  to,  ti 
Minno,\  Te^ro,  thine;  Pasp.,  tinrS 

M^ero,  [-mine;  Pasp.,  minrd,  L^sko,  his;  Pasp.,  Ihkoro, 
MHro,  )  Ldki,  ISki,  her  ;  Pasp.,  Idkoro, 

MSro,  our  ;  Pasp.  amard,  L^ngheri,  Ihighi,  their  ;   Pasp., 

Ungoro 
Fhki,  his  ;  Pasp.,  po  (of  which  the  Dative  would  h^  p^ske). 

N.B. — Mr.  Borrow,  "  Lavo-lil,"  pp.  13,  174,  gives  miftro, 
minriy  my. 

Demonstratives. 
AkSvva,  kSvva,  This  ;  pi.  kSlla,  These;  Pasp.  akd,  pi.  akU ; 

kadavd,  pi.  kadali. 
AdSvva,  doSva,  That ;  pi.  dSlla,  dulla,  Those ;  Pasp.,  odova, 

pi.  odol^.  , 


NUMERALS.  45 

INTERROGATIVES,    RELATIVES,   ETC.    ETC. 

Kei,  Where  ;    Pasp.,   ka,  Jdfri,  Such  ;  Pasp.,  asavko 

adv.  locat.,  q.v.  Sdvo,  so,  Which,  what ;  Pasp., 

Kokero,  Self  {Ipse)  savd,  so 

Kon,  ko,  Who  ;  Pasp.,  ko^,  Sor,  All ;  Pasp.,  sarrd 

qiiis  Ta,  who,  which,  that ;    Pott, 

NSgo,  Own  ke ;  Pasp.,  ka,  rel.  pron. 

These   words   are   classed    together    in   accordance  with 
Pott's  and  Paspati's  arrangement. 


NUMERALS. 

I 

Yek; 

Pasp 

,yek, 

P-75- 

2 

Dod'i; 

» 

dui, 

}) 

3 

Trin; 

»i 

trin 

4 

Stor; 

>> 

star 

5 

Pansh 

>  >» 

pantch,  pandj. 

6 

Shov; 

i> 

shov. 

7  Dooi   trinydw   ta  yek ;    trin   ta   stor   [A/ta,    Bryant ; 
He/tan,  Marsden  ;  Pasp.,  e/td]. 

8  Doot  siordw  [oitoo,  Bryant;  Pasp.,  okto],  and  see  i8. 

9  DoSt  storaw  ta  yek  \enneah,  Bryant;  Henya,  Marsden; 
Pasp.,  enid\ 

10  Desk;  Y 2,%^.,  desk. 

1 1  Desk  ta  yek  ;  Pasp.,  desk  u  yek,  etc. 
1 8  DesJito  ;  Pasp.,  desh  u  ohtd. 

20  Bish,  or  dooi  deshdiv  ;  Pasp.,  bish. 
30   Trin  deshdw ;  Pasp.,  trianda. 
40  Stor  deshdw ;        „       sardnda. 
50  Parish  deshdw ;     „      peninda. 
60  Shov  deshdw,  etc. ;  Pasp.,  exinda. 
100  Desh  deshdw ;  V>\N.,shel;  Pasp.,  j^^/. 
1000  Mille,  Bw.,  "  Lavo-lil,"  p.  154. 

*  Besides  the  above  forms,  we  may  note  the  following : — 

6  Sho,  Bw.,  "  Lavo-lil,"  p.  89  ;   Pasp.,  sho. 


46  GYPSY    GRAMMAR. 

7  Efta,  Lid.,  Eng.  G.,  p.  218,  and  hefta,  p.  15  ;  Bw. 
"  Lavo-lil,"  p.  42,  eft. 

9  EnnyOy  nu,  Bw.,  "  Lavo-lil,"  p.  5.  Mr.  Borrow,  "  Lavo- 
lil,"  pp.  154 — 162,  gives  trianda,  30;  shovardesh,  60;  and 
several  other  numerals. 

For  7,  8,  and  9  we  have  ourselves  only  heard  the  corrupt 
compound  forms  given  above. 

From  the  numerals  there  are  formed 

y^kino,  adj.,  single  ;  '6X\^  yekortis,  adv.,  once, 
Pansh^jtgro,  n,,  five  pound    bank-note.     Pasp.,  p.  yy, 
pantcJtenger^y  gen,  pi. ;  of  five  piastres, 

Mr.  Borrow  supplies  the  following  : — 
Duito,  second,  "  Lavo-lil,"  p.  408. 

Trito,  third,  "Lavo-lil,"  p.  96;  and  "Zinc,"  1843  ed., 
vol.  ii.,  p.  145*. 


PREPOSITIONS. 


-  Over. 


Adrdl,  'dral,  Through,  Pdrdel, 

Adr^,  Wr/,  Into,  in,  P&dal, 

Agldl,  'glal,\  Before,  in  Pauddl, 

Agdl,  'gal,    )      front  of  Paudel, 

ApSsh,  Against ;  v.,  PSsha.  Posh,   )  Opposite,    near,    by, 

Apr^,  opr^,  'pr^,  Upon,  on,  up.  PSsha,)       besides. 

Avr^e,    'vree,    Out    of,   out,  Sar,  With. 

away,  off,  from,  TaU,    aU,    7/,   Down,    under, 

Fon,  from.  beneath. 

Katdr,  kdtar,  kdter.  To,  unto,  Tdlla,  Under,  beneath,  behind, 

at*  after,  except, 

Ke,  To  {ke-divvus,  to-day).  TV,  To 

Paldl,^^ 

Pdlla,  \  After,  behind,  back.  _f^^/     ;|  About,  concerning. 

PaMi)  TrrSstal,] 

*  Kat^r,  prep,,  =  Hel.,  Air6;  M.  G.,  «?'r;  Paspati. 


SYNTAX,    IDIOMS,    ETC.  47 

The  following  variations  and  additions  are  taken  from 
Borrow's  "  Lavo-lil,"  etc.  : — 
Ando,  In. 
Anglo ^  Before. 
Inna,  inneVy  In,  within. 

Hir,  By,  "  Lavengro,"  185 1  ed.,  vol.,  iii.,  pp.  53,  172. 
Pa,  For,  „  „         vol.  i.,  p.  325. 

Mr.  Leland,  "  English  Gypsies,"  p.  232,  gives  muscro. 
Through,  in  the  centre  of. 

Of  these,  te,  ke,  and  sar  are  also  postpositions,  te  and  ke 
forming  the  dative,  and  sar  forming  the  instrumental  case 
of  the  pronouns  in  this  dialect,  and  of  those  cases  of  the 
nouns  also  in  the  Turkish  and  other  dialects. 

N.B. — Many  of  these  prepositions  are  also  used  ad- 
verbially. 


SYNTAX,  IDIOMS,  etc. 


The  arrangement  of  words  in  a  Gypsy  sentence,  with 
few  exceptions,  is  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  English 
language.  The  following  peculiarities  may,  however,  be 
mentioned  : — 

(i)  The  order  of  a  sentence  is  often  reversed,  in  deep 
Romanes  in  connection  with  the  verb  to  be,  e.g., 

Tdtcho  see,  It  is  right. 

BSkalo  shorn,  I  am  hungry. 

HSx^^io  shorn,  I  am  a  liar. 

Behio  s ho  mas,  I  was  born. 

'Jaw  see,  It  is  so. 

Tikno  chor  see yov.  He  is  a  little  child. 

(2)  The  nominative  case  often  follows  the  verb  it  governs, 

KoSromSngro  sas  me^ro  dad,  My  father  was  a  soldier. 
TSogono  shorn  mi  to  dik  toot  akH,  I  am  sorry  to  see 
thee  here.. 


48  GYPSY    GRAMMAR. 

Kek  najinSva  m^,  I  do  not  know. 
Kek  najhiina  yon,  They  do  not  know. 

(3)  The  verb  to  be  is  frequently  used  without  pronouns, 

Sar  sJian,  How  are  you  ? 
BSkalo  shan,  Are  you  hungry  ? 
See  also  (i). 

(4)  In  asking  questions,  the  sense  is  frequently  deter- 
mined only  by  the  tone,  the  pronoun  when  expressed  often 
preceding  the  verb,  e.g., 

Too  dids  o  bauro  choori  kdter  rnoosh  ?     Did  you  give  the 

big  knife  to  the  man  ? 
Too  righerdds  0  kooshni  kere?    Did  you  bring  the  basket 

home  ? 
Lon  see  tooti?    Have  you  got  any  salt  ? 
Kek  shoonesa  too  ?    Don't  you  hear  ? 

Examples  of  the  following  will  be  found  in  other  parts 
of  the  grammar  : — 

(5)  The  article,  definite  and  indefinite,  is  frequently 
omitted. 

(6)  The  adjective  precedes  the  noun. 

(7)  Possession  is  denoted  by  the  auxiliary  verb  and  the 
pronoun  in  the  dative  case  (cf.  Pasp.,  p.  29). 

(8)  The  use  of  the  present  tense  for  the  future. 

(9)  The  formation  of  the  subjunctive  by  the  optative 
particle  te  preceding  the  verb. 

(10)  Intensity  is  denoted  by  a   repetition  of  the  word, 

Dodvore^  doovoree,  Very  far  indeed, — cf.   Pasp.,  p.    171, 
Nakda  sigS  sigo  0  bersh,  The  year  passes  very  quick. 

(11)  The  elision  of  or  between  two  numerals,  e.g., 

Yek  doSi,  One  or  two  ;  Dooi  trin,  Two  or  three,  etc., — cf. 
Pasp.,  pp.  594,610. 

( 1 2)  The  use  of  double  negatives  for  emphasis, — cf.  Pott, 
ii.,  P-  321. 


SYNTAX,    IDIOMS,    ETC.  49 

(13)  Negation.     There  are  three  classes  of  negatives  : 

{a)  Kek,  with  derivatives  k^ker,  k^kero,  k^keno. 

{b)  Ma,  variously  pronounced  maa^  maw,  mo,  usually 

maw. 
(c)  JVa,  natu,  n/,  with  derivatives  net,  nan/i,  nast/ssa, 

nesHs. 

Class  {a)  are  used  chiefly  in  giving  negative  answers ; 
{B)  with  the  imperative  in  prohibiting ;  and  (^)  in  making 
negative  assertions. 

It  is  remarkable  that  kek,  which  is  so  frequently  used  in 
this  dialect,  should  be  apparently  without  a  representative 
in  the  Turkish,  except  perhaps  kdnek.  Any,  some,  none, — 
about  which,  however,  see  Pasp.,  p.  266. 


GYPSY-ENGLISH   VOCABULARY. 

Note. — Cross  references  are  given  between  brackets  (     ). 

A. 

Aava,    I  adv.,  Yes,  truly,  certainly,  verily  (ourli).     Pasp., 
Advali,/     va  ;  belt  (As.)  ;  Lieb.,  auwa 
Adoi,  adv.,  There  ('doi,  odoi).     Pasp.,  otid;  abl.,  otdr 
Ado6sta,  adv.    and    adj.,  Plenty,  enough  ('doosta,  'd6sta). 

Lieb.,  docha 
Ado6vdi,  pron.,  That  ('doova,  aduvel).     Pasp.,  odovd 

Adulla,//.,  Those 
Adral,/r^.,  Through  ('dral).     Pasp.,  and^'dl,  from  within 
AdYQ,  prep.,  In,  into,  to  ('dr^).     Pasp.,  andre,  in. 

Ka.{red  adre,  enclosed,  fenced  in  ;  lit.,  made  in 
^drom,  adv.,  Away  ('drom) 
Adu\l3i,  pron.  p/.,  Those 

AduUa  fo/ki,    so   kek  nanei   komela   mandi.  Those 
people  who  do  not  love  me 
Aduvel,  pron.,  That  (adoova) 

Agal,  )  prep.,  Before,  in  front  of,  in  the  presence  of  ('gal, 
Aglal,)      'glal).     Pasp.,  a7igldl,  angdl 

Poshaglal,  Opposite  ;  lit.,  close  before 
Ajaw,  adv.,  Thus,  so  ('jaw).     .''  Pasp.,  adjdi,  yet,  still,  again; 

avekd,  thus 
Akei,  adv..  Here  ('kei).     Pasp.,  akd 

Dfdakeij-,  or  Ditakeij,  n.pL,  Half-bred  Gypsies,  who, 
instead  of  ' dik-akei,'  say  'did-,  or  dit-,  akei',    for 
*  look  here ' 
-^k6nyo,  adv.,  Alone  (bikoyno) 


52  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Akova,  pron.,  This  ('kova).     Pasp.,  akavd 

^ladj,  adj.,  Ashamed  ('ladj).     Pasp,,  ladj,  shame 

A\^,prep.,  Down  ('le,  tale).     Pasp.,  tel^ 

Besh  ale,  Sit  down 

Chin  ale,  Cut  off,  cut  down 
Amandi,  pron.,  To  me  (mandi) 

Am^ndi,  /r<?«..  We  (mendi).     Pasp.,  dat.  pi.,  amMde 
And,  v.a.,  To  bring,  fetch,  etc.  (hand).     Pasp.,  andva 

And6va,  I  do,  or  will,  bring,  etc. 

And^ssa,  You  bring 

An\o,  p.  part.,  Brought 

Anlo  apr^.  Brought  up,  educated 

Andad6m,  I  brought 

Andadasj  "^  '"'""S'^''  "-^^^  '°'°''^'^^ 
Angar,  n.,  Coals  (vdngar,  v6ngar).     Pasp.,  angdr,  coal 
Anghit^rra,  n.,pr.,  England.     French,  Angleterre 
-^popli,  adv..  Again  (p6pli) 
-^posh, /r^.,  Against 
K'^xi,  prep.,  Upon,  on,  up  ('pre,  opr6).     Pasp.,  opr^ 

Atch  apre,  To  awake,  get  up 

De,  or  del,  apre.  To  read 

And  apre,   |  ^^  educate,  bring  up 

Hand  apre,) 

Jiv  apre,  To  live  uprightly 

Lei  apr6.  To  arrest,  take  up 

Pand  apr6,  To  close,  shut  up 

Til  apre,  To  raise,  hold  up 

Wo6ser  apr^,  To  vomit,  throw  up 

Yo6ser  apre,  To  sweep,  clean  up 
Asdr,  }  adv.,  }  Also.  This  word,  or  particle,  is  in  frequent 
use,  sometimes  separately,  apparently  for  emphasis, 
and  sometimes  as  an  adjunct  to  a  gdujo  lav,  in 
order  to  disguise  it.  It  frequently  follows  verbs 
in  the  imperative;  ^.  Vaill.,  Gramm.  Romm.,  71, 
Gati  sar  londis ,  prepare  la  salade  ;  and  Mikl., 
ii.,   5,   6.      Mr.   Borrow,    in    his  *'  Lavo-lil,"  gives 


VOCABULARY.  53 

(p.  18),  " Asd,  asau,  ad.,  also,  likewise,  too;  meero 
pal  asau,  my  brother  also.  Asarlas,  ad.,  At  all, 
in  no  manner ;  "  (p.  no)  "  It  is  my  Dowel's  kerri- 
mus,  and  we  can't  help  asarlus ;"  (p.  144)  "But 
it  was  kek  koskipen  asarlus!'   Our  examples  are : — 

Besh  pduli,  asdr  ?   Do  sit  down  (lit,  back),  won't  you  ? 

Dik,  oddi,  asdr^  mi  DoSveUnghi  ?  Do  look  there,  won't 
you,  for  God's  sake  ? 

Rak,  asdr,  ti  toovlo.    Do  mind  your  tobacco 

Too  rdker  asdr,  sar  see  ddva  chldo  taUf  Do  you  speak 
as  it  is  put  down  ? 

Mdndi  roker  asdr  mlsto  kendzv  sig.  I  will  speak  well 
immediately 

P and  asdr  Ihti  opr^  kdter  rook.  Do  tie  him  up  to  (a) 
tree 

Me&o  rom  pands  asdr  mandi  opr^.  My  husband  shuts 
me  up 

And  asdr  mdndi  a  ko6si  padni.  Do  bring  me  a  little 
water 

Help  asdr  men,  kair  o  wdrdo  jal  opr^  0  drom.  Do 
help  us  (to)  make  the  cart  go  on  the  road 

MMdi  forgive  asdr  tooii.     We  do  forgive  you 

There's  the  Bmgesto-h^v,  and  the  Bengesto-md  asdr. 
There's  the  devil's  ditch,  and  the  devil's  die  (dyke) 
too 

Shan  todti  jdl'm'  to  Stockport  asdr  ?  Are  you  going 
to  Stockport  too  } 

O  bitto  chdvo  wants  asdr  to  jin,  kon  shan  too.  The 
little  boy  wants  to  know  who  you  are 

So  too  want  asdr  ?     What  do  you  want } 

Shodnedom  IhtikdrvcC  asdr  mdndi.  I  heard  him  call- 
ing to  me 

Doo'i  me'ndi  had  asdr  kdmeni  o'  Ihtdi.  Both  of  us  had 
some  of  them 

Mdndi  did  asdr  komdva  to  jal.     I  did  want  to  go 

Yov  kom'd  asdr  Idti.    He  pitied  her 

Sas  so  yov  promised  asdr.     It  was  what  he  promised 


54  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Kair  too  sus  asdr  komessa.    Do  just  as  you  like 

Well,  if   I  wasn't  thinking  asdr  ajdw  !    Well,  if  I 
wasn't  thinking  so ! 
Atch,  v.,  To  stop,  stand,  halt,  etc.  (hatch).     Pasp.,  atchdva 

Atch6va,  I  stand,  I  do  stand,  I  am  standing,  I  will 
stop,  stand,  arise,  etc. 

Atch^ssa,  You  stop,  thou  stoppest 

Atch^la,  He  stops 

Atchenna,  They  stop 

K\.Q}^ing,  Standing,  floating 

Atchlo  /.  part,  and  adj.,  Stopped,  still 

Atch^^,  Stood 

Atchdds,)  ^^ 

Atchtds,  I  "^  ^°^^>  ^^^^^ 

Atchdem,  We  stopped 

Yon  atchte,  They  stood 

Atch  apr^,  Awake,  get  up 

K\.<z\iing  apr6  ap6pli,  Resurrection  ;  lit,  standing  up 
again 
.<4trdsh,  adj.,  Afraid  (trash).     Pasp.,  trashdva,  to  fear 
Aura,  «.,  Watch,  hour  (6ra,  hdura,  yorra) 
Av,  v.,  To  come  (hav,  'wel,  Vel).     Pasp.,  avdva 

Av^l,  or  aw^l,  v.,  To  come,   e.g.,  yon   sas   av^hV, 
They  were  coming 

Av^la,  He  comes 

Av^ssa,  Thou  wilt  come 

Ava  td.  Come  ye,  come  along ! 

Av  palla.  Follow  !  lit.,  come  after 

A    '     •       \  Commg 

A  V  QXl7lg,  )  ^ 

W^la,  w^nna,  vi6m,  viis,  \\i.     See  Vel 
Avr6e,  or  Avrf,  prep,  and  adv.,  From,  out,  out  of,  off,  away 
(Vree).     Pasp.,  avri 
Avrf-rig,  Outside,  crust 
^w6ver,  adj..  Another  (ovavo,  w6ver,  wdver).     Pasp.,  j^az'/r, 
other 
Avdver^,  //.,  Others 


VOCABULARY.  55 

Azer,  v.,  To  lift  (had)  ;  cf.  Pasp.,  Idzdava,  ushtidva ;  Vaill., 
Gramm.  Romm.,  asarao 
Azerdas,  He,  or  they,  Hfted 


B. 

BadjdjkxViS,  n.,  Badger 

Bdiro,  ?i.,  Ship.    See  B^ro.     Pasp.,  herd 

Bal,  n.,  Hair.     Pasp.,  bal 

Balaw,//.,  Hairs 

Bal,  sing-.,    \  Grays,  a  Gypsy  tribe  ;  as  {(grey  hairs. 

Balawj-, //., i       Compare  Borrows  Spanish    Gypsy, 
bullas,  grey  hairs 

Balawj,  //.,  Hemes,  a  Gypsy  tribe 

Balaw-  )       .    ,       TT      . 

BdlenoJ  "'^^^^^^  ^^'""^ 

Bdleno,)      ,.    ^  . 

Bdly,     I  ^^y-^  Hairy 

Kralisi'j"  bauro  baleno  jo6kel,  Dandelion  (flower)  ; 

lit.,  Queen's  big  hairy  dog 

Bal-choori,  Knife 

Bdlans,     )         ^  ,         ,. 

T./,  \  n.,  One  pound  sterhng,  a  sovereign 

T. /,      ,  [  ^-j  Bacon  (baulo).     Pasp.,  balanS-mas 

Bang,  71.,  Devil  (Beng).    Pasp.,  beng 
Bdngaree,  ;/.,  Waistcoat 

Banga,  n.  pL,  Whiskers,      t  German  Wange,  cheeks,  or  is 
bdnga   due   to    the    assonance   of   waistcoat  and 
whiskers  1 
Bar,  n..  Stone.    Pasp.,  bar 
Baraw, //.,  Stones 

Baryaw,//.,  Stones,  testicles,  pillars 
Bar6ngri,  n.,  pr.,   Stanleys,    a    Gypsy   tribe  ;    as    if 
*  stonely.'    Pasp.,  barengoro,  stony 


56  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

BisWm'n£    bduro   bars,    Hailing ;     lit.,    raining    big 

stones 

Meeasto-    >  ,        ,,., 

-r,    /I      •       t  bar.  Milestone 

rookerz;i!^-  j         ' 

Soonakei  wztA  tatcho  bari-  adr^  lis,  Jewelry  ;  lit,,  gold 
with  real  stones  in  it 
Bar,  «.,  One  pound  sterling,  sovereign.     Pasp.,/«r^,  heavy 
Barvalo,  adj.,  Rich,  wealthy.     Pasp.,  barvald 

Bdrvalo-tem,  Yorkshire 

Bdrvalopen,   n.,   Wealth,  riches.      Pasp.,  baravalipi, 
wealth 

Bdrvalo  bar,  Diamond 

D^shbar,  ;/.,  Ten-pound  note 
Bars^ngri  )  «.,  Shepherd.    Lieb.,  Bershero ;    }  French,  Ber- 
Basdngro, )     ghe 
Bastardo,  n.,  Bastard  (Boshtardus) 
Bdulo,  «.,  Pig.     Pasp  ,  bald 

Baul6,  //.,  Pigs 

Baulesto-f6ros,  Pig  fair,  pig  market 

Baulesko-mas,  Pork 

Balovas,        ■)         ^ 
^,,  \  n.,  Bacon 

i3aleno-mas,j 

Baulesko-mooY,  Pigface,  a  nickname 

Bauleski  tulopen,  Lard  ;  lit.,  pig's  fat 

Bauro,   adj.,  Great,    big,    large,    broad,    deep,   etc.      Pasp., 

bard 

Bauri,  adj.,  /.,  Pregnant,  *  big  with  child  ' 

Bauri-cli^rikl,    ) 

Bauro-ch^riklo.)   P''^^^^"* 

Baiiri-dei,  Grandmother 

Bauroddr,  cornp.,  Bigger.      Pasp.,  bared^r 

Bauro-beresto-gav,  Liverpool ;  lit.,  big-ship-town 

Baiiro-b/shno,  Hail 

Bauro-cho6ri,  Sword 

Bauro-dfklo,  Shawl 

Bauro-dood,  Lightning 

Bauro-gav,  London 


VOCABULARY.  57 

Bauro-h61om6ngro,  \ 

Bauro-holomeskro,  Y  Glutton 

Bauro-hobeneskro,  ^ 

Bauro-paani,  Ocean,  sea,  deep  water 

Bauro-rei,  Gentleman 

Baury6,)  n.,  Assizes ;    due    to    the    assonance    of 

Baud,    i      'Assise'  and  'a  size'  (a  big  thing) 

Bauri,  n.,  Snail  (bouri) 

Bdval,  n.,  Wind.     Pasp.,  balvdl 

Bavengro,  -j        „     ,  .    ,    ,  , 

-r,,      J    ,/     1/  V  «.,  Broken-winded  horse 

rogado-bavalengro,  j      ' 

Baval-pogamengri,  Windmill 
^^cho  vih6ni^</.  Bewitched  (cho  vih6ni) 
Be^bee,  or  Beebi,  «.,  Aunt,     Pasp.,  bibi 
B&€no,p.part.,  Born.     Pasp.,  bendo,  deHvered 

Beene,//-,  Born 

Posh-be6nomus,  Placenta,  after-birth 

Beenopen,  ;?.,  Birth 
Bei,  «.,  Sleeve,  bough.     Pasp.,  bdi,  sleeve 

Gadesto-bei,  Shirt-sleeve 
Beng,  «.,  Devil  (Bang).     Pasp.,  Beng 

B^ngaw,//.,  Devils 

Beng,  adj.,  Evil,  wicked 

B^ngalo,    adj,,   Wicked,    devilish,  diabolic.      Pasp., 
bengals 

Bengesko,  ) 

Bengesko-dik//?^,)  ' 

Bengesko-gai'ro,  n.,  Enemy 

B6ngesko-tan,  Hell ;  lit.,  Devil's  place 

Bengeski-)  (The  Devil's  Ditch,  near  Balsham, 

Bengesti-  i         *  \      Cambridgeshire 

B6ngesko-mel,     The     Devil's     Dyke,    near     New- 
market 
Berk.     See  Burk 
B6ro,  «.,  Ship,  boat,  barque  (Bairo).     Pasp.,  berd 


58  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

B^resto-sher^ngro,  I 

Tatcho-ber6ngro,  i        " 

B6resto-pl6;^ta,  A  ship's  sail 

Bero-gav,  |  ^.^^^  ^^^ 

Bauro-b6resto-gav,  ^  ^ 

Besh,  z^.,  To  sit.     Pasp.,  beshdva 

Besh6va,  I  sit 

Besh^la,  He  sits 

Beshtas,  He  sat 

Beshas,  Let  us  sit 

Beshomengro,  «.,  Chair 

B^shto,  71,,  Saddle  (b6shto).     Pasp.,  beshtS,  sat 

B^shopen,  ;/.,  Sessions.     Pasp.,  beship^,  residence 

Bauro-po6kinyuski-beshopen,    Assizes ;     lit.,   great 
judges'  session 
Besh,  n.^  Year.     Pasp.,  bersh 

^^^^^^'1  ./   Years 
Beshdvv,)^'^''  ^^^^^ 

Besh6ngro,  w.,  A  one-year-old  horse,  a  yearling.  This 

word  is  also  used  with  other  numerals  in  stating  a 

person's  age  ;  so  Pasp.,  hi  bish-n-pandj  bershMgoro, 

He  is  twenty- five  years  old,  which  in  the  English 

dialect  would  be  *  Yov  see  a  bish-ta-pansh  besh^ngro' 

Besoma.An,  Besom-makers 

Beurus,  n.,  Parlour,  the  best  room  of  a  house ;  cf.  Vaillant, 
Gramm.  Romm.,  bm-o,  cavern 

-„.,       J  V.  a.y  To  sell.     Pasp.,  bikndva 

Bikn6va,  I  do,  or  will,  sell 

Bfkin6ssa,| 

-oM  .    r        \  Ihou  sellest 

Bikmassa,-* 

Bikinela,  He  sells 

Bfkinde,  They  sold 

Bfkindds,  He  sold 

Bfkinds,  Let  us  sell 

Bfkinomdngro,-) 

Bfkom^ngro,    }  ''-  ^^^^^''  riztns^e^  hawker 


VOCABULARY.  59 

Bfknomus,  n.,  Auction  sale 
Bik6nyo,|  adv.,  Alone,  unbegun,  not  done  (akonyo,  pok6n- 
Bik6nya,j       yus).     Yott/ix.,'^^^,  pokoino,  bokonOy  c{mQt 

Muk  16sti  bik6nyo,  Leave  it  alone 
Bissio,)        ^  ^  - 

Bfsko  j  ^^''  ^P"^*    ^^P*'        '  ^  ^P^^ 
Bish,  adj.,  Twenty.    Pasp.,  bisk 
Bfshno,  n.,  Rain  (brfshindo) 

Baiiro  bishno,  Hail 

Bfshn^w^,  Raining 

Bfshnz;/^  baiiro  bar^-.  Hailing 
Bfsser,  v.,  To  forget.     Pasp.,  bistrdva 

Bissad6m,  I  forgot 

Bissadas,  He  forgot 
Bfsser,  v.,  To  avoid  (nisser) 
Bfsser,  v..  To  send.     See  next 
Bftcher,  v.,  To  send,  to  sentence.     Pasp.,  bitchavdva 

Bftcher6nna,  They  send 

Bitchadas,  He  sent 

Bftchadi  paudel.  Transported  ;  lit.,  sent  over.     Pasp., 
bitchavdo 

Bftchama,  n.,  Sentence,  judgment 

Bitchamdngro,  n.,  A  convict 
Bftto,  m.,  \  adj..  Small,  little,  thin,  narrow,  lean.     .''  French, 
Bftti,/.,    )      petit.     Sundt,  bittan,  a  bit 

Bitta  ta  bitta.  Little  by  little 

Bitader,  comp.,  Smaller,  less 
Bivdn,  adv.,  Raw.      Pott,  ii.,  406,  Bivant  mass,  raw  meat 
(taken  by  Pott  from  Zippel) 

Bivano,  adj.,  Raw 

Bivan-kosht,  Green -wood 
Blue-iiSS2i,  adj.,  Blue 

Blue  liggi,  n.  pi.,  Toadstools ;   lit.,  blue  legs,  because  one 
variety  (Agaricus  personatus),  much  esteemed  by 
the  Gypsies  as  a  delicacy,  has  blue  stalks 
Bo  bi,  ) 
B6bbi  I  ^''  ^^^  (b6obi).     Pasp.,  bdbi 


60  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Bauro-  ) 

TT  / 1  •  .  I  bobbi,  Broad-bean 

Grei-bobbi,  Horse-bean 

Bok,  «.,  Hunger.     Pasp.,  bok 

B6kalo,  adj.,  Hungry.     Pasp.,  bokald 

Bauro  b6kaloben,  Famine 

Bok,  I 

-p     .  I  «.,  Luck,  fortune.     Pasp.,  bakht 

Bokalo, ) 

RfSk        I  ^^J''  ^^^^y-     P^isp.,  bakhtald 

Kooshko  bok,  Health,  happiness 

Ko6shki  b6kj/,  Happy 

B6kocho,  «.,  Lamb  (vakasho,  b6koro).     Pasp.,  bakritchS 

Bokoch^sto-pur,  Tripe 

B6koro,  ■) 

B6kro    i  ^''  ^  sheep  (b6kocho).     Pasp.,  bakrd 

Bokr6,  />/.,  Sheep 
B6korom6ngro,\ 

Bokrom^ngro,  cu     v,    ^  /u      z       -x 

B6kom6ngro,    [  ^^'^  Shepherd  (bars^ngri) 

B6kor^ngro,      ' 
Bokr^V-peere,  Sheep's  feet 
Ldvines-b6kro,  Goat ;  lit.,  Welsh  sheep 
B61esko-dfvvus,  n.,  ChristmdiS  Day.     Pasp.,  boldva,  to  bap- 
tize, to  christen 
B6ngali-gdiro,    «.,    Rich    man.      Only  heard    once ;    ques- 
tionable ;    cf,   Vaillant,    Gramm.    Romm.,   banik, 
richard 
B6ngo,  adj.,  Left,  wrong,  crooked,  lame.     Pasp.,  bangd 
B6ngo-wast,  Left  hand 
B6nges,  adv..  Wrongly 
B6ngo-grei,  Spavined  horse 
B6nnek,    To   lei   b6nnek,  to  lay  hold  of.     Pasp.,  burnek, 

handful 
Bo6bi,  n.,  Pea,  bean  (bubi).     Pasp.,  bdbi,  bean 
Kaulo-bo6bi,  Black  bean 
Bo6bi  b6shno,  Peacock 


VOCABULARY.  6 1 

Bo6dega,|«.,  Shop   (boorika).     French,  boutique;   Italian, 
Bo6dika, )       bottega  ;  Spanish,  bodega 

Boodegamengro,  «.,  Shopkeeper 

Simmer/;?^  boodega,  Pawnshop 
Boog^nya,  n.,  A  pock  (booko).    Pasp.,  pukni,  abscess  ;  Pott, 
ii.,  396  ;  Mikl,  i.,  5 

Boog^nyaj",  pL,  Smallpox 
Bo6ko,  «.,  Liver.     Pasp.,  buko,  intestine 

Bo6kesto-paani-gav,\ 

Booko-paani-gav,      I 

Bo6ko-paani,  U-/'".,  Liverpool 

Book^sto-gav 
Bo6ko,  n.y  Smallpox  (boogenya) 
Bool,  «.,  Rump.     Pasp.,  bul 

Boolengri^i",  ) 

Bo61iengri^^,/  «>*''••  Breeches,  knee-breeches 

Boolomengro,  «.,  Contra  naturam  peccator 

Bool-koova,  Chair 

Gro'vneski-bool,  Beef-steak 

Bo6lfno,    adj.,    Proud,    boasting,    swaggering ;     Pott,    ii., 

407 

Booinelopus  pensa  rei.  As  stuck-up  as  a  lord  ;  lit, 

swaggering  like  gentleman 

Booinus-,  or  bo6in^?^i^-,  moosh,  A  swaggering  fellow 

Boot,  ) 

-p    /.•  r  adj..  Much.     Pasp.,  but 

Bootodair,  comp.,  More.     Pasp.,  buted^r 

O  bootodair,  stiperL,  Most 

Boot  adoosta.  Very  many,  very  much 
Bo6ti,  ) 
Bootsi,}  ^-^  ^^'^-     P^'P'  ^''^' 

Booti,  I 

Bo6tsi,l^-'^^^^'^ 

Bootiengro,  ) 

Bo6tsi^ngro,i  "-  ^^'■^^"*'  «'°''''^'' 

Bo6tiesto-vdrdo,  Knifegrinder's  barrow 

Bo6tsi-/;?^  g^iro,  Working  man 


62  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Shov  divvusdw  too  bo6tiessa,  Six  days  shalt  thou 
labour 
Bor,  n.,  Mate,  friend.    ?  In  too  general  use  to  be  the  common 

Eastern  Counties  provincial  word 
Bor,  «.,  Hedge.     Pasp.,  bciri,  garden 

B6ryaw, //.,  Hedges 

Borengri,  n.,  Hedge-stake 
B6rlo,  Pig.     See  Baulo 
B6ro,  Great.     See  Bauro 
Boryo,  Assizes.     See  Baury6 
Bosh,z^.,To  fiddle.  Fa.sp.,baskavdva, topiary  on  any  instrument 

Bosh,  n.,  Fiddle 

Boshero,  n.,  Fiddler 

B6sherus,  n.,  Cough 

B6shervenna,  Thej^  are  fiddling 

B6shomengri,  n.,  Piper,  fiddler,  a  fiddle,  music 

B6shom6ngro,  n.,  A  fiddle,  fiddler 

Wasto-boshomengro,  ?/.,  Drum 
Bosh,  v.,  To  bark.     Pasp.,  bashdva,  to  cry,  call,  sing 

Boshdla,  It  barks 

B6shade,  They  barked 

B6shno, «.,  Cock.  Pasp., o  bashnd  bash^l,  the  cock  crows 
Boshtdrdus,  «.,  Bastard  (bastardo) 
B6shto,^ 

Boshto,  \  n.,  Saddle  (bdshto).     Pasp.,  beshtS,  sat 
B6shta,) 

Boiiri,  ;/.,  Snail  (bauri).     Vaill.,  Gramm.  Romm.,  buro 
Breedopen,  «,,  Breed 
Bri'shindo,  ;/.,  Rain.     Pasp.,  brishindS 

Brisheno,  adj.,  Rainy 

Brishin^la,  It  rains 

Bishn/;/^,  Raining 

Bfshn/;/^  bauro  bar.^  Hailing 

Bauro  bfshno.  Hail 
Bro'gi^j-,  n.,  Knee-breeches 

Biimbaros,  «.,  Monkey.    ?  Bw.'s  Span.  Gypsy,  bombardo,  lion, 
and  bomboi,  foolish 


VOCABULARY.  6j 


Bung2.kr\xs,  n.,  Bung,  cork 
Bur,  n.,  Gate 

Burk,  n.y  Breast.     Pasp.,  brek 
Burkaari,//.,  Breasts 


CH. 

Chabi,  n.,  s.  and  pL,  Child,  children  (chavi),     Pasp.,  tchavi 
Chdho,  n.y  Coat  (chiikka,  cho6fa,  chooko).     }  Pasp.,  sharga, 
ridinghood,  "  probably  Turkish  choha,  cloth,  which 
the   Greeks  call  T<r6')(a.!' — Extract  from  a  letter 
from  Dr.  Paspati 
Chairus,   n.,  Time   (cheerus).     Pasp.,  keros ;  '' Kaupo^,  pro- 
nounced in  Crete  and  Cyprus  raaipcx;." — Extract 
from  a  letter  from  Dr.  Paspati 
Mi-duvel^sko-chairus, )   Heaven,  universe,  world, 
Do6velesto-<;hairus,     i       eternity 
Givesto-chairus,  Harvest 
Venesto-chairus,  Winter 
Chal,  n.,  Fellow,  chap 

Romani-chal,  A  Gypsy 
/"-chalaw, 


Romani  -x -chalaw,  }/>/-,  Gypsies 
v-chale, 

Chalav,  v.,  To  touch,  meddle  (charvo).  Pasp.,  fckardva,  to 
lick  ;  tchalavdvay  to  beat 

Cham,  «.,  Leather,  cheek,  tin.  Pasp.,  tchaMy  cheek ;  Lieb., 
leather 

Chardoka,  n.,  Apron  (chorova,  to  cover;  jarifa,  jarika, 
j6rjo;j^a,  jorjoffa,  shardoka,  yardooka,  ydrdu;^a). 
Pasp.,  ittchardo,  covered.  Baudrimont  ("Voca- 
bulaire  de  la  langue  des  Bohemiens  habitant  sur 
les  pays  Basques  Fran^ais,"  Bordeaux,  1862,)  has 
uruka,  mantle,  and  Francisque  Michel  ("  Pays 
basque,"  Paris,  1857,)  has  uraka,  cape,  both  con- 
jecturally  referred  by  M.  Ascoli  (p.  157)  to  7irav, 
to  dress 


j  ;/.,  Time  (chairus).     Pasp.,  keros 


64  GYPSY- ENGLISH 

Chara,   )  v..  To  touch,  meddle,  tease  (chdlav).     Pasp.,  tcha- 
ChdrvOji       rdva,  to  lick 

Charas,  Let  us  tease 

Charer  opre,  To  vomit 

Chaver,  v.,  To  betray,  inform,  tell,  sed  queer e 
Chdvo,  ;;?.,)  «.,    Child.       Pasp.,     tckavS,    m. ;    tchavi,   f.; 
Chdvi,/,    /      tchav^,  pi. 

Chavi,    \ 

Chav^,    \pl.,  Children 

Chavi^i-,  / 

K6shno-chavi,  Doll  ;  lit,  wooden-child 

Moosh-chavi,  Boy  ;  lit.,  man-child 

Chavori,  «.,  Chicken.     See   Pott,  ii.,  199,  czarvi,  das 
Huhn  ;  dimin.,  czarvSri 
Cheerus, 
Cheer, 
Chei,  «.,  Lass,  daughter,  girl.     Pasp.,  tcyi 

Chdiaw,\ 

Cheiaw,  \  pL,  Girls.     Pasp.,  tchaid 

Ch6iaj,  / 

Chein,  «.,  Moon  (choom,  shool,  shoon).     Pasp.,  tchon 

Chelle  maur^,  //.,  Loaves  (Ch611o).     Lieb.,  zelo 

Ch^riklo,  ;;/.,)        ^.   ,.,,.,,  .      ^^  ,  ••  ,/ 

Ch'  'VY   f     \  ^^•'  (chiriklo).     Pasp.,  tchincH 

Bauro-ch^riklo,  m.,\ 

Baiiri-cWrikli,/.,     I  Pheasant 

R6mani-r6ker/;/^-ch^riklo,  A  parrot 

Ch6riklesto-kair,  Birdcage 
Cheiiri,  «.,  Knife  (cho6ri).     Pasp.,  tchori,  tchuri 
Chib,  «.,  Tongue  (chiv,  jib).     Pasp.,  tcJiip 

Chichi,)  ^r       y   .  T^  7  •      , 

^.  .        I  n.,  Nothmg.     Pasp.,  Iiitcli 

Chfchikeni-dr6m,  *  No  thoroughfare,'  a  private  road 
Chide,  They  put.     \ 
Chi'do,/./^;-/.,  Put.  |-      See  Chiv 
Chid6m,  I  did  put.  ' 

Chik,  ;/.,  Dirt,  filth,  mud,  ashes,  sand,  earth,  soil,  etc.     Pasp., 
hhik 


VOCABULARY.  65 

Chikesko  chiimba,  Dunghill 

Chfklo,  m.,)      ,.   ^.  ^  , .,    ,, 

Ch'W   f     )      J''  1-^^^^y-     Pasp.,  tchikalo 

Chikengri^j",  «.,  'Bankers,'  who  repair  canal  banks 
Chin,  v.y  a.,  To  cut,  dig.     Pasp.,  tchindva 
Chin6va,  I  do,  or  will,  cut 
Chin61a,  He  cuts 
Chinlo, 


ChinV,(^''^ 
Chindom,  I  did  cut 

^,  ,         ,        '  )  «.,   Bill,    chopper,   cleaver,   hatchet, 

Chmom^ngro,        ^nife,  letter 

Chinomongn,  ; 

Po6vo-chfnomengri,  Plough 

Chinoben,  n.y  Wound,  cut 

Chin  tal^,  or  al6.  To  cut  off,  or  down 
Ch/ngar,  v.^  To  quarrel,  scold,  tear,     Pasp.,  tchingdr,  mis- 
fortune, the  origin  of  a  quarrel,  brawl 

Chinger^nna,  They  quarrel 

Chingadas,  He  tore,  quarrelled,  etc. 

Chingariben,  ;/.,  Quarrel 
Chiriklo,  n.,  Bird  (cheriklo).     Pasp.,  tchiriklo 

Chirikle,  //.,  Birds 
Chfti,  «.,  Chain,     t  German,  kette 
Chiv,  v.,  To  put,  place,  pour,  etc.     Pasp.,  tckivdva,  to  throw 

Chivova,  I  do,  or  will,  put 

Chives,     )  _, 

^,  .    ,        f  Thou  puttest 

Chivessa, )  ^ 

Chivela,  He  puts,  will  put 

Chivenna,  They  put 

Chidom,    )   ^   ,. , 

^,  .   J  ,       (I  did  put 

Chivdova,-'  ^ 

Chivdas, 

Chidas, 

Chidem,  We  put,  did  put 

Chfdo,        ) 

Chide,  pL,^^'^'''''^''^ 


!■  He  placed,  put 


66  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Yon  chid^  They  put 

Chiv  it  adre  your  shero^  Remember ;  lit,  put  it  into 

your  head 

Chived  upon,  Cheated ;  lit.,  put  upon,  imposed  on 

Chived  to  woodrus,  Confined  (of  a  woman) ;  lit.,  put 

to  bed 

Chiv,  «.,  Tongue  (chib).     Pasp.,  tchip 

Chfvomengro,|        .    ^,       ,  .     -r 

^,  ,         ,       •    f  ^-j  Letter,  lawyer,  knite 
Chivomengri,  ;      '  >        ^     » 

Chivlo-gorj  er.  Magistrate,  j  ustice  of  the  peace  (chuvno- 

gorjer).    Lieb.,  tschiwalo  rai,  der  Polizei-direktor 

Chivengro,  n.,  Lawyer 

,'       \  n.y  Shoe,  boot.     Pasp.,  tchekmi  (As) 

Ch6kaw,)     ,    _, 

Ch6;^aw,J^^-^^^^^'^^°^" 

Chokengro,} 

^11/       .   \  n.,  bhoemaker 

Chokengri,  )      ' 

Grei-esto  chok,  Horseshoe 

N^i-esto  ch6k,  Hobnailed  boot 
Chokka,!  7t.,  Coat  (chukka,  chaho).    ^\xndX,tjokka,  Skjoert  ; 
Cho^o,   I     Pott,  ii.,  178 

Pallani  chokka.  Petticoat ;  lit.,  behind-coat 
Ch611o,  adj.,  Whole,  entire  (chell^).     Pasp.,  tchalS,  satisfied. 
Pott,  ii.,  256;  Mikl.,  i.,  7 

Chollo  mauro,  Loaf;  lit.,  whole  bread 

Chellc  maur^,  //.,  Loaves 
Chong,  7/.,  Knee,  hill  (choong).     Pasp.,  tchang,  leg 

Ch6ngaw,//.,  Knees 
Chooali,    )  «.,  voc.  pL,  Mates  !  (choovdli,  chowdli).     Pasp., 
Choobali, )       tchavdle 
Choofa,  «.,  Coat  (chaho,  chooko,  chukka,  chokka) 

Chufiaj, //.,  Petticoats  (sho6ba) 
Cho6fih6ni,  n..  Witch  (cho'vih6ni,  cho6vikon).     Pasp.,  tcho- 

vekhanS,  ghost 
Cho6kni,   ) 
Chookn^e,)  ^'  '^^^P  (c^^oopni).     Pasp.,  tchukni 


VOCABULARY.  67 

Chooko,  n.,  Coat  (chaho,  etc.) 

Yogengri-chooko,  Shooting-coat 
Choom,   ;/.,    Moon    (chein,    shoon,   shool).      Pasp.,   tchon, 

tchomiit 
Chooma,  n.y  Kiss.     Pasp.,  tcliumi 

Chooma,  v.,  To  kiss 

Choomerova,  I  do,  or  will,  kiss 

Choomadom,  I  kissed,  I  did  kiss 

Choomadas,  He  kissed 

Choomaben,  ;/.,  Kissing 
Choomba,)  n.^  Hill,  chin  (choonga,  chiimba,  diimbo).   Pasp., 
Choombo,)       tumbay  hillock 

Choomoni,  n..  Something  (chumoni).     Lieb.,  tschomoni 
Cho6nga,  ;/.,  Hill  (choomba,  dumbo).    Pasp.,  ^(umda,  hillock 
Choong,  u.,  Hill,  knee  (chong).     Pasp.,  tchang,  leg 
Choongar,  v.^  To  spit  (chungar).     Pasp.,  tchungardva 

Choongarben,  ;/.,  Spittle 
Choopni, ;/.,  Whip  (chookni).     Pasp.,  tchupni 
Chooralo,  adj..  Bearded.     Pasp.,  tchor,  beard 

Chooralo-modf,  Bearded  face 
Cho6ri,  «.,  Knife.     Pasp.,  tchori,  tchuri 

Baiiro  choori,  Sword 

Chooresto-gav,  Sheffield 

Poovesto-choori,  Plough 

1  •'  r     \  ^4j\,  Poor,  humble  (choro),      Pasp.,  tdwrd 

Chooreno,    ) 
Cho6rokno,i  '"^J'  P°°' 
Choorokne,  //.,  Mumpers 

Chooromengro, ) 

r-u    '     J  r  i^'i  Tramp 

Choorodo,  j     '  ^ 

Choorode,      ) 

Cho6rodon4}^'-'^''=''"P' 

Choorodar,  comp,,  Poorer 

Choorones-gav,  Wakefield  ;  lit.,  poorly  town  (poorly 

==  weak  =  wake) 

Choorokono-lav,  A  mumper's  word 


p.  part.,  Stolen.     Pasp.,  tchordS 


68  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Choovali,  n.,  voc.  pL,  Mates,  companions  (chawali,  etc.) 
Chooveno,  adj.,  Poor  (chuveno) 

Cho6venes,  adv.,  Humbly 
Cho6vikon,  n.,  Witch  (ch5 Vih6ni).   Pasp.,  tchovekhanS,  ghost 

Cho6vih6neski  matchka.  Bewitched  cat 
Chor,  n.,  Grass.     Pasp.,  tchar 

Chorengri,  adj.,  Grassy,  green 

Chor-dik?;^^,  adj..  Green  ;  lit.,  grass-looking 

Chor-6%tamdngro,  Grasshopper 

Dandim6ngri-chor,//.,  Nettles 

Chorkeno-tem,  Yorkshire 
Chor,  V.  a.,  To  steal.     Pasp.,  tchordva 

Chor6va,  I  do,  or  will,  steal 

Ch6rdo,         '\ 

Chorno, 

Ch6rdeno, 

Chordn6,  pl.,^ 

Ch6rom^ngro,}  ^^  '^^^^^-     ^^^P'^  ''^' 
Chor,  n.,  Son,  lad.     Pasp.,  tcho,  child  ;  gor  (As),  boy 

Giv^ngro  chor,  Farmer's  lad 
Choro,  adj.,  Poor  (cho6ro).     Pasp.,  tchoro 

Ch6rokon^s,  adv..  Humbly 
Ch6ro,\ 

Chora,  V  n.,  Plate,  dish.     Pasp.,  tcharS 
Chor,   ) 
Chor6va,  I  cover,  wrap  up.     Pasp.,  utchardva 

Chor6va  les  parddl  o'  yog,  I  will  cover  it  up  with 
ashes 

Chordas,  They  covered 
Ch6rda,  v.,  To  'cover'  (in  coYtu).  Pasp.,  utchardva^  to  cover, 

or  tchordva,  to  pour ;  tckoraib^,  seminal  fluid 
Ch6vono,  adj.,  Poor  (chuveno,  cho6veno) 
Ch6vih6ni,  n.,  Witch  (cho6fih6ni,  cho6vikon).     Pasp.,  tcho- 

vekhand,  ghost 
Chiiffa.?,  n.pl.,  Petticoats  (cho6fa,  sho6ba) 
Chukka,  n.,  Coat  (chiho,  cho(5ko,  etc.) 


VOCABULARY.  69 

Chukk6ngro,)        ^  ,. 

^,    ,  ,  ,       '   \  n.,  roliceman 

Chukkengri,  j 

Chumba,  n.,  Hill,  chin  (cho6mba,  cho6nga,  dumbo).   Pasp., 

tumba,  hillock 

Chumba  kdlesko  tem,  Derbyshire 
Chumoni,  «.,  Something  (cho6moni).     Lieb.,  tchomoni 
Chungar,  v.,  To  spit  (cho6ngar).     Pasp.,  tchungardva 

Chungar,  «.,  Skewer,  spit 

Chuveno,^      _   _        ,  ,     ,  ,  ,         , 

rh '     *     I  ^^'*  ^^^^  (chooveno,  chovono) 

Chuvno-g6rjer,    Magistrate,   justice   of    the    peace 
(chivlo  g6rjer) 

D. 
Dad,     )        ^    ,  _  ,    , 

Dddus,)  ^^''  ^^^^^^-     ^^^P-  ^^^ 

Daddi,  voc,  Father ! 

Dadengro,      \^  Bastard;   because  *  fathered'  on 

^  ,  ,,         ^    '  (      the  putative  parent 
Dadlo,  )  "^  "" 

Po6ro-dad,  Grandfather 

Stiffo-dad,  Father-in-law 

Dadesko  kair.  Father's  house 

Mi  dddeski  bo6tsi^ngri,  My  father's  servants 
Dan,  adv.,  Than 
Ddnder,  \ 

Dand,     V  v.  a.,  To  bite.     Pasp.,  dantdva 
Dan,      j 

Dd  1    '}a/^^^-*  jBitten.     Yd^^.,  dantd 
Dan,  n.y  Tooth 

Cho6ro-bftto-ddndom6ngro,  Mouse;  lit.,  poor  little 

biter 
Dandimdngri-chor,  Nettles ;  lit,  biting-grass 


70  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Dandermeskri,  «.,  Pepper 

Danomeskri,  n.,  Mustard 

DandzV^^-pishum,  Wasp  ;  lit.,  biting-fly 
Dashj  «.,  Cup.     Pasp.,  tdsi 

Doodds,      I  n.,  Cup  and  saucer ;  lit,  two  cups,  or 

Do6i-dash,i       cuplike  things 

Ddsko.     See  Dei 

De^  article,  The 

De.     See  Del 

Dedro,\      ,.   t^ 

Vedr\.  }  "'^J-  ^^^' 

Dei,  «.,  Mother.     Pasp.,  d£,  ddi 

D^iesko  ") 

T-) '  ,u       )  S^^^->  Mother's.     Pasp.,  daidskoro 

Deia,  voc.^  Mother ! 

Bauri-dei,)  ^        ,       ^, 
p    /  .  J  .  j-  Grandmother 

Stiffi-dei,  Mother-in-law 
Del,  V.  a,,  To  give,  kick,  hit,  read  (d6).     Pasp.,  ddva,  to 

give,  kick,  hit,  speak 
D6,  To  give,  kick 
D6va,    )  ^   ,  .,,      . 

Del6va,M^^'°^^^ll'S^^^'^*^- 
Del6va  meero  lav  kdter  mi-Do6vel,  I  pray;  lit.,  I  give 

my  word  to  God 
D61a,    1  u      .  .„     . 

Del^la,)       ^  ^'^^^'  ^^^^'  ^^^• 

Deld6m,)  ^ 
Di6m,     I  I  gave,  etc. 

M^ndi  di6m,  We  gave 

Dids,  He  gave,  forgave,  etc. 

Dids  drovdn  opr^  o  wo6da,  He  knocked  hard  at  the 

door 
Dfno,  n.,  Gift;  lit.,  given.     Vd^s])., p. part.,  din6 
Di^,  They  gave 

^  .  I  opr6,  v.,  To  read 


VOCABULARY,  7 1 

Delomus-opre,  Writing 

Del-/6?-mandi,  Present ;  lit.,  a  give  to  me 

Peero-delh;?^-tem,    Lancashire ;     lit.,     foot-kicking 
country 

Delomengro,  n.^  Parson,  lucifer  match,  kicking  horse 

Delomeskro,  n.,  Hammer 
Den,  adv. J  Then 
Desh,  adj.y  Ten.     Pasp.,  desk 

Deshbar,  Ten-pound  bank-note 

Deshto-hauri,]    Eighteen-pence.     Pasp.,  desh-u-shto, 

Deshti-korri,  /     eighteen 

Desh-ta-yek,  Eleven.    D.  ta  dooi,  -trin,  -stor,  -pansh, 
-dooi-trinaw,  12,  13,  14,  15,   16.  and  so   on;    dooi 
deshaw,  20 
Didakeii",  71.  pi..  Half-bred  Gypsies.     See  Ak^i 
ms,Hegave,|    ^^^  ^^, 
Diom,  I  gave,   j 
Dik,  V.  a.,  To  see,  look.     Pasp.,  dikdva 

Dikova,  I  look,  see 

Te  dikov  avri,  dik6va,  If  I  look  out,  I  see 

T      (\'V'    \  ^^°^  lookest,  ye  look,  see 

Dikela,  He  sees 

Dikela  pensa  raiini.  She  looks  like  a  lady 

Diktom,   \ 

Diktoom,) 

Diktassa,  Thou  didst  see,  ye  saw 

Diktas,  He  saw,  looked 

Dikas,  Let  us  look 

Too  diktas.?  Have  you  seen.?   (Properly  diktdn ;  see 

P-  37) 
Diktas  komeni .?    Did  you  see  anything?     (Properly 

diktdn;  see  p.  37) 
Diktana,  They  saw,  (properly  diktas) 

T^'u       j  p'  p(^rt..  Seen.     Pasp.,  diklo 

Dik  palla,  v.,  To  watch,  attend  to ;  lit.,  look  after 


«.,  Fool.     Pasp.,  dinilS 


72  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

B6ngesko-dik?>z^,  Diabolic,  ugly  ;  lit.,  devil-looking 

Ko6shko-dfk/«^,  Handsome,  good-looking 

Dfdak^ij,//.,  Half-bred  Gypsies.     See  Akei 

Dikom^ngro,  «.,  Looking-glass 

Door-dfkom6ngro,  Telescope ;  lit.,  far-seeing  thing 

Dfkom^ngri,    «.,    Portrait,     likeness,    photograph, 
picture 

Dfkimus,  \ 

Dfkomus,r-' S^S^^ 

Wafedo  dfkomusti  chei  sas  y6i'.    She  was  an  ugly  girl 
Dfklo,  «.,  Handkerchief,  necktie,  etc.     Pasp.,  dikl6 

Bauro-dfklQ,  Shawl 
Dfnilo, 
Dfnlo, 
Dinl^e,/, 
Dfnvero, 

Dinld, //.,  Fools 

Dfnveres,  adv..  Foolishly 

Dfnveri,  adj..  Silly,  foolish 

Dids.  \ 

Did,  Dfno.  \    See  Del,  to  give 

Di6m.        ) 

Dfvio,  ) 

■Pj,  .      I  adj.y  Mad,  wild.     Lieb.,  diwio ;  Mikl.,  i.,  9 

Dfviaw,//.,  Lunatics 
Dfvio-kair,  Asylum,  madhouse 

Dfvi-gdiri,  Midwife  ;  lit.,  madwife.  Due  to  assonance 
Dfvvus,  «.,  Day.     Pasp.,  divis 
Divvusdw, //.,  Days 
Ke-dfvvus,       \ 
K6vva-dfwus,  \  To-day 
Te-divvus,        / 
K61iko-dfvvus,  yesterday 
Kro6kingo-d{vvus,  Sunday 
Mi-duver.f-dfvvus,  ] 
Mol-diwus,  >  Christmas  Day 

B61esko-dfvvus,      ) 


VOCABULARY.  73 

Ovdvo-dfvvus,  To-morrow 

Trin-dfvvus^j--palla-ko6roko,  Wednesday;  lit.,  three 
days  after  Sunday,  and  so  on  for  the  other  days 
of  the  week 

Dfvvus/v,  adv.j  Daily 

Divvusj  roozha,  Daisy 
'Doi,  adv.y  There  (adof,  odoi).     Pasp.,  otid  ;  abl.,  otdr 
DdWa.,  pron.,  Those  (diilla).     Pasp.,  odoU 
Dood,  n.,  Light.     Lieb.,  ^u^ 

Doodaw,   )     ,    ^  .  , 

Do6domengro,  n.,  Lantern 

Do6dom^ngro,\ 

Doodeno,  \  adj.,  Light  (lucidus) 

Do6dengi,         / 

Do6domeskri,  n.,  Lucifer-match 

Do6desko  mo61o,  Will-o'-th'-Wisp 

Bauro-dood,  Lightning 

Mido6vel6sko-dood,  Moon,  lightning 

Dood-y6gengi-k6shterj,  Firebrands;  lit,  light-fire 
sticks 

Kaulo-dood,  Dark-lantern 
Do6das,  n.,  Cup  and  saucer  (dash) 
Do6dum,  n.,  Belly,  womb.     Pasp.,  dud%ini,  gourd 
Do6lf,  adj.y  Two.     Pasp.,  dui 

Do6f-m6ndi,  We  two,  or  both  of  us 

Dooi-l^ndi,  They  two,  or  both  of  them 

Do6i'  k611i.  Florin,  a  two-shilling  piece;  lit.,  two 
things 


Do6f-dash,|  ^  ,  ,,     ,  , 

Do6das,      i  ^"P  ^"^  '^^^^'  (^^'^> 


Do6y  trin.  Two  or  three 

Yon  ghi^n  avrl  do6Y  ta  do6l[  ketan^,  Th^y  went  out 
by  twos  {ghiifiy  for  ghids) 
Do6ker,  v,.  To  hurt,  pain,  ache.    Pasp.,  dukdva,  to  feel  pain 
Do6ker,  n,,  An  ache.     Pasp.,  duk 
Do6ker6va,  I  punish 


74  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Do6kadds,  He  did  hurt 

Do6kadno,/. /«rA,  Tormented 
Do6mo,  «.,  Back.     Pasp.,  diunS 

Doomengro,  )  n.,  Broken-backed   horse ;    doom- 

Doomeksno-grei,i      ^ksno  for  doomhkano 
Door,  adj.  and  adv.^  Far,  long.     Pasp.,  dur 

Door,  n.^  Distance 

Door  door  dosta,)    .  ,  r        rr 

T>,  ,  ,  '  (  A  very  long  way,  very  far  off 

Doovori-doovori, ;  ^        ->=>       j>       j 

Doordair,  )  _      ,  ^ 

DooroderJ  ^'^^^'^''  F^^*^^^^^'-     ^^^p.,  dured^r 

Door-dikomengro,  n.,  Telescope  ;  lit.,  far-seer 
Do6ri,  n.^  String,  twine  (dori).     Pasp.,  dori 
Do6rik,  v.,  To  tell  fortunes,  predict  (diikker).    Lieb.,  turke- 
wawa 
Do6rikapen,   «.,   Fortune-telling,  prediction.     Lieb., 
tiirkepejin 
Doosh,  n.  and  adj.,  Evil  ;  bad,  unlucky,  etc.     Lieb.,  dosch 

Dooshalo,  adj.,  Unlucky,  etc. 
Do6sta,  adj.   and  ;/.,   Enough,  many,   much,  plenty,  very 
(adoosta,  d6sta).     Lieb.,  docha  ;  Mikl.,  i.,  lo 
Door  do6sta.  Long  enough 
'Do6va,  pron.,  That  (ado6va).     Pasp.,  odovd 

'Glal  doovdski  kair,  In  front  of  that  house 
Diilla  k611a,  //.,  TJiose  things 
Do6vel,  n.,  God  (duvel).     Pasp.,  devd 

Do6velkan6sto,  adj.,  Divine,  holy.     Pasp.,  deviicanS 
Mi  do6vel6ski  chdiros.  Eternity,  for  ever,  the  World, 

universe  ;  lit.,  my  God's  time 
Diivel^sko  chdvo,  Christ ;  lit,  God's  Son 
Mi-do6vel^sko,  adj.,  Religious.     Pasp.,  devUskoro 
Mi-do6vel6sko-dood,  The  moon 
Mi-duvel(^ski  gaire,  Saints 
Mi-duvelesko   mauromengri,  Jews ;    lit.,  my    God's 

slayers 
Mi-do6velesko  bftta   folki.    Fairies;   lit.,   my  God's 
little  people 


VOCABULARY.  75 

Duvel^ski  Joovel,  The  Virgin 

Mi-duvel^sto-tem,  Sky 

Mi-do6velesko-g6dli,  Thunder  ;  lit,  my  God's  voice 

Mi-duvelesko-keri,  Heaven 

Mi-do6velenghi,) 

Mi-do6vel^sti,     I  For  my  Gods  sake 

Mi-duvel,  By  God  ! 
Mi-duvel'j"  moosh,  Clergyman 
Mi-duvel'i"  divvus,  Christmas  Day 
Doovori,  A  long  way  off.     (Door.)      ?  A   contraction   of 
door-avr^e ;  compare,  however,  Boht.,  part  i.  iadj)  :  "A 
lengthened  form,  -oro,  m.,  and  ori,  /.,  is  much  affected 
by  both  adjectives  and  nouns,  e.g.,  terno,  young,  temord, 
ternori,  very  young  " 
Dordi',  intei'j.y  Lo,  behold,  see,  look  !     ?  Pasp.,  otdr  dik 
D6ri,  n.,  String,  twine,  riband,  navel  (doori).     Pasp.,  dori 
Dorio'v,  n.,  Ocean,  sea,  river  (doyav).     Pasp.,  dardv 
D6sta,  adj,  and  ;?.,  Plenty,  etc.     See  Do6sta 
Dosta  komeni,  A  great  multitude 
D6sta  dosta  beshaw,  Very  many  years 
Dosta  ta  d6sta,  Enough  and  to  spare 
"Ddwdi,  pron.,  That,  it.     See  Doova 
D6va,  I  give.     See  Del 
Doval,   \        ^         ^  ,        ,, 

Dovyal,i  ^^^  ^^^'    ^^sp.,  ^^z/rj^/ 

Doyav,  n.,  Sea  (dorio'v).     Pasp.,  dardv 
Drab,  «.,  Poison,  drug,  medicine.     Pasp.,  drab,  herb,  root, 
physic 

Drab6ngro,) 

Drab<^ngri,  1  ""■■  druggist,  doctor 

Tatcho-drabengro,  Doctor  of  medicine 
'Dral,/r^/.,  Through  (adral).     Pasp.,  andrdl,  from  within 
'Dr6,  prep..  In  (adre).     Pasp.,  andre 
Drillaw,  n.  pL,  Berries,  gooseberries  (diiril) 
Drom,    n.,   Road,   way,  path,    lane,    street,    etc.,    fashion, 
manner.     Pasp.,  drom,  road  ;  Mikl.,  i.,  lo 

Dromaw, //.,  Roads 


76  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Baur6  dr6maw,  Highroads 

Bauri-gavesti-dr6maw,  Streets ;  lit,  big  town-roads 
Bftti-gdvesti-dr6maw,  Lanes  ;  lit.,  little  town-roads 
Dro6ven,  adv.,  Slowly.     Pott,  ii.,  318,  dirwanh,  drovven,  etc. 
Dro6veno, ) 
Dro6ven,  I  ^^'^  tiresome,  wearisome 

Drovdn,  adv.,  Hard,  forcibly,  slowly 

Dvikker,  v.,  To  tell  fortunes,  predict  (do6rik).     Lieb.,  turke- 

wawa 

Dukker6va,  I  tell  fortunes 

Dukker?^',  n.,  Fortune-telling 

Dukkeriben,  n.,  Fortune 

Diikkadno,  p.  part.,  Predicted 

Diilla  ) 

■Q/ 11. '[//.,  Those  (do6va).     Pasp.,  odovd ;  pi.,  odol^ 

Dumbo,  n.,  Hill,  mountain  (cho6mbo,  etc.)     Pasp.,  tumba, 

hillock 
Duril,  n.,  Gooseberry  (drfUaw).     Lieb.,  heril,  a  pea ;  Pott, 
ii.,  167 
Duril^ski-g6l,  Gooseberry-tart 
Diivel, «.,  God,  sky,  star.    See  Do6vel.    Pasp.,  dev^l,  God,  sky 


E. 

Ei,  an  ejaculation  of  woe,  alas  ! 
'Y.s,pron.,  It  (les) 

E6zaw,  n.  pL,  Clothes.     Sundt,  Beretning  om  Landstryger- 
folket,  1852  ;  tzar,  {pi.),  Kloeder 


F. 
Fdirus,  n.,  Fair  (f6ros) 

Grefesto-fafrus,  Horse  fair 
F6rradair,  \ 

F^ttadair,    >  ^^'.,  <:^;«/.,  Better.     lA^h.,  fedidir 
Fataddiro,) 

F^ttedafro  to6ti.  Better  than  you 


VOCABULARY.  77 

So  komova  fdterddir,  What  I  want  most 

O  feterdair  pl6;^ta,  The  best  robe 
Filisin,  «.,  Hall,  mansion.     lA^h.,  filezzin 
Fino,  adj.,  Fine 
/^WZ-adair,  adj.^  First 

First-2.di\r  d  lil^i,  Spring  ;  lit.,  first  of  summer 
Fiz,  n.,  Enchantment,  charm 
Folki  (pron.  fo'ki),  «.,  Folk,  people 
Follas^,    \ 

Follasaw,  >•  n.  pi.,  Gloves.     \Ji€Q.,forlozzo  ;  Pott,  ii.,  394 
FoUasi^i", ) 

Yon,  prep.,  From.     German,  von 
Foozhaari,  n.,  Fern 
ForAk:,  ) 
ForAe\)i  ^•'  '^^  forgive  (d^,  del) 

For^tve-asir,  Forgive 

Fordeloness,  n.,  Forgiveness 

F6ros,  n.,  Market  town  (fai'rus).     F asp.,  fciros 

Baiilesto-foros,  Pig  fair 

F6shono,  adj..  False,  counterfeit,  imitation 

F6shono    wongushij,  False    rings ;    rings    made  of 

imitation  gold 

Maw  kair  tooti  kek  komeni  foshono  kookelo,  Thou 

shalt  not  make  any  graven  image ;  lit,  don't  make 

to  thee  not  any  false  doll 

Full,  ) 

P     1  j  «•,  Dung,  excrement,     rasp., /ul 

Full-vardo,  Dung-cart 


G. 

This  letter  must  be  invariably  pronounced  bard,  as  in  go,  and  not  as  in  §^tH. 

Gad,  n.,  Shirt.     Pasp.,  ^ad 
Gddaw, //.,  Shirts 
Gidesto-bei,  Shirt-sleeve 
Gad-kosht-koova,  Clothes-peg 


78  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Gairo,  n.,  Man.     Only  applied  to  gaujos.     Pasp.,  kur  ;  gov 
(As),  boy  ;  Sundt,  gaer  {pi),  Folk 

Gain;}/'  W"""^" 

Gaire,//.,  Men 

Pe^vlo-gairo,  Widower 

Pe^vli-gairi,  Widow 

Vardengro-gairo,  Miller 

Yek  d  mi  dodvel'j-  tatcho  gaire,  An  angel 

'Gdi\,prep.,  Before  (agal,  'glal).     Pasp.,  angldl,  agdl 

Garav,)  ^    ,  .  ,        -r^ 

^  ,         \  V.  a.,  To  hide.     Pasp.,  gheravava 

Garov,  I  do,  or  will,  hide 

Garido,    \ 

Ga.ndn6,> p. part.,  Hidden 

Garer^^,  / 

Garidnes,)  ,     ,  .  ,  , 

^  ,  h  adv.,  Secretly,  hidden,  unknown 

Garones,  )  '  -^'  ' 

Garadom,) 

^         f      \  I  hid 

Garavom,) 

Garadds,|  ._    .  . , 
^  ,     f  He  hid 

Garavas, ) 

Gaujo,  )  n.,  Stranger,  English   person,  one  who  is    not   a 

Gaujer,)       Gypsy.     (Gorjo.)     Va.sp.,  gajo 

Gav,  n.,  Town,  village.     Pasp.,  gav,  village 

Gavdw,//.,  Towns 

Gavengro,| 

^      ,       .   y  71.,  roliceman 

Gavengri,  )      ' 

Bauro-gav,  London 

Bauro-bdresto-gav,-)  ^  . 

■D    ,,  ,    .  \  Liverpool 

Booko-paani-gav,   j  ^ 

Steripen-gav,  County  town  ;  lit.,  prison  town 

Mendi  jab  yek  gaver  kater  waver,  We  go  from  one 

town  to  the  other 

Ghian,  You  went. 

Ghias,  He,  she,  they  went.  \     See  Jal 

Ghien,  They  went. 


VOCABULA.RY. 


79 


Ghil,  V.  a.,  To  sing  (ghiv).     Pasp.,  ghilidbava 
Ghi'li,  n.,  Song  (ghiveli).     V3.s^.,  ghili 
Ghilyawj,  //.,  Songs,  broadsheets,  handbills,  news- 
papers 
Ghilyengri,  n.  pL,  Newspapers 

nu'\''\  P- P^^i',  Gone.     See  J al.     Pasp.,  gkelS,  ghel^ 

Ghinjer,)   v.,    To    count,    reckon.      Pasp.,    Ghendva;    pass., 
Ghinya, )        ghenghiovdva 
Ghiom,  I  went.     See  Jal 
Ghiv,  V.  a.,  To  sing  (ghil) 

Ghivova,  I  do,  or  will,  sing 

Ghiveli,  n.,  Song  (ghili) 

Ghivenna,  They  sing 

Ghiv,  «.,  Corn,  wheat,     Pasp.,  ghiv 

Ghivengro,) 

^,  .    ,  ,        \  ;/.,  rarmer 

Ghiveskro, ) 

Ghivesto-chairos,  Harvest ;  lit.,  corn-time 

Ghiv^sto-kair,  Farmhouse 

Ghivesto-shero,  Ear  of  corn 

Ghiv-poosengro,  Wheat-straw  stack 

Ghiv-poov,  Wheat-field 

Livena-ghiv,  Barley  ;  lit.,  beer-corn 
Ghiv,  n.,  Snow  (iv,  hiv,  shiv,  yiv).     Pasp.,  iv,  hiv,  biv,  vif 
'G\3.\,prep.,  Before  ('gal,  agal,  aglal).     Pasp.,  ang/dl,  aiigdl 

Poshaglal,  adv.,  Opposite  ;  lit.,  close  before 

Tatcho-'glal,  adv.,  Opposite  ;  lit.,  right  before 
G6dli,   n.,   Noise,   dispute,    quarrel,  row,  summons   (gudli, 
goodli) 

Mi-do6velesko-g6dli,  Thunder 
G6i*, ;/.,  Pudding,  pie,  tart.     Pasp.,  gSi,  a  thick  sausage 

Go'ia,  //.,  Puddings 

Goiongo-gunno,  Pudding-bag 

Gono,   ) 

^         ,  I  n..  Sack  (gunno,  kanyo).     Pasp.,  gono 

Goodlo,  m.,\ 

Go6dli  f.     )      -^'^  ^^^^^-     Pasp.,  gtidlo,  gentle,  sweets 


80  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Goodli,  «.,  Sugar,  summons 

Go6dlopen,  «.,  Sweets,  sweetmeats.     Pasp.,  gtidlipi, 
gentleness 
Gooroni,  n.^  Bull.     Pasp.,  guri,  ox  ;  adj.,  guruvanS 
Go6shum,  n.,  Throat 

G6rishi,    trin-g6rishi,    Shilling.     Pasp.,  ghroshia,    piastres, 

from  the  Turkish  ghrush  ;  compare  also  German 

groschen ;  Sundt,  ^wrrw;   Skilling ;    Pott,  i.,  52; 

Mikl.,  i.,  13 

Gdrjo,  )  «.,  Englishman,  stranger,  alien,  gentile,  any  one  who 

Gorjer,)       is  not  a  Gypsy.     Y^.s'^.,  gadjS  ;  Mikl.,  i.,  1 1 

Gorji,/.,  Stranger.     Pasp.,  ^«^"/ 

Gorje,/^.,  English  persons.  Gentiles.     Pasp.,  ^<2rt^y 

G6rjikana-drom,  non-Gypsy  fashion 

Gaujikana  jinomus,  Learning  fit  for  an  alien 

Boot  gauj^-kani/<:^/>^-i  see-le  konaw,  They  are  all  like 
Gentiles  now 

Gorjikanes,  \ 

Gorjokanes,  \  adv.,  English 

G6rjones,     / 

Chivlo-   )     ,  .       ^^     . 

Chiivno-I  ^^"J^"'  Magistrate 

Paanengro-g6rjer,  Sailor  ;  lit.,  water-gentile 

Poov^ngri-g6rjer,  Irishman  ;  lit,  potato-gentile 

Yogengri-gorjer,  Gamekeeper;  lit.,  gun-gentile 
G6zvero,  adj.,  Artful,  sly.     Lieb.,  godsw^ro  ;  Pasp.,  godialS 

^  ,        I  «.,  Barn.     Lieb.,  granscha,  stable 

Grasni,  n.  /.,  Mare.     Pasp.,  grasnl 

Grdsni-m^ila,  She-ass 
GreinOy  adj.,  Green 
Grei,  n.  m.,  Horse.     Pasp.,  grdi 

Gr^iaw,)     ,    ..^ 

Greidngro,  «.,  Horsedealer,  groom 
Gr^iesto-chok,  Horse.shoe 
Gr^iesti-ch6;)^aw,  //.,  Horseshoes 


VOCABULARY.  8 1 

Gr^iesto-chukni,  Horsewhip 

Gr^iesto-fairus,  Horse-fair 

Greiesto-koppa,  Horse-rug 

Greiesko-menengro,  Horse-collar 

Greiesto-praster?;?^,  Horse-race 

Barengro- ) 

Bar&kro-/g''^''S'«"'°" 

Delomengro-grei,  Kicking  horse 

Doomeksno-grei,  Brokenbacked  horse 

Grunchi-grunchi-grei,   Insatiable  horse ;  by  onoma- 

topoea 
Gresti,  «.,  The  mayor  of  a  town.     (The  form  of  this  word  is 

the  dative  oi grei,  but  it  is  probably  a  corruption 

oi  grdsni) 

^     ,      '  ^  n.,  Cow.     Pasp.,  gurtivno 
GroovenJ  ^    ^ 

Groovenesko-mas,  Beef 

Mooshkeni-groovni,  Ox,  bull ;  lit.,  male  cow 

Groovni  roozha,  Cowslip  (flower) 
Grov,  7i.y  Bull.     Pasp.,  gurnv 

Grovneski-bool,  Beef-steak 
Giidli,  «.,  Noise  (godli) 
Giinno,  «.,  Sack,  bag  (gonno).     Pasp.,  gono 
Gur,  ;2.,  Throat  (kauri,  kur,  karlo).    Pasp.,  kori ;  Mikl.,  i.,  13 


H. 

This  letter  is  in  many  instances  interchangeable  with  K,  and  in  such  cases  is  a 
relic  of  an  original  aspirated  K,  e.g.,  /^<?/and  kol,  to  eat  {khala,  Pasp.) 

Had,  V.  a.,  To  raise,  lift  (azer).     Lieb.,  hadawa 

'Hamyai-,  //.//.,  Knee-breeches  (rokamyas) 

Hand,  v.  a.,  To  bring  (and).     Pasp.,  andva 

Hanik,     ) 

TT '   -1       I  n.y  Well.     Pasp.,  khaniJik 

Harri,  ;/.,  Penny  (horro,  hauro,  korro).     Lieb.,  cheiro 
Hatch,  v.,  To  stand,  halt,  stay,  stop,  etc.    (atch).     Pasp., 
atchdva,  to  remain 

6 


82  GYPSY-EXGLISH 

Hatch-pauli-kanni,  Guineafowl ;  lit.,  stay-back  fowl, 
because  provincials  call  them  'comebacks,'  from 
their  cry 
Hav,  7'.,  To  come  (av,  Vel).     Pasp.,  avdva 
YidiW^  particle^  ?  eh 

Too  shanas  ndfelo  waver  divvus,  haw  ?    You  were  ill 
the  other  day,  eh  ? 
Haw,  z/.,  To  eat  (hoi,  kol).     Pasp.,  khdva 

Hawmdskro,  «.,  Table 
Haurini,  adj.,  Angry,  cross,  savage  (hoino,  korni).     Pasp., 

kholmdkoro 
Hauro,  n.,  Copper  (harri,  horro,  korro) 

Haiirongo,  adj.,  Copper  (holono) 
Hauro,  n.,  Sword.     Pasp.,  khanro 

Heka,  n.,  Haste  (yeka,  hokki).     Pott,  ii.,  173,  suggests  sik, 
quick  as  the  etymon 

^  ,    'I  ;/.,  Leg,  wheel.     Lieb.,  hero.     Pasp.,  gher,  thigh 

Here,  pi.,  Wheels 
Wardesko-here,  Cart-wheels 
Herengri^j,  n.p/.,  Leggings 
Herengro-matcho,  Crab  ;  lit,  legged-fish 
Hev,  n..  Hole,  window,  grave  (kev).     Pasp.,  k/iev 
H^vaw,     \ 

H^vyaw,   >  //.,  Holes,  windows 
H^vyawJ", ) 

'H6v/y,     )   Holy.     From  the  assonance  of  Ho/e  and 
Hdveski,!       No/j/ 
Mo6sheno-hev,  Armpit 

jj.   J      I  z/.,  Cacare  (kinder).     Fasp.,  k/ienddva 

Hfndi  i  ^^■'  ^^^^y>  wretched,  squalid,  filthy 
Hindi-kair,  Privy.     Pasp.,  k/i^ndi 
Hfndi-kdkardtchi,  Parrot ;  lit.,  dirty  magpie 
Hindo-tem,  )  Ireland.    ?  c/.  Pasp.,  hindyemi,  the 


H/ndi-tem^skro>J       end  of  the  world 


VOCABULARY.  8^ 

Hindo-kovva,  A  coarse  expression  sometimes  used 

for  mustard  ;  cf.  muterimongeri 
Hi'ndi-temengro,  Irishman 
Hindi-temengri-gaire,  p/r,  Irishmen 
Hindi-temengri   kongri,   Catholic   Church ;   because 
so  many  Irish  are  Roman  CathoHcs,  or,  in  com- 
mon parlance,  Catholics 
Hiv.  n.,  Snow  (iv) 

Hoax,  v.,  To  cheat  (hokano).     Pasp.,  khokhavdva 
Hoben,  n..  Food,  victuals,  eatables  (holben,  koben).     Pasp., 
khabe 
Hoben-chairos,  Supper-time 

Hobenengro,  ;/2.,)  i,        n    r    j 

TT  .1       ,       •    r     \  n.,  Cook,  one  who  sells  food 
Hobenengri, /.,    j      ' 

Hobeneskro,  n.,  Table 

Bauro  hobeneskro,  A  glutton  ;  lit.,  big  eater 
Hodas,  He  ate.     See  Hoi 
Hodjerpen,  n.,  Gonorrhoea  (hotchopen) 
H6dno, 


TT    1/      (I  ate,  eaten.     See  Hoi 
Hodom, ) 

Hoino,  adj.,  Angry  (ho  no,  etc.)     Lieb.,  hoino  ;  Mikl.,  i.,  I2 
Hoinomus,) 
H6lben,      /  «-  ^"^er,  vexat.on 

Hoinous,  adj.,  Angry 
WA        .    '\n.,  Lie,  falsehood  (hookapen,  hoax) 

,T  r  '\  n.,  Liar,  lie  :  rt^'.,  false.     Pasp.,  khokhavnS 

Ho%ano,)  >        »      y'  r- » 

Hokane,//.,  Lies 

H^kt  ^'1  ^''  ^°  J""^P  (^%^^)-     Pasp.,  ukhkidva,  to  arise,  get 
Hok,^'i      "P 

Hokki!  Look!   Here!   (heka,  yeka).     Pott,  ii,,  173 
Hoi,  v..  To  eat  (haw,  kol).     Pasp.,  khidva,  to  eat;  khalS, 
eaten 


84  GYPSY- ENGLISH 

Hova,     )  ^   , 

TT   1  ,       f  1  do,  or  will,  eat 

Holova,) 

Hola,  He  eats 

Holessa,  Thou  eatest,  you  eat 

Hodom,  I  ate 

Hodas,  He  ate,  he  has  eaten 

Hode,   X  _, 

Hoden,}^^^^^'^^^ 

Hodno,)  _ 

HolW,)^-^^^^'^^^^^ 

Holben, 

Holoben,  \  n.,  Food  (koben).     Pasp.,  khab^ 

Hoben, 

Holeno, 

H6Iono,    \  n.,  Landlord 

Hol^skro,. 

Holomus,  «.,  Feast,  supper.     Vaill.,  p.  70,  Andeas  o 

hamoSy  On  a  servi ;  p.  71,  To  hamos  pe  mcseli^  Mets 

le  plat  sur  la  table 

Bauro-holomengro,  Glutton 

Bauro-holomengro-jookel,)  ,,t  ,r   i-^  u-        ^-       j 
^    ,      ,  ,,       ,1       .    ,,    ,     Wolf;  lit, biff-eating doe: 
Bauro-holomeskro-jookel,^  >       >     &  &      s 

Lolo-holomengri,  Radish 

Grei-esko  lolo-holomengri,  Horse-radish 
H61ono,  adj.,  Copper  (haurongo) 
Honj,  «.,  The  itch 

Honj,  v.,  To  itch.     Pasp.,  kJtdndjiovava 

Honjedom,  I  itched 

Honyificd,  adj.,  Mangy 
Ho'no,  adj.,  Angry,  cross,  etc.  (hoino,  haiirini,  korni).     Lieb., 

hoino 
Ho6fa,  n.,  Cap,  captain  (ko6fa).      Dr.  Paspati  says  in  a 

letter,  "  from  the  Greek  Koucpui,  a  cap  " 
Ho6kapen,  ;/.,  Lie,  falsehood  (h6;T^aben).     Pasp.,  khokham- 

nib^,  khokhaimb^ 
Hoolaverj, n.pl..  Stockings (oulavers).  'L\Qh.,cholib;  Mikl.,i.,  4 
Hoora,  n..  Watch  (ora).     Pasp.,  dra 


VOCABULARY.  85 


TT  /    •  'I  n-,  Penny  (hdrri,  korro,  hauro) 

Posh-h6rn,  Halfpenny 
Shoo-kh6rri,  Sixpence 
D6sto-h6rri,  Eighteenpence 

'I  V.  a.,  To  burn  (kdchar).     Lieb 


chadscJieivawa 


Hotch, 

Hotcherova,  I  do,  or  will,  burn 

H6tcher61a,  It  burns 

Hotchedo,  /.  part.,  Burnt 

Hotchede,//.,  Burnt,  also  They  burnt 

Hotchedom,  I  burnt 

Hotchedas,  He  burnt 

H6tcheropen,\ 

Hotcheroben,  [  n..  Gonorrhoea  (hodjerpen) 

Hotchopen,  j 
H6tchi-wftchi,  Hedgehog.  Vaill,  Gramm.  Romm.,  Hoc  a, 
epic,  pique  ;  hocavi^a,  pore,  ^pine,  h^risson  ;  hoclo, 
herisse,  piquant 
Hotcher  me,  I  said.  An  irregular  verb  ;  used  in  narration, 
like  '  quotha.'  Vaill.,  hiotosarao,  jeter  les  hauts 
cris ;  Pasp.,  khuydzava,  to  call,  cry  to  any  one 

Hotchi-yov,  He  said 

Hotchi-yoT,  She  said 

H(5tch'ov,  He  said,  I  said 
H6va,  I  eat.     See  Hoi 

I. 

I,/.,  def.  art.,  The.     Pasp.,  i 
I'ngrin^Vi-,  n.pl.,  Welsh  Gypsies,  }  Ingrams 
Iv,  n.,  Snow  (ghiv,  hiv,  shiv,  yiv).     Pasp.,  iv,  etc. 
Iv-bar,  Snowball 


J. 

Jafra  ) 

Tdf  ■  i  ^^^  ^^^^^-     Pasp.,  asavkS 


86  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Maw  kel  jafri  godli,  Don't  make  such  a  noise 

Kek  na  komova  jafri  tanaw  si  k61i,  I  do  not  like 

such  places  as  these 

Jal,  v.,  To  go  (jaw,  jil,  jol,  ghilo).     Pasp.,  djdva 

J6va,     )  T  J  Ml 

■;   , ,       \  I  do,  or  will,  go 
Jalova,)  '  ^ 

Jalassa,) 

Jdssa,    I  Thou  goest,  you  go 

Jdla,  He  goes 

Jal6m  mendi,  We  will  go 

Yov  te  jal,  That  he  may  go 

Ghi6m,  I,  or  we,  went 

Ghias,  He  went 

Ghian,  Ye  went 

Ghil6,  They  went 

G\ii\o,  p.  part.,  Gone.     Vd.s^.,  g/ielo 

Jas  mdnghi  pardal   kola  poovyaw.  Let  us  go  over 
those  fields 

]i\ed,  Went 

Jal  palla,  To  follow ;  lit.,  go  after 

Jal  shookdr.  Go  softly 
Jdmba,  n.,  Toad  (j6mba).     Pasp.,  zdmba,  frog 
Jirifa,  )         ^  ,.     .  ,„ 

Jdrika,)  ^^-'  ^P^^"  (jorjoffa,  etc.) 

Jas,  Let  us  go.)      ^^^ 

Jassa,  You  go.)  -^ 

Jaw,  v.,  To  go  (jal,  etc.)     Pasp.,  djdva 

Jaw  paiili,  v..  To  return,  go  back 
'Jaw,  adv.,  Thus  so  (ajdw).     Pasp.,  adjdi,  yet,  still,  again ; 
avekd,  thus 

'Jaw  see  ta    jaw  see.  Amen  ;    lit.,  so  it  is  and  so 
it  is 

'Jaw  mdndi,  So  do  I 
Jeer,  n..  Rump.     Pasp.,  ^//^V,  groin 
Jib,  n..  Tongue,  language  (chiv).     Pasp.,  djib  (As);  tchip 
Jfdo,  adj.,  Alive,  lively.     See  Jiv 
Jil,  z/.,  To  go.     See  Jal 


VOCABULARY.  87 

Jin,  v.,  To  know.     Pasp.,  djindva 

Jinova,) 

\,.    ,       \\  know 

Jinaw,  ) 

Kek  na  jinom  me,  /don't  know  (.?jindw  m6) 

Jin^ssa,  Ye  know,  thou  knowest 

Jin^la,  He  knows 

Jin^nna,  They  know 

Jind6m,  I  knew 

Jindassa,  Thou  didst  know,  you  knew 

Jindas,  He  knew,  they  knew 

]\x\\o,  p.  part,  Known 

Jinomeskro,    adj.,   Wise,    clever,     knowing,    sharp, 

/fly; 

jinomes       ,  \  ^^    ^  knowing  person,  wise  man 

Jmomengro,) 

Jinomeskri,//.,  Wise  men 
Jiv,  v.y  To  Hve.     Pasp.,  djivdva 

Jivova,  I  Hve 

Jiv^ssa,  Thou  livest,  ye  Hve,  thou  shalt  Hve 

Jiv^la,  He  Hves 

Jiv^nna,  They  Hve 

Jivdds,  He  Hved 

Jfvdo,\ 

J{vo,    )•  «^'.,  AHve,  Hving.     VdiS^.,p.  part.,  djivdo 

Jido,  ) 

Jivoben,  ;/.,  LiveHhood,  Hfe.     Pasp.,  djib^ 

Jiv  apre,  v.,  To  Hve  uprightly 
Job,  ;/.,  Oats  (jov).     Pasp.,  djov,  barley  ;  Mikl.,  i.,  47 

J6b-poos6ngro,  Oat  straw  stack 
Jol-ta,  A  signal-cry,  the  meaning  of  which    is   obsolete. 
1  Bryant,  shu/ta,  here    (sed    q.,   shulta  =  sJioonta, 
hear!),  Leland,  Engl.  G.,  p.  227, joter 
Jol,  v.,  To  go.     See  Jal 

J6mba,  n,,  Toad  (jamba).  Pasp.,  zdmba,  a  frog  ;  Mikl.,  i.,  47 
J6ngher,  v.,  To  awake.     Pasp.,  djangdva 

•[     1-     1  ^^-  ^v  I^og  (y^kel)-     Pasp.,  djukH 


SS  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Jookli,/.,  Bitch.     Pasp.,  tc/mk/i 

Kanengro-jookel,  Greyhound  ;  ht.,  hare-dog 

Vesh-jo6kel,  Fox ;  lit.,  wood-dog 

Bauro-h61om6ns[ro-io6kel  )  „.  ,^    ,.     ,  . 

T2    ,      V,.,       .1       .    .,    ,'[  Wolf;  ht.,big-eatmg dog 

Bauro-h61omeskro-jookel, )  »      '    t>  js      o 

Kralisf's  bauro  bdleno  jo6kel,  Dandelion  (flower)  ; 
lit.,  Queen's  big  hairy  dog 
Jo6va,  71.,  Louse.     Pasp.,  djuv 

]oov6,/>/,,  Lice 

Jo6vH,  adj.,  Lousy.     Pasp.,  djuvald 
Jo6vel,  71.,  Woman.     Pasp.,  djuvd 

]o6vYd^N,pL,  Women 

Joovni,  adj..  Feminine,  female.     Pasp.,  djuvlicano 

Jo6vni-k611aw,/'/.,  Women's  clothes 

Jo6visko-mas,)  Mutton  ;  lit,  female  meat;  or, 

Jo6viko-mas,  /  The  flesh  of  a  cow  which  has  died 
in  calving 

Jo6vioko-st  adi.  Bonnet ;  lit.,  female  hat 
Jorj6fla,}  n.,  Apron    (jdrifa,   chard6kka,   etc.)     Bohtlingk, 
Jorj6%a,/       Part  i.,  p.  'i^^.jdtiddrdka,  shawl 
Jov,  n.,  Oats  (job).     Pasp.,  djov,  barley 
J(5va,  I  go.     See  Jal 
Jmt2^  kondw,  Just  now 


K. 

This  letter  in  some  words  is  interchangeable  with  '//,'  and,  in  such  cases,  is  a 
relic  of  an  original  aspirated  ^k,''  e.g.,  kol,  hoi,  originally  k-hol,  to  «at, 

Kadfni,  adj.,  In  foal  (kdvni).     Pasp.,  kabni 

Kdchar,  v.y  To  burn  (h6tcher).    Lieb.,  chadschewawa ;  Pasp., 

kizdizava,  to  take  fire 
Kair,  n..  House.     Pasp.,  ker 

Kairaw,//.,  Houses 

Kair^ngro,  «.,  Housed weller,  housekeeper 

Kairiko-tan,  Brickfield 

^      '  c  adv.,  At  home.     Pasp.,  ker^ 


VOCABULARY.  89 

Chfrikl6sto-kair,  Birdcage 
Ghiv6sto-kair,  Farmhouse 
Hindi-kair,  Privy 
Kralisko-kair,  Palace 
Loodopen-kair,  Lodging-house 
Kair,   v.   a.,  To   do,   make,  etc.    (k6rav,   kel).     Pasp.,   ke- 
rdva 
Kair6va,\ 

^r  M        I  I  make,  do  make,  I  will  make,  or  do,  etc. 
Kel6va, 

Keraw, 

Ker6ssa,\ 

K'^ssa,    [  Thou  makest 

Ker^s,    ) 

Kair61a,v 

T^  , ,,   'I  He,  she,  it,  does,  or  will,  make,  do,  etc. 
Kelela, 

K61a,     } 

Kair^nna,)  ^,  ,       , 

•tr    A  \  They  make,  dance,  etc. 

K6do,    \ 

Ka.irdo,>  p.  part.,  Done,  made.     Pasp.,  kerdd 

Ksiired, ) 

Te  kerav  te^ro  drom,  To  make  thy  way 

Ked6m,  I  did,  I  made,  I  did  do,  I  have  done 

Kedds,  I 

TT     -If    I  He  made 

Kerdas,) 

Kedas  wafedo,  He  sinned,  he  suffered ;  lit.,  he  did 

bad 

Kairddn,  Thou  hast  cooked,  done 

Yon  kerde,  They  cooked 

Ked^  a  baiiro  g6dli.  They  made  a  great  noise 

Keras  m^nghi.  Let  us  cook,  make,  dance,  play 

Kair  posh,  To  help ;  lit.,  do  half 

Kair  tatcho.  To  cure;  lit.,  make  right 

Kdir^i/  adr6.  Enclosed,  fenced  in 

Kdiropen,  «.,  Doings,  dealings,  actions 


90  GYPSY- ENGLISH 

T . ,  .       '  [  n.,  Behaviour,  doine 
Kerimus,)  ° 

Kiirom^ngro.)         „      ,  , 

„  ,         ,  f  ?/.,  Creator,  maker 

Keromengro,  ) 

Kal-kelimus-tem,    Cheshire ;     lit.,    cheese-making 

country 

Kaish  j  «•■  ^"'^-     ^^-^P'  '''''' 

Kaijino, 


,^,.  ,  .  «^'.,  Silken.     YdA'o.,  keshanS 

Kaisheno, ) 

Kdkardtchi,  ;/.,  Magpie.     Pasp.,  karakdshka,  kakardshka 

Hindo-kakaratchi,  n.,  Parrot ;  lit.,  dirty  magpie 
Kal,  «.,  Cheese.     Pasp.,  kerdl 

Kalengri,  «.,  Buttermilk,  whey 
Kal-marekli,  Cheesecake 
Kalesko-        \ 

Kal-k^limus-  \  tem,  Cheshire,  as  if  C/tfeseshire 
Ksi\-k6\m'-     ) 

Chumba-kdlesko-tem,  Derbyshire ;    lit,  hill-cheese- 
county 
Kdliko,  «.,  Yesterday,  to-morrow  (k6Hko) 

L6va  lendi  to  mdndi'j  h6ben  adre  kdliko  saula,  I  will 
have  them  for  breakfast  (lit.,  to  my  food)  (in)  to- 
morrow morning 
Kdliko  ko6roko,  Last  Sunday 
Kam,  ;/.,  Sun.     Pasp.,  kam 

O    kam    see    opre   (or,  atch^^   opr6),  The   sun  has 

risen 
O  kam  .see  b^sh^^  (or,  b^sh^'^/  tale).  The  sun  has  set 
Kamora,\  n.,  Chamber,  room.      Lieb.,  kamora ;  see  Mikl., 
Kam6ra,j      i.,   17;   Pasp.,  in  a  letttr,  says  "  Greek  «:t</i€pa, 
from  Kufxapat  a  vault  " 

4  7/.,  To  stink.     Y diSV),  kanddva 
Kan.       ) 


'  \  71.,  A  stink,  unpleasant  smell 
Kan,   ) 


Kan^la,  It  stinks 


VOCABULARY.  9 1 

Kanlo,       \ 

Kanloo,     h^^7-,  Stinking 

Kanle,//./ 

Kanlo-pooruma,  Garlic  ;  lit.,  stinking  onion 
Kan,  n.,  Ear.     Pasp.,  kann 

Kanaw,//.,  Ears 

Kan^ngro,)        ^^^^ 

Kanengri,  ) 

Bauri-kanengri-mooshaw,  pi.,  Hemes  ;  lit.,  big-hare- 
men 

Kanengre, //.,  Hares 

Kanengro-jookel,  Greyhound 

Kanengro-moosh,  Gamekeeper 

Kanengro,       \ 

Kanengri,        >  n..  Earring 

KanomengroJ 

'Shooko  kanengri,  Deaf  person 
Kdnna,  adv.y  When,  now  (k6nna).     Pasp.,  kdnna 

Kanna  yuv  sas  X^Wcd  opre.  When  he  was  arrested 

Kanna  sig.  Immediately  (kenaw  sig) 

Kdnni,|  ;/.,  Hen,  fowl.    Pasp.,  >^rt^«/;  \A^\Q\i,kachnin.   See 

Kd^niJ       Mikl,  i.,  16 

Kanniaw,)     ,   _^         -     , 
^^  ,      .       \  pi.,  Hens,  fowls 
Kannia,    J  ^ 

Hatch-pauli-kanni,  Guineafowl,  called  '  comebacks  ' 
by  provincials,  from  the  cry 
Kdnyo,  «.,  Sack  (g6no).     Vdisp.,go7i6 
Kdrlo,  ;/.,  Throat  (kur,  gur).     Pasp.,  kurld 
Kas,  n.,  Hay.     Pasp,,  kas 

Kas6ngro,  n.,  Hayrick 

Kasoni,  ;/.,  Billhook 
Kdter,\  prep.,   To,   unto,   at.       Pasp.,   katar,    from    where, 
Kdtar,  >     whence ;  katdr,  from ;  akatdr,  from  here  ;  okaidr, 
Katdr,/      from  there.     Lieb.,  ^«//'er,  hither 

,^ ,    .      {  n.,  Scissors,     Pasp.,  kat 
Katsi^.y, ' 


92  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Kateni,    \ 

Katenes,  >  adv.,  Together  (k6tan6,  /(?-ketane).     Pasp.,  ketan^ 

Kdten6,  ) 

Kaulo,  w.;  Kauli,/.;  Kaule,//.,  Black.     Pasp.,  >^rt/(? 

Kaulo,  «.,  Common,  heath,  a  term  which  is  said 
to  have  originated  with  the  large  black  waste 
lands  about  Birmingham  and  the  Staffordshire 
Potteries 

Kauloben,  n..  Blackness 

Kaulom^skro,  «.,  Blacksmith 

Kaulomeskro-ko6va,  Anvil ;  lit.,  blacksmith- thing 

Kaulo-bo6bi,  Black  bean 

Kaulo-dood,  Dark-lantern 

Kaulo-gav,  Birmingham,  London  ;  lit.,  black  town 

Kaulo-tem,  '  The  Black  Country,'  either  Manchester, 
Birmingham,  the  Staffordshire  Potteries,  or  Lan- 
cashire 

Kauli-rauni,  Turkey  ;  lit.,  black  lady 
Kaur,  ^'.,  To  shout,  call  (kor).     }  Pasp.,  tchdrdava 
Kauri,  «.,  Penis  (k6rri) 
Kauri,  «.,  Neck  (kur),     Pasp,,  koH 
Kavak6i,  This  here 
Kdvod6i,  That  there 

Kdvni,  adj..  In  foal  (kadfni).     Pasp.,  kabnl 
'Kdvi,  «.,  Kettle  (kekdvi) 
Kedds,  He  made.     See  Kair 
Ke-dfvvus,  «.,  To-day 
K^do,/./«r/.,  Made.)      ^^^  j^^j^ 
Ked6m,  I  made.         / 
Kei,  adv.,  Where.     Pasp.,  ka 
'Kei,  adv.,  Here  (akei) 
Kekdvi,  «.,  Kettle  ('kdvi).     Pasp.,  kakkdvi 
Kek,  adv..  No,  not.     .'*  Pasp.,  kan^k,  none 

K6ker,  adv..  No  ;  adj.,  None 

K6kero,  adj..  None 


K^kera  mdndi, 
K6ker  mdndi. 


\  No,  not  I ;  an  emphatic  negation 


VOCABULARY.  93 

Keker  adre  lin,  Empty ;  lit.,  none  in  them 
Kek-komi,  adv.,  Never,  no  more 
Kek-kom,  v.,  To  hate  ;  lit.,  not-love 
Kek-komeni,  None,  nobody,  no  one  (komeni) 
Kel,  v.,  To  do,  act,  play,  dance,  make,  cook,  etc.   (kair). 

Pasp.,  kerdva,  to  make ;  keldva,  to  dance 
Kelova,  I  will  make 
Kela,  It  will  do 

Kelela  peias,  It  is  playing ;  lit.,  it  makes  fun 
KelW,  Made 
KelbVi!^,  Dancing 
Kelopen,   n.,  Spree,   dance,   dancing,   ball.      Pasp., 

keliy 
Kelomengro,-;/.,  Doer,  performer 
Spingaaro-kdomengro,  Skewer-maker 
Kelimus,  «.,  Play.     Vaill.,  kelimas 
Kal-kelimus-tem,     Cheshire ;      lit.,     cheese-making 

country 

,^  '  \  adv.,  Now  (kanna).     Pasp.,  akand 

Knaw,  )  ^  '  ^ 

Kenaw-sig,  Just  now,  immediately  (kanna-sig) ;  lit., 

now  soon,  or  quick 

Kepsi,  ;/.,  Basket  (ki'psi) 

Kerav,  To  cook.)      ^      ^r  - 
x^     r      T   1  r     -5ee  Kair 

Keraw,  1  do.        ^ 

Kere  ) 

^^  ,  .'\  adv..  At  home.     Pasp.,  ker^ 

Ken,  ) 

Keriben,  \^  ,      .  . 

,^  ,  .         \  Behaviour. 
Kerimus.J 

Kerenna,  They  make.  See  Kair 

Keressa,  Thou  makest,  etc. 

Kermo,  n..  Worm  (ki'rmo),     Pasp.,  kermo 

Kerova,  I  do.     See  Kair 

Kisser,  n.,  Care ;  v.,  To  care 

Kesserela,  He  cares 
Kester,  v.,  To  ride  (kister).     Pasp.,  uklistS,  mounted 

Kesterdas,  He  rode 


94  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Kesterm6ngro,  n.,  Jockey 

'   [  adv.,  Together  (kateni).     Pasp.,  ketane 

Kev,  ;/.,  Hole,  window  (hev).     Pasp.,  kJiev 
Kil,  11.,  Butter.     Pasp.,  kil 

Kil-mauro,  Bread  and  butter 

Kil-koro,  Buttercup  (flower) 

Kil-pishum,  Butterfly 
Killi,  n.,  Earring.     Pasp.,  tcheni 
Kin,  v..  To  buy.     Pasp.,  kindva 

Kindom,  I  have  bought 

Kindds,  He  bought 
Kinder,  v.,  To  relieve  the  bowels  (hinder).      Pasp.,  khen- 

ddva 
Kindo,  adj.,  Wet,  sweaty.     Pasp.,  tilnde  (As).     Pott,    ii., 

103 
Kinger,  v.,  To  tease,  bother,  weary,  vex.    Pasp.,  khiniovava, 
to  be  tired 

Kfnno,' 

Kin6, 

Kini, 

Kinf, 

Kfpsi,  «.,  Basket  (k^psi) 
Kfrmo,  71.,  Worm  (kermo).     Pasp.,  kermd 
Kisi,  n.y  Purse.     Pasp.,  kisi 
Kfsi,  adj.,  Much  ;  sar  kisi,  how  much.     Lieb.,  gizzi 

Savo  kisi,  What  a  lot  of 
Ki'ster,  v..  To  ride  (kester).     Pasp.,  uklistd,  mounted 
Kftchema,  n..  Inn.     Lieb.,  kertschimma.     See  Mikl.,  i.,  19 

Kitchemdw, //.,  Inns 

Kitchemdngro,  «.,  Innkeeper 

Klerin,  «.,  Key.     Pasp.,  klidi 

KMrin,) 

,,,,  .      \  n.  and  v.,  Lock 

Knsin,  ) 

Klisindw,  //.,  Locks,  a  Gypsy  tribe 

Klfsom^ngro,  n..  Bridewell,   lock-up,  police-station, 

rabbit-trap 


-  /.  part.,  Tired,  weary.     Pasp.,  khin6 


VOCABULARY. 


95 


Klisi,  «.,  Box 
K'naw,  adv..  Now  (kenaw) 
Ko,  pron.,  Who  (kon).     Pasp.,  kon,  ka 
Koko,  7?.,  Uncle.     Pasp.,  kak 

,  '!•  n.,  Bone,  rib,  thigh  (kokoolus).     Pasp.,  kSkkalo 

Kokero,  \ 

Kokero,  \  adj.,  Self,  lonely,  alone.     Pasp.,  korkoyo,  alone 

Kokeri,  ) 

Kokere,//-,  Selves 
Kokerus,  n.,  Week  (kooroki,  krooko,  etc.)     Pasp.,  kurko 
Kokoolus,  n.,  Bone  (kokalos).     Pasp.,  kokkalo 

'Kolyaw, //.,  Bones 

Kookelo,  ;/.,  Doll.     Lieb.,  gukkli 
Kol,  v.y  To  eat  (hoi,  haw).     Pasp.,  khava 

Koben,  n.,  Food,  victuals,  eatables  (hoben,  holben). 
Pasp.,  khabe 
Koliko,  )    n.,   Yesterday    (kaliko).       Pasp.,   korkoro, 

K61iko-divvus,)       kolkoro,   alone ;    Lieb.,   kokeres,   retired, 
alone 

Koliko-'saula,  To-morrow  morning 
K611a,)  n.,s.  dind  pi.,  Thing,  things,  shillings  (kovva,  koova). 
KoUi,  /     Pasp.,  kovd.    This  is  really  a  plural  form  ;  compare 
'kova,  this,  and  'doova,  that 

]J°[J'"''}//.,  Things,  shillings 

Dooi-kolli,  Florin,  two-shilling  piece 
Joovni-koUaw,  Woman's  clothes 
Mutter/V^^-kolla,  Urinal 
Pansh-koUa,  Crown,  five-shilling  piece 
Pansh-kolenghi-yek,  A  five-shilling  one 
Praaster^V/^-kolli,  Railway  train 
Wafedi-kolli,  Misfortunes  ;  lit.,  evil  things 

'Kolyaw,  n.  pL,  Bones  (kokoolus) 

Kom,  v.,  To  love,  owe,  wish,  desire,  want,  like,  etc.     Pasp., 
kamdma 
Komer,  v.,  To  love 


96  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Kom6va,  I  do  want,  I  want,  like,  wish,  etc 

Kom^ssa,)  ,^      ,.,        , 

^       ,        j    You  like,  thou  lovest,  thou  wantest 

Kom^s  too  ?    Do  you  like  ? 

Komela,  He  wants,  or  will  want,  he  likes 

Komenna,  They  wish 

Kom  asar,  iniperat.,  Love  thou 

Komoben,  z^.,  Love,  friendship,  mercy,  pity 

Komomus,  ;/.,  Love 

Komomeskro,)        t        n       ^ 

Komelo,  *  "■  ^°''^"'  ^  ^^'^''^  ^''^ 

K6momuso,  \ 

Komomusti,  \  adj.,  Loving,  kind,  dear 

K6melo,       ) 

Komelo-gairo,  Friend 

Komyaw,//.,  Friends 

Komyawj-,  //.,  Lovells.     See  above 

Kek-kom,  v>  a.,  To  hate ;  lit.,  not  love 
Komeni,  adj.,  Some,  somebody  (choomeni,  kiimeni) 

Kek-komeni,  None,  nobody,  not  any 

Dosta-komeni,  A  great  multitude 
Komi,  adj.,  More.     Pott,  ii.,  90 

Komodair,  comp.,  More 

Kek-komi,  adv.,  Never,  no  more,  not  again 
Y^on,  pron..  Who  (ko).     Pasp.,  kon,  ka 
Kon,  adv.,  Then,  therefore 

Besh  tooki  'le  kon.  Sit  down  then 
Kon,  Sor-kon,  All,  every.   Mikl.,  ii.,  35,  sekon;  Vaill.,  se  kono, 
Mikl.,  i.,  46 

Sor-kon  koUi,  All  things,  everything 
Konafni,       ^ 

Konadfi,        v  n.,  Turnip  (krdafni) 
Kondfia,//.,) 

Greiesko-  \ 

Baulesko->  konadfi.  Beetroot 

Bokro-      ) 
K6ngali,  n..  Comb.     Pasp.,  kangli 


VOCABULARY.  97 

K6n£'}  ^■'  '^°  '^°™'^ 

Kongeri,-^        ^,       1       -r,  r        r     / 

^  ,       .    I  11.,  Church,     rasp.,  kangheri 

Kongri  lil,  Bible 
Koofa,  11.,  Cap  (hoofa) 

Kookelo,  «.,  Doll,  goblin  (kokoolus).     Lieb.,  gukkli 
Kooko,  n.y  Week  (kooroko) 

Koonjones,   adv.,    Secretly,   unknown ;    ?  connected    with 
Koonsus,  a  corner.     See  also  Bikonyo,  Ak6nyo 

Ko6nshi,1  "•' ^°''""'-     Lieb..^««to/^ 

Koor,  V,,  To  fight,  beat,  strike,  knock,  etc.    Pasp,,  kurdva 

Koorova,  I  do,  or  will,  fight 

Koordno,  p.  part.,  Beaten 

Kooras,  Let  us  beat 

Koordas,  He  beat 

Koordem  menghi.  We  fought 

Kooroben,)  , 

T_    ,  .  \  n.,  Battle 

Koorimus,^ 

Kooromengri,  «.,  Drum,  tambourine 

Ko6romengro,  «.,  Soldier,  pugilist,  etc. 

Koorimongeri,  n.,  Army 

Kooroko,)  ;?.,  Sunday,  week  (kokerus,  kro6ko,  ko6ko,  etc.) 

Kooroki,  )       Pasp.,  kurko,  Sunday,  week 

Yorakana-kooroko,  Easter  Sunday  ;  lit.,  Qgg  Sunday 

Kooroko,  ;/.,  Thunder ;    by  a  lisping  assonance  of 

thunder  and  Sunday 

Yek  divvus  palla  koorokess,  Monday ;  lit.,  one  day 

after  Sunday 

Koorona, ;/.,  Crown,  five-shilling  piece.     French,  couronne 

Koori,  71.,  Cup,  pot  (koro,  kura).     Pasp.,  koro 

Ko6si,  «.,  A  little.     Pott,  ii.,  96,  kutti 

Kooshne,//.,  Baskets  (kushni).     See  Mikl.,  i.,  18 

Kooshto,  I  adj..    Good     (koshto,    kushto).      Lieb.,   gutsch, 

Kooshko, )      happy  ;    Bohtl.,   kdnsio,  good  ;    Sundt,  kiska, 

good  ;  Pott,  ii.,  93,  kucz,  theuer 


98  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Ko6shtiben,  \ 

Kooshtoben,  > ;/.,  Goodness,  good 

Kooshkopen,/ 

Kooshko-bok,  Happiness,  good  health 

Ko6shko-b6kj,  Happy 

Ko6shko-dik/«^,  Handsome,  good-looking 
Ko6va,  n.,  Thing  (koUa,  kovva).     Pasp.,  kovd 

Ko6vaw,//.,  Things 

Bool-koova,  Chair 

Gad-kosht-ko6va,  Clothes-peg 

Kaulom^skro-ko6va,  Anvil 

Mutterimongeri-koova,  Teapot 

Tatto-ko6va,  Pepper 

Ldlo-koovaw,  Cherries,  currants 
K6ppa,  n.,  Blanket.    'LiQh.,^apJ>a;   Pasp.,  kirpa,  a  dish-clout 

Greiesto-k6ppa,  Horserug 

Pe6resto-k6ppa,  Carpet 
Kor,  v..  To  call  (kaur).     }  Pasp.,  tckdrdava 

Kor6va,  I  do  call 

¥i.6rdo,p.part.,  Called 

Kord6m,  I  called 

Kordds,  He  called 

Kord^,  They  called 

K6romdngro,  n.,  One  who  calls  at  shops,  and  steals 
money  by  sleight  of  hand 

Mookds  m^ndi  kor  asdr  dxxXdifolkl,  Let  us  call  those 
people 
Kor,  «.,  Brow,  eyebrow 
K6ro,     N 


K6rdi, 


K6red6,}^^"'^^^"'^^^°^^^ 


K6rodomus,  «.,  Blindness 
K6rni,    adj.,    Cross,    ill-tempered    (haiirini,    h6no,   h6mo). 
Pasp.,  k/wlindkoro 


VOCABULARY.  99 

K6rro,|  n,,  Penny  (horro,  h6rri,  harri).     Lieb.,  cheiro,  cheir- 
Korri,  i       engero 

Deshti-kaiiri,  Eighteenpence 

Shookhauri,  Sixpence 

'  \  n.,  Cup,  pot  (koori,  kiira).     Pasp.,  korS 

Korengro,  n.,  Potter 
Korengri, //.,  Potters 


^°^^"f'f™' I  Staffordshire 
Koresko-tem,  ) 

] 


K6rri,)  n.,  Thorn,  tent-peg,  pudendum  virile  (kauri).    Pasp., 
K6ro, )       kar,  penis  ;  kanro,  thorn 

Bauro-kaurengro-moosh,  A  descriptive  appellation 
Kor'ri,  or  Kauri,  n.,  Throat  (kur).     Pasp.,  kori 

,^  ^  ^^'1  v.,  To  lick,  to  clean  (yooso).     Pasp.,  koshdva 
Kosser, ) 

Kosser/^'  plo^ta,  Towel ;  lit.,  cleaning-cloth 

Kosserova  les  yo6zho,  I  will  cleanse  it 

Kossad6,  They  licked 
K6shno-chavi,  Doll  (koshteno) 
Koshto,  adj.,  Good  (kooshto) 

Koshte,//.,  Good 

Koshtoben,  )        ^      , 

,^  ,  ,  M-  n.,  Goodness,  peace 

Koshtomus,  J 

Kerova  mi  koshtodafr  les,  I  will  do  my  best 
Kosht,  n.,  Stick.     Pasp.,  kasht,  kash 

Koshtaw,//.,  Sticks 

Koshtengro,  n.,  Woodcutter.     Pasp.,  kasht^skoro 

Koshteno-tfkno,  Doll  (koshno-chdvi).    Pasp.,  kashtu- 
nano 

Dood-yogengi-koshterj-,  Firebrands 

Gad-kosht-ko6va,  Clothes-peg 

Mooshkero-kosht,  Constable's  stafif 

Po6ker/«^-kosht,  Signpost 

Yo6ser2>/^-kosht,  Broom 
Kosser.    See  K6sher 


lOO  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Kotor,  «.,  Piece,  part,  guinea-piece.     Pasp.,  kotor,  a  piece 
indeclinable 

Kotorendri,  71.,  Fragment 

Kotorendi,  Pieces,  to  pieces 
Kovva,  n.y  Thing  (koova,  etc.)     Pasp.,  kovd 

Li'lesko-kovva,  Paper ;  lit.,  book  thing 

Mo6esto-k6vva,  Looking-glass 
*K6vva,  adj\,  This  (akovva).     Pasp,,  akavd 

Kovva-divvus,  To-day 
Kradfni,)  ?/.,  Nail,  button,  turnip  (kondfia,  kondfni).     Pasp. 
Krdfni,   i       (p.  451),  kdrfia ;  Mikl.,  ii.,  37,  132  (Kolomyjer 

Kreise  Galiziens  Vocab.),  karfin,  nail 
Krdlis,  7/.,  King.     Pasp.,  krdlis.     See  Mikl,  i.,  18 

Kralisi,    ^ 

Krdlisi,    >■  n.,  Queen.     Pasp.,  kralitcha 

Krallissi,/ 

Kralisko-kair, 


Kraliskesko-kair, ) 

Kralisko-podro-kair,  Castle 

Kralisko-rook,  Oak  ;  called  frequently  '  royal  oak  * 

Kralis^w,  «.,  Kingdom 

Kralisi'i-       )  baiiro  baleno  jo6kel.  Dandelion  (flower) ; 

Kralisk^skoi      lit.,  Queen*s)  ,  .    ,    . 

King's   I  b'g  hairy  dog 

Krdmbrookos,  ;?.,  Drum.     Lieb.,  tambuk 
Kre^a,  «.,  Ant.     Pasp.,  kiri 

¥i.xt^dLW,pl.,  Ants 
Kro6ko,  «.,  Week  (ko6roko,  etc.)     Pasp.,  kurkd 

Kro6kingo-dfvvus, ) 

Kuifo,  I ''"  s^"^^y 

Kiimbo,  «.,  Hill  (diimbo) 

Kiimeni,  adj.,  Some,  somebody  (k6meni) 

Vdniso-kumeni,  Anybody 
Kur,  «.,  Throat  (kdrlo,  kor'ri,  gur).     Pasp.,  kurl6,  kori 
Kiira,  n,,  Cup  (k6ro) 


VOCABULARY.  lOl 

Kiirri,  n.,  Tin,  solder.     Pasp.,  kaldi,  tin 

Kushni,  n,.  Basket  (tushni,  trooshni,  etc.)     Pasp.,  koshnika 

Kooshne,//.,  Baskets 
Kushto,  adj.y  Good  (kooshto) 

Kushto-mooshi,  Right  arm 


L. 

Ladj,  «.,  Shame  (rtladj).     Pasp.,  ladj 

hAdj-ful/y,  adv.,  Shamefully 
Ladjipen,  n.,  Goodness  (latcho).     Pasp.,  latchipe 
Laki,    )  pron.,  Her  (lati,  loki).     Pasp.,  2nd  dat,  Idke;  gen., 
Lakro, )       Idkoro 
Lalo,  adj.,  Red  (lolo).     Pasp.,  lolo 

Lalo-gav,  Reading ;  lit.,  red-town 

Lalo-piro,  Redford  ;  lit.,  red-foot 

Lalo-koovaw,  Cherries,  currants ;  lit.,  red  things 
Las,  He,  or  she,  got  (lei).     Pasp.,  lids,  las 
"LaSfpron.,  Him,  it  (les,  lis,  'es).     Pasp.,  les 
Lasa,  With  her.     Pasp.,  Idsa 
Latch,  v..  To  find.     Pasp.,  lasddva,  to  pick  up 

Latchova,  I  do,  or  will,  find 

Latchenna,  They  find 

'LAtchno,  p,  part.,  Found 

Latchdom,  I  found 

Latchas  menghi,  Let  us  find 
Ldtcho,  adj.,  Good,  fine  (ladipen).     Pasp.,  latcho 
Lati,  pron.,  To  her,  with  her,  her  (laki).    Pasp.,  ist  dat,  Idte, 

to  her 
Lav,  «.,  Word,  name.     Pasp.,  lav 

Lavaw,    \ 

Lavaw,    }  pi.  Words 

Ldvyaw,/ 

Lavines,  adv.  used  as  a  notm,  Gibberish 

Lavines-tem,  Wales  ;  lit.,  wordy  country 

Ldvines-rokerben,  Welsh  language  ;  lit.,  wordy  talk 

LavineS'gaujo,  Welshman 


I02  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Lavines-gair6, 


T  ,   .    ,       .         . ,  ,  //.,  Welshmen 
Lavinengn-gauje, ) 

Del  lav,  v.,  To  answer,  pray 

Del  kooshto  lavaw,  To  pray ;  lit.,  give  good  words 

Del6va  meero  lav  kater  mi-do6vel,  I  pray  God 
Law,  I  take.     See  Lei 
Le,/r.  //.,  They.     Pott,  i.,  242 

Bootgaujakani/^7>^i  see-le  kondw,Very  Englishified 
folk  are  they  nowadays 

Pookeromengri  see-16,  They  are  informers 

Koshte  see-1^  kondw — toolo   see-le.  They    (hedge- 
hogs) are  good  now  (to  eat) — they  are  fat 

Kanle  see-le,  They  are  putrid 
L6,  Take  !     See  Lei 
'lA.prep.,  Down  (al^  tale) 
Leeno, /. /«^/.,  Taken.     See  next 
Lei,  v.,  To  take,  get,  obtain,  catch,  etc.     Pasp.,  lava 

Lova,    \ 

Lel6va,  I  I  do,  or  will,  get,  take,  etc. 

Law,     ) 

Lda,  He  takes,  catches,  he  will  take,  etc. 

Li6m,  I  got,  obtained,  etc. 

Lias  "i 

^       '  [  He,  or  they,  got.     Pasp.,  lids,  las 

Lidn,  You  took,  got,  etc. 

Lid,  They  took 

Lecno,  \ 

Lin6,    >  /.  pai'i.,  Got,  taken,  begotten.     Pasp.,  linS 

L6I0,    ) 

Beng  te  lei  tooti.  Devil  take  you 

Lei  k6shtoben,  Please  ;  lit,  take  the  goodness 

Lei  m6tti,  To  get  drunk 

Lei  opr6.  To  apprehend  ;  lit,,  take  up 

Lei  trad.  Take  care  !  mind  ! 

Lei  veena,  Take  notice 
"Len,  pron.,  Them  (lin).     Pasp.,  ace,  Im 
Ldndi,  prou.^To  them,theni,  their  (icnti).  Pasp.,  1st  dat,  UhcI<: 


I  //.,  Books 


VOCABULARY.  IO3 

Shoon  lendi,  Remember !  lit,  hear  them 
LengheriA 

Lenghi,     >  pron.,  Their  (lendi) 
Lenti,       ) 

Lensa,  With  them.     Pasp.,  Ihtsa 
Les,  pron.,  Him,  it  (las,  'es,  lis).     Pasp.,  ace,  les 
L.6sko,  pron.,  His.     Pasp.,  gen.,  Ihkoro 
"Lesti, pron.,  His,  her,  it.     Pasp.,  1st  dat.,  les^e 
Lian,Yegot.  .     Se^hd 

Lias,  He,  or  they,  got.) 

Libena,  «.,  Beer  (livena,  Vini).     Lieb.,  lowina 
Lie.     See  Lei 
Lik,  ;/.,  Nit.     Pasp.,  lik 

Likyaw,//.,  Nits,  flies 
Lil,  «.,  Book,  paper.     Pasp.,  HI 

Lilaw, 

Li'lyaw, 

Lflesko-kova,  Paper ;  lit.,  book-thing 

Lilengro,  «.,  Star,  because  '  read'  by  astrologers 

Mi  doovelesko  lil,)  Bible;   lit.,  my  God's  book,  or 

Kongri  lil,  }       church  book 

Pansh  balanser  lil.  Five-pound  note 

/I  «.,  Summer.     Pasp.,  niidi 

Bignom\xs\    ,  ..    ,  j  Spring;  lit.,  beginning,  or  first, 

F/rsta.da.k)  '  1       of  summer 

Palla-lilei-see-pardel,  Autumn ;  lit.,  after  summer  is 
over 
Lino,/. />rtr/.,  Taken.     See  Lei 
Liom,  I  took.     See  Lei 

Livena,  n.,  Beer  (libena,  lovina,  'vfni).     Lieb.,  lowina;  MikL, 
i.,  28 

Livenengro, ;/.,  Brewer,  beerseller 

Livenengr/^j-,  it,  pL,  Hops 

P6besko  livena.  Cyder ;  lit,  apple-beer 

Livena  ghiv,  Barley 
'Lo,pron.,  He.     Pott,  i.,  242 


I04  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Yov  ghias  kater  tan  kei  sas-16,  He  went  to  the  place 
where  he  was 

O  rashei,  kooshto  sas-16,  The  priest  was  a  good  man  ; 
lit.,  the  priest,  good  was  he 

'Jaw  wafedo  see-16  adr^  lesko  zee,  He  is  so  jealous 
Lod,  v.y  To  lodge.     Pasp.,  loddva 

Loodopen,  n.,  Lodging 
\.6V\, pron.,  Her  (laki) 

L6ko,)  adj.,  Heavy.     Pasp.,  loko,  light  {levis)\  Mikl.,  i.,  22. 
Lok6,i      This  is  an  example  of  the  confusion  of  opposite 
meanings  remarked  by  Mr.  Leland,  Eng.  Gyp- 
sies, p.  126 

Kek  nanei  loko.  It  is  light 

Chomoni   sas   adrd,   loko.  Something  was   inside, 
heavy 
L6I0,  adj.,  Red  (Idlo,  luUer).     Pasp.,  lolo 

Loli-mdtcho,  Red-herring 

Lolo  holomc^ngri,  Radish  ;  lit.,  red-eating  thing 

Greiesko  lolo  holomengri,  Horseradish 

O  lolo  weshkeno-jookel.  The  fox 

L61o-match6,  //.,  Salmon  ;  lit.,  red-fish 
Loli,  ;/.,  Farthing  (luli) 

L6nderi,  n.  pr.,  London  (Lundra).     French,  Londres 
Lon,  ;/.,  Salt.     Pasp.,  Ion 

L6ndo,  adj.,  Saline,  salt.     Pasp.,  lo7id6 

L6ndo-paani,        1  ^, 

■r  ,   J   J  ,    .  V  1  he  sea ;  lit,  salt  water 

Londudno-paani, ) 

L6ndo  matcho.  Salt  fish 

O  hoYno  16ndo  paani.  The  angry  waves 
Long,  adj.  and  v.,  Lame,  to  lame.     Vaill.,  lang ;   Sundt, 
ImigalS  ;  Pott,  ii.,  ^^7 

Longd,//.,  Lame  people 
Lo6bni)  ;/.,  Harlot  (lubni,  liivni).     V diS^, ,  lubni ;  Mikl.,  i., 
Lo6dni,>     21 

Lo6bniaw,  pi.,  Harlots 

Lo6beriben,  n.,  Prostitution 
Lo6dopen,  n..  Lodging,  barn  (lod> 


love 


VOCABULARY.  IO5 

Loodopen-kair,  Lodging-house 
Loor,  v.,  To  rob,  plunder,  steal 

Looromengro,  ;/.,  Thief 
Looripen,  ;/.,  Booty,  plunder 

'I  n.,  Money  (liiva).     Pasp. 

Lova,  I  take.     See  Lei 
Lovina,  «.,  Beer  (livena) 
Lubni,  «.,  Harlot  (loobni).     Pasp.,  liibnl 
Lull,  ;/.,  Farthing  (loli) 
LuUer,  v.,  To  blush  (1616),     Pasp.,  loliavava 
Luller6va,  I  do,  or  will,  blush 

_  ,         '[  n.pr.y  London  (L6nderi).     Yx^x\z\  Loud  res 
Lundro,) 

Liiva,  «.,  Money  (lo6va).     Pasp.,  lovd 

Luvni,  «.,  Harlot  (lo6bni) 


M. 

"^2^2.,  prohibitive  particle,  Do  not  (maw).     Pasp.,  ma 

Malo6na,  n.,  Thunder.     Mikl,  i.,  24 

Malyaw,  «.//.,  Companions,  mates.     Pasp-,  mal 

lyr '    J-     \pron.,  I,  me  (menghi,  m6nghi).     Pasp.,  acc,  man; 

,,  ,     ,'.  I       1st  dat.,  mdnde;  2n  1  dat.,  mdjisrhe 
Manghi,/  '6 

Mandi  see  lesti.  It  is  mine ;  lit.,  to  me  is  it 

A  del-/^-mandi,  A  gift,  present 
Mano6sh,  ;/.,  Man,  male  (moosh).     Pasp.,  manush 

Mano6shni,  ;/.,  Woman  (m6noshi).     Pasp.,  manushni 

Mdnsa,  pron.,  With  me.     Pasp.,  instr.,  mdnsa 

Mantchi  too,  )   „,  1     tt  -n  -      t  1 

-_,    ,  -      ^       \  Cheer  up!     Vaill.,  manjao,  I  console 
Mantcha  too,)  ^  >         y     » 

Marikli,  n.,  Cake.     Pasp.,  maftriklo 

Kal-marikli,  Cheesecake 

Mas,  «.,  Meat,  sheep.     Pasp.,  mas 


I06  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Masavv,//.,  Meats,  victuals 
Masengro,  «.,  Butcher.     Pasp.,  mashkoro 
Masengro'j-  niaum/'  kair,  Slaughter-house 
Masali,  ;/.,  Frying-pan 
Joovioko-mas,  Mutton 
Mooshkeno-mas,  Beef 
Balovas,  Bacon 
Mo61o-mas,  Carrion 
Matchka,  ;?.,  Cat.     Pasp.,  mdtchka  ;  Mikl,  i.,  23 
Tikno  matchka,  Kitten  ;  lit.,  little  cat 


Matcho,,        T--  1-      -n  .  /  / 

'  —    matcho 


Matchi,'}  "•'  ^'''^-     ^^^■' 


Matchomengro, )  ;^.,  Fisherman.     V^s>'^.yntatchhigoro, 


Matchaw,') 
Match  dw,  >  pL,  Fish 
Matche,    ) 

Mdtcho,  n.  pr.,  Heron,  Heme,  a  Gypsy  tribe ;  as  if 
herrifig- 

\ngYOA 

Matchengro,       j       fish-seller 
Sapesko  matcho.  Eel;  lit,  snaky-fish 
H^rengo-matcho,  Crab  ;  lit.,  leggy-fish 
Bdleno-matcho,  Herring 
Lolo-matcho,  Red-herring 
L(51i-matche,  //.,  Salmon 

p  , ,  I  matcho,  Cod-fish 

Rinkeni  bar  mdtcho, 

Rinkeni  mdtchaw  ta  jab  tal^  o  barydw,  J-  Trout 

Refeski  match6,//., 
Maur,  v.y  To  kill.     See  Mor.     Pasp.,  mardva 
Mauro,  lu.  Bread.     Pasp.,  maitrd,  maro 

Maurdngro,  ;/.,  Baker 

Ch611o  mauro,  Loaf 

Chcll^  maurd,//..  Loaves 

Kil-mauro,  Bread  and  butter 
Mavi,  «.,  Rabbit 
yi^^,  prohibitive  particle,  Do  not  (maa).     Pasp.,  nui 


VOCABULARY.  IU7 

M€,pron.,  I.     Pasp.,  me 

Me6a,  n.,  Mile.     VailL,  miga  ;  Sundt,  mijan;  Pott,  ii.,  454  ; 
i,  88 
Me6asto-bar,  Milestone 
Meero,  m., 


,,    ,  .    ^     ,  pron..  My  (meiro,  mino).     Pasp.,  minro 
Meeri,/.,  J  ^ 

Meila,  «.,  Donkey,    ass   (m6ila).      Pott,   ii.,  454,  suggests 

for    etymon    Lat.    mulus,    Gael,    nmil,    mnileidj 

etc. 

Meilesto-gav,  Doncaster ;  as  if,  donkey's  town 

Meilesko-tem,  Yorkshire 

Grasni-meila,  She-ass 

Posh  grei  ta  posh  meila,  Mule 

\A^\ro^\pron.,yiy  (me^ro).     The  first  syllable  appears  to 

Meiri,  I      have  been  influenced  by  the  English  word 

Mel,  v.,  To  die  (mer) 

Bengesko-mel,  The  Devil's  Dyke,  near  Newmarket, 

Cambridgeshire 

Men,  «.,  Neck.     Pasp.,  men 

Greiesko-menengro,  Horse-collar 

Men-w6riga,  Necklace 

Dula  bauro-menengri-cherikld.   Herons ;    lit.,  those 

great-necked  birds 

Men,/r<7;/.,  We,  us.     Pasp.,  amen 

Mendi,/r^;/.,  To  us,  we,  us.     Pasp,,  1st  dat.,  amende 

Menghi,/r^;/.,  Me,  we  (manghi).    Pasp.,  2nd  dat.  s.,  mdnghe; 

pi.,  amenghe 

Koordem  menghi,  We  fought 

Mensa,  With  us.     Pasp.,  instr.,  amendja 

Kek  yon  te  wel  posha  mensa }    May  they  not  come 

along  with  us } 

Mer,  V,,  To  die  (mel).     Pasp.,  merdva 

Merova,  I  do,  or  will,  die 

Merenna,  They  do,  or  will,  die 

Merdas,  He  died 

Merd6  yon  besh  ghias  konaw.  They  died  a  year  ago 

now 


I08  OYPSY-ENGLISH 

Meriben,)  «.,  Death,  life.     Pasp.,  mcribe.     Life  is,  to 

Meripen,  j  a  Gypsy,  an  abstract  idea  or  state,  and 
death  is  a  fact.  It  terminates  life.  The  Gypsies 
have  therefore  taken  the  preceding  state  as  part 
of  the  terminating  fact,  making  death  part  of  a 
man's  life,  and  thus  call  life  and  death  by  the  same 
name.     See  also  remarks  on  Loko 

Meripen  tanaw  si  dikdla.  Murdering  places  as  they 
look  (lit.,  looks) 

Sho'mas  te  merova,  I  must  have  died 
Merikli,  «.,  Bead.     Pasp.,  minriklS 

n/r  ^  -1  .       I  PK  Beads,  bracelets 
Merikios,  ) 

Merova,  I  die.     See  Mer 

Mi-,  adj.,  My.     The  words  Doovel,  Duvel,  God,  generally 

take  this  word  as  a  prefix.     Pasp.,  mo,  mi 

-^.     j^' i  «., Pudendum  muliebre, woman.  VdiS'p., mindj,mi7itch 

Mino,  adj.,  My  (me^ro,  meiro).     Pasp.,  minrd 

Misali,|  w..  Table.      Pasp.,  mesdii,  towel;    Lieb.,  messelin, 

Misali,)       tablecloth  ;  Mikl,  i.,  24 

Mishto,\ 

Misto,    >  adv.,  Well.     Pasp.,  mishto,  misto 

Mist6,  j 

mSJo,""'}  ^^^•'  ^^^^'  S^^^ 
Mofla,  n.,  Donkey,  ass  (meila) 

MoOesto-gav,  Doncaster  ;  lit.,  donkey's  town 
Moker,  v.,  To  foul,  dirty.     Pasp.,  makdva,  to  spot,  stain 

Mo^odo,  I  adj..   Dirty,    filthy,    etc.      Pasp,,   maklS, 

Mo6kedo,/      stained;  makavdd^  ^^m\.Q.A 

Mo^adi /c^VX'-i,  Dirty  people 

Pardal  sor  mo;^odc  posh-kedo  Romani-chalj-,  Over 

all  dirty  half-breed  Gypsies 

M6kto,)        ,^       ,       M     N      T  .  , 

^  ,         \  ;/.,  Box  (mookto).     Lieb.,  mocktou 

O  muUo  m6;)^to,  The  coffin 


VOCABULARY.  IO9 

Mol,  n.,  Wine  (mul).     Pasp.,  mol 

K61a  so  keb  o  mol,  Grapes ;  lit.,  things  which  make 
the  wine 
Moll,  adj.,  Worth  (mool).     Lieb.,  moll 

Yek  shosho  adre  o  k6ro  see  moll  doof  adre  o  wesh. 
One  rabbit  in  the  pot  is  worth  two  in  the  wood 

-^,,       f  ;/.,  Lead.     Lieb.,  moleivo 
M6I0V,)      ' 

Mong,  v.,  To  beg,  pray,  request.     Pasp.,  viangdva 

Mong6va,  I  do  beg,  pray,  etc. 

Mong  asar  !  Beg ! 

Mongamengro,  «.,  Beggar 

Monghi, /r^;?.,  I,  me  (manghi) 

Jaw  m6nghi  kater  wo6drus,  I  will  go  to  bed,  or,  Let 

me  go  to  bed 

Monoshi,  n.,  Woman  (mano6shni).     Pasp.,  mannshni 

The   commonest  words  for  'woman'  are  jnonoshi^ 

joovel,   and  gairi,   and   they  are   generally   used 

indiscriminately,  though  gairi  is  seldom,  if  ever, 

applied  to  a  Gypsy 

Mooi,  «.,  Mouth,  face.     Pasp.,  miii 

Mooiaw,//.,  Faces,  mouths 

MooY-engro, )        ^ 

"    Lawyer 


Moo-engro, 

Mooesto-kova,  Looking-glass,  mirror 

Mooi-kokalos,  Jawbone 

Chooralo-mooi",  Bearded  face 
Mook,  v.,  To  let,  allow,  leave,  lend  (muk).     Pasp.,  mukdva 

Mookova,  I  will  leave 

Mooklo, p.  parL,  Left,  lent.     Pasp.,  nm^ld 

Mooktas,  He  left,  let 

Mookte,  They  left 

Mookas,  Let  us  leave 
Mookedo,  adj.,   Dirty,  filthy   (mo^odo).     Pasp.,  rnakavdd, 

painted ;  maklo,  stained 
Mookto,  n.,  Box  (mokto).     Lieb.,  mochton 
Mool,  adj.,  Worth  (moll).     Lieb.,  moll 


no  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

M06I0,  adj.,  Dead.     Pasp.,  mulS 

M06I0,  «.,  Ghost,  devil  (mulo) 

Tatcho-moolesko  tan,  A  regular  haunted  spot ;  lit, 

true  ghost's  place 

Doodesko-moolo,  Will-o'-th'-Wisp 

Moole,//.,  Ghosts 

Moolomengro,  ;;.,  Halter 

Moolo-mas,  Carrion.     Pasp.,  mulano-mas 

Mo61eno-rook,  Yew ;  lit,  dead-tree,  because  common 

in  churchyards 

Mo6njer,  «.   and  v..  Nudge,  pinch,  squeeze;   cf.  Borrow, 

"  Lavo-lil,"  munjee,  a  blow  on  the  mouth  or  face 

Mo6njer6va  toot,  I  will  give  you  a  nudge 

Moonjadom  lati'i"  wast,  jindas  yoi  so  mandi  kerV,  I 

squeezed  her  hand,  (and)  she  knew  what  I  meant 

Moosh,  ;/.,  Man.     Pasp.,  imirsh,  onrush,  boy,  male 

Mooshaw,)     ,  ,_ 
T»,r    /  1        \  Pl',  Men 
Mo6shaw,i  ^  ' 

Moosh,  adj.,  Male 

Mo6sh-chavi,  Boy  ;  lit,  male  child 

Mo6shkeno,  adj.,  Masculine,  male.     Pasp.,  murshnd, 

manly 

Mo6shkeni-gav,  Manchester 

Mooshkeni-groovni,  Ox,  bull 

Mo6shkeni-groovn6,  Oxen 

Mo6shkeno-grei,  Stallion 

Mo6shkeno-mas,  Beef 

Mo6shkcno-matcho,  Cod-fish 

Kan6ngro-moosh,  Gamekeeper 

Peidskro-moosh,  Actor 

Mi-duvel'i'-moosh,  Parson 

,^    ,  ,      r  ^^-j  Arm.     Pasp.,  musi 
Mo6sho,i      '  ^' 

Mo6shaw,//.,  Arms 

Mo6sheno-hev,  Armpit 

K6k-mooshengri,  Maimed  people ;  lit.,  armless  people 

Kushto-mooshi,  Right  arm 


p. part,  and  adj.^  Killed.    Pasp.,  mardd 


VOCABULARY.  I  I  I 

Mo6shaw  of  the  rook,  Branches 

Wasteni-mooshaw,  Arms 
Mooshkero,)  «.,  Policeman,  constable.     Dr.  Paspati,  in  a 
Mooshero,  i      letter,  says,  "  =  one  who  looks,  observes 
=  moskero" 

Mo6shkero-kosht,  Constable's  staff 
Mootengri,  n.,  Tea  (muterimongeri) 

Mootsi,    \  «.,Skin.  VdiS^.^morii;  mcs/im,mezm (As,), leather; 
Mootska,)       Lieb.,  inortin,  mortzin,  leather;  Mikl.,  i.,  25 
Mor,  v.,  To  kill,  slay,  murder  (maur).     Pasp.,  mardva 

Morova,  I  do,  or  will,  kill 

Morela,  He  does,  or  will,  kill 

Mordas,  He  killed 

M6rdeno,       \ 

Mordene,  //., 

Mordno, 

Mordo, 

Mor^^,  , 

Mi-Duvel6sko-maurom^ngri,  Jews 
M6ro, /r^;?.,  Our.     Pasp.,  amaro 

M6rov,  v.,  To  shave.      Pasp.,  muravdva,  to  shave;    from 
murdva,  mordva,  to  rub 

M6rov6va,  I  do,  or  will,  shave 

M6romen£:ro,   >>        ^ 

T,.  r  r  [  n.,  Razor 

Morovmengro,) 

Mormengro,  n.,  Barber,  razor  (muravmangro) 

Motto,  m.A     J.  TK      1    •  .      •     .    1      T^ 

Mf^tf  f     I      -^'^  -Drunk,  mtoxicated.     Pasp.,  matto 

M6ttomengro,  «.,  Drunkard 

Mottoben,)        ^       , 

Mottopen,!  ^''  ^^^^kenness.     Pasp.,  inattjp^ 

Lei  mottj/.  To  get  drunk 
Motiseus,  «.,  Mouse 
Muk,  v.,  To  let,  leave,  allow  (mook).     Pasp.,  mukdva 

Mukova,  I  do,  or  will,  leave,  etc. 

Mukela,  He  leaves 

Muktas;  He  left 


I  I  2  GYPSY -ENGLISH 

Mul,  n.,  Wine  (mol).     Pasp.,  mol 
Mul,  adj.,  Worth  (moll).     Lieb.,  moll 
Mulo,  n.,  Ghost,  devil  (mo61o) 
Mulomengro,  n.,  Halter 
Weshni-mulo,  Owl 
Mulo-ch^riklo,   Goatsucker ;    lit.,   death-bird.      "  It 

cries  kek-kek,  and  some  one  will  die" 
Adre   o    miilo   raati,    In    the   middle,   or   dead,   of 
night 

,     . .  '  I  «.,  Candle.     Pasp.,  moineli,  mumeli^  wax  taper 

Munkiros,  n.,  Monkey 

Muravmangro,  ;/.,  Barber   (morov).     Pasp.,  muravdva,   to 

shave 
M liter,  n.,  Urine.     Pasp.,  imiter 

Muter,  v.,  To  micturate.     Pasp.,  mutrdva 

Muterdan  too  ti-kokero }  Hast  thou  wet  thyself.^ 

Muter/;i!^-k61a,  Urinal 

Miiterimongeri,  ;/.,  Tea  (mootdngri) 

Muterim6ngeri-k66va,  Teapot 

N. 

Na,  negative,  No,  not.    Frequently  used  for  emphasis  (naw). 
Pasp.,  7ta 
Kek  na  jinova  m^  I  do  not  know 
Kek  na  jova,  I  am  not  going 
Kek  na  jinenna  yon,  They  do  not  know 
O  dinilo  kek  na  jindla,  The  fool  doesn't  know 

Na,  C071J.,  Nor 

Dikt6m  chfchi,  na  shoond6m  chichi,  I  saw  nothing, 
nor  heard  anything 

Ndfalo,  ?«.,)  adj.,  Ill,  sick,  poorly  (ndsfalo).     Pasp.,  nasvald, 

Ndfali,/.,   /      nasfalo 

-^,_         'I  n..  Illness,  sickness.     Pasp.,  nasvalib^ 
Ndflopen,)  ^ 

Shflalo-ndflopen,  Ague  ;  lit,  cold-illness 


VOCABULARY.  II3 

Y6genghi-ndflopen,  Fever  ;  lit,  fiery-illness 

Nago,  adj.,  Own  (n6go) 

Naish,  v.,  To  run  (nash).     Pasp.,  nashdva,  to  depart 

Nanef,  negative,  Not,  nor  (na,  nei).     Pasp.,  ndndi 

Kek  nanef,  No,  it  is  not ;  not  at  all 

Kek  nanei  yek,  nan6i  waver,  Neither  one,  nor  the 

other 

Kek  nanei  komova,  I  do  not  wish,  like,  want,  etc. 

Kek  nanei  yek  kosht.  Not  a  single  stick 

Kowa  p6bo  see  nanei   go6dlo,  This  apple  it  not 

sweet 

Kek  liiva  nanei  lesti.  He  has  no  money.     Pasp.,  lovi 

ndndi 

Ndsfalo,  adj.,  Ill,  sick  (nafalo).     Pasp.,  nasfald,  nasvalS 

^Jasher  ^ 

'  [  v.,  To  run  (naish).     Pasp.,  naskdva,  to  depart 

Nashenna,  They  run 

Nashdas,  He  ran 

Nashermengro,  n.,  Runner,  policeman,  constable 

Nash/Vz^-jookel,  Greyhound  ;  lit.,  running  dog 

Nash/«'  paani,  A  stream,  running  water 

Nasher,    v.,  To   lose,  waste,  hang.      Pasp.,  nashavdva,  to 

lose 

Ndsherela,  He  hangs,  he  will  lose 

Nashedas,  He  lost,  wasted,  hanged 

Nashedo,  v 

Nashado,  t         ,  ,  i    -r.  i   r 

N '  liH       \  ^'  P^^^->  Lost,  hung,  hanged,  rasp.,  nashtc 

Nasher^^,^ 

Nashede,//.,  Tdtcheni  Romani-chaU  are  sor  nashed6. 

True  Gypsies  are  all  lost 
Nashedo  gairo,  Hangman 
Nastissa,)  Cannot;    I,  you,  he,  they  cannot;  unable,  etc. 
Nastis,     /       (nestis).     Pasp.,  ndsti,  ndstik ;  see  Pott,  vol.  i., 
pp.  367 — 380  ;  Bohtl.,  nashti;  Lieb.,  7iasti 
Nastfs  mandi  jinova-les,  I  cannot  understand  it 
Nastis  yov  latchela  lati.  He  cannot  find  her 


114  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Nav,  n..  Name.     Pasp.,  nav 

Navo,  adj.,  New  (nevo) 

Naw  ) 

■vr4     J  negative.  No,  not  (na).     Pasp.,  na 

N^  shorn  m6  b6kolo,  I  am  not  hungry 
N6,  adv.  or  inter j.,  Now 

Nd  mo6shaw  !  Now,  men  ! 

N^  chaw61i !  Now,  mates  ! 
Nei,  negative,  No,  not  (na,  nane/) 

Kek  nei  jin^nna  yon,  They  do  not  know 

Nei  ler  kek  lovo,  He  has  no  money 
Nei,  ;/.,  Finger  nail,  any  kind  of  nail.     Pasp.,  ndi,  finger  nail 

'^e{3iW,/>/.,  Finger  nails 

Nefesto-ch6kker,  Hobnailed  boot 
Nestfs,  7iegative,  Cannot  (nastissa).     Pasp.,  ndsti 

"NT #4  •  V     J  ^^''  ^^^  (navo).     Pasp.,  nevo 

N6vus,  adj..  Own  (nogo) 

Nfsser,  v.,  To  miss,  avoid  ;  cf.  Pasp.,  nikdva,  to  pass ;  niglistS, 

p.  part.,  gone  out ;  nispeldva,  to  hide 
Nok,  n.,  Nose.     Pasp.,  nak 

Nokengro,  n..  Snuff,  glandered  horse 
Nongo,  adj..  Naked,  bald,  bare.     Pasp.,  nango 

N6ngo-peero,  adj.,  Barefoot 
iVi7r///er^ngri-gair6,  Scotchmen  ;  lit.  Northern-men 

A^(7//!erengri-tem,  Scotland  ;  lit.,  Northern-country 

iV^//!er6nghi  chirikM,  //.,  Grouse ;  lit,  Scotch  birds 
NtU\,pl.,  Nuts 


O. 

O,  in.  def.  art.,  The.     Sometimes  indeclinable,  like  English 
the.     Pasp.,  0 

^  . ,  'I  adv.,  There  (adoi,  'doi).     Pasp.,  otid 

Okki.     Mdndi  po6ker6va  too  dkki  yek  rinkeno  tarno  rei,  I 
tell  you  there  is  a  handsome  young  man 


VOCABULARY.  I  I  5 

^      *  \  v.,  To  jump  (hokter).     Pasp.,  ukhkidva,  to  arise 

0%tenna,  They  jump 

Janna  ti  o;3^ten,  They  will  jump ;  lit.,  they  are  going 

to  jump 
0%ter^;',  ;/.,  Jumper 
Chor-6;^tam6ngro,  «.,  Grasshopper 

Q,i     '      \  n. ply  Stockings,  socks  (hoolaver^).    Lieb.,  cholib 

O^Y6,prep.,  Upon,  on,  up  (apr6,  'pre).     Pasp.,  opr^ 

Dias  opr6  adre  o  raati,  It  appeared  in  the  night 
Ora,  ;/.,  Watch,  hour  (aura,  hora,  yora).     Pasp.,  ora 
Our,    I  affirmative  particle,  Yes,  truly,  etc.  (aava).     Pasp., 
0\xxly,)       va  ;  "Lieh.,  anwa 
Ov,pro?z.,  He  (yov).     Pasp.,  ov 
Ovdvo-dfvvus,  To-morrow  (awaver).     Pasp.,  yavir 


Paani,  pani,  or  pauni,  n.,  Water.     Pasp.,  pant 
Paanengro,  n..  Boat 
Paanengro-gaujo,  Sailor 
Panengro,  n..  Turnip 
Paanesto-\ 

Pan^ngri-  >■  shok,  Watercress 
.Paani-       ) 

Paanisko-kova,  Bucket,  pail,  anything  to  hold  water 
Paanisko-tan,  Swamp,  moss,  watery  place 
Paaniski-hev,  Well 
Paiidel-i-paani, )  ^  ^    , 

Padni-^^,  I  Transported 

Bauro-paani,         \ 
Londo-paani,        >•  The  sea 
Londudno-paani,  J 

Tatto-pani,  Any  kind  of  spirituous  liquor,  e.g.,  brandy 
Pal,  n.,  Brother,  mate.     Pasp., /r^/ 
Stiffo-pal,  Brother-in-law 


Il6  GYPSY- ENGLISH 

PaldlJ  prep.,  After,  behind,  ago,   bygone    (pauU).     Pasp., 
Palla,  ■'      paldl,  paU 

Av  palla,  To  follow  ;  lit,  come  after 

Dik  palla,  To  watch  ;  lit.,  look  after 

Jal  palla,  To  follow  ;  lit.,  go  after 

Pallani-chokka,  Petticoat 

Beng  palla  man.  An  enemy ;  lit.,  devil  after  me 
Palyaw,  n.  pL,  Rails,  palings.     Pott,  ii.,  361,  pall,  board, 
plank ;  ?  Pasp.,  beli,  post 

_,     J,      \  v.,  To  shut,  fasten,  close,  tie,  bind,  etc.      Pasp., 

Pan,      )      f""^"""" 

Pand-asdva,  I  fasten,  etc. 

Meero  rom  pandi-  asar  mdndi  opre  adre  o  kair,  My 

husband  shuts  me  up  in  the  house 
Pandadom,  I  shut,  did  shut 
Pandadas  \ 

Pandds,      V  He,  she,  they  bound,  fastened,  etc. 
Pdndadas,) 

p '    1 '  J    \p'  paf"t;  Shut,  etc.   Vaill.,  p.  54,  is  pandado 

_,,,,'(      iidar,  the  door  is  shut 
Pandr^,    ) 

Pandomengro,)  n.,  Pound  for  stray  cattle,  shcepfold, 
Panom^ngro,   •'       pen,  fold,  pinfold  ;  ;/.  pr.,  Pinfold, 

a  Gypsy  tribe 
Pand  opre,  Shut  up !  be  silent 
Pandjer,  v.,  To  wheedle  }  }  cf  pditder,  to  fasten,  enclose,  take 
in;  also  Pott,  ii.,  374,  ''panscheraf,  biegen ;  p.  durch, 
durchkriechen  " 
They  lelV  jaw  ki'ssi  luvva  by  pandjer/;/'  the  gaujoj. 
They  got  so  much  money  by  wheedling  the  Gen- 
tiles 
Pani,  Water.     See  Paani 

p       , '  \  adj.,  Five.     Pasp.,  pandj,  pantch 

Panshdngro,  «.,  A  five-pound  bank-note 
Pansh-k61a,  Crown,  five-shilling  piece 


VOCABULARY.  1 1 7 

Stor-pansh,  Twenty 
Papin,  n.,  Goose.     Pasp.,  papin 

Papinyaw, //.,  Geese 

Papini,         \  n.,  Goose ;  sometimes  applied  to  ducks 

Papinengri,/      or  turkeys 

Mooshkeno  papin,  Gander 

Papini-drilaw,  Gooseberries  (drflaw) 
Para,  v.,  To  change,  exchange  (piira).     F asp.,  panevdva 

Parapen,  n.,  Change,  small  money  (puraben).    Pasp», 

paruibe,  change  of  clothes 

Parav,  t;.,  To  thank,  bless  (parik) 

Pardal  ) 

P'  d  1  j  ^^^''  Over,  across  (paudel).    Pasp^, /^r^ii/,  beyond 

Pardel,  v.^  Forgive.    Pardel  mandi/^r  yeka,  Forgive  me  for 

once 

Pdrdonos,  n.,  Pardon,  forgiveness 

Parik,  v.,  To  thank,  bless  (parav).     Lieb.,  parkerwawa 

Parikar6va,\ 

Pdrik'rd,       !      ,,      , 
T.  /  .,  M  thank 

Pariko, 

Parik'raw, 

Parikaben, )        ^,      , 
_,,.,.         \  «.,  Thanks 

Pariktom,  1  thanked 

Parno,  adj.,  Cloth.    Pasp.,  parind,  berdnd,  tent-cloth  ;  Lieb., 

pdrne,  die  Windeln 

Partan,  «.,  Cloth  (poktan).     Vasp.,  pokhtdn 

Pasherela,  He  believes.     See  Patser 

Patrin 

Patin. 

Patrinaw,) 

T)  ^  '   '     \  P^'i  Trails 

Patreni,    j  ^ 

PatseK,  V,,  To  believe  (pazer).     Pasp^,  pakidva  ;  Lieb.,  pat- 

schdwa 

Patsova,  I  believe 

Patsdom,  I  believed 

Pdsherela,  He  believes 


'  \  ;?.,  Leaf,  trail-sign.     Pasp.,  patrin 


I  I  8  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Yon  kek  nanef  patserenna,  They  will  not  believe 
Pdtsad^,  They  believed 
Patsaben,  7t,,  Belief.     lAob.,  patscMpenn 
O  rauni  pdts2><^  so  yoi  penW,  The  lady  believed  what 
'she  said 

P   'A  1 '[ /^^A^  Over  (pardal).     Pasp.,/^r^rt7,  beyond 

Bitchadi-paudel.)  ^  , 

T^    ,  -  ,  .       ,   .     \  Iransported 
raudel-i-paani,   ) 

p     ii  \  P^^P->  Behind,  back  (palla).     Pasp.,/^// 

Hatch-pauli-kani,  Guineafowl 

Jal-pauli,  To  return 
Pauni,  Water.     See  Paani 
Pauno,  adj.,  White  (porno).     Pasp.,/^r«<7 
Paupus,  7t.,  Grandfather.     VdiS^.,pdpus 
Pazer,  v.  a..  To  trust  (passerova).     VdiS^.ypakid'ia 

Pdzorus,  adj.y  Indebted 

Pazerova,  I  obtain  credit,  get  on  trust 

Pdzeroben,  «.,  Credit,  trust 
Pedas,  He  fell.   )      c      p 
Pede,  They  fell.)      ^^^  ^^"^ 
Pedliaw,   n.  pL,   Nuts    (p^tliaw,   pdvliaw).     Lieb.,  pendach^ 

walnut 
Pee,  v.,  To  drink.     Pasp.,  pidva 

Piova,  I  drink,  I  will  drink 

Piela,  He  drinks,  or  will  drink 

Pidom,  I  drank 

Pidas,  He,  or  they,  drank 

Pid^,  They  drank 

V^^^\o,p.  part.y  Drunk,  drunken.     Pasp.,///i^ 

Piaben,  ) 

Peemengro,  n.,  Teapot,  drunkard 

^!=""':"S'-°' ;«•■};,,  Drunkard 

Plamengri,/.,    ) 

Piameskri,  «.,  Tea 


VOCABULARY.  1 19 

Piameskri-skoodalin,  Teapot 

Pobesko-piameskri-tem,  Devonshire 

Mendi  see  dosta  te  hoi  ta  pi,  We  have  plenty  to  eat 
and  drink 
Peer,  v.,  To  walk,  stroll  (pi'rav),     VdiS^.,  pirdva 

Peerela,  He  walks 

Peeras,  He  walked 

Pedrdo,  «.,  Tramp,  vagrant 

Posh-pe^rdo,  Half-breed 

Peerom^ngro,  ;/.,  Stile 

Pedromus, «.,  Roaming.  Vaill,  p.  /8,  Is  nasidpirmasko, 
II  est  difficile  de  marcher 
Peeri,  «.,  Cauldron,  stewpan,  copper.     Pasp.,  piri 

p   ,.'!«.,  Foot  (pi'ro).     Pasp,,  phiro,  pirS 

Peer4  pi.  Feet 

BokreV  peere.  Sheep's  feet 

Peeresto-koppa,  Carpet 

Peero-dehV/^-tem,  Lancashire ;  lit,  foot-kicking  county 
Peevlo,  adj,,  Widowed.     Y2i%y^,,pivlil6 

Peevlo-gafro,  Widower.     Pasp.,  pivlS 

Peevli-gairi,  Widow.     V diS"^.,  pivH 
Peias,  «.,  Play,  fun,  sport,  game.     Lieb.,  perjas 

Peiaskro-moosh,  Actor 
Pek,  v.,  To  roast.     Pasp.,  pekdva 

Pekova,  I  do,  or  will,  roast 

VokS,  p.  pari.,  Roasted,     Pasp.,/^/^J 
Pel,  v..  To  fall.     See  Per.     Pasp.,  perdva 

Pel'^,  Fell 

Pelova,  I  do,  or  will,  fall 

Pel^la,  He  falls,  or  will  fall 
Pele,       \ 

Pelon4   )■«.//.,  Testicles.     Pasp.,/^/*?;  pl.,/^// 
P^lonoi-,/ 

P^leno-grei,  Stallion 

Pelengo-chavo,  Boy 

Pelengro,  n.,  Stallion 


I20  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Pele-matcho,  Cod-fish 
Pen,  v.,  To  say,  tell.     FsLsp.,pemva 

Pen6va,  I  say,  I  will  say 

Mandi  pen6va  yoiV/  mer,  I  say  (think)  she  will  die; 
cf.  Pott,  ii.,  346,  "  akeake  pennawame.  So  meine 
ich's  [eig.  doch  ich  sage  s.  pchenav]" 

So  penessa  ?  What  do  you  say? 

Penela,  He  says 

Pendas,  He  said 

So  pendan  ?  What  did  you  say  ? 
Pen,  ;/.,  Sister.     Pasp.,/^« 

Penyaw,  //.,  Sisters.     Pasp.,  /^enid 

Stiffi-pen,  Sister-in-law 

Penna,  They  will  fall.    See  Per 

Pensa  \ 

p ,     . '  j  adj.  and  adv.,  Like  (p^ssa).    }  Pasp.,  pentchya  (As,), 

Dikela  p^nsa  rauni.  She  looks  like  (a)  lady 
Per,  v.,  To  fall  (pel).     Vd.s'p.,  perdva 

Perova,  I  fall 

Perela,  He,  or  it,  falls 

Pelova,  I  will  fall 

Yon  penna,  They  will  fall  (p^nna  =  per^nna) 

Ped6m,  I  fell 

Pedds,  He  fell 

Yon  ped^  They  fell 
Per,  11.,  Belly,  stomach,  paunch.     Pasp,,/^^ 

Peraw,  />/.,  Stomachs 

Yo6sho  adr6  16nghi  peraw,  Clean  in  their  eating 

P6r-do6ka,  Stomach-ache 
P^ski,/r^;/,  reflective,  Himself.     Pasp.y/^^;  dat., //j-/^^ 

Ghias  pdski,  He  took  himself  off 

Dids  p^ski  k6keri  wdfedo-k^rimus,  He  gave  himself 
trouble 

Vias  p^ski  akef,  He  came  here  himself 


VOCABULARY.  I  2  I 

Praasterdas   peski   pensa  grei,  He   ran   off  like   a 
horse 
Pessa,  adj,,  Like  (pensa) 
Pesser,  v,,  To  pay.     Lieb.,  pleisserwawa^  posinaiva 

Pesserova,  I  do,  or  will,  pay 

Viss^do  ppartA  ^^.^ 

Pessade,//.,         ) 

Pessadom,  I  paid 
Petal,  «.,  Horseshoe.     VdiS^.,  p^tah 

Petalengro,  ;/.,  Blacksmith;  ri. pr.,  Smith,  a  Gypsy 
tribe 

Kekavvi-petalengr^  Tinkers  ;  lit.,  kettle-smiths 

Soonakei-petalengro,  Goldsmith 

Petalesto-kova,  Anvil 
Pdtliaw,  I  ^^         ^^^g  (p^dliaw) 
Pevliaw,) 
Piaben.         \ 

Piamus,  etc.  >     See  Pee,  to  drink 
Pidom,  etc.  ) 
Piko,       V 

Pikio,      (.  «.,  Shoulder.     Pasp.,/?/^^ 
Pik^//.,] 

Piova,  I  do,  or  will,  drink.     See  Pee 
Pirav,  v.,  To  walk  (peer)*     Fasp.,  pirdva 
Pi'riv,  V,  a.,  To  open,  woo,  court,  make  love  to.     Pasp,,////- 
ravdva 

^Y.  .*     '']  n.y  Sweetheart  lovef.     Vd^sp., piHano 
Pirmi,/.,    ) 

Pirivdo,  /.  party  Opened 

Pirivdas,  He  opened 

Piro,  adj.,  Open,  loose 
Piro,  11.,  Foot  (peero).     Pasp.,/zW 

Pisham,  «.,  Flea,  fly,  honey  (pooshuma).       Pasp.,  pushum^ 
flea 

Go6dlo-pi9ham,     |  Bee  ;  lit,  sweet  flea 
Goodlo-pishamus, ) 
DandzV  pisham,  Wasp 


;) 

71.,  Cyder 


1  2  2  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Kil  pi'sham,  Butterfly 
Plashta,  \ 

Plochta,  r  n.,  Cloak,  cloth.     Lieb.,  blaschda;  Mikl,  i.,  30 
Pl^xta,  ^ 

Bcresto-pl6%ta,  Sail 

Pobo,-)         .      ,        ^ 

p.,  .    \  ;/.,  Apple.     VdiS'p. , paoai 

Pobe,//.,  Apples 

Pobomus,  It.,  Orange 

Pobomuski-gav,]  n.pr.,  Norwich;  lit.,  orange  town, 

Pobomusti-gav,  i       from  the  assonance  of  aji  orange 

and  Norwich 
Pobengro, 
Pobesko-livena, . 
Pobesko-rook,  Apple-tree 
Pobcsko-gav-tem,  Norfolk 
P6besko-piameskri-tem,  Devonshire 
Waver-temeski-lolo-pobo,  Orange;  lit.,other-country 

red  apple 

Bitto-lolo-pobi,  Cherries  ;  lit.,  small  red  apples 

Pochi,  «.,  Pocket  (pootsi).     Pasp.,  boshka;  'Licb.,  pottizsa 

Po<^er  ^ 

p  ^    '  [  v.,  To  break.     Pasp.,  pangdva,  bangdva 

Bongo,  adj.,  Crooked.     Pasp.,/<^«^d?,  bango,  lame 
B6nges,  adv.,  Wrongly 
Pogadom,  I  broke 
Pogadas,  He  broke 

P6|er^^,}  ^*  ^^"^^'^  ^^°^^"-     P^^P'^ P'^'^S^'^ 
Pogado-shero,  Cocked  hat,  broken  head 

,,,       ,  ,     ,        .        !•  Broken-winded  horse 
Poga-baval-grei,       ) 

P6ga-ch6ngaw-grci,  Broken-kneed  horse 
P6gami-ngri,  j  ^^^  Windmill 

Baval-pogamengri, ) 
P6garomengro,  n..  Miller 
Pogaromengri,  n.,  Treadwhcel 


VOCABULARY.  123 

Pogaromdsti,    )        ^t 

^°  ,  ,       }  n.,  Hammer 

Fogaromeskro,-' 

Poga-kairengro,  «.,  Burglar 

Pok^nyus,  n.,  Judge,  justice  of  the  peace  (pookinyus).  Lieb., 

pokono,  peaceful ;    Pott,   ii.,   345,  pokoino,  bokono, 

quiet;  ii.,  \(yi,pokoinepen,  peace  ;  Mikl.,  i.,  31 

pr    ,       j  ^^-j  Cloth  (partan).     V diS^., pokhtdn 

P6;(;tan-gav,  Manchester 

P6%tan-kelom^ngro,  Weaver  ;  lit,  cloth-maker 
Pongdfshler,  n.,  Pocket-handkerchief 

Poodj,  «.,  Bridge,  sky.     Pasp.,  purt,  burdji,  bridge  ;    Pott, 
ii.,  382 

'\  v.,To  blow,  singe,  shoot.     Pasp.,  purddva,  puddva 

Pood  toovlo,  To  smoke  tobacco 

Poodado,  /.  part.,  Blown 

Poodela,  He  blows 

Pooderenna,  They  shoot,  blow 

Poodekrj-,         \ 

Poodam^ngro,  >  iu,  Bellows 

Poodamengri,  ) 
Po6-h-tan,  «.,  Tinder  ;  ?  cloth  ;  cf.  poktan 
Pookinyus,  «.,  Judge  (pok-enyus) 
Pooker,  v,,  To  tell 

Pookerova,  I  do,  or  will,  tell 

Po6ker6va  kek-komeni  ta  mandi  diktas  (diktom) 
toot  akei  adre  steripen,  I  will  tell  no  one  that  I 
saw  you  here  in  prison 

Pookras,  You  told 

Pookadas,  He  told 

Pookeromengro,  ;?.,  Watch,  clock 

Pookeromengri,  //.,  Betrayers 

Pooker/w^-bar,  Milestone 

Po6ker/;/^-kosht,  Signpost 

Poorav, )        ^    , 

^    ,        \  v.,  \o  bury 

Pooros, ) 


1 24  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Po6rost6m  mi  po6ro  dad,  I  buried  my  old  father 

Po6ro,  w.,)      ,.   rM  1      -r*  /      ,     1 

T>    '  •   f     \  ^"J-y  0^°-     r^sp.,  phuro,  phuri 

Poorokono,  ad;\,  Ancient,  old-fashioned 

Poorodar,  comp.,  Olden     Pasp.,  pJmredir 

Pooroder-rook,  Oak ;  lit,  older  (oldest)  tree 

Pooro-dad,  ;/.,  Grandfather 

Poori-dei,  n.,  Grandmother 

Po6ro-dad  J  chdvo,  Grandchild 
Po6rdav$-,  «.//.,  Stairs.     Yid.xx\o\.^  padras  ;  of  Pott,  ii.,  382 
Po6rumi,  11.,  Onion,  leek,  garlic  (poruma).     Pasp.,  piirilm  ; 
Mikl.,  i.,  31 

Poorum,  n.  pr.,  Lee,  a  Gypsy  tribe  ;  as  if  LeeAz 

Kanlo  po6ruma,  Garlic;  lit.,  stinking  onion 
Poos,  7t,,  Straw.     Pasp.,/?/j 

Pooskeno,)      ,.   ^^ 

Po6skeni,  I  "'^J''  ^''^'' 

Poosengro,  «.,  Straw  rick,  stack 

Ghiv-poos^ngro,  Wheat  stack 

Job-poosengro,  Oat  stack 
Pooshom,  «.,  Wool     Pasp.,  posSm,  poshont 
Pooshuma,  «.,  Flea,  bee  (pfsham).     VdiS^., piishum,  flea 
Pooshumengro,  «.,  Fork.     Fa.sp.,  pusavdt'a,  to  prick,  spur 

Po6som<:.ngri,«.,  I  Spur  (poshadri) 

O  gref-esko  possomengri,)     ^       *^ 
Pootch,  V,,  To  ask.     Pasp.,  piitchdva 
Pootch6va,  I  ask 
Pootchessa,  Thou  askest 
Pootchd6m,  I  asked 
Pootchdas, 


S,  \    -fj  1      J 

Pootchtas,  j 

Pootcht^m,  We  asked 

Pootcht6,  They  asked 

Po6tchlo,/./rtr/.,)    -   ,     ,   .     ,     , 
r>     ^  \,M    .,  \  Asked,  nivited 

Pootchl^,//.,         j 


VOCABULARY.  1 25 

Pootchas,  Let  us  ask 

Maw  too  pootch  troostal  vaniso  kova  ta  nanef  see 

te6ro,  Do  not  covet  (lit.,  ask  for)  any  thing  that 

is  not  thine 

Pootsi,  n.,  Pocket  (po'chi).     Pasp.,  boshka;  'Lieb.,  pottissa 

Poov,  n.,  Earth,  field.     Ya-sp.,  p/mv,  puv 

Poovyaw, //.,  Fields 

Poovela,  n.,  Field-path 

Poovengri,    )        ^  ^  . 
_,  ,       .  f  n.,  Potato 

Poovyengn,  > 

Poovengri-gav,  Manchester.  A  name  used  by 
Cheshire  Gypsies  on  account  of  the  loads  of 
potatoes  sent  there 

Poovengri-gaujo,  Irishman ;  because  potatoes  enter 
largely  into  the  diet  of  the  Irish 

Poovesto-choori,       \ 

Poovo-chinom^ngri,  /•  Plough 

Poov-vardo,  ^ 

So  o  ghivengro  chinela  o  poov  opr^  Plough ;  lit., 
what  the  farmer  cuts  the  field  up  (with) 
Popli,  adv.,  Again  (apopli).  Fdsp.,  pd/pa/e,  Derriere  ;  Vaill., 
p.  $l,de  dilma  mandi parpali,  Reponds-moi,  sostar 
ni  dh  diima  parpalif  Pourquoi  ne  reponds-tu 
pas.?  Mikl.,  ii.,  52,  1032,  "papdie,  adv.. von  neuem, 
wieder ;  papdle  megint  Born  :  118" 
Por,  n.,  Feather  (pur).     Lieb.,/^r;  Mikl.,  i.,  29 

Porongo-wudrus,  Feather-bed 

Cherikleski-por,  Wing 
Porasto,  adj.,  Buried  (poorav) 

Pord^/Z^'}  F^^^'^e^vy-     Pasp.,/^r^J 

Pordo,  v.,  To  fill.     VdiSp.,perdva 
P6ri,  «.,  Tail,  end.     Vdisp.,  port 
P6rno,  adj.,  White  (pauno).     VdiSp.,parnd 

Porno,  n.,  Flour 

Pornom^sti,  n.,  Miller 

Pornengri,  n.,  Mill 


126  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Porni-rauni,  Swan 

Porno-saster,  Tin  ;  lit.,  white  iron 
Poruma,  adj.,  Gaelic ;  from  assonance  of  garlic  and  gaelic 

(poorumi) 
Y6^2Ao,  p.  pai't.,  Buried  (poorav) 
Posh,  adj.,  Half.     Pasp.,  _;^^^-/^'j-/^ 

Posh-horri,  Halfpenny 

Posh-koorona,  Halfcrown 

Posh  and  posh, )  ^  t  i  r  i  i 
„  ,  ,\  ,-  Half-bred 
Posh-peerdo,     -• 

Yo'^free,  Turnpike  ;  lit.,  half-free,  because  passengers 
are  not  tolled,  but  carts  are 

Kair-posh,  Help  ;  lit.,  do  half 
Posh,  prep.,  After.     ?  from  assonance  of  half  and  /rafter 

Posh-aglal,  Opposite  ;  ?  lit.,  half  before 

Posh-beenomus,  Placenta,  after-birth 
P6sha,  adv.  diudprep.,  Near,  by,  besides.     VdiS^.,pash^ 

P6sh-rig,  Besides 
■  Dosta  folkA  sas  posha  yoi,  Much  people  was  with 
her 
Poshaari,  ;/.//.,  Spurs  (pooshumengro) 
Poshli,  adj.,  Confined.     Pasp.,  pdslilo,  bedfast,  bedridden 

Poshle,//.,  Women  who  have  been  confined 

Yof  sas  poshli  (-f)  adre  wo6drus,  She  was  confined 
in  bed 
Prdster,   |  ?7.,To  run.    Sundtj/r^j-^/!/^,  springe,  hoppe  ;  Pott, 
Pradster,/      ii.,  244 

Prdster^la,  He  runs 

Prasterdas,  He  ran 

Prasterm6ngro,  «.,  Runner,  policeman,  deserter 

Prdsterom^ngro,  ;/.,  Deserter 


Prdstermc^'ngrri 


fc»' 


Prasterimus,  V  n.,  Horse-race 

Greiesto-praster/^'^, ) 
Prdster/«^-k61i,  Railway  train 
Prdster/;/  kister,  Railway  journey 
Prdstcr/;/^^-wdrdesko-dtch/;/^-tan,  Railway  station 


VOCABULARY.  1 27 

Wardesko-prastermengri,  Wheel,  cart-wheel 

Praster  tiiki!  Be  off!  Run! 
Prarchadi,  ;/.,  Flame.     ?  V^s^.,  prdhos,  cinders 
'VYQ,prep.,  Upon,  on,  up  (apre,  opre).     Pasp.,  oprt^ 

Pre-engro,  adj.,  Upper 
Pur,  n.,  Feather  (por).     hieh.,  por 
Pur,  n.,  Stomach,  belly,  paunch  (per) 

Bokochesto-pur,  Tripe 
Pura,  v.,  To  change,  exchange  (para).     Fasp.,paruvd2^a 

Furered,  Changed 

Piiraben,  n.,  Exchange  (parapen) 


R. 

Raati,  ;2.,  Night.     Pasp.,  raU  ;  araUi,  during  the  night 

Raatia,//.,  Nights 

Raatsene^hi-)  ,  ,  .,  ,  ^  , 
^  .  °.  I  chiriklo.  Owl 
Raatenghi-  ) 

Raatenghi-chei  chiriklo.  Nightingale  ;  lit.,  night-^z>/ 
{vu\g-^a/)  bird 

Ke-raati,  To-night 
Rak,       I  v.,  To  guard,  protect,  take  care  of,  mind.     Pasp., 
Rakker, )       arakdva 

Rak  to6ti !  Take  care  ! 

Rak  ti  toovlo.  Mind  your  'baccy 
Rdklo,  m.  n.,  Boy.     Pasp.,  raklo 

Rdkli,/.  «.,  Girl.     Pasp.,  rakli 

Rakha,//.,  Girls 

Rakle,  //.,  Boys 
Ran,  «.,  Rod,  osier,  etc.     Pasp.,  ran 

'R.iLnydiw^pl.,  Rods 

Ranyaw  to  kair  kushni^j-,  Osiers ;  lit.,  rods  to  make 
baskets 
Ranjer,  v.,  To  remove,  take  off.     Lieb.,  ranschkirwawa  wri, 

I  undress 
Rashei, 
Rashrei, 


I  71.,  Parson.    Pasp.,  rashdi 


j-  n.,  Lady.     Pasp.,  rdniti 


128  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Ratt,  n.,  Blood.     Pasp.,  ratt 

Rattvalo,  \ 

RAtt/u//Oy  y  adj.,  Bloody.     Pasp.,  rattvald 

Rattvali,  ) 

Dulla  bitta  kola  (so)  peei-  o  ratt,  so  see  chivV  opr^ 
naflo  folki  te  kair  l^ndi  koshto.  Leeches ;  lit., 
those  little  things  (which)  drink  the  blood,  which 
are  put  on  sick  people  to  cure  them 
Raiini,' 
Rauni, ' 

Raunia,//.,  Ladies 

Kauli-rauni,  Turkey 

Porni-rauni,  Swan 
Rei,  «.,  Gentleman.     Pasp.,  rdi 

Rei-aw,//.,  Gentlemen 

Reia,  voc,  Sir ! 

Do6va  refesko  kair.  That  gentleman's  house 

Refesko-kdrimus,  Gentlemanly  behaviour 

Reialj,  adj.,  Gentlemanly 

Bauro-rei,  Gentleman 

Refesko-vdrdo,  Carriage  ;  lit.,  gentleman's  cart 

Reiesko  ro6zho-poov  moosh.  Gardener ;  lit,  gentle- 
man's flower-ground  man 

Refeski  match^//.,  Trout 

Refakana  ta  gaujikana  jinomus.  Learning  fit  for  a 
gentleman  and  Englishman 
Rapper  toot,  Remember 
R6ssi  toot !  Make  haste  ! 

R6s-les  apr6,  Rouse  him  up 

^f  ^^'  1  «.,  Duck  (riitsa).     Lieb.,  retza;  Mikl.,  i.,  35 
Ketza,) 

Retzd,//.,  Ducks 

Tfkno-}  ^^'^^'  ^"^^^^"^ 
RidjW,  «.,  Partn^^.     Used  by  Isaac  Heme's  family 
Rfdo,/. /^r/.,  Dressed.)      q      -p- 
Rfdad^  They  dressed.  ) 


VOCABULARY. 


129 


Rig,  n.,  Side,     Pasp.,  rik 

j^.        '\v.,  To  carry,  keep,  bring,     Lieb.,  rikkerwawa,  to 

R/ker,  )      ^*°P 

Righerova,  I  do,  or  will,  keep 

Ri'gher  toot  mishto,  Take  care  of  yourself 

Righadom,  I  carried 

Yon  righadas-les,  They  (that)  carried  him 
Rikeno,  adj.,  Pretty  (rfnkeno) 
Rikni^j",  //.,  Trousers  (rokengri^j-,  etc.) 
Ril,  V,,  Pedere;  also  used  as  a  noun.     Pasp.>  rill;  Lieb.> 

rill 
Rinkeno,  m.,\  adj.,   Pretty    (rikeno).     Pott,    ii.,  264,  gives 
Rinkeni,/!,    >      rajkano,    from     Puchmayer's     Hungarian 
Rinkene, //.,>'       "Romani   Czib,"  and   suggests   that    the 
word   rinkeiw   is  an   adjective  formed  from  the 
dative  plural  of  rai,  i.e.,  r^nge.     See  also  Sundt's 
"  Landstrygerfolket,"  1852,  rankand,  gentle,  noble. 
Predari  has,  p.  270,  rincano,  and  p.  259,  arincino, 
both  apparently  taken  from  Roberts 
Rinkenes,  adv.,  Prettily 
Rinkenoder,  comp.,  Prettier 

Rinkeni  matchaw  ta  jal^  tal^  o  baryaw.  Trout ;  lit., 
pretty  fishes  that  go  under  the  stones 
Risser,  v.,  To  shake,  tremble.     Pasp.,  lisdrdva 
Ri'sserela,  He  trembles 
Risser  toot.  Be  quick  (ressi) 

Risser  toot  apre,  Be  quick,  and  get  up  ;  lit,  shake 
yourself  up 
Riv,  v.,  To  wear  (rood).     Pasp.,  tirydva 
'K{do,p.part.,  Dressed 
Rfdade,  They  dressed 

Rivoben,  «.,  Apparel,  clothes  (rodi,  roodopen) 
Yov  rivdas  lesko  kokero  adre  kooshto  eezaw  sorkon 
cheerus,  He  always  dressed  in  fine  clothes 

9? 


1 30  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Yon  sas  ride  sor  adrd  kaij.  They  were  dressed  all  in 
silk 

•p  _,  1'     [  v.,  To  search,  seek.     Pasp.,  roddva 

Ro'dadom,  I  searched,  sought 

Rode,  They  searched 

Ro6dopen,  n.,  Search.     Pasp.,  rodip^ 

R6di-/;/^J  ^^v  Clothing,  apparel  (roodo,  riv) 

P  ,/[  n.,  Spoon.     Pasp.,  rdi 

Roiyawj, //.,  Spoons 
Roiengr^,  Spoon-makers 
R6ker,  v..  To  talk,  speak.     Pasp.,  vrakerdva;  Mikl.,  i.,  34 
R6keraa,  He  talks 

Komeni  roker^la  troostal  mdndi,  Some  one  is  talking 
about  me — "  That's  what  we  say  when  we  sneeze  " 
R6kerdas,'j 

R6kadds,  [  He  talked 
R6keras,   / 
Rokras,  You  talk 
R6kerd4  They  talked 
R6kerop^n,\ 


ii,y  Conversation,  language,  speech. 
Pasp.,  vrakeribd 


Rokerp^n, 

R6keriben, 

Rokerimus, 

RcSkamus,  , 

R6kerom^ngro,  v        . 

R6kerm^ngro,  I     ''  ^ 

R6kerom^skro,  «.,  Talker 

Bauro  r6kerom6ngri, //.,  Prophets 

R6kerm'  chiriklo,  Parrot 

Rok^ngri^.v,^ 

Rok6nyus, 

Rokrdnyus 

Rop^fny^i", 

Roxhiya,    , 


n.  pl.y  Trousers  (rfkni^^-) 


VOCABULARY.  1 3  I 

Rom,  n.j  Husband,  bridegroom,  a  male  Gypsy.     Pasp,,  rom 
R6meni,\ 

Romni,    >  n.,  Wife,  bride.     Pasp.,  roinni 
Romadi,  / 

^  ,        . '  [  adj.y  Gypsy.     Pasp.,  romano 

Romano-drab,  probably  Spurge-laurel  {Daphne  lau- 
reold),  the  berries  of  which,  according  to  Lindley, 
''are  poisonous  to  all  animals  except  birds" 

Romani-chal,  A  male  Gypsy 

Romani-chalaw,  //.,  Gypsies 

Romanes,  adv.,  Gypsy,  the  Gypsy  language.  Pasp., 
ronmnh 

Romano  chiriklo.  Magpie ;  lit,  Gypsy  bird 
Romer,  v,.  To  marry 

R6mado, )       .         ^^      .    ,  /  f       i-x 

Romadom,  I  married 

Romerob^n,  lu.  Marriage 

Romeromus,  «.,  Wedding 
Rood,  v.y  To  dress  (riv) 

Ro6do, /. /«;'/.,  Dressed  (rido,  rodi) 

Roodopen,  ;/.,  Dress,  clothing.     Pasp.,  iirydibi 
Roodopen,  «.,  Search  (road).     Pasp.,  rodipe 
Rook,  ;?,,  Tree.     Pasp.,  ruk 

Rookaw,)  ^j  ^ 

Rookamengro,  «.,  Squirrel 
Rookenghi-cho^aj,  Leaves  ;  lit,  tree-coats 
Roop,  ;/.,  Silver.     Pasp.,  rup 
Roopono^ 

Roopno,  ]  ^^•'  [  ^^.^  3jj^g^_     p^gp^  rupovanS 
Roopni,/.,       j 
Roopnomengro,  ;/.,  Silvermith 

P    ,      '  [  adj.,  Strong  (ruzlo).     Pasp.,  zoralo 

Sor-roozlo,  Almighty 


132  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Roozlopen,  n.,  Strength 
Rov,  v..  To  cry.     Pasp.,  rovdva 
Rov6va,  I  do,  or  will,  cry 
Rovena,  They  cry 
Rovde,  They  cried 

SSe;,} '^•' ^'°"'"''-     Mikl.,i.,35 

Ro6zho-poov,  Flower  garden 

Ro6zhaw-po6vaw,  pi,  Flower  gardens 

Grooveni  roozha,  Cowslip 

Divusj/  ro6zha,  Daisy 
Rushin,  n.pL,  Rushes,  reeds 
Rutsa,  «.,  Duck,  goose  (r^tsi).     Lieb.,  retza 

.  '   f  adj.,  Strong,  coarse  (roozlo).     Pasp.,  zoralS 

Ruzlo  mas.  Coarse  meat 


'Sadla,  n.y  Morning  (saula).   Pasp.,  disiola,  it  dawns  j  disdra, 

early 
Sadas,  He  laughed.     See  Sav 
Sdke-os,  n.,  Sake 
Sal,  v.,  To  laugh  (sdrler,  sav).     Pasp.,  asdva 

Sdlir^s  }  ^''  L^"S^^"g'  laughter,  laugh 
Salvia,  He  laughs 
Saldova  {for  Sadom),  I  laughed 
Salamanca,  n.,  Table.     Pasp.,  saldn 

^,y   ,       '!•«.,  Bridle  (s61iv^ngro,  solivdrdo).    Va,sp., sidivdn 

Sap,  «.,  Snake,  serpent,  eel.     Pasp.,  sapp,  snake 
Sapaw,//.,  Snakes.     Pasp.,  sappd 
Sdpesko-mdtcho,  Eel 
Sdpesko-matcho-mo6tsi,  Eel-skin 

SdpinisJ  ^^''  ^^^^'     ^^^^''  ^^P^^^*^ >   ^^^^"^  '^'>  3^ 


VOCABULARY.  1 33 

Sar,  prep.,  With 

Sar,  adv.,  How,  as.     Pasp.,  sar,  how 

Sar  'shan,  How  are  you  ? 

Sar  komessa,  If  you  please 
Sarler,  v.,  To  laugh  (sal,  sav),     Pasp.,  asdva 
Sarshta,  \ 

Sarsta,    >  ;/.,  Iron.     Pasp.,  shastir,  sastir 
Saster,   ) 

Sarstera,)      ,.   -. 

Sastera,  I  '^^■'  ^™" 

Sastrameskro,  n.,  Blacksmith.     Pasp.,  s astir iskoro 

Sastera-bikinom^ngro,  Ironmonger 

Sastermangro,  «.,  An  iron-grey  horse 
Sas,  2nd  sing,  and  pi.  imperf.     Was,  were.     Pasp.,  isds 

Yov  sas  nashedo  opre  o  rook,  He  was  hanged  on  the 
tree 

Yon  sas  wafedo  nafalo,  They  were  very 
Saster,  Iron.     See  Sarshta 

Sastis,  Able,  can  (sitis,  stastis).     Lieb.,  sasti;  Pasp.,  sasto, 
sound,  healthy  ;  Pott,  ii.,  370 — 380;  cf.  Lat,  valeo 

Sar  sastis  te  yek  moosh  del,  How  can  one  man  give? 

,^    ,.  '\  n.,  Morning  ('saala).     Pasp.,  disiolo,  disdra 

Koliko-saula,  To-morrow  morning 
Kesaula,  This  morning 
Sav,  V,,  To  laugh  (sal,  sarler).     Pasp,,  asdva 

'  h  n.,  Laugh,  laughter.     Pasp.,  asaibi 
Savapen,) 

Sadas,  He  laughed 

Savo,  pron..  Who,  what  (so).     Pasp,,  savo,  so 

Savo  shan  too,  Who  art  thou  } 

Savo  cheerus.  What  time  }  when  ? 

'See,  3^^  sing,  and  //.  pres,  ind.,  Is,  are,  has,  have.     Pasp,, 

is£ 

See-engro,  adj.,  Spirited,  lively  (zee) 

Shab,  v.,  To  run  away,  "A  mumper's  word."     Pott,  ii.,  14, 

schufdich. !  be  off!    Sundt,  p.  394,  shibba  !  go  ! 


134  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Sham,  We  are  (shem).     Pasp.,  isdm 

Ta  sorkon  kovaw  sham  m^  (mdndi),  And  all  that  we 
have ;  lit,  and  all  things  are  to  us 
'Shamas,  We  were  (shumas).     Pasp.,  isdmas 

'Sor  kino  shamas.  We  were  all  tired 
'Shan,  2nd  sing,  di.ndpl.pres..  Art,  are,  hast,  have.   Pasp.,  isdfi 
Too  'shan  kerdo  mfshto,  Thou  hast  done  well 
Too  'shan  lesti.  You  have  it 
Sar  shan.  How  art  thou  ?  how  are  ye  } 
'Shanas,   2Jid  sing,  and  //.  imperf.,  Thou  wast,  ye  were. 
Pasp.,  isdnas 
Too  'shanas  nafalo  waver  divvus,  haw  t  You  were  ill 

the  other  day,  eh  } 
'Shanas  kino  }  Were  you  tired  .'' 
Shani,  n.,  Mule 
Shan6ngro,  n.,  Lawyer,  liar  (shoon).    The  two  meanings  are 

due  to  their  assonance 
Shardoka,    n.^    Apron    (chardoka,    etc.)     .''  Pasp.,  utcharddy 
mantle,   covered.      Pott,  ii.,  231,  252,  '' shadiicca^ 
apron,  Kog.,"  is  from  Roberts;  Boht, j'dnddrdka 
Shauhauri,  71.,  Sixpence  (shookhaiiri) 
Sh(;lo,  ;/.,  Rope,  cord  (sholo).     Pasp.,  s/te/S,  sJiolo 

K6va,  so  too  kairj-  sh^lo,  Flax  ;  lit.,  thing  which  you 
make  rope  (of) 
Shel^ngro,  ;/.,  Whistler  (shol) 
'Shem,  1st  pi.  prcs.,  We  are  ('sham).     Pasp.,  isdm 

Mendi  'shem  akef.  We  are  here 
Sh^ro,  n.,  Head  (sh6ri).     Pasp.,  she7'd 

Sherengro,  ;/.,  Bridle,  captain,  chief,  headman,  leader 
B^resto-sher<fngro,  Captain  of  a  ship 
Sh^rom^ngro,  n.,  Lawyer 
Sher^/C'i-no,  «.,  Lawyer ;  for  sher^j^ano 
Ghfvesto-shero,  Ear  of  corn 
P6gado-sh^ro,  Cocked  hat 

Chiv  it  adrd  your  shdro.  Remember  ;  lit,  put  it  into 
your  head.  Compare  Pasp.,  sJierdva  man  ;  Lieb., 
rikkerwdwa  an  0  sc/icro 


VOCABULARY.  1 35 

Shil,  ii.y  Cold,  catarrh.     Pasp.,  shil 

Shilino,  adj.,  Cold  (shirilo).     Pasp.,  shilalo 

Shilo-tem,  The  north 
Shing,  71.,  Horn.     Pasp.,  shing 

Shingaw, //.,  Horns 
Shirilo,  adj.,  Cold  (shililo).     Pasp.,  shilalo 
Shiv,  n..  Snow  (iv,  ghiv,  hiv,  yiv).     Pasp.,  iv,  etc. 
Shok,  n.,  Cabbage.     Pasp.,  shakh 

Shokyaw,//.,  Cabbages 

Paani-shok,       )  -,,7  ^ 

T^     ,       •    1    1    f  Watercress 

Panengn-shok, ) 

Shol,  v.,  To  whistle  (shool).     Pasp.,  shdndava 

Shelengro,  n..  Whistler 

Sholova,  I  whistle.     Lieb.,  scholleivdwa 
Sholo,  n.,  Rope,  cord  (shelo).     Pasp.,  sJwlo,  sheld 
'Shorn,  1st  sing,  and  pi  pres.,  I  am,  we  are  (shem).     Pasp., 

1st  sing.,  isom;  ist  pi.,  isdm 
'Sho'mas,  \st  sing,  and  pi  hnperf.,  I  was^  we  were  (shumas). 
Pasp.,  1st  sing.,  isomas ;  ist  pi.,  isdmas 

Mandi  sho'mas  'jaw  kino,  I  was  so  tired 

Be^no  sho  mas  adre  Dovarus,  I  was  born  at  Dover 

M6ndi  sho'mas  yekera  a  bauro  haiiro  kekovvi.  We 
once  had  a  large  copper  kettle 
Sho6ba,  «.,  Gown,  frock  (shoova) 

Chuffai-, //.,  Petticoats 
Shoobli,  adj.,  Pregnant  (shoovlo,  q.v) 
Shookar,  adv..  Nicely,  quietly,  slowly.     Pasp.,  shukdr 

Jal  shookar,  Go  slowly,  easily,  nicely 

Shookaridair,  comp..  Slower,  easier 

Shookar,  adj..  Quiet,  still 

Shooker  !  Silence  !  Keep  quiet ! 

Shooko,  adj.,  Dumb 

Roker  shookes,  adv..  Speak  low 
Shookhauri,  n..  Sixpence  (shauhauri,  shov,  hauri) 
'Shooko-kanengri,  Deaf  person,     Pasp.,  kashuko,  deaf 
Shooko,  adj..  Dry.     Pasp.,  slmko 


136  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Sho6ko-mauromengri-tem,  Suffolk ;    lit ,  dry  bread 
fellows'  county 
Shod,  v.,  To  whistle  (shol).     Pasp.,  shonddva 
Shoolova,  I  whistle 
Shoolde,  They  whistled 

_,       '  \  n.y  Moon.     Pasp.,  tchoii 

Shoonaw,//.,  Months 

Shoon,  v.,  To  hear,  listen,  hearken,  etc.     Pasp.,  shimdva 

Shoonova,  I  hear 

Shoonessa,  Thou  hearest 

Shoon61a,  He  hears 

Shoonta  !  Listen  !  Hark  ! 

Shoon6m,  We  will  hear 

Shoonedom,)  ^  , 

c,,     ,    J  r  1  heard 

bhoondom,  > 

Sar  kek  shoondnna.  If  they  will  not  hear 

Shoondas,  He  heard 

Shoonde,  They  heard 

Shoon  Mndi !  Remember  \  lit.,  listen  to  them 

Shoon-^^-k6ngri,  A  bell ;  lit.,  hark  to  church 

Shoonaben,       )        __ 

c,,     ,         ,       '  \  n.,  Newspaper 

bhoonamengn,)  ^  ^ 

Shan^ngro,  ;?.,  Lawyer,  liar ;  from  assonance 

<^Vi  M    \  ^^■'  ^^'^^S^^'-     Pasp.,  shuty  sJmtkd 

Sho6teIo, 

Shootlo, 

Shootlo  chor,  Sorrel ;  lit,  sour  grass 

Shoot  shokdw.  Lettuce,  any  plant  used  in  making 
salad 
Sho6va,  n.  Gown  (sho6ba) 
Sho6vlo,  adj.,  Swollen.     Pasp.,  shuvlS 

Sho6vli,/.,  Pregnant  (sho6bli) 
Shor,  v.,  To  praise.     Pasp.,  ashardva 

Shorova,  I  do  praise 

Sh6r/«^  his  k6kero,  Bragging,  boasting 


[  adj..  Sour.     Pasp.,  shutld 


VOCABULARY.  1 37 

Sh6roben,  n.,  Boast 
Shoro,] 

Sh6ro,  I  n.y  Head  (shero,  shuro).     Pasp.,  sherd 
Shori,  ) 

Shorengro,  ;/.,  Chief,  captain,  foreman,  headman, 
lawyer 

Bauro-shorengro,  Lord 

Shoro  jinomus  gai'ro,  A  learned  man  ;  lit.,  head- 
knowledge-man 

Sh6rokno,  n.,  Chief,  master 

Sh6rokno  gairo,  A  headman,  clever  fellow,  collegian 

Shorokne  gaire,//,,  Clever  men 

Sh6rokono  mooshaw,  Disciples  ;  lit,  chief  men 

mi'  W)  ^^''  -^^^^^^  (shushi).     VdiS"^.,  shoshoi 

Shoshe,//.,  Rabbits 
Shov,  adj.,  Six.     Pasp.,  shov,  sho 

Shookhauri,)        ^.  /1     /  -v 

ShavlhaUri,   I  "'  S-'^Pe^^e  (h^"") 
Shiimas,  \st  pi.  imperf.,  We  were  (sho'mas,  sham  as).    Pasp., 

isdmas 
Shuro,  71.,  Head  (shero,  shoro).     Pasp.,  sherd 
Shushi,  71.,  Rabbit  (shoshi).     Pasp.,  shoshoi 

Shushei, //.,  Rabbits 

Shushenghi  hevyaw.  Rabbit-holes 
'Si,  Is  (see).     Pasp.,  isi 

Si,  C071J.,  As.     }  From  assonance  of  is  and  as  when  spoken 
quickly 

Jaw  door  si  too.  As  far  as  you 

Kek  na  kom6va  jafri  tanaw  si  koli,  I  do  not  like 
such  places  as  these 

Meripen  tanaw  si  dikela.  Murdering  places  as  they 
look  (lit,  looks) 
Sig,  adj.  and  adv..  Quick,  soon,  early,  just     Pasp.,  sigS 

Sigodair,  comp..  Sooner,  earlier,  before 

Ken  sigaw.  Immediately;  lit,  just  now 

Sfgo  tooti.  Bestir  yourself,  be  quick 


138  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Siker,  v.,  To  show.     Pasp.,  sikdva 
Siker,  ;/.,  Gold 

Sikerova,  I  show,  I  will  show 
Sikadas,  He  showed 
Siklo,  adj.  and  /.  part,  Accustomed,  used.     Pasp., 

siklo 
Mandi  couldnt  jiv  ad  re  a  gav,  mandi'.y  so  siklo  to  the 
baval,  I  couldn't  live  in  a  town,  I  am  so  accus- 
tomed to  the  open  air 
Sikermengro,  «.,  Show,  showman,  circus,  pleasure- 
grounds,  moon 
Sikeromengro,  n.,  Signpost 
Simensa,  ?/.,   Cousin,   relation,   kin.     Miklosich,   iiber   die 
mundarten,  etc.,  part  ii.,  p.  71,  No.  456,  sentence 
Sor  see  mensi,  We  are  all  relations 
Sfmmer,  v.,  To  pawn,  pledge.     Lieb.,  shnmeto,  a  pledge; 
Pasp.,  simadi,  sign 
Simmer/;/^  boodega.  Pawnshop 
Sfmmeromeskro,  Pawnbroker 
Sftis,  If  I  can  (stdstis) 
Siv,  v.,  To  sew.     Pasp.,  sivdva 
Sivdiim,  I  sewed 
£/>2sfvdo,  Unsewn 
Sivomengro,  «.,  Tailor ;  the  name  too  of  the  Taylor 

tribe  of  Gypsies  (soovdngro).     Pasp.,  siibndskcro 
Soov,  11.,  Needle.     Pasp,,  suv ' 
Skdmin,  ;/.,  Chair.     Pasp.,  scamni,  stool ;  Lieb.,  stammtJz 

Skamine,       \  ^,   nu  - 
o,  ,     .  \  pi.,  Chairs 

bkaminyaw,; 

Skdmindngro,  ;/.,  Chair-mender,  chair-bottomer 

Rdshei  skamin  adr^  o  k6ngri,  kei  o  rdshei  besh^la, 

Pulpit ;  lit,  priest-chair  in  the  church,  where  the 

priest  sits 

Sken,  n.,  Sun  (kam,  tam).     Pasp.,  kam 

Sko'ni,  n.,  Boot.     Lieb.,  skorni 

Sko  nyawj-, //.,  Boots  (skriinya) 

Skoodalin,  ;/.,  Plate.     }  Italian,  scodclla,  porringer 


VOCABULARY.  1 39 

Skoodilin,  n.,  Teapot 
Piameskri  skoodalin,  Teapot 
Koshtudno  skoodilaw,  Wooden  dishes 
Skrunya,  n.pL,  Boots  (sko'nyawj").     Lieb.,  skornia;  Mikl., 

Sliigus,  11.,  Slug 

,.     ,     .   .    r  ^i-y  Cream.     Lieb.,  scJuninddna ;  Mikl.,  i.,  40 
Smentini,  ) 

So,pron.,  What  (savo).     Pasp.,  so 

^,,.    ,       '   [;/.,  Bridle  (salivardo).     V asp.,  sulivdn 
Solivengro,) 

Solivare, //-,  Bridles 
S61oh61omus,  n.,  Oath  (s6verhol,  sulverkon).     Pasp.,  sov//; 

sovel  khaliom,  I  have  sworn 
Soom,  \ 

Soon,    \  v.,  To  smell.     Pasp.,  stmgdva 
Soong,/ 

Soongova,  I  smell 

Soongela,  He  smells 

Soongimus,  «.,  Smell 

Soom  a  kan,  Smell  a  stink 
Soonakei,  n.  and  adj..  Gold.     Pasp.,  soonakdi 

Soonakei-petalengro,  Goldsmith 

Soonaka  weriga.  Gold  chain 
Sooti,  v.,  To  sleep,  coYre  (sov).     Pasp.,  sovdva,  p.  part.,  stittd, 
sotto 


IoSl'}  "•'  Sl^^P  (^"«°) 


Sooti, 

Sooto,  adj.,  Asleep,  sleepy 
Sootela,  He  sleeps 
Sootadom,  I  slept 
Sootadas,  He  slept 
Jaw  kater  siitto.  Go  to  sleep 
Yon  sootede,  They  slept 

Dula  kola  (so)  kair^  tooti  te  jal  to  sooto.  Poppies ; 
lit.,  those  things  (which)  make  you  go  to  sleep 
Soov,  11.,  Needle  (siv).     Pasp.,  stiv 


1 40  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Soovengro,  ;/.,  Tailor  (si'vomengro).     Pasp.,  siibfid- 
skoro 
Sor,  ;/  and  adj.,  Everything,  all ;  adv.,  quite.     Pasp.,  sarro, 
sdore 
Sor-kon  k611i,  Everything;    cf.    Mikl.,   ii.,    35,    133 
(Bukowina  Vocab.),  sekon  shiba,  alle  sprachen  ;  ii., 
55,  1271  (Hungarian  Vocab.),  sako,  every 
S6r-kon-cheerus, )    ., 

S6r-kon-ch4irus,  I  ^'"'^J'^'  °^*^"  '  '"'  ^^^^  *""^ 
S6rsin,  n.,  Plate ;  }  from  saucer 

S6ski,  adv.,  Why ;  lit.,  for  what  (so).     Pasp.,  dative,  sSske, 
for  what,  why 
Soski  kedas-les  talla  }  Why  did  you  do  it  \ 
S6ski  too  nanef  roker  to  mandi  }   Why  don't  you 
speak  to  me } 
Sov,  v..  To  sleep,  coYre  (sooti).     Pasp.,  sovdva 
Sovdom,  I  slept 
Sovd6,  They  slept 
S6verhol,|  v..  To  swear,  curse    (sulverkon,  s61oh61omus). 
S6vlohol, )       Pasp.,  sov^l-k1mli6m,  I  have  sworn  ;  lit.,  I  have 
eaten  oath 
S6vloh61oben, 
S6verh61oben, 

Spink, 


[  n..  Curse,  oath 


ping ;      1        pjj^      p  French,  ^pinHe.    Pott,  ii.,  248.  spinaf, 
Sp(ngher,^      I  stick 


Spingo,  11.,  Brooch 

Spfngo,  v.,  To  pin,  fasten  with  wooden  skewers 

Spingadrus,  «.,  Skewer,  spit 

Spingadro-k(^lom6ngro,  Skewer-maker 
Staddi,^ 

Stddi,    >  n..  Hat.     Pasp.,  stadik 
Stati,    ) 

Staddia,)  ^j   ^  . 

Staad4  K^-' ""*' 

Joovioko-staddi,  Bonnet ;  lit,  female  hat 
Stadni,  ;/.,  Deer,  stag.     .?  Pott,  ii.,  247,  stirna,  cat 


VOCABULARY.  1 4 1 

Stanya,  n.,  Stable.     Lieb.,  stehiia;  Mikl,  i.,  38 

,j^  ,    ,. '    \n.y  Prison  ('steripen,  'stauri).    Pasp.,  astardi,  that 

>(-^/  -i'      I     which  one  holds  :  astaribe,  diYXQSt 
Stariben,  / 

Stari,  n.f  Star.     Pasp.,  stiari  (As.) 

Stastis,  If  it  is  possible,  if  he  can  (sastfs,  tastis) 

'Stauri,  ;/.,  Prison  ('stardi) 

Stekas,  n.,  Gate,  turnpike  (stigher).  ?  Provincial  English, 
steek,  to  shut,  or  from  stakervava,  to  tread,  walk, 
Pott,  vol.  i.,  p.  437  (from  Puchmayer's  "  Romani 
Czib") 

't^f '  •         \  ^-y  Prison  ('stariben).     Pasp.,  astaribe,  arrest 

'Sterorriengro, )        _.  . 
'St&om&ti,     }  «•'  P"^""""" 
*Steripen-gav,  «.,  County  town 
Stifo-dad,  71.,  Father-in-law.     German,  sti^f- ;  English,  step- 
Stifi-dei,  Mother-in-law,   \  Miklosich,  "iiber  diemun- 
Stifo-pal,  Brother-in-law,/   darten,"  etc.,  part  ii.,  p.  69, 

No.  279,  and  p.  70,  No.  376,  shtyfdaj\  shtyfdad 
Stifi-pen,  Sister-in-law 
Stigher,  71.,  Gate,  turnpike  (stekas).     Pott,  ii.,  246,  gives  / 
stika,   path,   and    compares   iwss-steig,   footpath ; 
Mikl,  i.,  39 
Pesser-stigher,  Turnpike 
Stor,  adj.,  Four.     Pasp.,  star 

Trin-stor,  Seven ;  lit,  three-four 
Dooi-trinyaw  ta  yek.  Seven  ;  lit.,  two  threes  and  one 
DooY  storaw.  Eight ;  lit.,  two  fours 
Stor-pansh,  Twenty ;  lit,  four  fives 
Stor-peerengro,  Frog 
Strangli,  71.,  Onion.     "A  mumper's  lav,  it  "means  poorumi" 
Stug\i\,  71.  pL,  Stacks,     cf.  Harr.,  stagus,  a  rick ;  Pott,  ii., 

246  ;  Mikl.,  i.,  39 
Siilverkon,  v., To  swear,  curse  (s6verh61,  s61oh61omus).  Pasp., 

sovel-khalidm,  I  have  sworn 
Simddyws,  Sunday 


1 4  2  GYPSY-  ENGLISH 

Sus.     Kair  too  sus  asar   komessa,  Do  just  as  you  like. 

?  Sus  =  so  as,  with  the  particle  asdr  attached,  to 

disguise  the  English  words 
Siitto,  ;/.,  Sleep  (sooto).     Pasp.,  suUd 

wag     , )        Tobacco-pipe 
Swegler,) 

T. 

TsL,  con/,,  And.     Pasp., /^ 

Dad  ta  dei.  Father  and  mother 
Ta,  conj.,  Than  (te) 

Yov  si  bitader  ta  mandi,  He  is  less  than  I.     .-'Ta 
=:  Engl,  to,  which  is  sometimes  used  provincially 
in  this  sense.     Some  Gypsies  similarly  use  nor, 
others  da7t,  den  (than) 
-ta,  emphatic  suffix  to  verbs  in  the  imperative.     Pott,  vol.  i., 
p.  310 
Shoonta,  chaw61i !  Listen,  mates ! 
Avata !  Come  here ! 
Ta,  conj.  and  pron.,  That.     Pasp.,  ka 

Yov  pendas  ta  mdndi  jak  pdlla  waver  moo^dw.  He 

was  jealous ;  lit,  he  said  that  I  go  after  other  men 

Wafedo  baval  ta  andi-  kek  koshto  bok,  A  bad  wind 

that  brings  no  good  luck 
Yov  ta  sas  moolo.  He  that  was  dead 
Taf,  n.,  Thread  (tav,  tel).     Pasp.,  fav 

Ta\6,  prep.,  Down,  under,  beneath  (teld,  aid,  '\i).     Pasp.,  tel^ 
Talla,  adv..  After,  afterwards,  except,  without 
Talla,  prep.,  Under,  beneath,  behind 
Tair  of  a  baiiro  wesh.  Alongside  of  a  big  wood 
Tdllani-ch6%a,  Under-petticoat 
Lei  tale,  To  peel 
Chin  tale,  To  cut  off,  cut  down 
Lei  o  mo6tsi  tale  o  p6bo,  Peel  the  orange ;  lit.,  take 
the  skin  off  the  orange 
Tarn,  ;/.,  Sun  (kam,  sken).     Pasp.,  kam 


VOCABULARY.  I 43 

Tamlo,  adj.,  Sunny,  light.     A  corruption  of  kdmlo 
Tamlo,  adj.,  Dark.     Pasp.,  tam,  blind  ;  Mikl,  i.,  43 

Tamlo  raati,  Dark  night 
Tan,  )  n.,  Camp,  place,  tent.     Pasp,,  tan,  place;  katunat 
Tano,  i      tent 

Tan  aw,//.,  Places 
Tan,  v.,  To  encamp 

Kair  ti  tan  talla  o  rook  avri  o  kam.  Pitch  your  tent 
under  the  tree  out  of  the  sun 
Tarder,  v.,  To  pull,  stretch.     Pasp.,  traddva,  to  draw 
Tardadom,  I  pulled 
Tdrdadas,  He  pulled 
Tardade,  They  pulled 
Tarderz;/^  shdlo   kotorendi,    Picking    oakum ;    lit, 

pulling  rope  to  pieces 
So  too  tarderj  matche  avrf  o  paani  troostal.  Fish- 
hook ;  lit.,  what  you  pull  fish  out  of  the  water  with 
Tamo,  adj.,  Young  (tauno).     Pasp.,  terno 
Tdrno,  n.,  Child 

Tdrno,  «.  pr.y  Young,  a  Gypsy  tribe 
Tarnodar,  )  ^    ^. 

Tarnoda.'r,r'"«^-'Y°""S«'' 
Tarnomus,  n.,  Youth 
Tdsser,  v.y  To  choke,  drown.     Pasp.,  tasdva 
Ta.ssa.do,  p.  par ^.,  Choked 
Tassadas,  He  choked 
Tasti's,  If  he  can,  if  I  can,  if  it  be  possible,  etc.   (stastis, 
tiissis).     A  combination  of  U  sasto  isi ;  vide  Pott, 
i.,  370 ;  ii.,  242 
Kerova-les,  tastis,  I  will  try  to  do  it ;  lit,  I  will  do 

it,  if  I  can 
R6ker  too,  tastis.  Speak,  if  you  can 
Sor  o  koli  pelela  adral  lesti,  tastiss,  AH  the  things 
(everything)  will  fall  through  it,  if  they  can  (or 
that  can) 
Tdtcho,     I  adj.,  Good,  true,  right,  real,  holy,  ready,  healthy, 


J 


Tatcheno,)     well,  safe.     Pasp.,  tchatchtino,  true 


144  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Tatchipen, ;/.,  Truth.     Pasp.,  tchatchipe 

Tatcho  wast,  Right  hand 

Tatchene  gaire,  ox  fSlk'i,  Holy  men,  angels 

Tatchnes,  adv.,  Right 

Kair  tatcho,  To  cure,  comfort;  lit,  make  right 

Yov  sas  o  tatcho  yek  o'  lesko  dei,  He  was  the  only 

son  of  his  mother 
Tatcho-'glal,  Right  opposite,  face  to  face 
Tatcho  berengro.  Ship  captain 
Tatcho-barj-,  Jewels 
Tatcho  d6sta,  Sure  enough 
Tattav, 


^.^      ,        To  warm.     V asp.,  taUiardva 
Tatter, }  v,  ^ ' 

Tatterm^ngri,  u..  Frying-pan 

Tatto,  adj..  Warm,  hot.     Pasp.,  ^aUd 

Tattoben,  «.,  Heat,  summer.     Pasp,,  tattib^,  heat 

Tatto-koova,  Pepper 

Tatto-pani,  Alcohol,   ardent   spirits ;  cf.  American 

'fire-water ' 

Tav,  n..  Thread  (taf,  tel).     Pasp.,  tav 

Tdvesto-gav,  Manchester;  lit,  cotton-town 

^    ,    •'/•")  ^^''  Yo^'^S  (tarno).     Pasp.,  terno 

Te,  prep,  and  conj.,  To,  for,  at,  how,  with,  what,  than,  but, 

etc.     Pasp.,  te 
Tediwus,  To-day 
Biknova-les  tei  te  vaniso  luva,  I  will  sell  it  too  for 

any  sum 
Te  d6va  che^rus  d  raati.  At  that  time  of  night 
Te  go6dlo  see,  How  sweet  it  is 
Yon  pandas  yov  opre  te  16sti,  They  tied  he  (him)  up 

with  it 
Kelela  peias  te  lesti  n6go  p6ri.  It  is  playing  with  its 

own  tail 
Te  wafedo  moosh  see  yov,  What  a  bad  man  he  is 
Dordi,  te  go6dlo  pobe  see  odof,  chavoli !  Look,  what 

ripe  apples  are  there,  mates ! 


VOCABULARY.  1 45 

Y6if  see  wafedodair  te  yov,  She  is  worse  than  he 
Kek  k6meni  sas  kerV  man  ko6shto  te  yov,  No  one 
but  he  cured  me 
Te,  particle^  used  to  form  the  subjunctive ;  vide  Grammar, 
p.  39.     Pasp.,  te 
Beng  te  lei  toot.  Devil  take  you 
Te  wel  mdndi  te  bitcher6va-len  avrf.  If  I  send  them 

away 
Te  jin^ssa  too  ?  Do  you  know  ? 
Sho'mas  te  mer6va,  I  must  have  died 
Te  dik6v  avrf,  dik6va.  If  I  look  out,  I  see 
T^iro,  pron.,  Thine,  thy,  your.     Pasp.,  tinro 
Tei,  conj,,  Also,  too,  indeed.     Pott,  i.,  308,  tai;  Mikl,  ii.,  58 
(1454),  taj 
D6sta  brfshno  wela  tale  ta  hiv  tei,  Much  rain  comes 

down  and  snow  too 
Bikn6va  les  tei  te  vaniso  liiva,  I  will  sell  it  too  for 
any  sum 
Tel,  n.,  Thread  (tav).     Pasp.,  iav 
Tele,  prep.,  Down,  etc.  (tale).     Pasp.,  tele 
Tern,   n.,   Country,   county,   district,   neighbourhood,   etc. 
Pasp.,  tent,  people,  world 
Temaw,//.,  Countries 
Temengro,  n..  Countryman,  rustic 
Waver-tem^ngro,  Foreigner 
Hfndo-tem,  Ireland 
Hindi-temengro,  Irishman 
Temeskri,  adj.,  Country 
Kaulo-tem,  The  'black-country' 
Watchkeni-tem,  Wales 
Mi-Diiveldsto-tem,  Heaven,  the  sky 
D61a  temdski  R6mani-chalj,  The  Gypsies  of  that 

county 
Waver  temeski  I6I0  p6bo.  Orange ;  lit.,  other-country 

red  (yellow)  apple 
Ch6rkeno-tem,  Yorkshire 


10 


146  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Think6\dit    )        t  4.u-  t, 

Thinkdis6w2i,}     '' 

Ti,  pron.,  Thine,  thy.     Pasp.,  H 

Tikno,  )  adj.,  Small,  little.)     -n  .-t   /  n 

menoj  «.,  Child.  I     Pasp., /.^«^,  young,  small 

K6shteno  tfkno,  Doll 
Til,  v.,  To  hold.     Pasp.,  terdva,  to  have ;   3rd  pers.  sing., 
terda;  VailL,  p.  73,  Ti pacas  men,  tilas  tk  Mrdittiy 
Si  tu  m'en  crois,  nous  prendrons  une  voiture 

T\Vd,p.part.,  Held 

Til  apr6.  To  raise ;  lit.,  hold  up 

Tflomdngri,  n.,  Reins,  pincers,  snaptrap 

Mi  Do6vel  kek  tilessa  {til^d)  lesti  sor  tatcho,  God 
will  not  hold  him  guiltless 

Yov  tildds  lesko  sh6ro  opre.  He  held  his  head  up 
Tobar,  «.,  Axe,  hammer.     Pasp.,  tov^,  axe 

To  ver,  \ 

To  fer,  I  n.,  Hammer,  axe,  anvil 

To'ber,) 
To  ber  kovs  (coves).  Highwaymen.    "  That's  mumpers'  talk" 
r^ketan^,  adv.,  Together 
ToOy  pron.,  Thou,  you.     Pasp.,  tu 

^ ,  .'I  Thy.     Pasp.,  ist  dat.,  tute;  2nd  dat,  tuke 

T^^f-  ]  /^^^-  ^^^v  Thee,  you.     Pasp.,  ace,  tui 

Tusssi,  pron.  instr.,  With  thee.     Pasp.,  tusa 

Mantchi  too  !  Cheer  up  ! 
Tood,  «.,  Milk.     Pasp.,  tut 

Tood,  v.,  To  milk 
Toof,    n.,   Smoke   (toov,   tuvlo).     Pasp.,  tm^,    tobacco    for 

smoking 
To6geno,' 

To6gno,      «^'.,  Sorry,  grieved  (tiigno).    Pott,  ii.,  307 ;  Mikl., 
Toogn6,   r      i.,  10,  41 
To6gnus,, 

To6geno,  adj.,  Lonesome,  lonely 


^-^.c 


VOCABULARY.  1 47 

To  grieve 
Sorrow 

Mi  toog  is  quite  mist6,  I  am  quite  well 
Tooki,  pron,y  Thee  (tuki,  too).     Pasp.,  2nd  dat,  tuke 
Tooshni,  n.,  Basket,  faggot  (kushni,  trushni,  tushni).    Pasp., 

koshnika 
To6tchi,  n.y  Breast  (Lat.,  mamma).     Pasp.,  tchutcht 

Tootchdw, //.,  Breasts 
"YooW,  pron.,  Thee,  thy,  for  thee  (too).     Pasp.,  ist  dat.,  tute 
Toov,  n.y  Smoke  (toof).     Pasp.,  tuv,  tobacco 
Toov,  v.y  To  smoke 
To6vlo,  n.y  Tobacco  (tiivlo) 
Toovlo-gonno,  Tobacco-pouch 
J'^-raati,  To-night 
Torro,  adj.y  High.     Pasp.,  khoTy  deep 

Torropen,  «.,  Height 
Tov,  v.y  To  wash.     Pasp.,  tovdva 

Tovova,  I  will  wash 
Tover,  «.,  Axe  (tobar).     Pasp.,  tov^r ;  Mikl,  i.,  42 
Trad,  To  lei  trad,  to  take  care.     ?  A  translation  o{  prenez 
garde,  corrupted  into  grade,  and  then  trad 
Trad,   «.,   Order,   notice,  etc.,  e.g.,  mdndi  deh  todti 
kooshto  trad  to  kair  dodva,  I  order  you  to  do  so ; 
lit,  I  give  thee  good  order  to  do  that ;  del  man 
trady  show  me ;  }  lit.,  give  me  advice 
Trash,    )  v.y  To  fear,  frighten,  astonish.     Pasp.,  trashdva, 
Trasher,''      to  fear 

Trashova,  I  fear,  I  am  afraid 
Trash^la,  He  fears,  frightens 
Trash^nna,  They  fear 

T^'  C  ^  }  P'P^^^->  Frightened,  afraid,  astonished 

Trash////,  adj..  Fearful 
^  trash.  Afraid 

Trash,  n..  Fear,  fright,  astonishment 
Trash  see  mdndi,  I  am  afraid ;  lit.,  fear  is  to  me 
Traslo,  adj..  Thirsty  (tro6shlo).     Pasp.,  trushaldy  thirsty 


148  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

'Tri^prep.,  In  (dx6) 

-,  .  '    \  adj.,  Three.     Pasp.,  trin 

Trin-g6rishi,  Shilling 
Trin-ta-stor,  \ 

Trfn-stor,  >  Seven 

Doolf  trinydw  ta  yek,/ 

T    A     '  \  ^•'  -^^^y*  corpse.     Lieb.,  trupo;  Mikl.,  i.,  42 

Tro6pus,'j 

Troopia,  >  n.  pi.,  Stays 

Troope,  / 
Troosh,  n.,  Thirst.     Pasp.,  trush 

Tro6shlo,  adj..  Thirsty  (traslo).     Pasp.,  trushald 
Tro6shel,  )  n.y  A  trail  formed  by  three  heaps  of  grass  at 
Tro6shilo,i      cross-roads.     Pasp.,  trushul,  cross 
Tro6shni,  «.,  Can,  quart,  any  large  vessel,  bundle  (kiishni, 
tiishni).     Lieb.,  tuschni,  flask,  bottle 

^     /      if  prep.,  About,  of,  concerning.     Lieb.,  trujal 
Troostal, ) 

Mdndi  kom^ssa  (komdva)  te  shoon  troostal  16sti,  I 
would  like  to  hear  about  him 

So  ker^ssa  o  patreni  troostdl }  What  do  you  make 
trails  of? 

So  too  tdrderj  matchd  avri  o  paani  tro6stal.  Fish- 
hook ;  lit.,  what  you  pull  fish  out  of  the  water  with 

Troostdl   me^ro   k6shto   komomusti    Do6vel   kerV 
mdndi  k6shto,  However  my  good  kind  God  made 
me  well 
Tukki,  pron.,  Thee  (to6ki) 

"    .'     ''\  adj.,  Fat,  stout,  plump.     Pasp.,  tulo 

X   U 1 1 1  •    /  •*    ' 

rr. ,,,.         f  ^^M  Fat,  grease,  ointment 
Tullipen,  i      '        '  ^ 

TuUo-mas-tem,  Lincolnshire ;  lit.,  fat-meat  county 

Tugno,  adj.,  Tiring,  fatiguing  (to6gno) 

Tum^ndi,/rf7«.,  To  ye,  ye.     Pasp.,  ist  dat.  pi.,  tiimSnde 


VOCABULARY.  1 49 

Tushni,  n.y  Faggot,  basket  (to6shni,  etc.)     Pasp.,  kdshnika 

basket 
Tussa, /r<?;2.,  With  thee,  thee.     Pasp.,  tii.sa 

r^      ,'  I  If  it  be  possible  (tasti's) 

r^,  1.   [  ^^.,  Tobacco  (toov,  etc.)     Pasp.,  tuv,  tobacco 
Tuvlopen,  «.,  Tobacco 

V  AND  W. 

These  letters  are  almost  always  interchangeable. 

Wdfedo,  adj.^  Bad  (vasavo,  wdsedo) 

Wafedoy<?//^i,  Enemies 

Wafedo  gairo,  Enemy 

Wafedo  x^Vtxing  gafro,  Chatterer 

Wafedopen,  «.,  Wickedness 

Wdfedes,  adv.,  Ill 

Wafedodair,  comp.,  Worse 

Wafedo-dfke^^^-tan,   Wildernes3 ;    lit.,   bad-looking 
place 

Wafedo  baval  ta  andj  kek  kooshto  bok,  (An)  ill  wind 
that  brings  no  good  luck 
Wagyauro,  n.,  Fair,  market  (walgaurus) 
Vakasho,  n.,  Lamb  (bokocho,  bokoro).     Pasp.,  bakritchS 

^^xy  '  j  n.,  Bottle,  glass.     Lieb.,  walin 

Valin6sko-men,  «.,  Bottle-neck,  neck  of  a  bottle 
Walgaurus,  n.,  Fair  (wagyauro,  w^lingauro).  This  word 
occurs  in  the  following  forms  in  English  collec- 
tions: —  Bright,  varingera;  Harriot,  vail  goro ; 
Roberts,  waggaulus  (Pott,  ii.,  77,  and  Predari,  p. 
274,  give  the  same  word  from  Kogalnitschan,  who 
took  it  from  Roberts) ;  "Illustrated  Lond.  News," 
1851,  p.  715,  vellgouris,  pi. ;  Leland,  welgooro,  pp. 
50,  56,  66y  114,  212;  wellgooros,  pi.,  137;  well- 
gooras,  pi.,   211;    Borrow,  "  Lavo-lil,"  weggaulus, 


X50  GYPSY-ENGLISH- 

welgvruSy  welgaulus,     Bryant,  Irvine,  Simson,  and 

Borrow's  earlier  works  do  not  include  the  word. 

Pasp.,  p.  255,  in  voce,  inklidv,  "panayir^ste  (G.  M. 

irav^yvpLs;),"  to  the  fair ;  Vaillant,  Gramm,  Romm., 

vagaily  foire 
Vdngar,  n.^  Coals,  money  (angar,  vongar).   Pasp.,  angdr,  coal 
Wangiishteri-,  «.,  //.,  Rings  (v6ngusti,  etc.)     Pasp.,  angiistri 
Vaniso,  adj,  and  «.,  Any,  anything  (vdriso,  w6riso).    Miklo- 

sich,  iiber  die  Mundarten,  part  ii.,  p.  60,  No.  161 2, 

valaso;  No.  1622,  vareko;  No.  1626,  vareso 
Vdniso  kumeni.  Anybody 
WdntSisdva.,  I  do  want 

Too  wdntasAr,  Thou  wantest 

wLdo)  ""•'  ^^^*"     ^^^P-'  '''^^'^^'' 

Ward^ngro,  n.  pr.,  Cooper,  a  Gypsy  gang 
Wdrdesko-her^,  //.,  Wheels  ;  lit.,  cart  legs 
Wardesko-k61a,  Harness  ;  lit,  cart  things 
Wdrdesko-prasterm^ngri,  Wheel ;  lit,  cart  runner 
PrdsterZ/^^-wdrdesko-atch/^^-tan,   Railway   station  ; 

Ht,  running-cart's  stopping-place 
Bo6t]festo-vdrdo,  Knifegrinder's  barrow ;  Ht,  working 

cart 
Refesko-vdrdo,  Carriage  ;  lit,  gentleman's  cart 
Poov-vardo,         )  Plough ;  lit,  earth-cart  {}  bav^ngro, 
Vdrdo-bav^ngro,/      for  poov^ngro) 
Wdrdi,  n,  //.,  Cards.     From  the  assonance  of  carts 

and  cards 
Wdrdi,//.,  Carts 
Wdrdi-gair^,  Carters 
Vdriso.     See  Vdniso 
Vdro,  «.,  Flour  (v6ro).     Pasp.,  varS 

VarSng°;}  «-  ^'""'  "°"' 
Varter,  v.,  To  watch.     Lieb.,  garda,  precaution 
Rakl^  vart  asdr  Idti,  Boys  watch  her 
Vartfnimi,  They  are  watching  us 


VOCABULARY. 


151 


Vast, 

Vdsti, 

Vas, 

Wast, 

Wasto,, 


n.y  Hand,  fist.     Pasp.,  vast 


Vdstaw,  )     ,   TT      ,       -r. 

Wastaw,  i  ^^"  ^^''^^-     ^^'P"  '"'''^'' 

Wast^ngri^i",  n.  pL,  Handcuffs 

Wasteni-mo6shaw,//.,  Arms 

Wasto-boshomengro,  Drum 

Yogesto-wdstaw,  //.,  Tongs 

Wast  hanik,  Anvil ;  lit.,  hand-well.  Due  to  assonance 
Vdsavo,  )  adj.y  Bad  (wdfedo).  ?  Formed  from,  Pasp.,  bezih^ 
Wdsedo,/      sin;  or  from /m,  bad;  Gusely's  "Travels  in 

Persia,"  iii.,  400  (see  Pott,  ii.,  368) 
Vas,  bdlo-vas,  «.,  Bacon  (mas) 
Waver,  adj.,  Other,  others  (w6ver,  etc.)      Pasp.,  yavir 

Wdver^,//.,  Others 

Wdver-temdngro,  Foreigner;  lit.,  other-country  (man) 
Ve6na,  «.,  Excuse 

Ve^nlo,  adj.y  Excused 

Lei  ve^na,  Take  notice 
'Vel, 
'Wel,> 

Wda,  He  comes 

Weldssa,)  ^- 

--,  ,,        \  Thou  comest 

Welessa, ) 

'Vfssa  u'V  mdndi  tal6  koo  (k'o)  kftchema  ?  Will  you 
go  with  me  down  to  the  inn }     Welsh  Romanes 

W^nna,) 

Ven, 

Vi6m,  I  came 

Vian,  You  came 

Vias,  He  came 

Sor  mendi  viam.  We  all  came 

Vi^m  ak^i  o  waver  ko6roko.  We  came  here  last  (lit. 
the  other)  Sunday 


!•  v.y  To  come,  become  (av^l,  aw^l).     Pasp.,  da^  come  ! 


'  \  They  come 


152  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

Kanna  vidn  tom6ndi  akei  ?  When  did  ye  come  here  ? 

Vidn,  They  came,  began,  became 

WeVdyp.part.y  Came 

Wei  pdlla,  To  follow ;  lit,  come  after 

Te  'wel,  May  it  come,  or  become 

Te  wel  k6va  ko6si  poov  me^ro  n6go,  Would  that 

this  little  field  were  my  own 
Yon  te  vel  sor  tatch6.   Kek  yon  te  wel  panlo.  They 

will  be  all  right.     They  will  not  be  put  in  the 

*  pound ' 
Te  vel  yov  akef,  If  he  were  to  come  here 
Kek  mdndi  te  wel  Hno  opr6,  I  shall  not  be  arrested 
Te  wel  toot  rfnkeni,  If  you  be  pretty 
Te  wel  mdndi  te  mer.  If  I  happened  to  die 
W^lingauro,  «.,  Fair  (walgaurus) 
Ven,  They  come.     See  Vel 

XT 

•        '  1  ^-j  WiJ^ter.     Pasp.,  vent,  vend 

Venesto-chafrus, )  „..  ^         .  ^     ^. 
^j       .    .  >  Wmter,  wmter-time 

Ven-cheerus,       ) 

V^ndri,  «.,  Gut,  intestine.     Lieb.,  wenterja 

V^ indvdiW,  pi.,  Entrails 
W6nna,  They  come.     See  Vel 
V^riga,   V 

W^rigo,      H.,  Chain.     Bw.,  Span.  G.,  beriga;  Pott,  ii.,  80 ; 
Vdriglo,  Mikl,  i.,  44 

Weriglo,-' 

Men-weriga,  Necklace 
Vesh  \ 
-^    |!  f  ^•'  Forest,  wood.     Pasp.,  vesh 

W^shaw,\     .  ...     - 

Weshdw,!^^"^^^^^ 

Vesh^ngro,  \  n.,  Gamekeeper,  one  who  takes  care  of 

Weshengro,)      a  wood,  forester 

W^shni-mullo,  Owl 


VOCABULARY.  1 53 

Vesh-jookel,  |  ^^^ 

O  161o-weshkeno-jo6kel,j 

Weshkeni-tilomengri,  Trap,  snare 
'Vfni,  «.,  Beer  (Idvfna).     Lieb.,  lowma 
Vi6m,  I  came.     See  'Vel 

Wfshtoj  "•'  ^'P-     ^*=P'  ""'''* 

'Pr^-engro-wisht,  Upper  lip 
Talani-wisht,  Under  lip 
W61sho,  «./^.,  Wales  (Wotchkeni).     Lieb.,  walschdo  ;  Pott, 
i-)  53>  Walldscho,  French 
Walshenengro,  «.,  Welshman 

Kek  mandi  can  roker  W61shitikka,  I  cannot  speak 
Welsh.     Lieb,,   ^walschdikke    iemm,   welschland, 
Frankreich ' 
V6ngar,  )  n.,  Coals,  money  (vangaf,  angar).     Pasp.,  angdr, 
W6ngar,  /      coal 

onga  i-ga  ri,  |  ^         Colliers 

Wongarengri^j, )      ^  ' 
V6nka,  \  adv.,  When.     .?  Mikl.,  ii.,  36  (59),  ank^,  noch  (in 
W6nka,/      Kolomyjer  Kreise  Galiziens  Vocab.) 

Vonka  see  raati.  When  it  is  night 

W6nka  jafra  iv  pedas  tale.  When  there  was  such  a 
snowstorm 

Wonka  mandi  vi6m  akei,  When  I  came  here 
V6ngusti,  \ 

V6ngushi,  I  n.,  Ring,  finger.    Pasp.,  attgustr^y  ring ;  angusht 
Wongushi,  |       finger 
V6ngus,     ' 

Vongshengri,  «.,  Glove 

Foshono-wongushi^i",  False  rings,  rings  of  imitation 
gold 

Vongusht^    I  ^/   T?- 
Vongeshterj, )  '^  "*        ^ 

Wast-vongushte, )    .,   t-. 
V6ngustch4         }/^'F'"g^^^ 
Wo6der,  «.,  Door.     Pasp.,  vuddr 


154  GYPSY-ENGLISH 

X^^fj""^^'  1  «.,  Bed  (wudress).    Pott,  ii.,  78  ;  Mikl,  i,  27 

Chived  to  wo6drus,  Confined 

Wo6drus-gav-tem,  Bedfordshire 

Opr6  woodrus,  Upstairs ;  lit,  upon  bed,  but  used  for 
upstairs.    O  baiiro  kam6ra  see  opr^  wo6drus,  The 
big  room  is  upstairs 
Wo6ser,  )       ^    ^, 
Wo6sher,r-'^°*''°^ 

Wo6ser6va,  I  do,  or  will,  throw 

Wo6ser  apr^.  To  vomit 

Wo6sad6m  apr6,  I  vomited 

Wo6sadds,  He  threw 

Wo6ser^df,  p.  part.,  Thrown 
V6ro,  «.,  Flour  (vdro).     Pasp.,  vard 
W6riso.     See  Vdriso 

W6tchkeni-tem,  Wales  (W61sho).     Pott,  i.,  53,  Walldscho, 
French 

W6tchken6ngro,  n.,  Welshman 
W6ver,  adj..  Other  (aw6ver,  ovavo,  wdver).     Pasp.,  jj/^z//r 
Wiidrus,  n.,  Bed  (wo6drus) 

Wudrus-sh6rom^ngro,  Pillow 

Wudrus-ddndimengri,  Bug ;  lit.,  bed-biter 

Y. 

Ydkel,  n.,  Dog  (jo6kel).     Pasp.,  djukil 
Ydrdooka,)         .  ,-     -l         ^   \ 

Ydrdu^a,  >  ""•'  ^P'''''  (JO^J^X^'  ^^c.) 
Yaun,/^^«.,  They  (yon).  Pasp.,  ol 
Yek,  adj.,  One.     Pasp.,  j/ek 

Yekino,  adj.,  Single,  only 

Y6korus,\ 


Y^kos, 
Y^koro, 
Y6kera, 
Y^ka, 


adv.,  Once 


VOCABULARY. 


155 


«..  Gun 


Yov  kom'd  asar  lendi  do6l  sar  yekera,  He  loved  them 
both  equally;  lit.,  them  both  as  one 
Y6ka,  n.,  Haste  (heka) 
Yiv,  n.,  Snow  (iv,  etc.)     Pasp.,  viv,  iv,  etc. 

Yivyela,  It  snows  (yiv  [d]ela,  it  gives  snow) 
Yog,  n.,  Fire.     Pasp.,  yag 

Yog-chik,  Ashes  ;  lit.,  fire-dirt 

Yogengro, 

Yogengri, 

Y6gom^ngri, 

Y6gom6skro,' 

Yog^ngri-cho6ko,  Shooting-coat 

Y6gom^ngro,      \ 

Yogengri  gaujo,  \  Gamekeeper 

Yog-moosh,        ) 

Yog6ngri^j,  n.  pl.^  Lucifer  matches 

Y6gesto-wastaw, //.,  Tongs 

Dood-yogenghi-k6shter,  Firebrand 

Yogenghi  ndflopen,  Fever ;  lit,  fiery  illness,  pyrexia 

Y6gongo-tan,  Fireplace 

^  .'  [  pron,^  She.     Pasp.,  6i 
Yok,  «.,  Eye.     Pasp.,^^^ 

Yok^ngri^j,  «.  //.,  Spectacles 

Y6k^,  adj.^  Knowing,  wideawake,  sharp 

Y6kj/  rivoben.  Fine  linen 

Y6Vy  folki,  Fine  people 

Cocky  y6ki.  Squinting,  cockeyed.     A  nickname  for 
the  Boswell  tribe  about  Manchester 
Yon,  pron.,  They  (yaun).     Pasp.,  ol 

Yo6so, )  adj.^  Clean,   clear.     Pasp.,  koshdva,  ghoshdva,  to 
Yo6zo,  i       clean  ;  ushandva^  to  sift 

Yo6ser,  v.^  To  clean  (k6sher) 

Yo6zher6va,  I  clean 

Yo6zhad6m  o  kair  tdtcho,  I  swept  the  house  clean 


156  GYPSY-ENGLISH    VOCABULARY. 

Yo6zhade,  They  swept 
Yo6zhadas,  He  swept 
Yo6ser  apr^  To  sweep,  clean  up 
Yoosering  kosht,  Broom,  brush 
Yo6zhoben,  Cleanliness 
Y6ra,  n.,  Watch,  hour,  clock  (ora,  etc.)     Pasp.,  6ra,  watch 

^ ,  . '  i  n.y  Egg.     Pasp.,  va7ir6,  arnd 

Y6rakana-ko6roko,  Easter;  lit.,  Egg-Sunday 

Y6resko-ch6;)^a,  Egg-shell 
Yov,  I 

Yow.  >/r^«.,  He  (ov).     Pasp.,  ov 
Yuv, ) 

Z. 

Zee,  «.,  Heart,  soul.     Pasp.,  oghi;  ghi  (As.) 

Zeeaw,  //.,  Hearts 

See-engro,  adj.y  Spirited 
Zfmen,  n.,  Soup,  broth.     Pasp.,  zumi ;  Lieb.,  summin. 


APPENDIX 

TO    THE 

GYPSY-ENGLISH   VOCABULARY. 


The  words  in  this  Appendix  are  taken  from  a  variety  of 
Anglo- Romany  sources,  from  which  those  words  only  are 
extracted  which  we  have  not  ourselves  heard,  and  which 
have  their  representatives  in  foreign  Gypsy  vocabularies, 
or  seem  to  us  otherwise  noteworthy. 
The  following  contractions  are  used  : 

Bw.  I  Z.,  2  Z. — Borrow,  "Zincali,"  3rd  edition,  1843,  in  2  vols. 
„    Z. — Borrow,  "Zincali,"  1861  edition,  in  i  vol. 
„    I  L.,  2  L.,  3  L. — Borrow,  "  Lavengro,"  1851  edition,  in  3  vols. 
„    I  R.,  2  R. — Borrow,  "  Romany  Rye,"  1857  edition,  in  2  vols.1 
„    W.— Borrow,  "Wild  Wales,"  1868  ed.,  i  vol.,  post  8vo,  ch.xcviii. 
„    LI.— Borrow,  "  Lavo-lil,"  1874. 
Bnt. — Bryant's  Vocabulary,  contained  in  the  "Annual  Register,"  1784. 
Bgt. — Bright's  "Travels  through  Lower  Hungary,"  1818. 
Boht. — Bohtlingk's  "  Uber  die  Sprache  der  Zigeuner  in  Russland, 

Melanges  Asiatiques,"  vol.  2,  part  2. 
Boorde.— Andrew  Boorde,  "  Introduction  of  Knowledge"  (a.d.  1547), 
reprinted   1870,  for  Early  English  Text  Society,  by  Triibner 
and  Co.,  London,  p.  218.     See  "  The  Academy,"  25  July,  1874, 
p.  100. 
Hotten. — "Slang  Dictionary,"  1864. 
Harr.— Col.  Harriot's  Vocabulary,  published  in  "  Royal  Asiatic  Soc. 

Transactions,"  1830. 
LL.N. — "Illustrated  London  News." 
Irv. — Irvine's  Vocabulary,  published  in  "  Bombay  Literary  Society's 

Transactions,"  18 19. 
Lid.— Leland,  "English  Gypsies,"  1873. 


158  APPENDIX    TO    THE 

Lieb.— Dr.  Liebich,  "  Die  Zigeuner,"  etc.,  1863. 

Mikl. — Miklosich,  "  Uber  die  Mundarten  und  die  Wanderungen  der 
Zigeuner  Europas,"  Vienna,  1872. 

Pasp. — Dr.  Paspati,  "  Tchinghian^s  ou  Bohdmiens  de  TEmpire  Otto- 
man," 1870. 

Pott.— Dr.  Pott,  "  Die  Zigeuner,"  etc.,  1844 

Sim. — Simson's  "History  of  the  Gypsies,"  1865. 

Smith. — Smith's  "Tent-life  with  Enghsh  Gypsies  in  Norway,"  1873. 

Vaill. — Vaillant,  "Grammaire  Rommane,"  Paris,  1868. 


Afta,  Seven.     Bnt.  (eft,  heft- ward esh) ;  Pasp.,  eftd 
Ambrol,  )  _  (Bw.,  3  L, 209;   i  R., 245  ;)  _,  ,    ., 

And4  Into     Bw    ,  L.,  325  n  p^^     ^^^^^ 

Ando,  In.     Bw.,  LI,  17;        )         ^ 

Anglo,  Before.     Bw.,  LI.,  17  ;  Pasp.,  angld 

Astis,  Possible,  it  is  possible.     Bw.,  LI.,  18  (estist) 

Artav,  To  forgive,  pardon.)  Bw.,  LI.,  18,  130;  artavavanty 

Artapen,  forgiveness.  /      210;  Vaill.,  ertit^a^  pardon 


B. 

Bedra,  Pail.     Bw.,  LI.,  264  (pitaree) ;   Pasp.,  beldni,  beldi, 

trough  ;  Mikl.,  i.,  44 
Bolla,  To  baptise.     Bw.,  LI.,  24  ;  Pasp.,  boldva 
Bo,  Stove.     Bw.,  LI.,  265.     Pasp.,  bov 
Beshaley,  Stanley,  a  Gypsy  tribe.     Bw.,  LI.,  22 


C. 

Calshes,  Breeches.     Sim.,  300,  315  ;  Pott,  ii.,  170 

Chaori,  Lasses.     Bgt. ;  Pasp.,  tchaiori^  lass 

Choomomengro,  Boswell  tribe.     Bw.,  LI,  82 

Chungalo,  Void,  without  form.  Bw.,  LI.,  1 19;  Pasp.,  tchungald 

Colee,  Anger.     Bnt. ;  Pasp.,  kliolin 

Corbatcha,  }  Whip.     Bw.,  W. ;  }  Boht.,  karbatscho,  whip 

Covantza,  Anvil.     Bw.,  3  L.,  192;  Pasp.,  42,  govanitcka 


GYPSY-ENGLISH   VOCABULARY.  1 59 

D. 

Dearginni,  It  thunders.     Bw.,  i  L.,  338  ;  Bgt.,  Hungn.  G., 

derguner;  Mikl.,  ii.,  42,  No.  309,  derginjel 
Devlehi,  With  God.     Bw.,  3  L.,  186;   i  Pott,  191,  devleha 
Deue  lasse,  For  God's  sake.     Boorde  ;  Pasp.,  devl^sa 
Dook,  Ghost,  spirit.     Bw.,  2  L.,  241  ;  3  L.,  66;  i  R.,  114, 
115,  193,  210,  233.     Yd,s>^.,  dukhos ;  lA^h.,  tucho  ; 
Mikl,  i.,  10 
Dugilla,  Lightning  {}  dearginni).     Bgt. 
Duito,  Second.     Bw.,  LI.,  40 ;  Lieb.,  duito 


E. 

Efage,  Trish  Gypsy.     Harr. 

Eft,  Seven.     Bw.,  LI.  (aft,  heft-wardesh).     Pasp.,  eftd 

Enneah,  Nine.     Bnt. ;  Pasp.,  enid 

Enyovardesh,  Ninety.     Bw.,  LI.,  156.     Yzs^.,inid  far  desk 

Estist,  May  be.     Bw.,  LI.,  138  (astis) 


'  I  J.  and  v.,  Thunder  ;  to  thunder.    Bw.,  LI.,  47  ; 
Grubbena,  I      Pasp.. -J^r«..V  Mikl..  i.,  13 
Grondinni,  It  hails.     Bw.,  i   L.,  338;  i   Pott,  104,  grados ; 
Polish,  ^r^^/  '^wss.y  gradi ;  Mikl.,  i.,  12 


H. 

Harko,  Copper.     Bw.,  W.,  344;  i  Pott,  loy ,  hart* as ;  119, 

Pchm.,  charkom 
Harkomescro,  Coppersmith.     Bw.,  3  L.,  53 
Horkipen,  Copper.     Bw.,  LI.,  51 

Heftwardesh,  Seventy.     Bw.,  LI.,  158;  VdiS^.^  eftd  far  desk 
Hetavava,  To  slay,  etc. ;  Bw.,  LI.,  49 
Hir,  By.     Bw.,  3  L.,  53,  172;   i   R.,  230;  Bw.,  Hungn.  G., 

LI.,  126,  heri 


l60  APPENDIX    TO    THE 

Hushti,  Wide  awake  there.     Lid.,  102 ;   Pasp.,  ushtidva,  I 

get  up  ;  ushti!  get  up ! 
Husker,  To  help.     Lid.,  209 

I. 

Inna,  In,  within.     Bw.,  LI,  5 1 

K. 

Kater   (my la  barforas }),   How   farre   (is   it    to   the   next 

towne  i*)     Boorde  ;  "i  Pasp.,  ybor,  combien 
Kona,  A  meal.     Irv. ;  Hind.,  khana^  dinner ;  Mikl.,  i.,  20 
Koppas,  Times.     Lid.,  221  ;  Lieb.,  koppa,  time 


Lach  ittur  ydyues,  Good  morow.     Boorde  ;  Pasp.,  latchd  to 
divds,  bon  ton  jour  =  bon  j. ;  Pott,  ii.,  331,  latschidir 
diwes,  einen  bessern  Tag 
Later,  From  her.     Bw.,  LL,  60;  Pasp.,  Idtar 
Lendar,  From  them.     Bw.,  LI,  60 ;  Pasp.,  Undar 
Lestar,  From  him.     Bw.,  LI.,  160  ;  Pasp.,  Ustar 
Lullero,  Dumb.     Lid.,  107 ;  Pasp.,  lalSri 

M. 

Malleco,  False.     Bw.,  Ll.,  63  ;  }  Pasp.,  makld,  stained 

Mander,  From  me.     Bw.,  LL,  64 ;  Pasp.,  mdndar 

Manrickli,  Cake.     Bw.,  3  L.,  52  ;  Pasp.,  manriklS 

Manro,)  _       ,    fBw.,  2  L.,  167  ;) 

Manor,}  ^'•^*^- I     Boorde;        ]'^^V.ntanr6 

Mille,  Thousand.    Bw.,  Ll.,  154 ;  Bw.,  Span.  G.,  Zinc,  milan 

Mokkado  tanengre,  Marshall,  a  Gypsy  tribe.    Bw.,  Ll.,  232 

Mole  pis  lauena,  Wyl  you  drynke  some  wine  (lit..  Pray  will 

you   drink   beer).      Boorde ;    Pasp.,    molisardva; 

Mikl.,  i.,  24 
Mormusti,  Midwife.     Bw.,  Ll,  68  ;  Lieb.,  mamischizza 


GYPSY-ENGLISH    VOCABULARY.  l6l 

Mosco,  A  fly.     Bw.,  LI.,  68  ;  Pasp.,  maki;  Lieb.,  madzlin 
Muscro,  Through.    Lid.,  232  ;  Pasp,,  maskar^,  in  the  middle 
Mushipen,   Lad.     Bw.,    LI.,   69,    176 ;    Pasp.,    manushipe, 
humanity 

N. 

Nick,  To  take  away,  steal.     Bw.,  LI.,  71 ;  Pasp.,  nikdvuy  to 

go  out 
Nill,  River,  etc.     Lid.,  113  ;  Pasp.,  len 


O. 

Ochto,  Eight.  Bw.,  LI.,  154;  Pasp.,  okhtS 

Oitoo,  Eight.  Bnt. ;  Pasp.,  ohtS 

Olescro,  His.  Bw.,  2  Z.,  145* 

Opral,  Above.     Bw.,  LI.,  72  (pral) ;   Pasp.,  oprdl 


P. 

Pa,  For.     Bw.,  i  L.,  325  ;  Bw.,  Span.  G.,/^ 

Paloo,  Cup.     Irv.  ;  Pasp.,  bdli,pal 

Paningosha,  Handkerchief.    Roberts,  98 ;  Pott,  ii.,  i\%,pand' 

schoche;  Mikl.,  i.,  31 
Panschto,  Fifth.     Bw.,  LI.,  120;  lAob.,  panschto 
Pashall,  With.     Lid.,  225  ;  Vzs^.,  pashdl,  near 

uv    o,|  p^Qj.^     lAd.,  29,  203,  234;  YrQnoh, pauvre 
Pauveri,  ) 

Penchava,  To  think.     Bw.,  LI.,  76,  142,  156,  162  ;    Pasp., 

pintchardva,  to  understand,  know 
Peneka,  Nut.     Bgt. ;  )   i   Pott,  120,  i^i,  pennack; 

Penliois,  Nuts.     Bw.,Ll.,  77;)      io8,/^/^;/</<3:,  Bisch. 
Peshota,  Bellows.     Bw.,  3  L.,  192;  Lid.,  39;  VdiS^.,  pishot ; 

Mikl,  i.,  33 
Phar,  Silk.     Bnt.  ;  Lieb.,  par 
Pindro,  Hoof.     Bw.,  3  L.,  194  ;  Vd^si^.,  pinro 
Pita^'-e,  Basket.     Irv.  (bedra) 

II 


(l62  APPENDIX    TO    THE 

Pitch,  To  stick.     Lid.,  ii6;  Mikl,  ii.,  34  (112),  Bukowina 

Vocab.,  pisdeas,  er  stiess 
Plaistra,  Pincers.    Bw.,  3  L.,  193  ;  Pasp.,  kldshta;  Mikl.,  i,,  16 
Poshavaben,  False  laughter.     Smith,  382 
Powiskie,  Musket.     Sim.,  314;  Bw.,  LI.,  3i8,/«j-^<:«;  Pasp., 

ptishkd;  Mikl,  i.,  33 
Praia,  To  seize.     Bw,,  3  L.,  192 
Pral,  Up.     Lid.,  247,  sky  ;  Harr.|  . 

Praller,  Above.     Lid.,  221  ;  /  ^""^^^^^ '  ^^^P"  ^^"^^^ 

p  '  [  To  ridicule.     Lid.,  94  ;  Pasp.,  prasdva 

Put,  Abyss.     Bw.,  LI.,  119;  Bw.,  Span.  G.,  butron,  putar 

R. 

Rek  of  the  tarpe,  }  the  vault  of  heaven.     Bw.,  LI.,  120 

Rin,  File.     Bw.,  3  L.,  194  ;  Pasp.,  rin 

Romanic,  Whisky.     Sim.,   296,    314,   333;    Pott,  ii.,  274, 

rapanus 
Rossarmescro,  Heme,  a  Gypsy  tribe.     Bw.,  LI.,  85 

S. 

Sano,  Soft.     Lid.,  231  ;  Pasp.,  sanno 
Selno,  Green.     Lid.,  29  ;  Lieb.,  senn^lo;  Mikl.,  i.,  47 
Shel,  Hundred.     Bw.,  LI.,  140,  154,  158,  162;  Pasp.,  j^^/ 
Sherrafo,  «/?<a?  Sharrafo,  Religious.     Bw.,  LI,  89,  122 
Shovardesh,  Sixty.     Bw.,  LI.,  154;  VdiS^.^  shov  far  desk 
Shukara,  Hammer.     Bw.,  3  L.,  193  ;  Pasp.,  tchokdnos 
Surrelo,  Strong.     LI.,  29,  31,  177,  etc.;  lA^h.,  sori^lo ;  Pasp., 

zorald 
Swa,  Fear  (f  for  t .?),  Bgt. ;  Pasp.,  dsfa,  dsva,  tears 
Swety,  Folk.     Bw.,  i  R.,  84  ;  Li.,  92  ;   i   Pott,  107,  svaetos, 

swieto;  Mikl.,  i.,  39 


Tarpe,  Heaven.     Bw.,  LI,  120;  Bw.,  Span.  G.,  tarpe 
Teeyakas,  Shoes.     Sim.,  297,  315,  332  ;  ?  Pasp,,  tridk 


GYPSY-ENGLISH   VOCABULARY.  1 63 

Trianda,  Thirty.     Bw.,  LI,  158  ;  Pasp.,  tridnda 
Trito,  Third.     Bw.,  2  Z.,  145*  ;  Lieb.,  trinto 
Tschar,  Ashes.    I.L.N.,  185 1,  Dec,  p.  715  ;  Pasp.,  tchar  (As.) 
Tschammedini,  A  slap  on  the  face.     Bgt. ;    i    Pott,   173, 
dschamtinya;  Lieb.,  tschammadini 

V. 

Vastro,  Hand.     Smith,  528 ;  Pasp.,  vastord^  a  little  hand 
Villarminni,  It  lightens.    Bw.,  I  L.,  338  ;  Mikl.,ii.,6o  (1642), 

villdniinel;  (1643),  villamo 
Vol,  To  fly.    Bw.,  LI.,  120,  voMan,  210 ;  Mikl.,  ii.,  33,  volavel, 

vtiravel,  fliegt 
Voker,  To  talk.     Hotten,  266  ;  Pasp.,  vrakerdva 

Y. 

Yeckto,  First.     Bw.,  LI.,  119;  \AQ\i.,  jekkto 

Z. 

Zezro,  Left  (hand).     Bgt. ;   Bw.,  Span.  G.,  iesdra;   Lieb., 

serwes 


ENGLISH-GYPSY  VOCABULARY 

OR, 

Jith^  to  %  irixmgal  Wiax'b%  mii  %aah 

IN   THE   GYPSY-ENGLISH   VOCABULARY   AND    ITS    APPENDIX. 


Note.— Words  marked  with  an  asterisk  (*)  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix  to 
the  Gypsy- English  Vocabulary. 


A. 
About,  Troostal 
Above,  Apre,  opr^,  pre,  opral,^ 

praller* 
Ache,  n.  and  v.,  Dooker 
Across,  Paudel,  pardel 
Actions,  Kairopen 
Active,  Sig 

Actor,  Peiaskro-moosh 
Afraid,  Trashlo,  «trash 
After,  Palla,  palal,  talla 
After-birth,  Poshbeenimus 
Again,  ^p6pli,  p6pli 
Age,  Pooroben 
Ago,  Palla,  ghias,  q.v. 
Air,  Baval 
Alehouse,  Kitchema 
Alien,  Gaujo 
Alive,  Jivdo,  jivo,  jido 
All,  Sor 
Allow,  Mook 


Alone,  ^k6nyo,  bikonyo,  k6- 

kero,  koker6 
Along,  Tale  (o  drom) 
Already,  Kenaw 
Also,  Tei 

Altogether,Sor-ketane,  ketan^ 
Always,  Sor  cheerus^j,  sork6n 

cheerus 
Am,  Shorn 

Amen,  'Jaw  see  ta  'jaw  see 
Anchor,  Beresto  tilomdngri 
Ancient,  Po6ro,  po6rokono 
And,  Ta 
Angel,  Yek  o'  mido6verj-  td- 

tcho  gaire 
Anger,  Colee* 
Angry,  H6ino,  h6no,  haurino, 

k6rni 
Ankle,  Pfresto-kokalos 
Another,  Wav^r,  ^w6ver,  ova- 

vo,  w6ver 


1 66 


ENGLISH-GYPSY 


Answer,  Po6ker,  del  lav  kdter 

Ant,  Kre^a 

Arms,  Jeer 

Anvil,  Covantza,*   kaulom^s- 

kro-k6va,      p6tal6sto-k6va, 

wast-hdnik 
Any,  Vaniso,  vdriso,  w6riso 
Apple,  P6bo 

Apple-tree,  P6besko  rook 
Apprehend,  Lei  opr6 
Apron,  Jdrifa,  jarika,  jorj6fa, 

jorj6;)^a,  chardoka,  shdrdoka, 

ydrdup(^a,  ydrdooka 
Are,  Shan,  see,  q.v. 
Arm,  Mooshi,  moosho,  wdst- 

eni-moosh 
Armpit,  Moosheno-hev 
Army,  Ko6rim6ngeri 
Artful,  G6zvero 
As,  ']diw,  sar 
Ascend,  Jal  opre 
Ashamed,  -^Iddj,  ladj 
Ashes,  Chik,  yog-chik,  tschar* 
Ask,  Pootch 
Asleep,  So6to 
Ass,  M^ila,  m6ila 
Assize,  Baury6,  baiiri,  baiiro- 

po6kenyuski-b6shopen 
Astonish,  Trdsher 
Asylum,  D/vio-kair 
Attorney.     See  Lawyer 
Auction,  Bfkinopen 
Aunt,  Be^bi 
Autumn,  Palla  lilef 
Avoid,  Nfsser 

Awake,  «;.,  J6nger,  atch  opr^, 
hushti* 


Away,  ^dr6m,  avr{ 
Awful,  Trdsh/^/ 
Axe,  T6ver,  tobdr 


B. 


Baby,    Tfkno    chdvo,    tdrno 

chdvo 
Back, ;/.,  Do6mo 
Back,  adv.,  Pauli,  palla 
Bacon,  Bdlovds 
Bad,  Vdsavo,  wdsedo,  wdfedo, 

bengalo,  doosh 
Badger,  ^«<^adrus 
Badness,  Wafedopen 
Bag,  Gunno 
Baker,  Maur^ngro 
Bald,  N6ngo 
Ball  {dance),  Kelopen 
Baptise,  Bolla* 
Barber,    Morm^ngro,   murav- 

mdngro 
Bare,  Nongo 
Barefoot,  N6ngo-pe^ro 
Bark,  v.,  Bosh 
Barley,  L/vina-ghiv 
Barn,    Grdnza,  grdinsi,   lo6d- 

open 
Basket,  Kdpsi,  k/psi,   kushni, 

tushni,     to6shni,    tro6shni, 

pitaree* 
Bastard,     Dad^ngro,     dddlo, 

dddom6ngro,      boshtdrdus, 

bostdrdo,  bastdrdo 
Bathe,  Jal  adr6  the  padni 
Battle,  Ko6roben,  ko6rimus 
Be,  See,  vel,  wel 


VOCABULARY. 


167 


Beads,  Meriki^j",  m^rikliex 
Beak,  Chiriklesto  nok 
Bean,  Boobi 
Bearded,  Cho6ralo 
Beat,  Koor,  del 
Beating,  Kooroben 
Beautiful,  Ri'nkeno 
Become,  Vel,  wel,  q.v. 
Bed,  Voodrus,  wo6drus 
Bedfordshire,     Wo6drus-gav- 

tem 
Bee,      Pfsham,      pooshamer, 

go6dlo-p{shamer,      goodlo- 

pisham 
Beef,   Mooshkeno-mas,  gro6- 

venesko-mas 
Beer,  Lfvina,  lovina,  Vini 
Beerseller,  Lfven^ngro 
Before,    Anglo,*   aglal,    'glal, 

agal,  'gal 
Beg,  Mong 

Beggar,  M6ngamengro 
Begging,  Mongamus 
Behaviour,  Kairopen,  keriben, 

kerimus 
Behind,  Palla,  palal,  pauli 
Belief,  Patsaben 
Believe,  Patser 
Bell,  Shoon-/tf-k6ngri 
Bellows,  Peshota,*  poodamen- 

gri,  poodelai- 

^^^°^'     1  Tal4  aid,  'le,  tdlla 
Beneath,/ 

Bend,  Kair  b6ngo 

Bent,  B6ngo 

Berry,  Diiril 

Better,  Feterdafro,  fdradair 


Bible,  Mi-do6velesko-lil 
Big,  Baiiro 
Bigger,  Baurodar 
Billhook,  Chfnomdngro,  kas- 

soni 
Bind,  Pander,  pand,  pan 
Bird,  Cheriklo,  chfriklo  ' 
Birdcage,  Cheriklesto  kair 
Birmingham,  Kaulo-gav 
Bit,  n.,  Kotor,  ko6si 
Bitch,  Jo6kli 
Bite,  Dander,  dan 
Bitter,  Sho6tlo  (lit.,  sour), 
Black,  Kaulo 
Blackbird,  Kaulo-chdriklo 
Blackness,   Kaulopen,  kaulo- 

ben 
Blackpool,  Kaulo  gav,  kaulo- 

padni-gav 
Blacksmith,  Kaulomdskro, 

kaulomengro,  sastramdskro, 

petalengro 
Blanket,  Koppa 
Blaze,  Yog,  h6tcher,  kdtchar 
Bless,  Parav,  parik 
Blind,  Koredo,  kordi,  koro 
Blindness,  K6rodomus 
Blood,  Ratt 

Bloody,  Rattvalo,  xdXtfullo 
Blow,  z^..  Pood 
Blow,  n.,  Koor 
Boar,  Mo6shkeno  baiilo 
Boast,  v.,  Shor 
Boat,  Bero,  paanengro 
Body,  Troopus,  troopo 
Boil,  Kdrav 
Bone,  Kokalos,  koko61us 


1 68 


ENGLISH-GYPSY 


Bonnet,  Joovioko  stardi 

Book,  Lil 

Boot,  Sk6'ni,//.,skrunya,chok; 

ch6kka 
Booty,  Looripen 
Born,  Be^no 
Bosh,  Lavines 
Bosom,  Berk 

Boswell,  Choomomengro* 
Both,  Do6i 

Bother,  Kfnger,  chara 
Bottle,  VaHn,  walin 
Bottle-neck,  Vdlinesko-men 
Bough,  Bei 

Bowels,  V^ndri,  w^ndraw 
Box,  M6%to,  m6kto,  mo6kto, 

khsi 
Boxer,  Ko6rom^ngro 
Boy,Chavo,moosh-chavi,  raklo 
Brandy,  Tatto  paani 
Bread,  Manro,*  mauro 
Bread  and  butter,  Kil  maiiro 
Break,  Poger,  pog 
Break-wind,  Ril 
Breast,  Berk,  to6tchi  {nipple) 
Breath,  Bdval 
Breeches.     See  Trousers 
Brick,  Chfkino-k6va 
Brickfield,  Chikino  tan,kafriko 

tan 
Bride,  R6madi,  r6meni,  r6mni 
Bridegroom,  Rom 
Bridewell,  KHsomdngro 
Bridge,  Poodj 
Bridle,  Sher6ngro,  s61iv6ngro, 

s61ovardo,  sdlivdrus,  sh611o- 

vardo 


'[  Yo6ser/V/^-kosht 


Bright,    Doodeno,    doodengi, 

do6dom^ngro 
Bring,  And,  hand,  ri'gher 
Bristle,  «.,  Baulesko  bal 
Broad,  Bauro 
Broadsheets,  Ghflyawj 
Broken,  Pogado 
Broken-kneed  horse,  Pel6ngro, 

p6ga(do)-ch6ngaw-grei 
Broken-winded  horse,  Pogado 

bdval^ngro,  bav^ngro,  p6ga- 

baval-grei 
Broken-backed  horse,  Doom- 

6ngro,  doom6ksno-grei 
Brooch,  Spingo 
Broom, 
Brush, 
Broth,  Zi'men 
Brother,  Pal 

Brother-in-law,  Stffo-pal 
Brow,  Kor 
Bull,    Gooro,    grov,    gooroni, 

mo6shkeni-gro6vni 
Bung,  BungdiXws 
Burn,    H6tcher,    hotch,    kat- 

char 
Bury,  Po6rav,  po6ras 
Business,    Kdiropen,  jivoben, 

bo6ti,  bo6tsi 
Butcher,  Mas6ngro 
Butter,  Kil 
Buttermilk,  Kal^ngri 
Button,  Krafni 
Buy,  Kin 
By, /r^.,  Hir* 
By,  adv.,  P6sha,  posh 


VOCABULARY. 


169 


Cabbage,  Shok,  //.,  shokyaw 
Cake,  Manrickli,*  marekli 
Caldron,  Peeri,  kekavi 
Call,  Kor 
Cambridgeshire,  Dova  tern  kei 

o  sh6rokone  gaire  jivenna 
Camp,  Tan 

Can,  Sastis,  vide  Tastis 
Cannot,  Nastissa,  nestis 
Candle,  Mumbli 
Cannon,  Bauro-y6gom6ngri 
Cap,  Koofa,  hoofa 
Captain,Sherengro,  shorengrO; 

b^resto-sherengro 
Cards,  Wardi 
Care,  Kisser,  trad 
Carpet,  Peeresto-k6ppa 
Carriage,  R^iesko-vardo 
Carrion,  Moolomas 
Carry,  Righer,  ri'ker,  rig 
Cart,  Vardo,  wardo 
Castle,  Kralisko-pooro-kair 
Cat,  Matchka 
Certainly,    Our,    oiirli,    aava, 

aavali 
Chain,  Chitti,  v^riga,  w6riga, 

v^riglo,  weriglo 
Chair,  B^shomengro,  bo61- 

koova,  skamin 
Chamber,  Kamora 
Change,  v.,  Para,  piira 
Change,  «.,  Parapen 
Chap,  n.,  Chal 
Charm,  «.,  Fiz 
Cheat,  Hoax,  chiv  opr^ 


Cheater,  Koromengro 
Cheek,  Cham  . 
Cheer  up,  Mantchi  too 
Cheese,  Kal 
Cherries,  Lalo  koovaw 
Cheshire,  Kalesko-t^m,    kal- 

keh';?^-t6m,kal-k61imus-t6m 
Chief,  Shorokno 
Child,    Chavo,    chabo,   tarno, 

ti'kno,  ti'keno 
Chin,  Choombo,  chumba,kum- 

bo 
Choke,  Tasser 
Chopper,  Chinomeskro 
Christ,  Mi-duvelesko  Chdvo 
Christmas  Day,  Bollesko-div- 

vus,  mi-duverj-divvus,  mol- 

dfvvus 
Church,  K6ngri 
Circus,  Sfkomengro 
Clean,  Yo6so,  yo6zo 
Clean,  v.,  Yo6ser,  yoosherova, 

kosher,  kosser 
Clean  up,  Yooser  apre 
Clear,   adj.^   Yoosho,    doodo- 

m^ngro,  doodeno 
Cleaver,  Chinom^ngro,  chino- 
meskro 
Cloak,  Plaashta,  pl6%ta,  ploch- 

ta 
Clock,  Ora,  yora 
Close,  v.,  Pand  apre 
Cloth,  adj.  and  n.,  Parno 
Cloth,  «.,  Partan,  poktan,  p6%- 

tan 
Clothes,   )  E^zaw,       rivoben, 
Clothing,/       r6di,  x66\-ing 


I70 


ENGLISH-GYPSY 


Clothes-peg,Gad-kosht-ko6va, 

troosheni 
Coals,  Angar,  v6ngar,  wongar 
Coarse,  Riizlo 
Coat,   Chaho,    cho^a,    choka, 

chooko,  cho6fa,  chuka 
Cock,  B6shno 

Codfish,  Mo6shkeno-matcho 
Coffin,  Mulo  m6;(;to 
CoTre,  Kester,  ch6rda,  sov  lasa 
Cold,  n.y  Shil 
Cold,  adj.f  Shflino,  shfrilo 
Collar,  Menengro 
Colliers,  W6ngarengri<?j',  won- 

gali-gdiri 
Comb,  «.,  K6ngali 
Comb,  v.y  Kongl,  konga 
Come,   Av,   avdl,   aw^l,   Vel, 

*wel,  dver 
Companions,  Mdlyaw 
Confined,  Chived  to  wo6drus, 

poshli 
Constable,  Mooshkero 
Conversation,  R6keropdn,  x6- 

kerben,  r6keroben,  r6kamus 
Convict,  n.,  Bftcham^ngro 
Cook,  n.y  H6ben6ngro,  h6be- 

n6ngri 
Cook,  v.y  Kdrav,  kel,  kair 
Cooper,  n.  pr.,  Ward^ngro 
Copper,  adj.y  Harko,"*  horki- 

pen,*  haiirengo,  h61ono 
Copper,  71.,  Haiiro 
Coppersmith,  Harkom^skro^ 
Cord,  Sholo,  sh(51o 
Corn,  Ghiv 
Corner,  Koonsus,  ko(5nshi 


Corpse,     Troopus,     troopo, 

mo61o 
Cough,  B6sherus,  shel 
Count,  Ghi'nja,  ghfnya 

^°""'^y'l  Tem 
County,  I 

Country,  adj.,  Temeskri 

Countryman,  Temengro 

County-town,  St^ripen-gav 

Court,  v.,  Kom,  p{riv 

Cousin,  Simensa 

Cover,  v.,  Chor6va 

Cow,  Gro6vni,  gro6ven 

Crab,  Her^ngro-matcho 

Cream,  Smenting,  sm^ntini 

Creator,  Kairomengro 

Cress,  Pandngri  shok 

Crooked,  B6ngo 

Cross,    adj.,    Hoino,     bono, 

k6rni 
Crow,  Kaulo  chiriklo 
Crown  (five  shillings),  Kooro- 

na,  pansh  kola 
Cry,  v.,  Rov 
Cup,  Dash,  ko6ri,  k6ro,  kiira, 

paloo  * 
Cup  and  saucer,  Do6lf-dash, 

doo-das 
Curse,  v.,  S6verhol,  siilverkon, 

s6vlohol 
Curse,  n.,  S61oh61omus,  sovlo- 

h61oben,  s6verh61oben 
Cut,  v.,  Chin 

Cut  off.  Chin  tale,  chin  ale 
Cut,  «.,  Chfnoben 
Cyder,     Pobdngro,    p6besko. 

pfam^skro 


VOCABULARY. 


ly  I 


D. 

Dance,  v.,  Kel 

Dance,  «.,  Kelopen 

Dark,  Tamlo,  kaiilo 

Daughter,  Chei 

Day,  Divvus,  div^z 

Dead,  Moolo,  mulo 

Deaf,  'Sho6ko 

Deaf  person,  'Shooko  kan^n- 

Dear,  Komelo 

Death,  Mdripen 

Deceit,  Ho6kaben 

Deep,  Bauro 

Deer,  Staani 

Derbyshire,  Chumba-kalesko 

tern 
Deserter,  Praster-m^ngro, 

prastero-mongro 
Devil,  Bang,  beng 
Devil's  Dyke,  B^ngesko-hev 
Devilish,  Bengalo,  bengesko 
Diamond,  Barvalo-bar 
Die,  Mer,  mel 
Dig,  Chin  the  poov 
Dirt,  Chik 
Dirty,    adj.,    Chfklo,     hfndi, 

mo6kedo,  m6%odo 

Dirty,  v.,  Moker 

Distance,)  ^-^ 
^.  \  Door 

Distant,   i 

Divine,   Do6velkanesto,  do6- 

velesko 
Do,  Kair,  kel 
Doctor,     Tatcho    drab^ngrO; 

drab^ngro 


Doer,  Kelomengro 
Dog,  Jookel,  jook,  yakel 
Doll,  Kookelo,  koshno  chavi, 

koshteno  tikno 
Doncaster,  n.pr.,  Meflesto-gav, 

moilesto-gav 
Donkey,  Meila,  m6ila 
Don't,  Maw,  ma 
Door,  Wo6da 
Down,  Tale,  al^,  'le 
Dress,  v.,  Rood 
Dress,  n.,  Roodopen,  rivoben, 

jo6vni-k61aw 
Drink,  v.,  Pee,  piova 
Drink,  n.,  Piaben,  piamus 
Drown,  Tasser 
Drug,  Drab 
Druggist,  Drabengri 
Drum,  Krambrookos,  ko6ro- 

m6ngri,wasto-b6shomengro 
Drunk,  Motto,  peedlo 
Drunk,  To  get.  Lei  m6tti 
Drunkard,  Mottom^ngro,  pee- 

mengro,  piamengro 
Drunkenness,  M6ttoben 
Dry,  Shooko 
Duck,  Retza 
Dumb,  Shooker,   kek   tatcho 

adre  the  moo,  luUero  * 
Dung,  Full,  chik 
Dunghill,  Chikesko-chiimba 

E. 

Ear,  Kan 

Earring,  Kan^ngro,  kfli,  kano- 
m^ngro 


172 


ENGLISH-GYPSY 


Earth,  «.,  Poov,  chik 
Earth,  adj.y  Po6vesto 
Easter,  Y6rakana  kooroko 
Easy,  Shookar 
Eat,  Kol,  hoi,  haw 
Eatables,  K6ben,  hoben,  hol- 

ben 
Educate,  And  apre 
Eel,  Sap,  sapesko-matcho 
^Z^y  Yoro,  y6ri 
Eight,   Oitoo,*  ochto,*  dooi- 

storaw 
Eighteen-pence,  Deshto-hauri, 

desti-k6ri 
Encamp,  Tan 
Enchantment,  Fiz 
Enemy,  Wdfedo  gairo 
England,  Anghit^rra 
English,  Gaujokones,  gaujones 
Englishman,   Gaujo,   Anitra- 

kero  (Anghiterrakero) 
Enough,  Do6sta,  dosta 
Entire,  Ch61o 

Entrails,  Wendraw,  venderi 
Every,  Sorkon 
Evil,  Doosh 
Except,  Tdlla 
Exchange,  Piiraben 
Excuse,  ;/.,  Veena 
Eye,  Yok 
Eyebrow,  Kor 
Eyeglasses,  Yok^ngri^j- 


F. 

Face,  Mo6if 

Fagot,  Tushni,  to6shni 


Fair,    ;/.,    Fairos,    wagyauro, 

walgaurus,  welingauro 
Fairies,     Mi-do6vel6ski-bitta- 

f61ki 
Fall,  v.,  Per6va,  pel 
False,  Foshono,  malleco* 
False  laughter,  Poshavaben  * 
Falsehood,  Ho6kapen 
Famine,  Bauro  bokaloben 
Far,  Door 
Farmer,  Ghiv^ngro 
Farmhouse,  Ghivesto  kair 
Farther,  Do6rdair 
Farthing,  Loli,  luli 
Fashion,  Drom 
Fasten,  Pander,  pand,  pan 
Fast,  Panlo 
Fat,  adj.,  Tiilo 
Fat,  n.,  Tiilopen 
Father,  Dad,  dadus 
Father-in-law,  StiTo-dad 
Fear,  n.  and  v..  Trash 
Fearful,  Trash>/ 
Feather,  Pur,  por 
Feather-bed,  P6rongo-wudrus 
Fellow,  Chal 

Female,     )  ^    .     .    .    ,  .  , 
Feminine,;  J°°^"''  •'°°"°'^° 
Fern,  Foozhari 
Fetch,  Rfgher 
Fiddle,  v.  and  ;/.,  Bosh 
Fiddle,;/.,  B6shom^ngro,  b6sh- 

omengri 
Fiddler,  Boshero,  b6shomen- 

gro,  b6shom^ngri 
Field,  Poov 
Fiery,  Y6gesko 


VOCABULARY. 


173 


Fight,  v.y  Koor 

Fight,  71.,    Kooroben,    koori- 

mus 
File,  Rin^ 
Fill,  P6rder 
Filth,  Chik 
Find,  Latch 
Fine,  Fine-o 
Finger,    Vongusti,    v6ngushi, 

v6ngus 
Finger-nail,  Nei 
Fire,  n.^  Yog  ;  adj.^  Yogesko 
Firearm,  Yogengro,  y6gom6n- 

gro,  yogengri 
Firebrand,       Dood-y6gengi- 

k6shter 
Fireplace,   Yogom^skro,    y6- 

gongo-tan 
First,  Firsia.da.ir 
Fish,  Matcho,  matchi 
Fisherman,      Matchom^ngro, 

matchengro 
Five,  Pansh 

Five-pound  note,  Pansh6ngro 
Five  shillings,  Koorona,  pansh 

kola 
Flame,  Prarchadi 
Flea,  Pooshamer,  pfsham 
Flies,  Likyaw 
Florin,  Dooi  koli 
Flour,  Varo,  v6ro,  porno 
Flower,  R6sali,  rosheo 
Fly,  n,,  Mosco  ;*  v.,  vol* 
Foal,  Tarno-grei,  grei'j  tfkno 
In  foal,  Adr^  kaafni,  kavni 
Fold,  Pandomengro 
Folk,  Folki,  sweti  * 


Follow,  Av  palla,  jal  palla 
Food,  Koben,  h61ben,  h6ben 
Fool,  Dinilo,  dinvero,  dinlo 
Foolishly,  Dinveres 
Foolish,  Dinveri 
Foot,  Peero,  piro,  peeri 
♦For,  Pa* 
Forcibly,  Drovdn 
Forget,  Bisser 
Foreign,  Gaiijokones 
Foreigner,  Gaujo,  gauji,  waver- 

temengro 
Forest,  Vesh 
Forgive,  Arta.v*ford6f  ford6\, 

pardel 
Forgiveness,  Artapen,*  /ord6- 

loness 
Fork,  Posomengro 
Foretell,  Doorik,  duker 
Fortune,  Bok,  diikeriben  * 
Fortunes,  To  tell,  Doorik,  du- 
ker 
Fortune-telling,    Do6rikapen, 

dukeropen 
Foul,  v.,  Moker 
Four,  Stor 
Fox,  Vesh-jookel,  o  I6I0  wesh- 

keno-jookel 
Fragment,  Kotor^ndri 
Friday,  Pansh  divvus^i"  palla 

kooroko,  Dooi'  divvus^i-  'glal 

kooroko 
Friend,  Bor,  mal,  pal,  komelo 

gairo 
Friendship,  Komoben 
Frightened,  Trashedo 
Frock,  Sho6ba 


174 


ENGLISH-GYPSY 


Frog,  O  stor  her6ngro  h6n- 
gesko  koli  ta  jab  ad  re  o 
paani  so  pi6va 

From,  Avrf,  fon 

Frying-pan,  Masali,  tatter- 
m^ngri 

Full,  Pordo 

Fun,  Peias 

Further.  Do6rdair 


Gamekeeper,Kan^ngri-moosh, 

yog-moosh,  veshengro,  yog- 

6ngri-gaujo 
Gaol,  Stdripen 
Garden,  Roozho-poov,  bor 
Garlic,  P6ruma 
Garments,  Rivoben 
Gate,  Bur,  stekas,  stfgher 
Gentile,  n.,  Gaujo,  gauji 
Gentile,  adv.,  Gaujokones,  gau- 

jones ;  adj.,  Gaujokono 
Gentleman,  Rei 
Gentlemanlike,  Reidli 
Genuine,  Tatcho 
Get,  Lei,  r/gher 
Get  up,  Atch  opre 
Ghost,  Mulo,  mo61o 
Gift,  Di'no  (lit.,  given) 
Gipsy.     See  Gypsy 
Girl,  Rdkli 
Give,  Del,  d6 
Glad,  Mishto 

Glandered  horse,  Nokdngro 
Gloves,  Vongsh6ngri,    f61as6, 

f61asciw 


Glutton,  Bauro-h61om6ngro 
God,  Do6vel,  duvel 
Go,  J  ova,  jaw,  jal,  jil,  jol 
Go  back,  Jaw  pauli 
Go  slowly,  Jal  shookdr 
Goat,  Ldvines-b6kro 
Gold,  So6nakei 
Goldsmith,  So6nako-p6tal6n- 

gro 
Gonorrhoea,        H6tcheropen, 

hotchopen,  hodjerpen 
Good,  Ko6shko,  kooshto,  kush- 

to,  k6shto,  mfshto,  tatcho, 

tatcheno,  latcho 
Goodness,Ko6shkopen,ko6sh- 

tiben,  kooshtoben,  k6shto- 

ben,  Idtchipen 
Good  health!) 
Good  luck!    I  Kooshto  bok! 

Goose,  Pdpin,  papini,  pdpin^n- 

Gooseberry,  Diiril 
Gown,  Shooba 

Grandchild,  Po6ro-dad'.f  chdvo 
Grandfather,  Po6ro-dad,  pau- 

pus 
Grandmother,  Po6ri-dei,  baiiri- 

dei 
Grass,  Chor 
Grassy,    Ch6resto,    ch6rkeno 

chor^ngri 
Grasshopper,    Ch6r-6;^tam^n- 
•  gro 

Grave,  «.,  Hev 
Gray,  n.  pr.,  Bal  (lit,  hair) 
Grease,  n.,  Tulopen 
Great,  Bauro 


VOCABULARY. 


175 


Green,    Greefio,    chor-dik/«^, 

chorengri,  selno* 
Greenwood,  Bivan-kosht 
Greyhound,   Kanengri-jookel, 

shoshi-jookel 
Grieve,  Toog 
Grieved,     Toogno,     toogeno, 

toognus 
Ground,  Tan,  chik,  poov 
Grouse,  iVi^Z/^erenghi  chfriklo 
Guinea,  Kotor 

Guineafowl,  Atch  pauli  kanni 
Gun.     See  Musket 
Gut,  Venderi 
Gypsy,  n.,  Rom,  Romani-chal, 

kaulomengro ;  ^^■.,R6mani 
Gypsy  language,  R6manes 

H. 

Hail,    «.,    Baiiro    bishno ;    it 

hails,  grondinni* 
Hair,  Bal 

Hairy,  Baleno,  bal/j/ 
Half,  Posh 
Half-breed,     Didakei,    posh- 

peerdo 
Halfcrown,  Posh-koorona 
Halfpenny,  Posh-h6ri 
Hall,  Fflisin 
Halt,  Atch 
Halter,  Mulomengro 
Hammer,  Delomeskro,p6gero- 

meskro,  pogeromesti,  tobar, 

tover,  shukara  * 
Hand,  Vast,  wast,  vdsti,  vas, 

vastro* 


Handbills,  Ghilyawj 
Handcuffs,  Wastengri^j- 
Handkerchief,    Diklo,    posh- 

neckus,  pongdishler 
Hang,  Ndsher 
Happiness,  Kooshko-bok 
Hard,  adv,,  Drovan 
Hare,  Kanengro,  kan^ngri 
Hark!  Shoonta ! 
Harlot,  Lo6bni,  loodni,  lubni 
Harness,  Wardesko  k61a 
Harvest,  Ghivesto-chairus 
Haste,  Heka,  yeka 
Hasten !  Ressi  toot,  kair  h^ka 
Hat,  Staadi,  stadi 
Hatchet,  Chinom^ngro 
Hate,  Kek-kom 
Have,  Si,  shan,  q.v. 
Hawker,  Bfkinomengro,  biko- 

m^ngro,  kaurom^ngro 
Hay,  Kas 
Hayrick,  Kas6ngro 
He,  Ov,  yov,  yow 
Head,   Shero,    shoro,    shor6, 

shuro 
Hear,  Shoon 
Heart,  Zee 
Heat,  Tattoben 
Heaven,   Duvel,  miduvelesko 

chairus,  miduvelesko-keri 
Heavy,  Loko  {q.v),  pordo 
Hedge,  Bor 

Hedgehog,  Hotchi-witchi 
Hedgestake,  Borengri 
Height,  Torropen 
Hell,  Bengesko-tan 
Help,  Kair-posh,  husker* 


176 


ENGLISH-GYPSY 


Hen,  Kanni,  ka;)^ni 

Her,  Ldki,  16ki,  Ukro,  Idti 

Here,  Akei,  'kei 

Herefordshire,    Pobesko   pia- 
meski  tern 

Heren,\  «./r.,Match6,Rossar- 

Heron,  >    mescro  ;*  pi.,  Bauro- 

Herne,)    kanengri  -  mooshaw, 
Balaw^ 

Herring,    Mdtcho,   baleno 
matcho 

Hide,  Garav,  gdra 

Hidden,  adv.,  Garones,  garid- 
nes  ;  adj.,  garidno,  garido 

High,  T6rro 

Highway,  Bauro  drom 

Hill,  Chong,  choong,  choonga, 

cho6mba,  kumbo,  dumbo 
Him,  Las,  les,  16sti 
His,  L^sko,  lesti'j-,  olescro* 
Hit,  Del,  koor 
Hold,  n.,  B6nek ;  v.,  Til 
Hole,  Kev,  hev 
Holy,  Do6velkan6sto 
Home,  Kerd,  k^ri 
Honey,  Pisham 
Hoof,  Greiesto-pfro,  pindro* 
Hop,  v.,  Hok 
Hops,  'Liveningries 
Horn,  Shing 

Horse,  n.,  Grei ;  adj.,  Grefesto 
Horse-dealer,  Grei-engro 
Horse- shoe,    Pdtal,  gref-esto- 

chok 
Horse-race,  Prastdrimus,  pras- 
term^ngri,  greiesto-prdster- 


Horse-fair,  Gr^iesto-fdiros 
Horse-whip,  Gr^iesto-chukni 
Horse-rug,  Gr^iesto-k6ppa 
Horse-collar,  Greiesto-men^n- 

gro 
Hot,  Tatto 
Hound,  Jookel 
Hour,  Ora,  y6ra 
House,  Kair 

House-dweller,  \  Kair^ngro, 
Housekeeper,  J  kairengri 
How,  Sar 

How  d'ye  do  ?  Sar  shan  ? 
Humble,    Chooro,    cho6reno, 

cho6rokno 
Humbly,  Choovenes 
Hundred,  Shel* 
Hung,  Nashedo 
Hunger,  Bok 
Hungry,  Bokalo 
Hurt,  n.  and  v.,  Do6ka 
Husband.  Rom 


I. 

I,  Man,  m6,  mdndi,  mdnghi 
111,  Ndsfelo,  ndfifelo,  doosh 
Illness,  Ndffelopen 
Illtempered,  K6rni 
Imitation,  F6shono 
Immediately,  Kendw  sig 
In,  Adr6,  'dr6,  ando,*  inna* 
Indebted,  Fizerous 
Inflame,  Katcher 
Injure,  Do6ka 
Inn,  Kftchema 
Innkeeper,  Kftchem^ngro 


VOCABULARY. 


77 


Intestine,  Vender! 
Into,  Ande,*  adre,  'dre 
Ireland,    Hindo-tem,    Hindi- 

temeskro-tem 
Irishman,     Hindi-temengro, 

poovengri-gaujo 
Irish  Gypsy,  Efage  * 
Iron,  n.,  Saster,  saasta,  saashta 
Iron,  adj.,  Sastera 
Is,  See 
It,  Les 
Itch,  ;/.  and  v.^  Honj 

J- 

Jail,  Steripen 

Jews,  Miduvelesto-mauromen- 

gri 
Jockey,  Kestermengro 
Judgment,  Bitchama 
Jump,  Hokter,  hok,  6;^ta 
Jumper,  Hop^ter^r 
Just  now,  Kenaw  sig 
Justice  of  the  peace,  Chi'vlo- 

gaujo,  chuvno-gaujo,  poken- 

yus,  pookinyus 

K. 

Keep,  Righer,  ri'ker 
Kettle,  Kekavvi,  'kavvi 
Key,  Klerin,  kli'sin 
Kick,  v.,  Del,  de 
Kill,  Maur 
Kin,  Sim^nsa 

Kind,    adj.,   Komelo,    k6mo- 
niuso 


King,  Kralis 

Kingdom,  Kralis^;;/,  tern 

Kiss,  11.  and  v.,  Chooma 

Knee,  Chong,  choong 

Knife,    Choori,   chivomengro, 

chinomengro 
Knock,  v.,  Koor,  de 
Know,  Jin 
Knowing,  Yoki,  jinomengro, 

jinomeskro 

L. 

Lad,     Chab,     chabo,     chavo, 

mushipen.*     See  Boy 
Lady,  Rauni 
Lamb,  Bokocho,  vakasho 
Lame,  Long,  bongo 
Lancashire,  Piro-dehV/^-tem 
Landlord,  Holeno,  holeskro 
Lantern,  Doodomengro 
Lard,  Baiileski  tulopen 
Large,  Bauro 
Lass,  Chei.     See  Girl 
Last,  Koliko 

Laugh,  v.^  Sav,  sal,  sarler 
Laugh,  ;/.,  Savaben,  savapen 
Laughter,  ;/.,  Salimus,  sahV/^ 
False  laughter,  Poshavaben  ^ 
Lawyer,  Shanengro,  shereks- 
no,    chivomengro,    rokero- 
mengro,  rokermengro,  sho- 
rengro,  sheromengro,  mooi- 
engro,  moo-engro 
Lead  (metal),  Molus,  molov 
Lead,  v.,  Righer 
Leaf,  Patrin 

12 


178 


ENGLISH-GYPSY 


Lean,  adj.,  Bi'to,  bi'ti 

Leather,  Cham 

Leave,  v.,  Mook 

Leaves,  Rookenghi  cho^aj" 

Lee,  11.  pr.,  Poorum 

Leek,  Poorumi 

Left,  adj.y  Bongo,  zezro* 

"Ldt,  p.  part.y  Mooklo 

Leg,  Hero 

Leggings,  Herengri^j 

Lent,  Mooklo 

Let,  Mook 

Letter,  Chinomengro,  Chi'vo- 
mengro 

Liar,  H6;^ano,  hokeno,  sha- 
nengro 

Lice,  Joovc,  joova^ 

Lick,  v.,  Kosher 

Lie,  H6;)^aben,  ho^ani,  hook- 
apen 

Life,  Meripen,  jivoben 

Lift,  Had,  azer 

Light,  n.j  Dood 

Light  (kicidus),  adj.,  Doodeno 

Light  (Icvis),  adj.,  loko  (gene- 
rally used  for  heavy) 

Lightning,  Bauro-dood,  mi- 
duvclcsto-dood,  mi-doovel- 
csko-yog,  villarminni  * 

Like,  v.,  Kom  ;  adj.,  Pdnsa, 
penza, sar 

Likeness,  Dikomengri 

Lincolnshire,  Tulo-mas  tern 

Lip,  Wisht 

Listen,  Shoon 

Little,  Ti'kno,  bito 

A  little,  Koosi 


Live,  Jiv 

Livelihood,)   ^,     , 
^  .  .  \  Jivoben 

Living,        j 

Lively,  Jido 

Liver,  Bo6ko 

Liverpool,  Booko-paani,  boo- 

kesto-paani-gav,    bero-gav, 

bau  ro-beresto-gav 
Loaf  of  bread,  Cholo  mauro 
Lock,  v.,  Kli'sin 
Lock-up,  71.,  Klisomengro 
Lodge,  v.,  Lod 
Lodging-house,  Loodopen 
London,     Lundro,     Londeri, 

Lundra,  Kaulo-gav,  Bauro- 

gav 
Lonely,  Kokero,  toogeno 
Long,  Door 
Very  long  way,  Doovori-doo- 

vori 
Look  !  Dordi !  hokki  ! 
Look,  v.,  Dik 
Looking-gkss,    Dikom^ngro, 

mooesto-kova 
Loose,  Piro 
Lose,  Ndsher 
Louse,  Jo6va 
Lousy,  Joovli 

Love,  v.,  Kom;  ;/.,  Komoben 
Lovell,  ;/.  pr.,  Komomeskro, 

komelo 
Lover,  Pi'rino,  pirini 
Lucifer-match,     D^lomcngro, 

doodomdskri 
Luck,  Bok 
Lucky,  Bokalo 


VOCABULARY. 


179 


M. 

Mad,  Divio 

Made,  Kairdo,  kedo 

Magistrate.    See  Justice  of  the 

peace 
Magpie,  Kakaratchi,  romani- 

chal-rokenV^'^  chiriklo 
Maid,  Rakli 
Make,  Kair,  kel 
Maker,  K6ron1engro 
Make  love,  Piriv 
Male,  Mooshkeno 
Man,  Gairo,  nianoosh,  moosh 
Manchester,   Poovengri    gav, 

Mooshkeno   gav,   Tavesto- 

gav,  P6%tan  gav 
Mangy,  Hdni'i/ied 
Mansion,  Filisin 
Many,  Doosta,  dosta 
Mare,  Grasni 
Market-town,  Forus 
Married,  Romedo 
Marry,  Romer 
Marshall,  71. pr.,  Mokkado  tan- 

engre* 
Masculine,  Mooshkeno 
Master,  Shorokno  gairo 
Match,    Delomengro,   doodo- 

meskri 
Mate,  Bor 
Mates  !    Choovali  !    chawoli  ! 

malyaw ! 
May,  Te  (preceding  verb) 
May  be,  Estist  * 
Mayor,  Gresti 
Me,  Man,  mdndi 


Meal,  Kona* 

Meat,  Mas,  -vas 

Meddle,  Chalav,  chdrvo,  chara 

Mercy,  Komoben 

Midnight,  Mulo  raati 

Midwife,  Mormusti,*divi-gairi 

Mile,  Meea 

Milestone,  Meeasto  bar,  pook- 

er/;/^  bar 
Milk,  ;/.  and  v.,  Tood 
Mill,  Pornengri,   pogamengri, 

baval-pogamengri 
Miller,  Pogeromengro,  porno- 

mesti,  varengro,  vardengro- 

gairo 
Mind!    Lei  trad!    Rak !    Lei 

veena ! 
Mine.     See  My 
Miss,  Nisser 
Monday,   Yek    divvus    palla 

kooroko 
Monkey,  Bumbaros,  7/in;ik'dYos 
Money,  Luva,  angar,  vongar, 

vangar,  wongar 
Month,  Shoon 
Moon,    Shoon,    shool,    chein, 

choom,    sikermengro,     mi- 

duvelesko-dood 
More,  Bootodair,  komi,  komo- 

dair 
Morning,  Saula,  saala 
This  morning,  Kesaula 
Mother,  Dei 
Mother-in-law,  Stifi-dei 
Mountain,  Dumbo 
Mourn,  Rov 
Mouse,  Mousc-\xs 


i8o 


ENGLISH-GYPSY 


Mouth,  Mooi" 

Much,  Boot,  booti,  ki'si,  doosta 

MuckjN  ^,  ., 
__    -  M  Chik 
Mud,   j 

Muck-cart,  FuU-vardo 

Muddy,  Chiklo 

Mule,  Shani 

Mumper,  Cho6rokono  moosh, 

cho6rodo 
Musket,    Pushca,*    powiskie,* 

yog^ngro 
I  must,  Shom  te 
Mustard,  Danomeskri 
Mutton,  Joovioko-mas 
My,  Meero,  mei'ro,  mi'no,  mi, 

mandiV 


N. 

Nail  (finger),  Nei 

Nail  (iron),  Krafni 

Naked,  Nongo 

Name,  Nav,  lav 

Narrow,  Bito 

Naughty,  Wafedo 

Near,  P6sha 

Neck,  Men 

Necklace,  Men-wdriga 

Needle,  Soov 

Negatives,  Kek,  maw,  na  (sec 

P-  49) 
Nettles,  Dandimcngri  chor 
Never,  Kek-komi 
New,  Nevo 
Newspaper,  Sho6naben,Sho6- 

namc^^ngri,    ghilyawj-,    ghil- 

yengri^j- 


Night,  Raati 

Nine,  Enneah  * 

Ninety,  Enyovardesh* 

Nit,  Lik 

No,  Kek,  keker,  kekcno,  naw, 
na,  nei,  nanei,  kek-nanei 

Nobody,  Kek-komeni 

'  No  road,'  Chichikeno  drom 

Noise,  Giidli,  godli 

None,  K^kero,  kekeno,  kek- 
komeni,  kek-nanei 

Norfolk,  Matchesko-gav-tera, 
pobesko-gav-tem 

Norwich,  Pobomuski-gav,  p6- 
bomusti-gav 

North,  Shflo-tem 

Nose,  Nok 

Not,  Kek.     See  No 

Notice,  ;/.,  Veena 

Nothing,  Chichi,  chi 

Now,  Kenaw,  konaw,  kanna, 
konna,  kon 

Nudge,  Moonjer 

Nuts,  Pedliaw,  petliaw,  pcv- 
liaw,  peneka,*  penliois,*  nut'i 

O. 

Oak,  Po6roder  rook,  krdlisko 

rook 
Oath,  Soverholoben,  s6vloh6- 

loben,  s61oh6lomus 
Oats,  Job 

Oat-stack,  Job-poosengro 
Off,  Avri,  tal6,  al6 
Ointment,  Tulipen 
Old,  Po6ro 


VOCABULARY. 


l8l 


Old-fashioned,  Poorokono 

On,  Opre,  apre,  'pre 

Once,  Yekorus 

One,  Yek 

One-year-old   horse,   Beshen- 

gro 
Onion,  Poorumi,  strangli 
Only,  adj.,  Yekino 
Open,  v.,  Piriv ;  adj.^  Piro 
Opened,  Pirivdo 
Opposite,    Posh-aglal,   tatcho 

glal 
Orange,  Pobomus 
Order,  ;/.,  Trad ;  v.,  Del  trad 
Osier,  Ran 
Other,  Waver,  wover 
Our,  Moro,  mendiV,  amandi'i-* 
Out,  out  of,  Avri 
Over,  Paudel,  pardel 
Owe,  Kom 
Owl,  Weshni-miilo 
Own,  adj.,  Nogo,  nago,  nevus 
Ox,  Mooshkeni-groovni 


Pail,  bedra* 

Pain,  n.  and  v.,  Dooka 

Palace,  Kralisko  kair,  kralis- 

kesko  kair 
Pales,  palings,  Palyaw 
Paper,  Lil,  lilesko  kova 
Pardon,    v.,   Artav,*  /<?rdel, 

fordiQ,  pardel 
Pardon,  ;/,,  Artapen,*/^rdelo- 

n£ss,  pdrdonos 
Parlour,  Beurus 


Parrot,  Romani-chal-roker?;^^ 

chiriklo,  Hindo-kakaratchi 
Parson,  Rashei,  rashrei,  delo- 

mengro,  mi-duveri-  moosh 
Part,  Kotor 
Partners,  Malyaw 
Partridge,  RidjW 
Path,  Poovela,  droni 
Paunch,  Pur 

Pauper,  Chooredo.  See  Tramp 
Pawn,  v.,  Simmer 
Pawnshop,    Simmer/;/^    bo6- 

dega 
Pay,  v.,  Pesser 
Pea,  Boobi 
Pear,  Ambrol* 
Pedere,  Ril 
Pedestrian,  Peerengro 
Pedlar,   Bikinomengro,   biko- 

mengro 
Pen  (fold),  Panomengro 
Penny,  Kori,  horo,  hori,  hari 
People,  Folk'x,  sweti " 
Pepper,  Dandermeskri,  tatto- 

koova 
Performer,  Kelomengro 
Petticoats,    Chuffa^,    shoova, 

shooba,  pallani-chokka 
Pheasant,  Bauro  cheriklo,  r^i- 

esko  cheriklo 
Photograph,  Dikomengri 
Physician,  Drabengro 
Pick,  v.,  Tarder 
Pie,  Goi 
Piece,  Kotor 
Pig,  Baulo 
Pig-face,  Baulesko  mo6i* 


i8; 


ENGLISH- GYPSY 


Pig-fair,  Baulesto  foros 
Pillow,  Woodrus  shcromengro 
Pin,  Spingl,  spingcr,  spink 
Pincers,  Tilomengri,  plaistra* 
Pinch,  v.y  Moonjer 
Pinfold,  11.  pr.,  Panomengro 
Pipe,  Swagler,  swegler 
Piper,  Boshomengri 
Place,  IK,  Chiv  ;  ;/.,   Tan 
Placenta,  Poshbecnimus 
Plate,  Ch6ro,chor,s6rsin,  skoo- 

dalin 
Play,'Z^.,Kel ;  «.,Kelimus,peias 
Please !  Lei  kooshtoben  ! 
Pleasure-grounds,    Sikermen- 

gro 
Pledge,  v.,  Simmer 
Plenty,  Doosta,  dosta 
Plough,  Poov-vdrdo,  poovesto- 

choori,  poovo-chinom^ngri, 

vardo-bavengro 
Plunder,  v.,  Loor ;  ;/.,Lo6ripen 
Pocket,  Pootsi,  po'chi 
Poison,  Drab 
Policeman,  Gavcngro,  moosh- 

kero,   nashermengro,  prds- 

termengro,  chukengro 
Poor,  Chooro,  chuveno,  choo- 

reno,  choorokno 
Poorer,  Choorodar 
Pork,   Baleno-mas,  baiilesko- 

mas 
Post,  Kosht 
Possible,  Astis,*  sastis,  stastis, 

tastfs,  q,v. 
Pot,  Koori,  koro 
Potato,  Poovengri,  poovy^ngri 


Potter,  Koromengro,  korengro 

Pothook,  Sastcr 

Pouch,  Giinno 

Pound    (;^i),    Bar,    balanser, 

balans 
Pound  (forcattle),Panomengro 
Pour,  Chiv 

Powerful,  Ruslo,  ruzino 
Power,  Riizlipen 
Praise,  v.,  Shor 
Pray,  Mong,  mole  * 
Predict,  Do6rik,  dukker 
Pregnant,      Bauri,      shoobli, 
shoovli  (of  women)  ;  kavni, 
kaafni  (of  animals) 

Present, ;/.,  Del-/^-mandi,  dfno 

Pretty,  Rinkeno,  n'keno 

Prettily,  Rinkenes 

Prison,  Stariben,  stcripen,  ste- 
rimus,  stardo,  staiiri 

Prisoner,  St(^rom6ngro,  stcro- 
mcsti 

Privy,  Hindi  kair 

Prognosticate,  Doorik 

Prostitute,  Lubni 

Protect,  Rak 

Proud,  BooTno 

Public-house,  Kitchema 

Pudding,  Goi 

Pudding-bag,  Goiongo  giinno 

Pudendum   muliebre,   Mindj, 
minsh 

Pudendum  virile,  Kori,  kauri 

Pugilist,  Ko6rom^ngro 

Pull,  Tarder 

Purse,  Ki'si 

Put,  Chiv 


VOCABULARY. 


183 


Quarrel,  v.,  Chingar 

Quarrel, ;/.,  Chingariben,  godli 

Quart,  Trooshni 

Queen,  Kralisi,  Kralisi 

Quick,  Sig 

Be  quick,  Sigo  toot,  ressi  toot, 

kair  abba 
Quietly,  Shookar 


R. 

Rabbit,  Shoshi,  mavi 
Rabbit-trap,  Klisomengro 
Race,  v.,  Praster 
Race,  ;/.,  Prastermengri 
Rails,  Palyaw 

Railway  train,  Praster/;/^  koli 
Rain,  Brishindo,  bi'shno 
It  rains,  Brishinela 
Rainy,  Brisheno,  bishavo 
Raise,  Had,  til  apre 
Raw,  Bivan,  bivano 
Razor,  Moromengro 
Read,  Del  apre,  De  apre,  del 
Reading,  n.pr.,  Lalo-gav 
Real,  Tatcho,  tatcheno 
Reckon,  Ghinja,  ghinya 
Reeds,  Rushin 
Red,  L6I0,  lalo 
Redford,  71.  pr,,  Lalo  peero 
Red-herring,  Loli  matcho 
Reins,  Tilomengri 
Relation,  Simensa 
Relieve  the   bowels,  Kinder, 
hinder,  hingher,  hind 


Religious,  Mi-duvelesko 
Remember,  Chiv  it  adre  yoitr 

shero,  shoon  lendi,  kek  bis- 

ser,  repper  toot 
Remove,  Ranjer 
Resurrection,    Aic\\ing    apre 

rtpopli 
Return,  ■:'.,  Av  paiili,  jaw  pauli 
Rib,  Kokalo 
Riband,  Dori 
Rich,  Barvalo 
Riches,  Barvalopen 
Ride,  Kester,  kister 
Rider,  Kestermengro 
Ridicule,  v.,  Prosser,*  pross* 
Right,  adj.,  Tdtcho,  tatcheno 
Right,  adv.,  Tatchnes 
Right,  ;/.,  Tatchopen 
Right  arm,  Kushto  mooshi 
Ring,   ;/.,   Vongus,    vongusti, 

vongushi 
River,  Dorio'v,  Doydv,  nill* 
Road,  Drom 
Roast,  Pek 
Rob,  Loor 
Rock,  ;/.,  Bar 
Rod,  Ran 
Room,  Kamora 
Rope,  Shelo,  sholo 
Royal,  Kralisko 
Row  (noise),  Gudli,  godli 
Rump,  Bool 
Run,  v.,  Nasher,  praster 
Runner,  Nashermengro,  Pras- 

termengro 
Rushes,  Rushivi 


1 84 


ENGLISH- GYPSY 


S. 

Sack,  Gono,  gi'inno,  kanyo 
Saddle,  Beshto,  b6shto,b6shta 
Safe,  Tatcho,  tatcheno 
Sail,  «.,  Beresto  pl6%ta 
Sailor,  Berengro,  beromcngro, 

paanengro-gaiijo 
Saints,  Mi-duveleski  gaire 
Sake,  Sake-OS 
Saliva,  Choongarben 
Salt,  ?/.,  Lon,  Ion 
Salt,  adj.,  Londo,  londudno 
Sand,  Chik 
Saturday,  O  di'vvus  'glal  koo- 

roko 
Savage,  Haurini 
Say,  Pen 

Scent,  So6ngimus 
Scissors,  Katserj,  katsifj- 
Scold,  v.,  Chingar 
Scotland,  A^^V//f^rcngri-tem 
Scotchmen,  A^<?/'///^rengri  gair^ 
Sea,   Dorio'v,    doyav,    doval, 

dovyal,  bauro   pani,  londo 

paani,  londudno  padni 
Search,  v.,  R5d,  roder 
Search,  ;/.,  Roodopen 
Second,  Duito* 
Secretly,  Koonjones,  garones, 

garidnes 
See !  Dordi !  hokki ! 
See,  v.,  Dik 
Seek,  Ro  der,  rod 
Seize,  Til,  prala* 
Self,  Kokero 
Sell,  Bikin,  bik 


Send,        \  Bitch er,;/.,Bitcha- 

Sentence,)       ma 

Serpent,  Sap 

Servant,  Bootiengro,  bootsien- 

gro 
Sessions,  Beshopen 
Seven,  Afta,*  eft,*  dooi  trinyaw 

ta  yek,  trin  ta  stor,  trinstor 
Seventy,  Heftwardesh,*  dooi 

trinyaw  ta  yek  deshaw 
Sew,  Siv 
Shake,  Ri'sser 

Shame,  v.,  Ladjer  ;  ;/.,  Ladj 
Shamefully,  'Lidjfiilly 
Sharp,  Jinomengro 
Shave,  Morov 
Shawl,  Bauro  di'klo 
She,  YoT,  yoi 

Sheep,  Bokoro,  bokro,  mas 
Sheffield, ;/.  pr.,  Chooresto  gav 
Shepherd,  Barscngri,  basengro, 

bokoromengro,    b6krom6n- 

gro,  bokomengro,  bokor^-n- 

gro 
Shilling,  Tringorishi,  kolli 
Ship,  Bero 
Shirt,  Gad 

Shirt-sleeve,  Gddesto  bei 
Shoe,  Chok,  ch6ka 
Shoemaker,  Chokengro 
Shoot,  Pooder 
Shooting-coat, Yogengri  choo- 

ko 
Shop,  Bo6dega,  bo6dika,  bo6- 

rika 
Shopkeeper,  Boodegam^-ngro, 

boorikamengro 


VOCABULARY. 


185 


Shoulder,  Piko 

Shout,  v.,  Kaur 

Show,  v.,  Siker 

Showman,         )  c>y 

\        \  Sikermengro 
Show-gardens,) 

Shut,  v.,  Pander 

Sick,  Nasfalo,  nafifalo 

Sickness,  Nafflopen 

Side,  Rig 

Sign-post,      Po6ker/;/f-kosht, 

sikeromengro 
Silence !  Shooker,  shookar 
Silk,  Kaish,  kaidj,  p'har* 
Silken,  Kaisheno,  kaidjino 
Silly,  Dinveri 

Silver,;/.,  Roop ;  adj., Roopeno 
Silversmith,  Roopnomengro 
Sing,  Ghil,  ghiv 
Single,  Yekino 
Sir!  Reia! 
Sin,  Wafedopen 
Sister,  Pen 

Sister-in-law,  Stifi-pen 
Sit,  Besh 
Six,  Shov,  sho* 
Sixpence,  Shookauri 
Sixty,  Shovardesh* 
Skewer,  Chungar,  spingarus 
Skewer-maker,  Spingaro-kelo- 

mengro 
Skin,  Mootsi 
Sky,   Duvel,    poodj,  miduve- 

lesto-tem 
Slap  on  the  face,  Tschamme- 

dini* 
Slay,  Maur,  hetavava  * 
Sleep,  v.,  Sov,  sooter 


Sleeve,  Bei 

Slowly,  Dro6ven,  shookar 

Sly,G6zvero,jinomeskro,y6kj' 

Small,  Bi'to,  tikno 

Smallpox,  Bookenyus,  booko 

Smell,  v.,  Soon,  soom ;  ;/., 
Soongimus,  soonaben 

Smith,  n.pr.y  Petalengro 

Smith,  Sastermengro,  petal- 
engro, kaulomeskro 

Smoke,  n.  and  v.,  Toov 

Smoke  tobacco.  Pood  toovalo 

Snail,  Boiiri 

Snake,  Sap 

Snaptrap,  Klisomengro,  pan- 
domengro,  tilomengro 

Snare,  THomengro 

Snow,  Iv,  yiv,  ghiv,  shiv,  hiv 

It  snows,  Yivyela 

Snowball,  Iv-bar 

Snuff,  Nokengro 

So,  Ajaw,  'jaw 

Soap,  Sapanis,  sapan 

Soft,  Sano* 

Soldier,  Kooromengro 

Something,)  Choomoni,    ku- 

Some,  i      meni,  komeni 

Son,  Chor 

Song,  GhiH,  ghiveli 

Soon,  Sig 

Sorry,  Toogeno,  toogno,  toog- 
nus 

Soul,  Zee 

Sour,  Shootlo 

Sorrel,  Shootlo-chor 

Sovereign  (;^i).  Bar,  balans, 
balanser 


i86 


ENGLISH -GYPSY 


Sovereign,  Kralis,  kralisi 

Spavined  horse,  Bongo  grei 

Spectacles,  YokengnVi" 

Spirited,  See-engro 

Spirits,  Tatto  paani 

Spit,  v.,  Cho6ngar,  chungar 

Spittle,  Choongarben 

Spit,  Spingarus 

Sport,  Peias 

Spree,  Kelopen 

Spring,  i^^>i•/adair,  or  bigno- 

mus,  o\  lilei 
Spur,  Bisko,  poosomengri 
Squirrel,  Rookamengro 
Stable,  Stanya 
Stacks,  Stug\\\ 
Staff,  Kosht 
Staffordshire,  Korengri-tem, 

koromengro-tem 
Stag,  Staani 
Stallion,  Bareskro-grei,  baren- 

gro-grei,  peleno-grei,  pelen- 

gro-grei,  mo6shkeno-grei 
Stand,)         .^  . 
Stay,   /  ''^  ^^^^^ 
Stanley,  ;/./r.,Barengri,  Besha- 

ley* 
Star,  Stari,  lilengro,  duvel,  mi- 

doovelesko-dood 
Station,  Priister/;/^-wdrdesko- 

dtch/;/^-tan 
Stays,  Troopus 
Steal,  Chor,  loor,  nick* 
Stick,  n.,  Kosht 
Stile,  Peeromengro 
Still,  adj.,  Atchlo,  shookar 
Stink,  T'.,  Kdnder,  hinder,  kan 


Stinking,  Kanelo,  kanlo 
Stockings,   Olivaj,    ho61avai', 

oulaveri- 
Stone,  Bar 
Stop,  Atch 
Stove,  Bo* 
Stranger,  Gaiijo 
Straw,;/., Poos;  «^'., Pooskeno, 

pooskeni 
Straw-stack,  Poosengro 
Street,  Drom 
Stretch,  v.,  Tarder 
String,  Dori,  doori 
Strong,  Ruzlo,  ruzino,  roozlus, 

surrelo* 
Such,  Jafri,  jafra 
Suffolk,     Shooko-mauromen- 

gro-teni 
Sugar,  Goodlo 

Summer,  Tattobcn,  lilei,  lilei 
Summons,  Goodli 
Sun,  Kam,  tam,  sken 
Sunny,  Tamlo  (kamlo) 
Sunday,  Kooroki,  Krookingo- 

di'vvus,  Kiilpho 
Supper-time,  Hoben-chairus 
Swan,  Porno-rauni 
Swear,    Soverhol,    siilverkon, 

s6vlohol 
Sweaty,  Kindo 
Sweep,  v.,  Yo6ser  apr^ 
Sweet,  Goodlo 
Sweetheart,  Pirino,  pirini 
Sweetmeats,  Gudlopen 
Swelled,  swollen,  Shoovlo 
Sword,  Haiiro,  baiiro-choori 


VOCABULARY. 


187 


T. 

Table,  Misali,  misali,  salaman- 
ka,  haum^skro,  hobeneskro 

Tail,  Fori 

Tailor, ;/.  and  ;/.  //'.,  SiVomen- 
gro, suvengro 

Take,  Lei,  le 

Take  care,  Lei  trad 

Take  care  of,  Rak 

Take  notice,  Lei  veena 

Take  off,  Ranjer 

Take  up.  Lei  opre 

Talk,  v.,  Roker,  voker  ;*  ;/., 
Rokeropen.  See  Conver- 
sation 

Talker,  R6keromeskro 

Tambourine,  Kooromengri 

Tart,  G61 

Tea,  Muterimongri,  mootengri, 
piameskri 

Tea-kettle,  Kekavvi 

Teapot,  Muterimongri-koova, 
peemengro,piameskri-skoo- 
dalin,  skoodilin 

Tear,  v.,  Chingar 

Tease,  Kinger,  chara 

Teeth,  Danyaw 

Telescope,  Door-dikomengro 

Tell,  Pen,  pooker 

Tell  fortunes,  Doorik,  dukker 

Ten,  Desh 

Tent,  Tan 

Testicles,  Pele,  p^lonoi" 

Thank,  Parik,  parikarova,  pa- 
rikraw 

That,  conj.,  Te ;  pro7t.,  Ta, 
adoova,  aduvel,  'doova 


The,  O 

Thee,  Toot,  tooti 

Their,  theirs,  Lenti,  lenghi 

Them,  Len 

Then,  Kon 

There,  Adoi,  odoi,  'doi 

They,  Yaun,  yon 

Thief,  Chor,  ch6romengro,lo6- 

romengro 
Thin,  Bi'to 
Thine,  Teero 
Thing,  Kova 

Think,  Penchava,*  ////;/^as6va 
Third,  Trito* 
Thirst,  Troosh 
Thirsty,  Trooshlo 
Thirty,  Trianda* 
This,  Akova,  'kova 
Thorn,  Koro 
Those,  Dula,  dola 
Thou,  Too,  tooti 
Thousand,  Mille* 
Thread,  Tav,  taf,  tel 
Three,  Trin 
Throat,  Karlo,  kaiiri,  kur,  gur, 

gooshum 
Through,  Adral,'dral,  muscro* 
Throw,  Wooser,  woosher 
Thunder,    Maloona,   kooroko 

grommena,*grovena,*  grub- 

bena,*  mi-duvelesko-godli 
It  thunders,  Dearginni  * 
Thursday,  Stor  divvusrj-  palla 

kooroko 
Thus,  Ajavv,  'jaw 
Thy,  Teero,  tooti,  tooki,  ti 
Tie,  v.,  Pander,  pand,  pan 


i8B 


ENCtLISH- GYPSY 


Time,  Chdirus,  //.,  koppas  * 

Tin,  Kuri,  cham 

Tinder,  Pootan 

Tired,  Kino,  kino 

Tiresome,  Drooveno,  drooven 

Tiring,  Tugno 

To,  Ke,  katar,  katar,  kater 

Toad,  Jamba,  jombo 

Tobacco,  Tuvlo,  toovlo,  tuvlo- 

pen 
To-day,    Kedivvus,     kedivez, 

kova  divvus,  tedivvus 
Together,    Ketane,    ketanes, 

katene,  kateni,  kdtenes 
Tollgate,  Stigher.     See  Turn- 
pike 
To-morrow,  Ovavo  divvus 
To-morrow  morning,  Koliko- 

saula 
Tongs,  Yogesto-wastaw 
Tongue,  Chib,  cliiv,  jib 
Too,  Tei 
Tooth,  Dan 

Touch,  Charvo,  cheilav,  chara 
Towel,  Kosser/;/^  pl^Xta 
Town,  Gav 

Trail,  Patrin,  paten,  trooshel 
Train,  Praster/;/^-k61i,  poodj 
Traitor,  Pookeromengro 
Tramp,     Choorodo,     chooro- 

mengro,  peerdo 
Transported,  Bitchadi  paudel, 

paudel-i-paani,  paunir^ 
Trap,  Pandomengro 
Treadmill,  treadwheel,  P6ge- 

romengri 
Tree,  Rook- 


Tremble,  Rfsser 
Trickster,  Koromengro 
Tripe,  Bokochesto-pur 
Trousers,  Rokonyus,  roxiny^s, 

ro;;^inya,  rikni^j,  rokhamyaj-, 

'hamyaj,  rokdngri^j-,  rokren- 

yes,     bro'gi^i",     boolengri^j-, 

booliengnVi- 
Trout,  Reieski-matcho 
True,  Tdtcho,  tatcheno 
Trust,  v.,  Pazer ;  u.,  pazeroben 
Truth,  Tatchipen 
Tuesday,  Dooi"  dfvvus^j-  palla 

kooroko 
Turkey,  Kaiili  rauni,  papini 
Turnip,      Konafia,      konafni, 

kraafni,  panengro 
Turnpike,     P6sh/;rr,    stekas, 

stigher,  pesser-stigher 
Twenty,  Bish,  stor-pansh 
Two,  Dooi" 
Two  shillings,  Dooi-koli 


U. 

Unable,  Nastfssa,  nest/s 

Uncle,  Koko,  kok 

Under, /;r/.,  Tale,  ale,  '\6 

Under,  adj.,  Tallani 

Up,  upon,  Opre,  aprc,  'pre 

Upper,  Pre-engro 

Urine,    )^,, 

Urinate,) 

Urinal,  Muter/;/^  kola 

Us,  Men,  mendi 

Used.  S/klo 


VOCABULARY. 


189 


V. 

Vagrant,  Peerdo 

Very,  Boot,  booti 

Verily,  Aava,  our.     Sec  Yes 

Vessel,  Trooshni 

Vex,  Kfnger 

Victuals,  Koben,  hoben,  hol- 

ben,  holen 
Village,  Gav 
Vinegar,  Shooto 
Vinegry,  Shootlo 
The  Virgin,    Do6veleski-jo6- 

vel 
Vomit,  Wooser  apre 


W. 

Wagon,  Wardo,  vardo 
Waistcoat,  Bangeri 
Wakefield,  11.  pr.,  Choorones- 

gav 
Wales,   Wolsho,   Wotchkeni- 

tem,  Lavines-tem 
Walk,  Peer,  pi'riv 
Warm,  v.^  Tatto 
Warmth,  Tattopen 
Was,  Sho'mas,  sas,  q.v. 
Wash,  Tov 
Watch,   ;/.,   6ra,   yora,  hora, 

pookeromengro 
Watch  v.y  Varter,  dik  palla 
Water,  Paani,  pani,  pauni 
Watercress,      Paanesto-shok, 

paani-shok,  paanengri-shok 
Watery,  Paanisko 
Way,  Drom 


We,  Men,  mendi 

Wealth,  Barvalopen 

Wealthy,  Barvalo 

Wear,  Riv 

Wearing  apparel,  Rivoben 

Wearisome,  Drooveno,  droo- 

ven 
Weary,  adj.,  Kino,  kino 
Wednesday,     Trin     divvus^i", 

palla  kooroko 
Week,Ko6roki,  krooko,  kooko, 

kokerus 
Weep,  Rov 

Well,    adv.f     Mishto,    misto, 
tatcho;  j".,  Hanik,  hanikos 
Welsh  Gypsies,  Ingrini^^r 
Welshman,     Wotchkenengro, 
Lavinengro,  Lavines-gaujo 
Welsh  language,  Lavines  ro- 

kerben,  Wolshitikka 
Were,  Shamas,  sas,  q.v. 
Wet,  Kindo 
Whale,  Baiiro-matcho 
What,  Savo,  So 
Wheat,  Ghiv 
Wheat,  adj.,  Ghivesto 
Wheat-stack,    Ghiv-poosen- 

gro 
Wheedle,  Pandjer 
Wheel,  Hero,  wardesko-pras- 

termengri,  wardesko-here 
When,  Kanna,  konna,  vonka, 

wonka,  savo-cheerus 
Where,  Kei 
Whey,  Kalengri 
Whip,  Chookni,  choopni 
Whiskers,  Banga 


I  go 


KNGLISH-GYPSY    VOCABULARY. 


Whistle,  7'.,  Shol,  shool 

Whistler,  Shelengro 

White,  Porno 

Who,  Ko,  kon,  savo 

Whole,  Cholo 

Whore,  Lubni 

Why,  Soski 

Wicked,  Vasavo,  wasedo,  wa- 

fedo,  bdngalo 
Wickedness,  Wafedopen 
Widow,  Peevli-gairi 
V/idower,  Peevlo-gairo 
Widowed,  Peevlo 
Wife,  Romeni,  romni,  romi 
Wild,  DiVio 
Will-o'-th'-Wisp,  Doodesko- 

moolo 
Wind,  Baval 

Windmill,  Baval  pogamengri 
Window,  Hev,  kev 
Wine,  Mol,  mul 
Winter,  Ven,  wen;  ^<^'.,Venesto 
Wintry,  Venlo 
Wise,  Jinomengro 
Witch,  Choofihoni,  choovikon, 

cho'vih6ni 
With,  Sar,  pashal* 
Within,  Inna* 
Withy,  Ran 
Wolf,  Bauro-holomengro-joo- 

kel 
Woman,  Gairi,   jo6vel,  man- 

ooshni,  mo6shni,  m6noshi 
Woman's    bonnet,   Joovioko- 

staddi 
Woman'sclothing,  Joovni  kola 
Womb,  Doodum 


Woo,  Pi'riv 
Wood,  Vesh,  kosht 
Woodcutter,  Koshtengro 
Wooden    dishes,    Koshtudno 

skoodilyaw 
Wool,  Poosham 
Word,  Lav 

Work,  ;/.  and  v.,  Booti,  bootsi 
Worker,  Bootiengro 
World,     Sweti,'''    doovelesto- 

chairos 
Worm,  Kcrmo 
Worth,  Mool,  mol 
Wound,  Chinobcn 
Wrexham,  n.  pr.,  Reltum 
Wrong,  Bongo 
Wrongly,  Bonges 

Y. 

Ye,  Tumcndi 

Year,  Besh 

Yearling,  Beshengro 

Yes,  Aava,  aavali,  our,  ouwa, 

ourli 
Yesterday,  K61iko,k6liko-div- 

vus,  kaliko 
Yew,  Mooleno  rook 
Yonder,  Odoi,  adoi,  'doi 
Yorkshire,  Barvalo-tem,  Chor- 

keno-tcm,  Meilesko-tem 
You,  Too,  toot,  tooti 
Your,  yours,  Teero,  tooti'j 
Young,  adj.  and  71.  pr.,  Tarno, 

tauno 
Younger,  Tarnodar 
Youth,  Tarnomus. 


GENUINE  ROMANY  COMPOSITIONS 


REFERRING   TO 


^wttUar  ^abits  aub  ^oiions  iit  ^oguc  among  €nglisl^  (B^p'm, 


In  numerous  instances  Gypsy  customs  have  been  related  to 
us  in  Romanes  by  Gypsies  themselves,  and  it  has  appeared 
to  us  to  be  of  considerable  interest  and  value  to  take  down 
these  communications  as  we  received  them,  and  to  preserve 
the  ipsissinia  verba  made  use  of  by  our  informants.  It 
would  be  beyond  the  scope  of  the  present  work,  to  which 
we  have  set  strictly  linguistic  limits,  to  enter  into  details 
concerning  manners  and  traditional  observances  which  are 
still  to  be  found  among  the  Gypsies  of  this  country.  But, 
incidentally,  it  has  become  necessary  to  refer  to  them,  in 
order  to  explain  certain  allusions  which  might  otherwise 
be  imperfectly  understood.  We  have  therefore  introduced, 
where  necessary,  in  the  following  pages,  a  few  explanatory 
notes  to  render  clearer  the  meaning  of  particular  passages 
and  expressions,  but  at  the  same  time  wish  to  disclaim  any 
intention  of  treating  comprehensively  a  subject  which  has 
a  special  interest  apart  from  the  language.  In  spite  of  the 
numerous  violations  of  every  grammatical  rule,  these  com- 
positions are  (as  far  as  our  experience  goes)  written  in  the 
"deepest"  English  Romanes  extant. 


192  GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

PITCHING  A  TENT* 

Ne,  chow61i,  kair  ti  grefaw  te  jal  sig.  Raati  see  wel/;/' 
sig  opre  mdndi.  Kek  tan  see  mendi  kova  raati  tc  sov  tale; 
kek  bfto  shooko  tan  mendi  latchova  kova  raati  te  jaw  to 
so6to  opre. 

So  sig  see  o  praastermengro  jinela  mendi  shem  akei,  yov 
kom^la  to  chiv  m6ndi  door  dosta  opre  o  drom,  or  to  lei  men 
opre.  Yov  see  tatcho  dosta.  Chivela  men  adre  o  steripen, 
ta  bfken  sor  mod  greiaw,  ta  wardi,  ta  sorkon  kovaw  sham 
me  (mendi). 

Konaw,  chowoli,  kair  sig.  Kair  ti  tan  opre.  Dosta 
brishno  wela  tale,  ta  hiv  tei.     Mendi  sor  merova  /^'-raati  tc 


*  The  old-fashioned  Gypsy  encampments,  once  so  frequent  in  shady 
lanes  and  secluded  spots,  have  almost  entirely  disappeared  from  some 
parts  of  England,  Hence  it  has  been  too  hastily  assumed  that  these 
inveterate  strollers  have  forsaken  tent-life  and  become  permanent  house- 
dwellers.  Even  Mr.  Borrow  makes  the  remark  ("  Lavo-lil,"  p.  221,) 
that  you  may  "  walk  from  London  to  Carlisle,  but  neither  by  the  road- 
side nor  on  heath  or  common  will  you  see  a  single  Gypsy  tent."  This 
is  certainly  a  mistake,  Harassed  by  the  rural  police,  deprived  of  his 
accustomed  camping-grounds  by  Enclosure  Acts,  the  Gypsy,  like  the 
bittern,  has  been  extirpated  from  many  of  his  old  haunts^ — ancient 
commons  and  wastes  from  which  "  the  Northern  farmer "  and  other 
pioneers  of  modern  agriculture  have  "raaved  an'rembled  un  oot" — but 
he  has  only  shifted  his  quarters,  and  not  changed  his  habits.  On  our 
coasts  where  holiday-makers  congregate,  and  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
popular  watering-places,  still  as  heretofore  are 

"  The  Gypsies  all  the  summer  seen, 
Native  as  poppies  to  the  green," 

their  tents  having  become  a  permanent  feature  in  many  such  localities. 
Here  they  ply  their  traditional  vocations,  and  reap  a  rich  harvest  from 
the  visitors,  a  seaside  flirtation  being  hardly  deemed  complete  unless  a 
Gypsy  sybil  has  told  the  fortune  of  the  amorous  couple. 

The  Gypsy  willingly  pays  a  small  ground-rent  for  the  patch  he  occu- 
pies, and  then  his  frail  tent  becomes  as  much  his  castle  as  an  English- 
man's house,  and  is  as  safe  from  the  intrusion  of  prastermengros, 
and  other  unwelcome  visitors.  We  know  of  an  instance  at  Blackpool 
where  a  Gypsy,  though  living  in  a  tent,  has  been  so  long  a  squatter  on 
the  same  spot  as  to  have  been  assessed  for  the  poor-rate,  which  he 
duly  discharges, 


GENUINE   ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  1 93 

shil,  ta  and  cho6moni  te  kair  a  kooshto  yog  tei.     Chiv  o 
tan  tale  kooshto. 

Dosta  baval  wela  kova  raati.  Pooderela  men  o  baval 
sor  opre  kova  raati.  Mi  chavi  merenna  <?'  shil.  Chiv  sor 
o  ranyaw  adre  o  tan  tatcho,  to  hatch  mishto,  ta  spinger  o 
koppa  opre  o  ranyaw  tatcho,  to  kel  it  hatch  mishto.  O 
choro  chavi  rovenna  talla  lenghi  hoben.  Mi  Doovel,  so 
mandi  kairova  te  lei  lendi  hoben  te  hoi.  Chichi  nanei 
mandi  te  del  lendi.     Merenna  yon  talla  hoben. 

Translation, 

Now,  mates,  make  your  horses  go  quick.  Night  is 
coming  quick  upon  us.  No  tent  is  there  for  us  this  night 
to  sleep  under ;  no  little  dry  place  shall  we  find  this  night 
to  go  to  sleep  on. 

As  soon  as  the  policeman  knows  we  are  here,  he  will 
want  to  put  us  very  far  on  the  road,  or  to  take  us  up. 
He  is  fit  enough  (for  that).  He  will  put  us  in  prison,  and 
sell  all  our  horses  and  carts,  and  everything  we  have. 

Now,  mates,  be  quick.  Put  your  tent  up — much  rain 
comes  down  and  snow  too.  We  all  shall  die  to-night  of 
cold  ;  and  bring  something  to  make  a  good  fire  too.  Put 
the  tent  down  well.  Much  wind  will  come  this  night. 
My  children  will  die  of  cold.  Put  all  the  rods  in  the 
ground  properly,  to  stand  well,  and  pin  the  blanket  on 
the  rods  properly  to  make  it  stand  well.  The  poor  chil- 
dren cry  for  their  food.  My  God,  what  shall  I  do  to 
get  them  food  to  eat.?  I  have  nothing  to  give  them. 
They  will  die  without  food. 

CHOOSING  A  CAMP. 

Kei  jassa  tumendi,  chavoli,  tedivvus  te  sov } 

Mendi  jaw  kater  dova  ghiveskro  kair.  Yov  komela 
R6mano-clialaw. 

Kei  see  dova .'' 

Doi,  kei  atchdem  yek  besh  paiili,  wonka  jafra  iv  pedas 
tal6. 

13 


194  (i]':xui:xE  Romany  compositions. 

Jinova  konaw  savo  tan  sec.  Kei  vias  o  Rei  kater  mendi 
te  del  mendi  jaw  kfssi  kas  te  del  mauri  greiaw.  Our,  jinova 
konaw.  Jas  menghi  odoi  te  atch.  Kek  yov  penela  kek 
wafedo  to  mendi.  Mendi  komela.  Atchas*  odoi  a  ko6- 
roko,  te  mendi  konij.  Yov  delela  men  koshtaw  te  hotcher. 
Yov  mookela  men  chiv  maiiri  greiavv  adr6  lesko  poov- 
yaw.  Yon  te  vel  sor  tatcho.  Kek  yon  te  wel  panlo. 
Atchas*  m^ndi  adre  maiiri  woodrus  tatcho  te  sov.  Kek  te 
atch  opre  to  dik  talla  mauri  greiaw  adre  o  mullo  raati. 

Translation. 

Where  are  you  going,  mates,  to-day,  to  sleep ) 

We  are  going  to  that  farmer's  house.     He  likes  Gypsies. 

Where  is  it ) 

There,  where  we  stopped  a  year  back,  when  so  much 
snow  fell. 

I  know  now  where  the  place  is.  Where  the  gentleman 
came  to  us  to  give  us  so  much  hay  to  feed  our  horses 
with.  Oh  yes,  I  know  now.  Let  us  go  and  stop  there. 
He  will  not  rate  at  us.  He  likes  us.  Let  us  {or,  we  will) 
stay  there  a  week,  if  it  suits  us.  He  will  give  us  some 
firewood,  and  let  us  put  our  horses  in  his  fields,  where 
they  will  be  safe,  and  not  be  put  in  the  pound.  We  shall 
rest  in  bed  safe  asleep,  and  not  have  to  get  up  to  look  after 
our  horses  in  the  dead  of  night. 

o  mo6lo. 

Kei  jassa,  choowdli,  te  sov  tedivvus  }  Mook  mendi  jal  to 
sooto  adre  dova  gransa. 

Kater  d6va  tan,  kei  dova  koshto  Rei,  te  Rauni,  jivela. 
Kei  o  mo61o  sas  dikn6. 

Kek  mandi  jal  odoi  te  sov.  Mandi  shom  trash  te  dik  moole, 
te  wel  trashedo  o'  mi  mdriben.  Gauje  po6kadas  mandi  d6sta 
chafrus^j",  o  moosh,  ghivdngro  sas-16,  nashadds  l^sko  k6kero 
opr6  o  rook  adre  o  koonsa,  kei  m^ndi  ]k\iii  te  atch. 

*  First  pers.,  pi,  pres.,  or  fut.,  indicative,  or  the  Imperative  V. 
Gram.,  p.  39. 


GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS.  1 95 

So  keressa  kon  ?     Jassa  too  odoi,  te  atchas  ?  /• 
Kekera  mandi. 
Kei  jassa  kon  ? 

Adre  a  waver  pooro  drom,  yek  mee  dooroder.  Doi 
mendi  atchessa  *     Kek  komeni  charas  {sic)  mendi. 

Translation. 
THE    GHOST. 

Where  are  you  going  to  sleep  to-day,  mates  ?  Let  us 
go  to  sleep  in  that  barn. 

At  that  place  where  that  kind  gentleman  and  lady  live — 
where  the  ghost  was  seen. 

I  will  not  go  and  sleep  there.  I  am  afraid  of  seeing 
ghosts,  and  being  frightened  to  death.  The  Gentiles  have 
told  me  many  a  time  how  the  man,  he  was  a  farmer, 
hanged  himself  on  the  tree  in  the  corner  where  we  are 
going  to  stop. 

What  will  you  do,  then  }     Will  you  go  there  and  stop  } 

Not  I! 

Where  will  you  go,  then  } 

Down  another  old  road,  a  mile  further  on.  We  will  stop 
there.     No  one  will  dsiturb  us. 

A  CAUTION. 

Maw  mook  teero  greiaw,  chawoli,  jal  tale  dova  drom,  kei 
see  dova  koshto  chor.     Yon  te  vcl  pandado. 

Translation. 
Do  not  let  your  horses,  mates,  go  down  that  road,  where 
that  good  grass  is,  or  they  will  be  put  in  the  pound. 

THE  HAUNTED  CAMP. 

**  I  can  just  about  remember  the  old  times  when  our  old 
folk  hardly  spoke  any  Gaujines.  They  were  timid  folk. 
You  might  hear  them  say : — 

*  First  pers.,  pi.,  pres.,  or  fut.,  indicative. 


196  GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 

"  Kon  see  doova,  dadi  ?" 
Who  is   that,  father  ? 

"  Kekena  jinova  me.     Diktas  komeni  ?  " 
Not         know    I.     Did  you  see  any  (thing)  ? 

"Kekmandi.  Shoondom  choomoni.   So  shoondom  ghias 
Not  I.  I  heard  something.      What  I  heard  went 

pensa  groovni." 
like  (a)  cow. 

"Jaw  opre  o  drom.     Dik  so  see." 
Go  up  the  road.        See  what  it  is. 

"  Ghiom  justa  konaw.     Kek  nanei  mandi  diktom  chichi, 
I  went  just  now.         No    not      I  saw     nothing, 

na  shoondom  chichi.     O  beng  see,  tatcho  dosta." 
nor  heard  nothing.       The  devil  it  is,  sure  enough. 
"  Maw  trash  tooti." 
Don't  fear   thou. 
"  Trash  see  mandi." 

Fear    is    to  me. 
"  Mantcha   too !     Atch   o   koosi.     Shoondom-les  popli. 
Cheer  up  !  Wait  a  bit.  I  heard       it    again. 

K6meni  sas  mordno  aket.     Av^la  yov  ^popli." 
Some  one  was  killed  here.     Comes  he  again. 

"  Wonka  'saula  veb,  jaw  monghi  ak^i.  Kek  na  kom6va 
When  morning  comes,  go  I  hence.  No  not  I  love 
jafri  tanaw  see  koli,  posha  bauro  weshaw.  Mcripen  tanaw 
such  places  as  these,  near  great  woods.  Murdering  places 
see  dikela." 
as   it  looks. 

"  Ei,   d6rdi !     Wdfedo   dikijtg  tan   see   k6va.     Tatcho 
Eh,  look !       Evil  looking  place  is   this.       True 

moolesko  tan  see  k6va,  pats6va  mdndi  ajaw." 
ghost's  place  is    this,     believe  I  so. 

"  Kaulo  radti  see.     S6rkon  wdfedi  k61i  see  opr6  mcndi. 
Dark  night  it  is.      Every    evil        thing  is  upon  us. 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  1 97 

Yek  wafedo  kova  kairi"  dosta  waver  wafedi  koli." 
One  evil       thing  makes  plenty  of  other  evil  things. 

Wester  Boswell. 

SUPPER-TIME. 

Ne,  chawoH,  kair  koosi  yog.  Shilalo  shorn  mandi.  Chiv 
o  kekavi  opre  o  yog,  te  kel  pi'amengri.  Bokalo  shorn. 
Dosta  hoben  see  mandi. 

Dosta  grooveni-mas  see  mandi.  Kindom-les  kater  dova 
kooshto  yoozho  masengro'i-  boodiga.  Beshas  sor  mendi 
tale,  te  porder  maiiri  peraw  mishto.  Talla  mendi  ghivova, 
te  kel  o  boshomengri.  Sor  mendi  keras  mendi.  Mook  sor 
dula  tarno  raunia  ker  mensa.  Talla  yon  dela  men  liiva,  ta 
lei  mendi  kooshto  nav. 

Translation. 

Now,  mates,  make  up  a  little  fire,  for  I  am  cold.  Put 
the  kettle  on  the  fire,  and  make  tea.  I  am  hungry.  I 
have  lots  of  food,  and  plenty  of  beef,  which  I  bought  at 
that  nice  clean  butcher's  shop.  Let  us  all  sit  down  and 
satisfy  our  appetites.  Afterwards  we  will  sing,  and  play 
the  violin.  Let  us  all  set  to.  Let  all  those  young  ladies 
dance  with  us.  Afterwards  they  will  give  us  some  money, 
and  give  us  a  good  name. 

HEDGEHOG  HUNTING  AND  GYPSY  CAKE.=»«= 

"Ne   mooshaw!      Koshto   dood-raati   see   konaw.     Jas 
Noiv  men  !  Good       light  night  it  is  now.         Let 

menghi  perdal  kola  poovyaw.  Dikas  mendi  palla  dooi-trin 
ns  go  over  these  fields.  Let  us  look  after  two  {or)  three 
hotchi-witchi.  Koshte  see-le  konaw.  Toolo  see-le  {or  lendi). 
hedge-hogs.  Good  (pi.)  are  they  now.  Fat  are  they. 
Mandi  jinova  poovyaw  kei  tised  to  ven  dosta.  Latchas 
/  know     fields    where  used  to  eome  plenty.    Let  us  find 

*  See  also  "  Dinner  Dialogue." 


198  GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 

menghi  dool-trin  /^-raati.    Avesa  mandi  ? "    "  Oua.    Mdndf 

two  {or)  three  tO'7iight.    Will  you  go  {with)  me  ?  "   "  Yes.  I 

jal  tusa."     "Nashena  sor  konaw  pardal  o  poovyaw  kola 

go  with  you!'     "  TJiey  run  all  nozv  over       the  fields       these 

dood-raatia.      Keras    menghi    Romani    marikli    d    dooi. 

light-nights.      Let  us  7nake    {a)  Gypsy        eake         or     two. 

Lova     lendi      to     mandi'i-     hoben     adrc     kaliko     'saula. 

/  will  have  tJiem  to  my         breakfast  in  to-morrow  morning. 

Kerova  manghi  a  Romani  marikli.     (Marikli  see  kcdo  d 

I  will  make  for  me  a  Gypsy  cake.  {Cake       is     made  of 

porno.)     Kerova    koshto    yog.     Chivova-lcs    ad  re   a  hev 

flour)     I  will  make  {a)  good  fire.     I  will  put  it  in        a   hole 

adre    o    yog.        Chorova-les    pardal    o"*    yog.        Kerova- 

iji  the  fire  {ash).  I  will  eover  it  over  ivith  fire  {ash).  I  ivill  cook 

les.     Chinova  les  opre.      See   man   dosta   kil,   chivova   kil 

it.      I  will  cut  it  up.     Is  me  sufficient  butter,  I  will  put  butter 

opr4  ta  holova  les  monghi  sor  mi,  or  me^ro,  kokero." 

on,       and  I  ivill  eat  it  myself  all  my-  self 

"You  make  them  of  flour  and  water,  and  roll  them  well. 
Then  you  make  a  hole  in  the  ashes,  wood  ashes  are  best, 
and  put  the  cake  in,  and  cover  it  over  with  ashes,  and 
when  it  is  cooked  you  just  cut  off  the  burnt  part,  and  it 
eats  so  sweet."* 

Wester  Boswell. 

PATRKNI. 

Kei  jassa,  choowali  .-* 

Mendi  jab  yek  gaver  to  o  waver.  Sor  mcndi  jala,  ta 
mandi  jova  mi  kokero. 

Kek  na  jinaw  me  savo  drom  ta  mandi  jala. 


*  Another  standard  dish  among  the  Gypsies  is  moolo-ujas,  or  the 
flesh  of  animals  which  have  sickened  and  died  unattended  in  their 
last  moments  by  the  butcher.  They  sometimes  make  a  kind  of  broth 
or  soup  of  snails,  which  they  call  bouri-aimnicn,  and  which  is  not 
unsavoury. 


L 


GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS.  1 99 


Mook  meiidi  jal  kater  o  Meilesto-gav  Praasterlmus,  ta 
dikas  o  greiaw  praastenV?'.  Door  door  dosta ;  doovorf 
akei ;  door  dosta  see  pardal  odoi. 

Kek  na  jinova  o  drom. 

Mookova  patreni  opre  o  drom  te  jin  savo  drom  ghiom 
m6. 

So  keressa  o  patreni  troostal  ?     Kek  na  jinova. 

Pookerova  toot  kon.  Kerova-les  koosi  chor,  koosi  dan- 
dim  engri-chor.    Wooserova  lesti  tale  oprd  o  drom  so  jova. 

Mi  Doovel  jal  toosa.     Atch  kater  mi  Doovel. 

Maw  jal  tale  dova  drom.  See  a  chichikeni  drom.  Kova 
drom  jala  kater  bitto  gav.     Kooshko  divvus,  Bor. 

Yon  ghias  lendi  ketane  yek  t'o  waver. 

Translation. 
TRAILS. 

Where  are  you  off  to,  mates  } 

Going  from  one  town  to  the  other.  We  are  all  going, 
and  I  am  going  myself. 

I  do  not  know  which  way  I  shall  go. 

Let  us  go  to  Doncaster  Races,  and  see  the  horses  run.  It 
is  a  very  long  way ;  a  great  distance  from  here ;  far  away 
over  in  t/iat  direction. 

I  do  not  know  the  way. 

I  will  leave  a  sign  on  the  road  by  which  you  will  know 
which  way  I  have  gone. 

What  will  you  make  the  sign  with  }     I  do  not  know. 

I  will  tell  you  then.  I  will  make  it  of  a  little  grass, — a 
few  nettles.     I  will  throw  them  down  on  the  road  I  go. 

Goodbye.     God  bless  you. 

Do  not  go  down  t/ia^  road.  There  is  no  thoroughfare. 
T/iis  road  leads  to  the  village.     Good  day,  mate. 

They  went  away  together,  both  of  them.* 

*  The  patrin,  or  Gypsy  trail,  deserves  a  few  words  of  explanation. 

As  the  Gypsies  are  a  wandering  and  vagabond  race,  it  has  always  been 
necessary  for  them  to  have  some  way  of  pointing  out  to  stragglers  the 


200  GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

LAMENT  ON  THE  DECAY  OF  THE  LANGUAGE. 

Kanna  sas  mandi  a  Tikno,  sor  o  pooro  fdlk\  rokerde 
tatcho  pooro  Romani  lavaw.  Kek  nanei  see  jaw  siklo 
konaw,  see  sas  beshaw  doosta  palal. 

Konaw  o  tarno  folki,  kek  yon  roker^nna  tatcho  konaw. 
Boot  gauje-kani  fdlki  see-le  konaw.  Kek  ne  jinenna  lenghi 
kokeri  so  see  tatcho  ta  wafedo.  Kanna  too  pootches  lendi 
tatcho  lavaw,  kek  yon  can  pooker  toot  o  tatcho  drom  o 
lendi. 

Meero  kokero  righerova  o  tatcho  pooro  lavaw. 

Mandi  penova  meero  kokero,  "  Kek  Romani-chak  jivenna 
konaw,  pensa  mi  kokero  adrd  tatcho  pooro  Romani-chal- 
rokerimus,  ta  koshto  pooro  tatcho  lavaw.  Sor  gauje  see  o 
folki  konaw.  Mandi  see  a  tatcho  pooro  Romano-chal 
pardal  sor  mo^ade  posh-kedo  Romani-chab." 

Komova  te  roker  troostal  jafri  poori  rokcroben. 

Translation. 

When  I  was  a  lad,  all  th©  old  folk  spoke  good  old 
Gypsy  words.  They  are  not  so  much  used  now  as  they 
were  many  years  ago. 

direction  taken  by  the  rest  of  the  gang.  As,  moreover,  in  civilized 
countries  they  must  travel  more  or  less  along  the  principal  roads  and 
highways,  any  ordinary  spoor  or  trace  would  soon  be  effaced  by  the 
subsequent  traffic.  Hence  arose  the  patrin-system,  the  invention  of 
certain  recognizable  signs,  by  which  the  caravan  on  the  march  could 
indicate  to  loiterers  the  path  it  had  taken,  and  guide  them  safely  to  the 
halting-place.     Different  kinds  of  patrins  : 

(i)  Three  heaps  of  grass  (or  any  plant  agreed  upon)  placed  on  the 
left-hand  side  of  the  road  taken  (day-patrin). 

(2)  Pieces  of  rag,  generally  three  in  number,  tied  to  the  twigs  of  the 
hedge  on  the  left-hand  side  of  the  road  taken  (day-patrin). 

(3)  Boughs,  or  cleft  sticks,  pointing  down  the  road  taken  (night- 
patrin). 

(4)  Marks  and  signs  on  the  road  itself— generally  a  cross  (used  in 
snowy,  dusty,  or  dirty  weather). 

(5)  Stones  placed  in  a  certain  manner  on  the  left-hand  side  of  the 
road  taken  (used  in  windy  weather). 

(6)  Shoe-prints  or  foot-marks,  etc.,  etc. 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  201 

Now  the  young  folk  do  not  talk  deep.  They  are  too 
gaujo-like  now.  They  do  not  know  what  is  right  or 
wrong.  When  you  ask  them  deep  words  they  cannot  tell 
you  their  real  meaning.  I  myself  preserve  the  good  old 
words. 

I  say  to  myself,  "  There  are  no  Gypsies  now  so  well  up 
as  myself  in  real  old  Gypsy  talk,  and  good  old  deep  words. 
The  people  are  all  English  now.  I  am  a  pure  old  Gypsy, 
above  all  these  dirty  half-bred  Gypsies." 

I  like  to  talk  about  such  ancient  speech. 

EHEU,   FUGACES! 

Kanna  sas  mandi  a  ti'kno, — kooshto  cheerus^ri-  sas, — sor 
meero  choro  folki  sas  jido  sor  adre  kooshtomus,  ta  mfshto 
sas  yon. 

Konaw  (kenaw)  see-le  sor  moolo,  ta  ghile.  Kek  nanei 
mandi  konaw  kei  shom  mooklo  sor  kokero.  Te  wel  mandi 
te  mer,  kek  komeni  p6sha  mandi  te  del  mandi  koosi  paani, 
te  ker  mandi  koshto.  Sor  meeri  chavi,  ta  meeri  f6lk\,  dei, 
ta  dad,  ta  penaw,  sor  see  moolo. 

Kek  nanei  mandi  konaw,  yek  pal,  yek  pen  adre  Anghi- 
terra.     Kek  yon  wek  te  dik  mandi. 

Mandi  pootch^i-  meero  dearo  Doovel  te  kooshto  bo;)^t. 
Yov  deb  mandi  sor  mandi  pootch^i-  talla.  Nanei  yov  te 
atch  to  mandi,  mandi  te  wel  kerdo  sor  ketan6.  Tatcho 
shom  konaw,  parik  mi-Do6vel.  Yov  see  sor  kooshto  kater 
mandi.     Yov  shoonela  tei  meero  mongamus  to  lesti. 

Translation. 

When  I  was  a  lad, — good  times  were  they, — all  my  poor 
people  lived  in  peace,  and  were  at  ease. 

Now  they  are  all  dead,  or  gone.  There  is  no  one  here 
but  myself,  and  I  am  left  all  alone.  Should  I  die,  there  is 
no  one  near  me  to  give  me  a  drop  of  water  to  relieve 
me.  All  my  children,  and  my  people,  my  mother,  father, 
and  sisters,  all  are  dead.  I  have  not  now  one  brother,  one 
sister  in  England.     They  never  come  to  see  me. 


202  GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 

I  ask  my  dear  God  for  good  luck,  and  he  grants  me  all 
I  ask  for.  If  he  did  not  stand  by  me,  I  should  be  done  for 
altogether.  I  am  well  now,  thank  God.  He  is  all-merciful 
to  me.     He  hears,  too,  my  petition. 


FUNERAL  RITES. 

Ei !  dordi !  chawali.  So  mandi  kerova  kenaw  .'*  Meero 
choro  pooro  dad  see  moolo  konaw.  So  shom  te  keraw  te 
lesti  kolaw,  so  yov  muktas  palla  lesti } 

Hotcherova-len  son  Sorkon  koovaw  talla  saastera  koli. 
Wooserova  sor  dulla  'dre  o  bauro  paani. 

Delova  meero  lav  kater  mi  Doovel,  yov  te  jal  kater  yov 
te  atch  odoT  ad  re  Kooshtoben,  sor  mi  Doovel  csti  chairos. 

Translation. 

Alas !  alas !  my  friends.  What  shall  I  do  ?  My  poor 
old  father  is  no  more.  What  must  I  do  with  all  he  left 
behind  } 

I  will  burn  them  all.*"  Everything  except  those  things 
that  are  of  iron,  and  those  I  will  cast  into  the  deep. 

God  grant  he  may  rest  in  peace  with  Him  for  ever. 

CtitJibcrt  Bcdc  sent  to  "  Notes  and  Queries  "  (2nd  Sen,  iii., 
442),  in  1857,  an  account  of  a  grand  funeral  of  a  Gypsy, 
followed  by  the  destruction  of  his  property,  clothes,  blankets, 
fiddle,  books,  and  his  grindstone^ — the  last  being  thrown  into 
the  river  Severn,  and  the  others  burnt. 

Something  about  Gypsy  Burials.^TIiosc  who  know 
little  about  Gypsies  would  have  been  astonished  had  they 
visited  the  encampment  at  Ashton,  outside  Birmingham, 
last  week.  Many  who  were  led  by  curiosity,  or  "  to  have 
their  fortune  told,"  or  for  some  other  equally  good  reason, 

*  "  Des  verstorbenen  Zigeuners  Kleider,  insoweit  er  sie  nicht  mit  in 
die  Erde  gcnommen,  seiii  Bctt  oder  was  sonst  ihm  zum  Lager  und 
zur  Deckc  gedient  hat,  werden  unter  frciem  Ilimmel  verbrannt." — 
Vide  Liebich's  Zigeuner,  p.  55. 


GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS.  203 

to  pay  the  Gypsy  camp  a  visit  last  Wednesday,  must  have 
thought  the  demon  of  destruction  possessed  the  nut-brown 
people.  Men  were  smashing  up  a  van,  such  as  the  Gypsies 
use  for  their  residence ;  women  were  breaking  chairs  ;  chil- 
dren tearing  up  dresses,  breaking  crockery,  and  setting  fire 
to  whatever  of  the  remains  would  burn  ;  whilst  the  Queen  of 
the  Gypsies  superintended  the  work.  Those  whose  curiosity 
led  them  to  inquire  the  reason,  discovered  that  it  is  the 
Gypsies'  custom  after  a  funeral  to  destroy  everything  that 
belonged  to  the  deceased  member  of  the  fraternity.  They 
had  just  returned  from  the  burial  of  a  dead  sister,  and 
straightway  commenced  to  break  up  and  burn  everything 
that  belonged  to  her.  Even  the  horse  that  drew  her  resi- 
dential van  had  to  be  shot ;  and  the  husband  and  children 
through  this  folly  are  left  for  a  time  without  home  com- 
forts.— Catholic  Times,  Dec.  13th,  1873. 

One  instance  came  under  our  notice,  not  far  from  Man- 
chester (at  Cheadle),  where  a  favourite  dog  of  the  deceased 
was  destroyed,  and  its  body  added  to  the  funeral  pile. 
.  For  further  particulars  concerning  Gypsy  burials,  vide 
Crabb  (pp.  29,  30)  ;  Borrow's  "  Lavo-lil,"  (pp.  299,  300) ; 
Hone's  Year  Book,  1832  ;  Table  Book,  1827  ;  Licbich  (pp. 
52—56)  ;  and  N.  and  O. 

HORSE-DEALING. 

Ne,  chowaali,  jova  menghi  kater  velgauro.  And  sor  ti 
greiaw  apre.  Yoozher  lendi  mishto.  Kair  lendi  to  dik 
mishto,  and  del  dova  poga-baval  grasni  koosi  bauleski 
tiilopen.  Chivova-les  adre  loki  mooi  to  atch  loki  baval 
koosi ;  ta  biknova-les,  tastis. 

And  dova  nokengro  grei  akei  to  mandi.  Band  asar  lesti 
opre  kater  rook.  And  asar  mandi  a  koosi  paani.  Tovova- 
les  mishto;  ta  kosserova-les  yoozho  talla.  Dova  kela. 
Biknova-les  tei,  te  vaniso  luvva.  Yov  bikindas  sor  lesko 
greiaw  kater  dova  welgauro  adre  o  Lavines-tem.  Bikinas 
amendi  sor  moro  greiaw  te  chiv  lendi  adre  lovo. 


204  GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

HORSE-DEALING. 

Now,  mates,  let  us  be  off  to  the  fair.  Bring  up  all  your 
horses.  Clean  them  well,  and  make  them  look  smart,  and 
give  that  broken-winded  mare  a  little  lard.  I  will  put  it  in 
her  mouth  to  ease  her  breathing  a  little,  and  I  will  sell  it, 
if  I  can. 

Bring  that  glandered  horse  here  to  me,  and  tie  it  up 
to  the  tree,  and  bring  me  a  little  water.  I  will  wash 
it  well,  and  wipe  it  clean  afterwards.  There,  that  will  do. 
I  will  sell  it  too,  at  any  price.  He  sold  his  horses  at  that 
fair  in  Wales.  Let  us  sell  all  our  horses,  and  turn  them 
into  cash.* 

ZUBA  B . 

A    gypsy's    ACCOUNT. 

Kova  lil6i,  shoond6m,  Romani-chal  tarno  joovel  adre  o 
Chumba-kalesko  tem,  shoondom,  sas  adre  o  Ghilyengri. 

Yoi  ghias  kater  o  bauro  kair.  Diktas  yoi  dooY  trin 
raunya.  Pootchte  yoi  yon,  "  Mook  man  do6ker6va  toot, 
Mandi  po6ker6va  too  okki  yek  rinkeno  tarno  rei.  Komessa 
toot  te  lei  lesti  te  rommer  toot .''  Yov  mol  dosta  lovo. 
Mook  man  dooker  toot.  Pookerova  toot  sor  troostal  yov, 
kanna  too  lei  lesti." 

Yoi'  pendas,  "  Our.    Too  dooker  mandi.     So  dova  toot }  " 

*  Instead  of  lard,  some  Romani-chals  prefer  to  tie  a  little  aloes 
(which  they  call  'aloways')  in  a  piece  of  muslin,  under  the  horse's 
tongue,  *  which  will  hatch  the  baval  misto.'  Another  way  of  treating 
a  nokengro  is  to  stuff  its  nose  full  of  nettles  (dandimengri  chor)  an 
hour  or  two  before  offering  it  for  sale.  On  removing  the  plug,  a  great 
quantity  of  purulent  and  highly  offensive  discharge  comes  away.  The 
animal's  nose  is  then  well  washed  and  syringed  with  spring  water.* 
Gypsies  display  much  skill  in  managing  a  horse  so  as  to  conceal  its 
defects  and  show  it  off  to  the  best  advantage.  They  have  been  known 
to  buy  a  worthless  animal,  and  after  clipping  its  coat,  and  manipulating 
it  in  other  ways,  to  sell  it  again  on  the  same  day  for  a  high  price  to 
its  former  owner.  Their  great  love  for  horses — especially  for  other 
people's  horses — brought  many  unlucky  Gypsies  to  the  gallows  in  those 
days  when  horse-stealing  was  a  capital  offence. 


These  customs  are  but  little  practised  nowadays. 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  205 

"  Yek  kotor."  O  rauni  dias  yoi  a  kotor.  YoT  pootchtas 
lati  k6moder  talla. 

Yoi'  pendas  lati  te  chiv  ori  te  vongushte  adre  a  m6;^to. 

O  Rauni  andadas  sor  dula  koli,  yoi  pootcht^  o  lendi. 
Tdlla  yoi*  chidas  lati'i-  wast  opre  o  m6;)^to,  sor  pardal  l^sti, 
akei  and  odoi.  Yoi'  pendas  kater  rauni,  "Too  mookas 
mandi  lei  kova.  Mook-les  kater  mandi  yek  kooroko, 
Talla  mandi  and  asar  lesti  paiili  popli  kater  too.  Talla 
wenna  dosta  lovo  te  soonaka,  ta  barvali  koli  adre  lesti' 
wonka  mandi  and  lesti  pauli  kater  too." 

O  rauni  kedas  ajaw.  Ghias  yon  (yo'i),  o  Romani  chei,  keri. 
Righade  (righadas)  o  koli  pardal  o  chairus. 

Talla  diktas  o  rauni,  yoi  kek  ne  vias  pauli,  yoi'  pookadas 
opre  lati.  Kanna  sig  bitchadas  o  prastermengro  palla  lati. 
Lias  lati.     Chidas  yoi"  adr6  steripen. 

Adre  o  saula  lias  lati  aglal  o  Pokenyus.  O  Pokenyus 
pendas  kater  lati,  "  So  shan  too  akei  troostal .?" 

YoY  pendas,  "  O  Rauni  od6'i  poochtas  mandi  te  dooker 
lati,  te  po6ker  lati  kanna  yoi'  lela  o  tarno  rei  te  lati'x 
rom.  Y6i  pendas,  o  rauni,  '  dova  toot  vdniso.  Pooker  man 
tatcho.'  " 

Pendas  o  Pokenyus  kater  rauni.     ''  See  dova  tatcho  } " 

''  Our."  Rauni  pendas.  "  Kek  yoi'  andadas  meeri  koli 
paiili  see  yo'i  pendas." 

O  Pokenyus  pendas.  ''  See  tooti  teeri  koli  pauli  konaw  .?" 

"  Our."  Hotchi  raiini.  "  Sor  tatcho  see  konaw.  Kek 
nanei  mandi  te  ker  wafedo  te  yo'i." 

"  Too  lias  sor  ti  koli  pauli.  Kek  nanei  too  komessa  te 
chiv  kova  joovel  adre  o  staripen  }" 

"  Naw."     Pendas  o  rauni. 

"Jaw  tooki  kon."  Pendas  o  Pokenyus.  "Maw  mook 
mandi  dik  toot  adre  kova  gav  kek  k6mmi." 

O  Pokenyus  pendas  kater  rauni,  "  Te  baiiro  dinli  shanas 
too  te  mook  teeri  k61i  te  jafri  komeni.  Kek  na  too  jindas, 
too  sas  o  dinli  ?  Kek  nanei  o  Romani  chei  sas  dinli.  Jaw 
tooki.  Maw  mook  mandi  dik  toot  akei  kek  kommi."  "  Kek 
nanei  mandi  nastis  dookerova  toot." 


206  genuine  romany  compositions. 

Translation. 

I  heard  this  summer  (about)  a  young  Gypsy  girl  in 
Derbyshire,  (and)  I  heard  it  was  *  in  the  papers.' 

She  went  to  a  (the)  big  house,  and  saw  two  or  three 
women.  She  asked  (one  of)  them,  "  Let  me  tell  you  your 
fortune.  I  tell  you  there  is  a  nice  young  man  ;  would  you 
like  to  have  him  to  marry  you  }  He  is  worth  plenty  of 
money.  Let  me  tell  you  your  fortune.  I  will  tell  you  all 
about  him,  (and)  when  you'll  be  married." 

The  woman  replied,  "  Very  well,  you  may  tell  me  my 
fortune.  What  shall  I  give  you  .''  "  "  A  guinea  "  (said  the 
Gypsy).  The  woman  gave  her  a  guinea,  (but  the  Gypsy) 
afterwards  asked  her  for  more.  She  told  her  to  put  (some) 
watches  and  rings  in  a  box,  (and)  the  woman  fetched  all 
those  things  that  she  asked  of  her.  The  Gypsy  then  passed 
her  hand  here  and  there,  all  over  the  box,  (and)  said  to  the 
woman,  "You  will  let  me  take  it.  Lend  it  me  a  week  ;  after 
(that)  I  will  bring  it  back  again  to  you,  (and)  then  there'll 
be  lots  of  money,  gold,  and  precious  stones  in  it,  when  I 
bring  it  back  to  you." 

The  woman  did  so.  The  Gypsy  girl  went  home,  but 
kept  them  more  than  the  week. 

When  the  woman  saw  she  did  not  return,  she  gave 
information,  and  the  constable  was  sent  after  her  at  once, 
and  apprehended  her,  and  locked  her  up. 

The  next  morning  he  took  her  before  the  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  who  asked  her  what  she  was  there  for. 

She  replied,  "That  woman  asked  me  to  tell  her  her 
fortune,  and  tell  her  when  she  would  get  her  young  man 
for  a  husband.  Sl'ie  said  she  would  give  me. anything  to 
let  her  know  the  truth." 

The  Justice  asked  the  woman  if  it  was  correct. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  woman  ;  **  (but)  she  did  not  bring  my 
things  back  as  she  promised  she  would." 

Then  the  Justice  asked  if  she  had  recovered  her  things. 

"Yes,"  said  she,  "they  are  all  right  now.  I  do  not  want 
to  do  harm  to  her." 


GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS.  207 

"  You  have  got  all  your  things  back,  and  don't  wish  to 
have  the  girl  put  in  prison  ?"  said  the  Justice. 

"  No,"  replied  the  woman. 

"  You  can  go,  then,"  said  the  Justice  to  the  Gypsy  girl. 
"  Don't  let  me  see  you  in  this  town  any  more." 

And  he  said  to  the  woman,  "  What  a  big  fool  you  were 
to  lend  your  things  to  one  like  her.  Don't  you  know  that 
you  were  the  fool  .'*  The  Gypsy  girl  was  no  fool.  Get  off 
with  you.  Don't  let  me  see  you  here  any  more."  And 
he  told  the  Gypsy  girl  he  could  not  punish  her. 

"Manchester  Guardian"  account,  August  13,  1874: — 

Extraordinary  Credulity. — At  the  Ashton-under- 
Lyne  County  Petty  Sessions,  yesterday,  a  Gypsy  named 

Zuba  B was  charged  with  fortune-telling  and  obtaining 

goods  under  false  pretences.  Mary  Ann  EUice,  a  domestic 
servant  at  Oldham,  said  that  on  Sunday  night  she  went  with 
her  sister  Hannah  to  a  field  at  Fitton  Hill,  in  which  there 
was  a  Gypsy  encampment.  The  prisoner  asked  them  into 
a  tent,  and  witness  gave  her  a  shilling  to  tell  her  fortune. 
The  prisoner  told  her  there  was  a  young  man  who  wore  a 
pen  beside  his  ear  who  loved  the  ground  she  walked  upon. 
(Laughter.)  Witness  took  off  her  glove,  and  prisoner, 
seeing  a  ring  on  her  finger,  asked  to  look  at  it.  Prisoner 
tried  it  on  her  finger,  and  then  got  her  brooch  and  cufTs 
from  witness.  She  touched  the  end  of  witness's  finger  with 
the  brooch,  the  ring,  and  the  shilling,  and  then  rolled  them 
up  and  put  them  in  a  cigar-box,  and  said  it  would  take  till 
Wednesday  to  ''make  the  charm  work."*  She  told  witness 
to  be  sure  to  come  for  them  on  \Vednesday  night.  She 
became  uneasy  on  Monday,  and  went  to  the  field,  but  the 
Gypsies  had  gone.  (Laughter.) — Hannah  Ellice  said  the 
prisoner  also  told  her  there  was  a  young  man  who  loved 
the  ground  she  walked  on.  The  prisoner  got  her  watch 
and  guard,  and  also  wanted  her  brooch  and  skirt,  but  she 

*  A  well-known  trick.     Sec  B\v.,  Zincali,  i.,  319  ;  Lavo-lil,  244. 


2o8  GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 

would  not  leave  them.  Prisoner  looked  at  her  hand,  and 
said  there  was  luck  before  her,  and  all  that.  (Laughter.) 
Prisoner  told  them  to  go  home,  and  tell  no  one,  not  even 
their  parents.  Prisoner  told  them  the  tribe  had  taken  the 
field  for  nine  months. — Mr.  Mellor,  M.P.  (one  of  the  magis- 
trates) :  Have  you  received  any  education  i* — Witness  :  No, 
sir,  I  have  not. — Superintendent  Ludlam  :  Perhaps  you 
don't  understand.  Have  you  ever  been  to  school  ?  Can 
you  read  and  write  ? — Witness  :  No,  sir. — Sergeant  Barnett 
proved  that  he  apprehended  the  prisoner  at  Bardsley  on 
Tuesday  night,  and  recovered  the  property. — Mr.  Thomas 
Harrison,  the  presiding  magistrate,  dismissed  the  case,  but 
counselled  the  prisoner  to  be  cautious.  Addressing  the 
girls,  he  said  it  was  most  extraordinary  that  silly  people 
should  go  to  such  places  to  have  their  fortunes  told.  It 
served  them  right  if  they  lost  their  money. 

KOKERI  INDIKI. 

A   DIALOGUE. 

So  see  dcSva  .-* 

'  Kokeri  IndikV  (Cocculus  Indicus)  Rei.  Chivova-les 
adr^  o  paini. 

S6ski,  mi  pal  .<* 

Maw  pootch  mandi  jafri  dinili  koovaw.  Komes  too 
matcho,  Rei } 

Ourli,  pal.     Komova-les  d6sta. 

'  KSkeri  Indiki'  kairela  sor  o  matchaw  posh-motto. 
Liom  dosta  and  dosta  ivi'  lesti. 

THE  WHITE  DOG. 

A   DIALOGUE. 
D6va  see  a  rfnkeno  pauno  jo6kel  odoi,  pal ! 
Our.     Latchadom-les  yek  divvus  adrd  o  baiiro-gav. 
So  see  lesko  nav  ^ 

Sebastopol.  Po6ker  mandi  o  feterdair  drom  to  kair  lesti 
kaiilo. 

Ndstis  po6ker6va  toot. 


GENtJTNK    ROMANY    COlsri'OSTTIONS.  209 

ADRE   STERIPEN. 

A    DIALOCiUE. 

Sar  shan,  chci  ?  Toogeno  shorn  mc,  to  dik  toot  adrc 
steripcn  akei.     So  see  too  akei  talla  ? 

For  dooken//'  ad  re  o  baiiro  gav. 

Savo  cheerus  Han,  to  atch  akei  ? 

Trill  shoonaw.     Mi  rom  see  adre  steripeit  tei ! 

Soski  ? 

For  chor/;/'  a  grei,  mi  pal !  The  rattvalo  praastermen- 
groj  pooker'd?  hookapenj*  troostal  lesti.  Yov  see  tarder/;/ 
shclo  kotorendri  konavv.     Yov' J  peer/;/'  opr6  o  pogerimengri. 

Toogno  shorn  to  shoon  Idsti.  Pookerova  kek-k6meni,  ta 
mandi  diktas  (diktom)  toot  akdi  adre  steripen. 

Parrik  mi  Doovel  te  kek  avel  akei  kek-komeni  so  long  as 
too  jivessa.  Jinessa  too  "  The  Trumpet','  a  ti'keni  ki'tchema 
adre  dc  gav  ? 

Kekera  mandi. 

Mooktom  mi  kooshn/ri-  odoi.  Pooker  mori  f6lk\  ajaw, 
mi  pal 

Our.     Kerova-les,  tastis. 

Kooshto  di'vvus. 

Til  oprejw//'  zee.     Mantchi  too. 

Translation. 
IN    PRISON. 

How  are  you,  my  child  .''  I  am  grieved  to  see  thee  here 
in  prison.     What  are  you  here  for  1 

For  telling  fortunes  in  the  city. 

How  long  have  you  to  stop  here  } 

Three  months.     My  husband  is  in  prison  too ! 

What  for  t 

For  horse-stealing,  mate.  The  cursed  constables  com- 
mitted perjury  about  it.  He  is  picking  oakum  now,  and 
working  on  the  treadwheel. 

I  am  sorry  to  hear  it.  I  will  not  tell  any  one  I  have  seen 
you  here  in  prison. 

14 


210  GKNOiXE    ROMANY    COMt^OSlTlONS. 

God  grant  that  you  may  never  come  here  as  long  as  you 
hve.  Do  you  know  "  The  Trumpet,"  a  small  public-house 
in  the  town  ? 

No,  I  do  not. 

I  left  my  baskets  there.     Tell  our  people  so,  friend. 

Certainly  I  will  do,  if  I  can. 

Good  day. 

Keep  up  your  spirits.     Cheer  up. 

REMARKS   SHOWING  A  GYPSY'S   DISLIKE   TO 
MIXED   MARRIAGES. 

O  Romani-chei  kedais  koshto  lati-k6keri  tall'  sor  liitVs 
looberiben.  Kek  nanei  yd'i  rinkeni.  Wafedo  di'komusti 
chei  sas  yoi.  O  moosh,  yov  sas  korodo,  ta  loobni  yek  sas-16. 
Yov  sas  bauro  di'nelo  te  wooser  lesko  kokero  adre  jafra 
wafedo  chei'j"  wastelw. 

Yd'i  sas  chichi  feterder  te  loobni.  Yoi  sas  yek.  Yoi 
atchd'la  opre  dromaw  adre  o  Gav,  posha  kitchemaw,  te  dik 
talla  o  gaire  te  del  yoT  trin-gorishi,  te  shau-hauri,  te  sov  zvi' 
lati.  Bi'tta  gauje,  rakle,  vart  asar  lati  dosta  chairus^i",  te  jal 
adre  weshaw,  te  mook  wardi-gaire  te  sov  zuf  lati,  a;id  d6va 
see  tatcho.     Gauje  penela  jaw  troostal  lati  kondw. 

Mandi  penova,  wonka  yov  jivela  lati  yek  besh,  yov 
nasherela  sor  l^sko  16vo,  ta  sor  lesko  zee,  ta  wel  te  jal  ta 
mong  mauro  te  hoi,  kanna  sas-16  (see-16)  bokalo.  YoT  sig 
kelela  dova  lesti. 

YoT  lela  sor  lesko  wongur.  YoT  dela  lesti  katcr  Idti'j  dad 
ta  dei,  te  wel  y6ki/o/i'i,  talla  sor  latiV  lo6beribcn. 

Dordi !  dordi ! !     Savo  bauro  Di'nelo  sas-16  ! ! ! 


GEKUINK    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  211 


O  CHOORODO'S  GOZVERO  KERIMUS. 

Yek  raati  a  Choorodo  ghias  kater  Drabengro  te  atch-les 
opre,  te  wel  kater  lesti  choori  Romiii.  YoT  sas  poshle  adr6 
woodrus. 

Kanna  o  Drabengro  shoondas  lesti,  yov  rokerW  to  lesti, 
and  o  Choorodo  poochtas-les,  so  yov  lela  te  wel  kater  lesko 
Romni,  te  dova  cheerus  o'  raati. 

O  Choorodo  peiidas  ''  Meeri  Romni  see  chlv'd  kater 
woodrus.  Mandi  penova  yoiV/  men  Wel,  Rei,  te  dik  a^ 
lati.  Mandi  delova  toot  a  kotor  te  kair  o  feterder  to  lati, 
tastis." 

O  Drabengro  ghias.  Kanna  sor  sas  kedo,  o  Choorodo 
dias  o  Drabengro  yek  kotor.  O  Drabengro  diktas  yov 
sas  a  choorokono  moosh.  Yov  dias-les  posh-k6tor  pauli, 
ta  dova  kotor  sas  wafedo  yek. 

Kanna  o  Rei  diktas  o  kotor,  yov  latch'<^  lesti  avri. 
Wafedo  sas. 

Kanna  o  Drabengro  diktas  o  kotor  wafedo  sas,  kenaw-sig 
o  Drabengro  ghias  te  dik  palla  o  Choorodo,  te  po6ker  yov 
wafedo  kotor  sas,  yov  dias  lesti. 

Yov  ghias  kater  tan,  kei  sas-16. 

O  Choorodo  kerdas  sor  leski  koli  opre.  Ghias  peski. 
Yov  jindas  wafedo  kotor  sas. 

.    Translation. 
THE  MUMPER'S  ARTFUL  DODGE. 

A  mumper  one  night  went  to  a  doctor  to  call  him  up  to 
attend  his  poor  wife,  who  was  confined  to  bed. 

As  soon  as  the  doctor  heard  him,  he  answered ;  and  the 
mumper  asked  him  what  fee  he  would  want  to  attend  his 
wife  at  that  time  of  the  night.  He  said  to  the  doctor, 
*'  My  wife  is  confined,  and  I  fear  she  will  die.      Come  and 


212  GENUINE    ROMANY    COMrOSITIONS. 

look  at  her,  sir.     I  will  give  you  a  guinea  to  do  the  best 
you  can  for  her." 

So  the  doctor  went;  and  when  he  had  finished,  the  mum- 
per handed  him  a  guinea.  The  doctor,  however,  seeing  he 
was  a  poor  man,  returned  him  half  the  fee;  but  the  guinea 
was  bad,  and  the  doctor  found  it  out  as  soon  as  he  exa- 
mined it.  He  immediately  set  off  to  look  for  the  mumper, 
and  to  tell  him  the  guinea  he  had  paid  was  a  bad  one. 
He  went  to  the  place  where  he  had  been,  but  the  mumper 
had  packed  up  his  goods  and  taken  himself  off,  for  he  knew 
the  guinea  was  bad. 

O  JINOMESKRO  HINDI-TEMENGRO. 

Yck  chdirus  a  tatcho  kooshto  Drabengro  jivdas  adre 
o  Meilesko-tcm.  Yek  shilalo  raati,  yov  sas  kino  dosta. 
Shoondas  a  moosh.  Yov  sas  a  Hindi-temengro.  Vias 
kater  Idsko  kair.  Dids  drovan  oprc  o  wo6da.  Yov  pendds 
kdter  Drabengro,  "  Kair  sig,  ta  wel  mdnsa.  Meero  choro 
pooro  r6mni  see  'pre  m6r-m\  Wel  kdter  y&i.  Mdndi  d^la 
(dova)  toot  yek  kotor." 

O  Drabengro  pendds  to  lesti,  "  Kek  mdndi  jova  toosa. 
Jaw  wdfedo  shilalo  radti  see,  ta  o  dromdw  see  jaw  wdfedo 
ta  chiklo." 

O  Hindi-temengro  pendds  kdter  Drabengro,  "Wel  tooti 
mdnsa,  mi  Dooveldski !  Mdndi  dova  toot  yek  k6tor,  te 
kel  Idti  te  jiv  te  mer." 

O  Drabengro  ghids  Idsti.  Kdnna  yov  vids  odoi  kdter  yoi, 
y6'i  sas  boot  ndfelo  te  mer.  O  Drabengro  dids  yoi  koosi 
drab  te  pee.     Tdlla  yov  ghids  p^ski  kokero  kere  popli. 

Adr^  o  saula,  o  Drabdngro  shoondds  y&i  sas  mo61o. 

Yov  ghids  kdter  o  Hindi-tem^ngro.  Pootchtas-les  pdlla 
lesko  kotor. 

O  Hfndi-tem^ngro  pendds  kdter  o  Drabdngro,  "Kek 
mdndi  d6va  toot  'd6va  k6tor." 

Tdlla  o  Drabengro  lids  godli  lesti.  Lids-les  oprd  kdter  o 
Pookcnyus  te  lei  lesko  luva.     Kdnna  yov  sas  agldl  o  Poo- 


GENUINE    ROAIANY    COxMPOSITIONS.  213 

kenyus,  o  Pookenyus  pootchtas-les,  "Sar  sas  kova.  Too 
kek  nanei  pesserW  o  Drabengro  ? " 

O  Pookenyus  pootchV  o  Hindi  temengro,  "See  toot 
mooiengro  te  roker  tooki  ?" 

"Kek,"  hotchi  yov,  o  pooro  Hindi-temengro,  "Mandi  see 
meero  nogo  r6keromengro." 

O  Pookenyus  pendas  kater  o  Hindi-temengro,  "Too  see 
lavaw  te  pen  te  pootch  lesti  vaniso  ? " 

"Our,  Rei!"  pendas  kater  Pookenyus. 

"  Pootch  lesti,  kon." 

"Drabengro!"  hotchi  o  Hindi-tcmengro,  "Too  kerdas 
meero  romni  te  jiv  ? " 

"  Kek,"  hotch'  o  Drabengro. 

"  Too  kairdas  yoi  te  mer  kon  ?  " 

"  Kek,"  hotchi  o  Drabengro. 

"  So  mandi  te  del  toot  liiva  troostal  kon  ?  Too  kek  nanei 
kairV  yoi'  te  jiv.  Too  kek  nanei  maurW  lati.  Savo  Koosh- 
topen  kairdas  too  talla.-*  Konaw,  Rei,"  pendas  o  Hi'ndi- 
temengro  kater  Pookenyus,  "  So  mandi  te  kair  ?  Te  del 
yov  liiva  te  kek  .''  " 

O  Pookenyus  pendas,  "  Kek  nanei  yov  kerW  lesko  bootsi 
tatcho,  ta  yov  pendas  te  kel  lati  te  jiv  te  mer.  Yov  kerV 
kek  o*  lendi.  Te  yov  sas  te  kair  o  joovel  te  jiv,  mandi 
kairova  te  del  o  Drabengro  o  kotor  so  too  pendas.  Te  wel 
yov  te  maur  lati,  mandi  chivova-les  pauli  kater  o  Baiiri, 
ta  yov  v61a  nashado,  kairm'  meriben." 

"So  mandi  te  kair  konaw,  Rei,  kon.^"  pendas  o  pooro 
Hindi-temengro,  "  Too  jal///  te  chiv  mandi  adre  steripen 
troostal  lesti,  te  mook  mdndi  yoozho  ? " 

Pendas  o  Pookenyus,  "  Yoozho  shan.  Too  shan  tatcho. 
Jaw  tooki  kei  too  komcssa." 

Translation. 
THE  KNOWING  IRISHMAN. 

Once  upon  a  time  there  was  a  downright  clever 
doctor  living  in  Yorkshire,  and  one  cold  night  he  was  very 


214  GENUINE   ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 

tired,  when  he  heard  a  man.  It  was  an  Irishman,  who  had 
come  to  the  house.  He  knocked  at  the  door  hard,  and 
said  to  the  doctor,  "  Make  haste  and  come  with  me.  My 
poor  old  wife  is  nearly  dead.  Come  to  her,  and  I  will  give 
you  a  guinea." 

The  doctor  replied,  "  I  will  not  go  with  you  ;  it  is  such 
a  wretchedly  cold  night,  and  the  roads  are  so  bad  and 
muddy." 

The  Irishman  said  to  the  doctor,  "  Do  come  with  mc,  for 
God's  sake.  I  will  give  you  a  guinea  whether  you  kill  or 
cure  her." 

So  the  doctor  went  with  him,  and  when  he  reached  the 
place  she  was  evidently  on  her  death-bed.  The  doctor 
gave  her  a  little  medicine  to  drink,  and  then  he  took  him- 
self off  home  again. 

In  the  morning  the  doctor  heard  she  was  dead. 

He  went  to  the  Irishman,  and  asked  for  his  fee. 

The  Irishman  said  to  the  doctor,  "  I  will  not  pay  you 
that  guinea." 

Then  the  doctor  took  out  a  summons  against  him.  He 
summoned  him  before  the  justice  to  obtain  his  money. 
When  he  appeared  before  the  justice,  the  justice  asked 
him,  "  How  is  this  ?  You  have  not  paid  the  doctor.? "  The 
magistrate  asked  the  Irishman  if  he  had  a  lawyer  to  defend 
him. 

"  No,"  said  the  old  Irishman;  "  I  am  my  own  lawyer." 

The  magistrate  said  to  him,  ''  Have  you  any  questions 
to  ask  him  .?" 

*'  Yes,  sir,"  he  said  to  the  magistrate. 

"Ask  him,  then." 

"Doctor,"  said  the  Irishman,  "did  you  make  my  wife 
live.?" 

"  No !  "  cried  the  doctor. 

**  You  made  her  die,  then  .?" 

"No!"  cried  the  doctor. 

"  What  am  I  to  pay  you  for,  then  ?  You  did  not  make 
her  live.    You  did  not  kill  her.     What  good  did  you  do, 


GENUINE   ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  215 

then  ?  Now,  sir,"  said  the  Irishman  to  the  magistrate,  "  what 
am  I  to  do — pay  him,  or  not  ? " 

The  magistrate  said,  "He  did  not  do  his  work  properly, 
for  he  said  he  would  kill  or  cure  her,  and  he  did  neither. 
If  he  had  made  the  woman  live,  I  would  make  you  pay 
the  doctor  the  guinea  you  promised.  If  he  be  the  cause  of 
her  death,  I  will  remand  him  to  the  assizes,  and  he  will  be 
hanged  for  committing  murder." 

"What  am  I  to  do  now,  sir,  then?"  said  the  old  Irish- 
man. "  Arc  you  going  to  put  me  in  gaol  for  it,  or  acquit 
me  ? " 

The  magistrate  answered,  "  You  are  clear.  You  are  all 
right.     Go  where  you  like."* 

KING  EDWARD  AND  THE  GYPSY. 

Dosta  do  St  a   besJidzv  ghids         kondw,  sas    a  batiro 

Many  many  years  gone  (by)  now,  (there)  was  a  great 
Krdlis  adre  AngJiiterra;  Edward//.y  sas  Icsko  nav — kooshto 
King  in  England  ;  Edward  was  his  name — (a)  good 
komdo  I'd  sas-l6. 

kind  gentleman  was  he. 

Yek  divinis  yov  kestcrdds,  sor  bikonyo,  adrdl  a   bauro 
One  day        he     rode,  all    alone,     through  a  great 

tdmlo  zvesh.     Wonka  yov  sas  ajd/hx  talc  a  bitto  rook,  a  baiu'o 
dark  wood.     When   he  was  going  under  a  little  tree,  a  big 
koslit  leVdi  bonnek  o'  lcsti?>  bal.     O  rdttvalo  grei  pradster'd 
bough  took  hold   of  his   hair.     The  cursed  horse  ran 
avn,  ta  viooktds  Edward ?/i'  ndsJicdo  oprd  0  rook. 
off,     and  left       Edward     hanged  on  the  tree. 

A  pooro  Romani-chal,  so      sas  odoi,    bes/im'  p^nsa    sap 
An  old    Gypsy  man,  who  was  there,  lying  like  (a)  snake 
adrc  0  chor,  diktds-Ies.      Yov  ghids  kdtcr  0  Krdlis.      Yov 
in  the  grass,  saw  him.     He     went     to    the    King.      He 

*  This  is  a  well-known  anecdote. 


2l6  GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 

chindds  o  kosJit  talc,  ta  inooktds  Edward?/^  jal  pecro  apoplt. 
cut     the  bough  down,  and  let     Edward       go   free    again. 
O  Krdlis  dids-ks  pdrikaben,   ta  pendds  Icsti,   ''  Kon  shan 
The  King  gave  him  thanks,     and  said  to  him,  "  Who  art 
too?''      Yov  rokerdi  ajdw:     "A  pooro  cJiooro  Romani-chdl 
thou?"     He   spoke    thus:     "An  old    poor    Gypsy  (man) 
sJiom  vu\'     0  Krdlis  pendds,  " Mookova  toot  tc  jal  kei  too 
am      I."        The  King  said,  "  I  will  let  thee  go  where  thou 
komessa,  ta  sov    kei  too  komc^ssa,  adr^ sormi  kj'dlisovn.)  ta 
likest,  and  sleep  where  thou  likest,  in  all  my  kingdom;  and 
wr  zvdver  Romani-cJidlaiv  tci  see  pecro  to  kcl  ajdiv'' 
all  other  Gypsies  too  are  free  to  do  so."  "■* 

o  chc5romengro. 

Mandi  diktom  a  baiiro  gairo.  Ghias  adrc  dova  kair. 
Lids  chomoni  avri  panlo  adre  a  bauro  jorjaw;^a.  Ch6moni 
sas  adr6,  loko  (sas).     Kek  ne  jindom  me  so  sas  adre  lesti. 

Sar  sig  yov  diktas  mandi,  praastadds  peski  p6nsa  grei. 
GJiias,  garadas  leski  kokero.  K(^'kera  diktom  16sti  kek- 
komi. 

Talla  yov  sas  ghilo,  o  raiini  kater  kair  vias  adre  o  kair. 
Diktas  sor  lati'i-  roopcno  koH,  ta  soonaka  ora,  ta  soonaka 
weriga,  ta  merikli,  ta  vongcshtai",  sas  sor  ghilc. 

Dova  gairo  lias  lendi  sor.  Ghias  peski  sor  koshto  yoozho 
te  lendi. 

Translation. 

the   thief. 

I  saw  a  big  man.  He  went  into  that  house.  He  took 
something  out  tied  in  a  big  apron.  Something  was  inside 
heavy  (lit.,  light).     I  did  not  know  what  was  in  it. 

As  soon  (as)  he  saw  me,  he  himself  ran  like  (a)  horse. 
He  went ;  he  hid  himself.     I  never  saw  him  any  more. 

After  he  was  gone,  the  lady  at  (the)  house  came  into 

*  Edward  VI.  reigned  1547—1553,  but  all  histories  have  ignored 
this  incident  !  Perhaps  it  is  based  on  some  New  Forest  tradition  of 
the  death  of  Richard,  grandson  of  William  I. 


GENUINE    ROMANS    COMPOSITIONS.  2  I  7 

the  house.    She  saw  all  her  silver  things,  and  gold  watches, 
and  gold  chains,  and  bracelets,  and  rings,  were  all  gone. 

That  man  took  them  all.  He  himself  went  all  right 
clean  (off)  with  them. 

MI   DOOVELESKO    BITTA  FOLKl. 

Shoondom  yekera,  dosta  beshaw  ghile,  sas  varengro. 
Jivdas  aglal  o  Kralisko  pooro  kair  kater  Kellingworth 
posha  Warwick.  Chiimba  see  odoi,  ta  o  Kralisko  pooro 
kair  see  opre-les.  Koshto  rei  sas-16.  Komela  sorkon 
koshto  jivomus,  te  li'vena,  ta  sor  waver  piamus. 

Yek  divvus  adre  o  saula  ghias  avri,  te  lesko  vardo,  ta 
greiaw  tei,  te  jal  kater  o  baiiro  gav  te  bikin  lesko  varo. 

Kekera  vias  pauli  popli.  Kekera  diktas  yon.  O  vardo, 
ta  greiaw  vias  pauli.     Yov  kek  vias. 

Talla  dooi  beshaw  yov  vias  rtpopli,  ta  andadas  kater 
lesko  romni,  toovlo,  ta  toovlo  choraw,  ta  bauri  swegler. 

Pookerde  lesti,  "  Kei  shanas  too  sor  dula  chairus,  sor 
diila  do6l'  beshaw  ? " 

Pendas  yov,  "  Tale  dova  baiiro  kair  odoi'.  Kek  nanei  see 
dooi  beshaw.  Kaliko  raati  mandi  sas  wel/;/'  keri,  ta  mi 
Duvelcsko  bi'tta  folki  vias.  Yon  atchte  sor  ketanc  aglal 
mandi,  sor  troostal.  Lias  mandi  tale  adre  a  bauro  fino 
rinkeno  tan  odoi',  tale  o  kralisko  pooro  kair. 

Hodom  sorkon  koshto  holomus,  ta  peedom  sorkon  piamus 
ta  mandi  kom.f,  livena,  ta  mol,  ta  tatto  paani  tei.  Kek 
nanei  paani  see  odoi!  Sas  lendi  dosta  dosta  toovlo,  ta 
bauri  swegler.  Dias  dosta  kater  mandi.  Kelcnna,  bosher- 
vcnna,  ghivenna  tei  sor  o  raati.  Doi  see  dosta  ro6pni  koli 
ta  soonaka. 

Kanna  saula  vias,  yon  mookte  mandi  jal,  ta  mandi  anda- 
dom  kova  to6vlo,  ta  toovlo  koraw,  ta  bauri  swegler.     Dik 
asar  at  lendi.     Diktassa  jafri  koli  adre  teero  mdriben  .? " 
"  Kekera,"  pend(^  yon,  "  see  d6va  sor  tatcho  "i " 
"  Our,"  pendas  yov,  ''  opre  meero  koshto  zee." 
Dova  see  so  gaujc  pende  kater  mandi.     Kanna  mandi 
sas  odoi,  sas  komeni  simensi  o  dova  varengro  adre  o  gav. 


2l8  genuine  romany  compositions. 

Translation. 
THE     FAIRIES. 

I  heard  once,  many  years  ago,  there  was  a  miller,  who 
lived  opposite  Kenilworth  Castle,  near  Warwick.  There 
is  a  hill  there,  and  the  castle  stands  on  it.  The  miller  was 
a  jovial  sort  of  fellow,  fond  of  good  living,  and  liquor. 

One  day,  early  in  the  morning,  he  set  off  with  his  cart 
and  horses  to  go  to  town  and  sell  his  flour. 

He  never  returned.  They  never  saw  him  again.  His 
cart  and  horses  came  back,  but  he  did  not. 

After  two  years,  he  returned,  and  brought  his  wife  some 
'baccy,  'bacca  dishes,  and  long  pipes. 

They  asked  him  where  he  had  been  all  those  two  years. 

He  replied,  "  Under  the  castle,  yonder;  but  it  isn't  two 
years.  Last  night  I  was  coming  home,  and  a  whole  lot  of 
fairies  came  and  stood  in  a  ring  round  me,  and  then  they 
took  me  off  to  a  splendid  place  under  the  castle  over 
there. 

"  I  ate  of  the  best,  and  had  every  kind  of  drink  I  like 
— ale  and  wine,  and  spirits  too.  There's  no  water  there! 
They  had  lots  of  'baccy,  and  great  long  pipes,  and  they 
gave  me  plenty.  They  were  dancing,  and  fiddling,  and 
singing  too  all  night  long,  and  there  were  heaps  of  gold 
and  silver. 

"As  soon  as  it  was  morning  they  let  me  go,  and  I 
brought  this  here  tobacco,  and  'bacca  dishes,  and  pipes 
away  with  me.  Just  look  at  'em.  Did  you  ever  see  such 
things  in  your  lives  .?" 

"  Not  we,"  said  they.     "  Is  it  all  true  V 

"  Yes,"  said  he  ;  "  upon  my  honour  it  is." 

That  is  a  story  the  people  told  me ;  and  when  I  was 
there,  some  of  the  miller's  descendants  were  still  living 
in  the  village.* 

*  Versions  of  this  story  are  common  to  almost  all  mythologies. 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  2ig 

HOW   PETALENGRO   WENT   TO    HEAVEN. 

OLD   DIALECT. 

Mandi  pookcrova  toot  sar  Petalcngro  ghias  kater  mi 
Doovelesko  keri : — 

Yek  divvus  mi  Doovel  vias  adre  bitto  gav.  Kek  nanei 
kitchema  sas  adoi.  Yov  ghias  adre  PetalengroV  kair.  Yov 
sootadds  odoi  sor  doova  raati. 

Adre  o  saula  o  Petalengro'i-  poori  romni  pendas. 
"Komova  tc  jal  adre  mi  Doovolesko  keri  kanna  merova." 

Mi  Doovel  diktats  adre  laki  mooT.  Yov  pendas  "  Maw 
trash.  Too  nasti's  te  jal  adre  o  bengesko  tan.  Odoi  sec 
rovoben  ta  kair//^^  wafedo  mooiaw  ta  da.ndi/ig-  ti  danaw. 
Tooti  see  kek  nan^i  danaw.     Too  jasa  adre  meero  keri." 

Yov  pendas  kater  laki  rom.  "  Delova  tooti  stor  kola. 
So  bootodair  too  komesa  te  lei  ? " 

O  Petalengro  pendas  '•'  Komova.  O  moosh  so  jala  opre 
meero  pobesko  rook,  nastis  te  wel  tale.  Doova  see  yek 
kova. 

"  Komova.  O  moosh  so  beshela  opre  o  kova  so  mandi 
kerova  greiesti  cho;(;a  opre,  nastis  te  atch  opre  rt:popli.  Dula 
see  doof  kola 

"  Komova.  O  moosh  so  jala  adre  meero  bitto  sastera 
mokto,  nastissa  te  v/el  avri.     Dida  see  trin  kola 

"  Komova.  Meero  hoofa  see  mandi  adre  sorkon  cheerus, 
ta  kanna  beshova  opre-les  kek  moosh  nastis  te  kair  mandi 
te  atch  opre.     Dula  see  o  stor  kola  so  komova  feterdair." 

Mi  Doovel  pendas  yov  '  Our'  kater  sor  dula  kola,  so  yov 
pootchdas-les.     Yov  ghias  opre  lesko  drom. 

Palla  doova  o  Petalengro  jivdds  dosta  dosta  beshaw. 

Yek  divvus  o  Bauro-shorokono-mulo-moosh  vias.  Yov 
pendas  kater  o  Petalengro  "  Av  mansa  !  " 

O  Petalengro  pendas  "Atch  koosi,  Borl  Mook  mandi 
pen  'kooshko  divvus'  kater  meeri  poori  romni.  Too  jasa 
opre  meero  rook  te  lei  pobe." 

Yov  ghias  opre  o  rook.  Nastis  te  wel  tale  ^T-popli.  O 
Petalengro  kedas-les  pen  "  Mookova  toot  bikonyo  bish 
beshaw."  '  Yov  pendas  doova.     Yov  vias  tale. 


220  GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 

Palla  bish  beshaw,  yov  vias  rt^popli.  Yov  pendas  "Av 
mansa ! " 

O  Petalengro  pendas  "  Atch  koosi,  Bor !  Too  shan  kino. 
Besh  tale  opre  doova  kova."  Sas  o  kova  so  yov  kedas  o 
greiesto  cho;^a  opre. 

Yov  beshtas  tale  opre  lesti.  Nastissa  te  atch  opre  ^popli. 
O  Petalengro  kedas-les  pen  "  Mookova  tooti  bikonyo  bish 
beshaw  apopVC     Yov  pendas  doova.     Yov  atchdas  opre. 

Palla  bish  beshaw  ^popli  o  Beng  vias.  Yov  pendas  "Av 
mansa." 

O  Petalengro  pendas  "  Atch  koosi,  Bor !  Kek  jaw  sig, 
mi  pooro  chavo  !  M6  shom  jaw  kooshto  sar  tooti.  Mook 
mandi  dik  tooti  jal  adre  kova  bitto  sastera  mokto." 

Yov  ghias  adre-les.  Nastissa  te  wel  avri.  O  Petalengro 
chidas  o  mokto  adre  o  yog.  Kanna  les  sas  lolo-tatto  yov 
chidas-les  opr^  o  kova  so  yov  kedas  o  greiesto  cho%a  opre. 
Yov  koordas-les  sar  sor  lesko  roozlopen.  O  Beng  rovdas 
ta  kordas  avri  sor  o  cheerus  "Mook  mandi  jal.  Mookova 
tooti  bikonyo  adr6  sor  cheerus."  Kanna  o  Petalengro  sas 
sor  kino,  yov  mooktas  o  Beng  jal. 

Palla  waver  doosta  dooro  cheerus  mi  Doovel  bitchadas 
yek  o'  mi  Doovel'i"  tatcho  gaire.  Yov  pendas  "  Av  mansa 
kater  o  Bengesko  tan." 

O  Petalengro  pendas  "  Sor  tatcho." 

Kanna  o  Beng  diktas-les,  yov  pendas  "Jal  avri  sig, 
wafedo  gairo.     Kek  komova  tooti  akei." 

Jaw  o  tatcho  gairo  lias-les  kater  mi  Doovel'j-  tern.  Mi 
Doovel  pootchdas  "Welessa  too  avri  o  Bengesko  tan .?" 

O  Petalengro  pendds  "Kek.'*  Mi  Doovel  pcnd.is  "Jal 
avri  sig,  wafedo  gairo.     Kek  komova  tooti  ak(5i." 

O  Petalengro  pendas  "  Mook  mandi  dik  adre  teero  kair." 
Mi  Doovel  pirivdas  o  wooda.  O  Petalengro  wooserdas 
lesko  hoofa  adre.  Prasterdas.  Beshtas  tale  opre-les,  ta 
pendds  kater  mi  Doovel  "  Nastissa  too  te  kair  mandi  jal 
kendw." 

Doova  see  sar  o  Petalengro  ghids  kater  mi  Dooverj  kair, 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  221 

THE    SAME. 

NEW  DIALECT. 

MandiV/  pooker  tooti  /lozu  the  Petalengro  jalW  adre  mi 
Doover^  kair. 

Yek  divvus  mi  Doovcl  welV/  adre  a  bitti  gav,  and  latch'<^ 
kekeno  kitchema  odoi,  so  he]'dXd  adre  the  Petalengro'i"  kair, 
and  sooter'^  odoi  sor  doova  raati. 

Adre  the  saula  the  PetalengroV  poori  romni  penV.  '''  Td 
kom  to  jal  adre  mi  DoovelV  kair  zvhen  mandi  merj,"  so 
mi  Doovel  6S\^d  adre  lati'i"  mooi,  and  penW  ''  Maw  trash 
Tooti  cant  jal  adre  tJie  Bengesko  tan,  'cause  odoi  there's 
rovoben  aftd  dand/;/^  o'  danyaw,  and  tooti'i-  danyaw  a7'e 
sor  nasherV/  avri  yo?tr  mooV.  Tooti  shall  jal  adre  meeri 
kair." 

And  he  pen'^  to  lati'i-  rom  "  MandiV/  del  tooti  stor  kovai". 
So  does  tooti  kom  "■  " 

"  The  Petalengro  penV/  "  Mandi  kom  J  as  any  moosh,  as 
jab  opre  meero  rook  to  lei  poboj,  can't  wel  tale  ^popli. 
Doova'j"  yek  kova. 

"  Mandi  konii-  as  any  moosh,  as  besh^i-  opre  the  kova 
mandi  kairi-  greiesto  chokai-  opre,  can't  atch  opre  rt:popli. 
Doova'i"  dooi"  kovaj". 

"  Mandi  komi*  as  any  moosh,  as  jal  s  adre  meeri  bitto 
sastera  mokto,  caiit  wel  avri  rt:popli,     DoovaV  trin  kovax. 

"Mandi  kom.y  as  meeri  hoofa  may  be  mine  adre  sor 
cheerus,  and  tvhen  mandi  besh^i-  apre  lesti  kek  moosh  can 
kair  mandi  atch  opre  ^popli.  Doova'i"  the  stor  kova^  as 
mandi  komi-." 

Mi  Doovel  penW,  "  Our,"  to  sor  doova  kovaj,  and  jalV 
opre  lesti'j-  drom. 

Palla  doova  the  Petalengro  ]Wd  boot  adoosta  besh^j". 

Yek  divvus  the  Bauro-shorokono-moolo-moosh  welV  and 
penW  to  the  Petalengro,  "  Av  ivith  mandi." 

The  Petalengro  penV,  "  Atch  a  koosi,  Bor !  Mook  mandi 
pen  'Kooshto  divvus'  to  meeri  poori  romni.     Tooti  can  }a\ 


!12^  GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 

op  re  mecri  rook,  ^//d  lei  so?/ic  poboj-,"  (i/id  ivJicn  he  jalV 
oprc  tJie  rook,  Jic  couldn't  wel  tale  ^popH,  so  tJic  Petalengro 
kairW  Jiim  pen  "  Mandi  V/mook  tooti  ^konyo  bish  besh^i-" 
and  sar  sig  as  he  ^cnd  doova  he  could  wel  tale. 

Palla  bish  beshri-  he  welV/  ^popli  ajid  penV,  "Av  ivith 
mandi,"  a?id  the  Petalengro  pcnV,  "Atch  a  koosi,  Bor ! 
Tooti'i-  kini.     Besh  tale  opre  doova  kova." 

He  beshW  tale  opre  the  kovva  he  kairV  greiesto  chokai- 
opre  ajid  could?it  atch  opre  ^popli,  so  the  Petalengro  kair'^ 
hint  pen, "Mandi 7/  mook  tooti  ^konyo  bish  besh^o  rt^popli," 
and  sar  sig  as  he  penV  doova  he  could  atch  opre. 

Palla  bish  besh^i-  rt-popli  the  Beng  welW  and  pen'rt^,  "Av 
7vith  mandi,"  ajid  the  Petalengro  penW,  "Atch  a  koosi, 
Bor !  Kek  so  sig,  mi  poori  chavi.  Mandi'j-  as  kooshti  as 
tooti.  Mook  mandi  dik  tooti  jal  adre  kovva  bitti  sastera 
mokto  asar,"  He  ]TiVd  adre  lesti  atid  couldn't  wel  avri  so  the 
Petalengro  chivW  it  adre  the  yog,  and  zvhen  it  was  sor  lolo- 
tatto  lie  chivW  it  opre  the  kova  he  kairV  greiesto  chokai* 
opre  a7id  koor'^  lesti  with  sor  Jiis  roozlopen,  and  the  Beng 
rovW  and  Vox\i  avri  sor  tJie  cheerus,  "  Mook  mandi  jal. 
Mandi  7/  mook  tooti  <?konyo  'dr6  sor  cheerus,"  and  ivhcn 
the  Petalengro  zvas  quite  kino,  he  mookW  tlie  Beng  jal. 

Palla  a  baiiro  cheerus  mi  Doovel  bitcher'^  yek  of  his 
tatcho  gairiri',  who  penV  to  the  Petalengro,  "Av  witJi  mandi 
to  the  Bengesko  tan,"  aftd  the  Petalengro  penV,  "  Sor 
tatcho." 

]Vhen  the  Beng  dikV/  lesti,  he  penV,  "Jal  avri  sig,  jw/ 
wafedo  gairo.     Mandi  doesn't  kom  tooti  akei." 

So  the  tatcho  gairo  lelV  him  to  mi  Doovel'j  tem,  and  mi 
Doovel  pootchV  16sti,  "Has  tooti  wcVd  front  the  Bengesko 
tan.?" 

A?id  the  Petalengro  penV,  "  Keker,"  so  mi  Doovel  penV, 
"Jal  avri  sig,  you  wafedo  gairo.  Mandi  doesn't  kom  tooti 
akei." 

And  the  Petalengro  penV/,  "  Mook  mandi  dik  adre  your 
kair,"  ajid  sar  sig  as  mi  Doovel  pirivV  the  wooda,  tJie  Peta- 
lengro wooscrV  his  hoofa  adre,  and  prasterV,  and  besh'rtf 


tale  opre  lesti,  and  peiiV/  to  mi  Doovel,  "  Tooti  caiit  kair 
mandi  jal  kenaw." 

Doova'i'  the  droni  tJie  Petalengro  jalW  adre  mi  DoovelV 
kair/"^ 


fraufilationfi. 


THE  TARNO    BOSHNO   AND    THE   BARVALO 

BAR. 

THE   YOUNG  COCK  AND  THE  DIAMOND. 

A  tarno  boshno  ivi  dooT  trin  kann?>i-,  lesko  romni^j",  sas 
A  young   cock  with  two   {or)  three  hens,  his      zvives,  zvas 
dik/;/    for  choomoni  to  hoi  opr^  a  chikesko-chumba.    Yov 
looking  for  something  to  eat    on    a      dnng-Jiill.  He 

latchr^  odoi   a  barvalo   bar  and  penV  ajaw :   "  MandiW 
found     tJiere  a      diamond,     and      said      tJius :        "  I  'd 
sigadair  latch  a  koosi  ghiv  te  chiv  adre  mi  pur  dan  sor 
sooner      find  a  little  corn   to   put    into  my  belly  than  all 
the  barvalo  bar^   tale    the  kam." 
the    diamonds    binder  the  sun  I' 

SAR  THE  JOOKEL  NASHER^/)  HIS  MAS. 
HOW  THE  DOG  LOST  HIS  MEAT. 

A  chooro  dinilo  jookel  sas  peer/;^'  posha  the  paani-rig  zvi' 
A    poor  foolish  dog  zvasivalking  near  the  water- side  with 
koosi  mas  adre  leski   mooT.     Diktas  kumeni  kova  pensa 
a  little  meat  in     his   mouth.     He  saiv     some    thing    like 

*  This  story  is  taken  from  "Hone's  Every  Day  Book,"  ed.  1857, 
vol.  i.,  p.  447.  The  translations  were  originally  my  o^vn,  but  have  been 
so  altered,  amended,  and  criticised  by  Gypsy  auditors,  that  we  have 
included  them  here,  as  examples  of  the  two  dialects.—  II.  T.  C, 


2  24  GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSlTTOXS. 

waver  mas  adrc  o  paani.  Yov  piriv<^^/  lesko  danyaw  to 
other  meat  in  the  water.  He  opened  his  teeth  to 
lei  o  waver  mas,  ta  mooktas  o  tatcho  kova  pel  tale 
get  the  other  meat,  and  let  the  real  thing  fall  doivn 
adre  o  paani.  Jaw  sor  lesko  lioben  sas  nashedo.  Yek 
into  the  zvater.  So  all  his  food  zvas  lost.  One 
shosho  adre  o  koro  see  mol  dooi  adre  o  wesh, 
rabbit      in    the  pot    is  worth  two    in    the  wood. 

THE  LOLO-WESHKENO   JOOKEL  AND  LESKO 

PORT. 

THE  FOX  AND  HIS  TAIL. 

Yek  divvus  a  lolo-wdshkeno-jookel  sas   lino  by  lesko  pori 
One     day     a  red-wood-dog  {fox)    was  eaught  by  his    tail 
adre  a  tilomengro.     Yov  pendas  kater  his  kokero,  "  So 
iji      a         trap.  He      said       to       himself,        ''What 

kerova  mandi  kenaw  ?  Nasti's  lova  lesti  avri  rrpopli." 
shall  I  do  noiv  ?  I  eannot  get  it  ont  againl^ 
Tardadas-les  ta  mooktas-les  palla  lesti  adre  o  weshkeni- 
He  pulled  it  and  left  it  behind  him  in  the  wood- 
tilomengro.  Palla  doova  yov  sas  rt-ladj  to  sikker  his 
holder  {-trap).  After  that  he  was  ashamed  to  show  him- 
kokero  kater  leski  palaw.  Kordas-len  /^ketand,  ta  pendas 
self  to       his  mates.      He  ealled  them  together,  and  said 

ajaw :  "  Mook  sor  mendi  chin  moro  porydw  tale.    Kek  nanei 
thus:     ^' Let    all   of  us    cut    our      tails      off.  No 

kooshto    jafri    koli    to  mendi."     Talla  a  pooro  jinomeskro 
good  (are)  such  things  to      us!'  But  an   old      knoiving 

jookel  pendas,  "  Kanna  meero  nogo  pori  see  lino  adre  yek, 
dog     said,       "  When      my     owji    tail    is  taken    in     one, 
kerova  ajdw,    tastis,    talla  righerova-les  kenaw." 
/  will    do  so,  if  I  ea7i,  but  I  zvill  keep  it    noiv!' 


GENiriNE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  225 

THE  BAURO  HOLOMENGRO  JOOKEL  AND  THE 

TIKNO  BOKOCHO. 

THE   WOLF  AND  THE  LITTLE  LAMB. 

Yek  divvus  a  bauro  holomengro  jookel  ghias  kater  the 
One  day  a  big  ravenous  dog  {wolf)  went  to  the 
paani-rig  to  pee,  and  a  tikno  bokocho  sas  odoi  tei, 
water-side  to  drink,  and  a  little  lamb  zvas  there  too, 
peei7i'  kek  door /r^w  lesti.  And  the  bauro  holomengro 
d^Hnking  not  far  from  him.      And  the  zvolf 

jookel  sas  doosta  bokalo,  and  dik'd  the  tikno  bokocho,  and 
zvas  very  hungry,  and  saiv  the  little  lamb,  and 
pen'^,  "  Hoino  shorn  me  tusa.  Kairessa  sor  o  paani 
said,  ''Angry  ant  I  with  thee.  Thou  makest  all  the  water 
mokado."  Pendas  o  tikno  bokocho,  "Kek  mandi  see. 
dirty y  Said  the  little       lamb,       "  Not       I        is  it. 

O  paani  nasheri-  tale  from  tooti  to  mandi,  'jaw  nastissa 
The  water  runs  dozvn  from  thee  to  me,  so  cannot 
mandi  kair  o  paani  mokado."  Pendas  o  bauro  holomengro 
/       make  the  zuater  dirty''         Said   the  wolf, 

jookel,  "  Tooti's  jaw  wafedo  sar  teero  dad      ta       dei ; 

"  Thou  art  as  bad  as  thy  father  and  mother ; 
mandi  maurdom  lendi  dooi.  Mandi  maurova  tooti."  Yov 
/  killed  them  both.         I        zvill  kill  thee!'       He 

hodas  lesti  opre. 
ate       it      tip. 


PATER  NOSTER. 

(Compare  six  versions.  Pott,  ii.,  472,  et  seq. ;  also  those 
in  the  Appendices  to  Borrow's  "Zincali,"  and  in  his 
"  Lavo-lil.") 

Moro  Dad,  so  see  adr6  mi  Duvelesko  kerl,  te  wel  teero 
kralis^w;  Too  zee  be  kedo  adre  chik,  jaw  see  adr6  mi 
Duvelesko  keri.     Del  mendi  kova  divvus  moro  divvus/)/ 

15 


lit  GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

mauro  ;  tay<?^del  mendi  moro  wafedo-kerimus,  pensa  mendi 
y<?rdeU  yon  ta  kairj  wafedo  ^posh  mendi,  ta  lei  mendi  kek 
adre  wafedo-kerimus.  Jaw  keressa  te  righer  mendi  avri 
wafedo.     Jaw  see  ta  jaw  see. 

Wester  Boswell,  with  a  little  help 
in  paraphrasing  the  English. 

CREED. 

(Compare  two  versions,  Pott,  ii.,  470,  471  ;   and  those  in 
Borrow's  "  Lavo-lil.") 

Mandi  patser  *  adre  mi  Duvel,  o  Dad  sor-ruzlo,  kon 
kedas  mi  Duvelesko  keri,  ta  chik ; 

Ta'dr6  Duvelesko  Chavo,  lesko  yekino  tikno,  moro  Duvel, 
kon  o  Tatcho  Mulo  lino.  Beeno  palla  o  Tatchi  Tarni 
Duveleski  Juvel,  so'j-  nav  sas  Mary,  ta  kedas  wafedo  tale 
Pontius  Pilate,  jaw  sas  mordno  opre  o  rook,  moolo  ta 
poorosto.  Yov  jal'^  tale  adre  o  Bengesko  Tan.  Trin 
divvus^i-  palla  doova  yov  welW  opre  ^popli  avri  o  Mulo 
Tan.  Yov  jal'^f  opre  adre  mi  Duvelesko  keri,  beshtas  opr6 
o  tatcho  wast  of  mi  Duvel,  o  Dad  sor  ruzlo.  Avri  doova 
tan  yov  avesa  f  ^popli,  pensa  pookinyus,  te  bitcher  o  jido 
ta  o  mulo. 

Mandi  patser*  adre  o  Tatcho  Mulo,  o  tatcho  Hindi- 
temengro'j-  Kongri,  o  roker/;/  of\ios\\\.ofolk\y  o  for^(t\oness 
of  wafedopeni",  o  atchzV/'  opre  ^popli  of  o  troopus,  ta  o 
meriben  kedo/br  sor  chairus.     Jaw  see  ta  jaw  see. 

Wester  Boswell,  with  a  little  help 
in  paraphrasing  the  English. 

THE  TEN   COMMANDMENTS. 

(Compare  Pott,  ii.,  488.) 

I. 
Mandi  shorn  teero  tatcho  Doovel.    Kek  komeni  Doovel'j 
see  tooti  talla  mandi. 


*  Patsova.  t  Avela. 


GENUINE   ROMANY  COMPOSITIONS.  227 

IL 
Maw  kair  tooti  kek  komeni  foshono  kookelo,  na  kek 
pensa  waver  kova  palla  lesti  ta  see  adre  Duvelesko  keri 
opre,  adre  o  chik  tale,  or  'dre  o  paani  tal^  o  chik.  Maw 
pel  tal6  kater  lendi.  Maw  pootch  lendi  te  del  tooti  variso* 
Maw  pen  teero  lavyaw  kater  lendi,  'jaw  mandi  teero  tatcho 
Doovel  shorn  tatcho  Doovel,  ta  kairova  o  chave  dooker/br 
o  dad'i-  wafedo-peni-  'jaw  door  sar  o  pooro  dad'j  chave,  ta 
lenghi  chave  tei,  so  kek  nanei  komela  (komenna)  mandi, 
ta  siker  komoben  kater  lendi  so  komesa  (komenna)  mandi 
ta  kairesa  (kairenna)  meero  tatcho  trad. 

III. 
Maw  lei  teero  Doovel'^y  nav  bonges,  jaw  mi  Doovel  kek 
tilesa  (tilela)  lesti  sor  tatcho  so  leU  lesko  nav  bonges. 

IV. 
Maw  bisser  te  righer  tatcho  o  Kooroko  divvus.  Shov 
divvusaw  too  bootiesa  ta  kair  sor  so  see  tooti  te  kair,  talla  o 
trin  ta  stor  divvus  see  o  tatcho  doovel'j  kooroko.  'Dre  lesti 
maw  kair  komeni  booti,  too,  ta  teero  chavo,  ta  teeri  chei, 
ta  teero  mooshkeni  bootiengro,  ta  teero  joovni  bootiengro, 
teeri  groovne,  ta  o  gaujo  so  see  adre  teero  tan.  Jaw  'dr^ 
shov  divvusaw  mi  Doovel  kedas  mi  Doovelesko  keri,  ta  o 
chik,  o  bauro  londo  paani,  ta  sor  so  see  adre  lesti,  ta  beshtas 
tale  o  trin  ta  stor  divvus  ta  kedas  chichi.  Jaw  mi  Doovel 
pendas  kooshto  o  trin  ta  stor  divvus  ta  kedas-les  tatcho. 

V. 

Kair  kooshtoben  kater  teero  dad  ta  teeri  del,  'jaw  too 
jivesa  bauro  cheerus  adre  o  tern  so  teero  tatcho  Doovel  delj- 
tooti. 

VI. 

Maw  too  maur. 

VII. 

Maw  sov  sar  gairi^i*  talla  teero  nogo  romni.  Kek  nanei 
too  sov  troostal  waver  moosh'j-  romni. 


228  GENUINE   ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

VIII. 
Maw  too  chor. 

IX. 

Maw  sovlohol  bonges  rt'posh  o  gaire  so  see  posha  tooti. 

X. 

Maw  too  pootch  troostal  vaniso  kova  ta  nanci  see  teero. 

Maw  kom  o  moosh'i-  kair  so  see  posha  tooti.     Maw  kom 

lesko  romni,  na  lesko  bootiengro,  ta  lesko  bootiengri  rakli, 

na  lesko  mooshkeni  groovni,  na  lesko  meila,  na  variso  kova 

so  see  lesti. 

Wester  Boswell,  with  a  little  help 

in  paraphrasing  the  English. 

THE   LORD    IS    MY   SHEPHERD. 
(Psalm  xxiii.  i — 6,  Bible  Version.) 

1.  O  Doovel  see  meero  bokorengro  so  odoi  mandi  nastis 
w^«/asova  chichi ;  or,  Meero  Doovel  see  meero  bokorengro 
kek  nannef  wantasova. 

2.  Yov  kairi-  (kairela)  mandi  te  sov  tele  adre  o  chorengri 
poovyaw.  Yov  \€ieth  mandi  posh-rig  o  shookar  paani ;  or, 
o  atchlo  paani. 

3.  Kairela  tatcho  to  mandi'i-  meripen,  kanna  shom  muUo. 
Yov  siker^//<!  mandi  adre  o  tatcho  drom  ajaw  lesko  nav'j 
sake-Qs. 

4.  Our.  Though  mandi  peer^///  adral  o  kaulo  meripen- 
drom,  mandi'j-  kek  ^trash  of  kek  wafedo,/<?r  too  shan  posha 
mandi.  Teero  ran,  ta  teero  kosht  kairenna  yon  mandi 
kooshtoben. 

5.  Too  kairdss  a  misalli  'glal  mandi,  aglal  meero  wafedo- 
folkl.   Too  chiv^ss  tulipen  oprc  mccro  shoro,  ta  meero  koro 

ndisheih  pardal. 

6.  Tatcho  kooshtoben,  ta  tatcho  komoben,  wel  palla 
mandi  sor  o  divvus^j  te  meero  meriben  ;  ta  mandi  jivova 
adre  mi  Doovelesko  kair  sor  mi  meriben. 

Wester  Boswell,  without  any  help. 


GENUINE   ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  22<^ 

THE   SEVEN   LOAVES   MIRACLE. 
(Mark  viii.  i— 8.) 

1.  Adre  kola  divvusaw,  kanna  sas  dosta  komeni  odoi 
\Q\i7i  chichi  sor  kova  cheerus,  mi  Doovel  pootchtas  lesko 
foikl,  ta  pendas  kater  lendi. 

2.  Mandi  shorn  toogiio  talla  sor  o  folk'i.  Yon  sas  mandi 
trin  divvusaw,  ta  kek  nanei  lendi  sas  yon  te  hoi  sor  kova 
cheerus. 

3.  Te  wel  mandi  te  bitcherova-len  avri  kater  lenghi 
kairaw,  yon  penna  [perenna]  tale  0'  bok.  Dosta  lendi  vien 
door  dosta. 

4.  Lesko  nogo  folk'i  pendas  to  yov.  "  Sar  sasti's  te  yek 
moosli  del  jaw  kisi  mooshaw  mauro  dosta  te  hoi  te  porder 
lenghi  peraw  adre  kova  wafedo-dik///'  tan?" 

5.  Yov  pootchtas  lendi.  "  Sar  kisi  chele  maure  see  toot .?" 
Yon  penV,  "  Dooi'  trinyaw  ta  yek." 

6.  Yov  pendas  lendi  te  besh  tale  o  poov  {or,  chik).  Yov 
lias  o  dooi  trinyaw  ta  yek  chele  maur6.  Yov  del'^/  parik- 
aben  kater  mi  Doovel.  Yov  pogadas  o  mauro,  dids-les 
kater  \Qs\d  foikl  te  besh  aglal  lendi  sor.     Yon  kair'</  ajaw. 

7.  (Ta)  yon  lian  dooi"  trin  bitta  matchi.  Yov  delV  lesko 
kooshto  lav,  ta  pookadas  yon  te  besh  lesti  tale  aglal  lendi. 

8.  Jaw  yon  hode  ta  lenghi  peraw  sor  lendi  porde  sas. 
Yon  lelV  opre,  talla  yon  hode,  dooi'  trinyaw  ta  yek  kooshnc 
pordo  0  pogado  hoben,  so  sas  mooklo  talla  yon  porderV 
sor  lendi  peraw. 

Wester  Boswell,  without  any  help. 

LOVE  YOUR   ENEMIES. 

(Luke  vi.  27 — 31.) 

27.  Mandi  pooker  kater  too,  "  Kom  asar  teero  wafedo 
folk'i.     Kair  koshto  kater  dula  te  kair^  wafedo  kater  toot. 

28.  Kom  too  dola  folk'i  kanna  yon  pen  wafedo  lavaw 
kater  tooki,  Mong  asar  mi  Duvel  kanna  yon  kelj  bonges 
kater  tooki. 


230  GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

29.  Kanna  yon  del  toot  pre  yek  rig  d  ti  mooY,  chiv  o 
waver  kater  lendi.  Yov  te  lela  teero  plashta,  maw  penaw 
te  yov  lela  tecro  cho%a  tei. 

30.  Del  kater  sorkon  moosh  ta  pootchela  vaniso  kova 
toti.     Dova  komeni  lela  teero  koli  pootch  lesti  kek  komi. 

31.  Kair  too  kater  waver  mooshaw,  jaw  too  komessa 
Jendi  te  kel  tooti. 

THE  WIDOW'S   SON. 
(Luke  vii.  11 — 15.) 

11.  Ta  welV  ajaw  o  divvus  palla,  yov  jalV  adre  a 
shorokono  gav.  O  nav  sas  Nain.  Dosta  0 '  lesti  shorokono 
mooshaw  ghien  lesti,  ta  dosta  waver /<?//6i. 

12.  Talla  yov  vias  kater  o  stigher  o  bauro  shorokono 
gav,  yov  diktas  a  moolo  moosh  andV  avri  o  stigher.  Yov 
sas  o  tatcho  yek  d  lesko  dei.  Yoi  sas  a  peevli  gain,  ta 
dosta  folki  sas  posha  yoi". 

13.  Kanna  mi  Doovel  diktas  yoi,  yov  komW  lati.  Pendds 
mi  Doovel  kater  lati.     "  Maw  rov  too." 

14.  Yov  vias.  Chivdels  lesko  vast  opre  o  kova  so  yon 
rlgher'^  0  moolo  gairo  opre.  Yon  (ta)  rigadas-les  atcht^ 
lendi  {pr  yon  atch'<^).  Pendas  mi  Doovel,  "  Tarno  moosh, 
(ta)  sas  moolo,  atch  opre  jido." 

15.  Yov,  ta  sas  moolo,  atchtas  lesko  kokero  opr^.  Talla 
atchtds  oprd,  rokadas.  Meero  Doovel  talla  ^iXd  kova 
tarno  moosh  to  lesko  dei. 

Wester  Boswell,  without  any  help. 

THE     SUPPER. 
(Luke  xiv.  16—24.) 

16.  Yek  raati  gairo  kedas  bauro  holomus,  ta  poochdas 
boot  doosta/^/y^i  te  wel,  ta  hoi  lesti. 

17.  Ta  yov  bitchadas  lesko  bootsiengro,  ^/  hoben-chairos, 
te  pen  lendi,  kon  sas  poochlo,  "  Av.  Sor  kola  see  tatcho 
k'naw.     Wcl  adrc." 


GENUINE    ROMANY  COMPOSITIONS.  23  I 

1 8.  Ta  yon  sor,  with  yek  zee,  welessa  (vien)  te  kel  veena. 
Oyfrj-Zader  pendas  kater  lesti,  "  Mandi  kindom  kotor  poov, 
ta  jova  te  dik  lesti.     Mongova  tooti  kair  mandi  veenlo." 

19.  Ta  yek  waver  pendas,  "Mandi  kindom  pansh  yoke 
mooshkeni  groovni,  ta  jova  te  dik  palla  lendi.  Mandi 
mongova  tooti  kair  mandi  veenlo." 

20.  Ta  yek  waver  pendas,  "Mandi  romedom  kedivvus 
kater  joovel,  mandi  nastissa  te  wel." 

21.  Palla  doova  o  bootsiengro  welassa  (vias)  ta  sikadas 
kater  lesko  Rei  dula  kola.  Ta  kanna  o  Shorokno-pardal-o- 
kair  shoondas,  yov  sas  hoino,  ta  pendas  kater  o  bootsiengro, 
"  Jal  avri  sig  adre  o  baure-gavesti-dromaw,  ta  adre  o  bitt^- 
gavesti-dromaw,  ta  and  adre  kova  tan  dula  moosliaw  ta 
jooveli"  so  see  choorokne,  ta  o  kek-mooshengri,  ta  o  long6, 
ta  o  korod^." 

22.  Ta  o  bootsiengro  kedas  ajaw,  ta  yov  welV  rt^popli,  ta 
pendas  kater  lesko  Rei.  "  Rei !  mandi  kedom  sor  too 
pendas,  ta  sor  o  skamine  kek  nanei  pordo." 

23.  Ta  o  Rei  pendas  kater  o  bootsiengro,  "  Jal  avri  ta  dik 
adrd  o  baure  dromaw,  ta  tale  o  boryaw,  ta  kair  lendi  wel 
adre,  sar  meero  kair  be  pordo. 

24.  Mandi  pookerova  tumendi  kek  nanei  dula  gaire  so 
sas  poochld  holessa  (holenna)  yek  koosi  meero  hoben." 

Wester  Boswell,  with  a  little  help 
in  paraphrasing  the  English. 


THE  PRODIGAL  SON. 
(Luke  XV.  II — 32.) 

1 1 .  Yekorus  yek  gairo  sas  dooi  chave. 

12.  Ta  o  tarnodair  pendas  kater  lesko  dad.  "  Dad  !  De 
mandi  o  kotor  d  koli  ta  perela  mandi."  Ta  yov  dias  lendi 
lesko  jivoben. 

1 3.  Ta,  kek  dosta  divusaw  palla,  o  tarnodair  chavo  chidds 
sor  ketarie  ta  yov  lias  lesko  drom  adre  dooro  tern,  ta  odoi 
yov  nashedas  sor  lesko  kola  'dre  wafedo  jivoben. 


2S2  GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

14.  Ta  kanna  yov  nashedas  sor,  odoi  sas  bauro  bokaloben 
adr6  doova  tern  ta  yov  vias  te  kom  kumeni  te  hoi. 

15.  Ta  yov  ghias  ta  pandas  lesti  kokero  kater  gavengro 
0/  doova  tern,  ta  o  moosh  bitchadas-les  adre  o  poovyaw  te 
del  hoben  kater  baule. 

16.  Ta  komessa  (komdas)  te  porder  lesko  pur  wi^/i  o  kola 
so  o  baule  hode.     Ta  kek  gairo  dias  leski  vaniso. 

17.  Ta  kanna  yov  diktas  lesti  kokero  yov  pendas,  "Sar 
kisi  mi  dadeski  pessad^  bootsiengri  si  mauro  dosta  ta  dosta, 
ta  mandi  merova  bokalo. 

18.  Mandi  atchova  opr^  ta  jova  kater  meero  Dad,  and 
penova  lesti,  Meero  Dad  !  Kedom  wafedo  rt^posh  mi  Doovel 
ta  tooti. 

19.  Ta  mandi  shorn  kek  komi  mol  to  be  kordo  teero  chavo. 
Kair  mandi  sar  yek  d  teero  pessado  bootsiengri." 

20.  Ta  yov  atchdas  ta  vias  kater  lesko  Dad.  Ta  kanna 
yov  sas  ajdw  a  bauro  door  avri,  lesko  dad  diktas-les  ta  yov 
sas  dosta  toogno,  ta  nashdas,  ta  pedas  opre  lesko  men  ta 
choomadds-les. 

21.  Ta  o  chavo  pendas  kater  lesti  dad,  "Mandi  kcdom 
wafedo  ^posh  mi  Doovel  ta  'dre  teero  dikimus  ta  mandi 
shorn  kek  komi  mol  to  be  kordo  teero  chavo." 

22.  Ta  o  dad  pendas  kater  lesko  bootsiengri,  "And  avri 
o  feterdair  plo%ta  ta  chiv-les  opr^  lesti,  ta  chiv  wongusti 
opr6  lesko  wast,  ta  cho^j^^aw  opr^  lesko  peerd. 

23.  Ta  and  akei  o  tikno  groovni  so  see  kedo  tuUo,  ta  maur 
lesti,  ta  mook  mendi  hoi  ta  be  mishto  adrd  moro  zceaw. 

24.  Jaw  mi  chavo  sas  mulo  ta  see  jido  rt^popli.  Yov  sas 
nashedo  talla  see  yov  latchno  rt;popli."  Ta  yon  vian  (vias) 
to  be  mishto  adre  lenghi  zeeaw. 

25.  Lesko  poorodafr  chavo  sas  adre  o  poov.  Jaw  yov 
vias  ta  sas  posha  o  kair  yov  shoondds  o  boshomengri  ta  o 
kelopen. 

26.  Ta  yov  kordas  bootsiengro  ta  pootchdas,  "  So  see  } " 

27.  O  bootsiengro  pendds,  "  Teero  pal  vias  ta  teero  dad 
mordds  o  tuUo  tikno  groovni,  jaw  yov  lids-les  sor  kooshto 
rtipopli." 


GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS.  233 

28.  O  poorodair  chavo  sas  hoino  ta  pendas  yov'd  kek 
jal  adre.  Jaw  lesko  dad  vias  avri  ta  pootchdas-les  te  wel 
ad  re. 

29.  Ta  yov  dias  lav  ta  pendas  kater  lesko  dad,  "  Dordi ! 
So  kisi  beshaw  mandi  kedom  sorkon  kola  too  pootchdds 
(pootchdan)  mandi  ?  Kekeno  cheerus  mandi  pogadom  teero 
trad.  Kekeno  cheerus  too  dias  man  bokoro  te  kcl  peias 
sar  meero  komyaw. 

30.  Jaw  sig  meero  pal  avela,  maurdas  too  lesti  o  tuUo 
tikno  groovni,  ta  yov  nashedas  sor  teero  jivoben  sar  loob- 
nidw." 

31.  Lesko  dad  pendas,  "Mi  chavo!  Too  shan  mansa 
sorkon  cheerus  ta  sor  meero  kola  see  tooti. 

32.  Tatcho  sas  mendi  te  kel  peias.  Teero  pal  sas  mulo. 
Yov  see  jido  <^popli.  Yov  sas  nashedo  ta  see  latchno 
rt;popli." 

Wester  Boswell,  with  a  little  help 
in  paraphrasing  the  English. 

THE   RICH   MAN   AND    LAZARUS. 
(Luke  xvi.  19 — 31.) 

19.  Yekorus  sas  barvalo  moosh  kon  sas  rido  adre  lolo 
po%tan  ta  yoki  rivoben  ta  hodas  kooshko  hoben  sorkon 
divusaw. 

20.  Sas  mongamengro  tei.  O  nav  see  lesti  Lazarus. 
Yov  sas  chido  kater  o  wooda  sor  naflo  ta  pordo  0  wafedo 
tanaw. 

21.  Yov  pootchdas  o  barvalo  gairo  to  mook  yov  lei  o  bito 
kotore  0'  mauro  so  pedas  tale  o  barvalo  gairo'j  misali. 
Jookeli-  vian  tei  ta  kossade  lesko  wafedo  tanaw  opre  lesti. 

22.  O  mongamengro  merdas,  ta  yek  0'  mi  Doovel'j-  tatcho 
gaire  lias-les  adre  Abraham's  berk  adre  mi  Duvelesko  tem. 
O  barvalo  moosh  merdas  tei,  ta  yov  sas  poorasto. 

23.  Kanna  yov  sas  adre  o  Bengesko  tan,  yov  sas  dook- 
adno  ta  diktas  Abraham  doovori  adre  mi  Duvelesko  tem,  ta 
diktas  Lazarus  adre  lesko  berk. 


234  GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

24.  O  Barvalo  moosh  rovdas  ta  pendas,  "Meero  dad, 
Abraham !  Te  wel  tooti  komoben  opre  mandi  ta  bitcher 
Lazarus  te  chiv  lesko  nei  adre  paani  ta  kel  meero  chib 
shilalo.     Shorn  dosta  dookadno  adre  kova  yog." 

25.  Abraham  pendas,  "Chor!  Kek  bisser  too?  Adr6 
teero  meripen  ta  Has  (han)  kooshti  kola,  pensa  Lazarus  lids 
wafedo  kola.  Kenaw  yov  see  kedo  mishto  ta  too  shan 
dookadno. 

26.  Ta,  poshrig  sor  dula  kola,  bauro  hev  see  chido  posh 
drom  d  mendi  ta  tooti,  jaw  dula  gair6  so  komena  te  jal 
avri  mi  Duvelesko  tern  kater  tooti  odoi  nastissa,  ta  dula 
gaire  so  komena  te  wel  avri  o  bengesko  tan  akei  nastissa." 

27.  O  barvalo  moosh  pendas,  "  Kair  mandi  dova  koshto, 
Dad,  te  bitcher  Lazarus  kater  meero  dadesko  kair. 

28.  Pansh  palaw  see  mandi.  Mook  Lazarus  pooker 
lendi.  Trashova  yon  wena  akei  adre  kova  wafedo  bengesko 
tan." 

29.  Abraham  penela  kater  lesti,  "  Moses  ta  waver6  bauro 
rokeromengri  see  lendi.    Mook  ti  palaw  shoon  kater  lendi." 

30.  O  barvalo  moosh  pendas,  "  Kek,  dad  Abraham.  Sar 
yek  moosh  ghias  kater  lendi  avri  o  mulo  tem  yon  kerena 
mishto." 

31.  Abraham  pendas.  "Sar  kek  shoonena  Moses  ta  o 
wavere  bauro  rokeromengri,  yon  kek  nanei  patserena  sar 
yek  moosh  avela  kater  lendi  avri  o  mulo  tem." 

Wester  Boswell,  with  a  little  help 
in  paraphrasing  the  English. 


ZACCH^US. 
(Luke  xix.  i — 6.) 

1.  Ta  Jesus  vias  adre  ta  ghias  adral  Jericho. 

2.  Ta  dordi  sas  odoi  a  Moosh,  lesko  nav  Zacchaeus.   Yov 
sas  a  shorokono  Moosh,  ta  barvalo  sas-16. 

3.  Ta  yov  kedas  o  feterdair  te  dik  Jesus  kon  yov  sas,  ta 
nastis  kel  ajaw.     A  bito  moosh  sas  yov. 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  235 

4.  Ta  yov  nashedas  ta  ghias  opre  adre  a  rook  te  dik 
lesti,/<?r  yov  sas  te  peer  tale  dova  drom. 

5.  And  kanna  Jesus  vias  kater  tan,  yov  diktas  opr^  ta 
diktas-les  odoi,  ta  pendas  lesti.  "Zacchaeus,  kair  yeka  ta  av 
tale,  atchova  ke-divvus  kater  teero  kalr." 

6.  Yov  kedas  yeka,  vias  tale  ta  lias-les  kere  wV  tatcho 
zee. 

THE   GOOD   SHEPHERD. 
(Luke  X.  II — 18.) 

11.  Mandi  shorn  o  kooshto  bokromengro  (^r  Basengro). 
O  kooshto  Basengro  dela  lesko  meripen  for  o  bokre. 

12.  But  yov  kon  see  pessado  te  dik  palla  o  bokre,  ta 
kon'i-  see  kek  nanei  o  bokre,  kanna  dikela  o  bauro- 
holomengro-jookel  wekV/,  mukela  o  bokre  ta  prasterela,  ta 
o  bauro-holomengro-jookel  lela  len,  ta  kairela  o  bokre 
praster  sor  paudel  o  tern. 

13.  O  gairo,  kon  see  pessado  te  dik  palla  o  bokrd, 
prasterela  sar  sig  yov  see  pessado,  ta  yov  kesserela  kek/6;r 
o  bokre. 

14.  Mandi  shorn  o  kooshto  Basengro,  ta  mandi  jinova 
meeri  bokre,  ta  mafidi  shorn  jinlo  ^meero. 

15.  Sar  o  Dad  jinela  mandi,  ajaw  mandi  jinova  o  Dad, 
ta  mandi  chivova  tale  meero  meeripen  for  o  bokre. 

16.  Ta  mandi  shan  waver  bokre,  kon  shan  {or  so  see)  kek 
^  meero  pandomengra  Yon  tei  mandi  andova  dula  tasti's, 
ta  yon  shoonessa  (shoonenna)  mandi,  kanna  mandi  kaurova 
lendi,  ta  mandi  kelova  yek  pandomengro,  ta  kek  nanei  hit 
yek  basengro  pardel  o  bokre. 

17.  Meero  Dad  komessa  (komela)  mandi, 'jaw  see  mandi 
chivova  tale  meero  meripen,  ta  lelova  lesti  ^popli. 

18.  Kek  moosh  leb  lesti  rt-mandi,  mandi  chivova  lesti 
tale  mi-kokero.  Mandi  kerova  te  chiv  lesti  tale,  ta  lei  lesti 
apre  rt;popli.     Meero  Dad  dias  mandi  kowa  kova  te  kair. 

Wester  Boswell,  with  a  little  help 
in  paraphrasing  the  English. 


236  GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 


TEMPORA  MUTANTUR. 

Sor  o  Lundra  Romani  chale  mookte  Lundra  konaw.* 
Sor  vien  tale  kova  iVd?///erengn  tern.  Komela  lesti  feterder 
konaw,  kei  yon  tised  asar  te  ven  yek  chairus.  Sor  adre 
waver  dromaw  righeren  lendi  kokere,  for  sor  jab  kater 
paaneska  gavaw  konaw.  Bita  kerimus  kek  nanei  kelela 
lendi  konaw.  Yon  venna  sor  reiaw  ta  raunia  konaw. 
Nanei  yon  konaw  sas  yon  beshaw  dosta  paule.  Trashenna 
te  atch  adre  o  bauro  gavaw  yek  cheerus.  Konaw  yon 
atchenna  'dre  o  feterder  gavaw  te  yon  latchenna.  Kondw 
choorokono  hoben  kek  kela  Icndi  konaw.  Yon  lela  o  feter- 
der masaw,  ta  cherikle,  ta  kanya,  ta  papinyaw,  ta  shosh^, 
ta  kanengre,  ta  goia.  Jivcnna  konaw  opre  o  feterder  hoben 
see  adre  o  tern. 

All  the  London  Gypsies  have  left  London  now.*  All 
come  down  to  these  northern  parts.  They  like  it  better 
now,  (than)  where  they  used  to  go  once.  They  all  keep 
themselves  in  other  ways,  for  all  go  to  watering-places 
now.  Small  sport  does  not  do  for  them  now.  They  are 
all  become  gentlemen  and  ladies  now.  They  are  not  now 
as  they  were  many  years  ago.  They  used  to  be  afraid  to 
stop  in  the  big  towns  once.  Now  they  stop  in  the  best 
towns  they  can  find.  Poor  victuals  won't  do  for  them  now. 
They  get  the  best  meat,  birds,  hens,  geese,  rabbits,  hares, 
and  puddings.  They  live  now  on  the  best  food  there  is  in 
the  land. 

SPEED   THE   PARTING   GUEST. 

Chairus  see  konaw  te  jal  te  keri.  Too  atchessa  bootod^r 
akei,  too  nasherela  teero  praster/;/'  kister  kater  Mooshkeni- 

*  This  is  not  the  case. 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS-  237 

gav.  Kair  sig  keri,  ta  maw  nasher  teero  chairus.  Talla  too 
nasher  ti  chairus,  too  atchessa  adre  kova  gav  sor  raati  ti 
kokero.  Kek  ti  cheiaw  jinela  (jinenna)  kei  shan  too.  Yon 
bitcherenna  prastermengri  palla  tooki  te  latch  tooki  poph*. 
Ajaw  kair  sig,  jaw  tooki.  Kair  o  feterder  tooki  keri,  ta  mi 
Doovel  jaw  tusa.  Kair  sig,  wel  ^popli  kater  mandi  poph*. 
And  mandi  choomoni  koshto.  Ta  pooker  o  waver  rei  te  and 
mandi  dosta  tovlo  te  toov  monghi  kanna  shorn  kokero  a! 
raati. 

It  is  time  now  to  go  home.  If  you  stop  longer  here,  you 
will  lose  your  train  to  Manchester.  Make  haste  home,  and 
don't  waste  your  time.  If  you  waste  your  time,  you  will 
stop  in  this  town  all  night  (by)  yourself.  Your  servants 
don't  know  where  you  are.  They  will  send  policemen  after 
you  to  find  you  again.  So  make  haste,  be  off.  Make  the 
best  of  your  way  home,  and  God  be  with  you.  Make 
haste,  come  again  to  me.  Bring  me  something  nice.  And 
tell  the  other  gentleman  to  bring  me  plenty  of  tobacco  for 
me  to  smoke  when  I  am  alone  at  night. 

THE  CHILD'S  CAUL. 

And  mandi  kova  so  see  tikno  beeno  troostal  paudel 
lenghi  mooiaw.  Lei  mandi  a  mootsi  tale  o  tikno,  kanna 
see  beeno.  Mootsi  see  pardal  lenghi  mooiaw,  kanna  see 
yon  beene. 

NAUSEA. 

Savo  wafedo  soong  see  akei.  So  see  "i  Soongela  jaw 
wafedo.  Mandi  soongova  kand  akei,  boot  dosta  te  kair 
mandi  te  charer  opre.  Mook  mendi  jas  tale  o  bauro 
drom. 

What  a  bad  smell  there  is  here.  What  is  it .?  It  smells 
so  bad.  I  smell  a  something  here,  sufficient  to  make  me 
vomit.     Let  us  go  down  the  main  road. 


238  GENUINE  ROMANY   COMPOStTIONS. 

STAG-HUNT. 

Dikas  mendi  kater  dulla  staani.  Yon  pooderenna  lendi 
te  lendi  yogomengri. 

Let  us  watch  these  stags.  They  are  shooting  them  with 
their  guns. 

AN  ASSAULT. 

Yon  tardade  dova  chookni  avri  meero  wast.  Yon  di6 
man  pardal  o  shoro  lesti.  Yon  sovloholW  kater  mandi. 
Pendas  kater  mandi, "  Too  ratt/?///o  pooro  jookel.  Maurova 
toot." 

They  wrenched  that  whip  out  of  my  hand.  They  hit 
me  on  the  head  with  it.  They  swore  at  me.  They  said 
to  me,  *'  You  cursed  old  hound.     I  will  kill  you." 

HIDING. 

Dik  odoT !  Hokki ! !  Moosh  wela  palla  mendi.  Praster 
tooki !  HoxtcY  tooki  pardal  dova  bar,  ta  kair  sig  te  garav 
toot.  O  gairo  dikela  kater  mandi.  Yon  kairVgodli.  Yon 
korde  avri.  You  rovde,  shooldc  tei.  Kck  yon  shoonde 
lendi.  Te  wel  sor  mendi  mordend.  O  Beng  sas  adr6 
lenghi  kannaw,  kek  nanci  shoonde  mendi. 

Look  there !  See  !  A  man  is  coming  after  us.  Run  ! 
Jump  over  that  hedge,  and  be  quick  and  hide  yourself. 

The  man  is  watching  me.  They  made  a  noise.  They 
called  out.  They  bawled,  and  whistled  too.  They  did  not 
hear  them.  We  shall  all  be  killed.  The  devil  was  in  their 
ears,  that  they  did  not  hear  us. 

WASHING,  SHOPPING,  etc. 

Mook  mendi  tov  mauro  koH  adre  kova  nash//^'  paani. 
Kosser  lesti  avrf.  Ghiom  kater  masengro  boodika.  Mandi 
dikt6m  o  feterder  kotor  0'  mas.     Li6m-les  tale.     Li6m  o 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  239 

choori.    Chindom-les,  sar  mandi  komova.    Kek  o  rei  pardal 

0  boodika  penV  chichi  kater  mandi.  Chichi  nanei  pendas. 
Sadas  mandi.  Pendas  mandi,  "Too  jinessa — teero  folk\ 
jinenna — so  see  o  feterder  mas.  Too  komessa  sorkon 
chairus  tc  le  o  grovneski  book 

Let  us  wash  our  clothes  in  this  stream.     Clean  it  out. 

1  went  to  the  butcher's  shop.  I  saw  the  best  piece  of 
meat.  I  took  it  down.  I  took  the  knife.  I  cut  it,  as  I 
like.  The  shopman  said  nothing  to  me.  He  said  nothing; 
he  laughed  at  me.  He  said  to  me,  "You  know — your 
people  know — which  is  the  best  meat.  You  like  always 
to  take  the  beefsteak." 


STEALING  A  WIFE. 

Rinkene  see-le  1  Te  wel  mandi  kater  teero  kair,  chorova 
monghi  yek  o  teero  rinkenoder  raklia  te  lei  yek  mandi. 
Righerova  lati  te  wel  meero  romni,  te  wel  yoi  rinkenes,  ta 
koshto,  ta  kek  loobni.  Kek  n6  too  wela  palla  mandi  te  lei 
yoi  pauli  popli.  Maw  lei  mandi  opre  troostal  chor/;^'  teero 
bootsi-zw'  rakli. 

Are  they  pretty  }  If  I  come  to  your  house,  I  will  steal 
one  of  your  prettiest  girls,  that  I  may  have  one.  I  will 
keep  her  to  be  my  wife,  if  she  is  pretty,  and  good,  and  not 
loose.  Don't  come  after  me  to  take  her  back  again. 
Don't  take  me  up  for  stealing  your  servant  girl. 


SICKNESS  AND  RECOVERY. 

Mandi  kaliko  kooroko  sh5'mas  jaw  nafelo  adr6  meero 
chooro  pur.  Wafedo  dosta  sas  mandi  te  mer.  Kek  komeni 
sas  posha  mandi  te  del  mandi  koosi  paani.  Sho'mas  te 
merova. 

Troostal  meero  koshto  komomusti  Doovel  ker'^  mandi 
koshto,  ta  sor  tatcho  popli,  ta  tatcho  shom  konaw.     Parik 


240  GENUmE   ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

meero  koshto  Doovel.    Kek  komeni  sas  ker'^  man  kooshto 
te  yov. 

Last  week  I  was  very  ill  (in  my  poor  stomach).  I  felt 
as  if  I  was  going  to  die  (lit,  bad  enough  was  I  to  die). 
No  one  was  near  me  to  give  me  a  drop  of  water.  I  must 
die. 

But  my  good  merciful  God  cured  me  and  made  me  right 
again,  and  now  I  am  well.  Thank  God.  No  one  cured 
me  but  He  Himself. 

PAZEROBEN. 

Mandi  see  adre  pazeroben.  Mandi  pazerova  dova  kova. 
Pazerova  monghi  dova  kova  tastis.  Kek  nanei  kek  lovo 
adre  meero  pootsi  konaw.     Pesserova  lesti  waver  chairos. 

CREDIT. 

I  am  in  debt.  I  will  get  that  thing  on  trust.  I  will  get 
that  thing  on  trust,  if  I  can.  I  have  no  money  in  my 
pocket  now.     I  will  pay  for  it  another  time. 

IPSE   DIXIT. 

Jinessa  too  Westaarus .?  Jinessa  too  o  pooro  Romano 
chal  ?     Lesko  nav  see  Westaarus. 

Kooshto  jinomeskro  see  yov.  Yov  jinj-  bootoder  talla  sor 
tumendi.  Kekera  shoondom  jafra  moosh  see  yov.  Yov  see 
kooshto  dosta  jinomengro  te  kel  a  shorokono  Pookenyus, 
ta  mooiengro.  Kekera  shoondom  vaniso  Romani-chal  talla 
yov  te  roker  pensa  yov  rokerela.  Meero  waver  gairo  ta  jab 
wV  mandi  see  a  mooiengro.  Mandi  see  a  tatcho  Draben- 
gro.  Yov,  ta  mandi,  penj-  yek  to  rtwavcr,  '*  Mendi  jah;/'  te 
kel  a  mooYengro  of  yov  te  dik  palla  mendi,  te  besh  adre  o 
Bauri,  kanna  o  shorokone  rokerenna  te  o  sterimengri.  Yov 
will  pookcr  mendi  sorkon  lavaw  te  wcl  Romani-chalaw 
adr^  steripen  ta  jal  aglal  o  Pookenyus.  Yov  see  koshto 
dosta  lesti,  te  kel  ajaw." 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  24 1 

Kekera  shoondoni  jafra  jinomeskro  moosh  see  yov  adre 
mi  meriben. 

Do  you  know  Sylvester  Bosvvell  ?  Do  you  know  the  old 
Gypsy  ?  His  name  is  Sylvester.  He  is  a  capital  scholar. 
He  knows  more  than  all  the  rest  of  you.  I  never  heard 
such  another.  He  is  sharp  enough  to  be  a  Lord  Chief 
Justice,  or  a  lawyer.  I  never  heard  any  Gypsy  but  him 
to  talk  as  he  talks.  My  friend  (lit,  my  other  man  that 
goes  with  me)  is  a  lawyer.  I  am  a  doctor.  He  and  I  say 
one  to  another,  "  We  (are)  going  to  make  a  lawyer  of  him 
to  look  after  us,  and  sit  at  the  Assizes,  when  the  bigwigs 
plead  for  the  prisoners.  He  will  always  send  us  word  if 
any  Gypsies  come  to  prison  to  go  before  the  Justice.  He 
is  quite  fit  to  do  so." 

I  never  heard  such  a  clever  man  as  he  In  all  my  life. 

A  REMINDER. 

Maw  bisser,  rei,  meeri  poori  staadia,  too  pendas  too 
andessa  mandi.  Parikeraw  toot,  rei.  Too  shan  koshto 
reiaw  kater  mandi.  Mandi  komova  tumendi,  reiaw.  Ta 
maw  bisser  dova  poori  plo^ta  too  pendas  te  and  to  mandi. 
Kair  sig  tei,  rei,  tastis.  Mandi  komova  te  lei  lesti  sig,  jaw 
kisi  brishno  wela  tale  konaw,  kova  wen  cheerus. 

Dosta  brishno,  ta  hiv,  ta  shilalo  divvusaw,  ta  raatia  wela 
(wenna)  sig.  Dova  kelela  man  koshto.  Kela  mandi  te  sov 
shooko,  ta  tatto  kova  wen. 

Do  not  forget,  sir,  my  old  hats  which  you  promised  you 
would  bring  me.  Thank  you,  sir.  You  are  good  friends 
to  me.  I  like  you,  sirs.  And  do  not  forget  that  old 
tarpaulin  you  promised  to  bring  to  me.  Make  haste  too, 
sir,  if  you  can.  I  would  like  to  have  it  soon,  so  much  rain 
comes  down  now,  this  winter  time. 

Much  rain,  and  snow,  and  chilly  days  and  nights  will 
come  soon.  That  (tarpaulin)  will  make  me  snug,  and 
make  me  sleep  dry  and  warm  this  winter. 

16 


242  GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

A  PROUD  MAN. 

Yov  tildas  Icski  shoro  opre,  pensa  shorokono  rei  sas-16. 
Booinus  sas-16  adre  lesti,  so  yov  kerW. 

He  carried  his  head  high,  as  if  he  were  a  lord.  He  was 
conceited  about  everything  he  did. 

A  PEDESTRIAN. 

Dik  at  doova  moosh.  Peerela  opre  o  droni  sig.  Yov 
jala  pensi  a  shoshi-jookel.  Yov  keL'  lesti  te  gaujej"  te  dik 
at  lesti.  Talla  kedas-les,  yov  jab  pootch^i"  sorkon  reiaw  ta 
raunyaw  te  lei  luva  d  lendi,  te  lei  lesko  jivoben. 

Translation. 

Look  at  that  fellow.  He  races  along  the  road  on  foot  as 
fleet  as  a  greyhound.  He  does  it  to  attract  the  Gentiles' 
attention.  When  he  has  finished,  he  asks  all  the  gentlemen 
and  ladies,  and  gets  money  from  them,  and  gets  his  living 
in  that  way. 

THE  LICENCE. 

See  man  a  chinomengri,  o  pokenyus  dias  mandi.  Pessa- 
dom  lesti.  Yon,  yekera,  sas  dooi  kotoraw.  Konaw  see-le 
pansh  koli.  Mandi  see  yek  pansh  kolenghi  yek,  te  bikin 
vaniso  kova.  Kek  trash  'pre  mandi  te  jal  te  bikin  koli,  so 
komova.     Kek  mandi  te  wel  lino  opre  troostal  lesti. 

Translation. 

I  have  a  licence,  which  the  magistrate  gave  me.  I  paid 
for  it.  Once,  they  were  two  guineas ;  now  they  cost  five 
shillings.  Mine  is  a  five  shilling  one,  and  is  a  general 
hawker's  licence.  I  am  not  afraid  to  go  and  sell  anything 
I  choose.     I  shall  not  be  taken  up  for  it. 

THE   GREYHOUND. 

Shool  palla  o  jookel,  chawoli !     O  yogomengri  sec  akei 
Whistle  after  the  dog,  mates  I      The  gamekeeper  is  here 


GENUINE   ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  243 

adre  kova  vesh.     Maurela  o  choro  jookel,  ta  yov  dikela 
in      this   wood.     He  will  kill  the  poor  dog,   if  he     sees 
lesti  nash/;^^  talla  o  kanengri. 
it      running  after  the  hares. 

THE   FROG. 

We  have  often  asked  Gypsies  for  the  Romani  lav  for  a 
frog.  Charlie  Boswell  told  us  it  was  the  ''  tikeni  koli  disjals 
adrd  do.  paani,  and  leh  de  drab  avrf  [little  thing  that  goes 
into  the  water  and  takes  the  poison  out].  Wester  Boswell 
told  us  it  was  "  O  stor-herengro  bengesko  koli  ta  jah  adr^  0 
paani  so  piova"  [the  four-legged  diabolic  thing  that  swims 
in  the  water  which  I  drink].  The  Gypsies  in  general 
consider  any  water,  into  which  a  frog  goes,  is  fit  to  drink. 
Although  they  appear  to  have  forgotten  the  word  for  frog, 
they  use  for  toad  the  word  which  means  frog  in  other 
didXQctSjVldQ  Jamba,  jomba  (Vocab.),  but  are  confused  when 
questioned  about  it,  and  say  'it  is  no  taicho  lav  (true  word), 
but  means  Jumper' 

THE  GYPSY'S  CAT. 

Dik     at   o  matchka.     Kelela  peias  ta  lesti  nogo  pori. 

Look  at  the  cat.  It  is  making  fun  with  it  own  tail. 
Avela  kanna  shoolova. 

It  will  come  when  I  whistle. 

A  SQUABBLE. 

Dordi,  dordi,  choovali.  Te  wafedo  moosh  see  yov. 
Pookerdas  wafedo  ho^aben  opre  mendi,  o  rattvalo  jookel. 
Maurova  lesti  wonka  mandi  til  bonnek  0^  lesti.  Jaw  see 
lesko  loobni  romni.  Yoi'  see  wafedoder  te  yov.  Kooras 
amendi  yon  dooi,  avri  morro  folkVs  drom,  kek  yon  te  wel 
posha  mensa,  jaw  meriben  folk'i  ta  pookeromengri  see  yon. 
Chichi  nanei  lendi  te  meriben  folki.  Pookeromengri  see- 
le.  Nasherela  sor  mendi  bonges  palla  lenghi  nogo  wafedo- 
kerimus. 


244  GENtrtNE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

Just  see,  mates,  what  a  blackguard  he  is.  He  has  beeil 
telling  wicked  lies  about  us,  the  cursed  dog,  I  will  murder 
him  when  I  get  hold  of  him.  That  creature  his  wife  is 
just  as  bad.  She  is  worse  than  he.  Let  us  thrash  them 
both,  and  drive  them  out  of  our  society,  and  not  let  them 
come  near  us,  such  cut-throats  and  informers  as  they  are. 
They  are  nothing  but  murderers.  They  are  informers. 
We  shall  all  come  to  grief  through  their  misdoings. 

THE  APPLE-TREE. 

Dordi,  te  goodlo  pobe  see  odoi,  chowali !  Maw  poger  o 
rook,  chowali,  mi  Doovelenghi.     Sor  mendi  te  wel  lino. 

See,  mates,  what  ripe  apples  are  over  there  !  Do  not 
break  the  tree,  for  God's  sake,  mates,  or  we  shall  all  be 
caught. 

POLITE  INQUIRIES. 

"Sar  shan,  pal.!*"  "  Kek  mishto,  bor.  Sar  shan  tooti  ? 
Too  shanas  naflo  waver  divvus,  hor  ?"  "  Ourli ;  sor  mendi 
sho'mas  (shumas)  wafedo  dosta,  waver  divvus  viem  pardel 
lesti.  Meero  chei  sas  romedo  o  waver  kooroko.  Sor  mendi 
sas  motto.  Koordem  menghi,  ta  saldova  (sad6m)  mandi. 
So  sas  o  vavere  a-kairm'  sor  o  cheerus  ?  Kairenna  ;  Bosher- 
venna,  ta  ghivenna  tei,  sor  o  cheerus,  wonka  saula  vias  adre. 

"  How  are  you,  mate.?"  "Not  very  well,  friend.  How 
arej'ou  f  You  were  ill  the  other  day,  eh  .? "  "Yes,  I  was  ; 
we  were  all  ill  enough  the  other  day  we  came  here  over 
it.  My  daughter  was  married  the  other  week,  and  we  all 
were  drunk,  and  fought  with  one  another,  and  I  laughed." 
"  What  were  the  others  doing  all  the  time  .? "  "  They 
dance,  and  fiddle,  and  sing  too,  all  the  while,  till  day- 
break." 


GENUINE   ROMANY   COMPOSITION^.  245 

THE  JINOMESKRO   GREI-ENGRO. 

NEW  DIALECT. 

MandiV/  pen  tooti,  rei,  a  kooshto  drom  to  kair  a  nokengro 
to  dik  sor  tatcho.  When  yoitre  jalzu'  to  bikin  yek,  lei  koosi 
dandermengri  chor,  chiv  it  adre  t/ie  greis  nok,  and  mook  it 
atch  odoi  ti/l  you  weli-  to  the  Walgaurus,  then  tarder  it  avri, 
and  sor  the  wafedo  kanipen  %vill  av  avri  tei.  And  mandi'// 
pen  tooti  konaw  hozv  to  kel  a  bavengro.  Jaw  to  the  drab- 
engro  boodiga,  and  kin  koosi  Alowes.  Kel  it  opre  adre  a 
bit  d  crape.  Chiv  it  adre  the  grei'j  mooi.  WJienyon  avj  to 
the  Walgaurus,  do  yon  dik,  ypiHl  lei  it  avri  popli,  and  dovaV/ 
hatch  //^^  grei'i-  baval  mishto.  A  moosh,  as  mandi  jinj, 
bikinV  a  bavengri  grasni  for  bish  bar  by  keb;^*  ajaw,  and 
\dxid  it  popli  for  desh  bar.  Some  Romani-chab  chivi-  kil 
adre  the  greiV  mooi",  biU  the  waver  dromV  the  feterdair^j^, 

THE   KNOWING   HORSE-DEALER. 

I  will  tell  (say)  you,  sir,  a  good  way  to  make  a  glandered 
horse  look  all  right.  When  you  are  going  to  sell  one,  take 
a  few  nettles  (lit.,  a  little  biting-grass,  put  them  (it)  into  the 
horse's  nostrils,  and  let  them  stay  there  till  you  come  to  the 
fair ;  then  pull  them  out,  and  all  the  bad  matter  will  come 
out  too.  And  I  will  tell  you  now,  how  to  '  cook '  a  broken- 
winded  horse.  Go  to  the  druggist's  shop,  and  buy  a  little 
aloes.  Do  it  up  in  a  bit  of  crape.  Put  it  in  the  horse's 
mouth.  When  you  come  to  the  fair,  do  you  see,  you  will 
take  it  out  again,  and  that  will  stop  the  horse's  wind  well.* 
A  man  that  I  know  sold  a  broken-winded  mare  for  twenty 
pounds  by  doing  so,  and  bought  it  again  for  ten  pounds. 
Some  Gypsies  put  butter  in  the  horse's  mouth,  but  the 
other  way  is  the  best. 

*  Some    Gypsies  adminster    butter    scrapings   and   brown  paper, 

worked  up  into  a  ball.      Our  friend  Louis  L declares  it  to  be  the 

*•  fetterdair^j-/  drom." —  Vide  p.  204. 


246  GENUINE   ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

Mandi  sas  beeno  kater  Dovar.  Kooromongro  sas  meero 
Dad.  Beeno  sh5'mas  adre  o  Kooromongri.  Meero  Dad, 
kanna  sho'mas  beeno,  yov  sas  d'lkm'  pardal  o  bauro 
yogomengri.  Talla  yov  vias  kere,  ta  mooktas  sor  kooro- 
mongri kerimus.  Yov  welW  tale  o  Meilesko-tem,  ta  'doi 
yov  atch'd  for  beshaw  dosta,  and  sor  morro  tikne  sas  anlo 
apre  adre  dova  tern,  and  'doi  atchW  sor  mendi  talla  yov  sas 
mord'no  adre  o  Lincoln-tem.  Yov  merdas  kanna  mandi 
sho'mas  a  tikno  chor. 

Mi-Doovelesko  yog  pedas  tale  apr^  lesti,  and  maurW 
lesti,  «waver  yek  tei,  dooY  ketane.  Dooi  simensa  sas  yon. 
Lenghi  folki  chivW  lendi  dooi"  adre  yek  hev.  'Doi  mook- 
tom  lendi,  choori  folk\.  Toogno  sas  me  dosta  talla.  Yov 
rivdas  lesko  kokero  adr(^  kooshto  eezaw  sorkon  chairus. 

Kanna  yov  sas  poorosto,  mandi  Horn  Romni,  ta  ghiom 
sor  pardal  o  tern.  Mandi  ghiom  sor  pardal  Anghiterra, 
iVi?//^erengri-tem,  and  o  Lavines-tem,  wonka  mandi  vi6m 
akei. 

Translation. 

I  was  born  at  Dover,  My  father  was  a  soldier,  and  I 
was  born  in  the  army.  My  father,  when  I  was  born,  was  in 
charge  of  the  great  gun  (Queen  Anne's  pocket-piece). 
After  a  while  he  came  home,  and  left  the  army.  He  came 
down  into  Yorkshire,  and  there  he  stayed  for  many  years, 
and  all  our  family  were  brought  up  in  that  county,  and 
there  we  all  stayed  after  he  was  killed  in  Lincolnshire. 
He  died  when  I  was  a  lad. 

The  lightning  struck  him,  and  killed  him  and  another, 
both  together.  They  were  cousins.  Our  people  put  them 
both  in  one  grave.  There  I  left  them,  poor  fellows.  I 
was  much  grieved  at  it.     He  always  dressed  well. 


GENUINE   ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  247 

When  he  was  buried,  I  took  a  wife,  and  went  all  over  the 
country.  I  went  all  over  England,  Scotland,  and  Wales, 
until  I  came  here. 

HIS  RESIDENCE  AT  CODLING  GAP. 

Mandi  jivela  konaw  adre  o  poov,  kei  o  gauje  keb  dola 
kola,  so  yon  ker  kairaw  te  jiv  adre,  avri  o  chik. 

Te  wel  kova  koosi  poov,  kei  atchova  me  konaw,  morro 
nogo.     Kelela  man  Rei  sor  meero  meriben. 

Mandi  komova  te  jiv  kater  o  bauro  londo  paani.  Mandi 
komova  te  jiv  akei,  kei  shom  konaw,  beshaw  dosta.  Kek 
mandi  te  vel  kino  d  lesti,  jafra  rinkeno  tan  see. 

Kanna  shom  adre  meero  woodrus,  te  dikov  avri,  mandi 
dikova  sor  o  Bauro  Gav,  o  Bookesko  Gav,  ta  sor  o  paani,  ta 
baire  jala  kater  sorkon  temaw. 

Diktom  dova  bauro  yog  sas  hotcherela.  Kanna  shorn 
(sho'mas)  mandi  adre  meero  woodrus,  diktom  sor. 

Yeka  kova  besh,  adr6  kova  lilei,  diktom  bauro  bairo  sor 
dood,  ta  kol6  sas  hotchade,  ta  sor  o  paani  sor  sas  pardal  o' 
dood.  Sor  o  koli  sas  atch///  opre  o  paani.  Sor  dood  sas. 
Diktas  mishto,  ta  rinkenes  diktas. 

Translation. 

I  live  now  in  the  field,  where  the  Gentiles  make  those 
things  of  clay  with  which  they  build  houses  to  live  in. 

Would  that  this  little  field,  where  I  am  stopping  now, 
were  mine.     It  would  make  me  a  gentleman  for  life. 

I  like  to  live  by  the  seaside.  I  would  like  to  live  here, 
where  I  am  now,  for  many  a  long  year.  I  should  never  be 
tired  of  it ;  it  is  such  a  pretty  place. 

When  I  am  in  bed,  if  I  look  out,  I  see  all  the  city  of 
Liverpool,  and  the  river,  and  the  ships  going  to  every 
land. 

I  saw  that  great  fire  [at  the  landing-stage]  when  it  was 
burning.     When  I  was  in  bed  I  could  see  it  all. 

Once  this  year,  this  very  summer,  I  saw  a  large  vessel  all 


248 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 


on  fire,  and  the  cotton  bales  were  burnt,  and  the  whole  river 
was  in  flames.  All  the  bales  were  floating  in  the  river 
blazing.     It  looked  well ;  'twas  a  pretty  sight  indeed. 


VERSES  AS  WRITTEN  BY 
WESTER. 


AND 
HIS  OWN  TRANSLATION. 


After  many  roming  years, 
How  sweet  it  is  to  bej 
In  love,  and  peace,  and  kindness, 
With  all  you  see. 

II. 
So  let  all  injoy  the  mind  of  me, 
And  that  you  will  plainly  see. 
That  love  to  God,  and  peace  with 

man. 
Will  bring  you  to  a  Happy  Land. 

III. 
The  rite  way.     First  to  love  your 

Christ 
First,  and  obey  His  Holy  Word, 
Then  you  will  find  that  you  will 

be  rite. 
And  make  your  road  quite 
Strat,  in  Heaven  to  dwell, 


For  ever  and  ever.    Amen, 


Talla  boot  peeromus  beshc^w, 
Te  goodlo  see  te  atch 
Adrc  Komomus,  ta  Kooshtoben, 
Te  sor  mendi  dik. 

II. 
Jaw  mook  sorkon  ti  zee  d  mandi, 
Te  too'//  tatcheni  dik, 
TeKomomus  katermirft'^-ro  Duvel, 
te  koshtomus  te  sor  mooshdw. 
Dovaand'atooti  kater  tatcho  poov, 

III. 
O  tatcho  drom  te  ker  agldl  td  kom 

teero  Duvelesko  Chavo, 
Kom  lesti  ta  lesti  heveski  lavaw, 
Talla  too'//   latch   te   too'//  atch 

tatcho, 
Ta  kcrav  teero  drom  tatcho 
Oprc,  adrc  mi  Duvelesko  Tem  te 

jiv, 
Beshdw  ta  beshdw.     Amen. 


Written  by  SILVESTER  BOSWELL,  in  the 
1874th  year  of  our  dear  Lord. 


Letters  written  by  Wester — (i)  Reply  to  ours  ifiq?iiriug- 
ivhetJicr  he  knezv  anything  respecting  Matilda  Bos  well, 
aged  40,  and  LUCRETIA  Smith,  Queen  of  the  Gypsies, 
aged  72,  both  of  whom  were  buried  at  Beighton,  in  Derby- 
shire, in  1844.     (Sec  N.  and  O.,  5  S.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  y6.) 

Seacombe,  Aug.  the  is,  1874.  Comlow  Rei  kec  manday 
Jin  Doler  temeskey  Ronnichel  mandy  Ached  Jaw  kisscy 
Beshaw  ovre  Dover  tem   keckeno  Jin   Chichey  trustal  a 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  249 

Lendy  keck  yoye  sas  keck  Cralacy  pardal  o  Romenaychell 
keck  mandey  Jinover  Joffero  Nave  Rrie  Komena  sas  yoiine 
yoye  sas  keck  Cralacy. 

Patcer  mandy  mandy  sea  terowe  poorow  Romineychill, 

Silvester  Boswell. 

In  our  Orthography, 

Komelo  Rei, — Kek  mandi  jin  dola  temeski  Romani-chal. 
Mandi  atch^<:/  jaw  kisi  beshaw  avri  dova  tern,  kekeno  jin 
chichi  troostal  lendi. 

Kek  yoi  sas  kek  Kralisi  pardal  o  Romani-chal.  Kek 
mandi  jinova  jafri  nav,  Rei,  komeni  sas  yon.  Yoi'  sas  kek 
Kralisi. 

Patser  mandi,  mandi  see  teero  pooro  Romani-chal. 

Translation. 

Dear  Sir, — I  do  not  know  the  Gypsies  of  that  county.  I 
(have)  stayed  so  many  years  out  of  that  county,  (that)  I 
know  nothing  about  them. 

She  was  no  Queen  of  the  Gypsies.*  I  do  not  know  such 
a  name,  sir,  (or  that)  there  (lit.  they)  were  any  (of  that 
name.)     She  was  no  Queen. 

Believe  me,  (that)  I  am,  thy  old  Gypsy. 

(2.) 

Seacombe  Aug.  the  4th  1874  Costo  Rieo  mandy  bisad 
mearo  cocrow  pockerer  to  trustal  merro  burrow  Dadesco 
tacho  nave.  Shedrich  Boswell  sas  lesco  nave  to  Richard 
Matcho  sas  mearrow  Dieesco  purrow  Dadesco  tacho  nave 
Dover  se  tacho — the  grandfather  of  me  on  the  Boswell  side 
Was  shedrich  Boswell  and  the  farther  of  my  mother  Richard 
Harring  and  the  name  Emanuel  Was  his  brother  You 
Will  Plese  to  tell  Mr  Smart  the  same  as  he  has  got  it  Rong 

*  Aged  Gypsies  are  styled  Kings  and ,  Queens  after  death,  or  on 
visiting  new  places,  to  gain  respect  and  profit  from  the  gmijos. 


250  GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 

By  my  forgetfullness.     Plese  To  returne  me  answer  from 
this 

Mandy  shorn  tearrow  tacho  porrow  Romnichel 

S.  Bos.  Wester. 
Cere  sig  ta  Bicher  catter  mandy  porley. 

In  our  Orthography. 

Koshto  Reia.  Mandi  bisser'^  meero  kokero  pookerer 
too  troostal  meero  pooro-Dadesko  tatcho  nav.  Shadrach 
Boswell  sas  lesko  nav,  ta  Richard  Matcho  sas  meero  Dei- 
esko  pooro-dadesko  tatcho  nav.  Dova  see  tatcho.  .  .  . 
Mandi  shom  teero  tatcho  pooro  Romani-chal.  .  .  .  Kair  sig 
ta  bitcher  kater  mandi  paiih*. 

Translation. 

Good  Sir, — I  forgot  to  tell  you  about  my  grandfather's 
proper  name.  Shadrach  B.  was  his  name,  and  R,  Heme 
was  my  mother's  grandfather's  proper  name.  That  is  true. 
...  I  am  thy  true  old  Gypsy.  ...  Be  quick  and  send  me 
an  answer. 

(3.) 

Seacombe,  Oct.  4,  1874.  romno  rye  so  se  to  trustal 
kec  nanni  to  bicher  Eser  to  Catter  manday  ta  pocker  Esa 
mandy  ta  to  shanush  molo  o  jido  mandy  shomos  togno 
pallcr  tote  kec  nini  to  mucesr  mandy  o  jor  Cova  Drome 
Bicher  ta  mandy  a  chinamongry  Cer  sig  paller  lesty  ta 
muck  mandy  gin  o  toty  mandy  pucker  Eser  to  ta  to  Cer 
mandy  Wafodo  to  Ceresa  te  cockero  Wafodo  Catter  te 
cockero  jor  mandy  shounomos  toty  sig. 

Mandy  shanous  totys  coshto  poorey  Ry  Romenichel. 

Westerous. 

In  our  Orthography. 

Romano  Rei.  So  see  too  troostal,  kek  nanei  too  bitcher- 
essa  too  kater  mandi,  te  pookeressa  mandi  te  too  shanas 
moolo  0  jido. 


^     ^0L^^^  ^^^^^     t^^^^^ 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  25 1 

Mandi  shomas  toogno  palla  tooti.  Kek  nanei  too 
mookessa  mandi  ajaw,  kova  drom. 

Bitcher  te  mandi  a  chinomongri.  Ker  sig  palla  lesti,  ta 
muk  mandi  jin  0'  tooti. 

Mandi  pookeressa  too,  ta  too  ker  mandi  wafedo.  Too 
keressa  ti  kokero  wafedo  kater  ti  kokero ;  jaw  mandi 
shoonomus  tooti  sig.  Mandi  shanas  (shom)  tootiV  koshto 
poori  Rei  Romanichal 

WestArus. 
Translation. 

Gypsy  Gentleman, — What  art  thou  about,  that  thou  dost 
not  send  to  me,  to  tell  me  if  thou  wert  dead  or  alive  } 

I  was  grieved  about  thee.  Thou  wilt  not  leave  me  so,  in 
this  way. 

Send  me  a  letter.  Make  haste  about  it,  and  let  me  know 
about  thee. 

I  tell  thee  that  thou  art  doing  me  harm.  Thou  art  doing 
harm  to  thyself ;  so  (send)  me  news  from  thyself  soon. 

I  was  thy  good  old  gentleman, 

Gypsy  Sylvester. 

(4.) 
Merow  Commlow  Rie  maw  Cesser  trustal  o  Dover  trustal 
mandy  Jin  overe  tearrow  Zea  Jaw  Coshto  Catter  mandy 
Bicher  so  Comesa  ta  mandy  vanaso  Dinow  Cearra  mandy 
saw  se  tacho  trustal  Dover  Pucher  youne  ta  Cack  Bissea 
mearrow  Plockter  ta  stardyear  and  Lendy  a  Dray  o  Bicher 
Lendy  a  Draye  a  Borrow  Cusheney  so  youne  Chivener  o 
Canyowre  or  Canneys  a  Dray  mearrow  Chocha  tye  to  penas 
mandy  ta  Cusey  tovelow  ta  sweggler  Coshto  yeck  ty  Patsea 
mandy  Rie  tacho  se  mandy  Catter  ta  mendy  Duye  coshto 
Rieo  mandy  shom  to  mendys  tacho  Beano  Romenichel  ta 
Ceck  gorgoconness  much. 

Wester  Boswell,  sicker  Cover 

Catter  o  Drabengro  Rie  tye. 

In  our  Orthography. 
Meero  komelo  rei.     Maw  kesser  troostal  adova  troostal. 


252  GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

Mandi  jinova  teero  zee  jaw  koshto  kater  mandi.  Bitcher 
so  komessa  to  mandi.  Vaniso  dino  kair'a  mandi.  Sor  see 
tatcho  troostal  dova.  Pooker  yon  te  kek  bisser  meero 
plo%ta,  ta  staadia ;  and  lendi  adre,  d  bitcher  lendi  adre,  a 
bauro  kushni,  so  yon  chivenna  o  kanyaw,  or  kanni^i-  adre. 
Meero  choka  tei,  too  pen(d)as  mandi,  ta  koosi  toovlo,  ta 
swegler,  koshto  yek  tei.  Patser  mandi,  rei,  tatcho  see  mandi 
kater  tumendi  dooi  koshto  reiaw.  Mandi  shom  tumendiV 
tatcho  beeno  Romani-chal,  ta  kek  gaujikanes  moosh. 

W.  B.,  Siker  kova  kater  o  drabengro  rei  tei. 

(5.) 
Mearo  Comlo  rye  mandy  se  velover  ta  totoes  Care  ta 
Dickover  tut  Dickavree  ta  Dickesa  mandy  o  pray  o  Due- 
yeney  Dives  trustal  Corroco  Dives  mandy  veller  to  tuty  o 
pray  Dover  Dives  tacho  ta  Comesa  mearro  Dovel. 

In  our  Orthography. 

Meero  komelo  rei.  Mandi  see  velova  to  tooti'i-  kair  te 
dikova  toot.  Dik  avri,  ta  dikessa  mandi  oprc  o  dooieni 
divvus  troostal  (palla)  Kooroko-divvus.  Mandi  vela  to 
tooti,  opre  dova  divvus,  tatcho,  te  komessa  (komela)  meero 
Doovel. 

Translation. 

My  dear  sir.  I  am  coming  to  your  house  that  I  may  see 
you.  Look  out,  and  you  will  see  me  on  the  second  day 
after  Sunday.  I  will  come  to  you,  on  that  day,  safe,  if  my 
God  be  willing. 

HIS  GENEALOGY  IN  HIS  OWN  WORDS. 

Sophia  Heme  was  born  at  Pirton,  and  was  the  mother  of 
Sylvester  Boswell.  Teiso  (Tasso)  Boswell  was  his  father. 
Teiso  Boswell  was  killed,  and  one  of  his  own  cousins,  two 
aged  men,  by  lightning  and  thunder  at  Tetford  in  Lincoln- 
shire, near  Horncastle.  His  cousin's  name  was  called 
No  Name,  because  he  was  not  christened  till  he  was  an 


GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS.  253 

old  man,  and  then  they  called  him  Edward.  This  occurred 
on  August  5th,  1 83 1. 

Sarah  Heme,  the  daughter  of  No  Name,  was  the  mother 
of  my  eldest  son,  Simpronius  Bohemia  Boswell.  He  was 
born  on  the  8th  of  July,  1832.  She  was  a  beautiful  woman. 
Her  face  was  darker  than  mine,  and  hair  black  as  a  raven, 
which  hung  in  curls  all  down  her  shoulders, =:=  and  eyes  like 
two  plums. 

Sophia  and  Teiso's  children  were — i,  Maria  ;  2,  Lucy ; 
3,  Sage;  4,  Betsy;  5,  Dorclia ;  6,  Edward;  7,  Delata ; 
8,  Sylvester. 

The  father  of  Sophia  was  Richard  Heme ;  and  Bonny 
was  her  mother.  Richard  Heme  was  buried  at  Hasling- 
field,  near  Cambridge.  Bonny  died  twenty-three  years 
ago,  above  a  hundred  years  old.  Richard  Heme's  brother 
was  Emanuel. 

Sophia's  sisters  were  Lucy,  Ally,  Sage,  Margaret,  Ann, 
and  Sarah.  Sarah  was  the  mother  of  Mantis  Buckland. 
Nan  married  Jasper  Smith. 

The  father  of  Teiso  was  Shadrach  Boswell,  and 
Cinderella  Wood  was  the  mother  of  Teiso.  Shadrach  was 
a  soldier,  and  died  in  Holland,  and  was  buried  there. 
Both  my  grandfathers  used  to  fight  on  stages. 

Maria,  my  sister,  married  John  Grey,  a  fiddler. 

Lucy,  my  sister,  married  Riley  Boswell,  who  died  at 
Harrow-on-the-Hill.     She  is  now  in  America. 

Sage,  my  sister,  married  Joseph  Smith.  She  died  in 
America,  and  left  a  large  family. 

Betsy  (Elizabeth),  my  sister,  married  Job  Williams,  the 
son  of  Jim  of  the  Lavines-tem.  He  is  dead.  She  is  in 
America.     Her  daughter  married  Jasper  Gray. 

Dorelia,  my  sister,  married  Kalei  Heme.  His  sons  are 
Yoben,  Edward,  Minnie,  and  Nelson. 

Edward,    my   brother,    married    Slari    Draper,   of    the 

*  A  not  uncommon  mode  of  tiring  the  hair  among  the  older  female 
Gypsies  is  to  tie  it  in  four  knotted  loops,  something  after  the  style  of  a 
horse's  tail. 


254  GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

Lavines-tem.  They  live  at  Blackpool.  Their  children's 
names  are  Dorelia,  and  Emma,  Alma  (a  boy),  Tobias,  and 
William. 

Delata,  my  sister,  married  Allen  Boswell,  and  died  in 
childbed  in  Lincolnshire. 

Sylvester  married  Florence  Chilcott  at  Yarmouth.  He 
was  born  at  Dover,  in  1811,  in  the  army.  Florence  was  born 
at  Norwich,  in  January  1820,  and  died  in  the  forty-third 
year  of  her  age,  and  was  buried  at  East  Ham,  near  London. 
One  of  her  sisters  married  Tom  Lee,  who  has  a  daughter 
named  Ada,  and  three  sons — Walter,  Edgar,  and  Bendigo. 

This  is  the  family  of  Sylvester  and  Florence  Chilcott : — 

1.  Byron,   born    at   Benwick,  Cambridgeshire,  in    1839. 

He  is  a  fiddler,  and  now  lives  in  Wales. 

2.  M'Kenzie,  born  on  Ascot  racecourse,  on  the  Derby 

day,  1842. 

3.  Oscar,  born  at  Bray,  near  Windsor,  in  1844. 

4.  Bruce,  born  at  Stisted,  near  Braintree,  Essex,  in  1847. 

5.  Julia,  born  at  Litherland,  Sefton,  near  Liverpool,  in 

1850. 

6.  Wallace,  born  at  Sutton,  in  Cambs,  in  1853. 

7.  Trafalgar,  born  at  Plaistow,  Newtown,  Essex,  in  1856. 

8.  Laura,  born  at  Burrow,  near  Woodbridge,  Suffolk,  in 

1859,  ^'"id  since  dead. 

Note. — Isaac  Heme  {vide  "The  Chase")  is  the  son  of  Neabei,  or 
Nearboy  Heme,  and  Sinfi,  commonly  called  'The  Crow,'  who  is  said 
to  have  instructed  Mr.  Borrow  in  'deep'  Romanes;  and  Neabei  was 
the  son  of  Richard  Heme,  Sylvester's  maternal  grandfather.  Isaac 
married  a  daughter  of  Pyramus  Gray,  and  his  children  arc  'Eza, 
Trainit,  'Lenda,  and  Collia. 


I. 

Kooshko  divvus,  nogo  pal.     Sar  shan,  my  pal  \ 
'Tis  a  shilino  divvus. 


GENUINE   ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS.  255 

Ourli,  yivyela. 

Kei  see  tooti  koko  ghilo  fo-d'wvus  ? 

Yov  ghias  koliko-divvus  fo  Lalo  peero  wagyaura. 

Kei  see  tooti  rinkeni  pen  ? 

Meiri  penV  adre  adoova  gav  rt:-doorik?«. 

Shoon,  pal !     Boshela  jookel. 

Dik  savo  see  !     A  gaujo  ? 

7?e  nashermengro. 

Maw  poger  adoova  bor,  dinelo  ! 

Keker,  pal,  'tis  a  bauro  rei. 

Yov' J-  a  kooshto  kestermengro. 

Our,  and  yows  koshto  roodo. 

Dik  !     Adoova  see  lesti  filisin. 

Ranjer  tooti  staadi. 

Mook'i-  jal  adre  akova  kitchema  for  choomoni  to  pee. 

Besh  tooki  'le,  pal. 

Akova  see  wasedo  livena. 

Kooshto  for  chichi. 

Mook'i-  pee  a  wover  trooshni  livena. 

Kooshto  bok  to  tooti,  pal. 

Adoova  Hindi-temengro'j"  posh-motto. 

Kova  moosh  is  a  grei-engro. 

Atch  apre,  pal !     Mook'j  jal  avri  popli. 

Our,  meiri  tano'i-  a  kooshto  door  fon  ak^i. 

Savo  see  dc  tatcho  drom. 

Tale  adoova  chikli  drom. 

Dik  !     Akdi'j  de  patrin  apre  de  bongo  vas'. 

Translation. 
I. 
Good  day,  my  own  brother.     How  do  you  do,  brother  1 
It  is  a  cold  day. 
Indeed  it  is.     It  is  snowing. 
Where  has  your  uncle  gone  to-day } 
He  went  yesterday  to  Red  ford  fair. 
Where  is  your  pretty  sister  .'' 
My  sister's  in  the  town  there  telling  fortunes. 


256  GENUINE    ROMANY  COMPOSITIONS. 

Listen,  mate  !     The  doe:  is  barkin* 


'fa- 


Look  who  it  is  !     A  stranger  ? 

The  policeman. 

Do  not  break  the  hedge,  you  fool ! 

No,  brother.     It's  a  gentleman. 

He  is  a  good  rider. 

That  he  is,  and  well  dressed. 

Look.     That's  his  house. 

Touch  your  hat. 

Let  us  go  into  the  inn  there  for  something  to  drink. 

Sit  down,  brother. 

This  is  bad  beer. 

Good  for  nothing. 

Let  us  drink  another  quart  of  beer. 

Good  luck  to  you,  brother. 

That  Irishman  is  half  drunk. 

This  fellow  is  a  horse-dealer. 

Get  up,  brother.     Let  us  go  out  again. 

Certainly.     My  camp  is  a  good  distance  from  here. 

Which  is  the  right  way  ? 

Down  that  dirty  lane. 

Look  !     Here's  the  trail  on  the  left  hand. 

II. 

^Tts  a  kooshto  door  to  the  forus. 

Ourli.     Kini  shom. 

Besh  tooki  'le,  Dei,  and  mook  mandi  jaw  to  mong  a  bit 
of  hohcn. 

Keker,  uty  Pal.     'Tis  doosh  to  jaw  odoi. 

T/ie  bauro  rci,  as  ]ws  odoi,  is  a  Pokenyus. 

He  11  bitcher  t/ie  nashermcngro  to  Icl  tooti  to  stcripcn. 

Mook'.i-  jaw  a  wover  drom. 

My  beebi'j  a  steromeskri  kenaw  at  the  bauro  gav  for 
chor/;/  at  the  moilesto-gav. 

She'll  be  bitchadi  paudel. 

Dik !  The  nashermcngro  is  lebV/*  a  mongamengro  to 
steripen. 


GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS.  257 

TJie  Beng  has  chivV/  wastengrit^j-  aprc  lesti. 
Riserela  gairo. 
Mantchi  too,  pal. 

Til  aprc  your  7.(^0.  \     Maw  he  rt'-ladj  ! 
Lesti  nok  is  sor  rat. 
Yov'^f  a  kooshto  kooromengro. 
Pooker  the  tatchipen  !     Maw  roker  hookapeiii- ! 
A  bairengro  delV  tJie  moosh  a  kaulo  yok,  and  a  pogado 
shero. 

Hok  'doova  bor,  pal ! 

Chor  dooY  triii  poovengri^:'^^,  and  some  shokyaw. 

Chiv  'em  ad  re  the  gono. 

The  ghivengro  awel  akei. 

Wooser  de  gono  adoi,  and  garav  yotiv  kokero. 

Maw  roker ! 

Lei  trad  !     Lei  veena  ! 

He's  jawW. 

Tatcho  see  'doova. 


IL 

It  is  a  long  way  to  the  city. 
Yes.     I  am  downright  tired. 

Sit  down,  mother,  and  let  me  go  to  beg  a  little  food. 
No,  my  brother.     It  is  no  good  to  go  there. 
The  gentleman  that  lives  there  is  a  magistrate. 
He  will  send  the  policeman  to  take  you  to  prison. 
Let  us  go  another  way. 

My  aunt  is  a  prisoner  now  at  the  town  for  stealing  at 
Doncaster. 

She  will  be  sent  to  penal  servitude. 

Look  !  the  policeman  is  taking  a  beggar  to  prison. 

The  devil  has  put  handcuffs  on  him. 

The  man  is  trembling. 

Cheer  up,  brother. 

Keep  up  your  spirits !     Don't  be  ashamed ! 

His  nose  is  covered  with  blood. 

17 


258  GENUINE   ROMANY  COMPOSITIONS. 

He  is  a  capital  boxer. 

Tell  the  truth  !     Don't  tell  lies  ! 

A  sailor  gave  the  man  a  black  eye,  and  a  broken  head. 

Jump  that  hedge,  brother. 

Steal  two  or  three  potatoes,  and  some  cabbages. 

Put  them  into  the  sack. 

The  farmer  is  coming  this  way. 

Throw  the  sack  there,  and  hide  yourself. 

Don't  speak. 

Take  care  !     Look  out ! 

He  has  gone. 

That's  right. 

HI. 

Me  shom  bokalo. 

Del  mandi  choomoni  to  hoi. 

Lei  mandi  a  tuli  hotchiwitchi. 

Hoi  'doova  bokochesto  pur. 

Del  mandi  a  choori  to  chin  i;ij/  mauro. 

Del  mandi  a  poosomengro. 

Bitcher  t/ic  chavi  to  tJie  boodega  for  a  koosi  balo-vas. 

Chiv  paani  adre  the  kekavi. 

Our,  ril  kel  woriso  for  tooti. 

Kair  a  kooshko  yog. 

Chiv  wongur  opre,  and  lei  mandi  the  poodomengro. 

Kei'i"  tJie  saashter } 

The  paani  see  tatto.     Lei  mandi  the  peemengro. 

Maw  pee  the  muterimongeri  without  goodlo. 

Me  shom  traslo. 

Pee  a  koosi  livena,  tood,  kalengri,  mool. 

There s  chichi  adre  the  valin. 

Meiri  pur  see  pordo  kenaw.     Pordo  see  meiri  pur. 

Lei  mandi  ;;/j/  swagler. 

Meiri  swagler  see  pogado. 

Kova  tuvlo  is  kek  mool  a  full. 

Riley !     Jaw  to  the  boodega  for  some  feterdairo. 

Del  the  moosh  trin^r  hauri. 


GENtJiNE   ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  2^g 

Riley!      Vo?i'  bauro  dinelo!      Voii  wasedo  bang!     'Tis 
kooshto  for  chichi. 
Maw  chinger,  palaw. 
Maw !     Maw  kel  ajaw ! 
Besh  tale  ^popli  dj/  the  yog. 
Our !     Pootch  Pyramus  to  lei  lesti  boshamengro. 
Keker !     Mook'i-  jal  to  woodrus. 
Kooshko  raati. 

III. 

I  am  hungry. 

Give  me  something  to  eat. 

Get  me  a  fat  hedgehog. 

Eat  that  tripe. 

Give  me  a  knife  to  cut  my  bread. 

Give  me  a  fork. 

Send  the  lad  to  the  shop  for  a  little  bacon. 

Pour  (some)  water  into  the  kettle. 

Yes,  I'll  do  anything  for  you. 

Make  a  good  fire. 

Put  (some)  coal  on,  and  get  me  the  bellows, 
Where's  the  pot-hook } 
The  water  boils.     Get  me  the  teapot. 
Don't  drink  the  tea  without  sugar. 
I  am  thirsty. 

Drink  a  little  beer,  milk,  whey,  wine. 
The  bottle  is  empty. 

I  have  had  enough  now.     I  am  satisfied. 
Give  me  my  pipe. 
My  pipe  is  broken. 
This  tobacco  is  perfectly  worthless. 
Riley !  go  to  the  shop  for  some  better. 
Give  the  fellow  threepence. 

Riley  !     You  great  fool !     You  blackguard  !     It's  good 
for  nothing. 

Don't  quarrel,  brothers. 
Pray  don't  do  so. 


26o  GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 

Sit  down  again  by  the  fire. 

Yes.     Ask  Pyramus  to  get  his  fiddle. 

No.     Let  us  go  to  bed. 

Good  night. 

DINNER  DIALOGUE  WITH   WESTER. 

Wester.  Bokalo  shan  too  > 
Self.  Ourli.     Shorn  dosta. 

W.  Mandi  merova  o'  bok,  jaw  bokalo  shorn.     Mandi  see 
posh  mulo. 

S.  Kei  jivela  o  masengro  .'' 

W.  Yov  jivela  adre  o  gav.     Kek  door  see,  mi  Rei. 
S.  Lei  kova  posh-koorona,  ta  jal  kater  boodega,  ajid  kin 
mandi  koosi  groovenesko-mas,  ajid  a  choUo  mauro. 
W.  Parikraw  toot,  Rei. 

[Wester  goes,  and  returns  zvitk  the  provisions. 
Conversation  continued: 
Jalova  to  lei  dooi  trin  koshtaw,  ta  koosi  wongur  ....  del 
mandi  a  delomengri. 

S.  Dova  see  a  kooshto  yog. 

W.    Kek    nandi.      Kenaw-sig    te    wel    a    koshto    yog 
Yoosherova  o  tatermengri  mishto,  ta  chivova  koosi  tulopen 
adre-les.     Komess  too  balovas,  Rei } 
S.  Our.     ' 

[  While  he  is  busy  cutting  the  bacon,  his  cat  comes 

and  smells  at  the  meat.      He  addresses  her 

thus : 

W.  Jaw  tooki  choovihoneski  matchka.      Chichi   nanci 

dova  toot.     Jaw  adrd  o  shushenghi  hevyaw.     Maur  lendi 

ta  hoi  lendi  ti  kokero.     Porder  ti  pur  ajdw. 

[After  a  bit,  the  dog  watches  his  opportunity^  and 
runs  off  with  half  our  dinner.     WESTER  no 
sooner  sees  this  than  he  gives  vent  to  his  rage 
in  the  following  terms : 
Dik  od6i  asdr,  mi  Doovelenghi !     O  rattvalo  jookel ! 

[He  takes  a  stout  stick,  and  rushes  out  of  the  tent. 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  26 1 

TJie  bauro  holomengro.     Maurova  lesti  konaw-sig.    Jinova 
kei  see  ghilo. 

[A  great  row  ensues,  and  soon  after  Wester  re- 
appears zvith  the  meat  in  triumph.     He  zvashcs 
it  in  the  bucket,  and  proclaims  it  as  good  as 
ever ;  ive  however  object  to  it,  so  another  steak 
is  cooked.    A  day  or  tzvo  after  this  occurred,  we 
visited  him  again,  when  he  informed  us  : 
Diom  o  bito  jookel  so  hod  as  o  mas  o  waver  divvus  too 
kindas.     Diom-les  kater  bito  tarno  rei  akei  ta  jivela  posha 
mandi,  ta  yov  lias-les  kater  Booko-paani-gav.] 

W.  Del  mandi  the  mauro,  Rei.     Komes,  too  the  avri-rig  ? 
kS.  So  see  dova  ? 

W,  The  hotchedo  kotor  o'  the  mauro,  Rei.  .  .  .  Mook 
mandi  del  tooti  koosi  dandimengri. 
vS.  Parikraw  toot. 
W.  Lon  see  tooti } 
S.  Our. 

W.  And  mandi  o  lon,  ta  tatto  kova,  ta  hindi  kova. 
Parikraw  toot.  Kenaw  lon  see  mandi  tei.  Kova  lon  see 
kek  mo%odo.  Chidom  tatto-kova  wV  lesti.  Komes  too 
hotchiwitchi }  Our,  kooshto  see  dova.  Poorokono  holoben 
see  a  koshto  hotchi-witchi,  ta  a  kooshto  marikli.^  Dova 
see  pooro  Romani-chal'^  holomus.  Yon  sas  jaw  yoozho 
adre  lenghi  peraw.  Yon  (hotchi-witchi)  see  kek  kooshto 
adre  o  lilei.     Yon  see  bauri  konaw. 

[He  added : 
Jaw  monghi.     Dikova  talla  o  hotchi-witchi.     Mandi  latch- 
ova  yek.     Andova  lesti  kere.     Maurova  lesti,  ta  morrov 
lesti.    Yoosherova  lesti.     Chivova  lesti  tale  o  yog,  ta  kerav 
lesti,  ta  hova-les  monghi.] 

Me  shorn  trooshlo.  Del  mandi  choomoni  to  pee.  Akei 
see  kooshto  paani.  MandiV  delV  apre  sor  piamus  d  livena. 
Chiv  les  avri.  Parikraw  toot.  Kooshto  see  dova.  Del 
mandi  koosi  ginger-WvQnTi.  Lei  o  bungdivus  avri  valinesko 
men. 

*  See  p.  197,  "  Hedgehog  Hunting  and  Gypsy  Cake." 


262  genuine  romany  compositions. 

Translation. 
Wester.  Are  you  hungry  ? 
Self.  Certainly,  I  am  very  hungry. 

W.  I  am  dying  of  hunger,  I  am  so  hungry.     I  am  half 
dead  with  it. 

5.  Where  does  the  butcher  live  } 
W.  He  lives  in  the  town,  not  far  off,  sir. 
vS.  Take  this  half-crown,  and  go  to  the  shop,  and  buy 
me  a  little  beef,  and  a  loaf  of  bread. 
W.  Thank  you,  sir. 

[Wester  goes  and  retnnis. 
I  will  go  for  two  or  three  sticks  and  a  little  coal.  .  .  .  Give 
me  a  match. 

5.  That  is  a  good  fire. 

W.  Not  it,  but  it  will  be  soon  a  capital  one.     I  will  clean 
the  frying-pan  well,  and  put  a  little  grease  in  it.     Do  you 
like  bacon,  sir } 
S.  Yes. 

[The  eat  cojnes,  and  smells  at  the  meat.     He  says 
to  it, 
Get  off  with  you,   you  bewitched  cat.     There  is  nothing 
there  for  you.     Go  to  the  rabbit-holes,  and  kill  some  for 
yourself,  and  have  a  good  meal  in  that  way. 
[  The  dog  steals  the  meat. 
IV.  Just  look  there,  for  God's  sake.     The  cursed  dog! 
the  glutton !     I  will  kill  it  this  instant.     I  know  where  he 
is  gone. 

[  The  dog  was  thrashed,  and  the  meat  reseiied,  and 
on  our  next  visit  : 
W.  I  gave  away  the  little  dog  which  ate  the  meat  you 
bought  the  other  day.     I  gave  it  to  a  young  fellow  here 
who  lives  near  me,  and  he  took  it  to  Liverpool. 

[Dialogue  continued  : 
Give  me  the  bread,  sir.     Do  you  like  the  avri-rig  } 
S.  What  is  that  > 

W.  The  burnt  part  of  the  loaf,  sir.     Let  me  give  you 
some  mustard. 


GENUINE   ROM  AN  V   COMPOSITIONS,  263 

S.  Thank  you. 

W.  Have  you  any  salt  ? 

^.  Yes. 

W.  Hand  me  the  salt,  pepper,  and  mustard.  Thanks. 
Now  I  have  some  salt  too.  This  salt  is  not  dirty.  I  have 
mixed  pepper  with  it.  Do  you  like  hedgehog  ?  That  I 
do;  is  not  it  good  }  Old-fashioned  food  is  a  good  hedge- 
hog and  potatoes,  and  a  nice  cake.  That  is  what  the  old 
Gypsies  used  to  eat.  They  were  rather  dainty  about  their 
food.  Hedgehogs  are  not  good  to  eat  in  summer.  They 
are  with  young  now.  I  will  go  and  look  for  a  hedgehog. 
I  will  find  one,  and  bring  it  home.  I  will  kill  it,  and  shave 
it.  1  will  clean  it,  and  put  it  in  the  ashes,  and  bake  it,  and 
eat  it  myself.  I  am  thirsty.  Give  me  something  to  drink. 
Here  is  good  water.  I  have  become  a  teetotaler.  Pour  it 
out.  Thank  you.  That  is  good.  Give  me  a  little  ginger- 
beer,  and  draw  the  cork. 


Illustrating  ^peculiar  Modes  of  Expression^  and  points  of  Grammar. 

Yon  rokerela  lenghi  Romanes,  sor  adre  Romanes, 
Chivena  yon  kek  gaujikanes  adre  lesti. 

Adr^  the  iVi^/Z^erenghi  tem  sor  o  Romani  chalaw  see 
korengri,  ^^j-^;;^aari,  chorode,  kekavi-Petalengre,  roiengre. 

O  Lavines  gaire,  ta  o  No{f)thQ.x^xi%x\  gaire,  ta  Hinditem- 
engri  gaire,  yon  rokerj  lenghi  lavaw  sor  katene  adre  lenghi 
rokerben  so  see  kordo  sar  o  poruma  rokerben. 

Rokerela  Lavines  rokeroben.  Adre  o  Lavines  tem  o 
Romanii'j",  see  Woods,  RobertSy  Williams,  and  Jones. 

Yov  rokerela  misto  kenaw.  Mandi  rokerasar  misto 
kenaw  sig.  Too  roker  asar  sar  see  doova  chido  tale. 
Kek  nanei  jinessa  too  so  penova  mandi,  tooti  tatcho 
Romani-chal  tei }  Keker  mandi,  mandi  lova  meero  soover- 
holoben.     Kek  mandi  pookerova  toot  vaniso  koovaw  talla 


264  GENUINE    RUxMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 

sor  tatcho.  Kck  nanci  mandi  pookasova  toot  chichi  so  see 
wafedo.  Jinova,  pal,  sorkoii  koovaw  too  pookcras  mandi  sec 
tatcho.  Wonka  yon  righerenna  lesti  adrc  to  lendi  kokeri,  talla 
chivi"  lesti  adrd  tatcho  wastaw,  to  waver  reiaw,  jinomeskri 
troostal  lesti,  doova  koova  kairela  lendi  mol  dosta  luvva. 

They  (Welsh  Gypsies)  talk  their  Gypsy  all  in  Gypsy. 
They  mix  no  English  with  it. 

In  Scotland  all  the  Gypsies  are  potters,  besom-makers, 
mumpers,  tinkers,  or  spoon-makers. 

The  Welsh,  and  Scotch,  and  Irish  pronounce  their  words 
all  together  in  their  language,  which  is  called  the  Gaelic 
tongue. 

He  talks  the  Welsh  language.  In  Wales  the  Gypsies 
are  Woods,  Roberts,  etc. 

He  talks  well  now.  I  shall  speak  well  directly.  Just 
you  speak  as  it  is  put  down.  Don't  you  understand 
what  I  say,  and  you  a  real  Gypsy  too  t  Not  I,  I'll  take 
my  oath.  I  won't  tell  you  anything  but  what  is  true.  I 
will  not  tell  you  anything  that  is  wrong.  I  know  every- 
thing, my  brother,  that  you  tell  me  is  right.  When  they 
keep  it  to  themselves,  and  afterwards  put  it  in  right  hands 
(or  give  it)  to  other  gentlemen,  who  are  learned  about  it,  it 
will  make  them  worth  much  money. 

Continued. 

Pookerova  toot,  Rei,  tastis. 

Kek  shoonessa  too ;  kona  shorn  mandi  roker/;/  troostal 
duUa  kolla. 

Doova,  see  a  choorokon6  lav.  Kek  ne  jinenna  yon  o 
tatcho  Romani  lav,  pensa  moro  lavaw.  Rokerenna  posh 
dinveres  posh  gaujikanes. 

Soski  too  nant^M  roker  to  mandi }     Roker  tooti,  tastis. 

Kek  na  mandi  rokerova,  nasti's  mandi  jinova-les. 

Savo  motto  moosh  see  yov.  Yov  see  motto  sor  divvus, 
lesko  pal  tei,  motto  sas-l6.  Doova  sec  dooT  lavaw  chide 
ketan^. 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  265 

Yov  pootchtas  mandi,  "Too  diktas  (diktan)  a  moosh  jal 
kova  drom  ?" 

Nanei  too  kek  dad  ta  del  ?  Merde  yon  besh  ghias 
konaw.     Kon'j  chavo  shan  too  ?     Maw  rov,  tikno  ! 

Doova  see  meeri  deieski  pen,  meeri  beebi. 

Nanei  pookerova  toot  avri  meero  nogo  mooT. 

Lei  kova  tringorishi.     Maw  nasher  lesti. 

Komova  reiakana  ta  gaujikana  jinomus. 

I  will  tell  you,  sir,  if  I  can. 

Don't  you  hear,  when  I  am  speaking  about  those  things  ? 

That  is  a  mumper's  word.  They  do  not  know  the  right 
Gypsy  word,  like  our  words.  They  talk  half  bosh  and  half 
English. 

Why  do  not  you  speak  to  me  }     Speak,  if  you  can. 

I  do  not  speak  ;  I  cannot  understand  it. 

What  a  drunken  man  he  is.  He  is  drunk  all  day  long  ; 
his  brother  too  was  a  drunkard.  That  is  two  words  joined 
together. 

He  asked  mc,  "  Did  you  see  a  man  go  this  way  1 " 

Have  you  no  father  or  mother }  They  died  a  year  ago 
now.     Whose  child  art  thou  }     Don't  cry,  child. 

That  is  my  mother's  sister,  my  aunt. 

I  will  not  tell  you  with  my  own  lips  (///.,  out  of  my 
own  mouth). 

Take  this  shilling.     Don't  waste  it. 

I  like  aristocratic  English  learning. 

Continued. 

Kei  jivela  yov }  Yov  jivj  tatch'  aglal  dova  reiesko  kair 
Yov  jivdas  mansa. 

Sar  door  see  doova  tan  }     Doovori,  doovori. 

DW^fo/ki,  savo  kisi  starni  'glal  dooveski  kair.  Kon'j  kair 
see  doova  .-*     See  a  bauro  rei'i"  filisin. 

Kova  tan  see  pordo  rookaw. 

Besh  tooki  'le  kon. 

Jaw  kater  sooto,  sar  komessa.     O  kam  see  beshV. 


266  GENUIlsrE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

Mook  Ics  bikonyo. 

Diktassa  too  dova  koova  ?     Our,  diktom  dulla  kola. 

Te  jinessa  too  dulla  kola  ?  Our,  pal,  jinova  sorkon  koUi. 
Doova  moosh  jindas-les. 

Mook  mendi  jal,  ta  maur  kancngre !  So  dikessa  palla  ? 
Dikova  o  yogomengro ;  awela  akei. 

Nastis  yov  te  latch  lati. 

Del  lesti  kater  o  grei.     Del  lesti  koosi  kas  te  hoi. 

Mendi  diom  o  greiaw  kas. 

Maw  kair  toot  jaw  chorikanes.  Kek  luva  nanei  lesti ; 
kek  nanef  maiidi  tei.  Kek  nanei  yov  mauro.  So  see  yov 
te  kair  > 

Kanna  mceri  romni  see  shoovli,  nastis  yoi  peerela.  Ko- 
mova  a  divi  gairi,  ta  o  drabengro,  te  wel  ta  dik  lati. 

So  mandi  dova  toot  dova  yek  papin  ?  Dova  toot  trin 
posh-kooroni  lesti. 

Mendi  bikindas  o  grei  kater  dova  yek  moosh. 

Lei  ti  jib,  ta  yoozher  lesti  (o  roi).  Kosher  ti  wishtaw 
konaw. 

Kon  kerde-les.  Too  shanas }  Kek  mandi,  lova  meero 
sovloholoben. 

Where  does  he  live }  He  lives  right  opposite  that 
gentleman's  house.     He  lived  with  me. 

How  far  is  that  place  ^     Very  far  indeed. 

Look !  what  a  lot  of  stags  (there  are)  before  that  house. 
Whose  house  is  it  ?     It  is  a  great  gentleman's  mansion. 

This  place  is  full  of  trees. 

Sit  down  then. 

Go  to  sleep,  if  you  like.     The  sun  is  set. 

Leave  it  alone. 

Did  you  see  that  ?     Yes,  I  saw  those  things. 

Do  you  know  those  things  ?  Yes,  brother,  I  know 
everything.     That  man  knew  it. 

Let  us  go  and  kill  hares.  What  are  you  watching  ?  J 
see  the  gamekeeper  ;  he  is  coming  here. 

He  cannot  find  hen 


GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS.  267 

Give  it  to  the  horse.     Give  it  a  little  hay  to  eat. 

We  gave  the  horses  hay. 

Don't  make  yourself  so  humble.  He  has  no  money  ;  I 
have  none  either.     He  has  no  bread.     What  is  he  to  do  } 

When  my  wife  is  enceinte,  she  cannot  walk.  I  want  a 
midwife  and  the  doctor  to  come  and  see  her. 

What  shall  I  give  you  (for)  that  single  goose  ?  I  will 
give  you  7^.  6d.  for  it. 

Take  your  tongue,  and  lick  it  (the  spoon).  Lick  your 
lips  now. 

Who  did  it  "i     Was  it  you }     Not  I,  I  will  take  my  oath. 

Continued. 

Mi  Doovelenghi,  Chowali,  maw  kcl  ajaw.  Too  trashcla 
mandi. 

Maw  kel  ajaw.  Keressa  too  dova  <7popli,  moonjerova 
toot 

Moonjadom  \?X\s  wast.     Jindas  yoi  so  mandi  kerV. 

Maw  atch  aglal  mandi  ajaw.  Mook  man  dikas.  Atch 
pauli. 

Choomerova  toot  te  wel  toot  rinkeni. 

Te  wel  yov  akei  konaw,  yov  pooker  asar  mendi,  so  yon 
penenna. 

Yov  peldas  adre  o  paani  kei  o  baire  jalj-. 

Hotcher  o  poryaw,  adre  o  yog,  tale  o  papin. 

O  poori  joovel  dias  o  wooda,  ta  o  chei  adre  o  kair  pendas 
"  So  komessa  too,  poori  gairi  V  Yoi"  pendas,  "  Choori  poori 
joovel  shom  me,"     (  Vide  Pasp.,  p.  582.) 

Hokki,  doosta  gauje  wen  akei  to  mendi. 

Gauje  shoonenna  men.  O  gauje  see  wel/;/'.  So  mandi 
kerova  konaw. 

Rak  asar  ti  toovlo.  Righerova  lesti,  pensa  mi  yokawj- 
adre  mi  shoro. 

Diktom  leski  yokaw  pordo  paani. 

Keker  mi  yokaw  te  dikova  yoi*  rt-popli. 

Bissadas  too  doova  biti  HI,  so  pookeri-  toot  o  tatcho 
lavaw } 


289  GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 

Mandi  bissadom  lesti. 

Yon  chivenna  lesti  oprc  o  misali. 

For  God's  sake,  mates,  don't  do  so.     You  frighten  me. 

Don't  do  so.     (If)  you  do  that  again,  I  will  pinch  you. 

I  squeezed  her  hand.    She  knew  what  I  meant  (lit,  did). 

Don't  stand  in  the  front  of  me  like  that.  Let  me  see. 
Stand  back. 

I  will  kiss  you  if  you  are  pretty. 

If  he  were  to  come  here  now,  he  would  tell  us  what  they 
say. 

He  fell  into  the  river  (lit.,  the  water  where  the  ships 
sail). 

Singe  the  feathers,  in  the  fire,  off  the  goose. 

The  old  woman  knocked  (at)  the  door,  and  the  girl  in 
the  house  said,  "  What  do  you  want,  old  woman  ?  "  She 
said,  "I  am  a  poor  old  woman."     C/.  Pasp.,  582. 

Look  out !     A  lot  of  strangers  are  coming  here  to  us. 

The  Gentiles  hear  us.  The  Gentiles  are  coming.  What 
shall  I  do  now  ? 

Take  care  of  your  tobacco.  I  will  keep  it,  like  my  eyes 
in  my  head. 

I  saw  his  eyes  full  of  tears. 

May  my  eyes  never  see  her  again. 

Did  you  forget  that  little  book  which  tells  you  the  right 
words  (i.e.,  an  English  Dictionar)) } 

I  forgot  it. 

They  put  it  on  the  table. 

Continued, 
Roker  too  avri,  jaw  mandi  can  shoonova  toot. 
Roker  shookes. 
O  ven  see  boot  shilalo. 

Mook  mendi  jal,  or  jal6m  {sic)  mendi,  kater  sooto. 
Mendi  diom  yon  {for  lendi,)  kil  ta  mauro. 
Dordi,  doovaV  a  tarno  rei  piriv/;/'  a  tarni  rauni. 
Yov  see  bitad^r  ta  mandi, 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  269 

0  kam  k^das  mandi  kaulo.     O  kam  see  jaw  tatto. 

Yoi  kek  na  kedas-les.  Yov  pendas  lati  kek  nanci  te  kel 
ajaw. 

Mandi  shorn  kino.  Mandi  beshW  ale,  mandi  shomas  jaw 
kino.  Mandi  chorV  mandi  adre  o  koppa,  jaw  shilalo  sas 
mandi. 

Soski  kedas-les  talla } 

Kei  mendi  jal  to  lei  paani  te  pee  ?  Mandi  jinova. 
Pardel  kova  stigher,  tale  dova  poov,  posh  0'  a  bauro  rook, 
'doi  see  a  rinkeno  tan  o'  paani.    O  paani  vel  avri  o  hev  odoi. 

Kek  nanei  mandi  ca/i  chiv  meero  wast  jaw  door  see  too. 

Kei  see  mendi  te  jal  te  atch  tedivvus  .'* 

Kanna  vian  tumendi  akei  ? 

Viem  akei  o  waver  Kooroko. 

Kede  a  bauro  godli  o  waver  divvus. 

Kon  sas  doova }     Kek  na  jinaw  me. 

Pooker  mandi  choomoni  te  and  tooti. 

And  mandi  kon  a  koshto  bauro  matcho.  Kerova-les 
monghi  0'  kooroko  divvus  to  mi  hoben. 

Yov  kom'd  asar  lendi  dooi  sar  yekera. 

Yon  ghien  avri  dooi  ta  dooi  ketane. 

Tardadom-les  tale. 

Speak  out,  so  that  I  can  hear  you. 
Speak  low. 

The  winter  is  very  cold. 
Let  us  go  to  sleep. 
We  gave  them  bread  and  butter. 

Look,  there  is  a  young  gentleman  courting  a  young 
lady. 

He  is  less  than  I. 

The  sun  made  me  black.     The  sun  is  so  hot. 

She  did  not  do  it.     He  told  her  not  to  do  so. 

1  am  tired.  I  sat  down,  I  was  so  tired.  I  wrapped 
myself  in  the  blanket,  I  was  so  cold. 

What  did  he  do  it  for  ? 

Where  shall  we  go  to  get  water  to  drink  .J'      I  know. 


1']0  GENUINE   UOMaNY   compositions. 

Over  this  gate,  down  that  field,  by  the  side  of  a  big  tree, 
there  is  a  pretty  spring.  The  water  comes  out  of  the  hole 
there. 

I  cannot  reach  as  far  as  you. 

Where  shall  we  go  to  stop  to-day  } 

When  came  ye  here  ? 

We  came  here  the  other  Sunday. 

They  made  a  great  noise  the  other  day. 

Who  was  that }     I  do  not  know. 

Tell  me  something  to  bring  you. 

Bring  me  then  a  good  big  fish.  I  will  cook  it  on  Sunday 
for  dinner. 

He  loved  them  both  equally. 

They  went  out  two  and  two  together. 

I  pulled  him  down. 

Contiittted. 

Kek  yov  mook  mandi  jal  avri.  Kek  yov  komela  man  te 
roker  to  waver  mooshaw,  jaw  wafedo  see-16  'dre  lesko  zee. 
Yov  pendas  ta  mandi  jab  palla  waver  mooshaw. 

Maw  wooser  baryaw  ! 

Rak  tooti.  Maw  ker  a  hev  adre  o  kooshni.  Sor  o  koli 
pelela  adral  lesti,  tasti's. 

Yon  hotchade  lenghi  koli. 

Yon  bikinde  o  jookel  kater  dova  rei. 

Yon  yoozhade  lenghi  skrunya. 

Yon  rode  palla  lenghi  dei. 

Yon  merde  troostal  o  bogenya. 

Yon  ridad^  lenghi  kokere  tatcho  mishto. 

Yon  pide  pensa  match^. 

Yon  vien  sor  koordene  mishto. 

Yon  atchte  trin  divvusaw  adre  dova  tan. 

Mendi  shoondas  sor  yon  pende. 

Yon  pandadas  opre  dova  trooshni  d  koshtaw. 

Yon  andeis  mendi  opre  mishto,  pensa  reidw  ta  raunia. 

Mookas  mendi  pootchas  sor  dulla/^//'i. 

Mookas  sor  mendi  keras  opre  o  boshomengri. 


Gi^.NUlNE   ROMANY   COMPOStTlOKS.  2Jt 

Yon  lie  o  moosh,  talla  yon  chide-les  'dre  o  steripen. 
Chide-len  sor  adre  o  steripen. 
Yov  azadas  lesti  opre. 

Mendi  shorn  sorkon  cheerus  ka'inu  a  godll  yek  te  waver. 
Mendi  see  sorkon  chairus  chingerenna  kater  yek  te  waver. 

He  will  not  let  me  go  out.  He  does  not  like  me  to 
speak  to  other  men,  he  is  so  jealous.  He  said  that  I  go 
after  other  men. 

Don't  throw  stones. 

Take  care.  Don't  make  a  hole  in  the  basket.  All  the 
things  will  fall  through  it,  if  they  can. 

They  burnt  their  things. 

They  sold  the  dog  to  that  gentleman. 

They  cleaned  their  boots. 

They  cried  for  their  mother. 

They  died  of  the  smallpox. 

They  dressed  right  well. 

They  drank  like  fishes. 

They  all  got  well  beaten. 

They  stayed  three  days  in  that  place. 

We  heard  all  they  said. 

They  tied  up  that  bundle  of  sticks. 

They  brought  us  up  well,  like  gentlemen  and  ladies. 

Let  us  ask  all  those  people. 

Let  us  all  play  on  the  fiddle. 

They  arrested  the  man,  afterwards  they  put  him  in 
prison. 

They  put  them  all  into  the  prison. 

He  lifted  it  up. 

We  are  always  making  a  row  with  one  another.  We 
are  always  quarrelling  with  one  another. 


272 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 


To  test  the  resemblance  between  the  Turkish   and  Enclish 
Gypsy  dialects,  we  ashed  in  English  the  following'  sentences 
taken  at  random  from  Dr.  Paspatis  book.      The  parallel- 
ism conld  be  draivn  mnch  closer   by  carefnlly  selecting 
corresponding  English  Gypsy  ivords,  bnt,  on  principle^ 
we  have  preferred  a  Gypsy's  own  langnage,  even  when 
unnecessarily  discordant. 
Turkish-Gypsy. 
Savd  mas  kamdna  [pi.]  "i  (p.  75) 
Asavk(5  manush(5nde  te  na  bik- 
nds.  (75) 

Me  yakd  na  diklt^  asavkd  sukdr 
romnM.  (75) 

I  SI  ohtd  dives  k'  alidm  avatid. 

(74) 

Sostar  marghids  tut  ?  (74) 
Djanen  so  khuyazghidm  tumdn } 

[pl.]  (74) 

Sostar  utcharddn    i    khaning? 

(74) 

Terdvas  do  pralcn.  (76) 

Dindmas  toot,  ta  na  lindnas  len. 
(100) 

Astardo  i  tchiriklid,  ta  tchindd 
la,  pekld  la,  khald  la.  {\o6)— {Sin- 
gular used.] 

Tavdd  mas,  khald,  peld,  suttd 
pdske.  (100) 

Me,  sar  t'  astardv  avakld  tchiii- 
\dik[sg.]?{io4) 

Leskere  bal  bard  isds,  ta  um- 
blavdd  les  oprd  ko  karadjil.  (157) 

Kamdma  yek  bdli  pdi  te  pidv. 

(159) 

Tu  ndna  djands,  mo  gadjd  ka 
banddl  man  andrd  ko  ker.  (160) 

O  grast  paravghids  po  bandipd. 
(160) 

Ndnasti  panlidm  me  ydka.  (160) 


English-Gypsy. 
Sdvo  mas  too  komdssa  [sg.]  ? 
Kek  too  bikin  te  jafra  mooshdw. 

Meeri  yokdw  kekera  diktd  jafra 
rinkeno  joovel 

Dooi-stor  divvus^j  (see)  kanna 
mandi  vidm  akei. 

So  dids  toot  troostdl  ? 

Too  jinessa  so  mandi  korddm 
toot  troostdl  ?  [sg.] 

Soski  chorddn  too  o  hanik  ? 

Mandi  sas  dooi  paldw. 

Mandi  didm  lendi  toot,  ta  kek 
nanei  too  lidn  len. 

Yon  tildds  o  chiriklo,  chindds  les 
shoro  tale,  chidd-les  adrd  o  koro, 
ta  hodd-les. — [Ptural  used.'] 

Yon  kerdd  o  mas,  hodd-les, 
ghidn  talla  kater  woodrus,  ghidn 
lendi  sor  to  sooto. 

Sar  see  mandi  te  lei  kolla 
chirikld  [pi.]  ? 

Dosta  balaw  'sas  opre  lesko 
shoro,  ta  yon  pandadds-les  oprd  o 
rook  ta  lesti. 

Komova  koro  paani  te  pee. 

Kek  na  jinessa  too,  meero  rem 
pandj-  asdr  mandi  oprd  adrd  o  kair 
O  grei  pogadds  lesko  shelo. 


Kek 
yokdw. 


mandi     pandaddm     m 


GENUINE    ROMANY    COATPOSITIONS.  273 

I    rakli,    ta   sar    gheld    peske,  O    rakli    pandadas    o    wooda, 

panlias  pi  vuddr.  (160)  kanna  yon  sor  ghile  avri. 

Ovokle     divesende,     isas     yck  Adrc     kola     divvusavv    'sas    a 

maniish,  ta  terelas  trinen  raklicn,  moosh.      Trin   rakliaw   sas   yov. 

penghids,  me  kamadjav  polinate,  Yov  pendas  lendi.     "Jalovakater 

putchdva    tum^ndar,   so    kamdla  o  bauro  gav.       So  komessa  toot 

tumar'   oghi,   t'    anav  tumenghe.  mandi  te  and  pauli  tooti  \sgi\  ? " 
im  (394.) 


Befo  or  '%x^\z\\  gialett. 

[//  is  scarcely  necessary  to  observe  that  there  is  no  precise  line  of 
deinai'cation  bcttvccn  the  old  and  nezu  dialects.'] 


THE  BENGAULER. 

Mandi  Jiever  dik'^  a  gaujo  to  roker  Romanes,  pensa  a 
Bengmder  mandi  once  met  in  Derbyshire.  We  were  \2Xi1i! 
along  the  drom  zuith  our  vardoj,  and  I  was  the  shorengro 
and  mandi  dik'^  a  moosh  beshw'  apre  a  stigher,  and  his 
mooi  was  kaulo  pensa  Romani-chal,  and  he  pen'^  to  mandi, 
"  Sar  shan,  pal  ? "  and  I  dikW  at  lesti,  and  yov  kek  pen V 
variso  till  some  gaujoi-  sar  lenghi'j  wardo^  Jiad  jaVd  past, 
and  then  I  said,  ''Are  yon,  a  Romani-chal  ?  "  a7id  he  penV, 
"Kek,  mandi  shom  a  Bengauler,  Mandi  did7it  kom  to 
roker  aglal  dula  gairi,"  and  then  zveroker'd  a  bauro  cheerus, 
and  mandi  jin'^  sor  yov  penV.  So  yott  dik  tJie  Benganlers 
can  roker  Romanes. 

Translation. 

I  never  saw  a  Gentile  (able)  to  talk  Gypsy  like  a  Bengal 
man  that  I  once  met  in  Derbyshire.  We  were  going  along 
the  road  with  our  waggons,  and  I  was  the  chief,  and  saw 
a  man  sitting  on  a  gate,  and  his  face  was  dark  like  a 
Gypsy.  He  said  to  me,  "  How  are  you,  mate  ? "  I  looked 
at  him,  but  he  said  nothing  till  some  Gentiles  with  their 

18 


274  GENUINE   ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

carts  had  gone  past,  and  then  I  said,  "  Are  you  a  Gypsy  ? " 
He  said,  "  No  ;  I  am  from  Bengal  I  did  not  like  to  talk 
before  those  men;"  and  then  we  talked  a  long  time.  I 
understood  all  he  said,  so  you  see  the  Bengalese  can  talk 
Gypsy. 

THE  THREE  WORDS. 

BY  ISAAC   U . 

Loo/e  Jiere,  Koko  !  If  tooti  7/  del  mandi  pansh  koli, 
mandi  7/  pooker  tooti  trin  lavyaw  tooti  doesn't  jin. 

"  Keker,  my  pal.  Kek  if  mandi  jini-  lesti.  Pooker 
mandi  so  see  the  lavyaw  adre  Gaujines,  <?;^^  mandi  'II  bet 
tJie  five  shillings   mandi  jin.y  Romanes  y<7r  lendi." 

"  Ourli.  Doova  see  tatcho,  Ike.  Pooker  tJie  Rei  'dr6 
Gaujines  and  dik  if  Jie  doesn't  I'm  the  Romanes." 

"  Well,  Koko.  Pooker  mandi  sar  tooti'^  pen,  'P?ct  the 
saddle  and  bridle  on  the  horse,  and  go  to  the  fair.' " 

"  Chiv  the  boshto  rt;;/^  solivardo  'pre  thegrcl  ajid ]d\  to  the 
welgaurus," 

"  Doova  's  kek  sor  tatcho,  Koko.  Mandi  'd  pen  *  Dordi, 
chawoli ;  jal  and  lei  the  boshto  and  solivardo.  And  the 
vardo  akei,  ajid  chiv  the  grei  adre  lesti  and  mook  's  jal  to 
the  welingaurus,  an^  have  some  peias.'  Doova  's  the  tatcho 
drom  to  pen  so  mandi  pootchW  tooti." 

"All  right,  Mr.  H ;  /  see, '  six  of  one  and  half  a  dozen 

of  the  other.'     And  what  are  the  other  zvords  ?  " 

"  Pooker  mandi,  Koko,  so  see  the  Sun  adre  Romanes." 

"  The  Sun.      Well,  I  call  that  Kam." 

"Keker,  Pal.  It's  Tam,  not  Kam.  And  what's  a 
signpost  ?  " 

"A  siker-dromengro,  or  a  sikcrmengro." 

•'  Well,  a  sikermengro  might  do,  bnt  that's  a  sJiow.  We 
calls  a  signpost  a  pooker/;/-kosht,  but  I  sec  tooti  jinj 
doosta  Romanes,  and  {getting  up  to  leave  the  tent)  I  dare 
say  as  Jioiv  you  jinj  more  lavi"  tJian  any  of  mendi,  but  'the 
great  secret'  you'll  never  jin.  Only  tatcheno  Roman?Vj  Jin 
DOOVA,  and  they'll  never  pooker  TOOTi," 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  275 

[And  off  he  went^  leaving  ns  to  conceal  our  dis- 
comfiture by  cracking  ivith  the  rest  an  old  joke 
on  Freemasonry  and  red-hot  pokers.  After  a 
while,  the  moth  returned  to  singe  its  wings  a 
little  more  in  the  candle,  and  zvas  asked  if  there 
IV ere  any  more  five-shillingzvorths  of  words  zve 
did  not  know,  and  in  reply  we  were  asked, 

"  Pooker  mandi  so  see  a  beurus?" 

''A  brewery V 

"  No  ;  a  beurus." 

''A  Livena-kel/;^' kair  ? " 

"  Keker  ;  that's  a  brezv-housc.     I  said  a  beurus. 

"  IVellj  I  don't  knozu  that  word  at  all.'' 

''It's  a  parlour,  Koko.  The  shorokono  tan  of  the  kair. 
/  thought  mandi'^  latch  choomoni  tooti  didn't  jin,  besides 
'  the  great  secret,'  and  tooti'//  never  get  to  jin  DOOVA." 

Translation. 

"  Look  here,  old  fellow  (lit.,  Uncle) !  If  you'll  give  me 
five  shillings,  I'll  tell  you  three  words  you  do  not  know." 

"  Not  I,  my  friend ;  not  if  I  know  it.  Tell  me  what  are 
the  words  in  English,  and  I'll  bet  the  five  shillings  I  know 
Gypsy  for  them." 

"  Yes,  that's  fair,  Ike.  Tell  the  gentleman  in  English, 
and  see  if  he  does  not  know  the  Gypsy." 

"  Well,  old  boy.  Tell  me  how  you  would  say,  *  Put  the 
saddle  and  bridle  on  the  horse,  and  go  to  the  fair."' 

"•  Chiv  the  boshto,  and  solivardo  'pre  the  grei,  and  jal  to 
the  zvelgaurus."  (Put  the  saddle  and  bridle  on  the  horse, 
and  go  to  the  fair.) 

"  That  is  not  quite  right,  old  cock.  I  would  say,  '  Dordi, 
chawoli,  jal  and  lei  the  boshto  and  solivardo.  And  the 
vardo  akei,  and  chiv  the  grei  adre  Icsti,  and  mook's  jal  to 
the  welingaurus,  and  have  somQ  peias.'  (Hi,  mates,  go  and 
get  the  saddle  and  bridle.  Bring  the  cart  here,  and  put  the 
horse  to,  and  let  us  go  to  the  fair,  and  have  some  fun.) 
That's  the  right  way  to  say  what  I  asked  you." 


276  GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 

"  All  right,  Mr.  H ;  I  see  :  six'of  one,  and  half  a  dozen 

of  the  other.     And  what  are  the  other  words  ?  " 

"  Tell  me,  old  fellow,  what  the  sun  is  in  Gypsy." 

"  The  sun.     Well,  I  call  that  Kajn  (Sun). 

"  No,  friend.  It's  TVr;//,  not  Kaju.  And  what  is  a 
Signpost  ? " 

A  Siker-dromengro  (Show-road-thing),  or  a  Sikermdugro 
(Shower)." 

"  Well,  a  Sikerviengro  might  do,  but  that  is  a  Show.  We 
call  a  Signpost  a  Pooker'mg-kosht  (a  Telling-post),  but  I 
see  you  know  plenty  of  Gypsy,  and  I  dare  say  you  know 
more  words  than  any  of  us,  but  '  the  great  secret '  you 
will  never  know.  Only  real  Gypsies  know  that,  and  they 
will  never  telljw/." 

He  went  out,  but  returned  not  long  after,  and  said, — 

"  Tell  me,  what  is  a  beurus  ?  " 

"A  brewery.?" 

"  No,  a  beiirus!' 

"A  Livena-keiin'-kair (b^QY-mdkmg  house) .^" 

"  No,  that's  a  brew-house.     I  said  a  beurusr 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  that  word  at  all." 

"  It's  a  parlour,  old  cock.  The  best  room  of  the  house. 
I  thought  I  would  find  something  you  did  not  know, 
besides  the  '  great  secret,'  and  you  will  never  get  to  know 
Ihatr 

THE   CHASE. 

BY   IKE   M . 

Vo?i  i'm  Wester,  YLoko.  Lesko  dad  ivas  a  "kooromQwgvo 
adre  the  kooromongri,  and  he  was  killed  by  lightning. 
Lesko  dei  was  a  Matcho.  Romani-chab  used  to  chin  aid 
icnghi  wongusht/ri-  tJicu,  so  they  woiddnt  ^ press'  them. 
And  they  ehased  my  dad.  A  Kooromengro  opre  a  grei 
wel'*^,  and  my  dad  praster'^  avrf,  and  the  kooromengro 
kister'^  palla  lesti,  ajid  viy  dad  l^Xd  tale  Jiis  cho^ai-,  and 
hokter'^  adre  the  paani,  2.nd  jal'^  to  the  wover  rig,  and  the 
Kooromengro  had  a  yogomcskro  adre  Ids  wast,  and  he 


GENUINE    RO^IANY   COMPOSITIONS.  277 

hokter'^  pardal  the  paani  opre  his  grei,  and  welV  to  my  dad 
and  penV  '  Atch,  or  tooti  's  a  moolo  moosh.'  And  some 
used  to  pander  lenghi  wongushtzVj-  iviiJi  dori,  and  lime,  and 
soft  soap,  to  kair  them  bongo,  so  they  ivouldn't  lei  tJiem  for 
the  Kooromongri. 

Translation. 

You  know  Sylvester,  mate.  His  father  was  a  soldier  in 
the  army,  and  he  was  killed  by  lightning.  His  mother 
was  a  Heme.  Gypsies  used  to  cut  off  their  fingers  then, 
so  that  they  would  not  '  press  '  them.  And  they  chased 
my  father.  A  soldier  on  a  horse  came,  and  my  father  ran 
off,  and  the  soldier  rode  after  him,  and  my  father  took  off 
his  shoes,  and  jumped  into  the  river,  and  swam  to  the  oppo- 
site bank.  The  soldier  had  a  gun  in  his  hand,  and  he 
jumped  over  the  stream  on  his  horse,  and  came  up  with  my 
father,  and  said,  "  Stop,  or  you're  a  dead  man."  Some  used 
to  tie  their  fingers  with  string,  and  lime,  and  soft-soap,  to 
make  them  crooked,  so  that  they  would  not  take  them  for 
the  army. 

IKE'S   DOG. 

BY  IKE   M . 

TJie  Bauro  Steripen'i-  tJie  Bailey  [the  New  Bailey, 
Salford],  Koko.  And  they  bitcher'^  me  a  godli^  for  .a 
jookel,  as  they  pend  mandi'</  chor'</.  But  I  didn't  chor 
lesti.     //  was  my  nogo  jookel.     Mandi  jin'^  lesti  when  it 

was  born.    And  I  lelV  Mr.  R s,  the  rokeromengro,  to 

roker/^r  mandi.  And  they  kair'^  mandi  pesser  pansh  bar 
for  the  jookel,  and  \^d  lesti  from  mandi,  and  del'^/  lesti  to 
the  Rei.  And  mandi  pesserW  tJie  rokeromengro  stor  bar 
more.  And  yek  divvus,  when  mandi  was  a.tchin  over  odoi 
by  Belle  Vue  [pleasure-grounds  near  Manchester],  the  jookel 
wel'^^  to  my  tan  rt^popli.  A  nd  ivJien  they  wel'^,  and  pen'^ 
as  mandi  must  del  it  opre  rt^popli,  mandi  pen'<7?  'Keker. 
Mandi'i-  pesser'^  nearly  desh  bar  for  lesti,  and  mandiV/ 
kek  del  it  opre.'     And  I  jaVd  to  the  rokeromengro,  and  he 


278  GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

pen'rt^  they  couldn't  lei  the  jookel,  'cause  mandiV/  pesscrW 
the  pansh  bar.  And  mandi  righer'^  doova  jookel  a  bauro 
cheerus,  and  called  it  ^Bailey! 

Translation. 

The  big  prison  is  the  New  Bailey  at  Salford,  mate. 
They  sent  me  a  summons  about  a  dog,  which  they  said  I 
had  stolen ;  but  I  had  not  stolen  it.     It  was  my  own.     I 

had  known  it  from  a  pup.     I  got  Mr.  R s,  the  attorney, 

to  speak  for  me.  They  fined  mc  five  pounds  for  the  dog, 
and  took  it  from  me,  and  gave  it  to  the  gentleman.  I 
paid  the  attorney  four  pounds  more. 

One  day  when  I  was  stopping  yonder  by  Belle  Vue 
pleasure-grounds,  near  Manchester,  the  dog  came  back 
again  to  my  tent.  They  came,  and  said  I  must  give  it  up 
again.  I  said,  "  No  ;  I  have  paid  nearly  ten  pounds  for  it, 
and  I  will  not  give  it  up."  I  went  to  the  attorney,  and  he 
said  they  could  not  take  the  dog,  because  I  had  paid  the 
ten  pounds.  And  I  kept  that  dog  a  long  while,  and  called 
it  '  Bailey.' 

'PUMPING.' 

BY    PHILIP   M . 


Koliko  raati,  rci,  dooi  trin  0'  mendi'i-  folki  zvere  adrd  the 
kitchcma  odof  pardal  the  drom.  And  a  rci  loas  odoi  as 
had  doosta  luva  ivi  lesti,  and  he  ivas  posh  motto,  and 
pootch'fl^  mcndi's  folki  to  dik  lesti  keri,  as  he  zuas  trash  he'd 
be  loordo  oprc  the  drom.  A?id  as  they  were  jahV/'  keri  zui' 
lesti  a  praastermengro  wel'^  and  pen'^?',  they  was  kair/;?'  a 
bauro  godli,  ajid  zvere  sor  motto.  And  the  rc\  pen'</  they 
zvere  kek  motto,  atid  pooker'^^/  lesti  to  jal  avri  lesti'i-  drom, 
and  mook  him  <?konyo.  Ajid  the  praastermengro  wojddiit 
jal  avri  the  drom.  Ajaw  the  rei  lel'^  lesti  by  the  pikio, 
and  kair*<^  lesti  jal  avri  the  drom.  And  the  praastermengro 
\cVd him  opr6  for  lesti,  and  pend  as  hed  ' assnlicd'  him. 
But  they  xwooVd  the  rci  jal  keri,  and  penV/  as  tluyd  bitcher 


GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS.  279 

him  a  godli.  And  mandi'^  kom  to  jin,  rei,  if  tJie  pookinyus 
"dbill  mook  lesti  roker  for  his  kokero,  or  must  lesti  lei  a 
rokeromengro  to  xok^x  for  lesti. 

Translation. 

Last  night,  sir,  two  or  three  of  us  were  in  the  inn  there 
across  the  road.  A  gentleman  was  there  that  had  a  good 
deal  of  money  with  him;  and  he  was  half  drunk,  and  asked 
us  to  see  him  home,  as  he  was  afraid  he  would  be  robbed 
on  the  road.  As  they  were  going  home  with  him,  a  police- 
man came,  and  said  they  were  making  a  great  noise,  and 
were  all  drunk.  The  gentleman  said  they  were  not  drunk, 
and  asked  him  to  get  out  of  his  way,  and  leave  him  alone. 
The  policeman  would  not  get  out  of  the  way,  so  the  gentle- 
man took  him  by  the  shoulder  and  made  him  get  out  of 
the  way.  The  policeman  took  him  up  for  it,  and  said  that 
he  had  assaulted  him ;  but  they  let  the  gentleman  go 
home,  and  said  they  would  send  him  a  summons.  I  want 
to  know,  sir,  if  the  magistrate  will  let  him  defend  himself, 
or  must  he  get  an  attorney  to  defend  him  ? 

WAVER-TEMENGRI    ROMANIES. 

BY  FENNIK   P . 

Did  mandi  ever  dik  any  waver  temengri  RomanzVj,  rei  .? 
Our.    Yekorus    See  a  doosta  besh^i*  kenaw.    Mandi  sas  at 

Bury  {Lanc.^  welgaurus,  and  Wester  Bossel,  and  Ike  H , 

and  boot  adoosta  waver  Roman?Vi"  tei.  And  some  waver 
Romani  folk\  sas  odoi  as  mendi  didn't  jin.  Yon  atchV 
tale  a  bitto  drom  sor  by  lendi  kokeroi-.  They  were  more 
copper  like  adre  lendi  mooiaw  dan  mendi  and  kek  as  yon 
might  pen  tatchi  kauli  folki.  They  ivere  doosta  barvali 
folki — sor  zvith  roopni  \^o\\ies  and  somkoi — zc/'bauri  roopni 
wangusht^r.y  apre  lendi  vongushzVi-  and  adre  lendi  kanyaw 
tei,  a?id  roopni  VioWies,  peemengr^Vj-,  Koroj,  shoodilaw,  and 
bauro  vardoi",  and  fino  grei^f,  and  roodo  sor  adre  kaish, 
and  zvi'  fino  rivoben  opre  lendi  dummoj".     Kavakei  folki 


28o  GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 

ivere  waver  temengri  Roman/r^,  doiit  yon  jiness,  rei,  and 
had  lel'^  sor  kavodoi  roopni  ^^oWies  and  ]diw  kissi  luva  by 
panjer/;^'  the  gaujoj.  They  zuas  a  waver  brcedopen  to 
mendi. 

We  were  sor  adr6  a  kitchema  palla  the  welgaurus  yek 
raati  vok^riii  about  kavakei  folki,  don't  yon  jiness,  and 
Wester  komV  to  lei  lendi  to  jal  mensa.  Yov  zvas  beseen  zvV 
lendi  roopni  koWies,  and  sonakei,  dojit  yon  dikesS;  rei.  He 
'kom'd  to  roker  zui  lendi,  but  bless  yon,  rei,  he  eonldjit  jin 
posh  o'  sor  lendi  rokeropen.  They  rokerW  so  deep,  don't  yon, 
dikess.  Yov  jinW  dosta,  bnt  kek  sor  o'  lesti,  komodair  dan 
sor  mendi. 

'Ifd  be  mishto  to  lei  lendi  to  jal  mensa,'  hotchov, '  they  re 
sneh  barvali  folkl '  hotchov. 

And  mandi  pen'^  to  lesti,  'Maw  chiv  yonr  piko  avri, 
they//  none  jal  mensa — tJiey/t  kek  demean  t/ieir  kokeroj-  to 
t/ie  /ikes  d  mendi — tJieyre  komodair  to  jal  ivi'  kraliszV.f,  and 
bauri  reiaw,  patsova  toot,'  hotchov. 

Me^To  chor — kavakei  tarno  moosh  akei  met  a  tarno 
Frene/A  Romani-chal  yek  cheerus  at  Neweast/e.  Yov'd 
kekeni  romni,  or  vardo,  or  chav^Vi*  7vi'  lesti.  Yov  sas  a 
tarno  ?/;^romedo  moosh — a  zrn/d  sort  of  a  tarno  moosh. 
Yov  roker'<^  dosta  Romanes  yov  didn't  jin. 

And  a  waver  cheerus  mandi  zvas  adr6  tJie  Korengi-tem, 
and  a  kaulo  moosh  sas  odoi  adre  a  kitchema  mendi 'atchW 
at.  He  zvas  \\o\i?i  kal-maiiro  and  pecin'  pobesko-livena. 
Kavakei  moosh  dik'd  at  mendi  a  bauro  cheerus.  '  Sarshan, 
pal.'*'  hotchov — as  it  mig/it  be  yonr  kokero,  rei,  /^-raati. 
"  Sarshan,  bor  }  "  hotchov,  "  shan  tooti  Romani  1 " 

"  Kek,  /  'm  an  Injnnl'  hotchov. 

'^ Does  tooti  jiness  Romanes.'*"  hotchov. 

"  Our,  pal,  doova'.y  mandi'j  nogo  chib,"  hotchov.  And  zve 
rokerV  ketnes  a  bauro  cheerus  ;  and  Jie  didnt  jin  sor  mandi 
penW  to  lesti,  don't  yon  dikess,  rei,  and  mandi  didn't  jin* 
sor  leski'i-  lavyaw,  biU  mandi  )\\\d  dosta. 

Mandi  shoon'^  t/iet'e  zvere  some  waver  temengri  Roman zVj- 
wclV/  to  Epping  Forest  dooi  trin  beshaw  ago,  bnt  mandi 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  251 

didiit  dik  'em  mi  kokero ;  /  only  Jieared  on  'em,  don't  you 
dikess,  rei. 

Kavakei  moosh  has  welW  adre  the  French  tern.  Yov'^  a 
Petalengro.  He  dikV  the  RomanzV^-  odoi,  but  they  don't 
roker  tJicir  lavj"  tatcho  pensa  mendi  does ;  and  wJien  they 
web  to  a  bauro  gav  tJiey  jab  to  the  shorokono  praaster- 
mengro,  and  peiii-  '  mendi  komi-  to  atch  akei  a  cheerus,'  and 
the  moosh  deb  lendi  trin  stor  divvusri"  or  a  kooroko  to  atch 
and  pookeri"  lendi  kei  they're  to  atch,  and  doovab  mishti^r 
daji  akei.  The  praastermengroj  akei  kair  mendi  jal  sar  sig 
as  we  atch  and  mandi'i"  too  naflo  and  pooro  to  jal  opre  the 
dxoms  sor  the  raati  zvhen  mandi'j-  kino  a7id  the  vardoV  too 
bauro  to  jal  opre  the  drom  adre  the  kaulo  raatii",  so  mandi 
atch^i-  akei  opr^  the  Kaulo. 

Doova  moosh  odoi  as  mandi  was  roker/;/  about  jivi"  adre 
the  gav  akei.  Yov  romerV/  a  gauji,  a7td  yov's  a  barvalo 
moosh  kenaw,  ajui  leski'.y  romni  kek  jini-  a  lav  o'  Romanes 
as  ever  1  hcared  on. 

FOREIGN   GYPSIES. 

BY   PHCENIX  S . 

Did  I  ever  see  any  foreign  Gypsies,  sir }  Yes,  once.  It 
is  a  good  many  years  ago.  I  was  at  Bury  Fair ;  and 
Sylvester  Boswell,  and  Isaac  H.,  and  a  lot  of  other  Gypsies 
too.  Some  other  Gypsies  were  there  that  we  did  not  know. 
They  camped  down  a  lane  quite  by  themselves.  They 
were  more  copper-like  in  their  countenances  than  we,  and 
not,  so  to  speak,  real  black  people.  They  were  rather  rich 
folk,  with  all  sort  of  gold  and  silver  things,  and  big  silver 
rings  on  their  fingers  and  in  their  ears  too  ;  and  silver 
articles — teapots,  cups,  and  dishes  ;  and  large  waggons,  and 
splendid  horses  ;  and  they  were  dressed  in  silk  from  head 
to  foot,  and  had  fine  clothes  on  their  backs.  These  people 
were  foreign  Gypsies,  don't  you  know,  sir,  and  had  got  all 
those  silver  articles  and  so  much  money  by  wheedling  the 
Gentiles.     They  were  of  another  breed  to  us.     We  were  all 


2^2  GENUINP:    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 

in  an  inn  after  the  fair  one  night,  talking  about  these 
people,  don't  you  know,  and  Sylvester  wanted  to  get  them 
to  join  us.  He  was  dazzled  by  their  gold  and  silver,  don't 
you  see,  sir.  He  wanted  to  talk  with  them  ;  but  bless  you, 
sir,  he  could  not  understand  half  of  all  their  talk.  They 
spoke  so  deep,  don't  you  see.  He  understood  a  good  deal, 
but  not  all ;  more,  however,  than  any  of  us.  "  It  would  be 
a  good  thing  to  get  them  to  join  us,"  he  said  ;  "  they  are  so 
rich,"  said  he.  I  answered,  "  Don't  put  your  shoulder  out  ; 
they  will  never  agree  to  join  us.  They  will  not  condescend 
to  join  such  as  us.  They  are  more  likely  to  join  kings,  and 
lords,  I  believe  you,"  said  I. 

My  son,  this  young  man,  met  a  French  Gypsy  once  at 
Newcastle.  He  had  no  wife,  or  waggon,  or  family  with  him. 
He  was  a  young  bachelor — a  wild  sort  of  a  young  fellow. 
He  talked  plenty  of  Gypsy  my  son  did  not  understand. 

And  another  time  I  was  in  Staffordshire,  and  a  black 
man  was  there  in  an  inn  at  which  we  halted.  He  was 
eating  bread  and  cheese,  and  drinking  cyder.  This  fellow 
stared  at  us  a  long  while.  "  Sarshan,  pal,"  (How  do  you 
do,  friend  i*)  said  he,  just  as  you  might  have  done  to-night, 
sir.  "  Sarshan,  bor  ? "  (How  do  you  do,  mate  .'')  said  I ; 
"Are  you  a  Gypsy.?"  "No,  I  am  an  Indian,"  said  he. 
"Do  you  know  Gypsy  ?  "  said  I.  "  Yes,  friend,  that  is  my 
own  language,"  he  answered.  We  talked  together  for  some 
time,  and  he  did  not  understand  all  I  said  to  him,  don't 
you  see,  sir ;  and  I  did  not  understand  all  his  words  ;  but 
I  understood  sufficiently. 

I  heard  there  were  some  foreign  Gypsies  who  came  to 
Epping  Forest  two  or  three  years  ago ;  but  I  did  not  sec 
them  myself.     I  only  heard  about  them,  don't  you  see,  sir. 

This  man  has  travelled  in  France.  He  is  a  Smith.  He 
saw  the  Gypsies  there ;  but  they  do  not  pronounce  their 
words  properly,  like  we  do.  When  they  arrive  at  a  town, 
they  go  to  the  chief  constable,  and  say,  "We  want  to 
stop  here  for  a  time,"  and  the  man  grants  them  leave  to 
stay  three  or  four  days,  or  it  may  be  a  week,  and  tells  them 


GENUINE    ROMANY    CO]\rPOSITIONS.  283 

where  they  must  camp,  and  that  is  better  than  here.  The 
poHcemen  here  make  us  go  as  soon  as  we  stop ;  and  I  am 
too  ill  and  old  to  travel  all  night  when  I  am  tired ;  and 
my  waggon  is  too  big  to  travel  during  dark  nights,  so  I 
stay  here  on  the  Common. 

That  man  that  I  was  talking  about  lives  in  the  town  here. 
He  married  a  Gentile,  and  he  is  a  well-to-do  man  now  ; 
and  his  wife  does  not  know  a  single  Gypsy  word,  so  far  as 
I  ever  heard. 

THE   POGADO   SHERO. 

BY   ISRAEL   P . 

Ourli !  mandi'i-  bin  to  the  welgaurus  at .     /  leW  mi 

shero  pogerV  odoi.  Yon  can  feel  the  hev  akei  adre  mi  bal 
sticl.  It  kairV^  rue  divio  and  I  zvas  chWd  adre  the  divio 
kair.  It  dookerj-  mandi  still  sometimes.  Hoiv  zvas  it  done  ? 
Why,  a  ratvalo  gaujo  opre  a  grei  welW  kester/V^'  adral  the 
welgaurus,  and  I  zvas  atch/;/'  odoi,  and  he  penW  to  mandi, 
"  Yoit  ratvalo  jookcl,  jal  avri  the  drom."  {He  roker'^  lesti 
adre  gaujines  j^//  jin.)  And,  zi'ithout  more  ado,  he  tip  zvith  a 
bauro  chookni  Jie  had  adre  his  wast,  and  d^Vd  mandi  a 
knock  zvith  it  opre  mi  shero.  It  knocked  mi  staadi  off,  and 
pogerW  mi  shero,  a?id  I  pel'^^  tale  opre  the  poov,  ajid  I  zvas 
nasfalo/^r  a  bauro  chairus,  a?id  ]^Vd  divio,  a7id  zvas  chiv'^^f 
adre  a  divio  kair,  and  //^<^  gaujo  Jievci^  did  no  tiling  for  mandi. 
TJic  Beng  te  lei  lesti.  He  kesterV  away,  and  mandi  never 
dikV/  him  <^popli." 

Translation. 
THE  BROKEN    HEAD. 

Yes,  I've  been  to  the  fair  at .     I  got  my  head 

broken  there.  You  can  feel  the  hole  here  in  my  hair  still. 
It  made  me  mad,  and  I  was  put  in  the  asylum.  It  hurts 
me  still  sometimes.  How  was  it  done  .''  Why  a  cursed 
Gentile  on  a  horse  came  riding  through  the  fair,  and  I  was 
standing  there  ;  and  he  said  to  me,  "You  cursed  dog,  get 
out  of  the  way."     He  said  it  in  English,  you  know.     And, 


284  GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

without  more  ado,  he  up  with  a  big  whip  he  had  in  his 
hand,  and  gave  me  a  knock  with  it  on  my  head.  It 
knocked  my  hat  off,  and  cracked  my  skull,  and  I  fell 
down  on  the  ground,  and  I  was  ill  for  a  long  time,  and 
went  mad,  and  was  put  in  an  asylum,  and  the  Gentile  never 
did  anything  for  me.  The  devil  take  him.  He  rode  away, 
and  I  never  saw  him  again. 

INNOCENCE. 

BY  ISRAEL   P . 


Kekcr,  pal !  mandi  didiit  jin  as  they  zvas  cliordi  kovai". 
Yo?t  dik,  me  and  mandiV  romni  akei  ]md  Bill,  and  lesti'j- 
romni  welV  to  lati,  and  pen'</,  "  Will  yon  pazvn  these  koppai- 
for  mandi  .'* "  So  sJie paivned  'cm,  you  dik,  and  she  delW  Jier 
a  trin-gorishi,  afid  tJmi  she  wel'^  rt^popli,  and  pootchV  her  to 
kin  tJie  tickets,  and  she  kinV  cm,  yon  dik,  bid  she  didiit  jin' 
as  the  koppaj  7vas  chord.  They  ivanted  to  make  us  'fences^ 
you  jin,  without  our  ][mjig  if. 

Translation. 

No,  mate,  I  didn't  know  that  they  were  stolen  property. 
You  see,  I  and  my  wife  here  knew  Bill,  and  his  wife  came 
to  her,  and  said,  "Will  you  pawn  these  blankets  for  me  V 
So  she  pawned  them,  you  see,  and  she  gave  her  a  shilling ; 
and  then  she  came  again,  and  asked  her  to  buy  the  tickets, 
and  she  bought  them,  you  see ;  but  she  didn't  know  that 
the  blankets  were  stolen.  They  wanted  to  make  us 
*  fences,'  you  know,  without  our  knowing  it. 

AN    INQUIRY. 

BY  ISRAEL   P . 

Keker,  mandi  doesn't  jin Shcrratt.     Doova'i-  kek  a 

Romani  nav.  She  must  be  a  choorodi.  (To  his  wife) — 
Mary,  av  akei.  Kova  rei  peni"  as  there  s  a  monoshi  adre 
the  divio  kair  at  P as  he  thinks  is  '  posh  and  posh,' 


GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS.  285 

and  kek  a  moosh  has  been  to  dik  lati  for  a  besh  kenaw. 
He  peni-  as  lati  zvas  beeno  adre  Gloucester.  Does  tooti  jin 
lati  ?  Mandi  jiiii-  Glossop,  but  kek  Gloucester.  Mandi 
docsnt  jin  booti  about  kova  part  of  the  tern,  you  dik,  rei. 
Mandi  weU  from  Yorkshire.  .  .  .  Ourli,  pal,  mandi'j  jiv/;^' 
adre  a  kair  kenaw,  'cause  it's  ivinter,  you  dik. 

Translation. 

No,  I  don't  know  Sherratt.      That's  not  a  Gypsy 

name.  She  must  be  a  mumper.  (To  his  wife) — Mary,  come 
here.     This  gentleman  says  that  there  is  a  woman  in  the 

asylum  at  P ,  whom  he  thinks  is  a  half-breed,  and  not  a 

single  person  has  been  to  see  her  for  a  year  now.  He  says 
that  she  was  born  in  Gloucester.  Do  you  know  her  1  I 
know  Glossop,  but  not  Gloucester.  I  don't  know  much 
about  this  part  of  the  country,  you  see,  sir.  I  come  from 
Yorkshire.  .  .  .  Yes,  mate,  I  am  living  in  a  house  now, 
because  it  is  winter,  you  see. 

WELSH  GYPSIES. 

In  September  1874  I  met  with  a  Welsh  Gypsy,  Oliver 
Lee,  at  Bettws-y-Coed,  North  Wales.  His  father  was  an 
English  Gypsy  from  the  Midland  Counties  ;  his  mother 
was  one  of  the  Woods,  patricians  amongst  Welsh  Gypsies. 
He  was  born,  and  had  always  lived,  in  Wales  ;  was  about 
twenty-two  years  old,  but,  unlike  most  of  the  rising  gene- 
ration in  England,  he  could  converse  in  both  deep  and 
broken  Romanes,  as  well  as  Welsh  and  English. 

He  and  his  wife  had  just  been  joined  by  some  of  her 
relatives,  natives  of  Worcestershire,  but  Welsh  by  adoption  ; 
whose  children  spoke  English  with  a  Welsh  accent,  and 
some  of  whom  had  married  amongst  the  Welsh. 

I  gathered  from  Oliver  that  his  two  aunts,  Mary  Wood, 
nicknamed  Taw  (W.,  silent),  and  Caroline  Wood,  both  aged 
about  forty,  spoke  Romanes  habitually,  and  only  used 
English  or  Welsh  when  talking  to  gaujos. 


286  GENUINE    ROMANY   COMPOSITIONS. 

After  satisfying  myself  of  Oliver's  knowledge  of  the  old 
forms,  I  read  to  him  "  The  Widow's  Son,"  "  The  Licence,' 
"Zuba  B ,"  and  "The  Fairies,"  all  of  which  he  inter- 
preted correctly  to  his  companions,  the  eldest  of  whom 
seemed  to  have  a  hazy  recollection  of  several  of  the  verbal 
inflections,  and  kept  exclaiming,  "  It's  just  as  I  used  to  hear 
the  old  folk  talking  when  I  were  a  lad."  A  reference  to  the 
stories  themselves  will  indicate  how  far  the  deep  Anglo- 
Romanes  corresponds  with  the  current  Welsh-Romanes. 
We  did  not,  however,  think  we  were  warranted  in  con- 
cluding that  the  dialects  were  so  far  distinct  that  we  must 
exclude  my  notes  from  the  vocabularies,  and  we  therefore 
incorporated  the  following,  as  far  as  the  advanced  state  of 
the  printing  of  our  dictionary  was  then  practicable. 

Gypsies  are  called  in  Welsh  'Gyptians,  Gipsiaid,  and  Teulu 
Abram  Hood  (A.  H.'s  family).  The  origin  of  the  last  term 
is  obscure ;  possibly.  Hood  is  Wood  inflected.      H.  T.  C. 

Anitrakero  (Anghiterrakero),  ;/.,  Englishman.     A  feminine 

genitive  form. 
Ker  abba,  Make  haste. 

Bignomws  d  lilei,  Spring  (lit,  beginning  of  summer). 
Bor,  «.,  Garden.     Bourus,  n.,  Snail.     Bi///us,  n.,  Bull. 
Kek  chalavar  mandi.  Don't  bother  me. 
Cham  odoi,   Halt !     }  From  aich ;  the  termination  seems 

anomalous. 
Chinomongri,  ;/.,  One  pound  sterling  ;  cf ,  chinda^  shilling, 

silver,  Sim.,  305,  333.    A  £1  note  (now  abolished). 
Choro  gono  ;  boot  choro  for  mandi  to  righcr  //.     A  heavy 

sack  ;  too  heavy  for  me  to  carry  it. 
Cherikleski  por,  Bird's  tail.    Dei-eski  folki.  Mother's  people. 

Joovieski  chu;j(;a,  Petticoat. 
Desh/;/',  Praying. 
Kek  latcho  see.    Bishavo  divez  see  ke-divez.    It  is  not  fine. 

It's  a  rainy  day,  to-day. 
Dikom  o  Beng ;  dias  opr(^  adre  o  raati,  I  saw  a  ghost  (lit., 

the  devil)  ;  it  appeared  in  the  night. 


GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS.  287 

Didas-les  manghi,  He  gave  it  to  me.  Dino  sas  manghi,  It 
was  given  to  me. 

Eiavela,  ;/.,  Understanding.  Volunteered,  in  answer  to  my 
inquiry  for  the  Romanes  of  "  I  do  not  understand 
you."     .?  *  Hi !  he's  coming  ! '  (used  as  a  signal.) 

Yon  ghiavenna,  They  are  singing. 

Godlieskro,  «.,  Bell. 

Hev  =  minsh.     Hi/harus,  n.,  Hill.     Hingher  =  Hinder. 

Ho;^tamangro,  ;/.,  Toad.     Holon,  ;/.,  Landlord. 

Jinova  monghi,  I  know.  Me  jinova  sor,  I  know  everything. 
Too  jinessa  sor,  Thou  knowest  everything. 

Jas  amenghi,  or,  Jas  asar  menghi,  or,  Jolta,  Let  us  go. 

Lensa  jas'^  yoi,  She  went  with  them.  Janna  ti  o^^ten,  They 
will  jump  (lit.,  They  are  going  to  jump).  Joni 
odoi  mi  kokero,  I  went  there  alone.  YoI  ghias, 
She  went. 

Kandela,  It  stinks. 

Ke-divdz,  To-day.  Kaliko  divez,  Yesterday.  Ke-raati, 
To-night.  Kaliko  raati,  Last  night.  Ke-saula, 
This  morning.    Kaliko  saula,  To-morrow  morning. 

Kerav  o  mas,  Boil  the  meat.  O  mas  see  kedo,  The  meat 
is  boiled. 

Komas  C?  komova)  ti  la-les,  I  would  like  to  have  it. 

Kesserova  kek,  or  Kek  kesserova  monghi,  I  don't  care. 

Lakro,  Hers.  Jom  lasa,  I  went  with  her.  Sov  lasa,  coTre. 
Jom  lensa,  I  went  with  them. 

'Doi  see  mauro,  ta  mas,  ta  lovfna ;  ta  so  see  doi  popli, 
There  is  bread,  and  meat,  and  what  is  there  be- 
sides. 

Ladjer  o  moosh.  Shame  the  man.  Varter  /lozv  he  luUerj, 
Look  !  how  he  blushes.    LuUerova,  I  am  blushing. 

Koro,  Blind.     Kurri,  Tin.     Mootska,  Skin. 

Nei-les  kek  lovo,  He  has  no  money. 

0%tenna,  They  jump.     Janna  ti  oy\.h^,  They  will  jump. 

Kek  pandom  okaw  sor  o  raati,  I  never  closed  my  eyes  all 
night. 

Pardel  mandi/^v  yeka,  Forgive  me  for  once. 


288 


GENUINE    ROMANY    COMPOSITIONS. 


Pek  o  mas,  Roast  the  meat.  Pekova  mas,  I  will  roast  the 
meat.     O  mas  see  peko,  The  meat  is  roasted. 

Poordai",  Stairs.     Stor-peerengro,  Frog. 

Repper  toot,  Remember. 

Sastermangro,  An  iron-grey  horse.     Slugns,  n.,  Slug. 

Shomas  kino,  I  was  tired.  Shanas  kino.  Were  you  tired  } 
Sor  kino  shamas,  We  were  all  tired.  Sor  lendi 
sas  kino  tei,  They  were  all  tired  too. 

Sov,  v.,  Coire.     Sooter,  v.,  To  sleep. 

Strangli,  n.,  Onion  =  poorumi. 

Tarder,  v.,  To  stretch.    Tre  o  saula,  In  the  morning. 

Vartinimi,  They  are  watching  us. 

Vissa  zvi'  mandi  tale  koo  kitchema  }  Will  you  go  with  me 
down  to  the  inn  .? 

Yov  vias,  He  came.     Sor  mendi  viam,  We  all  came. 

Kek  mandi  can  roker  Wolshitikka,  I  cannot  talk  Welsh. 
Wolsho,  n.pr.,  Wales.  Wolshenengro,  ;/.,  Welsh- 
man. 


Itmtcs. 


Loli, 

Posh-hori, 
Hori,  hauri, 
Dooi-,  trin-,  stor- 


hori, 


Pandj  hori, 

Shohauri,  shookori, 

Trin-gorishi,  koli, 

Deshto-kori, 

Pansh-kolaw,  koorona, 

Posh-koorona, 

Balans,  bar, 

Posh  balans, 

K6tor, 

Posh-kotor, 

Panshengro, 


P'arthing. 

Halfpenny. 

Penny. 

Twopence,  threepence,  four 

pence. 
Fivepence. 
Sixpence. 
Shilling. 
Eighteenpence. 
Crown,  five  shillings. 
Half-crown. 
Sovereign,  pound. 
Half-sovereign. 
Guinea. 
Half-guinea. 
Five-pound  note. 


APPENDIX. 


After  19th  line,  insert, —  1 547,  Boorde,  Dr.  Andrewe, 
"  The  first  Boke  of  the  Introduction  of  Knowledge,  made 
by  Andrew  Boorde  of  Physyche  Doctor,"  reprinted  1 870, 
edited  by  F.  J.  Furnivall,  M.A.,  Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge, 
and  published  for  Early  English  Text  Society,  by  Triibner 
and  Co.,  London;  p.  218.  See  also  "The  Academy,"  July 
25th,  1874,  p.  100.  "The  earliest  known  Specimen  of  the 
Gypsy  Language,"  by  F.  J.  Furnivall. 

Note. — The  specimen  referred  to  occurs  in  Chapter  xxxviii.,  which 
"  treteth  of  Egypt,  and  of  theyr  mony  and  of  theyr  speche,"  and  com- 
prises thirteen  sentences  in  all,  which  we  insert  here  in  extenso : — 

Good  morrow  !    Lack  ittur  ydyues  ! 

How  farre  is  it  to  the  next  towne  ?     Cater  myla  barforas  ? 

You  be  welcome  to  the  towne.    Maysta  ves  barforas. 

Wyl  you  drynke  some  wine  ?    Mole  pis  laiiena  ? 

I  wyl  go  wyth  you.     A  vauatosa. 

Sit  you  downe,  and  dryncke.     Hyste  leu  pee. 

Drynke,  drynke,  for  God  sake  !     Pe,  pe,  dene  lasse  I 

Mayde,  geue  me  bread  and  wyne  !    Achae,  da  inai  manor  la  veuel 

Geue  me  fleshe  !    Da  mai  masse  / 

Mayde,  come  hyther  !  harke  a  worde  !    Achae,  a  tuordey  siisse  / 

Geue  me  aples  and  peeres  !     Da  inai  paba  la  ambrell! 

Much  good  do  it  you  !     Iche  misto  ! 

Good  nyght !     Lachira  tut!  (Pp.  217,  218.) 

That  Boorde  collected  these  phrases  from  Gypsies,  and  not  from 
"  Egipcions,"  no  one  who  knows  anything  about  the  language  can  have 
the  slightest  doubt.  His  description,  moreover,  of  the  people  is  very 
graphic  : — 

19 


290  APPENDIX. 

"The  people  of  the  country  be  swarte,  and  doth  go  disgisyd  in 
theyr  apparel,  contrary  to  other  nacyons ;  they  be  lyght  fyngerd, 
and  vse  pyking ;  they  haue  litle  maner,  and  euyl  loggyng,  &  yet 
they  be  pleas(a)unt  daunsers.  Ther  be  few  or  none  of  the  Egipcions 
that  doth  dwell  in  Egipt,  for  Egipt  is  repleted  now  with  infydele 
alyons." 

It  may  also  be  safely  assumed  that  Boorde  obtained  his  examples 
from  English  Gypsies,  seeing  that  a  trace  of  English  is  evident  in 
combination  with  Gypsy  proper.  Thus  in  his  tenth  sentence  occurs 
the  expression  "  a  wordey  susse  (tusa)  =  a  word  with  thee.  Most  of 
Boorde's  sentences  have  been  dissected  and  explained  in  a  previous 
portion  of  our  work.  According  to  Professor  Miklosich,  to  Dr.  Zupitza 
of  Vienna,  belongs  the  honour  of  having  first  recognized  the  true 
character  of  our  English  Doctor's  examples  of  "  Egipt  speche,'' 
which  are  admitted  to  be  the  oldest  known  specimens  of  the  Gypsy 
language. 

It  is  a  curious  circumstance  that  modern  research  should  be 
indebted  to  two  of  our  own  countrymen  for  the  earliest  ethnographical 
and  linguistic  data  which  have  been  found  relating  to  the  Gypsy  race. 
The  first  historical  reference  to  the  Gypsies  occurs  in  the  work  of 
an  Irishman,  entitled  "  Itinerarium  Symonis  Simeonis  et  Hugonis 
Illuminatoris  ad  Terram  Sanctam,"  primus  eruit  ediditque  Jacobus 
Nasmith,  A.M.,  S.A.S.,  Cantab.,  MDCCLXXViii.,  Ex.  Cod.  MS.,  in 
Bibliotheca  Coll.  Corp.  Christi  Cant,  No.  407.  Simon  Simeon  vel 
Simeonis  (Fitz  Simeon,  in  the  vernacular), '  was  a  Minorite  of  the  rule 
of  St.  Francis,  of  a  Convent  established  in  Dublin,  from  which  city,  in 
company  with  another  friar,  Hugh  the  Illuminator,  he  commenced  his 
pilgrimage  on  the  15th  of  April,  1322.'  He  informs  the  readers  of  his 
Itinerary,  in  somewhat  Quixotic  language,  that  having  '  despised  the 
summit  of  honour,' he  was  'inflated  with  the  Seraphic  ardour  of  visiting 
the  Holy  Land,'  {Vide  "Retrospective  Review,"  2nd  Series,  vol.  ir, 
pp.  232 — 254.)  On  their  way  the  two  friars  made  a  short  stay  in  the 
island  of  Crete,  where,  it  appears,  they  saw  the  Gypsies,  whom  Fitz- 
Simeon  described  in  a  passage  to  which  Bryant  originally  directed 
attention.  M.  Bataillard,  of  Paris,  has  recently  pointed  out  that  it 
referred  to  the  island  of  Crete,  and  not  to  Cyprus,  as  had  been  pre- 
viously supposed.  There  arc  some  small  verbal  inaccuracies  in 
Bryant's  transcript  of  this  passage,  which  would  be  scarcely  worth 
indicating  if  they  had  not  been  repeated  by  most  subsequent  writers, 
who  seem  not  to  have  verified  the  quotation  by  consulting  the  prime 
authority.  The  passage  taken  verbatim  from  Nasmith,  the  first  and 
last  editor  of  the  "Itinerarium,"  (p.  17,  lines  21 — 31,)  stands  thus  : 
"  Ibidem  et  vidimus  gentem  extra  civitatem  ritu  Graecorum  utentem,  et 
de  genere  Chaym  se  esse  asserentcm,  quai  raro  vel  nunquam  in  loco 


APPENDIX.  291 

aliquo  moratur  ultra  xxx  dies,  sed  semper  velut  a  deo  maledicta  vaga 
et  profuga  post  xxx^^  diem  de  campo  in  campum  cum  tentoriis  parvis 
oblongis  nigris  et  humilibus  ad  modum  Arabum,  et  de  caverna  in 
cavernam  discurrit ;  quia  locus  ab  eis  /«habitatus  post  dictum  terminum 
efficitur  plenus  vermibus  et  aliis  immunditiis,  cum  quibus  impossibile 
est  Cf^habitare." 

Page  5,  after  14th  line,  insert:  1874. — "The  Times," 
July  21,  2nd  col.,  p.  i,  an  announcement  in  Romanes  of 
Mr.  Hub.  Smith's  marriage  to  Esmeralda  Lock ;  repeated 
in  "The  Guardian,"  July  22; — also,  "Illustrated  London 
News,"  October  31,  p.  214,  an  announcement  in  Romanes 
of  Romany  Ballads,  by  Prof.  Palmer,  Mr.  Leland,  and 
Miss  Tuckey. 


Grammar. 


I^OUN. 

Page  14. — After  paragraph  commencing  "  Besides,"  add 
"According  to  M.  Vaillant,  (Grammaire  Rommane,  Paris, 
1868,  p.  37,)  the  Roumanian  Gypsy  noun  forms  its  genitive 
in  -esko,  vi.,  -eski,  /.,  and  the  genitives  of  the  pronouns 
(40)  are  sing.,  manki,  tuki,  leski,  laki ;  //.,  amenki,  tumenki, 
lenki ;  while  the  possessive  adjectives  (41,)  are  sing.,  maro, 
tiro,  lesko,  amaro,  tumaro,  lengo  ;  //.,  miri,  tin,  leski,  amari, 
tumari,  lenj'i.  The  agreement  in  this  respect,  as  otherwise, 
between  the  two  dialects  is  remarkable." 

Page  15,  line  14. — Akoro.,  vide  Anitrakero  (Anghiterra- 
kero),  Welsh  Gypsy.  Also  in  the  two  insults,  Ti  doki  hev 
(Lieb.,  dakri),  and  Mi  booliokri. 

Page  16. — Phiral. — Sometimes  the  plural  ends  in  /,  and 
probably  results  from  a  softening  of  the  final  e  sound,  which 
is  a  common  plural  termination  in  the  deep  dialect. 

Page  2 1 . — Nouns  peculiar  to  the  dialect. — We  have  since 
met  with  several  of  these  words  in  foreign  Gypsy  Vocabu- 
laries. 


292  APPENDIX. 

Page  22. — After  Class  I.,  read,  ''  Similar  terminations 
forming  abstract  nouns  are  frequent  in  the  Roumanian 
Gypsy  dialect ;  vide  Vaillant." 

ADJECTIVE. 

Page  23. — Rankano  (fornem)  and  kiska  (god)  occur  in 
Sundt.  Latcho  is  inserted  in  our  vocabulary,  but  we  have 
only  met  with  it  once  {vide  Welsh  Gypsies).  On  one 
occasion  we  heard  an  English  Gypsy  use  Tatcho  divvus 
for  Kooshto  or  Latcho  divvus.  Lachi  and  comp.  Lachittur 
are  met  with  in  Boorde. 

VERB. 

Page  35. — Av,  Rov,   Siv,   Sov,  Tov,  etc. 
Av-ava,  Rov-a.va.,  Siv-SiVR,  etc. 
According  to  some  authorities,  the  first  v  in  these  verbs 
really  forms  part  of  the  root  (vide  Pasp.,  Pott,  etc.)     A 
comparison  with  the  Sanscrit  supports  this  view. 

Page  36. — To  follow  15th  line,  ist  pers.,  pi.,  -dsa,  -as. 
We  have  met  with  the  forms  -assa,  -as,  -essa,  for  the  ist 
pers.,  pi.,  pres.  and  fut.,  e.g.,  Doi  mendi  atchessa,  or  atchassa. 
There  we  will  stop. 

Page  37. — We  have  met  with  several  examples  of  the 
1st  pers.,  pi.,  of  the  perfect  ending  in  dan,  e.g.,  koordem 
(koordo  +  shejn),  We  fought.  CJiidc^in  [cJiido  +  shein)  We 
put. 

Page  40. — To  follow  Past  Participle : — 

The  Passive  voice  is  formed,  in  deep  Romanes,  by  the 
past  participle  preceded  by  one  of  two  auxiliary  verbs. 

1st.  By  the  verb  to  be,  sJioiii,  shan,  see,  etc.,  q.v. 

Examples. 

Mandi  shoin  mooklo  sor  kokero,  I  am  left  all  alone. 
Yov  sas  dikno,  He  was  seen. 

Yov  sas  anlo  aprd  adrJ  dova  tent,  He  was  brought  up 
in  that  country. 


APPENDIX.  293 

2nd.  By  the  verb  to  become,  'zvel,  'vel,  etc.,  q.v.,  especially 
when  the  future  is  to  be  expressed. 

Examples. 
O  grei  te  vel panlo,  The  horse  will  be  pounded. 
Mandi  te  vel  kerdOy  I  shall  (or  should)  be  done  (for). 

Compare  'vel  and  'zvel  with  Dr.  Paspati,  page  80. 
Uvav{d),  Uves{a),  Uvel{a),  etc.  Dr.  Paspati  first  pointed 
out  the  existence  of  the  verb  Uvava,  to  become,  which  had 
always  been  previously  confounded  with  Avava,  to  come. 

PRONOUNS. 

Pages  42, 43. — The  promiscuous  use  of  dative  and  accusa- 
tive forms  for  the  accusative  is  also  met  with  in  the 
German  Gypsy  dialect  ({oide  Liebich,  p.  102). 

The  pronoun  in  the  dative  is  frequently  found  following 
verbs,  and  then  apparently  often  partakes  of  the  nature  of 
a  reflective  pronoun,  e.g., — 

BesJi-tooki  'le,  Sit  yourself  down. 

Ho')(ter-tooki,  Jump  ;  Praster-tooki,  Run. 

Holova-les  vionghi,  I  will  eat  it  myself. 

Ghids-peski,  He  took  himself  off. 

See  Pasp.,  e.g.,  p.  608,  sentence  40,  kamadjdv  indnghe, 
je  m'en  irai. 


girti0narg. 


The  following  words  were  omitted,  or  have  been  since 
collected  : — • 

Booinova,  v.,  I  boast.     See  Booino 

He  booini"  his  kokero,  He  praises  himself.     Note : 
Booinelopus,  p.  61,  is  probably  Booinela  pes 
Dikomengri,  ) 
Diksomengri,!  Watchers,  watchmen 

Dikomeskro  hev,  Window 


2  94  APPENDIX. 

Dooieni,  Second 

Gaveskro  (gavengro),  Policeman 

Jindo  moosh,  Scholar 

Kitchemeskro,  Innkeeper 

Klisinomengro,  Lock 

Koosh,  ;/.  and  v.,  Lie,  falsehood  ;  cf.  Pasp.,  kusJUpe 

Moskro  (mooshkero),  Constable 

Mtimpdirws,  Mumper 

Okki,  add  ^'  (hokki) ;  cf.  Pasp.,  akd,  ceci 

Okki,  lel-les  tooti,  Here !  take  it  ! 

Okki,  a  rei  wela  'kei.  Look  out,  there  is  a  gentleman 

coming  here  ! " 

Panomeskri-gav,  Watering-place 

Peker,  v.,  To  roast ;  Pekedo,  p.  part.,  Roasted 

Raatenghi  kova.  Nitre 

Roomus,  Romanes 

Shoonomus,)  -^ 
r..       .  \  News 

Snoonopen, ) 

Stanyamengro,  Stableman 

Staromeskri^:'^,  Prisoners 

Spongo,  Match 

Tatchomus,  Truth 

Tatti-peerengri,  Irish,  i.e.,  hot  (blooded)  tramps 

Trashermengro-kova,  Lightning 

Tilomeskro,  Pot-hook 

Weshenghi-chiriklo,  Wood-pigeon. 

See  also  the  following  Tales.  " 


[Want  of  space  prevents  our  giving  Translations,] 


THE  BALL. 
Nd  chavoH,  too  jassa  mansa  kater  dova  bitto  welgauro 
tedivvus  }     Mandi  jinova  yek  koshto  kair  adre  o  bitto  gav 


APPENDIX.  295 

— shorokono  kair  see — kei  see  bauro  kebV-kamora.  Pendas 
o  rauni  kater  mandi  o  waver  divvus,  te  wel  te  yoi'^  kair  te 
bosher  opre  o  welgauro  divvus,  yoi  dela  mandi  posh-kotor, 
ta  sor  meero  hoben,  ta  piamus,  te  atchova  odoi  sor  raati,  te 
wel  me  te  komova.  Too  wel  mandi,  too  lela  posh  so  mandi 
lelova.     Bosheras  too  mansa  ? 

Our.  Jova  me  toosa.  Nastis  mandi  bosherova  sar 
koshto  sar  too,  jiness.     Mandi  kairova  o  feterder  tastis. 

Ava-ta  kon  !     Jaw  menghi ! 

"Sar  shan,  Rauni  ?" 

"  Sar  shan,"  hotchi  yoi.     "  Too  vias  kon  .'*" 

"  Our,  Rauni." 

"  Lelessa  tumendi  chomoni  te  hoi,  wonka  too  jala  opre 
tekcl.?" 

"  Our,  Rauni,  sar  komessa,  parikeraw  toot." 

Beshtem  mendi  tale  'glal  o  misali.  Dosta  hoben  sas 
opre  lesti.  Hodem  ta  pidem,  so  mendi  komdas.  Talla 
mendi  ghiem  opre  o  podas.  Boshaddm  koosi.  Kanna-sig 
dosta  ta  dosta  raunia  ta  reiaw  vien  adre.  Komde  men 
mishto.  Boshadcm  adre  dova  kamora  sor  raati.  Yon 
kelde  sor  o  raati  mishto  tei,  raunikana  dromaw  {quadrilles^ 
valses,  etc.,  not  Jiornpipes).  Mendi  kedem  mishto  lendi  tei. 
Talla  mendi  kede  bosherzV/'  lendi,  yon,  ta  o  shorokono  rei, 
del'^  mendi  pansh  kotoraw.  Pende  te  mendi.  "Waver 
cheerus  mendi  wela  akei."  A  vaver  besh  mendi  kelova 
lendi  rt:popli. 

A  PRACTICAL  JOKE. 

Yekera,  kanna  tarna  tatcho  rinkeno  dikomusti  chavo  sas 
me,  ghiom  kater  a  rauneski  loobno  kair.  Ridom  mi  kokero 
adre  tarno  joovelV  rivomus.  Pandadom  meero  kokero  opre 
tatcho,  pensa  rinkeno  tarno  joovel.  Meero  bal  sas  boot 
opre  mi  shoro,  dosta  lesti,  sar  wooser(?/pardal  meeri  pike. 
Kaulo  sas,  pensa  chiriklo'i"  poryai*. 

Kanna  sig  yek  d  lendi  pootchdas  mandi,  te  atch  opre  ta 
kel.  "Our,"  hotchi  yoi,  "mandi  jinova  sor  teero  folk\ 
kelela  mishto." 


2g6  APPENDIX. 

Talla  mandi  atchdas  opre  te  kerova  wi  lendi.  Kanna 
yon  dikte  (sar)  mandi  kerV,  yon  pende  kater  mandi,  "  Kek 
nanei  too  a  joovel,  too  keressa  'jaw  mishto.  Kek  tarno 
joovel  kerassa  pensa  too.  Too  see  a  moosh,  tatcho  dosta. 
Dikova  tei."  Vi6n  kater  mandi.  Tardade  meero  cho;)^a 
ta  shooba  opre.  Talla  dikte  mooshkeni  rivopen  opre 
mandi,  sor  o  kair  o'  lendi  sade  koshto  dosta  te  maur  lenghi 
kokere. 

Talla  yon  dela  mandi  sorkon  kova,  mol,  ta  tatto  paani, 
ta  vaniso  te  piova,  komde  mandi  'jaw  boot.  Yon  pende, 
kekera  yon  dikte  jafra  kova  kedo  ajaw  ad  re  lenghi 
meriben. 

THE  PUGILIST. 

Kanna  shom  (shomas)  me  tarno  moosh,  kek  na  kessadom 
troostal  vaniso  moosh,  bitto  o'  bauro.  Feterder  sas  o  moosh, 
feterder  mandi  komde  lesti.  Kek  mandi  chsLrered  o  bitto 
mooshaw.     Nanei  lendi  koshto  dosta  mandi. 

Mandi  jindom  koorova  vaniso  moosh,  gauje  ta  Romani- 
chalaw.  Mandi  shomas  o  feterder  bitto  moosh  adrc  [o] 
Stor  Temaw.  Kek-komeni  koorela  man.  Yon  sor  jindas, 
(^r  jinde)  dova. 

Kanna  yon  dike  man,  yon  penenna  yek  to  waver,  "  Kova 
see  o  feterder  bitto  moosh  troostal  sor  mooshaw  so  ever 
diktom.  Jaw  sig  si-16  adre  lesko  Vooxin  .  Yov  dela  troostal 
lesti  wastaw,  pensa  o  bitto  grei.  Kek  yov  kesser^<^  \.for\ 
kek  moosh  so  yov  koordds.  Yov  koordas  sor  o  feterder 
Romani-chaldw  adre  lesko  temaw."  Yov  penela  konaw,  te 
pooro  si-les,  yov  koorela  vaniso  pooro  moosh  adr6  Anghi- 
terra.  Lesko  nav  see  jinlo  mishto  kater  sorkon  Romani- 
chalaw.  Yov  penela  lesko  kokero,  keker  nanei  yov  koordno. 
Kek  moosh  adr6  Anghiterra,  kek  nanei  koordas  lesti  adr(^ 
sor  leski  meriben. 

Yek  Romano  moosh  koordas  te  lesti,  chiv'c/  lesti  avri 
lesti  jinomus  bitto  koosi  chairus.  Yov  atchdds  opr6  popli 
te  koor  yov,  but  kek  o  waver  moosh  wela,  ta  lesti  [o  Romano 


APPENDIX.  297 

moosh]  ghias  kater  Drabengro  te  ratcher  {bleed)  lesti,  keker 
o  Drabengro  kela  'jaw,  yov  koordno  sas  'jaw  wafedo. 

WHY  WESTER  WON'T  EAT  MUTTON. 

Mandi  shomas  yekera  adre  o  lilei  jala  {going)  pardal  o 
poovyaw.  Diktom  bokrengro  {or  bazengro),  kooser/;^'  te 
yoosherela  bokre.  Sor  sas  {or  si-le)  pardal  wafede  tanaw, 
sor  pardal  lenghi  shore,  ta  lenghi  pik6,  posh  hodno  tale,  ta 
kandas  pensa  a  hindo-kair.  O  bokrengro  sas  draberz;/'  d 
lendi,  te  sor  [JiacP^  koli  {rags)  chiv'/^  pardal  lenghi  shore. 
Yov  sas  draber//*^'  d  lendi,  pensa  o  wafedo  hotchado  moosh. 

Talla  dova  mandi  pendom,  kek  mandi  hola  bokroV  mas 
kek-komi,  vonka  m^  jiv. 


(Note  to  page  197,  line  20.) 

Gypsies  everywhere  evince  a  strong  love  for  music,  but 
their  talents  in  this  respect  appear  to  greater  advantage  in 
foreign  lands  than  in  this  country.  With  our  English 
Gypsies  the  favourite  instruments  are  the  tambourine  and 
the  '  boshomengri,'  or  fiddle,  especially  the  latter,  and  we 
know  several  good  executants  on  the  strings.  One  of  the 
most  gifted  and  renowned  violinists  among  the  Gypsies,  in 
recent  times,  was  a  man  named  Horsery  Gray,  who  died 
some  years  ago.  We  have  been  told  by  a  Romani-chal  that 
when  Horsery  had  heard  a  tune  he  could  play  it  off  straight- 
way, putting  in  such  "  variations,  grace-notes,  shakes,  and 
runs,"  that  none  of  his  confreres  could  compare  with  him. 
He  played  entirely  by  ear,  and  not  from  notes.  The  gaujos 
sent  for  him  from  long  distances  to  hear  his  hornpipes. 

When  an  old  acquaintance  of  ours,  Charley  Boswell,  lost 
a  favourite  child,  he  refused  to  be  comforted,  abstained 
from  food,  becoming  much  emaciated  in  consequence,  and 
spent  all  his  time  for  several  weeks  after  the  child's 
death  in  playing  on  his  fiddle.  He  seemed  to  find  his  only 
consolation  in  confiding  his  grief  to  his  instrument,  and 


298  APPENDIX. 

touching  chords  which  responded  in  sympathy  with  his 
own  sad  mood. 

The  Gypsy  is  always  foremost  among  the  "  feast-finding 
minstrels "  which  attend  our  English  fairs  and  country 
wakes.  He  is  to  be  seen  in  his  glory  at  a  'kelopen*  or 
frolic,  when  the  mirth  grows  fast  and  furious,  as  with 
flashing  eyes  and  excited  mien  he  flourishes  his  fiddle- 
bow  and  plays  the  music  which  keeps  in  time  the  flying 
feet  of  the  dancers.  The  Gypsy  girls  are  not  averse  to  air 
their  accomplishments  on  these  occasions,  and  exhibit  the 
same  lightness  of  toe  and  natural  grace  which  are  said  to 
distinguish  their  continental  sisters.  Highly  favoured  is 
the  village  swain  who  has  a  "  dark  ladye  "  from  the  tents 
for  his  partner  in  the  dance. 

There  arc  no  English  tunes  with  which  wc  arc  acquainted 
which  can  be  said  to  be  peculiarly  Gypsy.  The  Ahb6 
Listz  has  made  an  extensive  collection  of  Gypsy  airs  in 
the  Slavonic  provinces  of  the  Austrian  Empire,  where 
Gypsies  abound.  "  The  natives  dwelling  on  the  Danube 
— Hungarians,  Moldavians,  Slavonians,  Wallachians,  and 
others — owe  their  music  to  the  Gypsies,  .  .  .  and  many 
of  their  melodies  have  become  the  national  airs  of  those 
countries.  Their  music  has  been  principally  developed  on 
the  hospitable  soil  of  Hungary,  and  from  thence  it  has 
spread  all  over  the  Danubian  Principalities.  The  Magyars 
have  adopted  them  as  their  national  musicians,  and  there 
is  hardly  a  village  without  their  minstrels  called  Lautars." 
—  Vide  Preface  to  "Gypsy  Melodies,  etc.,"  by  Charles  K. 
Laporte  (London,  Augener  and  Co.) ;  also,  "  Die  Zigeuner 
und  ihre  Musik  in  Ungarn,  von  Eranz  Listz. 


CORRIGENDA. 


Page 

xiii,  line  4  from  foot,  for  '  Tchingianes'  read  '  Tchinghiands ' 
xxi,    „     19,  for  'sedo'  read  'scdeo' 

5,  „       c),  for  '  11' read  *  17' 

6,  „     24,  after '^^' read 'and  fined /' 

7,  „     1 3,  dele  '  or  liable  to  inflection ' 

14,  „     25,  for  ^  stdrdV  read  ^  staddV 

15,  „     27,  after  *  Prayer '  add  '  in  * 

18,    „       8,  after  '  keri'  add  '  or  Jala  kerel  and  dele  '  OY,yov 

see ghilo  kere,  he  is  (has)  gone  home' 
22,  last  line,  for  '  battle  '  read  '  dealings ' 
24,  line  24,  for  'SINGULAR,'  'PLURAL,'  read  'MASCULINE,' 

'  Feminine  ' 
26,  dele  first  paragraph 
35,  line   9,  for  *  sheep '  read  '  sleep  ' 
38,    „       8,  for  '  boughtedst '  read  '  boughtest ' 
44,    „     27,  dele  from   'of  to  'pcske,    and  add,  '  Peski  is 

generally  used  as  a  reflective  pronoun,  ef.  Pasp., 
pes  J  pcske ' 
46,  line  23,  for   '  avree,   ^vreel   here   and    elsewhere   read 

'  avri,  'vri! 
46,   last   lines,   for   *  Tooostdl,    Trrostal!   read   '  Troostdl, 

Troostal ' 
48,  line  17,  after  'following'  read  '  five' 
48,    „     2<),  ior  ^  doovore^,  doovoree,' YQd^d  '  doovori,  doovorl' 
52,    „     IS,   add    '(dolla,)    Pasp.,   odole'  ;    last    line,    for 

*  bikoyno  '  read  '  bikonyo ' 


300  CORRIGENDA. 

Page 

55,  for  '  Bangaree  '  read  '  Bangarec  ' 

71,  line  10,  for  '  -sJito'  read  ' -ohio' 

75,    „     16,  for  '  navel '  read  '  umbilical  cord  ' 

81,    „     14,  add  '  cf.  'Liob.,  grisjii,  das  Gericht,  das  Amt' 

2)^,    „     20,  for    ^jdiiddrdka,     shawl/     read     '  jdndiirdka, 

Frauenrock ' 
95,    „       6,  after  '  ^T-^V  a-dd  '  and /;w/.' 
95,  lines  18,  19,  20,  cancel    from   '  Pasp.'  to   'alone,'  and 

substitute  'Pott,  ii.,  107' 
98,  line  19,  for  *  ?  Pasp.,  tchdrdava '  read  '  Pasp.,  akardva' 

lOi,    „     25,  for  'ladipen  '  read  'ladjipen  ' 

103,    .,       8,  <^67<? '  her ' 

113,  „     10,  for 'it' read 'is' 

1 14,  „     1 1,  for  'ler  '  read  '  les  (lesti)' 

124,  lines  4  and  5,  should  be  in  the  first  margin 

131,  line  24,  for  '  road  '  read  '  rod ' 

I33>    j>     ^7y  ^dd  '  ill' ;  line  22,  for  '  disiolo '  read  '  disiola ' 

I34>    M       3>  ^^^  '^^c  to  us'  read  '  are  (have)  we' 

137,    „       2  from  foot,  for  '  ken  sigaw'  read  '  kenaw  sig  ' 

141,    „       7,  for  '  stii^f  read  '  stief^ 

147,    „       I,  for  'kova'  read  'kova';  and  line  8,  for  'dova' 

read  'dova' 
151,    »     23,  for  *  c/a,  come  ! '  read  '  avdva,  to  come;  uvdva, 

to  become ' 
189,    „       9,  dele  ','  after  'divvus^j' 
195,    „     21,  for  '  dsiturb  '  read  *  disturb ' 

219,  „       9,  for  'Doovolesko'  read  *  Doovelesko' 

220,  „       7,  for  '  tooti"  read  *  tooti '  ^ 
230,    „       5,  for  '  toti '  read  '  tooti ' 

235,  „  23,  for  '  meeripen  '  read  '  meripen  ' 

237,  „  2  from  foot,  dele  'a' 

238,  „  16,  for  '  bar '  read  '  bor ' 
245,  „  19,  after  *  grass '  add  ' ) ' 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

PAGE 

Title  Page. 

Trails          .         .         .         . 

198 

Dedication. 

Lament  on  the   Decay  of 

Preface 

V 

the  Language . 

200 

Introduction     . 

.    vii 

Eheu  Fugaces    . 

201 

Grammar :— 

Funeral  Rites 

202 

Bibliography  of  the  Dialect       i 

Horse-dealing     . 

203 

Etymology 

•       5 

Zuba  B 

204 

Orthography 

.       6 

Kokeri  Indiki     . 

208 

Accent 

■       7 

The  White  Dog 

208 

Letter  Changes,  Elisions,  etc.    8 

In  Prison    .        .        .        . 

209 

Article 

.     10 

Remarks   on   Mixed   Mar- 

Noun. 

.     II 

riages      .        .        .        . 

210 

Adjective    . 

•     23 

Tales  :— 

Adverb 

.     29 

The       Mumper's       Artful 

Auxiliary  Verb   . 

•     30 

Dodge     .         .         .         . 

211 

Verb  . 

.     32 

The  Knowing  Irishman 

212 

Pronoun     . 

■     41 

King     Edward    and     the 

Numerals  . 

•    45 

Gypsy     .        .        .        . 

215 

Prepositions 

.    46 

The  Thief  .        .        .        . 

216 

Syntax,  Idioms,  etc. 

.    47 

The  Fairies 

217 

Dictionary  :— 

How   Petalengro   went    to 

Gypsy-English  Vocabulary     5 1 

Heaven  .        .        .        . 

219 

Appendix  to  same 

.  158 

Translations  :— 

English- Gypsy  Vocabulary  163 

The  Cock  and  the  Diamond 

223 

Compositions  ;  Customs  :— 

How  the  Dog  lost  his  Meat 

223 

Introduction 

.  191 

The  Fox  and  his  Tail 

224 

Pitching  a  Tent 

.  192 

The  Wolf  and  the  Lamb    . 

225 

Choosing  a  Camp 

•  193 

Pater  Noster 

225 

The  Ghost  . 

.  194 

Creed          .        .        .        . 

226 

A  Caution  . 

•  195 

Ten  Commandments . 

226 

The  Haunted  Camp 

.  195 

The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd 

228 

Supper-time 

.  197 

The  Seven  Loaves  Miracle 

229 

Hedgehog    Hunting 

and 

Love  your  Enemies    . 

229 

Gypsy  Cake   . 

.  197 

The  Widow's  Son 

230 

302 


INDEX. 


PACE 

PAOB 

The  Supper 

230 

Wester  :— 

The  Prodigal  Son       . 

.     231 

Autobiography  . 

246 

The  Rich  Man  and  Lazarus 

'    233 

Codling  Gap 

247 

Zacchseus   . 

234 

Verses 

248 

The  Good  Shepherd  . 

235 

Letters 

248 

Miscellaneous  :— 

Genealogy  . 

252 

Tempora  Mutantur    . 

236 

Dialogues  :— 

Speed  the  Parting  Guest 

236 

Three  from  the  ist  Edition 

254 

The  Child's  Caul        . 

237 

At  Dinner  . 

260 

Nausea 

237 

Extracts    from    our  Note 

Stag  Hunt , 

238 

books 

263 

An  Assault 

238 

Paspati's    Sentences    com 

Hiding 

238 

pared 

272 

Washing,  shopping,  etc. 

238 

New  Dialect  :— 

Steahng  a  Wife  . 

239 

The  Bengauler   . 

273 

Sickness  and  Recovery 

239 

The  Three  Words      . 

274 

In  Debt      . 

240 

The  Chase 

276 

Ipse  Dixit  . 

240 

Ike's  Dog  . 

277 

A  Reminder 

241 

Pumping    . 

278 

A  Proud  Man     . 

242 

Foreign  Gypsies 

279 

A  Pedestrian 

242 

The  Broken  Head 

283 

The  Licence 

242 

Innocence  . 

284 

The  Greyhound 

.     242 

An  Inquiry 

284 

The  Frog   . 

.     243 

Welsh  Gypsies  . 

285 

The  Gypsy's  Cat 

243 

Money. 

288 

Squabble    . 

243 

Appendix     . 

289 

Apple  Tree 

244 

Corrigenda 

299 

Polite  Inquiries  . 

244 

Table  of  Contents  . 

301 

The  Knowing  Horse-deale 

r  245 

Watson  I't  Hazcll,  Printers,  London  and  Aylesbury. 


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