Limerickisms

Itsdacraic

This a thread for words/phrases that you hear only in Limerick, or words that started in Limerick and have spread.

Word: Tackies
Meaning: trainers/sneakers/runners
Context: "Ah boy the Kid, daycent tackies"

Word: Ghouling
Meaning: To act the messer or waste time.
Context: "Stop Ghouling around will ya"

Karmafaerie

Tackies is a South African word.

Comhrá

" Thrun Down"....... feeling sick or poorly (I think)

Comhrá

" You can chalk it down".

Never heard that on till I came to Limerick in 1976

Itsdacraic

Karmafaerie wrote: »

Tackies is a South African word.

The only place in Ireland I've heard it used is Limerick. This is just supposed to be a bit of craic. Not the history of the English language. Stop being a ghoul

Azphyxi8

Word: Gome
Meaning: A person who is foolish or idiotic.
Context: "Go away you gome!"

bazz26

Ending every sentence with "like".

Comhrá

And my favourite one... "Actin' the c**t"

Self explanatory, but I never hear it much outside Limerick.

TestTransmission

Tha honda civic is daycent kid = That honda civic is quite nice my friend

Itsdacraic

Mush is a rathkeale word, comes from the Traveller language Gammon.

betonit

rapid tackies

meaning: fab runners

Itsdacraic

A favourite of townies: "come ere I want ya"

bazz26

Referring someone as "boss" or "kid".

donutheadhomer

"sangwiches" meaning sandwiches

betonit

sound

johnny: whats jimmy like..
tommy: he's "sound"

johnny: i'll pick you up at 6
tommy: "sound"

Dumdum McCarthy

Meaning how are you!or just saying hello in general.

Dumdum McCarthy

i have heard it a bit!depends where u are in the city.i duno if it makes sense!

Mars Bar

betonit wrote: »

sound

johnny: whats jimmy like..
tommy: he's "sound"

johnny: i'll pick you up at 6
tommy: "sound"

I think that is all over the country, I know we over use it here in Galway but since I have been living in Limerick, I don't remember it being used that much.

Mars Bar

Dumdum McCarthy wrote: »

Meaning how are you!or just saying hello in general.

In Galway city, Sham is a traveller. In Tuam, Sham is a general term for anybody from Tuam and not just travellers...
I think Sham has spread to most places too.

Dumdum McCarthy

Meaning would u eat a tomatoe?heard it down the island field!I have heard and its true Limerick people used to have there own language between themselves.i know people who still have a few words of it.

concussion

Ghoul (gowl) is also used around Mayo but up there it refers to lady-bits.

Insect Overlord

Dumdum McCarthy wrote: »

Meaning would u eat a tomatoe?heard it down the island field!I have heard and its true Limerick people used to have there own language between themselves.i know people who still have a few words of it.

That's not a colloquial phrase, that's just somebody with a dodgey accent. :rolleyes:

Karmafaerie

Itsdacraic wrote: »

The only place in Ireland I've heard it used is Limerick. This is just supposed to be a bit of craic. Not the history of the English language. Stop being a ghoul

Well it's a Zulu word, so it wouldn't be a lesson in English.
It's only used in Limerick, because it was picked up by a missionary priest from Limerick when he was over in Africa, and brought back with him.

Sto pbeing a "goul" and take it for what it was meant as.

ninty9er

How's tricks?, as in, what have you been up to since I last saw you?

Context:
John: Well Tommy, How's tricks?
Tommy: Grand now John, just after gettin a great deal on a telly in Savins

Rank, as in, disgusting

Context:
That burger was rank

Nice thread...there's an old one round here somewhere too.

bucks73

Designtly...sp? who knows

You did that designtly. Meaning...you did that on purpose.

zuroph

pulinalinit.

theres a swimming pool in the house.

Itsdacraic

Karmafaerie wrote: »

Well it's a Zulu word, so it wouldn't be a lesson in English.
It's only used in Limerick, because it was picked up by a missionary priest from Limerick when he was over in Africa, and brought back with him.

Sto pbeing a "goul" and take it for what it was meant as.

Any idea where the term "steamer" comes from?

As in: That fella is an awful steamer.

Amazotheamazing

Off to haboo.

Going to bed. Only ever heard it in Limerick.

Itsdacraic

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Off to haboo.

Going to bed. Only ever heard it in Limerick.

Never heard of it used like that. I do remember the childrens rhyme

"Haboo baby bunting, Daddy's gone a hunting"

ninty9er

Itsdacraic wrote: »

Any idea where the term "steamer" comes from?

As in: That fella is an awful steamer.

Cork

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Off to haboo.

Going to bed. Only ever heard it in Limerick.

+1...normally from people who wouldn't know how to spell sleep.

mud

I always understood that 'steamer' referred to a gentleman who frequented steam rooms in order to meet other mens

'ghoul' comes from the Viking word 'gall' which translates as 'foreigner'