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Origin of the term "Gurrier"?

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  • 09-09-2011 7:16pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 179 ✭✭


    Does anyone happen to know? Never heard it used by a non-Dub.


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,725 ✭✭✭charlemont


    My Mum used to always use that word to describe me, We grew up over 160Km from the Big Smoke itself. :pac:


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,724 ✭✭✭The Scientician


    I've heard it's related to "going on the gur" ie "going on the mitch/bounce" and to the Dublin baked delicacy known as gur cake.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 19,986 ✭✭✭✭mikemac


    sagat2 wrote: »
    Never heard it used by a non-Dub.

    It happens, use it myself and over one hundred km away

    It was never just a Dublin term


  • Registered Users Posts: 10,761 ✭✭✭✭Paul Tergat


    Ive been in Ireland 7 years and never heard of this word. Meaning please???


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,116 ✭✭✭starviewadams


    Gurrier: A ‘gurrier’ is an ill-mannered, loutish person; perhaps one who eats ‘gur-cake’ – scraps of fruit cake in hard pastry, favoured by poor children in Dublin.


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  • Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,471 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    Any relation to "guerrier" (Fr. warrior)?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,183 ✭✭✭dvpower


    I've heard it's related to "going on the gur" ie "going on the mitch/bounce" and to the Dublin baked delicacy known as gur cake.
    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=gurrier&defid=79264

    A ‘gurrier’ is an ill-mannered, loutish person; perhaps one who eats ‘gur-cake’ – scraps of fruit cake in hard pastry, favoured by poor children in Dublin.
    Stay away from that gurrier!


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,740 ✭✭✭chughes


    Used to hear it all the time years ago but it seems to have fallen out of use. My favourite story of it's origin is that the word comes from French 'guerrier' which means warrior.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,116 ✭✭✭starviewadams


    I still say it,much to the amusement of anyone within earshot!


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,569 ✭✭✭✭ProudDUB


    Use it all the time meself.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,562 ✭✭✭✭Sunnyisland


    :o The guards who back then were always huge and from kerry or galway always called us little kids gurriers :o Don't know where it originated from.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,228 ✭✭✭epgc3fyqirnbsx


    Gurrier is common.

    Is 'bowsie' a dublin word?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 41,926 ✭✭✭✭_blank_


    Gurrier is common.

    Is 'bowsie' a dublin word?

    Yep, it's also a Dublin term, meaning roughly the same thing, but perhaps a Bowsie getting up to more malicious mischief though.

    A gurrier would rob apples from an orchard in the hope of getting a chase, up to no good because they are bored and not really doing any harm really.

    A bowsie would more of a bully type of yunfella, up to no good out of spite.


  • Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭kynzvart


    Gurrier is common.

    Is 'bowsie' a dublin word?
    My Aunt always used the word bowsie, and she was Dublin through and through.My grandfather who would be well over 100 if he was alive used the word Gurrier quite a lot.


  • Site Banned Posts: 2,037 ✭✭✭paddyandy


    Any relation to "guerrier" (Fr. warrior)?
    has a french look to it like Goson as Garcon.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 24,878 ✭✭✭✭arybvtcw0eolkf


    Its simple.

    A 'gurrier' was a kid out on 'gur and up to no good.

    A 'Bowsy was someone older, an adult, on the gargle and up to no good.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,514 ✭✭✭PseudoFamous


    Its simple.

    A 'gurrier' was a kid out on 'gur and up to no good.

    Starting making trouble in your neighbourhood?


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 11,880 Mod ✭✭✭✭BeerNut


    The dictionary of Irish slang says it's from guerrier. I've heard that it was a derogatory term used for the veterans of the Napoleonic wars begging in the streets of Dublin and still wearing their uniforms.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 15,515 ✭✭✭✭admiralofthefleet


    my nana also said 'cur' and 'corner boy'


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,725 ✭✭✭charlemont


    my nana also said 'cur' and 'corner boy'


    Hussy or Hussie
    Teddy Boys


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,570 ✭✭✭Elmidena


    I've never heard of "bowsie"....is the o pronounced like Bowser or Josie?


  • Registered Users Posts: 692 ✭✭✭CyberJuice


    Have also used the word gouger meself as well as gurrier


    "Get up out of that you little gouger"


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,724 ✭✭✭The Scientician


    Sunshine! wrote: »
    I've never heard of "bowsie"....is the o pronounced like Bowser or Josie?

    Like Bowser. I know it mainly as a term for an alco. Mischief optional.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,272 ✭✭✭flas


    grew up well well away from dublin and these two terms were used regularly, so dont know how much of just a dublin thing it is...


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,570 ✭✭✭Elmidena


    Haha phew, I thought nobody was going to understand what I was on about, yaaaaaay :D I have to give the Dubs credit for their strange words though, and the erm, colourful expressions such as "up your la-la" or "geebag". Give these people some gur-cake (my newly learned word of the day!)


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,793 ✭✭✭chillywilly


    Its simple.

    A 'gurrier' was a kid out on 'gur and up to no good.

    A 'Bowsy was someone older, an adult, on the gargle and up to no good.

    That doesn't really explain the origin though.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,397 ✭✭✭✭Degsy


    Then of course there was a "head the ball","a blackguard",a "caffler",a "chissler" and a "spunker".


  • Registered Users Posts: 613 ✭✭✭carolmon


    Degsy wrote: »
    Then of course there was a "head the ball","a blackguard",a "caffler",a "chissler" and a "spunker".


    don't forget "get" or if you did something really bad you were called "a get's get"

    god only knows what they mean...............


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,397 ✭✭✭✭Degsy


    carolmon wrote: »
    don't forget "get" or if you did something really bad you were called "a get's get"

    god only knows what they mean...............

    They usually mean you were up to some sort of "andramartins" of course.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,419 ✭✭✭kabakuyu


    An old Aunt of mine in Dublin was very fond of the word "guttersnipe"


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