The United States and Great Britain are two countries
separated by a common language.
This famous quote, commonly attributed to George Bernard Shaw, highlights the differences between two countries where the language is the same (or similar!) to your language. It could also apply to Australia or Canada.
I admit to being a devotee of British dramas, mysteries, and comedies, and occasionally I come across a term that I don’t understand, and have to look it up. Favorites tv shows are Downton Abbey, Foyle’s War, Midsomer Murders, and Agatha Christie Mysteries. Then there’s Miss Fisher Mysteries, an Australian production. Here are some of the terms/words/phrases I’ve run across. Any that you’ve heard and been perplexed by?
Jumped up (adjective) – denoting someone who considers themselves to be more important than they really are, or who has suddenly and undeservedly risen in status: “she’s not really a journalist, more a jumped-up PR woman.” Heard on more than one program, but especially on Downton Abbey, when Violet’s maid calls Dr. Clarkson a “Jumped up old sawbones.” I love this one, and will attempt to include it in my own vocabulary.
All Sir Garnet – Said by Thomas Barrow on Downton Abbey (suspected things were not “All Sir Garnet”). This is a one-time British army slang term meaning that all is in order or everything’s OK. It’s a memorial to one of the most famous soldiers of the latter nineteenth century, Sir Garnet Wolseley, later Viscount Wolseley.
Cheeky – Playfully impertinent. “Did you just whistle at that old lady? You cheeky monkey.” Mrs. Patmore calls a local merchant a “cheeky devil” for flirting with her.
erysipelas – Erysipelas is an infection of the upper layers of the skin (superficial). Erysipelas results in a fiery red rash with raised edges that can easily be distinguished from the skin around it. Mentioned on Downton Abbey, when Isobel Crawley mistakenly diagnoses Mr. Moseley’s rash as erysipelas, when it really is a rash caused by an allergy to rue.
King Canute (Cnut, Knud) – King of Denmark, England and Norway, together often referred to as the Anglo-Scandinavian or North Sea Empire. After his death, the deaths of his heirs within a decade, and the Norman conquest of England in 1066, his legacy was largely lost to history. The medieval historian Norman Cantor has stated that he was “the most effective king in Anglo-Saxon history”, although Cnut himself was Danish, not British or Anglo-Saxon. Cnut’s name is popularly invoked in the context of the legendary story of King Canute and the waves, but usually misrepresenting Cnut as a deluded monarch believing he had supernatural powers, when the original story in fact relates the opposite and portrays a wise king. Mentioned by the dowager Countess Violet Crawley on Downton Abbey.
Agony Aunt – The writer of an advice column, like Dear Abby. In Downton Abbey, Violet’s butler (Septimus Spratt) writes the Agony Aunt column in Lady Edith Crawley’s ladies’ magazine.
Blue crested hoopoe – The rare bird that the bird watchers argue about in an episode of Midsomer Murders is a Blue Crested Hoopoe – which doesn’t exist. A Hoopoe does, which is a colorful bird found across Afro-Eurasia, notable for its distinctive “crown” of feathers. It is the only extant species in the family Upupidae.
Casu marzu – Also seen on Midsomer Murders. Literally translating into English as “rotten/putrid cheese”, is a traditional Sardinian sheep milk cheese, notable for containing live insect larvae (maggots). Although found in the island of Sardinia, a variety of this cheese is also found in the nearby Corsica, where it goes by the name of casgiu merzu.
Parvenu – a person from usually a low social position who has recently or suddenly become wealthy, powerful, or successful but who is not accepted by other wealthy, powerful, and successful people. The word is borrowed from the French; it is the past participle of the verb parvenir (to reach, to arrive, to manage to do something).
Don’t tell the world about it – Heard more than once, but Lady Flintshire says it when her husband mentions aloud that their days of personal servants are over because of their reduced circumstances.
Blighty – a wound suffered by a soldier in World War I that was sufficiently serious to merit being shipped home to Britain: “he had copped a Blighty and was on his way home”. Mentioned by Lady Cora Grantham’s maid, speaking about Thomas Barrow’s war injury.
Mumsy – drab or dowdy; unfashionable.
h’aporth -As in “you daft h’aporth”. Half penny worth. A silly or foolish person.
Other widely used words and terms:
Toff – Upper Class Person
Punter – customer or user of services (more specifically, of businesses which “rip off” the customer). Occasionally refers to a speculator, bettor, or gambler, or a customer of a prostitute.
Bob’s Your Uncle – There you go!
Bits ‘n Bobs – Various things
Her Majesty’s Pleasure – To be in prison
Knackered – phrase meaning “extremely tired,” often uttered after a long, exhausting day; also see: “zonked.”
Slap And Tickle – making out, heavy petting or [!]
Starkers – completely naked.
Tickety-Boo – phrase for when everything’s going great.
Gutted – a British slang term that is one of the saddest on the lists in terms of pure contextual emotion. To be ‘gutted’ about a situation means to be devastated and saddened. For example, ‘His girlfriend broke up with him. He’s absolutely gutted.’
Gobsmacked – a truly British expression meaning to be shocked and surprised beyond belief. The expression is believed by some to come literally from ‘gob’ (a British expression for mouth), and the look of shock that comes from someone hitting it.
Taking The Piss – Given the British tendency to mock and satirize anything and everything possible, ‘taking the piss’ is in fact one of the most popular and widely-used British slang terms. To ‘take the piss’ means to mock something, parody something, or generally be sarcastic and derisive towards something.
Dodgy – In British slang terms, ‘dodgy’ refers to something wrong, illegal, or just plain ‘off’, in one way or another.
Scrummy– One of the more delightful British slang terms in this list, ‘scrummy’ is used as a wonderfully effusive term for when something is truly delicious and mouth-wateringly good (Heard on The Great British Baking Show.)
Kerfuffle – A rather delightful and slightly archaic word is ‘kerfuffle’. ‘Kerfuffle’ describes a skirmish or a fight or an argument caused by differing views.
Tosh – A nifty little British term that means ‘rubbish’ or ‘crap’.
Wanker – Possibly the best British insult on the list, it fits a certain niche for a single-worded insult to lobbied out in a moment of frustration, anger, provocation, or, of course, as a jest amongst friends. ‘Wanker’ fits the closest fit by ‘jerk’ or ‘asshole’, but to a slightly higher value.
Brilliant – not a word exclusively in the British lexicon, but has a very British usage. Specifically, when something is exciting or wonderful, particularly when something is good news, ‘brilliant’ can mean as such.
Barmy – Crazy, insane.
Chin-wag – A chat or brief conversation.
Collywobbles – Nervousness; butterflies in the stomach.
Peckish – Slightly hungry.
Tosser – A contemptible idiot.
Twee – Overly dainty, delicate, cute, or quaint. “Her bunny-themed tea set is so utterly twee.”
Blimey – (informal) an exclamation of surprise. (Originally gor blimey, a euphemism for God blind me, but has generally lost this connotation.)
Bubble and Squeak – dish of cooked cabbage fried with cooked potatoes and other vegetables. Often made from the remains of the Sunday roast trimmings.
By-election – special election.
2013 activists discover wesley clark got blackmailed by dnc after he leak iraq-syriabe destroyed
Nuland Hillary McCain podesta deeply involved start ukraine crisis strike first blood but use woman that put severed finger in wendy chili 2.0 shameless blame russia, recall putin files podesta
when muller charge manafort for things nothing to do with russia hack but let podesta go for same reason =blackmail dc/Britain(thank Blair Iraq/france stolen libya gold) to support blame russia to cover up fact 2 party system failed since mccain-hillary all did united fruit company scandal 2.0 but remain rich
recall fbi never look at physical evidence just crowdstrike/hillary words, cia break glass 2017 inauguration with media claim russia stolen election
left wing media give protest t-shirts to san quan mayor for lying about never receive maria supplies
george bush 14y ago said add ukraine to nato foreshadow nuland f eu coup 2014 support =
1.
2001 pentagon memo kill occupy iraq to syria
Wrong thread.
Jamie Oliver is a great source for Brit slang: Turn your oven on to full wack, don’t muck about peeling the garlic and clank in three onions, it doesn’t matter if your knife skills are rubbish.
Ah – I love the way the Brits use the word “rubbish.” Evocative.
Build Back Better, for example – utter rubbish.
In your list of British shows you didn’t mention “The Detectorists” two odd characters who search for treasure with metal detectors. Their conversations are the best part because of the show . Filled with so many phrases like that . Yet they always seem to miss the elusive gold right under their feet.
That was a good one!
My mother used to say she was peckish. I knew it meant hungry but had no idea where it came from.
My grandmother used the term nosey parker
Sticky beak
Bollocks…
A wonderful word which while a bit naughty, says it all…and one of those words which feels so good to say as the perfect retort to someone spewing “porkies”. It would not be out of place as a response to every lie that comes out of DC.
I remember hearing that term (porkies) on an episode of Midsomer Murders. I think it was in a Punch & Judy show (another thing that is very British).
Ok Karen….
Might I also recommend The Full Monty…..hilarious
Calendar Girls is a good movie too.
I can absolutely promise one of the best ever movies made is
What We Did on Our Holiday
Filmed in Scotland, it is an absolute delight from start to finish. A joy and probably the funniest, most uplifting movie I’ve ever seen.
One more…
About Time
Made in the same style as Love Actually, and again sweet, thoughtful, and so well acted by all. One to see again and again.
Oh…one more…
Hector and the Search for Happiness
Promise time watching up this one won’t be wasted.
Ok…my last “one more”
Maigret, starring Rowan Atkinson as the French detective. Two series with two episodes each.
And before anyone says “Mr Bean???” He is a fine actor who simply astounded us in this role as the eponymous detective. A tour de force. It was a darned shame there were only 4 episodes.
Atmospheric, excellent scripts, simply brilliant.
Peter Sellers always makes me laugh.
He really was a one of…I liked him as well.
Blackadder is my favorite Rowan Atkinson.
That and the novice vicar in Four Weddings and a Funeral – the Holy Spigot…
I loved Atkinson and Michael Gambon both in that role.
I think it’s hilarious when you’re watching an Italian Police drama, rather like “George Gently”, and you turn on your sub-titles, and they are being interpreted by someone from England. You’ll see a lot of those terms and bob’s your uncle.
Brilliant
Splendid
I lived in England for 2 years in the early 80’s. It was very common to hear people say, “brill!” to express anything they felt was awesome; short for “brilliant.” Never heard “brilliant,” only “brill.”
Yep, me too, where we lived in Huntingdon, Cambs.
Are there any fans of “Yes Prime Minister” out there ? Love the langue and it is a really good primer on government in any country.
also the old one, Are You Being Served? Keeping up appearances, Mulberry,
and the movie, The quiet man.
How about Pimpernel Smith
“Yes, Minister” => “Yes, Prime Minster”
The funniest sitcom of all time.
Close second: “Fawlty Towers” (“Fatty owls”, “Farty Towels” as the sign out front says)
My vote would be “The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin” starring Leonard Rossetter.
Driest cruel humor of all time! 👍
Rising Damp
The funniest sign of Faulty Towers– Flowery Twats
I loved Keeping Up Appearances! Mrs. Bucket (“Bouquet”) was superb!
I really enjoyed that show
. Thank you for reminding me, as it has been a long time, so I looked it up and for sure it is on Amazon Prime. Looks like I will be watching it again.
I really enjoyed,
The Prisoner, a 1967 British television series about an unnamed British intelligence agent who is abducted and imprisoned in a mysterious coastal village.
It was one of my favorite shows when I was in high school.
…..
The Avengers , a British espionage television series, created in 1961, that ran for 161 episodes until 1969 was great.
….
The Saint , a British mystery spy thriller television series that aired in the United Kingdom on ITV between 1962 and 1969.
Rumpole of the Bailey. The Sweeney. are fun to watch as well.
Thanks, I’ll take a look.
“Yes, Minister” was originally a radio show. I’ve heard all of that, but not the TV show. It’s funny how something so old is so relatable even today, with the elected minister always at odds with his unelected staffers.
Are You Being Served, Last of the Summer Wine & Keeping Up Appearances are all classics. I will add As Time Goes By also. Judy Dench with humor.
I also loved You Rang, M’Lord? And Jeeves and Wooster, but I haven’t found them for streaming.
I actually recommend reading the original P.G. Wodehouse books. I adore Hugh Laurie and the series was very good – but the books themselves leave it “in the shade,” as I think may be another UK idiom…
“It’ll ride up with wear, sir!”
Lol!
Let us not forget Miss Slocum, My Pussy.
Call the Midwife is fantastic
I am waiting for them to help a man have a baby. The earlier seasons are the best.
Jumble: A flea market.
Boot sale, porky pies, snogging and shagging
I’ll add that the “Agony” in Agony Aunt is a reference to an old term. For instance, often mentioned in Sherlock Holmes stories as he read the “Agony column”; which were basically personal ads, and people looking for missing persons.
I’m an Aussie, and I was watching an Aussie news show, and one of the presenters is originally from America. He did a brief explanation of y’all and all y’all. I did not know about all y’all before this. I had previously thought y’all was the plural.
I also have a Texan friend, and we occasionally have to ask each other to translate 😂
I love the differences. They can be a lot of fun.
During the First World War, “Dear Old Blighty” was a common sentimental reference, suggesting a longing for home by soldiers in the trenches. The term was particularly used by World War I poets such as Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon. During that war, a “Blighty wound” – a wound serious enough to require recuperation away from the trenches, but not serious enough to kill or maim the victim – was hoped for by many, and sometimes self-inflicted.[7]
On Downton Abbey, Thomas put his hand up from the trench so it would be shot by a German sniper. He got to go home permanently. He referred to his injury as a “blighty”.
Last time I was in London was a good 30 years ago. I’m in “the loo” takin a wee at a club. A guy stumbles in and screams “I’m so pissed!” Now I’m thinking it’s about to go down, I’m gonna have to take this guy out. Turns out he was just drunk…Piss drunk I guess.
“Hey mates, let’s get pissed!” The Aussie beer was strong and came in larger bottles than in America, so it seems I got quite “pissed” (drunk)! And … in Brisbane, Australia don’t introduce yourself to proper ‘Sheilas’ (females) as ‘Randy’ (horny) even if that is your American name! This recalls memories of long-ago times on Commonwealth shores.
HRH and I enjoy the ‘Brit Box’ type of comedy and detective shows. A big plus is running the closed caption option and watching a computer display what it thinks is said. Accents clearly confuse the thing, especially heavy cockney. The captions for the 1970s Upstairs Downstairs downstairs seance episode was hilarious. Even the very proper queens english occasionally trips it up with Viscount Bellamy sitting in the study early one morning and Hudson enters to ask ‘light a fart sir?’. Priceless!
Then there’s the upper class British slang, from Fawlty Towers, a dysfunctional hotel with a manic manager.
“You’re getting my dander up you grotty little man! You’re asking for a bunch of fives.”
Can you speak Aussie? The following are common day words! There are lots more!
.
Speak English, you Americans. (just joshing)
Regards
Climate Heretic
“G’day, mates! Throw another Yank on the barbie!”
I’m hoping you mean throw another shrimp on the barbie – although we actually call them prawns not shrimp.
Perhaps you did mean Yank – and you want us to throw another American on the barbie ???
Whatever your intent, you gave me a laugh, thanks!
just riffing on the Outback Steakhouse tag line on their TV adverts
I’ve engaged in good-spirited mutual ribbing with Okkers in tropical surf camps, it was Aussies VS Yanks in pre-dinner beach volleyball …. they’re a competitive lot … esp with the yanks
— and yes, Outback’s tag line was “shrimp”
“It’s apples!”
-phrase uttered by a Taswegian prof at my college.
Meaning “everything is great”
We learnt it as: she’ll be apples.
Beat me to it. Strine.
Missing are
Aggro
Troppo
Salvo
Maca’s
as in “he’s gone troppo”
You forgot Dunnym(outside toilet) and Doona (duvet)
My roommate in college was from Australia. So on day one, I called him a “buufter” just to test the slang insult. It worked. He attacked me with punches.
I’ll leave it for others to define the word.
sorry…should be “poofter”
“Kooo-EEEY! Our family built the first billabong amongst the dingoes!” Tim Conway impersonating Aussie officer in McHale’s Navy.
I learned a new word, from the Brits.
“Whinging”
My definition? See TDS definition
Whinging means whining/complaining for insufficient reason…
As in the Whinger and the Ginger–refers to Harry and MeGain
Whinging Pom–refers to the Poms (Brits) who emigrated to Aussie and complain all the time
And 10 pound Pom–whose who emigrated paid for by the OZ govt for 10 Pounds
The term originated in Westeros.
In Fawlty Towers there was a joke, at which the audience roared, but left me mystified for years, until a man from Northern Ireland visited us in the 1980’s, and I showed him the episode on tape.
He also thought the joke was hysterical! So here is the joke and the explanation:
The Major (a tipsy, bigoted, slightly eccentric character): I knew a girl once! Tall girl (extends his hand high over his head). Oh I must have been rather keen on her, because once I took her to see India!
Basil Fawlty (John Cleese, astounded): INDIA?!
The Major: At the Oval!
And the audience goes wild!
It turns out, The Major took his date to see India…
…play Great Britain in a cricket match! 😉
“The Oval” is a cricket stadium!
Arizona Senate candidates debate | 2022 Election – Full Video
https://commoncts.blogspot.com/2022/10/arizona-senate-candidates-debate-2022.html
Well I’m late to this fabulous party!!
Has anyone mentioned Cockney rhyming slang yet?
Apples and pears=stairs
Boat race=face
Whistle and flute=suit
Trouble and strife=wife…
Which brings us to another term for wife…her indoors.
Another term for spouse “she/he who must be obeyed”
Good ole Rumpole😉
Originally from “She” by H. Rider Haggard
The Brits who were members of a large scale model train website I frequented referred to their wives as SWMBO.
Was funny to read the newbies who joined from America, each of whom would finally get the courage to ask “what’s a SWMBO?”
Storm and strife =Wife
Lady from Bristol= Pistol
I learned the Cockney slang watching years of Eastenders.
Ah yes….cockney rhyming was in To Sir With Love…..
AWESOME MOVIE
Love this thread. Was looking for a laugh on TGIF and I think I’ll watch some episodes of Monty Python tonight, followed by some Benny Hill. Those were the days. Thanks!
Favorite British shows….Doc Martin…waiting on final season to come out in US
Horrible Histories…First 5 or 6 seasons are great. After that it’s new people, and they’re just not as funny
Ghosts (BBC)…waiting on Season 4 in the US
All of these shows it takes awhile to understand what they’re saying. Sometimes it’s not just the words they use, but their speech cadence.
I love Doc Martin also. My husband and I laughed hard the first time we saw it. Physical comedy in this one. People may not realize it.
Some shows I turn on sub-titles so I can understand what they are saying.
I’m still stuck on the Fluffy Pillow. No pun intended!
I’m kind of fearsome of the Comfy Chair…
They also say they go to Hospital.. We say go the The Hospital.
As was pointed out to me by an Ozzie, we also say “we go to school…why is it different for hospital?” I told her, I look at one as an institution and with ‘the’ in front…a building.
Dunno.
they also call a medical clinic a “surgery”
Red dwarf is a great comedy show from across the pond. I also have fond memories of benny hill. His facial expressions said volumes the censors would have stopped
Never hear “Bob’s your uncle” without thinking of Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins.
Uh, thanks for reminding me never to eat casu marsu, or maggot cheese. Yuck!!!!
Also “Fanny’s your Auntie.”
Eating this cheese was a task on the Amazing Race last season.
My example is from Australian rhyming slang, learned from Australian surfers on my surf trips to Philippines and Indonesia (I’ve related it here once before)
Seppos
Americans are referred to as ‘seppos‘
Derivation and lineage:
— American
-> yankee
-> yank
-> septic tank
-> seppo
Oft-heard usage is “bloody seppo”, if a certain derision is intended
“Seppo” because Aussies usually either dug a ditch or just dropped it on the ground and kicked some dirt over it. Septic tanks were hoists toity.
Hoity toity
damn auto “correct”
I once told an Ozzie colleague to paint his entire HK apartment the teal color on a Salem cigarette pack. He actually DID it!!!!!! LOLOL!!!!
Said it reminded him of the ocean!!!
Can you imagine?
Posted f*g = cigarette. Got blocked, replace * with ‘a’.
Yeah, me too …
Thank you Stella 😊.
Btw, I absolutely love watching Downton Abby. Julian Fellowes is a genius.
We binge-watched 4 years of DA!!!!! Loved it.
Have you see the latest movie? It’s really good.
Yes!!!! Ran out the opening day. Only movie I would see in two years!
I am assuming you did the same?
Actually, I first watched it on Peacock network (signed up just for that), then I purchased the DVD and watched it at home. Repeatedly!
I have watched it so many times that I am embarrassed to say that I can usually anticipate the dialog.
I know the syndrome- I think we’re up to about half a dozen rewatchings of the entire series.
But I haven’t watched Downton nearly as many times as the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth (the younger).
P&P, with Colin Firth is my all time fave miniseries. I watch it at least once a year, usually around Christmas. It goes perfect with the season.
Gosh Stella, you picked a really great topic with this one. Gonna take a while to read thru all these, and what fun that’s going to be. Thanks!
p.s. gonna put the surgery saga at your place soon – have run out of excuses. Still reading, tho
sorry no british words – no tv, and little to no interest lately lol
Good to hear from you. I’ve been concerned. Looking forward to the surgery saga! I tried to email you, but it bounced back.
not sure if anyone has mentioned two of my favorites from the Brits….. Squiffy and Crack-On
Squiffy is tipsy or slightly drunk (not bombed)
Crack-on is to carry-on or continue as before with determination
my definitions for both….official Brits may have different interpretations?
HA!!!! you just triggered Wallace and Gromit! Shown on adult flights to and from HK!!!!! Priceless…’Brilliant’ as they say!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_and_Gromit
My grandsons loved to watch Wallace and Gromit when they were much younger. They may still, as far as I know.
Thank-you for helping me find a way to clean up my vocabulary, which had become checkered and salty as I lazily age.
“Over the moon”…means you or those you know are excited and happy about something..
Bloody is the equivalent of the F word here.
Not true. It is a very mild cuss word used on TV and in front of yer Mum.
I had a very proper British friend from South Africa. She said she used the word ‘ Bloody’ in front of her mother at the age of 7. She promptly had her mouth washed out with soap.
You may be right but my job involves reading things from England and we are told that Bloody is the equivalence of the F word by another employee from England. So for work I have to believe it, but for here I will consider using it…so if I say Bloody you will know I mean the F word!! Right? haha
Not necessarily. Like bloody hell means imo damn
Shame on you (said playfully). Talking about British pop culture, and didn’t mention the iconic Monty Python? Shame, I say!
It’s been mentioned several times on the previous pages of the topic.
The DVD of Holy Grail has the funniest extras ever.
One is a clickable icon of the Killer Rabbit on some scenes that will show an accounting of the cost of the props (for example, the coconuts).
One is the entire Holy Grail film, but shown with subtitles meant for Henry the Eighth.
Jim
This one is quite funny
Bolloxed! Messed up
Eejit. Idiot.
My wife will enjoy this as like you a big fan of British movies.
A nasty bit of work, when speaking of an unpleasant woman
Toe rag for a bum or a worthless loser. Lager lout for drunken eejits
Many of these, though more common in British usage, are not unknown in These States (as HL Mencken put it)….
Articulated lorry (trailer truck) and ‘I don’t mind’, meaning yes when asked if they would like some food or drink.
The obiden administration is such a piece of sheet…
I really enjoyed the TV show New Tricks. I watched 3 seasons before I finally understood the slang then started over and enjoyed 10 seasons.
Alloh guv nah!
…let the boogy woogy washer woman give you a treat….
Scrubby dub dub
It ‘s a cartoon from 1941…”Scrub Me Mama With A Boogie Beat”…cartoon caricatures and funny as all get out…if you can’t dance to that….you can’t dance!
Lots of great TV shows are mentioned in this thread. They are where I’ve learned most of these British words. I am surprised Father Brown hasn’t been mentioned. It’s been on for quite a while, 9 seasons I believe. We don’t watch as much American TV anymore. Mostly British comedies and mysteries on Acorn, BritBox and PBS.
Also Hamish MacBeth and Touch of Frost. Good shows. Also we like the new All Creatures Great and Small on PBS.
Thanks for this thread, Stella, it’s a really nice break.
Yes, Hamish McBeth is a great one. I’ll add Vera. Both are very good. Also, Inspector Lewis.
I love Vera!
Love Frost, and anything with David Jason. Open All Hours, Only Fools and Horses…
Hey Mod, 2 of my last posts got sent to “CTH jail”.
They’re legitimate, it’s a real common word still used by the Brits/Ausssies, check the link !
It means cigarette but originally meant a bundle of sticks, that’s where the word came from …
In the medieval days, when a castle was being assaulted, the defenders would throw flaming <insert word here> over the walls of the castle to repel the invaders.
I heard the word being used by Brit actors in TV and film.
My name is Kent because my mothers family immigrated long before the revolution against the King….they were from…Kent. England….not sure if from county or town….Dads side showed up in Texas 1857.
More interesting to me are the terms that have *clear* meaning in *both* languages, but the meanings bear no simularity, like the word “pro” for instance.