BS: Please explain the word 'Git'

Subject: RE: BS- Please explain the word 'Git'
From: Snuffy
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 05:50 PM

Didn't Lennon do two books "In his own write" and "A Spaniard in the works"?

Subject: RE: BS- Please explain the word 'Git'
From: bill\sables
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 05:43 PM

In the UK TV sit com "Till Death Us Do Part" Alf Garnett, played by Warren Mitchell, called his son in law, played by Tony Booth, a "Scouse Git" Scouse is the collective name for anyone from Liverpool (as Geordie is anyone from Newcastle). I do beleve that "scouse" is also a type of stew made in Liverpool. Tony Booth is the father in law of Tony Blair our prime minister. I wonder if he calls his son in law a git, if he does he will not be alone.
Bill

Subject: RE: BS- Please explain the word 'Git'
From: Zebedee
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 05:42 PM

Mentioning Lennon gives me the opportunity to quote his, perhaps, most amusing use of the word 'get'

I'm so tired, I'm feeling so upset
Although I'm so tired, I'll have another cigarette
And curse Sir Walter Raleigh
He was such a stupid get

From I'm So Tired on the 'White Album'

Ed

Subject: RE: BS- Please explain the word 'Git'
From: mkebenn
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 04:33 PM

I remember this word from one of Lennon's poems from the 60's{Spaniard in his own write?} and have used it ever since. I just assumed a meaning, and I wasn't far off.. Mike

Subject: RE: BS- Please explain the word 'Git'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 04:07 PM

I think bothy explanation are right. As I understand it, the etymology is as Dr John and WYSIWYG say, it just means offspring, begotten; the insult has the implication that it's misbegotten, so bastard.

But I wouldn't say it's a milder form of bastard, bothy words can be as mild or as hostilee as you wish, depends on how they're used.

The classic case with bastard is supposed to be the pre4-war Test Match in Australia, where the linguistic rules on these matters seem to be closer to those back in the British Isles than they are in the USA. An English player complained that one of the Aussies had called him a bastard. The Aussie captain apologised profusely - then he turns to his side and says "Which one of you bastards called tghis bastard a bastard?"

So Americans don't say git! You learn these things here that you'll never learn any other way, except maybe in embarrassing circumstances. Did the word make it to Australia? It must have, surely.

Subject: RE: BS- Please explain the word 'Git'
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 03:29 PM

Well, in breeding horses, the offspring of the sire (the daddy horse!!) are called his "get." Not just one or two critters... the whole crop, through his lifetime, as I understand it.

As in, "Speedy Gonzales' get did not inherit his racing abilities, although his white blaze and socks demonstrated a certain degree of prepotency."

Would this ne part of the transmission of language and the culture of appreciating high-blood horses, coming with upper-crust Brits to the US, long ago? Part of the occasional US affectation of borrowing of high-class English talk?

I didn't know this term was applied to human beans, and pejoratively!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS- Please explain the word 'Git'
From: Doctor John
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 03:21 PM

Interesting, Bert, but I've also heard this one: it's sometimes pronounced "get" and certainly "you daft get" was common in Liverpool in my boyhood, years ago; can't say now though. So it could come from begotten ('got, 'get...) - so ill-begotten. Dr John

Subject: RE: BS- Please explain the word 'Git'
From: InOBU
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 03:14 PM

OH LH With all the rankor, it is such a temptation to answer that question of yours as.. so and so is a git... Git should sound like a westerner saying git going... git along little doggies, git MAV a drink, son, (that is a close as I am going to let myself go with this... or my wife will give me that dissaproving, "BAD BEAR, LARRY!" look)...
Your pal, the ol' grey headed git... Larry

Subject: RE: BS- Please explain the word 'Git'
From: Little Hawk
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 03:04 PM

Ah hah! Illegitimate! Well, thank you, that explains it.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS- Please explain the word 'Git'
From: Bert
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 03:01 PM

Usually pronounced with a hard G. But it is derived from the word Illegitimate, so it probably started out with a soft G. Although it means the same it doesn't really carry the same vehemence as bastard. Usually friendly, almost a term of endearment, when used to a friend.

Bert.

Subject: BS- Please explain the word 'Git'
From: Little Hawk
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 02:51 PM

I have seen the word "git" used frequently in postings by residents of the U.K., and I would like an explanation...

1. How do you pronounce it? Soft "g" or hard "g"?

2. What is its derivation? Is it an abbreviation?

3. What does it mean? I get the general meaning, as in "stupid git"...it's obviously pejorative, but I'd like a little more detailed info on that.

4. Is it a high class or low class word...or both?

Thanks awfully, chaps!

- LH