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21 Nov 12 - 09:09 AM (#3439793) Subject: Questions on Durham Lockout From: Rog Peek These may very well have been asked before, but I couldn't find. In the lyrics of the Durham Lockout by Tommy Armstrong, what is 'marra', and what does the 'ten' and 'thirteen percent' refer to? Thanks Rog |
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21 Nov 12 - 09:29 AM (#3439804) Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout From: GUEST,Blandiver Marra is friend or workmate. |
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21 Nov 12 - 09:56 AM (#3439821) Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout From: Newport Boy In outline, the miners were 'offered' a pay reduction of 10%, which they refused. The pits were closed and after 3 months on strike the miners caved in. At which point the owners 'raised' their 'offer' to a reduction of 13.5%. Phil |
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21 Nov 12 - 10:02 AM (#3439826) Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout From: Rog Peek Many thanks both. Rog |
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21 Nov 12 - 10:48 AM (#3439843) Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout From: GUEST http://cbladey.com/sangbeuk.html |
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21 Nov 12 - 11:36 PM (#3440224) Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout From: Roughyed I always understood that the owners had demanded a 13.5% pay cut and had locked the miners out until they agreed it. The miners tried to negotiate them down with an offer of only a 10% cut and stuck it out when the offer was refused and the owners insisted on the full amount. I seem to remember reading that they were in fact defeated and had to return to work on the owners terms but can't for the life of me remember where I read it. |
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22 Nov 12 - 01:43 AM (#3440243) Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout From: MGM·Lion 'Marra' is actually the local pronunciation of 'marrow', a vegetable, our name for zucchini. Why or how the name of this vegetable came to be used to mean 'mate' or 'partner' in NE England I have been unable thus far to ascertain. Eric Partridge has no entry on it in his Dict of Slang & Unconventional English, and Chambers Dict gives it as a separate entry, 'origin unknown'. Anyone from Tyneside/Wearside [or elsewhere] happen to know? ~M~ |
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22 Nov 12 - 03:28 AM (#3440260) Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout From: Dave Sutherland The way I understood it the workmates "were as alike as two marrows"; that's how they explained it when I was at school. |
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22 Nov 12 - 03:31 AM (#3440261) Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout From: Jim Carroll From 'Pit Talk in County Durham: a glossary of miners talk together with memories of Wardley Colliery. Pit Songs and Pilking' by Dave Douglas; History Workshop Pamphlets, No 10, 1973 Jim Caroll MARRA This a Geordie expression which means mate. A per¬son's marra is the fellow who he is cavilled with, who he works with. In Yorkshire although marra has drifted down with the exiled Geordies, 'serry' will be the term used when speaking to one's mate. Under the butty system the chargeman had 'gobbers' working under him, the term 'gobber' also takes the place of marra. In some parts of Durham, particularly round Penshaw Monument way, the term 'cher' is used for 'marra': 'pass shul' cher' - pass the shovel, mate. Around Seaham 'sa' is used ('does tha see sa'). |
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22 Nov 12 - 07:07 AM (#3440345) Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout From: MGM·Lion Thanks both ~~ esp Dave. Could be, but that sounds it could be a sort of post hoc rationalisation, bit of fakelore derivation, to me. No offence ~ just a gut feeling, really. And your final clause makes you sound a bit dubious about it also! ~M~ |
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22 Nov 12 - 10:28 AM (#3440455) Subject: RE: Questions on Durham Lockout From: *#1 PEASANT* absolutely a term for working team mate in coal mining where miners were set to work in pairs Conrad |