Romano Lavo-Lil, Word-Book Of The Romany - free ebook by George Borrow

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Romano Lavo-Lil, Word-Book Of The Romany

George Borrow

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62 chapters

ROMANO LAVO-LIL

ROMANO LAVO-LIL

WORD-BOOK OF THE ROMANY OR, ENGLISH GYPSY LANGUAGE WITH SPECIMENS OF GYPSY POETRY, AND AN ACCOUNT OF CERTAIN GYPSYRIES OR PLACES INHABITED BY THEM, AND OF VARIOUS THINGS RELATING TO GYPSY LIFE IN ENGLAND By GEORGE BORROW LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1905 PRINTED BY HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD., LONDON AND AYLESBURY. The Author of the present work wishes to state that the Vocabulary, which forms part of it, has existed in manuscript for many years. It is one of several vocabularies

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THE ENGLISH GYPSY LANGUAGE

THE ENGLISH GYPSY LANGUAGE

The Gypsies of England call their language, as the Gypsies of many other countries call theirs, Romany or Romanes , a word either derived from the Indian Ram or Rama , which signifies a husband, or from the town Rome, which took its name either from the Indian Ram , or from the Gaulic word, Rom , which is nearly tantamount to husband or man, for as the Indian Ram means a husband or man, so does the Gaulic Pom signify that which constitutes a man and enables him to become a husband. Before enteri

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A

A

Abri , ad. prep. Out, not within, abroad: soving abri, sleeping abroad, not in a house. Celtic , Aber (the mouth or outlet of a river). Acai / Acoi, ad. Here. Adje, v. n. To stay, stop. See Atch, az. Adrey, prep. Into. Ajaw, ad. So. Wallachian , Asha. Aladge, a. Ashamed. Sans. Latch, laj. Aley, ad. Down: soving aley, lying down; to kin aley, to buy off, ransom. Hun. Ala, alat. Amande, pro. pers. dat. To me. An, v. a. imp. Bring: an lis opré, bring it up. Ana, v. a. Br

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B

B

Bal , s. Hair. Tibetian , Bal (wool). Sans. Bala (hair). Baleneskoe, a. Hairy. Balormengro. A hairy fellow; Hearne, the name of a Gypsy tribe. Balanser, s. The coin called a sovereign. Ballivas, s. Bacon. Span. Gyp. Balibá. Bangalo, a. Devilish. See Beng, bengako. Bango, a. Left, sinister, wrong, false: bango wast, the left hand; to saulohaul bango, like a plastra-mengro, to swear bodily like a Bow-street runner. Sans. Pangu (lame). Hun. Pang, pangó (stiff, lazy, paral

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C

C

Caen / Cane, v. n. To stink. Caenipen / Canipen, s . A stench. Caeninaflipen, s. Stinking sickness, the plague, gaol-fever. The old cant word Canihen, signifying the gaol-fever, is derived from this Gypsy term. Candelo / Cannelo, a. Stinking: cannelo mas, stinking meat. Sans. Gandha (smell). Callico / Collico, s. To-morrow, also yesterday: collico sorlo, to-morrow morning. Sans. Kalya. Hin. Kal (to-morrow, yesterday). Cana, ad. Now: cana sig, now soon. See Kanau, knau. Cam, s.

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D

D

Dad , s. Father. Welsh , Tâd. Wal. Tat. Rus. Gyp. Dad. Dado, s. Father. Rus. Gyp. Dado. Dand, s. Tooth. Sans. Danta. Danior, pl. Teeth. Dand, v. a. To bite. Daya / Dieya, s. Mother, properly nurse. Sans. Dhayas (fostering). Pers. [Persian which cannot be reproduced] Daya. Mod. Gr. θεῖα . Rus. Gyp. Daia. Wal. Doika. Deav, v. a. Give. Sans. Dā. Wal. Da. Del. He gives. Del-engro, s. A kicking-horse. Del-oprey, v. a. To read. Denne, ad. Than. Der. An affix , by w

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E

E

Eange , s. Itch. Ebyok, s. The sea. Sans. Aapa (water). Wal. Ape. Eft, a. Seven. Few of the English Gypsies are acquainted with this word; consequently, the generality, when they wish to express the number seven, without being understood by the Gorgios or Gentiles, say Dui trins ta yeck, two threes and one. En. A kind of genitive particle used in compound words, being placed between a noun and the particle ‘gro’ or ‘guero,’ which signifies a possessor, or that which governs a thing or

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F

F

Fake , v. a. To work, in a dishonest sense; to steal, pick pockets. Fakement, s. A robbery, any kind of work: a pretty fakement that, a pretty piece of work. A scoundrel—you ratfelo fakement, you precious scoundrel; a man of any kind—he’s no bad fakement after all; a girl, St. Paul’s Cathedral—what a rinkeny fakement, what a pretty girl, what a noble church. Fashono, a. False, fashioned, made up. Wal. Fatche (to make); fatze (face, surface). Fashono wangustis. Pretended gold rings, made

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G

G

Gad , s. A shirt: pauno gad, a clean shirt. Gare, v. n. , v. a. To take care, beware; to hide, conceal. Sans. Ghar, to cover. Garridan. You hid: luvvu sor garridan, the money which you hid. Garrivava, v. a. I hide or shall hide, take care: to gare his nangipen, to hide his nakedness. Gav, s. A town, village. Pers. [Persian which cannot be reproduced] Gav-engro, s. A constable, village officer, beadle, citizen. Gillie, s. A song. Sans. Khëli. Gillies. Songs. Sometimes used to de

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H

H

Ha / Haw, v. a. To eat. Habben, s. Food, victuals. Hal, v. a. To eat: mande can’t hal lis, I can’t eat it. Sans. Gala. Hanlo, s. A landlord, innkeeper. Span. Gyp. Anglanó. Hatch, v. a. To burn, light a fire. Hatchipen, s. A burning. Hatch, v. n. To stay, stop. See Adje, atch, az. Hatchi-witchu, s. A hedgehog. This is a compound word from the Wal. Aritche, a hedgehog, and the Persian Besha, a wood, and signifies properly the prickly thing of the wood. In Spanish Gypsy, one of

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I

I

I, pro. She, it. I. A feminine and neuter termination : e.g. Yag engr i , a fire-thing or gun; coin si , who is she? so si , what is it? Inna / Inner, prep. In, within: inner Lundra, in London. Span. Gyp. Enré. Iouzia, s. A flower. Is, conj. If; it is affixed to the verb—e.g. Dikiomis, if I had seen. Iv, s. Snow. Hun. Gyp. Yiv. Span. Gyp. Give. Iv-engri / Ivi-mengri, s. Snow-thing, snowball. Iuziou, a. Clean. Mod. Gr. ὑγιὴς (sound, healthy). See Roujio....

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J

J

Jal . To go, walk, journey. This verb is allied to various words in different languages signifying movement, course or journey:—to the Sanscrit Il, ila, to go; to the Russian Gulliat, to stroll, to walk about; to the Turkish Iel, a journey; to the Jol of the Norse, and the Yule of the Anglo-Saxons, terms applied to Christmas-tide, but which properly mean the circular journey which the sun has completed at that season: for what are Jol and Yule but the Ygul of the Hebrews? who call the zodiac ‘

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K

K

Kael , s. Cheese. Kaes, s. Cheese. Kah / Kai, ad. Where: kai tiro ker, where’s your house? kai si the churi, where is the knife? Sans. Kva. Kair, v. a. To do. Sans. Kri, to do; kara (doing). Kair misto. To make well, cure, comfort. Kairipen, s. Work, labour. Sans. Karman. Kakkaratchi, s. Magpie; properly a raven. Mod. Gr. κορακαζ . Kanau / Knau, ad. Now. Karring. Crying out, hawking goods. Span. Gyp. Acarar (to call). See Koring. Kaulo, a. Black. Sans. Kãla. Arab. [Arab

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L

L

La , pro. pers. Her; accusative of ‘i’ or ‘ yoi,’ she. Laki, pro. poss. Her: laki die, her mother. Lasa / Lasar, With her; instrumental case of ‘i.’ Later. From her; ablative of ‘i.’ Lati. Genitive of ‘i’; frequently used as the accusative—e.g. cams tu lati, do you love her? Lang / Lango, a. Lame. Sans. Lang. Pers. [Persian which cannot be reproduced] Lenk. Lashi / Lasho, Louis. Hungarian , Lajos, Lazlo. Scotch, Lesley. Latch, v. a. To find. Wal. Aphla. Lav, s. Word. Sans . La

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M

M

Má , ad. Not; only used before the imperative: má muk, let not. Sans. Mã. Pers. [Persian which cannot be reproduced] Maas, s. Sans. Mansa Mans. Rus. Maso. See Mas. Maas-engro / Maaso-mengro, s. Butcher. Mailla, s. Ass, donkey. Wal. Megaroul. Sans. Baluya. Mailla and posh. Ass and foal. Malleco, a. False. Malúno / Maloney, s. Lightning. Rus. Mólnïya. Mam, s. Mother. Wal. Moume. Welsh , Mam. Irish and Scottish Gaelic , Muime (a nurse). Man, pron. pers. I; very seldom use

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N

N

Na , ad. Not. Naflipen, s. Sickness. Span. Gyp. Nasallipen. Mod. Gr. νόσευμα . Naflo, a. Sick. Nai. Properly Na hi, there is not: nai men chior, we have no girls. Naior, s. pl. Nails of the fingers or toes. Mod. Gr. νύχι . Nangipen, s. Nakedness. Nango, a. Naked. Narilla / Narrila, A female Gypsy name. Nash, v. a. To run. Span. Gyp. Najar. Nashimescro, s. Runner, racer. Nashimescro-tan, s. Race-course. Nash, v. a. To lose, destroy, to hang. Sans. Nasa. Span. Gyp. Naj

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O

O

O, art. def. The. O, pron. He. Odoi, ad. There. Hun. Ott, oda. Oduvvu, pron. dem. That. Span. Gyp. Odoba. Olevas / Olivas / Olivor, s. pl. Stockings. Span. Gyp. Olibias. Wal. Chorapul. Opral / Opré / Oprey, prep. Upon, above. Wal. Pre, asoupra. Or. A plural termination; for example, Shock, a cabbage, pl. shock-or. It is perhaps derived from Ouri, the plural termination of Wallachian neuter nouns ending in ‘e.’ Ora, s.f. A watch. Hun. Ora. Ora, s. An hour: so si ora, what’

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P

P

Pa , prep. By: pá mui, by mouth. Rus. Po. Padlo, ad. Across: padlo pawnie, across the water, transported. Pahamengro, s. Turnip. Pailloes, s. Filberts. Pal, s. Brother. Pal of the bor. Brother of the hedge, hedgehog. Palal, prep. ad. Behind, after, back again: av palal, come back, come again: palal the welgorus, after the fair. Mod. Gr. πάλιν (again). Rus. Opiat ( id. ). Pali, ad. Again, back. Pand, v. a. To bind. Sans. Bandh. Pandipen, s. Pinfold, prison, pound. Pandlo, p

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R

R

Raia , s. Gentleman, lord. See Rye. Rak, v. n. To beware, take care; rak tute, take care of yourself. Sans. Raksh (to guard, preserve). Rakli, s.f. Girl. Raklo, s. Boy, lad. Ran, s. Rod: ranior, rods. Sans. Ratha (cane, ratan). Rarde, s. Night. Sans. Rātri. Rardiskey, a. Nightly. Rardiskey kair poggring, s. Housebreaking by night, burglary. Rashengro, s. Clergyman. Rashi, s. Clergyman, priest. Sans. Rishi (holy person). Rashieskey rokkring tan, s. Pulpit. Ratcheta, s.

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S

S

Sacki . Name of a Gypsy man. Sainyor, s. Pins. Span. Gyp. Chingabar (a pin). Sal, v. n. To laugh; properly, he laughs. Span. Gyp. Asaselarse. Sans. Has. Salla. She laughs. Salivaris, s.f. Bridle. See Sollibari. Sap / Sarp, s. Snake, serpent. Wal. Sharpelé. Span. Gyp. Chaplesca. Sappors, s. pl. Snakes. Sap drey chaw. A snake in the grass: sap drey bor, a snake in the hedge. Sapnis, s. Soap. Mod. Gr. σαποῦνι . Wal. Sipoun. Sar, postpos. , prepos. With: mensar, with us; sar

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T

T

Tã , conj. And. Talleno, a. Woollen: talleno chofa, woollen or flannel petticoat. Tan, s. Place, tent. Hun. Tanya. Tard / Tardra, v. a. To raise, build, pull, draw: the kair is tardrad opré, the house is built; tard the chaw opré, pull up the grass. Hin. Tornã (to pluck). Wal. Tratze. Gaelic , Tarruinn. Tardra-mengre. Hop-pickers. Tas, s. Cup, nest of a bird. See Dui tas, doo das. Tasarla / Tasorlo, s. To-morrow. Lit. to-early. See Sorlo. Tasarla, s. The evening. This word

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V

V

Vangus , s. Finger. Sans. Angula. Vangustri, s. Ring. Sans. Angulika, anguri. See Wangustri. Vaneshu, s. Nothing. From the Wallachian Ba nitchi, not at all. Var, s. Flour: var-engro, a miller. See Waro. Vardo, s. Cart. See Wardo. Vassavo / Vassavy, a. Bad, evil. Vast, s. Hand. Vava. An affix , by which the future of a verb is formed, as Heta-vava. It seems to be the Wallachian Wa-fi, he shall or will be. Vellin, s. A bottle. Vauros, s. A city. Hun. Város. Sans. Puri.

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W

W

Wafo , a. Another. Sans. Apara. Wafo divvus, s. Yesterday. Lit. the other day. Wafo tem. Another country, foreign land. Wafo temeskoe mush, s. A foreigner, another countryman. Wafo tem-engre. Foreigners. Wafodu / Wafudo, a. Bad, evil. Wafodúder. Worse: wafodúder than dovor, worse than they. Wafodu-pen, s. Wickedness. Wafodu guero, s. The Evil One, Satan. Wafodu tan, s. Hell, bad place. Wangar, s. Coals, charcoal. Sans. Angara. See Wongar. Wangustri, s. Ring. Warda, v.

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Y

Y

Yack , s. Eye. Sans. Akshi. Germ. Auge. Rus. Oko. Lithuanian , Akis. Lat. Oculus. Yackor. Eyes. Yag, s. Fire. Sans. Agni. Rus. Ogon. Lithuanian , Ugnis. Lat. Ignis. Irish , An (water, fire). Yag-engri, s. Gun, fire-thing. Yag-engro / Yago-mengro, s. Gamekeeper, sportsman, fireman. Yag-kairepénes, s. Fireworks. Yag-vardo, s. Fire-car, railroad carriage. Yarb, s. Herb. Yarb-tan, s. Garden. Yeck, a. One. Sans. Eka. Hin. Yak. Yeckoro, a. Only: yeckoro chavo, only son

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Z

Z

Zi , s. The heart, mind. Hun. Sziv. Sans. Dhi. Zimmen, s. Broth. Wal. Zmenteni (cream). Zoomi, s. f. Broth, soup. Mod. Gr. ζουμὶ . Wal. Zamie (juice). Zingaro. A Gypsy, a person of mixed blood, one who springs from various races, a made-up person. Sans. Sangkara, compositus (made-up)....

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RHYMED LIST OF GYPSY VERBS

RHYMED LIST OF GYPSY VERBS

To dick and jin, To bikn and kin; To pee and hal, And av and jal; To kair and poggra, Shoon and rokra; To caur and chore, Heta and cour, Moar and more, To drab and dook, And nash on rook; To pek and tove, And sove and rove, And nash on poove; To tardra oprey, And chiv aley; To pes and gin, To mang and chin, To pootch and pukker, Hok and dukker; To besh and kel, To del and lel, And jib to tel; Bitch, atch, and hatch, Roddra and latch; To gool and saul, And sollohaul; To pand and wustra, Hokta and

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BETIE ROKRAPENES

BETIE ROKRAPENES

So must I ker, daiya, to ker tute mistos? It is my Dovvel’s kerrimus, and we can’t help asarlus. Mi Dovvel opral, dick tuley opré mande. If I could lel bonnek tute, het-avava tute. Misto kedast tute. Dovey si fino covar, ratfelo jukkal, sas miro. The plastra-mengro sollohaul’d bango. Me camava jaw drey the Nevi Wesh to dick the purey Bare-mescrey. You jin feter dovey oduvu. Will you pes for a coro levinor? Mā pi kekomi. Mā rokra kekomi. Bori shil se mande. Tatto tu coccori, pen. Kekkeno pawni do

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THE FIRST DAY Genesis i. 1, 2, 3, 4

THE FIRST DAY Genesis i. 1, 2, 3, 4

Drey the sherripen Midibble kair’d the temoprey tá the puv; Tá the puv was chungalo, tá chichi was adrey lis; Tá temnopen was oprey the mui of the boro put. Tá Midibble’s bavol-engri besh’d oprey the pánior; Tá Midibble penn’d: Mook there be dute! tá there was dute. Tá Midibble dick’d that the doot was koosho-koshko. Tá Midibble chinn’d enrey the dute tá the temnopen; Tá Midibble kor’d the dute divvus, tá the temnopen kor’d yo rarde; Tá the sarla, tá the sorlo were yeckto divvus....

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THE FIFTH DAY Genesis i. 20, 21, 22, 23

THE FIFTH DAY Genesis i. 20, 21, 22, 23

Then Midibble penn’d; Mook sore the panior Chinn tairie jibbing engris bute dosta, Tá prey puv be bute dosta chiricles To vol adrey the rek of the tarpe. Then Midibble kair’d the borie baulo-matches, Tá sore covar that has jibbing zi adreylis, The bute, bute tairie covars drey the panior Sore yeck drey its genos kair’d Midibble, The chiricles that vol adrey the tarpe Sore yeck drey its genos kair’d he lende: Then Midibble dick’d that sore was koosho-koshko, And he chiv’d his koshto rokrapen opre

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THE CREATION OF MAN Genesis i. 27, 28

THE CREATION OF MAN Genesis i. 27, 28

Then Mi-dibble kair’d Manoo drey his dikkipen, Drey Mi-dibble’s dikkipen kair’d he leste; Mush and mushi kair’d Dibble lende And he chiv’d his koshto rokrapen opreylen: Penn’d Mi-dibble: Dey ye frute ever-komi, Ever-komi be burreder your nummer; Per with chauves and chiyor the puvo And oprey sore the puvo be krallior, Oprey the dooiya and its matches, And oprey the chiricles of the tarpé, And oprey soro covar that’s jibbing And peers prey the mui of the puvo....

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THE LORD’S PRAYER

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Meery dearie Dad, sauvo jivves drey the tem oprey, be sharrafo teero nav, te awel teero tem, be kedo sore so caumes oprey ye poov, sar kairdios drey the tem oprey. Dey man to divvus meery divvuskey morro; tá for-dey mande mande’s pizzaripenes, sar mande fordeava wafor mushes lende’s pizzaripenes; mã mook te petrav drey kek tentacionos, but lel mande abri from sore wafodupen; for teero se o tem, Mi-dibble, teero o ruslopen, tá yi corauni knaw tá ever-komi. Si covar ajaw....

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THE APOSTLES’ CREED

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

Apasavello drey Mi-dovel; Dad sore-ruslo savo kerdo o praio tem, tá cav acoi tulēy: tá drey lescro yekkero Chauvo Jesus Christus moro erray, beano of wendror of Mi-develeskey Geiry Mary; was curredo by the wast of Poknish Pontius Pilatos; was nash’d oprey ye Trihool; was mored, and chived adrey ye puve; jall’d tulēy ye temno drom ke wafudo tan, bengeskoe starriben; tá prey ye trito divvus jall’d yo oprey ke koshto tan, Mi-dovels ker; beshel yo knaw odoy prey Mi-dovels tatcho wast, Dad sore-ruslo

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LIL OF ROMANO JINNYPEN BOOK OF THE WISDOM OF THE EGYPTIANS

LIL OF ROMANO JINNYPEN BOOK OF THE WISDOM OF THE EGYPTIANS

The tawno fokey often putches so koskipen se drey the Romano jib? Mande pens ye are sore dinneles; bute, bute koskipen se adrey lis, ta dusta, dosta of moro foky would have been bitcheno or nash’d, but for the puro, choveno Romano jib. A lav in Romany, penn’d in cheeros to a tawnie rakli, and rigg’d to the tan, has kair’d a boro kisi of luvvo and wafor covars, which had been chor’d, to be chived tuley pov, so that when the muskerres well’d they could latch vanisho, and had kek yeckly to muk th

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ROMANE NAVIOR OF TEMES AND GAVIOR GYPSY NAMES OF CONTRIES AND TOWNS

ROMANE NAVIOR OF TEMES AND GAVIOR GYPSY NAMES OF CONTRIES AND TOWNS

Baulo-mengreskey tem Swineherds’ country, Hampshire Bitcheno padlengreskey tem Transported fellows’ country, Botany Bay Bokra-mengreskey tem Shepherds’ country, Sussex Bori-congriken gav Great church town, York Boro-rukeneskey gav Great tree town, Fairlop Boro gueroneskey tem Big fellows’ country, Northumberland Chohawniskey tem Witches’ country, Lancashire Choko-mengreskey gav Shoemakers’ town, Northampton Churi-mengreskey gav Cutlers’ town, Sheffield Coro-mengreskey tem Potters’ country, Staff

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THOMAS ROSSAR-MESCRO

THOMAS ROSSAR-MESCRO

Prey Juniken bis diuto divvus, drey the besh yeck mille ochto shel shovardesh ta trin, mande jaw’d to dick Thomas Rossar-mescro, a puro Romano, of whom mande had shoon’d bute. He was jibbing drey a tan naveno Rye Groby’s Court, kek dur from the Coromengreskoe Tan ta Bokkar-engreskey Wesh. When mande dick’d leste he was beshing prey the poov by his wuddur, chiving misto the poggado tuleskey part of a skammin. His ker was posh ker, posh wardo, and stood drey a corner of the tan; kek dur from le

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KOKKODUS ARTARUS

KOKKODUS ARTARUS

Drey the puro cheeros there jibb’d a puri Romani juva, Sinfaya laki nav. Tatchi Romani juva i; caum’d to rokkra Romany, nav’d every mush kokkodus, ta every mushi deya. Yeck chavo was láki; lescro nav Artáros; dinnelo or diviou was O; romadi was lesgué; but the rommadi merr’d, mukking leste yeck chávo. Artáros caum’d to jal oprey the drom, and sikker his nangipen to rawnies and kair muior. At last the ryor chiv’d leste drey the diviou ker. The chávo jibb’d with his puri deya till he was a de

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MANG, PRALA

MANG, PRALA

Romano chavo was manging sar bori gudli yeck rye te del les pasherro. Lescri deya so was beshing kek dur from odoy penn’d in gorgikey rokrapen: Meklis juggal, ta av acoi! ma kair the rye kinyo with your gudli! and then penn’d sig in Romany jib: Mang, Prala, mang! Ta o chavo kair’d ajaw till the rye chiv’d les yeck shohaury. [Something like the following little anecdote is related by the Gypsies in every part of Continental Europe.] A Gypsy brat was once pestering a gentleman to give him a half

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WELLING KATTANEY: THE GYPSY MEETING

WELLING KATTANEY: THE GYPSY MEETING

Coin si deya, coin se dado? Pukker mande drey Romanes, Ta mande pukkeravava tute. Rossar-mescri minri deya! Vardo-mescro minro dado! Coin se dado, coin si deya? Mande’s pukker’d tute drey Romanes; Knau pukker tute mande. Petuiengro minro dado! Purana minri deya! Tatchey Romany si men— Mande’s pukker’d tute drey Romanes, Ta tute’s pukker’d mande. Who’s your mother, who’s your father? Do thou answer me in Romany, And I will answer thee. A Hearne I have for mother! A Cooper for my father! Who’s you

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LELLING CAPPI: MAKING A FORTUNE

LELLING CAPPI: MAKING A FORTUNE

“ Av , my little Romany chel! Av along with mansar! Av, my little Romany chel! Koshto si for mangue.” “I shall lel a curapen, If I jal aley; I shall lel a curapen From my dear bebee.” “I will jal on my chongor, Then I’ll pootch your bebee. ‘O my dear bebee, dey me your chi, For koshto si for mangue.’ “‘Since you pootch me for my chi, I will dey you lati.’” Av, my little Romany chel! We will jal to the wafu tem: “I will chore a beti gry, And so we shall lel cappi.” “Kek

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THE DUI CHALOR

THE DUI CHALOR

Dui Romany Chals were bitcheney, Bitcheney pawdle the bori pawnee. Plato for kawring, Lasho for choring The putsi of a bori rawnee. And when they well’d to the wafu tem, The tem that’s pawdle the bori pawnee, Plato was nasho Sig, but Lasho Was lell’d for rom by a bori rawnee. You cam to jin who that rawnie was, ’Twas the rawnie from whom he chor’d the putsee: The Chal had a black Chohauniskie yack, And she slomm’d him pawdle the bori pawnee. Two Gypsy lads were transported, Were sent across the

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MIRO ROMANY CHl

MIRO ROMANY CHl

As I was a jawing to the gav yeck divvus I met on the drom miro Romany chi; I pootch’d las whether she come sar mande, And she penn’d tu sar wafo rommadis; O mande there is kek wafo romady, So penn’d I to miro Romany chi, And I’ll kair tute miro tatcho romadi If you but pen tu come sar mande. As I to the town was going one day My Roman lass I met by the way; Said I: Young maid, will you share my lot? Said she: Another wife you’ve got. Ah no! to my Roman lass I cried: No wife have I in the world

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AVA, CHI

AVA, CHI

Hokka tute mande Mande pukkra bebee Mande shauvo tute— Ava, Chi! If to me you prove untrue, Quickly I’ll your auntie tell I’ve been over-thick with you— Yes, my girl, I will....

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THE TEMESKOE RYE

THE TEMESKOE RYE

Penn’d the temeskoe rye to the Romany chi, As the choon was dicking prey lende dui: Rinkeny tawni, Romany rawni, Mook man choom teero gudlo mui. Said the youthful earl to the Gypsy girl, As the moon was casting its silver shine: Brown little lady, Egyptian lady, Let me kiss those sweet lips of thine....

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CAMO-GILLIE

CAMO-GILLIE

Pawnie birks My men-engni shall be; Yackors my dudes Like ruppeney shine: Atch meery chi! Mā jal away: Perhaps I may not dick tute Kek komi. I’d choose as pillows for my head Those snow-white breasts of thine; I’d use as lamps to light my bed Those eyes of silver shine: O lovely maid, disdain me not, Nor leave me in my pain: Perhaps ’twill never be my lot To see thy face again....

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TUGNIS AMANDE

TUGNIS AMANDE

I’m jalling across the pāni— A choring mas and morro, Along with a bori lubbeny, And she has been the ruin of me. I sov’d yeck rarde drey a gran, A choring mas and morro, Along with a bori lubbeny, And she has been the ruin of me. She pootch’d me on the collico, A choring mas and morro, To jaw with lasa to the show, For she would be the ruin of me. And when I jaw’d odoy with lasa, A choring mas and morro, Sig she chor’d a rawnie’s kissi, And so she was the ruin of me. They lell’d up lata, they l

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THE RYE AND RAWNIE

THE RYE AND RAWNIE

The rye he mores adrey the wesh The kaun-engro and chiriclo; You sovs with leste drey the wesh, And rigs for leste the gono. Oprey the rukh adrey the wesh Are chiriclo and chiricli; Tuley the rukh adrey the wesh Are pireno and pireni. The squire he roams the good greenwood, And shoots the pheasant and the hare; Thou sleep’st with him in good green wood, And dost for him the game-sack bear. I see, I see upon the tree The little male and female dove; Below the tree I see, I se

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ROMANY SUTTUR GILLIE

ROMANY SUTTUR GILLIE

Jaw to sutturs, my tiny chal; Your die to dukker has jall’d abri; At rarde she will wel palal And tute of her tud shall pie. Jaw to lutherum, tiny baw! I’m teerie deya’s purie mam; As tute cams her tud canaw Thy deya meerie tud did cam. Sleep thee, little tawny boy! Thy mother’s gone abroad to spae, Her kindly milk thou shalt enjoy When home she comes at close of day. Sleep thee, little tawny guest! Thy mother is my daughter fine; As thou dost love her kindly breast, She once did lov

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SHARRAFI KRALYISSA

SHARRAFI KRALYISSA

Finor coachey innar Lundra, Bonor coachey innar Lundra, Finor coachey, bonor coachey Mande dick’d innar Lundra. Bonor, finor coachey Mande dick’d innar Lundra The divvus the Kralyissa jall’d To congri innar Lundra. Coaches fine in London, Coaches good in London, Coaches fine and coaches good I did see in London. Coaches good and coaches fine I did see in London, The blessed day our blessed Queen Rode to church in London....

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PLASTRA LESTI

PLASTRA LESTI

Gare yourselves, pralor! Mã pee kek-komi! The guero’s welling— Plastra lesti! Up , up, brothers! Cease your revels! The Gentile’s coming— Run like devils! Oy die-la, oy mama-la oy! Cherie podey mangue penouri. Russian Gypsy Song ....

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THE ROMANY SONGSTRESS FROM THE RUSSIAN GYPSY

THE ROMANY SONGSTRESS FROM THE RUSSIAN GYPSY

Her temples they are aching, As if wine she had been taking; Her tears are ever springing, Abandoned is her singing! She can neither eat nor nest With love she’s so distress’d; At length she’s heard to say: “Oh here I cannot stay, Go saddle me my steed, To my lord I must proceed; In his palace plenteously Both eat and drink shall I; The servants far and wide, Bidding guests shall run and ride. And when within the hall the multitude I see, I’ll raise my

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L’ERAJAI

L’ERAJAI

Un erajai Sinaba chibando un sermon; Y lle falta un balicho Al chindomar de aquel gao, Y lo chanelaba que los Cales Lo abian nicabao; Y penela l’erajai, “Chaboró! Guillate a tu quer Y nicabela la peri Que terela el balicho, Y chibela andro Una lima de tun chaborí, Chabori, Una lima de tun chabori.” A Friar Was preaching once with zeal and with fire; And a butcher of the town Had lost a flitch of bacon; And well the friar knew That the Gypsies it had taken; So suddenly he shouted: “G

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MALBRUN FROM THE SPANISH GYPSY VERSION

MALBRUN FROM THE SPANISH GYPSY VERSION

Chaló Malbrun chingarár, Birandón, birandón, birandéra! Chaló Malbrun chingarár; No sé bus truterá! No sé bus truterá! La romi que le caméla, Birandón, birandón, birandéra! La romi que le camela Muy curepeñada está, Muy curepeñada está. S’ardéla á la felichá, Birandón, birandón, birandéra! S’ardéla á la felichá Y baribu dur dicá, Y baribu dur dicá. Dicá abillar su burno, Birandón, birandón, birandéra! Dicá abillar su burno, En ropa callardá, En ropa callardá. “Burno, lacho quirbó; Birandón, bira

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TUGNEY BESHOR

TUGNEY BESHOR

The Romany Chals Should jin so bute As the Puro Beng To scape of gueros And wafo gorgies The wafodupen. They lels our gryor, They lels our wardoes, And wusts us then Drey starripenes To mer of pishens And buklipen. Cauna volélan Muley pappins Pawdle the len Men artavàvam Of gorgio foky The wafodupen. Ley teero sollohanloinus opreylis! The wit and the skill Of the Father of ill, Who’s clever indeed, If they would hope With their foes to cope The Romany need. Our horses they take, Our waggon

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THEIR HISTORY

THEIR HISTORY

The English Gypsies call themselves Romany Chals and Romany Chies, that is, Sons and Daughters of Rome. When speaking to each other, they say “Pal” and “Pen”; that is, brother and sister. All people not of their own blood they call “Gorgios,” or Gentiles. Gypsies first made their appearance in England about the year 1480. They probably came from France, where tribes of the race had long been wandering about under the names of Bohemians and Egyptians. In England they pursued the same kind of

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GYPSY NAMES

GYPSY NAMES

There are many curious things connected with the Gypsies, but perhaps nothing more so than what pertains to their names. They have a double nomenclature, each tribe or family having a public and a private name, one by which they are known to the Gentiles, and another to themselves alone. Their public names are quite English; their private ones attempts, some of them highly singular and uncouth, to render those names by Gypsy equivalents. Gypsy names may be divided into two classes, names conn

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THE HUKNI

THE HUKNI

The Gypsy makes some poor simpleton of a lady believe that if the latter puts her gold into her hands, and she makes it up into a parcel, and puts it between the lady’s feather-bed and mattress, it will at the end of a month be multiplied a hundredfold, provided the lady does not look at it during all that time. On receiving the money she makes it up into a brown paper parcel, which she seals with wax, turns herself repeatedly round, squints, and spits, and then puts between the feather-bed and

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CAURING

CAURING

The Gypsy has some queer, old-fashioned gold piece; this she takes to some goldsmith’s shop, at the window of which she has observed a basin full of old gold coins, and shows it to the goldsmith, asking him if he will purchase it. He looks at it attentively, and sees that it is of very pure gold; whereupon he says that he has no particular objection to buy it; but that as it is very old it is not of much value, and that he has several like it. “Have you indeed, Master?” says the Gypsy; “then p

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WANDSWORTH, 1864

WANDSWORTH, 1864

What may be called the grand Metropolitan Gypsyry is on the Surrey side of the Thames. Near the borders of Wandsworth and Battersea, about a quarter of a mile from the river, is an open piece of ground which may measure about two acres. To the south is a hill, at the foot of which is a railway, and it is skirted on the north by the Wandsworth and Battersea Road. This place is what the Gypsies call a kekkeno mushes puv , a no man’s ground; a place which has either no proprietor, or which the p

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THE POTTERIES, 1864

THE POTTERIES, 1864

The second great Gypsyry is on the Middlesex side of the river, and is distant about three miles, as the crow flies, from that of Wandsworth. Strange as it may seem, it is not far distant from the most fashionable part of London; from the beautiful squares, noble streets, and thousand palaces of Tyburnia, a region which, though only a small part of the enormous metropolis, can show more beautiful edifices, wealth, elegance, and luxury, than all foreign capitals put together. After passing Tybu

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THE MOUNT

THE MOUNT

Before quitting the subject of Metropolitan Gypsies there is another place to which it will be necessary to devote a few words, though it is less entitled to the appelation of Gypsyry than rookery. It is situated in the East of London, a region far more interesting to the ethnologist and the philologist than the West, for there he will find people of all kinds of strange races,—the wildest Irish; Greeks, both Orthodox and Papistical; Jews, not only Ashkenazim and Sephardim, but even Karaite; th

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RYLEY BOSVIL

RYLEY BOSVIL

Ryley Bosvil was a native of Yorkshire, a country where, as the Gypsies say, “there’s a deadly sight of Bosvils.” He was above the middle height, exceedingly strong and active, and one of the best riders in Yorkshire, which is saying a great deal. He was a thorough Gypsy, versed in all the arts of the old race, had two wives, never went to church, and considered that when a man died he was cast into the earth, and there was an end of him. He frequently used to say that if any of his people be

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KIRK YETHOLM

KIRK YETHOLM

There are two Yetholms—Town Yetholm and Kirk Yetholm. They stand at the distance of about a quarter of a mile from each other, and between them is a valley, down which runs a small stream, called the Beaumont River, crossed by a little stone bridge. Of the town there is not much to be said. It is a long, straggling place, on the road between Morbuttle and Kelso, from which latter place it is distant about seven miles. It is comparatively modern, and sprang up when the Kirk town began to fall

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