It's a piece of rhyming slang - for 'idiot'.
I am pleased that Piers knows the origin tho' I'd expect no less.
It refers to a dimwit 19th Century (?) celebrity of the name of
Berkley Hunt.
No further explanation forthcoming.
Berkshire and Derby are place names pronounced as if the 'e' is an
'a'. This is because, like many English names, they have retained the
pronunciation as it was before the Great Vowel Shift (mid-12th
Century). If you are going to steal them, for gawd's sake, get them
right!
Please note also -
Leicester - lester (where I was dragged up).
And for Tasmanians, Launceston - lawnstun.
Andrew Fildes
afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
On 05/02/2009, at 11:59 PM, John Hudson wrote:
> Hey, what's wrong with Berk?
--
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