etymology of "skanger"? (1 Viewer)

[Scientician 0.8]

Someone once told me the term "skanger" came from the fact that back in the early '80s lots of the people nowadays called "skangers" were into ska music, The Specials etc and especially UB40. Is there any truth in this? Does anyone care? .|..|

 

[avernus]

sounds plausible. although hard to reconcile.

 

[Scientician 0.8]

I remember when i was in primary school people used to be called "ska" alot.

 

[c0De_n1NjA]

i know silkies are called silkies cuz they wear silky tracksuits, and feelers are called feelers cuz they feel you willy, but skangers..?

 

[SONYMEGADRIVE]

desertedvillage prior once told me it had something to do with a west indian term derived from "scavanger" or something

seriously - what an odd coincidence....maybe he remembers?

 

[St. Fechin]

desertedvillage prior once told me it had something to do with a west indian term derived from "scavanger" or something

seriously - what an odd coincidence....maybe he remembers?

http://www.hiberno-english.com/archive.php

 

[cyclotron]

Someone once told me the term "skanger" came from the fact that back in the early '80s lots of the people nowadays called "skangers" were into ska music, The Specials etc and especially UB40. Is there any truth in this? Does anyone care? .|..|

That word wasn't used back then. UB40 weren't what you'd call ska either.

 

[Jerry Twig]

Wikipedia is very informative on the subject on all points except the origin of the name. Classic in fact.

Good question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skanger

 

[nofriendo]

could it have come from scanda jackets ? it seemed to start at the same time. What ever happened to 'townies' ?

 

[Osama Van Halen]

could it have come from scanda jackets ? it seemed to start at the same time. What ever happened to 'townies' ?

HOUSE PRICES HAVE DRIVEN THEM OUT OF THE TOWNS AND TURNED THEM INTO DIRTY FILTHY SCUMMERS.


SKANGAQUANDO!!

 

[Chad]

my dad was a bit of a skanger back in the day and he loves Ska and UB40 although he said it was scumbag music haha. so i think it probably does have some truth

 

[mainbattlerobot]

I thought it came from the 'Scanadanvian' jackets they all used to wear. And as words do evolve, it changed to 'Scanger' or 'Skanger'. At least thats what i presumed.

 

[classic seanc]

I thought it came from the 'Scanadanvian' jackets they all used to wear. And as words do evolve, it changed to 'Scanger' or 'Skanger'. At least thats what i presumed.

Yes me too. Scanda jacket's I think they were called.
"Gor-texxer" was just too unwieldy

 

[pete]

desertedvillage prior once told me it had something to do with a west indian term derived from "scavanger" or something

seriously - what an odd coincidence....maybe he remembers?

true

 

[Scientician 0.8]

How old a term is it?

 

[pete]

According to Professor Terry Dolan, author of A Dictionary of Hiberno English which has just been published in paperback by Gill and Macmillan at €12.99, "Much of the influence comes from London where the origins of the word 'skanger' can be found. I'm pretty certain this is a collapsed form of the word 'scavenger' from a West Indian word used by the Caribbean community in London.

http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=45&si=1557283&issue_id=13648

 

[SONYMEGADRIVE]

from what i remember, it had somethign to do with sailors...so it goes back to pirate days, 6th century bc and shit

 

[mamul]

anyone here ever have a gore tex as a fashion item? personally i could never afford a gore tex proper and had to make do with its poorer cousin, the vander. i remember being told that the reason the jackets where so popular was that car thiefs could wear them out at night in the rain etc, and the shelf created by pulling the waist string super tight was ideal for resting a stolen car radio or any other lifted goods. plus the fact that they had like a million hidden pockets was ideal for hiding five spots from the law.

 

[classic seanc]

and the shelf created by pulling the waist string super tight was ideal for resting a stolen car radio or any other lifted goods.

And can's.

It also made scrawny scangers look like big bulky tough skangers.

 

[Buzzo]

I used to wear parkas and bomber jackets from Army Bargains to hide flagons and five spots in. Big swingin mickquoi....