MN Slang?

[Charlie Hannah]

My old Dad told us kids that he Donally was the Skipper of the ship on the spire of Saint Nicks."when Donnelly docks". It was a saying that was often used at home.

[happy daze john in oz]

................He has more money than Soft Ned, more women than Soft Ned etc. etc.

Not sure of the origins of that one but it is commonly used in parts of Ireland. Never have found out who he was though.

[Dennis McGuckin]

So no body knows Soft Ned? Maybe in my demented youth I made up my own language!!
Den.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Dennis I heard you are still doing it

[Dennis McGuckin]

Could be right Ivan.
Maybe it was all a combination of words from my Irish Da, and my Scottish Ma. Plus the crews I sailed with.
Or????
Den.

[happy daze john in oz]

So no body knows Soft Ned? Maybe in my demented youth I made up my own language!!
Den.

As it is common in Ireland and Liverpool is often said to be the capital of Ireland maybe that is where you heard it!!!

[E.Martin]

Gnomies on Gantlines.

[happy daze john in oz]

But where did much of the names we knew in Mn come from.
Why was a waiter a winger?
Why was the rubbish bin Rosie?
The heads were so called as on the old sailing ships the crap house was at the bow of the ship.
Some such as deckhead are fairly easy to understand.
Focsle is derived from fore castle on sailing ships but where did the Hawsepipe come from?
There are many more that maybe some can enlighten us on.

[Bob Hollis]

So no body knows Soft Ned? Maybe in my demented youth I made up my own language!!
Den.

Hi Denis, I believe the saying came from what was once an easy way of acquiring money, sort of a legal version of "Brown Envelopes".
The Ned should read NED and is Non Executive Director. Some people had as many as 10 or more of these positions and all they did was simply allow their name to be associated with a certain company. I suppose the greatest one was "By Appointment to HM". The post still exists but to-day they are expected to do some work for their money.

[Neville Roberts]

how about the saying, more meat on a chickens lip. as in not much meat on the bone . or more meat on a butchers pencil.can be used to say someone is thin .