Canadian Slang
spikecomix @ Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:35 pm
By a sequence of random events, I came across this Wikipedia article on Canadian slang!
I love linguistics, and I love lists, so I had a good time reading it, but I noticed that a lot of the terminology seems to be from out West, probably Vancouver (why else would there be so much slang referring to just Vancouver subregions but not other subregions?) and some of it seems old which I don't think is very representative!
So I think we should flesh it out more 
Unfortunately, I can't do it alone because a) I'm already from Vancouver, b) it's hard to tell what's slang until you ask someone who's not from here! and c) I'm not sure how long something has to 'stick' before it's accepted.
So! SHARE YOUR SLANG! Of course, please include the explanation! Also, please point out if your region does or does not use the slang!
I have a few terms that I would like to suggest to start:
Zipperfish @ Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:40 pm
Skookum - -anything really big and/or strong
Chuck -- saltwater
ziggy @ Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:47 pm
Zipperfish Zipperfish:
Skookum - -anything really big and/or strong
Chuck -- saltwater
Chuck -- saltwater
Skookum-it's good. never heard it attributed to something big and strong,maybe it's different in different provinces.
Ripper-tear
Tear-drunk
Hammed-drunk
runaway-hammed up drunk usually associated with a real skookum road trip where everyone go's on a ripper or tear.
spikecomix @ Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:52 pm
I've never heard of Skookum or Chuck, but I've heard of "Skookumchuk"... though I never figured out what it means. I guess it means big saltwater pass lol
However both of these words are already in the Wikipedia :O
Ziggy, I've never heard of any of those terms , what region is "the continental divide"?
ziggy @ Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:56 pm
spikecomix spikecomix:
I've never heard of Skookum or Chuck, but I've heard of "Skookumchuk"... though I never figured out what it means. I guess it means big saltwater pass lol
However both of these words are already in the Wikipedia :O
Ziggy, I've never heard of any of those terms , what region is "the continental divide"?
A real high point in the rockies where the water flows either east into Alberta or west into BC. I live close to it,it's also the Alberta/BC border,thats how they cut up the land in the old days.
However both of these words are already in the Wikipedia :O
Ziggy, I've never heard of any of those terms , what region is "the continental divide"?
ziggy @ Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:01 pm
Click on my www at the bottom,you will see the restaraunt my sister just sold and the border runs right through it,long distance from one room to the other. 
spikecomix @ Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:06 pm
Looks like an awesome place
ziggy @ Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:19 pm
spikecomix spikecomix:
Looks like an awesome place
Someone from Saskabush owns it now. BC used to have a 19 year old drinking age,Alberta had an 18 year old drinking age,so the bar owner diverted the creek into BC because BC owns up to waters flowing west,then it went west to BC effectivelly putting the tiny land mass in Alberta(legally at the time)so they could capitalize on the lower drinking age. It's got quite a history,Dr. Livingstone(I presume),Blackiston,Palliser,and a few other explorers stayed there and all had mountain ranges named after them here. It was a zoo at one time sporting a bear and some camals,and the bar. Since the floods a few years ago,the creek has resumed it's natural course,cant argue with mother nature.
Everything's "Skookum" now though.
Google "Turners kingdom" if you want to see more.
fatbasturd @ Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:28 pm
floaters ........men who fished from schooners using cod traps rather than jiggers .
gowdy...... awkward
slieveen.... a deceitful person
yarry,... rising early, alert
ziggy @ Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:33 pm
fatbasturd fatbasturd:
floaters ........men who fished from schooners using cod traps rather than jiggers .
gowdy...... awkward
slieveen.... a deceitful person
yarry,... rising early, alert
gowdy...... awkward
slieveen.... a deceitful person
yarry,... rising early, alert
That means something totaly different out west.
Chopper @ Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:34 pm
How's about a "shaker"? (a kick ass house party)
"give 'er!" (self explanatory)
"road rockets" "travellers" (beers for the car ride)
Calgary123 @ Wed Aug 09, 2006 2:20 pm
Chopper Chopper:
How's about a "shaker"? (a kick ass house party)
"give 'er!" (self explanatory)
"road rockets" "travellers" (beers for the car ride)
"give 'er!" (self explanatory)
"road rockets" "travellers" (beers for the car ride)
Damn! You beat me to "road rockets".
Canadaka @ Wed Aug 09, 2006 2:45 pm
great thread! got me thinking, maybe I should create a more perminent section on the site for Canadian slang. A Canadian slang database, seperated by region or national.
Probably won't have time until next week, but i'm sure I can rig something together.
Arctic_Menace @ Wed Aug 09, 2006 2:58 pm
"Qu'est-ce que Fuck?"
A term used much in the same way as "What the Hell", "WTF", or "What gives".
Literal translation: What fucks?
Tinnies(tin-ees): Beer cans, not bottles.
Screech: Newf whiskey.
I've only heard this one recently...
Roofers: Toffee, peanut butter, and other things that stick to the roof of your mouth. Not to be confused with roofies, which is street for the date-rape drug rohipnol.
Zipperfish @ Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:23 pm
Arctic_Menace Arctic_Menace:
"Qu'est-ce que Fuck?"
Hey, I invented that term 15 years ago in university! Either it made its way across the country, or it has been "invented" spontaneously in other quarters.