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The rhyming words are not omitted, to make the slang easier to understand. Rhyming slang is a form of slang word construction in the English language. It is especially prevalent among Cockneys in England, and was first used in the early 19th century in the East End of London; hence its alternative name, Cockney rhyming slang.
British English meanings Meanings common to British and American English American English meanings rabbit (v.) (slang) to talk at length, usually about trivial things; usually to 'rabbit on' (Cockney rhyming slang Rabbit and pork = talk) (n.) the animal rabbit, a lagomorph (rabbit ears) (slang) TV antenna (usage becoming obsolete) rad
Cockney is a dialect of the English language, mainly spoken in London and its environs, particularly by Londoners with working-class and lower middle-class roots. The term Cockney is also used as a demonym for a person from the East End, [1] [2] [3] or, traditionally, born within earshot of Bow Bells.
is British slang for "what nonsense" that is derived from the Cockney rhyming slang for "balls" (testicles), which rhymes with "cobbler's awls". The phrase began to be widely used from the 1960s and is still in use but has become less offensive over time as its origins have been forgotten.
Words with specific British English meanings that have different meanings in American and/or additional meanings common to both languages (e.g. pants, cot) are to be found at List of words having different meanings in American and British English. When such words are herein used or referenced, they are marked with the flag [DM] (different meaning).
"Treacle tart" is Cockney rhyming slang for "sweetheart". [3] In the Agatha Christie murder mystery novel 4.50 from Paddington, a homeowner's son, home visiting from boarding school with a friend, is said to be particularly fond of treacle tart. [4] This dessert is mentioned in the 1968 British fantasy film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
"Derby Kell" is old Cockney rhyming slang for belly ("Derby Kelly"). "Blow out your kite" means "fill your stomach". It uses the word kite (also kyte), a dialect word, originally derived from an Old English word for the womb which, by extension, came to mean the belly.
The song's title refers to an 1880s colloquialism for a partner or friend. The phrase has a number of etymologies: three Cockney rhyming slang explanations identify the phrase as coming from "dutch plate" ("mate"), "Duchess of Fife" ("wife"), or "Dutch house" ("spouse"). [6]