Normal Island

[BoldonLad]

Etymology of Nonce is interesting (many other uses), how it came to be used as slang for paedophiles/sexual offenders doesn't seem clear - unless anyone here knows?

My guess would be ignorance of it’s meaning, has allowed it to be used as slang for several types of sex offender.

 

[icowden]

What's wrong with died or even expired (much loved by Hilaire Belloc)?

How about shuffled off 'is mortal coil and gorn to join the choir invisibule?

 

[BoldonLad]

Insinuation is the spice of social media.

Also, "passed"! Passed where? Or who? Or what?

Yes, “passed away” I can live with (no pun intended), but, “passed” grates on me.

 

[Bromptonaut]

Yes, “passed away” I can live with (no pun intended), but, “passed” grates on me.

Yep. Passed away has been used for years. Rightly or wrongly I'd associate it with older people and the christian religion.

Passed and passing are very recent.

 

[AuroraSaab]

I think 'passing' and 'He's passed' etc are Americanisms. I don't mind 'passed away' as a term personally. It seems a bit more gentle when you are talking to someone in person or talking about a person you knew. News reports etc., I prefer the straightforward 'died'.

 

[Xipe Totec]

Etymology of Nonce is interesting (many other uses), how it came to be used as slang for paedophiles/sexual offenders doesn't seem clear - unless anyone here knows?

It's supposedly an acronym of 'not on normal courtyard exercise' - therefore originally applied to all categories of prisoners kept segregated from the general prison population for their own safety.

Although like many things on the internet, that's as likely as not to be made-up.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Although like many things on the internet, that's as likely as not to be made-up.

It does have the feel of a backronym, where an acronym has been created to fit in with an existing word. See also: posh and fornication under consent of the king etc.

 

[multitool]

Well that last one is bollocks given the word predates common literacy

Also, german for fûck is ficken. And our language is germanic, hence the similarity. fornication under consent of the king in German would give the acronym Uhzdk.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Well that last one is bollocks

They’re both bollocks. That’s my point.

 

[multitool]

I know

 

[Ian H]

They’re both bollocks. That’s my point.

Yeah, but what is 'BOLLOCKS' the acronym for?

 

[multitool]

It's 'ball' with germanic diminutive suffix 'ock'

 

[matticus]

I just found this random Rolf-related item. It made me smile:
https://eveningharold.com/2014/07/06/more-victims-of-stylophones-come-forward/

 

[newfhouse]

 

[glasgowcyclist]

View attachment 3946

Maybe they thought it was Jake the Peg (deedle-eedle-eedle-um).