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What Does That Mean ?.

Posted: Sat 19 Dec, 2015 2:26 pm
by j.c.d.
Apologies if this sort of question has been asked but I could not find it on the site.

1. My mother used to say " He has no Gumption " meaning sense, Where does that come from.?
2. I used to hear people say, when referring to pain, " My Leg / Arm etc. is giving me some GYP !! what does JYP come from?

Re: What Does That Mean ?.

Posted: Sat 19 Dec, 2015 3:14 pm
by jim
My dictionary contains brief word derivations/origins. For "gumption" it gives 18th century, originally Scottish, of unknown origin. For "Gyp" it has Brit. slang, severe pain or torture, probably a contraction of "gee-up". For what it's worth it also has "gyp", to swindle, cheat or defraud, 18th century, back formation from "gypsy".

Re: What Does That Mean ?.

Posted: Sat 19 Dec, 2015 3:46 pm
by Brunel