Carnie Neologism
ne·ol·o·gism
NOUN:
1. A new word, expression, or usage.
2. The creation or use of new words or senses.
Like most industries and cultures words are created specifically for that industry/culture as it doesn't exist in general use; ie, computer industry, film industry, Star Trek freaks. Here are some more typical Carnie words ya’ might hear while getting a snow cone or shooting water inta' a clowns mouth.
Rube – The dictionary defines Rube as “An unsophisticated country person”, but the Carnie definition is “Obnoxious carnival patrons dumb enough to spend $50 trying to win a $3 sombrero and then get mad at you when they don't.”
Gravispewer – This word applies strictly to rubes blowing-chunks on the Gravitron as it is the most applicable. Other tummy tumbler rides also have their own regurgitating terminology: Squirrel Cage-Purger, Tilt-a-Hurler, a Zipper Stomach-Spiller, Barf-Bag Bouncer.
Durnerber – A too intoxicated rube. Ya'all think this would be easy pickings for a Carnie, but they ain't nothing but trouble. Sure you can work over a drunkard into spending every thing in his wallet to knock over a couple of milk bottles with a really squishy softball, but Durnerber's are the fallin' down knocking over your display, screaming about cotton candy with spiders in it, chasing the dwarf, scaring away the customers, urinating in your booth onionheads.
Shakings – Stuff that falls outta' rubes pockets while on rides and after closing time becomes the property of Badger Boy Carnival Extravaganza and Hootenanny, but more specifically the Carnie who got to it first. In the case of two Carnie's reaching it at the same time a seven round Carnie slap fight determines the rightful owner.
Cripesanwoolly – An undercover cop desperately trying to be undercover. They mostly go around tryin' out games to see if they're legit or investigating us to see if we're running some sorta' gambling/prostitution/white slavery/drug ring. Explaining to these guys that we're not the circus doesn't work as they just fire back with their “I'm not a cop, man. I just want to play a little Ring Toss an see if I can score some pot or maybe an infant.”
NOUN:
1. A new word, expression, or usage.
2. The creation or use of new words or senses.
Like most industries and cultures words are created specifically for that industry/culture as it doesn't exist in general use; ie, computer industry, film industry, Star Trek freaks. Here are some more typical Carnie words ya’ might hear while getting a snow cone or shooting water inta' a clowns mouth.
Rube – The dictionary defines Rube as “An unsophisticated country person”, but the Carnie definition is “Obnoxious carnival patrons dumb enough to spend $50 trying to win a $3 sombrero and then get mad at you when they don't.”
Gravispewer – This word applies strictly to rubes blowing-chunks on the Gravitron as it is the most applicable. Other tummy tumbler rides also have their own regurgitating terminology: Squirrel Cage-Purger, Tilt-a-Hurler, a Zipper Stomach-Spiller, Barf-Bag Bouncer.
Durnerber – A too intoxicated rube. Ya'all think this would be easy pickings for a Carnie, but they ain't nothing but trouble. Sure you can work over a drunkard into spending every thing in his wallet to knock over a couple of milk bottles with a really squishy softball, but Durnerber's are the fallin' down knocking over your display, screaming about cotton candy with spiders in it, chasing the dwarf, scaring away the customers, urinating in your booth onionheads.
Shakings – Stuff that falls outta' rubes pockets while on rides and after closing time becomes the property of Badger Boy Carnival Extravaganza and Hootenanny, but more specifically the Carnie who got to it first. In the case of two Carnie's reaching it at the same time a seven round Carnie slap fight determines the rightful owner.
Cripesanwoolly – An undercover cop desperately trying to be undercover. They mostly go around tryin' out games to see if they're legit or investigating us to see if we're running some sorta' gambling/prostitution/white slavery/drug ring. Explaining to these guys that we're not the circus doesn't work as they just fire back with their “I'm not a cop, man. I just want to play a little Ring Toss an see if I can score some pot or maybe an infant.”
posted by Captain Mog at 8:09 PM
5 Comments:
Those goddamn Cripesanwoollies. What you oughta do to play a big, funny joke, is steal his own children and try to sell 'em back to him.
Wow, those are great words.
I had no idea you Carnies had a formal, well-developed lexicon.
I appreciate this glimpse into carnie culture.
I think I ran into one of them Cripesanwoollys last night, but a seven round carnie slap fight was just getting underway, so I took my stolen baby for sale elsewhere. phew. that was a close one.
Ah Ha!! A Cripesanwoolly, so thats what was chasing me last night after I got hella Durnerbered an tryed to sell him back his own wallet.
So much Carnie knowledge packed into a humble blog. Gil should teach a college course on Carnie culture.
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