Re: 'Niss' or 'Nis'

Blue Sow wrote:
Paul Burke wrote:
Blue Sow wrote:
It was used in the sense of calling someone a bad name as in 'you
niss!'.

Are you sure they weren't calling the person Eunice, as in the
cricketer Eunice Carne?

It was used to refer to any number of individuals, all of whom were
considered less wise, or less young, by the person saying it (and
none of whom had the syllable as part of their name).

Is this a pre-existing word or simply one coined for the programme
to avoid using a 'real' swear-word?

Was the program UK or US or even Australian? I've not heard the word
in Britain.

The programme is British English and was broadcast in 1969. The
character who uses the term is London English. Other characters are
primarily London English with some Scottish (the actors are generally
English). It was written by Robin Chapman (British).

Why not just tell us the name of the programme rather than forcing us to
guess?
--
John Briggs


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Niss or Nis
    ... Are you sure they weren't calling the person Eunice, as in the cricketer Eunice Carne? ... The programme is British English and was broadcast in 1969. ... The character who uses the term is London English. ... Other characters are primarily London English with some Scottish. ...
    (uk.culture.language.english)
  • Re: Niss or Nis
    ... Are you sure they weren't calling the person Eunice, as in the cricketer Eunice Carne? ... It was used to refer to any number of individuals, all of whom were considered less wise, or less young, by the person saying it. ... The character who uses the term is London English. ... Other characters are primarily London English with some Scottish. ...
    (uk.culture.language.english)
  • Re: Niss or Nis
    ... The programme is British English and was broadcast in 1969. ... character who uses the term is London English. ... primarily London English with some Scottish (the actors are generally ...
    (uk.culture.language.english)