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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: wisteria16 on Tuesday 29 December 15 09:00 GMT (UK)
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Happy New Year everyone,
I have long wondered why people who are named Charles are nicknamed 'Wag'. I have several relatives that this relates to - is it a regional thing or is it nationwide? I would love to hear from anyone who can enlighten me. Many thanks.
wisteria16
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Reportedly, it was a nickname for Charles 1st.
Regards
Malky
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One that surprised me when I first heard it, was "Oats", for Charles, i.e., "Oats & Barley" I had an Uncle Wag, so that I was used to.
In our mining village, whole families had nicknames, "Fiddler Sweet", "Cobb" Albrighton, "Crackit" Smith, "Doulter" Chetwynd, so that members of the family were all known by the nickname rather than the proper name.
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Wag? Must be an English thing! Never heard it in Oz ??? ??? ???
Chas / Charlie / Chuck :)
Dawn M
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Chas / Charlie / Chuck :)
Dawn,
You forgot "Chic/Chick"
Not heard of it (Wag) in Scotland myself but not to say others haven't?
Annie
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"Oats & Barley" sounds like Cockney Rhyming Slang. As with the Australian Language I am not fluent in either language but know enough to get by. For the Australian language hopefully enough that if I landed at Charles Kingsford Smith Airport I could ask directions and get on my way.
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Wasn't Charles 1st reputed to have big ears? Hence Wag or Wagger?
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For sources of Folk-Rhymes.
http://www.forgottenbooks.com/readbook_text/English_Folk-Rhymes_1000045997/1
Example :-
http://www.forgottenbooks.com/readbook_text/English_Folk-Rhymes_1000045997/309
"Charley Wag, Charley Wag! Ate the pudding and swallowed the bag." " Wag " is the nickname for Charles in Warwickshire.
Regards
Malky
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For the Australian language hopefully enough that if I landed at Charles Kingsford Smith Airport I could ask directions and get on my way.
Oh I am sure someone will tell you where to go
(now where is my angel smiley when I need it)
:D
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Barryd, you are right about the rhyming slang, also Flattyb., we lived in Warwickshire, and my uncle came from Coventry.
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I too have never heard of Wag for Charlie and I'm in England
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For the Australian language hopefully enough that if I landed at Charles Kingsford Smith Airport I could ask directions and get on my way.
Oh I am sure someone will tell you where to go
:D
But hopefully, in a nice way :P :P :P Are you thinking of flying your own plane here? ::) ::) ::)
Dawn M
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Thanks everyone for your input - looks as if we're all in the dark about "Wag". Charles 1 looks as if he's the winner at the moment (but not for long). :
wisteria16
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I live in England (East Anglia) and have never ever heard of "Wag" as a nickname for Charles.
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We're in the North of England, and never ever heard of "Wag" for Charles!
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Hello wisteria16,
Found an article about Charlie Bennett, winner of the 3 & 5 mile motorcycle races at Tunbridge Wells in 1904. The article mentions Charlie "with his Cockney nickname, Wag Bennett".
Regards, Dod.
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Some more references
http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/aug/06/ameliahill.theobserver
http://www.geni.com/people/Charles-Wag-Dyer/6000000007323724103
http://partleton.co.uk/charleswagpartleton.htm
http://www.geni.com/people/Charles-Wag-William-Blockley/6000000009486600861
http://announce.jpress.co.uk/northamptonshire-newspapers/obituary/charles-wag-carter/6477344
Charles "Wag" Bennett, bodybuilder and trainer, was born on March 29, 1930. He died of cancer on September 17, 2008, aged 78.
There are more, but that's enough for now.
Regards
Malky
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'Wag' an ancient term for Ruffian or Truant, often given to Charles of that disposition I believe.
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We're in the North of England, and never ever heard of "Wag" for Charles!
I've just come across this thread and must say I've never heard of "wag" for Charles.
I used to hear the word wag used to describe a witty humorous man.
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Again, Northern England here and never heard of Wag for Charles.
An unusual nickname from my part of Yorkshire that I've never heard since was "Tiffer" for Christopher. There were several Tiffers at my school.
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I can well understand "Tiffer" but I, too, have never come across Wag for "Charles" - born and raised in Cheshire from WRY heritage.
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There are several standard nicknames. Anyone called Miller joining the army would automatically become "Dusty", and anyone called "White" would be "Chalky".
Not come across Wag, personally (I'm in Lancashire, but have worked all over the place).
My mum worked for years at ROF Chorley, where nicknames were commonplace and usually supplanted both given name and surname. There were people whose nicknames had been used so long that their real names were known only to the payroll department. "Spongecake" reputedly always had some cake at lunchtime. "Black Pudding" acquired his name when he used the water urn used for tea making to heat up his lunch. "The Sherriff" was a supervisor whose explanation when he left the office was "I'm just shooting off to ...". Her own nickname, never used to her face, was "The Duchess of Buckshaw", after the office where she was the only female.