Origins of the slang word Pikey

[wheeldon]

I was interested to know where this term came from.

I'm not including it in order to be offensive but thought people maybe interested.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikey

[An65]

Piki is a word in the Rom language, meaning someone of diluted bloodstock.

a "Black Blood" was a full blooded Romany, whereas a "posh-rat" was half blood. Piki was someone who was of more diluted bloodstock, and Gorja/Gaja was non-Rom.

[An65]

Also, its interesting how many Romany words have become general slang terms.

Chav/Chavvie is merely a word for a child, in Romany.

Choring is stealing

Kushti is good.

[wheeldon]

Many thanks An for the explanation 

Here in Manchester most people/or the people that I know refer to travelers as Piki.  So, I wanted to know where the term had come from.

My friend's dad allegedly comes from a long line of travellers (she doesn't really get along with him and sees him very rarely) but she often refers to him as a full blooded piki, which I understand now is a contradiction but she quite possibly has the terminology wrong.

My friend is interested in starting a family tree and has asked for my help but first I'm going to get myself clued up on Romany/Travellers sources.

Many thanks again for your time

Fiona 

[wheeldon]

Ooooh and I apologise for the many ignorant/stupid questions that, no doubt, I'm going to post in the future 

[An65]

hey dont worry about it. its all part of the fun!!

[boggabarrett]

Having known and grown up with a lot of Rom in my childhood I was always under the impression that  Piki was a posh rat with either a mother or father as the Rom and a Didikoi had the other parent as a Rom, never could remember which.

[wheeldon]

Well, boggabarrett this is all news/new to me.

I'll keep reading as I want to know as much as I can before helping my mate with her research as I'm inclined to think that it will be me doing all the research 

If I come up with any good sites then I will add them as I go along.

Just a quick question - were boatmen classed as travellers?

Many thanks

Fiona

[meles]

I think they were - Philip Pullman's Trilogy "His Dark Materials" has "Gyptians" (ie Romanies) working on narrow boats in an alternative England.

meles