Ganzeys On Tristan da Cunha

[BernardR]

Below is an extract from a report on a BBC website (which is a transcript of an item broadcast this morning in 'From Our Own Correspondent'). It is a journalists account of being barred from ever returning to 'Tristan da Cunha'. Whilst the whole story is interesting my eye was particularly drwan to this bit:

The islanders were kindly, polite, shy. The older ones spoke in a curiously old-fashioned way. Lots of "thees" and "thous", unfamiliar words like "ganzeys" for sweaters and "ammunitions" for socks. I liked it and was happy there.

How many other places use the term Ganzie (other spellings are available) I believe that 'Weegies' (inhabitants of Glasgow also use the term).

 

[sylviasayers]

I don't whether the word Ganzey is still in common use, but in the 1960s didn't the islanders come to Britain for a period due to a volcanic eruption or some such natural disaster.

 

[OtherHalf]

It was Evacuated in 1961 they were based at an army camp in surrey most went back 63 and were for a time in Tristan close southampton

 

[sylviasayers]

Thanks Tom, it's nice to have confirmation that memory hasn't gone AWOL.

 

[OtherHalf]

Bernie I think you will find that is WEGIANS as in Glaswegians lol

 

[BernardR]

Gansey, Genzie - A Guernsey, a Jersey, especially one worn by fishermen.
The above is from the Pocket Scots Dictionary.

Note to OH - as my Wife is a 'Weegie' I know fine well what one is - and they can be aroused mightily on days like this when I ask innocently who won the Calcutta Cup.

 

[maggieuk]

OOh Bernie Tom is a WEGIAN.. family from Camberslang

 

[OtherHalf]

lol Bernie I know ..and Maggie it is Cambuslang lol

 

[lencops]

A friend & workmate had an English Mom and a Scottish Dad, i joked with him that he was a mongrel, he was born in Stirling and was proud of being Scottish but did not have a Scottish accent because he came to Brum when a small child, he always used the word "gansey" for jumper. Len.