Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2019 July 9

= July 9 =

pucker
What is being said at 40:35 in this video? It sounds like "if his credentials weren't pucker I can't imagine they would do that willingly". The word "pucker" seems out of place unless it has a meaning I'm not aware of. Bus stop (talk) 04:21, 9 July 2019 (UTC)
 * I can't view the video, but it's probably pukka, meaning "genuine" in this context. AndrewWTaylor (talk) 06:11, 9 July 2019 (UTC)


 * In ZAE I've always understood it to mean "genuine". In AE you might say "if his credentials weren't the real deal I can't imagine they would do that willingly". (edit) It's "pukka". 41.165.67.114 (talk) 06:10, 9 July 2019 (UTC)


 * Yes, the OED has: " sure, certain, reliable; genuine, bona fide, correct. Hence more generally: real, not sham; (of information) factually correct; (of persons) authentic, not pretended; proper or correct in behaviour, socially acceptable" (with cites from 1776 to 2006, one spelled pucker), and British slang: "Excellent, superb; ‘cool’."  Dbfirs  06:35, 9 July 2019 (UTC)
 * That must be it: In UK slang, it can mean "genuine" or simply "very good". Thanks everybody. Bus stop (talk) 09:36, 9 July 2019 (UTC)
 * It comes from a Hindi word, 'pakka', meaning 'strong', 'permanent' or 'resolute'.TotallyNotSarcasm [lɨi̯v ə me̞sɪ̈dʒ] [kɔnt͡ɹ̠̝̊ɹ̠ɪ̈bjɨʉ̯ʃn̩z] 09:47, 9 July 2019 (UTC)


 * See List of English words of Hindi or Urdu origin - one of the legacies of empire. Alansplodge (talk) 12:01, 9 July 2019 (UTC)

How common was insurgents and cut and run in WW2?
In American English. Star Trek Enterprise seemed to try too hard to connect with current events, I was wondering how idiosyncratic those usages would've been. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 16:08, 9 July 2019 (UTC)
 * See Ukrainian Insurgent Army. This shows the concept "cut and run" existed at the time: . Rmhermen (talk) 16:57, 9 July 2019 (UTC)
 * This book has "cut-and-run" in its WWII slang section: . Rmhermen (talk) 17:03, 9 July 2019 (UTC)
 * "Cut and run" originated in 1794 as a naval term: "to cut the cable and make sail instantly, without waiting to weigh anchor". 2606:A000:1126:28D:48F3:EC22:BDAE:8519 (talk) 18:43, 9 July 2019 (UTC)
 * Maybe I'm just too young to have heard it before the Bush era, I always assumed it originated in the cowboy side of my country (far away, hence the use by Bush who's from the ranch part of Texas) and referred to cattle cutting (changing direction) to turn around to flee. The real origin sounds cooler actually. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 23:28, 9 July 2019 (UTC)


 * Related terms are guerrilla warfare and asymmetrical warfare. SinisterLefty (talk) 22:52, 9 July 2019 (UTC)


 * Did they commonly call the French/Polish etc. (not Spanish) Resistance/insurgents guerrillas too? I know it was common by the time of the Vietcong. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 23:28, 9 July 2019 (UTC)


 * Our article says it was used in English since 1809. I don't know whether is was applied to the French or Poles in WW2. The terms I've heard them use for themselves are resistance fighters and partisans (although the later was used more for SE Europe). SinisterLefty (talk) 01:12, 10 July 2019 (UTC)


 * In the context of insurgents, "hit and run" attacks are common, where the insurgents attack, then flee the area before reinforcements arrive. ISIL was an odd exception, which tried to hold ground. It worked for them only for a few years, because of all the failed states around the area. Against a strong and unified enemy, it wouldn't have lasted more than a few days. SinisterLefty (talk) 01:19, 10 July 2019 (UTC)

Which British variety is this audio?
Umzu (talk) 20:57, 9 July 2019 (UTC)


 * According to the opening credits, it's an American, Larry Storch, trying to do a British accent. Perhaps not his strongest suit. HenryFlower 21:22, 9 July 2019 (UTC)


 * Yes, I'd describe as a terrible American variety. HiLo48 (talk) 23:38, 9 July 2019 (UTC)
 * As with Mrs. Doubtfire's accent, maybe "a little muddled." The other annoying thing about that clip is the laugh track. If you need a laugh track on a cartoon, something's out of whack. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 00:20, 10 July 2019 (UTC)