how did the word bloke come about?

Answer 1

Bloke is rather an interesting word, precisely because you "know it's English." And while bloke is certainly a predominantly English word in current use, it was not always that way.

Bloke, which means 'a man; a fellow', is first recorded in England in the 1820s. It first appeared in a glossary by the late 1830s, spelled "bloak" and defined as "a gentleman."

By the 1850s, bloke had travelled to America, where it appeared in a slang dictionary written by former New York City Chief of Police George W. Matsell, in its usual spelling and defined as "A man." Throughout the late nineteenth century, the word was rather common in American English, first in underworld slang, later in more general use (even Mark Twain used it: "I made up my mind to be a square bloke," he wrote in Life on the Mississippi). It lasted until the 1930s, when it is found in Cab Calloway's signature "Minnie the Moocher" and in writings of Damon Runyon, before fading away. It is now rare in America and is usually regarded as a typical Briticism.

The origin of bloke is uncertain. It is sometimes attributed to Shelta, a private language, derived in part from Irish Gaelic, spoken by the tinkers (or Travelling People) in Ireland.

Answer 2

Origin Of Bloke

Answer 3

Hi there!

American dictionaries don't tell us where it comes from, but Oxford and several other legitimite sources strongly contain that it comes from the Shelta (Irish traveller) language, and it originally meant 'man.' It came into common speech in the mid-19th century.

Best wishes,

Andrea.

Answer 4

Bloke? what a joke!

Answer 5

I don't know how it came about but one person who answered reckoned it's from the Irish. He might be right because it's well used in ireland.

Answer 6

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=bloke

Answer 7

Check out this website, here is your answer!

http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19990630

Answer 8

http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/?date=19990630

Answer 9

I am so thick again, I have no idea what you mean.

Answer 10

It means man..... will that do?