Where did the word 'Bloke' come from?

Question

It means a guy in case anyone has never heard the word before.....

Answer 1

"Origin obscure", according to my Chambers Dictionary, and as etymology is their business, I doubt if you'll find further enlightenment here.

Answer 2

"Bloke" is a slang term for "man," much like "guy" or "dude." It is used primarily in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, and is believed to derive from Shelta.



While the term generally means an "ordinary man", the word "bloke" has been adopted into British and particularly into Australasian culture to imply substantially more than that. Australasian significanceBlokey culture is the stereotypically masculine culture found outside of the metropolitan areas of Australia and New Zealand, the culture in which hard work, loyalty and not showing emotion are all valuable attributes.



The word bloke was commonly used by Steve Irwin. A late night TV show called Blokesworld was developed to tap into this audience in the early 2000s. Blokesworld is a similar program to The Man Show and represents the term bloke as accurately as The Man Show represents men. Québec significanceIn Québec, the word bloke is used to specifically refer to Anglophones, most often in a derogatory manner. The also used moniker, «Tête carrée» (“square head”) is derived from bloke. External sourcesDictionary.com

Merriam-Webster Online

Answer 3

This is a quote:

""Bloke" is a slang term for "man," much like "guy" or "dude." It is used primarily in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, and is believed to derive from Shelta.

While the term generally means an "ordinary man", the word "bloke" has been adopted into British and particularly into Australasian culture to imply substantially more than that."

Read more in link below.

Answer 4

Actually the term is still used at sea. The word Blocker means the boss man. It is slang for Bos'un, which is a shortened term for Boatswain. The bos'un would give daily jobs to the ordinary seamen. The equivalent ashore would be a supervisor, or a foreman. Blocker was shortened to bloke, meaning just a man.

Answer 5

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 6

It is from a language called 'Shelta' which used to be spoken by Irish gypsies. Shelta is very ancient and the language is believed to have derived from altered Irish or Gaelic words.



I don't know whether the language is stilled used amongst gypsies today but 'bloke' is definitely accepted as part of ordinary language in northern England.

Answer 7

Bloke is a word commonly used by the English, to as you say, to denote a guy.

Answer 8

You stupid americans are all wrong. Bloke is simply a British slang term for 'man/guy', with perhaps slight connotations of masculinity, and used only in an informal setting. Unlike 'guy' it is not normally used vocatively, as in 'hey you blokes'.



'I met this bloke in town who told me to stop wasting my time on the internet...'

Answer 9

some tart dreamt it up after a night out on the pizz and woke up the next morning next to some,,,,,bloke.

it's true,, some geezer darn at the local boozer told me when I was making a bee line to the bogs for a gypsys kiss.

Answer 10

I would ask that on the United Kingdom's Yahoo Answers. I don't think there are any Yankees here that have a clue!

Answer 11

Aussie, mate!



Regards,

adultsforum.com.au

Answer 12

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

Answer 13

ARE YOU A BAG HEAD? WE ALL NEED TO MEET UP. THE LUCKIEST BAG HEAD WINS 9 GRAND

Answer 14

autrailia I think