Visiting Scotland

[Maggi Young]

Carlo, I believe that it may be a contraction from an old exclamation.. "Christ Keep you"... it is common parlance in the pages of those wonderful comics, the Dandy and the Beano, of course... you'd have to ask Martin Baxendale's Dad, Leo, about that!!

[Carlo]

Thanks Maggi...sometimes the stories behind our expressions are just as interesting at the stories of plant names...

[Maggi Young]

Quite so, Carlo. In Scotland, but again mostly in the pages of comics, we have Jings! Crivvens! and Help Ma Boab! All part of life's rich tapestry, eh?

[Staale]

Got a reply from Edrom now. It seems they gave a reply on my first mail to, but that reply never reached me. They even seem to have most of the plants I was looking for - arent I the lucky guy?
Many thanks to to all of you who contributed. Now all that is left is making a plot about why I need to visit more nurseries... and negotiate me attending the Discussion weekend. I know it will be a tall order.

[Anthony Darby]

By Jove Maggi, what a lot of polite expletives!

[Susan Band]

Remember Ron and Susan fron Lamberton will prob. be at discussion weekend.

[ChrisB]

I've always thought it was derived from blasphemy....

[annew]

'Euphemism for Christ' - says Google.

[Maggi Young]

Anthony: Fie, Sirrah, wouldst thou have me curse?

[Anthony Darby]

Curse not Maggi

[Maggi Young]

Okay, can't resist this one;

Fair Maiden ( or midden as they say in these parts, thereby causing yet more confusion) : "Alas, I am undone"

Gallant Knight : "Well, here's a safety pin, do yourself up again"

Taa Raa!

[mark smyth]

My Dictionary of Slang says the same as Google. The spelling can be Crickey or Cracky. Its from the mid 19thC

[mark smyth]

Crivvens/Crivens is Christ+heaves and first used in the 1910s and out of fashion! in the 30s
By Jove is from the 16C and means by God

[Maggi Young]

Crivvens has never gone out of fashion in Scotland, I can assure you. The rolling 'r' gives it such emphasis