Date: Wed, 14 Jun 1995 10:26:37 CDT

From: Randy Roberts robertsr[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]EXT.MISSOURI.EDU

Subject: Teen Slang Terms (Gank and Gaffle)



I picked up two odd terms (odd to me) from junior high students in

Columbia, Missouri. The first is "to gank" meaning to physically

assault or intimidate someone in order to steal from them. As in, I

ganked his bicycle. The only other place I have seen this term is in

Paul Dickson's 1990 book, Slang! The Topic by Topic Dictionary of

Contemporary American Lingoes. On page 217 Paul lists gank meaning

flirt.

The second word is entirely new to me. It is "to gaffle"

(spelling?) meaning simply to steal something from someone without

violence or their awareness. As in, she didn't know it, but I gaffled

a stick of gum from her purse.

My sources are only oral. The informants had no clue as to

etymology but they said both terms were old. But then, old to

teenagers can mean last week.



Randy Roberts

University of Missouri-Columbia

robertsr[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ext.missouri.edu