Date: Thu, 15 Jun 1995 14:58:36 -0500

From: "Thomas J. Creswell" creswell[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]NIIA.NET

Subject: Re: Teen Slang Terms (Gank and Gaffle)



Could gaffle be somehow related to or constitute a mispronunciation or

pronunciation of an imperfectly heard "snaffle" defined to purloin or snitch

and labeled " 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.





I wonder if "gaffle" bears any relation to "gaff," meaning a trick or a

swindle. "Don't blow the gaff" is a phrase that might be used by theater

people as well as con artists, the gaff being the key part of a trick or

illusion that you want to keep hidden from your audience.



Just a thought



Kate Catmull kate[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]bga.com





Tom Creswell