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