[David Lang]

I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?
--
Dave - The Medway Handyman

[Bert Coules]

Dave, I've never heard the term, either in London where I grew up or in SE
Kent where I've lived for more than twenty years. Nor, in fact, have I ever
heard *of* it.

Bert

[bm[_2_]]

"David Lang" wrote in message
...
I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in your
area?

Never heard of it, only "rozzer".

[Bert Coules]

The Urban Dictionary however *has* heard of it:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Gavver

Bert

[Andy Cap[_9_]]

On 29/07/16 01:03, David Lang wrote:
I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

South London/Sussex... never heard it.

[News]

In message , David Lang
writes

Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

Haven't we had this conversation, or was that elsewhere? Anyway, yes, I
heard it at school 50 years ago, North Herts, but not common. Rozzers
was probably more common.
--
Graeme

[Andy Burns[_13_]]

David Lang wrote:

Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

Leics (and originally Lincs) ... I'd never heard the term until you
mentioned it previously.

[Bob Martin]

in 1510844 20160729 010301 David Lang wrote:
I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?
--
Dave - The Medway Handyman

I grew up (40s & 50s) in North Kent and never heard of it.

[The Natural Philosopher[_2_]]

On 29/07/16 01:03, David Lang wrote:
I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?
home counties and east anglia. Never heard of it either place


--
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's
too dark to read.

Groucho Marx

[Bob Eager[_5_]]

On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 01:03:01 +0100, David Lang wrote:

I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

Not in east Kent. Or in Brighton.



--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

[Bob Eager[_5_]]

On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 01:03:01 +0100, David Lang wrote:

I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

One of the most common ones in my part of Brighton was the 'bules'.



--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

[Another John]

In article ,
David Lang wrote:

I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

My son lives in North Kent. I was at a family function the other day and
was talking to one of his older neighbours, who was complaining about
the number of "pikeys" (his word) in this area these days (though he
implied that there'd always been a presence). He said it was to do with
the amount of building (i.e. casual jobs) in the area.

Very often words like this originate with the "travelling folk" as they
like to call themselves.

But Dave -- you'd know this, being a Kent native?

J.

[David Lang]

On 29/07/2016 08:23, Another John wrote:
In article ,
David Lang wrote:

I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

My son lives in North Kent. I was at a family function the other day and
was talking to one of his older neighbours, who was complaining about
the number of "pikeys" (his word) in this area these days (though he
implied that there'd always been a presence). He said it was to do with
the amount of building (i.e. casual jobs) in the area.

Very often words like this originate with the "travelling folk" as they
like to call themselves.

I believe its a Romany word, or derived from one, like Chav.

But Dave -- you'd know this, being a Kent native?

Born & raised in East London :-) Emigrated to Kent 30 years ago!

J.



--
Dave - The Medway Handyman

[David Lang]

On 29/07/2016 08:11, Bob Eager wrote:
On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 01:03:01 +0100, David Lang wrote:

I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

One of the most common ones in my part of Brighton was the 'bules'.



Should that be "blues"?


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman

[Robin]

On 29/07/2016 01:03, David Lang wrote:
I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

I never heard it at school in/near Maidstone in the late 50s/60s; nor in
South Essex/East London before or after. And my parents were from East
London and Maidstone(ish) respectively so used the respective vernaculars.

But then we rarely had contact with Romanies.



--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

[Syd Rumpo[_2_]]

On 29/07/2016 08:23, Another John wrote:

snipped

My son lives in North Kent. I was at a family function the other day and
was talking to one of his older neighbours, who was complaining about
the number of "pikeys" (his word) in this area these days (though he
implied that there'd always been a presence). He said it was to do with
the amount of building (i.e. casual jobs) in the area.

Very often words like this originate with the "travelling folk" as they
like to call themselves.

Maybe a corruption of the Irish 'Garda'.

Cheers
--
Syd

[Bob Eager[_5_]]

On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 08:47:11 +0100, David Lang wrote:

On 29/07/2016 08:11, Bob Eager wrote:
On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 01:03:01 +0100, David Lang wrote:

I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang
like 'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

One of the most common ones in my part of Brighton was the 'bules'.



Should that be "blues"?

No. It was short for 'consta-bules'.

--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

[Dan S. MacAbre[_4_]]

David Lang wrote:
I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

Scuffers, too, round our way.

[The Natural Philosopher[_2_]]

On 29/07/16 08:11, Bob Eager wrote:
On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 01:03:01 +0100, David Lang wrote:

I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

One of the most common ones in my part of Brighton was the 'bules'.



Bluebottles. Rozzers and then the fuzz or the filth.


--
Truth welcomes investigation because truth knows investigation will lead
to converts. It is deception that uses all the other techniques.

[Bob Minchin[_4_]]

David Lang wrote:
I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?
South London born and bred, moved to West London as a teenager,
University in Canterbury Kent and now living near Southampton, I have
never heard the term.

Bob

[Bob Eager[_5_]]

On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 10:18:23 +0100, Bob Minchin wrote:

David Lang wrote:
I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang
like 'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?
South London born and bred, moved to West London as a teenager,
University in Canterbury Kent and now living near Southampton, I have
never heard the term.

Did I know you went to Kent? Because, if so, I'd forgotten.

(Reprise a discussion about how many Kent graduates are on here)

Please remind me of when/what!

--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

[John Rumm]

On 29/07/2016 01:03, David Lang wrote:
I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

Never heard it here - so not common in these parts...

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

[Bob Minchin[_4_]]

Bob Eager wrote:
On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 10:18:23 +0100, Bob Minchin wrote:


Did I know you went to Kent? Because, if so, I'd forgotten.

(Reprise a discussion about how many Kent graduates are on here)

Please remind me of when/what!

Yes we have discussed it before but a long time back
1972-1975 1st degree in Computers and Cybernetics.
A joint faculty course put together by Peter & Heather Brown in computer
dept and Keith Dimond in Electronics
I was an Eliot College member and active on the tech side of the
Gulbenkian especially in first year.
I've not really kept in touch with anyone from those days I'm afraid.

Bob

[tony sayer]

In article , Bob Eager
scribeth thus
On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 10:18:23 +0100, Bob Minchin wrote:

David Lang wrote:
I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang
like 'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?
South London born and bred, moved to West London as a teenager,
University in Canterbury Kent and now living near Southampton, I have
never heard the term.

Did I know you went to Kent? Because, if so, I'd forgotten.

(Reprise a discussion about how many Kent graduates are on here)

Please remind me of when/what!


There was some "outreach" CD made around here for the Romany community
by the police that had "Gavver" or Guivver in its title sometime ago now
FWIW...
--
Tony Sayer

[thescullster]

On 29/07/2016 01:03, David Lang wrote:
I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

East Yorkshire born and bred - never heard of it!

But then rozzers was an import from Ian Dury, or was that cozzers?

Phil

[The Natural Philosopher[_2_]]

On 29/07/16 11:23, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 01:03:01 +0100, David Lang
wrote:

I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

Never heard of it (Cornwall). Sounds like a local pronunciation of
gaffer.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angloromani_language

Is a fascinating read. Romani, the gyspy language has its roots in NW india.


Gavver has the equivalent word Gavaandi in Punjabi.Allegedly.
I think it means something like ' a man from the town' or an 'official'



--
How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don't think.

Adolf Hitler

[Bob Eager[_5_]]

On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 10:56:42 +0100, Bob Minchin wrote:

Yes we have discussed it before but a long time back 1972-1975 1st
degree in Computers and Cybernetics.
A joint faculty course put together by Peter & Heather Brown in computer
dept and Keith Dimond in Electronics I was an Eliot College member and
active on the tech side of the Gulbenkian especially in first year.
I've not really kept in touch with anyone from those days I'm afraid.

I'll try and remember this time! I may be repeating myself he

Peter died a few years back and Heather retired back to Budleigh
Salterton. Keith Dimond has retired but I see him occasionally. If you
were ever taught by Dave Ashworth - he died tragically a little while
ago, saving a woman from an oncoming train.

You should come down and take a look sometime!



--
My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £1 a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
*lightning surge protection* - a w_tom conductor

[The Natural Philosopher[_2_]]

On 29/07/16 11:37, thescullster wrote:
On 29/07/2016 01:03, David Lang wrote:
I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

East Yorkshire born and bred - never heard of it!

But then rozzers was an import from Ian Dury, or was that cozzers?

Phil
Rozzers
=======
1. Robert Peel from Bury, Lancashire set the first police up and the
local town they concentrated their first efforts on was Rossendale,
hence Rozzers

2.From the French word rousse or roussin, meaning detective or police.

Take your pick. It goes back to the 19th century.


Cozzer is nearly as old. Cops + rozzer or just rhyming slang or a
shortened form of constable.


--
If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will
eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such
time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic
and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally
important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for
the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the
truth is the greatest enemy of the State.

Joseph Goebbels

[Bill Taylor[_2_]]

On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 08:45:45 +0100, David Lang
wrote:

On 29/07/2016 08:23, Another John wrote:
In article ,
David Lang wrote:

I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang like
'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

My son lives in North Kent. I was at a family function the other day and
was talking to one of his older neighbours, who was complaining about
the number of "pikeys" (his word) in this area these days (though he
implied that there'd always been a presence). He said it was to do with
the amount of building (i.e. casual jobs) in the area.

Very often words like this originate with the "travelling folk" as they
like to call themselves.

I believe its a Romany word, or derived from one, like Chav.



Allegedly related to turnpike, so not Romany.

Didicoy on the other hand is Romany, but refers to non-Romany
travellers.

[Phil L]

David Lang wrote:
I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang
like 'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

NW England.

Never heard or seen this word before today, and that includes 17 years on
the internet

[Graham.[_11_]]

Bob Eager Wrote in message:
On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 08:47:11 +0100, David Lang wrote:

On 29/07/2016 08:11, Bob Eager wrote:
On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 01:03:01 +0100, David Lang wrote:

I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang
like 'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

One of the most common ones in my part of Brighton was the 'bules'.



Should that be "blues"?

No. It was short for 'consta-bules'.

--



I suppose uttering the last syllable, is safer than the first.
--

%Profound_observation%

[David Lang]

On 29/07/2016 17:51, Graham. wrote:
Bob Eager Wrote in message:
On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 08:47:11 +0100, David Lang wrote:

On 29/07/2016 08:11, Bob Eager wrote:
On Fri, 29 Jul 2016 01:03:01 +0100, David Lang wrote:

I'm trying to research the usage of the word "Gavver".
It's commonly used in North Kent as a slang term for the police. As in
"run, the gavvers are coming" or "I've been nicked, I'm at the gavver
station.
It's not a derogatory term like 'filth' or 'pigs' but general slang
like 'rosser' or 'old bill'.
Could you reply with your location and whether or not it's common in
your area?

One of the most common ones in my part of Brighton was the 'bules'.



Should that be "blues"?

No. It was short for 'consta-bules'.

Aha!

--



I suppose uttering the last syllable, is safer than the first.



--
Dave - The Medway Handyman