Carny (or carney)

Carny (or carney)
 

I ran into the word "carny" which I had never heard before. I've been doing research and it's given me several meanings and uses.

What's the real meaning of this word?, is it used in all the English speaking countries, and if so, with the same meaning?

I believe it comes from "carnival"

Thanks.!!

L.A.

I've never heard of it. Gizza context. :) (I mean give us a context)

I don't have one :o. My only context is it has to do with a carnival.

Well, it seems it's a carnival employee.. I wanted to know where it's used and how. I found it peculiar.:rolleyes:

It's carnival slang, and it means "ä person who works for carnivals". It usually refers to the company of workers of a traveling carnival, and it can refer to acts (the bearded lady, the fortune teller) as well as the support staff (ticket sellers and ticket takers, food and drink salespeople, carnival ride operators, mechanics and setup crew, etc).

Ok, Thank you both ;)

I learnt that word watching HBO's series "Carnivàle" and it's exactly what wrholt said.

I got these in my phrasepad from season 1 episode 8

-Carnies don't steal from carnies.

-We got a lot of carnies defectorating [sic] lately

I think the BrE equivalent of the Carnaval must be the Fairground. In Europe, Carnaval is specifically the celebration culminating in Mardi Gras, which is not an organized body of people working full-time.

Carnaval? Did you mean Carnival?

Well, it's "carnival" :o, but you're right. You call that "fairground" in GB.

I've read it's used in Australia and it's also the language those people talk.

Looking at that word I found another one.. "cant". I had never heard it either, and it's "...the jargon, argot or cryptolect of a group, often implying its use to exclude or mislead people outside the group." (wikipedia). Of course "cant" means other things also.

So, the way I understand it, "carnies" have their own "cant".

Two more words to add to my vocabulary even if they're not commonly used.

Confirmed carnival in U.S.A. is not like carnival in Venice or Rio. It's a traveling entertainment show which includes rides, fast food and entertainment. Carnies or roustabouts are the two terms I am familiar with for carnival workers. Roustabouts are more often the strong guys who set up the tent, if there is a tent, and perhaps manage the rides. I don't believe the performers (sword swallers, belly dancers, human blockheads. etc) are considered rousabouts.

Well sort of, but because it doesn't actually happen in the UK, I used Spanish spelling out of habit.

An addition to my previous comment: this is much the same as in Latin America. Many cities celebrate carnivals. The most famous is the "Carnaval de Rio" and also there is the "Carnaval de Barranquilla".. and many others.

The "Carnival" Poli talks about is something totally different, and that's where the "carnies" live and work. Not an easy life, I think. If people go to the perfomance, you eat. If they don't, you don't eat.. :sad:

The key difference between "cant" and the other terms ("jargon", "argot", "slang") is the implied intent to exclude or mislead people outside the group. It strongly suggests that those who know and use the "cant" have dishonest intentions. We use it most often in the expression "thieves' cant" (the slang or jargon of professional thieves and pickpockets), and we also use it to identify the slang of other groups who we perceive to be equivalent to thieves.

Interesting. Since I'm a language lover, I like to know about these things. Of course, a "cant" is not a language per se but it is a means of communication among people and it makes you wonder how and when those things started. That makes it very interesting.

Thanks a lot wrholt!!!!;):)

This must be roughly like the Showman in the UK. They used to travel from town to town in convoys, setting up the fairground in each town. Here is an idea of the kind of things they lived in (always called wagons, never caravans). I used to have one which I renovated. Beautiful old wooden one from about 1920, weighed 5 tons and was 32 ft long.

In Kent a carnival is a processionary celebration but nearer harvest-time than Easter. I presume the same is true more widely in England.

Wow, Perikles, that's lovely. You "used to" have one? Don't you have it anymore? what happened to it? It's really nice. Probably expensive too.. :hmm:

Yes, that's the idea. What do you call "carnies" in the UK?. I wonder if they also have their "cant". Probably so.

I still wonder why the word is used in Australia. Do they have "carnivals" in Australia? :confused:

Do they call them "carnivals"?

;)

I just learnt that learnt is a word in English. It's said a lot in the south but I've been told it wasn't correct. Learned should be used instead. I was going to correct you but I decided to look it up just in case I was wrong and learnt something new. My spell checker is throwing a fit over it though. :)

learntpast participle, past tense of learn (Verb)

1. Gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) by study, experience, or being taught.
2. Commit to memory.

Also "carnies" always reminds me of the Austin Powers movie.

"Only two things frighten me and one is nuclear war."
"What's the other?"
"What?"
"The other thing that frightens you..."
"Oh! Carnies! Small hands, smell like cabbage."

"Learnt" is the standard (or preferred) spelling in the UK and in some other nations that follow UK spelling conventions. "Learned" is the standard spelling in the US. "Learn" is one of several verbs that are historically irregular which have become regular in some national standards (especially US standard English) and which remain irregular in other national standards (especially UK standard English).

I see. That's pretty interesting. You think you know something then find out you were wrong about it.