February 19, 2008, 07:23
shufitz"gordon"
Another possible briticism from the book I'm reading:
"We did it!" Jelly said. "Thank gordon."
[And later, Flick speaking to Jelly:] "Don't let the Nazis capture you alive." "Oh, my gordon," said Jelly.
Meaning 'thank god' and 'oh, my god'? How did this come about?
February 19, 2008, 07:51
BobHaleI've never heard it. Is it authentically British? In other words what nationality is the author?
February 19, 2008, 07:53
BobHaleOr is it perhaps meant to be an idiosyncracy of the speech of that particular character?
February 19, 2008, 09:02
arnieI've never heard it, either. It might be that particular writer's (or character's) euphemism for "Oh my Gawd!" (God).
February 20, 2008, 07:31
shufitzPer your questions. The book is
Jackdaws by Ken Follett. Follett is British, and seems to research his books thoroughly.
We meet the Jelly character in a pub named The White Swan (but commonly known as The Mucky Duck) in London, specifically in "Stepney, not far from the docks," and we're told that she grew up in that neighborhood. She's the only character who grew up there; she's the only character who uses "gordon" this way, and she uses it consistently.
So I suspect it's local slang in the area, or in-the-area-at-that-time.
February 20, 2008, 09:02
arnie"Gawd" is is a common cockney (or more properly east London) pronunciation of "God". At a guess it's a minced version of that, possibly of the character's own invention. There is also another oath "Gordon Bennett!", an alternative of "Gor blimey!", which is itself a variation on "God blind me!".
See also
http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/articles/gordon-bennett.htm