In NZ English, Kiwi for a NZer would be capitalised but kiwi for the bird would not be. Also, the plural of Kiwi (NZer) would be Kiwis, but the plural of kiwi (apteryx) is often kiwi, preserbing the M?ori usage.
The definition given, "The East Indian name of the fruit of the egg-plant", is not entirely accurate. My Anglo-Indian father calls it brinjal, but it seems that this word is only preferred by Anglo-Indians. In Indian English among first-language Punjabi and Hindi speakers, the more common word is baingan. I have heard brinjal used in tamizh-language films, so perhaps it is more common in South India.
I grew up knowing 'huckery' as old, run-down, worn, ratty. The phrase 'huckery old car' was very common. The usage in urmilkman's tweet is quite different. Even in Zild, the language she keeps changing.
Comments by maxqnz
maxqnz commented on the word kiwi
In NZ English, Kiwi for a NZer would be capitalised but kiwi for the bird would not be. Also, the plural of Kiwi (NZer) would be Kiwis, but the plural of kiwi (apteryx) is often kiwi, preserbing the M?ori usage.
June 20, 2009
maxqnz commented on the word brinjal
The definition given, "The East Indian name of the fruit of the egg-plant", is not entirely accurate. My Anglo-Indian father calls it brinjal, but it seems that this word is only preferred by Anglo-Indians. In Indian English among first-language Punjabi and Hindi speakers, the more common word is baingan. I have heard brinjal used in tamizh-language films, so perhaps it is more common in South India.
June 18, 2009
maxqnz commented on the word clayton's
Clayton's - Australasian slang for ersatz, imitation. From a non-alcoholic drink marketed as "the drink you have when you're not having a drink".
June 17, 2009
maxqnz commented on the word huckery
I grew up knowing 'huckery' as old, run-down, worn, ratty. The phrase 'huckery old car' was very common. The usage in urmilkman's tweet is quite different. Even in Zild, the language she keeps changing.
June 11, 2009