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IN MOST PARTS of the world, the word “mineral” refers to a “solid, naturally occurring inorganic substance”.
But here at home, most use it to refer to a fizzy drink.
This sense of the word is among the 600 new words, phrases and senses to be added to the latest update of the Oxford English Dictionary.
And among these 600 new additions, are eight Irish-English words.
In the case of mineral, the OED has added a new sense, the one used in Ireland and West African English, of a “carbonated soft drink”.
In its definition, the OED cites an Irish account on X that posted: “My father off drink for Lent, drinking a mineral.”
It’s not the only Irish-English term to be added, with debs also now included – the OED defines a debs as a “formal social event held for students in their final year of secondary school, usually towards the end of the school year”.
Spice bag, the takeaway delicacy so beloved throughout Ireland, has also been added to the OED.
The OED remarked that the spice bag was invented in a Chinese takeaway restaurant in Dublin called Sunflower around 2006.
The OED’s first quotation for this entry is a social media post from 2012 of someone contemplating a trip to Sunflower to grab one: “Im half tempted to go around to sunflower and get a spice bag.”
The impact of Derry Girls continues to be felt in popular culture as “class” in the Irish sense of being a term of approval has been added to the OED.
The OED cites Erin from Derry Girl’s in its definition of class in this newly added sense.
Morto has also made its way into the latest edition of the OED, which means “mortified or extremely embarrassed”.
Elsewhere, it’s a big day for Waterford with the inclusion of “blaa”, which the OED defines as a “soft white bread roll dusted with flour, particularly associated with Waterford”.
The OED said possible origins for this word could be the French words blanc ‘white’ and blé ‘wheat’, but neither of these suggestions can be substantiated.
Meanwhile, ludraman, from Irish liúdramán or lúdramán, is now included in the OED as meaning a “lazy, unproductive, or stupid person”.
The OED cites James Joyce’s Ulysses in its definition, which is the earliest evidence of the words usage in English though Joyce it loodheramaun, which is one of the eleven different spellings for the word recorded in the OED.
“To act the maggot” has also been included in the latest update, meaning to “behave foolishly”.
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Good to see the US adopting this type of system, the lottery was a bit of a joke in fairness, just so random and seemed like a lazy/handy way of doing things for them. Seems really tough to immigrate into the US nowadays.
That’s true, I was fortunate enough to win a green card through the lottery system…but it was completely random, you could be a computer scientist from Bogota or a sheep herder from Armenia, it made no sense really. This seems like a much better system.
Even when you got your random green card in the lottery you still had to attend the Embassy for an interview so possibly a lot of weeding out was done then?
That’s true, but all you required was a job offer in official headed paper from a company and that was it…easy to make one up if you had to!
Not necessary if you have degree or/and masters in an employable profession. Subtle weeding out.
At the time I didn’t have a degree and went with my letter of an offer of employment which was acceptable. If I was bullshitting I would have got away with it, how I know was because it was my friends company and there was no check.
I am guessing that may have a while go? Perhaps they check more throughly now?
It was 2001. Maybe they do. Border Control has stiffened considerably since 2005…so maybe you’re right. I moved home in 2006.
Just as a matter of interest, if you don’t mind me asking. Just wondering why you decided to move back home. Don’t answer if you dont want I know it’s a personal question.
Ha! Youre close enough Sean!!!
I find I’m asking myself that question a lot lately McBab….I spent a few years there and decided to move back, family I suppose had a bit to do with it. I had a great time there, really lived it. If you are willing to work in the States, you will get on fine. The working man is rewarded. If you want to sit on your hole, you don’t eat, simple as. A policy they could do with having a look at here. To be honest, I would move back in the morn, but my wife would not… Added to a mortgage, young kids etc here its just not an option unfortunately….
Thanks for the reply Jimmy. So refreshing to have a civilised conversation on this site!
No worries McBab
Seems the age category doesn’t make sense It is a kind of discrimination
I agree. Not sure why this ism is ok and gender and race isms are deemed unacceptable.
Err.. Because they prefer to let in young people? I’d get no points for age myself but get it and have no problem with it.
Would it be ok to let in just white people? Or just men?
It makes perfect sense for them too give preference to younger people. Younger people will be in the work force for longer, thus generating taxes and revenue for the government longer.
It’s logical to limit immigration to those who can be more productive and and bring value to the country, rather than become a burden. It is a transaction, not a gift: we let you in, you came and work hard and (possibly, at least initially) cheap, we all benefit in the end.
Above all though, it is their country, their rules. They don’t have to adhere to our political correctness, as much as we might feel righteous about our opinion on it.
It’s called independence.
It’s really sad to see some of us calling African Shit holes …….. Some of us are here legally just for studies and we are benefiting this country by paying huge school fees
Am alway heartbroken when people think that all Africans are Asylum seekers or refugees :-( and i remember when i first arrived in Ireland and stayed for 3 months someone whom i don’t know sent me a text saying “You are fraudulent Asylum Seeker Scamming our country …. Go back to Africa”
it’s really sad.
Unfortuntely ISSA a lot of africans are absolutely bleeding this country for what its worth. Its a national disgrace and no one has the balls to to stand up to it for fear of being targeted as being racist/bigot etc. I dont believe anyone has a problem with genuine students and workers.
I do agree with you Jason …… That some of Africans have damaged our image thurs making everyone think that all African are here to Abuse the system.
Personally am ashamed to be black coz av experienced hard times since i came here for my studies with other people brandishing me names lol.
Not all africans are out to scam this country or take it for a ride. I have the pleasure of knowing some who are really successful here.
But as Jason pointed out there is alot more scamming than actually been good citizens.
Until that trend reverses the African people who are not out to scam etc are going to be labeled with the same tag.
I do get your point …… But am just puzzled on how those people manage to come in Ireland and abuse the system lol.
I remember when i was applying for my Irish student Visa back home in Kenya i really passed through various difficulty process to get my Visa and i had to produce loads and loads of documents and went through serious vetting and on top of that i was required to do an International English proficiency test to prove that i can speak English lol
Does it mean that some countries get their visas so easily???? coz some are here and ain’t speaking English and there are the one tarnishing our name here
Issa . Quite a few africans come in as refugees depending on the country in Africa.
Lock up the illegals.
+1
Nope, just send em home
about time!
Well this is good news for the irish a nation of hard working people when we go to other country’s we dont go their to sponge of that said country we work hard integrate into their society’s spend our money their while still retaining out culture and having the “craic”
Will this cover the ones this October?
have your say