Derogatory terms for skilled jobs

[srw]

OK, so now they are overworked, underpaid AND a euphemism for prostitute?

Let's just call them sewers.

It was one of the common euphemisms in the 19th century, IIRC.

 

[numbnuts]

Just remembered, powder monkey – explosives engineer in Aussie, but I also believe it's from the navy

 

[srw]

Blimey, you don't look quite that old.

I have a portrait in the attic.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

OK, so now they are overworked, underpaid AND a euphemism for prostitute?

It did cause terrible confusion in one of his books (Night Watch?), where an older gentleman came to Rosie Palms house, because he had needs that only a woman could help him with

Rosie looked at him. & called another woman, stating "this one's for you", as he had a lot of socks that needed darning, & the other house-guest was actually a real seamstress.......................
http://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/Book:Night_Watch
http://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/Rosemary_Palm

http://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/Seamstresses'_Guild

 

[ufkacbln]

Seamstresses

Didn't Terry Pratchett have a differing implication, in the Disc World books, for the name
(like his 'ladies of negotiable virtue')



Except Jeremy Hunt?

Terry Pratchett had a wonderful way of showing reality in all its glory as rather silly when you looked at the details

His system where you were assessed by the Guild of Thieves for how much you could have stolen from you each year was a classic take on taxation

 

[ufkacbln]

Just remembered, powder monkey – explosives engineer in Aussie, but I also believe it's from the navy

It is. They used to have young boys to carry powder to the guns. Boys were small, quick and nimble in the confined space of a warship configured for Battle

Sadly, despite being only boys they were also seen as an integral part of teh chain and a chosen target or snipers. If you killed these boys then you prevented the guns being supplied and hence limited the firepower

 

[ufkacbln]

There are also some that are also som ethat have different meetings

We know of a French lass living in Scotland. She used to take great exception to the term of endearment "Hen" as in France a "Hen" is a "lady of negotiable virtue'

 

[ANT 666]

A naval signals guy was a Bunting tosser.

 

[FishFright]

I have a portrait in the attic.

I do too but the bugger still looks immaculate !

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Just remembered, powder monkey – explosives engineer in Aussie, but I also believe it's from the navy

In York, there is a shop, that famously has a carving of a devil on it, to signify it was a Printers, as the young apprentices who dealt with the type, & smaller jobs were 'Printers Devils'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printer's_devil
Item 5; http://www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire.../11/28/hidden_york_quiz_answers_feature.shtml

Terry Pratchett had a wonderful way of showing reality in all its glory as rather silly when you looked at the details
His system where you were assessed by the Guild of Thieves for how much you could have stolen from you each year was a classic take on taxation

Indeed!
If you were rich enough, you could buy your way to a robbery/assault free year

I also liked his thoughts on Bogeymen, where if you covered them with a blanket (blue, & fluffy, preferably). they suffered from existential uncertainty
Normally if a kid can't see them, or ceases to believe in them, they go away
If you cover them up, they're not sure, themselves, if they exist
Cruel....................


Presently re-reading 'Raising Steam' at work, during meal-breaks

 

[Bryony]

When I tell people I'm a dispenser in a pharmacy they say "oh you're a drug dealer!"

 

[marinyork]

When I tell people I'm a dispenser in a pharmacy they say "oh you're a drug dealer!"

You live in a much more exciting pharmacy/area than I do!

Many pharmacists say that it's the only job requiring a degree to take a box off the shelves.

 

[Drago]

An ex girlfriends Brother worked in a sweetie factory, boxing up orders and loading the trucks. When I asked him what he did he calmly looked me in the eye and told me he was a fudge packer.

I didn't quite know how to respond to that, and after a few seconds silence he burst our laughing and explained.

 

[ayceejay]

Stationed nearby was the Pioneer Corps known locally as chunkies

 

[Onthedrops]

Joiner - Chippie
Electrician - Sparky
Pipe Fitter - Pipe Strangler
Instrument Tech - Gauge Tapper
Policeman - Copper/Bobby
Traffic Warden - Total and utter t**t
Dentist - Fang Bandit
Sheet metal worker - Tin Basher

To name a few.