Tuesday Word: Neeps

[theidolhands.livejournal.com]

neeps (ˈniːpz):
origin: (predates 12th Century) Middle English nepe, from Old English nǣp, from Latin napus

noun
(Brit, chiefly Scottish) a dialect term for turnips
→ as in: Haggis w/ "bashed neeps" & champit tatties

Comments

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

I've always wondered what neeps 'n tatties were. Well I clearly didn't care enough to google it, but I always wondered when I heard the phrase. Guessed what the tatties were, naturally enough. Is this because Scottish people say "tur-neeeps".

[theidolhands.livejournal.com]

Welp, I'd ask a Scottish person to be certain (been watching a lot of Scots tv lately), but otherwise I'd assume it's for the reasons stated in the origin of the word above -- it's simply ancient dialect that's hung around.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

I'd ask instead how tur- got stuck on the front of nepe.

---L.

[sileni.livejournal.com]

It's a good question! But having lived in the Highlands for a year, I can definitely say that Scottish people pronounce 'turnips' as 'TURRRnips'

I've also heard of a 'neap tide' which I'm never sure has any significance.

[temperance14.livejournal.com]

And how did you know my husband and I were trying to sort out the meaning of this word, just last week?
I win! Thanks for the back up!

(ok, to be honest, I declared it referred to parsnips and turnips...oh never mind. I need a life, and perhaps fewer root veggies.)

[sileni.livejournal.com]

This came out a while ago, thought I'd share the turmoil:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2010/jan/25/neeps-swede-or-turnip

[theidolhands.livejournal.com]

What a great article, thanks for this!

Proving at least one thing entirely: human beings excel at complicating matters.*
*as a whole I mean, not yourself personally. heh.

[sileni.livejournal.com]

haha! no problem!