gadgie

gadgie

English

Alternative forms

• gadgy, gadgee, gadge, gage

Etymology

Borrowed from Romani gaʒe (“a non-Roma”), plural of gaʒo.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡæd͡ʒi/

Noun

gadgie (plural gadgies)

1. (Scotland, Tyneside, Mackem, Teesside) A man.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:man

   • 2008, Ian Black, “An earthquake hits Newcastle”, in Geordies vs Mackems & Mackems vs Geordies, Black & White Publishing, →ISBN, page 97:

     They also said (many times) “Fuck” and “Some gadgie's just knacked me 'ouse.”

   • 2013, Ray Banks, Wolf Tickets, Blasted Heath Ltd, →ISBN, page 49:

     "He's in a wheelchair." Cobb took a large gulp from the bottle, showed his teeth. "How dangerous can a gadgie in a wheelchair be, eh?"

2. (Scotland, especially Dundee, derogatory) A person who is poorly educated and engages in hooliganism, petty criminality or loutish behaviour. This usage sometimes carries the connotation of youth.

Related terms

• gadje
• radgie gadgie

Translations

an old man

Kurdish: Northern Kurdish: pîremêr (ku) m Swedish: gubbe (sv)

References

• Frank Graham (1987) The New Geordie Dictionary, →ISBN
• Todd's Geordie Words and Phrases, George Todd, Newcastle, 1977
• Jonathon Green (2023), “gadgy n.”, in Green's Dictionary of Slang