What the hell is a 'jackhob'?

[Signe]

It's not much of a word, though, is it?  I'm not sure I'd even call it a proper word.  It's more like a spontaneous splurble.

[IainC]

It's not much of a word, though, is it?  I'm not sure I'd even call it a proper word.  It's more like a spontaneous splurble.

That's because you don't appreciate the rich etymology of it.
It's root appears to be in the old Scots Gaelic word achen which means 'to punch someone violently in the face'. There are echoes of this word today in our modern English word ache which originally was a medical term used in Northern England and the Borders where having been punched in the face by a Scot was a common diagnosis. Nowadays of course in these more careless times we use 'ach' as something of a linking word, most often used North of the Border when reminiscing about a particularly fine example of punching someone in the face - by way of example I give you the verses of the immortal Robbie Burns himself:

Braw, braw lads on Yarrow-braes,
They rove amang the blooming heather;
But Yarrow braes, nor Ettrick shaws
Can match the lads o' Galla Water.

And ach tho I ne'er floored hi' but once
His heid wa' fine tae split
I punched him in the kisser
And sent him hame tae bed

So you see it's full of couth as well as being a thoroughly fascinating part of the rich canvas we call language. And you call it a 'splurgle'. For shame!

[Lantyssa]

Splurble.  Splurgle is what you do after brushing your teeth.

[Signe]

Yes, splurble is completely different and doesn't involved mouthwash at all. 

It still doesn't seem a proper word to me.  I'm probably wrong and Righ might shout at me but it still doesn't seem a proper word... more like an expletive when one is annoyed or exasperated. 

But I also find the words, wit and wisdom of Scots to be wonderful. 

Edit:  my fingers suck at typing.

[Endie]

Etymology of "ach".

This was the best post.

It still doesn't seem a proper word to me.  I'm probably wrong and Righ might shout at me but it still doesn't seem a proper word... more like an expletive when one is annoyed or exasperated. 

Don't knock expletives.  They, like "ach", can be wonderfully powerful and expressive words, especially as intensifiers.

"Ach" in the way i used it lasts not far off a full second, with the soft "ch" (as proncounced in loch) lengthened to express resignation or weariness of the subject.

[Der Helm]

It's a real word in German, too, isn't it?

More like a sound you make. Meanings depend to much on context to name them here.

[Tebonas]

The most common usage being the translation of the english "oh".




Ach wirklich?

[Der Helm]

The most common usage being the translation of the english "oh".

Ach ?

[Yegolev]

There are echoes of this word today in our modern English word ache which originally was a medical term used in Northern England and the Borders where having been punched in the face by a Scot was a common diagnosis.

I agree.

[Signe]

I'm confused by the tartan post. 

[Yegolev]

And so we have our advantage!

[Sky]

Wouldn't being punched by a Scot leave something more like this:

[cmlancas]

Lumberjacks were Canadian?

[Yegolev]

Wouldn't being punched by a Scot leave something more like this:

It would all depend on where you were, I bet.  In fairness, border clans like Armstrong were/are not tartan-types but more like the drunken bandits lurking in the bushes, from what I have read.  There are quite a few "We're a real clan, dammit" Armstrongs and then there are the ones that are more like "We started as Vikings and now have no laird... meh" and of course the "We're really English" ones.  I think most of those live around Newcastle.

Lots of Armstrongs in Ireland, too, thanks to James.

[stray]

Lumberjacks were Canadian?

These guys would say so.

[Sky]

It would all depend on where you were, I bet.  In fairness, border clans like Armstrong were/are not tartan-types but more like the drunken bandits lurking in the bushes, from what I have read.  There are quite a few "We're a real clan, dammit" Armstrongs and then there are the ones that are more like "We started as Vikings and now have no laird... meh" and of course the "We're really English" ones.  I think most of those live around Newcastle.

Lots of Armstrongs in Ireland, too, thanks to James.

I need to learn to use green text.

It's black and blue tartan.

[Yegolev]

I got the joke and chose to ignore it, so we both win.

[cmlancas]

These guys would say so.

Psst, I made that joke! :D