Scanger

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Scanger or skanger (IPA: [skɑŋəɹ]) (female: howiya^[1]) is a derogatory term for a stereotypical member of a youth subculture group in Ireland, similar to the chav in the United Kingdom.^[2]^[3]

The stereotypical scanger wears a tracksuit, gold jewellery, runners, tattoos, piercings, is from a working class area of the Northside of Dublin, and speaks with an exaggerated Dublin accent. Male scangers have cropped haircuts and often wear Celtic F.C. shirts or drive cars with loud sound systems. Pyjamas as outdoor wear, bleached-blonde hair and large hoop earrings are popular with female scangers.^[1]^[4] Scangers have a reputation for anti-social behaviour.^[5]

[edit] Etymology

Look up Scanger in
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According to Terence Dolan, professor in the Department of English in University College Dublin and author of A Dictionary of Hiberno English^[6]: "Much of the influence comes from London where the origins of the word 'skanger' can be found. I'm pretty certain this is a collapsed form of the word 'scavenger' from a West Indian word used by the Caribbean community in London."^[1] Dolan's dictionary gives the West Indian slang word "skanker", meaning an untrustworthy or unreliable person, as a possible source of the word.

[edit] Depictions in popular culture

Colin Farrell's character in the movie Intermission.^[7]
Ross O'Carroll-Kelly, the satirical stereotype created by journalist Paul Howard, often encounters scangers, who he also refers to as "skobies".^[8]

[edit] See also

Other youth subcultures that resemble scangers:

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c Did you snog? No, I scored, you muppet — Irish Independent newspaper article, 8 February 2006.
^ 'Asbo' and 'Chav' make dictionary, BBC News, 8 June 2005.
^ This cackle about cackleberries is enough to leave you scunnered, The Guardian newspaper article, 9 June 2005.
^ Pyjama Party — The Irish Times newspaper article, 11 November 2006.
^ "Every skanger from Timahoe to Termonfeckin is out burning tyres, stoning firemen and demanding bin bags of chocolate." — Luas Talk — Irish Independent newspaper column, 28 October 2006.
^ A Dictionary of Hiberno English by Terence Dolan, Gill & Macmillan, ISBN 0-71-712942-X
^ "As foulmouthed Dublin skanger Lehiff, Farrell is a violent petty criminal" Intermission — film review from the RTÉ website, retrieved 29 November 2006.
^ The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress, by Ross O'Carroll-Kelly, Penguin Books, ISBN 1-844-88089-3.