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Whence wotcher?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Mordac, Aug 30, 2009.

0/5, 0 votes
  1. Mordac

    Mordac Minister of Magic DLP Supporter

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    Aug 30, 2009 #1
    I'm not sure if this is the correct forum to post this, but I'll give it a whirl since it is related to canon.

    I've noticed some people in internet forums starting to use 'wotcher' as a greeting. Yet, the word doesn't appear in any dictionary that I've checked. Did Rowling make it up, or was it some obscure slang that suddenly got amplified?

    It's pretty weird, like how Peter Pan made up the name Wendy...
     
  2. EvilSkittles

    EvilSkittles DA Member

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    Aug 31, 2009 #2
    It shows up in a few Terry Pratchett books and an American to English dictionary, that I have misplaced at the moment.
    It's an old term that according to the dictionary basically means: what's up.
     
  3. Veri

    Veri Denarii Host

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    Aug 31, 2009 #3
    Supposedly, it's a shortening of the phrase "What Cheer?", which was, again supposedly, a colloquial English greeting.
     
  4. AceOfSpades

    AceOfSpades Slug Club Member DLP Supporter

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    Aug 31, 2009 #4
    An updated, shortened version of an older English greeting. The 17th century "What cheer?" became "Wotcher?" with assorted spelling. (Taken from UrbanDictionary)
     
  5. Dark Syaoran

    Dark Syaoran No. 4 Admin

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    Aug 31, 2009 #5
    It's a fucking annoying greeting, in any case.
     
  6. RustyRed

    RustyRed High Inquisitor

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    Sep 1, 2009 #6
    Peter Pan made up the name Wendy? Dude, that's wild...

    In any case, I kind of agree-- wotcher gets old fast. It's one of the things I don't like about writing or reading Tonks. I'm trying to phase it out, haha.
     
  7. Oz

    Oz For Zombie. Moderator DLP Supporter

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    Sep 1, 2009 #7
    Nope.

    /bursting bubbles
     
  8. Averis

    Averis Don of Delivery ~ Prestige ~

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    Sep 1, 2009 #8
    Nice find, Oz. It's only cool because my mother's name just so happens to be Wendy. As for wotcher... all I can think of is this and this. On another semi-related note, I'll have some new music (my own) on Wednesday for anyone interested.

    carry on.
     
  9. Oz

    Oz For Zombie. Moderator DLP Supporter

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    Sep 1, 2009 #9
    You make music? o_O PM me a link when you're done? :D
     
  10. Tehan

    Tehan Avatar of Khorne DLP Supporter

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    Sep 1, 2009 #10
    [​IMG]

    This is Gytha 'Nanny' Ogg. She is the sort of person that uses the word 'wotcher' naturally.

    [​IMG]

    This is Nymphadora Tonks. She is the sort of person that uses the word 'wotcher' to stand out.
     
  11. naidrodro

    naidrodro Fourth Year

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    Sep 3, 2009 #11
    I have no idea why but when i read the HP books i immediately related wotcher to "G'day"(Aussie slang) in a British sense. I didn't even realize it wasn't a real word until reading this thread
     
  12. jhbwolverine

    jhbwolverine Squib

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    Sep 3, 2009 #12
    As an American, I had always just assumed that wotcher was British slang. Which it seems like the majority opinion says it is. Maybe it's just outdated?
     
  13. Maro

    Maro Third Year

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    Sep 5, 2009 #13
    I'd never heard the word till reading OOTP. Maybe I'm from the wrong part of the country ^_^
     
  14. Aekiel

    Aekiel Angle of Mispeling ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter

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    Sep 6, 2009 #14
    Same as above, but I'm a notherner, we have our own weird slang to work with.
     
  15. Sorrows

    Sorrows Queen of the Flamingos Moderator

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    Sep 6, 2009 #15
    I know a couple of people who use it, but I don't know if it was influenced by Harry Potter or not.