Slur |
Represents |
Reason & Origins |
Taffy |
Welsh |
The Taff is the name of the river that runs through Cardiff, the capital of Wales. Also from a poem that starts: "Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief...." Another explanation is that Taffy is based on an English pronuciation of the common Welsh first name, "Daffyd" (David). |
Welsher |
Welsh |
Supposedly dates from the 19th Century when the English government decided that all Welsh children should speak English in school. Any child caught speaking Welsh had a board placed around his/her neck and could only get rid of it by "telling on" another child using Welsh. At the end of the day, the child stuck with the board got caned. |
Woolyback |
Welsh |
NW England origins. Lots of sheep in Wales. |