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Isn't this a slur? (Edited)
I'm not sure where you're from - I guess if you're outside the U.K. it wouldn't be the case. But I thought Pike was a slur against the Traveller community?Edit: Okay, so the slur is specifically "Pikey," not "Pike." Thank you!***Please rate my personal name lists:www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
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This message was edited 9/8/2020, 6:59 AM

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I've never heard of "Pike" / "Pikey" (I'm from England). Is this a regional word? I've heard of the common "Gypsy" slur, but what is most common where I'm from is "Gyppo". I say "where I'm from" I mean "from the people around me who actively continue to use racial slurs who are admittedly not many, but are mostly white men over 50". So perhaps the question I should be asking is "is this a new word?"
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I first heard "pikey" in the late 90s/early 2000s, possibly when I went to university where I came into contact with people from other parts of the UK. Where I grew up "gyppo" was the usual insult for Gypsies or anyone poor /scruffy. Pike itself reminds me of the Dad's Army character and also the fish.
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If you've ever seen Snatch (which is from 2000), you should know it. I think that where I learned the word. The first mention of Pikey meaning a Gypsy is from before 1850, so it isn't a new thing. I'm surprised it isn't a nationwide known thing. I thought it was. As far as I'm aware of Pike isn't used like that, just Pikey. Still, Pike reminded me of it.
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It might be regional, but it’s not new. I learnt it when I moved to London in 2010 and it wasn’t new then.
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Pike should be fine in UK, besides people potentially making a weapon or fish joke. Pikey is the slur, as noisynora said.
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I looked it up. The slur is Pikey.
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