what does it mean when a british subject calls someone a burke, i heard this word on a tv show called the thin blue line. thank you

burke?...ah yes Berk...another way of calling somebody an idiot ! Is listed in the M/W
www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=Berk
But Never ever use the other word listed here that's a complete NO No in polite society and on most forums (gets you suspended (minimum))

Berk ? Yes, it's from rhyming slang, the rhyme being Berkeley Hunt but not Berkshire . Being American, the writers of M/W online obviously don't know that Berkshire is pronounced 'bark-sheer' not 'burke-shy-er' as many Americans imagine it to be. So there's no 'berk' in Berkshire, if you see what I mean . The Oxford English Dictionary gives the origin as Berkeley Hunt.

On the subject of the rude word mentioned: you'll be pleased to know that it is never used by anybody when insulting or addressing a woman here. No woman ever gets called it.What's more, no woman uses it. However men, especially young men,often use it in addressing their male friends in their male group.It's being used then as a friendly word but strictly among themselves e.g. 'Jack,you old ****, come and buy us a pint !' Calling a a male stranger it is definitely unfriendly!

The word is definitely taboo beyond those circumstances: women here, in particular, find it offensive.

Yikes. We don't use that word in the US either.

quote:

Originally posted by Sara Jo:
Yikes. We don't use that word in the US either.

But there is a humorous joke which alludes to it.

quote:

Originally posted by juanruiz:

quote:

Originally posted by Sara Jo:
Yikes. We don't use that word in the US either.

But there is a humorous joke which alludes to it.

There is ? Well, don't keep us in the dark, JR: what is it?

I'd better not tell it here, but it does have to do with clever midgets.