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Archiver > ESSEX-UK > 2001-04 > 0986727898


From: "Stan Whitehead" <>
Subject: Re: Crooked Billet
Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2001 12:04:58 +0100
References: <B6F69705.1A2A%ajmac@internet.co.nz>


No I think the meaning is much much older than Australia or NZ... :-o)
It was long the custom to hang the Robbers and recalcitrants (before they
sent
'em to the Antipodes) and then put the corpse in an Iron cage hung at a
prominent crossroads leading to the village or town. There the corpse would
hang 'creaking and groaning'(the un-oiled cage ;-0) ) and rot as a warning
to
others of similar ilk. The crossroads would thus become a public place first
to wonder at and gawp and then the Mine Hosts of Pubby Hunter's would set
up shop....hey presto 'The Pub'.!
At least that's what I think....... :-o)
Stan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brenda &Tony MacCulloch" <>
To: <>
Sent: 08 April 2001 11:30
Subject: FW: Crooked Billet


| hi Geo,
| see below. my reply to Ian,
| we kiwis like to think that we are much more refined than our ozzie
cousins
| but in the use of the word 'Crook', I think that it is used much the same.
|
| for me, when i saw the original message, I immediately thought it was
| referring to a bit of a rough hostelery...
|
| cheers
|
| brenda
|
| ----------
| From: Brenda &Tony MacCulloch <>
| Date: Sun, 08 Apr 2001 22:25:19 +1200
| To: <>
| Subject: Re: Crooked Billet
|
| no not much of an ad, but a little tongue in cheek humour from the owners
of
| such estabilshments
| - in the new zealand / oz vernacular - "crook" means a bit off, so being
| unwell or something not up to standard is "a bit crook"
| cheers,
|
| brenda
|
| From:
| Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2001 04:39:50 EDT
| To:
| Subject: Re: Crooked Billet
|
|
| In a message dated 08/04/2001 09:19:28 GMT Daylight Time,
| writes:
|
|
| could it mean in the sense of a 'billet' being a place to stay.
|
| and a 'crooked' billet being not a very good place.
|
|
| Not much of an advert is it? Smile.
|
| Cheers
|
| Ian Pubby Hunter
|
| http://www.essexpubs.co.uk
|
| http://www.tiptree.freeserve.co.uk
|
|
|
|

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