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Pikey vs Pukey - What's the difference?

pikey | pukey |

As a noun pikey

is a low-ranking soldier who merely carries a pike or pikey can be (british|pejorative) a working-class (often underclass) person; can vary from specifically irish travellers to gypsies or travellers from any ethnic background, but now increasingly used for any socially undesirable person, with negative connotations of benefit fraud, theft, single-parent families and living on run-down estates.

As a verb pikey

is (uk|slang|derogatory) to steal.

As an adjective pukey is

(informal) resembling vomit in colour, texture, etc.

pikey

English

Etymology 1

pike + -y

Noun

(en noun)
  • A low-ranking soldier who merely carries a pike.

    • Etymology 2

    From obsolete pike , to depart or travel, or possibly from turnpike (en) - needs to be confirmed

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (British, pejorative) A working-class (often underclass) person; can vary from specifically Irish Travellers to gypsies or travellers from any ethnic background, but now increasingly used for any socially undesirable person, with negative connotations of benefit fraud, theft, single-parent families and living on run-down estates.
    • See also
    * charva * chav * yob * gypsy

    Etymology 3

    Derived from the stereotype that all gypsies or other travellers are thieves.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (UK, slang, derogatory) to steal.

    • pukey

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (informal) Resembling vomit in colour, texture, etc.
  • * 2007 , Lauren Mechling, Laura Moser, Foreign Exposure: The Social Climber Abroad :
    • The walls in this abandoned waiting area were painted a pukey orange, compounding the feeling of queasiness I'd had since breakfast.
  • (informal) Inclined to vomit; sick.
  • * 2005 , Rebecca Eckler, Knocked Up: Confessions of a Hip Mother-to-be :
    • There's no way he'd allow a dog on his couch or on his 500-thread-count sheets, let alone a pukey baby.
  • (informal) Vile; contemptible.
  • * 2003 , Guy Davenport, The Death of Picasso :
    • He called Mikkel a pukey little faggot. I'll kick him again when I can get at him.
  • * 2007 , Paul Auster, Travels in the Scriptorium :
    • ...it's nothing more than a pukey little garrison town in the middle of nowhere.