| 释义 |
oonchook|ˈuːnʃuːk, ˈəʊn-|
Also eunchuck, owenshook, ownshuck, etc.
[ad. Ir. óinseach, Gael. òinnseach foolish woman, clown.]
†1. Newfoundland. One of the men dressed as women who participated in a mummers' parade. Obs.
1885W. Whittle in Evening Telegram (St. John's, Newfoundland) 21 Dec. (1962) 22 ‘Munn’ Carter..was always a conspicuous ‘fool’... Davey Foley was always the owner of a stylish rig, while his friend, Masey Murphy, appeared, I think, as an ‘Owenshook’. The ‘Owenshook’ was always a terror to encounter, for he rarely was merciful to any one who made him draw upon his wind, and woe to the man who disputed his right of giving a sound castigation for the trouble incurred. 1895D. W. Prowse Hist. Newfoundland xiii. 402 Some were dressed as women, with long garments, known as ‘eunchucks’. The were all masked, and ran at passengers with an Indian yell, and spoke in a falsetto voice. a1930G. J. Bond in J. R. Smallwood Bk. Newfoundland (1937) II. 259/1 Joined with these gaily bedecked Fools were a smaller number of veiled men in women's garments. They bore the appellation of Oonchooks, and were perhaps more persistent and punishing in their thrashing of people than their more spectacular companions. 1969in Halpert & Story Christmas Mumming in Newfoundland 49 The Newfoundland eyewitnesses draw particular attention..to both the fools who belaboured the bystanders with whips and inflated bladders, and the ‘oonchooks’.
2. Newfoundland and Ireland. (Also in form oonshick |-ʃɪk|.) A person who acts foolishly, a noodle. colloq.
1937P. K. Devine Folklore of Newfoundland 35 Ownshook, an ignorant stupid fellow. 1955Historic Newfoundland (Newfoundland Tourist Devel. Office) 35 Oonshick, a person of low intelligence. 1961‘F. O'Brien’ Hard Life x. 83 The divil himself is in the hearts of that Corporation ownshucks. a1966‘M. na Gopaleen’ Best of Myles (1968) 152 Begob if I used the word ownshuck you might take my meaning! 1975Globe & Mail (Toronto) 1 Mar. 27/4 Moreover, all those jokes depicting Newfoundlanders as oonshicks—the vernacular for persons of low intelligence—are..ill-considered comment on the disintegration of 478 years of community loyalty and individual fortitude. |