Anorak (slang)

Anorak (slang)

In British slang an anorak is a person, typically a man, who has unfathomable interest in arcane, detailed information regarded as boring by the rest of the population, and who feels compelled to talk at length about this information to anyone within earshot.

In the United Kingdom, people who wear anoraks in their social life are often stereotyped as trainspotters or persons with unimaginative and dull pastimes/hobbies.

The closest American slang is perhaps nerd which is applied to bookish students. Anorak is not generally applied to students; and the anorak is more of a trivia-freak than an overly studious worker. A geek is a person typically expert at, and intensely focussed on, technical equipment, particularly computers; again this is not exactly an anorak — the anorak offers overly detailed discussion and arcane trivia on "hobbyist" topics. The Japanese slang term otaku perhaps comes closest in meaning to the anorak: a usually socially inept male with an obsessive interest in an arcane or trivial subject.

The word can be qualified by the area in which the person takes an excessive interest; a "timetabling anorak" would be someone who finds the process of timetabling classes fascinating.

British Prime Minister John Major, derided by many for perceived dullness, was described by Anthony Seldon as an "obsessive political anorak." [Seldon, Anthony. "John Major: A Political Life." London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1998.]

Some classic anoraks are: classic car anoraks, hi-fi anoraks, and World War II aircraft anoraks. British outdoor pursuits such as birdwatching also qualify.

Younger people suggest that the word has come to mean a blend of the nerd cultures and is especially used to refer to the more obsessive science fiction fans.Here are two likely origins of the term:

*The best known explanation is the use of anoraks (a type of rain jacket) by train spotters, a prototype group for unfathomable interest in detailed trivia.
*Another explanation is that the usage derives from the weatherproof upper clothing worn by enthusiasts of offshore radio who would, despite their lack of familiarity with maritime life, sometimes travel from British ports in small boats to visit the ships from which their outcast 'heroes' broadcast during the 196776 period. The collective impression of their brightly coloured garments in the coastal murk of the North Sea was presumably memorable to the crews of those 'pirate ships' who had restricted contact with the mainland due to the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act and the visits might have had an important morale-boosting role, although the wearers of the garments might often have regretted the discomfort of those sea-tossed journeys. In rough weather, the anoraks were far more visible than their distressed wearers; hence, they were identified by the style of their outer garments. The term was, reportedly, coined by Andy Archer, a disc jockey of the period. The usage became generalized to mean an obsessive enthusiast of any outdoor activity and later to mean an enthusiast of other unfashionable activities.

"Anorak" can also mean a supporter or fan of the English band Marillion.

ee also

* Otaku
* Anorankh"
* Roy Cropper

References

External links

* [http://www.cracksman.connectfree.co.uk/ Anorak website]
* [http://www.progwereld.org/cd-recensies/marillion15.htm Website in Dutch about Anoraks - devotees to Marillion]
* [http://anoraks.uk.net/ Anoraks 4wd Club]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Anorak — This article is about the article of clothing. For the colloquial meaning, see Anorak (slang). Traditional Inuit Anorak …   Wikipedia

  • anorak — (n.) Eskimo s waterproof, hooded jacket, 1924, from Greenland Eskimo anoraq. Applied to Western imitations of this garment from 1930s. In British slang, socially inept person (Partridge associates it with a fondness for left wing politics and… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Anorak in the UK — Infobox Album Name = Anorak in the UK Type = live Longtype = Artist = Marillion Released = 8 April 2002 (mail order, 2 discs) 22 April 2002 (retail, 1 disc) Recorded = 19 22 May 2001, Manchester Academy, Wolverhampton Civic Hall, London Forum… …   Wikipedia

  • anorak — a·no·rak || ænÉ™ræk n. jacket with hood used in polar regions, parka; (British offensive slang) nerd, geek …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Anoraknophobia — Infobox Album | Name = Anoraknophobia Type = Album Artist = Marillion Released = May 15, 2001 Recorded = The Racket Club, Aylesbury, 2000/early 2001 Genre = Progressive rock Alternative rock Length = 1:03:40 (single disc edition) 1:23:57 (two… …   Wikipedia

  • Otaku — For the Ōta ku ward, see Ōta, Tokyo. The Akihabara neighborhood of Tokyo, a popular gathering site for otaku Otaku (おたく / オタク …   Wikipedia

  • Nerd — For other uses, see Nerd (disambiguation). Nerd is a derogatory slang term for an intelligent but socially awkward and obsessive person who spends time on unpopular or obscure pursuits, to the exclusion of more mainstream activities.[1][2] Nerds… …   Wikipedia

  • Minor Discworld concepts — This article details minor Discworld concepts: concepts and ideas from the Discworld of novels by Terry Pratchett which only appear in the background, or are not well fleshed out.AnorankhAn anorankh is a pseudo mystical symbol, consisting of an… …   Wikipedia

  • List of words having different meanings in British and American English: A–L — Differences between American and British English American English …   Wikipedia

  • clothing — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) Wearing apparel Nouns 1. clothing, clothes, apparel, wear, dress, attire, array, raiment, garments, garb, costume, outfit, habiliment, habit, rig, ensemble, caparison, drapery, toilette, fig, wardrobe,… …   English dictionary for students

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”