- Gurn
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This article is about distorted facial expressions. For the teeth clenching associated with drug use, see bruxism.
A man gurning
Gurning manA gurn or chuck is a distorted facial expression, and a verb to describe the action. A typical gurn might involve projecting the lower jaw as far forward and up as possible, and covering the upper lip with the lower lip. Another common form of gurning is the "duck face" which is characterized by outwardly splayed lips, supposedly creating the illusion of fuller lips.[1][unreliable source?]
The English Dialect Dictionary, compiled by Joseph Wright, defines the word gurn as "to snarl as a dog; to look savage; to distort the countenance," while the Oxford English Dictionary suggests the derivation may originally be Scottish, related to "grin." In Northern Ireland, the verb "to gurn" means "to cry," and crying is often referred to as "gurnin'." Originally the scottish dialectual usage refers to a person who is complaining.
Gurning contests
Gurning contests are a rural English tradition. By far the most notable is that held annually at the Egremont Crab Fair, which dates back to 1267 when King Henry III granted the fair a Royal Charter.[2] The origins of the gurning competition itself are unclear, and may not be so old, although it was described as an ancient tradition by local newspaper the Cumberland Paquet in 1852.[3]
The competitions are held regularly in some villages, with contestants traditionally framing their faces through a horse collar — known as "gurnin' through a braffin'."[4] The World Gurning Championship takes place annually at the same crab fair in Egremont, Cumbria.[5] Those with the greatest gurn capabilities are often those with no teeth, as this provides greater room to move the jaw further up. In some cases, the elderly or otherwise toothless can be capable of spectacular gurns covering the entire nose.
Peter Jackman became England's best-known gurner, winning the world championship four times, beginning in 1998 with a face called the "Bela Lugosi." He had his teeth removed in 2000 to make his features easier to manoeuvre. Three years later, he died due to injuries incurred from a fall after a cliff collapsed below him and two friends as they walked along the Costa del Sol during a golfing vacation to Spain.[6][7][8]
Notes
- ^ AntiDuckface
- ^ Gurners go for gold, BBC News, September 15, 2001.
- ^ History of the Egremont Crab Fair
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/451253.stm
- ^ Guide to Traditional Customs of Britain/Brian Shuel/National Trust/1985/ISBN 0-86350-051-X
- ^ Eve, Kelly Tears as Crab Fair remembers former winners and Anne bows out with her 25th championship, Times & Star, September 22, 2003.
- ^ Sunday Mirror. Gurner in Cliff Fall Tragedy, "Sunday Mirror," Mar 16, 2003. Archived by FindArticles.com. Retrieved on 02 Mar, 2011.
- ^ Cumbria News and Star, 18 September 2003.
External links
Categories:- Cumbria
- Facial expressions
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