Townie

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Townie is a slang term, with several meanings.

[edit] UK definitions

[edit] Rural context

Originally it was used by rural people during the 20th century as an insult to urbanites who came into, what they perceived, their land and ruined it through pursuits such as hunting, rambling, and driving. Also, "townie" is thrown at people who move from cities or towns into local villages and are charged with disturbing the tranquility of the original village or hamlet.

With increased transport capacity in the second half of the 20th century however the gap between the countryside and cities has greatly decreased and these days the word townie is simply used to refer to a city dweller.

[edit] Urban context 1

Townies have long been referred to by city dwellers as those that are familiar with the centre of a city or large town. From the Pubs to the regular hang-outs that exist within the Central Business District, the term, when used indicates a street wise, fast wit with a liking for beer and possibly a red nose from alcohol consumption. For instance one could say: "He's a right old townie" and mean it with affection. The term has unfortunately taken a different meaning in more recent years although the word 'townie' has been replaced with other variations, see Urban context 2.

[edit] Urban context 2

Townie is one of many regional terms, including chav, ned, to describe a current cultural youth group in the United Kingdom. For the main article on such groups, see Chav

[edit] University context

Townie can be used as a term by university students in a particular town when referring to the locals. This term overlaps with the above but is not necessarily restricted to groups and individuals specified above. Unlike its American equivalent, this usage of the term is almost always derogatory. It originated in the traditional university towns such as Oxford but its use is now becoming more widespread in other non-traditional university towns.

[edit] Public School Context

The term is used in much the same way as at universities.

[edit] Shetland Islands

In the Shetland Islands, the term simply means "person from the town" but holds deeper connotations. Townie is pronounced "Toonie" in the Shetlands, meaning someone stupid. Often ironically used by the 'yockel' community.

[edit] US definition

In communities where colleges or universities are located, the term townie is used to denote a person living in the community who does not attend or work for the college or university (as in the third definition of UK usage above). It can also be used as a way of referring to any native of the college town (including those who do attend the university). It can be derogatory or complimentary, depending on the location, speaker, and situation.

The term may be a play off the phrase town and gown - to differentiate people living in town from people who wear academic gowns.

In Greater Boston, "townie" commonly means a person who lives in Charlestown, Massachusetts -- the high school football team of Charlestown for instance, is the Charlestown Townies. But it also often connotes a person defending his culture from hostile outside influences, or a person that challenges valueless outsiders who care nothing for the town but for a short-term purpose such as college or having fun. They are perhaps the embodiment of the original grassroots patriotism familiar from the Revolutionary War. Charlestown sent more boys, compared to any other U.S. town of its size, to the American Military during the 20th century, than any other U.S. community.^{[citation needed]} Nonetheless, the 1981 movie Taps, paradoxically, has a scene of townies harassing cadets at a military academy. Due to Charlestown's large Irish-American working-class population, the term is sometimes applied to other individuals who reside outside the community, but who retain a similar lifestyle, ideology and ethnic heritage.

Another definition of "townie" of separate origin from the British "townie" that is becoming more popular in small town USA is a college-aged person who never leaves the town in which they were raised, and doesn't work at or attend any form of college, and normally socializes with similar people that have also not left or will not leave the town.

Another definition is the single word Kap. This is synonymous with townie. Kap is a word that is used to describe the most extreme townie of them all.

[edit] Canadian definition

In Canada townie generally refers to one who now lives in a large urban setting but grew up in a small town. Townie is predomintantly a derogatory term for someone not used to the pace of city life. Often townie refers to someone from the British Columbia interior and specifically Fernie and/or Edgewater. It is also sometimes used as a derogatory term for residents of small towns by big-city-folk who are there temporarily. For example, students at Queen's University refer to the inhabitants of Kingston as "Townies" as a term of endearment. Townie is also used as a somewhat sarcastic term to describe fellow employees among municipal labour workers in Markham. It is used with some irony as the town of Markham has a population of 267,400 and touts itself as "Canada's High-Tech Capital".

In Newfoundland, it refers to a resident from "Town" (St. John's/Mount Pearl area). Generally used by residents from "aroun' da bay" (Various fishing communities, and even larger centers like Gander or Corner Brook. Most people from around da bay and townies are rivals. This townie/baymen rivalry appeared in the Canadian television show, Road Hockey Rumble.

[edit] Irish definition

In Ireland, townie would just be used in reference to people from urban areas. It is used in a slightly fun yet slightly derogatory manner, normally against Dubliners who call people from rural areas, Culchies.

[edit] See also

• Chav
• Snaf
• Ned

[edit] External links

• Townie.org :) for good times event listings.

• Townies on Drugs.

• Townies. Charlestown Irish Mob.