Wick?

garinda · 13-02-2009, 01:26

Has anyone else heard the term 'wick', when referring to something that's infested.

'Her head was wick wi' nits', being one example.

I'm either really dense, and have used a wrong spelling, because I can't see it in any Thesaurus as a synonym for infested, or it's purely a local term that I've heard.

Anyone else heard of 'wick' meaning crawling with wee beasties?

Less · 13-02-2009, 01:29

Yes, it is also used by electrical and electronic engineers, Is that circuit wick?

i.e. Is it live? is the power on?

MargaretR · 13-02-2009, 01:31

I know 'wick' to mean that.
I have just looked here-
Lancashire Dialect Glossary
and found it to be an old dialect word meaning 'alive'
Wick— alive ‘It’s said ‘I’m fain I’m wick to-day – Tick-Tock’

cashman · 13-02-2009, 01:32

yep was used regular at school, when some poor sod had nits.

cashman · 13-02-2009, 01:36

it was also used to mean someone was quick/slippery etc.

garinda · 13-02-2009, 01:37

Thanks.

Thought I was goin' a bit tapped.

cashman · 13-02-2009, 01:39

nah probably just outa fashion when you were at school, god i hate young uns.

Polly_45 · 13-02-2009, 01:50

Yep heard the term Wick on a daily basis when i was much younger

now i use the word wick to describe a active child,doesnt sound nice thinking it could also mean that their head is crawling,

fc:stanley · 13-02-2009, 01:58

Your getting on my wick with this thread!

Less · 13-02-2009, 02:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by fc:stanley

Your getting on my wick with this thread!

Wrong wick, that's the one Elton John sang about at di's funeral, she definitely wasn't wick.

Eric · 13-02-2009, 05:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Thanks.

Thought I was goin' a bit tapped.

No, you are not "tapped" ... I remember "wick" ... as I understood it, it meant "alive" .... this would account for the "infested" meaning .....

Alan Gilmartin · 13-02-2009, 06:53

A couple of weeks ago I said the dog was wick, the missus ( she's Aussie ) said what does that mean, I was trying to catch the dog, he dos'nt like a bath. We used it all the time as a kid.

Margaret Pilkington · 13-02-2009, 09:15

Yes.....still use it today......in something like..... 'you must be wick' when you don't feel the cold ....said to be derived from the fact that dogs have temperature above that of a human (so you must have a higher body temperature) and used to be used as a draw for fleas(hence the term 'lapdog) from the ladies of olden times who were 'wick' with fleas and lice.

Sorry for such a long winded explanation.