Talk:donkeys
Add topicLatest comment: 18 years ago by Andrew massyn
The following discussion has been moved from Wiktionary:Requests for verification.
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...as a short form of "donkey's years". Firstly, this would be "donkey's" (compare butcher's); secondly, I'm a Londoner, and I've never heard the short form. — Paul G 11:01, 13 June 2006 (UTC)
- It is certainly NOT Cockney Rhyming Slang, as the second word (years) does not rhyme with the non-slang word. It would have had to be donkey's ears (which is what the expression is all about - these ears being long). SemperBlotto 11:07, 13 June 2006 (UTC)
- As per donks, and so changed. ∂ανίΠα 18:02, 13 June 2006 (UTC)
- It is Cockney rhyming slang actually... it is a modification of (and so a pun on) "donkey's ears", which does indeed rhyme with "years". References, from the first page of hits returned by Google for "Cockney rhyming slang": [1], [2], [3] — Paul G 20:32, 14 June 2006 (UTC)
- Link at donkeys changed back to "donkey's years", as that is the form used. — Paul G 20:33, 14 June 2006 (UTC)
- What the heck kind of self-respecting rhyming slang would rhyme 'years' with 'years' ? Cassell's Dictionary of Word & Phrase Origins gives both explanations, though. —Muke Tever 21:34, 14 June 2006 (UTC)
- It's a pun on "ears".
- "Donks" I've never heard. "Yonks", yes, but not "donks". And not "donkeys" either... can we get back to verifying this term, please? — Paul G 07:32, 18 June 2006 (UTC)
- Removed disputed sense. Andrew massyn 19:35, 19 July 2006 (UTC)