The Amazing Adventures of Archibald Esq.

A Little Houndish Cockney

Did you know that in the English dialect known as ‘Cockney’ originating in London, ‘Dog and Bone’ means telephone? No? Well - it does.

The phrase ‘telling bone’ for telephone was also sometimes used.

Cockney rhyming is a kind of slang. According to some, to be a Londoner is to be Cockney. Of course this is not really true. But there’s going to be a new website this summer, called ‘Cockney OnLine’ that can - when it’s launched - answer all our cockney questions. And if you’re looking for a new saying or two to add a little London spice to your speech, you’re advised to check out the dick’an’harry (translate to English as ‘dictionary’) devoted to the rhyming slang of East London streets.

For those with a little more time on their hands, you might enjoy to try and noodle your way through the on-line Cockney Slang Crossword Puzzle.

But back to Dog-’n-Bone. Having pondered the truth behind the saying, I’ve decided that the Cockney ‘Dog and bone’ for ‘telephone’ only underscores the essentially social dimension of the dog.

Which is perhaps why one of Kafka’s fundamental ‘laws of dogdom’ was that of sociability: one must say ‘hello’ and greet one’s fellow hound in the street and parks at each and every opportunity.

Awoof! A faithful citizen of London - Archie

Posted 09 Jul 06

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