twirly
English
editPronunciation
edit- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈtwɜː.liː/
Etymology 1
editAdjective
edittwirly (comparative twirlier, superlative twirliest)
Etymology 2
editBlend of too + early from the question "Am I too early [to use my pass]?" frequently asked of bus drivers, etc. by holders of OAP/senior citizen or similar travel passes that are not valid before a certain time (usually 9:30am).
Noun
edittwirly (plural twirlies)
- (British, Ireland, slang, sometimes derogatory) an old age pensioner or other elderly person, especially one using public transport.
- 1986, Working Group on Violence to Road Passenger Transport Staff, Assaults on bus staff and measures to prevent such assaults[1], HMSO, page 51:
- Some passengers do try to use passes fraudulently and the time restriction on OAP passes can sometimes lead to arguments (the so-called "twirlies" — "Am I too early?") but seldom to assaults.
- 2008, Maureen Harvey, “5 The Breakthrough”, in Pure Evil - How Tracie Andrews murdered my son, deceived the nation and sentenced me to a life of pain and misery, →ISBN:
- He'd been so desperate to go to the toilet that he'd parked the bus, locked the twirlies on it and run through the gully home!
Synonyms
edit- coffin dodger, geriatric, senior citizen; see also Thesaurus:old person