A Brief Investigation Into The Etymological Origins Of The Word “Chav”
No-one is entirely sure when this vulgar term first crawled out of the swamp but there are many theories about it all of which are wrong (except mine, of course!).
Among the most popular beliefs is that 'Chav' is an Acronym for "Council House
and Violence [or Vulgar]". This, however, is about as likely as Jeremy Clarkson being knighted by a
one-eyed Scotsman. The usage of “chav” in the modern day lexicon was prevalent
long before these various acronyms appeared.
There are also those who believe
the word was used by the Women of Cheltenham Ladies College as a way of
describing the young males of Cheltenham, or the 'Cheltenham Average.' While
the term ‘chav’ may have been used in this way, it is alas not the origin of
the current meaning and usage.
Those with slightly more education than your average "Council House
Aggressive Vermin" (ah ha, another one) believe the word has far older
origins, dating back to the Romany [Gypsy] word 'Chawvo' [or Chavi] meaning a
young person or friend.
Indeed “Charver" was a common word of wide but not all-embracing popularity in Newcastle throughout the latter half of the nineteenth century, synonymous with "lad" or "kid" and believed to derive from the Romany word.
As a Chav is basically a
dirty, thieving, unhealthy, swearing, homeless child with a back-to-front
baseball cap this seems appropriate.
The word began as an derogatory term, used by the middle and upper classes, to
describe the working class, Burberry wearing, council estate teenagers who
spent most of their time smoking, drinking, and getting 'ASBOs' (Anti-Social
Behaviour Orders). However, the word became overused by the Tabloids ("Rapists!
Chavs! Murderers! Don't go outside!") and soon became embraced by the
very people it was supposed to offend. It first appeared in mainstream dictionaries in 2005.
Nowadays Chavs can largely be seen hanging around Multi-storey car parks,
drinking beer, smoking and using their mating call, illegally downloaded
hip-hop played through a tinny mobile phone speaker, to lure the opposite sex
into unprotected fumbles. As such they are highly proficient breeders, but,
rather like sea-turtles, expect their offspring to raise themselves, the only
difference being that Turtles will swim miles out of their way and face great
hardship, to deposit their eggs safely on the beach whereas Chavettes will
drink, smoke and get high during their pregnancy, only to sue the Hospital when
their baby is born underweight. It will then be left to the Grandparents to
raise the Child while the Chavette spends the next few years complaining to her
homies about the 'sad ass dick of a father' who left her to raise her brat of a
child on her own.
Sources & Further Reading:
www.wikipedia.com
www.antisocialbehaviour.org.uk
The English Dictionary of Modern Slang (2006 edition)
Mrs Vicky Tuck – Principal, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, 01242 520691
My brother (he lives in St Albans…chav central apparently!)