Karsie

[LeoMunro]

Here's a good one - for QM, maybe:

We all know that Karsie is abbreviated Cockney rhyming slang for the toilet - ie: Karsie Moilet, but who or what was Karsie Moilet?

Have a nice weekend ABuddies.

Love to all,

Lm

[Quizmonster]

According to The Oxford English Dictionary, Leo, 'karzey' is a corruption of the Italian word 'casa', meaning 'house'. I suppose it is actually an abbreviation of a four-letter type of 'house' beginning with 's', ending in 't' and with 'hi' intervening!
I'm not at all sure where you get your suggested etymology from!

[LeoMunro]

Very many thanks Mr Reliable,

I Googled "Karsie" having only heard the word, and up came, Karsie Moilet, rhyming slang for toilet: but not much more.

I'll go with the OED any day but there is no rhyming slang involved there. I wonder if Partridge ever mentioned it anywhere?

Thanks again, QM - now get onto that nice weekend asap!

Regards,

Lm

[Quizmonster]

Click here for a relevant Partridge connection, Leo.
(I hit my local at 9 pm...that's where the weekend begins for me!)

[LeoMunro]

As usual, tip-top assistance. Many thanks, or ,Takk fyrir [tack firrirr] as we say hereabouts,

If I get to your local, be on alert and ready to say, "Double brandy, Leo, if you don't mind."

All the best, QM, you and yours,

Lm

[danube]

As a youngster, I understood the word to be spelt KHAZI.
You may wish to google 'khazi' for more information on this
fascinating subject!
Danube

[LeoMunro]

Many thanks dan - will do.

Now continue having a nice weekend please -and long may you flow.

LM

[HWKE]

It is often said that the word came from the Khasi Hills in North East India. During the monsoon season they receive the highest rainfall in the world with Cherrapunjee and Mawsynram vying for the record of the wettest place in the world. To be posted there was considered by some to be sent to 'the Latrine of India'
However the correct spelling of the word is Khazi as suggested by Danube and was the best pronunciation British soldiers could achieve for the Arabic word for latrine.

[Quizmonster]

There is a word, kazi/khazi, but it is Arabic for 'judge' and commonly used in that way in Iran and India as well. The Oxford English Dictionary - the 'bible' in such matters - is quite specific as to the other word's source is...it is, as already stated, from a corruption of Italian 'casa'.
It offers five possible spellings, namely karzey, karzy karsey, carzy or carsey. However, given that it is just a corruption in any case, I see no reason why one should not spell it in any way that makes the correct sound...kahzey, cawsey or whatever. On the other hand, the source is pretty clear-cut...casa.

[LeoMunro]

Thanks again QM and you too HWKE.

My word! This is fun - like going back to school and learning: which is a lot better than going to school and not learning.

Have a nice week, buddies, all of you - and yours,

Love to all, �Lm.

[Tallguy]

I go along with HWKE. According to Spike Milligan in his wartime memoirs (and who would argue with him?) it comes from the Zulu phrase for water closet which is M'khazi.

[LeoMunro]

Many thanks to you too, Longfellow.

The OED is there to help us think,
But the late great Spike may have had a drink.
And now it's quite easy to argue with what he said:
Those gone have no defence - and dear old Spike is dead.

Thanks again.

Love - not guns - to all,

Lm