bummaree: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / ObsoleteHistorical / Dialectal (Cockney London)
Quick answer
What does “bummaree” mean?
A fish porter or middleman at Billingsgate Market in London.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fish porter or middleman at Billingsgate Market in London.
Historically, a local term for a porter or dealer who carries fish between wholesalers and retailers, or who assists in the sale of fish at Billingsgate Market. The term is now archaic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Exclusively a British (specifically London) historical term. Never had any currency in American English.
Connotations
In British usage, it evokes the working-class, bustling atmosphere of old London markets. Neutral in its occupational sense.
Frequency
Extremely rare, encountered only in historical texts or discussions of London's market history. Unknown to the vast majority of modern speakers in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “bummaree” in a Sentence
[The bummaree] + [verb: hauled, carried, sold] + [fish]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bummaree” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not used as a verb)
American English
- (Not used as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Not used as an adjective)
American English
- (Not used as an adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical or socio-linguistic studies of London trades.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Not used in modern fisheries or logistics.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bummaree”
- Using it to mean a general labourer or a homeless person.
- Assuming it is a current term.
- Misspelling as 'bumaree' or 'bummery'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term that is almost never used in modern English.
No, it is specific to the historical fish trade in London. Using it for a modern delivery person would be incorrect and confusing.
The etymology is uncertain. It may derive from the Italian 'bonamano' (a tip) via Lingua Franca, reflecting the market's multilingual history.
No direct equivalent exists. Historical US fish markets had their own local terms for porters and middlemen, but none that entered the wider language like 'bummaree' did briefly in the UK.
A fish porter or middleman at Billingsgate Market in London.
Bummaree is usually historical / dialectal (cockney london) in register.
Bummaree: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbʌməˈriː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbʌməˈriː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'bum' (buttocks) and 'mare' (horse) – a bummaree might have had a sore bum from sitting on a horse-drawn cart all day carrying fish.
Conceptual Metaphor
OCCUPATION IS IDENTITY (The person is defined by their specific, localized trade).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary context for the word 'bummaree'?