MARDY

Dialect term- colloquial adjective/noun.

Uses

'Mardy' is a word that, although extremely descriptive and very useful, is not widely known outside the Midlands region.

It should be.

Because it is not widely used, it is difficult to describe to non-users because its meaning is quite elusive.

Context helps. Someone can be:

• a mardy cow;
• or be in a mardy;
• and no one would want you to have a mardy on them.

Definitions

Any clearer? Well, 'stroppy' would be similar, as would 'to have a strop', but it's a bit too aggressive and sulky. Mardy has much more of a whine to it. 'Tantrum' isn't really applicable, since mardies are more likely to be ignored/shoved into the corner than cause a scene.

Whingeing, sulky, snivelling... all have their merits, but none quite capture the soggy mix of petulance and patheticness that mean someone's got a mardy on them.

Origins and History

The word is similar to the name of the South Wales town Maerdy (near Merthyr Tydfil). During the General Strike, miners from this area were sent to Staffordshire and thereabouts to take the place of belligerent locals. I would imagine that both they, and those they replaced were not too thrilled. Locals would mutter darkly when they saw them- "They're Maerdy." Since 'mardy' is slightly easier to say, the pronunciation shifted and evolved from:

• the state of hostility directed towards the newcomers;
• their own fairly miserable mood;
• and the apparent stubbornness of just about everyone involved...

Alternatively!

...a derivation from the term 'marred' as applied to spoilt nasty kiddies. However it is not easy to date the term and know if it was in use before the early 20th century.

Its use now extends north-easterly to Derbyshire and Lincolnshire but go much beyond Stratford southerly-wise and it is little-known.

So spread the word!

Other stuff

If you do not have access to this word, you are much the poorer. Other regions have similarly great words, certainly (i.e the Yorkshire word 'maungy' which may be related, for one) but you're impoverished if you don't have the opportunity to go in a mardy. However, there is always a remedy to this:

• First, find something trivial to get upset about;
• Make a screwed-up sulky face;
• Get a bit damp (it does not matter how);
• Fold your arms aggressively;
• Kick at things feebly
• Mutter darkly, shouting the occasional word so that people are aware of your displeasure.

...and before you know it, someone will come along and say "You mardy little b****r."

There! Easy-peasy.