h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Grockles - A697737
Author: Just zis Guy, you know? † [welcome to the H2G2 cycle club at A690572] - U54363

I can't believe that this important word is missing from the Guide.

I think it would be interesting to know a bit more about this. When and where did the term first appear? What are the geographical limits of its current use? When did it first appear in the dictionary?

I noticed one typo - 'psikies' should be 'piskies'.

In the late 1970's I spent two weeks volunteering with a conservation group. Most people on it were London based and they used the term 'Grockle' for any sightseers, local or not. In fact they tended to use it for anyone who didn't belong to this conservation group!

The real problem is how to avoid ever being a grockle yourself.

There's a theory on it's origins here http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutwordorigins/grockle
It's not in my dictionary.

Waz (making the most of URLs in what's left of February)

This entry seems a little sparse, but it's certainly interesting. It'd be nice to see some more information, and maybe it could flow a little better, but on the whole I like it.
Although whenever I use the word grockle, some profanity isn't far away.

Be you from the west country, then?

One of those ing grockles from the north of England writes:

In the opening line, 'perjorative' is spelt wrong, and I'd have thought that the first 'Grockles' needs to be in quotes. 'West Country' is, I think, usually spelt with a capital 'C'. Those quibbles aside, this looks fine!

(s off to feed his whippets and say 'Eh up' a lot)

Pejorative is the correct spelling, now updated. My brain is turning to mush these days.

i should point out to you that this researcher has mistakenly advised that the term Grockles applies to Cornwall too. The term for tourists in Cornwall is Emits. Grockles applies purely to Devon.