Yanito Dictionary

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P

PACHOCHA : Method of spinning a top with tip pointing up. If it was spun with the tip down it was called AL PUYASO which meant TO JAB. There were tops specially made from very hard wood and fitted with a very sharp point to split other tops.

PACHOCHO : Bad Spanish for PACHUCHO which is something which is over-ripe or past it's prime.

PAIPLEI : Bad English for PIPE-CLAY. Whitenerfor Military webbing equipment, shoes, etc. The Spanish is BLANQUEADOR.

PALANTE : Bad Spanish for ADELANTE or DELANTE. This means to go FORWARD.

PALMA, LA : LA PALMA is a nickname for the Police. Could be a derivative of LA PALMO which means HE'S HAD IT. See also PALMO.

PALMO or PARMO : From PALMAR, i.e., slang for KICKING THE BUCKET.

PALOMEO or PALOMEAR : From the Spanish PALOMO, DOVE. This word came into use during the days of the frontier closure. A group of local businessmen calling themselves THE DOVES announced in the local press that they were willing to come to some sort of deal with Spain. This action was not well received by the local population and riots against these people arose. From then on anyone going to Spain or having pro spanish views was branded aPALOMO.

PALPIT : Derives from PALPITATION the Spanish is PALPITO. This word is used to express a premonition, e.g., "ME DIO UN PALPIT "I HAD A HUNCH".

PAN DE LATA : Should be PAN DE MOLDE. This is a loaf of bread which is made in a tin MOULD, hence the name TIN BREAD.

PAN DULCE : A local cake made with mixed fruit. The translation means SWEET BREAD. There is no connection with the sweetbreads of animals.

PANKEKI : Should be PAN CAKE. The Spanish is CREPA or CREPE. In Latin America it is called PANQUEQUE. See KEKI.

PANAERA : Slang word for a Pound note. Origin unknown. See also VERDOSA.

PUNPUDIN : Should be PUDIN DE PAN, i.e., BREAD PUDDING. To call someone a PANPUDIN means he's a good for nothing. See also PUDIN PEN.

PAPU or EL PAPU : "QUIEN TE CREES QUE ERES? EL PAPU?" "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? EL PAPU?" Origin unknown but could be a derivative of a misnomer for motor vehicles, which after their introduction into our streets caused a sensation. It will be remembered that all these early vehicles had quite loud horns to clear their path on unwarry pedestrians. Cars were therefore associated with the sound of their horns which sounded something like PAPU or PAPOO! The meaning of EL PAPU can now be discerned to be SOMEONE OF IMPORTANCE.

PAPULEO : Should be PAPELEO. This means RED TAPE in Spanish. "LE DIERON UN PAPULEO". "A REPRIMAND" In this case the meaning defines getting told off or having the book thrown at you.

PARACHUTISTA : Should be PARACAIDISTA or the English PARACHUTIST.

PASS : Demarcation line from where to shoot when playing Marbles. There were two different PASSES, PASS DEL LINE or bottom line and PASS DAL LAO (DE AL LADO) side line.

PATA : Should be PATADA. In English it means to KICK. In Spanish "METER LA PATA", is "TO PUT YOUR FOOT IN IT Although PATA means LEG the meaning of the two phrases are the same. Yet in Gibraltar we say "METIO UNA PATA (PATADA)" "HE KICKED IT'. Which also means "HE BLEW IT".

PATACASO : Bad Spanish for BATACAZO which means BUMP or THUMP.

PATITU : Bad Spanish for PATATUS which means to FAINT or have a DIZZY SPELL.

PATUCO : Should be PEDRUSCO which in Spanish for a ROUGH STONE. Origin unknown.

PELASTRENA : This word is said at the same time as you slap the back of the neck of someone who has just had a Haircut. It comes from EL QUE SE PELA, ESTRENA. The translation is HE WHO HAS A HAIRCUT WEARS SOMETHING NEW. It has always been a tradition and an excuse to give someone a clout without retaliation.
clout without retaliation.

PELOTA DE FANGISH : Means BALL OF FANGISH, this defines something MUSHY or PULPPY. Could be a derivative of FANGO which is Spanish for MUD. There is also a deviation to this when you call someone "ESTAS HECHO UNA PELOTA DE FANGISH" meaning "YOU'RE A CREEP".

PENENE: Should be PERENNE the English is PERRENIAL to be CONSTANT. "ESTAR PENENE" means to be ON THE LOOKOUT or to be ALERT.

PENSHI : EL PENSHI is bad English for THE OLD AGE

PERDI : This is short for "ES UN CASO PERDIDO" - "HE IS A LOST CASE". Locally it would be "ESTA HECHO UN PERDI".

PEREJING : Bad Spanish for PEREJIL which is PARSLEY.

PERSIGLA : Corruption os PERSPEX GLASS.

PESHIPA : Corruption of PEZ ESPADA which is SWORDFISH.

PESKI : "TENER PESKI" means to be WISE or INTELLIGENT. Derives from PESQUISAR to INVESTIGATE or INQUIRE.

PICA : "UNA PICA" means to have a HUNCH. In Spanish it would be "TENGO UNA CORAZONADA". The proper meaning of PICA is PIKE or to TAP. See also PALPIT.

PISHUREY : Corruption of PEZ DE REY A small fish which is very good live bait. To say "TE QUIERE IS PISHUREY", is to belittle someone.

PICLE : Corruption of PICKLES. In Spanish it is called ENCURTIDO.

PIJA : This is the Spanish vulgar for PRICK. "TENER MUCHA PIJA" means to be VERY LUCKY!

PIJOTA : PIJOTADA means a NUISANCE or an ANNOYING THING. In this case it means doing something without knowing what you are doing. PIJOTA is also the name given in Andalucia to a small fish of the Whiting family which is prepared fried bitting it's tail. It can therefore be implied that it is running around in circles not knowing where it's going "HACERLO A PIJOTA" is "TO DO IT BLINDLY". See also KICKS POR SI PEGA.

PEKI LAVI : Should be PISCOLABIS which means a SNACK.

PIMPI : This defines a rather delicate, fragile and honest sort of person. The origin in unknown but it points very strongly towards the main hero of The Scarlet Pimpernel. He too was a timid and shy kind of person only to mislead others. In fact he was quite a daredevil.

PASTISO : A MESS from the Italian PASTICCIO.

PINTURA DE HUEVO : Literally translated it means EGG PAINT. It should be EGG SHELL PAINT and has nothing to do with eggs.

PIOJERA : Nickname for La Linea. It means LOUSY or LOUSE RIDDEN form the Spanish PIOJO for LOUSE the people from Algeciras have always called them LO PIOJOSOS and La Linea and Gibraltar have called Algeciras LOS PECIALES means THE SPECIALS for their aloofness when comparing themselves with other Towns in the Campo Area. See also CHINGONGOS.

PIOLA : This word is used to signify CONSENT or AGREEMENT. The Spanish would be DE ACUERDO. PIOLA itself means a ROPE or TETHER. CUERDA is Spanish for ROPE also, the similarity between CUERDA and DE ACUERDO with the English TETHER and AGREEMENT makes one wonder about the origin of this word PIOLA. PIOLA is also the Spanish word for the string used to spin a top.

PIPANDO : From the English PIPING HOT. The Spanish is HIRVIENDO.

PIPAO : This word is used to say one is STONE DRUNK. PIPA is a Spanish word for a Wine barrel. Therefore we can assume that being PIPADO is to be suffering from the effects of the contents of the PIPA (BARREL).

PIPERIA : From the English PIPE. The Spanish is TUBERIA.

PIRAO : Used to define a HOOLIGAN or RUFFIAN. The Spanish word PIRADO means to be ROUND THE BEND.

PIRIWINKI : From the English PERIWINKLE the Spanish is CARACOL DE MAR.

PIRULI: Common nickname when calling someone whose name is not known. In English we might say "HEY MACK!" or The proper meaning of PIRULI in Spanish is LOLLIPOP.

PIRULE : "A LA PIRULE" means a "FIFTY FIFTY CHANCE". Origin unknown.

PISH : "LA GENTE DEL PISH" means "POSH PEOPLE" See PISH PINE.

PISH : Popular local game played by two teams who guess by process of elimination, who is hiding an object in their clenched fists. The game starts with a shuffle under a table by both teams to hide the object. This is followed by the words "PISH UP'" when everyone brings their fists up to rest on the table.

PISH PINE : From the English PITCH PINE which is a good quality wood. Anything called PISH PINE is supposed to be VERY GOOD. "ESA COSA ESTA PISH PINE" "THAT THING IS PISH PINE". We also have the derivative for POSH people. See PISH above.

PISHA : From the Spanish PICHA meaning PRICK. Common way of addressing a man. "OYE PICHA" which is a way of saying "HEY MATE".

PISHI : See PICHA above. PISHI is used for a boy. However mis word also comes from the MADRID Suburbs who have a Slang of their own. It features prominently in a very famous Spanish CHOTIS song called PICHI. See also CHOCHI. Could also derive from the Italian PICCINO for SMALL BOY.

PISIASO : Bad Spanish for PIFIASO meaning BLUNDER or ERROR.

PISTOLETE : Name given to a local type of Bread loaf. PISTOLETE is Spanish for a kind of pocket pistol.

PISUP : From the English PEA SOUP the Spanish is SOPA DE GUISANTES.

PITI : Local name for PETER.

PITI : From P.T. abbreviation for PHYSICAL TRAINING. "HOY TENEMOS PITI"TODAY WE HAVE P.T." Nowadays Schools call it P.E. - PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

PITIMINI : From the Spanish name for a kind of small white flowers which are locally called MENEITOS. In this context it means something small.

PITISU : From the French pastry PETIT CHOUX.

PLAN NICE : From the English SOMETHING NICE or FORMAL. "VAMOS A HACERLO EN PLAN NICE" i.e., "LET'S DO IT IN A NICE AND FORMAL WAY".

PLONG : Short rhyme that children say before the start of a game to see who stays in or out. See also INI MINI YOU CAPINI.

POR LOS LO LI Y UN PALO : An expression which tells you to SIT DOWN AND WAIT TILL THE COWS COME HOME. Origin unknown.

POLILLA : From the Spanish LA POLI which is short for THE POLICE. POLILLA also Spanish for a MOTH but there is no connection between either.

POMPORA or POMPORITA : From the Spanish POMPA DE JABON which is a SOAP BUBBLE. POR CACHI:
"ME DOY POR CACHI" means "I GIVE UP". Origin unknown.

POR EMPATA : "ME DOY POR EMPATA" means "LET'S CALL IT A DRAW" from the Spanish EMPATAR which means TO DRAW.

PORMOR : Should be POR CULPA DE. In English it would be BECAUSE OF. From Andalusian origin.

PONER POR CORTE : Should be PONER UN PLEITO or QUERELLA. In English it is to SUE or BRING CHARGES against someone in Court.

POPULACION : Bad English for POPULATION and bad Spanish for POBLACION.

PORTESHOP : Name given to the local Off-Licence shop where one could buy PORTER'S MILK STOUT.

POTE : From the English POT. In this case EL POTE was a can where workers used to brew their tea on site.

POTINGE : Name given to a MUSHY MXED POT. Usually a meal made from all left overs. "HICIMOS UN POTINGE" "WE MAD A HASH or HOTCH POTCH". Origin unknown, could derive from POTAGE.

PRANG : Bad English for PRAM. The Spanish is cochecito de nino.

PRINSHIWEI : Should be PRINCE OF WALES, this was the name of a local Footall Club. Also abbreviated by some to EL PRING.

PUDINPAN : See PANPUDIN.

PUDINPEN : Should be PUDDING PAN. The Spanish should be CAZUELA or CACEROLA.

PURISH : Word used by children at play when they want to declare a TRUCE or a LULL in their game. In Spanish it would be "UN MOMENTO NO VALE" It could derive from the English word POORISH, e.g., "IT'S POORISH LET'S START AGAIN".

PALA ENTRAR EN PALA : From the game of Cricket. "I AM BATTING NOW" It has come to mean when someone enters something, e.g., an argument or any other event. "ENTRO YO EL PAOA" "NOW IT'S MY TURN" or "NOW YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW ALL ABOUT IT' "AHORA ME TOCA A MI".

PITOQUE : Bad Spanish for BITOQUE which is a SPOUT, TUBE or TAP.

POLI : Bad English for POLISH which is ABRILLANTADOR or CERA in Spanish.