Re: (OT) Translation: Trolls and their Management

Rik Roots wrote:
> Just checked the entry in my Polari Dictionary (Fantabulosa: a dictionary
of
> Polari and gay slang, by Paul Baker, ISBN 0-8264-5961-7 - just in case
anyone
> is interested), which gives the following for "Troll":
Hmm, interesting; I should get that.........
>
> Verb: troll, which has several meanings, is probably derived from an
earlier
> definition which is to do with 'to move, walk about to and fro, ramble,
> saunter, stroll or roll', which dates back at least to the 14th century.
(snip)
> Noun: an unattractive, old man, particularly one who won't take no for an
> answer.
Over here, that refers generally to younger men, not particularly attractive
in conventional ways or socially acceptable (all of which is a matter of
opinion).  Us oldsters, attractive or not, are expected to retire decorously
to the sidelines and cease sampling the merchandise, lest we be called
D.O.M. (dirty old man).
>
> I don't know how accurate Baker's etymology is, but the word is certainly
used
> as he sets out (both as a verb and a noun) among the older generations of
UK
> gay men.
>
I'm well aware, from reading, that UK slang is quite different from US,
sometimes perplexingly so without a glossary.......To my limited knowledge,
very little has ever been published dealing specifically with gay slang (or
other matters) in the pre-WW2 or 19th C US.