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pratie
DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)
Spelling variants:tatie, praitie, prittie
1n. — Food, especially Newfoundland & Prince Edward Island
a potato.
Type: 2. Preservation — Pratie is a preservation from Irish English, where it is attested as far back as 1749 (see OED-3, s.v. "pratie"). The term has been preserved in Canada, where it has the highest frequency (see Chart 1) and is found in the Dictionary of Newfoundland English with an early quotation from 1904 (see DNE, s.v. "pratie", which is marked as Irish). An earlier quotation is found in DARE from 1837 (see DARE, s.v. "pratie", which is marked "Ir dial var of potato". Within Canada, the term is attested most frequently in Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island (see Chart 2). The importance (and renown) of Prince Edward Island potatoes, given the island's naturally enriched and thus red soil, is well-known in Canada. In the Maritimes more generally, the term is attested the earliest (see the 1842 quotation).
See also COD-2, s.v. "pratie", marked "esp Cdn (Nfld) & Irish".
See also COD-2, s.v. "pratie", marked "esp Cdn (Nfld) & Irish".
Quotations
1842
"Tim, a bouchal, win d' ye march for the Bay o', -- what's this they call it? Those d----d French lingoes stick 'til yer mouth like a pratie skin, an not half as swate."
This was addressed to an individual who presented an appearance the very reverse of the former. His face was pale and emaciated, the ghastliness of which, was rendered more apparent from the black curling by which it was surmounted, terminating in a queue of regimental proportions behind.
1863?
Borne upon two strong poles, the bear made his way up to the shanty, and was housed for the rest of the night. Poor Andy was found to be severely scratched by the long sharp claws. "Sure I'm glad 'twas none of yerselves he tuk to huggin'," said the faithful fellow; "an' scrapin' as if 'twas a pratie he wanted to peel!"
He had his revenge on the fore-paws next morning when Mr. Holt cut them off, some time before breakfast, and set them in a mound of hot ashes to bake, surrounding and crowning them further with live coals.
1925
"We hae a wee bit country here o' oor ain in Ulster noo, and it has a gran' chance. We can build ships wi' onybody and that an' a wheen o' hen eggs and praties is aboot a' we have to sell. I dinna think we're makin' much o' the tax on dolls' eyelashers, an' if I had my will I'd throw open oor borders to the wide worl,' and gie the share o' oor bit bacon, a farl o' oaten bread, a blade o' dulse, and sup o' buttermilk, and a pratie or two."
1958
Anyway, St. Patrick's home county was Slamish in the north of the emerald, and he really never got more than half way down to the south end of the isle in his travels. But he didn't really have to -- there were no serpents in the south.
And how is The Day celebrated across the peat bogs and pratie patches? It is a bank holiday across all of Ireland, but in then north it's a regular day of work, at least until evening comes. In the south it is a religious holiday and everything is closed up -- even the pubs!
2002
It seems that Newfoundland and Ireland share several words in three distinct categories: pigs, tobacco and sticks. In both locales, the word "boneen" refers to a young pig, "crubeen" is a cooked pig's foot and a "hardy" can refer to a hardy pig as well as to hardy child. [...]
Some terms for foods items are also shared by both communities. The word "pratie" is used for potato and "colcannon" is referred to by the OED as "potatoes and cabbage pounded together in a mortar and then stewed in butter" and by the DNE as "a mixture of hash, sometimes meat, or vegetables eaten on Halloween."
2007
Since the Gold Rush of 1849, the Irish have been populating the Bay Area. As the lyrics to the absolutely classic St. Patrick's Day song Muirsheen Durkin go (it's the kind of song that makes a traditional Irish pub band wince when you request it):
As sure as my name is Carney
I'll be off to Californy
Instead of diggin' praties
I'll be digging lumps o' gold.
It may take a few rounds to finally figure out that a "pratie" is a potato but, regardless of background, and regardless of how much one pays for a $3 camera, the dream of being finished with one's days of tater-diggin' continues to inspire people to settle in California.
2n. — in figurative use, historical, rare
an inexperienced person.
Type: 3. Semantic Change — A semantic change from an important food staple, which the potato was in the early to mid 19th century, especially in the Irish context, to the human domain. With the decrease in agricultural importance, the potato lost its appeal as a source for figurative, metaphorical uses (but note the prevalence of "couch potato").
The 1885 quote is the sole attestation we know of. Because of the historical interest and the more precarious data situation for the 19th century, the meaning is presented for the time being, although it may be a nonce formation (term only attested once).
Quotations
1885
'Twas in the summer of '46 that I landed at Hamilton, fresh as a new pratie just dug from the "old sod," and wid a light heart and a heavy bundle I sot off for the township of Buford, tiding a taste of a song, as merry a young fellow as iver took the road. well, I trudged on and on, past many a plisint place, pleasin' myself wid the thought that some day I might have a place of my own, wid a world of chickens and ducks and pigs and childer about the door; and along in the afternoon of the sicond day I got to Buford village.
References
- COD-2
- OED-3
- DARE
- DNE
Images
Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 20 May 2014
