Date
Meaning & History
From the name of a private or secret language spoken by Irish Travellers (a group also known as the Pavee). It means "a voice that moves" in Shelta ("moves" in the sense of being emotional, endearing and affectionate) and some modern Celticists think it comes from the Irish Gaelic word siúlta which means "walking" (the "s" is pronounced "sh" and the diphthong is as much like a slurred schwa sound).The word Shelta was first recorded in 1876, by American "gypsiologist" Charles Leland. He was the first "country man" to come across the then generally unknown language of the Irish Travellers/Pavee, which its speakers have always called the Cant or Gammon, while he was doing field work on Gypsies in England and Wales.