Darby Kelly............

We need some “Old London” info'. Cockney songs Any Old Iron and Boiled Beef and Carrots both mention Darby Kelly (CRS: Belly) However, who are we talking about here? Was there a Darby Kelly?

Even if Google pays no UK tax it remains useful! Darby Kelly appears to come from an Irish ballad from the early 19th. C. The song describes three generations of military drummers bearing the same name. Grandfather fought with the Duke of Marlborough and the grandson with Wellington in the Peninsular War while the father, in the way of the Irish, seems to have supported Wolfe Tone and the Republican cause in the 1798 rebellion.

The references to wrists and tricks with sticks suggest a degree of double entendre which may have helped to keep the song well known enough for the character to take his place in rhyming slang.

You can find more discussion, and the words here: http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=30123

Hey abotthomas: Thanks for that. I can't believe I used Google to get to Wiki', who had no info at all. Big mistake. Lesson learned. Taxing experience.......(groan....)

Not at all! I do appreciate the help that the internet gives to us snappers up of unconsidered trifles. I've known the boiled beef song since childhood and never given a thought to the origin of the rhyming slang. And, you never know, it might come up in a pub quiz ;-)

The "bloke down the pub" had a good question to ask the nearest cockney....Me

Where does the expression He lost his bottle come from relating to losing courage?

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/bottle-out.html

(Of course, this doesn't go far in explaining why losing one's nether regions should be equated with chickening out but it's a start.)

Hi Booky:

"Bottle and glass" (CRS) makes the most sense on that link.

It is certainly medically recorded that great fear can lead to accidents.. .. .. .. .. ..

A friend in NYC has just pointed out that in NYC "grass" will not rhyme with "arse".

In London, Ben, the cockneys would rhyme "Apples" with "Quantum physics". It's just a gift they're borne with....Sorry, I mean Wiv......