Shelta

American  

[shel-tuh] / ˈʃɛl tə /

noun

1. a private language, based in part on Irish, used among Travelers in the British Isles.

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Shelta British  

/ ˈʃɛltə /

noun

1. a secret language used by some itinerant tinkers in Ireland and parts of Britain, based on systematically altered Gaelic

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Etymology

Origin of Shelta

First recorded in 1875–80; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Slang, slang, n. a conventional tongue with many dialects, which are, as a rule, unintelligible to outsiders, such as Gypsy, Canting or Flash, Back-slang, and Shelta or Tinkers' Talk: any kind of colloquial and familiar language serving as a kind of class or professional shibboleth.—adj. pertaining to slang.—v.i. to use slang, and esp. abusive language.—v.t. to scold.—adv.

From Project Gutenberg

He also knew others, such as Romany, of which he was proud, and the Shelta or Minklas of the tinkers, of which he was not. 

From Project Gutenberg

The right name for it is Shelter or Shelta.”

From Project Gutenberg

But of late years the old tinkers’ families are mostly broken up, and the language is perishing.” p. 358Then he proceeded to give us the words in Shelta, or Minklers Thari. 

From Project Gutenberg

Our informant did not know whether this word, of Romany origin, meant, in Shelta, policeman or magistrate.

From Project Gutenberg