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

Our informant could give only a single specimen of the Shelta literature. 

From The Gypsies by Leland, Charles Godfrey

I have always supposed that the tinkers’ language spoken of by Shakespeare was Romany; but I now incline to think it may have been Shelta.

From The Gypsies by Leland, Charles Godfrey

I have spoken of Shelta as a jargon; but it is, in fact, a language, for it can be spoken grammatically and without using English or Romany. 

From The Gypsies by Leland, Charles Godfrey

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 The Gypsies by Leland, Charles Godfrey

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

From The Gypsies by Leland, Charles Godfrey