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

See Examples For:

Shelta

This is the history of many such lingoes; but unfortunately Owen’s opinion, even if it be legendary, will not prove that the Painted People spoke the Shelta tongue. 

From The Gypsies by Charles Godfrey Leland

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

From The Gypsies by Charles Godfrey Leland

Mr. Simson, had he known the “Tinklers” better, would have found that not Romany, but Shelta, was the really secret language which they employed, although Romany is also more or less familiar to them all. 

From The Gypsies by Charles Godfrey Leland

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

From The Gypsies by Charles Godfrey Leland

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 Charles Godfrey Leland