to think I have strange vocab

[pinkhappy]

I recently moved to a new city. I had some new friends round and discovered that not one of them had heard of a (criminal) fence. This is a word that everyone I knew before would have known.

Then I was listening to the radio and they used the word antimacassar which I had never heard of. Turns out everyone in my new city knows it.

So, a poll. Do you know

1. what a (criminal) fence is only

2. what an antimacassar is only

3. both

4. neither

3

I've read fence in books and heard it on TV programmes.

My Grandma had antimacassars and I've always loved the word.

I'm in my 50s and when I just googled it I know what an anti Macassar is - I remember old people having them in my childhood - I just didn't realise it had a name. Surely no young people would know it now?

I know both words because I'm old and I know a LOT of words. I am also old enough to remember when my elderly aunts actually used antimacassars. I could do with similar objects to protect my settees from DDs fake tan.

I have never required the services of a fence.

@CaptainMyCaptain

I did not know that! Thank you.

I was never sure how to pronounce ‘archipelago’ until very recently.

3

My Grandma died a year ago, aged 94 and when I took the antimacassars off her chairs, I accepted she was the last person I would know to insist upon using them. Even my 90yr old other grandma thinks they're dreadfully old fashioned. I still have them, folded in a drawer. They smell of her talcum powder

I had no idea what a (criminal) fence was until I read this thread. And I had to skim through the whole bloody thing to find out too, so thanks for that!

A fence committing an offence. Nice one. Never watched the bill, even though some of it was filmed near my house!

3

This thread is so random that it’s really made me laugh. Thanks op👍😂

My grandmother had beautifully embroidered antimacassars which seemed wrong to me - they were much nicer than the chair and couch they were supposed to be protecting.

Counterpane is a bedspread.

1. My grandparents had antimacassars on their seating and I watch a lot of dodgy crime programmes.

3
I’m from SE London. I know what a fence is (the criminal kind) and my grandparents had antimaccassers.

4

I know 'fence' is something to do with criminals, but am hazy on the details of criminality.

3

3

2

Definitely never heard of a criminal fence. I know what an antimacassar is but wouldn’t say it’s a word I hear often

3

3

Incidentally, if you have any antimacassars , hang on to them until after lockdown, as they could be valuable as antique linen.

Argh..wrong link. Let me try again

3

Omg I was so confused. I thought you used the word criminal to describe a garden fence type thing and was like "whaaat". You mean you use the word fence to mean someone who is a criminal tho, is that right? I know that one, doesn't it usually mean someone who deals with getting rid of/selling on stolen goods? If so then yes I know it. Never heard antimacassar and off to google it

1!

I’m old enough to remember The Bill, but not old enough to remember the empire.