Ned (Scottish)

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Ned is a derogatory Scottish term applied to certain young people. The stereotypical view of a "Ned" is an adolescent male youth, of any race or background who engages in hooliganism, petty criminality, loutish behaviour, or just irritating others. It is this habit of seeking confrontation, especially within schools, which had led to condemnation of the group. They are often assumed to be unemployed.

Their female counterparts are occasionally referred to as "Sengas". Senga, the reverse of Agnes is purportedly popular amongst mothers in this social group who wish to name their daughters after their grandmother, but dislike the name Agnes. The name "Nedette" is occasionally used as a feminine form.

There is some overlap with terms used in England, such as those listed as synonyms in the dictionary entry for "chav", all with similar meaning, although some of these have a racist connection (especially "pikey", since it referred to Romanies) which may not be intended in use.

The terms "schemy" (or "schemie") and "casual" were used in Scotland in the 1980s and early 1990s, although the first could apply to any age, and the second normally to football thugs. It is normally applied to young males and nearly always to working class ones. The most likely derivation is from the name "Ned", a dated diminutive of Edward.

In Aberdeen (and, to an extent, in Glasgow) the term "bam" has come to be used as an alternative for the word "ned". In some places around Glasgow bam is becoming a title for a different group of people - young delinquents who are not neccesarily uneducted but partake in similar petty criminalities but it is merely for image as they are rather well off in reality. It derives from the word "bampot" which means idiot. In Dundee the appropriate term is "gadgie" (Romany for man) and in Edinburgh there is the term "nid", derived from the locally-infamous "Niddrie" housing estate.

The term "ned" went out of fashion for a number of years, but seems to have made a come back around the turn of the millennium. Apparently when it was used in the 1950s, "neds" in Glasgow were lads who slicked back their hair with paraffin, a far cry from what we think of as neds today.

Neds in the Media

According to Rosie Kane, an MSP for the Scottish Socialist Party "ned" is an acronym derived from the phrase "non-educated [sic] delinquent", although in truth this derivation is a folk etymology as the term predates that phrase, and "uneducated" is the "educated" term anyway! As the media concentrated on this aspect of her speech, the main point about the term 'ned' stigmatising those to whom it is applied, was largely lost.

In Scottish humour, neds play an important role, featuring in major Scottish comedy shows such as Rab C. Nesbitt, Chewin' the Fat and Still Game, as well as being the butt of jokes by Scottish stand up comedians, and people in general. One of the harshest and most common is:

What is the difference between a dying ned and an onion? Onions make you cry.

Stereotype

The stereotypical dress consists of:

Most commonly, a baseball cap. The baseball cap can be seen as a form of status symbol or identity marker, with certain brands, such as Burberry or Nike, considered preferable. In September 2004, Burberry stopped making branded baseball caps, possibly due to their close association with neds, ned culture, or English chavs. Other items may include a football (soccer) shirt (often that of a major European club to which the wearer might have no other obvious affiliation) or striped top, and a shell or track suit (often Lacoste, but also commonly in the colours of a football club as noted previously). Footwear often consists of trainers (often Lacoste), or Caterpillar or Timberland boots.

Ski jackets, usually Berghaus or North Face brand are another common part of the uniform, normally in the trademark red or blue colours with yellow trim.

Major influences include Happy Hardcore Dance music culture, DJ'ing ("Bouncy Tunes") and soccer clothing, and chav culture from neighbouring England.

"Ned brands" (or thought to be) include Burberry, Ben Sherman, Lacoste, Fred Perry, Henry Lloyd, Lonsdale and other such ostentatiously expensive brands.

Optional accessories include gold jewellery; particularly curb chains, rings, and a single ear ring or stud in the left ear (piercing the right ear only is considered a signal that one is homosexual).

Young females of the same general type are often called "neds", the uniform is often the same as the males, hiking jackets, lacoste and football tracksuits with boys trainers, hoop earrings, bleached hair and hooded tops. The use of "Fake Tan" also is becoming popular, and many young female neds now sport a rather "unhealthy orange glow". They wear baseball caps less often, but are often the consorts of male neds.

A variation of the "ned uniform" is applied to the so-called "workie ned", i.e young males who become employed within the trades, or as unskilled labourers doing menial jobs. Here the trainers are usually replaced by a pair of tan coloured rigger-type boots, and a hard hat replacing the baseball cap.

Although some use "ned" only for young thugs, the majority of the general public apply the term liberally to include any working class youth who dresses in this manner.

Ned Hobbies and General Interests

Other than their alleged tendency towards violence and generally being unpleasant to members of the public, neds are presumed to be interested in hatchback cars, which they often accessorise with heavy bass sound systems, darkened glass, alloy wheel rims, and tail fins. In 2005, Grampian Police implemented a dispersal order to deal with anti-social behaviour on Aberdeen's Beach Boulevard, where groups of "neds" were congregating to use the road as a race track. They also have an interest in modern dance music, especially rave and house. This contrasts with Chavs, which generally prefer mainstream Pop and RnB, in addition to Drum and Bass.

Buckfast Tonic Wine(Bucky) is widely regarded as the neds' preferred drink. This is often referred to as "buckie", and is sold in a glass bottle, often refered to as a "bottle'o'buckie". The sweetness of the drink and its high alcohol content has meant that it has become attractive to younger drinkers' palates. For the same reasons, alcopops are also popular, especially MD20/20, which is nicknamed "Mad Dog" and Blue WKD is also popular with female neds.

Ned Speak

A mixture of Glaswegian, Scots and Scots slang.

Neds in Decline?

By the beginning of 2005 the number of neds on the streets of Scottish towns and cities appeared to be in decline. One reason citied for this is the amount of "bad press" given to all tracksuit wearing youngsters. Many who wear sportswear and baseball caps complained that they were being treated with contempt and suspicion even if they had no connection with law breaking.

Many neds now appear to have "toned down" their fashion, for example wearing Jeans instead of full tracksuits. Others, in certain parts of Glasgow, are now wearing hooded tops displaying the names of rock bands such as Linkin Park and Slipknot.

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