Ginnel

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Leeds, England

A ginnel is a word in various Scottish and northern English dialects[1] describing a fenced or walled alley between residential buildings that provides a pedestrian shortcut to nearby streets.[2] Ginnels are typically found in suburban areas, and do not contain any business premises, unlike some other types of alley. Other related terms include snicket, tenfoot and snickleway.[3]

Suburban streets in

nature strip and are generally secured by bollards to prevent vehicle access.[4][5]

Origins

Wetherby, England

In 1744, pharmacist Arthur Jessop wrote a

subpoena that mentioned Joseph Eastwood's wife in the "Ginnil" in the Low at Holmfirth in the West Riding of Yorkshire. A subdivision of the Taylor family was said to be of Ginnel in Meltham in 1774. In most works, there is no broad distinction drawn between ginnel and snicket, and the two have been used interchangeably.[6]

Both are described as north-country words for a narrow entrance between houses. However, in the Holme Valley, it has been said that a ginnel goes uphill and has setts whereas a snicket does not, and is surrounded by vegetation.[2] "Ginnel" is a dialect word from Yorkshire, UK, which appeared in dialect dictionaries in the 19th century.[3]

Etymology

The

corruption of it),[3] and says it is 'a long, narrow passage between houses, either roofed or unroofed'. In The English Dialect Dictionary it is differentiated with 'entry', and is said to feature a roof, unlike a ginnel. Furthermore, editors of some Yorkshire glossaries asserted a connection between ginnel and a Scandinavian word for 'mouth', on the analogy of an opening.[2]

According to Collins English Dictionary, a snicket is 'a passageway between walls or fences',[7] and a ginnel is 'a narrow passageway between or through buildings'.[8]

Gallery

  • A "cut-through" in Western Sydney, Australia.
    A "cut-through" in
    Western Sydney
    , Australia.
  • A narrow, bricked ginnel in Leeds
    A narrow, bricked ginnel in Leeds
  • A ginnel surrounded by English Ivy
    A ginnel surrounded by
    English Ivy
  • In Brotton
    In Brotton

See also

References

  1. ^ "ginnel". Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Ginnel Yorkshire Historical Dictionary. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  3. ^
    Examiner Live
    . 29 March 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  4. ^ DESIGN STANDARDS for URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE, 11, FENCES, GUARDRAILS AND BARRIERS Fences, Guardrails and Barriers, Urban Services. 2000. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  5. ^ Guide to Road Design Part 6A: Pedestrian and Cyclist Paths Published by Austroads Incorporated. October 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  6. ^ Jones, Mark W. A Walk Around the Snickelways of York
  7. ^ Definition of 'snicket' Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  8. ^ Definition of 'ginnel' Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
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