Shelta

[ shel-tuh ]
/ ˈʃɛl tə /

noun

a private language, based in part on Irish, used among Travelers in the British Isles.

Origin of Shelta

First recorded in 1875–80; origin uncertain

Example sentences from the Web for shelta

  • This language, or jargon, known as Shelta, has been the subject of much learned writing.

    The Gypsy's Parson |George Hall

  • Me tu sosti, “Thou shalt be (of) me,” is Romany, which is freely used in Shelta.

    The Gypsies |Charles G. Leland

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

    The Gypsies |Charles G. Leland

  • Shelta is perhaps the last Old British dialect as yet existing which has thus far remained undiscovered.

    The Gypsies |Charles G. Leland

British Dictionary definitions for shelta

Shelta
/ (ˈʃɛltə) /

noun

a secret language used by some itinerant tinkers in Ireland and parts of Britain, based on systematically altered Gaelic

Word Origin for Shelta

C19: from earlier sheldrū, perhaps an arbitrary alteration of Old Irish bēlre speech