Dictionary

twirly en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈtwɜː.liː/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From twirl + -y.

Meanings

1. Coiled or curly.

Forms

twirly en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈtwɜː.liː/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Blend of too + early from the question "Am I too early [to use my pass]?" frequently asked of bus drivers, etc. by holders of OAP/senior citizen or similar travel passes that are not valid before a certain time (usually 9:30am).

Meanings

1. (Ireland, UK, derogatory, slang, sometimes) An old age pensioner or other elderly person, especially one using public transport.
   • Some passengers do try to use passes fraudulently and the time restriction on OAP passes can sometimes lead to arguments (the so-called "twirlies" — "Am I too early?") but seldom to assaults. 1986, Working Group on Violence to Road Passenger Transport Staff, Assaults on bus staff and measures to prevent such assaults, HMSO, page 51:
   • These are a great hit with "Twirlies" (senior citizens, infamous for using their bus passes "too-early" before rush hour fades). 1986, Rick Steves, Great Britain in 22 days: a step-by-step guide and travel itinerary, →ISBN, page 52:
   • He'd been so desperate to go to the toilet that he'd parked the bus, locked the twirlies on it and run through the gully home! 2008, Maureen Harvey, “5 The Breakthrough”, in Pure Evil - How Tracie Andrews murdered my son, deceived the nation and sentenced me to a life of pain and misery, →ISBN:
   • I once had a twirly get on my bus, well I have had several hundred actually but that's beside the point! 2007 May 14, Daisy Dart, “Re: Passengers say the stupidest things”, in Bus drivers canteen (Usenet), message-ID <1179173999.213616.59880@n59g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>:

Forms

Synonyms

coffin dodger · senior citizen · geriatric