Words, words, words

[dmonahan]

I watched my first Rangers game yesterday (sorry, guys). I'm always interested in words and names. I asked if anyone around me in the pub knew what "Ibrox" meant. No one did (mostly ManU supporters). Is it a company that bought the naming rights?

While I'm asking, what's the origin of "The Old Firm", which seems to be used to describe Celtic and Rangers together? Or a game between them?

Then, while trying to find answers to the above on the net this morning, I came across "bhoys" as a nickname for Celtic. What's its origin?

Dick.

[Scottish_Morton]

Ibrox is the area the stadium is in.

[MeridianFC]

The Old Firm refers collectively to both teams in any sort of context (business, sporting, etc).

"The Bhoys" is supposed to be a rough approximation of the weegie/oirish way of saying "the boys", it's that simple. You'll also hear them referred to as Tims, which is a bit harder to explain, but refers to the Catholic background of the team. I have on occassion heard all Catholics referred to has Tims or Left footers, from the (somewhat insane) idea that catholics use their left foot on the shovel and Protestants use their right.

I think some of the better names/words in Scottish fitba are Heart of Midlothian (though my sympathies lie with Hibs), Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Third Lanark (pull out the history books kiddos), and Queen of South.

[manic jambo]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
I think some of the better names/words in Scottish fitba are Heart of Midlothian (though my sympathies lie with Hibs),

Absolutely correct !!

[SJFC4ever]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
The Old Firm refers collectively to both teams in any sort of context (business, sporting, etc).

I think the historical background is the business side of football. A firm is another word for a company. Ever since their early days, people have realised that Rangers and Celtic were great money making opportunities (until Murray gave Advocaat £80m, ;-)) - particularly when playing each other, given the attractiveness of the match (for more than just football reasons).

You'll also hear them referred to as Tims, which is a bit harder to explain, but refers to the Catholic background of the team.

Tim is short for Timothy. The idea with Celtic's Catholic background, and Timothy is/was seen as being a "Catholic" name. Therefore Celtic fans are Tims (ie Catholics).

[Parkhead_Faithful]

Originally posted by SJFC4ever




Tim is short for Timothy. The idea with Celtic's Catholic background, and Timothy is/was seen as being a "Catholic" name. Therefore Celtic fans are Tims (ie Catholics).


Timalloy


As a tim, I cant remember us ever being refered to as "the bhoys" before the arrival of german midfielder Andreas Thom (silent H) maybe it was there but it seems to have just exploded as a popular nickname in the last decade or so, we were always just tims in my day.

[HuntKop]

I've been told that "Ibrox" means home of the badger, or something like that.