Newfie Screech

• Format: Manuscript
• Language: English
• Subjects: English language > Dialects > Newfoundland and Labrador; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/elrcdne/id/61314

Newfie Rumble over rum:Who named Newfie Screech? TORONTO (CP)-Who christened the Newfoundland Screech,and why Screech? If ever there was rumble over rum, there's one brewing here now. Barnett Danson, Liberal member of Parliament for Toronto York North, takes issue with a newspaper story that United States soldiers gave the name to the potent brew during the Second World War. In a letter to The Star, whose story had given the credit to the Americans, Mr. Danson, who is deputy chairman of the Commons committee on defence and external affairs, says: "I was in the Canadian foces in Newfoundland in 1940 as a member of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, and Screech was already a barrack-room word. "I can't recall any particular christening of Screech, but it probably came from the first reaction when this raw liquid made contact with the taste buds of innocent Canadian boys who were man- ning the ramparts of Botwood and Gan- der." The reason why it was called Screech seems to be lost in Newfoundland's misty past. The Encyclopedia Canadiana describes it this way: "Screech-once a strong cheap Demerara rum so called from its alleged effects on visitors to the island." And a Dictionary of Canadianisms ties it in vaguely with the Scottish dialect "screigh" whisky, "presumably from its effect on those who over-indulge." The Star story makes no attempt at the reason for the name. However, it does not ignore the Canadian soldiers! "Canadian servicemen stationed in Newfoundland during the war called it 'Block and Tackle.' Drink a bottle of Newfoundland rum, walk a block and you'll tackle anyone." PRINTED ITEM G.M. Story JH 5/74 Used I and Sup Used I Not used [see 'screech', 'block and tackle']