ancient lingo
 

Here’s an odd one. A last ditch attempt to learn the spelling of an old word from, I presume, Hebraic or Yiddish origins.

A dear, dear friend died some time ago and with him one of his favourite words, always used in desperation with someone’s exasperating habit of stirring trouble. I’ve only heard it spoken, so my phonetic attempts are all I can muster. Any help would be appreciated:
coquloffel pronounced as in ‘cockle offal’. Anybody have any idea?

Kochlöffel is a wooden spoon (used for stirring) in german if it helps.

Thank you Atlan! At last I can rest. My old friend Sid was a Jewish refugee from the horrors of Hitler's Germany. A blessing on legs if ever there was one.

Now don't you dare use that on mss.-------:D

That's it, go on blabbermouth, blow the gaff! What on Earth gave you that idea? I am the soul of good manners and would not use such terms. Well, not in public anyway. My friend who used those words quite freely knew full well nobody understood them, one fellow in a sea of heathens.

There is another word he would use to great effect. It has to be said out of the corner of the mouth - with a snarl. Curled lip and everything. My spelling again I'm afraid, I've only ever heard it used with a mark of disrespect.

Mershigina? Any ideas?

Maybe Mishugina ? The Yiddish word for crazy or sillly.
Have a look here it might help you: https://www.chabad.org/library/artic...uggah-Mean.htm

Once again Atlan, many thanks.