NICOLA’S comment regarding Tories was not a personal attack. It was a comment expressing her opinion of Toryism in general. A viewpoint of Tory politics that evidently has some support.
Perhaps there is is something in the name. I believe the word “Tory” stems from a Gaelic word “tòraidh” (similar in Irish and pronounced “tory”) usually translated as “outlaw” or “criminal”.
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It was originally a word literally meaning “Give” but widely known from its specific use by highway robbers (presumably Scots and Irish) as the equivalent of “stand and deliver”. I’m sure in the event of a hold-up the meaning was clearly understood from context without needing literal translation. The word thus became well known to non-Gaelic speakers who associated it with outlaws and criminals and gave it that meaning.
The word was then applied to a particular political group perceived to be making a rich living for themselves by forever demanding money from the people. That is how the term Tory evolved.
Many may say that nothing much has changed in the political scene.
Murray Dunan
Auchterarder
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