Posted by John Wilson on July 20, 2001 at 01:22:39 from 202.154.157.7:
In Reply to: Re: Names of boats posted by Ed Kiser on July 16, 2001 at 19:30:30:
As well as the “D’s” sailing dinghy “Scarab” which is modelled on “Amazon” in PM (see above), there is the “Imp” the dinghy of the “Goblin” in WD. And Daddy tells them in Flushing Harbour that the lightship they passed on the way in is the North Hinder Lightship.
In CN the motor launch (which John & Nancy are scornful of) is called BONNKA.
But the East Anglian word it is apparently derived from is Bonkka or Bonker: why the different spelling?
East Anglian, meaning very large or big strapping person (footnote in CN). Eg a “young girl”. Is Nancy a “bonkka”. She is nearly as tall as her mother, but Molly Blackett is described as qiute short.