Erfs: (French — Oeufs). Eggs. Where pronunciation failed, as it often did, recourse had to be had to pantomime. This is a true story officially recorded in a war diary. The mess-sergeant of a regular battalion of the Queen's, out to buy eggs, was unable to make the village shopkeeper understand. No eggs being visible he picked up a turnip, put it on the floor, and sat on it, clucking like a hen. He got his eggs![1]
References / notes
- ↑ Edward Fraser and John Gibbons (1925). Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases. Routledge, London p.89.
The above term is listed in our Compendium of the Great War.
This compendium forms the central hub of words, phrases, people, and places relative to the Great War period of 1914–1918. These also include battles, political events, ships, trench slang, British and American service terms and expressions in everyday use, nicknames, sobriquets, the titles of British and Commonwealth Regiments and their origins, and also warfare in general. These words and phrases are contemporary with the war, which is reflected in the language used, some of which may seem derogatory by today's standards. Feel free to expand upon and improve this content.