Where did the term "Dickers" come from ? I know it as the word used for IRA lookouts in NI, but I understand it's also used in Afghanistan.

Dickers were originally low grade scrotes who reported on movements & took plate details providing Int to the enemy. Unarmed and very junior it was an entry into the Paramilitary world. The same phrase has now been given to the enemy in the 'Stan who have folk working in a similiar role.

Originally Posted by Killaloe

Dickers were originally low grade scrotes who reported on movements & took plate details providing Int to the enemy. Unarmed and very junior it was an entry into the Paramilitary world. The same phrase has now been given to the enemy in the 'Stan who have folk working in a similiar role.

Interesting couple of paragraphs about dickers in Iraq in Sniper One. The battle group, holed up in CIMIC House (IIRC?) were getting tooled by Iraqi mortars cos the rules of engagement didn't let them shoot dickers because both sides knew the Bobby Moore.

Then a training team or something came out to see what was to be learned and when they saw how the dickers were working, the response was, "The rules of engagement or wrong. Shoot to kill." And balance of power changed immensely.

The powers that be get quite upset when you start topping 12 year old dickers

But where did the name come from ? was it in use before NI ?

Thanks.

My grandfather (Merseyside born and bred) used to use the word "dek" or "dekko" to mean have a look at. Not sure where that comes from. It sounds Indian, although it seems to be associated with Liverpool/Birkenhead area.

Just found this in urban dictionary
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dekko

Seems to be the answer.....unless someone else knows better.

Originally Posted by Dubb_al_Ibn

My grandfather (Merseyside born and bred) used to use the word "dek" or "dekko" to mean have a look at. Not sure where that comes from. It sounds Indian, although it seems to be associated with Liverpool/Birkenhead area.

Just found this in urban dictionary
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dekko

Seems to be the answer.....unless someone else knows better.

Common useage along the N Wales coast too when i was a lad...

Possibly from Private Detective - Dick or private dick ?. Raymond Chandler sort of cove.

Why cove ?

I must admit I had always assumed it was because they were dicking you in the pseudo-sexual sense - setting a target up to be shafted, albeit indirectly. A shared root (see what I did there? :D ) with dekko had not occured to me.