RonnieRockCod - 12-29-2004 at 10:29 AM
I am not a Baja historian. What I am about to write came to me many, many, years ago while anchored at La Paz.
I was told "P-nche" is what is found on the floor of a hen house.
Thomas Cromwell was an English pirate and would occassionally visit La Paz. The approach to La Paz from the Sea of Cort?s is both shallow and
narrow. Cromwell could only sail when the wind was from the south. Thus, when the south wind blew the natives could expect a visit from Cromwell. His
name was bastardized to Coromuel which describes the wind that blows from the south to the south west.
Cromwell and his crew spoke English. The Mexicans did not favor the language and called it "piche lengua". Lengua meaning tongue and thus
language.
La Paz was difficult to enter so Cromwell anchored further north at a place now call Pichilingue. The ferry landing is located there.
Cromwell=Coromuel. Piche lengua=Pichilingue.
You can do a Google search on Cromwell and come up with another version of Pichilingue, but I like this one.
That's my tale Kiddies. I will now put my helmet on and climb into my fighting hole and wait for the Incoming. I am ready to accept broadsides or
accolades, orchids or onions. RRC
[Edited on 12-29-2004 by RonnieRockCod]
David K - 12-29-2004 at 10:44 AM
Well done Ronnie! That's the way I heard the story about the wind, too.
Welcome to Nomad... long time no see!
elgatoloco - 12-29-2004 at 10:46 AM
Thank you for that explanation and history lesson. It will provide some additional talking points while enjoying some adult beverages and tasty
seafood treats while sitting at our favorite P-nche Lingue restaurant!
Keep it coming!
BajaNomad - 12-29-2004 at 12:15 PM
My understanding is that Cromwell took advantage of the afternoon winds blowing into the bay to attack and plunder ships not familiar with this
situation.
P-nche to me
Tio Rocky - 12-29-2004 at 02:58 PM
P-nche to me is anything that is not easy?? not being able to loosen a jar top?. P-nche tapadera?. A car that won?t start?. P-nche carro?.. a female
that won?t give me the time of day?.. P-nche chica?.. ect. ect. 
Tio Out!
www.BAJAEVENTS.com
Oso - 12-29-2004 at 04:51 PM
Actually, in its original noun form a P-nche was a kitchen scullion, the lowest position among the servants of the castle, usually assigned to
scrubbing pots & pans and other grimy, unpleasant tasks.
There's an old joke about this, wherein a broke and unemployed Mexican from the D.F. asks for work at a restaurant owned by a Spaniard. The
gachupin says, "Well, if you don't mind trabajando de P-nche, I'll pay you five pesos a day." The chilango replies, "Give
me ten y trabajo de la !."
Nowadays, it's almost always an adjective. Often meaning "stingy" (No seas P-nche, cantinero, echale un poco mas.), it has expanded to
include almost any negative or derogative connotation. I would place "P-nche gringo" on a level maybe a wee bit stronger than "Damn Yankee" and react
to it according to whether said by a stranger or a friend and whether or not they were smiling when they said it.
solamente se que yo no soy P-nche
BajaVida - 12-29-2004 at 05:35 PM
spanishdict.com sez
thebajarunner - 1-1-2005 at 08:10 PM
it means "bloody"
so, there you have it.
as to Baja Vida, as usual he is circumspect but rational.... no, no, circumspect does not mean he is Jewish...
Baja Arriba!!
Oso - 1-2-2005 at 10:43 AM
"Bloody"?? I've never seen that and am fairly certain it is not literally related to blood. But, I can see it in relation to the way the Brits use
the term; bloody this, bloody that, an over-generalization. For gringos, it's the equivalent of "fawking".
thebajarunner hails from the Cowboy Capitol of the World, so he speaks a different kind of Spanish
BajaVida - 1-2-2005 at 01:31 PM
another good word is "pendejo" which means pubic hair, but is more commonly used to refer to someone as being stupid
"no seas pendejo" -- don't be or act stupid
Soy unA P-nche Gringa, y que?
Eli - 1-2-2005 at 02:22 PM
I wound up being La P-nche Gringa helping in the kitchen making pOzole for New Years Eve supper. Both the owner of the kitchen and my friend who had
invitied me to help and learn his mother's pazole recipe are very well read educated Men from here in Oaxaca. As such I will respect their knowledge
of the language, they agreed with the theroy that P-nche is derived from kitchen scullion, so it was most appropriate in the moment that I be called
La P-nche Gringa, because that is exatally what I was, we had a great time with it, mucho yucks and all.
Still, I loved RonnieRockCods story, what a classic.........
[Edited on 1-3-2005 by Eli]
Oso - 1-2-2005 at 04:12 PM
Acting as Baja Spell Checker, pro tem:
UNA P-nche gringa.
pOzole.
panochA.
The last one is a proper noun, interchangeable with piloncillo, i.e.; brown sugar, usually in the form of a compressed cone and yes, Sr. Pompano, its
doble sentido refers to female anatomy.
Ay Oso, pues, mata garcias!
Eli - 1-2-2005 at 06:12 PM
Really. I do no better, and to think I am even a worse speller in English, don't suppose while you are at it, you would help me clean that up too?
Gypsy Jan - 1-2-2005 at 06:44 PM
Eli,
Don't become discouraged or feel that Oso is correcting you out of a mean spirit, he is a man that loves language and correctness of expression.
Regardless, your stories come from your heart and the meanings are transparent, however the spelling comes out on the P-nche computer keyboard 
Mata gracias = you kill me with kindness? What a wonderful phrase to learn.
Gracias a usted.
Mike Humfreville - 1-2-2005 at 09:25 PM
I think the spelling errors add to the character of the poster and the insight the rest of us get to that individual. Even though sometimes it takes
a little longer to interpret what another is saying, it adds to the post in some subtle ways.
Oso - 1-3-2005 at 07:16 AM
I used to belong to something called the National Association of Professional Bureaucrats. The logo included two crossed pencils with erasers at both
ends. To join, one had to submit a one page memorandum. If anyone could understand what the memo was about, membership was rejected.
I misspell all the time, in both languages, but when we are talking about words, we should try to get those particular ones right. I hope no one is
offended. I usually let Guerro Negro and Portocitos slide, if it's not "germaine" to the subject matter.
and don't forget Tiajuana
BajaVida - 1-3-2005 at 07:21 AM
mata garcias?
fdt - 1-3-2005 at 09:14 AM
I don't think Oso would be killing people with the last name Garcia, my last name is Garcia, Oso is my Amigo, I hope he does'nt want to kill me.
Maybe you mean to say Gracias?
O.K., let's not matar los Garcias
Eli - 1-3-2005 at 11:32 AM
I am the first to admit that I am not the most literete soul on this board. Most of my spelling errors occur due to trying to get something out to
fast, racing against the clock at these internet cafe's with unfimilar keyboards. Undoubtly, I am a little poor, or at least, certainly cheap, and
without a doubt among the left brain functioning folks, much more creative that acadimic. If you note my post's from home, I had access to a spell
check, a key board that I knew blindfolded and seldom errored in the spelling of my post.
My Mother had her Master's in English and was a high school english prof., she never paid any attention to the context of what I wrote, only the
grammer and spelling, I use to get my heart poured out letters returned "red penciled". On the other hand my father never commented on my spelling and
always praised the context of what I was trying to say. As an adult, I wrote him often, I have not bothered to send my mother a letter in a forgotton
amount of years.
I never judge the grammer or spelling of another person's writing, it really doesn't matter to me, what matters to me is what they say.
Still, as part of my "Ano Nuevo Meta", I promise that as soon as I can afford it, I will buy a small Eng.-Span. dic., and carry it with me every where
I go, just like my drawing pad and pens, I can handle the little extra weight in my pack. Ah but, priorities first, I got my heart set on some new
jel-pens and than there is this painting by an artist friend that I have been saving my centavos for weeks to buy, I am just 100 peso short and
this kid with his messy face smiling in a watermelon is mine, and I have just enough shampoo for one more hair washing annnnnnnnnnnnd,
sigh...............
Eli
Baja Bernie - 1-3-2005 at 01:03 PM
Always remember the Chinga factor.
Loved your comment about all the letters you have sent to your mother over the years.
As always you expressions are priceless and paint so much more meaning and understanding into your thoughts than the mere words that you string
together. Guess that comes from being the brat of an old slinger of ink among other things.
MATA GRACIAS por Garcia (will that work--and if not who cares????)
Another Sunday meal without any substance for a small time sinner!
Oso - 1-3-2005 at 05:41 PM
I will henceforth refrain from correcting anyone unless asked. The last thing I want to be is a peedant.
Gypsy Jan - 1-3-2005 at 05:56 PM
Eli,
Keep writing, in fact, I beg you especially to keep writing here.
Regardless of the hardship; under deadline, under gun and counting the cost of the communication...
you get straight to the heart of the art of speaking to others as well, if not better than anyone I can think of.
I don't have your courage, that inner resource that lets you speak and expose your (what you think of as ) failings and fears and your innermost life
where any one, regardless of merit can scan and make commentary, positive or discouraging.
I know that you will go on creating new things of beauty; words and pictures, please keep us posted, I care.
Racing the clock yet again
Eli - 1-3-2005 at 07:35 PM
2 min. and it goes up another 5 pesos. So just wanted to say real quick that Oso, you are one of my heros, if I see your name attached, I read it,
period. I am not even offended, just trying to explain the perspective really fasssssssssssst.
Bernie, Jan and everyone out there that supports my little tales, pues muchas, muchas gracias, you do inspire me with your comments. Bernie, you were
the beggining that really got me spinning words way back than, you know I remember.
Got to run, before they tag me, Sara
P.S., when I logged off, I realized that I went 1 min. over, so of course they dinged me the extra 5 p's, so I might as well relax and enjoy the next
15 minutes and read what else is going on nomad, ni-modo.
Still, even with that 5 peso ding, there is still enough left over in my daily budget so I can go to the Zocolo for a hot chocolate and panecito and a
little people watching and drawing before I crawl off to my bed at the posada. Ah but, I am 5 pesos futher away from the dic. I promise someday I will
break down and buy. You know, priorites are prioirties, good spelling, hot coco, which would you choose, if you had to?
[Edited on 1-4-2005 by Eli]
Oso
Baja Bernie - 1-3-2005 at 07:50 PM
I won't call you one of my heros but I do have a ton of respect for you---was that pee ant?
And keep doing what you do because we all learn from it.
Nikon - 1-3-2005 at 08:22 PM
For some reason this thread had crossed my mind several times during the past few days because I feel exactly as Oso stated; it depends how and who
said it to you. I had a friend (fisherman) at Gonzaga who punctuated every funny thing I said, by saying "P-nche Juan" and smiling and shaking his
head.
Oso - 1-4-2005 at 07:27 AM
Eli, I read all your posts too, as I did your Dad's. Kepe rwitgn, siecnce has porven taht we copmprnd cotnext irregardless of sepellng.
Bernie, that was not a reference to the little black insects around the outhouse. "Peedant" is my spelling of the Southern pronunciation of pedant,
as in "pedantic".
Hola Sara!
Sallysouth - 1-4-2005 at 09:53 AM
I agree with Gypsy Jan,and read your every post with delight! Of course we wouldn't want you to miss out on your hot coco,but your writings would be
sorely missed if you ran out of pesos! Are you on the mainland for good now? I was w/out a computer for a while and am just getting caught up! Hope
all is well with you> Tu amiga,Sally
Hi Sally
Eli - 1-4-2005 at 12:19 PM
I will be home in Los Barriles as of March 1st. Luce Elizabeth, gandbaby 2 is due to make her apperance here in La Tierra de Baja sometime between
March 15th and April 1st., we are figuring.
Sure am looking forward to meeting this new little Baja spirit. You know, I can't seem to pass a frilly little girl dress or soft rag doll without
thinking of her. Being a grandma is the cherry on the sunday of life, no doubt!
Just read the heading of this thread, "P-nche and what it means to me", whew doggies, talk about straying from the subject matter, I think I get the
award for doing so this time. A true Gilda Radner never mind moment! Sara
[Edited on 1-4-2005 by Eli]
[Edited on 1-5-2005 by Eli]
Oh yeah!
Sallysouth - 1-4-2005 at 07:43 PM
I always thought P-nche meant small or insignificant, me being a bit taller than five feet!Of course I have heard it spoken in "other tones" but just
decided it was meant to be the choosing of the speaker,and the person to whom it was directed.It was always an endearing word for me, coming from very
dear friends,mostly Mexican/Armenians, in my childhood in Baja.Sorry for straying from the originial posting,Sally
[Edited on 1-5-2005 by Sallysouth]
what "P-nche" really means
jrbaja - 1-5-2005 at 11:30 AM
After a nice big venado and calabasa/onion casserole dinner in the mountains, I like to go P-nche loaf
That's P-nche with a silent e
bajapablo - 1-5-2005 at 02:19 PM
[Edited on 1-6-2005 by bajapablo]
jeans - 1-5-2005 at 02:34 PM
A couple of days ago I saw a restaurant called P-nches on I-45 south of Houston.