Spide is a pejorative slang term, used in Northern Ireland, particularly in Belfast to describe a person who has a particular dress code and attitude. Stereotypically spides are young working-class male adults, members of the lumpenproletariat.

There are many negative perceptions associated with the term. These include allegations that they engage in anti-social behaviour. They are also often seen as boy racers, who hang about in car parks playing music loudly from modified cars with up-rated hi-fi's. Many wear Berghaus fleeces, fake jewellery, tracksuits and white trainers.

The adjective form "spidey" is also common. The much older term "millie" is sometimes used as an equivalent to describe female spides.

Origin of the term

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The term is thought to have originated in the late 1970s and early 1980s. During this time "tartan gangs" were popular in Belfast. Due to the tartan patterns of their jeans, they gained the nickname "spidermen", later shortened to spide. ^* Whilst the tartan gangs of the time were closely associated with the UDA and UYM, the term spide is applied to youths from both the loyalist and republican communities, and appears to be wholly without sectarian bias. Commonly spides support the paramilitary organisations of their background, such as the UDA or IRA.

Synonyms from other dialects

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The term pre-dates "chav" (originally slang from south-east England, now widespread in the UK media) by at least a decade, and while the description is similar it is not identical.

Other synonymous slang terms used are:

• "Jonty"
• "Steek"
• "Shaem" (pronounced sch-emmmm, mostly used in Ballymena area)
• "Smicks"
• "Shafty"
• "Skeet" (mostly used in Newry area)
• "Ned", as used in Scotland
• "Scanger", as used in Ireland

Analogous forms of millie from southeast England are Essex girl and Chavette.

External links

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• The Spide Generator

Stereotypes | Youth culture in the United Kingdom | Social groups | Slang | Subcultures