Emmet (Cornish)


Emmet is a pejorative nickname that some Cornish people use to refer to the non-Cornish. It originally referred to tourists who visit Cornwall but has also been used by native Cornish folk to refer to "incomers" or residents who have moved to the county but were not born there.

Etymology

It is commonly thought to be derived from the Cornish-language word for ant, being an analogy to the way in which both tourists and ants are often red in colour and appear to mill around. However the use of 'emmet' to mean ants is actually from the Cornish dialect of English and is derived from the Old English word æmete from which the modern English word ant, is also derived. The Cornish word for ant is actually moryon

Porthemmet Beach hoax

In August 2007, Truro-born Jonty Haywood began promoting the fictional Porthemmet beach in North Cornwall with fake road signs and a hoax website, confusing tourists and amusing locals. In July 2008 Haywood placed a further set of signs.