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Hiya terry,

I had a revelation today, when I've heard people saying they're skint or broke, I thought they were saying "I'm brassic" and thought it was some slang derivative of brass meaning money, but after solving a clue in the Times jumbo cryptic today, I see the word is Boracic which is derived from Borax and Boron, and it says in the Chambers (informal rhyming slang for being skint or penniless) can you shed some light on the etymology of this and what it's meant to rhyme with.
It says nothing under the heading of Brass in the chambers.

Cheers for any help you can give.

Les
May I interject here?
Boracic Lint is a type of dressing put on wounds to aid healing.
I have always known the (cockney?)slang meaning of the expression as Skint ie broke,no money.
TJ

I remember the strange smell of Boracic lint. It was always in the medicine cabinet ready for my badly- grazed knees and elbows after some rough outdoor activites as a kid. My grandfather was not only a true cockney, (born in Bermondsey and within the sound of Beau Bells) but also a Master Butcher, so his language was a colourful mix of Cockney ryhyming slang and butchers' backslang (even stranger to the ears of the uninitiated !)
A shoulder of lamb would sound as "redloush o bemal " old was "dilo" and have a look
would be "vach a kool" .
Here's a pic I found on flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46832020@N04/4511904398/sizes/l/in/photostream/

OK, the link does not work !

should have put Bow Bells surely ! too early in the morning

Beau Bells??
you're taking the Nelson Riddle.

yes trevor, I made a bit of a Jaffa there !

Awww!
bless your strawberry tart.

aww. You have a good Robin Ray and hope we all get some currant bun

mwah