In Málaga, a nice city in the South-east of Spain, there are still several expressions, based on several words used in the past.
For example, one funny expression is “Estar Aliquindoi (or Alikindoi)”, that means “To be attentive”.It comes from the English expression “Look and do it”.It is said that the English expression started to be used, when the first English people came to Málaga, through the port; but it was changed with the popular way of speaking in the Andalussian language.
Another expression, that I find curious, that is known, in Málaga, since the beginning of the last 20th century, is “Canequi” or “Darse un canequi”.
As another words, “Canequi” was a word originating in the port of Málaga. This port has been through its history the main entrance to the city. Through it came bad and good things, currencies. One of the visitors were those “Bocoyes” (Casks) and “Toneles” (Barrels) of wine, which largely departed from the port to distant lands, but they also came from many parts of the world.
Our port was seen on many occasions invaded by large containers carrying Cuban rum. According feature there were two models of containers: some similar to the barrels and other thin ceramic with a capacity of 26 or 34 pounds, besides ceramic bottles. These large and heavy containers was given the name of "Canéis". The transport from the port to the carts that had to move this precious nectar to taverns or ethyl main wineries of our city, it was hard and heavy, plus fragile, so some trucks were available with rubber wheels instead of iron, carrying the "Canéis" to the main wagon, which was pulled by nags accustomed to working hard and heavy to haul barrels to wineries.
In those carts, pulled by hard men, are carefully placed those large containers, called Caneis. The children of the last century wanted to play, like those of any age, and began to climb on trucks and take a fun ride, next to that rum come from Cuba or Jamaica. The children knew that those containers were called Caneis, but for them it was easier to say “Canequi”, then began to ask the workers of the port to let them take a Canequi in the cart, that is a walk. From here, that word became so popular that it was used for any kind of ride; so much so, that we could hear as such other person was invited to take a "canequi" by the Lighthouse or in the field, etc.
Till soon, kind regards,
Luis.
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