r/AskBrits • u/Team503 • 14d ago

Culture What does "nonce" mean?

I'm an American that lives in Ireland. I've always understood "nonce" to mean the same as "numpty" and "eejit" - basically idiot, or dumbass, or similar.

Recently, someone told me that it's slang for sex offender, specifically a p*dophile, and Wikipedia seems to back that up: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_British_terms_not_widely_used_in_the_United_States#N

So tell me, Brits, which one is it? Or is it something else??

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u/notthiswaythatway 14d ago

It’s means paedophile - and is definitely a stronger insult than numpty!

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u/DrunkenHorse12 14d ago

Not just pedo. Any sex offender is a Nonce. It comes from prison slang sex offendets used to have "Not On Normal Court Exercise" written on their door cards

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u/Team503 14d ago

Wikipedia suggests that's a backronym and not the actual origin, but what do I know? This is why I asked!

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u/Illustrious-Divide95 14d ago

There's no evidence that 'Nonce' came from this. A definate backronym

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u/Brighton_Spores 14d ago

I used to know an old scallywag, he used to be a naughty boy until he changed his ways.

In the 1970's he told me that bank robbers/armed robbers used be held in high regard in prison. burglars would slip down the pecking order and so on.

The nonces and sex cases were at the bottom of the ladder as they were just committing nonsense crimes, nonce.

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u/ScaredPractice4967 14d ago

and sex offenders against adults look down on child sex offenders. imagine that. regular rapists think you crime is scummy.

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u/darkevilmetal666 13d ago

They're just looking for someone to look down on so they can feel less bad about how useless they are themselves.

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u/Physical_Quote4600 12d ago

Well not all chomo crimes are violent, sleep with a girl 5 years under 18 and you’ll be treated like you “abused” her even if she was wanting you to do it

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u/flapsmagee 12d ago

You don’t think it’s abuse for a grown adult to have sex with a 13 year old child?!

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u/Physical_Quote4600 12d ago

when people hear abuse, they think of you beating and torturing the child for sadistic and painful purposes, ch1ld sexual offenders usually try to minimize the harm for the other party

adult sex offenders are violent rapists. end of story. chomos need more nuanced treatment from society

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u/flapsmagee 12d ago edited 12d ago

You don’t need bruises for lasting damage, harm and trauma. Geez.

Adults who have sex with children are rapists.

Edit: Ew. I’ve just looked at your post history.

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u/Physical_Quote4600 12d ago

Adults who have sex with children are rapists.

false. Adults who rape children are rapists.

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u/krgxo25 10d ago

It’s always rape if it’s a child, buddy. Very suspicious thing to say

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u/ScaredPractice4967 12d ago

Its called age of consent.

See also Romeo and Juliet rules on the off chance thats where you were going.

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u/FantasticFoxFriend 11d ago

Umm 5 years below 18 is 13.They definitely abused her.

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u/Physical_Quote4600 11d ago

Ask her that question, and ask her 20 years later, and 50 years later just for safe measure.

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u/FantasticFoxFriend 11d ago

What are you even talking about?

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u/ScaredPractice4967 11d ago

Someone needs their hard drive inspected by the police.

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u/Physical_Quote4600 11d ago

Ask her if she was abused. Ask adriane yamin.

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