Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Italian term or phrase:
testare la bottigliella
English translation:
To sniff drugs
Added to glossary by
Milena Bosco (X)
May 11, 2008 19:59
16 yrs ago
Italian term
United Kingdom
Accurate, articulate and affordable
Native in: English
Works in: Italian to English, French to English, English
testare la bottigliella
Italian to English
Social Sciences
Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc.
Is this a colloquial term, or does it literally mean what it says?
Thank you.
This was in spoken language, Southern Italy.
Thank you.
This was in spoken language, Southern Italy.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | "To test the little bottle" (Fig. for to get drunk or to get an alcoholic drink) |
Milena Bosco (X)
|
| 4 | To sniff drugs |
Milena Bosco (X)
|
| 3 | try a sample/ sniff some from the little bottle |
Gemma Monco Waters
|
| 1 | taking a sip of ... |
Rossella Mainardis
|
Change log
May 14, 2008 07:36: Milena Bosco (X) Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+1
56 mins
Selected
"To test the little bottle" (Fig. for to get drunk or to get an alcoholic drink)
Bottigliella seems to be a relatively new and colloquial form for "small bottle" normally referred to alcoholic beverages. I have no clue of what the text is though so I am just guessing....I would say that the context might be related to someone who has the intention to drink quite a bit.
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Note added at 10 hrs (2008-05-12 06:40:57 GMT)
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To me it sounds like a southern colloquialism from Naples. There are a lot of terms in italian dialects that derive from foreign languages. In this case anyway I am afraid to say to Mrs. Monco Waters that the verb "testare" is not of english origin.
It comes from the latin testor-testari (testatum sum) which means to demonstrate.
So I would say that the english term derives from latin and not the other way around.
I can almost be sure that it is a colloquialism from Naples because in that area they use the ending -ella -ello instead of -etta -etto.
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Note added at 12 hrs (2008-05-12 08:16:20 GMT)
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Sorry Gemma I will answer here, I am afraid I will be too long to answer your comment directly.
First of all I would like to say that of course latin has a great influence in every single language spoke in Italy as you know. "Testemmonia" ( sorry for the spelling I hope purists won't be reading me) derives from the latin form. Anyway I think that the point here is that the young generation colloqualisms like to mix neologisms with more unconventional words to get a funnier result. If you live near Naples then for sure you must have heard the expression "na bella buttegliella e' vino" (from the french bouteille).
I do not think that it has anything to do with crack. Young people relate it to famous alcoholic beverages.
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Note added at 12 hrs (2008-05-12 08:24:32 GMT)
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"Così, stasera siamo andati in un locale a San Severino, abbiamo preso una bottigliella per festeggiare un certo 30 & lode (chissà chi era?!), e poi ci siamo seduti in piazza perchè il locale era troppo affollato e non c’era manco un posto a sedere."
(Example found in a blog)
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Note added at 12 hrs (2008-05-12 08:31:57 GMT)
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I just read the context in which the expression was found. The tests to check the presence of drugs in the system have a small bottle in them. In the contest that might be it.
(eg. http://veritest.itshosting.it/funziona.html)
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Note added at 13 hrs (2008-05-12 09:00:06 GMT)
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I think that the lesson I learnt from this post is that I will never again guess before reading the text.
There is a way to use heroin which is called "snorting". Using a nasal spray bottle the drug in sniffed though the nose. This was very common in Harlem. This would probabily make sense. To "test" a bottle of any kind you smell the content. So, in this case, testare la bottigliella might mean sniff heroin (instead of injecting it).
Sorry for the numerous posts.
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Note added at 14 ore (2008-05-12 10:08:36 GMT)
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Hi Gemma. I am Milena. I love this job! Especially when I can share research and results with nice people.
I was born in Puglia, my mother is from Barcelona. My father's family was from Naples. I lived in Bari and in New York. I am in Abruzzo right now.
Have a great day.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2008-05-12 06:40:57 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
To me it sounds like a southern colloquialism from Naples. There are a lot of terms in italian dialects that derive from foreign languages. In this case anyway I am afraid to say to Mrs. Monco Waters that the verb "testare" is not of english origin.
It comes from the latin testor-testari (testatum sum) which means to demonstrate.
So I would say that the english term derives from latin and not the other way around.
I can almost be sure that it is a colloquialism from Naples because in that area they use the ending -ella -ello instead of -etta -etto.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2008-05-12 08:16:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Sorry Gemma I will answer here, I am afraid I will be too long to answer your comment directly.
First of all I would like to say that of course latin has a great influence in every single language spoke in Italy as you know. "Testemmonia" ( sorry for the spelling I hope purists won't be reading me) derives from the latin form. Anyway I think that the point here is that the young generation colloqualisms like to mix neologisms with more unconventional words to get a funnier result. If you live near Naples then for sure you must have heard the expression "na bella buttegliella e' vino" (from the french bouteille).
I do not think that it has anything to do with crack. Young people relate it to famous alcoholic beverages.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2008-05-12 08:24:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"Così, stasera siamo andati in un locale a San Severino, abbiamo preso una bottigliella per festeggiare un certo 30 & lode (chissà chi era?!), e poi ci siamo seduti in piazza perchè il locale era troppo affollato e non c’era manco un posto a sedere."
(Example found in a blog)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2008-05-12 08:31:57 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I just read the context in which the expression was found. The tests to check the presence of drugs in the system have a small bottle in them. In the contest that might be it.
(eg. http://veritest.itshosting.it/funziona.html)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 hrs (2008-05-12 09:00:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I think that the lesson I learnt from this post is that I will never again guess before reading the text.
There is a way to use heroin which is called "snorting". Using a nasal spray bottle the drug in sniffed though the nose. This was very common in Harlem. This would probabily make sense. To "test" a bottle of any kind you smell the content. So, in this case, testare la bottigliella might mean sniff heroin (instead of injecting it).
Sorry for the numerous posts.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 ore (2008-05-12 10:08:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Hi Gemma. I am Milena. I love this job! Especially when I can share research and results with nice people.
I was born in Puglia, my mother is from Barcelona. My father's family was from Naples. I lived in Bari and in New York. I am in Abruzzo right now.
Have a great day.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Gemma Monco Waters
: Even if it is of Latin origins (you can call me Gemma), like so many English words, it did not make its entrance in this moment in history through a neo-latin language, but through the English language. I live 90 km from Naples and it was never invaded by
10 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
5 hrs
taking a sip of ...
more information and text would be necessary....
11 hrs
Gemma Monco Waters
Italy
Italy
Native in Italian
&
English
Specializes in field
Italy
always ready for a new challenge
Native in: English 
, Italian
Works in: English to Italian, Italian to English, French to English, and 1 more.
try a sample/ sniff some from the little bottle
this could refer to drug, although I never heard of crack that comes in a bottle. Maybe sniff or smoke...
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Note added at 12 hrs (2008-05-12 08:45:20 GMT)
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I must say, M_bosco! You know the strangest sites! ( I am joking).
So we are talking about drugs, not alcohol. Aren't the Neapolitans inventive! Move over Harlem, here we come! I think that maybe with your site and my suggestion, our colleague can find her translation. Are you Sardinian, M_bosco?
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2008-05-12 08:45:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I must say, M_bosco! You know the strangest sites! ( I am joking).
So we are talking about drugs, not alcohol. Aren't the Neapolitans inventive! Move over Harlem, here we come! I think that maybe with your site and my suggestion, our colleague can find her translation. Are you Sardinian, M_bosco?
Note from asker:
| The phrase is: E questo significa che Napoli diventa d’improvviso una specie capitale laboratorio della droga internazionale. Per la prima volta Napoli testano la bottigliella. Fu introdotta a Napoli perchè i boss non volevano la diffusione delle malattie con l’ago. Dopodichè, dopo che fu distribuita a Napoli, arrivò ad Harlem. |
13 hrs
To sniff drugs
I think that the lesson I learnt from this post is that I will never again guess before reading the text.
There is a way to use heroin which is called "snorting". Using a nasal spray bottle the drug in sniffed though the nose. This was very common in Harlem. This would probabily make sense. To "test" a bottle of any kind you smell the content. So, in this case, testare la bottigliella might mean sniff heroin (instead of injecting it).
Sorry for the numerous posts.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 giorni10 ore (2008-05-14 06:46:47 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
Thank you for choosing my answer. I would like to share it with Gemma though, our cooperation brought the result. Thank you Gemma. It was nice meeting you.
There is a way to use heroin which is called "snorting". Using a nasal spray bottle the drug in sniffed though the nose. This was very common in Harlem. This would probabily make sense. To "test" a bottle of any kind you smell the content. So, in this case, testare la bottigliella might mean sniff heroin (instead of injecting it).
Sorry for the numerous posts.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 giorni10 ore (2008-05-14 06:46:47 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
Thank you for choosing my answer. I would like to share it with Gemma though, our cooperation brought the result. Thank you Gemma. It was nice meeting you.
Discussion