Trusty

[Packard]

There is an on-line vendor of counterfeit watches named "Trusty Time".

Now, when I hear the term "trusty" I think of prisons. A prisoner who has been incarcerated for a long time and has an excellent record for good behavior is sometimes given jobs within the prison that require he have additional privileges. These prisoners are called "trusties".

So when I read then name "Trustytime.com" I think of felons.

Is this also so in the UK, Australia, and other English-speaking areas? Or do you think of "trustworthy" when you hear of "Trusty"?


As a side note they claim that they have an excellent reputation for integrity. Integrity from a company whose very business model is based on the violation of international laws? Hmm...

 

[Tazzler]

To me "trusty" means "reliable": "my trusty old car."

 

[Miss Julie]

This is the first time I have ever heard the word "trusty" associated with prisons. I'm with Tazzler.

What kind of company do you keep anyway, Packard?

 

[Packard]

I guess it is the close association between "trusty" and "time" that is doing it for me. "Doing time" and becoming "a trusty" go together.

(I do have a trusty old fragmentation grenade--not to be used in elevators, however.)

 

[Beryl from Northallerton]

I suppose the answer is to buy one and see. 'Trusty' to me means loyal, faithful, ever present and reliable (usually in service or operation); it does not put me in mind of doing time - and I've a feeling, though I'm no jailbird, that the 'prefect' prisoners to which you refer are pronounced as per 'trustees', but I may be deluding myself there.

 

[DocPenfro]

Is this also so in the UK

In British prisons, the staff refer to them as "Governor's Red Bands" on account of a distinctive armband that they wear. The cons dismissively call them "Joeys", which is an allusion to budgerigars: i.e. the Governor's pet.

 

[Myridon]

These prisoners are called "trusties".

I thought they were "trustees".

 

[Packard]

I thought they were "trustees".

I believe you are correct. (I think I've been out in the general population too long.)

 

[WyomingSue]

I think the "trusty" works in a prison (evidently Packard and I keep the same company), and a "trustee" is someone who administers funds for a beneficiary. Depending on their honesty in the latter, they might end up as the former.
I think "Trusty time" sounds OK, kind of 19th century (never heard of them actually). Businesses don't often consider all the ramifications. I once was shopping for a watch, and the young salesgirl showed me one by the company Guess. I told her I didn't want a watch that guessed what time it was. She just looked at me like I was a batty old lady. There is a line of young women's clothing called "Tarea." I saw it advertised when I was shopping with my teenaged daughter. My reaction was, Who wants clothes called "homework" (in Spanish)?

 

[Destruida]

I believe you are correct. (I think I've been out in the general population too long.)

I've only heard it as trusty/trusties in the context of prison (interpret that as you wish) but otherwise, as Beryl explains it. Trust is a traditional name for sheepdogs and other working dogs; Trust or Trusty for other dogs (because you need one distinct and distinvtive sound for a working dog) but now they're probably called Gaga.

 

[Packard]

Thanks for all the replies.

I think I'll stick with my Timex and let others buy fake Rolex watches from Trusty Timothy.

Regards,

Packard