Posted by Mike on March 08, 2000 at 01:44:26:
In Reply to: Re: Pirate Radio posted by How on earth on March 08, 2000 at 01:05:50:
Yep something like that.
The phrase "anorack" comes from the Pirate radio ships which broadcast off in ships the coast of Britain in the 1960's. Radio enthusiasts used to charter boats and go out to visit the stations.
Usually these people wore anoracks. Some of these people went on to broadcast themselves because of the legal situation in Bitain they didnt operate from home but instead used portable equipment and broadcast from hills or the roofs of tall buildings. Again anoracks were fashionable amongst the fraternity.
Pirate radio enthusiasts thus became known anoracks.
In recent years this term has being hijacked and used (often as a term of derision) to describe anyone with an unusual hobby or interest.