I’m with you on this one,Les. Never in a thousand years,as they say..lol..could it be described as Jeff is suggesting..a term of endearment. Even the OED stares that it’s a derogatory term ,generally used in `Devon and Cornwall..although Cornwall has a different name..memmet. A councillor in Burnham-on-Sea wanted it banned as she welcomed..as you’ve pointed out..the holiday-makers’ pound.
The term “grockle”, used to describe non-locals, should be banned from a seaside town to make it more tourist-friendly, a councillor has suggested.
www.telegraph.co.uk
To give a bit of support to Jeff..not much,though .lol.it could depend on the context. If moaning about heavy traffic in town and putting it down to Grockles then it’s being used in a pejorative manner but if maybe saying, on a hot day, that the grockles will be enjoying it..well.
.I’m not inclined to think that’s being used in a friendly way,either .
Over to you, Jeff.