j*!i'< l/*sl^X?fc % *'" Kft?L^>S£ I ih^f ' fc p r" w BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME FROM THE I SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF MtnrQ M. Sage 1891 lA-.&.i..&:ao fibb.'f The original of tliis book is in tlie Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924089998441 A GLOSSARY lll'Wri , , ' n |;/;|;y WORDS AND PHRASES S.E. V/ORCESTERSHIRE TOGETHER WITH SOME OF THE Sayings, Customs, Superstitions, Charms, &c. COMMON IN THAT DISTRICT. By JESSE SALISBURY. J. SALISBURY, 48, FLEET LANE, E.C. 1893 ■ C^ A.ty (£.2.0 CONTENTS. PAGE Pbbface V. Conjugations op Vebbs, &c. ix. GliOSSABT 1 Examples op Local Peonunciation 50 Customs, Chaems, Eemedies, Sayings, Supeestitions, &c., &c 62 Names op Fields, Places, &c 81 Shakespeaee and oue Dialect 83 Appendix 87 EREATA. Page 19, line 17 from top, read, ' W'6n 'er wuz a young un,' &o. „ 31, „ 1 ,, „ ,, ' the ears, snout,' &o. ,, 35, „ 17 „ bottom,, ' the final s in sioions,' &c. ,, 37, ,, 13 „ top, „ ' the bar to which the shafts of a double shafted waggon are attached.' ,, 37, „ 2 „ bottom,, ' I sh'll get in un' sit by the fire. ' „ 44, „ 14 ,, „ „ ' when in company, and speaking of a person who is present.' PREFACE. This attempt to compile a Glossary of Words and Phrases used in South-East Worcestershire (the district around Evesham and Pershore), owes its origin, principally, to a perusal of Mrs. Chamberlain's interesting ' Glossary of West Worcestershire Words,' published by the English Dialect Society in 1882. Being a native of the district above indicated, and an enthu- siastic lover of everything relating to the county of Worcester, I had for some years previously, been collecting scraps and frag- ments concerning the locality, but with no definite object in view ; and I felt greatly delighted when I recognised in Mrs. Chamberlain's work, many of the old home words, sayings, and customs, which were so familiar to me in my younger days ; but which had in many instances become almost forgotten. Although in the same county, I found that there were many words used in our locality which were not in use in West Worcestershire, and so not included in Mrs. Chamberlain's book. I therefore began systematically to note down all such words that I could think of, or that I otherwise met with ; with the result that I am now able to submit to all\vho are interested in the subject of local dialects, and to the public generally, the present collection of South-East Worcestershire Words and Phrases. In doing so, I trust that I am contributing a minute quota of quaint (and possibly some few peculiar) words, towards the formation of a work which would be of the greatest interest and utility, viz., a complete Glossary of Local Words, Sayings, and Phrases used in every district in England. The increased, and still increasing facilities for intercommunication, together with the advance of education, are, however, daily enhancing the VI. PEEFACE. difficulty of accomplishing such a task; and should it be long deferred, it will, it is to be feared, become a matter of absolute impossibility. Many words are included in the following pages, which are neither peculiar to the district nor yet to the county, but which are not exactly common. These I decided to retain, as being useful for purposes of comparison ; also that students of dialect might be assisted (however slightly), in ascertaining to what extent, and in what localities, such words are current. In instances in which Mrs. Chamberlain has, in her glossary, employed illustrative phrases, I have generally adopted them ; making such alterations only, as were necessary to adapt them to this locality. The difference in the dialect of the two districts (the W. and the S.E.) can thus be the more readily observed, for which reason, I trust I may be pardoned for the liberty I have taken. It was originally intended that this fragment should have been published by the English Dialect Society, by whom much has already been done in the direction above indicated, and at whose disposal I had placed my MS. ; but owing to various causes, its publication was from time to time deferred, until I at length decided to issue it myself, as it now appears. Whilst in the hands of the above Society, my MS. was sub- mitted by the Secretary to the inspection of Professor Skeat, to whom I am indebted for some important suggestions. To the Eev. Canon Lawson, author of ' Upton Words and Phrases,' (E.D.S., 1884), I desire to express my sincere thanks for the kindly interest he has taken in my work, and for a copy of ' Notes of Quaint Words and Sayings in the Dialect of South Worcestershire,' by A. Porson, M.A., the perusal of which brought to my mind some words and sayings that had escaped my memory. To Mr. George Davies, I am greatly indebted for various suggestions, many of which I have been able to adopt, although they did not reach me until the work was in the printer's hands ; but more particularly for his great assistance in that portion PEEPACE. Vll. which relates to Shakespeare (of whose writings he is an enthu- siastic student). Indeed, it was at his suggestion only, that I decided to include the Shakespeare list. As it forms in my memory a kind of connecting link between the old time and the present, I may mention, that I had the pleasure (many years ago), of knowing Mr. Davies's grandfather (Mr. John Davies, of Little Comberton), and I do not think I ever met with another man who could relate so many local stories, or who could sing so many traditional old songs.* For the purpose of illustrating some of the peculiarities of our dialect, I have (in addition to the phrases already referred to), introduced a few local sayings and stories, and in these my dear niece Agnes, has assisted me very materially ; giving me hints as to some of the idiomatic phrases, in cases in which my long absence from the district, had caused my memory to become slightly defective. She has also contributed some of the ' Eemedies,' &c., which are here included ; for all of which I thank her most heartily. To her father (my beloved brother), who still resides in QUf->'^' village, I am indebted for several words and sayings ; and more particularly for many, of the Field Names, of which a list is in- cluded in this work. I therefore tender him my warmest thanks, and trust that he will discover in these pages, pleasant reminis- cences, of the days ' when we were boys together.' JESSE SALISBUEY. (Of Little Comberton.) London, 1893. * Some were exceedingly quaint, and I venture to introduce liere the following verse' of one wMoh lingers in my memory, but whicli I have never met with in print. It is probably familiar to students of Old Song literature. Being a portion of what is supposed to be a ' Eag-man's ' song, the reader will kindly excuse the indelicacy of its allusions. ' Old rags, old jags, old bodies of stays ; Bring them to me ; I will them appraise ; Nitty, or lousey, or buggy beside, Up o' my back, and away they shall ride.' CONJUGATIONS OF VEEBS, &o. u (u as in cut), 66 {oo as in wool). TO BE. Present. Singular. Plural. I be. We be. Thee bist. You be. 'E or 'er is. Thaay be. Past. I wuz. We wuz. Thee wust. You wuz. 'E wuz. Thaay wuz. Negative (present). I byunt. We byunt. Thee bissent. You byunt. 'E yunt. Thaay byunt. Negative (past). I wuzzent, or wornt. We wuzzent, or wornt. Thee wussent. You wuzzent, or wornt. 'E wuzzent, or wornt. Thaay wuzzent, or wornt. Interrog. (present). Bel? or5ee? Be we ? or Be us ? Bist thee? Be you ? or 6e yu ? Is 'e ? or Is u ? * Be thaay ? or be 'nm ? Interrog. (past). Wuz I? Wuz w6 ? or wHz-VLS ? Wust thee? Wuz you ? or wzia yu ? Wuz 'e? Wuz thaay ? or wHz um ? The words pointed in italics are strongly accented. X. SOUTH-BAST WOEOBSTEESHIKB GLOSSABY. Interrog. Neg. (present). ByuntI? Byuntns? Bissent thee ? Byunt you ? or hyunt yu ? Yunt 'e ? or yunt u ? ' Byunt i/iaa^/ ? or byunt 'um ? Interrog. Neg. {past). Wuzzent I ? Wuzzent we ? or wuzzent us ? Wussent i/iee .? or wussent ? Wuzzent you ? or wuzzent yu ? Wuzzent 'e? ov wuzzent ill "Wnzzent thaay ? or wuzzent'umf I 'ave, or 'a. Thee 'ast. 'E 'ave, or 'a. TO HAVE. Present. We 'ave or 'a. You 'ave or 'a. Thaay 'ave, or 'a. I 'ad. Thee 'adst. 'E 'ad. We "ad. You 'ad. Thaay 'ad. I 'ant, or 'aint. Thee 'assn't. 'E 'ant or aint. Negatwe (present). We 'ant, or 'aint. You 'ant or 'aint. Thaay 'ant or 'aint. I 'adn't. Thee 'adn'st. 'E 'adn't. Negative (past). We 'adn't. You 'adn't. Thaay 'adn't. 'Ave / ? or 'ave e ? 'Ast thee ? or 'ast ? 'Uv 'e .? or 'ave ft ? Interrog. (present). 'Ave we ? or 'ave us ? 'Ave 2/OM .? or 'awe yii ? 'Uv thaay ? or 'a«e 'um ? 'Adj.? ov'ade 'Adst ^/lee .? or 'Ad 'e ? or '^cZ i? 'adst ? u? Interrog, (past). 'Ad we .? or 'ati us ? 'Ad you ? or 'acZ yu ? 'Ad i/iaat/ .? or 'ad 'um ? SOUTH-BAST WOECBSTEESHIEB GLOSSAET. XI. Interrog. Neg. (present). 'An't I ? or 'an't e ? 'An't ive ? or 'an't us ? 'Assn't thee ? or 'Assn't ? 'An't 2/0M ? or 'an't yu ? 'An't 'e ? or 'a?i'* li ? 'An't i/iaa^/ -^ or 'an't um ? Interrog. Neg. (past). 'Adn't J ? or a'dn't e ? 'Adn'st i/iee ? or 'adns't ? 'Adn't 'e? or 'acZji'iu? IshoU. , Thee shot. 'E shoU. I shud, or I shood. Thee shudst, or thee shoodst. 'E shud, or 'E shobd. I shaunt. Thee shotn't. 'E shaunt. I shoodn't. Thee shoodn'st. 'E shoodn't. I Sholl I, or sholl e ? Shot ? or shot thee ? Sholl '6 .^ or sholl u ? 'Adn't we ? or 'adn't us? 'Adn't 2/OM .? or 'adn't yu ? 'Adn't i/iaa^/ .^ or 'adn't um ? SHALL. We sholl. You sholl. Thaay sholl. We shud, or we shood. You shud, or you shood. Thaay shud, or thaay shood. Negative. We shaunt. You shaunt. Thaay shaunt. We shoodn't. You shoodn't. Thaay shoodn't. Interrogative. Sholl we ? or sholl us ? Sholl 2/oM .^ or sholl yu ? Sholl thaay ? or s^oZZ um ? Shaunt I .^ or shaunt e ? Shotn't ? or shotn't thee i Shaunt 'e ? or shaunt u ? I '651. Thee 66t. 'E '661. Interrog. Neg. Shaunt we ? or shaunt us ? Shaunt j/om .? or shaunt yu ? Shaunt f/iaa?/ ^ o'^ shaunt um ? WILL. We '661. You '661. Thaay '66l. xu. SOUTH-EAST WOEOESTBRSHIEE GLOSSAET. I '66d. We '66d. 'Thee 'dSdst. You '66d. 'B "SSd. Thaay '66d. Negative. I wunt. We wunt. Thee 56tn't. You wunt. 'E -wunt. Thay wunt. Interrogative. '061 1 ? or 661 6 ? '061 we ? or 661 us ? '05t thee ? or • 66t ? '061 1/OM ? or '5fiZ yu ? 'Oore? orSeZu? '061 thaay? or fifiZum? Interrog. Neg. Wunt I? or wunt e ? Wunt we .? or www* us ? ■'Ootn't «/iee ? or 66tnH ? Wunt 2/5m .? or wunt yu ? Wunt 'e? or wunt yu ? Wunt thaay ? or Mwwi um ? CAN. I conr We con. Thee const. You con. 'B con. Thaay con. Negative. I caunt. We caunt. Thee cosn't. You caunt. 'B caunt. Thaay caunt. Interrogative. Gun I ? or con e ? Gun we ? or con us ? Cun'st thee ? or const ? Gun 2/oM ? or cow yu ? ■Gun 'e? or con u ? Gun thaay ? or core um ? Interrog. Neg. Gaunt J .« or caunt e ? Caunt we ? or cawrei us? Cosn't thee ? or cosw'^ .^ Caunt you ? or cawni yu ? Caunt 'e ? or caitwi u ? Caunt i/iaa?/ -^ ^^ caunt um ? a-Lossj^i^ir OP S.E. WORCESTERSHIRE WORDS. A, V. to have, present and imperative moods. ' I a bin a waterin' the flowers.' I have been watering the flowers. 'A done 66t ! ' Have done, will yoio ! A, pron. he ; she ; it. ' Where is a 9' ' There a comes.' (The pronunciation of the a in this instance is like u in but.) A, prep, in ; on ; as abed for in bed, atop for on the top^ ' 'Er's a bed mighty bad, uv a bwile a top uv 'er yud.' Abear, v. to endure. ' I caunt abear the sight on 'im.' '' 'E caunt abear to be lofft (laughed) at.' AbOYe-a-bit, adverbial phrase, extremely. ' Thase 'ere bad times werrits me above-a-bit, thay d65s ; I don't knaow what to do no more nur the dyud.' Acaowd, adj. cold. ' Be yer 'onds acaowd ? come ether an' warm um.' According (pronounced aceardin') adv. in comparison with. ' It's as much bigger acoardin' as my fut is nur that there young un's.' It is as much larger comparatively ,• as my foot is than that child's. Ack, V. to hoe potatoes for the first time. Afore, prep, before. ' Come un see us afore yu gwuz away.' After-math or Arter-math, n. the second crop of hay from one field in the same season. Agate, V. going on. ' What's agate now? ' Ails, n. barley-beards. Aim, V. to attempt ; to endeavour ; to intend. ' 'Er aimed to pick it up, but it wus too 'eavy fur 'er to 'eft.' Aizac, n. a small bird which builds its nest in the grass on the banks of hedges. Perhaps a corruption of Haysuck. The Hay bird. Akere, v. look here ; or, come here. I 2 SOUTH-EAST WOECBSTBESHIEE GLOSSAEY.' All-as-is. All that remains. ' The pot's pretty nigh empty, but I'll gi' yu all-as-is. All-as-one. All the same. ' Thee cunst g6o ar stop, Bill ; it's all-as-one.' Ally or White Al, n. a white marble (much prized by boys). Anant, ^rep- opposite. ' Put them there faggits down anant the door.' Aowf (Oaf) n. a foolish or silly person. Apern or Apun, n. an apron ; the diaphragm or midriff of a pig- Arms, n. axles of a cart or waggon. Arse of a waggon or cart, the hinder-part. Askew, adv. out of shape ; twisted. Aslat or Az-lit, n. the liver, lungs, heart, &c., of a pig. (Not very common in this district.) Assud or Arseud, adj. contrary. (Arseivard.) Assud-backuds, adj. hind-before. Athattens, adv. in that way. 'Thee artst to be ashum'd o' thee- self til byut (beat) the bwoy athattens'; yu great lungeous bagger.' Athissens, adv. in this way. ' That yunt the way to do it ; do it athissens.' Atternone-folks, n. people who are in the habit of beginning work late in the day. Awhile = spare time ; ' I cawnt awhile,' means ' I cannot spare the time.' Away -you- shuts = start off. Aw-puck, n. the will-o'-the-wisp. Axe-tree = axle-tree. Backen, v. to keep back. ' This caowd weather 'ull hachen the craps' (crops). Back-side, n. the back of the house. Back-sword, n. the exercise of singlestick. Badger, v. to torment ; to worry. Bag, n. the udder of a cow. Three bushels of corn. Bag, «. to cut wheat, &c., with a bagging -hook, instead of' with a sickle. The former instrument is larger and heavier than the sickle, and is used with a chopping action, instead of with a pull, as the sickle is used. SOUTH-EAST WOECBSTBESHIKE GLOSSAEY. iJ Bagger-wench, n. a beggar-girl. Bagginet, n. a bayonet. Baker, n. a pebble fixed into the roof of an oven to indicate when it is sufficiently heated. This is shown by the stone then presenting a floury -white appearance. Bandy, n. a game played with a stick bent at the lower end ; the bent stick used in the game (also called hockey). Bannits, n. walnuts. 'Why uf 'ere yunt aowd Stoodley; the fust time as ever I knaowed 'im wus w'en 'e wus took up fur Stalin' bannits.' Barking-iron, n. an iron tool used in peeling off bark from trees. Barm, n. yeast. Barm-spout, n. a tin or wooden tube used for the purpose of conveying the yeast from the cask. Baste, (1) n. a beast, (2) v. to beat. ' Uf I ketches thee a runnin' over that gardin agyun, I'll gi' thu a good bastin'.' (3) v. To pour gravy upon meat while roasting, to prevent its burning. Bat, n. pace ; speed ; as in walking, &c. ' I've come along at a smartish bat, an' it fetches the sweat out on mu, above a bit.' Bather, V. to trample or beat down standing, corn or grass; to wallow in dust, as fowls do. Batherer, n. a dealer, as 3,sh-batherer, a dealer in wood ashes (used for making ley). Batter, v. In building a tall chimney, to batter is to gradually reduce the circumference. To build a wall out of the per- pendicular. Battle, n. a beetle ; a cock-roach. Bawk, V. to hinder. Be-call, V. to abuse. Bed- wrist (bed- wrest), n. a wooden instrument used for tightening the cords of the old-fashioned corded bedsteads. ; Beetle, n. a large wooden hammer, or mallet. Belluck, V. to roar. Bell-wether, n. a crying child (primarily the wether-sheep which carried the beU). Bed of a cart or wagon, n. the body; the wheels, &c., upon which it is borne being called the carriage. 4 SOUTH-EAST WOBCESTEESHIEE GLOSSAEY. Bellv-fuU, n. a sufficient quantity. 'Didn't I see you a comin' out o' the Methodis' chapel o' Sundy, Mrs. Aceon? 'Oy sure so yu did : it yunt as I 'aowlds 66th the Methodisses, they be sii sly to my thinkin' ; but I likes to goo sometimes, 'cos the sarmuns be su cuttin'. Many a time I a' sat in that chapel an' cried my belly-full.' Belt, V. to shear off the soiled wool ('belt-locks') from the", buttocks of sheep. Bent, n. slender stalk of grass. Better, adv. more. ' How long have you lived in this house ? ' ' O, rather better nur a twelve-month.' Bezzle, v. to drink immoderately, as a drunkard. Bird-keeping, v. scaring birds from corn. Bizzum (Besom), n. a broom composed of twigs of birch or of ling. Black-bat, n. a black beetle. Black-stare, n. a starUng. Blaht, V. to cry or hallo out lustily. Bledther, n. a bladder. Bleeding-heart, n. a kind of garden flower. Blood -stick, n. a stick with which farriers strike the fleam when bleeding cattle. Bloody-thumbs, n. quaker-grass. Blow, n. blossom (pronounced &Zaow). ' That 'awthuntree anant the aowd barn is in blaow mwust beautiful.' 'Uv yu sin the blaow uv this 'ere pink ? Its amwust as big as a rose.' Blubber, n. a bubble. Boar-stag, n. an old boar which has been emasculated. Boil-out, V. to waste in boiling. Bolchin, n an unfledged bird. Bolting, n. (pronounced baowtin'), a bundle of straw of from 12 to Idlbs. weight. The boltings of best and longest straw are tied with two bands, those containing the short and in- ferior straw with only one. ' What a fright thu bist, wench; thee look'st like a baowtin' tied o' one bond.' Book-of-hard-names, n. an account book. Boss, «. a tassel ; a rosette ; a small bunch of ribbons. Bost, V. to explode with a report. Bottom, n. a ball or skein. ' It's all of a robble, like a bottom o' yarn.' SOUTH-EAST WOBCBSTEESHIEE GLOSSABY. 5 Bout, n. in ploughing, &c., once up and down the field. A 'bout ' at back-sword corresponds with a ' round ' at boxing. Bowie, n. a bar or beam of a harrow. The bowles are connected by the sloats. Bowk, n. the ' box ' of a wheel. (The iron lining in which' the axle is inserted.) Braishy, adj. having branches. Bran-new, adj. quite new. Breast-plough, n. a plough worked by a man. It has a flat piece of wood at the upper end against which the plougher pushes with his breast, hence its name. Bree, n. a large fly resembling a bee. Breeds, n. the brim of a hat. Brem, n. bream (a kind of fish). Brevit, v. to hunt about ; to pry inquisitively. ' Where 'a yu put my prayer-book to, Mary ? I'vfe brevitted thraow all them drahrs an' I caunt find 'im.' ' 'B'l get nuthin' from we, it's uvno use far 'im to come brevittin' about ower place.' Briar-ball, n. a kind of spongy ball growing on the hip-briar or wild rose bush. Brim, n. a boar. Brun, or hind-brun, n. a log of wood suitable for laying behind or at the back of the grate^ Brow, 11. the forehead. Buckle, n. a tough slip of wood used for fastening the thatch upon a roof ; V. to bend. Builded, v. built. Buff, V. to muffle the clapper of a bell. Buff-peal, n. a muffled peal. Bull-squitter, n. much fuss or talk about a very little matter. Bum-ball, n. a ball with which boys play ' rounders ' or similar games. Bum, or Bum-bailey, n. a broker's man. ' I heerd uz how Jack 'ud got the bums in 'is 'ouse for rent.' Bunch-o'-fives, n. the fist. Bunt, V. to butt like a ram. To help another in climbing, &c., by giving him a lift (or bunt) behind. Bur-dock, n. a thick, hard-stemmed dock. Burr, n. a piece of iron to screv/ on the end of a bolt (same as nut.) 6 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSSAEY.- Burru, n. a sheltered place. Corruption of burrow. ' The wind!- is pretty teart to-day, but if yii keeps in the burru it '11 do yu moore good to g66 out in the air a bit nur stivin' by the' fire all the while.' Burrii-urdle, n. a hurdle covered or thatched with straw and propped up in the field, on the burru or sheltered side of which a tolerably good shelter from wind and rain may ba secured. Bury, n. a heap, as of potatoes ('tater-bury'), or of dung ('muck- bury.') Bush-house, n. (at Pershore) a house opened at fair time only (26th and 27th of June), for the sale of beer and cider without licence, indicated by a bush fixed up at the door. Suppressed 1863. Bussen, Bussen-bellied, adj. ruptured. Butty, n. a work-fellow or companion. ' Ave yu sin Mary Parker- lately, Mrs. Yapp ? ' ' Oye, I sis 'er mwust wicks ; 'er's my butty when I weshes at the pawson's.' ' 'Im an' 'is butties wuz at ther tay, an' a mon cum to the door, an' 'e sez, sez 'e, " W'ich o' your names is Eobison ?" ' Bwystings, n. the first milk drawn from the udder of a cow after calving. Byun-brish, n. bean stubble. Cadger, n. a beggar. Cag-mag, v. to grumble at, to quarrel. ' The missis sez to me,i " What's that naise ? " 'er sez. "Oh," sez I " it's only them two aowd craters upstairs a cagmaggin' like thay allays be." ' Call, 11. cause ; or, occasion. Calls, to cattle, &c. To cows : ' Coop ! coop ! ' To dogs : ' Heahf heah ' or ' Pishty ! Pishty ! ' To horses : ' Coop ! ' (start) ; ' Aw ! ' (turn towards driver) ; ' Cumma ! ' (to first horse to turn towards driver); ' Cum-Tther ! ' (the same); 'Ett!' (turn from driver) ; ' Gee ! ' (to first horse to turn from driver) ; ' Wult ! ' (go slowly) ; ' Wey ! ' (stop). To pigs 5 'Chuck! chuck 1 ' To poultry: ' C6me Biddy! c6me Biddy 1 ' Cank, V. to chatter ; to talk incessantly. Caplin, 11. the bow by which, by means of a thong {tTmnK), the iiile is attached to the hand-stick of a flail, or threshel. Cart-saddle, n. the saddle worn by a cart-horse, and which carries the back-band. SOUTH-EAST WOBCESTEESHIEE GLOSSARY. 7' Carrying-the-grind-stone, v. fetching the doctor to one's wife Sit her confinement. Gasselty, adj. uncertain. ' There's no tellin' what to be at in sitch casselty weather.' Casting-net, n. a kind of fishing-net. Cast (1) n. a, second swarm of bees from the same hive in one season. (2) v. To give birth prematurely. (3) To yield. 'The whate casses (casts) well this year.' (4) A sheep turned over on its back and unable to get up again is cast. Cat, n. a small piece of wood used in the game of 'bandy..' The cat is knocked with the bandy in opposite directions by the opposing players. (Also called a ' imn.') Chackle, v. to cackle as' a hen. Charky, adj. dry, sunbaked. Chate or Chut, n. the Grasshopper Warbler. Chats, n. chips of wood; short sticks, &c. Chaun, n. a crack in the earth, or in a floor or wall. ' The ground is so dry there be chauns in it big enough for me to put my fut in amwust ' (almost). Chawl (1) V. to chew slowly. (2) To repeat words which have given offence. (3) n. The lower jaw of a pig. Cheese, n. the stack of apple-pulp arranged in the press ready for pressing out the cider. Cheese-cowl, n. a shallow tub, used in cheese making. Cheeses, n. seeds of the Common Mallow. Chime, w. a stave of a cask or tub. Chine, n. a slice containing the spine cut out of the back of a pig. It is usually cut up into four or five lengths, each of which is called a chine. Chits, n. the sprouts which shoot out from potatoes, wheat, &c., when germination has commenced. ' Them taters wans (want) sartin', but you must be keerful 'ow yu 'ondles um, else you'll knock the chits off.' Chit, n. a term of approbrium applied to a forward young girl. Ghittlins (chitterlings), n. the entrails ; most commonly applied to those of a pig. Chobble, v. to chew. Chock, n. a block of wood with which the linch-pin hole in the hub of a wheel is closed. Chock-full, adj. completely full. 8 SOUTH-BAST WOBCESTBESHIEE GLOSSAET. Chop, V. to exchange. Chops, n. the mouth. ' Shut yer chops ad' keep yer belly warm.' Chump, n. a block of wood. The head, ' He's off his chump ' = ' He's out of his mind.' Christian, n. a human being. Clack, n. chatter ; incessant and idle talk. Clanins (cleanings), n. the after-birth of a ewe, cow, mare, &c. Clat-beetle, n. a light wooden mallet with a long handle used for breaking hard clods of earth. Clatter, n. a rattling noise. Cleaches, n. clots of blood, &o. Clet, n. a wedge. Clock, n. the downy head of the dandelion, when gone to seed. The children pluck these and blow off the down ; the number of puffs required to blow off the whole of the down from one stalk is supposed to indicate what o'clock it is. Clip, V. to embrace. ' The child clipped mu round the neck.' Clomber, v. to climb. Clommed, adj. starved, famished. Clout, n. a rag or cloth, as dish-clout. Clothing. ' Change not a clout 'till May be out.' Clout, n. a plate of iron nailed upon a wooden axle, to prevent its wearing away too rapidly with the friction of the wheel. ClOY-iron, n. the iron at the end of a plough beam to which the traces of the horses are attached. ( ? Cloven-iron, the iron being divided to embrace the end of the plough-beam.) Coal-hod, n. a coal box. Cob-waaf, n. a spider's web. Cock-laft, n. (cock-loft), the upper part of the interior of the roof. Codk-sure, adj. over certain or confident. ' When the DeuyU had once broughte Christe to the crosse, he thought aU cocke sure.' Latimer's Sermon on The Ploughers, 1549. Cod (of a net), n. the bag-like part of a net used in bird-catching. Cokers, n. reapers. The term is generally applied to those who come from a distance, in search of harvest work. CoUey, w. soot ; coal-black; smuttiness; v. to blacken. Colley-coal, n. a cinder ^or ember. * Come-back,' the cry of the guinea-fowl. Come-ether, = come-hither. SOUTH-EAST WOKCESTEESHIEB GLOSSABY. 9 Come-'is-ways, or Come-'er-ways, a term of endearment, used by parents when greeting their little children. Cone-wheat, n. bearded wheat. Conger, n. a cucumber. Conk, n. the nose. Conker, n. a snail shell, or snail-house. Consaits, v. fancies or imagines. ' Two uv ower young uns a got the 'oopin' cough.' 'Ave um ? a yu gan 'um ennything far it? ' '0 oye, my 66man a bin a givin' 'um some buried bread ever so many marnins.' ' D66s it do 'um any good?' ' Well 'er consaits 'erself uz it d66s.' Cord-of-wood, a bundle or pile of wood 5 ft. high 8 ft. long and 4 ft. 1 in. wide. (Pronounced card (or kwerd) o' 6od.) Cord-wood (Card-o6d), n. the branches of trees or other kind of timber, either cleft or round, used (as a rule) for fuel. Sold by measurement as above. (Pronounced Card-66d or kwerd-66d.) Corner-frost, n. a frost so mild that it is only to be seen at corners exposed to the wind. Cos, conj. because. Cotch, V. caught. Cover, n. a covert. Cow-cummer, n. a cucumber. Cowl, n. a small tub. Crab-shnlls, n. shoes. Craichy, adj. weak ; infirm ; shaky. ' This 'ere's a mighty craichy aowd 'ouse.' ' I caunt get about much now, nat tu do no good, yu knaow ; I be nothin' but a craichy aowd piece.' Cranky, adj. insane. Cratch, n. a kind of rack at back of a waggon or cart. Craow-inun (crow-onion), n. a wild onion which often infests corn-crops, particularly in poor land. Crass-eyed (cross-eyed), adj. squinting. Craw, n. the bosom. ' I 'a ketched a bit a caowd through workin' ooth me shirt craw unbuttoned.' Crazies, n. buttercups. Cress-tiles, n. the tiles which cover the angle or ridge of a roof (crest- tiles.) 10 SOUTH-BAST WOECBSTBESHIEE GLOSSABY. Crib, n.. (1) a child's cot or cradle slung on a stand so that it may- be swung or rocked. (2) A wooden enclosure or framework to contain straw or hay for foddering cattle. (3) v. To pilfer. Cricket, ,w. a little stool. Croodle, v. to bend or stoop down ; to cower. ' Sit up, Lizzie, caunt yu. What do yu croodle over yer work like that far ? You'll grow quite 'ump-backed.' Cross-and-hands, n. a finger-post. Cub, n. a hutch for rabbits ; v. to confine in a small space. ' It's a shame to cub them poor bastes up in that 'ole uv a place.' Cackoo's-maid or Cuokoo's-mate, n.. the Wry-neck. CuUin', n. refuse corn. CulYcr, n. a culvert. Cunny-thnmbed, adj, applied to a boy who shoots his marbles from the thumb-nail instead of from the knuckle ' of the thumb. Cups-and-saucers, n. acorn cups. Cuther, v. to whisper confidentially. Cutlins, n. barley slightly bruised and cleared of the husk, used for stuffing pig's (or hog's) puddings. Dabble, v. to paddle in water with the hands or feet. Dabbly weather, adj. uncertain, showery. Dabster, n. an expert. Dadduck, n. dry rotten wood, &c. Dag, V. to draggle, or trail in the mud. Daow-bit (dew-bit), n. a morsel of food taken immediately after rising early in the morning. Daub, V. tp soil. ' Yu shaunt goo, I tell yu, daubin' yer best things all over.' Dayus, n. a dairy. Despert (desperate) adv. remarkably, as ' despert cold,' ' dasvert good,' &c. .1 r , i^ . Didguck, 11. a boy's game played with sharpened sticks. Differ, v. to quarrel. Dink, V. to toss, as a nurse tosses a baby. Dither, v. to shake or tremble from cold or from fright. ' The wmd was that piercin' it seemed to g66 thraough un; it made me all uv a dither.' Do-her-mouth, v. to kiss a girl. SOtJTH-EAST WOECBSTEESHIEE GEOSSAEY. 11 Dob, n. a lump, as ' a dob a f at ' ; 'a dob a shuet '. (suet). Dock, V. to cut off the end of a horse's tail. To stop wages. Dodment, n. grease from the axle of a wheel, &c. That from the gudgeons or axle of a church bell is supposed to be a cure for the shingles.. Dog, n. a piece of iron having its ends sharpened and bent at right angles. Its use is to hold timber firmly in its place on the saw pit while being sawn up. Dog-daisy, n. a wild flower, the blossom of which resembles that of a daisy. Dog-hook, 11. a hook used by sawyers or woodmen in rolling or moving heavy trees or logs of wood. DoUup, n. a quantity. Dolly (1) 11. the wooden instrument used by laundresses. (2) v. To use the dolly. DoIIy-doosey, n. a doll. Domber, v. to smoulder. * I 'anged my bwoy's wet things afore the fire, to dry, an' in the marnin' I fund 'em domber ed an' doiribered all away.' Donny, n. the hand (used in talking to children).- ' Be 'is donnies acaowd ? come 'is ways an' warm 'um a bit.' Double, n. a baby's napkin (? derived from ' doublet '). Douk, V. to duck the head. ' You must doiik yer yud to get thraough that little doer.' Dowdy, adj. of very quiet, homely habits. Old-fashioned. Dowst, 11. a blow. Dowt, V. to extinguish (? 'do out'). 'Mind as you dowts the candle safe, w'en yu be got into bed.' Dozen-of-bread, n. two half-quartern loaves, probably so-called because loaves used to be sold at sixpence each, or two for a dozen pence, their size varying according to the price of corn. Drag-harroTff or Dray-harrow, n. a heavy, deep-furrowing harrow. Draft, n. a quarter of a ton. Drapper-pin, n. the iron pin or swivel on which the front (or fore) axle of a carriage turns. Dribble, v. to run with a feeble slender stream. Drift, n. an iron instrument used by coopers for driving hoops on casks. Drift-pin, n. a round iron instrument for driving pegs, &c., out of holes. , ... 12 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEBSHIEB GLOSSARY. Dromedary, n. a dull, stupid person. Dry, adj. thirsty. ' I be a very little yutter (eater) and am sildum adry.' Dry-skin, adj. droll. ' 'E's a dry-skin sart of -a chap; 'e's sure tu make yu loff w'en u (he) opens 'is mouth.' Dubbid, adj. blunt. Duok's-frost, n. a wet night. Dummill, n. a useless article ; a stupid or mischievous child is often called a ' young dummill.' Dummuck, n. same as dummill. Dumpty, adj. short and thick. Dunch, V. to give a blow with the elbow. Ean, V. to bring forth young (of sheep). Edge-o'-night, n. at dusk of evening. Eekle, n. the Wood-pecker. (Also called the Stock-eekle.) Eekle-hole, n. a small hole in the trunk of a tree, usually produced by a wood-pecker, and which indicates that the tree is hollow. Ell-rake, n. a large rake used in gathering up hay (? heel-rake). Elian, n. Elder. Elven, n. Elm. Empt, V. to empty. Enow, adj. enough ; a sufficient number. ' You be enow on yu to yut (eat) that pig, much m5ore to carry 'im.' (Plural only, in the singular enough is used.) Entany, n. a narrow passage, or bye-street. In Pershore there is a narrow passage leading out of Bridge Street, called ' Bachelor's Entany.' Ether, n. an adder. Etherin (ethering), n. briars or slender branches used for binding the upper part of a newly laid hedge. Ettles, n. nettles. Ever-anons-while, at frequent intervals. (Not often used now.) Eyer-so, if it was ever so = reduced to the last extremity. ' I oSdn't ex 'im fur bread, nat if it was ever so; I'd famish fust.' Fad, (1) n. a whim ; a fancy. (2) v. To be busy about trifles. (1) ' What are those railings for, John ? ' ' Oh, it's just a SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSSAKY. l3 fad uv 'is lardship's, nothin' but a fad uv 'is'n, yu knaow ; thay be o' no sart o' use.' (2) ' The gaffer's a gettin' very wake an' childish, 'e caunt do much ; 'e just fads about uv a marnin' Uke.' Faddy, adj. fanciful ; whimsical. Faggit, n. a term of reproach applied to females. Faggits, n. minced liver seasoned with herbs. Fainty-bag, n. a lady's fancy bag. Fair-in (fairing), n. a present purchased at a fair. Fall, V. to fell (as applied to trees), n. The timber periodically cut down in a wood. False, adj. deceitful, two-faced. Famished (or famill'd), adj. starved; very hungry. Feather-groom, n. a term facetiously applied to a man who has- charge of poultry. Felt, n. the Eed-wing. Fettle, V. to set to rights ; to prepare. ' This room's all uv a mulluck, it wans (wants) fettlin up a bit.' In good fettle = in good condition. Fiddle-about, v. See Piddle about. Filler, n. the shaft-horse. See Thiller. Find-liss, n. any article found by accident ; treasure-trove. Fine, adj. To talk fine is to speak genteelly. Fire-new or Fire -bran-new, adj. quite new. Fit, adj. ready ; prepared. ' Well, Jack uf thee bist fit, we'll rowt out a faow m66re o' thase ere taters.' Fitoher, n. a pole-cat. Fidther, v. to make a slight rustling sound, as a mouse or a rat does amongst straw, &c. Fits-and-girds, n. irregularly ; by fits and starts. Flake-hurdles, n. hurdles made with closely intertwined brush- wood or twigs. Flem (fleam), n. a lance or lancet for bleeding cattle. Flen, n. fleas. Fleshy, adj. fledged (applied to young birds). Fletcher or Flatcher, n. a dam over which water flows. Flewed, adj. (of a hoop) to be made larger on one side than on the other, so that it may fit the taper shape of a cask. Flower-knot, n, a small flower-bed. 14 SOUTH-EAST WOKCESTEESHIEE GLOSSaET. Fore-ladder (pronounced Fore-ladther), n. a movable rack attached to the front of a waggon. Fore-top, w. a hackle of coloured horse-hair used as a head ornament for a horse. Forjitting, n. a mixture of cow-dung and m.ortar used for plastering the inside of chimneys. Forjit, n. a piece of leather forming part of the finger of a glove. Forrad, v. to bring forward ; to promote. ' This ere drap o'' rain uU forrad the craps.' Fossit, n. See Spiggit-and-Fossit. Fot, V. fetched. ' I fot 'im a paowt o' the yud 66th my stick.' Frail, n. a basket made with plaited sags or rushes. Franzy, adj. passionate. Fresh, adj. intoxicated. Fresh-liquor, n. hog's lard unsa;lted. Fritch, adj. conceited; vain. 'You a no call to be so fritch, if yu have got a new frock on ! ' Frog, n. the soft part of a horse's hoof. Frog-stool, n. a kind of fungus ; a toadstool. From-ard, or from-mud, n. a tool used for splitting poles, &c. Frum, adj. fully ripe ; in good condition. ' Furder-a-fild ' = farther off. Farnace, n. a large boiler fixed in brick-work. In London called a copper. Fulling, n. the groove in a horse shoe to receive the heads' of the nails. Fuzzen, n. gorse ; furze. Gaffer, n. master. ' Wer's the gaffer ? I wants to ex 'im if "'e caunt find a job fur ower Tom.' Gain, adj. handy ; expert ; convenient. ' Take the 'oss an' lave 'im at the blacksmith's as thii gwust by ; that'll be the gainest way.' Gallus, adj. wicked ; impudent. ^ I be reg'lar ashum'd uv our Alfred, 'e's sich a gallus little chap, there yunt nobody as 'e wunt sauce.' Gamtarel, it. a bar of wood by which butchers hang up the carcases of sheep, &c. SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEBSHIEE GLOSSAEY. 15 Gammits, n. jokes ; tricks. ' 'B's alius up to some gaminit er another, instid o' mindin' 'is work.' Gan, V. a. gave. Garden-gate, n. Heartsease or Pansy. Gaum, V. to handle articles in a manner calculated to damage or mar their appearance. Gawn, n. a tub holding about a gallon, and usually having a handle projecting upwards on one side (? corruption of 'gallon'). Gay, n. a swing, or see-saw. Gets, v. gains. ' My watch (a pronounced as in catch) gets, I must put 'im back a bit.' Giggling, adj. light ; unsteady. ' Don't get into that there bwut- if there's nobuddy along 66th yu as con swim ; it's a gigglin' thing, an' you'll sure to be drownded.' Gin, V. p. gave (g hard). Glany, n. a guinea fowl. Gleed, n. the red embers of a fire. Gob, n. a quantity of spittle or expectorated matter discharged from the mouth, &c. Go-back, v. to die. ' I'm afear'd my ooman '11 goo back ; 'er's that wake (weak) 'er cun 'ardly stond wen 'er gets up. out uv 'er cheer ' (chair). Golden-chain, n. Laburnum. Gondud, n. a gander. Gon-sarn-yS !^ Gon-sarn-it ! | Expletives. Gon-shume-yu ! Gon-shume-it ! J Gooa, V. go. (As I have never heard any but old persons pronounce the word ' go ' in this way, it is probable that it is not now to be heard at all.) Good-sarted, adj. of good kind. ' We've got some very good- sarted fruit in our arehud.' Good-shut, adv. a good riddance. Goo-olf, n. beginning. ' The pawson gan mu this 'ere coout, an' 'e a lasted mu five er six year. I didn't wear 'im every day thaough, nat at the fust g66-off yu knaow.' Gowt, n. a short drain. Graft, or Grafting-tool, n. a narrow crescent-shaped spade used by drainers. Grainch, v. to grind the teeth ; to make a grinding sound. 16 SOUTH-EAST WOKCESTEESHIBB GLOSSAET. Crrass-nail, n. the hook which supports th^ scythe in its attach- ment to the ' sned.' Great, adj. on very friendly terms. Gret-work, n. piece work. Working by the gret = working by the piece instead of by the day or hour. Grist, n. corn to be ground (applied to small quantities). Grist-mill, n. a mill for grinding small quantities. Ground-aish, n. an ash sapling. Ground, n. a field. Grout', n. coarse mortar used in an almost liquid state. Grump, V. to crunch with the teeth any hard or dry substance, such as grains of imcooked rice, &c. Gubbon-hole, n. a sink for the reception of du-ty water, &c. Gull, n. a young goose. ^ GuUup, V. to swallow down. ' I sin (saw) one a them there great cranes a gulluppin' down a frog.' Gurgins, n. fine bran. Gwain or Gwainin', v. going. ' I shaunt stop to work in this "ere rain no longer ; I be wet thraow now, an' I be a gwainin wum.' Gyawky, n. a stupid, awkward person. Gyaup, V. to stare. 'Get on o' thee work 66t, don't stond gyaupin' there.' Hack-an'-haow (hack-and-hew) v. to stumble or hesitate over reading or speaking. ' Why doesn't spell the words, an' nat stond 'ackin' an' haowin' athattens.' Hacker, n. a chopper used by hedgers. Hack-rake, v. to rake the hay together after it has been spread out to dry. Haggle, V. to dispute. Haggling, v. prolonged bargaining. Half-soaked, adj. silly ; of weak intellect. Hand, on the mending hand, recovering; convalescent 'The faver a made 'im very wake, but 'e's on the mendin' 'ond nov7.' Hand-barrow, n. a barrow or carriage without a wheel, but with a pan- of handles at each end, by which to carry it. Hanker, v. See Onker. Haowt, y. hold. 'Now then lay haowt o'this 'ere shuppick an' set to work 66t. ^^ Happen =: perhaps. SOUTH-BAST WOECESTBESHIEE GLOSSABY. 17 Hard-o' -hearing, adj. deaf. Hardi-shraow, n. the shrew-mouse. Hare-shore, n. a hare-lip. Hay-ud (Hay ward), n. an ofi&cer whose duty it was (when the fields were unenclosed) to impound stray cattle, tithe crops, warn off trespassers, &o. Hay-riff, n. a creeping plant, the seeds of which stick to the clothing or to the coats of animals with great tenacity. Heart-well or Heart-whole, adj. well ; in general health. ' How are you now, Jacob ? ' ' Well, I be 'eart-well, thehk yu, but I a got the rheumatics in me shoolder martle bad.' Heaver, n. the same as ' lift.' (See Lift.) Hedge-betty, n. a hedge-sparrow. Hedger, n. a man who lays or mends hedges. Heft, V. weight. ' Just heft this 'ere young un, yunt 'e a weight? ' Heggler (higgler), n. an itinerant dealer in eggs, poultry, &c. HelYe, n. the handle of an axe or hatchet. In the nursery rhyme ' One two, buckle my shoe,' &c., we have ' Eleven twelve a hatchet helve.' Herds, n. tow or oakum. Herden, adj. made of herds ; coarse canvas. Hern= hers. 'Wat's 'em's 'is'n, an' w'at's 'isn's 'ern.' Hips, n. dog-rose berries. Hip-briar, n. the" wild rose tree. His'n his. Hit, n. the quality of a crop, or result of an undertaking, as ' a good hit of fruit.' ' He made a good hit when he took that shap.' Hob, n. a third swarm of bees from the same hive in one season. Hobbady-hoy = hobble-de-hoy. Hobbady-lantern, n. the ignis fatuus, or Will-o'-th'-wisp. Hob-ferrit, n. a male ferret. Hobli-oukers, n. chestnuts. Hockey, n. See Bandy. Hockle, V. to shuffle along, or to walk with difficulty. ' We sh'U a some wet I be afeard ; my earns plagues mu so as I caunt 'ardly 'ockle along.' Hod-bow-lud, n. a large moth. 18 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSSARY., Hog's-puddings, n. chitterlings stuffed with outlins' seasoned with herbs, &c. Hogshead, n. a cask capable of containing 100 gallons. Homes, n. part of the harness of cart-horses, fitting upon the collar, and to which the traces are fastened. Hommock or hammock plough, n. a plough shorter than the ' long-plough,' but longer than the G. 0. plough. Hommucks, n. feet. ' Keep thee great 'ommuoks off my toes 66t, thy fit be like two great barges.' Honesty, n. a creeping plant, common in old hedges. Honey-dew, n. a kind of blight which covers the leaves of plants with a viscous covering something like honey. Hoot, V. to shout. The noise made by a wheel in motion when the axle requires greasing, is also called hooting. Hooter, n. a cone-shaped tin vessel for heating beer, &c. Hoove, n. a hoe ; v. to hoe. Horry-long-legs (Harry-long-legs) n. the daddy-long-legs (insect). Horse-stinger, n. the dragon-fiy. Hotchel, V. same as 'hockle.' Housen,' n. houses. Houzin, n. a broad piece of leather resting on a horse's collar, and standing erect behind the hames. Hud, 71. a husk or shell. ' I a bin a 'uddin' some bannits, an' they makes my 'onds pretty nigh black.' Huff (1) V. to offend ; (2) n. a fit of temper. Hulking, adj. lazy, idling. Hulls, n. husks or shells (same as ' huds '). Humbugs, n. sweetmeats ; sugar-plums. Hum-buzz, n. a cockchafer. Hurter, w. a thick piece of iron fastened to a wooden axle, against which the back of the wheel works. Mng-and-Offlng, v. in a state of indecision. Ill-convanient, adj. inconvenient. lit or hilt, n. a young sow. Inch-meal, adv. bit by bit, or little by little. Innuds (innards), n. the bowels. SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEBSHIEB GLOSSAEY. l9 Inans, n. onions. ' What have you and your brother been fighting about, James ? ' ' Why he said he'd tromple my inun bed all to pieces, so I drapped it on 'im.' In-Winding, adj, uneven ; twisted. Jack, n. a machine for lifting heavy weights. Jack-a-makin'-pan-cakes, the reflected sunlight thrown upon the ceiling from the surface of water, &c. Jaok-an'-'is-lantern (Jack-o-lantern), n. a Will-o'-th'-wisp. Jack-hare, n. a male hare. Jacky-stones, n. rather small and extremely hard fossilated shells common in red gravel. Jiffey, n. an instant. ' I'll be there in half a jiffey.' Til be there immediately. Jill-ferret, n. a female ferret. JUly-flower, n. a wallflower. Jobb, V. to stab with a sharp instrument. ' How did Sally lose the sight of her eye ? ' ' Why, w'en 'er wuz a young 'er jobbed the pwint o' the scissors in 'er eye.' Joggle, V. to shake ; to totter. Jommuck, v. to shake about roughly. Jonnuck, n. one who always pays his full share in a reckoning for beer, &a. Josey, n. a toad. Jumper, n. a blow-fly maggot. Jumping-stock or Jump-jack, n. two upright sticks and a cross- piece for children to jump over. Junder (gender), n. frog-spawn, frequently caUed ' toads' junder.' Jussly (justly), adv. exactly. Keen, v. to sharpen. Keep (1) V. to keep a market is to attend it, with something to sell. (2) n. food. ' There's some good keep in the meadow for the cows now.' ' What bist a gwain to 'ave at thee' new place ? ' ' Ten shillin' a wik an' me keep.' Keffle, n. anything of bad or inferior quality. Kernel, n. a hard swelling or indurated gland. Kernuck or Curnock, n. a measure of barley of four bushels. 20 SOUTH-BAST WOECESTBESHIEE GLOSSAET. Kicked-the-bucket, v. died. Kid, n. a faggot of sticks. Kindle, v. to bring forth young (rabbits). Knerly (gnarly), adj. knotty (applied to timber). Knitting-shear, n. a small sheath into which knitters insert the end of the knitting needle. Know to, V. to know of. ' Plaze, miss, 66d you like a young lennet? Cos I hnaows to a nist.' Or 'I knaows to some nisses.' Kyind, adj. favourable ; in good condition. ' We shaunt 'ave many curran's this year, but the plums seems very kyind.' Kyipe, n. a basket. ' 'Kyonder or 'Kyander, v. look yonder. Lade-gawn, n. a ladle or long-handled gawn, for serving out pigs' wash from the cistern. Ladies'-smock, n. a common wild flower. Lady-cow, n. the lady-bird. Lafe or lef, n. the fat lining taken from the inside of the carcase of a pig. Laggy, adj. (applied to timber), having a natural crack inside, frequently with a portion of bark (then called ' bark-lag '). Lands, n. the ridges into which cultivated fields are formed for facilitating drainage. Lap, V. to wrap up, to lop off branches of trees ; n. the lopped-off branches of trees. Lath-render, n. a maker of laths. Lay (a hedge), v. to cut away all the over-growth of an old hawthorn hedge, and to arrange or relay the young wood. Lay-in, v. cost. ' My trip to Lunnun lay mik in a sovereign, one way an' another.' Laze, n. idleness ; v. to glean (often pronounced le-uz). Lazing-bag, n. a packet in which lazers or gleaners collect the ' short ears ' (of corn.) See ' Poking.' Lazy-back, n. an iron frame hung over the fire upon which to rest a frying-pan, &c. ; a hard lump of unkneaded flour in a loaf of bread. Leaf, n. See Lafe. Learn, v. to teach. SOUTH-EAST WOBCESTBESHIEE GLOSSAEY. 21 Leather, v. to beat. Leatherun, adj. made of leather. Leatherun-bat, n. the common bat. Lections, n. chances, probabilities. ' There's no lections of enny rain just it.' Lew-warm, adj. lukewarm. Lezzow, n. a meadow. Lick (1) n. a blow. ' 'E gin the dog a lick 66th 'is stick.' (2) v'. To wipe over lightly. ' The flur's shameful dirty, but we mustn't wet 'im; jus' give 'im a lick over 66t Mary?' (3) To beat, or to conquer in a game or in fighting, &c. Lift, n. a stile which can be lifted out of its place to permit the passage of cattle or vehicles, &c. Also called a heaver. Lights, n. the lungs. Limmel, adv. torn in pieces. ' He tore him limmel.' Lin-pin, n. a linch-pin. Lissom, adj. active. List, n. the selvedge edge of flannel or of woollen cloth. Live, adv. willingly. ' I'd as live goo as stop.' Locks-and-kays (keys), n. the leaves of the ash. Logger, n. a thick lump of wood attached to a horse's leg to prevent its straying. Lollock, V. to lean about in an idle, listless manner. Long-hundud (long-hundred), n. 1 cwt. ; 112 lbs. Long-plough, n. an old-fashioned wooden plough with long beam and long tails or handles. Loose, V. to go alone (said of young children), frequently pro- nounced laowse. Louse-kiver, n. a vulgar name for a hat or cap. Louse-pasture, n. a vulgar expression, signifying the hair of the head, or the scalp. Lug, V. to pull. Lumbersome, adj. cumbrous. Lungeous, adj. rough at play; cruel; unnecessarily severe in chastising children. Luny, adj. imbecile ; lunatic. Lush, V. to beat with green boughs. ' 66t come along o' me to take some waasps' nisses? Thee cunst pull out the cake wi'le I lushes.' 22 SOUTH-EAST WOBCBSTEESHIEE GLOSSABT. Lush, n. a green bough for beating, as above. Lye, n. water in which wood-ashes have been infused. Mag, (1) n. a scold, (2) v. to scold. Maggit, n. a magpie. Maiden-swarm, n. a swarm of bees coming from a sv^arm of the same year. Market-peart, adj. half intoxicated. Marl or Marvil, n. a marble. Masonter, «. a mason. Maul, V. to handle roughly or offensively. Mawkin, n. a scarecrow ; also a bundle of rags tied to a stick and used for cleansing the floor of an oven. (To prevent its setting on fire, the mawkin is first dipped in water.) Mawl-stick, n. a heavy piece of wood used for driving stakes, &c., into the ground. Mawsey, adj. over ripe ; soft ; dry rotten ; or like a turnip which has lost all its moisture. ' As mawsey as a turmit,' is a common expression of contempt for a foolish person. ' You great mawsey ' = ' You great fool.' May-sick (barley), adj. an unkind appearance often presented by a crop of barley in May is called May-sickness. Mesh-tub (mash- tub), n. a large tub in which the malt is steeped in hot water for brewing. Mend-your-draught, v. = ' drink again.' Mess, n. term of contempt for anything small or weak. ' It's a poor little mess uv a thing.' Messengers, n. morsels of mould which come out with the beer from a cask that is nearly empty. Metheglin, n. liquor made from honey. (Also called ' mead '). Middling, adj. unwell ; indifferent. Very middling, very ill ; very bad. Pretty middling, fairly well. Miff, n. a misunderstanding. 'Went off in a 'miff' = went away offended. Millud, n. a miller. ' The millud, the moUud, the ten o'clock scollud.' A derisive song in use amongst school boys. Mimmucking, adj. affected in manner; lacking heartiness; dainty in appetite. Mishtiful, adj. mischievous. SOUTH-EAST WOBCESTEESHIBB GliOSSAEY. 23 Miss, n. loss. ' Sally a bin that spwiled, 'er don't knaow w'en 'er's well off." ' 'Br'U feel the miss on it w'en 'er naother's dyud.' Miskin, n. a dung-hillor refuse heap. Misword, n. angry word. ''E wuz a good mon to me; we wuz morried farty year, an' 'e never so much as gin mu a misword.' Mizzle, V. to rain slightly ; to depart abruptly. Mock, V. to imitate ; to mimic. Moggy, n. a calf. Moil, V. to toil. Moithered, v. to be dazed or delirious. ' 'Is yud a bin bad all night ; 'e seems moithered like.' Momble, v. to puzzle. Mombled, adj. puzzled ; bewildered ; worried. Mommit or Mommuck, n. an untidily, or absurdly dressed person. Mommy, n. a repulsive shapeless mass. ' That good-fur-nothin' mon uv 'ern cum wum drunk an' knocked 'er about an' kicked 'er 't'U 'er face wus all uv a mommy.' Mon-ondle (man-handle), v. to use the hands instead of levers, &c., in rolling trunks of trees or other heavy bodies. Moon-daisy or Moons, n. the ox-eyed daisy. Moorish (moreish), adj. of such good quality that more would be desirable. Mop, n. a hiring fair. Morris, v. to go away ; to march off. ' Now you bwoys you'd better morris.' Morris-dance, n. a dance performed by six or eight men be- decked with ribbons, to the music of the mouth-organ, or other homely instrument. In the neighbourhood of Pershore the morris-dancers go out for about ten days at Christmas-tide, accompanied by their musician and a ' tom-fool.' The ' tom-fool ' carries in one hand a bladder tied to a stick, and in the other a kind of wooden spoon or bowl, in which he collects the contributions of the spectators.* In addition to this duty, he is supposed to amuse the bystanders with * The writer well remembers the intense pleasure he used to experience (some fifty years ago) at the sound of " Ben the Drummer's " mouth organ and drum, and the "clack," " clack," of the Morris-dancers' sticks; taking care however to keep at a respectful distance, being unable to shake off the mysterious dread which he entertained of the " tom-fool" and his bladder. 24 SOUTH-BAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSSARY. funny sayings and antics. These, however, are often uncouth and rather deficient in fun. A gentleman (now deceased),- who lived at Wick once remarked, ' I thought morris-dancers always had an artificial fool, but I see you have a natural one.' He also runs after the boys and (if he can catch them) strikes them with his bladder. Besides being orna- mented with ribbons rather rnore fantastically than the dancers, the fool carries a small bell concealed somewhere about his person, which keeps up a constant tinkling. Some- times also his face is painted after the fashion of the ordinary stage clown. The morris-dancers go through certain figures, country dances, 'the figure of eight,' &c., and at certain parts of the tune stand face to face and mark the time with short sticks — one of which each, man carries in his right hand— striking them together with a pleasant and not un- musical sound. In some of the dances each man carries, instead of the stick, a large coloured handkerchief, which at given parts of the tune he swings over his shoulder ; and this action being performed simultaneously by all the dancers, the effect is picturesque and pretty. Morum, n. a mechanical invention; an ingenious idea; boyish tricks, if somewhat clever or ingenious, are frequently called ' morums.' Mother, n. a kind of jelly which forms in vinegar ; a large stone used by boys in a rough game called ' quack.' Motty, n. a mark to aim at with marbles, or to shoot at. Mouch, V. to go prying about. 'That aowd black cat gwuz mouchin' about, in an' out uv folkses 'ousen ; 'er '11 sure to get shot one uv thase days.' Mould, V. to hoe up the earth to the roots of potatoes. Mow, 11. the part of a barn which is filled with straw, &c. Mudgin, n. the fat off a pig's chitterlings. (Also called the ' tippit.') Mullen, n. the bridle of a cart-horse. Mullock (1) n. dirt ; litter. (2) v. To make a litter, MuUin, n. the bridle of a cart-horse. Mumruffln, n. the long-tailed-tit. Murfeys, n. potatoes. Mwile, V. to bedaub with mud, &c. My Nabs, ' I had some suspicion as 'e took some a thii eggs, so I took un 'id (hid) myself in the 'ens'-roost, an' I just ketched " my nabs " in thii act.' SOUTH-BAST ■WOBCESTEBSHIEE GLOSSARY. 25 Nag, or Naggle, v. to scold incessantly and unnecessarily. Naight, n. an ait or eyot ; an osier bed. Nail-passer, n. a gimlet. Naint, n. aunt. Nale, V. to anneal ; to soften or toughen iron (a blacksmith's term). Nails, n. belongings. ' Pick up your nails and cut,' is a form of ordering aa objectionable person to leave. Naowf (an oaf) n. See Aowf. Nast, n. dirt ; filth. Nay-word, n. a by-word. Near, adj. mean ; stingy. Nerrun, adv. (never-a-one), not one. Nesh, adj. tender ; delicate ; susceptible of cold. Nibbs, n. the pair of handles to a scythe ' sned.' Nick, n. a notch in the edge of a knife. Nicker, v. to laugh rudely. ' Nickerin' an' grinnin,' laughing unseasonably and rudely. Nifle, V. to nifle about, is to go from one job to another and to make little progress with either. Nifle-pin, n. a pretended occupation, which is really an excuse for being idle. Nild, n. a needle. Nile, n. the shorter portion of a flail (or threshel). Niueted, adj. notorious. Of a person of bad character, ' 'E's a nineted un, 'e is.' (Corruption of anointed.) Ninety-bird, n. same as above. Ninkampoop, n. a silly, upstart fellow. Nip, V. to go quickly ; to make a short cut ; n. same as nick. Nipper, n. a youngster. NisguU, n. the smallest of a brood of poultry. Night-cap, n. a pig's stomach (also called the ' tom-hodge '). Nithering, v. same as ' nickering ; ' also, shivering with cold. Nobby, prefixed as a pet name to colts — nobby-colt. Noggen (pronounced nogg'n), adj. clumsy. Nor, adv. than (pronounced nur). Noration, n. an oration ; a speech. Nubblings, n. small bits of coal. 26 SOUTH-BAST WOECESTEESHIEB GLOSSAEY. Nnn, n. a small piece of wood used in the game of bandy or hockey (also called a cat). See Bandy. Nnnch or Nanchin, n. luncheon. Nuncle, n. uncle. Nut, n. a small piece of iron to screw on the end of a bolt ; a burr. Nut, n. the head. 'I'll warm yer nut ' = ' I'll punch your head.' 'Od-bowlud, n. See Hod-bowl-ud. Odd, adj. strange ; peculiar. Odds, V. to alter. ' We none on us likes this place so well as w'ere we be used to live, an' we be sorry as ever us shifted ; but we caunt odds it now.' ' What odds is it ? ' == ' Of what importance is it ? ' ' What odds is it to you ? ' = ' What business is it of yours ? ' OflBl (offal), n. waste of any kind; the liver, heart, lungs, &c., of a pig. OfF-'is-yud, adj. mad ; out of his mind. Old-maid, n. a kind of fly which bites and torments cattle. Old-man, n. Southern wood (a shrub). Old-woman picking her geese, v. snowing. Old yaow (ewe) dressed lom (Iamb) fashion, n. an elderly woman dressed in the style of a juvenile. 'Ond-stick (hand-stick), n. the longer portion of a flail ; the part held in the hand. Onker (hanker), v. to covet or long for a thing. 'Ontcher, n. a handkerchief. 'Ontle, n. a handful. Ood-pile, n. a wood stack. Oonderment (wonderment), n. a strange or wonderful story ; or a ' nine days' wonder.' Oont, n. a mole. ' As slick as a 66nt,' a common expression signifying very smooth. dos-bird, n. an illegitimate child. Otheren, adj. alternate. ' Every otheren one ' = ' every alter- nate one.' Onrn, pron. ours. Out-ride, n. a commercial traveller. SOUTH-EAST WOEOESTEBSHIEE GLOSSAEY. 27 Oven-stopliss, n. an oven lid. Over-get, v. to recover from. ' It 'nrt mu so vy'en I buried my little un, that I didn't overget it all the summer.' Out, 'making a goodAsh out,' or a ''poorish out,' are terms applied to any undertaking when successful or the reverse. Owlnd, n. an owl. Owlud's-quid, n. the remains of a mouse, bird, or other animal upon which an owl has made a meal, and having extracted all the fleshy portion, disgorges in a compact mass somewhat in the shape of the finger. (Labouring man disdainfully of a person who had mentioned somewhat ostentatiously having partaken of a finger-biscuit.) ' Finger biscuit ! Why I cun remember the time w'en 'er oodn't a knaow'd a finger biscuit from a owlud's quid.' Owner, n. the owner of a boat or barge, as Owner Low, Owner Smith, Owner Eice, &c. Own to, V. to admit or to confess to having committed a fault. Paddle, n. a kind of diminutive spade with a long handle. It is used by the farmer for the double purpose of a walking-staff, and for cutting up thistles or other weeds with which he may come in contact, as he goes about his fields. Paont, n. a hard knock with a stick, or similar instrument, upon a hard substance. Pass (applied to a bell), v. to toll the bell at the death of a person. Peark,. n. a lineal measurement of eight yards. Peasy-pouse, n. peas and beans growing together. Peart, adj. bright ; lively ; in good spirits. Peckid, adj. peaked, pointed. Pelt, V. to throw stones at a person ; n. the skin. Pendle (of a clock), n. the pendulum. Perished, adj. pinched with cold. ' Come 'is ways, poor little saowl, he's amwust perished.' Pick, n. a pick-axe. Piok-up-his-orumbs = to regain health after sickness. Pick-thank, n. a censorious person ; one fond of finding fault. ' 28 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTBESHIEB GLOSSAEY. Piddle-about, v. to do a little work in a leisurely manner and according to one's own choice. (Not much used now; to ' fiddle ' about seems to have taken the place of this ex- pression.) Piece, n. (1) a field, as ' Bead's Piece,' ' Withey Piece," ' Glide Piece,' &c. (2) A slice of bread. ' I be famished, mother ; gie mu a piece o' fittle.' (3) Contemptuous epithet. ' 'Br caunt do much, 'er's a very poor piece.' Piece-o'-work, n. a fuss. Pie-finch, n. a chaffinch. Pigs' -puddings, n. See Hogs' -puddings. Pigs' -wesh, n. pigs'-wash ; the waste milk, broth, &c., reserved for the pigs. Pikelet, n. a crumpet ; a sort of cake composed of flour and water. Piles, n. the beard of barley. Piling-iron, n. an instrument used for detaching the piles from the grains of barley. Pill, n. a shallow well, fed with surface water. Pin, n. an iron or wooden peg. Pinkit, n. a "Will-o'-th'-wisp. Pinner, n. a pinafore. Pinsens, n. pincers. Piss-a-bed, w. the Dandelion. Piss-aint, n. an ant. ' 'Br screws 'er waist up till 'er looks like a, piss-aint.' Pitch -paowl, V. to turn head over heels. Pitcher, n. the man who hands up the hay or corn to the loader. PMchers, n. the thick stems in a hawthorn hedge, which, when a hedge is ' laid,' are left at regular intervals as supports to the smaller wood. They are cut nearly through, with a ' hacker ' or ' bill-hook ' a few inches from the ground, and fixed in an oblique position. Plaichud, n. a plaicher. Plim, adj. to swell in cooking. Bacon killed in the prime of the moon plims ; that killed in the wane of the moon loils out. Plim or Plim-bob, n. a plummet. Plim, V. to fix upright by a plummet. Plough-paddle, n. a paddle used for cleansing the plough. SOUTH-EAST WOECESTBESHIEE GLOSSAEY. 29 Plough-shoe, n. a piece of iron fastened to the side of the ' throck ' to prevent its wearing away with the friction with the soil. Poke, V. to glean a cornfield a second or third time ; n. the peak of a cap. Poking, V. gleaning or leazing in a field a second time. (Probably so-called because most of the gleanings consist of ears of corn only, which have to be put into a poke or pocket.) Porker or Porket, n. a pig suitable for killing for pork. Pot, n. a measure of fruit or potatoes of about five pecks; a basket holding a pot. Pot-fruit, n. such as will be sold by the pot ; eating fruit, as distinguished from the rough sorts used for cider, &c. ; it is usually 'hand-picked' (plucked from the tree by hand), not shaken off. Prache-ment (preachment), n. an oration. Pretty-Betty, n. a flower, also called London Pride. Prise, V. to burst open, or raise up, with a lever. Promp, adj. a willing or spirited horse is said to be ' promp.' Pry-omble, n. a rambling or obscure story, (? preamble). Puck, n. a stye in the eye. Puck-fyst, n. a dried up toadstool. ' I shM like a drap o' drink, fur I feels as dry as & puck-fyst.' Pufl&ng-crumbs, n. soft pieces which often fall from loaves of bread when being taken from the oven. Pug, V. to pull. Pull-back, n. a hindrance. Punk, n. a hard fungus frequently to be found on the trunk of a tree. Purgatory, n. a pit underneath the fire-grate for the reception of the ashes. Purgy, adj. peevish ; short-tempered. Put, n. a game played with three cards. Put-about, V. to vex or worry. 'That upset along o' the naybers pM me about above a bit.' Putchen, n. an eel-basket, or trap. Puthery, adj. hot ; excited. Pffiuddlin'-about, v. doing a little work ; making a pretence at work, &c. ' 'E don't do no good ; 'e oondly pwvddles about in other folks's way.' 30 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEB GLOSSABY. Pwud-luck, n. (port-lock ?), a horizontal bar or beam of wood, one end of which rests in the wall and the other is attached to a scaffold pole, for the purpose of supporting the planks, &c., composing the scaffold used in the construction of a building. Quack, n. a rough game played by boys. Bach boy uses a large pebble called a 'quack,' and one of them has to place his quack upon a larger stone called the mother ; the others then throw at it until they succeed in knocking it off. Quakers, n. quaking grass. Quarter-barrel, n. a cask to hold 25 gallons. Queer, adj. strange in manner. ' 'B's a queer quist ; I caunt make 'im out.' Quice or Quist, n. a wood pigeon. Quick, n. young hawthorn plants. Quiddle, v. to suck or ' quid ' food in the mouth. Quilt, v. to beat. Quilting, w. a beating. Qwine, v. to line a well with stones or bricks. Qwining, n. the stone or brick lining of a well. Qwirk, n. a small piece of leather forming a portion of the finger of a glove. Qwop, V. to throb. Bag-stone, n. a rough stone used for sharpening scythes, &o. See Bubber. Rain-bat, n. a beetle. (Among children there is a saying that killing one brings rain.) Raisty, adj. rancid. Rait, n. rubbish. Rally, V. to crack or ' smack ' a whip. Ran-thread, n. pack-thread. Random, adj. wild; prodigal. Applied to potatoes, &c., which grow up where no seed has intentionally been sown. Raowt, n. rubbish. Raowy (rowy), adj. streaky, as raowy bacon. Ribbit, 11. a rivet. Rave, V. to bawl out passionately. SOUTH-EAST WOECBSTBRSHIEE GLOSSAEY. 31 Bear, v. to rebound as a ball. Riddle, n. a sieve ; a sifter. Riddliss, n. a conundrum or riddle. Rider, n. a piece of wood with which a pair of harrows is con- nected. Ridgel, n. a half gelded animal. Right, adv. downright. ''Er's a right good '66man;' there's no sart o' nonsense about 'er.' Rime, n. hoar-frost. Rip, V. to tear ; to rend. Rise, V. food is said to rise when the taste is repeated in the mouth after meals. Rivle or Rivel, v. to shrivel or wrinkle, as ' he rivelled 'is brow.' Road, n. fashion ; manner. ' That yunt the right road to do it : stop a bit, an' let me shaow yu.' Robbie, n. a tangle ; v. to tangle. Ropy, adj. stringy. Round, n. a spar or step of a ladder. Rousle, V. to rouse. Rovings, n. threads drawn out of a piece of calico, &c. Rowings, n. chaff or refuse from a threshing machine. Rowt, V. to bore into the earth with the snout, as a pig. Roxed, adj. (of a pear), fully ripe and soft ; (of a cough), loosened after being very tight and dry. Rubber, n. a rough stone used for sharpening scythes. ' Whit a whet, the scythe won't cut, The mower is so lazy.' Ruck (1) n. a fold, or crease ; (2) v. to crease. Rucked-up, adj. caught up in folds ; creased. Ruff or Rough, n. hilly ground having trees growing upon it, as ' Great Oomberton Euff.' Ruination, n. ruin. Runner, n. the stone roller of a cider mill. Saded, adj. tired. ' I'm sick an' saded o' my job, I caunt do 'im to me mind.' Sallies, n. willow-boughs ; willow trees. Sally, n. the soft tufted portion of a beJl-rope ; the wood of the willow. 32 SOUTH-BAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSSARY. Sally-bed, n. a plantation of willows. Sapy, adj. moist ; damp ; soft. ' We sh'U have a lot o' rain afore long, this piece o' thunk is as saft and sapy.' Saw-box, n. a block of wood having two handles, which is fixed on to the lower end of a pit-saw, and by which the pit sawyer holds and guides his end of the saw. Scawt, V. to push or press on the ground with the feet when lifting or forcing with the back or shoulder, or when coming to a sudden stop, if running, v. To boast ; to give oneself airs. To place a stone or block behind the wheel of a cart or waggon when going up hill, to prevent its going back- wards when the horses stop to rest. Scog, V. to scold. Scogging, n. a scolding. Scootch, 11. couch grass. (See Squitoh.) ScoFe, n. the core of an apple or pear. Score, n. twenty pounds. The weight of a pig is usually specified in scores. Scowl-o'-brow, n. judgment by the eye instead of by measure- ment. ' I dun knaow what all them young chaps wants alius a mizsherin' thur work far. You cun see that yat there, caunt yu ? 'E 'angs well anough, don't u ? Well, I put 'im up ondly by scowl-o'-brow.' Scrat, V. to scratch ; to work hard ; to scrape together, n. One who is industrious and frugal. ' Uf 'is wife 'adn't a bin sich a scrat thay ud all a bin in the work-uss afore now.' Scratchuns, n. the solid remains of a pig's leaf, &c., when the fatty portion has all been melted into lard. Scrawl, V. to crawl. Screech-owl or Skreek-owl, n. the Swift. Scrigglings, n. apples stunted in growth, which become ripe and sweet before the general crop of the same tree. Scrobble, v. to creep along on hands and knees. To crawl. Scrogging, v. gathering stray apples left on the trees after the main crop has been gathered. Scroggings, n. the stray apples gathered as above. Scruif or Scurf, n. the back of the neck. Scud, n. a slight shower. Scuffle, n. an agricultural implement employed in tearing up the ground ; a skirmish. SOUTH-BAST ■WOECBSTBBSHIEE GLOSSABY. 33 Sess-him! v. said to a dog when urging him on to attack. (Probably from seize.) In sending a girey-hound after a hare, the starter cries ' Stoo-loo !' Set, V. to let (a house, field, farm, &c.). 'Them be nice little 'ousen o' Pig-driver Graves's at the top o' the lane ; I shiid like tu 'ave one on um, but I rioken thay be all set by now.' Set, V. to plant, as trees, shrubs, &c. To plant beans, peas, wheat, &o., by hand with a setting-pin. ' Set gilliflowers, all That grows on the wall.' — Tusser's Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. Shacklety,.a(2/. shaky ; all uv a shackle^very much out of repair. Shade, v. to comb the hair. ' It means the parting of the hair on the head ' (Halliwell). ' Akere look, Sally ; thee just shade thee 'air, and nat look sich a great mawkin.' Shaowl or Shool, n. a shovel. Shard, n. a gap or opening in a hedge. Sheed, v. to shed. Peas, beans, &c., are said to sheed when they are so dry and ripe that they fall out of the pods. pp. Shad. ' That shitd barley ud make a nation good crap, uf thay'd let it stond.' Sherrog (shear-hog), n. a two-year-old sheep. Shil-bwurd (shield-board), n. a board on the right hand side of a plough, which throws off the mould in even ridges. Shindy, n. a scolding ; a quarrel ; a row. Shirt-craw, n. the shirt front. ■ As I wus a comin' to work this marnin', I fund a young Black-stare as ud tumbled out uv 'is nist. He wus all wet un amwust star'd to dyuth ; but I picked 'im up, un put 'im in me shirt-craw, und when 'e got a bit warm, 'e come round agyun, so I took 'im back, un put 'im in 'is nist.' Shog off, V. go away. ' Will you shog off now ? ' and ' shall we shog? ' {Shaksp., Hen. V. II., 1 and 4.) Shog-trot, n. a steady ambling trot. Shookey, n. a tea-kettle. Shrove-Tuesday is often called ' Saft-Choosdy,' and persons who happen to have been born on that day are sometimes twitted with the fact and called Saft or foolish in consequence. 'What's the use o' takin' eny notice o' what 'e sez? 'E was barn a Saft-Choosdy, un thay put batter in 'is yud instid o' brains.' '■ '' ' Shuck, V. to shake.. A local wit ^eaks of election-time as ' ond-shucMn' time.' '• 3 34 SOUTH-EAST WOECBSTEESHIEE GLOSSAEY. Shucked, v. shook. Shucks, n. husks. ' Don't thraow them warnut shucks away, thay'll do to make some ketchup.' ShuU-Out (shell-out), v. pay down your money. Shut, V. to join. To shut a hoop, to join by welding ; to shut a rope, to splice the broken ends. Shut-his-knife, v. died. ' I ketched a young cuckoo last spring an' I kep' 'im t'll about October, but 'e shut 'is knife then.' Shut-off, V. to leave off working. Shut on, V. rid of. ' It took sich a lot to keep that dog o' mine, that I was glad to get shut on 'im.' Shut-out, V. set out ; started. Sich-as-it-is (such-as-it-is) implies, when placing anything at the disposal of a neighbour, who might at the time be requiring it, ' It is the best I have, if it were better you would be equally welcome to it.' Sometimes however, the recipient will make the same observation-, humorously implying that the proffered article is not of much value. {Benjamin, the blacksmith.) 'Good marnin'. Master Phillips, I be agwain tu Blmley.' {Master Phillips, an Hlmley man.) ' Bist? Then I'll 'ave thee company, sich- as -it-is.' Sidda (sidder) adj. tender ; applied to peas that boil well ; ripe ; unsafe, shaky; applied to scaffolding, &c., when in an unsafe condition. Side-strakes, n. the side beams of a saw-pit. . Sid-lup, or Sid-lop, n. a box in which seed is carried by the sower in the field. (Seed-lepe, or seed-lip.) Sight, n. a great quantity. ' We've 'ad a sight a rain this sason.' Sill-green, n. the house-leek. (Sengreen in Nares.) Silver-pin, n. the dragon-fly ; also called the horse-stinger. SilYer-spoon-in-his-mouth. To be born with a silver spoon in the mouth, signifies to be born an heir to an inheritance ; to have expectations of a fortune. Singles, n. the shingles. Sithe, V. to sigh. Skeel, n. a tub or trough. Butter-skeel, a tub for washing butter. Bread or dough skeel, a tub or trough in which bread is made. Skew-bald, adj. piebald. ' You shall find Og, the great commissary, and whioh is worse Th' apparatour upon his skew-bdl'd horse.' — Cleaveland, 1651. SOUTH-EAST WOECESTBBSHIEE GLOSSAEY. 35 Skim, n. an agricultural implement, the use of which is to cut or skim off the surface of the ground when covered with stubble, &c. Skimmer-lad, n. a small pudding boiled on a skimmer. Skimmington, n. a rough play got up for the annoyance of un- popular individuals. It usually consists of a procession, in which effigies of the objectionable persons are carried through the village accompanied by beating of tin kettles and other discordant noises. Under particular circum- stances, certain articles of wearing apparel are carried on sticks, after the manner of flags or banners. The perform- ance concludes with the burning of the effigies.* Samuel Butler (a native of Strensham, four miles from Pershore) gives a description of such a performance, in his ' Hudibras.' Skip, n. a broad, shallow basket. Skurruck, n. the smallest fraction. ' I say. Bill, 'ast got a mossil o' bacca to give away?' 'No, lad, I ain't got a skurruck; I'd a gan thii a bit in a minute else.' Slaith, n. action ; form ; applied to manner of dping work. ' E a got a good slaith at 'is work,' signifies 'He is a good work- man, doing his work well and quickly.' (7 Corruption of 'sleight.') Slawns, n. sloes ; the fruit of the black-thorn. (S in slawns is of course redundant, slawn being plural.) Slender, adj. tall and thin. ' Two or three on 'em was a squob- blin' anant the 'lotment gyardins ; when out jumps Slender- man ColHns from behind a kidney-byun stick, un soon put 'em to rights abit.' (Collins' s nickname makes the point of the joke obvious.) Slether, v. to" slide. Slice, n. a stirring stick. Slinget, n. a narrow strip of ground. Sling, n. a narrow road. Slipping, n. a slip or cutting off a plant. Sliver, n. a slice of bread, cheese, or meat, &c. Sloat, n. a thin bar of wood connecting two or more thicker bars, as the sloats of a harrow, or of a cart or waggon bed. Slobber, u. to slop water ; to drivel. Slommack, v. to shuffle along in an idle, ungainly manner. Slop, n. a short linen jacket. * A Skimmington performance took place at Little Comberton, as recently as the beginning of the present year (1893). 36 SOUTH-EAST WOECBSTEESHIEE GLOSSARY. Slowness of Movement or of Locomotion, is sometimes referred to in terms more pointed than elegant. 'Look at 'im, 'e creeps along as ef dyud lice wus a drappin' off 'im.' ' I oonder where Charley is ; 'ang'd ef 'e yunt all-us late ; uv eny on yu sin im ? ' '0 oy, 'e wus a racin' the snails round the gyardin when I come by this marnin'.' Slow-swift, n. a dawdler ; one who is slow at work. Sludge, n. liquid mud. Small-clothes, n. a prudish name for breeches. Smartish, adj. fairly well. A smartish bit = a good quantity. Smock or Smock-frock, n. a garment of ' Eussia-duck,' which used to be worn by farm labourers. It reached to the knees, and, as a rule, was closed all round with only an opening through which to pass the head. The ' slop,' has now almost entirely taken its place in this district. Smock-faced, adj. modest looking. Smudge, v. to kiss. SmufF, V. to steal away marbles with which boys are playing. Smuffter, n. one who steals marbles as above. Snag, n. a root or other projection under water. Snaowp, n. a thump. Snarl, all-uv-a-snarl, chilly ; uncomfortably cold. Sued, n. the bent stick to which a scythe is attached, or ' hung.' SnofiSe, V. to speak with a nasal tone, or through the nose. Snoffle for a duck, n. an imaginary instrument which a mechanic will say he is making when he does not wish to inform a too inquisitive inquirer what he really is occupied at. Snowier, n. a blow on the head with the fist. Snuggle, V. to lie close, as a baby to its mother. Soard, n. (sward) rind of bacon. Sockage or Sock (soakage) n. liquid manure. Sock-cart, n. a cart for carrying liquid manure. Solid, adj. serious ; solemn. To ' look solid ' is to refrain from smihng when telling or enacting a joke. Soople-tree, n. a piece of wood by which the traces of a horse are connected with a plough or other implement. So- say, for the so-say = for the name or sound of a thing, or, as a matter of form. Sour ground, n. unfertile or ill-drained ground. SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSS AET. 37 Souse, n. the ears, snout, of a pig, pickled. 'Brawn, pudding and souse ' (Tusser) . Sow-thistle, n. a broad-leaved thistle. Spade-cratch, n. the small cross piece of wood to form the handle at the top of the spade-tree. Spade-tree, n. the wooden shaft of a spade. Spaul, n. a splinter. Spiggit-and-Fossit, n. a wooden tap. The fossit is the part inserted into the cask ; the spiggit is the plug. Spike-top, n. a peg-top. Spirtle, V. to sprinkle or bespatter with mud, &c. Spit, n. the quantity dug up with one insertion of a spade. Splinter-bar, n. the bar of a double-shafted waggon to which the shafts are attached. Splotched, adj. having pimples on the skin. Splutter (1) n. a fuss. (2) v. To make a fuss about a trifle. Spoon-fittle, n. food eaten with a spoon; as soup, bread and milk, &c. Spot, V. to drop ; to begin to rain. ' Mother, sh'U I get them there things in off the line ? it spots o' rain.' n. A drop ; ' a spot o' drink.' Spreader, n. the stick or bar used to separate or spread out the traces worn by cart-horses. Spud, n. a weeding hoe, or paddle. Spuds, n. potatoes. Squale (squeal), Squawk or Squawl, v. to scream. Squib, n. a syringe, v. to syringe, or to squirt. Squilt, n. a pimple or small eruption of the skin. Squitch, n. (1) a twig. (2) Couch grass. (A squitch in salt =: a rod in pickle.) Squob, n. an unfledged young bird. Squob, V. to mash up. ' Instid o' sellin' my curran's I squabs um up un' makes mu a drap o' wind (wine) 66th um.' Staddle, n. the stand or platform on which a rick is built. Stale, n. the handle of a broom, pitch-fork, rake, hoe, &c. Standy, adj. an obstinate or unruly child. Stank, V. to dam up a stream. Star'd (starved) adj . cold. ' Well, I thinks I sh'U get in un' si by the fire ; I a' stood out 'ere t'U I be amwust star'd.' 38 SOUTH-EAST WOECBSTEESHIBE GLOSSAEY. Starky, adj. dry and hard (the opposite of sapy). ' We shaunt a no rain, this piece o' thunk oodn't be so starky un 'ard else.' Starven, adj. unable to bear cold. ' What a starven thing thu bist; if I wuz a thee I'd sit a top o' the fire.' Stick-and-a-rag, n. an umbrella. Sticks-in-'is-gizzud = remains in his thoughts (said of some- thing which has given offence). Stive up, V. to confine closely. Stock, V. to peck as a bird. ' That maggit cun stock onoommon 'ard.' Stock-axe, n. a tool resembling a pick-axe, but having flat ends for cutting, one end being in a line and the other at right angles with the helve or handle. Stock-eekle, n. the Wood-pecker. Stodger, n. a thick one, or a fat one. Stodgy, adj. thick, or fat. Stomach- ful, ad-i. stubborn ; obstinate. Stoop, n. a piece of wood fixed as a spur to a post for support. V. To tilt a cask. Store-pig, n. a young pig which is intended for pork or bacon. Storm, n. a shower. Strap-ail (strap-oil), n. a mythical commodity, supposed to be retailed by a shoemaker, saddler, or leather dealer ; its purchase being usually entrusted to some mischievous lad (probably on the first of April), who (if caught), receives, instead of oil, a few strokes from the tradesman's strap. Stretcher, n. an assertion, or a story expanded beyond the limits of actual veracity. The following little story will serve as an example : — {Elderly individual, suspected somewhat of ' drawing the long bow,' to youth with fishing tackle, on his way to the Avon.) 'I waund thee bist agwain a fishin'?' (Youth.) ' Yus, Josey, I be agwain to pwint at 'em a bit ; you be used to goo sometimes didn't yu ? ' (Josey.) ' Oy bwoy, I a 'ad some very good sport too, at times. I cun remember a gooin' down to Bricklund Bank once, un I thinks Tasker Payne went along. (Doost remember oawd Tasker ? Thay used tu call 'im Bo Naish [Beau Nash] 'cos 'a weared a white 'at.) Well we'd bin down afore, un baited a 'ole, un we started in the marnin' in smartish time ('cos thu knaowst it yunt a much use a gwainin uf yii don't 'get theare middlin' yarley) ; un we rather expected we sh'd a 'ad goodish luck. SOUTH-EAST WOECESTBBSHIEE GLOSSABT. 39 but daas jt, beyand two ar three nibbles we done nothin' at all for the fust hour. 'Owever, about five o'clock, summut took my float under as ef a auf hundud 'ad bin on the ind o' me line. So I picks up me rod un pulls, un the fish 'e pulls, und be 'anged ef it wusn't lucky fur me as I 'ad a good long line, 'relse, begad, e'd a pull'd mu into the river. Well, I let 'im 'ave a good run, so's to tire 'im a bit, thu knaowst ; then I yuzzies 'im up like a bit ; but lars, bless thu, I could find as 'ow I'd got summut on that there line bigger ner ever I'd ketched afore. So I sez to Tasker, sez I, " We sh'U 'ave a job to get this'n out look thii ; just lay aowt o' the line un 'elp us to stiddy 'im oot?" Well, doost think Tasker un me cud get 'im out ? No, no moore ner as ef it 'ad bin Oawd Ingleund 'ooked on to the line. A bit furder along the bank thaough, was some Pawsha chaps, Mark Eussell, oawd Eed- nob Chucketts, un one er two moore. Thee rememberst Eed-nob, doosn't ? Ah ! thee shood'st a sin 'im, lad, when Lard Coventry come uv age, when the Broad Street at Pawsha wus all full o' tables, un folks _ a sittin down to dinner at 'em. Plum puddin's brought up in waggin loads, bless thii, as true as I stonds 'ere. Lars, what a day it was ! — Poor aowd Eed-nob ! I thinks I cun see 'im now, a walkin' arm un arm along o' the young junneral, as ef 'a wus 'is akles ever so (a good sart wus the young junneral) ; down Pawsha Street in front o' Lard Coventry's carriage, un keepin' the tune along o' the musicianers ooth a 'ond-belL' (Youth.) ' But what about the fish, Josey ? ' (Josey.) '0! we all on us managed to get 'im out, un 'e wus a wopper, un no mistake ! Well, there ; he wus a dyull too big to carry ; so we cut a piece out o' the middle on 'im, enough fur a good dinner apiece all round, un left the rest on 'im on the bank. I never sin sich a fish afore nar sense : they called 'im a " parpus,"er a " grumpus," er summut o' that.' (Youth.) 'Aw! Aw ! Aw ! Well done, Josey, that is a stretcher ! Perhaps I sh'll find 'is bwuns down ut Bricklund Bank. Aw ! Aw ! Aw ! ' (Josey.) ' That thee ootn't, fur Master Bomfud 'ad 'im took away in a cyart, un burned among a lot o' rubbidge. Thay sowed the aishes on a fild o' mangles, un Master Bomfud said to me, " Joseph " 'e sez, " that wus the best crap o' mangles that fild ever perduced (only they tasted rather fishy) ; " them wus 'is very words. But it's a gettin' late, lad ; hadn'st better be a gwainin ? Mind un nat tumble into the water.' Strickliss, n. a straight smooth stick with which surplus corn is struck off from the top of the bushel. Stuck, n. (1) the handle of a cup or mug ; (2) sheaves of wheat propped against each other in the harvest field. . 40 SOUTH-EAST WOBOESTEESHIEB GLOSSARY. Stuok-his-spoon-in-the-wall, v. died. Parallel to ' kicked-the- bucket,' or ' shut-his-knife.' Stunner, n. an extra good one. Sacked-in, v. cheated. Summer, n. a stout beam of timber on which brickwork rests. Summut = something (somewhat). ' Summut in 'is yud besides nits un lice,' said of a man who is ingenious, or more than ordinarily clever.' Sup (1) n. a drop. ' 06tn't 'ave a sup o' cider, Tom ? ' • (2) v. To sip. (3) To supply with supper. ' Jim went out last night to sup the 'osses.' Swag, V. (of a line, a beam, or a bar) to bend downwards with its own weight ; to sway ; to swing. Swale, V. to burn off the hair of a pig when killed for bacon. Porkers are scalded. Swanky, n. very poor beer or cider. Swarm, v. to gather round in a cluster. ' The pawson send (sent) me down to the school ooth a basket o' opples, an' w'en the young uns sin as I'd got summut far um, thay come swarmin' round mu like a passil (parcel) o' bees.' Sweet-wort, n. the liquor in which malt has been infused, previous to the addition of the hops. Swelth, n. swelling. Swig, n. a drink ; a draught. ' Ave a swig at my bwuttle uf thu bist adry.' Swill, V. to flood with water. Swingle-tree, n. same as soople-tree. Swipes, n. sour beer or cider. Swite, 11. a blow with a stick; also a clumsy slice of bread, cheese, &c. Swop, V. to exchange. Sword, n. a bar of wood fixed to the shaft of a cart, and by means of which the ' bed ' is prevented from tilting up too far when a load is being shot out. Swyme, v. to feel giddy. ' I shud be afeard to goo up to the top o' that there ladther, my yud ud swyme.' Tabber, v. to make a drumming noise; to tap with a stick or with the fingers. ' Ef thee shuds't want me, come un tabber my winder, look thu.' SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEBSHIEE GLOSSAEY. 41 Tabor-and-pipe, n. a rude musical instrument, or pair of instru- ments, consisting of a tabor, or tambourine, and a small pipe. The tabor was suspended from the left arm and beaten (tab- bered) with a small stick held in the right hand ; the pipe held to the mouth and fingered with the left hand. Tack, n. (1) Anything of little or no value ; of inferior quality. (2) A collection of tools; a razor-grinder's machine is his tack; a smith's box of tools for shoeing horses is his ' shoeing tack,' &c., &c. (3) Foolish talk. (4) Hired pasture for cattle. Tad, n. a disease to which rabbits are liable, caused by eating wet food. (The Tod.) Tag, n. a game played by children ; v. to touch (in the game of Tag), n. The metal end of a stay or boot lace. Tail, n. inferior wheat. Tail-board, n. the board with which the back of a cart or waggon is closed. Tail-ind, n. (tail-end) the residue, after all the best portion has been taken away. Talks, V. says. ' Is your ooman a gwain tu Asum to-day, Jums ' (James)? {James.) ' Well'er talks a sholl, Betty; uf it keeps dry over yud 'owever.' Tallit, n. a hayloft. Tan, V. to beat, to chastise. ' Now, Thomas, let them there opples alone ; I sh'll tan your 'ide else.' Tang, V. to call bees (when swarming) by making a noise, usually with a fire shovel or warming pan and a door key. It is said that if bees fly away, whoever follows and tangs them can claim them wherever they may settle, n. The end of a scythe by which' it is fixed to the ' sned ' or handle. Tant, V. to tempt, or to instigate. ' Why did you run away from school, Johnny ? ' {Johnny.) ' Cos Billy Taylor wanted to run away, un tanted me to goo ooth 'im.' Tantony's fire, n. St. Anthony's fire. Erysipelas. Tantrums, n. passionate actions ; signs of rage and ill temper ; frenzy. Tap-wad, n. a kind of basket fixed inside the mash-tub to prevent the escape of the ' grains ' when the wort is drawn off through the ' fossit.' Tar, V. to teaze. Tasker, n. a man employed regularly in threshing corn with a flail. 42 SOUTH-BAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSSABY. Tater-ball, n. the fruit of the potato, which is round like a ball and contains the seeds. Tater-bury, n. a heap of potatoes partially buried and entirely covered with earth, for protection from the frost. Tater-pin, n. an instrument for making holes in the ground in which to plant potatoes. Taw, n. the marble which is used by a boy to ' shoot ' or ' bowl ' with. Tea-kettle-broth, n. bread and hot water, to which is added a little butter, herbs, and salt. (Pronounced ' Tae-kettle-broth.') Tear along, v. to walk, or proceed at a rapid pace. Teart, adj. sharp ; painful. ' That cider o' yourn's a bit teart, master; it's nation good else.' 'The wind's teart this marnin', an' no mistake.' I run a shuppick into my fiit; 'twas mighty teart.' Ted, V. to spread hay. Teeny, or Tiny, adj. small. Employed to emphasise small or little, as ' a little teeny apple,' ' a tiny little babby,' &c., &c. Teg, n. a sheep of a year old. Tempest, n. a thunderstorm. 'My! don't it look black? wo sh'll 'ave a tempest afore night sureZie .' ' Terrify, v. to torment. ' 'B caunt get a wink o' sleep uf a night; 'is cough terrifies 'im so.' Thatten, adj. that one. Thave (theave) n. a yearling ewe. Thick-headed, adj. stupid. (Young fellow, fitting on himself a neighbour's hat.) ' There yunt much odds in our two yuds, is a Thomas ? ' (Thomas.) ' No lad, only mine's a long un, un thine's a thick un.' Thick, adj. on very friendly terms. Plentiful. Thick on the ground =: crowded. Thief-in-the-candle, n. a part of the wick protruding from the main portion, and causing the candle to burn unevenly. Thissen, adj. this one. Thrave, n. a quantity of straw, consisting of twenty-four ' boltings.' Threshel, n. a flail. Thribble, adj. three-fold ; treble. SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEB GLOSSAKY. 43 Thripples, n. movable wreathes, attached to a cart or waggon. See Wrathes. Throck, n. the lower part of a (wooden) plough. On the end of the throck the ploughshare is fixed. Throw-back, v. to give discount ; n. the discount given. Thrum, adj. See Frum. Thumb-piece, n. a piece of bread with cheese or meat, held between the thumb and finger. Thunk, n. a thong ; the leather of which whips are made. Tice, V. to entice. ' I wish I 'ad never set eyes on that there Preedy. 'E- a ticed ower Jim away from 'is place ooth 'is tales about saowdierin ! ' (soldiering) ! ' Tick-tack, never change back, touch cold iron,' is the binding sentence upon the completion of an exchange or a swop by boys ; at the same time touching a piece of cold iron with the finger. Tiddle, v.a. to tend carefully. ' The pawson gan mii a cuttin' o' that geranum, un' I fiddled 'im all the winter ; so I a got mil a tidy tree now, look.' Proverb, ' You may tiddle a monkey 'till 'e befouls your trenohud.' Tiddling, n. a lamb or other animal brought up by hand. Tiddy, adj. babyish. Tiddy-obbin's nist, n. ' What bist thee a loffin' at ? I sh'd think thee 'adst fund a tiddy-obbin's nist un wus a lofifin' at the young uns.' Or, ' What bist a tiddy -obby -in' at, I sh'd like to knaow ? ' {Tiddy-obbin is probably derived from Little Bobin in the language frequently used in talking to babies.) Tiddy-obby-in', v. laughing. Tidy, adj. well in health ; of good quality ; a quantity, &o. ' E a got a tidy way tu walk afore a gets wum.' ' 'Ow be you to-day?' ' Pretty tidy.' ' The 'oss looks pretty tidy.' Tidli-wlnk, n. a small public house, licensed only for the sale of beer, cider and tobacco. Tiller (of a pit saw), n. the handle by which the top sawyer guides the saw. Tilt, n. a canvas roof or cover to a cart or waggon. Tind, V. to kindle. ' I tried to tind my pipe, but the wind blaowed so I couldn't manage it.' Tine, n. See Tyne. 44 SOUTH-EAST WOEOESTEESHIBE GLOSSAET. Tipty-toe, ^rep. on tip-toe. Tissick, V. to cough. ' Grannie, 'er keeps tissickin' all the while.' Tippit, n. the fat off a pig's chitterlings (also called the ' mudgin '). Titter, or Titter-a-totter, n. a see-saw ; v. to laugh slightly. Tom-and-Jerry, n. a beer-house. Tom-fool, n. the fool (artificial or otherwise) who accompanies the morris-dancers. Tom-hodge, n. a pig's stomach. (Also called the ' night-cap.') Tom-tit, n. the blue-tit. Tommy, n. food. Tommy-bag, n. the bag in which labourers carry their food. Also called a ' fittle-bag.' Tong-pole, n. the beam by which the fore and hind wheels of a waggon are connected. Too-iron (tue-iron), n. the short iron tube at the back of a blacksmith's forge, into which the nozzle of the bellows is inserted. Topping-and-Tailing, v. trimming turnips, gooseberries, &c. Tosty-ball, n. a cowslip ball. Tot, n. a small mug. Tottery, adj. infirm. ' I've 'ad the rheumatic very bad this three wiks, an' I be that tottery I caunt 'ardly scrawl.' Touch. To have a touch at anything is to enter upon any particular work or job, in such a way as to give it a short trial. ' Touch him with a short stick.' A jocular expression used when speaking in company of a person who is present, but whose name it is not intended to mention ; thus, ' I heerd uv a mon as went to bed one night, nat long agoo, un forgot to take 'is shoes off ; I wunt say who it was, but I could toiich 'im ooth a shart stick.' Tow-chain, v. a strong chain used for hoisting timber, &c. Towsle, V. to shake or tumble anything about as haymakers do the hay, or as children playing amongst hay or straw. Trace-horse, n. a horse which draws in traces, as distinguished from one in the shafts. Traipse, v. to leave muddy or wet footprints on the floor. ' Now you young uns, I wunt 'ave yu a traipsin' in an' out o' this 'ere kitchin look ; I may just as well a done nothin' as to a clane'd the flur else.' SOUTH-EAST WOBCBSTEESHIEB GLOSSABY. 45 Tram, n. a strong square frame with four legs on which a wheel- wright makes wheels ; also a stand for casks. Trammel, n. a kind of fishing net. Transum, n. a piece of timber placed across the end of a saw-pit (resting on the ' side strakes ') to support the end of the log to be sawn up. Trenchud (trenchard), n. a trencher; a wooden platter. Triggle, n. trigger (of a gun). Trimmer, n. a kind of fishing line attached to a large float, which turns over when a fish is hooked. Tringle, v. to trundle (a mop, &c.). TrOYes, n. plural of trough. Trunkey, n. a small fat pig. Trusten to, v. to trust to or in. Tumbrel, n. a cart without springs, constructed so as to be easily removed from its wheels. ' Tumbrell, cart, waggon and wain ' (Tusser). Tump, n. a mound or hillock ; a small hay-rick. Tun-dish, n. a funnel for filling bottles. Tun-pail, n. a large pail, with a tube at bottom by means of which casks are filled. Tup, n. a ram. Turmits, n. turnips. Tush, n. (1) the broad part of a plough-share, (2) a tusk ; v. to draw a heavy weight, as of timber, &c. Tushes, n. tusks. Tushing-wheels, n. a pair of wheels between which heavy trunks of trees, &e., are slung for removal. Tussuck, n. a bunch or cluster of rank grass. Tutty, adj. touchy, short-tempered. Twang, 11. accent ; manner of speaking ; dialect. ' Who be them two chaps, John ? ' ' Oh, they be ' two young Jarmans (Ger- mans) as be a stoppin' at ower vicar's : they be come over 'ere just to get aowt (hold) uv ower twang.' Two-faced, adj. deceitful. 'Here's wishing the mon may never get fat, as carries two faces under one hat.' Two-folks, n. at variance. ' Now, Jack, yu lazy rascal, uf thee doosn't get on o' thy work, thee un I sh'll be two-folks.' 46 SOUTH-BAST WOKOBSTEESHIBE GLOSSAET. Two-shear-sheep, n. a sheep old enough to be shorn a second time. Tye, n. a chain with which horses are fastened by the fore-foot to one spot to feed, Tye-beetle, n. a large wooden hiallet used to drive the ' tye-pin ' into the ground. Tyne, n. the prong of a fork ; the spike or prong of a harrow. Unbeknowns-to-him= without his knowledge ; surreptitiously. Un-gain, adj. ungainly, clumsy, awkward, inconvenient. See Gain. Unkid, adj. lonely. 'Thay lives right up at the top o' the common, where there be no more housen enny war' near. It's a unkid sart of a place: but nat a bad 'ouse else.' Unkyind, adj. unfavourable, unhealthy. ' The byuns don't graow a bit, they seems so unkyind.' Op-an-ind, p. in a sitting posture ; generally employed when speaking of sitting up in bed. ' I heerd summut a makin a craking naise last night, atter we'd gwun to bed, and so I sat up-an-ind and listened, fur I thought sumbwuddy 'ad got in, but I fund as it wus only the cat a sharpin' 'er claes on the flur.' Up-set, V. to thicken a bar of iron by heating the centre and beating up the ends (a blacksmith's term). Urchin, n. a hedgehog. UvYer, adj. upper. UYVermust, adj. uppermost. Void, adj. empty. An empty house is said to be void. Wad, n. a small hay-cock. Wake, n. an annual village festival, usually occurring on tbe anniversary of the dedication of the parish church. Walk-into, v. to attack pugnaciously and successfully. (This simile is used only when the attack is made either in self- defence, or after receiving provocation.) Wallet, n. a bag in which migratory labourers carry their pro- visions, &c. SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEBSHIEB GLOSSAEY. 47 Wally, or WoUy, n. rows into which hay is raked. Wane, n. {adj. waney) the natural unevenness of the edges of boards. Warm, v. to beat. ' Let me ketch thu a doin' that agyun look, an' I'll warm thu ! ' ' I'll warm thee yud,' or, ' I'll warm thee nut,'=' I'll punch your head.' Warmship, n. warmth. ' There's a dyul a warmship in my aowd shawl.' Warnuts, n. walnuts. Warty-wells, n. the horny protuberances on the inner sides of horses' legs. Washer, n. thin round plate of iron placed on a bolt underneath the nut, to prevent the latter from cutting against the sub- stance through which the bolt is passed. Washings, n. inferior cider, made by grinding up a second time (mixed with water), the 'husk' or 'cake' of apples from which the juice has already been extracted. Watchered, adj. wet ; having wet feet (? corruption of wetshod) . Wattle-and-dab, n. lath and plaster, or wicker-work and plaster. Wattles, n. the strips of wood used to keep thatch in its place. Watty, or Watty-'onded, adj. left-handed. Wave-wind, n. the wild convolvulus. Wax-ind (wax-end), n. the waxed thread used by shoemakers. Way-broad-leaf, v. a broad-leaved wild plant, common on the road sides. Wazzun, or Wazzund n. the windpipe. Well-ended, adj. said of crops safely carried and not injured by the weather. Well-pole, n. a pole having at the end a hook, with which the bucket is lowered into the well for the purpose of bringing up water. Welly, adv. nearly. Wench, n. a girl. Wenching, v. courting. Went, V. frequently used for ' gone.' ' I oodn't a went to Pawsha fair, if I'd a thought a 'avin' my pocket picked.' Werrit, or Worrit, v. to worry; n. one who worries; a person of anxious temperament. 48 SOUTH-BAST WOECESTBKSHIEB GLOSSAEY. Wesh-tab, or Wash-tub, v. a. tub into which broth, vegetables, sour milk, and all kinds of kitchen refuse are emptied ; and so become pig's wesh (or wash), i.e., food for the pigs. ' I byunt agwain to make a wesh-tub o' my belly, by drinkin' sich stuff as that.' What d'yu call mu that ? = "What is it you have there ? ' What part o' the play be you agwain to act ? ' = ' What portion of the business are you going to undertake ? ' Whiffle, V. (of the wind) to blow lightly through a crevice, or among standing corn, &c. Whimmy, adj. full of whims. Whinnuck, v. to cry fretfully. White-al, n. a white marble. Whosen, pron. whose. Wift, n. a whiff (as of tobacco, &c.). ' I thinks I sh'll 'ave a wift a bacca.' Will-jill, n. an hermaphrodite. Will-o'-the-wisp, n. the ignis fatuus. Also known as Aw-puch (Hob-puck), Ho bbady- lantern (Hob-and-his-lantern), Jack-o- lantern, Pinkii, &c. Wimble-straw, n. a very slender straw. Wimbling, adj. of slender growth, as applied to a plant or a stalk. ' Wer did I get thase ere big taters from ? well, I'll tell yu. Ower Tom un I wus at work in the brickyard look, un a bwutman as 'ad come up the river from Gloucester, thraowed two or three goodish taters out o' the bwut ; so we picks 'em up un peels 'em fur dinner. Well, atter we'd peeled 'em we thraows the peelin' on to a yup o' rubbidge, bricks' inds un that, un thought no moore about it. Well, in a faow wicks' time I siz a bit uv a wimblin top a comin' up among the bricks' inds, un I sez to Tom, sez I, "Now we wunt touch that theare tater, but we'll wait un see what sart uv a one 'e is, look thu." So when it wus time to dig um up (there seemed to be a smartish faow at the root), we dug round um keerful like so as nat to spwile eny on um, un uf you'll believe me, thay wus the biggest taters as I ever sin. The biggest on um wus so 'eavy that ower Tom un I 'ad to carry 'im away between us on a 'ond-borrow [hand-barrowj. Now, chaps, let's 'ave another 'arn o' cider un get on.' SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIKE GLOSSAEY. 49 Winding-sheet (in the candle), n. a small piece of tallow, which, being sUghtly harder than the main portion of the candle, does not melt as rapidly, but curls downwards on one side. It is supposed to portend a death. Winkers, n. blinkers ; the pieces or plates of leather, attached to horses' head-gear, to prevent their seeing anything on either side. Withy, n. wiUow. Wollop, V. to beat. Wobbling, adj. an uneven, unsteady motion. Wonderment, n. See odnderment. Wrathes (wreathes), n. a kind of rack projecting horizontally round the top of a waggon or cart; by means of which, straw, hay, &c., can be carried in larger quantities and with greater security. Wretch, n. often used as an expression of endearment or sym- pathy. {Old woman to young master.) 'An' 'ow is the missis to-day, poor wretch ?' Of a boy going to school a consider- able distance off : 'I met 'im 66th a bit o' bread in 'is bag, poor wretch.' Wrist (Wrest or Eest) (of a plough), n. a piece of wood below the shield-board, which wrests the earth aside from the plough. Yard-land, n. a system under which male paupers worked for a given time alternately, on the several farms in the parish to which they belonged. Yat, n. a gate. Yat-pwust, n. a gate post. Yat-pwust-singing, v. each person in a company, singing a different song at the same time. Yaux, V. to cough, or expectorate. 'I don't want no bacca smokers in my kitchen, yauxin' an' spettin' about.' Yourn, pron. yours. Yud, n. the head. Yun, v. (of a ewe) to ean. 50 SOUTH-EAST WOBCBSTEESHIEE GLOSSAET. EXAMPLES OP LOCAL PEONUNGIATION OP OEDINAEY WOEDS. A is prefixed to active verbs, as ' he's a-coming,' ' a-talking,' ' a- ploughing,' ' a-shearing,' &c., &c. ; to some adjectives, as 'a-dry' (thirsty), ' a-cold,' ' a-ongry ' (hungry), &c. It has also sometimes to do duty for 'on,' as 'a-top,' 'a-fut' (afoot), ' The world runs a-wheels ' {Ben Jonson) ; for ' in,' as ' a- bed,' &c. ' That nigM lie sat well sore akale. And his wif lai warme a-bedde.' The Sevyn Sages, 3613 {quoted by HalliweU). ' a-two,' for in two, ' cut it a-two ooth thee knife ; ' ' A short saw, a long saw, to cut a-two logs ' {Tusser) ; and for 'he,' 'she,' 'it,' 'has,' &c., as ' E's a good sart of a chap, yunt a ?' ' 'Er caunt do sich a job as that, like a mon, con a?' {Answer.) 'That a con;' comp. Shakesp. Hen. V. iii. 2, also ii. 3. 'This tree a got a good crap o' opples on 'im, aant a ? ' Some prepositions have a prefixed to them, as a-near, a-nigh — ' All that come a-near him, He thinks are come on purpose to betray him.' {Beaumont S Fletcher.) ' Don't you get anigh them osses, Johnny; they'll kick yu.' Accud, adj. awkward. ' It's pocky accud,' is a common expres- sion for ' it is very awkward.' Accun, n. acorn. Acrass, prep, across. Adland, n. headland. The strip of land left at each end of a field, at right angles with the ridges, or lands. See lands (p. 20). A-dreamed, v. ' I was a-dreamed ' for ' I dreamt.' ' I was adreamed that I killed a buck ' {Lupton's Thousand Notable Things). Afeard, adv. afraid. SOUTH-EAST WOKCBSTBESHIEB GLOSSAEY, 51 Afrawl, ^rep. for all; iu spite of. 'Now, Billy, thee cossn't come this a-road.' (Billy.) ' I sh'll come afrawl thee.' Aften, adv. often. Agoo, adv. ago. ' And yett not lowng agoo Was prechares one or tooe.' Vox Populi, Vox Dei, 1547-8. Agyun, prep, against ; adv. again. Ail, n. oil. Aish, n. ash. Aishes, n. ashes. Akles, n. equals. All-US, adv. always. Allyblaster, n. alabaster. A-mwust, adv. almost. Ankitcher, n. handkerchief. Ankley, n. ankle. Archud, n. orchard. Arg, or Argal, v. to argue ; to dispute. ' Br argald me out, as your new shawl was blue, un it's green now, yunt it ? ' ' He arg, as I did now, for credance again ' {Heywood, 1566 ; see Nares). Gaelic largall, a skirmish, a fight. (Mackay.) Comp. Shakesp., Ham., v. 1. Arn, n. horn. Arnary, adj. ordinary ; usually signifying ' not handsome.' Arrand, n. errand. Art to, adv. ought to. Arter, or Atter, prep, after. Asp, n. The Aspen Tree. Attaokted, v. attacked. Atternone, n. afternoon. Aurrust, n. harvest. Ayfer, n. heifer. Bag, V. beg. {Boy, to facetious labourer.) ' Ave you got a wife, WiUum ? ' {F. L.) ' Oy bwoy, I a got two wives ; one gwuz out a hoggin', un thu tuther stops at wum tu swurt the fittle.' Bagger-mon, n. beggar-man. Bagger-ooman, n. beggar-woman. 52 SOUTH-EAST WOECBSTEESHIEE GLOSSAEY. Baily, n. bailiff. Banes, or Byuns, n. beans. Biff, n. beef. Blaht, V. bleat. Brenth, n. breadth. Brende, to make broad ; to spread about. (HaUiwell.) Broccilo, n. broccoli. Brack, n. brook. Bruddy, adj. broody. Bust or Basted, v. burst. ' Tho bwiler o' the stem injin busted this marnin', so we caunt goo on o' the threshin.' Bwile, V. or n. boil. Bwun, n. bone. Bwurd, n. board. Bwut, n. boat. Bwuth, adj. both. Bwnttle, n. bottle. A small wooden cask, holding from two to four quarts (sometimes larger) in which a labourer carries his day's supply of cider. It is usually painted blue or lead colour. Byam, n. beam. Byun, n. bean. Byat. v.a. to beat ; pp. beaten. Caowd, adj. cold. Caowt, n. colt. Card or Kwerd, n. cord. ' All up to tlie cliiinbly top, Athout a ladtter, kwerd or rop.' Carn or Ewern, n. corn. Carpse, n. corpse. CaYaltry, n. cavalry. Chaney, n. china. ' The cubbud (cupboard) fell down look, un broke all Nell's chaney.' Chape or Chap, adj. cheap. Chate or Chut, v. cheat. Chayce, adj. choice. Cheer, n. chair. Childan, n. children. SOUTH-EAST WOEOESTEESHIEE GLOSSAEY. 53 Choke, n. chalk. Churm, n. or v. churn. Claes, n. claws. Clat, n. clod. Clauss, prep, close; n. a field, as 'Brond-clauss,' 'Shuppud's- clauss.' Coom, n. or v. comb. Coo-wut, n. coat. Cosses, V. costs. Cowslups, n. cowslips. Going ' a Cowsluppin' and 'Kre-lightin',' is going gathering cowslips and violets. Cracks or Craokery-ware, n. crooks, crockery. (Farmer, having finished his tea.) ' Now, Mary, put thase 'ere cracks- arwoy.' Craft, n. croft, a field ; as ' Pitch-cra/i ' (Pitch-croft), ' Mung- craft ' (Mount-croft), &c. Crap, n. crop. ' Ther's a good crap o' pears on Josey Pugh's pear-tree, yunt a ? ' Crass, adj. cross. ' Orass-patoh, draw the latoh, ait at the fire and spin ; Take a sup, and drink it up, and call your neighbours in.' Crem, n. cream. Cuffer, n. coffer (a chest). Cyart, n. cart. Cyart-uss, n. cart-house. Daow, n. dew. Daunce, v. to dance. Dern, v. to darn. Disgest, V. digest. Dizzen, adj. dozen. ' Do lave off chattering oot ? Thy tongue runs nineteen tu the dizzen.' Dowsty, adj. dusty. Drap, n. or v. drop. • A drap o' cider's the best thing tu squench yer thust.' ' Stop that naise oot ? I'll tZrop it on thu else.' Drownd, v. to drown.* * George Hawker was employed with other men in cleaning out the large ■ fish-pond at Elmley, and by some means or other, through stooping down to do something to his feet, his hands as well as his feet got stuck in the mud, 54 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSSARY. Dyudly, adv. deadly (i.e., very), as •dyudly-gooA taters,' 'a dyudly-clever men ' (man), &c. Dyull, V. to deal ; n. a quantity. Eokth, n. height. Erriwig, n. earwig. EFrun, pron. ever a one. Ex, V. ask. (The original Saxon form was Ax, so used by Chaucer, Bale, Heywood, and others.— Nares.) Exter, adj. extra. Fallies, n. felloes of a wheel. Faow, adj. few. Farry, v. to farrow, or n. a litter (of pigs only). Fatches, n. vetches. Fater, n. or v. feature. ' That little un faters 'is father, don't a now ? ' Fawt, n. fault. ' And of all this sequell Thefcmt I oane not tell.' — Vox PopuU. When the cider or ale cup is at a standstill at a festivity, one of the party will say to the one whose turn it is to drink, ' Now then, it's youTC fawt.' Fearn, n. fern. Fild, n. field. Fill-beard, n. filbert. Filler, n. thiller ; the shaft horse. ' Thou hast got more hair on thy chin than Dobbin, my phill horse, has on his tail ' [Shakesp., Mer. Ven., ii. 2). Fire-lights, n. violets. Fit, n. feet. and lie was quickly in a dangerous position ; for although the water had been drawn ofi, there was still suf&oient left to cover him in a very little time, ha being but a short man, in a stboping posture, and gradually sinking deeper and deeper. Fortunately, one of his butties (I think it was George Taylor), was a tall powerful man, and he, seeing George's awkward predicament, stalked up to him and seizing him by his waistband, lifted him bodily out of the mud. His companions gathered round him, exclaiming, ' Why, Jarge, you'd soon a bin drownded.' ' Drownded be d — d,' replied George, ' I'd a drunk that drap fust.' SOUTH-BAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSSAEY. 55 Fittle,- n. victuals. {Vittle in Tusser.) Flaes, n. fleas. ' Well, I thinks I sh'U take the flaes their fittle ' (a whimsical mode of expressing the intention to go to bed) . Flannin, n. flannel. Fleshy, adj. fledged. Flur, n. floor. Fother, n. fodder. Fowt, V. fought. ' Ower dog un Dame Wright's c&tfowt istady, un didn't 'er scrat 'im ooth 'er claes ? ' Fund, V. found. Furder, adj. further. Furder a-fild (a-field) = Farther off. ' This brethren wendeth afeld ' {MS. Bodl. 652, /. 2). Furlun, n. furlong. Fust, adj. first. Fut, V. foot. Gaish, n. a gash. Gallund, n. gallon. Goold, n. gold. Grace, n. grease. Grace-arn, n. grease-horn. Gwun, V. gone. Gyum, n. game. Hawves, n. haws. Him, or 'im is commonly used for ' it.' His-self, ;pron. himself. Hongry, adj. hungry. 'A 'ongry dog '11 yut dirty puddin'.'— Proverb. Ind, n. end. Iss, adv. yes. Istady, adv. yesterday. It, conj. yet. Jice, n. joist. Jine, V. join. 56 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEB GLOSSAEY. Kay, n. key. See' also Kyoy. Keard, n. card. Kep, V. 'kept. Ketch, V. catch. Kiver, v. cover. Kwert, n. court, or v. to court. Kwertin', -y. courting. ■ Where's Samiwell, Thomas ? ' (Thomas.) • O, 'e's gwun a-kwertin', I ricken, fur 'e put on 'is tuther 'at un coowut, un tiddivated his-self up a bit.' Kyoy, n. key ; or (in music) tune. {Critic to amateur musicians.) ' Yu byunt in kyoy, be yu ? ' Ladge, v. lodge. Ladther, n. ladder. Laird, n. lard. Laish, n. lash. Laiter, v. loiter. Lane, or Lee-yun, adj. lean, or v. to lean.* Layer, n. lawyer. Lazin, or Lee-uz-in, v. leasing (gleaning). Lennet, n. linnet. Lines, n. loins. 'I a got sich a pain acrass my lines I caunt 'ardly stond up.' Loff, V. laugh. To ' loff o' the tother side o' the mouth ' means ' to cry.' Manin', or Myunin', n. meaning. Marter-bwurd, n. mortar-board. Mishtif, n. mischief. Mizsher, v. or n. measure. Mossy, n. mercy. ' Lars a' mossy ! who'd a thought o' seein you 'ere.' * Persons bearing the surname of ' Lane ' are not unfrequently niok-named 'Eaowy ' as a prefix, thus becoming ' iJosoio?/ Lane,' which, in the local dialect, signifies ' rowy lean,' referring to bacon so called when it has layers of lean and fat alternating (the ' streaky ' bacon of Londoners). In connection with this subject, the writer is reminded of a villager who was sometimes twitted with feeding and starving his pig on alternate days for the purpose of producing bacon having this desirable quality. SOUTH-EAST WOEOESTEESHIKE GLOSSAEY. 57 Mossil, n. morsel. A person chancing to make a call upon a neighbour at meal-time, would probably be invited to par- take of his hospitality thus : ' We be a gwain to 'ave a mossil o' fittle look ; ool yu come in un jine us ? ' Mult, V. moult. Mwire, n. mire, mud ; v. to bedaub with mud. Naise, n. noise. Nat, adv. not.* Natch, n. notch. Nist, 11. nest. Ontle, n. handful. Ood, n. wood. Ooden, adj. made of wood ; also, clumsy or ungainly. Ool, V. will. ' I ool' =1 will. Ooth, prep. with. Opiniated, adj. opinionated. Opple, n. apple. Oss, n. horse. Paes, n. peas. Pale, n. peel. A kind of wooden shovel with which loaves of bread are placed in, or removed from, the oven. Paowl, n. pole. Peth, n. pith. Pibble, n. pebble. * The following little incident will serve to illustrate the use of the word nat, and will also give a glimpse, as it were, of the relations existing between pastor and people at the time of its occurrence. The late rector of Little Comberton, the Bev. W. Parker — one of the kindest, gentlest, and most tender- hearted of men, for whose memory I entertain the deepest feelings of gratitude and reverence — was assisting in distributing the prizes at the Annual Flower Show (on that occasion held at Bricklehampton Hall), at which John Taylor had been one of the most successful of the exhibitors. Having to call up John so frequently to receive a prize, the rector at length said to him in a jocular manner, ' Which way are you going home, John ? ' (humorously implying by his inquiry, that if he did but know, he would way-lay him). John's a,nswer was ready and pointed: 'Nat thraough Little Cummerton, sir.' — J. S. 58 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSSARY. Pwut, n. pot. Power, V. pour. ' My word ! 'ow the rain did power down.' PFimmi-rose, n. primrose. Pwint, n. point. (Fishing with a rod and line is often known as ' pwinting .') Pwuddle, n. puddle, a small pool of water. Pwust, n. post (plural, ^WMsses*). Quate, adj. quiet. ' Be qioate oot ?' is equivalent to ' Be still,' or ' Be quiet, will you ? ' Qwine, n. coin. Racket, n. rocket. Basen, n. reason. Ricken, v. reckon. Frequently used in the same sense as ' suppose ' or ' think ; ' thus, ' It's time to be abed, I ricken.' ' We sh'U 'ave some rain, don't yu ricken ? ' Rop, n. rope. Rot, n. rat. Rowsty, adj. rusty. Bubbidge, n. rubbish. Buif, 11. roof. Saft, adj. soft. Saish, n. sash. Sallit, n. salad. ScoUud, n. scholar. Senners, n. sinews. Shap, n. shop. Shart, adj. short. ShaYes, n. shafts. Shilf, n. shelf. Ship, n. sheep. Shoot, n. or v. suit ; as ' a shoot o' clothes ; ' ' ool that shoot yu ? ' (will that suit you ?). * A very short distance from this district, but on the south side of Bredon Hill, and in Gloucestershire, the plural is pwustes. SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIBE GLOSSAEY. 59 Shuf, n. sheaf (plural shuvs). Shuit, n. suet. ShuU, n. shell. Shum, n. shame. Shuppick, n. sheaf-pike. 'Two paire of links, a forest bill, and a sheppioke, with some odd tooles' (Inventory, 1627, Stratford-on-Avon MSS.). Shuppud, n. shepherd. Shuth, n. sheath. Sich, adj. such. Sid, n. seed. Sids, n. seeds ; growing clover. Sildum, adv. seldom. Sile, n. or v. soil. Skirmidge, n. skirmish. Sky-racket, n. sky-rocket. Slep, V. slept. Slick, adj. sleek. Slob, n. slab. Snift, V. to sniff. Sneedge, v. to sneeze. Sollery, n. celery. Sparra-grass, n. asparagus. Spended, v. spent. ' The seke brother spendyd al that daye in' laudyng and presyng God.' (The Bevelation to the Monk of Evesham, first printed about 1482.) Sperits, n. spirits. Spet, V. to spit. Spettle, n. spittle. Squale, v. to squeal or cry out like a pig. Squench, v. quench. Stem, n. steam. Stivicate, n. certificate. Stom, n. a stem ; as a cabbage-stom. Stond, V. stand. ' Yet wyll I never yelde me to the, Whyll I may stonde and fyght.' (The Battle of Otterboume, in Percy's Beligues.) 60 SOUTH-EAST WOBCESTEESHIEB GLOSSARY. Strem, n. stream. Strick, V. to strike. Stroddle, v. to straddle. Stun, n. stone. Sat, n. soot. Swinge, v. to singe. Swurt, sort ; (1) n. kind or breed. ' Them be good swurted taters, byunt 'um, Willum ? ' (2) v. To separate one kind from another ; or good from bad, &c. Taffey, n. toffey. Tae, n. tea. Talents, n. talons. Taters, n. potatoes. The tother, pron. the other. ' The bred and a litil hony that was lefte the tothir tyme ' (Tfie Monk of Evesham). They, for ' them,' &c. ' Them pigs don't get on much, doos um?' ' No ; 'e only giz um a drap o' sour wesh ; un that's a no good tu tfiay, is it ? Nat uf a wans tu make fat uns on um 'owever.' ' But all t?iey tliree . . ■ , could not be man to me.' Shakesp., Hen. V., iii. 2. Thrid, n. thread. Throw {ow as in cow), prep, through. Thurn, n. thorn. Tith, n. teeth. Tray-foil, n. tre-foil. Trewel, n. trowel. Unbeknowns, adj. unknown. Under stond, v. to understand. ' Sir, ye schal vnderstonde and know,' &c. {The Monk of Evesham). Us, pron. we (objective). ' "We've 'ad a fine summer, aint us ?' Yalley, n. value. Yarges, n. verjuice. ' That cider's about the wust as ever I tasted; it's as sour as varges.' Yarment, n. vermin. SOUTH-EAST WOECESTBESHIEB GLOSSAEY. 61 Yilet or Yoilet, n. or adj. violet. See also 'Fire-light' Waund, v. warrant. ' That bwoy ynnt strong anough tu carry- that there bag o' taters.' (Boy's father.) ' 0, I waund 'im.' Wascut or Weskit, n. waistcoat. Wesh, V. to wash. ' Thenne they weshid his heedde breste handys and feete with colde watyr' (The Monk of Eve- sham). Wheel-racket, n. wheel-rocket, or Catherine wheel. Wick, n. week. Winder, n. window. Wum, w. home. 'I aften wishes as I wus at wum.' Yandev, prep, yonder (akyander = look yonder). Yaow, n. ewe ; v. to hew. Yar, n. hair. Yarb, n. herb. ' Like yarbs to the pwut ' = in very small particles, like herbs prepared for the pot. Yarley, adj. early. Yarn, v. to earn. Yarnest, adj. earnest ; n. a portion of wages paid in advance, to bind the bargain upon hiring a servant. Yourn, pron. yours. Yud, n. head. Yunt, V. (aint), is he (she, or it) not ? Yup, n. heap. (Man who has to cross Bredon Hill.) ' Well, I must get o' the tother side o' that yup o' dirt, I spose.' Yus, adv. yes. Yut, V. eat. (Willum.) ' Good marnin', John, 'ow's the ooman ? ' (John.) ' Well 'er yunt just the thing, Willum ; 'er caunt yut nuthin' ; un we knaows uf 'er caunt yut 'er fittle, there must be summut wrong.' Yuth, n. earth ; or a heath. ' Crapton Yuth ' is ' Cropthorne Heath,' ' Bill Yuth ' is ' William ' or ' Bill Heath.' Yuzzy, adj. easy. ' Ow be yu to-day, Thomas ? ' (Thomas.) ' Well, I feels a bit better, thenky. My yud ached turrible istady, but 'e's yuzzier to-day, a goodish bit.' ' And sothely the more nere they al came to the ende of the place the more yesyor and softyr waxed their peynys ' (The Monk of Evesham). 62 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSSABY. CUSTOMS, CHAEMS, EBMEDIBS, SIGNS, SUPBESTITIONS, &c. Customs, Practical Jokes, &c. New Year's Moening. — It is customary on New Year's morning for boys to go from house to house, chanting, ' I wish you a merry Christmas, A happy New Year, A pocket full o' money, A cellar full o' beer ; A good fat pig to sarve yu all the year. Bud well and bear well, I hope you will fare well ; Every sprig and every spray, A bushel o' opples on New Year's day. Up the ladther and down the wall, Two or three opples '11 sarve us all ; One for Peter, and one for Paul, And one for God as made us all." Sometimes the last line is changed to • And one for you and I an all.' [' An-all,' also.] {See HalUwell's Diet.) Caeols are sung at Christmas-tide ; the practice being for boys and girls to go round nightly from St. Thomas's Day until Christmas Day, and to sing one or more carols at the door of each house. Nbighbouedy Geeeting. — Upon entering a neighbour's house during the progress of a meal, it is (or was) customary for the visitor to say, ' Much good may it do you.' . Bowing on bnteeing Chuech. — When the author was a boy, it was the custom of many members of the congregation at Little Comberton (particularly the elder people) to turn to the east and bow, the men upon entering the church, the women upon arriving at their seats ; the latter slightly bending the knee, or courtesy- ing, before entering their pew. As there had not at that time been any revival of High Church principles, in that or any of the SOUTH-EAST WOECBSTBESHIEE GLOSSAEY. 63 neighbouring parishes, the custom alluded to might have been a lingering remanent of pre-Eeformation times. Pig's Fey. — A very good custom is that of distributing amongst neighbours a small quantity of pig's 'fry ' at pig-killing time ; the compliment being of course returned when the re- cipients kill their pigs. It may perhaps be considered somewhat of a flaw in this otherwise excellent custom, when it is stated that the donors of the ' fry' do not, as a rule, give any to those neigh- bours who are not fortunate enough to possess a pig.* Such is the custom, and it is hoped that the reader will not for one moment infer that there exists amongst the villagers a want of kindly feeling towards their poorer neighbours ; but decidedly the reverse. They are always ready and willing to help a neighbour (whether poor or well-to-do), in sickness or distress, to the best of their ability ; the thought of payment for such service as they are able to render, never entering their heads. Dancing on the Geeen or on the margin of the village high- way, was not at all uncommon when the author was a youth. He has seen staid dames, as well as lads and lasses of the village, taking their places in the sets and footing it right heartily ^and that, too, after having done a day's work on the farm,t or in their own houses. The orchestra usually consisted of a fiddle, with the addition, perhaps, of one or two flutes and occasionally also of a bass viol. Unfortunately, the green margins of our English highways have in many districts been enclosed by the neighbouring land- owners, and dances on the green are now, like the greens them- selves (no pun is intended), no longer common. An anonymous poet has said, or sung : — ' Great is the fault in man or woman That steals a goose from ofi a common, But who can plead that man's excuse Who steals the common from the goose ? ' * When I was quite a little boy, I received, in connection with the custom here alluded to, probably my first practical lesson in the ' ways of the world.' It happened one year, that for some reason or other my father did not have a ■pig, and I noticed with surprise that a near neighbour, when her pig was killed, did not (as was her usual custom) give us any 'fry.' Inquiring of my good mother the cause of this omission, I was told it was because we had no pig. Her answer puzzled me considerably, for I could not help thinking, most conscientiously, that for that very reason our usually kind neighbour ought not on this occasion to have overlooked us. — J. S. t There is undoubtedly, to some constitutions, something highly exhilarat- ing in out-door occupation. I have seen men working in the harvest field as hard as it seemed possible for men to work, who, upon the conclusion of a bout (see p. 5), would nevertheless indulge in a hornpipe, apparently from sheer animal enjoyment of the pleasure of being alive. — J. S. 64 SOUTH-BAST WOKOESTBESHIEE GLOSSAEY. In connection with this subject, and that of rural life generally, it may here be remarked (if a slight digression be permitted), that farmers and labourers had their grievances. 350 years ago, much as they have them now. In 'Now a dayes,' a poem written about the year 1530, the author states, amongst other grievances : — ' But now their ambioious suttlete Maketh one f earme of two or tkre ; Ye, some tyme they bring VI. to one.' Great complaint is also made against enclosures : — ' Commons to close and kepe Poor for bred [to] cry and wepe.' In ' Vox PopuU Vox Dei,' 1547-8, the laying down of arable land for grazing purposes is bitterly denounced. ' This is a mervellois mesire For grasiares and regratres. With soe many shepe-maistres That of erabell ground make pasteres. Are they that be these wasteres. That will vndoe this lande ? ' &c. &c. In another poem of about the same date (' The Buin of a Beam'), complaint is made of absenteeism on the part of the nobility and gentry. ' Sometyme nobyll men levyd in ther contre. And kepte grete hows'oldis, pore men to socowur ; But now in the Courts tliey desire for to be. With ladys to daly, this is ther pleasure ; So pore men dayley may famish for hunger. Or they com home on monyth to remayne ; Thys ys the trowthe, as I here certeyne.' Eeturning to the subject in hand : — Mops, or hiring fairs, are held in various towns at Michael- mas-tide. Those who attend them with the intention of being hired, adopt certain badges which are well understood, and therefore save time and trouble. A carter's boy wears a length of whip-cord in his hat ; a carter, some horse-hair ; a groom, a small piece of sponge, &c. Female servants also used to have some plan of showing what positions they were looking for, by the way in which they wrapped their shawls, and by other devices, of which the author is compelled to plead ignorance. STEiKiNa Hands is the recognised act of binding a bargain in fair or market. A dealer will say to a man having pigs to sell, ' What be yu a exin' fur thay , gaffer ? ' {Seller.) ' A guinea a piece . ' {Dealer walks off muttering ' I thought yu wanted to sell urn praps.') By and by he returns, evidently liking the looks of SOUTH-EAST WOBCESTEESHIEE GLOSSARY. ■65 the pigs. (Dealer.) ' Well, yu aant sell'd the pigs then.' (Seller.) ' No, but I shawnt be long fust.' {Dealer.) ' Well, they be smartish pigs, I oodn't a come back else ; but thay byunt wuth nuthin' like what you be a exing far um. I'll tell yu what I'll do thaough ; uf you'll thraow mu back ten shillin', look yu, I'll gi' yu a pound a piece far um, un I wunt give a fardin moore.' (Holds out his hand, and after a little consideration the seller gives it a slap with his hand, and the bargain is settled.) On May-pole Day (May 29th, Eestoration Day), the children, probably assisted by older persons, decorate a pole with may- blossoms and with flowers, liberally contributed by all the neigh- bours possessing flower gardens. The May -pole is carried from house to house by two or three strong lads, and at intervals is ' set up,' being held in a perpendicular position by the lads, while the children join hands and dance or run around it, singing : — ' All round the May-pole we will trot, See what a May-pole we have got, Garlands above and garlands below. See what a pretty May-pole we can show.' The tune is rather monotonous, and runs thus : — ^^ ::5t: fe All round the may pole I will trot I * i » qtz I ^ r r J =^=tc V J ^ See what a may- pole we have got, — IS— IK I* 1 f Gar-lands a - bove and H 1 ^ I * ^ l* =P= m >_t^k-L«L4 : gar - lands be- low — See what a pret-ty may - pole we can show. Selling by Candle End. — The following extract is from the Evesham Standard of October 7, 1893, and although the sale referred to did not take place in Worcestershire, but in a neigh- bouring county, the custom is now so well-nigh obsolete, that the author will be pardoned for overstepping the boundary upon this one occasion : — ' The curious old Warwickshire custom of letting roadside grazing rights by the auction of the burning candle was observed in the parish of Warton, near Polesworth, on Monday night.* The sale was conducted by the road surveyor, and the bidding for each lot commenced with the lighting of a bit of Oct. 2, 1893. 66 SOUTH-EAST WOECBSTBBSHIEE GLOSSABT. candle about a quarter of an inch long. He who was last in when the light went out became the purchaser. Five miles of herbage were thus let for a sum of about eleven pounds, which was only a quarter of what it made forty years ago.' ' Habvbst-homb ' used to be celebrated right joyously at almost every farm. At the carrying home of the last load the men and boys shouted : — ' Up, up, up, up, harvest-lioine. We have sowed and we have mowed. And we have carried the last load home, Up, up, up, up, harvest-home.' Afterwards the farmer and his family, his friends and his labourers, male and female, sat down to a substantial supper, followed by singing, dancing (sometimes) and cider drinking without stint. Much merriment prevailed, and (it must be admitted) some drunkenness. The festival was frequently kept up until daylight the next morning; when the -young men of the party would perhaps be seen, gallantly and jocosely, escorting the women to their respective homes, by the light (in addition to that of broad day) of a lantern and candle. It can scarcely be denied that the change whicb has taken place in the manner of celebrat- ing harvest-home in most parishes is for the better. LowBE Country. — In haymaking time, some of the most adventurous of the young men, used to travel into a remote region somewhere below Gloucester, called the ' Lower Country,' in quest of work. They were usually successful, and not only secured for themselves a liberal supply of money as wages, but the reputation of being great travellers. BoN-FiKB Night, or ' bwun-fire night ' is loyally celebrated on the fifth of November, when a bonfire is lighted, guns and the blacksmith's anvil fired off, with the accompaniment of ' ser- pents,' ' pack-racfceis,' ' sky-rackets,' ' ■wh.eel-rachets,' &o. The fuel for the fire is collected from the farmers and others, to whose houses men and boys repair, each provided with a stout stick ; the end of which he thumps upon the ground, first as a kind of prelude, and then as an accompaniment to the well- known ditty : — ' O don't you remember the fifth of November Is gunpowder, ' trason ' and plot ? I don't see the ' rasou ' why gunpowder trason Should ever be forgot. A stick and a stake for Queen Victoria's sake, I pray master give us a faggit ; If you don't give us one we'll take two. The better for we and the wuss for you.' Care is taken to bring down the sticks with a hearty thump, all together, at the words ' plot,' ' forgot ' and ' faggit.' SOUTH-EAST WOECBSTBESHIBE GLOSSAEY. 67 The Cuefew Bell is rung at Per shore at eight o'clock in the evening from November 5th until Candlemas day. It was formerly rung also at five o'clock in the morning, but owing to the old sexton (named Blake) who, for many years performed the duty of ringing the curfew bell, making a mistake as to the time on one occasion, and ringing it five hours too early, the practice was discontinued. The mistake arose in this way. The sexton awoke in the night whilst the church clock was striking twelve, and hearing the last five strokes only, he hastily slipped into his clothes, hurried off to the belfry, and rang the bell in the belief that it was five o'clock. At that time market gar- deners carried their fruit (for which Pershore is so famous*) to Worcester, Birmingham, and other markets, in carts ; loading them the day before, so that nothing remained to be done in the morning but to ' shut in ' the horses and drive off. On the occasion referred to, some of the gardeners (trusting implicitly to the Sound of the curfew bell) arose, harnessed their horses, and drove off to market, not discovering the error they had been- led into, until they arrived at their destination. CiDEE-DEiNKiNa. — The law permits the sale of cider without licence, if the quantity sold at one time be not less than four and a-half gallons. This being the case, half a dozen or so of work- men sometimes club together and purchase that quantity. They also, as if in duty bound, drink it off forthwith ; the result being that by the time the jars are empty, every man who has taken a share in the affair is more or less intoxicated.t The author remembers an absurd incident in connection with one of these ' cider-drinkings.' Amongst others engaged in this rustic devotion to Bacchus was a man named 'Tom,' a sawyer (his surname is immaterial), and after the conclusion of the orgies, the cider jars having been emptied, ' Tom ' was discovered by his master, crawUng along on his hands and knees, helplessly drunk. Upon being asked what was the matter, he replied with the greatest readiness, drunk as he was (although in doing so, it is to be feared he told considerably less than half the truth) ' I 'a got a had cold, master.' * It is a saying around Pershore, that when there is a good ' hit ' of fruit (cherries and plums more particularly), the inhabitants speak of their town as ' Pershore, where d'you think? ' but in a bad fruit season they have recourse to their ancient motto (a good and pious one undoubtedly), Pershore, God help us.' t As the writer, to a very great extent, eschews politics, he does not venture to say that the law as it stands, with regard to this, matter, is a mistake ; but he cannot help thinking that if the men could, m such cases, purchase a smaller quantity than the ' faour un a 'awf,' they would willmgly do so, and less mischief might result as a consequence. 68 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTBESHIEE GLOSSARY. Little excuse can, it is feared, be offered on behalf of men who will sit and drink, sometimes for days together, merely for the purpose of getting rid of the cider ; deeming it to be less wasteful to spend two or three days of their time in emptying the cask in this manner, than it would be to loosen the bung and permit the liquor to flow away down the gutter. A Netherton man (also named ' Tom ') had been absent from his work for a day or two, and his master wondering what had become of him, called on the third day at his house. There he found Thomas, with three companions, most industriously occupied in drinking cider drawn from a thirty gallon cask, which they had set themselves the task of emptying. Tom's explanation was, that ' having borrowed the borrel, and the owner wanting it hisself, he 'ad invited his three friends to assist him in emptying it, so that the owner shouldn't be disappwinted ; and that they 'ad now amwust finished the job.' ' Give a Deap to the Oawd Mon.' — This signifies to pour a horn of cider upon the ground instead' of to drink it. It has been thought by some, that this practice might be a relic, of the ancient form of making a votive offering, to a heathen deity ; possibly it might be ; but if so, our modern votaries seldom offer, what they feel any inclination to drink themselves. Peactical Jokes are not uncommon ; such as tying the doors of a cottage at which a wedding, a ChristmajS party, or other merry-making is being held. The method usually adopted, is to place a stout stick across the doorway, and to fasten the handle of the door to the stick, with strong twine. As the chamber windows are not usually very far from the ground, means of egress are not difficult to find ; so that beyond the probable loss of temper (and possibly a little profanity) on the part of the occupiers of the cottage, no great harm is done. Sometimes, too, the inmates will, on such occasions as those alluded to, find the house suddenly filled with smoke; outside friends having taken the trouble to prevent its escape at the ordinary outlet, by care- fully stopping up the top of the chimney (or 'tun ') with a ' pitch- ful ' of farm yard manure. In a village in which were two public-houses, the proprietors of these establishments (we will call them A and B, although as a matter of fact the initial B served for both), have before now been a little surprised to find their respective signs changed — A's sign having been placed over B's door, and B's sign over A's. Sometimes a man who forms one of a drinking party, will find that his hat (if he has taken it from his head and deposited it out of his sight), has also been indulging ; for upon attempting to put SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEBSHIBE GLOSSAEY. 69 it on, a pint or so of liquor is discharged over his head and face. Or perhaps, upon feehng for his knife or his handkerchief in his coat pocket, he will find a small lake of ale or cider, which has been kindly deposited there by an unknown friend. ' Catching an owl ' is a practical joke in which there are usually three actors, two being confederates. The one upon whom the joke is intended to be played carries a sieve, and one of the confederates a lantern; the third man, provided with a bucket of water, keeps out of sight, and stations himself in a hay loft, or similar situation overhead. The man with the lantern then takes the one carrying the sieve, to a spot well over-looked from the door of the hayloft ; telling him that there is an owl in the loft, which will fly down at the light of the lantern, and when it does so he is to catch it in the sieve. The victim is in- structed to hold the sieve up over his head, and the man with the lantern standing behind him throws the light into the centre of the sieve. This is the signal for the man with the bucket, who then pours its contents into the sieve and completely drenches the poor victim. Eemedies, Charms, &c. ; Lucky and Unlucky Signs and Acts. Whooping-cough is said to be cured, by giving to the patient, on nine successive mornings, a sUce of bread, which has previously been buried in the earth for twenty-four hours. 2. Let the patient stand under the nostrils of a ' skew-bald ' (or pie-bald) horse, so that the horse can breathe upon him. This is considered to be a certain cure. 3. If the patient will pass underneath a bramble branch which is rooted at both ends, the cough will leave him. Bleeding at the nose, is cured by placing a cold stone or a key down the patient's back, between the clothing and the skin. 2. The repetition of Ezek. xvi. 6, is a charm for bleeding at the nose, considered by many to be infallible. 3. For bleeding at the nose, wear a skein of red silk round the neck. 70 SOUTH-BAST WOECESTBESHIEE GLOSSABY. BuENS, AND Eeysipblas (St. Anthony's fire, or Tantony's fire), are supposed to be cured by ' charming,' usually by a woman. The charmer blows lightly on the affected part, and whispers very softly some mystic words ; blowing and whispering alternately. Waets are cured by the application to them of a black snail, which must afterwards be impaled upon a thorn. As the snail wastes away, so also will the warts, until quite gone. The slimy matter from the snail, must be permitted to dry upon the warts. 2. Warts are also cured, by rubbing them for nine consecutive mornings, with the downy lining of the pod of the bean ; or by applying to them for the same number of days, the juice of the weed called 'cat's-milk.' 3. Some persons are supposed to have the power of charming away warts ; the only thing necessary for the patient to do, is to tell the charmer their number. SoEB Eybs are cured by applying to them rain water, caught on Ascension Day, and which is called ' holy water.' The rain water, caught in the hollow formed by the leaves of a species of dock growing by brook sides, is also a cure for sore eyes. Foe Diaeehcba a small portion of a Good Friday 'hot cross bun ' is taken ; it is grated with a nutmeg grater, and taken as a powder. A single bun is usually kept all the year round for such purposes, and also because it is considered lucky. Shingles is cured by the use of ointment, made of grease (dodment) from the Church tenor bell. Toothache. — Cure for tooth-ache. Take a gimlet and a piece of cotton wool, and with the gimlet, bore a hole in the trunk of a maiden ash ; thrust the cotton wool into the hole, and stop up the hole with a peg, saying at the same time ' I do this, hoping to cure the tooth-ache.' 2. A briar ball (a soft kind of ball which forms on the hip- briar), is carried in the pocket as a remedy for tooth-ache. Head- ACHE. — A snake-skin, worn inside the hat or bonnet, keeps away head-ache. Stitch in the Side is prevented by carrying in. the pocket a ' stitch-bone ; ' a small bone in the shape of a T found in the cheek of a sheep. SOUTH-EAST WOEOESTBESHIEB GLOSSAEY. 71 QuiNSBY. — A remedy for quinsey is a skein of crimson silk, or a narrow piece of crimson ribbon, worn round the neck. If the patient be a man, the ribbon or silk must be tied round the neck by the hands of a maiden. Nbttle-sting. — A remedy for the sting of a nettle, is to rub the affected part with a dock-leaf, repeating whilst doing so this charm : — ' Ettle, Ettle, 'ittle Dock Dock sli'll 'ave a golden smock, Ettle shaunt a' nerrun.' CoENS should be cut on the first Friday after full moon. Baby's Nails. — It is unlucky to cut a-baby's nails before it is a year old ; to do so would cause it to become a thief. Should it become necessary to shorten them, they must be bitten off. LsT.^It is unlucky to have ley in the house on Ash Wednes- day ; housewives therefore take care to empty their ley-tubs on Shrove Tuesday. New Moon. — It is unlucky to see the new moon for the first time through glass. Upon first seeing the new moon, the money in the pockets should be turned over. Knives. — It is unlucky for two knives to be crossed on the table. Salt. — It is unlucky to spill salt on the table ; but should such an accident occur the ill effects of it are counteracted, by throwing a small quantity of the salt over the left shoulder. The piest lamb seen in the season should have its face to- wards you ; otherwise you will be unlucky. Magpies. — For a single magpie (or maggit) to fly near you, or to settle in the road in front of you when you are starting on a journey, is unlucky ; but should there be a pair of these birds, no ill may be apprehended in consequence. A HOESB-SHOE nailed to the door of a house, stable, barn, &c., prevents the entrance of witches. Eaven. — It is unlucky to kill a raven. The writer remembers hearing an old game-keeper say that he never shot but one raven, and shortly after doing so he fell down and broke his leg. That this accident was attributable to his shooting the raven, he felt so fully convinced, that he declared he never would under any circumstances kill another. 72 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSSAET. WiTCHCEAFT. — A Small quantity of earth from a young man's grave, worn on the head (in a small bag), is a safeguard against witchcraft. A HAEE running through a village betokens a fire, and should it take refuge in any house, that is the house at which the fire will occur. Leaven. — When a woman has laid her leaven, she sprinkles a little flour over it, and then makes a cross upon it with her finger ; otherwise she would not expect the leaven to ' rise.' Bell. — If the bell, when tolling, sounds heavily, it is the sign of an approaching death. Bees. — When the owner of bees dies, it is supposed to be necessary to ' tell ' the bees, or they will all die. ' Telhng the bees ' of a death is performed by a person rapping three times on the hive with the front door key of the house in which the deceased person died, and saying in a low voice, ' Bees, bees, your master (or mistress) is dead ; you be a gwain to have a new master.' Boa Shells should not be burnt, or the hens will cease laying. Feiday. — It is unlucky to begin any new work, or to start on a journey on a Friday. Washing. — If two persons wash their hands at the same time in one bowl, they must spit in the water, otherwise they will quarrel before the day is over. New Yeae. — The first person to enter a dwelling on New Year's morning should be a male ; for a female to do so would be unlucky. The boys who go round ' wishing the villagers a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ' (page 62) are frequently invited into the cottages, so that they may thus act as fenders between the occupiers and ill-luck. Ceamp. — Should you be troubled with cramp, lay your stock- ings across each other at the foot of the bed, when you retire to rest. Neglect of this precaution, might result in the continua- tion, or a renewal of the malady. Folk-Tales. Of folk-tales the author does not remember to have heard much, excepting the usual stories to be found in all story books relating to fairies, giants, witches, &c. The following stories were, however, told to him verbally when he was a boy, and SOUTH-EAST WOECESTBESHIEE GLOSSARY. 73 might be thought worth recording. The first was related by a thresher man while at work in a barn, and the delight (slightly spiced with awe) with which it was listened to by the present narrator is not forgotten to this day : — The Devil and the Faembe. — The devil once called on a farmer and exed 'im if he could give him a job. ' What con'st do?' said the farmer. 'Oh! enything about a farm,' said the devil. ' Well, I wans (want) a mon to 'elp mii to thresh a mow o' whate,' sez the farmer. ' All right,' sez the devil, ' I'm yer mon.' When they got to the barn, the farmer said to the devil, ' Which oot thee do, thresh or thraow down?' ' Thresh,' said the devil. So the farmer got o' top o' the mow and begun to thraow down the shuvs of whate on to the barn flur, but as fast as 'e cud thraow 'em down the devil ooth one stroke uv 'is nile, knocked all the cam out on um, un send the shuvs flying out o' the barn dooer. The farmer thought he had got a queer sart uv a threshermon ; un as 'e couldn't thraow down fast enough far 'im, 'e sez to 'im, ' Thee come un thraow down oot ? ' ' All right,' sez the devil. So the farmer gets down off the mow by the ladther, but the devil 'e just gives a lep up from the barn flur to the top o' the mow, athout waiting to goo up the ladther. 'Be yii ready?' sez the devil. 'Iss' (yes), sez the farmer. Ooth that the devil sticks 'is shuppick into as many shuvs as ood kiver the barn flur, an thraows um down. ' That'll do fur a bit,' sez the farmer, so the devil sat down un waited t'll the farmer 'ud threshed that lot, un when a was ready agyun, 'e thraow'd down another flur full ; un afore night they'd finished threshin' the whole o' the mow o' whate. The farmer couldn't 'elp thinkin' a good dyull about 'is new mon, fur 'e'd never sin sich a one afore. ('B didn't knaow it was the devil, thii knaowst, 'cos he took keer nafc to let the fermer see 'is cloven fut*). So in the marnin' 'e got up yarly un went un spoke to a cunnin' mon about it. The cunnin' mon said it must be the devil as 'ad come to 'im, un as 'e 'ad exed 'im in, 'e couldn't get shut on 'im athout 'e could give 'im a job as 'a couldn't do. Soon atter the farmer got wum agyun, 'is new mon (the devil) wanted to knaow what he wus to do that day, and the farmer thought 'e'd give 'im a 'tazer ; so he sez, ' Goo into the barn look, un count the number o' cams there be in that yup o' whate as we threshed out istaday.' ' All right,' sez Old Nick, un off a went. In a faow minutes 'e comes back and sez, ' Master, there be so many ' (namin' ever so many thousan' or milUons un odd, Id'na 'ow many). 'Bist sure thee'st counted um all?' sez * It is said that -when tjbie devil appears personally to mankind, lie is never able to dispense with his cloven foot, but that he always does his best to hide it, so as to prevent the discovery of his identity. 74 ' SOUTH-EAST WOEOESTBBSHIEB GLOSSAEY. the farmer.. ' Every earn,' sez Satan. Then the farmer ardered 'im to goo un fill a 'ogshead borrel full a water ooth a sieve. So off 'e shuts agyun, but soon comes back un tells the farmer e'd done it ; un sure anough 'a 'ad ; un every job the farmer set 'im to do was the same. The poor farmer didn't know what to make on it, fur thaough 'e wus a gettin' 'is work done up so quick, 'e didn't like 'is new mon's company. 'Owever, the farmer thought he'd 'ave another try to trick 'im, un teld the devil 'e wanted 'im to goo ooth 'im a mowin' next marnin'. 'All right,' sez the old un, ' I'll be there, master.' But as soon as it was night the farmer went to the fild, un in the part the devil was to mow, 'e druv a lot o' borrow tynes into the ground amongst the grass. In the marnin' they got to the fild in smartish time, un begun to mow ; the farmer 'e took 'is side, and teld the devil to begin o' the tother, where 'e'd stuck in the borrow tynes thu knaowst. Well, at it went the devil, who but 'e, un soon got in among the stuck up borrow tynes ; but thay made no odds, 'is scythe went thraough 'em all, un the only notice on 'em 'e took wus to say to the farmer, every time 'e'd cut one on um thraough, ' A bur-dock, master;' un kep on just the same. The poor farmer 'e got so frightened at last, 'e thraough'd down 'is scythe un left the devil to finish the fild. As luck ood 'ave it, soon atter 'a got wum, a gipsy ooman called at the farm 'ouse, and seein' the farmer was in trouble exed 'im what was the matter ; so 'e up un tell'd 'er all about it. ' Ah, master,' 'er sez to 'im, when 'e 'ad tell'd 'er all about it ; ' you 'a got the devil in your 'ouse sure enough, un you can only get shut on 'un by givin' 'im summut to do as 'a caunt manage.' 'Well, ooman,' sez the farmer, ' what's the use o' telling mii that ? la tried every thing I con think on, but darned uf I cun find 'im eny job as 'a caunt do.' ' I'll tell you what to do,' sez the gipsy ooman ; ' when 'a comes wum, you get the missis to give 'im one uv 'er curly 'airs; un then send 'im to the blacksmith's shap, to straighten 'im on the blacksmith's anvil. 'E'll find 'a caunt do that, un 'e'll get so wild over it as 'e'll never come back to yu agyun.' The farmer was very thenkful to the gipsy ooman, and said 'e'd try 'er plan. So bye 'n bye in comes the aowd fella, un sez, 'I a finished the mowin', master; what else a you got far mu to do?' ' Well, I caunt think uv another job just now,' sez the farmer, ' but I thinks thee missis a got a little job for thii.' So 'e called the missis, un 'er gan the devil a curly 'air lapped up in a bit o' paper, un tell'd 'im to goo to the blacksmith's shap, un 'ommer that there 'air straight; un when 'a was straight to bring 'im back to 'er. ' All right, missis,' sez the devil, un off a shut. When 'a got to the blacksmith's shap, 'e 'ommer'd un 'ommer'd at that there 'air on the anvil, but the moore 'e 'ommered, the cruckeder the 'air got ; so at last 'e thraowed SOUTH-EAST -WOECESTEESHIEB GLOSSAEY. 75 down the 'ommer and the 'air un baowfced, un never went back to the farmer agyun. The Faiey's Peel. — A ploughman working in a field one day heard distinctly, what he supposed to be the sound of a female voice, proceeding from beneath the ground. The lady was lamenting that she had broken her peel, and the ploughman, possessing the usual gallantry of a Worcestershire man, called out, ' Bring 'im 'ere, missis, un I'll mend 'im.' Upon arriving at the end of his furrow, the ploughman was not a little sur- prised, to find a nicely made baking peel, with its handle broken in two, lying on the adland. "When he went home he took the peel with him, and mended it as neatly as he could; and the next morning brought it back, and laid it on the adland, in the place where the fairy had left it the day before. When he had finished his bout, and returned again to the adland, he found that the fairy had taken away the peel, and had left in its place the most delicious little cake he had ever eaten. A WITCH once entered a stable and sat upon the manger, in the shape of a large black cat. The carter seeing her, went and called a dog to drive her away, but the witch changed herself into a wheat straw, and laid herself across the horse's back. Upon the carter's return to the stable he could not see the cat, but seeing the wheat straw lying across the horse's back, he cut it through with his knife, causing it to bleed human blood. Alarmed at this he ran out of the stable and called his fellow labourers, who on going into the stable, found the dead body of an old woman shockingly mutilated. Sayings, Supbestitions, &c. Apples aee cheistenbd on St. Swithin's Day (July 15), from which date they are eatable. The Cuckoo buys a horse at Pershore fair (June 26), and rides away. It is a fact that the cuckoo is seldom heard in this locality after that date, but should it occasionally depart from this rule it is said that ' he could not find a horse to suit him at the fair.' In April it is said that the cuckoo comes and picks up all the dirt. 76 SOUTH-EAST WOEOBSTBESHIEE GIOSSAEY. Don't eat Diet. — When a boy or girl is going to service (particularly if it be a first situation), he or she will receive the injunction, ' Be a good bwoy (or wench) and don't yut dirt.' Op Elmley men the saying is (or was), ' You can always tell (know) a Embley mon by 'is stick.' It is true that, as a rule, every Elmley man carried (and probably does so now) a stick, which, unlike an ordinary walking-stick, projected six or seven inches upwards above the hand, and generally consisted of an ash sapling. This was probably owing to the fact, that they nearly all, were more or less connected with the woods, and had thus opportunities of supplying themselves with such sticks, which they found to be convenient and serviceable ; particularly when climbing Bredon Hill. The author has spent many happy hours in the company of Elmley men, whom he always found to be of a most genial and jovial disposition, and there is lingering in his recollection some faint trace, (so faint is it that he scarcely dares to record it), of a tradition connected with Elmley men's sticks. It is something to this effect — that on the day of the battle of Evesham a body of Elmley men marched to that town in support of Prince Edward, and that they were all armed with sticks, which they had cut for themselves in the woods ; and being on the winning side, they naturally from that time, felt some pride in (or as we should say locally, were fritch of) their long sticks. However that may be, Leland, the historian, mentions (as quoted by the late Eev. Hugh Bennett) that ' the old Lord Beauchamp, of Helmeley, sent three or four of his sunnes to the battle of Evesham, to help King Henry III. and Prince Edward, again Simon Monteforte and the Barons ; and these brether, with their band, did a great feate in vanquishing the host of Monteforte.' Beedon Hidl. — A saying referring to Bredon Hill as a weather foreteller, is — 'When Bredon Hill puts on his hat Men of the vale beware of that.' Meaning, that if a cloud descends upon the hill and remains there, it is a sign of rain; when it ascends, it is going to be fine. When the hill appears to be very near, showers of rain are probable ; if apparently far off, fine weather may be expected. The Bambuet Stone, about which so much has been written, and which stands at the border of Kemerton Camp, on the summit of Bredon Hill, is said to go down to the Avon to drink, every time it hewrs a church clock strike twelve. Whistling Females. — • A whistling maid, a crowing hen. Are neither good for God nor men.' SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSSARY. 77 Pig- Killing. — A pig must not be killed when the moon is - waning, or the bacon will 'boil out,' that is, it will shrink in boiling instead of ' plimming up ' (or becoming plump), as good bacon should do. Caeelessness. — It is said of a careless person, ' It's all Come day, go day, God send Sunday with him ' (or ' her '). Cake's all Dough. — When work upon which a person is en- gaged seems to be progressing somewhat slowly and awkwardly, so as to cause vexation or irritation, he (or she) will exclaim, ' O dear aow, my cake's all dough ' sometimes adding ' How shall I bake it, I don't know.' Comp. Shakespeare, Tarn. Shr., i., 1 and v., 1. Eclipse. — It used to be thought that an eclipse of the sun, was ocular evidence of a battle being then in progress between the sun and the moon; and that the result of a lunar victory, would be the immediate ending of the world. Pointing at the Staes. — Children used to be told, that it was wicked to point with the finger at the stars, or at the rain- bow ; to attempt to count the stars, was also considered a very wicked act. Hat Beim turned up behind. ' 'Is 'at's turned up behind like a Pammington mon's.' Money-teeb. — Children who are wanting a toy or something of the kind, that their parents do not wish to buy for them, are told they must wait until their money-tree bears. Equivalent to waiting until their ship comes in. Money Spidee. — A small red spider, whose presence is sup- posed to indicate the approach of good fortune. Peeshoee boys could formerly be readily detected by their peculiar ' twang ' ; a sharp accent being given to the first syllable, the pitch slightly dropping and rising again as they proceeded with their sentence. Country lads (those from Per- shore never forgetting to so designate the lads of the villages) would call after them, ' Wher bist a gwainin ? ' ' Oy, up in the Newland.' ' What atter ? ' ' Oy, a fflputh o' taters.' ' What makes thu 'ave sich a faow at a time ? ' ' Oy, cos mother sez thay bwiles hke morra, un goos down yer neck hke a wheelborra.' Evesham Boys. — The call after an Evesham lad is (or was) ' "Who put the pig on the wall to 'ear the bond play ? Oy, Asum. (How these absurdities originated the author is unable to say, but they are included because with regard to sayings, &c., as well as in numerous other matters, it is difficult to decide what is, or what is not, a trifle.) 78 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEBSHIBE GLOSSAET.. HoESE-HAiE IN Watbe. — There is (or was), a belief amongst boys (if not amongst elders also), that a horse-hair permitted to remain in water, until the water became putrid, would change into a living reptile. ' Much is breeding. Which, like the courser's hair, hath yet but life, And not a serpent's poison.' {Shakespeare, Ant. and Cleop., i., 2). Haunted Houses, roads, barns, &c., are not very uncommon. The writer has heard from more than one authority of a funeral procession, which is occasionally seen marching in all solemnity along the highway on Oropthorne Heath, near the hour of mid- night. At a certain gate it turns off the high road, enters the field, and disappears. One eye-witness of this apparition, who related the matter as above stated, to the author ; was a highly respectable, and well-known professor of music. The apparition is sometimes called ' Old Dutton's Funeral.' Another road said to be haunted, is that leading from Little Comberton, to Bricklehampton and Blmley Castle. It is related that a man, who at the time lived at Bricklehampton, was pro- iceeding homewards one evening along the road referred to, when he overtook a young woman, and walked beside her until they arrived opposite Coachman's barn, at which spot he ventured to attempt to put his arm round her waist. His arm, however, passed through her body, and she disappeared through the gate- way which leads into the Coachman's barn ground. Numerous stories are told of strange noises and appearances at Nash's Farm, at the Manor House, and in the locality around these old houses ; both of which are in Little Comberton. But nearly all parishes seem to have their ghosts and haunted houses, and to relate a quarter of the stories which crop up upon the subject, would be a task that the author could not undertake. ' Such topics I must leave to other hands, Shut out by envious straits of time and space.' (Virgil, Fremantle's Translation.) SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEB GLOSSARY. 79 NAMES OF FIELDS, &c. Of the Names of Fields, &c., given here, some are probably of no importance whatever ; others are common-place, but a fairly good number of them are suggestive of by-gone days, and of old superstitions. [The spelling may not in all cases be correct ; the names in many instances having been taken down from hearing them only.] ACEES. Allsboeough Hill. AsHAM Meadow. AsKEN Coenee. AsMOOE Piece. Back-oechaed. Bakee's Oechaed. Ballins. Ballins-slad. BaETLEY-ADIiAND. Battins Wood. Bbaeceopt. Bbggae-boys. Ben-holm. Bbeeyee-piecb. Bbeey (or Buey) Way. Bbss-caps. Big Millow. BiN-OEOFT. Black Lennaed. Blood-woet. Bottoms. BOUN-HAM. Bebach. Beoad-bucktin. Beoadmeee-lays. Beoad-watees. BUCKBTS-COENEE ( ? Puck-itS Corner.) buey-lenchbs. Calmus-hill. Cames-coomb. Can-lane. Catti-ceopt. Chad-buey. Chaefoed-bank. Chicken-oechaed. Chuech-puelong. Clats-mooe. Coachman's Baen. Cold-well. Colb's-lays. colt-geound. College -oechaed . coppicb-fuelong. Ceay-comb Hill. Dead-man's Ait. Deae-sale. Dene-puelong. Dbne-mbadow. Devil's slbdthee. DiNGE. Dippeelings. Doctoe's-close. Doctoe's Wood. Doddbn-hill. down-millow. Downs. Deagon's-hole. Ellacompane. Faethee-hobbs. Plax-geound. Puezb-geound. Gig-mwieb mire). (probably Quag- 80 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSSAET. Glyde-piece. goodley-hill. Geavee-pit-gbound. Geeen-paen-hill. Geben-geotjnd. Geeen-stebbt. guinba-fuelong. Gunning' s-LANE. Hales-wbll. Hasbloe. Hell-hole. Hendon-bank. HiCKBEAGE. Hob-nails. Hob's-hole. homb-geound. Hongee-puelong. Hoeeell-oechaed . Hoeeell-wood. hoese-camps. Howbuen-hill. hungbe-hill. hueeells-hill. Huss (or Huest) Baen. lOKLET. icklbt-meadow. icklbt-pibce. Kennbt's Oechaed. Kent's Oechaed. Knap. Lammas-meadow. LiCH-LANE. Lilwoeth. Little Woeeall. Long-ditch. Long-deagon's-piece. Long-land. Lowee-pield Baen. Lowee Noevill. Magpie-lane. Manoe-geound. Maey-beook. Mblcham's Way. MiDDLE-FUELONG. MiDDLE-NOEVILL. Mile STONE -PIECE. MiLLOW-GEOUND. MoLL-HAYES. mount-ceoft. Nappoed. Nethbe-hobbs. No-gains, noechaed-pibld. nostbens-well-pibce . NUEDEE. Old Ait. Old-fallow. Old-field Baen. Old-foed Meadow. Old-seeds. Oxen-ditch. Penny-close. Pens Oechaed. Peeey-acee. Piddle Chuech Close. Piddle Meadow. PiNKITS-COENEE. Pitch-hill. Pitch ALL-HILL. POETBE. Poet WAY. poetway-puelong. Peibst-lane. puck-pit-geound . Puck's piece, pue-beook. Ban's Oechaed. Bead's piece. Ebddbn-hill. Eed-foed. ElDGE-GEOUND. ElDGEWAY PaE-CLOSB. ElDGEWAY-FUELONG. ElDGB WAY-GEOUND . ElDGBWAY-LITTLB-MEADOW. SOUTH-EAST WOBCESTEBSHIEE QLOSSAEY. 81 ElDGEWAT-MIDDLE-CLOSB . ElNGE-MBEE. eound-hill. eudge-hill. Eye-puelong. Salam-common Meadow. Saltee's-gbeen Meadow. Saltwat. Saltway Baen. Saltway-baen-piece. Saltway-coppic e . Salt WAY-PIECE. Shawl. Sheep-hill. Shbpheed' s-close . Shut-coomb. Shuts. SiTCHWAY-CLOSE. SiTCHWAY-LANE. Sling. Smock-fublong. Staffoed's Moob. Stannish-lane. Stabn-hill. Stbeet-fuelong. Swatman's Geound. Sycamoee-geound. Thick-thoen. Thboughtbes. TiBLEY. Tolley's Close, town-puelong. TwiNTON. Tydesley-wood. Tythe Baen. Uppee-hobbs. Uppee Noevill. Uppee Saltway-piece. Uppbb Sytch. Valentines. Vin^yabd-hill. Vine yabd-oech aed . vobty-close. Wad-close. Wainhebd's Hill. Watbb-meee. Well-fuelong. Webgs. White-way Quoe-piece. Whoyn-hills. Wind's-aese. Wistan's Bbidge. WiTLBY-PIECE. wolvebton. woolland. Yak. Yeald-wood. Yell- WOOD. NAMES OF SOME OE THE TOWNS, VILLAGES, ETC., IN AND AEOUND THE DISTEICT, WITH THEIE LOCAL APPELLATIONS. Abbot's Lench Alcesteb ... Alve-chuech ASHTON Bengewoeth BlEMINGHAM Bishampton Known as Hob-Lench. AwSTEE. All-chuech. Aishen. Benjuth, or Ben-jud. Bbummijum. Bissapp'n. 82 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEBSHIEB GLOSSAEY. Beicklehampton . . . Known Beoadway Campden Ceeney Chaelton ... combbeton Ceopthoenb doemstone Ebeington Elmlby Evesham gotheeington Geafton ... honeybouene Keesob KiDDEEMINSTEE . . . Kington ... Madeeseibld Malvben ... Maeston ... Naunton Beauchamp Ofpbnham ... Pebwoeth... Pbeshoee ... POWICK Seveen Smbthwick Stanway ... Stoulton Swine SHBED Theockmoeton . . . Upton Snodsbuey West Beomwich... Whittington WlCKHAM ... WOECBSTEE as Beick-lund, or Beickledun. Beoady. Camdin. Sawney. Chol-ton. cummbeton. Ceapton. Daems'n. Yubbeet'n. Emblby. A-SUM. Gutheet'n. Geap'n (a as in father). Honey-bun. Kessa. KiDDY-MISTBB. Kyinb. Match-pield. Mawvun. Maas'n (a as in father). Naun, also DiETY Naun. Uffenum. Pebbuth. Peesha, or Pawsha. PWOYK. SivyuN. Smbeeice. Stanny. Stout'n. swenshud. Feogmoet'n. Upton Snadgbuey. West Beummidgb. Wittbnton. Wbbkun. OOSTEE. SOUTH-BAST WOEOESTEBSHIBB GLOSSABY. 83 SHAKE SPEAEE AND OUE LOCAL DIALECT. There is abundant evidence throughout the writings of Shake- speare, that he was well acquainted with this locality and its dialect. Indeed, it would be strange if such were not the case ; for, unless Shakespeare had been a man who, after having acquired a certain amount of popularity, felt ashamed of his antecedents, and of his earlier surroundings, and therefore took great pains, not to introduce into his works, any of the provin- ciaUsms with which he must have been so familiar, from his earliest childhood ; the absence of such evidence would scarcely be possible. Stratford is only twelve miles or so from Evesham ' as the crow flies,' and the difference in the dialects of the two districts is slight. The following is a hst of some of the local words to be found in Shakespeare's works, and in some instances, they are such as scarcely could have been used by a stranger to the locality. Moreover, what may perhaps be described as the ungrammatical subtleties of our dialect, could with difficulty have been grasped by any stranger, however learned (Bacon for instance), in the manner in which Shakespeare has caught them : — A for He (see p. 50) A-hungry (see p. 50) AU-is-one Argal Atomy (see p. 87) Barm Basting Beetle Bemoil (see p. 87) Blindworm (see p. 87) . . . Brize (comp. Bree) Broken-mouthed (see p. 88) Buck (to wash, see p. 88) Burn-daylight (see p. 88) Cake'salIdough(seep. 77) Clipt Clout (a cloth) Hen. v., iii., 2 ; also ii., 3, for example. Mer. W., i., 1. Mer. W., ii., 2. Ham., v., 1. 2 Hen. IV., v., i (comp. with fwto- mize, which is another instance of n before a vowel). Mids. N. Dr., ii., 1. Com. Er., ii., 2. 2 Hen. IV., i., 2. Tarn. Shr., iv., 1. Mids. N. Dr., ii., 3; Macb., iv., 1. Trail. & Cr., i., 3 ; Ant. & CI, iii., 8. All's Well, ii., 3. Mer. W., iii., 3. Mer. W., ii., 1 ; Bom. & Jul., i., 4. Tarn. Shr., i., 1 ; v., 1. Win. Tale, v., 2; Coriol, i., 6; E. John, v., 2. E. John, iii., 4; Bich. III., l, 3; Ham., ii., 2. 84 SOrTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSSAET. Clouted Cymh., iv., 2. CoUied Mids.N. Dr., i.,1; Othel.,n., '6. Cock-sure ... ... Hen. IV., ii., 3. Come your ways ... Mea.for Mea., iii., 2. Courser's hair (see p". 78) Ant. <& CI., i., 2. Cowl-stick (or staff) ... Mer. W., iii., 3. Crow-keeper (seep. 89)... Bom. d Jul., i., 4:; K. Lear, iv., 6. Deck of cards (see p. 89) 3 Hen. VI., v., 1. Doubt (extinguish) ... Hen. F., iv., 2; Ham., i., 4. Dowle (see p. 90) ... Temp., iii., 3. Else (at end of sentence) Othel., iv., 1 ; v., 1, for example. Fettle ... ... ... Bom. d Jul., Hi., 6. Pire-new... ... ... Love's Lab. L., L, 1. Fitcher, or Fitchew .... Troil. & Cr., v., 1; Othel., iv., 1. ; K. Lear, iv., 6. Flower-knot ... ... Bich. II., Hi., i; Love's Lab. L., i., 1. GailowB, adj. ... ... Love's Lab. L.,y., 2. Inch-meal ... ... Temp., ii., 2. Keech (comp. Cledches) Hen. VIII., i., 1. Kindled As You Like It, in., 2. Loffe Mids.N. Dr., ii.,1. Look you (see var. ex- amples) As You Like It, iii., 2. Malkin (see Mawkin) ... OonoZ., ii., 2; Per., iv., 4. Me, redundant in numerous instances. See Two Gent., iv., 4, for example. Morris-dance Hen. V., ii., 4; All's Well, ii., 2. Nay-word Tw. N., ii., 3; Mer. W.,H., 2. Neeld (see Nild) ... Mids. N. Dr., iii., 2; K. John, v., 2; Per., iv., V. (Gower) ; Lu^rece, 46. Nine-men's-morris (see p. 91) Mids. N. Dr., ii., 2. Nowl (head) (comp. Snowier) Mids. N. Dr., Hi., 2. Nuncle E. Lear, ii., 3. Oman (woman) .. . ... Mer.W.,i.,l. Phill-horse (see Filler) Mer. Ven., ii., 2. Pick-thank 1 Hen. IV., iii., 2. Pleached (see Plaicher) Much Ado, Hi., 1 ; Ant. d CI., iv., 12. Puck Mds. J/. Dr. (comp. ' Puck ' in ' Field Names ; ' also ' Aw-Puck,' or ' Hob- Puck.') Pug (to pull) Win. Tale, iv., 2. 'Doth set my pugging tooth on edge.' Some commentators consider that 'pugging ' here is a misprint .for 'prigging ' ; but as 'pug' signifies to pull, and Autolycus refers to 'white sheets SOUTH-EAST WOEOESTEESHIEE GLOSSAEY. 85 bleaching on the hedge,' and also declares ' My traffic is sheets,' which, if taken from the hedge, would require to be 'pugged' off; is it not probable that the figure he uses, simply means, that the sight of the sheets (his traf&c), excites his ' piogging ' propensity ? Pun (to pound) (see p. 91) Troil c& Gr.,u.,l. Eesolve (to dissolve) (see p. 91) Ham., i., 2. Shog Hen. V., ii., 3. Sliver E. Lear, iv., 2; Ham., iv., 7; Macb., iv., 1. Sneap 2 Hen. IV., ii., 1 {aoia^. Snaowp). In concluding a bargain, men will sneap or snaowp upon a table or board with their knuckles ; also in the game of ' Put,' when one player has a ' strong ' hand, he will challenge his an- tagonist by snaowping upon the table ; should the challenge be accepted (by a snaowp in reply), the game must be played through or the defaulter loses it. Sprag (comp. Sprackt) (seep. 92) Mer. W., iv., 2. Sweet-wort ' Love's Lab. L., y., 2. Talent (talon) Love's Lab. L., iv., 2. Tarre Z. John, iv.,1; Troil d Cr.,i., 3; Ham., ii., 2. Tewkesbury Mustard ... 2 Hen. IV., ii., 2. Trammel (to catch as with a trammel, inter- cepting all that comes behind it) Tundish Tup Tush Urchin ... Whiffier Macb., L, 7. Meas.for Meas., iii., 2. Othel.,v., 2; iii., 3. Ven. & Adon., 104. Tit. Andr., ii., 3. Hen. v., v.. Chorus. (N.B. — Where no other reference is given, the word will be found in the glossary.) In corroboration of what has been said above, let the reader refer to Hen. V., iii., 2, and compare the speech of the boy with some of the examples given in the preceding pages of this work. ' All they three ;' ' a faces it out ;' ' a never broke any man's head but his own,' &c., &c. Or note Mrs. Quickly's description of the death of Falstaff (Act ii., sc. 3). In either instance the language employed, might very well have been that of an in- dividual of the working class, born and bred within sound of Evesham or Pershore bells. 86 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEESHIEE GLOSSAEY. Again, the word 'Argal' (the fourth in the list), which Shake- speare puts into the mouth of the gravedigger {Ham., v., 1), is used in this district for 'argue.' In most glossaries it is explained as being a corruption of the word ' ergo,' and no doubt this is so ; but in using the word, the gravedigger is only doing what is so frequently done, by persons in his position of hfe at the present day; viz., substituting a word with which he is quite familiar, for one of which his knowledge is imperfect, because it resembles it in sound. Such instances are not at all uncommon, and any one taking an interest in the dialect of our district, would be well repaid by a perusal of the writings of our great poet, with the object of identifying the numerous instances of word and phrase, to be found therein; and which go to prove, how intimately acquainted their author must have been, with our locaUty and its dialect. It may be urged, that some of these words are mere survivals of the speech of all England, in Shakespeare's day. In certain cases this may be so; but it is scarcely credible that this can apply to many; for it would be hard to supply a valid reason, why a greater number of these (if once generally common) words, should remain current in the neighbourhood of Shakespeare's birth, rather than elsewhere. SOUTH-EAST WOBOESTEESHIBB GLOSSAEY. 87 APPENDIX. A-done, v. leave off; to finish. A-late, adv. lately. An-all, adv. also. ' Ower Tom a got a good place ; 'e gets five shillin' a v^ick, un 'is fittle an all.' A-pick-a-back, adv., carrying a child vfith its legs resting on the shoulders, and astride the neck. Argify, v. to signify, to apply an argument. Athwart {pron. Athurt), prep, from corner to corner (of a field or other superficial area). Atomy or Atomize, n.- See Notomize. Ayed him on, v. incited, encouraged, urged. Back-friend, n. a secret enemy. Baggar-nation-saze-it, interj. a mild expletive. Banyan-days, n. days vyithout food. (The Banians are a class among the Hindoos, vrho believe in the doctrine of metempsychosis, and therefore abstain from animal food. — Worcester.) ' Monday, plenty. Tuesday, some. Wednesday, a little. Thursday, none. Friday, Banyan-day. Saturday, go home.' Beetle-yudded, adj. stupid. Be-mwile, v. (bemoil), to bedaub with mud or other filth. ' Hov7 she V7as bemoiled.' {Shahesp., Tarn. Shr., iv., 1). Biddy, n. a chicken or fowl (Gaelic, bid, to chirp). Bin as fur narth as eny on yu. ' Been as far north as any of you ' = ' I know as much as,' or, ' I am no more of a simpleton than any of you.' Bird-batting, v. catching birds at night from hedges, bushes, and thatched roofs, &c., by means of a net and a lantern, the birds being disturbed by sticks poked into their roosting places, and allured into the net by the light of the lantern. Blacksmith's-daughter, n. the key of the street door. Blind- worm, n. a species of snake. 88 SOUTH-EAST WOECESTBESHIEB GLOSSAEY. Blizzy, n. a blaze. Boffle (baffle), v. to shake another's arm when writing; (a school boy's term). Broken-mouthed, adj. having lost teeth. Bucking, n. clothes being washed ; a wetting. ' I was out in all that tempest last night, un it was lucky as I'd got this ere oawd top coowut on; I sh'd a got a good buckin' else.' Old lady used to call a child named Ann, ' Nance, Pance, the buckin' wesher.' Bully-rag, v. to abuse, to be-call ; n. a blackguard. (Is this from Bully-rook ? See Shakesp., Mer. W., i., 3, &c. Halli- well has Bally-rag.) Burning-daylight, v. burning a candle during daylight. By-Gad, inter j. a softened form of a too common irreverent ex- pression, but used more in the same sense as the word 'indeed'; thus ' Ower Jack fund a shillin' this marnin'.' ' Did a, be-gad.' {Admiringly of a very large vegetable marrow.) ' By-gad, that's a big un.' By-gew, or By-gaow, same as By-gad. Bynnt afeard o' that. This expression is frequently used in the sense of there being no probability, or hope, of any particular event occurring. (Old allotment tenant deputed to drink the health of the landlord who is leaving the village.) ' 'Ere's to your good 'ealth, sir, un I 'ope when you be gwun as we sh'll 'ave a better come ; 'owever, I byunt afeard o' that, but I 'ope us shaunt 'ave a wuss.' The old gentleman meant nothing otherwise than complimentary ; ' hoping a better one might come,' meant ' a better one, if such a thing were possible ; ' and to hope that the retiring landlord would not be succeeded by one who would be worse than he was, implied that the chances were that such would be the case. Call together, v. See Prawl. Cant-hook or Kent-hook, n. a strong, sharp hook, having a ring or a chain at one end, through which a lever passes, and by • means of which, heavy trees, &c., can be rolled over for removal. Cast not a Clout till May be out. (Another version of the proverb, ' Change not a clout,' &c.) Cat gallows, n. a horizontal stick or bar, lodged upon two perpendicular ones, used by boys in practising jumping. See Jumping -stock. Chunk, n. a lump broken or cut off; a large slice. SOUTH-EAST WOECESTEBSHIEB GLOSSAEY. 89 Chnssha-Wagga, n. inferior or ' skim cheese,' thus described : — ' Two pints of milk and three of slobber. Fire wunt fret it, Water wunt wet it Knife wunt out it. Dog barks behind the door, Cos a oawnt yut it.' Clane as a Whistle = completely. ' That thing as thay uses in IVance (the Gully- tine don't um call it?) to put folks to dyuth ooth, insted a 'angin' um ; cuts ther yuds off " as clane as a whistle." ' Clench, v. in drawing water from a well with a bucket,' the act of turning the bucket over, in such a manner as for the edge to go under water, is called clenching the bucket. Cob, n. a game, in which the players have to endeavour to bowl a marble into a hole made in the ground. Cotton, V. to be agreeable. ' Fur 'im to pay mu the same money for doin' 'is work, when I 'ad to find myself, look ; as a did when a gan mu my fittle oodn't cotton; un so I teld 'im.' ' Styles and I cannot cotton.' {Hist, of Gapt. Stukely, quoted by Nares. ) Cowed, V. bent. ' I don't think my spade is o' much account, fur 'e cowed as soon as ever a got into a bit o' gravel.' Cocksey, adj. consequential. Crack-up, v. to praise, or to speak highly of another. Crow-keeper, n. a boy employed to frighten away, crows in a cornfield. ' That fellow handles his bow like a crow -keeper.' {Shakesp., K. Lear, iv., 6). Cunning Man or Woman, n. a person having the reputation of being a wizard, or a witch. It is not an uncommon thing to say of such persons, that they have sold themselves to the devil. Cutting for the Simples ; an expression used, when speaking of a person who has done some foolish action. 'He wants cutting for the simples, I should think.' Deck, n. a pack of cards. ' But whiles he thought to steal the single ten. The King was slily finger'd from the deck I ' Shakesp., 3 Sen. YL, v., 1. Devil's Coach-horse, n. the ' rove-beetle,' or ' black cock-tail ' [Ocypus olens). Dick's hat-band. As cross (or as queer) as Dick's hat-band = ill-tempered, cross, obstinate. Don't spare; a common form of expression of welcome, to a friend who may have been invited to partake of a meal. ' Come, 'ave a bit moore ; don't spa/re.' 90 SOUTH-BAST WOECESTEESHIEB GLOSSAEY. Dowle, n. down, soft feathers. ' One dowle that's in my plume.' Shakesp., Temp., iii., 3. Drink -bus (drink-house), n. a building, or apartment, in which beer or cider are stored. Eek, Eek, Eek, n. the call to ducks. Eek- it-out, v. to use sparingly ; to make the best use of a scanty supply. Felth, n. feeling. Fiz-gig, n. a kind of squib, made of damped gunpowder, and often used for the purpose of suffocating wasps when an attempt is made to destroy their nests. Fizzle, V. to burn out like damp gunpowder ; exhausting itself in emitting sparks and smoke, without producing either a blaze or an explosion. Forry yu. This is an old form of saying 'for you,' not now very common. Groaning, n. a lying-in (HalKwell). Gulch, V. the act of swallowing. Haulier, or Hallyer, n. a person whose business is to do 'hauling' with horse and cart for hire. Hide-and-wink, n. hide-and-seek. Hiding, n. a beating. Jack-and-his-waggon, n. the constellation of ' The Great Bear.' Jime-stone; an upright stone in the fireplace of old-fashioned houses. ' Thee say that agyun, look; un I'll knock thee yud agyunst the jimestone.' (Probably a corruption of jamb-stone.) Jingling-match, n. a kind of dance. Jobber, w. a dealer, as pig-jobbfr. Kearf, n. a small bundle of hay. Eidney-bynn-sticks, n. the upright sticks by which kidney-beans (or scarlet-runners) are supported. Mat, V. to fit, to correspond. Mawnt, adv. must not. Middlings, n. same as gurgins or gurgeons. Migbty, adv. very, as ' a mighty good un ; ' 'a mighty little un,' &o. Molly-coddle, n. a man who does work appertaining ,to a woman. Most-in-general, generally. Mwust-an-ind, adv. generally ; almost always. SOUTH-EAST WOKCESTBESHIBE GLOSSAEY. 91 N is frequently placed before a vowel, as 'nawls' for 'awls,' 'naint' for 'aunt,' 'nuncle' for 'tmcle,' ' nopple' for 'an apple,' 'nunchin' for 'luncheon' (in this case, however, the ' 1 ' is dropped and ' n ' substituted). Nation, adj. very; as 'nation good,' 'nation bad,' &c. Neddy-grinnel, n. a dog-rose briar. Nine-men's-morris, n. a game in which each competitor has nine 'men,' which may consist of stones, pegs, blocks of wood, &c., A board called a morris board is generally used for the game, in which holes are bored (to a geometrical pattern) in which to place the ' men.' (Probably a modification of that referred to by Shakespeare, Mids. N. Dr., ii., 2.) Notomize, also atomy or atomize, n. a skeleton ; also a very thin person. brave ! int. an exclamation of commendation. {Boy.) ' Look father, I a lazed thase 'ere six ontle's o' whate.' (Father.) ' hrawe ! ' Oatlandish, an out of the way place. Pack Racket, n. a species of firework constructed so as to explode with a succession of loud reports (known in London as a cracker). Pecked forrud, v. fell forward. Pharisees, n. fairies. (The author has only heard old people use this term.) Pitchful, n. the quantity of hay, straw, manure, &c., which can be taken up at one time with a fork, or sheaf-pike. Plaguey, adv. used to emphasize any derogatory term or expres- sion; as 'a plaguey nuisance;' 'he drinks too much, a plaguey sight.' Playing at riband = playing truant. Prawl, V. to sew roughly, carelessly, or in a make-shift manner ; also called 'calling together.' Puggy, adj. said of a fowl, having short stimipy feathers remain- ing in the skin, after all the principal feathers have been plucked out. Pun, V. to thump or pound. Punk, n. trash ; applied to articles of inferior quahty ; a hard species of fungus is also called punk. Pure, adj. in good health. Resolve, v. to dissolve. ' Thaw, and resolve itself into dew.' Shakesp., Ham., i., 2. 92 SOUTH-BAST WOBCBSTBBSHIKB GLOSSABY. Saft as my Pocket, an expression signifying that the person of whom it is spoken is as soft as an empty pocket ; soft (or saft) being synonymous with silly or foolish. Sa^S, n. rushes ; used for the seats of chairs, such chairs being called ' sagf-bottomed chairs.' Sappy, adj. timber having much of the outer or softer portion compared with the inner, or more solid part, called the 'heart.' A simple or foolish person is also called 'sappy.' Spraekt, adj. smart, active, ready-witted. (Comp. Sprag, Shakesp., Mer. W., iv., 2.) Thiller, n., the horse between the shafts of a cart or waggon ; also called the filler. Wicked-mon, n. the devil. ' Little childun mustn't tell lies, the wicked-mon '11 'ave um else.' Finis. / /• "S^.", CfH •'wi/* JT TTWfT^ T ■ ^mM-l ^i >•*?•'■ .■•'?W,|