Chapter VII: Part 7

SPINNING ON—Lingering, dragging on. Hoo’s thi faddur? Oh! he’s spinnin’ on, nowder better ner war.

SPIN—Fat. Noo lads! Marvel laikers know this ’un. It’s when they spin inta t’ ring an’s deed for ’t.

SPANG-WHEW—Noo if Ah tell ye hoo this is deun some o’ t’ lads ’ll deea ’t Ah’s warn’d them they will. Anyway it’s abominable cruelty ta teeads, frosks, an’ cheepers.

SPECK—Patch an’ darn.

SPEEK, SPAK, SPEYK—He was full o’ droll speeks.

SPELK—T’ frame of a swill afoor t’ willy wands is woven in amang yan annudder.

SPIAND—Weaned. Sookin’s maistly meant, but a chap ’ll spian hissel of a lot o’ things in his time if he’s sense.

SPLATS—Gaiters. In my time, ebm i’ yours teea, knee britches an’ splats war i’ go.

SPOT—Place. What mak ov a spot hes ta hed this hauf-year? A gay good ’un fer tommy an’ plenty o’ wark. Ah’s stoppen on. A sair spot; spot yan oot; a drop o’ het rum ’ll gah reet ta t’ spot t’ first time ano.

SPRAFFLIN—A whiat easy body ’at’s rayder soft. When ye hear a women co’en her tudder hauf a laal howken, sprafflin thing, ye can put odds doon ’at t’ gray meear’s t’ better hauf o’ that drawt.

SPAY, SPAY’D—Ass t’ coo doctor again.

SPIAD-GRAFT—The depth of one spade in the earth.

SPIC-AN’-SPAN—In good condition. She turned t’ barns oot spic-an’-span.

SPITTAL—Short for hospital—place name.

SPUNK—Pride. He hes plenty o’ spunk aboot him.

SPUNKY—Wi’ a bit o’ pluck, an’ plenty o’ style an’ _sang froid_. Theer noo, is that nowt?

SPAR—White rock ’at glitters an’ glissens i’ t’ sun.

SPLAWDEREN—Ye’ve seen a chap ’at’s bin towtl’d ower an’ his arms an’ legs hev flowen aboot a bit as he was gaan. That’s splawderen.

SPLAWDER—Ta mak a gurt show. Thoo’s neea casion to splawder o’ ower t’ toon talken aboot us gitten a new creddle.

SPELK—A splinter fer brokkun limbs.

SPELSH, SPELSHED—To break or tear off leaving jagged ends. Same as a bough or stick.

SPIT, SPITTEN-IMAGE—He’s t’ spit ov his fadder; aye he’s spitten image ower again.

SPROGUED, SPLANSHED, SPRAIGED, SPLATTERED, SPLODDERED—Ye know what it is to wade about in a wet spot, where long grass, or ling, compels one to lift the foot a good height up each step and every particle of the dignity and poetry of motion disappears from our movements—that’s sproguen, splodderen, splanshen, or spraigen as the case may be. The terms are exactly fitted to the purpose they are used for.

SPRUNG-VEIN—A lump on a vein caused by a blow.

SPEEK-SHAFF—A spoke-shave (hem!)

SPECS, SPENKS, SPENTACLES—Spectacles.

SPREED—But hezn’t he some spreed wi’ him? Ye’ve seen them chaps ’at walks on their heels, whia this is yan o’ them.

SPRING-CLOGS—For ladies wi’ a gimmer i’ t’ sooal.

SPROOTS—Bits o’ flusters aboot t’ band o’ t’ nail.

SPELKS—To hod t’ stack cooat doon.

SQUAB, SWAB—Sofa. Lig doon on t’ swab.

STARK—Stark, staren mad; stiff an’ stark; he’s varra stark; inflexable, unyielding.

STATESMAN—A man who lived on and cultivated his own land. He was yan o’ t’ few stiatsmen left amang us.

STEED—In place of. Thee gang steed o’ me.

STREEN, STRAIN—Race, tribe, generation. Er they owt akeen? They’re o’ t’ siam streen, but it’s gay near worn oot.

STIAK—Stiak t’ door. A good strong bolt for an old fashened door was a strong stake of wood inserted in holes in the walls of the doorway.

STIAVLEN—Aboot t’ siam as stopen. “He gat up stav’ling, nin could tell how suen.”—_Graham._

STOOKS—Stook up an’ gah hiam.

STOON, STOOND—A sudden pang. It went through mi heed wi’ sec a stoon.

STAND-OWER—What we tell t’ nags when we’re bedden them doon.

STRANGE—Distant in manner. He was seea strange an’ hee an’ different, nut like hissel ato.

STOT—A bullock.

STIAK-AN-RISE—A natty way o’ dikin’.

STRIKE—A bushel.

STOWTER—Stacker: “And there let them stowter for me.”—_Anderson._

STEEL—What t’ butcher whets his gully on.

STEEL-YARD—A weight balk ’at weighs bi’ measure.

STIANI—Stiani-gill, Stiani-raise, an’ seea on; a lads marvels ’ll some o’ them be stianies.

STIRRUP-CUP—The glass that is taken after the guest has mounted his horse.

STO’ED, STO’FED—Ah dar say some o’ ye’s sto’ed o’ this riapment week efter week, an’ yan gits sto’ed varra oft’ o things ’at’s ower good bi’ hauf for us.

STOOR—A quarrel. We’d a regular stoor aboot t’ bullocks gitten oot o’ t’ pasture inta their corn field.

STOPPEN-ON—When sarvant men, an’ lads an’ lasses, git a spot ’at they like an’ they can hit on’t fer wage they stop-pon. They durt skift that tierm.

STRADDLE—Stride. Thoo can straddle ower theer surely.

STRAP-OIL—We used ta think it grand fun ta send a lad fer a pennorth an’ wait for him ta come wi ’t yewlen like a gurt cauf.

STRAPPIN—A gurt strappin fellow. Yan ’at’s weel grown.

STAND-SWASH—Stand out of the way. Stand-swash, Ah’s gaan to lowp.

STECK—A horse taks t’ steck when it won’t tak t’ cart an’ inch farder fer nowt ner neea body, an’ varra oft t’ nag maister taks t’ stick aboot t’ siam time.

STUCKER—State of alarm. Thoo’s put us in a stucker noo, gaan ta be wedded an’ us seea thrang wi’ t’ turmets. Thoo’s neea thowt.

STUSSLE—Confusion; stir. He was o in a stussle an’ fuss.

STAG—Thoo gurt awkward stag. A young nag at izzant brokken in.

STAKEN, STOPEN—Aboot t’ siam as “popen” an’ “mopen.” Staken aboot wi’ his mooth wide oppen.

STALKEN—To stiffen. Ah was varra near stalkened.

STANKEN—“T’ thing was theer still, an’ Ah cud heer it stanken, an’ granken, an’ blooen fer o t’ woorld like oold Dick Smith.”—_The Mason’s Ghost Story._

STEE—A ladder. A chap ’at can’t see a whol in a stee ’s badly hodden, deed is he.

STEG—Gander. A steg on a het girdle fer dancin’ aboot.

STICKS—As black as sticks. Nacken like rotten sticks. Selt up, stick an’ stower. Cut thi stick. He’s a gay stick. Tak’ thi stick an’ hook it. Ah’s yabble ta gie neea information; they o mean summat, neea doot.

STIDDY—Stithy-anvil.

STILTEN, STILTEREN—Siam as “Stowteren.” A bit awkward on a body’s pins.

STOOP—Post.

STRIPPINS, STRIP, STRIPT—Some kye ’ll give a drop o’ mair milk efter t’ main on ’t ’s bin gitten, seea they’re stript for ’t.

STRIKES, STRUCK—This is aboot t’ sheep i’ het wedder; a drop o’ rubbin bottle for ’t.

STUB, STUBBIN-HACK—Stub whins. Get them up by the root.

STUB, STUB-TWIST—An old horse shoe nail is known as a stub, and a gun barrel made out of them is known as a stub twist, an’ a soor, sulky chap is said ta liuk as if he could bite stubs through.

STUFF, STUFT—To be crammed with tales that are without foundation in fact.

STUNNEN—Hoo go? Stunnen.

STUNNER—A beauty. Yon gallawa’s a stunner.

STURDY, STOWT—These is sheep complaints, an’ varra bad uns.

STAND-KIRN—Yan o’ t’ auld farrand sooart. Up an’ doon, some fooak co’ them.

STANG—A sudden pang of pain; a cart shaft; a bull stang; but sen Ah can tell they used ta ride t’ stang at New Year. Eve, or New Year Day, fer yal. T’ fun was catchen chaps ’at pretended they dudn’t want ta be catch’d ta be stanged, an’ dudn’t they liuk silly astride ov a powl, an’ tweea fellows carryen them frae yah public-hoose tul anudder, an’ a arm chair ta stang t’ winner in. It’s gian oot o’ date, an’ it’s happen as weel.

STILTER—(Whar’s t’ word genius noo?) Ye’ve seen a fellow gahn ower a lot o’ rough cobbly stians, an’ he’s bin steppin atop on them varra careful, as if he was flait o’ fo’in off; he was stilteren amang t’ cobbles. Siam wi’ muck an’ waiter, ye’ve ta stilter throo on tippy-teeas.

STIRK—A young heifer or bullock.

STOUR—A bit o’ bad blood ’at brecks oot in a fratch, an’ sometimes ends with a feit. Like that ’at co’s aboot March, it’s a bit blustery, an’ varra oft ther’s a change on aboot than—o’ bad words.

STEP-MOTHER-JAGS—Nang-nails explains this.

STEER-OFF—Start for. We mun steer off hiam. Aye, what it ’ll be gitten on fer t’ edge o’ neet bi ye git theer.

STICK—A pint o’ yal Mary wi’ a stick in ’t will ye? It’ a drop o’ rum.

STEP-MOTHER-BITS—Varra canny bits o’ breed er cheese,

STERICS—Hysterics.

STINKEN-ROGER—Ye’ll find it i’ t’ garden.

STINT—A given quantity. A chap hed chang’d t’ coo diet an’ was weighin t’ butter ta know t’ effect. “Weel diun, dockens an’ nettles,” he sez tul hissel, “t’ auld stint.”

STOMACH—Appetite. Ah’ve neea stomach fer nowt. Ah ca’t stomach fat meat, ato’.

STOOR—Ye’ll mappen find some aboot March.

STAP—Round in a ladder, or stee.

STEND—A stick to hod a stuck pig oppen tell it sets.

STOOR AN’ DRIFE—small driven snow. Seek a neet! Stoor an’ drife fit ta blind yan.

STRACKLIN—A bad ’un.

STREEN—Strain as through a syle. Also to relate how the milk comes from the udder without effort when over full. Also the action of milking as it streens from the teats to the vessel when properly performed.

STRINGS—They hev ta deea wi’ kye aboot cauven time, but ass t’ coo docter.

STINT—A common right, but bless ye ther’s neea commons noo. They’re o’ gian up lang sen.

STUMP AN’ RUMP—Iv’ry rism. She set him a quart o’ poddish, some breed an’ cheese, an’ he felt t’ lot stump an’ rump. When fooak gits inta difficulties t’ bum bailiff sells ’em up stump an’ rump, stick an’ stane.

STAND—A stall at a fair.

STRETCH—Distance. It’s a gay lang stretch ta walk.

STIRRINGS—Aboot t’ fair an’ tierm times thers bits o’ stirrins.

STITCH-A severe pain in the side from over exertion.

STOUR—See Dyke-stour.

STRAKE—A piece of horn to scrape t’ churn doon wi’, or t’ cream pot, or bowl.

STRAKE—A piece of wood with a perfectly straight edge to strake a measure of grain and so test it and remove that which is over and above measure.

STRAKE—A marvel laiker’s word at ringy.

STRICKLE—What a mower sharpens his ley wi’. Thers t’ greasehorn, sandhorn, an’ t’ auld knife, an’ what is ther cheerfuler than whetting a scythe on a fine day i’ July, t’ auld hands can fairly mak music on ’t.

STRINKLIN—A thin covering; a griming. Put a strinklin’ o’ lime on ’t.

STRECK—Straight. Streck as a seeve.

STUTT—To stammer.

STEEL—A place where a footpath is taken over a hedge.

STOWER—T’ end of a cart stang ’at sticks oot ahint. What yan could ride o’ them formerly.

SUCK-IN, SUCKT-IN, SUCKT—A famish preacher was exhorting his congregation ta come noo, come at yance, he says, er—er—er—ye’ll be suckt. It means disappointed.

SWAPE—It’s when a chap walks on his heels, throws his heed weel back, an’ does a bit a quaveren wi’ his shooders. He gahs wi’ a ter’ble swape, an’ maks a gurt spreed.

SWAD—Pea shell or bean.

SWAIL, SQUAIL—To throw with violence.

SWAP—Cowp, exchange, barter. Ah’ll cowp ebben hands.

SWITCHER—A smart ’un; yan wi’ a bit o’ swape aboot her.

SWAG—T’ inside of a beggar pooak.

SWAMISH—Shy. A gurt swamish lad.

SWARM—To climb a tree by clasping it with the arms and legs.

SWARM-PLUM-SWARM—When t’ bees kest.

SWATCH—Sample. He’s yan o’ t’ siam swatch. It would seem that one kind of a swatch is a piece of material or wool accompanying a consignment to the dyer for a pattern.

SWEAL—To burn down rapidly on one side as a candle burns in a draught.

SWEEP—Carten hay withoot putten it i’ t’ cart, but trailen on ’t efter.

SWEG—Swallow. Sweg as mich kurn’d milk inta thi as thoo can hod.

SWELTRY—Close, warm, moist.

SWEY—Weigh butter an’ chow cheese. A pund o’ mair weight. Heighow fer t’ days when we used ta swey on a plank.

SWIPE—Sup hurriedly. Swipe ’t up an’ hev anudder.

SWARF’T—Swooned. She swarf’t reet away when they telt her.

SWARTH, SWARTHY—A body at’s bin badly an’ it’s gian hard wi’ them an’ they come oot thin an’ ghost-like is said to be a swarth. Dark sallow complexion is swarthy.

SWATH—Bacon rind. A swath on ’t like leddur.

SWEET MILK—Pleasure. Noo it izzant o sweet milk fer fooak ’at’s plenty o’ brass.

SWINGE, SWIDDER, SWIZZEN—Singed with fire.

SWYPES-A game like skittles.

SWYPES—Poor yal; it’s nobbut swypes. A gurt drinker is a ter’ble swype.

SWILL—It gahs i’ t’ giss troff. To drink varra greedy like.

SWINWAS—Cater-corner, diagonal, frae yah corner of a field or a fell ta t’ tudder. T’ auld gam keeper used ta say when they war oot wi’ t’ shutters, “We’ll tak this bit swinwas.”

SWIATHE, SWIATHE-BALK—The grass as the mower turns it off his scythe; t’ swiathe-balk is t’ grund ’at t’ swiathe ligs on. Ah telt ye aboot Parson Harrison lal biuk, ower three hundred year old, he tells a lal bit aboot it. Happen some day Ah’ll put it in.

SWINE-THROUGH—It’s fair shamful hoo some fooak ’ll swine-through ther stuff.

SWINGLE-TREE—What they yoke up wi’ ta plew an’ seck.

SWITHER—A rough blow. He swang his arm aroond an’ catcht me seck a swither ower t’ heed.

SWAG—Sway. Thoo fair maks t’ booards swag.

SWALLOP—When ye’ve a dose o’ salts ta git doon, t’ best way’s ta swallop it off at yah drawt.

SWAPE—What we turn t’ kurn wi’.

SWAT—Sit doon. Ye’re i’ neea hurry, swat ye doon an’ hod crack.

SWATTER—To waste time or money and do it in driblets. He’d a conny bit o’ brass frae an auld aunt, but he swatter’d through ’t. He’d swatter aboot an’ nivver buckle teea as he owt.

SWILLY-WHOLS—Pot-whols on t’ moors.

SWANG, SWANGY—A swang, or a wet swangy spot in a field is t’ spot ta late snipes. That is if ye know whar ta liuk.

SWAPE—A thing wi’ teeth in ta scale muck an’ bray clots oot.

SWATTLE—To fritter away time in frivolous dissipation.

SWEET-BUTTER, SWEET-BUTTER-DO—Ye know this; it’s what’s good fer krissenens, an’ seck do’s. Butter wi’ rum an’ sugar tult.

SWEETEN TA YER LIKIN’—Make your tea or coffee as you like it. A Peerith body used ta tell a tial aboot a chap gaan off frae hiam an’ when he co’ back yan o’ t’ things he hed ta tell his mudder was ’at he’d hed some sweeten-ta-yer likin’, an’ supt thirteen laal potfuls on ’t.

SWIJE—A chap wi’ a sair ee said it kittled, an’ it swij’d an’ he’d rub’d it tell he’d frig’d o t’ skin off.

SWINE-GRIUN’D—Siam as “Pig-chafted.”

SWILL—Ta gedder taties in.

SYLING—Pouring down. It’s fair sylen doon.

SYE—Ratch siam as some fooak’s conscience.

SYKE—A lal bit beck, neea bigger ner a gurt gutter. T’ sykes er oft dry i’ summer.

SYLE—A milk strainer. Syle t’ milk an’ set it away.

SYPE—To drain. Hing it ower t’ wo, an’ let it sype.

SYPINS—Dregs. Thers’ nowt fer me but some sypins o’ tea.

TAFFY-JOIN—A club up ta mak’ a boilen o’ taffy on a winter neet.

TAGALT—A nasty auld tagalt! It’s yan wi’ a bad habit er tweea.

TATH, TATHY—Tufty grass whar grund’s puffed up.

TAW—T’ motty. Ta taw t’ line is a good thing—allus—worken er laiken.

TAYSTREL—A good-fer-nowt character. Thoo’s a nasty taystrel.

TAICH, TACH, TACK—Fassen on slemly. Tach us a button wi’ ta?

TAGUE—Tease. Yon barn’s a reg’lar tague.

TALLY-IRON—What cap borders is crimpt on.

TARN—A gurt pond, er laal lake.

TATIES AN’ POINT—When ther’s neea meat but saut.

TA-YEAR—This year. We’st hev nin ower mich hay ta-yer.

TAK-UP—Be fine. Ah wish t’ wedder wad tak up.

TALLY—Single men an’ ther wives. Leeven tally. T’ new woman wad rayder co’ ’t summat else, seea wad t’ auld man, but we stick ta t’ auld words.

TALLY-MAN—A woman’s husband she’s nut wedded tull bi’ t’ Church ner t’ State. Happens a Gretna Green touch, er a gipsy, er a potter do, an’ that’s o.

TALLY-MAN—A travelling tradesman wi’ his shop on his rig ’at tacks seea mich a week an’ missins.

TARGER—A bit ov a character. Yon’s a targer.

TEEA—Toe, too, to.

TEAFIT—Plover, peewit, er teafit i’ common talk.

TEANAL—A cockle basket.

TEDDER—To fasten a bull to a stoop wi’ a riap.

TEARER, TEAR-AWAY—A chap ’at brashes aboot an’ maks a gurt show o’ wark.

TEESTER—Bed-heed.

TERRILOO—Set t’ dog on amang t’ geese, an’ ther ’ll be a terriloo.

TEWTLEN—Whistling. He was gaan on tewtlen up to keep t’ boggles off.

TEEAFAW—A laal bit poorch an sec, built up again t’ hoose side.

TEETOLLY—A small square top to laik at pins wi’.

TEEM, TOOM, TIUM—To pour out. Teem him a cup oot.

TENG—Sting. Ah gat teng’d wi’ a wamp. Also the point of any article driven into a shaft.

TER’BLE—We’re hev’n ter’ble fine wedder fer oor hay, an’ we’ve a ter’ble lot on ’t doon, an’ its ter’ble heavy ta-year.

TEW—Ye o know what ’tis ta hev ta tew an’ slave, seea Ah say neea mair on ’t.

TEWER—One who makes a good fight. He’s a tewer is yon.

TEDDR’D-BI-T’-TEETH—Feeding. Betty, whars your Bob? He’s here si’tha tedder’d-bi-t’-teeth.

THAK—Roof. I’ yah spot when a babby com a lad they pitched him on ta t’ hoose top; if he stopt up he war miad intul a thacker, an’ if he rowled off he was put ta preechen.

THATN, THISN—That; this.

THREEP—To argue or contradict. Will ta threep that lee i’ mi fiase?

THROWN-OWER-T’-BAWKS—Ass’d oot at t’ kirk fer weddin purposes.

THUMMEL-TEEA—Big toe.

THICK—In love.

THIVEL, THIBLE—What we stir poddish wi’.

THOIL, THOOL, THOLE—Find in yan’s heart. He can hardly thole ta loss t’ reek off his poddish.

THOMASES—Gurt wallopen clogs.

THOW-WIND—It comes fer t’ frost an’ snow, an’ its a snizer at times.

THRANG—Busy. We’re thrang as can be wi’ t’ hay. Thrang as throp wife.

THRIMMEL—To part with anything in a hesitating and reluctant way. He thrimmell’d them nooates ower an’ ower afooar he left lowse o’ them.

THRINKUMS, TANKLEMENTS, TACKLEMENT, THINGEMITY—These is three or fower gay lang ’uns, seea what they mun gang in a row siam as Johnny Lingo sheep. They mean owt ’at ivver ye want them ta mean, an’ when ye’re fast fer a word o’ that sooart tak yan o’ this mack.

THROPPLE—Throat.

THROUGH—A gurt stian ’at gahs reet through a wo’ an’ cocks oot at tudder side ta bark yer shins on when yer clammeren ower ’t.

THROUGHLY—Buxom. She’s a gay throughly body ’at’s well tian care on.

THROUGH-HANDS—Ah’ll tak thi through-hands. Chastise.

THROW—A turning machine is yah mak, an’ ta be put on yer back i’ wrusslen’s anudder.

THUM-SHAG—Tak a bit of thin haver ciak an’ cover’t wi’ butter fresh oot o’ t’ bowl, an’ spreed it wi’ t’ thum.

THUM-SYMES—Streea bands.

THEAT—Watertight.

THROSSAN-UP—Nin ower mich room. Mi teeas is o throssan up i’ these shun.

THROSSAN-UP—Yan ’at’s prood, forrad, fast. Stuckan up, that’s it. A throssan up monkey, she stinks o’ pride (hem!)

THWACK—Ah gat sec a thwack ower t’ cannister wi’ his stick.

TIT-BO’-TAT—A kind o’ tennis laikt wi’ t’ hand again a hoose side.

TIA, TIAN—One; the one.

Brian o’Lynn thoo’s a welcome guest,
Whilk o’ mi dowters does thoo like best?
Tian can card an’ tudder can spin,
Ah’ll wed them biath, sez Brian o’Lynn.

TIAVE, TIAVEN—Planshen aboot amang t’ wet gurse, er owt. We tiaved aboot laiten mushrooms.

TIDDY-WEE—Hev some mair? A lal tiddy-wee bit thenk ye.

TIED—Obliged. “Ah’s tied ta be theer.” That’s what chap said ’at was gaan ta be wed. “Nay,” says his mudder, “thoo’s theer ta be tied.” T’ auld woman knew.

TIERM, TEARM—The half-yearly holiday at Martinmas and Whitsuntide.

TIFF, TIFFY—Dispute. We’d a bit of a tiff. Bad temper. He gat intul a tiffy ower t’.

TIFT—Pant. Runnen maks yan tift.

TITE—As lief. Ah’d as tite be tied tul a coo tail an’ trail’d ta deeth as leeve wi’ some fooak.

TITTER, TIDDER, TITTERMOST—Thoo’ll gang titter if thoo gangs bi thisel—which is tittermost?

TIG—A slight tap, used i’ laiken at Tiggy-Tiggy-Touchwood.

TISSICK—An epidemic. It’s neea cauld, Ah’s sure, it’s a tissick ’at’s gaan aboot. Like iv’rything else, noo, they’ve gitten a foreign niam fer ’t—Russian influenza.

TITTIVATE—Watch a young fellow aboot twenty, siapen his mustach o’ t’ Setterda neet, an’ putten same on his heed, an’ macken hissel as smart as ivver he can. That’s tittivaten.

TIDY—Good fettle. Hoo’s ta blowin’? Oh, tidy fer an’ auld ’un.

TIP-HORN—Varra bent and cruikt as a tip-horn. That is i’ temper.

TIGGY-TIGGY-TOUCHWOOD—A gam at tiggin; t’ hauld mun be a wood un ta siave ye.

TOITLE—Fall off. He toitle’t off a carful o’ hay.

TOP-LIP—Moustache. Tho’ll nut ken oor Jack; he’s letten his top-lip grow. What’s ta growan thi top-lip for, thoo gurt silly neddy? Fer fiuls ta liuk at.

TODGE—Shog, shamble. He was todgen on nice an’ stiddy.

TOCH—A laal lock. A toch o’ hay.

TOITY, TOIT, TOITISH—Concerning tempers. A chap ’at’s gitten his rent paid, putten a bit by, an’ things gaan on gaily weel, ’ll be i’ fair good toit.

TOME—A fishing line. To pull taffy. “Linked sweetness long drawn out”—that’s tomin taffy oot.

TOUCH—Broon paper steeped i’ saltpetre an’ dried ta leet pipes wi’ a flint an’ steel.

TOUCHWOOD—Wood that is thoroughly rotten. To this is ascribed the Willy-wi-t’-wisp—that dread of youngsters.

TOFT—A building:

“Jenny Hunter leev’t than on t’ auld beck smiddy loft,
An’ Will Lytel held rest o’ that spead maken toft.”
—_A Tail for Joe and the Geologist._

TOMMY-LOACHERS—Ah telt ye aboot t’ bullheads; these is his mates.

TOORAL-OORAL, TOWRY-LOWRY—Just when a chap’s gaan ower t’ line afooar he’s drunk as a wheel heed.

TOOARTI—Easily offended. Thoo mun mind hoo thoo talks, he’s as tooarti as can be if thoo comes wrang way o’ t’ grain.

TOOZEL—Upset. Thoo wants ta toozel up thi toppin a bit mair.

TOPPER—Thoo’s a topper at a bit o’ leein. “He sings i’ the kirk, what a topper is he.”—_Anderson._

TOPS—That tops o. “O what a top scholar is Matthew Macrae.”—_Anderson._

TOSSPOT—See Piase-egg.

TOWERTLY—Willingly, pratly.

“An’ when she’d pang’d her belly fou,
How towertly she came hiam.”—_Anderson._

TOWP—Tip. Towp t’ car up an’ gah hiam.

TOWTIL—Upset. He towtill’d off his chair on ta t’ fleear.

TOMMY—Food. What’n a tommy shop is ’t?

TOP-HEAVY—Wi’ a laal drop mair i’ yan ner’ll gah streck; an’ owt else ’at’s welted a bit at top.

TOPPIN—What they lead cuddies bi, an’ lasses curl wi’ het pipe stoples to spoil ther bonny fiases.

TOON-GIAT—The main thoroughfare of a village or town.

TORFERT—To turn up through weakness or excessive effort. Ah’s gaan to torfert Ah’s flait.

TOUCHER—As near as a toucher.

TOUCHY, TOCHIOUS—Short tempered; catted; as touchy as can be. Thoo needn’t be seea touchious.

TRALLOP, TRALLOPS—Aye dear! These is used fer a mack o’ fooak ’at’s nowder fend ner shift aboot them. Peur beggars, they git t’ hard word frae ivvrybody.

TRALLACK, TRALLACKEN, TRALLACKS—He wad trallack aboot wi’ a auld gun under his arm; we war trallacken aboot amang t’ snow; she’s a gurt nasty trallacks, ’at is she.

TRASHEN, TRASHEN-ABOOT—To be engaged in a dirty or unpleasant occupation in wet or unfavourable weather.

TRASHY—Wild wet weather. It’s varra trashy.

TRASHY—Of bad habits sairy man. Dick, Ah’s flait he’s nobbut trashy.

TRIAK, TRIAKEN—Trailen aboot. Thoo wad triak yan aboot as lang as yan can git yah fiut by tudder.

TRIG—Tight fitting; neat. These shun’s as trig as skin.

TRINTER—Three years old sheep.

TRIPPET—Tip-cat, peggy, er what nut. Pointed at baith ends. “He was shiap’d aw the war’l like a trippet.”—_Anderson._

TROLLY-BAGS—A chap wi’ a deal o’ waistcoat.

TROT—Tease. They trotted him aboot that caper tell he was crazy mad ower ’t.

TRAIL—Drag. Let’s gah trail whins fer oor bian-fire. See Hag-an’-trail.

TRAIL-TRIPE—Yan ’at’s come inta t’ world rayder back on, an’s i’ neea hurry to mack up.

TREACLE JACKY—Teetotaller’s yal miad at hiam oot o’ treacle; er as yah chap writes to say Bawtree Johnny—that’s elder wine.

TREMENDOUS—He’s a tremendous chap fer howken amang auld biuks, er papers, er owt o’ that mack. He tiak tremendous good care ta stick ta owt he gat hauld on.

TRENCHER-MAN—A heavy feeder’s a first class trencher man.

TRICK—Dealings. Ah’ll hev neea trick wi’ thi ato.

TRIVIT—Ah’s as reet as a trivit.

TROD—A path made by the constant treading of feet—fiut-trod, rabbit-trod, coo-trod, sheep-trod, an’ seea on.

TROONCE—Chastise. Ah’ll troonce thi a bit fer thi craft.

TRUGFUL—An assboordful o’ owt.

TRUST—Credit. Ah bowt that nag o’ trust.

TRUNNEL—Wheel fer t’ barrow. T’ trunnel is like a lot o’ mair things, they gah better wi’ greasin’.

TRAVELLERS’ JOY—Whar it grows theers watter.

TULL, TULT—To it. Dry breed an’ nowt tult.

TUTHER, TUDDER—When a chap can’t tell tudder frae which he’s badly hodden.

TUCKIN’—A “tuck-in” er a “tuck-oot” is a feed, an’ tuckin’s t’ act o’ sidin it away whar it’ll deea t’ miast good.

TULLY—A term of disgust. T’ gurt mucky tully, ’at is she, she wad scowbank aboot i’ any mack o’ muck an’ scrow afooar she wad side up.

TUMLER-WHEELS—A primitive description of cart used formerly in the dales; the wheels and axle revolve together.

TURN—Yan ’at sarras his awn turn, er does o his awn turns, is yan ’at minds his awn end at iv’ry turn.

TURN-AN-NIUK—We’ll set ye as far as t’ turn-an-niuk. It’s a bend in the road.

TURNIP-LANTERN—A lantern made out of a turnip. O lads gahs through t’ turnip lantern stage i’ ther turns, an’ ther’s nowt pleases them better ner ta flay sombody wi’ yan ’at they’ve scowpt oot, an’ cutten een, nooase, mooth, an’ lug whols in ’t an’ stucken shoomakker pegs in fer teeth.

TUSHES—Tusks.

TUSHY-PEGS—T’ barn teeth.

TWANG’D—Twisted. Thoo’s twang’d thi shoe heel o yah side.

TWIG—A lad’s prank, consisting of jerking upwards the short hairs of the neck fer bad manners e company.

TWINK—Ah’ll be wi’ ye in a twink.

TWINTER—Two years old sheep.

TWITCH, TWITCH-RIAK—Couch-grass. An iron rake.

TWITTER—Trull like a bird, tremble. His lip was twitteren when he telt ’at his lass hed gi’en him t’ sneck possett.

TWANGK—Siam as troonce.

TWIST—Appetite. That lad hes a twist.

TWINEY—Fractious, pleeny, ailing. That barn’s seea twiney Ah can deea nowt fer frabbin wi’ ’t.

TWITE-TA—Confound thi. Od twite-ta thoo’s ower mich auld buck aboot thi fer tweea.

TWOSUM—Both. T’ twosum rowt hard ta git on.

TYPE, TYPER—To sup up at one draught. Type it up, an’ when a few’s bin typ’d up he’s a typer.

TYKE—A heedless, hearty ho-buck, wi’ a rough heed an’ a rougher tongue, an’ ways ’at seeuner er leeater ’ll land i’ bodder. That’s a tyke. Somehoo we like t’ tike breed if they wad nobbut hev a bit mair wit.

UDDERSOME—Other persons; queer, Ah’s as uddersome as o’ that.

UDDERWAS—Other ways. He’d yah faut, he liked yal, udderwas a better fellow ye nivver could leet on; contrary—thoo’s neea casion ta be sa udderwas ower ’t.

UGLY-MUG—A compliment fer nice liuken fooak. Thoo wad deea ta gang ta Burton an’ set fiaces fer ugly-mugs.

UNBETHOWT—Remembered:

Auld Willie Bowt, Ah unbethought,
Ow’d him fer a quart Ah’d lang sen gitten,
Seea up Ah gat, an’ oot Ah pot,
An’ wisht them o besmitten.

UNDER-GROWTH—Apples that grow on the under side of the tree, and which are longer in ripening, and are sweeter for it.

UNGAIN—Roundabout. That’s a ungain way o’ gaan aboot thi wark min.

UNKID—Weird; strange; cross; queer. He telt us a unkid tial aboot his broughtins up.

UPBANK, DOONBANK, IN-BANK—Ah’ll put these ota-pgidder becos they’re o o’ yah mak’. Upbank’s gaan uphill, doonbank and inbank’s gaan doon. Upbank wark’s tryen ta git on i’ t’ world; doonbank’s a way a lot on us gah withoot mich tryen. An auld sayen is “Thoo’s like a coo tail; thoo grows doonbank.”

UPSHAW—Over. It’s aboot upshaw wi’ him.

UPSHOT—Final. T’ upshot was ’at they mud feit an’ feit tell o was black and blue they dud.

UPSTIRRING—Up and busy. We mun be upstirrin afooar t’ sparrows i’ t’ moornin’.

UPTACK—Reward for finding. They gat a croon fer t’ uptack o’ that hoond.

UPHOD—Maintenance. He’s a chap at’s at a ter’ble gurt uphod sen he was seea badly.

URCHIN, URCHANT—Hedgehog. They sook eggs, an’ kye, an’ lads throw them i’ t’ pond ta oppen them oot.

URL’D—A knotty tree, or piece of wood; a youth of poor physical development. He’s a laal url’d stunt; he’s set on an’ ’ll niver grow neea bigger.

USE-IN-DRUM—Interest on a small sum lent oot:

“Ah’ve three hauf croons put oot ta use,
An’ sixteenpence beside;
An’ Ah just draw the use-in-drum,
An’ let the heeal stock bide.”—_Old Song._

VAGABOND’S-FRIEND—Solomon’s seal. Cure’s black een, brossen snoots, bruises, an’ sec!!! It hez a good niam awur.

VARGUS—Thoor’s as soor as crab-varjus.

VAST—A large quantity, Ther’s a vast o’ fooak at’s back ta year wi’ t’ hay.

VIEW-HALLA—“My lugs rang as if John Hudson hounds hed startit a fox, an’ he was givvan t’ view-halla.”—_Joe and the Geologist._

VIRGIN-MARY—A garden flooer.

WADDITER—India-rubber for removing lead pencil marks—wad-eater.

WATTER-JOWLED—Soaked or sodden as potatoes are sometimes when cooking.

WAD—Would. Wad ye mind lenen mi mudder your cheese, we’ve some company dropt in? Ah wad’nt, honey, but Sarah hes ’t.

WAE-WORTH-THA—When yan’s summat nasty ta say an’ can’t find nowt better.

WARK—Ache.

WASS—Soor and acidy.

WAR’DAY—Week-day. See’sta, he went tull t’ market i’ his war’day clias, an’ fooak o giapen an’ glooaren wi’ o t’ een they hev at him, t’ auld maddlin’.

WARE—Spend. Thoo mun ware thi brass carefully.

WARF—Stale; damp. This meet tiastes warf. A pantry smells warf, an’ seea on.

WARN’D—Ah’s warn’d yer gaily thrang.

WARNING—Notice. He’s gi’en warnen ta quit.

WATER-SHOT—To form a wall or a stack on such a principle that water will run outwards and off.

WATER-WIER—To protect the sides of a water-course—they’re watter wieren t’ beck.

WATH—A way ower a beck wi’ gaan throo ’t, whar a rooad an’ it crosses an’ ther’s neea brig.

WATTLES—Countenance. Nivver let thi wattles doon ower a thing like that min.

WAWL, WAWEN—The music of cats at neet time.

WAX—Grow. Thoo niver waxes a bit.

WAXING-PAINS—When young fooak grow ower fast fer ther strength.

WAX-KERNELS—Lumps i’ t’ skin like nuts.

WAY-GAAN—Oot gaan er off-gaan crops an’ seck like, when a farmer comes to t’ end of his lease an’s gaan away.

WAF—A current of air. Keep oot o’ t’ waf o’ t’ train, er it’ll draw thi in anunder ’t.

WAFFY—Faint. Ah’s that waffy thoo could fell mi wi’ a fedder.

WAFFLE, WAFFLER—Change about. Thoo’l waffle aboot an’ say owt; thoo’s nowt but a silly waffler.

WAG-BI’-T’-WO—A clock wi’ neea wood-work an’ ye can see o’ t’ guts.

WAISTREL—A chap ’at gahs through his time an’ his substance withoot diun mickle good.

WAD—Lead. Thoo’s as blue as wad. Len’ us a bit o’ wad pencil.

WAD—Stuff; plug; gorge. Wad thisel wi’ some beef an’ taties.

WALLOP—Thrash. Ah’ll wallop thi fer thi craft.

WALLOPER—Large. That’s a walloper.

WALLOPEN—Thrashing.—Thoo’ll git a wallopen. Very large; it’s a gurt wallopen barn.

WALLAT—What a man carries his tommy in tied ower his rig. A corner field.

WANDLY—Gently. Oppen t’ deur wandly an’ creep in. In a quiet, suave manner. He wandly sez: “What, Joe, thou mapin wad’nt like to tell a body how thou gat on wi’ t’ oald jollyjist.”

WAP—A bundle of thrashed straw. He’d a wap o’ streea on his rig.

WATTER-BRASH—Anudder fer t’ coo doctor.

WALL-EYED—A dog with eyes of two colours.

WALLIKUR, WALLIKEN—Very big. A gurt walliken chap. That’s a wallikur.

WALLOW—Welsh. Ah’ve a nasty wallow tiaste i’ mi’ mooth like rotten eggs.

WAMLY—Faint from hunger. Ah’s wamly as owt fer mi dinner.

WANDS—Willows; switches.

“Noo’s thy chance then, thee be choosin’,
Likely wands are less’nin fast,
An’ if thoo gangs on refusin’
Thoo mun he’e t’ creeakt stick at last.”—_Bowness._

WANGLE, WANGKLY—Weak, without strength or vigour. Ah’s nobbut wangkly. Ah can hardly wangle aboot.

WANTER—Fooak ’at want a partner:

“He lives aw his lane; but he’s surely to blame
When a wanter like me may be had sae near heame.”
_Anderson._

WAP—A bundle of straw put round a pump or a tap to keep the frost out.

WAPEN-TAK—An officer employed to recover debt. “If he doesn’t pay up Ah’ll set t’ wapen-tack on tull him.” This officer is reported to have existed in the town of Kendal till as late as 1836.

WARBLE—A maggot in a cow’s hide.

WAR-OOT—War-oot o’ t’ way. Git oot o’ the rooad o’ danger.

WELT—Upset. Sooa! sooa! thoo murt welt t’ bucket. A rough blow. A welt ower t’ lug.

WEAKY—Moist; mellow. Put a wet cloot on t’ cheese ta keep ’t weaky.

WEATHER-BREEDER—A fine day amang a tot o’t tudder mak.

WEATHER-GLEAM—To perceive some one or something in the distance or dusk. Ah could weather gleam ye on afront on us.

WEATHER-GO—A lump of a rainbow end.

WEATHER-WISE—Yan ’at knows what soort o’ wedder we want, an’ prophecies ’at it’ll land up.

WEE—A laal wee chap wi’ a gurt heed.

WEEZEN’D—Wrinkled an’ shrivelled. A weezen’d laal monkey ’at is he.

WELSH—In want of a tonic. Ah’s as welsh as can be this moornen—this is efter a spree, when a saut heeren er owt o’ that mack gahs doon gaily grand.

WEZ’N, WEZ’RIN—Wind pipe.

WERT, WURT—Will not. Ah wert gah anudder step tell thoo pays me.

WEATHER-GLASS—Barometer—’t lasses played a breck yance wi’ yan, an’ t’ auld man put it oot o’doors amang t’ rain with the remark “See fer thisel thoo auld leer.”

WEATHER-GLASS—Red rubrum. Shuts up when its garn ta rain.

WHIFFLE, WHAFFLE—One that is easily turned. He whiffles an he whaffles; he’s like a dictionary, he sticks ta nowt neea length o’ time. Siam way wi’ t’ wind.

WHIGMALEERIE—A bit leet an’ whimmy. Nowt bad ye know, but just a bit fanciful amang t’ lasses an’ seck.

WHUFFLES—When t’ wind booasums a gay deal.

WHYTE-TA, OD-WHYTE-TA—About like ‘twiteta’; rayder a whiat mack o’ sweeren.

WHAFFIN, WHUFFIN, WHU’IN—The continued barking of a whelp or a chained dog. What’s ta whuffin at?

WHANG—A shoe liace; to throw down. He whang’d him doon wi’ seck a leddur.

WHANGEN—Aboot t’ siam as Brashen.

WHANGHY, WHANGBY—Summat er owt ’at’s varra teuf, a mack o’ cheese.

WHANKET—A rough piece. He’d a gurt whanket o’ cheese i’ yah nief, an’ a lump o’ broon Geordie i’ tudder, ’at he was trying ta fettle.

WHAKLY—An’ oily insinuating manner. Ah mak nowt o’ yer whakly, greasy fooak. Gie me yan ’at says what he thinks an’ neea mair on’t.

WHEEZE, WHEEZLY—Breathe. He can hardly wheeze an’ blow. Ah’s varra wheezly.

WHIDDEREN—Big; somewhat awkward. A gurt whidderen fellow.

WHIDDUR—Tremble. It maks yan’s skin whiddur to think on ’t.

WHIRLERS—Leather heels fer stockings ta keep t’ clogs, frae weearen them through.

WHISHT—Keep quiet. Whisht a bit an’ see if we can hear owt. Quietly. He was gaan on his tippy teeas as whisht as he could.

WHITE—Cut. White thi’ stick. Give up makin’ seea many whitins.

WHITTLE—Carving knife. I’ yah parish they’d nobbut yan an’ it stuck in a tree tell it was wanted. Fooak used ta shoot “Carls whittle ta t’ tree,” an’ that used ta mak them crazy.

WHUFT—T’ reek whuft doon t’ chimla. He whuft a chow o’ bacca oot. Summat diun gayley sharp wi’ a puff o’ wind.

WHYTE—Quite. He’s gon whyte away.

WHAMP—Wasp. A whamp nest.

WHARREL—Stone quarry; to quarry stone. Gang ta t’ wharrel fer a liad o’ stians.

WHATN—Whatn does thoo whistle i’ t’ hoose for?

WHAT-FOR—Why. What for does ta allus be seea unmannerly when fooak er in?

WHEEAM—Full thi wheeam, it’s last thoo’ll see fer a bit—its yan’s poddish pooak.

WHEEM—Smooth, soft-spoken, oily-tongued. He’s a gay wheem carl.

WHELLOCK, WHELLOCKER, WHELLOCKEN—A whellock ower t’ lug; a gurt whellocker. He got a whellocken. A rough lot these is fer owt ’ats awk’ard.

WHEMMLE—Overturn. Whemmle a swill ower that auld hen ’at’s clocken.

WHEN—Say when. That’s when they’re gaan ta lift owt ’at’s heavy. Yan says, “Say when.” Tudder ’ll say, “when,” then up it gahs.

WHENT—Quaint, old-fashioned, funny. He’s a whent ’un.

WHET—Ah’ll hev neea mair this whet. Whet stands for many things, such as turn, occasion, at present, and so on.

WHAMBLY—A bit shakky efter a badly roond.

WHUP-CRACKEN—A lump o’ coord ta mak a whup crack; o’ lads wants a bit.

WHUPPERSNAPPER—An upstart; yan ’at’s kilt wi’ wit; a bit of a fop; a silly clown. Efter we hed bin on wi’ these words a gay canny bit Ah gat a letter ta say ’at t’ first conclusion ’at yan o’ mi readers hed come tull was ’at Ah was a whuppersnapper, macken gam o’ fooak, an’ ther auld farrant twang; seea ye’ll know noo what ta say when ye want to plague somebody a bit.

WHUP-STREEA—Thrash. Thee gang an’ whup streea, an’ Ah’ll gah oot wi’ t’ nags.

WHUZ—A lad’s laiken miad oot ov a roond bit o’ leed, an’ spun aroond wi’ twisted string. It gangs like a circular saw, an’ fair whuzes.

WHY—A coo calf’s a why calf.

WHYA-NEEA—“Whya-neea” means “Well no,” wi’ a bit o’ foorce behint it. “Whya neea!” sez Ah, “Ah’ll deea nowt at mack nowder fer thee ner thi betters sista.”

WHYA-well; yes. Whya an’ hoo er ye o’ gaan on? Whya what wer o’ amacka middlin. Will ta hev me? Whya what Ah’s be like as thoo asses seea nicely.

WHY-LAIKENS—Beestens.

WHEWED—To throw in a temper. He whewed t’ door teea wi’ seck a leddur.

WHEWTEN—Snowing slightly.

WHEWTLE—Whistle. Whewtle us an air on ’t.

WHICHN—Whichn will thoo hev?

WHICK—Living; growing. A whick dike; _i.e._, a growing whick-set hedge, as distinct from a dry dike.

WHICKS—Watch a sheep ’at hez them—they’re lal mawks.

WHICK-SET—Growing hawthorn in a hedge.

WHICKENIN—A risin o’ yast.

WHICKIN-RAKE—A iron riak fer cleanen aboot t’ dike boddum.

WHIGS—Laal conny ciaks, wi’ seeds in.

WHILES—Occasionally. Whiles he’s as reet as anybody.

WHILK—Whether, which. Whilk on ye’s gaan wi’ me?

WHILLY-LILLY—Greasy whakly daubment. Ther’s neea whilly-lilly wark aboot huz, neea marry.

WHINGE—Cry. Thoo’ll git summat ta whinge for, if Ah cu ta thi.

WHINNY, WHINNYEN—The neighing of horses.

WHIMWHAM—A whuz. A lad’s laiken, like a waiter wheel in a beck.

WHIRL-PUFF—A whirlwind on a laal scale.

WHIPLETREE—A swingletree. He was a genuine type of the Lakeland character who so used this word on more than one occasion. [I do not vouch for its existence now in the above sense.]

WHIPS—Lots. We’ve whips o’ streea.

WHITLOW—A poisoned finger; gathering about the nail.

WHITTLE-GIAT—Ah telt ye what a saw giat is. This is whar t’ carvin’ knife gahs, an’ years sen it was t’ tommy ’at t’ skiul-maister hed frae them wheeas barns he was larnen ta shoot. It maks yan laff noo ta see what ways they hed a few o’ years sen.

WICKS—Twitch.

WIRE IN—To buckle teea wi’ a good will. Wire in an’ git thi niam up.

WHITCHWOOD, MICKANWOOD—Nowt nobbut t’ auld burtree ’at witches was flayed on formerly. Witches bi gom! Ah say witches an’ mowin machines! Eh! What?

WIND-IN-A-DYKE—Summat ’ats sharp he’s gian doon t’ toon like wind in a dyke, what is ther up? It went like wind in a dyke at they war gaan ta be wedded.

WIDDIES—Willy-wands at yah time used fer door jimmers.

WILLY-WAND—A willow.

WISP—A handfull of straw put in shoes or clogs to keep the feet warm. A bit of twisted straw stuck in a hole of a sack—otherwise, a miller’s cloot. To clean a horse; whisp it doon. An’ amair forbye these.

WIAS—A roond streea ring fer a pan ta stand on.

WIASTRY—Waistfulness. Seck waistry as yan niver dud see barn; it’s fair shocken.

WID—With.

WID’NT, WAD’NT—Will not; would not.

WILL-CAN—Be able and willing. Ah deea wish ’at ye will-can come as ye said, it’ll be seea grand ta gang on t’ fells an’ lait ferns.

WILLY-WI’-T’-WISP—Leets i’ dike breeasts at dark o’ neet. Varra flaysome things is willy-wi’-t’-wisp.

WIND—Scent. Wind ’em noo.

WIND—Breath. Ah’s short o’ wind. Ah’s aboot winded.

WINDED—Bacon not properly cured. It’s winded aboot t’ shooder.

WIND-FO—A rich relative’s leavings.

WIND-EGG—A egg withoot a skell. Thoo’ll run them hens tell we’ll hev nin but wind-eggs.

WIND-ROW—Hay raked up in rows.

WINE-BERRIES—Red currants.

WINNAK—A sort of leddur bottle ta carry drink er owt in.

WINNLE-STREEA—Dried stalks o’ gurse. His leg is neea thicker ner winnle streeas.

WIRE-WORMS—Milleped.

WIZZEN—Wrinkled and ill-favoured. Thoo laal wizzened imp, thoo.

WON—Secured. A stack of well-won meadow hay.

WOODY—Radishes ’at’s gitten sticky; er owt else o’ that mack.

WO’-PLATE—Atween t’ sliates an’ t’ wo. Many a bit ov a thing gits fielded up theer an’ lost.

WO’-WHOL—Whar laal rabbits skug in.

WOO-GARN—Wool-yarn.

“A rock, a reel, a woo-garn wheel,
An’ a besom meayde o ling.”—_Whitehead._

WORK, WROUGHT—Aye, fer sewer; that’s it t’ belly wark wi’ physic.

WOTE, WOTIN—T’ edge of a clog sole whar t’ top’s fassened on. Thoo’s worn t’ doon ta t’ wote fer want of a calker. T’ wotins a bit o’ leddur at gahs aroond ta keep t’ top fast at t’ sooal.

WOTS, WOTTINS—Siam as Orts. Bits o’ fodder left at t’ biws.

WOW—Waf an’ bark like a silly dog. Shut up wi’ tha; what’s ta keep wow’en aboot?

WOWY—Oot o’ fettle.

WOTS—Oats. A gay canny crop o’ wots yon.

WRECKLING—T’ least pig i’ t’ litter; a reckless member of a family.

WRIGLED—Ass t’ veterinary fer full particulars.

WRINE—Rind. This bacon wrine’s as tiuf as ledder.

WULF, WULFEN—Eating voraciously. Thoo’s neea casion to wulf thi dinner doon like that.

WUMMEL—Augur.

WYKE—Hollow. It slipt through t’ wyke o’ mi hand. Grease was runnen frae t’ wyke ov his mooth.

YAMMER, YAMMEREN—Grumbling in an undertone. What’s ta keep yammeren aboot?

YAP, YAPPY, YAP-STICK—A chap ’at’s a bit ov o gomeril.

YARK—Beat. To snatch roughly. Yark it oot.

YARKER—A greedy person. He’s a yarker.

YAUP—Shouting. Thoo may yaup an’ shoot as thoo’s a mind, Ah’ll hev mi awn way about it.

YEDWAND—Aboot t’ siam as Yedder.

YEWE—Wild rhubarb, burbleck, an’ what nut, t’ Latin for ’t wad cap yan ta mak oot.

YEARTH—The earth.

YEARTH-UP—To soil up growing vegetables.

YEARTH-FAST—A stone deeply buried in the ground.

YEDDER—What we bind top o’ t’ dykes tagidder wi’ Gurt hazel stick—that’s a yedder.

YERBS—Herbs.

YEDDEREN—What a lad gits fer bein ower bain, an’ diun iv’rything ’at he wants an’ nowt ’at he sud. A gurt lowse bianed chap at sledders aboot i’ rayder rough pickle is said ta be a gurt yedderen fellow.

YEDDLE, YEDDLEN—Always nattering and grumbling. He’s always yeddlen aboot summat, but nea body taks nea nooatice on him. Let him yeddle, sez Ah.

YERB-PUDDING—Easter-man-giants, brocoli, chives, nettles, chopped fine, mixed wi’ barley, an’ boiled in a pooak. That’s a dinner of herbs. They gev a Cockney some yance, an’ he brast oot yewlen, an’ sez he, Ah izzant gaan ta be a coo, is Ah?

YERD-WAND—A measuring stick.

YERLS, EARLES, ARLES, ARLE-PENNY—The money with which the farm servant is bound to carry out his agreement with a master.

YEWER—Cow’s udder.

YOD—Galliwa. Gang an’ fetch t’ auld yod, an’ t’ coddy, an’ t’ tweea grey stags off t’ fell, an’ put them inta t’ yack intack.

YOOL, YOOLEN—Cry. What’s ta yoolen for?

YOUNGERMER—Younger. T’ youngermer end o’ them hed gian ta bed.

YONDERLY—Slack set up. Ah’s a bit yonderly.

YOWE-YONUTS—Earth nuts; pig nuts. They’re like laal taties. We used ta howk them up an’ eat them, but they’re nut up ta mich.

YOWLEN—Howling. Give ower yowlen.

SUPPLEMENTARY LIST.

BAILLIFS, BYDELAW-MEN, FRESHMEN—Parish officers _vide Morland Parish Church papers_, A.D. 1609.

BENK—What they crush’d crabs on e’ former days, ta mak vargus on, its gaily oft used noo fer t’ knop ta stand on when fooaks weshen.

BIDE—Endure. Thoo mun gurn an’ bide it; stay—yan may bide aboot hiam tell yan hardly likes ta gah oot o’ t’ fauld yat.

BIDER—Yan ’at can stand a bit o’ punishment withoot making any fuss aboot it.

BIDEN-ON—Remaining at a situation for another term.

BIND-WEED—A trailen mack o’ ket.

BODY’S SEL’—Oneself. When yan’s nowt but a body’s sel’ ta deea ivvry hand’s stir, yan cart git ower sa mich grund as yan wad like. Its varra whiat an’ dowly bi a body’s sel’.

CHOPPEN AN’ CHANGEN—Yan ’at whuffles aboot a lot, he’s allus choppen an’ changen frae yah shop ta t’ tudder.

CRABS—Wild soor apples.

CRAB-VARGUS—Juice o’ crabs. T’ grandest thing oot fer t’ scurvy yan can hev, an anudder er tweea ailments. Talk aboot soor grapes edgen t’ teeth, its nowt bairn ta them ’ats gian soor wi’ suppen vargus, an’ nivver gitten ower ’t neea mair, an’ nivver will, sairy soor things.

DEVIL’S-BIRTHDAY—T’ weshin-day.

DUMB-BANNOCK—Ta tell yan’s fortune e love matters wi’. Its owt o’ fashun noo an’ they deea ’t wi’ tee leeves an’ t’ tee cup. Seck silly ways sez Ah.

EEN, EE-WHOL—The eyes.

EE’EN—Viewing.

FALLUS—A fallow field. Trailen aboot amang t’ fallus tires yan ta deeth.

HAND—District. He co’s off o’ Kendal hand bi’ t’ twang on him.

HERE-AWAY—In oor nebburhood. We’ve neea bodder hereaway.

HES-BEEN—Its a good auld hes-been, nin seck a bad auld sowl yut.

HURD-MEAT—“Ord the hurde to take his meate at Rd. Kirkbride’s.”—Extract from _Morland Parish Church papers_, furnished by Capt. Markham. From this it would seem that “Afooar t’ moor went up” there were others than the schoolmaster for whom a whittlegate, or, run o’ t’ teeth was provided.[A]

[A] It is often arranged that the shepherd, in a Russian village, should get his board and lodging at the houses of those whose cattle he watches, passing from one to another in turn.—_vide Ivan the Fool_—Tolstoy, p. 28.

KNAP-HAND—Cunning, skilful, handy. He’s a knap-hand wi’ a scythe, ’at is he.

LADDEREN—Hanging down.

MEN’S-DAUGHTER-DAY—Laal Whissun Tuesday a gurt day fer lasses aboot Peerith when t’ Cavalry’s up an’ ther’s a bit o’ stirrin gaan on. It’s a gay thrang day fer chaps ’at’s on t’ liuk oot fer a man’s dowter ’at he wants ta keep. Ye cooarters ’ll know withoot a doot.

MY-SANG—An expletive. My Sang! but thoo’ll cop it when thi fadder cu’s hiam fer that’n.

NETTLED—Irritated (hem!) Ah was seea nettled when he co’d me a leer, sista Ah dud’nt know if Ah was on mi heed er mi heels ’at dud’nt Ah.

NOOASEN—Shoven yan’s nooase in whar it’s nut wanted, he was nooasen hissel in wi’ tellen lees aboot udder fooak.

PEAT-BROON—T’ colour of a dried peat, er a bit of undyed woo’.

PEPPER-AN’-SAUT—A mixture colour.

PEEKEN AN’ PINKEN—Peering into other people’s affairs. Peeken an’ pinken she wad hev her nooase in if ther was owt gaan on.

ROOP—T’ broontitus. Oor barns o’ hes t’ roop.

SCRAWBY—Varra nar an’ shabby. Nay sista Ah wad’nt be seea scrawby as ta split a taty.

SILVER-TAILS—Moths ’at breeds t’ worms ’at eats yan’s things through an’ through like riddles.

SIGNEN-CAKE—A rich good cake wi’ honey in ’t. Made on Valentine’s day for lasses ta catch a sweet heart wi’ as if lasses wasn’t sweet enieuf for that trick any day o’ t’ week. It’s aboot ower, wi’ ’t awur, an’ sweethearts er nut “handfassened” wi’ a bit ov a fat ciak, noo, but they’re “engaged,” an’ fer a “sign” they tak a gurt howken ring er tweea.

SLAP-DASH—Whitewash put on wi’ slappen ont on asteed o’ brushen ont in.

SHIFT—A chemise. T’ auld woman wiar hers a month an’ than turned it, becos she sed clean things was seea nice an’ comfortable fer yan’s skin.

SARK—A man’s shirt. Thoo’ll nivver git t’ sark off a fellow’s back ’ats stian-niakt.

STYME—Its as dark as pick an’ Ah cart see a styme.

TANTWIVVY—At a gurt speed. He was gaan efter t’ hoonds at seck a tantwivvy.

THUNJE, THUNJEN—A heavy fall or thump. It fell wi’ seck a thunje on t’ loft fleear. An awkward manner. Thoo’s thunjen aboot gayly rough, but Ah’ll pare thi doon, thoo gurt lungious brute.

THERE-AWAY—Theer er theer aboots, e’ that direction. He was gaan tull a sial at Kendal er theer-away.

TEDDERINGE—Yan’s teddered bi t’ teeth, anudder bi t’ tongue, an’ some bi t’ snoot. Some hev far ower mich tedder, an’ udders nut half eniuf. They gah a gay lang way back when dikes wasn’t as common an ther was belly mezzur fer t’ lot. Ah gat thisn frae oot amang some auld kirk papers at Moorlan’.

TIAD-AN’-BATTLIN-STIAN—A laal chap on a gurt nag—like a tiad on a battlin stian, and these e former days war tweea stians ta bray line inta fettle fer spinnin. Noo-a-days they’re mainly used fer brayin sand fer t’ kitchen fleear.

TAIL-ENDER—Yan ’at’s a bit back wi’ owt they hev in hand.

WALK-MILL—A mill where fulling, dyeing, and shrinking (walking-up) was done. Most of the walk-mills would seem to have changed their functions and been provided with grinding machinery.

WIDN’T—Will not. Ah widn’t gah anudder stride seea noo than.

YAH, YAN—One. When yan’s deun what yan can, what mair can yan deea?

APPENDIX OF CONTRIBUTED WORDS.

ANSERDALE—Field name.

BINK—Bench like crags; ledges in the rock’s face.

BON—T’ nag niam.

BREED—Breadth, width. Aye an’ sista thers a breed reet across t’ taty plat frozen as black ’s mi hat. Its cappin.

CANDLESTICKS—Garden cowslips.

COCKS AND HENS—Sycamore bloom.

DAALE—A section of a meadow divided by a natural boundary. Ye can maw that daale aback o’ t’ gurt rian this foreneun.

DAPPER, DEPPER, DAPPLE—T’ nag niams.

DIAMOND—T’ nag.

DOCKIN—Cure for nettle stings.

Dockin gah in
Nettle come oot.

DOGSTINKS—Dandelion.

DOWKER-FLATT—Field name.

ELLER-KNOPS—Elder berries.

FARMER—T’ nag.

GARBUTTS—Field name.

GOLDILOCKS—Marsh butter cups.

GOOD-LUCK—Club moss.

HENPENNY—Hen bane.

KELSYKE—Field name.

KILCROFT—Field name.

LONDON BOB—Sweet William.

OXCLOSE—Field name.

PANCAKED—Caught in a shower with a lot of hay newly strewn for drying purposes. Neea body likes ta be pancaikt it liuks seea. We’d just gitten t’ lal parrack abreed when that scufter com on an’ panciakt us gaily nicely.

RYE SALLY RYE—A counting out rhyme.

Rye Sally, Rye Sally, tinklin a can,
Rye Sally, Rye Sally, for a young man,
Come choose the east, come choose the west,
Come choose the one that you love best.

Lucky Sally sez Ah.

SPOUT, SCOUT—A waterfall.

TRANMER—Field name.

WHACK—Share, proportion. Ah’ve diun my whack an’ thoo mun deea thine.

SCORING NUMERALS.

CUMBERLAND—From the Rev. Canon Thornley and the Rev. J. Sharp-Ostle in _Penrith Observer_, November 30th, 1897, who give interesting references.

1—Yan.
2—Tyan.
3—Tethera.
4—Methera.
5—Pimp.
6—Sethera.
7—Lethera.
8—Hovera.
9—Dovera.
10—Dick.
11—Yan-a-dick.
12—Tyan-a-dick.
13—Tethera-a-dick.
14—Methera-a-dick.
15—Bumfit.
16—Yan-a-bumfit.
17—Tyan-a-bumfit.
18—Tether-a-bumfit.
19—Mether-a-bumfit.
20—Giggot.

WESTMORLAND—From “A.C.” in _Penrith Observer_, April 19th, 1898. The present writer remembers trying to learn the list _viva voce_ from a more advanced Lakeland lad.

1—Yan.
2—Tahn.
3—Teddera.
4—Meddera.
5—Pimp.
6—Settera.
7—Littera.
8—Hovera.
9—Dovera.
10—Dick.
11—Yan-dick.
12—Tahn-dick.
13—Teddera-dick.
14—Medder-dick.
15—Bumfit.
16—Yan-a-bumfit.
17—Tahn-a-bumfit.
18—Tedder-a-bumfit.
19—Medder-a-bumfit.
20—Jiggot.

NIDDERDALE—From Mr. Thos. Wilkinson, of Matterdale, with interesting comments.

1—Yain.
2—Tain.
3—Eddero.
4—Peddero.
5—Pitts.
6—Tayter.
7—Layter.
8—Overo.
9—Covero.
10—Dix.
11—Yain-dix.
12—Tain-dix.
13—Eddero-dix.
14—Peddero-dix.
15—Bumfit.
16—Yain-o-bumfit.
17—Tain-o-bumfit.
18—Eddero-o-bumfit.
19—Peddero-o-bumfit.
20—Jiggit.

CONISTON AND DISTRICT—Quoted from the writings of the late Rev. T. Ellwood, M.A.

1—Yan.
2—Taen.
3—Tedderte.
4—Medderte.
5—Pimp.
6—Sethera.
7—Lethera.
8—Hovera.
9—Dovera.
10—Dik.
11—Yan-a-dik.
12—Taen-a-dik.
13—Tedder-a-dik.
14—Medder-a-dik.
15—Mimph.
16—Yan-a-mimph.
17—Taen-a-mimph.
18—Tedder-a-mimph.
19—Medder-a-mimph.
20—Gigget.

THE END.

“It is always worth while to note down the erratic words or phrases which one meets with in any dialect.”

NOTES.

“They may throw light on the meaning of other words, of the relationship of languages, or even on history itself.” _James Russell Lowell._

NOTE 1.—ALLAY.

The contention of several competent critics that this is but a form of “Ah’lay,” or “Ah’ll lay,” was met by another from those intimately associated with the dialect, and who only recognise one word in actual use, and that with more of the sense of assurance or support, than of defiance or daring conveyed in it. The vernacular form of the sporting phrase “Ah’ll lay” is “Ah’ll lig.”

NOTE 2.—APODE.

Said to be only a form of _uphold_, _uphod_, _uphoad_, and as such should be so spelt. On the other hand it is held by dialect speakers that _apode_ is nearer the true pronunciation. A native of North Westmorland would say of a contentious person, “he can uphod his awn,” another would reply “Aye, Ah’ll apode it.” Of a great eater it would be remarked, “he’s at a ter’ble gurt uphod,” and for answer would get “Ah’ll apode it he is.” The _uphod_ of one may be his parish; of an institution or establishment it is said to be great or small; and one may be the _uphod_ of many things, in this sense _apode_ can be claimed to have a distinct use.

NOTE 3.—CANTLAX.

Many words in this collection are said by eminent authorities to be mere fabrications—that is, they are made up words by those using them and have no derivation, history, or standing. This may be of that class. It is included, because to the compiler it appears to be one of a numerous family that carry with them the impression they are intended to, directly and in the tone in which they are used. No information has been obtainable beyond the fact that the word was used in one or two instances by genuine Lakelanders, of whose dialect no question could be raised.

NOTE 4.—CART, DURT, MURT, WURT.

_Cart_ (cannot), _Durt_ (do-not), _Murt_ (must-not), _Wurt_ (will-not), like “garn,” met with strong objections from various writers qualified to speak of the dialect in their districts. On the other hand a number of persons supported their inclusion as being genuine forms in common use. It may be the safer course to give them, and say they are in the dialect in a restricted sense so far as radius and usage go.

NOTE 5.—CROWFOOT.

Apart from the use of Crowfoot as a botanical term for the genus _Ranunculus_, it is also used to signify the bloom of the purple Orchis in North Westmorland. As a term for Ranunculus or butter-cup, it is seldom, if ever, used in that district.

NOTE 6.—DEAL.

(_i.e._ _Dale_) in the vernacular would be pronounced in all cases, as if it were _di-yal_ with emphasis on the last syllable. Such a form, however, would be sufficient to terrify even the most hardened reader unless prepared by a previous study of phonetics.

NOTE 7.—DOGBERRY.