_Proclamation of Langholme Fair_ (Vol. iii., p. 56.).--MONKBARNS wishes the
meaning of the choice expressions in the proclamation. They may be
explained as follows:--_Hustrin_, hustling, or riotously inclined, being so
consonanted to make it alliterate with _custrin_, spelt by Jamieson,
_custroun_, and signifying a pitiful fellow. Chaucer has the word _truston_
in this sense.
_Land-louper_, one who runs over the country, a vagabond.
_Dukes-couper_ I take to be a petty dealer in ducks or poultry, and to be
used in a reproachful sense, as we find "pedlar," "jockey," &c.
_Gang-y-gate swinger_, a fighting man, who goes swaggering in the road (or
_gate_); a roisterer who takes the wall of every one. _Swing_ is an old
word for a stroke or blow.
_Durdam_ is an old word meaning an uproar, and akin to the Welsh word
_dowrd_. _Urdam_ may be a corruption of _whoredom_, but is more probably
prefixed to the genuine word as a co-sounding expletive.
_Brabblement_ seems to be a derivative from the Scotch verb "bra," to make
a loud and disagreeable noise (see Jamieson); and _squabblement_ explains
itself.
_Lugs_, ears; _tacked_, nailed; _trone_, an old word, properly signifying
the public weighing-machine, and sometimes used for the pillory.
_A nail o' twal-a-penny_ is, of course, a nail of that size and sort of
which twelve are bought for a penny.
_Until he down of his hobshanks, and up with his muckle doubs_, evidently
means, until he goes down on his knees and raises his hands. _Hobshanks_
is, I think, still in common use. Of _doubs_ I can give no explanation.