A FEW SIMPLE HINTS ON THE GRAMMAR OF THE FOLK-SPEECH
THE ARTICLE.
There is no variation in the usage of the indefinite article, save that
it still retains its place before participles and the adjectives _few_,
_many_, and _great many_.
Ex.—‘He started a calling o’ ma, an’ Ah started a genning at him, an’
then wa set ti wark a lethering yan anuther,’
Educated people do not nowadays say, ‘I sat a sipping of my tea, and a
smiling at the kettle a singing on the hob,’ No, it sounds quaint. And
to those who know as little of their Shakespeare as they do of their
Bibles, such speech is put down to ignorance, or a lack of education,
when in point of fact they are listening to an echo of that old-time
speech which was in full swing long before their great grandmothers
were born, and used by really quite respectable people; e.g.—
‘As he was yet _a_ coming’ (Luke ix. 42).
‘I go _a_ fishing’ (John xxi. 3).
‘While the ark was _a_ preparing’ (1 Pet. iii. 20).
‘His greatness is yet _a_ ripening’ (_Henry VIII_).
‘There is some ill _a_ brewing towards my rest’ (_Merchant of Venice_,
Act ii. Sc. 5).
In such cases, however, ‘a’ cannot be parsed as an article. Many
opinions have been given, but perhaps Cobbett, who holds it to be an
abbreviation for ‘at,’ meaning ‘without doubt,’ has gained the most
supporters. In the _Spectator_, No. 86, we find, ‘Socrates’ disciples
burst out _a_ laughing,’ and in No. 420, ‘The spirits which set the
springs _a_ going.’ Such are by no means archaic forms of speech in the
North Riding, ‘bud ez common ez pigs _a_ grunting at yan anuther.’
The definite article, as mentioned elsewhere, is ‘t’.’ To this rule
there are very few exceptions. Before certain letters it is almost
inaudible; nevertheless, it is always there. It may be said, and with
truth, that a perfect mastery of the definite article, both in speaking
and hearing it spoken, has advanced those desirous of knowing something
of our folk-speech—rather more than half of their journey. I know many
people who are fluent speakers of the dialect, but who read it, even
when in printed form, with the greatest difficulty; others who can read
fairly well, but so far as understanding the dialect when spoken, might
as well listen to a batch of Chocktaw Indians, as two or three good old
Yorkshire dames when fairly letting out.
A Frenchman once said to me, ‘I could understand you English people,
if you did not speak so quickly.’ Aye, just so, and so would many
another body from other counties understand a great deal of what our
country folk say if each word was uttered separately, but with us, as
in standard English, very frequently no pause is made between commas;
so the difficulty increases tenfold, when a stranger strives to follow
a fairly classical dalesman or woman. Take, for instance, a few words
which the other day I heard a woman shout across a village street to
her daughter. Firstly, as they sounded when uttered, then the same as
they would be written, and thirdly, the translation.
_As spoken._ Teggattenlaadsitwinner.
_As written._ T’ egg at t’ ‘en laad’s i’ t’ winner[99].
_Standard English._ The egg (that) the hen laid is in the window.
NUMBER.
This, with only a few exceptions, follows the ordinary rule of grammar.
CASE.
The possessive case is noted elsewhere.
GENDER.
The same as in standard English, with this slight deviation: many
things which are neuter are spoken of as being of the feminine gender.
Ex.—‘Sha’s a fine stack;’ ‘Sha’s a bit rough ti-daay,’ speaking of the
sea; ‘Sha’s gitten a fine bole on her,’ speaking of an oak. There can
be no rule given for guidance, because in a compound sentence the same
noun is sometimes both feminine and neuter. A man speaking of his
watch said, ‘It’s yan ov t’ best ’at Ah ivver ’ed; sha’s a good un,’
i.e. ‘It is one of the best that I ever had; she is a good one.’
ADJECTIVES.
Adjectives which in standard English are compared by the addition of
_more_ and _most_ to the positive, generally form their degrees of
comparison by the addition of _er_ or _r_ for the comparative, and
_ist_ or _st_ for the superlative; e.g.—
POSITIVE. COMPARATIVE. SUPERLATIVE.
True truer truist
Expensive expensiver expensivist.
Dangerous dangerouser dangerousist.
Okkad (awkward) okkader okkadist.
Forrad (forward) forrader fo’derist.
Though it is quite common to hear such expressions as ‘mair okkader’ or
‘t’ maist okkadist,’ and the like, with other adjectives, it is also
not uncommon for the adjective to be used as an adverb, as ‘It’s easy
deean.’
PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
FIRST PERSON.
_Nom._ _Poss._ _Obj._
{I, thou, he, she, it. {I mine me.
SING. {Ah, thoo, tha, _or_ ta, SING. {Ah mahn ma.
{ he, sha, it, ’t.
PLU. {We you they us. PLU. {Thou thine thee.
{Wa ya tha uz. {Thoo thahn thee.
There is no rule to guide the student in the use of _thoo_, _tha_,
_ta_. In a general way _ta_ follows an auxiliary verb, and _thoo_, used
in the accusative case, is definite in its application. ‘He’s shooting
o’ thoo,’ and ’he’s shooting o’ tha,’ have a well-marked distinction
of meaning. ‘He’s shooting o’ thoo’ implies that the person told of
the fact is the actual person being shouted of; not only does it point
him out from amongst many, but the fact that _thoo_ was used further
implies that the shouting had better be attended to at once. ‘He’s
shooting o’ tha,’ is merely certain information given, making known to
some other person that he was being called for without regard to others.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS.
Who which that.
Wheea _or_ whau which that _or_ ’at[100].
_Who_ and _which_ are declined as follows. _That_ and _what_ as in
standard English.
SINGULAR AND PLURAL.
STAND. ENG. NTH. RIDING. | STAND. ENG. NTH. RIDING.
_Nom._ Who whau, | Which which.
wheea. |
_Poss._ Whose whaus | Whose wheeas,
wheeas. | whaus.
_Obj._ Whom whaum. | Which which.
The compound relatives are formed by the addition of _ever_ and
_soever_; _’at_ forming the compound _’ativver_, i.e. _whatever_.
POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS and the compound personal and possessives are
formed as under:—
STAND. ENG. My mine thy thine his her
NTH. RIDING. Mah mahn {thah} thahn his her
{thi }
STAND. ENG. Its our your their own
NTH. RIDING. Its oor _or_ wer yer ther awn
STAND. ENG. Myself thyself himself herself
NTH. RIDING. {Mahsel thisel hissel hersel
{Mahsen thisen hissen hersen
STAND. ENG. Itself ourselves yourselves
NTH. RIDING. {Itsel oorsels _or_ -sens yersels
{Itsen wersels _or_ -sens yersens
STAND. ENG. Theirselves ownselves.
NTH. RIDING. {Thersels awnsels
{Thersens awnsens.
DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS.
_This_ and _that_ are used as follows:—
_This_ refers to an object near at hand, _that_ is rarely used, _yon_
being almost universal, e.g. ‘Yon man ower theer ’ll tell tha.’ _Q._
‘Which is Mister Thompson?’ _A._ ‘Yon chap’s him,’ i.e. ‘That man is
Mr. Thompson.’
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS.
Any both some other another one none such
Onny beeath sum uther anuther yan neean sich, sike
_Yan_ and _yah_ are noticed elsewhere, also _vide_ Glossary.
ADVERBS.
Adverbial peculiarities are fully noticed in the Glossary.
The PREPOSITIONS and ADVERBS mostly in use are:—
About, _aboot_.
Above, _aboon_.
Across, _quarrelled_. ‘Him an’ me’s gitten across.’
After, _efter_ or _efther_[101].
Against, _ower agaanst_, near to.
Among, _amang_. Amongst, _amangst_.
Before, _afoor_. ‘For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect’
(Isa. xviii. 5).
Behind, _ahint_.
Between, _atween_.
Betwixt, _atwixt_.
Beyond, _ayont_, _beyont_.
By, _byv_ or _by_, pronounced _be_.
From, _fra_ before a consonant, _frev_ before a vowel.
In, _i’_.
Into, _intiv_, _inti_, _intil_.
Near, _near-hand_.
Nigh, _near_, _ommaist_, also _nigh_.
Of, _ov_ and _foor_.
Over, _ower_ and _aboon_.
Beyond, _past_. ‘He did entreat me _past_ my saying nay’ (_Merchant of
Venice_, Act iii. Sc. 2).
Too, _ower_.
With, _wi’_, _wiv_.
_Until_ is never used, _whahl_ always taking its place: no exception to
this rule.
It may be noted this peculiarity extends to the south of
Northamptonshire.
THE VERB.
It will only be possible to note one or two of the more striking
peculiarities.
TO BE.
_Indicative Mood._
Has two forms of the present tense.
SINGULAR. PLURAL.
Ah is, _or_ Ah’s. _I am_, &c. Wă } {Wa’re, _we are_.
Thoo is, _or_ Thoo’s. Yă } are, _or_ {Ya’re.
He, Sha, _or_ it is. Thă} {Thă’re.
Also the older form is quite common—
SINGULAR. PLURAL.
Ah be. _I am_, &c. Wă }
Thoo beest _or_ byst. Yă } be.
He be. Thă}
Examples:—
‘Ah be gahin’ ti morn.’
‘Thoo byst efter neea good.’
‘We be twelve brethren’ (Gen. xlii. 32).
‘If thou beest he’ (_Paradise Lost_, Bk. i. 84).
‘If thou beest death’ (_Henry VI, Part II_, Act iii. Sc. 3).
‘If thou beest rated by estimation’ (_Merchant of Venice_, Act ii. Sc.
7).
IMPERFECT.
SINGULAR. PLURAL.
Ah war, wur, _or_ wuz. _I was_, &c. Wa }
Thoo war, wur, _or_ wast Ya } war, wur, _or_ wuz
He war, wur, _or_ wuz. Tha}
PERFECT.
‘Ev _or_ hev. The aspirate is rarely heard.
SINGULAR. PLURAL.
Ah ’ev been. _I have been_, &c. Wa }
Thoo ’est been. Ya } ’ev been.
He’s _or_ he ’ez been. Tha}
PLUPERFECT.
Ah hed _or_ ’ed been, &c.
FIRST FUTURE.
Ah s’all _or_ will be, &c.
SECOND FUTURE.
Ah s’all _or_ will ’ev been, _or_ Ah s’all ’a’e been.
_Imperative Mood._
SINGULAR. PLURAL.
Let ma be. Let uz be.
Be thoo. Be ya.
Be he, let him, her, _or_ it be. {Let ’em be.
{Be tha.
_Subjunctive Mood._
SINGULAR.
Ah be, _or_ Ah maay _or_ can be.
Be thoo, _or_ thoo mayest _or_ canst be.
He be, _or_ he may _or_ can be.
PLURAL.
Wa }
Ya } may _or_ can be.
Tha}
IMPERFECT.
SINGULAR.
Ah war, mud, c’u’d, wad, _or_ s’u’d be }
Thoo wert, mudst, c’u’dst, wadst, _or_ s’u’dst be} loved.
He war, mud, c’u’d, wad, _or_ s’u’d be }
PLURAL.
Wa war, }
Ya war, } wur, mud, c’u’d, wad, _or_ s’u’d be loved.
Tha war,}
PERFECT.
Ah maay _or_ can ’ev }
Tho maayst _or_ canst ’ev } loved.
Tha may _or_ can ’ev }
PLUPERFECT.
SINGULAR. PLURAL.
Ah mud, &c. Wa mud, &c.
_Infinitive Mood._
PRESENT. PERFECT.
Ti be. Ti ’a’e _or_ ’ev been.
_Participles._
PRESENT. PERFECT. COMPOUND PERFECT.
Being. Been. ‘Evin’ been.
TO HAVE.
SINGULAR. PLURAL.
Ah’ve, Ah ’a’e, _or_ Ah ’ev. _I
have_, &c. Wa’ve, ‘, or ’ev. _We have._
Thoo’s _or_ thoo ’ez. Ya’ve, ‘, _or_ ’ev.
He’s _or_ he ’ez. Tha’ve, ‘, _or_ ’ev.
PERFECT.
Ah’d, Ah ’ed. _I had._ Wa’d, wa ’ed.
Thoo’d, thoo ’ed. Ya’d, ya ’ed.
He’d, he ’ed. Tha’d, tha ’ed.
_Affirmative._
Ah’ve, _or_ Ah ’ev tă’en. Wa’ve, _or_ wa ’ev tă’en.
_I have taken._ _We have taken._
Thoo’s tă’en. Ya’ve, _or_ ya ’ev tă’en. _You have taken._
He’s tă’en. Tha’ve, _or_ tha ’ev tă’en.
_They have taken._
_Negative._
Ah ’evn’t, _or_ Ah ’a’en’t ta’en. Wă ’evn’t, _or_ wă ’a’en’t ta’en.
_I have not taken._ _We have not taken._
Thoo’s nut, _or_ thoo ’ezn’t [102]Yă’ve nut, _or_ yă ’a’en’t
ta’en. ta’en. _You have not taken._
He’s nut, _or_ he ’ezn’t ta’en. [102]Thă’ve nut, or thă ’a’en’t
ta’en. _They have not taken._
_Interrogative._
SINGULAR. PLURAL.
‘Ev Ah ta’en? _Have I taken?_ ‘Ev wă, _or_ ‘ wă ta’en?
_Have we taken?_
‘Ez tă ta’en? ‘Ev yă, _or_ ‘ yă ta’en?
‘Ez ă[103] ta’en? ‘Ev thă, _or_ ‘ thă ta’en?
IMPERFECT TENSE.
Ah’d, _or_ Ah ’ed. _I had._ Wa’d, _or_ wa ’ed. _We had._
Thoo’d, _or_ thoo ’ed. _Thou hadst._ Ya’d, _or_ ya ’ed. _You had._
He’d, _or_ he ’ed. _He had._ Tha’d, _or_ tha ’ed. _They had._
_Imperative Mood._
‘A’e _or_ ’ev (have).
_Infinitive Mood._
Ti ’ev, _or_ ti ’a’e. _To have._
_Participles._
PRESENT. PAST.
‘Evin’, _having_. ‘Ed _or_ ’ad, _had_.
TO DO.
_Indicative Mood._
PRESENT TENSE.
SINGULAR. PLURAL.
Ah deea, diz, _or_ duz. _I do._ Wă }
Thoo diz _or_ duz. Yă } deea _or_ div.
He diz _or_ duz. Thă}
SINGULAR. PLURAL.
Ah deean’t. _I do not._ Wa deean’t _or_ divn’t[104].
Thoo dizn’t _or_ deean’t. Ya deean’t _or_ divn’t.
He dizn’t. Tha deean’t _or_ divn’t.
MAY.
Ah maay. Wa }
Thoo maayst. Ya } maay.
He maay. Tha}
IMPERFECT TENSE—Might.
Ah mud _or_ might. Wa }
Thoo mud. Ya } mud _or_ might.
He mud. Tha}
Must. Must not.
SINGULAR. PLURAL. SINGULAR. PLURAL.
Ah } Wa } Ah } maun’t Wa } maun’t
Thoo} mun. Ya } mun. Thoo} _or_ Ya } _or_
He } Tha} He } munnot. Tha} munnot.
TO GO.
ACTIVE VOICE.
_Indicative Mood._
PRESENT TENSE.
SINGULAR. PLURAL.
Ah gan, _or_ goa. Wa }
Thoo’s gahin’ _or_ gannin’. Ya } gan _or_ goa.
He gans. Tha}
INDEFINITE—I was going.
Ah war, wur, _or_ wuz} gahin’ Wa war, wur, _or_ wuz } gahin’
Thoo wast _or_ wart } _or_ Ya war, wur, _or_ wuz } _or_
He war _or_ wuz } gannin’. Tha war, wur, _or_ wuz} gannin’.
INDEFINITE PERFECT—I have gone.
Ah ’ev _or_ Ah’ve } Wa ’ev _or_ wa’ve }
Thoo’s _or_ thoo ’ez} gane _or_ Ya ’ev _or_ ya’ve } gane _or_
He’s _or_ he ’ez } geean. Tha’ev _or_ tha’ve} geean.
_Infinitive Mood._
PRESENT. PROGRESSIVE.
Ti gan. _To go._ Ti be gahin’ _or_ gannin’. _To be going._
PERFECT. PROGRESSIVE.
Ti ’ev gane _or_ ti ’a’e geean. Ti ’ev been gahin’.
_To have gone._ _To have been going._
PRESENT.
Gahin’ _or_ ganning. _Going._
PERFECT.
Geean _or_ gane. _Gone._
COMPOUND.
Having geean _or_ gane. _Having gone._
Observe _is_ and _be_ generally take the place of _are_ and _am_. In
fact, the latter word is very rarely heard amongst the country people.
‘Are you Tom?’ in the folk-speech, would be, ‘Is ta Tom?’—the answer
would not be ‘Ah am!’ but ‘Ah is!’
_Q._ ‘Is ta gahin’ wiv uz[105]?’ i.e. ‘Are you going with me?’
_A._ ‘Neea, Ah’s nut,’ or ‘Neea, Ah isn’t,’ i.e. ‘No, I is not’ (I am
not).
_Nobbut_, as a sign of the conditional mood, is quite as general as
_if_.
_Q._ ‘Will ta cum?’ Will you come?
_A._ ‘Nobbut it be owt leyke, an’ nobbut I git deean;’ i. e. ‘If it be
anything like’ (as to weather), ‘and if only I finish my work.’
It is not uncommon to hear the future tense used for the present, and
in many instances the country people, as it were, confuse the perfect
tense and perfect participle. ‘Ah’ve chose t’ whip ’at Ah want.’ ‘I
have chosen the whip I want (_or_ like).’
‘’Ez ta broke t’ winder?’ would be asked in a whisper, but ‘Aye, he’s
brokken ’t,’ would certainly be the form in which it would be shouted
to the other boys. ‘Ah’ve spoke tiv him mair ’an yance,’ would be the
form such a declaration would take from one confiding to another the
hopelessness of making any further entreaties; but ‘Ah’ve spokken tiv
him ower an’ up agaan,’ would be the language used when temper was
in the ascendent. Nevertheless, those who would consider vulgar such
sentences as have been given, are apt to forget that the accepted rules
which govern the speech of to-day are only correct because they are of
to-day. The rules which were once accepted may have been laid aside in
favour of others; but the country people move slowly—their speech is
that of their grandparents, and it is what they have been used to all
their lives. They know nothing of the new order of things. And again,
they keep very good company.
Examples:—
‘I have already _chose_ my officer.’
_Othello_, Act i. Sc. 1.
‘Methought this staff, mine office badge in court, was _broke_ in
twain.’—_Henry VI, Part II_, Act i. Sc. 2.
‘By what yourself too late have _spoke_ and done.’
_King Lear_, Act i. Sc. 4.
‘Why was this _forbid_?’—_Paradise Lost_, Bk. ix. 703.
‘Waiting desirous her return, had wove
Of choicest flowers a garland.’
_Paradise Lost_, Bk. ix. 839.
Steele, in the _Spectator_ (No. 344), has, ‘I have _wrote_ to you three
or four times.’ And he is generally acknowledged to have been a fairly
good scholar, but then his writings go back a hundred years, and they
spoke differently then. Our people speak very much like it now.
The formation of the perfect and of the participle vary considerably
from that of ordinary grammar. As a rule the past participle is formed
by the addition of _en_. There are other striking peculiarities in the
vowel changes. A list of some of the leading ones is here given.
_Present._ _Perfect._ _Participles._
Build Belt Belt
Beeat (beat) Bet Betten
Bid Bad Bidden, bodden
Binnd (bind) Bun _or_ bund Bun, bund, _or_ bunden
Bleead (bleed) Bled, blaad Bledden
Break, breek (break) Brak Brokken
Brust (burst) Brast Brussen, brossen
Cast Kest Kessen
Cheease (choose) Choaze Chozzen
Coss (curse) Coss’d Coss’d, cossen
Cost Cost Cossen
Creeap (creep) Crep _or_ crop Croppen
Cum (come) Cam, com Cum’d
Cut (cut) Cut Cutten
Darr (dare) Dast Darrd
Drahve (drive) Drave Drovven _or_ druvven
Felt (hide) Felt Felted
Feyght (fight) Fowt Fowten
Finnd (find) Fan Fun
Flig (fly) Fligg’d Fligg’d
Fling (fling) Flang Flung
Flit (to change
one’s abode) Flitted Flitten
Freeze (freeze) Fraze Frozzen
Gi’e (give) Gav or ga Geen[106]
Git (get) Gat Gitten, getten, _or_ gotten
Greeap _or_ group
(grope) Grape Groupen _or_ groppen
Grund, grahnd
(grind) Grund Grun _or_ grunded
Ho’d (hold) Ho’ded Ho’dden
Ho’t (hurt) Ho’t Ho’tten
Kep (catch) Kept Kept, keppen
Lap (wrap) Lapt, lapp’d Lappen _or_ lappen’d
Let (let) Let Letten
Lig (lay) Lig’d, lihd Lihn
Lig (lie) Lig’d Liggen _or_ lig’d
Leet (light) Let Letten
Loose (loose) Lowse Lowsen
Loss (lose) Lost Lossen
Preeave (prove) Preeav’d Provven _or_ pruvven
Put (put) Put Putten
Rahd (ride) Rade Ridden _or_ rodden
Rahse (rise) Roase Risen _or_ rosen
Rahve (tear) Rave Rovven
Set Set Setten
Shak (shake) Shak’t Shak’t _or_ shakken
Shed (shed) Shed Shedden
Shoe (shoe) Shod Shodden
Shut (shut)
_or_ shoot Shut Shutten
Sit (sit) Sat Setten
Slet (slit) Slet Slitten
Smit (infect) Smitted Smittel’d
Snaw (snow) Snew Snawn _or_ snaw’d
Speeak (speak) Spak Spokken
Splet (split) Splet Spletten
Spreead (spread) Sprade Sprodden
Stan (stand) Steead Stooden
Stick (stick) Stack Stucken
Straad (stride) Stroade, straad,
_or_ strahd Strodden
Strahve (strive) Strahve _or_
stroave Struvven _or_ strovven
Strike (strike) Strake, strak Strukken
Tak (take) Teeak, teuk Ta’en, takken, _or_
tuckken
Tell Tell’d, tell’t Tell’d, tell’t
Thrahve (thrive) Throv, thrahve Throvven
Thrust (thrust) Thrast, throst Throssen _or_ thrussen
Treead (tread) Trade, tred Trodden
Wet (wet) Wet Wetten
Win (win) Wan Won
Worrk (work) Wrowt, wark’d Wrowt _or_ wrowten
Wreyte (write) Wrate Written
CONJUNCTIONS.
Some of those generally in use will be found contained in the following
request:—
‘Tommy’s cum’d, _an’_ Jimmy _an’ all_. Noo, _if so be as hoo ’at_ wa
caan’t finnd hoos-room for baith _on_[107] ’em, could thoo, _wivoot_
putting thisen aboot, mannish ti tak Jimmy in? _Bud, hooivver_, thoo
knaws _if in case ’at_ thoo caan’t mannish ti deea ’t foor all t’
tahm tha’re here, can ta _whahl_ t’ daay efter ti morn? Tha’ve cum’d
_for ti_ see Mary. _Nowther_ on ’em’s clapt ees on her _sen_ sha went
ti pleeace, _an’ seeaner ’an_ tha s’u’dn’t ’a’e seen her, Ah wad ’a’e
geean ti my aunt Martha; bud Ah’d better stop at yam _ez_ gan theer,
_if so be ’at_ thoo can mannish ’t onny road. _Besides, thoo knaws_
thi larl Lizzie could cum _an’_ lig wiv oor Freddy, _bidoot_ thoo
_ligs_ her on t’ sōfy. Ah think _’at_ that wad be t’ better waay; noo,
what diz ta saay?’
_Key._
‘Tommy has come, _and_ Jimmy _as well_. Now, _if_ we cannot find room
for both on them, could you, _without_ inconveniencing yourself,
manage to take Jimmy in? _Still, if_ you cannot manage to do so for
all the time they are here, can you _until_ the day after to-morrow.
They have come to see Mary, _neither_ of them having seen her _since_
she went to place—i.e. situation. _And rather than_ they should have
missed seeing her, I would have gone to my aunt Martha; but I had
better stay at home _than_ go there, _if_ you can manage it anyway.
_Besides_, your little Lizzie could come _and_ sleep with our Freddy,
_unless_ you _lay_ her on the sofa. I think _that_ would be the best;
now, what do you say?’
In reading the key over, it will be found, in several instances, that a
single word does duty for several. This tendency towards redundancy is
very common, e.g. ‘If so be as how ’at wa cannot,’ simply means ‘If we
cannot’; and ‘Besides, thoo knaws,’ is ’besides.’ Instead of the last
word, ‘besides,’ the usage of ‘An’ moreover ’an that’ is very common.
The rule that prepositions govern the objective case, expressed or
understood, the conjunction never, holds good in the folk-speech.
The conjunctions in italics are very rarely used, those in brackets
commonly taking their place.
‘Ah s’all be theer (an’ all),’ _as well_.
‘(Bud hooivver) thoo mun cum,’ _still_.
‘(Wivoot) Ah cum, deean’t start,’ _unless_.
‘(Ez) stop wiv him, Ah’ll cum,’ _rather than_.
‘Ah’ve cum (for ti) see Tom,’ _in order to_.
‘Deean’t leeave t’ hoss (bidoot) he gi’es tha t’ brass,’ _unless_.
‘Thoo wait (whahl) Ah cum,’ _until_.
There are many who consider the folk-speech of our country people
little better than a mixture of about equal parts of bad grammar and
mispronunciation. Such a notion, I feel sure, can only have arisen from
either a lack of information or undue haste. From such I would humbly
crave a reconsideration of the case.
I can well understand those who know little of the various sources
through which the standard English of to-day has come down to us,
considering such words as those contained in the following list as
being vulgar—_backerly_, _balk_, _belly-wark_, _botch_, _cant_,
_chaamer_, _clag_, _cleg_, _drukken_, _flacker_, _flit_, _fra_, _lake_,
_lang_, _leck_, _lig_, _lop_, _lown_, _luke_, _mirk_, _neeaze_,
_owerwelt_, _raun_, _roke_, _rud_, _scraffle_, _shive_, _snite_,
_steg_, _stob_, _stower_, _sump_, _theeak_, _thrave_, _till_, &c.
Though some words in the list may be new to the reader, they are
in common usage amongst our people. And what is much more to their
credit, every one of them were doing duty hundreds of years ago. And
as in many cases the pronunciation is identical with that of their
Danish relations, we have grounds for assuming that not only has
the word itself been preserved, but the actual sound in which it was
formerly uttered, though the spelling often differs greatly in the two
countries. Take, as a single example, the North Riding word ’stower’;
the Danish word is spelt ’staver,’ but the pronunciation is exactly the
same in both countries. Therefore, as Angus says, if the sound rather
than the spelling be taken, the similarity of the languages will be
found to be much more striking. A few so-called vulgar words and their
respectable relations are given in the following list.
NOTE.—Scandinavian in this list must be taken in its widest sense, as
including Old Norse, Frisian, Swedish, and Danish.
_North Riding._ _Scandinavian._ _Anglo-Saxon._ _English._
Backerly Bagerlig ... Late
Backstan Bage-sten ... A stone for baking
cakes on
Balk Balk Balca Beam
Band Baand (O. N.) ... String
Belly-wark Bælg-værk Bælig-wærc Stomach-ache
Bid Byde Beōdan To invite
Bor Borre ... Seed of the burdock
Blendcorn Blandkorn ... Mixed corn
Botch Bota Botian To mend clumsily
Brave Brav ... Goodly
Brede Bredde Bræd Breadth
Cant Kante, Kanta ... To tilt on end
Calf Kalve, _v._
to calve ... Calf
Chaamer Kammer ... Chamber
Clag Klæg Clæg To stick
Clap Klap ... To pat
Cleg Klæge ... Horse-fly
Clovver Klaver Klaver (Dutch) Clover
Clip Klippe ... To clip
Drukken Drukken ... Drunken
Eaves Ovs Efesse The eaves
Fau’k, Folk,
Fooak Folk ... People
Felt Fela, fiæle Feolan To hide
Flacker Flagre ... To flutter
Flittermouse Flaggermus ... The bat
Flit Flytte ... To remove to another
house
Fore-elders Forældre ... Forefathers
Fra Fra Fra From
Gimmer Gimmer ... Ewe lamb
Glooar Gloe ... To stare
Gob Gab ... Mouth
Havermeal Havre mel ... Oatmeal
Handsel Handsel Handselen First money received
Holm Holm ... Low-lying land
Hoos Hus ... House
Humble-bee Humlebi ... Humble-bee
Kist Kiste Cist A chest
Laat, lait Lait ... To seek
Lake, laak Leka Lacan To play
Lake, laak Leg, lec Lac A game
Lang Læng ... Long
Leck Lække Leccan To leak
Lig Ligge Liggan To lie down
Lop Loppe ... A flea
Lown Luun ... Calm, still
Luke Luge ... To weed
Middin Modding Midding A dunghill
Mirk Mork Mirc Dark
Neeaze Nyse Niesan To sneeze
Owerwelt Awvælt ... To lie on the back
as a sheep
Raun Rawn ... Fish-spawn
Riggintree Rygtræ ... The topmost spar in
the roof
Roke Rok ... A misty rain
Rud Rod[108] ... Red ochre
Scraffle Scravle ... To walk in a feeble
way
Shive Skive ... A slice
Suite Snyde ... To blow the nose
Steg Steggi ... A gander
Stob Stub ... The stump of a tree
Stower Staver ... A stake, a rung
Sump Sump ... Boggy place
Theeak Tække ... Thatch
Thrave Trave ... A number of sheaves
of corn
Till Til ... To
Yule keeak Yule kage ... Yule cake
This list might have been greatly extended, but the above suffices for
the purpose of proving that many of the words considered vulgar are
simply venerable through age. If we inquire a little further, we shall
find not only the words, but the form of speech used by our people,
which so often seems ungrammatical, is actually that of the best
writers of bygone ages. The fact is, as has been already stated, our
vocabulary and mode of speech is not of to-day, but belongs to the time
of long ago.
From Spenser’s _Faerie Queen_ take as examples the following words and
grammatical forms, which are quite common with us to-day:—
That seemed both shield and plate it would have _rived_.
_For to_ avenge that foul, reproachful shame.
To lose long _gotten_ honour with one evil hond.
Much greater grief and _shamefuller_ regret.
In hope her to attain by _hook or crook_.
To _tossen_ spear and shield.
_Me leifer_ were with point of foeman’s spear be dead.
... how stout Deborah _strake_.
Inglorious now lies in senseless _swownd_.
But _lapped_ up her silken leaves most _chare_.
Fast _bounden_ hand and foot with cords of wire.
But, glancing on the tempered metal, _brast_.
And ever and anon, when none was _ware_.
And from her head oft rent her _snarled_ hair.
In _Piers Ploughman_, 1362, by R. Langton:—
Under a brood bank—By a _burn’s_ side.
* * * * *
Some _putten hem_ to the plough.
_The Parsone’s Tale_:—
And _axeth_ of the old ways.
... ought to _plain_.
Wicliff, 1380:—
And he eat _honeysoukis_.
_The Prodigal Sone_, 1380:—
Tweie sonnes. And the younger of _hem_.
A ryng on his hond, and _schoon_ on his feet.
And when he _cam_.
Tyndale, 1534:—
And not long after the younger sonne _gaddered_ all that he had
_togedder_.
And when he _cam_.
And _axed_ what these things meant.
From the Epistle to the Romans.
Also—_Geven_, _goven_, _moun_, _quyt_ (quit = to repay), _stakker
trone_[109] (throne), and scores of others are quite common with us.
The following past tenses are given by Angus as obsolete, and as having
been so for long:—_fand_, _flang_, _slang_, _stang_, _wan_, _wrang_,
every one of which are in frequent use.
In Wicliff’s edition of the Bible we have:—
‘The keperis weren _afeered_.’ ‘And _brak_.’ ‘The wisdom of this world
_fonned_.’ ‘Clensed with _besyms_.’ ‘Mayster Moses seide if _ony_
man.’ ‘_Twey_ men.’ ‘_Ridile_ as whete,’ ‘Joseph _lappide_ it’ (St.
Matthew). ‘_Moun_ comprehende with alle seyntis which is _breed_’
(Eph.). ‘He _concitide_’ (St. Luke). ‘And _telde_ him’ (Acts). ‘It
schal not _rewe_ Him’ (Hebrews).
Such words, when uttered by our country people, are not vulgar, though
they may sound odd, but that is because they are old fashioned and
unfamiliar; and if their utterance has no charm for you, then it is
music you never heard in your youth, and which your ear can never
rightly appreciate. So that you may see at a glance to what extent
the language has altered, and how the folk-speech has remained almost
stationary during the last three or four hundred years, let us compare
a few of the commonest North Riding words of to-day with the standard
English of the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries.
_Words of the 13th, _Standard English as pronounced
14th, and 15th _Common North in 1898, or giving
centuries, taken Riding words, the word which has supplanted
from the best 1898._ the older one._
authors._
Afeered Afeeard Afraid
Axed Axed Asked
Besyms Bizzums, buzzums Broom
Bounden Bounden Bound
Brak Brak Broke
Brast Brast Burst
Breede Breed Breadth
Burn Burn Stream
Cam Cam Came
Chare Chare Carefully
Concitide Consated Imagined, opinionated
Fain Fain Gladly
Fand Fand Found
Flang Flang Flung
Flig Flig To fly
Fonned Fond Foolish
Gaddered Gaddered Gathered
Geven Geven(1) }
Goven Govven(1)} Given
Gotten Gotten Got
Lapped Lapped }
Lappide Lapp’t } Wrapped
Laverock Lairock _or_ laverock The lark
Leifer Leif _or_ leifer Soon, willingly
Moniment Moniment Monument
Mown Mun Must
Ony Onny Any
Partinge Parting Division
Plain Pleean Complain
Putten Putten Put
Quyt Quit To repay
Rewe Rewe Repent
Ridile Ruddle _or_ riddle To sift
Shamefuller Shamefuller Very disgraceful
Snarled Snarled Knotted
Stakker Stakker Stagger
Strake Strake Struck
Swownd Swound _or_ soond To faint
Telde Tell’d _or_ tell’t Told
Threpe Threeap Argue, contend
Togedder Togedder Together
Tossen Tossen To throw
Twey Tweea Two
Ware Ware Beware
Wrack Wrack Destruction
By hook or crook By hook or crook By any means
(1) ‘Gi’en’ is by far the most general. Still, amongst the older
people, one often hears ‘geven’ and ‘govven.’
Need I add more to prove my case? I think not.
Those interested are requested to read the concluding remarks at the
end of the Glossary.
GLOSSARY
OF ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND NORTH RIDING WORDS
_Giving only those daily in use at the present time, 1898, together
with more than 1000 sentences as examples of the dialect._
FOR RARE AND OBSOLETE WORDS, SEE OTHER GLOSSARIES.
N.B.—Some words as we pass from east to west of the North Riding
differ slightly in pronunciation; such, when established over a
sufficiently wide area, have been included in the Glossary. It is
owing to this that the spelling of the same word varies throughout
the work, as in all cases the dialect has been given in accordance
with the pronunciation of the locality in which the incident or
word uttered occurred. As a single example, take ‘fau’k,’ which is
universal along the coast; further inland, in the Great Ayton and
Stokesley district ‘fau’k’ and ‘fooak’ are equally common, whilst in
Wensleydale and Swaledale ‘fooak’ is only heard.
ABBREVIATIONS.
abv. = abbreviated.
_adj._ = adjective.
_adv._ = adverb.
_conj._ = conjunction.
_pron._ = pronoun.
ex. = example.
_intj._ = interjection.
_n._ = noun.
N.R. = North Riding.
_v._ = verb.
_part._ = participle.
_pp._ = past participle.
_prep._ = preposition.
_pret._ = preterit.
_num._ = numeral.
A.
+A+ or +Eh+, _p._ _pr._ He. _Vide_ footnote, p. 326. [TN. Footnote 103]
+A+, _num._ _adj._ One. _Vide_ +Yah+, +Yan+.
+A’+, _adj._ All.
+Aa!+ _intj._ Exclamation of surprise, admiration.
+Aa+, but. +Aa+, but +Ah saay!+ _intj. of comparison_.
Ex.—_Aa, but Ah saay!_ _Ah aim ’at yon pig’s better ’an oors._
+Aback+, _adv._ Behind.
+Aback o’ beyont+, _adv._ Out of sight, out of the way.
Ex.—_Them things is sadly i’ t’ road. Ah wish thoo’d git ’em aback
o’ beyont._
+Abeear+, _v._ To endure.
Ex.—_Ah caan’t abeear t’ seet o’ yon lass._
+Aboon+, _prep._ Above.
+Aboon-heead+, _adv._ Overhead.
Ex.—_It leeaks a bit blackish aboon-heead._
+Abraid+, _v._ To wake, to stir up.
+Abrede+, _adv._ Width.
+Accorn+, +Yackron+, _n._ The acorn.
+Acoz+, _conj._ Because; often abv. to ‘’coz.’
+Actilly+, _adv._ Actually.
+Addle+, _adj._ Barren.
+Addle+, _v._ To earn.
+Addlin’+, _n._ A term of contempt.
Ex.—_Thoo larl addlin’, ger awaay wi’ tha._
+Addlin’s+, _n._ Wages.
+Admire+, _v._ 1. To approve, to like.
2. To wonder.
Ex.—1. _Ah deean’t admire a job o’ that soart._ _Ah admire t’ maist
o’ what he did._
2. _Ah caan’t bud admire at t’ waay he did it._
+Adreead+, _adj._ In a state of fear.
+‘A’e+, +‘Ev+, _v._ Have.
+Aether+, +Owther+, _conj._ Either.
+Afeear’d+, _adj._ and _part._ Afraid, seized with fear.
+Afoor+, +Afur+, _prep._ Before.
+Afoor+- or +Afur-lang+, _adv._ Before long, very shortly.
+After+- or +Efter-birth+, _n._ Placenta.
+Afterwit, Efterwit+, _n._ An idea which strikes one often when too
late to remedy a mistake.
+Agaan+, +Ageean+, _prep._ Again.
+Agaanst+ or +Ageeanst+, _prep._ Against.
+Agaate+, +Ageeat+, _adv._ 1. On the way.
2. Begun; also used as a _part._
3. To disturb.
4. To set going.
Ex.—1. _Wa s’all git agaate ti morn at morn._
2. _Ah’s agaate wi’ ‘t noo._
3. _Naay, what! Ah’d gitten all sattled peeacably, an’ thoo gans an’
sets ’em all agaate agaan._
4. _Ah’ve putten a new pin in, an’ sha’s agaate agaan noo._
+Agee+, _adv._ Askew.
+Ah+, _per. pron._ I.
+Ah’ll+, I will.
+Ah’ll awaand+, I will warrant.
+Ah’ll be bun+, I will be bound, I am sure.
+Ahint+, _adv._ and _prep._ Behind.
+Aiblings+, _adv._ Maybe, perhaps.
+Aim+, +Aam+, +Yam+, _v._ 1. To intend. 2. To be under the impression.
_Vide_ chapter on ‘Idioms.’
Ex.—1. _Wa aim ti start ti flit ti morn fust thing_, i.e. ‘We intend
to remove our goods first thing to-morrow.’
2. _Ah yam’d ’at he war Tommy’s bairn_, i.e. ‘I thought that he was
Tom’s bairn.’
+Airm+, _n._ Arm.
+Airt+, _n._ Point of the compass.
Ex.—_What airt is t’ wind in? Whya, sha’s nobbut iv a bad airt; Ah
doot ’at it’s nut gahin’ ti tak up._
+Al+, +Yal+, _n._ Ale.
+Alaane+, +Aleean+, _adj._ Alone.
+Aliments+, _n._ Elements.
+All of a heh+, _adj._ Inclining to one side.
+All out+, _adv._ Altogether, absolutely.
+All ti nowt+, Gone to nothing, dwindled away.
+Ally+, +Ally-taw+, _n._ A boy’s taw of white marble, distinct from
either a stony or glassy.
+Along of+, _prep._ Owing to, in consequence of.
+Amaist+, +Omaist+, _adv._ Almost.
+Amang+, _prep._ Among.
+Amang-hands+, Implies the doing of certain work coincidently with
other labour.
+Amell+, _prep._ In the midst, between.
+Ance+, _Vide_ +Yance+.
+An’+, _conj._ And.
+‘An+, _conj._ Than.
+An’ all+, _conj._ and _adv_. As well as, besides, truly.
+Ane+, _num. adj._ One, usually followed by ’ither,’ i.e. other.
Ex.—_If Ah’ll tak t’ ane, will thoo tak t’ ither? Vide_ +Yan+.
+Anew+, _adj._ Enough in number.
+Angry+, _adj._ Inflamed.
+Anotherkins+, _adj._ Different altogether.
Ex.—_Sha sartinly raffled on tiv a gert len’th, bud sha nivver
tell’d ma ’at Willie hed offered ti gi’e ma summat—that’s
anotherkins, thoo knows._
+Anters+, _conj._ For fear, lest.
+Any+, +Onny+, _adv._ At all, in the least.
Ex.—_Ah doan’t aim ’at he’ll help onny_, i.e. ‘I do not think that
he will help at all.’ _He teeak ho’d, bud he didn’t lift onny_,
i.e. ‘He took hold, but he did not lift in the least.’
+Apace+, +Apaace+, _adv._ With great speed.
Ex.—_He’s gitten tweea mair lads; he’ll git on apaace noo._
+Appron+, _n._ The fat covering the belly of ducks and geese.
+Arf+, +Arfish+, _adj._ 1. Timid, fearful.
2. Unwilling.
Ex.—1. _He wur a bit arfish when t’ dog boonced oot._
2. _Naay, Ah deean’t think he’ll cum, he seem’d a bit arfish when
Ah ax’d him._
+Argify+, _v._ To argue.
+Arn+, _v._ To earn.
+Arr+, _n._ A scar.
Ex.—_Ah’s afeear’d he’ll be arr’d sairly on his feeace, he gat sae
badly bo’nt._
+Arran web+, _n._ A cobweb.
+Arridge+, _n._ The rough edge left after either sawing or filing;
the edge of a squared stone, of furniture, &c.
+Arse-end+, _n._ The end of a stook which rests upon the ground.
+Arsey-varsey+, Upside down, great confusion.
+Ashads+, _prep._ Beside.
+Asher+, _adj._ Ashen.
+Ask+, +Esk+, _n._ The newt.
+Aslew+, _adj._ Not perpendicular.
+Ass+, _v._ _Vide_ +Ax+.
+Asseer+, _v._ To assure, _adv._ Instead, in the place of.
+Assel-tree+, _n._ Axle-tree.
+Ass-hoal+, _n._ A hole with a grate over it, usually under the
kitchen fire, to hold the fine ash.
+Assil-teeath+ or +-tewth+, _n._ A molar, a back tooth.
+Ass-manner+, _n._ Manure obtained from the ash-midden.
+Ass-midden+, _n._ The place in which ashes and other refuse is
thrown.
+Asteead+, _adv._ Instead.
+As tite+, +Ez tite+, _adv._ As soon, rather, readily.
Ex.—_Ah’d ez tite gan ez stop_, i.e. ‘I would as soon go as stay.’
_Ah’d ez tite kiss t’ dowter ez t’ muther_, i.e. ‘I would rather
kiss the daughter than the mother.’
+‘At+, _rel. pron._ and _conj._ 1. Who.
2. That.
3. Which.
Ex.—1. _Him ’at tell’d tha, tell’d tha wrang_, i.e. ‘He who told
you, told you wrongly.’
2. _Ah caan’t saay ’at ivver Ah did_, i.e. ‘I cannot say that ever
I did.’
+At+, _prep._ 1. To.
2. Also used in a verbal sense of to worry.
3. To attack.
4. To bother.
Ex.—1 and 3. _What’s he deean at tha ’at thoo s’u’d at him leyke
that?_ i.e. ‘What has he done to you that you should attack or
illuse him like that.’
2 and 4. _Ah s’all ’ev ti let her ’ev t’ pup, ska’s awlus at ma
aboot it._
+Atefter+ or +Atefther+, _adv._ Afterwards.
Ex.—_Whya, noo, Ah’ll see tha atefter aboot it. Aye, that’s what
he sed at fo’st, bud he tell’d a different taal atefter._
+Athout+, _prep._ and _conj._ Without, unless.
+Atop o’+, _prep._ On the top of.
+Atter+, _n._ Matter, mucus.
+Atween+, _prep._ Between.
+Au’d-feshioned+, _adj._ Precocious, antique.
+Au’d-leyke+, _adj._ Aged.
+Aught+, _n._ Anything.
+Aund+, +Awned+, _pp._ Possessed.
+Aw+, _adj._ All.
+Aw+, _intj._ Oh.
+Awaay+, _intj._ Go on, continue doing the same thing.
Ex.—_It maay scream awaay foor owt ’at Ah care_, i.e. ‘Scream on.’
‘Fight away, my lads.’ ‘Shout away, my boys.’
+Awaay-gannin’ crops+, _n._ The crops an outgoing tenant sows and
reaps on the farm he is leaving, in consideration of certain other
land which he has fallowed and manured.
+Awanting+, _adj._ 1. Needed.
2. Lacking sense.
Ex.—1. _T’ land’s vastly awanting a sup o’ rain._
2. _That bairn’s a bit awanting._
+Awe+, _Vide_ +Owe+.
+Awhahl+, _conj._ Awhile. _Vide_ +Whahl+.
+Awkward+, _Vide_ +Okkad+.
+Awlus+, +Allus+, _adv._ Always.
+Awm+, _n._ The elm.
+Awn+, _v._ 1. To own.
2. To admit.
Ex.—1. _Ah awn t’ dog_, i.e. ‘I own the dog.’
2. _Did ta awn tiv owt?_ i.e. ‘Did you admit anything?’ _Neea, Ah
awned ti nowt_, i.e. ‘No, I admitted nothing.’ _Ti awn ti_, is
‘to confess.’
+Ax+, +Ax’d+, +Ass+, or +Ast+, _v._ To ask.
Ex.—_Ah ax’d him, bud he wadn’t ’a’e neea truck. Ah’s ast oot ti
tea ti morn at neet._ _Ah wadn’t ax him owt_, or _ass him_.
+Ax’d at chetch or chŭch+ } Publishing the banns.
+Ax’d oot+ }
Ex.—_Tha’ll be ax’d at chetch o’ Sunday; he’s putten t’ spurrings
in._
+Aye+, +bairn+. Assent.
+Aye+, +foor seear+. Aye, for sure.
+Aye+, +marry+, _adv._ Certainly, yes.
Ex.—_Diz ta believe what sha’s sed aboot Hannah? Aye, marry, that
Ah deea—Hannah war sadly flowtered t’ other daay, when Ah plump’d
her wi’ ‘t._
B.
+Bab+, +Babby+, _n._ A baby.
+Babbles an’ Saunters+, 1. Wearying repetitions.
2. Unreliable information.
Ex.—1. _T’ sarmon war larl better ’an babbles an’ saunters._
2. _Tak neea notish ov owt ’at sha sez, all ’at sha knaws is babbles
an’ saunters._
+Back+, _v._ _Vide_ +Backen+.
+Back-bearaway+, _n._ The common bat.
+Back-burden+, _n._ A load carried on the back.
+Backen+, _v._ 1. To retard.
2. To hold in check.
Ex.—1. _T’ frost ’ll backen things a gay bit._
2. _Wa did all ’at ivver wa c’u’d, bud wa c’u’dn’t backen t’
inflammation; ’t ’ed gitten past deeaing owt, afoor t’ doctor
cam._
+Back-end+, _n._ The time following harvest.
+Backendish+, _adj._ Winterly.
Ex.—_It’s cau’d, an’ begins ti feel a larl bit backendish._
+Backerly+, _adj._ and _adv._ Late, backward.
+Backly+, _adv._ Late, backward.
+Backreck’nin’+, _n._ A misunderstanding.
Ex.—_Noo Ah’ve maad it plaan, ’evn’t Ah? foor Ah deean’t want
neea backreck’nin’ at efter._
+Back-talk+, _n._ Impudently answering again.
+Back-side+, _n._ 1. The back of the house.
2. That part which is opposed to the front of anything.
Ex.—1. _Put t’ barrer at t’ back-side._
2. _It’s at t’ back-side o’ t’ barn._
+Backstan+, _n._ A sheet of iron, sometimes a stone, having an iron
hoop to hang it over the fire by, used to bake cakes upon.
+Back up, To get one’s+, To make angry.
+Back-word+, _adv._ To countermand, to decline.
+Bad+, _adj._ 1. Difficult.
2. Unwell.
Ex.—1. _Ah finnd it varra bad ti deea._
2. _Ah feel ez bad ez ivver Ah can._
+Bad+, +Bod+, _pret._ of ’to bid.’
Ex.—_Ah bad, an’ sha bod, an’ Tommy gat it._
+Badger+, _n._ A huckster.
+Badger+, _v._ To beat down in a bargain.
Ex.—_Thoo mun ass him a lump mair ’an what thoo wants, foor he’s
a despert yan at badgering._
+Badly+, _adv._ 1. Sickly, ill.
2. Very much.
Ex.—1. _Mah wo’d, bud Ah is badly._
2. _Ah’s badly i’ want ov a self-binnder. It badly wants leeaking
teea._
+Badness+, _n._ Wickedness.
Ex.—_He’s full o’ nowt bud badness._
+Bags Ah fuggy+, ‘I claim the first,’ whether it be innings or
first place in a game, &c.
+Bahd+, _Vide_ +Bide+.
+Bainest+, _adj._ The nearest.
Ex.—_It’s t’ bainest waay ti gan byv t’ pastur._
+Bairn+, +Barn+, +Baan+, _n._ A child.
+Bairn-birth+, _n._ Lying-in.
+Bairnish+, _adj._ Childish.
+Bairn-lakings+, _n._ Playthings.
+Bakin’+, _n._ The whole of the bread baked at one time.
+Bakus+, +Bakehoos+, _n._ The bakehouse.
+Balk+, +Bawk+, _n._ A beam, also a worthless corner of a field.
+Ball+, _n._ The palm of the hand, or sole of the foot.
+Bally-bleeazes+, _n._ A bonfire.
+Bam+, _n._ and _v._ 1. A cheat, a joke, to cheat.
2. To play a joke.
Ex.—1. _He bamm’d ivvery hand he played._
2. _He went all t’ waay ti Stowsla ti see her, an’ sha nivver
cam oot; it war nowt bud a bam o’ Jack’s._
+Band+, _n._ String, twisted straw used by the harvesters to bind
sheaves with.
+Band-maker+, _n._ A maker of bands in the harvest-field.
+Bang+, _v._ To thrash.
+Bangs all+, _v._ Surpasses everything.
Ex.—_He bangs all, yon youth. That’s a capper; it bangs all, it
diz._
+Bank up+, _v._ To collect in masses, as clouds.
+Banky+, _adj._ Hilly, applied to road or land.
+Bar+, _adj._ Bare.
+Barfan+, _n._ A horse-collar.
+Bargh+, +Barugh+, +Barf+, _n._ A hill forming part of a low ridge,
as Lang Barugh, Great Ayton.
+Bargollies+, _n._ Young birds before they are feathered.
+Barguest+, _n._ An apparition, applied to ghosts in general.
+Barken’d+, _v._ Encrusted.
+Barley-bairn+, _n._ A child born shortly after marriage.
+Barm+, _n._ Yeast.
+Barren+, _n._ The external part of the sexual organ of a cow.
+Barrow+, _n._ The flannel in which a newly-born child is wrapped.
+Bass+, _n._ Any kind of matting made from reeds or grass.
+Bat+, _n._ 1. A blow.
2. A condition.
3. A small amount of work.
Ex.—1. _Ah gav’ him sike a bat ower t’ lug._
2. _He’s awlus at that bat_, i.e. ‘game.’
3. _Ah’ve nut deean a bat sen yesterdaay._
+Bate+, _v._ To reduce in price.
Ex.—_Thoo’ll ’a’e ti bate summat afoor wa can barg’in._
+Bath+, _v._ To wash a child; to foment with hot water.
+Batten+, _n._ Two sheaves of straw.
+Batter+, _n._ An inclination inwards, a narrowing towards the
summit. A wall which is wider at the base than at the summit is
said to ‘batter.’
Ex.—_Thoo’ll be leyke ti gi’e it a bit mair batter, foor if
t’ bank at t’ back gi’es waay, it’ll nivver bahd it thrussin’
agaan ’t._
+Batter-fanged+, _adj._ Beaten and scratched by a woman.
Ex.—_He nobbut sed tweea wo’ds ti Ann, when sha batter-fang’d
him sairly._
+Battin+, _n._ A rafter of any length, 7 × 2½ in. thick.
+Baufy+, _adj._ Strong.
+Bavin+, _n._ A bundle of sticks.
+Bawks+, _n._ The yoke.
+Bazzak+, _v._ To strike with force.
+Beck+, _n._ A small stream.
+Bedfast+, _adj._ Confined to bed.
+Bed-happings+, _n._ Bedclothes.
+Bed-heead+, _n._ The pillow end.
+Bedho’dden+, _adj._ _Vide_ +Bedfast+.
+Bedoot+, +Beoot+, _prep._ 1. Without.
2. Unless.
Ex.—1. _He’s gahin’ ti gan bedoot tha._
2. _Bedoot thoo cums an’ all, Ah saan’t gan, soa thoo knaws._
+Bedstock+, _n._ The wooden frame of a bed.
+Bed-twilt+, _n._ Bed-quilt.
+Beeaf+, _n._ The bough of a tree. _Vide_ also Bugh.
+Beeak+, _v._ To bake.
+Beeal+, _v._ 1. To roar as an animal.
2. To cry out in pain.
3. To shout loudly.
Ex.—1. _He beeal’d leyke a bull when tha catch’d him._
2. _Ah nivver heeard a lass beeal oot leyke what sha did when
t’ doctor cut her wicklow._
3. _When he calls o’ yan, he beeals ez if yan war deeaf; he
ommaist deavens yan._
+Beean+, _n._ A bone.
+Beean’t+, Be not (am not).
+Beearer+, _n._ Martingale.
+Beeas+, +Beeos+, +Beeast+, _n._ An animal of the ox kind.
+Beeaslings+, _n._ The first milk drawn from a cow after calving.
+Beeldin’+, _n._ A building.
+Bee-skep+, _n._ A straw hive.
+Behappen+, _v._ To happen to, perhaps.
+Behauf+, _n._ Behalf, sake.
+Beho’dden+, _pp._ To be indebted to.
+Belang+, _v._ To own, to belong to.
+Belder+, _v._ To bellow as a bull, to cry out loudly.
+Beleyke+, _adv._ Probably.
+Belk+, _v._ To belch.
+Bellacing+, _part._ A sound thrashing.
+Belly-cheer+, _n._ Good cheer.
+Belly-glut+, _n._ A greedy glutton.
+Belly-timber+, _n._ Food.
+Belly-wark+, _n._ A pain in the stomach.
+Belt+, _pp._ of ‘Build.’
+Bensil+, _n._ A blow.
+Bensiling+, _n._ A sound chastisement.
Ex.—_Ah’ll gi’e tha sike a bensiling if ivver thoo cums that
gam agaan._
+Benty+, _adj._ Wiry, blue-looking, applied to pasture herbage.
+Berry-tree+, _n._ The gooseberry tree.
+Bessy-babs+, _n._ One who behaves like a child.
+Bessy-bainworts+, _n._ Daisies.
+Bessy-ducker+ or -+douker+, _n._ The water-ousel.
+Best leg first, To put one’s+ = To hurry.
Ex.—_If ya aim ti catch t’ traan ya’ll ’a’e ti put yer best leg
fo’st._
+Best+ and +Bested+. Used in a verbal sense—1. To get the better of.
2. To overcome.
Ex.—1. _Ah bested him_, i.e. ‘I got the better of him.’
2. _Ah can seean best yon youth_, i.e. ‘I can soon vanquish that
fellow,’
+Bethink+, +Bethowt+, _v._ To recollect.
Ex.—_Ah caan’t bethink ma ov hauf o’ what sha sed. When Tom ga’
ma a inklin’ Ah bethowt ma ov ivverything ’at ’ed ta’en
pleeace; aye, all ’at t’ ane ’ed sed ti t’ other, thoff afoor
that all t’ lot ’ed cleean slipped fra mah mahnd._
+Better+, _adj._ and _v._ 1. More.
2. To gain by.
3. Improved in health.
Ex.—1. _It’s better ’an a month sen._
2. _Ah s’ better mysel by changing pleeaces._
3. _Ah’s a lot better ti-daay._
+Bettering+, _n._ An improvement.
+Bettermy+, _adj._ 1. Used to denote those in a higher position.
2. Polished.
Ex.—1. _T’ bettermy fau’k ’ez their waays, an’ wa’ ‘ev oors;
bud when onny on ’em cums inti mah cottage, Ah awlus puts on
mah bettermy manners, an’ Ah can scrape mah tongue an’ knack
a bit wi t’ best on ’em._
+Beyont+, _prep._ Beyond.
+Bickerin+’, _n._ A wordy conflict, quarrelling.
Ex.—_Tommy an’ Mary’s at it agaan; Ah nivver heeard sike
bickerin’ deed ez yon tweea ’ev, tha’re awlus at it._
+Bid+, _v._ To invite to a funeral.
+Bidder+, _n._ The person deputed to bid guests to a funeral.
+Bide+, +Bahd+, _v._ 1. To endure.
2. To wait.
3. To dwell.
Ex.—1. _Ah caan’t bahd yon chap._
2. _Ah’ll bahd here whahl ya cum._
3. _Wheear did ta bahd afoor thoo cam ti live here?_
+Big+, _adj._ Strong—of the wind.
Ex.—_It war a fairly big wind last neet._
+Bigg+, _n._ Barley having four rows of ears on one stalk.
+Bike+, _n._ The nest of the wild bee.
+Bile+, _n._ A boil.
+Binch+, _n._ A bench to work upon.
+Bink+, _n._ A long seat of either stone or wood.
+Binnd+, _v._ To bind.
+Binnder+, +Binndther+, _n._ The tier-up of sheaves.
+Birk+, _n._ The birch-tree.
+Birr+, _n._ Rapid motion accompanied with a sound like whirr-r-r.
Ex.—_T’ bo’ds gat up an’ went wi’ sike a birr, ’at Ah aim he war
ti freet’n’d ti shut at ’em._
+Bishel+, _n._ A bushel.
+Bishopped+, _Vide_ Set on.
+Biv+, +Byv+, _prep._ By.
+Bizzum+, +Buzzum+, _n._ A broom.
+Bizzum-heead+, _n._ A person who is equally foolish and stupid.
+Bizzum-+ or +Buzzum-heeaded+, _adj._ Stupid and foolish.
+Black-clocks+, _n._ Black beetles.
+Blacking+, _n._ A severe scolding.
+Bladdry+, +Blathery+[110], _adj._ Muddy, applied to soft splashy
mud.
+Blaeberry+, _n._ The bilberry.
+Blair+, _v._ To roar loudly, to shout loudly.
+Blake+, _adj._ Of a light golden hue, pale.
Ex.—_Noo, that’s a bit o’ neyce blake butter. Thoo nobbut leeaks
blakeish._
+Blake+, _v._ Intoxicated.
Ex.—_Jim war fairly blake last neet._
+Blane+, _n._ A small boil.
+Blash+, _v._ 1. To splash with water.
2. _adj._ Nonsense, idle talk.
+Blashment+, _n._ Melted snow or soft mud.
+Blashy+, _adj._ Applied to wet weather. The roads are said to be
‘blashy’ when the snow melts.
+Blather+, _adj._ and _n._ Nonsense.
+Bleb+, _n._ A blister, a small bubble.
+Bleck+, _n._ The dirt and oil worked together on a machine.
+Bleea+, _n._ The inner bark of a tree.
+Blendcorn+, _n._ A mixture of wheat and rye.
+Blendings+, _n._ A mixture of peas and beans.
+Blether+, _n._ Noisy foolish talk.
+Bletherheead+, _n._ One full of silly talk.
+Blew milk+, _n._ Skim milk.
+Blind-worm+, _n._ A non-venomous snake.
+Blirt+, _v._ To tell anything suddenly.
Ex.—_Yan caan’t trust Sally wi’ nowt, sha blirts oot all sha
knows._
+Blish-blash+, _n._ Tittle-tattle.
+Blo’+, _n._ Bloom.
+Blob+, _v._ To bubble, as air rising in water.
Ex.—_He tumm’l’d blob inti t’ beck_ is quite a common form of
speech. The original meaning may have been that the falling
in caused many bubbles.
+Bloss+, _v._ and _n._ 1. To make ugly, to disfigure.
2. A dowdy.
Ex.—1. _Her feeace war bloss’d wi’ blebs an’ blanes._
2. _Sha is a bloss is yon lass._
+Blotch+, _n._ A blot, a spot.
+Blubber+ or +Bluther+, _v._ To cry.
+Blur+, _v._ To blot or smear.
+Blurt+, _v._ To suddenly weep.
+Blustery+, _adj._ Squally.
+Blutherment+, _n._ Puddle, slush of any kind.
+Bobblekins+, _n._ The water buttercup.
+Bodden+, _v._ 1. To impose too heavy a task.
2. To accuse, to charge with.
Ex.—1. _He’s bodd’n’d t’ lad wi’ mair an’ a day’s wark._
2. _Well, an’ thoo’d ’a’e slapt her a feeace an’ all if sha’d
bodd’n’d thee wi’ t’ seeam ez sha plump’d me wi’._
+Bodden+, _pp._ of ‘to bide.’
+Boddum+, _v._ To thoroughly investigate.
Ex.—_Ah’ll boddum ’t if it cost ma fahve pund._
+Boddums+, _n._ and _adj._ Lowest, lowest ground.
+Boddy+, _n._ A person.
Ex.—_Sha’s a deeacent boddy, is ‘Liza._
+Boggart+ } _n._ A ghost.
+Boggle+ }
+Boggle+, _v._ To jib, to frame badly; also a _n._ inaptitude.
Ex.—_He’ll mak nowt bud a boggle on ’t._
+Boiling+, _n._ The whole lot, whether of persons or things.
+Bolden+, _v._ To encourage, to incite.
Ex.—_Yance ower Ah felt a larl bit fearsome, bud he bolden’d ma
ti deea ’t, seea Ah bunched him._
+Boll+, _n._ The trunk of a tree.
+Bonny+, _adj._ 1. A large quantity or number.
2. Strange.
3. Good-looking.
Ex.—_Aye, ther’ wur a bonny lot on ’em, a vast mair ’an Ah’d
aim’d ti see._
2. _Ther’ll be bonny deed i’ Bedale a week cum Mundaay._
3. _It’s a bonny-leeaking meer._
+Bon’t!+ _intj._ Bother it (literally, burn it).
+Bo’nt+, _pp._ Burnt.
Ex.—_Sha’s bo’nt her pinny wiv a cat’ren wheel._
+Booak+, +Bowk+, _v._ To retch, to vomit.
+Book+, +Bouk+, _n._ Bulk.
+Bool+, _v._ To trundle a hoop.
+Booler+, _n._ A child’s hoop.
+Bor+, _n._ The seed of the burdock.
+Borril+, _n._ The gadfly.
+Bost+, _v._ To burst or break in small pieces.
+Botch+, _v._ To repair in an unworkmanlike manner.
+Botchet+, _n._ Mead, made from honey.
+Bottery+, +Bore-tree+, +Bur-tree+, _n._ The alder-tree.
+Bottom+, _Vide_ +Boddums+.
+Boult+ or +Bou’t upright+. Upright, erect.
+Boun+, +Bun+, _adj._ Going, on the point of.
Ex.—_Ah’s bun ti deea’t t’ next job. Ah doot t’ au’d thing’s
boun ti dee. Ah war just boun ti pop ower, if thoo ’edn’t
dropt in._
+Bound+, +Bun+, _adj._ Compelled.
Ex.—_Ah’s ’a’e ti gan, in fact Ah’s bound ti gan._
+Bounder-marks+ or +-steeans+, _n._ Stones erected to mark
boundaries.
+Bow-bridge+ or +-brigg+, _n._ A one-arched bridge, several of
which still exist.
+Bowdykite+, _n._ An impudent child.
+Boxin+, _adj._ Buxom.
+Brack+, _pret._ of ‘to breke,’ ‘breck,’ or ‘breeak.’
+Bracken+, _n._ The common fern (_Pteris aquilina_).
+Brade+, _v._ To spread abroad.
+Brading aboot+, _part._ Gossiping.
+Brae+, _n._ The overhanging portion of the bank of a river.
+Braeful+, _adj._ Bankful.
+Brag+, _v._ To boast.
+Brahdal-bands+, _Vide_ +Bridal-bands+.
+Brahd-wain+, _n._ A wagon laden with furniture, &c., taken
from the home of the bride.
+Braid-band+, _n._ A sheaf of corn laid out to dry.
+Bramlings+, _n._ The red worms used as bait for trout.
+Bramm’l+, _n._ The bramble.
+Brander+, _n._ An arrangement varying in design—often in the shape
of a tripod—fixed over the fire to support pans, &c.
+Brander+, _v._ To cook over the fire.
+Brandery+, _n._ A wood frame used in making wells.
+Bran-new+, +Brander spander new+, _adj._ Quite new.
+Brant+, _adj._ Steep.
Ex.—_Thoo’ll ’a’e ti put t’ skid on, its varra brant._
+Brash+, _n._ Useless refuse, a rising of acid into the mouth.
+Brashy+, _adj._ Worthless.
+Brass+, _n._ 1. Money.
2. Impudence.
Ex.—1. _Brass nivver chinks sae sweetly ez when t’ soond cums
fra yan’s awn pocket._
2. _If he’d nobbut hauf ez mich brass iv his pocket ez he ’ez iv
his feeace, he nivver need deea a hand stroak._
+Brassend+, +Brazzend+, _adj._ Impudent. When applied to a female,
immoral.
+Brat+, _n._ A child.
+Brattice+, _n._ A wooden partition dividing two rooms.
+Bratty+, _adj._ Applied to cream or milk when turning sour.
+Brave+, _adj._ Good in quality as well as in appearance.
+Bravely+, _adj._ and _adv._ Exceeding, exceedingly well.
+Bray+, _v._ 1. To thrash, flog.
2. To overcome.
Ex.—1. _Ah’ll bray tha when thoo cums in._
2. _Ah can bray yon chap wi’ yah han’ i’ mah pocket._
+Brazent+, +Brazened+. Impudent. _Vide_ +Brassend+.
+Breaks+, +Brooks+, _n._ Boils.
+Breeath, To take away one’s+ = To overcome.
Ex.—_It teeak mah breeath away when tha tell’d ma ’at he’d deean
foor hissen_, i.e. ‘It filled me with surprise when they told
me that he had _deean for hissen_,’ i.e. committed suicide.
+Brede+, _n._ Breadth.
+Bree+, +Breece+, _n._ The gadfly.
+Breer+ }
+Breear+ } _n._ The briar, the dog-rose.
+Breeacus+, +Breckus+, _n._ Breakfast.
+Breead leeaf+ or +loaaf+, _n._ A bread loaf.
+Breead meal+, _n._ Flour from which brown bread is made.
+Breead-ratched+, _adj._ Broad-striped.
+Breeak+, +Breek+, +Brek+, _v._ To break.
+Breeak one’s day, To+ = To fail to keep an appointment; to spoil
a day’s employment by having to attend to some trivial duty.
+Breeam+, _n._ The broom (_Genista scoparia_).
+Breed+, _n._ A brood, a litter.
+Breekin’+, _n._ That part of a tree where the stem breaks into
branches.
+Breekless+, _adj._ Without breeches.
+Breeks+, _n._ Breeches.
+Breke+ or +Breear+, _v._ To break.
+Bridal-band+, _n._ The name given to the bride’s garter
(_obsolete_).
+Bride-ale+, _n._ Another form of hotpot. _Vide_ chapter on
‘Customs.’
+Bride-wain+, _n._ _Vide_ +Brahd-wain+.
+Brief+, _n._ A begging letter.
+Brigg+, _n._ A bridge; a natural bed of rocks standing
considerably out of the water and projecting into the sea.
+Briggsteean+, _n._ Flags or stones covering a culvert in front of
a gateway, or in other places, so as to serve the purpose of a
bridge in miniature.
+Brim+, _v._ Applied to a sow when inclined to the boar.
+Brissling+, _adj._ A slight gale of wind.
+Brock+, _n._ The badger; the frog-hopper or cuckoo-spit
(_Aphrophora spumaria_).
+Brog+, _v._ To feed on the young hedge-shoots.
+Brokken-bodied+, _adj._ Suffering from hernia.
+Brole+, +Browl+, +Brul+, _n._ An impudent, saucy girl.
+Bru+, _n._ The brow, forehead.
+Bruff+, +Bluff+, _adj._ Fresh-complexioned, rough in speech,
brusque.
+Brully+, _n._ A squabble amongst neighbours, a broil, a storm at
sea of short duration.
+Brully+ }
+Brullier+ } _n._ A stealer of marbles.
+Brully+, _v._ To steal marbles (taws) from the ring whilst a game
is in progress, by some bully having no part in the game.
+Brumm’l-neeased+, +-nooazed+, +-noased+ } _adj._ Rubicund.
+Brumm’l-snouted+ }
+Brumm’ls+, _Vide_ +Bramm’l+.
+Brunt+, _Vide_ +Brant+.
+Brussel+, +Brissel+, _v._ To hector, swagger, show off.
Ex.—_He went bruss’ling aboot ez if t’ field war hisen, bud when
Jack’s lad offered him oot ti feight, he ’edn’t a wo’d ti saay
foor hissel._
+Brussen+, _pp._ of Burst.
+Brussen-hearted+, _adj._ Broken-hearted.
+Brussen oot+, _adj._ Covered with blotches or sores.
+Brussen+ or +Brusten up+, _adj._ Burst, broken into small pieces.
+Buckheeads+, _n._ The living stump of a thorn hedge left to grow
after slashing.
+Budge+, _v._ To move, to give way in a bargain.
Ex.—_Ah weean’t budge an inch foor neeabody. Ah weean’t budge a
farden._
+Buer+, _n._ The gnat.
+Buff+, _n._ The blow given as a challenge to fight.
+Bugh+, +Bew+, _n._ A bough.
+Bull+, _v._ To serve a cow.
+Bullace+, _n._ Wild plum, of a green colour when ripe.
+Bull-feeaces+, +Bull-fronts+, _n._ The hair-grass (_Aira
caespitosa_).
+Bull-heead+, _n._ A small flat-headed fish found under stones,
the miller’s thumb.
+Bullock+, _v._ To bully, to be overbearing.
Ex.—_If thoo aims ’at thoo can cum a bullocking o’ ma, thoo’s
wrang, sae thoo’d better off wi’ thisel._
+Bulls+, _n._ Bulrushes, also the cross-beams of a harrow which
carry the tines.
+Bulls and segs+, _n._ The name often given to the stalk and
seed-head of the bulrush, the leaves being called ‘segs’; hence
‘bulls and segs.’
+Bull-seg+, A bull castrated in its prime.
+Bull-spink+, _n._ The chaffinch.
+Bull-stang+, +Bull-teng+, _n._ Dragon-fly.
+Bull-steean+, _n._ A stone used for sharpening tools.
+Bullyrag+, _v._ To be exceedingly overbearing.
+Bum-bailiff+, _n._ A bailiff.
+Bumm’l-barfan+, _n._ A horse-collar made of reeds.
+Bumm’l-bee+, _n._ The humble-bee.
+Bumm’l-kites+, _n._ The fruit of the bramble.
+Bumper+ } _Vide_ { +Thumper+.
+Bumping+ } { +Thumping+.
+Bumping+, _n._ An initiating ceremony at some schools of bumping
a new boy on a stoop or otherwise.
+Bunch+, _v._ To kick with the foot, or violently bump with the
knee. N.B.—‘To bunch’ is ‘to kick,’ ‘to punch’ is ‘to hit.’
+Burden+, +Bod’n+, _n._ Anything one has to bear, whether mentally
or physically.
+Burden-band+, _n._ A hempen band used to bind hay, to be carried on
the back.
+Burdened+, _adj._ Insane.
+Burn+, _n._ A brook.
+Burr+, _n._ Anything used to prop a wheel from running backwards
downhill. A burr proper is a round cylinder of wood with a loose
iron pin through it; this is so fixed that it runs on the ground
behind the wheel, and automatically prevents the wheel running back.
+Burr-thistle+, _n._ The spear-headed thistle.
+Busk+, _n._ A small bush.
+Bustard+, _n._ A witch bereft of power to work ill (_obsolete_).
_Vide_ chapter on ‘Witchcraft.’
+Butch+, _v._ To kill as a butcher.
+Butt+, _n._ The halibut.
+Butter-fingered+, _adj._ Applied to one who lets things
drop.
+Butter-mouthed+, _adj._ Flattery.
+Butter-scotch+, _n._ A superior kind of toffee.
+Buzzard+, _n._ A large moth.
+Buzznacking+, _part._ Gossiping.
+By mich+, _adj._ By a good deal.
+By noo+, _adj._ By now, by this time.
Ex.—_Thoo owt ti ’a’e lap’t t’ job up by noo._
+Byre+, _n._ A cow-house.
C.
+Caan’t+, pronounced ‘carnt,’ _v._ Cannot, must not.
Ex.—_You caan’t do that_, i.e. ‘You must not do that.’
+Cabbish+, _n._ Cabbage.
+Cade+, _n._ A sheep-tick. _Vide_ +Kead+.
+Cadge+, _v._ To beg.
+Cadger+, _n._ A carrier, a beggar.
+Caff+, _n._ Chaff.
+Caffed+, _adj._ Cowed, dispirited.
+Caff-hearted+, _adj._ Nervous, cowardly, unprincipled.
+Caffy+, _adj._ Worthless.
+Caggy+, _adj._ Touchy, disposed to quarrel.
+Cagmag+, _adj._ and _n._ Worthless.
+Caingy+, _adj._ Fretful, peevish.
+Cake+, _v._ To cackle.
+Caling+, _v._ To gossip.
+Call+, _n._ Occasion, necessity, reason.
Ex.—_Ah’s nut gahin’, Ah’ve neea call ti gan_, i.e. ‘I am not
going, I have no occasion to go. _Ther wur neea call for tha
ti deea that._
+Call+, _v._ 1. To scold.
2. To quarrel.
3. To call to or for.
Ex.—1. _Sha’s nobbut calling o’ ma ti call ma_, i.e. ‘She is only
shouting for me to (give) me a scolding.’
2. _Tha’re calling yan anuther leyke all that_, i.e. ‘They are
quarrelling with one another like anything.’
3. _Ah’ll call on him ti cum_, i.e. ‘I will shout for him to
come.’
+Callet+, _n._ A scold, a railing woman.
+Callet+, _v._ To scold.
+Callety+, _adj._ Scolding, nagging.
+Call of+, +Call on+, _v._ To cry to.
+Calven-coo+, _n._ A cow recently calved.
+Cam+, +Camside+, _n._ A raised earthen bank, the sloping bank from
a hedge bottom.
+Cambril+, +Caumbril+, +Caum’ril+, _n._ The notched wooden bar
which is thrust through the tendons of the hind legs of a
slaughtered beast to suspend it by.
+Can+, _v._ May. ‘Can’ is commonly used for ‘may.’
Ex. Q. _Can I smoke here?_ Ans. _No, you caan’t_, i.e. ‘No, you
may not.’
+Canker+, _v._ To rust.
+Cankery+, _adj._ Cross, rotten.
+Cannily+, _adv._ Wisely, with subtility, nicely.
+Canny+, _adj._ Pleasing, judicious, skilful, considerable as to
number.
Ex.—_Sha’s a canny lass_, i.e. ‘pleasing.’ _Thoo fraam’d varra
cannily wiv him_, i.e. ‘You set to work very judiciously with
him.’ _He did it varra cannily_, i.e. ‘He did it very
skilfully.’ _Whya, ther wur a cannyish few on ’em_, i.e. ‘Why,
there were a considerable number.’
+Cant+, _v._ To raise one end.
+Canty+, _adj._ Full of spirits, lively.
+Cap+, _v._ To fix a piece of leather over the toe of a boot; to
surprise, bewilder, excel.
Ex.—_Ah nivver war sae capped i’ mah leyfe_, i.e. ‘I never was
so surprised in my life.’ _Ah caan’t tell hoo he mannish’d ti
deea ’t, he capped me_, i.e. ‘I cannot say how he managed to
do it, he bewildered me.’ _Yon caps ’em all_, i.e. ‘That one
over there excels them all.’
+Capper+, _n._ Something which surpasses all others.
+Caps all+ = Exceeds in everything.
+Capster+, _n._ A piece of wood roughly shaped like the bridge of a
bagatelle board, each arch being numbered, the boy winning by
that number placed over the arch he shoots through; should he not
succeed in passing through any arch, he loses his taw.
+Card up+, _v._ To sweep and tidy up the fireside.
+Cark+, _v._ To be careful, anxious.
+Carlings+, _n._ Peas cooked in butter, prepared for Carling Sunday.
+Carneyed+, _pp._ Flattered, coaxed.
+Carp+, _v._ To doubt without reason.
+Carr+, _n._ Low-lying boggy land.
+Carryings on+, _n._ Lively, disorderly proceedings.
+Cassen+, _Vide_ +Kessen+.
+Cast down, To be+, _v._ To be downhearted, dispirited.
+Cast+, +Kest+, _adj._ Not straight, warped.
+Cast+, +Kest+, _v._ To cease wearing.
Ex.—_Ah kest yan o’ my petticoats, and Ah’ve catch’d my deeath
o’ cau’d._
+Cast, To be+, _v._ To be bent, warped.
+Cast up+, _v._ 1. To twit a person with some past failing.
2. To happen unexpectedly.
3. To come to light.
Ex.—1. _Ah think ’at Ah wadn’t kest that up at him._
2. _Well, it caps yan when a thing leyke that kests up._
3. _Ah thowt ’at Ah’d lost it, but it kest up i’ yan o’ ma au’d
coats._
+Catch it+, _v._ To be reprimanded, punished.
Ex.—_Thoo’ll catch it when thi mudher sees tha._ I heard a woman
say to her daughter, when giving the child a jug of milk to take
to a neighbour’s, _If thoo lets it drop, thoo’ll catch it_.
+Cat-collop+, _n._ Cat’s-meat.
+Cat-gallows+, _n._ Two upright forked sticks upon which a
cross-bar rests as an obstacle for boys to jump over.
+Cat-haws+, _n._ The fruit of the hawthorn.
+Cat-jugs+, _Vide_ +Dog-choops+.
+Cats and eyes+, _n._ Seeds of the ash-tree.
+Cat-trail+, _n._ The root of valerian.
+Cau’d+, _adj._ and _n._ Cold.
+Cauf+, +Cauff+, _n._ A calf.
+Cauf-heead+, _n._ A stupid fellow.
+Cauf-lick+, _n._ A tuft of hair on the forehead which cannot be
parted or made to lie flat.
+Cauf-riddling+, _Vide_ chapter on ‘Superstition.’
+Caul+, _n._ _Vide_ +Keld+.
+Causer+, +Caus’ay+, _n._ A causeway, a paved footpath.
+Cess+, _n._ A rate for parish relief;
the amount paid to the poor by the overseer.
+Cess+, _n._ 1. Extra effort.
2. Punishment.
Ex.—1. _Gi’e ’t cess, an’ thoo’ll seean ’a’e ’t deean_, i.e.
‘Give it an extra effort, and you will soon have it done.
2. _Ah’ll gi’e tha cess when Ah git ho’d on tha._
+Cess getherer+, _n._ Rate collector.
+Chaff+, _v._ To tease by using playful but provoking language.
+Chaff+, +Chafts+, _n._ The jaw, generally that of a pig.
+Chaffer+, _v._ 1. To banter or beat down in a bargain.
2. An interchange of provoking remarks.
Ex.—1. _He chaffered that mich, whahl Ah ax’d him if he wanted
t’ meer foor nowt?_
2. _Dolly’s chaffering wi’ Sally agaan._
+Chaff-fallen+, _adj._ Dejected.
+Challenge+, _v._ To recognize.
Ex.—_Ah c’u’d challenge oor bitch among all t’ dogs i’ t’ show.
Sha’s good ti challenge onnywheer._
+Chamber+, +Chamer+, _n._ A room above the ground-floor.
+Champ+, +Champion+, _adj._ Excellent, very well.
+Chance bairn+, _n._ An illegitimate child.
+Chander+, _n._ A chaldron.
+Change+, _v._ To turn sour.
+Channely+, _adv._ Grandly.
+Chanter+, _n._ A chorister.
+Chare+, _adv._ Careful, doubtful.
+Chass+, _n._ Haste. _v._ To follow quickly.
+Chatt+, _n._ A fir cone.
+Chatter+, _v._ To make an uneven surface;
to shake, as machinery running unevenly.
+Chaudy-bag+, _n._ The stomach of an animal.
+Chaudy-guts+, _n._ A greedy, gluttonous fellow.
+Chavel+, _v._ To chew as one without teeth, to gnaw.
+Cheean+, _n._ A chain.
+Cheeany+, The common pronunciation of ‘chinaware.’
+Cheeat’ll chow+, _Lit._ ‘Cheating will show itself.’
Ex.—In a dispute boys will say, _Let him ’ev anuther goa,
cheeat’ll chow_.
+Cheek by chowl or jowl+ = Close together.
Ex.—_Theer tha gan, cheek by chowl_;
_Ah doot tha’re up ti neea good._
+Cheep+, _n._ The cry of a young bird, generally a chicken,
partridge, or grouse.
+Cheeper+, _n._ A young partridge or grouse.
+Chesfat+, _n._ A press used for extracting the whey from the
curds.
+Chetch+, +Chŭch+, _n._ A church.
+Chetch+ or +Chuch priest+, _n._ A Church of England clergyman.
+Chevin+, _n._ The chub.
+Childer+, _n._ Children.
+Chimbler+, +Chim’ly+, _n._ A chimney.
+Chip+, _v._ To chip anything; to crack an egg when boiled, or
when hatching commences.
+Chip up+, _v._ To trip up by holding the foot out in front of
any one running past.
+Chisel+, +Chizzel+, _n._ Bran, husks of grain.
+Chissel+, _v._ To cheat, to impose upon.
+Chist+, _n._ The chest, a chest of drawers.
+Chitterlings+, _n._ The small entrails of a pig.
+Chitty+, _adj._ Childish.
+Chock-full+, _adv._ Full to overflowing.
Ex.—_Thoo caan’t git neea mair in, it’s chock-full noo._
+Cholter-headed+, _adj._ Thick-headed.
+Chop+, _v._ To trade by exchanging.
+Chops+, _n._ The jaws. _Vide_ +Chaff+.
+Chow+, _v._ To chew.
+Chucky+, _n._ A hen, a term of endearment applied to a child.
+Chuff+, _adj._ Healthy-looking, pert, determined.
+Chunter+, _v._ To mutter in a complaining tone.
+Churlish+, +Chollus+, _adj._ Bad-tempered.
+Churr+, _v._ The murmuring sound made by birds when roosting.
+Clack+, _n._ Lit. the tongue, scolding, advice.
+Clack+, _v._ To admonish, to talk much.
+Clag+, _v._ To stick to or on.
+Claggum+, _n._ Any sticky mass, applied generally to sweets.
+Claggy+, _adj._ Sticky.
+Clam+, _v._ 1. To climb.
2. To squeeze, to nip as a vice.
3. To adhere to, stick to, owing to moisture.
Ex.—1. _Ah clam up t’ tree an’ gat t’ nist an’ t’ eggs an’
all._
2. _Ah gat mysen clamm’d atween t’ wall an’ t’ wagon._
+Clam+, +Clem+, _v._ To faint for want of food.
Ex.—_Ah’s fair clamm’d foor a bit o’ summat ti eat._
+Clam+, _n._ Damp, sticky moisture.
+Clame+, _v._ To smear with anything sticky.
Ex.—_Tha saay what it’s t’ chaange o’ watter what’s deean ’t.
That maay be; onny road sha’s a perfect picter noo, covered wi’
watter-blebs an’ larl reead spots ivvery bit ower her; an’ t’
doctor’s clamed her all ower wi’ sum soart o’ clarty, bladdry,
muckment stuff, whahl sha kittles that bad ’at sha dizn’t knaw
wheear ti put hersel._
+Clammy+, _adj._ Parched with thirst, sticky, moist, adhesive.
+Clamoursome+, _adj._ Noisy.
+Clamper+, _v._ To make a loud noise with the feet when walking or
running.
+Clampers+, _n._ Feet or claws of any metal object, also the
fingers and claws of things animate.
+Clap+, _v._ 1. To pat a dog.
2. To sit down, or set anything down.
Ex.—2. _Clap yersel i’ that cheer._ _Clap it doon onnywheear._
+Clap back+, _v._ To encore.
+Clapt een on+, _v._ To see. Really _part._, saw.
+Clart+, _v._ To smear, to flatter.
Ex.—_Ah’ve gitten mysen clarted all ower wi’ t’ bladdry
blashment. Noo, then, deeant cum clarting ma up leyke that;
gan thi waays an’ clart Mary ower. Whya, he clarted her up
whahl he’s fair to’n’d her heead._
+Clarty+, _adj._ 1. Sticky.
2. Untrustworthy.
Ex.—2. _Deean’t len’ him owt, his nobbut a clarty customer._
+Clash+, _v._ To hurry work, to close a door with force, to bring
together suddenly.
+Clat+, _Vide_ +Clack+.
+Clatter+, _n._ A blow, a noise.
Ex.—_Ah’ll gi’e tha a good clatter if thoo clatters on leyke
that._
+Clavver+, _n._ A rowdy rabble.
+Clavver+, _v._ To clamber like a child.
+Clawt+, _v._ To attack with the nails.
+Clear up+, _v._ To become fine after rain.
+Cled+, _adj._ Clothed.
+Cleean+, _v._ To tidy oneself.
+Cleean+, _adj._ and _adv._ 1. Right.
2. Quite.
3. Well, adroitly, completely.
Ex.—1. _He flang t’ steean cleean thruff t’ winner_, i.e. ‘He
threw the stone right through the window.’
2. _Ah cleean foorgat all aboot it_, i.e. ‘I quite forgot all
about it.’
3. _Ah’ve nivver seed a chap sae cleean deean iv all my leyfe_,
i.e. ‘I never saw a fellow so completely taken in.’
+Cleean up+, _v._ To tidy the house.
+Cleeas+} _n._ clothes
+Clais+ }
+Cleease+, _adj._ Near, close, greedy.
+Cleease-fisted+, _adj._ Greedy.
+Cleeat+, _n._ A piece of iron or wood used to add strength.
+Cleg+, _n._ The horse-fly, a begging friend.
+Clem+, _Vide_ +Clam+.
+Cletch+, _n._ A brood of young birds.
+Cleugh+, _n._ The race of a mill, terminating often at one end by
cleugh-gates or gate, or door, which winds up and down by means
of a wheel and ratchet, admitting more or less water according to
the height it is lifted.
+Clever+, _adj._ Well done or made.
+Clever-headed+, _adj._ Wise beyond his fellows.
+Click+, _v._ To snatch, to snatch quickly.
+Click-hooks+, _n._ Three or four hooks joined together and
attached to a rope, used to drag ponds or a river with in search
of a body, &c.
+Clim+, _v._ To climb.
+Clinch+, _v._ To grasp tightly with the hand.
+Clink+, _n._ A stinging blow.
+Clinker+, _n._ A heavy blow.
+Clinking+, _adj._ Very good, first-class.
+Clip+, _v._ To shear sheep.
+Clipping tahm+, _n._ Shearing time.
+Cloam+, +Clooam+, +Claum+, _v._ To grasp with both hands at the
same time, to pull about not only roughly but rudely.
+Clock+, _n._ Black clocks, black beetles.
+Clock-seves+, +Bulrush+. The names not only vary in different
localities, but are given first to one and then another of the
water-side flags, rushes, and seves or seaves. _Vide_ +Bulls and
segs+.
+Clog+, _n._ A log of wood.
+Clogged+, _adj._ Asthmatical (of people), stopped by bleck (q.v.)
or other filth (of machinery).
+Clooase+, _Vide_ +Cleease+.
+Clooased+, _part._ Closed up, as in a cold in the chest.
+Clooase-neifed+, _adj._ Niggardly, greedy.
+Closing+, _n._ A difficulty in breathing.
+Clot+, _n._ A clod of earth, a portion of blood when set.
+Clot bur+, _n._ The burdock.
+Cloth, To draw the+ = To remove the white tablecloth on the meal
being concluded.
+Clotter+, _v._ To make thick or lumpy.
+Clout+, _n._ An old piece of cloth, a patch.
+Clout+, _n._ A blow.
+Clout+, _v._ To strike at.
+Clow-clags+, _n._ Dried dung adhering to the hind parts of animals;
in the case of sheep they are termed ‘doddings.’
+Clow-clash+, _n._ Things all in confusion.
+Cloy+, _v._ To eat until sick at the sight of the same dish.
+Clubster+, _n._ The stoat.
+Cludder+, +Cluther+, _v._ To huddle together.
+Clue+, _n._ A ball of cotton or string.
+Clum+, _adj._ Sodden, heavy; generally applied to clayey land.
+Clunter+, _v._ To go heavily on the feet.
+Cob+, _n._ A small-sized horse, a small bread bun.
+Cobble+, +Cobble-steean+, _n._ A small paving-stone.
+Cobble+, _v._ To pelt with stones, to mend anything roughly to
serve for the time being.
+Cobble-tree+, _n._ The wooden bar which connects the swingle-trees
with the beam of the plough.
+Cobby+, _adj._ Lively, brisk, stout, decent.
+Cōble+, _n._ A fishing-boat.
+Cocker+, _v._ To fondle, to indulge.
Ex.—_Thoo’ll spoil t’ bairn if thoo cockers it i’ that road._
+Cocker+, _n._ Conceit.
+Cockerate+, _v._ To boast.
+Cookeration+ }
+Cockle-spell+ } _n._ Uncertainty.
+Cockertraps+, _n._ Traps to catch cockroaches.
+Cockle+, _v._ To be unsteady, to curl when drying.
+Cockle boat+, _n._ A small pleasure boat.
+Cock-leet+, _n._ The dawn of day.
+Cockly+, _adj._ Unsteady, insecure, likely to fall over.
+Cock o’ t’ middin+, _n._ The one who claims supremacy.
+Cock-shot+, _n._ The boy who chances being caught in a certain
game.
+Cockshut+, _n._ Twilight.
+Cock-sure+, _v._ To be quite certain.
+Cocky+, _adj._ Self-assertive, domineering.
+Cod+, _n._ The cod or pod of peas, beans, &c.
+Cod+, _v._ To impose upon, to stuff with nonsense.
+Coddle+, +Couther+, _v._ To indulge oneself, to use unnecessary
wraps.
+Collar+, _n._ A horse-collar.
+Collar+, _v._ To lay hold of.
+Collier+, _n._ The swift.
+Collop+, _n._ A slice of bacon.
+Collop Monday+, _n._ Monday before Shrove Tuesday.
+Colly+, _adj._ Curly.
+Come[111] again+, _v._ To appear after death.
+Come by+, _v._ To stand aside.
+Come by chance+, _Vide_ +Chance bairn+.
+Come fra+, _v._ To come from.
+Come on+, _v._ To improve, to grow.
Ex.—_Thi cabbishes is cummin’ on champ._
+Come round+, _v._ 1. To recover from fainting.
2. To reconsider.
3. To agree with.
Ex.—1. _Slap her han’s, an’ sha’ll seean cum roond._
2. _Tak neea notish o’ what he sez, i’ t’ end he’ll cum roond
an’ foorgi’e ya baith._
3. _Whya, Ah’ve cum roond ti thi way o’ thinking._
+Come to+, +Cum teea+, _v._ To regain consciousness.
Ex.—_When Ah cam teea, Ah didn’t ken wheear Ah war._
+Come-to+, _n._ Place of abode.
Ex.—_Maist fooak ’ev a cum-teea o’ sum soart._
+Commin’s+, _n._ Barley-sprouts formed during fermentation.
+Comp’ny+, _n._ Several people gathered together with one object.
Ex.—_Ther war a fairish comp’ny geddered up ti lissen ti t’ new
parson._
+Con+, _v._ To scan, to observe critically.
Ex.—_Efter Ah’d conn’d it ower, Ah thowt varra larl aboot it._
+Conceit+, +Consate+, _n._ Imagined.
Ex.—_He consated hissen ’at he knaw’d a lot, bud it wur all
blather when he wur oppen’d oot._
+Conger+, _v._ Conquer.
+Conny+, _adj._ Neat, nice; when applied to things, ‘little.’
+Conquerors+, _n._ Horse-chestnuts when dried, or even freshly
gathered, are so called when used by boys to play the game of
conquerors with. The game consists of threading a chestnut on a
string and striking it against a similar one held by an
opponent—the one breaking the other, conquers.
+Consarn+, _n._ Business, the object or matter seen or discussed.
Ex.—_It’s a gert consarn yon_, i.e. ‘A big affair or undertaking.’
_Ah’ve nowt ti deea wi’ ‘t, it’s neea consarn o’ mahn_, ‘No
business of mine.’
+Consumpted+, _part._ Suffering from phthisis or consumption.
+Continny+, _v._ Continue.
+Cook thi goose+ = To completely vanquish.
+Cool+, _Vide_ +Coul+.
+Coom+, _n._ Dust. +Sawcoom+, sawdust.
+Coo-tie+, _n._ A band, usually made of hair, used to secure the
hind legs of a cow.
+Cop+, _v._ 1. To be caught.
2. To be punished.
Ex.—1. _He’ll cop uz if wa deean’t leeak sharp._
2. _Thoo’ll cop it when thoo gans yam._
+Corker+, _adj._ Large of its kind. _n._ A lie.
Ex.—_Ah saay, bud that’s a corker._
+Corn-creeak+, _n._ Field-crake.
+Corr’n-berries+, _n._ The red or white currant.
+Cossen+, _v._ 1. To cost.
2. To inconvenience.
Ex.—2. _It wadn’t ’a’e cossen him mich_, i.e. ‘It would not have
inconvenienced him much.’
+Cot+, _n._ One who manages his domestic affairs without any female
help, an effeminate fellow.
+Cott+, _n._ A tangled mass of wool or hair.
+Cotten+, _v._ 1. To have a liking for.
2. To discover.
Ex.—1. _Ah cotten’d tiv him fra t’ fust._
2. _He cottened ti what sha wur efter afoor sha’d ommaist gitten
started._
+Cotter+, _v._ To work hair or wool into knots. _Vide_ +Felter+.
+Cottered+, _pp._ Entangled, knotted.
+Coul+, +Cool+, _n._ A weal or swelling caused by a blow.
+Counting+, _n._ Arithmetic.
+Coup+, _v._ To exchange in barter, to empty a cart by tilting.
+Coup ower+, _v._ To fall over.
+Couther+, _Vide_ +Coddle+.
+Cout+, _n._ A colt.
+Cow-+ or +Coo-byre+, _n._ A cow-house.
+Cow-+ or +Coo-clags+, _n._ Dung adhering to the buttocks of cattle.
+Cow-+ or +Coo-footed+, _adj._ Awkward in gait.
+Cow-+ or +Coo-gate+, +Coo-yat+, +Cow pastur+, _n._ Cow pasture.
+Cow-+ or +Coo-grip+, _n._ The channel to carry off the urine.
+Cow-+ or +Coo-leech+, _n._ A cow-doctor.
+Cowdy+, _adj._ Lively, pert, active.
+Cower+, _v._ To crouch in fear.
+Cowl+, _v._ To scrape together towards one.
+Cowler+, _n._ A scraper.
+Cowl-rake+, _n._ A small scraper used to rake ashes together.
+ ‘Coz+, _Vide_ +Acoz+.
+Crab+, _v._ To vex.
+Crabbed+, _adj._ Peevish, in a bad temper.
+Crack+, _n._ A loud noise like thunder.
+Crack+, _v._ 1. To boast.
2. To praise.
Ex.—1. _He crack’d a deeal aboot it._
2. _Ah crack’d it up fur tha. He cracks a seet ti mich ov his
awn deeds._
+Crack+, _n._ and _v._ A chat, to chat. _Vide_ +Rap+.
+Crack+, _n._ A short space of time, immediately.
Ex.—_Ah s’all be deean iv a crack._
+Crack’d+ and +Cracky+, _adj._ Not quite _compos mentis_.
+Crafty+, _adj._ Skilful, original.
+Crake+, +Creeak+, +Cruke+, _n._ A carrion crow.
+Crake+, _Vide_ +Corn-creeak+.
+Crake+, _v._ To speak hoarsely.
+Cramm’l+, _v._ To walk haltingly, tottery.
+Cramm’ls+, _n._ The gnarled and twisted boughs of trees.
+Cramped+, _part._ Perplexed.
+Cramper+, _n._ Any matter difficult of settlement or solution.
Ex.—_Noo, that’s a cramper fur tha._
+Cramp-ring+, _n._ A charm-ring made from coffin tire, and worn as
a preventive against cramp, &c.
+Cramps+, _n._ The term given to the playing of either the octave
or the scales.
+Cranch+, _v._ To grind the teeth together when eating.
+Cranky+, _adj._ Idiotic, able to move with difficulty through
stiffness, likely to overbalance, insecure.
+Cranky+, _n._ A checked material, usually of blue and white checks,
used for aprons. Often called ‘Kinky-cranky.’
+Craps+ or +Crappin’s+, _n._ The pieces left after rendering fat
into lard.
+Crashes+, +Creeases+, _n._ Watercress.
+Craw+, _v._ To crow. _n._ A crow.
+Crazed+, _pp._ In a violent passion.
+Creckits+, _n._ The game of cricket.
+Cree+, _v._ To soak grain in water.
+Creeak+, _Vide_ +Crook+ and +Cruke+.
+Creel+, _n._ The wooden frame pigs are laid upon after
slaughtering.
+Creepin’s+, _n._ A shivering sensation usually foretelling a cold.
+Cricket+, _n._ A small four-legged stool.
+Crook+, +Creeak+, +Crewk+, _n._ The hinge upon which a gate swings,
a bent piece of iron to hang anything upon.
+Crook+, +Crewk+, _n._ An abrupt corner in a field.
+Crooked+, _adj._ Bent.
+Crowberries+, _n._ The crowberry fruit (_Empetrum nigrum_).
+Crowdy+, _n._ Oatmeal porridge.
+Crow-ling+, _n._ The heath (_Erica cinerea_).
+Crown+, _n._ Top of the head.
+Crowp+, _v._ To croak like a toad.
+Crowse+, _adj._ Lively. _n._ A drinking bout.
+Cruddle+, _v._ To curdle.
+Cruds+, _n._ Curds.
+Cruke+, +Crewk+, +Creeak+, _n._ The rook. _Vide_ +Reeak+.
+Crunkle+, +Crinkle+, _v._ To crease, rumple.
+Crush+, _n._ A great crowd.
+Cuddle+, _v._ To fondle by embracing.
+Cuddy+, _n._ A donkey, a hedge-sparrow.
+Culler’d+, _pp._ Blushed.
+Cum+, _n._ Sweepings of sawdust.
+Cum+, _v._ Come.
+Cumber-ground+, _n._ Any thing or person of no value.
+Cumly+, _Vide_ +Comely+.
+Cummer+, _v._ To encumber.
+Cummersome+, _adj._ Burdensome.
+Cungle+, _v._ To influence by charms or prayers.
+Cup-rose+, _n._ The common poppy.
+Cushat+, _n._ Ring-dove.
+Cush-pet+, _n._ Pet name for a crow; also +Cushy-Cushy+.
+Cut+, _v._ Be off.
+Cut and run+ } _v._ To retire hurriedly.
+Cut wer sticks+ }
+Cutter+, _v._ To whisper.
+Cuvvins+, _n._ Periwinkles.
+Cuz+, _n._ Cousin.
D.
+‘D+, Would, had.
+Daam+, +Deeam+, _n._ A lady, the wife, an aged person.
+Dab+, _adj._ Dexterous, skilful, _n._ A blow.
Ex.—_He’s a dab hand at t’ job_, i.e. He is skilful at the
business. _Catch him a dab on t’ feeace._
+ ’Dacity+, _n._ 1. Ability to accomplish.
2. Presumption, impudence.
Ex.—1. _He’s gitten ’dacity fur owt, ’ez that lad._
2. _Ah didn’t aim ’at he ’ed t’ ‘dacity ti ’a’e spokken ti
t’ parson i’ that waay, hooivver._
+Daddle+, _v._ To walk unsteadily, to trifle.
+Daff+, _n._ A coward, a fool.
+Daffle+, _v._ To confuse, to bewilder with noise.
+Daffly daffled+, _pp._ Bewildered.
+Daffy-down-dilly+, _n._ The daffodil.
+Daft+, _adj._ Foolish, lacking common sense.
+Daftish+, _adj._ Foolish, like a fool.
+Dagg+, +Deggle+, _v._ To sprinkle with water.
+Dainish+, +Densh+, _adj._ Over particular.
+Daized+, _pp._ Stupefied, suffering from the effect of cold.
+Dakky+, _n._ A pig.
+Dale+, _n._ A valley varying in extent. ‘Dale’ is usually
pronounced ‘deeal’.
+Dale-end+, _n._ The end or widest part of a dale.
+Dale-heead+, _n._ The upper and narrowest portion of a dale.
+Dander+, _n._ Rage, temper.
+Dander+, _v._ To tremble, to vibrate.
+Danger+, _n._ Risk, probability, doubt.
Ex.—1. _He’s lost hauf on ’em, an’ ther’s a danger ’at other
hauf ’ll dee an’ all._
+Dangerous+, _adj._ Doubtful, risky.
Ex.—_It’s nobbut a dangerous consarn ti sink yan’s brass in._
+Dangle efter+, _v._ To follow as a lover.
+Danglements+, _n._ Superfluous trinkets, trimmings of beads, &c.
+Dank+, _adj._ Damp, moist.
+Dapper+, _adj._ Sharp, active, nimble.
+Dappers+, _n._ Birds ready to leave the nest.
+Dark+, _v._ To follow or move slily about, to listen unperceived.
+Darkening+, _n._ Twilight.
+Darrn’t+, _v._ Dare not.
+Darr+, _v._ To dare.
Ex.—_Ah darr tackle yon job._ To tell any one they dare not do a
certain thing, is to dare them to it, e.g. _He darrn’t jump
whahl Ah darr’d him ti ’t, an’ then he went that cauf-hearted
at it, whahl he tumm’ld blob in._
+Dased+, +Deeased+. _Vide_ +Daized+.
_Datherin’._ _Vide_ +Ditherin’+.
+Daul’d+, _pp._ Tired, weary.
Ex.—_Ah daul’d on ’t_, i.e. ‘I tired of it.’
+Daul’d oot+, _part._ Tired out.
+Daupee+, _n._ The grey-headed crow.
+Daytal+, _adj._ By the day.
+Daytalman+, _n._ A farm labourer hired by the day.
+Deaf+, +Deeaf+, _adj._ Lacking a kernel, barren.
+Deaf+ or +Deeaf nettle+, _n._ The blind or hemp nettle.
+Deary+, _adj._ Puny, lovable.
Ex.—_Sha’s a deary larl honey._
+Deave+, +Deeave+, _adj._ Deaf.
+Deaven+, _v._ To deafen.
+Decoy-duck+, _n._ A by-name given to one who leads others astray.
+Dee+, _v._ To die.
+Deea+, _v._ 1. Do.
2. To swindle.
Ex.—2. _He’ll deea him if he dizn’t watch him_, i.e. ‘He will
swindle him if he does not take care.’
+Deead+, _adj._ Dead.
+Deeafly+, +Deavely+, _adj._ Alone, by oneself.
+Deeak+, _n._ Duke.
+Deean+, _pp._ of Do. Also swindled overmatched.
Ex.—_Ah’ve deean him neycely_, i.e. ‘I have taken him in nicely.’
+Deean’t+, +Doan’t+, _v._ Do not.
+Deear+, +Doour+, _n._ Door.
+Deearstan+, _n._ _Vide_ +Doorstan+.
+Deearsteead+, _n._ The framework of the door; also +Doourstead+, &c.
+Deeatchess+, _n._ Duchess.
+Deeath+, _n._ Death.
+Deeath-smear+ }
+Deeath-clam+ } _n._ The clammy sweat of death.
+Deeath-sweeat+ }
+Deeazment+, _n._ Chilled to the bone.
+Deed+, _n._ Doings, applied indiscriminately to events of a joyous
or sorrowful nature.
Ex.—_Ther war straange deed at Willie’s wedding. Ah nivver seed
sike deed ez ther war at Ann’s funeral._
+Deedless+, _adj._ Useless, helpless.
+Deggle+, _Vide_ +Dagg+.
_Deft_, _adj._ Quick, clever, neat.
+Delf-rack+, _n._ An arrangement of wooden bars to hold plates and
dishes.
+Dempt+, _pp._ Deemed, thought.
+Deng+, _v._ To knock off with violence, to throw down, to wrench
off.
+Densh+, _Vide_ +Dainish+.
+Deny+, _v._ To refuse.
Ex.—_Ah’ll see Tommy mysel, he’ll nut deny me. Ah weean’t deny
tha fishing, hooivver._
+Despert+, _adv._ Exceedingly, used as an augmentative.
Ex.—_Ther war despert grand deed at ’t Squire’s dinner._
+Dess+, _n._ A mass built up by degrees; a block cut out, as a
dess of hay.
+Dessably+, _adj._ Orderly.
+Devil-screamer+, _n._ The swift.
+Dhriss+, _Vide_ +Dress+.
+Dib+, _v._ To dip.
+Dibbing+, _v._ To dip, as with a fly on the top of the water.
+Dice+, _n._ A small portion, as a dice of cheese; a square piece
of anything.
+Dicky+, _adj._ Doubtful.
Ex.—_It nobbut leeaks a bit dicky._
+Dicky+, _n._ A louse.
+Dicky-ass+, _n._ A donkey.
+Didder+, _Vide_ +Dither+.
+Differ+, _v._ To quarrel.
+Differing bout+, _n._ A wordy quarrel.
+Dike+, _n._ A ditch.
+Dike-back+, _n._ The bank forming one side of a ditch.
+Dike-cam+, _n._ The bank-side of a ditch.
+Dildering+, +Dilder+, _v._ To shake, unstable, silly.
+Dill+, _v._ To lessen, to deaden.
Ex.—_Clap a plaaster on, it’ll dill ’t paain._
+Dilldam+, +Dilldum+, or +Dilldrum+, _n._ A loud noise, boisterous
merry-making.
+Dindle+, _v._ To have a tingling sensation after a fall or blow.
+Ding+, _Vide_ +Deng+.
+Dingle+, _v._ To tingle after a blow.
+Dint+, _n._ Energy, force, power.
Ex.—_By dint an’ sticking ti ’t, he’ll mannish ’t._
+Dither+, _v._ To shiver, to shake with fear.
+Doan’t+, +Deean’t+, = Do not.
+Docken+, _n._ The dock plant. Also denotes of little value.
Ex.—_Ah wadn’t ’a’e gi’en a docken for ’t._
+Dodded+, _adj._ Hornless.
+Dodderums+, _n._ Shaking violently, unnerved.
+Doddery+, +Dothery+, _adj._ _Vide_ +Dither+.
+Doddings+, _n._ Matted wool on the hind quarters of sheep.
+Doff+, _v._ 1. To remove the garments.
2. To raise the hat.
Ex.—1. _Ah’ll doff mah duds iv a crack._
2. _Ah doff’d mah cap tiv her._
+Dog+, _v._ To set a dog to drive sheep.
+Dog+, _n._ A piece of iron fitted within the fire-grate, thereby
reducing its size, so as to save coal.
+Dog-choops+, _n._ Hips, the fruit of the dog-rose.
+Doggers+, _n._ Nodules containing a fossil, and used in the
making of Roman cement.
+Dog-jumps+, _Vide_ +Dog-choops+.
+Dog one’s footsteps, To+, _v._ To persistently follow any one.
+Doit+, _n._ A small portion.
+Dole+, _n._ The distribution of money left to some charity, or
that given at a funeral.
+Dole out+, _v._ To give in small quantities.
+Dollop+, _n._ A clumsy person or badly-formed thing, a number or
quantity of persons or things.
+Dolly-stick+, _n._ A handle to which is affixed an arrangement
like a small four-legged stool, being used to give a
half-circular motion to the clothes in the tub, which is termed
dollying.
+Dolly-tub+, _n._ A round tub used to wash clothes in.
+Don+, _v._ and _adj._ 1. To put on one’s better attire.
2. Clever.
Ex.—1. _Ah’ll don mysel up a bit, ez Janey’s cumin’ ti tea._
2. _He’s a don hand at deeaing owt o’ that sooart._
+Donk+, _Vide_ +Dank+.
+Donnot+, _n._ An immoral female.
+Doody-cow+, _n._ The ladybird beetle.
+Door+, +Deear+, +Doour-cheek+, _n._ Sidepost of a door.
” ” ” +sill+, _n._ The threshold of the door.
” ” ” +stan+, _n._ The flagstone in front of the
doorway, often mistaken as meaning the doorstep.
+Door+, +Doour+, +Deear+, +To get to the+ = Able to walk abroad.
+Doory+, _adv._ Very little, a trifle.
+Dordum+, _n._ A dreadful uproar.
+Dorse+, +Duzz+, _v._ To shake out from the ear by reason of
over-ripeness.
+Dossel+, _n._ A bunch of wheat, the finest ears being selected to
be used as an ornament; formerly such bunches were fixed on the
top of corn-pikes.
+Dossel-knob+, _n._ The straw knob at the top of a stick which
terminates the thatch.
+Dothering-grass+, _Vide_ +Trimm’ling-gess+.
+Dotteril+, _n._ A dotard.
+Douk+, _v._ To duck under, to dive as a water-fowl.
+Doup+, _Vide_ +Daupee+.
+Dou’t+, +Doot+, _v._ Almost certain.
Ex.—_Ah doot he’s laam’d fur leyfe. Ah doot wa saan’t git it._
+Dow+, _v._ To thrive.
+Dowdy+, _n._ An untidy woman.
+Dowled+, _adj._ Flat, said of long-drawn beer.
+Dowly+, _adj._ Sad, poorly, downhearted.
+Down+, _v._ To knock or throw down.
Ex.—_Ah’ve doon’d tha yance, an’ if Ah ’ev onny mair o’ thi lip,
Ah’ll doon tha ageean._
+Down-come+, _n._ A spout at the side of the house, a heavy
downpour of rain.
+Down-dinner+ = Afternoon allowance.
+Dowse+, _n._ A blow from the fist.
Ex.—_Ah’ll catch tha a dowse on t’ sahd o’ t’ heead._
+Dowse+, _v._ To wet to the skin.
Ex.—_He dowsed t’ lot on uz wi’ t’ hose. Ah gat sike a dowsing_,
said one who fell into a stream.
+Dozzen’d+, _adj._ Withered, blighted.
+Drab+, _n._ A dirty slut.
+Drabbletail+, _Vide_ +Flappy-sket+.
+Draff+, _n._ Refuse from a brewery for pigs, grains.
+Draker-hen+, _n._ Corn-crake.
+Drape+, +Dreeap+, _n._ A cow not giving milk.
+Drate+, _v._ To drag one’s speech, to drawl.
+Draught+, _n._ A team of horses, not less than three.
+Draw up+, _v._ To gather together.
Ex.—_Thoo mun ring t’ bell an’ call oot, an’ they’ll seean draw
up._
+Drazzle+, _n._ A shower of fine rain and mist.
+Dree+, _adj._ Tiring, weary.
Ex.—_It’s nobbut a dree job this._
+Dree+, _adv._ Slowly.
+Dree+, _v.a._ To deliver tediously.
+Dreeap+, _Vide_ +Drape+.
+Dreep+, _v._ Drop by drop.
+Dress+, +Dhriss+, _v._ 1. To tidy up.
2. To correct, to punish.
Ex.—1. _Ah s’all ’a’e ti dhriss things up a bit afoor sha cums._
2. _Thoo impident young raggel, thi fatther owt ti dhriss thi
jacket weel foor tha_, i.e. ‘Your father ought to chastise you.’
+Dressin’+, +Dhrissin’+, _part._ and _n._ 1. Preparing.
2. Chastisement, severe scolding. The use of this word is
peculiar.
Ex.—1. _Things ’ll want dhrissing up a bit afoor Ah start ti
wark_, signifies that a certain amount of work not actually
connected with the ‘thing’ itself must be done or prepared
beforehand, such as tidying up the bench, or rough planing
before marking out. _He nivver gits neea fother ’an dhrissing
things afoor he starts o’ summat else._
2. _He’ll nut foorgit ma, Ah nivver gav onnybody sike a dhrissing
afoor._
+Dribblet+, _n._ A small quantity at a time.
Ex.— _He’ll pay ma back, Ah’ve neea doot, bud Ah s’all ’a’e ti
tak ’t noos an’ agaains i’ dribblets._
+Drinch+, _n._ An aperient drink for a cow.
+Drinching+, _part._ To be drenched.
+Drinkin’ tahm+, _n._ The usual extra allowance during hay or
harvest time.
+Drippling+, _adj._ Weak, small.
Ex.—_Sha’s nobbut a drippling bairn._
+Drive+, +Dhrive+, _v._ To procrastinate.
Ex.—_Thoo dhrives ivverything whahl t’ last bat, an’ then thoo
nivver gits nowt deean._
+Droll on+, _v._ To half promise, to lead one to believe.
Ex.—_Ah nobbut drolls him on a bit, Ah saan’t tell him nowt
’at’s owt._
+Drolly+, _n._ _Vide_ +Capster+.
+Droothy+, +Drouthy+, _adj._ Suffering from excessive thirst.
+Drooty+, _adj._ Very dry, a long continuance of fine dry weather.
+Drop+, _v._ 1. To lose.
2. To fell with a blow.
3. To kill a bird on the wing.
Ex.—1. _He’d drop a canny bit ower that last bargain._
2. _He up wi’ his neeaf an’ dropped him leyke an ox._
3. _He fired in amang ’em an’ dropped three._
+Drop-dry+, _adj._ Water-tight, as of a roof.
+Drop in+, _v._ To pay a casual visit.
+Drop it+ or +that+, _v._ To cease doing.
Ex.—_Noo drop it_, i.e. ‘Discontinue the act.’ _Drop that racket_,
i.e. ‘Cease that noise.’
+Drop on+, _v._ 1. To surprise.
2. To discover.
Ex.—1. _Ah nivver wur seea dropped on afoor_, i.e. ‘Never so
surprised,’ or ‘suddenly caught in the act.’
2. _Ah dropped on it all at yance_, i.e. ‘I discovered it all at
once.’ It also implies a sense of shame, e.g. _Ah did feel dropped
on when he catched ma_.
+Droppy+, _adj._ Applied to rain long continued.
Ex.—_It’s nobbut a droppy tahm._
+Drubbin’+, _n._ A thrashing.
+Dub+, _n._ A large pond.
+Dubbin’+, _v._ and _n._ 1. To lower one’s dignity.
2. A thrashing.
Ex.—1. _He’s ti clivver by hauf is yon youth, he wants dubbin’
a bit._
2. _Ah’ll gi’e tha sike a dubbin’ ez thoo ’ezn’t ’ed ov a piece,
if thoo dizn’t mahnd thisel._ ‘Dubbing’ originally meant
cutting the comb and wattle of a gamecock.
+Duck+, _v._ To drop the head so as to evade a missile.
+Ducks and drakes+, _v._ A stone thrown so as to skim with short
leaps along the water.
+Duds+, _n._ Clothes, usually applied to old garments.
+Dulbert+, _n._ A stupid fellow. Also +Dullard+.
+Dump+, _Vide_ +Dub+.
+Dunderheead+, +Dunderknowle+, _n._ A blockhead.
+Dundy-cow+ or +Dowdy-cow+, _n._ The ladybird.
+Dwine+, _v._ To pine away, to fade.
+Dwinn’l+, _v._ To decrease.
+Dwiny+, _n._ and _adj._ Fading, small.
+Dwiny-voiced+, _adj._ Weak-voiced.
+Dwizzend+, _adj._ Thin, wrinkled, shrunk.
E.
+Ĕ+, _per. pron._ I. The short sound of ‘Ah,’ as _Mun ĕ cum?_
i.e. ‘Must I come?’ Although rarely used by writers, it must be
admitted, when speaking the dialect, it is as commonly used as
‘Ah.’
+Eak+, _n._ The oak.
+Earan+, _n._ An errand.
+Earnest+, _n._ A sum of money paid to bind a bargain.
+Earning+, _Vide_ +Yearning+.
+Ease+, _v._ To spatter with mud, to accede to the demands of
nature, to obtain ease from pain.
+Easement+, _n._ Alleviation from pain, the remedy applied.
+Easings+, _n._ The eaves.
+Easter-shells+, _n._ The periwinkle.
+E’e+, _n._ The eye, that part of a potato from which the sprout
leads.
+Een+, _n._ The eyes.
+Een+, _n._ 1. The evening, as ‘yester een.’
2. The eve of any fast-day, as ‘All Hallows’ Een.’
+Een-holes+, _n._ The eye sockets.
+Efter+, +Efther+, _prep._ After. ‘Efther’ becomes general as we
approach the East Riding.
+Efterneean+, _n._ Afternoon.
+Egg on+, _v._ To incite, to urge.
Ex.—_It wer yowr Tom ’at egg’d him on ti kiss ma. Ah nivver
s’u’d ’a’e set mysel ti loup t’ beck if he hedn’t egg’d ma on
and darr’d ma tiv it._
+Eldin+, _n._ Firewood of any kind.
+Eller+, _n._ The alder-tree.
+Elsin+, +Alsin+, _n._ A shoemaker’s awl.
+‘Em+, _pro._ Them.
+End-board+, _n._ The tail-board of a cart.
+Endeavouring+, _adj._ Striving, industrious.
Ex.—_Sha’s a fendy endivering lahtle body. He’s a varra
endivering young chap, an’ he’ll mak a man ov hissel._
+End, Girt+, _Vide_ +Gret end+.
+End na sahd+, 1. Nothing.
2. Not understandable.
Ex.—1. _Ther’s nowther end na sahd tiv owt ’at he diz_,
i.e. ‘Neither beginning nor end,’ nothing.
2. _Ah c’u’d nowder mak end na sahd ov owt ’at t’ chap war
raffling on aboot._
+End, Reet upon+, _adv._ Upright.
Ex.—_Let’s git it reet upon end fust, an’ then wa s’all mannish._
+Enoo+, +Enew+, _n._ 1. Enough in number.
2. Sufficiently cooked.
Ex.—1. _Thoo wants neea mair, thoo’s gitten mair ’an enew ez it
is._
2. _It owt ti be enew by this, it’s been i’ t’ yewn ower an hoor._
+Enow+, _Vide_ +Inoo+.
+Entry+, _n._ The passage within the house, or small entrance hall.
+Ept+, _adj._ Handy.
+Esh+, _n._ The ash-tree.
+Ewse+, _n._ Use.
+Expect+, _v._ 1. To imagine, to suppose.
2. Not quite certain.
Ex.—1. _Ah expect it war him ’at did it._
2. _Yan nivver can saay, bud Ah expect sha’ll win t’ prize. Sha’s
neea waays sure, sha nobbut expects seea._
+Extremity, To be in an+ = To be at the far end.
Ex.—_Ah war in an extremity a’ paain. Nowt c’u’d ’a’e been warse,
sha war in a complete extremity._
+Ez+, as. +‘Ez+, has.
F.
+Fadge+, _v._ Between a walk and a trot.
Ex.—_T’ au’d meer an’ me, wa’ve fadged along monny a mahl
tigither._
+Fadgy+, _adj._ Fat, unwieldy.
Ex.—_Buxom at twenty, fadgy at fo’tty._
+Faff+, _v._ To blow in puffs.
+Faffle+, _n._ A light intermittent wind.
+Faffle+, _v._ To flap gently, as a ship’s sail.
+Fahve o’ clocks+, _n._ Ripe seed-heads of the dandelion, which
children blow at to ascertain the time.
+Fail+, _v._ To show signs of growing weakness day by day.
+Fain+, _adv._ Gladly.
+Fair+, _adv._ Altogether, absolutely.
Ex.—_Ah’s fair bet wi’ t’ lad. Ah nivver war sae fairly takken
in wiv a lass ez Ah ’a’e been wi’ Tom’s weyfe._
+Fairish+, _adj._ Just moderate.
+Fairlings+, _adv._ Clearly, distinctly.
Ex.—_Naay! he fairlings gat t’ best a’ thah that tahm._
+Fair to see+, Easy to see or understand.
+Fair up+, _Vide_ +Clear up+.
+Fairy butter+, _n._ A yellow fungus found growing on dead wood.
+Fairings+, _n._ Presents bought at a fair.
+Fall+, _v._ 1. To happen.
2. To become finely divided, as lime when slaked.
Ex.—1. _Whya, it mebbe mud fall i’ that road_, i.e. ‘Why, it
maybe might happen in that way.’
+Fallen away+, _v._ To have decreased in bulk, to grow thin.
Ex.—_Whya, it’s fallen awaay ti nowt._
+Fall in+, _v._ To meet accidentally.
Ex.—_Oor Martie war pleased ti fall in wi’ John an’ Annie at
Bedale._
+Fall out+, _v._ To quarrel, to have a misunderstanding.
Ex.—_Tha’re nut kind noo, tha fell owt ower Tommy’s pig. Ah
nivver knew sike nibors ez them tweea, tha’re awlus quarting
an’ fratching, an’ falling oot t’ ane wi’ t’ uther._
+Fall teea+, _v._ To commence.
Ex.—_Noo all t’ lot on ya fall teea an’ set ti wark._
+Fan+, +Fand+, +Fun+, +Fund+, _part._ and _pp._ of ‘to find.’
+Fangle+, _v._ To seize, to entrap.
+Fangled+, _pp._ Caught.
+Fantickle+, _n._ A freckle.
+Far+, _adj._ Further, more distant than.
Ex.—_Ah ligg’d it doon i’ t’ far sahd o’ yon field._
+Far an’ awaay+, _adv._ Much, decidedly.
Ex.—_Sha’s far an’ awaay t’ best-leeaking lass aboot here_;
often +Far awaay+.
+Farantly+, _adj._ Decent, well behaved; neat, nice, orderly.
+Fardel+, _n._ A small bundle.
+Farden+, _n._ Farthing.
+Fare+, _v._ 1. To approach, to draw nigh to.
2. To seem.
3. To succeed.
4. To conduct oneself, to behave.
Ex.—1. _Sha fares o’ cauvin’._
2. _Yon lass fares dafter na Sally Ridge._
3. _Thoo’s gahin’ ti fare t’ warst wi’ t’ cauves, Ah think; thoo
mun git sum keeak intiv ’em._
4. _He fares foor gitting t’ sack._
+Far end+, The close of anything, almost _in extremis_.
Ex.—_Tell her Ah’ll cum when Ah’ve deean; Ah saan’t be lang;
Ah’ve ommaist gitten ti t’ far end. Ah’ve just left him; Ah
deean’t aim ’at he’ll see t’ neet throw, he’s ommaist at t’
far end noo._
+Far-fetched+, _adj._ Unlikely, improbable.
+Farness+, _n._ Distance.
Ex.—_T’ farness on ’t taks all t’ profit awaay, gahin’ an’
cumin’._
+Farrish+, +Fairish on+, _adj._ Considerably advanced.
Ex.—_He mun be gitting fairish on i’ years noo. He gat farrish
on at t’ dinner, did Tommy, afoor he gat to’n’d ti t’ doour._
+Far-side+, _n._ The further side, the right-hand or off side; the
+Nar-side+ being the left-hand.
+Fash+, _v._ 1. To worry.
2. To inconvenience oneself.
Ex.—1. _Just thee tak thi awn gate, an’ deean’t fash thisen aboot
nowt._
2. _Ah wadn’t fash mysel a larl bit fur owther him or her._
+Fast+, _adj._ 1. At a standstill.
2. In a fix.
Ex.—1. _Ah caan’t deea nowt, Ah’s fast foor a sup o’ wet._
2. _Ah think ’at Ah nivver war sae fast iv all my wick._
+Fasten+ or +Fass’n oot+, _v._ Said of sheep when turned from the
grass on to the moor for the season.
+Father+, _v._ 1. To impute.
2. To bear witness of itself, as an illegitimate child.
Ex.—1. _He’s awlus tryin’ ti father his misdeeds o’ sumbody. Ah
wadn’t let him father his lees o’ me._
2. _Ther’s neea call ti mak t’ poor lass gan afoor her betters,
t’ bairn sha hugs fathers itsel._
+Fatrascal+, _n._ A cake made with butter, flour, and currants; a
rich kind of small tea-cake.
+Faugh+, +Fauf+, _n._ Fallow land.
+Fause+, _adj._ False.
+Fayther+, +Fadder+, _n._ Father.
+Fear’d, To be+, _v._ To be apprehensive of, to be afraid.
Ex.—_It’s to be fear’d t’ warst’ll happen._
+Fearful+, _adv._ Exceedingly, used as an augmentative.
+Fearsome+, _adj._ Awful, terrifying.
+Feather-fallen+, _adj._ Crestfallen.
+Feather-fowl+, _n._ Birds.
+Featly+, _adv._ Dexterously.
Ex.—_Noo, he lapp’d that job up weel. Aye, it war varra featly
deean._
+Feck+, _n._ Ability, quantity, mass.
+Feckless+, _adj._ Lacking management, wanting ability to provide
for oneself.
Ex.—_Sha’s a feckless miss, is yon; sha’s up ti nowt, good ti
nowt, an’ warse ’an nowt._
+Feeal+, _n._ A fool.
+Fegs+, _n._ Dead grass-stems, anything of small value.
+Fele+, +Felt+, _v._ To hide.
+Fell+, _v._ To knock down.
+Fell+, _n._ An undressed hide or skin, a moorland summit, a hill.
+Fell+, _adj._ Keen, striving.
+Fell’d+, _v._ To be prostrate, knocked down.
+Felon bone+, _n._ An abscess on the finger or some other part of
the hand, from which, during suppuration, small pieces of rotted
bone are ejected.
+Felon o’ t’ yuer+, A disease the cow’s udder is liable to.
+Fellow-fond+, _adj._ Wild after the men. A girl is said to be
‘fellow-fond’ when her arts and guiles to gain a lover are too
plainly manifest.
+Felt+, _Vide_ +Fele+.
+Felter+, _n._ One who hides things.
+Felter+, _v._ To entangle, to twist, to clot. NOTE.—+Cotter+ is
much more commonly used now.
+Feltrics+, _n._ A disorder horses are liable to.
+Femmer+, _adj._ Slight, light, weak.
+Fend+, _v._ To provide, to be able to do.
+Fendable+, +Fendy+, _adj._ Capable of doing.
+Fengle+, _Vide_ +Fangle+.
+Fent+, _n._ A vent or slit in a garment.
+Fent+, _v._ To bind the edge of anything.
+Fer+, +Foor+, +Fur+, _prep._ For.
+Fest+, _v._ To bind an apprentice.
+Fet+, _v._ To last out, serve round, to serve.
Ex.—_It’ll fet uz ower Sunday. It’ll fet t’ lot on uz if Tom
carves._
+Fetch+, _n._ A stitch or catch in the side, difficulty in
breathing.
+Fetch+, _v._ To give, to bring.
Ex.—_Ah’ll fetch tha yan ower t’ feeace._ _Ah’ll fetch tha ’t
when Ah cum fra t’ market._ _Fetch t’ barrer ower here_,
i.e. ‘Bring the barrow over here.’
+Fettle+, _v._ 1. To repair.
2. To put in order.
3. To be in good order.
Ex.—1. _Thoo mun fettle t’ au’d cart up a larl piece_, i.e. ‘You
must repair the old cart a little,’
2. _Ah’ll fettle things up a bit afoor ya cum back_, i.e. ‘I will
put things in order by the time you return,’
3. _T’ machine’s i’ grand fettle._
+Few+, _n._ Amount, generally used with some qualifying adjective,
as ‘a good few,’ ‘a larl few,’ ‘a gay few.’
+Fick+, _v._ To struggle under restraint.
+Fik+, _v._ 1. To strive.
2. To obtain.
Ex.—1. _He fick’d on whahl he gat it._
2. _He fick’d it i’ t’ end._
+Find heart, To+, _v._ To make up one’s mind.
Ex.—_Sha’s blinnd, bud Ah can’t finnd heart ti put t’ poor au’d
critter oot o’ t’ road._
+Finnick+, _v._ To be over-particular in doing things.
+Fire-flaught+, _n._ and _adj._ A lighted coal which leaps from the
fire, a meteor; passionate.
+Fire-smatch+, _Vide_ +Stithe+.
+Fire-steead+, _n._ Fireplace.
+First-foot+, _Vide_ +Lucky bird+.
+Fisk+, _v._ To dance about.
+Fit+, _adj._ 1. Equal to.
2. Ready.
3. Inclined.
Ex.—1. _Ah’s fit foor that job, hooivver._
2. _T’ meer’s fit onny tahm._
3. _Ah’s ommaist fit ti gan._
+Fizzle+, _v._ To fidget.
+Flabbergasher+, _n._ A poser. _Vide_ +Cramper+.
+Flacker+, _v._ 1. To flutter.
2. To flicker.
3. To waver.
Ex.—1. _T’ au’d bo’d flackered ower t’ hedge._
2. _T’ cann’l flackered whahl Ah thowt it ’ud gan oot._
3. _Ther’s neea dependence on him, he flackers aboot sae._
+Flag+, _n._ A snow-flake.
+Flags+, _n._ The yellow iris.
+Flam+, _v._ To flatter, to make believe.
+Flappers+, _n._ Young birds nearly ready to fly.
+Flappy+, _adj._ Unstable.
+Flappy-sket+, _n. and adj._ An immoral woman; untidy.
+Flappy-tongue+, _n._ One whose word cannot be relied upon.
+Flatch+, _n._ A flatterer, also used as a _verb_.
+Flather+, _Vide_ +Blether+.
+Flaum+, _v._ 1. To blaze, to burst out in flame.
2. To demonstrate great affection so as to gain some advantage.
Ex.—1. _It flaum’d up leyke all that, bud then it war ez dry ez a
kex._
2. _Sha flaum’d aboot ma that mich, whahl i’ t’ end Ah ’ed ti
gi’e waay an’ let ’em git wed._
+Flaumy+, _adj._ Common, tawdry, _n._ Fulsome caresses.
+Flaun+, _n._ A custard tart.
+Flaup+, +Flauping+, _n._ +Flaupy+, +Flaupish+, _adj._ Senseless
talk.
+Flawter+, +Flowter+, _v._ To unnerve, to flurry.
Ex.—_Ah war sairly flowtered when Ah heeard o’ Jimmy’s deeath._
+Flay+, _v._ To frighten. Also +Fley+.
+Flay-boggle+, _n._ A ghost.
+Flay-craw+, +-creeak+, or +-cruke+, _n._ A scarecrow.
+Flaysome+, _adj._ Causing fear.
+Flee+, _n._ A fly.
Ex.—_Ah deean’t meean fleas ’at’s fleas, bud flees ’at flee_,
i.e. ‘I do not mean fleas that are fleas, but flies that fly.’
+Fleead+, _n._ A flood.
+Fleead+, _v._ To flood.
Ex.—_Ah’s gahin’ ti let t’ dam off an’ fleead t’ boddums._
+Fleear+, _n._ A floor.
+Fleece+, _n._ Obesity.
Ex.—_Wait whahl he gans throw all ’at Ah’ve gane throw, an’ he
weean’t hug sike a fleece._
+Fleece+, _v._ To take all that a man has.
Ex.—_Oh, sha’s a rank bad un; tha saay ’at sha’s fleeced him ov
ivvery haupenny he ’ed._
+Fleeing-aither+ or +-ask+, _n._ The dragon-fly.
+Fleer+, _v._ To laugh at, to ridicule.
+Flesh-fly+, _n._ The common bluebottle.
+Flesh-meat+, _n._ Butcher’s meat, not pork.
+Flick+, _n._ A flitch of bacon.
+Flick+, _v._ To remove any light dust or thing with a rapid motion,
as with a duster or whip-lash.
+Flicker+, _v._ and _n._ To exist for an instant, as a smile; the
action of a dying flame.
+Flig+, _v._ To fly.
+Fligged+, _part._ Having left the nest.
+Fliggers+, _Vide_ +Flappers+.
+Flipe+, _n._ The brim of a hat.
+Flipe+, _v._ To remove dust by any quick, light motion, as with a
handkerchief. _Vide_ +Flick+.
+Flisk+, _n._ A light tap.
Ex.—_Sha nobbut flisk’d him wi’ her larl finger._
+Flit+, _v._ To remove to another house.
+Flite+, +Fleeght+, _v._ 1. To scold with many words.
2. To quarrel.
Ex.—1. _Sha nivver lets ma be, sha’s awlus fliting at ma._
2. _Tha’re fliting t’ ane agaain t’ ither that mich whahl Ah’ve
cum’d awaay._
+Flither+, _n._ The common limpet.
+Flittermouse+, _n._ The common bat.
+Flitting+, _v._ The act of removing.
+Flity+, _adj._ Unstable.
Ex.—_Ah wadn’t trust her, nowder yah waay ner anuther, sha’s
sike a flity body._
+Flobbed up+, _part._ Swollen.
+Flop+, _v._ To sit down with a sudden drop, to set things down of
a sudden and carelessly.
+Floss-docken+, +Fox-docken+, _n._ The foxglove (_Digitalis
purpurea_).
+Floss-seave+, _n._ Cotton-grass.
+Flowtered+, _part._ Upset, nervous.
+Flowterment+, _n._ Excitement in speech and behaviour.
+Flowtersome+, _adj._ Excitable, tomboyish.
+Fluff’d+, +Fluff’d up+, _adj._ Conceited.
+Fluffy+, _adj._ Covered with down, light, feathery.
+Fluke+, +Fleeak+, +Fleuks+, _n._ A small maggot found in the liver
of sheep.
+Fluky+, +Fleeaky+, +Fleuky+, _adj._ Maggot-eaten, fly-blown.
+Flushy-feeaced+, _adj._ Red complexioned.
+Fluster+, +Flusterment+, _n._ A state of being heated by
excitement, agitation.
Ex.—_What a flusterment that bairn ’ez putt en uz all inteea! wa
thowt ’at he’d gitten hissel lost._
+Fly, To let+, _v._ To strike with force.
+Foal’s-foot+, _n._ Coltsfoot (_Tussilago farfara_).
+Fod+, _n._ A small bundle of straw.
+Fodder-hoos+, _n._ A barn for storing fodder.
+Fog+, _n._ The grass which grows after the hay has been removed.
+Fog-field+, _n._ A field left for the second growth of grass to
spring up after haytime.
+Foisty+, _adj._ Musty, damp, mouldy.
+Fold-+ or +Fod-garth+, +Fod-yard+, _n._ The farmyard where the
beasts are fed.
+Folk+, +Fau’k+, +Fooak+, _n._ The people, often used with and
generally qualified by a prefix, as _T’ au’d folk_, _T’ young
fooak_, _Chetch-fau’k_, _Chapel-fau’k_.
+Fond+, _adj._ Silly.
+Fond-head+, _n._ A silly fellow.
+Fondness+, _n._ Nonsense.
+Fondy+, _n._ A simpleton.
+Foor+, +Fur+, +Fer+, _prep._ For.
+Foorced+, _part._ Compelled.
Ex.—_Ther’s neea waay o’ gittin oot on ’t, Ah s’ be foorced ti
gan._ _He’ll foorce tha ti deea ’t._
+Foot, The length of my+ = A kick.
Ex.—_If thoo isn’t off iv a quickstick, Ah’ll gi’e tha t’ len’th
o’ mah foot._
+Foot, To get or take the length of one’s+ = 1. To judge a person
accurately.
2. To have completely won another’s confidence.
Ex.—1. _He’ll nut best ma, weean’t yon; Ah teeak t’ len’th o’ his
foot lang sin._
2. _Sha lets him deea just what he leykes wiv her brass; he’s
gitten t’ len’th ov her foot, an’ ther’s nowt aboot that._
+Footing+, _n._ Money claimed from a new apprentice on commencing
his apprenticeship, commonly called paying his footing; the sum
paid is always spent in drink.
+Footings+, _n._ The lowest foundations.
+For+, +Fur+ = In what direction.
Ex.—_Noo, then, wheear’s thoo for? Ah’s for Ayton, is thoo for
Stowsla?_
+Fore+, _prep._ Before. +Afoor+ is much more general.
+Fore-elders+, _n._ Forefathers.
+Fore-end+, +Forr-end+, _n._ 1. The beginning of a season or time.
2. The springtime.
Ex.—1. _At t’ forr-end he war ez reet ez a trivet, bud he maad a
varra poor finish on ’t._
2. _If t’ back-end be owt leyke t’ forr-end wa s’all mannish
grandly._
+Forking-robin+, _n._ The earwig.
+Forks, A pair o’+, _n._ The centre timber of a roof.
+For-wandered+, _adj._ Bewildered.
+Fo’st+, +Fust+, _adj._ First.
+Fo’ther+, _adv._ Further.
+Foul-fingered+, _adj._ Given to stealing.
+Foul-lipped+ }
+Foul-mouthed+ } _adj._ Given to swearing or lewd talk.
+Foulmart+, +Fumart+, _n._ The polecat.
+Foupe+, _v._ To drive sheep, &c., too quickly.
Ex.—_Thoo’ll ’a’e sum o’ them sheep deead beeat if thoo foupes
’em i’ that road._
+Fou’t+, _n._ A fault.
+Fou’ty+, _adj._ Badly made, ill fitting.
+Fowt+, _part._ Fought.
+Fowt+, +Fout+, _n._ An idiot, a spoiled child.
+Foxy+, _adj._ Cunning.
+Fra+, +Frav+, +Frev+, _prep._ From, ‘Fra’ is used before a
consonant, ‘frav’ and ‘frev’ before a vowel.
+Fraby+, +Frebby+, _prep._ 1. Beyond.
2. Compared with. Still common in parts of Cleveland.
Ex.—1. _‘T’ll be fraby ten mahl ti Yarm._
2. _Thahn frebby mahn’s t’ best o’ t’ tweea on ’em._
+Framation+, _n._ Dexterity, ability, skill shown at the
commencement of any work.
Ex.—_Noo, yon chap hez a bit o’ framation aboot him._
+Frame+, _v._ To show good management, contrive well.
Ex.—_T’ lass frames weel ti milk._
+Fratch+, _v._ To quarrel.
+Fraunge+, _v._ To play a joke.
+Fresh+, _adj._ Intoxicated.
+Fresh-wood+, _n._ The threshold of a doorway.
+Fridge+, _v._ To rub against so as to cause a sore.
+Frightened+, +Freetened+, _adj._ and _part._ 1. Doubtful as to.
2. Apprehensive of.
3. Bashful.
Ex.—1. _Ah’s freetened he weean’t mannish ti cum._
2. _Sha war despert freetened ’at he war gahin’ ti splet aboot
what tha’d deean._
3. _Gi’e t’ lass a kiss, deean’t be freetened._
+Frog-fry+, _n._ Frog- or toad-spawn.
+Fromward+, _prep._ Away from.
+Frough+, _adj._ Soft, spongy.
+Frow+, _n._ An untidy person, generally a female.
+Frowsy+, _adj._ Applied to a forbidding countenance, untidy,
musty.
+Frutas+, _n._ A kind of tea-cake made of batter and fruits fried
in butter on Ash Wednesday.
+Fuggy+, _adj._ First. _Vide_ +Laggy+.
+Full+, _adv._ An intensive, as ‘Full seean,’ i.e. ‘full soon.’
Ex.—_Ah’ll be on full seean efter dinner_, i.e. ‘very soon.’
+Full-fligged+, _adj._ Full-feathered.
+Fullock+, _v._ To shoot a marble with force, and by unfairly
overreaching the line; to do anything with considerable force.
Ex.—_He went at it wi’ sike a fullock._
+Full-up+, _adv._ Quite full.
+Fun+, _pp._ of Find.
+Fur+, For.
+Furmety+, +Frummety+, _n._ Creed-wheat boiled in milk, thickened
with lithing, sweetened, and flavoured with cloves, nutmeg, &c.,
only eaten at Christmas time.
+Furrh+, _n._ A furrow.
+Fustilugs+, _n._ A low fellow.
+Fuzzack+, _n._ A donkey.
+Fuzz-ball+, _n._ The common field-fungus which, when ripe, on
being nipped emits a cloud of brown dust-spores.
+Fuzzle+, _v._ To intoxicate.
G.
+Ga’+, _v._ Gave.
+Gaa+, _v._ To go.
+Gab+, _n._ Senseless chatter.
Ex.—_Ho’d thi gab_, i.e. ‘Cease your foolish talk,’ or ‘hold your
tongue.’
+Gabber+, _v._ To talk foolishly.
+Gabriel-ratchet+ or +T’ Gabby-ratch+. A sound heard overhead in
the still hours of the night, somewhat resembling the yelping of
dogs; generally thought to be due to a flock of geese. When heard
by the country folk it is looked upon as an omen of death.