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GIFT OF Dr. William H. I vie

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RANDIGAL RHYMES

AND A

GLOSSARY OF CORNISH WORDS

BY

JOSEPH THOMAS,

Late of St. Michael's Mount, Marazion.

PENZANCE : F. Rodda, Printer and Publisher.

1895.

JvouyyJ

PREFACE.

In accordance with the expressed desire of many gentlemen of the neighbourhood, friends of our father, who were most anxious that his Verses and collection of Cornish Dialect Words should be given to the public, we have put together such of his works as we think may be generally useful and interesting. Himself a Cornishman, he took the greatest interest in the Dialect of his native County, specially that of "West Cornwall, with which he was most familiar, having lived there for the greater part of his life.

It was always his regret, that with the opening up of the County, and a greater intercourse with other peoples, the expressive phrases and peculiar words of Cornwall should fast give place to forms of speech less forcible and interest- ing. The Glossary only includes words, expressions, etc., which our father himself has personally met with and heard used. The collection was begun some thirty years ago, when a short residence at Liskeard enabled him to get an insisht of the '[ Dialect of the East of Cornwall. The occa- sional jotting down of a word when met with, often without its definition, has made the work of the compilers most difficult,' and possibly does not do the author justice.

iv!54£85?

PREFACE.

The Rhymes are the work of spare moments, and were written chiefly for the amusement of his friends, and also with the object, as far as possible, of preserving the nearly disused dialect. Several of these pieces have, from time to time, appeared in local publications under the worn de plume of " Inispriven." They were received so favourably that we venture to hope their re-issue, with the others included in this little book, will conduce to an extensive circulation, and be a source of interest and amusement where Cornish people gather.

Finally, we beg to thank all who have subscribed, for their valuable assistance to the publication of this, very Cornish, book.

G. & W. H. THOMAS.

St. Michael's Mount,

January, 1895.

Memoir.

&

Mr. Joseph Thomas, the Author of the " Dialect Poems " contained in the following pages, now first gathered and published as a labour of love by his children, was born at Clahar Garden, in the Parish of Mullion, Cornwall, on July 28th, 1840. His father, Mr. John Thomas, was for many years the local Steward for Lord Robartes, and was, like his gifted son, fond of and familiar with the Antiquities of the County and neighbourhood, which, with his ample store of legendary lore, coupled with the inferences drawn and his observations of the people and places, contributed to his opinion being sought by Mr. W. C. Borlase and other antiquarians.

Mr. Joseph Thomas was educated at the late Mr. Robert Blight's school, at Penzance, and being intended to adopt his father's profession of Land Agent and Valuer, he entered the office of Mr. Sylvanus Jenkin, at Liskeard, for the purpose of studying Land Surveying, &c, remaining from 1866 to 1868, whence he removed to St. Michael's Mount in September, 1868 — Sir Edward St. Aubyn having engaged him as Assistant Agent to Mr. Edward St. Aubvn, in which capacity he gained such a confidential position that a great deal of the management of the estates was left

Vlll MEMOIR.

in his hands of late years — an issue fulfilling the expectation of his senior friends, who, knowing the stock from which he descended, reckoned on the dpscent also of their intelligence and mental qualities.

In March, 1869, he was married to Mary, only daughter of William and Mary Hendy, of Bonython, Cury.

He had a most prepossessing appearance — tall, manly, handsome.

He was a wide reader, an able controversialist, and being also of high Christian character, joined to great information and talent for communicating it, he was an acceptable preacher. For four or five generations his family had been preachers. Among those of his family may be enumerated his two brothers, four uncles, two grandfathers, his grand- mother's brother, his uncle's grandfather, and his great grandfather — the latter probably being a preacher in Wesley's days — a continuous chain of preachers, unique even in the annals of Cornish families, and he himself, as mentioned, was popular as a preacher among United Methodist Free Church congregations.

Possessing great geniality of disposition, he was inflexible for whatever he believed to be the right. In Theology he stood in the old paths of Methodism, and grieved over the departure from those paths of many who occupy its pulpits. Nor had he much sympathy with some modern methods of attracting men to the House of God. His loss to the church of his choice seems simply irreparable. He held the offices

MEMOIR. IX

of Circuit Steward, Local Preacher, Class Leader, and Trustee. His influence in official meetings was always good. He followed the things which make for peace. Those that knew him best loved him most.

A local issue remarks : — " Had Mr. Thomas devoted more time to literature he would have made his mark in pourtray- ing Cornish dialect, with which, and its quaint stories and incidents, he was so familiar." Mr. Thomas obtained his materials at first hand by chatting with all sorts and con- ditions of men and women, in a homely and friendly way, that elicited superstitions, droll fancies, and curious reminiscences.

Mr. Thomas was always of a studious disposition, and made good use of the library of his parents, and intercourse with intelligent friends. When the " Lady Elizabeth " Hall at Porthgwarra was opened, a year or two ago, he spoke of the extraordinary opportunities young people now have of acquiring knowledge, compared with that of lads, like him- self, in remote country places 30 or 35 years ago. His own example showed how greatly he appreciated the value and pleasure of wide reading.

His social qualities and conversational powers made his company highly entertaining, and he took general interest in all phases of life. At a recent Corpus Christi Fair at Penzance, he chatted with the writer on the lives of the Show People. He said " it used to be a regular custom for them to visit St. Michael's Mount during their stay at Penzance," and of some of them he had then learned of

X MEMOIR.

the roughness, yet fascinating variety, and freedom of the life from which they could not separate themselves. So, from itinerant showmen, as well as from Cornish miners, farm labourers, fishermen, and others, he gleaned interesting facts and obtained glimpses of life. At the Fair he seemed to be in the best of health and spirits, — yet within a few weeks the active mind had ceased to move in its earthly tenement, and we have to deplore the death of an esteemed friend, and sympathise with a sorrowing family. His death was, humanly speaking, premature. His complaint was pneumonia, but there were further developments. He received the most skilful medical attention, and was nursed with the most affectionate zeal, but, despite all efforts, he sank, and on Wednesday, 13th June, 1894, he entered into rest. His Father and God had need of him and took him home. He left a widow and large family to mourn his death.

His interment took place on Saturday, the 16th June, in the parish cemetery belonging to Lord St. Levan, in which those who die at St. Michael's Mount are usually interred. Tt took place in the presence of a large gathering of deeply affected friends, — and during the ceremony an incident occurred which attracted the attention of many present : a pair of doves, which Mr. Thomas had presented to Lord St. Levan's youngest son, and were caged at the Castle, escaped just at the hour, and taking flight, alighted in the tree just over the grave, where they remained spectators of the mournful proceeding, apparently unaffected by the concourse.

MEMOIR. XI

The Scripture assure us that — " The things which are seen are temporal, the things which are not seen are eternal, .... we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building; of God ; " and this knowledge formed the stay of, and was the abiding rest of, our dear friend's soul — ever and anon finding expression in words as shown in the following stanzas, which were the last work of the Author : —

A FRAGMENT.

And we have wandered, sad at heart, and weary,

The sunlight gone, forsaken, in distress, And all the prospect seemed to us a dreary,

Vast, friendless, solitary wilderness, Until the heavenhy vision o'er us stealing : —

The stony pillow, and the desert sod Became to our awed souls, by His revealing,

The Gate of Heaven, and the House of God.

How often, in the hopelessness of grief,

We wander forth, the sepulchre to see, And, in the blindness of our unbelief,

Have yielded to the grave the victory, — Until One standing near has gently bidden

Us " be of comfort," and at that sweet word We've turned to witness what our tears have hidden-

The gracious presence of our risen Lord.

His Royal Highness Prince Albrecht of Prussia, Regent of Brunswick, and suite, visited St. Michael's Mount in April, 1892. And His Royal Highness having again

Xll MEMOIR.

visited the Mount in May, 1895. kindly inquired after the genial steward, Mr. Thomas, and when told he was dead, expressed his regret. The party ultimately visited the cemetery, and when shewn, at the special request of the Prince, Mr. Thomas's grave, one of the gentlemen remarked, " We shall meet again."

THOMAS LEAN.

The "Geiv,"

Marazion.

CONTENTS.

The Boy that Clunked a Bully

The Fish-wife's Tale

I climbed a hill, and by a rustic stile

The Mower's Tale

I lingered till the moon that night

Come, all'ye jolly Tinners

The Quest of the Gwidgy.gwee

The Battle of Cury Church Town

A Cornish Idyl Take up a bunch of Griglans ... From the Well a Maiden came Oh, once I had a Shiner Then4theJ narrow path ascending Slowly I turned away, broken and sad

PAGE

1

3

4

5

9

11

13

17

21

22

24

25

25

27

CONTENTS.

PAGE

The Luckless Poet 28

I promised her I'd call last night ... ... ... ... 28

Ann of Market Jew 30

A Letter 35

Nan of Castle Gate 37

Nanny Guy ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 40

A Wicked Alligator 44

The Song of the Brush 48

The Thotographic Ordeal 50

The Heathen God. Parti 51

The Heathen God. Part II 52

I Think of Thee 55

CHARMS :

Charm for turning Cream to Butter ... ... ... .. 56

Charm far Toothache 56

Charm for Burns 57

Charm for Kennel on the Eye ... ... ... ... ... 57

Charm for Stopping Bleeding ... ... .. ... ... 57

Charm (General) 51

Local Proverbs and Phrases ... ... ... ... 59 — 62

CONTENTS. RHYMES USED BY CHILDREN :

PAGE

Hewery, hiery, hackery, heaven ... ... ... ... 63

Ena, mena, mora, mi ... ... ... ... ... ... 63

Hiery, diery, lumber lock ... ... ... ... ... 63

Glossary of the Cornish Dialect 65—136

List of Subscribers ... ... ... .. ... ... 137

J^andigal Rhymes.

The Boy that Clunked a Bully.

The little fishing village seemed to sleep,

Nestling its head against the rock strewn hill,

Along whose heathy sides the brown-backed sheep Cropped the low grass, and wandered at their will ;

Its foot reached down to meet the coming tide, Which slowly crept along the wrinkled sand ;

Beyond, the bay stretched out, — calm, deep, and wide, Bounded by rugged cliffs on either hand, — To where the summer mist hid sky, and sea, and land.

The changing clouds looked down upon the sea, And lingered long to see enshadowed there

The image of their own inconstancy, As wantonly they sported with the air,

Or searched with strong and penetrating gaze Into the mysteries of the depths below,

Where o'er their rocky bed, in tangled maze, The sea-weed fronds waved idly to and fro, Moved by the current's every ebb and flow.

A

RANDIGAL RHYMES.

And all was still, save for the distant sound

Of voice, or foot-fall, from the village street, Or when some lone sea-bird that floated round

Did its wild melancholy cry repeat, Or save for the low murmur of the wave,

Whispering sad secrets to the silent shore, Or the deep toll yon rocking buoy-bell gave ;

And every sound made the still air seem more

Quiet, and silence-laden, than before.

Where their quaint dwellings lined the rugged street Sat women knitting round each open door,

While bare-legged children gamboled at their feet, Or built tall castles on the sandy shore.

Brown, tangled-bearded men, lolled near the strand, Telling strange tales of venture long gone by,

Or mended brown-webbed nets with ready hand, Or idly watched with listless, half-closed eye, Each changing aspect of the sea and sky.

But suddenly, in wild commotion, all

Rushed from the street, like bees from out a hive, And hurried to the beach, and great and small

Seemed with some sudden interest alive, And in a crowd did throng, and surge, and sway

With hasty gesture, and with eager shout, — Then soon dispersed, and slowly moved away.

Moved by the scene, and curious to find out

Its cause, I asked a fish-wife what 'twas all about.

RANDIGAL RHYMES.

THE FISH- WIFE'S TALE.

There was an awful pop and towse just now down by the hully,

For that there boy of Ben Trembaa's, aw went and clunked a bully,

Aw ded'n clunk en fitty, for aw sticked right in his uzzle,

And how to get en out again, I tell ee 'twas a puzzle,

For aw got chucked, and gasped, and urged, and rolled his

eyes, and glazed ; Aw guggled, and aw stank'd about as ef aw had gone

mazed. Ould Mally Gendall was the fust that came to his relief, — Like Jimmy Eellis 'mong the cats,* she's always head and

chief ; She scruffed 'n by the cob, and then, before aw could say

" No," She fooched her finger down his throat as fur as it would go, But aw soon catched en 'tween his teeth, and chawed en all

the while, Till she screeched like a whitneck, — you could hear her

'most a mile ; And nobody could help the boy, all were in such a fright, And one said : " Turn a crickmole, son ; tes sure to put ee

right;" And some ran for still waters, and uncle Tommy Wilkin Began a randigal about a boy that clunked a quilkin ; Some shaked their heads, and gravely said : " 'Twas always

clear to them That boy 'd end badly, for aw was a most anointed lem,

* Local proverb.

RANDIGAL RHYMES.

For aw would minchey, play at feaps, or prall a dog or cat, Or strub a nest, unhang a gate, or anything like that." Just then Great Jem stroathed down the lane, and shouted

out so bold : " You're like the Ruan Vean men, soase, ' don't knaw and

waant be told ' ; " * Aw staved right in amongst them, and aw fetched that boy

a clout, Just down below the nuddick, and aw scat the bully out ; That there's the boy that's standing where the keggas are

in blowth : Blest ! if aw haven't got another bully in his mouth ! "

I climbed the hill, and by a rustic stile, "Where oft at eve the village lovers meet, I lay me down to rest, and watched awhile

The shadow-waves pass o'er the bending wheat, Across whose leafy surface breezes made

Their paths, and lightly passed with errant pace, Shade chasing sunlight, sunlight chasing shade, Like smiles and frowns on Beauty's fitful face, Where constancy might seek in vain a resting place.

The sound of scythe-stone o'er the ringing blade Came from the scented fields of falling hay,

Blent with the cheerful song of village maid, Who 'cross the meadows blithely took her way,

* Local proverb.

RANDIGAL RHYMES.

To where the sad-eyed cows stood, near the gate, And waited for the welcome summons home ;

The vagrant cuckoo called his answering mate, As he from hedge to hedge did idly roam, Or crossed with wayward flight yon mountain's rugged dome.

With gentle echoes of the rustling chime

Of heather-bells, the breeze came o'er the stile,

Bearing sweet odours of the purple thyme, Of yellow furze, and scented camomile.

It was the early evening hour, when soon

The day's long task of labour would be done ;

Far in the purple east the patient moon, Pale as a cloud, her journey just begun, Waited the slow departure of the lingering sun.

With scythe on shoulder, from the falling swath A mower came, with labour-weighted feet,

And slowly trudged along the rugged path, And at the stile a comrade chanced to meet :

Their greetings o'er, upon the bank they sat, And idly stretched their weary limbs, and fell

Into the quiet luxury of chat,

And smoked the seasoned pipes they loved so well, While one unto his mate this simple tale did tell.

THE MOWER'S TALE.

" I'll tell ee what 'twas all about, soase : down there, in the

lewth of the Cairn, I had a little small quellat, aw twadden much more than

a game ;

EANDIGAL RHYMES.

When I took en aw was in barley arish ; you never, in all

your born days, Seed such a shape as was left there by that old Nickey

Keskeys, For the hedges was nothing but gurgeys, and the linhay

had lost all its slate ; One shevver, the hangbow, and niillyer, was all that was

left of the gate ; The brembles growed over the voyers, the cundards was all

left to chuck ; And the land it was boiling weth dralyers, mores, pilf, and

all sorts of muck ; I've a nice little blog of a hoss, aw have got a great droke

in his cheens, I boft en at Goldsinney Feer, — aw es now getting up in his

teens. So I ploughed, and I scuffled, and harvey'd, and I raked

all the pilf off the land, Till I got en as plum as a want-pile, and I haaled home

some oar-weed and sand ; I bought some mun down to the Cove, about thirty gurries

or more, And I scud the whole over the land, 'twas a brave suant

flue to be sure ; I teel'd all the voyers to taties, and to pellas I sowed a

brave splat ; And I had twenty lases of baga-roots, or it might have

been better than that. Billy Guy, he had an old sow, some slips, and a bosom of

veers, —

RANDIGAL RHYMES.

They were thurl as a passel of greyhounds, and as wild and

as breachy as deers, And the way they went straking and scramming would tire

the patience of man, Like cousin Ann Harry's old gander, " they always were on

the ran-dan," * And he woulden ring them, nor span them, and most of the

time they were found In my little quellat a-muzzling, and stanking things out of

the ground. So one day I went down long and told 'n if he wudden

keep them pigs back I would break their old gamberns, or shut them, and he

never said gick nor gack, But his wife came out, swayging her hands, and said :

11 Here's a brave how-dy-do 'Bout a few old taties and turmuts, — they are a nawble

nack too, — They are nothing but rubbage and scroti ; a wes lot of trade

you can't see ; So take and go the west home, and dos'en aw come anist

me." Now Billy aw tried to keep cooram, but aw cudden do

nothing with she, For she called me a scrovey great bussa, and 'bused and

ballyragged me ; So I told her all I knowed about her, and I squinneyed my

eyes, and I glazed,

* Local proverb.

RANDIGAL RHYMES.

And I skrinked up my nose just like she do, and I drove

her downright ramping mazed ; She catched up a cherk, and she strammed at my head, and

jest scat in the bones ; Then she coosed me half way up the hill, throwing bullies,

and tubbans, and stones. Next day I found down in the quellat three slips and an old

spotted sow ; So I thro wed down a kayer of huddicks, and slocked them

all into my crow, And when I had slammed home the door, I called to that

youngster of Jan's, And we caggled them over with tar, and pralled them with

old lattace pans ; They went, as they tore down the lane, a bra coose, as you

may suppose, Till they met with Billy Guy's wife, a-carring a flasket of

clothes ; Them pigs, they ran right 'tween her legs, and they turned

her a crickmole complete, — They throwed her a regular qualker, and scud the clothes

all round the street, And the pigs, and the pans, and the clothes, the flasket arid

Billy Guy's wife, They got tangled up altogether, — you never seed such a

shine in your life, For they squarded her garments to Setters — some skeats

they would measure a yard ; And you'd scat your sides laughing to see how suently she

was gas-tarred.

RANDIGAL RHYMES.

F'rall they tried for to find out who done it, they never

could prove it was me, But, like Sammy said for the leaven, they'd ' a jealous thoft

of en,' * you see. That's more than twelve months ago ; sence then, there is

what you may call A corisy-like between us, and they waant speak to me

at all. But sence they have found out for certain tbat I'd stand no

more of their rigs I've had no more trouble nor bother on account of their

breachy old pigs."

[lingered till the moon that night Threw a long track of shimmering light Across the silent bay, Where one lone bark, with idle sail, Clear outlined in the moonbeams pale, Scarce drifted on her way.

* Sammy T was a South of Helston man. Having business

in Falmouth early one morning, he dressed before day, took his dinner-bag, and went into the pantry in the dark and fetched his dinner. After finishing his business in Falmouth, he met a friend in the street, and proposed that they should share a good pasty which he had in his -pocket. They entered an inn, ordered some beer and plates, knives and forks ; when these were brought, Sammy untied the bag, took it by the bottom corners, and shook

out the leaven ! Sammy looked at it in blank amazement for a

time, then shook his head and said : "Ah ! I always had a jealous thoft of en."

10 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

With buoyant heart and step I strode Gaily along the homeward road,

Which echoed to my tread. Now meeting some belated wight, Who passed me with a frank " Good night,'

And cheerful nod of head.

With lingering steps a loving pair, — A sturdy youth, a maiden fair,

With timid, downcast eye, And guardian arm securely placed Around an unresisting waist,

Went fondly whispering by.

The faithful hound that watched the farm, Roused by my step, barked his alarm,

As I the lane passed through, While in the vale, where tall elms stood, The lone owl woke the echoing wood

With his weird " te-whit-to-whoo ! "

Then turning sharply down the hill I paused awhile, where the old mill

Ground out the snowy meal, And watched where, in the pale moonlight, The rushing waters, foaming white,

Dashed o'er the mossy wheel.

Then o'er the downs, where, by the way, On a rude mound of stone and clay, A miner stout and strong

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 11

Stood in rough garments, soiled and brown, And, as the skip wound up and down, He sung this lusty song.

SONG. Come all ye jolly tinners who

To Camborne Town belong, Sit down and touch your pipe, my dears,

And listen to my song : Hundards of fitty looking maids

In Camborne you may see, But little Kitty Cornish is

The crop of the bunch to me.

I saw her as I came from bal,

Her gook, I caant tell how, Fell back upon her nuddick, and

The sun shone on her brow ; Her cruddly hair was plethoned up,

So beautiful to see, And little Kitty Cornish is

The crop of the bunch to me.

Her smile was bright as May, her cheeks

Had caught the rose's hue, Her eyes were blue as guckoo flowers,

And sparkled like the dew ; Her lips were red as hagglans,

Full ripe upon the tree, And little Kitty Cornish is

The crop of the bunch to me.

12 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

I called — she had her towser on,

A-mooling of the bread — And as she put the dough to plum

This here is what I said : 11 I'd like some of that fuggan, dear,

If I may stay to tea ; " And little Kitty Cornish is

The crop of the bunch to me.

I've heard the lark sing in the sky,

The greybird in the brake, I've heard the choir at " Wesley "

(That's grand, and no mistake), But sweeter far her whisper when

She promised for to be My own dear Kitty Cornish, and

The crop of the bunch to me.

'Tis sweet to feel the sunshine as

You come from underground, 'Tis sweet to breathe the fresh, fresh air,

And see the flowers around, But sweeter than the sunlight,

Or honey from the bee, Is my own dear Kitty Cornish,

The crop of the bunch to me.

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 13

The Quest of the Gwidgy-gwee.

A Sage Professor came into the west,

From Oxford Town came he, A man of fame, with a tail to his name

Of M.A., LL.D.

He sought, 'mongst things that creep on land,

'Mongst things that fly in air, 'Mongst things that be in the deep salt sea,

All creatures strange and rare.

He wandered far, and he wander'd long,

Till he found in that western land, A strange old man, who sadly gazed

On something in his hand.

" Now what hast thou found, thou strange old man 1 Now what has thou there ? " said he ; He turned not his eye, as he made reply, " 'Tis nought but a gwidgy-gwee."

" And where didst thou find that curious thing 1

I pray thee answer me." 11 'Twas down between the hepse and the durns

I got that gwidgy-gwee.

14 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

The Professor could speak French, Latin, and Greek,

Dutch, Hebrew, and Chinee, But he knew not a hepse, and he knew not a durns,

And he knew not a gwidgy-gwee.

And he could claim to know the name

Of every curious creature ; With a glance of the eye he'd classify

Its every salient feature.

For he knew a dinotherium

From its snout down to its tail ; He'd construct a megalosaurus,

Nor miss a fin nor scale.

He'd magnify a small microbe

As big as a bumble bee ; Tho' he knew them all, both great and small,

He knew not a gwidgy-gwee.

So he drooped his eyes, and he bowed his head,

And a sad, shamed man was he, For he dared not acknowledge for the sake of his

That he knew not a gwidgy-gwee. [College

" Pray show me that wondrous thing Which thou hast found 1 " said he. He turned his head, but the man had fled, The man with the gwidgy-gwee.

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 15

The Professor he took his staff in hand,

And wandered forth to see If he could find that curious thing.

They call a gwidgy-gwee.

And whenever he saw a western hill — " Is this the < hepse ' 1 " asked he ;

And whenever a stream, " Is this the • durns,' Where they find the gwidgy-gwee ? "

He sought where grew, in aspect lew,

The skedgwith and the scow, And he routed the sleepy hedgy-boar,

And the lively padgypaow.

And on many a bank, where tall and rank,

Midst twining dralyers free, The lizamamoo and the keggas grew,

Under the hagglan tree.

He sought, where cool in their reedy pool,

Were yellow quilkins found, And on the land, where the pillyers stand,

And the muryans swarm around.

He sought where the sides of old Dinsul

Slope to the sunny south, Where hollensmoks and fragrant tags,

And britons, were in blowth.

16 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

And in many a huggo, dark and damp, Where oft the wild waves roar ;

And he raked the bullies and croggan shells From the pollons on the shore.

He sought, in the candle-teening time, When the dark rare-mice flew out,

And the dumbledories hummed their song, As they flew the fields about.

He the local antiquarians joined, And they showed him after tea,

For British huts some old pigs' crows, But never a gwidgy-gwee.

Weary, and long, and vain was the quest,

And a sad, bent man was he, When one dark, cold day, he met by the bay

The man of the gwidgy-gwee.

" Now stand thou still, thou strange old man,—

Move not a step ! " said he, " For, by my degree in zoology,

Thou shalt not escape from me."

" For in peace or strife, in death or life, Thou shalt reveal to me, What is that most mysterious thing That's named a gwidgy-gwee."

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 17

With a swift affrighted glance around

The old man whispered then, With mouth to ear, that word of fear —

" Tis nought but a goozey-gen ! "

MORAL.

My youthful friend, to me attend,

This precept keep in view : Don't be led astray by things that may

To you seem strange and new.

Remember this fact : tho' fine names attract, They don't mean much, do you see 1

For there's many a common goozey-gen Disguised as a gwidgy-gwee.

The Battle of Cury Church Town.

" That battle was fought down there, exactly in front of old John Chegwidden's blacksmith's shop door." — Local Chronicler.

" 'Twas a month come Saturday that a stranger came this way, And he sought within my cottage a shelter from the rain ; As we sat before the grate he asked me to relate The story of the battle 'twixt the Saxon and the Dane.

B

18 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

11 'Twas a thousand years or so, or it might be more, ago, That the Danes against the Saxons were marching in their

might ; They were by Canute led, and each had hair so red That any bull' d have coosed him had he shown within his

sight.

" 'Twas in the harvest time, the kurning it was prime, And the tummals were not bad, so I've heard my father

say; They'd a lot of hurling weather when they got the corn

together, But the season had been catching when they saved their

crop of hay.

(l Said the stranger : ' Do you know, it seems hardly apropos To the story you're relating to talk of corn and hay.' Said I : Father lived to be rather more than ninety-three, And he always told the story in this interesting way.

" The Saxon army stood all erect, as soldiers should,

And King Arthur bravely led them, in a suit of armour

bright, And as he did espy the proud glance of each eye, He knew that one and all of them were dagging for a fight.

" Just down by them two gates was a splat of rare potates, Which were planted in a voyer ; — they were purty for to see, Of a sort called ' early-fame ' — you may have heard the

name, — And — here that stupid stranger went and interrupted me.

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 19

1 Excuse me if I fancy there's a want of relevancy In those last remarks you made ; you probably are right, But I don't see that those gates and the voyer of potates Have any close connection with that sanguinary fight.'

" Said I : Stranger, you may know all the story, and if so,

I will thank you to inform me just what it ought to be, But I venture for to doubt if you know all about

The thing as did my father, who was over ninety-three.

" Bare-headed, and with speed, upon a gallant steed, Came a dark and dusty horseman from down the Towan way ; And he paused to let them know that the leader of the foe Was forbidding of the water from coming in Mount's Bay.

"I wish you had been there to have seen that rider's mare; You never could have matched her for beauty, or for speed ; She was, my father said, by Atty Harris bred, And her dam she was a pony of the old Goonhilly breed.

" The Lawrences of Clahar had a colt from that same mare ; The avage — here that stranger interrupted with a sneer—

I I am under the impression this is a fresh digression, And you won't get to the fighting if I listen for a year.'

" Said I, as I arose, — sooner than you suppose We shall get to the fighting, if you interfere with me ; My father never would, have such interruption stood, And he often told the story when over ninety-three,

20 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

" When King Arthur came to know that down beside the

Loe Was King Canute and his army ; he called to Jim Treglown. You don't remember Jim 1 He was a son to him That took the prize for wrasling in there 'pon Helstan

Down.

" Then he said : ' Upon my word, this is getting too absurd ;

Such a randigal as this before was never told to me :

With your Saxons, Danes, and Gates, — Kings, Horses, and Potates,

And your totalish old Father, who was more than ninety- three.'

" Then I could stand no more, so I led him to the door, And tenderly I lifted him a dozen yards away ; To accelerate the pace at which he flew through space, The impress of a toe-plate he bears unto this day.

" If any future day you are passing by our way,

You'll find my cottage down 'long by the bottom of the

lane ; Pray drop in without fail, and I'll tell to you the tale Of the battle that was fought here 'twixt the Saxon and

the Dane."

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 21

A Cornish Idyl.

There stands a little cottage near the bridge, Around whose walls a clinging ivy weaves

Its branches, and climbs upward to the ridge

Of its thatched roof, and twines about the eaves.

In its quaint windows bright geraniums grow, Around its porch are clustering roses set,

Its garden shows in many a fragrant row

Lilies and pinks, and stocks, and mignonette, Or hides in sheltered nooks the scented violet.

Close up behind, and hanging o'er the thatch, Grow elm and ash, and leafy sycamore ;

In front, beyond the little garden patch, A brooklet flows, with alders growing o'er.

And waving ferns, and foxgloves tall and proud ; Beyond, a rising slope with pasture green,

While distant mountains mingle with the cloud Their purple tints, and catch the golden sheen Of the low sun, which brightens all the scene.

A peaceful spot, where scarce a sound is heard, Save songs of birds and murmurs of the brook,

Or sighs of branches by soft zephyrs stirred, Or the loud cawing of the solemn rook.

And as I stood, enraptured with the scene,

I musing said : " Here dwells content and bliss •

22 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

Ambition, greed, and strife could not, I ween,

Abide in such a restful home as this." Then through the open casement, clear and strong

In sweet inflections, came upon my ear — A woman's voice ; I stood and listened long —

Sweet woman's voice, no music half so dear.

These are the words that, listening, I did hear :-

" Take up a bunch of griglans,

And tie them in a broom, And just strake up the stroll a bit

That es about the room, For with the furze they yaffled in

A lot of dirty looch, And scud the bruss, and everything

Ee's in an awful fooch.

" Fetch in a coose of water, maid,

And don't stand coozing there ; The peeth is full of kuney, —

Team up the water clear. And when you ent the kibbal,

Don't go and make a flosh, Nor don't ee lag, or stag yourself

By stanking through the plosh.

" And flisk thy hair, and wash thy chacks, — Thy nuddick's cagged with dirt ; And take the niddle, and crafe home That great squard in thy skirt ;

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 23

Thee'st got that upsteers scuffling, —

I heard an awful towse, And tho't you'd stank the planchin down,

"With such a capparouse.

" Put the kettle 'pon the brandiz, —

Let's have a dish of tay ; I'm feeling awful leary, soase,

And have been all the day ; There is a fuggan in the spence,

Hid 'way behind the cloam, — For faather es so rawnish

He'd a clunked en every croom.

" If you should see the jouster,

Tell en to call this way ; I'll sell en them two mabyers,

The cobby one, and gray, — They're strakiug all around the place,

And scrabbling about, — They've got into the game again !

Run down and coose them out.

" There's that old go-'bout woman

Come stroathing o'er the caunse ; I'd stop her coming mumping

If I'd a bit of scaunce. But she comes here a-shoaling

In such a cuzzal way, That I, like a great pattick,

Believe all she do say.

24 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

" I put on my clean gook to-day,

And went to fetch some barm, — When I stanked 'pon a slaw-cripple,

Down there by Hodge's farm. I screeched, and with a furzey-more

His back I tried to bang, But aw twingled like an angle-dutch,

And crawled into a drang."

FROM the well a maiden came, With her pitchers coarse and brown, By the wicket's rustic frame,

For awhile she laid them down ; Lightly from her forehead flung

Wavy locks of chestnut hair, Which in sweet confusion clung

Round her face, so fresh and fair. Posed a form whose supple grace

Far outvied the sculptor's art, Which no cunning hand could trace,

Or to rigid stone impart. E'en the strangely rude design

Of her coarse and meagre dress Failed to hide one curve or line

Of her matchless loveliness. Sweetest she of all the choice

Fresh wild flowers she stood among, While with clear untutored voice

She carolled forth a mirthful song.

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 25

SONG.

Oh, once I had a shiner, And a boshy man was he,

As prinky and as coxey As ever he could be,

But a maiden came one day

And feneaged his heart away.

Her face was full of murfles, She davered was and brown,

She wore a rory-tory hat, And a shally-go-naked gown,

And her fine fligs so gay

They slocked his heart away.

When next I have a shiner No more kybosh for me,

Some slawterpooch I'll marry Who'll ever constant be,

And not by maidens gay

Be lightly led away.

THEN, the narrow path ascending, Came a rustic, homeward wending ; I looked at him benignly, And I said in accents kindly : — " Tho' thou art but a peasant, Thy life is bright and pleasant ; Not the mighty, not the wealthy

26 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

Are so happy, are so healthy ;

So envy not the great,

With their splendour and their state ;

Thou hast no vain ambition

To better thy condition ;

To wear the golden fetters

That do enslave thy betters.

Man unsophisticated,

Tell me — art thou not sated

With the comfort of thy lot,

With the beauty of thy cot.

For the blessings of thy station

Dost thou feel appreciation ? "

Tho' I spoke half jocosely,

He answered me morosely,

As he turned towards the door,

Only this and nothing more : —

" From early candleteening,

I've been down in Clodgy Moor, A-stanking o'er the tubbans,

And just stagged in the voor ; 'Twas so clisty that the gruter

Would hardly turn the coam ; I've been rooging till I've hardly

Sprall enough to take me home.

" I'm colder than a quilkin, I am leary, I am thurl, I am aching all across the cheens, I have pains here in the whirl ;

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 27

F'rall now all of a croop I stuggy was and strong,

But I've louster'd till I'm hardly Able for to sloot along.

" I'd gurty-nrilk for breakfast,

For crowst I'd not a crevan, For dinner I'd a hoggan,

Just as savoury as a leaven ; And the only bit of lewth I had

When it came to a skew Was a high bunch of kekezza,

That 'pon a gurgey grew.

" I don't like to be tatchy,

But I do get in a por When some great plum head bucca

Comes talking, like you are 'Bout the splendour of my lot,

As if 'twere fairly dazzling ; Till I'm mazed enough to scat

Thy great bussa-head a mazzling."

Slowly I turned away, broken and sad, Answering neither word, good nor bad ; Here from my sorrows I'd hoped for release, In this fancied abode of refinement and peace.

28 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

Thought in this Eden there ne'er could have been Aught that was coarse, or sordid, or mean ; Now all my illusions have vanished away : What I thought porcelain was coarse common clay.

The Luckless Poet.

" 1 suppose you heard about our Sampey. He is a bit of a poet, and no wonder, — for his mother's brother was married to a cousin of Henry Quick, the Zennor poet ; so it do run a bit in the family. Well, Sampey came home t'other night lame as a cat. Says I : ' Hallo, Sampey ! where hast a ben % ' Says he, quite short like : ' Minding my own business.' Says I : • Sampey, thee'st got the siatic' Says he : ' That's so much as you do knaw about it.' Says I : 'I do knaw ; I've had it scores of times.' Says he : 'If you've had it, I hope you liked it.' And off he went to bed. Next day he was very bad — couldn't set, stand, nor go. In the evening he got pen, ink and paper, and begun to write poetry, but he wouldn't show it to us. But t'other day Peggy was brushing his cloase, and she found the paper in his waistcoat pocket. This is what he wrote " : —

A POEM.

I promised her I'd call laast night

If nothing came to hender, So I steered up towards the light

In Uncle Sampey's winder.

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 29

The clock was striking eight as I The garden gate was hitchin' ;

I silently unlatched the door, And walked into the kitchen.

Thinks I, as I took off my hat,

I'm glad I'm safely landed. The house was looking fresh as paint,

The floor was sweept and sanded. The cheldren all had gone to bed,

The old folks gone to mittin', And Sarah Ann sat by the fire,

A-busy with her knittin'.

The chimney-piece was trimmed around

With bay, and box, and holly : I said " Good evenin', Sarah Ann ; "

She said " Good evenin', Solly." And as she turned her eyes on me,

She looked so purty — bless her ! The fire-light shined around the room,

And danced upon the dresser.

The old cat purred before the fire,

A-blinking at its flashes ; The teak'le was singing curls

Among the turfy-ashes. The dog got up and wagged his tail,

My fingers gently lickin' ; The old clock wagged the pendulum,

And kept on with his tickin'.

30 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

I said, says I — and cleared my throat,

And moved in her direction — 11 Shall I set by your side, my dear 1 "

Said she — " I've no objection." So, stooping down, I took her hand,

Our fingers interlocking, — And sat — upon the niddle which

She'd used to mend her stockin' !

Ann of Market-jew.

( Not the original title to this little piece. ) A BALLAD.

Come, all you lads and lasses,

A tale to you I'll tell, — But first bring the burndockie,

For I love that liquor well : — Young Guy was Lord of Ludgvan,*

A noble youth, and true, He loved a gentle maiden,

Sweet Ann of Market-jew.

* Ludgvan, or Ludgvan Les, was one of the most ancient and important manors in West Cornwall.

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 31

Of many a goodly manor

Was stout Sir Guy the Lord, And many a sturdy vassal

At his command drew sword ; But from long years of conflict

A deadly feud there grew, Between the Lords of Ludgvan

And Chiefs of Market-jew.

Out spoke her cruel uncle,

And thus to her did say : — ; Oh ! youthful love is fleeting,

As the storm-driven spray, And, like a fire of griglans,

'Tis fierce, but very brief : Thou ne'er shalt wed our foeman,

So put away thy grief."

Now weaker than a purvan,

She felt when this she heard, And colder than a conker-bell,

Her heart turned at that word ; Whisht as a dying winnard

She looked, but nought did say : — Young Guy he fondly kissed her,

Then proudly turned away.

Now he has taken his armour, Which hung within his hall,

And he has taken the stoutest steed That champed within his stall ;

32 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

And with a gallant retinue

Of seventy and nine, He's gone with good King Richard,

To fight in Palestine.

Alas ! for gentle Annie,

She davered looked and wan, For summer sun and winter blast,

They thrice had come and gone ; And still there came no tidings

Of the good knight and true, Who fought for Holy City

And Ann of Market-jew.

" Come hither, Richard Jago,

With spying glass in hand : — Look east, look west, look north, and south,

And look o'er sea and land. And tell me if thou seest,

Far off upon the seas, Aught of that gallant chieftain : —

Young Guy of Ludgvan Les."

" Oh ! I see, bearing east, south-east,

The land of Palestine : — I see a knisht with followers

Just seventy and nine. And all the host of Saladin,

They're driving on before ; The dead they lie around them,

Like bullies on the shore."

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 33

11 Now go, good Richard, to the cook,

Tell her to give thee tea ; Also some fragrant coffee

That comes from Araby. And feast thee off the wheaten bread,

And likewise off the cheese, For the good news thou bringest

Of Guy of Ludgvan Les."

" Now hie thee, Richard Jago, Go thou and look again ; And tell me what thou seest Upon that bloody plain." " Alas ! I see a wounded knight Lying amongst the dead : — The daughter of King Saladin Is binding up his head."

" I prithee, Richard Jago,

Go thou and look once more ; And tell me what thou seest, Upon that distant shore." " I see a false and recreant knight, And standing by his side The daughter of King Saladin He claims her for his bride."

11 If he had perished in the sea I would have grieved sore ; If he'd been slain in battle I would have smiled no more,

34 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

But as this base and perjured knight

To me has proved untrue, I'll marry me the first fair youth

That passeth Market-jew."

But scarcely had she spoken,

When up the way with speed There came a bronzed and bearded knight

Upon his gallant steed. Like gold upon his armour

The bright sunbeams did shine, And after him rode followers

Just seventy and nine.

He caught the gentle Annie,

And bore her straight away ; Fierce was her cruel uncle,

But he dared not say her " nay." And they hanged false Richard Jago

On the highest of the trees That grew around the turrets

Of stately Ludgvan Les.

There was joy in Bog, in Yarfal,

Rospeath, and Bowgyher ; In Ludgvan Les and Crowlas

Was feasting and good cheer. Loud pealed the bells from many a tower,

And far the tidings flew When good Sir Guy was wedded

To Ann of Market-jew.

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 35

A Letter.

In the autumn of 1869 the inhabitants of St. Michael's Mount and neighbourhood were much disturbed by the prediction that a wave of 50 feet, or more, in height would shortly break upon their shores. If this wave had arrived, the houses at the base of the Mount would have been entirely submerged. The following letter, written to the author's sister, who was then staying at St. Columb, pro- bably gives some idea of the excitement that prevailed there.

I write ee these few lines, my dear,

To tell ee that we're going through fear

Enough, these last few days and more,

To kill a hoss, we are, plaise sure.

You knaw that all the papers say

That in the coming week, one day,

A wave will break upon this shore,

Up fifty feet in height or more.

And as we live so near the say,

You may be sure we dread that day.

Now Mary, full of doubts and fears,

Is carr'ing all the things up steers.

The carpet's ripped up from the floor —

The planchin's naked to be sure ;

The fire-irons are put away,

For fear of this great raging say.

The dust is sweeped out with a broom

For fear 'twould get wet in the room ;

36 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

The stools, the books, tin-tacks, and cheers My wife has carr'd them all up steers. She've burnt up all the shavings too For fear that they would get wet through. Ef she continues in this plight Of agitation, fear and fright, She'll scat up every crock and kittle For fear the say will rust the mittle. And yet sometimes I think, my dear, We needn't give away to fear, The wave mayn't be as people say (I saw a rainbow t'other day) ; But ef the wave should on us burst, I think, my dear, we knaw the worst ; We knaw that Noah's ark arn't nigh, But Peter's boat * is handy by. Though Ararat is far away, We may land somewhere near the bay. Some of the hills around are high — We may drift as fur's Cam Kie ; And ef the wind don't blaw agen us We may fitch up to Castle-an-Dinas ; t Ef we should chance to drift so near We're sure to come and see ee, dear ;

* Peter's boat — a small ferry-boat. Peter was one of the Mount boatmen.

t Castle-an-Dinas — a hill in the parish of St. Columb.

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 37

And as we all may be wet through, And tired, and cold, and hungry too, Tell Mrs. Baker, we desire The kittle may be on the fire, For we shall want a cup of tay After such a voyage, and say A heavy cake will do to eat ; Or, if she likes, a joint of meat. This will with Mary's letter go. With love, your own dear brother,

Joe.

Nan of Castle Gate.

A BALLAD WITH A MORAL.

Now, ladies, listen unto me,

While I to you relate The strange, but truthful history,

Of Nan, of Castle Gate.

This maiden for her beauty rare Was far and wide renowned,

The fairest and the proudest lass In all the country 'round.

38 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

Her father was a cottager,

Who laboured in a mine ; His dearest wish — that his fair maid

Might be a lady fine.

Her mother, who ambitious was, From morn to eve did toil,

In order that her dainty child Should not her fingers soil.

Now how to work embroidery, Or crochet, she did know ;

She could a slipper work in wool With roses on the toe.

But she could neither milk the cow, Nor cook the family meals ;

She could not wash, nor make a shirt, Nor darn her stocking heels.

For she had done but little else Since she came in her teens,

But sat and read romantic tales, In penny magazines.

She pondered o'er such silly tales, As in such books you see,

Of haughty nobles who had wed With maids of low degree.

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 39

Now many rustic lovers came, And woo'd, but woo'd in vain,

Tor every honest son of toil She treated with disdain.

" The one," this scornful damsel said, " Who'd win me for his bride, Must boast of high and noble birth, And in his carriage ride."

She dressed her in her Sunday's best,

She brushed her flaxen curls, And watched the road from day to day,

For passing dukes and earls.

She waited weeks, she waited months ;

Alas ! it was her fate To find the dukes, and earls, were few

That passed by Castle Gate.

When years had passed, this haughty maid

Less highly did aspire — She would have wed a baronet,

Or even an esquire.

Time passed ; there came a gentle youth Who won the maid in marriage ;

Tho' not of noble birth, it might Be said he keeps his carriage.

40 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

For proudly now they drive about, Through all the western land,

Selling, from out a donkey cart, New brooms and scouring-sand.

MORAL.

Now, mothers, who have daughters fair,

Don't bring them up too grand, Or you may find they're hardly fit For selling scouring-sand,

Nanny Guy.

A BALLAD.

" Why sitting here alone, fair maid ?

The eve grows cold and dim ; Long since the noisy rooks have sought

The elms of Old Bochym. This is no fitting place for thee,

On Carrac-hir's rough stone, Then tell me why, fair Nanny Guy,

Thou'rt sitting here alone."

RANDIGAL RHYMES.

41

" In haste, from Garrah's burning towers,

I have in terror fled, For, struck by cruel Grockal's hand,

My father there lies dead. Of all that band of trusty men,

Who served Sir Hugh De Guy, Some are dead, and some have fled,

And some in dungeon lie."

11 ' Fair Maid,' young Robin Kelvie said,

' Thou nothing hast to fear ; My gallant steed is standing by,

My merry men are near ; And to my Hall, in Lampra Vale,

Thou home shalt go with me, Where thou shalt be my mother's care,

And none shall dare harm thee.

j »

11 Now welcome home, my own brave son, With all thy gallant band ; But who is this, so fair and sad, Thou leadest by the hand 1 " " Oh ! this is murdered Garrah's child, That I've brought home to thee, And she shall be thy daughter dear, Her mother, thou shalt be."

" Now take thy steed, my faithful page, Ride fast, and do not spare, And rouse the lads of High-far-off, The gallant youths of Olahar ;

42 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

Likewise all Meaver Wartha's Men,

To arm them for the fray ; And meet me all, by Herlan Pool,

An hour before the day."

" Why crept ye down the stair, my son, As if I might not hear 1 Why armed are all thy trusty men With sword, and axe, and spear 1 " " We go to hunt e'er break of day Among the banks of Clahar, To rouse the wild wolf from his den, The fierce boar from his lair. "

" No whimpering hound doth wake, my son, The silence of the night ; And thou, instead of coat of green, Art clad in armour bright." " My hounds will follow soon mother, Thou hast no cause for fear ; I wear my arms in youthful sport, — Farewell, my mother dear."

" What hast thou home from hunting brought ?

No dead game do I see, But bloody swords, and wounded men

Thou bringest home to me ; Thou sittest heavy on thy steed,

And thou art wounded sore, Oh ! was it fang of cruel wolf 1

Or tusk of angry boar 1 "

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 43

" We sought not bear, nor wolf, mother,

Among the banks of Clahar ; But we sought Grockal's cruel lord,

And smote him in his lair ; We stormed his gates, and scaled his walls ;

It was a bloody fray ; We slew his men, and burnt his den —

An hour before the day."

" There was joy in lone Praze Marrack,

In Meaver and Penhale ; And there was merry feast and sport

All down the Lampra Vale ; On Carrac-hir, and Garrah-rocks,

The festive fires blazed high, When Kobin Kelvie won the hand

Of gentle Nanny Guy.

44 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

A Wicked Alligator.

In a spirit of true aetological scepticism the Granta furnishes the following ingenious explanation of the remarkable story in which a Cornish woman and a Lizard were implicated : — " The origin of the legend is clear. This lady had for years, doubtless, lived at the Lizard. Then it became that she lived on a Lizard. Then that a Lizard lived on her — next in her, Hence the wonderful account which has so thrilled us this week." — Globe, February, 1892.

Come, all you gentle readers,

I pray you not to laugh When you see this narration

In the " Cornish Telegraph ;" For 'tis not my intention

For idle mirth to cater When I tell to you the story

Of the wicked Alligator.

Across the breezy Morraps That faced St. Michael's Bay

A woman gently wandered, And pleasant was the day ;

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 45

She drank out of a brooklet (Or so says the narrator), And swallowed with the water An embryo Alligator.

But seeming not contented

With very careful housing, The creature soon awakened,

And commenced some nice carousing ; And the woman seemed possessed

Of an active nutmeg-grater, So was she scratched and scoured

By that wicked Alligator.

For in the small apartment,

Where he'd obtained possession, He played at earthquakes, football,

And Sunday school procession ; Not even Jonah to the whale

Was such an agitator — As to that gentle woman

Was that wicked Alligator.

She rushed off to the doctor,

Who was a man of might : " Oh ! doctor, dearest doctor,

Can you set my ' innards ' right I've such commotion in the

Region of my equator, And I know that I'm the victim

Of an awful Alligator."

46 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

The doctor looked profound,

And upward turned his eyes, And then he felt her pulse,

And viewed her tongue likewise ; He turned him to his books,

And searched each commentator To find a sure prescription

For an active Alligator.

From many a pot and bottle,

He took powders, drops, and paste, And put them in a mortar,

And mixed them up in haste ; And thus, with potent drugs, he

Prepared a circulator — That would move, like a tornado,

That wretched Alligator.

Now, Beecham's pills are active,

And Cockle's pills are strong ; And Mother SeigePs syrup

Oan make things move along ; But these are balm compared with

The potent detonator, The doctor there prepared, for

That wretched Alligator.

Ah ! little does the lambkin,

So full of playful life, Reck of the dreadful shambles,

And cruel butcher's knife ;

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 47

And little did that creature,

Of commotion — the creator — Think human foes were plotting

Against an Alligator.

One gulp ! the pill was swallowed

And soon there did begin, A strife as if that woman,

A volcano had within ; But soon her troubled throat

Became an active crater, And quickly it ejected

That wicked Alligator.

The creature hopped about ;

The woman fetched a howl ; But soon she " scat the life

Out of en, with a showl." Then took the paclgypaow

Unto a wise curator, Who, with spirits in a bottle,

Put that wicked Alligator.

If credence to this story

You venture to refuse, You'll be severely censured

By the " Western Morning News ; " For is it not attested

By the local Registrator, Who has seen both the woman

And the bottled Alligator.

48 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

MORAL.

Now, all you padgypaows,

So frisky and so gay, Be careful as you gambol

Around St. Michael's Bay ; Or you may chance to meet with

That awful devastator — A pill, made by the doctor,

That slew the Alligator.

The Song of the Brush.

Dressed with scrupulous care,

And scented like a rose, A youth, he stood, with his foot on a chair,

A-brushing of his clothes. 'Twas on his wedding morn ;

And with voice as clear as a thrush, In a firm and decided tone,

He sang " The song of the brush."

Brush, brush, brush,

Though time is flying fast ; Brush, brush, brush,

Though 'tis eleven o'clock and past.

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 49

No matter where I'm going,

No matter in what I'm dressed,

'Tis brush, brush, brush,

Trousers, and coat, and vest.

Brush, brush, brush,

Though the carriage is at the gate ; Brush, brush, brush,

Though the priest at the altar doth wait ; Though bride and bridesmaids, and all,

Are fretting at delay, If I can't brush in time,

I'll be married some other day.

You know I can't endure

Wet, nor dust, nor dirt ; I'll not have a speck upon my clothes,

Nor a stain upon my shirt. I won't go dirty to church,

But brush myself first — and then, For fear a speck of dust remains,

I'll brush myself over again.

His gloves were on his hands,

His hat was on his head, His friends all told him 'twas getting late ;

But in spite of all they said, He kept his foot on the chair,

And, with voice as clear as a thrush, In a firm and decided tone,

He sang the song of the brush.

T)

50 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

The Photographic Ordeal.

'Tis your turn next, young lady, please ;

On this spot take your station, — Don't seem so grave, but try to show

A look of animation.

This posture you must please to keep,

Your head a little while in ; But there — you should not grin as if

A crocodile were smiling.

I'll now adjust this rest, — don't fear !

The attitude wont pain you ; Now, please keep steady for a while,

And I'll not long detain you.

Look cheerful ! — that is not a look

Of youthful fun and frolic, But just as if you would suppress

A bad attack of cholic.

That's better far, — and now I think

We are progressing finely ; Don't frown, nor grin, but sweetly smile,

And try to look benignly.

Don't simper please — look natural — Now — that expression's better ;

Now, one — two — three — that's all ; I'll send The cards to you by letter.

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 51

The Heathen God.

PART I.

On Kara Kira's rugged height

A wounded chieftain stood, And paused one moment in his flight,

To staunch the flowing blood. The last survivor of that band, Who fought to save their native land, From the invader's ruthless hand — Vain effort. All had perished, save The leader of those warriors brave.

He fled — but 'twas no coward's flight.

To save a recreant life ; For he was foremost in the fight ;

Nor did he quit the strife While strength, or friends, or hope remained. These gone, he still the fight maintained,

Till, finding all his efforts vain,

He turned, and swiftly strove to gain The height, where stood above the sea The temple of his deity.

52 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

He reached the shrine, one moment stayed,

Then knelt upon the sod, And there, in earnest accents, prayed

Unto his country's god, With all the fervour of despair, A dying patriot's final prayer.

This said, he rose, — and as he spied His coming enemies, he cried —

" The invader's hand shall ne'er defile

The god which guards my native isle ! " Then hurled the image with his might From off that dark and dizzy height,

And watched it sink beneath the wave ; Then, rushing on the approaching foe, He found, midst many a clanging blow,

A warriors death — a patriot's grave.

PART II.

Oh ! sweet and peaceful is thy motion, Thou calm and placid Southern Ocean ; And softly, gently, didst thou pillow The fallen god upon thy billow. And faithfully thou didst receive The charge the dying chief did give

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 53

Into thy keeping, there to rest,

Upon thy gently heaving breast, Till fate should guide it to some shore

Washed by a colder, fiercer main — And pious worshippers restore

It to a fitting place again.

]Sow here, now there, the current's force,

Or the wind's blast so fierce and rude, Carried the idol on its course

Out into ocean's solitude ; Where never other sound is heard, Save the shrill cry of some sea-bird,

Or, the weird voices of the wind, Where all seems limitless, and vast, And lone — save when some stray Bark passed,

And passed to leave no trace behind.

Save that some sea-bird in its flight Would, for some moment's space, alight

On that dark mass, that floated on,

By tangled sea-weed overgrown— And plume its wings, then onward pv

Landward its straight and swift career, As if it were in very fear

Of that vast waste of loneliness

54 RANDIGAL RHYMES.

Still drifting on its errant way,

It nears the rugged Northern land ; Past jutting cape, and dented bay, The currents toss'd it in their play,

Till where — on old Cor nubia's strand, The wild waves break with sullen roar

In their incessant ebb and flow — This Southern waif was cast ashore

On the white beach of Sandy Vro.*

Soon found, and stripped with eager speed From clinging worm, and tangled weed —

By those who, awe-struck at the sight Of the prone god, did solemnly

Convey it up the dizzy height, Unto a little town hard by.

There, 'gainst a Christian temple's wall — Erected by a pious hand,

Just where the noontide sun-beams fall, The heathen god was placed to stand,

An idol in a Christian land.

A small inlet in the Mullion cliffs, opposite the Gull Rock.

RANDIGAL RHYMES. 55

I Think of Thee.

A peaceful scene : a love-sick youth

Against a grassy bauk was leaning; Around was many a forest glade,

With leafy coppice intervening ; A brooklet murmured at his feet.

The woods with songs of birds were ringing ; Sweeter, and far above them all,

He thought he heard his loved one singing : —

SONG.

The weary sun has sunk to rest, The butterfly has left the flowers,

The blythe skylark has sought its nest, The wood-doves coo in leafy bowers —

I sit beneath a forest tree And think of thee.

The evening star proclaims the night, The busy streamlet murmuring flows,

Its wavelets dance in pale moonlight,

And the dewdrops deck the fragrant rose-

I sit beneath a forest tree And think of thee.

CHARMS.

Charms once used by the ancient fortune-telling dames, or "ivitch- doctors," of the surrounding districts, and given to the Author by their descendants. Several others, once in his possession, have, by accident, been destroyed.

Charm for turning Cream to Butter.

" Come, butter, come ; Come, butter, come ;

Peter's waiting at the gate, "Waiting for a buttered cake ; Come, butter, come."

Charm for Toothache.

" As Peter sat weeping upon a marble stone, our Saviour passed by, and said : ; Peter, why weepest thou ? ' Peter said unto Him: 'I have got the toothache.' And our Saviour said : ' Arise, and be sound ; and whosoever keeps this in memory, or in writing, will never have the tooth- ache.' "

CHARMS. 57

Charm for Burns.

" Three wise men came from the East, One carried fire, two carried frost ; Out fire, and in frost, In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."

Charm for a Kennel on the Eye.

" Simon and Gaus went to our Lord Jesus Christ, and asked Him what to do against pins, pearls, and webs. Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, answered and said : ' Simon and Gaus, from your eyes let red fall ; from your eyes let black fall. Eyes be eyes ! Eyes be eyes ! Eyes be eyes ! In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Amen. Amen.'

> V

Charm for Stopping Bleeding.

" As Christ was born in Bethlehem, and baptized in the river Jordan, He said to the water : ' Be still.' So shall thy blood. By the blessing of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Pray God it may be so. I hope it will be so. Amen. Amen."

58

CHARMS.

Charm that may be employed in any case without

doing harm.

11 Holy kai, holy kie,

Tommy's nose will be better by-and-bye. Up, sun — down, moon ; Tommy's nose will be better soon

LOCAL PROVERBS AND PHRASES,

" A change of work is as good as touchpipe."

" A clout is better than a hole out."

" A slut never wants a clout while her apron lasts out."

" All abroad, like Mary Miles."

" All of a whiddle, like a dead lamb's tail."

" All one side, like a crab going to gaol."

" All on one side, like Smoothy's wedding."

" All behind, like a cow's tail."

" Always head and chief, like Jimmy Eellis 'mong the cats."

" Always on the ran-dan, like cousin Ann Harry's gander."

60 LOCAL PROVERBS AND PHRASES.

" A nuisance to a field of tinkers."

" As thick as inkle makers."

" Boys to bed, dogs to doors, and maidens to clean up the ashes."

" Cold as a quilkin."

" Either staring or stark mad."

" Gaping like a duck against thunder." " Going like a dog tailpiped."

" Good riddance to bad rummage."

" Grizzling like a badger."

" Gruffled up like an arish pig."

" Laughing like a piskey."

" Like a three ha'penny chick in a wheaten arish."

" Like An' Dinah Grey's old mare — when I'm up, I'm like a flap, and when I'm down, can't rise."

" Like a cat in a bonfire, don't know which way to turn."

LOCAL PROVERBS AND PHRASES. 61

" Like Ludlow's dog — leaning against the wall to bark."

" Like Morvah downs— ploughed, not harrowed.

" Like the Mayor of Falmouth, who thanked God when the town gaol was enlarged."

" Like Ruan Vean men — don't knaw and weant be told."

" Like a pig with one ear."

11 Mazed as a curley."

" More haste, more let."

" Neither ashore nor afloat."

" Poor as a coot."

" Proud in his own conceit, like Sammy Lidgey's chick."

" Staring like a stuck pig."

" Staving along like a man going to wreck."

" Scat to rags."

" Screech like a whitneck."

62 LOCAL PROVERBS AND PHRASES.

" Scruinped up like a hedgehog.

" Sick as a shag."

" Standing in his own light, like the Mayor of Market-jew."

" Stank on an angle-dutch and it will twine."

l3'

" Talking the fore leg of a horse off."

" The older you are the simpler you are, like the Fabies."

" They who can't scherney must louster."

" Wisht as a winnard."

" Worse than dirty butter and bally-ack."

RHYMES USED BY CHILDREN IN PLAYING GAMES.

" Hewery, hiery, hackery, heaven ; Hack a bone, crack a bone, ten or eleven. Baked, stewed, fried in the sun, Twiddlelem, twiddlelem, twenty-one."

" Ena, mena, mora mi, Pisca lara, bora bi ; Eggs, butter, cheese, bread ; Stick, stack, stone, dead. 0, U, T, spells 'out.'"

" Hiery, diery, lumber lock, One a-mexey, two o'clock ; I sat, sing in the morning spring, Yellow, blue, black, green, In nine ; ' out.' "

GLOSSARY

OF THE

CORNISH DIALECT.

Abear. Abide, to bear, to endure. " I can't abear en." — Used negatively.

Abew, Abue. Above, up above.

Abroad. Asunder, open, in pieces. " You have left the door abroad." " Scat all abroad."

Actions. Pretence, affectation. M Lot of actions with em."

Addlegutter. A dirty, offensive pool or drain ; a cess- pool.

Afeard. Afraid.

Afterwinding. The light Corn deposited between the heavy grain and the chaff.

66 GLOSSARY.

Agate. Expectant. " All agate."

Agg. To push on, to incite, to egg.

Aglan, Aglet. The fruit of the hawthorn ; the hawthorn tree. " Under the aglan tree."

Airy-mouse, Rare-mouse. The bat.

Aker, Aiker. " In his aiker," i.e. in a congenial occupa- tion, doing something in which one takes an interest.

Alan. A hard, bare patch of ground.

Alantide. All Saints' Day.

Alley. A large marble, a taw.

Allish. Pale, sickly in appearance.

All-on-a-nupshot. Unexpectedly, in a great hurry.

Almond-nuts. Almonds.

Ampassy. Et cetra.

Anan ? What do you say ?

Angle-dutch. The earthworm.

Anist, Nist. Near, close to. "Don't come anist me."

Anointed. Mischievous, fond of fun. " An anointed lem.';

Apernt. An apron.

Apple-bird. The chaffinch.

Apple-bee, Apple- drane. The wasp.

Aps. The aspen tree.

Arish. Stubble. " Barley arish."

Arg. To argue.

Arm-wrist. The wrist.

Arrant. An errand, a message.

Arrere Wonderful, strange.

Arry. Any.

Ascrode. Astride,

GLOSSARY. 67

Asew, Sew. Dry. " The cow is asew."

Assneger. The ass.

Attle. Rubbish, refuse. (A mining term.)

Auvsis, Auvice. The eaves of a house.

Avage. Stock or breed. " The avage is good."

Avore. Before.

Aw. He, it.

Ax. Ask. " Did e axe en J "

B

Backlong, Backalong. Formerly ; the road just tra- versed.

Backsyfore. Forth and back, the reverse way.

Bagaroot. A Swede turnip (rootabaga).

Baggie. To muffle, to swathe.

Bal. To shout, to bawl. " Balling and 'oll'ing."

Bal. A mine.

Balk. To place in layers or rows. (A term used in pilchard curing.)

Ballyrag. To bully, to revile, to abuse.

Balm. A false imputation ; a story told in jest.

Bal-maidens. Girls employed on surface work on mines.

Balsh. Stout cord.

Balshag. Coarse woollen cloth.

Bamfer. To worry, to harass, to torment.

68 GLOSSARY.

Banger. A whopper.

Bank-up. To heap up, as clouds gather before rain.

Bannel. The broom.

Bare-ridged. To ride bare-backed, or without a saddle.

Bare-vamped. To stand in one's stockings ; without shoes.

Bar-ire. A crow bar.

Barragan. Fustian.

Barristers. Bannisters.

Barning. Phosphorescent. u The sea is barning."

Bassam. Wild broom ; a complication of colours occa- sioned by a bruise.

Beal. The bill (of a bird, etc.)

Bealing. Hatching. " The eggs are healing."

Bean. A hazel rod for binding wood into faggots.

Beam. A child.

Beat. To cut off turf from land ; turf cut for fuel. Beat-burrow. A heap of weeds or turf partly burnt, or

collected for burning. Beat-burning. The burning of turf heaps in fields for

manure. Bed-ale. Ale brewed for a christening. Bedoled. Dismal, low-spirited, dull, heavy with trouble. Bed-tye. A feather bed. Bee-butt. A bee-hive. Beety. To mend fish nets.

Bell-metal. The brass pan in which preserves are made. Belong. To be accustomed ; to be due. " He belongs to

go every day." The 'bus belongs to start soon."

GLOSSARY. 69

Belve. To bellow.

Bender. Something exceedingly large.

Berryin. A funeral.

Besting. Deciding. " Besting whether to go or no."

Better fit. To greater advantage ; wiser ; better. " Better- fit you'd held your tongue."

Bettermost. Best ; advantage gained. " Her bettermost bonnet." M I got the bettermost of them."

Bettix, Biddix. Beat-axe ; a mattock.

Bever. To shiver with cold.

Bevering. Shaking, or shivering with cold.

Bib. A blind. (A kind of small fish.)

Bibble. To tipple.

Biggan. A nightcap without a border.

Bilders. The plant heracleum sphondylium, or cow parsnip. In the North of Cornwall the oenanthe crocata is called " Bilder." — This plant is very poisonous.

Bisgan. A shield made like the finger of a glove, and used for a sore finger.

Biskey. A biscuit.

Bittle, Beetle. A mattock j a thatcher's mallet for driving spars.

Bitter-weed. A disgraceful person. " She's a bitter weed.''

Btack-head. A kind of boil.

Black-worm. The cockroach.

Blanketing-shirts. A sort of smock-frock made of heavy woollen.

Blast. A cold • sudden inflammation.

Blinch. To sight, to catch a glimpse.

Blind-bucca-davy. Blind man's buff.

70 GLOSSARY.

Blink. A spark.

Blog, Bloggy. Thick set, stout, " A bloggy little horse."

Blood-SUCker. The sea anemone.

Bloody-warrior. The dark wallflower.

Blowth. Blossom ; in flower. "The May is in blowth."

Bobbin-joan. Round excrescences on potatoes.

Bobble. A pebble.

Bobble. A ground swell.

Boft. Bought. " Boften bread."

Boggle. To be checked by a difficulty, as a horse unable

to move its load. Boggle. To lie.

Boiling. Crowd, family, lot. " The whole boiling." Bol. An iron ladle used for dipping water. Bolt. A drain. Booba. A sort of torch made of rags and dipped in train

oil ; a wick. BootS-and-shoeS. The columbine. Bosh. Display.

Boshy. Foppish, smart, conceited. Bougan. The large end of a piece of wood or timber. Boyer. A rock-drill. Boy's-love. Southernwood. Braggaty. Spotted, mottled. Bran Quite. " Bran new." Brandiz, Brandys. An iron tripod for supporting a

kettle, etc., over the fire.

Brandiz-ways. Triangular.

i

GLOSSARY. 71

Brave. Hearty, well, in good health. " How are ee1?" —

" Brave, thank ee." Brave-few. A good many, a fair quantity. Brave-flink. To be almost able to do a thing ; to nearly

accomplish. " Aw didn't do en fitty, but aw gave en

a brave flink."

Breachy. A term applied to cattle given to climbing fences.

Bread-and-dippy. Barley bread and thin cream. Breek, Brik. A small tear or rent in a garment.

" There's not a breek in it." Brembles. Brambles. Brink. A fish's gill. Brit. A tiny fish, smaller than a sprat. Briton. The thrift or sea-pink. (St. Michael's Mount.) Broach. A long stick used in fastening ropes in thatch. Brose (of heat). A fierce heat. Brouse. A thicket ; also short furze, ferns, etc. Brush. A nosegay.

BrilSS. The dust and prickles from dried furze. Bucca. A scarecrow ; a fool. Buck, Buckaboo. A ghost ; a hobgoblin. Buck. A term applied to milk when it is affected by

heat or some other cause, and is rendered unfit for

use. " The buck is in the milk." Buckhorn. Dried salt whiting. Buckle -up. To shrink, to draw together. Budpicker. The bullfinch. Buddy. A clump, a thick bunch, a cluster. " A regular

buddy."

72 GLOSSARY.

Buffle-head. A simpleton.

Blllch. To push with a horn, to butt.

Bullgrannick. A snail.

Bulljig, Bullhorn. A snail.

Bully. A pebble.

Bumdockie. A liquor made of hot cider, sugar and eggs.

Bum. A bundle of hay, straw, furze, etc., tied by a rope

called the " burn-rope." Bus. An unweaned calf. Bushed. Confirmed.

Bussa. A coarse earthen pot ; a fool ; a simpleton. Bustious. Full j corpulent. Butt. A bee-hive ; an ox-cart. Butter-and-eggs. The double daffodil. Butts. A disease in horses. Busy. Requires. " Busy all your strength to lift it."

" Busy all your time."

Cab. Mess ; disorder.

Cabby. Dirty, sticky, untidy.

Cabbed, Cabbed-over. Handled, messed about.

Cader. A frame on which fishing lines are kept.

Cadge. To beg.

GLOSSARY. 73

Cadging. Begging, asking charity.

Cage. A set \ often applied to teeth. " A cage of teeth."

Cage-of-bones. A skeleton.

Caggled, Cagged. Caked, ingrained.

Camel. The camomile plant.

Candleteening. Twilight.

CapparOUSe, Caperhouse. A row, an uproar, a hubbub.

Care. The mountain ash.

Catch-up. To dry quickly ; to work with speed, etc.

" To catch-up my churs." Catching. Unsettled, changeable. Cat-in-the-pan. A somersault. Caudle. To slop, to mess ; to get into a difficulty ; also a

difficulty ; a slop, etc. Caudly. Dirty, murky. " Caudly weather." Caudler. An untidy, slovenly worker. Caunch. A mess, confusion. Caunting. Diagonal, athwart. Caunted. Athwart, tilted. Cawnse, Caunse. A causeway, a paved road. Cazier, Cayer. A kind of hand sieve for sifting grain. Ceague. A cheat, a deceiver, a rogue. Censure. To estimate ; to think • to reckon. Chacks. The cheeks.

Chack. To parch, to dry. " I'm chackin thirst." Chacky-cheese. The seeds of the mallow. Chad. A young bream. Chall. A cattle house. Cheat. A false shirt front.

74 GLOSSARY.

Cheeld Chiel. A child.

Cheeld-vean. A term of endearment, meaning " little

child." Cheens. The loins ; the quarters of a house. Cheese. Pounded apples ready for pressing. Cheening. The sprouting of grain, etc. Cherks. Cinders. ChetS. Kittens. Chibble. A kind of small onion. Chickell. The wheat-ear. Chiff-chaff. The chaff-finch. Chiffer. To drive a bargain, to haggle. Chill. An iron lamp for burning train oil. Chimbly. A chimney. Chillbladder. Chilblain. Ching. The chin. Chip. The foot of a plough. ChiterlingS. Small entrails. Chuff. Healthy-looking, full-faced. Chuck. The throat. " Dry about the chuck." Chuck. To choke. " He's chucked." Chuck-cheelds. The chad. Chuckle-head. A fool. Chur. A small job ; household duties. " Catch-up your

churs." Churing. Charing. Churer. A charwoman. Clam. A footbridge. Clammered. Ailing, weak, sickly.

GLOSSARY. 75

Claps. A clasp.

Clean-off. Cleverly; completely.

Clever. Tolerably well ; in good health.

Clibby, Clisty. Sticky, adhesive.

Clich. To fasten, to latch. " Clich the gate."

Click -handed, Click-pawed. Left-handed.

Clidgy. Sweets made of boiled sugar, and sold in sticks.

Cliders. Goose-grass.

Clink. A " lock-up," a gaol.

Clip, Click. A sudden sharp blow ; a box on the ear.

Cloam, Clome. Earthenware.

Clodgy. Boggy, muddy. " Clodgy lane."

Clomen. Made of earthenware. " Grinning like a

clomen cat." Clop. To limp. Clopper. A lame person. Clopping. Limping.

Clout. An old cloth or rag. " A dish clout." Coajer's-wax. Shoemaker's-wax or pitch. Cob. A crest of hair or feathers ; the forelock. Cob. A mixture of clay and straw for building purposes.

" Cob walls." Cobbing". Breaking ore into small pieces. Cobbing-hammer. The hammer used in breaking ore. Cobble-de-CUt-nutS. Hazel-nuts. Cob-nuts. Hazel-nuts; a game played with nuts strung

on strings. Cock -hedge. A quickset hedge. Cockle-buttons. The burrs of the burdock.

76 GLOSSARY.

Codge. An untidy, slovenly piece of work.

Codger. A slovenly worker.

Coffins. Depressions of the earth, caused by the under- mining of the ground.

Collybrand. Sheet lightning ; smut in corn, black ears of corn.

Come-by-chance. Accidental.

Comfortable. Easy-going, agreeable.

Compartner. A consort.

Condiddle. To swindle, to rob.

Conduddle. Conceit.

Conkerbell. An icicle.

Conuram. A name by which the early Methodists were regularly known throughout West Cornwall. (In common use from 80 to 100 years ago.)

Come -out. Quarrel, disturbance. " A purty come-out down there."

Cool. A trough in which salt pork, etc., is kept.

Cooram. Order, decorum. " Keep cooram."

COOSC To chase, to hunt, to pursue.

Coose. " In coose." Ready, prepared. " Get in coose avore they come."

Coose. " A coose of water." A "turn" of water.

Cooting. A thrashing.

Cooze. To gossip, to idle away time in talking.

Coozing. Gossiping.

Copper - finch. The chaff-finch.

Core. A " spell " of work. " He's on night core."

Corisy. Hatred, ill-feeling, ill-will.

GLOSSARY. 77

Corncrake. The landrail.

Corniwillen. The lapwing.

Country. Ground, land, the natural strata of the earth.

11 Built against the country," i.e. built against hilly

ground. Cover-slut. One who takes the blame due to another;

anything used to cover up dirt. Cowle. A fish-basket. Coxy. Pert, saucy. Crabbed. Quirkish, artful. Cracked. Insane. Crafe. To mend hastily or loosely. Crafting. Sewing, or mending clumsily. Crake. A harsh cry. Cravel. The lintel over a chimney. Creem. To squeeze. Creen. To grieve, to complain, to pine. Creener. An ailing, sickly person. Creening. Ailing, complaining. " A creening woman

will live for ever." Crevan. A dry, hard crust. Creeved. Partly cooked ; partly dry. Crib. A slight luncheon. Cribber. A small eater, a " picker." Cricks. Dry sticks, hedgewood. Cricket. A low stool.

Cricking. Collecting small articles of household use against marriage ; gathering odds and ends ; picking sticks.

78

GLOSSARY.

Crickmole. A somersault.

Crim. To shiver with cold.

Cripple. A lame person.

Cripse. Crisp.

Cripse. To slightly crack or craze glass or earthenware.

Criss-cross-row. The alphabet. (So called because in the old horn books it was always headed with a cross.)

Crock. A three legged iron pot used for cooking purposes.

Crofts. Downs.

Croggan. A limpet shell.

Croom. A small quantity, a tiny bit. (Probably corrup- tion of " crumb.")

Crow. A sty. " Pig's crow."

CrOUging. Shuffling, walking heavily.

Croust. Lunch taken between meals.

Crowd. A fiddle ; to purr.

Crowder. A fiddler.

Crowder. A " slow-coach," a dawdler.

Crowdy. To fiddle.

Crowding. Purring. " The cat's crowding."

Crowner. A coroner.

Crowning. An inquest.

Crop-of-the-bunch. The best, or prettiest of the lot or family.

Crow-sheaf. The sheaf that completes the gable of a mow of corn.

Cruddly. Curly.

Cruds. Curds.

GLOSSARY. 79

Cruel. Very, extremely. " Cruel hard."

Crumbed. Bent or drawn together with cold.

Crumptins. Small deformed apples.

Cuckoo. The hare-bell or blue-bell.

Cud. A quid of tobacco.

Cuddling". Doing light work or jobs ; working feebly.

" Just able to cuddle along." Cue. An iron protection on the heel of a boot or shoe ;

an ox shoe. Cundard. A conduit. Cuney, Cuny. Moss ; lichen ; mildew. Curls. Carols.

Custice. A blow across the hand with a rod. Cussal, Cuzzle. Deceitful.

D

Daffer. A large quantity. " A brave daffer."

Dafter, Douter. Daughter.

Dag". A small hatchet.

Dagging. Anxious, longing to do something. " Dagging

for a fight." " Dagging to know." DaggingS. Heavily laden, a large quantity. " Daggings

of them." Dane. "Red-headed Dane." A term of contempt. Daps. Likeness, counterpart.

80 GLOSSARY.

Dash. An unbound faggot of furze.

Dash-an-darras. The stirrup-glass.

Dashy. Showy

Datch. To thatch.

Datcher. A thatcher.

Daugh, Daw. Dough.

Daver. To fade, to pine.

Davered. Faded, worn out.

Dead-and-alive. Without energy ; dull ; indifferent ;

lukewarm. Deads. Subsoil ; refuse. Deal-seed. The fir-cone. Deef. Deaf. " Deef as an adder." Deef. Rotten; empty. "A deef apple." Dewsnail. The slug.

Dicky. An over-jacket worn by working men. Diddle. " Every little diddle." Tittle-tattle ; every little

ridiculous tale. Didgan. A very small bit, a tiny piece. Didgy. Small, tiny.

Dido. " A purty dido." A row, a great fuss. Dig. A blow, a thrust. " A dig in the back." Dig. To scratch. Dilly. A light waggon.

Dilly-dallying. Trifling, hesitating, shilly-shallying. Ding. To repeat over and over, to reiterate. " Ding,

ding, ding, all the day long." Dinged. Reiterated. Dinsul. St. Michael's Mount.

GLOSSARY. 81

Dish. The dues paid to the lord of the mine.

Dishwasher, Dishwater. The water-wagtail.

Disle, Dizle. The thistle. " Milky disle."

Dob, Dab. To throw.

Dob. A lump. " A great dob of earth."

Dobbett. Short, thick-set. " A regular dobbet."

Dock. The crupper of a saddle.

Doldrums. " In the doldrums." Low-spirited, cast down.

Dole. An ungainly bundle. " A great dole."

Doles. Small heaps of ore of equal size for weighing.

Dorymouse. The dormouse.

Douter. See Dafter.

Down. Low-spirited, downcast. " Down in the mouth."

Downdanted. Disheartened, discouraged.

Downses. Moors, downs. " Pradnack downses."

DowriSOUSe. Outright, without beating about the bush'

to the point. Dowsing-rod. A forked twig of hazel or white thorn,

which, when carried over a lode or mineral vein, is

said to turn in the hand toward the ground. Doxy. Smart, pretty. " A doxy little bonnet." Dralyers. Trailing plants or weeds, more especially the

wild convolvulus. Dram. A swathe of corn. Drang". An open drain or gutter ; an open groove or

channel. Drane, Apple-drane. The wasp.

Drash. To thrash corn.

Drashel. A flail.

82 GLOSSARY.

Draw. A kind of sledge. Dredge-COrn. A mixed crop of corn. Dredgy-ore. Ore and stone mixed. Dressel, Drexel. The threshold.

Dribs. Small sums of money, small debts, a small quantity. " Mary Anna collects the dribs."

Driggle. To dribble, to fall in drops, to ooze out slowly, to run feebly along. " Water driggling down."

Drilger. A great noise.

Drill-drolls. Trailing plants ; the wild convolvulus.

Dripshams. Last drops of liquid.

Drive. To drift.

Drivers. Fishing boats using drift-nets.

Driving-nets. Drift-nets carried by the "drivers."

Droke. A groove, a slight channel ; a slight hollow of the body.

Droll. A tale, an idle tale, legend.

Droolgey. Drulgy. Slow, heavy in movement.

Drop-Clirls. Long curls, ringlets.

Drow. To dry.

Drug. The drag (of a wheel).

Drule. To drivel.

Dry. The house in which the miners change their clothes.

Dryth. Dry weather or drought. " A scat of dryth."

Dubbet, Dobbet. Short, stumpy.

Duff. Suet pudding.

Duff. A blow ; a blow on a cow's udder with a calf's nose.

Dug-in-the-back. A game of " tig," the players stand- ing in a ring.

GLOSSARY. 83

Dull. Hard of hearing, deaf.

Dumbledory, Dumbledrane. The cockchaffer.

Dunyon. A dungeon. " Down in the dunyon."

Durk. Dark.

Durns. The frame of a door.

Dust. The chaff of corn.

Duzz. To buzz.

Earth-ridge. Earth, round the sides of a field carted out

for mixing with manure. Easement. Relief. Eaver. Permanent grass seed. Edge. Principle, disposition. " A good edge." Eggy-hot. Hot beer, sugar, and eggs.

Elbow-grease. Hard work, or energy in work. " Put some elbow grease in it."

Elevener. A slighb lunch.

Elleck. A kind of gurnard.

Elmin-tree. The elm-tree.

Ent. To empty, to pour.

Enti ! Indeed ! " No entl ! "

Enting-down. Raining very heavily, pouring with rain.

" It's enting down." Eve, Eave. To thaw, to give with damp or heave.

84 GLOSSARY.

Evil. A stable-fork with several prongs. " A five-pronged

evil." Evil. A kind of gathering. Evit, Ebbat. A newt. Eyeable. Presentable. " That's not very eyeable."

Faddy. A rejoicing, a merry making.

Fadgy. Faded, soiled.

Faggied. Devised, planned. " Faggied out a plan."

Faggot. A worthless person ; a term of contempt.

Fairmades, Fairmaids. Cured pilchards, or pilchards

prepared for the foreign market. Fairy. A weasel.

Fal-tha-rals. Useless things, trifles. Fancical. Whimsical, fanciful. Fang. To receive, to take hold of. Fanged. " Never fanged to it." Never acknowledged or

noticed it. FangingS. Wages, earnings. Fay, Fey. Faith.

Feasten. Feast. " Feasten Sunday." Feather-bog. A bog, a quagmire. Feather-tye. A feather bed. Feaps. Pitch and toss.

GLOSSARY. 85

Fee. Freehold ; free. " It's fee land." " He's fee there,"

i.e. welcome to come and go at will. Feneage. To cheat ; to steal ; to entice. Feneaged. Obtained by improper means ; enticed.

" Feneaged away." Fescue. A pin or point. Figs. Raisins. Figgy-duff. Plum-pudding.

Fine. Very ; exceedingly. " Fine and glad to see ee." Fire-pan. A fire-shovel.

Fit. To prepare, to get ready. " Fit the denner." Fitch. A polecat. Fitty. Suitable, proper, nice. " I aint titty 'tall." " A

fitty looking maid."

Flabbergasted. Taken aback. " I was quite flabber- gasted."

Flagary. A frolic, a spree.

Flannin. Flannel.

Flat-rod-shaft. A shaft with pumps drawn by horizontal rods, worked by a distant engine or water-wheel.

Flaws. Intermittent showers.

Flecktt. A squall of weather, wind or rain.

Flecketts. Flashes, sudden changes of colour, blushes.

Fleeting, Floating. The guttering of candles.

Flesh-meat. Butcher's meat.

Fletters. Rags.

Flew, Flue. A coat of manure spread over land.

Flied. Flown.

FligS. Gaudy articles of dress, gaudy attire.

86 GLOSSARY.

Flink. To throw with a jerk, to toss ; to almost accomplish. " Can you say the Lord's prayer, my son 1 " — " Don't knaw ef I can zactly, sir, but I can gibb'n a brave flink."

Flip. " A flip of the finger." To jerk the finger and thumb.

Flisk. A comb.

Floors. Ground generally paved to deposit minerals or ores for dressing or preparing for sale.

Flop. To spill. " Flopping the water."

Floppervan. An under-petticoat.

Flosh. The dashing of water in, or over, a vessel of any kind.

Floury-milk. A kind of porridge made of flour, milk, and sometimes caraway seeds or currants and spice. (Formerly always given to the workpeople in farm- houses for breakfast on corn-carrying days.)

Floury. Mealy. " Floury potatoes."

Fly-by-night. A racy, thoughtless girl ; a gad-about.

Fooright. Forthright, outspoken, straightforward.

Fooch. To push, to shove, etc. ; An idea connected with slovenliness.

Fooch. Disorder, confusion.

Fork. To pump dry. " The shaft is in fork."

Forthy. Forward ; pert ; inquisitive.

Fouse, Fauce. To crush, to rumple.

Foused, Fauced. Crushed, rumpled, faded.

Foxing. Deceiving. " He's foxing you."

Foxing-day. A deceitful day, a lull in a storm. " It's only a foxing-day."

Fradge. Dirty, evil-smelling.

GLOSSARY. 87

Fradgan, Fradgeon. An evil-smelling or dirty place ;

a receptacle for dirt. Freath. A hurdle interwoven with boughs, furze, etc. Freathe. To weave. Freathed-OUt. Ragged, ravelled. French-nuts. Walnuts. Fringle. An enclosed fire-place or grate capable of

generating an intense heat and quickly. Fringle. A iron crook moving on hinges fastened to the

back of an open chimney, on which kettles, etc., are

hung. Fringle-hole. The space under a grate into which the

ashes fall. Froal, F'rall. Although, notwithstanding. (Corruption

of for all.) Fuggan. A large bun ; a " plum " bun ; rather heavy

baked piece of dough, and often baked with a slice of

pork pressed into the top before baking. See " Hogan." Fudgey. " Fudgey-faced." Full-cheeked, fat-faced. Furzymore. A root of furze.

G

Gabble. To talk noisily ; the chatter of a goose.

Gaddle. To drink greedily.

Gakem. A stupid fellow, a fool.

Gallivanting. Gadding about. " Gallivanting round."

Galore. A large or excessive quantity. "Fish galore."

Galyar. A mad prank.

88 GLOSSARY.

Galyars. Restive, in a temper.

Gamberns. The hocks of a horse, etc. ; the spreaders on

which dead animals are hung. GammutS. Sports, games, frolics. Gard. Gravel, gravelly earth used by housewives for

scouring. See " Growder." Game. A garden. Gashly. Ghastly, ugly. In some parts of Cornwall used

in quite the opposite sense, i.e. pretty, good, nice. Gaver. The cray-fish. Gays. Sherds, broken china or crockery. Geek. To peep, to spy, to peer. "I will geek, — I will

geek, I tell ee ; while I've the sperit of a man in me

I'll geek." Geeze-dance, Geesedance. A Christmas play, in which

the actors are supposed to represent various well- known characters, the principal part being given to Oliver Cromwell.

Gerty. Oatmeal.

Gerrick. The gar-fish (belone vulgaris).

Gick-nor-gack. This nor that, one thing or the other. " He said neither gick-nor-gack."

Gid. The smelt (osmerus eperlanus).

Gidge. An exclamation. " Oh gidge ! "

Ginge. A fine wire fastened round a line just above the hook to prevent fish biting through.

Giss. A saddle girth.

Giss. To girth up.

Gladdie. The yellow-hammer.

Glauze, Glaws. Dried cowdung used for fuel.

GLOSSARY. 89

Gloas. So spelt in Williams. " Glow " is coal in Williams.

Glaze. To glare. " Glazing at en like a geat gurnard."

Gleaney. The guinea-fowl.

Glidder. Polish, shine.

diddering". Shining, smooth, slippery.

Globical. Unsettled (as applied to weather). " Looking

rather globical." Goad ov Goard. A pole for measuring land, nine feet

long ; the off-sett staff. Glump. To sulk, to be sullen. dumping. Sulking. Go-about. A tramp. Gone-abroad. Fallen to pieces, dissolved.

Gone-in. Bankrupt, ruined, ended, put a stop to. "Gone in ess ee 1 "

Gone-round-land. Dead ; thrown away. Gone poor. Decayed.

Goodness. The fat used in cooking. " Put plenty of

goodness in that paste." Gook. A sunbonnet. Goolniggan. A cuttle-rod. Goos. Go. " Goos 'ome," i.e. go home. Goosechick. A gosling. Gorm. To speak in a loud angry voice. Gorming. Speaking loudly, storming. Goss. Sedge, reeds. Grafted. Ingrained with dirt. Grainy. Proud, smart, rather vain. Grammersow. A milleped. Grass. Surface. (A mining term.)

90 GLOSSARY.

Go the west 'ome. An emphatic way of saying " Go

home." Goosey-gen. A gwidgy-gweee. (St. Just.) Greep. A trench at the foot of a hedge. Grey. A badger. Greybird. The song thrush. Griddle. A gridiron. Griddle. To broil, to toast. Griglans. The dried stalks of heath. Gripes. Ditches. Grizzle. To grin broadly, to show the teeth. " Grizzling

like a badger." Groot. Small pieces of dried mud. Groushams. The dregs of coffee, tea, etc. Growan. A subsoil of decayed granite. Growder. Decayed granite, in the form of gravel, used

for scouring. Growts. Dregs. Grubling. Small, deformed ; emphatically a small cancered

apple. Grute. To clean up a furrow. Gruter. The breast of a plough. Guckoos. The blue-bells — wild hyacinths. Gulge. To drink greedily or quickly. Gumption. Common sense. GurgO, Gurgey. A low turf or stone hedge. Gurry. A hand-barrow. Gurt. A shallow ditch or drain.

GLOSSARY. 91

Gurty-meat. The small entrails of a pig baked with

blood, groats, etc. Gurty-milk. A thin gruel made of milk or water, flour,

salt, etc. Gut-board. The earth-board of a plough. Gweggan. A small shell fish. Gwidgy-gwee. A small black spot caused by a pinch

or bruise.

H

Hack. To dig.

Hackmale, Heckymile. The blue tit.

Hairpitched. With rough, unbrushed coats, such as

horses which have been allowed to run wild would

have. Haglan. A haw, the fruit of the hawthorn. Haglan-tree. The hawthorn. Hake. Out of proportion, not compact. " A great hake

of a house." Hale. The part of a wooden plough to which the handles,

beam and foot were attached. Hale. The principal room of a house, a parlour. Half-Crease. Half of the increase. Hens are often

borrowed to hatch and rear chicken, the owner of

the hen receiving half of the brood in payment.

Bees, too, are frequently lent and the honey divided.

92 GLOSSARY.

Hals-nut-hals. The hazel.

Halvens. Halves. " He'll go halvens."

Hames. A straw horse-collar.

Hangbow. The hanging post of a gate.

Happard. A half -penny worth.

Hapse. To fasten a door or gate, to catch.

Harby-pie. Herb pie.

Harve. A harrow.

Harve, Harvey. To harrow.

Hauves, Auvise, Auvice. The eaves of a house, stack,

etc. Hay. An enclosure. " The church hay." Hay-maiden. Ground-ivy. Hailer or Healer. A receiver of stolen goods ; the

encourager of another in wrong-doing. " The healer

is as bad as the stealer." Heap. " Struck all of a heap." Frightened, amazed. Heapingstock. A stone platform from which horses are

mounted. Heave, Eave. To thaw, to give with damp. Heavers. Rye-grass. Heavy-cake. A flat cake made of flour, currants, fat,

etc., and usually eaten hot. Hedgyboar. The hedgehog. Heel of the hand. The inside of the hand from the

thumb to the wrist. Heep. The hip. Heggan. A hard, dry cough. Hell. To slate a roof.

GLOSSARY. 93

Heller. A tiler.

Hellins. Slates. " All the hellins blown away."

Hen-chicks. Chicken (as opposed to duck-chicks, i.e.

ducklings). Het. To heat.

Hetted. Heated. " Hetted brath." Hetter. A heater. Hetter. A shackle. Hetterpin. The pin of a shackle.

Hepse, Haps. The bottom leaf of a door, a half-door. Heva. The cry given by a huer to announce the approach

of the pilchard shoals. Hibbal. A turnip; a knoll, a hummock. Hibet. The newt.

Hiding. A thrashing. " I'll hide you." Higgler. An itinerant dealer in butter, eggs, poultry, etc. Hiles, lies. The beard of barley. Hinge. The liver and lungs of an animal.

Hipped. Depressed in spirits ; ill in imagination ; hypo- chondriasis. Hisk. A wheeze. " Such a hisk." Hisking. Wheezing.

Hitch. To sew roughly and clumsily. " Hitch en to- gether."

Hobban. See Hoggan.

Hobble. A party of tourists, etc., in charge of a guide

or boatman. Hobbler. A ferryman ; a guide ; a touter.

Hobbling. Touting; acting as guide or boatman. "He's gone hobbling."

94 GLOSSARY.

Hoggan. A heavy cake of flour and currants, raisins or seeds, etc. A flat cake, often cooked with a piece of pork in the centre. " What have you there, my man?"— "A hoggan." "What's that?"— "Why a fuggan, to be sure."

Hoise, Hoisey. Hoarse.

Holidays. Parts left untouched in sweeping, dusting, painting, etc. " Plenty of holidays on that door."

Hollensmocks. The sea campion.

Holla- pot. A talkative, empty-headed person.

Hollow -ware. Poultry as opposed to butcher's meat.

Hollow-WOrk. Embroidery.

Holm. The holly.

Holm-SCreech. The missel-thrush (turdus viscivorur ).

Home, Close 'ome. To shut, to fasten. " Close 'ome the door."

Homer. The nearer. " Homer field."

Hoodwood. A forest. Hoop. The bullfinch.

Hoot. To bray, to cry ; to whistle. " a steamer hooting." Hooting-COUgh. Whooping cough. Hopmass. The medlar.

Hornywink. Poor, desolate. " A hornywink of a thing." Horse -adder. The dragonfly. Housen. Houses.

Housin'. Gossiping from house to house. Hubba. A noise, a disturbance. Hud. The husks of corn.

Huddicks. Grains of wheat not separated from the husks,

GLOSSARY. 95

Huffles. The wind huffles.

Hlier. The watchman who announces the approach of

pilchard shoals, and signals their direction to the

men in the seine boats. HuggO. A sea cave, a cavern. Hully. A hole in the rocks, often used as a store for shell

fish.

Hungry. Stingy, mean.

Hurler. A screen or griddle for sifting corn, etc.

Hurling. A Cornish game, in which the opposing parties

try to get and retain possession of a ball, and to

carry it into a goal. Hurling-weather. Drying weather. Hurry. To frighten. Hurried. Frightened, worried. Hurrysome. Hasty, passionate. Hurts. Wortleberries.

He. An awn of barley.

1 11 wish. To bewitch.

Impudenter. Saucier, more impudent.

Inchin'. To gradually encroach, to move little by little.

11 No inchin' there." Inkle, Black tape.

96 GLOSSARY.

Inklemakers. Tapemakers.

Innerds. The inward parts, the bowels.

Insense. To explain, to make clear. " Can't be insensed

into it." Inyon. An onion. Ire. Iron.

ISS. Yes. " Iss fie." Issterday, Essterday. Yesterday. I vers ! An exclamation. '•' My ivers ! "

Jack Harry's lights. Phantom lights seen to play on the topmasts of ships, and on high places, on dark, stormy nights, warning sailors of the fiercer storm that is bearing down on them.

Jack-o'-lantern. The will-o'-the-wisp (ignis fatuus).

Jacky-ralph. The rock-ray — the rasp.

Jail. To walk quickly, to hurry along.

Jakes. A state of untidyness.

Jan-jeak, john-jeak. A snail.

Jaunders. The jaundice.

Jaypie. The jay.

Jealous. Suspicious. "I had a jealous thoft."

Jellyflower. The gillyflower — the stock.

Jennj'quick. A kind of goffering iron.

GLOSSARY.

97

Jet. To hustle, to push.

Jewish woman. A Jewess.

Jib. To refuse to pull, to be unwilling to start.

Jibs. Small waste bits of cloth.

Jibber. A horse that refuses to pull.

Joan-blunt. A forthright out-spoken woman.

Johnner. A kind of starling.

Johnny-COme-fortnight. A travelling draper.

Joram. A large cup; an earthenware vessel. "A geat

joram of tay." Joust. To jolt, to hustle. Jouster. A hawker of butter, eggs, etc. Jowdle. To jolt, to shake.

Jowds. Shreds or small pieces. " Boiled to jowds." Jump. The country. Just alive. A mining term, used when the ore in a lode

can scarcely be seen.

K

Kayher. A sieve.

Kearn. To harden, to fill up.

Kearning. The filling up or hardening of the grain of

corn. Keave. To separate the short straw from thrashed corn. Keggas. Tall umbelliferous plants. Keels. Skittles. Keel-alley. A skittle-alley.

G

98 GLOSSARY.

Keem. To comb with a small tooth comb.

Keeming-comb. A small tooth comb.

Keenly. A mining term indcating probability of mineral.

Keeping company. Sweethearting, courting.

Keep On. To nag, to reiterate. " Don't keep on so."

Kekezza. A variety of heath (erica vagans).

Kellas. The earth-nut, the common pig-nut.

Kennel. A sty on the eye.

Kew, Cue. An ox shoe ; the iron plate on the heel of a boot.

Kex. Dried stalks.

Kibbat. A slap or blow.

Kibbal, Kibble. A bucket for drawing water ; an iron bucket for drawing ore, rubbish, water, etc., from mines.

Kibbing. Repairing fences.

Kicklish, In an unstaple position, risky, unsteady, easily overt-turned. " A kicklish sort of a thing."

Kiddlywink, Tiddlywink. A beershop.

Kidge. To stick together (as a broken bone), to adhere.

Kieve. A large tub.

Killiars. Rough, ferny ground.

Killick, Kellick. A grapple used as an anchor for boats.

Kit. The buzzard or kite.

Kit. Kindred, crew, gang. " The whole kit."

Kittens. The kidneys.

Kittereen. A van, a rude kind of omnibus.

Kitey. Flighty, undependable.

Kitting. Stealing. (A mining term — purloining ore under- ground.)

GLOSSARY. 99

KittybagS. Coarse pieces of cloth, or straw bands used

as leggings. Kiskan. A small sheaf of corn. Kiskey. Brittle ; the dry stalk of umbelliferous plants ;

the thistle. Klidgy, Clidgy. Sticky, viscous, adhesive. Klop. To walk lame.

Knack. To stop working. " The bal's knacked." Knacking. A handkerchief. Knap. The top of the hill. Knuckle-in. To give in, to submit. " Don't you knuckle

in to him," Knick. To cheat, to deceive, to outdo. Kowks. The feet (in contempt). " Great kowks." Kybosh. Affectation, display, pretence.

L

Labbat. The ear. " I'll pull your labbats." Labbat. An inferior labourer ; an attendant on others. Lace. A measure of land — 18 feet square. Local— rod>

pole, or perch. Lace. To thrash, to beat. Lacing. A thrashing.

Lace-ups. Laced boots. " Put on your lace-ups." Lag. To bedraggle, to plaster in mud. Lagged. Dress covered with mud ; to have the garments

covered with mud.

100 GLOSSARY.

Lamb's-tails. The willow blossom.

Lambswool. A drink made of hot milk, eggs, sugar, and nutmeg.

Lank. Loose.

Lanky. Overgrown, long and thin.

Lap. To beat.

Lap. Wet, muddy clothing left about the house. " A lot of dirty lap."

Lappior. A dancer ; a miner who dresses the refuse ores that are left.

Lask. A thin slip of fish used as bait.

Lasking". Keeping close into land.

Lash. To pour, to rain heavily; to throw with force. " Lashing down."

Lashings. Plenty, a large quantity.

Latten, Lattice. Tin, tinware.

Lattice -pan. A tin pan.

Launder. A conduit of iron or wood to carry off water from the roofs of houses.

Leary. H ungry, weak and faint from hunger ; empty, void. (It is a mining term for the spare under- ground from which the mineral has been removed.)

Lease. To pick stones off land ; to gather, to glean.

Lease -cattle. Cattle not yet turned to fatten, milkless cows.

Leasing-stones. Small stones gathered from the land.

Leat. A small river, a stream.

Leatherwing. The bat.

Leave. To let. " I'll leave you knaw." " Leave me go."

GLOSS ARY„ 101

Leggas. Legs.

Lem. An imp, a rogue, when used of a person. (Pro- bably a corruption of " limb of the devil.") Lem. Feature. " His face is his best lem." Lemon -plant. The verbena. Lent-lily. The daffodil. Lerrup. A blow ; to thrash, Lerrup. An untidy person, a slattern. LerrupS. Rags, pieces. " Torn to lerrups." Let. To hinder, hindrance. " More haste, more let." Letterpooch, Letterputch. A slattern, an untidy per

son ; also a kind of dance. Levan, Leaven. Fermented dough used in barley bread

instead of yeast ; the leavan of Scripture. Lew, Lewth. Shelter ; out of the wind. Liard. A liar.

Lichway. The way by which a corpse is carried to church- Lick. A scrape, a hasty wipe over. Lick-and-a-promise. Carelessly done. " Give un a

lick-and-a-promise," i.e. finish off anyhow now, with

a promise for better work next time. Licks. Leeks.

Licky-pie. A pie of leeks, pork, etc. Lidden. An old tale, a repitition of abuse, etc. " No

more of your lidden." Lie. To subside ; beaten down. " The wind has gone to

lie." " The corn has gone to lie." Lights. The lungs. Likely. Tall; well-formed.

102 GLOSSARY.

Likes. Possibility, probability. " Any likes of their coming." Like-a-thing. As it were, as one may say. Lime-ash. A sort of cement used for flooring. " A

lime-ash floor." Lime-kill. A lime-kiln. Linnick. A linnet.

Linhay. A shed with a roof but no sides ; a cattle-shed. Lintern. A lintel. Linuth. Kidney. Linuth-dllff. Kidney pudding. Lipsy. To lisp. " She speaks lipsy." Listing. The selvage of flannel, etc. ; the coloured stripes

on a blanket. Lisamoo, Lizzamoo. The cow-parsnip. Littlemount. A game of bat and ball, a sort of " rounders,"

which was always played on St. Michael's Mount on

Easter Mondays by the whole of the inhabitants,

young and old. Loady-apple. A double apple. Loagy. Dull, slow, heavy in gait. Lobb. To wean a calf. Locust. A sweet made of treacle. Lodger (Newly n). A vessel moored off in the lake is

spoken of as " out in the lodger." Log. To rock, to move to and fro. Logan-rock. A rock capable of being rocked. Long-cripple. A viper, a snake. Looch. The short straw, chaff, etc., from thrashing ;

refuse.

GLOSSARY. 103

Lords -and -ladies. The arum maculatum.

Lougy. Slow in movement, heavy.

Louster. To work hard, to labour. " My man can't

louster." " He that can't schemy must louster." Loustering". Big, able to work. "A great loustering

girl." Loustering-WOrk. Hard, heavy work. Love-entangle. The flannel-flower. Lubber- COCk. Turkey cock ; also a term of contempt-

" A great lubber-cock."

Lubber-headed fool. A simpleton.

Lucky-bone. The knuckle-bone of a leg of mutton,

used sometimes as a charm. Lug. A worm found in sea-sand. Lugg. Grass and weeds in corn. Lump. To bear, to put up with, to be resigned. " If

you don't like it, you can lump it. " Lurgy. A fit of laziness. " He's got the lurgy." Lyners. Small bundles of reed.

M

Mabyers. Young hens.

Maggots. Fancies, ideas.

Maggot. A magpie.

Mait. To feed. " Have ee maited the pigs 1 "

Make-out. To put out, to pretend.

104

GLOSSARY.

Make-wise. To pretend, to make-believe.

Malkin. A slattern ; a rag mop used for cleaning ovens.

Mallygolder. A large jelly-fish.

Man-engine. A machine by which miners ascend and

descend the shafts of deep mines. Manshons. Small loaves baked without tins. Margay-SOlip. Soup of a kind of dog-fish, parsley, etc. Marinade. To marinate, to pickle. Marsel, Morsel. A slice of bread and butter. Mashes. A large quantity, a great deal. Maun, Maund. A hamper, a large basket. May. The blossom of the hawthorn. May-bird. The whimbrel. Maygam, May-game. Fun, frolic ; to make a butt of.

" I won't be made a May-game by them." Mazed. Mad, cracked-brained. " Mazed as a curly." Mazed-getty-puttick, Maze-gerry-pattrick. A wild

harum-scarum fellow. Mazlin, Mazzlin. Silly, bewildered. " Scat un mazzlin." Meader. A mouse. Meader. A mower. Meat-earth. The surface soil. Meggyhowler, Meggahowler. A large night moth. Meezy-y-mazy. Muddled, confused, bewildered ; a game. Melt. The soft roe of fishes. Merl. The link of a chain.

Merry-dancers. The northern lights (aurora borealis) Merryman. A clown. Metheglin. A drink made from honey, etc.

GLOSSARY. 105

Mews. Moss.

Minch, Minchy. To play truant.

Mingle-com-por. Confusion, discord, muddle.

Milchy. The flour from sprouted corn.

Milky-disel, Milky-dizle. The thistle.

Milyer. The hinge of a door or gate which works with a

pin in a stone ; axle or pivot on which a wheel or

roller turns. Miserable. Miserly.

Miracle-play. A farce, a drama. "A regular miracle-play." Miss-the-hand. To make a mistake, to blunder. " Missed

her hand there." Mocket. The bib of an apron. Moile. A mule.

Molly-caudle. An effeminate man. Monger. A horse collar made of twisted straw. Moole. To knead bread. Moonshine. Smuggled brandy. Moorstone. Granite.

Mops-and-brooms. Disorder, sixes and sevens ; muddled

with drink. Mopse. A bridle with blinkers. Moppey-heedy. Hide and seek. More, Maur. A root. More-and-moold. Root and branch. Mort, Mart. Lard. MorropS. Sheep-runs near the sea. Mot, Mote, The stump of a tree, etc.

Mother. A fungus which forms in fluids, such as vinegar, cider, etc.

106 GLOSSARY.

Mother- margets, Mother-margeys. The bluebottle fly-

Mow. A stack.

Mowhay. The yard in which the ricks are placed.

Muck. Filth.

Muck. Pounded apples.

Muggard. The mug wort.

MuggetS. Entrails.

Mulligrubs. The colic.

Mully. The bull-head (coitus gobio).

Mumper. A tramp, a beggar.

Mun. Rotten fish used as manure.

Munge. To chew.

Murfles. Freckles, spots on the skin.

Mur. A sea-fowl (the puffin).

Murphy. A potato.

Muryans. Ants.

Music-man. A musician.

Mutting. Sulky, sulking.

N

Nack. " A nawble nack too." A noble thing too, a trifle not worth mentioning (spoken ironically).

Nackin. A handkerchief.

Nailspring. A small splinter of skin at the root or side of a finger nail.

GLOSSARY. 107

Nan ? Anan ? What do you say %

Name up. Noted, famed, to be talked about. " Her name's up for that."

Narry one. Not one.

Nashed. Afflicted, weak in body, sickly.

NattlingS. Pigs' entrails.

Neap. A turnip.

Near. Miserly.

Neck. The last sheaf of wheat cut in the harvest.

Neck. " To cry the neck." An old ceremony which took place at the end of the wheat cutting, when the principal harvester (or man with the loudest voice), the rest of the work-people standing round, took the " neck," and swinging it from the shoulder to the ground, cried : —

" I have en ! I have en ! I have en ! "

Another answers : —

" What have ee ? what have ee ? what have ee ?" Then the first : —

" A neck ! a neck ! a neck ! " Then all together : —

" Hoora ! hoora ! hoora ! "

This was usually repeated three times, and then the "neck" was hung up in the farm house kitchen until Christmas Eve, when it was given to the best ox in the stall.

Neck of the foot. The instep.

Nekegga- A kind of heath, probably callum vulgaris.

108 GLOSSARY.

Nessle-bird. The youngest or smallest in the nest ; the

youngest of a family. New-vangS. New fancies or ideas. Nice-chance. A narrow escape, just missed. "Nice

chance that wasn't scat." Nick. To tick. " The clock's nicking loudly." Nick. To deceive, to take in. Niddle, Niddil. A needle. Niff. A temper, a pet. Niffed. To be in a pet, offended, sulky. Niflin, Newflin. Newfoundland cod. Night-Crow. A term applied to children who stay up

late at nights. " A regular night-crow." Night- rear. A nightcap.

Noggle-head. A simpleton.

No fool behind the door. Not easily duped. " He's no

fool behind the door." Nonce, Nouse. To act designedly, on purpose. No speak. Silence, no answer. Nose- warmer. A short clay pipe. Nort. Nothing. Nosey. Saucy, interfering. Nub. A lump. " A nub of coal." Nuddick. The nape of the neck. Nut-hals. The hazel. Nyst, Nist. Near by, close to.

GLOSSARY. 109

0

Oak-web. A cockchaffer.

Oar-weed. Sea-weed.

Odds, no odds. No difference.

Off one's chump. Mad, insane.

Oiler. A waterproof, such as is used by fishermen.

Old men's bucks. Old mine workings.

Ollick, Hollick. A kind of leek.

Owner's 'count. A meeting of the shareholders or adventurers of a mine and the mine agents to con- sider or audit their accounts.

Ope. Opening.

Ore-dresser. One who is thoroughly acquainted with the methods of separating and cleaning ores.

Organ. The herb pennyroyal.

OrtS. Fragments.

Outlander. A foreigner.

Out of core. Working in one's spare time.

Overlook. To bewitch.

Over run the constable. Gone in debt, come to the end of one's resources.

Overgone. Excited, carried away with delight.

Ozle, Uzzle, Ouzle. The windpipe.

110 GLOSSARY.

Paddylincum. The small boneless squid.

Padgypaow. A lizard.

Paens. Parsnips.

Palched. Of weak or broken constitution, a valetudi- narian.

Pallace. A cellar used for the balking of pilchards.

Pancrack. An earthenware vessel, a small pan.

Panshon. A milk-pan.

Pare. A gang or company of men working at the same thing, a detachment, a set of things.

Patrick. A small coarse earthenware jug.

Parson-in-the-pulpit. The cuckoo-pint (arummaculatum).

Pass. A beating, a stripe, a punishment.

Passage. A ferry.

Passel. A large number, a quantity.

Passy. Et cetera.

Patchook. A billhook.

Pattick, Paddick. A stupid, senseless person.

Papishers. Papists.

Pea. The hard roe in fishes.

Peart. Lively.

Peath. A draw-well.

Peaze. To weigh.

Pednans. Pieces, parts.

Pedn-pral. A horse's head.

GLOSSARY. Ill

Pedn-paley. The tom-tit.

Peeny. Musty (applied to stale meats).

Pellas, Pelaz. The naked oats, the avena nuda of Ray.

Peltering. Pelting, pouring down (as of rain),

Pennard. A pennyworth.

Pennyleggan. Penniless.

Penny short. Not too wise.

Pernio, Pernick. Precise, stiff in manner, prim, neat.

Pervans. Frayed edges.

Piddlymean, Pednamene. Head to foot ; two or more articles lying side by side the reverse way.

Piff. To offend, to vex.

Piggywidden. The smallest of the litter, the youngest of a family. See " Nestle-bird."

Pig's-crow. A pigsty.

Pilcher. A pilchard.

Piler. An instrument of crossed iron used for beating off the ears of barley from the grain.

Pilf. Dry stubble ; filmy dust.

Pillyer. A hummock or small heathy knoll like an ant- hill, found in light uncultivated land.

Pilm. Light fibrous dust or down.

Pilmer. A downpour of rain.

Pinbone. The hip.

Pindy meat. Tainted meat.

Pinnick. The wryneck (attendant on the cuckoo).

Pip. A disease common to fowls.

Pipped. Offended, vexed.

Piskey. A fairy.

112 GLOSSARY.

Piskey-led. Bewildered, perplexed, led away by the

fairies. Piskey-ridden. The nightmare. Piskeystool. A mushroom. Pitch. To pave. (A mining term.) Pitch-haired. With a rough uncombed coat, as horses

which are allowed to run wild. Pitch-to. To set to work earnestly. Pitch up to. To make advances. Pitwork. Mining machinery placed in the shafts to draw

the water from below. Planchin. A wooden floor. Plat. A level place. Plat down. To smooth, to press down. Plat -footed. Flat-footed. Please ? What do you say ?

Please sure. Decidedly, really. " Yes, please sure." Plethon. To plait, to braid. Plisher. A branch that has been bent down and fastened

with crooks. Plosh. A wet, miry place. Plosher. A young bream. Ploshy. Wet, miry. Pluff. Spongy, soft, tough. Plum. To ferment dough, to rise. " The bread is plum,"

i.e. ready for the oven. Plum. Soft, crackbrained. Pluman. A plum. Plump. A draw-well.

GLOSSARY. 113

Poam. To thump, to beat.

Pock. A shove.

Poddlin round. Doing odd jobs ; working aimlessly ; meddling.

Podger. A small coarse earthenware vessel, a platter.

Podgy. Short, stumpy.

Polan. A salt water pool.

Pook. A cock of hay or turf.

Poot. A kick like a horse, a push with the foot.

Pop-an-tOWSe. Fuss, an uproar.

Pop-dock. The foxglove.

Por, Pore. A fuss, a temper, a rage.

Poss-up. To support, to prop-up, to lean against. " Possed-up with pillows."

Pound. A cider mill.

Powdered. Slightly salted, corned.

Powers. A great deal, a quantity.

Prall. To attach tin pans, kettles, etc., to the tail of an animal, — or cards, bits of paper, etc., to persons' coats.

Praze, Prase. A small common.

Preedy. Pert ; precocious ; conceited ; forward.

Prink. To pleat.

Prinky. Attentive to dress, spruce, natty.

Prinking-along. Walking daintily or affectedly.

Pritchell. A heath stem or other article used to stick in the wick of a chill (lamp) to prevent its falling back into the oil ; the pointed piece of iron used by a smith to stick in the nail-hole of a horse-shoe for the purpose of holding it to the hoof.

114 GLOSSARY.

Project. An experiment.

Progue. To prod.

Prong. A silver fork.

Proper. Handsome.

Proud-flesh. Inflamed flesh.

Prove. To thrive.

Punyon. The angle of a roof, a gable.

Punyon end. The gable end.

Pure. In good health.

Pure. Simple, unpretentious. " A pure little sermon."

Purvan. The pith of the rush, used as wicks.

Purgy. Short, stumpy.

Put. To take. " Put it away."

Put-going. Murdered. ,

Put the miller's eye out. To mix too much water with

dough in cooking, or with the spirit in grog. Puzzle-headed spoons. Apostle spoons.

Q

Quail. To fade, to wither.

Quailaway. A sty on the eyelid.

Qualker. A hard fall. " I threw him a regular qualker."

Quam. A qualm, a fainting fit.

Quarry. A pane of glass.

Quat. To squat, to flop down ; to hide away.

GLOSSARY. 115

Queel. To wriggle, to coil, to twist.

Quellat, Quillet. A small field or enclosure.

Queens. Scallops.

Queer. Beds or layers of ground. (A mining term.)

Queock. The horn of a bullock's hoof, often used by

miners for pouring water into the holes they are

boring. Quilkin. A frog. Quirkish. Jocose. Quilter. To beat, to thrash.

R

Rab. Hard, gravelly ground.

Rabble-rout. A noisy mob.

Rabbet et ! " Odd rabbet et ! " Bother ! confound it !

Race. A strand or string (of onions chiefly) ; a row of

things. Radjall. A loose heap of large stones, such as waste from

a quarry. Rag, Ragging. The blowing of the wind before rain.

" Ragging for rain."

Ramping. Raging.

Ramping and Roving. Raving, approaching lunacy.

Ran. A wren.

Ran -dan. Gadding about. " Always upon the ran-dan."

116 GLOSSARY.

Randigal. A rigmarole, a nonsensical, unconnected story. Randyvooze. Confusion ; riot ; also a place of meeting.

(French, rendez-vous.) Ranters. Early Primitive Methodists. Rare, Rear. Early. Rare- mouse. The bat. Rash. Brittle, crisp. Ratlan. Fallow. Ratlan field. A fallow field. Raw milk. New unskimmed milk.

Raw ream. Cream from milk that has not been scalded. Raw head. See Raw Ream. Rawnish. Hungry, ravenous. Ream. To separate the cream from milk. Ream. To stretch. Reamer. A skimmer. Reese. To beat out corn. Reese. The falling of grain from the ears of corn, the

falling out of grain. Regrator. An itinerant dealer in poultry, etc. ; a

hawker. Rescan, Ruskin. A small stack or rick of reed. Riders. A circus.

Riffled. Roofs unslated by a storm, uncovered. Rig. A frolic, a noise. Riggle, Riddle. To clear or stir up the fire. "Riddle

out the grate." Roadling", Roodling. Wandering in mind, delirious, Roker. A cheat.

GLOSSARY. 117

Ropy. Applied to flour that has lost its freshness and has been injured by damp, but more correctly applied to the bread made from such flour ; stringy.

Rory-tory. Conspicuously smart or gay ; tawdry.

Rouging. Lifting with difficulty, violent labour.

Rouse. A rattling noise.

Roving. Raving.

Rows. Refuse from ore, which refuse has not yet had its tin separated from it.

Row-tin. The mineral ore or black tin which has been separated from the rows.

Rubbage. Rubbish, refuse.

Rummage. Confusion, a disorder. " What a rummage the room is in."

Ruddick. The wooden beam across a cart which acts as a hinge on which it is tilted.

Rull. To roll corn into sheaves ready for the binders.

Rummet. Dandruff.

Rumped-up. Drawn together with cold.

Rumpy. Uneven.

Run. A landslip.

Runner. A round towel placed on a roller, usually placed behind kitchen doors.

Running wound. A wound from which matter is con- tinually discharged.

Rusking-COmb. A large tooth comb.

118 GLOSSARY.

Sam. To partially dry. "To bake in a sam oven," i.e.

to bake in a partially heated oven, Sampson. A drink made of brandy, cider, and sugar,

with a little water. Sampson with his hair on. Sampson made with a

double quantity of brandy. Sam-sawdled. Not well cooked, only partly ready. Sappy. Silly, not wise.

Saund-sleeper, Seven-sleeper. The Buanet moth. Save-all. A pinafore, an apron. Sawan. A cave at the bottom of a cliff. Sawdle. To cook too slowly, to simmer. Sawdled. Sodden, imperfectly cooked. Sawg. A stump. Scall. A scale of ground. Scaow, Scow. The elder tree. Scat. To break ; to knock ; to slap. Scat. A blow. " A scat in the chacks." Scat. Ruined, bankrupt. " Gone scat." Scat. A season, a spell. " A scat of dryth." Scaunse. Sense. Scavell-an-gow, Skavelling-gow. "The bench of

lies." Rag-tag and bob-tail, riff-raff. School. A shoal of fish. Sclum. To scratch.

GLOSSARY. 119

Scollops. Greaves.

Scoot. To rush away, to hurry.

SC00t-a-paw, Scutapaw. A flat shallow-bottomed boat.

ScopioilS. Copious, plentiful. " Without scopious showers

and harmonial dews we can't grow anything." Scouring-geaard. Decomposed granite used for scouring. Scramming". Searching about for what can be picked up. Scranch. To crunch. Scrawed. Scorched, dried up, withered. Screech. A quick blaze or fire of heath or furze. Screw. The shrew mouse. Scriff. To draw together with cold ; to stoop over the

fire ; to nestle for shelter from the cold. ScrifF-SCraff. The refuse, or cast-off bits. Scrimp. To pinch, to give meagre quantity. Scrimpin. Meagre, miserly. Scrinked. Screwed up, wrinkled.

Scroached, Scrolled, Scrowled. Scorched, broiled.

Scroff. Refuse ; small potatoes, .etc.

Scroff. The foam of the sea.

Scrolls. Greaves.

Scrovey. Mean.

Scrow. To scratch.

Scrowlers. Broiled pilchards.

Scruff. The nape of the neck. " Got en by the scruff."

Scruff. To take hold of ; to pull about ; to fight.

Scrump. To hump the shoulders.

Scud. To spill, to scatter, to spread.

Scuddy-ground. Rough, uneven ground.

120 GLOSSARY.

Scudmore. Small pieces of floating wreckage ; drift- wood. " I saw a vessel strike the Cowlow • she scat all to scudmore, and the broushans came ashore in the cove."

Scuffle. To work the soil with a " cultivator."

Scur. To scratch.

Scute. The iron on the heel of a boot or shoe.

Sem. To appear, to seem.

Seame. A horse load.

Seed. Saw.

Seyme. Melted fat, grease. " Goose seyme."

Shallal -band. A band of persons with tin kettles, pans.

etc., to ironically serenade newly-married couples. Shally -go -naked. A flimsy article of dress — (from

"shall I go naked1?) — suggesting that the garment

is a compromise between wearing something or

nothing. Shape. Disorder, confusion, condition. " A pretty shape

he's in, I can tell ee." Shave your head and go east. A contemptuous phrase,

possibly referring to the time when it was the

custom to go on pilgrimages. Shedrick. " That gate was a shedrick." Delapidated. Sherds. Pieces of broken pottery. Sherming. Big, large. Shern. A cream dish.

" Here's a fern To measure your shern ; Please give us a mossel of bread and cream."

GLOSSARY. 121

A May-day song, when parties of children visited the farm houses, bringing with them ferns to measure the cream dish. If one was big enough to go round the dish, bread and cream was given. Shewer. The bar of a gate. Shewer. The sheath of an oven. Shig, Shllg. To cheat or trick in games or in play. Shimshanking. Mean, shuffling. Shine. Uproar, row, fuss, stir. "Never seed such a

shine in your life." Shiner. An occasional sweetheart. Shoal. To sponge or hang on to others. Shoaler. A person who sponges on others. Shoaling. Imposing on good nature, sponging. Shot. A species of trout. Showl. A shovel. Shrim. A cold shiver, a chill. Shrump. To shrug. Shute. A stream of water.

Skeat. " A skeat of rain." A heavy fall of rain. Skeat. A rent j a rag ; to tear. Skedgewith. The privet.

Skeet. To squirt water, to syringe. " Skeet the winders." Skeeter. A syringe. Skever. A skewer. Skew, Skiff. A slight driving shower, driving misty

rain. Skibbat, Skivet. A small compartment in a chest. Skitter. To make ducks and drakes on water ; to slide.

122 GLOSSARY.

Skittery. Slippery.

Skrim. To shiver with cold.

Skrinked- Wrinkled up, screwed.

Skrum. See Skrim.

Skuffier. A "cultivator."

Skurge, Scourge. To touch obliquely, a light oblique

touch, to glance against anything. Skute, Scute. The iron on the heel of a boot or shoe. Slaggy. Wet, miry. Slaw-Cripple. The slow-worm. Slawterpooch. An ungainly, slovenly person. Slew. To turn on one side, to twist around. " She slewed

'round." Slewed. Intoxicated. Sliddery. Slippery. " Sliddery quay." Slide. A sledge. Slights. " In his slights." Partly dressed, not fully

clothed. Slinger. A jobber. Slips. Young pigs. Slivers. Pieces.

Slock. To entice, to draw away, to lead astray. Slocum. A slow, heavy person, an idler. Slone. The sloe. Slooch. To scrape the feet in walking, to drag. " Slooching

along." Sloot. To scrape or drag the feet. Slooge. Fine dust caused by the working of a drill. SlootS. Old shoes or slippers.

GLOSSARY. 123

Slotter. To spill about.-

Slottery. Damp, muddy weather.

Slump. An unskilled, careless worker.

Small people. The fairies.

Smead. The pole of a scythe.

Smeech. A strong disagreeable smell caused by burning

rags, etc. Smeet. To snigger, to laugh, to giggle. Smudder. A cloud of smoke or dust. Smulk. A dirty, disagreeable person. Snodderwig. A black beetle. " Granny, plummans got

leggas 1 " " No, cheeld vean ! " " Then I've been and

clunked a snodderwig." Snowl. To loudly crunch or chew. Soase. Colloquial expression equivalent to saying " friends,

folks, companions," etc., as " come soase," " yes

soase " (probably from the Latin socius, companion). Sodger. A red herring. Sog. The fitful sleep or unconsciousness of a person in

sickness. Soursop. The sorrel. — Soursops and nettles were reckoned

great dainties with children. Spal, Spaal. To fine for loss of time. Spalled. Fined for loss of time. Spall. To break stones or minerals. Spalls. Fragments of stone or metal. Spalling. Breaking stones or ore. Spalling-hammer. A small sledge for breaking stones,

etc.

124 GLOSSARY.

Span. A tether, a fetter.

Span. To tether.

Sparbles. Sparables.

Sparble-pie. A kick (from a sparable boot).

Spare. A term applied to work which ill repays the time

and labour bestowed on it. Spar-Stone. Granite. Sparr. To disagree, to nag, to argue. Spell. To throw out hints toward an end. Spelling. Hinting, using means to obtain. Spicketty. Speckled. " A spicketty hen." Spiff. Smart, dressy. " Looking spiff." Spiffy. Rather grand, spicy, stuck-up, showy. " A spiffy

old dear." Spinning- drone. The cockchafer. Spence. A cupboard under a stairs. Spit. To cut up the top soil with a shovel ; the top soil to

the depth of a shovel. Splat. A plot of ground. " The green splat." Splatty. Bespattered, spotted. Splitting along. Hurrying. Sprall. To fetter. Spraggly. An irregular pattern, an uneven design. " All

spraggly like." Sprawl. Energy. " Hardly sprawl to move along." Sprawls. A disease common to young ducks and chicken. Spray. To roughen, to chap. Sprayed. Chapped with the wind, roughened. Spronncy. Lively, jolly, excited.

GLOSSARY. 125

Sprouncing". Walking heavily, stamping.

Spud. A troublesome child.

Spuds. Potatoes.

Spur. A spell of work.

Spurt, Sput. Temper, rage. " In a spurt."

Sputter. To stammer with rage.

Squabba. Small pieces. " Scat all to squabba."

Squab-pie. A pie of apples, onions, meat, raisins, etc.

Squarde. To tear, to rend.

Squard. A rent or tear.

Squat. To eat immoderately.

Squinney. To squint, to turn the eyes, to look athwart.

Squinsey. The quinsey.

Squitches. Jerks, jumps. " She's got the squitches."

Stag. To stick in the mud, to be over shoes in the mud.

Stain, Stean. A coarse earthenware vessel.

Stank. To tread heavily ; to stamp.

Stank. A bad scrape or condition.

Stare. A starling,

Stary-gazy-pie, Gazy-pie. Pilchard-pie with the heads

of the fish showing through the crust. Stave. To thrust, to strike. Stave. To walk quickly, to hurry along. Staver. An energetic, go-abead person. Stayed, Staid. Aged. Steeve. A draught of wind. Steeve. To be chilled, to be nearly frozen. " Steeved

with the wind." Stem, A day's work.

126 GLOSSARY.

Steppons, Stippons. Stone steps.

Stew. A fuss, rage.

Stich in the side. A sharp sudden pain occasioned by

fast running or walking. StickingS, StrickingS. The last drops of a cow's milk. Stillwaters. Distilled peppermint water. (A favourite

remedy.) StiracOOSC A bustling woman. Stock. " Christmas stock." The yule log. Stounds. Sharp shooting pains. " Stounds in the head." Strake. To sweep lightly and carelessly ; to stray. Strake. An appliance for cleaning ore. Straking. Straying, wandering about. Stram. A loud noise. Stram. To run heedlessly ; to slam. Stramming. Exaggerated. "A stramming great lie;

a " stramming great bonnet." Strange. Queer, crazy. Strat. To abort.

Stroath. To walk quickly ; to hurry. Stroath. " A regular stroath for work." A quick worker. Stroil. Couch grass. Stroll. A confused mass of rubbish. Strollop. A slattern, an untidy person. Strop. A cord, a piece of string.

Strove. To argue obstinately. " He strove me down." Strub. To rob a bird's nest ; to glean apples after the

crop has been removed. St. Tibb's Eve. An imaginary time. "I'll do it St.

Tibb's Eve, neither before nor after Christmas.

GLOSSARY. 127

Stuan. A blow.

Stub. To dig up stumps or roots of trees, etc.

Stub. A stump.

Studdle. The stall-post for cattle.

Stuggy. Thick-set, short and stout.

Sturridge. Uproar, confusion.

Sturt, Start. Progress, gain.

Suant. Even, smooth ; to spread evenly.

Suchy-meat. A pudding made of small entrails, blood,

barley, etc. Sue. To go dry from milk. " The cow is gone to sue." Sumpmen. Men who work at sinking mine shafts. Sunbeam. The gossamer. Sure 'nough. Certainly, truly. Survey. An auction.

Swabstick. A mining implement for cleaning a hole, etc. Swaise. To wave or swing the hands. Swaising. Swinging the arms. Swap. The gadfly. Sweeled. Singed. " A sweeled cat." Swogger. To swagger, to boast ; a scolding. Swinging. Large, heavy.

T

Tabs. Dried cowdung used as manure. Table-board. A table. Tack, Tackle, To harness.

128 GLOSSARY

Tack. To slap or stroke with the open hand.

Taffle. To entangle.

Tags. Narcissi. (Mount.)

Tail-COrn. Small, withered grain.

Tail-pipe. To attach kettles or pans, etc., to an animal s

tail. See Prall. Take. Worry, fuss. " A pretty take." Taken on the ground hop. To be taken by surprise ;

at a disadvantage. Talfat. A garret, an open bedroom. Tamlin. A miner's tool. Tamping. Materials used to compress the explosive used

in blasting rock, etc. Tamping-iron. An implement, stick, etc. (should be of

hard wood or copper), used for ramming the tamping

into the holes drilled for blasting. Tang. An unpleasant taste. Tantrums. Anger, rage, ill-temper. Tap. To sole a boot or shoe ; the sole of a boot or shoe. Tarry. To struggle to get free. Tatchy. Teasy, irritable. Tatie-rattle. A stew. Team. To dip up.

Team. To lade from one vessel to another. Tear. A rage, fuss, storm. Teel. To plant, to till, to set. Teeled. Buried, planted. Teen. To light. Temper. Moisture in the soil.

GLOSSARY. 129

Tend. To wait on others; to supply.

Tender. A waiter.

Tender. Uncertain. — Applied to weather, as " the sky is

looking tender," i.e. unsettled. Tescan. A small bundle of corn gathered by reapers. Thicky-there. That one. The out of it. The end, the finish. Thoft. Thought. Thrashel. A flail. Thumbinds. Straw ropes used as leggings. So named

from being twisted and first coiled round the thumb. Thunder and lightning. Bread and cream and treacle. Thunder-planet. A thunder sky. Thurl. Thin, hollow, lean. Thurt-eyed. Cross-eyed. Tidden. Tender, sensitive. Tiddly-wink, Kiddly-wink. A beer-shop. Tiff. To drink from a bottle. Tiffed. Vexed, sullen. TiflingS. Short ends of cotton, or very small shreds left

from sewing ; separate fibres of cloth. Tied. A horse " boggled." Tigga, Tegga. To touch ; also a game. Tight. Drunk.

Timmersome. Fearful, nervous. Timbering-hill. The staircase. Tinged-up. Hung up, tied up. Tingler. A bell. Tinners. Miners. Titivate- To put in order, to smarten.

J

130 GLOSSARY.

Toad-in-the-hole. A piece of fat meat baked with a

crust round it. To and again. From time to time, off and on. Toit. Off-handed, proud, stiff. Tom -holla. A rowdy person. Tom-toddy. A tadpole. Tom-taylor. The " daddy-longlegs." Tongue. To scold, to abuse. Tongue -pad. A chatterbox. Toothpuller. A quack dentist. Top-dress. To manure on the surface of the land. Top-dressing. Surface manure.

Tor. Light turfy soil. "Tor" in Celtic Cornish is "a prominence," " the swell of a mountain," a mountain." Totalish. Silly, imbecile. Touble. A double-pointed pickaxe.

Touch-pipe. A short interval for rest in the midst of work. Towan. A sandy hillock or dune. Town, Townplace. A farmyard. Towse. Fuss, uproar. " Pop and towse." Towser. A coarse apron. Trade. Anything of not much account. (Often applied

to doctor's medicine.) Trapse. To walk.

Trapsing. Wandering about, gadding. Travish. To wander over, to walk aimlessly. (Corruption of traverse.)

Treag, Trig. Small shell-fish, such as limpets, peri- winkles, etc. "Trig" in Celtic Cornish is "ebbing of the sea."

GLOSSARY.

131

Troach. To hawk goods.

Troach. To tread under foot, to trample.

Troachers. Hawkers or pedlars.

Troll-foot. A club-foot, a foot turned inwards.

Troytown. Disorder, confusion.

Truff. Trout.

Trug. To jog along.

Trug. A hard worker. " A good trug."

Tub. A species of gurnard.

Tubban. A clod of earth, turf, etc.

Tucker. A lace frill or collar.

Tucking. An operation in seining, by which the net is

gradually drawn together. Tuck-net. The net used in tucking. Tummals. A quantity.— Often applied to the quantity

of straw in a crop of corn. " Good tummals," i.e.

a good crop of corn. Tunaggle. The fastener of a gate. Tuntree. The pole of an ox cart. Turmut. A turnip. Tut. A hassock, a footstool. Tut-WOrk. Piece-work. Twadden. It was not. Twick. A sharp pull or jerk, to snatch. Twingle. To wriggle, to squirm. Two-handed-fellow. A clumsy workman. Tye, Bed-tye. A feather bed. " Ty " in Celtic Cornish

" to cover," to roof," •' to thatch."

132 GLOSSARY.

U

Ugly. Cross, poor-tempered, wicked.

Uncle. A term used in addressing any old man — not necessarily a relative. (In common use in Cornwall and Spain.)

Unbeknown. Not known, not acquainted.

Underground Cappen. An overseer (captain) of the work being done underground in mines.

Underheed. Private, underhand.

Unream. To skim cream from milk.

Unrip. To rip.

Uprise. To church women.

U pseud. To spill, to upset.

Urge. To retch.

Uzzle. The " Adam's apple " in the throat ; the wind- pipe.

V

Vally. Value.

Varying. Sheet lightning ; St. Elmo's fire.

Vean. Little. " Cheel vean," i.e. " little child." (Often

used as a term of endearment.) Vear. Barren, unfruitful. Vear, Veer. A sucking pig, a young pig.

GLOSSARY. 133

Vermut. Vermin.

Veor. Great.

Vestry. The smiling of sleeping infants. " In the

vestries." Vinid. Green mould, mouldy. Visgey. A sort of pickaxe. Voidry. A work- or clothes-basket, a voider. Voore. A furrow made by a plough. Voyer. The head land round a field. Vllgg. Holes in a mineral vein in which valuable

specimens are often found. Vurden. A farthing.

W

Waiter. A tea tray.

Wallage. A bundle.

Want. A mole.

Want-hill A mole-hill.

WapS. The gadfly.

Warra. A pulley.

Warn. To warrant.

Way. Reason. " The way I called was to stop you."

WazygOOSC A printer's bean feast ; a contrivance for

frightening birds from fruit trees — a " whizabout." Ween. To chirp or cry plaintively. Wees. Small gentry, people of great pretensions and

little qualifications.

134 GLOSSARY.

Weggas. The bindweed.

Werraking. Swinging a thing clumsily.

Werratting. Annoying, teasing, worrying.

Wheal. A mine.

Whilk. A stye.

Wlliddles. Whims, fancies.

Whiff. To fish with lines towing after the boat.

Whirl. The hip joint.

Whistercilff. A blow, a box on the ear.

Whitear. The gristle in meat.

White witch. A fortune-teller, a quack ; also a poor- tempered person.

Whitneck. A stoat, a weasel. " Screech like a whitneck."

Whiz. To throw quickly ; a blow.

Whizabout. A whirligig.

Widdle. To wriggle, to squirm.

Widow- man. A widower.

Widow-woman. A widow.

Wiff. A cape.

Wiffle-headed. Thoughtless. "Our boy Bill, wiffle- headed and prodigal like, 'e would have two shirts."

Wildfire. The erysipelas (St. Anthony's fire). " Spread like wildfire."

Winding. Winnowing.

Windle. A windlass. " Windle of the pump."

Windspur. The roof at the gable of a house.

Windy. To winnow.

Winky-eye. A game played by hitting rotten eggs with a stick whilst blindfolded.

Winnard. Ihe redwing.

GLOSSARY. 135

Winnick. To cheat, to take in, to deceive.

Wisht. Melancholy, sad ; to look ill. (Probably derived

from the idea of " ill-wishing.") Wod. A blow. Woddle. A quantity of weak liquid ; the dashing of

water in a vessel. Wog". To walk with a heavy, rolling motion. Wonders. Frost bites, or stinging sensations caused by

cold in the fingers. Wbod-tin. Tin ore, strongly resembling wood. Wrinkle. The periwinkle.

Yaffer. Heifer.

Yaffle. A loose armful ; to pull about.

Yam. To eat greedily.

Yellow-janders. The jaundice.

Yewe. A farming implement, a dung fork.

Yuck. A yoke. — Formerly " breachy " pigs had frames of

wood, called yokes, fixed round their necks to prevent

their climbing fences.

136 GLOSSARY.

Zye. A scythe.

Zawn. A sea cavern. " Sawan " in Williams' Dictionary " a hole in the cliff through which the sea passeth ; " and " Sawarn " is " a smell." Sea caverns have often an offensive smell from decaying weed or other matter in them.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

COPIES

Baker, W. K., Towednack Bazeley, G. P., Penzance Beare, Mrs., Penzance ... Beare, J. H., Penzance... Bellows, John, Gloucester Bickford, Mrs. J., Camborne Bickford, J. Vivian, Camborne Bickford-Smith, W., Helston Blanchford, Miss L., Exeter... Burgess, Dr. C.Venning, Lond. Burrow, J. C, Camborne ...

Carbis, R., Longroch

Carter, Joseph J., Elizabeth

Penna, U.S.A.

Chandler, W., London

Clease, J., Bristol

Code, Mrs., The Rookery,

Marazion

Colenso, R., Penzance

Cornish, J. M., Penzance ...

Courtenay, Rt. Hon. Leonard,

London . . .

Cox, Rev. J. T., Middlesboro'

Craze, F., Lelant

Cunnack, R. J., Illogan

Dale, C. F., Penzance

Dale, W., Helston

COPIES.

Drew, S. K., Liverpool

Dunstan, J. P., St. Columb ... Edmonds, Mrs. M., Marazion

Endean, W., Falmouth

Enys, John D., Penryn

Eslick, Capt. Jos., Scorrier ... Field, Thos. W., Marazion ...

Fox, Robert, Falmouth

Freeman, James, GunwaXlot ...

Gartrell, Mrs., Paul

Gartrell, J. H., Penzance

Gilbart, James, Hayle

Gillard, S., St. Austell

Goldsworthy, W. S., London Hartley, Rev. J., Middlesboro' Hawken, Miss E., London Hellyar, R., St. Columb ... Hendy, Ira, Fremington... Hendy, John, Grantham Hendy, W. J., Trinidad Hendy, S., Gunivalloe ... Hicks, Thomas, St. Columb Hocken, Canon, Hayle Holman, N., St. Just Holman, F., Penzance Hosken, W., Hayle Jago, T. F., Marazion

138

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

COPIES. James, Miss A., Perranwell ... 1

James, J., Perranwell 1

James, J. Hermanan, Sivansea 1 Johns, H., Johannesburg ... 1

Johns, W. J., Marazion 1

Kirsop, Rev. J., Penzance ... 1 Laity, R. Cornish, Marazion... 3

Laity, H., Sennen 1

Lambrick, J. T., St. Martin ... 1 Lay land, Rev. J. J. H.,

Wednesbury Lean, Thomas, Marazion Lee, Mrs. C. J., London Lethby, J., Penzance

Lory, James, Cury

Lowry, H. D., London ... Luff, H. G., Devonport ... Luke, Rev. W., Marazion Manners, Capt. C, Grenadier

Guards Matthews, Miss, Mullion Matthews, J., London ... Matthews, W., London ... Matson, Miss S. A., Brentwood Millett, Mrs. J., London Millett, Fortescue W.,

Marazion Mitchell, E., Lelant Mitchell, F. W., Penzance Moore, J. G. D., Gram-pound

Road Morgan, J. R., St. Erth Mount-Edgcumbe, the Earl of, Mount-Edgcumbe ...

COPIES.

1

Nicholl, John, Redruth Nickell, George, Helland Newall, J. D. S., Penzance Opie, James, Penzance ... Parker, J., & Co., Oxford Pearce, G. B., Hayle Pearce, Vivian, Hayle ... Pengelly, J. W., Penzance Perry, W. T. L., Penzance .. Peter, Thurstan C, Redruth.. Phillips Bros., Marazion Polkinghorn, S. J., Truro .. Polwhele, T. R., Pohvhele

Truro

Preston, R. H., Penzance Rawling, J., Launceston Robinson, G. P. A., Penzance Rodda, J. S., Pendeen ... Rodda, W. H., San Francisco Rogers, M., Johannesburg Rundle, Rev. S., Helston St. Aubyn, Molesworth, Clowance St. Levan, the Lord,

St. Michael's Mount Saundry, Miss, Penzance Shapcote, C. A., Devonport Smales, W. C. Ludgvan Smith, J., Penzance Titley, John, Gloucester Thomas, Mrs. E., Mullion Thomas, George, Penzance Thomas, John, Midlion ... Thomas, Joseph, Mullion

LIST OP SUBSCRIBERS.

139

COPIES.

Thomas, R., Mullion 1

Thomas, W. Henry, London ... 6

Thomas, W. Hendy, Mullion 1

Thomas, W. Herbert, Penzance 1

Tonkin, Miss C, Mullion ... 1

Tonking, Richd. H ., Greenwich 1

Thorniey, Rev. J., Sheffield ... 1

Toy, H., Helston 2

Trebilcock, Mrs., Penzance ... 1

Tregelles, G. F., Barnstaple ... 2

Treglown, J., Marazion ... 1

Trevaskis, J., Penzance ... 2

Treweeke, F., Oxford 3

Trounson, E., Redruth 1

Trounson, T., Redruth 1

COPIES

Tucker, Edmund, St. Germans Uren, Charles H., Penzance Victor, H., Penzance Vinter, H. W., Truro ... Vivian, H. Phillips, Camborne Webster, A., & Co.. London White, W. T., Heamoor White, Miss, Rosecadghill Williams, Mrs., St. Just Williams, J., Marazion ... Williams, J. M., London Williams, Peter, Helston Willis, Edward, Devon-port ... 6 Wright, F. A., Penzance ... 1

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