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34  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Dess.  va.  To  build  or  pile  up,  as  applied  to  stacks,  &c. 

Old  Norse  des,  a  rick,  hey-des,  a  rick  of  hay,  Welsh  das,  Gael. 
dais,  heap,  rick,  stack. 

Deylt.    adj.    Moped,  dispirited,  impaired  in  mind. 

Old  Norse  duali,  Dan.  dvale,  a  trance,  state  of  torpidity,  Old 
Germ,  tw'elan,  to  be  torpid.  Hence  dwalm  or  dwam,  swoon, 
suspension  of  the  senses. 

Dibble,     vn.     To  plant  seed.     "  Sometimes  applied 

to  burying  a  corpse." — Dick.  "The  syllable  dib,  expressing 
the  act  of  striking  with  a  sharp  instrument,  is  a  modification  of 
Sco.  dab,  to  prick,  Bohem.  dubati,  to  peck,  Eng.  job,  to  thrust 
or  peck,  parallel  with  dag  or  dig,  to  strike  with  a  pointed  instru- 
ment."—  Wedg. 

Dike.  sb.  A  hedge.  Also  a  ditch,  but  rather  a  dry- 
ditch.  This  double  sense  occurs  also  in  the  Dut.  dijck,  both 
agger  and  fovea,  [Kit.),  and  in  the  Dan.  dige,  ditch  and  bank. 
So  also  Ang.-Sax.  die,  Suio-Goth.  dike,  ditch  and  bank.  This, 
observes  Ihre,  is  naturally  to  be  accounted  for,  as  the  same 
earth  which  is  taken  out  of  the  ditch,  serves  to  make  the  mound. 
The  root,  if  it  be  the  same  as  that  found  in  Sansc.  dih,  to  heap 
up,  would  seem  to  make  it  appear  that  the  original  sense  was 
that  of  the  bank  or  hedge. 

Dill.     va.     To  soothe. 

Old  Norse  dilla,  to  lull,  as  a  nurse  does  a  child. 
Ditt.     va.     To  stop  up. 

Ang.-Sax.  dyttan,  Old  Norse  ditto,,  to  close,  to  stop  up. 

Dobby.     sb.     A  hobgoblin. 

Perhaps,  by  transposition  of  consonants,  for  boddy.  Hence 
same  as  Sco.  boody%  from  Gael,  bodach,  spectre,  boggle.  The 
converse  transposition  appears  in  Yorks.  body,  a  simpleton 
(Ray) ,  probably  the  same  word  as  our  dobby.     See  dope. 

Dockin.     sb.     The  dock  (plant). 

So  hollin  for  holly,  ivin  for  ivy. 

Doddy.    sb.     A  cow  without  horns. 

"  Doddyd,  wythe-owte  hornysse." — Pr.  Prv.  Fris.  dodd,  a 
lump.  "  To  dod  is  to  reduce  to  a  lump,  to  cut  off  excrescences." 
—  Wedg. 

Dod.  sb.  The  name  of  many  round-topped  hills  in 
Cumb.  From  the  same  origin  as  above,  in  reference  to  their 
round,  lump-like  form, 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  35 

Doff.     va.     To  undress.     To  "  do  off." 

In  common  use  in  Early  Eng.     Dut.  afdoen,  to  put  off. 

Dog-daisy,    sb.    The  common  daisy. 

Dog,  in  the  names  of  plants,  signifies  worthlessness. 

Dog-pig.     sb.     A  castrated  boar. 

Welsh  diawg,  slow,  lazy,  dull  (di,  priv.,  and  awg,  keenness, 
desire).  Hence  of  similar  meaning  to  seg,  a  castrated  bull. 
Compare  the  Craven  simile — "As  lither  (lazy)  as  a  libbed 
bitch." 

Doldrums,     sb.     Low  spirits,  melancholy. 

Gael,  doltrum,  grief,  vexation. 

Don.    va.    To  dress,  to  put  on  any  article  of  clothing, 

to  "do  on,"  as  to  doff  is  to  "do  off."  "Do  on  clothys, 
induo." — Pr.  Prv. 

Donky.     adj.     Drizzly,  applied  to  the  weather. 

Swed.  ddnka,  Dial.  Dan.  dynke,  Germ,  dunken,  to  make  or  cause 
to  be  damp.  Dank  and  damp  are  synonymous,  ' '  as  syllables 
ending  in  mb  or  mp  frequently  interchange  with  ng  or  nk." — 
Wedg. 

Donnat.     sb.     The  devil.     Also  a  worthless  person. 

Dow  signifies  usefulness  or  virtue,  and  donnat  is  probably  dow- 
nought,  good  for  nothing,  as  Germ,  taugenichts,  Dan.  dogenigt, 
Dut.  deugniet,  a  good-for-nothing  person.  So  we  use  con- 
versely "  nought  at  dow." 

' '  For  dancin'  he  was  nought  at  dow, 

But  a  prime  han'  for  a  drinker." — Lonsdale. 

Dook.     va.  and  n.     To  bathe,  dive,  duck,  or  stoop. 

Dan.  dukke,  to  dive,  duck  under  water. 

Doose  or  Dowse,     va.     To  slap  with  the  hand. 

Gael,  duis,  the  hand,  whence  duiseal,  a  beating.  Comp.  also 
Vulg.  Germ,  dusel,  a  box  on  the  ear. 

Dope,  Dopy,  Dobby.    sb.    A  simpleton. 

Clev.  dove,  to  be  heavy  and  stupid.  Fris.  dobig,  simple,  half- 
witted, Suio-Goth.  dofwa,  to  have  the  senses  dulled  or  stupified, 
Old  Norse  dqfi,  torpidity,  Sansc.  div,  to  be  dull  or  sleepy. 

Dottle,      sb.      The   small   portion  of  tobacco  left 

unsmoked  in  the  pipe. — Dick.  "  Dotelle,  stoppynge  of  a 
vessele." — Pr.  Prv.  Dut.  dodde,  a  tap,  stopper,  plug,  Low 
Germ,  dutte,  Dial.  Dan.  dot,  a  stopper,  Ang.-Sax.  dyttan,  Old 
Norse  ditia,  to  stop,  close. 

E   2 


bs* 


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»»,    >  .  >   ■  •  i 
THE 


DIALECT  OF  CUMBERLAND 


With  a  Chapter  on   its  Place-Names, 


BY 


ROBERT  FERGUSON, 

// 


Author  of  The  Teutonic  Name-System,   River-Names  of 
Europe,  &c. 


LONDON  :  WILLIAMS  AND  NORGATE, 

14,  Henrietta  Street,  Covent  Garden  ;  and  24,  South 
Frederick  Street,  Edinburgh. 

CARLISLE  :   STEEL   BROTHERS. 


. «  t,v  . 


STEEL  BROTHERS,   PRINTERS,   CARLISLE. 


TO 

PHILIP   HENRY   HOWARD,    Esq.,   F.S.A., 

OF   CORBY   CASTLE,    CARLISLE, 
WITH   THE   HIGHEST   REGARDS  OF 

THE  AUTHOR. 


796354 


PREFACE. 


The  importance  of  our  local  dialects  as  a  collateral 
aid  in  the  study  of  the  English  tongue  needs  not  now 
to  be  asserted.  Without  reference  to  those  various 
forms  of  speech,  out  of  which  one  has  by  dint  of 
circumstances  become  crystalized  in  the  standard 
tongue,  the  language  can  no  more  be  clearly  illus- 
trated than  it  could  be  were  we  to  omit  to  compare 
it  with  the  cognate  languages  of  Europe. 

The  folk-speech  of  Cumberland  has — thanks  to 
the  patriotic  interest  which  her  sons  take  in  all  that 
belongs  to  her — had  a  more  ample  share  of  recognition 
than  generally  falls  to  the  lot  of  provincial  dialects. 
Its  humour  and  its  pathos,  its  "canniness" — quaintness 
with  a  touch  of  cynicism — have  been  ably  illustrated 
in  prose,  and  its  rhythmical  qualities  attested  in  verse, 
by  the  writers  whose  names  appear  on  the  subjoined 
list.  What  remains  to  be  done — and  towards  which  I 
now  offer  my  contribution — is  the  etymological  analysis 
of  its  constituents,  with  a  view  to  ascertain  the  position 


VI.  PREFACE. 

which  it  occupies  as  regards  the  standard  language, 
and  as  regards  the  other  dialects  of  Scotland  and 
Northern  England. 

The  most  complete  collection  of  Cumberland  words 
is  that  made  by  Mr.  Dickinson,  to  whom  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  rescue  from  that  oblivion  to  which 
advancing  education  and  the  spread  of  inter-communi- 
cation threaten  to  consign  all  provincial  dialects,  of  a 
number  of  words,  many  of  which  are  of  great  etymolo- 
gical interest.  That  the  list  is  not  by  any  means  yet 
complete,  the  extent  and  importance  of  the  supplement 
published  by  him  within  the  space  of  eight  years  goes 
a  long  way  to  suggest.  The  work  of  Mr.  Dickinson  I 
have  taken,  then,  as  the  basis  of  my  undertaking, 
adding  such  words  as  I  have  been  able  to  collect  from 
other  sources.  I  have  omitted  all  words  that  seem  to 
me  to  be  unimportant  variations  from  the  standard 
language,  or  that  do  not  call  for  any  etymological 
observation,  my  object  being  to  avoid  as  much  as 
may  be  interference  with  the  labours  of  others. 

The  most  thorough  investigation  which  has  as  yet 
been  made  of  any  northern  dialect  is  to  be  found  in 
the  work  lately  published  by  Mr.  Atkinson,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Philological  Society,  on  the  dialect  of 
Cleveland.      This  work,  which  it  may  be  said  for  the 


PREFACE.  Vll. 

first  time  on  a  complete  scale  exhibits  a  dialect  of  the 
north  as  illustrated  in  the  light  of  modern  philology,  I 
have  taken  as  the  more  especial  basis  of  comparison 
so  far  as  regards  the  dialects  of  northern  England ; 
and  the  great  work  of  Jamieson  for  comparison  with 
the  Scottish  dialect.  Among  the  other  works  to 
which  I  am  indebted,  Mr.  Wedgwood's  lately  pub- 
lished Dictionary  of  the  English  Language,  in  which 
for  the  first  time  the  provincial  dialects  find  their  due 
place,  has  afforded  me  the  most  important  assistance. 
Also  the  Icelandic  Dictionary,  now  in  course  of  publi- 
cation, which  was  begun  by  the  late  Mr.  Cleasby  and 
continued  by  the  learned  Icelander,  Mr.  Vigfusson, 
has  afforded  me  many  valuable  suggestions,  which, 
however,  in  several  cases  were  not  in  time  to  appear 
otherwise  than  as  after-notes. 

I  have  added  a  chapter  on  the  local  etymology 
of  the  district,  a  subject  very  closely  connected,  it  will 
be  seen,  with  the  speech  of  the  people,  and  for 
which  previous  investigations  have  to  some  extent 
prepared  me. 

ROBERT  FERGUSON. 

Morton,  Carlisle, 

February,  187J. 


CONTRACTIONS  AND   AUTHORITIES. 


Dick. 


West,  and 
Cumb.  Dial. 


Hutchinson. 
Hall. 
Jam. 
Wedg. 
Pr.  Prv. 


A  Glossary  of  the  Words  and  Phrases  of  Cumberland. 
By  William  Dickinson,  F.L.S. 

London  and  Whitehaven,  1859. 

Supplement.  1867. 

The  Westmorland  and  Cumberland  Dialects  ;  with  a 
Glossary.  London,  1839. 

Songs  and  Ballads  of  Cumberland.  Edited  by  Sydney 
Gibson.  London  and  Carlisle,  1846. 

Folk-speech,  Tales,  and  Rhymes  of  Cumberland  and 

Districts  Adjacent.     Ay  Alex.  Craig  Gibson,  F.S.A. 

London  and  Carlisle,  1849. 

Cummerland  Talk  ;  being  Short  Tales  and  Rhymes  in 
the  Dialect  of  that  County.     By  John  Richardson. 
London  and  Carlisle,  1871. 

The  History  of  the  County  of  Cumberland.  By 
William  Hutchinson,  F.S.A.  Carlisle,  1794. 

A  Dictionary  of  Archaic  and  Provincial  Words,  By 
J.  O.  Halliwell,  F.R.S.  London,  1850, 

Etymological  Dictionary  of  the  Scottish  Language. 
By  John  Jamieson,  D.D.  Edinburgh,  1808. 

A  Dictionary  of  English  Etymology.  By  H.  Wedg- 
wood, M.A.  London,  1867. 

Promptorium  Parvulorum  sive  Clericorum.  Diction- 
arius  Anglo-Latinus  Princeps.  Edited  by  Albert 
Way,  A.M.  London,  1864. 

A  Glossary  of  North-country  Words  in  Use.  By  John 
Trotter  Brockett.  Newcastle-on-Tyne,  1825. 

A  New  English  Dictionary.     By  J.  K.  (John  Kersey.) 

London,  1702. 


X. 


CONTRACTIONS    AND   AUTHORITIES. 


The  Dialect  of  Craven. 


A  Glossary  of  the  Cleveland  Dialect  ;  Explanatory, 
Derivative,  and  Critical.   By  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Atkinson. 

London,  1848. 

Glossary  of  the  Dialect  of  the  Hundred  of  Lonsdale 
North  and  South  of  the  Sands.  By  the  late  Robert 
B.  Peacock.     Edited  by  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Atkinson. 

London,  1869. 

By  a  Native  of  Craven. 

London,  1828. 

Popular  Names  of  British  Plants.     By  R.  C.  A.  Prior. 

London,  1863. 

Layamon's  Brut,  or  Chronicle  of  Britain.  Edited  by 
Sir  F.  Madden.  London,  1847. 

The  Vision  and  Creed  of  Piers  Ploughman.  Edited 
by  Thos.  Wright,  M.A.  London,  1856. 

The  Danes  and  Norwegians  in  England,  Scotland,  and 
Ireland.     By  J.  J.  A.  Worsaae.  London,  1852. 

Philological  Essays  of  R.  Garnett.  London,  1859. 

A  Dictionary  of  the  French  and  English  Tongues. 
By  Randle  Cotgrave.  London,  1632. 

An  Icelandic-English  Dictionary.  By  the  late  Richard 
Cleasby.  Enlarged  and  completed  by  Gudbrand 
Vigfusson.  Oxtord. 

Biorn  Haldorsen.     Icel.  Lex.  1814. 

Gloss.  Suio-Gothicum.    Joh.  Ihre.  Upsal,  1769. 

Ordbog  ofver  Svenska  Allmoge-spraket  af  Joh.  Ernst 
Rietz.  Lund.,  1868. 

Alt  Friesisches  Worterbuch  von  Dr.  Karl  F.  Von 
Richthofen.  Gottingen,  1840. 

Glossarium  der  Friessichen  Sprache  von  N.  Outzen. 

{Copenhagen,  1837. 

Etymologicum  Teutonicae  Linguae.     C.  Kilian. 

1777. 

Idioticon  Hamburgense  von  M.  Richey,  P.P. 

Hamburg,  1755. 

Holstein.         Holsteinisches  Idiotikon.    Schusze.      Hamburg,  i8co. 

Danneil  or      Bremisch-Niedersachisches  Worterbuch.     Danneil. 
Brem.  Wtb.  1768 


Atk.  or  Clev. 
Lonsd. 

Crav. 
Prior. 
Layamon. 
P.  PL 

Worsaae. 

Cotg. 
Cleasby. 

Hald. 
Ihre. 

Rietz. 

Richt. 

Outzen. 

Kil. 

Hamb.  Idiot. 
or  Richey. 


CONTRACTIONS   AND   AUTHORITIES. 


XI. 


Henneberg.      Hennebergisches  Idiotikon.     W.  F.  H.  Reinwald. 

Berlin  and  Stettin,  1793. 

Swiss.  Stalder.    Schweitzerisches  Idioticon.         Aarau,  18 12. 

Dictionary  of  the  Welsh  Language.     By  Wm.  Owen. 

London,  1803. 

Dictionary  of  the  Gaelic  Language.    By  the  Highland 
Society  of  Scotland. 

London  and  Edinburgh,  1828. 

Williams.       Lexicon  Cornu-Britannicum.  By  the  Rev.  R.  Williams, 
M.A.  London,  1865. 

A  Dictionary  of  Cornish  Names.     By  the  Rev.  John 
Bannister,  L.L.D.,  Vicar  of  St.  Day. 

London,  1872. 
Transactions  of  the  Philological  Society : 

Dr.  Guest — vol.  ii.,  p.  155  ;  vol.  v.,  pp.  169,  185. 
A.  Gurney — vol.  vii.,  p.  29. 
Rev.  J.  Davies — vol.  vii.,  p.  210. 

Eichhoff.         Parrallele  des  Langues  de  X  Europe  et  de  L'  Inde. 


Eichhoff. 

Paris,  183! 

Bav. 

Bavarian. 

Boh. 

Bohemian. 

Dan. 

Danish. 

Dial.  Dan. 

Provincial  Danish. 

Dut. 

Dutch. 

Fin. 

Finnish. 

Fris. 

Frisian. 

N.  Fris. 

North  Frisian. 

Fr. 

French. 

Pr.  Fr. 

Provincial  French. 

Gael. 

Gaelic. 

Obs.  Gael. 

Obsolete  Gaelic. 

Ir. 

Irish. 

Ital. 

Italian. 

Norw. 

Norwegian. 

North. 

Northumberland. 

Prov. 

Provencal. 

Pres. 

Preseent. 

Pret. 

Preterite. 

Priv. 

Privative. 

Sco. 

Scotch. 

CONTENTS. 


Glossary      1-175 

Additions  and  Corrections       177-188 

Obsolete   and   other    Terms   found  in 

Names  of  Places       189-213 

General  Observations     214-230 


ERRATA. 


P.   26.  For  Germ,  haufen  read  kaufen. 
50.  For  Dan.  gfen-vei  read  gjen-vei. 

For  gammarel  read  gommarel. 
116.  For  Dan.  scaldet  read  skaldet. 
126.  For  Crav.  ;/«/«  read  j/^/«. 
164.  For  splendid  read  splendit. 


GLOSSARY 

OF  THE 

CUMBERLAND  DIALECT. 


A. 

Aamas.     sb.     Alms,   "in  former  times  a  handful  of 

oatmeal  or  a  slice  of  brown  bread." — Dick.  Ang.-Sax.  celmesse, 
Dan.  almisse. 

Aback,    prep.     Behind. 

Ang  -Sax.  onbcec,  Old  Norse  dbak,  (a=on).  Old  Norse  a  f  alia 
baki,  behind  the  mountains,  or  as  we  should  say,  aback  d  the  fells. 

Aback-o'-beyont.     At  an  indefinitely  great  distance. 

Euphony  seems  to  have  been  the  eause  of  the  retention  of  beyont 
in  this  case,  the  usual  Cumb.  word  being  ayont,  which,  as  else- 
where noted,  (see  afore),  may  be  due  to  Scand.  influence. 

Able  or  Yable.     adj.     Generally,  if  not  invariably, 

used  in  the  sense  of  property,  an  "able  man,"  signifying  a  man 
in  good  circumstances.  So  the  Old  Norse  afia  denotes  both  to 
be  able  and  to  possess  or  acquire,  while  "in  the  Mod.  Scand. 
idioms  there  are  no  traces  left  of  the  idea  of  force." — Cleasby. 
In  the  present  dialect  of  Norway  avle  signifies  to  harvest. 

A  boon,  Abuin.    prep.     Above. 

Ang.-Sax  abufan,  whence  by  sync,  aboon. 

Abreed.     vn.     To  spread  or  extend. 

Ang.-Sax.  abredan,  to  draw  out. 

Ack.     vn.     To  take  thought  about,  to  lay  to  heart. 

"  Neer  ack — there's  nae  hard  laws  in  England 
Except  this  bit  thing  aboot  game." — Miss  Blamire. 
Old   Norse  akta,   Ang.-Sax.   eahtian,   to   consider,    meditate, 
Germ. ,  Dut.  achten ,  to  mind,  care  for. 

Addle,     va.     To  earn. 

Old  Norse  odlaz,  to  obtain,  acquire,  Ang.-Sax.  edleanian,  to 
requite. 

B 


2  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Adlins.     sb.     Earnings. 

Ang.-Sax.  eedlean,  recompense. 

Afore,     adv.     Before. 

The  Ang.-Sax.  has  both  the  prepositions  be  and  on,  while  the 
Scandinavian  idiom  has  only  the  latter.  Hence  the  use  in  our 
dialect  of  a  (Old  Norse  d=on)  instead  of  be — as  in  afore,  ahint, 
atween,  ayont,  instead  of  before,  behind,  between,  beyond,  may,  as 
suggested  by  Cleasby,  be  due  to  Scand.  influence. 

Again  or  Agean.    prep.     Against. 

Ang.-Sax.  ongean,  against. 

Agate  or  Ageat.     Literally  on  the  road  (Old  Norse 

gata,  road  or  way) ,  but  used  in  the  general  sense  of  being  astir, 
going  about. 

Aglee.    adv.     To  look  aglee  is  to  look  to  one  side  or 

askance. 

"  Sae  fine  she  goes,  sae  far  aglee, 
That  folks  she  kenned  she  cannot  see." — Miss  Blamire. 
Clev.  gleg,  to  cast  side-looks,  glance  furtively. 
Atk.  refers  to  Old  Norse  gluggr,  Dial.  Swed.  glugg,  opening, 
window,  eye,  Dial.  Swed.  titta  uuner  glugg,  to  look  askance. 

Aglet,    sb.    The  metal  point  at  the  end  of  a  boot-lace. 

Fr.  aiguillet,  a  dimin.  of  aiguille,  a  needle.  {Aiguille  is  pro- 
perly a  point  on  the  end  of  a  lace  for  drawing  it  through  the 
holes).     Hence  eylet  or  ay  let-hole,  properly  aglet-hole. 

Ahint.     adv.     Behind.     See  afore, 

This  word  in  Cumb.,  as  noted  by  Atk.  of  Clev.,  has  the  i  short 
as  in  Germ,  hint  en. 

Aird,  Ard.  adj.  Applied  to  land  in  its  primary- 
signification  seems  to  mean  high,  Gael,  and  Ir.  ard,  high, 
cognate  with  Lat.  arduus,  Sansc.  cerd,  to  elevate.  In  a  secon- 
dary sense,  dry  or  parched,  "  such  lands  being  dry  or  parched 
only  because  they  lie  high." — Boucher.  "I  never  heard  the 
term  in  Cumb."— Dick. 

Ajye  or  Agee.     Crooked,  awry. 

Gee  is  to  move,  turn  round,  Swed.  gaa,  to  turn,  hence  agee, 
(tZ=on)  is  awry. 

Allan,     sb.     A  piece  of  land  nearly  surrounded  by 

water.  Apparently  the  same  word  as  island,  from  Ang.-Sax. 
edge,  edh,  eye.  Unless  we  can  think  of  Welsh  elin,  angle,  elbow, 
in  the  sense  of  a  piece  of  land  surrounded  on  two  sides  by  water. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  3 

Aloddin.     Not  engaged,  open  to  an  offer. 

From  a  negative,  and  Old  Norse  lada,  Ang.-Sax.  Idtkian,  to 
invite,  send  for. 

Amell.    prep.     Between  or  among. 

Old  Norse  dmilli,  Dan.  (South  Jutland)  amelle.  Nearly,  if  not 
quite  obsolete  in  Cumb. 

Amell-door  or  Mell-door.     sb.     A  door  between 

the  outer  door  and  that  of  an  inner  room.     See  amell. 

Anenst.    prep.     Opposite  to,  over  against. 

Wedgwood  refers  to  Old  Norse  giegnt,  opposite,  which  view  is 
rather  strengthened  by  one  of  the  Scotch  forms  anent. 

Ancome  or  Income,     sb.     More  properly  oncome.     A 

swelling  or  sore  not  arising  from  any  external  cause,  something 
which  "comes  on"  of  itself.  Old  Norse  dkoma,  (d=on)  ren- 
dered by  Haldorsen  vulnusculum,  by  Cleasby  a  hurt  from  a 
blow  and  also  an  eruption  on  the  skin. 

Ang-nail.     sb.     A  nail  grown  into  the  flesh.      Also 

jags  round  the  nail.  Ang.-Sax.  ang-ncsgl,  a  whitlow,  a  sore 
under  the  nail,  literally  any  sore  connected  with  the  nail.  The 
root-meaning  of  ang  is  pressure  or  contraction,  whence  the 
derived  meaning  of  suffering,  as  in  Welsh  angen,  need,  want, 
Lat.  angor,  Ang.-Sax.  ang,  Eng.  anguish,  &c. 

Angleberries.    sb.    Excrescences  on  the  under  parts 

of  cattle.  I  presume  from  the  same  origin  as  the  above  ang- 
nail,  in  the  sense  of  pain  or  disease* 

Angry,    adj.    Painful  or  inflamed,  (applied  to  a  wound 

or  sore).  Old  Norse  angr,  Swed.  anger,  sorrow,  pain,  Ang.- 
Sax.  ang,  pain,  trouble.  The  Eng.  anger  was  formerly  used  in 
the  sense  of  sorrow,  trouble,  anguish. 

Angs  or  Awns.     sb.     The  beards  of  barley  or  other 

grain.     Suio-Goth.  agn,  Dan.  avn,  Old  High  Germ,  agana. 

Anonder  or  Inonder.    prep.     Beneath,  under. 

Properly  onunder,  being  formed  like  the  Ang.-Sax.  onuppan, 
above,  by  the  redundant  addition  of  on  to  under.  Comp. 
Germ,  hinunter. 

Anter.     conj.     In  case,  perhaps. 

"Auntyr  or  Hap." — Pr.  Prv.  A  contraction  of  adventure,  or 
rather  of  Fr.  aventure,  which  occurs  in  Chaucer  in  the  form 
auntre.  Hence  the  Scripture  peradventure.  ' '  The  Aunters 
(Adventures)  of  Arthur  at  Tarn  Wathelctn"  is  the  title  of  an  old 
Eng.  romance. 

B   2 


4  GLOSSARY   OF  THE 

Argy.     vn.     To  argue,  dispute. 

Might  be  taken  to  be  nothing  more  than  a  corruption  of  Eng, 
argue.  It  may,  however,  as  Jam.  suggests,  be  from  the  Suio- 
Goth.  jerga,  semper  eadem  obgannire,  ut  solent  amiculae  iratas, 
cognate  with  Lat  jurgo,  Sansc.  jharc,  to  squabble.  Westm. 
arg.  to  argue,  Sussex  arg,  to  grumble,  seem  rather  to  favour 
this  suggestion. 

Ark  or  Airk.    sb.    A  chest,  applied  more  particularly 

to  the  large  chests  used  in  farm-houses  for  keeping  flour  or 
meal.  Ang.-Sax.  earc,  a  chest,  Old  Norse  ork,  Dial.  Swed. 
ork,  a  chest  for  meal ;  Welsh  arch,  Gael,  aire,  chest,  cognate 
with  Lat.  area,  Sansc.  ark,  Wei.  argau,  to  enclose. 

Arr.     sb.     A  scar,  mark  of  a  wound. 

Old  Norse  orr,  Dan.  ar,  Fris.  aar. 

Art  or  Airt.     sb.     Quarter  of  the  heaven,  direction 

or  point  of  the  compass. 

"Of  all  the  airts  the  wind  can  blow."— Burns. 
Gael,  aird,  quarter  of  the  heavens,  Old  Norse  dtt,  Germ,  ort, 
place,  region.     Diefenbach  suggests  a  possible  connection  with 
Goth,  airtha,  Ang.-Sax.  eorthe,  Eng.  earth. 

Arvel.     sb.     A  funeral  feast. 

Suio-Goth.  arfol,  literally  "inheritance  ale,"  from  the  ale  drunk 
on  those  occasions.  The  usage  in  Scandinavia  was  that  no  heir 
could  take  possession  of  his  inheritance  until  he  had  given  the 
arval-feast.  Arf  originally  meant  cattle,  and  was  then  applied 
to  property  in  general. 

Aside,    prep.     See  afore. 

Ask.     sb.     The  newt  or  water-lizard. 

Gael.  asc.  adder,  Gr.  ex's  viper.  But  perhaps  rather  (ask=ax) 
a  contraction  of  Ang.-Sax.  athexe,  newt. 

At.     conj.     That. 

"  There's  nit  mickle  on  her —we  ken  at  guid  stuff 
Laps  up  i'  lal  bundles,  an'  she's  lal  eneugh." — Gibson. 
Old  Norse  at,  Dan.  at. 

At.     rel.  pron.     That,  which. 

"  Ilk  lad  now  hugs  the  lass  he  leykes, 
Wheyle  some  hev  half  a  dozen, 
Unless  some  wreen  ill-natured  tykes, 
At  car'nt  if  th'  lasses  wizzen." — Stagg. 
Old  Norse  at,  qui,  who. 

At.    prep.     To.      "Ah  can  dui  nought  mair  at  it." 
Old  Norse  at,  Ang.-Sax.  cet,  at,  to. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  5 

At.     To,  as  the  sign  of  the  infinitive. 

"Aw  wad  leyke  at  gan  to  Carel."  '*  Nearly  obsolete  now,  but 
common  in  the  eighteenth  century." — Dick.  Old  Norse  at,  sign 
of  the  infinitive, 

Attercop.     sb.     A  spider's  web.     Properly  the  insect 

itself.     Ang.-Sax.  attercoppa,  literally  "poison-bag." 

Aumry.     sb.     A  cupboard  where   victuals,    &c,   are 

kept,  Fr.  armoire,  a  cupboard,  properly  a  place  where  arms 
are  kept,  Lat.  armarium  (Diez). 

Awe  or  Owe.     va.     To  own,  possess. 

The  older  form  on  which  own  is  formed,  and  which  was  in  use 
till  the  time  of  Elizabeth.  Sansc.  ic,  Gr.  e%&>,  Goth,  aihan, 
Ang.-Sax.  agan,  to  own.  As  in  Clev.,  most  commonly  used  in 
the  phrase  "  whee's  awe  this?"  Atk.,  quoting  similar  instances 
in  Old  Eng.  use,  takes  this  to  be  "who  shall  awe  (or  own)  this?' 

Ax.     va.     To  ask. 

Ang.-Sax,  acsian,  axian. 

Axle-teeth,     sb.     The  grinders. 

Old  Norse  jaxlar,  dentes  molares. 

Aylet  or  Eylet-hole.     A  lacing  hole  in  a  pair  of 

stays,  &c.     Properly  aglet-hole.     See  aglet. 

Ayont.    prep.     Beyond.     See  afore. 

B. 

Back-board  or  Back-bword.    sb.     A  baking  board. 

Dan,  bagebord. 

Badger,      sb.     A  travelling   dealer  in   grain,   meal, 

butter,  &c.  Wedgwood  makes  badger  a  corruption  of  Fr. 
bladier,  one  who  carries  about  corn  for  sale  on  mule-back. 

Bag.     sb.     The  belly.     Also  the  udder  of  the  cow. 

Gael.  balg.  bag,  belly,  Ang.-Sax.  bcslg.  bag,  wallet,  Old  Norse 
belgr,  inflated  skin,  leather  sack,  belly.  The  tendency  of  the 
dialect  to  drop  the  /  in  such  cases,  makes  balg  into  bag,  as  balk 
into  bawk. 

Baggin.      sb.      Provisions   taken   into   the   field   for 

labourers.  Either  from  the  bag  in  which  the  provisions  are 
carried,  or  perhaps  more  probably  from  the  bag  (see  last  word) 
in  which  they  are  to  be  received. 


6  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

Bain.      adj.      Near,  convenient,  applied  to  a  road; 

willing,  handy,  applied  to  a  person.  Old  Norse  beinn,  direct, 
straight,  Swed.  ban,  a  good  or  even  road.  Old  Norse  beinstr 
vegr,  Cumb.  bainest  way.  As  in  Scandinavia,  where  neighbours 
are  sparse,  the  metaphorical  meaning  of  hospitable  grew  up  as 
applied  to  a  person,  so  in  our  district  that  of  willing  or  obliging. 

Bairn,     sb.     A  child. 

Anglo-Sax.  beam,  Old  Norse  barn.  This  word,  originally 
common  to  all  the  Teutonic  idioms,  was  superseded  by  kind  in 
Germany  as  early  as  the  13th  cent.,  and  by  child  also  at  an 
early  period  in  Southern  England.  It  is  still  in  exclusive  use 
throughout  the  whole  of  Scandinavia,  as  also  throughout  Scot- 
land and  Northern  England. 

Balk,  pron.  Bawk.     sb.     A  beam.     Also  a  ridge   of 

land  between  two  furrows.  The  Ang.-Sax.  balca  has  both  these 
two  meanings.  The  Old  Norse  has  two  separate  words,  bialki, 
a  beam,  and  balkr,  a  partition.  Suio-Goth.  balk,  a  ridge 
between  two  furrows.  In  the  sense  of  a  beam,  the  word  is  also 
found  in  the  Welsh,  and  Gael.  bale. 

Bam.     sb.     A  falsehood,  trick,  deceit. 

Arm.  bamein,  to  cheat. 

Bandylow  or  Bandylan.     sb.     A  woman  of  dissolute 

character,  a  prostitute.  Perhaps  from  Gael,  ban,  woman,  and 
diol,  hire,  recompense,  as  Eng.  whore,  Ang.-Sax.  hura,  from 
A.-S.  hyran,  Eng.  hire,  and  Lat.  meretrix,  from  mereor.  Unless 
we  may  think  for  the  latter  part  of  the  word  of  Wei,  dielw,  vile, 
worthless. 

Bang.     va.     To  beat.     Also  to  excell,  surpass. 

Old  Norse  banga,  to  beat,  bang,  a  hammering. 

Bannock,     sb.     Thick  oat-cake,  usually  made  for  the 

harvest  home  or  kern  supper.  Gael,  bannach,  a  cake,  bannag, 
a  cake  made  for  Christmas. 

Bargh.     sb.     A  hill. 

Old  Norse  biarg,  berg,  Ang.-Sax.  beorg,  Germ,  berg,  mountain, 
hill. 
Barley,    va.    To  bespeak,  generally  used  by  children 

at  play.  "  Barley  me  that,"  is  a  form  of  putting  in  first  claim 
to  anything.  Peacock  refers  to  Manx  barelhian,  I  had  rather, 
but  I  doubt  whether  the  ordinary  derivation  from  parley,  Fr. 
parler,  is  not  to  be  preferred. 

Barm.     sb.     Yeast. 

Ang.-Sax.  beorma,  Old  Swed.  berma,  Dan.  besrme,  Dut.  barm. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  7 

Bash.     va.     To  strike  hard,  work  vigorously. 

Clev.  fash.  Dan.  baske,  to  beat,  cudgel,  Swiss  batscken,  to 
strike  with  the  hand. 

Bask.     adj.     Sharply  acid. 

Old  Norse  beiskr,  Swed.  besk,  bitter,  acrid,  Fris.  basch  and 
barsch,  Germ,  barsch,  harsh,  sharp,  tart. 

Bass.     sb.     The  perch. 

"  Bace,  fysche." — Pr.  Prv.  Barsh,  perch,  Westm.  Base,  the 
sea  perch,  Hamp.  Ang.-Sax.  beers,  Dut.  baars,  Germ,  bars, 
barsch.  This  is  the  old  Teutonic  word,  which  has  been  super- 
seded in  English  by  the  French  perche. 

Bass.   sb.    Matting,  "originally,  no  doubt,  confined  to 

that  made  of  the  inner  bark  of  the  linden  tree,  but  now  inclusive 
of  other  materials,  as  straw,  large  rushes,  &c." — Atkinson. 
Ang.-Sax.  bcest,  Old  Norse  bast,  the  inner  part  of  the  lime  tree. 
Dan.  bast  maatte,  bass  matting.  The  root,  like  that  of  baste,  to 
sew  loosely,  is  probably  found  in  Sansc.  bandh,  to  bind. 

Baste,     va.     To  beat. 

Old  Norse  beysta,  to  beat,  belabour. 

Baste,     va.     To  sew  loosely,  with  large  stitches. 

"  Bastyn  clothys,  subsuo." — Pr.  Prv.  Old  Norse  basta,  to 
bind  into  a  parcel,  Dut.  besten,  leviter  consuere,  {Kil.),  Pers. 
basta,  to  bind,  from  the  Sans,  bandh,  to  bind. 

Bat.     sb.     A  blow,  stroke. 

Gael,  bat,  to  beat,  Ir.  batta,  blow,  Old  Swed.  bcedda,  to  strike, 
North  Fris.  bat,  to  beat,  Ang.-Sax,  bat,  club. 

Batten,     sb.     A  bundle  or  truss  of  straw. 

"  I  connect  this  word  immediately  with  batt,  the  pret.  of  Old 
Norse  binda,  to  bind.  Comp.  N.  D.  band,  a.  bundle,  Norw. 
binda,  forming  its  pret.  in  bant  or  band." — Atk. 

Batten,     vn.     To  thrive. 

Old  Norse  batna,  to  get  better,  Goth,  gabatnan,  to  thrive. 

Batter,     sb.     Dirt  or  mud. 

Sco.  batter,  paste,  something  adhesive.  Wei.  baw,  mud,  bawedi, 
nastiness,  budro,  to  dirty. 

Baze.     va.     To  lift  or  prize  with  a  lever.     See  paze. 

Beadless.    adj.     Impatient  under  suffering. 

Old  Norse  bid,  endurance,  patience,  with  the  priv.  term.  less. 


8  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Beck.     sb.     The  general  word  throughout  the  North 

of  England  for  a  small  stream,  as  brook  in  S.  Eng. ,  and  burn 
in  Scot.  Old  Norse  beckr,  Dan.  bcek,  Ang.-Sax.  becc,  Germ. 
bach. 

Beek.     vn.     To  bask  by  the  fire.     Also  to  heat  hazel 

or  other  rods  to  make  them  bend.  Old  Norse  baka,  Ang.-Sax. 
bacan,  to  heat,  bake,  Eng.  bask  and  bake,  of  which  the  Cumb. 
word  is  only  another  form. 

Beel.     vn.     To  bellow. 

Old  Norse  beljia,  Ang.-Sax.  bellan,  to  bellow. 

Beestins.     sb.      The  first  milk  from  a  newly-calved 

cow.     Ang.-Sax.  byst,  bysting,  of  same  meaning. 

Beet.     va.     To  beet  the  fire  or  oven  is  to  supply  fuel 

to  it.  Ang.-Sax.  betan  fyr,  Old  Norse  bceta  elld,  to  mend  or 
kindle  a  fire. 

"  Beet  on  the  eldin." — Stagg. 

Belk.     vn.     To  belch. 

Ang.-Sax.  bealcian. 

Belly-ryne  or  Belly-rim.  sb.  The  membrane  in- 
closing the  intestines.  The  latter  is  the  correct  form,  from 
Ang.-Sax.  reama,  membrane. 

Benk  or  Bink.     sb.     A  low  shelf  or  ledge  of  rocks. 

Welsh  banciau,  table,  platform,  Corn,  bene,  bench,  Ang.-Sax. 
bene,  Old  Norse,  bekkr,  bench. 

Bensel.     va.     To  beat.     Also  as  a  noun,  a  bounce, 

a  sudden  bang.  A  frequentative  of  bounce,  of  which  the  original 
meaning  was  to  strike.     Dut.  bonzen,  Swiss  bantschen,  to  beat. 

Bent.     adj.     Bleak. 

Welsh  ban,  bant,  high,  Gael,  ban,  bleak,  barren.  Hence  bent- 
grass,  the  coarse  grass  that  grows  on  moor  land. 

Benwort.     sb.     The  daisy.     Bellis  fierennis. 

The  plant  generally  known  by  the  name  of  banewort  is  the 
ranunculus fiammula,  "from  its  baning  sheep  by  ulcerating 
their  entrails"  {Prior.)  Ang.-Sax.  banwyrt  {ban,  wound,  hurt, 
and  wyrt,  plant)  was  applied  both  to  the  violet  and  the  centau 
rea  minor.    In  the  names  of  plants  there  is  often  much  confusion. 

Berry,    va.    To  thrash  corn. 

Old  Norse  beria,  to  beat,  beria  korny  to  thrash  corn* 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  9 

Bet.     vb.     pret.  of  beat. 

The  Southerner  makes  no  distinction  between  beat  as  the  pres. 
and  beat  as  the  pret.  while  the  Northerner  forms  the  pret.  as 
met  from  meet.  Hence  this,  among  the  better  educated  classes, 
is  one  of  the  distinguishing  marks  of  a  Northern  origin. 

Bicker,    sb.   "A  small  wooden  vessel  used  for  porridge, 

&c." — Dick.  Stagg  uses  it  in  the  more  generally  received  sense 
of  a  drinking  glass.  Old  Norse  bikar,  Germ,  becher,  a  large 
drinking  glass. 

Bid.     va.     To  invite. 

Ang.-Sax.  beodan,  Old  Norse  biSda,  (pres.  bid),  Dan.  byde,  to 
invite. 

Bide.     vn.     To  await,  stay.     Also  to  dwell,  abide. 

Old  Norse  blda,  Old  Swed.  bida,  Ang.-Sax.  bidan,  abidan,  to 
wait,  stay,  abide. 

Bield.    sb.    A  place  of  shelter,  hut,  hovel,  a  fox's  den. 

Old  Norse  byli,  a  dwelling.  In  Iceland  a  den,  a  lair.  The  final 
d,  (as  in  build,  formerly  bylle) ,  is  a  phonetic  addition. 

Big.     va..     To  build. 

Ang.-Sax.  byggan,  Old  Norse  byggia.  Hence  the  term,  by, 
(=  big),  of  Danish  origin,  in  names  of  places,  as  Crosby, 
Aglionby,  &c. 

Biggle.     va.     To  blindfold,  biggly,  blind  man's  buff. 

"  When  the  boy  is  blindfolded,  another  turns  him  gently  round 
to  confuse  his  ideas  of  locality." — Dick.  Hence  may  be  the 
word,  viz.,  from  Dut.  biegen,  Old  Norse  beygja,  to  turn,  to  bend, 
Suio-Goth.  bygel,  a  turning.  Or  it  may  be  the  same  as  beguile, 
Low  Germ,  begigelen,  properly  to  deceive  by  juggling  tricks, 
from  gig,  expressing  rapid  motion,  the  idea  in  either  case  being 
that  of  confusing  the  person. 

Billy,     sb..     Brother,  comrade. 

Old  Eng.  bully.  Jamieson's  derivation  from  billig,  aequalis,  is 
erroneous.  The  connections  of  the  word  are  with  Mid.  High 
Germ,  buole,  friend,  brother,  consort,  Dut.  boelen,  to  love. 

BiR  or  Bur.     sb.     A  sudden  and  rapid  movement,  as 
that  of  a  missile  through  the  air.      The  same,  I  apprehend,  a 
bree,  which  we  have  also  in  a  similar  sense.     Perhaps  to  be  con- 
nected with  Welsh  bur,  violence,  rage,  bwrw,  to  throw,  cast. 

Bisen  or  Bizzen.     sb.     A  spectacle  or  sight  in  the 

sense  of  warning,  an  example  to  be  avoided.  Old  Norse  bysnt 
a  strange  and  portentous  thing,  Ang.-Sax.  bisn,  example. 


IO  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Bitter-bump.    sb.     The  bittern. 

Apparently  a  combination  of  two  different  names  for  the  bird, 
one  of  which  appears  to  be  Celtic,  and  the  other  Norman-French. 
The  Old  Eng.  word  was  bitour,  from  the  Fr.  butor,  The  Welsh 
names  are  bwn  and  bwmp  y  govs,  from  bwmp,  a  booming.  As 
in  Lonsd.  the  bittern  is  called  simply  the  bump,  it  seems  pro- 
bable that  the  Welsh  term  generally  used  was  simply  bwmp. 
Hence  by  the  combination  of  these  two  different  words  would 

Come  BITTER-BUMP. 

Bladder   or   Blather,      sb.     Foolish  or  idle  talk. 

Suio-Goth.  bladdra,  to  prate,  to  chatter. 

Blain.    vn.     To  become  white,  to  bleach. 

Old  Norse  bleikna,  Dan.  blegne,  to  become  white. 

Blake,     adj.     Pale  yellow. 

Ang.-Sax.  bide,  Old  Norse  bleikr,  Germ,  bleich,  pale,  fair.  The 
O.  N,  bleikr  was  variously  applied  to  the  colour  of  gold,  to  that 
of  a  field  of  ripe  barley,  and  to  the  light  hair  of  a  baby. — 
Cleasby. 

Blare,     vn.     To  roar  or  bellow. 

Dut.  blaaien,  mugire,  Fris.  blarren,  to  yell,  howl.  Wedg., 
comparing  Suio-Goth.  bladdra,  takes  blaaren  to  be  a  cont.  of 
bladeren,  which  seems  probable.  Such  contractions  are  especially 
common  in  Friesic. 

Blash.     vn.     To  splash. 

Old  Swed.  plaska,  to  splash. 

Blate.     adj.     Bashful,  shy. 

Old  Norse  blaudr,  bashful,  properly  soft  or  effeminate,  Ang.- 
Sax.  bledth,  soft,  gentle. 

Bleaberry.     sb.     The  bilberry  or  whortleberry,  vac- 

cinium  myrtillus.     Old  Norse  bldber. 

Bleary,     adj.     Windy  and  showery. 

Clev.  blear,  to  expose  oneself  to  the  wind.  Old  Norse  bltsr,  a 
puff  of  wind,  draft  of  air. 

Bleb.     sb.     A  bubble. 

Gael,  plab,  a  soft  noise,  as  of  a  body  falling  into  water.  The 
word  is  employed,  first  to  signify  ' '  the  sound  of  something  wet 
or  soft  falling  against  anything,  and  hence  to  designate  the 
object  making  such  a  sound,  a  lump  of  anything  wet  or  soft, 
drop  of  liquid,  bubble,  &c." — Wedg. 

Blenk,  Bunk.    sb.     A  gleam,  as  of  sunshine. 

Old  Norse  blik,  gleam,  Germ.  Hick,  Dan.  blink,  glimpse,  Dut. 
blinken,  to  shine. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  II 

Blittert.     adj.     Torn  by  winds. 

Germ,  bldttern,  to  come  off  in  blisters. 

Blow,  Blown,  Blue.     adj.    Applied  to  milk  that  has 

had  the  cream  skimmed  off.  Fris.  bio,  blue,  similarly  applied 
to  milk,  Ang.-Sax.  blcfrwen,  light  blue. 

Boggle,    sb.    A  goblin  or  spectre. 

Welsh  bwg,  bwgwl. 

Boggle,    vn.    To  shy  or  swerve,  as  a  horse. 

Perhaps  a  frequentative  from  bow  ox  bog,  used  in  Old  Eng.  in 
the  sense  of  bending  one's  steps — 

"  Heo  bugen  ut  of  France, 
Into  Burguine." — Layamon. 
From  this  form  bow  or  bog,  (Ang.-Sax.  beogan,  bugan,  to  bend,) 
would  be  formed  the  frequent,  boggle,  conveying  the  idea  of 
imperfectly  or  partly  turning. 

Bolder  or  Bowder.    sb.    A  large  stone  rounded  by 

the  action  of  water.  Old  Norse  bylta,  to  roll  over  and  over, 
bollr,  a  globular  body,  as  produced  by  rolling  over.  Dial. -S wed. 
buller-sten,  a  detached  mass  of  stone,  compares  with  our  Bowder- 
stone,  a  large  detached  stone  in  Borrowdale. 

Bolder,     sb.     A  loud  report. 

Dan.  bulder,  noise,  uproar,  Dut.  bulderen,  to  roar,  as  the  wind, 
Old  Fries,  bulder,  noise,  bluster. 

Boly.    sb.    A  horse  with  white  legs  and  face. 

Welsh  bal,  having  a  white  mark  on  the  forehead,  cefyl  bal,  a 
horse  with  such  mark.  From  the  same  origin  are  Ital.  balzano, 
Fr.  balzan,  a  horse  with  white  legs,  and  Prov.  Eng.  bawson,  a 
badger,  from  its  white-streaked  face. 

Boman.  sb.  An  imaginary  person  used  to  frighten 
children,     Lonsd.  bo,  hobgoblin.     Welsh  bo,  bugbear. 

Bonny,  adj.  Handsome,  pleasing.  Used  also  ironi- 
cally, as  Eng.  pretty.  The  etymology  of  this  word,  so  univer- 
sally prevalent  throughout  the  North,  is  by  no  means  clear. 
Johnson's  derivation  from  Fr.  bon.  is  altogether  unsatisfactory. 
Kietz  suggests  a  connection  with  Swed.  bonnt,  jolly,  high- 
spirited.  Earle  {Philology  of  the  English  language,)  sets  forth 
a  theoretical  Ang.-Sax.  bonig.  Compare  also  Welsh  bon- 
neddig,  noble,  genteel,  which  is  not  far  removed  in  sense,  and  the 
change  of  which  into  bondy  and  then  bonny,  is  easy  and  simple. 

Boon-days.  sb.  Days  on  which  customary  tenants 
are  bound  to  work  without  pay  for  the  lord  of  the  manor.    Also 


12  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

gratuitous  help  given  by  neighbours  on  the  occasion  of  a  man's 
entering  upon  a  new  farm,  &c.  Old  Norse  bdn,  Ang.-Sax.  bin, 
prayer,  petition.  "  In  writing  of  the  middle  ages  bdn  occurs  for 
tribute,  as  if  a  thing  that  was  disliked  could  be  rendered  less 
obnoxious  by  the  use  of  smoothe  language." — Ihre. 

Boose,     sb.     A  stall  for  a  horse  or  cow. 

Ang.-Sax.  bos,  Old  Norse  bds,  a  stall,  more  particularly  for  a  cow. 

Booze,     sb.     A  carouse,  drinking-bout. 

Derived  by  Wedg.  from  Dut.  buyzen,  to  drink  deeply,  from  buyse, 
a  large  flagon,  Sco.  boss,  a  jar  or  flagon,  Old  Fr.  bous,  grande 
bouteille. 

Borran.     sb.     A  cairn,  large  heap  of  stones. 

Lonsd.  borrel.  Both  are  probably  diminutives  from  Ang.-Sax. 
beorg,  Old  Norse  biarg,  mountain,  hill,  heap. 

Boss.     sb.     A  milkmaid's  cushion  for  the  head. 

Dut.  bos,  bunch,  bundle,  Germ,  bausch,  bunch,  wisp  of  straw, 
cushion,  Eng.  boss,  projection. 

Botch,     sb.     A  bungle. 

The  original  idea  seems  to  be  simply  that  of  mending.  Ang.- 
Sax.  betan,  to  repair,  Swiss  batschen,  patschen,  Eng.  patch, 
Then  that  of  clumsy  or  unskilful  repair  ;  and  finally,  that  of 
general  bungling. 

Botcher,     sb.     A  drink  made  by  pouring  water  on 

the  honey-comb  after  the  honey  has  been  extracted.  Clev. 
botchet.  A  corruption  of  braget,  from  Wei.  bragod,  a  fermented 
drink,  bragodi,  to  ferment. 

Boun.   adj.   Ready,  prepared,  on  the  point  of  starting. 

'  'As  she  was  boun  to  go  the  way  forth  right 
Toward  the  garden." — Chaucer. 
Old  Norse  bHinn,  prepared,  ready,  from  the  verb  bfia,  to  pre- 
pare, set  out. 

Bourt.     vn.     To  pretend,  make  believe. 

Dut.  boerten,  to  jest,  sport,  Bret,  bourd,  deceit,  trick,  Gael,  burt, 
mockery. 

Bower,     sb.     A  parlour. 

Old  Norse,  Ang.-Sax.  b&r,  a  chamber. 
Braffam,  Braugham.     sb.     A  collar  for  a  horse. 

Clev.  bargam.  Referred  by  Wedgwood  with  much  probability 
to  the  same  origin  as  the  word  hambetwe,  or  hanaborough,  a 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  13 

coarse  horse-collar,  made  of  reed  or  straw,  from  bet  we  or  borough, 
protection  from  the  hames,  the  two  words  of  the  compound  being 
in  this  case  reversed. 

Braid,    vn.    A  cow  is  said  to  braid  during  parturition. 

I  apprehend  from  Old  Norse  breida,  Ang.-Sax.  br&dan,  to 
stretch,  widen,  expand. 

Braid,     vn.     To  resemble,  take  after,  used  with  a 

prep,  of  or  after,  "  He  braids  o'  me,"  he  resembles  me.  Old 
Norse  bregda,  used  with  the  prep.  til=to,  to  turn  out  like 
another.  Honum  bregdr  til foreldris.  "He  braids  of  his 
father." 

Brake,    va.     To  beat. 

Ang.-Sax.  bracan,  to  break  or  bruise. 
Brakesout.     sb.     Inflammatory  fever  in  sheep. 

Sco.  braik,  braxy.  The  former  part  of  the  word  is  from  Ang.- 
Sax.  broc,  Suio-Goth.  brak,  sickness,  distemper ;  the  latter  part 
from  Ang.-Sax.  stint,  Old  Norse  sdtt,  disease. 

Brandreth.     sb.     An  iron  frame  for  supporting  the 

baking  plate  above  the  fire.  Ang.-Sax.  brandred,  a  gridiron, 
Old  Norse  brandreith,  a  grate,  Germ,  brandruthe,  and-iron. 

Brandling,     sb.     A  small  kind  of  trout. 

Old  Norse  branda,  a  little  trout.  Comp.  Manx  braddan, 
salmon,  perhaps  radically  allied. 

Brang.     Brought,  pret.  of  bring. 

Brank.    vn.    To  hold  the  head  affectedly  and  proudly. 

Perhaps  connected  with  Old  Germ,  brangen,  Mod.  Germ. 
prangen ,  Fris.  prunken,  to  show  off,  make  a  parade,  Old  Norse 
braka,  insolenter  se  gerere,  Arm.  braga,  to  strut. 

Bran-new.     adj.     Quite  new. 

More  properly  brand-new,  new  from  the  fire.  So  span-new  and 
splinter -new,  i.e.,  chip -new,  new  from  the  workman's  tools, 
"referring  in  the  one  case  to  the  newness  of  a  metal  instrument 
— in  the  other  to  that  of  something  fashioned  out  of  wood." — 
Atk. 

Brannigan.     sb.     A  fat  puffy  infant  boy. — Dick. 

Gael,  brain,  large,  big,  bronnach,  big-bellied. 

Brant,  Brent,     adj.     Steep,  as  applied  to  a  hill. 
Old  Norse  brattr,  Swed.  brant,  steep. 


14  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Brash,     adj.     Rash,  headlong. 

Gael,  bras,  hasty,  rash,  venturesome. 
Brashy.     adj.     Weak,  delicate,  fragile. 

Old  Norse  breyskr,  prop,  brittle,  but  used  metaph.  to  express 
weak  or  infirm.  Gael,  brisg,  Arm.  brcsk,  tender,  fragile,  from 
the  same  general  root  signifying  to  break. 

Brass,     sb.     Impudence. 

Old  Norse  brass,  procacitas,  (properly  brast,  from  the  verb 
brasta,  to  bluster?)    The  noun  is  not  in  the  Diet,  of  Cleasby. 

Brat.  sb.  A  coarse  apron.  Also  a  contemptuous 
term  for  a  child.  Wei.  brat,  a  rag,  Gael,  brat,  an  apron,  cloth, 
Ang.-Sax.  brat,  cloak,  clout. 

Brattle,     sb.     A  loud  rattle. 

Ang.-Sax.  brastl,  a  noise,  crackling. 

Brave,     adj.     Worthy,  excellent. 

Sco.  braw.  Old  Swed.  braf,  Swed.,  Dan.  brav,  Dut.  braaf, 
worthy,  excellent,  honest,  Arm.  brav,  handsome,  agreeable, 
Gael,  breagh,  Ir.  breag,  Fr.  brave,  spruce,  fine.  Our  word 
would  seem  to  have  rather  more  affinity  with  the  Teut. ,  and 
the  Sco.  braw  with  the  Celt ;  it  is  not  easy,  however,  to  define 
the  separation  between  them. 

Bray.     va.     To  beat. 

Old  Norse  braka,  to  beat,  subdue,  Ang.-Sax.  bracan,  to  pound, 
Dan.  brage,  to  crush. 

Brazzled  or  Brizled.     adj.     Scorched,  applied  to 

peas,  scrambled  for  by  boys.  Ang.-Sax.  brastlian,  to  burn, 
crackle. 

Bread.  To  be  in  bad  bread  is  to  be  out  of  favour. — Dick. 

Bread  may  perhaps  be  from  Wei.  brawd,  Corn,  breuth,  Gael 
breith,  judgment,  verdict,  opinion. 

Breck.     sb.     A  piece  of  fun,  an  amusing  occurrence, 

a  practical  joke.  "Joe  Tyson  teem't  a  pint  o'  yal  down  Danny 
Towson's  back.  Wasn't  that  a  breck  f" — Heard  by  Mr.  Gibson 
at  Dean.  Old  Norse  brek,  explained  by  Cleasby  as  a  fraudulent 
purchase  of  land,  and  in  the  plural  as  "freaks,  especially  of 
children."  And  certainly  the  breck  above  referred  to  is  childish 
enough. 

Breme.     vn.     To  froth. 

Probably  related  to  Old  Norse  brim,  surf. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  1 5 

Breukt.     adj.     Parti-coloured. 

Thus  a  white  sheep  with  black  legs  is  a  breukt  sheep.  Sco. 
braikit  or  brocked.  Gael,  breac,  spotted,  piebald.  Fris.  broket, 
bruiket,  Dan.  broget,  variegated,  The  word  might  thus  have 
either  a  Celtic  or  a  Teutonic  origin,  though  the  latter  seems 
preferable. 

Bride-wain.    sb.    A  festival  held  at  a  wedding,  during 

which  various  games  were  held,  and  a  subscription  made  for  the 
young  couple.  The  custom  has  become  obsolete  of  late  years. 
The  bride-wain  is  properly  the  waggon  on  which  the  furniture 
and  effects  of  the  bride  were  carried,  accompanied  by  a  large 
cavalcade,  to  her  new  home. 

Broach,     sb.     A  pin  or  spindle  to  wind  yarn  on.     In 

Clev,  also  the  spire  or  steeple  of  a  church.  The  idea  is  that  of 
something  sharp-pointed,  as  found  in  Welsh  procio,  to  stab, 
thrust,  Gael,  brog,  to  goad,  prick,  Fr.  broche,  spit,  Eng.  broach. 

Brob  or  Brog.    sb.    A  straw  or  twig,  stuck  in  the  hat 

or  worn  in  the  mouth,  by  those  wanting  to  engage  in  service  on 
the  hiring-day,  in  token  of  their  being  open  to  an  engagement. 
In  Lonsd.  small  branches  used  to  mark  out  lots  of  hay-grass, 
&c. ,  at  a  sale.  Vulg.  Ir.  brob,  a  straw,  Welsh  brigwn,  twig, 
brwg,  brushwood. 

Brock,    sb.    The  badger. 

Old  Norse  brokkr,  Ang.-Sax.  broc,  Welsh,  Corn.,  Arm.  brock, 
Gael.,  Ir.,  Manx  broc.  The  origin  is  the  same  as  breukt,  q,v., 
in  reference  to  the  animals  white-streaked  face. 

Broon-leemers.     sb.      Nuts  browned  with  ripeness, 

and  ready  to  drop  out  of  their  husks.  Atk.  shows  that  learn, 
originally  meaning  to  shine  or  glance  as  a  ray  of  light,  acquired 
in  Old  Eng.  the  sense  of  slipping  or  gliding.  Hence  leemers  are 
"slippers,"  i.e.,  out  of  their  husks. 

Brot.     sb.     Refuse  corn,  &c 

Old  Norse  brot,  a  broken  piece,  fragment,  used  especially  in 
the  plural.  Hence  brot  is  properly  broken  bits,  from  briota, 
to  break.  Comp.  Germ,  brack,  refuse,  similarly  derived  from 
brechen,  to  break  ;  and  Clev.  brash,  refuse,  from  Ang.-Sax. 
brysan,  to  bruise. 

Brot  out.    vn.    Grain  shed  from  over-ripeness  is  said 

to  brot  out.  Old  Norse  briota,  to  break,  used  with  the  preposi- 
tion Ht,  like  our  brot  out.  The  Ang.-Sax.  breotan,  observes 
Cleasby,    "was  rarely  used,  and  then  only  in  the  sense  of 


1 6  GLOSSARY   OF  THE 

destroy,  demolish,  whereas  this  word  is  common  to  all  the  Scan, 
dialects,  and  the  Goth,  braican,  Germ,  brechen,  Eng.  break  is 
unknown  to  them."  Hence  this  word  may  be  taken  to  be  one 
of  those  indicative  of  Scand.  influence  in  our  district. 

Brough,  Bur,  Bruff.     sb.     A  halo  round  the  moon. 

"  Burwhe,  sercle,  orbiculus." — Pr.  Prv.  Atkinson's  suggestion 
of  Old  Norse  baugr,  ring,  rosa-baugr,  a  circle  round  the  moon, 
seems  to  me  less  open  to  objection  than  he  himself  considers  it. 
Both  of  the  changes  involved — the  insertion  of  a  phonetic  r,  and 
the  change  of  g  final  into  f,  are  of  frequent  occurrence. 

Browse,     adj.     Crumbly,  friable. 

Dut.  broos,  brittle.  The  root  is  that  of  Ang.-Sax.  brysan,  Eng. 
bruise. 

Brusey.     sb.     A  coarse,  fat  person. 

Wei.  brwyso,  to  grow  luxuriantly,  brwysg,  unwieldy,  brass, 
coarse,  fat. 

Buckle,    sb.    Condition  of  body,  state  of  health.     To 

be  in  prime  buckle  =  to  be  in  first-rate  condition.  Old  Norse 
blckr,  Germ,  bauch,  trunk,  body  without  the  head. 

Bule.     sb.     The  bow  of  a  basket  or  pan. 

Germ,  biigel,  bow,  any  piece  of  wood  or  metal  that  is  bent, 
Dan.  bugle,  bule,  boss,  dint. 

Bullhead,  Powhead.    sb.    The  tadpole.     These  are 

only  different  forms  of  the  same  word,  pow=pull.  Welsh  pwl, 
blunt,  Gael,  poll-cheannan,  a  tadpole.  Pole,  in  tadpole,  is  the 
same  word. 

Bullister.     sb.     The  fruit  of  the  bullace-tree. 

One  might  think  that  it  was  properly  the  tree  itself — bullis-ter= 
bullace-tree.  But  the  Gael,  buileastair,  bullace — the  ending 
being  apparently  tair,  worthless — seems  to  point  to  a  different 
conclusion. 

Bullstang.     sb.     The  dragon-fly. 

The  Welsh  name  of  the  insect,  cwildraw,  derived  by  Owen  from 
cwil,  beetle,  chafer,  and  tarw,  bull,  contains  a  similar  allusion. 
So  also  the  small  beetle  called  the  lady-cow,  has  a  similar  appel- 
lation both  in  French  and  German.  There  seems  to  be  some 
ancient  allusion  to  the  bull  or  cow,  the  origin  of  which  we  know 
not.  The  latter  part  of  the  word  may  be  from  slang,  a  pole,  in 
allusion  to  the  unusual  length  of  the  insect's  body.  The  other 
Welsh  name  of  the  insect,  gwdell-neidr,  from  gwdell,  skewer, 
spindle,  knitting-needle,  contains  the  same  idea. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  1 7 

Bullyrag,     vn.    To  scold,  to  reproach. 

May  he  from  the  same  origin  as  bully-rock,  a  violent,  over- 
bearing person,  which  Wedg.  refers  to  Low  Germ,  buller-brook, 
of  same  meaning.  Dut.  bulderen,  to  rage,  scold,  threaten, 
Swed.  buller,  noise,  clamour. 

Bumble-bee.    sb.     The  humble-bee. 

Old  Norse  bumla,  to  buzz,  Dut.  bommele,  drone. 

Bumble-kite  or  Bummel-kite.    sb.    The  bramble  or 

black-berry.  Haldorsen  gives  a  verb  bumbla  (from  bumbr,  the 
belly),  found  only  apparently  in  the  phrase  bumbullt  er  honum, 
he  has  a  pain  in  the  stomach.  Hence,  kite  meaning  belly, 
bumble-kite  might  be  that  which  gives  the  stomach-ache,  re- 
ferring to  the  effect  produced  by  eating  a  quantity. 

Bunnels.      sb.      The  dry  hollow  stems  of  the  cow- 

parsnep  and  similar  plants.  Clev.  bun,  buntion.  Ang.-Sax. 
buna,  ca.ie,  reed,  pipe. 

Bunsin-cow.    sb.     A  cow  given  to  striking. 

Dut.  bonzen,  to  strike,  Eng.  bounce,  of  which  the  original 
meaning  was  to  strike.  A  bunsin  cow,  then,  is  simply  a  bouncing 
cow,  in  the  old  sense  of  the  word. 

Bur-tree,  Bul-tree,  Bow-tree.    sb.    The  elder. 

Sco.  bur-tree,  bun-tree.  The  various  Teutonic  names  of  this 
tree,  Ang.-Sax.  ellarn,  Low  Germ,  elloorn,  Germ,  /wilder,  Dan. 
Ay  Id,  signify,  according  to  Wedg.,  "hollow."  To  the  same 
origin  Atk.  refers  the  bur  or  bore-tree,  viz.,  Old  Norse  bora, 
hole,  boring,  while  the  Sco.  bun  (Ang.-Sax.  buna,  cane,  reed) 
still  contains  the  same  idea.  Our  form  but  may  also  be  from  a 
similar  origin,  the  root  bol  or  bul  signifying  originally  bubble. 
There  is  a  tree  called  borr  in  the  Edda,  but  of  what  sort  does 
not  appear. 

Burler.     sb.     The  attendant  who  carries  round  the 

ale  at  the  festivities  in  the  Lake  district.  Ang.-Sax.  byrel,  Old 
Norse  byrlari,  ale-bearer,  from  byrelian,  to  give  to  drink,  (from 
eal,  ale,  and  beran,  to  carry?)  The  word  is  supposed  by 
Cleasby  to  be  of  Ang.-Sax.  introduction. 

Busk.     sb.   A  bush. 

"  Nearly  obsolete." — Dick.    Old  Norse  buskr,  Dan.  busk. 
But  and  Ben.    sb.     The  outer  and  the  inner  rooms 

of  a  farm-house,  where  there  are  only  two.  Used  only  on 
the  Scottish  border.  Ang.-Sax.  butan,  without,  and  binn-an^ 
within. 

D 


1 8  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Butts,    sb.    The  short  ridges  approaching  the  comer 

of  a  ploughed  field.  Old  Norse  butr,  Fris.  butt,  butt,  stump, 
Welsh  pwt,  anything  short  and  thick,  Fr.  buter,  to  touch  at  the 
end,  to  abut  on. 

Butty,    adj.     Thick  at  one  end. 

Prov.  Germ,  buttig,  short  and  thick.    See  butts. 

But-welt.      va.      To  turn   the    butt-ends   of  corn 

sheaves  to  the  wind  to  dry.  Ang.-Sax.  wceltan,  Old  Norse 
velta,  to  roll  or  turn. 

Byre.    sb.     A  cow-house. 

The  word  by  itself  signifies  simply  room,  building,  Ang.-Sax. 
and  Old  Norse  bUr,  and  originally  would  have  some  prefix  de- 
signating its  purpose,  as  a  cow-byre,  &c. 

Byspell.    adj.    Mischievous,  full  of  vice. 

The  form  byspelt,  given  by  Brockett,  is  a  nearer  approach  to 
the  right  one,  if  the  word  be,  as  seems  probable,  properly 
be+spilt,  from  Ang.-Sax.  spilt,  corrupted,  depraved,  from  spillan, 
to  corrupt,  the  prefix  being  the  Ang.-Sax.  be,  as  in  benumbed, 
begirt,  not,  in  these  cases,  adding  to,  or  altering  the  sense.  Or, 
if  we  might  suppose  it  to  have  been  originally  a  noun,  we  may 
think  of  Dut.  byspel,  exemplum,  proverbium,  in  a  sense  like 
bisen,  of  an  example  to  be  avoided. 


c. 

Cad.    vn.    To  mat  or  felt  together. 

Thus  matted  or  tangled  hair  is  caddit.  \  take  it  to  be  from  the 
Welsh  cyddio,  to  join,  connect,  couple,  from cyd,  cym,  signifying 
combination,  and  cognate  with  Lat.  cum,  com,  con,  Teut.  sam, 
Cad  or  cat  is  an  older  Celtic  form,  (Zeuss,  Gramm.  Celt.),  now 
found  only  in  some  compounds,  as  Welsh  cad-blyg  =  Lat. 
complic(atio).  A  Gaelic  form  is  coimh,  which  we  seem  to  have 
in  our  word  cumm't,  curdled,  applied  to  milk.  The  correspond- 
ing Teutonic  sam  is  similarly  used  as  a  verb  in  the  Northern 
district,  as  in  Clev.  sam,  to  compress  or  knead  together,  Crav. 
sam,  to  collect  or  gather  together. 

Cadger,     sb.     A  dealer  in  small  articles  going  about 

with  a  cart.  Referred  by  Jam,  to  Dut.  katsen,  to  run,  or  cause 
to  run  about.    Atk.  also  notes  Old  Norse  kiagga,  to  move  as 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  1 9 

one  does  under  a  burden.  There  is  also  a  third  derivation 
which  occurs  to  me  as  feasible.  "  I  may  observe,"  says  Jam., 
"  that  in  Scotland  cadger  more  properly  denotes  a  fish-carrier." 
So  Brockett  observes  that  "  persons  who  bring  fish  from  the  sea 
to  the  Newcastle  market  are  still  called  cadgers.''  Now  if  we 
can  suppose  this  to  have  been  the  original  meaning  of  the  word, 
we  may  refer  to  Germ,  and  Dut.  kaag,  a  sloop  or  small  vessel, 
and  to  kedger,  used  in  Yorkshire  for  a  fisherman.  A  cadger 
would  in  that  case  be  one  who  bought  fish  from  the  cadge  or 
fishing-boat,  and  retailed  it  over  the  country. 

Caff,    sb.     Chaff. 

Ang.-Sax.  ceaf,  Germ,  kaff,  Dut.  kaf. 

Calevine.     sb.     A  black-lead  pencil. 

Sco.  keelivine,  guillivine.  Killow  or  collow  was  a  word  for- 
merly used  in  Cumberland  for  black-lead,  and  is  still,  according 
to  Halliwell,  in  Northumberland.  It  is  probably  allied  to 
collow,  an  old  word  for  black  or  smut  ;  also  perhaps  to  Eng. 
coal,  the  root-meaning  being  probably  black.  Comp.  Sansc. 
kala,  black,  with  which  Benfey  collates  Gr.  ktjXis,  smut, 
and  Lat.  caligo,  darkness.  Comp.  also  kohl,  a  pigment  used  in 
the  East  for  blackening  the  inside  of  the  eyelid.  The  Old 
Norse  kala,  quola,  to  dirty,  make  black,  is  probably  the  word 
more  immediately  connected.  The  latter  part  of  the  word, 
vine,  may  be  from  Welsh  gweinio,  to  put  in  a  sheath,  a  calevine 
pencil  being  thus  a  pencil  of  black-lead  sheathed  in  wood. 

Cambrel,  Cammarel.     sb.     The  hough  of  a  horse. 

Also  a  crooked  frame  for  hanging  carcases  on.  IVedg.  refers  it 
to  Welsh  cambren,  a  crooked  stick,  a  frame  for  hanging  meat 
on,  from  cam,  crooked. 

Cample,     vn.     To  argue,  reply  impertinently. 

A  frequentative  from  Ang.-Sax.  campian,  Dut.  kampen,  to  fight, 
contend. 

Canny,  Conny.     adj.     Agreeable,  pleasant,  sensible, 

careful,  well-behaved.  This  word,  in  the  North,  as  in  Scotland, 
has  a  great  variety  of  meanings.  Jam.  produces  no  fewer  than 
eighteen  ;  but  the  general  scope  of  the  word  is  something  com- 
bining agreeableness  of  disposition  with  propriety  and  careful- 
ness. The  Old  Norse  kcenn,  peritus,  solers,  covers  a  good  deal 
of  its  meaning,  while  the  noun  kanska,  comis  sapientia,  plea- 
sant good  sense,  gives  as  close  an  equivalent  as  can  be  found. 
Atk.,  however,  separates  canny  and  conny,  giving  the  latter 
rather  the  sense  of  personal  beauty,  and  referring  it  to  Dan. 
kjon,  pretty.  Moreover,  the  Gaelic  cannach,  kind,  pretty, 
comely,  and  Ir.  caoin,  good-tempered,  agreeable,  are  words  for 
which  a  claim  might  be  put  in. 

D2 


20  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Cap.      va.      To  excel,  to  be  pre-eminent,  whence 

Capper,  one  who  takes  the  lead  of  his  fellows.  Old  Norse 
kappa ,  to  strive,  contend,  Jutl.  kappi,  a  champion. 

Carl.    sb.     A  coarse  and  rough  fellow. 

Old  Norse,  Dan.,  Swed.  karl,  Ang.-Sax.  ceorl,  a  man,  male, 
old  man.  As  churl  represents  the  Ang.-Sax.,  so  carl  the  Scand. 
form,  both  in  a  derogatory  sense. 

Carlings.    sb.    Grey  peas  soaked  in  water,  and  eaten 

on  Care-Sunday,  whence  probably  the  name. 

Carr.    sb.    A  flat,  marshy  hollow. 

Old  Norse  kjarr,  Suio-Goth.  kterr,  Dan.  kxr,  a  marshy  place. 

Cat-talk.    sb.    Small-talk,  chit-chat. 

It  seems  probable  that  cat  is  the  same  as  chat,  especially  if  that 
word  be,  as  Skinner  has  it,  from  the  French.  In  the  dialect  of 
Picardy,  whence  most  of  our  French  was  derived,  a  hard  c 
generally  corresponds  to  the  soft  ch  of  ordinary  French. 

Cat-mallison.    sb.     A  dog  given  to  worrying  cats. 
Old  Fr.  malison,  a  curse. 

Cawkers.    sb.     The  irons  on  the  toe  and  heel  of  a 

clog  or  wooden-soled  shoe.  Comp.  Lat.  calceus,  shoe,  caliga, 
half-boot  worn  by  soldiers  and  studded  with  large  clumsy  nails 
called  caligares.  Also  Lane,  coaken,  a  blow  from  a  horse's 
shoe,  Dan.  kok,  hammer,  &c. 

Chafts.    sb.     The  jaws. 

Old  Norse  kiaftr,  Suio-Goth.  kaft,  Dan.  kiaft.  In  Denmark 
the  word  is  vulgarly  used  for  a  person,  ikke  en  kiaft,  not  a 
person. 

Chap.    sb.     A  male,  man  or  boy. 

From  chaft  or  chap,  similarly  (see  above)  used  in  Denmark. 

Chats,     sb.     Small  branches   only  fit  for  fuel,   and 

metaphorically  applied  to  stripling  youths.  The  original  sense 
of  the  word,  which  is  common,  with  slight  variations,  to  several 
dialects,  is  that  of  young  shoots.  Ang.-Sax.  cith,  a  young 
tender  shoot,  Swiss  kide,  twig,  Prov.  Eng.  chits,  the  first 
sprouts  of  anything,  Dut.  keesten,  to  sprout.  The  word  chat  is 
applied  to  a  boy,  as  elsewhere  chit  to  a  girl,  in  the  same  sense 
as  when  we  speak  of  a  sprig  of  nobility. 

Cheg.     vb.     To  chew,  champ  with  the  teeth. 

Comp.  A.S.  ceac,  Swed.  kek,  jaw,  Welsh  ceg,  mouth  \cegut  to  mouth. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  21 

Cherts,    sb.    The  first  blades  of  grass  in  spring. 

Properly,  I  think,  cheets  or  chits,  tender  shoots,  "  the  firs 
sprouts  of  anything. " — Hall.    See  chats. 

Chibies.     sb.     Onions. 

Fr.  cive,  a  leek,  Lat.  cepa,  onion,  Ang.-Sax.  cipe,  onion,  Welsh 
cibellys,  chive  garlic.  This  may  be  a  word  of  the  class  referred 
to  by  Dr.  Guest  {Phil.  Soc.  iii.  169)  as  probably  derived  by  our 
ancestors  from  the  Romans  through  the  Celts,  prior  to  the 
Saxon  settlement  in  the  British  Isles. 

Chiel,  Chiely.     sb.     Fellow,   companion,   generally- 
used  with  more  or  less  of  familiarity,  and  with  a  sense  of 
waggery. 
"  Play  up,  old  chiel,  a  rantin'  reel." — Upshot,  Lonsdale. 

Gael,  and  Ir.  ceile,  Corn,  cele,  Manx  cheilley,  Welsh  gilydd  and 
obsolete  cilyd,  fellow,  companion,  the  root  of  which  is  found  in 
Sansc.  kil,  to  bind.  The  origin  of  this  word  seems  to  have 
escaped  the  observation  of  Jamieson. 

Chiggle.    vn.     To  cut  wood,  &c,  unskilfully. 

Perhaps  formed  as  a  frequentative  from  chick,  which,  originally 
derived  from  the  sound  of"  a  blow  or  crack,  acquired  in  Old  Eng. 
the  sense  of  crack,  flaw. —  Wedg.  Comp.  also  Fr.  chiqueter,  to 
cut,  gash,  hag. 

Chillipers.     sb.     Nuts  or  small  coal. 

Perhaps  from  Welsh  chwilfriwio,  to  shatter,  break  to  pieces. 

Chip.     va.     To  trip  up,  a  term  used  in  wrestling. 

Old  Norse  kippa,  to  trip  up,  Germ,  kippen,  to  tip  over. 

Chip.      sb.      The    various   modes    of  throwing    an 

adversary  in  wrestling  are  called  chips.  See  above.  Comp. 
also  Welsh  chwip,  a  quick  flirt  or  turn. 

Chirm,     vn.     To  chirp. 

Ang.-Sax.  cyrman,  to  cry,  scream. 

Chock-full.     adj.     Full  to  the  top. 

Swab,  schoch,  a  heap,  g'schochet  voll,  chock-full,  full  to  over- 
flowing.—  Wedg. 

Choop.    sb.     The  fruit  of  the  wild  rose. 

Norw.  kjupa,  another  form  of  Ang.-Sax.  hiop,  Eng.  hip. 

Chowl-    sb.    The  fleshy  part  of  the  cheek. 
Ang.-Sax,  ceole,  Gael,,  Ir.  giall,  cheek,  jaw. 


22  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Chuns.     sb.     The  sprouts  of  the  potato. 

Seemingly  referable  to  Goth,  kuni,  Old  High  Germ,  chunni, 
Old  Sax.  kunni,  Ang.-Sax.  cyn,  race,  family,  offspring,  the 
root-word  of  which  signifies  to  beget  or  produce.  The  Welsh 
chwyn,  a  weed,  in  the  sense  of  something  springing  up  of  itself, 
may  be  related. 

Chunter.     vn.     To  murmur,  mutter  inaudibly. 

Probably  formed  from  cutter,  to  whisper  low,  with  the  intro- 
duction of  the  nasal,  to  express  the  idea  of  a  dull,  muffled 
sound.     Similarly  clanter  from  clatter. 

Chur.    sb.     The  subdued  growl  of  the  dog.    Also  the 

note  of  the  fern-owl  or  night-jar.  Old  Norse  kurra,  to  murmur, 
Dut.  kirren,  Norw.  kurra,  to  coo,  as  a  dove.  Comparing  the 
Suio-Goth.  kuttra,  it  seems  rather  probable  that  the  Old  Norse 
kurra,  and  the  other  verbs  referred  to,  are  a  contracted  form  of 
it.     Compare  our  cuttery-coo,  the  note  of  the  dove. 

Clag.  vn.  To  stick  to,  adhere,  as  a  viscid  substance. 
Old  Norse  kleggi,  a  close  or  compressed  mass,  Dan.  klceg, 
viscid,  sticky,  Ang.-Sax.  clceg,  clay. 

Clam.     vn.     To  satiate,  to  cloy. — Dick.     To  starve 

with  hunger. —  West,  and  Cumb.  Dial.  Clev.  to  pinch,  com- 
press. The  last  is  the  original  meaning,  from  Old  Norse 
klemma,  Suio-Goth.  Mamma,  Germ,  klemmen,  to  compress. 
It  is  curious  that  the  same  word  should  have  acquired,  in  our 
district,  the  sense  both  of  repletion  and  starvation,  starting  from 
the  same  original  idea  of  pinching  or  compressing. 

Clammer.     sb.     A  yoke  for  the  neck  of  a  cow,  to 

prevent  her  leaping  hedges.  Germ,  klammer,  a  cramp,  brace, 
hold-fast,  from  klemmen,  to  compress. 

Clanter  or  Clonter.     vn.     Applied  chiefly  to  the 

noise  made  by  the  iron-bound  clogs  worn  by  the  Cumbrians. 
Apparently  formed  from  clatter,  with  the  introduction  of  the 
nasal  to  express  a  rather  duller  sound  than  clatter.  So  chunter 
from  cutter.     Comp.  also  Dut.  klant,  clod. 

Clap-bread,      sb.      Oaten   or  other  cakes  beat   or 

clapped  out  with  the  hand.  Dan.  klappe-brod,  thin  cakes  beaten 
out  with  the  hand. 

Clart.     sb.     Dirt  of  an  adhesive  character,  anything 

sticky.  Formed  like  slair,  glair,  words  of  a  similar  meaning  in 
the  Northern  dialects,  upon  Old  Norse  leir,  mud,  mire,  which 
we  may  trace  through  the  Welsh  llai,  mud,  to  Sansc.  It, 
liquescere. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  2$ 

Clash,    sb.     Idle  gossip.    Also  a  tale-bearer,  scandal- 
monger.    Vulg.  Germ,  klatsche,  a  gossip,  tale-bearer. 

Clat.     sb.     Has  both  the  two  meanings  of  the  above 

clash.  Clev.  clat,  to  chatter  or  prate.  Comp.  Old  Norse  klid, 
garritus.     Sansc.  clad,  to  resound. 

Claver.     vn.     To  climb.      Or  rather  to  clamber  or 

scramble,  the  idea  of  both  hands  and  feet  being  involved.  Old 
Norse  klifra,  manibus  et  pedibus  clivum  ascendere,  Dan.  kluvre, 
to  clamber. 

Cleckin  or  Cleekin.     sk     A  brood  of  chickens,  &c. 

Clev.  cletch.    Old  Norse  klekja,  to  sit,  as  a  bird.    Dan.  kkzkkc. 

Cleg.     sb.     The  common  horse-fly. 

Old  Norse  kleggi,  Norw.  klegg,  horse-fly.  From  the  sense  of 
sticking.     See  clag. 

Cleps.     sb.     Tongs  for  pulling  up  weeds. 

Lonsd.  clip,  to  clasp.  Ang.-Sax.  clyppan,  Old  Norse  klipa,  to 
grip,  catch. 

Cleugh  (pron.  Cleuf).        sb.     A  cleft  or  ravine. 

Ang.-Sax.  dough,  a  cleft,  Old  Norse  kleyf,  fissura  rupium. 

Cliart.     adj.     Having  the  lungs  adhering  to  the  ribs 

(of  cattle).  The  word  would  seem  to  be  the  same  as  Sco.  clyred, 
having  tumours  in  the  flesh,  Dut.  klier,  a  hard  swelling, 
though  the  word  has  acquired  with  us  a  somewhat  different 
meaning. 

Click,    va.    To  snatch  sharply. 

Thus,  in  reference  to  three  tributaries  of  the  Eden,  a  Cumber- 
land rhyme  says  metaphorically, 

"  Eamont,  Croglin,  and  Cockley  Beck, 
Eden  clicks  them  a'  by  the  neck. " 
The  origin  is  not  very  clear.  Comparing  Fris.  klick,  verber, 
ictus  (Kil.),  Fr.  claque,  East,  click,  a  blow  {Hall.),  it  might 
seem  that  the  original  meaning  was  that  of  striking.  Atkinson, 
however,  takes  a  different  view,  citing  the  Jutl.  klcekke  ved,  to 
stick  tight  to,  hold  fast  by,  as  closely  resembling  the  use  of  our 
word,  especially  in  the  phrase  click  hod. 

Clink,    sb.    A  blow.     Also  a  jingling  sound. 

Dut.  klinken,  to  sound,  tinkle,  klinkslag,  a  blow  with  the 
hand. 

Clip.    va.    To  shear  sheep. 

Old  Norse  klippa,  Dan.  klippe,  to  cut,  clip. 


24  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Clock-hen.     sb.    A  hen  about  sitting. 

Dut.  klok-hen,  a  brooding-hen. 

Clock,     sb.     A  general   name   for   a  beetle,  as   a 

black-clock,  water-clock,  &a  Sco.  gotack,  used  precisely  in  the 
same  manner.  Old  Norse  kl&ka,  a  beetle  (in  brunn-klAka,  the 
dytiscus  or  water-clock),  Swed.  klocka,  an  ear-wig,  Mid.  High 
Germ,  kuleich,  Bav.  kieleck,  a  beetle.  Jamieson  has  forchar- 
gollach,  an  ear-wig,  as  a  Gaelic  word,  and  in  the  Diet,  of  the 
Highland  Soc.  I  find  collag-lion  with  the  same  meaning.  There 
seems  no  doubt  that  these,  Celtic  and  Teutonic,  are  all  different 
forms  of  one  original  word,  but  while  the  Sco,  golach  seems  to 
be  from  the  Gaelic,  our  clock  seems  most  probably  of  Scandi- 
navian origin. 

Clog.     sb.     A  shoe  with  soles  of  wood  plated  with 

iron,  in  common  use  in  Cumberland.  Wedg.  refers  it  to  clog  in 
the  sense  of  a  block  or  clumsy  piece  of  wood,  and  compares 
it  with  Germ,  klotz-schuh,  Dan.  klods,  a  clog  or  wooden  shoe; 
In  like  manner,  from  Ital.  zocco,  a  log,  zoccoli,  dogs,  pattens. 

Cloot  or  Clout,     sb.    A  blow,  buffet. 

Dut.  kloferen,  to  strike. 

Clot.    sb.    A  clod. 

Dut.  klot,  globus,  Fries,  klot,  clod. 

Clot-bur.     sb.     The  burdock. 

Clote,  Chauc.  and  Pr.  Prv.  Aug. -Sax.  date,  Germ,  klette,  Dut. 
klissen,  a  bur,  Fries,  borre,  burre,  Dan.  borre,  a  bur.  The  word 
then  would  seem  to  contain  a  reduplication. 

Clotch.    va.    To  shake  roughly. 

Germ,  klitschen,  to  flap,  clash,  slap,  Dut.  klutsen,  to  beat  to- 
gether, as  eggs. 

Clot-head.    sb.    A  blockhead,  clod-poll. 

Germ,  klozs-kopf,  a  clod-pate. 
Clowe,     va.     To  scratch,  beat. 

Dut.  klouwen,  to  beat  soundly. 

Cludder.    vn.     To  crowd  together. 

Dut.  klotteren,  to  coagulate.     Comp.  also  Welsh  cZuder,  heap. 

Clunch.    sb.     A  heavy,  stupid  person. 

Dut.  klonte,  clod,  Swed.  kluns,  lump,  Germ.  Hunker,  clod. 

Cobby,    adj.    Headstrong,  obstinate. 

Dut.  koppig,  obstinate. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  25 

Cob.    va.    To  beat  or  thump. 

Welsh  cobio,  to  beat. 

Cobble,  Cobble-stone,    sb.    A  rounded  stone  such 

as  are  used  for  paving.  Norw.  koppel,  a  cobble  or  round  stone. 
Old  Norse  koppu-steinn,  a  boulder. 

Cock-loft.    sb.    The  top  garret. 

Welsh  coeglofft,  a  garret,  from  coeg,  empty. 

"Sec  dancin'  we'd  hev  i'  th'  cock-loft." — Anderson. 
The  cock-loft,  as  an  available  empty  room,  is  often  used  for 
dancing. 

Cockly.     adj.     Shaky,  unsteady,  easily  moved. 

Lane,  kegly.  Brockett  gives  also  the  form  cogly.  Old  Norse 
kogla,  Germ,  kugeln,  to  roll,  Dan.  kugle,  Germ,  kugel,  a  ball, 
Dan.  kegle,  nine-pin.     Welsh  gogi,  to  move,  to  shake. 

Cod.     sb.    A  pillow  or  cushion. 

Old  Norse  koddi,  Swed.  kudde,  a  cushion,  Ang.-Sax.  codd,  a 
bag. 

Cocks-wunters.    A  clipped  oath,  God's  wonders. 
Coddle,     va.     To  clasp. in  the  arms,  to  embrace. 

I  am  disposed  to  connect  our  word  with  Welsh  cydio,  to  join, 
to  couple,  from  cyd,  cyf,  cym,  combination,  other  and  older 
Celtic  forms  of  which  are  cad  and  cod,  the  latter  found  in  Welsh 
codi,  a  concubine  (if  we  may  trust  Bullet).  From  the  form  cod 
would,  as  a  frequentative,  come  coddle. 

Collops.    sb.    Sliced  pieces  of  meat. 

Suio-Goth.  kollops,  slices  of  meat  softened  by  beating  before 
cooking,  the  origin  of  which  may  be  found  in  Prov.  Germ,  klopps, 
a  dish  of  meat  made  tender  by  beating,  from  klopfen,  to  beat. 

Colerake  or  Cowlrake.    sb.    An  iron  scraper. 

Coole-rake. — Pr.  Prv.    See  cowl. 

Con.     sb.     A  squirrel's  nest. 

Lonsd.  the  squirrel  itself.  It  would  seem  rather  probable,  from 
the  Welsh  cont,  tail,  that  there  has  been  some  such  Celtic  word 
for  the  squirrel. 

Coomb,     sb.     A  hollow  place  surrounded  by  hills. 
Ang.-Sax.  comb,  a  valley,  probably  adopted  from  the  Celtic 
Welsh  cwm. 

Coo-clap.    sb.    The  firm  dung  of  the  cow. 

Welsh  clap,  mass,  lump. 


2  6  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Coo-swat.    sb.    The  semi-fluid  dung  of  the  cow. 

Lonsd.  coo-squat.  Dial.  Dan.  squatte,  to  spirt,  splash,  squat,  a 
slop.     In  Derbyshire  squat  signifies  to  spot  with  dirt. 

Coo-plat.     sb.    The  same  as  coo-swat 
Dial.  Dan.  ko-blat,  from  blat,  drop,  blot. 

Cop.    sb.     Top,  peak. 

Ang.-Sax.  copp,  Germ,  kopf,  Welsh  cop,  head,  top. 

Coppy-stool.    sb.    A  small  round  stool. 

Derives  its  name,  like  cup,  Ang.-Sax.  copp,  from  its  round  form. 

Copt.     adj.     Pert,  set  up,  saucy. 

Lonsd.  cop,  to  be  saucy.  Dut.  koppig,  self-willed,  Fin.  kopeen, 
to  be  conceited  or  set  up. 

Corby,    sb.     The  carrion-crow. 
Fr.  corbeau.    Seegorlin. 

Corker,     sb.     Something  very  appropriate   to  the 

point,  a  settler.  Perhaps  from  the  idea  of  corking  up,  settling 
the  matter.  Or  possibly  from  Welsh  core,  compact,  neat,  smart, 
whence  corcen,  a  smart  girl. 

Corp.    sb.    A  corpse. 

Gael,  and  Ir.  corp,  Welsh  corff,  corpse,  body,  Lat.  corpus, 
Sansc.  garbhas. 

Cot.     vn.     "To  wait  upon  a  sick  person,  to  saunter 

about  home." — Dick.  Clev.  cot,  "  to  cook  for  one's  self,  to  do 
one's  own  household  work."  Atk.  refers  it  to  the  same  source 
as  O.  N.  kot-karl,  a  poor  cottager,  Dial.  Swed.  kutur,  a  poor 
lodger  in  a  cottage,  one  who  has  to  do  everything  for  himself. 

Cotter,    vn.     To  entangle,  mat  together. 

Wedg.  collates  a  number  of  words  in  which  cot  has  the  sense  of 
something  matted  or  clotted.  I  think  that  the  origin  is  to  be 
found  in  Old  Celt,  cat,  cod,  cot,  Welsh  cyd.    See  cad. 

Cottit.    adj.     Short-tempered. 

Apparently  from  Welsh  cwt,  Corn,  cot,  cut,  short. 

Coup.    vb.    To  barter,  to  exchange. 

Old  Norse  kaupa,  to  traffic,  to  barter.  Germ,  haufen,  to 
purchase. 

Coup.     va.  and  n.     To  upset,  overturn.     Also  to  fall. 

Atk.  thinks  that  from  the  sense  of  exchanging,  that  is,  of 
one  dealer  turning  over  articles  to  another,  comes  the  sense 
of  a  literal  turning  or  upsetting.      But  it  is  certainly  a  re- 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  27 

Versal  of  the  ordinary  process  to  derive  a  direct  sense  from 
a  metaphorical  one,  and  if  the  two  words  are  the  same, 
the  sense  of  falling  or  upsetting  must  be  the  original  one. 
Now  Cleasby  connects  Old  Norse  kaupa,  to  traffic,  to  barter, 
with  Goth,  kaupatjan,  to  strike  in  the  face.  "  The  bar- 
gain was  symbolised  by  striking ;  hence  to  strike  a  bargain." 
Comparing  Goth,  kaupatjan  with  Gr.  kvttw,  pronus  sum,  in- 
clino  me,  it  seems  probable  that  even  the  sense  of  striking  is  not 
the  original  one,  but  rather  that  of  falling,  as  in  the  Greek 
above,  in  Sansc.  Mp,  to  fall,  Lat.  cubo,  Gael,  cub,  to  crouch, 
bend,  lie  down,  and  in  our  coup.  And  that  the  Germ,  kippen, 
to  tip  over,  upset,  and  Old  Norse  kippa,  to  trip  up,  are  probably 
modified  forms  of  that  lost  verb  from  which  our  word  is  more 
immediately  derived. 

Coup.     sb.     A  small  country  cart. 

From  its  being  emptied  by  couping  or  being  tilted  up.  Germ. 
kip-karren,  a  tilting  cart. 

Cow.     va.     To  subdue,  bring  under  restraint. 

Old  Norse  kuga,  Dan.  kue,  to  restrain,  subdue. 

Cowdy.     adj.     Frolicsome,  in  high  spirits. 
Old  Norse  kdtr,  Dan.  kaad,  wanton,  frolicsome. 

Cowk  or  Gowk.     sb.     The  core,  as  of  an  apple. 

Ang.-Sax.  geolca,  yolk,  as  of  an  egg. 

Cowl.    vb.    To  rake  together. 

Sansc.  kul,  to  gather  together,  Fr.  cueillir.  The  above  show 
the  connections  of  our  word,  though  its  more  immediate 
parentage  cannot  be  traced,  if  it  be  not  directly  from  the 
French. 

Cow't  Cow,  Cowie.    sb.    A  cow  without  horns. 

Cow't  is  properly  cowl't,  Clev.  cowl,  to  clip  or  cut  short.  Old 
Norse  kollotr,  without  horns,  docked,  Suio-Goth.  kulla,  to  clip 
or  cut.  And  cowie  corresponds  with  Old  Norse  kollr,  2.  ram 
without  horns,  Swed.  kullig,  hornless. 

Cow't  Dyke.    sb.     An  earthen  fence  without  growing 

wood.     Properly  cowl't  dyke.    See  above. 

Cow't-lord.     sb.     A  pudding  made  of  oatmeal  and 

lumps  of  suet.  Cowde,  a  lump,  occurs  in  the  Pr.  Pro.  It 
seems  to  be  connected  with  Old  Norse  kula,  a  lump.  Or  per- 
haps, rather,  with  the  corresponding  verb,  as  a  past  part.,  signi- 
fying lumped.  The  latter  part  of  the  word  may  be  lard,  suet, 
cow't-lord  then  signifying  lumped  suet, 


28  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Cowpress.    sb.    A  wooden  lever. 

Properly  cowl-press,  from,  according  to  Atk.,  Old  Norse  kylfa, 
Germ,  keule,  a  strong,  thick  stick  (as  used  for  a  lever),  and 
Old  Norse pressa,  "Eng.  press.  Comp.  also  Gael,  cuaill,  Wei. 
cogail,  cudgel,  truncheon. 

Crack,     vn.     To  boast.      Also  to  tell  stories  and 

generally  to  converse.  The  former  sense,  which  is  common  to 
various  dialects,  and  found  also  in  Early  Eng. ,  is  the  original 
one.  From  crack,  in  the  sense  of  a  loud  report.  So  Fr.  craquer 
was  used  in  a  similar  sense,  se  vanter  mal  a-propos  et  fausse- 
ment.  — Menage. 

Crad,  Cradagh.     sb.     A  troublesome  child. 

Seems  to  be  connected  with  Gael,  cradh,  to  vex,  torment. 

Crag.    sb.    The  face  or  countenance. 

"  A  word  of  the  mountain  vales." — Dick.  From  the  example 
which  he  gives, — ' '  He  hung  a  lang  crag  when  t'  news  com," — it 
may  be  taken  to  mean  more  especially  jaw.  Welsh  crogen,  jaw, 
from  crogi,  to  hang. 

Crammel.    vn.     To  walk  with  difficulty,  or  as  if  the 

feet  were  sore.  Germ,  krabbeln,  Dan.  kravle,  to  scramble.  A 
similar  interchange  of  m  with  b  or  /  is  seen  in  Eng.  scramble, 
Cumb.  scraffle.  It  seems  probable  that  our  crammel  represents 
the  word  on  which,  by  the  prefix  of  s,  is  formed  Eng.  scramble. 

Cranky,     adj.     Ailing,  infirm. 

Old  Norse  krankr,  Dan. ,  Swed. ,  Germ,  krank,  sick,  feeble. 

Cranky,    adj.    Checked,  applied  to  the  linen  material 

formerly  extensively  used  for  shirts,  aprons,  &c.  The  idea  is 
that  of  bending  at  right  angles.  Old  Norse  krcekia,  deviare, 
Dut.  krinkelen,  to  turn,  to  bend,  kringelig,  full,  of  turnings. 

Cree.     va.     To  crush,  to  bruise. 

Fris.  kroge,  Dan.  kroye,  to  crush. 

Creel,   sb.    An  old-fashioned  horse-pannier,  a  wicker 

basket  used  by  fishermen.  Gael  criol,  Ir.  kril,  a  basket  or 
coffer.  Old  Norse  krili,  basket,  from  krila,  to  plait,  to 
weave. 

Crewel,    vb.    To  cover  a  ball  with  parti-coloured 

worsted.  Properly  crewel  is  a  ball  of  worsted.  Germ,  knaitel. 
Low  Germ,  klevel,  a  ball  of  thread.  The  interchange  of  liquids 
in  this  class  of  words  is  very  common.—  Wedg. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  29 

Crine.    va.    To  scorch,  shrivel. 

Welsh  crino,  Gael,  crion,  to  wither,  dry  up. 

Crinkelty-crankelty.    adv.    Very  crooked,  full  of 

twistings.  Dan.  kringel,  crooked,  Dut.  krinkelig,  full  of 
turnings. 

Crobbek  or  Crovvik.     sb.     A  disease  of  the  stomach 

in  cattle,  occasioned  by  change  of  pasture.  Probably  crop-vik, 
from  crop,  the  stomach,  and  Old  Norse  vig,  wound,  hurt. 

Crobs,  Crob-lambs.     sb.    The  worst  of  the  flock. 

One  might  think  of  Eng.  scrub,  in  the  sense  of  something 
worthless,  Dan.  skrab,  scrapings,  trash.  Or  the  sense  may  be 
that  of  feebleness  and  decrepitude,  derived  from  shrivelling  or 
crookedness,  as  Welsh  crab,  wrinkle,  crebach,  shrunk,  withered, 
Gael,  crub,  to  crouch,  cruban,  crooked  creature. 

Crock,    sb.    An  old  ewe. 

Gael,  crog,  a  ewe  past  bearing,  crogan,  a  shrivelled  old  woman, 
Eng.  crone  (which  also  means  an  old  ewe).  The  root  is  probably 
the  same  as  that  of  cranky,  ailing,  infirm,  Sansc.  krik,  to 
become  thin  or  lean. 

Croft,     sb.     A  field  or  inclosure  near  a  house. 

Ang.-Sax.  croft,  a  small  inclosed  field. 

Croful.    sb.    A  very  lean  person  is  said  not  to  have 

a  ' '  croful  of  flesh"  upon  him. — Dick.  I  take  it  to  mean  hand- 
ful, from  Gael.  crog.  hand,  paw,  a  word  generally  used,  as  in 
the  present  case,  with  something  of  a  contemptuous  sense. 

Croose  or  Crowse.    adj.     Brisk,  lively. 

Jamieson  suggests  Suio-Goth.  krus,  Germ,  kraus,  signifying 
curled,  comatus,  as  the  origin  of  this  word.  Ihre  gives  Suio- 
Goth.  krauskopff,  literally  "curled-head,"  as  denoting  an  irri- 
table or  excitable  person. 

Crop.     sb.     The  stomach. 

Old  Norse  kroppr,  the  trunk,  body  without  the  head.  Pro- 
bably formed  by  metath.  from  corp.  Ir.  corp,  Lat.  corpus, 
Sansc.  garbhas. 

Crottles.     sb.     Small  lumps. 

Sco.  crote,  the  smallest  particle.  Welsh  crwd,  around  lump, 
whence  also  Fr.  crottes,  the  globular  droppings  of  sheep.  From 
the  same  general  origin  as  curds  or  cruds,  crowdy,  &c.  Old 
Norse  g,-u,  kru,  crowd. 


30  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Crowdy.    sb.     Oatmeal  mixed  with  the  fat  of  broth. 

Suio-Goth.  grod,  Old  Norse  grautr,  porridge  made  of  meal  and 
water,  Ang.-Sax.  grut,  meal,  Welsh  crwd,  a  round  lump. 

Crowkins.     sb.     Greaves  from  melted  fat. 

Probably  for  crowdkins.     See  crowdy. 

Crud.    sb.     Curd,  of  which  it  is  the  older  form. 

"  Cruddes  of  mylke." — Palsg.    See  crottles  and  crowdy. 

Crune.     sb.     The  subdued  roar  of  the  bull. 

Sco.  crune  "  signifies  the  murmuring  or  groaning  noise  made 
when  they  want  food,  are  pained,  or  dissatisfied  on  what 
account  soever." — Jam.     Dut.  kreunen,  to  groan,  to  whimper. 

Cum-mether.     sb.     A  god  mother. 

Sco.  cummer,  gossip,  companion.  Jamieson  refers  to  Fr.  corn- 
mere,  god-mother.  Comparing  the  Ang.-Sax.  cum-pceder  (cum- 
fader  f),  god-father,  ours  seems  a  different  word,  from  Ang.- 
Sax.  cuma,  comer,  stranger. 

Cumm't  Milk.    sb.     Milk  curdled  with  rennet,  and 

seasoned  with  spices. — Dick.  Lane,  cummed  milk.  From 
Gael,  coimh,  Ir.  coim,  signifying  combination,  corresponding 
with  Lat.  cum,  Welsh  cyd,  cym,  and  Teut.  sam,  the  idea  being 
that  of  coagulation.  Thus  our  cummed  milk  corresponds  with 
the  Yorks.  sammed  milk,  the  one  being  a  Celtic,  and  the  other 
a  Teutonic  form  of  the  same  original  word. 

Currock.     See  kirrock. 

Cush  !  Cush  !     intj.     A  call  note  for  cattle. 

Old  Norse,  Fris.  kits  I  Ms  /  similarly  used.     See  cushie. 

Cushie.     sb.     A  pet  or  familiar  name  for  a  cow. 

Old  Norse  kussa,  Icel.  kusa,  "a  colloquial  diminutive,  frequent 
in  modern  use." — Cleasby.     Hence  the  call  "  cush,  cush." 

Cuts.    sb.     Small  pieces  of  straw  or  paper  of  different 

lengths  used  in  drawing  lots.  "  Cut  or  Lote." — Pr.  Prv. 
Welsh  cwtws,  lots. 

Cutter,    vn.    To  whisper,  talk  softly. 

"  I'  th'  pantry  the  sweet-hearters  cuttered  queyte  soft." 

Anderson. 
Suio-Goth.  kuttra,  to  chatter,  Swed.  kuttra,  to  talk  low  and  in 
secret.  A  frequentative  form  of  Dut.  kouten,  Ang.-Sax.  cwithan, 
&c,  to  talk. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  31 

Cutty,     adj.    Short. 

Welsh  cwt,  Corn,  cot,  cut,  Gael.,  Ir.  cutach,  short. 

Cwoly,  Colie.     sb.     A  shepherd's  dog. 

Sco.  collie.  Gael,  cuilean,  dog,  hound.  Properly  an  appellative, 
it  is  used,  like  Tray,  as  a  proper  name. 

"  If  hares  were  as  plenty  as  hops, 
I  durstn't  fell  yan  for  my  life,  man, 
Nor  tak't  out  o'  auld  Cwoley's  chops." — Miss  Blamirt. 

So  in  Chaucer — 

"  Ran  Col  our  dag,  and  Talbot,  and  Gerlond." 

Similarly,  it  seems  to  me  by  no  means  improbable  that  Tray, 
now  preserved  only  as  a  proper  name,  and  that  more  especially 
in  legend  or  poetry,  may  have  been  an  ancient  appellative, 
signifying  runner,  from  Sansc.  trag,  Gr.  rpexv,  Goth,  tkragian^ 
to  run,  and  of  which  also  in  the  Celtic  branch  a  trace  is  found 
in  the  obs.  Ir.  traig,  Gael,  troigh,  foot.  We  find  from  Martial 
that  vertragus  (in  some  editions  incorrectly  vertagus)  was  the 
name  of  a  hound  imported  from  Britain — 

"  Non  sibi,  sed  domino,  venatur  vertragus  acer, 
Illaesum  leporem  qui  tibi  dente  feret. " 

And  also  Arrian  (De  Venat.)  remarks  that  swift-footed  dogs 
were  called  in  Britain  ouertragoi,  Gluck  explains  vertrag  as 
swift-footed,  from  trag,  as  above,  and  the  intensitive  particle 
ver,  gwer,  present  Welsh  gor.  If  we  might  suppose  the  prefix 
to  be  the  same  word  as  the  Welsh  guare,  Corn,  gware,  to  play, 
sport,  it  would  give  to  vertrag  the  appropriate  meaning  of  a 
"  sporting  dog,"  suggesting  the  possibility  of  a  word  trag, 
whence  possibly  our  Tray — far  a  dog  in  general. 


D. 

P  adder,  Didder,  Dojqder-.  vn.    To  shake,  tremble, 

shiver.  "  Dyderyn  for  colde." — Pr.  Prv.  "A' 11  tak  sum  o* 
that  dadderiri  stuff,"  Mr.  Gibson  heard  a  Cumberland  youth 
say  at  a  supper  table,  indicating  at  the  same  time  a  shape  of 
jelly.  Old  Norse  datta,  to  vibrate,  Germ,  zittern,  Dut.  sitteren, 
Old  Norse  titra,  to  shiver. 

'Daffin.     vb.     Joking,  bantering. 

The  sense  of  folly  enters  conspicuously  into  our  word,  which 
to  be  from  the  verb  daff,  explaimed  by  Jamieson  as  "  to 


32  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

be  foolish."  Clev.  daff  means  also  coward,  dastard.  Old  Norse 
daufr,  deaf,  stupid,  deyfa,  to  make  blunt,  to  stupify,  Dut.  do/, 
dull,  Old  Norse  tcepr,  imperfectus,  cui  aliquid  deest,  Gud.  And. 

Daft.     adj.     Simple,  half-witted,  stupid,  or  foolish. 

Atk.  takes  daft  to  be  the  past  part,  of  the  above  verb  daff. 
Comp.  also  Swed.  iafatt,  stupid,  awkward,  Bav.  tappet,  foolish, 
Old  Swed.  tafatt,  adv.  inepte,  the  adj.  being  probably  lost. 

Daggy.     adj.     Drizzly. 

Clev.  dag  or  deg,  to  drizzle.  Old  Norse  deigr,  moist.  "  In 
Iceland,'  observes  Cleasby,  "  as  applied  to  the  weather,  it 
implies  less  than  wet  and  more  than  damp."  This  is  exactly 
the  meaning  it  has  with  us." 

Dale  (pron.  deall).    sb.    Valley. 

Ang.-Sax.  ddl,  Old  Norse  dalr,  Germ.  thai.  The  origin  is 
Ang.-Sax.  dcBlan,  Old  Norse  deila,  to  divide,  separate,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  valleys  as  divisions  between  the  mountains.  Dale, 
observes  Menage,  has  still  in  Normandy  the  meaning  of  a 
channel,  gutter,  or  trough,  through  which  water  is  carried  away, 
which — the  dale  forming  the  channel  by  which  the  water  is  car- 
ried away  from  the  mountains — he  takes  to  be  a  relic  of  the 
Scand.  dalr.  But  it  seems  rather  to  be  a  relic  of  another 
Northern  word  d&la,  a  kind  of  groove  through  which  the  bilge 
water  is  carried  out  of  a  ship,  present  Norw,  dola,  a  groove- 
formed  trough,  eaves,  a  trench. 

Dales-men.     sb.     The  inhabitants  of  the  dales. 

"Icelanders  say  dala-menn,  'dales-men,'  as  in  Eng.  lake  dis- 
trict."— Cleasby. 

Dander,     vn.     To  hobble,  to  wander  listlessly. 

Sco.  dander,  dandill,  to  saunter.  Germ,  t&ndeln,  to  trifle, 
loiter. 

Dally,    sb.    A  tee-totum. 

Old  Eng.  duly,  a  plaything,  from  Lat.  talus,  the  ankle-bone  of 
animals,  then  a  die  to  play  with. —  Wedg. 

Dander,    sb.     Passion,  excitement.     A  person  in  a 

passion  is  said  to  have  his  dander  up.  Perhaps,  along  with 
tantrum,  from  Welsh  tant,  spasm,  throb,  the  idea  of  which 
seems  to  be  tension,  tannu,  to  stretch,  throb. 

Dang.     va.     To  strike,  thrust,  push. 

Dynge. — P.  PL  Old  Norse  dengja,  Swed.  danga,  to  bang, 
thump. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  33 

Dark.     vn.     To  lurk,  listen  in  the  background. 

Sco.  darn,  to  hide,  conceal.  Old  Eng.  dare,  to  lie  quiet  and 
still.  I  rather  think  that  our  word  may  be  a  corruption  of  one 
or  other  of  the  above,  formed  from  a  striving  after  a  meaning 
when  the  original  word  came  to  be  forgotten.  The  Sco.  darn 
is  from  Ang.-Sax.  dearnen,  to  hide  ;  the  Old  Eng.  dare  Wedg. 
connects  with  Low  Germ,  bedaren,  to  be  still  and  quiet. 

Dave.     va.     To  soothe,  assuage. 

Suio-Goth.  dofwa,  to  benumb,  deaden,  Swed.  dofva,  to  miti- 
gate, alleviate. 

Dawd,  Dode.    sb.    A  lump  of  anything. 

Old  Eng.  dot,  a  small  lump.     Fris.  dodd,  a  lump. 

Dazed,    adj.     Benumbed,  stupified.     Also  as  applied 

to  pastry,  half-baked.  Old  Norse  dasadr,  exhausted,  worn  out, 
Ang.-Sax.  dwces,  Dut.  dwaas,  dull,  heavy.  As  applied  to  pastry 
the  sense  is  that  of  heaviness. 

Deal  or  Dalt.    sb.     A  share  in  common  land. 

Ang.-Sax.  dc$l,  Old  Norse  deild,  a  share  or  division,  Ang.-Sax. 
ddlan,  Old  Norse  deila ,  to  divide.  Menage  remarks  that  dale 
and  delle  are  still  used  in  Normandy  to  denote  a  certain  measure 
of  land,  no  doubt  a  relic  of  the  Northmen. 

Deef.  adj.  Applied  to  light  grain,  also  to  unproductive 

land.  Ang.-Sax.  deaf-corn,  barren  corn,  Suio-Goth.  daufjord, 
unproductive  land.  The  word,  which  is  the  same  as  Eng.  deaf, 
was  widely  used  in  the  sense  of  deprivation. 

Deet.     va.     To  winnow  or  dress  corn. 

Ang.-Sax.  dihtan,  to  prepare,  arrange,  dispose.  In  most  of 
the  other  Northern  dialects  the  word  is  of  more  general  applica- 
tion, in  accordance  with  the  Ang.-Sax. 

Deeve.     vb.     To  deafen. 

Old  Norse  deyfa,  Dan.  dove,  to  deafen,  stun,  stupify. 

Deft.    adj.     Handy,  neat.     Also  quiet,  silent. 

Ang.-Sax.  ddfte,  mild,  convenient,  neat. 

Deg  or  Dag.     vn.     To  ooze,  distil. 

Old  Norse  deigia,  to  be  moist. 
Densh,  Dainsh.   adj.    Delicate,  fastidious,  squeamish. 

Bav.  ddntsch,  a  delicacy,  dantschig,  fastidious.  The  origin 
seems  to  be  Welsh  dant,  tooth,  whence  dantaidd,  fastidious, 
nice,  Eng.  dainty.    So  Eng.  toothsome,  from  tooth. 

E 


34  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Dess.  va.  To  build  or  pile  up,  as  applied  to  stacks,  &c. 

Old  Norse  des,  a  rick,  hey-des,  a  rick  of  hay,  Welsh  das,  Gael. 
dais,  heap,  rick,  stack. 

Deylt.    adj.    Moped,  dispirited,  impaired  in  mind. 

Old  Norse  dvali,  Dan.  dvale,  a  trance,  state  of  torpidity,  Old 
Germ,  tw'elan,  to  be  torpid.  Hence  dwalm  or  dwam,  swoon, 
suspension  of  the  senses. 

Dibble,     vn.     To  plant  seed.     "  Sometimes  applied 

to  burying  a  corpse." — Dick.  "The  syllable  dib,  expressing 
the  act  of  striking  with  a  sharp  instrument,  is  a  modification  of 
Sco.  dab,  to  prick,  Bohem.  dubati,  to  peck,  Eng.  job,  to  thrust 
or  peck,  parallel  with  dag  or  dig,  to  strike  with  a  pointed  instru- 
ment."—  Wedg. 

Dike.  sb.  A  hedge.  Also  a  ditch,  but  rather  a  dry- 
ditch.  This  double  sense  occurs  also  in  the  Dut.  dijck,  both 
agger  and  fovea,  (fCil.),  and  in  the  Dan.  dige,  ditch  and  bank. 
So  also  Ang.-Sax.  die,  Suio-Goth.  dike,  ditch  and  bank.  This, 
observes  Ihre,  is  naturally  to  be  accounted  for,  as  the  same 
earth  which  is  taken  out  of  the  ditch,  serves  to  make  the  mound. 
The  root,  if  it  be  the  same  as  that  found  in  Sansc.  dih,  to  heap 
up,  would  seem  to  make  it  appear  that  the  original  sense  was 
that  of  the  bank  or  hedge. 

Dill.     va.     To  soothe. 

Old  Norse  dilla,  to  lull,  as  a  nurse  does  a  child. 
DiTT.     va.     To  stop  up. 

Ang.-Sax.  dyttan,  Old  Norse  ditto,,  to  cjose,  to  stop  up. 

Dobby.     sb.     A  hobgoblin. 

Perhaps,  by  transposition  of  consonants,  for  boddy.  Hence 
same  as  Sco.  boody%  from  Gael,  bodach,  spectre,  boggle.  The 
converse  transposition  appears  in  Yorks.  body,  a  simpleton 
{Ray),  probably  the  same  word  as  our  dobby.     See  dope. 

Dockin.     sb.     The  dock  (plant). 

So  hollin  for  holly,  ivin  for  ivy. 

Doddy.    sb.     A  cow  without  horns. 

"  Doddyd,  wythe-owte  hornysse." — Pr.  Prv.  Fris.  dodd,  a 
lump.  "  To  dod  is  to  reduce  to  a  lump,  to  cut  off  excrescences." 
—  Wedg. 

Dod.  sb.  The  name  of  many  round-topped  hills  in 
Cumb.  From  the  same  origin  as  above,  in  reference  to  their 
round,  lump-like  form. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  35 

Doff.    va.    To  undress.     To  "  do  off." 

In  common  use  in  Early  Eng.     Dut.  afdoen,  to  put  off. 

Dog-daisy,    sb.    The  common  daisy. 

Dog,  in  the  names  of  plants,  signifies  worthlessness. 

Dog-pig.     sb.     A  castrated  boar. 

Welsh  diawg,  slow,  lazy,  dull  (di,  priv.,  and  awg,  keenness, 
desire).  Hence  of  similar  meaning  to  seg,  a  castrated  bull. 
Compare  the  Craven  simile — "As  lither  (lazy)  as  a  libbed 
bitch." 

Doldrums,     sb.     Low  spirits,  melancholy. 

Gael,  doltrum,  grief,  vexation. 

Don.    va.    To  dress,  to  put  on  any  article  of  clothing, 

to  "do  on,"  as  to  doff  is  to  "do  off."  "Do  on  clothys, 
induo." — Pr.  Prv. 

Donky.     adj.     Drizzly,  applied  to  the  weather. 

Swed.  ddnka,  Dial.  Dan.  dynke,  Germ,  dunken,  to  make  or  cause 
to  be  damp.  Dank  and  damp  axe  synonymous,  "  as  syllables 
ending  in  mb  or  mp  frequently  interchange  with  ng  or  nk." — 
Wedg. 

Donnat.     sb.     The  devil.     Also  a  worthless  person. 

Dow  signifies  usefulness  or  virtue,  and  donnat  is  probably  dow- 
nought,  good  for  nothing,  as  Germ,  taugenichts,  Dan.  dogenigt, 
Dut.  deugniet,  a  good-for-nothing  person.  So  we  use  con- 
versely "  nought  at  dow." 

1 '  For  dancin'  he  was  nought  at  dow, 

But  a  prime  han'  for  a  drinker." — Lonsdale. 

Dook.     va.  and  n.     To  bathe,  dive,  duck,  or  stoop. 

Dan.  dukke,  to  dive,  duck  under  water. 

Doose  or  Dowse,     va.     To  slap  with  the  hand. 

Gael,  duis,  the  hand,  whence  duiseal,  a  beating.  Comp.  also 
Vulg.  Germ,  dusel,  a  box  on  the  ear. 

Dope,  Dopy,  Dobby.     sb.     A  simpleton. 

Clev.  dove,  to  be  heavy  and  stupid.  Fris.  dobig,  simple,  half- 
witted, Suio-Goth.  dofwa,  to  have  the  senses  dulled  or  stupified, 
Old  Norse  dqfi,  torpidity,  Sansc.  div,  to  be  dull  or  sleepy. 

Dottle.      sb.       The   small   portion  of  tobacco   left 

unsmoked  in  the  pipe. — Dick.  "  Dotelle,  stoppynge  of  a 
vessele." — Pr.  Prv.  Dut.  dodde,  a  tap,  stopper,  plug,  Low 
Germ,  dutte,  Dial.  Dan.  dot,  a  stopper,  Ang.-Sax.  dyttan,  Old 
Norse  ditto. ,  to  stop,  close. 

E   2 


36  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Douse,  Dowse,     adj.     Kindly,  pleasant,  hospitable, 

"Aye  the  douse  dapper  lanlady  cried  '  eat  an'  welcome.'  " 

Anderson. 
Fr.  doux,  douce.  The  original  meaning  is  preserved  more  closely 
with  us  than  in  Scotland,  where  Jam.  explains  it  as  "  thrifty." 

Dow.     sb.}     Usefulness,  virtue. 

Ang.-Sax.  dugan,  Dan.  due,  to  be  of  use,  to  be  good  or  fit  for 
something,  Sansc.  dak,  valere. 

Dowly.     adj.     Melancholy,  dejected.     Applied  to  a 

place,  lonely,  cheerless.     Old  Norse  ddlegr,  wretched. 

Dowp.     sb.     A  bay  in  a  lake. 

This  seems  to  be  a  characteristic  Scandinavian  word.  Old 
Norse  djfip,  the  deep  sea  close  to  land  (whence  the  name  of 
Dieppe),  and  then  a  large  bay. 

Dowy.     adj.     Down-hearted,  dejected. 

Perhaps  from  Welsh  dueg,  melancholy.  Or  perhaps  for  dowly, 
Old  Norse  ddlegr,  wretched,  hapless. 

Dozent.     adj.     Spiritless,  stupified. 

Among  the  various  related  words  are  Fris.  dosig,  dizzy,  Ang.- 
Sax.  dysig,  foolish,  Dial.  Dan.  dose,  to  be  heavy  or  listless,  dose, 
to  be  dumb  in  sense  and  faculty.  The  root  is  the  same  as  that 
of  dazed. 

Dozzle.     vn.     To  drizzle,  applied  to  the  weather. 

Prov.  Germ,  doseln,  to  drizzle. 

Dozzle.    sb.     A  lump. 

Gael,  dos,  a  lump. 

Drabble,     vn.     To  make  wet  or  dirty,  to  draggle. 

"  Drabelyn,  paludo." — Pr.  Prv.  Old  Norse  drabba,  to  dirty, 
Dut.  drabbe,  Dan.  drav,  dregs,  Low  Germ,  drabbeln,  to  slobber, 
Gael,  drabh,  dregs,  drabach,  dirty. 

Draff,     sb.    Brewers'  grains. 

Old  Norse  draf,  Ang.-Sax.  drabbe,  Dan.  drav,  dregs,  refuse 
food  for  hogs,  Gael,  drabh,  dregs. 

Drakt.     adj.     Wet. 

West,  drakes,  a  slop  or  mess.  Old  Norse  dreckia,  to  plunge  in 
water,  to  drench.  The  Welsh  trochi,  to  dip,  to  plunge,  seems 
to  be  an  allied  word. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  37 

Drammock.    sb.   A  mixture  of  oatmeal  and  water. 

Probably  for  draffock.    See  draff. 

Dree.     adj.     Slow,  tedious. 

From  the  sense  of  what  is  drawn  out,  Goth,  drig,  driugr,  long 
drawn  out,  Old  Norse  drifigr-genginn,  taking  long  to  pass  (of 
a  road),  Swed.  dryg-mil,  a  long  (or  a  dree)  mile. 

Dreen.     sb.     The  gratified  sound  made  by  the  cow 

during  milking.  Old  Norse  dreynja,  Dan.  drone,  Dut.  dreunen, 
Germ,  drohnen,  to  roar,  to  bellow,  Sansc.  dhran,  to  groan,  give 
out  a  hollow  sound. 

Dreuvt,  Dreeavt.   adj.    Drenched  or  saturated  with 

water.     Probably  from  the  same  origin  as  drabble,  q.v. 

Drip.     sb.     Driven  snow. 

Found  only  in  the  phrase  "  white  as  drip,"  applied  to  anything 
brilliantly  white.  Old  Norse  drif,  driven  snow.  The  phrase 
itself,  hvit  sem  drif,  "  white  as  drip,"  is  current  in  Iceland.  • 

Drucken.     adj.     Drunk. 

Old  Norse  druckinn,  Dan.  drukken,  drunk. 
Drush  down.    vn.    To  rush  down,  fall  down  suddenly. 

Sco.  thrusch,  to  fall  or  come  down  with  a  rushing  or  crashing 
noise.  Goth,  driusa,  to  fall.  Prov.  Germ.  (Henneberg) 
drauschen,  to  rush. 

Dub.    sb.    A  small  pond  or  pool. 

Old  Norse  dapi,  a  pool,  Fris.  dobbe,  a  ditch,  puddle,  Gael. 
dubhagan,  a  pond.  In  Lonsd.  Peacock  gives  the  additional 
meaning  of  "  a  deep  hole  in  a  river,"  but  this  would  seem  to  be 
an  altogether  different  word,  from  Old  Norse  dj&p,  Dan.  dyb,  a 
deep  hole,  a  word  which  we  also  retain,  but  in  a  totally  different 
sense.     See 


Dub.     va.     To  prepare  a  cock  for  fighting. 

Fr.  addouber,  to  dress,  arm  at  all  points. 

Dubler,  Doubler,  Dibbler.  sb.  A  large  plate  or  dish. 

"  The  dubler  was  brong  in  wi'  wheyte  breed  an'  brown." 

Anderson. 
Dobeler.—  P.  PL  It  seems  probable  that  the  meaning  is  that 
of  a  vessel  which  requires  to  be  carried  in  both  hands.  This  is 
the  origin  suggested  by  Schmeller  for  Germ,  zuber,  tub,  in  op- 
position to  Germ,  eimer,  Old  High  Germ,  ainbar,  a  pail,  a 
vessel  carried  in  one  hand.    The  author  of  the  Craven  Glossary 


38  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

refers  for  the  origin  to  a  Welsh  dwbler,  but  though  Lloyd  gives 
dwbler  as  a  word  used  in  Cardiganshire,  it  does  not  appear  in 
any  dictionary  that  I  can  find,  and  may  be  more  probably  bor- 
rowed from  the  English.  Way,  in  a  note  to  the  Pr.  Prv.,  says 
"the  term  is  derived  from  the  Fr.  doublier,  a  dish,"  which 
seems  more  probable,  though  the  only  term  I  find  is  double 
vaisseau,  a  caldron  or  kettle  full  of  hot  water  (Cotg.) 

Duds.    sb.    Clothes,  more  especially  when  worn  and 

shabby.     Gael,  dud,  rags. 

Duffy,    adj.     Soft,  spongy,  woolly. 

Lonsd.  and  Crav.  duffel,  a  cloth  with  a  rough  nap.  Old  Norse 
tog,  the  rougher  part  of  a  fleece,  from  toga,  to  draw  out.  Hence 
duffy  is  from  the  same  root  as  tough,  which,  like  it,  replaces  the 
g  sound  by  that  of/". 

Dump.     va.     To  butt  with  the  horns. 

Old  Norse  dumpa,  Dan.  dumpe,  to  strike,  to  thump. 

Dumpy-cow.    sb.    A  cow  given  to  striking.  See  dump. 
Dunch.     va.     To  nudge  with  the  elbow. 

"  Dunchyn,  tundo." — Pr.  Prv.  Dut.  donsen,  pugno  in  dorso 
percutere,  Suio-Goth.  dunsa,  impetu  et  fragore  procedere,  Dan. 
dundse,  to  thump. 

Dunnecan.    sb.     A  privy. 

Perhaps  from  Gael,  dionach,  reserved,  set  apart,  from  dion, 
shelter,  covert. 

Durdem.     sb.     A  tumult,  uproar,  disturbance. 

Lonsd.  durdem,  durden.  On  the  whole,  I  think  the  derivation 
from  Gael,  durdan,  murmur,  humming,  the  most  probable. 

Dust.     sb.     Uproar,  disturbance. 

Suio-Goth.  dust,  dyst,  tumult. 
Dwallow.    vn.     To  wither,  turn  yellow  with  age. 

Old  Norse  dvali,  Swed.  dwala,  dulness,  fainting,  stupefaction. 
The  sense  of  our  word  has  changed  from  mental  torpor  to 
physical  decay. 

Dwam.     sb.    A  swoon. 

Properly  dwalm.  Suio-Goth.  dwalm,  a  state  of  torpor,  a 
swoon. 

Dwine.     vn.     To  wither,  pine  away. 

"  Dwynyn  a-wey,  evaneo." — Pr.  Prv.  Ang.-Sax.  dwinank 
Old  Norse  dvina,  to  wither. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  39 

Dyster.    sb.     A  dyer. 

Stands  in  the  same  category  as  brewster  and  webster,  both  words 
of  the  Northern  dialect,  for  brewer  and  weaver.  The  ending  is 
properly  a  female  one,  Ang. -Sax.  estre,  as  in  sangestre,  songstress, 
but  the  distinction  seems  at  an  early  period  to  have  been  lost, 
as  whytster,  a  fuller,  is  rendered  in  the  Pr.  Prv.  candidarius,  and 
in  Palsg.  blanchisseur. 


Ear.     sb.     The  kidney. 

The  same  in  North.,  Suff.,  and  Sco.  Old  Norse  nyra,  Dan. 
nyre,  Germ,  nieren.  A  similar  anacope  of  n  we  have  in  est  for 
nest. 

Eath.     adj.     Easy. —  West,  and  Cumb.  Dial. 
Old  Eng.  eith,  Ang. -Sax.  eath,  easy. 

Een.    sb.    Eyes. 

Our  word,  like  the  Sco.  een,  retains  the  old  plural. 

Efter.    prep.     After. 

Old  Norse  eftir,  Dan.,  Swed.  efter.  The  Ang. -Sax.  also  has 
both  after  and  efter. 

Egg  on.     va.     To  incite,  stimulate. 

Ang. -Sax.  eggian,  Old  Norse  eggia,  Dan.  egge.  The  root  idea, 
as  in  stimulate  (stimulus,  a  goad)  is  that  of  pricking,  Ang. -Sax. 
ecg,  a  sharp  point. 

Eldin.     sb.     Fuel,  as  peat,  turf,  wood.. 

"  Eyldynge  or  fowayle." — Pr.  Prv.  Old  Norse  elding,  fuel, 
firing,  from  elda,  to  kindle  a  fire. 

Eldin.     sb.     The  butter-bur. 

The  name,  like  that  of  the  elder,  probably  contains  the  meaning 
of  hollow,  which  is  also  that  contained  in  bur.     See  bur-tree. 

Eller.     sb.     The  elder. 

Ang. -Sax.  air,  celr,  Germ,  eller.  In  the  Pr.  Prv.  eldyr  or 
hyldyr.    See  bur-tree. 

Elson.     sb.     A  shoemaker's  awl. 
Dut.  else,  Old  Dut.  elsene,  awl. 


4©  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

En.     conj.     Than. 

May  be  derived  from  the  Old  Norse  enn,  than —  meira  enn 
athrir,  "  mair  en  others."  But  we  also  find  in  Prov.  Germ. 
(Henneberg)  enn  for  den  —  net  mehr  enn  drei,  "nit  mair  en 
three. "  The  Old  Norse  enn  is  formed  by  anacope  from  thenn, 
as  is  the  Prov.  Germ,  enn  from  denru  Or  in  other  words  it 
may  be  said  to  be  the  result  of  defective  pronunciation.  "The 
anacope,"  observes  Cleasby,  "  is  entirely  Scandinavian/ — 
which,  if  it  means  that  it  is  not  to  be  found  in  German,  is  to  be 
qualified  by  the  exception  above  quoted.  Now  the  question  is — 
is  our  word  derived  from  the  Scandinavian,  or  is  it  the  result  of 
similar  phonetic  tendencies  within  the  dialect  itself?  To  this  we 
can  give  no  certain  answer,  but  in  any  case  it  is  probable  enough 
than  these  phonetic  tendencies  in  our  dialect,  (of  which  another 
instance  is  er  for  nor,)  may  be  of  Scandinavian  origin. 

Er.     conj.     Nor  (used  for  than). 

"  Mine's  better  er  thine." 

Esh.     sb.     The  ash. 

"  Esche." — Pr.  Prv.    Ang.-Sax.  esse,  Old  Norse  ask,  eski. 

Esp.    sb.     The  aspen. 

"  Espe." — Pr.  Prv.  Old  Norse  espi,  Ang.-Sax.  <zsp.  "  Words 
that  seem  to  represent  the  sibilant  sound  of  its  ever-moving 
leaves,  as  in  asp,  Gr.  cw7ris,  from  its  hissing." — Prior. 

Est.    sb.     Nest. 

This  word,  with  which  I  can  find  nothing  elsewhere  to  compare, 
except  ear  for  near,  shows  in  a  still  stronger  manner  the 
tendency  of  the  dialect  (see  en)  to  cut  off  an  initial  consonant. 

Ettle.     vn.     To  aim  at,  intend,  propose. 

Old  Norse,  Old  Swed.  cetla,  to  think,  purpose. 

Ezins  or  Easins.    sb.     Eaves  of  a  building. 

"Evese  or  evesynge."  —  Pr.  Prv.  Ang.-Sax.  evese,  eaves, 
efesian,  to  cut  in  the  form  of  eaves. 


Fadge.     sb.     A  slow  heavy  trot. 

Clev.fadge,  to  move  as  a  corpulent  person  does.    Swed./^a, 
to  load,  to  weight. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  4 1 

Faffle.     vn.     To  trifle,  to  saunter. 

Dut.  femelen,  Fris.  f ample,  Prov.  Germ,  fappeln,  to  trifle, 
fumble. 

Fag.     vb.     To  load,  to  encumber. 

Swed.  fagga,  to  load. 

Fain.     adj.     Glad,  anxious,  fully  disposed. 

Ang.-Sax.fzgen,  Old  Norse  feginn,  joyful,  willing. 

Fair.     adj.  and  adv.     Used  intensively,  altogether, 

entirely.  "  It's  a  fair  sham,"  i.  e.,  a  complete  shame.  "  There 
is  a  remarkable  coincidence  of  sense  and  application  between 
this  word  and  the  Dial.  Dan.  fcer,  fare,  adj.  and  adv.,  quoted 
by  Molbech,  and  explained  as  meaning  greatly,  in  a  high 
degree,  remarkably,  e.  g.t  hun  var  fcere  smykket,  she  was 
extremely  pretty. — Atk. 

Fallops.    sb.     Rags,  untidy  dress  of  a  woman. 

Seems  connected  with  Dut.  falie,  a  loose  wide  dress  of  women. 

Farlies.    sb.    Wonders,  remarkable  things. 

Ferly,  a  wonder. — P.  PL  Ang.-Sax.  fcerlice,  sudden,  unfore- 
seen, Old  Norse  ferlegr,  monstrous,  horrible. 

Farntickles,   Fantickles.     sb.      Freckles  on  the 

face,  &c.  Farn  is,  no  doubt,  as  suggested  by  Atk.,  a  contrac- 
tion of  frecken,  Old  Norse  frekna,  freckles.  And  tickle  is  a 
diminutive  of  tick,  a  slight  mark.  Fantickle  may  be  only  another 
form,  or  it  may  be  from  Old  Norseyfoa,  also  signifying  a  freckle. 

Farrantly.   adj.    Orderly,  respectable,  well-behaved. 

On  the  whole,  I  am  disposed  to  accept  Morris's  derivation  from 
Gael,  farranta,  brave,  stout.  Farranta  is  Worn  fear,  a  man  ; 
and  the  idea  of  that  which  becomes  a  man,  which,  in  the  eyes 
of  the  fierce  Gael,  was  courage  in  the  fight,  might,  as  in  the 
case  of  mense,  similarly  derived,  become  that  of  a  peaceful  pro- 
priety of  conduct. 

Fash.     va.     To  annoy,  trouble,  vex. 

Jamieson's  conclusion  that  this  word  is  borrowed  directly  from 
the  Fr.  f acker  (formerly  fascher)  must,  in  view  of  its  universal 
prevalence  throughout  the  North,  be  regarded  with  some  sus- 
picion, and  I  am  rather  disposed  to  agree  with  Atk.  in  his 
suggestion  of  a  Scandinavian  origin.  He  suggests  Swed,  fasa 
and 7? aska,  and  Dial.  Dan.  fasse,  all  having  very  much  the  same 
meaning  of  taking  useless  care  and  trouble. 


42  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Faugh  (pron./^f).    sb.    Fallow. 

Ang.-Sax.  fealg,  Dial.  Dan.  fcelge,  fallow.  Our  dialect,  as 
usual,  suppresses  the  /,  and  changes  the  sound  of  g  into  f. 
Comp.  saugh  or  saff-tree,  the  willow,  from  Ang.-Sax.  salg. 

Faxed-star.     sb.     A  comet. — Hall. 

Ang.-Sax.  feaxed steorra,  a  haired  star,  a  comet,  from  Ang.-Sax. 
feax,  Old  Norse/a.*,  hair,  mane. 

Feal.     vn.     To  hide. —  West,  and  Cumb.  Dial. 
Old  Norse  fela,  Suio-Goth.  fala,  fela,  to  hide. 

Feckless,     adj.     Helpless,  inefficient. 

From  feck,  the  imperfect  of  Old  Norse  fa,  to  attain,  acquire 
(whence  I  take  our  word  fue),  Atk.,  I  think  rightly,  derives 
Clev.  feck,  ability,  efficiency,  whence  our  word  feckless.  From 
the  corresponding  Germ,  fdken,  comes  fdhig,  capable,  effective, 
which  would  correspond  with  fecky,  which  has  probably  been  at 
some  time  in  use. 

Feek.     vn.     To  be  restless  or  anxious,  to  fidget. 

"Fykynge  about  in  idleness." — Pr.  Prv.  Old  Norse  fika,  to 
make  haste,  to  bustle,  Dut.  ficken,  Bav.  ficken,  to  switch,  move 
rapidly  to  and  fro. 

Feel.    adj.    Smooth. 

Ang.-Sax.  feolian,  to  file,  polish,  make  smooth.  In  Clev.  to 
"  file  over"  is  to  smooth  over,  to  cajole.  The  Ang.-Sax. 
feolian,  judging  from  Old  Norse/i^vz,  Germ,  fegen,  to  polish, 
may  be  a  contraction  of  fegolian.     Comp.  Yx.filou,  sharper. 

Fell.     va.     To  knock  down  with  a  blow. 

Ang.-Sax.  fellan,  Old  Norse  fella,  to  knock  down. 

Fell.     adj.     Energetic,  striving. 

Ang.Sax.fell,  fierce,  cruel,  severe. 

Fell-faw.    sb.     The  field-fare. 

Ang.-Sax.  feala-for,  from  fealo,  yellow. 

Fell.     sb.    A  mountain. 

Old  Norse  fjall,  fell,  Swed.  fjall,  Dan.  field.  The  word  is  not 
found  in  the  Saxon  idiom,  and  its  universal  use  throughout  the 
district  may  be  taken  as  a  proof  of  Northern  occupancy. 

Fend.     vn.     To  manage  or  make  shift,  to  be  careful 

and  industrious.  Ang.-Sax.  fandian,  to  try,  prove,  search  out, 
Daxi.f<znte,fente,  to  strive,  to  acquire  with  toil  and  care. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  43 

Fest.     vn.     To  send  out  cattle,  &c,  to  other  farms  to 

be  grazed.   Old  Norse  festa,  to  settle,  stipulate,  make  a  bargain. 

Fettle,    va.    To  fit,  arrange,  to  repair  or  put  a  thing 

to  rights.  In  the  general  sense  in  which  it  is  used,  it  would 
seem  like  a  frequentative  form  of  fit,  Old  Norse  fitja,  to  web, 
to  knit,  Suio-Golh.  fittja,  to  fasten. 

Feur-day,  Feer-day.     sb.     The  break  of  day. 

Dut.  veur-dagh,  tempus  antelucanum. 

Fewsome.     adj.     Handsome,  becoming. 

In  Clev.  viewsome,  which  is  no  doubt  the  proper  word  ;  we  have 
also  viewly,  in  the  same  sense. 

Fig-fag  or  Fick-fack.     sb.     The  neck  tendon. 

The  Germ,  and  DvX.fick-facken  both  have  the  sense  of  fidgetting, 
making  frequent  and  rapid  movements,  which  seems  to  be  the 
idea  contained  in  the  present  word. 

Filly-fair.     sb.     "  Palm  Sunday  has  long  been  held 

as  a  day  of  recreation  for  young  people  at  Arlecdon,  and  is 
called  Filly  fair  day." — Dick.  Gael.,  Ir.  feil,  Manx  fea I 'ley,  a 
holiday,  festival  of  the  Church. 

Fire-house,    sb.     The  inhabited  part  of  a  farm-stead. 

Comp.  I  eel.  eld-Ms,  the  "fire-house,"  or  main  room  of  the 
homestead. 

Firth  or  Frith,     sb.     An  estuary,  an  arm  of  the  sea. 

Old  Norse  fiordr,  Suio-Goth.  fiaerd,  Dan.  fiord. 

Firtle.  vn.  To  trifle,  to  make  an  appearance  of 
work.  Perhaps  for  fittle,  (Eng.  fiddle),  from  Old  Norse fitla, 
to  fidget  with  the  fingers. 

Fizzle,     vn.     To  work  busily  but  ineffectually. 

Clev.  to  fidget.  Swiss  fiselen,  to  fiddle  about  a  thing,  work  in  a 
trifling  manner,  make  a  pretence  of  business. 

Flaitch.     vb.      To  wheedle,  obtain   one's   ends    by 

flattery.  Dial.  Swed.  fleka,  Old  Germ,  fiechen,  to  caress,  fondle, 
fawn,  Old  Swed.  flikare,  Old  Germ,  fiechare,  a  flatterer,  a 
wheedler. 

Flacker,     vn.     To  flap,  to  flutter.     Also  to  give  way 

to  an  immoderate  fit  of  laughter.  Old  Norse  flaka,  to  flap. 
The  second  meaning  is  no  doubt  derived  from  the  first,  referring 
to  the  shaking  of  the  sides  in  laughter. 


44  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Flack,    sb.     A  square  piece  of  turf. 

Lonsd.  flak.  Dan.  flag,  a  flat  sod  of  turf,  used  in  some  parts 
of  Jutland  as  a  covering  for  peat  and  turf  stacks. — Mold. 

Flan.    adj.    Flat,  shallow,  applied  to  dishes,  &c. 

In  Yorks.  to  flan  is  to  widen  towards  the  top,  to  expand  out- 
wards. Old  Norse  flenna,  to  expand,  to  stretch  out,  fltntr, 
expanded,  flenn-eygr,  saucer-eyed,  Dial.  Dan.  flane,  to  gape,  to 
stare. 

Flannen.    sb.     Flannel. 

Our  word  shows  the  old  and  correct  form,  flannel  being  origin- 
ally a  Welsh  manufacture,  and  derived,  no  doubt,  from gwlanen, 
flannel,  from  gwlan,  wool. 

Flay.    vn.     To  frighten. 

Old  Norse  flcsja,  to  put  to  flight,  terrify. 

Flaysome.     adj.     Frightful.     SeejZay. 
Flecked,    adj.    Spotted,  marked,  streaked. 

And  wonderful  foweles, 

"With  fleckede  fetheres.—  P.  PI. 
Old  Norse  flecka,  to  spot,  stain,  fleckottr,  spotted,  Germ,  flechen, 
to  stain. 

Fleuz't.  adj.    Bruised,  fringed,  broken  into  filaments. 

Lonsd.,  Crav.  fluzzed.  Old  Norse  flysja,  to  split  into  slices, 
flis,  a  splinter,  Dan.  flise,  to  splinter. 

Fleer,     vn.     To  laugh  heartily. — Dick. 

To  have  a  countenance  expressive  of  laughter  without  laughing 
out. — Brock.  To  manifest  the  feeling  or  spirit  of  mocking  or 
scornful  ridicule  without  actually  laughing  out. — Atk.  Dicken- 
son's definition  is  borne  out  as  regards  Cumb.  in  the  following  : 
"  They  brunt  his  wig,  an'  greym't  his  feace, 
And  waken't  him  wi'  fleerin." — Upshot,  Lonsdale. 
Dial.  Dan.  flire,  to  smile  sneeringly,  Nor.  flir,  suppressed 
laughter. 

Fleet,     sb.     Lot,  large  number. 

"  The  hail  fleet  o'  them."— Dick.  Sco.  fleet,  to  abound.  Old 
Yr.flotte,  a  crowd,  flotte  de  gens,  crowd  of  people.  The  origin 
is  probably  Teutonic. 

Flick,    sb.    A  flitch  (of  bacon). 

Ang.-Sax.  flicce,  Old  Norse  flikki,  flitch  of  bacon, 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  4$ 

Flinders,    sb.    Fragments,  small  pieces. 

Old  Eng.  flitter,  to  scatter  in  pieces.  Norw.  flindra,  a  shiver 
of  stone  or  the  like.     Dut.  flenters,  tatters. 

Flipe.     sb.     The  rim  of  a  hat. 
Dan.  flip,  tip,  corner,  extremity. 

Flit.     vn.     To  remove  from  one  house  to  another, 

generally  in  the  sense  of  evading  creditors,  though  that  sense 
does  not  enter  into  the  origin  of  the  word.  "  It  seems  almost 
always  to  imply  the  removal  of  something,  e.g.,  of  the  out-going 
tenant's  movable  property." — Atk.  Old  Norse  flitja,  to  carry, 
convey.  Dan.  flytte,  to  remove,  carry  away,  shift  or  change 
dwelling. 

Flyte.     vn.     To  mock,  scold,  ridicule. 

'*  Flytin  or  chydin."— Pr.  Prv.  Ang.-Sax.  flitan,  to  strive, 
dispute,  quarrel. 

Floff.     sb.     The  lightest  of  chaff. 

Eng.  flue,  fluff,  down  or  nap.  Low  Germ,  flog,  light  things 
that  rise  and  fly  in  the  air,  flog-aske,  light  flying  ashes.  The 
common  change  occurs  of  g  \n\.of. 

Flodder.     sb.     Froth,  foam,  half-dissolved  snow. 

Probably  allied  to  flutter,  Low  Germ,  fluddern,  Bav.  flodern, 
Wall,  fluturare,  to  flutter,  as  a  butterfly  or  flake  of  snow, 
fluturu,  a  flake  of  snow.  Comp.  also  Dul.floderen,  to  trudge 
through  wet  and  dirt. 

Flow.    sb.    A  bog,  quagmire. 

Old  Norse  fldi,  a  marshy  fen,  from  flda,  to  flood,  Prov.  Germ. 
flage,  a  quagmire.  This  sense  of  liquidity  is  exemplified  in  the 
case  of  Solway  Flow,  by  an  irruption  in  the  last  century,  which 
caused  extensive  damage  and  some  loss  of  life. 

Flough.     adj.     Wild,    skittish,    as   a  young  horse. 

Applied  also,  in  the  case  of  a  person,  to  wild  and  reckless  ex- 
penditure. Swiss  fluck,  skittish,  applied  to  a  horse,  Low  Germ. 
flugg,  lively  and  spirited  beyond  what  is  becoming.  The  idea, 
as  also  in  our  words  flighty  and  volatile,  is  derived  from  that  of 
flying. 

Flough.  adj.  Cold,  boisterous,  applied  to  the  weather. 

From  the  sense  of  flying,  as  in  above.  Comp.  Fris.  flaag,  a 
sharp  and  sudden  shower,  Low  Germ,  flage,  a  passing  storm  of 
wind  or  rain,  Old  Eng.  flaw,  a  violent  storm  of  wind. — Hall. 


46  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Fluet.     sb.     A  blow  or  buffet. 

Property,  I  think,  a  slap  with  the  flat  hand.  Perhaps  the  same 
as  Old  Eng.  flirt,  "a  fillip,  rap,  or  flirt,"  {Cotg.)  Halliwell  has 
also  Prov.  Eng.  flatten,  to  slap,  and  flatte  occurs  in  P.  PL  in 
the  sense  of  dashing  water  on  the  face. 

Fluke,  Flook.     sb.     A  flounder,  flat  fish. 

Ang.-Sax.flSc,  Old  Norse  fldki,  a  flat  fish. 
Flusteration.     sb.     Excitement  and  confusion. 

Clev.  flusterment.  Old  Norse  flaustr,  precipitancy,  excitement, 
Walach.  flusturare,  to  do  a  thing  in  a  boisterous  or  turbulent 
manner. 

Fog.    sb.     After-grass,  when  the  hay  has  been  cut  and 

removed.     Welsh  ffwg,  dry  grass,  (Gam.  Phil.  Ess.) 

Foggy,    adj.     Light,  soft,  spongy. 

Welsh  ffwg,  what  is  volatile  (as  dry  leaves  or  grass). 

Foisty,  Fusty,     adj.     Having  a  close,  disagreeable 

smell,  as  of  dampness  or  moudliness.  "  Fyyst,  stynk. " — Pr.  Prv. 
The  origin  seems  to  be  Old  Norse  flsa,  to  blow,  also  to  break 
wind,  whence  Old  Norse  fys,  Dut.  veest,  Germ,  fist,  flatus  ventris, 
Low  Germ,  fistrig,  ill-smelling,  as  a  peasant's  room. 

Footh.     sb.     Plenty,  abundance. 

Properly  fulth.  Formed  from  full,  as  wealth  from  weal  and 
health  from  heal. 

Foothy.     adj.     Well  off,  in  good  circumstances. 

Dick,  gives  also  the  sense  of  liberal,  hospitable.     Seefooth. 

Forbye.     adv.     Besides,  in  addition  to. 

Dan.  forbi,  Germ,  vorbei,  besides,  over  and  above. 

Force,     sb.     A  cascade  or  waterfall. 

Clev.  force  an&foss.  Old  Norse  fors,  waterfall,  forsa,  to  stream 
in  torrents,  Norw.  and  Mod.  I  eel.  foss.  "This,"  observes 
Cleasby,  "  is  a  test  word  of  Scandinavian  language  and  origin." 
He  also  refers  to  a  passage  in  Constant.  Porph.  De  Admin. 
Imperii,  where  the  Byzantine  author  gives  the  names  of  some 
waterfalls  in  Russia,  from  which  it  would  seem  that  the  Russian 
word  was  then  {topcrl*  or  <p6pos,  (Russia,  it  must  be  remem- 

*  Pron.  vorsy  in  Mod.  Greek.     Hence,  probably,  as  well  as foros, 
the  same  word  as  the  Old  Norse  fors. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  47 

bered,  was  colonised  by  Northmen).  It  seems  probable  that 
Old  Norse  fors  is  formed  from  the  prep./ra  joined  with  the  verb 
isia,  proruere. 

Forder.    va.     To  further,  assist,  promote. 

Suio-Goth.  fordra,  promovere,  juvare,  Germ,  fordern,  to  pro- 
mote. 

For-elders.    sb.     Ancestors. 

Old  Norse  foreldri,  forefathers,  Dan.  forceldre  (limited  to 
parents). 

Formel.     vn.     To  bespeak. 

Old  Norse  formes  la,  to  appoint,  Dan.  formelde,  to  proclaim. 

Forset.    va.     To  waylay. 

Ang.-Sax.  forsettan,  to  set  before,  Old  Norse  forsdt,  an  ambush. 

Fospel-hole.  sb.  The  print  of  a  footstep  on  soft  ground. 

Fospel  may  possibly  be  a  corruption  of  fosper,  i.e.,  foot-spor. 
Old  Norse  fot-spor,  foot-print.  Otherwise  I  can  suggest  no 
explanation,  unless  we  may  think  of  Welsh  fosp,  breach,  gap. 

Fotter.    va.     To  hummel  barley  in  order  to  break 

off  the  awns.  Crav.  fawter.  Sco.  fatter.  The  proper  word  is 
falter,  as  found  in  Marshal's  Rur.  Econ.  Atk.  thinks  it  "an 
arbitrary  application  of  the  standard  word,  connected  with  the 
interrupted  or  up-and-down  motion  of  the  instrument  when  in 
use."  I  am  more  disposed  to  think  of  Germ,  foltem,  Dut. 
folteren,  to  put  to  the  rack,  torture,  torment. 

Fowt.     sb.     A  fondling,  a  petted  child. 

In  Clev,  also  a  fool,  stupid  lout.  Atk.,  however,  separates  the 
two  words,  deriving  the  former  from  L.a.t.fotus,  and  the  latter 
from  Old  Norse  fauti,  simpleton.  I  confess,  however,  to  some 
doubt  respecting  this  —  the  connection  between  fondness  and 
folly  being  so  close.  Thus  the  original  sense  of  fond  is  foolish  ; 
we  speak  of  "doting"  on  one,  and  through  the  North  "silly 
thing"  is  a  common  term  of  endearment  towards  children.  I 
should  therefore  be  disposed  to  consider  the  two  senses  as  con- 
current, and  to  make  the  Old  Norse  fauti  the  origin  of  both. 

Fozzy.     adj.     Soft  and  spongy,  as  frosted  turnips. 

Pruss.  fossen,  to  break  up  into  a  spongy  mass  of  ligaments, 
Dut.  voose,  spongy,  voose  raapen,  fozzy  or  frosted  turnips.  Old 
Norse  fauskr,  a  rotten,  dry  log. 

Fra,  Frev.    prep.     From. 

Old  Norse  fra,  (pronounced//"^). 


48  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Frahdle.     vn.     To  talk  foolishly. —  West,  and  Cumb. 

Dial.  Sco.  fray dant,  quarrelsome.  Welsh  ffraethder,  fluency, 
wittiness,  flippancy ,  fregodi,  to  chatter,  talk  gibberish. 

Frained.     adj.     Freckled,  marked  with  small-pox. 

Old  Norse  freknotir,  Dan.  fregnet,  freckled,  cognate,  it  would 
seem,  with  Welsh  brech. 

Frap.     va.    To  snap  the  fingers. 

Apparently  from  Ft.  f rapper,  to  strike. 

Fratch.     vn.     To  quarrel,  squabble. 

In  the  Pr,  Prv,  fracchyn  is  described  as  the  creaking  of  new 
carts,  &c,  and  explained  by  strideo.  Hence  it  would  seem 
that  the  original  meaning  was  that  of  a  harsh  grating  sound, 
whence,  metaphorically,  the  jar  of  quarrel.  A  varying  reading 
in  the  Pr.  Prv.  is  frashin,  which  corresponds  with  Sco.  frais, 
to  make  a  cracking  or  crashing  noise,  and  it  seems  rather  pro- 
bable that  this  is  the  original  form,  in  which  case  the  probable 
origin  is  Suio-Goth.  fraesa,  stridere.  Our  word  fractious, 
quarrelsome,  seems  more  probably  derived  from  the  above 
fratch,  than  from  l^at.fractus,  to  which  it  is  referred  by  Todd, 
Jamieson,  and  others. 

Freelidge.    sb.     "  The  freehold  privileges  belonging 

to  the  burgage  tenure." — Dick.  Also  (the  stones  which  mark 
the  boundaries  of  a  borough  being  called  freelidge  stones,)  it 
would  seem  to  apply  to  the  privileges  of  the  borough  freemen. 
Probably  the  same  as  Germ,  freilehen,  freehold. 

Frem  or  Fremmed.  adj.    Foreign,  strange,  unfamiliar. 
Ang.-Sax.  fremed,  Dut.  vremmed,  strange,  foreign. 

Frosk.     sb.     A  frog. 

"  Nearly  obsolete." — Dick.  Frosche. — Pr.  Prv.  Ang.-Sax. 
frosc,  Old  Norse froskr,  Germ,  f rosea. 

Frough,  Froff.     adj.     Easily  broken,  short  in  grain. 

Seems  to  be  most  probably  a  variation  of  froth,  used  by  Tusser 
in  the  same  sense.  Ang.-Sax.  freothan,  fricare.  For  similar 
instances  of  interchange  between  th  and  /,  .see  swaith  and 
tharth. 

Frow.     sb.    A  morose  or  forbidding-looking  woman. 

Ang.-Sax.  freo,  Old  Norse freyja,  mistress,  lady,  woman.  Like 
queen,  this  word,  originally  a  term  of  honour,  has  come,  in  pro- 
vincial speech,  to  be  used  in  a  contemptuous  sense. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  49 

Frowsy,     adj.     Coarse,  vulgar.     See  frow. 
Frudge.     vn.     To  rub  rudely  against. 

Clev.  fridge,  to  rub  up  or  chafe.  Lat.  fricare,  Ital.  fricciart, 
to  rub. 

Frummety.     sb.     Barley  boiled  with  milk. 

Prop,  frumenty,  from  Fr.  frumenUe,  a  kind  of  wheat  gruel, 
Lat.  frumentum. 

Frush.     adj.     Brittle,  crumbly. 

Fr.  froisser,  to  break,  Ital.frusczare,  to  crush  together. 

Fudderment.     sb.     Warm  wrappings  or  lining. 

Old  Eng.  fodder,  to  line  a  garment.  Old  Norse  fddr,  lining, 
fddra,  to  fur  or  line  a  garment.     Hence,  by  cont.,  our  word  fur. 

Fue  or  Few.     vn.     Used,  as  elsewhere  shape,  frame, 
offer,  in  the  sense  of  showing  aptitude  for  anything. 

"  I*  th'  chimley  nuik  some  gay  guid  hans, 
An'  gaily  ill  to  slocken, 
Fell  tui  wi'  poddingers  an'  cans, 
An'  few' t  well  to  get  drukken."—  Lonsdale. 

Sco.  faw,  to  obtain,  acquire.  Probably  from  Old  Norse  fd, 
Dan.  faae,  to  grasp,  acquire,  to  be  busy,  exert  oneself,  Ang.- 
Sax.  fon,  Germ,  fahcn,  to  catch,  seize,  to  be  of  effect,  whence 
fdhig,  capable,  fit.  The  imp.  of  Old  Norse  fd  is  feck,  whence 
prob.  Clev.  feck,  ability,  which  we  seem  only  to  have  in  the 
adj.  feckless. 

Full.    va.    To  fill. 

Goth,  full/an,  Ang.Sax.  fillan  and  fullan,  Dut.  vullen. 

Fur,  Foor.    sb.    Furrow. 

Ang.-Sax.  fur,  Old  Norse  for,  Dan.fure. 

Fuz-baw,  Fuz-ball.      sb.      The  puff-ball,  a  kind  of 

fungus,  Fr.  vesse.  The  idea  seems  to  be  that  of  rottenness,  and 
the  origin  the  same  as  that  oifozzy. 

Fuzzen.     sb.     Potency,  briskness,  applied  to  liquors. 

"  Germ,  pfuschen,  Swiss  pfusen,  Eng.  fizz,  represent  the  sound 
of  water  flying  off  from  a  hot  surface,  of  air  and  water  in  inti- 
mate mixture  and  commotion.  Hence  fuzz,  having  the  nature 
of  things  which  fi zz."  -  Wedg.  The  word/a^  no  doubt  re- 
lated to  our  fuzzett,  was  formerly  current  in  the  sense  of  getting 

F 


50  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

l 

drunk,  as  also  its  frequentative/*.s2/<?,  whence,  as  a  corr. ,  comes 
our  present  word  fuddle.  "The  University  troop  dined  with 
the  Earl  of  Abingdon,  and  came  back  well  fuzzed.  ' —  Wood  in 
Todd. 


G 

Gab.     sb.     The  mouth.     Also  foolish  or  idle  talk. 

Dan.  gab,  Pol.  gcba,  mouth.  Prov.  Dan.  gabe,  over  free  or 
chattering  talk,  Old  Norse  gabba,  Ang.-Sax.  gabban,  to  mock, 
cheat,  lie. 

Gae,  Gan,  Gang.    v?i.     To  go. 

Ang.-Sax.  gangan,  gdn,  Old  Norse  ganga,  Old  Fries,  gdn,  Dut. 
gaan.    As  in  Clev.  ,gan  is  in  Cumb.  the  most  common  form. 

Gain.  adj.  Near,  direct,  convenient,  applied  generally 

to  a  road  or  way.  Old  Norse  gegn,  direct,  hinn  gegnsta  veg, 
the  shortest  way.     Dan.  gfen-vei,  short  cut. 

Galore  or  Galwore.    sb.    Abundance. 

'•  Wi'  snaps  and  gingerbread  galwore." — Bridewain,  by  Stagg. 

Apparently  from  Welsh  gwala,  fullness,  sufficiency,  gwalyo,  to 
make  full,  Ir.  gleire,  much,  plenty. 

Gally-bawk.  sb.  The  beam  or  bar  across  the  chimney, 

from  which  the  pot-hooks  are  suspended.  Literally  "gallows- 
bawk,"  Old  Norse  galga,  gallows.  "Compare  the  Warend 
word  gall-slang,  which  I  believe  has  the  exact  meaning  of  our 
word,  simply  substituting  slang  fox  bawk." — Atk. 

Game-leg.     sb.     A  lame  or  injured  leg. 

Probably  from  Wei.  cam,  Corn,  gam,  cam,  crooked,  Fr.  gambir, 
to  crook. 

Gammerstang.     sb.     A  tall,  awkward  person. 

The  latter  part  of  the  word  is  from  slang ,  pole  ;  the  origin  of 
gammer  is  not  so  obvious.  Dr.  Whittaker  says,  ganger-slang, 
a  walking-pole.  Morris  derives  it  from  gammer,  an  old  woman, 
which  Jam.  also  refers  to  for  Sco.  gamarcerie,  tall,  raw-boned, 
and  awkward.  Or  the  origin  may  be  the  same  as  that  of 
gammarel,  q.v. 

Gangrel.     sb.     A  tramp,  vagabond. 

Derived  in  Cleasby's  Icel.  Diet,  from  Old  Norse  gangleri,  wan- 
derer.    But  the  termination  rel  is  common  to  so  many  words  in 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  5 1 

our  dialect,  as  haverel,  hangarel,  waistrel,  &c. ,  that  we  cannot 
suppose  it  to  be  in  this  case  a  transposition  of  ler.  The  former 
part  of  the  word  is  no  doubt  from  gang,  in  the  sense  of  wan- 
dering. 

Gar.     va.     To  compel,  make  to  do. 

Old  Norse  gera,  giora,  to  make,  do,  create.  "  Gar  may  be 
garded  as  the  shibboleth  of  a  language  wholly  or  partly  Scand- 
dinavian." — Garnett.  Though  it  is  to  be  observed,  as  remarked 
by  Atk.,  that  a  similar  use  of  the  word  to  ours  is  rare  in 
Scandinavia. 

Garn.     sb.     Yarn. 

Ang.-Sax.  gearn,  Old  Norse,  Dan.,  Swed.  garn. 

Garrick.    adj.    Awkward,  stupid.     The  word  is  also 

used  as  a  noun. 

M  Guidman  stuid  wraulin  at  her  lug, 
An'  co't  her  many  a  garrick." — Upshot,  Lonsdale. 

Gael,  garrach,  homo  crassus  et  obesus,  gorach,  foolish,  stupid, 
gorag,  a  foolish  woman. 

Garron.     sb.     A  tall  awkward  horse  or  other  animal. 

Perhaps  from  Wei.  gar,  leg,  shank,  whence  garan,  a  crane, 
from  its  long  legs.  The  Gael,  has  gearran,  properly  a  gelding, 
but  from  the  adj.  gearranach,  horse-like,  clownish,  one  might 
be  disposed  to  think  that  it  had  acquired  something  of  the  sense 
of  an  awkward  horse,  in  which  case  it  would  be  the  most  pro- 
bable origin  of  our  word. 

Garth,  sb.  An  inclosure,  generally  used  in  compounds, 

as  stack-garth,  hay-garth,  &c.  Old  Norse  gardr,  Dan.  gaard, 
Ang.-Sax.  geard,  Eng.  yard,  Wei.  gardd,  Bret,  garz,  hedge, 
garden.  Our  word,  from  the  compounds  in  which  it  occurs,  as 
stack-garth,  O.  N.  stakk-gardr,  kirk-garth,  O.  N.  kirkju-gardr, 
grass-garth,  O.  N .  gras-gardr,  a  garden,  (obsolete,  but  found  in 
names  of  places  in  Cumb.),  may  be  taken  to  be  of  Scandin. 
origin.  In  O.  N.  it  acquired  also  the  meaning  of  fortress, 
whence  Novgorod,  Belgorod,  Pavlograd,  names  commemorative 
of  the  Scandin.  colonization  of  Russia.  The  old  name  of 
Constantinople  was  Mikligardr,  the  "  muckle  garth."  Wedg. 
makes  the  original  meaning  to  be  rod,  wand,  Ang.-Sax.  geard, 
whence,  ' '  probably  from  rods  or  wattle-work  affording  the 
readiest  means  of  making  fences,  a  fence,  hedge,  &c."  I  rather 
suppose,  however,  that  these  are  two  distinct  groups,  the  root 
of  the  one  being  to  be  found  in  Sansc.  ghcer,  to  penetrate,  and 
that  of  the  other  in  Sansc.  gcerh,  to  inclose. 

F2 


52  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

Gate  (pron.  geeat).     A  road,  street,  or  way. 

Old  Norse  gata,  Dan.  gade,  Ang.-Sax.  gedt,  Germ,  gasse. 
Hence  gate  as  the  equivalent  of  street  in  most  of  the  Northern 
towns. 

Gatins.  sb.  Sheaves  of  corn,  &c,  set  up  singly  to  dry. 

Perhaps  from  Old  Norse  gceta,  to  tend,  take  care  of,  in  the 
sense  of  things  requiring  extra  attention.  Or  perhaps  for 
gastins,  Gael,  gaistean,  a  sheaf  or  bundle  of  hay,  &c. 

Gaut.     sb.     A  boar  pig. 

Prop.  gait.     Old  Norse  galti,  Dan.  gait,  boar. 

Gawky,     sb.     A  stupid  and  awkward  person. 

Old  Norse gaukr,  Ang.-Sax.  geac,  simpleton,  Old  Norse  gick. 
Germ,  gauch,  fool,  Fr.  gauche,  awkward,  Corn,  gocy,  foolish, 
Gael,  goic,  scoff,  taunt. 

Gawvison.    sb.    A  foolish  person,  to  which  Dick  adds 

the  sense  of  noisy.  Clev.  gauby,  gauvey,  gauvison,  all  with  the 
same  sense.  Old  Norse  geipa,  to  talk  nonsense,  gapa,  to  stare 
with  open  mouth,  Norw.  gap,  a  simpleton. 

Gayshen.  sb.  An  emaciated  person,  all  skin  and  bone. 

Perhaps  from  Gael,  gais,  to  shrivel  up. 

Geal.    vn.    To  ache  or  tingle  with  cold. 

Sco.  gell.     Germ,  gellen,  to  tingle. 

Gealls.  sb.  Cracks  or  fissures  in  timber  while  seasoning. 

Seems  allied  to  gill,  a  cleft  or  ravine.  Old  Norse  gilia,  to  split 
or  cleave,  gioll,  petra  cava. 

Gear.    sb.     Dress,  equipment,  harness  of  a  cart  or 

plough,  property  in  general.  Ang.-Sax  gearwe,  Old  Norse 
g'drvi,  gear,  apparel. 

Gee.    sb.    Gee  is  the  carter's  word  of  command  to  his 

horses  to  turn  to  the  right  or  from  him.  To  ' '  take  the  gee"  is 
to  take  affront,  and  to  declare  abruptly  off.  Jam.  refers  to 
Swed.  gd,  to  budge,  to  turn  round. 

Geggin.    sb.    A  small  tub  with  a  long  handle. 

Gael,  gogan,  a  small  wooden  dish  made  of  several  pieces. 

Geggles.     sb.    A  giddy  girl. 

Crav.  geg,  to  walk  in  a  careless  manner.  The  idea  is  that  of 
restlessness  or  unsteadiness.  Fr.  gigue,  a  jig  or  rapid  dance, 
gigues,  a  giddy  girl,  Old  Eng.  gig.  a  top,  Swiss  gagli,  a  girl 


CUMBERLAND    DIALECT.  53 

that  cannot  sit  still. —  Wedg.  The  root  is  found  in  Welsh  gogi, 
to  agitate,  move  quickly,  whence  also  Gael,  gogaid,  a  fickle 
woman,  Fr.  coquette. 

Getter,    sb.    One  who  begets. 

Old  Norse  getara,  one  who  gives  birth  to.  In  O.  N.  the  word 
was  applied  to  both  parents  ;  with  us  it  is  exclusively  applied  to 
the  male. 

GIF.     con/.     If. 
Ang.-Sax.  gif. 

Gilder  or  Gildert.    sb.     A  snare  for  catching  birds. 

Old  Norse,  Old  Swed,  gildra,  a  snare,  gin,  trap. 
Gill.    sb.    A  small  ravine. 

Old  Norse  gil,  Norw.  gil,  gjel.  "  Brooks  and  tributary  streams 
flowing  through  clefts  in  the  fell-side  to  the  main  river  at  the 
bottom  of  a  vale  are  in  Iceland  called^'/." — Cleasby.  This  is 
precisely  our  gill,  only  the  word  applies  properly,  I  take  it,  not 
to  the  stream  itself,  but  to  the  cleft  through  which  it  runs. 
Hald.  has  the  verb  gilia,  diducere,  alveum  facere,  but  the  verb 
in  that  sense  is  wanting  in  Cleasby.  The  modern  spelling  of 
ghyl,  (intended  no  doubt  to  show  that  the  g  is  hard),  implying 
as  it  does  that  the  history  of  a  word,  as  contained  in  its  form, 
is  of  less  account  in  a  dialectic  word  than  in  one  of  the  Eng. 
language,  is,  I  hold,  reprehensible. 

Gilt.    sb.    A  sow  pig  that  has  not  yet  borne. 

Old  Norse gyltr,  Icel.  gilta,  Ang.-Sax.  gilte,  a  young  sow. 
Gimmer.    sb.    A  ewe  under  two  years  old. 

Old  Norse  gymbr,  a.  ewe  of  one  year  old,  Dial.  Swed.  gimber,  a 
ewe  that  has  not  yet  borne  a  lamb. 

Ginners.    sb.    The  gills  of  a  fish. 

Diefenbach  collates  ginners  with  gills.  It  seems  to  be  from 
Old  Norse  gjolnar,  gills,  the  /  being  dropped  as  usual.  Hence 
ginners  would  be  a  double  plural. 

Gird.    sb.    A  fit,  as  a  gird  of  passion  or  laughter. 

Perhaps  from  Welsh  gyroedd,  drive,  impulse,  gyrddu,  to  act 
vehemently.     Or  from  Old  Norse  grid,  aestus  animi. 

Gird.     sb.     A  hoop  formed  of  an  ozier  rod  bent  into 

a  circle.     Ang.-Sax.  gyrd,  Old  Norse girdi,  a  rod,  a  twig. 

Girdle,    sb.     A  circular  plate  to  bake  cakes,  &c,  on. 

Welsh  greidyll,  a  baking  plate,  from  greidio,  to  burn,  to  scorch. 
Comp.  also  Suio-Goth.  grissel,  (prop.,  according  to  Ihre, 
graedsel),  a  baking-plate,  from  graedda,  to  bake. 


54  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

Girse.    sb.    Grass. 

Ang.-Sax.  gars,  grces,  Dut.  gars,  gras,  Eng.  grass. 
Giss  !     intj.     A  call  for  swine.     Perhaps  for  gris. 

Old  Norse  gris,  a  little  pig. 

Glad.     adj.     Smooth,  as  of  a  door  on  its  hinges. 

Old  Norse  gledia,  to  polish,  Dut.  glad,  Germ,  glatt,  smooth, 
polished.  The  original  sense  is  that  of  brightness,  next  comes 
that  of  smoothness,  and  lastly,  that  of  joyfulness. 

Glee.     vn.     To  squint. 

Low  Germ,  glien,  to  slip  or  slide. 

Glegg.     adj.     Smart,  quick. 

Old  Norse  gleggr,  sharp-sighted,  whence  met.  clever,  Germ, 
glau,  Welsh,  Corn,  glew,  sharp,  clever. 

Glent.    sb.     Glimpse. 

Dial.  Swed.  glinta,  to  slip,  slide.  "  Grimm  supposes  a  lost 
strong  verb  glintan,  to  shine,  glance  with  light,  and  probably 
this  word  which  remains  with  us  is  the  word  in  question." — Rietz. 
Comp.  Dan.  glimt,  glance. 

Gliff.    sb.     A  sudden  or  hasty  view,  passing  glimpse. 

Dan.  glippe,  to  slip,  to  miss,  to  wink,  Dut.  glippen,  to  slip, 

Glime.     vn.     To  look  sideways. 

Seems  rather  to  be  related  to  gleyme,  viscus,  muctrs,  than  to 
gleam.  The  sense  would  then  be  that  of  slipping,  turning 
aside,  as  in  Low  Germ,  glippen,  to  slip,  Dan.  glippe,  to  slip,  to 
miss,  to  wink. 

Glisk.     vn.     To  glisten. 

Old  Norse  .glyssa,  Old  Germ,  glizan,  Norw.  glisa,  to  glisten. 
Comp.  Lat.  gliscere,  to  take  fire,  begin  to  burn. 

Glop.     vn.     To  stare  with  open  mouth. 

Old  Norse  glapa,  to  stare,  gape. 

Glower,    vn.     To  stare,  gaze  intently. 

Old  Norse  glora,  to  gleam,  stare  like  a  cat's  eyes,  (Cleasby), 
Dial.  Swed.  glora,  Norw.  glora,  to  stare,  Dut.  gluren,  to  leer. 

Glumpt.     adj.     Sulky. 

Clev.  glumpy.  Old  Fris.  glupa,  Prov.  Germ,  glupen,  to  look 
sullenly,  Low  Germ,  gluppen,  to  look  covertly  from  under  the 
brows.  By  the  insertion  of  the  nasal  we  get  glump,  and  then, 
dropping  the  final/,  Eng.  glum,  Dial.  Dan.  glum,  scowling. 


CUMBERLAND    DIALECT.  55 

Glout.    sb.  A  lout,  clumsy  fellow. 

Glowt,  to  look  doggedly  or  sourly,— J.  K.  Dut.  kloete,  loete,^ 
homo  agrestis.  "  Perhaps  from  the  notion  of  a  lump  or  clod." 
—  Wedg. 

Goal.     sb.     A  deep  pool. 

Wel.  gwlw,  channel,  Swiss  giille,  Bav.  giillen,  a  sink,  Eng. 
gully-hole. 

Gob.     sb.     The  mouth. 

Gael,  gob,  ludicrously  applied,  probably  allied  to  Old  Norse 
gapa,  Eng.  gape,  &c 

Goff,  Guff.     sb.     A  simpleton. 

Perhaps  from  Old  Norse  gufa,  vapour,  steam,  whence,  metaph., 
a  foolish  and  empty  person.  Bret,  goap,  mockery,  Fr.  goffe,  a 
simpleton. 

Goller  or  Gollow.     vn.     To  shout,  halloo,  to  bark 

loudly.  Old  Norse  gaula,  to  bellow,  Wel.  galaru,  Gael,  guil, 
to  weep,  lament. 

Gommarel.    sb.     A  foolish  and  awkward  person. 

Comp.  Old  Norse  gambra,  to  brag,  bluster,  prate,  gambrari, 
bragger,  blusterer,  gumari,  a  fop,  from  gum,  fuss,  exaggeration. 
But  if  the  word  be  properly  gonerill,  as  Brockett  has  it,  which  I 
am  rather  disposed  to  admit,  then  the  most  probable  origin 
would  be  Old  Norse  gona,  to  stare  in  a  foolish  manner. 

Good-few.     A  tolerable  quantity,  neither  very  large 

nor  very  small.  The  Clev.  expression,  "a  good  little,"  is  not 
in  use  in  Cumb.  Ihre  refers  to  a  similar  use  of  Suio-Goth. 
gudi,  which  "  adjectivis  et  adverbiis  add! turn,  significationem 
intendit." 

Goodies,     sb.     Sugar  sweetmeats  for  children. 

Dial.  Swed.  guttar,  Swiss  guteli,  sweetmeats  for  children. 

Goodlike.     adj.     Handsome,  good-looking. 

Old  Norse  godlikr,  good,  virtuous.  So  goodly,  in  its  after-use 
applied  to  personal  appearance,  is  explained  in  the  Pr.  Prv.  as 
benignus,  benevolens. 

Gope.    vn.     To  shout. 

Old  Norse  gapa,  Eng.  gape.  To  gope  is  to  shout  with  open 
mouth. 

Gorb,  Gorlin.     sb.     An  unfledged  bird. 

Clev.  gorpin,  Sco.  gorb  ling,  gorling,  gorbet.  Gorlin  is  properly 
gorblin,  or  rather  gorbling,  the  fundamental  word  being  gorb  or 


56  GLOSSARY   OF  THE 

gorp,  The  Sco.  gorble,  to  swallow  greedily,  Gael,  gairbk,  a 
greedy  belly,  show,  I  take  it,  the  origin  of  the  word,  which  is 
derived  from  the  characteristic  voracity  of  young  birds.  The 
root  is  to  be  found  in  Gr.  ypdw,  comedo,  Gael,  gaorr,  to  gorge, 
Dut.  ghieren,  avide  petere,  {Kil.)  Hence  North,  gormaw,  the 
cormorant,  gorcrow,  the  carrion  crow,  Old  Norse,  Germ,  geir, 
Dut.  ghier,  vulture,  in  all  of  which  creatures  voracity  is  the  dis- 
tinguishing feature.  Probably  also  Old  Norse  gorbor,  Norw. 
gorp,  Lat.  corvus,  Sco.  corby  or  gorby,  raven.  And  Gael.,  Ir. 
gioramant  glutton,  whence  prob.  Fr.  gourmand.  The  name 
Geri,  of  one  of  the  ravens  of  Odin,  appointed  to  consume  the 
bodies  of  those  slain  in  battle,  is,  no  doubt,  from  the  same 
origin,  in  the  sense  of  voracity. 

Gorrish.     adj.     Gross,  over  luxuriant. 

Lonsd.  grosh.  Clev.  grossy.  Old  Norse grdskct,  gramen  vemans, 
(Hald.),  from  grda,  to  grow. 

Gowk.     sb.     The  cuckoo. 

Old  Norse  gaukr,  Ang.-Sax.  geac,  Germ,  gouck,  Gael,  and  Ir. 
atach.    The  root  is  found  in  Sansc  cue,  to  cry. 

Gowk.     sb.     A  simpleton.     See  gawky. 
Gowk.    sb.     The  core  of  an  apple,  &c.     See  cowk. 
Gowl.     vn.     To  weep,  to  lament.    See  golfer. 
Gowpin.     sb.     The  quantity  that  can  be  held  in  the 

hollow  of  the  hand,  or  of  both  hands  together.  Old  Norse 
gaupn,  prop,  both  hands  held  together  in  the  form  of  a  bowl, 
then  as  much  as  can  be  taken  in  the  hands  held  together, 
(Cleasby). 

Gowze.     vn.     To  gush. 

Old  Norse  gjdsa,  to  gush. 

Goyster.    vn.     To  bluster,  laugh  loudly. 

Perhaps  from  Old  Norse  gussa,  to  make  a  fuss  and  noise.  Or 
from  gusta,  to  blow  in  gusts. 

Grab.    va.     To  sieze,  snatch. 

Swed.  grabba,  to  grasp,  Goth,  grezpan,  Old  Norse  greip<tt 
Germ,  greifen,  to  sieze. 

Graidly.  adj.  and  adv.  Proper,  decent,  well-behaved, 

orderly,  properly.  ' '  Seldom  heard  in  Cumb. " — Dick.  Old 
Norse  greitha,  Norw.  greidat  to  prepare,  make  straight,  put  in 
order. 


CUMBERLAND    DIALECT.  57 

Grains,     sb.     The   forked  branches   of  a   tree,  the 

prongs  of  a  fork.  Old  Norse  grein,  Swed.  gren,  the  fork  of  a 
branch,  Old  Norse  greina,  to  separate. 

Grater-faced,     adj.     Marked  with  small-pox. 

Seems  to  be  from  Old  Norse  grautr,  Ang.-Sax.  grut,  groats,  to 
which  the  marks  on  the  face  may  be  resembled.  Comp.  Graut- 
nefr,  "  porridge-nose,"  a  nick-name  in  the  Icel.  Sturlunga Saga. 

Grave,     va.     To  dig,  to  use  a  spade. 

Ang.-Sax.  grafan,  Old  Norse  grafa,  Dan.  grave,  Germ,  graben, 
to  dig. 

Greet,    vn.    To  weep,  to  cry  silently. 

Ang-Sax.  grdtan,  Old  Norse  grata  (pret.  grit). 

Greg.    va.    To  annoy,  to  vex,  mortify. 

Probably  nearly  allied  to  grudge,  which  occurs  as  gruck  in  the 
Pr.  Ptv.  Suio-Goth.  grufwa  sig,  (with  the  var.  grugha),  to 
grumble. 

Grime,    sb.     Soot,  smut. 

Dan.  grime,  Norw.  grlma,  Dial.  Swed.  grima,  a  black  spot  or 
smut,  especially  on  the  face.  The  word  anciently  signified  a 
mask,  or  a  hood  partly  covering  the  face. 

Grimin.  sb.  A  sprinkling,  slight  covering,  as  of  snow. 
Seems  to  be  from  grime,  in  its  original  sense  of  a  covering 
easily  removed. 

Gripe,     sb.     A  dung-fork. 

Suio-Goth.  grepe,  Swed.  grepe,  Dan.  greb,  a  stable-fork. 
Groon  (pron.  greeun).    sb.     A  swine's  snout. 

Old  Norse  groen,  beard,  beak,  lips  of  a  cow,  Fr.  groin,  snout  of 
a  pig.  Metaph.  Old  Fr.  groing,  cape,  promontory,  tongue  of 
land  jutting  into  the  sea.  Hence,  no  doubt,  the  name  of  Grune 
Point,  a  projecting  tongue  of  land  near  Skinburness. 

Groop.     sb.     The  gutter  behind  the  cows  in  a  byre. 

Growpe. — Pr.  Prv.  Clev.  grip,  Norf.  grup.  Ang.-Sax.  gr<ep. 
Old  Norse  grof,  Swed.  grop,  ditch,  channel,  Eng.  groove. 

Groosam.    adj.    Grim,  forbidding-looking. 

Clev.  grue.  Germ,  grausam,  fierce,  terrible,  Dial.  Swed. 
grusam,  dismal-looking,  dejected,  Dan.  gru,  horror,  Germ. 
grauen,  to  have  a  horror  or  aversion. 


58  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

Grooves,     sb.     Places  out  of  which  coal,  slate,  &c, 

has  been  dug.  "  Groove  or  grove,  a  deep  pit  sunk  to  search  for 
minerals." — J.  K.  Crav.  groove,  a  mine  or  shaft.  Dut.  groef, 
furrow,  ditch,  groove,  Germ,  grube,  a  pit,  ditch,  hole  dug  in  the 
ground. 

Grouty,    adj.    Smeared,  muddy,  dirty. 

Dut.  gruete.  dregs,  gruyten,  to  mud  or  clean  out  canals,  Norw. 
grut,  dregs,  gruten,  thick,  muddy. 

Grun.    sb.    Ground. 

Old  Norse  grmmr,  ground. 

Grundswaith.     sb.     The  rag-wort. 

Ang.-Sax.  swatku,  swath  in  mowing.  The  sense  seems  to  be 
that  of  something  trailing  on  the  ground. 

Gryke,  Cryke.     sb.     A  crevice  in  a  hill-side. 

Old  Norse  kryki,  corner,  recess. 
Gull.  sb.  The  corn-marigold,  Chrysanthemum  segetum, 

sometimes  called  the  goldin.  Clev.  gowland.  Dial.  Swed. 
gulle-blommer,  "gold-flower,"  the  corn-marigold,  Dut.  gouds- 
bloem,  "gold-flower,"  the  common  marigold.  Welsh  gold,  the 
corn-marigold,  goldwyr,  the  common  marigold.  Our  word  may- 
be taken  to  be  from  Old  Norse  gull,  gold. 

Gully,    sb.     A  hollow  between  two  hills.     See  goal. 
Gully,    sb.     A  large  knife,  especially  one  used  for 

cutting  bread  and  cheese.  Gael,  golaidh,  a  clumsy  knife,  Corn. 
golye,  Bret,  goulia,  Welsh  gwelio,  to  cut  or  wound.  Hence 
prob.  Old  Fr.  goue,  a  large  knife. 

Gumption,     sb.    Sense,  shrewdness,  judgment. 

Old  Norse  gaumr,  heed,  attention,  geyma,  Ang.-Sax.  geomian, 
Goth,  gaumjan,  to  give  heed  or  attention.  Clev.  has  also  gaum, 
sb.  and  vb. 

Gutlin.     sb.     A  glutton. 

Guttle  is  another  form  of  guzzle.  Old  Norse  gutla,  to  sound  as 
liquids  in  a  cask,  is  referred  to  as  the  origin  by  Wedg.  I  doubt, 
however,  whether  it  is  not  simply  from  gut. 

Gyversome.     adj.     Eager,  greedy. 
Ang.-Sax.  gifer,  greedy. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  59 

H. 
Haaf-net.    sb.    A  net  used  on  the  Solway,  respecting 

which  much  legal  dispute  has  arisen  as  to  whether  it  comes 
under  the  definition  of  a  "  fixed  engine."  It  consists  of  a  pock- 
net  fixed  to  a  kind  of  frame,  which,  whenever  a  fish  strikes 
against  it,  is  hauled  above  water.  It  is,  no  doubt,  as  Jam. 
suggests,  from  Suio-Goth.  haaf,  a  net  suspended  to  a  frame  by 
which  the  fish  are  lifted  out,  from  S.  G.  haefwa,  to  lift  up. 
Comp.  also  Old  Norse  haafr,  a  drag-net,  Dan.  haav,  a  bow- 
net,  Norw.  kaave,  to  draw  nets  through  the  water,  North. 
haafures,  fishing-lines,  in  some  of  which  words,  however,  there 
may  be  an  intermixture  of  Old  Norse  haf,  the  deep  sea. 

Hack.     sb.     A  pick-axe. 

Dan.  hakke,  pick-axe,  mattock. 

Hadder.    vn.    To  drizzle. 

Perhaps  from  Old  Norse  hialldra,  to  snow. 

Hadder.     sb.     Small  rain. 

Old  Norse  hialldr,  a  thin  snow  shower.  Comp.  also  Gael. 
adhar,  snow. 

Haffets.     sb.     Locks  of  hair  on  the  temples. 

Sco.  haffets,  the  temples  themselves,  which  seems  to  be  the 
proper  meaning.  Jam.  refers  to  Ang.-Sax.  healf-heafod,  in  the 
sense  of  semi-cranium,  haffet  thus  being  simply  half-head. 

Haffle,  Heffle.     vn.    To  hesitate,  be  undecided. 

Dut.  haperen,  to  stammer,  hesitate,  stick  fast,  Swed.  happla, 
to  stammer. 

Hag.     va.     To  chop. 

Dut.  hakken,  Old  Norse  hiacka,  Dial.  Swed.  hagga,  Germ. 
hacken,  to  chop,  hack. 

Hag-clog.    sb.     A  chopping-block. 

Germ,  hack-klotz,  a  chopping-block. 

Haggis,    sb.    A  pudding  of  mince-meat. 

Fr.  hachis,  a  mess  of  mince-meat,  from  hacher,  to  mince. 

Haggle,     vn.     To  fatigue,  over-work. 

Perhaps  a  frequentative  from  Old  Norse  hagga,  to  put  out  of 
order,  derange. 

Hag-worm.    sb.    The  common  viper. 

Old  Norse  hoggormr,  Dan.  hugorm,  viper. 


6o  GLOSSARY    OF  THE 

Hain.    vn.     To  preserve  untouched,  to  save. 

"  To  exclude  cattle  from  a  field  so  that  grass  may  grow  for  hay." 
Hall.  Old  Norse  hegna,  Dut.  heynen,  to  fence  around,  to  pro- 
tect, Germ,  hdgen,  to  fence  round,  preserve. 

Hairly.    adv.    Hardly. 

Prob.  from  hair,  in  the  sense  of  fineness,  as  in  hair-breadth. 
Sco.  hair,  a  very  small  portion  or  quantity,  as  a  hair  of  meal, 
i.e.,  a  few  grains,  [Jam.) 

Hake  !    intj.     An  expression  of  defiance. 
*'  Hake  fox  a  fight  !"    See  next  word. 

Hake.    sb.     Provocation,  excitement. 

"  They  drank  aw  t'  yell  up  ivery  sup, 
Wi'  nouther  hake  nor  quarrel." — Lonsdale. 
Bret,  hek  or  heg,  provocation,  irritation,  hega,  to  provoke, 
irritate,  (whence  Fr.  agacer?)  Fris.  hagghen,  to  quarrel,  Germ. 
hdkelei,  teazing,  provocation.  Hake  is  prob.  allied  to,  though 
not  identical  with  egg,  to  incite  ;  the  idea  in  the  latter  is  that  of 
a  sharp  point,  in  the  former  that  probably  of  a  hook. 

Hake.    vn.    To  tire,  distress. 

"As  applied  to  land,  it  indicates  exhaustion,  or  being  over- 
cropped."— Dick.  Old  Norse  heikiaz,  to  fail,  be  wanting, 
Germ,  hagern,  to  become  lean,  hager,  lean. 

Hake.    sb.    A  lean  horse  or  cow.    See  above. 

Hake.   vn.     To  butt  with  the  horns. 

Wei.  hychio,  to  thrust,  push,  Old  Norse  hcecka,  elevare. 

Hake.     sb.     A  convivial  meeting. 

Perhaps  from  Wei.  haig,  crowd,  large  gathering. 

Hakker.     vn.     To  stammer. 

Bret,  hak,  stammering,  haketa,  to  stammer,  Wei.  hecian,  to 
halt,  limp,  Dut.  hakkelen,  to  falter. 

Hale  or  Helle.     vn.     To  pour. 

Old  Norse  hella,  to  pour. 

Hallan.  sb.    A  mud-wall  partition  within  the  entrance 

of  a  farm-house.  Jam.  refers  to  Suio-Goth.  haell,  the  stone 
laid  at  the  threshold  of  a  door.  But  the  Germ,  halle,  porch, 
Eng.  hall,  seems  to  offer  a  more  natural  explanation.  As  the 
author  of  West,  and  Cumb.  Dial,  observes,  a  hallan  is  to  a  cot- 
tage what  a  hall  or  lobby  is  to  a  large  house. 


CUMBERLAND    DIALECT.  6 1 

Hallan.     sb.     The  division  between  two  stalls  for 

oxen  or  horses.  Prob.  for  halveling,  as  a  division  into  two 
equal  parts,  like  Germ,  theilung,  partition,  from  theilen,  to 
divide. 

Hammer-bleat,     sb.     The  snipe,  {Dick). 

Properly,  as  in  Lonsd.,  the  note  of  the  snipe.  "  In  the  breeding 
season  the  note  of  the  male  bird  resembles  the  bleating  of  a 
goat." — Dick.  Seeing  the  frequent  interchange  of/  and  m,  I 
am  of  opinion  that  hammer  is  a  corruption  of  Old  Norse  hafr, 
Ang.-Sax.  hcefcr,  goat.  Thus  hammer-bleat  would  be  simply 
the  Ang.-Sax.  hccfer-blcst,  bleating  of  a  goat. 

Hames.  sb.  The  wood  part  of  a  horse-collar,  to 
which  the  traces  are  attached.  Flem.  haem,  a  horse-collar, 
Ir.  ama,  collar. 

Hammer-band.  sb.    "In  old  times  the  horse  was  yoked 

to  the  cart  by  a  rope  from  the  shoulders,  and  an  iron  ring 
sliding  on  the  shaft,  held  by  a  pin  ;  this  was  hammer-band 
yoking." — Dick.  Comp.  Dial.  Swed.  hammel-tyg,  (hammel-tie), 
the  yoking  of  a  cart  or  plough  by  swingle-trees.  I  incline  to 
think  that  our  word  should  be  properly  hammel-band.  We  see 
in  the  case  of  hammer-bleat  how  strong  the  tendency  is,  when- 
ever the  meaning  of  a  word  has  been  forgotten,  to  corrupt  it  to 
something  which  has  at  least  the  appearance  of  meaning. 

Ham-sam.     adv.     Promiscuously,  all  in  confusion. 

"  But  weddit  fwok  rare  laughing  hed, 
f  th'  bower  wi'  yan  anither, 
For  five  or  six  gat  into  the  bed, 
An'  sat  ham-sam  togither." — Upshot,  Lonsdale. 

Sam  as  Lat.  cum,  Gr.  obv,  Sansc.  sam,  Wei.  cym,  &c,  in  the 
sense  of  combination,  is  common  to  all  the  Teutonic  dialects. 
The  Yorks.  dialects  have  sam,  to  collect,  gather  together,  the 
Sco.  has  samin  (Goth,  samana),  adv.,  together.  We  have  it 
in  the  above,  in  sam-cast,  applied  to  two  or  more  ridges  ploughed 
together,  and  in  sank,  a  quantity,  collection  of  things.  The 
prefix  ham  is  used  only  alliteratively,  as  in  how-strow,  helter- 
skelter,  hummle-jummle,  forms  to  which  our  dialect  is  very 
partial. 

Hanch.  vn.  To  make  a  snap,  as  a  dog  when  he  bites. 

Old  Fr.  hancher,  to  gnash  or  snatch  at  with  the  teeth. — Cotg. 

Hank.  sb.  A  knot  or  loop,  metaph.  a  habit  or  practice. 
Suio-Goth.  hank,  a  loop  for  fastening  a  gate. 


62  GLOSSARY   OF  THE 

Hank.     va.     To  fasten  with  a  loop,  tie  up  a  horse. 

Old  Norse  hanka,  to  fasten  with  a  rope. 

Hankle.     v?i.     To  entangle. 

A  frequentative  of  hank,  q.v. 

Hanniel.     sb.     A  long  lanky  person. 

Perhaps  from  Dial.  Dan.  and  Swed.  hannel,  shaft  of  a  flail, 
(corr.  of  hand-vot),  in  a  metaph.  sense,  like  gammer-stang. 

Hansel,  sb.    Prop,  handsel.    The  first  money  received 

by  a  seller,  as  for  instance,  on  opening  a  new  shop.  Hence, 
the  first  use  of  anything.  Ang.-Sax.  hand-selen,  a  putting  into 
another's  possession,  Old  Norse  hand-sal,  the  conclusion  of  a 
bargain  by  joining  hands.  Shaking  hands  over  a  transaction 
was  anciently,  and  is  still  in  Scand.,  as  with  us,  the  token  of 
concluding  the  bargain. 

Hantel.     sb.     A  considerable  quantity,  a  great  deal. 

According  to  Wedg. ,  prop,  hankel,  Germ,  henkel,  Norw.  haank, 
bunch,  cluster  of  things  hanging  together. 

Hap.  va.  To  wrap  up,  but  rather  with  loose  coverings. 

"  Happyn  or  whappyn." — Pr.  Prv.  Wedg.  supposes  it  a  cor- 
ruption of  whap  from  wlappe.  I  am  rather  disposed,  however, 
to  look  for  a  connection  with  Clev  hamp,  "an  article  of 
clothing  which  may  have  been  worn  next  the  skin,  or  at  times 
over  the  under-clothing." — Atk.  Dial.  Dan.  hempe,  farmer's 
smock,  Old  Swed.  hampn,  vestis,  indumentum.  Perhaps  with 
Old  Norse  hjupr,  sheet,  shroud,  hypja,  a  large,  coarse  covering. 
I  suppose  a  lost  verb,  from  which  our  word  has  been  derived. 
See  happins  and  hippins. 

Happins.     sb.     Thick  woollen  bed-covers. 

Perhaps  from  Old  Swed.  hampn,  vestis.  indumentum,  hypja,  a 
large  coarse  covering.     See  hap  and  hippins. 

Har,  Hartree.     sb.     The  stronger  post  of  a  gate,  on 

which  it  swings.  Old  Norse  hiara,  Ang.-Sax.  hearra,  Dut. 
harre,  hinge. 

Hard.     adj.     Sour,  applied  to  ale  or  beer. 

Suio-Goth.  hardt,  ' '  applied  to  liquor,  denotes  what  is  be- 
ginning to  turn  sour,  hardt  dricka,  hard  ale." — Ihre.  Dial.  Swed. 
hard,  similarly  applied.  So  by  the  Romans  durum  was  used  to 
denote  rough  or  acid  wine,  in  opposition  to  molle. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  63 

Harden-cloth.     sb.     A  coarse  linen  fabric. 

Ang.-Sax.  heordan,  hards,  the  refuse  of  tow. 

Harns.     sb.     The  brains. 

Old  Norse  hjarni,  Dan.  hjerne,  cerebrum. 

Harp  on.      va.      To  keep  dwelling  on  some  subject, 

particularly  an  unpleasant  one.  Old  Norse  harpa  at,  to  keep 
finding  fault. 

Harry,   va.    To  rob,  applied  most  frequently  to  birds' 

nests.     Ang.-Sax.  herian,  to  ravage,  plunder. 

Hask.    adj.     Harsh,  rough.      Keen,  dry,  as  applied 

to  the  weather.  "  Harske  or  haske." — Pr.  Prv.  Suio-Goth. 
harsk,  Dan.  harsk,  harsh,  rough,  Zend,  husk,  Sansc.  sushka, 
dry.  It  would  rather  seem,  from  the  Sansc.  and  Zend.,  that 
hask  is  the  original  form. 

H aster,     sb.     A  surfeit,  (West,  and  Cumb.  Dial.) 

Seems  to  be  from  Old  Norse  kasa,  to  be  surfeited  with  food. 

Haugh.     sb.     Alluvial  land  by  the  side  of  a  river. 

"  A  green  plot  in  a  meadow." — Lonsd.  Ang.-Sax.  haga,  field, 
Old  Norse  hagi,  pasture.     Note  the  frequent  change  of  g  into/ 

Haunted,     adj.     To  be  haunted  to  a  place  is  to 

grow  accustomed  to  it.     Fr.  hunter,  to  frequent,  haunt. 

Havrel.     sb.     A  prater,  a  simpleton. 

Suio-Goth.  havar,  garrulous,  Dial.  Dan.  habbre,  to  chatter  fast. 

Haver,    sb.     Oats. 

Old  Norse  hafr,  Dan.  kavre,  Germ,  hafcr,  Dut.  haver. 

Hawse,    sb.     Throat,  neck,  the  collar  of  a  mountain. 

Haweswater  derives  its  name  from  a  promontory  in  the  middle 
which  divides  it  into  two  sheets,  connected  by  a  hawse  or  neck. 
Old  Norse  hdls,  Ang.-Sax.,  Germ.,  Dut.  hats,  neck. 

Hayler.      sb.     An  industrious  and  energetic  worker. 

Haggler,  the  upper  servant  of  a  farm,  Isle  of  Wight,  is  perhaps 
related.  Then  we  have  hag,  a  job  of  work,  North.,  which  seems 
to  point  to  Old  Norse  haga,  to  manage,  to  arrange,  hagr, 
handy,  skilful.  As  a  frequentative  of  haga  would  be  haggle, 
contr.  hale,  whence,  I  take  it,  the  present  word. 

Hayster.     va.  and  n.     To  starve,  to  be  pinched  with 

cold  or  hunger.  Also,  to  pull  about  roughly.  In  the  latter 
sense  the  word  seems  related  to  Ang.-Sax.  hcest,  Old  Norse 


64  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

kastr,  hot,  hasty,  violent,  Sulo-Goth.  hetsa,  Fin.  hasittaa,  to 
incite,  set  dogs  on,  Swed.  hasta,  to  hurry  one  on,  &c. 

Headwark,  (pron.  heedwark).     sb.     The  head-ache. 

Ang.-Sax.  heafod-wcerc,  a  hurt  or  sore  on  the  head,  Old  Norse 
hofud  verkr,  head-ache. 

Heaf.     sb.     See  hefted. 

Heck.      sb.      A  rack  for  hay,  &c.      A  half-door  or 

hatch-door.  Ang.-Sax.  hceca,  hatch,  Dan.  hekke,  rack,  Dut. 
hekken,  gate,  rail. 

Heckles,    sb.    The  long  feathers  on  a  cock's  neck. 

In  Scot,  heckle  is  a  fly  for  angling,  dressed  with  a  cock's  feather, 
and  deriving  its  name,  according  to  yam.,  from  its  resemblance 
to  a  heckle,  or  comb  for  dressing  flax.  If  the  explanation  of 
yam.  be  correct,  the  heckles  would  be  so  called  on  account  of 
such  flies  being  made  from  them.  But  the  converse  Would  seem 
to  be  in  a  more  natural  sequence,  in  which  case  heckles  may  be 
from  Old  Norse  hakka,  to  elevate,  to  raise,  in  reference  to  the 
manner  in  which  the  feathers  stand  out  when  the  bird  is  en- 
raged. 

Heronsew.    sb.    The  heron. 

Fr.  heronceau,  a  young  heron. 

Heft.     sb.     Handle,  as  of  a  knife.     A  pretext  or 

excuse,  prevarication,  deception.  Ang.-Sax.  hceft,  Germ,  heft, 
Dan.  hefte,  hilt,  handle,  Swed.  kdfta,  to  take  hold  of.  The 
second  sense  comes  metaph.,  like  handle. 

Hefted,     adj.     Hefted   or  heaf-ganging   sheep  are 

• '  mountain  sheep  let  along  with  a  farm,  and  depastured  upon  a 
particular  part  of  a  common  called  a  heaf.'1 — Dick.  Hefted 
seems  to  be  from  Old  Norse  hefda,  to  acquire  by  use  or  pre- 
scription, hefdadr,  acquired  in  such  manner,  and  to  apply  to 
the  right,  probably  originally  acquired  by  usage,  to  pasture 
upon  a  particular  spot.  And  heaf  (which  is  sometimes,  in  a 
mistaken  spirit  of  amendment,  altered  into  heath)  may  be  refer- 
able to  Old  Norse  kcefi,  meta,  scopus,  proportio,  jus. 

Hefter.    sb.    Used  to  express  the  effective  disposing, 

as  of  an  argument,  like  clincher,  both  words  being  derived  from 
the  idea  of  firmly  grasping.  Compare  Old  Norse  haft,  bond, 
hand-cuff. 

Hein.     intj.     Be  off ! 

Old  Norse  hedan,  away  !  be  off !  Ray  gives  this  as  a  Cumb. 
word,  but  I  have  never  heard  it  used. 


CUMBERLAND    DIALECT.  65 

Helm-wind.     sb.     A  violent  wind  which  at  particular 

seasons  blows  from  the  summit  of  Cross  Fell.  It  has  been 
generally  derived  from  the  helm  or  cloud  which  rests  during  the 
period  upon  the  top  of  the  mountain.  It  may,  however,  be 
possibly  open  to  question  whether  the  word  may  not  properly 
be  whelm,  Dut.  wemelen,  to  whirl,  turn  round,  helm-wind  being 
thus  the  same  as  whirl-wind.  Comp.  also  Sco.  "helm  of 
weet,"  a  great  fall  of  rain. 

Hench.  va.  To  throw  by  a  jerk  from  the  haunch  or  hip. 

Old  High  Germ,  hlancha,  whence  Fr.  hanche,  hip. 

Herple.  vn.  To  walk  lame,  or  as  one  having  corns. 

Old  Norse  herpast,  to  be  contracted  as  with  cramp.  If  not 
another  form  of  hurkle,  Old  Norse  horkla,  to  hobble. 

Hesp.     sb.     A  latch,  clasp,  or  fastening. 

Ang.-Sax.  haps,  Old  Norse  hespa,  Dan.  hasp,  a  latch  orvbolt. 

Heugh.  sb.  A  dry  dell,  a  ravine  without  water. — Dick. 

Lonsd.,  a  rocky  hill.  Jam.  gives  both  the  above  meanings, 
and  connects  the  word  with  Ang.-Sax.  hou,  hill.  I  am  rather 
inclined  to  think  that  there  may  be  two  different  words,  one  of 
which,  containing  the  sense  of  a  dell  or  ravine,  may  be  allied  to 
howk,  Suio-Goth.  holka,  to  excavate. 

Hight.     va.     To  promise. 

Ang.-Sax.  hatan,  Old  Norse  heita,  to  promise. 

Hike.  va.  To  throw  up  in  the  arms,  asnurses  do  children. 

Old  Norse  hxecka,  elevare. 

Hine-berry.     sb.     A  raspberry. 

Dan.  hindbcer,  Dial.  Swed.  hinbar,  Germ,  himbeere,  raspberry. 

Hind.     sb.     An  upper  farm-servant. 

Ang.-Sax.  hina,  a  servant.  "  The  word  properly  signifies  mem- 
ber of  a  family,  in  which  sense  the  Swed.  hjun  is  used  at  the 
present  day." — Wedg.  And  throughout  the  North  the  farm- 
servants  used  formerly,  as  is  still  the  case  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, to  live  as  members  of  the  family. 

Hippins.     sb.      Napkins  or  under-clothes  for  infants. 

Jamieson's  explanation  is,  "for  wrapping  about  the  hips," 
which,  as  Atkinson  observes,  would  be  more  satisfactory  if  hip 
were  the  word  generally  used  in  the  dialect.  It  seems  to  me  to 
be  most  probably  connected  with  Old  Norse  hypja,  which  seems 
to  have  had  very  much  of  the  same  meaning  as  our  word. 
G 


66  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

Hisk.     vn.     To  catch  the  breath,  as  one  does  on  first 

going  into  the  water.     Old  Norse  hixta,  to  gasp  or  sob. 

Hitch,     vn.     To  hop. 

From  the  same  origin  as  hotch.  Bav.  hutscken,  to  rock,  to 
wriggle  forward,  Swiss  hotzen,  to  shake,  to  jog.  The  idea  is 
that  of  progression  by  a  series  of  jerks. 

Hobble,    sb.    A  difficulty,  a  fix. 

The  idea  is  that  of  fettering  or  confining,  as  in  hobble,  to  tie  the 
hind  feet  of  a  horse,  to  prevent  him  from  straying.  The  original 
idea  is  that  of  impeded  action,  as  in  Sco.  habble,  to  stammer, 
Eng.  hobble,  to  limp,  Dut.  hobbelen,  to  stammer,  to  jolt,  Bav. 
hoppelen,  to  jog  up  and  down,  as  a  bad  rider  on  a  trotting 
horse. —  Wedg. 

Hodden-grey.     sb.      Cloth  made  from  the   natural 

black  and  white  wool.  Properly,  I  take  it,  holden-grey ,  from 
the  durability  of  its  colour.  Old  Norse  haldinn,  holding,  en- 
during, hald-gddr,  durable,  (applied  to  clothes,)  Dan.  holden, 
whole,  entire.  Jamieson's  derivation  from  Old  Eng.  hoiden, 
rustic,  clownish,  is  not,  I  think,  suitable — to  those  who  gave  the 
name  the  thing  would  not  seem  rustic  or  clownish. 

Hofe  thick,     adj.     Simple,  foolish. 

Perhaps  not  from  half,  but  from  aw/,  an  elf,  Ang.-Sax.  <zlf, 
Old  Norse  alfr.  Thick  in  our  dialect  means  intimate  ;  hence 
hofe-thick  may  mean  intimate  with  elves,  those  who  were  sup- 
posed to  have  relations  with  another  world  being,  as  regards 
this,  "not  all  there."  Comp.  Lonsd.  hoafen,  a  half-witted 
person,  Clev.  awfish,  half-witted. 

Hog.     sb.     A  lamb  for  twelve  months  after  weaning. 

I  think  that  the  origin  of  this  word  may  be  found  in  Welsh 
hogiau,  hogyn,  stripling,  lad,  hogen,  a  young  girl — hog  meaning 
simply  a  young  animal.  The  Teutonic  idioms  have  hag,  per- 
haps a  parallel  word,  as  in  Ang.-Sax.  hcegsteald,  Dut.  hagestolt, 
bachelor,  virgin,  novice. 

Hoggers.     sb.     Upper  stockings  without  feet. 

Probably,  like  hough,  and  hock  (of  a  horse),  from  Ang.-Sax. 
hoh,  the  ham. 

Hokker.     vn.     To  scramble  in  an  awkward  manner. 

Also  Lonsd. ,  to  crouch  over  the  fire.  The  idea  in  both  cases  is 
the  same — that  of  crookedness.  Old  Norse  hokra,  to  go  bent, 
to  crouch. 

Holm.     sb.     An  island.     Also  alluvial  land  by  a  river 

side,  "  which  in  time  of  flood  may  become  more  or  less  insular. 


CUMBERLAND    DIALECT.  67 

and  which,  at  an  earlier  time,  may  have  been  completely  so." — 
Atk.  Ang.-Sax.  holm,  Old  Norse  holmr,  Dan.  holm,  a  small 
island. 

Hoo.     intj.     Well ! 

Icel.  ku,  seems  to  be  used  very  much  in  the  same  way,  ho  !  well  ! 

Hood.     sb.     The   hob   or  corner   of  the  fire  place. 

I  am  rather  inclined  to  take  the  word  to  be  the  same  as  the  Icel. 
hldd,  which  appears  to  have  the  same  meaning.  It  is  a  deriva- 
tive of  hlada,  to  pile,  to  heap,  in  reference  to  its  use  for  setting 
things  upon.     So  hob  seems  to  be  from  heap. 

Hoop.     sb.     A  six-quart  measure,  "  formerly  made  of 

a  broad  wooden  hoop." — Dick.  Or,  bound  with  hoops  like  a 
barrel. 

Hoose.     sb.     A  cough. 

Clev.  hooze,  to  wheeze  or  breathe  with  difficulty  and  noise. 
Lonsd.  hooze,  difficult  breathing  or  half-cough,  peculiar  to  cattle. 
"Hoose,  or  cowghe  (host  or  hoost), — Pr.  Prv.  Old  Norse 
has,  Ang.-Sax.  has,  hoarse.  Ang.-Sax.  hweosan,  Old  Norse, 
hvcBsa,  Norw.  hcesa,  to  wheeze,  pant,  have  difficulty  in  breathing, 
Old  Norse  hosti,  Dut.  host,  Dan.  hoste,  cough,  Lonsd.  and  Sco. 
host,  a  cough,  Crav.  hoste,  hoarseness. 

Hopple,     va.     To  fetter,  fasten  the  legs  of  a  horse,  to 

prevent  him  from  straying.     See  hobble. 

Hoppy.     sb.     A  horse,  in  nursery  language. 

Fris.  hoppe,  ahorse,  "now  only  in  the  language  of  children," 
(OutzenJ,  Dan.  hoppe,  horse. 

Hotch.     vn.     To  shake  as  with  laughter.     See  hitch. 

Hots.  sb.  Panniers  to  carry  manure,  &c,  on  horse- 
back in  the  field.  Dut.  hotte,  basket,  pannier,  Fr.  hotte,  a 
basket  carried  on  the  back,  Prov.  Germ,  hotte,  a.  pannier  carried 
on  the  back  by  vintagers.  Hot  seems  the  same  word  as  hod  (of 
a  bricklayer). 

Hotter,     vn.     To  totter. 

Swiss  hottern,   to  shake,  Dial.   Swed.  huttra,  to  tremble  or 

shiver. 

Howdy,     sb.     A  midwife. 

Old  Norse  jod.  a  baby,  jodmodir,  a  midwife. 

How.     adj.     Hollow. 

Probably  the  same  as  Clev.  holl.  Old  Norse  holr,  Ang.-Sax.  hoi, 
Germ,  kohl,  hollow. 

G2 


68  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

How  !    intj.    A  word  used  in  driving  cattle,  to  quicken 
their  speed.     Fris.,  Icel.,  Dan.  hou!  used  in  the  same  manner. 

How.  sb.  A  sepulchral  mound  or  barrow.  A  natural  hill. 

Old  Norse  haugr,  a  mound,  especially  a  grave  mound.  "  In 
Clev.  the  word,  with  about  two  exceptions,  denotes  the  grave- 
hills  on  the  moors." — Atk.  In  our  district  many  of  them  are 
natural  hills,  and  of  considerable  elevation,  as  Silver  How,  near 
Grasmere,  but  it  is  possible  that  an  artificial  mound  may,  in 
some  cases,  have  been  raised,  in  accordance  with  the  ancient 
desire  for  a  burial-place  in  a  conspicuous  situation,  upon  the 
summit  of  the  natural  one.  In  North.,  how  changes  into 
haugh. 

Howk.     va.     To  excavate,  to  scoop  out. 

Suio-Goth.  holka,  to  excavate.  Hence  hulk,  that  which  is 
hollowed,  has  the  inside  scooped  out. 

Hoyse.     va.     To  hoist. 

Dan.  keise,  Swed.  hissa,  Fr.  hisser,  to  hoist. 

Hubble,     sb.     A  crowd,  a  confused  gathering. 

Swed.  hop,  Dut.  hoop,  Germ,  hau/e,  a  heap,  crowd  of  people, 
Dut.  hobbelen,  to  collect  into  a  heap. 

Hulet.     sb.     The  owl. 
Fr.  hulotte,  a.  young  owl. 

Hull.     sb.     A  small  shed  for  calves,  pigs,  &c. 

Ang.-Sax.  hul,  hull,  shell,  from  helan,  to  cover.  The  idea  is 
that  of  a  light  and  simple  structure,  as  we  speak  of  a  building 
being  "only  a  shell." 

Hullert.     adj.     Coagulated,  applied  to  blood. 

Seems  allied  to  Bret,  kaouled,  Welsh  ceulaidd,  coagulated, 
Welsh  cento,  to  coagulate. 

Hummel  or  Humlin.    sb.    A  sheep  with  both  testicles 

in  its  loins. — Dick.  Ang.-Sax.  h&melan,  the  testicles,  Germ. 
hammeln,  to  castrate,  Swed.  hammel,  a  castrated  ram. 

Hunsup.     sb.     A  turbulent  outcry. 

Originally  a  tune  played  on  the  horn  under  the  windows  of 
sportsmen  very  early  in  the  morning,  to  awaken  them.  "  Hence 
the  term  was  applied  to  any  noise  of  an  awakening  or  alarming 
nature."  -  Hall. 


CUMBERLAND    DIALECT.  69 

Hursle.     va.     To  shrug  the  shoulders. 

"  Then  Tyelor  he  began  to  chow, 
An'  hursled  up  his  shoulder." — Upshot,  Lonsdale. 
Probably  another  form  of  hurkle.      Dut.  hurken,  to  crouch,  to 
shrug.     Old  Norse  h'drkla,  to  hobble. 

Hush.     sb.     A  sudden  gush. 

Prov.  Germ,  husch,  a  sudden  shower  of  rain. 

Huzzif,  Housewife,   sb.   A  woman's  case  for  needles, 

&c.  Old  Norse  hfisi,  a  case,  skceris-htlsi,  a  scissors  case.  Hence 
housewife  seems  to  be  simply  a  woman's  case,  A.S.  wtf,  woman. 

I. 

I.    prep.     In. 

Old  Norse,  Dan.,  Swed.  i,  in. 

ICE-SHOCKLE,  ICE-SHOGGLE.       sb.      An  icicle. 
Fris.  is-jokel,  Norw.  is-jukel. 

III.     adj.     Evil,  wicked. 

Old  Norse  lllr,  Suio-Goth.  ill,  Norw.  ///,  wicked. 

Ilk.    pron.     Each. 

"  like  or  eche." — Pr.  Prv.    Ang.-Sax.  ale,  Dut.  elc. 

Ill-gien.     adj.     Ill-tempered. 

Possibly  from  Old  Norse  illgiarn,  malignus,  if  not  simply 
ill-given. 

Ime,  Imin.     sb.     Scum,  thin  covering,  hoar-frost. 

Sco.  oam.     Old  Norse  hem,  a  thin  film  of  ice,  eimr,  thin  vapour. 

Imp.     sb.     A  ring  or  circle  added  to  a  bee-hive  from 

beneath.  Ang.-Sax.  impian,  Germ,  imp/en,  Dan.  ympe,  to 
engraft,  Welsh  imp,  a  scion,  impio,  to  graft.  Hall,  gives  imp, 
an  addition,  insertion,  North. 

Income,     sb.      A   sore   or  swelling  not  caused  by 

external  injury.     See  ancome. 

Ing.     sb.     Meadow  land,  in  a  low  situation. 

Old  Norse  engi,  Suio-Goth.  ceng,  Dan.  eng.  According  to  Ihre, 
ceng  properly  denotes  level  land  by  the  sea-shore.  From  the 
root-meaning  of  the  word,  which  seems  to  be  found  in  Old  Norse 
engr,  Ang.-Sax.  enge,  Germ,  eng,  Welsh  ing,  narrow,  Sansc.  ac, 
to  bend  or  contract,  I  should  suppose  that  the  original  meaning 
has  been,  as  Ihre  says,  strips  of  pasture  land  by  the  sea-shore  ; 
or  still  more  commonly,  in  the  bed  of  a  river,  formed  by  the 
shifting  of  its  channel. 


7©  GLOSSARY    OF   THE 

Ingle,     sb.     Fire,  flame. 

"An  ingle  of  sticks  is  a  common  expression  in  Cumb." — West, 
and  Cum.  Dial.     Gael,  aingeal,  fire,  light. 

Inkle,     sb.    Coarse  narrow  tape,  as  used  for  shoe-ties, 

&c.  Derived  by  Wedg.  from  Fr.  lignol,  strong  thread  used  by- 
shoemakers,  &c. ,  whence  Eng.  lingel,  thread,  and  then,  by  the 
loss  of  the  initial  /,  ingle.  It  does  not  seem  to  me,  however, 
altogether  certain  that  inkle,  narrow  tape,  may  not  be  directly 
from  ing,  which  (see  ing)  both  in  Celtic  and  Teutonic  signifies 
narrow.  • 

Insense.    va.    To  make  one  to  understand  a  thing. 

A  good  old  Shakesperian  word. 

Izels.     sb.     Embers,  hot  ashes,  flakes  from  burning 

straw,  &c.  ' '  Isyl  of  fyre. " — Pr.  Prv.  Ang.-Sax.  ysela ,  embers, 
hot  ashes,  Old  Norse  eysa,  cinis  ignitus. 

IT 

Jab.     vn.     To  slop  over,  or  against  the  sides,  (as  of 

liquids  in  a  vessel).  Clev.  jaup.  Old  Norse  gialpa,  to  dash 
against,  as  waves  upon  the  shore. 

Jabber,     sb.     Garrulity,  chattering. 

Clev.  jawer.      "Javeryn,  jaberyn,  garrulo." — Pr.  Prv.      Fr. 
ter,  to  yelp,  javioler,  to  gabble. 


Jackalegs.     sb.     A  pocket  clasp-knife. 

From  Jacques  de  Liege,  a  famous  Flemish  cutler. — Jam. 

Jags.     sb.     Rags,  splinters. 

"  Jagge  or  dagge  of  a  garment,  fractillus." — Pr.  Prv.  (referring 
to  the  prevailing  fashion  of  fancifully  jagging  or  cutting  the 
edges  of  a  garment).  Old  Norse  jacka,  to  cut  with  a  blunt 
instrument,  Dan.  jask,  rag,  tatter. 

Jam.     va.     To  squeeze,  compress,  wedge. 

1 '  To  press  in  between  something  that  confines  the  space  on 
either  side  like  the  jambs  of  a  door." —  Wedg.  This  definition, 
I  own,  strikes  me  as  somewhat  narrow,  and  I  rather  suspect  a 
connection  with  Wei. ,  Corn. ,  Bret,  gen,  Ir.  gein,  Gael,  geinn,  a 
wedge,  allied  to  Lat.  cuneus. 

Jammers,  Jimmers.     sb.    Small  cupboard  hinges. 

Properly  jimmels,  from  Fr.jumelles,  Lat.  gemelli,  twins,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  hinges  as  working  in  pairs. 

Jamp.     vb.     Jumped,  pret.  of  jump. 


CUMBERLAND    DIALECT.  7 1 

Jangle,     vn.     To  wrangle,  squabble. 

"  Jangelyn  or  iaveryn,  oggario." — Pr.  Prv.  Dut.  jangelen,  to 
yelp,  Old  Fr.  jangler,  to  prattle,  jest,  lie,  Old  Norse  jagg, 
squabbling. 

Jannock.     adj.  -  Just,  proper,  right,  straight,  or  even. 

Old  Norse  jafn,  Old  Swed.  jcemn,  even  or  straight,  Old  Swed. 
jcemka.  Dial.  Swed.  janka,  to  make  even  or  straight.  Comp., 
also,  Welsh,  iawn,  right,  equitable,  just. 

Jarble.     vn.     To  bespatter. 

Probably  for  jabble.     See  jab. 

Jayls.     sb.     Cracks  and  fissures  in  timber. 

Seegea/s, 

Jayfel.     vn.     To  stagger,  walk  unsteadily. 

Seeing  the  close  connection  that  exists  between  different  kinds 
of  imperfect  action,  as  between  limping  or  walking  lame  and 
stammering,  (see  hakker,  hobble,  stotter),  I  am  inclined  to  think 
that  the  origin  of  the  present  word  may  be  found  in  Old  Norse 
geifla,  to  mumble. 

Jedder.     vn.     To  jar. 

Dan.  jaddre,  to  babble,  prattle. 

Jeest.     sb.     A  joist. 

"Gyste,  that  go  the  over  the  flore." — Palsg.  in  Way.  Fr.  giste, 
a  bed,  place  to  lie  on,  from  gesir,  Lat.  jacere,  to  lie.  "The 
term  sleeper,  with  which  railways  have  made  us  so  familiar,  is  a 
repetition  of  the  same  idea." —  Wedg. 

Jert.     vn.     To  jerk. 

Jert  and  jerk  seem  to  be  different  forms  of  the  same  word, 
t  and  k  interchanging  as  in  various  other  instances.  The  root 
may  perhaps  be  traced  to  Wei.  gyr,  impetus,  impulse. 

Jeyk.     vn.     To  creak. 

Sco.  jeeg,  geig.  Jam.  refers  to  Germ,  geigen,  to  play  on  the 
fiddle,  which  is  related  to  jig,  a  rapid  movement,  Welsh  gogi, 
to  shake.  It  refers,  therefore,  to  the  action  of  playing  on  the 
fiddle  rather  than  to  the  sound  produced.  In  any  case,  I  think 
the  Welsh  gwicio,  to  creak,  offers  a  more  probable  derivation. 
The  Bav.  gigken,  to  utter  broken  sounds,  may  also  be  allied. 

Jillet.     sb.     A  jilt. 

Clev.  giglet  shows  the  original  form,  whence  comes  first  our 
jillet,  and  then  Eng.  jilt.  The  origin  may  be  Celtic — Pryce 
having  giglot  as  a  Corn,  word,  signifying  a  wanton,  lascivious 
girl.  The  root  is  the  same  as  that  of  geggles,  Welsh  gogi,  to 
move,  stir. 


72  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

Jimp.     adj.     "  Tight,  too  little,  tucked  up  in  the  flank 

as  greyhounds  are." — Dick.  The  most  general  sense,  however, 
is  that  of  elegance  derived  from  slenderness,  as  in  Sco.  jimp, 
neat  and  slender.     Welsh  gwymp,  smart,  neat. 

Joggle,     sb.     To  jog,  to  shake. 

A  frequentative  from  jog,  Welsh  gogi,  to  shake. 

Jome.  sb.  The  jaumb  or  side-stone  of  a  door  or  window. 

Fr.  jambe,  leg,  also  side  of  a  door  or  window. 

Jook.  vn.  To  stoop  or  bend  to  avoid  a  blow  or  a  missile. 

Germ,  zucken,  to  shrink.  Jam.  also  refers  to  Suio-Goth.  duka, 
Dut.  duycken,  to  duck  or  stoop,  as  radically  allied. 

Jook.   sb.   A  long  and  tiresome  journey  on  foot. — Dick. 

Germ,  zug,  pull,  tug,  expedition. 

Joram.     sb.     A  large  mess,  abundance. 

Welsh  gorm,  full,  goramlu,  to  superabound,  from  gor,  much, 
excessive. 

Jowl.     vb.     To  jumble. 

"  Relates  more  particularly  to  the  disturbing  of  a  vessel  con- 
taining fluid." — Dick.  This  might  make  us  think  of  Old  Norse 
giogl,  water,  fluid.     But  perhaps  only  a  contraction  of  joggle. 


Kale,  (pron.  keall).  sb.  Broth,  oatmeal  porridge,  greens, 

Old  Norse  kdl,  Dan.  kaal,  Ang.-Sax.  cawl,  Germ,  kohl,  Welsh 
cawl,  Gael.,  Ir.  cal,  Corn,  caul,  Bret,  caol,  Lat.  caulis,  Eng. 
cole.  The  original  meaning,  then,  is  first  cabbage,  then  greens 
in  general,  and  finally  broth,  as  made  from  greens  of  all  sorts. 

Kanjy.     adj.     Cross-grained,  ill-tempered. 

Comp.  Old  Norse  kangin-yrdi,  jeering  words,  Icel.  kank,  jibes. 

Kayk.     vn.     To  poke  out  the  neck  and  stare. 

"An'  Peat  lass,  wud  her  yallow  muffs, 
Stuid  kaikin  leyke  a  gezzlin." — Upshot.     Lonsdale. 
Old  Norse  kaga,  to  bend  forward  and  peep,  pry  (Cleasby)  exactly 
represents  our  word,  which  seems  to  be  the  same  word  as  keek, 
with  a  little  difference  of  application. 


CUMBERLAND    DIALECT.  73 

Kay-bittit.     adj.    Marked  by  having  a  piece  cut  out 

of  the  ear,  applied  to  sheep.  The  former  part  of  the  word 
seems  to  be  connected  with  Old  Norse  kjagg,  a  blunt  hatchet , 
Dial.  Swed.  kage,  a  stump.  Bittit  may  be  from  O.N.  bildottr, 
marked  on.the  cheek,  (applied  to  sheep)  perhaps  in  the  sense  of 
marked  by  cutting,  from  bildr,  a  hatchet. 

Kayk.     sb.     A  twist  in  the  neck. 

Clev.  keek,  to  throw  back  the  head  and  neck.  Crav.  keak,  a 
distortion  of  the  spine.  Old  Norse  keikr,  having  the  back-bone 
bent  back,  Norw.  kjeika,  to  bend  back  or  to  one  side. 

Kaymt.     adj.     Crooked,  contradictious. 

Welsh,  Gael.,Tr.  cam,  crooked. 

Kave,  (pron.  keav).  va.  and  n.  To  move  restlessly,  paw, 

as  a  horse,  also  to  rake  straw,  &c.  Old  Norse  kafa,  to  spread 
or  turn  over  hay,  &c,  Norw.  kava,  to  use  a  rake,  turn  over 
hay,  &c,  move  things  fidgettingly,  Dut.  kaven,  eventilare  paleas, 
{Kil.) 

Kebby-stick.     sb.     A  hooked  stick. 

Lonsd.  kibble,  a  thick,  strong  stick.  Old  Norse  kfypr,  Dan. 
kiep,  stick,  staff,  Lat.  cippus,  pole. 

Keek.     vn.     To  peep. 

Suio-Goth.  kika,  Dut.  kijken,  Fris.  kiecke,  to  gaze,  stare. 

Keens,    sb.    Cracks  or  chaps  in  the  hands  from  frost. 

Clev.  kins.     Ang.-Sax.  cine,  chink,  cleft. 

Keen.     adj.     Eager,  sharp,  earnest. 

Ang.-Sax.  cine,  Jutl.  kon,  Germ,  kiihn,  vigorous,  energetic. 

Keld,  Kell.     sb.     A  spring. 

Old  Norse  kelda,  Suio-Goth.  kcella,  Dan.  kilde,  spring,  fountain. 

Kelk.    va.     To  beat  or  thump. 

"  Why,  man  !  she  kelk'd  thee  leyke  a  log, 
An'  chess'd  thee  leyke  a  cwoly  dog." — Slagg, 
Atk.  suggests  that  kelk  is  a  transposed  form  of  click,  in  the  sense 
(which  I  have  taken  to  be  the  original  one)  of  striking. 

Kelter.     sb.     Condition,  circumstances. 

To  be  in  high  kelter  =  to  be  in  good  condition.  Wedg.  ap- 
proves of  Skinner's  suggestion  that  the  origin  is  to  be  found  in 
Dial.  Swed.  kiltra  sig,  signifying  to  gird  oneself  up,  as  in  readi- 
ness for  work. 


74  GLOSSARY    OF   THE 

Kemps,     sb.     Hairs  among  wool. 

Seems  most  probably  connected  with  kemb,  comb,  kempster,  a 
woman  who  cleans  wool. — Hall. 

Ken.     va.     To  know,  be  acquainted  with. 

Ang.-Sax.  cennan,  Old  Norse  kenna,  Germ,  kennen. 

Kenspect,  Kenspeckled.  adj.  Conspicuous,  easily- 
distinguished.  Clev.  kenspect.  Suio-Goth.  kcennespak,  Norw. 
kjennespak,  sharp  or  quick  in  finding  out.  Our  word  contains 
an  inversion  of  the  sense,  probably  arising  out  of  the  idea  that 
spak  (Old  Norse  spakr,  wise,  knowing),  is  from  speck  in  the  sense 
of  a  distinguishing  mark. 

Kep.     va.     To  catch,  as  a  ball. 

Ang.-Sax.  cepan,  to  catch,  Old  Norse  kippa,  to  snatch. 

Kern-winnin.     sb.     Harvest-home. 

Ang.-Sax.  winnan,  to  strive,  labour,  hence  to  acquire  by  toil. 
Kern  (Ang.-Sax.  cyrti,  churn)  has  reference  to  the  ancient  cus- 
tom, referred  to  by  Brand,  of  producing  cream  in  a  churn  as 
part  of  the  entertainment. 

Kesh.    sb.     The  cow-parsnip. 

Lonsd.  kesh,  white  weed,  a  kind  of  hemlock.  Kecks,  cashes, 
the  dry,  hollow  stalks  of  umbelliferous  plants. — Prior.  ' '  Kyx 
or  bunne,  or  drye  weed." — Pr.  Prv.  Prior's  objection  to  what 
seems  the  most  natural  derivation,  from  Welsh  cecys,  hollow 
stalks,  hemlock,  on  the  ground  that  "our  ancestors  borrowed 
nothing  (in  the  way  of  agricultural  terms,  I  apprehend  to  be  his 
meaning)  from  that  language  but  proper  names  of  localities," 
does  not  seem  at  any  rate  to  be  borne  out  in  our  district,  where 
it  is  in  such  terms  more  especially  that  the  vestiges  of  the  Celt 
are  to  be  traced. 

Keslop.     sb.    The  cured  stomach  of  a  calf  used  for 

making  rennet.  Dut.  kaeslibbe,  cheese  rennet,  Ang.-Sax.  ceselib, 
Germ,  kdslab,  curded  milk. 

Kett.    sb.     Carrion,  hence  filth  of  any  kind. 

Old  Norse  kot,  ket,  flesh,  meat,  Dut.  kaet,  filth. 

Kevvel.     vn.     To  sprawl,  kick,  or  leap  awkwardly. 

"  Lang  sair  they  kevveled,  danced,  and  sang." — Stagg. 
A  frequentative  of  kave,  q.v. 

Kick.     sb.     The  top  of  the  fashion. 

Perhaps  from  Old  Norse  skick,  Dan.  skik,  custom,  usage, 
fashion. 


CUMBERLAND    DIALECT.  75 

Kilp.     sb.     A  bend,  a  crook. 

Lonsd.  also  a  pot-hook.  Old  Norse  kilpr,  flexura,  ansula,  qua 
manubrium  mulctri  annectitur,  Dial.  Swed.  kjelp,  handle  of  a 
bucket. 

Kilt  up.     va.     To  tuck  up  a  dress. 

Dan.  kilte  op,  Suio-Goth.  upkilta,  to  fasten  or  tuck  up  a  dress. 

Kink.     sb.    A  twist  in  a  rope  or  cord,  which  prevents 

it  running  freely.  Also,  a  convulsive  fit  of  coughing,  as  in  the 
hooping  cough.  Old  Norse  keingr,  a  crook  or  bending,  Swed. 
kink,  a  twist  in  a  chain,  such  as  to  prevent  its  running.  Ang.- 
Sax.  cincung,  a  paroxysm  of  laughter.  Atk.  connects  these  two 
last  together,  "the  transition  of  idea  from  the  twist  which  pre- 
vents the  free  passage  of  the  chain,  rope,  or  string,  to  the  effects 
of  the  paroxysm  which  interferes  with  the  free  passage  of  the 
breath,  being  both  simple  and  natural." 

King-cough,     sb.     The  hooping-cough. 

Properly  kink-cough.  North,  kink-haust. — Hall.  Dut.  kink- 
hoest,  hooping-cough  (koest,  cough),  Swed.  kik,  cough.  See 
kink. 

Kipper,     sb.     A  term  applied  to  salmon  when  out  of 

season  or  spawning.  Dut.  kippen,  excludere  ova.  Old  Norse 
kcepa,  parturire,  (referring  to  the  seal.)  "A  kipper  is  thus  a 
spawner." — yam. 

Kippert.     adj.     Partly  cured  (applied  to  fish.) 

"As  salmon,  in  the  foul  state,  are  unfit  for  use  while  fresh,  they 
are  usually  cured  and  hung  up.  Hence  the  word,  properly  de- 
noting a  spawning  fish,  has  been  transferred  to  one  that  is  salted 
and  dried.  Indeed,  through  Scotland,  the  greatest  part  of 
those  formerly  kippered,  by  the  vulgar  at  least,  were  foul  fish." 
Jam. 

Kirrock.  sb.  A  circle  of  stones,  of  the  sort  generally- 
called  druidical.  I  take  the  word  to  be  the  same  as  Lat.  circus, 
Welsh,  cwrc,  curvature,  from  the  root  car  or  cir,  to  bend  or 
turn.     The  subject  is  more  fully  discussed  in  another  place. 

Kist.     sb.     A  chest. 

Old  Norse,  Suio-Goth,  kista,  Ang.-Sax.  cyst,  Dan.  kiste,  Dut. 
kist,  chest. 

Kit.     sb.     A  small  tub  or  pail. 

Dut.  kit,  kiite,  a.  small  tub  or  pail,  Welsh  cydan,  a  small  bag, 
cydu,  to  pouch. 

Kit.     sb.     Lot  or  company,  used  contemptuously. 

Germ,  kitte,  flock,  covey.  The  origin,  I  take  it,  is  to  be  found 
in  Welsh  cydio,  to  join,  couple. 


76  GLOSSARY    OF    THE 

Kite.     sb.     The  belly. 

Old  Norse  kvidr,  Ang.-Sax.  cwith,  Suio-Goth.  owed,  stomach, 
belly. 

Kitlin.     sb.     A  kitten. 

Old  Norse  ketlingr,  a  kitten,  Norw.  kjetla,  to  kitten. 

Kittle,     va.     To  tickle. 

Ang.-Sax.  citelian,  Old  Norse  kitla,  Dut.  kittelen,  to  tickle. 

Kittle,     adj.     Ticklish,  excitable,  easily  acted  on. 

Norw.  ketall,  Swed.  kittlig,  Dial.  Swed.  ketall,  excitable. 

Kizzent.     adj.     Parched  or  shrivelled. 

Crav.  kizzened.  I  think  the  author  of  the  Crav.  Gloss,  is  right 
in  taking  the  word  to  be  the  same  as  guizened,  which  Ray  gives 
as  applied  to  tubs  or  barrels  that  leak  through  drought.  The 
origin,  then,  is  evidently  to  be  found  in  Old  Norse  gisinn, 
leaky  (of  tubs  and  vessels.) 

Knack,     vn.     To  speak  affectedly. 

I  take  knack  to  be  another  form  of  knap,  q.v. 

Knap.    va.    To  tap,  strike  gently  and  quickly,  to  crack 

or  break.  Suio-Goth.  kncefpa,  Belg.  knappen,  to  strike,  to  crack 
or  break,  Welsh  cnipws,  fillup. 

Knap.     vn.     To  talk  in  an  affected  manner,  to  ape 

fine  speaking,  a  common  way  of  doing  which  is  to  give  a  close 
sound  to  the  broad  open  vowels. 

•'  She  talk'd  a'  vast,  but  knapp't  sae  sair, 
At  nin  cud  understand  her." — Lonsdale. 
Clev.  knapper.     Sco.  knap,  "  to  speak  after  the  English  manner, 
to  knap  Suddrone,  to  speak  like  the  Southerners." — Jam.     Old 
Norse  hneppa,  to  cut  short,  curtail,  Old  Norse  knappr,  Dan. 
knap,  tight,  contracted. 

Knep.     va.     To  bite  in  play,  as  horses  do. — Dick. 

Clev.  knep,  to  crop  the  herbage  in  small  bits,  to  bite  or  crop 
short  herbage.  Suio-Goth.  knappra,  to  bite  gently,  Dan.  knibe, 
to  nip. 

Kneudd.     va.     To  butt  with  the  head,  as  a  calf  or 

lamb  does  when  sucking. — Dick.  Old  Norse  knoda,  to  knead, 
Dan.  gnide,  to  rub. 

Knidgel.     va.     To  castrate  by  ligature. 

Ang.-Sax.  cnytan,  Suio-Goth.  knyta,  to  bind,  tie,  fasten. 

Knop.     sb.     A  small  tub. 

Seems  allied  to  Old  Norse  knappr,  Dan.  knap,  Dut.  knoppe, 
knob,  in  the  sense  of  rotundity. 


CUMBERLAND    DIALECT.  77 

Knoppy.     adj.     Lumpy,  knotty. 

Ang.-Sax.  cnoep,  Fris.  knob,  Dut.  knop,  Germ,  knopf,  Welsh 
cnwb,  a  knob  or  knot. 

Know.     sb.     A  rounded  hill. 

Properly  knoll.     Ang.-Sax.  cnoll,  hill,  summit. 

Knurr't.     adj.     Stunted  in  growth. 

Lonsd.  knorr,  a  dwarfish  fellow,  Sco.  knurl,  a  dwarf.  Jam. 
refers  to  Dut.  knorre,  a  knot  in  timber.  Comp.  also  Swed. 
knorla,  to  curl  or  twist  up,  and  Prov.  Germ,  knorz,  a  knot, 
and,  figuratively,  a  little  stumpy,  fellow. 

Kye.     sb.     Cows. 

Ang.-Sax.  cy,  Old  Norse  k$r,  cows. 

Kype.  vn.  To  insinuate  to  the  disadvantage  of  any  one. 

Perhaps  allied  to  Old  Norse  kifa,  Dut.  kijven,  to  quarrel,  to 
wrangle. 

Kype.     vn.     To  die. 

Seems  to  be  used  somewhat  as  a  cant  phrase — "t  ould  horse  is 
gaan  to  kype." — Dick.  I  am  rather  inclined  to  take  it  to  be  an 
oblique  form  of  coup,  to  overturn,  corresponding  with  Germ. 
kippen,  to  tip  over,  to  upset. 

Kisty.      adj.      Ill-tempered. — Dick.      "  Dainty,  nice 

in  eating." — West,  and  Cumb.  Dial.  The  latter  sense,  which 
is  also  that  of  Lonsd.  and  Crav. ,  must  at  all  events  have  been 
the  original  one.  Belg.  keisetig,  Dut.  kiesch,  nice,  fastidious, 
from  kiezen,  to  choose,  Ang.-Sax.  cis,  nice  in  eating,  cisnes, 
daintiness,  fastidiousness. 


Laal,  Lyle.     adj.     Little. 

Comp.  Dan.  lille,  small,  similarly  contracted  from  Old  Norse 
litill. 

Labber.     vn.     To  splash  or  dabble. 

North,  labber,  to  splash,  to  dirty,  lape,  to  walk  about  in  the 
mud.  Clev.  labber,  to  splash,  make  wet.  Prov.  Germ,  lappern, 
to  make  wet,  sprinkle,  Dut.  lobberen,  to  tramp  through  wet  and 
mire.  The  sense  seems  to  vary  between  that  of  wet  and  dirt, 
and  we  may  think  of  Gael,  laib,  mud,  mire,  and  of  the  root 
as  Sansc.  It,  Gael,  leagh,  Old  Norse  hla,  liquescere. 


78  GLOSSARY    OF   THE 

Laghter.  sb.  A  brood  of  chickens,  &c.  Also  a  setting 

of  eggs.  The  latter  sense,  which  is  that  of  various  other  dia- 
lects, is,  I  apprehend,  the  correct  one,  from  Ang.-Sax.  lecgan, 
Dut.  leggen,  to  lay  (eggs). 

Laggin.     sb.     The  end  of  the  stave  outside  a  cask. 

Lonsd.  lag.  Old  Norse  logg,  Suio-Goth.  lagg,  Swed.  lagg, 
border  of  a  cask. 

Laik.     vn.     To  play,  to  amuse  oneself. 

Ang.-Sax.  Idcan,  Old  Norse  leika,  to  play.  The  original 
meaning,  as  found  in  Goth,  laikan,  would  seem  to  be  to  jump 
about,  to  dance. 

Lait.     va.     To  seek,  search  for. 

Old  Norse  leyta,  Old  Swed.  laita,  Dan.  lede,  to  seek. 

Laitin.     sb. '  The  circuit  of  neighbours  invited  to  a 

funeral,  &c.     See  lait. 

Lall,  Lallup.     vn.     To  loll  out  the  tongue. 

Chesh.,  Somers.  lolliker,  the  tongue.  Comp.  Sansc.  lallana, 
Swiss  lalli,  Bav.  Idler,  the  tongue,  Swiss  lallen,  to  put  out  the 
tongue,  the  general  origin  being  probably  onomatopoeic. 

Lam.     va.     To  beat. 

Old  Norse  lemja,  to  beat,  lama,  to  bruise. 
Land-louper.    sb.    One  who  decamps  without  paying 

debts,  a  vagabond.     Old  Norse  land-hlaupari,  a  vagabond. 

Lane.     vb.     To  connive  at,  or  hide  a  fault. 

Old  Norse  leyna,  to  cover,  to  conceal. 

Langel,  Lanket.     sb.     A  fetter  for  sheep. 

Lonsd.  langled,  having  the  legs  tied.  Suio-Goth.  laenka,  to 
fasten,  Dan.  Icenke,  to  fetter.  Lang(el)  and  lank(et)  seem 
only  different  forms  of  the  same  word  lang  or  lank. 

Langsen.     adv.     Long  since. 

Swed.  langesedan,  Dial  Swed.  lang-san. 

Langsome.     adj.     Tedious,  wearisome. 

Old  Norse  langs&mr,  Dan.  langsom,  tedious. 

Lant,  Lanter.     sb.     The  game  of  loo. 

Rather  seems  to  have  some  connection  with  lonter,  to  loiter, 
either  in  the  sense  of  an  idle  way  of  passing  time,  or  in  that  of 
"the  flapping  or  shaking  of  loose  things,"   (as  cards),  Swiss 


CUMBERLAND    DIALECT.  79 

lottern,  to  joggle,  &c,  which,  according  to  Wedg.,  is  the 
original  idea  in  many  of  the  words  signifying  idleness. 

Lap.     Leap't,  pret.  of  leap. 

Lapstan.     sb.     The  stone  on  which  the  shoemaker 

beats  his  leather.  Not,  as  might  be  supposed,  from  his  having 
it  in  his  lap,  but  from  Dut.  lappen,  Dan.  lappe,  to  botch,  to 
mend,  Dut.  schoen-lapper,  a  cobbler. 

Larrap.     va.     To  beat. 

Dut.  larp,  lash,  larpen,  to  thrash  in  a  particular  manner,  all 
the  flails  being  lifted  from  the  ground  at  once. —  Wedg.  Comp. 
also  Welsh  llarpio,  to  rend,  tear  to  rags. 

Lash.     sb.     The  diarrhoea. 

Crav.  lask,  Clev.  lax.     Germ,  laxiren,  to  purge,  Lat.  laxuz. 

Lathe,     sb.     A  barn. 

Old  Norse  hlada,  Dan.  lade,  barn,  Old  Norse  hlada,  to  load, 
lay  up. 

Lave.     sb.     The  rest. 

Ang.-Sax.  Idv,  Old  Norse  leifar,  remainder. 

Lav-lug't.     adj.     Having  the  ears  hanging  instead  of 

being  erect.  Old  Norse  laf-eyrdr,  having  hanging  ears,  from 
la/a,  to  hang. 

Lavrick.     sb.     The  lark. 

Ang.-Sax.  lawerc,  laferc,  whence,  by  contraction,  Eng.  lark. 

Leah.     sb.     A  scythe. 

Old  Norse  Ijdr,  Old  Swed.  lee,  Dan.  le,  Fris.  lee,  Low  Germ, 
lehe,  scythe.     Comp.  Sansc.  lava,  sickle,  from  lu,  to  cut,  reap. 

Leeve-tale.     adj.     Easy  to  sell  or  dispose  of. 

Would  rather  seem  to  be  properly  leef-telt,  easily  reckoned, 
from  lee/,  willingly,  readily,  and  Ang.-Sax.  tellan,  to  reckon. 

Leister,     sb.     A  pronged  spear  for  catching  eels,  &c. 

Old  Norse  liostr,  a  fish-spear,  from  liosta,  to  transfix,  the  root 
of  which  is  perhaps  to  be  found  in  Sansc.  lu,  to  cut. 

Lert.     vn.     To  jerk,  to  pitch  a  light  article  out  of 

hand.  Would  rather  seem  to  be  formed  on  Welsh  Haw,  the 
hand,  llawio,  to  handle.  I  am  unable  to  suggest  anything 
more  precise. 


So  GLOSSARY   OF    THE 

Lessil.     sb.     A  wanton  woman. — Hall. 

Prob.  from  Ang.-Sax.  leas,  empty,  false,  Norw.  leos,  lascivious. 

Let-wit.     vn.     To  make  known,  let  out. 

Dut.  laeten  weten,  to  make  known. 

Lib.     va.    To  castrate. 

Dut.  lubben,  Dial.  Dan.  live,  to  castrate,  the  root  of  which  may 
perhaps  be  Sansc.  lu,  to  cut, 

Libbie.     A  contraction  of  Elizabeth. 

Libb  is  similarly  used  for  Elizabeth  in  Dial.  Swed. ,  according  to 
Rietz. 

Lick.     va.     To  beat. 

Welsh  llachio,  to  beat,  cudgel,  Suio-Goth,  laegga,  to  strike. 

Lig.     vn.     To  lie. 

Ang.-Sax.  liegan,  Old  Norse  Uggja,  Germ,  liegen. 

Lig  on.     vn.     A  thing  is  said  to  lig  on  or  lie  on,  when 

it  is  of  importance  that  it  should  be  done.  The  same  expression 
is  used  in  the  Scand.  tongues,  Old  Norse,  Icel.  Uggja  d,  to  lie 
on,  to  be  of  importance.  So  also  the  Germans  say  es  liegt  mir 
daran,  it  lies  upon  me,  is  of  consequence  to  me. 

Lilt.     vn.     To  sing  without  using  words. 

Suio-Goth.  lulla,  to  sing,  Dut.  lollen,  lullen,  to  sing  without 
words.  Probably  formed  by  onomatopoeia,  like  Dan.  lalle, 
Dut.  lillen,  to  prattle.     See  lall,  lallop. 

Lim.     sb.     A  mischievous  person. 

Sco.  limmer.  Dut.  slim,  bad,  Old  Norse  slcemr,  vilis,  abjectus, 
properly  deficiens,  sleima,  homuncio.  These  seem  to  be  formed 
by  the  prefix  of  s,  on  the  form  found  in  Welsh  llymio,  to  make 
bare,  whence  llyman,  sorry  fellow — the  sense  being,  first,  that 
of  deficiency,  as  in  Old  Norse  slcemr,  deficiens,  and  in  Eng. 
slim,  and  then,  that  of  vileness  or  wickedness.  I  have  some 
doubt  whether  to  ascribe  our  word  to  a  Celtic  or  a  Teutonic 
origin. 

Limber,     adj.     Supple,  pliant. 

Old  Norse  limpiaz,  to  become  relaxed  or  slack,  Swiss  lampig, 
loose,  flabby,  Welsh  lleipr  flaccid,  drooping. 

Limmers.     sb-     The  shafts  of  a  cart. 

Old  Norse  lim,  limi,  bough,  branch  of  a  tree,  of  which  it  is 
probable  the  first  rude  shafts  were  made. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  8 1 

Lin.,     sb.    A  precipice. 

Sco.  lin  means  both  a  cataract,  and  also  the  pool  at  the  bottom 
of  the  fall.  ' '  It  seems  uncertain  which  of  these  is  the  primary 
sense.  For  Ang.-Sax.  hlynna  denotes  a  torrent,  Icel.  lind  a 
cascade,  and  Welsh  llhynn,  Arm.  len,  Ir.  lin,  a  pool." — yam. 

Ling.     sb.     Heather,  calluna  vulgaris. 

'    "Lynge  or  hethe." — Pr.  Prv.      Old  Norse  ling,  Dan.  lyng, 
heather,  any  small  shrub  of  like  growth. 

Ling-cow.     sb.     A  stem  of  heather. 

Welsh  myncog,  heath.  Our  cow  would  rather  seem  to  be 
related  to  cog  in  above  myncog.  Perhaps  to  Welsh  cawn,  reeds, 
stalks. 

Lirk.     sb.     A  fold,  crease,  or  wrinkle. 

Old  Norse  lerka,  to  plait  or  fold,  lerkad-fat,  ,a  rumpled  dress. 

Lish.     adj.     Nimble,  active,  sprightly. 

Perhaps  from  lisk,  the  groin,  as  the  seat  of  activity. 

Lisk.     sb.     The  groin. 

Old  Norse  Ijoski,  Dan.  lyske,  Dut.  liesch. 

Listin.     sb.     Woollen  selvidge. 

Old  Norse  listi,  Dan.  liste,  selvidge,  Dut.  lijst,  edge,  border. 

Listy.     adj.     Strong,  active. 

"  Lusty  or  listy." — Pr.  Prv.  Derived,  like  lusty,  of  which  it  is 
another  form,  from  Ang.-Sax.  lystan,  Dan.  lyste,  to  take  pleasure 
in,  Dan.  lystig,  merry,  jovial.  The  change  of  sense  has  taken 
place  from  alacrity  of  will  to  that  of  physical  energy.  Hence 
the  converse  listless,  in  which  the  older  sense  is  retained.  The 
Icel.  lystugr  is  now  used  in  the  sense  of  a  hearty  appetite  for 
food. — Cleasby. 

Lite.     vn.    To  rely,  trust,  depend  upon. 

"  Aal  lite  on  tha  to  pay't."— Dick.  Old  Norse hlita,  Swed.  lita, 
Dan.  lide,  to  trust,  rely  on. 

Lob.     va.  and  n.     To  run  or  leap  in  a  heavy  or  lazy 

manner.  To  pitch,  throw  under  hand,  and  necessarily  gently. 
The  root  may  probably  be  found  in  Welsh  llob,  an  unwieldy 
lump,  whence  Old  Norse  lubbaz,  to  loiter  about,  Eng.  lubber, 
and  other  words  indicative  of  slackness  or  indolence.' 

Lock.  sb.  A  small  quantity  of  anything  that  can  be 
taken  in  the  hand,  as  a  lock  of  meal,  &c.  Dial.  Dan.  loge,  a 
handful,  a  small  wisp  or  bundle. 

H 


2>2  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

Lofe.     sb.     A  chance,  opportunity. 

Old  Norse  lofa,  Dan.  love,  to  permit,  to  promise. 

Loft.     sb.     A  garret. 

Old  Nor.se  lopt,  a  garret  or  top  room,  from  lopta,  elevare,  Dan. 
loft.  It  is  also  found  in  Celtic,  as  Welsh  lloft,  Gael,  lobht.  See 
cock-loft. 

Log.    adj.    Still,  quiet. 

"  Log  watter,"  calm  water. — Dick.  Old  Norse  logn,  calmness 
or  stillness  of  the  atmosphere,  lygna,  to  become  calm,  Dut. 
luw,  sheltered  from  the  wind,  Fris.  logh,  loy,  dull,  lazy. 

Lonnin.    sb.     A  country  lane. 

Clev.  lone.  Sco.  lonnin  or  loaning.  Fris.  lona,  laan,  a  lane  or 
narrow  passage.     Perhaps  from  Old  Norse  leyna,  to  hide. 

Lonter.    vn.     To  loiter. 

Dut.  lunderen,  to  dawdle. 

Loof  (pron.  leeuf.)     sb.     The  palm  of  the  hand. 
Goth,  lofa,  Old  Norse  lofi,  Welsh  llawf  palm  of  the  hand. 

Look,  Lowk.     va.     To  weed  corn. 

Ang.-Sax.  lyccan,  to  pluck  up,  Dan.  luge,  to  weed,  Fris.  luke, 
Swiss  leuchen,  to  pull  up  out  of  the  ground. 

Loom.     sb.     A  chimney. 

'*  Sibb.  conjectures  that  this  may  be  from  Ang.-Sax.  leom,  light, 
scarcely  any  other  light  being  admitted  than  through  this  hole 
in  the  roof." — yam.  One  might  also  think  of  Swed.  Ijumma, 
Dial.  Swed.  lumma,  to  warm.  But  I  rather  suspect  that  the 
origin  is  to  be  found  in  Old  Norse  hlemtnr,  an  opening  in  a 
floor,  a  trap-door  {Cleasby). 

Loom.     sb.     A  scamp.    . 

Old  Norse  lauma,  to  sneak,  Idmr,  meanness,  Dan.  lumsk, 
deceitful. 

Loom.  sb.  The  slow  movement  of  water  in  a  deep  pool. 

Probably  allied  to  Old  Dut.  lome,  slow,  lazy. 

Loover.     sb.      An  opening  in  a  roof  to  let  out  the 

smoke,  &c.  "  Old  Norse  liori,  (pron.  liowri  or  liovri,)  Norw. 
liore,  West  Goth,  luira,  described  in  the  statistical  accounts  of 
those  countries  as  a  sort  of  cupola  with  a  trap  door,  serving  the 
two-fold  purpose  of  a  chimney  and  a  sky-light."  —  Gain. 
Davies,  however,  refers  in  preference  to  Welsh  Iwfer,  a  chimney 
(Lewis).  .        . 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  &$ 

Loppen.     Leapt.     The  past  part,  of  hup. 
Loppert.     adj.     Curdled,  coagulated. 

Old  High  Germ,  leberen,  Old  Norse  hlaupa,  Germ,  laben.  to, 
curdle,  Dut.  lobberig,  gelatinous,  Dial.  Dan.  lubber,  anything 
coagulated.     Gael,  lamban,  curdled  milk,  seems  also  allied. 

Lounder.    va.     To  beat  severely. 

North,  louti.  Clev.,  Sco.  lounder.  Gael,  lundraig,  to  cudgel, 
from  lunn,  stick,  cudgel.  Comp.  also  Old  Norse  hlunnr,  Norw. 
lunn,  stick,  staff,  (whence  Atk.  derives  our  word.) 

Loup.     vn.     To  leap,  to  jump. 

Old  Norse  hlaupa,  Ang.-Sax.  hledpan,  Germ,  laufen,  to  run,  to 
leap. 

Lowder.    sb.    The  foundation  supporting  mill-stones. 

Occurring  in  the  muniments  of  Greystoke  Castle.  Old  Norse 
hlad,  platea,  stratum. 

Lowe.     sb.     Flame,  blaze. 

"Low  of  fyyr." — Pr.  Prv.  Old  Norse  log,  Dan.  lue,  flame, 
blaze,  Welsh  Hug,  gleam,  llwg,  what  is  bright. 

Lown,  Lound.     adj.     Calm,  still,  quiet. 

"  There  cannot  be  anudder  spot  so  private  an'  so  sweet, 

As  Billy  Watson  lonnin  of  a  lound  summer  neet." — Gibson. 
Old  Norse  logn,  calmness,  stillness  of  the  atmosphere,  lygna.  to 
cease  to  blow,  become  calm,    Dan.  luun,  North  Fris.  lowen, 
calm,  still.     Our  log,  calm,  still,  represents  the  adj.  on  which 
the  above  are  formed. 

Lowse.     adj.    Loose,  free  from  engagement. 

Old  Norse  laus,  free,  released. 

Lug.    sb.    The  ear,  handle  of  a  jug,  &c. 

"  The  origin  is  seen  in  Swiss  lugg,  luck,  loose,  slack,  luggen,  to 
be  slack.  Hence  lug  is  applied  to  what  flaps  or  hangs 
loosely." —  Wedg.  Atk.,  however,  prefers  Suio-Goth.  lagg. 
See  laggin. 

Lurry,  va.  To  hound  eagerly,  hurry,  persecute. — Dick. 

Old  Norse  l&ra,  coercere.  Or  Gael,  lorg,  to  track,  pursue  by 
footsteps. 

Lyery.     adj.     Tough-fleshed. 

Sco.  lire,  muscle  and  flesh  as  distinct  from  bone.  Ang.-Sax. 
lira,  muscle,  flesh. 

H    2 


84  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Lype.     sb.     A  large  slice. 

Probably  for  slipe.    Ang.-Sax,  sli/an,  to  slice.     Slive,  a  large 
piece  {Mrs.  Baker). 

Lythe.     vn.     To  listen,  hearken. 

Old  Norse  klfda,  Dan.  lytte,  to  listen. 

Lythy.    adj.     Thick,  applied  to  fluids. 

Clev.  lithe,  to  thicken,  broth  especially,  with  meal,  &c.     Welsh 
llith,  meal  soaked  in  water. 


M. 
Maddle.    vn.    To  ramble,  talk  incoherently. 

Swiss  madeln,  to  chatter.  A  frequentative  of  mad,  used  in  Old 
Eng.  as  a  verb,  to  be  beside  oneself. 

Maffle.    vn.     To  blunder,  act  incoherently. 

The  original  idea  is  to  speak  imperfectly,  to  stammer.  Dut. 
maffelen,  to  stammer,  Bav.  muffeln,  to  mumble. 

Maff,  Mafflin.     sb.     A  simpleton.     See  maffle. 

Mailin.     sb.     A  farm. 

The  meaning  is  "that  which  is  rented,"  from  mail,  Ang.-Sax. 
mal,  Old  Norse  mdli,  Gael.  Ir.  mal,  Welsh  mael,  rent,  tribute. 

Man.     sb.     A  pile  of  stones  on  the  top  of  a  mountain, 

as  "Skiddaw  man,"  &c.  The  general  idea  has  been  that  the 
name  has  been  given  on  account  of  the  resemblance  of  the 
object  from  below  to  a  man  on  the  top  of  the  mountain.  Then 
Welsh  maen,  a  stone,  has  been  proposed  by  Peacock  and 
others.  The  true  origin  of  the  word  I  take  to  be  found  in  Old 
Norse  mcena,  cacuminare,  to  come  to  a  point,  whence  mcenir, 
fastigium  domus.  (In  Old  Norse  and  Ang.-Sax.  <z  is  pro- 
nounced as  the  a  in  man.)  Found  in  Celtic,  as  allied  words, 
are  Welsh  main,  Corn,  main,  fine,  slender.  Skiddaw  man, 
then,  like  the  Swiss  Righi-kulm,  would  simply  mean  the  culmi- 
nating point  of  the  mountain. 

Man,     sb.     Husband. 

"  A  set  o'  dow-for-noughts,  to  draw 
Fwok's  men  away  to  th'  public-houses, 
An'  here  to  haud  yer  midnight  bouses." — Stagg, 
Dan.  mand,  husband,  man. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  85 

Mander.    vn.    To  talk  confusedly. 

A  nasalised  form  of  madder,  formed,  like  maddle,  on  mad,  used 
in  Old  Eng.  as  a  verb.     See  maddle. 

Mant.     vn.     To  stammer. 

Gael,  manntach,  lisping,  stammering,  Welsh  mantach,  tooth- 
less, mantai,  mumbler,  Ir.  manntac,  one  that  stutters,  or  has 
lost  the  front  teeth. 

Marrow,  sb.  An  equal,  a  match,  one  of  the  same  sort- 

"A  word  the  derivation  of  which  seems  very  obscure." — Atk- 
On  the  whole,  Jamieson's  derivation  from  Suio-Goth.  mager> 
magher,  affinis,  a  relation,  seems  as  probable  as  any.  Dut.  and 
Fris.  marren,  ligare,  alligare  {Kil.),  may  also  present  a  possible 
origin. 

Mask.     va.     To  infuse,  applied  more  particularly  to 

making  tea.  Dan.  mceske,  Swed.  mdska,  to  steep  in  hot  water, 
Germ,  meischen,  to  mash,  Gael,  masg,  to  infuse,  Sansc.  masj, 
marj,  to  wet.  The  root  does  not  seem  to  be  the  same  as  mix, 
Lat.  misceo,  Welsh  mysgu,  to  which  some  have  placed  it ;  the 
Lat.  relative  is  rather,  I  take  it,  mergo. 

Mastel.     sb.     Part  of  an  arable  field  never  ploughed. 

Ang.-Sax.  m&st-lond,  pasture  land,  from  mcestan,  to  feed,  fatten. 

Mattie.     sb.     The  mark  at  quoits  or  any  such  game. 

Dut.  maat,  measure,  in  reference  to  the  mattie,  as  the  point 
from  which  the  distance  of  each  competitive  cast  is  measured. 

Mawk-midge.    sb.     The  flesh-fly  or  bluebottle. 

Mawk  is  from  Old  Norse  madkr,  Norw.  makk,  maggot.  And 
midge  ixom.  Ang.-Sax.  mycg,  Low  Germ,  miigg,  Germ,  miicke,  a 
gnat  or  fly,  comprising  nearly  all  two-winged  insects.  The 
Scandinavian  words,  Suio-Goth.  mygga,  Dan.  myg,  seem  re- 
stricted to  the  sense  of  gnat,  an  insect  that  bites,  and  so  not  so 
suitable  for  the  present  word  mawk-midge,  a  "  maggot-fly." 

Mazed,     adj.     Bewildered,  stupified. 

Swiss  mausen,  to  speak  unintelligibly,  Old  Norse  masa,  to  jabber, 
Norw.  masast,  to  drop  asleep. —  Wedg. 

Mazlin.     sb.     A  simpleton,  one  in  a  state  of  stupor 

or  confusion.  See  mazed.  Comp.  also  Dial.  Dan.  maasle,  to 
do  a  thing  in  a  disorderly  manner. 

Meal  of  Milk.    sb.    The  quantity  of  milk  that  a  cow 

gives  at  one  milking.     Old  Norse  mdl,  Dan.  maal,  measure. 


86  GLOSSARY   OF  THE 

Meen.    vn.     To  moan. 

Ang.-Sax.  mcenan,  to  moan,  lament. 

Meerish.     adj.     Effeminate. 

Old  Norse  mcer,  a  modest  virgin,  Ang.-Sax.  mearo,  tender,  soft, 
delicate.  Our  word,  from  its  ending  (isk,  as  in  childish),  would 
rather  seem  to  be  formed  from  the  noun. 

Meg-o'-many-feet.    sb.     A  kind  of  small  centipede. 

Meg  in  the  above  seems  to  be  from  Old  Norse  madkr,  Norw. 
makk,  maggot. 

Meer-stan.     sb.     A  boundary-stone. 

",    Old  Norse  mceri,  Ang.-Sax.  m&re,  a  boundary. 

Mekkin.    sb.    The  yellow-flag. 

Would  seem  to  be  from  Ang.-Sax.  mece,  a  small  sword,  its 
other  Cumb.  name,  seggin,  being  also  from  a  similar  origin, 
Ang.-Sax.  scecg,  seax,  a  small  sword,  {Prior),  in  reference  to  its 
sharp-pointed  leaves.  Peacock,  however,  refers  to  Gael,  meacan, 
plant,  bulb,  applied  to  various  plants. 

Mell.    vn.     To  meddle. 

Old  Fr.  mesler,  medler,  meiller,  to  mix,  meddle. 

Mell.     sb.     A  conical  hill,  as  Mell  Fell,  Mell  Break. 

Welsh  moel,  Gael,  mul,  a  conical  hill,  Welsh  moel,  bare,  bald. 
Comp.,  also,  Old  Norse  muli,  frons  montis,  promontortum. 

Mell.     sb.     "  The  jockey  who  is  last  in  the  race  is 

called  the  mell.  It  has  been  said  that  he  is  so  called  from  it 
having  been  the  custom  to  give  a  mell  (mallet)  to  the  owner  of 
the  last  horse  ;  the  presumed  custom,  however,  lacks  proof." — 
West,  and  Cumb.  Dial.  Dick,  also  explains  mel  as  "  the  last 
cut  of  corn  in  the  harvest  field. "  We  may  perhaps  think  of  a 
connection  with  Gael,  mall,  slow,  lazy,  maille,  delay. 

M elder,   sb.  The  quantity  of  meal  ground  at  one  time. 

Old  Norse  meldr,  mcelder,  the  corn  in  the  mill,  Gael,  meildreach, 
meiltir,  a  quantity  of  corn  sent  to  be  ground. 

Meng.     va.     To  renew. — Dick. 

Properly,  I  think,  to  mix.     Clev.  mang,  to  mix  up. 

' '  Here,  lanleady,  sum  mair  shwort  keaks, 
An'  meng  us  up  thar  glasses." — Stagg. 
Ang.-Sax.    mengean,   Old   Norse    menga,    Germ,    mengen,    to 
mingle.      The  word  might  be  used  for  renew  in  the  sense  of 
mixing  up  old  with  new. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  87 

Mense.      sb.      Propriety,    politeness,   decorum,   with 

also  a  sense  of  carefulness  and  proper  management.  Sansc. 
manusas,  humanus,  Old  Norse  me?inskr,  humanus,  capax  mora- 
litatis,  Ang.-Sax.  mennisc.  The  idea  of  mense,  then,  would  be 
that  which  becomes  a  man.  Unless,  indeed,  we  can  remount  at 
once  to  the  ancient  root  from  which  man,  as  the  thinking 
animal,  is  perhaps  derived,  viz.,  Sansc.  man,  to  think,  whence 
manas,  sense,  judgment,  corresponding  with  our  mense.  The 
parallel  word  nous,  sense,  mother-wit,  Sansc.  nayas,  intelligence, 
from  nay,  to  direct,  might  seem  to  warrant  us  in  supposing  a 
noun-form  directly  corresponding  with  the  Sanscrit.  But  the 
form  menske,  in  which  the  word  occurs  in  P.  PI.,  seems  to  indi- 
cate that  it  is  formed  from  the  Ang.-Sax.  and  Old  Norse 
mennisc,  mennskr. 

Merth.    sb.     Greatness,  extent. — Hall. 

Old  Norse  mergd,  multitude,  from  margr,  much,  Ang.-Sax. 
m&rth,  greatness. 

Mess  !     intj.     Truly,  indeed,  "  by  the  mass." 

Mess  an.  sb.  A  small  dog  of  indefinite  breed. — Gibson. 

Sco.  messan  is  defmed  by  yam.  as  properly  a  lap-dog,  and  as 
"  applied  more  laxly  to  denote  such  curs  as  are  kept  about 
country  houses."  The  derivations  which  he  suggests  are  not  to 
the  purpose.  The  word  is  no  doubt  from  the  Gael,  measan,  a 
lap-dog,  meas,  fancy,  conceit.  Comp.,  also,  Old  Norse  mys- 
hyndi,  a  mongrel,  the  change  of  which  first  into  missen,  and 
then  into  messan,  is  natural  and  easy.  It  seems  by  no  means 
improbable  that  there  may  be  a  concurrence  of  these  two  words, 
in  the  senses  respectively  of  a  mongrel  and  of  a  lap  or  fancy  dog, 
but  now  confused  together. 

Methy.      A  difficult   respiration,   as   occasioned   by 

the  thinness  of  the  atmosphere.  An  obsolete  word,  found  in 
Hutchinson's  Hist.  Cumb.  Probably  allied  to  Ang.-Sax.  methe, 
weariness,  fatigue. 

Mewtle.    vn.     "  The  cow  or  ewe  mewtles  when  she 

yearns  over  her  newly-dropped  young,  and  utters  a  low  sound 
of  fondness." — Dick.  Bav.  mutilon^  to  mutter  or  speak  low. — 
Gl.  in  Schm. 

Mickle,  Muckle.     adj.     Much,  great. 

Goth,  mikils,  Ang.-Sax.  mycel,  Old  Norse  mikill. 

Middin.     sb.     A  dunghill. 

Old  Norse  moddyngia,  Dan.  modding,  from  Old  Norse  mod, 
refuse,  and  dyngia,  a  heap. 


88  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Mie>din-pant.      sb.     The  pool   which  receives  the 

drainage  of  the  dunghill.   Welsh  pant,  hollow  place,  depression. 
Middin-sump.    sb.    Same  as  middin-pant. 

Old  Norse  subb,  sordida  colluvies,  Dan.,  Swed.  sump,  mire,  bog, 
Low  Germ,  swamp,  swamm,  Germ,  schwamm,  a  sponge,  that 
which  sucks  up  water,  Eng.  swamp. 

Midge,    sb.     A  gnat.     See  mawk-midge. 
Mimp.     vn.    To  talk  mincingly. 

Seems,  along  with  Sco.  mump,  to  speak  indistinctly,  to  be 
allied  to  Eng.  mumble,  Dut.  mompehn,  Bav.  mump/en,  mem- 
melen,  the  narrow  vowel  being  employed  to  convey  the  sense  of 
affectation  of  fine  speaking,  a  main  feature  of  which  is  the  con- 
traction of  the  broad  open  sounds. 

Min.     Vocative  of  man,  used  only  in  familiarity,  and 
most  commonly  with  something  of  a  contemptuous  sense. 

Mirk.     adj.     Dark,  gloomy. 

Ang.-Sax.  mire.  Old  Norse  myrkr,  dark. 

Miscanter.     vn.     To  miscarry. 

Sco.  mishanter,  misfortune,  shows  the  proper  form,  (anter  for 
adventure).    See  anter. 

Misleert.     adj.     Led  astray. 

Ang.-Sax.  misldran,  to  teach  wrongly. 

Mislikken.     vn.     To  neglect  or  forget. 

Dut.  misselick,  ambiguus,  dubius,  in  quo  errare,  aut  de  quo 
dubitare  potest. — Kil. 

Mismay.     vb.      "This  word  is  used  negatively,  to 

express  absence  of  fear.  Our  cowt  met  soldiers,  and  niver 
mismay  t  hissel." — Dick.  Mismay  and  dismay  are  parallel 
words,  formed  (probably)  from  the  Goth,  magan,  to  have  power, 
to  be  able,  with  the  respective  negatives  mis  and  dis.  Dismay 
comes  to  us  through  the  Romance  languages,  Span,  desmayer 
to  despond,  Prov.  esmagar,  esmaier,  to  trouble,  frighten,  Fr. 
s'esmaier,  to  be  sad  or  astonished,  which  Diez  refers  to  Goth. 
magan,  as  above.  Our  word  mismay  may  probably  be  alto- 
gether of  Teutonic  origin.  Wedg.  collates  with  dismay,  Dan. 
a/magt,  swoon.  Our  "  mismay't  hissel"  is  the  parallel  of  Fr. 
"  se  esmaier."  This  is  an  interesting  word,  which  I  have  never 
met  with  elsewhere,  unless  the  Crav.  mismeave,  to  perplex,  be. 
as  seems  rather  probable,  the  same. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  89 

Misnare.   va.   To  incommode,  to  put  out  of  the  way. 

—  West,  and  Cumb.  Dial.  Perhaps  from  Old  Norse  nara, 
fovere,  recreare,  with  the  negative  termination  dis. 

Mistall.     sb.     A  cow-house. 

Probably  cow-stall,  from  Ang.-Sax.  mes,  a  cow. 

Mistetch.     va.     To  teach  improperly.     A  mistetched 

horse  signifies  a  horse  that  has  some  peculiar  vice. —  West,  and 
Cumb.  Dial.     Ang.-Sax.  mistdcan,  to  instruct  amiss. 

Mittens,    sb.     Woollen  gloves. 

Fr.  mitaine,  a  winter  glove,  Gael  mutan,  a  muff,  thick  glove. 

Mizzle,    sb.     Small  rain. 

Dut.  mieselen,  to  rain  gently. 

Moam.     adj.     Mellow,  soft. 

The  radical  meaning  is  a  degree  of  ripeness  approaching  to  dis- 
solution.—  Wedg.  Dut.  molmen,  to  moulder  away,  Germ. 
malm,  dust,  powder,  Manx  mholm,  to  moulder,  Welsh  mallu, 
to  rot,  moam,  a  crumbly  stone  found  in  Oxfordshire,  Ang.-Sax. 
mealm-stdn,  sand-stone,  Prov.  Germ,  molsch,  mellow,  applied 
to  apples  and  pears. 

Moor-tidy.    sb.     The  ground-lark. 

Clev.  moor-titling.  Old  Norse  tita,  titlingr,  both  applied  to 
small  birds,  Dut.  tijt,  tita,  a  chick  or  small  bird.  Hence  our 
tidy  seems  to  be  the  same  as  tit  in  titmouse,  titlark,  &c. 

Mowdy-warp.     sb.     The  mole. 

Old  Norse  moldvarpa  {mold,  earth,  and  varpa,  to  throw),  Dan. 
muldvarp,  Germ,  maulwurff. 

Moydert.     adj.     Confused,  bewildered,  overworked. 

Atkinson's  derivation  from  Suio-Goth.  moda,  trouble,  applied 
as  well  to  mental  anxiety  as  to  bodily  fatigue,  Dut.  moeite, 
trouble,  Old  Norse  modr,  defatigatus,  Germ,  miide,  tired,  seems 
to  me  to  be  well-founded. 

Muck.     sb.     Dirt  generally,  especially  manure. 

Old  Norse  myki,  Norw.  mok,  fimus,  manure. 
Mort.     sb.     A  large  quantity. 

From  the  same  origin  as  merth. 

Mote-hearted,     adj.     Timid,  faint-hearted. 

Dut.  moetigh,  vacuus,  otiosus,  Dan.  matt,  Swed.  matt,  weak, 
faint.  See  also  moydert,  which  seems  to  be  from  the  same  origin, 


90  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

Mud.     vb.     Must,  pret.  of  mun. 

"  But  he  has  sent  ye  this  bit  cake, 
He  thought  that  he  mud  treat  ye." — Miss  Blamire. 
Perhaps  for  mund.  "  The  pret.  munt  (of  mun)  is  still  used  in 
some  of  our  northern  counties.  If  it  exist  in  our  southern 
dialect,  it  would  no  doubt  take  the  shape  of  mund,  answering 
to  the  Ang.-Sax.  ge-munde." — (Dr.  Guest,  Proceedings  Phil. 
Soc,  vol.  2,  p.  155.) 

Muggy,    adj.    Damp  and  thick,  applied  to  the  weather. 

Old  Norse  mugga,  damp,  thick  weather,  Welsh  mwg,  smoke, 
mwygl,  sultry,  close,  Gael.  muig.  cloudiness,  darkness,  gloom. 

Mug-sheep,     sb.     The  white-faced  breed  from  which 

the  improved  Leicester  originated. — Dick.  Seems  to  be  from 
mug,  the  face,  now  only  applied  in  ridicule.  Esth.  mok,  snout, 
mouth,  Sansc.  mukhas,  mouth,  Gael,  smuig,  snout. 

Mull.     va.  and  n.     To  crumble. 

Old  Norse  mylia,  Low  Germ,  mullen,  to  bruise,  to  pulverise, 
S.  Jutl.  mulje,  a  broken  or  crumbled  piece  (as  of  bread),  Gael. 
mol,  chaff,  Welsh  mwl,  chaff  and  broken  straw  on  a  floor  after 
thrashing, 

Mull.    sb.    Dust,  anything  crumbled.     See  above. 
Mun.     aux.  vb.     Must. 

Old  Norse  mun,  Old  Swed.  muna,  aux.  vb.  "Mun,  there  can 
be  little  doubt,  is  the  same  verb  as  Ang.-Sax.  ge-munan,  to 
think  of.  In  the  Old  Eng.,  it  often  indicates  mere  futurity, 
like  the  I  eel.  mun;  and  the  peculiar  sense  now  given  to  it,  that 
of  obligation,  appears  to  have  been  its  latest  derivative  meaning. 
The  phrase  "we  mun  go"  may  have  taken  successively  the 
meaning  ' '  we  think  of  going, "  "we  shall  go, "  "we  must  go. " 
—(Dr.  Guest,  Phil.  Soc,  2,  153.) 

Murl.     vb.     To  crumble  into  small  pieces. 

Welsh  mwrl,  a  crumbling  stone,  Fin.  murrella,  to  break,  Swed. 
mor,  Germ,  morsch,  friable.  Diefenbach  collates  murl  with 
Goth,  ga-maurjan,  to  reduce,  to  shorten. 

Mush.    sb.     Dust  or  powdery  refuse  of  decay. 
Old  Norse  mosk,  Norw.  musk,  powder,  dust. 

Mushamer.    sb.    Mushroom. 

I  am  rather  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  this  is  not  a  corruption 
of  mushroom,  but  an  independent  word,  and  perhaps  derived 
from  Ang.-Sax.  myse,  table.  Now  the  most  striking  feature  in 
all  this  class  of  fungus  is  their  flat  shape,  as  compared  with  the 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  9 1 

pointed  forms  presented  by  plants  in  general.  Hence  the 
popular  idea  (see  paddock-stool)  has  likened  them  to  a  stool,  for 
which  the  idea  of  a  round  table  is  just  as  suitable.  From  a 
similar  origin  I  take  the  Fr.  mousseron,  (whence  Eng.  mush- 
room), viz.,  mousse,  blunt,  pointless,  and  not  from  mousse,  moss, 
as  proposed  in  Notes  and  Queries,  and  sanctioned  by  Wedg. 
The  ending  mer  might  be  from  Ang.-Sax.  meary  field,  Old  Norse 
mart,  planities.  The  change  of  mis  into  mush  would  very 
naturally  arise,  when  the  origin  came  to  be  forgotten,  and  at  the 
same  time  the  Eng.  word  mushroom  came  into  parallel  use. 

Musty,     adj.     Morose,  gloomy. 

Low  Germ,  muulsk,  mustrig,  Fris.  mutsch,  sour-looking. — 
Wedg. 

My  Song  !   A  corruption  of  an  ancient  oath,  la  sangue, 

or  la  sangue  Dieu.—^-Atk. 

Myter.     vn.     To  crumble  or  decompose. 

Thus  soft  stone  exposed  to  the  atmosphere  is  said  to  "  myter 
away."  Welsh  methu,  to  decay,  perish,  mwytho,  to  make  soft, 
mythlu,  to  canker.  The  root  is,  I  take  it,  to  be  found  in  Sansc. 
mid,  to  soften. 


N. 
Nab.     va.     To  sieze,  to  lay  hold  of. 

Dan.  nappe,  to  snatch,  Fin.  nappata,  to  sieze  suddenly. 

Naggy.     adj.     Quarrelsome,  contradictious. 

Old  Norse  nagga,  to  rub,  to  chafe,  whence,   figuratively,   to 
squabble. 

Nail.     va.     To  beat,  to  thump. 

Old  Norse  hnalla,  to  beat  with  a  stick,  hnallr,  stick,  cudgel. 
Naph.    sb.     Nave  of  a  wheel. 

Ang.-Sax.  nafa,  Dan.  nav,  Swed.  naf. 

Narder.     adj.     Nearer. 

Dut.  naerder,  naeder,  nearer. — Kil. 

Nash,  Nesh.     adj.     Brittle,  tender,  delicate. 

Ang.-Sax.   hnesc,    nesc,    tender,    soft  ;   properly  moist,    Goth. 
■     natjan,  Germ,  benetzen,  to  wet,  Germ,  nass,  wet.  —  Wedg. 


92  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Nattle.     vn.      To  tap,  to  knock  gently  and  quickly, 

as  with  the  fingers  on  a  window.  Welsh  naddial,  to  keep 
chipping,  Dial.  Swed.  gnaddra,  to  emit  a  low  sound  as  in  titter- 
ing, playful  screaming,  gnatta,  to  nibble,  "  probably  in  reference 
to  the  sound,  rather  than  to  the  nibbling  action." — Atk. 

Ne.     adv.    No,  used  as  an  assent  to  a  negation. 

Mun  we  gan  hyem  to-night  ?    Na,  (negation.) 
We'll  nit  git  hyem  to-night.    Ne  (assent  to  negation.) 
Ang.-Sax.  ne,  nay,  by  no  means. 

Neddert.     adj.     Withered;  not  in  a  thriving  state. 

Ah  the  helthe  was  neothered 

For  lurre  of  his  monnen. — Layamon. 

King  /Elfric  had  recovered  from  his  wounds,  but  his  health  was 

nithered  for  the  loss  of  his  men. 

Ang.-Sax.    nitherian^   to    put    down,    niered    (contraction  of 

nithered ?)  afflicted,  straightened,  Dan.,  Swed.   nedrig,   low, 

abject. 

Need-fire.  sb.    Fire  produced  by  the  friction  of  wood 

and  carried  from  house  to  house  for  the  purpose  of  passing 
cattle  through  the  smoke,  as  a  preventive  of  murrain  and  other 
epidemics.  In  use  so  late  as  about  1841. — Dick.  Swed.gnida, 
Dan.  gnide,  to  rub. 

Neeze.    vn.    To  sneeze. 

Ang.-Sax.  niesan,  Old  Norse  hnjosa,  Dan.  nyse,  Dut.  niezen,  to 
sneeze. 

Neif.    sb.     The  fist,  clenched  hand. 

Old  Norse  hnefi,  Dan.  nave,  fist. 

Nievel.     va.     To  strike  with  the  fist.     See  neif. 
Neivy-nack.    sb.     A  game  which  consists  in  guessing 

in  which  of  the  closed  hands  any  article  is  to  be  found. 

"  Burgh  lass  laik't  at  neivy-nack.'' — Lonsdale. 
From  neif,  as  above,  and  knack,  a  trick  of  doing  anything  with 
the  fingers,    Ir.  cnog,  a  knock,  crack.    "  In  the  same  way,  from 
Dut.  knappen,  to  snap,  knap,  alacer,  knap-handig,  dexter,  manu 
expeditus." —  Wedg. 

Neuk.     sb.     Nook,  corner. 

Fin.  nokka,  the  beak  of  a  bird,  nose,  point,  maan  nokka,  a  nook 
of  land,  Esth.  nukka,  tip,  corner,  nook,  Wall,  nouk,  knot,  ex- 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  93 

crescence.  —  Wedg.  Atk.  also  collates  Dial.  Dan.  nogg,  an 
angle  or  corner  made  by  the  winding  of  a  river  or  beck,  "  a 
sense  exactly  coincident  with  ours  in  one  application  of  the 
word." 

Newdelt.     adj.     Bewildered,  stupified. 

Dut.  neutelen,  frivola  agere,  neuteler,  homuncio  frivolus. — Kil. 
Comp.,  also,  Welsh  nwydwyllt,  whimsical,  freakish,  from  nwyd, 
whim. 

Nicker,     vn.    To  neigh,  also  to  laugh. 

Old  Norse  gnaka,  Low  Germ,  nicken,  Fris.  ndggre,  to  neigh. 

Nickt  t  t'  head.     adj.     Having  extravagant  fancies, 

not  quite  sane.  Perhaps  to  be  connected  with  Dan.  nykke, 
Swed.  nyck,  Dut.  nuk,  whim,  caprice,  foolish  fancy,  Low  Germ. 
niicksch,  fanciful,  capricious. 

Niggarts,  Neegars.  sb.  Iron  plates  used  for  con- 
tracting a  fire-place  to  save  coals.  Welsh  nigio,  to  contract,  to 
straighten.     See  also  nigler. 

Nigler.    sb.    A  careful  and  industrious  person. 

Probably  from  the  same  origin  as  niggard,  Norw.  nyggja,  Swed. 
njugga,  to  rub,  to  scrape,  Swed.  njugg,  niggardly,  sparing.— 
Wedg. 

Nim.     vn.     To  walk  or  run  with  short,  quick  steps, 

Clev.  also  to  catch  up  quickly.  The  latter  seems  to  be  the 
original  sense,  as  in  Ang.-Sax.  numol,  capable,  quick  at  grasp- 
ing a  thing,  (whence  Eng.  nimble,)  Goth,  niman,  Ang.-Sax. 
niman,  to  sieze,  snatch. 

Nip  up.    va.    To  snatch  up  a  thing  hastily,  often  with 

a  sense  of  thieving.  Old  Norse  hnefa,  to  snatch,  Germ,  knippen, 
to  snap,  Dan.  nappe,  to  twitch,  pluck. 

Nobbut.    conj.     Nothing  but,  only. 

Old  Eng.  nought  but,  not  but,  for  which  we  now  use  elliptically 
but. 

Nog.     sb.     A  handle  for  the  shaft  of  a  scythe. 

I  take  the  sense  to  be  that  of  joint.  Dan.  nokke,  to  joint,  Dut. 
knoke,  ankle.  In  Craven,  cattle  are  said  to  be  well  nogged  when 
they  have  strong  legs  or  joints.  Comp.  also  Old  Norse  hnoggr, 
flail. 


94  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

Noggin,    sb.    A  quarter-pint  measure. 

Gael,  noigean,  a  wooden  cup. 
Noggy.     sb.     Coarse  thread. 

Would  seem  to  be  immediately  from  nogs,  hemp  {Salop.)  But 
comp.  Welsh,  Corn,  noden,  Bret,  neuden,  thread.  Also  Old 
High  Germ,  nagan,  Mod.  Germ,  ndhen,  Dut.  naeden,  naeyen, 
to  sew.  And  Esth.  noggel,  Fin,  negla,  Bret,  nados,  Welsh 
nodwydd,  needle.  It  may  be  a  question  whether  our  noggy  does 
not  belong  to  the  same  group,  the  root  of  which  is  probably  to 
be  found  in  Sansc.  nak,  to  join,  and  through  which,  it  will  be 
seen,  runs  the  interchange  of  d  and  g. 

Nop.  va.    To  crop,  to  nip  the  ends  off  gooseberries,  &c. 

Old  Norse  nappa,  to  pluck,  Lap.  nappet,  to  cut  off  the  extre- 
mities, to  crop,  Dut.  nopen,  rem  breviter  tangere  {Kil.) 

Nope.    va.    To  strike  on  the  head 

Lonsd.  nope,  a  small  blow.  Dut.  nopen,  to  touch  lightly.  If 
not  from  Old  Norse  nop,  head,  Eng.  nob. 

Nous.     sb.     Intelligence,  sense,  mother-wit. 

Sansc.  nayas,  intelligence,  from  nay,  to  direct,  Gr.  vovs,  sense, 
sagacity,  from  voeco,  mente  agito,  cogito.  Though  correspond- 
ing both  in  sense  and  in  form  so  much  more  nearly  with  the 
Sanscrit  and  the  Greek,  the  more  immediate  connection  of  our 
word  is  probably  with  Ang.-Sax.  nedsian,  Old  Norse  hnysa,  to 
search  out,  investigate. 

Nowt.     sb.     Cattle. 

Old  Norse  naut,  Ang.-Sax.  neat,  Swed.  not,  horned  cattle,  oxen. 

Nowther.     conj.     Neither. 

Ang.-Sax.  nauther,  ndther. 

Nudge,     va.     To  jog  or  touch  lightly,  generally  for 

the  purpose  of  calling  attention  to  something.  Old  Norse 
nudda,  frequenter  fricare,  Norw.  nugga,  to  rub,  scrape. 

Nunty.  adj.  Formal,  old-fashioned,  verging  on 
shabbiness  (of  female  dress).  Perhaps,  taking  the  nasal,  from 
Dut.  nvttig,  utilis,  nutten,  sobrie  sumere  ad  necessitatem  et 
utilitatem  {Kil.) 

Nyfle.     va.     To  pilfer,  make  away  with  small  things. 

Old  Norse  hnefa,  arripere,  from  hnefi,  the  fist  or  closed  hand. 


CUMBERLAND    DIALECT.  95 

o. 

Oad-farrant.     adj.     Wise  with  the  sagacity  derived 

from  experience.  As  applied  to  children,  old-fashioned,  sagacious 
beyond  their  years.  Old  Norse  fara,  Old  High  Germ,  faran, 
to  gain  experience,  become  used  to,  or  experienced  in 
Dan.  erfaren,  Dut.  ervaren,  experienced.  Or  from  Gael,  far- 
ranta,  brave,  stout,  which  in  our  farrantly  seems  to  have 
acquired  the  sense  rather  of  judgment  and  propriety.  I  can 
hardly  agree  in  Cleasby's  suggestion  that  oad  in  oad-farrant  is 
not  auld,  but  the  Old  Norse  aud,  Ang.-Sax.  edthe,  easy  ;  oad- 
farrant  certainly  has  not  with  us  the  sense  he  suggests  of 
"easy-going." 

Oaf.     sb.     A  simpleton,  an  idiot. 

Ang.-Sax.  eelf  Old  Norse  alfr,  Dan.  alfe,  elf,  fairy.  The  word 
originates  in  the  superstitious  belief  that  idiot  children  are 
changelings,  the  originals  having  been  carried  away  by  fairies. 

Oast.    sb.     Curd  for  cheese. —  West,  and  Cumb.  Dial. 

Dan.  oste,  to  curdle,  ost,  cheese,  Fris.  aast,  cheese.  Ang  -Sax. 
ost  signifies  a  knot,  and  the  idea  in  the  above  seems  to  be  that 
of  hardening. 

Od  Wite.     A  profane  oath.     God's  punishment. 

Ang.-Sax.  wite,  punishment,  affliction. 

On.    prep.     Of,  used  before  a  vowel. 
Seems  to  be  only  a  phonetic  substitution. 

Oo.     sb.     Wool. 

Old  Norse  ull,  Ang.-Sax.  w/ill.  While,  as  in  above,  our  dialect 
sometimes  follows  the  Scandinavian  form  in  omitting  an  initial 
w  ;  in  other  cases,  as  in  worchit  for  orchard,  we  have  instances 
of  the  opposite  tendency. 

Ondermer.    adj.     The  lower  of  two  things. 

'  A  favourite  pleonastic  form,  as  in  bettermer,  for  better. 

Oomer.     sb.     Shade,  shelter.     Also  used  as  p  verb. 

Fr.  ombre,  Lat.  umbra,  shade. 

Oot-rake.    sb.     A  free  way  or  outlet  for  sheep  from 

the  inclosures  to  the  common.     See  rake. 

Ootray.     va.     To  outrage. 

Fr.  outrager,  from  outre,  Old  Fr.  oultre,  Lat.  ultra,  beyond. 


96  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

Orndinner,  Horndorn.    sb.     A  luncheon,  forenoon 

repast.  Seems  to  be  a  corruption  of  aandorn  or  undern.  Ang.- 
Sax.  undern,  Old  Norse  undorn,  afternoon,  Welsh  anterth, 
forenoon,  S.  Jutl.  onden  or  tindern.,  mid-day  meal.  ' '  The  word 
is  sagaciously  referred  by  Schmeller  to  the  proposition  unter, 
anciently  denoting  between,  q.d.,  the  intervening  period  ;  which 
accounts  for  its  sometimes  denoting  a  part  of  the  afternoon,  or 
a  meal  taken  at  that  time — and  sometimes  a  period  between 
noon  and  sunset." — Garnett. 

Oss.     vn.     To  try,  to  essay,  to  set  about  a  thing. 

Garnett  refers  it  to  Welsh  osio,  to  offer  to  do,  to  essay.  Doubt, 
has  been  thrown  upon  this  as  a  genuine  Celtic  word.  Gluck, 
however,  treats  it  as  such,  deriving  from  it  the  name  of  the  Celtic 
tribe  Osismi,  in  the  sense  of  audaces.  It  may  be  cognate  wiih 
Lat.  audeo.  The  derivation  from  the  Welsh  is  rendered  all  the 
more  probable  by  tho  use  of  the  word  in  Shropshire,  near  the 
Welsh  border  (AtAencsum,  April  20,  1872). 

Owe.     vn.     To  own.    See  awe, 

Owsen.     sb.     Oxen. 

A  Low  Germ,  form,  as  in  Dut.  os,  Hoist.  os,  ox. 

Oxter,    sb.    The  arm-pit. 
Ang.-Sax.  oxta,  the  arm-pit. 


P. 

Pace-eggs.     sb.     Eggs   boiled  hard  and  stained  or 

ornamented  as  playthings  for  children  at  Easter.  The  custom, 
which  prevails  over  a  great  part  of  Christendom,  has  probably 
reference  to  the  Resurrection,  of  which  the  egg  is  a  type.  Dan. 
faaske-cBg,  an  egg  boiled  hard,  stained  with  various  colours,  and 
eaten  commonly  on  Easter  eve. 

Packs,    sb.    Dense  heavy  clouds  collected  in  the  sky. 

Germ.,  Dut.  pack,  a  bundle,  Fin.  pakkata,  to  stuff,  to  cram. 

Paddock,    sb.    The  toad  or  frog. 

Sco.  pade.  Ang.-Sax.  pade,  Old  Norse  padda,  Dut.  padde, 
Dan.  padde,  Swed.  padda,  Prov.  Germ,  padde,  toad  or  frog. 

Paddock-rud.     sb.     The  spawn  of  frogs  and  toads. 

Old  Norse  ruda,  rejectaneum. 

Paddock-stool,     sb.     A  toad-stool,  applied  to  most 

sorts  of  non-esculent  fungi.  North,  pad-stool.  Dut.  paddt- 
stoel,  Germ,  paddenstuhl. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  97 

Paicks.    sb.    A  thrashing. 

"  O  thou's  a  menseless  urlin,  ista, 
Weel  thou  deserves  thy  paicks,  at  dista." — Stagg. 
Old  Norse  piaka,  pungere,  tundere,  Dial.  Swed.  pakka,  to  beat, 
Germ,  peitschen,  to  whip,  to  flog. 

Pan.     vn.     To  pair,  to  fit,  agree,  work  together. 

Clev.  pan,  to  fit  in,  to  correspond.  Comparing  Welsh  panaris 
what  involves  or  works  together,  pannas,  plaited  straw,  panelu, 
to  plait,  one  might  presume  a  Celtic  word  pan,  with  the  meaning 
of  combination,  and  probably  allied  to  Sansc.  patiMis,  cohesion. 
Again,  in  the  Ang.-Sax.  pan,  piece,  plate,  hem, pan-hose,  pieced 
or  patched  hose,  and  in  the  Dial.  Dan.  paanhvzrh,  patchwork, 
we  seem  to  have  a  trace  of  a  similar  word  in  the  Teutonic 
idiom.  Then,  in  the  Rom.  we  have  Prov.  pan,  rag,  clout,  lap, 
piece,  Fr.  pan,  pane,  piece,  or  pannel  of  a  wall,  the  pane  of  a 
hose  or  cloak. — Cot,  In  the  Sclavonic  branch  we  have  Lith. 
paine,  entangling,  pinnu,  I  plait.  Coming  to  the  English  dia- 
lects, Forby  has  paned  curtains,  curtains  made  of  long  narrow 
stripes  joined  together,  also  pan,  the  hard  earth  below  that 
which  is  stirred  by  the  plough,  the  sense  being,  we  may  presume, 
probably  that  of  something  compact  or  adhering  together.  The 
general  root  I  am  inclined  to  take  to  be  found  in  Sansc.  pac,  to 
join,  to  fasten,  which  takes  the  nasal  mpan&tis,  cohesion.  A 
parallel  formation  to  that  of  pan  from  pac  is  seen  in  Welsh 
gwyn,  from  the  root  <cvid  =  Germ,  hwit  (Gliick,  Kelt.  Nam.) 
It  first  takes  the  nasal,  as  in  Old  Celt,  vitid,  and  then  drops 
the  d,  as  in  Wei.  gwyn.  Similarly  pac  would  become  pane, 
and  then,  dropping  the  c,  pan.  According  to  Grimm's  Law, 
however,  which  replaces  Sansc.  p  by  Germ,  f,  we  should  have 
to  presume  that  the  Teutonic  word?  in  the  above  group  were 
not  indigenous.     Or  that  they  are  in  some  way  exceptional. 

Pang,     vn.     To  stuff,  to  cram. 

"  An  some  there  were  could  scarcely  speak, 
Their  thropples  were  sa.e  pang' d.—  Bridewain,  by  Stagg. 
Sco.  pang.  ya?n.  refers  to  Old  Dut.  bangkai,  to  force  into 
small  compass,  which,  according  to  Kilian,  is  for  be-anghen, 
from  ang,  implying  constriction.  This  seems  doubtful,  com- 
paring Lat.  pangere,  to  drive  in,  to  fasten,  Fin.  pakkata,  to  stuff, 
to  cram,  and  I  rather  think  of  the  general  root  as  the  same  as 
that  of  the  last  word  pan. 

Pant.    sb.    Pool,  swamp.     See  middin-pant. 
Parlish.     adj.     Remarkable,  noteworthy. 

"  An'  parlish  pranks,  on  Silloth  banks, 
They  hed  as  they  were  comin." — Stagg. 

I 


98  GLOSSARY   OF  THE 

This  has  been  supposed  by  Peacock  and  others  to  be  a  corrup- 
tion of  perilous.,  which  seems  doubtful,  at  least  so  far  as  regards 
the  sense  in  question.  I  am  rather  inclined  to  think  of  a  con- 
nection with  Fr.  parler,  in  the  sense  of  something  worth  talking 
about. 

Partles.     sb.     The  globular  droppings  of  sheep,  &c. 

Perhaps  from  Welsh  pardduo,  to  smut — though  if  scs  the  sense 
has  become  somewhat  divergent. 

Pash.    va.     To  force  or  throw  violently  down. 

"  Deeth  cam  dryvynge  after, 

And  al  to  duste-  passhed 

Kynges  and  knyghtes. — P.  PI. 
"Barn!  I  pash't  them  down," — said  by  a  noted  Cumberland 
wrestler  to  a  neighbour's  daughter  on  his  first  victory. — Gibson. 
Probably  another  form  of  bash,  Clev.  pash,  to  strike  hard.     See 
bash. 

Pash.     sb.    A  heavy  and  sudden  shower. 

There  is  a  distinction  between  a  pash  and  a  splash.  "  It  may 
be  a  bit  of  a  splash,  but  it  willentbe  a  girt  pash."— Dick.  Germ. 
patsche,  puddle,  Dan.  piaske,  Dial.  Swed.  pasha,  to  splash. 

Pattle.    sb.    A  plough-scraper. 

Probably  the  same  as  Eng.  spattle,  a  trowel,  Germ,  spattel, 
Ital.  spatella,  diminutives  of  Eng.  spade,  Germ,  spatcn,  Lat. 
spatha. 

Paw.  sb.  The  hand,  used  familiarly  or  contemptuously. 

Bret,  pav,  pao,  Welsh  pawen,  hand,  paw. 

Pawky,     adj.    Sly,  impudent,  too  familiar. 

Jamieson  connects  the  above  with  Ang.-Sax.  pcecan,  to  deceive, 
pceca,  a  deceiver.  It  seems  to  me,  however,  to  be  rather  allied 
to  Gael,  pocanach,  impudent,  pocan,  an  impudent  little  fellow. 
One  might  think  of  the  origin  as  found  in  Gael,  puc,  to  push, 
jostle,  Welsh  pwg,  thrust,  shove,  in  the  sense  of  forwardness. 
The  Swed.  poka,  to  presume,  demand  with  insolence,  may  also 
be  referred  to. 

Pawt,  Poat.     v?i.     To  push  or  stir  with  the  hand  or 

foot.  Also  to  walk  heavily.  Atkinson  refers  to  Dial.  Dan. 
pote,  to  stamp  or  pound  the  earth,  as,  for  instance,  round  some- 
thing newly  planted,  Suio-Goth.  p>otta,  digito  vel  baculo  explo- 
rare.  Compare  also  Corn,  poat,  to  kick  like  a  horse,  Welsh 
pwtio,  to  butt,  push,  poke. 

Pay.     va.     To  beat. 

"  It  seems  uncertain  whether  it  be  an  oblique  sense  of  Fr.  payer \ 
or  from  Welsh pwyo,  to  beat." — Jam. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  99 

Paze.     va.     To  force  or  lift  with  a  lever. 

Perhaps,  as  suggested  by  Atk.,  only  another  form  of  prize, 
which  is  referred  by  Wedg.  to  Fr.  priser.  I  do  not  feel  at  all 
sure,  however,  that  it  is  not  a  separate  word,  and  to  be  referred, 
as  Brockett  has  it,  to  Fr.  peser,  to  weigh.  Peise,  to  weigh, 
occurs  in  P.  PL 

Peann     (or   Pan  ?)      sb.      A    state    of   matting   or 

entanglement.  Lith.  paiue,  entangling,  pinnu,  I  plait.  I  take 
the  origin  to  be  the  same  as  that  of  pan,  q.v. 

Pean.     va.     To  strike,  to  beat. — Hall, 

Dan.  pine,  Dut.  pijnen,  Ang.-Sax.  pinan,  to  punish,  torment, 
torture. 

Pedder.    sb.     A  pedlar. 

"Pedder,  revolus,  negociator." — Cath.  Ang.  Aped  in  Norfolk 
is  a  pannier  or  wicket  basket ;  a  pedder,  or  pedlar,  a  packman, 
one  who  carries  on  his  back  goods  in  aped  for  sale. —  Wedg. 

Pee.     v?i.     To  spy  with  one  eye.     To  shut  one  eye  in 

taking  aim. — Dick.  Probably  the  same  as  Eng.  peer.  Low 
Germ,  plira,  pira,  to  look  with  half-shut  eyes,  look  closely. 

Peek.     v?i.     To  pry  into  other  people's  affairs. 

Peek  was  in  use  in  Old  Eng.  in  the  sense  of  peep,  of  which  it  is 
no  doubt  another  form,  k  and  p  interchanging  as  in  dank  and 
damp. 

Peenging.  adj.  Puling,  sickly.  Starving  with  cold.-Z>/^. 

Properly  the  same  as  peaking,  taking  the  nasal.  Swed.  pjdka, 
pjunka,  to  pule,  pjunkig,  puling,  sicldy,  delicate. —  Wedg. 

Peet  or  Peed.    adj.    Blind  of  one  eye.     Set  flee. 
Peat.     sb.     Sods  of  turf  cut  and  dried  for  fuel. 

From  bete,  to  mend  or  kindle  a  fire,  whence  beet  in,  pectin,  or 
peat,  fuel. 

Peat-coom.     sb.     The  dust  of  peat. 

Coom  is  perhaps  the  same  as  culm,  applied  to  loose  powdery 
coal.  The  proper  meaning  of  culm,  according  to  Wedg.,  is 
smut,  and  he  connects  it  with  I  eel.  kdla,  quota,  to  smut  or 
dirty.  The  Germans  have  kumm  for  dust,  in  kmnm-karren,  a 
dust-cart,  which,  unless  it  has  undergone  the  same  change, 
throws  some  doubt  upon  the  above  derivation. 

Peg.    sb.    A  tooth,  used  only  with  reference  to  children. 

Welsh  pig,  Fr.  pic,  point. 

12 


IOO  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

Peg.     va.     To  beat,  to  thump. 

Dan.  pukke,  to  stamp,  to  pound,  Dut.  pickert,  Welsh pigo,  Fr, 
piquer,  to  prick. 

Pegh,  Pech.     vn.     To  pant,  breathe  hard. 

Clev.  pech,  to  cough  in  a  subdued  way.  yam.  considers  peck 
to  be  radically  the  same  as  Swed.  picket,  to  palpitate,  to  give 
out  a  low  sound,  as  a  repeater  watch,  Dan.  pikke,  to  palpitate. 
Germ,  pochen,  to  beat,  throb.  A  more  certain  connection,  it 
seems  to  me,  is  with  Welsh  pucko,  Fin.  puhkia,  to  pant,  blow. 
Boh.  puchr  a  breathing. 

Pelk.     va.     To  beat. 

Perhaps  another  form  of  pelt,  f  and  k  interchanging-  as  in  jert 
and  Jerk.  Or  perhaps  from  Old  Norse  plaka,  tundere,  taking  a 
phonetic  /. 

Pelter.     sb.     Anything  very  large. 

' '  Theer  a  Whillimer  cheese  abuin  t'  bed  heed. 
An"  dall!  but  it's  a  pelter." — Lonsdale, 
One  might  perhaps  think  of  a  connection  with  Gael.  pailfr 
plentiful,  abundant,  Bret,  pitlder,  abundance.  Or  perhaps 
pelter  may  only  be  like  butnper,  thumper,  and  other  words  in 
which  the  sense  of  something  large  is  derived  from  that  of  a 
heavy  blow. 

Pennies-a-piece.     For  a  permy-a-piece. 

*'  An'  dancers  pat  i'  Brammery's  hat, 
Pennies-a-piece  for  the  fiddler. " — Lonsdale. 

A  Cumbrian,  if  asked  the  price  of  anything,  as,  for  instance, 
eggs,  invariably  uses  this  plural  form.  A  further  instance  of 
this  tendency  occurs  in  the  following,  relating  to  a  game  at 
cards — 

"  For  Jen  was  always  winners." — Lonsdale. 
I  am  unable  to  say  how  far  the  same  may  prevail  in  other  dia- 
lects, never  having;  seen  it  noticed  in  any  glossary. 

Penny-stone,    sb.     A  stone  used  in  pitching  in  place 

of  a  quoit.  One  might  possibly  think  of  penny-stone  as  a  cor- 
ruption of  Gael,  peilisteir,  a  quoit,  or  a  flat  stone  used  instead 
of  a  quoit,  provided  that  the  word,  which  seems  to  be  the  same 
as  the  Lat.  palcestra,  was  ever  in  popular  use  among  the  Gael. 
Jamieson,  and,  following  him,  the  author  of  the  Craven  Glossary, 
refer  it  to  Swed.  pena,  to  flatten,  flat  stones  only  being  adapted 
for  the  purpose.  I  should  rather,  however,  failing  the  former 
suggestion,  be  disposed  to  look  on  penny-stone  as  a  corruption 
c,ispctmy^stoneh  Norw.  spenna,  to  project.     See  spang. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  IOI 

Pensy.    adj.     Of  delicate  appetite.     Applied  to  one 

who  trifles  with  his  food.  Perhaps  to  be  connected  with  Fr. 
penser,  Ang.-Sax.  pinsian,  Dut.  peinzen,  to  meditate,  ponder. 
Or  with  Fr.  panse,  paunch,  belly,  Prov.  Fr.  panser,  to  live 
daintily.  Or  again,  we  might  think  of  Fris.  pan,  nice  and 
affected  in  eating  and  in  other  things. 

Pentas.     sb.     A  sloping  roof  built  against  a  wall. 

Not  a  corruption  of  penthouse,  but,  according  to  Wedg.,  from 
Fr.  appentis,  Ital.  pendice,  anything  bending  or  down-hanging, 
LaL  peudere,  to  hang. 

Pepper-cake.    sh.     A  cake  of  ginger-bread. 

Dan.  peber-kage,  ginger-bread 

Pettle.     vn.     To  occupy  time  with  trifles. 

The  same  as  Eng.  piddle,  the  fundamental  idea  of  which 
"  seems  to  be  to  pick,  to  use  the  tips  of  the  fingers  in  doing." — 
Wedg.  Prov.  Germ,  potteJn,  to  work  at  anything  by  small 
touches,  Norw.  pitta,  to  pluck,  pick,  sip.  The  root  may  pro- 
bably be  found  in  Welsh  pid,  a  point,  pitw,  small. 

Peyl.    va.    To  beat. —  West,  and  Cumb.  Dial. 

Dan.  pille,  Dut.  pellen,  Welsh  pilio,  to  strip,  skin,  peel,  whence, 
metaphorically,  to  flog  or  beat. 

Pick.     va.     To  pitch,  lift  or  throw  with  a  fork. 

Hence  to  let  fall  prematurely,  of  a  cow,  &c,  in  reference  to 
her  young.  The  original  idea  is  that  of  something  pointed, 
Old  Norse  pikka*  Welsh  pigs,  to  prick,  Welsh  picio,  to  dart, 
cast. 

Pickle,     sb.     A  grain  of  corn. 

Jairu  gives  the  more  extended  definition  of  "  any  minute  par- 
ticle, as  a  grain  of  sand."  The  original  idea  is  that  of  a  point. 
See  pick. 

Picks,     sb.     The  diamond  at  cards. 

"  Furst  deal  aboot  he  gat  spead  yace. 
An'  crew  an  yammer' t  sair  than. 
But  picks  was  trump,  and  he  tuik  grump, 
An'  sed  he  wad  laik  nae  mair  than." — Lonsdale. 
* '  Probably  from  their  two  sharp  points  resembling  a  limestone 
pick." — Peacock.     But  the  term  seems  to  apply  so  much  more 
naturally  to  the  spade,  that  one  would  almost  be  inclined  to 
think  that  it  had  originally  been,  as  in  Germany  pieke,  and  in 
France  picque  now  are,  applied  to  it. 

Piggin.     sb.     A  small  tub  with  an  upright  handle. 

Gael,  pigean,  Welsh  picyn,  a  little  jar,  a  pipkin. 


102  GLOSSARY    OF   THE 

Pike.     sb.     A  peak,  the  name  of  many  mountains  in 

the  district.     Dan.  pig,  Welsh  pig,  point. 

Pile.     sb.     A  blade  of  grass,  &c. 

Welsh  pil,  stem,  Old  Norse  pi/a,  Dan.,  Swed.  pil,  shaft, 
arrow. 

Piley.     sb.     A  white  game   fowl  with    some   black 

feathers, — Dick.     Probably  from  the  Yv.piole',  specked,  spotted. 
Pinnert.     adj.     Shrivelled,  starved,  sickly. 

Lonsd.  pinder,  to  shrivel.  Clev.  pine,  to  shrink,  contract, 
under  the  influence  of  cold,  drought,  sickness.  Pinner  seems 
to  be  a  frequentative  from  Ang.-Sax.  pinan,  to  pine,  languish. 

Pipe-stopple,     sb.     A  broken  piece  of  the  shank  of 

a  clay  pipe.  S topple  is  no  doubt  a  diminutive  of  Old  Norse 
stolpi,  Dan.  stolpe,  a  post,  pillar.  Halliwell's  explanation  of 
North,  pipe-stopple  as  a  tobacco-stopper  must,  I  think,  be  a 
mistake  ;  the  word  must  be  the  same  as  ours. 

Pissimer.     sb.     An  ant,  pismire. 

Old  Norse  mavr,  Ang.-Sax.  mire,  Dan.,  Swed.  myre,  ant.  The 
prefix  has  reference  to  the  sharp,  urinous  smell  of  an  ant-hill, 
Dut.  pismiere,  pismire.  The  same  idea,  see  Wedg.,  runs 
through  other  languages. 

Plack.  sb.  A  small  copper  coin,  formerly  in  currency. 

The  word  is  now  used  in  the  sense  of  a  thing  of  no  value.  Dut. 
placke,  Fr.  plaque,  a  small  coin  of  various  value  in  different 
countries. 

Plash,     va.     To  trim  a  hedge. 

"To  lower  and  narrow  a  broad-spread  hedge  by  partially 
cutting  off  the  branches  and  entwining  them  with  those  left 
upright." — Hall.  Old  Fr.  plesser,  "to  plash,  to  bow,  fould,  or 
plait  young  branches  one  within  another  ;  also  to  thicken  a 
hedge,  or  cover  a  walk  by  plashing." — Cotg.  Mod.  Fr.  plisser, 
to  plait. 

Plash,     va.     To  splash. 

Dan.  pladse,  to  pour,  as  rain,  pladske,  to  splash,  Swed.  plaska, 
Dut.  plasscAen,  to  paddle,  splash,  Dut.plasck,  a  plash  or  puddle 
left  by  rain. — Atk. 

Plat.     vn.     To  walk  heavily. 

Gael,  pluit,  a  clumsy  foot. 

Plat.    sb.   A  broad  ridge  of  land. 

Germ,  platz,  a  broad  even  surface,  Dut.  plat,  fiat. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  103 

Pleen.     v n.     To  complain. 

Fr.  plaindre. 

Plennets.    sb.    Abundance. — Dick, 

"  Down  in  plennets  teems  the  rain." — Stagg. 
If  the  above  explanation  be  correct,  we  may  think  of  Fr.  plcnte", 
abundance,  plenty.  But  there  seems  a  doubt  about  this,  for  I 
do  not  remember  ever  to  have  met  with  the  word  except,  as 
above,  in  connection  with  rain,  and  it  seems  rather  probable 
that  it  may  be  the  same  word  as  planets,  used  in  Craven  and 
also  in  Northumberland,  where  to  fall  "in  planets"  is  to  rain 
fitfully  and  in  sudden  showers.  So  in  East  Anglia  "  by  planets" 
means  irregularly  or  by  fits  and  starts.  Craven  has  also  to  ' '  fall 
in  plats"  with  a  similar  meaning.  This  seems  to  be  derived 
from  the  Gael,  plath,  gust,  and  suggests  that  pla?iet  or  plennct 
may  be  a  corruption  of  plathaid  as  a  diminutive  of  plath,  a 
gust. 

Ploat.     va.    To  pluck,  as  a  fowl. 

Flem.  ploten.  decipere  lanam,  membranam  sive  corium  exuere. 
— Kil. 

Ploat.    vn.  To  wade  laboriously  through  wet  and  dirt- 

Crav.  pload.  Gael,  plod,  plodach,  a  puddle,  Dan.  pladder,  mire, 
Germ,  pladdern,  to  dabble.  The  above  ploat  or  pload  is  the 
same  word  as  Eng.  plod,  of  which  the  original  sense,  according 
to  Wedg.,  was  to  tramp  through  the  wet. 

Plodge.     vn.     To  wade  through  water. 

See  ploat. 

Plook.    sb.    A  pimple,  especially  on  the  face. 

Gael,  pluc ,  a  pimple. 

Ploy.    sb.     Employment,  occupation. 

For  employ,  from  Fr.  employer,  from  Lat.  plicart,  to  fold  or 
bend,  "as  Germ,  anwenden,  to  employ,  make  use  of,  from 
wenden,  to  turn." — Wedg.  Unless  we  can  suppose  ploy  to  be, 
as  seems  possibly  the  case  with  the  next  word  ply,  directly  from 
the  Welsh  plygu,  to  fold,  in  a  similarly  derived  sense  to  the 
French,  which  seems,  however,  scarcely  likely.  Sea.  ploy  is  ex- 
plained by  Jam.  as  "  a  harmless  frolic,  a  piece  of  entertain- 
ment," and  is  referred  to  Ang.-Sax.  plcgan ,  to  play.  It  seems 
probably,  however,  to  be  the  same  word  as  ours  with  a  little 
variation  of  the  sense. 

Ply.    sb.     A  fold  of  cloth. 

Welsh  plyg,  Bret,  pleg,  a  fold,  Welsh  plygu,  to  fold,  to  double, 
Fr.  pit,  a  fold,  plier,  to  fold,  from  Lat.  pltcare.  It  seems  un- 
certain whether  our  word  is  from  the  Celtic  or  the  French. 


104  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Pock-arr.    sb.     The  mark  left  by  the  smallpox. 

Ang.-Sax.  pocc,  Germ,  pocke,  Dut.  pok,  a  pock,  pustule,  Dan, 
koparret,  marked  with  the  smallpox.  (In  Dan.  kop,  SwecL 
koppa ,  a  pock,  the  consonants  are  transposed. —  Wedg. )   See  arr. 

Pod.     va.    To  poke. 

Probably  the  same  ssprod. 

Poddish.     sb.     Porridge  of  oatmeal,  in  common  use 

throughout  the  agricultural  districts,  especially  for  breakfast, 
and  though  irreverently  compared  by  Dickens  to  "diluted  pin- 
cushions without  the  covers,"  a  very  wholesome  article  of  diet. 
Welsh  potes,  M  anx  poddash. 

Poik.  vn.  To  steal  when  playing  at  marbles. — Dick, 
Perhaps  the  same  as  Eng.  poach.  From  Gael,  poc,  to  pocket. 
Or  from  Fr.  pocher,  to  thrust  or  dig  out  with  the  fingers. 

Poke.     sb.     A  small  sack. 

Pooke  (or  poket  or  walette). — Pr.  Prv,  Old  Norse  poki,  a 
sack,  Ang-Sax.  pocca,  a  bag,  poke. 

Polly,     sb.     A  cow  without  horns. 

Dut.  polle,  pol,  head.  "  To  poll  is  to  cut  off  the  head  of  a  tree, 
to  shave  the  head,  to  clip. " —  Wedg.  Other  names  are  doddy 
and  cowl  cow. 

Pope,  Poap.     vn.     To  walk  about  vaguely,  or  as  one 

in  the  dark.  Seems  to  be  from  Fr.  palper,  Lat.  palpare,  to 
touch  lightly,  in  reference  to  groping  or  feeling  with  the  hands. 

Porr.     sb.     Poker. 

Dut.  porren.  to  stir  up,  Dan.  purre,  to  rouse,  excite,  Low  Germ. 
purren,  to  stir,  to  poke. 

Poss.    va.     To  work  clothes  in  washing,  either  with 

the  feet  or  with  a  heavy  stick.  Probably  from  Gael,  post,  to 
tread  with  the  feet,  which,  we  may  presume,  was  the  original 
system,  and  which  is  still  the  general  way  in  Scotland. 

Potter,    Pottle,      vn.      To   work   in   a   trifling  or 

ineffectual  way.  Prov.  Germ,  pottelen,  to  work  at  anything  by 
small  touches. 

Pow.     sb.     A  swamp. 

Probablv  for  pool.  Old  Norse  pollr,  standing  water,  Dut.  pod, 
marsh,  lake,  Welsh  pwl,  Gael,  poll,  hole,  pool. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  105 

Powsoddy.     sb.    An  ale-posset. 

Sco.  powsowdy,  sheep's-head  broth,  also  milk  and  meal  boiled 
together.  The  Eng.  posset  is  from  the  Fr.  posset,  for  posquet, 
Old  Fr.  posqtte,  Lat.  posca.  But  the  Sco.  powsowdy,  sheep's- 
head  broth,  seems  to  be  a  different  word,  from  pow,  head,  and 
Swed.  saad,  broth, — Jam.  To  which  of  the  two  our  word 
belongs  seems  uncertain. 

Preen,    va.     To  comb  and  dress  the  hair. 

The  origin  is  Old  Norse  prion,  Sco.  preen,  a  pin  or  knitting- 
needle,  from  the  notion  of  picking  or  arranging  nicely  with  a 
pointed  implement. —  Wedg.  Hence  Eng.  prune,  to  dress  or 
trim  trees. 

Press,    sb.    A  cupboard,  especially-  for  clothes  or  linen. 

Bret,  pres,  armoire,  (dialect  of  Leon),  Gael,  preas,  a  wooden 
case,  armarium.  In  the  Diet,  of  the  Highland  Society,  the 
word  is  taken  to  be  derived  from  the  English,  but  the  co- 
incidence of  the  Bret,  word  suggests  whether  in  this  particular 
sense  the  word  may  not  be  of  Celtic  origin. 

Prig.     va.  and  n.     To  beat  down  in  bargaining. 

Dick,  gives  the  above  sense,  as  well  as  the  ordinary  one  to  pilfer. 
The  Swed.  preja,  to  use  extortion  in  dealing,  coincides  with  the 
former,  which  may  be  the  original  sense. 

Prize,    va.    To  raise  or  lift  with  a  lever. 

From  Fr.  prise,  a  taking,  seizing,  any  advantage. 

Prod.     sb.     A  thorn,  sharp  point. 

Old  Norse  broddr,  Suio-Goth.  and  Swed.  prodd,  point,  spike. 

Prod,  Proddle.     vn.    To  poke,  to  prick. 

Ang.-Sax.  bryrdan,  to  goad,  Old  Norse  bryddatX.o  form  a  point. 
Proddle  is  a  frequentative  of  prod. 

Pry.    sb.    A  kind  of  short  coarse  grass. 

Seeing  that  bent,  another  kind  of  coarse  grass,  is  in  all  proba- 
bility derived  from  bant,  high,  whence,  in  a  secondary  sense, 
bleak,  I  think  that  pry  may  in  like  manner  derive  its  origin  from 
Welsh  brig,  top,  summit,  the  interchange  of  b  and  p  being  of 
common  occurrence  in  Celtic  as  in  Teutonic.  Comp. ,  however, 
Dial.  Swed.  parr,  star-grass,  a  kind  of  carex. 

Pubble.    adj.    Plump,  asa  "  pubble  goose." 

Gael,  plub,  a  soft  unwieldy  lump,  the  original  idea  in  which 
(see  bleb)  is  the  sound  of  some  soft  body  falling  into  water. 


106  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Pult.    sb.    A  fat  and  lazy  cat  or  woman. — Dick. 

Perhaps  connected  with  Old  Norse  polti,  globulus.  But  comp\ 
polt,  a  thump  or  blow. — Hall.  Hence  polt-foot,  a  club-foot, 
1  •  the  notion  of  a  blow  and  of  massiveness  being  frequently  con- 
nected."—  Wedg.  Swed.  bulta,  to  knock  or  beat,  Maxixpolt,  a 
blow,  thump. 

Pum.    va.    To  beat,  to  pummel. 

Welsh pwmpio,  to  beat,  thump,  Corn,  bom,  blow. 

PUmmer.     sb.     Anything  very  large. 

Like  banger,  thumper,  slapper,  &c. ,  similarly  derived  from  the 
idea  of  a  blow. 

Punch,    va.    To  strike  with  the  foot,  to  kick. 

Bunchynge,  tundo. — Pr.  Prv.  Dut.  bonsen,  Low  Germ,  bun- 
se?i,  to  knock,  Prov.  Dan.  pundse,  to  butt  as  a  ram,  Dut. 
ponssen,  to  punch. 

Purdy.    sb.    A  short  and  thick-set  person. 

Perhaps,  assuming  the  r  as  phonetic,  to  be  connected  with 
Low  Germ,  puddig,  stout,  thick. — Brem.  Wt.  B. 

Putt.     vn.     To  butt,  strike  with  the  head  or  horns. 

Welsh  pwtio,  to  poke,  thrust.  Hence  "putting  the  stone"  in 
Highland  games. 

Putty-cow.     sb.     A  cow  given  to  striking. 

See  putt. 


Q- 

Quern,    sb.     A  hand-mill  for  grinding  corn. 

Ang.-Sax.  cweorn,  Old  Norse  qvorn,  a  hand-mill.  # 

Quilt,     va.    To  beat. 

Probably  from  Ang.-Sax.  cwellan,  Old  Norse  quelia,  to  kill, 
Ang.-Sax.  cwild,  slaughter,  destruction.  Formed  like  rift,  to 
belch,  from  the  noun  as  a  secondary  verb. 

Quit.     adj.     Free,  released,  rid  of. 
Old  Norse  quittr,  free,  Dut.  kwijt,  rid  of. 


CUMBERLAND  DfALECT.  lO"! 

R. 

Rackle.     adj.     Rough,  unmanageable. 

Wedg.  connects  rackle  with  rack  (in  the  expression  rack  and 
ruin).  Sco.  rak,  crash,  uproar,  Boh.  rochati,  to  make  a  crash. 
Comp.  also  Swed.  raka,  to  riot  about,  rakande,  rioting,  dis- 
turbance. 

Raff.    sb.     An  idle  and  disorderly  person. 

Lonsd.  raff,  idle,  dissolute.  "To  raff  was  formerly  used  in 
the  sense  of  scraping  or  raking.  Hence  raff,  riffraff,  scrapings, 
scum,  refuse,  the  refuse  of  society  ;  raff  (like  rake),  a  de-> 
bauched,  unprincipled  person." — Wedg.  Fr.  rafler,  to  scrape 
or  scratch,  Old  Norse  hrqfla,  to  scrape  together. 

Raft.     sb.     A  concourse  or  crowd. 

Old  Eng.  raff,  a  confused  heap,  from  raff,  to  scrape  or  gathef 
together.  See  raff.  So  we  speak  of  a  hubble  of  people,  in  a 
similar  sense  of  heap. 

Rag.     va.    To  scold,  reproach. 

The  sense  seems  to  be  derived  from  that  of  a  harsh,  unpleasant 
tone  of  voice.     Swiss  rdggen,  to  speak  in  a  harsh,  disagreeable 
manner,  Ital.  ragghiare,  to  make  a  harsh,  broken  sound. 
"  My  voice  is  ragged,  I  know  I  cannot  please  you." 

As  You  Like  It. 

Raggelt.     sb.     An  idle,  abandoned  person. 

Clev.  rageL  Atkinson's  reference  to  Old  Swed.  rcekel,  homo 
nihili,  Swed.  rake/,  a  worthless  fellow,  Dan  rcekel,  a  word  of 
contempt  for  a  mean  or  upstart  fellow,  is  probably  the  right 
one. 

Raise,   sb.    A  cairn  of  stones,  generally  of  a  sepulchral 

origin.  Dunmail  Raise  is  said  to  mark  the  spot  where  the  last 
British  king  of  Cumberland  is  buried.  Dan.  ros,  a  pile  of  stones, 
Old  Norse  reisa,  to  raise. 

Rake.  sb.  A  journey,  most  frequently  used  in  con- 
nection with  a  horse  and  cart.  Also  a  track  or  mountain  path. 
Thus  the  place  whence  the  Countess  of  Derwentwater  made  her 
escape  by  clambering  up  one  of  the  clefts  of  Walabarrow  Crag, 
is  still  called  "the  Lady's  rake."  Old  Norse  reika,  vagari, 
reik,  vagatus,  ambulatio,  Swed.  raka,  to  rove  about,  Lap. 
raeket,  vagari. 

Rake-steel,     sb.     The  handle  of  a  rake. 

Low  Germ,  steel,  Germ,  stiel,  handle. 


108  GLOSSARY   OF  THE 

Ram.     adj.     Having  a  strong  or  fetid  smell. 

Old  Norse  rammr,  Dan.  ram,  rank,  fetid. 

Ram.    vn.     To  rush  violently. 

Dut.  rammelen,  tumultuare,  (Kil.),  Germ,  rammelen,  to  rout 
about,  sport  in  an  excited  manner. 

Rammel-slate.     sb.     A  coarse  kind  of  slate. — Dick. 

jRammel  is  properly  rubbish  or  debris.  Swed.  ramla,  to  rattle, 
fall  with  a  clash.  "In  like  manner,  from  Dut.  rabbelen,  to 
rattle,  is  formed  Eng.  rubble,  what  comes  rumbling  down,  the 
ruins  of  old  walls.  And  from  Fr.  rabascher,  to  rattle,  comes 
Eng.  rubbish. " —  Wedg.  Comp.  also  Dut.  rommelen,  to  rumble, 
rommelerij,  rubbish. 

Ramp.    sb.    A  sprain.     See  wramp. 
Randit.    adj.    Streaked. 

"  This  term  is  chiefly  applied  to  butter,  when  of  two  colours." 
— Dick.  Norw.  randut,  striped,  marked  in  strokes,  from  rand, 
a  stripe. 

Randy,   sb.    A  termagant,  a  noisy  and  riotous  person. 

See  ranty. 

Rank.    adj.    Close  or  thick  together. 

"  Ranke,  crassus." — Pr.  Prv.     Ang.-Sax.  ranc,  rank,  fruitful. 

Rannel-tree,  Rannel-bawk.     sb.     A  cross  beam  in 

the  chimney,  on  which  hang  the  pot-hooks.  Clev.  randle-balk. 
"  In  a  collection  of  words  from  Vend-syssel,  rane  is  explained 
as  a  pole  or  bawk,  fixed  at  some  height  in  the  chimney,  to  hang 
meat  to  smoke  on.  Elsewhere  in  Sweden,  rander,  rdnde,  and 
rdnde-stanger. " — Atk. 

Rannigal.    sb.    A  wild  or  riotous  person. 

Clev.  rannack,  a  wild,  unsteady  person.  Norw.  rangla,  to 
revel,  riot,  wander  about,  Germ,  ranken,  rdnkelen,  to  run 
wildly  about. 

Ranty.     adj.     Wild,  riotous,  frisky. 

Germ,  ranten,  ranzen,  to  make  a  noise,  move  noisily  about, 
Bav.  ranten,  to  play  tricks,  Dut.  randen,  randten,  delirare, 
ineptere,  insanire,  {Kil.),  Swab,  junger  rande,  a  young  sportive 
person,   (Wedg.) 

Rappack.    sb.   A  pet  name  for  an  unruly  child. — Dick. 
Perhaps  from  Gael,  rapach,  noisy,  boisterous. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  109 

Rap  out.   va.    To  speak  rapidly,  as  to  "rap  out"  oaths. 

Old  Norse  hrapa,  to  rush,  to  do  a  thing  in  a  hasty  manner, 
hrapordr,  speaking  with  precipitation,  Dan.  rap,  quick,  nimble. 

Rapt.     adj.     Ragged,  dishevelled. 

Old  Norse  hraufa,  divellere,  Germ,  raufen,  to  pluck,  Old  Norse 
rifa,  to  tear  asunder,  rcefill,  res  lacera,  Dut,  ravelen,  to  ravel 
out. 

Rash.    adj.     Brisk,  active. 

Old  Norse  roskr,  Dan.  rask,  Germ,  rasch,  quick,  impetuous, 
spirited. 

Ratch.  vn.  To  roam  about,  with  some  sense  of  roughness. 

Old  Norse  reika,  vagari,  racki,  canis  plautus,  Ang.-Sax.  rcecc, 
Old.  Eng.  rache,  a  hound  that  runs  by  scent. 

Rate.  va.  To  whiten  by  bleaching  on  the  grass. — Dick. 

Hall,  gives  rate  as  a  Cumb.  word,  "  to  become  rotten."  These 
are  probably  only  different  senses  of  the  same  word,  as  the 
effect  of  continued  bleaching  is  to  rot.  In  Lonsd.  and  Clev. 
the  term  is  applied  to  hay,  &c,  the  fibre  of  which  has  been  par- 
tially destroyed  by  exposure.  Atk.  refers  to  Dan.  rode,  to  lay 
flax  or  hemp  in  steep,  "the  intention  being  to  induce  partial 
decay  of  the  stalk,"  Norw.  royta,  "as  nearly  as  possible  co- 
incident with  rate  in  all  respects." 

Rattan,    sb.    A  rat. 

Ratun.— Pr.  Prv.  and  P.  PI. 

Ravel,    vn.    To  speak  in  a  confused  and  rapid  manner. 

Dut.  rabbelen,  to  rattle,  gabble,  precipitare  sive  confundere 
verba,  [Kil.),  is  precisely  the  equivalent  of  our  word.  Comp, 
also  Low  Germ,  rdbeln,  Dut.  ravelen,  to  rave,  Gael,  rabkd, 
idle  talk. 

Rean.    sb.  A  bawk  or  strip  of  land  left  for  a  boundary 

in  a  common  field.  Old  Norse  rein,  a  boundary,  Dan.  ager~ 
reen,  a  boundary  between  two  fields,  Welsh  rhan,  Gael.,  Ir., 
Bret,  rann,  Corn,  ran,  Manx  ranney,  a  division. 

Recklin.     See  wrecklin. 

Ree.     va.     To  shake  corn  in  a  sieve. 

Old  Norse  rida,  Dut.  ruderen,  rijeren,  to  tremble,  Germ. 
riitteln,  to  shake,  sift,  winnow  corn.  Hence  Ang.-Sax.  hriddel, 
Eng.  riddle. 


HO  GLOSSARY   OF  THE 

Reedent.    adj.    Passionate,  excitable, 

Sco.  reth,  fierce,  unruly.  Ang.-Sax.  hrethian,  to  rage,  to 
excite. 

Reek.     sb.     Smoke. 

Ang.-Sax.  ric,  Old  Norse  reykr,  Dut.  rook,  smoke. 
Reep  (of  com),     sb.     A  handful  of  corn  in  the  straw, 

used  as  a  bait  to  catch  a  horse  with.— Dick.  Ang.-Sax.  ripe, 
ripa,  a  handful  of  corn  in  the  ear. 

Reep  up.  va.  To  refer  back  to  some  unpleasant  subject. 

Old  Norse  rippa  upp,  Dan.  oprippe,  to  rip  up  an  old  sore  or 
grievance. 

Reest,  Reesty.    adj.    Stupid  or  obstinate, 

Fr.  restif,  stubborn. 

Reesty,  Reestit.     adj.     Rancid. 

"  Reest,  as  flesche  (resty)  rancidus.  "—rPr.  Prv.  "  The  radical 
meaning  seems  to  be  stale  or  over-kept  bacon,  as  chars  restez, 
remnants,  broken  meat,  is  glossed  in  Bibelesworth  by  resty  flees, 
(reesty  flesh) ,  and  resty  or  restive,  from  Fr.  rester,  is  pronounced 
reesty  in  the  North  of  England.  '  Bure  assez  reste,'  stale  or 
rancid  butter,  {Reliq.  Ant.)  *  *  *  On  the  other  hand,  the 
word  may  be  the  equivalent  of  Germ,  rasch,  rdss,  ressig,  sharp- 
tasting,  harsh,  Swab,  rds,  over-salted,  sharp,  biting,  harsh  in 
taste,  Fr.  riche,  rough  to  touch." — Wedg. 

Render,     va.     To  melt  tallow. 

Sco.  rind.  Old  Norse  rcnna,  to  flow,  to  be  made  liquid,  to  be 
melted.     Dan.  rende,  to  run. 

Renky.     adj.     Lengthy,  extended. 

Dut.  recken,  Ang.-Sax.  rcecqn,  to  stretch,  to  reach,  Wesh  rhenc, 
Bret,  renk,  line,  rank,  that  which  is  stretched. 

Resh.    sb.    The  rush. 

Ang.-Sax.  rise.  Low  Germ,  risch,  rush,  from  Ang.-Sax.  hriscian, 
to  rustle,  shake,  vibrate. 

Restles.    sb.    The  stakes  to  which  cattle  are  fastened 

in  the  stalls.  Other  words  are  rid-stakes,  rest-stakes,  rud- 
stowers.  In  all  these  words  the  prefix  seems  to  be  rid,  which 
may  be  the  same  as  the  Ang.-Sax.  ritk  in  rith-fald,  a  pasture 
where  cattle  are  bred  and  fattened,  and  which  is  probably  from 
hrither,  cattle.  Hence  restle  would  be  rith-stel,  cattle-stake, 
from  stela,  stalk,  stake  \  and  rud-stower  similarly  from  stower, 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  Ill 

Old  Norse  staurr,  a  stake,  the  word  rest-stake  being  probably 
only  a  corruption  of  the  other  form  rdd^stake,  One  might  think, 
for  resile,  of  Welsh  rhestl,  rack,  grate,  but  for  the  coincidence 
of  the  other  words,  all  seemingly  from  a  similar  prefix. 

B-EUTLE.   vn.    To  grub  in  the  ground,  as  a  swine  with 

its  snout.  A  frequentative  from  Ang.-Sax.  wrotan,  Dut. 
wroeten,  Dan.  rode,  to  grub  as  a  pig  or  a  mole. 

Rift.     vn.     To  belch. 

Fris.  rebe,  Dan.  rcebe,  to  belch.  This,  like  quilt,  seems  to  be  one 
of  the  cases  in  which  our  word  is  formed,  not  directly  from  the 
corresponding  verb,  but  from  a  noun  formed  from  the  verb. 

Rig.    sb.     A  ridge,  a  long  narrow  hill. 

"  Rygge»  of  a  lond.  Porea  (agger)." — Pr.  Prv.  Ang.-Sax. 
hricg,  Old  Norse  hryggr,  the  back,  Swed.  rygg,  Dan.  ryg,  the 
back,  the  highest  portion  of  a  field,  of  land,  of  a  house-roof. 

Riggelt.    sb.    An  animal  imperfectly  castrated. 

Wedg.  refers  to  Manx  riggan,  to  rut,  reagh,  wanton,  lecherous, 
riggelt  being  an  animal  imperfectly  castrated,  and  consequently 
liable  to  sexual  excitation. 

Ringe,  (g  soft),     va.     To  rinse. 

Not,  I  think,  a  different  pronunciation  of  rinse,  but  same  as 
Dut.  reingen,  Fris.  reinigje,  Germ,  reinigen,  to  cleanse,  rinse. 
The  Eng.  rinse  maybe  taken  to  be  from  the  Old  Norse  hreinsa, 
either  directly  or  through  the  Fr.  rincer,  Old  Fr.  rei?iscr.  In 
any  case,  the  general  origin  of  all  is  the  same,  viz.,  Goth,  reins. 
Old  Norse  hrcin,  Germ,  rein,  clean,  pure.  Another  Northern 
form  is  rench,  corresponding  with  Low  Germ,  renschen. 

Rip.    sb.    A  reprobate.    Also  a  worthless  or  worn-out 

horse.  Low  Germ,  rif,  rift,  a  skeleton.  "  Applied  metaphorit 
cally  to  a  morally  ill-conditioned  person." —  Wedg. 

Rise.     sb.     Branches  used  for  hedging  or  weiring. 

Ang.-Sax.  hris.  Old  Norse  Arts,  Dan.  riis,  branch  or  twig.  The 
origin  may  probably  be  found  in  Sansc.  ris,  to  cut,  the  word 
being  used  only  in  reference  to  branches  when  cut. 

Risms.    sb.    Straws  left  on  the  stubble. 

Dial.  Swed.  ressma,  Dial.  Dan.  rusme,  a  spike  or  ear  of  corn. 

Rit.  va.  To  mark  out  the  line  of  a  trench  or  drain 
with  a  spade.  Ang.-Sax.  zuritan,  to  cut,  engrave,  write,  Swed. 
rita,  to  trace,  Low  Germ,  riten,  to  draw,  make  strokes. 


112  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Rive.     va.     To  rend  or  tear  asunder,  to  pull  or  tug 

violently.  Old  Norse  rifa,  lacerare,  Dan.  rive,  to  rend,  to  tear, 
to  pull. 

Roan-tree,    sb.    The  mountain  ash. 

Old  Norse  rcynir,  Suio*Goth.  rutin,  Dan.  ronne.  Ihre  sup- 
poses that  the  Scand.  name  of  the  tree  is  derived  from  runa, 
incantation,  magic,  in  referece  to  the  supposed  efficacy  of  its 
wood  as  a  charm,  which  seems  probable. 

Rock.    sb.    A  distaff. 

Old  Norse  rockr,  Old  High  Germ,  rocco^  Dut.  spinrock,  Dan. 
rokkchoved.  ' '  The  origin  of  the  term  seems  preserved  in  Fin.  and 
Lap.  ruoko,  a  reed,  from  the  distaff  having  been  made  of  that 
material." — Wedg.  Rathef,  it  seems  to  me,  from  the  sense  of 
rocking,  shaking,  or  moving,  common  to  both  the  distaff  and 
the  reed. 

Roke.    vn.    To  scratch  glass,  &c,  with  a  sharp  point. 

Probably  formed,  like  rook,  from  the  imitation  of  a  harsh 
grating  sound.  Gael,  rdc,  a  harsh  sound  or  cry,  Lat.  raucus. 
So  Germ,  ratsch^  sound  imitative  of  scraping,  scratching. 

Rool,  (pron.  reeul.)    sb.    An  unruly  person  or  animal. 

West,  raul,  to  pull  about  roughly.  —Hall.  Clev.  roil,  to  romp 
or  play  boisterously.  Crav.  rool,  to  rumple.  Lonsd.  roggle,  to 
shake.  Old  Norse  rugla^  confundere,  turbare,  Swab,  rollen,  to 
be  noisily  merry. 

Roove,  (pron.  reeuv.)     va.      "To  unroof.      T' wind 

reuv't  our  hay-stack. "-^Dick.  I  do  not  feel  sure,  however, 
that  the  Word  is  really  from  roof,  tectum,  and  not  from  Dut. 
rooven,  Germ,  raufen,  Old  Norse  hraufa,  to  pluck,  tear 
asunder. 

Roughness,     sb.     Grass  left  for  winter  eating. — Dick. 

Hall,  has  rough,  luxuriant,  as  grass,  North*  One  might  possibly 
think  of  SanSc.  ruh,  to  grow,  Whence  rauhas,  plant.  Or  from 
rough  in  the  sense  of  coarse  and  rank,  as  Germ,  rauch-hafer, 
wild  oats. 

Rouse,     sb.     A  drunken  debauch,  a  carouse. 

Old  Norse  r&ss,  Swed.  rus,  Dut.  roes,  Germ,  rausch,  drunken- 
ness, Swed.  riisa,  to  fuddle. 

Rowk.     sb.     The  mist  of  the  valleys. 

Clev.  roke.  Dut.  roock,  vapour,  Dial.  Dan.  rag,  fog  or  mist, 
Old  Norse  rakr,  madidus. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  113 

Rowt.    vn.     To  roar  or  bellow,  as  cattle  when  uneasy 

or  excited.  Ang.-Sax.  hrutan,  Old  Norse  hridta,  to  snort, 
snore,  Norw.  rjota,  rauta,  to  roar,  Sansc.  rud,  to  roar. 

Rowth.     sb.     Plenty,  abundance. 

Clev.  rowty,  rank  or  thick-growing,  coarsely  luxuriant.  Garnett 
refers  to  Welsh  and  Corn,  ruth,  a  heap,  while  in  the  Diet,  of 
the  Highland  Sco.  it  is  referred  to  Gael,  rath,  prosperity,  in- 
crease, profit,  collating  Welsh  rhad,  gratia,  and  Germ,  rat, 
salus,  prosperitus,  et  copia  rerum  parata/'  Wacht.J  This  seems 
to  be  the  more  probable  origin,  the  root  being  probably  in  either 
case  to  be  found  in  Sansc  ruk,  to  grow,  to  increase. 

Royster.     vn.     To  bully,  to  be  noisy  or  turbulent. 

Swed.  rusta,  to  make  a  riot  or  disturbance,  Fr.  rustre,  a  roister, 
hackster,  squabbler,  [Cotg.),  GaeL  riastair,  become  turbulent 
or  disorderly. 

Rozzle.   sb.    Rosin. 

Ang.-Sax.  hrysel,  rosin. 

Ruckle,     sb.     A  disorderly  crowd. 

Old  Norse  rngla,  confundere,  turbare,  Dut.  rukken,  to  pull, 
tug,  Norw.  rugla,  to  shake,  waggle  about. 

Ruckshin.    sb.     A  riot,  disturbance.     See  ruckle. 
Ruft.    sb.    The  plot  of  lea  ground  to  be  ploughed  in 

the  year.  Probably  from  Old  Norse  hraufa,  Dut.  rooven,  to 
pluck,  tear  asunder,  in  the  sense  of  opening  out  the  ground. 

Rug.     vn.     To  pull  roughly. 

Clev.  row,  to  use  vigorous  exertions.  Old  Eng.  rugg,  rogg,  to 
tug.  Old  Norse  roga,  moliri,  niti,  rugga,  to  rock,  Dut.  rukken, 
to  tug. 

Rumbustical.     adj.     Boisterous,  noisy,  overbearing. 

See  ramp  us. 

Rumpus,     sb.     A  disturbance. 

Sco.  rummys,  to  roar,  bellow.  Ital.  rombazzo,  a  clatter,  Swiss 
rumpusen,  to  pull  one  another  about.  The  general  origin  is  to 
be  found  in  Old  Norse  rumr,  rymr,  clash,  noise. —  Wedg. 

Rumplement  sb.  Coarse  materials.  Also  disorder. -Dick. 

The  first  idea  is  that  of  broken  sounds,  Germ,  rummeln,  rum- 
peln,  to  rumble,  rattle.  Then  that  of  confusion,  disorder,  Bav. 
rummel,  a  disturbance,  uproar.  Then  that  of  rubbish,  Germ. 
rummel,  lumber,  old  things. —  Wedg.  Hence  the  origin  is 
similar  to  that  of  rammel-slate.  q.v.  The  ending  in  ment  is  a 
favourite  one  in  the  dialect. 

K 


114  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Runch.     sb.     A  thick-set  person  or  animal. 

I  think  that  runch  may  he  the  same  as  rump,  nk  or  nek  and  mf> 
interchanging  as  in  dank  and  damp.  Fris.  romp,  Dut.  romp, 
Germ,  rump/,  trunk,  carcass.  "  We  are  led  from  analogous 
forms  to  suppose  that  the  primitive  meaning  is  projection." — 
Wedg. 

Rung.     sb.     A  staff,  step  of  a  ladder  or  gate. 

Old  Norse  raung,  rib  of  a  boat,  Goth,  rugga,  staff,  rod,  Gael. 
rong,  staff,  rib  of  a  boat,  any  piece  of  wood  by  which  others  are 
joined. 

Runner,    sb.     A  small  stream. 

Ang.-Sax.  rynele,  Old  Norse  renna,  rensl,  a  stream,  channel, 
from  renna,  to  flow. 

Runrig.     sb.     In  some  undivided  common  lands,  the 

ownership  of  the  parcels  changes  annually  in  succession. — Dtck. 
Respecting  this  custom  in  Scotland,  see  Jam.,  who  supposes 
it  to  be  a  relic  of  the  custom  of  the  ancient  Germans,  to  hold 
their  cultivated  lands  in  common,  and  thinks  that  it  was  intro- 
duced from  Germany  or  Scandinavia  first  into  Orkney  and  Shet- 
land, where  it  is  most  prevalent,  and  whence  it  has  gradually 
found  its  way  from  North  to  South. 

Runt.     sb.     An  aged  ox. 

Dut.  rund,  an  ox,  bullock,  Germ,  rinde. 

Runt.   sb.    A  short  and  thick-set  man. 

Fin.  runto,  truncus  corporis  major,  runtewa,  corpulent,  robust. 

Ruttle.     vn.     To  breathe  with  a  broken  or  rattling 

noise,  as  one  suffering  from  asthma.  Dut.  rotelen,  murmillare, 
rotet,  murmur,  quale  moribund!  edunt,  murmur  raucum. — Kil. 
Another  form  is  ruckle. 

Ryle.     va.     To  teaze,  to  vex. 

Lonsd.  royle,  to  bluster.  To  roil,  to  disturb,  trouble,  vex. — 
Hall.  Fris.  rule,  Jutl.  role,  South  Dan.  ryle,  to  cry  in  a  harsh 
voice.  The  above  are  probably  contracted  forms,  the  word 
from  which  they  are  formed  being  rok,  in  the  sense  of  a  harsh 
noise. 

Ryner.     sb.    An  augur. 

Seems  to  be  the  same  word  as  Lonsd.  rimer,  a  tool  used  for  en- 
larging screw-holes  in  metal  or  wood,  probably  from  Ang.-Sax. 
rfman,  to  enlarge. 

Rysel.     sb.     A  turbulent  child. 

Perhaps  to  be  connected  with  Old  Norse  risialldr,  homo  varius 
et  violentus,  Ang.-Sax.  rese,  violence. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  115 

S. 

Sackless.    adj.    Simple,  innocent,  inoffensive. 

"  The  parson  swears  a  bonny  s*ick 
Amang  our  sackless  asses.'  — Anderson. 
Ang.-Sax.  sachets,  Old  Norse  saklaus,  peaceable,  innocent,  from 
sac  or  sak,  contention,  and  the  privative  termination  less. 

Sad.     adj.     Heavy,  applied  to  bread  or  pastry. 

Welsh  sad,  firm,  steady,  Dan.  sat,  solid,  sedate,  Swab,  salt, 
firm,  fast.  The  above  is  the  original  meaning  of  sad,  whence, 
metaphorically,  comes  the  sense  of  mental  heaviness  or  sorrow. 

Saf-tree,  Saugh-tree.     sb.     The  willow. 

Clev.  saf-tree.  Atk.  thinks  of  a  connection  with  service  or  sorb. 
I  am  inclined  to  think,  however,  that  the  word  is  simply  the 
Ang.-Sax.  salig,  salg,  willow,  our  dialect,  as  in  many  other 
cases  (comp.  faugh,  faff,  fallow,  from  Ang.-Sax.  fealg)  sup- 
pressing the  /,  and  changing  g  into/,  while  the  Clev.,  again, 
hardens  the/ into/. 

Saggy,    sb.     The  name  of  a  game  at  marbles. 
Saim.  sb.    Lard. 

Welsh  saim,  grease. 

Saimed.     vn.     Overcome  with  heat. 

Perhaps  from  above  saim,  in  the  sense  of  melting. 

Sairy.    adj.    Poor,  pitiable,  generally  used  as  a  term 

of  pity. 

"  Fie,  Roger,  fie  1  a  sairy  lass  to  wrong."— Jtelpk. 
Ang.-Sax.  sdrig,  miserable,  afflicted,  pitiable. 

Sam-cast.    sb. .  Two  or  more  ridges  ploughed  in  one. 

See  ham-sam. 

Sank,    sb,    A  quantity,  collection  of  things,  as  a  sank 

of  potatoes. —  West  and  Cumb.  Dial.  Dut.  sanghe,  manipulus 
spicarum  (£*/.),  Swab,  sange,  a  bundle  of  hemp,  Dan.  sanke, 
Swed.  samka,  to  gather,  collect,  from  sam,  signifying  combina- 
tion.    See  ham-sam. 

Sap,  Sappy,     adj.     Wet,  moist. 

Ang-Sax.  sapp,  Low  Germ,  sapp,  juice,  moisture,  Low  Germ. 
sappig,  wet,  juicy. 

Sap-head,  Sap-skull,   sb.     A  simpleton. 

As  in  sumph,  the  idea  of  folly  is  derived  from  that  of  softness 
and  wetness. 

K2 


Il6  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Sark.     sb.     A  shirt. 

Ang.-Sax.  sere,  Old  Norse  serkr,  toga,  tunica,  indusium,  Fris. 
sire,  a  shirt,  Dan.  scerk,  a  garment  formerly  worn  under  the 
armour,  Flem.  sarck,  telae  genus  subsericum. — Kil.  I  am  in- 
clined to  take  the  original  meaning  to  have  been  a  shirt  of  mail, 
or  possibly  a  garment  worn  under  it,  and  the  word  to  be  formed 
on  Ang.-Sax.  searo,  Old  High  Germ,  saro,  armour,  equipment, 
(cognate  with  Lat.  sero,  I  join,  connect,  fasten  ?)  In  which  case 
it  would  seem  probable  that  Welsh  seirch,  equipage,  harness, 
trappings,  is  the  same  word  as  our  sark.  Unless,  indeed,  we 
can  suppose  the  r  in  sark  to  be  intrusive,  and  the  word  properly 
sak,  in  the  sense  of  a  loose  garment.  Comp.  Sansc.  sagga, 
surtout. — Eich. 

Sarra.     va.     To  serve. 

In  other  cases,  as  in  div  for  dee  (do),  our  dialect  assumes  the 
sound  here  rejected. 

Sattle.     sb.     A  wooden  seat  or  sofa. 

Ang.-Sax.  set  I,  Germ,  sessel. 

Scald-head.    sb.    The  ringworm  in  the  head. 

Lonsd.  scald,  scabby,  particularly  in  the  head.  Dan.  scaldet, 
bald,  skaldehoved,  bald-head,  Swed.  shallot,  bald,  Old  Norse 
skdllda,  to  be  bald,  Gael,  sgall,  baldness,  scab.  The  above 
seem  to  be  formed,  by  the  prefix  of  s,  upon  the  form  found  in 
Ang.-Sax.  ealo,  Germ,  kahl,  Eng.  callow,  Lat.  calvus,  bald. 

Scale,    va.     To  spread,  as  manure  over  a  field. 

Dan.  skille,  Swed.  skilja,  to  separate  persons  or  things  from  one 
another,  Old  Norse  skilja,  discriminare. 

Scanted,    part.     Kept  short,  insufficiently  supplied. 

"  They  wadn't  see  him  scanted." — Miss  Blamire. 
Old  Norse  skamta,  dividere,  dimetiri,  skammr,  brevis,  accisus, 
Norw.  skanta,  to  measure  off,  to  cut  off  a  little  so  as  to  make  a 
thing  exact,  to  give  sparingly. 

Scar.     adj.     Shy,  wild,  frightened. 

Old  Norse  skidrr,  timid,  shy,  Norw.  skjerra,  to  scare,  frighten. 

Scar.    sb.     A  precipice,  a  steep  rock. 

Old  Norse  skor,  Norw.  skar,  breach,  cleft  in  a  rock,  Old  High 
Germ,  seorro,  prasruptum  montis,  scopulus,  Old  Dut.  schaere, 
scopulus,  rapes,  Dan.  skier,  rocks,  cliffs.  The  origin  seems  to 
be  Old  Norse  skera,  to  cut,  a  scar  being  that  which  is  cleft 
sheer  down. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  117 

Scar.    sb.    A  bed  of  rough  gravel. 

Dan.  skare,  fragment,  shard.  The  connection  seems  to  be  with 
Old  Norse  skara,  to  rake,  scrape. 

Scarn.     sb.     Cow-dung. 

Ang.-Sax.  secern,  Old  Norse  skarn,  dung. 

Scoder.     va.     To  scald. 

Dan.  skolde,  to  scald.  It  may  possibly  be  a  question  whether, 
in  some  of  these  verbs,  as  scoder,  Dan.  skolde;  snifter,  Dan. 
snofte ;  skiander,  Dan.  skiende,  our  form  in  er  does  not  simply 
represent  the  Scandinavian  ending  in  e  or  a,  as  from  the  mute 
sound  of  r  final  no  difference  can  be  distinguished  between 
them.  But  if  so,  the  participle  form,  as  in  scodered,  must  have 
been  a  later  formation. 

Scoder.     sb.     The   skin  when  frayed   by  heat  and 

friction  during  violent  exercise.  Clev.  to  be  scaldered,  to  be  in 
such  a  state  that  the  surface  peels  off  in  scales.  ' '  The  more 
immediate  connection  of  this  word  is  with  Eng.  scald-head." — 
Atk.  Comp.  also  Gael,  sgiolta,  unhusked,  hulled,  having  the 
skin  peeled  off,  Lith.  skelti,  to  split,  burst. 

Scoggers.  sb.  Stockings  with  the  feet  cut  off  worn 
on  the  arms.  Probably  from  Old  Norse  skockr,  sheath,  en- 
velope. 

Sconce,      sb.      A    stone    bench    or    shelf.  —  Dick. 

A  screen  capable  of  being  drawn  across  the  front  of  the  fire. — 
West,  and  Cumb.  Dial.  Lonsd.  sconce  has  both  these  two 
meanings.  Old  Norse,  Suio-Goth.  skans,  munimentum,  Germ. 
schanze,  fort,  shelter,  schanzkleid,  a  canvass  screen  drawn  round 
a  ship  during  an  engagement. 

Scon.   sb.    A  barley  cake. 

Probably  from  Old  Norse  skan,  crusta,  cortex,  Fris.  skdn,  rind, 
skin. 

Scooder.      va.      "To  take  great  effect  upon,  bring 

down  quickly.  Ned  went  a-shutting.  and  he  scoodered  them 
down." — Dick.  Probably  from  the  same  origin  as  Eng.  scud, 
Dut.  schudden,  to  shake,  toss,  jog.  "As  the  figure  of  shaking 
expresses  the  exertion  of  superior  power  over  an  object,  Eng. 
scud  is  used  to  signify  the  movement  of  a  body  under  the  in- 
fluence of  overpowering  force.  To  scud  before  the  wind  is  to 
drive  before  it  without  attempt  at  resistance." — Wedg.  Very 
much  of  the  same  idea  runs  through  the  word  scooder  as  de- 
scribed by  Dick. 


Il8  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Scraffle.    vn.    To  scramble,  to  struggle  hard  for  a 

living.  Old  Norse  skreflaz,  to  keep  one's  feet  with  difficulty, 
skriflaz,  to  scramble  through  difficult  places.  The  Dut. 
sckraeffelen,  again,  to  scrape  together,  a  frequentative  of 
schraeffen,  to  scrape,  coincides  more  with  the  second  of  the 
above  meanings.       . 

Scraffles.    sb.    An  empty  boaster. 

"  Peer  scraffles!  thy  Ian*  grows  nae  girse." — Anderson. 
Suio-Goth.  skrafia,  boaster,  prater,  Old  Norse  skresfa,  homuncio, 
meticulosus  jactator,  skrapr,  futilis  jactator,  skrapa,  crepere, 
Swed.  skrafia,  to  rant,  to  rave,  to  rattle.  In  the  dialect  of 
Holstein  schraffel  is  similarly  used  as  a  term  of  contempt,  signi- 
fying a  good-for-nothing  person. 

Scrapple,    sb.    An  iron  scraper. 

A  diminutive  of  Swed.  skrapa,  Dan.  skrabe,  a  scraper. 

Scrat.     va.  and  n.     To  scratch.     Metaphorically  to 

strive  hard  for  a  living,  "Scrattyn,  or  scratchyn." — Pr.  Ptv. 
Suio-Goth.  krat.a,  Dan.  kratte,  Dut.  kratsen,  to  scratch. 

Scree,    sb.    The  debris  of  loose  stones  running  down 

the  side  of  a  mountain  from  the  decomposition  of  its  surface. 
Hence  the  name  of  the  Screes  upon  Wast-water.  Perhaps 
from  Old  Norse  skrida,  ruina  montium,  Old  Norse  skrida, 
Gael,  sgiorr,  to  slip  or  slide. 

Screen,    sb.    A  wooden  sofa. 

Similarly,  in  the  case  of  sconce,  the  idea  of  screen  is  extended  to 
that  of  something  to  sit  down  or  rest  upon  ;  the  connection  of 
thought  is  not  very  obvious. 

Scribe,     sb.     A  line,  stroke,  most  frequently  used  in 

the  expression  "scribe  of  a  pen."  Clev.  screeve,  "to  mark 
metal  or  wood  with  an  instrument  that  scratches  or  cuts  some  of 
the  material  away."  Gael,  sgriob,  to  scrape,  Welsh  ysgrifo,  to 
notch,  to  write,  Dut.  schreef,  line,  stroke.  This  is  a  collateral 
word  with  Lat.  scribo,  but  not,  I  think,  derived  from  it. 

Scrimpy,     adj.     Scanty,  pinched,  given  grudgingly. 

Dan.  skrumpe,  to  shrivel,  contract,  Norw.  skrumpet,  shrunk, 
emaciated,  Dial.  Dan.  skrimpe,  a  miserable  half-starved  creature, 
Da.n.k?yfnpe,  Welsh  crimpio,  to  contract. 

Scroby.     adj.     Mean,  niggardly. 

Perhaps  from  Dan.  skrubbe,  Swed.  skrubba,  Dut.  schrobben,  to 
scrub,  scrape,  Gael,  sgriob,  to  scrape,  scratch,  make  bare  by 
rubbing.  Or  we  might  think  of  Old  Norse  scrfifa,  Dut. 
schroeven,  to  screw,  the  connection  of  which  with  the  idea  of 
meanness  is  obvious. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  II9 

Scrogs.     sb.    Stunted  bushes,  low  brushwood. 

"  Comp.  Dan.  skrog,  a  shrivelled,  dried-up  carcase,  Dial.  Dan. 
skrav,  skrag,  a  twisted,  stunted  branch,  Gael,  sgrog,  to  shrivel, 
wither  up,  sgrogag,  anything  shrivelled,  a  stunted  tree,  useless 
old  timber." — Aik. 

Scrow.     sb.     Confusion,  disturbance,  untidiness. 

Clev.  scow,  Lonsd.  scrow.  The  Clev.  is  probably  the  correct 
form,  our  dialect,  as  in  some  other  cases,  taking  a  phonetic  r. 
Aik.  refers  to  Dial.  Swed.  skSj,  disturbance,  uproar,  skoja,  to 
bustle,  make  a  noise. 

Scrudge.     va.     To  squeeze. 

Lonsd.  scronge.  Wedg.  refers  to  Fr.  escrager,  to  squeeze,  to 
crush. — Cotg, 

Scruffins.  sb.  Scrapings  from  a  pan  in  which  sowens 

have  been  boiled. — Duk.  West,  scrawf,  refuse. — Hall.  Clev. 
scruff,  anything  that  rises  from  the  surface  and  may  be  removed 
as  an  impurity.    Old  Norse  skroppa,  scum. 

Scrunty.     adj.     Low,  short,  stunted. 

Dan.  skrante,  to  be  weakly. 

Scuff,     sb.     The  back  part   or  nape   of  the  neck. 

"  The  loose  skin  hanging  about  the  neck  of  a  dog  like  the  collar 
of  a  coat  or  cuff  of  a  sleeve.  Dut.  schoef,  collar  of  a  cloak, 
replicatio,  reflexio  togae." — Wedg. 

Scufter.     vn.     To  bustle,  hurry,  scramble. 

Swed.  skuffa,  to  nudge,  jog,  shove,  skuffas,  to  hustle,  scramble. 

Scugg.     adj.     Lurking  or  lying  hid  in  a  corner. — 

West  and  Cumb.  Dial.     Old  Norse  skxggi,  shade,  shelter. 

Scum  fish.     va.     To  suffocate,  to  stifle. 

Sco.  scomfis.  Most  frequently  used  in  the  passive.  Jamieson's 
suggestion  of  Suio-Goth.  kufwa,  to  suffocate,  seems  to  me  on 
the  whole  more  probable  than  his  alternative  suggestion  of 
discomfit.  Indeed,  the  word  might  almost  be  taken  to  be  a 
remnant  of  a  Scandinavian  passive  ending  in  si. 

Scurran-top.     sb.     A  peculiar  kind  ot  top,  formerly 

used  at  a  game  called  Scurran-meggy,  which  was  much  in  vogue 
in  Cumberland  during  the  last  century.— Hall.  Perhaps  from 
Dan.  skurre,  Swed.  skorra,  to  make  a  harsh  or  grating  sound. 
Or  else  from  scur  in  the  sense  of  rapid  motion. 

Scut.    sb.    A  short  tail,  as  that  of  a  hare  or  rabbit 

Old  Norse  skuts,  a  tail,  from  skuta.  to  project.  Or  perhaps 
rather  like  scutty,  short,  from  WeL  cwla,  short,  ewi,  tail. 


120  .  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Scutty.     adj.     Short 

The  same  as  cutty,  on  which  it  is  formed  by  the  prefix  of  x. 

Seag.     sb.     The  Iris  pseudacorus. 

"  Sedge,  segg,  or  segs,  originally  the  same  word,  Ang.-Sax.  secg, 
which  is  identical  with  scecg  and  seax,  a  small  sword,  and  was 
applied  indiscriminately  to  all  sharp-pointed  plants  growing  in 
fens." — Prior.  Its  other  Cumb.  name  mekkin,  maybe  from  a 
similar  origin,  Ang.-Sax.  mece,  a  small  sword. 

Seed.    Saw,  pret.  of  see. 

Seeter.     sb.     A  worn  or  frayed  place  on  a  garment. 

Clev.  sieter,  a  sieve  or  riddle.  "  As  thin  as  a  seaire,  worn  into 
transparency  or  holes,  as  cloth  when  it  grows  thin. " —  Wk.  GL 
Old  Norse  sigti,  Dan.  sigte,  Germ,  sichter,  a  sieve. 

Seeve.     sb.     The  rush. 

Old  Norse  sef,  Dam.  siv,  rush.  The  origin  seems  to  be  Sansc. 
si,  siv,  to  join,  Eng.  sew,  in  reference  to  the  use  of  the  rush  for 
plaiting  or  weaving. 

Seg.     sb.     A  callous  place  on  the  hand  or  foot. 

Old  Norse  sigg,  callus,  hard  and  thick  skin. 

Seg.     sb.     A  castrated  bull. 

Clev.  segg,  a  bull  castrated  after  it  has  grown  to  maturity. 
Dial.  Swed  sigg.  a  castrated  boar  or  ram,  Dial.  Dan.  seeg,  a 
boar  castrated  after  having  come  to  maturity.  The  origin  is 
probably  to  be  found  in  Old  Norse  seigr,  lentus,  quiet,  gentle, 
seigaz,  lentescere,  cognate  with  Lat,  segnis,  in  reference  to  the 
effect  produced  upon  the  animal's  disposition.  So  riggelt,  an 
animal  imperfectly  castrated,  is  probably  derived  from  a  word 
of  opposite  signification. 

Seggin.     sb.     The  Iris  pseudacorus. 

See  seag  and  meckin. 

Selt.     Sold,  pret.  of  sell. 
Sen.   Syne    adv.     Since. 

Ang.-Sax.  sithen,  {sith-than,  after  then),  Old  Norse  sidan,  con- 
tracted syne. 

Set.     va.     To  nauseate. 

The  idea  seems  to  be  that  of  settling  the  appetite  for  food. 
Ang.-Sax.  settan,  to  settle,  appease. 

Setten.     Past  part,  of  set 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  121 

Settle,     sb.    A  wooden  sofa.    See  sattle. 

Shackle,  sb.  The  ring  which  slides  upon  the  cow's  restle. 

In  Clev.  and  Lonsd.  also  the  wrist.  Ang.-Sax.  sceacul,  shackle, 
Dut.  schakel,  link  of  a  chain,  Dial.  Swed.  skak,  a  link,  a  chain. 

Shaff  !     intj.     An  expression  of  contempt.     Stuff ! 

I  am  inclined  to  take  it  to  be  properly  shraff,  and  to  connect  it 
with  Old  Norse  skraf,  babbling,  skrapr,  futilis  jactator.  Swed. 
skrap,  trash,  lumber.     See  scraffles. 

Shaffle.     vn.     To  be  undecided,  to  vacillate. 

Atk.  refers  to  Low  Germ,  schiifeln,  to  shuffle  or  act  in  an  under- 
hand way.     If  not  from  the  same  origin  as  shaff  above. 

Shagrag.     sb.     A  mean,  beggarly  person. 

"  Guerselet,  somewhat  like  our  shagrag,  a  by- word  for  a 
beggarlie  souldier." — Cotg.  Perhaps  a  corruption  of  Gael. 
sgrogag,  anything  shrivelled  and  contemptible,  a  little  old 
woman,  from  sgrog,  to  shrivel.  Hence  also,  perhaps,  shragges, 
rags,  patches. — Hall. 

Sharps,     sb.     Flour,  with  the  bran  in  it. 

Crav.  sharps,  flour  with  a  portion  of  bran,  shaps,  "  oats  without 
the  grain,  retaining  nothing  but  the  shape."  Sco.  shaup,  hull, 
husk.  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  sharps  is  the  same  word  as 
the  Sco.  shaup,  from  the  Suio-Goth  skalp,  vagina,  Dan.  skulpe, 
hull,  husk,  in  reference  to  sharps  as  having  the  flour  and  bran 
ground  up  together.  From  the  way  in  which  r  is  slurred  in 
English  pronunciation,  hardly  any  difference  can  be  discerned 
between  the  two.  The  Crav.  shaps,  which  the  Editor  mistakenly 
explains  as  "  oats  retaining  nothing  but  the  shape,"  is  also  no 
doubt  from  the  same  origin,  meaning  simply  husks. 

Shawl,     vn.     To  walk  crookedly. 

•  Lonsd.  shool,  shewl.  Clev.  shelder.  "  Schaylyn  or  scheylyn. 
Disgredior." — Pr.  Prv.  "I  shayle,  as  a  man  or  horse  dothe 
that  gothe  croked  with  his  legges." — Palg.  in  Way.  Dial.  Swed. 
skjala,  to  walk  crookedly,  Old  Norse  skidlgr,  obliquus,  from 
ska,  crookedness,  Cumb.  skew;  Sansc.  skahl,  to  deviate,  (whence 
Lat.  scelus,  wickedness,  deviation  from  the  right  way,  as  Eng. 
wrong,  that  which  is  wrung  or  twisted  out  of  truth.) 

Shear,     va.     To  reap. 

"  Scheryn  or  repe  corn.  Meto. " — Pr.  Prv.  Ang.-Sax.  sceran, 
Old  Norse  sktra,  Dut.  scheren,  Germ,  scheren,  to  cut.  Ignorance 
of  this  Northern  term  once  brought  a  London  illustrated  paper 
to  grief,  when,  on  the  occasion  of  the  late  Prince  Consort 
having  been  reported  as  present  at  a  shearing  in  Scotland,  it 


122  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

forthwith  presented  its  readers  with  a  graphic  representation  of 
a  j^^-shearing  scene,  with  all  the  accessories,  at  a  season  when 
such  an  operation  is  never,  under  any  circumstances,  permitted. 
The  Northern  word  for  shearing  sheep  is  clipping, 

Shill.     va.     To  shell,  or  hull  peas,  &c. 

Old  Norse  skilj'a,  Dan.  skille,  to  separate,  Low  Germ,  schellen, 
to  peel  or  hull. 

Shillapple.     sb.     The  chaffinch. 

Properly  shddapple,  from  sheld,  spotted,  Dan.  skioldet,  parti- 
coloured (of  cattle),  Norw.  skioldet,  spotted.  From  the  same 
origin  is  sheldrake,  a  parti-coloured  kind  of  duck. —  Wedg. 

Shillies.  sb.  Shingles,  the  loose  pebbles  on  the  sea- 
beach.  Referred  by  Peacock  to  Manx  shillee,  an  assemblage  of 
loose  stones.  The  origin  of  the  Manx  word  may  probably  be 
found  in  Old  Norse  skilla,  to  clink,  clatter,  in  reference  to  the 
sound  produced  in  walking  among  loose  pebbles. 

Shindy,     sb.     A  disturbance,  a  row. 

Clev.  shine,  a  row  or  disturbance.  Perhaps  connected  with 
Dan.  skiende,  to  scold. 

Shippen.     sb.     A  cow-house. 

Ang.-Sax.  scypen,  a  stall,  stable,  Germ,  schuppen,  a  cart-house, 
shed. 

Shive.     sb.     A  slice,  of  bread,  &c.       • 

Old  Norse  ski/a,  Dan.  skive,  Dut.  schijf,  Germ,  scheibe,  a  slice, 
Old  Norse  ski/a,  Dan.  skive,  Dut.  schi/ten,  to  divide. 

Shog.     vn.   To  shake. 

Dut.  schokken,  Swiss  schauggen,  to  jog,  Welsh  ysgogi,  to  stir,  to 
shake. 

Shoo  !    intj.     An  exclamation  used  in  driving  away 

fowls  and  the  like.  Grimm  (Deutsch.  Gramm.)  refers  to  schu 
as  an  interjection  expressive  of  a  sense  of  cold — "  Schu,  schu  I 
how  cold  it  is  !"  Hence  Wedg.,  through  the  sense  of  shudder- 
ing, suggests  an  origin  for  shy,  Germ,  scheu,  Dut.  schouw,  timid, 
shunning,  Old  High  Germ,  sciuhan,  to  fear,  be  timid  or  alarmed, 
and  other  cognate  words.  It  will  be  seen  that  our  use  of  the 
word  shoo  is  more  distinctly  connected  with  the  sense  of  shyness 
or  timidity  than  the  German. 

Shoon.    sb.     Plural  of  shoe. 

Shoop.    sb.     The  fruit  of  the  dog-rose.     See  choop. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  123 

Shot.    sb.    A  half-grown  swine. 

Chesh.  shoat,  a  young  pig.    Old  Norse  skdd,  a  young  pig. 

Shot.    sb.     The  reckoning  at  an  inn,  &c. 

Ang.-Sax.  scot,  Low  Germ,  schott,  Germ,  schosz,  tribute,  pay- 
ment. 

Shot-ice.    sb.     Ice  frozen  in  sheets  on  the  surface  of 

the  ground.    Swed.  skot,  sheet. 

Shot-sheep,  Shot-cattle,    sb.     The  refuse  of  a  herd 

or  flock.  Low  Germ,  schott-ossen,  oxen  left  unsold  out  of  a 
sale.—Hamd.  /dtot. 

Shudder,    vn.    To  shudder  down  is  to  fall  suddenly. 

Shudder  as  a  noun  is  used  in  the  sense  of  a  sudden  fall  of  prices 
at  a  market.— Dick.    Dut.  schudden.  to  shake,  to  totter. 

Side  up.    va.    To  put  things  into  their  places.     To 

put  things  to  a-side. 

Silly,     adj.    Innocent,  as  applied  to  children.     As 

applied  to  grown  persons,  hapless.  "  He's  nobbut  hed  peer 
luck,  silly  man  !"  {Dick.),  the  Eng.  equivalent  of  which  is 
"  poor  fellow !"  Ang.-Sax.  s&lig.  Germ,  selig,  happy,  fortu- 
nate, of  which  our  word  has  come  to  signify  the  reverse. 

Sin,  Sind.    va.    To  rinse. 

Swed.  sina,  to  dry. 

Skaif.     adj.    Wild,  fearful. 

Old  Norse  ski&lfa,  skel/az,  tremere,  skilfa,  terrere. 

Skaitch.    va.    To  beat  with  a  stick. 

Clev.  sconce,  to  inflict  punishment  on  a  child  by  boxing  the 
ears,  or  nipping  the  neck,  shaking  him,  &c.  Atk.  refers  to 
Dial.  Dan.  skussa,  to  take  hold  of  a  person  and  shake  him. 
Similarly,  our  word,  which  has  probably  originally  had  the 
same  meaning  as  the  Clev. ,  may  probably  be  referred  to  Old 
Norse  skakka,  Swed.  skaka,  to  shake,  our  word  retaining  the 
hard  sound  of  the  first  k,  and  softening  the  second. 

Skeel.     sb.     A  large  water-kit. 

Old  Norse  skiola.  Dial.  Swed.  skjula,  a  milk-pail. 

Skeer.    va.    To  skim. 

Ang.-Sax.  sciran,  Old  Norse  skera,  to  cut,  shave. 

Skeery.    adj.    Timid,  fearful.    See  scar. 


124  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Skelled.    adj.    Distorted,  awry. 

Old  Norse  skcela,  detorquere,  skceldr,  twisted,  awry. 

Skelly.     sb.     The  chub. 

Comp.  Dan.  skalle,  roach,  Ang.-Sax.  scealga,  rock-fish. 
Skelp.     va.  and  n.     To  smack,  strike  with  the  open 

hand.  Also  to  run  fast,  move  rapidly.  Old  Norse  skelfa,  to 
strike  with  the  hand,  also  to  go  fast.  Comp.  also  Gael,  sgeilp, 
stroke. 

Skemmel.     sb.     A  form  or  long  seat. 

Ang.-Sax.  scamel,  Dan.  skammel,  a  form  or  bench.  The  word 
is  also  found,  b  or  v  exchanging  with  m,  in  the  Celtic  idiom,  as 
Corn,  scavel,  Bret,  scabel,  Wei.  ysgavell,  Ir.  sgabhal.  Lat. 
scabellum. 

Sken.     vn.    To  squint. 

Clev.  skelly.  Our  form  seems  to  stand  alone,  the  Clev.  corre- 
sponding both  with  the  Germ,  and  Scand.  forms,  as  Dan.  skele, 
Swed.  skela,  Germ,  schielen,  to  squint,  Ang.-Sax.  sceol-2age, 
squint-eyed.  Both  are,  no  doubt,  however,  from  the  same  root, 
Old  Norse  ska,  obliquitas,  Ang.-Sax.  sceoch,  crooked. 

Skep.    sb.    A  basket  of  straw  or  rush. 

Ang.-Sax.  seep,  basket,  Old  Norse  skeppa,  modius. 

Skeybel.    sb.    A  worthless  person. 

Sco.  skybald.  Dan.  skabhals,  a  scamp.  Probably,  along  with 
Eng.  shabby,  from  skab,  the  itch,  as  a  term  expressive  of  con- 
tempt, "  from  the  itching  skin  and  scratching  habits  of  a 
neglected,  dirty  person. " —  Wedg. 

Skew.     sb.     Something  crooked. 

Old  Norse  skd,  obliquitas,  Ang.-Sax.  sceoch,  crooked.  A-skew  = 
Old  Norse  d-skd,  (a  =  on),  awry. 

Skiander.     va.    To  scold,  to  blow  up. 

Dan.  skiende,  to  scold.  It  seems  possible,  see  scoder,  that  the 
ending  er  in  skiander,  may  simply  represent  the  Scand.  ending 
in  e. 

Skidy.     adj.     Thin,  slender. 

Shide,  a  thin  board. — P.  PI.  Old  Norse  skid,  a  thin  piece  of 
wood,  Ang.-Sax.  seddan,  Germ,  scheiden,  to  divide.  Sansc. 
chid,  to  cut. 

Skift.     va.  and  n.     To  shift,  remove. 

Old  Norse  skipla,  Dan.  skifte,  to  shift,  remove  from  one  place 
to  another. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  12$ 

Skill,    sb.     Knowledge. 

Old  Norse  ski/,  discrimen,  skilja,  to  understand,  discriminate. 

Skit.    vn.     To  cast  reflections  on. 

Probably  a  derived  sense  from  Ang.-Sax.  scitan,  to  dart,  shoot 
forth. 

Skirl,    vn.    To  screech. 

Old  Norse  skralla,  Suio-Goth.  skrala,  to  screech. 

Skirl,     vn.     To  slide  on  the  ice. 

Gael,  sgior,  to  slide. 

Skiver,  Shiver,    sb.    A  scale,  fragment. 

Dut.  scheverea,  to  shiver,  break  to  pieces.  Old  Norse  sklfa,  to 
split. 

Sklate.    sb.     Slate, 

"  Sklat  or  slat  stone." — Pr.  Prv.  Old  Eng.  sclate.  From  Fr. 
esclat,  a  shiver,  splinter. —  Wedg. 

Skollick.    sb.     A  thing  of  no  value. 

Perhaps  connected  with  Old  Norse  sko/,  nugee.  If  not  another 
form  of  scurt  ick. 

Skrike.     vn.     To  screech. 

Suio-Goth.  skrika,  Dan.  skrige,  to  shriek. 

Skurrick  or  Skuddick.    sb.     A  thing  of  the  smallest 

value.  Lonsd.  scurrick,  a  small  piece.  Peacock  refers  to 
Manx  skirrag,  a  splinter,  which  is  probably  from  Gael,  sgar, 
Welsh  ysgaru  ;  or  Ang.-Sax.  sceran.  Old  Norse  sMra,  to 
divide.  Skuddick  is  probably  only  another  form,  the  tendency 
of  our  dialect  being  to  change  r  in  the  middle  of  a  word  into  d. 

Slack,   sb.     A  hollow  or  depression  in  the  ground. 

Dan.  slag,  hollows  in  a  road  or  track,  Ang.-Sax.  slog,  hollow 
place,  slough.  ' '  Slack,  a  depression  in  the  ground,  may  be 
explained  by  Norw.  s/akkje,  slackness,  a  slack  place  in  a  tissue." 
—  Wedg. 

Slack,      sb.      The   small   coal    left   after   screening. 

Perhaps  the  same  as  slag,  the  dross  of  metals,  Germ,  schlaeke, 
Swed.  slag.  Or  perhaps  more  directly  connected  with  Swed. 
slagg,  slush,  Low  Germ,  slakk,  so  much  of  a  slabby  material  as 
one  takes  up  at  once  in  a  shovel,  the  idea  being  that  of  some- 
thing soft  as  compared  with  the  round  coal. 

Slagger.    vn.     To  loiter,  to  be  slovenly. 

Old  Norse  sliofga,  hebetare,  Suio-Goth.  sloka,  vagari,  otiose 


126  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Slagger.    vn.    To  scatter. 

Norw.  slagga,  to  spill  or  flow  over  the  sides  of  a  vessel. 

Slain,     adj.     Blighted. 

Crav.  slaiu  corn,  smutted  or  mildewed  corn.  Clev.  slain,  the 
smut  of  wheat.  Atk.  refers  to  Dial.  Dan.  slot,  shruhken, 
withered,  S.  Jutl.  slog,  poor,  having  no  vigour.  The  origin 
may  be  Old  Norse  slagna,  to  become  soft  or  moist. 

Slairy.     adj.     Nasty,  wet,  miry. 

Formed  from  Old  Norse  leir,  mud,  mire,  by  the  prefix  off. 

Slake,     va.     To  lick.    To  rub  or  clean  slightly  and 

imperfectly.  Old  Norse  sleikja,  Fris.  slacke,  to  lick,  Dan. 
slikke,  to  lick,  to  rub. 

Slam.     va.     To  win  all  the  tricks  at  cards. 

Sco.  slam,  a  share,  or  the  possession  of  anything  implying  the 
idea  of  some  degree  of  violence  or  trick  in  the  acquisition. 
Jam,  refers  to  Suio-Goth.  slama,  to  gather  or  heap  together, 
Dut.  slemmen,  to  feast  luxuriously.  (Ihre's  definition  of  S.  G. 
slama,  "  per  fas  et  nefas  corradere,"  accords  more  closely  with 
Sco.  slam  than  Jam.  renders  it.)  The  Germans  use  schlemm  at 
cards  in  like  manner  to  our  slam  ;  the  connection  seems  to  be 
with  schlemmen,  to  carouse,  feast  luxuriously,  so  far  corroborat- 
ing Jamieson's  view. 

Slape.    adj.     Slippery. 
Old  Norse  sleipr,  slippery. 

Slape-fingered.    adj.    Dishonest,  thievish. 

"  Left-handed  Sim,  slape-fingered  Sam, 
Nae  law  cud  iver  teame  them." — Anderson. 
Clev.  slape-fingered,  is  defined  by  Atk.  as  letting  slip,  or  apt  to 
let  slip,  through  or  from  one's  fingers,  and  he  connects  it  with 
Old  Norse  sleppifengr,  in  acquirendo  vel  attigendo  infelix.     The 
connection  of  our  word  might  rather  be  with  slope,  to  cheat, 
Dut.  simp,  underhand,  (comp.  also  Corn.  slev{  cunning,  skilful),  . 
but  on  the  whole  I  think  it  is  only  an  application  of  the  sense  of 
slipperiness. 

Slare.     vn.    To  saunter,  to  be  slovenly. 

Probably  a  contracted  form  of  slagger. 
Slashy.    adj.    Wet  and  dirty. 

Dan.  slaske,  to  dabble,  paddle,  Swed.  slaska,  to  paddle,  to  be 
sloppy,  slask,  puddle,  wet,  slaskig,  wet,  dirty. 

Slat.    vb.    Pret.  of  slit. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  1 27 

Slatter.    vn.    To  slop,  to  spill. 

Swab,  schhttern,  to  slatter,  or  spill  liquids,  Bav.  schlottern,  to 
dabble  in  the  mud. 

Slaver,     vn.     To  let  the  saliva  run  from  the  mouth. 

Old  Norse  slafra,  to  lick,  Norw.  sieve,  slaver,  Lat.  saliva. 
Slaver  comes  from  the  form  found  in  Lat.  lambo,  by  the  prefix 
of  s,  as  Welsh  glafoerio,  to  slaver,  by  the  prefix  of  g. 

Sleck.     va.     To  quench,  to  extinguish. 

Old  Norse  sldekva,  Suio-Goth.  slacka,  to  extinguish,  Dan.  slukke, 
to  extinguish,  to  quench  thirst. 

Sled.    sb.    A  sledge. 

Old  Norse  sledi,  Dan.  slade,  Dut.  slede,  sledge,  probably  allied 
to  Old  Norse  sletta,  aequare,  planare,  Suio-Goth.  slat  wag,  a 
level  road. 

Sledder.     vn.     To   saunter,  to  walk  in   a  lazy  or 

slouching  manner.  Old  Norse  slada,  incertus  vagari,  slidra, 
laziness,  slodra,  asgre  iter  emetiri. 

Slem.     va.  and  n.  To  slur  over,  to  do  in  an  imperfect 

manner.       Old  Norse  slamr,   actio  deficiens  viribus,   slfma, 

otiosus  haerere,  Dan.,  Swed.  slem,  Dut.  slim,  Germ,  schlimm, 

vile,  worthless,  the  original  idea,  see  lim,  being  that  of  de- 
ficiency. 

Slew.  va.  To  turn  round,  whence  slewed,  partly- 
intoxicated.  "  Properly,  to  slip.  It  is  the  same  word  with  Eng. 
slive,  to  slip." — Wedg.  The  Dial  Dan.  slo/garn,  tangled 
thread,  Lap.  sleuwo,  confused,  disordered,  sleuwahet,  in  con- 
fusione  sive  in  nullo  ordine  esse,  convey  a  sense  very  suitable  for 
slewed  in  the  sense  of  partly  intoxicated, 

Slip.    sb.     A  child's  pinafore. 

The  idea,  like  that  of  slipper,  is  that  which  is  loosely  or  easily 
put  on.  Low  Germ,  slippen,  to  slip  or  slide  into,  Bav.  shlaiffen, 
to  slip  in,  slip  on,  Germ,  schlaff,  loose. 

Slipe.     vn.     To  abscond. 

Old  Norse  sleppa,  to  escape,  to  slip  off,  Suio-Goth.  slipa,  to 
steal  furtively  away,  Ang.-Sax.  slipan,  to  give  the  slip,  Dut. 
sluipen,  to  slink  away. 

Slipe.     va.    To  strip,  to  unroof. 

Ang.-Sax.  slifan,  to  cleave,  to  slice,  Germ,  schleifen,  to  level, 
pull  a  building  to  pieces,  Dan.  sldi/e,  Dut.  sloopen,  to  demolish. 

Slippey.     adj.     Slippery. 
Ang.-Sax.  slipeg,  slippery. 


128  GLOSSARY   OF  THE 

Slitch.     sb.     Fine  mud,  silt,  slake. 

Dut.  slijk,  Fris.  slick,  Low  Germ,  slikk,  mud,  ooze,  Eng.  slush, 
which  is  another  form  of  the  same  word. 

Slobber,    vn.     To  weep  noisily  and  with  many  tears. 

The  general  application  of  the  word  is  to  sup  liquids  with  noise. 
Old  Norse  slupra,  Dan.  slubre,  Low  Germ,  slubbern,  to  sup, 
Dut.  slobberen,  to  sup  in  a  noisy  and  vulgar  way. 

Slocken.     va.     To  extinguish,  to  quench  thirst. 

Suio-Goth.  slockna,  to  be  extinguished. 
Slorp.    sb.    The  noise  which  a  vulgar  person  makes 

in  supping  or  drinking.  Dut.  slorpen,  to  sup  up.  The  Old  Norse 
slurka,  to  swallow,  Dan.  slurk,  draught,  are  parallel  forms,  p 
and  k  interchanging  as  in  many  other  cases. 

Slot.     sb.     A  fall  of  earth  from  the  side  of  a  drain. 
Old  Norse  slodr,  depressio  rei,  lacuna,  sletta,  projicere,  Dut. 
sloot,  ditch. 

Slotch.     vn.     To  walk  heavily. 

Perhaps  allied  to  slouch,  the  idea  of  which  is  "to  flag,  to  hang 
down  for  want  of  inherent  stiffness." — Wedg.  Or  perhaps 
rather  allied  to  Ang.-Sax.  slcege,  Old  Norse  slag,  Dan.  slag, 
blow,  clap,  Dut.  slaeghen,  Germ,  schlagen,  to  strike,  to  thump, 
Old  Norse  slag  hamar,  a  sledge  hammer. 

Slowdy.     adj.     Untidy. 

Clev.  slowdy,  lanky,  ungainly.  Dut.  slodde,  Low  Germ,  slodde, 
Dial.  Dan.  slodder,  sloven.  One  of  the  large  family  of  words, 
as  slut,  slouch,  sluggard,  in  which  the  original  idea  is  that  of 
looseness  or  slackness. 

Slowmy.     adj.     Applied  to  soft  and  weak  straw  that 

has  been  laid  in  growing.  Old  Norse  slcemr,  deficiens,  Dut. 
slommer,  cumber,  lumber. 

Slush,    sb.     Wet  mud,  half-melted  snow. 

Swed.  slash,  dirty  liquid,  slaska,  to  slop,  dabble,  Bav.  schlotz, 
mud,  dirt.     See  slitch. 

Smeeth.     adj.  Smooth. 

Ang.-Sax.  sm<zthe,  smooth. 

Smit.    sb.    The  daub  or  mark  of  ownership  on  sheep. 

Ang.-Sax.  smitta,  Dan.  smet,  spot,  smut. 

Smittle.     adj.     Infectious. 

Dan.  smitte,  Swed.  smitta,  Ang.-Sax.  smiting,  infection,  con- 
tagion. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  1 29 

Smoot,  Smoot-hole.     sb.    A  hole  in  a  fence  through 

which  hares  or  rabbits  may  pass.  Dan.  smutte,  a  private  way 
of  entrance  or  egress,  smut-hul,  a  hiding-place,  a  smoot-hole. 
The  origin  seems  to  be  Ang.-Sax.  smugan,  smuan,  Old  Norse 
smi-uga,  to  creep,  to  get  into  a  hole,  Dan.  smutte,  to  creep  off. 
Hence  Ang.-Sax.  smygelas,  conies.  The  root  is  the  same  as 
that  of  Eng.  smuggle. 

Smug.    adj.    Spruce,  neat,  smart. 

Germ,  schmuck.  handsome,  fine,  neat,  Dan.  smuk,  pretty,  Swed. 
smycka,  to  adorn. 

Smush.     adj.     Smart,  spruce. 

Probably  a  softened  form  of  above  smug. 

Smutty,    adj.    Dirty,  indelicate. 

Swed.  smuts,  Germ,  schmutz,  smut,  dirt,  whence,  metaphori- 
cally, indecency. 

Snaar.    adj.     Greedy. —  West,  and  Cumb.  Dial 

Perhaps  from  Ang.-Sax.  snear,  active,  nimble,  through  the 
intermediate  sense  of  eagerness.  Or  perhaps  formed,  by  the 
prefix  of  s,  from  near,  greedy,  parsimonious,  Dan.  ncerig, 
Ang.-Sax.  hneaw,  niggardly,  covetous. 

Snaflan.    part.     Trifling,  sauntering 

Sco.  sniffle,  to  trifle.  Suio-Goth.  snafwa,  Belg.  snevelen,  to 
hesitate. 

Snape.    va.     To  snub,  to  check. 

Old  Norse  sneipa,  pudorem  alicui  suffundere,  Dan.  snibbe,  to 
rebuke,  snub. 

Snap.   sb.     A  small  gingerbread  cake. 

Old  Norse  snap,  esculenta  emedicata,  Dut.  knupkoek,  hard 
gingerbread. 

Sneck.    sb.    A  latch. 

"  Snekke  or  latche." — Pr.  Prv.  Manx  sneg,  latch.  Jamieson 
refers  for  the  original  idea  to  Dut.  snacken,  to  snatch,  in  the 
sense  of  that  which  catches. 

Snell.     adj.     Keen,  sharp,  as  a  "  snett  wind." 

Ang.-Sax.  snel,  Old  Norse  sniallr,  quick,  swift,  smart. 

Snerp.    vn.     To  contract,  tighten,  as  a  knot  or  snare. 

Dan.  snerpe,  to  tighten,  contract,  Dut.  snerpen,  to  nip. 

Snerp.    sb.    A  snare.    See  above. 

L 


130  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Snerrils.    sb.    The  nostrils. 

Low  Germ,  snurre,  Swiss  schnerre,  nose,  snout.  Allied  words 
are  no  doubt  Old  Norse  snorla,  Ang.-Sax.  snora,  Eng.  snore, 
the  root  being  probably  to  be  found  in  Swed.  sno,  to  twist. 

Snert.     vn.     To  laugh  in  a  suppressed  way. 

Nearly  allied  to  Dut.  snorken,  Dan.  snorke,  to  snore,  to  snort, 
Dut.  snerken,  to  make  a  noise,  as  butter  in  the  frying-pan,  t  and 
k  interchanging  as  injert  and  jerk. 

Snew.     Pret.  of  snow. 

Snifter,     vn.    To  sniff,  as  persons  do  who  have  a 

cold,  or  who  do  not  blow  the  nose  properly.  Dan.  snqfte  has 
exactly  the  same  meaning. 

Snig.    va.     To  lop  the  branches  of  fallen  timber. 

Norw.  snicka,  to  cut,  to  work  with  a  knife,  Flem.  snoecken,  to 
cut,  lop,  prune. 

Snig.     va.    To  draw  timber  by  horse  and  chain  from 

the  place  where  it  has  been  felled.  Atk.  refers  to  Ang.-Sax. 
snican,  to  creep,  Dan.  snige,  to  cause  to  move  in  a  gliding 
manner. 

Snipt,  Snip-faced,    adj.    Having  a  white  mark  down 

the  face.  Dut.  snebbe,  Low  Germ,  snibbe,  beak,  Low  Germ. 
snepd,  a  sort  of  fish  the  mouth  of  which  becomes  white  at  its 
death. — Hamb.  Idiot.  The  idea,  however,  notwithstanding 
the  coincidence  of  the  last  word,  seems  to  be  nothing  more  than 
that  of  a  narrow  mark. 

Snite.    va.     To  wipe  the  nose. 

Ang.-Sax.  snytan,  Old  Norse  snita,  to  wipe,  cleanse. 

Snizy.    adj.    Cold,  cutting,  (of  the  wind.) 

The  sense  seems  to  be  that  of  "  cutting,"  and  the  word  to  be 
allied  to  snaze,  to  prune  trees,  Old  Norse  af-sneisa,  Westerwald 
scknasen,  to  cut  off  branches,  prune  trees.  Similarly  Dut. 
snippen,  Dial.  Dan.  sneve,  is  applied  to  a  cutting  wind. 

Snock-snarls.    sb.    Entanglement. 

Snarls  is  from  snarl,  a  knot,  Old  Norse  snara,  Ang.-Sax. 
snedre,  knot,  noose.  And  snock  seems  to  be  a  word  formed 
from  the  same  root,  Swed.  sno,  to  twist. 

Snod.     adj.     Level,  smooth. 

Old  Norse  snoddin,  Norw.  snoydd,  smooth,  bare.  The  origin 
is  Ang.-Sax.  snidan,  Old  Norse  snida,  to  cut,  the  idea  being 
that  of  something  lopped  or  pruned  till  it  is  smooth. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  131 

Snotter.     vn.    To  blubber. 

The  idea  seems  more  properly  to  snivel,  Low  Germ,  snotteren, 
to  snifter,  Bav.  schnudem,  to  draw  breath  through  the  impeded 
nose,  Swiss  schnudem,  to  snivel,  to  snift  in  crying. 

Snotty,     adj.    Mean,  contemptible. 

Ang.-Sax.  snote,  mucus.  As  from  the  idea  of  keeping  the  nose 
properly  wiped  is  derived  Ang.-Sax.  snoter,  sensible,  prudent, 
so  from  the  opposite  idea  comes  the  sense  of  contempt. 

Snowk.     vn.     To  scent  out,  to  snuff  at,  as  a  dog  at  a 

rat-hole.  Suio-Goth.  snoka,  insidiose  scrutari,  Dial.  Dan. 
snbkke,  to  smell  after,  spy  out,  Fris.  snucke,  Dut.  snicken,  to 
sniff,  scent  out. 

Sobby.   adj.    Heavy,  like  a  sod. 

Welsh  sob,  bunch,  tuft,  mass,  Old  Norse  soppr,  a  ball. 

Soddy.    adj.     Heavy,  fleshy. 

Gael,  sodach.  clumsy,  robust. 

Soggy,     adj.     Same  as  soddy. 

Clev.  sodgy.  North,  soggie. — Hall.  Probably,  from  the  fre- 
quent interchange  of  d  and^,  the  same  as  soddy. 

Soil.    sb.    The  fry  of  the  coal-fish. — Hall. 

In  a  list  of  Norfolk  words  communicated  to  the  Phil.  Soc.  by 
A.  Gurney  is  sile,  the  fry  of  fish,  which  she  refers  to  Old  Norse 
sil,  silt,  a  long  and  small  herring.  Comp.  also  Suio-Goth.  sill, 
Swed.  sill,  Fin.  silli,  herring,  Lapp,  sjilah,  pisces  minusculi. 
Also  Corn,  silli,  Bret,  sili,  an  eel.  The  general  origin  may,  as 
suggested  by  Ihre,  be  found  in  the  Gael,  sioil,  seed,  spawn  or 
fry  of  fish,  Welsh  sil,  issue,  seedling,  spawn,  silio,  to  spawn. 
But  it  is  to  be  observed  that  we  find  in  the  Old  Norse  itself  the 
word  svil,  the  milt  or  soft  roe  of  fish. 

Sonn.     vn.    To  meditate,  think  deeply. 

Sco.  sonyie.  Ang.-Sax.  sinnan,  Germ,  sinnen,  to  ponder, 
meditate,  Old  Norse  sinna,  mens,  attentio,  Welsh  synu,  to 
observe  steadfastly,  synio,  to  consider.  Jam.  refers  to  Fr. 
soigner,  which,  however,  according  to  Grimm,  is  itself  of 
Teutonic  origin. 

Sonsy,    adj.    Plump,  voluptuous  in  form. 

Dan.  sandselig,  sensuous,  voluptuous. 

Sonsy,    adj.    Lucky,  fortunate.    Dick,  gives  also  the 

meaning  of  generous.  Sco.  sonce,  prosperity,  felicity.  Jam. 
refers  to  Gael,  sonas,  prosperity,  good  fortune. 

L2 


132  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Sough,  Soo.    sb.    The  distant  sighing  or  surging  of 

the  wind  or  sea.  Atk.  and  Jam.  both  collate  cognate  words, 
as  Ang.-Sax.  swogan,  to  sound,  howl  as  the  wind,  but  seem  to 
have  overlooked  the  word  most  distinctly  concerned,  the  Old 
Norse  s&gr,  ventus  per  rimas  in  domum  penetrans,  maris  sestus. 
The  former  of  these  two  definitions  is  Haldorsen's  ;  the  latter  is 
added  in  my  copy  in  the  handwriting  of  the  late  Charles  Konig, 
of  the  British  Museum.  The  Low  Germ,  sukk,  Germ,  zug,  a 
draught  of  wind,  may  perhaps  be  connected. 

Sooa  !     int.    Still !    Be  quiet ! 

Old  Norse  svei,  fie.    Ang.-Sax.  swiga,  silence? 

Sooals.    sb.     A  swivel  joint  in  a  chain,  commonly 

termed  a  pair  of  sooals. — Dick.  Sooal  is  another  form  of 
swivel,  as  soople  of  swipple.  Old  Norse  sveifla,  to  swing  round, 
to  brandish,  svif,  sudden  and  rapid  motion. 

Soop.     va.    To  sweep. 

Old  Norse  sopa,  to  sweep,  sdpr,  a  besom,  Swed.  sofa,  to  sweep. 

Soople.     sb.     The  upper  part  of  a  flail. 

Old  Norse  svipa,  to  brandish,  move  rapidly  to  and  fro,  Norw. 
sviva,  to  turn  round,  Old  Norse  sveifla,  to  swing  round,  to 
brandish. 

Soo  ren.    vn.    To  become  sour. 

Ang.-Sax.  sdrian. 

Sop.    sb.     A  tuft  of  grass,  &c.    A  milkmaid's  cushion 

for  the  head.  The  masses  in  which  the  plumbago  or  black-lead 
is  found  in  the  famous  mine  at  Keswick  are  called  sops.  Welsh 
sob,  sopen,  bunch,  tuft,  swp,  compressed  mass.  Old  Norse 
soppr,  ball. 

Soss.    sb.    A  boiled  mess  for  a  cow. 

Gael,  sos,  a  mixture  of  meal  and  water  given  to  dogs,  Welsh  sos, 
pulpamentum  sordidulum. 

Sotter.    sb.    The  noise  made  in  boiling. 

Gael,  sod,  noise  of  boiling  water,  Germ,  sod,  bubbling  up  of 
boiling  water,  Low  Germ,  suddern,  to  boil  with  a  gentle  sound. 

Souse,    sb.    The  pickle  of  brine,  chiefly  used  in  the 

phrase  "sour  as  souse."  Wedg.  refers  to  Fr.  saulse,  sauce. 
Or  we  may  think  of  Old  Norse  s£rs,  cibaria  acida. 

Sowder.    sb.     A  bungled  mixture  in  cookery. 

Perhaps  connected  with  Old  Norse  sodaz,  to  become  nasty.  Or 
perhaps  rather  with  Old  Norse  s&lda,  to  become  mouldy  or 
fusty. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  133 

Sowe,  Seugh.    sb.    A  wide,  wet  ditch. 

Prov.  Eng.  soggy,  wet.  Old  Norse  soggr,  wet,  s-ugr,  alluvies 
maris,  Gael,  sfigk,  moisture,  wetness,  Welsh  swgio,  to  soak, 
Sansc.  sic,  to  be  wet. 

Sowens.    sb.     Pottage  of  oatmeal  dust. 

Gael,  sughan,  the  liquid  of  which  sowens  is  made  by  boiling, 
from  sugh,  juice,  appears  to  give  the  origin  of  our  word. 

Sowt.     sb.     The  joint-ill  in  lambs  and  calves. 
Ang.-Sax.  suht,  Old  Norse  sut,  sdtt,  illness,  disease. 

Sowpy.     adj.     Soft,  watery. 

Qev.  soup,  to  soak,  saturate.  "  Simply  another  form  of  sop." 
Atk.  Norw  subba,  to  dabble,  subben,  soaked,  Low  Germ. 
sappig,  wet,  sloppy. 

SpAne  (pron.  spean.)    va.    To  wean. 

Germ,  spdnen,  Low  Germ,  spennen,  to  wean,  Ang.-Sax.  spana, 
Old  Norse  spent,  teat. 

Spang,     va.  and  n.     To  leap,  to  spring.     To  shoot, 

fling,  project  with  force.  Old  Norse  spenna,  to  bend  a  bow. 
Norw.  spenna,  to  move  oneself  with  force  or  spring,  spemia,  to 
thrust  or  kick  with  the  foot.  Comp.  also  Welsh  ysponc,  a 
spring,  jerk. 

Spanghew.     va.     To  pitch  up  suddenly. 

From  spang,  as  above,  and  perhaps  Swed.  hoja,  to  upraise.  Or 
Old  Norse  hoggva,  Dan.  hugge,  to  strike. 

Span-new.     adj.    Perfectly  new.    See  bran  new. 
Sparling,    sb.     The  smelt. 

Sco.  sparling,  Sperling.  Germ,  spierling,  Dut.  spiering,  the 
smelt.  "  Isl.  Sperling  is  perhaps  the  same.  G.  Andr.  gives 
it  as  the  name  of  a  fish. " — Jam.  The  Suio-Goth.  name  is  nors, 
which  Ihre  takes  to  be  from  nor,  a  straight,  because  these  fishes 
arowd  into  narrow  friths.  Or  rather,  from  the  same  root  as  nor,  m 
the  sense  of  something  small  and  fine  in  shape.  So  sparling, 
like  spear,  spare,  sparrow,  sprat,  seems  to  be  from  a  root  signi- 
fying fineness  and  smallness.  (While  I  write,  Cleasby  confirms 
me  with  nora,  a  small,  wee  thing,  silungs  nora,  a  small  trout.) 

Spate,  (pron.  speeat.)  sb.  A  sudden  and  heavy  shower. 

Dut.  spatten,  to  splash,  Norw.  sputta,  to  spirt,  spout.  Spate 
is  similar  to  spout  in  water-spout. 

Spaulder.  vn.  To  sprawl,  move  in  an  awkward  manner. 

Probably  from  Dan.  sprcelde,  to  toss  about  the  limbs,  the  r 
being  dropped  for  the  sake  of  euphony. 


134  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Spave.  (pron.  speeav.)  va.  To  castrate  a  female  animal. 

Gael,  spotk,  Manx  spoiy,  to  castrate,  Lat.  spado,  eunuch. 

Speer.     vn.     To  inquire. 

Ang.-Sax.  spyrian,  Old  Norse  spyria,  to  investigate. 

Spelk.     sb.     A  long  splinter  or  slip  of  wood. 

Ang.-Sax.  spelc,  Old  Norse  spidlk,  a  splinter,  GaeL  spealg, 
splinter,  fragment. 

Spiddick.    sb.    A  spigot. 

Manx  spyttog.  "  Not  to  be  considered  as  a  corruption  of 
spigot,  but  as  formed  in  a  similar  manner  from  the  parallel  root 
spid,  spit,  signifying  splinter,  Bav.  speidel,  a  chip,  splinter." — 
Wedg. 

Spile,     sb.    The  vent-peg  of  a  cask. 

It.  spillo,  a  spigot  or  gimlet,  also  a  hole  made  in  a  piece  of 
wine  with  a  gimlet  or  drawing-quill,  Venet.  spilare,  to  bore  a 
hole  for  a  peg  in  order  to  let  in  the  air. —  Wedg.  Comp.  also 
Swiss  spiggel,  splinter,  Bav.  spickel,  wedge,  Welsh  yspig, 
spike. 

Spink,    sb.    The  chaffinch. 

Welsh  yspincyn,  chaffinch. 

Spitten-pickter.   sb.     "  Strong  likeness.    Yon  barn's 

his  varra  spitten-picter." — Dick.  "That  barn's  as  like  his 
fadder  as  an  he'd  been  spit  out  of  his  mouth." — Crav.  The 
expression  was  used  in  Early  Eng.  "  He  was  as  like  him  as  if 
he  had  been  spit  out  of  his  mouth." — Cotg. 

Splat,    va.    Pret.  of  split. 

Spole.    va.     To  partially  separate  the  shoulders  of 

an  animal  from  the  chest.  Lonsd.  spalch,  to  split.  Suio-Goth. 
spjdla,  Dan.  spalte,  Fris.  spjellen,  Germ,  spalten,  Gael,  spealt, 
to  cleave  or  split,  Dial.  Dan.  spaalde,  to  split  a  fish  without 
actually  separating  the  halves.  North,  spalding-kmfe,  a  knife 
used  for  splitting  fish.— Hall. 

Spreckelt.    adj.    Speckled. 

Old  Norse  sprekkl$ttr,  Dan.  spraglet,  speckled. 

Spreed.     va.     To  spread. 

Dut,  spreeden,  Dan.  sprede,  Germ,  spreiten.  While,  in  English, 
spread,  the  pres.,  is  confounded  with  spread,  the  pret.,  both 
being  pronounced  spred,  the  Northern  dialects  preserve  the 
proper  distinction  of  spreed  and  spred. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  135 

Sprint,  Sprent.    vn.  To  sprinkle,  splutter  like  a  pen. 

Swed.  sprdtta,  Bav.  spratzeln,  to  splutter  like  a  pen,  Old  Norse 
sprelta,  to  sprinkle. 

Sproag.     sb.    A  jaunt,  pleasure  excursion,  spree. 

Belonging  to  the  same  family  of  words  as  spruce,  spry,  Prov. 
Eng.  sprag,  sprack,  brisk  and  lively,  Old  Norse  sprcskr,  brisk, 
fiery,  the  root  idea  of  which  seems  to  be  found  in  Swed.  spraka, 
Dan.  sprage,  to  crackle,  explode. 

Spunk,     sb.    Liveliness,  spirit 

Welsh  ysponc,  jerk,  bound. 

Spurtle.    vn.     To  sprawl,  kick  the  legs  about. 

Dut.  spartelen,  to  frisk,  sprawl,  kick,  Lith.  spirti,  to  kick. 

Spurtle.     sb.     An  instrument  used  in  thatching. 

A  corruption,  I  take  it,  of  spattle. 

Squab,  Swab.     sb.    A  wooden  sofa  with  a  cushion. 

Dial.  Swed.  skvabb,  loose  flabby  fat,  skvabba,  a  fat  woman,  are 
referred  to  by  Atk.  as  cognate,  the  allusion  being  to  the  soft 
cushion. 

Stack.     Pret.  of  stick. 

Stag.    sb.     A  colt.     Also  a  young  game-cock. — Dick. 

Old  Norse  sieggr,  the  male  of  the  fox,  also  of  various  other  wild 
animals.  — Maid. 

Stang.    sb.    A  pole. 

Old  Norse  staung,  Dan.  stang,  Ang.-Sax.  steng,  Dut.  stang, 
stake,  pole. 

Stank,     vn.     To  groan. 

Old  Norse  stianka,  Suio-Goth.  stanka,  to  groan,  pant. 

Stank,   sb.    A  pond. 

Gael,  stang,  Old  Fr,  estanche,  estang,  a  pool.  The  original 
idea  seems  to  be  that  of  stopping,  Arm.  stanka,  to  stop  the  flow 
of  water,  Swed.  stdnga,  to  shut —  Wedg.  The  root  is  probably 
Sansc.  stai,  to  close,  fasten. 

Stark,     adj.     Unnaturally  stiff. 

Old  Norse  sterkr,  Germ,  stark,  rigid,  stiff,  strong. 

Start,     sb.    The  handle  of  a  pail. 

Ang.-Sax.  steort,  Old  Norse  stertr,  Dan.  stjcert,  tail,  Germ: 
pflugstert,  handle,  of  a  plough. 


136  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Startle,    vn.     "  Cattle  startle  when  they  erect  their 

heads  and  tails  and  gallop  madly  in  hot  weather  through  fear 
of  the  stinging  flies."— Dick.  Old  Dut.  steerten,  fugere.  Or 
possibly  there  may  be  a  more  direct  reference  to  the  raising  the 
head  and  tail,  Ang.-Sax.  steorf,  tail,  extremity,  something 
which  projects.  So  the  corresponding  Germ,  sturzen  is  applied 
to  a  horse  pricking  its  ears. 

Stayk.     vn.     To  wander  vacantly,  to  blunder. 

Norw.  stauka,  to  go  slowly,  stump  along,  Gael,  stale,  to  walk 
with  halting  gait,  Ir.  static,  stop,  impediment.  Hence  our 
word  seems  to  be  from  the  same  origin  as  Eng.  stalk. 

Stayvel  or  Stayver.  vn.    To  wander  about  in  a 

listless  way.  Suio-Goth.  stapla,  to  reel,  stagger,  a  frequentative 
of  stappa,  to  walk,  step. 

Stead,    sb.     The  fixed  or  allotted  place  of  a  thing,  as 

a  farm-stead,  midden-stead ','.  &c.  Ang-Sax.  stede,  a  place, 
station. 

Steadlin.    sb.     A  foundation  for  a  corn  or  hay-stack. 

A  diminutive  of  stead. 

Steck.    vn.    To  be  obstinate,  as  a  horse  that  will  not 
draw.    Lonsd.  stecked,  stubborn.    Old  Norse  steigr,  contumax. 

Stee.    sb.    A  ladder. 

Old  Norse  stigi,  Dan.  stige,  Swed.  stege,  ladder,  Ang.-Sax. 
stigan,  Old  Norse  stiga,  to  dimb>  to  mount.  Hence  sty,  in  the 
sense  of  a  mountain  path,  in  the  Lake  district. 

Steek.    va.    To  shut,  fasten. 

Clev.  steck.  "  To  stick  or  steke,  to  stab,  to  stick,  to  fix  or 
fasten,  and  thence  to  close,  to  shut." — IVedg.  Dut.  stecken, 
figere,  pangere,  claudere  ligneis  clavis. — Kil.  The  Mid.  High 
Germ,  stecken,  rendered  by  Ziemann  "befestigt,  festgehalten 
sein,"  seems  also  to  have  had  a  sense  akin  to  our  own. 

Steg.     sb.     A  gander. 

Old  Norse  steggr,  steggi,  a  gander  or  drake,  ( Wedg.),  Norw. 
steg,  the  male  of  any  bird. 

Stell.     sb.     A  large  open  drain. — Hall. 

"  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  is  merely  the  abbreviation  of 
mater-stell,  Ang.-Sax.  wceter-st&al*.  a  water-place." — Atk. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  I37 

Steven,     sb.    To  set  the  steven  is  to  agree  upon  the 

time  and  place  of  meeting  previous  to  some  expedition. —  West, 
and  Cumb.  Dial.  Ang.-Sax.  ste/nian,  to  call,  cite,  proclaim, 
Old  Norse  stefna,  to  summons,  Lapp,  stebno,  convocatio, 
concio. 

Stew.    sb.     Dust. 

Dan.  st'&u,  dust,  Germ,  staub. 

Stew.  sb.  Trouble,  difficulty,  perplexity.  To  be  in  zstew. 

Perhaps  metaphorically,  as  Wedg.  has  it,  from  stew,  dust,  con- 
fusion.  But  comp.  Old  Norse  stid,  labor  molestus,  Dan.  stoi, 
Swed.  stoj,  noise,  bustle,  hubbub,  Lapp,  stmts,  tumultus,  per- 
turbatio. 

Sticks,     sb.     Furniture. 

Germ,  stiick,  piece,  article. 

Stiddy.     sb.     An  anvil. 

Old  Norse  stedi,  Swed.  stdd,  Old  Dut.  stiete,  anvil,  connected 
with  Ang.-Sax.  stith,  firm,  steadfast,  Lapp,  stittjo,  rigidus, 
and  probably  with  Welsh  syth,  stiff,  firm  (as  Gael,  sruam,  Eng. 
stream.) 

Stife.     adj.     Sturdy,  obstinate. 

Old  Norse  styfr,  durus,  rigidus,  obstinatus,  Ang.-Sax.  stif> 
inflexible,  stiff,  Germ,  steif. 

Stilt,    sb.    The  handle  of  a  plough. 

Swiss  stelz,  stalk.  Probably  another  form  of  Old  Norse  stilkr, 
Dan.  stilk,  stalk,  stem,  /  and  k  interchanging  as  in  jert  and 
jerk. 

Stilt,    vn.    To  walk  in  a  stiff  manner. 

Swed.  stylta,  to  halt,  to  limp,  Ang.-Sax.  styltan,  to  hesitate, 
Stammer,  Germ,  stilte,  a  wooden  leg. 

Stint,  Stent,     sb.    A  right  of  pasturage  for  a  certain 

number  of  cattle.    Ang.-Sax.  stintan,  to  stint. 
Stirk.    sb.    A  young  heifer  or  bullock. 

Styrk,  neet  or  heefer. — Pr.  Prv.  Ang.-Sax.  styrct  Dut.  stierik, 
Germ,  stdrke,  heifer. 

Stob.    sb.    A  stump,  post. 

Gael,  stob,  stump,  stake,  Old  Norse  stubbr,  Dan.  stub,  Ang.- 
Sax.  styb,  a  stock,  stub,  Sansc.  stabh,  stubk,  to  fix. 

Stcok.  sb.    Twelve  sheaves  of  corn  set  up  in  the  field 

Welsh  ystuc,  shock  of  corn,  Germ.  stauchx  Low  Germ,  stub* 
heap,  Boh.  stoh,  heap,  hay-cock. 


I38  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Stoon,  Stotjnd.     sb.      The    benumbing    sensation 

arising  from  a  blow.  Ang.-Sax.  stunian,  to  strike  against,  to 
stun,  Germ,  staunen,  to  lose  the  power  of  action,  to  be  stupi- 
fied. 

Stoor.    sb.    Flying  dust. 

That  which  is  stirred,  Ang.-Sax.  styrian,  Dut.  stoeren,  Belg. 
stooren,  to  stir.  The  Diet,  of  the  Highland  Soc.  has  st&r,  dust, 
as  a  Gaelic  word. 

Stoothe.    va.    To  plaster  a  wall  by  the  application  of 

battens  and  laths.  "Stothe  or  post  of  a  house." — Pr.  Prv. 
Ang.-Sax.  styth,  stuth,  pillar.  Gael,  stuadh,  pillar,  also  the 
wall  of  a  house. 

Stoov't,    Stuf't.     adj.      Marked    in    indication  of 

ownership  by  having  the  end  of  the  ear  cut  off,  applied  to 
sheep.  Old  Norse  sty/a,  amputare,  stufa,  a  female  slave  whose 
ears  have  been  cropped  for  theft,  Low  Germ,  stuven,  to  lop  or 
cut  off  the  head  of  trees.  In  Iceland  an  animal  with  closely- 
cropped  ears  was  called  al-styfingr ;  it  was  forbidden  by  the 
law  to  mark  sheep  in  this  way  unless  public  notice  had  pre- 
viously been  given. 

Stop.    va.     To  stuff,  to  cram. 

Dut.  stoppen,  Dan.  stoppe,  Germ,  stop/en,  to  stuff,  fill,  cram. 
This  (see  Wedg.)  is  the  original  sense  of  Eng.  stop. 

Stope.    vn.    To  walk  as  one  does  in  the  dark. 

Low  Germ,  stuppen,  to  strike  the  ground  with  a  stick  in 
walking,  N.  Fris.  stuppin,  to  strike  against. 

Store,    sb.     To  set  store  on  a  thing  is  to  put  value  or 

place  dependence  upon  it.  We  may  perhaps  refer  to  what 
Wedg.  thinks  may  be  the  origin  of  Eng.  store,  viz.,  Old  Norse 
staurr,  Old  High  Germ,  stiura,  a  stake,  post,  prop,  and 
thence,  aid,  assistance,  contribution. 

Stow.    va.     To  cram,  to  surfeit. 

Dut.  stouen,  Germ,  stauen,  Dan.  stuve,  to  push,  stow  or  thrust 
together  in  packing. 

Stot.     va.  and  n.    To  bound  as  a  sheep  or  deer  does 

when  jumping  with  all  the  feet  together.— Dick.  To  rebound, 
as  a  ball.  Germ,  stoszen,  to  strike,  hit,  to  recoil,  Dut.  stuiten, 
Swed.  stutta,  to  stop,  to  rebound.  The  idea,  as  in  stutter, 
seems  to  be  that  of  an  abrupt  or  sudden  check. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  139 

Stotter,  Stowter.    vn.   To  walk  clumsily. 

Swed.  stutta,  to  stumble,  Old  Norse  stauta,  Germ,  stottern,  to 
stutter.  "  The  broken  efforts  of  the  voice  in  imperfect  speech 
and  those  of  the  body  in  imperfect  going  are  commonly  repre- 
sented by  the  same  forms. " —  Wedg.    See  stutter. 

Stove,  sb.  A  young  shoot  ofwood.-  West  and  Cumb.Dial. 

Properly,  I  apprehend,  a  young  shoot  cut  or  pruned  from  the 
tree.  Old  Norse  sty/a,  amputare,  Low  Germ,  stuven,  to  lop  or 
prune  a  tree. 

Stower     sb.    A  stake. 

Old  Norse  staurr,  Dan.  stavre,  Old'High  Germ,  stiura,  Lapp. 
staura,  Gr.  orctupos,  a  stake,  pole. 

Straddelt.    adj.    Stuck  fast,  brought  to  a  standstill. 

MI  think  oald  P.  was  varra  nar  straddelt  iv  his  sarmon." — 
Gibson  (heard  at  the  door  of  a  chapel  after  service).  Seeing 
the  tendency  of  our  dialect  towards  the  introduction  of 
a  phonetic  r,  as  in  strunt  for  stunt,  scrow  for  scow,  &c,  I  think 
that  straddelt  may  be  properly  staddelt,  Ang.-Sax.  statholiod, 
made  fast,  from  statholian,  to  make  fast,  establish,  in  the  sense 
of  sticking. 

Strack.    Struck,  pret.  of  strike. 

Streak,    sr.     A  straight  edge  used  to  level  the  top 

of  a  measure  of  corn.  Old  Norse  strika,  lineam  ducere.  Gael 
strdc,  a  kind  of  ruler  to  measure  grain,  &c,  by  drawing  it  along 
the  brim. 

Streek.     va.    To  stretch,  to  lay  out  a  corpse. 

Ang.-Sax.  streccan,  Dut.  strekken,  to  stretch. 

Streen.    va.    To  strain,  sprain. 

Fr.  estraindre. 

Strickle,   sb.    A  sanded  piece  of  wood  for  sharpening 

scythes.  Swed.  stryk-stikka,  Dan.  stryge-spaan,  a  strickle,  from 
Swed.  stryka,  Dan.  stryge,  to  rub,  to  whet,  Dan.  strigle,  to 
curry,  Swed.  strigel,  razor-strop. 

Strinkle.    vn.  To  sprinkle. 

Sco.  trinkle,  to  trickle.  Welsh  treiglo,  to  trickle,  Ang.-Sax. 
stregan,  to  sprinkle,  strycel,  the  nipple. 

Strint.  sb.  A  thin  stream,  as  of  milk  from  the  cow. 
Dan.  stritte,  to  spirt,? Ang.-Sax.  stredan,  Swab,  stritzen,  to 
sprinkle,  to  spirt. 


140  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Stripping    sb.    The  last  of  the  milk. 

The  idea  seems  to  be  that  of  squeezing  or  compression,  as  In 
Swed.  sttypa,  to  strangle,  Dut.  stroppen,  stringere,  premere. 

Stritch.  vn.    To  strut. 

N.  Fris.  staurke,  to  strut.  The  idea  seems  to  be  that  of  rigidity 
or  stiffness,  as  in  Ang.-Sax.  streccan,  Dut.  strecken,  to  make 
tight,  to  stretch. 

Strunt.    sb.    A  fit  of  obstinacy.   A  horse  that  refuses 

to  draw  is  said  to  "  tak  the  strunt."  Sco.  strunt.  Clev.  stunt. 
The  Clev. ,  I  take  it,  shows  the  proper  form,  our  dialect  and  the 
Sco.,  as  in  some  other  cases,  taking  a  phonetic  r.  Dial.  Swed. 
stunnt—taga.  stunnt,  "  exactly  coincident  with  our  tak  stunt," 
(Atk.),  Ang.-Sax.  stunt,  foolish,  stupid. 

Strunty.    adj.    Stunted,  dwarfish. 

Clev.  stunt,  stunty,  shows  the  proper  form,  our  dialect,  as  In 
the  preceding  word  strunt,  taking  a  phonetic  r.  Suio-Goth, 
stunt,  truncatus,  brevis,  Swed.  stunta,  to  cut  short,  Old  Norse 
stuttr,  short. 

Stulp,  Stoop,    sb.    A  gate-post. 

Old  Norse  stdlpi,  Dan.  stolpe,  post,  pillar,  Germ,  stolp,  block. 
Stummer.   vn.     To  stumble. 

Dial.  Dan.  stumre,  to  stumble. 

Sturdy,  sb.  A  disease  in  sheep,  caused  by  water  in 
the  head.  Gael,  stuird,  stuirdean,  vertigo,  a  disease  In 
sheep. 

Stutter,    vn.    To  stammer. 

Old  Norse  stauta,  Germ,  stottem,  to  stammer,  Swed.  stutta,  to 
stumble. 

Styme.    sb.     Not  to  be  able  to  "  see  a  sty  mi1  is  an 

expression  indicative  of  perfect  inability  to  discern  anything. 
**  Styme  seems  properly  to  signify  a  particle,  a  whit.  Suio-Gotb. 
stomm  denotes  the  elementary  principle  of  anything,  Welsb 
"*>  ystutn,  form,  figure,  species." — Jam. 


73-  ystum,  iorm,  ngure,  species.  — jam. 

Styne,  Styan.    sb.    A  swelling  on  the  eyelid. 

Norw.  stigje,  stigkoyna,  Low  Germ,  stieg,  a  sty,  a  pustule 
the  corner  of  the  eye. 

Suckam.     sb.     The  drainage  from  a  dung-heap, 

'  Welsh  sug,  Gael,  sugh,  moisture,  Welsh  sucan,  steepi 
Norse  sugr,  alluvies  maris,  Germ,  sogen,  to  drip. 


steeping,  Old 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  141 

Sullert.    adj.    Stuffed  or  choked  up  with  a  cold 

Perhaps  connected  with  Old  Norse  sullr,  a  swelling.  Similarly 
we  have  soop  for  sweep,  sooal  for  swivel,  sump  for  swamp, 

Sumph.    sb.    A  simpleton. 

Dan.,  Swed.  sump,  mire,  fen,  bog.  The  same  idea  of  folly  as 
derived  from  the  idea  of  something  wet  and  soft  is  found  in  sap- 
head. 

Swab.    sb.    A  wooden  sofa.    See  squab. 
Swad.    sb.     A  hull  or  husk,  of  peas,  &c. 

Perhaps,  as  suggested  by  Atk.,  connected  with  swathe,  to  wrap, 
to  enfold.  Or  perhaps  another  form  of  sward,  Ang.-Sax. 
sweard,  skin,  rind.  Similarly,  Low  Germ,  swadd  for  sward 
(swathe  in  mowing.) 

Swadder.    vn.     To  dabble  in  water. 

Suio-Goth.  sgu&tta,  liquida  effundere,  Swiss  schwadem,  Bav. 
schwadern,  to  dabble,  splash,  Dut.  swadderen,  profundere,  tur- 
bare  aquas. 

Swadderment.    sb.    Drink.     See  swatter. 

Swaddler.     sb.     A  methodist. 

Swagt.    adj.     Bent  downwards  in  the  centre. 

Clev.  swag,  to  sway  to  one  side.  Old  Norse  sweigja,  inclinare, 
Dial.  Dan.  svakke,  to  lean  out  of  the  perpendicular. 

Swag-bellied,   adj.  Having  a  hanging  or  protuberant 

belly.    See  swagt. 

Swaith.     sb.     The  apparition  of  a  person  seen  at  the 

moment  of  his  death.  Waith,  (Brockett,)  an  apparition  in  the 
exact  resemblance  of  a  person,  supposed  to  be  seen  just  before 
or  soon  after  death,  I  take  to  be  the  same  word,  minus  the  prefix 
of  j.  Brockett  also  gives  the  alternative  form  waff,  th  and/ 
interchanging  as  in  many  other  cases.  We  may  think,  then,  of 
Suio-Goth.  wefwa,  swefwa,  Swed.  svafva,  Dut.  sweyven,  to 
hover,  float  (as  an  apparition).  Or  perhaps  we  may  refer  to 
the  Clev.  swip,  personal  image  or  representation,  exact  like- 
ness, as  in  the  phrase  "He's  the  varra  swip  of  his  father." 
The  Scotch  form  of  this  word  Jamieson  gives  as  swap  or  swaup. 
Old  Norse  svipr,  look,  countenance,  fashion  of  feature,  Norw. 
svipa,  Dial.  Swed.  svepa,  to  resemble  another  in  features.  The 
swaith  (or  swaif)  of  a  person  might  then,  as  in  the  phrase 
"swip  of  his  father,"  (Sco.  swap)  be  his  exact  image  or  counter- 
part. But,  again,  the  Old  Norse  svipr  has  the  further  sense 
according  to  Haldorsen,  of  a  sudden  apparition,  a  speotra, 


142  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

which  forms  a  still  closer  connection  with  our  word.  Jamieson 
collates  with  our  swaith  the  Sco.  wraith,  but  this  would  seem 
to  be  a  different  word,  and  probably  derived  from  Old  Norse 
hreda,  Mod.  Icel.  hrceda,  boggle. — Cleasby. 

Swang.     sb.     A  damp  or  boggy  hollow. 

Old  Norse  svangr,  lacuna,  Swed.  svank,  bend,  hollow.  Seems 
formed  by  taking  the  nasal  on  swag. 

Swap.    va.    To  exchange. 

Ang.-Sax.  swipian,  Old  Norse  svipa,  to  do  anything  smartly  or 
quickly.  "The  sense  of  barter  or  truck  seems  to  come  from 
the  notion  of  a  sudden  turn,  an  exchange  of  places  in  the 
objects  that  are  swapped.  In  the  same  way  to  chop  is  to  do 
anything  suddenly,  to  turn  suddenly  round,  and  to  swap  or 
barter." — Wedg. 

Swape.  sb.     A  lever,  pump-handle. 

Old  Norse  svipa,  to  swing  to  and  fro,  svipa,  a  whip. 

Swarmel.     vn.    To  creep  along  a  pole,  scramble  up 

a  tree.  Old  Eng.  swarf.  Dut.  swermen,  Low  Germ,  schwdr- 
men,  to  wander,  Bav.  schwarbeln,  to  move  in  a  confused 
manner.     Comp.  Eng.  squirm,  to  wriggle. 

Swarth.    sb.    Skin,  rind,  of  bacon,  &c. 

Old  Norse  svardr,  Ang.-Sax.  sweard,  Dut.  swaerde,  skin  of 
bacon,  &c. 

Swat.    vn.     To  sit. 

The  same  as  squat,  of  which  the  original  idea  (see  Wedg.)  is  to 
throw  anything  flat  against  the  ground. 

Swatter,  Swattle.    vn.    To  tope. 

Swattle,  to  consume,  to  waste,  generally  fluids. — Brock.  Sco. 
swaits,  swats,  new  ale  or  wort.  Low  Germ,  swuddem,  to  tope 
(Danneil),  Ang.-Sax.  swatan,  ale,  beer,  Dut.  swadderen,  to 
splash,  dabble,  spill,  Suio-Goth.  sqwcetta,  liquida  effundere. 

Swatch,    sb.    A  bill-hook. 

Perhaps  connected  with  Dut.,  Fris.  swade,  sickle,  scythe,  Old 
Norse  svedia,  a  large  knife  or  dagger.  Is  this  the  word  upon 
which,  by  the  insertion  of  r,  is  formed  Old  Norse  sverd,  Dut. 
zwaard,  Eng.  sword  t 

Swatch,    sb.    A  strip  of  cloth  cut  off  as  sample. 

Dial.  Swed.  skvatt,  a  small  portion  or  quantity,  "a  little,"  as 
en  skvatt  mjol,  a  little  meal— Atk.  Comp.  also  Lapp,  swattjo, 
fasciculus. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  1 43 

Swayvel.    vn.    To  walk  unsteadily. 

Old  Norse  sveifla,  to  swing  round,  Suio-Goth.  swafwa,  motitari, 
librare,  Dut.  sweyven,  to  vacillate,  fluctuate. 

Sweel.    vn.    To  burn  away,  as  a  candle  in  a  draft 

Ang.-Sax.  swUan,  to  burn,  Low  Germ,  verswelen,  to  burn 
away. 

Sweel.    sb.    Sweals  of  laughter,  peals,  bursts. 

Simply,  I  take  it,  for  squeals. 

Sweemish.     adj.    Squeamish. 

Swaymous,  shy  ( West,  and  Cumb.  Dial.)  is  no  doubt  a  varia- 
tion of  the  same  word.  Old  Norse  sveima,  to  waver,  to  fluc- 
tuate, Low  Germ,  swiemen,  to  be  dizzy,  Dut.  swijmen,  deficere 
animo. — Kil. 

Sweer.     adj.    Averse,  disinclined,  lazy. 

Ang.-Sax.  sw&r,  heavy,  slothful. 

Swelter,     vn.     To  be  overcome  with  heat 

Clev.  swelt.  Old  Flem.  swelten,  deficere,  languescere,  Ang.- 
Sax.  swilan,  to  burn,  swaloth,  heat,  Mid.  High  Germ,  swelten, 
to  perish  through  heat  or  hunger,  Germ,  schwiil,  Low  Germ. 
swuul,  sultry,  Sansc.  jval,  to  burn  ? 

Swent,  Swint.     adj.    Bent,  twisted  out  of  truth. 

Seems  to  be  formed  by  the  prefix  of  s  on  Swed.  wind,  awry, 
crooked,  winda,  to  squint. 

Swey.     vn.     To  sway,  swing. 

Old  Norse  sveigja,  Dan.  sveie,  to  bend,  Dut.  zwaayen,  to  swing, 
turn. 

Swig-swag.    sb.    A  pendulum. 

Low  Germ,  swieg-swagen,  to  vibrate. 

Swill,    sb.    A  large  open  basket  made  of  twigs. 

The  Old  Norse  has  svigi,  a  twig,  (from  sveigja,  to  bend), 
whence  I  suppose  a  word  svigul,  signifying  something  made  of 
twigs,  and  whence,  by  contraction,  would  come  our  swill.  Simi- 
larly, from  Ang.-Sax.  tdn,  twig,  tdnel,  a  basket. 

Swine-creuh.     sb.    A  pig-sty. 

Welsh  craw,  Gael.,  Ir.  cro,  Bret,  craou,  Corn,  crow,  a  hovel, 
hut,  sty.  "  At  the  present  day,  in  Cornwall,  a  pig-sty  is  called 
a  pig's  crow." — Williams.  The  word  is  also  found  in  the 
Scand.  idiom,  Old  Norse kro,  a  small  pen  or  fence,  "in  Iceland 
the  pen  in  which  lambs  when  weaned  are  put  during  the  night." 
— Cleasby. 


144  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Swingle-trees,    sb.    The  wooden  bars  by  which  the 

horses  draw  in  ploughing  or  harrowing.  Dial.  Dan.  svingcl- 
trceer,  swingle-trees. 

Swipe,     va     To  drink  off  hastily. 

Ang.-Sax.  swipian,  Old  Norse  svipa,  to  move  quickly,  do  any- 
thing with  a  momentary  action. 

Swirl,    vn.    To  whirl  round. 

Norw.  svirla,  to  whirl,  revolve,  a  frequentative  of  Dan.  svire, 
Swed.  svirra. 

Swirtle.    vn.    To  move  rapidly  and  tortuously,  as  a 

small  fish  in  a  shallow  stream. — Dick.  I  am  rather  inclined  to 
take  the  word  to  be  more  properly  swittle,  and  to  connect  it 
with  Sco.  swatter,  "to  move  quickly  in  any  fluid  substance, 
generally  including  the  idea  of  an  undulatory  motion,  as  that  of 
an  eel  in  the  water. " — Jam.  Suio-Goth.  squalta,  agitari,  motu 
inequali  movere,  Lapp,  swattjet,  moveri,  Dut.  swadderen,  tur- 
bare  aquas,  fluctuare. — Kil. 

Swum.    vn.    To  swim. 

Fris.  swommen,  Dan.  svomme,  to  swim. 

Swyke.     sb.     A  thin-shaped  animal. 

Dut.  swi/ck,  defectus,  swijcken,  deficere,  labascere,  swack, 
debilis,  infirmus,  quod  facile  flectitur,  [Kil.),  Dan.,  Swed. 
svag,  weak,  frail,  slender,  Lapp,  swaikes,  weak,  yielding,  Germ. 
schwack,  weak. 

Swyke.    sb.    A  worthless,  untrustworthy  person. 

Sco.  swick,  fraud,  deceit.  Ang.-Sax,  swic,  Old  Norse  svik, 
fraud,  treachery,  Ang.-Sax.  swtca,  Old  Norse  svikari,  impostor, 
traitor. 

Sye.    sb.      A  drop,  small  quantity  of  water  oozing 

or  percolating  through.  "Oal  Robin  sank  a  well,  an'  ther 
wassent  a  sye  of  watter  in  it." — Dick.  Clev.  sie,  to  drop.  Old 
Norse  sia,  Ang.-Sax.  seon,  to  filter  or  strain  by  percolation, 
Dan.  sie,  Germ,  seihen,  to  strain,  to  filter. 

Syke,  Sike.    sb.    A  wet  ditch  or  drain. 

Old  Norse  siki,  lacuna  aquosa,  sij'k,  rivulus  aquae,  Ang.-Sax. 
sick,  Fris.  sick,  a  watercourse.  Sansc.  sic,  to  be  wet,  Welsh 
sicio,  to  soak. 

Syle.    vn.    To  strain  through  a  sieve. 

Swed.,  Norw.  sila,  to  strain,  Low  Germ,  silen,  Germ,  sielen,  to 
draw  off  water.  GaeL  sil,  to  drop,  rain,  drip,  Bret,  sila,  to 
filter.     Garnett  suggests  [Phil,  Ess,  p.  178)  a  possible  connec- 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  1 45 

tion  between  Gael,  sil  and  Lat.  stillare,  to  drop,  which  seems 
probable.  This  word  is  found  in  many  river-names,  as  Silis, 
the  Scythian  name  of  the  Tanais  or  Don  {Pliny),  the  Sihl  in 
Switzerland,  and  the  Silaro  near  Naples. 

Syle-trees.  sb.  The  timber  roof-blades  of  a  clay  house. 

Ang.-Sax.  syl,  a  ground-post,  support,  pillar,  Old  Norse  sula, 
pillar  of  a  house.  Tree,  as  in  threep-tru,  signifies  something 
made  of  wood. 

Syme.    sb.     A  straw  rope. 

Clev.  scmmit,  supple,  pliable.  Sco.  sowm,  a  rope.  Ang.-Sax. 
sima,  Fris.  seem,  semm,  a  band,  fastening,  Old  Norse  stmt, 
ductile  quid,  Dan.  sime,  a  cord  or  rope  of  hair  or  straw,  Fin. 
sijma,  Lapp,  seima,  a  cord  of  horse-hair.  Comp.,  also,  Gael. 
sioman,  a  rope  or  cord  usually  of  twisted  straw  or  heather.  The 
root  may  probably  be  found  in  Sansc.  si,  siv,  to  join,  fasten. 

Syne.    vn.    To  draw  or  strain  off. 

Dut.  zijghen,  to  strain,  to  filter,  Germ,  versiegen,  to  drain  or 
dry  up.     Here,  too,  perhaps,  Swed.  sina,  to  dry. 

Sype,  Sipe.     vn.     To  ooze  out,  soak  through. 

Fris.  sipe,  to  ooze,  drop,  Dut.  zijpen,  to  drop  ;  Fris.  ut  sipe, 
S.  Dan.  sife  ud,  to  ooze  or  sipe  out. 

Syre.     sb.     A  gutter,  sewer. 

From  the  same  origin  as  sye  and  syne,  in  reference  to  the  sewer, 
as  that  by  which  the  water  is  drained  or  drawn  off. 

Syzle.    vn.     To  saunter. 

"  To  Hudless's  now  off  they  sizelled, 
An'  there  gat  far  mair  than  enough." — Anderson. 
Low  Germ,  siisseln,  to  perform  trifling  household  duties,  Dan. 
sysle,  to  be  busy,  Swed.  sysla,  business,  occupation.     The  word 
seems  to  have  undergone  some  change. 


Taas.    sb.    Wood  cut  thin  to  make  baskets  of. — Hall. 

Clev.  tag,  a  twist  of  long,  freshly-cut  grass.  Sco.  tag,  a  long 
and  thin  slice  of  anything.  Old  Norse  t&,  t&g,  twig,  Dial.  Dan. 
tag,  long  straw,  rushes,  &c,  used  for  thatching. 

Tab.  sb.  The  narrow  end  of  a  field.  The  extreme 
end  of  anything.  Ang.-Sax.  tcsppe,  properly  tip  or  corner,  Old 
Norse  tcspr,  narrow. 

M 


146  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Taffle.  va.  To  throw  into  disorder,  perplex,  confound. 

Probably  from  the  same  origin  as  the  Old  Eng.  daff.  See 
daffin,  daft. 

Tag.     sb.    The  end  of  anything. 

Lonsd.  tag,  the  end  of  a  fox's  tail.  Swed.  lagg,  Low  Germ. 
takke,  point,  projection.  Hence  comes  Ang.-Sax.  tdtgl,  Old 
Norse  tag/,  Eng.  tail. 

Taggelt.    sb.    An  idle,  disreputable  person. 

The  origin,  like  that  of  tag-rag,  seems  to  be  tag,  the  end  or 
extremity,  whence  Sco.  tag,  refuse,  and  hence  taggelt,  one 
belonging  to  the  refuse  of  society. 

Taggy-bell.     sb.     The  curfew  bell,    "still  rung  at 

Penrith  and  Kirby  Stephen." — Sullivan.  Referred  by  Sull.  to 
Dan.  tcekke,  to  cover,  Swed.  tdcka,  hence  equivalent  to  curfew 
or  couvrefeu. 

Tahmy,  Taamy.     adj.     Cohesive,  like  tow. 

Old  Norse  talma,  cohibere. 

Taistrel.     sb.     A  worthless  or  disorderly  person. 

Clev.  tastrill,  a  passionate  or  violent  person.  Atk.  refers  this 
word,  given  in  the  Leeds  Gl.  tarestrill,  to  Ang.-Sax.  tiran,  to 
tear.  But  comp.  Old  Norse  teistr,  austerus,  which  seems  more 
probably  to  be  the  origin.  The  termination  rel  is  a  common 
one  in  the  dialect. 

Tak  efter.     va.     To  resemble. 

Old  Norse  taka  eftir,  imitari. 

Tak  til  hissel.     va.     To  take  as  personal  a  remark 

or  insinuation.  Old  Norse  taka  till  sin,  sibi  arrogare  vel 
applicare. 

Tak  up.     vn.    To  cease  to  rain,  to  become  fine. 

Old  Norse  nil  tekr  ofan  af  imber  desaevit  {Haldorsen). 

Tally,    sb.    The  squads  in  which  voters  were  formerly 

taken  to  the  poll  were  called  tallies.  "  From  Ital.  tagliare, 
Fr,  tailler,  to  cut,  is  formed  Fr.  taille,  a  tally  or  piece  of  wood 
on  which  an  account  was  kept  by  notches.  When  complete, 
the  wood  was  split  in  two,  with  corresponding  notches  on  each 
piece.  Hence,  to  tally,  to  correspond  exactly." —  Wedg. 
Hence  the  tallies  of  voters,  as  corresponding  with  the  lists. 

Tanzy.     sb.     A  public-house  ball. 

Fr.  dancer  (of  Teutonic  origin) ,  Germ,  tanzen,  Dan.  dandse,  to 
dance.      The  original  idea,   according  to   Wedg.,  is  that  of 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  1 47 

thumping,  Suio-Goth.  dunsa,  impetu  et  fragore  procedere,  Dan. 
dundse,  to  thump,  with  which  the  Cumberland  style  of  dancing 
is  perfectly  in  accord. 

Tantrum,    sb.     A  fit  of  passion. 

Sco.  tantrums,  high  airs,  stateliness.  Jam.  refers  to  Fr.  tan- 
tran,  a  nic-nack,  which,  however,  unless  we  suppose  the  sense 
to  have  greatly  changed,  would  not  be  very  suitable  for  our 
word.  I  have  elsewhere,  see  dander,  suggested  Welsh  tant, 
spasm,  throb.  The  converse  doldrums,  low  spirits,  Gael,  dol- 
trum,  grief,  seems  to  support  a  Celtic  origin.  And  I  find  that 
Davies  (Proc.  Phil.  Soc.  1855,  p.  239)  proposes  the  same  deri- 
vation as  I  have  done  for  Lane,  tantrum,  a  fit  of  passionate 
excitement. 

Targe,  va.    To  beat,  to  thrash. 

Perhaps  from  Suio-Goth.  targa,  Swed.  targa,  to  tear,  to 
lacerate. 

Tarn.     sb.     A  small  lake. 

Old  Norse  tj'orn,  Swed.  tjdrn,  a  small  lake,  a  morass.  The 
connection  seems  to  be  most  probably  with  Old  Norse  tjara, 
Eng.  tar,  in  the  sense  of  stagnant  water,  a  morass. 

Tarnt.     adj.     Ill-natured. 

Probably  connected  with  Sco.  tirr,  quarrelsome,  crabbed,  Old 
Eng.  tar,  to  provoke.  Ang-Sax.  tyrwian,  Low  Germ,  tarren, 
to  irritate,  provoke,  Dan.  tirre,  to  tease. 

Tath-heaps.     sb.     Tufts  of  rank  grass  in  a  pasture. 

Sco.  tath,  the  luxuriant  grass  which  grows  in  tufts  where  the 
dung  of  cattle  has  been  deposited.  Sco.  tath  also  signifies  the 
dung  of  cattle.  Old  Norse  tad,  dung,  manure,  tada,  the  grass 
that  grows  where  manure  has  been  laid. 

Tathy-grass.  sb.  A  soft  grass  that  grows  under 
trees. — Dick.  Perhaps  from  Ang.-Sax.  tdt,  tdthre,  tender. 
But  more  probably  only  a  different  application  of  the  last 
word. 

Tatter,     vn.     To  scold. 

"  Tateryn,  jangelyn,  chateryn,  jaberyn." — Pr.  Ptv.  Dial. 
Swed.  tattra,  to  prate,  Low  Germ,  taotern,  to  prattle,  Dut. 
tateren,  to  sound  as  a  trumpet. 

Tatters,     sb.     A  female  scold. 

Norf.  tatterer,  a  shrew.    See  tatter. 

Taty-crab.     sb.     The  fruit  of  the  potato. 

"  From  Ang.-Sax.  scrobb,  a  shrub,  a  word  connected,  perhaps, 
with  Gael,  craobh,  tree,  and  implying  a  bush — or  wild— apple." 
— Prior. 

M  2 


14©  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Tate,  Teat.  sb.  A  lock  or  small  quantity  of  anything, 

such  as  wool,  flax,  or  hair.  Sco.  tate.  Old  Norse  testa,  lanugo, 
Swed,  totte,  Dan.  tot,  a  small  knot  of  wool  or  other  fibrous 
material,  Dan.  test,  close,  compact,  Old  Norse  testa,  to  tease 
wool.  , 

Tatty,  Tattit.    adj.    Matted. 

Clev.  fettered.    See  tate. 

Tave.    va.    To  make  restless  motions  with  the  hands, 

to  pick  the  bed-clothes  as  a  delirious  person  does.  Atk., 
assuming  the  sense  "  to  rave"  given  in  the  Line.  Gloss,  and  by 
Hall,  as  the  original  one,  refers  to  Ang.-Sax.  thefian,  to  rage. 
This  seems  a  little  doubtful,  and  I  am  rather  inclined  to  think 
of  Old  Norse  Ufa,  manus  celeriter  movere.  Or  Old  Norse 
thaufa,  palpare  in  tenebris,  which  seems  to  accord  with  the  idea 
of  the  aimless  movements  of  delirium. 

Tave.  va.  and  n.  To  wade  through  mire.  To  work 
up  plaster.  Perhaps  connected  with  Old  Norse  tefja,  morari, 
haerere. 

Tawpy.     sb.     A  simpleton. 

Dut.  tulpe,  a  blockhead,  tuipisch,  stolidus,  stupidus,  ineptus 
{Kil.),  Germ,  tolpel,  a  blockhead. 

Team.  va.  and  n.  To  pour  out,  to  empty,  of  solids 
as  well  as  fluids.    Old  Norse  tama,  to  draw  out,  to  empty. 

Teanel.     sb.     A  basket. —  West  and  Cumb.  Dial. 

Ang.-Sax.  t&nel,  a  basket,  from  tan,  a  twig.  Similarly  swill, 
(contraction  of  swigel,)  from  Old  Norse  svigi,  a  twig. 

Tearin.     sb.     The  rendering  of  a  roof. 

North,  teer,  to  bedaub  with  clay,  teer-wall,  a  clay  wall. — Hall. 
Lane,  teer,  to  plaster  between  rafters.  Swiss  tirgen,  to  daub, 
work  jn  dough.  Ang.-Sax.  teor,  Old  Norse  tjara,  Germ,  tkeer, 
tar 

Teck,  Tack.    sb.    A  stitch. 

Dut.  tacken,  tangere,  arripere,  apprehendere,  figere. 

Te-draw,  Teu-draw.     sb.    A  place  of  resort. 

A  place  "to  draw"  up  to.  Dut.  toe-draghen,  apportare, 
adferre. 

Teen-lathe,     sb.     A  tithe-barn. 

Sco.  tiends,  tithes.  Dan.  tiende,  Swed.  tionde,  tithe,  tenth, 
Dut.  tien,  ten,  tiende,  tenth,  tienden,  tithes.    See  lathe. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  1 49 

Telt.     Told,  pret.  of  tell. 

Temse.     sb.     A  hair  sieve. 

Dut.  teems,  N.  Fris.  terns,  Dial.  Dan.  terns,  a  sieve. 

Tetch.     vn.     To  be  restive  or  obstinate. 

Probably  for  stetch.    Old  Norse  steigr,  contumax.     See  steck. 

Teufit.     sb.     The  lapwing. 

Clev.  teufit.  "It  is  remarkable  that  the  Danish  form,  or 
written  representation,  of  the  cry  of  this  bird,  corresponds 
exactly  with  this  Clev.  name  of  the  bird  itself." — Atk. 

Tew  or  Tue.     va.  and  n.     To  toil,  take  trouble,  work 

hard.  To  rumple,  crease,  pull  about.  Probably  another  form 
of  tug.  Ang.-Sax.  teogan,  teohan,  Old  Swed.  tjuga,  Goth. 
tiuhan,  to  draw,  pull,  drag. 

Teu-faw  (To-fall.)     sb.     A  lean-to  shed. 

"  To-falle,  shudde,  appendicium,  teges." — Pr.  Prv.  Dut.  toe- 
vallen,  adjungere  se,  adjungi. 

Thack,  Theak.     va.     To  thatch. 

"Thaccyn  howsys,  sartatego." — Pr.  Prv.  Ang.-Sax.  thaccan. 
Old  Norse  thekia,  Dan.  tcekke,  to  cover,  to  thatch,  Sansc.  tvac, 
to  cover. 

Thack-bottle.     sb.     A  bundle  of  thatch. 

"  Botelle  of  hey.  Fenifascis." — Pr.  Prv.  Fr.  botel,  diminutive 
of  botte,  a  bunch,  Gael,  boiteal,  a  bundle  of  hay  or  straw.  Hence 
the  phrase,  "  to  look  for  a  needle  in  a  bottle  of  hay." 

Thack-spittle.  sb.    An  implement  used  in  thatching. 

Probably  for  spattle.     See  spurtle. 

Thar-cakes  or  Tharth-cakes.     sb.     Thick  cakes  of 

barley  or  oatmeal.  Properly  tharf-cakes.  Crav.  thar-cake,  a 
heavy,  unleavened  cake,  tharfy,  stiff,  unleavened  bread,  tharf, 
stark,  stiff.    Ang.-Sax.  theorf,  unleavened  bread. 

Tharth.     adj.     Reluctant,  unwilling. 

Clev.  tharf,  backward,  reluctant.  Atk.  refers  to  Old  Norse 
thbrf,  necessitas.  But  the  connection  seems  to  me  to  be  rather 
with  Old  Norse  thrd  (pron.  thraw  or  thrav),  obstinacy,  con- 
tumacy, Ang.-Sax.  thweorh,  perverse,  Eng.  thwart. 

Thick,     adj.     Friendly,  intimate. 

Perhaps  from  Old  Norse  theckja,  to  know,  be  acquainted  with 
theckr,  gratus,  acceptus. 


150  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Think  on.     vn.     To  remember. 

"  Therfor  thynk  on  what  I  you  say."—  Town.  Myst. 
*    Comp.   Germ,  andenken,  remembrance,  from  the  obsolete  verb 
andenken.  to  think  on. — Adelung. 

Thirl,     va.     To  bore. 

Ang.-Sax.  thirlian,  Dut.  drillen,  to  pierce,  drill,  perforate. 
Thivel.     sb.     A  stick  to  stir  the  pot  in  boiling. 

Ang.-Sax.  thy/el,  thorn,  stick. 

Thowless.     adj.     Soft,  wanting  energy. 

Ang.-Sax.  thedw,  behaviour,  endowment,  quality,  with  the 
privative  term  less. 

Thole,     vn.     To  endure,  suffer. 

Ang.-Sax.  tkolian,  Old  Norse  thola,  to  suffer,  bear,  endure. 
Thrang.    adj.     Busy,  closely  occupied. 

Old  Norse  thraungr,  Ang.-Sax.  thrang,  Dan.  trang,  tight,  com- 
pressed, crowded. 

Threep.    vn.    To  argue,  assert  a  thing  pertinaciously. 

Ang.-Sax.  threapian,  to  chide,  scold,  Old  Norse  threfa,  sub- 
litigare. 

Threep-tree.    sb.     The  bar  to  which  the  horses  are 

yoked  in  ploughing.  Threep  may  possibly  be  a  contraction  of 
thil-rope,  from  Ang.-Sax.  thil,  pole  or  shaft  of  a  carriage  or 
wagon,  and  Ang.-Sax.  rap,  Eng.  rope.  Tree,  as  in  swingle- 
tree,  har-tree,  &c,  signifies  wood,  or  something  made  of  wood, 
hence  threep-tree  might  be  the  wooden  pole  to  which  the  traces 
are  attached. 

Threave.    sb.    Twenty-four  sheaves  of  corn. 

Ang.-Sax.  threaf,  a  handful,  a  thrave  of  corn,  Swed.  trafwa, 
Dan.  trave,  a  score  of  sheaves. 

Threeten.     va.     To  threaten. 

Ang.-Sax.  threatian. 

Threshwood.  sb.  Threshold. —  West,  and  Cumb.  Dial. 

{Dick,  has  threshwurt,  which,  I  take  it,  is  simply  a  corruption.) 
Threshwood  is  a  parallel  word  with  threshold,  Ang.-Sax.  thresc- 
wald,  only  substituting  Ang.-Sax.  wudu  for  Ang.-Sax.  weald  of 
the  same  meaning.  The  former  part  is  from  Ang.-Sax.  threscan, 
to  beat,  strike,  tread,  the  threshold  being  the  bar  on  which  we 
tread  on  entering  the  house.  Our  word  thus,  by  the  substitution 
of  a  parallel  component,  serves  to  confirm  Wedgwood's  deri- 
vation of  threshold  from  wald,  wood. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  15I 

Throddy.     adj.     Plump,  well-thriven. 

Clev.  throdden.  Atk.  refers  to  Old  Norse  thrutna,  to  swell, 
become  round  or  plump,  Dial.  Dan.  trude,  to  swell,  become 
plump,  as  peas  soaked  in  water,  as  possible  connections  of  our 
word.  Comp.  also  Ang.-Sax.  throhtig,  Old  Norse  throttugr., 
strong,  vigorous,  enduring,  the  sense  of  which,  however,  is 
rather  that  of  strength  in  enduring  toil. 

Throoly  or  Througly.     adj.     Portly,  corpulent. 

Perhaps,  assuming  a  suppressed  f,  to  be  connected  with  Fris. 
triiff,  hale,  fresh,  thriving,  Old  Norse  thrif,  bonus  corporis 
habitus,  thrifiegr,  bonae  corporis  constitutionis,  Swed.  trefiig* 
healthy,  thriving. 

Thropple.    sb.     The  windpipe. 

Ang.-Sax.  throt-bolla,  the  throat-pipe. 

Throssen,  Thrussen.     Past  part,  of  thrust. 
Throssel.     sb.     The  thrush. 

Ang.-Sax.  throsle,  throstle,  Germ,  drossel. 

Through,  Thruff,     sb.     A  flat  tombstone. 

Ang.-Sax.  thruh,  a  stone  coffin,  vault,  grave,  Old  Norse  thro, 
cavum  excisum.  The  meaning  seems  properly  a  stone  coffin, 
or  sarcophagus,  the  word  being,  as  Bosworth  suggests,  probably 
related  to  trog,  a  trough. 

Throw,     va.     To  turn  in  a  lathe. 

"  Throwyn,  or  turne  vessel  of  a  tre.  Torno." — Pr.  Prv.  Ang.- 
Sax.  thrawan,  to  turn,  wind,  Germ,  drehen,  to  turn. 

Thud.     sb.     The  sound  of  a  dull,  heavy  blow. 

Allied  to  Old  Norse  dunr,  Dan.  dunder,  hollow  sound,  Old  Eng. 
dun,  to  make  a  hollow  sound.  In  the  Virgil  of  Douglas  thud 
is  used  for  the  sound  of  thunder.  Sansc.  tud,  to  thump,  Lat. 
tundo. 

Thur.    pr.     Those. 

**  Thur  taxes !  thur  taxes !  Lord  help  us,  amen." — Clark. 
Clev.  thor.     Old  Norse  their,  thoer,  illi,  illae. 

Tice.     va.     To  entice. 

"  Tyqyn  or  intycyn.     Instigo,  allicio." — Pr.  Prv. 

Tick.  sb.  A  slight  mark  made  in  checking  the  items 
of  an  account.  Dut.  tikken,  Low  Germ,  ticken,  to  touch  lightly. 
Sansc.  tig,  tag,  Lat.  tango. 


152  GLOSSARY   OF  THE 

Tick-tack.    sb.    The  tick  of  a  clock. 

Low  Germ,  tick-tack,  a  clock  or  watch. — Danneil. 

Tidy.     adj.     Neat,   orderly;    hence,    like  canny,   a 

general  term  of  approbation,  applied,  as  in  Scotland,  both  to 
personal  and  mental  characteristics.  Low  Germ,  tidig,  early, 
timely,  Suio-Goth.  tidig,  decorus,  decens,  conveniens. 

Tift.    vn.    To  pant,  fetch  the  breath  quickly,  as  after 

violent  exertion.  Clev.  tift,  to  squabble.  "Used  in  several 
senses,  all  ultimately  reducible  to  that  of  a  whiff  or  draught  of 
breath." — Wedg.  Norw.  tev,  tceft,  drawing  of  the  breath,  wind 
or  scent  of  a  beast,  teva,  to  pant,  breathe  hard. 

Tig.  va.  To  touch  gently.  Generallyused  in  boyish  play. 

Dut.  tikken,  Low  Germ,  ticken,  to  touch  lightly,  Sansc.  tig. 

Tike.    sb.     A  dog,  a  cur,  an  unmannerly  fellow. 

Old  Norse  tik,  tijk,  a  bitch,  Dial.  Swed.  tik,  a  bitch,  a  foolish 
woman,  tyke,  a  petulant,  insolent  person. 

Til.    prep.     To. 

Old  Norse  til,  Swed.  till,  Dan.  til. 

Tiller,     vn.     To  spread,  to  send  out  shoots. 

Clev.  telly,  a  straw,  a  stalk  of  grass.  Ang.-Sax.  telgor,  a  twig, 
branch,  telgian,  to  branch,  to  shoot,  Germ,  teller,  Dut.  telg, 
shoot.    Sansc.  till,  to  grow,  shoot. 

Tine.     va.     To  shut  up  a  pasture  field  till  the  grass 

grows  again.    Ang.-Sax  tynan,  to  inclose,  to  shut. 

Tirlt.  vb.  Unroofed,  having  the  thatch  blown  oft-Dick. 

Sco .  tirl,  to  uncover,  as  to  tirl  a  house.  Probably  a  frequenta- 
tive of  tirr,  used  in  Scotland  in  the  same  sense.  Ang.-Sax. 
teran,  Low  Germ,  teren,  to  break,  tear,  strip. 

Tite.     adv.     Soon,  quickly,  willingly. 
Old  Norse  tidt  or  titt,  soon,  quickly,  readily. 

Titter,     comp.  adv.     Sooner,  rather,  more  willingly. 

"  Na,  na  !  au'd  titter  hev  collop  er  puddin  any  day.  Mess  wad 
ah  !"  was  the  reply  of  a  Cumberland  farmer  dining  with  his 
landlord,  my  grandfather,  on  being  invited  by  the  lady  of  the 
house  to  take  some  pudding.  Old  Norse,  Old  Swed.  tidare, 
Dan.  Here,  sooner. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  I  53 

Titty,     sb.     Sister. 

"  My  tiity  Greace  an' Jenny  Bell 
Are  gangan  bye  and  bye." — Anderson. 

Sco.  titty.  Jamieson's  explanation,  "the  diminutive  of  sister," 
is  very  inadequate.  The  word  is  probably  allied  to  Dial.  Swed. 
tutta,  a  little  girl,  Finn,  tytty,  girl,  daughter.  Perhaps  con- 
nected with  Old  Norse  tita,  a  small  bird,  anything  small,  Eng. 
tit,  "anything  small  of  its  kind,  a  little  girl,  a  little  bird." — 
Wedg.    Comp.  Lonsd.  tot,  a  term  of  endearment  to  a  child. 

Tittyvate.     va.     To  adorn,  make  smart,  deck  out. 
The  idea  seems  to  be  that  of  applying  small  touches. 

Tiv.    prep.     To,  used  before  words  beginning  with  a 
vowel  or  a  silent  h. 

Tizzic.    sb.    A  slight  distemper  of  a  catching  nature. 

Gael,  teasach,  a  fever,  from  teas,  heat.  Bret,  tizick,  consump- 
tion. The  latter  may  be  an  adopted  word  corresponding  with 
Eng.  tisick,  corrupted  from  fhthisick.  Our  word  may  rather  be 
from  the  Gael.,  with  which  it  corresponds  to  a  certain  extent 
in  meaning,  though  the  coincidence  of  the  two  words  is 
puzzling. 

To.   prep.    To  "  mak  to"  the  door  is  to  shut  the  door. 

Germ,  zumachen,  to  shut. 

Toft.     sb.     The  site  of  a  deserted  house  or  building. 

Ang.-Sax.  toft,  a  croft,  a  home  field,  Old  Norse  toft,  area  domus 
vacua,  Swed. ,  Norw.  tomt,  place  where  a  house  has  once  stood. 
Tomt  seems  the  original  form,  Old  Norse  tomr,  Dan.,  Swed. 
torn,  void,  empty,  f  and  m  interchanging,  as  in  many  other 
cases. 

Tokker.    sb.     Portion,  dowry. 

"  The  breyde  now  on  a  coppy-stuol 
Sits  duin  i'  th'  fauld  a  whithrin, 
Wi'  pewter  dibler  on  her  lap, 
On  which  her  tokker  s  gethrin. " 

Bridewain,  by  Stagg, 
Sco.  tocher.    Gael.,  Ir.  tochar,  dowry,  Gael,  toic,  wealth,  fortune, 
property. 

Tome,  Toom.    sb.     A  fishing-line. 

Clev.  tawtn.  Old  Norse  tavmr,  a  thong,  rope,  fishing-line, 
Swed.  torn,  Norw.  taum,  rein,  line,  Dut.  toom,  bridle. 


154  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Tooming.    sb.     An  aching  or  dizziness  of  the  eyes. — 

West,  and  Cumb.  Dial.  Germ,  iummel,  dizziness,  giddiness, 
from  tummeln,  to  roll,  tumble.  Similarly,  onr  word  may  be 
referred  to  Old  Norse  tumba,  cadere  praeceps,  of  which  tummeln 
is  a  frequentative  form. 

Tooth-wark.    sb.     The  tooth-ache. 

Ang.-Sax.  toth-wearc,  the  tooth-ache. 
Toozle.     va.  and  n.     To  ruffle,  to  pull  about  rudely. 

Low  Germ,  tuseln,  to  pull  the, hair  about. 

Toppin.     sb.     A  roll  or  curl  of  hair  standing  up  over 

the  forehead  ;  a  crest,  on  a  bird,  &c.  "  Top,  or  foretop,  top  of 
the  hed." — Pr.  Prv.  Old  Norse  toppr,  cirrus,  villus,  the  fore- 
lock of  a  horse  or  man,  especially  th*D  former  ;  Old  Swed.  topper, 
id.,  Welsh  topyn,  top,  crest. 

Toppin-peats.    sb.     Turf  with  the  herbage  on.     See 
toppin. 

Toptire.    sb.     Towering  passion. 

Tire  in  the  above  seems  to  be  allied  to  Sco.  tirr,  quarrelsome, 
Ang.-Sax.  tyrwian,  to  vex,  provoke.     See  tarnt. 

Torfer,  Torfel.    vu.    To  fail,  die,  give  in,  decline. 

Sco.  torfel,  torchel.  Suio-Goth.  torfwa,  Swed.  tarfva,  Ang.-Sax. 
thearfian,  to  be  in  want,  Swed.  tor/tig,  poor,  needy,  Dan.  tarv, 
need,  want,  Ang.-Sax.  steorfan,  to  starve,  die. 

Torrel.     sb.     "  Ane  kill  quhair  cornes  are  dryed. — 

Life  and  Miracles  of  Sancta  Bega.  This  word  is  probably  now 
extinct." — Dick.  Probably,  like  Gael,  torran,  a  diminutive  of 
Gael,  torr,  Welsh  twr,  a  hill,  mound,  tower. 

Towertly.     adv.     Kindly,  in  a  friendly  manner. 

"  Why  that  is  spoken  like  a  toward  prince." 

Shaks.  Hen.  VI. 
Similarly,  the  reverse,  froward. 

Towp.     va.  and  n.     To  upset,  overturn.     Also  to  falL 

Towp  and  cowp,  the  two  words  of  our  dialect  signifying  to  fall, 
or  to  upset,  have  curious  points  of  resemblance.  In  neither 
case  do  we  find  the  word  from  which  ours  is  immediately  derived. 
But  towp  bears  the  same  relation  to  tipe  (to  tip  up,  fall  over) 
that  coup  bears  to  chip,  to  trip,  Old  Norse  kippa,  to  trip  up. 
Again,  towp  seems  to  have  the  same  relation  to  top  that  coup  has 
to  cop  (head,  top),  and  perhaps  that  Sansc.  pat,  to  fall,  has  to 
pate.     Towp  is  the  word  on  which,  as  a  frequentative,  is  formed 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  1 55 

Eng.  topple,  and  probably,  by  the  prefix  of  s,  Swed.,  Norw. 
stupa,  to  fall,  Eng.  stoop.  On  the  same  word,  again,  taking  a 
liquid,  may -be  formed  Welsh  twmpio,  Old  Norse  tumba,  Fr. 
tomber,  to  fall,  Eng.  tumble. 

Toytle  over.     vn.     To  topple  over. 

Sco.  toyt,  to  totter.  Dut.  touteren,  to  palpitate,  tremble,  see- 
saw.    Comp.,  also,  Gael,  tuit,  to  fall. 

Traave.     vn.     To  stride  along  as  if  through   long 

grass. —  West  and  Cumb.  Dial.  Crav.  trave.  Perhaps  the 
same  word  as  trape,  to  trail  along.  Suio-Goth.  trafwa,  currere, 
Germ,  traben,  to  tramp.  Or,  if  the  idea  be,  as  Carr  observes  of 
the  Craven  word,  that  of  "having  the  feet  fettered  in  grass,"  we 
may  think  of  trave,  taking  a  phonetic  r,  as  the  same  word  as 
tave,  to  wade  through  mire,  also  to  work  up  something  adhesive, 
and  to  connect  it  with  Old  Norse  tefja,  morari,  hserere. 

Traffick.    sb.     Lumber,  rubbish. 

Gael,  trabhach,  rubbish  of  any  kind  thrown  on  shore  by  the  flood. 

Traily.    adj.    Slovenly. 

Old  Norse  treglegr,  slow,  lazy,  Dut.  traag,  slothful. 

Tramp,    vn.     To  travel  on  foot. 

Old  Norse  trampa,  Dan.  trampe,  Germ,  trampen,  to  tread, 
stamp  with  the  foot. 

Tram,  Trab.     sb.     A  long,  narrow  field. 

It  would  seem  that,  as  in  so  many  other  cases,  the  r  in  trab  is 
intrusive,  and  that  the  word  is  properly  tab,  qv.  Tram  is 
another  form,  b  and  m  interchanging.  , 

Trantlements.      sb.      Trifling   or    useless    articles, 

frippery,  playthings.  Sco.  trantles.  Jamieson'sidea  is  that  the 
word  is  derived  from  trental,  a  service  of  thirty  masses  for  the 
dead,  and  that,  after  the  Reformation,  the  word  came  to  be 
applied,  first  to  denote  trifling  or  superstitious  ceremonies,  in 
which  sense  it  is  used  in  Cleland's  poems,  and  then,  trifles  in 
general.  I  am  more  disposed,  however,  to  connect  the  word 
with  Dut.  trantelen,  to  do  everything  in  a  slow  and  loitering 
way,  Vulg.  Germ,  trdndeln,  to  tarry,  to  loiter,  to  toy,  to  trifle. 
The  r  in  the  above  seems  to  be  intrusive,  and  the  proper  form 
to  be  found  in  Germ,  tdndeln,  to  lounge,  toy,  trifle,  correspond- 
ing with  Eng.  dandle,  and  Lonsd.  tantle,  to  attend  officiously, 
to  dawdle.  "  She  tantles  after  him,"  often  said  of  the  atten- 
tions of  an  anxious  mother. — Peacock.  In  the  Germ,  tandel- 
puppe,  a  doll,  we  have  a  sense  the  counterpart  of  one  of  ours. 
With  dandle  Wedgwood  connects  Sco.  dandilly  and  Eng. 
dandy.  "  A  dandy  is  probably,  first  a  doll,  and  then  a  Pnely 
dressed  person," 


156  GLOSSARY   OF  THE 

Trapesing,    adj.     Wandering  about  idly,   flaunting 

about.  Trape,  to  trail  along  in  an  untidy  manner. —  Wedg. 
Low  Germ,  trappsen,  trappen,  Germ,  traben,  Dut.  trappen,  to 
tramp  about.     See  traave. 

Trash,    vn.    To  trudge,  to  weary  oneself. 

Swed.  traska,  to  trudge. 

Treak.    sb.     An  idle  fellow. 

Old  Norse  tregr,  Dan.  trag,  lazy,  slow,  Old  Norse  tregaz, 
segnescere. 

Treed,    vn.     To  tread. 

Tret.     Treated,  pret.  of  treat. 

Trig.     adj.     Tight,  well-fitted,  in  good  trim. 

Clev.  trig,  to  supply,  full,  stuff,  of  the  result  rather  than  the 
action,  of  eating  heartily.  "  I  connect  this  with  Old  Norse 
tryggia,  to  secure,  make  safe,  attach,  Dan.  betrygge,  Old  Norse 
tryggr,  Dan.  tryg,  safe,  secure,  fearless." — Atk. 

Trim.    sb.    Order,  condition. 

Ang.-Sax.  trymman,  to  establish,  prepare,  dispose. 

Trivet,     sb.     Something  supported  on  three  legs. 

Old  Norse  thrifcetlr,  tripes,  Welsh  tribedh,  Corn,  tribet,  (de- 
rived by  Williams,  though,  it  seems  to  me,  rather  doubtfully, 
from  Lat.  tripes.) 

Trod.    sb.    A  footpath. 

Old  Norse  trod,  a  road  or  path  to  a  farm-stead,  Ang.-Sax.  trod, 
a  path,  track. 

Trollybags.     sb.     Tripe. 

Swed.  trilla,  Dan.  trille,  Swiss  trallen,  to  roll,  "the  idea  being 
that  of  a  convoluted  bag-like  receptacle." — Atk. 

Trooan.     sb.     A  truant. 

Welsh  truan,  poor,  miserable,  wretched,  Gael,  truaghan,  a 
wretched  creature.  The  primary  meaning,  then,  of  truant  is  a 
vagabond  or  wandering  beggar. 

Trug.     sb.     A  wooden  coal-box. 

Old  Norse,  Ang.-Sax.  trog,  Dan.  trug,  trough. 

Truncher.     sb.     A  trencher  or  wooden  platter. 

Fr.  tranchoir,  a  wooden  plate  on  which  the  meat  was  cut  up, 
from  trancher.  to  cut. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  157 

Turn-deal.    sb.    "  In  some  undivided  common  fields 

the  ownership  of  the  pareels  changes  annually  in  succession." — 
Dick.     See  run-rig. 

Tushie-pegs.    sb.    A  childish  name  for  the  teeth. 

Ang.-Sax.  tusc,  Fris.  tosk,  tooth.    See  peg. 

Tute.     vn.    To  wait  upon,  to  hang  about  a  person  or 

a  place.  "  He  tutes  about  his  laal  wife  as  if  she  was  a  barn." — 
Dick.  Lonsd.  tout,  to  pry  inquisitively.  Toot,  a  verb  used  for 
the  action  of  prying  into  any  thing  a  little  more  curiously  than 
the  person  observed  likes. — Hutiter.  Old  Eng.  tote,  to  peep. 
"  To  tote,  in  Somerset,  is  to  bulge  out,  and  probably  the  radical 
meaning  of  the  word  may  be  to  stick  out.  Old  Norse  tota,  a 
snout,  tuta,  anything  sticking  out,  having  prominent  eyes." 
—  Wedg. 

Twill,     sb.     A  quill. 

"  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  do  more  than  simply  advert  to  the 
very  frequent  interchange  of  tw  and  qu  in  the  Northern  dialects 
and  tongues.  Rietz  remarks  that  in  certain  districts  tv  is 
sounded  as  kw  or  ku,  as,  for  instance,  kwongin  for  tvungen, 
&c."—Atk. 

Twilt.     va.     To  beat. 

The  same  as  quilt,  qv. 

Twine,     va.     To  whine. 

Worsaae  (Danes  and  Northmen)  refers  our  word  to  Dan.  tvine, 
a  dial,  form,  I  presume,  of  hvine. 

T winter,     sb.     A  two-year-old  sheep. 

Hoist,  twenter,  a  two-year-old  sheep,   Fris.  twinter-dier,  an 
animal  two  years  old,  Ang.-Sax.  twy-winter,  duos  annos  natus. 
Our  ancestors  reckoned  age  by  winters. 
"  And  in  a  tawny  tabard, 
Of  twelf  wynter  age. " — P.  PI. 
Similarly,  we  have  thrinter,  a  three-year-old  sheep. 

Twist,     sb.     A  feeder,  an  eater. 

Lonsd.  twist  is  rendered  by  Peacock  "  a  great  eater,"  as  in 
the  phrase,  "  He's  a  rare  twist."  The  word  by  itself,  however, 
I  think  means  simply  "  eater,"  from  Ang.-Sax.  gewistan,  to 
feed,  feast,  Ang.-Sax.  wist,  Old  Norse  vist,  food.  We  may 
presume  an  Ang.-Sax.  gewista,  feeder;  whence,  by  the  inter- 
change of  cw  or  gw  with  tw  (see  twilt)  comes  our  twist.  In 
Cumberland  the  word  is  sometimes  used  in  the  sense  of  appetite, 
which  may  probably  arise  from  "he's  a  rare  twist,"  (in  which 
way  the  word  is  most  generally  used),  being  taken  to  be  "  he 
has"  instead  of  "he  is." 


I58  GLOSSARY   OF  THE 

Twist,    vn.    To  whine,  to  be  peevish  or  out  of  temper. 

Clev.  twisty,  peevish.  Dan.  tvist,  Dut.  twisty  strife,  disagree- 
ment, squabbling,  Dan.  tviste,  Dut.  twisten,  to  quarrel, 
squabble. 

Twitch-bell.     sb.     The  ear-wig. 

Twitch  seems  to  be  from  Ang.-Sax.  twig,  two,  double,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  forked  tail  of  the  insect.  The  ending  bell,  as  also 
in  warble,  (the  name  of  an  insect),  seems  to  be  a  contraction  of 
beetle. 

Tyle.    va  and  n.     To  weary,  distress,  wear  out. 

*(  I's  tyled  to  death  wid  this  kurn." — Gibson.  Tyle  may  perhaps 
be  for  tcwl,  as  a  frequentative  of  tew.  which  we  use  in  the  same 
sense,  as  in  "  I's  fairly  tewed  to  death."    See  tew" 


u. 

Udder-gates,     adv.     Otherwise. 

Udder-gates  is  other  ways.     See  gate. 

Un homed,     adj.      Awkward,   unlikely. —  West,   and 

Cumb.  Dial.  Perhaps  from  Dut.  komen,  convenire,  decere, 
with  the  negative  prefix. 

Unket.     adj.     Strange,  unknown. 

Clev.  unkard,  unkit.  Sco.  unco.  Eng.  uncouth.  "  Uncowth, 
extraneous,  exoticus." — Pr.  Prv.  Ang.-Sax.  un-cuth,  unknown, 
strange. 

Unkoes.     sb.     Wonders,  news. 

The  origin  seems  to  be  the  same  as  above  unket. 

Up.     va.     To  lift  up.     To  upset. 

Old  Norse  yppa,  Dan.  yppe,  elevare,  Ang.-Sax.  uppian,  to 
rise  up. 

Urchin,     sb.     The  hedgehog. 

Sco.  hurcheon.  "Orchen,  a  lytell  beest  full  of  prickes,  herison," 
— Palsg.  The  derivation  seems  to  me  to  be  involved  in  con- 
siderable uncertainty.  On  the  one  hand  we  have  Lat.  ericius, 
Span,  erizo,  Fr.  herisson,  the  idea  in  which  is  seen  in  Ital.  riccio, 
something  rough  or  prickly,  Fr.  herisser,  to  set  up  his  bristles. 
And  on  the  other,  Gael,  uircean,  a  little  pig,  whence  in  the 
Diet,  of  the  Highland  Soc.  is  derived  our  urchin.  And  the 
Bret,  heureuchin,  hedgehog,  which  seems  to  be  a  compound 
word,  Corn,  harow,  rough,  bristly,  and  Bret,  hoch,  pig,  Welsh 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  1 59 

hwcan,  little  pig,  thus  corresponding  with  hedgehog  (properly 
edge-hog ;  Ang.-Sax.  ecg,  point),  and  porcupine  (prickly  pig). 
Then  Rouchi  (patois  of  Hainault)  has  hirchen,  hedge-hog,  the 
connections  of  which  seem  uncertain.  And  lastly,  we  have  the 
Ang.-Sax.  erscen,  which  seems  to  be  from  ersc,  park,  warren. 
Among  these  various  forms  I  cannot  undertake,  with  anything 
like  certainty,  to  propose  an  origin  for  our  word. 

Urled.     adj.     Stunted,  dwarfed.     See  urlin. 
Urlin.     sb.    A  stunted  or  dwarfish  person. 

Clev.  urling,  a  dwarfish  child  or  person,  one  who  through  sick- 
ness or  other  cause  has  not  grown  properly.  North,  urled, 
starved  with  cold. — Hall.  Sco.  worling,  a  feeble  and  puny 
creature.  We  may  perhaps  think  of  Dial.  Swed.  orla,  to  swoon, 
lose  the  senses,  also  to  become  wild  or  unmanageable,  orling,  a 
madcap.  The  latter  sense  would  seem  to  accord  with  that  of 
Old  Eng.  wyrlyng  (if  that  word  be  the  same  as  ours) — 
' '  God  forbede  that  a  wylde  Irish  wyrlyng 
Shoulde  be  chosen  for  to  be  theyr  kyng," 

MSS.  Soc.  Ant. 
Or  perhaps  ar/may  be  a  frequentative  from  Ang.-Sax.  eargian, 
to  be  dull,  inert,  timid,  Old  Norse  ergiaz,  in  pejus  mutari, 

Urph.     sb.     A  miserable,  diminutive  child  or  person. 

Perhaps  from  yrf  in  Old  Norse  yrflingr  or  yrmlingr,  a  little 
worm  (Germ,  wurm,  worm,  signifying  figuratively  a  poor  little 
child).  Or,  from  the  frequent  change  of  g  final  into  /,  from 
Ang.-Sax.  earg,  weak,  timid,  helpless.  Comp.  Crav.  arfe, 
fearful. 


Vamp  up.     va.     To  furbish  up,  repair  temporarily. 

Literally,  to  put  on  a  new  upper  leather,  from  vamp,  the  upper 
leather  of  a  shoe. —  Wedg. 

Vine.     sb.    A  vine-pencil  is  a  black-lead  pencil.     See 

calevine. 


w. 

Wabble,    vn.    To  sway  to  and  fro. 

Low  Germ,  wabbeln,  Bav.  waibeln,  Dut.  wei/elen,  to  waver, 
move  ro  and  fro. 


l6o  GLOSSARY   OF  THE 

Wad.    sb.     Black-lead  or  plumbago. 

Probably  for  wag,  from  the  frequent  interchange  of  d  and  g. 
Ang.-Sax.  wcecg,  -a  mass  of  metal,  black-lead  being  found,  as  in 
the  famous  mine  at  Borrowdale,  in  masses  or  lumps  of  pure 
metal.  Another  word  for  black-lead,  now  obsolete,  would  seem 
to  have  been  collow.     See  calevine. 

Wad-eater,    sb.     India-rubber,  from  its  erasing  the 

marks  made  by  wad  or  black-lead.     See  wad. 

Waff.    sb.     A  puff  of  wind. 

Welsh  chwaf,  a  gust.      Dan.  vifte,  Swed.  vefta,  to  waft. 
Waff.     sb.    The  bark  of  a  small  dog. 

"Wappynge  (of  houndys)  or  barkynge. — Pr.  Prv.  Goth. 
vopjan,  Old  Fris.  wepa,  Strl.  vapia,  to  cry,  Ang.-Sax.  wceflan, 
to  babble. 

Waffle,    vn.    To  waver,  be  undecided. 

See  wabble. 

Waffler.    sb.    A  fickle,  uncertain  person. 

Dut.  weyfeler,  homo  vagus,  inconstans,  vacillans. — Kil.  See 
wabble. 

Waits,     sb.     Nightly  musicians  who  used  to  play  in 

the  streets  at  Christmastide.  "Wayte,  waker,  vigil." — Pr.  Prv. 
Old  Norse  vakta,  Old  High  Germ,  wahten.  Germ,  wachten,  to 
watch,  or  keep  awake. 

Wale.     va.     To  beat,  cudgel. 

Probably  from  Old  Norse  voir,  Swed.  val,  a  stick  ;  Wei.  gwial, 
a  rod,  twig. 

Walker,     sb.     A  fuller. 

Ang.-Sax.  wealcere,  Dan.  valker,  a  fuller. 

Wallop,  va.  and  n.    To  dangle  loosely.  Also  to  beat. 

Swiss  valple,  vacillate.— Idiot.  Bern.  "  Wallop  bears  the  same 
relation  to  wabble  that  Swiss  swalpen  does  to  Germ,  schwappelen, 
to  splash  or  dash  to  and  fro  like  water,  or  Old  Eng.  walmynge 
to  wamelynge  of  the  stomach.  {Pr.  Prv.) — Wedg. 

Wallow,     adj.    Weak,  faint,  tasteless,  insipid. 

Dut.  walghen,  to  nauseate,  to  loathe.     See  welsh. 

Wammel.     vn.     To  rock  to  and  fro. 

Dut.  wemelen,  Low  Germ,  wiimmeln,  to  shake  to  and  fro  ; 
Welsh  gwammalu,  to  waver. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  l6l 

Wan.    Won.     Pret.  of  win. 

Wandy.    adj.    Long  and  flexible,  as  a  wand. 

Old  Norse  vondr,  a  rod,  wand. 

Wandly  or  Waanly.    adv.     Gently,  carefully. 

"  '  Come,  luiv,'  quo  I,  'aw'U  waanly  take  thee  down.' 
*  Stand  off,  thou  gowk,'  she  answered,  with  a  frown." 

Ewan  Clarke. 
Sco.  waynd,  to  care,  be  anxious  about.     Ang.-Sax.  wandian, 
vereri,  revereri,  Old  Norse  vanda,  to  do  a  thing  attentively  or 
carefully,  vandlega,  sollicite. 

Wang-tooth,    sb.    A  grinder. 

Ang.-Sax.  wang-toth,  a  grinder,  from  wang,  the  jaw. 

Wankle.     adj.     Weak,  infirm,  tottering. 

Ang.-Sax.  wancol,  unsteady,  Dut.  wankelen,  to  totter,  stagger. 
Formed  by  taking  the  nasal,  on  waggle,  Germ,  wackeln,  Dut. 
waggelen,  &c. 

Wap.    sb.     A  bundle  of  straw. 

Old  Norse  vefja,  involucrum,  Ang.-Sax.  wafan,  to  envelope. 

Ware.    vn.     To  expend. 

Old  Norse  verja,  to  spend,  to  trade,  Welsh  guariau,  to  spend, 
disburse. 

War-days.     sb.     Working  days,  all  days  but  Sunday. 

Suio-Goth.  hwardag,  Dan.  hverdag,  an  ordinary  day. 

Warison.     sb.     The  belly. — Hall, 

See  warishin. 

Wark.     sb.    Pain,  aching. 

Ang-Sax.  ware,  Old  Norse  verkr,  pain. 

Warn.    va.    To  summon  to  a  funeral. 
Warn.     va.     To  deny,  forbid,  keep  off. 

Ang.-Sax.  wyrnan,  to  refuse,  forbid,  hinder,  Old  Norse  varna, 
prohibere,  obstare,  Old  Sax.  warnian,  recusare. 

Warn.     va.    To  assure,  to  warrant. — Dick. 

North,  warn,  to  warrant. — Hall.  Old  Fris.  wernja,  to  warrant 
("verbiirgen,  sicherheit  geben." — Richt.)  I  have  never,  how- 
ever, myself,  heard  the  word  used  in  such  a  way  as  to  be  certain 
that  it  was  not  a  contraction  of  warrant. 

N 


1 62  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

Warridge.  sb.    The  withers,  or  shoulders,  of  a  horse. 

Atk.  collates  warridge  with  Germ,  wither  rist,  withers.  But  we 
may  perhaps  find  a  connection  with  Welsh  gwar,  the  nape  of 
the  neck,  the  part  just  below  the  neck,  Corn,  gwar,  neck,  guarac, 
that  which  is  bent.  The  Old  Norse  sviri,  Ang.-Sax.  sweor, 
Old  Eng.  swire,  neck,  seems  to  be  from  the  same  root. 

Warp.     va.     To  lay  eggs. 

Old  Norse  verpa,  Suio-Goth.  warpa,  Swed.  varpa,  to  lay  eggs. 
The  primary  meaning  is  to  cast  or  throw. 

Warrishin.     sb.     Store,  provision. 

"  Sec  a  warrishin  of  sooins  an'  yal." — Dick.  Warrishin 
seems  to  be  from  the  same  origin  as  wares,  goods,  merchandise, 
on  which  Wedgwood  observes  that  the  radical  meaning  seems 
to  be  provisionment,  stores,  from  the  root  ware,  to  look, 
observe,  take  notice  of.  ' '  The  development  of  the  signification 
is  especially  clear  in  Finnish" — warata,  to  be  provident,  warasta, 
provisions,  stores.  Comp.,  also,  Swed.  matwaror,  provision 
of  meat,  fiskwaror,  provision  of  fish.  The  above  shows  the 
more  remote  origin  of  our  word ,  but  it  is,  in  all  probability, 
immediately  derived  from  Fr.  garnison  (orig.  guarnison), 
itself  of  Teutonic  origin,  The  n  is  lost  in  Eng.  garrison, 
which  is  the  same  word  as  our  warrishin,  in  the  restricted 
sense  of  the  supply  of  soldiers  (perhaps  originally  general 
supplies)  for  a  fortress.  Then  the  Scotch  has  warison,  in 
the  sense  of  guerdon  or  reward  ;  we  find  also  in  Cornish, 
no  doubt  a  relic  of  Old  English  use,  weryson  or  gueryson 
in  the  same  sense  ;  it  appears  to  be  the  same  word  with 
a  variation  of  meaning.  The  West,  and  Cumb.  Dial,  has 
warison,  the  stomach  and  its  contents,  in  a  sense  again  some- 
what divergent.  The  Lonsd.  warish,  to  recover  from  sickness, 
Old  Eng.  waresche,  to  cure,  to  heal,  though  from  the  same 
general  origin,  do  not  seem  to  be  immediately  connected  with 
our  word,  but  to  be  from  the  Fr.  guerir,  to  heal,  a  development 
in  another  direction  of  the  same  root  ware,  and  a  corresponding 
sense  to  which  is  found  in  Lapp,  warres,  sanus,  bene  valens. 

Wath.    sb.    A  ford  in  a  river. 

Old  Norse  vad,  Old  Swed.  wad,  Swed.,  Dan.  vad,  a  ford,  a 
place  through  which  one  can  wade.  Hence  Ital.  guado,  Fr.  gut, 
ford. 

Watter-brash.    sb.     A  rising  of  acrid  saliva  into  the 

mouth.  Brash  is  connected  by  Atk.  with  Old  Eng.  brake,  Dut. 
braecken,  to  vomit.  It  occurs  to  me,  however,  as  not  impro- 
bable that  it  may  be  by  transposition  for  barsh,  Fris.  barsch, 
Germ,  barsch,  bitter,  acrid.    Or  from  a  corresponding  noun. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  1 63 

Watter-goit.    sb.    A  place  in  a  stream  across  which 

a  pole  is  laid,  to  prevent  trespass  of  cattle.  Ang.-Sax.  gyte,  an 
overflowing,  Dut.  waeter-geute,  alluvies — the  reference  being  to 
the  raising  of  the  water  by  means  of  the  obstruction. 

Watter-jaw't.     adj.     Applied  to  potatoes  that  have 

been  spoiled  by  being  left  too  long  in  the  water  after  boiling. 
Jawt  or  jawed  seems  to  be  most  probably  from  Old  Norse 
galladr,  spoiled,  defective,  from  galli,  fault,  imperfection,  the  / 
being  dropped  as  usual. 

Watter-tee.    sb.    The  water-wagtail. 

Tee  in  the  above  seems  to  be  for  tit,  a  small  bird.  See  moor- 
tidy. 

Waur.     comp.  adj.     Worse. 

Ang.-Sax.  warm,  Dan.  vcerre,  Swed.  varre,  Lapp,  wdrr, 
worse. 

Wax.    vn.     To  grow,  increase  in  stature. 

Ang.-Sax.  weaxan,  Old  Norse  vaxa,  Germ,  wachsen,  to  grow. 

Wax-kernels  or  Waxen-kernels,     sb.     Glandular 

swellings  in  the  neck,  popularly  supposed — whence  their  name 
— to  be  more  common  among  those  who  are  waxing  or  growing. 
»     Ang.-Sax.  cyrnel,  kernel. 

Waze.  sb.  A  pad  for  the  head,  to  carry  weights  upon. 

Crav.  wais,  a  wreath  of  straw  or  cloth  worn  on  the  head,  to 
relieve  the  pressure  of  burdens.  Sco.  weasses,  a  species  of 
breeching  for  the  necks  of  work-horses.  Waze,  or  wreath  of 
straw. — J.  K.  Fris.  waase,  padding  under  a  woman's  dress, 
waask  (diminutive),  a  pad  for  the  head,  to  carry  weights  upon, 
Low  Germ,  wase,  a  sod  of  turf,  whence  (from  its  frequent  use 
for  that  purpose)  the  diminutive  waseke,  a  pad  for  the  head,  to 
carry  weights  upon  [Hamb.  Idiot.),  Swed.  vase,  sheaf,  Suio- 
Goth.  wase,  Old  Norse  vasi,  a  bundle  of  small  twigs,  Ang.-Sax. 
wase,  Old  High  Germ,  waso,  turf  (whence  Fr.  gazon)',  Germ. 
wasen,  sod,  turf,  clod,  Prov.  Germ,  wase,  bundle  of  brushwood. 

Wear.     va.     To  turn  or  stop  cattle  or  sheep. 

Ang.-Sax.  werian,  Old  Norse  verja,  Germ,  wehren,  to  check, 
restrain,  keep  off. 

Weasand.    sb.     The  gullet  or  windpipe. 

Ang.-Sax,  wcesend,  the  windpipe,  from  hwedsan,  to  blow, 
wheeze. 

Weather-go.    sb.     The  end  of  a  rainbow  seen  in  the 

morning  in  showery  weather. — Dick.      Weather-gall,  the  lower 

N  2 


1 64  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

part  of  a  rainbow  when  the  rest  of  the  arch  is  not  seen.—  West, 
and  Cumb.  Dial.  Crav.  weather~gall,  a  secondary  or  broken 
rainbow.  Sco.  weather-gaw,  part  of  one  side  of  a  rainbow, 
appearing  immediately  above  the  horizon,  viewed  as  a  prog- 
nostic of  bad  weather.  Isle  of  Wight  water-geal,  a  secondary 
rainbow. — Hall.  Germ,  wasser-galle  or  regen-galle,  "apart 
of  a  rainbow,  an  imperfect  rainbow,  of  which  only  a  part  is 
seen. " — Adelung.  Old  Norse  haf-gall,  a  rainbow  on  the  sea, 
portending  a  storm.  Wachter's  explanation  of  Germ,  wasser- 
gall,  splendor  pluvius,  referring  to  Ang.-Sax.  gyl,  splendid,  does 
not  seem  to  me  very  satisfactory.  If  we  take  weather  to  be 
used  in  the  sense  of  foul  weather  or  storm,  which  is  one  of  the 
meanings  of  Old  Norse  vedr,  and  which,  as  Jam.  observes,  has 
the  sanction  of  ancient  use  in  Scotland,  and  which  appears  to 
be  the  obvious  meaning  in  Lonsd.  weather-breeder,  "a  sudden 
fine  day  of  extraordinary  beauty,  followed  often  by  rain  and 
storm  ;"  the  most  natural  explanation  of  gall  would  seem  to  be 
that  of  "presage,"  from. Ang.-Sax.  galan,  to  foretell.  Thus 
weather-gall  would  be,  like  the  Old  Norse  vedr-spaer,  "that 
which  foretells  bad  weather,"  as  the  Germ,  wasser-gall  and 
Isle  of  Wight  water-geal  would  be  that  which  foretells  wet. 

Webster,    sb.    A  weaver. 

Ang.-Sax.  webestre,  a  female  weaver.  The  distinction  of  sex 
seems  at  an  early  period  to  have  been  lost.    See  dyster. 

Weeky.    adj.    Moist,  juicy. 

Old  Norse  vbkva,  madefacere,  vokvi,  humour ;  Dut.  wack, 
udus,  humidus,  laxus,  mollis,  weeken,  to  soak,  steep,  Low  Germ. 
wik  wader  mild  weather,  thaw. 

Weel.   va.    To  select,  to  pick  out. 

Old  Norse  velja,  Dan.  vcelge,  Swed.  vdlja,  to  choose,  to  elect. 
Well.    va.     To  weld. 

Swed.  valla,  Germ,  wellen,  to  join  two  pieces  of  iron  by  heat. 
"  From  Germ,  wallen,  Dut.  wellen,  Ang.-Sax.  weallan,  to  boil. 
The  process  of  welding  is  generally  named  from  the  word  for 
boiling  in  other  languages." — Wedg. 

Welsh,     adj.     Insipid,  tasteless. 

Referred  by  Jamieson  to  Dut.  gaelsch,  insipid.  But  it  may  be 
rather  a  contraction  of  wallowish,  nauseous  {Hall.),  which, 
again,  from  wallow,  fiat,  insipid.  Comp.  valg,  tasteless, 
insipid  (Aasen),  and  also  Dut.  walgen,  to  nauseate." — Atk. 

Welt.     va.     To  upset,  to  turn  over. 

Ang.-Sax.  wealtiau,  Old  Norse  velta,  to  turn,  roll  over. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  165 

Welts,    sb.     The  ribbed  tops  of  stockings,  &c. 

Welsh  gwald,  hem,  border. 

Wents.  sb.    Narrow  lanes  in  the  towns  of  Cockermouth 

and  Workington.  Went,  in  the  sense  of  a  passage,  "  ane  dern 
went,"  a  dark  passage,  occurs  in  Doug.  Virg.  It  seems  to  be 
the  same  word  as  wynd,  used  in  Scotland  for  an  alley  or  lane, 
and  which  Jam.  refers  to  Ang.-Sax.  wendan,  Germ,  wenden,  to 
turn,  "as  turnings  from  a  principal  street."  Rather,  it  seems  to 
me,  from  Ang.-Sax.  wendan,  in  the  sense  of  ire,  procedere,  as 
passage,  that  through  which  one  passes,  and  as  alley,  from  aller, 
to  go. 

Wentit.    adj.    Turned  sour. 

The  word  properly  denotes  simply  "turned."  Ang.-Sax.  wen- 
dan,  Old  Norse  venda,  to  turn. 

Weyt.      sb.     A  vessel  formed  of  a  wooden  hoop 

covered  with  sheepskin,  used  for  lifting  grain  in  the  barn.  Sco. 
wecht.  Jamieson  particularises  two  different  kinds  of  weckt, 
one  for  winnowing  the  grain,  and  the  other  for  simply  lifting  it. 
In  the  former  sense  he  suggests  his  derivation  from  Germ. 
wechen,  wehen,  to  blow,  Belg.  wayer,  "  more  properly  vecher," 
a  fanner  or  winnower.  In  the  latter  sense  we  might  think  of 
Ang.-Sax.  wegan,  Old  Norse  vega,  to  lift,  whence  Ang.-Sax. 
wegd,  Low  Germ,  weckt,  Dan.  v&gt,  Eng.  weight,  that  which  is 
lifted.  In  any  case  both  words  are  probably  from  the  same 
origin. 

Whamp  or  Wamp.     sb.     A  wasp. 

It  seems  uncertain  to  what  extent  our  word  is  coincident  with 
Eng.  wasp,  more  especially  as  the  etymology  of  wasp  remains  to 
be  accurately  defined.  Wedgwood,  collating  other  names  of 
the  insect,  (as  Gael,  speach,  from  speach,  to  bite,  sting),  says 
"  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  it  comes  from  a  word  signifying 
to  sting. "  Perhaps  Sansc.  vis,  to  pierce,  which  from  its  deri- 
vatives visan,  poison,  Lat.  virus  (Eichoff),  seems  to  have  had 
more  especially  the  sense  of  stinging.  But  there  is  also  another 
strongly-marked  characteristic  from  which  the  wasp  might  take 
its  name,  and  that  is,  its  peculiar  conformation,  or,  in  other 
words,  its  thin  waist.  And  in  the  Welsh  gwasgu,  to  press  or 
squeeze,  whence  gwasg,  the  waist,  "  the  place  where  the  body 
is  squeezed  in,"  (  Wedg.),  we  seem  to  have  at  all  events  a  note- 
worthy comparison  with  wasp.  Our  word  wamp,  if  it  be  not 
simply  a  variation  of  wasp,  (comp.  clamp  with  clasp),  may, 
changing  n  euphonically  into  m,  be  compared  with  Welsh 
gwanu,  Gael,  guin,  Corn,  gwane,  to  pierce  or  sting,  whence 
Welsh  gwenynen,  Corn,  gwanen,  a  bee.  Williams  finds  the 
root  in  Sansc.  vdn,  to  pierce  ;  which,  if,  as  seems  probable,  it 


1 66  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

is  also  the  root  of  venerium,,  Welsh  gwenwyn,  Corn,  guenoin, 
poison,  seems,  like  vis,  to  have  the  sense  of  stinging.  But  in 
this  case  again,  we  have  the  Bret,  gwana,  Ir.  geinnim,  to  press, 
squeeze,  suggesting  an  etymon  in  the  other  direction.  Still,  on 
the  whole,  the  former  seems  the  more  probable  derivation,  and 
we  may  think  of  wasp  and  wdmp — if  not  simply  variations  of  the 
same  word — as  parallel  words  derived  from  two  collateral  roots 
signifying  to  sting. 

Whang,     sb.     A  thong,  a  leather  strap,  a  slice   of 

something  tough,  as  cheese.  Ang.-Sax.  thwang,  Suio-Goth. 
twdnge,  a  thong. 

Whane.  va.  and  n.  To  stroke  down  caressingly.  Also 

to  coax,  to  wheedle.  Lonsd.  whane,  to  coax,  entice.  Clev. 
whally,  to  stroke  the  back  of  an  animal  gently  ;  also  to  obtain 
one's  ends  by  caressing  or  wheedling.  Whane  and  whally  seem 
to  be  parallel  words  ;  the  latter,  as  Atk.  has  it,  from  Old  Norse 
vcela,  to  take  in,  impose  upon,  and  the  former  from  Ang.-Sax. 
wagnian,  of  the  same  meaning. 

Whantle.     va.    To  fondle. — Hall. 

Seems  to  be  a  frequentative  from  Old  Norse  vanda,  to  do  a 
thing  attentively  or  carefully,  (see  wandly).  If  not  for  whannel, 
as  a  frequentative  of  above  whane. 

What!     intj.      An  often-used  expletive.      "  What, 

Jemmy  !  how's  thou  ?" — Dick. 

"  I  caw'd  to  sup  cruds  wi'  Dick  Miller, 
An'  hear  aw  his  cracks  an'  his  jwokes  ; 
The  dumb  wife  was  tellin'  their  fortunes — 
What  /  I  mud  be  leyke  udder  fwoks." — Anderson. 

"  '  What  f  quod  the  preest  to  Perkyn, 
'  Peter,  as  me  thynketh, 
'  Thou  art  lettred  a  lytel.'"—  P.  PI. 
Ang.-Sax.  hwcet,  what !  lo  ! 

Wheen.  sb.    A  certain  limited  quantity,  a  little. 

Sco.  quhene.  Ang.-Sax.  hwine,  somewhat,  a  little,  Germ,  wenig, 
Low  Germ,  weenig,  a  little,  a  few. 

Wheezle.     vn.     To  wheeze,  breathe  with  difficulty. 

A  frequentative  from  Ang.-Sax.  hweosan.  Old  Norse  hvcssa,  to 
wheeze. 

Whelk,     va.     To  beat  or  thump. 

' '  Whele  or  whelke. " — Pr.  Prv.  A  modification  of  wale  or  weal. 
See  wale. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  1 67 

Whemmel.     va.  and  n.     To  overturn,  overwhelm. 

Dut.  wemelen,  to  whirl,  turn  round.  Whemmel  is  the  original 
form  of  whelm. 

Whewt.     sb.     "  A  few  whewts  o'  snow." — Dick.  Supp. 

The  meaning  seems  to  be  a  whiff.  Welsh  chwyth,  blast,  Ang.- 
Sax.  hweotha,  breeze. 

Whewtle.    sb.     A  low  whistle. 

Clev.  whewt,  whewtle,  to  whistle.  Sco.  quhew,  to  whistle. 
Welsh  chwyth,  blast,  chwythu,  to  blow,  chwythell,  whistle. 
Ang.-Sax.  hweotha,  a  breeze. 

Whickflu.     sb.    A  whitlow. 

' '  The  true  form  of  the  word  (whitlow)  is  probably  preserved  in 
N.E.  whick-flaw,  a. flaw  or  sore  about  the  quick  of  the  nail." — 
Wedg. 

Whicks.    sb.     Young  thorns  planted  for  growing. 

Properly  quicks.     Ang.-Sax.  cwic,  alive. 

Whidder.     vn.     To  tremble,  shudder. 

Old  Norse  hvidra,  cito  commoveri,  "  cognate  with  which  is 
probably  Ang.-Sax.  hweotherung,  a  murmuring,  hweotheran,  to 
murmur. ' ' — A  tk. 

Whidderer.     sb.     A  strong  and  stout  person. 

Lonsd.  witherer.  Lane,  witherin,  large,  powerful.  Davies 
refers  to  Welsh  uther,  terrible,  but  I  prefer  Ang.-Sax.  swithra, 
one  strong  or  skilful,  from  swith,  strong,  powerful,  great. 

Whig.    sb.     Whey  kept  for  drinking.     "  If  suffered  to 

become  sour,  aromatic  herbs  are  steeped  in  it." — Dick.  Ang.- 
Sax.  hwceg,  hweg,  whey.  Or  perhaps  rather  Welsh  chwig, 
whey  fomented  with  sweet  herbs. 

While,     adv.    Until. 

"  Wait  while  I  come."  "  The  traces  of  this  usage — which  is  of 
constant  occurrence,  and  very  striking — or  of  the  origin  of  it, 
rather,  may  be  occasionally  met  with  in  early  texts.  Thus  in 
Northumb.  Gosp.  Matt.  1.  24  ;  he  ne  cunnade  hea  tha  huile  hia 
gecende  hire  frumcende  sunu  ;  and  he  knew  her  not  the  while 
she  brought  forth  her  first-born  son.  *  *  *  No  doubt  our 
while  is  the  remains  of  an  elliptical  mode  of  expression,  equiva- 
lent to  during  the  time  or  space  [hwile)  before." — Atk. 

Whilk.    pron.     Which. 

Ang.-Sax.  hwile,  Old  Norse  hvilikr,  Germ,  welcher. 


1 68  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Whillimer.    sb.    A  very  poor  kind  of  cheese,  said  to 

have  been  originally  made  in  the  township  of  Whillimoor.  But 
Lonsd.  winnymer,  also  signifying  a  very  poor  cheese,  seems  to 
throw  a  doubt  on  the  above  explanation.  And  Lonsd.  has  also 
in  the  same  sense  whangby,  a  puzzling  word,  which  seems  to  be 
from  whang,  a  thong  or  slice  of  something  tough,  as  cheese  ; 
and  yet,  from  its  ending  by,  would  seem  to  indicate  the  name 
of  a  place. 

Whim.    adj.    Soft,  noiseless,  quiet,  running  smoothly. 

Lonsd.  wheam,  soft,  quiet,  mild,  smooth,  sheltered.  Clev. 
whimly,  softly,  gently,  stilly.  Crav.  wheem,  smooth,  calm, 
unruffled,  applied  to  the  surface  of  water  unruffled  by  a  breeze. 
Wheam,  smooth,  sheltered,  impervious  to  the  wind. — Brock. 
Halliwell  has  wheam,  snug,  convenient,  North.  ;  and  wheamly, 
slily,  deceitfully,  Line.  Atkinson  finds  the  general  root  in 
Ang.-Sax.  cweman,  to  satisfy,  please,  delight.  But  there  is  a 
further  suggestion  which  seems  to  me  worth  making  respecting 
this  word.  In  most  of  its  meanings  it  coincides  exactly  with 
Eng.  calm,  and  it  appears  further  as  if  it  might  contain  the 
same  root.  Now  calm  comes  to  us  from  the  Romance  through 
the  French,  and  its  primitive  meaning  (see  Wedg.)  "  seems  to  be 
heat, "  Port,  calma,  heat,  Prov.  Sp.  calma,  the  heat  of  the  day. 
Now  the  question  which  occurs  to  me  is  whether  our  word  whim 
or  wheem,  in  the  sense  of  calm,  may  not  be  in  a  similar  manner 
derived  from  Ang.-Sax.  wilm  or  welm,  signifying  heat.  Comp. 
Ang.-Sax.  hwem,  a  corner  (sheltered  place ?) 

Whin.    sb.    Furze  or  gorse. 

' '  Properly  waste  growth ,  weeds,  but  now  appropriated  to  gorse 
or  furze." — Wedg.  Welsh  chwyn,  weeds,  Swed.  hven,  bent 
grass,  Old  Norse  hv'onn,  angelica,  common  in  a  wild  state  in 
Iceland,  Norw.  kvanne. 

Whin-cow.    sb.    A  stem  of  furze  or  gorse. 

See  ling-cow. 

Whinge.     vn.    To  whine, 

Suio-Goth.  wenga,  plorare,  Dial.  Swed.  hvinka,  to  whine, 
lament,  Low  Germ,  wingern,  to  moan,  whine. 

Whinney,  Whinner,     vn.     To  neigh. 

Lat.  hinnio,  Fr.  hennir,  to  neigh,  imitative  of  the  sound. 

Whintin.    sb.    A  dark  slate-stone  found  on  Skiddaw. 

Sco.  quhin-stone. 

Whirr,    sb.    Old  and  curdled  butter-milk. 

Perhaps  properly  whirf,  from  Ang.-Sax.  hwirfan,  Old  Norse 
hverfa,  to  turn.    Or  from  Welsh  chwerw,  bitter. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  169 

Whisht  !    intj.     Hush  !   silence  !     It  is  sometimes 

used  as  an  adjective.  "  As  whisht  as  a  mouse." — Dick.  Swed. 
wysch,  interjection  of  nurses  lulling  children  to  sleep  (Serenius), 
wiszja,  to  hush  to  sleep.  Old  Norse  hviska,  Dan.  hviske,  Fris. 
wiske,  to  whisper,  are  probably  allied,  the  general  origin  being 
onomatopoeic,  representing  "a  slight  sound,  such  as  that  of 
something  stirring,  or  the  breathing  or  whispering  of  some  one 
approaching." —  Wedg. 

Whisk,    vn.     To  move  smartly  or  quickly. 

Germ,  wischen,  to  do  anything  with  a  light  quick  movement, 
Fin.  huiskata,  to  run  to  and  fro,  Lapp,  swisko,  a  switch. 

Whisk,     sb.     The  game  of  whist. 

Whist  is  generally  derived  from  the  interjection  enjoining 
silence,  in  reference  to  the  rapt  attention  which  it  requires.  If 
not  from  whisk  as  above,  in  the  sense  of  light,  rapid  movement, 
as  that  of  dealing  cards. 

White,  va.  To  cut  or  whittle  anything,  such  as  a  stick. 

Ang.-Sax.  thwitan,  to  cut. 

Whitefish.     sb.     Flattery,  cajolery. 

Clev.  whiteheft.  The  prefix  white,  as  in  whitefish,  whiteheft, 
seems  to  be  a  similar  word  to  the  Sco.  white,  hypocritical,  dis- 
sembling, in  which  Jamieson  finds  ' '  an  evident  allusion  to  the 
wearing  of  white  garments,  as  an  emblem  of  innocence,  espe- 
cially by  the  clergy  in  times  of  popery."  The  ending  fish 
(comp.  §co.  feese,  to  flatter),  may  possibly  be  from  Swed.  fjdsa, 
to  fondle,  cajole.  Or  it  might  be  the  same  as  Germ,  fischen,  to 
fish,  which,  in  a  metaphorical  sense,  means  to  get  by  cunning. 

Whittle,    sb.     A  knife. 

Ang.-Sax.  hwytel,  a  large  knife. 

Whittlegate.  sb.  The  privilege,  accorded  to  clergymen 

and  schoolmasters,  of  using  a  knife  and  fork  at  the  tables  of 
their  various  parishioners,  as  a  means  of  eking  out  their  scanty 
stipends.  "  The  custom  still  (1858)  exists  in  one  or  two  fell 
dales. " — Dick.     See  whittle  and  gate. 

Why.    sb.     A  heifer. 

Old  Norse  quiga,  Dan.  quie,  a  heifer. 
Widderful.     adj.     Cross,  fretful,  contradictious. 

Ang.-Sax.  wither,  contrary  or  opposed,  witherian,  to  resist, 
oppose.  Germ,  widerwillig,  reluctant,  cross-grained,  widrig, 
cross,  adverse. 


170  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Widdy,  Withy,    sb.    A  band  of  platted  willows. 

Ang.-Sax.  withie,  a  twisted  rod,  Swed.  vidja,  willow,  twig. 

Wiggin.   sb.     The  mountain  ash. 

Another  name  is  witch-wood.  Ang.-Sax.  wice,  the  mountain 
ash,  from  wiccian,  to  use  enchantment,  to  bewitch.  All  the 
various  names  of  this  tree,  which,  among  the  Northmen,  was 
sacred  to  Thor,  as  wiggin,  witch-wood,  and  roan-tree,  seem  to 
be  connected  with  the  supposed  efficacy  of  its  wood  in  spells 
and  incantations.     See  roan-tree. 

Wilk.     sb.    The  bark  of  a  young  dog  when  in  close 

pursuit. — Dick.  The  idea  seems  to  be  that  of  a  short,  sharp, 
half-choked  sound,  and  it  seems  probable  that  wilk  is  a  parallel 
word  with  wherk,  to  make  a  noise  in  breathing.  Old  Norse 
querk,  the  throat,  Dan.  hvcerke,  to  choke.  Comp.  Sco.  quhilk, 
short  cry  of  a  gosling,  and  Old  Norse  quakla,  suspirare. 

Willey.     sb.     A  child's  night-dress. — Hall. 

Sco.  wilie-coat,  an  under- vest,  generally  worn  in  winter.  Ruddi- 
man's  derivation  from  Eng.  wily,  "because  by  its  not  being 
Seen,  it  does,  as  it  were,  cunningly  or  slily  keep  men  warm,"  is 
absurd  enough.  The  following  extract  from  Spalding,  quoted 
by  Jam.  in  his  Addenda,  shows  that  it  was  formerly  used  in 
the  same  sense  as  our  willey.  "But  she  (the  Queen)  gets  up 
out  of  her  naked  bed  in  her  night  waly-coat,  bare-footed  and 
bare-legged."  The  origin,  on  which  Jam.  remarks  as  "quite 
uncertain,"  is,  I  take  it,  to  be  found  in  Old  Norse  hvila,  Dan, 
hvile,  Swed.  hvila,  to  rest,  repose,  go  to  sleep ,  Old  Norse  hvila, 
bed,  hvila-vod,  bed-sheet.  The  word  is  found  also  in  the 
Celtic,  as  Welsh,  Corn,  gwely,  Bret,  gwele,  bed,  Bret,  gweleden, 
a  shift  or  under-garment.  Wilie-coat,  then,  of  which  our  willey 
is  a  contraction,  means  simply  sleeping  or  night-dress. 

Will.    vn.     To  doubt,   to  consider,   to   deliberate, 

as  "  I  wills  whether  to  gang  or  nit." — Dick.  Sco.  will,  adj., 
uncertain  how  to  proceed.  Jam.  refers  to  Old  Norse  villa,  to 
lead  astray.  The  Old  Norse  vcela,  one  of  the  meanings  of 
which  is  to  consider,  turn  over  in  the  mind,  seems  to  suit  best 
with  the  meaning  of  our  word. 

Wineberries.    sb.    Red  and  white  currants,  ribes. 

Old  Norse  vinber,  a  grape,  Suio-Goth.  winbcer,  "  nuncupamus 
ribes,  ex  quadam  cum  uvo  similitudine  (Ihre) ,  Germ,  weinbeer, 
grape.  The  term  currant  itself,  now  applied  to  the  fruit  of 
various  ribes,  properly  applies  to  the  small  grape  brought  from 
Corinth.  "By  a  similar  confusion  the  red  currant  was  in 
Turner's  time  called  a  raisin-tree." — Prior. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  171 

Winje  !    intj.     "  A  gladsome  expression  of  surprise 

or  wonder.  Winje,  wife,  what  a  berry  puddin  !" — Dick.  Ap- 
parently related  to  Ang.-Sax.  wyn,  joy,  pleasure. 

Win  in.     va.     To  get  in  the  crop. 

Ang.-Sax.  winnan,  to  labour,  to  toil,  to  acquire  by  labour. 

Winnel-straw.     sb.     The  stem  of  the  couch  grass. 

Ang.-Sax.  windel-streawe,  straw  for  platting. 

Winnick.   sb.     Something  very  small. 

Seems  a  diminutive  of  wheen,  qv. 

Winsome,    adj.     Pleasant,  lovable. 

Ang.-Sax.  winsum,  pleasant. 

Winter-proud,    adj.    Applied  to  winter  wheat  when 

of  too  forward  growth.  Lonsd.  proud,  luxuriant.  Welsh 
pryddhau,  to  become  luxuriant. 

Wise-like.     adj.    Wise,  prudent 

Ang.-Sax.  wislic,  wise,  prudent. 

Wishy-washy,    adj.     Trifling,  worthless. 

Dut.  wisjewasje,  fiddle-faddle,  Vulg.  Germ,  wischiwaschi,  tittle 
tattle,  wisch,  trash. 

Wisk.     sb.     A  slight  and  short  shower. 

' '  The  syllable  whisk  represents  the  sound  of  a  light  or  fine 
body  moving  rapidly  through  the  air.  *  *  *  Hence  Germ. 
witschen,  wischen,  and  Eng.  whisk,  to  do  anything  with  a  light, 
quick  movement." —  Wedg. 

Witch-wood.    sb.    The  mountain  ash. 

See  wiggin. 

Wizzent.    adj.     Dried  up,  withered. 

Ang.-Sax.  wisnian,  Old  Norse  visna,  to  wither,  dry  up,  Swed. 
wissnad,  dried  up,  withered. 

Wo,  Waw.    sb.    Wall. 

Lonsd.  wogh.  Sco.  wauch,  waw.  Though  it  would  be  quite 
in  accordance  with  the  ordinary  rule  of  our  dialect  to  derive  wo 
or  waw  from  wall,  Ang.-Sax.  weall,  yet  the  form  of  the  corre- 
sponding northern  words  seems  to  point  rather  to  Ang.-Sax. 
wag,  wah,  Fris.  woch,  woge,  Old  Norse  veggr,  Dan.  v&g,  Swed. 
vdg,  wall,  for  their  common  origin. 

Woke-rife.    adj.     Sleepless,  watchful. 

Ang.-Sax.  wescce,  watchfulness,  and  rife,  abundant. 


fj r2  GLOSSARY  OF  THE 

Worts,  Orts.    sb.   The  refuse  of  fodder  left  by  cows. 

N.  Fris.  orten,  to  leave  remnants  in  eating,  Low  Germ,  orten, 
to  pick  out  the  best  and  leave  much  remnants,  Dut.  oor-aete, 
reliquiae  fastiditi  pabuli. —  Wedg. 

Wramp.     sb.     A  sprain. 

Dut.  wrempen,  to  twist  the  mouth,  rimpe,  a  wrinkle,  fold,  twist, 
Ang.-Sax.  hrympelle,  a  wrinkle. 

Wreckling.     sb.     A  feeble,   unhealthy  child;    the 

smallest  and  weakest  of  a  litter.  Sco.  wrig,  of  the  same  mean- 
ing. Fris.  wrdk,  Jutl.  vrdgling,  a  small,  feeble  person,  Swed. 
vrak,  refuse,  something  worthless,  vrake,  to  reject. 

Wrowke.     va.    To  stir  up  roughly. 

"  I  olas  liked  John,  but  I  cared  so  laal  for  Grace  at  I  cud  ha' 
tean  her  an'  wrowkt  the  fire  wid  her," — said  by  a  Cumberland 
woman  of  her  children  (Gibson).  Old  Norse  hrekja,  pellere, 
propellere,  Fris.  wreka,  to  use  force  to,  to  wrench.  Or  Dut. 
rukken,  to  tear,  pull,  tug. 

Wud.     adj.     Mad,  furious. 

Ang.-Sax.  wud,  mad,  furious,  insane,  Dut.  woeden,  to  be  wild 
or  mad. 

Wummel.     vn.     To  wriggle  or  worm  into  a  hole. 

"  He'll  wummel  hisself  intil  t'  creuktest  rabbit  whole  i'  Siddick," 
— said  of  a  terrier  (Gibson).  Low  Germ,  wiimmeln,  to  wabble, 
Dut.  wemmelen,  to  drive  round,  whirl,  thence  to  bore  with  an 
augur.  "  Parallel  forms  are  Fr.  gimbelet,  Langued.  jhimbelet, 
a  gimlet,  jhimbla,  to  twist." — Wedg.  Wummel  is  another 
form  of  wammel. 

Wun.    vn.     To  dwell,  inhabit. 

Ang.-Sax.  wunian,  Dut.  wonen,  Germ,  wohnen,  to  dwelL 

Wuns  !      intj.      An    exclamation    of    surprise    or 
annoyance. 

"The  breyde,  geavin  aw  roun  her, 
Cries  '  Wuns!  we  forgat  butter  sops.' " — Anderson. 
Seems  to  be  a  profane  expression,  like  Ods  wuns.    At  the  same 
time  it  may  be  observed  that  wann  is  used  as  an  interjection 
very  much  in  the  same  manner  in  Low  Germ.  (Hamb.  Idiot.) 

Wursle,  Russle.     vn.     To  wrestle. 

Ang.-Sax.  wrcestlian,  Fris.  wrassele,  wrustle,  Dut.  worstelen,  to 
wrestle,  Old  Norse  russla,  contrectare. 

Wyke.     sb.     The  corner  of  the  mouth. 

Old  Norse  vik.  recessus,  Dan.  mundvig,  the  corner  of  the  mouth. 


CUMBERLAND  DIALECT.  1 73 

Y. 

Yan,  Yen.     One. 

Old  Norse  einn,  Dan.  een,  Ang.-Sax.  an,  one,  "S.  Jutl.  jen, 
which  corresponds  almost  exactly  in  form  and  sound  with  our 
yan,  is  especially  note-worthy." — Atk. 

Yaddle.     V7i.     To  prate,  to  chatter. 

Dan.  jaddre,  to  babble,  prattle.  Or  perhaps  the  same  as  the 
Clev.  yaffle,  Dan.  cBvle,  to  prate,  chatter. 

Yakker-spired.     adj.     "When  the  malting  process 

is  too  long  continued,  and  both  root  and  sprout  are  visible,  the 
barley  is  yakker-spired,  and  injured  for  malting." — Dick.  Crav. 
spire,  to  shoot  up  luxuriantly.  Dan.  spire,  germ,  sprout,  Swed. 
spira,  bud,  shoot,  sprout.  The  prefix  may  be  the  Dut.  and 
Germ,  achter,  behind,  in  reference  to  the  sprouting  from  the 
bottom  as  well  as  from  the  top. 

Yal.     sb.     Ale. 

Ang.-Sax.  eala,  Old  Norse  ol,  Suio-Goth.  ol.  "  The  pronuncia- 
tion of  this  word  suggests  a  Scand.  origin,  inasmuch  as  Ang.- 
Sax.  eale  presents  a  long  syllable  or  sound  in  contrast  with  the 
shorter  and  sharper  sound  of  the  word  in  either  of  its  three 
northern  forms." — Atk. 

Yal-jaw't.    adj.    Partially  intoxicated,  worse  for  ale. 

Sco.  jute,  to  tipple.  Perhaps  from  Ang.-Sax.  geotan,  Dut. 
gieten,  Swed.  gjota,  to  pour,  to  smelt. 

"  For  each  was  at  a  slwote  a  smelter." —Stagg. 
But  see  watter-jaw  t. 

Yalla-yowderin.     sb.     The  yellow-hammer. 

Sco.  yeldring.  Yewle-ring  (Cotg.)  seems  the  more  proper 
form,  from  Ang.-Sax.  geole,  yellow,  in  reference,  as  Jam. 
suggests,  to  the  yellow  ring  which,  at  least  partly,  adorns  the 
neck  of  this  bird."    Hence  yel ' low-yowderin  is  tautologous. 

Yammer,     vn.     To  talk  fast  and  wildly. — Dick. 

"  Furst  deal  about  he  gat  spead  yace, 
An'  crew  an'  yammered  sair  than." — Lonsdale. 
Brockett  explains  it  "to  complain,  to  whine,"  which  seems  to 
be  the  original  sense.      Dut.  jammeren,  Germ,  jammern,   Dan. 
jamre,  to  wail,   to  lament,    Ang.-Sax.  geomrian,    to   groan, 
lament. 

Yap.     sb.     A  troublesome,  mischievous  child. 

Clev.  yap,  a  troublesome,  cross,  or  crying  child,  also  a  cur. 
Atk.  refers  to  Dial.  Dan.  jappe,  or  hiappe,  to  be  over  hasty  in 


174  GLOSSARY   OF   THE 

action  or  speech.  Comp.  also  Low  Germ,  jappen,  to  snap. 
But  perhaps  the  word  may  be  the  same  as  yelp,  Old  Norse 
gjalpa,  obstrepere,  Fr.  japper,  to  yelp. 

Yar.     adj.     Rough,  harsh. 

Welsh  garw,  Corn,  garow,  Gael.,  Ir.  garbfi,  rough,  sharp, 
fierce.  Hence  probably  the  river  names  Garry.  Yare,  Yarrow, 
in  the  sense  of  violence. 

Yark.     va.     To  beat  soundly. 

Seems  to  be  the  same  word  as  jerk.  ' '  To  yerk,  jerk,  or  whip." 
— y.  K.  Atkinson,  remarking  that  the  Line.  Gloss,  gives  both 
yack  and  yark  with  nearly  coincident  senses,  suggests  Old  Norse 
hiacka,  jacka,  to  beat,  as  the  common  origin  of  both.  Comp. 
also  Fle'm.  jacken,  flagellare  scutica. — Kil. 

Yat,  YeT.     sb.     A  gate. 

Old  Fris.  iet  for  gat,  Ang.-Sax.  geat,  gate. 

Yaud,  Yad.  sb.  A  mare  (Gibson),  an  old  mare  (Dick). 

"  Fra  Tindal  Fell  twelve  pecks  she'd  bring  ; 
She  was  a. yad  fit  for  a  king." — Anderson. 
Lonsd.  yode,  a  riding  horse,  Crav.  yaud,  a  horse,  North,  yaud, 
a  horse  or  mare  {Hall.)  Sco.  yad,  "properly  an  old  mare," 
{Jam.)  H  alii  well  makes  it  the  provincial  form  of  jade.  But 
it  is  in  fact,  as  I  take  it,  the  more  correct  form,  the  origin  of 
both  being  to  be  found  in  Old  Norse  jalda ,  a  mare  (used  only 
in  poetry),  Dial.  Swed.  jalda,  a  mare,  with  which  Rietz,  I 
think  rightly,  collates  Eng.  jade.  In  this  case  the  special  sense 
of  a  mare  as  distinguished  from  a  horse,  which  the  word  has 
with  us,  would  be  the  right  one. 

Yedder.     sb.     A  long  rod  or  wand  used  in  hedging. 

Ang.-Sax.  eder,  a  fence  or  hedge.  Hence  slower  and  yedder,  a 
mode  of  fencing  with  rods  or  twigs  fastened  to  upright  stakes. 
See  slower. 

Yerdfast.     sb.     A  stone  fast  in  the  earth,  and  just 

t       visible  at  the  surface.    Old  Norse  jard-fastr  steinn.  Dial.  Swed. 
jordfasl  sten ,  a  stone  fixed  deeply  in  the  earth. 

Yetlin.     sb.     A  small  iron  pan. 

Sco.  yettlin,  of  or  belonging  to  cast-iron,  yet,  to  cast  metals. 
Ang.-Sax.  geotan,  Dut.  gleten,  to  melt,  to  cast  metals.  Hence 
yetlin,  something  made  of  cast-metal. 

Yoller.     vn.     To  shout,  to  halloo. 
Probably  the  same  as  goller,  qv. 


CUMBERLAND   DIALECT.  1 75 

Youer,  Yower.     sb.     The  udder. 

Old  Norse  jiigr,  j&r,  Dan.  yver,  Dial.  Swed.  jur,  jaur,  Norw. 
jur,  Ang.-Sax.  uder.  "The  remarkable  correspondence  be- 
tween our  word  and  the  Scand.  forms  cannot  fail  to  be  more 
striking  when  the  sound  of  the  N. ,  Swed.  and  Dan./y  and  v  are 
taken  into  account."— Atk. 

Yool,  Yawl.     vn.     To  weep,  cry,  to  howl  as  a  dog. 

Low  Germ,  jaulen,  applied  to  the  long-continued  whining  of 
children,  and  the  noise  made  by  dogs  when  tied  up. — Danneil. 
See  also  gowl,  of  which  the  above  might  be  another  form,  as  yat 
for  gate. 

Yope,  Yaup.     vn.     To  shout,  to  whoop. 

Clev.  yope  is  explained  by  Atk.  as  meaning  to  yelp,  of  which  it 
is  taken  to  be  simply  another  form.  But  the  way  in  which  our 
word  is  used  suggests  rather  a  connection  with  Eng.  whoop. 
Old  Norse  apa,  to  shout,  Ang.-Sax.  wop,  cry. 

Yowe-yorling.     sb.     The  earth-nut. 

Yorling  seems  to  be  a  contraction  oiyerthling  or  earikling.  \ 
am  unable  to  suggest  an  origin  for  the  prefix  yowe. 

Yuck.     vn.     To  itch. 

Clev.  ttke.  "  Ichyn  or  ykyn  or  gykyn,  prurio."— Pr.  Prv. 
Dut.,  T>axi.  jeuken,  Germ,  jucken,  to  itch. 

Yule.     sb.     Christmas. 

Old  Norse  jol,  Ang.-Sax.  geol,  Fin.  joulu. 

Yur.    sb.    The  cora-spurry  plant.    Spergula  arvensis. 

Sco.  yarr.  ' '  Abbreviated  from  yarrow,  and  applied  to  a  very 
different  plant,  from  both  having  been  confused  under  the  name 
of  milfoil." — Prior. 


ADDITIONS  AND   CORRECTIONS. 


Asley.     adv.     "As  asley ,  as  willingly,  as  soon  that 

way  as  the  other." — Dick.  Asley  would  seem  to  be  the  Old 
Eng.  as  lief,  as  willingly,  Ang.-Sax.  ledf,  dear,  ledfre,  rather, 
more  willingly,  liever.     In  this  case,  as  asley  is  redundant. 

Barnacles,     sb.     Irons  put  on  the  nose  of  a  horse 

to  make  him  stand  quiet.  Also  an  old  name  for  spectacles. 
"  Bernak  for  horse,  chamus." — Pr.  Prv.  Wedgwood  takes  the 
latter  sense  to  be  the  original  one,  referring  to  Lang,  borni,  blind, 
bemikal,  one  who  sees  with  difficulty,  berniques,  spectacles. 

Beard,     va.     To  lay  projecting  brushwood  over  the 

edge  of  a  wall.  Sp.  barda,  coping  of  straw  or  brushwood  for 
the  protection  of  a  wall,  Fr.  barder,  to  bind  or  tie  across,  over- 
cross,  or  athwart,  bardeau,  a  shingle  or  small  board  such  as 
houses  are  covered  with  (Cotg.).  The  origin  of  the  word,  which 
seems  to  be  derived  more  immediately  from  the  French,  may  be 
Old  Norse  bord,  edge,  brim. 

Brangle.     vn.     To  wrangle. 

Sco.  brangle,  to  confound,  throw  into  disorder.  Perhaps  from 
Old  Norse  brengla,  to  distort. 

Branks.     sb.     A  kind  of  halter  having  a  nose-band 

which  tightens  as  the  horse  pulls.  Gael,  brangas  or  brancas,  a 
halter. 

Buckelt.     adj.     "  A  saw  or  anything  is  buckelt  which 

has  lost  its  pliancy  from  being  over-bent." — Dick.  Goth. 
bjugan ,  Old  Norse  buga,  Dut.  booghen,  boghelen,  to  bend. 

Bummelkite.     The  black  or  bramble  berry. 

Icel.  bimbult  (pron.  bumbult),  to  feel  uneasy  {Cleasby),  seems  to 
be  the  same  word  as  that  quoted  from  Haldorsen. 

Caleever.  vn.    To  prance,  kick  about  in  an  ungainly 

manner.  Perhaps  connected  with  Old  Norse  klifra,  Dan. 
klavre,  to  clamber,  in  the  idea  of  sprawling,  spreading  the 
hands  and  feet.  Compare  also  Old  Norse  klaufi,  an  awkward 
and  clumsy  boor,  hlaufilegr,  awkward,  clumsy. 

O 


178  ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS. 

Cash.    sb.    Friable  strata. 

Span,  cascar,  Fr.  casser,  to  break,  Ital.  casco,  old,  decaying. 
The  word,  however,  notwithstanding  its  more  close  resemblance 
to  the  above,  may  be  of  Teutonic  origin,  Ang.-Sax.  cwisan,  to 
crush,  Goth,  quistjan,  to  spoil,  decay,  go  to  ruin,  connected  by 
Benfey  with  Sansc.  cish,  to  cut.     Comp.  Eng.  quash. 

Conk.    sb.     The  nose  or  profile. 

Perhaps,  assuming  the  n  as  phonetic,  to  be  connected  with 
Gael,  coc,  to  cock  or  stick  up  apruptly,  coc-shron,  a  cocked-up 
nose. 

Cowt-lword.   A  pudding  made  of  oatmeal  and  lumps 

of  suet.  The  derivation  of  /word  from  lard,  suet,  is  inconsistent 
with  the  pronunciation,  which  implies  a  word  formed  with  a 
long  0.  Moreover,  Dickinson,  in  his  Supplement,  gives  the 
alternative  cow't  heady.  I  must  leave  the  latter  part  of  the  word 
unexplained. 

Cronk.     sb.     The  cry  of  the  raven. 
Old  Norse  krunk,  cry  of  the  raven. 

Cuttle,     vn.    To  chat  or  gossip. 

Like  cutter,  a  frequentative  from  Ang.-Sax.  cwiddian,  Dut. 
kouten,  to  talk. 

Cuwin.     sb.     A  periwinkle  or  sea-snail. 

Clev.  cuwin,  Lonsd.  kewin.  Old  Norse  kfifungr,  a  periwinkle, 
from  Mfr,  convexity. 

Dirl.     vn.     To  give  out  a  tremulous  sound. 

Dut.  dt  illen,  motitari,  Swed.  drilla,  to  shake  or  quiver  with  the 
voice.    Another  form  of  thrill. 

Dollop,     sb.     A  large  lump. 

Atk.  cites  Old  Norse  dolpr,  a  shapelessly  fat  brute.  Comp.  also 
Wei.  ialp,  mass,  lump.  But  possibly  from  Corn,  duilof,  Wei. 
dwylaw,  the  two  hands,  Wei.  dwylofaid,  the  full  of  both  hands, 
in  a  similar  way  Xogowpin. 

Faw.    sb.     An  itinerant  potter  or  tinker. 

The  name  has  been  derived  by  some  from  Johnnie  Faw,  the 
leader  of  the  gipsies.  But  it  seems  a  question  whether  he  might 
not  rather  derive  his  surname  from  his  occupation.  One  might 
possibly  think  of  Old  Norse  farri,  land-louper,  vagrant,  r  final 
being  almost  mute  in  English. 

Galf.    sb.    Wild  myrtle. 

Ang.-Sax.  %agl,  wild  myrtle. 


ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS.  179 

Gallows,     sb.     A  person  of  bad  character. 

Ang.-Sax.  galga-m$d,  wicked,  "  gallows  minded." 

Gaum.  va.  To  understand,  comprehend,  give  attention 

to.  Ang.-Sax.  geomian,  Old  Norse  geyma,  Norw.  gaunta,  to 
give  heed,  pay  attention.  Dick,  gives  this  word  {whence gumption) 
in  his  Supp. 

Gavel-dyke.     sb.     An  allotment  of  fence  liable  to  be 

maintained  by  a  farm  not  immediately  adjoining.  Ang.-Sax. 
gafel,  tribute,  Wei.  gavael,  Gael,  gabhail,  holding,  tenure.  The 
origin  is  probably  Celtic,  Gael,  gabh,  Wei.  gafaelu,  to  take, 
hold.  We  have  the  same  word  apparently  in  runnin  cawel, 
applied  to  a  particular  kind  of  occupancy  of  undivided  common 
lands  (see  run-rig),  and  which  seems  equivalent  to  running  (or 
changing)  tenure. 

Gavelock.     sb.     An  iron  crow-bar. 

Ang.-Sax.  gafeloc,  Old  Norse  gaflok,  a  javelin,  Wei.  gaflach,  a 
fork.  The  origin  seems  to  be  Celtie,  and  the  same  as  that  of 
the  preceding  word. 

Geld-grund.     sb.    Ground  devoid  of  minerals. 

Dial  Swed.  gall  grund,  unproductive  ground. 

Gis.     intj.     A  call  to  swine. 

I  have  suggested  Old  Norse  gris,  a  little  pig.  Comp.  also  Corn. 
guis,  Bret,  gwiz,  an  old  sow. 

Glead.     sb.     A  kite. 

Ang.-Sax.  glida,  Old  Norse  gledi,  a  kite. 

Goe.     sb.     A  spring  or  wet  place  in  a  field. 

Crav.  gall.  Prov.  Germ,  go  He,  puddle,  Suio-Goth.  gbl,  a  marsh, 
Wei.  gwl,  wet. 

Gollick.     sb.     A  deep  cut  or  wound. 

Corn,  golye,  Bret,  goulia,  Wei.  gwelio,  to  cut,  wound. 

Gull.     sb.     A  mess  for  sick  cattle,  gruel  for  calves. 

Wel.  gwlyb,  soft  or  liquid  food,  gruel,  gwl,  wet. 

Hacker,     vn.     To  stammer. 

Comp.  also  Dan.  hakke,to  which  Worsaae  (Danes  and  Northmen) 
refers  our  word. 

Hale-watter.     sb.     A  heavy  shower. 

Old  Norse  kelli-skur^  a  heavy  shower,  from  hella,  to  pour. 


l8o  ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS. 

Hap.    va.    To  wrap,  cover  up. 

I  have  supposed  a  lost  verb.  Cleasby  has  hypja,  to  huddle  on 
the  clothes,  and  hjfipa,  to  put  in  a  shroud,  both  corresponding 
to  a  considerable  extent  with  hap,  which  has  rather  the  sense  of 
a  loose  covering,  as  with  bed-clothes. 

Hask.     adj.     Harsh. 

Old  Norse  heskr,  harsh  {Cleasby). 

Heck  and  Ree.    Ancient  terms  used  in  guiding  horses 

to  right  or  left,  and  now  only  used  in  reference  to  an  obstinate 
person  or  horse  who  will  "  nowther  heck  nor  ree." — Dick. 
' '  The  Northumberland  heck  is  the  Icelandic  hoegr  (pron. 
haikir)." — Gould  (Scenes  in  Iceland).     Swed.  hoger,  right. 

Heftin.     sb.     A  beating. 

Heft  would  seem,  like  quilt,  to  be  formed  as  a  secondary  verb 
from  Old  Norse  hcefa,  to  hit. 

Helse.     sb.     A  rope  to  put  round  a  horse's  neck  in 

place  of  a  halter.    Old  Norse  helsi,  a  collar,  from  hals,  the  neck. 

Hide.     va.     To  beat. 

To  "  give  one  a  hiding,"  is  a  slang  term  of  general  use.  Old 
Norse  hyda,  to  beat,  hiding,  a  flogging,  from  hdd,  the  skin. 

Hike.     va.     To  throw  in  the  arms,  as  nurses   do 

children.  Perhaps  more  probably  from  Old  Norse  hjUka,  to 
nurse,  than  from  the  origin  before  assigned. 

Hipe.  va.  One  of  the  modes  of  throwing  an  adversary 

in  wrestling.  Yorks.  hipe,  to  strike  with  the  head  or  horns. 
Dial.  Swed.  hypa,  to  strike,  hyp,  a  heavy  blow. 

Hoosin.     sb.     The  husk  of  a  nut. 

Dut.  hulse,  huysken,  husk.    Old  Norse  hauss,  the  skull. 
Hobthrush.    sb.    "  A  hobgoblin  having  the  repute  of 

doing  much  useful  work  unseen  and  unheard  during  the  night, 
if  not  interfered  with,  but  discontinuing  or  doing  mischief  if 
crossed  or  watched." — Dick.  "A  local  spirit,  famous  for 
whimsical  pranks.  In  some  farm-houses  a  cock  and  bacon  are 
boiled  on  Fassen's  eve  (Shrove  Tuesday)  ;  and  if  any  person 
neglect  to  eat  heartily  of  this  food,  Hobthrush  is  sure  to  amuse 
himself  at  night  with  crammiug  him  up  to  the  mouth  with  dig- 


ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS.  l8l 

chaff ." —Brockett.  Hence  the  following,  addressed  satirically  to 
a  greedy  eater  : — 

For  aw's  weel  seer  Hobthrush  '11  neer 
Ha  thee  to  chowk  wi  kaff,  mun. — Lonsdale. 
Atkinson's  suggestion  that  hob  is  the  same  as  the  Goth,  alb, 
Old  Norse  alfr,  elf,  seems  to  carry  with  it  a  good  deal  of 
probability.  Comp.  Oberon,  the  king  of  the  fairies,  with 
Albruna,  the  wise  woman  of  the  Germans  in  Tacitus  {alb,  elf, 
and  rdn,  mystery,  secret  knowledge).  The  only  objection  seems 
to  be  that  if  thrush  be,  as  suggested  by  W.  Grimm  (JDeut.  Myth.), 
connected  with  Old  Norse  thurs,  giant,  hobgoblin,  the  word 
would  be  tautologous.  Unless  we  might  think  rather  of  a  con- 
nection with  Old  Norse  thruska,  mulier  laboriosa.  Or  with 
Goth,  thwairs,  Dut.  dweersch,  athwart,  Ang.-Sax.  [thwyreslic, 
perverse,  Old  Norse  thriotska,  contumacia,  Swed.  tresk,  per- 
verse, wilful — in  the  one  case  giving  the  sense  of  an  industrious, 
and  in  the  other  that  of  a  perverse  or  self-willed  elf — both  of 
which  are  in  accord  with  the  description  given  of  Hobthrush. 

Holt.     sb.     A  peaked  hill  covered  with  wood. — 

West,  and  Cumb.  Dial.  Ang.-Sax.  holt,  a  wood,  Old  Norse 
holt,  properly  a  wood,  coppice,  Germ,  holz,  wood,  lignum.  In 
Iceland,  where  trees  are  rare,  the  word  denotes  a  stony  hill,  as 
opposed  to  a  marsh  or  ley  (Cleasby). 

How.     adj.     "  How  neet,"  applied  to  the  dead  of  the 

night.  Clev.  holl,  the  depth  of  winter,  sometimes  applied  to 
the  dead  of  night. 

Wi  monny  mair  see  Meggy  Hoop, 
Wi  her  bit  sarkin  linen 
At  keep'd  her  feckly  thro  th'  how  doup, 
Wate  weel  reet  constant  spinnin. — Stagg. 
Here  we  have  how,  as  in  Clev.,  applied  to  the  depth  of  winter — 
doup  being  probably  the  same  as  Sco.   "  doup  of  the  day,"  the 
latter  part  of  the  day,  applied  to  the  season  of  the  year. 

Huke.     sb.     The  hip. 

Comp.  Swed.  huka,  to  sit  squat.  We  do  not  find  the  noun 
from  which  our  word  is  directly  derived. 

Hullert.     adj.     Coagulated,  as  blood. 

The  Celtic  words  I  have  referred  to  may  probably  be  cognate, 
but  the  word  most  nearly  concerned  is,  I  take  it,  the  Ang.-Sax. 
hwelan,  to  become  foul  or  putrid,  heolfer,  clotted  blood. 

Hummel  mittens,     sb.     Woollen  gloves  without  any 

division  but  for  the  thumbs.  Similar  gloves  are  worn  by  the 
Norwegian  peasants.  Hummel  I  take  to  be  the  same  as  huvvel, 
q.v.,  from  the  frequent  interchange  of  m  with  v  ovf. 


182  ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS. 

Huwel  poke.   sb.   A  cap  for  protecting  a  sore  finger. 

Clev.  huffle,  huvvil,  a  protection  for  a  sore  finger.  Old  Norse 
hufa,  cap,  hood,  Dial.  Swed.  huv,  a  covering,  hood. 

Jowet.   sb.    A  term  of  effeminacy.    "  Thou's  a  feckless 
jowet." — Dick.    Probably  from  the  French  jo  net,  toy,  plaything. 

Kayter.     adj.     Friendly,  agreeable. 

Perhaps  connected  with  Old  Norse  kcsta,  to  gladden. 

Kemps,  Camps,    sb.     Hairs  in  wool. 

The  true  origin  of  this  word,  for  which  various  explanations 
have  been  offered,  is,  there  seems  little  doubt,  to  be  found  in 
Old  Norse  kampr,  beard,  whisker,  moustache  (Cleasby). 

Kep-jope.     sb.     A  child's  pinafore. 

Kep,  in  our  dialect,  is  to  catch,  and  jope  is  to  spill.  Hence 
kep-jope  is  that  which  catches  what  is  spilt  (and  so  protects  the 
clothes). 

Kes-fab.    sb.    A  cheese  vat. 

Properly,  I  think,  kes-fat,  Old  Eng.  fat,  Ang.-Sax.  fat,  a  vat, 
Gael,  fadkan,  a  cheese  vat. 

Kind.     adj.     Friendly,  intimate. 

"  Knoweth  me  kyndly." — P.  PL 
Atkinson,  comparing  the  above  with  our  "him  and  me's  varra 
kind,"  refers  to  Norw.  kjend,  kent,  well  acquainted,  and  observes 
that  our  word  "retains  an — perhaps  the — ancient  sense  which 
has  passed  away  from  the  current  speech." 

Kippert.     adj.     Partly  cured  (of  fish). 

There  seems  to  me  to  be  considerable  doubt  as  to  the  correctness 
of  Jamieson's  derivation  of  kippered  from  kipper,  a  spawner,  on 
account  of  foul  fish  having  been  originally  used  for  the  purpose. 
The  word  is  applied  to  other  fish,  as  herrings.  It  may  be 
rather  from  Old  Norse  kippa,  a  bundle  drawn  on  a  string,  fish 
kippa,  a  line  offish  on  a  string,  kipra,  to  wrinkle,  draw  tight. 

Kype.    To  fall  off,  give  up,  die. 

Cleasby  adduces  a  verb,  kopa,  to  fall  off  from  age  or  the  like, 
which  seems  to  be  the  parallel  to  our  kype,  rather  than  Germ. 
kippen. 

Kypt.     adj.     Bent  or  twisted. 

"A  saw  is  said  to  be  kypt  or  buckelt  when  it  is  twisted." — Dick. 
Of  these  two  words  the  one  (buckelt)  is  probably  Teutonic  ;  the 
other  seems  more  probably  Celtic.  Comp.  Wei.  cyfiino,  to  con- 
tort, from  cyf "=Lat.  cum. 


ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS.  183 

Lalder.     sb.     Foolish  talk. 

Wel.  llol,  foolish  talk,  llolio,  to  babble,  prattle,  Sansc.  lal,  to 
prate.  Our  word,  I  think,  may  probably  be  properly  laller,  the 
origin  being  onomatopoeic.     See  lal. 

Lashins.    sb.    Abundance. 

Old  Norse  Mass,  Dan.  lass,  a  cart-load,  Old  Norse  Messing, 
load,  freight.  Hence  lasMns  is  the  same  as  loads,  similarly 
used  in  the  sense  of  abundance. 

Leck.    sb.    A  hard  sub-soil  of  gravel  and  clay. — Dick. 
Apparently  from  the  Wel.  Heck,  Gael,  leac,  a  flag,  flat  stone. 

Led-farm.    An  additional  farm  on  which  the  occupier 

does  not  reside.  One  might  think  of  Ang.-Sax.  lid,  Dan., 
Swed.  led,  limb,  joint,  in  the  idea  of  a  led  farm  as  an  attached 
farm.  But  more  probably,  I  think,  led  is  to  be  referred  to  Old 
Norse  leiga,  Dan.  leje,  Swed.  lega,  to  hire,  to  rent — as  a  record 
of  the  old  time  when  Cumberland  was  occupied  by  a  race  of 
freeholders  living  on  their  own  lands,  and  when  a  rented  farm 
was  the  exception. 

Leeve-tale.     Easy  to  sell  or  dispose  of. 

Dut.  lief-talligh,  acceptus,  gratus,  gratia  valens. 

Lilly,     va.    To  fondle,  caress,  cajole. 

Old  Eng.  loll,  to  fondle.  North,  lill,  to  ease  pain.  Lilly  might 
be  the  same  as  the  Dan.  lefle,  to  caress,  pay  court  to,  cajole. 
If  not  from  lull,  in  the  sense  of  soothing,  Norw.  lulla,  to  sing 
to  sleep,  &c. 

Leend.    sb.    A  shelter  from  the  wind. 

Ang.-Sax.  Mio,  shelter,  Old  Norse  Myja,  to  shelter,  lygn,  calm, 
Dut.  luw,  shelter  from  the  wind.  Hence  lee,  in  nautical 
language.    Allied  to  log  and  lownd. 

Mank.     vn.    To  nod  the  head. 

Perhaps  from  Swed.  maka,  to  move,  taking  the  nasal. 

Metlam  corn.     sb.     A  toll  of  corn  payable  to  the 

lord  of  the  manor.  Perhaps  properly  metlan  or  metlin,  Old 
Norse  meta,  to  tax.  But  as  Jamieson  has  a  word  meteham  or 
metham  with  the  meaning  of  manor,  it  may  be  a  question 
whether  ours  is  not  the  same  word  with  a  phonetic  /,  metlam 
corn  thus  being  simply  manor  corn. 

Morlan.     "There   are   three   annual  fairs  held   at 

Keswick,  the  chief  of  which  is  on  the  2nd  of  August,  called 
Morlan  fair,  in  the  language  of  the  country."  —  HutcMnson. 
The  word  seems  to  be  compounded  of  Wel.  mawr,  great,  and 


184  ADDITIONS   AND    CORRECTIONS. 

llanw,  flood—"  it  being  a  rainy  season,  and  they  expect  a 
flood."— (Hut.) 

Mortal,     adv.     Much,  very,  used  as  an  intensitive, 

as  "mortal  fine."  Carr  may,  I  think,  be  right  in  deriving 
mortal  from  mort,  z.  large  quantity.  It  might  originally  be  a 
noun,  like  hantel. 

Moot-hall.     sb.     A  town  hall. 

Old  Norse,  mot,  Ang.-Sax.  gemot,  a  meeting.  In  Norway  mdt 
is  a  town  meeting,  as  opposed  to  thing,  a  county  meeting 
(Cleasby). 

Peel-house,     sb.    A  place  of  defence  in  the  border 

wars,  a  small  fortress.  Wei.  pill,  a  fortress,  a  secure  place. 
The  original  idea  would  seem  to  be  that  of  a  stockade,  from 
pill,  a  stake. 

Pluttery,  Pleutery.     sb.     Lumber,  rubbish. 

Swed.  pultar,  rags,  Low.  Germ,  pultcn,  rags,  pulterig,  ragged 
LRichey),  Germ,  plunder,  rubbish  (originally  rags.)  Similarly, 
from  Germ,  lumpen,  rag,  lumperei,  trifle,  trumpery.  And  from 
Swed.  lumpor,  rags,  lumpen,  paltry.  I  am  inclined,  from  the 
analogy  of  the  above,  to  think,  though  Wedgwood's  derivation 
is  different,  that  the  present  word  is  the  origin  of  Eng.  paltry. 

Ploy.     Employment. 

This  seems  to  be  the  same  as  the  word  plough  in  the  following  : 

Of  preieres  and  of  penaunce 

My  plough  shal  ben  herafter. — P.  PI. 

Poap.     To  grope,  walk  as  one  in  the  dark. 

Comp.  also  Wei.  palfu,  to  grope  gently,  probably  cognate  with 
Lat.  palpare. 

Punder.     vn.    To  crowd,  press. 

Ang.-Sax.  pyndan,  to  hinder,  shut  in,  impound. 
Rag.     sb.     Hoar  frost. 

Dial.  Dan.  rag,  fog  or  mist. 

Raise.     A  cairn,  heap  of  stones. 

Old  Norse  hreysi,  a  heap  of  stones  (Cleasby). 
Ramps,     sb.     Wild  garlic,  allium  ursinum. 

Ang.-Sax.  hramsa,  Dan.  ramse,  Swed.  ramslok.  From  ram, 
rank,  strong  smelling.  The  Gael,  creamh,  wild  garlic,  seems  to 
be  an  allied  word,  the  initial  c  representing  an  aspirated  h,  as 
in  Ang.-Sax.  hramsa,  now  lost. 


ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS.  1 85 

Ramshackle,    adj.    Rude,  wild,  uncouth. 

Perhaps  from  Old  Norse  ramskakkr,  quite  wrong,  absurd. 
Reed.     va.     To  strip.     "  Butchers  reed  the  entrails  of 

slaughtered  animals  to  obtain  the  fat." — Dick.  Old  Norse 
hrjoda,  to  strip,  Swed.  reda,  to  clear,  to  disentangle. 

Rid.     va.     To  clear  away  trees  from  land. 

Another  application  of  the  preceding  word.  Old  Norse  riodr,  a 
place  cleared  of  wood,  Dan.  rydde,  to  grub  up,  Bav.  rieden,  to 
clear  away,  root  out,  rieder,  riddings,  places  cleared  of  wood. 

Rift.     vn.     To  belch. 

My  supposition  of  a  secondary  verb  formed  from  the  noun  is 
unnecessary,  as  Cleasby  has  the  verb  itself,  Old  Norse  reypta,  to 
belch. 

Ripple,     sb.     A  slight  scratch. 

A  diminutive  of  rive  or  rip,  to  tear,  scratch,  Swed,  repa,  to 
scratch,  &c. 

Roan.     sb.     The  roe  of  fish. 

Old  Norse  hrogn,  Dan.  rogn,  roe,  spawn. 

Roop't.     adj.     Hoarse,  as  with  shouting. 

Clev.  roupy,  hoarse  from  the  effect  of,  cold,  rouped  up,  to  be 
rendered  hoarse.  Sco.  roup,  to  shout,  roupy,  roopit,  hoarse. 
Jamieson  derives  roopit,  hoarse,  from  roup,  to  shout,  Old  Norse 
hropa.  Atkinson  connects  it  with  the  same  root  as  raven,  col- 
lating Dut.  raven,  Dial.  Dan.  rczbbe,  rceppe,  to  croak.  Roopt 
may  in  fact,  as  it  seems  to  me,  be  raw-oopt,  from  Ang.-Sax. 
hreow,  Old  Norse  hrar,  Swed.  rd,  Eng.  raw,  and  Old  Norse  dp, 
Ang.-Sax.  wop,  shout,  cry— roiipt  thus  being  raw,  or  rough 
voiced. 

Roose.     va.     To  praise,  flatter. 

Old  hrosa,  Dan.  rose,  to  praise. 

Roosty.  adj.     Rough  in  manner. 

Probably  connected  with  Old  Norse  hraustr,  strong,  hearty, 
hryssingr,  coarseness,  brutality,  Swed.  rust  a,  to  make  a  riot  or 
disturbance,  Eng.  roister,  &c.    See  royster. 

Safe,  Sef.  adj.  Certain.  "  He's  safe  to  be  drowned." 
Lane.  sef.  Seems  probably  to  be,  as  Davies  has  it,  from  Welsh 
sef,  certain. 

P 


l86  ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS. 

Sammil.     sb.     A  kind  of  conglomerate  gravel. 

A  word  in  use  in  the  lake  district.  From  sam,  implying  com- 
bination.    See  ham-sam. 

Scabble.     va.     To  rough  dress  stone  for  building. 

Crav.  scapple.  Probably  a  frequentative  of  Ang.-Sax.  scapan, 
Old  Norse  skapa,  Dan.  skabe,  to  shape,  to  scabble  being  to  shape 
roughly. 

Scopy.     adj.     Thin  of  soil. 

Crav.  scaup,  a  thin  'soil.  Perhaps  allied  to  scoop,  Dut.  schop, 
Low  Germ,  schuppe,  a  shovel,  Boh.  kopati,  to  hack,  dig,  scopy 
being  that  which  is  readily  scooped.  Or  perhaps,  taking  the  word 
as  properly  scalpy,  to  be  connected  with  Sco.  shelve,  to  separate 
in  thin  layers,  Gael,  sgealb,  to  split,  splinter,  sgealb  chreag,  a 
splintered  or  shelvy  rock,  Bret,  skalfa,  to  split,  separate. 

Scroo.    sb.     A  slide. 

Gael,  sgiorr,  to  slide. 

Shangle.     va.     To  fasten  a  tin  can  to  a  dog's  tail. 

A  nasalised  form,  I  take  it,  of  shackle. 

Shaw.     sb.     A  copse  of  natural  wood. — Dick. 

Old  Norse  skogr,  Dan.  skov,  a  wood. 

Shorpen.     vn.    To  shrivel  by  heat. 

Old  Norse  skorpna,  to  shrivel  or  wrinkle,  skorpinn,  shrivelled, 
wrinkled,  contracted. 

Shuggy.     sb.     A  swing. 

Clev.  shuggy-shaw,  Sco.  shuggie-skue.  Swiss  schuggen,  to  jog, 
Wei.  ysgogi,  to  wag,  shake  to  and  fro. 

Sib.     Akin. 

Ang.-Sax.  sib,  alliance,  relationship. 

Sicker,     adj.     Sure. 

And  siker  thu  miht  hider  comen. — Layamon. 
Dan.  sikker,  Swed.  saker,  Dut.  zeker,  sure. 

Skaitch.     To  beat  with  a  stick. 

Scutch,  to  strike  with  a  thin  switch,  which  is  often  done  to 
snakes. — Hunter. 

We  have  scotched  the  snake,  not  killed  it. — Macbeth. 


ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS.  187 

Skreed.    sb.    A  narrow  strip. 

The  same  as  "Eng.- shred,  by  transposition  for  sherd.  Old  Nors* 
skarda,  minuere,  incisuram  facere,  Dut.  schroode,  shred,  Gael. 
sgraid,  sgrait,  shred,  rag. 

Skrike  (o'  day),     sb.     Break  of  day. 

Dut.  krieken  van  den  dag,  break  of  day.  "The  sudden 
appearance  of  a  brilliant  light  is  represented  by  the  sound  of  an 
explosion,  and  a  sparkling  or  broken  glitter  by  the  sound  of 
crackling. " —  Wedgwood. 

Smatch.     sb.     A  smack,  slight  savour. 

Ang.-Sax.  smaccan,  Dut.  smaken,  Swed.  smaka,  to  taste. 
Starbent.     sb.     The  juncus  squarrosus. 

Old  Norse  stargresi,  Dan.,  Swed.  stargrds,  coarse  grass,  carex. 

Swarf,     vn.     To  swoon. 

Perhaps,  taking  a  phonetic  r  from  Ang.-Sax.  swefan,  to  fall 
asleep,  or  into  a  state  of  insensibility. 

Teutle.     vn.     To  trifle. 

Would  seem  to  be  a  frequentative  of  tute,  q.v.,  unless  we  may 
connect  it  with  Wei.  iwtial,  to  loiter. 

Thummel-poke.     sb.     A  cap  for  a  sore  finger. 

Old  Norse  thumall,  thumb. 

Toup.     To  overturn. 

I  have  connected  our  word  coup,  to  upset,  with  Goth,  kaupatjan, 
to  strike.  The  following  table,  intended  to  show  the  connections 
of  our  two  words  coup  and  toup,  shows  some  other  instances  of 
this  interchange  of  meaning  : — 

Cumb.  coup,  to  fall,  to  upset.         Cumb.  toup,  to  fall. 
Sansc.  kup,  to  fall.  Sansc.  tup,  to  strike. 

Greek  Kvirretv,  to  fall.  Greek  rvvreiv,  to  strike. 

Goth,  kaupatjan,  to  strike. 
Lat.  cubare,  to  lie  down. 
Gael,  cub,  to  bend,  crouch. 

With  the  insertion  of  a  liquid. 
Wei.  cwympo,  to  fall,  to  fell.  Wei.  iwmpio,  to  fall,  to  drop. 

Wei.  twmpian,  to  strike. 
Old  Norse  tumba,  to  fall. 

With  the  prefix  of  s. 

Swed.  stupa,  to  fall,  to  drop. 


1 88  ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS. 

Trunlins.     sb.     Large  or  round  coal. 

Crav.  trunlin,  a  large  coal.  Wei.  turn,  round,  Ang.-Sax. 
trendel,  a  circle.  Hence  the  idea  is  the  same  as  that  in  "  round' 
coal. 

Worchit,  Orchit.     sb.     Orchard. 

Ang.-Sax.  weorteard,  ortgeard,  Old  Norse  jurtagardr,  a  yard  or 
inclosure  for  worts  (vegetables). 

Yerth,  Yurth.    sb.     Earth. 

Ang.-Sax.  earthe,  Old  Norse  jord,  Dan.,  Swed.  jord.  (y  in  the 
above  Scand.  words  is  sounded  as  our.y.) 


OBSOLETE  AND  OTHER  TERMS  FOUND 
IN  THE  NAMES  OF  PLACES. 


Besides  the  words  at  present  in  use  in  the  district, 
there  are  many  obsolete  terms  now  existing  only  in  the 
names  of  places.  Some  of  these,  and  notably  those  of 
Celtic  origin,  have  probably  been  out  of  use  for  many 
centuries,  while  others  still  survive  in  kindred  dialects, 
and  it  is  therefore  reasonable  to  suppose  have  not  been 
long  out  of  use  in  our  own.  The  connection,  then, 
between  the  nomenclature  of  the  district  and  the  living 
speech  of  the  people  is  so  intimate  that  a  chapter  on 
local  etymology  is  an  appropriate  supplement  to  a 
glossary  of  the  dialect. 

The  tendency  among  men  to  "call  their  lands 
after  their  own  names"  is  strongly  characteristic  of 
the  Teutonic  race,  and  in  England,  as  in  Germany,  a 
large  proportion  of  the  names  of  places  are  derived 
from  the  names  of  the  men  who  founded  them.  In 
Cumberland  a  great  part  of  these  names  date  from 
the  division  of  the  soil  among  the  followers  of  the 
Conqueror,  of  which  Denton  gives  us  many  of  the 
particulars.      Thus  Dovenby*  was  called  from  Dolfin, 

*  There  is  also  a  place  called  Dolphenby,  near  Penrith.  And 
the  name  Dolfin  is  found  on  the  Runic  inscription  discovered  in 
Carlisle  cathedral. 


190  OBSOLETE  AND   OTHER  TERMS 

the  son  of  Ailward ;  while  Ailward  the  father  gave 
his  name  to  Ailwardby,  perhaps  the  present  Allerby. 
Gamelby  took  its  name  from  Gamel,  lord  of  Bothel — 
Melmerby  and  Ousby  (formerly  Ulfsby),  from  Melmor 
and  Ulf,  the  sons  of  Halden  or  Halfden.  Ponsonby 
has  its  name  from  one  Ponson  in  the  time  of  Stephen, 
and  Moresby  from  one  Maurice.  Allonby  is  said  to 
have  been  founded  by  Alan,  second  Lord  of  Allerdale. 
Longwathby,  formerly  called  Long  Waldeofby,  may 
have  been  founded  by  Waldeof,  son  of  Gospatrick,  to 
whom  Allerdale  was  given  by  Meschines.  And 
Boothby  may  probably  have  been  founded  by  Bueth, 
who  also  gave  his  name  to  Bewcastle  (Buethcastle),  in 
the  same  part  of  Cumberland.  The  post-fix  in  all 
these  cases  is  the  Danish  by,  a  village. 

Some  of  the  above  names,  as  Ulf,  Gamel,  Dolfin 
(Old  Norse  Dolgfinnr)  are  distinctively  Scandinavian. 
Melmor,  though  in  company  with  Danish  names, 
seems  to  be  itself  more  probably  Celtic,  and  may, 
as  was  the  name  Nial,  have  been  borrowed  by 
the  Northmen  from  the  Celts.  On  a  stone  at 
Kirk  Michael,  in  the  Isle  of  Man,  is  an  inscrip- 
tion in  Scandinavian  runes — "  Mai  Lumkum  raised 
this  cross  to  his  foster-father  Malmor."  This,  de- 
scribed by  Worsaae  as  "a  Norwegian  inscription 
with  purely  Gaelic  names,"  seems  .to  give  further 
evidence  as  to  the  adoption  of  this  name  by  the 
Northmen.  Bueth,  who  founded  Bewcastle,  and  as 
I  have  suggested,  Boothby,  and  Gil  (Gisil),  his  son, 
who  gave  his  name  to  Gilsland,  seem  to  have  been 


FOUND   IN   THE   NAMES   OF   PLACES.  191 

Northmen,  though  the  names  themselves  are  not 
exclusively  Scandinavian.  So  also  Harold,  probably 
contained  in  Harraby.  Irebyy  which  corresponds  with 
Iurby  in  the  Isle  of  Man,  may,  as  suggested  by 
Worsaae  of  the  latter,  be  from  the  Danish  name  Ivor. 
Botchard,  who  founded  Botchardby  (now  Botcherby) 
in  the  time  of  Rufus,  was,  we  are  told,  a  Fleming. 
Roberby  (Robertby)  and  Rickerby  (Richardby)  are 
probably  derived  from  Norman  names,  as  also 
Aglionby,  though  the  name  here  contained  (Aglin 
or  Agelin),  is,  like  the  two  former,  of  Teutonic 
origin.  Maughonby  and  Tarraby  (formerly  Terriby) 
contain  names,  Maughon  and  Terry,  also  probably 
Norman.  Horn,  found  in  Hornsby,  is  the  name  of 
one  of  the  heroes  of  ancient  romance. 

The  well-known  Danish  name  Ketil  is  found  mKelton, 
formerly  Ketilton.  Perhaps  also  in  Keswick  (for  Kels- 
wick  =  Ketilswick).  Among  the  Northmen  themselves 
the  name  seems  to  have  been  frequently  contracted  into 
Kel ;  thus  the  names  Thorketil  and  Hrossketil  appears 
as  Thorkel  and  Hrosskel.  Another  derivation  is  how- 
ever practicable,  as  elsewhere  stated.  The  Danish 
name  Thurstan  is  found  in  Thur starts  water,  the  old 
name  of  Coniston  lake,  and  in  Thrustonfield.  Brother 
also,  in  Brother's  water,  may  be  from  Broder  as  a 
Scandinavian  name,  among  others  that  of  a  Danish 
king  of  Dublin.  Low,  in  Loweswater,  is  a  name  rather 
probably  of  Danish  origin  (O.  N.  logi,  Dan.  hie,  Cumb. 
low,  a  flame.  The  Danish  name  Rafn  (raven)  is  pro- 
bably found  in   Renwick,  formerly  Ravenwick,   and 


192        OBSOLETE  AND  OTHER  TERMS 

Einar  in  Ennerdale.  Also  Ragnar  in  Rannerdale, 
Ami  (eagle)  in  Arnside,  Hamill  in  Ambleside;  these 
three  names,  however,  are  not  exclusively  Scandinavian. 
Silver,  in  Silverhow,  Silverdale,  &c,  may  be  from  the 
name  Solvi,  whence  Solvadalr  in  Iceland.  And  in 
Honister  crag  we  may  find  the  old  Northern  name 
Hogni,  whence  Hognastadr  in  Iceland.  Honister 
might  be  a  contraction  of  Honistader,  but  more  pro- 
bably it  may  be  the  same  as  Hognasetter*  in  Shetland, 
where  also  Hogni  is  found  as  a  man's  name  in  a 
charter  of  the  14th  century.  Olafur,  at  present  one  of 
the  most  common  Christian  names  in  Iceland,  is  found 
in  Ulverston  (Taylor,  Words  and  Places),  and  possibly 
also  may  be  that  found  in  Overwater.  Orm,  a  dis- 
tinctively Scandinavian  name  ( =  A.S.  worm,  serpent), 
perhaps  retained  in  our  present  name  Oram,  is  found 
in  Ormathwaite,  Ormesgill,  &c.  So  also  Ulf  ( =  A.S. 
wulf,  wolf),  in  Ulleswater,  Ulpha,  &c. 

The  word  how  (O.N.  hangr,  a  sepulchral  mound), 
is  found  in  many  cases  coupled  with  a  Scandinavian 
name,  we  may  presume  that  of  the  warrior  whose  grave 
it  was.  Thus  we  have  Gunner's  how  from  Gunnar, 
Cornhow  from  Korni  (comp.  Kornahaug  in  Norway), 
and  Loadenhow  from  Lodinn  (hirsutus) ;  the  last-named 
was  opened  in  the  last  century,  and  the  remains  of  the 
warrior  found  therein. 

*  This  name  occurs  in  the  Roll  of  property  belonging  to  the 
Monastery  of  St.  Michael  at  Bergen,  among  other  possessions  in 
Shetland.  "  On  Scottish  and  Irish  Local  Names,"  by  Prof.  Munch, 
in  the  Memoires  des  Antiquaires  du  Nord. 


FOUND    IN   THE   NAMES   OF   PLACES.  1 93 

Butraldi  (stumpy)  is  also  an  old  Danish  name  found 
in  Buttereld  held,  near  Bow  Fell,  in  Cumberland. 

Elter  and  D  evoke,  in  Elterwater  and  Devokewater, 
are  names  probably  Teutonic,  but  not  especially 
Scandinavian.  The  latter  may  be  the  same  name  as 
that  found  in  Cumdevock,  so  we  have  elsewhere  in 
England  Comb  Basset,  Comb  Martin,  &c,  similarly 
compounded  with  names  of  men.  Glassonby  and 
Lazonby  (formerly  Leysingby)  also  contain  names  pro- 
bably Teutonic — the  latter  perhaps  the  same  as  the 
present  Germ.  Lessing.  Dagsa,  in  Dagsa's  stone,  now 
Dalston,  seems  to  be  a  name  of  the  early  Saxon  class. 

Mr.  Kemble  (Saxons  in  England)  has  referred  to 
the  names  indicative  of  family  settlements  in  various 
parts  of  England.  These  names  sometimes  consist 
of  a  nominative  plural  in  as,  as  in  Hastingas,  "  the 
Hastings  f  sometimes  of  a  genitive  plural  in  a,  with 
ham,  tun,  &c,  appended,  as  in  Herelingatun,  "  the 
town  of  the  Herelings,"  now  Harlington.  Ing  in  the 
above  is  the  Ang.-Sax.  ing,  son,  descendant,  as  in  Billing, 
son  or  descendant  of  Bil  or  Bila.  Names  of  this  class, 
so  common  in  some  parts  of  England,  are,  as  Kemble 
remarks,  scarce  north  of  the  Humber.  And  in  the 
sparsely  occupied  mountain  districts  of  Cumberland 
and  Westmorland  especially,  the  names  are  those  rather 
of  individual  occupancy  than  of  family  settlements. 
Kemble  notes  in  Cumberland  the  following  as  being 
probably  of  this  class,  viz.,  Distingas  as  found  in 
Distington,  Hanesingas  in  Hensingham,  Irthingas  in 
Irthington,  Weorcingas  in  Workington,  Cameringas  in 


194  OBSOLETE   AND   OTHER   TERMS 

Cammerton,  Hearingas  in  Harrington,  and  Rotingas  in 
Rottington.  From  this  list  must  be  deducted  Irthington, 
which  takes  its  name  from  the  river  Irthing,  on  which 
it  is  situated,  and  not  from  a  family  settlement.  And 
for  Hearingas  we  must  substitute  Haeferingas,  the  name 
of  Harrington  having  originally  been  Haverington. 
We  may  add  to  the  list  Aldingas  as  found  in  Aldingham, 
and  Frisingas  as  found  in  Frisington.  The  three  which 
I  have  added  are  all  found  by  Kemble  in  other  counties 
of  England.  We  have  also  Snellings,  which  might 
represent  an  ancient  Snellingas  as  a  nominative  plural 
"  the  Snellings."  But  it  seems  to  me  as  probable  that 
it  may  simply  be  from  the  name  Snelling  as  a  posses- 
sive, equivalent  to  "Snelling's  property,"  like  Raw  sorts 
and  other  names  of  places  in  the  district.  The  above, 
it  should  be  observed,  are  to  some  extent  speculative ; 
it  is  only  in  cases  where  we  have  the  Anglo-Saxon 
form  of  the  word  as  preserved  in  charters  or  elsewhere 
that  anything  like  certainty  is  to  be  attained.  Mr. 
Kemble  has  two  lists,  the  former  consisting  of  names 
thus  historically  tested;  and  the  latter,  among  which 
are  the  Cumberland  examples,  of  names  which  seem 
formed  in  an  analogous  way. 

This  tendency  to  call  their  lands  after  their  own 
names,  perhaps  to  some  extent  a  sign  of  want  of 
imagination,  seems  to  have  been  less  common  among 
the  Celtic  races ;  I  only  know  of  three  names  in 
Cumberland  which  seem  to  be  thus  formed ;  Carlisle, 
the  capital,  which  may  be  probably  called  from  its 
founder  Luol ;  Cardnrnock,  formerly  Caerdronack,  in 


FOUND    IN   THE   NAMES   OF    PLACES.  1 95 

which  there  seems  a  probable  Celtic  name,  Gael. 
dornach,  champion,  pugilist,  or  druinneach,  a  druid ; 
and  Gi/garron,  which,  as  elsewhere  noted,  is  probably 
from  the  name  of  a  Scoto-Irish  saint.  The  name  of 
Dunmail  raise  (properly  Dumnail  raise),  which  there 
does  not  seem  any  reason  to  doubt,  is  from  a  British 
king  of  Cumberland,  would  seem — raise  being  a  char- 
acteristic Scandinavian  word — to  have  been  given  by. 
the  Northmen. 

On  the  whole,  then,  I  take  it  that  the  names  of 
ancient  proprietors  in  the  district,  a  decided  prepon- 
derance of  which  are  unquestionably  Scandinavian, 
will  be  found  to  be  in  accordance  with  the  distribution 
of  the  words  of  the  dialect  in  the  next  chapter. 

In  the  following  list  of  obsolete  and  other  words 
found  in  the  names  of  places  I  have  included  West- 
morland and  that  part  of  Lancashire  north  of  the 
sands,  as  being  subject  generally  to  the  same  con- 
ditions as  Cumberland,  so  far  as  regards  the  character 
of  their  local  names. 

Ark.     As  in  Pavey  ark,  Mickle  ark,  Arkholme. 

Perhaps  from  Ang.-Sax.  hearg,  Old  Norse  horgr,  Old  High 
Germ,  haruc,  a  heathen  altar  or  place  of  worship.  In  provincial 
Norse  horg  is  a  dome-shaped  hill  (Aasen),  which  might  be 
simply  the  meaning  in  the  case  of  mountains,  as  Pavey  ark. 
Still,  if  Pavey  be,  as  seems  rather  probable,  from  O.N.paufi,  a 
lurking  fiend  according  to  Cleasby,  a  dark  and  mysterious 
corner  according  to  Haldorsen,  it  would  seem  to  imply  some- 
thing more  in  accordance  with  the  former  meaning.  The 
ending  ergh  in  Mansergh  and  Sizergh,  would  seem  to  be  from 
the  above  hearg,  an  altar,  and  might  tempt  to  a  mythological 
speculation,  as  suggesting  Mannus  and  his  son  Tiw  (High 
Germ.  Zio),  the  mythic  ancestors  of  the  Teutons,  if  we  could 
account  for  a  High  Germ,  form  like  Zio,  as  the  name  of  a 
deity. 


196        OBSOLETE  AND  OTHER  TERMS 

Blen.     Wei.  blaen,  top,  summit,  extremity. 

Blencogo  and  Blencow  may  be  from  Wei.  goch,  cock,  red.  Or 
from  coeg,  empty,  perhaps  in  the  sense  of  void  of  wood. 
BUndcrake  (formerly  Blencreye)  is  probably  from  craig,  rock. 
Blencathra,  the  ancient  name  of  Saddleback,  may  be,  I  think, 
from  Wei.  cader,  Gael,  cathair,  seat  or  chair,  in  allusion  to 
the  peculiar  form  of  its  summit.  Hence  of  meaning  somewhat 
analogous  to  that  of  its  other  name  Saddleback.  From  a  similar 
origin  James  ( Welsh  Names  of  Places)  derives  the  name  of 
Cader  Idris,  on  one  of  the  rocks  of  which  there  is,  he  says,  an 
excavation  like  a  chair. 

Blitter.     In  B litter  lees,  near  Silloth. 

Comp.  blittert,  torn  by  winds,  Germ,  bldttern,  to  come  off  in 
scales.  This  is  very  suitable  for  the  locality  in  question,  a  range 
of  sand-hills  constantly  stripped  or  peeled  by  the  wind. 

Botel.  Bol.     Ang.-Sax.  hotel,  a  house,  dwelling. 

Hence  probably  Boihel  and  Bootle.  The  word  in  the  Scandina- 
vian tongues  is  contracted  into  bol,  whence  probably  BowscaU 
(scale,  a  wooden  hut)  and  Bovmess,  formerly  Bolness  (ness,  a 
promontory). 

Break.     As  in  Mellbreak. 

Old  Norse  brekka,  a  slope,  a  gentle  acclivity.  "  As  a  law-term 
in  Iceland  the  hill  where  public  meetings  where  held  and  laws 
promulgated"  (Cleasbv).  Common  in  names  of  places  in  Norway 
and  Iceland. 

Caer.     Wei.  caer,  fortified  place,  city. 

Respecting  Carlisle  and  Cardurnock  see  p.  194.  Caer  Mote,  a 
hill  on  which  are  the  remains  of  entrenchments,  is  evidently 
from  the  above  and  mote,  a  little  hill.  Jamieson  derives  mote 
from  Ang.-Sax.,  Old  Norse  mot,  conventus  hominum,  a  meeting, 
"applied  to  a  little  hill,  because  anciently  conventions  were 
held  on  eminences."  But  Chevallet  (Origine  et  formation  de  la 
langue  francaise)  refers  French  motte,  an  eminence ,  to  a  Celtic 
source,  Sco.,  Ir.  mota,  a  hill,  the  correctness  of  which  seems 
very  doubtful. 

Cam.    Ang.-Sax.  camb,  Old  Norse  kambr,  a  crest,  ridge. 

Frequent  in  local  names  in  Iceland,  "of  hills  rising  like  a  crest" 
(Cleasby),    Hence  Cam  Fell,  Catsty  cam,  &c. 

Carrock.    Wei.  careg,  a  rock. 

Hence  Carrock  Fell,  Castle  Carrock,  &c. 

Cove.     Ang.-Sax.  cofa,  a  cove,  recess. 

Hence  Red  cove  and  Kepple  cove  on  Helvellyn,  the  latter  perhaps 
figuratively  from  Ang.-Sax.  cepla,  a  basket. 


FOUND   IN   THE   NAMES   OF   PLACES.  1 97 

Crag.     Gael,  creag,  Wei.  car  eg,  a  rock. 

I  introduce  this  as  the  only  Celtic  word  applied  in  names  of 
places  which,  if  not  exactly  current,  is  at  least,  I  think,  under- 
stood in  the  dialect.  Thrang  crag,  near  Elterwater,  is  the  site 
of  an  extensive  slate-quarry,  and  probably  derives  its  name  from 
this  source,  thrang  meaning  busy,  crowded. 

Dun.     Gael.,  Corn,  dun,  a  hill. 

Dundraw  seems  probably  from  the  above  and  Wei.  derw,  oaks. 

Durran.     In  Durran  hill,  near  Carlisle. 

Perhaps  from  Wei.  duryn,  beak,  snout,  whence  Davies  derives 
Durn,  "a  projecting  point  or  ledge  of  land,"  in  Lancashire. 

Earth.    Old  Norse  jord,  earth,  used  also  in  the  sense 

of  a  farm  or  estate.  Hence  may  be  Hawks  earth,  Haukr,  hawk, 
being  a  Scandinavian  proper  name. 

Ey.      Ang.-Sax.  eah,  an  eye,  whence  figuratively  an 

island.  Sw.  o.  Hence  Walney  and  Fouldrey  (Icel.  foldir, 
fields,  the  local  name  of  a  grassy  oasis  in  West  Iceland).  (The 
small  islands  on  the  lakes  are  called  holms.)  Some  isolated 
hills  in  Cumberland  seem  to  be  formed  from  the  above  ey,  in  a 
sense  equivalent  to  that  of  island,  e.g.  Moutay  and  Binsey. 

Force.     A  water-fall.     See  ant,  p.  46. 

Airey  force  might  be  from  Wei.  eirig,  splendid,  whence  the 
Scotch  and  Lane.  eery.  But  more  probably,  I  think,  from  Wei. 
eirwi,  a  water-fall,  to  which  has  been  added  the  Scand.  force. 
Scale  force  might  be  from  Old  Norse  skdl,  bowl,  cavity,  in 
reference  to  the  hollow  in  which  its  waters  are  received.  But 
more  probably  I  think — the  shoot  being  high,  and  the  volume 
of  water  small — from  scale,  to  disperse,  separate,  in  a  sense 
somewhat  akin  to  that  of  the  Staubbach,  ' '  dust-fall, "  in  Swit- 
zerland. 

Forth.     As  in  Gosforth,  Galeforth. 

Old  Norse  forath,  Icel.  forcethi,  a  pit,  abyss,  in  modern  use  a 
fen  or  morass,  which  would  seem  the  most  probable  meaning  in 
Gosforth,  ' '  goose  fen. " 

Gale.     Old  Norse  geil  (pron.  gale),  a  narrow  lane  or 

glen.  In  Iceland  the  straight  road  leading  to  a  farm.  ' '  Every 
Icelandic  homestead  was  approached  by  a  straight  xozAfgeil)" — 
Dasent,  Bnt.  Njal.  Obsolete  in  the  dialect,  but  common  in 
names  of  places. 

Glen.     Wei.  glyn,  Corn,  glen,  valley,  glen. 

Unknown  in  the  dialect,  but  found  in  names  of  places.  Glencoin, 
perhaps  from  W.  cogan,  bowl.      Glenridding,  perhaps  from 


I98        OBSOLETE  AND  OTHER  TERMS 

W.  rhedyn,  fern.  If  the  station  Amboglanna  be,  as  seems  to 
be  the  opinion  of  the  best  authorities,  the  present  Burdoswald, 
the  name  may  be  taken  to  be  from  ambo,  water,  river,  and  the 
above  glen,  a  valley,  appropriate  to  the  situation  of  the  station, 
looking  down  upon  the  Irthing  flowing  in  a  deep  glen  below. 

Hall.     In  Hall  Fell,  H awl  gill. 

Old  Norse  hallr,  a  slope,  hill ;  also  a  boulder.  Hall,  as  a  man's 
name  common  among  the  Northmen,  derived  by  Cleasby  from 
hallr,  a  boulder,  may  intermix. 

Hammer.     Old  Norse  hamarr,  a  crag  standing  out 

like  an  anvil.  Hammer  scar,  Grasmere.  Common  in  local 
names  in  Norway,  as  Hammer  fell,  &c. 

Hest.     Old  Norse  hestr,  Dan.  /test,  horse. 

Hest  Fell  in  Cumberland  compares  with  Hesta  Fell  in  Iceland, 
"a  horse-shaped  crag." — Cleasby.  There  is  also  a  Hesten  Fell 
{the  horse  fell)  in  Norway.  Hesket  may  be  hest-cote,  a  shed  or 
shelter  for  horses  ;  one  place  of  that  name  is  in  the  midst  of 
Inglewood  forest.  We  have  also  Hestholm  (holme,  pasture  land 
by  a  river). 

Hope,  Op.     As  in  Hope,  Hartsop,  Greenup. 

Sco.  hope,  a  slanting  hollow  between  two  hills ;  also  a  small  bay. 
The  latter  seems  the  original  sense,  Old  Norse  hdp,  a  small 
land-locked  bay  or  inlet.  Found  in  local  names  in  Iceland,  as 
Vestrhop. 

Jaw.     Old  Norse  gja,  a  rift  or  chasm. 

Sco.  geow.     Hence  the  Jaws  of  Borrodale  ? 

Kil,     Gael.  Ir.  cil,  a  church. 

From  this  origin  I  take  to  be  Gilcrux  and  Gilgarron  in  Cum- 
berland, and  not  from  gill,  a  ravine,  which  never  occurs  as  a 
prefix.  Gillcrux  (pron.  Gillcroose)  seems  to  be  from  Welsh 
crwys,  cross,  "the  church  of  the  cross."  Gillgarron  is  no 
doubt  the  same  as  Kilgarran  in  Pembrokeshire,  Kilkerran  in 
Ayrshire  and  Connemora,  Kilkiaran  in  Islay,  from  St.  Ciarran, 
the  apostle  of  the  Scotto-Irish.*  Then  we  have  also  Culgaith, 
another  form  of  the  same,  the  latter  part  of  the  word  being 
perhaps  Wei.  gaith,  open. 

Kirrock,   Kirk.      A  circle   of  stones  of  the  kind 

generally  known  as  druidical.  It  would  seem  evident  that  the 
kirrock  was  associated  with  the  idea  of  sacredness.  While  in 
some  cases  we  find  one  of  these  circles  surrounded  by  graves  ;  in 
other  cases  we  have  the  individual  grave-mound  encompassed 

*  Taylor,  Words  and  Places.     Bannister,  Cornish  Names. 


FOUND   IN   THE   NAMES   OF   PLACES.  1 99 

by  its  own  circle  of  stones,  by  which  it  would  seem  that  the 
odour  of  sanctity  was  supposed  to  be  communicated  to  it — thus 
bringing,  as  it  were,  the  church-yard  to  the  grave.  Hence,  I  pre- 
sume, the  origin  of  Kirkbarrow.  Kirkstone  Pass  may,  I  think,  de- 
rive its  name  from  a  kirrock  on  the  summit,  which  was  cut  through 
in  making  the  road  across  it,  rather  than  from  any  imaginary  re- 
semblance of  its  rocks  to  a  church.  In  a  previous  work  [Northmen 
in  Cumberland  and  Westmorland )  I  suggested  that  this  word 
kirrock  or  kirk  might  be  the  original  of  our  kirk  or  church* 
the  ordinary  derivation  of  which  from  the  Greek  is  not  satisfac- 
torily accounted  for.  On  this  subject  a  number  of  communica- 
tions appeared  some  time  ago  in  the  Times  and  the  Guardian, 
and  among  others  one  from  Prof.  Max  Miiller,  who,  admitting 
the  difficulty  with  respect  to  the  ordinary  derivation,  held  that 
no  less  difficulty  attended  the  one  in  question,  and  observed  that 
we  ought  as  a  first  step  to  know  the  origin  of  the  Cumberland 
word.  It  seems  highly  probable  that  the  meaning  is  simply 
circle,  and  that  the  word  is  the  same  as  the  Lat.  circus  (Wei. 
cwr,  circle,  cwrc,  curvature,  Gael,  car,  a  bend,  a  turn,  Ang.- 
Sax.  cerran,  cirran,  to  bend,  turn,  cyr,  a  bend,  a  turn).  A 
word  similarly  formed  from  the  same  root  would  seem  to  be 
found  in  the  churka  or  rotatory  gin  of  India.  But  if  Cat  kirk 
(in  Westmorland)  be,  as  seems  probable,  like  the  many  Cat 
stones  in  Scotland,  from  Celtic  cad,  cat,  war,  battle,  in  the  sup- 
position of  the  graves  of  those  who  fell  in  some  battle,  it  would 
be  rather  in  favour  of  a  Celtic  origin  for  the  word.  I  would  only 
observe  further  that  from  the  parallel  form  cal  or  kil  (Wei.  call, 
what  goes  or  turns  round,  Wei.  cylch,  circle,  Bret,  kilia,  to  turn, 
kelch,  circle),  might  in  a  similar  sense  be  derived  the  ancient 
Celtic  word  kil  for  a  church  in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  usually 
presumed  to  be  the  same  as  Lat.  cella,  Eng.  cell. 

Knipe.     Old  Norse  gnipa,  a  sharp  peak. 

Hence  Knipe  scar,  Great  Knipe  and  Little  Knipe  in  Westmor- 
land.    Comp.  Knipenborg  in  Norway. 

Knock.     Wei.  cnwc,  bunch,  knot.     Dut  knoke,  knot. 

Hence  Knock  pike  near  Appleby,  &c. 

Knot.  Old  Norse  knutr,  Dan.  knud,  a  knot,  excres- 
cence. Hardknot  compares  with  Hartenuten  [the  hard  knot),  a 
mountain  in  Norway.  School  knot,  in  Westmorland)  may  be 
from  Skuli,  a  Scandinavian  proper  name  (signifying  protector). 

Lan.    Wei.  llan,  church. 

The  only  name  in  which  this  word  seems  to  occur  is  Lanercost. 
Probably  the  oldest  record  in  which  the  name  is  found  is  the 


Lloyd  in 


*  This  idea  I  since  find  to  have  been  previously  broached  by 
rd  in  Baxter's  Glossarium  Antiquitatum  Britannicarum. 


200  OBSOLETE   AND   OTHER   TERMS 

Runic  inscription  on  a  rock  near  Bewcastle,  whereon  it  appears, 
according  to  the  rendering  of  jhe  Rev.  J.  Maughon,  as  Llaner- 
kasta.  "Can  the  name  denote,"  he  adds,  "  the  church  over  the 
cyst  ?"     Perhaps  rather  from  the  name  of  some  Saint. 

Latter.     In  Latterbarrow,   Whinlatter,  Latrigg  ? 

The  O.N.  Idtr  signifies  a  place  where  animals  lay  their  young, 
Eng.  litter.  Ldtrbjarg,  in  Iceland,  might  then  compare  with 
our  Latterbarrow.  The  Gael,  leitir  signifies  the  side  of  a  hill, 
but  a  Celtic  origin  would  hardly,  as  it  seems  to  me,  be  consistent 
with  the  compounds  in  which  our  word  occurs. 

Lund.      Old  Norse  lundr,  Dan.,  Sw.  lurid,  a  grove, 

especially  a  sacred  grove.  Hence  Hofflund,  in  Westm.,  O.N. 
ho/,  a  temple.  Cleasby  refers  to  this  origin  Gilsland,  in  Cumb., 
but  it  is  by  no  means  clear  that  it  is  from  this  origin,  and  not 
from  land,  terra. 

Mains.    As  in  the  Mains,  near  Carlisle.    Also  Redmain 

and  Dalemain  f  Sco.  mains,  the  farm  attached  to  the  mansion 
on  an  estate,  formerly  held  by  the  proprietor  himself.  Derived 
by  Skene  from  Fr.  domaine.  Or  possibly,  from  Fr.  mener, 
Old  Fr.  mainer,  to  manage,  from  main,  the  hand,  as  we  speak 
of  having  land  in  one's  "  own  hand." 

Mell,  Meal.     Old  Norse  melr,  a  kind  of  bent  grass 

growing  on  sandy  soil,  hence  a  sandhill  covered  with  such  grass. 
This  word  has  been  superseded  in  the  dialect  by  the  Celtic  bent, 
but  appears  to  be  found  in  several  names  of  places,  as  Esk- 
meals,  Meala  near  Allonby,  both  places  answering  to  the  above 
description,  and  Meal  rigg,  ' '  a  narrow  strip  of  fertile  land 
surrounded  by  mosses"  (Hutchinson),  probably  also  in  Mealy 
syke.  "The  Meales,  the  name  of  sand-banks  at  Hunstanton" 
(Norfolk  Words,  by  A.  Gurney,  Phil.  Soc.)  Mell  Fell,  which 
corresponds  with  MelFel  in  Norway,  might  perhaps  be  assigned 
to  this  origin  rather  than  the  word  previously  mentioned.  Common 
in  local  names  in  Iceland,  as  Melar,  perhaps,  seeing  that  r  final 
is  mute  in  English,  the  same  word  as  our  Meala  (plur.  sand- 
banks). 

Mere.     Ang.-Sax.  mere,  a  lake. 

Hence  Windermere,  Buttermere,  Tkirlemere  (probably  from  its 
long  and  narrow  shape,  A.S.  thirlian,  to  drill,  to  bore). 

Mire.     Old  Norse  myrr,  Icel.  myri,  a  bog. 

Hence  Sour  mire  (see  sour),  Mire  house,  Cardew  mire.  The 
O.N.  kjarr-m$rr  signifies  a  marsh  grown  with  brush-wood. 
But  dew  in  Cardew  seems  rather  probably  to  be  from  O.N.  dj>, 
also  signifying  a  marsh  or  bog,  and  it  would  rather  seem  as  if 


FOUND   IN  THE  NAMES  OF  PLACES.  201 

mire  had  been  added  as  a  later  word,  when  the  meaning  of  dew 
came  to  be  forgotten.  Found  in  ( many  names  of  places  in 
Norway,  as  Rossemyr,  "  horse  mire." 

Man.     As  in  the  Old  Man  at  Coniston. 

Dr.  Whittaker  makes  this  a  corruption  of  the  Celt,  alt  maen, 
lofty  hill.  There  is  also  a  mountain  in  Appenzell  called  Alt 
Mann,  which  Obermuller  similarly  ascribes  to  a  Celtic  origin. 
It  seems  to  me,  however,  very  uncertain  whether  the  name  may 
not  be  similar  to  that  of  the  Monch,  the  Jungfrau,  &c. 

Nab.     Ang.-Sax.  cnap,  Old  Norse  knappr,  a  knob. 

Hence  Nab  scar,  Rydale,  and  the  Knab  on  Windermere.  Comp. 
Knaben  [the  Knab,  in  Norway). 

Ness.     Ang.-Sax.  nces,  Old  Norse  nes,  a.  promontory. 

Hence  Bowness,  formerly  Bolness,  O.N.  bol,  a  dwelling,  and 
Skinburness,  perhaps  from  Skinnabiorn,  the  name  of  a  North- 
man in  the  Landnamabdk  of  Iceland. 

Odd.     As  in  Hodbarrow  point. 

Would  seem  to  be  most  probable  from  Old  Norse  oddi,  N.  Fris. 
odd,  a  point  or  tongue  of  land.  Peacock  has  odd,  a  small  point 
of  land,  a  promontory,  as  a  word  in  use  in  Lonsdale. 

Orrest.    Ang.-Sax.  orrest,  Old  Norse  orrosta,  a  battle. 

Hence  seem  to  be  High  orrest,  Near  orrest,  and  Orrest  head, 
near  Windermere,  marking,  it  would  seem,  the  various  points  of 
some  considerable  fight. 

Ouse.     In  Ouse  bridge,  at  the  outlet  of  Derwentwater. 

Old  Norse  oss,  out-let  of  a  river  or  lake. 

Pen.     Wei.,  Corn,  pen,  end,  top,  summit. 

Hence  the  Pen  in  Duddon  valley.  Penruddock  seems  probably 
to  be  from  W.  rhwdog,  red.  Penrith  has  also  been  explained 
as  "  red  hill."  Or  one  might  possibly  think  of  Corn,  ryth,  open, 
plain,  flourishing,  taking  Penrith,  beyond  which  lay  Inglewood 
forest,  as  the  "  end  of  the  plain  or  open  country."  Or  again, 
we  might  think  of  Gael,  rath,  circle,  in  reference  to  the  remark- 
able circle  called  King  Arthur's  round  table.  On  the  whole, 
however,  the  first  suggestion  is  perhaps  the  most  probable. 

Ray  or  Wray.    Old  Norse  vra,  Dan.  vraa,  a  corner. 

The  word  wros,  in  the  sense  of  corners,  occurs  in  the  romance 
of  Havelock  the  Dane.  Hence  Wreay,  on  the  Lancaster  and 
Carlisle  Railway,  Wray,  on  Windermere,  Birkwray  {birk,  birch), 
Elleray  {tiler,  alder),  Dockwray  (O.N,  dbkkr,  dark?),  &c. 

S 


202  OBSOLETE   AND   OTHER   TERMS 

Ross.    As  in  Rosley,  Rosthwaite,  &c. 

Old  Norse  hross,  horse.  At  Rosley  is  held  the  principal  horse 
fair  in  Cumberland,  whence  perhaps  the  name  (ley,  pasture, 
plain). 

Scale.     Old  Norse  skali,  a  wooden  hut,  corresponding 

with  Sco.  shiel.  Hence  probably  Scaleby  (by,  a.  village),  Seascale, 
near  the  sea-shore,  Lonscale,  O.N.  laun,  Eng.  lone,  &c. 

Scarth.     Old  Norse  fjall-skard,  a  gap  in  a  mountain. 

Hence  Scarf-gap,  properly  Scarth  gap,  a  pass  in  the  Lake  dis- 
trict (th  and/ interchanging  as  in  other  cases  previously  noted). 
Also  Balder  scarth,  in  Westmorland,  from  Balder  as  a  Teutonic 
name.  Comp.  Skarv  Fell,  in  Norway,  and  Vikarskard,  Evar- 
skard,,  &c,  in  Iceland,  compounded,  like  Balderscarth,  with 
proper  names. 

Scaw.     Old  Norse  skagi,  a  promontory. 

Hence  Sea  Fell,  and  Scaw,  a  hill  behind  Red  pike.  Comp. 
Skaw,  a  promontory  on  the  Isle  of  Unst.  And  Skagen,  "  the 
Scaw,"  at  the  northern  extremity  of  Jutland. 

Scrat,  Scratch.     Old  Norse  skratti,  a  goblin  or  evil 

spirit,  whence  our  "old  Scratch."  Hence  probably  Skratta 
Fell,  in  Iceland.  And  W.  Grimm  (Held.  Sag.)  observes  that  in 
the  Fornm.  Sog.  mention  is  made  of  a  rock  called  Skratta  skar, 
"geniorum  scopulus."  From  a  like  origin  might  be  Scratch 
meal  scar,  in  Cumberland,  taking  meal  to  be  from  the  O.N. 
mella,  which  has  the  meaning  both  of  a  chasm  and  also  of  a 
female  spirit  or  goblin,  in  either  of  which  senses  the  word  would 
seem  applicable. 

Seat.    Swed.  sat,  seat,  residence.    Or  perhaps  the  Old 

Norse  satur,  a  summer  pasture.  Hence  Seatollar,  in  Borrow- 
dale,  perhaps  from  the  Scand.  name  Olvar,  Seatallan,  from  the 
name  Allan,  &c.     Also  perhaps  Honister,  see  p.  192. 

Side.     As  in  Ambleside,  Ormside,  Arnside. 

The  meaning  in  the  above,  which  all  seem  compounded  with  the 
names  of  men  (Hamall  or  Amal,  Orm,  Arn  or  Ami)  would  seem 
to  be  that  of  a  seat  or  location,  perhaps  on  the  hill  side. 

Soud.     Old  Norse  saudr,  a  sheep. 

Souter  fell  may  perhaps  be  the  same  as  Sauda  fell,  in  Iceland, 
signifying  "sheep  fell."    We  have  also  Souty  how,  how,  a  hill. 

Sour.     Old  Norse  saur,  dung  of  cattle.     Crav.  saur, 

urine  from  the  cow-house,  &c.  Obsolete  in  our  dialect,  but 
found  in  the  names  of  places,  as  Sour  mire,  descriptive  of  a 
puddle  of  the  sort  often  found  around  a  farm.     Sowerby  might 


FOUND    IN   THE   NAMES   OF    PLACES.  203 

be  from  the  same  origin,  but  as  we  find  Saur  as  the  surname  of 
a  Northman  in  the  Landnamabok,  and  Saurbcer  {bcer=by)  as 
the  name  of  a  place,  it  might  be,  like  most  of  the  other  names 
in  by,  from  the  name  of  a  man. 

Staple.    Dut,  Swed.  stapel,  a  pile,  a  heap,  whence,  in 

the  sense  of  a  collection  of  things  for  sale,  a  market.  Ainstable 
may  be  from  Agin  or  Ain,  a  Teutonic  proper  name  (Forstemann, 
Altd.  Namb.). 

Stickle.     Ang.-Sax.  sited,  Old  Norse  stikitt,  a  sharp 

point  or  peak.  Hence  the  two  pikes  of  Langdale,  Harrison 
stickle  and  Pike  0'  stickle. 

Stock.     As  in  Grey  stock,  Linstock. 

Ang.-Sax.  stoc,  Old  Norse  stokkr,  a  stock.  The  meaning  may 
be  that  of  a  place  protected  by  a  stockade,  corresponding  with 
Celt.  pil.  There  is  near  Stockport,  in  Lancashire,  an  ancient 
British  encampment  called  the  Peel,  whence  Stockport  {stock— 
Celt,  pil),  may  take  its  name. 

Strand.  Old  Norse  strong  Dan.,  Swed.  strand,  shore, 

strand.  Hence  the  Strands  on  Wastwater.  Common  on  the 
lakes  and  fjords  of  Norway. 

Strath.     Gael,  strath,  a  valley. 

Langstreth,  a  dale  diverging  from  Borrowdale,  seems  to  be  the 
only  name  in  the  district  in  which  this  Celtic  term  is  preserved. 

Thorp.   Ang.-Sax.  thorpe,  Old  Norse  thorp,  Dan.  torp, 

Germ,  dor/,  a  village,  a  collection  of  houses.  Scarcely  known 
in  Cumberland,  it  becomes  more  frequent  as  we  advance  into 
Westmorland,  till  in  Yorks.  and  Line,  it  becomes  very  common. 
Comp.  Hackthorp,  in  Westm.,  with  Hakantorp,  in  Sweden. 

Thwaite.     Old  Dan.  thveit,  thvet,   "  an  isolated  piece 

of  ground." — Worsaae.  Fris.  tved,  a  place  cleared  of  wood, 
also  a  boundary  between  two  fields,  Low  Germ,  twyte,  a  narrow 
lane.  I  take  the  meaning  in  our  district  to  be  that  of  a  place 
cleared  of  wood,^  A.S.  thwitan,  to  cut.  Common  in  the  southern 
part  of  Norway,  where  we  have  Braathveit,  Birkethveit,  Eske- 
tvet,  Brattethveit ,  corresponding  with  our  Braithwaite,  Bir- 
thwaite,  Ashthwaite,  Branthwaite  (O.N.  brattr,  Cumb.  brant, 
steep).  Ormathwaite  is  from  the  Dan.  name  Orm.  Armthwaite, 
formerly  Ermonthwaite,  from  the  ancient  German  name  Ermin 
or  Armin  (the  Arminius  of  Tacitus).  Bassenthwaite  can  hardly 
be,  as  generally  supposed,  from  the  fish  called  bass  found  in  the 
lake.  It  may  rather,  like  Bassingham  and  Bassingthorpe,  in  Line. , 
be  from  a  proper  name.  Not  however,  I  think,  from  Bassingas 
as  the  name  of  a  mark  or  family  clan,  to  which  Kemble  places 


204        OBSOLETE  AND  OTHER  TERMS 

the  above,  but  from  Bassing  (son  of  Bass),  as  an  individual  name. 
Lownthwaite  is  probably  from  loun,  calm,  in  opposition  to  its 
neighbour  Windy  hill.  Satterthwaite  might  be  from  Saeter,  as 
the  name  of  a  deity  (whence  Saturday).  But  perhaps  more  pro- 
bably from  Satter  (Ang.-Sax.  scetere,  seducer?),  still  in  existence 
as  a  family  name.  Finsthwaite  also  is  probably  from  Finn  as 
a  man's  name  ;  there  are  several  Northmen  bearing  this  name 
in  the  Landnamabok.  Legberthwaite  seems  possibly  to  contain 
1  a  reference  to  the  logberg,  rock  of  law,  where  the  legislative 
court  was  held. 

Water.    There  seems  a  certain  amount  of  probability 

that  water,  in  the  names  of  our  lakes,  is  due  to  the  Old  Norse 
vatn,  which  is  the  usual  word  for  a  lake  in  Iceland,  and  (in  its 
modern  form  vand)  in  Norway.  And  that  it  has  been  changed 
into  its  present  form  by  the  influence  of  the  current  speech.  The 
names  of  lakes  in  the  north  of  Scotland  ending  in  vat  are  sup- 
posed by  Worsaae  to  be  from  the  above  origin.  And  there  is 
.  one  Watten  lochs,  in  Caithness  (which  seems  to  have  escaped 
his  notice),  wherein  the  original  form  is  preserved.  Watendlath, 
formerly  Watenlath,  on  a  small  sheet  of  water  above  Borrowdale, 
may  also  be  from  the  same  origin,  "the  barn  by  the  water" 
(lath,  a  barn).  Some  of  our  names  in  water  are  conjoined  with 
a  Scand.  name,  as  Ullswater  (Ulf 's  water),  Thurstaris  water, 
perhaps  also  Brothers  water,  Lowes  water,  Leathes  water,  and 
Skeggles  water.  Also  possibly  Over  water,  from  the  Norse  name 
Olver,  or  the  present  I  eel.  Olafur.  Compare  with  these  Gisla 
vatn,  Hiardarvatn,  Reidarvatn,  &c,  in  the  Landnamabok  of 
Iceland. 

Wick  or  Wyke.    Old  Norse  vik,  Dan.  vig,  a  bay. 

Hence  Blowick,  "blue  bay,"  Sandwich,  &c.  I  have  suggested, 
p.  191,  that  Keswick  may  be  from  the  Dan.  name  Ketill.  Com- 
paring another  place,  Kelswick,  in  Cumb.,  with  Kjolsvik  and 
Kjelsv'ik,  in  Norway,  another  derivation  may  seem  open,  from 
held  or  kel,  a  fountain,  or  O.N.  kjoll,  a  boat  or  barge,  the  latter 
perhaps  the  more  probable. 

With.     Old  Norse  vidr,  Dan.,  Sw.  ved,  a  wood. 

As  the  ending  of  names  of  places,  with  in  the  north  of  England 
shows  the  Scand.  form  as  compared  with  Saxon  wood  in  the 
south.  Thus  Skit  with,  in  Cumb.,  is  the  equivalent  of  Sherwood 
in  the  south,  probably  from  A.S.  sceran,  O.N.  skera,  to  cut. 
Colwith,  near  Elterwater,  seems  to  be  from  O.N.  kolvidr,  "coal 
wood,"  i.e.,  wood  for  making  charcoal.  Skipwith,  in  Yorks., 
is  "ship-wood,"  wood  suitable  for  building  ships.  Blawith, 
near  Coniston,  signifies  black  or  dark  wood.  (Comp.  Blaskog, 
"  dark  wood,"  in  Iceland.) 


FOUND    IN   THE   NAMES   OF   PLACES.  205 


River-Names  of  the  District. 

In  this  district,  as  elsewhere  generally  throughout 
England,  we  find  that  while  the  names  of  towns  and 
villages,  and  most  of  the  terms  descriptive  of  the 
features  of  the  soil,  are  Saxon  or  Scandinavian,  the 
rivers  still  retain  their  original  Celtic  names.  Indeed 
the  same  remark  applies  generally  to  the  whole  of 
Europe,  the  river-names  of  which,  the  more  that  they 
are  investigated,  show  more  clearly  the  marks  of  a 
common  origin.  There  may  be,  as  is  the  case  in 
Germany,  in  many  instances  the  suffix  of  a  Teutonic 
word  for  a  river  to  the  original  name.  And  in  a  few 
cases  in  our  district  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the 
whole  of  the  word  is  of  Teutonic  origin. 

The  river-names  of  the  district  may,  as  to  their 
form,  be  classed  generally  under  three  heads — 

1st — Those  that  contain  simply  the  primitive  from 
which  they  are  derived,  as  the  Bure,  the  Esk,  the 
Vent,  the  Gelt,  the  Ive. 

2nd — Those  which  have  the  ending  a  affixed,  as  the 
Rotha,  the  Greta,  the  Bratha.  There  is  reason  to 
believe  that  this  is  the  Old  Norse  a,  a  river,  corres- 
ponding with  the  Old  High  Germ,  aha,  Germ,  ach 
and  au,  which  is  similarly  affixed  to  many  river- 
names  of  Celtic  origin  in  Germany,  as  the  Donau, 


206        OBSOLETE  AND  OTHER  TERMS 

Rodau,  Rodach,  &c.  The  ending  er  in  many  northern 
river-names  may  be  only  the  same  word,  as  from  the 
mute  pronunciation  of  r  final  in  English  there  is  no 
difference  in  sound  between  Rotha  and  Rother,  Calda 
and  Calder. 

3rd — Those  which  contain  the  ending  en,  as  the 
Eden,  the  Ellen,  the  Marron.  This  has  been  by 
various  writers  supposed  to  be  a  contraction  of  the 
Celtic  avon,  Manx  aon,  river.  In  cases  where  the 
former  part  of  the  word  is  an  adjective  or  contains 
an  epithet,  this  is  in  all  probability  the  case.  Thus 
the  Carron  (ant.  Corabona),  is  no  doubt  cor-avon,  a. 
small  stream.  But  when  the  former  part  of  the  word 
is  itself  a  Celtic  appellative,  as  in  the  Eden  (Obs.  Gael. 
ad,  Sansc.  ud,  water),  I  think  that  this  termination 
is  simply  formative.  Now  avon  itself  is  not  a  primitive 
form;  the  primitive  form  is  av  or  ab  (Obs.  Gael,  abh, 
Sansc.  ab,  ap,  water),  and  en  is  added  as  a  phonetic 
termination,  to  round  off,  as  we  might  say,  the  word. 
And  just  in  the  same  way  that  Obs.  Gael,  abh  forms 
Avon,  so,  I  take  it,  does  Obs.  Gael,  ad  form  Eden. 

Then  there  are  a  few  cases  of  endings  in  el  and  et, 
as  in  Petterill  and  the  Lyvennet;  these  may  perhaps  be 
diminutives. 

I  have  divided  the  following  names  into  two  classes 
— those  which  contain  simply  an  appellative,  or  a  word 
signifying  water,  a  river ;  and  those  which  contain  an 
epithet  referring  to  some  special  quality,  as,  for  instance, 
the  character  of  its  course,  or  the  clearness  of  its  waters. 


FOUND   IN  THE  NAMES   OF  PLACES.  207 

To  those  who  have  traversed  the  Lake  district,  and 
drunk  from  its  limpid  streams,  the  number  of  names 
expressive  of  clearness  or  transparency  will  not  be  a 
matter  of  surprise. 

APPELLATIVES. 

Ive.     Obs.  Gael,  abh,  Sansc.  ab,  ap,  water. 

The  above  contains  the  simple  form  whence  Avon  and  Evan  in 
Eng.  and  Sco.,  Ebro  (ant.  Iberus),  in  Spain,  and  Ebr(ach)  in 
Germany. 

Ehen.     Wei.  avon,  Manx  aon,  river,  from  the  above 

root  ab.  Comp.  Aune  and  Inney,  Engl.,  Ihna  and  Inn  (Aenus 
of  Tacitus)  in  Germany. 

Esk.  Wei.  wysg,  Ir.  uisg,  Gael,  uisge,  water. 

Comp.  Exe,  Ash,  Usk  in  Eng.  and  Wales,  Esque  in  France, 
Axe,  Ahse,  and  Ischl  (ant.  Iscala)  in  Germany. 

Wiza.    Probably  the  same  word  as  the  last,  with  the 

ending  a,  a  river  ( Wisga,  by  contr.  Wiza).  The  Weissack 
in  Germany  (ant.  Wizaha),  is  referred  by  Forstemann  to  wiz, 
white.  It  may,  however,  contain  the  same  Celtic  word  as  ours, 
adapted  to  a  meaning  by  the  Germans. 

Eden.     Obs.  Gael,  adh,  Sans.  udt  water,  Wei.  eddain, 

to  flow,  glide. 

Bure.     Gael,  bior,  water,  Bret,  bera,  to  flow. 

Comp.  Bert,  Dorset — Barrow,  Ireland — Bar,  Bere,  France — 
Bear,  Germany,  &c. 

Leven,  Line,  Lune.  Wei.  llion,  a  stream,  llifo,  to  flow, 

Obs.  Gael,  lu,  water,  Sansc.  li,  to  be  liquid.    Comp.  Lion,  Scot, 

Lyvennet.     The  same  as  the  above,  with  et,  perhaps 

a  diminutive — Lyvennet=ihe  little  Leven. 

Leathe.  Wei.  lleithio,  to  moisten,  llyddo,  to  pour,  Gael. 

lith,  a  pool,  Goth,  leithus,  Ang.-Sax.  lidh,  liquor.  Comp.  Lid, 
Engl. — Leitha,  Germ. — Lidden,  Engl.,  Leithan,  Scotl. 

Liddle.     The  same  as  the  above,  with  el,  perhaps  a 

diminutive. 

Gowan.  Wei.  gover,  guuer,  Corn,  gover,  gower,  a  brook. 

Gowan  seems  to  be  the  same  word  as  gower,  with  an  alternative 
ending.  Comp.  Gouw,  Holland,  and  Gewin{aha),  the  old  name 
of  the  Jahnbach  in  Germany. 


208  OBSOLETE  AND  OTHER  TERMS 

Cocker,  Cockley  beck.  Gael,  caochan,  a  small  stream 

(a primitive  caoch  maybe  implied).  Comp.  Cock  beck  in  Yorks. — 
Coc-broc  (Cod.  Dip.) — Coquet,  N orthd.— Kuchelbach ,  Germany. 

Stock.    The  small  stream  which  forms  Stockgill-force. 

The  word,  as  it  stands,  has  no  connection  with  any  other  river- 
name,  and  there  seems  no  doubt  that  the  /  is  intrusive,  and  that 
the  word  should  be  properly  Sock,  corresponding  with  the  Sock 
in  Wales,  Suck  in  Ireland,  the  Sow  in  Engl.,  and  the  Save  or 
Sou  in  Germany.  The  origin  is  then  to  be  found  in  Sansc.  sava, 
water,  su,  liquere,  Wei.  sug,  moisture,  Gael,  sugh,  moisture, 
also  a  wave,  billow.  There  is  a  tendency  in  Teutonic  speech  to 
strengthen  such  Celtic  words  by  the  introduction  of  t — e.g., 
Wei.  syth*  Ang.-Sax.  stith,  firm,  stiff,  Ir.  sruamh,  O.N. 
straumr,  Germ,  strom,  Eng.  stream.  The  same  is  found  also 
in  the  Romance  language,  as  Gael,  sil,  Lat,  stillare,  to  drop, 
distill.  Comp.  also  Wei.  seren,  Lat.  (a)strum,  Ang.-Sax. 
steorra,  Eng.  star.  It  is  to  this  principle  we  owe  Stour  as  a 
river-name  in  England,  Streu,  Stry,  in  Germany,  and  Stura  in 
Italy ;  it  is  the  same  as  the  Bret,  ster,  a  river,  from  Sansc.  sru, 
to  flow,  with  a  phonetic  t.  Hence  also  the  classical  Danastris, 
the  Dniester,  and  the  Ister,  which  latter,  though  Grimm's  ex- 
planation is  different,  I  take  to  be  simply  the  word^ter,  a  river  ; 
with,  as  in  a(strum),  a  phonetic  initial. 

Bela.     Ir.  biol,  buol,  water. 

Comp.  the  Boyle,  Ireland,  of  which,  according  to  O'Brien,  the 
Irish  form  is  Buol.     Also  the  Peel,  Isle  of  Man. 

Sark.     Seems  to  be  from  the  primitive  form  found  in 

Sans,  sru,  to  flow,  whence  Sansc.  srota,  Ir.  sruth,  a  river. 
Comp.  Soar,  England — Serre,  France—  Saar,  Germany.  The 
ending  may  be  the  Obs.  Gael,  oich,  river. 

Dacre.    Wei.  daigr,  a  drop,  Gael,  deoch,  drink. 

In  the  Old  Norce  deigr,  moist,  Icel.  daugg,  rain,  Eng.  dew,  a 
similar  sense  is  found,  and  we  may  thus  perhaps  get  the  sense 
of  water.  The  Docker,  in  Lane. ,  is  the  only  similar  name  I 
find,  and  that  may  perhaps  be  from  a  different  origin,  Gael. 
doich,  rapid.  On  the  whole,  this  seems  a  word  about  which 
there  may  be  some  doubt  as  to  whether  the  place  Dacre  is 
named  from  the  river,  or  vice  versd. 

Sprent.    Old  Norse  spretta,  to  sprinkle,  Cumb.  sprint, 

sprent.  This  is  one  of  the  few  names  which  seems  to  be  of 
Teutonic  origin. 

•  "It  seems  that  the  Celtic  nations  were  unable  to  pronounce 
an  initial  s  before  a  consonant,  or,  at  least,  that  they  disliked  it." — 
Science  of  Language.    The  Bret,  seems  to  some  extent  an  exception. 


FOUND   IN   THE   NAMES   OF  PLACES.  20Q. 

Crake.     "  Cryke  of  watyr,  scatera." — Pr.  Prv. 

Dut.  kreke,  a  crooked  water-course,  Old  Norse  krakja,  to  wind, 
to  turn.  The  word  then  might  either  mean  simply  a  stream, 
which  is  one  of  the  senses  of  Eng.  creek ;  or  it  might  mean  a 
winding  stream.  In  any  case,  this  word  seems  to  be,  like  the 
last,  of  Teutonic  origin.  Davies'  derivation  from  Wei.  crec,  a 
sharp  noise  (Races  of Lancashire )  does  not  seem  to  me  suitable. 

Petterill.     The  word  contained  herein  seems  to  be 

Pedder  or  Petter,  as  in  the  Pedder,  Somers. — Pedr(ede),  Cod. 
Dip.,  now  the  Parret,  and  the  Pader  (ant.  Patra),  in  Germany. 
The  Wei.  pyddu,  to  run  or  spread  out,  pydew,  well,  spring,  are 
the  only  suitable  words  that  I  find.  The  A.S.  pidele,  a  thin 
stream,  whence  Piddle  as  the  name  of  several  small  streams 
(Kemble,  Cod.  Dip.),  may  be  allied. 

Irk  (in  Lancashire).     Irish  earc,  water. 

There  are  in  Wales  many  streams  with  the  name  of  Jurch, 
which  Lhuyd  derives  from  Wei.  iwrck,  a  roebuck,  from  their 
bounding  along  the  hill  side.  But  I  think  the  above  in  every 
way  preferable. 

Duddon.    Wei.  diod,  drink,  Ir.  and  Obs.  Gael,  dothar, 

water,  with  which  we  may  perhaps  connect  Lap.  dadno,  river. 
Comp.  the  Dude  in  Germany,  and  the  Dodder  in  Ireland. 

Nent.  Wei.  nant,  nannau,  &  brook,  Gael.  7iigh,  to 
bathe,  to  wash.  Comp.  Nen,  Northampton— Nenagh,  Ireland 
— Netiny,  France. 

Mite.     The  Wei.  viwydo,  to  soak,  to  moisten,  Sansc. 

miditas,  fluid,  Lat.  madidus,  O.  N.  mdda,  a.  river,  seem  suffi 
ciently  to  set  forth  the  sense  of  water  as  contained  in  the  above. 

Mint.     I  am  rather  inclined  to  take  this  to  be  the 

same  word  as  above  {Mite),  taking  the  nasal.  Or  otherwise  we 
may  refer  to  the  Gael,  min,  soft,  gentle,  small. 

Ribble.     "  The  name  of  this  well-known  river,"  says 

Mr.  Davies,  "has  much  perplexed  antiquarian  philologists." 
There  is  a  river  in  Denmark  called  the  Ribe;  and  Ribe  and 
Ribble  seem  evidently  to  correspond  with  Lat.  rivus  and  rivulus. 
It  would  seem  probable  that  rivus,  which  contains  simply  the 
root  ri,  to  flow  (Sansc.  ri,  Gr.  pew),  with  an  euphonic  rounding 
(as  Cumb.  div  for  dee),  may  have  had  its  representatives  in  the 
Celtic  tongues. 

Ellen.     This  contains  the  primitive  root  al  or  il,  to 

move,  to  go,  whence  are  formed  Gael,  aid  or  alt  (older  form 
aledj,  and  the  Old  Norse  elf  a,  Dan.  elv,  a  river.  Comp.  the 
He,  Allow,  England — Ille,  ElU,  in  France — Alle,  Germany  - 
Alne,  Allan,  lien,  in  Great  Britain — Auhie,  in  France,  &c. 

T 


2IO  OBSOLETE   AND   OTHER  TERMS 

THE  FOLLOWING  I  TAKE  TO  BE  DERIVED  FROM  THE 
CLEARNESS  OF  THEIR  WATERS. 

Liza.     Wei.  llwys,  clear,  pure,  Gael,  las,  to  shiner 

cognate  with  Lat.  luceo,  &c.  Comp.  Lez,  in  France — Lesse,  in 
Belgium — Ljusne,  in  Sweden,  &c. 

Bratha.     Ir.  and  Obs,  Gael,  breath,  clear,  pure. 

Comp.  Broth{ock),  in  Scotland — Brett{ach),  in  Germany,  &c. 

Lowther.    Wei.  g/awdd,  brightness,  lustre,  gloewder, 

clearness.     Comp.  Lauder,  in  Scotland — Lauter,  in  France. 

Vent.  Old  Celt,  vind,  Wei.  gwyn,  Germ,  jionn,  Yr.fimi, 
clear,  pure.  Comp.  Wente,  in  Yorkshire — Finn,  in  Ireland — 
Finnan,  in  Scotland. 

Winster.     The  origin  of  this  name  is  very  uncertain. 

It  might  be  from  vind,  as  above,  and  Bret,  ster,  a  river,  whence 
the  Alster  in  Denmark,  Elster  in  Germany,  and  probably  the 
ancient  Cestrus,  Danastris,  and  Ister.  There  is  a  river  in 
Norway  called  the  Vinstra,  which  may  be  the  same  word. 
The  objection  to  that  is  that  there  is  no  analogous  name,  so 
far  as  I  am  able  to  make  out,  in  England.  It  might  be  (though 
that  would  be  contrary  to  the  general  rule)  from  the  place 
Winster,  upon  its  bank  (O.N.  stadr,  a  place,  town). 

Windermere   seems   also   somewhat  uncertain.      It 

might  be  from  the  above  Old  Celt.  vind.  Or  it  might  be  from 
Winder  as  the  name  of  a  man,  found  in  some  other  names  of 
places,  and  still  existing  in  the  district. 

Kent.     Wei.,  Ir.,  Bret.,  Obs.  Gael,  can,  pure,  clear, 

Sansc.  cand,  to  shine,  Lat.  candeo.  As  in  the  case  of  Wei. 
gwyn,  Corn,  wyn,  from  the  older  Celt,  form  vind,  the  present 
Celtic  can  has  no  doubt  dropped  the  dental,  which  is  still 
retained  in  the  river-name  Kent.  Comp.  Cann,  Kenne,  Cain, 
in  England  and  Wales. 


THE  FOLLOWING  I  TAKE  TO  BE  DERIVED  FROM  THE 
TORTUOUSNESS  OF  THEIR  COURSE. 

Waver  or  Weaver.     Wei.  gwibio,  to  rove,  to  wander, 

gwib,  serpentine  course.  Old  Norse  vdfa,  vippa,  gyrare.  Comp. 
Weaver,  Vever  in  England,  Wipper  in  Germany,  &c. 


FOUND   IN   THE   NAMES   OF    PLACES.  211 

Bleng.     More  properly,  I  take  it,  Blegen,  from  Wei. 

plygu,  to  fold,  to  bend,  Wei.  flyg,  blyg,  Corn,  pleg,  blec,  a  fold, 
a  bend.  Comp.  the  Blegno  or  Blenjo  in  Switz.,  Canton  Tessin. 
In  these  cases  the  termination  en  may  be  a  contraction  of  avon. 

Keer.     Gael,  car,  twisting,  bending. 

Comp.  the  Keiru,  Merion.—  Kerr,  Middlesex— Cher,  in  France, 
&c. 

Irt.     Wei.  gwryddu,  to  wreathe,  to  turn. 

Sansc.  ?'ra/=Lat.  errans,  wandering.  Comp.  Ourt  (Urta  ant.), 
in  Belgium — Irati,  Spain,  &c. 

Irthing,  from  its  ancient  name  Urtius,  would  seem 

to  be  the  same  as  above. 

Derwent.     Among  the  various  derivations  proposed, 

that  of  Baxter  from  Wei.  dyrwyn,  to  wind,  seems  to  me,  on 
comparing  the  various  allied  names,  the  most  suitable.  Comp. 
Trent  (ant.  Treonta),  the  Durance  (ant.  Druentia) ,  the  Drewenz, 
Germ.,  and  the  Trento  (ant.  Truentius). 


THE  FOLLOWING  SEEM  TO  TAKE  THEIR  NAMES  FROM 
THE  SOUND  OF  THEIR  WATERS. 

Greta.    Old  Norse  grata,  (pret.  grit),  to  wail,  or  weep 

with  noise.  This  name  probably  bears  marks  of  a  Northern 
adaptation,  but  as  the  Welsh  has  grydw,  to  scream,  grwytho,  to 
murmur,  perhaps  cognate  with  the  above,  it  is  very  possible 
that  the  Norsemen  did  nothing  more  than  assimilate  to  their 
own  form  a  previous  Celtic  word  with  the  same  meaning. 

Gelt.     Forstemann  takes  the  word  gelt  in  German 

river-names  to  mean  "loud  sounding."  Old  Norse gella,  Icel. 
gelta,  to  yell.  The  Welsh  has  also  gwylo,  to  weep,  Ir.  guil,  so 
that,  as  in  the  case  of  the  last  word,  we  may  have  an  original 
Celtic  word  adapted  by  the  succeeding  race.  But  it  may  be  a 
question  whether  the  Wei.  gwyllt,  rapid,  is  not  the  word  here 
concerned.    Comp.  Geltn(ach),  Geltbach,  Germ. 

Nadden  (Lancashire).     Bamford,  in  his  glossary  of 

South  Lancashire  words,  explains  Nadden  as  "nadin,"  i.e., 
the  silent  river  !  On  which  Davies  remarks  that  Bamford  had 
evidently  never  seen  the  river  in  question,  which  is  in  fact  a 
noisy,  brawling  stream.  Davies  refers  it  to  Wei.  nadu,  to  cry, 
to  howl,  which  is  probably  correct,  so  far  as  the  immediate 
origin  is  concerned.     But  we  may  carry  the  investigation  some- 


212        OBSOLETE  AND  OTHER  TERMS 

what  farther  back,  and  refer  to  Sansc.  nadi,  whence  Hind. 
nuddy,  a  river,  from  nad,  sonare,  the  only  appellative,  as  far  as 
I  know,  similarly  derived,  the  general  origin  of  such  appellatives 
being  a  primitive  root  signifying  to  move,  to  go. 

There  remain  a  few  names  of  rivers  derived  from 
various  characteristics  of  their  course  or  properties  of 
their  waters. 

Rotha,  Rathay.     Probably  from  the  rapidity  of  their 

current.  Wei.  rkedu,  to  run,  to  race.  Hence  Zeuss  derives 
the  ancient  Rhoddnus,  now  the  Rhone.  Comp.  Roth  in  Germ., 
Rodden  in  Shrops. ,  Rother  in  Sussex,  &c. 

Marron.     Probably  from  Wei.  marw,  Gael,  marbh, 

dead,  slow,  still,  Gael,  marbh-shruth,  a  still  or  tranquil  stream. 
In  this  case  the  ending  en  is  probably  a  contraction  of  avon. 

Caldew,   Calda,  or  Cauda,  and  Calder.      Calda 

seems  to  be  the  same  name  as  the  Kaldd  in  Iceland.  One  of 
the  two  streams  which  form  it  is  called  Cald  beck*  and  rises  on 
Cold  Fell.  Hence,  when  it  becomes  a  river,  it  still  retains  the 
title,  Calda,  cold  river,  O.N.  a  river.  The  Calder,  the  main 
stream  of  which  also  rises  upon  a  Cold  Fell,  I  take  to  be  the 
same  name.  But  though  the  name  Cauda,  as  it  stands,  is 
almost  without  doubt  a  relic  of  the  Northmen,  it  may,  as  I  have 
taken  to  be  the  case  in  other  instances,  have  been  founded  upon 
a  previous  Celtic  name.  The  most  striking  characteristic  of 
this  river  is  its  liability  to  sudden  rise  and  fall,  and  in  the  Wei. 
codi,  to  swell,  would  be  a  very  appropriate  etymon. 

Eamont.  Originally  called  Eamot,  rises  in  Ulleswater, 

and  after  a  short  course  falls  into  the  Eden.  The  place  of 
junction,  Old  Norse  dmot,  "meeting  of  rivers,"  may  have  given 
the  name  to  the  whole  river. 

I  conclude  this  chapter  with  some  remarks  on  the 
name  of  the  So/way  Frith,  which  has  been  referred  by 
Prichard  to  the  Caledonian  tribe  of  the  Selgovae,  who 
occupied  the  territory  to  the  north  of  the  frith.  This 
opinion,  which  has  also  been  adopted  by  the  late  Mr. 
F.  L.  B.  Dykes  (Notes  and  Queries,  yuly  21,  i860),  is, 

*  Caudebec  (in  Normandy)  the  same  name  as  Cawdbeck  in  the 
Lake  District,  and  the  Kald  bakr  in  Iceland."—  Taylor. 


FOUND   IN   THE   NAMES   OF   PLACES.  213 

according  to  my  view,  scarcely  in  accordance  with  the 
general  character  of  our  local  nomenclature,  more 
particularly  when  we  take  into  account  the  unques- 
tionably Scandinavian  origin  of  frith.  I  have  before 
suggested  that  the  name,  which  appears  in  Leland  as 
Sulway,  may  be  from  Old  Norse  sulla,  miscere,  con- 
fundere,  Eng.  sully  y  in  reference  to  the  floating  sand 
which  gives  to  its  waters  a  turbid  appearance.  The 
root-meaning  of  O.N.  sulla,  probably  originally  sumla, 
seems  to  have  been  simply  mixture,  from  sam,  signifying 
combination.  Or  we  might  take  sul  as  another  form 
of  swell  (O.N.  sullr,  swelling),  in  reference  to  the 
"  swell"  with  which  the  tide  comes  in.  "  During  ebb 
tide  much  of  the  frith  is  a  naked  flat,  and  may  occa- 
sionally be  crossed  in  some  places ;  but  the  tidal  wave, 
especially  during  spring  tides,  returns  very  suddenly, 
and  with  great  violence,  so  that  accidents  to  shipping 
have  repeatedly  happened"  (Diet  of  Geog.  A.  K. 
Johnston).  In  the  case  of  either  of  the  preceding 
derivations,  the  ending  way  might  be  presumed  to  be 
the  O.N.  vogr,  a  bay,  "voe"  in  Sco.  local  names.  On 
the  whole,  however,  I  think  the  presumption  is  rather 
in  favour  of  Solway  as  derived  from  a  personal  name, 
like  so  many  of  the  other  place-names  of  the  district. 
No  word  seems  to  have  been  more  frequently  coupled 
with  a  personal  name  by  the  Northmen  than  fiordr. 
The  Landnamabok  of  Iceland  gives  us  a  very  great 
number  of  such  names,  one  of  which,  Solva  fiordr, 
from  the  name  Solvi,  might  point  to  the  original  of 
Solway  frith. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS. 


My  aim  in  the  present  chapter  is  to  collect  and  to 
compare  the  results  already  obtained,  and  to  present 
something  like  an  approximate  estimate — first,  of  the 
Celtic  element  as  compared  with  the  Teutonic,  and 
secondly,  of  the  Scandinavian  as  compared  with  the 
Anglo-Saxon  and  kindred  tongues.  And  further,  briefly 
to  particularise  the  phonetic,  grammatical,  and  other 
peculiarities  of  the  dialect. 

Of  the  words  of  the  dialect  which  I  have  passed 
under  review  I  take  a  proportion  of  about  four  in  a 
hundred  to  be  probably,  and  about  an  equal  proportion 
to  be  possibly,  derived  from  the  Celtic.  With  regard 
to  the  latter,  it  would  probably  be  correct  to  say  that 
in  many  cases  the  words  are  derived  both  from  the 
Celtic  and  the  Teutonic.  For  in  the  struggle  for 
supremacy,  it  seems  only  reasonable  to  suppose  that  a 
word  which  was  common  to  both  the  contending 
tongues  would  be  ensured  of  preservation.  When, 
therefore,  as  in  the  case  of  loover,  an  opening  in  the 
roof  to  let  out  the  smoke,  referred  by  one  writer  to  a 
Celtic,  and  by  another  to  a  Scandinavian  origin,  we 
have  a  word  which  may  be  assigned  to  two  different 
sources ;  instead  of  referring  it  arbitrarily  to  either,  it 


GENERAL    OBSERVATIONS.  21 5 

would  seem  more  reasonable  to  ascribe  its  existence  to 
the  concurrence  of  the  two.  And  though  the  dialect 
which,  on  the  whole,  largely  preponderates  must,  in 
that  point  of  view,  have  the  stronger  claim,  yet  there 
may  be  other  considerations,  such  as  the  circumstances 
under  which  the  word  is  found  in  other  dialects,  whicfo 
may  tend  to  restore  the  balance  of  probability.  Thus, 
the  word  crow  or  creuh,  a  pig-sty,  might  be  derived 
either  from  a  Celtic  or  from  a  Scandinavian  origin. 
But  if  the  word  is  not  found  in  the  Yorkshire  dialects, 
which  are  the  strong-hold  of  the  Norse  tongue,  but  is 
found  in  the  Lancashire,  which  contains  a  more  con- 
siderable Celtic  admixture,  this  fact  must  to  a  certain 
extent  weigh  in  determining  the  origin. 

It  may  not  be  without  interest  to  carry  the  com- 
parison a  little  further  with  a  view  to  ascertain  whether 
the  distribution  of  the  words  of  the  dialect  may  not 
assist,  however  feebly,  to  throw  a  ray  of  light  upon  the 
relations  which  subsisted  between  the  subjected  race 
and  their  masters. 

In  the  first  place — so  far  as  the  words  descriptive 
of  the  physical  characteristics  of  the  country  may 
serve  to  indicate  the  ownership  of  the  soil,  a  nomen- 
clature distinctly  Scandinavian  would  seem  to  prove 
that  it  had  passed  away  from  its  original  owners  to 
their  Northern  invaders.  The  words  by  and  thorp,  a 
village,  fell,  a  mountain,  how,  a  hill,  force,  a  waterfall, 
tarn,  a  small  lake,  wath,  a  ford,  dowp  and  wick,  a  bay, 
gill,  a  small  ravine,  with,  a  wood,  hind,  a  grove,  thwaite, 
a  clearing,   carr,   a  low,   damp   grove,  flow,   a  bog, 


2l6  GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS. 

characteristic  Scandinavian  words,  most  of  them  living 
terms  of  the  dialect,  and  all  of  them  of  constant  occur- 
rence in  the  names  of  places,  distinctly  assert  the  oc- 
cupation of  the  district  by  the  Northmen.  And  though, 
as  shown  in  the  preceding  chapter,  no  inconsiderable 
number  of  Celtic  terms  still  survive  in  the  names 
of  places,  there  is  scarcely  one  of  these  terms  in 
living  use  in  the  dialect.  And  it  is  not  an  unusual 
thing  to  find  the  ancient  Celtic  appellative  conjoined 
as  a  proper  name  with  the  word  of  present  use  which 
has  superseded  it.  Thus  we  have  Airey  Force,  which 
seems  in  all  probability  to  be  from  the  Welsh  eirwy, 
a  water-fall,  coupled  with  the  Scandinavian/^^. 

Among  the  terms  connected  with  agriculture  there 
seems,  as  might  naturally  be  expected,  a  considerable 
sprinkling  of  Celtic  words.  But  here  again  it  is  to  be 
observed  that  while  the  general  terms  descriptive  of 
the  stock  and  the  property  of  the  farm  are,  with  scarcely 
an  exception,  Teutonic,  and  to  a  considerable  extent 
Scandinavian,  the  Celtic  terms  are  generally  those 
having  reference  to  some  individual  peculiarity.  Such 
are  garron,  a  tall  awkward  horse,  boly,  sl  horse  with 
white  legs  and  face,  dog  pig,  a,  castrated  boar,  crock,  an 
old  ewe,  probably  crobs,  the  worst  lambs  of  the  flock, 
mug  sheep,  sheep  with  white  faces.  For  a  cow  given  to 
striking  we  have  three  different  terms,— putty-cow, 
dumpy-cow,  and  bunsin-cow  —  the  first  Celtic,  the 
second  Scandinavian,  and  the  third  Anglo-Saxon  or 
Frisian :  here  we  have  all  the  principal  constituents  of 
the  dialect  represented.      So  also  for  a  cow  without 


GENERAL    OBSERVATIONS.  21 7 

horns  we  have  four  different  words,  cowie,  cowl  cow, 
doddy,  and  polly,  of  which  the  first  and  second,  which 
are  variations  of  the  same  word,  are  Scandinavian,  the 
second  Frisian  or  Saxon,  and  the  third,  though  it  is 
also  capable  of  a  derivation  from  a  Low  German 
source,  may  again  be  Celtic  (Wei.  pwl,  blunt).  For  a 
milk-maid's  cushion  for  the  head  we  have  three  words, 
sop,  boss,  and  waze,  of  which  the  first  is  most  probably 
Celtic,  the  second  Saxon  or  Frisian,  and  the  third  the 
same.  The  terms  aird,  high,  and  bent,  bleak,  descrip- 
tive of  the  situation  of  land,  also  leek,  a  hard  sub-soil, 
and  scopy,  thin  of  soil,  seem  to  be  Celtic.  It  is  rather 
curious,  and  possibly  significant,  that  all  the  words 
descriptive  of  inferior  land,  seem  to  be  Celtic.  And 
the  brob  or  brog,  twig  or  straw  carried  in  the  mouth  on 
the  hiring  day  by  those  wanting  to  be  engaged  as  ser- 
vants, is  appropriately  Celtic.  Then  there  are  several 
other  words  common  to  both  the  Celtic  and  Teutonic, 
as  crow  or  creuh,  a  pen  or  sty,  ark,  a  chest  for  meal, 
creel,  a  basket,  rean,  a  boundary,  &c. 

It  will  be  found  that  many  words  descriptive  of 
personal  peculiarities,  more  especially  with  reference 
to  physical  characteristics,  and  containing  generally 
something  of  a  ludicrous  or  sarcastic  sense,  seem  to 
be  of  Celtic  origin.  Thus  we  have  brusey,  a  coarse 
fat  person,  brannigan,  a  puffy  child,  gayshen,  an 
emaciated  person,  garrick,  an  awkward  person,  rap- 
pack  and  craddagh,  a  troublesome  child.  Also  crag, 
the  jaw,  crow  and  paw,  the  hand,  conk,  the  nose  or 
profile,  doose,  a  slap  with  the  hand,  game  leg,  a  hurt  or 

u 


2l8  GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS. 

crooked  leg,  all  words  applied  with  a  sense  more  of 
less  of  humour  or  ridicule.  But  on  the  other  hand, 
while  many  words  sarcastically  referring  to  personal 
features  are  Celtic,  those  referring  to  mental  crassness, 
of  which  there  are  a  considerable  number,  are,  with 
scarcely  an  exception,  Teutonic.  It  is  the  race  which 
rules  that  gives  the  words  expressive  of  stupidity. 

It  might  naturally  be  expected  that  many  of  the 
words  describing  the  simple  and  common  articles  of 
diet  would  be  from  the  Celtic,  and  we  have  accordingly 
sowens,  bannock,  botcher,  soss,  gulls,  cummt  milk,  lithy 
(thick,  as  with  meal),  &c.  The  names  of  some  of  the 
common  household  utensils,  as  gully,  a  large  knife, 
geggin,  noggin,  and  piggin,  vessels  or  measures,  pro- 
bably girdle,  a  baking  plate,  &c,  may  also  be  referred 
to  the  Celtic.  Our  word  for  small  coal,  chillipers, 
seems  to  have  a  Celtic  origin,  and  it  is  noticeable  that 
also  in  Lancashire  small  coal  has  a  name  of  Celtic 
origin,  grummil,  referred  by  Davies  to  Welsh  gremial, 
to  crash.  May  we  look  upon  it  as  the  type  of  the 
condition  of  a  subject  race,  fain  to  take  up  with  the 
leavings  of  their  masters  ? 

Then  there  are  some  words  probably  adopted  from 
the  Latin  through  the  Celtic  into  the  Teutonic  prior 
to  the  settlement  of  our  ancestors  in  the  British  Isles ; 
referred  to  by  Dr.  Guest  (Proc.  Phil.  Soc.  3,  169), 
among  which  may  be  probably  kale,  greens,  chibies, 
onions,  perhaps  saint,  grease. 

The  mercurial  temperament  of  the  Celt  may  be 
exemplified  in  tantrums,  fits  of  passionate  excitement, 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  219 

and  the  converse  doldrums,  low  spirits  or  melancholy. 
And  their  superstitions  in  dobby,  boggle,  and  boman. 

Mr.  Davies  has  remarked  of  the  dialect  of  Lanca- 
shire that  various  words  of  a  coarse  or  obscene 
meaning  are  of  Celtic  origin.  We  have  two,  dunnecan, 
a  privy,  and  bandy  low,  a  prostitute,  which  seem  to  be 
so  derived.  Perhaps  also  giglet,  jillet,  or  jilt,  which 
seems  to  have  contained  originally  a  somewhat  stronger 
sense  of  ignominy  than  at  present.  Can  we  account 
for  the  retention  of  such  words  on  the  same  principle 
as  that  which  gives  rise  to  the  phrase  fille  de  joie,  and 
causes  the  ruling  race  in  India  sometimes  to  describe 
certain  things  by  native  expressions  ? 

There  is  one  word,  filly-fair,  an  annual  festival  at 
Arlecdon,  in  which,  as  in  the  case  before-mentioned 
of  Airey  Force,  we  seem  to  have  retained  a  forgotten 
Celtic  word  in  conjunction  with  the  living  word  of  the 
same  meaning. 

The  proportion  which  I  have  assigned  to  the 
Celtic  in  our  dialect  is  considerably  larger  than  that 
(one  and  a  half  in  the  hundred)  assigned  by  Mr. 
Atkinson  to  the  dialect  of  Cleveland.  It  might  be 
assumed  that  this  difference  is  mainly  owing  to  the 
proximity  of  Scotland,  but  it  will  be  seen  that  it  is 
only  to  a  limited  extent  to  be  accounted  for  by  this 
cause.  For,  while  out  of  a  hundred  Celtic  words  in 
our  dialect  I  find  twenty-four  common  to  the  Cleve- 
land, there  are  not  more  than  thirty-seven  which  are 
common  to  the  Scotch,  leaving  thirty-nine  to  be  other- 
wise accounted  for.     Out  of  these  a  few  may  be  found 


220  GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS. 

in  some  other  of  the  English  dialects,  and  especially 
that  of  Lancashire,  but  the  greater  part  seem  to  be 
peculiar  to  our  own.  And  it  is  to  be  noted  that 
while  those  words  which  are  common  to  Scotland 
prevail  more  especially,  as  might  be  expected,  in  the 
Northern  part  of  the  county,  those  which  are  peculiar 
to  our  own  dialect  are  found  chiefly,  as  appears  by  the 
classification  of  Mr.  Dickenson,  in  the  centre  of  the 
county. 

Large  as  unquestionably  is  the  amount  of  the 
Scandinavian  element  in  our  dialect,  the  proportion 
of  words  which  I  am  able  to  make  out  as  distinctly 
traceable  to  that  source  is  not  more  than  twenty  in 
the  hundred.  This  falls  so  very  far  short  of  the 
proportion  (forty  in  the  hundred)  assigned  by  Mr. 
Atkinson  for  the  dialect  of  Cleveland,  founded  on  a 
partial  scrutiny,  that  I  am  rather  disposed  to  think — 
after  making  allowance  for  the  thorough  knowledge  of 
the  Scandinavian  idioms  which  might  enable  him  to 
adjudicate  in  cases  where  I  should  not — that  a  scrutiny 
of  the  whole  vocabulary  would  hardly  have  given  the 
same  result.  I  refer  only  to  cases  of  absolute  proof — 
the  probabilities  are  on  the  side  of  the  preponderating 
dialect,  and  his  general  conclusion  that  "wherever 
the  Cleveland  dialect  diverges  from  the  ordinary  or 
standard  language,  it  is  indebted  to  the  Scandinavian 
tongues  and  dialects  for  certainly  not  less  than  sixty 
per  cent,  of  such  divergencies,"  may  not  be  far  from 
the  truth.  And  what  applies  to  Cleveland  will  not  be 
far  from  the  mark  in  the  case  of  Cumberland. 


GENERAL    OBSERVATIONS.  221 

I  have  already  referred  to  the  words  descriptive 
of  the  physical  features  of  the  country  as  essentially 
Scandinavian.  So  also  to  a  very  great  extent  those 
descriptive  of  the  stock  and  property  of  the  farm. 
Thus  we  have  lathe,  a  barn,  midden,  a  dung-hill,  leak, 
a  scythe,  gripe,  a  fork,  why,  a  heifer,  yaud,  a  mare, 
gimmer,  a  two-year-old  ewe,  cushy,  a  pet  or  familiar 
name  for  a  cow,  shot,  a  half-grown  swine,  gaut,  a  boar 
pig,  &c.  The  word  led  farm,  a  farm  on  which  the 
occupier  does  not  reside,  I  have  taken  to  be  from  the 
Old  Norse  leiga,  Dan.  leje,  to  rent,  as  a  reminiscence 
of  the  old  time  when  each  man  occupied  his  own 
land,  and  a  rented  farm  was  the  exception.  So 
Cleasby  has  leigu-bol  and  leigu-jord,  similarly  meaning 
a  rented  farm.  There  is  a  noteworthy  resemblance 
between  our  term  fire-house  for  the  inhabited  part 
of  a  farm-stead,  and  the  eld-hus  (fire-house)  formerly 
in  Iceland  the  principal  room  in  the  mansion,  and  in 
modern  use  the  kitchen.  Possibly  also  the  word 
down-house  for  a  kitchen  ( West,  and  Cumb.  Dial) 
may  be  connected  with  O.  N.  elds-daunn,  smell  of  fire. 

The  traveller  in  Norway  cannot  fail  to  note  many 
expressions  the  counterpart  of  those  which  are  in 
use  with  us.  Thus  we  say  of  butter  that  is  of  two 
colours  that  it  is  randit,  i.e.,  marked  in  stripes,  the 
Norwegian  randut.  "  The  husband  at  first  declined 
assisting  us,  as  he  was  very  traeng,"  (Oxonian  in 
Norway) — this  is  precisely  our  thrang,  i.e.,  busy. 

One  of  the  traces  of  Scandinavian  inflections  re- 
ferred to  by  Garnett  is  the  dropping  of  a  final  d  after 


222  GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS. 

a  liquid,  as  in  grun  for  ground,  fun  for  found,  &c. 
Another  seems  to  be  the  elision  of  w  in  such  words  as 
soop  for  sweep  (O.  N.  sopa),  sump  for  swamp  (Dan., 
Swed.  sump),  sooal  for  swivel,  &c.  A  third  may  be 
found  in  the  introduction  of  v  before  a  vowel,  as  in 
tiv  for  to,  div  for  do,  frav  and  frev  for  fra  (from), 
"  genuine  descendants  from  the  Scandinavian  frd, 
still  pronounced  frav  in  Iceland"  (Garnett).  Another 
phonetic  tendency  in  our  dialect  is  the  change  of  g 
final  into  v  or  /.  Thus  Burgh,  the  name  of  a  village, 
is  pronounced  Bruff.  And  Barf,  the  name  of  a  moun- 
tain, is,  no  doubt,  properly  Barg,  Ang.-Sax.  beorg,  Old 
Norse  bjarg,  Germ,  berg,  mountain.  Atkinson  com- 
pares this  tendency  of  the  Northern  dialects  with  the 
change  which  has  taken  place  in  the  Scandinavian 
tongues,  e.-g,  Old  Dan.  plog,  Mod.  Dan.  plov,  plough, 
Suio-Goth.  agn,  Mod.  Dan.  avn,  Cumb.  awn,  the 
beard  of  barley,  Old  Norse  skogr,  Mod.  Dan.  skov, 
Cumb  shaw,  a  wood,  &c.  A  general  relic  of  Scandi- 
navian influence  throughout  the  Northern  dialects  is 
to  be  found  in  the  change  of  long  o,  as  in  home,  rope, 
stone,  into  long  a  or  at,  as  hame,  raip,  stane.  But 
there  is,  in  Cumberland  as  in  Yorkshire,  a  notable 
variation  in  the  pronunciation  of  the  words  thus 
formed  with  a  long  a.  Thus,  as  well  as  stain,  hame, 
raip,  we  have  styen  or  steean,  hyem,  reeap.  Mr. 
Atkinson  shows  from  Kok  that  the  same  peculiarity 
is  to  be  found  at  the  present  day  in  the  dialect  of 
South  Jutland,  and  that  it  is  moreover  to  be  found  in 
Old  Danish  writings  of  the  15th  century,  e.-g.  stien  for 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  223 

sten,  stone,  dielle  for  dele,  Cumb.  deeal,  share,  division. 
The  Cumberland  dialect  introduces  a  similar  vowel 
sound  before  00,  as  in  greeuv  for  groove,  leeum  for  loom. 
Words  which  in  Old  Norse  are  formed  with  an  accented 
6  take  this  form  in  our  derivatives — thus  leeuf  the  palm 
of  the  hand,  O.  N.  loft.  But  neither  of  the  above 
sounds  are  confined  to  words  of  Scandinavian  origin. 
The  Cumberland  dialect,  moreover,  introduces  the 
sound  of  00  in  words  formed  with  a  long  0,  as  in 
roo-ose  for  rose,  noo-ote  for  note.  This  gives  the  same 
sound  as  w,  by  which  it  is  usually  represented,  as 
rwose  and  nwote.  Another  peculiarity  is  the  intro- 
duction of  y  before  words  beginning  with  a  or  e,  as  in 
yak  or  yek,  oak,  yakker,  acre,  yel  for  ale,  yan  ox  yen  for 
one.  This  is  also  a  peculiarity  of  the  Jutland  dialect, 
as  also  of  certain  Norse  dialects.  Thus  Jutland  jen 
for  en,  one,  which  (j  having  the  sound  of  our  y),  is 
identical  with  our  yen. 

It  has  been  suggested  by  Cleasby  that  the  preva- 
lence of  a  (Old  Norse  &  =  on),  instead  of  be,  as  in  afore, 
ahint,  atween,  aside,  instead  of  before,  behind,  between, 
beside,  in  the  Northern  dialects,  may  be  attributed  to 
Scandinavian  influence,  the  preposition  be  being  un- 
known in  the  Scandinavian  idiom.  The  use  of  at  for 
to,  as  the  sign  of  the  infinitive,  is  a  distinctive  token  of 
Scandinavian  influence.  This,  observes  Mr.  Dicken- 
son, is  nearly  obsolete  in  Cumberland  now,  though 
common  in  the  last  century.  How  suggestive  is  this 
— how  many  interesting  characteristics  of  our  dialect 
may  also  have  perished  in  the  last  century  or  two? 


224  GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS. 

For  the  time  when  men  begin  to  take  note  of  these 
peculiarities  is  necessarily  also  the  time  when  they 
begin  to  pass  away. 

The  apparently  ungrammatical  forms  "  I  is,"  "  thou 
is,"  are,  as  noted  by  Garnett,  in  exact  accordance  with 
the  practice  of  the  Danes,  the  verb  substantive  being 
respectively  inflected  as  follows — 

Danish.  Cumberland. 

Jeg  er  I  is 

Du  er  Thou  is 

Han  er  He  is 

Vi  ere  We  are 

I  ere  Ye  are 

De  ere  They  are 

There  is  however  an  irregularity  to  be  noted  in 
regard  to  the  third  person  plural,  for  though  a  Cum- 
brian never  uses  is  with  they,  yet  he  does  so  with  any 
noun.  Thus  he  would  say,  "  Oats  is  varra  dear  at 
present,"  but  in  replying  to  the  same  remark  he  would 
say  " they  are"  not  " they  is." 

So  in  the  future  we  say  "  I's  go,"  "  Thou's  go,"  or 
"Thou'st  go,"  "We's  go,"  for  "I  shall  go,"  "Thou 
shalt  go,"  "  We  shall  go."  The  analogy  of  our  dialect 
seems  rather  in  favour  of  the  supposition  (Dr.  Guest, 
Phil.  Soc.j  2,  227)  that  we  have  here  a  contraction  of 
the  Northern  auxiliary  sud,  "I's  go"  being  "I  sud 
go,"  which,  indeed,  is  often  used  as  an  alternative 
expression. 

As  "certainly  Scandinavian,"  Mr.  Atkinson  classes 
the  following  particles.  Of  these,  two,  helder  and  hine, 
I  have  never  met  with  in  our  dialect,  though  hine 


GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS.  225 

is  given  as  a  Cumberland  word  by  Ray,  and  of  a  third, 
parlous,  the  Scandinavian  origin  seems  to  me  to  be  at 
least  doubtful. 

Aback,  behind,  in  the  rear  of.     O.  N.  dbak. 

Amell,  between.     O.  N.  dmilli. 

Amid,  among.     O.  N.  dmedal. 

At,  to.     O.  N.  at,  apud,  cum,  quod  attinet  ad. 

An,  than.    O.  N.  an,  Sw.  an. 

An,  if.    O.  Sw.  an. 

At,  that.     O.  N.  at,  Sw.  att. 

At  efter  afterwards.     N.  atefter,  D.  efter  at. 

Fra,frav,  from.    O.  N.  frd. 

Fur,  for.     O.  N.Jyr,/yrir. 

I,  iv,  in.     O.  N.  i. 

Off,  from  (as  a  foal  off  yon  meear).     D.  af. 

Intil,  intiv,  into.     Sw.  intill. 

Till,  tiv,  to.    O.  N.  til. 

Wi,  wiv,  with.     O.  N.  vid,  D.  ved. 

Helder,  rather,  in  preference.    O.  N.  helldr. 

Inoo,  presently.     D.  i  et  nu. 

Backlings,  backwards.     D.  baglcengs. 

Parlous,  greatly,  terribly.     'D.ferlich. 

Sae,  so.     Sw.  sa,  D.  saa. 

Sair,  very,  exceedingly.     D.  saare. 

Hine,  be  off,  away  with  you.     D.  hedan. 

"The  peculiar  Northern  interjections  a!  eh!"  Mr. 
Atkinson  goes  on  to  say,  "  and  the  adverbial  forms  in 
som,  as  what-som,  how-som  (in  whatsomever,  howsom- 
ever) — compare  Dan.  hvadsomhelst,  &c. — are  almost 
certainly  Scandinavian,  and  so  also  are  the  assentative 
and  negative  particles  ay,  neya,  (Sw.  nej\  &c),  not  to 
mention  other  less  obtrusive  forms." 

The  objection  which  has  been  raised  that  there  is 

no  trace  in  the  Northern  dialects  of  what  is  at  present 

x 


326  GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS. 

one  of  the  most  distinctive  features  of  the  Scandinavian 
tongues,  the  form  of  the  definite  article,  which  is  uni- 
versally post-positive  and  coalesces  with  its  noun,* 
has  been  dealt  with  by  Mr.  Atkinson.  He  shows 
that  the  definite  article  is  not  uniformly  post-positive, 
and  does  not  uniformily  coalesce  with  its  noun — that 
the  South  Jutland  dialect  is  at  present  in  this  respect 
an  exception,  and  quotes  Molbech  and  Grimm  to 
prove  that  in  the  oldest  Danish  writings  this  practice 
does  not  exist,  and  that  it  is  in  fact  "  one  of  later 
introduction  and  originally  unknown  in  the  Northern 
speech." 

I  may  also  quote  Prof.  Stephens  ( The  Old  Northern 
Runic  Monuments  of  Scandinavia  a?id  England)  who 
observes  that  "  the  post-article,  the  passive  in  s,  and 
all  other  such  provincial  nostrums,  were  either  unknown 
in  Scandinavia  a.d.  800-900,  or  were  only  very  slowly 
creeping  in." 

The  proportion  of  words  in  our  dialect  derived 
from  the  Norman-French  I  make  out  to  be  about 
two  and  a  half  in  the  hundred,  which  corresponds 
pretty  nearly  with  that  assigned  by  Atkinson  to  the 
dialect  of  Cleveland.  Of  these,  some  are  characteris- 
tically found  in  the  terms  relating  to  sporting,  as  dub, 
to  prepare  a  cock  for  fighting,  foil,  the  scent  of  a  hare 
or  fox,  piley,  a  white  game-cock  with  some  black 
feathers,  herrinshew  or  heronsew,  the  heron,  &c.  Some 
articles  of  food,  as  frummety,  haggis,  powsoddy,  figsue, 

*  As  in  the  name  of  the  Danish  newspaper  Dagblad*/,  the 
daily  sheet. 


GENERAL    OBSERVATIONS.  227 

and  some  articles  of  furniture,  as  aumry,  truncher, 
probably  doubter,  may  also  be  referred  to  this  origin. 
The  words  jome,  a  window  or  door-post,  jeest,  a  joist, 
gimmers,  cupboard  hinges,  as  also  flash,  to  trim  a 
hedge,  and  beard,  to  protect  a  wall  with  a  coping  of 
brushwood,  seem  to  indicate  the  introduction  by  the 
Normans  of  improved  ideas  of  comfort  and  neatness 
in  the  dwelling  and  its  surroundings. 

I  have  to  deal,  in  the  last  place,  with  some  general 
characteristics  of  the  dialect.  I  may  note  the  tendency 
to  the  introduction  of  a  phonetic  r,  most  common  in 
words  beginning  with  st.  Thus  scrow,  strunts,  strunty, 
straddelt,  for  scow,  stunts,  stunty,  staddett.  So  also 
sharps  for  shaups,  cherts  for  cheets,  purdy  for  puddy,  &c. 
This  tendency  our  dialect  shares  with  the  Scotch,  and 
hence  Jamieson  has  sometimes  been  at  a  loss  to  account 
for  a  word  which  a  comparison  with  the  Cleveland  or 
other  Northern  dialects  enables  us  to  explain.  The 
dropping  of  /,  as  in  fowthy  for  fulthy,  f otter  for  falter, 
&c,  is  a  predominant  feature  in  the  Northern  dialects 
generally,  but  is  carried  to  a  greater  extent  with  us 
than  in  the  others,  e.g.,  we  have  how  for  Clev.  holl, 
deep,  hollow,  goe  for  Crav.  gall,  spring,  wet  place, 
know  for  knoll,  hill,  pow  for  pool,  &c.  We  seem, 
indeed,  to  deal  sometimes  in  the  same  way  with  m, 
if  caw't,  twisted,  awry,  be,  as  seems  probable,  for 
cam't,  Wei.  cam,  crooked.  Our  pronunciation  of  find, 
bind,  wind,  dim,  with  a  short  vowel,  instead  of,  as  in 
English,  a  long  one,  and  of  spreed,  treed,  instead  of 
spread  (spred),  tread  (tred),  is  in  correct  accordance 


2  28  GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS, 

with  the  root.  The  guttural  sound  of  gh,  the  loss  of 
which  in  English  Mr.  Earle  (Philology  of  the  English 
Tongue)  attributes  to  French  influence,  was  "formerly, 
and  even  within  memory,"  observes  Mr.  Dickenson,  a 
feature  of  our  dialect. 

I  have  already  (see  ne)  referred  to  our  use  of  a 
special  word  as  an  assent  to  a  negation.  While  as 
a  direct  negative  we  use  generally  neah  or  naa;  in 
assenting  to  a  negation  we  use  nee,  whether  simply  a 
different  pronunciation  or  not  I  am  unable  to  express 
an  opinion.  Also  to  our  use  of  min  as  a  vocative  of 
man,  used  only  in  familiarity,  and  generally  with  a 
tinge  of  reproof  or  contempt.  "  Hoot,  min  I  thou 
kens  nout  aboot  it."  Halliwell  gives  this  also  as  a 
Westmorland  word,  but  its  use  is  so  general  with  us 
that  I  am  rather  surprised  to  find  it  apparently  restricted 
to  these  two  counties. 

The  partiality  of  our  dialect  for  alliterative  expres- 
sions, as  ham-sam,  hurdem-durdem,  how-strow,  hay-bay, 
helter-skelter,  havey-skavey,  hapshy-rapshy,  &c,  is  notice- 
able— the  idea  expressed  in  all  these  words  being  that 
of  confusion  or  disorder. 

Of  old  plurals  we  have,  besides  owsen,  four,  een, 
kye,  shoon,  and  housen,  the  last  not  in  general  use,  but 
occurring  in  the  sense  of  a  range  of  buildings  ;  childer 
also  is  sometimes  heard.  And,  as  elsewhere  through 
the  Northern  dialect,  we  dispense  with  s  as  the  sign  of 
the  genitive.  Thus,  "  that's  Billy  meear,"  not  Billy's 
meear,  a  peculiarity  to  be  found  in  P.  PI.  and  other 
works  of  Northumbrian  origin. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  229 

Another  peculiarity  which  our  dialect  (with  the 
exception,  according  to  Dickenson,  of  the  north-east 
of  the  county)  has  in  common  with  other  Northern 
dialects,  in  the  contraction  of  the  definite  article  into 
f,  as  in  Tse  frwose  o'  Sharon  and  f  lily  o'  f  valleys  .* 
Peacock  indeed,  comparing  our  "at  give  f  bairn 
f  breast"  with  the  corresponding  Swed.  at  gifaa 
barnet  brbstet,  has  advanced  the  theory  that  our  defi- 
nite article  is  not  /'  but  V,  and  that  it  is  in  fact  the 
same  as  the  Dan.  and  Swed.  et,  the  only  difference 
being  that  instead  of  being  post-positive,  as  bamet, 
brbstet,  it  is  pre-positive,  et  barn,  et  breast.  This 
theory  however,  though  at  first  sight  it  might  seem 
plausible,  Mr.  Atkinson  has  shown  to  be  altogether 
untenable. 

In  the  formation  of  its  preterites  our  dialect  shows 
considerable  variations  from  the  standard  language. 
Thus  we  have  see,  seed;  sell,  selt;  come,  com;  creep, 
crap ;  bring,  brong;  beat,  bet;  spreed,  spred,  &c.  Also 
split,  splat;  stick,  stack,  &c.  So  also  in  the  past  parti- 
ciple we  have  get,  gitten ;  come,  cummen  or  cumt •  stand, 
stooden;  brest,  brossen  ;  find,  f and  ox  fun,  &c. 

*  Much  as  we  are  indebted  to  Prince  Lucien  Bonaparte  for  the 
dialectic  investigations  which  he  has  set  on  foot,  I  cannot  help 
thinking  that  the  subject  selected  for  the  purpose,  (the  Song  of 
Solomon),  is  singularly  ill-adapted  for  the  purpose  of  drawing  out 
the  fine  degrees  of  difference  between  cognate  dialects.  As  a  poetical 
composition  it  is  removed  from  the  every-day  ideas  of  the  people, 
and  in  most  of  the  versions  it  will  be  found  that  very  many  of  the 
expressions,  instead  of  being  careful  illustrations  of  nice  distinctions, 
are  simply  the  arbitrary  renderings  of  the  writer's  judgment. 


23°  GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS. 

Of  words  which  we  still  retain  in  their  original 
sense,  but  which  have  become  changed  in  the  standard 
language,  are  bounce  in  its  original  sense  of  striking  (as 
a  bunsin  cow) ;  stop,  in  its  original  sense  of  stuffing  or 
cramming ;  angry,  in  its  original  sense  of  painful ;  sad, 
in  its  original  sense  of  heavy ;  rid,  in  its  original  sense 
of  rooting  out ;  and  plod  (ploat),  in  its  original  sense 
of  wading  or  plunging  through  wet. 

Mr.  Davies  has  remarked  (Races  of  Lancashire) 
that  there  are  instances  in  which  a  clearer  corres- 
pondence is  to  be  traced  with  the  Sanscrit  than  with 
the  languages  more  directly  related.  So  also  in  the 
Scottish  language.  Take,  for  instance,  the  word 
cummer,  a  young  girl,  of  which  no  co-relative  seem  to 
be  found  in  the  languages  immediately  cognate  {cum- 
mer, a  gossip,  being  a  different  word),  but  which  has 
its  exact  correspondent  in  the  Sanscrit  kumdri,  of  the 
same  meaning.  So  also  in  Cumberland  we  have  some 
words,  such  as  nous,  which  in  sense  and  in  form  are 
nearer  to  the  Sanscrit  than  anything  we  find  in  the 
languages  immediately  cognate.  Such  words  seem 
also  to  be  toup  and  coup,  which,  as  the  central  points 
in  their  respective  groups,  see  p.  187,  may  put  in  a 
claim  to  the  dignity  of  the  highest  antiquity. 


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THE     TEUTONIC     NAME    SYSTEM, 
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TH 


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Williams  &  Norgate,  14,  Henrietta  St.,  Covent  Garden,  London; 
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Steel  Brothers,  Carlisle. 


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