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II
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A
GLOSSARY
OF
BortI) Countrj) Wiom,
IN USE.
FROM AN ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT,
IN THE LIBRARY OF
JOHN GEORGE LAMBTON, ESQ., M.P.
WITH CONSIDERABLE ADDITIONS.
BY
JOHN TROTTER BROCKETT, F. S. A.
LONDON AND NEWCASTLE.
$t in ere pitp tjbat ^vidj particwlariS gjioullf ht lo^t.
Mirror for ^fagisiraUs.
l^etDcasitle upon Cpne :
PRINTED BY T. AND J. HODGSON, FOR E. CHARNLEY.
M.DOCC.XXV.
4i
c^-
Les mots sont le lien des societes, le v^hicule ties lumieres, la
base des sciences, les d^positaires des d^couvertesd'une Nation, de
son savoir, de sa politesse, de ses idees : la connoissance des mots
est done un moyen indispensable pour acque'rir celle des choses ;
de-1^ ces OuATages appelle's Dictionnaires, Vocabulaires ou Glos-
saires, qui ofFrent I'etendue des connoissances de chaque Peuple.
Gebelin.
^
^v^
^
JOHN GEORGE LAMBTON, ESQ. M. P.
FOR THE COUNTY OF DURHAM,
IS INSCRIBED
AS A SINCERE TESTIMONY OF RESPECT FOR THE PUBLIC PRIN-
CIPLES AND PRIVATE VIRTUES FOR WHICH HIS CHARAC-
TER IS DISTINGUISHED AND REGARDED ;
AND IN
GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF MANY ACTS OF PERSONAL
KINDNESS,
BY HIS MUCH OBLIGED AND FAITHFUL SERVANT,
JOHN TROTTER BROCKETT.
Albion Place, '6lst. December, 1821.
«
preface*
The eluciuation of language, and the improvement of lexico-
graphy, are investigations that have occupied t!ie attention,
and engaged the pens of many men distinguislietl for talents
and learning.
First impressions, and early associations, are difRcidt to re-
move. In our youth we are instructed to regard the Greeks
and the Romans as the greatest, the wisest, and the most
polished of Nations ; and to associate with the name of Goths
every thing that is ignorant, barbarous, and savage. To Gothic
ancestors, however, it should be remembered, we are indebted
for our existence, our language, and a i)art — perhaps the most
valuable — of our laws. We should also recollect that, when
these inunense hordes forsook their native forests, and settled
in the countries they subdued, the freedom of the individual
was resjiected and supported. The authority he acknow-
ledged, and the subordination he yielded, were not the will
of a tyrant, or the aggrandizement of a chief; bill the voice of
b
ti PREFACE.
the nation at large, of which every member was a part : — a
system, though deficient in the elegancies of art, the researches
of science, or the ingenious labours of industry, was still
founded in friendship and benevolence, in protection and gra-
titude. That there is an extensive, and much more intimate
connexion than could have been imagined, between the lan-
guage of the Goths, and that which was first spoken by the
Greeks, and afterwards by the inhabitants of Italy, has been
satisfactorily proved in the Hermes Scythicus of the author's
friend Dr. Jamieson, a writer possessed of an accurate know-
ledge of the different Gothic dialects.
Amidst the contradiction, error, and conflision that prevail,
not only in regard to the peopling of Great Britain but of
Europe — involving early literary history in great obscurity —
it is difficult to draw any authentic conclusions, from which to
be enabled satisfactorily to trace the establishment of our pre-
sent mixed language, and the means and gradations through
or by which it was accomplished. The pure Saxon style
which at one period predominated, became greatly adulterated ;
partly by the barbarity and ignorance of the inhabitants, and
partly by the sanguinary conflicts with the Danes ; a people,
who, though of kindred origin, and using a dialect derived
from the same Northern source, were much inferior in civi-
lization to the Saxons. Harassed by these Danish incursions,
and often driven from their habitations, the people neglected
leui'ning, and a part of the language of their enemies gradually
PREFACE. vii
became incorporated with their own. The courtiers of Ed-
ward the Confessor, priding themselves on the introduction
of a foreign idiom, prevented an}' attempt to restore the energy
of the original tongue ; and the system adopted after the
Norman conquest gave rise to those changes, which the acci-
dents of time, and the improvements of society, subsequently
effected in the literature of England.
To those acquainted with our literary history, it is evident
that we have to look for our old English, where it only exists
in its pure uncorrupted state, in the distant provinces of the
North ; however much the phraseology, in many respects, may
be disfigured by modern corruptions, cant terms, or puerilities.
The land of " Cockaigne," as some wits have lately called the
dwellers in the metropolis, has long lost its raciness of idiom ;
but among the lower classes tradition has been faithful to its
task ; and several of our vulgarisms are in fact the remains of
genuine English. Consequently, many aixhaisnjs occurring
in our numerous old Chronicles, and in Gower, Chaucer,
Skelton, Shakspeare, Beaumont and Fletcher, Ben Jonson,
and other early writers — now totally disused in other parts of
the kingdom — are still preserved in the remotest places of the
North. This may be easily accounted for. In these districts,
until of late years, the inhabitants had little or no intercourse
with the more Southern counties. They, therefore, retained
their ancient manners, customs, and language ; unchanged by
a mixture with those of their neighbours ; and freed from the
viii PREFACE.
arbitrary caprice of fashion — as much an enemy to, and work-
ing as great an inroad on a living language as barbarism itself.
The distinctions of local dialects are now, however, becoming
less conspicuous. The artizan and petty trader, no longer
able to stem an overwhelming competition, are often compelled
to emigrate from their native villages to larger towns ; neces-
sarily leaving this decreasing population to be supplied from
distant places. An interchange of inhabitants so frequent,
must ultimately, however imperceptibly, destroy all provincial
peculiarities of speech.
Under these feelings, and with a vieyv of preserung many
ancient and emphatic tenns, that were in danger of being
totally lost, the author was induced to commence a collection
of Provincialisms. In his earlier years he had frequent com-
munications with different parts of the North, and accustomed
himself to note down from time to time, all such words as ap-
peared worth}' of preservation, or were likely to afford an expla-
nation of former manners or customs. His first effort was a
mere outline, sketched solely for his own amusement, and with-
out any intention of ever bestowing upon it the labour in which
it has since involved him. In that state the manuscript passed
into the library of Mr. Lambton, a gentleman who feels a deep
interest in the preservation of whatever is connected with the
Northern counties. By those to whose opinion and judgment
the author is bound to defer, such an accumulation of ancient
dialectical words (when properly described) was considered
PREFACE. ix
too interesting an addition to the hir.tory of our literature and
of our language, and too valuable a portion of our local anti-
quities to be withheld from the public.
Mr. Lambton accordingly, with his accustomed liberality,
again confided the manuscript to the care and revision of the
original writer. One step brought on another, until the first
compilation became so overwhelmed with new matter, and so
altered by new iirrangement, that few traces of the original
ai'e now discernible. The preparing of it for the press, in this
enlarged form, has been the occupation of such short inter-
vals of leisiu'e as were not incompatible with, and could be
spared from the almost unceasing duties of a laborious pro-
fession,— and which the author found it a greater relaxation
to employ in this than in any other manner.
To diversify the work the author has not confined it to an
explanation of mere words. Under the heads which necessa-
rily refer to them, he has occasionally inserted elucidations of
the vulgar rites and popular opinions, which tradition has
faithfull)' transmitted through many generations. In some
instances, however, it has been found that these superstitions
are of such remote antiquity, as to have actually outlived the
knowledge of the very causes that gave them origin. " The
"generality of men," as remarked by Brand, " look back with
" superstitious veneration on the ages of their fore-fathcis ;
" and authorities that are grey with time seldom fail of com-
"manding those filial honours claimed even by the appearance
" of hoary old age."
X PREFACE.
The reader will readily suppose that in compiling this Glos-
sary, the author was not unmindful of the labours of his pre-
decessors. Prior Dictionai'ies and Vocabularies have been
consulted to a great extent ; and references made to such of
them as aided his enquiries or illustrated his views. Ray ap-
pears to have been a man of learning, and a Saxon scholar —
Grose, a writer of a diiFerent description. Many of the words
contained in the work of the former are now out of use ;
while it is difficult to recognize several of those appropriated
to the North in that of the latter, from the distorted spelling
in which they are clothed — the compiler not having a sufficient
personal knowledge of the dialect he attempted to describe.
As to Pegge's Supplement, a number of his Provincialisms
are classical English, and very properly inserted in Mr.
Todd's elaborate edition of Dr. Johnson's work. The Doctor
himself was scarcely at all aware of the authenticity of ancient
dialectical words ; and having an unaccountable prejudice on
the subject, seldom gave them a place in his Dictionary. The
List of Ancient Words used in the mountainous parts of the
West Riding of Yorkshire, published in the Archseologia by
Dr. Willan, a native of that district, is a valuable contribution
to our philology. Most of these words being old acquaint-
ances, the work has been of great use to the author. There
does not appear to this intelligent writer, sufficient ground for
the idea entertained by Dr. Jamieson, and some others, who
maintain that the lowland Scotch and the English are difi'erent
PREFACE. xi
languages. Any variations of accent, or in the mode of spel-
ling, he remarks, do not contribute to establish the point,
when we find on examination, that both the radicals and the
grammar are precisely the same. Hence, as he observes, a
person born in any of the Northern counties of England un-
derstands ancient and modern Scotch poetry, and enjoys it as
much as the Scots themselves. This is unquestionably true
to a great extent ; and it is equally certain that similarit} of
language is one of the most convincing documents of national
affinity. The reader, however, must decide for himself, after
he has perused and considered Dr. Jamieson's perspicuous
Dissertation on the Origin of the Scottish language. The
West Riding words are also preserved in a little work recently
published, under the title of Hores Momenta Cravence, or The
Craven Dialect Exemplified, in Two Dialogues, with a copious
Glossary ; a book that has not been overlooked. The only
other provincial Glossaries, from which the writer has derived
any material assistance, are those of, Cheshire Words by Roger
Wilbraham, Esq., 'and Suffolk Words by Major Moor; kindly
sent to him by the respective authors. Many of the terms in
both these publications, are radically the same as those col-
lected orally by the writer, though they appear to be different
from the dialectical variations which they have undergone.
The National work of Dr. Jamieson has been of use to the
author in almost every page. He is also materially indebted
to tliat learned writer for many etymologies that might other-
xii PREFACE.
wise have escaped him. An enemy to all fanciful etymology, he
has endeavoured to guard against such fascination. Knowing
the extreme fallaciousness of the science when founded on a
mere simikunty of sound, however striking, he has abstained
from all attempts at derivation where the sources did not seem
clear and undeniable ; and he has, in particular, avoided any
display of dexterity, by refraining from a reference to languages
of which the people were entirely ignorant, or which bear no
affinity to their own. His chief researches have been among
the ancient Northern dialects ; where, if we are not always
able to trace the primary ancestor, we may discover a resem-
blance sufficient to satisfy us, that we are recurring to a very
remote primogenitor. It is much to be regretted that trans-
lators from, and interpreters of Saxon, should ever have pub-
lished their works in Latin ; there being no natural analoiry
between the two languages. An English version woidd not
only have preserved the original form, but have shewn the
propriety of the present speech. A contrary method has oc-
casioned many of our words to be consider'c d as barbarous and
obsolete, which, looking to the original tongue, are not only
genuine but significant. By those who are conversant with
the Saxon and Northern languages, the justice of this remark
will be readily appreciated — they who are ignorant of tiiese
philological treasures have slender pretensions to the name of
a grammarian or a critic, an antiquary or a historian.
In a few of his etymological speculations, and in some of
PREFACE. xlii
his definitions, the author has been under the necessity of
differing in opinion from friends, whose learning he admires,
and for whom he entertains a personal esteem ; but tlieir com-
mon pm'suit being the same, he consoles himself with the
pleasing anticipation that his observations, offered with due
respect, will be taken in the light they are meant — an anxious
desii-e to be strictly accurate ; however seemingly unimportant
the subject.
Several of the words acbuittcd into this collection are, un-
doubtedly, mere vicious pronunciation.s ; but they are, in most
cases, so truly charactevistical of a local peculiarity beyond
the mere corruption, that the author could not reconcile him-
self entirely to omit tliem. The plirases within inverted com-
mas, at the end of several of the explanatioi»s, are all genuine
expressions; which have been either heard by himself, or
communicated to him b\' friends on whose accuracy and
fidelity he can implicitly rely : — and in order to relieve, in
some degree, the dryness of a mere explanation of a vocabu-
lary of words, he has occasionally inserted illustrations from
ancient, as well as from modern local writers.
Although the author is a native of, and has spent the
greater part of his life in this part of the kingdom, he feels it
right to acknowledge, that he has often met with words, even
in common use, the true meaning of which he has had the
greatest difficulty to ascertain. Some were interpreted to
him one way and some another, according to the peculiar ideas
c
xiv PREFACE.
attached to them by different individuals ; and in consequence
of that indefinite character, which must always, more or less,
mark expressions merely oral. In terms thus doubtful, he
cannot presume that he has, in every instance, succeeded in
his explanations ; but whatever errors he may have com-
mitted, in this or in any other respect, he will, on their being
pointed out, be glad to rectify in another edition ; which has
become necessary in consequence of the demand for the pre-
sent far exceeding the number of copies printed. The author
takes this opportunity further to state, that he will be pecu-
liarly indebted to any of his readers, who may be kind enough
to transmit to him any authentic provincial words, which have
escaped his notice, or any particular local customs to which he
has omitted to allude, with the proper explanations. Such is
the copiousness of our Northern vernacular speech, that the
author is far from pretending that he has been able — even
aided as his own researches have been by the most liberal
communications both of friends and of strangers — to give by
any means a complete view of it.
It now remains to the author, and it is a pleasing part of
his duty, to testify his sense of obligation for the assistance
that has been afforded him ; and to return his acknowledg-
ments for the condescension and politeness he has received at
the hands of those — not less distinguished by their literary
acquirements than by their exalted rank — who have patronized
and encouraged the pubHcation, and favoiu-ed the author with
their advice and information on subjects connected therewith.
PREFACE. xy
To one of the learned Judges, eminently versed in our lite-
rary history, whom the author had the honour of knowing
when at the Bm-, especial thanks are due for the partiality and
kindness that prompted him to direct the author's attention to
sources of infoniiation which were found highly advantage-
ous to consult ; and to a Right Reverend Prelate, a liberal
patron of literature, \\-ith whom the author had not the honour
of a previous acquaintance, he is under a particulai" obligation
for the imsolicited loan of a copy of Palsgrave, a work of ex-
cessive rarity, and a great typographical curiosity.
To the possessors of Collections of local words the author
stands indebted, with one single exception, for the confiden-
tial manner in which they intrusted to him their manuscripts ;
allowing him the unrestrained use of them. This liberal con-
duct, so gratif\'lng to the author's feelings, has not only, in
many instances, materially assisted him in the progi-ess of his
labours, but has enabled hiin to add several interesting paiti-
culars, which, without such unreserved communications,
would, in all probability, have escaped his observation. These
favours the author is desirous of acknowledging according to
the order in which they were conferred.
To the friendship of the Reverend John Hodgfion, Vicar of
Kirkwhelpington, and author of the History of Northumber-
land, now in a course of publication, the writer is indebtetl
for the use of a volume of memoranda connected with the
historian's own enquiries, but which proved highly useful on
xvi PREFACE.
the present occasion. The author is much obliged to his
learned friend, James Losh, Esq. for the loan of an extensive
list of words still in use in the Northern parts of England,
more particularly in the county of Cumberland, several of
which are marked as occurring in Chaucer, Spenser, and other
old writers. To the kindness of the Reverend John Brewster,
Rector of Egglescliffe, the author owes the perusal of a large
catalogue of Northern words collected by that respectable
clergjinan. From a Glossary obligingly put into the author's
hands by his intelligent friend, George Taylor, Esq. many im-
portant gleanings have been gathered ; nor has the collection
of Mr. John Bell, a pains-taking antiquary, with which the
author was favoured, been without its use. To the attention
and friendship of the Reverend Anthony Hedley, author of
the interesting Essay towards ascertaining the Etymology of
the Names of Places in the County of Northumberland, pub-
lished in the Archseologia iEliana, the writer is indebted for a
curious collection of local words made by the late C. Machell,
Esq. for Mi". Richardson, of Cheadle ; and intended by that
gentleman for the great work of the late Reverend Jonathan
Boucher ; which has hitherto, unfortunately, been confined to
the first letter of the alphabet; but the remainder of which,
there is every reason to hope, will soon be given to the public.
Inmimerable obligations lU'c due to the Rev. Henry Cotes,
"Vicar of Bedlington, for repeated acts of attention, and for
manv communications, which his extensive personal acquaint-
PREFACE. xvu
ance with the Northumbrian dialect rendered so acceptable.
For various other communications made to the author in the
course of the work, with great liberality and without solicita-
tion, he is largely indebted to a number of other friends ; par-
ticularly to Sir Cuthbert Sharp, Mr. Thomas Doubleday, Mr.
John Stanton, Mr. Edward Hemsley, and an amiable female,
whose retiring modesty leads her to derive most gratification
when in her power to confer a benefit unnoticed. Nor is the
author without obligation for some ingenious and sensible re-
marks, as well as for several words, which have been sent to
him without the writer's name.
To the uninterrupted friendship of his early preceptor, the
Reverend William Turner — a name with which every thing
benevolent is associated — the author owes the perusal of some
Danish books, which he could not obtain except through the
kind offices of that obliging individual ; to whom he is further
indebted for MS. notes on Verstegan's Restitution of De-
cayed Intelligence. The author's thanks are also due to his
friend, Mr. Murray, for the loan of an interleaved copy of
Grose's Provincial Glossary with MS. additions. And to the
liberality and friendship of his early associate, John Bowser,
Esq. the author owes the possession of some ciu"ious Dic-
tionaries, and several uncommon books connected with his
enquiries.
To Henry Ellis, Esq. of the British Museum, the author ten-
ders his thanks for pointing out to him. among the Lansdowne
xviii PREFACE.
Manuscripts, the very curious and select Glossary compiled
by Bishop Kennett, accompanied by the most obliging offers
of assistance, which writers at a distance from the larger
fountains of research and intelligence know so well how to
appreciate.
The author regrets that he has not, in this first edition,
been able to benefit by the MS. Glossary just alluded to; or
to avail himself of an " Explanation of several Terms made
use of in the Lead Mines, &c. in Alston Moor," which he owes
to the politeness of Anthony Easterby, Esq. of Coxlodge.
These additions, however, shall appear in a future impression,
incorporated with a " Vocabulary of provincial phrases used
bv the Miners in Teesdale," with which the author has been
favoured by his friend, the Reverend George Newby.
It still remains to mention the acknowledgments that are
due to IMi'. William Garret, not only for indefatigable atten-
tion to the work through the press, which, from the author's
other avocations, was confided to his management ; but for
many local words which his unwearied zeal enabled him to
collect in situations beyond the reach of, and from sources
inaccessible to the author, in addition to several Newcastle
expressions of which he was himself the living depository.
The author has to regret that death should have deprived
hun of the pleasm-e of expressing his gratitude to his much
respected friend, Matthew Gregson, Esq. for the interest he
took in this publication ; and for various acts of attention
PREFACE. xix
and civility experienced at his hands. Acknowledgments
would also have been due to the late Reverend J. J. Cony-
beare, for offers of assistance, and for the promise of informa-
tion ; but that eminent scholar has also sunk into the grave.
Having already said so much of the mode and execution of
the work, it is now left to its fate. The author has en-
deavoured, by the means within his power, to be faithful and
accurate ; but he has no wish, by any apology, to screen him-
self from candid and liberal criticism.
AN
EXPLANATION '
OF THE
PRINCIPAL CONTRACTIONS USED IN THIS
GLOSSARY.
LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS.
Br Ancient British language.
Celt Celtic language.
Cumb Cumberland dialect.
Dan Danish language.
Dur Durham dialect.
Dut Dutch language.
Fr French language.
Gael Gaelic language.
Germ GeriTian language.
Ir Irish language.
Isl Islandic (or Icelandic) language.
Ital Italian language.
Lane Lancashire dialect.
Lat Latin language.
Moe.-Got.— Moes.-Got. Moeso-Gothic language.
Newc Newcastle dialect.
North Northumberland dialect.
Sax Anglo-Saxon language.
Sc Scottish language.
Span Spanish language.
Su.-Got Suio-Gothic, or ancient language of Sweden.
Sw Modern Swedish language.
Teut Teutonic language.
West Westmorland dialect.
York Yorkshire dialect.
CONTRACTIONS.
AUTHORS AND WORKS.
Boucii. — Boucher. Glossary of" Obsolete and Provincial Words,
4to. Lond. 1S07.
Crav. Gloss HorjB Momenta Cravenae, or the Craven Dia-
lect exemplified, ISmo. Lond. 1824.
Du Gauge Glossarium ad Scriptores Media? et Inflmss La-
tinitatis, 6 tom. fol. Paris, 1733.
Grose Provincial Glossary, with a Collection of" Local
Proverbs, Svo. Lond. 1787.
Grose Classical Dictionary of the vulgar Tongue,
Svo. Lond. 1783.
Ihre Glossarium Suio-Gothicum, 2 tom. fol. Upsal.
1769.
Jam Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Lan-
guage, 2 vols. 4to. Edinb. 1808.
Jan. — Junius Etymologicum Anglicanum, Edid. Lye, fol.
Oxon. 1743.
Kilian Etymologicon Teutonics Lingurc, 2 tom. 4to.
Traj. Bat. 1777.
Le Roux Dictionnaire comique, critique, burlesque, libre,
et proverbial, 2 tom. Svo. Lion. 1752.
Lye Dictionarium Saxonico et Gothico-Latinum.
Edid. iNIanning, 2 tom. fol. Lond. 1772.
Moor Suftblk Words and Phrases, by Edward Moor,
F.Pi.S.F.A.S,&c. 12mo. Woodbridge, 1823.
Kares.-Nares'Glo^s. A Glossary; or Collection of Words, Phrases,
Names, and Allusions to Customs, Proverbs,
&c. 4to. Lond. 1822.
d
xxii CONTRACTIONS.
Palso-rave L'Esclaircissement de la Langue Francoise,
fol. Black Letter. The two first books
printed by Pynson, and the 3d (the most co-
pious part) by lohan Hawkins — the only
work he ever executed.
Ray Collection of English Words, l2mo. 2d edit.
Lond. 1691.
Roquefort Glossaire de la Langue Romane, 2 torn. 8vo.
Paris, 1808.
Skin. Skinner Etymologicon Linguae Anglicana?, fol. Lond.
1671.
Spelman Glossariuni Archaiologicum, folio, London,
1687.
Suff. Words Suffolk Words and Phrases, by Edward Moor,
F. R. S. F. A. S. 12mo. Woodbridge, 1823.
Tooke Diversions of Purley, 2 vols. 4to. Lond. 1798,
and 1805.
Wachter Glossarium Germanicum, 2 torn. fol. Lips.
1737.
Wilb An attempt at a Glossary of some words used
in Cheshire. From the Ai'chaologiae, Vol.
XIX. With considerable additions, 8vo.
Lond. 1820. Privately printed.
Willan A List of Ancient Words at present used in the
Mountainous Districts of the West Riding of
Yorkshire. Archaologia, Vol. XVII.
The reader can hare no difficulty in ascertaining the other books
referred to, by the manner in which they are quoted.
APPROPRIATION OF COPIES.
SIX HUNDRED PRINTED.
(exclusive of thirty-two on large paper.)
His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, K. G.
The Right Honourable the Earl of Eldon, Lord High
Chancellor of Great Britain, F. R. & A. S.
His Grace the Archbishop of York.
His Grace the Duke of Northumbeuland, K. G. F. S. A.
Her Grace the Duchess of Northumberland.
The Most Honourable the Marquess Cornwallis, late Lord
Bishop of Lichfield & Coventry, and Dean of Durham.
The Most Honourable the Marquess of Bute, 2 copies.
The Right Honourable Lady Charlotte Osborne.
The Right Honourable the Eari, of Tankerville.
Thf. Right Honourable Earl Spencer, K. G. F. R. & A. S.
The Right Honourable Earl Grosvenor.
The Right Honourable Earl Grey.
The Right Honourable Lord Henry Howard.
The Right Honourable Lord John Russell, M. P.
The Right Honourable Lady Louisa Lambton.
The Right Honourable and Right Reverend the Lord Bishop
OF IvONTiON, F. R. & A. S. Private and Episcopal Libraries.
The Honourable and Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of
Durhaji.
The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of St. Davids, F. R.& A.S.
The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Peterborough,
F. R. & A. S.
XXIV APPROPRIATION OF COPIES.
The Right Honourable Lord Grantham, F. S. A.
The Right Honourable Lord Stowell, President and Judge of
the Right Court of Admiralty, F. R. & A. S. 3 copies.
The Right Honourable Lord Ravexsworth.
The Honourable Henrv Thomas Liddell.
The Honourable W. F. Grant, of Grant, M. P.
The Right Honourable Thomas Wallace, jM. P. Master of
the Mint.
The Right Honourable Sir Thomas Plujier, Knight, late
Master of the Rolls.
The Honourable Sir John Hullock, Knight, one of the Barons
of the Court of Exchequer.
The Honourable Sir Joseph Littledale, Knight, one of the
Justices of the Court of King's Bench.
The Honourable James Abercrojibie, M. P.
Lady Sjiyth.
Sir Hedvvorth Williamson, Bart., Whithurn Hall.
Sir Charles M. L. Monck, Bart. Bdsai/ Castle, 2 copies.
Sir Charles Loraine, Bart. Kirklun-le, 2 copies.
Sir Henry Lawson, Bart. Brough Hall, 2 copies.
Siii John Edward Swinburne, Bart. F. R. & A. S. Capheaton,
2 copies.
Sir IMatthew White Ridley, Bart. jM. P. Blugdon.
Sir Richard Colt Hoare, Bart. F. R. & A. S. Stourliead
Hon.se.
Sir James Grahaji, Bart. M. P., F. S. A. Edmund Castle,
3 copies.
Sir Walter Scott, Bart. Abhotsford, 3 co])ies.
Sir David William Smith, Bart. Alnwick,
Sir Robert Crawfurd Pollok, Bart. Upper Pollok.
Sir Ja3ies Mackintosh, Knight, M. P., LL. D., Lord Rector
of the University of Glasgow.
Sir Thomas E. Tojilins, Knight, one of the Benchers of the
Inner Temple.
Sir Cuthbert Sharp, Knight, F. S. A. Sunderland
Sir Thomas Burdon, Knight, IFcst Jesmond.
The Royal Library, Copenhagen.
Al'PllOlJRIATlON OF COPIES. X:
The Corporation of Newcastle.
The Library of the Literary and Philosophical Society,
Newcastle.
The Library of the Antiquarian Society, Newcastle.
The Library of the London Institution.
The Library of the Society of Antiquaries, London.
The Metropolitan Literary Institution, London.
The York Subscription Library.
The Hull Subscription Library.
Sirs. Adams, Ridley Place.
John Adamson, Esq. F. 8. A. & F. L. S. Newcastle.
Mr. Thomas Ainswortli, Manchester.
]Mr. John Akenhead, Newcastle, 4. copies.
E. H. Alderson, Esq. Barrister at Law.
John Aldei'son, Jun. Esq. Hidl.
Rev. Thomas Allason, Vicar of Heddon-on-the- WulL
Mr. Frederick IVIartin Allerton, Liverpool.
]\Ir. William Anderson, Westgate.
Mr. George Andrews, Durliam, 6 copies.
Mr. John Lindsay Angas, Newcastle.
Mr. George Angus, Newcastle.
]\Ir. Henry Armstrong, Newcastle.
Mr. William Amistrong, Toions Chamber, Newcastle.
Nat. Ateheson, Esq. F. S. A. Duke Street, Westminster.
Robert Shank Ateheson, Esq. Dtike Street, Westminster.
Matthew Atkinson, Esq. Carrs Hill.
General Aylmer, Wahvorth Castle.
B.
Edward Backhouse, Esq. Sunderland.
.lohn W. Bacon, Est]. Styford.
George Bainbridge, Esq. Liverpool.
Joseph Bainbridge, Es(j. Newcastle.
John Baird, E^q. Newcastle.
Addison Jolm CVesswell Baker, E^q. Cresstvell.
XXVI APPROI'RIATION OF f oriFS.
Rev. Thomas Baker, Whitburn Rectory.
John Barras, Esq. Kihhkswurth.
James Bateman, Esq. London,
WiUiam Batty, Esq. London.
Matthew Bell, Esq. Woohington.
Mr. Thomas Bell, Union Street, ICewcastle, 2 copies.
Mr. John Bell, Windmill Hills.
Mr. Edward Bell, Newcastle.
Rev. F. Benson, Chollerton, 2 copies.
William Bentham, Esq. F. S. A. London.
Calverley Bewicke Bewicke, Esq. Castle Eden,
Henry Bickersteth, Esq. Barrister at Law, Lincoln's Inn.
Charles William Bigge, Esq. Linden House.
Thomas Hanway Bigge, Esq. Little Benton.
Mrs. Bird, Chester-le-Street.
Rev. James Birkett, Ovingham.
John Blackburne, Esq. M. P. Hah Hall.
Mr. Bohn, Bookseller, London, 6 copies.
William Bolland, Esq. Barrister at Law, Adelphi Terrace.
Major Bower, Welham.
Richard Bowser, Esq. Bishop Auckland.
Vv'illiam Boyd, Esq. Newcastle.
James Brancker, Esq. Bell Vice, Kirkdale House.
Charles John Brandling, Esq. M. P. Gosforth House,
Rev. Ralph H. Brandling, Shofton Hall.
Rev. John Brewster, Rector of Eggkscliffe.
John Britton, Esq. F. S. A. London, 4 copies.
John Broadley, Esq. F. S. A., F. L. S. Kirk Ella, Hull.
Henry Broadley, Esq. F. S. A. Ferriby, Hull.
Mr. John Brockett, Gateshead.
Mrs. John Trotter Brockett, Albion Place.
Mr. William Henry Brockett, Newcastle.
B. C. Brodie, Esq. London.
Rev. J. H. Bromley, M. A. Vicar of Hull.
Henry Brougham Esq. M. P. Brougham Hall.
Dixon Brown, Esq. Netvcastle.
John Brown, Esq. Newcastle.
APPROPRIATION OF COPIES.
Mr. John Bruce, Newcastle,
Henry Brumell, Esq. Morpeth.
John Brumell, Esq. London.
John Buddie, Esq. Ifall's End.
John Bulman, Esq. ]\^eu'castle,
J. J. Burn, Esq. Gray's Inn.
Mr. George Burnett, Newcastle.
William Burrell, Esq. Broome Par/t.
Robert Burrell, Esq. Durham.
John Burrell, Esq. Durham.
J. C. Cankrien, Esq. Hull
Mrs. Carr, Dunston Hill.
John Carr, Jun. Esq. North Shields.
Rev. Charles Charlton, Vicar of Tynemnnth.
Charles Charlton, M. D. North Skidds.
Mr. Edward Charlton, Newcastle.
INIr. James Charlton, Gateshead.
JVIr. Thomas Charlton, Newcastle.
Mr. Emerson Charnley, Newcastle, 25 copies.
Rev. Robert Clarke, Walwick Hull, 3 copies.
Mr. William Clarke, Neiccastle.
Charles Clavering, Esq. Greencroft.
Nathaniel Clayton, Esq. N'ewcastle.
William Clayton, Esq. Newcastle.
George Clementson, Esq. Newcastle.
John Clutterbuck, Esq. Warhcortlt.
William Coates, Esq. Neivcastle.
Charles Cockerill, Esq. South Shields.
Jonathan Cockerill, Esq. Newcastle.
Ebenezer John CoUett, Esq. M. P. Looker s House.
Rev. John CoUinson, M. A. Rector of Gateshead.
Archibald Constable, Esq. Edinhiirgh, 2 copies.
Rev. Joseph Cook, M. A. Newton Hall, 2 copies.
Isaac Cookson, Sen. Esq. Newcastle.
Christopher Cookson, Esq. Barrister at Law Newcastle.
XXVin APPROPRIATION OF COPIES.
Colonel Cookson, Ayton House.
Rev. Henry Cotes, Vicar of Bedlington.
Lieut. Colonel Coulson, Blenhinsoirp Castle.
Charles Cradock, Esq. Lmidon.
Shaftoe Craster, Esq. Craster.
Edmund Craster, Esq. Preston.
C. Creswell, Esq. Barrister at Law.
Mr. Crosland, Huddersjield.
John Crosse, Esq. F. S. A. Hull.
Matthew Culley, Esq. Copcland Castle.
William Cuthbert, Esq. BenivelL
Mr. John Cuthell, Londmi, 4 copies.
D.
Heni-y Dale, Esq. North Shields.
Rev. James Dalton, Rector of Croft.
Robert Davidson, Esq. Sunderland.
Mr. Geoi-ge Davidson, Rock.
Thomas Davidson, Esq. Newcastk.
Miss Davidson, Westgate Street, Newcastle.
Alexander Davison, Esq. Swarland House, 'Z copies.
Thomas Davison, Esq. Whitefriars, London.
John Dent, Esq. M. P.
Mr. Francis Devereaux, London.
Rev. Thomas Frognall Dibdin, F. R. & A. S.
William Dickson, Esq. Alnwick.
J. D' Israeli, Esq. London.
John Dixon, Esq. Stockton.
Mr. Ralph Dodds, Newcastle.
Armorer Donkin, Esq. Newcastle,
Henry Donkin, Esq. Durham.
Mr. Thoinas Doiibleday, Newcastle.
Francis Douce, Esq. F. S. A. London.
Mr. Thomas Dove, Newcastle.
Alexander Dudgeon, Esq. Leith Jifount.
Michael Dunn, Esq. Sallwell Hall.
ArPROPRIATION OF COPIES.
E.
Anthony Easterby, Esq. Coxhd<n:
Rev. James Edmondson, Vicar of" N'ewhurn.
Rev. Frederick Ekins, Rector of Morpeth.
Henry Ellis, Esq. F. R. S., Sec. A. S., London,
James Ellis, Esq. Otterboume.
Cuthbert Ellison, Esq. M. P. Hehbum Hall,
Nathaniel Ellison, Esq. LonJim.
Rev. Noel Ellison, A. INI. JIuntspUl.
Richard Ellison, Esq. Beverley.
Gregory Elsley, Esq. Celonel North York IMilitia.
I\
Rev. George S. Faber, Rector of Long Newton.
Thomas Henry Faber, Esq. Bishop Auckland.
James Fairbank, Esq. Staple Inn.
William Falla, Esq. Gateshead.
Mr. Jacob Ralph Featherston, Kewcastle.
John Fenwick, Esq. Newcastle,
Mr. James Finlay, Newcastle.
Mr. William Fisher, Newcastle.
William B. Flexney, Esq. J, undent
Matthew Forster, Esq. Newcastle.
Mrs. Forster, Greenfield Pluce.
George Townshend Fox, Esq. Westoe,
Charles Frost, Esq. F. S. A. Hvll.
G.
iNIr. Joseph Garnett, Newcastle.
Mr. William Garret, Newcastle.
Mr. John Gibson, Newcastle.
Mr. George Gibsone, Newcastle.
Mr. Robert Gillespie, Femjhill.
James Gooden, Esq. London.
John Grace, Esq. CarviUe.
Nathaniel Grace, Esq. London.
Rev. Robert Gray, Sunderland.
XXX APPROPRIATION OF COPIES.
E. M. Greenhow, M. D. North Shieldx.
Robinson Robert Greenwell, Esq. Nexccastle.
Anthony Gregson, Esq. LoivUn.
Tliomas Gregson, Esq. Essex Street, Strand, London.
Matthew Gregson, Esq. F. R. S. Ovestmi Manor, Cheshire.
John Grey, Esq. Mil/Jield Hill.
Rev. Henry Deer Griffith, M. A. Neiccastle.
H.
The Very Rev. Cliarles Henry Hall, D. D. Dean of Durham.
William Hamper, Esq. Deritend House.
Thomas Harrison, Esq. Stubb House.
IVIr. Cornelius Harrison, Stubb House.
Mr. Whytell Harrison, Stubb House.
]Mr. John Harvey, Straivberrtj Place.
Thomas Emerson Headlani, M. D. Newcastle.
Mr. William Heaton, Newcastle.
Richard Heber, Esq. M. P. Hodnct Hall.
Rev. Anthony Hedley, Rector of IVhilJield.
IMr. Edward Hemsley, Newcastle.
]Mr. Thomas Hepple, Benwell.
IMr. Ions Hcvvison, Newcastle.
Henry Hevvitson, Esq. Seaton Hum.
Middleton Hewitson, Esq. Newcctstle.
Rev. John Hodgs<jn, Vicar of Kirkwheliiinyton.
George Hodgson, Esq. Newcastle.
B'lr. Thomas Hodgson, Newcastle.
Mr, John Hodgson, Fetersburglu
Mr. James Hodgson, Newcastle,
John Hudson, Esq. Manchester,
Charles Hunter, Esq. London.
I.
Sanderson Ilderton, Esq. Ilderton.
Mr. Henry Ingledew, Neivcastle.
J.
Edward John Jackson, Esq. Sheriff of NcwcasUc
APPROPRIATION OF COPIES. XX>
William James, Esq. ]\I. P. Burrock Lodge.
Rev. John Jamieson, U. D. F. R. S. E. & F. S. A. S., EdUhirf/h.
J. C. Jobling, Esq. N^ctctoii Hull.
Mr. John Jobling, Newcastle,
Francis Johnson, Esq. Neu'castle,
iNIr. William Jolnison, Ti/ue Brewery.
T. Waterhouse Kaye, Esq. Barrister at Law, London.
Richard Keenlyside, M. D. Newcastle.
John Keenlyside, Esq. Newcastle.
Thomas W. Keenlyside, Esq. Newcastle.
Mr. William Kell, Gateshead.
L.
]Mr, Mark Ijambert, Newcastle.
John George Lambton, Esq. M. P. Lamhton Hall, 5 copies.
William Lawes, Esq. Pntd/ioe Custle.
William Lawson, Esq. Longhirst.
Robert Lcadbitter, Esq. Newcastle.
Rev. George Lee, Hull.
Rev. Henry George Liddell, Rector of Boldon.
Rev. John Lingai'd, D. D. Hornby.
William Linskill, Esq. Tynemouth Lodge.
Mr. John Little, Gateshead.
Edward Hawke Locker, Esq. F. R. & A. S. Greenwich Hospit(d.
Messrs. Longman, Hurst, & Co. London, 12 copies.
William Loraine, Esq. Lumley Park.
John Lambton Loraine, Esq. Newcastle, 2 copies.
James Losh, Esq. Barrister at Law, Jesmond.
M.
Robert Machell, Esq. Beverley.
Mr. Eneas Mackenzie, Newcastle.
Mr. John Major, London.
John Martindale, Esq. Chester-le- Street.
Mr. John Marshall Mather, Newcastle.
Francis Maude, Esq. Barrister at Law, Waktjield.
XXXll APPROPRIATION OF COPIES.
Thomas Meggison, Esq. Whalton.
Holker Meggison, Esq. Barrister at La«', London.
John ]Middleton Meggison, Esq. London, 2 copies.
Rev. S. Meggison, Vicar of Bolam.
Francis Mewburn, Esq. Darlington.
Mr. George Milner, Newccuntle.
Major Edward Moor, F. R. & A. S. Woodbridge.
Robert Moore, Esq. Doncaster.
Richard Moorsoni, Jun. Esq. Whitby.
Mrs. Miinby, Croft.
Mr. John Murray, Newcastle.
N. .
The Venerable Archdeacon Nares, A. M. F. R. S. F. A. S.
Rev. George Newby, IVitton-le- Wear.
John Nichols, Esq. F. S. A. Lortd. Edin. & Perth.
John Bowyer Nichols, Esq. F. S. A. & F. L. S. 2 copies.
Robert Nichols, Esq. Newcastle.
O.
Robert Ogle, Esq. Eglingham.
Mr. Robert Oliver, Neivcastle.
John Ord, Esq. Newcastle.
Mr. Thomas Ord, Coatham House.
William Orde, Esq. Nunnykirh.
A. C. Orme, Esq. Temple, London.
Robert Ormston, Jun. Esq. Newcastle,
Rev. Edward Otter, Rector of Bothul.
James Parke Esq. Barrister at Law, London
Samuel Walker Parker, Esq. Scots House.
William Peters, Esq. Newcastle.
Mr. Ralph Park Philipson, Newcastle.
Mr William Pickering, London, 4 copies.
Matthew Plummer, Esq. Newcastle.
George Woolley Poole, Esq. London,
Edward Potts, Esq. Morpeth.
AI'PROI'KIATION OF COPIES. XXXIU
James Potts, Esq. Newcastle,
Mr. Brough Pow, Newcastle.
Mr. William Preston, Newcastle.
Mr, Richard Priestley, London, 12 copies.
Rev. James Pringle, Newcastle.
Mr. William Proctor, Dean Street, Newcastle.
John A. Pybus, Esq. Neivcastle.
R.
Fletcher Raincock, Esq. F. S. A. Liverpool.
Rev. James Raine, Vicar of Mddon, 2 copies.
James Ramsay, Esq. London.
Rev. William Rawes, Houghton-k- Spring.
Mr. Robert Reay, Tyne Brewery.
Mr. Alexander Reed, Newcastle.
Rev. William Reed, Warkworth.
Owen Rees, Esq. London. i
Mr. W. K. Reid, Carey Street, London.
Rev. Dr. Richardson, Jfitton Gilbert,
Mr. John Richardson, Neivcastle.
Mr. William Richardson, North Shields.
James Richardson, Esq. North Shields,
Mr. Moses Richardson, Newcastle.
Henry Richmond, Esq. Humshaugh.
Mr. Edward Riddle, Royal Naval Asylum, Greenwich.
Rev. Charles John Ridley. M.A. Professor of Anglo-Saxon, O:r/or<i
Messrs. Rivingtons & Cochran, London, 12 copies.
John Robson, Esq. Felling Hall.
Mr. H. Rodd, London, 2 copies.
Mr. I. Rodd, London, 2 copies.
William Roscoe, Esq. Liverpool.
John Russell Rowntree, Esq. Barrister at Law, Stockton.
John Ruddock, Esq. Hexham,
Mr. William Rymer, Darlington,
S.
William Thomas Salvin, Esq. Croxdale, 2 copies.
Mr. J. Sams, Darlington.
XXXIV APPROPRIATION OF COPIES.
Mr. Jonathan Ward Sanders, Aytoii.
Thomas Saunders, Esq. London.
John Scafe, Esq. AhuL'ick.
James Scarlett, Esq. M. P. King's Coimsel.
The Venerable T. H. Scott, Archdeacon of New South Walex.
Walter Scott, M. D. Stumfordham.
Mr. Frederick Scroope, Darlington.
Prideaux John Selby, Esq. Twizell House,
Alexander Seton, Esq. Newcastle.
Joseph Sewell, Esq. 5"^. Anthony^s.
George Dalston Shaftoe, Esq. Buvintjton.
John Sheepshanks, Esq. Leeds, 3 copies.
Mr. Joseph Shield, Newcastle.
George Skipsey, Esq. Birtleij Htdl.
Mr. Thomas Small, Newcastle.
John Smart, Esq. Treudtt House.
Edward Smiles, Esq. Neivcastle.
Matthew Smillie, Esq. Lcith, 5 copies.
Rev. John Smith, M. A. Vicar of Newcastle, 2 copies.
Rev. John Smith, Hull.
Thomas Smith, Esq. and Alderman, Newcastle.
William Smith, Jun. Esq. Haughton Castle.
Rev. J. Hall Smyth, B. D. Liverpool.
Mr. Thomas Snaith, Newcastle.
Charles Snart, Esq. Newark.
Benjamin Sorsbie, Esq. and Alderman, Newcastle.
Mr. S. Sotheby, Loiidon, 2 copies.
Robert Southey, Esq. LL. D. Poet Laureate.
Mr. C. F. Springmann, Newcastle.
George Waugh Stable, Esq. Newcastle.
John Stanton, Esq. Benwell.
Mr. Philip Holmes Stanton, Newcastle.
John Steavenson, Esq. Newcastle.
Mr. John Straker, North Shields.
Edward B. Sugden, Esq. King's Counsel, London.
W^illiam Surtees, Esq. Montagu-Square, London.
Aubone Surtees, Esq. and Alderman, Newcastle.
Anthony Surtees, Esq. Hamsterley Hall.
APPROPRIATION OI' COPIES. XXXV
Robert Surtees, Esq. Muinsforth, 2 copies.
T. C. Swanstou, Esq. Barrister at Law, London.
Daniel Sykes, Esq. M. P. Itaj/icell.
Mr. Jolin Sykes, Newcastle, 3 copies.
T.
George Watson Taylor, Esq. M. P. Eaiistoke Park.
Hugh Taylor, Esq. Earsdon.
George Taylor, Esq. Wittou-le-lVear.
William Taylor, Esq. Hendoii Grange.
Edward Tewart, Esq. Southgate.
Benjamin Thompson, Esq. Atjton Cottage.
Mr. Benjamin Thompson, Newcastle, 2 copies.
Mr. Robert Thompson, Newcastle.
Samuel Thompson, Esq. North Shields.
Rev. Charles Thorp, B. D. Rector of Ri/fon.
Robert Thorp, Esq. Clerk of the Peace, Northiwiherland, 2 copies.
Mr, Thomas Thorpe, London, 12 copies.
Rev. E. S. Thurlow, Rector of Houghton-le- Spring.
Mr. John Tliwaites, Durham.
Mr. Thomas H. Tilt, London.
N. C. Tindal, Esq. M. P. King's Counsel.
John Tinley, Esq. North Shields.
Rev. Henry J. Todd, M. A. F. S. A. Settrington.
Messrs. John and George Todd, York, 3 copies.
Ralegh Trevelyan, Esq. Nether Jt'itioii.
W^alter Calverley Trevelyan, Esq. Wullington.
Mr. Robert Triphook, London, 12 copies.
John Trotter, Esq. Hallgarth.
Rev. William Turner, Newcastle.
Mr. Daniel Turner, Blagdon.
Dawson Turner, Esq. F. R. A. h L. S. Yarmmith.
Sharon Turner, Esq. F. S. A. London.
Mr. Thomas Turner, London.
U.
William Upcott, Es(i. London.
APPROPIATION OF COPIES,
W.
The Very Rev. R. D. Waddilove, D. D. F. S. A., Dean of Itipon.
Thomas Wailes, Esq. Newcastle, 2 copies.
John Waldie, Esq. Newcastle.
John Walker, Esq. Benwell.
John Ward, Esq. Durham.
John Watson, Esq. Willi-nyton, 2 copies.
Mr. William Watson, Liverpool.
Mr. George Watson, Gateshead, 2 copies.
Charles N. Wawn, Esq. A^ewcastle.
Geoi'ge Weatherby, Esq. Tynemouth.
Mr. Charles Weatherley, Low Willington,
Roger Wilbraham, Esq. F. R. & A. S. I^ondon.
John Allan Wilkie, Esq. Lemington, 4 copies.
Thomas Wilkinson, Esq. Town Clerk, Durham.
J. J. Wilkinson, Esq. Temple, London.
John Williams, Esq. M. P. Barrister at Law.
Robert Hopper Williamson, Esq. Recorder of Newcastle, 2 copies.
Rev. William Wilson, Rector of Wolsingham.
Richard Wilson, Esq. V. P. Soc. Arts & F. S. A. London.
]VIr. William Wilson, Newcastle.
Nathaniel John Winch, Esq. F. L. S. Newcastle,
Rev. Thomas Cave Winscom, Warkworth Rector;/.
John Wood, Esq. Beadnell.
Mr. Nicholas Wood, KUlingworth.
Mr. Benjamin Woodman, Morpeth.
The Venerable Archdeacon Wrangham, M. A. F. R. S.
The Right Worshipful William Wright, Esq. Mayor of Newcastle,
James A. Wright, Esq. Grunge.
Stephen Wright, Esq. North Shields.
W. Wright, Esq. Stone Buildings, Lincoln s Inn.
Air. Mattliew Young, London.
(glossary
NORTH COUNTRY WORDS
IN USE.
A.
A. It is a striking provincial peculiarity tenaciously to retain
this letter in most of the words in which modern English
substitutes o, as ain, own, bane, bone, &c. ; and in those
ending m 1 1, the two last letters are generally omitted as
a' for all, cd! for call, &c.
Aac, Aik, Yak, Yeck, the oak. Sax. ac, aec. Su.-Got. e/c
Germ, eicfie. Dut. and Isl. eik.
Aback, behind. Isl. a-ba/c, backward.
Ablins, perhaps, possibly. V. Tooke and Bouch.
Aboon, Abuin, above. V. Jun. and Bouch.
Abraid, or Brade, to rise on the stomach with a degree of
nausea ; applied to articles of diet, which prove disagreeable
to the taste, or difficult of digestion.
Abrede, in breadth. Sax. abred-an, to lengthen.
Abstract, to take away by stealth. — Borders.
Agkern, an acorn. Isl. a/cam.
B
2 ACRE
AcKERSPRiT, the premature sprouting of a potatoe, the germi-
nation of grain. V. Skin, Jam. and Wilb.
Acre-dale Lands, common fields in which different proprie-
tors hold portions of greater or less quantities ; from acre,
a word common to almost every language, and Sax. dcBlan,
to divide. In ancient times an acre did not signify any de-
terminate quantity ; and when at length it came to mean a
specific part, the measure still varied, until it was fixed by
statute.
Adder-stones, perforated stones, imagined by the viilgar to be
made by the sting of an adder. They ai'e suspended in
stables as a charm.
Addiwissen, had I known it. An expression nearly obsolete,
though still retained by some old persons. It appears to
have been formed on that jjoor excuse, to which silly people
are apt to have recourse, when, for want of thought, they
have fallen into a difficulty : /lad I tvist, or f/ad I wissen
(and in the pronunciation it is as one word, addiwissen), I
would not have done so and so. The phrase is of consi-
derable antiquity, occurring in Gascoigne's Hermits Tale, in
Gower, and in Holinshed.
Addle, Eddle, v. to earn by labom\ — Addlings, s. labom*-
ers's wages. Sax. edlean, recompense, or requital. Dif-
ferent both in import and source from — Addled, a. de-
cayed, impaired, rotten ; as, " addle headed," " addled
eggs," Sax. adlean, to be sick or languid.
Adge, adz, an addice.
Ae, Ea, Yea, one, one of several, each. Aewaas, always.
Ac lad frae out below the ha'
Ees jMeggie wi' a glai«;e. — Rooi Fair.
AFEAR'i>, afraid. This word is repeatedly used by Shaka[)eare,
AIRT 3
in several of his plays, and I don't renienil^er that afraid
occurs more than once. Pure Sax.
Aft, behind. The dictionaries call this a sea term, but it is in
common use on the banks of the Tyne, and occasionally in
other places, in the sense here given, without any relation
to nautical subjects. Pure Sax.
Ag, to cut with a stroke, adopted from Sc. hag, to hew, syno-
nimous with hack.
Agate. Dr. Johnson says, " on the way, agoing," but it also
means, as well a person recovered from a sick bed, as one
who is employed in doing any thing.
Age, v. to grow old, as he ages, he begins to age. Old.
Agean, against. Old English, agen,
Agee, Ajee, Agye, awry, uneven. " Let ne'er a new whim
ding thy fancy ajee." — A. Ramsay. Across, "it went
all agee." — Ajar, applied to a door a little open. Burns
uses agley, for vvrong.
The best laid schemes o'mice and men
Gang aft a-gky.
Agin, as if.
Agog, eager, desirous. " He's quite agog for it." Etymology
uncertain.
Ahint, behind. " To ride a hint." Sax. a-liindan.
Aigre, sour. Fr. aigre, hence Ale-aigre, Alegar, som- ale
used as vinegar. West, allekar,
AiRD. This word as applied to the name of a place means
high, as Airdley in Hexhamshire. Br. aird, height. Gael.
and Ir. ard, nn'ghty, great and noble. It is also used to
describe the quality of a place or field, in which sense it
means dry, parched, from Lat. aridus, hence arid.
Airth, Arf, fearful. " He was airth to do it" — " he's arfish,"
i. e. afraid. " An airthful night" — a fearful night. Sax.
yrhth, fear.
AITH
AiTH, an oath. Moes.-Got. and Sc.
Aits, Yaits, Yetts, oats. Sax. ata, ate.
AiXES, Axes, a fit or paroxysm of an ague. Used by several
old writers. Fr. accez, accez defievre.
Alantem, at a distance. Ital. da lontano. Fr. lointain.
Ale, a merry meeting, a rural feast. Bride-ale, and church-
ale are of frequent occurrence in old documents.
And their authorities at wakes and Ales,
With country precedents, and old wives' tales — Ben. Jan.
Algates, an old word synonimous with always, or all manner
of ways, and compounded of all and gates, which in the
North denote ways. Not obsolete as stated in Todd's
Johnson.
All-a-Bits, all in pieces, in rags.
All-along-of, All-along-on, sometunes pronounced Aw-
LUNG, entirely owing to. Used by Skelton, Ben. Jonson,
and others ; and may be referred to Sax. ge-langan.
Allar. See Eller.
Alley, the conclusion of a game at foot-ball, when the ball has
passed the boundary.— Z)«r. Fr. aller. Also a superior sort
of marble, made from alabaster. In later times the potteries
in the neighboiu-hood of Newcastle have made an imitation
from white clay, termed Pol-alleys, but which are not es-
teemed any way equal.
All-hallows, All Saint's day (1st Nov.). It is remarkable,
that, whilst the old Popish names, for the other fasts and
festivals, such as Christmas, Candlemas, &c. ai'C generally
retained throughout England, the northern counties alone
continue the use of the ancient name for the festival of All-
Saints. See Halle E'en.
Always, however, nevertheless. Its use in this sense is com-
mon in the North, and also in Scotland.
ANEN
ALt-MPtHE-WELL, a juvenile game in Newcastle and the neigh-
bourhood. A circle is made about eight inches in diameter,
termed the well, in the centre of which is placed a wooden
peg, four inches long, with a button balanced on the top.
Those desirous of playing give buttons, marbles, or any
thing else according to agreement, for the privilege of
throwing a short stick, with which they are furnished, at the
peg. Should the button fly out of the ring, the player is
entitled to double the stipulated value of what he gives for
the stick. The game is also practised at the Newcastle
races and other places of amusement in the North, with
three pegs, which are put into three circular holes, made
in the ground, about two feet apai't, and forming a triangle.
In this case each hole contains a peg, about nine inches
long, upon which are deposited, either a small knife or
some copper. The person playing gives so much for each
stick, and gets all the articles that are thrown oflT so as to
fall on the outside of the holes.
A-MANY, a great number.
Ambry, or Aumry, a cupboard, pantry, or place where victuals
are kept. Old Fr. ainmdre.
Ameix, between or among. Sw. cmellan. Dan. hnellem.
Anan, Nan, Non, sir ! what ? what do you say ? Commonly
used as an answer to questions not understood, or distinct-
ly heard. Perhaps from a repetition of Fr, aim, noticed by
Le Roux as, " Sorte d'interjection interrogative, commune
aux petites gens, et fort incivile parmi des personnes
polies."
Anchor, the chape of a buckle, i. e. the part by which it is
fastened. Fr. ancre, Lat. anchora.
Anclet, Ancleth, Ancliff, the ankle. Sax. ancleow.
Anenst, against, towards, opposite. Used by Chaucer and
Ben. Jonson.
#
6 ATsGN
Ang-nails, corns in the {eel.—Cuinb,
Angs, ft urns, the beard of barley or wheat. Su.-Got. agn.'tj^M^
Anters, Aunters, needless scruples, mischances or misadveii^-l^ ^
tnres. Anters, inanterx, ennanters, are also used for, in"'
case, lest, it may be. Dut. anders.
Antre, a cave or den. Lat. antrum.
Of antars vast, and desarts idle.— 5//(rA-. Othello.
Antrims, Tantrums, affected airs or whims, freaks, odd fan-
cies, maggots,
Arder, fallow quarter, similar to aither, a course of ploughing
in rotation.
Ark, a large chest. The original and etymological sense.
Same in Su.-Got. Dan. Gael, and Dut.
Arles, Earles, Arns, Alls, or Yearles, money given
in confirmation of a bargain, or by way of earnest for
service to be performed. jVIr. Boucher seems to consider
Aries to be the last and almost expiring remains, in our
language, ot a word of very remote antiquity, that was once
in general use, which the Romans abbreviated into arra,
and which the Latins in the middle ages changed into
arrha. It denoted an earnest or pledge in general, and
was often used to signify an espousal present or gift from
the man to the woman on their entering into an engage-
ment to marry. This, as we learn from Pliny, was a ring
of iron, the ancient Romans being long prohibited from
wearing rings of any other metal. The giving of arles for
confirming a bai'gain is still very common in all the north-
ern counties. It is an old custom, still kept up, for the
buyer and seller to drink together on these occasions,
without which the engagement would hardly be considered
valid. Gael, iarlics. Welsh, ernes.
j/m ASS 7
Arnut, Awnut, Jurnut, Yernut, a pig-nut, or earth-chesnut.
Sax. eard-nuf. Dut. aarde-noot.
Arr, a mark or scar ; hence Pock-arrs, a common phrase for
those marks on the face left by the small-pox. Su.-Got.
aerr. Isl. aer. Dan. ar.
Arsie-varsie, Arsey-warsev, topsy-turvy. Etymology ob-
vious.
All things run arsie-varsie. — Bmt. Jon.
Art, quarter of the Heavens, a part of the country. Genu.
ort, a place — die vier orte, the four quarters. Gael, curd, a
cardinal point.
Arvel-supper, a funeral feast given to the friends of the de-
ceased, at which a particidar kind of loaf, called arvel-bread,
is sometimes distributed among the poor. The practice of
serving up collations at funerals appears to have been bor-
rowed from the ccena fcralis of the Romans, alluded to in
Juvenal (Sat. V.), and in the laws of the twelve tables. It
consisted of an offering of milk, honey, wine, &c. to the
ghost of the depai'ted. In the case of heroes and other
illustrious men the same custom seems to have prevailed
among the Greeks. With us, it was anciently a solenm
festival made at the time of publicly exposing the corpse,
to exculpate the heir, and those entitled to the effects,
from fines and mulcts, and from all accusations of having
used violence. Welsh, arwyl, funeral obsequies.
Ass, Esse, ashes. Sax. asce. Germ, aschc. Isl. aska. Dan.
aske. — Ass-HOLE, a place for receiving ashes. — Ass-manner,
manure of ashes. — Ass-midden, a heap of ashes. — Ass-
RiDDLiN, the riddling or sifting of the ashes on the hearth,
on the eve of St. Mark. The superstitious notion is, that,
should any of the family die within the year, tiie shoe will
he impressed on the ashes.
8 ASSI
AssiL-TREE, axle-tree. So invariably pronounced.
Gael, aisil. Ital. assile.
AssiL, or Axle Tooth, a grinder — situated near the axis
the jaw. ls\. Jaxlar, dentes molares, maxillares.
Ask, Asker, Esk, a water newt, a kind of lizard, believed,
without foundation, to be venomous. Gael. asc.
AsTiTE, AsTY, rather, as soon as, sooner, literally as tide.
Sax. and Isl. tid.
Attercop, North, and Dur. ; Attercob, Cumb. a spider's
web. Sax. after, poison and coppe, a cup ; receiving its
denomination, according to Dr. Jamieson, partly from its
form and partly from its character — a cup of venom. The
word is occasionally used to denote the spider itself; and
a female of a virulent or malignant disposition is sometimes
degraded with the appellation of an attercap.
Audfarant, Audfashint, grave, sagacious, ingenious. Chil-
dren are said to be audfarant when they are wiser or more
witty than those of their age usually are. Dut. ervaren.
Dan. erfaren, experienced.
Auk, a stupid or clumsy person. From old Got. auk, a beast,
or it may be from the northern sea birds called auh, of
proverbial stupidity.
AuLD, AuD, old. Sax. eald.
Then take auld cloak about thee. — Shak. Othello.
AuLD-LANG-svNE, a favourite phrase in the North, by which old
persons express then* recollection of former kindnesses,
and juvenile enjoyments in times long since past ; rendered
immortal by the beautiful Scotch song.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot.
AuM, the elm. Old Fr. oulme. Allum is also, in some places,
pronounced aum. Br. a///?.
^^ AWN 9
Aun'd, ordained, fated. " I'm aun'd to this luck."
Aunts. " One of my aunts" is, in Newcastle, a designation
for a lady of more complaisance than virtue. Shakspeare
and other play writers use the tern).
Aup, a wayward child. Ape,
AuTER, altar. Many of our old authors write auter, or awter.
The high altar — a term still retained in Curnb. where it is
pronounced as one word heeautre — was so called to distin-
guish it from the Saint's altars, of which there were several
in most churches. Old Fr. auter.
AuwARDS. A beast is said to be auwards when it lies back-
ward or downhill, so as to be unable to rise. Sheep, heavy
in the wool, are often found so, in which case they soon
swell and die, if not extricated. Sax. cewerd, perversus,
aversus.
Aver, an old worn out cart horse. V. Spelman, (tffri, nffra,
and Du Cange, averia. Nearly obsolete.
AvERiSH, average, the stubble and grass left in corn fields after
harvest, winter eatage. Fr. hiver, and Eng. eatage. But
see Ray.
Aw, the pronunciation of I. Maw, my. Aws, I am.
Axv was up and down, seekin for tnaw hinny.
Aw was thro' the town, seekin for maw bairn.
Song, Maw Canny Ilhinij.
Fareweel, fareweel, www comely pet !
Aw^s fourc'd three weeks to leave thee ;
Aw^s doon for parm'ent dut}" set,
O dinna let it grieve thee ! — Song, Bob Cranky s Atllen.
Aw-MACKS, all makes, all sorts. V. Bouch.
Awn, own, to visit. " You never awn us now," i. e. yon never
« visit, or call on us.
c
10 AX
Ax, to ask. This, now vulgar, word is the original Saxon
form, and is used by Chaucer, Bale, Heywood, and Ben.
Jonson.
Aye, always, continually. An old word said in Todd's John,
to be now rarely used, and only in poetry. For colloquial
purposes, however, it is frequently made use of in many
parts of the North.
Ayont, beyond. " Ayont the hill." Sax. a-geont.
A vou A HiNNY, a northern nurse's lullaby. V, Brand's Pop.
Ant. 8vo. 1810, p. 204, and Bell's Northern Rhymes, p.
296.
There's Sandgate for aud rags,
A you, hlnny htrtl ;
N And Gallowgate for trolly bags,
A you a.
Song, A you a, hinny burd.
B.
Babblement, silly discourse. From Heb. Babel, confusion of
tongues.
Bachelor's button, a well known flower, resembling a but-
ton, and possessing a magical eflect on the fortunes of
rustic lovers. See Grey's Shak. v. l, p. 107.
Back-by, behind, a little way distant.
Back-end, the autumnal part, or latter end, of the year. Origin
obvious.
Backstone, a heated stone or iron for baking cakes.
Backy, tobacco. Backy-fob, a tobacco pouch.
Come, dinna, dinna whinge and whipe,
Like yammering Isbel Jlackey ;
Cheer vip, maw hinny ! leet thee pipe.
And tyek a blast o' lacky !
Song, Bob Crunky''d Adku.
BANG 1 1
Badger, a cadger or pedlar ; but originally a person who pur-
chased grain at one market and took it on horseback to
sell at another. Before the roads in the North were pass-
able for waggons and carts, this trade of badgering was
very extensive.
Bad, badly, sick, ill. Sadly badly, very much indisposed. —
Badling, a worthless person ; a bad one. Sax. bcedling,
homo delicatus.
Bag, udder. Isl. baggi, onus, sarcina.
Bail, bale, a beacon or signal, a bon-fire. — Bail or Bale-
hills, hillocks on the moors where fires have been. Isl.
bal, pyra. See Crav. Gloss. Baal-hills.
Bain, near, ready, easy. A bainer way, a neai'er way. Isl.
behin, rectus.
Bairns, chilch-en. Sax. beam. Moe.-Got. barn, a child.
Written by old English writers beam, beanie. " They say
beams are blessings." — S/iak. AlP.i Well; and in the Win-
ter's Tale, when the shepherd finds Perdita, he exclaims,
" mercy on's a beanie .' a very pretty beanie.^'' — Bairnish,
childish. — Bairn-teaji, lota of balms. Sax. beam-team,
liberorum sobolis procreatio. — Bairns' -play, the sport of
children, any sort of trifling.
Baist, or baste, to beat severely. Isl. bei/sti, a hard stroke.
Ballerag, bullerag, to banter, to rally in a contemptuous
way. The Crav. Gloss, has btdlokin, imperious.
Ba ! LOU ! a nurse's lullaby. Fr. bas. Id Ic loup, be still, the
wolf is coming.
Ban-fire, bon-fire, a fire kindled on the heights at appointed
places in times of rejoicing. Notwithstanding what Mr.
Todd has alleged as to the primitive meaning of the word,
I am of opinion that iowe-fire is a corruption. See Bail.
Bang, v. to thump, to handle roughly. " He bangs his wife."
12 BANG
Isl, hanga. It also means to excel. " Wallington bangs
them a'."
Our parson says, " we bang'd them still,
" And hang them still, we mun man,
" For he desarves a coward's deeth,
" That frae them e'er wad run man."
Ciimh. Balhi(J.
AVor pockets lin'd wiv notes an' cash,
Amang the cheps we'll cut a dash :
For XYZ, that bonny steed,
lie Imiigs them a' for pith and speed.
He's sure to win the cup, man — Song, X. V. Z
Bang, .v. a leap, a severe blow. Bi a bang, suddenly.
Banging, large and jolly, as a banging wench ; or sijnply of
great size when compared with things of the same kind, as
a banging trout. Any thing large in proportion to the rest
of its species is also called a banger.
Bannock, a thick cake of oaten or barley meal kneaded \\ ith
water ; originally baked in the embers and toasted over
again on a girdle when used. Gael, bonnack, a cake ; or
it may be from Isl. baun, a bean, such cakes having for-
merly been made of bean meal. V. Ray.
Bargh, berg, a hill, or steep way. Su.-Got. berg, mons. V.
Ihre.
Bar-guest, a local spirit or demon, haunting populous places,
and accustomed to howl dreadfully at midnight, before any
dire calamity. Perhaps from Dut. berg, a hill, and geesf,
a ghost. Grose, however, describes it as " a ghost all in
white, with large saucer eyes, commonly appearing near
gates or stiles, there called bars. Yurksh. Derived from
bar and gheist."
Bark, a box for holding candle ends.
BAUK 1:5
Barked, barkened, covered with dii-t like l)aik. Dirt, S:c.
hardened on the skin or hair.
Barkhaam, a horse's collai', formerly made of bark. See
Braftlini.
Barley, to bespeak or claun. " Bai'ley me that" — I bespeak
that — let me have that. Similar to Cheshire hallow. V.
Wilb.
Barrel-fever, an illness occasioned l)y intemperate drinking.
Bass, bast, matting. Isl. bast, philyra. Bass, is also the
name of a hassock to kneel upon at church.
Bat, a blow or stroke ; in some places a stick. Fr. battrc,
to beat. Last-batt, a play among children.
I'll try whether your costard or my hat be the harder.
Shell;. Liar.
Bat, also means state or condition ; " at the same bat," sig-
nifying in the same manner ; " at the old bat," as formerly.
Batten, to feed, to bring up, to thrive.
Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed, and
lattcH on this moor Shak. Hamlet.
" The wife a good church going and a battening to the
bairn" is a toast at christenings.
Battin, the straw of two sheaves folded together.
Battom, a board generally of narrow dunensions, but the full
breadth of the tree it is sawn from.
Batts, flat grounds adjoining islands in rivers, sometimes used
for the islands themselves.
Bauk, balk, a beam or dormant. Dut. balk. Welsh, bale.
Balked, disappointed or prevented, as if a beam were in the
way. " To be throivn our€ balk" is, in the west riding of
Yorkshire, to be published in the chiu-ch. " To hing ourt'
balk," is marriage deferred after publication. Before the
14 BAUK
reformation the laity sat exclusively in the nave of the
church. The balk here appears to be the rood beam, which
sepai'ated the nave from the chancel. The expression
would therefore seem to mean, to be helped into the choir,
where the marriage ceremony was performed. V. Crav.
Gloss.
Bauks, the grass ridges dividing ploughed lands, properly
those in common fields. Also a place above a cow-house,
where the beams are covered with wattles and turf, and
not boarded. — A hen-roost or hay-loft ; supposed by Mi-.
WUbraham from its being divided into different compart-
ments by balks or beams ; bal/c in the northern languages
signifying a separation or division.
Bay, to bend. Sax. hygun.
Beaker, a tumbler. Germ, becher, a cup. It also means any
thing large.
Beakment or Beatmext, a measure of about a quarter of a
peck. Kewc.
Eeal, to roar or cry. Teut. bellen, to bellow.
Beastlings, the milk of the cow shortly after calving, and of a
peculiar nature fitted for the first food of the calf. Proba-
bly, therefore, the calf's, that is, the little beast's or beast-
ling's. — Dut. biest.
Beastling-pudding, a pudding made of this milk, and a favou-
rite dish with many people.
Beck, v. to nod the head ; properly to curtzy by a female, as
contradistinguished from bowing in the other sex. Isl.
beiga. Germ, beigen, to bow. A horse it said to bec^i,
when its legs are weak.
Beck, s. a mountain stream or small rivulet. Common to all
northern dialects. Sec Burn.
Beeas, Beess, cows, cattle. Beasts.
BIGG 15
Bee-bike, a bee's nest or hive in a wild state. Tent, hie-hnck,
bie-buyek, apiarium.
Beeld, shelter; hence Beelding, a place of shelter for cattle, or
any covered habitation. Isl. boele^ domicilium.
Beet, to help or assist, to supply the gi'adual waste of any thing.
Isl. betra. Dut. boeten, to mend. To beet the fire, is
to feed it with fuel. The word in this latter sense is most
applicable to straw, heath, fern, fui-ze, and especially to the
husk of oats, when used for heating girdles on which oaten
cakes are baked. Teut. boeten het vier, struere igneni.
Beet-need, assistance in distress. Sax. betan, to restore.
Beezen, blind. Sec Todd's John, b'lsson.
Belive, anon, by and by, quickly. An old word used by
Chaucer, Spenser, and other early poets. Sax. belif-an.
Belk, to belch. The old mode of writing it.
BELLY-GO-LAKE-THEE,take your fill, satisfy your appetite. — York.
Belly-wark, the gripes or colick. Ache is pronounced wark,
as \ie?i&-ivark, tooXh-wark.
Bensel, to beat or bang. Teut. benghe/en.
Bext, a long kind of grass which grows in Northumberland,
near the sea, and is used for thatch. Dr. Willan has Bents,
high pastures or shelving commons, hence he says, bent-
grass, which from the soil is necessarily harsh and coarse.
Berry, to thrash corn. Berrier, a thrasher.
Be-twattled, confounded, stupiiied, infatuated.
Bevel, a violent push or stroke.
Bicker, v. to clatter, to quaiTcl. A very old word for skirmish.
Bicker, .1. a small wooden dish, made of staves and hoops like
a tub.
Big, to build. Isl. bi/ggi.
Bigg, a particular kind of barley, properly that variety which
has four rows of grain on each ear, sometimes called bcai-.
Isl. bt/gg, barley. Su.-Got. biug. Dan. byg.
16 BIGG
BiGGEX, to recover after an accouchement. The gossips regu-
larly wish the lady a good fnggening.
Biggin, a building, properly a house larger than a cottage, but
now generally used for a hut covered with mud or turf.
BiLDER, a wooden mallet with a long handle, used in husban-
dry for breaking clods. Hence, observes the author of the
Craven Glossary, balderdash, may with propriety be called
dirt spread by the bilder, alias bUderdasJier. This etjTuon
is certainly as happy as that of Mr. Malone — the froth or
foam made by the barbers in dashing theii- halls backwards
and forwards in hot v/ater. See, however. Blather.
BiNK, a seat in the front of a house made of stones or sods.
Sax. bene. Dan. bcenk.
BiRK, the birch tree. Tent, berck.
Bishop's foot. When any thing has been burnt to the pan
in boiling, or is spoiled in cooking, it is common to say, " the
Bishop has set his foot in it." The author of the Crav.
Gloss, under bishnpped, says, " pottage burnt at the bottom
of the pan. ' Bishop's i' th' pot,' may it not be derived
from Bishop Burnet ?" That is impossible, the sajing
having been in use long before the Bishop was born ! It
occurs in Tusser's " Points of Husbandry," a well known
book ; and also in Tyndale's " Obedyence of a Chrysten
Man," printed in 1.5:28. The last writer, p. 10.9, says,
" when a thynge speadeth not well we borowe speach and
say the byshope hath blessed it, because that nothynge
speadeth well that they medyll withall. If the podech be
burned to, or the meate over rosted, we say the byshope has
put hisfote in the potte, or the byshope hath played the coke,
because the byshopes burn who they lust and whosoever
displeaseth them." I am well aware of what Dr. Jamieson,
Grose, and other writers have stated on the subject, but I
think this allusion to the episco])al disposition to burn here-
BLAK 17
tics, in a certain reign, presents the most satisfactory expla-
nation that can be offered as to tiie origin of the phrase.
BiTTLE, a mallet to beat grain out of gleanings. From beetle.
BizoN, shame or scandal ; a shew or spectacle of disgrace. In
unguai'ded moments when the good women in certain districts
of Newcastle, give way to acts of termagancy more congenial
to Wapping or Billingsgate, it is common to fuhninate the
object of their resentment with a " Holy Bizon," obviously
in allusion to the penitential act of standing in a white
sheet, which scandalous delinquents are sometimes enjoined
to perform in the church before the whole congregation.
Wiv a' the stravaigin aw wanted a munch,
An' maw thropple was ready to gizen ;
So aw went tiv a yell-house, and there teuk a lunch.
But the reck'ning, me saul ! was a hizvn.
Song, Canny Nfuransd.
Black-a-viz'd, dark in complexion. A bhic/c-a-viz' d man or
woman.
Black-puddings. Puddings made of blood, suet, &c. stuffed
into the intestines of pigs or sheep, and a favourite dish
among the common people. " A nice het pudden, hinnie !"
" A nice fat pudden, ma hinnie !" — Neiucastle cries.
Through they were lin'd with many a piece
Of ammunition bread and cheese,
And fat Uack-pnddingis, proper food
For warriors that delight in blood — But. Hud'tb.
Blake, yellowish, or of a golden colour, spoken of butter,
cheese, &c. The yellow buntiiig (emberiza citrinella) is
also, in some places, called a blakeling. Isl. blar. Dut.
bleek, pale.
Blake autumn — Chaltcrton.
18 BLAR
Blaring, crjing vehemently, roaring louJ, applied to peevish
children and vulgar drunken noise. Dut. blaren.
Slash, to throw dirt ; also to scatter, as the " water blashed all
over" Germ, platzen.
Blashment, weak and diluting liquor.
Blashy, tliin, poor, as blashy beer, &c. It also means wet and
dirty. Dr. Jam. has blush, a heavy fall of rain.
But aw fand maw sel blonk'd when to Lunnun aw gat,
The folks they a' luck'd wishy washy ;
For gowld ye may howk 'till ye're blind as a bat,
For their streets are like wors— brave and hlashy !
Song, Canny Newcassel.
Blast, v. to blow up with gun-powder. Blast, s. an explo-
sion of foul air in a coal mine.
And oft a chilling damp or unctuous mist,
Loos'd from the crumbling caverns, issues forth,
Stopping the springs of life — Jago^s Edgchlll.
Blate, v. to bleat or bellow. Dryden uses blata)ii.
Blate, a. shy, bashful, timid. Su.-Got. Mode. " A toom
(empty) purse makes a blate merchant." — Scot. Prov.
Blather, to talk a great deal of nonsense. " He blathers and
talks," is a connnon phrase where much is said to little
pm'pose. A person of this kind is, by way of pre-eminence,
styled a blathering hash. One of my correspondents de-
rives the word from blatant, used by Spenser and others ;
another ingeniously suggests that it may be " from the
noise of an empty bladder ;" but it appears to me to be
either from Teut. blceteren, to talk foolishly, or Su.-Got.
bladdra, garru'e. Hence Blatheruash, Balderdash, the
discourse itself. See Bilder.
Blaze, to tiUie salmon by striking them with a tlu-ee pronged
BLOW 19
and bai-bed dart, called a leister. I have often seen it prac-
tised in an evening, in the River Tees. In Craven, a torch
was made of the di-y bark of holly, besmeai-ed with pitch.
The water was so transparent that the smallest pebbles
were visible at the bottom. One man carried the torch
(when dark) either on foot or on horseback, while another,
advancing with him, struck the salmon on the red, the
place where the roe is deposited, with the leister. V.
Crav. Gloss, bloaz'mg.
Blea, a pale bluish colour, often applied to the discolouration
of the skin by a blow or contusion. It is also sometimes
used to denote a bad colour in linen, indicating the neces-
sity of bleaching.
Blea-berry, Blay-berry, the bilberry, or whortle berry. Isl.
blaber, vaccinium vulgare myrtillus.
Bleb, Blob, a drop of water or bubble ; a blister or rising of
the skin.
Blee, colour, complexion. An old word, not obsolete, as
stated in Todd's Johnson.
Bleed, to yield, applied to corn, which is said to " bleed well"
when on thrashing it happens to be very productive.
Blendings, peas and beans mixed together.
Blink, to smile, to look kindly, but with a modest eye, the
word being generally applied to females. Dan. blinke.
Blinkard, Blenkard, a person near sighted or almost blind.
A fighting cock with only one eye is termed a blenker.
Blirt, Blurt, to cry, to make a sudden indistinct or un-
pleasant noise.
Bloacher, any large animal.
Blousy, or Blowsy, wild, disordered, confused. Johnson has
blowzy, sun burnt, high coloured.
Blow, the blossom of fruit trees. Sax. blowan, to bloonL
The Crav. Gloss, has blume, blossom, from Germ, blunt.
20 BLOW
Blown-milk, skimmed milk. I suppose from the custom of
blowing the cream off by the breath.
Blubber, " the part of a whale that contains the oil," Todd's
John. But it is the fat of whales.
Blue. To look blue, is to be disconcerted.
Bluffness, " surliness," Todd's John. Rather arrogance, or
a self-confident manner.
Blush, resemblance. He has a blush of his brother, i. e. he
bears a resemblance.
Blusteration, the noise of a braggart. Blustering.
Bob, to disappoint. Dry bob is an old word for a merry joke
or trick.
Boa, a bunch. Isl. bobbi, nodus. Fr. bube.
BoBBEROus, Bobbersome, elated, in high spirits.
BoBBV, smart, neat, tidy.
There was Sam, O zoons !
AViv's pantaloons,
An' gravat up owre his gobby-o ;
An' Willy, thou,
AVi' the jacket blue.
Thou was the varry hobhy-o.
Song, Swalu-ell Hopping.
BoDVvoRD, an Ul-naturetl errand. An old word for an ominous
message. Su.-Got. and Isl. bodword, edictum, mandatiun.
Boggle, Boggle-bo, a spectre or ghost. Welsh, bugal, fear.
Boggle aiout the stacks, a favourite play among young people
in the villages, in which one hunts several others. For-
merly barley break.
She went abroad, thereby
A barley break her sweet, swift feet to try — Sidney, Arcadia.
Boiling. The whole boiling means the entire quantity or
whole party.
BONN 2]
BoKE, Bt)UK, to nauseate so as to be ready to vomit, to belcli.
Perhaps from Sax. bealc-an. Jam. V. Ray.
Boll, Bole, the body or trunk of a tree. Su.-Got. bol.
Bo-RiAN, a hobgoblin or kidnapper,
I'll rather put on my flashing red nose, and my flam-
ing face, and come wrajiped in a calf's-skin, and
cry ho, bo ! — Robin Goodfcllow.
BoNDAGERs, cottagers obliged to work for farmers, when called
upon, at certain stipulated wages.
Bonny, beautiful, handsome, cheerful. Dr. Johnson derives
this word from Fr. ban, bonne, good ; but as it is so uni-
versally in use in the North, I have little doubt it came
originally from the Scotch. — Shakspeare appears to have
understood it in its different meanings.
We sav that Shore's wife hath a pj-etty foot,
A cherry lip, a honny eye, a passing pleasing tongue.
Match to match I have encountered him,
And made a prey for carrion kites and crows,
Kv'n of the loiniy beast he' lov'd so well.
'I'hen sigh not so but let them go,
And be you blithe and honiiy Sfiak.yiefirc.
() where is the boatman ? my bonny honey !
O where is the boatman ? bring him to me —
To ferry me over the Tyne to my honey.
And I will remember the boatman and thee.
The Water of Tync.
Whe's like me Johnny
Sae leish, sae blythe, sae honny .'
He's foremost 'mang the mony
Keel lads o' coaly Tyne.
Song, The Krd How.
22 BOOD
BooDiES or Babbv-boodies, broken pieces of earthen vv are or
glass, used by female children for decorating a play-house,
called a boody-house, made in imitation of an ornamented
cabinet.
Then on we went, as nice as owse,
Till nenst auM Lizzy Moody's ;
A whirlwind cam an' myed a' souse,
Like heaps o' babhy-boodies.
Song, Jemmy Jomson's Whurry.
Boon, a service or bonus, done by a tenant to his landlord, or
a sum of money as an equivalent. Boon-days are those
which the tenants are obliged to employ for the benefit of
their lord gratis. Vast quantities of land in the Northern
counties are held under lords of manors by customary
tenm-e, subject to the payment of fines and heriots, and the
performance of various duties and services on the boon
days.
Boor, Bour, the parlour, or inner room through the kitchen,
in which the head person of the family generally sleeps.
Isl. bouan, to dwell. Spenser uses bower, a lady's apart-
ment. Fair Rosamond's boiuer, at Woodstock, is familiar
to every reader.
BooRLY, boorish, rough, unpolished. Teut. boer, a boor.
Boose, Buess, Busk, an ox or cow stall ; properly the place
beside the stakes where the fodder lies. Sax. bosig. Isl.
bas.
Boot, something given to equalise an exchange. Old Fr.
bote.
Booted, or Bolted Bread, a loaf of sifted wheat meal, mixed
with rye ; better than the common household bread. V.
Skin. bolt.
Boother, Boulder, a hard flinty stone, rounded like a bowl.
BOUK 23
BoRRowED-DAVS, the three last days of March.
March hnmnvit fra Averill
Three days and they were ill.
Gloss. Compl. Scotl.
These days being generally stormy, our forefathers, as
Dr. Jamieson remarks, have endeavoured to account for
this circumstance by pretending that March borrowed them
from April, that he might extend his power so much longer.
The superstitious will neither borrow nor lend on any of
these days, lest the articles should be employed for evil
purposes.
Botheration, plague, trouble, difficulty. From bother, to
perplex or puzzle.
BoTTOM-ROOM, a single seat in a pew.
Bought, a fold where ewes are put at milking time. Tent.
bocht.
Bouk, to wash linen, or rather to steep it or soak it in lye,
with a view of whitening and sweetening it.
Then the thread is sod and bleaked, and htitkcd and oft
layed to drieng, &c — Baithol. 302 h, I. 1 7, c. 97-
Buck is used by Shakspeare, as well for the liquor in
which clothes are washed as for the clothes themselves.
Every body remembers Falstaflf's ludicrous adventure in
the great buck-basket. The process of bonking Unen,
adopted by the older Northumbrian house-wives, woidd,
I fear, be considered too homely for their more Southern
neighbours to imitate, and therefore I refrain from particu-
larizing it.
BouK, Bowk, bulk, quantity, or size ; the body of a tree. Su.-
Got. bolk. Chaucer uses buuke, for the trunk of the hu-
man body, which Mr. Tyrwhitt sa}'s, is probably from Sax.
biice, venter.
24 BOUN
BouN, to make ready, to prepare, to dress. Old Eng. boon,
boun, bowne.
BouRD, to jest. V. Todd's John.
Bout, a contest or struggle ; often applied to a jovial meeting
of the legitimate sons of Bacchus, where
The dry divan
Close in firm circle ; and set, ardent, in
For serious drinking Thomson.
BowDiKiTE, a contemptuous name for a mischievous child, an
insignificant or corpulent person.
Bowery, plump, buxom, and young ; applied to a female in
great health.
Box, a club or society instituted for benevolent or charitable
purposes. It is customary for the members to have an
annual dinner called the head-meeting day. The oldest
institution of this kind, I have been able to trace, is that of
the keelmen of Newcastle and the neighbourhood, who, on
this occasion, after assembling at their hospital, walk in
procession through the principal streets of the town, at-
tended by a band of nnisic, fiddles, &c. Much greater
interest was formerly taken in this business by the parties
concerned, who made it a point of honourable emulation to
rival each other in the grandeur of their apparel, especially
in the pea-jacket, the sky-blue stockings, the long-quartered
shoes, and large silver buckles. Cold was the heart of
that female, old or young, connected with the " Keel lads
o' coaly Tyne," who could look unmoved on such a spec-
tacle ; and if the fair ones did sometimes indulge in scenes
which I neither wish to describe nor see repeated, their
rencounters, generally commencing without any pre\'ious
malice, were rarely again remembered.
Box AND Dice. A game of hazard, formerly much practised
BRAN 91
among the pitmen and keelmen at races, fairs, ami hop-
pings, but now very properly prohibited. The tri(c pro-
nunciation is box and dies.
Close by the stocks, his dice and ho.i,
He rattled away so rarely-o,
Both youth and age, did he engage.
Together they played so chearly-o.
Song, Wnthdon Hopphiv:.
Braad-ba\d, corn laid out in the field in band.
Brabblement, a quarrel or wrangling. Dut. brahhelen, to
mingle confusedly.
This petty hrahhlc will undo us all. — Shuk. Tit. Aiuh:
Brackens, or Breckens, fern. In Smoland, in Sweden, the
female fern is called braehen. Sw. Stotbraukin. In is a
termination in Gothic, denotmg the female gender.
Brade, to resemble. To brade of, from Su.-Got. braa, de-
notes a similarity characteristic of the same family. V.
Ihre.
Brae, Buoo, a bank or declivity, any broken sloping ground.
Gael, and Welsh, brc, a hill.
Braffam, Braugham, a collar for an husbandry horse, some-
times made of old stockings stuffed with straw.
Braid, Brade, to nauseate, to desire to vomit ; hence the
word iqjbraid. Braid is an old obsolete word for reproach.
Brake, a harrow for breaking large clods of earth. V. Nares'
Gloss, for other significations, &c.
Bran or Brand-new, quite new ; any thing fresh from the
makers hand. Often applied to clothes to denote the
shining glossy appearance given by passing a hot ii'on over
them. Dut. brand niexiw. Shak. uses "fire new arms,"
and "fire new fortune."
26 . BRAN
Branded, a mixtiue of red and black. Dut. branden.
Braxder, an iron over the fire. Dut. brander.
Brandling, a species of trout caught in the rivers in North-
umberland, where salmon is found, particularly in the Tyne.
Early in the year they are seen about thi'ee inches long, but
in the course of a few months increase to about six inches ;
after which, they are rarely found any larger. Like the
salmon-smelt and whitling, they have no spawn in them,
Brandreth, an iron tripod fixed over the fire, on which the
kettle, or any cooking utensils are placed. Sax. brandred,
a brand iron.
Brank, to hold up the head affectedly, to put a bridle or re-
straint on any thing. " A bridled ewe." This word gives
me an opportunity of mentioning another of kinch'ed im-
port, the Branks, an instrument kept in the Mayor's cham-
ber, of Newcastle, for the punishment of " chiding and
scolding women." It is made of ii'on, fastens round the
head like a muzzle, and has a spike to insert in the mouth
so as effectually to silence the offensive organ. Ungallant,
and unmercifully severe as this species of torture seems to
be. Dr. Plot much prefers it to the cucking stool, which,
he says, " not only endangers the health of the party, but
also gives the tongue liberty 'twixt every dipp." See an en-
engraving of Robert Shai'p, an officer of the Corporation,
leading Ann Bidlestone through the town, with a paii' of
branks on her head, in Gardiner's Englands Grievance dis-
covered, orig. edit. p. 110.
Brant, steep, difficult of ascent, as a brant brow, a steep hill.
It also means consequential, pompous in one's walk, as
" you seem very brant this morning," i. e. you put on all
your consequence. A game cock is said to be brant. Lof-
tiness appeal's to enter into all the meanings of the word.
Isl. brattr, acclivis, ai'duus, Sw. brant.
BREM 27
Brash, or Water-brash, a sudden sickness, with acid rising
in the mouth, as in the heart-burn. V. Wachter, brasscn.
This word it also used in some places to denote twigs, and
as an adjective for impetuous, rash.
Brashy, delicate in constitution, subject to fi-equent bodily
indisposition.
Brass, money, riches, A wealthy person is said to have plenty
of brass.
The brass aw've getten at the race
Will buy a patch for Jacob's face — Song, X. Y. Z.
Brat, the film on the surface of some liquids, as on boiled milk
when cooled. Also a child's bib or coarse apron. Is it in
both these senses from Germ, breiten, to spread ? In the
latter it may come from Sax. bratt, which Johnson tran-
slates a blanket, when he notices it as a child in contempt.
Bratchet, a contemptuous epithet, generally applied to an ill
behaved child. Fr. Bratchet, a slow hound.
Brattle, to sound like thunder. — Brattle of " thunner" a
clap of thunder.
Braw, finely clothed, handsome, clever. Teut. braive,
adorned.
BRA^vLY, Bravely, very well, finely, in good health. Sw.
braf.
Brawm, a boar.
Her grace sits mumping
Like an old ape eating a brawm.
Beaum. ^ Flet. Mad Lover.
Bray, to crush or bruise, to pound in a mortar. Fr. braier.
Breeks, breeches. Sax. brccc.
Brede or Breed, breadth or extent. An old English word
from the Sax. See Abrede.
Breme, v. applied to a sow when maris appetens. Brim, a. ar«
dor, aestus. Sax. bryne.
28 BRER
Brere, to sprout, to prick up as grain does when it first germi-
nates. Hence Breward, Bruarts, the tender blades of
springing corn. Sax, broi'd.
Brevvis, a large thick crust of bread put into the pot where salt
beef is boiling and netuly ready: it attracts a portion of the
fat, and when swelled out is no unpalatable dish to those
who (like some of our northern swains) rarely taste meat.
So says IVIrs. Bundle, who, I believe, was long a resident
in Northumberland. After this, I need hardly remark that
Mr. Wilbraham is mistaken in thinking it is used only in
Clieshire and Lancashu'e. The word occurs in Beamn. &
Flet. but in the sense of broth.
Brewster, a brewer. Hence, I conceive, the Brewster Ses-
sions, when publicans receive theii" licenses.
Brian. To brian an oven, is to keep fire at the mouth of it,
either to give light or to preserve the heat.
Bricks, bread something like French rolls.
Bride-ale. The day of marriage has always been a time of
festivity. Among the plebeians in Cumberland it glides
away amidst nuisic, dancing, and revelry. Early in the
morning, the bridegroom, attended by his friends on horse-
back, proceeds in a gallop to the house of the bride's father.
Having alighted he salutes her, and then the company
breakfast together. This repast concluded, the whole nup-
tial party depart in cavalcade order towai'ds the church,
accompanied by a fiddler, who plays a succession of tunes
appropriate to the occasion. Immediately after the per-
formance of the ceremony the company retire to some
neighbouring ale-homeland many a flowing bumper of home
brewed, is quaffed to the health of the happy pair. Ani-
mated with this earthly nectar, they set off full speed to-
wards the futiu-e residence of the bride, where a handker-
chief is presented to the first who arrives. In Craven,
BRID 29
after the connubial knot is tieil, a ribbon is proposed as the
subject of contention either for a foot or a horse race. —
Should any of the doughty disputants, however, omit to
shake hands with the bride, he forfeits the prize, though
otherwise entitled to win. Whoever fii-st reaches the
bride's habitation, is ushered into the bridal chamber, and
after ha\'ing performed the ceremony of tiu-ning down the
bed clothes, he returns, cai-rying in his hand a tankard of
luarm ale, pre^dously prepared, to meet the bride, to whom
he triumphantly offers his humble beverage, and by whom,
in return, he is presented with the ribbon, as the honoiu*-
able reward of his victorj'.
Bride-cake. It is customary after the bridal party leave the
church to have a thin currant-cake, marked in squiu-es,
though not entirely cut through. A clean cloth being spread
over the head of the bride, the bride-groom stands behind
her, and breaks the cake. Thus hallowed, it is thrown up
and scrambled for by the attendants, to excite prophetic
dreams of love and marriage, and has much more viitue
than when it is merely put nine times through the ring.
Bride-wain, a custom in Cumberland where the friends of a
new married couple assemble together in consequence of a
pi'evious invitation (sometimes actually by public advertise-
ment) and are treated with cold pies, frumenty, and ale. —
The company afterwards join in all the various pastimes of
the country, and at the conclusion, the bride and bride-
groom are placed in two chairs, the former holding a pew-
ter dish on her knee, half covered with a napkin. Into
this dish every person present, how high or low soever,
, makes it a point to put something ; and these offerings
occasionally amoimt to a considerable sum. I suppose it
has olitained the name of umin, from a very ancient custom.
30 BRIG
now obsolete in the north, of presenting a bride, who had
no great stock of her own, with a waggon load of furni-
ture or provisions. On this occasion the horses were de-
corated with ribbons.
" There let Hymen oft appear
" In saffron robe and taper clear,
" And pomp, and feast, and revelry,
" With mask and ancient pageantry."
Brigg, a bridge. Pure Saxon.
Brissle, to scorch or di'y very hard. Sax. bmstlian, to make
a crackling noise. Brussle has the same meaning ; as brus-
sled peas, peas scorched in the straw.
He routeth with a slepie noyse.
And Iromtkih as a monkes froyse. — Gow. Conf. Amau.
Break 'em more, they are but Imstled yet.
Bcainn. S^ Flet. Wife for a Mcmth.
Broach, a spire or steeple ; as Chester broach, Darlington
broach, the broaches of Durham Cathedral. An instru-
ment on which yarn is wound, is also called a broach.
Brock, a badger. Pure Sax. It is also a name given to a
cow, or husbandry horse. Brock-faced, a white longitu-
dinal mark down the face like a badger. Su.-Got. brokiig,
of more than one colour.
Broddle, to make holes.
Broke. Sheep are said to be so, when l^ing under a broken
bank.
Brotchet, Brotchert, or Bragwort, a thin liquor made
from the last squeezings of honey-comb.
Brott, shaken corn. Sax. gebrude, fragments.
Browden, to be anxious for, or warmly attached to any ob-
ject. To browden on a thing, is to be fond of it. Dut. hroe-^
den, to brood.
BULL ol
Browdin, or Browdaxt, vain, conceited.
As she delights into the low.
So was I hroxod'm of my bow Cherry and the She.
Brown-leemers, ripe brown nuts that easily separate from the
husks. Probably from brown, and Fr. les meurs, the ripe
ones.
Brulliment, broil. Fr. broidller.
Bubbly, snotty. " The baii'u has a bubbly nose." — Grose.
I thought to marry a sailor.
To bring me sugar and tea ;
But I have married a keelman.
And that he lets me see.
He's an ugly body, a buhblij body.
An iU-fard, ugly loon ;
And I have married a keelman.
And my good days are done.
Song, T/tc Sandgaie La.me''s Lamcntafiun.
BuBBLY-JOCK, a turkey cock. V. Jam.
Buckle, to marry. Significant enough.
Buckle-mouthed, a person with large straggling teeth.
What a fyace, begok !
Had hitclle-moitthcd Jock,
AVhen he twined his jaws for the backey-o !
Song, S'Milwell Hopji'tng.
Buck-stick. See Spell and Ore, and Trippit and Coit.
Budge, to bulge, to move off, generally unwillingly. Also to
abridge or lessen. " I wont budge a penny."
Buer, a gnat.
BuLE, or BooL, the bow of a pan or kettle.
Bull-fronts, tufts of coarse grass, Aira cccpitosa.
Bull-stang, a dragon fly.
Bulls and Cows, the flower of the Arum maculalum, also called
lords and ladies, and lam-lakens.
32 BULL
Bull-trout, a large fine species peculiai* to Northumberland,
and much esteemed. The larger kind of salmon-trout
taken in the Coquet, are in the Newcastle mai'ket called
bull trouts ; but these fish are larger than salmon-trout in
the head, which is a part generally admired for its smallness.
Bully, the champion of a party, the eldest male person in a
family. Now generally used among keelmen and pitmen
to designate their brothers, as bitlly Jack, bully Bob, &c.
Probabl}' derivetl from the obsolete word boulie, beloved.
Bum, v. to strike, to beat, to spin a top. Dut. bommen, to re-
sound.
Bum, s. the follower or assistant of a bailiff. Johnson has
bum-bailiff, a well-known name for an unpopular officer of
the law, but the north country bum, is a distinct personage,
aiding and assisting the bailiff. It may be from bound,
though more likely from bum, the buttocks, a word which
Shakspeare never disdcuned to use, when he thought it
best to call a thing by its most expressive name.
Bumble, or Bummel-kites, bramble-berries.^Z)Mr. Black-
BowvvovvERS. — North. Black-berries. — Newc.
Bumbler, a large wild bee, called sometimes bumble-bee. Tent.
bommele, a drone. Bumbler-box, a small wooden toy used
by the bo3's to hold these insects.
Bump, a stroke, a blow received by running against any thing ;
often applied to the rising of the flesh occasioned by a
blow. Lsl. bomps. " Bump against Jarrow," is a common
expression among the keelmen when the\- run foul of any
thing.
The laddie ran sweateii, ran sweaten,
The laddie ran sweaten about ;
Till the keel went hu)/ij) (igahisi Jarrow,
And three o' the bullies lap out.
Song, The Little Pec Dec.
BURT 33
Bumping, a peculiar sort of punishment amongst youngsters.
Too many boys have reason to remember the school dis-
cipline of bumping, admirably described by Major Moor. —
V. Suff. Words, p. 53.
BuxcH-BERRY, the fruit of the rubis saxatUis, of which country
people make tarts.
Bunch, Punch, to strike or kick.
Bunting, a large piece or balk of timber. — Newcastle.
Bur, any thing put under a wheel to stop its progress.
Burn, a brook. A b^ini winds slowlj' along meadows, and ori-
ginates from small springs ; while a beck is formed by wa-
ter collected on the sides of mountains, and proceeds with
a rapid stream, though never, I think, applied to rivers that
become estuaries. Pure Sax.
Burn-the-Biscuit. A youthful game.
Burnt-his-Fingers. When a person has failed in any object
or speculation, or has been over-reached in any endeavour
or undertaking, he is said to have burnt his fingers.
Burr, a peculiar whirring sound, made by the natives of New-
castle, in pronouncing, or rather in endeavouring to pro-
nounce the letter R, derived from theii- ancestors. — " He
has the Newcastle bm-r in his throat." — Prov.
Rcjiinngm language, improving m notes.
Letter R runs far smoother and glib through their tliroats ;
Their Andrews, these sirnames, bear better degrees,
Ralphs, Richardsons, Rogersons, uttered with ease.
Address of the Guildhall-Crows.
Bur-tree, the common elder. Perhaps bore-tree, from the
quantity or size of the pith, which renders it capable of be-
ing easily bored; though Dr. Willan says, it is so called
because the flowers grow in a cjine, close together, like
F
34 BUSH
those of the bm\ — A branch of this tree is supposed to pos-
sess great viitue in guarding the wearer against the charm
of witchcraft. I remember, when a Httle boy, during a
school vacation in the country, carrying it in my own but-
ton hole, with doubled thumb, when under the necessity of
passing the residence of a poor decrepit old woman, sus-
pected of holding occasional converse with the spiiitual
enemy of mankind.
Bush of a Wheel, that which is employed to fill up the two
great vacancy either in the aperture of the nave or between
the nave and the /lurters, that is, knocking shoulder of the
axle, from Fr. hcurter, to knock.
BusKY, woody, bushy, Lat. boscus. Fr. bosquet, a thicket.
How bloodily the sun begins to peer
Above yon husky hill — Shak. \st. Hen. IV.
Blss, to cb'ess, to get ready. Germ, jndzen, to deck or adorn.
Sich aufa bcste 'putzen, to dress to the best advantage. The
Scotch have busk, to dress, and busks, dresses.
For Geordy aw'd dee, — for my loyalty's trig,
And aw own he's a gued leuken mannie ;
But if Avor Sir Matthew ye buss iv his wig.
By gocks ! he wad leuk just as canny.
Song, Canny Newcassel.
Bust, v. to put a tar mark upon sheep. Bust, s. the mark
itself.
But and ben, the outer and inner apartment where there are
only two rooms. Many houses on the borders, where the
expression is common, ai*e so constructed. V. Jam. ben.
Butter and Brede. While the Southerns say, bread and
butter, bread and cheese, bread and milk, the Northum-
brians place in the reai' that great article — the staff" of life.
CADG 35
Butter-fingered, said of persons who are apt to let things
fall, or slip through theii* fingers.
BuzzoM, or BussoM, a besom or broom.
Buy broom hussoms.
Buy them when they're new,
Buy broom biisso?ns.
Better never grew Blind Willie''s Song.
Byar, Byer, a house in which cows are bound up — a cow-
house. " The mucking of Geordie's byre." V. Jam.
Bye-bootings, By-boltings, or Sharps, the finest kind of
bran ; the second in quality being called Treet, and the
worst Chizzel.
Byspelt, a strange, awkward figure, or a mischievous person,
always acting contrary to reason, or propriety, as if labour-
ing under the influence of a spell.
C.
CaCK, alvum exonerare. Lat. cacare. Teut. JcacJcen. — Cack,
Cackey, from the verb.
Cackle, to make a noise like a hen, to giggle.
Cadge, to carry. Cadger, to a mill. Teut. ketzen, discurrere.
It also means to stuff or fill the belly. Hence a person is
said to be cadgy, cheerful, merry, after good eating and
drinking.
Cadger, a packman or travelling* huckster. Before the for-
mation of regular turnpike roads from Scotland to North-
umberland, the chief part of the commercial intercourse
between the two kingdoms was carried on through the
medium of cadgers. Persons who bring fish from the sea
to the Newcastle market are still called cadgers.
Here cadgers of commerce, commodities cart.
With hucksters and hawkers, to Mayor Millar's mart.
Song, Framliiigton Fab:
36 CAFF
Caff, chaff. Sax. ceaf. Germ, and Dut. kaf.
Caingy, peevish, ill-tempered, testy.
Cairn, a rude heap of stones found on the summit of hills and
in other remarkable situations. Gael. came.
On many a ca'irn''s gray pyramid.
Where urns of mighty chiefs lie hid.
ScoWs Lay ofiJie. last Minstrel.
Calf-lick, or Cow-lick, a tuft on the human forehead which
cannot be made to lie in the same direction with the rest
of the hair. This term nuist have been adopted from a
compai-ison with that pait of a calf's or cow's hide, where
the hairs, having different directions, meet and form a pro-
jecting ridge, supposed to be occasioned by the animals
licking themselves.
Calf-yard, a person's buth-place, a Newcastle-man's fireside.
Aw've leern'd to prefer me awn canny calf-yaird;
If ye catch me mair frae't ye'll be cunnun.
Song, Canny Newcassel.
Call, to abuse. They called one another !
Call, to proclaim, or to give notice by the public crier. To
be called at church, to have the banns of marriage published.
The ceremony of proclaiming every fail- in Newcastle,
which is attended by the officers of the corporation, in
state, is denominated calling the fair.
Callant, a stripling ; a man clever or much esteemed. Q. Fr.
gallant ?
Caller, cool, fresh. " Caller herrings" — " caller cocks," or
" caller cockles" — " caller ripe grosers" — Newc. cries. Isl.
kalldiir, |ngidus.
Callet, to scold. — Calleting, saucy, gossiping. — A Callet-
I ING Housewife, a regular scold.
A callet of boundless tongue. — Shak. Winter^s Tale.
CANT 37
Cam, a ridge, hedge, or old earthen mound. Sax. comb,
Cammerell, a large stretcher used by butchers.
Cample, to argue, to answer pertly and frowardly when re-
buked by a superior. Germ, kainpfen, to contend.
Caxdle-cap, an old hat without a bruii, with a candle in front,
used by butchers.
Canker, rust. — Cankered, cross, ill-conditioned.
Caxnv, a genuine Newcastle word, applied to any thing supe-
rior or of the best kind. It refers as well to the beauty of
form as of manners and morals ; but most particulai'ly is
used to describe those mild and affectionate dispositions
which render persons agreeable in the domestic state.
" Canny Newcassel," par excellence, is proverbial. — Canni-
NESS, caution, good conduct.
God bless the king and nation !
Each bravely fills his station,
Our camiy corporation,
Lang may they sing, wi' me.
Song, The Keel Row.
Cant, to upset, to overturn.
Bob canted the form, with a kevel,
As he was exerting his strength ;
But he got on the lug such a nevel,
That down he came all his long length.
The Collkr''s Pay Week.
Cant-dog, an handspike with a hook, used for turning over
large pieces of timber.
Canting, a sale by auction, proclaimed publicly on the spot
where it is to take place. Ital. incanto.
Cantv, men-y, lively, cheerful. Su.-Got. ganta, ludificare.
" Some canny wee boddie may be me lot,
" And aw'll be canty wi' thinking o't."
L 4 <.nX /
38 CAP
Cap, to overcome in argument, to excel in any feat of agility.
Tuet. kappe, the summit. — Capper, one who excels.
Capsize, to overturn.
Cab-handed, left handed. One of the ancient Kings of Scot-
land was called " Kinath-Kerr," or Kinath the left handed.
Carl, Karl, a country fellow, a gruiFold man. Sax. ceorl.
Isl. karl. Dut. kaerel.
Cablings, grey peas steeped all night in water, and fried the
next day with butter. They are sei-ved at table, on the
second Sunday before Easter, called Cabling Sunday,
formerly denominated Care Sunday, which is Passion Sun-
day, as Care Friday and Care Week, are Good Friday
and Holy Week — supposed to be so called from that being
a season of great religious care and anxiety.
Carr, flat marshy land ; a pool or lake.
Carrock, or CuRROCK, a heap of stones, used as a bounder
mark or as a guide for travellers. Also a mountain, ap-
pearing at a distance, by which, when the sun appears over
it, the country people compute the time of the day.
Carry-on-the-War, to keep up or continue fun or mischief
after it has once commenced.
Ah ! no ; in Heaton cellars they
Would rather chuse to be,
jVIost jovial, carrying-on-thc-war.
All under lock and key ! — Song, BlackcWs Field.
Casings, Cassons, Cow-blades, cow dung dried for fuel.
Cassen, cast off; as " cassen clothes." — Cassen-top, a top
thrown off with a string.
Cast, a twist or contortion.
Caster, or Castor, a little box ; as 2yepper caster. Wanting
in this sense in Todd's John.
Cast-up, to upbraid, to reproach.
CHAN 39
Cat-haws, the fruit of the white thorn. The larger ones are
called 5z///-haws.
Cat's-foot, ground-ivy.
Catterwauling, wooing, courting ; or rather rambling or in-
triguing in the night.
Cat-with-two-tails, an earwig.
Caud, cold. Teut. kaud, frigidus.
Cave, or Kave, to separate, as corn from the straw or chaff.
Teut. kaven.
Cavel, or Kavel, a lot. Teut. kavel. To Cast Cavels, to
cast lots. Teut. kavelcn.
Cawkers, the hind parts of a horse's shoe sharpened, and
pointed downwards, to prevent the anunal from slipping.
Also the iron plates put upon clogs, which see. Lat. calx.
Certees, Sarties, certainly. A good old Spenserian word,
used also by Shakspeare and others. My certes ! maw
sn/iees, upon my faith ! in good truth.
" Blue stockings, white clocks, and reed garters,
" Yellow breeks, and my slioon, -vvi' lang quarters,
" Aw myed wor bairas cry,
" Eh ! sarties ! ni ! ni !
" Sic verra fine things had Bob Cranky."
Chaffs, Chafts, jaws, jaw-bones, chops.
Chamberlye, Chemmerlev, fetid or stale urine. Omitted
by both Johnson and Todd, though found in a passage
cited from Shakspeare under the word jo7'den.
Changeling, a child of a peevish or malicious temper, or dif-
fering in looks from the rest of a family — supposed to have
been changed, when an infant, by the gipsies. The fairies
of old were famous for stealing the most beautiful and
witty children, and leaving in their places such as were
ugly and stupid.
40 ' CHAP
Chap, to knock, as at the door. Scotch.
Chap, Chep, a customer. Also a general term for a man, used
either respectfully or contemptuously.
When aw was drest.
It was confest
We shem'd the chejps frae Newcassel-o.
Song, Swal-cedl Hopping.
Chare, a narrow lane or alley. Peculiar to Newcastle, where
there are several, particularly on the Quay-side. Sax.
cerre, diverticulum. Some, however, think from the word
ajar, partly open.
Chattered, bruised. Corruption of shattered.
Chatter-water, tea. I suppose from chattering or gossiping
over it.
Whyles, o'er the wee bit cup an' platie,
They sip the scandal potion pretty,
Burns, Twa Dogs.
Cheerer, a glass of spirit and warm water. Not a bad meta-
phor.
Cheg, or Cheggle, to gnaw or champ a resisting substance.
Chieve, to succeed, to accomplish any business. An old word
used by Chaucer. Fr. ckevir, to master,
Childer, children. The Saxon phu-al termination.
Childermass-day, the feast of the Holy Innocents, a festival
of great antiquity. An apprehension is entertained by the
superstitious that no undertaking can prosper which is begun
on that day of the week on which it last fell. Pure Sax.
Chimlay, chimney.
Chimlay-piece, mantel-piece. — Chimlay-neuk, chimney-cor-
ner.
Chip, to crack or partly break ; said of an egg when the young
bird cracks the shell. Dut. k'qipen, to hatch or disclose.
CLAM 41
Chip-of-the-old-Block, a child who in person or sentiments
resembles its parents. — Brother-chip, a person of the
same trade.
Chopp'd, Chapp'd, or Hack'd-hands, frost-bitten hands,
Choppixg-boy, a stout bow Dr. John., dissatisfied with Skin-
ner's definition of lusty, says, " perhaps a greedy, hungry
child, likely to live," which is certainly erroneous,
Choul, or Jowl, the jaw. Sax. ceole.
Christian-horses, a nickname for sedan-chairmen.
Chuck, a shell. Chucks and Marvels, a game among chil-
dren.
Chucker, Double-chucker. Terms well known among
Northern topers.
Chuckle-headed, stupid, thick-headed.
Churn, or Kern-supper, harvest home. See Mell-supper.
Chuse-but, avoid.
Clack, excessive talking, clamour. Teut. Mack.
Clag, to stick or adhere. Dan. kl<pg. — Claggv, having the
property of sticking.
Clagham, Claggum, treacle made hard by boiling. — Newc.
Called in other places in the North, clag-candy, lady's taste,
slittery, torn trot, and treacle ball.
Cl.ui, to castrate a bull or ram.
Clam, to starve, to be parched with thirst. Dut. klemmen.
"When my entrails
Were clumm''d with keeping a perpetual fast.
Massinger, Rom. Actor.
Clammersome, greedy, rapacious, contentious. Dan. klammer-
VOVJl.
Clamp, to make a noise, to tread heavily in walking. Dut.
klompen. Sw. klanipig.
Clamps, pieces ol" iron at the ends of a fire-place.
G
42 CLAN
Clanker, a beating, a chastisement.
That day aw Hawks's blacks may rue, —
They gat mony a very sair clanker, O ;
Can they de owse wi' Crowley's crew
Frev a needle tiv an anchor, O.
Song, Swalwcll Hopping.
Clap, to touch gently, to fondle, to pat. — Clap-benny, a re-
quest made to infants in the nurse's arms, to clap their
hands, as the only means they have of expressing theii*
prayers. Isl. klappa, to clap, and bteii, prayer.
Clapper, the tongue, especially when too voluble.
Clart, to daub, to bemii'e. — Clarts, plural of dkt or mu-e.
— Clarty, miiy, dirty, wet, slippery.
Clash, to gossip. Germ. Jdatschen, to prattle. Also to throw
any thing carelessly or violentlj'.
Claut, to scratch or claw, to scrape together.
Claver, Clavver, to climb up ; mostly applied to children.
It seems to be a coiTuption of cleavering, or adhering, mixed
with the idea of climbing.
Clay-uaubin, a custom in Cumberland, where the neighbours
and friends of a new married couple assemble and don't
separate until they have erected them a cottage. From
the number of hands employed it is generally completed in
a day. The company then rejoice and make merry.
Cleck, Clock, to hatch. Isl. kick. A hen sitting, or desirous
of sittmg on her eggs, is called a Clecker, or Clocker.
Cleck or Clock, Clecking or Clocking, the noise made by
a brooding hen, or when she is provoked. Isl. klak, clan-
gor avium.
Cleck, Cleckin, the entire brood of chickens.
Cleet, a stay or support in carpentry.
Cleets, pieces of u'on worn by countrymen on their shoes.
COAL 43
Cleg, a fly, very troublesome in hot weather, pai'ticularly to
horses. Dan. klaeg.
Cleg, a clever person, an adept.
Clegning, Cleaning, the after birth of a cow.
Cleugh, CLorGH, a ravine, a valley, between two precipitous
banks, generally having a runner of water at the bottom.
Sax. dough. The admirers of old poetry are familiar \vith
CljTn of the Clough, a noted archer, and the companion of
our celebrated Northern outlaws, Adam Bell and William
of Cloudeslee.
Click, to snatch hastily, to seize. Germ, klickcn, to throw.
Clifty, well managing, actively industrious.
Clip, to shear sheep. Dut. kl'ippen. Clipping, a sheep-
shearing.
Clish-clash, Clish-ma-claver, idle discourse bandied about.
Cloffey, a slattern, a female dressed in a tawdry manner.
Clogs, a sort of shoes, the upper part of strong hide leather,
and the soles of wood, plated with iron, often termed caio-
kers.
Clointer, to make a noise with the feet. A person treading
heavily with shoes, shod with iron, is said to clointer.
Cloit, a clown or stupid fellow. Teut. kloete.
Clouterly, clumsy, awkward. Dut. kloekte.
Clubbey, a youthful game, something like doddart.
Clump, a heavy mass. Germ. Mump.
Clumpy, Clumpish, awkward, unwieldy.
Clung, closed up or stopped ; shrivelled or shrunk.
Cluthers, in heaps. • Welsh, cludcr, a pile.
Coals. To call over the coals, is to give a sevei'e reprimand.
Supposed to refer to the ordeal by fire.
Coaly, Coley, a cur dog. Gael, culie, a little dog. Also a
cant name among the boys for the lamp-lighter in Newcastle.
44 COB
Cob, to pull the ear. A punishment among children.
Cobby, Coppy, stout, heai-t}', livelj- ; also tyrannical, head-
strong, or in too high spirits.
Coble, Coable, Cobble, a peculiai' kind of boat, very sharp
in the bow, and flat bottomed and square at the stern j na-
vigated with a lug sail. Used by the pilots and fishermen
on the North-east coast of England.
Cobble, a pebble or stone that may be easily thrown or cobbled;
in some places confined to a large round stone.
Cobkler's-Monday, every Monday throughout the year — a re-
gular holiday among the " gentle craft." I am told this
custom originated from the masters requiring the greater
part of the day to cut out the week's work.
Cock, a familiar salutation. — " How are you, mi/ cock ?"
Cocker, a man addicted to cock-fighting ; a diversion still very
prevalent among the lower ortlers, particularly the pitmen.
CocKET, or CoppET, pert, apish.
Cocks, a puerile game with the tough tufted stems of the rib-
wort plantain. V. Moor, SufF. Words.
CoDD, a pillow or cushion. Sax. codde, a bag. Isl. kodde, a
pillow.
Coddle, to indulge with warmth. Old Fr. cadeler, to bring
up tenderly.
Coo, a wooden dish, a milk pail. Welsh, caiug, a bowl.
She set the cog upon her head.
An' she's gane singing hame !
Ball, of Cuwdcidiiwrcs.
Cockers, Coggers, or Hoggars, properly half-boots made of
stiff-leather, or strong cloth, and strapped under the shoe ;
but old stockings without feet, used as gaiters, are often
so called.
COOL 45
CoGLY, unsteady, moving from side to side, easily overturned.
Coke, to cry jteccavi. Ruddiman says, it is the sound which
cocks utter, especially when they are beaten, from which
Skinner is of opinion they have the name o{ cock. Dr.
Jam, has to en/ cok, to acknowledge that one is vanquished,
which he derives from O. Celt, coc, mechant, vile.
Coil, a lump on the head from a blow ; also a great stir. In
the latter sense it is used by Shak. and Ben. Jon.
CoiT, to throw. May be referred to the rural game of coits or
quoits.
CoLD-FiRE, a fire made ready for lighting.
CoLLEV, butcher's meat. .
Colloguing, conversing secretly, plotting. Lat. colloqui. —
Old.
CoLLOP-MoNDAV, the day before Shrove Tuesday, on which
it is usual to have collops and eggs for dinner.
CoLT-ALE, an allowance of ale claimed as a perquisite by the
blacksmith on the fii'st shoeing of a horse. A customary
entertainment given by a person on first entering into a
new office, is called " Shoeing the colt.^'
Comb, Colm, a confined valley. Welsh, cwm.
CoME-THY-WAYS-HiNNiE, come forward ; generally spoken to a
person in kindness.
Comfortable, a covered passage boat on the river Tyne, so
called from its containing superior accommodations to
"Jemmy Joneson's Whurry ;" but little patronized since
the introduction of steam-packets.
Cook, to disappoint, to punish. " Aw'Il cook you."
CooM, the dust and scrapings of wood, j)roduced in sawing.
Compete, to rival, omitted by both John, and Todd.
Con, to fillip.
Corby, a raven. Fr. corbeau.
46 CORF
Corf, a large basket made of strong hazle rods, called corf-rods,
in which the coals are drawn from the pits. Lat. corbis. —
Dut. korf.
CoRNEY, half tipsey. Allusion obvious enough.
Corn-crake, land-rail, or daker hen.
CosEY, snug, warm, comfortable. Fr. cozzi. V. Le Roux,
Cot, a small bed or cradle. Old Fr. coite.
CoTTED, Clotted, entangled, matted together. The word is
usually applied to haii' or wool, as hankled is to silk, thread,
worsted, &c.
CoTTERELS, cash.
The loss o' the cottcrch aw diiina regaird.
For aw've getten some white-heft o' Lunnun.
Song, Canny Newcasscl.
CoTTERiL, a small iron bolt for a window.
CouL, to scrape together dung, mud, dirt, &c. — Coul-Rake,
the instrument by which this is performed.
CouNGE, a large lump, as of bread or cheese.
Coup, to empty, to overturn. To coup a cart — to coup one's
crcils. Sw. gujipa, to tilt up.
Coup, Cowp, to barter or exchange. Su.-Got. kocpa. Horse-
COUPERS, horse dealers.
A bonny seet when Tyne we saw.
It set wor hearts a loupen.
Is there a stream that's here belaw,
That wiv it's fit for coupen.
Song, hy M. Y., one of the WuUmnan Club.
Coup-CART, a short team, closed with boards. Teut. kuype.
CouR, Cower, to stoop low, to crouch down by bending the
hams. Su.-Got. kure. " Cooring o'er the hearth stone."
CowE, Coo, to intimidate, to keep in subjection. Isl. kuga,
adigere. — Cowed, Cooed, daunted, dastardly, timid.
CRAM 47
CowED-covv, CowEV, a cow without horns.
Cow-paw'd, left handed.
Cow-SHAREN, the leavings of the cow. Sax. scearn. Dung in
Teutonic, is sham, and in Suio-Gothic, skarn. We have
also Sfuu-bud, an old word for a beetle ; supposed to be so
called from its being continually found under horse or cow
dung. It will astonish some of my South country readers
when I inform them that fresh cow-sharen is occasionally
applied, as a cooling poultice, to the faces of young dam-
sels in Northumberland, if over flushed with any cutaneous
eruption.
CowsTROPPEL, a cowslip. — Northumberland.
Covv-WA, or How-WAY, come away !
CoYSTRiL, a raw inexperienced lad ; a contemptible fellow.
He's a coward and a coysirU that will not drink to my niece.
Shuk. Twelfth Night.
Crack, i'. to brag or boast of any thing ; to praise it. Dut.
kraaken.
Ethiop's of their sweet complexion crack.
Sliak. Lo-e's Lah. Lost.
Crack, s. chat, conversation, news. " Wliat's your crack."
Cracker, a small baking dish.
Cracker, a small piece of glass shaped like a pear, and which,
when the small end is broken off, flies into a thousand
pieces ; Prince Rupert's drop.
Cracket, a low stool.
Cracks, an act of superiority. " I'll set you yoiu- cracks." —
In a crack, quickly, immediately.
Crag, a rough steep rock. Pure British.
Crajie, to mend by uniting, as joining broken china, or wooden
bowls. V. Ray, cleam. — Crasier, the operator, generally
a travellins; tinker.
48 CRAM
Crammelly, weak ; generally ai)plied to walking. " The
horse goes rather crammelly this morning."
Cramp, to contract, to crumple or pucker. Teut. hrompen.
Cranch, to crush a hard substance between the teeth. Round
sand thrown upon the floor is said to cranch under the
feet.
Crankies, a cant name for pitmen. See Cranky.
The Crankies, farrer back nor I naw,
Hae gyen to Sizes to see trumpets blaw,
Wi' white sticks, an' Sheriff,
But warn't myed a sang of.
Nor laugh'd at, like clever Bob Cranky.
Song, Boh Crankifs Compluhit.
Crankxe, weak, shattered. Teut. krank.
Cranks, two or more rows of ii'on crooks in a frame, used as
a toaster.
Cranky. That man in the village, who is most conspicuous
for dress, or who excels the rest of the villagers in the
sports and pastimes held in estimation amongst them, is
called, by way of pre-eminence, the Cranky. — Dur. and
North. See Crankies.
Cranky, a. sprightly, exulting, jocose. It also means, ailing,
sickly. Dut. krank.
Crate, a sort of basket made rectangulai-ly of strong, upright
rods inserted into cross pieces, and forming an open work
side for packing glass and pottery ware. Lat. crates.
Cree, to seeth ; hence creed wheat or barley.
Creil, a kind of semi-circular basket of wicker work, in which
provender is carried to sheep in remote pastures, or on the
mountains, during the distress of a snow storm. Its sides
are stiff, and its bottom supple, serving for hinges. This is
called a sheep creil, and is strapped over a man's shoulde'**.
CROS 49
Baskets for fish and efrgs, pens for poultry, and wicker uten-
sils for various other purposes, are also called crcils in
Newcastle and the neighbourhood.
Creiled, placed or packed in a creil, as poultry or eggs.
Crewel, fine worsted of various colours, now chiefly confined
to what is used by females in leaiming embroidery. Lexi-
cographers seem not to have imderstood the meaning of the
word. One of the commentators on Shakspeare, quite
ignorant of its sense, might have spared his remarks.
Crib, a child's bed. Not in Todd's John, in this sense.
Crimble-i'-th'-poke, to fly from an agreement, to act cow-
ardly.
Crine, to pine, to shrink. Germ, hriechen.
Crinkle, to wrinkle, to bend under a load.
Cris-cross, the mark or signature of those who cannot write.
The alphabet was formerly called the Christ-cross row, pro-
bably from a superstitious custom of writing it in the form
of a cross, by way of charm.
CuoAKUM-SHiRE, a caut name for Northumberland, in which
Newcastle may be included, from the peculiar croaking in
the pronunciation of the inhabitants.
Crock, a flake of soot in an open chimney ; also short nnder-
hair, in the neck ; and in some places an old ewe.
Crook, a disease in sheep, causing the neck to be crooked.
Croon, Crune, to bellow like a disquiet ox. Dut. kreuncn, to
groan. — Crooning, the cry of the beast. It is also fre-
quently applied to the cowardly and petted roai'ing of a
disappointed child.
She can o'er cast the night and cloud the moon,
And mak the deils obedient to her crunc.
Raimay, Gent. Shcphad.
Cross-grained, testy, ill-tempered.
H
so CROS
CRoss-THE-srcKLE, Cross-ovvre-the-buckle, a peculiar and
difficult step in dancing. — Xcwr. To do it well, is con-
sidered a great accomplishment.
Bob hey. thee at loAvpin ami fliiigin,
At the bool, foot-ball, clubby, and swingin :
Can ye jump up and shuffle,
And C7-0SS mere the hucklc,
"W'lien ye dance ? like the clever Bob Cranky.
Song, Boh Cranlofs ^Sizc Si/nda;/.
Crowdy, a mess of oatmeal — a genuine Northumbrian dish;
especially when prepared and eaten, according to the ap-
2^roved receipt of the author of " Metres, addressed to the
Lovers of Truth," &c. See his admu'able directions j).
213, 2d Edit.
Crowdy-main, a riot, a mixture of high and low, any confu-
sion.
Crowlev's-crew, sons of Vulcan attached to the extensive
iron works, at Winlaton and Swalwell, in the neighbour-
hood of Newcastle, established by Sir Ambrose Crawley
about 1 30 years ago, and said to be governed by a peculiar
code of then* own.
Cruddle, to curdle. It also means, to crouch, to shrink. —
Ml'. Wilbraham has Crewdle or Croodle, -to crouch to-
gether like frightened chickens on the sight of a bird of
prey.
Cruick-yor-hough, crook-1/our-hough, sit down — a friendly
invitation.
A^'iv huz i' the North, when aAv'ni wairsli i' my way,
(But t' knaw wor warm hearts ye yor-sell come),
Aw lift the first latch, and baitli man and dame say,
Cruick yor hough, canny man, for ye're welcome.
Song, Canny Ncuxussd.
CUND 51
Crump, hard, brittle, crumbling ; as bread or cake of that
quality.
Cruse, Croose, or Grouse, brisk, lively. " As crowse as a
new washen louse." — Old Prov.
Crut, a dwarf, or any thing curbed in its growth.
Cruttles, crumbs, broken pieces.
Cuckoo-spit, white frothy matter seen on certain plants in the
spring.
Cuddle, to embrace, to squeeze, to hug. Teut. kudden.
Now aw think it's liigh time to be steppin.
We've sitten tiv aw's about lyem ;
So then, wiv a kiss and a cuddle.
These lovers they bent their ways heym.
Song, The Pitmaii's Courtship.
CuDDV, or CuDDV-Ass, an ass. Teut. kudde, grex. — Cuddy's-
LEGS, a barbarous unmeaning name for large herrings, pecu-
liar to the Newcastle fish market.
Cull, s. a fool. Cull, a. silly, foolish. " Thou'rt a r?///," is
often used by a Northumbrian to cheat the devil of his
due, by avoiding the denunciation of calling his brother a
fool.
Some culls went hyeni, some crush'd to town.
Some gat aboot by Whickham-o.
Song, Swalwell Hojipiiig.
Our viewer sez, aw can't de better,
Than send him a story cull letter.
But writing a'U let rest ;
The pik fits maw hand best,
A pen's ower sma for Bob Cranky.
Song, Bob Cranhi/\ CumpMiU.
Cullv-shangev, a riot or uproar.
Cuxdy, Cunliff, a conduit.
52 CUR
Cur, a term of reproach ; as " ketti^ cur," a vile person.
Curfew, the evening bell. Its origin and purpose are too
well known to need repetition here. I merely allude to it
for the purpose of stating that its name is still retained in
Newcastle, where it is rung at the original time — eight in
the evening.
CuRN-BERRiEs, currauts. Churry-ripe-curn-berries, New-
castle crj' for currants.
Cushat, the ring dove, or wild pigeon. Major Moor is dispos-
ed to derive this i^retti/ word from Coo-chat, that is cooing
and chattering ; but I have little doubt the true etymo-
logy is Sax. cusceate, from cusc, chaste, in allusion to the
conjugal fidelity of the bird.
CusHY-cow-LADY, a beautiful little scarlet beetle, with black
spots ; sometimes called Lady-bird.
Cut, a quantity of yarn, twelve of which make what is called
a hank, the same as skain in the South.
CuT-AXD-coME-AGAiN, a hearty welcome, plenty.
Cute, quick, intelligent, sly, cunning, clever. Mi". Wilbraham
thinks this word is probably an abbreviation of acute, but
is it not more likely direct from Sax. cuth, expertus ?
CuTEs, KuTEs, the feet.
Did ever mortal see sic brutes,
To order me to lift my cities.
Ad smash the fool, he stands and talks,
How can he learn me to walk.
That's walk'd this forty year, man ?
The Pitnwn^s Revenge againut Bonajjurte.
Cutter, to fondle, to make much of.
C UTTERING, the cooing of a pigeon. Also applied to private
or secret conversation. Dut. kouten.
CuTTv, short. Gael, cutach. — Cutty-gun, a short pipe.
DARK 53
D.
Dad, to shake, to strike. " A dad on the head." — Dad-of-
Bread, a large piece of bread.
Daddle, to walk unsteadily, to saunter or trifle. — Dawdy, a
slattern. Isl. dauda dopjM.
Daddle, the hand. " Give w* a shake of your daddle."
Dadge, Dodge, to walk in a slow clumsy manner.
Daffle, to betray loss of memory and mental facultj'. Per-
sons growing old and in their dotage, are said to dajfle, and
to be dafflcrs.
Daft, simple, foolish, stupid. Su.-Got. doef, stupidus. Dajpe
occurs in Chaucer, Peirs Ploughman, &c.
Dag, v. to drizzle. — Dag, s. a drizzling rain. " Daggij day."
Isl. daugg.
Daggle, or Draggle, to bemire. — Daggled, Draggled, dir-
tied. "Draggle-tailed Dorothy-o !" According to Ray,
from dag, dew upon the grass. See Dag.
Dainty, pleasant, worthy, excellent. Isl. daindis.
Dairns, small, unmarketable fish.
Daker-hen, land rail, or corn-crake.
Dame, Deame, the mistress of the house. /'. Note in Cumb.
Ball. p. 65.
Dandy-candy, Dog's-t**d, candied sweetmeats. — Newc.
Dang, a foolish evasion of an oath.
Dannat or DoNNOT, a good for nothing, idle person ; generally
a female. Do-naught. The devil, in Cumberland.
Dapper-fellow, a pert, brisk, tidy little man.
Dark, Dart, v. to listen with an insidious attention. Allied
to the old verb, dark, used by Chaucer, Spenser, and
others.
Dark, a. blind. Almost Dark, neai'ly bhnd. Quite Dark,
stone blind.
54 DARN
Darn, to mend stockings, &c. by chequering the threads.
Welsh, (lam, to patch.
Dash-my-buttons, a moderated imprecation.
Dauber, a plasterer. The ancient style of a branch of the
fraternit}' of bricklayers in Newcastle was Cutters and Dau-
bers. The cat was a piece of soft clay thrust in between
the laths, which were afterwards daubed.
Daver, to stun, to stupify. Davered, benumbed, stupified.
Teut. daveren, tremere.
Daw, to dawn. Sax. dagian, to grow light.
The other side from whence the morning daws.
Drayton, Polydlhion.
Daytiljian, Daytaleman, a day labourer, chiefly in husbandry.
One who tills by the day.
Daze, to dazzle, to stupify, to frighten. Teut. daesen, deli-
rare, insanii'c.
Dazed, blinded with splendour, astounded, benumbed with
frost.
Dazed-meat, meat ill roasted. — Dazed-bread, bread not well
baked.
Dead-house, a place in Newcastle for the reception of di-owned
persons.
Dead-nip, a blue mai-k on the body, ascribed by the vulgar to
necromancy. V. Kilian, dood-7iepe.
Deaf, rotten ; as a deaf nut. Teut. doove noot. — Barren or
blasted ; as deaf corn, which is pure Saxon.
Dean, Dene, properly a dell or deep wooded valley, with run-
ning water at the bottom, but applied to any hollow where
the ground slopes on both sides. Sax. den, a cave or lui-k-
ing place.
Deave, to deafen, to stupify with noise. Isl. deyfa.
DILL 55
Debateable-iands, large tracts of wild country, on the con-
fines of Northumberland, which were a continued source
of feud and contention, until all disputes respecting them
were compromised, under an arbitration, between the
houses of Percy and Douglas.
Deeds, rubbish of quarries or drains.
Deet, or DifiHT, to dress or clean, to winnow corn. Sax.
dihtan, parare, disponere. See Keel-deeters.
Deft, pretty, neat, clever, handy. Stated in Todd's John, to
be obsolete, but not so in the North. Sax. darft, idoncus.
He said I were a deft lass — Brmuc's Nortlicrn Lass.
Deg, to moisten with water, to sprinkle. Sax. deagan, tingere.
This word, used by Shak. in the Tempest, is not in Todd's
John., nor in Nares.
Desse, v. to lay close together, to pile up in order. — Dess, s.
a truss of hay, Chaucer uses dels, for a seat, and Spenser
has desse, a desk or table, from old Fr. dais.
Deuce, the devil, or an evil spu-it. " Deuce take him." St.
Austin makes mention of some libidinous demons, or
spirits, that used to folate the chastity of women, which
spirits, he sa3's, the Gauls called duses fqiios diisios nuncii-
pant GciUi.) V. Aug. de Civit. Dei. 1. i. c. 23.
DiCKY-wiTii-HiM, all over with him. Said of a person when
ruined, or thwarted.
Didder, to shiver with cold. Germ, zittei-n, to tremble. V.
Skinner,
DiFFicuLTER, more difficult. A common comparative.
Dike, a ditch, hedge, or fence, Teut. dijck, agger. In a coal
mine, it means a large crack or breach of the solid strata,
A depot for coals at the staith is also called a di/ke.
Dill, to soothe pain. Isl. dilla, lallarc.
56 DING
Ding, to dash with violence. Su.-Got. daeiign, tundere. —
Ding-down, ding-doon, to overthrow. Very common.
Ding, to push or drive. Sax. denegan, to beat.
DiNMAN, or DiNMONT, a female sheep after the first shearing.
DiNNEL, DiNNLE, or DiNDi.E, to be affected with a prickling or
shooting pain, as if of a tremulous short motion in the par-
ticles of one's flesh ; such as arises from a blow, or is felt
in the fingers when exjjosed to the fire after frost. Dut.
tintelen, to tingle.
DiRDOM, DuRDUM, a great noise, or uproar. Gael, diardmi,
anger. Welsh, dwrdd, a stir.
DiRL, to move quickly, to thirl, to whiz. Sax. tliirlian, per-
forare.
'Twas but yestreen, nae farther gaen,
I threw a noble throw at ane ;
Wi' less, I'm sure, I've hundreds slain ;
But deiJ- ma-care,
It just play'd dhi on the bane.
But did nae mair.
Burns, Death and Doctor Tlorrihoolx.
DiSGEST, digest. Used by Beaum. and Flet. and others.
Dish-faced, hollow faced.
DiSHER, a maker of wooden bowls or dishes.
DiPNESs, depth. Isl. diup. altum.
DizENED, Bedizened, dressed, decorated.
I put m}' clothes off, and I dizai'd him.
Bcaum. ^ Flet. Pilgfim.
DoBBiES, spirits or demons. They appear to be of different
kinds. Some — attached to particular houses or farms — are
of a good humom-ed chsposition, and though naturally lazy,
are said to make, in cases of trouble and difficulty, incre-
DODD -y
dible exertions for the advantage of the family ; such as
stacking all the hay, or housing the whole crop of corn in
one night. Others — residing in low granges or barns, or
near antiquated towers or bridges — have a very different
character imputed to them. Among other pranks, they
will sometimes jump behind a horseman, and compress
him so tightly, that he either perishes before he can reach
his home, or falls into some lingering and dii-eful malady.
DocKON, the dock, rumex obtusifulius. A charm is connected
with the medicinal application of this plant. If a person
be severely stung with a nettle, it is customarj' to collect
a few dock leaves, to spit on them, and then to rub the
part affected, repeating the incantation, " In dockon, out
nettle," till the violent smarting and inflammation subside —
seldom exceeding ten minutes. These words are said to
have a siniilai- effect with those expressed in the old Monk-
ish adage, "Exeat ortica, tibi sit perisceiis arnica;" the
female garter bound about the part which has suffered,
being held a remedy equally efficacious. Mr. Wilbraham
remarks that," In dock, out nettle" is a kind of proverbial
sajing, expressive of inconstancy. This observation will
contribute to explain an obscure passage in Chaucer's
Troilus and Creseide, b. iv. st. 66.
" Thou biddest me I should love another
" All freshly new, and let Creseide go,
" It lithe nat in my power, leve brother,
" And though I might, 3'et wovdd I nat do so,
" But canst thou plaien raket to and fro,
•' Nettle in, dock out, now this, now that, Pandare ?
*' Now fbule fall her for thy wo that care."
DoDD, to cut wool from and near the tails of sheep. — Dod-
DINGS, the cuttings. Dod, to lop, as a tree, is an old word.
" Dodder'd oak." i
58 DODD
DoDDART, a bent stick with which the game of doddart is play-
ed. Two captains choose their party by alternate votes,
when a piece of globulai' wood, called an orr or coit, is
thrown down in the middle of a field, and each side endea-
vom's to di'ive it to the allei/, hail, or goal. Same as
clubbey, hockey, shinney, shinneifhaw.
DoDDED, without horns, as dodded sheep. Perhaps an abbrc-
\dation of doe-headed.
Dodder, Dotiier, to shalie, to tremble ; to nod, as in the
palsy of decrepitude. — Dodder-grass, quaking grass, briza.
Dodge, to jog, to incite.
DoDY, a corruption of George, applied only to children, and
originating in a childish pronunciation of Georgee, by the
common inl'antile substitution of d for g, and the not un-
common omission of r, especially in Newcastle, when a
broad vowel precedes.
Doff, to undress, to put off. From do off. See Don.
Thou wear'st a lion's hide.
Doff it for shame. — Shak. King John.
Dog, a wooden utensil in form of a dog, with iron teeth, for
toasting bread. Also a piece of iron placed at each end of
a fire place to keep up the fii'e.
Dole, to set out or allot ; applied to land. Sax. dcelan to di-
vide. In Cumb. a narrow plot of ground in a common
field, set out by land-marks, is called a Deail.
Dole, grief, sorrow, lamentation. Old Fr. do/, dole. Mod.
Fr. deuil. By no means obsolete, as stated in Todd's
John. Alms distributed at funerals are still called doles.
Don, to dress, to put on. An old word from do on. Stated
in Todd's John, to be obsolete; but it common use
i« the North See DoFF
DRAF 59
DoNCY, affectedly neat, accompanied with the idea of self-im-
portance.
DooK, or Duck, to bathe. Dut. duckcn.
DoosE, Douce, Douse, snug, comfortable, clean, neat, tidy,
sweet-looking — applied to a beautiful and attractive wo-
man. Lat. dulcis. Fr. doux, douce.
DoosE, Douce, a blow. " Doose-i'-the-chops," a blow on the
face. — DoosEY, or Doosey-cap, a punishment among boys.
Double, to clench. " He doubled his neif."
Doup, Dowp, clunes. Isl. Dl\f. " As fine as F**ty-Poke's
Wife, who dressed her doiijo with primroses." — A New-
castle comjjarison.
Doutsome, hesitating, uncertain as to the event.
Dow, Doo, a little cake. See Yule-dow.
DowLY, lonely, melancholy, sorrowfid. " A dowly place" —
"a dowly lot."
Down-come, a fall in the mai-ket, or indeed in any other sense.
DowN-DiNNER, tea, or any afternoon's repast. V. Bouch.
aandorn.
Down-house, the back kitchen.
Down-in-the-mouth, dispirited, dejected, disheartened.
DowN-i.YiNG, an accouchement.
Dowp, a carrion crow.
DowPY, the smallest and last-hatched of a breed of birds.
Doxy, a sweetheart ; but not in the equivocal sense used by
Shak. and other play writers.
Dozened, spiiitless, impotent, withered.
Drabbl'd, Drabble-tailed, dirtied. Draggled.
Draff, brewers' grains, with which cows and swine are fed. —
Teut. draf. Both Hanmer and Johnson have misinter-
preted this Shakspearian word, and Nares hath perpetuated
the error.
60 DRAP
Drape, a cow whose milk is dried up. Sax. drepcn, to fail —
having failed to give milk. Drape sheep, oves rcjiculae,
credo ab A. S. drcepe, expulsio, drcBped, abactus. Skinner.
Draup, Dreap, to drawl, to speak slowly and monotonously.
Drawk, Drack, to saturate with water. Su,-Got. draenka,
aqua submergere.
Dreap, to drench. " Dreaping o' wet."
Dree, to suffer, to endm-e. Sax. dreogan, to undergo.
He did great pyne and meikle sorrow dree. — Ross, Helenore.
Dree, weary, long, tediously tiresome. Apparently a rapid
pronunciaticvii of Germ, durre, dry, both in a physical and
metaphorical sense; but see Dr. Jam. In Northumberland,
within the memory of old people, the farmers had a sort
of cart without wheels, drawn by one horse, called a dree.
Dresser, a long chest of drawers about three feet high, with
an opening in the centre for pots and pans, making a sort
of kitchen table. Tent, drcssoor. Fr. dres.iovr, a side-board.
Driblet, " a small sum ; odd money in a sum." — Dr. John.
It, however, means a small inconsiderable thing of any sort.
Drip, stalactites, or petrefactions.
Droning, a laz}- indolent mode of doing a thing. — Dronishis
a ver}' old word.
Drought, Draught, a team of horses in a cart or waggon,
both collectively taken.
Drumly, Drummely, muddy, confused. Misled by Hanmer
and Pegge, to drumblc is in Todd's John, misinterpreted
to drone, to be sluggish. The example from ShaJc. Merry
Wives of Windsor, " Look how you driunhle" unquestion-
ably means how confused you are.
Then bouses drumhj German water.
To mak himsel look fair and flitter.
Burns, Tzva Dogs.
DUNG Gl
Drunkard' s-CLOAK, a great tub or barrel of a peculiar con-
struction, for the punishment of drunkards in Newcastle.
V. Gardiner's Englands Grievance, p. in., and Brand's
History of Newc. vol. ii, p. 192.
Druve, Druvy, dirty, muddy. Sax. ge-drefan, turbare.
Dub, a small pool of water ; a piece of deep and smooth wa-
ter in a rapid river. Moe.-Got. diep, deep. Celt, dub/i, a
canal.
DlJBLER, Doubler, a lai'ge dish of earthenware. Doheler is in
Peirs Plough.man. "Mugs and r/«^/e?-5, wives ! " — Newc.
Cnj.
DuB-SKELPER, bog-trottcr ; applied to the borderers.
Ducket, a dove-cot.
Ducks and Drakes, a pastime. Flat stones or slates arc
thrown upon the surface of a piece of water, so that they
may dip and emerge several tunes, without sinking. " Nei-
ther cross and pile, nor ducks and drakes, are quite so an-
cient as handy-dandy." — Arbuthnot and Pope, quoted in
Todd's John. I do not know the age of handy-dandy, but
the sport of ducks and drakes is of high antiquity, being ele-
gantly described by IMinutius Felix.
Dud, a rag. Gael. dud. — Duds, clothes of a dii-tj' or inferior
kind. V. Jam. — Dudman, a scare-crow.
DuLLBiRT, DuLBURT, DuLBARD, a stupid persou, a blockhead.
Q.Dullbirth?
Dull, hard of hearing. Same in Scotland.
DuMFouNDED, pcrplcxcd, confused. V. Jam. dumfounder.
Dumpy, sullen. — In the Dumps, a fit of sullenness. Dut.
dom, dull, stupid.
DuNGEONABLE, slu'cwd, or as the vulgar express it, devilish. —
As Tartarus, signifies hell and a dungeon ; so dungeon is
applied to both. — Rai/.
G2 DUNS
DuNSH, DuNCH, to push or jog with the elbow. Teut. donsen.
DuNTER, a porpoise.
DusH, to push with violence. Teut. doesen, pulsare cum im-
petu.
Dust, tumult, uproar. " To kick up a dust." Su.-Got. di/st,
dust, tumultus, fragor. Also money. " Down with your
dust."
DwiNE, to pine, to be in a decline or consumption. Sax. dwi-
nan, tabescere. — Dwiny, ill thriven. — Dwain, a fainting
fit, or swoon.
And then hee sickened more and more, and dried and
izeincd avfay.^Hist. Prince Arthur, part 3, chap. 175.
E.
Eald, old age. Pure Saxon. Chaucer has elde, and Shak.
eld.
Eam, Eame, uncle. Sax. eame.
Henry Hotspur, and his came,
The Earl of Wor'ster — Drayton, Pohjolhioti.
The nephues straight depos'd were by the eame.
Mirror for Magistrates.
Ear, a kidney, as the ear of veal. It is supposed to be so
called from its resemblance to an ear, and being a name
more delicate than Iddney ; but it is probably a corruption
of Germ, mere, a kidney. The old name, presenting a less
familiar idea, might be retained from delicacy, as the old
French words mutton, veal, beef, and pork, are considered
less offensive than sheep, calf, ox, and pig, when these
animals are brought to table.
Earn, Yearn, to coagiUate milk. V. J\we, rccnna.
Earning, Yearning, rennet. Sax. gerunmng.
EIGH 63
Easings, eaves of a house. Sax. efcse. Peii's Ploughman has
evesynges.
Eath, Eith, eas}'. Sax. eath.
Where ease abounds yt's eath to do amiss — Sjynscr, F. Q.
Eaver, Eever, a corner or quarter of the heavens, V. WiJb.
and see Art.
Edder, the long part of fence wood put upon the top of
fences. Dr. John, says, not in use ; but I have heai'd it
in most of the Northern counties.
Save edder and stake
Strong hedge to make. — Tusser, Huslandry.
Ee, singular of eye. Sax. eag. — Een, plural. Sax. eagan.
Chaucer uses eyen, for the eyes.
Ee, a spout ; as the mill-ee.
Eeleators, young eels from two to five inches long. Hordes
of little urchins wander about the shores of the Tyne,
at low water, in search of them under the stones. When
secured by the head, they use the following jargon,
" Eele ! Eeleaator ! cast yoiu* tail intiv a knot, and aw'l
thraw you into the waater."
Eem, leisure. Seldom, I think, used, except in Cumb. V.
Wilb.
Egg, Egg-on, to instigate, to incite. Sax. cggian.
Wherfore, they that cggeii or consenten to the sinne,
been partners of the sinne, and of the dampna-
tion of the sinner Chaucer, Persones Tale.
Eggler, a person who goes about the country collecting eggs
for sale.
EiGH, Eve, Aye, yes. The use of this adverb is perhaps more
characteristic of a Northern dialect than any other word
that could be named, as it is nearly universal and uniform ;
64 EKEO
though it is probable it was at first merely a provincial
mode of pronouncing the old ya. So far as I remember,
it does not occur in Chaucer ; nor am I aware that it is to
be met with in any publication, older than the tune of
Shakspeare.
Eke-out, to use sparingly. Chaucer has eeke, to add to, to
increase.
Elbow-grease, hai'd rubbing, or any persevering exercise
with the arms. " Lucernum olere," old Prov.
Eldin, Elding, fuel, such as turf, peat, or wood. Sax. aelet.
Isl. elldr. Dan. ild.
Elf-locks, entangled or clotted haii-. It was supposed to be
a spiteful amusement of Queen Mab, and her subjects, to
twist the hair of human beings, or the manes and tails of
horses, into hard knots, which it was not fortunate to
loose.
This is that very Mab,
That plats the manes of horses in the night ;
And bakes the elf-locks in foul sluttish hairs,
Which, once untangled, much misfortune bodes.
Shuk. Rom. and Jul.
Elf-shots, the name vulgarly given to the flint arrow heads
of our ancestors, supposed to have been shot by fairies.
There every herd, by sad experience knows
How wing'd with fate, their elf-shot arrows fly.
When the sick ewe her summer food foregoes,
Or stretch'd on earth the heai-t-smit heifers lie.
Ode, Poj). Superst'd. Jligldands, p. 10.
Ell-dockjens, butter bur, great colts' -foot. Tusselago major,
— North.
Ellek, Eluck, Alexander.
Elleb, Aller, the alder. Sax. eelr. Germ, eller. This
EVIL 65
tree abounds in the North more than in any other part of
the kingdom, and seems always to have been there hehl in
great respect and veneration. A contrary notion — coun-
tenanced by Shakspeai'e — has, liowever, prevailed, in con-
quence of Judas, as it is said, having been hanged on a
tree of this kind ; but for which I have in vain searched
for an ancient authority.
Ell-mother, step mother.
Else, already. Sax. elles.
Elsin, Elson, an awl. Tent, aehene, subula. " A cobbler's
elson."
Elspith, Elizabeth.
End-irons, two large moveable iron plates used to contract
the fire place. When a great fire is wanted they are placed
at a distance ; and nearer for a small one. V. Skinner,
and-iro7is.
Enoo, Exow, by and I)y. " Aw'l come enoo."
EsH, the ash tree. Teut. esc/i.
Etow, or Atoo, broken in two.
Ettle, to intend, to attempt, to take aim. V. Ihre. cptfa.
EvENDOON, even down, plain, honest, downright. " Even doon-
thump."
Evil-eye, an envious, malicious eye.
You shall not find me, daughter,
After the slander of most step-mothers.
Evil-eyed unto you. Shak. Cyniheline.
The superstitious supposed the first morning glance of a
person with an evil-eye to be certain destruction to man
or beast. Though the effect might not be instantaneous,
it was eventually sure. If he, who had this unfortunate
propensity, were well disposed, he cautiously glanced his
K
66 EWEG
eye on some inanimate object, to prevent the direful con-
sequences. Connected with an evil-eye, is a common ex-
]3ression in the North, " no one shall say black is your eye^^
i. e. no body can justly speak ill of you.
Doll, in disdaine, doth from her heeles defie ;
The best that breathes shall tell her black^s tier eye :
And that it's true she speaks, who can say nay ?
When none that lookes on't but will sweare 'tis gray.
Old Epigram.
Tho' he no worth a plack is.
His awn coat on his back is.
And nane can say tfiat hlack is.
The white o' Johnny's ee.
Song, The Keel Row.
EwE-GovvAN, the common daisy. North Tindale.
Ewer, Ure, Yure, an udder.
F.
Fad, fashioned. " 111 fad." The Scotch have ill'faur'' d, ill
favoured, and weel-faur'd, well favom'ed. In Promptorium
Parvulorum sive Clericormn,we find, " com\y or ^weW far ynge
in shape ; elegans ;" and in Hormanni Vulgaria, we have,
" he looked unfaringly, aspectu fuit incomposito." See
Farand.
Fad, Faud, a bundle of straw, twelve of which make a thrave.
Sax. feald, plica.
Fadge, a bundle, as of sticks. Siv.fagga, onerai'e.
Fadge, a small flat loaf, or thick cake. Vwfouace.
Faggot, a contemptuous epithet for a female. " Faggot of
misery." " Idle Faggot."
Faikes ! Faix ! faith, upon my faith.
FANT 67
Fain, glad. " Fair words make fools fain." — Prov. Sax.
fccgan. \A.fegmn.
Ah- York, no man alive so fain as I.
Shak. 2. Hen. VI.
Fair, Fairing, a present at or from a fair. " How are you
for ray fair ?" — " How are you for mine, aw spoke first."
Fair-fall-you, a blessing attend you.
Fairy-butter, a fungus excrescence, sometimes found about
the roots of old trees. After great rains, and in a certain
degree of putrefaction, it is reduced to a consistency, which,
together with its coloiu", makes it not unlike butter.
Fairv-rings, circles of dai'k green grass, frequently visible in
meadow fields; round which, according to Fairy mytho-
log}', these " pretty ladies" were accustomed to dance by
moonlight.
" Those rings and roundelayes
which yet remaine,
On many a grassy plaine."
Fairie''s Farewell.
They do request you now
To give them leave to dance a fairy-nng.
Randolph, Amyntat.
The footseps of fairy and fay
In the grassplot are plain to be seen,
Where at midnight, in dancing the hay,
They lighten the cares of their Queen.
Dcrvjcnt, an Ode, p. 1 2.
Familous, relating to a family. " 'Tis a familous complaint."
Fand, found.
Fantome-corn, lank, light corn. — Fantome-iiay, light, well
gotten hay. V. Ray.
G8 FAR A
Faraxp, .?. state of preparation for a journey — fashion, man-
ner, custom. — Farand-man, a traveller or itinerant mer-
chant.— Farant, a. equipped for a journey — fashioned,
shaped ; as fight'ing-farant, in the fighting way or fashion ;
well or ill-farant, well or ill looking. See Aud-farant. —
Fauantly, adv. orderly, in regular or established modes.
— All these expressions may be traced to the old verb
fare, (from Sax. faran,) to be on a journey. We may, as
remarked by Dr. Willan, wonder at the ideas of foresight,
preparation, and formal st}'le, connected with a journey in
oiu" island ; but on reverting to the tune of the Heptarchy,
when no collateral facilities aided the traveller, we shall be
convinced that a journey of any considerable extent, must
have been an undertaking that would require much previous
calculation, and nice arrangement. Indeed, within the last
century, what we now call a trip from Newcastle to Lon-
don, was considered so perilous an enterprize, that the
traveller, as a necessary precaution, regularly made a will,
and arranged his most important affairs.
Fare, to near or approach. " The cow fares a-calving."
Farlies, trifles. " Spying farlies." — Farlies, or Ferlies,
strange things ; properly sudden, or unexpected. Sax.
ferlice. The word occurs in Peirs Ploughman, and in the
writings of Chaucer, Drayton, and others.
Farn, or Farex-tickled, freckled, sun burnt. — Farn-tickles,
freckles on the skin ; said to be from resembling the seeds
of the fern — -freckled with fern ; but perhaps, fair and
tickled, fair and freckled.
Fassens-een, Fasting^ s-eren. Shrove Tuesday evening. The
eve of the mass of the great feast, or feasting' s even.
Fash. v. to trouble, to teaze. " I cannot be fash'd." Fr.
facher. — Fash, s. trouble, care, anxiety. Fr. facherie. —
Fashious, a. troublesome. Fr. fachciur, facheuse.
FECK 69
Fast and Loose, or Puick ix the Belt, a cheating game, still
occasionally practised by Jaws, and low sharpers at fairs.
r. Nares.
Fat-hen, nuick weed, or goose foot. Chenopodium album.
Fai D, Fad, fold yard. — Pin-f.U), pinfold. Sax. /aid, stabulum.
Faugh, fallow. Mr. Wilbraham says an abbreviation of the
word ; but is it not from Isl. faaga, polire, or Su.-Got.
feia velfceia, purgare ?
Favour, to resemble, to have a similai* countenance or appear-
ance. " He favours his father." Cheshire has no exclu-
sive claim to this word. V. Wilb.
Good Faith, me thinks that this young Lord Chamont
Favours my mother, sister, doth he not ?
Ben Jon. Case is Altered.
Faws, itinerant tinkers, or venders of pottery wai'e ; generally
accompanied by their wives and families. Like then* an-
cestors the gipsies, the female branches are still famous at
palmistry and fortune telling. In Lodge's Illustrations of
Brit. Hist. vol. i., p. 13.5, is a curious letter from the Jus-
tices of DiH-ham to the Earl of Shrewsbury, Lord Presi-
dent of the Council in the North, dated 19th Jan. 1549,
concerning the gipsies and faws. — Faw-gang, a company
of riffraff.
Feal, to hide. " He that feals can find."— Prov. M.fel,
occultare.
Fearful, Fearfoo, very, exceeding. " Fearful sorry" — very
sorry.
Feat, neat, dextrous. Su.-Got. faff, apt, ready. — Featly,
dextrously.
She dances fcatli/ S7lal^:. Whiter^s Talc.
Feck, might, activity, abundance. Perhaps Sa\.faccl(, space.
In Scotland, Feck, is quantity ; mani/ feck, plenty ; lUtlc
70 FECK
fech, scarcity. Germ, fach, a portion or compartment ;
einfach, single; tweyfach, double; mehrfach, many fold.
Feckful, strong, powerful, brawny.
Feckless, feeble, helpless, inefficient.
Fell, s. a rocky hill, a mountain or common scarcely admit-
ting of cultivation. Isl. fell, one mountain resting on
another. Su.-Got. fiacll, a ridge of mountains. Germ.
fels, a rock.
Fell, a. sharp, keen. Hence /e//, savage, cruel, &c.
Fellon, a disease in cows, occasioned by cold. Skinner de-
rives it from Sax. feUe, cruel, on account of the anguish
the complaint occasions ; and the autlior of the Crav. Gloss,
from Dut. felen or feylen, to fail ; because milch cows,
which are subject to it, fail of giving their milk ; or from
hellen, to bow or hang down, as the udders of cows are
frequently enlarged in this disease. A cutaneous eruption
in children is also called the fellon.
Feltered, entangled.
'Ri^.fdtred locks that on his bosom fell. — Fairfax.
Femmer, weak, slender. Isi.framur, mollis.
Fen, to appear to do any thing neatly, or adroitly, not to be
deterred by shame. — Fensome, neat, becoming, adroit.
" I cannot fen," signifies I am restrained by a sort of awe
arising from the presence of some person for whom I have
a respect or dread.
Fend, to make a shift, to be industrious, to struggle with diffi-
culties, to ward off. " He fends hard for a Hving." It is
also used in allusion to the state of health, as " \\ovi fends
it," i. e. how are you in health. — Fendy, good at making
a shift, warding off want. Fend, is an old word for sup-
port.
FETT 71
Fend and Prove, to argue and defend.
Fere, Fibre, a brother, friend, or companion. Sax. gefcra,
socius.
And here's a hand, my trusty ^ere,
And gie's a hand o' thine :
And we'll tak a right gude willie-waught,
For auld lang syne. Btirns, Aiild Lang Sync.
The word is used by Spenser for a husbaml.
But faire Clarissa to a lovely fen;
Was lincked, and by him had many pledges dere.
SpenciT, Faerie Quecnc.
Fest, to bind or place out an apprentice under an indentm'e.
Su.-Got. faesfa, to fasten. — Festing-penny, money given
by way of earnest, to a servant, at a hii'ing.
Fest, or The Fest, a place at the Quay, Newcastle, where
keelmen generally receive their orders.
There pitmen, with baskets and gay i)oesy waistcoats.
Discourse about nought but whee puts and hews best ;
Thei'c keelmen, just landed, swear may they be stranded ;
If they're not shav'd first while their keel's at the_^i/.
Song, Quayside Sliaver.
Fettle, v. to put in order, to repau- or mend any thing that is
broken or defective. Dr. John, explains this word " to
do trifling business, to ply the hands without labom*," and
calls it a cant word from feel. Mr. Todd corrects this
mistake, and quoting Grose's definition which is different
from that here assigned to it, thinks it probably comes from
Su.-Got. f J/ fct, studium. The word has the same meaning
in Cheshire as that which I have given, and Mr. Wilbra-
ham says, " it appears to me to be derived with some de-
flection of the word, faire, to do, which itself comes from
the Latin facere. The nearest which occurs to me is the
72 FETT
old French word fnifio-e, which has exactly the same mean-
ing as our substantive fettle, and is explained by Roque-
fort, in his Glossaire de la Langue Romaine, by Fafon,
mode, forme" S^c.
Fettle, s. order, good condition, proper repair. Used by
Roger Ascham, in his Toxophilus.
Few, is used not only for a small number, but also for a little
quantity ; as a " little y<?w broth."
Fiddlestick, an interjectional expression of disbelief or doubt,
usually bestowed on any absurd, nonsensical conversation.
FiDGiNG, uneasy, impatient.
Fig, to supply ginger to a horse, to excite him to carry a fine
tail. A common practice at fairs.
FiKE, V. to fidget, to be restless or busied about trifles. Su.-
Got. film, cursitare. — Fike, s. restlessness, trifling cares. —
FiKEY, a. fidgetty, minutely troublesome.
File, to soil, to foul, to defile. Sax. afylan, contaminare.
FiNMKiNG, FiNNiKY, trifling, scrupulously particular. Perhaps
variations oi finical.
FiPPLE, the under li[). " See how he hangs his fipple^ V.
i-eaw.faiple.
First-foot, the name given to the person w\io first enters a
house on New Year\<; Dai/ — regarded by the superstitious
and the credulous as influencing the fate of the family, espe-
cially the fair part of it, for the remainder of the year. To
exclude all suspected or unlucky persons, I find, it is cus-
tomary for one of the damsels to engage, before hand, some
favom'ed youth, who — elated with so signal a mark of female
distinction — gladly comes enrli/ in the morning, and never
empty handed.
FissLE, FisTLiNG, to make a rustling noise, to fidget. Teut,
futselen, agitare.
FLEE 73
FiTT, to vend or load coals. — Fitter, the vender or loader. —
Running-fitter, his deputy.
Fix-fax, a sort of gristle, the tendon of the neck. Germ.
fiachse.
Fizz, to scorch, to fly off, to make a hissing noise, l^.fysa.
— Fiz-GiG, a comical person. — Fizzle, a jocular name for
a mistake of the most offensive kind.
FizzoG, Physiog, the face. Contraction of Physiognomy.
Flacker, to flutter, to vibrate like the wings of a bird under
alarm, to quiver, Su,-Got, fleckra. Germ, fiackern. —
Flicker is used by Chaucer and Shakspeare.
Flah, Flaw, a square piece of turf, dried and used as fuel. —
^ax.flean, to flay off.
Flam, a fall — also flattery bordering on a lie.
Flapper-ghasted, frightened, as if by a ghost. Moor has
Jlabber-gasted, astonished, confused.
Flaut, Flought, a roll of wool carded ready for spinning.
Flay, to frighten. — Flay'd, affrighted, terrified, timorous. —
" Aw's flayed," I'm afraid. — Flaying, an apparition or hob-
goblin.— Flay-some, frightful. — Flay-cravv, a scare-crow.
Flea-bite, Flee-bite, a ludicrous designation for any trivial
pain or danger.
Flecked, spotted, streaked. \^\.flecka, discolor.
Fleech, to supplicate in a flattering manner, to wheedle. —
TevA.Jletsen. — Fleeching, flattering, supplicating.
Flee or Fly-by-t he-sky, a silly, flirting, absurdly dressed, gig-
gling gii-1.
Fleet, shallow ; as a fleet pan or vessel, fleet water. Sax.
fleding, fluxus.
Fleet-milk, milk without cream ; from the \exh fleet, to skim
off the suiface.
74 FLEI
FhF.i^G-TZATnEV., flj/ing-adder,the pond or marsh fly. The vul-
gar are afraid of being stung by it.
Flick of bacon, a side or flitch of bacon. Sax. ^icce.
Another broughte a spycke
Of a hacon Jlicke Skelton.
JE^LIGGED, fledged. " Flig'd o'er the rfowp." Isl. fleigur ;
h&nce JliggerSy young birds that can fly.
Flinders, shreds, broken pieces, splinters. Dut. fientem.
Fling, to dance in a peculiar manner, as the Highland fling.
Also to kick.
The angry beast.
Began to kick antX Jling.
Butler, Hiidibras.
Flire, to laugh, or rather to have a countenance expressive of
laughter, without laughing out. \s\.flyra, subridere.
Flisk, to skip or bounce. " She's afiisky jade." Su.-Got.
flasa, lascivire, or Sv/.flasig, frolicksome.
Flirtigig, a wanton, giggling lass.
Flit, to remove from one habitation to another. Su.-Got.
flytta. — Flitting, the act of removing. — Moonlight-flit-
ting, going away in debt to the landlord.
Flite, to scold, to make a great noise. Sax.flitan, to brawl.
— Fliting, scolding, brawling.
Flity, giddy, light headed. " Aflity body."
Flow, Flough, cold, windy, boisterous, bleak. " Its flow
weather." " Here's a flow day."
Flowter, a fright. — Flowtered, affrighted.
Fluck, Flook, Flucker, Jenny-flucker, a flounder. Sax.
floe, a flat fish.
Flvm, flumviery, flattery.
Flung, deceived, beaten. " He was sadly flung."
FOUM 75
Flusteration, hurry, confusion, sudden impulse.
Fly-by-night, a worthless person who gets into debt, and runs
off, leaving the house empty.
Fog, the grass grown in autumn alter the hay is mown.
One with another they would lie and play.
And in the deep fog batten all the day. — Drot/ton.
Foist, to smell nuisty. Not in Todd's John, as a verb.
Footing, an entertainment given on entering at a school, or on
any new place or office.
Fond, foolish. An old Northern word. — Fond-as-a-bissom,
remarkably silly, ridiculously good-natured.
Force, or Forse, a cascade or waterfall. Sii.-Got. fors, a
cataract. The High Force in Teesdale is an object of great
sublimity.
FoREBY, besides, over and above. Dan./o;/;/, by, past, over.
FoRE-ELDEB, an ancestor. Sax. forcaldian.
Fore-end, the beginning of a week, month, or year.
I have lired at honest freedom ; pay'd
More pious debts to heaven than in all
The forc-cnd of my time.
Shuk. Cymhclinc.
FoRE-HEET, forethought ; from Fore-heed, to pre-consider. —
Having-to-tiie-fore, having any thing ready or forth-
coming.
Forenenst, opposite to, over against, towards — as in part pay-
ment of a debt.
FoRKiN-ROBBiN, an ear wig ; so called from its forked tail. —
Ray.
Foumart, Foomart, a pole cat. Foulmarl. Old Eng. fnfi-
mart.
76 FOZY
FozY, Fuzzy, light and spung}'. Sax. wosig, humidus. Teut.
voos, spongiosus.
FouT, FoAVT, an indulged or spoiled child ; any foolish person.
FouTER, a despicable low fellow. — Fouty, Footy, base, mean.
Old Vr.foutii, a scoundrel.
Frame, to attempt. " He frames well" — he appears to do it
well. " How does he frame" — how does he set about it.
Sax.fremman, efficere et formare.
Fratch, to scold, to quarrel. — Fratcher, a scold, or quarrel-
some person.
Fratished, perished, half frozen.
Freelage, the freedom, or privilege, of a burgess. — Xetvc.
Germ, frilatz, free.
Freet, Freit, a spectre or frightfvU object, a superstitious ob-
servance or charm, \si.frett, an oracle.
Frem'd, strange, foreign, not related to. — Frem'd-person, a
stranger. Sax. and Germ. //-fwV/. Dan. /rem /«e^. The
word is also used to denote any thing u^icommon. " It's
rzXhev frem\l to be ploughing with snow on the ground."
Fresh, the swelling of a river, a flood, a thaw.
The butter, the cheese, and the bannocks.
Dissolved like snow in a. fresh.
And still as they stuck in their stomachs.
With liquor they did them down wash.
The Mitfurd Galloway^s Ramhle.
Fresh, metaphorically, partly intoxicated. — Fou, quite tipsey.
— Drunk as Neivgate, Drunk as a lord, completely be-
sotted.
Fret, Freet, to lament, to grieve. " She freets dreadfully
after the bairns."
Fretten, spotted, marked ; as pock-fretten. Sax. frothian,
fricare.
FUDG 77
FniDAY. This in the calendar of superstition is a clay of ill
omen, on which no new work or enterprize must be begun.
Marriages, I believe, seldom happen on it, from this cause.
Dr. Buchanan, in his interesting paper on the religion and
literature of the Burmas (Asiatic Reseai'ches, vol. 6. p. 172)
informs us, that with them " Friday is a most unlucky day
on which no business must be commenced,"
" Friday's moon.
Come when it will, it comes too soon."— jProi'.
Frim, handsome, thriving, in good case. Sax. /r^orw, fortis.
Froating, anxious, unremitting industry.
Frough, loose, spungy, easily broken ; often applied to wood,
as brittle is to mineral substances.
Frow, Frowe, a slattern, a lusty female, Dut. vrow. Germ.
fmu.
Buxom as Bacchus' /ro«.
Bcaiim. ^ Flct. Wit at scv. Weapons.
Fruggan, the pole with which the ashes in an oven are stirred.
FuDDER, FooTHER, f other, as much as a two-horse cart will
contain. Sax.futher, a wain-load.
Fuddle, food nie, drinking to excess, so as to make ale the
chief food.
Oh ! the rare virtues of this barley broth ;
To rich and poor it's meat and drink and cloth.
Praise of Yorkshire Ate, p. 6.
" Merrily, merrily fitddle thy nose,
'« Until it right rosy shall be ;
" For a jolly red nose, I speak under the rose,
" Is a sign of good company."
Fuddle, to intoxicate fish. Unacknowledged by Waltonians.
Fudge, fabulous. ^a\. fccgnn, according to Skinner, a merry
story. — Fudgy, a little fat person. — Crai\ Gloss.
78 FUFF
FijFF, to blow or pufF. Germ, pfnffen. — Fuffv, light and soft.
Fur, a furrow. Sax. fur. — Rig-and-fur, ridge and furrow.
" Rig and furr'd stockings."
FvSBA,fuzzball, a fungus found in fields, which, when ."pressed,
emits quantities of dust.
Fusome, handy, handsome, neat.
Fuss, to attempt to do any thing in a huiried or confused man-
ner.
G.
Gab, ?>. to prate, to tattle. An old word.-^GAB, Gabbing, GoisJ^ '
s. idle talk, prating.
Gad, Gaed, a fishing rod. Sax. gad, stimulus.
Gadding, gossiping — going about from house to house.
Gageb, Gadger, an exciseman. From to gauge, a part of his
employment.
Gaily, pretty well ; a common answer to^rfie '^al\itation, " How
arc you?" — Gay, tolerable. " He's.a'§a^.sort of person."
Also considerable. " A gay while'.'Jjc.^ ' v'
Gain, aciuious Northumbrian expression, of doubtful etymo-
logy, and of various signification, generally attached to
other words to express a degree of ccfmparison ; as gain
quiet — pretty quiet ; gain brave — tolerably courageous ;
gain near — conveniently near or at hand. ,
Gaitings, single sheaves of corn set up to dry. Isl. gat. for-
amen.
Gaee, Geyal, to ache with cold ; as the fingers do when frost
bitten ; or when very cold water is taken in the mouth. —
Also to fly open with heat or dryness, as is often the case
with particular kinds of wood, such as holly, box, &c. —
The first sense is perhaps from Lat. gelu, frost, cold ; or
from Germ, gellen, to tingle.
Galley-bauk, a balk in a chimney, with a crook, on which to
hang pots, &c.
GAUV 70
Gam, to make game of, to quiz,
Gant, or Gaunt, to yawn. Sax. ganian.
Gan, Gang, to go. Sax. gan. — Gang, a row or set. — Gang-
way, a temporary passage or thoroughfare. Sw. gaang, a
passage.
Gantree, Gantry, a stand for ale or beer barrels. V. Jam.
Gar, to make, to force, to compel, " I'll gar you do it." —
Dan. giore.
Gars, Gurse, grass. Sax. gcsrs. — Gursing, a grazhig, a pas-
ture.
Garsil, small branches cut for the purpose of mending hedges.
Smiilar to rice.
Garth, a small inclosure adjoining to a house. Sax. geard, a
yard. The church-yard is called the kirk-garth.
Gate, Gait, a right of pasturage for cattle. Their straj- or
grazing for any specified time.
Gate, Gyet, a way, path, or street. In many of the Northern
towns the name^ of, streets which end with gate, as Bailiff-
gate, Narrow-gate, &c. have no allusion to gates having
ever been there. Isl. gata.
Gaum, to comprehend, to understand, to distinguish, to consi-
der. Moe.-Got. gaumgan. Teut. gauw.
GAUMLESis, silly, ignorant, vacant.
Gaup, to stare vacantly. " What are ye gauping at." Dut.
gaapen, to gape.
Gawky, s. a vacant, staring, idiotical person. Sw. gaek. Germ.
geek, a fool.
Gawky, a. awkward, stupid, foolish. See Gowk.
Gauve, to stare about in a clownish manner. Germ, gaffen,
adspectare. V. Wachter.
Gav£lock, a strong iron bar used as a lever. Sax. gaveloc,
catapulta. Su.-Got. gaffla/c, ]a,culi genus apud veteres Sui-
ogothos.
80 GAVE
Gavy, an ungainly female, " of a strange gait, and of unco man-
ners."
Gawvison, a simpleton, a gaping silly fellow.
Gear, stock or wealth of any kind. " A vast o' gear." Sax.
geara. — Gears, draught horse trappings.
Geck, to toss the head scornfully. Tent, glecken, ludere.
Ged. In the Northern parts of Northumherland, anglers call
the pike a ged.
We'll crack how mony a creel we've fill'd,
How mony a line we've flung,
How mony a ged and sawmon kill'd,
In day's when we were young.
Fisher's Garland, 1824.
Gee, an affront, stubbornness. " Took the gee" a common
phrase.
Geld, to deprive any thmg female of the power of generation.
This is its old sense, and is so used by Shak. in the Win-
ter's Tale, when Antigonus threatens his three daughters.
Its other sense, I believe, is general.
Gentles, maggots or grubs, used as bait for fishing.
Gesling, a gosling. Su.-Got. gaasling,
Gew-gaw, a Jew's harp, the Scotch trump.
GiBB, a hook. — Gibbon, Gibby, Gibby-stick, a walking stick
with a hook, or the top bent down for a handle ; a nut
hook.
Gibby-stick, confectionary in that form.
Gib-fish, the milter of the salmon. See some very curious in-
formation concerning it, in the North Country Angler, p.
39 and seq.
Gibraltar-rock, veined sweetmeat — sold in lumps, resembling
a rock.
GIRD 81
GiF, if. Pure Saxon.
GiFF-GAFF, unpremeditated discourse. " Giff-gnff makes good
fellowship."
Gifts, white specks on the finger nails, presages of felicity,
not always realized. V. Brand's Pop. Antiq. vol. ii. p. 639.
GiGLOT, a giddy laughing girl. Shak. has it in a worse sense.
Gilder, Gildert, a snare, made of horse hair or small wire, for
catching birds. Sec Bewick's cut of the Tawny Bunting.
GUer, deceiver, occurs in Chaucer.
Gill, a narrow glen with steep and rocky banks on each side,
and with a runner of water between these banks. Lsl. gil^
fissura montium.
GiLLABEU, to chatter nonsense. " What are you gillabering
about," a true old Northumberland expression.
GiMLiCK, a gimlet. — Gimlick»eye, a squint, vulgo, cock-eye,
GiMMER, a female sheep from one to two years old. — Gelt-
GiMMER, a barren ewe. — A Gimmer-lamb, a ewe lamb. —
The word gimmer is also used contemptuously among the
lower orders of women in Newcastle. Q. Dut. gemalen?
Gimp, or Jimp, spruce, nice in person or manner.
Gin, if. Oki. V. Ray.
Gin a body meet a body,
Coming through the rye ;
Gin a body kiss a body.
Need a body cry ? — Scottish Ballad.
Ginger-pated, Ginger-heckl'd, red haired.
Gin.vey-tiv-a-shilling, the confident wager of the Knights of
the Cleaver.
Gird, Gurd, a hoop. Sax. gyrdel, cingulum.
Girdle, a circular iron plate, with a bow handle, on which
cakes are baked. In more simple times a slate, called a
ji
82 GIRN
backstone, was used for the purpose. Su.-Got, grissel. V.
Ihre.
GiRNEGAVv, the cavity of the mouth. From girn, the old word
for, and present northern pronunciation of, grin.
GisERS, GuisERs, persons who dance in masks. A custom of
great antiquity, not yet obsolete. Teut. guyse-setter,
sannio.
GiSTiNG, the feeding of cattle, which, in some places, are called
gisements ; the tythe due for the profit made by such gist-
ing, where neither the land nor the cattle otherwise pay ^
any thing. Old Fr. giste, demeure, habitation, endroit ou
Ton couche. Roquefort.
Give, to menace or threaten. " I'll give it you."
GiZENED, opened, cracked, pined ; as an empty cask exposed
to the sun. Isl. gisinn, hiulcus .
GizzERN, the gizzard. Fr. gesier. Old mode of spelling.
Glaky, giddy, unsteady, playful.
Glare, Glaur, dirt, filth.
Glave, smooth. Hence, glaver'mg, flattering.
Glavering, Glaivering, talking foolishly or heedlessly.
Germ, klaffen.
Glazener, a glazier. Very common.
Glead, a kite. Sax. glida. Su.-Got. glada, mUvus.
Glee, Gley, Glead, to squint. V. Ray.
Gleek, to deceive or beguile. In this sense is to be reail the
expression from Shakspeare, " I can gleek upon occa-
sion," misinterpreted by Hanmer and Pope, to joke, or scoff;
and given as an example, in Todd's John, under " to sneer,"
to gibe, to droll upon. Mi-. Lambe, on this passage, sen-
sibly remarks, that, " a fool may utter rustic jokes or
scoffs ; but it requires some small share of art or wisdom,
to beguile or deceive."
GOKE 83
Gleg, v. to glance, to look sharp. — Gleg, a. slippery j smooth,
so as to be easily moved. Also clever, adroit. Isl. gldggr,
acutus, perspectus.
Glent, to peep, to glance. Isl. glenna, pandere.
Guff, a slight or transient view, a glimpse, a fright. " Eh !
what a gliff I'd getten in the kirk garth, the neet now !
He was sect a tenth in the clecvers that gard him rin se
fast."
Glime, to glance slyly, to look out at the comer of an eye.
Glintin, Glinting, glancing, shining.
The Shepherd he's wliistling o'er Barrahurn brae.
And the sun beams are glintin far over the sea.
Fisher''s Garland, 1823.
Gloppen, to' startle, to surprize. — Gloppened, astonished,
frightened. Q. Germ, glupen ?
Glower, v. to gaze or stare with dilated eyes. Teut. gluyeren,
to look asquint. — Glower, s. a broad impudent stare.
Glumps, sulkiness. Chaucer has glombe, and Skelton ghcm.
— Glumpy, sullen or sour looking. — To sit glouping, to
sit silent or stupid.
Gob, the mouth ; hence to goblile. " Mump your gob, " scum
your gob,"" — low expressions in Newcastle. — Gob-stick,
a spoon. V. Moor, p. 146-7.
Gob-and-guts like a young Craw, a burlesque expression,
dealt out to ignorant people, too fond of talking. Of the
same kind is, No Guts in your Brains — gross stupidity.
Gobbet, a lump of meat — that which is put into the gob or
mouth. — Raw-gobbit, or Goi.burt, an unfledged bird.
Figuratively, any imcultivated person. •»
GoKE, Gowk, the core of an apple, the yoke of an egg, the in-
ner part of any thing.
84 GOLL
Collar, Goller, to shout, to speak in a boisterous or mena-
cing manner.
Goneill, Gonneril, a half-wit, a dunce.
Goodman, the husband or master of the house. — Goodwoman,
the wife or mistress.
Gob, Gore, dirt, any thing rotten or decayed. Pure Saxon.
Glaur, has the same meaning.
Gossamer, down of plants, cobwebs, vapour arising from
boggy or marshy ground, in warm weather. There is an
excellent article on this word in the Crav. Gloss.
Got, a word called into action on almost every occasion. Ex,
She got her bed, and soon got about again.
He got to Newcastle, and got back before night.
The ship had got on the rocks, and then she was got off,
and got into harbour.
He got bad, he got worse, Jje got better, and 'then he got
well.
He got awny at last. .
Gotham, a cant name for Newcastle.
Heav'n prosper thee, Gotham! thou famous old town.
Of the Tyne the chief glory and pride ;
May thy heroes acquire immortal renown.
In the dread field of INIars, when they're try'd.
Song, Kiver Axea'.
GowD, GowDV, a toy, or play-thing. V. Todd's Joim. iraud.
GowDER, an obscene term ; borrowed, I suppose, from the in-
tercourse of foxes. Hence the name of Gowdy-cluue, in
Newcastle.
Gowk, a fool or simpleton ; the cuckoo. Teut. gauch. —
Ai'RiL-GOWK, April fool.
GREE 85
GovvpEN, GowpiNG, the hollow of both hands placed together.
Isl. gaiqm. Su.-Got. goepn, nianus concava. — Gowpen-
FULL, as much as both hands united can hold. " Gold in
Gowpens."
GowsTY, GowsTLY, ghastly, frightful. Also dismal or uncom-
fortable, as applied to a house without ceiling, &c. " What
a goiL'sty holcTie lives in."
Gradely, decently, orderly. Sax. grad, ordo.
Grains, branches ; as the grains of a tree, the grains of a fork.
Su.-Got. gren, ramus.
Gbaith, to clothe or fiu-nish with any thing suitable. Sax,
gereedian.
Gbaithixg, clothing. From the verb.
Grange, a barn, granary, or store-house. Originally that
belonging to the lord of a manor, or to a monastery. Fr.
grange.
Grape, to feel. Sax. grapian. See, a good article in Moor,
Grojje.
Grape, a dung fork with three or more prongs. Su.-Got.
grepe, tridens.
Gravelled, vexed, mortified, perplexed.
Grawsome, Growsome, ugly, frightful. Derived by Dr. Wil-
lan from groiuse, to be chill ; to shiver, or to tremble with
horror.
Gray-stones, coarse mill-stones. Fr. groz. rough.
Great, Greet, intimate, familiar.
Gree, to agree. Old Fr. greer. To " bear the gree^^ to be
victorious.
Greedy-gut, a voracious eater. — Greedy-hounds, hungry
persons.
Green-table, the large table in the Guildhall, of Newcastle.
86 GREE
The jailor, for trial, had brought up a thief,
Whose looks seemed a passport for Botany Bay ;
The lawyers, some tvith and some wanting a brief.
Around the green table were seated so gay.
Song, My Lord 'Size.
Greeney, the green grosbeak. Le Verdicr, Buffon.
Greet, to cry, to weep. An old word. — Grat, wept.
Grey-hen, a large stone bottle. Often used on the borders
for holding smuggled whiskey. Fr. bouteille de gres, a
stone bottle. V. Moor, grey-beard.
Grey-hen, the female of the black-cock.
Grime, to mark or daub with soot. This is the only proper
meaning of this Shakspearian word. — Grimy, sooty.
Grip, to grasp fast by the hand. Sax. gripan, to gripe.
Grip, Gruap, Groop, the space where the dung lies in a cow
housg, having double rows of stalls ; that is, the opening
or hollow between them. Sax. grcBp, a trench or sink.
Hence the Javel Grooj}, in Newcastle.
Grippy, mean, avaricious, hardly honest. Sax. gripend, ra-
piens.
Groaning, an accouchement. Etymon plain.
Groaning-cake, the cake provided in expectation of the ac-
couchement. It seems from time immemorial to have been
an object of superstition, and persons have been known to
keep a piece for many years.
Groaning-chair, the chair in which the matron sits to receive
visits of congratulation.
Groaning-cheese, or the Sick Wife's Cheese, a large Che-
shire cheese provided on the same occasion as the cake.
I understand a slice of the first cut laid under the pillow,
enables young damsels to dream of their lovers, particularly
GUMS 87
if previously tossed in a certain nameless part of the mid-
wife's apparel. In all cases it must be pierced with three
pins, taken from the child's pincushion.
Groats, oats with the hulls taken off, but unground. Sax.
grid, grout. Groats were formerly much used in the com-
position of black puddings, which see. Hence the northern
proverb, " blood without groats is nothing," meaning that
family without fortune is of no consequence. A street in
Newcastle is called the Groat-in&rket.
Grobble, to make lioles.
Groser, Grozkr, a gooseberry. Fr. groseille. Lat. grossula.
Groves, the refuse of tallow chandlers, made into thick cakes
as food for dogs.
Gruff, rough, savage, imperious. Su.-Got. grof, crassus.
Grumphev, a species of jostling among school boys, in en-
deavoiu-ing to hide any thing which one takes from another.
GuKST, a ghost. Sax. gast. The streets of Newcastle, it is
said, were haunted by a nightly guest, in the shape of a dog,
calf, or pig, to the no small terror of such as were afraid of
shadows. Their gambols were frequently performed in the
neighbourhood of the old " Dog-loup-stairs."
GuESTNiNG, an hospitable welcome — a warm reception. Isl.
gisting, hospitum.
GuiL, or GuiLE-FAT, or Vat, a wort-tub in which the liquor
ferments. Dut. gyl-ku'ip.
GuLLEY, a large knife used in fiu'm houses, principally to cut
bread, cheese, &c. for the family. Perhaps, originally a
butcher's, for the gvilet,
GuMSHON, Gumption, common sense, combined with energy ;
shrewd intelligence ; a superior understanding. An ex-
cellent word, of high antiquitj- — referred by Dr. Jamieson
to Moe.-Got. gaum-jan, percipere.
HAAM
H.
Haams, HAiMES, Hame-sticks, two pieces of crooked wood
attached to a horse's collar. Isl. hals, collum. Teut.
hamme koe-hamme, nuniella.
Hack, a strong pick-axe or hoe used in agriculture. Dan.
hakke, a mattock.
Had aa\ ay ! Had away ! go away ; a term of encouragement,
I believe, peculiar to the north.
Haffle, to waver, to speak unintelligibly. Dut. hakkelen, to
falter or stammer.
Hag, a sink or mire in mosses, or any broken ground in a
bog ; a white mist, similar to dag ; a wood into which cat-
tle are admitted ; also a cutting of hanging wood.
Haggar-maker's Shop, a public house.
Haggis, Haggish, a dish; made sometimes of fruit, suet, and
minced entrails, and sometimes only of oatmeal, suet and
sugar — stuifed into a sheep's maw and boiled. It was till
lately a common custom in many country places, to have
this fare to breakfast every Christmas-day ; and some part
of the family sat up all night to have it ready at an eai'ly
hour. It is now used at dinner on the same day. Sold
in the Newcastle market.
Ye powers, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skiiiking ware
That jaups in luggies ;
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer,
Gie her a Haggis ! — Burns.
Haggish, an opprobious epithet for a female — partaking, as it
were, of the nature of a hag.
HALL 85)
Hagmexa, Hogmena, a name appropriated to December, and
to any gift during that month, especially on the last day.
The poor children in Newcastle, in expectation of their
hogmena, go about from house to house knocking at the
doors, singing their carols, and wishing a merry Christmas
and a liappy New Year. " Please will you give us wor
hogmena." The origin appears quite uncertain. Some
pretend to derive the term from the two Greek words,
uyiu firtvvi, holy moon, while others maintain that it is
only a corruption from the French, hommc est nc, in allu-
sion to the nativity.
Hag-worm, the common snake. Coluber natrlv.
Hain, to save, to preserve. Haining wood ; Raining land.
Hake, to loiter, to lounge, to sneak.
Halfers ! an exclamation entitling the person making it to
half, or half the value, of any thing found by his com-
panion. If the finder be quick he exclauns " no halfers —
findee keepee, lossee seekee," to destroy the right of claim.
And he who sees you stoop to th' ground,
Crils halves ! to ev'rv thing you've found.
Savage, Horace to Scteva imitated,
Hallabaloo, Hilleuai,oo, a noise, an uproar, a clamour.
" Kick up a h'dlehaloor " My eye, what a hUlebaloo /"
Halle e'en, Halloween, All Hallow Even, the vigil of All
Saints' Day, on which it is customary with young people
to dive for apples, or catch at them when stuck upon one
end of a kind of hanging beam, at the other extremity of
which is fixed a lighted candle, and that with their mouths
only, their hands being tied behind their backs. V.
Brand's Pop. Antiq. vol. i. p. 300.
Hallen, the corner at the entry into the house by means of
the hecli-door — the partition between the door and the
N
90 HALL
fire-place. Su-Got haell, the stone at the thresh-hold. —
V. Ihre.
Hallen-pin, a pin fixed upon the hallen for the purpose of
hanging up coats, hats, &c.
Hallen-post, the post at the extremity of the sconce.
Hallion, a term of reproach. " Ye lang hallion."
Haime, Haam, home. A pm-e old word. Sax. ham.
Hamshackle, to fasten the head of an animal to one of its
forelegs. Vicious cows and oxen are often so tied, espe-
cially when dinven to slaughter.
Han, plurad for have. This old contraction of haven is not
obsolete, as stated by Dr. Johnson.
Handy, a small wooden vessel with an upright handle.
Hang-gallows, a very worthless fellow — a prophetic allusion
to an ignominious end.
Hangment. To 'play the hangment, is to be much enraged —
to play the very deuce.
Hank, v. to fasten, to form into hanks or skains. — Hank, s. a
skain of thread, a rope or latch for fastening a gate. Isl.
hanlcy a collar or chain. To keep a good hank upon your
horse, is to have a good hold of the reins. To make a
ravelled hank, to put any thing into confusion.
Hank, a habit. From hankering, a strong desire.
Hajs'KLe, to twist, to entangle thread, silk, or worsted.
Hanniel, a loose, disorderly fellow — one not to be trusted.
Hansel, Handsel, the first money received for the sale of
goods. The fish women and hucksters in Newcastle re-
gularly spit upon what they fii'st receive in a morning to
render it propitious and lucky — that it may draw more
money to it. Su.-Got. handsoel, mercmionii divenditi
primitiae. V. Ihre. Hansel is also the first tcse of any
thing ; in which sense, however, I tun inclined to believe it
is "eneral.
HARR 91
Haxsel-Monday, the first Monday in tlie New Year ;
when it is customary to make children and servants a pre-
sent.
Hantle, much, many. Sw. anted, number ; or perhaps a
handfid.
Hap, to cover up warmly, as in bed. Sax, heapean, to heap
upon.
Happen, perhaps, possibly.
Happenny, a half-penny. — Happerth, half-penny worth.
Happing, a coarse covering, a rug for a bed. Hap-harht, a
coverlet for a servant, is a very old word.
At the West-gate came Thornton in.
With a hap, and a half-penny, and a lamb skin.
This is an old saying in Newcastle, in allusion to the cele-
brated Roger Thornton — one of its most wealthy merchants
and greatest benefactors — who, it is said, came there with
only a half-penny in his pocket, and an old ]i(tp2nng on his
hack.
Hard-corn, wheat or maslin. Probably from being sown
before winter.
Hardleys, Hardlees, hai'dlj'. Universal among the vulgar.
Hare, Harl, a mist or fog. V. Skinner, a sea harr.
Harry, to rob, to plunder, to oppress. Sax. hergian. The
word, in this sense, is by no means confined to Scotland.
V. Todd's Johnson. It is common in Northumberland
and Durham, particularly as applied to a bu'd nest ; and
being used by Milton, ought to be considered as classical
English.
The Saxons with perpetual landings and invasions
hurried the South coast ^>^ Britain.
Hist. Enir. H. n.
m HARR
IIarrygaud, Habrygad, a blackguard sort of person. Ray
says, a wild girl, but I think I never heard it applied to a
female.
Harstone, Harstane, the hearth stone.
Harumstarum, Harumscarum, wild, unsettled — running after,
you know not what. Germ. herum-Hchar, a wandering
troop ; plural, scharcn, vagabonds.
Hash, a sloven, one who does not know how to act or be-
have with propriety, a silly talkative person. It is also
used in a different sense, though perhaps not local :
Brave Prudhoe triumphant shall skim the wide maiii,
The hasli of the Yankees he'll settle.
And ages hereafler shall serve to proclaim,
A Xorthinuberland free o' Newcassel.
Song, Northnmberland!' s free of Ncuxasscl,
Hask, coarse, harsh, rough, parched. Q. Lat. Jmcere? A
linsk ivind is keen and parching. Hash-lips are j)archcd
lips. The word is also applied to the sense of feeling,
when any thing from its touch appears unpleasantly dry
or hard. Coarse worsted is hask to the feeling.
Hassock, a stool or cushion to kneel upon, formerly made of
rushes. Sw. hwass a rush, and saeck a sack. There is a
tract of laud adjoining the Tyne, near Dunston, called the
Hassocks, which, it is probable, was once covered witii
rushes of which hassocks were made.
Hatter, to shake. " I'm all battered to pieces."
Haugh, flat or mai'shy ground by the side of a river. Isl. hai^i,
ager pascuus.
Hauncu, Hainch, to throw ; as a stone from the hand, by
jerking it against the haunch.
Hause, the neck. A very old word. Sax. hals.
HEAR 93
Haver, Haivlk, r. to talk foolishly, to speak without thought.
Isl. gifra, blaterare.
Haver, or Havver,5. oats. Dut. haver. — Haver, or Havvek-
MEAL, oatmeal. — Haver, or Hawer-bread, large, round,
thin oaten cakes, baked on a girdle.
Haveril, Hoveril, a fool, a half-wit. From haver, haiver,
which see. " Parfitly rediccloxis is that haveril thcre?^
Hawk, to expectorate. Welsh, hocld, to throw up phlegm.
" Haiuking or spitting." Shak.
Haws. See Cat-haws.
Hav-makixg. When the grass is first cut, it is called a swede ;
when spread out, a terld or teed ; when dried read}' for
gathering, a whin-roiv or wind-row. It is ne!xt, particu-
larly if the rain threaten, put into a small quantity called
a cock ; afterwards into a ktjle, consisting, perhaps, of two
or three times as nuich as a cock ; and finally into a pike,
containing about half a ton ; in which state it remains
until taken from the field to stack. This practice may
vary a little in different districts.
Haze, to drizzle, to be foggy. V. Ray.
Haze-gaze, wonder, astonishment.
Heald, to incline, to bend laterally.
Heap, a wicker basket. Sax. hip, species.
Heap, a good many. " A heap of folks."
Hearn, Harn, the name of coarse linen cloth, about New-
castle.
Heerin, Herrin, Harrin, herring. " Fresh-heerin — fresh-
heerin : — four twopence caller herrin — four twopence
caller herrin : — here's yor cuddy's-Iegs — here's yor Dum-
bar wethers — here's yor Januwury harrin." Cry in the
Newcastle market.
Heart-scad, any thing disagreeable or contrary to your ex-
pectation or wishes ; grieved.
94 HEAR
Heartsome, jnerry, cheerful, lively.
Heather, heath or ling. — " Heather buzzoms."
HEAVisojrE, dark, dull, drowsy.
Heck, a rack for cattle to feed in. Su.-Got. haeck.
Heck, a latch, the passage into a house. — Heck-door, the
inner door — the door from the mell-doors into the kit-
chen.— Half-heck, a half, or lower part of a door.
Heck-berry, the bird cherry. Prunus padus. Sw. haeggc-
haer.
Heck-board, a loose board at the back part of a cart.
Heckle, to dress tow or flax. — Heckler, a tow or flax-di'csscr.
Teut. hekelaer.
Heckle, Heckle-flee, an artificial fly for fishing.
Heft, a haunt. Su.-Got. haefda.
Heifer, a young cow until it has had a calf.
Helm-wind, a singular phenomenon so called. Besides other
places in Cumberland and Westmorland, it rushes from an
immense cloud that gathers round the summit of Cross-
Fell — a mountain encompassed with desolate and barren
heights — covering it like a helmet.
Helter-skelter, in great haste, disorderly. Skinner's deri-
vation from Sax. heolster sceado (unless we reject Dr.
Johnson's translation and adopt that of Dr. Jamieson),
seems to me far fetched ; and that given by Grose, though
thought by Mr. Todd a better, is, in my mind, equally
fanciful. A friend suggests it may be from hie et aliter.
The Crav. Gloss, refers to the Dutch. Well may etymo-
logy, in cases like this, be pronounced — eruditio ad libitum.
Hemmel, a shed or covering for cattle. Germ. heim.
Hempy, mischievous — having the qualities likely to suffer by
cat o'nine tails, or by the halter. Applied jocularly to
giddy young people of both sexes.
HICK 95
Hen-pen, the clung of fowls. The country people sonietmies
use it in bouking linen. Sec Bouk.
Hen-scrattings, small ciiTuIai' white clouds — said to indicate
rain or wind.
Herd, a keeper of cattle. Sax. hj/rd. Isl. hirdingi.
Hekonsevv, Heronseugh, a heron. Not merely a young one
as stated by Mr. Tyrwhitt. V. Skinner, /icrnsAes.
I wol not tellen of hir strange sewes,
Ne of hir swamies, ne hir Ju-ronsewcs.
Chaucer, Sqiiwrcs Talc,
Hetter, eager, earnest, keen. Perhaps from /lut.
Heuck, hook, a crook or sickle. " The (/iioni (corn) is ready
for the heuck." Dut. hoek.
Heuck-fingered, thievish. Perhaps only cant.
Heudin, a piece of leather connecting the handstafl' of a flail
with the swingle.
Heugh, a dry dell, a ravine without water.
Word went east, and Avord went west.
And woi'd is gone over the sea.
That a Laidley worm in Spindleston-7/e«^'-Zs,
Would niui the North country.
The Laidley Worm,
Heuph, Hcph, a measure, something less than a peck.
Hiccup-snickup, the hiccough. SnecJcup is used by Shak.
and Beaum. and Flet. A repetition of the following in-
cantation is said to cure this disagreeable convulsion.
Hickup-snickup, stand up, straight up ;
One drop, two drops — good for the hiccup.
Major Moor gives a different version of these lines.
Hicklety-picklety, Higgledy-piggledy, intermixed, irregu-
lar, in the utmost confusion.
96 HIDE
Hide, to beat. " I'll hide your jacket."
HiGHT, called. An old word, used by Chaucer, Spenser, and
others.
Hike, to swing, to put in motion. A nurse hikes her child
when she tosses it up and down in her arms. The hiking
of a boat.
HiKEY, a swing. — Hikey-board, better represented in Bew-
ick's tail piece of two monkeys engaged in the sj)ort, Qua-
drupeds, p. 484, ed. 1830, than I can pretend to describe it.
Hind, a servant or bailiff in husbandi'y. Sax. hineman.
Hind-berries, rasps. Sax. hindberian. Lye mis-translated
this into fragum ; and the suggestion in Todd's John, of
bramble-berries, is also erroneous.
Hinder-ends, refuse of corn — such as remains after it is win-
nowed.
Hinney, Hinny, a favourite term of endearment. Probably a
corruption of honey, or it may be from Sax. hina, domes-
ticus. " Hinney dear ! what were ye sajin ?" " Was te
speaking, hinney ?" " Hinney bairns, be quiet."
Where best thou been, maw canny Mnny ?
An' where best te been, maw bonny bairn ?
Song, Maw Canny Hinny.
Hinney how ! an interjectional exclamation of surprize, ac-
companied with gladness.
Hip, to hitch or hop on one foot. — Hip-step-and-jump, a
youthful gambol. — Hinchy-pinchy, something similar.
HiPE, to rip or gore with the horns of cattle.
Hippings, cloths for infants. To put the hips in.
Hiring, a fair or mai'ket at which country servants are hii-ed.
Those, who offer themselves, sjtand in a body in the market
place, with a piece of straw or a green branch in their
mouths to distinguish them. The engagement concluded.
HOBT 97
the lasses begin to file off, and pace the streets in search
of admirers, while the lads, with equally innocent designs,
follow after. Having each picked up a sweetheai't, they
retire to different ale-houses, where they spend the re-
mainder of the day in a manner that appears highly indeli-
cate and unpleasant to a spectator, unaccustomed to these
nu'al amusements.
HiRPLE, HuRPLE, to halt, to walk lame, to creep. Su.-Got.
hwcrjla.
Hirst, Hurst, a woody bank, a place with trees. Sax. hurst.
V. Spelman, hursta, and Kilian, horscJd, horst. Hirst and
Long-hirst, in Northumberland.
Hitv-tity, Hoity-toity, haughty, flighty. Fr. haute tite.
Hives, water-blebs, an eruption in the skin. Su.-Got. haefwa,
to rise up.
Hizey Prize y, the court of Nisi Prius.
Hob, the side of a fire place. Also a clown ; contracted from
Robin.
Hob or Nob. Much has been written concerning this north-
ern expression. See Grose's Class. Diet.; Brand's Pop.
Ant. ; Todd's John. ; and Nares' Gloss. But is it any
more than a burlesque translation of tete a tete ?
Haiipt is the German word for the head, and knob the
ludicrous English word — from knob, a protuberance.
Hobble, a scrape, a state of perplexity. Teut. hobbelen.
Hobblety-hoy, an uncultivated stripling, " neither man nor
boy." Hoyden, with which this term is evidently con-
nected, was formerly applied to any mde ill-behaved per-
son of either sex. Children call a large unmanageable top,
a hobblety-hoy.
HoBBLY, rough, uneven. " A hobbly road."
HoBTHRUsT, a local spirit, famous for whimsical pranks. In
o
98 HOCK
some farm-houses a cock and bacon ai'e boiled on Fassen^s-
eve (Shrove Tuesday); and if" any person neglect to eat
heartily of this food, Hobthrust is sure to amuse himself
at night with cramming him up to the mouth with higg-
chaff. According to Grose, he is supposed to haunt
woods only — Hob o t'hurst.
Hockey. Sec Doddart.
HoFF, hough, to throw any thing under the thigh.
Hog, a one year old sheep. " Wether-hog — ewe-hog." Nor-
man Fr. hogctz.
HoGGERS, upper stockings without feet, like gaiters.
HoGH. Both a hill and a hollow. V. Johnson.
Hole in the Coat, a blemish in character or conduct. " Aiv'l
get a hole in yor coat."
Holm, in Saxon generally signifies the sea or a deep water ;
but it is frequently used with an adjective to designate an
insular situation. Dry grounds nearly surroundetl by the
course of rivers, or situated in low places by their edge,
are often called Holms : — The holms on Ullswater and
Windermere. — Dunholm, a name of Durham.
Holt, a peaked hill covered with wood. Sax. holt, lucus.
HoLY-STONEs, holed-stones, are hung over the heads of horses
as a chai-m against diseases : — such as sweat in their stalls
are supposed to be cured by the application. I have also
seen them suspended from the tester of a bed as well as
placed behind the door of a dwelling-house, attached to a
key — to prevent injm'y from witches. The stone, in all
cases, must be found naturally holed — if it be made it has
no efficacy. See Adder-Stones.
Honour-bright! Bet Watt ! a protestation of honour among
the vulgar ; originating with, and still retained in com-
memoration of, a late well-known Newcastle worthy.
HooR, a whore. Sax. liure, meretrix.
HOT 99
Hop, v. to dance. Sax. hojrpan. Teut. happen. This is the
original sense. Though unnoticed by the great Lexico-
grapher, it has not escaped his able editor, Mr. Todd. —
Hop, s. a dance. See Hoppen, Hopping.
Hope, a small brook, or the valley through which a brook may
run ; as Stanhope, Bollihope, &c. Durham.
Hoppen, Hopping, a country wake or rural fair ; several of
which are held in the immediate neighbourhood of New-
castle.
To horse-race, fair, or hopp'm go,
There play our casts among the whipsters,
Throw for the hammer, lowp for slippers.
And see the maids dance for the ring.
Or any other pleasant thing ;
F*** for the pigg, lye for the v.'hetstone.
Or chuse what side to lay our Letts on.
Joco-tcr'wus Discourse. Idwcen a NortlmmberJcind Gen-
tleman am] his Tenant, a Scotchman.
Hopple, or Hoffle, to tie the legs together.
Horney, Horxey-top, the end of a cow's horn made like a
top for boys to play with.
Horney, or Horney -way, an untruth, a hoax. " By the
hornet/ way."
Horse-coupek. See Coup, Cowp.
Horse-godmother, a large masculine wench.
Horse-shoes, the game of coits, or quoits.
Hot, a sort of square basket formerly used for taking manure
into fields of steep ascent. The bottom opened by two
wooden pins to let out the contents. I have heard old
people say, that between the confines of Yorkshire and
Westmorland, it was common for the men to occupy them-
selves in knitting, while the women were engaged in the
sei*vile employment of carrying these hots on their backs.
loo HOTP
HoT-PoT, wanned ale with spirit in it.
HouGHER, the pubHc wliipper of criminals, tlie executioner of
felons, in Newcastle. lie is still a regular officer of the
town, with a yeai'ly salary ; and is said to have obtained
this name from a power he had formerly of cutting the
houghs, or rather the sinews of the houghs, of swine that
were found infesting the streets. In the Gloss, to Doug-
las's Virgil, to hoch, from Sax. hoh, is rendered " suffragines
succidere," to hamstring.
HoAVDON-PAN-CANT, an awkward fall, an overturn. — Howdon-
PAN-CANTER, a slow ungraccful canter.
Holt! Hout-away ! an exclamation of disbelief or disappro-
bation. Pshaw !
HowDV, HovvDY-wiFE, a midwife. Brand sneers at the de-
rivation from " How d' ye — midwives being great goss-
ipers," but I think that which he supplies is far more ridi-
culous. I have not been fortunate enough to discover any
original to my own satisfaction, but I may perhaps be per-
mitted to observe, in defence of what has been so much
ridiculed, that " How d' ye," is a natural enough salutation
to a sick woman from the midwife ; who, by the way, is
called in German die wehmiitter, or the oh dear mother.
As it is with antiquaries, so I fear with etymologists —
ancient woman, " whether in or out of breeches," will
occasionally betray themselves.
HowK, to dig, to scoop. Su.-Got. holka, cavare.
Howl, a hollow or low place. " Wherever ther&'s a hill
there's sure to be a howl." Sax. hoi, latibulum. — Howl-
kite, a vulgar name for the belly.
HovvLET, Jenny-howlet, the common or tawny owl. Fr.
hulotte Also a term of reproach.
Adder's foi'k, and blind worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and howlcfs wing. — Shuk. Macbeth.
HUNK 101
HowsoMivvER, HowsoMNiv\ER, howevcr.
Hovv'wAY, come away ; a term of solicitation very common in
Newcastle.
Hoy, to heave or throw, as a stone.
HoYT, an awkward ill-bred youth.
Hubby-shew, Hubby-shoo, a disturbance, a noise, a state of
confusion. Teut. hobbelen, inglomerare ; schowe, specta-
culum.
Hud, the side of the fire place within the chimney. Pans not
in use are placed on the " hud stane."
HuDDiCK, HuDDOCK, the cabin of a keel or coal barge. Dut.
hut.
'Twas between Hebbron and Jarrow,
There cam on a varry Strang gale.
The skipper luick'd out o' th' hnddock.
Crying, 'smash, man, lower the sail !
Song, The Little Pee. Dee.
Huddle, to gather together, to embrace. Germ, hudeln.
Huff, v. to offend. " She's easily huffed." — Huff, s. offence.
« He's in the huffl"
Hug, to carry, especially if difficult. " Had and hug^t away,"
HuGGERMUGGERiNG, doing any thing in a confused, clandestine,
or unfair manner. V. Todd's John, and Nares' Gloss.
Hulk, a lazy, clumsy fellow. Shak. has " the hulk Sir John."
— " You idle lazy pay-wife hiUk." — Neivc.
Hull, a place in which fowls, &c. are confined for the purpose
of fattening.
Humble. To humble barley, to break off" the beard or awns.
Su.-Got. hamla, to mutilate. Allied to this, is a hummel-
led-coiv, a cow without horns.
Hunkered, elbowed, crooked. " This wheat is sadly hunker-
ed."
103 HUNK
Hunkers, haunches. This word seems used by the Northum-
brian vulgar only in the sense of sitting on the hunjcersy
that is, with the hams resting on the back part of the an-
kles, the heels generally being raised from the ground. —
Such is the position of a woman milking a cow, which in
Durham is called hencoivr fashion, probably from hen and
cnuver, to sit on eggs — from the position of a brooding hen.
A friend of mine connected with a colliery, where a child
had been injured, enquii-ing of the father how the accident
happened, received the following answer, which I cm in-
duced to give as a specimen of Pit language : — " It was
sitten on its hunkers howking glinters fra mang the het ass,
when the lowe teuck its claes, and brant it to the van'y
a*se," i. e. it was sitting on its haunches digging vitrified
shining scoria from among the hot ashes, when the flame
took its clothes, and burnt it to the very buttocks.
HuNT-THE-HARE, a game among children — played on the ice
as well as in the fields.
HiRTER, the shoulder of the axle against which the nave of
the wheel knocks, Fr. heurter, to knock.
Hurtle, to contract the body into a round form, as through
pain, severe cold, &c.
HusE, Hauste, a short cough, a hoarseness. Sax. hwosta,
tussis.
Hutch, a chest. The Town's Hutch, in the Guildhall of
Newcastle, is a fine old chest, on which the chamberlains
transact their business. Fr. huche.
"Why dost thou converse with that trunk of humours,
that bolting-A«M of beasthness, that swollen
parcel of dropsies, that huge bombard of sack.
Shak. I. Hen. IV.
INT A 103
HuTHERiKiN-LAD, ti ragged youth — u sort of Houjblety-hoy,
which see.
Huz, Uz, ive as well as us. Very common.
Hyel, Hale, whole. Isl. hcUl. Su.-Got. hel, totus.
I
ICE-SHOGGLE, ail icicle. Sax. ice-icel. Dut. yskegel. Mi'.
Todd has admitted icide, on the authority of Grose.
I'fakins, in faith — a frequent asseveration. Shak. uses i faith,
in the Merry Wives of Windsor.
Ill, v. to reproach, to speak ill. — Ill-willed, a. malevolent,
ill-natured. Isl. Ulvilie, malevolentia.
Inclixg, Inkling, a desire, an imperfect hint or intimation —
written by Mrs. Hutchinson (Memoirs, 4to. p. 357) inclin.
Etymologists have differed as to the derivation of this word.
It may be from Fr. un clin (d'oeil) a wink, if not from Su.-
Got. iJbincka, connivere.
Income, any swelling or other bodily infirmity, not apparently
proceeding from any external cause — or which has formed
unexpectedly. Ancome,'m the same sense, is an old word.
Indifferent, tolerably, in pretty good health.
Ing, a meadow. The word, however, seems to be chiefly ap-
plied to moist ground, or such as is subject to occasional
overflowings. It also often occurs in the names of places.
Common to the Sax. Dan. and other languages.
Ingle, a fire, or flame. Gael, aingeal. V. Todd's Jiohn.
Inkle, an inferior kind of tape. " Beggars inkle."
Insense, to understand ; to have sense infused into the mind.
V. Nares' Gloss.
Intack, an inclosure. A part taken in from a common.
104 IS
Is, the third person singular of /o be, is ahnost constantly used
among the vulgar for the first and second persons. " /y
sui-e, thou is" — am sure, thou art.
IscA ! IsCA ! or Iska ! Iska ! a Northumbrian shepherd's
call to his dog. Sc. isk, iskie. Mr. Lambe, in his Notes
on Flodden Field, p. 66, fancifully observes, that this term
is evidently an abbreviation of Li/cisca, the name of the
Roman shepherd's dog.
multum latrante Lycisca — Virg. Ed. 3.
With greater verisunilitude it has been said, that it is from
Fr. icy, hither ; the word used in France for the same
pui'pose. Dr. Jamieson, however, remarks that Teut. aes,
aesken, and Germ, ess, signify a dog.
Iv, in. — Intiv, into. Very general.
IzzARD, the letter Z.
Jabber, gai-rulity. From the verb, which is very old.
Jack, a young male pike, under a foot in length.
Jackalegs, Jockelegs, a large clasped knife. Generally con-
sidered to have obtained this name from Jacques de Liege,
a famous Flemish cutler.
Jackey, English gin, of which some of the " good folks" in
Newcastle partake rather freely.
Jagger-galloway, a pony with a peculiar saddle for canying
lead, &c. Jag, is a Scotch word (or job j and Moor has
jag, a waggon load.
Jaistering, swaggering. It is common to call a person of an
airy manner, " a jaisteiing fellow" — " a jaistering jade."
Jam, v. to squeeze into ; to render firm by treading.
JEWE 105
Jam, Jaum, s. jamb.
Jannock, leavened oat bread. See Bannock.
Jarble, to wet, to bedew ; as by walking in long grass after
dew or rain.
Jar-woman, an occasional assistant in the kitchen — a sort of
char-woman. Called also a Heigh-how, from a notorious
propensity to all kinds of low gossip.
Jasey, Jazey, a worsted wig. A very old-fashioned article,
still worn by some octogenarians.
Jaunis, Jaunus, the jaundice. Fr. jauiiisse.
Jaup, v. to move liquid irregularly. " The water v/ent jauping
in the skeel." Also to chip or break by a gentle, though
sudden blow. It is customary at Easter, when paste-eggs
ai'e in vogue, to jaup two of them, by hitting the ends to-
gether. " Aw II jaup oiiny body narrow enders." He whose
egg does not break is entitled to have the other.
Jaup, s. the sound of water agitated in a narrow or irregular
vessel. Isl. gialfur, a hissing or roaring wave.
Jaw, noisy speech, coarse raillery. " Had yor jaw" — hold
your tongue.
Jee, Jye, wry, crooked. " Jee-wye." Sw. gaa, to turn
round.
Jeeps, a severe beating — a sound thrashing.
Jenk, to jaunt, to ramble. Vrom junket, to feast secretl}'.
Jevvei,, an expression of affection — familiar regard. Fr. mon
joie, my darling, maiv jewel J
Ye jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes
Cordelia leaves you. — Shak. King Lear.
With am'rous looks, he calls her jewel.
And said, — How can you be so cruel ?
The Cullier's IFcddiuM:
106 JIBL
JiBLETs, or Giblets, " the parts of a goose which are cut oft"
before it is roasted," Todd's John. But it is the inside as
well. Old. Fr. gibelez. In Newcastle they call Avhat is
taken from one goose, a ^)«j/- of jiblels. At Christmas,
hardly any person, however poor, is without &j'Metj)ie.
Jiffy. " Jv a jiffy" — in a moment, in an instant.
Jigger, an airy swaggering person. " A comical jigger." Per-
haps, originally, one disposed or suitable to a jig.
Jim, Jimmy, s. James.
Jim, JiMJfY, Jim I', a, slender, neat, elegant. Q. Su.-Got.
skampt ?
JiMMER, a small hinge for a closet door or desk. See an expla-
nation of jimvicrs, with which the gimmal ring is thought
to be connected, in Brand's Pop. Ant. vol, ii. p. 27. Also
Nares' Gloss, gimmal, and Moov,jimmers.
Jin, Jinny, Jinney, Jane.
JiNGLE-CAP, shake cap. Much practised among the young pit-
men and keehnen.
JiNKKRS, BY JiNKERS, a sort of tlcmi-oath. A vaiiation of
jingo.
JiNNY-spiNNER,or Long-legg'd-tyalyur, a vcry long slender-
legged spider or fly.
Jinny-spinner, a play-thing among children. See a long list
of juvenile games, many of which are common in the North,
in Suff. Words, move all.
Jobation, Juration, a lecture or reprimand.
Jock and Jock's-man, a juvenile si)ort, in which the follower
is to repeat all the pranks the leader can perform.
Joggle, to shake, to totter, to cause to totter. Teut. schocke-
len, vacillare.
Jog-trot, an inactive, or any peculiar line of conduct, pertina-
ciously adhered to. Perhaps adopted from the jog-trot pace
of the Northumbrian fai'mers.
JUMP 107
JoixiFiCATioN, a scene of festivity, or merriment. " A regular
jollification."
Jolly, stout, large in person. " A jolly landlady." Also
hearty, jovial. " A jolly fellow."
JooKiNGS, corn beat out of the sheaf in throwing off the stack ;
often a perquisite to those who assist in carrying the
sheaves into the barn.
Jorum, a pot or jug. Chaucer has Jordane, and Shakspeare
Jorden.
The horrible crew.
That Hercules slew.
Were Poverty — Calumny — Trouble — and Fear :
Such a club would you borrow,
To drive away sorrow.
Apply for a jorum of Newcastle beer.
Song, Newcastle Berr.
Joseph, a riding coat or habit, with buttons in front ; worn by
ancient dames — not bluestockings.
JouKREY-PAUKEREY, any sort of underhand trick or dexterous
artifice ; legerdemain.
Jowl, v. to knock, or rather to give a signal by knocking.
Jowl, s. the head. " Cheek by jowl" — close together.
JoAVL OF Salmon, the head and shoulders. If split it is called a
single jowl.
JuJiBLEMENT, confusion. From the verb.
Jumps, a kind of easy stays. ¥r.juj)pe.
JuMP-wiTH, JuMP-iN-wiTH, to meet with accidentally, to coin-
cide. Jump occurs several times in Shakspeare ; mean-
ing in some places to agree with, in others to venture at, or
hazard. In one place it appears to be intended for just.
108 K.\E
Kaf ! a common interjectional expression of disbelief, con-
tempt, or abhorrence. — Neuw. I can only refer to the lan-
guage oi jack-daws for its etymology.
Jack-daws, kaiv'mg and fluttering about the nests, set
all their young ones a-gaping ; but having no-
thing in their mouths but air, leave them as
hungry as before Locke.
Kail, Kale, cabbage, greens ; also broth or pottage. — North.
Isl. kal. Dan. kaal. Welsh, cawl. — Kail-pot, a large
metal pot for culinaiy purposes. " As black as a kail-pot."
Kairn, a heap of stones, a rude moniunent, — See Cairn.
We the adjacent mountains all discern,
"With each his head adorned with a kairn.
Cheviot, a Poem, p. b.
KjVSIstary, mad. Perhaps the same as Sc. camsterie, cams-
tairie, frowai'd, perverse, unmanageable ; ; which Dr. Jam.
derives from Germ, kamp, and starrig, stiff; or it may be
a sort of pleonasm, from cam, which in Gael, is applied to
any thing crooked or awry, and stary, staring, wild-looking.
Karl-cat, a male cat. Dut. kaerel, a fellow.
Kedge, to fill. Hence Kedge-belly, a large protuberant body,
a glutton.
Kee, Kee-side, empkaticalhf the Newcastle Quay, extending
from Tyne Bridge to the end of Sandgate.
Fareweel Tync Brig and cannie Kce,
Where aw've seen monny a shangey.
Blind Willey, Captain Starkey, tee —
Bold Archy and great Hangey.
Glkhrisl, Voyage toLunnhi.
KEEL 109
Keek, to peep, to look with a prying eye, to view. Su.-Got.
heka. Dut. k\jhen.
Keel, to cool, to render cool. Sax. ccelan, algere. Sir Thos.
Hanmer — at best but a sorry expounder of our immortal
bard — in attempting an explanation of
While greasy Joan doth keel ttu; pot.
Shak. Love''s Lahour's Lout.
Strangely says, " to drink so deep, as to turn up the bot-
tom of the pot, like turning up the keel of a ship .'" Ma-
jor Moor is equally at fault : — he thinks " scouring the
pot with its bottom inclined conveniently for that opera-
tion ; or keeling it in the position of a ship rolling so as
to almost shoiv her keel out of the water." V. SuflT. Words,
killer or keeler. The expression " keel the pot," really
means neither more nor less than to render it cool ; that
is, to take out a small quantity of the broth, &c. and then
to fill up the pot with cold water ; a common practice in
Northumberland. The word, however, as shewn by the
examples from Gower and Chaucer, quoted by Mr. Todd,
is not confined to the kitchen.
Keel, Red-Keel, ruddle, decomposed iron used for mai'king
sheep, &c. Gad. oil. Fr. chaille. Jamieson.
Keels, the vessels or barges in which coals are carried from
the colliery-staiihs to the ships, in the Tyne and Wear.
Keel is a very ancient name of Saxon origin for a ship or
vessel — ceol, navis. On the first arrival of the Saxons
they came over in three large ships, styled by themselves,
as Verstegan informs us, keeles. In the Chartulary of
Tynemouth Monastery, the servants of the Prior who
wrought in the barges (1.378), are called kelcm, an appella-
tion plainly synonimous with the present keelmen.
110 KEEL
Keel-Bullies, keehnen, the crew of the keel— the pai'tners
or brothers. See Bully.
Keel-Deeters, the wives and daughters of the keehnen, who
sweep the keels, having the sweepings of the small coals
for their pains. To deet, in northern language, means to
wipe or make clean.
Keelage, keel dues in port. This word is in Todd's John,
but in too limited a sense.
Keen. The hands are said to be keened with the frost, when
the skin is broken or cracked, and a sore induced. Ktbcy
explained by Johnson, " an ulcerated chilblain, a chap in
the heel caused by the cold," occurs several times in
Shakspeare.
Keep-the-pot-boiling, a common expression among j'oung
people, when they are anxious to carry on their gambols
vnth spirit.
Kelds, the still parts of a river which have an oily smooth-
ness while the rest of the water is ruffled. I have only
heard this word on the Tyne, and confined to the mean-
ing here given ; but I am informed that in Westmorland
and Cumberland old wells are also denominated kelds,
and that there is a place in the parish of Shap called Keld,
from a fine spring in it — also Gunnerkeld. Isl. kelda, palus.
Since this was written I find keld, a well, in Crav. Gloss.
Kelk, v. to beat heartily. — Kelk, Kelker, s. a severe blow.
Kelps, ii'on hooks from which boilers are hung.
Kelter, frame, order, condition. V. Todd's John. It also
means money, cash. Germ. geld.
Kemp, to strive against each other in reaping corn. Sax.
camp'mn, militare. Tent, kampen, dimicare. — Kempers,
the competitors. According to Verstegan, the word is of
noble descent. V. Rest. Decayed Intell. 8vo. p. 233.
KERN 111
Kemps, hairs among wool, coarse fibres.
KjEn, to know, to be acquainted with. Su.-Got. kacnna.
Sax. cennan. Dut. kennen. " Aw kent him weel" — 1
knew him well.
'Tis he, I ken the manner of his gait.
Shak. Trailus and Cixssida.
Kennen, Kenning, a measure of two pecks.
Kenspecked,Kenspacked, Ken speckled, Kenspackled, con-
spicuous, marked so as to be easily recognized or kenned.
V. Skin, and Jam.
Rep, to catch, to receive any thing in the act of falling. Sax.
cepan. Teut. keppen, captai'e.
Keppy-Ball, hand-ball. In former times it was customarj',
every year at Easter and Whitsuntide, for the mayor, al-
dermen, and sheriff of Newcastle, attended by the bur-
gesses, to go in state to a place called the Forth — a sort
of mall — to countenance, if not to join in the play oikeppy-
ball, and other sports. The Esprit dc corjjs is gone, though
the diversion is still in part kept up by the young people
of the town ; but it would of course, in these altered times,
be considered highly indecorous to " unbend the brow of
authority" on such an occasion. Puerile, however, as it
may seem, there was a time — if we may credit Belithus,
an ancient ritualist — when the bishops, and even arch-
bishops, of some churches, used to play at hand-ball with
the inferior clergy. — Tempora mutantur, et nos mutanuir
in illis.
Kern, v, to chum. Sax. cernan. Teut. kernen.
Kern, s. a churn. Teut. kerne. Also a hand-mill for grind-
ing corn, from Teut. queme ; perhaps the right mode of
spelling the word in this sense.
112 KERN
Kern-Baby, an image dressed up with corn at a harvest home.
Something similar to the maiden described by Jam. See
Mell-Doll.
Kern, Korn, or Kurn-Milk, butter-milk. Teut. kern-melch,
" Will you hev onny kern-milk," — Newcastle cry ; nearly
extinct.
Rersen, to christen. Dut. kerstenen.
Pish, one goodman Caesar, a pump maker,
KerserCd him — Beaum. ^ Fkt. Wit at sev. Weap.
Kersmas, Crissenmas, Christmas.
Kesh, Kex, the hollow stem of an umbelliferous plant. Kyx,
a hemlock, occurs in Peirs Ploughman.
Keslip, Reslop, the calPs stomach salted and dried for ren-
net. Sax. ceselib, coagulum. Germ, kaselab, rennet.
Kase is cheese, and laben is to help, strengthen or quicken.
See Yerning. " Kittle yor keslop" — a Newcastle trope
for a chastisement. " Warm yor kesloji^—a metaphor for
a hot-pot.
Ket, carrion, any sort of filth. Su.-Got. koett. — Kettv,
filthy, dirty, worthless. " A ketty fellow."
Kevel, a large hammer for quarrying stones.
Kick, the top of the fashion — quite the go. Q. Isl. k(Ekr, ges-
tus indecorus ? " Jack-thc-kick" — a fellow just the thing.
Kidney, disposition, principles, humour.
A man of my kidney.
Sliak. Mcr. Wives of Windsor.
Talk no more of brave Nelson, or gallant Sir Sidney,
'Tis granted they're tai's of a true British kidney.
Song, Newcastle Bellman.
Kidney-Tatie, a long kind of potatoe, much cultivated in the
neighbourhood of Newcastle.
// ,1
KIRK 113
KiLLJCOup, a summerset. Probably from Fr. cul-a-cap, tail
to head — head over heels. " Eh ! what a killicoup the
preest has getten out o'is wee bit gig-thing there !"
Kill-priest, a jocular name for port wine — from which a
very irreverent inference is drawn. But, as Shakspeare
says.
Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature,
if it be well used ; exclaim no more against it.
OthelU).
Kilt, to truss up the clothes — to make them lilie the Scotch
Idlt. Dan. kilte-op.
Kind, intimate — not kind, at enmity. See Thick.
King's-cushion, a sort of seat made by two persons crossing
their hands, on which to place a third.
Kink, v. to laugh immoderately, to labour for breath as in the
hooping cough. Teut. kichen, kincken, difiiculter spirare,
— Kink, s. a violent or convulsive fit of laughter or cough-
ing, especially when the breath is stopped. See Kin-
cough.
Kin-cough, Kink-cough, Ching-congh, or King-cough, thehoop-
ing-cough. Sax. cincung, cachinnatio. Teut. kinck-hoest,
asthma. The ignorant and the superstitious have va-
rious fooleries, for cm-ing or alleviating this epidemic dis-
order— such as eating a mouse-pie, or hanging a roasted
mouse round the neck — dipping the persons aiFected nine
times in an ope?! grave, or putting them nine times under
a pie-bald horse — bread baked on a Good Friday before
sun-rise — and perhaps others that may have escaped my
recollection.
Kirk, a church. An old Eng. word from Sax. c^rce, still re-
tained in Noithumberland. — Kirk-Garth, the church
Q
114 KIST
yard. — Kirk-Master, a church warden. Teut. Icerk-
maester. — Kirk-folk, the congregation.
KiST, a chest. Common to Sax. Su.-Got. Germ. Dut. and
Welsh.
Kisses, small confections or sugar plums. Perhaps the same
as Shakspeare's kissing-comfits. See Merry Wives of
Windsor, Act 5, Sc. 5,
Kit, properly a covered milking pail with two handles, but
often applied to a small pail of any sort. Also a wooden
vessel in which pickled salmon are sent to London. Like-
wise the stool on which a cobbler works.
Kit, a set or company, generally in a contemptuous light.
" The whole kit." Applied sometimes to things as well
as to persons.
Kitchen Physic, substantial fare — good living — opprobrium
medicorum.
Throw physic to the dogs, I'll none of it.
Shak. jMacbeth.
In jest ; no offence in the world.
Shak. Hamlet.
Kite, the belly. Allied to Moe.-Got. quid, and Su.-Got.
qwed, venter. Bag-kite and j^od-kitc, ai'e ludicrously ap-
plied to persons with larger capacities than common.
" Running to kite" — becoming corpulent.
Kith, acquaintance. Sax. cytke. Not obsolete as stated
in Todd's John. Kith and kin, friends and relations.
Kittle, v. to tickle, to enliven. Sax. cilelaii, titillare. Dut.
kittelen. Teut. kitzelcn.
Kittle, v. to bring forth kittens. A very old word, written
in Palsgrave, kytielL V. L'eclaircissement de la Lang,
Fran9.
KTZO 115
Kittle, a. ticklish, difRcult. " hiUle wark"
" O mony a time, my lord," he said,
I've stown a kiss f'rae a sleeping wench ;
But for you I'll do as Idtih: a deed.
For I'll steal an auld lurdane afF the bench.
Christie's Will.
In witty songs and verses kittle,
Who can compare with Thomas Whittle ?
Henry Rohson.
This word has other meanings ; as kittle iveather — change-
able weather ; a kittle question — such as it is inconvenient
or impolitic to answer ; a kittle horse — one unsafe or not
easily managed.
Kittling, a kitten. An ancient word. Palsgrave, kytlynge.
Prompt. Parv. Cler. kytUnge, catellus. Jidiana Barnes
has kendel of cats, a litter of cats.
KiTT, Kitty, a diminutive of Christopher, as well as of Ca-
therine.
Kitty, the house of con-ection. Neiucastle. Su.-Got. kcetta,
includere. Germ, ketten, to fetter.
Kitty-cat, a puerile game, described by Moor. V, Suftl
Words, kit-cat. Strutt mentions a game, which used to
be played in the North, called tip cat, or more properly cat.
V. Sports and Pastimes, p. 86.
Kittv-wren, or Jenny-wren, the Nvren — the reputed consort
of the robin-red breast.
" The robin and the wren
" Are God's cock and hen."
Kizoned, or KizzENED, parched or dried. Children are said
to be so, when, from a weakness or pampered appetite,
they loathe their food. " Kizen'd meat" — meat too much
roasted. Q. Isl. gisna, hiascere ?
116 KLIC
Klick-Hooks, large hooks for catcliing salmon in the day
time. V. Crav. Gloss.
Knack, to speak affectedly, to ape a style beyond the speaker's
education. — Knackit, Nackit, one quick at repartee, a
clever child.
K\ACK-AND -RATTLE, a quick and noisy mode of dancing with
the heels.
He jumps, and his heels kuack mid rattle.
At turns of the music so sweet ;
He makes such a thundering brattle,
The floor seenis afraid of hi.-^ feet.
T/ir Corners' Pay Week.
Knack-knee'd, in-kneed — knees that knnck or strike ag;iinst
each other in walking.
Kn'auG"!, pointed rocks, or rugged tops of liills. V. Ihre,
hnagglig.
Knaggy, testy, ill-humoured, waspish.
Knaw, v. to know. " Aw knaw" — I know. Hee Know.
Kmfle, to steal, to pilfer. Q. Celt, cneijiu, to shear.
Knocking-trough, a conical trough in which the rind is beat
off barley with a mallet.
Knoll, Knowl, Knowe, the top of a hill, a bare rounded
hillock. Sax. cnolle. Teut. knolle.
Know. " You know, you knaw." — " D'ye ken — I'll tell you
now" — " what's my opinion to think — I cannot say — I
dinna ken." — " what does he say, good man f — where hez
he been, good man ?" — Here good man is not the case of
calling, but is put in opposition to he. This is a mode of
expression peculiar to the Nortli.
Knaki,. :i luiuch-backed or dwiirfisli man. Old F.ng. khiirif,
a knot.
LAD 1 1 /
KuN, CuK. " T cun you no thanks" — I do not acknowledge
myself obliged to you, Dur. Is it from Gtrni. konueii,
to know, as savoir grc, in French ?
Kl"ss, to kiss. Welsh cusan.
Kye, plural of cows, kine. Sax. ci/, vacca.
Kyloe, a small Scotch breed of cattle, said to be fi-oni ht/le, a
Graelic word for a ferry — over which they ai'e transported.
But may it not be from Germ, kuk-klein, a small cow ?
L
Labbering, struggling in water, as a fish when caught. Jo-
cosely applied to a great legal luminarif, who unlbrtunately
slipped into the watery element a few yeai's ago.
" Aw was sctten the keel, wi' Dick Stavers an' IMat,
An' the Mansion-house Stairs we were just alangside.
When we aw three see'd sumthing, but didn't ken what.
That was splashing and lahbcring aboot ith the tide."
«' It's a flucker !" ki Dick ; " Xo," ki Mat, " its owre big.
It luick'd mair like a skyat when aw first see'd it rise :"
Kiv aw — for awd getten a gUff o' the -wig-
Odds mercy ! Wye, marrows, becrike it's Lord ^She.
Song, My Lord ^Size.
Lace, to beat or flog. " I'll lace your jacket." — Lacing, a
beating. " Aufl gie yc a good ladng'ya&t now."
Laced, mixed with spirits, as tea or coffee, to which some
" ancient dames" are partial.
Lackits, small sums of money — any odd things.
Lad, a boy ; originally a man, from Sax. leode, people. Lang-
land — the reputed author of the Visions of Peirs Plough-
man— one of our earliest writers, uses laddc, in its primi-
tive sense ; from which no doubt proceeded lasse, lass. —
In Scotland, I have heard a person 50 years old, called a
lad — but he was in a state of single blessedness.
118 LAD
Lad, Laddie, a lover, a sweetheart. " That's maw lad, izint
he a bonny fellow."
May aw the press-gang perish.
Each lass her laddie cherish,
Lang may the Coal Trade flourish.
Upon the dingy Tyne.
Song, Tlie Keel Row.
Lafter, Lawter, as many eggs as a hen will lay before she
incubates. Teut. legh-tyd, tempus quo gallinae ova pariunt.
Laggins, staves. V. Ihre. lagg.
Laidly, Laidlev, uglj', loathsome, foul. Sax. laithlk.
" I will her liken to a laidley worm."
Lainch, a long stride. " What a lainch he has."
Lair, mire, dirt. To he laired, to stick in the mire. Isl. leir.
Su.-Got. ler.
Laird, " the lord of a manor in the Scottish dialect." — Dr.
John. This is its old meaning; but it is now a common
name in Northumberland and Cumberland for a proprietor
of land, without any relation to manorial rights. " He
rides like a Bambro'shii-e laird — one spur, and a stick in
his opposite hand."
Lake, v. to play. Sax. lacany ludere. Moe.-Got. laikan, exul-
tare. Peirs Ploughman, layke. — La king, s. a play-thing.
Lake-wake, Late-wake, the watching of a corpse previous to
interment. Sax. lie, a body, and wacian, to watch. V.
Jam. lyk-waik.
Lam, Lamb, to beat soundly. " Aw^l lamb yor hide"
" Lamb them, lads; lamb them !" — a cant phraseof the
time, derived from the fate of Dr. Lambe, an
astrologer and quack, who was knocked on the
head by the rabble in Charles the First's time.
PeverU of Hit Peak, voL iv. p. 152.
LAST 119
The great known unknown tiipx a little here. The word
is used in two or three of the plays of Beaumont and Flet-
cher, ti'iitten before the conjuring Doctor's catastrophe,
which did not happen until 1628. Besides, the derivation
seems obviously from Isl. lem, verberare, or Teut. lompen,
infligere.
Lam-pay, to correct; principally applied to children.
La>i, or Lamb, and its diminutive Lammie, favourite terms of
endearment. " Maiv bonny Imn," " maw canny lammie."
Lameter, Lamiter, a cripple. " He'll be a lameter for life."
Lang, long. — Lang, Langsome, tedious, tiresome. Sax. lang-
sum. — Langsowness, tediousness.
Lang-length> the whole length. " He fell down aw his lang
length"
Lang-saddle, or Settle, a long wooden seat, with a back and
arms, usually placed in the chimney corner in country
houses.
Langsyne, long since. Sax. longc siththan, din exinde. See
Avld-lang-syne.
Lant, the game of loo. — Lantered, looed. — Lanters, the
players.
Lap, preterite of leap. See Loup.
Lap-up, to give up, to relinquish.
Lapstone, a cobl)ler's stone, on which he hammers his leather.
Lare, learning, scholarship. Pure Saxon. — Lare-father,
instructor.
Lasche, cold and moist — not actually rain. V. Moor, lash or
lasky.
Lashigillavery, Lusheygilavey, plenty of meat and drink;
a superfluity. Probably from lavish.
Last, a measure of corn — 80 bushels. Sax. hlcest. Su.-Got.
laest.
120 LAST
Lastenest, most lasting.
Lat, a lath. Sax. latta. Dut. lat. Fr. laite. — Lat and
Plaster, an ironical phrase for a tall and slender person
— as thin as a lat. — Lat-hiver or Rive-er, a maker of
laths.
Latch, v. to catch, to lay hold of. Sax. tecca«, prehendere.
When that he Galathe besought
Of love, which he might not lacfie.
Gower, de Confess. Amavt.
■ But I have words.
That would be howl'd out in the desert air,
"Where hearing should not latch them. — Sftak. Macbeth.
Latch, s. a fastening ; especially a wooden latch or snec/c —
sometimes lifted with a cord, at other times with the fin-
ger. Ital. laccio.
Love will none other birde catch,
Though he sette either nette or latch.
Chavcer, Romaunt of the Box.
Late, or Leat, to seek, to summon, to invite. Isl. lei/ta, qiias-
rere. — Lating, or Leating, a summons or invitation. Dr.
Willan mentions Leating, or Lating-row, a district from
which matrons are invited by special summons to be present
at a child-birth, or at the death of any of the inhabitants.
Should a matron within the limits have been, through in-
advertence or mistake, omitted on such an occasion, it is
an affront not to be forgiven.
Lathe, or Leathe, a place for storing hay and corn in winter
— a barn. Used by Chaucer. V. Skinner, lath.
Latherin, a drab, a trollop. " A lazy latherin."
Latten, Lattin, tin. Pistol's
Challenge of the latten bilbo.
Shak. Merry Wit'Ca of Windsor.
LAVE 121
Has been " a stumbling block," not so much " to the gene-
rality of readers," as Hanmer would express it, but to the
commentators themselves. See the learned remarks of the
" collective \visdom," in the last Varior. Edit, of Shak. vol.
viii. p. 23-3 ; to which should be added Sir Thomas's own
idea — " a factitious metal." In Todd's John, the word is
defined to be, " a mixed kind of metal, made of copper
and calamine : said by some to be the old orichalc ;"
though the authority quoted from Gower proves that
" laton" and " bras" are two distinct things. In the Dic-
tionaries of Bailey, Dyche, and Ash, latten is explained to
be iron tinned over, which is in fact what is called tin :
Pegge also states latten to be tin ; but on turning to Nares'
Glossary, I find the worthy Aixhdeacon labouring hard at
its transmutation into brass. The days of alchymy, how-
ever, are past. In addition, it may be observed, that Eud-
diman — an authority entitled to consideration — interprets
lated, iron covered with fin.
Lave, v. to empty, to draw or take out water or other liquid.
Fr. lever. An old word used by Chaucer.
Lave, s. the residue — those who are left or omitted. A pure
Saxon word, occurring in Peirs Ploughman. It also
means a crowd.
Of prelates proud, a populous lave.
And abbots boldly there were known ;
With bishop of St. Andrew's brave,
Who was King James's bastard son.
Lanibe, Battle of Floddon.
In ancient times the dignitaries of the church, holding the
temporalities of their benefices of the King, as barons by
the tenure of military service, were bound by the feudal
law, to attend him in his wars.
R
122 LAVE
Laverick, Laverock, Lavvorick, a lark. Sax. laferc, lawerc.
Flocks of turtles, and of laverockes. — Chaucer.
Here hear my Kenna sing a song,
There see a blackbird feed her young.
Or a leverock build her nest.
Here give my weary spirits rest.
Walton, Angkr''s Wish.
Law, Loe, Lowe, a hill or eminence wliether natural or arti-
ficial. Sax. hlcew, hlaiv, agger, acervus. McE.-Got. hlaiw,
monumeittum. The word is often found at the end of the
names of vills or hamlets.
Lawful me ! Law me ! a frequent colloquicil exclamation,
impljing either wonder or fear.
Lea, Lee, rich meadow or pasture. Sax. Icag. Used by
Spenser, and several times by Shakspeare.
Lead, Leead, to cwvy. " He's leading coals."
Leagh, a scythe. From leu, meadow, and ag, to cut.
Leaping-the-well, going through a deep and noisome pool
an Alnwick Moor, called the Freemen's well — a sine qua
non to the freedom of the borough. On Saint Mark's
day, the aspirants proceed in great state, and in equal
spirits, from the town to the moor, where they draw up
in a body, at some distance from the water, and on a signal
being given, they scramble through the mud with great labour
and difficulty. They may be said to come out in a con-
dition not much better than " the heroes of the Dwiciad
after diving in Fleet Ditch." Tradition says, this strange
and ridiculous custom — rendered more ludicrous by being
performed in white clothing — was imposed by King John,
who was bogged in this very pool. 1 witnessed the cere-
mony about four yeai*s ago.
LETC 123
Learn, to teach. V. Todd's Jolin. This sense is not yet
obsolete in the North.
Leash, to ply the whip. To lash.
Leather, to beat soundly. Perhaps from the instrument
originally emplo3'ed — a strap. For a copious vocabulary
of a pugnacious import, see SufF. Words, ainf.
Leather-head, Leather-heed, a block-head, a thickscull.
Lanthorn Leatherhead, one of the characters in Ben Jon-
son's Bartholojiiew Fair, has been thought to have been
meant for Inigo Jones ; but Mr. GifFord doubts it.
Leck, to leak. Isl. lek, stillare. — Leck on and off, to poiu*
on, and drain off, gradually.
Lee, v. to lie, to tell a falsehood. Sax. leogan. — Lee, s. a lie.
This word, vulgar as it is, occurs in Chaucer. — Lee with
A LATCHET, 3 monstrous falsehood. V. Nares. — Leear, a
liar.
Leemers. See Brown-leemjers.
Leet, v. to meet with, to alight. — Leet, s, & a. light. " Wheij
thau heart's sad, can mine be leetf"
Leets, ligkis, lungs. Also windows.
Leetsobie, light, comfortable, cheerful. Lightsome.
Leish, Lish, nimble, strong and active.
Leister, a prong or trident. Su.-Got. Hustra, percutere. See
Blaze.
An awfu' scythe, out owre ae shouther,
Clear dangling hang,
A three-tae'd leister on the ither
Lay, large and lang.
Burns, Death a>id Doctor Honihook.
Lktch, a long narrow swamp in which water moves slowly
among rushes and grass.
124 LENN
Lennert, ihe linnel. The Greij Lcnnert .— The Green hen-
nert. — The Brown Lennert.
Let-leet, to inform, to disclose. To let in light.
Let on, to mention. " He never let on" — he never told mc.
Isl. laela, ostenderc.
Let wit, to make known. Dut. laaten lueeten.
Leuf, Loof, the palm of the hand. A very ancient word.
V. Jam. Ouisi/le the leuf, back of the hand — equivalent to
rejection and repulse.
Lew, mild, calm. — Lew-warsi, hike-warm. Teut. lamven,
tepefacere.
Lib, to emasculate. Dut. luhben. Used by Massinger and
others. — Libber, Qui castrat. Lib is perhaps the same as
glib in Shakspeare.
They are coheirs,
And I had rather gl'ih m^'solf, than they
Should not produce fair issues.
The JVhitrr'.'; Tnle.
Lick, to beat, to chastise. Su.-Got. laegga, to strike, —
Licking, Licks, a beating,
LiCKLY, likely, probable. — Lickliest, the superlative.
Lief, willingly, rather, as soon. Sax. leof. — Liefer, or Le-
ver, more willingly, sooner. Sax. leofre. Both Gower
and Chaucer often use this comparative.^ — Lief is common
in Shakspeai'e.
Lift, assistance. To give a lift, to lend a helping hand.
LiG, to lie down. Common to Sax. and most Northern
languages. Both Chaucer and Spenser use it. — Lig-ma-
last, a loiterer, the last. — Lig-o-bed, one who lies long
in bed.
LiGGEE, a carved lignum vitse coit for playing at doddart.
LIN 125
Like, to please, in he agrccahle to. Dr. John, i.s )ni!staken in
thinking it disused.
Liken'd. " I had likened" — I was in danger of.
Liking, delight, pleasure. Sax. licung. An old Scotch word,
occurring in that beautiful pasiiage from Bai'bour's Bruce,
quoted by Dr. Jamieson.
A ! freedome is a noble thing !
Fredome mayss man to liaifF liking !
Fredome all solace to man giffis ;
He levys at ess, that frel}' levys.
Lile, little. See Lite.
LiLL, to assuage pain. Lat. lallare, to lull.
LiLLY-wuNS ! LiLLY-vvTNTERs ! exclaiiiations of amazement.
Lilt, to sing, by not using words of meaning, but tuneful syl-
lables only. — North. Su.-Got. lulla, canere.
Limbo, gaol. " He's gettin into limbo, up the nineteen steps"
LiMMER, a female of loose manners, or easy virtue.
LiMMERS, a pair of shafts for a cart or carriage. Isl. limar, ra-
mi arbor um.
Lin, v. to cease, to stop. Lsl. Una, enervare, frangere.
Yet our northern prikkers, the borderers, notwith-
standing, with great enormitie, (as thought me)
and not unlyke (to be playn) unto a masterless
hounde hougling in a hie wey, when he hath lost
him he way ted upon, sum hoopyng, sum wliistel-
yng, and moste with crying a Berivyke ! a Ber-
•wyke ! a Fcnwyke ! a Fancy ke ! a Buhner ! a
Bulmcr ! or so ootherwise as theyr capteiiis
names wear, never linnde those troublous and
daungerous noyses all bhe night long.
Patten'' s Ex£cdici(m of the Duke of Somerset.
126 LIN
Before whicli time the wars could never lin.
Mirror for Magistrates.
Set a beggar on horseback, he'll never Un till he be
a gallop. — Ben Jon. Staple of News.
Lm, s. linen. Also the lime tree.
Linn, a cascade, a precipice. Sax. hlynna, a torrent. Isl.
lindf a cascade. Welsh, Uyn, a lake.
The near'st to her of kin
Is Toothy, rushing down from Verwin's rushy lin.
Drayton, Polyolhion.
Ling, heath. Isl. ling, spec, erica.
LiNGV, active, strong, able to bear fatigue.
LiNiEL, shoe-maker's thread. Fr. ligneul. The same as lingel,
described in Nares' Gloss, as " a sort oftkotig used by shoe-
makers and cobblers ; from lingtda."
Links, sandy barren ground — sands on the sea shore. V.
Jam.
Lippen, to expect, to depend upon. " I lippened on you to
join me." Sax. leafeii, credere.
LisK,the groin. " A pain in the lisk." Dan. and Sw. Uuske.
Listen, selvage. Sax. list. Dan. liste.
Lite, to rely on, to trust to, to depend upon.
Lite, little. An old word used by Chaucer, both as a substan-
tive and an adjective. Lall and Lile, also mean little. —
I cannot pretend to reconcile these dialectical variations.
Lithe, to listen. " Lithe ye" — hark you. Lythe, Peirs
Ploughman. Su.TGot. lyda, audire, lyda till, aures adver-
tere.
Lithe, to thicken ; as to lithe the pot. — Lithings, thickenings
for the pot; such as oatmeal, flour, &c. V. Wilb. and
Jam.
LOON 127
Littlest, least — the regular superlative of little.
Where love is great the littlest doubts are fear.
Sliali. Hamlet.
XoAK, OR LoKE, a small quantity ; as a loke of hay, a loke of
meal, a loke of sand. V. Jaiu.
LoAK ! LoAK-A-DAZiE ! LoAK-A-DAZiE-ME ! exclaiTiations of
siu^prize or pleasure, modidated to suit the occasion.
Loaning, Lonnin, a lane or bye-road ; a place near country
villages for milking cows. " Pelton lonnin." V. Jam. lomi.
I have heard of a lilting, at our ewes milking,
Lasses a lilting, before the break of day ;
But now there's a moaning, on ilka green loaning.
That our braw foiresters are a' wede away.
Old Scotch Song, Battle of Floddon.
LoB-cocK, a contemptuous epithet for a stupid or sluggish
person.
I now must leave you all alas,
And live with some old lohcock ass.
Breton, Works of a Young Wit.
LoLLOCK, a Imnp. " Lollock ivfat."
Lollop, to walk in an undulating manner — to move heavily.
Look, Louk, to weed, to clear. " Looking corn." V. Ray.
LooNjLouNjLowNE, an idle vagabond, a worthless fellow, a ras-
cal. The word is old ; but etymologists are not agreed in the
derivation. Shakspeare has evidently taken the stanzas
in Othello from the following ancient version of, Take thy
old Cloak about thee, published in Percy's Reliques, vol. i.
King Stephen was a worthy peere.
His breeclies cost him but a crowne,
He held them sixpence aU too deere ;
Therefore he call'd the tavlor f^owne.
128 LOOS *
LoosE-i'-TiiE-iiEFT, a disordcHy person — a loose blade.
LoosiNG-LEATHER, an injury in a tender part, to which inexpe-
rienced riders are subject ; and which makes them, what is
elsewhere called, saddle sick. It is a rustic idea — counte-
nanced by some old authors — that a sprig of elder, in whicli
there is a joint, worn in one of the lower pockets, will
operate as a charm against this galling inconvenience ; but
whether
To harden breech, or soften horse,
I leave't to th' learned to discourse.
Flecknoe, Dionium.
Lop, LoppE, a flea. Pure Saxon.
LoppERED, coagulated. Loppered milk — milk that sours and
curdles without the application of an acid. Isl. hlaup, coa-
gulum.
LopsTROPOLOU^, mischievous, clamorous. Obstreperous.
We shouted some, and some dung doon —
Lohstrop''lus fellows, we kick'd them O.
Song, Sxvalwelt Hopping.
LouN, Lown'd, calm, sheltered from the wind. Isl. logn, aeris
tranquillitas.
LouNDER, to beat with severe strokes. V. Jam.
Loup, v. to leap. Su.-Got. loepa, currere. Also to cover;
from Teut. loojjen, catulii'e.
Loup, s. a leap or spring. — Loup-the-lang-lonnin, the game
of leap frog.
LouPY-DYKE, Imij} the di/ke, a term of contempt conjoining
the ideas of imprudence and waywardness. Sometimes ap-
plied to one of those expeditions that maidens sigh for,
but which prudent mati'ons deprecate as shameless and
untoward.
LTJM 129
LoiiT, i\ to bow in the rustic fashion. Su.-Got. fitia, incli-
nare. This is an old word used b}^ Gower, Chaucer, and
other ancient English writers.
Lout, s. a stupid awkward person. Teut. loef-e, homo insul-
sus. In Shakspeare, loivL
LovESOME, lovely. Sax. lossum, delectabDis. In Peirs Plough-
man, Chaucer, &c. Indeed, in old Eng. some and ly are
used indiiferently as terminations of adjectives.
Low, Lowe, to make a bright flame, as well as the flame itself.
Su.-Got. loga, Isl. logi, flamma. — Lilly-lowe, a comfort-
able blaze. " Had aboot the low."
LowANCE, LooANCE, an allowance of drink to work people.
" Noo, maister, ye'U sartinlif give-us war looance." V.
Moor, lowans.
LowRY, Looking, overcast, threatening to be wet. Spoken
only, I think, of the weather.
Li'BBARD, Lubbart, an awkward, clownish fellow, a calf-
hearted person. Lubber may be found in Shakspeare and
other authors. " D'ye ken that lubbard there ? — hoo he
tummiPd his creils ! — he's all owre darts .'"
For h3'^em an' bairns an' maw wife Nan,
Aw yool'd oot like a liihbarf ;
An' when aw thowt we aw shud gan
To Davy Jones's cubbart.
Song, Jemmy Joiieson^s Whurry.
LvG, the ear. An old word both in England and in Scotland.
Su.-Got. lugga. Sax. ge-luggian, to pull — the ear being a
part easily pulled or lugged. " Aw'l dad yor lug" — " aw'l
skslp yor gob."
LuGGisH, an indolent, or idle fellow. — Luggish-heeded, heavy
headed, thick headed.
LuM, a deep pool of water, the still part of a river.
130 LUM
Llm, the chimney of'a cottage. Welsli, lluinon. Lover is in
Lancashire, and also in some parts of Yorkshire, a chim-
ney— properly (like the lum) an aperture in the roof of old
houses, where the fire was in the centre of the room. Fr,
I'ouverte. I find love}- in Peirs Ploughman, and also in
the Faerie Queene. Sibbald, however, conjectures that
lum may be from Sax. leom, light — scarcely any other light
being admitted, except through this hole. Brand, on the
other hand, asks if it may not be derived from the lone or
clay wherewith the wattle work is daubed over inside and
out?
LuM-sooPERS, LuM-swEEPERS, chuuney-sweepers. North. <$•
Newc.
LuRDANE, a drone, a sluggard. Teut. herd. Old Ital. lordone.
Fr. lourdaud. Some old writers, however, pretend to de-
ri\'e this word from Lord Dane — a name given (more from
dread than dignity) to those Danes, who, when they were
masters of the island, were distributed in private houses ;
where they are said to have conducted themselves, or if
the expression be permitted — lorded over the inhabitants,
with outrageous insolence and pride.
In every liouse Lord Dane did then rule all ;
Wlience laysie lozels lurdancs now we call.
Mirror for Magistrates.
LuRDV, lazy, sluggish. Fr. lourd, dull, stupid. Ital. lordo,
dirty, filthj'.
LusTYisH, rather stout, inclining to be plimip.
Lyery, the lean or muscular flesli of animals. Sax. lira,
viscum.
Lyka ! listen — an exclamation of astonishment. Lijlca man !
what do I hcai- jou say.
MAIN 131
M.
Mab, v. to dress cai'elessly. — Mab, s. a slattern. Perhaps in
derision of Queen Mab.
Mack, to make. Preterite, vii/ed. Germ, machen. — Mack,
kind, sort, a match or equal. — Mackless, matchless.
Macks, snakes, sorts, fashions.
MacK'BOULD, to venture, or take the liberty. Make bold.
Mackshift, a substitute or expedient in a case of necessity or
difficulty.
Maddle, to wander, to talk inconsistently, to forget or con-
found objects, as if in a state bordering on delirium.
Madpash, a person disordered in the mind — a madbrain. —
From mad and pash, the head.
Maffle, to stammer, to be puzzled — to act by means inade-
quate to the attainment of the object or end proposed —
like one in dotage. Tent, maffelen, balbutire. — Maffling,
a state of perplexity.
Maggy, a magpie. Also called a Fyannet.
Mail, rent or money exacted by Freebooters on the borders.
Sax. mal, stipendium.
Mailin, or Maeylin, a sort of mop made of old rags, \vith a
long pole, for cleaning out an oven — metaphorically, a
dirty careless wench. V. Todd's John, malk'in and maukin.
Main, might, strength, exertion. Sax. mcegn. Shakspeare
endeavours to be superlatively witty on the wovd.
Sal. — Then let's make haste away, and look
Unto the main.
Wak — Unto the main ! O father, Maine is lost ;
That Maine which by main force Warwick did win,
And would have kept so long as breath did last :
jV/aJK chance, father, you meant; but I meant iV/ai«i-,-
Which I will win from France, or else be slain.
Second Part of King Henry VJ.
132 MAIN
Main of rocks, a cock-fighting match. Anathematized by
Brand ; Pop. Antiq. vol. i. p. 480.
Mains, a farm, or certain fields, attached to a mansion house.
Old Fr. manse.
Mainswear, Manswear, to take a false oath. Sax. mansive-
rian. " He's a manswearing fellow."
Maist, Mayst, almost. — Maistly, Maystly, mostly. Sax.
viaest, most, greatest.
Maister, master. Sax. master. Used by Spenser. — Mais-
ter-man, a husbancL
Maistry, power, superiority, mastery. Fr. maistrie.
Make, a companion, or equal. An old word. Sax. maca. —
Makeless, matchless, without an equal. Su.-Got. maka-
locs. This latter word, in the gai'b of MAKE Ai22 — adopt-
ed by the learned Christina of Sweden, on one of her
numerous medals — sadly perplexed the antiquaries at
Rome.
Make-count, to calculate on, to mean or intend to do any
thing.
Male, or Mail, a travelling trunk. V. Nares' Gloss.
Mall, Maul, Mally, Mailly, Polly, Mary,
A bold virago stout and tall.
As Joan of France, or EngUsh Mall.
Butler, Hudilmts.
Mawmer, to hesitate, to be in doubt, to mutter.
I wonder in my soul
What you could ask me, that I should deny,
Or stand so mammcTwg on. SJiak, Oilwllo.
Hanmer most unfortunately refers to Fr. m\imour, which,
he says, " men were apt often to repeat when they were
not prepai'ed to give a direct answer !"
MARR 133
Mammy, a childish name for mother. Teut. nmmme,
INIanadge, Manaudge, a box or ckib instituted by inferior shop-
keepers— generally linen-tlrapers — for supplying goods
to poor or improvident people, who agi'ee to pay for them
by instalments — ^a mode of dealing extremely lucrative to
one party, but sadly the contrary to the other. Of late, much
of this deservedly disreputable trade has been in the hands
of manadge-ivomen, who become responsible to the dra-
pers for what they impose on their deluded customers.
Mang, s. barley or oats ground with the husks ; given to
dogs and swine. Perhaps from Sax. mengean, to mingle.
Maxg, preposition, among, amongst.
Manner, manure, dung, or compost. " Aw've manner''d the
land."
Mannie, a man. " A tight little mannie but low."
Mappen, perhaps. It may happen.
Marches, the northern borders. Sax. inearc. Fr. marche.
They of those marches, gracious sovereign,
Shall be a wall sufficient to defend
Our inland from the pillering borderers.
Shal;. Hen. V.
Mare, more. Pure Saxon. Germ. mehr.
Margit, Meg, Meggy, Peg, Peggy, Margaret.
Marrow, Marra, v. to match, to equal.
'Bout Lunnun then divent ye myek sic a rout.
There's nowse there maw winkers to dazzle ;
For aw the fine things ye are gobbin about,
We can marra iv Canny Newcassel.
Song, Canny Newcassel,
Marrow, s. a fellow, companion, or associate; an equal, a
similar.
Yet chopping and changing T cannot commend
With thief or his marrow, tor fear of ill end Tiisscr.
134 MARK
Marrows, fellows ; two alike, or corresponding to each
other ; as a paii' of gloves, a pair of stockings, a pair of shoes.
Marrow-bones, the knees. " I'll bring him down on his
marrow-bones" — I'll make him bend his knees as he does
to the Virgin Mary. Brand's Pop. Antiq. vol. i. p. 43.
But see Grose's Class. Diet.
Marrowless, without a match, incomparable.
Marrv ! Marry -COME-OUT ! Marry -on-us ! common inter-
jections— purposed disguises in favour of pious ears.
Marn/-gip, goody she-justice, mistress French hood.
Ben Jon.
Marry and shall, that I will. Often used by old people.
Marsycree, to ill-treat, to butcher. Corruption of massacre.
Mart, Mayrt, a cow or ox slaughtered at Martinmas, and
salted for the winter. It is customary in Newcastle and
the neighbourhood, for a few families to join in the pur-
chase of a mart, which is obtained at the Stones fail', held
on old Martinmas day, and divided among them.
And MartUmass Berfc doth beare good tacke,
When countrey folke do dainties lacke. — Tusscr.
Mash, v. to bruise. " Mash'd up." — Mash, s. confusion.
Mask, to infuse. " Mask the tea." V. Jam.
Mason-due, the vulgar name for an ancient hospital, on the
Sandhill, Newcastle, lately taken down. Evidently a
corruption of Fr. maison Dieu.
Masselgem, a mixture of wheat and rye — maslin. Teut. mas-
teluyn, farrago.
Maten-corn, corn damped and beginning to germinate. —
North. V. Ihre, mall.
Matters. " Naa girt matters," nothing extraordinar}' or to
boast of. Crav. Gloss,
MAY 135
Maugh, Meaugii, brother-in-law. V. Lye, maeg.
Maul, to beat soundl} , to hurt severely. Mce.-Got. maul-jan.
Upon the childe, but somewhat short did fall,
And lighting on his horse's head, him quite did nmU.
Sjieiiser, Faerie Quccne.
Maumy, mellow, soft. Su.-Got. mogna, to become mellow.
To maum a crust of bread, is to soften it in water.
Maunder, to wander about in a thoughtful manner ; to be
tedious in talking ; to say a great deal, but irregularly and
confusedly ; to lose the thread of a discourse. Q. Gael.
mandagh, a stutterer ?
Maunt, Mt'N'CLE, contractions of my aunt, my uncle. Bor-
ders of North. Nuncle and Naunt occur in Beaimi. & Flet.
Maw, v. to mow. Preterite, mew. Sax. mawan. Germ.
mahen. — Mawers, the mowers.
Maw, s. the human stomach, as well as that of an animal.
Sax. maga. V. Todd's John.
Maw, p)-onoun, my, mine, belonging to me.
Mawd, a plaid worn by the Cheviot shepherds. Su.-Got.
mudd, a garment made of rein-deer skins.
Maw'K, a maggot, a gentle. Su.-Got. 77iatk, madk. — Mawky,
IVIawkish, maggotty, whimsical, proud, capricious.
May, the sweet scented flower of the white thorn. See May-
Day Customs, Brand's Pop. Antiq. vol. i. p. 179 & seq.
Itise up, maidens, fie for shame.
For I've been four lang miles from hame :
I've been gathering mj garlands gay ;
Rise up, fair maids, and take in your May.
Old Newcastle S&ng.
Moor gives an inaccurate version of this homely canticle.
V. Suff. Words, p. 225.
136 MAZE
MazeDj astonished, amazed. Also stupified — rendered in-
sensible by a blow. " Aw stood qnite mazed."
Me, for I. A common grammatical error. Not without ex-
amples in our old language.
Meal, the appointed time when a cow is milked, as well as
the quantity of milk she gives at once. Sax. ma;l, portio,
spatium temporis.
Mealy-mouthed, " using soft words, concealing the real in-
tention; speaking hypocritically." Todd's John. I
should prefer Skinner's construction — mild-mouthed or
mellow-mouthed — but derive the word from Fr. miele,
honied, as we say honied words.
Clavton Avas false, mcaUc-moutWd, and poore spirited.
Life of Ant. a Wood, p. 165.
Meank, to complain, to lament. Sax. maenan, dolere.
And thus she means Sltak. Mid. NighCs Dream.
Meaning, shrinking or feeling sore, indicative of pain or lame-
ness.
Mebby, Mebbys, Ma bees, Maebbies, peihaps, probably. //
may be.
Meddle nor make. " He'll neither meddle nor make" —
he'll not interfere.
Meer, a mare. Also an abusive term among the lower order
oi ladies in Newcastle. " Aw me Peg, yah vieer.^''
Meet, fit, proper. Stated in Todd's John, to be rarely used.
It is quite common in North, and Dur.
Meldek, a making of meal. In some places the farmers hire
the miller, and in turns have a winter stock of meal made.
The meldering day used to be, and perhaps still is, a kind
of feast among the yeomanr} . Fr. moudre, to grind ; or,
according to Dr. Jam. Isl. iiudldr, molitura, from mala, to
grind.
MELL 137
Mell, v. to intermeddle, to engage in, to interfere with. Fr.
vieler. " I shall not mell with your affairs." The com-
mentators are not agreed on the expression,
Men are to mell with.
Shak. All's Well that Ends Well.
It means men are to meddle with ; without the least al-
lusion to the indecent idea surmised by Theobald.
Mell, v. to pound or bruise, to crush.
Mell, s, a wooden mallet, or hammer. Lat. malleus.
Mell-doll, an image of corn, dressed like a doll, carried in
triumph — amidst the most frantic screaming of the women
— on the last day of reaping. In some places they call it
a KERN (perhaps, properly, corn) baby. There is also oc-
casionally a harvest queen — thought to be a representation
of the Roman Ceres — apparelled in great finery, and
crowned with flowers ; with a scythe in one hand, and a
portion of corn in the other.
Mell-supper, a supper and merry-making on the evening of
the conclusive reaping day — harvest-home. Besides a
grand display of excellent old English cheer, with a mix-
tm'e of modern gout, to enlarge the sphere of epicurean
enjoyment, there is dancing, masking and disguising, and
every other sort of mirth to expand a rustic heart to gaiety.
According to Hutchinson,the Historian of Northumberland,
the name of this supper is derived from the rites of Ceres,
when an offering of the first fruits was made ; the word
melle being a provincial word, equivalent to mingle : imply-
ing that the cakes used at this festival are mingled or made
of new corn, and that it is the feast of the first mingling of
flour of the new reaped wheat. I am, however, strongly in-
clined to think, that we may safely refer to Teut. macl.
138 MELL
convivium refectio, pastus. Various other etymologies
have been conjectured, which are noticed in Brand's Pop.
Ant. vol. i., Chap. Harvest- Home ; where much curious
matter relative to this subject is collected.
Mell-doors, the space between the heck and outward door —
the entry.
Mell-drop, the least offensive species of mucus from the nose.
" Mell-drop Tommy."
Mends, recompense, atonement. Amends.
If she be fair, 'tis the better for her ; an she be not,
she has the mends in her own hand.
Shak. Troilus and Cnssida.
Mennam, the minnow. Gael, meanan.
Mense, v. to grace, to ornament, to decorate. " The pictures
mense the room."
Mense, .?. decency, propriety of conduct, good manners, kind-
ness, hosjutality. Sax. menncsc, humanus. It also means
an ornament, or credit ; as he is " a mense to his family."
The last of a dish of meat untaken is said to be left for
mense's stdce, perhaps pro mensa. See Tailor's mense.
Menseful, decent, graceful, mannerly, hospitable, creditable.
Menseless, indccorus, graceless, inhospitable.
Mense-pennv, liberality conducted by prudence.
Would have their menseful penny spent
With gossips at a merriment.
The Collier's Wedding.
Mere, a lake. Pure Saxon. Buttermere, Windermere.
Merry-begotten, filius nuUius — rather waggishly alluded to
by old Brunne.
Knoute of his body gate sonnes thre,
Tuo bi tuo wifes, the thrid injolifte.
Langtoffs Chronicle.
MIDD 139
Merry-dancers, the glancings of the Aurora BoreaUa, or
northern lights; when first seen, called burning spears,
and which to persons of a vivid imagination still seem to
represent the clashing of arms, in a military engage-
ment : — called also the Pyrrhj-duncers — a name that may
have been adopted from the Pyrrhica saltat'w, or military
dance of the ancients ; from which, no doubt, the sivord-
dance of the Northumbrian youths, in theii" white plow, at
Christmas, has had its origin.
Merry-nights, rustic balls — nights (generally about Christ-
mas) appropriated to mirth and festivity. These homely
pastimes, besides the eating and drinking, consist of danc-
ing, in all the lower modes of the art ; of masked inter-
ludes ; and occasionally of the ancient sword dance ; with
an indispensable admixture of kissing and romping, and
other " gallantry robust."
Messit, a little dog, a cur. V. Jam. viessan.
Meterly, Meeterly, tolerably well, moderately, within
bounds.
MiCKLE, MucKLE, much. Sax. micel, miclc. Isl. mikill.
An oath o^mickle might Shak. Hen. V.
O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies
In plants, herbs, stones, and their true qualities.
Shak. Rom. and Jitl.
He had in arms abroad won viuckd fame.
Sfcuscr, Pacric Qiieene.
Midden, Muck-midden, a dunghill. Sax. middlng, sterquili-
nium — Midden-stead, a place for dung.
Midden, a contemptuous term for a female — conjoining the
ideas of insipidity, inactivity, and dirt.
Middens, or Black-middens, dangerous rocks on the north
side of the entrance into Shields harbour.
140 MIDG
Midge, a small gnat. Sax. micge. A diminutive mischiev-
ous boy is often called a midge. — Midge's-ee, any thing
very small. As a comparison — very common.
MiDLLV, MiDLiNG, tolerably well, indifferent. " Weel, Tom-
my y hoo are yah ? Midlin, thenk yah ! Hoo are ycc ?
Wey, gayly, Joan .'"
, Mighty, very. " Mighty great" — " mighty high" — " a m^hty
fine fellow."
Milker, a cow that gives milk ; not the person who milks.
" She's a top milker."
MiLKUS, MiLKHOUSE, a dairy. Sax. melce-hus.
Mind, to remember, to be steady and attentive. Dan. miiide,
to remind.
Mint, to aim at, to shew a mind to do something, to endea-
vour, to make a fei[;,ied attempt. Sax. ge-myndian, in-
tendere.
Minxy, a fondling term for mother. Sc. minnie.
Mire-druw, the Bittern or Bog-bumper. Ardea Stellaris,
Linnaeus. There is a beautiful figure of this stately bird
in Bewick's History.
Mirk, Mirky, dark. Sax. mirce. Isl. viyrkr, tenebrosus.
Old Eng. mirke.
Gane is the day, and mlrk^s the night,
But we'll ne'er stay for faute o' light. — Burns.
Mirth, Morth, or Murth, abundance ; as a murth of corn,
a murth of cold.
Miscall, to abuse, to call names to. " Yah cannot miscall me
past me nyem."
Mis-kex, tp be ignorant of, not to know.
Mislippen, to suspect, to neglect.
Misses, the matron or mistress of the house. " What will
me ynisses say?"
MOOR 141
MiSTETCH, an ill habit, property or custom ; perhaps from viis-
teach. Chaucer uses tetch, for a spot or blemish.
Mitt AN, a glove ; generally made of thick leather or coarse
yarn. Fr. mitainc.
He that his hand wol put in his mitaiite
Heshal have multiplying of his graine.
Chaucer, Pardonercs Tale.
MiXTY-MAXTV, MixY-MAXY, any thing confusedly mixed, an ir-
regular medley. Su.-Got. m'lshnask.
Mizzle, small rain. The substantive is neither in Ash's Diet.
nor in Todd's John, though the verb is admitted in both.
MoiDER, to puzzle, to perplex. — Moidered, bewildered, con-
fused, distracted.
MoLTER, Mooter, Mouter, a portion of meal abstracted by
the miller as a compensation fo. grinding ; the toll, as it
were, of the mill. Fr. viouture. It is also used as a verb.
It is good to be merry and wise,
Quoth the miller, when he mouter\l twice.
Sc. Prov.
MojiE, soft, smooth, conjoining the idea of sweetness. Hence
the liquor mun — ale brewed with wheat.
MoNNY, many. — Monny a time axd oft, a common expres-
sion for frequently.
Moo, to low as a cow. Germ, mu, vox vaccae naturalis. —
Wachter.
MooN-LiGHT, MooN-sHiNE, a mere pretence, an illusive shadow.
Also smuggled whiskey. Thanks to the malt and other
taxes for this neologism.
Moor, a heath, a common or waste land. Sax. mor, ericetum.
Isl. vior, terra arida inculta et inutilis. Dr. Jamieson er-
roneously supposes that this word alwnyx implies the idea
142 , MOOT
of water or marshiness. The same mistake occms in
Todd's Johnson.
Moot-hall, the ancient hall of the castle of Newcastle — the
place of holding the assizes for the county of Northumber-
land. Sax. moth-heal, conventus aula, comitium.
Mop, " to make wry mouths or grin in contempt." — Todd's
John. In the North it means to prim or look affectedly.
— Moppet, a child so acting. Also a term of endeannent.
Moppe, is an old word in the latter sense.
Moral, model. " The moral of a man." An archaism.
More, a hill. Sax. mor. mons.
Morn, morrow. — The morn, to-morrow. Sax. morghen, mor-
gen.
Mortal, very, exceeding, excessive, abounding. Perhaps from
mo7-t, a great quantity.
So is all nature in love, mortal in folly.
S/tak. As You Like It.
Moss-TROOPERS, banditti, who inhabited the marshy borders of
the two kingdoms, and subsisted chiefly by rapine. So
called from living in mosses, and riding in troops to-
gether.
Most. It is not unusual to prefix this superlative degree to
the regular superlative form of another word — as " the most
wickedest wretch that ever lived." " The most pleasantest
fellow I ever knew." There are examples for it in Shaks-
peare and some of his cotemporaries.
MoUDY-RAT, MouDY-WARp, MouLEY-RAT, a molc. Sax. mold,
mould, and weorpan, to cast up. Dan. mulvarp, a mole.
Spenser and other old writers use mouldwarp. Shakspeare
— in allusion to the old prophecy which is said to have in-
duced Owen Glendower to rebel against King Henry —
MUCK 143
causes Hotspur, when taxed by Mortimer with crossing his
father, thus to exclaim —
I cannot choose : sometimes he angers me
With telling me of tlie moldwarp and the ant, &c.
First Part of King Henry IV.
MouDY-HiLL, MouLEY-RAT-HiLL, a mole-hiU.
MouNGE, to grumble lowly, to whine or complain. " What are
ye mounging about."
About him they aw throng'd, and ax'd what news trae
under ground,
Each tell'd about their blarin, when they ken'd that
he was drown'd.
Hoots !" Archy moung'd, " its nowt but lees — to the
Barley ]Mow let's e'en be joggin,
Awl tyek my oath it wassent me, because aw hear its
Archy Loggan,"
Song, Bold Archy Droxvndcd.
Mount, a large stone hewn into the shape of steps — placed at
the doors of public houses, to assist persons in mounting
their horses.
Mow, to converse unlawfully. I believe an old word. See the
ancient ballad of Bonny Dundee.
Mow, a distorted mouth. Fr. moue, a wry face.
Mow, a stack. " The barley mow." Sax. mowe, acerviis.
Muck, dung for manure. Sax. meox, fimus — Muck-jiidden, a
heap of maniu'e, a dunghill. — Mucky, dirty, filthy. The
Crav. Gloss, has 7nuck cheap, cheap as dirt : muck-heap, a
very dirty person, " a girt muck heap :" muck-midden-
hreward, upstarts. — Muck, however offensive to those
whose affected gentility recoils at a vulgar phrase, is not
without example in several of our best and most accom-
plished writers.
144 MUCK
MuCKiNGER, MucKiNDER, a pocket-handkerchicf.
Be of good comfort, take my muckiuder.
And dry thine eyes. — Ben Jon.
Muddle, to confuse, to perplex. V. SufF. Words, muddle and
vmddled.
Muds, small nails used by cobblers.
MuFFETTEE, a worsted covering or small muffiov the wrist. Ap-
parently a recent innovation. The Scotch have a kind of
gloves worn by old men, called muffities, from which the
term may have been borrowed.
Mug, a low word for the mouth. " Shut your ugly mug."
Mugger, a hawker of pots, a dealer in earthen ware. This
trade is carried on to a great extent among the gipsy tribes
in the Northern counties.
Muggy, the white-throat. Motacilla Sijlva. — Linnaeus.
Mull, dirt, rubbish, crumbs. Su.-Got. mull. Chaucer uses
mullok. The fragments and dust of a stack of peats are
called peat-?HM//, and oaten bread broken into a'umbs, is
called mulled bread.
Mulligrubs, bad temper, ill humour — an indescribable com-
plaint.
What's the matter ?
Whither go all these men-menders, these physicians ?
Whose dog lies sick o' th' mulUgrvhs.
Bcaum. and Flet. Monsmir Thomas.
Mummer, a person disguised under a mask, a sort of morris
dancer. Dut. wowjnew, to mask. Dan. 7«z«ra?«e,mum. See
as to the old custom of mumming, in Brand's Pop. Antiq.
vol. i. p. 354.
Mump, to hit or slap — ^to beat about the mouth. " I'll juump
yor gob." A very low word.
Mun, an expletive used on all occasions. Man.
- NAG 145
MuN, MuNS, the mouth. Germ, viund.
MuN, Mown, must. " I mun gan." " You mun come." Isl.
vnm. Chaucer uses vioun and mowen.
MuNNiT, must not. — Mussent, the same.
MuRDERiNQ-PiE, the great ash-coloured shrike. Laniiis excu-
bitor. Linnaeus.
MuRL, to fall in pieces, to crumble. Welsh, imvrl, crumbling.
Dut. 7nullen, to crumble.
Musii, the dust, or dusty refuse of any dry substance, any thing
decay^ or soft, " Dried to mush."
Mutton, a term for a courtezan.
The duke, I say to thee again, would eat mutton on
Fridays. — Shak. Meas.for Meas.
Mutton's mutton now. — Welster"!! Appms (|- V\rg.
Muzzy, half stupified, bewildered— /a/fg«e^ with liquor, as I
once heard & friend express it.
Mv-EYE, a vulgar interjectional expression of exultation, in
frequent use.
Mysell, myself. An universal corruption among the vulgar.
N.
Na, no. — Nat, not. Both pure Saxon. Chaucer has given
his Northern Clerks a northern dialect. V. Tyrwhitt's
note on verse 4021.
Nab, Nabb, a protuberance, an elevated point, the rocky sum-
mit of a hill. A steep and high precipice at the confluence
of the Baulder and the Tees, is called the Nabb. Sax.
cncep^ vertex montis. Isl. gnup, prominentia. Su.-Got.
kncBpp, summitas montis.
Nag, to gnaw nt any thin^ hard.
146 NAGG
Naggy, ii-ritable. See KInaggy.
Naky-bed, Nakit-bed, in puns naturalibus — stark-naked. —
Nares observes, that, down to a certain period, those who
were in bed were literally naked, no night linen being
worn. Many of the Scotch — thrifty souls — and some of
the English, still continue the custom.
Nanny-house, Nanny-shop, a brothel. Newcastle.
Napkin, a pocket handkercliief. Borders of North. Used
by Shakspeare in several of his plays ; and by other
writers.
Nappern, an apron. This pronunciation is conformable to
the old orthography. Fr. na2)eron, a large cloth.
Nappy, fine ale — a little intoxicated with it. Sax. naj)pe,
cyathus. Ital. nappo, a bowl.
Nappy ale, good and stale.
BaWad, Khig and Miller of 3 fimxjidd. ■
Narrate, to relate, to tell. Not confined to Scotland as
stated by Dr. Johnson.
Nash, Nesh, tender, weak, fragile. Sax. nesc.
Nasty, ill-natured, impatient, saucy. Its other meaning is
universal.
Nation, very, exceedingly. " Nation great" — " naiion wise"
— " nation foolish."
Nattle, or Knattle, to hit one hard substance against another
gently and quick, to make a noise like that of a mouse
gnawing a board.
Nattry, ill natured, petulant. " Nattry faced."
Natty, neat, tidy. " How very iiatfij he is."
Naup, to beat, to strike. Isl. kncfu. See Nevel.
Nay-say, a refusal, a denial. Holinshed uses nay, v. to refuse.
Nay then ! an exclamation implying great doubt, or wonder.
NEED 147
Ne, no. — Nebodv, nobody. " Whe was there ?" " Nebody P'
Neagre, a term of reproach, equivalent to a base wretch ;
though often confined to a mean, niggardly person. Pro-
bably from Fr. negre, a negro.
Near-sighted, short-sighted. Su.-Got. naarsynt.
Neb, a point, a beak — also the nose, the mouth. Sax. nebb.
Isl. nebbi, nef.
How she holds up the neh, the bill to him !
Shak. Winter's Tale.
Give her a bus — see how she cods her neh — Newc.
Neck-about, a woman's neck-handkerchief. Neckatee.
Neck and Heels, topsy-turvy. Origin obvious.
Neck-verse, a cant term formerly used by marauders on the
borders — adopted from the verse (generally thought to be
the beginning of the 51st psalm) read by criminals claim-
ing the benefit of clergy, so as to save their lives.
Letter nor line know I never a one,
Wer't my neck-verse at Hairibee.
Scott, Lay of the Last Minstrel-
Ned, Neddv, Edward. " Neddy, maw dear."
Neddy, a certain place that will not bear a written explana-
tion ; but which is depicted to the life in the first edition
of Bewick's Land Birds, p. 285. This A>-oa(/ piece of na-
tive humour is somewhat refined in the subsequent im-
pressions.
Need-fire, an ignition produced by the friction of two pieces
of dried wood. The vidgar opinion is that an Angel
strikes a tree, and that the fire is thereby obtained. Need-
fire, I am told, is still employed in the case of cattle in-
fected with the murrain. They were formerly driven
through the smoke of a fire made of straw, &c. It was
148 NEER
then thought wicked to neglect smoking them. Sax. nyd,
force, andifyr, fire ; that i?., forced fire.
Neer-dee-weel, a graceless person — one who seems never to
do luell.
Neese, Neeze, to sneese. Sax. ncsse, the nose.
Neest, Niest, Nest, next.
Neet, night. " Good met, hinny."
Neif, the fist. Isl. kneji. Su.-Got. kncefve. Dan. rucve. A
good old Shakspearian word. Nai'es' display of authorities
was unnecessary. The word is still in general use in all
the northern counties. — Double-neif, the clenched fist.
Neif-full, a handful.
Nclson's Bullets, small confections in the shape of balls. In
commemoration of the naval hero.
Nents, against, towards.
Nerled, ill-treated : often applied to the conduct of a step-
mother.
Nestling, the smallest bird in the nest, the weakest of the
brood. Sax. nestling. Something like the Dowpy. .
Nether-stocks, stockings. Used by Shak. in King Lear,
and in Henry IV. Nether is an old word for lower, from
Sax. neother.
Nether.lip, the under lip.
That thou art my son, I have partly thy mother's
word, partly m^' own opinion ; but chiefly a vil-
lainous trick of thine eye, and a foolish hanging
of the nether lij), that doth waiTant me.
Slutk. First Part of Henry IF.
Nettled, provoked, irritated — as if stung by a 7icitlc. To
water a nettle, in a certain way, has been said proverbially
to cause peevish and fretful, humour. See. the proverb in
Howell.
NIFF 149
^EUCK, NuiK, Nook, a corner. " The chimlay neucV — the
fire side. Gael. nine.
Nevel, to beat violently with the fists, or neives. See Nkii'.
She'l nawpe and nnd them M'ithout a cause,
She'l macke them late their teeth naunt in their hawse.
Yorkshire Dialogue, p. 08.
Ni ! Ni ! a common exclamation in Newcastle.
VVaes ! Archy lang was hale an' rank, the kiiig o' lad-
. dies braAv —
His wrist Avas like an anchor shank, his fist was like
the claw —
His yellow waistcoat flowered se fine, myed tailors
lang for cabbage cuttins —
It myed the bairns to glower amain, and cry, '■^ Ni !
Ni ! what bonny buttons !"
Song, Bold Arch)/ Drownded.
Nice, good, pleasant, agreeable, handsome. " A nice man" — " a
very nice woman." — Nicely, in good health.
Nick, to delude by stratagem, to deceive.
Nick-stick, a tally, or notched stick, by which accounts are
kept. This simple mode of reckoning seems to have been
the only one known to the Northern nations. V. Jam.
When a woman, in a certain state, goes longer than her
calculation, she is said among the vulgar to have lost her
niclc-sticJc.
Nicker, to neigh, to laugh in a loud ridiculous manner. Sax.
gneegan. " What are you nickering at."
Nicker and Sneer, a loud vulgar laugh — apparently boi-i-ow-
ed from the neighing and snorting of a horse.
Niddered, starved with cold, hungered. V. Jam.
NiFF-NAFFS, trifles, things of little value. Fr. nippes.
150 NIFF
NiFFV-NAFFY, 3 term for an insignificant or conceited person
— one whose attention is devoted to trifles.
NiFFLE, to steal, to plunder. Perhaps by a metathesis from
rijle.
Nigh, to approach, to touch. Sax. nehwan, appropinquare.
— Nigh-hand, hard by, — Nighest-about, the nearest
way.
Night-courtship, a Cumbrian mode of wooing; fully de-
scribed in note 3, Anderson's Ballads.
NiM, to walk with short quick steps, to take up hastily.
Nine-trades, nine trading companies in Newcastle — three
of wood — three of thread — and three of leather. " The
meeting of the nine trades."
Ninnyhammer, a fooHsh, stupid person. Shak. frequently
uses ninny.
Nip-cheese, a contemptuous designation for a parsimonious,
covetous person.
Nip-up, to wipe up, to move quickly, to pilfer.
Nipping, pinching ; as by frost or cold.
It is a nipping and an eager air. — SJiaJc. Hamlet.
Nithing, much valuing, sparing of; as nith'mg of his pmns :
i. e. sparing of his pains. Ray.
NiTTLE, handy, neat, handsome. Sax. nj/tlic, utilis.
NivvER, never. " To-morrow come nivver — when two Sun-
days meet together."
Nob, the head. Used ludicrously.
NoBBiT, Nobbut, only. No7ie but. " Who's that ?" — " Nob-
bit I."
Noddle, a burlesque name for the nose.
No-FAR, near. Not far, A common North country phrase.
Noodle, a fool. A term often used in Newcastle — sometimes
ungallantly.
NOUS 151
NooLED, checked, curbed, broken spirited.
Nor, than. Very common among the vidgai" ; and occa-
sionally used by people in Newcastle, in a sphere beyond
the " mere ignoble." Gael. na.
Nose on the grindstone, asimile for the fate of an improvident
person. See an illustration in a tail piece to Bewick's
iEsop, p. 128.
Nose-wise, acute, quick of perception. Germ, nase-weis, self-
witted, presumptuous.
Note, to push or strike with the horns ; as a bull or nun.
Isl. hntota, ferire.
N0TT.AJMY, OTToaiy, a skeleton. — Nottamised, Ottomised,
dissected.
Nought, Nowt, nothing. " Cheese for half-nought, here !"
Newcastle cry.
NouT, OR Nolt, neat, or horned cattle of the ox species.
Isl. naut, bos. Old Eng. nowt. The nolt market, the
ancient name of a street in Newcastle — now the Bigg-
market.
NouT-GELD, Neat-geld, cornage rent, originally paid in cattle
— horn tax. Cornage seems to have been peculiar to the
border service against the Scots. The tenants holding
under it were bound to be ready to serve, on horseback
or on foot, at their own costs and charges ; and, being best
acquainted with the passes and defiles, had the honour of
marching in the vanguard, when the king's araiy passed
into Scotland.
NouTH, the north. — Noutherly, northerly. " Past two
o'clock, and a frosty mornin — winds noutherly." — Norrid,
northward. " Several Greenlandmen passed norrid"
NouTHER, Nowther, neither. Pure Saxon.
NoL'SE, judgment, understanding, sense. Lat. noscere.
152 NOW'S
NowsE, notliing ; contrary to oiose.
Wi' huz, mun, three hundred ships sail iv a tide.
We think nowse on't aw'l myek accydavy ;
Ye're a gowk if ye din't knaw that the lads o' Tyne-side,
Are the Jacks that myek famish wor navy.
Song, Canny Newcasscl.
As to that pedant Mr. Hall,
By Jove — I'll give him noivse at all.
The Vicar's Will.
Nudge, to push, to jog. " What aie ye midging at."
NuM, Numb, clumsy, benumbed. Sax. benum, stupefactus.
NuT-CRACK-NiGHT, All Hallows Evc ; on which it is customary
to crack nuts in large quantities. They are also thrown
in pairs into the fire, as a love divination, by young people
in Northumberland, anxious to know their future lot in
the connubial state. If the nuts lie still and burn toge-
ther, it prognosticates a happy marriage, or at least a hope-
ful love ; if, on the contrary, they bounce and fly asunder,
the sign is unpropitious to matrimony. Bm'ning the nuts
is also a famous charm in Scotland.
The auld guidwife's weel hoordet nits
Are round an' round divided.
An' monie lads' and lasses' fates
Are there that night decided :
Some kindle couthie, side by side.
An' bum thegither trimly ;
Some start awa wi' saucy pride,
And jump out-owre the chimlie.
Burns, Halloween.
See some curious notes, explanatory of the charms and
sjjrfs of this evening, appended to the poem here quoted.
Nyem, name. " Aw diwent ken his nyeni." — Broad Neivcastle.
OIL
O.
Oaf, a fool, a blockhead, an idiot. " Oh ! yah oaf, i/ah /"
V. Todd's John, and WUb,
Obstropolous, vociferous, turbulent, obstreperous.
Then rough-hewn tar,
Who sail'd had far,
" Cries out, my lads ! give o're ;
" Since, body of me !
" You can't agree,
" Cease such obstroj/lous roar."
BenweU Village.
Oddments, Odds and Ends, scraps, tilings of little value,
odd trifles.
Odds-bobs, a vulgar exclamation of surprize. — Odd rot it,
tlie same.
Odds-deeth ! Odds-life ! Odds-heart ! Odds-heft ! Odds-
wowKs ! Odds-zooks ! frequent palliative adjm-ations.
As are also, Odds-dat-it, Odds-drab-it.
Oddsheft ! we all know Skipper Clark,
Has got a stomach like a shark.
And can — if he's a mind to try,
Devour a bullock in a pie.
Willy Wood, and Greedy Grizzle.
Odds-fish ! an interjection — a moderated diminutive of God's
flesh.
Oftens, Offens, the plural of often. Quite common. — 0ft-
iSH, Oftenish, very often.
OiL-oF-HAZEL, a souud di'ubbiug. A piece of waggery is some-
times practised by mischievous mxhins in Newcastle, on
raw inexperienced lads from the country — in sending them
X
154 OLD
to a chymist's shop for a '■^ i^erCorth of oihof-hazeW An
eai'nest application of a good thick hazel stick is often the
result. Sending for pigeoi^s milk is a similar joke of old
standing.
Old, great ; such as was practised in the " olden time." — Oijj-
DOiNGS, great sport, great feasting — an uncommon displa3'
of hospitaHty.
Oldish, rather old. Very common.
Old-nick, one of the most common of all the ludicrous names
given to the devil ; or, as it is pronounced, the deevil. —
The Danes and Germans, according to the northern my-
thology of elder times, worshipped Kocka or Nicken, a
deity of the waters, represented a'^ of a hideous shape, and
of diabolical principles ; from which, no doubt, the popular
name oi old-nick has been derived. — Old-Harry, and Old-
scratch, are also designations appropriated to the same
evil being by the vulgar in the North.
Old-peg, Aud-peg, an inferior sort of cheese, made of skim-
med milk. It is also called, not inaptly, leather huvgry.
V. Moor, bang.
Old-shoe. The ancient custom of throwing an old shoe af-
ter a person for luck, is not yet disused in the North. In
the case of marriages, it is often practised ; even among
some of the great. See on this subject. Brand's Pop.
Antiq. vol. ii. p. 4S0 ; and Nares' Gloss. " As easy as an
old shoe" — a common comparison.
Omy, mellow ; spoken of land. V. Jam. oam.
One-day, a favourite retrospection. " I remember it well —
it happened one-day when from home."
Ongoings, conduct, doings, merriment.
Onset, a dwelling-house and out-buildings. Something ad-
ded or set on.
OUT 155
Onsetten, dwarfish, curbed in growth. " An onsetten f/ihig"
— a common term of derision.
Onstead, Onstid, the buildings on a farm — a station or siai/
near the house for cattle or stacks. Sax on, and sled,
locus.
Ony, Onny, any. — Oxny-bit-like, tolerable, decent, likely.
Oo, often pronounced ui ; as book, buik ; look, luik ; took,
tuik.
OoL, Owl, wool. Had the learned author of the Commen-
taries on the Laws of England known tliis, he need not
have gone so far to seek the meaning of what he calls
owl'mg. V. Blackstone, vol. iv. p. 154.
Oppen, to open. — Oppent, opened.
Orndorns, "afternoon's drinkings, corrupted from onederinsV
Ray, who gives it as a Cumb. word. Ownder is used in
some parts of the North, for the afternoon ; which may be
the same as Chaucer's undern; and in a list of words
communicated to me by a friend, a native of Cumberland,
I find orndinner, afternoon's luncheon — omsupper, after-
supper's refection.
OsKEN, an oxgang of land — varying in quantity.
Othergaits, Othergets, otherwise, different.
If Sir Toby had not been in di-ink, lie would have
tickled you othergates than he did.
SJwk. Tzctlfih NigJd.
Ousen, Owsen", oxen. Moe.-Got. mtlisne.
He has gowd in his coffers, he has oix'seti and kine.
And ae bonie lassie, his darling and mine. — Burns,
Olt-at-the-elbows, in declining circumstances.
Olt-by, a short way from home, not far distant.
Out-fall, a quarrel, a misunderstanding. 1o fall out. Sw.
id/all, a hostile excursion.
156 OUTG
Outgoings, synonymous with Outlay, which see.
Outing, an airing, going from home. Sw. uttaeg, an expedi-
tion abroad. Also an entertainment or supper given by
an apprentice to his shopmates, on the expiration of his
servitude.
Outlay, expenditure. Dr. Jam. refers to Sw. tU/agga, to ex-
pend ; whence iitlaga, tax ; idlagor, expenditure.
Outoponner, or Oot-upon-her ! an interjectional term of
reproach, or abhorrence.
But Old upon this half-fac'd fellowship.
Shak. First Part of King. Henry IV.
Out o' the way, uncommon, exorbitant, wayward.
OuTRAKE, a free passage for sheep from inclosed pastures
into open grounds or common lands. Sax. ut-rcBcan, ex-
tendere. Dr. Willan, however, thinks that, in wrifijig the
word out-track, we should perhaps exhibit the right mode
of spelling, as well as the derivation of it.
OuTSHOTS, projections of the upper stories of old houses, in
Newcastle ; of which there used to be several. A few
still remain. # .
Oft in a house decay'd with age,
^Aliich scarce will bear the winter's rage ;
AVhose crazy outshots threat'ning hing
About their ears, a peal to ring.
Description of Sand gate.
Outwale, refuse. See Wale.
Over it, to recover from an illness. " I'm sadly afraid she'll
never over it."
OvERGET, to overtake — ower-take. " He is but a little before,
you will soon over-get him."
Otermickle, OwERMiCKLE, overmuch. Sax. ofer-micel.
. PACK 1-57
Owe, to belong to. An old sense of the word.
Thou dost here usurp
The name thou ow'st not.
SM^. Tempest.
OwER, over. — Out-ower, across. — Ower-by, over the way.
OwsE, any thing ; contrary to nowse.
OwT, Ought, any thing. Sax. ow/iit.
OwTHER, OwETHER, Oatiier, either. An old word. " Oiu-
ther on us" — either of us.
Ox-eye, the greater titmouse. Parus majo7-, Linnaeus,
OxLiP, the greater cowslip. Sax. oxan-sHppa.
I know a bank Avhere the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violets grows.
Shak. Mid. Nighfs Dream.
OxTAR, Oxter, the aim pit. Sax. oxtan. Pegge, however,
thinks it should perhaps be written Hockster, quasi the
hock of the arm, or the lesser hock.
Oye, a grandchild. V. Jamieson, oe.
Oysters. Ee-shee-ke-le-kaul-er-Oysteers, the famous cry
of the elder oyster-wenches, in Newcastle ; but now rarely
carried to this musical extent. Bewick has figured two
of these dames in a tail piece to his Land Birds, edit. 1821,
p. 20.
P.
Pack, the warehouse of a pedlar. " Perish the Pack" was a
well known character in Newcastle, a few years ago. Sec
Packman, and Pedder.
Packing-penny-day, the last day of the fair ; when all the
cheap bargauis are to be had. Newc.
Pac kman, a pedlar — a man who carries a pack on his back.
— Many persons in Newcastle, now enjoying otmm cum
158 PADD
dignitate, ai"e lineally descended from pack men — through no
very remote genealogy.
Honour and shame from no condition rise ;
Act well your part — there all the honour lies Pope.
Paddick, or Paddock, a frog. Sax. pad, pada. Never a
toad.
Paddockes, todes, and water-snakes.
CJiapynan, Ccesar and Pompey.
Paddock calls — Shak. Macbeth.
Paddle, an iron instrument for clearing away diit, a scraper.
Paddock, a small field or park adjoining to, or surrounding a
house. Sax. pearroc, parruc. In Westmorland, parruck,
evidently the proper word, is a common name for an in-
closure near a farm house.
Paddock-stool, or stuvl, a fungus often mistaken for a
mushroom. Teut. padden-stocl.
P.VD-THE-H00F5 to walk. " As aw cuddent get a ride, aw was
'bliged to pad the hoof.'"
Paffling, silly, trifling. " A paffing fellow."
Paik, to beat, to chastise. Germ, pauken. — Paiks, Paikes, a
beating, a drubbing. V. Jam.
Painches, tripe. From paunch. — Painch-wives, Paincher-
AVIVES, tripe women. Ncwc.
Palaver, v. to use a great many unnecessary words. — Pala-
ver, s. needless talk. Span, palabra, a word ; palabrern,
talkative, full of prate, loquacious.
Palterley, Palterev, paltry.
Pax, to match, to agree, to assimilate. Dr. Willan seems to
think this must be borrowed from cookeri/ : — the author of
the Crav. Gloss, from Sax. jmn, a piece of cloth inserted
or agreeing with another. But see Ray.
PARR lo9
Pancake-Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday ; on v.'hich it is a general
custom in the North to have pancalvcs. Formerly, in
Newcastle, the great bell of St. Nicholas was tolled at
twelve o'clock at noon ; when the shops and offices were
immediately closed, and a little carnival ensued for the
remainder of the day. It is still a sort of half holiday.
Pang, to fill, to stuff. — Pang-full, crammed with food. Teut.
banghen, premere.
Next, to the tents we hied, te get
Sum stuffin for wor bags, man ;
Wi' flesh we gaily pang'd wor hides—
Smok'd anowse but patten shag, man.
Song, X. V. Z.
Pant, a pubKc fountain. In Newcastle they are of a particu-
lar construction, having a reservoir before them for retain-
ing the water. According to Skinner, pond was anciently
pronounced pand, which may be derived from Sax. pyndan,
to inclose or shut up, and which might easily get changed
to pant. See a representation of a North country pant,
in Bewick's ^sop, p. 334.
Parcy-and, the sign or contraction 4-.
Parfit, perfect, entire. Fr. parfait. Used by Chaucer.
Parget, to plaster chimnies with a mixture of cow dung, &c ;
formerly the common term for plastering the roofs of rooms.
V. Nares.
Parlous, perilous, dangerous, wonderful — also acute, clever,
shrewd. An old word. — Parlish, a variation in dialect.
A parhus boy ! — go to, you are too shrewd.
Sliuk. King Richard III.
Parrished, perished, starved, much affected by cold. — Par-
RiSHMEXT, a state of starvation. " He's gettin a jjarrish-
ment a' caud.^'
160 PASE
Pase, v. to raise, to lift up, to open ^vith violence. Fr. peser,
to weigh. — Pase, s. a lever.
Pash, v. to bruise, to crush, to dash in pieces. — Pash, ,s-. any
thing decayed. " As rotten as pasK'' — " As soft as pash."
Pash, a fall of rain or snow. Dut. plus.
Paste-eggs, eggs boiled hard, and dyed or stained various
colours — given to children to amuse themselves with about
the time of Easter. The custom of presenting eggs at this
season of the year is of great antiquity, and pervaded va-
rious nations. Su.- Got. pask-egg. V. Ihre. vol. i. p. 390.
Dan. paaske-cEg, coloured eggs. See nuich cm'ious matter
relative to this subject, in Brand's Pop. Antiq. vol. i. easier
eggs-
Pate, a brock or badger. V. Ray.
Pauky, saucy, squeamish, scrupulously nice — also proud, in-
solent, artful. Q. Sax. pcecan, mentiri ?
Paul, to puzzle. Poze is used in the same sense.
Paut, v. to paw, to walk heavily or awkwardly, to kick. —
Paut, s. a stroke on the ground with the foot. Teut.
pad, planta pedis.
Pawp, the foot — particulai-ly a clumsy one. — Pal pin, Pavp-
iNG, walking awkwardly.
Paws, the hands. " Keep yor paws off."
Pay, to beat, to drub. " The rascal pays his wife." — Pays,
a beating, a drubbing. Welsh, pwyaw, to beat, to batter.
Two, I am sure, I have paid.
Sliak. First Part of King Henrij IV.
Pea, or Pee-jacket, a loose rough jacket or short covering ;
much used in severe weather by mariners, and by watermen
on the Tyne. It was formerly the ludlckni outer-dress of
the keelmen.
PEEN ini
Peas-straw, a rustic love charm. A Cumbrian girl, when
her lover proves unfaithful to her, is by way of consola-
tion, rubbed with pefn-xt)-aw b}' the neighbouring lads;
and when a Cumbrian youth loses his sweetheart, by her
marriiige with a rival, the same sort of comfort is adminis-
tered to him by the lasses of the village. — Kote, in Andcr-
soiis Ballads.
Pea-swad, or Swad, the husk that contains peas.
PunDER, Petuer, or Pethir, a pedlar — a travelling merchant.
Pee, to squint, to spy with one eye — to look through con-
tracted eye-lids. — Peed, blind of an eye.
Pee-dee, a young lad in a keel, who has charge of the rudder.
In other respects, something similar to the cabin-boy of a
ship. Often called by a name too coarse for insertion.
Peel, a place of strengtli — a fortified building. Sax. pil,
moles.
Within my own recollection almost every old house
in the dales of Rede and Tyne was what is called
a Peel house, built for securing its inhabitants
and theii- cattle in the moss-trooping times.
Iledlcij, Archoeologia jElkiria, vol. I. p. 243.
The Northumberland Peel houses were of two stories —
the first arched over, into which the cattle were driven ;
but a Feel, according to the proper sense of the term, sig-
nifies a Gothic strong-hold, the defences of which are of
earth mixed with timber, strengthened with j)iles or 'pali-
sades, such as was connnon on the Continent at a very
early period.
Peelings, parings. " Apple peelings" — " Potatoe peelings."
Peenging, Pinging, uttering feeble, frequent, and somewhat
peevish complaints. " A peenging bairn" — a whining
child. Teut. jji/iiig/icn, affligere.
162 PEEZ
Peez-weep, Pee-wit, the lapwing, or bastard plover. Tihign
vanellns, Lin, V. Wilb. appendix.
Peg, v. to beat with sharp knuckles. Isl, piaha, tundere.—
Peg, s. a blow or thump.
Pelch, faint, indisposed, exhausted.
Pell-mell, quick. See its other meanings in Todd's John,
Pet, a domesticated lamb — a spoiled, pampered child — a fond-
ling designation for a female favourite. Old play writers
use j)eat, in the latter sense.
Petted, fondled, indulged. " What a petted child."
Pick, to pitch, to throw. Su.-Got. jncka, minutis ictibus
tundere.
I'd make a quarry
"With thousands of these quarter'd slaves, as higii
As I could picli my lance — Shak. Corlolaniis.
Pick-fork, a hay fork, a sort of grape. See Grape,
Pick-night, dismal, dark as pitch. Shakspeare and later
writers use pitchy, in the same sense.
Then aw met yor Ben, an' we were like to fight;
An' when we cam to Sandgate it was pick-nig/it.
Song, Matv Canny Hinny.
Pickle, a small quantity, a little.
PiCKLET, or Pikelet, a small round light cake — a sort of
muffin.
Picks, the suit of diamonds at cards. Grose erroneously says
spades. Brand pretends to seek a derivation in the re-
semblance which the diamond bears to a mill-picJi, as
fusils are sometimes called in Heraldry.
Picktree, Pigcree, or Pigery, a pig-sty.
Piece, a little while. " Stay a piece and then aw will."
Pifle, to filch, to steal. From pilfer.
Pike, v. to pick, to select, to chuse. Dut. picken.
PIPE 163
Pike, or IIay-pike, s. See IIav-imaking.
PiN-( ODD, or Prin-codd, a pin-cushion. See Codd.
Pinch-gut, a penurious person — a covetous, miserable
wretch.
Pink, small. " Aw never saw sic a Pink-eed bod}."
PiNKEY, very sjnall. Dut. pinkje. — Pinkey-wixkey, the
smallest imaginable.
Pm-PAXNiEBLY-FELLow, a miserable, covetous, suspicious fel-
low, one who pins up or fastens his paniers and baskets.
— Grose.
Piper, a minstrel. Northumberland. Sax. pipere. The
noble house of Percy still retain pipers in their service.
They wear, on the right arm, a silver crescent, granted as
a badge to the family, for ha^ang taken the Turkish stand-
ard, in an expedition against the Saracens, in the Holy
Land : — attend the couits-leet and fairs held for the Lord :
— and pay suit and service at Alnwick castle. Their in-
strument is the ancient Northumbrian bag-pipe, different
in form and execution from the Scotch ; it being much
smaller, and blown, not with the breath, but by a pair of
bellows fixed under the left arm,
"With wassail, mirth, and revelry
The castle rung around :
Lord Percy call'd for song and harp,
And pipes of martial sound.
The minstrels of thy noble house,
All clad in robes of blue,
With silver crescents on their arms,
Attend in order due.
Tfte Tfrr?uit of Warkworth.
PiP^STOPPEL, a fragment of the shank of a tobacco-pipe.
164 PIPI
Piping-hot, extremely hot. " Pie;<, piping-hot.
The honour thou hast got
To spick and span nQ\\\ pipiug-hot.
Butler, Hudibras.
Pipkin, or Pidkin, a small earthen vessel with a handle from
one side.
P*****G ON A Grave. Women transported with rage and
wickedness sometimes threaten their deadly enemies in tliis
manner. A clergyman, in Northumherland, informed me
that he had heard of a person who was actually guilty of
such a revenge. Many old customs are harmless ; but this
is composed of nothing but horrible materials.
PiTaiAN, a collier — a man who works in a coal ^>j7.
Pitter-patter, to beat incessantly, like rain.
PiTTV-PATTY, palpitation, a quick movement of the heart.
Pitapat is classical.
Plash, v. to splash. Su.-Got. jL»/rt.?/i(7. — Plash, s. a small pool
of water. — Plash of raits, a heavy fall or severe shower.
Dut. plasregen.
Pleach, to bind a hedge. V. SufF. Words, plash.
Plean, to complain. An old word.
Pleak, or Pleany-pye, a tell-tale, or prating gossip. Pleig-
nen occurs in Gower.
Plenish, or PleiNnish, to furnish a house.
, Plenishing, or Plennishing, household furniture. Q. Lat.
pk'Jius ?
Plodge, to wade through water, to plunge.
Plooky, Plooky-faced, pimpled. Gael./j/z^caw, a pimple.
Plooky, plookij, are jour cheeks,
And plooky is 3'our chin.
Ballad, Sir Hugli, le Blond.
POOM 1()5
Plote, to pluck, to chide vehemently. " Sec how she ploles
him."
Plouter, Plowteu, to winle through water or mire, to be
engaged in any dirty work. Teut. plotsen. Germ, ^j/a-
dern.
Plowding, wading through thick and thin. Dut. j^^ucgen. —
See Pi-ouTER.
Ploy, a harmless frolic in which a party is engaged ; a merry
meeting. Dr. Jam. is inclined to view this word as formed
from Sax. jjlegan, to play.
Pluff, Pleugh, a plough. Su.-Got. plog. Germ, pflug. —
This gives me an opportunity of presenting to the reader
a genuine Norihumbrian specimen of an agricidtural re-
proof; comnmnicated to me by a friend.
" Ye ill t'ar'd i)i)ily ye ! ye pretend to guide the phiffl
to leeve a saet a baaks in aa the faf quarter. I'll
ha ne mair o' thee ! Se ye may gang at the Fair,
honest man ! Thou mun de't better nor that,
else thou may gang heame."
PocK-ARREU, OR PocK-ARRD, pitted with the small-pox. It
might be thought puckered, but the a is distinctly pro-
nounced and accented. Germ, pockentiarbig. See Arr.
PoCK-FRETTEN, marked with the small-pox.
Po-HEAD, Po-HEED, Pow-HEAD, a tad-polc, or young toad.
Poke, to stoop. "To poke the head."
Poke, a bag, a sack. " A pig in a poke" — an old Northern
idiom. Sax. pocca, a pouch. Isl. ^joA-j, saccus. Teut.
poke.
Poked, offended, piqued. " Aiu've poked him, sareJ"
Poker and Tongs, when a horse strikes the hind against the
fore shoe.
PooMER, any thing very large. " Ee ! what a jmomer."
166 POOR
Poor Body ! poor creature. A common colloquial expres-
sion of sympathy.
Poorly, indifferent in health, — Very poorly, very unwell.
PoR, Pore, a poker for stiiTing the fire. Teut. jyorren, ur-
gere, compellere.
PoRRAGE, Porridge, hasty-pudding — oatmeal mLxed in boil-
ing water, and stirred on the fire till it be considerably
thickened.
Porridge after meat !
Shak. Troilus and Crcssida.
PoRTMANTLE, a portmanteau. Originally a bag for a cloak or
juantle.
PosEV, PosiE, a bunch of flowers, a nosegay. A genuine
North country word.
Now all prepared and ready stand,
AVith fans and posies in their hand.
The Collier'' s Wedding.
Poss, to dash violently in the water. " To poss clothes" —
" A poss tub." " Aw passed him ower heed."
PoT-CLEPs, pot-hooks. Ray says, from clip or clap, because
they clap or catch hold of the pot.
PoTTiCAR, PoTECARY, PoTiiECARY, an apothecary. In the
ancient mode of writing this word, the A was omitted. See
Bewick's iEsop. p. 36.
Pottinger, a coarse earthen-ware pot, with a handle. Por-
ringer.
Pou, Poo, PoOGH, to pull. " Poo away vie lads."
PouK, to strike ; or rather to push.
He's grown sae weel acquaint wi' Buchan,
An' ither chaps,
The weans baud out their fingers laughiu,
And pouk my hips.
Burns, Death and Doctor Iloruhook.
PUCK 167
Pow, the pate, the head. " Aw^l rattle yor pow."
Albeit my pow was bald and bare Rawscnj,
PowsoDDY, suet pudding placed under a roast.
Prentice, an apprentice. An ancient mode of contracting the
word. Ileywood's play of the Four Prentices of London.
Prickle, a basket or measure of wicker work among fruiterers.
Formerly made of briers ; hence, perhaps, the name.
Prickt, decayed ; said of wine having a tendency to soiu'.
Prig, to plead hard in a bargain, to higgle in price. Dut.
prachen, to beg.
Priggish, vain, conceited, affected, coxcomical.
Prime, a little intoxicated, ready for action or business. Both
in a metaphorical sense.
Prin, a pin. Isl. prion, acus capitata. Dan. preen. Dr.
Jam. has satisfactorily proved that this is no corruption.
Princox, a pert or forward fellow. V. Todd's John,
Prith Enow ! a frequent supplication. Pray thee noiu.
Away ! I prilhcc, leave me — Ro-u-e, Jane Shore.
Prod, a prick, a skewer. Su.-Got. brodd, aculeus.
Prog, Proggle, v. to prick, to prickle. Isl. brydda, pungere.
Prog, s. a prick. — Progly, a. prickly.
pROss, talk, conversation — rather of the gossiping kind. " Let
us have a bit oipross."
Proud, luxuriant. " Corn's varra proud." Crav. Gloss.
P's AND Q's, a nicety of beha\aour ; an observance of all due
formalities. Perhaps from a French injunction to make
proper obeisances, " Soyez attentifs a vos pies et vos cues ;
in other words, mind your P's and Q's."
PuBBLE, full, plump ; usually spoken of corn or fruit in oppo-
sition to fantome — any thing fat, or distended.
Pucker, flutter, agitation, " What a pucker he's in." A fi-
gurative application of the word.
1G8 PUGG
PuGGY, moist; arising from gentle perspiration. " ^^ Itugc^y
hand."
PuLK, a hole of standing water — a puddle.
PuLLEN, poultry. An old word. V. Todd's John. The Piil-
len market in Newcastle.
PiTMMEL, OR PoMsiEL, to beat Severely, to chastise with the fist.
For your pate I would pummel.
Bcaiim. (|- Flci. Four Plays in One.
Punch, to strike with the feet. " Don't jnmch so."
PuND, a pound. Welsh, punt. " One pund two."
PuN-FAUD, or PiN-FAUD, a pinfold. Sax. pi/ndan, to inclose.
Puny, small, weak, sickly. " A jmny hmi'w." Vr. puisne;
hence V^g. puisne, inferior, lower in rank.
PuoY, PuY, or PouiE, a long pole, with an iron spike, or spikes,
at the end, used in propelling keeln in shallow water, or
when it is inconvenient to use sails or oars. Span, apoyo.
PuRDY, a little thick-set fellow. I owe this word to the com-
munication of a friend in the County of Durham, who first
heard it at Barnard-Castle. On ascertaining the meaning
the following dialogue took place.
Q. What does purdij mean ?
A. A little thrusimi up thing like a Jack at Warts.
Q. What's that ?
A. Something like a lime hiiritrr.
Q. What is a lime burner ?
A. Oh nobbit a Kendal sto'-lccncr.
Q. ^Vhat is that ?
A. A Utile thkk-sct fclluxo.
Moor has purdy, proud, ostentatious ; and I have been
told, since this article was written, that powsey is used in
near!}' the same sense as purdy.
PuRET.y, quite well. " How is lah .^" — Purely, tlienk yc."
QUER 1(!9
PuRLicuE, a flourish in writing. " A spang and purlicue."
Fr. pour le queue. V. Jam.
Puss, PussEY, PtissEY-CAT, a cat, a hare. " Poor little piissei/."
Put, to push, to propel. Welsh, pwtiaw. " He puts weeW
PuzzEN, poison. " That rum's sartinly puzzen."
Pyannet, Pynet, a magpie. Welsh, pioden. See Maggy.
Pyrrhy-dancers. See Merry-dancers.
Q.
Quail, to fail, to fall sick, to faint. Teut. quelen, to languish.
V. Nares, for examples of its ancient use.
Quandary, a dilemma, an unpleasant predicament, a state of
perplexity. Skinner's derivation from Fr. qu'en diraije,
is adopted in Todd's John. But the pronoun (nominative)
was often left out by old French writers, which would here
make the derivation more accurate — qu'en dirai ?
Quean, a term of abuse to a female — sometimes unplying the
most disgraceful name that can be applied to the sex.
Moe.-Got. queins, quens. Sax. civen, a wench — though
not primarily used in a reproachful sense.
A witch, a quran, an old cozening quean.
Shak. Mer. Wives of Windsor.
Queer, a quire of paper. Old Eng. quaire. Old Fr. quayer.
Quern, a hand mill. One of our oldest words. Su.-Got.
quern. Teut. querne. See Kern.
Wlieras they made him at the querne grind.
Cltauccr, Monkes Tale.
Skim milk ; and sometimes labour in the quern.
And bootless make the breathless housewife chum.
Shak. Mid. Nlghfs Dream.
Capell ridiculously supposed that quern here meant churn.
170 QUIS
QuisEY, confounded, dejected.
QuORN, QuoAPV, corn. " The quorn's now getiin up, — varry
fast"
R.
Rabble, to speak in a confused manner. Teut. rabbelen,
blaterai'e.
Rabblement, a crowd, the mob. A very old word.
Rack, v. to care. " Never rack" — never care. V. Ray.
Cornish, rach, care.
Rack, s. a trace. Our great di-amatic poet, in a well-known
passage in the Tempest, says, " leave not a rach behind" ;
that is, not a trace — whatever the commentators may be
pleased to say to the contrary.
Rack, s. the clouds ; or rather the track in which they move.
Sax. rec, vapour. Archdeacon Nares is mistaken in think-
ing the word not now in use.
But, as we often see, against some storm,
A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still.
The bold winds speechless, and the orb below
As hush as death. Shak. Hamlet.
Rackless, thoughtless, cai'eless, improvident. Old Eng.
retchless, reckeless. Sax, recce-leas.
Raff, a low fellow. — Riff-raff, an alliterate term of reproach
— the rabble. Dan ripsraps, the dregs of the people.
Raff-merchant, a timber-merchant. i?a//-merchant.
Raffling, idle, worthless. " A raffling chap."
Rag, to rate, to reproach. Isl. raega, to accuse. — Bully-
Rag, the same.
Ragabash, low, idle people — such as are generally in rags.
Rubbish is used in the same sense. B»th may be said to
be synonjinous with ragamuffins.
RAPE 171
Rageous, in a rage, in excessive pain, violent.
Rake, to cover, to gather together. To rake the Jin _ is to
supply it with coals, or to put it in such a condition that
it may continue burning all night, so as to be ready in the
morning — a common practice in many kitchens in the
North, where coals are plentiful. Shakspeare uses the
word in this sense, when, in King Lear, he makes Edgar
say.
Here, in the sands
Thee I'll rake up Act. IV. Sc. 6.
Ram, foetid, acrid, pungent. Isl. rammr, amarus. " A ram
smell" — " A ram taste."
Rame, to cry, to ask over and over again in a teazing man-
ner. Sax. hream, clamor. Su.-Got. raama, clamare. —
Raming, crjing ; especially as denoting reiteration of the
same sound." " What arc yah raming at yah little dirty
baggage ?"
Rame, or Rawm, to reach any thing awkwardly or greedilj', to
stretch after. Teut. racmcn, extendere, distendere.
Ramlin-lad, a tall fast growing youth, a hobhlety-hoy .
Rampadge, to prance about furiously, to make a great noise
or disturbance.
Ramshackle, Ramsheckle, to search narrowly, to ransack. —
Ranshackle is an old word for plunder.
Randy, s. a vulgar, brawling woman, a termagant.
Randy, a. boisterous, obstreperous, disorderly.
Rank, thick, or many things or people together. Sax. ranc.
Rannel-balk, a beam or bar across a chimney on which
boilers are hung.
Ranty, riotous, in high spirits, disorderly. — Rantv-tantv,
in gi'eat wrath, in a violent passion.
Rape, a rope. Moe.-Got. ra'ip. Sax. rnp.
172 RAPI
Rapier-dance, nearly the same as the sword-dance of the
ancient Scandinavians, or as that described by Tacitus
among the Germans. See a full account of it, in Archaeo-
logia, vol. xvii. p. 1.55.
Rash, dry ; as rash-corn — corn so dr}' in the straw that it falls
out without handling.
Rasher, a rush. Sax. resce. — A rasher-caj), a rasher-ducket,
a rasher-ivhip ; articles made of rushes.
Rasps, both the bush and the fruit.
Ratch, a straight line of a navigable river ; as the Long Ratch,
in the Tyne. This word is politely, but impurely, pro-
nounced Reach, The keelmen generally say Rack. It is,
perhaps, properly Rack.
Rather To have rather is a conunon North coiuitry expres-
sion, when a preference is desired. See Dr. Johnson's 6th
sense of rather. The corruption may be thus traced. It
is customary to contract both / would and / had into Vd,
I had rather was probably first used as a false translation
for Fd rather, written for I would rather ; and when I had
rather was once received, to have rather followed of course.
Ratler, a great lie, an abominable falsehood. " That's a
7'atlcr."
Ratten, Ratton, a rat. Span, raton.
Rattle, to strike or chastise. " Aw'll rattle yor cannister."
Mere cant.
Rattlepate, Rattlescap, Rattlescaup, a giddy, thought-
less, volatile person.
Rauk, to mark with lines, to scratch. " Dont rank the table?"
I am told ratch is also used in the same sense. Q. Isl.
raska, frangere ?
Raav, a row of buildings, a sort of street. " Fether-Raw" —
" Shiney-Raw.^'' Sax. rcewa. Old Eng. rew.
REEK I7:i
Rax, to stretch out, to enlarge, to reach. To rax oneself, is
to extend the limbs, after sleep or long sitting. Sax.
r<Bcean, porrigere. As applied to the weather, to rax out,
means to clear up.
Read, Rede, counsel, advice. Sax. reed.
Reap, a bundle of corn, parcels of which are laid by the rea-
pers to be gathered into sheaves, by the binders in harvest
time. Sax. ripa, ripe.
Reast, restiveness. — Reasty, restive, stubborn. Old Eng.
restie. " A reasty horse."
Reasty, rancid. Sax. rustian, to contract rust.
And then came haltyng Jone,
And brought a ganibone
Of bakon that was reasty. — Skdtou.
Reave, to take away, to bereave. Sax. renfian, to rob.
Reavel, or Raffle, to entangle, to knot confusedly together,
to ravel. " A reaveled hank" — a twisted skain.
Reckning, the score at a pubhc house. Reckoning.
Reckon, to suppose, to conjecture, to conclude. " I reckon
he'll come" — " I reckon I shall."
Red, to put in order, to clear, to disentangle. " To red up
the house." Su.-Got. reda, explicare.
Redding-comb, a comb for the haii\
Reade, a calf's stomach, used for rennet. Teut. roode.
Reed, a. red. Sax. read. Reeder, redder.
Reek, v. to smoke. Sax. recan. — Reek, s. smoke. Sax.
rec. — Reek-penny, a modus paid to the clergy in many
parts of Northumberland and Durham for fire wood. Cal-
led also smoke-penny, and hearth-penny. See Tomlins'
Law Diet, smoke-silver. Reek is also a term for money.
Reeking-crook, a sort of crane or crook over the fire to sup-
port boilers exposed to the smoke.
174 REET
Reet, right. Both as substantive and adjective.
Reet, s. a Wright, or carpenter. " A cart-reet" — " a mill-reet"
Sax. wryhta.
Reet, sane in mind. Ris,ht. — Not reet, not in the exercise
of sound reason. Not right. Germ, nickt reckt.
Reins, balks or portions of grass land in arable fields.
Rench, to rinse. Isl. hreinsa, to make clean.
Render, to separate, to melt down, to dissolve any thing fat
by the heat of the fire. V. Jam. rind ; and Wilb. render.
Renegate, a reprobate, a runagate ; applied to any unsteady
character. The old way of writing renegado.
A false knight, and a renegate.
Gower, de Confess. Amant.
Renty, well shaped ; spoken of horses or horned cattle.
Respectively, for respectfully. I had a correspondent — by
no means deficient in learning — who invariably subscribed
himself " yours respectively." He, perhaps, relied on the
authority of Shak. and Beaum. and Flet.
Rheumatiz, the rheumatism. Moor has rimmittis.
Rice, brushwood for the purpose of hedging. Isl. hrys. Su.-
Got. ris. Germ, reis, a twig. — Stake and rice, a sort of
wattled fence. " Eh ! what a dike ! what a stake and
rice he loupt."
Riddle, a coarse sieve with large interstices; much used
about farm-houses. Sax. hriddel. Welsh rhidyll. The
vulgar, in many parts, have an abominable practice of
using a riddle and a pair of shears m ^iviwAt\on. If they
have had any thing stolen from them, the riddle and shears
are sure to be resorted to. A similar mode of discovering
thieves, or others suspected of any crime, prevailed among
the Greeks. V. Potter, Gr. Antiq. vol. i. p. 352.
RIM 175
Rife, abounding, common, prevalent. Sax. ryf. Dr. John-
son is mistaken in confining the use of this word to epi-
demical distempers ; and Archdeacon Nares (who points
out Ml-. Dibdin's very erroneous explanation) is equally in
error in thinking it obsolete.
There is a brief, how many sports are r\fe.
S/wk. Mid. Nigfifs Dream.
This reading occurs in most of the old editions — I be-
lieve in all but one. The modern editors, however,
without any sufficient reason, read ripe.
Rift, v. to belch. Dan. raever. — Rift, s. an eructation.
Dan. raeven.
Rift, v. to plough out grass land. Su.-Got. rifwa.
Rig, a wanton. — To run the big, to teize, to banter, to ridi-
cule.
Rig, a ridge, an eminence. Sax. hricg. Isl. hriggr. Su.-
Got. ri/gg.
Rig and Fur, ribbed ; as rig and fur'' d stockings. Ridge and
furrow.
RiGGELT, RiGGOT, an imperfect ram, or any other animal half
castrated. " A riggot-ram" — " a riggot-horse" — " a riggot-
bull."
RiGGiN, the ridge of a house. Sax. firicg, fastigium. — Rig-
GiN-TKEE, the beam along the roof. " See, he^s gettin Aim-
sel seated across the riggin tree^
Rile, to render turbid, to vex, to disturb.
Rim, Belly-rim, the membrane inclosing the intestines.
" Mind dinna brmt yor belly-rim" — a caution among the
vulgar in Northumberland.
For I will fetch thy rim out at thy throat.
In drops of crimson blood. Shak. Hen. V.
176 RINE
The original reading, says Nares, is tymme, which Capell,
judging from the main object of the speaker, boldly pro-
nounced to signify money ; others have wished to read
ri/no, but that term is probably not of such antiquity : and
the conjecture supposes the original word to be printed
ryni, which it is not. Pistol, with a very vague notion of
the anatomical meaning of rt/mme, seems to use it in a
general way for any part of the intestines ; his object be-
ing to terrify his prisoner.
RiNE, Frost-rixe, frozen dew, hoar frost. Sax. ren, rain.
Rip, a profligate — any thing base or worthless. " A riji of
a fellow" — " A rip of a horse."
Ripe, to search, to steal privately, to plunder. " She liped
my pockets" — " He riped the nest." Sax, hrypan, dis-
suere.
Ripple, to clean ; applied to flax. Su.-Got. repa lin, linuui
vellere. Teut. repen, stringere semen lini.
Rive, v. to devour. " What are you riving and eating in that
manner for?"
Rive, s. a rent or tear. Isl. ryf. The verb rive, to split, has
long been used in our language.
Robin, the popular name of the ruddock or red-breast. The
innocence, tameness, and its approach in a season when
its sustenance is precarious, may be the reason that this
bird is so much pitied and respected. The author of the
old ballad of The Children in the Wood, selected the red
breast as an object of sympathy, no doubt for the causes
here cited ; but I am informed that about Heworth, near
Newcastle, it is considered as a bii'd of bad omen.
RoGGLE, to shake, to jumble.
Roister, to behave turbulently, to make a great toise, to in-
dulge in jollity.
ROUN 177
Roisterer, a turbulent, swaggering, and uncontroulable per-
son. Junius refers to Isl. hrisfer, a violent man ; but
I am inclined, with Dr. Jamieson, to look to Barb. Lat.
Rustarii, the same with Rutarii (old Fr. Routiers) — free-
booters who committed great devastation in France, in the
eleventh century. This name was given to the stipendi-
ary troops (perhaps some of the same sort of brigands)
employed by King John in his exterminating expedition
into the North — where the castles, towns, and villages
were given to the flames by that wicked and pusillanunous
monarch, and the miserable inhabitants abandoned to the
murderous cruelty of his rapacious followers, without re-
spect of age or sex, rank or profession.
Rook, Rouk, a mist, or fog. Teut. roock, vapor. — Rooky,
misty, damp.
Roop, or Roup, a hoarseness. Isl. hroop, vociferatio. Roopy,
hoarse.
Rooty, Rowty, coarse, or over rank ; said of grass or corn
when in that state. Old. Eng. rot/tlsh, wild, irregular.
RosEL, to heat, to roast, to bask over a fire. " To rosel
one's shins." " To i-osel the nose." — Roselled, decayed ;
as a roselled apple.
RossEL, rosin. " Rosxel and Pick."
Roux-TREE, or Rowan-tree, the mountain ash, or ivitch-ivood
— a tree of high consideration in the North, and considered
by the superstitious peasantry of wonderful efficacy in de-
priving witches of their infernal power. This notion has
been handed down from early antiquity — perhaps from the
Druids. Skinner is uncertain whether the tree may not
have received its name from the colour called roan ; but,
as observed by Dr. Jamieson, the term is Gothic — Su.-
Got. ronii, runn, sorbus aucuparia. Dan. ronne. Ihrc
178 ROUT
conjectui-es, with great probability, that the etymon may
be from rima, incantation, because of the use made of it
in magical arts.
In my plinne is seen the holly green.
With the leaves of rowan tree.
And my casque of sand, by a mermaid's hand.
Was formed beneath the sea — The Court of Kecldar.
Rout, or Rowt, to make a bellowing noise. Isl. rauta. —
Routing, or Rowting, the bellowing of an ox. V. Wilb.
Tute.
RowLEY-PowLEY, a game at fairs and races.
RoYAL-OAK-DAY (the 2t)th of May), the restoration of King
Charles II. ; in coannemoration of which it is customary for
the common people, in many parts of the North, to wear oak
leaves in theh hats, and to place them on their horses'
heads. Formerly, in Newcastle,
When civil dudgeon first grew high.
And men fell out they knew not why — Hudihras.
the boys had a taunting rhyme, with which they used to
insult such persons as were not decorated with this remem-
brance of the facetious monarch ;
" Royal oak,
" The whigs to provoke."
It was not, however, to be expected that this sarcastic
ebullition of party-spu'it should escape the retort courteous.
The contemptuous reply was,
" Plane-tree leaves ;
" The church-tblk are thieves."
Ruck, a fold, or crease in cloth. V. Tooke,
RuD, ruddle for marking sheep. Sax. rudu, rubor. Set Keel.
RuDDiLY, readily. " He cam varry ruddilyP
RUTT 179
Ri'E, or Rew, to repent. Sax. fireowian. — Rve-bargain, a
bargain repented of, something given to be off an agree-
ment.
Rug, to pull ronghly. Tent, rnckcn, dctrahere. — Rugging and
Riving, pulling and tearing.
Rum, a common North country word for any thing odd or
queer — a comical person, for instance, being called a mm
stick. May not Dr. Johnson's ruvi jyarsonhe what is called
a hackney parson, and come from Germ, rum, which is
from herum, about, as herum laiifer is a vagabond ? Henim
parson or rum parson may, therefore, be a vagabond parson.
Rum-gumptious, forward and pompous. T. Crav. Gloss.
RuMBUSTiCAL, fudc, noisy, overbearing.
Ruinated, reduced to ruin, ruinous. Pegge erroneously con-
sidered this word as peculiar to Londoners.
RuLE-o'-THUMB, no rulc at all — guess work.
Rung, a spoke, the step or round of a ladder. Moe.-Got,
hrung, virga. It is also a name for a cudgel.
Runnel, pollard wood. Perhaps from running up apace.
Runt, a Scotcli ox — also a jocular designation for a person of
a strong though low stature. " A runt of a fellow." —
Germ, rind, an ox or cow ; hut fgurativcli/, a dull-pated,
stupid fellow.
Rush-bearing, a riu'al feast or wake, now become nearly ob-
solete. Sec Crav. Gloss, and Brand's Pop. Antiq. vol. i.
p. 436.
Ruttling, a noise occasioned by a difficulty in breathing. —
Teat, rotelen, murmm-are. The dead rutllc, a particular
kind of noise made in respiring by a person in the extre-
mity of sickness, is still considered in the North as an omen
of death. Levinus Lemnius (Occult Miracles of Nature,
lib. ii. ch. 15.) is ver}- learned on this subject.
180 RUZE
RuzE, to extol, to boast, to magnify in niirration. Isl. rmisa,
multa efFutire. Cornish, ros, bragging. Hence, perhaps,
roozcr a great untruth.
S
Sackless, simple, weak, helpless, innocent. Dr. Willan con-
siders that this epithet must have originated after the in-
troduction of the favourite beverage, sack and sugar ; but
the word may evidently be traced to Sax. saclcas, quietus.
Isl. saklaus, innocens.
Sad, heavy ; particularly applied to bread when the yeast has
had no effect.
Safe, a. sure, certain. " He's safe to be hanged."
Safe, s. a place of security. " An iron safe."
Saim, Same, hog's-fat, goose-grease. Welsh, suim, grease. —
Fr. sa'm-doiuv, lard. Shakspeare and other writers use
scnm.
Saint Cuthbert's Duck, the eider duck ; or great black
and white duck. Anas mollusima. — Linnaeus. These birds
are found on the largest of the Fern Islands on the
Northumberland coast, which is the only place in Eng-
land where they are known to breed. The feathers are
remarkably soft and of great value. The popular name is
obviously connected with the celebrated Saint Cuthbert j
who, regardless of all earthly pomp and vanity, resigned
an episcopal, for an hermitical life — retiring to this desert
isle, where he died.
Saint Swithin's Day (the 15th of July). The old superstition
that if it rain on this day, not one of the next forty
will be wholly without, is not yet eradicated. V. Brand's
Pop. Antiq. vol. i. p. 2/1, and Nares' Gloss.
Sairv, poor, pitiable, helpless. Sax. sari, sarig.
SAUC 181
Sally, to move or run from side to side ; as is customary with
the persons on board of a ship after she is launched.
Samcast, two ridges ploughed together. Diu: Referrible
to Germ, sammeln, to gather, ziisammcn, together.
Sabipleth, a sampler. V. Suff. Words. The author is mis-
taken in thinking them not still worked.
Saxdgate-City, a burlesque name for Sandgate, Newcastle ;
a place of great antiquity, but described by a local poet as
The devil's besom sure,
"With which ofl times he sweeps the floor ;
The air's with glass-house smoke infected,
Coniusion of all kinds collected.
Sandgate-rattle, a peculiar step in vulgar dancing, consist-
ing of a violent and very quick beating of the toes on the
floor.
Sandgate-ring, a particular mode of lighting a tobacco pipe.
Sang, a song. Pure Saxon.
Sang ! My Sangs ! frequent exclamations, sometimes equiva-
lent to indeed, but generally implying a threat. " My
sa7igs I but aw tvill gee i/ it."
Sapscull, a foolish fellow, a blockhead.
Sare, sore, painful. Sax. sar. Su.-Got. saar.
Sare, very much, greatly. Germ. sehr. " It's sare worn."
" He's sare afflicted."
Sark, a shirt. Sax. syrc. Su.-Got. stsi-k. V. Jam.
Sarjient, a sermon. " We^d a good sarment the day"
Sartin, sure, positive. — Sartinly, certainly.
Sattle, to settle. This vulgar pronunciation is conformable
to the Saxon origin of the word. Peirs Ploughman uses
sahtle.
Sauce, insolence of speech, impertinence. Sauciness. " Don't
set up yor sauce to me "
182 SALC
Saucer-eyed, having a large, full eye.
Saugh, Saff, the sallow ; a species of" willow. Fr. saule.
Saul, the soul. Pure Saxon ; and the ancient mode of writ-
ing the word.
Saul, the solid substance in the inside of a covered button.
Fr. saoul, soiil,a filhng.
Saut, Sote, salt. Sax. sentt. In the pronunciation of many
of the provincial dialects of the North, the sound of the I
is omitted.
Savelick, an excrescence from the brier, placed by boys in
their coat cuffs, as a charm, to prevent a flogging.
Saw, to sow. Moe.-Got. saian. Sax. saivan. Su.-Got. saa.
Germ, s'deii.
Say, authority, influence, sway. " She has all the 5m/."
ScABY, ScAiJiE, shabb}', mean. " A scahy fellow."
Scad, to scald. — Scadding of Peas, a custom in the North
of boiling the common grey peas in the pods, in a green
state, and eating them with butter and salt. The company
often pelt each other with the siuads. It is sometimes
called, in consequence, peas and sport.
Scale, to spread, to disperse. V. Jam. skaU.
I shall tell you
A pretty tale ; it may be, you have heard it ;
But, since it serves my purpose, I will venture
To scaled a little more.
Shale. Coriolanus.
Nearly all the commentators have mistaken the meaning
of to icalet. I am quite satisfied that it was the author's
intention to have the tale spread or diffused a little more,
though some of the hearers might have heard it. If Arch-
deacon Nares will " weigh as in scales, to estimate aright,"
Ml-. Lambe's observations on this passage, and on the
scow 183
means of acquiring a competent knowledge of tlie old En-
glish tongue (Notes on the Battle of Floddon), I enter-
tain a hope that the learned author of the elaborate and
valuable Glossary may not be indisposed to alter, in more
respects than one, the article To Scale, in a future
edition.
Scale-land, to lircak up clots of manure, and to spread them
and other loose materials about the field.
Scale-dish, a thin dish for skunming milk.
ScALLioNS, a punishment among boys. To catch the scallion
tails, is to get a good drubbing.
ScAMr, a mean rascal, a fellow devoid of honour or principle.
Scamper, to run off. Fr. cscanijjcr, Ital. scamjyare. Teut.
schampen, to slip aside.
ScANTisH, scarce. — Scan tly, scarcely.
Scape-grace, a term of reproach — a graceless fellow.
Scar, a bare and broken place on the side of a mountain, or
in the high bank of a river. Su.-Got. skcer, rupes.
ScARN, Sharn, cow-dung. See Cow-sharen.
Scathe, loss, spoil, damage. Pure Saxon. Used by Chau-
cer, Spenser, and Shakspeare.
Scatter-brained, light-headed. " A Scatter-brain^ d body"
Sconce, a seat at one side of the fire-place in the old large
open chunney — a short partition near the fire upon which
all the bright utensils in a cottage are suspended.
Sconce, a beating about the head — sometimes the head itself.
Scooter, a sj'ringe. See Swirt.
Scotch Mist, a small soaking rain — such, however, as wUl
wet an Englishvian to the skin.
Scout, a high rock. V. Todd's John.
ScowDER, to mismanage any thing in cooking, to scorch it.
Grose has scourder^d, overheated with working ; perhaps
only a figurative sense of the word. V. Jam.
184 SCRA
ScRAB, a crab apple, — Scrab-tree, the crab-tree.
ScRAFFLE, V. to scramble, to climb up. — Scraffle, .?. a
scramble.
Wey hinny, says aw, weVs a Shot-Tower see hee,
That biv it ye might scraffle to Heaven ;
And if on Saint Nicholas ye once cus an ee,
Ye'd crack on't as lang as ye're livin.
Song, Canny Newcasscl.
Scraffle, to be industrious, to struggle. — Scraffling, work-
ing hard to obtain a livelihood.
ScRANCH, to grind any hard or crackling substance between
the teeth. Dr. John, says, the Scotch retain it ; so do
the people in the north of England.
ScRANCHUM, thin squares of brittle spice, or gingerbread.
ScRAT, ScRAUT, V. to scratch. An old word. — Scrat, s. the
itch.
Scrat, an hermapin-odite. V. Todd's John.
Scribe, to write. Lat. sciibere. — Scribe of a pen, a line by
way of letter.
Scrimp, v. to spare, to scant. Teut. kiimjicn, contrahere.—
Scrimp, a. short, scanty, little.
ScROG, a stunted bush or shrub. Sax. scrob, frutex. — Scrog-
GY, full of stunted bushes, thorns, &c.
Scrudge, v. to crowd thickly together, to squeeze. — Scrudge,
s. a crowd, a squeeze. On the laying of the foundation-
stone of the new library of the Literary and Philosophical
Society, by the Duke of Sussex, in 1822, there was the
greatest scrudge ever remembered in Newcastle.
ScRUNTy, short, meagre, stunted. Su.-Got. skriu, dried.
Dan. skranten, infirm.
ScL'DDiCK, the lowest measure oi" value. " Not wortli a scud-
d'lcky Probably from scudo.
SEGG 18a
Scuff, OR Cuff, the hinder part of the neck. F. Wilb. Al-
so a thump. " A cuffo' the neck."
ScuMFisH, to smother, to suffocate. Wood embers, the snuf-
fing of a candle, sulphur, &c. have scumjishing effluvia in
close rooms. Ital. sconfiggere, to discomfit.
Sear, s. autumn — the tune of the drying and withering of
leaves. Sax. searian, to nip, or dry. — Sear, a. dry ; op-
posed to green.
I have liv'd long enough : ray -,vaij of life
Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf.
Shalt. Macbeth.
Dr. Johnson and some other of the commentators on
Shakspeare object to way of life, and wish to substitue
May ; but I must confess that I am not convinced by
their arguments.
Seaves, rushes. — Seavy-ground, such as is overgrown with
rushes.
Seck, a sack. " A seek of flour." " A seek of saw-dust."
Secket, a term of contempt to a child.
See-saw, the same as hikey-hoard. See Hjicey.
Seea, so. — Seeabetide, if so be.
Seed, saw. Universal among the vulgai*. " Aiv seed it."
Seeing-glass, a mirror, a /oo/tiHg-glass.
Seek, Seak, sick. Sax. seoc. Chaucer uses seke.
Seer, several, divers. Su.-Got. saer, an adverb denoting se-
paration.
Seer, sure. " Aw seer aw was smart."
Seestah, Sisto, seest thou. " Seestah what thoiCs diiin."
Segg, a bull castrated when full grown.
Segging, the heavy laborious walking of a corpulent man.
" Wliat a segging gait he has."
a a
186 SELL
Sell, self, in compounds of wysell, hksell^yo^irseU. Plural
sells, selves.
They dig out fro' the dells,
For their bairn's bread, wives, and sells.
*' Ben. Jan.
Semant, Semmant, slender, weak.
Semple, a person of low birth ; opposed to gentle. " Both
gentle and semple were there."
Sen, Syne, since. — Sen-sYxVe, since then. " Its lang st/nr,
sen he left us." ,
Seng, shelter. " Under the seng of a hedge,"
Sess-pool, an excavation in the ground for receiving foul
water. — Diir. I do not find this word in any Dictionary.
Sus~pool is used in this sense, by Forster on Atmospheric
Phcenomena. Perhaps from sous-pool, or pool below the
smface.
Set, to propel, to push forward ; as setting a keel.
Set, to accompany. Used in a common expression — " Set
me a bit on the road." Bit, however, is not more misap-
plied in the North than it is in some parts of the South.
Set-too, an argument, a contest, a warm debate. " A fair
set-too."
Setten-on, short in growth, ill thriven ; also applied to
milk burnt in the pan.
Seugh, a wet ditch ; such as that out of which the contents
of a sod dike have been cut — any watery or boggy place.
V. Jam. seuch.
SiiAB-OFF, Shab-away, to sueak away. Dur. Germ, schaben,
to scrape oiF; and by some gradations of meaning used
with the preposition and in the imperative mood, schab ab,
sneak awaj'.
SHAP 187
Shab-rag, a mean person. — Shag-rag, is the same.
Shack, to shake out or shedj as corn at harvest. — Shak-
FORF, a hay fork.
Shackle, an iron loop moving on a bolt. Teut. schacchel.
Shackle, the wrist. Sc. shacJcle-ViWE,
Shaffle, to move with an awkward or irregular gait ; to hob-
ble. " A shnffling body."
Shag-hat, a hat made very long in the down ; nmch worn by
pitmen and keelmen.
JVIaw good shag hat ne mairawl wave his canny
feyce to see.
Song, Lament, on the Death of Capt. Starklq.
Shale, alum ore — any other black slaty substance.
Shally-wally, a sign of contempt.
Sham-a-sterxe, a vulgar phrase, equivalent to not one. This
may serve to explain an obsciu-e passage in the fine old
heroic ballad of Chevy Chase, Fit. 2. - '
Thorowe ryche male, and myne-ye-ple
Maliy stcrnc the stroke down streght.
Which may be read — they struck down straight many a one,
through rich coat of mail, and many folds.
Shandy, wild, frolicksome. V. Suff. Words, .s^«wrt?/.
Shangie, or Culley-Shangy, a row, a tumult, a riot.
Shank, the projecting point of a hill.
Shanks, the legs. — Shankey's Naegie, on foot.
And ay until the day he died,
* He rade on good shanks vagij.
* Jtitson, ScotcJi Songs.
Shanty, gay, showy. Perhaps, as suggested by Oil'. Todd, a
corruption oijanty.
Shap, Shape, to begin, to set about any thing. V. Wilis.
" He shaps well."
188 SHAR
Shard, a broken piece of any brittle or fragile substance.
Sax. sceard, fragmen. Within my recollection, many of
the common people, in the lower parts of Newcastle, used
to resort to the Quayside and other places, where they
gathered up coals with the half of a wooden dish, called a
shard, I have been told that it was not unusual for two
of them to purchase a new dish, and split it for the pur-
pose of making these shards. Shard is also a North
country word for the shell or hard outward covering of
the tribe of insects denominated Coleoptera.
Oflen, to our comfort, shall we find
The sharded beetle in a safer hold
Than is the fuU-wing'd eagle.
Shak. Cynibcline.
Ere, to black Hecate's summons,
The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums,
Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done
A deed of dreadful note. Shak. Macbeth.
These expressions of our dramatist — sharded beetle, and
shard-borne beetle — are as correct as they are poetical.
Dr. Johnson's ignorance of the latter meaning of the word
completely misled him in his interpretation. His error,
however, is not overlooked by the learned and indefati-
gable Mr. Todd.
Sharp, quick, active, " Be sharp" — make all haste.
Sharps, coarse ground flour with a portion of bran.
Shaw, a small shady wood in a vallej'. Sax. scua. Teut.
schawe, umbra. Used by Gower and Chaucer ; and still
common in many parts of England.
Shay, or Po-shay, a post chaise. — Shay-drivers, the post
boys.
SHIN 189
Shear, to reap, or cut corn with tlie sickle. Su.-Got. skaera.
Shear is not, provincially, applied to sheep. A sheep
shearing is a clipping. — Shearers, the harvest reapers.
Shed, to put aside, to disperse, to make way.
Sheeley, Sheel-apple, or Shell-apple, the chaffinch. —
FringiUa ccelebs. Linnaeus.
Sheeting, applied to the slope or waterfall of a mill-dani.
Sheld, party coloured, flecked or speckled.
Shem, shame. — Shem-fu, shameful. " Its a shem, and a holy
bizon." See BizoN.
Sheth, a portion of a field, which is generally divided so as
to di-ain oft" the water by the direction of the ploughings,
called sheths.
Shiel, Shieling, originally a temporary hut or cabin for
those who had the care of sheep on the moors, in which
they resided diuing the summer months ; but afterwards
applied to fixed habitations. Isl. skiul. Su.-Got. skale.
No more shall ruthless flames devour
The trembling shepherd's lowly skid.
Nor fiei"ce moss-ti-oopers burst the door
That strongly bars the shelt'ring peel.
Roxhy, Rcedu-ater Mhistrel.
Shift, to remove from one dwelling to another. — Shifting,
the removal of the furniture.
Shill, to separate, to shell. " Shilling oats or barleij" — tak-
ing oft' the hulls. " Shilling jieas'^ — cleaning them of their
swads.
Shilly-shally, hesitating, irresolute. Probably a corrupt
reduplication of shall I.
SniMWER or Skimmer, to shine, to glitter. Germ, schimmer, a
dim or faint glare.
Shine, a row, a disturbance, mischief. " To Idck up a shine."
190 SHIN
SiiiNNEY, a stick crooked or rounded at the end, with which
to strike a small wooden ball or coit, in the game called
Shbiney, or Shinney-haw, played in the Northern counties.
See DODDART.
Shippen, a cow-house ; originally, perhaps, a sheep-pen. Sax.
scypcn, stabulum.
Shirl, Snum-, to slide ; as on the ice.
Shittletidee, a vulgar expression of disbelief or disapproba-
tion.
Shive, a slice ; as of bread or cheese. Old Eng. sheeve. —
Dut. schi/f.
SiiOE-THE-cOBBLER, a qiiick and peculiar movement with the
fore foot when sliding on the ice.
SiiOGGLE, to shake, to joggle. Shog is an old word.
Shoo, Shue, to scare birds, to drive away fowls. Germ.
scheiichen, to frighten.
Shoox, Shun, the plural of shoe. Sax. sceon. Teut. schoen.
Spare none but such as go in clouted sJwon,
For they are thrifty honest men — Sliak. Hen. VI.
Shot, the score or reckoning at a public-house. V. Nares'
Gloss, shot-clog.
Shot-of, freed from. To get shot of a person — to get rid of
him.
Shrew, a field mouse. A vulgar superstition once prevailed
that this poor creature was of so baneful and venomous a
nature that whenever it crept over a horse, cow, or sheep,
the animal so touched became afflicted with cruel anguish,
and threatened with the loss of the use of its limbs. To
repel this imaginary evil, it was customary to close up the
shrew alive in a hole bored in an ash tree. Since this
was written, an intelligent friend has reminded me of an
SIKE 191
old notion, that the supposed malignity of this mouse is
the origin o? shrew, a vixen; in regard to which much dif-
ference of opinion exists among etymologists. But whether
it be so or not, I feel myself incompetent to decide ;
though, from what is stated in Todd's Johnson, I strongl}
incline to the opinion entertained by the learned editor. —
The matter, however, is becoming less important ; as, to
the honoui" of the females of the present day, we seldom
encounter " a peevish, malignant, clamorous, spiteful,
vexatious, turbulent woman," the characteristicks of a
shrew.
Shuffle and Cut, a superior step in vulgar dancing.
Shuggy-shew, a swing — a long rope fastened at each end,
and thrown over a beam ; on which young persons seat
themselves, and are swung backwards and forwards in the
manner of a pendulum. See Bewick's ^sop, p. 4. where
his Satanic Majesty is amusing himself in this manner.
Shull, or Shuil, a spade or shovel. Dut. school. V. SufF.
Words, shawl.
Shull-bone, the shovdder bone.
Side, to decide, to settle ; as well as to coincide, to agree.
SiDJE, a. long, wide, large. Pure Saxon.
Cloth of gold, and cuts, and laced with silver ; set
with pearls, down sleeves, «if?t' sleeves, and skirts
' round. ShaJi-. Much Ado about Nothing.
Side-up, to put in order. " Side up the house."
Sidle, to saunter, to take an oblique direction.
SiK, SiKE, such. — SiK-LiKE, SiKE-LiKE, such like. Spenser
uses sike.
SiKERLY, or SiCKERLY, surely. Sicker \s used by Chaucer and
Spenser.
192 SIKE
SiKE, Syke, a streamlet of water, the smallest kind of natural
runner. Sux. sic, lacuna.
Su.E, V. to stiain, to purify milk through a straining dish. —
Su.-Got. sila, colare. — Silf, .v. a fine sieve or milk strainer.
Su.-Got. id, colum.
Sills, strata of minerals. It also means, in some places, the
shafts of a waggon ; the same as thills.
SiND, to wash out, to rince — also to dilute ; io sind it down,
being to take a drink after meat.
Sine, to percolate. Dur. Fr. saigner, to bleed, to drain or
let out water.
SiNGiN, or SiNGiNG-HiNNY, a kneaded spice cake, baked on the
girdle ; indispensable in a pitman's family.
Ah hinnies ! about us the lasses did lowp,
Thick as cur'ns in a spice shigiu hhtnle.
Song, Cavny Newcnssel.
Crosshi the road, aw met wi' Bobby Swinney. —
Hing on the girdle, let's hev a slnghi hinny.
Song, Man; Canny Hhwy.
j\Iy Grandy lik'd spice siiigln himiks.
Maw comely : aw like thou as week
Song, The Pitmati's Courtship.
SiNGLiN, a handful of gleaned corn — a single gleaning. This
word is doubtless the same as the Cheshire songoiv, songal,
so ably illustrated by Mr. Wilbraham in his Glossary. In
a MS. addition to a copy of that interesting work, presented
to me by the author, reference is made to Hyde, dc Reli-
gionc Persarum, for the ancient use of songall.
SiPF, to leak, to ooze or drain out slowly through a small cre-
vice. Teut. sijpeti. — Sipinus, oozingsi, the diaiuings of a
vessel.
SKIP 193
SiRPLE, to sip often ; nearly allied to tippling. Sw. sorpla.
Site, Seet, a great deal, many. V. Suft". Words, sight.
SiXES-AND-SEVENS, in a state of confusion, in disorder. V.
Todd's John, and Nares' Gloss, six and seven.
Skeel, a cylindrical wooden vessel for carrying milk or water,
with an upright handle in place of a bow. Isl. skiola, a
milk-pail.
Skelly, v. to squint. Isl. skaela. Germ, schielen. — Skelly,
s. a squinting look. Sax. sceoleage.
Skelp, v. to slap or beat with the open hand ; particularly on
the breech or the cheek. Isl. skelfa, to strike. Skelp
also means to move rapidly.
Skelp, Skelper, s. a smart blow, or stroke. — Skelping, a
hearty beating.
Skelper, any thing very large. Poomer is the same.
Skep, a basket made of rushes. A bee-skcp, a bee-hive of
straw. Gael, sgeip.
Sker, to slide swiftly, to skate. Su.-Got. skiuta.
Skew, to go aside, to walk obliquely — to throw violently —
to squint.
Skew-the-dew, Shaw-the-dew, a splayfooted person.
Skill, to know. Isl. skilia, intelligere. Not obsolete as
stated in Todd's John.
Skime, to look asquint. Sken has the same meaning. See
Skelly.
Skin-flint, a niggardly close-fisted person — one so parsimo-
niously mean that he would perform that operation, were
it possible.
Skip-jack, the merry-thought bone of a goose. V. Suff.
Words.
Skipper, the captain of a keel or coal barge. Sax. sciper, nau-
ta. Dut. schippcr, a shipmaster.
Bb
194 SKIR
Skirl, to cry excessively, to pierce tiie aii- with a shrill voice.
Isl. skralla. — Skirl, a loud and incessant shriek — a con-
tinuation of childish rage and grief. Isl. skrall. Dan.
skraal, an outcry.
Skit, to throw reflections on, to banter. Sax. scitan, to cast
forth.
Skitter, liquidum excrementum jaculare. Hence this vulgar
name for a dituThoea. Isl. skvctta.
Skogger, the leg of an old stocking, applied to keep snow
out of shoes. See Hoggers.
Skreenge, or Skringe, to squeeze violently.
Skrike, to shriek. Dan, skrige. Su.-Got. skrika, vociferari.
Skug, v. to hide, to screen. Su.-Got. skyggn, obumbrare. —
Skug, s. a sheltered place. Isl. skuggi, umbra.
Skurrv, haste, impetuosity. " What a hiirry-skurry." Fr.
escurer, to scom\
Slab, or Slap-dash, a cheap mode of colouring rooms, in
imitation of paper.
Slabby, diity and damp. Teut. slabberen, to slabber.
Slack, an opening between two hills, a valley or small shallow
dell. Su.-Got. slak.
Slack, a long pool in a streamy river.
Slade, a breadth of green sward in ploughed land, or in plan-
tations.
Sladdery, wet and diity. " Sladdery walking." Isl. sladda,
squalide grassai'i.
Slain, blighted ; as slain corn.
Slaistering, doing any thing in an awkward, untidy manner.
V. Hire, slask.
Slake, v. to smeai', to wet, to bedaub. Isl. sloka, delutare.
Slake, s. an accumulation of mud or slime in a river. Jarroiv
Slake, on the Tyne. Su.-Got. slak, laxus ; as being soft
and flaccid ; or Teut. dijck, coenimi, lutum.
SLEU 195
Slam, to beat, to cufF, to push violently.
Slants, slj- jokes, or petty lies. " He slants a good deal" —
he is given to lying. V. Nares' Gloss, slent.
Slape, slippery, smooth.
Slasiiy, wet and dirty. Sw. slask, wet.
Slatter, to pour awkwardly, to slop, to spill. Hence slattern.
Sla\t:ring, Slavvering, foaming, talking fast, or unintel-
ligibly.
Sleck, to cool in water. Hence sleek-trough, the trough
containing the water in which smiths cool their iron and
temper steel.
Sleck, or Slocken, to quench thu-st. Isl. slaecla.
Slee, sly, cunning. Chaucer uses slie, sUgh.
Sleeveless, unsuccessful, unprofitable. See Dr. Johnson's
2d sense. It is often pronounced in Northumberland
Threeveless, probably from f/irivcless or thriftless.
Sleuth, or Sleuth-hound, the northern name for the blood-
hound. These animals were held in great estimation by
oiu- ancestors ; pai'ticulai'ly on the borders, where a tax
was levied for maintaining them. Their scent was so re-
markably fine, that they could follow, with great certainty,
the human footsteps to a considerable distance. Many
of them were, in consequence, kept in certain districts for
the purpose of tracing thieves and murderers through their
secret recesses.
Upon the banks
Of Tweed, slow winding through the vale, the seat
Of war and rapine once, ere Britons knew
The sweets of peace
s » • » » «
There dwelt a pilfering race; well train'd and skill'd
In all the mysteries of theft, the spoil
Their only substance, feuds and war their sport.
SomcrvUc, Chasr, Book I.
196 SLID
The poet afterwards beautifully describes the mode of [lur-
suing these arch felons by this sagacious dog; but the
passage is too long for quotation here, and ought not to be
abridged. See more, relative to the blood-hound, in Scot/,
Lai/ of the Last Minstrel, note 1 6, Canto L
Sliddering, sliding, slipping. — Sliddery, slippery.
SuNGE, to go creepingly away as if ashamed, to sneak. Sax.
slincan, to creep. Hence slink, a sneak — applied to any
disreputable person.
Slip, a child's ^ji««/b/c — also a quantity of yarn.
Slippy, slippery. Not an abbreviation, as Mr. WUbraham
supposes, but a pure Saxon word ; and, as shewn by Mr,
Todd, of old English usage ; notwithstanding which the
great lexicographer chai'acterized it as a barbarous jnovin-
cial term, from sli}} !
Slir, Sllr, to slip, to slide. Slither is also to slide. Chau-
cer uses slider.
Sliver, v. to cut off a slice, to tear away a part.
She that herself will stiver and disbranch.
Shalv. King Lear.
Pope altered this to shiver, for which the Monthly Re-
viewers wished to substitute sever.
Sliver, s. a slice. The word, in the sense of a branch torn
off, occurs in Hamlet.
Slocken, to slake, to quench. Su.-Got. slaclcna, extinguere.
Slogan, the war cry or gathering word of a border clan. Still,
traditionally, remembered in Northumberland,
But ah, the slogaii's fatal bray.
The plundering raid, the war's alarms,
Compell'd him fi'om his love away.
And tore him from his Mary's arms.
Roxhy, Rcedieatcr Minstrel.
SMAS 197
Sloggering, loose, untidy. " His stockings are shsgei^hig
down."
Sloppy, loose, wide. Sax. slopcn, laxus.
Slorp, to make a noise when supping with a spoon, to swal-
low ungracefully. Teut. s/ot-jje, a glutton.
Slot, v. to fasten by a bolt. " Slni the door."
Slot, s. a small bolt or sliding bar. Teut. slot, sera.
Sludderment, or Sli therment, wet, dirt, mire.
Slump, to slip or fall into a wet or dirty place.
Slush, any thing plashy ; but most commonly applied to snow
in a state of liquefaction. Su.-Got. slask, humor quicun-
que sordidus.
Slush, a reproachful term for a du"ty person.
Smack, v. to kiss with a noise. — Smack, *. a loud kiss.
He took
The bride about the neck, and kiss'd her lips
With such a clamorous smack, that at the parting
All the church echo'd — Shak. Taming of the Shrcxv.
Smally, little, puny. " A smally bairn."
Smartle, to waste or melt away. Su.-Got. smaelta, to melt.
Smash, v. to break in pieces, to shiver. — Smash, s. a crush,
the state of being shivered, atoms. Gael, smuais, broken
in shivers.
Smash, a kind of oath among the pitmen near Newcastle. —
Nothing energetic can be said without it. " Smash, mar-
row, luhere are yah gaiin tee." — " Smash maw pit sark,but
I ken ivhat aid' I dee .'" — " Smash yor brains, lohat hae yah
won noiv?" — " Smash, Geordy man,hoiv is't! Eh ! but aw
is pleased to see thee J Moo's Kan ?"
Smasher, a small standing pie, or raised tartlet ; generally
made of gooseberries. — Xewcastle. This word also means
any thing larger than another of the same sort. It is like-
198 SMEL
wise a cant name for a pitman ; in vvliich I am told by an
ingenious friend, we are to seek for the etymology of the
word ; a smasher being originally such a tart as a pitman
could smash or eat up at a mouthful !
Smelts, the fry of the salmon; generall}' called salmon-smelts
— different from Sparlings.
Smiddy, a blacksmitii's shop. Sax. smiththa, fabri officina.
Sw. smedia.
Smirk, to smile pleasantly, to laugh in the sleeve or secretly,
but not satyrically. Sax. smcrcian, subridere.
SwiTTLE, V. to infect. Sax. smittan. — Smittle, s. infection.
— Smittle, Smittlish, a. infectious, contagious.
Smock, the under linen of a female. Sax. smoc. There used
to be frequently, in my recollection, smock trices among the
young country wenches in the North. The prize, a fine
Holland chemise, was usually decorated with ribbons. The
sport is still continued at Newburn, near Newcastle, on
Ascension Day.
Smoke-the-Cobbler, a mischievous pastime among children.
Smoor, to smother, to suffocate. Sax. smoran. Teut.
smooreii.
Smouch, to salute. An old word.
Smudge, v. to laugh in a concealed manner. Germ, schmun-
zeln, to laugh in one's sleeve.
Smudge, v. to burn without a flame, or any appearance of fire,
except smoke. Smudge, or Smush, s. a sulphureous smell
occasioned by smoke and dust, close suffocating air. —
Germ, schmutz, smut, dirt.
Snag, to hew or cut roughly with an axe. V. Todd's John.
Snail's-gallop, a very slow pace; resembling the motion of
a snail.
Snap, a small round cake of gingerbread. " Nice brandy snaps,
sixteen a penny."
SNOT 199
Snap, or Sxack-aim'Le, a kiiitl of play. iSce Halle E'en.
Snathe, to prune, to lop. Sax. snithaiiy to cut.
Snaw, snow. Pure Saxon. — Snaw-broth, melted snow.
Sneck. s. the latch or fastening of a door or gate. It is also
used as a verb — to sneck the door, being to fit it by a latch.
Tent, snacken, captare.
Snock-snurled, entangled, much twisteii, curled up like hard
twined worsted. Snarl is an old word for entangle.
Sneck-drawn, narrow minded, covetous, niggardly. V. Jam.
sneck-draiver.
Sned, the long shank or handle of a scythe. Sax. snced.
Snell, sharp, keen, piercing ; as a snell air. Sax. snithan,
secare ; or Teut. snel, acer.
Snew, snowed. The old preterite ; used by Chaucer and
others.
Sneeze -HORN, or Sneesh-horn, a comUiOn sort of snuff-box
made of a cow's horn. In Scotland this term is apphed to
any snuff-box.
Snifter, to snuff up the nose, to sniff. Su.-Got. snyfsta.
Snippy, covetous. Teut. snipjje^i, resecai-e.
Snivel, Sneavel, to speak through the nose, to sniff. Su.-
Got. snyfsta.
Snob, a common name for a cobbler.
Snod, smooth, neat, even, trimmed. Sax. snidan, to cut. —
Applied to persons, it means sly, cunning, demure.
Snoke, to smell, to pry about cm-iously, to look closely at any
thing.
Snort, to laugh outright. — Snorting, laughing out.
Snot, a contemptuous epithet for a useless, insignificant fel-
low.
Snotter, v. to snivel, to sob or cry. Sax. snytan. — Snot,
Snotter, s. mucus nasi. Sax. snole.
200 SNUB
Snub, to check, to rebuke. Sw. snvbba.
SoA ! be quiet !
SoBELE, to thrash, to beat. A very common word among the
pitmen.
Sae, Geordy, od smash my pit sarik !
Thou'd best hand thee whisht about warik.
Or aw'll sohUc thee body,
And myek thee nose bloody,
If thou sets up thee gob to Bob Cranky.
Song, Boh Cranky'' s ^Si:ie Sunday
Sock, a plough-share. Fr. soc.
SoDDY, SoDDENT, heavy, sad. Perhaps from sod, a turf.
Soft, silly, simple, foolish.
He made soft fellows, stark noddies.
Burton, Aiiat. of Melancholy.
SoNCY, or SoNSY, pleasant, agreeable, engaging ; as applied to
a person's looks. Is it a corruption of Fr. sans souci, free
from care ?
Sonsy, plump, fat, thriving — also lucky.
Sooty-dog, an opprobrious epithet for a dirty fellow.
Sop, a piece of bread soaked in dripping under the roast.
SoKT, a lot, a parcel, a number. Nares is mistaken in think-
ing the word out of use.
But like a sort of sheep dispersed farre.
Spenser, Faerie Queene.
They can see a sort of traitors here.
S/iak, King Richard II.
Soss, V. to lap like a dog. — Soss, s. a call of dogs to their
meat.
Soss, s. a heavy, clumsy fall ; the sound caused by the act of
falling. Perhaps a variation of souse.
SPAN 201
Soss, s puddle, any thing foul or muddy. " The beer's as
thick as soss.'^
SoTTER, to boil slowly. Sax. seothan, to seeth.
SouR-DocKEN, sorrel. Rumex acetosa.
Sour-milk, butter milk. Sw. sur mioelk.
Souse, v. to fall upon, to fall with violence. This common
North country word is, in Todd's Johnson, derived from
Fr. sous, or dessous, upon. With deference, I submit that
it comes from sus, the old French word for, above or upon,
for which they now use siu; though still retained in
some phrases ; as coitrir sus a quel qtCun, to fall upon one.
The modern preposition dessus, upon or above, is only a
compound of de and the old sus. — Souse, s. a great thump,
a severe fall, a bloM-.
Sow, an inelegant female, a duty wench. I forbear to quote
any illustration.
Sowings, oatmeal flummery. Sc. sowens.
Spancel, a rope to tie a cow's hinder legs. A cow-tie.
Spang, a measure by the hand extended. Spa)i.
Spanghew, or Spangwhew, to throw with violence. The
word is sometimes used to express a barbarous operation
on the toad, to w hich rustics have a great antipathy. In
performing it they rest one-half of a long wooden bar on a
large stepping stone or over a cart, placing the toad at Its
extremity. An athletic youth, with a Ktrong club, then
strikes the unsupported end with all his force. The poor
animal, in consequence, is driven into the air to an im-
mense height ; and, falling to the gi'ound with accumu-
lated velocity, is bruised to a jelly. Toads, as observed
by Dr. Willan, may perhaps do some slight injury in fields
or gardens, but the above cruel practice is directed not so
much against tlie animal as against its supposed inmate ;
202 SPAI
for the clowns imagine, that by the process they shall give
a couji de grace to a witch.
Spait, or Spyet, a great fall of rain, a torrent. Gael, sjie'ul,
a great river flood.
Spales, Spails, Spyels, chippings of wood. Perhaps Fr.
spolla, shavings. Spall is a very old word in our language
for a chip.
Spane, Spean, to wean a child, to deprive a creature of its
mother's milk. Germ, spenen. An old word.
Spang, to leap with elastic force, to spring. Germ, spannoi,
to extend.
Spang and Purley Qub, a mode resorted to by boys, of
measuring distances, particularly at marbles.
Spanker, one who walks with quickness and elasticity, a tall
and active joung person.
Spar, to dispute angrily. Germ, sperren, to resist.
Spar, Spare, to shut, to close. A common word in North.
Sax. sparran.
Whan the stede is stolen, sjmrre the stable dur.
Skelt07i.
Sparling, the smelt of the Thames, but not so of the Tyne ;
occasionally caught in the latter river. Pennant derives
it from Fr, eperlan ; but which is not satisfactory to Dr.
Jamieson.
Spave, Speave, to castrate, to spay. Lat. spadare.
Speel, Speil, to climb. Sc. s})elf.
Speer, or Speir, to ask, to enquue. Sax. Spyrian, investi-
gare. " Speer it out if you can."
Speeder, to spell. A mere corruption.
Spelk, Spell, a small splinter. Sax. spelc.
Spell and Ore, a game. Dur. Teut. spcl, a play or sport.
SPRE 203
and Germ, knorr, a knot of wood or ore. The recreation
is also called bucksticJc spell and ore ; the buck stick (with
which the ore is struck) being broad at an end like the but
of a gun, and probably derived from Germ, buchse, a firelock,
Spence, an inner apartment, a country parlour. Meaning a
larder, or store-room, this is a very old word, from Fr.
despence.
Spice, gingerbread. Perhaps from the spice used in season-
ing.
Spice-cake, a cake full of currants ; generally baked on a
girdle. See Singin, or Singing-hinny.
Spiddick and Fawcet, a wooden instrument used as a sub-
stitute for a cock to let out liquors. Spigot andfaivcet.
Spile, a peg in a cask of liquor. — Spile-hole, the receptacle
for the same.
Spilling the Salt, an ominous accident said to presage some
future calamity, particularly, I believe, a domestic feud, if it
fall towards a person; but which may be averted by
throwing a little of the fallen article over the shoulder,
into the fire. Major Moor asks, if the Latin or Greek
classical authors make any mention of it ? Unquestion-
ably. From Festus, we learn that to spill the salt at table
was esteemed ominous ; and for the great care with
which, on that account, a family salt-cellar was always
kept, we have the authority of Horace.
Spinny-wve, or Spinnv-whi, a game among young persons in
Newcastle. V. Brand's Pop. Antiq. vol. ii p. 305.
Splirt, Splurt, to spit out.
Spueckled, speckled. Su.-Got. sj}recklot.
Spree, sport, merriment, a frolic. Fr. esprit, spirit, vivacity.
Sprent, bespattered, splashed with dirt. Sax. sprcngan,
spargere. Chaucer uses .ijn-eint.
204 SPUN
Spunk, a spark, a small fire.
Spunk, mettle, spirit, vivacity ; wseA figuratively for, life. In
the North, this is considered a good and very expressive
word, though abused in Todd's John.
Spunky, sparkling, fresh, spirited.
Spurling, the deep track of a coach or cart wheel. Germ.
spiw, a rut ; plural spuren — wagenspur, a cai't rut.
Stacker, to stagger. Sw. stagra. Chaucer uses stalccr.
Staddle, the bottom of a corn or hay stack, a mark left in
the grass by the long continuance of the hay in bad wea-
ther. Sax. stadel, a foundation. Welsh, ysladledd, con-
tinuous state.
St A HAN, St A AN, a stone. Sax. stan.
Staid, steady, sedate, advanced in years.
Staidlin, a part of a corn stack left standing.
Staith, Steeth, a place to lay up and to load coals at, a sort
of wharf. Sax. statli, ripa, littus, static navium.
Stall, Staul, to surfeit. See Staud.
Stalwart, stout, strong, hale.
A stalwart tinkler wight was he.
And wee'l cou'd mend a pot or pan,
An* deftly JVidl cou'd ihrnw a Jlee,
An neatly weave the willow wan'.
Roxhy, Reedwater Mindrd.
Stammer, to stagger. Isl. stamra, collabi.
Stanciiil, or Stannel-haw k, the Kestrjl or Windhover ;
inhabiting rocks and old buildings. Falco Tinnunculus.
Lin. Shakspeare, in the Twelfth Night, calls it stani/el.
Stand-still, a stoppage, a cessation. Etymology plain.
Stang, v. to shoot with pain; as in the tooth-ache. — Stang,
s. an acute pain, the sting of a bee. Isl. sLanga, pungere.
STAN 20")
Stang, s, a long bar, a vvooilen pole — any piece of timber
adapted for the shaft of -a cart or carriage ; or lor railing ;
or for any other purpose requiring strength ; such as the
circular piece of wood used by butchers, on which they
hang the carcass of a bullock. Sax. .ifoi", vectis. iJut.
stang, a pole. — Riding the stang, a punishment among
the vulgar ; inflicted upon fornicators, adulterers, severe
husbands, and such persons as Ibllow their occupations
during particular festivals or holidays, or at prohibited
times, when there is a stand or combination among work-
men. Offenders of this description are mounted astraddle
on a long pole, or s(ang, supported upon the shoulders
of their companions. On this painful and fickle seat, they
are borne about the neighbom-hood, attended by a swarm
of children, huzzaing and throwing all manner of filth.
When they cannot lay hold of the culprit himself, a boy
mounts the stang ; but he is unmolested, though attended
with the same tumultuous cries, if not with increased
shouts of acclamation. The proxy proclaims, that it is
not on his own account that he is thus treated, but on
that of another person whose crime he names. I have
been witness to processions of this kind myself. School
boys are stanged by the other scholars, for breaking, what
they call, the rules or orders of the school. The cere-
mony is also resorted to, when a woman has gained an
improper ascendancy over her husband, so as to make him
bear every species of indignity. In this case, it is called
" Riding the stang for a neighbour's wife." A man is
placed in the same uneasy situation as before described,
so that he may be supposed to represent, or to sympa-
thize with his henpecked friend, whose misery he some-
times laments in doggrel rhime, applicable to the occasion.
206 ' STAN
He is carried through the whole hamlet, with a view of
exposing or shaming the viraginous lady, and of thus pre-
venting further outrages on the person of her pitiable
partner. This mark of disgrace may be traced to very re-
mote times. The Goths were wont to erect, what they
called Nicl.sfacng, or the pole of infamy, with the most dire
imprecations against the person who was thought to de-
serve the punishment. He, who was subjected to this
dishonour, was called Nidmg, or the infamous ; being
disqualified from ever giving evidence in any juridical mat-
ter. Eric, King of Norway, was compelled to fly from
his dominions, so great was the hatred against him, for
having been the means of inflicting this tremendous stigma
on Egill Skallagrim, a celebrated Islandic bard.
Stangey, a common North country name for a tailor. Ob-
viously from the power of the needle.
Stank, to sigh, to moan, to gasp for breath. Isl. and Su.-
Got. stanka.
8tap, the stave of a tub. Su.-Got. staaf.
Start, the tail, or handle of any thing. Sax. steort.
Statesman, a person possessing an estate — whether versed
in the arts of government or not. See Laird, with which
it is synonymous.
Staud, cloyed, satiu-ated, fatigued.
Stavelling, or Stavering, wandering about in an unsteady
or uncertain manner ; as in the dark — stumbling.
Stead, Sted, Stid, a place, a farm house and offices. Sax.
sted. Su.-Got. stad, locus, situs. See Onstead.
Steai.y-clothes, or Watch-webs, a game. The players
divide into two parties, and draw a line as the boundary
of their respective territories. At an equal distance from
this line, each player deposits his hat or some other article
STID 207
of his dress. Tlie object of the game is to seize and convey
these singly to jour own store from that of the enemy ;
but, if you are unfortunately caught in the attempt, you
not only restore the plunder, but become a prisoner your-
self. This evidently takes its origin from the inroads of
the English and Scotch : indeed, it is plainly proved by
the language used on the occasion, which consists, in a
great measure, of the terms of reproach still connnon among
the borderers.
Stee, or Stev, a hulder. Sax. stceger, gradus. Su.-Got.
stege, scalas. Chaucer uses steye, to ascend, and stcyers,
for stairs.
Steek, or Steik, to shut, to close. Teut. sleeken. " Steek
the heck"^ — shut the door.
Steepin, very wet. " A stcephi fall of rain."
Steer, a three years old ox. Sax. dyre.
Steg, a gander. Isl. steggr, mas pliu-ium ferai'um. Applied
ironically to a person ; as a stupid xteg.
Stell, a large open ch'ain in a marsh.
Steng. The pole of the old Northumbrian drees was called a
steng. The post on which Winter was gibbeted, on Whis-
kershields common — Winter's Steng; and before that the
place was called Steng Cross, from a cross with a tall shaft.
Steng is a pure Saxon word.
Stew. In a sad steiv, in a state of great perplexity.
Stick, or Strike, a stand or combination among workmen ;
generally in regard to wages.
Stickle, a hurry, a bustle.
Sticky-stack, a game among young people in running up the
face, or cut part, of a hay-stack.
Stiddy, Stithy, an anvil — used sometimes, but I think im-
properly, for the smith's shop. Isl. stcdi, incus. Stithe,
208 STIL
is old English. Shakspeare employs the word stithy, in
both senses ; and he also uses the verb to stithy, to employ
an anvil. Ray has, among his Northern words, stith, strong,
hard, which is pure Saxon ; but it is not now in use, that
I am aware of, except in Scotland.
Stilt, the handle of a plough.
Stime, Styme, the most indistinct, or the faintest form of any
object — a glimpse, a whit. " I cannot see a stime." Welsh,
ystum, figure, shape. Grose has sthney, dim-sighted.
Stint, v. to stop, to cease, to desist.
The pretty wench left crying, and said, Ay ; —
And pretty fool, it stinted and said. Ay.
Shak. Rom. and Jul.
Stint, s. grass for a season, a right of pasturage. From stint,
to limit or restrain.
Stirk, Sturk, a young heifer, or bullock. Sax. slyrc, juven-
cus.
Stob, a stump, a stake, a post. Teut. stobbe, truncus. Stob,
is also used metaphorically, for an ignorant stupid fellow.
Stob-feathers, the short unfledged feathers that remain on a
fowl after it has been plucked.
Stook, Stouk, a shock of corn, consisting of twelve sheaves.
Ten of them are set up to dry, and the other two, which
are called hoods, are placed on the top. Teut. stock, meta,
a heap. Jam.
Stoop, Stowp, a post fastened in the earth. Su.-Got. stolpe,
fulcrum.
Stoor, dust in motion. — Stoorv, dusty. Sax. sty ran, tur-
bare movere. Dut. stooren, to disturb. Stoor also means
a bustle ; as all in a stoor, all in a hiuTy.
Stoorey, a mixtiu-e of wai'in beer and oatmeal with sugar.
STRI 209
Store, estimation, regard, esteem.
Storken, to cool, to stiffen. Germ. sLarken, to strengthen.
Storm-staid, delayed on a journey by reason of a storm.
Stot, to rebound from the ground, to strike any elastic body
so as to cause it to rebound. Dut. atidtcn, to bounce, to
rebound. — Stotting-ball, a rebounding ball.
Stot, a young ox. Su.-Got. stut, juvencus. Dan. stud, an
ox.
Stound, v. to ache, to smart, to be in pain. Isl. styn, inge-
mescere. — Stound, s. the sensation or first impression of
sudden pain, arising from a knock or blow.
Stowek, or Dyke-stower, a hedge stake. Su.-Got. stoer,
palus.
Stramp, to tread upon, to trample. Germ, stvampfen. " He
stramjjed upon my foot."
Strandy, restive, passionate.
Strang, strong. Pure Saxon.
Strapping, tall. — Strapper, a large man or woman.
Stravaiging, strolling about; generally in a bad sense. Ital.
sfravagare.
Streamers, the Northern lights. See Merry-dancers.
Stree, Strey, straw. Sc. strae. V. Wilb. streea.
Ne Ignr the fire was couched first with stre.
And then vv^itli dry stickens clovin athre.
Chancer, Knights Tale.
Stbeek,' to stretch or expand, to lay out a corpse. Sax.
streccan, extendere. — Streeking-board, a boai'd on which
the limbs of the deceased are stretched out and composed.
Stretcher, an untruth ; a softer term for a falsehood.
Strickle, an instrument used in whetting scythes.
Striddle, to straddle. — Striddle-legs, astride.
Dd
210 STRI
Strip, to draw the after milking of a cow. — Strippings, the
last part of the milking. The same as strokings or after-
ings.
Stroke, used in the sense of considerable. " A good stroke
of business." Meaning sway or influence, it is an old
word.
Strunt, a sullen fit. — Strunty, offended. V. Jam.
Strunt, the tail or rump. — Struntv, any thing short or con-
tracted. Fr. eslrehit, shrunk up.
Stub, to grub up. — Stubbed, grubbed up ; metaphorically,
ruined.
Studdy, a smith's anvil. See Stiddy.
Fling off their black duddies,
Leave hammers and studdies.
Song, Bonny Geatddcrs.
Stummer, Stammer, to stumble. Isl. stumra.
Stump, a heavy, thick-headed fellow. — Stumps, legs. " Stir
your stumjis."
Stump and Rump, entirely.
Stunsail, a steering or studding sail.
Sturdy, a disease in the head of cattle. Old Fr. cstourdi,
dizzy-headed.
Stut, to stutter. An old word, still in gene^ use.
She spake somewhat thicke,
Her fellowe did stummer and stut,
But she was a foule slut ! — Skdton.
Sty, a troublesome and painful swelling on the eye-lid. —
Great relief, if not a perfect cm'e, is supposed to be effected
by the application of a wedding ring, nine times repeated.
The idea is ancient, however questionable the benefit.
SWAM 21 1
Stvth, foul air ; a black suffocating damp in a colliery.
To cure this ill
A philosophic art is us'd to drain
The foul imprison'd air, and in its place
Purer convey. — Jagd's Edgehill.
SuBTEnRANEOus PASSAGES. Near every ancient castle, cathe-
dral, abbey, or hall, the common people have tales of under-
ground (vaulted) roads, sometimes to great distances ; such
as from Tynemouth to Carlisle, from Newcastle to Tyne-
mouth, from Hexham to Alnwick Castle, from Durham
Abbej' to various places.
SuCKEN, an exclusive privilege of grinding, or other juris-
diction attached to a mill ; the dues paid to the miller. —
Sax. 5oc«e. Sii.-Got. .vo/iH. This ancient word is still used
in leases from the Bishop of Durham. See thirlage, a ser-
vitude or tenure in Scotland, something similar, in Tom-
lins' Law Diet.
SuMMAT, SuMMET, somcwhat, something.
SuiMMER-GoosE, the vulgar name for Gossamer ; which see.
Sump, Sumph, a bog, a swamp, a miry pool. Dan. sump. —
SuMPY, mu\y, dirty. Dan. sjivipig. — Sumph, an epithet for
a dirty person.
Sun-dance. It was formerly a custom to rise early on Easter
Sunday, and to go into the fields to see the sun dance,
which, according to ancient tradition, it always does on
this day. The practice, I have some reason to believe, is
not yet entirely laid aside.
SuRE-A3-A-GUN, absolutely certain — a common colloquial com-
parison.
SwAD, a peasecod, the husk of any kind of pulse. /'. Skin-
ner.
SwAiiisn, SwEAMisn, shy, bashful, s(|ucann'sh.
212 SWAN
SwAXKV, a strappiiifr young country-man.
Swap, to exchange, to barter. IsKs/rz/j/ft, nuitare. J'. Jam.
SwAPE, a long oar used in working a coal keel on the Tyne ;
that at the stern acting as a rudder. Swappe, to strike
or throw down with violence, similar to the action of using
the sivape, occurs in Chaucer. Sax. swapan, to sweep.
Isl. siveipn, percutere.
Swarm, to climb a tree by the muscular action of the arms,
thighs, and legs.
SwARN, to warrant. " Swam ye, he'll come."
SwARTH, Swath, the ghost or apparition of a person, about to
die. Derived by Ray from Sax. siueart, black, dark, pale,
wan. See Waff.
Swatch, v. to swathe, to swaddle. Sax, swedan, to bind.
Swatch, s. a pattern, a sample. V. Ray, swache.
SwATTLE, to consume, to waste ; generally fluids.
Su'Eal, v. to melt, to waste or blaze, to burn away rapidly; as
a candle when exposed to the wind. Sax. swelan, to burn.
An old English word. — Sweal, s. a blaze, an enlarged
flame.
SwEARLE, or SwEKVEL-EYE, EH eye with a particular cast.
SWEDDLE, to swell. SwEDDLED, puffed OUt.
SvvEEL, a sudden swell or burst of laughter.
Sweeties, sweetmeats or confections for children.
SwELT, or Swelter, to broil, to swoon, to faint. — Swelted,
or Sweltered, overcome with heat and perspiration.
Sax. swcltan, to die.
SwERLB, to roll from side to side in walking. It is also ap-
plied to express the gliding of a stream of water. A small
runner in Sandgate, Newcastle, was anciently called the
Swede ; now corrupted into the Squirrel.
SwEV, to poise, to swing. Isl. siveigia, inclinare. See Hikey
and Shuggey-shew.
SYLE 213
Swill, a round basket of wicker work ; generally carried on
the head. Hence its name Kcyside iimhrdla, when re-
versed in wet weather.
SwiLLiNGS, washings of vessels — hog-wash. Sax. swilgctn, to
drink largely, to swUl.
Swinge, to chastise, to beat soundly. Sax. swingan, flagel-
lare, castigare.
Swingle-tree, a moveable piece of wood to which the traces
of husbandry horses are fastened. Teut. sivinghe/en, vi-
brare.
SwiNKED, oppresed, vexed, fatigued. Sax. swincan, labrare,
fatigari.
Swipe, to drink off to the very bottom.
SwiPPER, nimble, quick. Sax. swipan, cito agere.
SvviRT, a syringe. From squirt. See Scooter.
SwiRTLE, to proceed with a moving motion like an eel. Su.
Got. swarf wa, circumagere.
Switch, to walk with a light quick step, to go with a sort of
jerk. Su.-Got. swiga, loco cedere.
Sword-dance, an ancient Christmas custom ; still continued
in many parts of the North. It is fully described in
Brand's Pop. Antiq. vol. i. p. 396 & seq. Connected
with this subject, see Mr. Donee's interesting dissertation
on the ancient English Morris Dance, in the 2d vol. of
his Illustrations of Shakspeare.
SwuppLE, SooPLE, or SouPEL, the upper joint of a flail. Fr.
souple ; or Isl. siueipa, to strike.
Syles, the principal rafters of a house.
214 TAAD
T.
Taad, Tved, a toad. Sax. tade. — Tved-hed, the seed,
or spawn of toads ; generally seen in a mass lilce a bunch of
grapes. V. Bewick's ^Esop, p. 290.
Tack, or Tyak, to take. — Tyak-efter, to imitate or resemble.
" The bairns tyak efter their dad." — Tyak-up, to reform.
" He'll tyak up" said of an extravagant, thoughtless per-
son likely to reform.
Taffy, a sort of candy made of treacle ; often by a company
of young people in an evening by way of amusement —
called joining for taffy. V. Wilb.
Tailor's Mense, a small portion left by way of good manners.
In some parts of the North it is the custom for the village
tailor to work at his customer's house, and to partake of
the hospitality of the family board. On these occasions
the best fare is invariably provided ; at least such was the
case when I was a boy ; and the tailor to shew that he
has had enongh, generally leaves a little on his plate, which
is called tailor\s mense. This term is also given to cut-
tings sent home by such of this unfortunate fraternity,
against whom the old imputation of loving too much cab-
bage does not apply.
Taistrel, Testkil, a mischievous, ill behaved boy — when ap-
plied to an adult, an expression of great contempt, equi-
valent to scoundrel.
Take-off, to banter, to jeer.
Tan, to beat. " I'll tan yor hide."
Tane, T'ax, the one. " G'C me fan or tofher."
Tank, a piece of deep water, natural as' well as artificial.
Tantrums, high airs, a display of ill humour. " She's in her
tajitnims."
TEEM 215
Tapfv-lappy, as hard as you can ; applied to running.
Tarn, a pool ou a mountain. Isl. I'mdi, stagnuui.
Tatee, a potatoe. V. Sulf. Words, taters ; and Nares' Gloss.
potatoes. — Tatee-bogle, a scarecrow. — Tatee-beatment,
a measure. Kewc.
Tatee and Point, a piece of fat meat said to be suspended
over the family board — nobody knows why, and equiva-
lent to, nobody knows what.
Tathy-grass, short grass that has no seed, refuse grass, old
and new mixed, the produce under trees or in old pastures
not eaten by cattle. Perhaps, tufty grass.
Tatter-wallops, ragged clothes fluttering in the wind.
Taving, irregular motion ; picking the bed-clothes in febrile
delirium. Will an.
Tawm, Tam, a fishing line. " A lang twine tarn."
Taws, a pair of taws, a leather strap used by schoolmasters
for chastising children. Isl. taug, lorum.
Taylior, Teaylear, a tailor. Old Eng. talyoivre. See Tai-
lor's MENSE.
Teangs, Tyengs, a pair of tongs. Sax. tangan, forcipes.
" Tyeng leg'd Dickr
Tearan, tearing. A tearan felloiv is a rough, hot headed
person, who drives every thing before him, regardless of
danger or of consequences.
Tedding, applied to the dressing of hair and flax, as well as
to the spreading of hay.
Tee, or Tie, a hau'-rope with which to shackle cows in milk-
ing. Cow-tie,
Teem, to pour out of one vessel into another. Isl. taenia, to
empty. " Teem out the tea hinnyr
Teeming-woman, one who is more prolific than every loving
lord considers indispensably necessary to his happiness.
Sax. team-full, prole planus, foecundus.
216 TEEN
Teen, s. sorrow, injury. An old word, used by Spenser and
Shakspeare. — Teen. a. angry. V. Lye, teon.
Teethy, cross, fretful, peevish ; generally spoken of children.
V. Todd's John, tec/ii/.
Tell, to count, to reckon. Sax. telan. Moor observes, that
the Tellers of the Exchequer retain the name ; though
not, perhaps, the fact or practice. " He cannot tell to
twenty."
Tell'd, told. A common corruption. " Aw ^e>//'(f him on't."
Temse, v. and s. See Timse.
Th, frequently changed into D ; as father, fade?- ; mother,
vwder ; Rothbur}', Rodbiiry.
Thack, Theak, thatch ; both as veii) and substantive. Sax.
thaccan, to cover ; thac, theec, thatch. Chaucer uses
thaclic.
Thatadonnet, a good for nought, the devil. Is it, that
" adonnc" (Fr.) abandoned one ?
Thauf, Thauf-cake, a cake without yeast or any other fer-
menting substance. Probably as conjectured by an inge-
nious friend, from Sax. thearfan, opus habere, necesse ha-
bere— necessity cake, or cake made in urgent haste, as
what used to be called soldier's bread at the time when sol-
diers were quartered, during marches, on private families.
But see Todd's John, therf-bread.
Thick, intimate. " They are very thick just now," i. e. they
are very familiar. " We are not thic/c at all at present" —
equivalent to not being on friendly terms.
Thief and Reever-bell, the name given to the tolling of the
great bell of Saint Nicholas, Newcastle, which is rung at
8 o'clock of the evening preceding every fair — as a sort of
invitation to all rogues and thieves so enter that good town.
Kcever, means robber ; from Sax. reafcre.
THIR 217
Thingembobs, nameless trifles. Thingembob, is also a vulgar
substitution of a person's name when it is not immediately
recollected.
TiHNK-SHAME, to feel abashed, to have a sense of shame.
Thirl, to pierce, to perforate. Sax. thirlian. A word used by
Chaucer.
This-en, and That-en, in this manner and in that.
Thivel, a smooth stick, used for various purposes of domes-
tic economy. Sax. thvfel, a stem or stalk. " He's a qtieer
stick to make a thivel of" — said of an unsteady, wayward
person.
Thole, to wait awhile. Su.-Got. tola, expectare.
Thorough-go-mmble, a diarrhoea; the same as Teezev-
Weezy. This loose sort of jargon abounds in the North.
Thou's like, you must. " ThoiCs like to come."
Thraxg, v. to press, to thrust, to squeeze. Sax. thringan. —
Chaucer uses thring, a pronunciation still retained in some
parts of Yorkshire.
Thrang, s. a crowd, a throng. Pure Saxon.
Thrang, a. much engaged, busily employed.
Thrave, Threave, a certain number of sheaves of corn ; ge-
nerally, I believe, twenty four — a quantity of straw. Sax.
threaf.
Threap, to persist vehemently, to aver pertinaciously in reply
to denial. Sax threapian, redarguere.
Itt's not for a man with a woman to thrcajpe.
Unless he first give o'er the plea.
Ancient Version of, Take thy old Cloak
ahoiit tlicc.
Thrif or Thrift-box, an earthen pot or box in which money
is kept by young persons,
E e
218 THRO
Throuden, fat, well grown, in good case.
Thropple, the windpipe, the throat. " A bull's Ihrofplcr
Throwing-the-Stocking, an odd sort of love divination, on
the first evening of a wedding. After the bride has retired,
and while she is undressing, she delivers one of her stock-
ings to a female attendant, who throws it at random among
the company assembled on this festive occasion. The per-
son on whom it happens to alight will, it is supposed, be the
next to enter into the happy state. Another, and more
curious, though perhaps now obsolete mode, was for the
guests invited to repair to the bridal chamber, where it was
customary for the happy pair to sit up in bed, in full dress,
exclusive of their shoes and stockings. One of the bride's
maids then took the bridegroom's stocking ; and, standing
at the bottom of the bed with her back towards it, threw
the stocking with the left hand over the right shoulder,
aiming at the face of the bridegroom. Tins was done by all
the females in rotation. When any of them were so fortu-
nate as to hit the object, it was a sign that they were soon
to be married. The bride's stocking was thrown by tlie
young men at the bride in like manner; from which a simi-
lar prognostic was taken.
Thruff-stone, a tomb stone. Sax. thruh. V. Lye.
Thrusty, thii-sty. A word used by Chaucer.
Thud, the noise of a fall, a stroke causing a blunt and hollow
sound. Sax. thoden, turbo.
Thumping, great, huge ; as a thumping bairn — also notorious ;
as a thumjxing lie.
Thunner, thunder. Wilb. has thunna, s. and v.
Thur, these. Isl. theyr, illi ; thaer, illas.
Thwaite, a level pasture field. V. Todd's John.
TiCE, to cnlicc. Old English, tijce.
TINK 319
TiD, Mid, Mizzerav, Carling, Palm, Paste-egg-day, the
last six Sundays in Lent. The first has no name.
Tie-pot, or Tve-top, a garland.
TiFFV-TAFFV, a difficult piece of work.
TiFLE, Tyfell, to entangle, to mix and knot threads together,
to ruffle. V. Jam. tuffle.
Tift, a fit of anger, or rather the act of quarrelling. — Tifty, ill
natured, petulant.
Tig, a slight touch ; as a mode of salutation — a play among
children, on separating for the night, in which every one
endeavours to get the last touch ; called also, last bat.
Tike or Tyke, a person of bad character, a blunt or vulgar
fellow. Also a name for a dog.
If you can like,
A Yorkshire tike Carey, Wonder, ^c.
Till, to. Mr. Todd has shewn it to be old.
Tiller, to send out shoots, as wheat. — Dur. Germ, theilen,
to separate into parts.
TiMERSOME, TiMMERsoME, feai'ful. Timorous.
Timwer, timber, Sw. timmer. " A ship load of timmer."
TiMSE, V. to sift. — TiMSE, s. a sieve. Dut. teems, Fr. tamis.
Tine, to shut, to inclose. Sax. tynan, claudere.
TiNG-TOiVG, the little bell of a church. Fr. tintouin, a tingling ;
or Teut. tinghe-tanghen, tintinare.
Tinkler, a tinker. The celebrateil Wull Allen was for many
years the king of the tinklers in the North. He had a son,
not less celebrated — Jamie Allen, the Northumberland
piper.
Nae mair he'll scan wi' anxious eye
The sandy shores of winding Reed,
Nae mair he'll tempt the finny fry,
The King o' Tinklers, Allen's dead !
Roxhij, Rccdwatcr Minstrel.
220 TIPP
Tippy, smart, fine. " Tippy Boh.""
TiRL, to make a slight scratching noise ; to turn over the
leaves of a book quickly.
TiTE, soon, easily, well. — Titter, sooner, rather. See As-
TITE.
TiTLiKG, a small bird attendant on the cuckoo.
Tiv, to. — Tiv-a-Tee, just the thing.
Toad-bit, a disease among cattle, absurdly imputed to the
poison of toads ; and against which hisf ration by need-fire
is employed. Dr. Willan mentions a recent instance of
the practice, as occurring near Sedbergh.
ToAD-UNDER-A-HARROw, the Comparative situation of a poor
fellow, whose wife, not satisfied with the mere hen-peck-
ing of her helpmate, takes care that all the world shall wit-
ness the indignities she puts upon him. The expression
is also applied to any other similar, if such there be, state
of misery.
ToDLE or Toddle, to walk, to saunter about, " Toiling
hame" Germ. ti-oUeln, to trundle along.
Tommy, a little loaf. " A soldier s tommy."
Too, shut, close. " Put the door too?"—" It is too." Dut.
toe. Is de deur toe ?
TooFALL, TwoFALL, or Teefall, a small building adjoining
to, and with the roof resting on the wall of a larger one. —
This name is also given to a small shed at the end of a
farm house, in which are usually placed implements of agri-
culture. In the latter sense, however, it is often pro-
nounced Touffa. Teut. toe-vallen, adjungere se.
TooM, or TuAM. Dan. tomme, to empty. " A loom purse." —
" A tuam cart."
ToozLE, to pull about ; especially applied to any rough dal-
liance with a female.
TRAS 221
Top, good, excellent. — Topper, any thing superior — a clever,
or extraordinary person ; but generally in an ironical
sense.
TopsMAN, the head man or manager, the chief hind or bailiftl
ToRious, notorious. " A ^iorious liar that."
ToRsiiT, TuRMiT, a turnip.
Tosh, a projecting or unseemly tooth — a tusk.
TossiCATED, perplexed ; as if intoxicated.
Tote, the whole. " The ivhole tolc." A common pleonasm.
Lat. totus.
ToTEY, bad tempered. " A totey body."
ToTHER, TuTHER, the Other. See Tane.
Tough, Teugh, tedious, difficult. " A tough journey." —
" Teugh ivarJi." Apparently, the original sense of the
word.
TowGHER, a portion or dowry, dower. Cumh. Toher, in
other places, means the same. V. Jam. tocher.
TowLiNG, a mischievous amusement among the boys in New-
castle, during the evenings of the horse-fairs. It consists
of whipping up and down the different " choice tit bits"
shewn on those occasions. From the enquiries I have
made, I find it has been practised from time immemorial.
Tram, a small sledge.
Tramp, a mechanic travelling from place to place in search of
work.
Trampers, beggars, who traverse extensive tracts of country,
soliciting from door to door.
Translators, cobblers who buy old boots and shoes and make
them up anew for sale. The Castle Garth, in Newcastle,
is the Grand Emporium of this learned and gentle craft.
Transmogrified, transformed, metamorphosed.
Trash, " to trample on in a careless manner," Todd's John.
It is rather, to tramp about with fatigue.
223 TRIG
Tricky, artful, cunning. Fvll of tricks.
Trig, v. to fill, to stuff. — Trig, a. full.
Trig, neat, trim ; or rather tricked out, or what is called^we.
Trim, to chastise, to beat soundl}'. " I'll trim your jacket."
Trippit and Coit, a game similar to spell and ore. Newc.
Called Trippit and Rack in parts of North. The trippit
is a small piece of wood obtusely pointed. See Spell
AND Ore.
Trist, Tryst, a fair for black cattle, horses, sheep, &c. Long
Framlington trist, Felton tryst. North. Sc. tryst, an
appointment to meet. V. Jam.
Trod, a foot path through a field. Isl. trod.
Trollibags, tripe. V. Suft". Words, trullibzibs.
Trones, a steel yard. Isl. trana, grus.
Trumph, a trump at cards. Common among the v'ulgar.
TuBBER, a cooper. A maker of tubs.
Ti E, to labour long and patientl)', to fatigue by repeated or
continued exertion. Fr. titer, se tner, originally to kill ;
but used also for, to fatigue or weary. // se tue, he wea-
ries himself; or, in North country language, he tiies him-
self. " Tuing on" — toiling away. " A tuing life" — a la-
borious life. " A tiling soul" — a hard working person.
" Sare tues" — great difficulty in accomplishing any thing.
TuEL, a species of bantering ; or rather a tendency to squab-
ble accompanied with it — any troublesome intermeddling.
" Dinna haud me sic a tuel."
Tug, to rob, to destroy. " To tug a nest."
Ti'iFFiT, or Tewfet, the lapwing. See Peez-weep.
TuM, to separate or card wool.
Tup, s. a ram. — Tup, v. to give the ram. Shakspeare, in
Othello, uses the verb in a more extended sense ; but the
passage cannot well be quoted.
UNCA 223
TussKL, or Tussle, a struggle, a contest.
Twang, a quick pull, a tweak — also pain. V. Moor.
TwATTLE, to pat, to make much of, to fondle. See Br-
TWATTLED.
TWEA, TWEE, two. SaX. twO. TwEASOME, TwosoME, two in
company.
TwEA-FACED, deccitful. Sax. twe-feald, duplex.
Twill, a quill ; either for a pen, or on which to wind yarn. —
V. Ray.
Twilt, a quilt or bed cover. V. Todd's John, to twill.
Twine, to cry. — Twiny, fretful, uneasy.
TwiNTER, a beast of two winters old. Sax. twy-winter, duos
annos natus.
TwiTCH-BELL, the earwig.
Twitter, to tremble, to be in a state of uneasiness. Germ.
zittern, to shiver or quake.
U.
Ug, to feel abhorrence at. — UcsoaiE, disgusting, exciting r.b-
hoiTence. — Xorth.
U'fli — H'm, or Umhim, an indifferent careless manner of as-
senting to what is said ; pronounced with the mouth shut,
the last syllable short : very common in Newcastle. A
literary friend suggests a derivation from umpli, ascribed
satirically to the Society of Friends.
Un, one — referring to an individual. " Hes a bad un.'^
Unaccountable, s. a strange character ; an unpromising per-
son.
Uncannv, giddy, careless, imprudent. It is also applied by
the superstitious to one supposed to possess supernatural
influence. Sc. no canny, — Uncannily, unthinkingly,
thoughtlesslv.
224 > UNDE
Undercumstand, to understand. A mere vulgar change.
Undight, undressed, undecked. V. Todd's John.
Unfrem'd, unkind. See Frem'd.
Ungear, to unharness. '* Ungear the yohey
Unhonest, dishonourable, dishonest. Stated in Todd's John,
to be obsolete ; but it is not so in the North.
Unket, Unkid, strange, unusual. Sax. imcuth, alienus. — Un-
KETS, Unkids, news.
Unlicked-cub, an ignorant, unpolished youth.
U^'MACKLY, ill-shapen, of a clumsy appearance.
Unpossible, for impossible. Not in Johnson but admitted by
Mr Todd ; and well authorized. The word is frequent
with the vulgar in the North.
Unrid, to rid. Here the particle is of no force. — Unrip, a
common word in the North — authorized by some of our
best writers — is similarly circumstanced.
Unsneck, to lift a latch ; as of a door.
Unsoncy, Unsonsy, careless, luckless, unpleasant, disagree-
able. See SoNCY.
Upbraid, to rise on the stomach, as well as to reproach.
Upcast, v. to upbraid. — Upcast, s. a taunt, reproach.
Upcasting, a rising of the clouds above the horizon, especi-
ally as threatening rain.
Uphad, Uphaud, to warrant against defects. Uphohl.
Upinsii, a sort of cant word for understanding.
Upsides, quits. To be upsides with any one, is to threaten
vengeance for an injury or affront. Upwith, equal.
Urchin, a hedge-hog. Chaucer uses urchon. V. Nares'
Gloss.
WABB
V.
Vamper, to vapour or swagger, to make an ostentatious ap-
pearance. Welsh, gwemp, splendid.
Vardie, opinion, judgment. Perhaps a corruption of verdict.
Varment, Verjient, vermin — also a term of reproach, par-
ticularly to a child.
Varra, Varry, Vurry, very.
Vennel, a sewer. Probably from kennel, an open water course.
Ventersome, Venturesome, rash, adventurous.
Verter, a common corruption of virtue.
Vievvlv, pleasant to the sight, striking to the eye, handsome.
Vine-pencil, a black lead pencil.
Virgin's Garland. Many country churches in the North
are adorned with these garlands ; in token, says Bourne, of
esteem and love, and as an emblem of reward in the hea-
venly Church. They are made of variegated colom'ed
paper, representing flowers, fastened to small sticks cros-
sing each other at the top, and fixed at the bottom by a
circular hoop. From the centre is suspended the form of
a woman's glove cut in white paper, on which the name
and age of the deceased ai"e sometunes written.
To her sweet mem'ry flow'ry Garlands strung,
On her now empty seat aloft were hung. — Gay.
VoKY, VoKEY, moist, juicy. WoMe occui's in Peirs Plough-
man.
W.
Wabble, to move easily, to reel, to wave ; as growing corn
on a windy day. Sec Waffle.
Ff
me WAD
Wad, black lead. — Cumb. Ptu'e Saxon. " A wad jiencil."
Wad, woad used by dyers. Sax. ivad. " As blue as ivadJ''
Wad, would. " He wad, at wad he" — he would, that lie
would.
Waden, Wauden, young and active — vigorous in limb. " A
■waden lad."
Wadler-wife, the keeper of a register office for servants.-^
Newcastle.
Wae me ! or Wae's me ! an exclamation of sorrow, equiva-
lent to woe is me. Sax. wa is me.
Waff, Waith, Wraith, an apparition in the exact resem-
blance of a person, supposed to be seen just before or soon
after death. It may be from the airy form of the object ;
a waft or transient view being called a waff; but see Jam.
wraith. I have conversed with persons who have gravely
and unequivocally asserted that they have seen these spec-
tral appearances of their deceased friends and relations.
Waffle, to wave, to fluctuate. Sax. ivafian, vacillare.
Wag, to beckon with the hand. " Le€s wag on him."
Wag-at-the-Waw, Wagger, a cheap wooden German clock.
Perhaps from the pendulum being exposed ; or, provinci-
ally, seen luagging against the wall.
Wage, pay for service. Both Johnson and Nares say, used
only in the plural. In the North, however, the singular
is in common use. " JVhafs your wagef''
Waifinger, an estray. Law Lat. waivium.
Wairsh, Wearsh, thin, watery, weak, insipid. It is also used
to express a griping in the bowels, V. Todd's John.
■iveerish.
Wait, wot. Sax. wat, from wilan.
Waiter, Waater, water. Sax. wceter.
Waiter, or Water-brash, a disease in the stomach. Per-
haps from the bursting or discharge of aqueous himiour.
WALL 227
Waits, musicians who play by night in the streets about the
time of Ciiristmas and the new year ; originally a town-
band of musicians. One of the old towers, in Newcastle,
was formerly called the waits' tower, and was the place of
their meeting. Their playing to Oliver Cromwell, while
that extraordinary character was entertained at dinner, on
his route to or from Scotland, is traditionally remembered.
The term is apparently from Mce.-Got. luahts, vigilia, ex-
cubiae ; these waits being anciently viewed as a sort of
watchmen.
Wake, v. to watch by a corpse, to sit up with a person all
night. See Lake-wake.
Wake, s. a country feast, a rural fair. V. Hutchinson's His-
tory of North, vol. ii. p. 26 ; and Brand's Pop. Antiq. vol.
i. p. 432.
Tarts and custards, ci'eams and cakes,
Are the junketts still at Wakes — Her rick.
Wake, a. weak. Sax. tvcpc. " A tvahely body."
Wale, Weahl, ik to select, to choose, to sort. Su.-Got.
ivaelia, eligere. Germ, wahlen, to pick out. — Wale, s.
choice.
Walk-mill, a fulling-mill. Germ, tvalkmiiMe. Before tfte
introduction of machinery it was customary to use the
feet in fulling cloth.
Wall, Walle, to boil. Su.-Gor. tuacUa, testuare, fervere. —
Walm, a slight boiling.
Wall-eyed. In those parts of the North, with which I am
best acquainted, persons are said to be wuil-eycd, when the
white of the e3e is very large, and to one side. On the
borders, " sic folks'''' are considered unlucky. The term
is also applied to horses with similar eyes. The author
228 WALL
of the Crav. Gloss, explains wnll-een, to mean white or
green eyes ; and does not consider the etymology very
satisfactory, either in Nares or Todd. Their ideas cer-
tainly are at variance with the Northern signification of
the word. Grose defines it, " an eye with little or no
sight, all white like a plaistered wall."
Wallop, to move quickly and with much agitation of the body
or clothes. Tent, waf-oppe. — Walloping, a slatternly
manner.
Wallow, insipid. See Welsh.
Wallup, v. to beat. " Aui'liuallup i/nhy — Wallup, s. a blow.
W^AME, Weam, Weirie, the stomach, the belly. Mce.-Got.
ivamha, uterus. Sax. wamh, venter.
Wan, a corruption of wand. " A yard-wan." — " A ini/l-zvan.'"
Wandy, long and flexible ; like a tvand.
Wang-tooth, dens molaris. Pure Sax. Before the use of
seals in England, according to Verstegan, persons passing
deeds bit the wax with the ii<ang-tooth.
Wankle, Wankelly, uncertain ; as ivankle or luankelh/ wea-
ther. Sax. wanel, instabilis, vacillans. Germ, ivankcn, to
change. It also means, weak, loose.
War, worse. Sax. wcerra. A Spenserian word. " War
and war" — worse and worse.
Warble, a sort of worm in cattle. 1\ Jam.
War-day, every day in the week except Sunday. Wor/ci7ig-
day. " Sunday and war-day"
War, beware. " War below." Sax. warian, cavere.
Ware, v. to expend or lay out money ; originally, perhaps, on
wai'es.
Ware, 5. sea-weed. Sax. war, alga marina.
Ware, s. delf. " White ware." — " Brown ware."
Wark, v. to ache. " Maw heed luarks." — Wark, s. a pain or
ache. " The belly warh." Sax. ivarc, dolor.
WAX 229
Wark, v. to work. " He can neither «y//7. nor want." —
Wark-folks, labourers.
Warm, to beat. " Aw^/ warm yor liidc^
Warn, Warnd, to warrant. " Aws warnd him."
Warp, to open. A hen is said to warp when she lajs. Sax.
awarpan, ejicere.
Warse, worse. " Warse and tvarse." Moe.-Got. toairs.
Chaucer uses werse. — Warst, the worst.
Warsen, to grow worse. " He warsen^d sadly."
Waisting, a consumption, a decline.
Wa't, indeed. " Wdt is't" — indeed it is.
Watching on St. Mark's Eve. Young rustics will sometimes
watch, or at least pretend to watch, through the night in
the church porch, with a view of seeing the ghosts of all
those who are to die the next year, pass by them ; which
they are said to do in their usual dress. The persons
making, or supjiosed to have made, this vigil, ai'e a terror
to the neighbourhood. On the least offence they are apt,
by significant looks or hints, to insinuate to the credulous
the speedy death of some valued friend or relative. —
Some of the young girls too follow the ancient method of
sowing hemp-seed; while others prepare the dintib cake
with ingredients traditionally suggested in witching dog-
grel.
Wath, Warth, a water-ford. Sax. ivadaii, vadere.
Wattles, teat like excrescences that hang from the cheeks of
some swine, as well as the meanings assigned in Todd's
John.
Waw, Wo, a wall. — iVo/-///. — Wo(iH, Lane, an^l York. Sax.
wak.
Wax, to grow. In general use. — Waxen, growing. Dut.
wassing. "Hoot vinn! He's just a half-wax d lad .' It's
sartin hc\s geften the waxen chnrncls."
230 WAX
Wax-end, the waxed thread used by cordwainers,
Wea, Weha, oppressed with woe, sorrowful. Sax. wa, afflic-
tus. " I am weha for you" — 1 pity you. " I am weha for
your loss" — I am distressed at your loss.
Weaky, juicy, moist, watery. V. Jam. tvak.
Weary, vexatious, troublesome. " A tueary fellow." — " A
weary bairn." — " Oh J she's a iveary body." Sax. iveerig,
infestus.
Weather-gall, a phenomenon something like a second rain-
bow— said to indicate bad weather. Germ, luasssergalle.
V. Nares' Gloss. Water-gall.
Weather-gleam, clear sky near the horizon — spoken of ob-
jects seen on the ridge of a lofty hill, so as to appear as if
in the sky. In this situation, as Dr. Willan observes, a
man looks gigantic ; he seems to tread on air, and to be
clad with radiance, like one of Ossian's departed heroes.
Sax. waeder, coelum, and gleam, splendor.
Webster, or Wabster, a weaver. Sax. luebhestre, textrix, a
female weaver. The use of this term, as remarked by Dr.
Jam. indicates that, among our forefathers, the work of
weaving was appropriated to women. This, it is well
known, was the case among the Greeks and other ancient
nations, who considered it an employment unworthy of
the dignity of man.
Wee, little, small. " A ivcc bit."—" A little wee thing." V.
Jam.
A little xvcc face with a little yellow beard.
Stialc. Merry Wives of Wiiidwr.
Weens, children. Little ones. " How are the weens?"
Weel, well. — Weel-te-dee, well to do — living comfort-
ably.
WERR 231
Weei^sum-oa ! interjec. a blessing on j'ou.
Weel's-mon-thee ! God bless you.
Weet, v. to rain, to wet. — Weet, s. slight rain. Sax. ivceta,
humiditas. Chaucer uses wete, v. and a.
Weeze, a circular roll of straw, wool, or other soft substance,
for protecting the head under the pressure of a load or
burthen. Probably from Teut. wane, csespes; or it may
be from case. Brand thinks it a corruption of ivisj),
Welk, to dry, to wither. V. Todd's John.
Well, to weld. Sw. tvella. Sax. wellen, to be very hot. .
Welly, ver^' near — a contraction of well nigh.
Welsh, insipid. Teut. gaelsch. Welsh and wallow are sy-
nonyma. Broth and water, and pottage without salt, are
luallow or welsh. A person whose face has a raw, pale,
and unhealthy look — whom a keen frosty morning pinches,
and to whom it gives an appearance of misery and poverty
— has a welsh and walloiv face. A welsh day, is the same
as a sleety day, when it is neither thaw nor frost : but a
wallow day is when a cold, strong and hollow wind pre-
vails. Wallow, applied to the state of the weather, is per-
haps only applicable in a rugged and mountainous country.
Welter, to reel or stagger. Teut. wcltcren, volutare.
Wend, to go. Sax. ivendan. Not obsolete, as stated by Di*.
Johnson.
Went, for gone. Frequent in the North, as well as among
the Cockneys. V. Pegge's Anecd. Eng. Lang. p. 233.
Went, Wented, applied to milk when it has been kept till it
be approaching to soiu-ness.
Werrit, to teaze. If a person, extremely ill, were impor-
tuned to any measure to which lie felt reluctant or con-
trary to his inclination, he would request not to be wer-
lited so much about it.
232 ' WESH
Wesh, v. to wash. — Wesh, s. stale urine, sometimes used in
washing. Teut. ivasch, lotura.
Wet-hand, a drunken person ; very properly termed by
Bewick (Fables of Jisop, p. 138), " an old filtering stone."
Whack, v. to strike, to beat. A variation of thwack.
Whack;, s. appetite. " What a whack he's got."
Whacker, v. to tremble, to quake. — Whackering, trembling.
Whacker, s. a lie. — Whapper, the same. Both in a meta-
phorical sense.
Whang, v. to flog, or chastise with a thong. — Whang,
Whyeng, s a leather-thong.
Whang, a thick or large piece of any thing eatable ; especially
bread or cheese.
Whanging^fellow, a stout lusty person.
Whap, v. to beat soundly. — Whap, s. a knock-down blow.
Whapper, any thing uncommonly large. In many instances,
as remarked by Dr. Willan, our forefathers seem to have
estimated weights and magnitudes by the force of their
blows. Thus, they employed in gradation the terms slap-
per, smacker, banger, thumper, thwacker, swinger, and
rattler. The word bumper, concerning which so much has
been said and surmised, the Doctor thinks is not of a more
exalted origin than what is here stated.
Whatsomivver, however, whatever. '
Whatten, what kind of, what. " Whatten o'clock is^t ?"
Whaup, a curlew. Scohpax arquata. — Linnaeus.
Wh.\zle, Wheezle, v. to draw the breath with difficulty.
Su.-Got. hwaesa. — Whazle, s. an indication of asthma.
Whe, who. " Whe's there." " Whe was we yah."
Wheam, smooth, sheltered, impervious to the wind. Perhaps,
as suggested to uie by a skilful etymologist, a coriTuption
of Holm.
WHIL 233
Whean, to coax, to flatter. " What a wheanhig way she hez."
Whklk, a thump or blow, the noise made by the falling of any
thing heavy.
Whemmkl, or WiiAMMEL, to turn upside down, to tumble over.
Tent, wemelcn, frequenter et leviter movere.
WriET, WniT, WniTK, to cut with a knife. " Whiting sticlcs."
Whittle-te-whet, to sharpen, to set an edge on.
Whetstone, a prize for lying. V. Brand's Pop. Antiq. vol. i.
p. 4'29, & seq. and Nares' Gloss. In the former work
is mentioned a custom, now I think obsolete, among the
colliers at Newcastle, of giving a jtin to a person in com-
pany by way of hinting to him that he is Jibbing. If ano-
ther pitman outlie him, he in turn delivers the pin to him.
No duels ever ensued on the occasion.
Whewt, to whistle. — Whew, or Wm k, a whistle.
Whick, quick, alive. " Whick and a live" a common expres-
sion in Newcastle, among certain ladies, who neither sell
the liest n.sh, nor speak the'' plainest English.
Vv'niCKS, plants or slips of the white thorn. " A ivhicJc-\\eAge"
— .a quickset-hedge.
Whickens, couch grass, a general name for creeping weeds. —
WhickeninG, plucking them up.
Whidder, Whither, to shake, to quake, to shiver ; hence a
whither oi cold, a shivering cold. " All in a whither" — all
in a tremble.
Whiew, to fly hastily, to make great speed.
Whiff, a transient view. In a ivhiff, in a short time.
AVhig, sour whey. Sax. hivceg, serum. — Whiggenn'd-whev,
a pleasant liquor made 1)}' infusing various aromatic herbs
in whey, and suffering it to undergo a fermentation.
While, until. " Stay 7i'hi/e t come back." Nares quotes
several examples for this misuse of the word.
G G
234 WHIL
Whilk, which. Sax. Inuilc. Dan. InnUce. Chancer uses
whilke.
Whilt, an indolent person. " An idle whilt."
Whingeing, whining, sobbing or crj'iug peevishly. Sn.-Got.
wenga, plorare.
Whinnerneb, a meagre, thin faced person, with a sharp nose.
Grose, following Ray, says, perhaps from some bird that
feeds, or is bred among whiiia ; but I think it is more likely
from Welsh, wtjneb, a face, a visage.
Whins, gorse or furze. An old word.
Whipper and Hougher, an officer of the Corporation, New-
castle. See Hougher.
Whipper-snapper, a diminutive, insignificant person.
Whisht ! hush ! |ip silent. " Whisht ! dinna mack sic a
noise." This vulgaiism, if such it be, is not without an-
cient authority, being used by Latimer and others.
Whisket, or WisKiT, a sort of basket. V. Nares' Gloss.
Whissontide, Whitsuntide. — Whisson-Sund ay, Whitsunday.
Whistle, " the mouth ; the organ of whistling," says John-
son ; quoting Walton's Angler.
Let's drink the other cup to wet our xvh'istles, and so
sing away all sad thoughts.
Here whistle sm-ely means the throat. In the North, to
wet one''s ivhisile is a common phrase for, to take a good
drink ; and, without charging the amiable old Izaac with
tippling, that, in all probability, was his meaning. Indeed,
its use in this sense is very ancient.
I victe my whystcll as good drinkers do. — Palsgrave.
White, to requite. " God while you 1" V. Ray.
Whiteheft, flattery. " Whitchcft o" Limmm"
WHIT 235
White-herring, a pickled, and 7iot a fresh herring — with all
due deference to Archdeacon Nares. See his Glossai-y,
where it is stated, in regard to Stevens's explanation (simi-
lar to my own) and his reference to the Korthumhcrland
Household Book, that " there tltree are ordered for a young
lord or lady's breakfast, and/oi(?- for my lord's, which no
lord or lady could jwssibly cat." This may be quite true ;
but what does it prove ? From Bishop Percy's preface to
the North. Household Book, it appears that the Earl was a
nobleman of great magnificence and taste ; and consider-
ing the splendid establishment detailed in that curious me-
morial of the olden time, more white herrings might be pro-
vided " for a young lord or lady's breakfast," as well as
" for my lord's," than they actually did, or cotdd possibly
eat"
White-nee'd-craw, a rook ; the carrion crow being called the
black neUd craw.
Whitling, a species of trout, the history of which is very lit-
tle known. They are frequently taken in the river T3'ne ;
but like the brandling and the salmon-smell, always with-
out spawn. In some parts they are called whitings, and
are generally supposed at last to become salmon. Sw.
hwitling, a whiting.
Whittee-whatteeing, speaking low and privately — whisper-
ing between two persons, to the exclusion of a third — also
indecision, or procrastination, on frivolous pretences.
Whittle, a knife; generally a clasj)-kinfe. Sax. u'hytel.
" An harden sark, a guse grassing, and a ivhittle gait"
were all the salary of a clergyman, not many years ago, in
Cumberland ; in other words, his entke stipend consisted
of a shirt of coarse linen, the right of commoning geese,
and the privilege of using a knife and fork at the table of
his parishioners.
236 WHIZ
Whiz, to hiss like hot iron in water. See Fizz.
Whizzer, a falsehood. More wind than truth.
Whussel, a corruption of whistle. — Whusskl-wood, the
alder and plane-tree ; used by boys in making whistles.
Whctherin, Whuthering, a throbbing or palpitation at the
heart. " De'il swell tha ! ThoiC & maed me heaurt aa tohu-
ther agen .'"
Why, or Quey, the same as Heifer ; which see. Dan. quie.
— Why, or Quey-calf, a cow-calf.
Whyllymer, a species of cheese remarkable for its poverty.
In a note to Anderson's Ballads, its surface is said to be
so hard, that it frequently bids defiance to the keenest
edge of a Cumbrian gully, and its interior substance so very
tough, that it affords rather occupation to the teeth of a
rustic than nourishment to his body, making his hour of
repast the severest part of his day's labour.
Widdersful, laboriously endeavouring, actively striving.
WiDDEY, a tough band made of oziers, partially dried in the
fire ; used for many agricultm'al purposes. The iron ring,
uniting the band of a cow and the post to which she is
tied, is, in some places, still called a widdey, from its having
been made of oziers before the common use of iron. " As
tough as a widdey." The word seems evidently related to
willow. Old Eng. withey. Sax, withig.
WiDDLE, to fret. V. Jam. ividdill.
Wide-coat, an upper or great coat.
Wife, a woman, whether married or not, " An apple wife."
— " A fish wifer — " A tripe wife." Sax, wif mulier, foe-
niina.
Wig, a cake or bun. " A plain wig." — " A spice ivig." Teut.
wegghe, panis triticeus.
Wiggle-waggle, a tremulous undulating motiotu See
Wabble,
WIND 237
WinHTY, strong and active. V. Totld's John, mig/ii.
WiKE, Wkker, a mark used in setting out tithes ; generally
a small branch of a tree.
WiKs, Wicks, corners ; as the wih of the mouth. Su.-Got.
u'i/c, angulus.
Will, for shall; and Would, for should ; passim " The North
CouNTREYE." The Northumbrian gentry disrelish any
admonition of these inveterate errors in language. Such
mistakes, however, are incorrigible, both in them and in
their neighbours, the Scots. Even such writers as Blair
and Robertson are not always exempt from this disfigure-
ment.
Willey-Wand, a stem of the willow. Sax. wellg, and wand.
" A mere wille^-wand" — often applied to a tall, thin
person.
Win, to dry hay by exposing it to the air, to get in harvest
generally. Sax. ivindivian, ventilare. Teut. winnen, col-
ligere fructus terrae. " Well won hay."
Yt felle abowght the Lamasse t^'de,
'VA''han husbonds •uynn ther have.
The dowghtve Dowglasse bowynd livm to ryde,
In Ynglond to take a praye.
Battle of Ottcrhournc.
Win, to raise, to get ; as coals from a mine, or stones from a
quarry. Sax. winnan ; Su.-Got. iviniui, laborare, labore
acquu'ere.
Winder, v. to winnow. — Winder, s. a window. V. Crav.
Gloss.
Windle, or Winnel-stree, a long kind of bent grass. Sax.
windel-strcowe.
Windy, noisy, verbose, marvellous in narration. " A ivmdi/
hash." — " Chow, Low, and Windy Jncli.'"
238 WINK
Winkers, the eyes. " Maw ivinkers to dazzled
WiNNA, WiNNOT, will not. " He lu'mna did" — " He ivinnot
come."
Winsome, Wunsome, livel}-, cheerful, gay. Sax. tvinsuvi.
Winter, an instrument of iron hung against the bars of a fire
place, used to heat smoothing irons upon.
WiRDLE, to perform any thing laboriously and slowly.
Wise, to shew or direct. — North. Sax. wisian, monstrare.
" Wise him in," — " Wise him out." — " Wise the door open."
It also means, to insinuate, to work into ; as to wise into
company or into favour; that is, to do it cunningly.
W^isE, to let go. " Wise off that i-ope there."
Wise-like, possessing the appearance of wisdom or propriety.
Sax. wis-lic, sapiens, prudens.
Wise-man, a periphrasis for a conjurer, or wizard. Wretches
of this description ai'e still, I fear, occasionally consulted.
WisHY-wAsiiv, poor looking, weak, not to the point.
Wit, Wite, Wyte, v. to know. jMce.-Got. and Sax. ititayi.
Su.-Got. weta, scire. " Wyte onH" — sure of it. " Fll
ne'er let wit" — I'll not inform, or I'll keep it secret.
Wit, s. intelligence, information. Pure Saxon. " He got
mt" — he obtained intelligence. " Don't let wit" — don't
give any information.
Wite, blame, imputation. A Chaucerian word, used by
Spenser. Sax. ivitan, imputare. Su.-Got. tvite, poena.
Wttte-w ITTE-WAY, a game among boys — which I do not re-
member in the South.
Wiv, with. — North, and Dur. Wi,' — Vor/c.
WizzEXED, WizzENT, dry, parched, withered, wrinkled, shri-
velled. Sax. u'isnian, arescere.
WoAD, mad, furious. Sax. wod, inianus, fuiiosus. Wotle oc-
curs se\ eral times in Chaucer.
WORM 239
WoMSlEL, or WuMBi.E, an auger. From wimble.
Wo\, WuN, to dwell, to haunt or frequent. Not obsolete, as
stated by Ash ; being common in Cumb. and Lane. Sax.
wonian, wunian. Teut. woonen, habitare. Cornish, won-
nen, to stay, to tarry.
Woo, wool. A common pronunciation in many places.
WoR, our. — WoRSELLs, ourselvcs.
Word. To take one's word again, to retract, to change one's
mind.
WoUiM, a serpent of great magnitude, a hideous monster in
the shape of a worm or dragon. Popular tradition has
handed down to us, through successive generations, with
very little variation, the most romantic details of the ra-
vages committed by these all devouring worms, and of the
valour and chivalry displayed by their destroyers. With-
out attempting to account for the origin of such tales, or
pretending in any manner, to vouch for the matters of fact
contained in them, it cannot be disguised, that many of the
inhabitants of the County of Durham in particular, still
implicitly believe In these ancient superstitions. The JVvdh
of Lambton is a family legend, the authenticity of which
they will not allow to be questioned. Various adventures
and supernatural incidents have been transmitted from
father to son, illustrating the devastation occasioned, and
the miseries inflicted by the monster — and marking the
self-devotion of the Knight of the Lambton family, through
whose intrepidity the worm was eventually destroyed. —
But the lapse of centuries has so completely enveloped in
obscm'ity the particular details, that it is impossible to give
a narration which could in any degree be considered as
complete. The story related in the recent, splendid,
and elaborate History of Durham is incorrect in many
240 WORM
particulars. Those parts which alhide to the profane fishing
on a Sunday, and the consequences resulting from it, are
mere modern disfigurements of the original tradition, ut-
terly at variance with the state of the times — amusements
on the Sabbath, in those days, when Catholicism prevailed,
not being regarded as an act of profaneness. A conical
hill is still shewn on the banks of the Wear, about two
miles from Lambton, which from time immemorial has
been called the Worm Hill, and round which the serpent
is said to have coiled itself.
WoRMiT, worm-wood. The tvormit-Mll, in High Friar Chare,
Newcastle ; now removed.
WoKRV, to eat voraciously, to choak, to suffocate. V. Ray.
Wou, the worst kind of sunpes. " ThaVs sorri/ won — real rot
gut" The word is also applied to weak tea, or any very
worthless liquor. " Farthing wou."
WaAf'K, or Wrackrider, another name for the same species
of trout as the brandling, which see. It is faintly barred
or branded down the sides.
Wrang, wrong. Piu-e Saxon. — Wrangsly, falsely.
Wrat, Wratten, a wart. Dut. and Sc. wrat.
WRECKLiN(i, an unhealthy feeble child — the youngest or weak-
est of the breed among animals — the smallest bird in the
nest — any ill-grown creature. See Dowpy.
Wridden, or Wreeden, cross, ill-natured ; applied in particu-
lar to children.
Wrout, to bore, to dig up like a hog. Sax. wrolan, subigere.
Chaucer has wrote.
WuD, with, — Climb. " God be umdher" — God rest her suul.
Wye, well, yes. — Wve — Wye, very well ; yes, yes, A com-
mon expression of assent. Fr. oui.
Wylecoat, an under-vest ; generylly of flannel.
YAUP 241
Wyllebient, or Wullement, a pale, sickly looking person.
Y.
Yad, Yawd, a worn out cart horse — an old mare. Jade.
Yaitings, Yeatings, single sheaves of corn ; especially of
oats.
Yaits, Yets, oats. " A poke o' yets." See the last article.
Yammer, to complain, to whine. Germ, jammern. — Yam-
mering, making a continual noise ; such as proceeds from
contentious women, or from fretful and peevish children.
The word, indeed, stands for a very complex idea, into
which enters a combination of habitual fretfulness, discon-
tent, brawling, and anger.
Come, dinna, dinna whinge an' whipe.
Like yawmerwff Isbel Macky.
Song, Boh Crankij^s Adieu.
Yan, Yen, one. — Yan^ce, Yence, once.
Yansell, Yensell, one's self.
Yap, apt, quick. Sax. gep, astutus. In Peirs Ploughman I
find yep, which Dr. Whitaker considers of the same origin,
and explains in the sense of alert and vigorous.
Yap, Yep, an opprobrious epithet. " A twea-faccd yep." —
" Had yor tongne yah yep."
Yark, or Yerk, to wrench or twist forcibly.
Yark, to beat soundly. Isl. hreckia, pulsare. A favourite
word among the vulgar. " AwU yark yak, yah dirty bas-
tard yah; aw've had mairfash wahyee nor a' the bairns aw
ever had, in aw me life; there's ne sic thing as leeving
for yah .'"
Yauping, crying, lamenting. Teut. galpen, gannire instar
vulpis. Kilian.
H h
242 YE AT
Yeather, a flexible twig used for binding hedges.
Yebble, able. " As long as u^ar ycbble."
Yeblins, Yeablesea, Yebblesee, perhaps. See Ablins,
Yell, ale. Sax. ecde. — Yell-house, an ale-house. — Yell-
wife, the lady of " mine host," a hostess in her own
right.
Yellow-yowley, Yold-ring, the yellow bunting. Emberiza
citrinella. — Linnasus. A vulgar prejudice exists in Scotland
against this bird. V. Jam. yeldring.
Yelp, to cry out in a loud manner; as it were like a dog. —
Yelping, shouting.
Yearth, Yeorth, a common pronunciation of earth.
Yerning, rennet. Germ, gerinnen, to coagulate. A plant
used in North Tindale to curdle milk for cheese is called
yerning grass. See Keslip.
Yet, Yete, Yat, a gate. Both Chaucer and Spenser use
yate. — Yet-stoop, a gate post.
Yetling, a small pan or boiler. So called, I suppose, from
being made of cast metal. V. Jam. yetland.
Yeuk, v. to itch. Tiut. jeuken. — Yeuk, s. a cutaneous disease
— jocosely denominated the plague of Scotland.
YissERDAY, yesterday. — Yisserneet, yesternight.
Yor, your. — Yor-sell, yourself.
You, YowE, a ewe. Sex. eoive, ovis fcemina.
YouL, Yowl, to cry, to howl. Isl. gola, ululare.
Youngster, a novitiate in any thing.
Youth, in the sense of vigorous age. " He's a fine old youth."
Yure, the udder of a cow. Dut. uijer.
Yule, Yull, the festival of Christmas — the winter solstice of
the Northern nations. V. Ihre, jul. — Jam. ytde — and
Brand's Pop. Antiq, vol. i. p. 364.
YULE 243
Yule-clog, or Yull-cloo, a large Mock or log of wood laid
on the fire on Christmas Eve ; and, if possible, kept
burning all the following day, or longer, A portion of the
old clog of the preceding year is somethnes saved to light
up the new block at the next Christmas, and to preserve
the family from harm in the mean time. Many, otherwise
sensible, persons, though ashamed to admit their belief in
these ridiculous notions, would be uncomfortable, did they
entirely neglect them.
Come bring, with a noise,
My merrie, merrie boys,
The Christmas Log to the firing ;
While my good Dame she
Bids ye all be free,
And di-ink to your heart's desiring.
Herrkk, Ceremonies for Christmasse.
Part must be kept wherewith to teend,
The Christmas Log next yeare ;
And where 'tis safely kept, the Fiend
Can do no mischiefe (there).
Herrick, Ceremonies for Candlemasse Day.
Yule-dough, or Yull-doo, a little image of paste, studded
with currants ; baked for children at Christmas ; intended
originally, perhaps, for a figure of the Child Jesus, with the
Virgin Mary. V. Ihre, Julbrod — and Brand's Pop, Antiq.
vol, i. p, 410.
ERRATA.
P. il, line b from bottom, for adlean read adlian.
P. 8, line 2 from bottom, for Allum read Alum.
P. 34, line 9, for two read too.
P. 64, bottom line, for eelr read air.
P. 67, line 9 from bottom, for footseps read footsteps.
P. 71, line 11, for Spencer read Spenser.
P. 88, line 2 from bottom, for opprobious read opprobrious.
P. 100, line 10 from bottom, for woman read women.
P. 159, line 12, for anowse read 7iowse,
P. 170, line 9 from bottom, for alliterate read alliterative.
P. 175, line 14, for iejzeread ieaze.
P. 176, line 2 from bottom, for toise read wos'se.
P. 185, line 13, for substitue read substittite.
P. 220, line 4 from bottom, after tuam insert empty.
Newcastle : Printed by
T. & J. Hodgson, Union- Street.
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