Lakeland Words / A Collection of Dialect Words and Phrases as Used in Cumberland and Westmorland, with Illustrative Sentences in the North Westmorland Dialect

by Bryham Kirkby

BRANT—Steep. A hill that’s as brant as a hoose side taks some wind oot o’ yan.

BRANT—Brazen. He stiud up ta feit as brant as a banty cock.

BRASH—Hurry up. Brash aboot an’ skift yersels.

BRASHEN—A vigorous habit. He was allus brashen aboot at t’ top o’ his speed.

BRAT—An apron; a pinafore.

BRATTLE—A loud noise. By gum! that brattle o’ thunner soonded gayly near like. Ther’s udder maks o’ brattlin’, t’ rifle an’ seck like.

BRIDLE-ROOAD—A lal looanin’ whar nowt but a nag er a coo can gang doon.

BUFFS—Rebounds. When yan’s drivin’ a stiak an’ it’s gitten fluzzed an’ comes oot farder than it gangs in when yan hits it wi’ t’ mell, then it buffs.

BULLACE—Wild plums. Bullaces an’ sleeas—they grow i’ t’ dikes.

BULL-HEAD—Bull-heeds an’ tommy-looaches—wi’ a bit o’ threed fer a tome, an’ a pin fer a hiuk, ye can catch them i’ t’ beck. Ther’s mennoms, tommy looatches, an’ bull-heeds. Ah’ve hed many a yedderin for ’t.