'Howlers. Boys who in former times went round wassailing the orchards.'—Parish, Sussex Glossary.
'The wenches with their wassail bowls
About the streets are singing;
The boys are come to catch the owls.'—G. Wither.
*Owl-catchers. Gloves of stout leather (Amateur Poacher, ch. xi).
Pack-rag Day. October 11, Old Michaelmas Day, when people change house. Also used in Suffolk.—N.W.
*Paint-brushes. Eleocharis palustris, Br.—S.W. (Charlton All Saints.)
Palm-tree. The Willow. Palms. Its catkins.—S.W.
Pamper. To mess about, to spoil a thing.—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.)
Pancherd. See Panshard.
Pank. To pant (S.).—N. & S.W.
Panshard, Ponshard, Pancherd. (1) A potshard: a broken bit of crockery (A.B.S.).—N.W. (2) 'In a panshard,' out of temper, in a rage.—S.W. Also used in the New Forest.