A Glossary of Words used in the Country of Wiltshire

by George Edward Dartnell; E. H. Goddard

*Black Couch. A form of Agrostis that has small wiry blackish roots (D). Agrostis stolonifera.

Black Sally. Salix Caprea, L., Great Round-leaved Sallow, from its dark bark (Amateur Poacher, ch. iv). Clothes-pegs are made from its wood.—N.W.

*Black Woodpecker. Picus major, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Birds of Wilts, p. 253). Also known as the Gray Woodpecker.

Blades. The shafts of a waggon (S.).—S.W.

Blare, Blur. To shout or roar out loudly (S.).—N. & S.W.

Blatch. (1) adj. Black, sooty (A.B.).—N.W. (2) n. Smut, soot. 'Thuc pot be ael over blatch.'—N.W. (3) v. To blacken. 'Now dwon't 'ee gwo an' blatch your veäce wi' thuc thur dirty zoot.'—N.W.

Bleachy. Brackish.—S.W. (Som. bord.)

Bleat. Bleak, open, unsheltered. 'He's out in the bleat,' i.e. out in the open in bad weather. See K for examples of letter-change.—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.)

Bleeding Heart. Cheiranthus Cheiri, L., the red Wallflower (A.B.).—N.W.