Wit, Character, Folklore & Customs of the North Riding of Yorkshire / With a Glossary of over 4,000 Words and Idioms Now in Use - Richard Blakeborough

GLOSSARY
OF ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND NORTH RIDING WORDS

Giving only those daily in use at the present time, 1898, together with more than 1000 sentences as examples of the dialect.

For Rare and Obsolete Words, see other Glossaries.

N.B.—Some words as we pass from east to west of the North Riding differ slightly in pronunciation; such, when established over a sufficiently wide area, have been included in the Glossary. It is owing to this that the spelling of the same word varies throughout the work, as in all cases the dialect has been given in accordance with the pronunciation of the locality in which the incident or word uttered occurred. As a single example, take ‘fau’k,’ which is universal along the coast; further inland, in the Great Ayton and Stokesley district ‘fau’k’ and ‘fooak’ are equally common, whilst in Wensleydale and Swaledale ‘fooak’ is only heard.

ABBREVIATIONS.

abv.=abbreviated.
adj.=adjective.
adv.=adverb.
conj.=conjunction.
pron.=pronoun.
ex.=example.
intj.=interjection.
n.=noun.
N.R.=North Riding.
v.=verb.
part.=participle.
pp.=past participle.
prep.=preposition.
pret.=preterit.
num.=numeral.

A.
A or Eh, p. pr. He. Vide footnote, [p. 326.]
A, num. adj. One. Vide [Yah], [Yan].
A’, adj. All.
Aa! intj. Exclamation of surprise, admiration.
Aa, but. Aa, but Ah saay! intj. of comparison.
Ex.—Aa, but Ah saay! Ah aim ’at yon pig’s better ’an oors.
Aback, adv. Behind.
Aback o’ beyont, adv. Out of sight, out of the way.
Ex.—Them things is sadly i’ t’ road. Ah wish thoo’d git ’em aback o’ beyont.
Abeear, v. To endure.
Ex.—Ah caan’t abeear t’ seet o’ yon lass.
Aboon, prep. Above.
Aboon-heead, adv. Overhead.
Ex.—It leeaks a bit blackish aboon-heead.
Abraid, v. To wake, to stir up.
Abrede, adv. Width.
Accorn, Yackron, n. The acorn.
Acoz, conj. Because; often abv. to ‘’coz.’
Actilly, adv. Actually.
Addle, adj. Barren.
Addle, v. To earn.
Addlin’, n. A term of contempt.
Ex.—Thoo larl addlin’, ger awaay wi’ tha.
Addlin’s, n. Wages.
Admire, v. 1. To approve, to like.
2. To wonder.
Ex.—1. Ah deean’t admire a job o’ that soart. Ah admire t’ maist o’ what he did.
2. Ah caan’t bud admire at t’ waay he did it.
Adreead, adj. In a state of fear.
‘A’e, ‘Ev, v. Have.
Aether, Owther, conj. Either.
Afeear’d, adj. and part. Afraid, seized with fear.
Afoor, Afur, prep. Before.
Afoor- or Afur-lang, adv. Before long, very shortly.
After- or Efter-birth, n. Placenta.
Afterwit, Efterwit, n. An idea which strikes one often when too late to remedy a mistake.
Agaan, Ageean, prep. Again.
Agaanst or Ageeanst, prep. Against.
Agaate, Ageeat, adv. 1. On the way.
2. Begun; also used as a part.
3. To disturb.
4. To set going.
Ex.—1. Wa s’all git agaate ti morn at morn.
2. Ah’s agaate wi’ ‘t noo.
3. Naay, what! Ah’d gitten all sattled peeacably, an’ thoo gans an’ sets ’em all agaate agaan.
4. Ah’ve putten a new pin in, an’ sha’s agaate agaan noo.
Agee, adv. Askew.
Ah, per. pron. I.
Ah’ll, I will.
Ah’ll awaand, I will warrant.
Ah’ll be bun, I will be bound, I am sure.
Ahint, adv. and prep. Behind.
Aiblings, adv. Maybe, perhaps.
Aim, Aam, Yam, v. 1. To intend. 2. To be under the impression. Vide chapter on ‘Idioms.’
Ex.—1. Wa aim ti start ti flit ti morn fust thing, i.e. ‘We intend to remove our goods first thing to-morrow.’
2. Ah yam’d ’at he war Tommy’s bairn, i.e. ‘I thought that he was Tom’s bairn.’
Airm, n. Arm.
Airt, n. Point of the compass.
Ex.—What airt is t’ wind in? Whya, sha’s nobbut iv a bad airt; Ah doot ’at it’s nut gahin’ ti tak up.
Al, Yal, n. Ale.
Alaane, Aleean, adj. Alone.
Aliments, n. Elements.
All of a heh, adj. Inclining to one side.
All out, adv. Altogether, absolutely.
All ti nowt, Gone to nothing, dwindled away.
Ally, Ally-taw, n. A boy’s taw of white marble, distinct from either a stony or glassy.
Along of, prep. Owing to, in consequence of.
Amaist, Omaist, adv. Almost.
Amang, prep. Among.
Amang-hands, Implies the doing of certain work coincidently with other labour.
Amell, prep. In the midst, between.
Ance, Vide [Yance].
An’, conj. And.
‘An, conj. Than.
An’ all, conj. and adv. As well as, besides, truly.
Ane, num. adj. One, usually followed by ’ither,’ i.e. other.
Ex.—If Ah’ll tak t’ ane, will thoo tak t’ ither? Vide Yan.
Anew, adj. Enough in number.
Angry, adj. Inflamed.
Anotherkins, adj. Different altogether.
Ex.—Sha sartinly raffled on tiv a gert len’th, bud sha nivver tell’d ma ’at Willie hed offered ti gi’e ma summat—that’s anotherkins, thoo knows.
Anters, conj. For fear, lest.
Any, Onny, adv. At all, in the least.
Ex.—Ah doan’t aim ’at he’ll help onny, i.e. ‘I do not think that he will help at all.’ He teeak ho’d, bud he didn’t lift onny, i.e. ‘He took hold, but he did not lift in the least.’
Apace, Apaace, adv. With great speed.
Ex.—He’s gitten tweea mair lads; he’ll git on apaace noo.
Appron, n. The fat covering the belly of ducks and geese.
Arf, Arfish, adj. 1. Timid, fearful.
2. Unwilling.
Ex.—1. He wur a bit arfish when t’ dog boonced oot.
2. Naay, Ah deean’t think he’ll cum, he seem’d a bit arfish when Ah ax’d him.
Argify, v. To argue.
Arn, v. To earn.
Arr, n. A scar.
Ex.—Ah’s afeear’d he’ll be arr’d sairly on his feeace, he gat sae badly bo’nt.
Arran web, n. A cobweb.
Arridge, n. The rough edge left after either sawing or filing; the edge of a squared stone, of furniture, &c.
Arse-end, n. The end of a stook which rests upon the ground.
Arsey-varsey, Upside down, great confusion.
Ashads, prep. Beside.
Asher, adj. Ashen.
Ask, Esk, n. The newt.
Aslew, adj. Not perpendicular.
Ass, v. Vide Ax.
Asseer, v. To assure, adv. Instead, in the place of.
Assel-tree, n. Axle-tree.
Ass-hoal, n. A hole with a grate over it, usually under the kitchen fire, to hold the fine ash.
Assil-teeath or -tewth, n. A molar, a back tooth.
Ass-manner, n. Manure obtained from the ash-midden.
Ass-midden, n. The place in which ashes and other refuse is thrown.
Asteead, adv. Instead.
As tite, Ez tite, adv. As soon, rather, readily.
Ex.—Ah’d ez tite gan ez stop, i.e. ‘I would as soon go as stay.’ Ah’d ez tite kiss t’ dowter ez t’ muther, i.e. ‘I would rather kiss the daughter than the mother.’
‘At, rel. pron. and conj. 1. Who.
2. That.
3. Which.
Ex.—1. Him ’at tell’d tha, tell’d tha wrang, i.e. ‘He who told you, told you wrongly.’
2. Ah caan’t saay ’at ivver Ah did, i.e. ‘I cannot say that ever I did.’
At, prep. 1. To.
2. Also used in a verbal sense of to worry.
3. To attack.
4. To bother.
Ex.—1 and 3. What’s he deean at tha ’at thoo s’u’d at him leyke that? i.e. ‘What has he done to you that you should attack or illuse him like that.’
2 and 4. Ah s’all ’ev ti let her ’ev t’ pup, ska’s awlus at ma aboot it.
Atefter or Atefther, adv. Afterwards.
Ex.—Whya, noo, Ah’ll see tha atefter aboot it. Aye, that’s what he sed at fo’st, bud he tell’d a different taal atefter.
Athout, prep. and conj. Without, unless.
Atop o’, prep. On the top of.
Atter, n. Matter, mucus.
Atween, prep. Between.
Au’d-feshioned, adj. Precocious, antique.
Au’d-leyke, adj. Aged.
Aught, n. Anything.
Aund, Awned, pp. Possessed.
Aw, adj. All.
Aw, intj. Oh.
Awaay, intj. Go on, continue doing the same thing.
Ex.—It maay scream awaay foor owt ’at Ah care, i.e. ‘Scream on.’ ‘Fight away, my lads.’ ‘Shout away, my boys.’
Awaay-gannin’ crops, n. The crops an outgoing tenant sows and reaps on the farm he is leaving, in consideration of certain other land which he has fallowed and manured.
Awanting, adj. 1. Needed.
2. Lacking sense.
Ex.—1. T’ land’s vastly awanting a sup o’ rain.
2. That bairn’s a bit awanting.
Awe, Vide Owe.
Awhahl, conj. Awhile. Vide Whahl.
Awkward, Vide Okkad.
Awlus, Allus, adv. Always.
Awm, n. The elm.
Awn, v. 1. To own.
2. To admit.
Ex.—1. Ah awn t’ dog, i.e. ‘I own the dog.’
2. Did ta awn tiv owt? i.e. ‘Did you admit anything?’ Neea, Ah awned ti nowt, i.e. ‘No, I admitted nothing.’ Ti awn ti, is ‘to confess.’
Ax, Ax’d, Ass, or Ast, v. To ask.
Ex.—Ah ax’d him, bud he wadn’t ’a’e neea truck. Ah’s ast oot ti tea ti morn at neet. Ah wadn’t ax him owt, or ass him.
Ax’d at chetch or chŭch } Publishing the banns.
Ax’d oot }
Ex.—Tha’ll be ax’d at chetch o’ Sunday; he’s putten t’ spurrings in.
Aye, bairn. Assent.
Aye, foor seear. Aye, for sure.
Aye, marry, adv. Certainly, yes.
Ex.—Diz ta believe what sha’s sed aboot Hannah? Aye, marry, that Ah deea—Hannah war sadly flowtered t’ other daay, when Ah plump’d her wi’ ‘t.
B.
Bab, Babby, n. A baby.
Babbles an’ Saunters, 1. Wearying repetitions.
2. Unreliable information.
Ex.—1. T’ sarmon war larl better ’an babbles an’ saunters.
2. Tak neea notish ov owt ’at sha sez, all ’at sha knaws is babbles an’ saunters.
Back, v. Vide Backen.
Back-bearaway, n. The common bat.
Back-burden, n. A load carried on the back.
Backen, v. 1. To retard.
2. To hold in check.
Ex.—1. T’ frost ’ll backen things a gay bit.
2. Wa did all ’at ivver wa c’u’d, bud wa c’u’dn’t backen t’ inflammation;
’t ’ed gitten past deeaing owt, afoor t’ doctor cam.
Back-end, n. The time following harvest.
Backendish, adj. Winterly.
Ex.—It’s cau’d, an’ begins ti feel a larl bit backendish.
Backerly, adj. and adv. Late, backward.
Backly, adv. Late, backward.
Backreck’nin’, n. A misunderstanding.
Ex.—Noo Ah’ve maad it plaan, ’evn’t Ah? foor Ah deean’t want neea backreck’nin’ at efter.
Back-talk, n. Impudently answering again.
Back-side, n. 1. The back of the house.
2. That part which is opposed to the front of anything.
Ex.—1. Put t’ barrer at t’ back-side.
2. It’s at t’ back-side o’ t’ barn.
Backstan, n. A sheet of iron, sometimes a stone, having an iron hoop to hang it over the fire by, used to bake cakes upon.
Back up, To get one’s, To make angry.
Back-word, adv. To countermand, to decline.
Bad, adj. 1. Difficult.
2. Unwell.
Ex.—1. Ah finnd it varra bad ti deea.
2. Ah feel ez bad ez ivver Ah can.
Bad, Bod, pret. of ’to bid.’
Ex.—Ah bad, an’ sha bod, an’ Tommy gat it.
Badger, n. A huckster.
Badger, v. To beat down in a bargain.
Ex.—Thoo mun ass him a lump mair ’an what thoo wants, foor he’s a despert yan at badgering.
Badly, adv. 1. Sickly, ill.
2. Very much.
Ex.—1. Mah wo’d, bud Ah is badly.
2. Ah’s badly i’ want ov a self-binnder. It badly wants leeaking teea.
Badness, n. Wickedness.
Ex.—He’s full o’ nowt bud badness.
Bags Ah fuggy, ‘I claim the first,’ whether it be innings or first place in a game, &c.
Bahd, Vide Bide.
Bainest, adj. The nearest.
Ex.—It’s t’ bainest waay ti gan byv t’ pastur.
Bairn, Barn, Baan, n. A child.
Bairn-birth, n. Lying-in.
Bairnish, adj. Childish.
Bairn-lakings, n. Playthings.
Bakin’, n. The whole of the bread baked at one time.
Bakus, Bakehoos, n. The bakehouse.
Balk, Bawk, n. A beam, also a worthless corner of a field.
Ball, n. The palm of the hand, or sole of the foot.
Bally-bleeazes, n. A bonfire.
Bam, n. and v. 1. A cheat, a joke, to cheat.
2. To play a joke.
Ex.—1. He bamm’d ivvery hand he played.
2. He went all t’ waay ti Stowsla ti see her, an’ sha nivver cam oot; it war nowt bud a bam o’ Jack’s.
Band, n. String, twisted straw used by the harvesters to bind sheaves with.
Band-maker, n. A maker of bands in the harvest-field.
Bang, v. To thrash.
Bangs all, v. Surpasses everything.
Ex.—He bangs all, yon youth. That’s a capper; it bangs all, it diz.
Bank up, v. To collect in masses, as clouds.
Banky, adj. Hilly, applied to road or land.
Bar, adj. Bare.
Barfan, n. A horse-collar.
Bargh, Barugh, Barf, n. A hill forming part of a low ridge, as Lang Barugh, Great Ayton.
Bargollies, n. Young birds before they are feathered.
Barguest, n. An apparition, applied to ghosts in general.
Barken’d, v. Encrusted.
Barley-bairn, n. A child born shortly after marriage.
Barm, n. Yeast.
Barren, n. The external part of the sexual organ of a cow.
Barrow, n. The flannel in which a newly-born child is wrapped.
Bass, n. Any kind of matting made from reeds or grass.
Bat, n. 1. A blow.
2. A condition.
3. A small amount of work.
Ex.—1. Ah gav’ him sike a bat ower t’ lug.
2. He’s awlus at that bat, i.e. ‘game.’
3. Ah’ve nut deean a bat sen yesterdaay.
Bate, v. To reduce in price.
Ex.—Thoo’ll ’a’e ti bate summat afoor wa can barg’in.
Bath, v. To wash a child; to foment with hot water.
Batten, n. Two sheaves of straw.
Batter, n. An inclination inwards, a narrowing towards the summit. A wall which is wider at the base than at the summit is said to ’batter.’
Ex.—Thoo’ll be leyke ti gi’e it a bit mair batter, foor if t’ bank at t’ back gi’es waay, it’ll nivver bahd it thrussin’ agaan ’t.
Batter-fanged, adj. Beaten and scratched by a woman.
Ex.—He nobbut sed tweea wo’ds ti Ann, when sha batter-fang’d him sairly.
Battin, n. A rafter of any length, 7 × 2½ in. thick.
Baufy, adj. Strong.
Bavin, n. A bundle of sticks.
Bawks, n. The yoke.
Bazzak, v. To strike with force.
Beck, n. A small stream.
Bedfast, adj. Confined to bed.
Bed-happings, n. Bedclothes.
Bed-heead, n. The pillow end.
Bedho’dden, adj. Vide Bedfast.
Bedoot, Beoot, prep. 1. Without.
2. Unless.
Ex.—1. He’s gahin’ ti gan bedoot tha.
2. Bedoot thoo cums an’ all, Ah saan’t gan, soa thoo knaws.
Bedstock, n. The wooden frame of a bed.
Bed-twilt, n. Bed-quilt.
Beeaf, n. The bough of a tree. Vide also Bugh.
Beeak, v. To bake.
Beeal, v. 1. To roar as an animal.
2. To cry out in pain.
3. To shout loudly.
Ex.—1. He beeal’d leyke a bull when tha catch’d him.
2. Ah nivver heeard a lass beeal oot leyke what sha did when t’ doctor cut her wicklow.
3. When he calls o’ yan, he beeals ez if yan war deeaf; he ommaist deavens yan.
Beean, n. A bone.
Beean’t, Be not (am not).
Beearer, n. Martingale.
Beeas, Beeos, Beeast, n. An animal of the ox kind.
Beeaslings, n. The first milk drawn from a cow after calving.
Beeldin’, n. A building.
Bee-skep, n. A straw hive.
Behappen, v. To happen to, perhaps.
Behauf, n. Behalf, sake.
Beho’dden, pp. To be indebted to.
Belang, v. To own, to belong to.
Belder, v. To bellow as a bull, to cry out loudly.
Beleyke, adv. Probably.
Belk, v. To belch.
Bellacing, part. A sound thrashing.
Belly-cheer, n. Good cheer.
Belly-glut, n. A greedy glutton.
Belly-timber, n. Food.
Belly-wark, n. A pain in the stomach.
Belt, pp. of ‘Build.’
Bensil, n. A blow.
Bensiling, n. A sound chastisement.
Ex.—Ah’ll gi’e tha sike a bensiling if ivver thoo cums that gam agaan.
Benty, adj. Wiry, blue-looking, applied to pasture herbage.
Berry-tree, n. The gooseberry tree.
Bessy-babs, n. One who behaves like a child.
Bessy-bainworts, n. Daisies.
Bessy-ducker or -douker, n. The water-ousel.
Best leg first, To put one’s = To hurry.
Ex.—If ya aim ti catch t’ traan ya’ll ’a’e ti put yer best leg fo’st.
Best and Bested. Used in a verbal sense—1. To get the better of.
2. To overcome.
Ex.—1. Ah bested him, i.e. ‘I got the better of him.’
2. Ah can seean best yon youth, i.e. ‘I can soon vanquish that fellow,’
Bethink, Bethowt, v. To recollect.
Ex.—Ah caan’t bethink ma ov hauf o’ what sha sed. When Tom ga’ ma a inklin’ Ah bethowt ma ov ivverything ’at ’ed ta’en pleeace; aye, all ’at t’ ane ’ed sed ti t’ other, thoff afoor that all t’ lot ’ed cleean slipped fra mah mahnd.
Better, adj. and v. 1. More.
2. To gain by.
3. Improved in health.
Ex.—1. It’s better ’an a month sen.
2. Ah s’ better mysel by changing pleeaces.
3. Ah’s a lot better ti-daay.
Bettering, n. An improvement.
Bettermy, adj. 1. Used to denote those in a higher position.
2. Polished.
Ex.—1. T’ bettermy fau’k ’ez their waays, an’ wa’ ‘ev oors; bud when onny on ’em cums inti mah cottage, Ah awlus puts on mah bettermy manners, an’ Ah can scrape mah tongue an’ knack a bit wi t’ best on ’em.
Beyont, prep. Beyond.
Bickerin’, n. A wordy conflict, quarrelling.
Ex.—Tommy an’ Mary’s at it agaan; Ah nivver heeard sike bickerin’ deed ez yon tweea ’ev, tha’re awlus at it.
Bid, v. To invite to a funeral.
Bidder, n. The person deputed to bid guests to a funeral.
Bide, Bahd, v. 1. To endure.
2. To wait.
3. To dwell.
Ex.—1. Ah caan’t bahd yon chap.
2. Ah’ll bahd here whahl ya cum.
3. Wheear did ta bahd afoor thoo cam ti live here?
Big, adj. Strong—of the wind.
Ex.—It war a fairly big wind last neet.
Bigg, n. Barley having four rows of ears on one stalk.
Bike, n. The nest of the wild bee.
Bile, n. A boil.
Binch, n. A bench to work upon.
Bink, n. A long seat of either stone or wood.
Binnd, v. To bind.
Binnder, Binndther, n. The tier-up of sheaves.
Birk, n. The birch-tree.
Birr, n. Rapid motion accompanied with a sound like whirr-r-r.
Ex.—T’ bo’ds gat up an’ went wi’ sike a birr, ’at Ah aim he war ti freet’n’d ti shut at ’em.
Bishel, n. A bushel.
Bishopped, Vide Set on.
Biv, Byv, prep. By.
Bizzum, Buzzum, n. A broom.
Bizzum-heead, n. A person who is equally foolish and stupid.
Bizzum- or Buzzum-heeaded, adj. Stupid and foolish.
Black-clocks, n. Black beetles.
Blacking, n. A severe scolding.
Bladdry, Blathery[110], adj. Muddy, applied to soft splashy mud.
Blaeberry, n. The bilberry.
Blair, v. To roar loudly, to shout loudly.
Blake, adj. Of a light golden hue, pale.
Ex.—Noo, that’s a bit o’ neyce blake butter. Thoo nobbut leeaks blakeish.
Blake, v. Intoxicated.
Ex.—Jim war fairly blake last neet.
Blane, n. A small boil.
Blash, v. 1. To splash with water.
2. adj. Nonsense, idle talk.
Blashment, n. Melted snow or soft mud.
Blashy, adj. Applied to wet weather. The roads are said to be ‘blashy’ when the snow melts.
Blather, adj. and n. Nonsense.
Bleb, n. A blister, a small bubble.
Bleck, n. The dirt and oil worked together on a machine.
Bleea, n. The inner bark of a tree.
Blendcorn, n. A mixture of wheat and rye.
Blendings, n. A mixture of peas and beans.
Blether, n. Noisy foolish talk.
Bletherheead, n. One full of silly talk.
Blew milk, n. Skim milk.
Blind-worm, n. A non-venomous snake.
Blirt, v. To tell anything suddenly.
Ex.—Yan caan’t trust Sally wi’ nowt, sha blirts oot all sha knows.
Blish-blash, n. Tittle-tattle.
Blo’, n. Bloom.
Blob, v. To bubble, as air rising in water.
Ex.—He tumm’l’d blob inti t’ beck is quite a common form of speech. The original meaning may have been that the falling in caused many bubbles.
Bloss, v. and n. 1. To make ugly, to disfigure.
2. A dowdy.
Ex.—1. Her feeace war bloss’d wi’ blebs an’ blanes.
2. Sha is a bloss is yon lass.
Blotch, n. A blot, a spot.
Blubber or Bluther, v. To cry.
Blur, v. To blot or smear.
Blurt, v. To suddenly weep.
Blustery, adj. Squally.
Blutherment, n. Puddle, slush of any kind.
Bobblekins, n. The water buttercup.
Bodden, v. 1. To impose too heavy a task.
2. To accuse, to charge with.
Ex.—1. He’s bodd’n’d t’ lad wi’ mair an’ a day’s wark.
2. Well, an’ thoo’d ’a’e slapt her a feeace an’ all if sha’d bodd’n’d thee wi’ t’ seeam ez sha plump’d me wi’.
Bodden, pp. of ‘to bide.’
Boddum, v. To thoroughly investigate.
Ex.—Ah’ll boddum ’t if it cost ma fahve pund.
Boddums, n. and adj. Lowest, lowest ground.
Boddy, n. A person.
Ex.—Sha’s a deeacent boddy, is ‘Liza.
Boggart } n. A ghost.
Boggle }
Boggle, v. To jib, to frame badly; also a n. inaptitude.
Ex.—He’ll mak nowt bud a boggle on ’t.
Boiling, n. The whole lot, whether of persons or things.
Bolden, v. To encourage, to incite.
Ex.—Yance ower Ah felt a larl bit fearsome, bud he bolden’d ma ti deea ’t, seea Ah bunched him.
Boll, n. The trunk of a tree.
Bonny, adj. 1. A large quantity or number.
2. Strange.
3. Good-looking.
Ex.—Aye, ther’ wur a bonny lot on ’em, a vast mair ’an Ah’d aim’d ti see.
2. Ther’ll be bonny deed i’ Bedale a week cum Mundaay.
3. It’s a bonny-leeaking meer.
Bon’t! intj. Bother it (literally, burn it).
Bo’nt, pp. Burnt.
Ex.—Sha’s bo’nt her pinny wiv a cat’ren wheel.
Booak, Bowk, v. To retch, to vomit.
Book, Bouk, n. Bulk.
Bool, v. To trundle a hoop.
Booler, n. A child’s hoop.
Bor, n. The seed of the burdock.
Borril, n. The gadfly.
Bost, v. To burst or break in small pieces.
Botch, v. To repair in an unworkmanlike manner.
Botchet, n. Mead, made from honey.
Bottery, Bore-tree, Bur-tree, n. The alder-tree.
Bottom, Vide Boddums.
Boult or Bou’t upright. Upright, erect.
Boun, Bun, adj. Going, on the point of.
Ex.—Ah’s bun ti deea’t t’ next job. Ah doot t’ au’d thing’s boun ti dee. Ah war just boun ti pop ower, if thoo ’edn’t dropt in.
Bound, Bun, adj. Compelled.
Ex.—Ah’s ’a’e ti gan, in fact Ah’s bound ti gan.
Bounder-marks or -steeans, n. Stones erected to mark boundaries.
Bow-bridge or -brigg, n. A one-arched bridge, several of which still exist.
Bowdykite, n. An impudent child.
Boxin, adj. Buxom.
Brack, pret. of ‘to breke,’ ‘breck,’ or ‘breeak.’
Bracken, n. The common fern (Pteris aquilina).
Brade, v. To spread abroad.
Brading aboot, part. Gossiping.
Brae, n. The overhanging portion of the bank of a river.
Braeful, adj. Bankful.
Brag, v. To boast.
Brahdal-bands, Vide Bridal-bands.
Brahd-wain, n. A wagon laden with furniture, &c., taken from the home of the bride.
Braid-band, n. A sheaf of corn laid out to dry.
Bramlings, n. The red worms used as bait for trout.
Bramm’l, n. The bramble.
Brander, n. An arrangement varying in design—often in the shape of a tripod—fixed over the fire to support pans, &c.
Brander, v. To cook over the fire.
Brandery, n. A wood frame used in making wells.
Bran-new, Brander spander new, adj. Quite new.
Brant, adj. Steep.
Ex.—Thoo’ll ’a’e ti put t’ skid on, its varra brant.
Brash, n. Useless refuse, a rising of acid into the mouth.
Brashy, adj. Worthless.
Brass, n. 1. Money.
2. Impudence.
Ex.—1. Brass nivver chinks sae sweetly ez when t’ soond cums fra yan’s awn pocket.
2. If he’d nobbut hauf ez mich brass iv his pocket ez he ’ez iv his feeace, he nivver need deea a hand stroak.
Brassend, Brazzend, adj. Impudent. When applied to a female, immoral.
Brat, n. A child.
Brattice, n. A wooden partition dividing two rooms.
Bratty, adj. Applied to cream or milk when turning sour.
Brave, adj. Good in quality as well as in appearance.
Bravely, adj. and adv. Exceeding, exceedingly well.
Bray, v. 1. To thrash, flog.
2. To overcome.
Ex.—1. Ah’ll bray tha when thoo cums in.
2. Ah can bray yon chap wi’ yah han’ i’ mah pocket.
Brazent, Brazened. Impudent. Vide Brassend.
Breaks, Brooks, n. Boils.
Breeath, To take away one’s = To overcome.
Ex.—It teeak mah breeath away when tha tell’d ma ’at he’d deean foor hissen, i.e. ‘It filled me with surprise when they told me that he had deean for hissen,’ i.e. committed suicide.
Brede, n. Breadth.
Bree, Breece, n. The gadfly.
Breer }
Breear } n. The briar, the dog-rose.
Breeacus, Breckus, n. Breakfast.
Breead leeaf or loaaf, n. A bread loaf.
Breead meal, n. Flour from which brown bread is made.
Breead-ratched, adj. Broad-striped.
Breeak, Breek, Brek, v. To break.
Breeak one’s day, To = To fail to keep an appointment; to spoil a day’s employment by having to attend to some trivial duty.
Breeam, n. The broom (Genista scoparia).
Breed, n. A brood, a litter.
Breekin’, n. That part of a tree where the stem breaks into branches.
Breekless, adj. Without breeches.
Breeks, n. Breeches.
Breke or Breear, v. To break.
Bridal-band, n. The name given to the bride’s garter (obsolete).
Bride-ale, n. Another form of hotpot. Vide chapter on ‘Customs.’
Bride-wain, n. Vide Brahd-wain.
Brief, n. A begging letter.
Brigg, n. A bridge; a natural bed of rocks standing considerably out of the water and projecting into the sea.
Briggsteean, n. Flags or stones covering a culvert in front of a gateway, or in other places, so as to serve the purpose of a bridge in miniature.
Brim, v. Applied to a sow when inclined to the boar.
Brissling, adj. A slight gale of wind.
Brock, n. The badger; the frog-hopper or cuckoo-spit (Aphrophora spumaria).
Brog, v. To feed on the young hedge-shoots.
Brokken-bodied, adj. Suffering from hernia.
Brole, Browl, Brul, n. An impudent, saucy girl.
Bru, n. The brow, forehead.
Bruff, Bluff, adj. Fresh-complexioned, rough in speech, brusque.
Brully, n. A squabble amongst neighbours, a broil, a storm at sea of short duration.
Brully }
Brullier } n. A stealer of marbles.
Brully, v. To steal marbles (taws) from the ring whilst a game is in progress, by some bully having no part in the game.
Brumm’l-neeased, -nooazed, -noased } adj. Rubicund.
Brumm’l-snouted }
Brumm’ls, Vide Bramm’l.
Brunt, Vide Brant.
Brussel, Brissel, v. To hector, swagger, show off.
Ex.—He went bruss’ling aboot ez if t’ field war hisen, bud when Jack’s lad offered him oot ti feight, he ’edn’t a wo’d ti saay foor hissel.
Brussen, pp. of Burst.
Brussen-hearted, adj. Broken-hearted.
Brussen oot, adj. Covered with blotches or sores.
Brussen or Brusten up, adj. Burst, broken into small pieces.
Buckheeads, n. The living stump of a thorn hedge left to grow after slashing.
Budge, v. To move, to give way in a bargain.
Ex.—Ah weean’t budge an inch foor neeabody. Ah weean’t budge a farden.
Buer, n. The gnat.
Buff, n. The blow given as a challenge to fight.
Bugh, Bew, n. A bough.
Bull, v. To serve a cow.
Bullace, n. Wild plum, of a green colour when ripe.
Bull-feeaces, Bull-fronts, n. The hair-grass (Aira caespitosa).
Bull-heead, n. A small flat-headed fish found under stones, the miller’s thumb.
Bullock, v. To bully, to be overbearing.
Ex.—If thoo aims ’at thoo can cum a bullocking o’ ma, thoo’s wrang, sae thoo’d better off wi’ thisel.
Bulls, n. Bulrushes, also the cross-beams of a harrow which carry the tines.
Bulls and segs, n. The name often given to the stalk and seed-head of the bulrush, the leaves being called ‘segs’; hence ‘bulls and segs.’
Bull-seg, A bull castrated in its prime.
Bull-spink, n. The chaffinch.
Bull-stang, Bull-teng, n. Dragon-fly.
Bull-steean, n. A stone used for sharpening tools.
Bullyrag, v. To be exceedingly overbearing.
Bum-bailiff, n. A bailiff.
Bumm’l-barfan, n. A horse-collar made of reeds.
Bumm’l-bee, n. The humble-bee.
Bumm’l-kites, n. The fruit of the bramble.
Bumper } Vide { Thumper.
Bumping } { Thumping.
Bumping, n. An initiating ceremony at some schools of bumping a new boy on a stoop or otherwise.
Bunch, v. To kick with the foot, or violently bump with the knee. N.B.—‘To bunch’ is ‘to kick,’ ‘to punch’ is ‘to hit.’
Burden, Bod’n, n. Anything one has to bear, whether mentally or physically.
Burden-band, n. A hempen band used to bind hay, to be carried on the back.
Burdened, adj. Insane.
Burn, n. A brook.
Burr, n. Anything used to prop a wheel from running backwards downhill. A burr proper is a round cylinder of wood with a loose iron pin through it; this is so fixed that it runs on the ground behind the wheel, and automatically prevents the wheel running back.
Burr-thistle, n. The spear-headed thistle.
Busk, n. A small bush.
Bustard, n. A witch bereft of power to work ill (obsolete). Vide chapter on ‘Witchcraft.’
Butch, v. To kill as a butcher.
Butt, n. The halibut.
Butter-fingered, adj. Applied to one who lets things drop.
Butter-mouthed, adj. Flattery.
Butter-scotch, n. A superior kind of toffee.
Buzzard, n. A large moth.
Buzznacking, part. Gossiping.
By mich, adj. By a good deal.
By noo, adj. By now, by this time.
Ex.—Thoo owt ti ’a’e lap’t t’ job up by noo.
Byre, n. A cow-house.
C.
Caan’t, pronounced ‘carnt,’ v. Cannot, must not.
Ex.—You caan’t do that, i.e. ‘You must not do that.’
Cabbish, n. Cabbage.
Cade, n. A sheep-tick. Vide Kead.
Cadge, v. To beg.
Cadger, n. A carrier, a beggar.
Caff, n. Chaff.
Caffed, adj. Cowed, dispirited.
Caff-hearted, adj. Nervous, cowardly, unprincipled.
Caffy, adj. Worthless.
Caggy, adj. Touchy, disposed to quarrel.
Cagmag, adj. and n. Worthless.
Caingy, adj. Fretful, peevish.
Cake, v. To cackle.
Caling, v. To gossip.
Call, n. Occasion, necessity, reason.
Ex.—Ah’s nut gahin’, Ah’ve neea call ti gan, i.e. ‘I am not going, I have no occasion to go. Ther wur neea call for tha ti deea that.
Call, v. 1. To scold.
2. To quarrel.
3. To call to or for.
Ex.—1. Sha’s nobbut calling o’ ma ti call ma, i.e. ‘She is only shouting for me to (give) me a scolding.’
2. Tha’re calling yan anuther leyke all that, i.e. ‘They are quarrelling with one another like anything.’
3. Ah’ll call on him ti cum, i.e. ‘I will shout for him to come.’
Callet, n. A scold, a railing woman.
Callet, v. To scold.
Callety, adj. Scolding, nagging.
Call of, Call on, v. To cry to.
Calven-coo, n. A cow recently calved.
Cam, Camside, n. A raised earthen bank, the sloping bank from a hedge bottom.
Cambril, Caumbril, Caum’ril, n. The notched wooden bar which is thrust through the tendons of the hind legs of a slaughtered beast to suspend it by.
Can, v. May. ‘Can’ is commonly used for ‘may.’
Ex. Q. Can I smoke here? Ans. No, you caan’t, i.e. ‘No, you may not.’
Canker, v. To rust.
Cankery, adj. Cross, rotten.
Cannily, adv. Wisely, with subtility, nicely.
Canny, adj. Pleasing, judicious, skilful, considerable as to number.
Ex.—Sha’s a canny lass, i.e. ‘pleasing.’ Thoo fraam’d varra cannily wiv him, i.e. ‘You set to work very judiciously with him.’ He did it varra cannily, i.e. ‘He did it very skilfully.’ Whya, ther wur a cannyish few on ’em, i.e. ‘Why, there were a considerable number.’
Cant, v. To raise one end.
Canty, adj. Full of spirits, lively.
Cap, v. To fix a piece of leather over the toe of a boot; to surprise, bewilder, excel.
Ex.—Ah nivver war sae capped i’ mah leyfe, i.e. ‘I never was so surprised in my life.’ Ah caan’t tell hoo he mannish’d ti deea ’t, he capped me, i.e. ‘I cannot say how he managed to do it, he bewildered me.’ Yon caps ’em all, i.e. ‘That one over there excels them all.’
Capper, n. Something which surpasses all others.
Caps all = Exceeds in everything.
Capster, n. A piece of wood roughly shaped like the bridge of a bagatelle board, each arch being numbered, the boy winning by that number placed over the arch he shoots through; should he not succeed in passing through any arch, he loses his taw.
Card up, v. To sweep and tidy up the fireside.
Cark, v. To be careful, anxious.
Carlings, n. Peas cooked in butter, prepared for Carling Sunday.
Carneyed, pp. Flattered, coaxed.
Carp, v. To doubt without reason.
Carr, n. Low-lying boggy land.
Carryings on, n. Lively, disorderly proceedings.
Cassen, Vide Kessen.
Cast down, To be, v. To be downhearted, dispirited.
Cast, Kest, adj. Not straight, warped.
Cast, Kest, v. To cease wearing.
Ex.—Ah kest yan o’ my petticoats, and Ah’ve catch’d my deeath o’ cau’d.
Cast, To be, v. To be bent, warped.
Cast up, v. 1. To twit a person with some past failing.
2. To happen unexpectedly.
3. To come to light.
Ex.—1. Ah think ’at Ah wadn’t kest that up at him.
2. Well, it caps yan when a thing leyke that kests up.
3. Ah thowt ’at Ah’d lost it, but it kest up i’ yan o’ ma au’d coats.
Catch it, v. To be reprimanded, punished.
Ex.—Thoo’ll catch it when thi mudher sees tha. I heard a woman say to her daughter, when giving the child a jug of milk to take to a neighbour’s, If thoo lets it drop, thoo’ll catch it.
Cat-collop, n. Cat’s-meat.
Cat-gallows, n. Two upright forked sticks upon which a cross-bar rests as an obstacle for boys to jump over.
Cat-haws, n. The fruit of the hawthorn.
Cat-jugs, Vide [Dog-choops].
Cats and eyes, n. Seeds of the ash-tree.
Cat-trail, n. The root of valerian.
Cau’d, adj. and n. Cold.
Cauf, Cauff, n. A calf.
Cauf-heead, n. A stupid fellow.
Cauf-lick, n. A tuft of hair on the forehead which cannot be parted or made to lie flat.
Cauf-riddling, Vide chapter on ‘Superstition.’
Caul, n. Vide [Keld].
Causer, Caus’ay, n. A causeway, a paved footpath.
Cess, n. A rate for parish relief;
the amount paid to the poor by the overseer.
Cess, n. 1. Extra effort.
2. Punishment.
Ex.—1. Gi’e ’t cess, an’ thoo’ll seean ’a’e ’t deean, i.e. ‘Give it an extra effort, and you will soon have it done.
2. Ah’ll gi’e tha cess when Ah git ho’d on tha.
Cess getherer, n. Rate collector.
Chaff, v. To tease by using playful but provoking language.
Chaff, Chafts, n. The jaw, generally that of a pig.
Chaffer, v. 1. To banter or beat down in a bargain.
2. An interchange of provoking remarks.
Ex.—1. He chaffered that mich, whahl Ah ax’d him if he wanted t’ meer foor nowt?
2. Dolly’s chaffering wi’ Sally agaan.
Chaff-fallen, adj. Dejected.
Challenge, v. To recognize.
Ex.—Ah c’u’d challenge oor bitch among all t’ dogs i’ t’ show. Sha’s good ti challenge onnywheer.
Chamber, Chamer, n. A room above the ground-floor.
Champ, Champion, adj. Excellent, very well.
Chance bairn, n. An illegitimate child.
Chander, n. A chaldron.
Change, v. To turn sour.
Channely, adv. Grandly.
Chanter, n. A chorister.
Chare, adv. Careful, doubtful.
Chass, n. Haste. v. To follow quickly.
Chatt, n. A fir cone.
Chatter, v. To make an uneven surface;
to shake, as machinery running unevenly.
Chaudy-bag, n. The stomach of an animal.
Chaudy-guts, n. A greedy, gluttonous fellow.
Chavel, v. To chew as one without teeth, to gnaw.
Cheean, n. A chain.
Cheeany, The common pronunciation of ‘chinaware.’
Cheeat’ll chow, Lit. ‘Cheating will show itself.’
Ex.—In a dispute boys will say, Let him ’ev anuther goa, cheeat’ll chow.
Cheek by chowl or jowl = Close together.
Ex.—Theer tha gan, cheek by chowl;
Ah doot tha’re up ti neea good.
Cheep, n. The cry of a young bird, generally a chicken, partridge, or grouse.
Cheeper, n. A young partridge or grouse.
Chesfat, n. A press used for extracting the whey from the curds.
Chetch, Chŭch, n. A church.
Chetch or Chuch priest, n. A Church of England clergyman.
Chevin, n. The chub.
Childer, n. Children.
Chimbler, Chim’ly, n. A chimney.
Chip, v. To chip anything; to crack an egg when boiled, or when hatching commences.
Chip up, v. To trip up by holding the foot out in front of any one running past.
Chisel, Chizzel, n. Bran, husks of grain.
Chissel, v. To cheat, to impose upon.
Chist, n. The chest, a chest of drawers.
Chitterlings, n. The small entrails of a pig.
Chitty, adj. Childish.
Chock-full, adv. Full to overflowing.
Ex.—Thoo caan’t git neea mair in, it’s chock-full noo.
Cholter-headed, adj. Thick-headed.
Chop, v. To trade by exchanging.
Chops, n. The jaws. Vide [Chaff].
Chow, v. To chew.
Chucky, n. A hen, a term of endearment applied to a child.
Chuff, adj. Healthy-looking, pert, determined.
Chunter, v. To mutter in a complaining tone.
Churlish, Chollus, adj. Bad-tempered.
Churr, v. The murmuring sound made by birds when roosting.
Clack, n. Lit. the tongue, scolding, advice.
Clack, v. To admonish, to talk much.
Clag, v. To stick to or on.
Claggum, n. Any sticky mass, applied generally to sweets.
Claggy, adj. Sticky.
Clam, v. 1. To climb.
2. To squeeze, to nip as a vice.
3. To adhere to, stick to, owing to moisture.
Ex.—1. Ah clam up t’ tree an’ gat t’ nist an’ t’ eggs an’ all.
2. Ah gat mysen clamm’d atween t’ wall an’ t’ wagon.
Clam, Clem, v. To faint for want of food.
Ex.—Ah’s fair clamm’d foor a bit o’ summat ti eat.
Clam, n. Damp, sticky moisture.
Clame, v. To smear with anything sticky.
Ex.—Tha saay what it’s t’ chaange o’ watter what’s deean ’t. That maay be; onny road sha’s a perfect picter noo, covered wi’ watter-blebs an’ larl reead spots ivvery bit ower her; an’ t’ doctor’s clamed her all ower wi’ sum soart o’ clarty, bladdry, muckment stuff, whahl sha kittles that bad ’at sha dizn’t knaw wheear ti put hersel.
Clammy, adj. Parched with thirst, sticky, moist, adhesive.
Clamoursome, adj. Noisy.
Clamper, v. To make a loud noise with the feet when walking or running.
Clampers, n. Feet or claws of any metal object, also the fingers and claws of things animate.
Clap, v. 1. To pat a dog.
2. To sit down, or set anything down.
Ex.—2. Clap yersel i’ that cheer. Clap it doon onnywheear.
Clap back, v. To encore.
Clapt een on, v. To see. Really part., saw.
Clart, v. To smear, to flatter.
Ex.—Ah’ve gitten mysen clarted all ower wi’ t’ bladdry blashment. Noo, then, deeant cum clarting ma up leyke that; gan thi waays an’ clart Mary ower. Whya, he clarted her up whahl he’s fair to’n’d her heead.
Clarty, adj. 1. Sticky.
2. Untrustworthy.
Ex.—2. Deean’t len’ him owt, his nobbut a clarty customer.
Clash, v. To hurry work, to close a door with force, to bring together suddenly.
Clat, Vide [Clack].
Clatter, n. A blow, a noise.
Ex.—Ah’ll gi’e tha a good clatter if thoo clatters on leyke that.
Clavver, n. A rowdy rabble.
Clavver, v. To clamber like a child.
Clawt, v. To attack with the nails.
Clear up, v. To become fine after rain.
Cled, adj. Clothed.
Cleean, v. To tidy oneself.
Cleean, adj. and adv. 1. Right.
2. Quite.
3. Well, adroitly, completely.
Ex.—1. He flang t’ steean cleean thruff t’ winner, i.e. ‘He threw the stone right through the window.’
2. Ah cleean foorgat all aboot it, i.e. ‘I quite forgot all about it.’
3. Ah’ve nivver seed a chap sae cleean deean iv all my leyfe, i.e. ‘I never saw a fellow so completely taken in.’
Cleean up, v. To tidy the house.
Cleeas} n. clothes
Clais }
Cleease, adj. Near, close, greedy.
Cleease-fisted, adj. Greedy.
Cleeat, n. A piece of iron or wood used to add strength.
Cleg, n. The horse-fly, a begging friend.
Clem, Vide [Clam].
Cletch, n. A brood of young birds.
Cleugh, n. The race of a mill, terminating often at one end by cleugh-gates or gate, or door, which winds up and down by means of a wheel and ratchet, admitting more or less water according to the height it is lifted.
Clever, adj. Well done or made.
Clever-headed, adj. Wise beyond his fellows.
Click, v. To snatch, to snatch quickly.
Click-hooks, n. Three or four hooks joined together and attached to a rope, used to drag ponds or a river with in search of a body, &c.
Clim, v. To climb.
Clinch, v. To grasp tightly with the hand.
Clink, n. A stinging blow.
Clinker, n. A heavy blow.
Clinking, adj. Very good, first-class.
Clip, v. To shear sheep.
Clipping tahm, n. Shearing time.
Cloam, Clooam, Claum, v. To grasp with both hands at the same time, to pull about not only roughly but rudely.
Clock, n. Black clocks, black beetles.
Clock-seves, Bulrush. The names not only vary in different localities, but are given first to one and then another of the water-side flags, rushes, and seves or seaves. Vide Bulls and segs.
Clog, n. A log of wood.
Clogged, adj. Asthmatical (of people), stopped by bleck (q.v.) or other filth (of machinery).
Clooase, Vide [Cleease].
Clooased, part. Closed up, as in a cold in the chest.
Clooase-neifed, adj. Niggardly, greedy.
Closing, n. A difficulty in breathing.
Clot, n. A clod of earth, a portion of blood when set.
Clot bur, n. The burdock.
Cloth, To draw the = To remove the white tablecloth on the meal being concluded.
Clotter, v. To make thick or lumpy.
Clout, n. An old piece of cloth, a patch.
Clout, n. A blow.
Clout, v. To strike at.
Clow-clags, n. Dried dung adhering to the hind parts of animals; in the case of sheep they are termed ‘doddings.’
Clow-clash, n. Things all in confusion.
Cloy, v. To eat until sick at the sight of the same dish.
Clubster, n. The stoat.
Cludder, Cluther, v. To huddle together.
Clue, n. A ball of cotton or string.
Clum, adj. Sodden, heavy; generally applied to clayey land.
Clunter, v. To go heavily on the feet.
Cob, n. A small-sized horse, a small bread bun.
Cobble, Cobble-steean, n. A small paving-stone.
Cobble, v. To pelt with stones, to mend anything roughly to serve for the time being.
Cobble-tree, n. The wooden bar which connects the swingle-trees with the beam of the plough.
Cobby, adj. Lively, brisk, stout, decent.
Cōble, n. A fishing-boat.
Cocker, v. To fondle, to indulge.
Ex.—Thoo’ll spoil t’ bairn if thoo cockers it i’ that road.
Cocker, n. Conceit.
Cockerate, v. To boast.
Cookeration }
Cockle-spell } n. Uncertainty.
Cockertraps, n. Traps to catch cockroaches.
Cockle, v. To be unsteady, to curl when drying.
Cockle boat, n. A small pleasure boat.
Cock-leet, n. The dawn of day.
Cockly, adj. Unsteady, insecure, likely to fall over.
Cock o’ t’ middin, n. The one who claims supremacy.
Cock-shot, n. The boy who chances being caught in a certain game.
Cockshut, n. Twilight.
Cock-sure, v. To be quite certain.
Cocky, adj. Self-assertive, domineering.
Cod, n. The cod or pod of peas, beans, &c.
Cod, v. To impose upon, to stuff with nonsense.
Coddle, Couther, v. To indulge oneself, to use unnecessary wraps.
Collar, n. A horse-collar.
Collar, v. To lay hold of.
Collier, n. The swift.
Collop, n. A slice of bacon.
Collop Monday, n. Monday before Shrove Tuesday.
Colly, adj. Curly.
Come[111] again, v. To appear after death.
Come by, v. To stand aside.
Come by chance, Vide Chance bairn.
Come fra, v. To come from.
Come on, v. To improve, to grow.
Ex.—Thi cabbishes is cummin’ on champ.
Come round, v. 1. To recover from fainting.
2. To reconsider.
3. To agree with.
Ex.—1. Slap her han’s, an’ sha’ll seean cum roond.
2. Tak neea notish o’ what he sez, i’ t’ end he’ll cum roond an’ foorgi’e ya baith.
3. Whya, Ah’ve cum roond ti thi way o’ thinking.
Come to, Cum teea, v. To regain consciousness.
Ex.—When Ah cam teea, Ah didn’t ken wheear Ah war.
Come-to, n. Place of abode.
Ex.—Maist fooak ’ev a cum-teea o’ sum soart.
Commin’s, n. Barley-sprouts formed during fermentation.
Comp’ny, n. Several people gathered together with one object.
Ex.—Ther war a fairish comp’ny geddered up ti lissen ti t’ new parson.
Con, v. To scan, to observe critically.
Ex.—Efter Ah’d conn’d it ower, Ah thowt varra larl aboot it.
Conceit, Consate, n. Imagined.
Ex.—He consated hissen ’at he knaw’d a lot, bud it wur all blather when he wur oppen’d oot.
Conger, v. Conquer.
Conny, adj. Neat, nice; when applied to things, ‘little.’
Conquerors, n. Horse-chestnuts when dried, or even freshly gathered, are so called when used by boys to play the game of conquerors with. The game consists of threading a chestnut on a string and striking it against a similar one held by an opponent—the one breaking the other, conquers.
Consarn, n. Business, the object or matter seen or discussed.
Ex.—It’s a gert consarn yon, i.e. ‘A big affair or undertaking.’ Ah’ve nowt ti deea wi’ ‘t, it’s neea consarn o’ mahn, ‘No business of mine.’
Consumpted, part. Suffering from phthisis or consumption.
Continny, v. Continue.
Cook thi goose = To completely vanquish.
Cool, Vide [Coul].
Coom, n. Dust. Sawcoom, sawdust.
Coo-tie, n. A band, usually made of hair, used to secure the hind legs of a cow.
Cop, v. 1. To be caught.
2. To be punished.
Ex.—1. He’ll cop uz if wa deean’t leeak sharp.
2. Thoo’ll cop it when thoo gans yam.
Corker, adj. Large of its kind. n. A lie.
Ex.—Ah saay, bud that’s a corker.
Corn-creeak, n. Field-crake.
Corr’n-berries, n. The red or white currant.
Cossen, v. 1. To cost.
2. To inconvenience.
Ex.—2. It wadn’t ’a’e cossen him mich, i.e. ‘It would not have inconvenienced him much.’
Cot, n. One who manages his domestic affairs without any female help, an effeminate fellow.
Cott, n. A tangled mass of wool or hair.
Cotten, v. 1. To have a liking for.
2. To discover.
Ex.—1. Ah cotten’d tiv him fra t’ fust.
2. He cottened ti what sha wur efter afoor sha’d ommaist gitten started.
Cotter, v. To work hair or wool into knots. Vide [Felter].
Cottered, pp. Entangled, knotted.
Coul, Cool, n. A weal or swelling caused by a blow.
Counting, n. Arithmetic.
Coup, v. To exchange in barter, to empty a cart by tilting.
Coup ower, v. To fall over.
Couther, Vide [Coddle].
Cout, n. A colt.
Cow- or Coo-byre, n. A cow-house.
Cow- or Coo-clags, n. Dung adhering to the buttocks of cattle.
Cow- or Coo-footed, adj. Awkward in gait.
Cow- or Coo-gate, Coo-yat, Cow pastur, n. Cow pasture.
Cow- or Coo-grip, n. The channel to carry off the urine.
Cow- or Coo-leech, n. A cow-doctor.
Cowdy, adj. Lively, pert, active.
Cower, v. To crouch in fear.
Cowl, v. To scrape together towards one.
Cowler, n. A scraper.
Cowl-rake, n. A small scraper used to rake ashes together.
‘Coz, Vide [Acoz].
Crab, v. To vex.
Crabbed, adj. Peevish, in a bad temper.
Crack, n. A loud noise like thunder.
Crack, v. 1. To boast.
2. To praise.
Ex.—1. He crack’d a deeal aboot it.
2. Ah crack’d it up fur tha. He cracks a seet ti mich ov his awn deeds.
Crack, n. and v. A chat, to chat. Vide [Rap].
Crack, n. A short space of time, immediately.
Ex.—Ah s’all be deean iv a crack.
Crack’d and Cracky, adj. Not quite compos mentis.
Crafty, adj. Skilful, original.
Crake, Creeak, Cruke, n. A carrion crow.
Crake, Vide Corn-creeak.
Crake, v. To speak hoarsely.
Cramm’l, v. To walk haltingly, tottery.
Cramm’ls, n. The gnarled and twisted boughs of trees.
Cramped, part. Perplexed.
Cramper, n. Any matter difficult of settlement or solution.
Ex.—Noo, that’s a cramper fur tha.
Cramp-ring, n. A charm-ring made from coffin tire, and worn as a preventive against cramp, &c.
Cramps, n. The term given to the playing of either the octave or the scales.
Cranch, v. To grind the teeth together when eating.
Cranky, adj. Idiotic, able to move with difficulty through stiffness, likely to overbalance, insecure.
Cranky, n. A checked material, usually of blue and white checks, used for aprons. Often called ‘Kinky-cranky.’
Craps or Crappin’s, n. The pieces left after rendering fat into lard.
Crashes, Creeases, n. Watercress.
Craw, v. To crow. n. A crow.
Crazed, pp. In a violent passion.
Creckits, n. The game of cricket.
Cree, v. To soak grain in water.
Creeak, Vide [Crook] and [Cruke].
Creel, n. The wooden frame pigs are laid upon after slaughtering.
Creepin’s, n. A shivering sensation usually foretelling a cold.
Cricket, n. A small four-legged stool.
Crook, Creeak, Crewk, n. The hinge upon which a gate swings, a bent piece of iron to hang anything upon.
Crook, Crewk, n. An abrupt corner in a field.
Crooked, adj. Bent.
Crowberries, n. The crowberry fruit (Empetrum nigrum).
Crowdy, n. Oatmeal porridge.
Crow-ling, n. The heath (Erica cinerea).
Crown, n. Top of the head.
Crowp, v. To croak like a toad.
Crowse, adj. Lively. n. A drinking bout.
Cruddle, v. To curdle.
Cruds, n. Curds.
Cruke, Crewk, Creeak, n. The rook. Vide [Reeak].
Crunkle, Crinkle, v. To crease, rumple.
Crush, n. A great crowd.
Cuddle, v. To fondle by embracing.
Cuddy, n. A donkey, a hedge-sparrow.
Culler’d, pp. Blushed.
Cum, n. Sweepings of sawdust.
Cum, v. Come.
Cumber-ground, n. Any thing or person of no value.
Cumly, Vide Comely.
Cummer, v. To encumber.
Cummersome, adj. Burdensome.
Cungle, v. To influence by charms or prayers.
Cup-rose, n. The common poppy.
Cushat, n. Ring-dove.
Cush-pet, n. Pet name for a crow; also Cushy-Cushy.
Cut, v. Be off.
Cut and run } v. To retire hurriedly.
Cut wer sticks }
Cutter, v. To whisper.
Cuvvins, n. Periwinkles.
Cuz, n. Cousin.
D.
‘D, Would, had.
Daam, Deeam, n. A lady, the wife, an aged person.
Dab, adj. Dexterous, skilful, n. A blow.
Ex.—He’s a dab hand at t’ job, i.e. He is skilful at the business. Catch him a dab on t’ feeace.
’Dacity, n. 1. Ability to accomplish.
2. Presumption, impudence.
Ex.—1. He’s gitten ’dacity fur owt, ’ez that lad.
2. Ah didn’t aim ’at he ’ed t’ ‘dacity ti ’a’e spokken ti t’ parson i’ that waay, hooivver.
Daddle, v. To walk unsteadily, to trifle.
Daff, n. A coward, a fool.
Daffle, v. To confuse, to bewilder with noise.
Daffly daffled, pp. Bewildered.
Daffy-down-dilly, n. The daffodil.
Daft, adj. Foolish, lacking common sense.
Daftish, adj. Foolish, like a fool.
Dagg, Deggle, v. To sprinkle with water.
Dainish, Densh, adj. Over particular.
Daized, pp. Stupefied, suffering from the effect of cold.
Dakky, n. A pig.
Dale, n. A valley varying in extent. ‘Dale’ is usually pronounced ‘deeal’.
Dale-end, n. The end or widest part of a dale.
Dale-heead, n. The upper and narrowest portion of a dale.
Dander, n. Rage, temper.
Dander, v. To tremble, to vibrate.
Danger, n. Risk, probability, doubt.
Ex.—1. He’s lost hauf on ’em, an’ ther’s a danger ’at other hauf ’ll dee an’ all.
Dangerous, adj. Doubtful, risky.
Ex.—It’s nobbut a dangerous consarn ti sink yan’s brass in.
Dangle efter, v. To follow as a lover.
Danglements, n. Superfluous trinkets, trimmings of beads, &c.
Dank, adj. Damp, moist.
Dapper, adj. Sharp, active, nimble.
Dappers, n. Birds ready to leave the nest.
Dark, v. To follow or move slily about, to listen unperceived.
Darkening, n. Twilight.
Darrn’t, v. Dare not.
Darr, v. To dare.
Ex.—Ah darr tackle yon job. To tell any one they dare not do a certain thing, is to dare them to it, e.g. He darrn’t jump whahl Ah darr’d him ti ’t, an’ then he went that cauf-hearted at it, whahl he tumm’ld blob in.
Dased, Deeased. Vide [Daized].
Datherin’. Vide Ditherin’.
Daul’d, pp. Tired, weary.
Ex.—Ah daul’d on ’t, i.e. ‘I tired of it.’
Daul’d oot, part. Tired out.
Daupee, n. The grey-headed crow.
Daytal, adj. By the day.
Daytalman, n. A farm labourer hired by the day.
Deaf, Deeaf, adj. Lacking a kernel, barren.
Deaf or Deeaf nettle, n. The blind or hemp nettle.
Deary, adj. Puny, lovable.
Ex.—Sha’s a deary larl honey.
Deave, Deeave, adj. Deaf.
Deaven, v. To deafen.
Decoy-duck, n. A by-name given to one who leads others astray.
Dee, v. To die.
Deea, v. 1. Do.
2. To swindle.
Ex.—2. He’ll deea him if he dizn’t watch him, i.e. ‘He will swindle him if he does not take care.’
Deead, adj. Dead.
Deeafly, Deavely, adj. Alone, by oneself.
Deeak, n. Duke.
Deean, pp. of Do. Also swindled overmatched.
Ex.—Ah’ve deean him neycely, i.e. ‘I have taken him in nicely.’
Deean’t, Doan’t, v. Do not.
Deear, Doour, n. Door.
Deearstan, n. Vide Doorstan.
Deearsteead, n. The framework of the door; also Doourstead, &c.
Deeatchess, n. Duchess.
Deeath, n. Death.
Deeath-smear }
Deeath-clam } n. The clammy sweat of death.
Deeath-sweeat }
Deeazment, n. Chilled to the bone.
Deed, n. Doings, applied indiscriminately to events of a joyous or sorrowful nature.
Ex.—Ther war straange deed at Willie’s wedding. Ah nivver seed sike deed ez ther war at Ann’s funeral.
Deedless, adj. Useless, helpless.
Deggle, Vide [Dagg].
Deft, adj. Quick, clever, neat.
Delf-rack, n. An arrangement of wooden bars to hold plates and dishes.
Dempt, pp. Deemed, thought.
Deng, v. To knock off with violence, to throw down, to wrench off.
Densh, Vide [Dainish].
Deny, v. To refuse.
Ex.—Ah’ll see Tommy mysel, he’ll nut deny me. Ah weean’t deny tha fishing, hooivver.
Despert, adv. Exceedingly, used as an augmentative.
Ex.—Ther war despert grand deed at ’t Squire’s dinner.
Dess, n. A mass built up by degrees; a block cut out, as a dess of hay.
Dessably, adj. Orderly.
Devil-screamer, n. The swift.
Dhriss, Vide [Dress].
Dib, v. To dip.
Dibbing, v. To dip, as with a fly on the top of the water.
Dice, n. A small portion, as a dice of cheese; a square piece of anything.
Dicky, adj. Doubtful.
Ex.—It nobbut leeaks a bit dicky.
Dicky, n. A louse.
Dicky-ass, n. A donkey.
Didder, Vide [Dither].
Differ, v. To quarrel.
Differing bout, n. A wordy quarrel.
Dike, n. A ditch.
Dike-back, n. The bank forming one side of a ditch.
Dike-cam, n. The bank-side of a ditch.
Dildering, Dilder, v. To shake, unstable, silly.
Dill, v. To lessen, to deaden.
Ex.—Clap a plaaster on, it’ll dill ’t paain.
Dilldam, Dilldum, or Dilldrum, n. A loud noise, boisterous merry-making.
Dindle, v. To have a tingling sensation after a fall or blow.
Ding, Vide [Deng].
Dingle, v. To tingle after a blow.
Dint, n. Energy, force, power.
Ex.—By dint an’ sticking ti ’t, he’ll mannish ’t.
Dither, v. To shiver, to shake with fear.
Doan’t, Deean’t, = Do not.
Docken, n. The dock plant. Also denotes of little value.
Ex.—Ah wadn’t ’a’e gi’en a docken for ’t.
Dodded, adj. Hornless.
Dodderums, n. Shaking violently, unnerved.
Doddery, Dothery, adj. Vide [Dither].
Doddings, n. Matted wool on the hind quarters of sheep.
Doff, v. 1. To remove the garments.
2. To raise the hat.
Ex.—1. Ah’ll doff mah duds iv a crack.
2. Ah doff’d mah cap tiv her.
Dog, v. To set a dog to drive sheep.
Dog, n. A piece of iron fitted within the fire-grate, thereby reducing its size, so as to save coal.
Dog-choops, n. Hips, the fruit of the dog-rose.
Doggers, n. Nodules containing a fossil, and used in the making of Roman cement.
Dog-jumps, Vide Dog-choops.
Dog one’s footsteps, To, v. To persistently follow any one.
Doit, n. A small portion.
Dole, n. The distribution of money left to some charity, or that given at a funeral.
Dole out, v. To give in small quantities.
Dollop, n. A clumsy person or badly-formed thing, a number or quantity of persons or things.
Dolly-stick, n. A handle to which is affixed an arrangement like a small four-legged stool, being used to give a half-circular motion to the clothes in the tub, which is termed dollying.
Dolly-tub, n. A round tub used to wash clothes in.
Don, v. and adj. 1. To put on one’s better attire.
2. Clever.
Ex.—1. Ah’ll don mysel up a bit, ez Janey’s cumin’ ti tea.
2. He’s a don hand at deeaing owt o’ that sooart.
Donk, Vide [Dank].
Donnot, n. An immoral female.
Doody-cow, n. The ladybird beetle.
Door, Deear, Doour-cheek, n. Sidepost of a door.
” ” ” sill, n. The threshold of the door.
” ” ” stan, n. The flagstone in front of the doorway, often mistaken as meaning the doorstep.
Door, Doour, Deear, To get to the = Able to walk abroad.
Doory, adv. Very little, a trifle.
Dordum, n. A dreadful uproar.
Dorse, Duzz, v. To shake out from the ear by reason of over-ripeness.
Dossel, n. A bunch of wheat, the finest ears being selected to be used as an ornament; formerly such bunches were fixed on the top of corn-pikes.
Dossel-knob, n. The straw knob at the top of a stick which terminates the thatch.
Dothering-grass, Vide Trimm’ling-gess.
Dotteril, n. A dotard.
Douk, v. To duck under, to dive as a water-fowl.
Doup, Vide [Daupee].
Dou’t, Doot, v. Almost certain.
Ex.—Ah doot he’s laam’d fur leyfe. Ah doot wa saan’t git it.
Dow, v. To thrive.
Dowdy, n. An untidy woman.
Dowled, adj. Flat, said of long-drawn beer.
Dowly, adj. Sad, poorly, downhearted.
Down, v. To knock or throw down.
Ex.—Ah’ve doon’d tha yance, an’ if Ah ’ev onny mair o’ thi lip, Ah’ll doon tha ageean.
Down-come, n. A spout at the side of the house, a heavy downpour of rain.
Down-dinner = Afternoon allowance.
Dowse, n. A blow from the fist.
Ex.—Ah’ll catch tha a dowse on t’ sahd o’ t’ heead.
Dowse, v. To wet to the skin.
Ex.—He dowsed t’ lot on uz wi’ t’ hose. Ah gat sike a dowsing, said one who fell into a stream.
Dozzen’d, adj. Withered, blighted.
Drab, n. A dirty slut.
Drabbletail, Vide Flappy-sket.
Draff, n. Refuse from a brewery for pigs, grains.
Draker-hen, n. Corn-crake.
Drape, Dreeap, n. A cow not giving milk.
Drate, v. To drag one’s speech, to drawl.
Draught, n. A team of horses, not less than three.
Draw up, v. To gather together.
Ex.—Thoo mun ring t’ bell an’ call oot, an’ they’ll seean draw up.
Drazzle, n. A shower of fine rain and mist.
Dree, adj. Tiring, weary.
Ex.—It’s nobbut a dree job this.
Dree, adv. Slowly.
Dree, v.a. To deliver tediously.
Dreeap, Vide [Drape].
Dreep, v. Drop by drop.
Dress, Dhriss, v. 1. To tidy up.
2. To correct, to punish.
Ex.—1. Ah s’all ’a’e ti dhriss things up a bit afoor sha cums.
2. Thoo impident young raggel, thi fatther owt ti dhriss thi jacket weel foor tha, i.e. ‘Your father ought to chastise you.’
Dressin’, Dhrissin’, part. and n. 1. Preparing.
2. Chastisement, severe scolding. The use of this word is peculiar.
Ex.—1. Things ’ll want dhrissing up a bit afoor Ah start ti wark, signifies that a certain amount of work not actually connected with the ’thing’ itself must be done or prepared beforehand, such as tidying up the bench, or rough planing before marking out. He nivver gits neea fother ’an dhrissing things afoor he starts o’ summat else.
2. He’ll nut foorgit ma, Ah nivver gav onnybody sike a dhrissing afoor.
Dribblet, n. A small quantity at a time.
Ex.— He’ll pay ma back, Ah’ve neea doot, bud Ah s’all ’a’e ti tak ’t noos an’ agaains i’ dribblets.
Drinch, n. An aperient drink for a cow.
Drinching, part. To be drenched.
Drinkin’ tahm, n. The usual extra allowance during hay or harvest time.
Drippling, adj. Weak, small.
Ex.—Sha’s nobbut a drippling bairn.
Drive, Dhrive, v. To procrastinate.
Ex.—Thoo dhrives ivverything whahl t’ last bat, an’ then thoo nivver gits nowt deean.
Droll on, v. To half promise, to lead one to believe.
Ex.—Ah nobbut drolls him on a bit, Ah saan’t tell him nowt ’at’s owt.
Drolly, n. Vide [Capster].
Droothy, Drouthy, adj. Suffering from excessive thirst.
Drooty, adj. Very dry, a long continuance of fine dry weather.
Drop, v. 1. To lose.
2. To fell with a blow.
3. To kill a bird on the wing.
Ex.—1. He’d drop a canny bit ower that last bargain.
2. He up wi’ his neeaf an’ dropped him leyke an ox.
3. He fired in amang ’em an’ dropped three.
Drop-dry, adj. Water-tight, as of a roof.
Drop in, v. To pay a casual visit.
Drop it or that, v. To cease doing.
Ex.—Noo drop it, i.e. ‘Discontinue the act.’ Drop that racket, i.e. ‘Cease that noise.’
Drop on, v. 1. To surprise.
2. To discover.
Ex.—1. Ah nivver wur seea dropped on afoor, i.e. ‘Never so surprised,’ or ‘suddenly caught in the act.’
2. Ah dropped on it all at yance, i.e. ‘I discovered it all at once.’ It also implies a sense of shame, e.g. Ah did feel dropped on when he catched ma.
Droppy, adj. Applied to rain long continued.
Ex.—It’s nobbut a droppy tahm.
Drubbin’, n. A thrashing.
Dub, n. A large pond.
Dubbin’, v. and n. 1. To lower one’s dignity.
2. A thrashing.
Ex.—1. He’s ti clivver by hauf is yon youth, he wants dubbin’ a bit.
2. Ah’ll gi’e tha sike a dubbin’ ez thoo ’ezn’t ’ed ov a piece, if thoo dizn’t mahnd thisel. ‘Dubbing’ originally meant cutting the comb and wattle of a gamecock.
Duck, v. To drop the head so as to evade a missile.
Ducks and drakes, v. A stone thrown so as to skim with short leaps along the water.
Duds, n. Clothes, usually applied to old garments.
Dulbert, n. A stupid fellow. Also Dullard.
Dump, Vide [Dub].
Dunderheead, Dunderknowle, n. A blockhead.
Dundy-cow or Dowdy-cow, n. The ladybird.
Dwine, v. To pine away, to fade.
Dwinn’l, v. To decrease.
Dwiny, n. and adj. Fading, small.
Dwiny-voiced, adj. Weak-voiced.
Dwizzend, adj. Thin, wrinkled, shrunk.
E.
Ĕ, per. pron. I. The short sound of ‘Ah,’ as Mun ĕ cum? i.e. ‘Must I come?’ Although rarely used by writers, it must be admitted, when speaking the dialect, it is as commonly used as ‘Ah.’
Eak, n. The oak.
Earan, n. An errand.
Earnest, n. A sum of money paid to bind a bargain.
Earning, Vide [Yearning].
Ease, v. To spatter with mud, to accede to the demands of nature, to obtain ease from pain.
Easement, n. Alleviation from pain, the remedy applied.
Easings, n. The eaves.
Easter-shells, n. The periwinkle.
E’e, n. The eye, that part of a potato from which the sprout leads.
Een, n. The eyes.
Een, n. 1. The evening, as ‘yester een.’
2. The eve of any fast-day, as ‘All Hallows’ Een.’
Een-holes, n. The eye sockets.
Efter, Efther, prep. After. ‘Efther’ becomes general as we approach the East Riding.
Efterneean, n. Afternoon.
Egg on, v. To incite, to urge.
Ex.—It wer yowr Tom ’at egg’d him on ti kiss ma. Ah nivver s’u’d ’a’e set mysel ti loup t’ beck if he hedn’t egg’d ma on and darr’d ma tiv it.
Eldin, n. Firewood of any kind.
Eller, n. The alder-tree.
Elsin, Alsin, n. A shoemaker’s awl.
‘Em, pro. Them.
End-board, n. The tail-board of a cart.
Endeavouring, adj. Striving, industrious.
Ex.—Sha’s a fendy endivering lahtle body. He’s a varra endivering young chap, an’ he’ll mak a man ov hissel.
End, Girt, Vide Gret end.
End na sahd, 1. Nothing.
2. Not understandable.
Ex.—1. Ther’s nowther end na sahd tiv owt ’at he diz, i.e. ‘Neither beginning nor end,’ nothing.
2. Ah c’u’d nowder mak end na sahd ov owt ’at t’ chap war raffling on aboot.
End, Reet upon, adv. Upright.
Ex.—Let’s git it reet upon end fust, an’ then wa s’all mannish.
Enoo, Enew, n. 1. Enough in number.
2. Sufficiently cooked.
Ex.—1. Thoo wants neea mair, thoo’s gitten mair ’an enew ez it is.
2. It owt ti be enew by this, it’s been i’ t’ yewn ower an hoor.
Enow, Vide [Inoo].
Entry, n. The passage within the house, or small entrance hall.
Ept, adj. Handy.
Esh, n. The ash-tree.
Ewse, n. Use.
Expect, v. 1. To imagine, to suppose.
2. Not quite certain.
Ex.—1. Ah expect it war him ’at did it.
2. Yan nivver can saay, bud Ah expect sha’ll win t’ prize. Sha’s neea waays sure, sha nobbut expects seea.
Extremity, To be in an = To be at the far end.
Ex.—Ah war in an extremity a’ paain. Nowt c’u’d ’a’e been warse, sha war in a complete extremity.
Ez, as. ‘Ez, has.
F.
Fadge, v. Between a walk and a trot.
Ex.—T’ au’d meer an’ me, wa’ve fadged along monny a mahl tigither.
Fadgy, adj. Fat, unwieldy.
Ex.—Buxom at twenty, fadgy at fo’tty.
Faff, v. To blow in puffs.
Faffle, n. A light intermittent wind.
Faffle, v. To flap gently, as a ship’s sail.
Fahve o’ clocks, n. Ripe seed-heads of the dandelion, which children blow at to ascertain the time.
Fail, v. To show signs of growing weakness day by day.
Fain, adv. Gladly.
Fair, adv. Altogether, absolutely.
Ex.—Ah’s fair bet wi’ t’ lad. Ah nivver war sae fairly takken in wiv a lass ez Ah ’a’e been wi’ Tom’s weyfe.
Fairish, adj. Just moderate.
Fairlings, adv. Clearly, distinctly.
Ex.—Naay! he fairlings gat t’ best a’ thah that tahm.
Fair to see, Easy to see or understand.
Fair up, Vide Clear up.
Fairy butter, n. A yellow fungus found growing on dead wood.
Fairings, n. Presents bought at a fair.
Fall, v. 1. To happen.
2. To become finely divided, as lime when slaked.
Ex.—1. Whya, it mebbe mud fall i’ that road, i.e. ‘Why, it maybe might happen in that way.’
Fallen away, v. To have decreased in bulk, to grow thin.
Ex.—Whya, it’s fallen awaay ti nowt.
Fall in, v. To meet accidentally.
Ex.—Oor Martie war pleased ti fall in wi’ John an’ Annie at Bedale.
Fall out, v. To quarrel, to have a misunderstanding.
Ex.—Tha’re nut kind noo, tha fell owt ower Tommy’s pig. Ah nivver knew sike nibors ez them tweea, tha’re awlus quarting an’ fratching, an’ falling oot t’ ane wi’ t’ uther.
Fall teea, v. To commence.
Ex.—Noo all t’ lot on ya fall teea an’ set ti wark.
Fan, Fand, Fun, Fund, part. and pp. of ‘to find.’
Fangle, v. To seize, to entrap.
Fangled, pp. Caught.
Fantickle, n. A freckle.
Far, adj. Further, more distant than.
Ex.—Ah ligg’d it doon i’ t’ far sahd o’ yon field.
Far an’ awaay, adv. Much, decidedly.
Ex.—Sha’s far an’ awaay t’ best-leeaking lass aboot here; often Far awaay.
Farantly, adj. Decent, well behaved; neat, nice, orderly.
Fardel, n. A small bundle.
Farden, n. Farthing.
Fare, v. 1. To approach, to draw nigh to.
2. To seem.
3. To succeed.
4. To conduct oneself, to behave.
Ex.—1. Sha fares o’ cauvin’.
2. Yon lass fares dafter na Sally Ridge.
3. Thoo’s gahin’ ti fare t’ warst wi’ t’ cauves, Ah think; thoo mun git sum keeak intiv ’em.
4. He fares foor gitting t’ sack.
Far end, The close of anything, almost in extremis.
Ex.—Tell her Ah’ll cum when Ah’ve deean; Ah saan’t be lang; Ah’ve ommaist gitten ti t’ far end. Ah’ve just left him; Ah deean’t aim ’at he’ll see t’ neet throw, he’s ommaist at t’ far end noo.
Far-fetched, adj. Unlikely, improbable.
Farness, n. Distance.
Ex.—T’ farness on ’t taks all t’ profit awaay, gahin’ an’ cumin’.
Farrish, Fairish on, adj. Considerably advanced.
Ex.—He mun be gitting fairish on i’ years noo. He gat farrish on at t’ dinner, did Tommy, afoor he gat to’n’d ti t’ doour.
Far-side, n. The further side, the right-hand or off side; the Nar-side being the left-hand.
Fash, v. 1. To worry.
2. To inconvenience oneself.
Ex.—1. Just thee tak thi awn gate, an’ deean’t fash thisen aboot nowt.
2. Ah wadn’t fash mysel a larl bit fur owther him or her.
Fast, adj. 1. At a standstill.
2. In a fix.
Ex.—1. Ah caan’t deea nowt, Ah’s fast foor a sup o’ wet.
2. Ah think ’at Ah nivver war sae fast iv all my wick.
Fasten or Fass’n oot, v. Said of sheep when turned from the grass on to the moor for the season.
Father, v. 1. To impute.
2. To bear witness of itself, as an illegitimate child.
Ex.—1. He’s awlus tryin’ ti father his misdeeds o’ sumbody. Ah wadn’t let him father his lees o’ me.
2. Ther’s neea call ti mak t’ poor lass gan afoor her betters, t’ bairn sha hugs fathers itsel.
Fatrascal, n. A cake made with butter, flour, and currants; a rich kind of small tea-cake.
Faugh, Fauf, n. Fallow land.
Fause, adj. False.
Fayther, Fadder, n. Father.
Fear’d, To be, v. To be apprehensive of, to be afraid.
Ex.—It’s to be fear’d t’ warst’ll happen.
Fearful, adv. Exceedingly, used as an augmentative.
Fearsome, adj. Awful, terrifying.
Feather-fallen, adj. Crestfallen.
Feather-fowl, n. Birds.
Featly, adv. Dexterously.
Ex.—Noo, he lapp’d that job up weel. Aye, it war varra featly deean.
Feck, n. Ability, quantity, mass.
Feckless, adj. Lacking management, wanting ability to provide for oneself.
Ex.—Sha’s a feckless miss, is yon; sha’s up ti nowt, good ti nowt, an’ warse ’an nowt.
Feeal, n. A fool.
Fegs, n. Dead grass-stems, anything of small value.
Fele, Felt, v. To hide.
Fell, v. To knock down.
Fell, n. An undressed hide or skin, a moorland summit, a hill.
Fell, adj. Keen, striving.
Fell’d, v. To be prostrate, knocked down.
Felon bone, n. An abscess on the finger or some other part of the hand, from which, during suppuration, small pieces of rotted bone are ejected.
Felon o’ t’ yuer, A disease the cow’s udder is liable to.
Fellow-fond, adj. Wild after the men. A girl is said to be ‘fellow-fond’ when her arts and guiles to gain a lover are too plainly manifest.
Felt, Vide [Fele].
Felter, n. One who hides things.
Felter, v. To entangle, to twist, to clot. Note.—Cotter is much more commonly used now.
Feltrics, n. A disorder horses are liable to.
Femmer, adj. Slight, light, weak.
Fend, v. To provide, to be able to do.
Fendable, Fendy, adj. Capable of doing.
Fengle, Vide [Fangle].
Fent, n. A vent or slit in a garment.
Fent, v. To bind the edge of anything.
Fer, Foor, Fur, prep. For.
Fest, v. To bind an apprentice.
Fet, v. To last out, serve round, to serve.
Ex.—It’ll fet uz ower Sunday. It’ll fet t’ lot on uz if Tom carves.
Fetch, n. A stitch or catch in the side, difficulty in breathing.
Fetch, v. To give, to bring.
Ex.—Ah’ll fetch tha yan ower t’ feeace. Ah’ll fetch tha ’t when Ah cum fra t’ market. Fetch t’ barrer ower here, i.e. ‘Bring the barrow over here.’
Fettle, v. 1. To repair.
2. To put in order.
3. To be in good order.
Ex.—1. Thoo mun fettle t’ au’d cart up a larl piece, i.e. ‘You must repair the old cart a little,’
2. Ah’ll fettle things up a bit afoor ya cum back, i.e. ‘I will put things in order by the time you return,’
3. T’ machine’s i’ grand fettle.
Few, n. Amount, generally used with some qualifying adjective, as ‘a good few,’ ‘a larl few,’ ‘a gay few.’
Fick, v. To struggle under restraint.
Fik, v. 1. To strive.
2. To obtain.
Ex.—1. He fick’d on whahl he gat it.
2. He fick’d it i’ t’ end.
Find heart, To, v. To make up one’s mind.
Ex.—Sha’s blinnd, bud Ah can’t finnd heart ti put t’ poor au’d critter oot o’ t’ road.
Finnick, v. To be over-particular in doing things.
Fire-flaught, n. and adj. A lighted coal which leaps from the fire, a meteor; passionate.
Fire-smatch, Vide [Stithe].
Fire-steead, n. Fireplace.
First-foot, Vide Lucky bird.
Fisk, v. To dance about.
Fit, adj. 1. Equal to.
2. Ready.
3. Inclined.
Ex.—1. Ah’s fit foor that job, hooivver.
2. T’ meer’s fit onny tahm.
3. Ah’s ommaist fit ti gan.
Fizzle, v. To fidget.
Flabbergasher, n. A poser. Vide [Cramper].
Flacker, v. 1. To flutter.
2. To flicker.
3. To waver.
Ex.—1. T’ au’d bo’d flackered ower t’ hedge.
2. T’ cann’l flackered whahl Ah thowt it ’ud gan oot.
3. Ther’s neea dependence on him, he flackers aboot sae.
Flag, n. A snow-flake.
Flags, n. The yellow iris.
Flam, v. To flatter, to make believe.
Flappers, n. Young birds nearly ready to fly.
Flappy, adj. Unstable.
Flappy-sket, n. and adj. An immoral woman; untidy.
Flappy-tongue, n. One whose word cannot be relied upon.
Flatch, n. A flatterer, also used as a verb.
Flather, Vide [Blether].
Flaum, v. 1. To blaze, to burst out in flame.
2. To demonstrate great affection so as to gain some advantage.
Ex.—1. It flaum’d up leyke all that, bud then it war ez dry ez a kex.
2. Sha flaum’d aboot ma that mich, whahl i’ t’ end Ah ’ed ti gi’e waay an’ let ’em git wed.
Flaumy, adj. Common, tawdry, n. Fulsome caresses.
Flaun, n. A custard tart.
Flaup, Flauping, n. Flaupy, Flaupish, adj. Senseless talk.
Flawter, Flowter, v. To unnerve, to flurry.
Ex.—Ah war sairly flowtered when Ah heeard o’ Jimmy’s deeath.
Flay, v. To frighten. Also Fley.
Flay-boggle, n. A ghost.
Flay-craw, -creeak, or -cruke, n. A scarecrow.
Flaysome, adj. Causing fear.
Flee, n. A fly.
Ex.—Ah deean’t meean fleas ’at’s fleas, bud flees ’at flee, i.e. ‘I do not mean fleas that are fleas, but flies that fly.’
Fleead, n. A flood.
Fleead, v. To flood.
Ex.—Ah’s gahin’ ti let t’ dam off an’ fleead t’ boddums.
Fleear, n. A floor.
Fleece, n. Obesity.
Ex.—Wait whahl he gans throw all ’at Ah’ve gane throw, an’ he weean’t hug sike a fleece.
Fleece, v. To take all that a man has.
Ex.—Oh, sha’s a rank bad un; tha saay ’at sha’s fleeced him ov ivvery haupenny he ’ed.
Fleeing-aither or -ask, n. The dragon-fly.
Fleer, v. To laugh at, to ridicule.
Flesh-fly, n. The common bluebottle.
Flesh-meat, n. Butcher’s meat, not pork.
Flick, n. A flitch of bacon.
Flick, v. To remove any light dust or thing with a rapid motion, as with a duster or whip-lash.
Flicker, v. and n. To exist for an instant, as a smile; the action of a dying flame.
Flig, v. To fly.
Fligged, part. Having left the nest.
Fliggers, Vide [Flappers].
Flipe, n. The brim of a hat.
Flipe, v. To remove dust by any quick, light motion, as with a handkerchief. Vide [Flick].
Flisk, n. A light tap.
Ex.—Sha nobbut flisk’d him wi’ her larl finger.
Flit, v. To remove to another house.
Flite, Fleeght, v. 1. To scold with many words.
2. To quarrel.
Ex.—1. Sha nivver lets ma be, sha’s awlus fliting at ma.
2. Tha’re fliting t’ ane agaain t’ ither that mich whahl Ah’ve cum’d awaay.
Flither, n. The common limpet.
Flittermouse, n. The common bat.
Flitting, v. The act of removing.
Flity, adj. Unstable.
Ex.—Ah wadn’t trust her, nowder yah waay ner anuther, sha’s sike a flity body.
Flobbed up, part. Swollen.
Flop, v. To sit down with a sudden drop, to set things down of a sudden and carelessly.
Floss-docken, Fox-docken, n. The foxglove (Digitalis purpurea).
Floss-seave, n. Cotton-grass.
Flowtered, part. Upset, nervous.
Flowterment, n. Excitement in speech and behaviour.
Flowtersome, adj. Excitable, tomboyish.
Fluff’d, Fluff’d up, adj. Conceited.
Fluffy, adj. Covered with down, light, feathery.
Fluke, Fleeak, Fleuks, n. A small maggot found in the liver of sheep.
Fluky, Fleeaky, Fleuky, adj. Maggot-eaten, fly-blown.
Flushy-feeaced, adj. Red complexioned.
Fluster, Flusterment, n. A state of being heated by excitement, agitation.
Ex.—What a flusterment that bairn ’ez putt en uz all inteea! wa thowt ’at he’d gitten hissel lost.
Fly, To let, v. To strike with force.
Foal’s-foot, n. Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara).
Fod, n. A small bundle of straw.
Fodder-hoos, n. A barn for storing fodder.
Fog, n. The grass which grows after the hay has been removed.
Fog-field, n. A field left for the second growth of grass to spring up after haytime.
Foisty, adj. Musty, damp, mouldy.
Fold- or Fod-garth, Fod-yard, n. The farmyard where the beasts are fed.
Folk, Fau’k, Fooak, n. The people, often used with and generally qualified by a prefix, as T’ au’d folk, T’ young fooak, Chetch-fau’k, Chapel-fau’k.
Fond, adj. Silly.
Fond-head, n. A silly fellow.
Fondness, n. Nonsense.
Fondy, n. A simpleton.
Foor, Fur, Fer, prep. For.
Foorced, part. Compelled.
Ex.—Ther’s neea waay o’ gittin oot on ’t, Ah s’ be foorced ti gan. He’ll foorce tha ti deea ’t.
Foot, The length of my = A kick.
Ex.—If thoo isn’t off iv a quickstick, Ah’ll gi’e tha t’ len’th o’ mah foot.
Foot, To get or take the length of one’s = 1. To judge a person accurately.
2. To have completely won another’s confidence.
Ex.—1. He’ll nut best ma, weean’t yon; Ah teeak t’ len’th o’ his foot lang sin.
2. Sha lets him deea just what he leykes wiv her brass; he’s gitten t’ len’th ov her foot, an’ ther’s nowt aboot that.
Footing, n. Money claimed from a new apprentice on commencing his apprenticeship, commonly called paying his footing; the sum paid is always spent in drink.
Footings, n. The lowest foundations.
For, Fur = In what direction.
Ex.—Noo, then, wheear’s thoo for? Ah’s for Ayton, is thoo for Stowsla?
Fore, prep. Before. Afoor is much more general.
Fore-elders, n. Forefathers.
Fore-end, Forr-end, n. 1. The beginning of a season or time.
2. The springtime.
Ex.—1. At t’ forr-end he war ez reet ez a trivet, bud he maad a varra poor finish on ’t.
2. If t’ back-end be owt leyke t’ forr-end wa s’all mannish grandly.
Forking-robin, n. The earwig.
Forks, A pair o’, n. The centre timber of a roof.
For-wandered, adj. Bewildered.
Fo’st, Fust, adj. First.
Fo’ther, adv. Further.
Foul-fingered, adj. Given to stealing.
Foul-lipped }
Foul-mouthed } adj. Given to swearing or lewd talk.
Foulmart, Fumart, n. The polecat.
Foupe, v. To drive sheep, &c., too quickly.
Ex.—Thoo’ll ’a’e sum o’ them sheep deead beeat if thoo foupes ’em i’ that road.
Fou’t, n. A fault.
Fou’ty, adj. Badly made, ill fitting.
Fowt, part. Fought.
Fowt, Fout, n. An idiot, a spoiled child.
Foxy, adj. Cunning.
Fra, Frav, Frev, prep. From ‘Fra’, is used before a consonant, ‘frav’ and ‘frev’ before a vowel.
Fraby, Frebby, prep. 1. Beyond.
2. Compared with. Still common in parts of Cleveland.
Ex.—1. ‘T’ll be fraby ten mahl ti Yarm.
2. Thahn frebby mahn’s t’ best o’ t’ tweea on ’em.
Framation, n. Dexterity, ability, skill shown at the commencement of any work.
Ex.—Noo, yon chap hez a bit o’ framation aboot him.
Frame, v. To show good management, contrive well.
Ex.—T’ lass frames weel ti milk.
Fratch, v. To quarrel.
Fraunge, v. To play a joke.
Fresh, adj. Intoxicated.
Fresh-wood, n. The threshold of a doorway.
Fridge, v. To rub against so as to cause a sore.
Frightened, Freetened, adj. and part. 1. Doubtful as to.
2. Apprehensive of.
3. Bashful.
Ex.—1. Ah’s freetened he weean’t mannish ti cum.
2. Sha war despert freetened ’at he war gahin’ ti splet aboot what tha’d deean.
3. Gi’e t’ lass a kiss, deean’t be freetened.
Frog-fry, n. Frog- or toad-spawn.
Fromward, prep. Away from.
Frough, adj. Soft, spongy.
Frow, n. An untidy person, generally a female.
Frowsy, adj. Applied to a forbidding countenance, untidy, musty.
Frutas, n. A kind of tea-cake made of batter and fruits fried in butter on Ash Wednesday.
Fuggy, adj. First. Vide [Laggy].
Full, adv. An intensive, as ‘Full seean,’ i.e. ‘full soon.’
Ex.—Ah’ll be on full seean efter dinner, i.e. ‘very soon.’
Full-fligged, adj. Full-feathered.
Fullock, v. To shoot a marble with force, and by unfairly overreaching the line; to do anything with considerable force.
Ex.—He went at it wi’ sike a fullock.
Full-up, adv. Quite full.
Fun, pp. of Find.
Fur, For.
Furmety, Frummety, n. Creed-wheat boiled in milk, thickened with lithing, sweetened, and flavoured with cloves, nutmeg, &c., only eaten at Christmas time.
Furrh, n. A furrow.
Fustilugs, n. A low fellow.
Fuzzack, n. A donkey.
Fuzz-ball, n. The common field-fungus which, when ripe, on being nipped emits a cloud of brown dust-spores.
Fuzzle, v. To intoxicate.
G.
Ga’, v. Gave.
Gaa, v. To go.
Gab, n. Senseless chatter.
Ex.—Ho’d thi gab, i.e. ‘Cease your foolish talk,’ or ‘hold your tongue.’
Gabber, v. To talk foolishly.
Gabriel-ratchet or T’ Gabby-ratch. A sound heard overhead in the still hours of the night, somewhat resembling the yelping of dogs; generally thought to be due to a flock of geese. When heard by the country folk it is looked upon as an omen of death.
Gad, n. A pointed rod, a whip-stock fitted with a thong. To guard against the power of witches the whip-stock was often made of rowan-tree wood.
Gad, Gadder, Gadabout, n. A gossip.
Gadding, part. Gossiping.
Gaddish, adj. Inclined to gossip.
Gadling, adj. Applied to a gossiping person.
Gae, Vide [Gaa].
Gaed, pret. of Gae.
Gaffer, n. The master.
Ex.—Leeak oot, here’s t’ gaffer cumin’.
Gag-bit, n. A powerful bit used when breaking horses.
Gah, v. To go.
Gahins on, Doings, festivities, proceedings.
Ex.—Ther’s been straange gahins on at Bessy’s sen Martha cam yam. Noo, wa ’ed grand gahins on at t’ Jubilee.
Gahlfat. Vide [Gilevat].
Gain, Gainest, adj. Shortest, quickest, easiest.
Ex.—It’s t’ gainest waay ti gan byv t’ wood, i.e. ‘It is the shortest way,’ &c. Ther’s a gainer way ti deea’t ’an that, i.e. ‘There is a quicker or easier plan to do it than that.’
Gainable, adj. Obtainable.
Gain-hand, adj. Easily reached.
Gainly, adv. Easily gained, of access.
Gains, n. An advantage.
Gainstrive, Gainstand, v. To oppose.
Ex.—Yan caan’t gainstrive owt o’ that soart. Neeabody can gainstand thersens agaain t’ railway cump’ny.
Gain-way, n. A shorter path.
Gairn, Garn, n. Worsted, yarn.
Gaitings, n. Bundles of clover tied at the top and left to dry.
Gallac-handed, adj. Left-handed.
Ex.—Fau’k ’at’s gallac-handed’s awlus a larl bit tricky, Ah think.
Gallivant, v. To flirt, to be continually in the society of ladies.
Galloway, n. One of a small breed of horses.
Gallowses, Gallasses, n. Trouser braces.
Gally-bauk, n. An iron bar attached to the rann’l bauk, from which pans are hung either on or off the fire.
Galore, n. A superabundance.
Gam, n. 1. A game.
2. Fun.
3. Ridicule.
Ex.—1. Wa’d a rare gam at creckets last neet.
2. He’s a grand hand at makking gam.
3. Ah thowt sha was deeaing nowt bud mak gam o’ ma.
Gamashes, n. Gaiters, leggings, now applied to all kind of leg-coverings.
Gammer, v. To waste time, to be slow.
Gammer-stag or -stang, n. An immodest female.
Gammish, adj. Lively, full of frolic, plucky.
Gan, Gang, v. To go, to go on foot. ‘Gang’ is often added to the direction pointed out.
Ex.—Thoo’d best tak by t’ mill gang, i.e. ‘Go by the mill way,’ or ‘go by the mill,’ or ‘by t’ stell gang,’ ‘up gang,’ &c.
Gane, v. Gone.
Ganger, n. A goer, usually applied to a horse.
Ex.—Sha’s nut mich ov a ganger. That’s a good ganger, i.e. ‘A good goer.’
Gangeril, Gangril, n. A worthless fellow, a vagrant, a toad.
Gannings on, Vide Gahins on.
Gans, v. Goes.
Gant, adj. Thin, puny, half-fed.
Gantree, n. A low wooden stand for barrels to rest on.
Gap, n. An opening in a hedge through which sheep may stray, a rift in the hills.
Gape, Gaape, Geeap, v. To bawl loudly, to stand open-mouthed.
Garb, v. To dress vulgarly, or in tawdry finery.
Garfits, n. Entrails. In some parts goose giblets are known as ‘garfits.’
Garland, v. A white glove decorated with ribbons and carried at funerals. Vide Chap. VIII, on ‘Customs.’
Garsel, n. Rotten sticks, last year’s undergrowth.
Garth, n. A small enclosure of land.
Gate, Geeat, n. A way, road, street; there is also a secondary meaning of ‘manner.’ Adverbially as ‘all gates,’ ‘onny gates.’
Ex.—What gate mun Ah tak ti Easby? i.e. ‘Which road must I take to Easby?’ If he gans on i’ yon gate, he’ll seean lap t’ job up, i.e. ‘If he goes on in that manner, he will soon end the business.’ Leeak at what he’s deean onny gate an’ all gates, an’ yan’s boun ti awn he’s been a feeal all roads, i.e. ‘Look at what he has done any way and all ways, and one is compelled to admit he has been a fool every way. ’ Thoo diz things all gates an’ onny gates, an’ it’s neea gates i’ t’ end.
Gate, n. An acquired right or privilege of pasturage for cattle.
Gate, v. To arrange clover in small bundles to dry.
Gauk, Gawk, n. A stupid fellow, the cuckoo.
Gauky, adj. Clumsy, idiotic.
Gaum, v. To pay attention intelligently.
Gaumish, adj. Intelligent.
Gaumless, adj. Lacking intelligence.
Gaup, v. To stare and gape with astonishment.
Gauve, v. To stare vacantly.
Gauvison, n. Silly of either sex. Usually applied to a female.
Gauvy, n. A silly fellow.
Gavelock, n. A crowbar.
Gay, Gayish, adj. 1. Considerable in number.
2. Nice, pleasing.
3. Fairly good, both as to size, quality, and number.
Ex.—1. Ther war a gay few fau’k gethered up. Ah gav a gayish bit mair ’an that for ’t.
2. It’s a gay bit o’ stuff.
3. It’s a gayish field o’ to’nips.
Gayly, adv. 1. First-class.
2. Exceedingly well as to health.
Ex.—1. Ah’s gittin’ on gayly, i.e. ‘first-class.’
2. Sha war nobbut dowly a piece sen, but sha’s gayly noo.
Gear, Gearing, n. That part of a machine which alters the speed of running, harness.
Gear, n. Worldly possessions, raiment.
Geb, Vide [Gib].
Geck, n. A stupid oaf. Vide also Goffen.
Geean, part. Gone.
Geeaping, pp. Gaping, staring.
Gecken, v. Vide [Goffen].
Gee, v. The wagoner’s command for the horse to take the right-hand side of the road.
Geen, Gi’en, Gi’n, v. Given.
Geld, adj. and n. Barren; single unmated birds, as of partridges.
Gell, n. Girl.
Gen, Girn, v. To grin.
Genning, adj., also part. of Gen. 1. To grin.
2. To find fault.
Ex.—1. Thoo genning munkey, Ah’ll gi’e tha summat ti gen at if thoo dizn’t shift thisel.
2. Sha’s awlus genning an’ fliting at yan.
Gep, v. To eavesdrop.
Ger, v. To get, go.
Ex.—Ger ho’d on ’t.
Gert, Gret, Greeat, adj. Great.
Gesling, n. Gosling.
Gess, Gerse, n. Grass.
Geesing-land, Gersing-land, n. Grass-land.
Get, v. Beside being used in the ordinary sense there are several curious usages. 1. To get to.
2. Is called.
3. To come.
Ex.—1. Ah aim ti gan ti Brotton when Ah git to Boosbeck.
2. T’ chap ’at ’ed it afoor called it Jack, bud it awlus gits Flip wiv uz.
3. Wa thowt ya warn’t gahin’ ti mannish ti get.
Get, Able to, Vide [Yabble].
Get agate, v. To commence.
Get away with, To, v. To push forward work.
Ex.—Noo ’at t’ wood’s cum’d wa s’all be yabble ti git awaay wi’ t’ job at yance.
Get on, v. To succeed.
Ex.—He’s sartin ti git on, is yon chap.
Get the length of, v. To get as far as, either of place, distance, or work.
Getherer or Gedderer, n. A collector of taxes, one who gathers the corn into bundles.
Gether or Gedder up, To, v. To collect together.
Getten, Gitten, Gotten, part. To get.
Gew-gaws, n. Jewellery, &c.
Gew-gow, n. A Jew’s harp.
Gib, n. The hooked handle of a stick.
Gib- or Geb-stick, n. A hooked stick.
Gicken, Vide [Goffen].
Gi’en, Vide [Geen].
Giglet, n. A giggling girl.
Gilder, n. A horsehair snare.
Gilevat, n. The vat or tub in which ale is stood to ferment.
Gill, n. A half-pint.
Gill, n. A narrow rock valley, a ravine.
Gillifer, n. An immodest woman; one who pretends to good looks, or dresses younger than her years.
Gilt, n. A young sow.
Gimmal, n. A narrow passage between two houses.
Gimmer, n. A young female lamb.
Ginger-heead, adj. and n. One having red hair.
Gingerly, adv. Cautiously, ticklish to do.
Ginnel, Vide [Runnel].
Ginner, adv. Rather, quite as soon as.
Ex.—Ah’d ez ginner gan ez stop.
Girt, adj. Great. Vide [Gert].
Girt shakes, Neea, Nothing to boast of.
Gissy-gissy, n. The call for the young pigs to be fed.
Git, Vide [Get].
Give, v. To stretch, to give way, to yield to force, to thaw.
Give agaan, v. To thaw, to return something when bargaining for luck.
Give back, v. To recede, to yield through lack of courage.
Give in, v. To tender an estimate, to give notice to a landlord of intention to quit his farm or house, to admit being vanquished.
Give out, v. To fail in supply.
Give ower, v. Leave off, desist, cease.
Ex.—Gi’e ower at yance, i.e. ‘Cease at once.’
Gizzen, n. The gizzard.
Glazzen, v. 1. To glaze a window.
2. Become glassy.
Ex.—2. It’ll seean be deead, its een ’s glazzen’d noo.
Glease, Gleeaze, v. To run swiftly.
Gleasing, n. A race after, the cost of a suit at law.
Gleen, v. To shine.
Gleg, v. To peep slyly, to cast one’s eyes about furtively.
Glent, v. To glance off at an angle.
Gliff, Glift, n. A passing glance, a glimpse.
Gloaming, n. Twilight.
Gloor, Gloar, v. To stare intently.
Glorr, n. Soft, fat.
Glow, Vide [Low].
Glump, v. To sulk.
Glumpy, adj. Sulky.
Ex.—If he’s glumpy, let him glump.
Glut, n. A wooden wedge used to split timber with.
Gnag, v. To weary one with reproaches, to continually assail one with remarks of an irritating nature.
Gnaggy, adj. Bad tempered, continually scolding.
Gnarl, v. To gnaw, as rabbits do trees during a hard winter.
Gnarr, Vide [Knar].
Gnarr, v. To growl.
Gnatter, v. To find fault of a petty nature continuously.
Gnattering, Nattering, adj. Fault-finding on all occasions.
Ex.—Oh, sha’s a gnattering au’d thing, sha’s nivver off his beeans.
Gnipe, Vide [Knep].
Go or Goa, n. 1. Attempt, try.
2. Event, circumstance.
Ex.—1. Cum by, an’ let me ’ev a go at it. He fetched yan doon fust go. All t’ three on uz ’ed a go, bud neean on uz hit it.
2. Well, this is a go; it beeats ivvery go, diz this.
Gob, n. The mouth.
Gobble, v. To reply in a sulky, indistinct manner.
Ex.—Noo, git thisel oot o’ t’ glumps, an’ deean’t gobble i’ that road when Ah ass tha owt.
Gob-string, n. A bridle.
God’s penny, n. A sum of money paid by the master when hiring a servant to bind the transaction.
Goffen, Gecken, Gicken, Geck, v. To laugh like an idiot.
Goings on, Vide Gahins on.
Goke, Gowk, Gooak, n. The core of an apple, the hard part of a boil or ulcer; also used to denote the centre of many things, as ’t’ gowk o’ t’ stack.’
Goldens, n. The charred stems of burnt ling.
Goldie, n. The yellow-hammer.
Golly, n. A newly-hatched bird.
Gomerill, n. A born idiot.
Gone away, Vide Fallen away.
Good, adj. 1. Considerable.
2. Easy.
3. Well.
4. Almost.
5. Kind, obliging.
Ex.—1. Whya, noo, ther war a good few on ’em.
2. That’s good eneeaf ti deea.
3. Yan mud ez good talk tiv a yat-post ez yon lad.
4. Ah’ve ez good ez deean noo.
5. Ya’ll mebbe be seea good ez ti fetch ma a bit o’ bacca back wi’ ya?
Good, adv. Altogether, entirely.
Ex.—Wa’d gi’en ya up foor good, wa thowt ya warn’t gahin’ ti mannish to get.
Goodies, n. Sweetmeats.
Good-like, adj. Of pleasing appearance.
Goodman, n. The husband.
Good riddance, Lit. Very pleased you have gone away.
Good-stuff, n. Sweets.
Good-woman, n. The wife.
Goose- or Geeasegogs, n. Gooseberry.
Gorpie, n. Vide [Golly].
Gossamer, n. Fine cobwebs found during dry weather, either on the herbage or floating in the air. Vide [Musweb].
Gote, n. A narrow passage often running between two rows of houses, a rent in rocks sufficiently wide to admit the passage of one man at a time, a natural narrow ravine. A mill-race is often called a ‘mill-gote.’
Goupen, n. A handful.
Goupenful, n. A double handful.
Gowden, adj. Golden. The ‘ow’ is pronounced as in ‘show.’
Gowk, n. A fool, a clumsy fellow.
Gowky, adj. Clumsy.
Ex.—A gret gowky good ti nowt.
Gowland, n. The corn marigold.
Grace, n. Advantage, benefit.
Ex.—Ther weean’t be mich grace i’ deeaing a thing leyke that.
Graft or Graff, n. A spade depth.
Grain, v. To grumble.
Graining, n. The fork, the division into branches.
Grains, n. Branches.
Graithing, n. Clothes.
Grapplement, n. A grasping in a struggle.
Grass widdy, n. An immoral woman.
Grave, v. To dig.
Grawn up, adj. Grown up, adult.
Greean, Girn, Gairn, v. To groan, as when lifting a heavy weight.
Ex.—Thee lift, an’ Ah’ll deea t’ gerning.
Gree, v. To agree, to assent.
Greease-horn, n. A toady, a sycophant.
Greease in, v. To win over by flattery.
Greed, n. Avarice.
Greet, v. To weep silently.
Grenky, adj. Complaining, unwell, irritable.
Gret, Vide [Gert].
Gret end, adv. Almost.
Ex.—Ther’ll be t’ gret end o’ fowr scoore. Whya, Ah gav’ t’ gret end o’ twenty pun for ’t.
Gret likelihood, Almost a certainty.
Ex.—Tha’ve been keeping cump’ny foor sum tahm, ther’s gret likelihood ’at tha’ll be gittin’ wed afoor lang.
Griff, n. A small ravine.
Grime, Grahm, n. Soot.
Grime, Grahm, v. To black with soot.
Grime ower, v. To spread a light covering of dust or other light matter.
Griming, n. A light covering of snow.
Grip, n. A narrow trench.
Gripe, n. A pronged fork for digging.
Grip ho’d, n. A handle. v. To take hold of firmly.
Grissy, adj. Damp and warm, of the weather.
Grob, n. An undersized, badly-built man.
Grob, v. To search with the hand under conditions where the eyes cannot assist.
Grobble, v. To grope, to search for with a stick or hand, as under a stone for fish.
Ex.—Ah’s grobbling unner t’ steean foor a treeat, i.e. trout.
Gross, Grossy, adj. Rapid growth, plants too close together, fat.
Growt-heead, n. A blockhead.
Grozy, adj. Well-to-do.
Grue, adj. Sullen, lowering, dismal, also applied to discontent freely expressed.
Gruff, adj. Brusque.
Gruff, v. To express dissatisfaction, to grunt, to snort in temper, to snore.
Grump, v. To sulk.
Grumps, n. Vide [Brully].
Grumpy, adj. Bad tempered, sulky.
Grund, n. Ground.
Grundage, n. Ground rent.
Grun’lstan, Grunstan, n. Grindstone.
Gruntle, v. To give low grunting sounds of discontent.
Grutch, v. To envy, to grudge.
Ex.—Ther’s nowt ’at he dizn’t grutch yan. He mud ’ev ’ed t’ tweea pigs, bud Ah did grutch him t’ coo.
Gulch, v. To swallow like a dog.
Ex.—Thoo gulches thi puddin’ doon warse ’an a dog.
Gumption, n. Tact, general capability.
Ex.—He’ll nowther fick na fend, foor he wants baith mense an’ gumption.
Gush, n. A rush of air, a gust.
Gutter, v. To waste, as a candle in a draught.
Ex.—Put t’ deear teea, t’ cann’l’s sweealing an’ guttering awaay leyke all that.
Gutter eaves, n. The gutter which carries the water from off the roof.
H.
Hack, n. A small pickaxe.
Hackle, n. The natural covering of an animal, or the clothes of man.
Hackle, v. 1. To dress, to put on one’s best attire, to make smart.
2. To turn the soil lightly.
Ex.—1. Sha’s hackled hersel wiv all t’ gew-gaws ’at sha’s gitten.
2. Thoo mun just hackle aboot t’ reeats.
Had away, A corruption of the Scotch ‘haud awa.’ It is quite common, and used in the sense of ‘come or go quickly.’
Haffle, v. 1. To hesitate when speaking, to stammer, to appear desirous of keeping something back.
2. To exhibit indecision of character.
3. To quibble.
Ex.—1. Deean’t haffle leyke that, bud speeak plain.
2. Naay, what! he’s lost t’ job, he haffled seea; fust he wad an’ then he wadn’t, whahl t’ gaffer gav it ti sumbody else.
3. He awlus haffles on that mich, whahl neeabody ho’ds ti owt he sez.
Hag, n. A thick white fog which, when followed by a frost, forms frost-hag; a coppice, such as often grows on a rough bank or broken ground; a broken rugged bank.
Hag-berry, n. The fruit of the bird-cherry (Prunus padus).
Note.—In many parts of the North Riding Bug-berry is the common name, bägg being the Swedish for the same.
Hag-clog, n. A wooden block, varying in size, used as a chopping block.
Haggle, v. To chop or cut anything unevenly, to tease, to beat down in a bargain, to argue in a contentious spirit.
Haggy, adj. Rough, boggy, always applied to land.
Hag snars, n. The stubs left standing after the chopping down of young trees.
Hag-worm, n. The viper or adder (Pelias berus). The name is never applied to the blind-worm.
Hair-breed, n. 1. By little and little.
2. Slow degrees.
3. The narrowest margin.
Ex.—1. Wa’re bodduming what tha did byv hair-breeds, i.e. ‘We are finding out what they did little by little.’
2. Willie mends, bud it’s nobbut byv hair-breeds.
3. He ’scaped wiv his leyfe, bud it war nobbut byv a hair-breed, lit. ‘A hair’s breadth.’
Hairy-worm, n. Any caterpillar of a hairy kind.
Hake, n. An importunate beggar, not necessarily a pauper; a greedy, grasping person.
Hake, v. To be pertinacious, to weary with importunities.
Hale, v. To empty a vessel by inclining it to one side.
Hales, n. The handles of a plough.
Half-marrow, n. One considered as but a youth at his calling, half-grown.
Half nowt, Beneath consideration, either as to money or character.
Ex.—Ah gat it foor hauf nowt. Its nobbut a hauf-nowt when it’s deean. T’ father’s i’ prison an’ t’ lad’s a hauf nowt.
Half-rocked or -baked, adj. Half-witted, foolish.
Ex.—He knaws nowt, he’s nobbut hauf-rocked. It’s nobbut a hauf-rocked thing foor onnybody ti deea.
Hallock, v. To wander aimlessly about.
Ex.—If he isn’t risting up agaain a wall, he’ll be hallocking sumwheear. If thoo aims ’at hallocking aboot ’ll finnd tha a job, thoo’s grandly mista’en.
Hames, Heeams, n. That part of a horse’s collar to which the traces are fixed.
Hammer, v. To stammer.
Hampered, adj. 1. Hindered by difficulties.
2. Overrun by vermin or insects.
Ex.—1. Ah’ve been hampered wi’ all maks an’ manders o’ things.
2. T’ farm’s fairly hampered wi’ rabbits an’ rats.
3. Them to’nips leeak a bit hampered wi’ t’ fly.
Ham-sam, v. To pack or hurriedly put away things anyhow so as to get them out of sight, to throw together anyhow.
Ham-shackle, v. To tie the head to one of the fore feet to prevent driven cattle from running away.
Hanch at, v. An attempt to bite from behind.
Hand, To bear at. v. 1. To blame.
2. To blame with a feeling of resentment.
Ex.—1. Ah beear him at hand foor all sha knows aboot what wa did at Sally’s.
2. It war nowt bud a dirty trick, an’ Ah s’all awlus beear him at hand for ’t.
Hand-clowt, Han’-cloot, n. A towel.
Hand-ho’d, n. That which admits of being firmly gripped, the act of gripping.
Ex.—It ’ez a good hand-ho’d ti ’t. Ah gat a good hand-ho’d, an’ Ah nivver let go.
Handle, Hann’l, v. 1. To treat.
2. To manage.
Ex.—1. Tha hann’ld t’ lad varry badly.
2. Sha’s varra kittlish an’ bad ti hann’l.
Hand-running, adv. In regular succession.
Ex.—He’s ta’en fowr prizes han’-running.
Handsel, Han’sel, n. and v. 1. The money received on or before the commencement of any work so as to make the agreement binding.
2. To give something on using a thing for the first time. 3. The act of using a thing for the first time.
Ex.—1. Ah’ll pay tha summat noo ti han’sel t’ job.
2. Whya, thoo’ll be leyke ti han’sel t’ new hoss, wa s’ want a glass apiece.
3. Ah’ve han’sel’d t’ new reaper ti-daay.
Hand-staff, n. The handle of a flail.
Hand-turn, n. A small amount of work.
Ex.—Sha’s that lazy ’at sha weean’t deea a hand-to’n foor hersen, let aleean foor onnybody else.
Handy, adj. 1. Skilful, apt, clever with one’s hands.
2. Useful, just the very thing needed.
Ex.—1. He’s a varra handy chap.
2. It’s yan o’ t’ maist handy things ’at Ah’ve ivver clap’t my een on.
Hang-dog, adj. Sullen.
Ex.—Deean’t gan aboot wiv a hang-dog leeak o’ thi feeace leyke that.
Hang-dog, n. A worthless fellow.
Hangedly, adv. Without heart, despondent.
Hank, n. A latchet or loop of band or rope used to secure a gate; a skein of wool or string, &c.
Hank, v. To hang the bridle to a hook, gate, &c.; to fasten, as a gate.
Hank, To get things in a = To get one’s circumstances involved.
Hankle, Henkle, v. 1. To become entangled.
2. To greatly desire, used in a very wide sense.
Ex.—1. Ah’ve gitten t’ kite band sadly hankled, i.e. entangled. He’s gitten hankled on wi’ yon chap, an’ he’ll deea him neea good. Ah weean’t be hankled on wi’ neea sike leyke carryings on, i.e. mixed up with.
2. Ah awlus hed a hankling foor Tom’s meer. Neea, wa didn’t bargain, bud Ah’ve a gert hankling foor ’t.
Hant, v. To frequent.
Ex.—He fairly hants t’ hoos sen Polly cam.
Hanted, v. 1. Frequented by a ghost.
2. To be always at one’s heels.
Ex.—1. Ah wadn’t gan neear t’ pleeace at neet, tha saay it’s hanted.
2. He’s awlus sumwheear nigh at hand, Ah’s fairly hanted wi t’ lad sen Ah gat t’ larl pony.
Hap, v. 1. To cover over.
2. To wrap up.
3. To bury.
4. To discontinue.
5. To happen, chance, befall.
Ex.—1. Thoo mun hap t’ strawberries up wi’ a bit o’ streah.
2. Noo ya mun hap up well, it’s a cau’d neet.
3. Ah’ve just happ’d Willie’s grave up.
4. Let’s hap t’ job up noo an’ saay neea mair aboot it.
5. If nowt s’u’d hap ti stop ma, Ah s’ cum.
Note.—Lap is often used instead of ‘hap’ in 2 and 4.
Happen, v. 1. Possibly.
2. To meet with.
3. Perhaps.
Ex.—1. Will ta cum? Happen Ah maay.
2. He’s happen’d a bad accident.
3. Ass him, an’ happen he’ll gi’e tha ’t.
Happing, n. Covering of any kind, usually bed-clothes.
Haps, n. Any covering which may be used over the ordinary clothes.
Ex.—‘A’e ya browt plenty o’ haps wi’ ya? meaning topcoats, jackets, rugs, &c.
Harbour, n. Shelter, lodging.
Ex.—Wa mun finnd a harbour sumwhere whahl t’ shooer’s ower’d. Seea lang ez it’s cleean Ah deean’t mahnd, bud Ah mun ’ev a harbour foor t’ neet.
Harbour, v. To shelter, to hide, generally used in a derogatory sense.
Ex.—Sha’s neeawaays neyce whaw sha harbours, i. e. ‘She is not particular what kind of people she takes in, shelters, or lets her rooms to.’ Tha’d harbour t’ devil if tha thowt tha c’u’d mak owt byv it.
Hard, adj. Sour, said of beer; difficult to do or manage, close, much.
Ex.—He’s a hard un ti bargain wi’. It ficked that hard, whahl Ah c’u’dn’t ho’d it, i. e. much. He awlus drahves a hard bargain, i. e. close. It’s ommaist neea ewse assing him; he said he wadn’t, an’ he’s hard ti to’n.
Hard eneeaf, adv. Without doubt, certainly, of a truth.
Ex.—Ah’ll deea ’t, hard eneeaf. He’ll tell tha what he thinks, hard eneeaf.
Hard, To look, v. To pay great attention, to observe closely.
Ex.—Thoo mun leeak hard at it, an’ then thoo’ll seean git thi task off. Ah hed ti leeak hard at him afoor Ah kenn’d whaw it war.
Harden, v. 1. To bring oneself to do a thing.
2. To clear up after rain.
Ex.—1. Ah deean’t leyke t’ job, bud Ah s’all ’a’e ti harden mysel ti ’t.
2. It’s neea ewse to’ning t’ hay, whahl it hardens up a bit.
Harden-feeaced, adj. Threatening, lowering—of the sky or weather.
Harding, n. A coarse kind of material for making aprons or wrappers of.
Hardlings, adv. Not quite, scarcely.
Hard o’ hearing, adj. More or less deaf.
Hardset, adv. With difficulty able.
Ex.—Sha’s hardset ti mak ends meet. Ah wur hardset ti git t’ job deean i’ tahm.
Hark back, To, Vide [Harp].
Hark ya, intj. Hear you! listen!
Harled, adj. Mottled.
Harn, n. Vide [Harding].
Harp, v. To continually refer to some annoying circumstance, some mistake, or disgrace.
Ex.—Sha nivver lets t’ thing dee, sha’s awlus harping on aboot it.
Harr, n. A thick fog inclining to rain.
Harrish, n. Worry, annoyance, trouble.
Ex.—It’s a bit of a harrish, bud then wa s’ git ower ’t sumhoo.
Harrish, v. To be worried owing to some misadventure, distressed through not knowing how some undertaking may turn out.
Harrow, To trail a light = To have a small family, to have few worries or difficulties.
Hartree, n. The tail-piece of a gate.
Harv, v. The word for a horse to turn to the left hand.
Hasky, Hask, adj. Dry, rough, coarse.
Hat up, To hang one’s = To be quite at home, welcome.
Ex.—Ah can hang mah hat up yonder when Ah’ve a mahnd teea.
Hatter, v. To mix or confuse things, to knot, to throw in disorder. See also Hotter.
Hause, n. The throat or neck.
Hauve, v. To stare stupidly.
Hauvey-gauvey, n. A stupid fellow, a lout.
Hauvish, adj. Lacking common sense, stupid.
Havver, n. Oats; hence Havver-cake.
Havver-meal, n. Oatmeal.
Hay-bauks, n. Poles or sticks so arranged to hold hay for cattle to feed from.
Hay-bay, n. A wild uproar.
Hay-chat, n. The whitethroat.
Hasel, Vide [Hezzle].
Hazled, adj. An intermixture of red and white hairs. When the red preponderate, the beast is dark hazled; when white, vice versa. Often designated roan or roaned.
Head, n. The upper part of a dale.
Head-gear, n. 1. The blinders and bit, &c.
2. Head-dress.
3. Good sense, brain power.
Ex.—1. He’s putten t’ heead-gear on afoor t’ barfan.
2. Did ti notish her heead-gear? It wur grand.
3. Ez far ez a bit o’ heead-geear gans, he’s ez sharp ez onny on ’em.
Head-rigg, n. That part of a field on which the horses and plough are turned about.
Head screwed on the right way, Knowing what is best to be done, sensible, having good judgement.
Head-stall, n. A halter, usually made of hemp.
Head-tire, n. Head-dress.
Heap, n. In measure a quarter of a peck.
Heart-brussen or Brussen-hearted, adj. Heart-broken.
Heart-bun, Heart-grown, adj. Strongly attached to a place; also having a great desire to accomplish something in the future.
Heart-eased, adj. Freed from pain or distress.
Hearten, v. To encourage, to give hope.
Heart-sick, adj. Without hope, despondent.
Heart, Soft at } adj. Easily appeased, kindly disposed.
Heart, Warm at }
Heart-whole, adj. 1. True-hearted.
2. Fancy-free.
Ex.—Tak him all ends up he’s a heart-w’oll, canny chap. Ah’s heart-w’oll yet; ther’s nowt aboot here ’at’s ta’en mah fancy, i. e. not in love.
Heave, v. To scatter corn, to winnow it.
Heave and throw, To retch and vomit.
Heave up, v. To retch.
Heck, n. The upper part, containing the latch, of a door made in two parts. A rack for fodder; hence Stand-heck.
Heckling, n. Being much questioned whilst being scolded.
Heckling, v. To pester with many pertinent and impertinent questions.
Hedge-dike, n. A bank with a hedge on it, forming a fence.
Hedge-dike-side, n. The part of the hedge-bank on the water-channel side.
Heead-wark, n. Headache.
Heeaf, n. and v. Home, an abode; to abide.
Heeak, v. To loiter, to hang about with intent to eavesdrop.
Heeal, Yal, adj. Whole.
Heeam, Yam, n. Home. Also pronounced Whoam.
Heeat, Yat. Pronunciations of Hot.
Heed, v. To concern oneself, to mind, to pay proper and thoughtful attention to.
Ex.—Ah deean’t heed mich ov ’at he sez. Nivver heed, cum on. He nivver heeds what onnybody sez.
Heegh, High.
Heeze, v. To breathe hoarsely.
Heeze, n. A disease incident to pigs, and when so afflicted they breathe with difficulty.
Heezy, adj. Wheezing, hoarse.
Heft, v. To fit a handle to.
Heft, n. 1. A handle.
2. Not all, only part.
Ex.—1. T’ knife’s gitten a grand heft tul ’t.
2. Thoo’s nobbut gitten a heft on ’t, sha’s kept t’ main on ’t back.
Heigh-how, v. To yawn.
Held, v. 1. A condition of finance.
2. Inclination.
Ex.—1. Ah’d ’a’e lent tha t’ brass leyke all that, bud Ah’s badly held mysel just noo.
2. Ah war gretly held i’ t’ seeam waay, i. e. ‘I was greatly inclined the same way.’
Helm, Hellum, n. A rough shed or shelter away from the farm buildings.
Helter, n. A halter.
Helter-skelter, n. A wild rush of people or animals.
Ex.—When he seed ma he went helter-skelter doon t’ lonnin’ leyke a scopperil.
Hemmel, n. The handrail of a wooden bridge.
Hempy, adj. Mischievous, even to breaking the law, malicious.
Hen-bauk, n. The beam for fowls to roost on.
Henkle, Vide [Hankle].
Hennet = Have not. Should be written ‘’ae‘ nut.’
Henpen, n. The manure of fowls.
Hen-scrats, Hen-scrattings, n. Light, streaky, fleecy clouds, often called Fillytails.
Heron-sew, n. The heron.
Heap, n. The catch which fastens gates, doors, &c.
Hezzle, Hezzling, Heshing, v. To beat, to thrash soundly.
Hide, v. To flog, to chastise.
Hig, n. Offence taken of a petty nature, to be offended for the time being.
Ex.—Tak neea notish, sha’s nobbut ta’en t’ hig.
High-larn’d, adj. Highly educated.
High up, adj. A good position in society, rank, or office.
Hind, n. The head farm servant, who is hired by the year, and has a house provided rent free, with sundry other perquisites; a sort of bailiff, in fact, but of a lower degree.
Hinder-ends, n. The poorer corn left after threshing.
Hing, Heng, v. 1. To hang.
2. To cling.
3. To continue.
Ex.—1. Hing thi coaat up.
2. He’s treated her warse ’an a dog, bud sha still hings tiv him.
3. If t’ droot hings on, to’nips’ll be ti neea good ti year.
Hing for rain, To, A common phrase used when rain is more than probable.
Hipe, v. To push with the horns, to make grimaces.
Hiper, n. A mimic.
Hipping-steeans, n. Stepping-stones.
Hippings, n. Baby’s napkins.
Hipple, n. A small bundle of half-dried hay.
Hiring penny, n. A sum of money, generally half a crown, paid as earnest money by a master on hiring his farm servant.
Hirings, n. A statute fair, at which servants are hired.
Hirp, Hirple, v. To stick the back up with cold.
Hiss, Vide [Siss].
Hissel, Hissen, pro. Himself.
Hitch, v. To hop.
Hitch, strahd, an’ jump or loup. Hop, stride, and jump.
Hoavish, adj. Stupid, idiotic.
Hobman, The name of an elf-man, at one time very generally believed in, doubtless akin to, if not the same as, Danish Nisses.
Each elf-man or hobman had his habitation, to which he gave his name, as Hob Hill, Upleatham, Hob Green, near Ripon, Hob o’ t’ rush Rook, on the Farndale moors, &c. There must have been both kindly natured and malicious hobmen, as stories are plentiful in proof of both.
Hobble, v. To move along with difficulty or from age.
Hobble, n. Trouble, perplexity.
Ex.—Throw what Ah’ve tell’d Bob Ah’ve gitten mysel intiv a gret hobble. He’s tell’d what Ah sed, an’ sha’s letten oot what he sed, an’ noo wa’re all iv a hobble tigither.
Ho’d, v. 1. To hold.
2. To keep.
3. To maintain.
4. To keep in employment.
5. To remain with.
Ex.—1. Thoo mun ho’d fast.
2. Thoo mun ho’d ti what thoo’s sed. If t’ daay ho’ds fair wa s’all git wer hay.
3. Ah ho’d ’at he’s i’ t’ wrang.
4. T’ job at t’ chuch ’ll ho’d him foor long eneeaf.
5. He’s laam’d foor leyfe; ’t’ll ho’d him ti t’ end ov his daays.
Ho’d, n. 1. Possession.
2. Tenure.
Ex.—1. When he gits ho’d he’ll keep ho’d.
2. If thoo dizn’t mak thi ho’d paay thoo owt.
Ho’d fair, v. To keep fair.
Ho’d off, v. To hold off, to keep off.
Ex.—Ah think t’ rain’s gahin’ ti ho’d off. If he can nobbut ho’d off fra drinkin’ he’ll cum roond.
Ho’d on, v. 1. To retain one’s grip.
2. Also used in the sense of to stop, wait a moment.
Ex.—1. Ho’d on tiv its heead, Ah’s cummin’.
2. Ho’d on a bit, deean’t thoo slavver on seea fast, i.e. ‘Wait a moment, don’t you talk so fast.’
Ho’d talk, v. To gossip, also as a noun.
Ex.—Sha’ll ho’d talk wi’ onnybody; aye, sha’s a champion at ho’ding talk.
Ho’d teea, v. To agree to, to carry out, to uphold.
Ho’d up, v. To keep one’s head up, to fight against despondency.
Ex.—Noo deean’t gi’e waay, thoo mun ho’d up; things isn’t seea bad, noo ho’d up.
Ho’d wi’, v. To agree with.
Ex.—Whya noo, Ah ho’d wi’ t’ main o’ what thoo sez.
Hoffle, Vide [Hobble].
Hog, n. A male pig, a sheep of a year old.
Hoidle, v. To idle.
Hoit, v. To act like a fool. n. A fool.
Hoity-toity, intj. An exclamation of surprise, carrying with it slight indignation. adj. Somewhat ruffled in temper.
Holl, n. A narrow deep depression in the face of the land, varying in length, but never extensive; the dead of night.
Hollin, n. The holly.
Holm, n. Land by the side of a stream, low-lying and subject to being flooded.
Holy or Lemmel steean, n. Any water-rolled stone of small size having a hole through, once valued as a charm against witches.
Home-coming, n. The return home of an absent one, the festivities on such an occasion after a wedding or long absence.
Honey, A term of endearment, often preceded or followed by some other word to add greater force. Little conception can be formed of the love and tenderness which is thrown into and expressed by this word; it must be heard as coming from a mother’s lips.
Ex.—‘Oh, mah sweet honey bairn!’ said as a mother picked up a fallen child. ‘Thoo little honey!’ as the baby was clasped to its mother’s breast. ‘Gan thi ways, honey dear; Cu’ thi ways, mah honey pet,’ &c.
Honey-fall, n. A piece of rare luck, money left from some unexpected quarter.
Honeysouk, n. Honeysuckle.
Hoo, adv. How.
Hood-end, n. The flat portion found on either side of old-style fire grates, upon which a kettle or pan may be placed.
Hoos, n. House. Vide [House].
Hooze, Vide [Heeze].
Hopper, n. The basket or skep containing the seed corn when sowing, usually suspended by a strap over the shoulders.
Hopple, v. 1. To tie the legs of an animal so as to prevent its running away.
2. To hinder.
Ex.—2. It’s neea ewse his endivering when he’s hoppled wiv a weyfe leyke yon; sha’s nowt bud a clog tiv his foot, i.e. ‘It is no use his striving when he is hindered or tied to a wife like that; she is nothing but a drag on him.’
Hork, v. To trail about.
Horry, v. To hurry.
Horse-gogs or Hoss-gogs, n. A common, astringent, purple brown plum.
Hoss-steean, Hoss-block, Hossin’-steps, n. A stone or steps used to stand upon when about to mount a horse.
Hosses together, They deean’t put ther = Not friendly.
Hoss-teng, n. The common dragon-fly.
Hoss-trod, n. A bridle-road.
Hostle, v. To put up at an inn. ‘Hostle’ is only used in connexion with an inn. We ‘put up’ and ‘hostle’ at an inn, and ‘lowse out’ at a friend’s.
Ex.—Ah can lowse oot at thi pleeace, caan’t Ah? or Ah’ll put up at t’ Black Swan. Ah hostles at t’ Blew Pig.
Ho’t, Pronunciation of Hurt.
Hotch, v. To botch, to bungle.
Hotch, n. A mismanaged affair.
Hot-pots, Heeat- or Yat-pots, n. Vide ‘Wedding Customs.’
Hotter, v. To jolt, to bump as in a cart over a stony road.
Hottery, adj. Broken, rough, uneven road.
Houe, n. A hill of considerable size: Houe Hill, near Ripon. A tumulus.
Houl, n. Vide [Holl].
Hound, v. 1. To incite.
2. To give an opportunity.
Ex.—1. Them ’at hounded him on war t’ fo’st ti bleeam him.
2. Neeabody’s hounded him on mair ’an what Ah ’ev, an’ yet he wadn’t stick up tul him.
House, n., pron. hoos. With our country folk, ‘hoos’ is not the whole building, but the one room in which the family usually dwell; the other rooms are spoken of as the parlour, back room, and the chambers, &c.
Ex.—Deean’t set it doon i’ t’ hoos, tak it inti t’ parlour.
House-fast, adj. Confined to the house through illness.
House or Hoos fau’k or fooak, n. The people of the house.
House-kept or -held, adj. Confined to the house owing to some preventing cause other than illness.
Housin’ stuff or sticks. Household goods, furniture.
Hout, intj. Expressing incredulity or dissent.
Hover, v. 1. To hesitate.
2. Inclined for.
Ex.—1. Ah hovered a larl bit afoor Ah bowt it.
2. Ah doot it’s hovering foor raain.
Howk, v. 1. To dig.
2. To lift or push with some force.
Ex.—1. Ah’ll howk t’ grund foor tha. He gat at t’ back o’ ma an’ howk’d ma inti t’ carridge afoor Ah ken’d wheear Ah war.
Howly, n. A boys’ game.
Howse, v. To bale out water, &c.
Howsomivver, Howsumivver, Hoosivver, conj. Howsoever, however.
Hubble-shoo, n. An excited, noisy crowd.
Huckle, n. The hip.
Huff, n. Offence taken.
Ex.—He’s ta’en huff, an’ sha’s ta’en t’ hig, an’ tha’ve baith gitten t’ hump tigither.
Huff, v. To puff or swell up, as after a blow.
Huff’d, p., a. Offended.
Huffil, n. A finger-stall.
Hug, v. To carry, whether in the arms or on the back.
Hugger-mugger, n. Everything in disorder.
Huke-bone, Vide [Huckle].
Huker, v. To barter.
Hull, v. To remove the pod or outer covering of peas, beans, &c.
Hulls, Hullin, n. The pods or outer covering of many fruits and grain.
Hummel, v. To break off the awns of barley.
Hummel’d, adj. Without horns.
Hummeller, n. The instrument used to hummel with.
Humped, adj. Sulky.
Hunger, v. and n. 1. To suffer from the pangs of hunger.
2. To withhold food, to provide insufficiently.
Ex.—1. Ah war hungered past my bahdings.
2. He hungers ivverything aboot t’ pleeace.
Hussocks, n. Coarse tufts of grass.
Hutter, Vide [Hotter].
I.
I’, prep. In. ‘I’’ is used before a consonant, ‘iv’ before a vowel.
Ex.—I’ t’ boddum o’ t’ box, i.e. ‘In the bottom of the box.’ Iv all manner o’ waays.
Ice-shoggles, Ice-shogglins, n. Icicles.
Ickles, n. Icicles.
If, Is often used for ‘whether,’ Vide ex. [Nither].
If in case, If so be as how. Redundancies for ‘if.’
If no more = If not more.
If so be that, Vide If in case.
Ill, adj. Bad, evil dispositioned or intentioned.
Ex.—He’s queer, bud sha’s an ill un.
Ill, n. Harm.
Ex.—Thoo’s warked him all t’ ill ’at ivver thoo c’u’d.
Ill-deed, n. Evil proceedings, ill-luck.
Ex.—Ill-deed nivver thrives. He’s ’ed nowt bud ill-deed fra t’ startin’.
Ill-fare, v. To fail through ill-luck, often used in reversed order, as Fare-ill.
Ex.—Ah ’ed it fetch t’ meer yam agaan, Ah nobbut fared ill wi ’t, ez sha brak baith her knees cumin’ doon t’ bank.
Ill-favoured, Vide Ill-thriven.
Ill-gaited, adj. Awkward in action.
Ill-hap, n. Misfortune.
Illify, v. To speak disparagingly of, to defame.
Ex.—Sha illifies onnybody an’ ivverybody, sha spares nowt na neeabody.
Ill-put-on or -putten, adj. Shabby, applied to clothes.
Ill-ta’en, adv. To take anything with bad grace.
Ex.—It war nobbut ill-ta’en what thoo sed.
Ill-tented, adj. Neglected, badly cared for or looked after.
Ill-thriven or -throven, adj. Having a weakly, ill-fed appearance, unhealthy.
Immense, adj. Exactly, precisely the thing required.
Imp, n. An extra ring, usually made of straw, used for enlarging the size, by insertion beneath the beehive.
In, Un. One. Vide [Un].
Incomin’, n. Entrance, the taking possession by a new tenant.
Inear, n. The kidney.
Ing, n. A low-lying pasture.
Ingle, n. 1. Fire, flame.
2. The fireside, when used with the definite article.
Ex.—Ah tell’d my taal o’ luv byv t’ ingle glow.
Ingle-neuk, n. The corners by the fireside within the old-fashioned open chimneys.
Inkle, n. A kind of tape.
Inkle, v. 1. To arrange plans.
2. To have a desire for.
Ex.—1. He’s awlus inklin’ summat, bud it nivver cums ti nowt.
2. He maistly inkles efter what he can’t git.
Inkle-weavers, As thick as, In the weaving of inkle the workers were enabled to sit quite close together, the width of the fabric being so narrow; hence arose the saying, ‘As thick as inkle-weavers.’ The phrase also carries the idea of great friendship.
Inklin’, n. A hint, an idea, a guess.
Ex.—Ah’ve gi’en her a bit ov an inklin’ o’ what’s gahin’ on. It’ll nut be lang afoor he finnds ’em oot, he’s gitten an inklin’.
In-meats, n. The viscera of any animal which is considered edible.
Innards, n. One’s inside, bowels, entrails, &c.
Innerly, adv. More within.
Inoo, Inow, adv. Presently, shortly.
Insense, v. 1. To inform.
2. To make clear beyond all doubt.
Ex.—1. Ah’ll insense him inti ’t when Ah see him.
2. Ah varra seean insens’d it intiv him.
Insides, n. Viscera.
Intak, n. Land enclosed from a common or road for cultivation.
Inti, Intil, Intiv, Intul, prep. Into.
In wi’, To be = To be on good terms with.
Ex.—Jack’s weel in wi’ t’ Squire.
Iv, Vide I’.
Ivvery, adj. Every.
Ivvery like, adv. Every now and then.
J.
Jab, v. To crush.
Ex.—Ah’ve gitten mah finger sadly jabbed wi t’ yat.
Jack, n. Quarter-pint measure.
Jacket, To warm one’s = To beat, to chastise.
Ex.—If thoo gans theear onny mair, Ah’ll warm thi jacket for tha.
Jacketed, To be, v. To hear a charge, or bear reproof having first been arraigned before one’s superiors; to be closeted with.
Ex.—He’s been jacketed wi’ t’ gaffer i’ t’ parlour ower an hoor noo. Ah’ll lay he’s gi’en him t’ lines properly.
Jaded, adj. To be almost overcome with difficulties.
Jangle, v. To jingle.
Jannock, adj. Fair, honourable, just.
Jar, v. To quarrel.
Jar on, v. To be continually at variance.
Jarring, n. Quarrelling, squabbling.
Jaup, v. 1. To strike together.
2. To shake any liquid in a vessel.
Ex.—1. Ah’ll jaup tha eggs, i.e. boys jaup their Easter eggs by striking them one against the other; the one succeeding in breaking the other’s egg claims it as victor.
2. If thoo jaups t’ milk leyke that, thoo’ll finnd butter i’ t’ can when thoo gits yam.
Jaupin’, Jaupen, adj. Gaping, wide.
Javver, n. Silly talk, foolish prating.
Jealous, Jillous, adj. Suspicious. v. To anticipate.
Ex.—Ah war a bit jillous ’at he wad splet on uz. Ah jillous’d Jim all t’ tahm.
Jert, v. To project a stone by catching the hand against the side.
Jill, v. To drink continuously but in small quantities.
Ex.—Neeabody ivver sees him tak a gert quantity, bud then he gans jilling aboot seea.
Jimp, adj. 1. Smart in figure, slight.
2. Short measure.
Ex.—1. Sha’s gitten ez jimp a waist ez onny lass.
2. It’s jimp i’ t’ paper, an’ jimp i’ pot, i. e. ‘Light both as to weight and measure.’
Jin, Jane.
Jinny-spinner, n. The crane-fly, or any of the genus Tipula.
Jinny-ullot, Jenny Howlet, n. The tawny owl (Syrnium siridula).
Job, v. To trade in.
Ex.—He jobs iv ommaist owt.
Joblijock, n. The name of the cock turkey, a domestic trouble or discomfort.
Jodder, Jother, n. A shaking, as one gets in a springless cart, a trembling.
Ex.—It joggled an’ Ah jothered, whahl Ah felt leyke tumm’ling ti bits.
Jodder, Jother, v. To shake like jelly, to tremble.
Jodderum, n. A trembling, shaking mass.
Joggle, v. To shake, to be unsteady in motion.
Joggly, adj. Shaky, unsteady.
Joggle-stick, n. The bar which secures the shafts to the body of the cart.
Jollous, adj. In good condition, healthy, well-fed.
Jolt-heead, n. A clumsy fellow.
Jorum, n. A pitcher-like vessel of considerable size; the whole lot, a considerable crowd of people.
Joskin, n. A country lad.
Joul, Jowl, n. The jaw; fat hanging cheeks.
Joul, Jowl, v. To jolt or hit against.
Ex.—Ah laamed mahsen sadly, Ah jowl’d my heead up agaainst t’ deear.
Jowls, n. A kind of hockey played by boys.
Judy-cow, Vide Doody-cow.
Jumm’lment, n. 1. A confusion.
2. Things of many kinds.
Ex.—1. Thoo’s gitten things intiv a straange jumm’lment.
2. Ah nivver clapt my een on sike a jumm’lment o’ trash ez he’s gitten geddered tigedder.
Jump with, To, v. To meet or to find.
Ex.—Ah jumped wi’ Betty at t’ lonnin’ end. Efter leeaking all ower foor t’ lad, Ah jumped wiv him at skeeal yat.
June bug, n. The ladybird (Coccinella punctata). Vide Doody-cow.
Junters, adj. Sulks, bad temper.
K.
Kaimt, adj. Not straight.
Kale, Keeal, n. Porridge, broth.
Note.—If for other than domestic use, it is specialized as ‘Keeal for t’ pigs,’ ‘flour keeal,’ &c.
Kale-pot, Keeal-pot. An iron pot having three short iron feet, used for cooking kale in.
Kalīver, v. To dance about excitedly.
Kame, Keeam, n. A comb. Also as a verb.
Kane, Keean, v. To bring fermentation to a head.
Kave, Keeave, v. To rake the ’pulls and caff’ from corn when thrashing.
Kavings, n. The short straws, &c., as above.
Kead, Ked, n. The sheep-tick (Melophagus ovinus).
Keck, Kecken, v. To make a noise whilst coughing, as if something was fast in the throat; to have a loathing for; fastidious.
Kecken-hearted, adj. Nauseated, fanciful.
Keckle, v. To laugh heartily.
Kedge, n. A glutton.
Kedge, v. To set the teeth on edge, to eat and drink like a glutton.
Kedging, n. Food.
Keeak, n. Cake.
Keeak, v. To cake, to form a hard scum. Vide also Keek.
Keeaky, adj. Brisk, lively.
Keeave, Kauve, v. To paw the ground impatiently, as a horse.
Keeaving-rake } n. The rake and riddle used during thrashing.
Keeaving-riddle }
Keek, Keeak, v. To lean towards, or tilt up.
Ex.—Keeak t’ cart a larl bit mair.
Keek, v. To pry or peep into, to observe unawares.
Ex.—Sha’s nowt na better ’an a keyhooal keeker, sha’s allus keeking.
Keen, adj. Eager, energetic, desirous.
Ex.—Ah nivver seed neeabody sae keen afoor. He’s ez keen ez a tarrier. Ah war a bit keen ti git it.
Kegged, adj. Offended, inclined to be spiteful.
Ex.—He gat hissel sairly kegg’d ower t’ job.
Keld, Kell, Caul, n. The membrane enveloping the foetus in the womb, and occasionally found adhering at birth.
Kelk, n. Fool’s parsley (Aethusa cynapium), a heavy blow, a single ovum of the spawn of a fish.
Kelps, n. The iron hooks hanging from the gally-bauk.
Kelter, n. Circumstances of any kind; wealth, or rather the condition of wealth as vested in property.
Kelter, n. To go full speed.
Ex.—Ah nivver cam sike a kelter i’ mah leyfe.
Keltering, adj. Almost beyond comparison.
Ex.—Mah wo’d, bud yon is a keltering good un.
Kelterment, Vide [Ketterment].
Kemps, n. Hairs mixed with wool.
Kempt, pp. Combed.
Ken, v. To know.
Ken, Kern, v. To churn. n. A churn.
Ken-cruddle, n. A churn staff.
Ken-milk, n. Churn-milk, i.e. butter-milk.
Kennigood, n. A reminder.
Ex.—Tak that ez a kennigood, said a man, boxing a boy’s ears.
Kenning, n. 1. Knowledge.
2. Recognition.
Ex.—1. Ther’s a gay bit o’ kenning i’ t’ lad.
2. T’ lass ’ez waxed that mich whahl ther’s neea kenning her.
Kenspak, Kenspeckle, adj. Easily known or recognizable, conspicuous.
Kent, pp. Knew.
Kep, v. To catch.
Ex.—Ah’ll potch an’ thoo kep.
Keslip, Keslop, n. Rennet.
Kessen, part. Cast, bent.
Kess’mas, Kess’nmas, Kessamas, n. Christmas.
Kess’n, v. To christen.
Kess’nen, n. A christening.
Kess’n up = To be found, to turn up.
Ex.—Ah thowt it ’ed geean foor good, bud it’s kess’n up agaain ez good ez ivver.
Kest, adj. Bent, not straight, out of truth.
Kest, v. To cast off.
Ket, n. Filth, tainted meat, carrion.
Ketlock, n. Charlock. Vide [Runch].
Ketterment, n. Rubbish.
Ketty, adj. 1. Nasty.
2. Disagreeable.
Ex.—1. Oh, what ketty stuff! Ah caan’t eat it.
2. It’s nobbut a ketty gahin’ on, i.e. a disagreeable proceeding.
Kevel, n. A strong, fairly long ash handle, to which is fixed a steel hammer-head of curious shape, used as a hammer in quarry work.
Kevel, v. and n. Both the working of the stone and the swinging of the hammer.
Ex.—Ah’ll kevel mair flints iv a daay ’an he can, i.e. dress more flints. He mannishes varra weel foor a new starter, an’ when he’s larnt t’ knack o’ takking a larl bit wider kevel, he’ll chip all t’ easier foor ’t, i.e. ‘When he has learnt the trick of taking a little bit wider sweep or swing, he will chip all the easier for it.’ In some way difficult to define, both the noun and verb, Kevel, relate to the handle and its action as well as to the head.
Kex, n. Dried stem of fool’s parsley.
Kick, v. To object.
Ex.—Ah s’all kick neea lahtle if he cums that gam on ma.
Kicky-wicky, adj. Disdainful.
Kin, n. 1. Kind, generally of species.
2. Sort, relationship.
3. A chilblain, a chap or crack in the skin.
Ex.—1. What a-kin is he ti Tommy? 2. What kin o’ yan is ’t he’s gitten?
Kin, v. To chap, as one’s hands in frosty weather.
Kin-cough, n. Whooping cough.
Kind, adj. On friendly terms.
Ex.—Tha’ve gitten kind agaan. Wa’ve been kind sen wa wur lads.
Kindling, Kinlin’, n. Firewood, small twigs suitable for lighting a fire.
Kink, n. A twist in a rope or line, stiffness of the limbs, a stiff neck.
Kink, v. To laugh wildly, hysterically; to laugh until one labours for breath.
Kinlin’. Vide [Kindling].
Kinn’l, Kinnle, v. To set and light the fire; to bring forth young, applied to a rabbit.
Kipper, adj. Nimble, in good and lively spirits.
Kirk, n. A church.
Kirk-garth, n. Churchyard.
Kirk-warner, n. Churchwarden.
Kissing-bush, n. The mistletoe.
Kist, n. A chest.
Kit, n. A small pail with one of the staves longer than the rest, to serve as a handle.
Kite, n. The belly.
Kith, Kyth, n. Friends, acquaintances.
Kitlin’, n. A kitten.
Kittle, Kittlish, adj. 1. Easily moved or upset.
2. Nice, delicate.
3. Ticklish, easily tickled.
Ex.—1. Keep off; its nobbut a varra kittle consarn, varra larl’ll touple all t’ lot ower, i.e. ‘Stand clear; it is only a very unsteady concern, a slight shock or touch will knock it over.’
2. Ah’d a seet reyther thoo’d tell him thisel; it’s a kittlish thing foor me ti deea when Ah’s gahin’ ti wed his sister.
3. Deean’t touch ma unner t’ airms, Ah’s that kittlish whahl Ah caan’t bahd it.
Kittle, v. 1. To bring forth young, said of a cat.
2. To excite, to stir up, to awaken.
3. To tickle.
Ex.—2. Ah’ll tell him a few things ’at’ll kittle him up a bit. If that weean’t kittle him up a bit, Ah knaw o’ nowt ’at will.
3. T’ mair Ah scrat an’ t’ mair Ah kittle.
Kitty-keis, n. Seeds of the ash-tree.
Kity, adj. Having a protuberant stomach.
Kizzen’d, pp. of Kizzen, v. Dried up, over-cooked, parched.
Ex.—Thoo’s kizzen’d it whahl Ah caan’t eat it.
Knab, v. To gnaw as a mouse.
Knack, n. Adroitness, skill, aptness.
Ex.—Ah tried an’ oor Jack tried, bud wa c’u’d mak nowt on ’t; bud Tom teeak ho’d an’ did it iv a crack, bud then he’s gitten t’ knack on ’t.
Knack, v. To talk affectedly, to mince one’s speech.
Knackish, adj. Knavish.
Knap, v. To give a slight tap, to knock, so as to break.
Ex.—Ah’ll knap thi knuckles foor tha. Ah’ve knapped a piece off t’ jug spoot.
Knappish, adj. Snappy.
Knapper, v. To talk finely. Vide [Knack].
Knapper, n. A door-knocker.
Knappers, n. Leather flaps to shield the thighs when using the turf spade.
Knappery-ware, n. Crockery.
Knar, Knor, Knur, n. A ball of wood, a hard knot.
Knarl, v. To run in knots, as a skein of wool or twine.
Knaw, v. Know.
Knee-bass, n. A straw cushion to kneel on when washing steps, a church hassock.
Knep or Nipe, v. To bite off in small pieces.
Knodden, pp. Knead.
Knoll, Knowl, n. A stroke of a bell.
Ex.—Whisht! it gav six knowlls; it’ll be foor a woman, mebby Betsy Parkin.
Knoll, v. To toll, generally applied to the passing bell.
Knop, n. A knob.
Knucks, Knacks, Knuckles, n. A game very commonly played in the North Riding, several holes being made in the ground some inches apart, the object being to shoot a marble from one to the other.
L.
Laan, n. A loan.
Labber, v. 1. To play with water or soft mud.
2. To struggle after falling into water.
3. To plod through wet grass or turnips.
Ex.—T’ barn labbers aboot i’ yon slap hoal whahl sha’s drinch’d thruff an’ clarted an’ labbered fra heead ti foot wi t’ blathery slathery muckment.
Labbered, pp. To be splashed or daubed with soft mud.
Laboursome, adj. Laborious, tiring.
Lace, Leeace, v. 1. To thrash soundly.
2. To add spirits to tea or coffee.
Ex.—1. Ah’ll lace tha soondly when Ah catch tha.
Lacer or Leeacer, n. Any person or thing larger or taller than usual.
Lad-louper, n. An impudent forward lass, one who makes the first advances.
Lady-cow, Vide Dundy-cow.
Lae, Leea, n. A scythe.
Lae-sand, n. A sandstone used for sharpening scythes.
Lafter, n. The whole of the eggs laid before sitting, the eggs being sat upon.
Lag, n. A single wooden division in a cask.
Lag, v. To loiter, to hang behind.
Lagged, pp. Tired out, wearied.
Laggy, adj. Last. A boy shouts ‘Laggy,’ or ‘Bags Ah laggy,’ when he desires to take the last turn in any game. ‘Bags Ah fuggy’ is, I claim first, ‘seggy’ second, ‘thoddy’ third.
Lahk, Vide [Like].
Lahtle, Larl, adj. Little.
Ex.—Thoo’s nobbut a larl un, bud if thoo nobbut wurks hard an’ eats plenty o’ pudden thoo’ll stritch oot a gay bit.
Laid-off, adj. Incapable of work through illness or other causes.
Laid out, v. Prepared like, got up, looked like.
Ex.—Ah caan’t saay what it war, bud it laid out leyke rice an’ soapsuds; sum on ’em gulched it doon leyke all that.
Laid out, v. 1. To arrange.
2. To attend to the body immediately after death.
3. To spend money.
Ex.—1. Sha laid t’ table oot varra neycely.
2. Hannah an’ Jane’s laid him oot, poor things an’ tha’re gahin’ ti sahd him by o’ Tho’sday.
3. Ah’ve spent all mah brass, bud Ah’ve laid it oot weel.
Lairock, n. The lark (Aluda arvensis).
Lait, Late, Leeat, v. To seek.
Ex.—Ah awlus ’ev ti late that lass ivvery tahm Ah want her. Ah’ve lated high an’ low foor ’t, bud Ah caan’t finnd it neeawheear.
Lake, Laak, Leyak, v. To play, in a modified sense often used as tease, e.g. Tho’ll lake on wi’ t’ dog whahl it’ll bite tha.
Lakings, n. Playthings.
Lalder, Vide [Lalling].
Lalderish, adj. Lazy, listless.
Lall, v. To sing and shout excitedly.
Lalling, Lolling, v. To wander idly and aimlessly about, to lazily lean up against a wall for support.
Ex.—He gans lolling aboot an’ maks ’at he’s badly; a good day’s work ’ud deea him t’ maist good ov owt.
Lallops, Lollops, n. A lazy lounging fellow.
Lallopy, Lollopy, adj. Idle, untidy, slovenly.
Lam, v. To beat.
Lame, Laam, v. 1. To hurt.
2. To injure.
Ex.—1. Let go, thoo’s laming my airm.
2. Whya, onny road he’s lam’d t’ lad foor leyfe.
Lammace, v. To beat with heavy blows.
Lammacing, n. A beating, a good thrashing.
Lamming, n. A beating.
Land, n. Space between two furrows.
Land, v. To arrive, to give a blow.
Ex.—Ah set off efter tea an’ landed a bit efter darkening. Ah’ll land tha yan ower t’ gob if thoo dizn’t shut up.
Landlouper, n. One who runs away to escape paying his debts, &c.
Lang, adj. Long.
Lang first, adv. Long before.
Lang last, adv. At last.
Lang length, adv. Full length.
Ex.—Ah slipped, an’ Ah war laid ma lang len’th on t’ grund i’ a crack. Ah’ll gi’e tha t’ lang length o’ my hand.
Lang sen, Lang sin, adv. Long since.
Lang settle, n. A long wooden seat with a high back and an arm at each end.
Langsome, adj. Long, tedious, troublesome.
Lang tongued, adj. An exaggerator.
Lang waay, adv. Much, certainly.
Ex.—It’s a lang waay t’ best deeaing it this waay. Aye, byv a lang waay, i.e. ‘yes, certainly.’
Lang-waays, adv. Lengthways.
Lantern-leet, Lant’n-leet, n. Lantern-light, often used to denote late in the evening.
Ex.—Ah doot Ah s‘an’t be wi’ y a whahl efter lantern-leet.
Lap, v. 1. To wrap.
2. To have done with, usually followed by ‘up.’
Ex.—1. Ah’ll lap a bit o’ clowt roond it, an’ it’ll be all reet.
2. Ah’ve nowt else ti saay; Ah s’all lap t’ job up noo, an’ seea ther’s an end on ’t.
Lap-band, n. Hoop-iron.
Lap-cock, n. A small bundle of hay twisted in the arms and laid to dry.
Lapling, n. A vicious fellow.
Lap up, v. and n. To wrap up, to finish; an end.
Lapwing, n. The plover.
Lark-heeled, adj. Having heels turning outward.
Larn, v. To teach.
Ex.—Will ta larn me hoo ti deea ’t? Ah’s larning mysel ti plaay t’ fiddle.
Lash oot, v. To kick, as a horse.
Lashin’ oot, v. Extravagance, showing off.
Ex.—Deean’t ya think t’ young doctor’s lashin’ oot mair ’an what he can stand teea? i.e. ‘Don’t you think the young doctor is showing off (buying horses, &c.) more than he will be able to pay for?’
Lashing, adj. Large, either of persons or things.
Ex.—By goa! bud he’s a lashing young chap; he mun stan mair ’an six foot.
Lasty, adj. Durable.
Late, v. To seek.
Lated, pp. Sought.
Lated, adv. Belated.
Later, n. A seeker.
Ex.—Ah fan him, bud Ah’s a good later.
Latt, n. A lath.
Latty, adj. Thin.
Lawk, intj. Lo!
Lax, n. Diarrhoea.
Lay, v. To be certain, of that opinion, to bet or wager; also to levy a rate.
Ex.—Thoo aims ’at he weean’t, bud Ah lay ’at he will. Ah’ll lay tha what thoo leykes.
Lay on, v. To use extra exertion. Cattle ‘lay on fat’ when specially fed.
Laylac, n. The lilac.
Laze, v. To live idly.
Lead, n. Direction, way.
Lead, v. To carry goods or hay in a cart or wagon.
Lead-eater, n. India-rubber.
Leaf, n. Fat round the kidney of an animal.
Leafs, n. Fat along a pig’s nose.
Leam, v. To drop or fall out when ripe, as nuts from the husks.
Leamers, n. Nuts quite ripe, which fall from the husks.
Leasing, n. The separating of differing kinds of grain.
Leather-head, n. A dull, stupid fellow.
Leathered, pp. 1. Beaten, overcome, mastered.
2. Puzzled.
Ex.—1. Ah’s leathered wi’ this job hooivver, i.e. overcome. He’s leathered him soondly, i.e. thrashed.
2. Ah’s leathered ti knaw wheea’s ti blaam, i.e. puzzled.
Leave loose, To let go, to cease from detaining.
Leavlang, adj. Oblong.
Leck, v. To escape by drops, to leak.
Lee, n. The watery discharge from a wound, a lie.
Leeak for, v. To expect.
Ex.—Ah s’all leeak foor ya a week cum Mondaay. Ah’s glad ya’ve fetched it, Ah’ve been leeaking for it cumin’ ivvery daay.
Leeak ya, intj. Look you!
Leear, n. Learning.
Leef, Leave, Lief, adj. Willingly, just as soon as.
Leet, n. A light.
Leet, v. To alight, to settle upon.
Leet, I’ that = In that way, like that.
Ex.—Ah ’grees wi’ tha, when thoo puts it i’ that leet. Thoo s’u’dn’t tak ’t i’ that leet.
Leet on, adj. Unbalanced.
Ex.—Sit a bit forrad, wa’re a larl bit leet on.
Leets, Leeghts, n. Lungs, lights.
Leetsome, adj. Lightsome, cheerful.
Legs, A pair of, n. Stockings.
Ex.—Sha’s gitten a gran’ pair o’ legs foor t’ wedding.
Leg up, A, n. Assistance.
Ex.—Ah’ll cum an’ gi’e tha a leg up mysel.
Leister, Lyster, n. A three-pronged fork for striking salmon.
Lemmel-steean, n. A stone with a hole through it, formerly used to ward off witches.
Len, v. To lend.
Length, Len’th, n. Stature. The ‘g’ is always silent in length, strength, kingdom, and usually the final ‘g’ also.
Length of, The, The distance or limit of anything.
Ex.—Ah efter it t’ len’th o’ t’ paddock.
Lenny, n. The linnet.
Let, v. 1. To light.
2. To alight on.
Ex.—1. Ah let t’ cann’l.
2. Ah tumm’ld off t’ stack, bud Ah let o’ mah feet.
Let drive, v. To strike or kick with force.
Let on, v. To admit.
Ex.—Ah didn’t let on ’at Ah knew owt.
Let on, Lite on, Leet on, v. To meet, usually followed by ‘with.’
Ex.—Where did ta lite on wiv him?
Let wit, v. To disclose.
Ex.—Ah let wit ’at Ah knew summat.
Letten, pp. of ‘to light’ and ‘to let.’
Leve, v. To raise by leverage.
Leyke, Vide [Like].
Lib, v. To castrate lambs.
Liberty, n. The parish or township.
Lick, adj. Swift, at a great speed.
Ex.—He did gan wiv a lick roond t’ corner.
Lick, v. To thrash, to surpass. Vide [Leathered].
Lick, n. Just a slight wipe with a damp cloth; hence the saying, when anything is only half cleansed, Ah’ve deean ’t wiv a lick an’ a promise.
Lie on, Vide Lay on.
Lift, v. To help, to render assistance.
Ex.—Ah aim’d ti gi’e him a bit ov a lift mysel.
Lig, v. To lay down, to put down.
Ex.—Thoo mun lig it doon a bit. Ah’ll lig it doon on t’ swab.
Lig, v. i. To lie down, to be near to or situate.
Ex.—Sha ligs doon ivvery daay efter dinner. It ligs aback o’ Roseberry.
Lig-a-bed, n. A sluggard.
Lig een on, v. To meet or see a person.
Ex.—Ah think he mun be deead, Ah ’evn’t lig’d een on him this lang whahl.
Lig ho’d, v. To take hold of.
Lig on, Vide Lay on.
Lig up, To, v. To store, put by.
Lightsome, Vide [Leetsome].
Light, Leet, adj. Of little depth, applied to a furrow; weak, slight; mealy, not sodden, as applied to potatoes and bread; lacking soil.
Lightening, Leetening, n. Yeast (brewer’s), the break of day.
Light or Leet skets, n. A female of doubtful morals.
Like, Leyke, adj. 1. Likely, highly probable.
2. In duty bound.
Ex.—Leyke eneeaf Ah s’ be theear.
2. Ah s’ be leyke ti show up at kess’nen.
Like all that, adj. An intensive, giving greater force to some previous statement.
Ex.—Sha war iv a tantrum, an’ flang hersel aboot leyke all that, i.e. in a passion. He went at it leyke all that, i.e. with resolution. Sha gen’d an’ giggled like all that, i.e. in a ridiculous manner. Sha tell’d him what sha thowt leyke all that, i.e. spoke her mind plainly.
Lile, Larl, Lahl, adj. Little.
Lillilow, n. A blaze, a flame.
Lilting, Lilty, adj. Jumpy, frolicsome.
Limb, n. A mischievous child.
Limber, adj. Pliant, easily bending to light pressure.
Limmers, n. Shafts.
Lin, Lahn, n. Flax (Linum usitalissimum).
Lin clout, n. A linen rag.
Linch, v. To flog.
Lineseed, Linseed.
Ling, n. Heather.
Lingberry, n. The seed capsule of the heather.
Ling-nail, n. The linch-pin of a cart-wheel.
Lingy, adj. Active, athletic.
Lip, n. Impudence, saucy talk.
Lish, adj. Active.
Lisk, n. The groin.
Lithe, v. To thicken with flour and water.
Lithing, n. Flour and water, used to thicken broth, gravy, &c.
’Liver, v. To deliver, to give back, usually followed by ‘up.’
Ex.—If thoo dizn’t ’livver ’t up, thoo’ll catch it.
’Liverance, n. Liberation, freedom.
’ll = Will.
Lobster-louse, n. The wood-louse.
Loggerheeads, To be at = To be at variance.
Loggin, n. A batten of threshed straw.
Lollop, v. To lean up against, to move about lazily.
Lone, Loan, n. A lane.
Long- or Lang-strucken, part. Legs too long for the body.
Loning, Loaning, Lonnin’, Lo’nin’, n. A narrow lane.
Loobily, adj. Foolishly.
Look a bad look }
Leeak a bad leeak } To, v. To look ill.
Looking or Leeaking for, v. To expect, to desire.
Looks ta or Leeaks ta. Look thou or you.
Loose end, n. Going to the bad.
Ex.—He’s nobbut at a loose end, sen he gat hissel henkled on wi’ yon lot.
Loose i’ t’ heft, n. Lit. loose in the handle, and hence of little use. A worthless fellow.
Lopp, n. A flea (Pulex irritans).
Loppered, adj. Curdled (of milk).
Lops an’ tops, n. The small branches and tops of trees.
Lorn, part. Left, lost, forlorn.
Lost, adj. Beyond all bounds, almost helpless.
Ex.—Her hoos war fairly lost i’ muck. He war lost i’ wonder, i. e. absolutely amazed. Ah war lost i’ ‘mazement an’ c’u’d deea nowt.
Lound, adj. Calm, free from wind, sheltered.
Lounder, v. To thrash soundly.
Loundering, n. A thrashing.
Loundering, adj. Heavy, severe (of a blow).
Loup, v. To leap, jump, bound up.
Ex.—If thoo caan’t loup ’t, thoo mun clim ’t, tumm’l ower ’t, or ram thisen thruff ’t.
Low, Glow, n. The flame from a fire or candle, &c.
‘Lowance, n. The forenoon drinking.
Lowse[112], v. To loose, to unfasten.
2. To dismiss.
Ex.—2. Hez t’ chetch lowsed yet? i.e. ‘Has the congregation left?’
Lowse oot, Lowsen oot, v. To unyoke, to unpack.
Lowsing tahm, n. The time for unyoking after a day’s work.
Lubbart, n. A clown.
Lucky bird or bo’d, n. The first male to cross the threshold on New Year’s morn.
Lucky-steean, n. A rounded, water-worn piece of quartz, or a stone with a natural hole through it. Vide Lemmel-steean.
Lug, n. The ear proper, or the handle of a pitcher or jug, &c.
Lug, v. To pull.
Ex.—Sha diz lug mah hair, when she combs it, diz mah aunt Jane.
Lug ends, n. Tips of the ears.
Luke, v. To pull weeds from cornfields.
Lumberly, adj. Awkwardly.
Lurdy, n. A stupid fellow.
M.
Mabble, v. To leave the chisel-marks on stone, to rough-dress.
Mad, adj. 1. Very angry.
2. Wild.
Ex.—1. Aa bud, Ah war mad wiv her.
2. He seems fair mad efter t’ lass.
Maddle, v. 1. To bewilder, confuse.
2. To grow bewildered.
3. To conduct oneself foolishly in love affairs.
Ex.—1. Tha maddled ma sairly wi’ ther racket an’ din.
2. It war that pick dark ’at Ah didn’t ken wheear Ah war, bud Ah maddled alang, fust yah waay an’ then t’ ither, whahl at last end Ah fan mysen i’ Au’d Willie’s pig-stee.
3. If thoo dizn’t tak care, thoo’ll gan maddlin’ efter t’ lass, whahl thoo’ll loss thi job.
Made oot, Vide Mak oot.
Madge, Madgipeg, n. The fool of the sword-dancers.
Maffle, v. To strive in a way quite inadequate to the success of the undertaking.
Ex.—1. Noo let’s hear what thoo ’ez ti saay foor thisel, an’ deean’t maffle on i’ that road.
2. If he maffles on wi’ t’ job i’ yon waay he’ll nivver mannish ’t.
Mafted, Mefted, adj. 1. Stifled.
2. Out of breath by long exertion, through fighting against a storm, generally of snow.
Ex.—Oppen t’ winner, Ah caan’t bahd; Ah’s ommaist mafted i’ t’ pleeace.
Mahnd, Mind, v. 1. To remember.
2. To pay heed to.
Ex.—1. Ah mahnd t’ tahm, i. e. ‘I remember the circumstances.’
2. Ah’ve mahnded what thoo sed, i. e. ‘I paid heed to what you said.’ Noo thoo mun mahnd all ’at Ah’ve tell’d tha, an’ think on ’at thoo ’ezn’t ti foorgit ti mahnd an’ paay t’ bill.
Main, adj. and adv. 1. Largest or greatest.
2. Quite.
Ex.—1. T’ main on ’em sez ’at it is seea, i.e. ‘The greatest number of them say that it is so.’
2. Ah’s ommaist main sartin he’s in t’ reet on ’t, or Ah’s main sartin, i.e. ‘I am quite certain.’
Mainswear, v. To take a false oath.
Mair, adj. More.
Maist, adj. Most.
Maist-hand, Vide Near-hand.
Maistly, Maistlings, Moastlings, adv. Mostly.
Mak, n. 1. Make, design, shape.
Ex.—Ah’ve seen a vast o’ maks i’ ma tahm, bud nivver a mak leyke this. Wheeas mak’s that? i.e. ‘Whose make is that?’ It ’ez a queer mak aboot it.
Makmeeat, v. To make or prepare food for the household.
Mak on, v. To induce by kindness.
Ex.—T’ dog’ll follow if thoo maks on it a bit.
Mak oot, v. 1. To make, serve.
2. To succeed in an undertaking.
3. To discover, find out.
Ex.—1. He’ll ’a’e ti mak oot wi’ t’ bit ’at’s left noo.
3. Ah caan’t mak oot what yon chap’s efter.
Mak sharp, Be sharp, Leeak sharp = Make haste, be quick.
Mak spare = Economical, careful.
Ex.—Noo reeach teea an’ help yersels; ther’s nowt ya need be neyce aboot, an’ ya needn’t mak spare ov owt.
Maks an’ manders, n. All sorts.
Ex.—Ah’ve all maks an’ manders on ’em.
Man, n. The husband of the person speaking, or of some woman spoken of; with the addition of ‘young,’ it would mean the one who is courting some fair maid, e. g. Mah man’s gahin’, an’ thi man’s gahin’, an’ Sally’s young man mun go wiv ’em.
Manders, n. All kinds, different sorts mixed.
Mang, n. A bran mash.
Mang, v. To mix various ingredients of any kind of food.
Manifold, Monifaud, n. The intestines. adj. Various.
Mannish, v. To manage, to conduct farming in a prosperous manner, to manure land.
Mannishment, n. Manure.
Mannur, v. and n. Manure.
Mar, v. To injure, spoil.
Mark’s E’en, St. Mark’s Eve.
Marrish, n. Low-lying ground liable to be flooded.
Marrow, Marrer, n. One of a pair, similar.
Marrow, n. To match, to produce a similar thing.
Marry, Aye, intj. Yes; as ‘Will ta gan?’ answer, ‘Aye marry!’
Ex.—Aye marry! bud sha’s a beauty. Aye marry, tha’re wed noo hard eneeaf.
Mash, v. To draw the strength out of anything by infusion, as tea; to reduce to pulp.
Mash up, v. To break in small pieces.
Mask, v. To infuse. Vide [Mash].
Mask, n. The face, the hunter’s term for a fox’s head. Vide [Keld].
Master, Meeăster, Maăster, Maastther, n. Master; the head of the house, shop, works, or school.
Masterman, n. One who employs.
Matched, pp. Almost beyond one’s ability to do; to be put to a severe test.
Ex.—Ah s’all be hard matched ti git t’ job deean byv t’ tahm ’at he wants it. He’s mair ’an matched wi’ yon. Ah’ve gitten myself sairly matched this tahm.
Matter, v. To esteem.
2. To influence.
3. Information.
Ex.—1. Ah nivver did matter him mich.
2. Owt ’at he sez weean’t matter mich ti onnybody.
3. Onny matter ’at he knaws weean’t mak onnybody neea wiser.
Matters, n. Quantity, account.
Ex.—It maks neea gert matters owt ’at he sez. Nut onny gert matters foor me, Ah ’ed summat afoor Ah cum’d.
Maudle, v. To besot.
Ex.—He war maudling drunk.
Maukey, adj. Whimsical.
Mauls, n. The marsh-mallow.
Maum, Maumy, adj. Ripe, mellow.
Maunder, v. To wander, talk foolishly.
Maundering, adj. Grumbling, muttering.
Maunsil, n. A fat, slovenly female.
Maun’t, Mooun’t, Mun’t, Munnot. Must not.
Mawk, n. A maggot.
Mawky, Maggoty.
Mayern, n. A wicken gatherer.
Mayhap, adv. Perhaps. Mebbe is most commonly used.
Maze, v. To bewilder.
Meadow-drake, n. Corn-crake.
Meal, n. Flour of various kind not fully dressed.
Mealy-mouthed, adj. Plausible.
Mean, Meean, adj. Bad as to character.
Ex.—He’s aboot ez meean ez tha mak ’em. Sha’s meean eneeaf ti deea onny dirty trick. Sha’s meean eneeaf ti hunger t’ baa’n ti deeath.
Note.—‘Mean’ is almost always used to denote some form of badness, rarely stinginess or mediocrity.
Meat, n. The daily food of a workman in addition to his wages.
Meat, v. To provide a lodger with food as well as lodgings.
Meer, n. A mare.
Meg, n. A penny.
Mell, n. A wooden mallet.
Mell, v. To meddle, usually followed by ‘on.’
Ex.—If thoo mells on oor larl Jimmy onny mair, Ah’ll leather tha mysel. Thoo’s allus melling o’ t’ baa’n. Will ta nivver gi’e ower?
Mell-sheaf, n. The last sheaf gathered.
Mell-supper, n. Harvest supper. See chapter on [‘Customs.’]
Melt, Milt. The spawn of the milter (male fish).
Mend, v. To improve, to grow better.
Ex.—Ah’s mending neycely noo, Ah’s seean be all reet agaan. He’ll ’a’e ti mend his waays, or he’ll end up nowt.
Mends, n. Improvement.
Mennem, Mennad, n. The minnow.
Mense, n. Decency, good appearance, civility, tact.
Ex.—If he’d ’ed onny mense aboot him, he wadn’t ’a’e sed a thing leyke that.
Mense, v. 1. To add beauty or order.
2. To smooth away a misunderstanding.
Ex.—1. Sha seean mensed things up a bit when sha cam.
2. Nobbut saay thoo’s sorry an’ it’ll mense t’ matter up at yance.
Menseful, adj. Becoming and decent behaviour.
Mensefully, adv. Becomingly, decently, civilly.
Menseless, adj. Untidy, useless, &c.
Merls, n. The game of morris.
Met, n. Two bushels, a five-stone weight.
Met-poke, n. A narrow sack, but sufficiently large to hold two bushels.
Meuse, v. To study, to contemplate.
Ex.—Ah think t’ lass is lovesick, sha gans meusing aboot seea.
Mew, pret. To mow. n. A stack.
Mew-bo’nt, adj. Heated or burnt in the stack.
Mew up, v. To be overcrowded in a heated room.
2. To huddle together.
Ex.—1. Ther war ower monny fau’k i’ t’ room; Ah war that mew’d up Ah c’u’d hardlings breeathe. Sha’s gitten all her things mew’d up tigether, whahl sha’ll ’a’e straange deed ti git ’em all ti reets again.
Mich, adj. Much.
Middin, n. A manure-heap.
Middinstead, n. The ground or place of the midden.
Midge, n. A tiny fly.
Mig, n. The drainings from a manure-heap.
Milk-can, n. A milk-pail.
Milk-hoos, Milk’us, n. The milk dairy.
Milk-lead, n. A shallow leaden cistern, with a hole stopped by a wooden plug; after the milk has stood overnight, the plug is withdrawn, and the milk drained from the cream.
Mill’d in, adj. Shrunk, aged, withered.
Mill-e’e, n. The eye or hole through which the ground grain falls into the sack or bin.
Mill-gear, n. The machinery of a mill.
Mill-race, Mill-reeace, n. The cut or channel which leads to the waterwheel, the water running towards the waterwheel.
Mindful, Mahndful, adj. Careful.
Ex.—Thoo mun be mahndful hoo thoo hugs t’ basket. Be mahndful what thoo sez, noo.
Mint, v. To intend, purpose; to aim a blow; to pretend.
Mirak’lous, adj. Careless, venturesome, precocious.
Ex.—He’s a bit mirak’lous wiv a gun. He carried on iv a straange mirak’lous waay at t’ fire. He war awlus a mirak’lous kind ov a lad.
Miscall, v. To give a wrong name to any person or thing, to use abusive epithets.
Misfit, n. Out of place, one who cannot be trusted.
Mista’en, adj. Mistaken.
Mistetched, part. Badly trained or broken in (of a horse).
Mistimed, adj. Put out of the regular course, especially of sleep.
Mits, Mittens, n. Woollen gloves, covering the wrist and knitted with divisions for the fingers.
Moider, v. To bewilder.
Moil, v. To toil on when tired.
Moit, n. The smaller part, a small portion.
Ex.—Tha sed ’at tha shared it oot amang t’ lot on uz, onny waay Ah nobbut gat a moit.
Mole-rat, Vide [Mowdywarp].
Moo-moo, n. A pet name for a cow.
Moor-titling, Moor-taalin, n. The meadow pipit.
Mooun’t, Vide Maun’t.
Moozy-feeaced, Mouzy-feeaced, adj. Applied to the first growth of hair on the lip or chin.
Moozy meean, n. A hazy moon.
Mostlings, Meeastlings, adv. Generally, usually.
Mouck, v. To creep along, to hide.
Moud, Mud, v. Might.
Mowdy-hill, n. A mole-hill.
Mowdy-rake, n. A rake used to level mole-hills.
Mowdywarp, n. The mole.
Mounge, v. To chew with the gums when the teeth have gone.
Muck, n. Dirt, excrement, manure.
Muck, v. To spread manure.
Muck-clout, n. A floor-cloth, &c.
Muck-gripe, n. A dung-fork.
Muck lather, n. In a state of excessive perspiration.
Muckments, n. Filthy matter.
Muck-middin, n. The manure- or ash-midden.
Muck out, v. To clean out a stable or midden.
Muck sweat, Vide Muck lather.
Mucky, adj. Dirty, filthy, unwashed.
Mud, v. Might.
Mug, n. Face.
Muggy, adj. Damp, foggy, thick and close.
Mull, Murl, n. Dry fine mould.
Mumm’l, v. To mumble.
Mump, n. A blow on the face with the fist. v. To chew without teeth.
Mun, n. Man.
Ex.—Ah’ll tell tha what, mun.
Mun, v. Must.
Murl, v. and n. To crumble into small pieces.
Mush, n. Dust, rotten through decay. Note.—Though generally applied to anything dry, it is sometimes used to denote damp and rotten.
Ex.—It’s grund ti mush. Them to’nips is neea good, tha’re all iv a mush.
Mushy, adj. Dry, powdery, in a state of pulp.
Musweb, n. A cobweb, the white cobwebs which float about in the air.
Muther, Mudder, n. Mother.
My-song! intj. Originally La Sangue!
N.
Na, conj. Nor, than.
Naay, adv. Nay.
Nab, v. To pick up sharply, to steal.
Ex.—Thoo mun watch him or he’ll nab summat.
Nab, n. A hill or rocky point, a headland.
Naekins, Vide Otherkins.
Naether, Nowther, Nowder, conj. Neither.
Naff, n. The nave of a wheel.
Naff-heead, n. A stupid fellow.
Naffle, v. To pretend, to potter about.
Naggy, Vide [Gnaggy].
Nak’t, adj. Naked.
Namby-pamby, adj. Affected, conceited.
Nanpie, n. The magpie.
Nantle, Vide [Naffle].
Nap, Vide [Nab].
Nap, v. To strike with a hammer lightly.
Nar, adj. Near.
Narked, v. Vexed beyond measure.
Nar-side, n. The left-hand side of a horse when leading or walking along with a team.
Nasty, adj. Ill-natured.
Ex.—He war varra nasty aboot t’ job.
Natter, v. To be fretful, peevish.
Nattery, adj. Fretful, peevish.
Nattering, n. Continued complaining. Vide [Gnatter].
Nattle, v. To make a light rattling sound.
Natt’rable, adj. What might be expected; unassuming, kindly.
Nature, Nater, n. The innate good quality of things.
Ex.—Ther ’ez been that mich wet, whahl t’ gess ’ll a’e lost all t’ nater oot on ’t, i.e. ‘There has been that much wet, that the grass (drying for hay) will have lost all the nature (goodness) out of it.’
Naup, v. To give a smart tap on the head.
Naup, n. A tap on the head, as with a ruler.
Nauping, n. A thrashing.
Naw, Vide [Neea].
Nay-say, n. The privilege of refusing.
Ex.—Tommy’s gitten t’ naay-saay on ’t. Aye, Ah’ve bowt it, bud then Ah’ve hed t’ naay-saay on ’t foor lang eneeaf.
Nazzed, Nazzled, adj. Somewhat intoxicated.
Nazzy, adj. Under the influence of drink.
Neaf, Vide [Neeaf].
Near, adj. Close-fisted, very careful, greedy.
Ex.—Did Sammy gi’e tha owt? Neea, he’s ti near ti even wish yan weel.
Near, n. A kidney.
Near-hand, adv. 1. Near by, close to.
2. Almost, nearly.
Ex.—1. Whya, sha lives near-hand Bessy.
2. Ah nivver wur seea near-hand gittin’ putten oot o’ t’ road i’ mah leyfe. If thoo gans near-hand yon chap, he’ll smit tha.
Nearlings, adv. Almost, all but.
Neavil, Nevel, v. To pummel with the fist.
Nevilling, n. A sound pummelling with the fist.
Neb, n. The bill of a bird, the nose, the peak of a cap.
Neb, v. To kiss, to peck at viciously.
Ex.—Did ta neb her afoor thoo let her gan?
Neea, Noa, Naw, Nooa, adv. No.
Neeaf, Neif, n. The fist.
Neeaf-full, n. A handful.
Neea matters = No great quantity, of little importance.
Ex.—Did he win owt at t’ races? Neea matters wo’th telling on. What sha sez is neea matters ti onnybody.
Neeap, v. To raise on end, as in lifting the shafts of a cart.
Neease, Nooas, n. The nose.
Neease, v. To sneeze.
Needer, n. The common adder.
Needful, adj. Necessitous, applies to persons and things.
Ex.—Whya, wa mun all deea a bit; sha’s varra needful, ther’s a lot o’ bairns. Aye, it’s wivoot doot a maist needful case.
Needment, n. Something necessary.
Ne’er-di-weel, n. A worthless fellow.
Neest, adj. Next.
Neet, n. Night.
Ner, conj. Nor.
Nervy, adj. Vigorous.
Nesh, adj. Tender, soft, weak.
Ness, n. A projecting headland.
Neuk, n. A corner, corner of a field, a hiding-place.
Never give over, With a = without ceasing.
New-fangled, part. Pleased with novelties.
Ex.—Bairns diz git new-fangled wi’ owt ’at’s fresh.
Nias, n. A young hawk.
Nibble, n. Nipple of either the breast or a gun.
Nibbs, n. The handles on a scythe.
Nice, Neyce, adj. 1. Too particular.
2. Shy.
3. Considerable in size and quantity.
4. Sensitive.
Ex.—1. Ah deean’t leyke fooak ’at’s sae neyce aboot what tha eat.
2. Noo help yersels, an’ deean’t be neyce aboot it.
3. Ah mun saay ’at ther wur a neycish few.
4. Ah’s a bit neyce aboot what fooak saay o’ ma.
Nicker, v. To whinny as a foal.
Niff-naff, n. A trifle.
Niff-naffing, adj. Trifling.
Nifle, n. A trifle.
Nifle, v. To waste time. Useless occupation.
Ex.—Thoo nifles on, an’ nivver gits nowt deean. Thoo’s nifling agaan, allus at t’ saam bat.
Niggle, v. To deal out or give grudgingly, to be greedy in small matters.
Nigh, adv. Nearly, about.
Nigh at hand, adv. Close to, near by.
Nilder-nalder, n. Vacillation, hesitation.
Nim, adj. Quick, active.
Nim, v. To snatch up quickly, to steal, to be active, agile.
Ninnycocks, n. Young lobsters.
Nip, v. Run.
Ex.—Just nip ower ti Bob an’ ass foor t’ saw.
Nip off, v. To run away, to move quickly.
Nip up, v. To snatch up quickly, to go up quickly.
Ex.—He nipped it up afoor Ah c’u’d stop him. Nip upstairs an’ fetch mah hat doon.
Nipper, n. A young child.
Nisly, adj. Showery.
Nit, n. The egg of the louse.
Nither, Nidder, v. To shiver.
Ex.—Ah nithered an’ dithered an’ trimm’ld all ower that mich whahl Ah c’u’dn’t mak oot if sha’d been shuvved, tumm’ld, slithered, or louped inti t’ beck.
Nittering, part. Subdued giggling.
Nivver, adj. Never.
Nizy, n. A dunce.
Nizzled, v. To be under the influence of drink.
Noa ship, n. Clouds said to resemble the Ark. A common saying is, T’ Ark’s oot, wa’re in foor a spell o’ bad weather.
Nobbin, n. The hair on the crown of the head.
Ex.—He teeak her biv t’ nobbin an’ pulled her backkards-waay ower.
Nobbut, conj. If, only. ‘Only’ is rarely used.
Nobby, adj. Handy, nice.
Nock, Nicking, n. A method of keeping count by cutting notches on a stick.
Nodder, v. To tremble.
Noggen, adj. Hard, rough.
Noggin, n. A quarter pint, a small jug.
Nominy, n. The name given to any doggerel rhyme.
None, Noan, Neean, adv. Not at all.
Ex.—He’ll neean ho’d back, he’ll deea ’t hard eneeaf. ‘Neean’ in this case means more than ‘not’; the idea conveyed is, ‘He will not in any sense hold back.’ He’s neean lost owt, i.e. ‘He has lost nothing at all.’
Nooatish, v. To notice.
Noo, adv. Now, well. The use of this word is most curious. Noo, Noo, Noo! Noo, said one man on meeting a friend. ‘Noo’ the first meant either ’good morning,’ ‘now then,’ or ’well.’ ‘Noo’ the second was addressed to the dog, and meant ’lie down.’ ‘Noo’ the third, with a different inflection, was understood by the dog to imply, ‘If you do not lie down at once, I shall hit you.’ And ‘Noo’ the fourth clearly denoted, the dog having laid down, ‘Now, then, we can talk.’ This inflective power throughout the whole vocabulary lessens or adds force to words. Unfortunately it is impossible to render in print these varying tones, which are the life and soul of the dialect. When used as an interjection, it is equivalent to ‘How do you do?’
Nooa, Vide [Neea].
Noos an’ agaains }
Noos an’ thens } = By chance, now and again, occasionally.
Noration, Vide [Oration].
Notified, Nooatified, adj. Well-known.
Ex.—Aye, he war a nooatified chap yance ower.
Not ti fail, Without fail.
Ex.—Ah’ll tell him ti cum an’ not ti fail.
Nowt, n. 1. Nothing.
2. Valueless.
3. Worthless person.
Ex.—1. Yon thing’s warse ’an nowt.
2. It’s up ti nowt neea way.
3. He’s a nowt, an’ warse ’an nowt.
Nowt bud weel, Exceedingly good in every way.
Ex.—Ah can saay nowt bud weel on him.
Nowther, Naether, Nowder, conj. Neither.
Noy, Noyance, Noying, n. Vexatious, worrying.
Nuddle, v. To huddle together, to squeeze.
Nullet, Nullot, n. An owl. Ullot is most commonly used.
Numb, adj. Dull, awkward, clumsy, insensible.
Nursery, n. A plantation of young trees.
Nut, adv. Not.
Ex.—Is ta gahin wi’ ma? Neea, Ah’s nut. ‘Nut’ is to some extent an emphatic form of ’not.’
Nutty-crack-neet, The ninth night before Martinmas Day, on which a feast of apples and nuts is indulged in.
O.
O’, prep. Of.
Oafing, Oafish, adj. Half-witted, foolish, silly.
Oaf-rocked, adj. More or less imbecile.
Oddments, n. Odds and ends.
‘Od rabbits, This and other forms commencing with ‘Od is an old form of profanity, by abbreviating the name of the Deity by the omission of G.
Of, prep. By, out of.
Ex.—That meer he gat of t’ broon meer’s deean weel.
Off, Used in the sense of ‘by heart.’ To be aware of, to know all about.
Ex.—Ah’ve gitten my task off. He’ll nut git ower ma na mair, Ah’ve gitten him off noo, i.e. ‘I know all about him now.’
Offally, adj. Refuse. Bad, both of persons and things.
Offally maade, Offally leeaking, Offally putten tigither, adv. Badly or poorly made, &c.
Offalment, n. 1. Of little value, offal.
2. A useless, good-for-nothing fellow.
3. Intestines, &c., of animals.
Off and on, adj. and adv. 1. Vacillating, uncertain.
2. Now and again.
Ex.—1. He’s allus off an’ on, an’ nivver sattles ti nowt.
2. He’s off an’ on frev yah thing tiv anuther, whahl ther’s neea ’pendence on him.
Off one’s heead, adj. Mad, delirious.
Off on’t, adv. 1. Poorly.
2. Disappointed.
Ex.—1. Ah ’evn’t deean nowt this week, Ah nobbut felt a larl bit off on ’t.
2. He war sadly off on ’t when tha tell’d him o’ Mary’s trouble.
Offen, adv. From off, off.
Ex.—It tumm’l’d offen t’ shelf on tiv his heead.
Off’ns, adv. Often.
Ofter, adv. Oftener.
Okkad, adj. Awkward, clumsy.
Olden, v. To age, to show signs of age.
Ommaist, Ommost, adv. Though often meaning simply ‘almost,’ it often carries a stronger sense with it, e.g. Q. Will ta gan wiv uz? ‘Will you go with me?’ A. Aye, Ah ommost think Ah will, would mean, ‘Aye, I certainly think I will.’ The general sense, however, is that of ‘almost’.
On, adv. 1. Here.
2. There.
3. Forward.
Ex.—1. He’s cumin’ on ti-neet, i.e. ‘He is coming here to-night.’
2. Will ta be on ti-neet? i.e. ‘Will you be there to-night.’
3. Wa mun push t’ job on or wa s’aan’t git deean.
On, prep. Of.
Ex.—Sha war despert freet’n’d ’at Ah war gahin’ ti tell on her.
On, To be, v. To assent.
Ex.—Q. Will thoo gan wiv uz? A. Noa, Ah weean’t be on at a gam o’ that soart.
Once ower, Vide Yance ower.
Onely sahded, adj. Doubtful, singular.
Ex.—It’s nobbut a onely sahded gahin’ on, i.e. ‘It is only a doubtful or singular proceeding.’
Onny bit leyke, or Owt leyke. Fairly well, tolerably.
Ex.—If he aim’d onny bit leyke, he mud ’a’e mannished. Wa s’all cum if t’ daay be owt leyke.
On with, To be, v. The act of doing, to be engaged with.
Ex.—Ah s’ be on wiv it ti morn at morn, i.e. ‘I shall be doing it to-morrow morning.’ He’s dropped Sally, an’ ‘s on wi’ Jin, i.e. ‘He has jilted Sally, and is engaged to Jane.’
Oot, adv. Out, not within; also away, as Git oot wi’ ya, ‘Get away with you.’
Oot o’ course, adv. Beyond comparison, beyond measure.
Oot an’ away, adv. Undoubtedly.
Ex.—Oot an’ away t’ best hoss.
Oor, Wer, pron. Our.
Oorsens, Oorsels, Wersens, Wersels, pron. Ourselves.
Oppen, v. Open.
Oppen oot, v. 1. To bring to light, to reveal.
2. To show one’s true character.
Ex.—1. If thoo sez mich mair, Ah’ll oppen oot a bit mysen, i.e. ‘I will reveal something.’
2. Ah think he’s a varra canny chap sen he’s oppen’d oot a bit.
Oration, n. A commotion accompanied with much talking and shouting.
Orf, n. The scurf which forms under the hair of children and animals.
Orling, n. A mis-shapen, undersized, rickety child.
Othergates, adj. Otherwise.
Othersome, adj. Variety, of another sort.
Ought, Owt, n. Anything. adv. At all.
Ex.—It’s all nowther owt, nowt, na summat.
Ouse, Vide [House].
Out, Outing, n. A day’s pleasure.
Out with, To be = On unfriendly terms.
Out by, adv. Near to, in the direction of.
Ex.—Q. Does Mr. Jackson live near here? A. Noa, he lives out by Newton.
Outen, adv. Out of.
Ex.—Sha tumm’l’d outen t’ winder i’ti t’ watter-butt. Thoo caan’t git thisel an’ Dolly a dhriss outen that, cut it which waay thoo will. Ya mud ez weel aim ti squeeze milk outen a yat-post ez git owt outen him.
Out-end, Out-gang, Out-gaat, n. An exit, a way out of.
Out o’ fettle, adj. Unwell, needing repair.
Ex.—Ah s’aan’t be gahin’ ti-daay, Ah’s a bit oot o’ fettle. T’ cart’s gitten a bit oot o’ fettle; Ah s’all ’a’e ti ’ev it leeaked teea.
Out o’ t’ road, adv. Out of the way, out of sight, killed.
Ex.—Ah caan’t finnd ’t, sha’s putten ’t oot o’ t’ road sumwheears.
Out-thrust, Out-thrussen, adj. Projecting.
Ouzel, n. The Bessy ducker, or ring ouzel.
Over is generally pronounced ’ower’ or ’ovver.’
Overget, Owerget, v. To come up with, overtake, overreach.
Oversail, n. The top course of masonry covering the whole width of the wall.
Over-scutch, v. To whip too severely.
Ex.—He’s ower-scutched t’ lad this tahm, an’ Ah’ll foller t’ law on him an’ mak him pay foor ’t.
Overwelt, v. To roll on the back, so as to be unable to rise again—generally applied to sheep.
Overwing, v. To outwit.
Ex.—He aims ’at he knaws a bit, bud Ah’ll overwing him onny tahm iv a hoss deeal.
Owe, Awe, v. To own.
Ower, v. 1. To last through.
2. To cease, to come to an end.
Ex.—1. Ah deean’t think Tom ’ll git here i’ tahm ti see t’ au’d chap, it’ll tak him all his tahm to ower t’ neet, let aleean t’ week end.
2. T’ meeting’s owered, t’ chapel’s lowsed, an’ t’ chetch ’ez cum’d out, bud t’ army’s gahin’ ti gan at it whahl midneet.
Ower, adj. 1. Too.
2. Beyond due bounds.
Ex.—1. It’s ower grand, i.e. ‘Too fine.’ Ower big, i.e. ‘Too large.’
2. He’s ower daft foor owt, i.e. ‘He’s foolish beyond all bounds.’
Ower, prep. and adv. On the other side of, beyond.
Ex.—Ower t’ street, e.g. ‘On the other side, across the street.’ Ower t’ dale, i.e. ‘On the other side of or beyond the dale.’
Owerance, n. The upper hand, the mastery.
Ex.—He’s gitten t’ owerance ov all t’ lot on uz. Ah ower-handed him that tahm, i.e. ‘Got the advantage of.’
Ower an’ up agaan = More than once, over and again.
Ower-gaat, n. A stone style, the steps in a wall side.
Ower-kessen, Owercast, v. and adj. Overcast, cloudy.
Ower monny, adj. Too many, too strong, beyond one’s power.
Ex.—Ah’ll nut drhive t’ hoss, he’s ower monny foor ma. He maay bunch t’ lass, bud his weyfe’s ower monny foor him.
Ower-neyce, adj. Too particular, fastidious, shy, diffident. Vide [Nice].
Ex.—Noo ya mun stritch yer elbows, an’ reach teea; what’s putten afoor ya’s putten ti gan at; noo deean’t be ower-neyce, bud set ti wark an’ sahd t’ lot.
Owerset, Owersetten, pp. 1. Overtasked beyond one’s strength.
2. Overturned.
Ex.—1. Ah’s completely owersetten an’ deean up wi’ t’ job. Naay what, thoo seems owersetten afoor thoo starts.
2. Ah owerset t’ au’d lass’ stall, an’ t’ nippers did scramm’l foor t’ things.
Owerhand, Vide [Owerance].
Owt, n. Aught, anything.
Owther, Owder, Aether, conj. Either.
Ox-prod, n. An ox-goad.
Oxter, n. The armpit.
P.
Pace-eggs, Paste-eggs, n. Hard-boiled eggs dyed various colours, used by children on Easter Monday. Vide chapter on ‘Customs.’
Pack, v. When birds at certain seasons collect together they are said to ‘pack.’
Packman, n. A pedlar.
Pack-rag day, The day following Martinmas Day, when the servants who are changing masters pack up their belongings.
Paddle, v. To walk with difficulty, to wade bare-legged.
Paddy-noddy, n. A long wearisome tale with much repetition.
Pafty, adj. Pert, assuming, impudent.
Pair of stairs, n. A flight of stairs.
Pairt, Vide [Part].
Pairtner, n. A partner, generally husband or wife.
Pally-ully, n. A game almost identical with hop-scotch.
Palm, Paum, v. To climb with the hands and legs. Vide [Swarm].
Palm-cross day, n. Palm Sunday.
Palms, Paums, n. Catkins, ‘lambs’-tails’ of the hazel.
Pan, v. To fit into or close together.
Pankin, Pankin-pot, n. A large earthenware vessel.
Pankin-dish, n. A deep earthenware dish.
Pannel, n. A riding pad.
Parkin, n. A gingerbread cake made for the fifth of November.
Parlous, adj. Its general meaning carries with it a sense or state of evil.
2. Adverbially used, it always intensifies.
Ex.—1. Ther’s been parlous deed at t’ mill. Tha’ve locked him up at t’ last, it’s nobbut a parlous ending up.
2. He’s a parlous good preeacher is yon local chap.
3. T’ hoos is iv a parlous state, bud then it’s cleeaning tahm.
Part, Pairt, adj. A considerable number or quantity.
Ex.—Pairt fooak wur bidden ti t’ funeral. Ther’ll be pairt fruit ti year, nobbut Jack Frost dizn’t nip t’ blo afoor it sets.
Pash, v. To dash to the ground, to smash into fragments.
Pash, n. 1. A crash.
2. A heavy fall of snow or rain.
3. The result of a smash, or of a heavy fall of rain or snow, as mud or slush.
4. Soft, rotten, pulpy matter.
Ex.—1. T’ chim’ly cam doon wi’ sikan a pash.
2. Wa’ve hed a pash o’ snaw ti week.
3. Baith t’ carts is upskell’d an’ t’ things ur a’ iv a pash tigither.
4. Cum awaay fra sike pashy deed, thoo’ll labber thisen all ower.
Past, adj. Beyond, incapable.
Ex.—Past deeaing owt wi’, i.e. ‘not to be restrained or influenced.’ Past kenning, i.e. ‘grown beyond recognition.’ Past bahding, i.e. ‘beyond one’s power to endure.’ Past wark, i.e. ‘incapable of working.’ He’s gitten past that noo, i.e. ‘incapable of having further aid rendered.’
Past all = Beyond all bounds, generally used in a disagreeable sense; the antithesis of ‘Caps all.’
Patter, v. To tread or beat down by many steps, as a pathway across a newly tilled field.
Patter, Pattering, n. The sound of quick, light footsteps.
Pause, Vide [Bunch].
Paut, Pooat, v. 1. To paw the ground impatiently.
2. To kick lightly.
3. To walk in an affected style.
4. To walk feebly and somewhat heavily, as an aged person.
Ex.—1. T’ meer’s gifting stall’d o’ stannin’, sitha hoo sha pauts t’ grund.
2. Wa caan’t hap t’ bairn up, sha pauts aboot wiv her larl feet sae.
3. Sen sha’s gitten long skets an’ fancy stockin’s on, sha diz paut alang.
4. Au’d Willie, Ah see, still mannishes to paut about wiv a stick.
Pawk, n. Pawky, adj. Impudent, inquisitive, precocious, forward (of a child).
Pawty, adv. Slovenly.
Pea-hulls, Pea-swads or -cods, n. Empty pods of peas.
Peascod, n. Peas still in the pod.
Peffing, adj. Applied to short, husky, hard breathing.
Peggy-stick, Vide Dolly-stick.
Peggy wi’ t’ lautern, Will o’ t’ Wisp, Jack o’ t’ Lantern (Ignis Fatuus).
Pelt, adv. Speedily, swiftly.
Ex.—He cam doon t’ hill sike a pelt.
Pelt, n. The skin of a flayed animal.
Pepper-cake, n. A kind of ginger loaf. Vide chapter on ‘Customs.’
Perceivance, n. Conception, acquaintance with.
Ex.—Neea, Ah’d na perceivance o’ what he meant ti deea.
Perishment, n. The outcome of a severe cold, a thorough chill.
Ex.—Ah’ve gitten a perishment o’ cau’d, Ah knaw that.
Pet, To take, v. To be offended, to sulk, to be affronted over some petty misunderstanding.
Pick, n. Pitch.
Pick = Black. An intensive, or black as pitch.
Ex.—It war pick dark.
Pick, v. 1. To trip up, pitch, or push so as to bring to the ground.
2. To give birth immaturely (of an animal).
3. To find fault.
Ex.—1. Ah shoved mah foot oot an’ pickt him ower nicely.
2. Coo’s pick’d her cauf.
3. Sha’s nivver off mah beeans, sha’s awlus picking at ma.
Pick-fork, n. A pitch-fork.
Pickle, Piddle on, v. To play with one’s food.
Pick-mark, n. The mark on sheep made with a hot iron stamp.
Pick up, v. To vomit.
Pie, v. To store potatoes in an earth mound for the winter, to peep, to pry.
Pie, n. A heap of potatoes covered by earth.
Piet, n. The magpie.
Piffle, v. To steal in small quantities.
Piffling, v. To. do anything in a silly, half-hearted way.
Pigmeat, The refuse of the kitchen and dinner-table gathered together, and saved with other swill in a tub for pig-food.
Pig-nut, n. The earth-nut (Bunium flexuosum).
Pig-swarth, n. The skin of bacon.
Pike, n. A number of hay-cocks made into one heap.
Pinchery, n. Greediness, penuriousness.
Pin-faud, n. The pound for stray cattle.
Pinnies, n. Fish just hatched.
Pirl, Purl, n. The wooden or other winder upon which cotton or thread is wound.
Pisking, v. To lounge about.
Pit, v. 1. To match.
2. To jeer, to quarrel.
3. To mark or spot.
Ex.—1. Ah’ll pit him again thoo. Let ’em aleean, tha’re well pitted.
2. Ther’s maist o’ t’ street end oot, an’ tha’re pitting yan anither leyke all that.
Pit, n. A mark left by small-pox.
Place, n. Service.
Ex.—Ah isn’t gahin’ ti pleeace yet.
‘Plain, ‘Pleean, ‘Plaan, v. To complain, to be querulous.
Plaint, n. A pitiful tale.
Plash, v. To splash. n. A puddle.
Plate, v. To clinch a nail.
Plating, n. A sound thrashing.
Pleeaf, Vide [Plough].
Pleeaf stots, Young fellows, about twelve in number, who used to go about fantastically dressed on Plough Monday, headed by music; a kind of sword-dancer.
Pleean, Plaan, adj. Doubtful, not handsome.
Ex.—1. Ah wadn’t trust yon, he’s nobbut a plaan un.
2. Yon’s a pleean leeaking lass, hooiveer.
Plenish, v. To review, to furnish.
Plesh, Plosh, Plash, n. A puddle.
Plew, Vide [Plough].
Pload, v. To walk with difficulty over heavy land.
Ploader, n. A plodding, diligent fellow.
Ploat, v. To pluck the feathers from a fowl.
Plodge, v. To wade through water.
Plook, n. A small pimple.
Plooky-feeaced, adj. Applied to a pimpled or blotched face.
Plosh, v. To splash, to bespatter.
Ploshy, adj. Splashy.
Plother, Plodder, n. Soft mud.
Plother, v. To bring into a state of soft mud.
Plothery, Ploddery, Pluthery, adj. Muddy, miry.
Plough, Plew, Pleeaf, Plufe, n. A plough.
Ploughing-day, Pleeafing-day, Plewing-day, n. The day on which neighbouring farmers lend men, horses, and implements, to assist a new-comer on the land.
Ploughing iron or airn, n. The coulter.
Pluck, n. The heart, liver, and lungs of an animal.
Pluff, n. A tube to pluff with.
Pluff, v. To force anything through a tube by blowing.
Plug, v. To load a cart with manure.
Plugger, n. Anything larger than usual.
Pluke, Vide [Plook].
Plum, adj. Perpendicular.
Ex.—That’s nut plum byv a lang waay.
Plump, v. To come straight down, hence to accuse openly.
Ex.—1. It cam plump doon i’ t’ frunt o’ ma.
2. Ah plump’d him wi’ ‘t tiv his feeace, i.e. ‘I accused him to his face.’
Plump, adj. Straightforwardly, exactly.
Ex.—Ah tell’d him plump oot what Ah thowt.
Plunder, n. The legitimate profit made out of any business transaction.
Pluther, Vide [Plother].
Plutherment, n. Slush, water and mud, or snow and mud mixed; any liquid filth.
Pock-arr, n. The scar left by small-pox.
Podge, n. A short fat man.
Podgy, adj. Little and fat.
Poke, Pooak, n. A sack or bag.
Poringer, n. A mug which widens toward the base.
Porrets, n. Small onions.
Porriwiggle, n. The tadpole.
Posh, n. Slush, mud.
Posh, Poss, v. To pound with a possing-stick whilst washing clothes. Vide Dolly-stick.
Poshing-stick, Possing-stick, n. The stick used to poss or beat with, something like a heavy club.
Poskit, Peggy-tub. A large oaken tub used to poss clothes in, often called a Possing-tub.
Posy, n. A bunch of flowers to carry in the hand.
Pot-blossoms, n. Blotches on the face caused by excessive drinking.
Potherment, n. Petty annoyance.
Pot-lug, n. The handle of a jug.
Pot-sitten, adj. Burnt whilst cooking, especially in the case of milk or porridge. Almost universally styled now Setten on.
Potch, n. To throw.
Ex.—Gi’e ower potching steeans.
Potter, v. To attempt in a feeble way, often followed by ‘about.’
Ex.—Hoo he diz potter aboot! Diz he ivver get owt deean?
Pottering, adj. Slow, feeble, awkward.
Preachment, n. A wearying discourse.
Present, v. To present.
Ex.—Tha’ve presented her wiv a clock an’ a silken pess wi’ twenty pund in ’t.
Pretty warm, adj. Comfortably off, well-to-do.
Prickle, v. 1. To have a pricking sensation.
2. To prick.
Ex.—1. Ah prickle all ower.
2. Ah’ve prickled my han’s all ower wi’ gethering bumm’l-kites.
Pricky-back otch’n, n. The hedgehog.
Prod, n. Usually a hazel stick with a sharp point.
Prod, v. To prick or push with a prod.
Proddle, v. To poke about, to prick, to poke about under stones, &c.
Proffer, v. To make an offer.
Ex.—Ah proffered ti gan ower an’ give him a lift.
Prood, adj. Proud.
Propped up, adj. Kept alive owing to the observance of certain rules and other advantages.
Ex.—Tha’ve propped him up foor a bit, but it weean’t be foor lang, he fails ivvery daay.
Pross, n. A friendly gossip.
Providence, n. Food, &c., provided for any kind of feast.
Ex.—A mirical wadn’t a’e maad yon providence last.
Pubble, adj. Plump, soft and round.
Puddings, n. Entrails.
Pull, v. To pick.
Ex.—Wa mun pull t’ currants ti morn.
Pulls, n. The shells of ripe turnip seeds, &c.
Pulsey, n. A poultice.
Pum, Pumm’l, v. To beat with the fists.
Purlings, n. Ribs upon which the spars of the roof of a house rest.
Push, n. 1. Moment.
2. Energy.
Ex.—1. He awlus leeaves ivvery thing ti t’ last push.
2. Ther’s neea push i’ yon youth.
Pushed, adj. Hurried, inconvenienced.
Ex.—Ah war varra mich pushed for tahm.
Put about, v. To be incommoded, put out of one’s ordinary course, disgusted.
Ex.—Ah nivver war seea grieved an’ vexed an’ putten about iv all mah leyfe.
Put off, Put away. To kill, to remove one’s outer garments.
Putten, pp. of ‘Put.’
Putten by, v. To put away, to bury.
Putten ti reets, v. 1. To put in order.
2. To correct.
Ex.—1. Ah’ll git things putten ti reets a bit.
2. Thoo’ll git thisen putten ti reets if thoo dizn’t tak care.
Puzzon, n. A poison.
Puzzon, v. To poison.
Q.
Quality, n. Gentry.
Quart, v. 1. To cross transversely, as in ploughing.
2. To disagree, to quarrel.
Ex.—2. Ah aim ’at oor Tom wad quart wiv a stuffed monkey.
Queery, n. Any circumstance of an extraordinary character.
Quick-sticks, adv. Sharply, at once.
Ex.—If thoo dizn’t git it deean i’ quick-sticks, Ah’ll wahrm thi jacket foor tha.
Quirk, n. A trick, deception.
Quite better, = Quite recovered.
R.
Rabate, v. To return something, in consideration of.
Ex.—Thoo gav him fahve pund foor ’t, an’ ‘ed ti gan foor ’t thisen, what rabate did ta git?
Rabble, v. To read or speak so hastily as to be indistinct.
Rabblement, n. Indistinct, confused talk; a mob of low scoundrels.
Race, Vide Mill-race.
Rack, n. Fleecy clouds driven by wind.
Rackapelt, n. A worthless fellow.
Rackit, n. A turbulent, boisterous noise.
Raddle, v. To beat or thrash soundly.
Raddling, n. A sound thrashing.
Radged, adj. Furious, mad.
Raff, n. 1. A confused heap.
2. A disreputable person.
Ex.—1. Thoo’s gitten things all iv a raff.
Raff, After, n. A second mowing, generally of clover.
Raffle, adj. Idle or foolish.
Raffle, v. and n. 1. To become confused, to wander.
2. To entangle.
3. To lead a wild, irregular life.
Ex.—1. He raffles on seea whahl yan dizn’t knaw what he meeans.
2. What a raffle sha’s gitten t’ wool inteea!
3. He’ll raffle on whahl he’ll gan thruff t’ bit o’ brass t’ au’d chap left him.
Raffle-pack, adj. Of loose, irregular lives.
Raffling, adj. Riotous, dissolute.
Raffly, adj. Applied to a confusion of ideas or weakened mental powers.
Ex.—He gits a larl bit raffly at tahms.
Rag, v. To enrage, to vex.
Ex.—Ah did rag him aboot Polly.
Ragabash, n. A bad character.
Ragally, adj. Loose, unseemly, unprincipled.
Rageous, adj. Furious.
Ragged, pp. To be enraged.
Ragged, adj. Borne down with fruit.
Raggel, n. A worthless vagabond.
Rag out, n. Passion, temper.
Ex.—Deean’t git his rag oot, i.e. ‘Don’t vex him.’ Wa gatnhis rag oot, i.e. ‘We got him into a passion.’
Rag-river, n. A tomboy.
Raitch, n. The white line down a horse’s face.
Raited, pp. Applied to hay or straw injured by wet or damp; peeled off after soaking.
Rain, Vide [Rein].
Rakapelt, n. A low, dissolute fellow.
Raking, v. To wander about with a doubtful purpose.
Ram, adj. Possessing a fetid smell.
Ram, v. To push forward, to work hard.
Ex.—Ah ram’d at it, an’ seean gat it deean.
Raments, n. Shavings, odd bits.
Rammack, Vide [Rannack].
Ramm’l, v. To idle about.
Ex.—Noo off thoo gans; thoo’s awlus ramm’ling about t’ pleeace.
Ramp, n. A series of steps or drops on the upper part of a wall; the name given to garlic.
Rampageous, adj. Furious, boisterous, wild.
Ramp and Rave, To, v. To be mad with passion.
Ramper, n. The sloping side of a raised footpath.
Ramscallion, n. A filthy, loathsome person.
Ramshackle, adj. Disjointed, unsteady, needing repair.
Ranch, adj. Acid.
Ranch, v. To sprain.
Ranch, Rinch, n. A sprain.
Rand, n. A piece cut out of or off.
Rands, Reeands, n. The unploughed edges round a field.
Randy, adv. Madly, wildly, riotous. adj. Mad.
Rannack, n. A dissolute spendthrift.
Rann’l- or Randle-bauk, n. The bar upon which the reckons hang.
Rantipole, n. A romping child.
Ranty, adj. Much excited, angry.
Rap, n. A friendly chat.
Ex.—Cu’ thi waays, an’ lets ’ev a pipe an’ a bit o’ rap.
Rap-off, v. To speak on the spur of the moment.
Raps, n. Gossip, news.
Rapterous, adj. Ecstatic.
Rase, pret. of ‘Rise.’
Rase, v. To raise, to cause to move.
Ex.—Ah rase a rabbit i’ that coorner last neet. Ah rase ’t up mysen.
Raspin, adj. Excellent.
Rasps, n. Raspberries.
Rasselled, adj. Applied to withered fruit.
Ratten, n. A rat. Rattener, n. A catcher of rats.
Ratten-trap, n. A rat-trap.
Rattle-beeans (bones), n. A very thin man.
Rattle-cap, n. A lively, somewhat wild person.
Rattle-doon, adj. Tumble-down.
Ex.—It’s nobbut a rattle-doon spot at t’ best.
Raum, Reeam, v. To bawl at the top of one’s voice.
Raun, n. Fish roe.
Rave, Vide [Rive].
Rawk, n. Vide [Roke].
Rawp, n. Rape (Brassica napus).
Rax, v. To strain to the utmost.
Rax, n. A strain, a twist of limb or muscle.
Razzle, v. To roast on the outside before the fire, to hurriedly cook over a flame.
Reach, v. To hand or fetch anything.
Ex.—Reeach ma t’ breead. Reeach ma yon mug o’ milk.
Reach to, v. To help oneself.
Ex.—Ya’re all on ya varra welcum ti t’ best o’ owt Ah’ve gitten, sae reach to, and mak yersels at heeam.
Reap up, v. To refer to some past misdeed.
Rear, v. To raise up, to raise into a perpendicular position.
Rear, adj. Applied to meat underdone.
Reckan-bauk, Vide Gally-bauk.
Recklin, Vide [Wrecklin].
Reckon, n. The bar suspended from the rann’l-bauk.
Reckon, v. To imagine, to suppose.
Ex.—Ah reckon you’ll be him. Ah reckon I knaw summat aboot it.
Reckon-crook, n. The hook of the reckon.
Red up, Vide Reet up.
Reead-yat, adj. Red-hot.
Reeak, n. A rook.
Reeasty, adj. Rancid, e.g. ‘reeasty bacon.’
Reeasty-cropt, adj. Hoarse.
Reek, n. Smoke. v. To smoke.
Reet, adj., adv., and n. Right.
Reet up, To, v. To put things in order, to tidy up.
Ex.—Ah’ll reet things up a bit, an’ then Ah’ll cum.
Reft, n. A chink, a slit.
Rein, n. The sides of a field overgrown with brushwood.
Reist, n. A horse which refuses to move is said to have taken the ‘reist.’
Rench, v. To rinse.
Ex.—Ah’ll gi’e it a rench oot.
Render, v. To convert the fat of pigs to a liquid state by heat.
Renky, adj. Tall, but too thin, as trees when grown too close together.
Resehes, Reashes, n. The rush (Juncus glaucus).
Rezzil, n. The weasel (Mustela or Putorius vulgaris). Wezzil and Wuzzil are equally common.
Rick, n. A quantity of hay larger than a pike.
Rickle, n. A small heap of peat set to dry.
Ride, v. To travel on horseback, or in any kind of vehicle.
Ex.—Ah s’all rahde t’ meer theear, bud rahde back i’ t’ cart wi’ Billy.
Ride rough-shod ower, To, v. To obtain our own ends careless of other people’s rights.
Ex.—Ah’ll nut let him rahde rough-shod ower me when Ah’ve gitten t’ reet o’ mah sahd.
Riding, Ridding, n. The space made by felling trees, generally within a wood.
Riddle, n. A sieve.
Rife, adj. Inclined, ready.
Ex.—He’s rife foor onny rackit. He war rife foor t’ job.
Riff-raff, n. A low mob, scum.
Ex.—He’ll gan wi’ onny sike leyke riff-raff.
Rift, v. To belch.
Rig, v. To dress oneself.
Rigg, n. The back of a man or beast, the rows in which turnips grow. Hence ‘rigg and furr,’ the latter being the raised part running between each rigg.
Rigged, v. To be laid on the back unable to rise, applied to sheep; to tidy oneself, to put on one’s best.
Rigging, n. The framework of a roof.
Rigging tree, n. The top spar of a house.
Right, Reet, adj. True, correct.
Ex.—It’s reet what Ah’s telling on ya.
Right on end, adv. Direct as to direction, in a straightforward manner.
Right up, v. To put things in order.
Ex.—Ah’ve setten Janey ti reet things up a bit.
Ring-shaken, adj. That part of timber which cannot be used owing to its being diseased.
Rise, n. A steep ascent.
Rive, Rahve, v. 1. To tear in two.
2. To pull with force.
3. To split.
Ex.—1. He gave it a snip w’ t’ sithers, an’ then rahve it reet across.
2. Ah rahve it up, it war deead.
3. Ah s’all rive t’ maist o’ yon wood up.
Rist, n. Rust.
Rist, v. To rest.
Road, Oot o’ t’ = Out of the way, killed.
Rods, n. Pea-rods, used to support peas when growing.
Roil, v. To be noisy, turbulent.
Roist, adj. Wild, dissolute.
Roistering, adj. Wild, noisy, or dissolute.
Roke, Rawk, n. A thick fog.
Roky, Rauky, Roaky, adj. Foggy, damp.
Roll, n. The pad of cloth worn on the head by potter women and others who carry a basket in that position.
Roll-egg day, Troll-egg day. Easter Monday. Vide chapter on ‘Customs.’
Roo, Roo on, v. To work hard amidst confusion.
Ex.—If thoo’d nobbut sahd a few things by ez thoo went on, thoo wadn’t ’a’e ti roo on i’ this fashion. Sha awlus ’ez ti roo on at t’ finish.
Rooar, v. To make a loud noise when crying.
Rook, n. A cock of clover set up to dry.
Rook, v. To set up in small heaps.
Rossil, n. Resin.
Rostle, Rossel, v. To disturb, to shake.
Rouk, v. To snore loudly, as pigs.
Ex.—Ah weean’t sleep w’ him na mair, he rouks warse ’an a pig.
Roughen, v. To make rough.
Round, To get, v. To cajole, to assuage.
Roundy, adj. Of fairly good size, as compared with another sample containing much dust and small pieces; applied to a good sample of coal.
Rouped up, To be, v. To be hoarse.
Roupy, adj. Hoarse from cold.
Rout, Rowt, v. To wander, to stray; to bellow loudly, as cattle.
Rout about, v. To turn every place out.
Routering tahm, Cleaning time, house-cleaning.
Roving, adj. Of an unsettled nature.
Rovven, pp. Riven.
Row, v. To form ridges in the land for setting potatoes, &c.
Rowan-tree, n. The mountain ash (Pyrus Aucuparia). Vide chapter on ‘Witchcraft.’
Rownd, Vide [Raun].
Rowty, adj. Rank.
Roy, Roy on, v. To lead a fast life.
Ex.—If he roys on leyke yon, he’ll seean ’a’e ti spell want.
Royously, adv. Extravagantly.
Rud, n. Red ochre, also ruddle.
Rud-stake, n. The post to which a cow or ox is fastened when in its stall.
Rue, v. To alter one’s mind after making a bargain.
Rue-bargain, n. A sum of money paid to cancel a bargain.
Ruffle, v. To rub or raise the skin.
Rumbustical, adj. Noisy, rough in play.
Runch, n. The charlock (Sinapis arvensis).
Rung, n. The step of a ladder.
Runnel, v. A small stream of water, the channel it runs in, a funnel.
Run out, adj. Exhausted, impoverished.
Runty, n. Short, thick-set.
Rush, n. A large concourse of people.
Russelled, Vide [Rasselled].
Rutterkin, n. A sly old fellow.
Rutting, n. The sound made by deer during the pairing season.
Ruttle, v. and n. To breathe with a rattling, gurgling sound, as when suffering from bronchitis, or when dying. Hence t’ deeath ruttle’s setten in, it’ll seean be owered wiv him noo.
Rutty, adj. A road deeply furrowed by cart-ruts.
S.
‘S, Is, has, or as.
S’, v. Shall.

Sa, Vide [Seea].
S’aan’t, v. Shall not.
Sack, To get the, v. To be turned out of or lose a situation, to be dismissed.
Sackless, adj. Lacking common sense, foolish.
Sad, adj. Heavy, as badly-risen bread, damp.
Sadden, v. To make firm by stamping, treading, &c.
Ex.—Sae monny fooak tramping on t’ land sairly saddens ’t.
Sadly, adv. Very much.
Ex.—It sadly wants deeaing, i.e. ‘It wants doing very much.’ Ah sadly wanted her ti stop a bit langer.
Sadly begone, adj. Surprised and distressed at the same time.
Sadly ta’en in, adv. Very much deceived.
Ex.—Ah’ve been sadly ta’en in wiv ’em.
Sae, Vide [Seea].
Safe, Seeaf, adj. and adv. Certain, without doubt.
Ex.—Ah’s seeaf ti cum, i.e. ‘I am certain to come.’ Safe eneeaf he did it, i.e. ‘Without doubt he did it.’
Sag, v. To hang lower in the middle than at either end, as a rope.
Sahded by, Sided by, pp. Buried.
Ex.—It’s owered wiv him noo, wa’ve gitten him sahded by.
Saim, Saam, n. Lard.
Sair, adj. Sore, in all its senses.
Ex.—Wa’ve ’ed a sair tahm, i.e. ‘a sad time.’ It’s varra sair news, i.e. ‘sorrowful.’ T’ lad’s gitten a naisty sair spot, i.e. ‘sore.’
Sair, Sairly, adv. Sorely, greatly, extremely; used as an intensive.
Ex.—Sha’ll be sairly missed, will Jane. It war a sair mannish’d job. Sha sairly wanted ti git yam.
Sam, v. 1. To cause milk to curdle, to coagulate.
2. To gather in a hurry.
3. To pack things carelessly.
Ex.—2. Ah samm’d all t’ lot tigither iv a twinklin’.
3. Sam ’em in onnyhoo.
Sammer, adj. Larger than usual.
Santer, v. To loiter, to walk slowly.
Sappy, adj. Heavy, sodden.
Sap-tree, n. The rowan-tree.
Sark, n. A shirt or chemise.
Sarten, adj. Certain.
Sarve, v. 1. To feed cattle.
2. To pay back revengefully.
Ex.—1. Thoo mun sarve t’ pigs.
2. Ah’ll sarve him oot foor ’t.
Sattle, v. To settle, usually followed by ‘down’; to feel at home.
Ex.—Ah s’ sattle efter a bit. Oha, he’s sattled doon neycely.
Sattle one’s hash, To, To completely discomfit.
Ex.—If sha sez owt ti me Ah’ll seean sattle her hash, an’ tell her her neeam fur nowt an’ all; sha’d best leeak oot.
Sauce, n. and v. An impudent answer.
Ex.—Ah tell’d her what Ah thowt, an’ sha sauced ma back ageean leyke all that.
Sau’t, n. Salt.
Sau’t-kit, n. Salt-box.
Sauve, n. Ointment.
Sauve, v. 1. To cajole.
2. To apply ointment.
Ex.—1. Thoo mun sauve him ower byv talking neycely.
Savelicks, n. Canker of the dog-rose.
Saw-cum, -com, or -coom, n. Sawdust.
Saw-hoss, n. A saw-pit, or the arrangement of two tressels upon which the wood to be sawn is rested.
Say, n. 1. Power, influence.
2. Opinion.
Ex.—1. T’ parson ’ez t’ maist say ov onnybody hereabouts.
2. Noo let me saay mah saay noo, i.e. ‘Now let me express my opinion now.’
Say, v. To control or influence.
Ex.—Ther’s neea saying onny o’ Martha’s bairns. Ah caan’t saay t’ dog.
Scacelings, adv. Scarcely.
Scaldered, To be, v. To have an unhealthy skin, so that the surface comes off in scales. Children’s heads are often said to be scaldered when suffering from dandruff.
Scalderings, n. Nodules of half-burnt lime.
Scale, Scaling, v. To scatter or spread, as manure; to cause the milk to be absorbed in the female breast.
Scale-dish, n. A shallow metal pan used to skim milk.
Scallibrat, n. A passionate, noisy child.
Scamp, v. To execute work in a dishonest manner, not paying attention to details which are hidden from view.
Scar, n. The face of a precipitous rock, or the rock itself.
Scart, v. Frightened.
Scaud, n. and v. A scold, a vixenish woman.
Scaud-heead, n. Applied both to dandruff and ringworm.
Scau’p, n. The head, the skull, the bare spots of rock and stones on a hillside.
Sconce, n. 1. A screen, usually lined with tin, which is kept very bright so as to reflect; this is placed in front of any joint roasting before the fire.
2. Hence the usage of the word in the sense of a ‘ruse,’ ‘deception,’ i.e. a screen to hide one’s real intentions.
Ex.—2. He aim’d at wa s’u’d think ’at he’d cum’d ti see t’ au’d chap, bud it war nowt bud a sconce ti finnd oot what wa’d gitten i’ t’ hoos. The word is also used in the sense of ‘tale-bearing’ in such a way as either to hide one’s own fault or to obtain one’s own ends.
Scopperil, n. A teetotum, a pierced bone button with a wooden peg through it.
Scourging top, Scurgy, n. A whipping-top.
Scow, n. Confusion, hurried and somewhat disorganized preparation for an expected event, bustle with confusion.
Scowder, Scowderment, n. Confusion.
Scraffle, v. To struggle, to strive.
Ex.—Ah mannished ti scraffle thruff’t, bud Ah s’all tak t’ hedge t’ next tahm. Sha’s deean mair ’an weel ti scraffle on wi’ a family leyke yon.
Scrag-cauf, n. A name applied to females whose legs are very thin.
Scraggy, adj. Lean.
Scran, n. Food.
Scranky, adj. Very lank.
Scrannel, adj. Poor, worthless.
Scrap, v. and n. To quarrel.
Scrape, n. Misfortune, trouble.
Scrape the tongue, To, v. To speak affectedly.
Scrat, v. and n. 1. To scratch.
2. A scraping together of one’s belongings by hard toil.
Ex.—2. Yan gits yan’s things scratted tigither oddly by tahms. Neeaboddy’s made a harder scrat foor what tha’ve gitten ’an Lisa Jane.
Scrat, n. A miser, the itch.
Scrat, Au’d, n. The devil.
Scrawm, v. To scratch irregular marks on any surface, to grope about in the dark.
Scrawmy, adj. Straggly, irregular, unshapely.
Scrawmy cauf, n. A badly shaped leg. adj. Scrawmy-cauf’d.
Ex.—Mah wo’d, bud Polly war sairly flowter’d when Ah dropped on her shauming, ant Ah seeaa sha’d neea call ti be, fer sha’s owt bud a scrawmy-cauf’d un.
Screed, v. To run a line or border on the edge of anything.
Screed, n. A shred, the border or edge of any material.
Screeve, v. To mark with a screever.
Screever, n. A small pointed steel tool used to mark metal, &c.; the sound produced by such marking.
Scriggle, v. To twist about.
Scrimp, adj. 1. Niggardly.
2. Scant.
3. Short.
Ex.—1. It war nobbut a scrimpy do.
2. It war a varra scrimpy set oot.
3. Did ta run sho’t o’ stuff? T’ sket nobbut seems scrimpy an’ sho’tish at t’ back.
Scrogs, n. Stunted bushes or shrubs.
Scrout, v. To lengthen, as the days.
Scrow and Scrowing. Vide [Scow].
Scruff, n. Scurf, either on the skin or head; scum, hence ‘the rabble.’
Scruffle, Scruffling, v. 1. To push, strive, to put on one side by force, as pushing through a crowd.
2. To weed turnips.
Ex.—1. Ah’d a despert scruffle afoor Ah gat inti t’ tent. Neeabody teeak na notish o’ neeabody, bud iverybodd scruffled t’ best waay tha c’u’d, whahl wa war all scruffling tigither.
Scruffle, n. A quarrel accompanied with a struggle, an unruly crowd.
Scruffler, n. A hoe for weeding turnip rows. Formerly it was fashioned from an old horse-shoe fixed to a long handle.
Scuff, n. The nape of the neck.
Scuff, v. To seize or shake by holding the neck.
Scumfish, v. To oppress with either heat, smoke, or foul air.
Scut or Scud, v. To run away.
Scutter, v. To run away quickly.
Scutters, n. Diarrhoea.
Scuttle, n. An open rough-made basket considerably narrowing towards the bottom, and used to gather potatoes in, &c.
Sea-fret, n. Fine rain, usually commencing with the rise of the tide.
Seagling, part. Sauntering.
Sea-tang, n. Sea-weed or wrack (Laminaria digitata).
Seddle, n. The wrist-bone.
Seea, Sae, Sa, Soa, Sooa, adv. So.
Seear, Shower, adj. and adv. Sure.
Seed, pf. part. of ‘Saw.’
Seed-lip, n. The basket from which the seed corn is cast when thrown on the land.
Seeing-glass, n. A looking-glass.
Seeve, Seeave, n. The common rushes (Juncus effusus and conglomeratus).
Seet, adj. Considerable, many.
Ex.—Ther war a seet main fooak theear ’an what Ah thowt ther’d be. He’s a seet better ’an what Ah leeak’d foor.
Segged, v. To be distended, swollen, accompanied by hardness.
Seggrums, n. Common ragwort.
Seggy, adj. Second.
Ex.—Bags Ah seggy, i.e. ‘Second turn.’
Segs, n. A name applied somewhat loosely to several rushes and flags.
Sen, Sin, adv. Since.
Servers, n. Females, generally two in number, who hand the cake, biscuits, and wine to mourners and others at a burial.
Set, v. To accompany any one either the whole or a short way on a journey.
Ex.—Tommy set ma ivver sae fur. He put t’ meer in an’ set ma all t’ waay. Ah’ve setten her ti t’ deearstan.
Set, v. To arrange or settle a price.
Ex.—Setten at that price, he’d nivver git his awn ageean. Ah’ve setten it at less na what Ah aimed ti git.
Set a day, To, v. To fix a definite appointment.
Set agate, v. To set in motion, to start work, to put into action. Vide Agate.
Set in, adj. Applied to dirt on the clothes or skin of long standing; commenced and likely to continue.
Set on, Setten on, v. To burn in the pan when cooking, especially when milk is used. adj. Small, stunted in growth.
Set on knees, v. To kneel.
Set-pot, n. A large iron cauldron fixed in brickwork.
Set-teea, n. A fight.
Ex.—Let ’em ’ev a set-teea, an’ then tha’ll git it sattled. Bob’s ’ed a set-teea wi’ Billy.
Set teea, Set on, v. To begin or cause to begin.
Ex.—Thoo mun set teea at yance, an’ Ah’ll set Tom on ti morn at morn.
Setter, n. A seton. Also v. To insert, &c.
Settle, n. Vide Lang settle.
Settled, v. To be decided, satisfied, contented. Vide [Sattle].
Ex.—Ah’ve sattled that point lang sen. Ah’s nobbut hauf sattled wi’ t’ waay things is gahin’ on, an’ Ah s’aan’t feel sattled whahl Ah’ve been ti see foor mysen.
Set up, v. To greatly delight.
Sez, v. Says.
Ex.—If sha sez ’at thoo sez what thoo sez sha sez, sha sez what’s wrang.
Shabby, adj. Disagreeable, unpleasant as to weather.
Ex.—Wa nobbut ’ed a shabby hay-tahm ti year.
Shackle, n. The wrist.
Shade, n. A wooden or lightly constructed building, a shed.
Shades, n. Lace curtains.
Shaff, n. Sheaf.
Shaffle, v. To shuffle in walking, to evade by subterfuge, to be undecided.
Shaft, n. A handle, as of a fork, rake, hoe, axe.
Shaft, v. To fix a handle to anything.
Shak, v. To shake.
Shak-bag or -back, n. An untrustworthy fellow.
Shake, n. A split or crack in furniture.
Shak-fork, n. The fork used for lifting and shaking the thrashed straw.
Shak-ripe, adj. So ripe that shaking will cause the fruit to fall. Anything likely to fall either from a shake or wind.
Shanks’ nag, Shanks’ pony, n. One’s own legs as a means of going from place to place.
Ex.—Ah s’all ’a’e ti gan on Shanks’ pony, i.e. ‘I shall have to walk.’
Shap, Shaape, v. 1. To show good judgement.
2. To give promise.
Ex.—1. He shaps weel ti deea ’t, diz t’ lad.
2. It shaps ti mak a good un.
Sharp, v. To insert nails or screws in a horse’s shoe during frosty weather.
Sharp, adj. Quick, smart, intelligent.
Ex.—1. Noo gan ez sharp ez thoo can, i.e. ‘quick.’
2. Noo that war a sharp trick ti deea, i.e. ‘smart.’
3. He’s a sharp lad that, i.e. ‘intelligent.’
Sharps, n. Flour with the admixture of bran.
Shaum, v. To warm the legs and knees by sitting close to the fire; in the case of females, with the skirts, &c., pulled above the knees.
Shear, v. To cut corn with a sickle.
Shearling, n. A sheep of the first year from the time of shearing.
Sheep-ked or -keead, n. A sheep-tick.
Shell, n. A slide. v. To slide.
Shelvings, n. Wooden frames fixed on either side of a cart to increase the size.
Shift, v. To remove from one house to another, to change one’s clothes, to move.
Shift, n. A chemise.
Shifty, adj. Deceitful, crafty.
Shill, n. Scum of anything left to stand.
Shill, v. 1. To shell, as peas, &c.
2. To cause to curdle so that the whey and curds separate.
3. To make a noise something between a howl and a whistle.
Ex.—3. Mah wo’d, bud t’ wind did shill roond t’ chetch last neet. Its nobbut a feeal ’at trimm’ls when t’ wind shills.
Shills, n. Shafts of a cart.
Shine, n. The pupil of the eye; a disturbance, a quarrel.
Shinnop, v. To play at hockey.
Shinny, n. Hockey.
Shippy, or Ship starnel, n. The starling.
Shiv, n. A husk of corn.
Shive, n. A slice.
Shoe, n. The drag applied to the wagon or cart wheel when descending a hill.
Shog, v. To shake, to be slowly driven along with a jolting motion.
Shoggle, v. To shake with unsteady motion.
Shogglin, n. An icicle.
Sholl, n. Slide. v. To idle.
Shool, n. A shovel.
Shoon, n. Pl. of ‘Shoe.’
Shoot, v. 1. To shout. Often implies to call without raising the voice.
2. To break into ear (of corn).
Ex.—1. Shoot on him, he’s i’ t’ next room.
Shot, Shut, v. To be freed from, rid, clear of.
Ex.—Hez ta gitten shut on him? i.e. ‘Have you got rid of him?’ Ah’ve gitten shot o’ that claim, i.e. ‘I have got clear of that claim.’
Sho’t, adj. Short, hasty.
Ex.—Saay neea mair, leeave that sho’t, i.e. ‘Don’t tell or explain the whole.’ Ah thowt ’at he war a bit sho’t wi’ ma, i.e. ‘a trifle hasty.’
Shot-ice, n. Sheets of ice.
Shovven-string, n. Boot-lace.
Shrag, v. To lop, to trim.
Shrift, n. The condition of an animal’s coat after having been kept on soft food in the open during winter; on beginning to better its condition it sheds its coat.
Shudder, Shuther, v. To shake, to tremble.
Ex.—Yah crack o’ thunner made all shuther ageean.
Shut, v. To shoot with a gun, to put out or shoot out, to quit.
Shuttance, n. Riddance.
Ex.—Tha’ve gane, an’ good shuttance tiv ’em, i.e. ‘They have gone, and good riddance to them.’
Shutters, n. A shooting party.
Shy, adj. Bitter and piercing (of the wind).
Sich, adv. So.
Side-lang, v. To fasten the fore and hind foot of a sheep together to prevent its straying.
Side up, v. To put in order, to tidy.
Side-wipe, n. Censure, conveyed by innuendo.
Sidling, adj. Fawning, servile.
Ex.—He awlus sidles an’ maks up ti fresh fooak, bud he’s a sidling sooart ov a chap.
Sie, n. A fine sieve to strain milk, a spot, a stain left by anything falling in drops.
Sie, v. To strain milk.
Sike, adj. Such.
Sikan, adj. Such (used before a vowel).
Sike-like, adj. Such-like, so forth, similar.
Sile, n. A strainer.
Sile-brigg, n. The wooden frame upon which the sile rests when used.
Sill-horse, n. The shaft horse.
Sin, adv. Since.
Sink-hoal, n. A dug-out or other hollow place in which the drainage from a midden-stead collects, or water from the sink.
Sinter-santer, v. To idle, to dawdle.
Sipe, v. To soak through, to drain away slowly, to sink away.
Sippel, n. A thin slice of anything.
Sipper-sauces, n. Dainty dishes.
Siss, v. To hiss, as water dropping on the fire; to spit (of a cat); to hiss like a goose.
Sitfast, n. The hard cyst of a wound or boil.
Sitha, pronounced Si-tha. Calls attention to. It is a corruption of ‘seest thou.’ Sutha originally was ‘saw thou.’ ‘Sitha’ and ‘sutha’ are equally common.
Sit up on end, To, v. To sit up.
Ex.—He’s mending grandly; whya, he’s sitting up on end i’ bed.
Sizzapur, n. A heavy blow. As an adj. Large of its kind.
Skaff, Skeeaf, n. A rough, steep, broken bank.
Skare on, v. To overlap or splice.
Skate, v. To turn sharp round.
Skaum, Vide [Skime].
Skeeal, n. School.
Skeel, n. A large wooden milk-pail.
Skeg, n. A glance, a cast of the eye.
Skel-beast, n. Wooden partitions in the cow byre.
Skell, v. To tilt, to raise up one end of anything, to shriek out.
Skell up, Skell ower, v. To upset, by the lifting of one end or side too high.
Skeller, v. To squint.
Skellered, adj. Bent by heat, as the covers of a book held too near the fire.
Skelly, n. A squint.
Skelp, Skelping, n. A thrashing. adj. Quickly, with great speed.
Ex.—1. Ah gav’ him a skelp.
2. He did gan wiv a skelp.
Skelp, v. 1. To strike with the open palm.
2. To move quickly.
Ex.—1. Noo Ah’ll skelp tha.
2. He skelp’d off yam t’ minit he seed ma.
Skelper, n. Skelping, adj. Huge.
Skep, n. A basket made from either flags or willows.
Sket, n. A skirt.
Skew, v. To twist round or about, to wrench.
Ex.—Sha skews hersen aboot warse ’an nowt. Skew ’t off if t’ weean’t pull oot.
Skid, n. The iron shoe used as a brake.
Skid, v. To fix the iron shoe to the wheel.
Skill, v. To understand, to unravel.
Ex.—It’s putten tigither queerly, it’s a bit of a rum un ti skill. It’s a queer taal, can ta skill ’t?
Skillet, Skellit, n. A small pot for the fire with a long handle.
Skime, Skaum, v. To droop the eyelids, to scowl.
Ex.—Oppen thi e’es, an’ deean’t gan skauming aboot leyke that. Noo leeak pleasant, an’ dean’t skaum.
Skimmering, adj. Bright, sparkling, brilliant. v. Shining brightly.
Skiny, adj. Greedy.
Skirl, v. To scream.
Skirtling, n. The lower and dressed part of a haystack.
Skirts, A pair of, n. Petticoat.
Skite, To take one’s, v. To leave quickly.
Ex.—Ah heeard what he’d gitten ti saay, an’ then Ah teeak my skite.
Skit, v. To sneer at, to make fun of.
Skit, n. A remark, or printed matter of a personal character.
Skivvers, n. Wooden skewers.
Skrike, v. To screech.
Skrimp, Vide [Scrimp].
Slabby, Vide [Sleazy].
Slack, adj. Slow, lacking go or briskness.
Ex.—It war nobbut slack deed. T’ market war varra slack.
Slack, n. A small valley.
Slafter, n. Slaughter.
Slafter-hoos, n. Slaughter-house.
Slain, Sleean, n. The smut blight of wheat (Ustilago segetum).
Slair, v. To idle away one’s time.
Slairy, adj. Untidy, sluttish.
Slaister, v. To do anything in an idle, slovenly manner; to scamp work; to flog with a whip or cane.
Slaisterer, n. An idle, slovenly fellow.
Slake, v. To lick; to cleanse imperfectly by just wetting and rubbing, as licking a slate.
Slake, n. A lick, a pretence of cleaning.
Ex.—Ah just gav’ things a slake ower.
Slap, v. To spill.
Ex.—Thoo’ll slap ’t if thoo hugs it leyke that, an’ if thoo diz slap ’t Ah’ll slap tha foor slapping ’t.
Slap, v. To go or do anything quickly, to be energetic.
Ex.—He went slap at it ez if he meant it. Ah’ll run slap ower at yance.
Slape, adj. Slippery; smooth, as applied to even or polished surfaces; untrustworthy, crafty.
Slape-feeaced, adj. Applied to a hypocrite.
Slape-fingered, adj. Butter-fingered.
Slapen, v. To make slippery, to open the bowels by laxatives.
Slape-scalp or -scaup. A hypocrite.
Slape-shod, adj. Shoes, especially of horses, are said to be ‘slape-shod’ when much worn and smooth.
Ex.—Is ta slape-shod? Neea, Ah’ve just gitten sharp’d.
Slape-t’unged, adj. Plausible.
Slappy, adj. Sloppy, puddly, wet.
Slaps, n. Slops.
Slap-stone or -steean, n. The kitchen sink.
Slap up, v. To eat or drink in a hurry.
Slap-up, adj. First-class, exceedingly good.
Ex.—He’s gitten a slap-up t’on-oot. Noo that’s a slap-upper if ya leyke.
Slathery, adj. Continued, as applied to wet weather; puddly, of the roads. The word as used often embodies both ideas.
Slating, n. Scolding.
Ex.—Ah gat sike a slating foor brecking t’ winder.
Slattery, adj. Slovenly.
Slaup, v. To eat and drink with the mouth too full.
Slaverment, n. Insincerity, fawning, hypocrisy.
Sleave, v. To twist. To ‘sleave’ a lass is to put one’s arm round her waist.
Sleaved, part. Twisted.
Sleazy, adj. Badly made, slight, unsubstantial.
Sleck, v. To quench one’s thirst, to quench fire by pouring water on it, to remove the caustic element from lime.
Sleck, n. Drink.
Ex.—That’s all reet foor them ’at can deea wi’ ‘t, bud Ah leyke a sup o’ beer foor a sleck.
Sled, n. A sledge.
Slem, adj. Bad, applied to work put together badly.
Slem, v. To do work imperfectly, to slur over, to hide work by an outer covering. Its usage is a trifle loose.
Ex.—Ah slemm’d it ower wi’ pent.
Slew, v. To swerve, to turn or twist round. In the passive, to be intoxicated.
Slidder }
Slither } v. 1. To slide.
2. To disappear unobserved.
Ex.—1. He set hissel on t’ top ov a larl bit of a sled, an’ went slithering doon t’ hill leyke all that.
Sliddery } adj. Slippery.
Slithery }
Slinky, adj. Inclined to act evasively.
Slip, v. 1. To forget.
2. To go, to come.
Ex.—1. It slipt my mahnd ez cleean ez nowt.
2. Slip ower ti Bob an’ tell him ti slip ower ti me, i.e. ‘Go to Robert’s and tell him to come to me.’
Slip, n. A pinafore.
Slipe, v. To strip off an outer covering, as bark, with a rapid action.
Slirt, v. To squirt water.
Sloke, n. Slime on the surface of stagnant water.
Slope, v. To dishonestly evade payment, to defraud; to abscond, leaving one’s debts unpaid.
Slosh, n. Melted snow or mud.
Sloshy, adj. Applied to a condition of general thaw.
Slot, n. A slit in a garment for a tape to be run through.
Slot, v. To slam.
Ex.—Ah sed nowt, bud just slotted t’ deear iv his feeace.
Slough, Sluff, n. The outer skin, especially of fruit, as the gooseberry.
Slowdy, adj. Flabby, soft; applied to fish out of condition and season.
Sluddery, Sluthery, adj. Applied to melted snow and mud.
Slummer, v. To sleep almost in a comatose state.
Slush, Vide [Slosh].
Slutherment, n. Any slimy, viscid matter.
Sluthery, adj. Having to the touch a feeling of slime or viscid matter.
Sly-cakes, n. Ordinary looking cakes, but filled with fruits.
Smally, adj. Puny, thin, undergrown.
Smatch, n. A savour, a trifle, a small portion.
Smeark, v. To half smile.
Smere, n. The membrane covering the nostrils of a foal at birth.
Smiddy, n. A blacksmith’s shop.
Smiddy-oom, n. The sweepings of a blacksmith’s bench and floor.
Smit, n. Infection.
Smit, Smitch, n. Fine particles of soot which fall from the smoke of the chimney.
Smitting, adj. Infectious.
Smittle, v. To infect.
Smock, n. A chemise.
Smoor, Smurr, v. To smother, suffocate.
Smoot, v. To partially hide the face.
Smooth, v. To iron clothes.
Smooth-feeaced, adj. Bashful.
Smoot-hoal, Smoot-hole, n. A hole, varying in size, in a hedge or wall; e.g. a rabbit smoot, a sheep smoot.
Smoot-steean, n. A slab or stone used to stop a smoot-hole.
Smudge, v. To smear; to emit smoke, but without any flames visible.
Snaffling, v. To speak through the nose.
Snag, v. To cut the branches from felled trees, to top and tail turnips.
Snahl, n. Snail.
Snake-steean, n. An ammonite.
Snarly, adj. Biting, chilling (of the wind).
Snavvie, Vide [Snaffling].
Sneb, v. To rebuke.
Sneck, n. The fastening of a gate or door.
Sneck, v. To fasten, to latch.
Ex.—Noo think on an’ sneck all t’ yats.
Sneeap, v. To check, to put down.
Ex.—Ya caan’t sneeap ’em, an’ they weean’t be snebbed, an’ neeabody’s gitten neea saay ower ’em at all, an’ if yan diz call ’em, tha deea nowt bud snifter, snitter, an’ gen at yan.
Snicker, Vide [Snitter].
Snickle, v. A slip-noose of wire used as a snare.
Snifter, n. A sniff, a smell of short duration.
Ex.—Noo it’s varra neyce, just tak a snifter on ’t.
Snifter, v. To snuff up.
Ex.—Wipe thi snoot; deean’t snifter.
Snig, v. To drag timber from the wood.
Snig-cut, n. A short cut, a by-path.
Sniggle, v. To laugh behind one’s back, to laugh derisively.
Snite, v. To blow the nose, not necessarily with a handkerchief.
Snitter, v. To sneer, to giggle with ill-nature and derisively.
Ex.—Ah’ll gi’e tha summut ti snitter at if thoo dizn’t shift thisen.
Snook-snarls, n. The knotty entanglements of thread, string, &c.
Snod, adj. Smooth, neat-looking, trim.
Snoke, v. To smell with a deep inspiration.
Snow-flag, n. A snow-flake.
Snubbits, n. The projecting pieces of wood at the end of a cart, on which it rests when tilted up.
Snubby, adj. Knotted (of wood).
Snudge, Snuggle, Snowzel, v. To lie close together.
Soa, Vide [Seea].
Soamy, adj. Close, oppressive (of the weather).
Sob, v. To sigh as the wind does on the approach of calmer weather.
Sock, n. The ploughshare.
Sod, n. An opprobrious epithet=Ass, fool.
Sodden, v. To soften by soaking in water.
Sods, n. 1. Square parings of grass and earth.
2. A lump of earth and grass.
Ex.—1. Ah’ll hev hauf o’ t’ garden laid wi’ sods.
2. Ah’ll chuck a sod at tha.
Soft, adj. 1. Inclined to wet weather.
2. Silly, half-witted.
Ex.—1. Ah’s feeard wa’s gahin’ ti ’ev a softish back-end.
2. Poor bairn! is sha a larl bit soft?
Somerset, n. Somersault.
Sooa, Vide [Seea].
Sooart, n. Sort, kind, quality.
Soond, v. To faint, to sound. Also n.
Soonest, adj. Quickest, nearest, shortest.
Ex.—Ah’s gan by t’ foot brigg; it’s seeanest road. It’ll be t’ seeanest deean i’ that waay.
Sore, Vide [Sair].
So so = That will do, enough, cease.
Soss, v. and n. To fall with force into the water; to lap water, as a dog.
Sough, Soo, v. To sob, to sigh (of the wind).
Soup, v. To soak, to drench with water.
Ex.—Ah’s fairly souped ti t’ skin.
Sour-docken, n. The wild sorrel (Rumex acetosa).
Sowl, v. To give a thorough rinsing in water, to chastise.
Sowse, v. 1. To cause to be wet all over.
2. To throw into water.
Ex.—1. He sowsed a bucket o’ mucky watter cleean ower ma.
2. Ah sowsed t’ beggar i’ t’ beck.
Spade- or Speead-graft, n. A spade depth.
Spane, Speean, v. To wean.
Spang, Vide [Spanker].
Spank, v. To strike with the open hand.
Spanker, n. One who takes long strides; large of its kind; hence Spang, n. A leap.
Spanking, adj. Tall and broad, rapid.
Span-new, adj. Quite new.
Sparrow-feathers, n. The chaff of oats is so called when used for beds in the place of feathers.
Spattle, n. Spittle.
Speak, v. Even yet the usage in an active sense of ‘to address’ is often heard in the dales.
Ex.—Ah seed him, bud wa didn’t speeak yan anuther. What didn’t ta speeak her foor?
Speeak, Spooak, n. The spoke of a wheel.
Speean, n. A spoon.
Spelk, n. A long thin slip of wood, a splint.
Spell, n. A splinter of wood, the cross-bar of a ladder; a spill, either of wood or paper; a turn at work, not necessarily of long duration; the trap upon which the ball rests in the game of spell and knorr.
Spic an’ span, adv. New, clean, tidy; lit. new, from ‘spike to span’ of a knight’s lance. Another form is ‘Bran spander new.’
Ex.—Ez thoo’s gahin’ ti see t’ lass foor t’ fo’st tahm, thoo mun mak this en leeak ez spic an’ span ez a new-maad pin. Mr. Henry war gitten up spic an’ span.
Spice, n. Raisins, currants, &c.
Spice-bread, n. A cheaper form of plum-cake.
Spice-cake or -keeak, n. Plum-cake.
Spink, n. The chaffinch, often named Bull-spink.
Spinner, n. A spider’s web. Also Spinner-web. The latter, however, is generally confined to the gossamer threads so commonly found floating in the air on a summer’s evening.
Spit, n. A long narrow spade used for draining.
Spittle, n. A small spade.
Splatter, v. To splash about, to make splashes.
Splatter-dash, n. and v. 1. A showing-off.
2. Commotion.
3. To brag, to make a foolish display of wealth.
Ex.—1. Ah caan’t bahd sike splatter-dash gahins on. It’s nowt bud a lot o’ splatter-dash.
2. Ah, what a splatter-dash ther is i’ t’ pleeace.
Splatterer, n. One who splashes.
Splauder, v. 1. To sprawl, to spread out one’s limbs.
2. To display, to be vulgarly ostentatious. Hence Splaudered, Splauderment.
Ex.—1. Hoo yon lass diz splauder her feet oot. Talk aboot a splauder o’ stuff, ther war mair ti eat na wa c’u’d ’a’e mannish’d if wa’d ’ed tweea goes apiece.
Splaudy, adj. Wide-spreading.
Splaws, n. Pen-nibs.
Splet, Split, v. To tell of one’s doings, to break confidence.
Splutter, n. Bustle, excitement, nervousness.
Ex.—Deean’t git i’ sike a splutter, wa’ve endless o’ tahm. Didn’t sha git intiv a splutter when sha heeard what Jin Ann ’ed sed aboot her!
Sponge, n. Leaven, a portion of leavened dough saved from each baking to raise the next week’s kneading with.
Sponge, v. To swell and froth as a dead body.
Spool, n. The wooden reel upon which thread is wound.
Spout, n. A small waterfall.
Spraggy, adj. Thin, bony, having many sharp projections.
Spraints, n. Otter’s dung.
Spreead, v. Spread.
Spreead, n. Abundance of food and of extra quality.
Ex.—Ah nivver war at sikan a spreead afoor, ther war ommaist ivverything ya c’u’d think on (imagine).
Sprent, Sprint, v. To sprinkle, to spurt, to cause water to fly about by compression or striking the surface sharply.
Ex.—Mary Jin’s slapt t’ slap-hoal wiv her battledooar, an’ ‘s sprented ma all ower wi’ blash an’ sluthery muckment.
Sprent, n. A spot or mark left by a splash.
Spring, v. ‘To spring’ is applied to cows when near calving.
Sprunt, n. 1. Short, stiff, lively.
2. A steep road, a hill.
Ex.—1. Ya’ll mannish ti trunn’l yersen t’ best hauf o’ t’ waay, bud efter that ya’ll finnd it a bit sprunt (said to a cyclist).
Spurrings, n. The banns.
Squab, n. A rude long settle with cushions, usually with only one arm.
Square up, To, v. To settle an account or dispute.
Squary, adj. Compact, both as to size and shape.
Ex.—It’s a neyce squary kitchen. It’s just sich an (sikan) a squary bit ez Ah want.
Stack-bar, n. A hurdle.
Stack-garth, Stagg’ath, n. The stack-yard.
Stack-prod, n. A stick used in thatching, being pointed and thrust into the stack. The string is wound round it in such a way, from prod to prod, as to hold the thack-bands secure.
Staddle, n. The foundation of cross-beams upon which a stack is built, the stain left after washing out the producing cause.
Staddling, n. A foundation of brushwood, brackens, &c., to build the stack upon.
Stag, n. A gelding over a year old.
Stagnated, part. Much bewildered, astonished.
Ex.—T’ whoal lot on uz wur stagnated.
Staith, n. and v. An embankment; to protect land from overflowing of water by an embankment.
Staithe, Steeath, Steers, n. A landing-place.
Stakker, v. To stagger.
Stall, v. To eat until satiated, to tire out, to weary.
Stan’, Stand, v. 1. To stand.
2. To be responsible for;
to agree to maintain, uphold.
3. To stop, as a clock.
4. Remains.
5. Holds.
Ex.—2. Ah’ll stand tiv all he diz. Thoo said thoo wad, an’ thoo’ll ’a’e ti stan’ ti ’t noo.
4. That’ll stand good, i.e. ‘That is settled.’
5. It stands a good chance ti win.
Stand again, v. To withstand, oppose.
Ex.—Thoo maun’t aim ti stan’ agaan what’s deean.
Stand for, v. To act as sponsor.
Standing, n. The stall for a horse or cow.
Stand-ups, n. God-parents.
Stane, Steean, n. A stone.
Stang, n. A pole or stake.
Stang, To ride the, Vide chapter on ‘Customs.’
Stape, v. To slope, to incline.
Stapple, n. A staple.
Stark, adj. Stiff, unyielding, powerful. The Danish word stærk means being strong, possessing strength. Hence ‘Stark mad’ is quite correct.
Ex.—Thoo’s starched t’ things whahl they’re ez stark ez a booard. A very common redundancy is Stiff stark steean deead.
Starken, v. To become stiff. adv. Starkly.
Star-slubber or -blubber, n. Frog-spawn.
Start, n. Work, employment.
Ex.—He sez ’at he’ll gi’e tha a start. Ah’ve gitten a start at a pund a week.
Start, v. 1. To begin.
2. To set going.
Ex.—1. Ah’ll start wi’ t’ job ti morn. He started off a gay bit sen. Tha’ve started a pianner, ’ez t’ fooak next doour.
2. Ah’ll start it fur tha.
Starvatious, adj. Cold, very chilly.
Ex.—No’thallerton station’s t’ maist starvatious spot onnywheear.
Starve, v. In the passive voice, to suffer from cold; in the active voice, to cause hunger.
Staup, v. To walk about clumsily.
Ex.—Sha staups aboot that okkad whahl sha’ll tumm’l ower her shadder sum daay.
Stead, Steead, n. Common as a suffix, denoting the exact place, as homestead, yat-stead, middin-stead, deear- or dooar-steead, &c.
Steck, v. To close and fasten a door or gate.
Stee, Stey, Stegh, n. A ladder, a style with steps like a ladder.
Steead, pp. Stood.
Steeal, n. Stool.
Steean, n. Stone.
Steer, n. An ox under two years.
Steer-tree, n. The left handle of a plough.
Steg, n. A gander, a fool.
Stegly, adj. 1. Shaky.
2. Unsymmetrical, unsuitable.
Ex.—2. It’s a gret stegly hoos (said of Faucet Vicarage).
Stell, n. An open ditch varying in width and depth.
Stent, v. To abstain, to deny oneself.
Step, n. An undefined distance.
Ex.—Ah went a good step wiv him.
Step, A langish = Quite a long way off.
Steven, v. To bawl out, to shout at the top of the voice; to howl and bluster, as the wind. Note.—Rarely heard now.
Stick, v. To kill an animal by stabbing, as a butcher.
Stickle, v. To hesitate, to object.
Stickle-haired }
Stickly } adj. Bristly.
Stickler, n. A difficulty, a poser.
Sticks, n. Furniture, belongings.
Stick up, To, v. To boldly maintain one’s right.
Stiddy, n. An anvil.
Stiddy, v. To be steady, attentive to business.
Stife, Stify, adj. Close, foul, as to air.
Stiff, adj. 1. Steep, difficult.
2. Firm, obstinate.
Ex.—1. Ah’ll tell ya what, it’s a stiffish clim’. Ah’ve gitten a stiff job this tahm.
Stifler, n. A bad odour; a heavy blow, such as to cause insensibility.
Stint, Vide [Stent].
Stir on, Plenty to = Rich, well-to-do.
Ex.—He’s gi’en ten pund, bud then he’s gitten plenty ti stir on.
Stirk, n. A heifer.
Stirrings, n. An unusual excitement, gaiety.
Ex.—Ya’ll be ’eving sthraange stirrings when t’ young chap cums at age.
Stitch, n. A sharp pain in the side.
Stithe, v. To taint, to give a taste of smoke, &c.
Ex.—What ’a’e ya putten on t’ fire? it’s stithed all ’at’s i’ yewn thruff t’ crack i’ t’ boddum.
Stob, n. Usually a short pointed stick or stake; the stump of a tree, a small splinter.
Stob, v. To mark out land with short stakes, to dig up a fence, to strengthen with stobs.
Stob off, v. To lop off branches of a tree or the top half of a hedge.
Stock, n. A beam of wood, generally applied to the frame of a bedstead, e.g. bed-stock.
Stock, adv. Quite, absolutely.
Ex.—He steead stock still.
Stodge, v. To satiate with over-eating; to make anything too thick, as the admixture of too much meal with water.
Ex.—Ah caan’t eat it, it’s nowt bud stodge.
Stone-naked, adj. Absolutely naked.
Stonies, n. Common stone taws.
Stooden, pp. of ‘Stand,’ but the usage is somewhat peculiar.
Ex.—Things wad ’a’e stooden different if t’ bobby ’ed catched him, i.e. been. Ah’ve stooden Bedale market ivver sen Ah wur a larl nipper, i.e. attended.
Stook, n. Twelve sheaves of corn set up against each other in the harvest field.
Stook, v. To set up stooks, and bind the same.
Stooth, v. To apply plaster on laths instead of to the wall itself, or to make in a room a false wall of battens, laths, and plaster.
Stor, Sturr, v. and n. To stir; a stir, excitement.
Storm, n. A continuance of frost and snow, with or without wind.
Stortioners, n. The common nasturtium.
Stot, n. A young ox.
Stoup, n. A measure of ale.
Stour, v. To blow in clouds, whether of dust, rain, hail, or snow; also the action of smoke as it comes from a chimney or fire.
Stour, n. Dust, &c.
Stour, Stower, n. A stake, the middle bars of a cattle rack, the cross-bars of a ladder.
Stout, adj. Convalescent, healthy looking.
Ex.—Sha leeaks weel an’ stoot agaan.
Stoven, n. The old stump of a tree not yet quite dead.
Stowp, n. An upright post.
Stra, Streah, n. Straw.
Stracklin’, n. A worthless fellow, a waster.
Straighten, v. Often followed by ‘up.’ To put in order, to punish, to settle accounts.
Ex.—Ah mun straighten things up a bit afoor t’ parson’s missus drops in. If thoo dizn’t drop it, Ah’ll straighten thi jacket foor tha. When thoo’s deean, fetch thi bill in, an’ wa’ll straighten up.
Strand, n. The beach.
Strapping, adj. Strong, tall, big.
Strather, n. Haste, excitement.
Streah, Vide [Stra].
Streamers, n. Minnows during spawning.
Streean, Strain, n. Descent, breed.
Streean, v. To do one’s utmost.
Strength, Stren’th, n. 1. Security.
2. Belief.
Ex.—1. He ’ezn’t t’ stren’th o’ fifty pund, i.e. ‘Could not find security for that sum.’
2. On t’ stren’th o’ what thoo sez, i.e. ‘Acting on the belief,’ &c.
Strickle, n. The stone or other contrivance used to sharpen a scythe.
Stride-whallops, n. A lanky, long-legged lass. An older word, now fallen into disuse, was Stridykirk.
Stridlings, adv. Astride.
Strike, v. To kick with the hind leg (of a horse), to fly-blow meat, to balance an account, to make a line with string and chalk.
Strik’-stick, n. The stick used to scrape off the superfluous corn when measuring.
String-halt, n. A twitching of the hind leg of a horse.
Strip, v. To drain the udder dry.
Stritch-stick, n. The bar which keeps the trace chains apart. Also Stretcher.
Stroke, Stroak, n. A single bat, a commencement.
Ex.—Ah ’evn’t deean a stroak o’ wark ti-daay.
Strong, adj. 1. Hard, severe.
2. Heavy, bulky.
3. Stiff, clayey.
Ex.—1. Wa s’ ‘ev a strangish frost efter this.
2. It’s a strangish leead foor t’ au’d meer.
3. T’ land’s varra strong hereaboots.
Strother, Vide [Strather].
Strucken, pp. of ‘Strike.’
Strunt, n. The tail.
Strunt, v. To cut the tail short.
Struts, n. The posts used in the roof-frame of a house.
Stuck up, adj. Proud.
Stuff, n. Of very loose application, e.g. material, furniture, chattels, produce, &c.
Ex.—Thoo’s gitten stuff eneeaf ti mak tweea coats. Thoo’s gitten stuff i’ t’ chaamer eneeaf foor tweea rooms. Thoo’s gitten mair stuff on t’ land na ivver Tommy ’ed.
Stunning, adj. First-class.
Stunt, adj. Short, stumpy; stiff, unyielding.
Stunt, adv. and n. Sulky, obstinate.
Ex.—Tak neea notish, he taks t’ stunt at nowt.
Sturdy, Stoddy, n. A disease, i.e. hydatids in the brain.
Stut, v. To stutter.
S’u’d, v. Should.
Summat, n. Something.
Summer-bink, n. A seat shaded by leaves in summer-time.
Summer-colt, n. Undulating vapour near the ground.
Sump, n. A bog or marsh.
Sumpy, adj. Wet, boggy.
Sunder, v. To dry in the sun.
Sundown, n. Sunset.
Sup, n. A small quantity of any liquid.
Ex.—Ah wants a sup o’ milk. It leeaks nowt bud leyke a sup o’ wet.
Sup, v. To drink either by sips or with a spoon.
Sup off, v. To drain one’s glass.
Surance, n. Surety.
Ex.—Bud what tha ’a’e gi’en, tha ’ez surance for ’t?
Surfeit o’ cold, n. A very severe cold.
Swab, n. A drunken sot.
Swad, n. A peascod, and the like.
Swag, v. 1. To swing about.
2. To lean towards.
Ex.—2. Ya’ll ’a’e ti put summat at yon sahd ti balance ’t, it swags gertly ti this sahd.
Swage, v. To soften, to quiet down.
Swaimish, adj. Bashful.
Swale, Sweeal, v. 1. To waste by burning unevenly, as a candle in a draught.
2. To squander.
Ex.—1. Shut t’ doour, t’ cann’l’s sweealing.
2. Yon chap ’ud sweeal a ransom awaay.
Swang, n. A boggy stretch of land.
Swangy, adj. Boggy.
Swanky, Swanking, adj. Great of its kind.
Swap, v. To exchange.
Swape, n. An oar of peculiar shape, a pump handle.
Swappy, adj. Plump.
Swarm, v. To climb by clasping a pole or tree with both arms, knees, and legs.
Swart, adj. Black looking.
Swarth, Swa’th, n. The outer skin, rind; the quality and quantity of grass upon the land.
Swarve, v. To swerve.
Swash, v. To dash about in waves.
Swatch, n. Fit, size, the precise thing required.
Ex.—This yan’ll deea, its just mah swatch. Its just t’ swatch foor ma. Note.—Swatch was originally a wooden tally or other means by which any person might prove their claim to cloth which had been left to dye—cloth, by-the-way, which was home-spun.
Swathe, n. The full reach of the scythe when cutting.
Swathe-bank, n. The grass left uncut by the blade at the end of its sweep.
Swatter, v. 1. To play and splash with water.
2. To squander.
Ex.—1. Tho’ll sprent thisen all ower, swattering on i’ that waay.
2. He’ll swatter t’ bit o’ brass awaay.
Swelt, v. To faint, to swoon; to overpower, as with heat.
Swelter, v. To burn, to bear or suffer heat, to perspire profusely.
Swidden, n. Any place on a moor which has been cleared by burning.
Swidden, Swithen, v. To singe or burn off superficially.
Swidge, v. To tingle, burn (of inflammation).
Ex.—It war nobbut a bleb at t’ fu’st, bud it swidged an’ throbbed an’ then started ti kittle, an’ Ah think that wur t’ warst ov all.
Swig, v. To drink at one draught.
Swill, n. Pigmeat.
Swill, v. To cleanse by throwing water out of a pail, as on flags, &c.
Swingle-tree, n. Vide Stritch-stick.
Swip, n. A marrow, the image of.
Ex.—He’s fair t’ swip ov t’ au’d chap.
Swipple, n. That part of a flail which beats out the corn.
Swirrel, n. Squirrel.
Switch, v. To throw, to dash.
Ex.—Sha teeak t’ paail o’ mucky watter, an’ switched t’ lot all ower ma.
Switched, adj. Drunk.
Switcher, n. Good, better than ordinary.
Switching, adj. Grand, noted, extensive.
Swither, v. 1. To tingle and smart with pain.
2. To dissipate by slow degrees, a little at a time.
Ex.—2. If he gans on i’ that road, he’ll swither all t’ brass he hez awaay.
Swittle, n. A heated iron rod used to bore holes in wood.
Swizzen, v. To singe. Vide [Swidden].
Ex.—It’ll swizzen t’ clothes, t’ iron’s ti hot.
Sword-dancers, Vide chapter on ‘Customs.’
Syke, n. A small streamlet, a gutter, a small rill draining from a boggy place.
T.
‘T, pron. It.
T’, def art. The.
Ta, per. pron. Thou, you.
Taal, v. To settle, to accommodate oneself to a new condition of habits, &c.
Tacket, n. A tack.
Ta’en, Takken, pp. of ‘Take.’
Ta’en agaan or ageean, v. To take a dislike to.
Ex.—Ah’ve ta’en agaan her, an’ Ah s’ nivver tak up wiv her na mair.
Ta’en tiv, v. To take to, to like.
Tag, n. A twist of long grass or rushes, a wisp.
Tag, v. To flog with a tag.
Tahm, n. 1. Time.
2. Life.
Ex.—2. Ah’ve seen a vast i’ mah tahm.
Tahm by chance, adv. Occasionally.
Taistrel, n. A peevish character.
Tak, n. 1. A flavour somewhat pronounced.
2. Land which has been taken at a fixed rent.
3. Piecework.
Ex.—2. If he’s letten tha ’t at nowt na mair ’an what thoo sez, its a varra cheeap tak.
3. Q. Hez ta ta’en ’em byv t’ yackker or by t’ week? A. Neea, he wadn’t be on byv t’ week, seea Ah’ve ta’en ’em byv t’ tak this go.
Tak, v. 1. To take.
2. To rise to bite, as a fish.
3. To attract.
4. To gain one’s esteem or regard.
Ex.—2. Are tha takkin’ onny? i.e. biting.
3. Wa mun ’ev a bisittle race, hooivver; tha tak t’ best ov owt noo.
4. Ah tak tiv him at yance, i.e. ‘He gained my esteem at once.’
Tak ho’d, v. To undertake to do, or fill a position.
Ex.—Ah wanted him ti preeach i’ t’ pleeace o’ Tommy, bud he wadn’t be on, he’s shy o’ takkin ho’d.
Tak in, To, v. 1. To understand.
2. To deceive.
Ex.—1. Gan on, Ah’s takkin ’t all in.
2. Noo if thoo taks ma in, Ah’ll traade wi’ tha na mair.
Takken ti heart = Giving way to any affliction.
Takkin, n. 1. The actual result of labour.
2. A condition, a bad temper.
Ex.—1. Thoo’s gitten a rare takkin; wheear did ta catch ’em?
2. Sha’s iv a despert ill takkin.
Tak off, v. 1. To make fun of, to ridicule, to imitate, mimic.
2. To leave without due notice.
Ex.—2. He niver sed nowt, bud just teeak off.
Tak on, v. 1. To retake.
2. To re-engage.
3. To get excited.
Ex.—1. Ah’ve ta’en t’ farm on agaan.
2. He ga’ ma t’ sack, bud he’s ta’en ma on agaan.
3. He did tak on when he gat ti knaw.
Tak on wi’, v. To engage oneself to another.
Tak tent, v. To engage oneself to look after, e.g. as a boy keeping crows off the land.
Tak t’ hig, To, v. To take offence.
Takt, adj. Acid, sharp to the taste.
Ex.—It’s a lahtle bit ower takt ti mah liking.
Tak up, v. 1. To become fair.
2. To reform one’s character.
Ex.—1. If ’t dizn’t tak up seean, t’ hay’ll be nut wo’th leading.
2. If he’ll nobbut drop drinking an’ tak up, ther’s a seet o’ good iv him.
Tak up wi’, v. 1. To make friends with another.
2. To become engaged to.
Ex.—1. He’s neean ower neyce whaw he gans wi’, he’ll tak up wi’ onny lass.
Tale, n. The number agreed upon.
Ex.—Ther dizn’t leeak owt leyke a full tale, Ah s’all coont ’em afoor Ah paay tha.
Talk, n. Report, gossip.
Taller-cake, n. Any cake made with the fat from about the kidney of a sheep or beast.
Taller-craps, Vide [Craps].
T’ ane, T’ yan = The one of two or more followed or replied to by T’ other or T’ ither.
Ex.—Tha wur all feighting t’ ane amang t’ ither.
Tang, n. The tongue of a buckle.
Tangle, n. An entanglement, the long fibre of a root, sea-wrack.
Tangle, v. To entangle.
Tangly, adj. Slatternly, slovenly. Applied to a slut.
Tantle, v. 1. To waste time.
2. To play on with.
Ex.—1. Noo set ti wark ez if thoo meant it, an’ deean’t tantle on leyke that.
Tappy-lappy, adv. Anyhow.
Tatchy, adj. Sticky, viscous, adhesive.
Tattling, n. The necessary tackle or equipment of things for carrying out any purpose.
Ex.—He hezn’t gitten onny tattling foor a job o’ yon size, i.e. neither ladders, ropes, nor scaffolding poles.
Taum, n. The twisted hair to which the fish-hook is attached.
Taum ower, To, v. To faint.
Taws, n. Boys’ marbles.
Team, Teem, v. and n. 1. To pour from any vessel.
2. To rain heavily.
3. To empty.
Ex.—1. Team all t’ cau’d tea oot.
2. It teem’d doon, i.e. of rain.
3. Teeam t’ coals oot at t’ back-side.
Tea-party, n. A tea meeting given in the village school or barn to raise money for some object.
Teave, Vide [Tew].
Teea, prep. To. Vide [Till].
Teeagle, v. To raise timber from the ground by means of a tripod of strong poles and a pulley.
Teeak, v. Took.
Teeals, n. Tools.
Tell, v. 1. To recognize.
2. To know.
3. To number, to reckon up, to judge.
Ex.—1. Ah c’u’d tell wheea ’t wur ez seean ez Ah clap’t mah een on ya.
2. ‘Twur good eneeaf ti tell what he wur gahin’ ti saay.
3. Gan ti t’ gaate an’ tell t’ sheep ez tha cum thruff.
Telly-pye-tit, or Tell-pyet, n. A tale-bearer.
Tempesty, adj. Thunderous, blustery, or having the appearance of stormy weather.
Teng, v. To sting.
Tenged, pp. Stung.
Tengs, n. Tongs.
Tent, n. Attention, care.
Ex.—Tak tent o’ what he saays, noo.
Tent, v. To look after, to keep watch over.
Ex.—Yan’s tenting craws fur Billy, an’ t’ other’s tenting wur awn coos i’ t’ lonnin’.
Tetchy, adj. Cross, peevish.
Teufit, Teeafit, Tewit, n. The pewit, plover, or lapwing (Vanellus cristatus).
Teugh, Teeaf, adj. Tough.
Tew, v. 1. To toil.
2. To tire and grow weary.
3. To tire by restlessness.
4. To crumple and crease by rough or unskilful handling.
Ex.—1. Ah’ve tewed all t’ daay, i.e. ‘toiled.’
2. Ah’ve gitten ’t deean, bud it’s sadly tewed ma.
3. Sha’s tired noo, bud then sha’s tewed on all t’ neet.
4. Put ’em doon, thoo’s tewing ’em, whahl tha weean’t be fit ti put on.
Tha, per. pron. They, thou, and thee.
Thabble, n. The plug which fits the hole in the milk trough.
Thack, Theeak, Theeaking, n. Thatch.
Thack, Theeak, Theeaking, v. To thatch.
Thacker, Theeaker, n. A thatcher.
Thack-bands, Theeak-bands, Theeaking-bands, n. Bands of straw for thatching.
Thack-prods, Theeak-prods, Theeaking-prods, Vide Stack-prod.
Thah, per. pron. Thy.
Tharf, Tharfish, adj. Tharfly, adv. Backward, reluctant, shy, bashful, unwilling.
Thauvel, Thivel, n. A stick used for stirring or pushing down the contents of a pan likely to boil over.
Thee, n. Thigh.
Theet, adj. Water-tight.
Them, pron. Those.
Thick, adj. Very friendly, intimate.
Thills, n. Shafts of a waggon.
Think long of, To, v. To be long expectant, weary of waiting.
Think on, v. To bear in mind, to remember.
As an example of redundancy, I heard a woman say, Noo mahnd an’ think on, an’ deean’t forget ti beear i’ mahnd ’at thoo ’ez ti fetch a pund o’ treacle.
Think up, v. To originate, to arrange.
Ex.—Noo it’ll ’a’e ta’en a lot o’ thinking up, will a do leyke yon.
Tho, Thoo, per. pron. Thou.
Thoff, conj. Though.
Thrave, v. To thrive.
Thrave, Trave, Treeav, n. A stook of corn, or twelve battens of straw.
Thraw, Vide [Throw].
Threead, n. Thread.
Threeap, n. A contentious fellow.
Threeap, v. To maintain pertinaciously, to argue positively.
Threeap down, v. To overpower by argument.
Threeap up, v. To refer to bygone mistakes or misunderstandings in an unkindly manner.
Threeten, Threaten.
Three-thrums, n. The purring of a cat.
Thribble, adj. Treble.
Thriver, n. Healthy, strong, likely to improve.
Thro, Vide [Thruff].
Throng, adj. 1. More than usually busy or crowded.
2. Engaged in.
Ex.—2. T’ bairn’s thrang gitting its teeth.
Throng, Thrang, n. Bustle, a great crowd, confusion, excitement.
Throng deed, n. Excitement over some event, the bustle and confusion attendant on any celebration, tea party, wedding, &c.
Thropple, n. The windpipe.
Thropple, v. To strangle.
Throstle, Throssel, n. The thrush.
Through, n. A lathe.
Through, Thruff, prep. At some time, at intervals.
Ex.—Ah’ll mebbe deea ’t thruff t’ morning. It teeam’d doon thruff t’ neet.
Through or Thruff with, adv. Finished, complete. N.B. ‘Through’ is also pronounced ‘throwgh’ and ‘thro.’
Ex.—Ah s’all be thruff wi’ t’ job by ti morn.
Throughly, adv. Completely, fully.
Through time = In time, gradually, by-and-by.
Ex.—Ah s’all git better through time. If t’ weather ho’ds thoo’ll git deean through time.
Through, To get, v. To dispose of.
Ex.—Ah’ve fetched t’ coo yam ageean, bud Ah gat thruff t’ sheep.
Throvven, pp. To thrive.
Throw, v. To vomit.
Throw back, v. To have a relapse.
Ex.—He’s warse ti-daay, he’s gitten thrown back a lump sen last neet.
Throw over, v. To turn over, to upset, to be overturned.
Thruff, Throw, prep. Through.
Thrumble, Thrumm’l, v. To examine the quality of anything by the touch or rubbing action of the finger and thumb.
Thrumm’l, n. A rope firmly bound round a grooved iron ring.
Thrummy, adj. Bulky, plump.
Thrust, v. To push with some force.
Thrust out, Thrussen oot, pp. Projecting forward, bulging, turned out.
Thumping, adj. Big, large of its kind.
Thunner, n. Thunder.
Thwack, v. To administer a sharp blow.
Ex.—Gi’e it a good thwacking wiv a hezzel stick, that’ll fetch t’ dust oot on ’t.
Thysen or Thysel, Thisen or Thisel, pron. Thyself or yourself.
Ti, prep. To.
‘Tice, v. To allure, induce.
Ex.—A young widow knows hoo ti ’tice a chap.
‘Ticing, adj. Alluring, seductive, winning.
‘Tick, Vide [Cade].
‘Tick, v. To mark off goods or other items, as in an invoice, by placing a small mark against each when called.
Tiddle, v. To fondle, to finick.
Tiddy, adj. Small, puny.
Tidy-betty, n. A guard to prevent the ashes dirtying the hearth.
Tie, Tee, Tah, n. A hair band to secure the legs of a cow whilst being milked.
Tie, n. 1. Obligation.
2. Necessity.
3. Burden.
4. Care.
Ex.—1. Ah’s unner neea tie tiv him.
2. Ther’s neea tie fur thoo ti gan.
3. Thoo’ll finnd her a despert tie, sen sha lost t’ ewse ov her legs.
Tied, Tahd, v. Obliged, constrained, compelled.
Ex.—If sha’s leyke ti dee, Ah s’ be tied ti gan. He’ll be tied ti drop a bit ower t’ meer. Ah’s nut tied ti deea ’t acoz thoo tells ma.
Tied, It’s = It must, no doubt exists.
Ex.—It’s tied ti be ez he sez. It’s tied ti tumm’l doon wi t’ fo’st gust o’ wind.
Tiffany, n. Strong, fine-meshed gauze.
Tift, n. A quarrel, generally of words only.
Tift, v. To contend.
Tig, n. A light tap.
Ex.—Ah didn’t hit, Ah nobbut tigg’d him.
Tiggings, n. A game played by children, the object being to tap each other; the one so touched must then chase the rest until he or she gently taps some other.
Tightish, adv. and adj. 1. Somewhat fast or close-fitting.
2. Lacking means.
3. Difficult.
Ex.—1. It’s varra well putten tigither, bud a larl bit tightish i’ t’ lid.
2. Ah caan’t len’ tha ten pund, Ah’s a bit tightish held mysel just noo.
3. It’s a tightish fix thoo’s gitten thisen intul.
Till, Tull, Ti, prep. To. Tiv before a vowel.
Tim’ered, Weell, adj. Well built.
Tim’er-toed, adj. A man wearing a wooden leg is said to be timber-toed.
Timersome, adj. Nervous, apprehensive of danger.
Ti morn, n. To-morrow.
Ti morn at morn = To-morrow in the morning. Hence Ti morn at neean, ‘noon’; Ti morn at neet, ‘night.’
Tinkler, n. A tinker.
Tip-trap, n. An arrangement which closes the door, owing to the weight of the animal releasing a lever as it passes in.
Tipe, v. To turn over, or fall over.
Tipple over, v. To fall over.
Tipple-tail-over, n. Somersault.
Tit up, v. To pay one’s share.
Tite, Vide As tite.
Titter, adv. and adj. Sooner, first, willingly.
Titterly, adj. Early, forward in growth.
Titty, n. The mother’s milk.
Tiv, Vide [Till].
Tivvy, v. To roam about.
To, prep. Often used instead of ‘for.’
Ex.—We’re gahin’ ti ’ev dumplings ti dinner. Common in old writers and the Bible.
Toft, n. A small grove of trees.
Tommy-loach, n. The stone-loach.
To’n, n. A good turn = a kindness.
Ex.—They’ll deea onnyboddy a good to’n, will John an’ Annie.
To’n, v. To turn.
Toon, n. A village.
Toon street, n. The village street.
Top-dressin’, n. Manure thrown on, not ploughed in.
Topping, n. A natural standing-up roll or curl on the forehead, the hair of the head.
Ex.—Sha teeak him byv t’ topping an’ shuvved him inti t’ hollin bush.
Topping, Topper, adj. First-class, very fine.
Tottering, adj. Unsettled as to weather and life.
Ex.—It’s been nobbut a tottering tahm fur hay. He’s nobbut ’eving a tottering tahm on ’t; Ah doot he’s nut lang fur here.
Tottle, v. To toddle, as a child or an infirm person.
Tottling, pp. Falling.
Touchous } adj. Irritable, resentful.
Touchy }
Touple, v. Another form of Tottle. To sway or totter and then fall over. Whemm’l carries the same double meaning, but is rarely heard now. To fall.
Trail, v. To drag along the ground.
2. To move with difficulty, or lazily.
Ex.—Hoo that lass diz trail aboot. Ah can hardlin’s trail yah leg efter t’ other.
Trailtengs, n. A gossiping woman.
Trailtripes, n. A slatternly woman.
Trallops, n. A slatternly woman.
Tramp, n. and v. A beggar; to go on foot.
Tramping, part. Trampling.
Trap, v. To be severely nipped, as by a box-lid falling on one’s finger, and the like.
Trapěs, n. A dirty, untidy woman.
Trapes or Trapus, v. To walk aimlessly about hither and thither.
Traps, n. Belongings.
Ex.—Pack thi traps up an’ cum alang.
Trash, n. Good for nothing, either of persons or things.
Travel, v. To walk, to move along.
Ex.—Theease steeans mak it bad travelling.
Trig, v. To fill. As a noun, a stone to stop a wheel.
Trigger, n. One who feeds the cattle. Note.—Only used in the east of the North Riding.
Trim, v. To cut a hedge, to apply the finishing touch.
Trimmer, adj. Really good, first-class. n. A sharp fellow.
Trimm’ling-gess, n. Trembling grass.
Trod, n. A footpath.
Troll, v. To roll.
Troll-egg day, Vide chapter on ‘Customs.’
Trollibobs, n. Entrails.
Trunking, n. The business of lobster and crab catching.
Tu’n, Vide To’n.
Tundish, n. A funnel.
Tup, n. A ram.
Turve, n. A block of turf to be used as fuel.
Turve-cake, n. A cake baked in a pan having a tightly fitting lid, which is covered over with burning turves until sufficiently baked.
Twadgers, n. A gingerbread cake.
Twangy, adj. and adv. Affected, applied to intonation.
Twank, v. To administer a sharp smack, to whip.
Twattle, n. Gossip.
Twattle, v. To stroke, to pet.
Ex.—Thoo twattles on wi’ t’ pup ez if ’twar a bairn.
Tweea, num. adj. Two.
Twill, n. A quill, as ‘twill pen.’
Twilt, n. A bed-quilt.
Twilt, v. To beat, to flog.
Twilting, v. Cross-stitching two thicknesses together.
Twine, v. 1. To twist or turn from a direct course.
2. To be fretful.
Ex.—1. He twisted an’ twin’d uz aboot whahl Ah didn’t knaw wheear wa war.
Twiny, adj. Peevish.
Twisty, adj. Cross, fretful.
Twitch-bell, n. The earwig (Forficula auricularia).
Twitters, n. A state of nervousness.
Tyaak, Vide [Teeak].
Tyke, n. A disreputable fellow; the name given to a Yorkshireman.
U.
‘Ud, Would.
Udge, v. To urge.
Un, One.
Ex.—Sha’s a good un, i.e. ‘She is a good one.’
Unbated, adj. Not repressed.
Unbeknown, adj. Not known.
Unbethink, v. To call to mind.
Uncomeatable, adj. and adv. Difficult to approach or get at.
Underdraw, v. To cover with lath and plaster.
Underhanded, adj. Undersized, poorly developed.
Underling, n. A stunted, weakly child.
Undermind, v. To undermine.
Ungain, adj. Distant, difficult of access, awkward.
Ex.—It’s sik an ungain spot ti finnd, is yours.
Unmenseful, adj. Unbecoming, unseemly, ill-mannered.
Unreave, v. To unwind.
Unsayable, adj. Not amenable to advice, self-willed.
Unslot, v. To unfasten by pulling back the slot or bolt.
Unsteck, v. To unfasten and push open.
Up, To speak, v. To speak aloud, to defend oneself against an unjust charge.
Up with = The matter with.
Ex.—What’s up wi’ t’ bairn?
Upbray, v. To upbraid.
Upend, v. To set on end, to stand upright.
Upgang, n. A pathway up a hill or mountain.
Upgrown, adj. Adult.
Uphold, Upho’d, v. 1. To maintain, to give one’s unqualified support.
2. To provide those things necessary for a person’s welfare, to sustain.
Ex.—1. Thee gan on wi’ ‘t, Ah’ll upho’d tha iv all thoo d’z, ’coz thoo’s i’ t’ reet on ’t.
2. It’ll tak summat ti uphold t’ waay ’at he’s gahin’ on, i.e. living.
Upset-price, n. The marked price at which an article is offered for sale.
Upset wiv, adj. Put out, disconcerted, worried.
Ex.—Ah nivver war sae upsetten wiv owt ez Ah war when t’ au’d meer deed.
Upshot, n. Final issue, the conclusion of anything.
Ex.—An’ t’ upshot on ’t war ’at he gat hissel weel bunched.
Use, To no = Useless, unprofitable, worthless.
Use ti c’u’d = Once was able.
Us, adv. and conj. As. Vide Es.
V.
Varra, adv. Very. Vide [Very].
Vast, n. and adj. A large number.
Ex.—A vast o’ fooak cam ti t’ feeast. Ther wur a vast mair bosses ’an Ah aim’d ti see.
Verser, n. A rhymster.
Very, adj. An intensive.
Ex.—Thoo maay slavver on, varra few ’ll pay onny heed ti what thoo sez. Aye, a varra deeal o’ what he sez is o’ varra larl matter tiv onnybody.
Vessel cups = Wassail cups.
Viewly, Viewsome, adj. Pleasing to look at, handsome, neatly and well put together.
Ex.—It’s a varra viewly cauf. Sha’s a varra viewly lass.
Volumous, adj. Large, bulky.
Ex.—It’s a maist volumous consarn, yon is. Ah deean’t tak ti sike volumous things.
W.
Wa, pron. We.
Wad, v. Would.
Wade, v. To glimmer, as the sun does when rising if the atmosphere is charged with moisture.
Ex.—It’ll rain afoor neet, t’ sun waded sadly ez sha peeped ower Rosberry.
Waff, n. 1. A slight puff of wind.
2. The slightest scent.
Ex.—1. It’s despert clooase, ther hezn’t been a waff o’ wind ti-daay.
2. Noo Ah’ve ’ed yah waff o’ thi silidge, an’ Ah want na mair on ’t.
Waff, v. To bark as a little dog.
Waffle, v. To hesitate, waver, to be undecided.
Waffly, adj. 1. Undecided, wavering, vacillating.
2. Shaky, insecure.
3. Weak, dizzy, from illness.
4. Given to foolish talk, chatter, &c.
Ex.—1. T’ wind’s all roads, it’ll nobbut be a waffly sooart ov a daay. It’s a varra waffly gahin’ on.
2. Thoo’d best prop it up wi’ summat, it leeaks a bit waffly.
3. Liggin’ i’ bed sae lang maks yan feel a bit waffly.
4. Ah reckon nowt ov her waffly waays.
Waffy, Vide [Wauf].
Waft, n. A slight puff of wind; a wraith, the appearance in the spirit form of some known one whose death is imminent.
Wag, v. To beckon with the finger or hand.
Ex.—Ah wagg’d on him, bud he w’u’dn’t cum.
Wage, v. To induce by promise of payment.
Ex.—Ah c’u’dn’t wage him ti staay efter he’d seen Mally’s waft.
Wahnt = Was not, were not.
Wain, n. A wagon.
Wain hoos, n. Wagon shed.
Wait of }
Wait on } v. To wait for.
Wake, Waak, adj. Weak.
Wakken, v. To awake, active and neuter.
Wakkensome, adj. Easily roused.
Wale, Weeal, Wheeal, v. To flog with a stick.
Waling, Weealing, n. Planks so fixed as to strengthen the bank of a river.
Walk with, v. To court, to be engaged.
Ex.—Sha’s gi’en Tom t’ go-by, an’ walks wi’ t’ young gardener noo.
Walsh, adj. Watery, without flavour.
Wame, Wheeam, n. The stomach.
Wan, v. Won.
Wangle, Wankle, v. To totter preparatory to falling, or to totter so as to have the appearance of falling.
Ex.—Leeak oot! cum back! sha’s startin’ ti wang’l.
Wangle, Wankle, Wankly, adj. Tottering.
Ex.—T’ larl brigg’s a wankly consarn.
Want, v. Its use is somewhat curious, e.g. Does this book want changing? i.e. ‘Is this book to be changed?’ I want my coat brushing, i.e. ‘I wish my coat to be brushed.’ Thoo wants a good thrashing, i.e. ‘You deserve,’ &c. He hezn’t gitten mair ’an he wanted, i.e. ‘He has not got more than he deserved.’
Wap-cloth, n. Coarse cloth for pilot coats.
War, Waur, Wor, Wur, Wuz, imp. tense of ‘to be.’ Was or were.
Warbels, n. Swellings on the back of a beast, caused by the larvae of the gadfly (Oestrus bovis).
War-days, n. Any day save Sunday.
Wards, A common suffix signifying direction.
Ex.—He war cumin’ fra Newton-wards.
‘Ware, v. Beware.
Ware, v. To lay out one’s money, to spend.
Ex.—He awlus wares his brass ez if he meant ti git fowr penno’th o’ stuff fur a threpenny bit.
Wark, v. and n. Work. Its use is manifold, see below.
Wark, v. To ache, also as a noun.
Ex.—Mah back warks past bahding. Thoo mun wark it (arrange it) seea ez he ’ez ti deea a day’s wark (a day’s labour). That’ll gi’e him t’ back-wark (ache). ‘At’ll wark (remove) all t’ warks (pains) ’at’s warking (aching) oot on him.
Warm, adj. In easy circumstances, well-off.
Warm, v. To chastise, to flog.
Warn, v. To summon, to call together, to warn or swear in.
Warp, v. To flood land with water, either by artificial means or naturally by overflowing during heavy rains, in order that a deposit may be left upon the surface when the water recedes.
Warridge, n. The withers of a horse.
Warse, Wuss, Wees, adj. Worse.
Warsen, Warsening, v. To gradually grow worse.
Ex.—T’ crop warsens ivvery year. Tommy warsens; he’s gahin’ ti pop off if he dizn’t pick up a bit.
Warzle, Wezzle, v. To gain by craft, to cajole, to flatter, to wheedle.
Ex.—Sha’s a queer un, sha can wezzle owt oot o’ ma. He can warzle tha inti believing owt.
Wastrell, n. An extravagant spendthrift.
Water-bleb, Vide [Bleb].
Water-brash, Water-springs, n. Acidity, heartburn.
Water-heck, n. A rail or swing gate hung across the stream to prevent cattle from straying.
Wath, n. A ford.
Watter, The common pronunciation of ‘Water.’
Wauf, Waufish, adj. Faint, weak, insipid.
Wax, v. To grow.
Ex.—He’s a waxing lad that.
Wax kernel, n. Swellings in the neck and hollow of the jaw.
Way-corn, n. Oats or barley.
Way-wards, Vide [Wards].
Ways, n. Way. Used in such sentences as Gan thi ways heeam. Noo git thi ways in. Cu’ thi ways, honey.
Wean, Weean, n. A female. An opprobrious epithet.
Weather-fast, adj. Kept in or prevented from carrying out one’s plans owing to stress of weather.
Weather-gaul, n. The incomplete arc of a rainbow, only half being visible, the sure sign of a coming shower, if not of a bad spell of weather.
Ex.—A dyer’s neeaf an’ a weather-gaul
Sheppards warn ’at rain ’ll fall.
Weazand, Wizzan, n. The windpipe.
Ex.—He did shut his tung oot when Ah nipped his wizzan foor him.
Wed, v. To marry. ‘Marry’ is rarely used in any tense or mood.
Weearish, adv. Irritable.
Weeks, n. Corners. I give the word because I know a few old people on whose lips it still lingers, but it is rarely heard now. I heard an old dame not so long ago say to a well-known gossip, If thoo hed t’ weeks o’ thi mooth stitchen, an’ t’ weeks o’ thi een slitten, thoo’d be yabble ti see t’ muck i’ t’ weeks o’ thi awn hoos, an’ saay less aboot uther fowk.
Weetless, adj. Lacking knowledge.
Wefted, To be, v. To be closely associated with.
Weight, Wite, n. Quantity, &c.
Ex.—There warn’t a gret weight o’ taaties ti year. Neea gret weight o’ rain fell thruff t’ neet.
Welt, Vide [Rigged].
Welting, n. A sound thrashing.
Wer, Wern, poss. pron. Our, our own.
Werrick, n. and v. A half-smothered laugh; to laugh, to chuckle.
Wersells }
Wersens } pron. Ourselves
Wet, To, v. To rain lightly.
Wet-shod, adj. Wet as to feet, boots and stockings soaked.
Weyfe, Wahfe, n. Wife.
Wezzel, Vide Rezzel.
Wezzle, Vide [Warzle].
Whack, v. To flog.
Whacker, adj. Larger than ordinary.
Whahl, adv. Until. Until, however, is never heard amongst the country people, whahl or while being general.
Whallack, v. To flog with a stick or strap.
Whallacker, adj. Vide [Whacker].
Whallacking, adj. Very large.
Whallop, v. To whip soundly.
Whang, Wheeang, n. A thong.
Whang, n. A sudden and heavy drop, or a blow; a thick slice. Also as a verb, to strike a heavy blow.
Whanging, adj. Vide [Whallacking].
Whap, n. A sudden movement, a jerk.
Ex.—He went by wiv a whap.
Whap, v. To close with a bang; to give a smart tap on the knuckles; to flap, as a wing.
Whapper, Whopper, adj. Huge.
What for, What for not, adv. Why, why not.
What mud be deean = No matter what precaution may have been taken.
Ex.—Ah shuv’d wi’ my back, an’ Billy thrust his hardest wiv a powl, but doon it cam, what mud be deean.
What one could, or ‘Ativver he, Ah, or yan could = One’s very best efforts.
Ex.—Ah pull’d ’ativver Ah could pull, bud it war ti neea ewse. Yan did what yan could, bud it war ti larl good.
Whatten, pron. What.
Ex.—Whatten a tahm o’ daay is ’t? Whatten a sooart ov a thing diz ti call that?
Whau, Wheea, pron. Who.
Wheea s’ ow’ ‘t? lit. who shall owe or own it, i.e. To whom does it belong? Who owns it?
Ex.—Wheea s’ ow’ ‘t bairn?
Whemmel, v. To rock to and fro and then fall over.
Whewling, adj. Dizzy.
Whewtle, v. To whistle, to squeak.
Whidder, Wither, n. 1. A rush.
2. A sharp and swinging blow.
Ex.—1. He did gan by wiv a wither.
2. Ah’ll catch thee sike a wither aback o’ t’ lug if thoo dizn’t mahnd.
Whiff, v. To puff in short blasts, as smoke sometimes puffs downwards and into the room.
Whiffle-whaffle, n. Idle talk.
Whiffley, v. To trifle, to vacillate.
Whimly, adv. Quietly, softly. Vide [Whisht].
Whimsey, adj. Changeable, unstable.
Whins, n. The gorse.
Whipster, n. A doubtful character.
Whip-stitch, n. A useless fellow.
Whirken, v. To choke.
Whisht, adv. Noiselessly, quietly.
Ex.—Them bisittles gans varra whisht.
Whisht, adj. Silent, noiseless.
Whisht, intj. Be quiet! Hush!
Whittle, n. A knife.
Whittle, v. To shave or slice off with a knife.
Whizzle, Vide [Warzle].
Whoats, Whots, n. Oats.
Whya, intj. Well. If used at the end of a remark = Very well.
Ex.—Q. Thoo’ll cum on o’ Sundaay? A. Whya.
Wi’, prep. With. Wiv before a vowel.
Wick, adj. Living, lively, vigorous.
Ex.—Ah want yan ’at’s wick, nut a deead un. By goa, sha’s a wick un, is yon young miss.
Wick, n. Life.
Ex.—This bangs all ’at Ah’ve seean i’ mah wick.
Wicken, v. To gather wickens.
Wickens, Wicks, n. Couch grass.
Wicken-wood, n. The mountain ash, the rowan-tree.
Wicker, v. To neigh, whinny.
Wicks, n. Seedlings of the whitethorn.
Wicksilver, n. Quicksilver.
Widdle-waddling, v. To waddle.
Widdy, n. A young willow shoot.
Wikes, n. The corners of the mouth.
Wildfire, n. Erysipelas.
Win, v. To attain one’s object by considerable effort.
Wind, n. Information, a hint.
Ex.—Ah gat wind o’ what he war efter. If he gets wind o’ what thoo’s deean, thoo’ll drop in for ’t.
Wind, To lose one’s = To die. ‘Wind’ is often used for ‘breath.’
Winder, Winn’l, v. To winnow.
Winder or Winn’ling machine, n. A winnowing machine.
Windle straw or Winn’l streah, n. A dead stalk of straw or grass.
Winge, v. To threaten to kick (of a horse), to cry peevishly.
Winter-hedge, n. A clothes-horse.
Wipe, n. A sharp slap, a hurried rub. Also a verb.
Ex.—Ah’ll wipe tha across t’ feeace.
Wire-ling, n. The crowberry plant.
Wire-rush, n. The hard rush (Juncus glaucus).
Wit, n. Knowledge.
Ex.—He hezn’t wit ti deea a job o’ that sooart. He show’d mair wit ’an what Ah aim’d foor.
Wiv, prep. With.
Wivoot, Widoot, prep. Without, unless.
Wizen, v. and adj. To shrivel, to dry up.
Ex.—Sha’s gitten an au’d wizen’d feeace.
Woomle, n. An auger.
Wor, Vide [War].
Worral-hole, n. A draught-hole let into the wall through a drain-pipe at the back of the fire, used to burn sea-coal.
Worn, adj. Exhausted, used up.
Ex.—Ah’s fairly woorn oot wi’ t’ job. Ah gat weary an’ worn afoor t’ daay war spent.
Worry, v. To kill.
Ex.—Sha’s nobbut a young un, bud sha’s worried a ratten alriddy.
Worsen, Warsen, v. 1. To make worse.
2. To gain the advantage of.
Vide [Warsen].
Ex.—1. Thoo worsens owt ’at thoo puts thi han’ teeea.
2. Ah worsen’d him all t’ waay thruff t’ bargain.
Wostler, n. Hostler.
Wrang, adj. Wrong.
Wrecklin, n. The last and smallest of a litter or brood.
Wringe, v. To whine like a dog, to cry out in pain. Often Winge.
Wrizzled, Vide Razzelled.
Wrong with, To get, v. To quarrel, to have a misunderstanding.
Wrought, Wrowt, v. To work, to strive.
Ex.—Neea chap’s wrowt harder ’an what he hez. Ah’ve wrowt an’ tew’d all t’ daay whahl Ah’s worn oot.
Wummely, v. To move in a sinuous manner.
Wur, Vide [War].
Wurk, Vide [Wark].
Wuz, Vide [War].
Wye, n. A heifer under three years of age.
Wyke, Week, n. A small bay on the sea-coast.
Y.
Yabble, Yabblins. 1. Able.
2. Maybe, perhaps.
Ex.—1. Thoo’ll be yabble ti deea ’t.
2. Q. Will ta leeak in ez thoo passes? A. Yabblins (or Ablins) Ah will.
Yaccorn, Yakron, n. The acorn.
Yacker, n. Acre.
Yaffle, v. To mumble, to speak indistinctly.
Yah, num. adj. One. N.B. Yah, unlike Yan, is never used singly, but is always followed by a word agreeing with it, e.g. ‘Yah chap,’ ‘Yah tahm.’
Ex.—Yah daay Ah went wi’ yan on ’em. Yah tahm yan o’ your lads bunched ma. Yan’s shooting yah things, &c.
Yak, n. Oak.
Yal, n. Ale.
Yalhoos, Alehouse.
Yam, n. Home. Vide [Heeam].
Yam, v. Vide [Aim].
Yan, num. adj. and indf. pron. One. Vide [Yah].
Yance, adv. Once.
Yance ower, Once, at that time.
Yank, v. To thrash, to flog.
Yap, v. To bark at one’s heels, to talk foolishly.
Yark, v. 1. To strike with a switch.
2. To pull out with a jerk.
Ex.—2. Thi float’s blobb’d unner, yark ’t oot.
Yarker, n. The best of a sample.
Ex.—Tak that un, mun, it’s a yarker.
Yarking, n. A whipping with a switch.
Yarp, v. To shout, to speak loudly. Vide [Yowp].
Yat, adj. Hot.
Ex.—It wur that yat, Ah c’u’dn’t ho’d it.
Yat, n. A gate.
Yat-steead, n. The ground covered by the sweep of the gate.
Yat-stoop, Yat-stoup, n. A gate-post.
Yaud, n. A horse or mare, usually on its last legs.
Yearn, v. To curdle milk.
Yearning, n. Rennet.
Yed, v. To make runs underground, as a rabbit, mole, &c.
Yedder, Yether, n. A young shoot in a hedge, which, being half cut, is utilized to strengthen some weaker part.
Yeead, Heead, Head.
Yer-nut, n. The earth-nut (Bunium flexuosum).
Yet, adv. Still.
Ex.—Is t’ wagon here yet? would not imply ‘Has the wagon arrived?’ but ‘Is it still here?’
Yeth, n. Earth.
Yethwurm, n. The earthworm.
Yewn, Vide [Yown].
Yocken, v. To swallow greedily.
Yoke, n. The shoulder-bar by which two pails can be carried with ease.
Yoke, v. To buckle the harness on the horse to the shafts.
Yon, adj. and adv. That, over there. Used demonstratively of persons and things.
Yotten, Vide [Yocken].
Youst, pp. Used.
Yow, n. A female sheep.
Yowl, n. A plaintive howl.
Yowl, v. To howl, to cry plaintively.
Yown, Yewn, Yuen, n. An oven.
Ex.—Now ’t’s neyce, t’ yuen’s nivver been yat.
Yowp, Yope, v. To cry as a young dog when first kennelled, to speak in a shrill voice.
Yuck, A curious usage is attached to this word. At any social gathering in the Cleveland dales, when those assembled have grown excited, some one will shout, Yuck foor oor deeal, to which another will instantly reply, Yuck foor Castleton, or Yuck foor ——, mentioning his own locality. I fancy in days past it would be given as a challenge; it now carries with it the sense of ‘To cheer,’ or ‘Here’s to our dale.’
Yuer, Ur, n. The udder of a cow.
Yuk, v. To beat.
Yuking, n. A beating.
Yule-cake, n. A rich plum-cake made for Christmastide, and cut into on Christmas Eve.
Yule-candle, -cann’l, n. A large wax candle lighted on Christmas Eve.
Yule-log or -clog, n. The log burnt on the fire on Christmas Eve.

GLOSSARYOF ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND NORTH RIDING WORDS

CONCLUDING REMARKS

GLOSSARY
OF ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND NORTH RIDING WORDS