A glossary of the words and phrases of Cumberland
** # C> J>% o +$+ ^ -fc ■*. & 6 *+ -- > V * \V <P- * -%%%. % K $ r**V .A ,'V GLOSSARY. " Our provincial dialects, instead of being the barbarous jargons repre- sented by the lexicographers of the last century, are in truth the real wells of ' English undefiled,' and their investigation is of great importance to the philologer, as well for the numerous archaic and otherwise obsolete words which they have preserved to us, as for the light they throw upon the origin and structure of our written language."--C7iaw&ers, 1858. A GLOSSARY WORDS AND PHRASES CUMBERLAND. BY WILLIAM "DICKINSON, F. L. S. WHITEHAVEN : CALLANDER & DIXON, MARKET PLACE. LONDON : JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE. 1859. PKEFACE. The main object of the following work is to form a record of the general idiom of the county of Cumberland, as in use at the present day, and from the end of the last century; and, in so doing, to endeavour to convey the sense in which each word is provincially understood. This could not be effected without strict attention to adapt the spelling to the sound, and thus the orthography of many words and phrases became materially altered from the form in which it is'presented in existing glossaries. Mr. Sullivan, in his excellent and learned work,* has very justly said — "Should any proper attempt be made at producing a Cumberland Glossary, the orthography would not be one of its least difficulties." Truly this difficulty has been experienced, and it is hoped has been met in an acceptable way. The chief alteration will be found in the introduction of an additional or duplicate consonant as expressive of emphasis or accent, and in part as a phonetic accommo- dation. Thus, the Cumberland equivalents for the word "hot" are "het" and "heatt," and tbe latter would be * "Cumberland and Westmorland, Ancient and Modern: the People, Dialecj;, Superstitions, and Customs." 1857. VI. " heat," and would convey a different meaning, but for the additional and accented letter; and so with many similar words.* In treating of Cumberland words, it must be borne in mind that, small as the county is, having an area of only a little over fifteen hundred square miles, it possesses its geography of language, ranging across the county in tolerably distinct bands, and each preserving its substan- tive identity with the fidelity attaching to a national lan- guage, but occasionally shading into and blending with the others, its immediate neighbours. The most clearly defined band or belt of dialect extends across the centre of the county, and its southern boundary may be traced on a map by a line commencing where the river Ehen discharges its waters into the sea, ascending the course of that stream to Egremont, and along the water- shed of the ancient forest of Copeland, passing the head of Borrow- dale to Dunmail liaise, thence along the south east and eastern boundary of the county to Kirkland, and by the base of the Black Fell mountain range to Croglin, and turning westward through the once royal forest of Ingle- wood, by Warnel, Brocklebank, and Aspatria, to Allonby, on the shore of the Sol way. To the southward of this district the words and the mode of pronunciation and expression gradually merge into those of Lancashire; to the northward, into the Scotch; and to the extreme .north- east, into the Northumbrian, partaking in some measure of the burr peculiar to parts of that county. The ancient dialect appears to have been chiefly com- posed of words of one or two syllables, a few words of three syllables, and perhaps none of more; or if any of more * Mr. Sullivan truly remarks on the literature of this county, that '* the writer always endeavours to give faithfully the dialect as he has heard and spoken it in his own neighbourhood ; and the birth-place of the author is, as it were, the key to the peculiarities of his orthography." were used, they would seem open to the suspicion of "being compounds or importations. There are many idiomatic peculiarities appertaining to the dialects, or rather to the varying dialect of the county, such as contracting the article the into t\ in the southern and central parts of the county,* hut not in the north- eastern part. Another is the common note of assent, um, pronounced with the lips closed. A third consists in the entire absence of the terrain ative ing in all words of more than one syllable, and in its being substituted by in, and more frequently an, and by its retention in monosyllabic words. The affix ed is compensated by an abbreviated 't, and those of ly and ish are in frequent use as approximates or diminutives, e.g. coldly, coldish, wetly, wettish, &c. The terminative ght in right, tight, sight, and similar words, was formerly, and even within memory, pronounced resht, tesht, seesht, &c, or by aspirating the gh. Ho! and Hoo! are common expletives at the commencement of a reply, and especially if the replicant deems the question some- what irrelevant or unimportant, as Ho nay ! Hoo ey ! The English language has no equivalent to the vowel sound in the way the word brust (burst) is pronounced. It is not the u, the e, nor the i, but a kind of compromise between the e and the i. The word run is in a similar predicament, it being frequently pronounced in a half-way sound between rin and ran, and partly approaching to ren, but not strictly coinciding with the sound of any of them. A few words are common to both extremes of the county * By the uniting of the article to the verb or substantive, the following ludicrous specimens become explanatory or puzzling, as the reader may fancy:— 1. — "Twether an' twasps hes spoilt o' trasps" — The weather and the wasps have spoiled all the rasps. 2. — Shoemaker: "Wife; whoars twax?" Wife: "Its a twatter a twinda, aside twatch." Till. which are not used centrally, as craa, haak, &c, for crow, hawk. Some words are differently pronounced in different parts of the county, although the spelling may indicate a simi- larity of sound ; and vice versa. Seathwaite in Borrowdale is pronounced as Sea-thwaite or whate, while Seatlrwaite on the Duddon is Seathet — the e and a in sea being dis- tinct. Calthwaite near Penrith, and Scothwaite near Ireby, are both pronounced as o long — Cothet and Scothet : and a few other words and proper names are pronounced in an equally arbitrary manner. There are shades and variations of pronunciation and accent in the districtal dialects which are extremely diffi- cult to explain ; and which can only be properly understood on hearing the native speakers in unrestrained colloquial glee, or in angry recrimination. The strangeness of some words and expressions cannot be duly estimated from the sound alone, and on seeing them set out in print their ludicrousness becomes manifest : for instance, " yannanudder" — one another; "dudta" — did thou, &c. It is not enough to enumerate the words believed to be purely Cumbrian. There are many con- tractions, corruptions, and combinations now current, which custom and time are gradually incorporating into the dialect, and which another generation or two will stamp as provincialisms ; and without a key to such, a stranger would encounter many difficulties in ordinary conversation with an un travelled native, A great variety of words are in common use expressive of the superlative or extraordinary ; of beating or punish- ing ; and of idiocy or weak-mindedness. It is in these combinations, and other changes, that the connection of our dialect with other tongues is made apparent to the searcher into languages. For those reasons, the seeming redundancy of words in the following collection may be held excusable. It is hardly necessary to apologise for any unseemly words which may be thought to occur : if any such are supposed to be found, it is equally certain they are requisite to complete the work, to the exclusion of more offensive terms. The whole collection has been made in the intervals of business, extending over many years, and has been found an agreeable change, and a serviceable relaxation ; and it is hoped the occasional perusal may be similarly acceptable. It may here be remarked, that a considerable portion of the labouring population, occupied in mining, draining, and other earth-works, consists of Irishmen, who, with their families, make the western side of the county a permanent residence ; or at least till the labour market tempts a re- moval to better paid localities. And notwithstanding this influx, the Irishisms engrafted on the native dialect are singularly few, if indeed any. Their children reared here acquire the dialect as perfect as the natives, and soon use not a trace of their mother tongue : and even the parents, in many instances, abandon their own idiom, and learn to use the speech of their adopted country. It is somewhat different with the Scotch and the labourers from the borders, who nearly all retain the ex- pressions and the peculiar inflexions of their national speech to their dying day. And some of their descendants, are known to retain sufficient to distinguish their nation- ality over more than one generation. * Derivations are sparingly given, from various sources, the subject being misty and difficult, and tending frequently * "The English are barbarians — stable in their manners, and firmly continue to employ the same words, which are also dear to the gods." — Iamblichus. to mislead, according to the bias of the investigator, or his better acquaintance with certain languages. They are also subject to be lost in the altered acceptation of the original terms, and consequently are not all given with confidence.* Whatever disparagement may be imputed to the homely, and in some measure uncouth speech and manners peculiar to this county, its dialect should scarcely be subjected to the epithet of vulgar ; for though partially unwritten by antiquity, and apparently doomed as to the future, it is far more ancient, though less harmonious, than the English of the present day. Even the cockneyism of the metropolis has its dialect ; and however refined in its application, it is not the less vulgar to the ears of those who may not have been trained to its use. f There is, at least, one creditable peculiarity in the dialect of Cumberland; and this is, its comparative free- dom, except among the labouring classes in towns, from the contemptible slang engrafted into most others. All the glossaries and publications in the county dialect, hitherto met with by the author, are local, and unavoidably provincial ; or are indiscriminately intermixed, and conse- quently imperfect. An attempt is made to render this one more perfect, by localising each word and phrase. It may be incomplete, through lapse of memory, or the infrequent * " Authors have not comprehended the system of the ancients in giving names. Labouring under this disadvantage, they have unfortunately been tenacious of their opinions, and, in rendering names, have adopted words of corresponding sounds from whatever language they could collect them; often, very often, too, without any fidelity to exactness, and still more frequently without any conformity to design. Hence they have led us into difficulties which discrimination will scarcely extricate for a considerable time." — Dyer's Bestoration of the ancient modes of bestowing names on the Pavers, Hills, &c. •f As one instance, the word finger is pronounced in Cumberland as it is written. In schools, and in conventional society, it is pronounced as if it con- tained a g in each syllable, and both sounded hard, as, fing-ger. use and opportunity of hearing terms now nearly obsolete. Such defect, if found to exist, is intended to have some pains bestowed on its remedy, if the compiler's friends will kindly supply him with the omitted words and peculiarities of speech or customs : * it being his anxious wish to render his volume (of vulgarities, as some may term it,) as complete as the nature of the subject will allow, though the varying and intermixing speech of the different parts of the county hitherto presents an insurmountable barrier to the attain- ment of absolute perfection. The sources from which information has been derived are, a frequent, or rather an almost continuous, personal business intercourse with nearly all classes of the rural inhabitants of nearly every parish in the county during the greater part of a half-century; the inspection of various glossaries of Cumberland and north-country words ; a rigid search through the publications met with in the dialect of the county ; the contributions of friends ; an intimate acquaintance with the mother tongue of the county, and a life-long residence in the central district described. I am indebted for a few ancient words, still partially in use here, to " A Restitvtion of Decayed Intelligence in antiquities. By the study, and travell of R. Y. (Richard Verstegan.) London, 1634." f For a revisal of the words and phrases of the south-western district, I am indebted to * Mr. Sullivan very properly appeals to " persons possessed of local infor- mation, to place it on record ere it b e lost " He urges upon them " not to be hindered by the vulgar notion that traits of manners and fragments of super- stition are subjects of no value/' " Let us save what we can, if it only be a remnant." I heartily respond to his appeal.— W. D. t In ch. 7, Verstegan quaintly writes, " Of the great antiqvity of our ancient English tongue; and of the propriety, worthines, and amplitude thereof. "With an explanation of sundry our most ancient English words." He says, " Ovr ancient English Saxon language is to be accompted the Teutonicke tongue, and albeit we have in latter ages mixed it with many borrowed words, especially out of the Latin and French, yet remaineth the the kindness of Mr. Caddy, of Rougholm, near Ravenglass ; and of those of the extreme north-eastern district, to the very competent assistance of Mr. D. Tweddle, of Working- ton, a native of the parish of Stapleton. The kindness of Mr. John Dixon, of Whitehaven, is gratefully acknow- ledged, in foregoing his intention to publish a work of a similar kind, and in placing the axis of his collection at my disposal. Mr. Barker, of Greystoke, has heartily con- tributed the benefit of his intimate knowledge of the dialect of his neighbourhood, and of its geographical limits; and to William Randleson, Esq., of Croft-Hill, Whitehaven, a native of Scotby, near Carlisle, T am indebted for a perusal of Brockett's Glossary, containing sundry valuable manu- script notes and memorandums, relating to the subject. Finally, examples are given of the application of many words and terms, as being more recognisable than the dry meanings. Teutonicke unto this day the ground of our speech; for no other offspring hath our language originally had then that. " This language undoubtedly is that which at the confusion of Babel the Teutonicke people (those I mean that were conducted by Tuisco) did speake. And as the people tooke their name after their conductor, so the language consequently tooke name of the people.' AUTHORITIES CONSULTED. Anderson. Elamire. Boucher. Brockett. Clarke. Ferguson. Lonsdale. Eayson. Eelph. Bit son. Stagg. Sullivan. Toone. Turner (Sharon). Verstegan. ABBEEVIATED EEFEEENCES. Ang.-S. Anglo Saxon. L. S. Lower Saxon. Belg. Belgic or Dutch. Lan. Lancashire. Ch. Chaucer. Norw. Norwegian. Dan. Danish. 0. E. Old English. Fr, French. Sax. Saxon. Gael. Gaelic. Scand. Scandinavian Ger. German. Sco. Scotch. Goth. Gothic. Sp. Spenser. Icel. Icelandic. Teut. Teutonic. Ir. Irish. Yks. Yorkshire. Lat. Latin. THE WORDS OF OALD CUMMERLAN' Ya neet aa was takkan a rist an' a smeukk, An' snoozlan an' beekan my shins at t' grate neukk, When aa thowt aa wad knock up a bit ov a beukk Aboot t' words 'at we use in oald Cunrmerlan'. Aa boddert my brains thinkan some o' them ower, An' than set to wark an' wreatt doon three or fower 0' t' kaymtest an' t' creuktest, like "garrak" an' "dyke stoweiy Sek like as we use in oald Cummerlan.' It turnt oot three-cornert, cantankeras wark, An' keep't yan at thinkan fray dayleet till dark; An' at times a queer word would lowp up wid a yark, 'At was reet ebm doon like oald Cummerlan. John Dixon, o' Whitt'en, poo't oot ov his kist, Ov words 'at he thowt to hev prentit, a list; An' rayder ner enny reet word sud be mist Yan wad ratch ivry neukk ov oald Cummerlan'. Than Deawy fray Steappleton hitcht in a lock, An' Jwony ov Ruffom gev some to my stock; Than, fray Cassel Graystick a list com, fray Jock; They o' eekt a share for oald Cummerlan'. Friend Eannelson offert his beukks, an* o' t' rest (0 man! bit he 's full ov oald stories — the best); Aa teukk am at word, an' aa harry't his nest Ov oald-farrant words ov oald Cummerlan'. Than naybers an' friends browt words in sa fast, An' chattert an' laft till they varra nar brast, To think what a beukk wad come oot on 't at last — Full o' nowt bit oald words ov oald Cummerlan'. Than, who can e'er read it — can enny yan tell? Nay, niwer a body bit t' writer his sel! An' what can be t' use, if it o' be to spell Afoor yan can read its oald Cummerlan'? Workington, July 15th, 1859. GLOSSAEY. A GLOSSARY OF CUMBERLAND WORDS AND PHRASES. The letter C. denotes the word or phrase to be used in the central parts of the county; S.W., in the south-west; E. and N.E., in the east and north-east; and G., generally over the county. A. Aa, G, I — pronounced as in harm. Jarleton, C, Arlecdon parish and village. Arthra, C, S.W, Ayrthur, N.E, Arthur. Aaz, Ize, G, I is, or I am. ^apral, S.W, Aapral, N.E, Aypril, C, April. Aback, G-, behind. Icel. a-bak, backward. Abba, G, abbey. Abby, G, Abigail. Aboot, C, N.E, Abawte, S.W, about. Abeunn, C, Abooan, S.W, Aboon, N.E., above. Abreed, C, to extend or spread. Sax. abred-an, to lengthen. Aby, C, Aabram, S.W, Abraham. Ac, G, to heed. Scand. akta, to make account of. Accword, G, accord. Adveyce, N.E, advice. 1 Afeart, C, afraid. Sax. afeard. Afeutt, C, Afooat, S.W, Afoote, N.E, on foot. I Afoor, C, Afwore, S.W, Afore, N.E, before. Afword, G, afford. Age, C, Yage, N.E, to grow old. " He begins to age." Ageann, C, N.E, Again, S.W, again. Old Eng. agen. Ageann t' hand, C, inconveniently placed, interfering with pro- gress. Ageatt, G, going, on the way, on foot again, progressing. Aggy, G, Agnes. Aglet, Tag, C, S.W, Yiglet, N.E., the metalled end of a boot- lace, &c. Airly, G, early. Airs, C, humours. "He 's in his airs to-day" — he 's in a bad temper. Airy, G, breezy. " It ?s rayder airy to-day." Ajye, G, awry, on one side, oblique. Akkern, G, acorn. Alag, N.E, a term used in calling geese together. Alang, Gr, along. Aleann, Gr, alone. Alebm, C, S.W, Aleeven, N.E, eleven. Allan, G-, a piece of land nearly surrounded by a stream. Sax, ea, water, Ian, waterland. Alliblaster, G, alabaster. Ally, G-, the aisle of a church. A-loddin, G, not engaged, on offer. Alongst,* C, along. Am, G, him. " Catcham an hoddam an whackam weel! " Amackily, G, in some fashion, partly. Amang, G, among. Amang hands, G, among other things. Ameasst, C, S.W, Ameeast, N.E, almost. Amess ! C, a kind of oath, a note of verification. " Amess it is ! '; An, G. ; ing, as a terminative, is pronounced an. Aneost, C, S.W., Fornenst,+ N.E, opposite to, over against. * Used in old deeds. + Anempst in some old writings. Angry, G, much inflamed and painful. Scand. angra, to torment. Angs, C, S.W, Aaias, N.E, awns. Ang nails, C, Ang-er nails, N.E, jags around the nails, nails grown into the flesh. High G-er. ungnagle. Aneiiff, C, Anoo, S.W, Aneugh, N.E, enough (as relating to quantity). Anew, G, enough (as relating to number). Anonder, G, under, beneath. Ten schypmen to lond yede, To see the yle in length and brede, And fet water as hem was nede, The rocke anondyr. — Bom. of Octavian Imp. Anters, N.E, in case (? perhaps). " Or anters in yon moulder- ing heap." — Stagg's Poems. April gowk, April noddy, C, April feull, N.E, April fool. An old custom exists, among young people, of leading persons into some trifling error on the morning of April Day, to be laughed at, and called April gowks. Arbittary, C, arbitrary. Arch hole, C, Slit hole, S.W, Bowel hole, N.E, a vent hole in a barn, &c. Ard, Aird, N.E, (? high.) Boucher says in his glossary — "It is, however, in Cumberland only that I happen to have heard the term used abstractedly, to describe the quality of a place, a country, or a field ; thus, ard land means a dry, parched, arid soil, which no doubt is but its secondary sense, such lands being dry, parched, &c, only because they lie high." I never heard the term in Cumberland; it may mean hard, or firm. — W.D. In Gael, ard means high. Argy, G, argue, signify. " It duzzent argy" — it does not signify. Argyfye, G, to debate. Ark, G, Airk, N.E, a chest; as meal-ark, &c. Ang.-Sax. arc. Arr, C, S.W, Err, N.E, a scar from a wound, a cicatrice. Icel. aer, Dan. ar. Arridge, G, an angular edge (arris in architecture). Arse breed, G, a contemptible width or extent. "His heall land 's nobbet an arsebreed." Arsewurts, G, backwards. An early Methodist preacher in Workington used to enlighten his hearers with. " Aa wad as seun expect a swine to gang arsewurts up a tree, as a rich man to git to heaven." Art, C, S.W, Airt, N.E, point of the compass, quarter. Germ. ort, place, direction. Aside, C, Aseyde, N.E, beside. Ask, G, the lizard and newt. G-ael. asc. Ass, G, ashes. Sax. asce. Ass, Ax, C, Aas, N.E, Ex, S.W, ask, enquire. Asseltree, G, axle. Gael, aisil. Ass trug, C, S.W, Ass beurd, N.E, ashes box. Asteed, G, instead. Attercop, C, S.W, Speyther wob, Cockweb, N.E, spider's web. Sax. atter, poison, and coppe, a cup — in allusion to the supposed venom of the spider. At is e. At is a, G, that I am. " Aa 's cum to advise tha, at is e." — Anderson. Atomy, C, a skeleton. Atshison, C, Atkison, S.W, Atshin, N.E, Atkinson. Avarst, C, S.W, a vast deal. Awful, C, ^aful, S.W, Aaf&, N.E. The meaning of this term is much corrupted, and is used to express anything extra- ordinary ; as, " awful nice," &c. Awivver, C, S.W, Awuvver, N.E, however. Awriddy, C, ^ariddy, S.W, N.E, already. Awtin, S.W, outing, a jaunt. Ax, As, C, Ex, S.W, ask. "Ne axe I nat to-morwe. ''—Chaucer. Axt at church, Hung int hell reapp, C, " Cry't i' the Kurk," N.E, having had the banns published. Ayder, Iyder, Owder, C, S.W, Owder, N.E, either. Aydle, C, Addle, S.W, Ettle, N.E, to earn. Aydlins, C, Adlins, S.W, Etlins, N.E, earnings. Aye, N.E, always. Sax. aw a. Ayga, C, S.W, Yigga, N.E, ague. Ayont, N.E, beyond. Ayrm, N.E, arm. Aywas, C, N.E, anywise, always, B. Baak, N.E, a balk or beam. Baald, Baal, N.E, bold, impudent. Babby, C, baby. Babblement, G, silly discourse. Backen, G, to retard. Back bred, G, bred late in the year or season. Back bword, G, a board to roll dough upon, bake board. Back side, G, the back yard. Back stick, G, the rod connecting the footboard of the spinning wheel with the crank, N.E, sword. Bad, Bed, G, bid. Bad bread, C ; to be out of favour is to be in bad bread. Baddan, C, Bad in, N.E, bad one, the evil one. Badger, C, S.W, Badger body, N.E, a person who buys corn, and retails the meal ground at the mill of another: a tra- velling dealer in butter, &c. Badly, C, poorly, out of health. Baffle, G, to confound, to defeat by stratagem. Boucher says, " to treat with indignity, to expose." I have not heard the word so used. — W, D. Bag, G, the belly, the udder of the cow. Baggabone, C, vagabond. Baggin, C, provisions taken into the field for workmen ; query, in a bag. Baggish, G, baggage — a term of reproach to a child or female. " A dirty baggish." Bagwesh, C, poverty and disrepute. " He 's gone to bagwesh." Baily, Bumbaily, C, Bum, S.W, Baily, N.E, bailiff, sheriffs officer. Baili, a steward, bailiff, &c, Old Irish. Bain, C, N.E, Gain, S.W, handy, willing, near. "It's a bain lad, poor thing!" "Yon's t' bainest way." Scand. beinn, direct. Ball money, N.E., money given by wedding parties at the church gates to children, to buy balls. In some parishes the scholars buy coals with this money for the school fires. 6 The men give threepence each ; if booted and spurred, sixpence: women give nothing. In the west, the money is given without rule, and is spent in sweets. Baltute, C, the bald coot. Bam, C, a falsehood, trick, cheat. Ban, N.E,band. Band, C, a boundary on high and unenclosed land. Bandylowe, C, a prostitute. Bang, G, to beat, to excel ; an act of haste. " He was bad to bang." " He com in wid a bang." Banger, G, anything great. " It is a banger ! " Bannister, G, balluster. Bannock, C, Bannick, N.E, thick oat-cake, usually made for the harvest-home or kern supper. Banty, C, the bantam, a dwarfish person or animal. Bark, G, to peel the skin or bark off, to unbark. " He barkt his nokles ower tudder fellow's scalp." Bark at t' heck, C, to wait outside the door. Barkent, C, dirt hardened on, to make crisp like bark, hide- bound, stiff. Barley play, C, a term used by boys bespeaking a cessation of their game. Barn, C, S.W, Bairn, N.E, a child, a term of familiarity. " Barn, thoo mun come in, thoo 's like." Ang.-Sax. beam. Barn-time, C, the period of fruitfulness in women. Barrin out, C, school-boj's bar the teacher out at Christmas, and negociate for holidays before admitting him. Base, G, bass. " He sings base at church." Bash away ! C, N.E, work vigorously, strike hard. Bass, G, the perch. Bat, G, a blow, a stroke ; condition (see Oald bat). Batch, C, N.E, a sack of corn prepared for being ground at the mill, a pack of cards. Batter, C, a drinking bout, dirt. " Dick 's been on t' batter two or three days, an he 's cum in o bleudd an batter ower." Battins, C, corn in a half thrashed state. Baurgh, C, a horse way up a steep hill. — Mr. Randleson. Baze, C, to prize or lift with a lever. Beaddless, C, impatient of suffering. Beakk, G. bake. Beanns, C, S.W, Beanes, N.E, bones, bad people. " He 's a bad beann ! " Bearr, C, Bwore, S.W, Beur, N.E, bore, did bare. Bearr, C, S.W, bare, naked. Beasst, G-, to baste. Beatt, Gr, abate ; did bite. " Our dog beatt a lump out o' Tommy Tidy lad leg." Beatth, C, S.W, Beeath, N.E, both. Beck, C, S.W, Burn, N.E, a brook, streamlet. Dan. bak. Beeast, S.W, beast Lan. Beeans, S.W, beans. Lan. Beek, C, N.E, Beeak, S.W, to heat hazel or other rods to cause them to bend more easily for basket making purposes ; to bask by the fire. Beel, C, N.E, Beeal, S.W, to bellow, bawl. Scand. to bellow. Beeldin, N.E, building. Beer, G, to bear. Beermouth, Barramouth, C, an adit or level dug in a hill side. Bees, N.E : the superstitious believe that bees sing the Old Hundredth Psalm on Christmas morning. C : if one of the family where bees are kept die, one of the household conveys the intelligence to the hives ; and on the day of the funeral, before the procession leaves the house, the bees are again informed that the body is about to be lifted.* This is believed to prevent ill-luck to the hives and honey. Beese, C, Beeas, S.W, beasts, cattle. Beestins, 0, the milk from a new-calved cow. Sax. bysting. Beeat, S.W, to beat. Lan. Beet t' yubm, C, to supply sticks, &c, to the oven while heating. Behodden, C, S.W, Behadden, N.E, beholden, obligated. Belangs, Perlangs, G-, belongs. * The last case I knew of was at Asby, in the parish of Arlecdon, in 1855.— Mr. Bandleson. Belk, C, N.E, belch, an eructation. Lower Sax. bolckan. Bellar, C, N.E, to bellow. Bellt, N.E, bald. Belly-ryne, C, Belly-rim, N.E, the membrane enclosing the intestines. Bellican, C, an obese person or animal. Belliz, C, N.E, bellows. Benk, C, Bink, N.E, a low bank or ledge of rock. Bennish, N.E, banish, to forbid of the house. Bensal, C, to beat. " Asl bensal ta." Goth, bania, a blow. Bent, C, bleak. " Yon 's a bent pleass o yours." Berry, C, to thrash corn. Scand. beria, to beat. Berryin skin, C, S.W, a dried (horse's) skin, used for thrashing upon, to prevent the grain sticking into the clay floor of the barn. Besom out, G, a signal that open house is kept — the wife being from home. Bessy blakelin, C, Yalla yowdering, N.E, the yellow-hammer or yellow bunting. Bessy black- cap, C, the black-headed bunting. Bettermer, G, of the better sort. " The bettermer swort sat snug in the parlour." — Anderson. Beukk, C, N.E, Booak, S.W, a book. Beuss, C, N.E, Booas, S.W, a stall for a cow or horse. Ang.- Sax. bds. Beutt-money, Boot-money, C, money given to equalise an exchange. (Bote. It is a yielding of amends, or sup- plying a defect. — Verstegan.) Beutts, C, N.E, Booats, S.W, boots. Beutt stockings, C, Hoggers, Fots, N.E, upper stockings, devoid of feet, and long enough to cover half the thigh — much worn by elderly men about and before 1800. Bew, Bu, G, a bough or branch. Beyble, N.E, the Bible. Sco. Beyont, Ayont, G, beyond. Beyt, N.E, bite. Sco. Bicker, N.E, a small wooden vessel, used for porridge, &c, made with a handle like a Geggin, which see — "Aal tak a stap out o thy bicker" (I '11 reduce the size of the vessel thy food is supplied in — I'll give thee less food and more work or correction). C, a quarrel. Bid, G, to invite. Ang.-Sax. biddan. See Bridewain. Biddable, G, obedient, tractable. Biddy, C, a nursery name for a louse; Bridget. Bide, C, S.W, Beyde, N.E, to abide, bear, stay, remain, suffer, withstand. Big, G. to build. Sax. bycgan, to build up. Biggin, G-, a building. Dan. bygning. Biggan, S.W, N.E, the act of building. Billy, N.E, brother. Sco. Bile, C, Beel, N.E, a boil, an inflammation preparing to sup- purate. Binsh, C, N.E, bench. Sax. bcence. Bindin, C, a long rod or binder used in hedge making. Bink, N.E, a row of peats, &c, piled up. Birk, Burk, G, birch. Bir, Bur, G, any rapid whirling motion, also the sound pro- duced by the motion. Scand. bir, & breeze. Bishopt, G, burnt in the pan. Bit, G, but, piece. " Knock 't to bits, bit doont waste it." Bit, G, position, station. " He 's gittan poorish, an pincht to hod his bit." Bit, N.E, little. " The bit lad." Bit thing, N.E, small and insignificant. Bitter-bump, Mire-drum, C, the bittern. This bird is now a very rare visitor, and is not known to breed here. The writer has a recollection of being called to listen to the booming of a bittern, in a mild Spring evening, about the year 1804, in the mosses of Arlecdon. Bizzen, Bysen, N.E, ugly or ill-made. Ang.-Sax. bisen, example. Bizzom, N.E, a besom of birch twigs. Blaa, S.W. blow. A postman overtook a butcher, leading a fat calf by a cord tied round his own waist, and vainly en- deavouring to get the animal to cross a foot-bridge on the 10 path. The butcher requested the postman to blow his horn when the calf was got into a favourable position, and on giving the word of command, to "Blaa, Jimmy, blaa!" a ]oud and sudden blast was given, and over went the calf into a deep pool, dragging the butcher along with it. On recovering his feet, he turned to the astonished postman, vociferating, " Thaww fooal, thaww ! that's far oor big a blatz for a fat cofe ! " Blab, G, to let out a secret. Teut. blabberen, to tell a secret. Blabber-skite, N.E, a vain talking fellow. Blackberries, C, black currants. Black-jack, G-, a leathern tankard. " There is preserved at Eden hall, and in constant use in the servants' hall on New Year's Day, a good specimen of the old leathern tankard, or jack; Black-jack, indeed, is its familiar appel- lation."— Rev. B. Porteus. Black-kites, C, Bummel-kites, N.E, bramble berries. Black-a-vyzt, C, dark complexioned. Bladder, C, Blether, N.E, idle talk. " A bletheran feull." Blake, C, pale yellow. "Blake as May butter." Dan. bleg. Sax. blaca, pale. Blare, C, Bledder, N.E, to roar violently. "He blares like a billy gwoat." Lower Sax. blaren, to bellow. Blash, C, to splash. Bleadd, G, blade. Bleakken, N.E, blacken. Bleeak, S.W, bleak. Bleamm, G, blame. Bleary, C, windy and showery. Bleatt, C, N.E, bashful, timid. Blebs, C. bubbles. Bleckal, N.E, Blackhall village, near Carlisle. Bledder, G, the bladder. Bleeze, G, blaze, a sudden flame. Bleeat, S.W, to bleat. Lan. Bleight, N.E, blight. Sco. Blenk, Blink, C, N.E, a gleam. "A blenk o sunshine." Blenrayset, C, Blennerhasset village. 11 Bleudd, G, blood. Bleumm, N.E, bloom. Blinders, C, N.E, Blinkers, N.E, Winkers, Gloppers, S.W, eye shades, used on horses' bridles. Blin, N.E, blind. Sco. Bliss, N.E, bless. Sco. Blittert, C, torn by winds. Blocker, C, a butcher's pole-axe. Bo, C, Baa, S.W, N.E, ball. Boddam, G, bottom, low ground; a small valley or hollow. Boddamest, G, the lowest. Boddersom, G. troublesome. Boggle, C, S.W, Boogie, N.E, a ghost, something to be avoided. " Ye needent boggle at me — aa\ nit hurt ye." Bog onion, C, the Osmunda Begalis, or flowering fern. Boilies, C, food boiled for infants. Boilin, G, the whole quantity. " The heall boilin o' them." Boke, C, to hinder, disappoint ; a balk or beam. Boke, Bawk, C a ridge of land left for division of ownership. Ang.-Sax. balca, a ridge. Bokes, C, a hayloft, &c, of rough poles, and turf or branches in place of boards. " Eork that hay onta t' bokes." Bokin, G, the surname of Bacon. Boly, C, S.W, a horse having white legs and face. Bo-man, C, the name of an imaginary person, used to frighten children. Bond-sucken, G, some farms are bound by tenure to carry their corn to the manorial mill to be multured and ground, and are " bond-sucken " to that mill. Bonnily, G, prettily. Bonny, G, pretty. Sometimes ironically used in a contrary sense. " It 's a bonny consarn ! " Boo, C, N.E, Baww, S.W, to bow. Booak, S.W, a book. Booard, C, S.W, Beurd, N.E, board. Booin, Grundswathe, C, Muggert, E, Grunsel, N.E, the rag- wort— Senecio Jacobcea. Book, G, bulk. 12 Bool, C, N.E, Booal, S.W, to bowl. "Bool in" — go boldly in. Boonce, C, Bawnce, S.W, Bunce, N.E, bounce. Boor, G-, to bore. Boot, G, bout, turn. " Let him hev a boot at threshin." Booze, C, a carouse. Boozy, C, elevated by liquor. Borran, C, a cairn, a large heap or extent of stones tumbled promiscuously one upon another. " A borran o steanns." Boss, Sop, C, Waze, N.E, a milkmaid's cushion for the head. Botch, (x, to mismanage. " Thoo 's meadd a botch on 't noo !" Bootsher, N.E, butcher. Sco. Bounder, C, boundary (used in old deeds). Bowster, G, bolster. Bowton, G, Bolton parish and village. BrafFam, C, Barryham, S.W, Breigham, N.E, a neck collar for a horse (Beruham, Barkhaam, Boucher). Braid, C, a cow is said to braid during the pains of parturition. Brak, G, broke. Brake, C, Breakk, S.W, Breeak, N.E, to beat. Brakesowt, C, Brakshy, N.E, inflammatory fever in sheep. Brandreth, C, an iron frame for supporting the baking plate or girdle at a proper distance above the fire ; a trivet. Teut. brander. Brandied, C, Brannit, N.E, brindled. Brang, C, S.W, Brong, N.E, brought. "An' Kursty brong his lug a whang." — Anderson. Brank, C, to hold the head affectedly and proudly. " Brankan like a steg swan." Bran new, G, never having been used. Brant, C, S.W, Brent, N.E, steep. "Skiddaw's a gay brant fell." Dan. brat. Scand. brant. Branton, G, Brampton. Brash, C, rash, headlong. "He's a brashan body, an runs heed an neck still." Brast, Brust, Brist, G, burst. "That with the straint his wesand nigh he brast:' — Spenser's F. Q. Brashy, C, weak, delicate. 13 Brass, G, copper money, riches. Brass, G, impudence, assurance. " He 's plenty o' brass in his feass." Brat, C, a coarse apron, a contemptuous term for a child. Br. " A bratte to walken in a daylight." Ch. Brattle, G-, a loud rattle. Brave, N.E, superior, fine. Bravely, C, N.E, quite well. " Ize bravely, hoo's tou?" Bray, G, to beat. " Aa\ gi' thee a brayin." Sax. bracan. Brayin steann, C, N.E, a rounded stone used for pounding sandstone to sand floors with. Brayzent, C, brazen, impudent, with excess of assurance. Brazzle, C, to press into a crowd, &c. Brazzled, or Brizled, or Brusled pez, N E, scorched pease, scrambled for by boys. A glorious feast for the young- sters ! A sly urchin steals a sheaf of pease : notice of the fact spreads quicker than the progress of the w Fiery Cross " in old times, and the village green is soon peopled by joyous faces. The sheaf is readily in a blaze, and this subsided, down go the boys on hands and knees amongst the yet hot ashes, seeking as for hidden treasure — the pease, some still green, some only scorched, others charred to a cinder, but all excellent to the anxious juveniles, who rise from the scramble with hands and faces black as sweeps. Breadd, S.W, Braid, N.E, broad. Bread sticks, N.E, a wooden frame for drying bread cakes before the fire. Breear, G, briar. " Now in the crop, and now down in the breres." Ch. Breed, C, N.E, Breead, S.W, bread. Breekin, C, the space behind the udder of a sheep. Breeks, G, breeches. Breest, Brist, C, N.E, Breeast, S.W, breast. Breet, C, S.W, Breeght, N.E, bright. Breeth, C, S.W, Braith, N.E, breath. Brek, C, to break ; fun, practical joke. " Sec breks !" 14 Breme, N.E, to froth. " It bremes ower," it froths over the brim. ' Brenth, G, breadth. Breukt, C, a white sheep having the belly and legs black is a breukt sheep in colour. Breumm, G, broom. Breuzz, Briz, C, Breez, N.E, bruise. Bridewain,* Bidden weddin, G, a wedding custom, now obso- lete, at which subscriptions were made for the newly- married pair, and sports held for the amusement of all. Brig, G-, bridge. Brissle up, G-, to erect the bristles, to grow angry. Broatch, G, a wooden pin to wind yarn upon. Brock feasst, C, snip-faced, like a badger. Dan. brok. Brog, Brob, C, a twig, a small branch or straw worn in the hat- band by unengaged servants on the hiring day. " I' Carel I wandert wi' a strea i' my mouth," — Anderson. Brog out, G, to mark out by sticking up branches. Brok, Brokken, G, broken, curdled. Broan, C, S.W, Braan, N.E, a boar. Broo, C, Breaa, S.W, Breea, N.E, brow. " Oor beck 's broo full to-day." Broon leemers, C, nuts browned with ripeness, and ready to drop out of the husks. Brossan, C, S.W, Brussan, Brust, N.E, burst. Brossan kern, G, this term is agplied in ridicule when the har- vest-home is held prematurely. Brot, C, refuse corn, odds and ends. Brot out, C, corn is said to brot out when the grain is shed from over ripeness. * The following is copied from a local paper of 1786, and is part of an advertisement relating to a Bridewain. " Notice is hereby given, that the marriage of Isaac Pearson with Frances Atkinson will he solemnized in due form in the parish church of Lamplugh, in Cumberland, on Tuesday next, the 30th May, 1786 ; immediately after which the bride and bridegroom, with their attendants, will proceed to Lanefoot, in the said parish, where the nuptials will be celebrated by a variety of entertainments." And, doubtless, a hand- some collection would find its way, according to custom, into the napkin- covered pewter-dish upon the bride's lap. 15 I Brugh, N.E, a halo round the sun or moon. " A far-off brugh tells of a near-hand storm." I Browse, C, friable, mellow. - Brully, C, Brulliment, N.E, broil, disturbance. Brumstan, C, Brunstan, N.E, brimstone. Brunt, G, burnt. Buckle, C, order, condition, health. " He 's i' girt buckle to-day." Buckle, C, S.W, to marry, fasten upon, attack. Buckle beggar, N.E, the Gretna Green parson.* Buck up, 0, to subscribe, to help or assist, to advance. " Buck up till her, lad." Buff, G, nakedness. " Stript into buff." Bule, C, the bow cf a basket, or corfe, or pan. See Yetlin. Bull grips, G, iron claspers for leading bulls by the nose. Bullister, N.E, the fruit of the bullace tree, Prunus institia. Bull ring, G, the ring to which bulls were secured previous to being baited or slaughtered, as at Penrith, Keswick, &c. ; also a place of public challenge. To "shakt' bull ring" was, some fifty years ago, to challenge the village, or town, or fairstead, to produce a champion to fight the " shakker" : similar to the Irishman dragging his coat through the fair for another to tread upon, Bullstang, C, the dragon fly — Libellalce. Bull toppins, C, Bull feasses, S.W, Bull fronts, N.E, tufts of the aira coespitosa, a very coarse grass. Bullyrag, Ballyrag, G, to scold, to reproach, to rally contemp- tuously. Bultree, C, Burtree, S.W, Boretree, N.E, the elder — Sambucus nigra. Bum, G, to be busy. " Bumman about like a bee in a bottle." Bumly, C, the humble bee — Bomba. Scand. bumla, to buzz. Bummel, C, to bungle, blunder. Bump, C, a blow, a hump. Bumper, G, a large one. Bunch berry, N.E, the fruit of the stone bramble — rubus saxatilis. * His office became extinct by Act of Parliament in 1857. 16 Bund, C, S.W, Bun, N.E, bound. Bunnels, C, Bullens, Spools, N.E, dry stems of the Jcesh or cow I parsnip, or of hemp, used for candle-lighters.- Burd, C, bird. Burn t' beck, G, having taken no fish. Burnt his fingers, G, applied to persons having failed in some object, or having been over-reached. Burnywind, N.E, burn the wind, the blacksmith. Sco. Bur, C, Brugh, N.E, a wheel stopper, a halo round the sun or moon. "We'll hev change seunn, theer a bur aboot meunn." Burr, 0, a sudden hurry. " He went off wid a burr." Buryin t' ould wife, C, the treat by an apprentice on attaining his freedom. Busk (nearly obsolete), C, Buss, N.E, bush. Teut. busch. Butter bwoat, C, a small tureen with a handle at one end and a spout at the other. Butter fmgert, G, having a careless habit of allowing things to drop through the hands. Butter kits, C, square boxes used for conveying butter to market in a wallet on horseback. Butter shag, C, bread and butter spread with the thumb, sometimes called a thumb shag. Butter sops, C, N.E, wheat or oat bread steeped in melted butter and sugar. But and ben, N.E, the outer and inner rooms of the Border farm houses. Sco. Butts, G, short ridges of uneven length. Butty, C, bulky at the butt or lower end. But-welt, C, to turn the butt ends of corn sheaves to the wind to dry. Buzzert, C, the buzzard or bustard ; a timid person. " She 's a fair buzzert at' neets." Bwoat, G, boat. Bwoast, C, N.E, boast. Bwol, C, Bothel village. Bwore, C, Boor, S.W, to bore with a gimlet, &c. 17 Bworn, G, born to the world, carried, borne. Bwoy, N.E, boy. Bwozom, N.E, bosom. Sco. Bygeann G, bygone. "Let bygeanns be bygeanns" — let what is past be forgotten. Bysepel, Byseful, G, full of vice, mischievous. C. Caant, C, Caat, S.W, Canna, N.E, cannot. Caarel, C, Cairl, N,E, Carlisle. Cabbish, G, cabbage. Cabbish-runt, C, Castick, N.E, a cabbage stalk, and N.E, the inside of it. Cad, C, S.W, to mat or felt together. " Her hair was caddit till it cud nivver be cwomt mair." Cadger, N.E, a retailer of smallwares having a cart; a hard biscuit. " A Peet-cadger." — Anderson. Caff, G. chaff. Caird, N.E, card. Sco. Calavine, N.E, a blacklead pencil. Caller, N.E, fresh, cool. Sco. Campers, G, persons sleeping in tents or camps, vagrants. Cample, C, to reply pertly to a superior. Cammarel, C, the heel or hock joint of animals, a wooden stretcher used for suspending carcases upon. Cannel, G, candle. Cannel-bark, C, a small box, originally made of bark, and used for holding candles, now made of tin or wood. Cankert, G, ill-conditioned, rusted. Canny, Conny, G, pretty, nice, suitable, cautious, gentle. " Be canny,1' or cautious. Canny bit, G, a term of comparison ; as " a canny bit better,'' a " canny bit warse." Canny come off, C, a ludicrous and unexpected turn of affairs. Canty, G, merry, lively, cheerful. Capper, G, one who excels. 2 18 Cappers, G, something difficult. " Aa\ set thee thy cappers/' Caps cut-lugs,* C, anything unexpectedly puzzling or droll. Capt, G, overcome, puzzled. " He 's fairly capt" Caper corner-way, C, diagonally. Car-clout nails, C, hroad headed nails, formerly in use for I securing the tire of wheels. Car stangs, C, Car limmers, S.W, cart shafts. Car-reet, C, Car-reeght, N.E, cartwright. Car-end-board, Coopboard, C, Car-scut, S.W, Heckboard, N.E, the end-board of a cart. Car-house, C, Carras, N.E, a house to shelter carts in. Car-rack, G, a deep cart-rut or track. Carl, N.E, a coarse, unmannerly fellow. Carran, Gr, carrion. Carry, C, the movement or direction of the clouds. " It '11 be fair to-day, because t' carry 's frae t' west." Carry on the war ! C, continue the fun. Cassel, Gr, castle. Castick, N.E, cabbage stalk. Cat-lowp, C, in near proximity. " Within a cat-lowp." Catscalp, Catscope, C, clay ironstone in nodules. Cat-wittit, C, silly and conceited. 'Cause, G, because. Cawm, G, calm. Cawwshin, C, caution. Cay shin, G, occasion. Ceapp, G, cape. Ceestern, C, cistern. Cennel,* C, cannel coal. Cest,* G, cast. 