Chapter XVI: A Few Simple Hints on the Grammar of the Folk-Speech (4)

+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.