Chapter XVI: A Few Simple Hints on the Grammar of the Folk-Speech (6)

+Tangle+, _v._ To entangle.

+Tangly+, _adj._ Slatternly, slovenly. Applied to a slut.

+Tantle+, _v._ 1. To waste time.
2. To play on with.
Ex.—1. _Noo set ti wark ez if thoo meant it, an’ deean’t tantle
on leyke that._

+Tappy-lappy+, _adv._ Anyhow.

+Tatchy+, _adj._ Sticky, viscous, adhesive.

+Tattling+, _n._ The necessary tackle or equipment of things for
carrying out any purpose.
Ex.—_He hezn’t gitten onny tattling foor a job o’ yon size_,
i.e. neither ladders, ropes, nor scaffolding poles.

+Taum+, _n._ The twisted hair to which the fish-hook is attached.

+Taum ower, To+, _v._ To faint.

+Taws+, _n._ Boys’ marbles.

+Team+, +Teem+, _v._ and _n._ 1. To pour from any vessel.
2. To rain heavily.
3. To empty.
Ex.—1. _Team all t’ cau’d tea oot._
2. _It teem’d doon_, i.e. of rain.
3. _Teeam t’ coals oot at t’ back-side._

+Tea-party+, _n._ A tea meeting given in the village school or
barn to raise money for some object.

+Teave+, _Vide_ +Tew+.

+Teea+, _prep._ To. _Vide_ +Till+.

+Teeagle+, _v._ To raise timber from the ground by means of a
tripod of strong poles and a pulley.

+Teeak+, _v._ Took.

+Teeals+, _n._ Tools.

+Tell+, _v._ 1. To recognize.
2. To know.
3. To number, to reckon up, to judge.
Ex.—1. _Ah c’u’d tell wheea ’t wur ez seean ez Ah clap’t mah een
on ya._
2. _‘Twur good eneeaf ti tell what he wur gahin’ ti saay._
3. _Gan ti t’ gaate an’ tell t’ sheep ez tha cum thruff._

+Telly-pye-tit+, or +Tell-pyet+, _n._ A tale-bearer.

+Tempesty+, _adj._ Thunderous, blustery, or having the appearance
of stormy weather.

+Teng+, _v._ To sting.

+Tenged+, _pp._ Stung.

+Tengs+, _n._ Tongs.

+Tent+, _n._ Attention, care.
Ex.—_Tak tent o’ what he saays, noo._

+Tent+, _v._ To look after, to keep watch over.
Ex.—_Yan’s tenting craws fur Billy, an’ t’ other’s tenting wur
awn coos i’ t’ lonnin’._

+Tetchy+, _adj._ Cross, peevish.

+Teufit+, +Teeafit+, +Tewit+, _n._ The pewit, plover, or lapwing
(_Vanellus cristatus_).

+Teugh+, +Teeaf+, _adj._ Tough.

+Tew+, _v._ 1. To toil.
2. To tire and grow weary.
3. To tire by restlessness.
4. To crumple and crease by rough or unskilful handling.
Ex.—1. _Ah’ve tewed all t’ daay_, i.e. ‘toiled.’
2. _Ah’ve gitten ’t deean, bud it’s sadly tewed ma._
3. _Sha’s tired noo, bud then sha’s tewed on all t’ neet._
4. _Put ’em doon, thoo’s tewing ’em, whahl tha weean’t be fit ti
put on._

+Tha+, _per. pron._ They, thou, and thee.

+Thabble+, _n._ The plug which fits the hole in the milk trough.

+Thack+, +Theeak+, +Theeaking+, _n._ Thatch.

+Thack+, +Theeak+, +Theeaking+, _v._ To thatch.

+Thacker+, +Theeaker+, _n._ A thatcher.

+Thack-bands+, +Theeak-bands+, +Theeaking-bands+, _n._ Bands of
straw for thatching.

+Thack-prods+, +Theeak-prods+, +Theeaking-prods+,
_Vide_ +Stack-prod+.

+Thah+, _per. pron._ Thy.

+Tharf+, +Tharfish+, _adj._ +Tharfly+, _adv._ Backward, reluctant,
shy, bashful, unwilling.

+Thauvel+, +Thivel+, _n._ A stick used for stirring or pushing down
the contents of a pan likely to boil over.

+Thee+, _n._ Thigh.

+Theet+, _adj._ Water-tight.

+Them+, _pron._ Those.

+Thick+, _adj._ Very friendly, intimate.

+Thills+, _n._ Shafts of a waggon.

+Think long of, To+, _v._ To be long expectant, weary of waiting.

+Think on+, _v._ To bear in mind, to remember.
As an example of redundancy, I heard a woman say, _Noo mahnd an’
think on, an’ deean’t forget ti beear i’ mahnd ’at thoo ’ez ti
fetch a pund o’ treacle_.

+Think up+, _v._ To originate, to arrange.
Ex.—_Noo it’ll ’a’e ta’en a lot o’ thinking up, will a do leyke
yon._

+Tho+, +Thoo+, _per. pron._ Thou.

+Thoff+, _conj._ Though.

+Thrave+, _v._ To thrive.

+Thrave+, +Trave+, +Treeav+, _n._ A stook of corn, or twelve
battens of straw.

+Thraw+, _Vide_ +Throw+.

+Threead+, _n._ Thread.

+Threeap+, _n._ A contentious fellow.

+Threeap+, _v._ To maintain pertinaciously, to argue positively.

+Threeap down+, _v._ To overpower by argument.

+Threeap up+, _v._ To refer to bygone mistakes or misunderstandings
in an unkindly manner.

+Threeten+, Threaten.

+Three-thrums+, _n._ The purring of a cat.

+Thribble+, _adj._ Treble.

+Thriver+, _n._ Healthy, strong, likely to improve.

+Thro+, _Vide_ +Thruff+.

+Throng+, _adj._ 1. More than usually busy or crowded.
2. Engaged in.
Ex.—2. _T’ bairn’s thrang gitting its teeth._

+Throng+, +Thrang+, _n._ Bustle, a great crowd, confusion,
excitement.

+Throng deed+, _n._ Excitement over some event, the bustle and
confusion attendant on any celebration, tea party, wedding, &c.

+Thropple+, _n._ The windpipe.

+Thropple+, _v._ To strangle.

+Throstle+, +Throssel+, _n._ The thrush.

+Through+, _n._ A lathe.

+Through+, +Thruff+, _prep._ At some time, at intervals.
Ex.—_Ah’ll mebbe deea ’t thruff t’ morning. It teeam’d doon
thruff t’ neet._

+Through+ or +Thruff with+, _adv._ Finished, complete. N.B.
‘Through’ is also pronounced ‘throwgh’ and ‘thro.’
Ex.—_Ah s’all be thruff wi’ t’ job by ti morn._

+Throughly+, _adv._ Completely, fully.

+Through time+ = In time, gradually, by-and-by.
Ex.—_Ah s’all git better through time. If t’ weather ho’ds
thoo’ll git deean through time._

+Through, To get+, _v._ To dispose of.
Ex.—_Ah’ve fetched t’ coo yam ageean, bud Ah gat thruff t’ sheep._

+Throvven+, _pp._ To thrive.

+Throw+, _v._ To vomit.

+Throw back+, _v._ To have a relapse.
Ex.—_He’s warse ti-daay, he’s gitten thrown back a lump sen last
neet._

+Throw over+, _v._ To turn over, to upset, to be overturned.

+Thruff+, +Throw+, _prep._ Through.

+Thrumble+, +Thrumm’l+, _v._ To examine the quality of anything by
the touch or rubbing action of the finger and thumb.

+Thrumm’l+, _n._ A rope firmly bound round a grooved iron ring.

+Thrummy+, _adj._ Bulky, plump.

+Thrust+, _v._ To push with some force.

+Thrust out+, +Thrussen oot+, _pp._ Projecting forward, bulging,
turned out.

+Thumping+, _adj._ Big, large of its kind.

+Thunner+, _n._ Thunder.

+Thwack+, _v._ To administer a sharp blow.
Ex.—_Gi’e it a good thwacking wiv a hezzel stick, that’ll fetch
t’ dust oot on ’t._

+Thysen+ or +Thysel+, +Thisen+ or +Thisel+, _pron._ Thyself or
yourself.

+Ti+, _prep._ To.

+‘Tice+, _v._ To allure, induce.
Ex.—_A young widow knows hoo ti ’tice a chap._

+‘Ticing+, _adj._ Alluring, seductive, winning.

+‘Tick+, _Vide_ +Cade+.

+‘Tick+, _v._ To mark off goods or other items, as in an invoice,
by placing a small mark against each when called.

+Tiddle+, _v._ To fondle, to finick.

+Tiddy+, _adj._ Small, puny.

+Tidy-betty+, _n._ A guard to prevent the ashes dirtying the hearth.

+Tie+, +Tee+, +Tah+, _n._ A hair band to secure the legs of a cow
whilst being milked.

+Tie+, _n._ 1. Obligation.
2. Necessity.
3. Burden.
4. Care.
Ex.—1. _Ah’s unner neea tie tiv him._
2. _Ther’s neea tie fur thoo ti gan._
3. _Thoo’ll finnd her a despert tie, sen sha lost t’ ewse ov her
legs._

+Tied+, +Tahd+, _v._ Obliged, constrained, compelled.
Ex.—_If sha’s leyke ti dee, Ah s’ be tied ti gan. He’ll be tied
ti drop a bit ower t’ meer. Ah’s nut tied ti deea ’t acoz thoo
tells ma._

+Tied, It’s+ = It must, no doubt exists.
Ex.—_It’s tied ti be ez he sez. It’s tied ti tumm’l doon wi t’
fo’st gust o’ wind._

+Tiffany+, _n._ Strong, fine-meshed gauze.

+Tift+, _n._ A quarrel, generally of words only.

+Tift+, _v._ To contend.

+Tig+, _n._ A light tap.
Ex.—_Ah didn’t hit, Ah nobbut tigg’d him._

+Tiggings+, _n._ A game played by children, the object being to
tap each other; the one so touched must then chase the rest
until he or she gently taps some other.

+Tightish+, _adv._ and _adj._ 1. Somewhat fast or close-fitting.
2. Lacking means.
3. Difficult.
Ex.—1. _It’s varra well putten tigither, bud a larl bit tightish
i’ t’ lid._
2. _Ah caan’t len’ tha ten pund, Ah’s a bit tightish held mysel
just noo._
3. _It’s a tightish fix thoo’s gitten thisen intul._

+Till+, +Tull+, +Ti+, _prep._ To. +Tiv+ before a vowel.

+Tim’ered+, +Weell+, _adj._ Well built.

+Tim’er-toed+, _adj._ A man wearing a wooden leg is said to be
timber-toed.

+Timersome+, _adj._ Nervous, apprehensive of danger.

+Ti morn+, _n._ To-morrow.

+Ti morn at morn+ = To-morrow in the morning. Hence +Ti morn at
neean+, ‘noon’; +Ti morn at neet+, ‘night.’

+Tinkler+, _n._ A tinker.

+Tip-trap+, _n._ An arrangement which closes the door, owing to
the weight of the animal releasing a lever as it passes in.

+Tipe+, _v._ To turn over, or fall over.

+Tipple over+, _v._ To fall over.

+Tipple-tail-over+, _n._ Somersault.

+Tit up+, _v._ To pay one’s share.

+Tite+, _Vide_ +As tite+.

+Titter+, _adv._ and _adj._ Sooner, first, willingly.

+Titterly+, _adj._ Early, forward in growth.

+Titty+, _n._ The mother’s milk.

+Tiv+, _Vide_ +Till+.

+Tivvy+, _v._ To roam about.

+To+, _prep._ Often used instead of ‘for.’
Ex.—_We’re gahin’ ti ’ev dumplings ti dinner._ Common in old
writers and the Bible.

+Toft+, _n._ A small grove of trees.

+Tommy-loach+, _n._ The stone-loach.

+To’n+, _n._ A good turn = a kindness.
Ex.—_They’ll deea onnyboddy a good to’n, will John an’ Annie._

+To’n+, _v._ To turn.

+Toon+, _n._ A village.

+Toon street+, _n._ The village street.

+Top-dressin’+, _n._ Manure thrown on, not ploughed in.

+Topping+, _n._ A natural standing-up roll or curl on the forehead,
the hair of the head.
Ex.—_Sha teeak him byv t’ topping an’ shuvved him inti t’ hollin
bush._

+Topping+, +Topper+, _adj._ First-class, very fine.

+Tottering+, _adj._ Unsettled as to weather and life.
Ex.—_It’s been nobbut a tottering tahm fur hay. He’s nobbut
’eving a tottering tahm on ’t; Ah doot he’s nut lang fur here._

+Tottle+, _v._ To toddle, as a child or an infirm person.

+Tottling+, _pp._ Falling.

+Touchous+ } _adj._ Irritable, resentful.
+Touchy+ }

+Touple+, _v._ Another form of +Tottle+. To sway or totter and then
fall over. +Whemm’l+ carries the same double meaning, but is rarely
heard now. To fall.

+Trail+, _v._ To drag along the ground.
2. To move with difficulty, or lazily.
Ex.—_Hoo that lass diz trail aboot. Ah can hardlin’s trail yah
leg efter t’ other._

+Trailtengs+, _n._ A gossiping woman.

+Trailtripes+, _n._ A slatternly woman.

+Trallops+, _n._ A slatternly woman.

+Tramp+, _n._ and _v._ A beggar; to go on foot.

+Tramping+, _part._ Trampling.

+Trap+, _v._ To be severely nipped, as by a box-lid falling on
one’s finger, and the like.

+Trapěs+, _n._ A dirty, untidy woman.

+Trapes+ or +Trapus+, _v._ To walk aimlessly about hither and
thither.

+Traps+, _n._ Belongings.
Ex.—_Pack thi traps up an’ cum alang._

+Trash+, _n._ Good for nothing, either of persons or things.

+Travel+, _v._ To walk, to move along.
Ex.—_Theease steeans mak it bad travelling._

+Trig+, _v._ To fill. As a _noun_, a stone to stop a wheel.

+Trigger+, _n._ One who feeds the cattle. NOTE.—Only used in the
east of the North Riding.

+Trim+, _v._ To cut a hedge, to apply the finishing touch.

+Trimmer+, _adj._ Really good, first-class. _n._ A sharp fellow.

+Trimm’ling-gess+, _n._ Trembling grass.

+Trod+, _n._ A footpath.

+Troll+, _v._ To roll.

+Troll-egg day+, _Vide_ chapter on ‘Customs.’

+Trollibobs+, _n._ Entrails.

+Trunking+, _n._ The business of lobster and crab catching.

+Tu’n+, _Vide_ +To’n+.

+Tundish+, _n._ A funnel.

+Tup+, _n._ A ram.

+Turve+, _n._ A block of turf to be used as fuel.

+Turve-cake+, _n._ A cake baked in a pan having a tightly fitting
lid, which is covered over with burning turves until sufficiently
baked.

+Twadgers+, _n._ A gingerbread cake.

+Twangy+, _adj._ and _adv._ Affected, applied to intonation.

+Twank+, _v._ To administer a sharp smack, to whip.

+Twattle+, _n._ Gossip.

+Twattle+, _v._ To stroke, to pet.
Ex.—_Thoo twattles on wi’ t’ pup ez if ’twar a bairn._

+Tweea+, _num. adj._ Two.

+Twill+, _n._ A quill, as ‘twill pen.’

+Twilt+, _n._ A bed-quilt.

+Twilt+, _v._ To beat, to flog.

+Twilting+, _v._ Cross-stitching two thicknesses together.

+Twine+, _v._ 1. To twist or turn from a direct course.
2. To be fretful.
Ex.—1. _He twisted an’ twin’d uz aboot whahl Ah didn’t knaw
wheear wa war._

+Twiny+, _adj._ Peevish.

+Twisty+, _adj._ Cross, fretful.

+Twitch-bell+, _n._ The earwig (_Forficula auricularia_).

+Twitters+, _n._ A state of nervousness.

+Tyaak+, _Vide_ +Teeak+.

+Tyke+, _n._ A disreputable fellow; the name given to a
Yorkshireman.

U.

+‘Ud+, Would.

+Udge+, _v._ To urge.

+Un+, One.
Ex.—_Sha’s a good un_, i.e. ‘She is a good one.’

+Unbated+, _adj._ Not repressed.

+Unbeknown+, _adj._ Not known.

+Unbethink+, _v._ To call to mind.

+Uncomeatable+, _adj._ and _adv._ Difficult to approach or get at.

+Underdraw+, _v._ To cover with lath and plaster.

+Underhanded+, _adj._ Undersized, poorly developed.

+Underling+, _n._ A stunted, weakly child.

+Undermind+, _v._ To undermine.

+Ungain+, _adj._ Distant, difficult of access, awkward.
Ex.—_It’s sik an ungain spot ti finnd, is yours._

+Unmenseful+, _adj._ Unbecoming, unseemly, ill-mannered.

+Unreave+, _v._ To unwind.

+Unsayable+, _adj._ Not amenable to advice, self-willed.

+Unslot+, _v._ To unfasten by pulling back the slot or bolt.

+Unsteck+, _v._ To unfasten and push open.

+Up, To speak+, _v._ To speak aloud, to defend oneself against an
unjust charge.

+Up with+ = The matter with.
Ex.—_What’s up wi’ t’ bairn?_

+Upbray+, _v._ To upbraid.

+Upend+, _v._ To set on end, to stand upright.

+Upgang+, _n._ A pathway up a hill or mountain.

+Upgrown+, _adj._ Adult.

+Uphold+, +Upho’d+, _v._ 1. To maintain, to give one’s unqualified
support.
2. To provide those things necessary for a person’s welfare, to
sustain.
Ex.—1. _Thee gan on wi’ ‘t, Ah’ll upho’d tha iv all thoo d’z,
’coz thoo’s i’ t’ reet on ’t._
2. _It’ll tak summat ti uphold t’ waay ’at he’s gahin’ on,
i.e. living._

+Upset-price+, _n._ The marked price at which an article is offered
for sale.

+Upset wiv+, _adj._ Put out, disconcerted, worried.
Ex.—_Ah nivver war sae upsetten wiv owt ez Ah war when t’ au’d
meer deed._

+Upshot+, _n._ Final issue, the conclusion of anything.
Ex.—_An’ t’ upshot on ’t war ’at he gat hissel weel bunched._

+Use, To no+ = Useless, unprofitable, worthless.

+Use ti c’u’d+ = Once was able.

+Us+, _adv._ and _conj._ As. _Vide_ +Es+.

V.

+Varra+, _adv._ Very. _Vide_ +Very+.

+Vast+, _n._ and _adj._ A large number.
Ex.—_A vast o’ fooak cam ti t’ feeast. Ther wur a vast mair
bosses ’an Ah aim’d ti see._

+Verser+, _n._ A rhymster.

+Very+, _adj._ An intensive.
Ex.—_Thoo maay slavver on, varra few ’ll pay onny heed ti what
thoo sez. Aye, a varra deeal o’ what he sez is o’ varra larl
matter tiv onnybody._

+Vessel cups+ = Wassail cups.

+Viewly+, +Viewsome+, _adj._ Pleasing to look at, handsome, neatly
and well put together.
Ex.—_It’s a varra viewly cauf. Sha’s a varra viewly lass._

+Volumous+, _adj._ Large, bulky.
Ex.—_It’s a maist volumous consarn, yon is. Ah deean’t tak ti
sike volumous things._

W.

+Wa+, _pron._ We.

+Wad+, _v._ Would.

+Wade+, _v._ To glimmer, as the sun does when rising if the
atmosphere is charged with moisture.
Ex.—_It’ll rain afoor neet, t’ sun waded sadly ez sha peeped
ower Rosberry._

+Waff+, _n._ 1. A slight puff of wind.
2. The slightest scent.
Ex.—1. _It’s despert clooase, ther hezn’t been a waff o’ wind
ti-daay._
2. _Noo Ah’ve ’ed yah waff o’ thi silidge, an’ Ah want na mair
on ’t._

+Waff+, _v._ To bark as a little dog.

+Waffle+, _v._ To hesitate, waver, to be undecided.

+Waffly+, _adj._ 1. Undecided, wavering, vacillating.
2. Shaky, insecure.
3. Weak, dizzy, from illness.
4. Given to foolish talk, chatter, &c.
Ex.—1. _T’ wind’s all roads, it’ll nobbut be a waffly sooart ov
a daay. It’s a varra waffly gahin’ on._
2. _Thoo’d best prop it up wi’ summat, it leeaks a bit waffly._
3. _Liggin’ i’ bed sae lang maks yan feel a bit waffly._
4. _Ah reckon nowt ov her waffly waays._

+Waffy+, _Vide_ +Wauf+.

+Waft+, _n._ A slight puff of wind; a wraith, the appearance in
the spirit form of some known one whose death is imminent.

+Wag+, _v._ To beckon with the finger or hand.
Ex.—_Ah wagg’d on him, bud he w’u’dn’t cum._

+Wage+, _v._ To induce by promise of payment.
Ex.—_Ah c’u’dn’t wage him ti staay efter he’d seen Mally’s waft._

+Wahnt+ = Was not, were not.

+Wain+, _n._ A wagon.

+Wain hoos+, _n._ Wagon shed.

+Wait of+ }
+Wait on+ } _v._ To wait for.

+Wake+, +Waak+, _adj._ Weak.

+Wakken+, _v._ To awake, _active_ and _neuter_.

+Wakkensome+, _adj._ Easily roused.

+Wale+, +Weeal+, +Wheeal+, _v._ To flog with a stick.

+Waling+, +Weealing+, _n._ Planks so fixed as to strengthen the
bank of a river.

+Walk with+, _v._ To court, to be engaged.
Ex.—_Sha’s gi’en Tom t’ go-by, an’ walks wi’ t’ young gardener
noo._

+Walsh+, _adj._ Watery, without flavour.

+Wame+, +Wheeam+, _n._ The stomach.

+Wan+, _v._ Won.

+Wangle+, +Wankle+, _v._ To totter preparatory to falling, or to
totter so as to have the appearance of falling.
Ex.—_Leeak oot! cum back! sha’s startin’ ti wang’l._

+Wangle+, +Wankle+, +Wankly+, _adj._ Tottering.
Ex.—_T’ larl brigg’s a wankly consarn._

+Want+, _v._ Its use is somewhat curious, e.g. _Does this book want
changing?_ i.e. ‘Is this book to be changed?’ _I want my coat
brushing_, i.e. ‘I wish my coat to be brushed.’ _Thoo wants a
good thrashing_, i.e. ‘You deserve,’ &c. _He hezn’t gitten mair
’an he wanted_, i.e. ‘He has not got more than he deserved.’

+Wap-cloth+, _n._ Coarse cloth for pilot coats.

+War+, +Waur+, +Wor+, +Wur+, +Wuz+, _imp. tense_ of ‘to be.’ Was or
were.

+Warbels+, _n._ Swellings on the back of a beast, caused by the
larvae of the gadfly (_Oestrus bovis_).

+War-days+, _n._ Any day save Sunday.

+Wards+, A common suffix signifying direction.
Ex.—_He war cumin’ fra Newton-wards._

+‘Ware+, _v._ Beware.

+Ware+, _v._ To lay out one’s money, to spend.
Ex.—_He awlus wares his brass ez if he meant ti git fowr penno’th
o’ stuff fur a threpenny bit._

+Wark+, _v._ and _n._ Work. Its use is manifold, see below.

+Wark+, _v._ To ache, also as a _noun_.
Ex.—_Mah back warks past bahding. Thoo mun wark it_ (arrange it)
_seea ez he ’ez ti deea a day’s wark_ (a day’s labour).
_That’ll gi’e him t’ back-wark_ (ache). _‘At’ll wark_ (remove)
_all t’ warks_ (pains) _’at’s warking_ (aching) _oot on him_.

+Warm+, _adj._ In easy circumstances, well-off.

+Warm+, _v._ To chastise, to flog.

+Warn+, _v._ To summon, to call together, to warn or swear in.

+Warp+, _v._ To flood land with water, either by artificial means
or naturally by overflowing during heavy rains, in order that a
deposit may be left upon the surface when the water recedes.

+Warridge+, _n._ The withers of a horse.

+Warse+, +Wuss+, +Wees+, _adj._ Worse.

+Warsen+, +Warsening+, _v._ To gradually grow worse.
Ex.—_T’ crop warsens ivvery year. Tommy warsens; he’s gahin’ ti
pop off if he dizn’t pick up a bit._

+Warzle+, +Wezzle+, _v._ To gain by craft, to cajole, to flatter,
to wheedle.
Ex.—_Sha’s a queer un, sha can wezzle owt oot o’ ma. He can
warzle tha inti believing owt._

+Wastrell+, _n._ An extravagant spendthrift.

+Water-bleb+, _Vide_ +Bleb+.

+Water-brash+, +Water-springs+, _n._ Acidity, heartburn.

+Water-heck+, _n._ A rail or swing gate hung across the stream to
prevent cattle from straying.

+Wath+, _n._ A ford.

+Watter+, The common pronunciation of ‘Water.’

+Wauf+, +Waufish+, _adj._ Faint, weak, insipid.

+Wax+, _v._ To grow.
Ex.—_He’s a waxing lad that._

+Wax kernel+, _n._ Swellings in the neck and hollow of the jaw.

+Way-corn+, _n._ Oats or barley.

+Way-wards+, _Vide_ +Wards+.

+Ways+, _n._ Way. Used in such sentences as _Gan thi ways heeam.
Noo git thi ways in. Cu’ thi ways, honey._

+Wean+, +Weean+, _n._ A female. An opprobrious epithet.

+Weather-fast+, _adj._ Kept in or prevented from carrying out one’s
plans owing to stress of weather.

+Weather-gaul+, _n._ The incomplete arc of a rainbow, only half
being visible, the sure sign of a coming shower, if not of a bad
spell of weather.
Ex.—_A dyer’s neeaf an’ a weather-gaul
Sheppards warn ’at rain ’ll fall._

+Weazand+, +Wizzan+, _n._ The windpipe. Ex.—_He did shut his tung
oot when Ah nipped his wizzan foor him._

+Wed+, _v._ To marry. ‘Marry’ is rarely used in any tense or mood.

+Weearish+, _adv._ Irritable.

+Weeks+, _n._ Corners. I give the word because I know a few old
people on whose lips it still lingers, but it is rarely heard now.
I heard an old dame not so long ago say to a well-known gossip,
_If thoo hed t’ weeks o’ thi mooth stitchen, an’ t’ weeks o’ thi
een slitten, thoo’d be yabble ti see t’ muck i’ t’ weeks o’ thi
awn hoos, an’ saay less aboot uther fowk_.

+Weetless+, _adj._ Lacking knowledge.

+Wefted, To be+, _v._ To be closely associated with.

+Weight+, +Wite+, _n._ Quantity, &c. Ex.—_There warn’t a gret
weight o’ taaties ti year. Neea gret weight o’ rain fell thruff
t’ neet._

+Welt+, _Vide_ +Rigged+.

+Welting+, _n._ A sound thrashing.

+Wer+, +Wern+, _poss. pron._ Our, our own.

+Werrick+, _n._ and _v._ A half-smothered laugh; to laugh, to
chuckle.

+Wersells+ } _pron._ Ourselves
+Wersens+ }

+Wet, To+, _v._ To rain lightly.

+Wet-shod+, _adj._ Wet as to feet, boots and stockings soaked.

+Weyfe+, +Wahfe+, _n._ Wife.

+Wezzel+, _Vide_ +Rezzel+.

+Wezzle+, _Vide_ +Warzle+.

+Whack+, _v._ To flog.

+Whacker+, _adj._ Larger than ordinary.

+Whahl+, _adv._ Until. _Until_, however, is never heard amongst the
country people, _whahl_ or _while_ being general.

+Whallack+, _v._ To flog with a stick or strap.

+Whallacker+, _adj._ _Vide_ +Whacker+.

+Whallacking+, _adj._ Very large.

+Whallop+, _v._ To whip soundly.

+Whang+, +Wheeang+, _n._ A thong.

+Whang+, _n._ A sudden and heavy drop, or a blow; a thick slice.
Also as a _verb_, to strike a heavy blow.

+Whanging+, _adj._ _Vide_ +Whallacking+.

+Whap+, _n._ A sudden movement, a jerk. Ex.—_He went by wiv a whap._

+Whap+, _v._ To close with a bang; to give a smart tap on the
knuckles; to flap, as a wing.

+Whapper+, +Whopper+, _adj._ Huge.

+What for+, +What for not+, _adv._ Why, why not.

+What mud be deean+ = No matter what precaution may have been taken.
Ex.—_Ah shuv’d wi’ my back, an’ Billy thrust his hardest wiv a
powl, but doon it cam, what mud be deean._

+What one could+, or +‘Ativver he+, +Ah+, or +yan could+ = One’s
very best efforts.
Ex.—_Ah pull’d ’ativver Ah could pull, bud it war ti neea ewse.
Yan did what yan could, bud it war ti larl good._

+Whatten+, _pron._ What. Ex.—_Whatten a tahm o’ daay is ’t? Whatten
a sooart ov a thing diz ti call that?_

+Whau+, +Wheea+, _pron._ Who.

+Wheea s’ ow’ ‘t?+ lit. who shall owe or own it, i.e. To whom does
it belong? Who owns it? Ex.—_Wheea s’ ow’ ‘t bairn?_

+Whemmel+, _v._ To rock to and fro and then fall over.

+Whewling+, _adj._ Dizzy.

+Whewtle+, _v._ To whistle, to squeak.

+Whidder+, +Wither+, _n._ 1. A rush. 2. A sharp and swinging blow.
Ex.—1. _He did gan by wiv a wither._
2. _Ah’ll catch thee sike a wither aback o’ t’ lug if thoo dizn’t
mahnd._

+Whiff+, _v._ To puff in short blasts, as smoke sometimes puffs
downwards and into the room.

+Whiffle-whaffle+, _n._ Idle talk.

+Whiffley+, _v._ To trifle, to vacillate.

+Whimly+, _adv._ Quietly, softly. _Vide_ +Whisht+.

+Whimsey+, _adj._ Changeable, unstable.

+Whins+, _n._ The gorse.

+Whipster+, _n._ A doubtful character.

+Whip-stitch+, _n._ A useless fellow.

+Whirken+, _v._ To choke.

+Whisht+, _adv._ Noiselessly, quietly. Ex.—_Them bisittles gans
varra whisht._

+Whisht+, _adj._ Silent, noiseless.

+Whisht+, _intj._ Be quiet! Hush!

+Whittle+, _n._ A knife.

+Whittle+, _v._ To shave or slice off with a knife.

+Whizzle+, _Vide_ +Warzle+.

+Whoats+, +Whots+, _n._ Oats.

+Whya+, _intj._ Well. If used at the end of a remark = Very well.
Ex.—Q. _Thoo’ll cum on o’ Sundaay?_ A. _Whya._

+Wi’+, _prep._ With. +Wiv+ before a vowel.

+Wick+, _adj._ Living, lively, vigorous. Ex.—_Ah want yan ’at’s
wick, nut a deead un. By goa, sha’s a wick un, is yon young miss._

+Wick+, _n._ Life. Ex.—_This bangs all ’at Ah’ve seean i’ mah wick._

+Wicken+, _v._ To gather wickens.

+Wickens+, +Wicks+, _n._ Couch grass.

+Wicken-wood+, _n._ The mountain ash, the rowan-tree.

+Wicker+, _v._ To neigh, whinny.

+Wicks+, _n._ Seedlings of the whitethorn.

+Wicksilver+, _n._ Quicksilver.

+Widdle-waddling+, _v._ To waddle.

+Widdy+, _n._ A young willow shoot.

+Wikes+, _n._ The corners of the mouth.

+Wildfire+, _n._ Erysipelas.

+Win+, _v._ To attain one’s object by considerable effort.

+Wind+, _n._ Information, a hint. Ex.—_Ah gat wind o’ what he war
efter. If he gets wind o’ what thoo’s deean, thoo’ll drop in for
’t._

+Wind, To lose one’s+ = To die. ‘Wind’ is often used for ‘breath.’

+Winder+, +Winn’l+, _v._ To winnow.

+Winder+ or +Winn’ling machine+, _n._ A winnowing machine.

+Windle straw+ or +Winn’l streah+, _n._ A dead stalk of straw or
grass.

+Winge+, _v._ To threaten to kick (of a horse), to cry peevishly.

+Winter-hedge+, _n._ A clothes-horse.

+Wipe+, _n._ A sharp slap, a hurried rub. Also a _verb_.
Ex.—_Ah’ll wipe tha across t’ feeace._

+Wire-ling+, _n._ The crowberry plant.

+Wire-rush+, _n._ The hard rush (_Juncus glaucus_).

+Wit+, _n._ Knowledge. Ex.—_He hezn’t wit ti deea a job o’ that
sooart. He show’d mair wit ’an what Ah aim’d foor._

+Wiv+, _prep._ With.

+Wivoot+, +Widoot+, _prep._ Without, unless.

+Wizen+, _v._ and _adj._ To shrivel, to dry up.
Ex.—_Sha’s gitten an au’d wizen’d feeace._

+Woomle+, _n._ An auger.

+Wor+, _Vide_ +War+.

+Worral-hole+, _n._ A draught-hole let into the wall through a
drain-pipe at the back of the fire, used to burn sea-coal.

+Worn+, _adj._ Exhausted, used up. Ex.—_Ah’s fairly woorn oot wi’
t’ job. Ah gat weary an’ worn afoor t’ daay war spent._

+Worry+, _v._ To kill. Ex.—_Sha’s nobbut a young un, bud sha’s
worried a ratten alriddy._

+Worsen+, +Warsen+, _v._ 1. To make worse. 2. To gain the advantage
of. _Vide_ +Warsen+.
Ex.—1. _Thoo worsens owt ’at thoo puts thi han’ teeea._
2. _Ah worsen’d him all t’ waay thruff t’ bargain._

+Wostler+, _n._ Hostler.

+Wrang+, _adj._ Wrong.

+Wrecklin+, _n._ The last and smallest of a litter or brood.

+Wringe+, _v._ To whine like a dog, to cry out in pain. Often
+Winge+.

+Wrizzled+, _Vide_ +Razzelled+.

+Wrong with, To get+, _v._ To quarrel, to have a misunderstanding.

+Wrought+, +Wrowt+, _v._ To work, to strive. Ex.—_Neea chap’s wrowt
harder ’an what he hez. Ah’ve wrowt an’ tew’d all t’ daay whahl
Ah’s worn oot._

+Wummely+, _v._ To move in a sinuous manner.

+Wur+, _Vide_ +War+.

+Wurk+, _Vide_ +Wark+.

+Wuz+, _Vide_ +War+.

+Wye+, _n._ A heifer under three years of age.

+Wyke+, +Week+, _n._ A small bay on the sea-coast.

Y.

+Yabble+, +Yabblins+. 1. Able. 2. Maybe, perhaps.
Ex.—1. _Thoo’ll be yabble ti deea ’t._
2. Q. _Will ta leeak in ez thoo passes?_ A. _Yabblins_ (or
_Ablins_) _Ah will_.

+Yaccorn+, +Yakron+, _n._ The acorn.

+Yacker+, _n._ Acre.

+Yaffle+, _v._ To mumble, to speak indistinctly.

+Yah+, _num. adj._ One. N.B. +Yah+, unlike +Yan+, is never used
singly, but is always followed by a word agreeing with it,
e.g. ‘Yah chap,’ ‘Yah tahm.’
Ex.—_Yah daay Ah went wi’ yan on ’em. Yah tahm yan o’ your lads
bunched ma. Yan’s shooting yah things, &c._

+Yak+, _n._ Oak.

+Yal+, _n._ Ale.

+Yalhoos+, Alehouse.

+Yam+, _n._ Home. _Vide_ +Heeam+.

+Yam+, _v._ _Vide_ +Aim+.

+Yan+, _num. adj._ and _indf. pron._ One. _Vide_ +Yah+.

+Yance+, _adv._ Once.

+Yance ower+, Once, at that time.

+Yank+, _v._ To thrash, to flog.

+Yap+, _v._ To bark at one’s heels, to talk foolishly.

+Yark+, _v._ 1. To strike with a switch. 2. To pull out with a jerk.
Ex.—2. _Thi float’s blobb’d unner, yark ’t oot._

+Yarker+, _n._ The best of a sample. Ex.—_Tak that un, mun, it’s a
yarker._

+Yarking+, _n._ A whipping with a switch.

+Yarp+, _v._ To shout, to speak loudly. _Vide_ +Yowp+.

+Yat+, _adj._ Hot. Ex.—_It wur that yat, Ah c’u’dn’t ho’d it._

+Yat+, _n._ A gate.

+Yat-steead+, _n._ The ground covered by the sweep of the gate.

+Yat-stoop+, +Yat-stoup+, _n._ A gate-post.

+Yaud+, _n._ A horse or mare, usually on its last legs.

+Yearn+, _v._ To curdle milk.

+Yearning+, _n._ Rennet.

+Yed+, _v._ To make runs underground, as a rabbit, mole, &c.

+Yedder+, +Yether+, _n._ A young shoot in a hedge, which, being
half cut, is utilized to strengthen some weaker part.

+Yeead+, +Heead+, Head.

+Yer-nut+, _n._ The earth-nut (_Bunium flexuosum_).

+Yet+, _adv._ Still. Ex.—_Is t’ wagon here yet?_ would not imply
‘Has the wagon arrived?’ but ‘Is it still here?’

+Yeth+, _n._ Earth.

+Yethwurm+, _n._ The earthworm.

+Yewn+, _Vide_ +Yown+.

+Yocken+, _v._ To swallow greedily.

+Yoke+, _n._ The shoulder-bar by which two pails can be carried
with ease.

+Yoke+, _v._ To buckle the harness on the horse to the shafts.

+Yon+, _adj._ and _adv._ That, over there. Used demonstratively of
persons and things.

+Yotten+, _Vide_ +Yocken+.

+Youst+, _pp._ Used.

+Yow+, _n._ A female sheep.

+Yowl+, _n._ A plaintive howl.

+Yowl+, _v._ To howl, to cry plaintively.

+Yown+, +Yewn+, +Yuen+, _n._ An oven. Ex.—_Now ’t’s neyce, t’
yuen’s nivver been yat._

+Yowp+, +Yope+, _v._ To cry as a young dog when first kennelled, to
speak in a shrill voice.

+Yuck+, A curious usage is attached to this word. At any social
gathering in the Cleveland dales, when those assembled have grown
excited, some one will shout, _Yuck foor oor deeal_, to which
another will instantly reply, _Yuck foor Castleton_, or _Yuck
foor_ ——, mentioning his own locality. I fancy in days past it
would be given as a challenge; it now carries with it the sense
of ‘To cheer,’ or ‘Here’s to our dale.’

+Yuer+, +Ur+, _n._ The udder of a cow.

+Yuk+, _v._ To beat.

+Yuking+, _n._ A beating.

+Yule-cake+, _n._ A rich plum-cake made for Christmastide, and cut
into on Christmas Eve.

+Yule-candle+, +-cann’l+, _n._ A large wax candle lighted on
Christmas Eve.

+Yule-log+ or +-clog+, _n._ The log burnt on the fire on Christmas
Eve.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

It is a fact, and one worthy of all commendation, that every Yorkshireman considers the dialect spoken in the immediate locality wherein he was reared, as being not only the best, but the purest. Doubtless in some cases this is quite correct, but not in all. Contiguity to other counties has a deteriorating influence, which naturally extends across both borders, and is sometimes very far-reaching in its effect. Owing to this and other causes, many of my readers will find the pronunciation of some words, as given both in the Glossary and throughout the work, not quite in tune with the sound in which they daily hear such words uttered. This difficulty presented itself at the very commencement of the work. A rule had to be adopted to obtain something approaching uniformity and conciseness. To accomplish this, area has been chosen; i.e. in all cases in which a word has several pronunciations, those given in the Glossary and elsewhere, so far as the writer knows, are the pronunciations most generally in use throughout the riding. It may be noted, as we approach the West Riding and South Lancashire, that the vowel sounds of _a_, _e_, and _o_ have a growing tendency to broaden in sound, often becoming _u_. This, however, should be carefully guarded against in writing the dialect of the North Riding[113], as there is ample proof that over a very wide area the original sound of eighty years ago was the same as now used in Cleveland. These gradual local alterations form in time what botanists call sports.

Many words in such places are to-day passing through a transitional stage. E.g. let us compare a few words as spoken eighty years ago in two places I well know, viz. Bedale and Great Ayton. The former is much nearer the West Riding than the latter, and very forcibly shows the gradual alteration in pronunciation some words have undergone since 1800.

PRONUNCIATION.

_As used in _As given in │ _As _As pronounced│
the North a Glossary │ pronounced in the │ _Meaning._
Riding, published │ in Bedale, West Riding,│
1898._ at Bedale, │ 1898._ 1898._ │
1800._

Chetch Chŭch Church
Deear Doour Door
To’n Tŭ’n Turn
Stor Sturr Stir
Fo’st Fust First
Ez Uz As
Fau’k Fooak Folk
Neeaze Nooaz Nose
Cleease Clooase Close
Ken _or_ Kern Chen _or_ Chun Churn
Diz Duz Does
Wark Wurrk Work
War _or_ Wor Wuz Was _or_ were
Ax’d Ast, Assed Asked
Clais, Cleeas Clooaz Clothes
Deean’t Dooan’t Don’t
Fleear Flooar Floor
Gahin’ _or_ ganning Bown Bahn Going

The Glossary contains many words common to other dialects[114], especially the folk-speech of North Lincolnshire, Cumberland, Westmoreland, North Lancashire, and East Anglia.

It may be of interest to note over what a wide area the dialect of the North Riding is understood and in the main spoken. As an entertainer, I come in touch with the country people of many places, and I have often been surprised at the quickness with which the various points in my dialect sketches have been seized by those of other counties. Naturally I am able to indulge much more freely, both in dialect and idiom, in some places than in others.

The North and West Riding dialects widely differ not only as to vocabulary, but in drawl and intonation; e.g. take the following sentences:—

NORTH RIDING. Noo, mun, wheear’s ta gahin’ teea? Ah’s gahin’ doon t’ toon.

WEST RIDING. Nah, lad, whor’s ta bahn tew? Ah w’ bahn dahn t’ tahn.

Hear each sentence uttered by men of their respective ridings, and my readers will better understand my meaning than from pages of written explanation. There is also another difference. Whilst many titled people, and members of the best families in the North and East Ridings, can, when they have a mind to, speak the dialect fluently, of only a few of the leading families in the West Riding whom I have met am I able to say the same thing. There seems to be a feeling that in some way it would be _infra dig._ to admit ability to speak a word of their own folk-speech.

Referring to the wide area over which the dialect of the North and East Ridings is spoken, granting without questioning slight variation in pronunciation, the addition of new words, and the loss of familiar ones as we pass along, we find that practically the same dialect exists amongst the country folk inside the following rough boundary line. Draw right-lines commencing at Boston Spa, Lincolnshire, and connecting the following places, Doncaster, Harrogate, Lancaster, along the coast-line to Carlisle, thence to Darlington, Stockton, Middlesborough[115], and along the north-east coast. By so doing you wall in what may be aptly termed, ‘the north-east folk-speech.’ But far over this imaginary line, in certain directions, the dialect is understood and appreciated. This is not surprising when we remember the same races overran and peopled the whole of the country from the Wash to the Tyne and thence north-westward.

They may be easily traced by their place-names—the by’s, thorpes, cliffs, wicks, dales, &c.

But if we compare the folk-speech of the district so walled in, with that of the Danes and their kinfolk, then its Norse origin is seen at a glance. E.g. take the few following words—scores of the like could have been given:—

_North and _Cumberland _Standard
East and _Danish._ _Scotch._ English._
Riding._ Westmoreland._

Mowdywarp Mowdywarp Muldvarp Moudie Mole
Beck Beck Bæk ... A small
stream
Lake Lake Lege ... Play
Beeal Beel Bjæle ... Bellow
Bield Bield Bylja ... A shelter
(Swedish)
Gah, gan Ga, gang Gaae Ga Go
Neeaf Neif Næve Neive Fist
Bink Bink Bænk Bink Bench
Gliff Gliff Glippe Gliff Quick
glance
Gesling Gezling Gjæsling Gesling Gosling
Gloor Glower Glo Glower Stare
Skrike Skrike Skrige Skreich Scream
Teeam Teem Toomme Toom (to Pour out
empty)
Feck, _n._
ability
Feckless, Feckless Fik is the Feckless Incapable of
_adj._ past tense providing
of faa, to for oneself
get[116], imp.
tense, feck

The Danish, Norwegian, Lowland Scotch, and north-east folk-speech are closely allied. We must not, however, compare the spelling, but the general sound of the words. Take the two first lines of the Danish national song—

DANISH. Kong Christian stod ved hoien mast.
NORTH RIDING. King Christian steead byv t’ heegh mast.

DANISH. I’ Rog[117] og damp.
NORTH RIDING. I’ roke an’ reek.

Again, take two lines from a poem in Modern Friesic published in 1834. The centre lines are from the poem, with the modern North Riding dialect above and standard English below.

NORTH RIDING. What be’st thoo, leyfe?
FRIESIC. Hwat bist dhow, libben?
STANDARD ENGLISH. What art thou, life?

NORTH RIDING. Fra t’ scepter’d king ti t’ slaave.
FRIESIC. Fen de scepterde kening ta da slave.
STANDARD ENGLISH. From the sceptred king to the slave.

For a list of words common to the English, Dutch, and Scandinavian languages, see _Trans. Phil. Soc._ part i. 1858.

Much that is written and spoken at the present day is quite over the heads of our country people. Take the following, from one of our best authors:—‘He who performs every part of his business in due course and season, suffers no part of time to escape without profit. And it is well always to regard the quality rather than the quantity of your work, and bear in mind, if you delay till to-morrow what ought to be done to-day, you overcharge to-morrow with a burden which belongs not to it,’ Our country folk would fully grasp the above if put to them something like the following:—‘Him ’at diz a daay’s wark iv a daay, dizn’t waste his tahm, an’ mannishes ti git a bit foor hissel. An’ yan awlus owt ti aim ti deea t’ bit ’at yan diz deea fo’st-class, mair ’an aiming ti clash thruff a seet o’ wark onny road; an’ think on, if ya lig o’ yah sahd whahl ti morn what ya owt ti-deea ti daay, ya saddle ti morn wiv a boddun ’at it’s neea call ti bear.’

Hah am the rose o’ Sharon and the lily o’ the valley.

In a work kindly lent me by my friend Dr. Johnson of Lancaster, and published some years ago for the Philological Society, the author, quoting from _Latham on the English Language_, gives the above as a specimen of North Riding dialect—nay, more, of Cleveland itself. Surely the writer can never have spent a day in any part of Cleveland, for the sentence given contains but twelve words, seven of which are distinctly not Clevelandic.

The country people, when speaking _naturally_, rarely use the aspirate, except as an intensive. Otherwise they have little use for it. And when ‘H’ is preceded by the definite article, they do not drop it in the sense generally understood; the fact is they cannot well sound it, for this reason—the definite article is ‘t’, ‘the[118]’ being but rarely used. They could not say ‘t’ horse,’ ‘t’ house,’ ‘t’ hamper,’ &c.; with them it is, ‘t’ hoss,’ ‘t’ hoos,’ ‘t’ hamper,’ pronounced ‘toss,’ ‘toos,’ ‘tamper.’

‘The horse is yoked,’ ‘the hamper is in the wagon,’ and ‘the whip is under the wheels,’ as spoken, would sound to unfamiliar ears as if the speaker had said ‘toss is yoked,’ ‘tamper’s i’ twagon,’ and ‘twip’s unner tweels.’

The definite article, to those unaccustomed to our folk-speech, seems to be entirely wanting. Certainly before _b_, _m_, and _n_ it is only very slightly sounded, and it becomes the merest touch of the tongue against the palate when preceding words commencing with _d_ or _t_. ‘Shut the door, the bacon and the beans are on the table,’ would sound to a stranger as though the speaker said, ‘Shut deear, bacon an’ beeans is on table’; the speaker having in reality said, ‘Shut t’ deear, t’ bacon an’ t’ beeans is on t’ table.’

To return, however, to the line from Solomon’s Song, given as a specimen of Cleveland dialect. Let us see what the rendering should have been.

Hah am the rose o’ Sharon and the lily o’ the valley.
Ah’s t’ roase o’ Sharon an’ t’ lily o’ t’ valley.

The lower line is North Yorkshire and pure Cleveland, the upper line is said to be so.

It has been remarked that the aspirate is almost unknown—so it is as a letter, but not as an intensive. The aspirate, when misplaced by those speaking naturally, is only used to add greater force. ‘He’s mah henemy foor hivver,’ leaves no doubt that the injury sustained is of an unbridgeable character. Such a sentence, however, holds quite a different place in grammar, too. ‘Hi hallers taike shagar i’ my tea.’ The first example is Yorkshire intensified, minus any adjectives, the first ‘H’ expressing or suggesting some such feeling as implacable, and the ‘hever’ meaning for ever and ever. The latter is the vile and affected speech of the upper circles of Yorkshire flunkeys and maids, who try to improve upon their mother tongue. It holds no place in our folk-speech. It is hateful, and is only indulged in by those of whom the old people say, ‘When they start ti knack an’ scrape ther tungs, what they saay’s nowther nowt na summat,’ i.e. ‘When they begin to talk affectedly, what they say is neither one thing nor another.’

There is one other peculiarity which must be noticed—the possessive case. I should imagine a hundred years ago its disuse was universal in both ridings. My reason for so thinking lies in the fact that in any old books wherein the owners have inscribed their names—and they usually did (books were valued in those days)—the names are never written in the possessive case. It is always ‘Tom Smith book,’ ‘Ann Scott book.’ Even to-day in many places, when speaking, the observance of the case is conspicuous by its absence. E.g. in the Boroughbridge and other districts they would not say ‘Jack Wilson’s dog bit Smith’s calf,’ and ‘Peggy’s cat flew through Nanny’s window,’ but ‘Jack Wilson dog bit Smith cauf,’ and ‘Peggy cat flew throw Nanny window.’ Such sentences as ‘Ho’d t’ hoss heead,’ ‘Pull t’ pig lug,’ and ‘Twist t’ coo tail,’ &c., are still universal in both ridings. The instances in which the possessive is used, and vice versa, are now about equal in the North Riding. The peculiar forms of redundancy are many and curious. ‘Ah nivver at neea tahm sed nowt aboot nowt ti neeabody,’ simply means, ‘I never said anything to any one. I think the following example, which I overheard one Yorkshireman say to another just before the train moved out of Guisborough station, is the finest on record. ‘Whya,’ said he, ‘thoo mun saay what thoo ’ez a mahnd teea, bud think on, thoo knaws, ’at Ah knaw ’at he knaws, ’at thoo knaws ’at Ah knaw, all aboot ivverything ’at’s ivver been deean an’ ‘at’s ivver ta’en pleeace.’ I heard a man say a short time ago, ‘Ah s’ be agate ti git agate ti set agate Tom fo’st thing ti morn at morn’; i.e. ‘Ah s’ be agate,’ I shall be about; ’ti git agate,’ to commence work; ’ti set agate,’ to set Tom to work; ‘fo’st thing ti morn at morn,’ first thing in the morning. Said one to another, ‘Noo Ah’ll tell ya what, hard eneeaf, he war neean ower-suited when he fan oot ’at he’d ’ev ti ’ev ’t ower wi’ ma owther thruff or by. An’ noo when Ah’ve fetched him up ti t’ scrat, he sez ’at he’s putten t’ dog oot o’ t’ road; bud Ah’s satisfied o’ yah thing, t’ dog rave mah britches, an’ Ah s’all leeak ti him ti mak ’em good agaan, foor he ’ez a reet ti owther deea that or ’livver summat up i’ lieu on’t; bud Ah reckon nowt o’ what he sez, an’ that’s t’ len’th on ’t.’ i.e. ‘Noo Ah’ll tell ya what,’ now I assure you; ‘hard eneeaf,’ without doubt; ‘he war neean ower-suited,’ he was not over-pleased; ‘when he fan oot,’ when he discovered; ‘’at he’d ’ev ti ’ev it ower wi’ ma,’ that he would have to talk it over with me; ‘owther thruff or by,’ either one way or the other; ‘an’ noo when Ah’ve fetched him up ti t’ scrat,’ and now when I have made him toe the mark; ‘he sez ’at he’s putten t’ dog oot o’ t’ road,’ he says that he has killed the dog; ‘bud Ah’s satisfied o’ yah thing,’ but I am certain of one thing; ’t’ dog rave mah britches,’ the dog tore my trousers; ‘an’ Ah s’all leeak ti him ti mak ’em good agaan,’ and I shall expect him to replace them; ‘foor he ’ez a reet ti,’ for he ought to; ‘owther deea that or ’livver summat up,’ either do that or give something; ‘i’ lieu on ’t,’ in place of it (them); ‘bud Ah reckon nowt o’ what he sez,’ but I place no confidence in anything he says; ‘an’ that’s t’ len’th on ’t,’ and that is the extent of it.

If the reader masters the abbreviations and elisions facing page 1, the _pons asinorum_ will have been crossed, and the reading of our folk-speech found to be a thing easy of accomplishment and a delightful acquisition.

It will be well to remember, when reading aloud, that a consonant with an elided vowel must be joined either to the word preceding or following, as ’t’ hoss,’ ’t’ hens,’ ‘t’ wax,’ the horse, the hens, the wax, which would be pronounced ’toss,’ ‘tens,’ ‘twax.’ Again, ‘Sha’s i’ t’ sulks’ would be ’shas it sulks,’ and ‘Oot wi’ ‘t, put tane ti t’ ither,’ would be rendered as ’oot wit, put tane ti tither,’ ‘Ah’ve deean noo, t’ ink’s ommaist dhry i’ mah pen, seea this’ll ’a’e ti be

T’ LAP UP ON ‘T.’

OXFORD: HORACE HART

PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY

FOOTNOTES:

[1] ‘Nothing is the same.’

[2] Ask.

[3] Before retiring to rest the older and more superstitious look round to see if there is a shadowless head thrown on the wall; should any one cast such a shadow, it is held they will die ere next Christmas Eve comes round.

[4] In many of our dales on Christmas morn, no one will leave the house until some one brings luck in by crossing the threshold with a bit of green in their hand.

[5] Also called Pace-egg. The Danish word is Paaskeaeg.

[6] The small stack often seen in our churches at a harvest thanksgiving is a survival of the mell doll.

[7] The stang was ridden at Thoralby, Wensleydale, as recently as October, 1896.

[8] The pole was a stang or cow-staff.

[9] The original was most kindly lent to me by the Lady of the Manor, Mrs. Chaloner.

[10] A three-legged race. In this there was nothing unseemly, for a long way into this century the skirts worn came but little below the knee. Bear in mind, both in launching and beaching their husband’s or father’s boat, the women and girls of to-day often rush up to the waist in the sea to lend a helping hand.}

[11] Some explanation is needed to make this task understandable. A large basket (probably a wide creel) had a strong pole thrust through the wicker-work or handles improvised for the occasion; each end of the pole was then rested upon some suitable support, leaving the basket free to swing about a foot from the ground. On each support and near to the pole a shell or other light object was placed. The thing to be done would not be easy of accomplishment. Those contending for the prize had in turn to seat themselves astride of the pole with both feet inside the basket; thus seated, and firmly grasping the pole with one hand, they had to knock off the shell with a stick (which in the meantime they used to steady themselves with), then turn round, reseat themselves, knock off the other shell, and then get out without overbalancing. You try it, but have something soft to fall upon. It is marvellous how soon it is the next person’s turn.

[12] Thirty years ago it was common.

[13] The details of the plate-throwing vary slightly in different localities.

[14] In some parts it was customary for the winner, after having removed the garter, to enter the bridal chamber, turn down the bed clothes, and offer to the bride a hot pot as she entered to remove her bridal attire, and then salute her; did he omit the latter, he forfeited the garter.

[15] I gather from a diary, dated 1625, which has been kindly sent to me as I am correcting my proof sheets, that originally it was the bridegroom’s duty to tie on the bridal garters.

[16] Lusty.

[17] Sound of wind.

[18] The story was given me by an eye-witness.

[19] Only when returning were the guns discharged as a rule.

[20] Each in turn slipped the garter over his glass on to his wrist. The garters were nearly a yard long; as used above, the ends were tied together to form a loop.

[21] A native of Exelby.

[22] It would seem these two often worked their charms in company.

[23] I have no knowledge as to the meaning of these two words; their real pronunciation may have been lost, or perhaps they are simply cant words.

[24] My own opinion is that ‘R. H.’ was William Hird’s father, though he never admitted it.

[25] The garland consisted of two hoops intertwined, decorated with white paper flowers and ribbons, in the centre of which was a white glove, often home-made, of paper or fine linen, upon which was written or worked in some fine stitch the initials or name in full and age of the deceased. According to locality this garland was either carried in front of the coffin by one of the deceased’s dearest companions, or laid upon it. This custom might well have been retained.

[26] And many other places in Cleveland.

[27] The author is quite aware some other writers state that the fire is never allowed to die out whilst the corpse is in the room. He never knew or heard of such a custom, though possibly such may exist.

[28] In the North Riding, about three miles from Ripon.

[29] _The Gospelles of Distaues_, published by Wynkyn de Worde about 1530, contains the following:—‘If it happen that somebody stride over a little childe, know ye for certain that it shall never grow more, but if (unless) they stride backward over it again. Gloss: Certainly, said Sebylle, of such thing cometh dwarfs and little women.’

[30] Richard Kirby, who gave me the above and several other stories concerning witches, still lives in Carthorpe, near Bedale.

[31] Nanny must have been disguised in some way, at least one would think so, otherwise Mrs. Langstaff would have recognized her at once, both being natives of that part.

[32] Inconvenienced, literally ‘cost.’

[33] Never accomplished his life’s work, i.e. committed suicide.

[34] ‘T au’d un,’ or the old one = the devil.

[35] Possibly this meant the longer he waited there, the longer he would remain in the river.

[36] Boyes Wetherell lost his wife on the birth of their first child, a boy. Boyes tended his bairn with a mother’s love and care, and when the child was four years old, he tramped all the way to London with the lad on his back. Once they slept in a grave; but the journey is a story.

[37] A contemporary of the wise man of Stokesley, but having nothing like the same reputation.

[38] An aperient drink.

[39] A worral hole is a drain-pipe let in the wall immediately at the back of the fire; this is to afford sufficient draught to burn the sea coal which is daily gathered from the beach.

[40] A sucking-pig.

[41] A cant phrase of the time is used in the original.

[42] The devil.

[43] Hand in hand, both touch the floor together. This has already been referred to.

[44] Observe the lack of the possessive case.

[45] The ground covered would be about twenty miles—not bad.

[46] A woman was adjudged the same punishment at Bedale (for a different offence) in the year 1779, also at Thirsk and Northallerton.

[47] For other interesting matter concerning Nan Hardwicke, _vide_ Henderson’s _Folklore_.

[48] Observe rice is now being ousted by confetti, which is much better—rice is so dangerous.

[49] This statement has nothing to do with his private life, only as that of a wise man. ‘De mortuis nil nisi bonum.’

[50] This would be the father of the Mr. Scorer I knew, who for many years lived at Basedale Abbey.

[51] I know that Mr. G. Markham Tweddle holds quite contrary views. His idea is that Wrightson was little better than a huge swindler.

[52] For other authentic stories of Wrightson, _vide_ Henderson’s _Folklore_.

[53] A small four-legged stool.

[54] A hedgehog.

[55] I met a man in the train the other day who said he had often seen them sucking.

[56] Henry Wilson, of Broughton, was a wise man of some repute after Wrightson’s time.

[57] Something like Sadler and Clarke’s method.

[58] The usual time was midnight; this case, so far as I know, is unique.

[59] Accuse openly.

[60] To prepare a ‘hand of glory,’ the hand of a man who had been hanged had to be left for some days in a special kind of pickle; afterwards it was dried in the sun, and then parched in the smoke of certain herbs. A special kind of candle had to be made from certain fats; with this candle lighted and stuck in the dead man’s hand, a hypnotic sleep could be cast upon a whole household. Henderson’s _Folklore_.

[61] There was a marvellous hobman once lived near Ripon, but his deeds some one writing of the West Riding must chronicle.

[62] With slight variation the same story is known in other parts of the riding, also in Lancashire, and is as old as the hills throughout Scandinavia.

[63] A similar story is told of Sir Francis Drake.

[64] See Glossary.

[65] ‘Ower,’ _prep._ over.

[66] ‘Ower,’ _adv._ too; ‘ower’ nearly always takes the place of ‘too.’ ‘Ower mich,’ ‘ower monny apples,’ ‘ower big a load,’ ‘ower larl,’ ‘ower au’d,’ &c.

[67] This peculiarity, even amongst many educated Yorkshire people, of repeating the verb is further illustrated in the concluding remarks at the end of the Glossary.

[68] Thirsty.

[69] Really the same simile, common where otters fish.

[70] Snails.

[71] The name by which the Grammar School boys were known.

[72] I have heard children innocently repeating, as they counted each other out:—