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(delwedd C3352) (tudalen 000a)
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A GLOSSARY OF BERKSHIRE
WORDS AND PHRASES. MAJOR B. (Barzillai) LOWSLEY, Royal Engineers. LONDON:
PUBLISHED FOR THE ENGLISH DIALECT SOCIETY BY TRάBNER & CO., LUDGATE HILL
1888
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(delwedd C3353) (tudalen 000b)
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TO HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY THE QUEEN, THIS GLOSSARY OF PROVINCIAL
WORDS USED IN THE COUNTY OF BERKSHIRE, IS, BY SPECIAL PERMISSION, MOST RESPECTFULLY
DEDICATED BY HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY'S MOST OBEDIENT, HUMBLE SERVANT, THE
AUTHOR.
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(delwedd C3354) (tudalen 000c)
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CONTENTS. PAGE.
PREFACE ix.
Introduction:
Pronunciation 2
Grammar 5
Customs and Observances 14
Superstitions 22
Folk-Lore 27
Sayings and Phrases 30
Place-Names 35
GLOSSARY 37
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(delwedd C3355) (tudalen 000d)
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PREFACE.
In 1852 my late father, Mr. J. Lovvsley, of Hampstead Norreys, compiled a small Glossary of
Provincial Words used in Berkshire,
which was published in that year by
Mr. John Gray Bell, of Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London, together with tracts of a similar
nature for a few other counties. The
little work undertaken, at the request
of the Publisher, contained such words as happened to be collected in the verj* short time then
available. Only sixty copies were
printed. Additional Words and Phrases have
been since noted, and the present Glossary, with local notes, is submitted. My brother, Mr. L.
Lovvsley, of Hampstead Norreys, has
given me valuable assistance.
B. LOWSLEY,
Major, Royal Engineers,
Hampstead Norreys, Berks, March,
1S88.
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(delwedd C3356) (tudalen 000e)
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1The following is a list of Glossaries of Counties adjoining Berkshire, published by the English Dialect
Society:
HAMPSHIRE WORDS AND PHRASES. Compiled and edited by the Rev. Sir William H. Cope, Bart.
OXFORDSHIRE WORDS. By Mrs. Parker.
OXFORDSHIRE WORDS (SUPPLEMENTARY). By Mrs.
Parker.
SURREY PROVINCIALISMS. By G. Leveson-Gower, Esq.
WILTSHIRE WORDS. From Britton's Beauties of Wiltshire, 1825; compared with Akerman's Glossary,
1842.
Many words used in Berkshire have been noted in some of these Glossaries with as might be looked
for differences in pronunciation and
even signification. All as now submitted I
have heard spoken in Mid-Berkshire.
B. L.
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(delwedd C3357) (tudalen 001)
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Is his work on the classification of the English Dialects, as published by the English Dialect Society,
Prince Louis Lucien Bonaparte says:
" Southern characters I call: The use of
/ be, thou bisi, he be, we be, you be, they be, for ' 1 am,' &c.;
the periphrastic lenses replacing the
simple, as / do love, for / Ine; the
prelix a before the past participle, as / have abeard, for / have htard: the permutation of the initial
/, s, sfi, and f /if, into V, z, sh,
and dr; the broad pronuuciation of the Italian ai, replacing the sound of the English ay, as
in May, pronounced as tlie Italian
adverb mfii."
These characters appear in the Berkshire Dialect with modifications as follows: / be, thou bist,
lit be, we be, you be, they be, would
run / be, thee hist or 'e be, he be, we or us be, thee or 'e be, thaay be or them is.
There is no replacing of simple tenses by periphrastic tenses, as / do love, for / love, generally
in Berkshire; instead of / lovt her, a
man would say / hues her, or emphatically / loves
The prefix a takes place before the present participle as well as before the past participle, as a-goiii',
a-thinkin', a-calUn', &c.
As regards the permutations of the specified initial letters, V is always substituted for /, e is
substituted for s when the latter is
followed by a vowel or w, and in many other cases also the sound given to the i is roughened
almost to the sound of -; dr is used
instead of tkr.
The letter A is generally given the broad pronunciation of ai in the Italian mai. When the
pronunciation is thus given, the
English sound has been represented in the Glossary by aay, or by aai where the a precedes »
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(delwedd C3358) (tudalen 002)
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2 INTRODUCTORY.
I.
PRONUNCIATION
As regards Vowels and Diphthongs the sound of e in term is often given to the letters. Thus 'farm' is
pronounced verm;
part,' pert; * mark,' merk^ &c.
In words where the letter a is given the sound of aay there is also sometimes a sub-division of the
word into two syllables as follows:
* Game ' is pronounced both gaayme and ge-um;
'shame,' both shaayme and she-um; 'name/ both naayme and W'Um; * £ace ' is both vaayu and ve-us. The
two pronunciations are equally
common.
In a few cases only o takes the place of tf , as in ronh for
* rank'; Umky for ' lanky.'
U is substituted for a thus: We say vur instead of * far '; srnr instead of ' scar '; siur instead of '
star'; etc.
^tf, as in ' sauce,' is given the sound of a in the word ^fate^; < sauce ' is pronounced zace.
Ar is given the sound of aa: Thus * parsnips' are called paasmips or paasmets; ' parson ' becomes
paason; etc.
Aw final is pronounced as ay or aa: Thus ' law' is pronounced lay or laa; *
draw ' dray or draa.
I and y are commonly sounded as e: Thus we have pegs for
pigs;' vleng for * fling;' zence for * since.' Sometimes t has the sound of If: Thus * rabbit ' is pronounced
rabbut, and * stirrup ' stwrmp.
1$ has the sound of a in *fati:* 'grieve* becomes grave; and * believe ' beiave.
O takes the sound of a very largely. * Promise' becomes pramise; * crops ' are craps; morning' is
mamin\ In some cases, and always
before /, it becomes aw: Thus * old ' is awld; * roll ' rawU; and 'toll' tawU; etc,
O, following some consonants, is pronounced as cv: Thus « boy ' becomes 6K*a>'; * toad * becomes
two-ad; and * post ' becomes
pwO'Ost.
Oa takes the sound of oo, as in moor: Thus we have boor for
* boar '; and sometimes makes a sub-division into syllable Jo-ad for ' load.'
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(delwedd C3359) (tudalen 003)
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PRONCNCUTION, 8
\ Ott, when initial, as in ' oats' or 'oatli', is sounded astvu, the Vds meotioned being pronounced i^iUi and
wuth respectively, Oi is pronounced as
) or as wi: Thus 'spoil' is spile or spwile;
' is bSt or bu-ile. *o becomes
shortened into « as sttip for ' sloop '; brum for
sometimes has the sound of a in t.ir: Thus ' certain ' is pronoimced zartain, and celery zalary.
Where e would usually take the sound of a in gale, it becomes in Berkshire Dialect aay. Thus '
they ' is pronounced thaay, and '
obey' becomes ebaay. It is sometimes pronounced as »; Thus 'end' becomes I'wrf; ' every '
ia->-^; 'enter' inter; ' kettle '
kittle; etc. Also it becomes u: Thus vurry is spoken for ' very '; murry for ' merry '; hurry
for ' berry."
Ea is given the sound of aay or a, or else there is a sub-division of the
syllable: Thus ■ break ' is pronounced braetyke or hn-ah; ' mean ' is maayne or im-an, and sometimes
jkhw; ' clean ' ta ctaayne, cle-aii,
or clone. The dJETerent pronunciations noted
above will be found even in the same village.
Et is sounded as i, or there ts a sub-division into two syllables: Thus ■ feet ' becomes vit or
w-iit; ' seems ' iims or .u-mns; ' keep '
hp or fa-M^,
Occasionally ee take the sound of a in fate: Thus ' bees ' would be base or be-itz; ' sweep ' swape or
swe-up.
iVis pronounced as a in/(i/^: Thus ' receive' becomes wcarir. 'ceiling' sailin'.
In 'George' we find the sound of the eo broadened into Gaarge, or shortened into Grrge
indifferently.
On takes the sound of aa as zaate for ■ sought,' turaatc for ' wrought'; but there are exceptions, as
vowt for ' fought.'
The sound of the oo in ' moon ' occurs for ou or o when followed by r; thus ' court ' becomes
coort; ' sword ' zmrd, and ' porch ■ paorch. But there are exceptions -'
four ' is pronounced vawer, and ' sour ' zower.
Ort is pronounced wr, as in moor; Thus ' more' becomes ' sore ' becomes soar; ■ before ' bevoor. ; or, and iir, coming within a word, take
the sound of ». ive vii»t for ' first
' and wmt for ' worst'; puss (rhyming with
' purse,' etc. r un the
substitution of on is common: Thus, instead of ' we say ondress; onJa for ' undo '; oittif
for ' untie '; etc.
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(delwedd C3360) (tudalen 004)
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4 INTRODUCTORY.
U is sometimes pronounced as ^: Thus crush ' becomes cresh^ * brush * hresh^ and * strut *
strd.
W is sometimes replaced by o: Thus * woman ' becomes ooman; * sword ' becomes zoard.
The letter b occasionally has v substituted for it: Thus
* disturb ' is pronounced disturve.
D undergoes change to n: Thus * wonder * is pronounced wunner; * London' Lunnon; 'thunder'
thunner.
D is also often added to the final consonant of a word: Thus * miller ' becomes millerd; * gown '
gownd; but it may be here mentioned
that on the other hand the final consonant, when preceded by another consonant, is very
often dropped: Thus
* kiln ' is pronounced )nll; * kept * hep; * pond ' pon.
It has been noted that /, when initial in a syllable, is always pronounced as v. When final in a first
syllable of a word it is not
pronounced at all: Thus 'afternoon' is rendered aternoon; ' afterwards ' aterward.
Similarly we have the letter / dropped; * already ' becomes already; * almost ' a'mwo-ast; * almighty '
a' mighty.
The final g in words of more than one syllable terminating in ing is always dropped: Thus * ringing '
becomes ringin*;
* smelling ' smellin\
H is never aspirate by right of its position as heading a syllable, words commencing with h or a
vowel are aspirated when emphasis may
be desired to be given.
Y is substituted for h initial in some cases: Thus * head ' is pronounced j/^ai; * heard ' yeard; and
occasionally the full sound of wh
takes the place of h: Thus * home ' is always who-am,
K final is pronounced as t in some instances: Thus * ask ' becomes ast^ and ' mask ' }nast,
T is often added superfluously to words terminating with n: Thus * sudden ' is pronounced zuddent,
and * sermon * becomes zarment as well
as zarmon.
Bl is sometimes curiously substituted: Thus we have gimblet for * girtilet ' and chimhley for *
chimney.'
Ow final is pronounced as ^r or ^: Thus * window * becomes winder or windy; * yellow ' yallet or
yally; « widow * widder or widdy,
Ard final in words of more than one syllable is pronounced iti: Orchard * becomes archnt, and
Richard ' Richut,
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(delwedd C3361) (tudalen 005)
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GRAMMAft. 5
Pur is substituted for pre or pro: Thus * pretend * becomes purtend, * preserve * purzarve, * provide '
purvide^ &c.
Transformations as to order of letters occur thus: Hunderd is used for * hundred,' childcrn for *
children.*
In counting pronunciation goes as follows: One^ two, dree, vawer, vivCj zix, zcvcn, aaytCy
&c.
II. GRAMMAR.
ARTICLES.
A does not become an before a vowel or h mute; thus, instead of ** Give me an apple " would
be said Gie I a apple.
The fact oian being thus never used may be accounted for by the liabihty to give the aspirate when
emphasis is required, and so the
practice may have grown that a shall do duty in all cases.
The article the is omitted in cases where there can be no doubt as to what place, &c., may be
referred to. " Have you been to
the farm this morning?** beco;nes ^^ Hast a-bin to verm this marnin'? *' " He said he would be
at the cross roads*' becomes " A
zed as a*d be at crass ro-adsJ'
NOUNS. Where s alone would be usually
added, plurals are often formed by
adding also es as a separate syllable in place of s; Thus twos-es, threes-es, wops-es (i.^., wasps),
be-ast-es * beasts.* And in some cases
a second es is added: Thus * posts * may become pwoast-es or pwoast-es-es, * joists '
jist-es or jist-es-es, * beasts * be-ast-es
or be-ast-es-es.
En is occasionally used in forming plurals: Thus we have peas-en for * peas,* hous-en for * houses
*; but this form is now only adopted
by old people.
ADJECTIVES. As regards comparison of
Adjectives some irregularities are
introduced as follows:
Positive. Comparative. Superlative.
Little Littler Le-ast or littlest
Vur (far) Vurder (farther)... Vurdest (farthest)
or vurdermwoast
Bad Wusser or wuss...Wust, or wussest,
or wustest Top Toppermust
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(delwedd C3362) (tudalen 006)
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6 INTRODUCTORY.
Adjectives which denote the material of which a thing is composed commonly take the termination n or
en: Thus we have a leathern bottle or
a leather-en bottle, a eldern pop-gun, a
beech-^ plank.
PRONOUNS. PERSONAL PRONOUNS [os
regards caus] .
First Person. Singular. i Plural.
Nom.......I Nom We or us
Poss Mine Poss Ourn
Objec. ...I(?rus i Objec. ...We or us
Second Person,
Singular. Plural. Nom Thee or 'e Nom
Thee or 'e
Poss. ...... Thine or yourn
Objec. ...Thee or 'e
Poss Yourn
Objec. ...Thee or 'e
Third Person (Masculine).
Singular. Plural.
Nom Hear a Nom Thaay or them
Poss Hissen Poss Thaayrn
Objec. ...*E or *'m or un . Objec. ...Thaay or them
or um
Third Person ( Feminine).
Singular. Plural.
Nom She | Nom....
Poss Hern Poss
Objec. ...She, when em- i Objec...
phaiic. Her, when
not emphatic
Third Person (Neuter),
As for masculine
Singular.
Nom Ut or he or a
Poss Hissen
Objec. ...Ut or *in (?r un
Plural. Nom.... Poss. . . .
Objec...,
As for masculine
As examples: Us waants what he ourn an' thaay had best gi't to us or we i.e., We want what is ours and
they had better give it to us.
Dwo-ant hev nothin* to iaay to shei,t,t Don't have anything to say to her.'
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(delwedd C3363) (tudalen 007)
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t'RONOUNS. 7
// ihu casnH mind thee awn taaykc keer o' thaayrn i.^., * If you cannot mind (i^. attend to) your own take
care of theirs.'
I gi^d thaay two vrocks as belonged to she ue.^ < I gave them two frocks that belonged to her/
The knife yent hern His hissen; I gin ut to'n {or 'in) ».^., * The knife is not her's, 'tis his, I gave it to
him.'
/ tells 'e what 'tis i.^., * I tell you what it is.'
RELATIVE PRONOUNS.
^5 is used instead of whOj which, and that: Thus, * He is a man who saves money ' would be rendered '
He be a man as zaayves money.'
Whosen is used in place of whose, and who in place of whom; / wunt zaay whosen it he i.e., * I won't
say whose it is.'
POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS.
The possessive pronouns stand thus: my, thy or thee, his or hissen, her or hern, our or ourn, thy thee
or youm^ thaayr or thaayrn.
For example, sentences would go as follows: * Whose cap be that *? * Did 'e ax whosen '? * Ees Me-ary
zes she lost her cap.' * Well, that
ther be hem taayke un alang.' * Be that thee
raayke'? * Ees that be ourn, that ther yander be yonm,'
* Thyself ' becomes theezelf; * himself * and * itself ' become hiszelf; * yourselves ' theezelves, and *
themselves ' ihaayrzelves.
DISTRIBUTIVE PRONOUNS.
* Each ' is not in common use ivrey one takes its place; am is used for either, also narn is
substituted for * neither.' For
example * Hev 'e zin arn on um *? * No, narn (or narra ofie) on um yent come.'
DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS.
For * this ' is used this yer; for that ' that ther; for * these * the-uzyer; for * those' them ther.
For example: * Theuz yer wuts (oats) be wuth double o' them ther.'
The yer and ther are always inserted as shown above where there is intention to particularize or
to give emphasis, but may be omitted
where such intention does not at all exist. For Are these the ones'? would be said
however, Be the-uz uns thaay?
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(delwedd C3364) (tudalen 008)
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8
INTRODUCTORY.
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS.
'E or a body is used for one. * One can't act like that * would be '£ caan*t act like that ther,
* One's heart is not in it ' would be A body's hert yent in 7. Arn is used for * any.'
Nam for * none.'
* Alone * is never used; by hiszelf, &c., would be substituted. * Hev *e killed arra rat'? * No, I *ent
killed nam (or narra one) a big un run
awaay but a zimmed to be yer by hiszelf,*
VERBS.
Conjugation of Verbs,
TO HAVE.
INDICATIVE MOOD.
Present Tense,
Singular.
1. Pers....I hev or I has
2. Pers....Thee or 'e hast,
has or hev or hevs.
3. Pers....He, a, or she, or ut,
hev, hevs, or has
Singular.
1. I had
2. Thee or 'e had or had'st
3. He etc., had
Singular.
1. I hev a-had
2. Thee or 'e hast a-had
3. He etc., hev a-had
Singular.
1. I had a-had
2. Thee or e, had or had'st
a-had
3. He etc., had a-had
Plural.
1. Pers....We or us hev
2. Pers....Thee or *e hast, has or
hev, or hevs
3. Pers....Thaay or them, or um hev,
hevs, or has
Imperfect Tense,
Plural.
1 . We or us had
2. Thee or 'e had or had*st
3. Thaay or them, or um had
Perfect Tense,
Plural.
1 . We or us hev a-had
2. Thee or 'e hast or hev a-had
3. Thaay or them, or um hev or has
a-had
Plujierfect Tense,
Plural.
1. We or us, had a-had
2. Thee or 'e had, or hadst a-had
3. Thaay or them, or um had a-had
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(delwedd C3365) (tudalen 009)
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VERBS.
9
First Future Teuse,
Singular. { Plural.
1. I shall or 'ooU hev , i. We or us shall, *ooll or hev
2. Thee or 'e shat, *oot, *ooll, ' 2. Thee or *e shat, 'oot, 'ooll
(v'oollt hev 3. He &c., shall or
*ooll hev
or 'oollt hev 3. Thaay or them, or urn
shall or 'ooll hev.
Second Future Teuse.
This is as the First Future Tense, with the addition of a-kad to each person.
IMPERATIVE MOOD.
Singular. 2. Hev thee or do thee
hev
Plural. 2. Her thee, or do thee
hev
POTENTIAL MOOD.
Preunt Tense,
Singular.
1. I med or can hev
2. Thee or 'e medst, can or
canst hev
3. He &c., med or can hev
Plural.
1. We or us med or can hev
2. Thee or 'e medst, can or
canst hev
3. Thaay or them, or um med
(?rcan hev
Imperfect Tense,
Singular.
1. I med, could, or 'ood,
should hev
2. Thee or 'e med or medst,
could or couldst, 'ood or 'oodst, or
should or shouldst hev
3. He etc., med, could,
*ood, or should hev
Plural.
1. We or us med, could, 'ood, or
should hev
2. Thee or 'e med or medst, could or
couldst, 'ood or 'oodst, or should
or shouldst hev
3. Thaay or them, or um med, could,
'ood, or should hev
Perfect Tense,
This is as the Present Tense of the Potential Mood, with the addition ola-had to each person.
Pluperfect Tense,
This is as the Imperfect Tense (Potential Mood), with the addition of a-had tq each person.
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(delwedd C3366) (tudalen 010)
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10 INTRODUCTORV.
SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD.
Present Tense.
Singular.
1. If I hev, hevs or has
2. If thee or 'e hast, has,
Plural.
1. If we or us hev or hevs
2. If thee or 'e hast, has, hev
hev or hevs or hevs
3. If he etc., hev or hevs 1 3. If thaay or them or um,
I hev or hevs
If zo be as is usually used for if in the Subjunctive Mood. For example If zo be as I hevs any I
*ooll gie 'e zome.
Imperfect Tense.
This is as the Imperfect Tense of the Indicative Mood, with the addition of if (followed by zo be as)
to each person; the remaining tenses
of this mood also follow the same tenses in the Indicative Mood, with the above-named
addition.
INFINITIVE MOOD.
Present Tense. To hev
PARTICIPLES.
Present or Active., A-hevin*.
Perfect Tense. To hev a-had
Perfect or Passive. A-had
Compound Perfect. Hevin* a-had
As regards the negative forms of this conjugation,
* I have not * becomes / ent^ aint^ hev'nt or yent,
* Thou hast not * becomes tliee or 'e liasn't or hcvn't.
* He has not * becomes he ent^ aint^ hevnt or yent.
The plurals of the above tense follow as in the singular except as regards the pronouns.
* Thou,' * ye ' or * you hadst not ' become thee or 'e hadsn't.
* I shall not * or * will not have ' becomes / shall not^ oolnot or wunt Jiev.
* Thou shalt ' or wilt not have ' becomes thee or V shattent 'oottent or wunt hev.
* May not * becomes medn^t, as also generally does * may*st not,' though this is sometimes
medsent.
* Canst not ' becomes casn't; * would not,' oodn*f.
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(delwedd C3367) (tudalen 011)
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VERBS.
11
TO BE.
INDICATIVE MOOD.
Present Tense.
Plural.
1 . We or us be
2. Thee or 'e be *
3. Thaay be or them or um is or
be.
Imperfect Tense.
Plural.
1 . We or us was
2. Thee or 'e was, wast or wur
3. Thaay or them or um was
Perfect Tense,
Plural.
1. We or us hev a-bin
2. Thee or 'e hast or hev a-bin
3. Thaay or them or um hev (?r has
a-bin
The rest of the conjugation of this verb is on similar lines to that of the verb to have.
As regards the negative forms,
* I am not ' becomes / bent^ he-ant^ ent^ or yent;
* Thou art not ' becomes thee or V hent^ he-ant or hisnH;
* He is not * becomes he bent, he-ant , ent, or yent:
* We are not * becomes we or us bent^ be-ant, enty or yent;
* You or ye are not ' becomes thee or e hent^ be-attt, or bisnt;
* They are not ' becomes thaay or them or um bent, be-ant^ ent,
or yent.
TO DO.
The Present Tense (Indicative Mood) of the verb to do runs thus:
Singular.
1. I be
2. Thee bist or 'e be
3. He, a, she, or ut be
Singular.
1. I wais or wur
2. Thee Of 'e was, wast, or wur
3. He etc. was, or wur
Singular.
1. I hev a-bin
2. Thee or 'e hast or hev a-bin
3. He etc. hev a-bin
Singular.
1. I do, or doos
2. Thee or *e does, doos,
dost, or doost
3. He, a, she, or ut door doos
Plural.
1. We or us door doos
2. Thee or 'e does, doos, dost,
or doost
3. Thaay or them or um do,
does, or doos
In the negative form V do not '* becomes dwo-ant, and in the second person singular and plural the
negative form is doosn't^ dwo-atU '^,
or dwo-ant thee.
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(delwedd C3368) (tudalen 012)
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12
INTRODUCTORY.
The plural form is given to all verbs in the Present Tense of the Indicative Mood thus:
Singular.
1. 1 loves
2. Thee or 'e loves
3. He etc. loves
Plural.
1. We or us loves
2. Thee or 'e loves
3. Thaay or them or um loves
The following are examples of the way in which some verbs brm their Imperfect Tense and Perfect
Participle, the recognised form being
attached in brackets where differing:
Present. begins (begin) knows or knaws
(know) blaws (blow) waaykes (awake) bends (bend) busts (burst) casts (cast) comes (come) deals (deal) drays (draw) drinks (drink)
vails (fall)
vorzaaykes (forsake)
gives (give)
hides (hide) hurts (hurt) mawes (mow)
re-ads (read) runs (run) zees (see)
zetts (set) slits (slit) strides (stride) swims (swim) tells (tel))
tears (tear) treads (tread)
Imperfect,
begun (began)
knawed (knew)
blawed (blew)
waayked (awoke)
bended (bent)
busted (burst)
casted (cast)
come (came)
dealed (dealt)
drayed (drew)
drunk or drinked (drank)
veil or veiled (fell)
vorzaayked (forsook)
give or gived
(gave)
hided (hid)
hurted (hurt)
mawed (mowed)
re-a-ded (read)
run (ran)
zee, zin, or zeed (saw)
zetted (set)
slitted (slit)
strided (strode)
swimmed (swam)
telled or tawld (told)
teared (tore)
treaded (trod)
Perfect Participle, begun knawed (known)
blawed (blown) awaayked (awakened) bended (bent) busted (burst) casted (cast) come
dealed (dealt) drayed (drawn)
drunk or drinked (drunk)
veil or veiled (fallen)
vorzook (forsaken)
give or gived (given)
hided (hidden) hurted (hurt) mawed (mown) re-a-ded (read) rund (run)
zin or zeed (seen)
zetted (set) slitted (slit) strided (stridden) swimmed (swum) telled or tawld (told)
teared or tored (torn)" treaded
(trodden)
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(delwedd C3369) (tudalen 013)
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ADVERBS. 18
ADVERBS. In adverbs the termination ly
is usually dropped: Thus * They were
dressed very prettily' would become thwiy was dressed vurry pretty; * He was walking quickly '
becomes he was a-walkin* quick.
INTERJECTORY PHRASES. The interjectory
phrases most commonly in use are
Lark 0* massy (astonishment);
Massy me (slight astonishment);
To he zure (implying assent);
Well, to he zure (surprise);
Lawk (astonishment);
Zartin zure (corroboration);
TU he dolled (surprise);
Dally now (remonstrance);
Bless my xawl alive (astonishment);
Massy on us (surprise with fear).
What shall I zaay and A matter ^o are both inserted to give emphasis thus, He he wuth, what shall I
zaay, pWaps a matter 'o twenty
thousand pound;
Raaly now (mild remonstrance);
Co^ne, come (good humoured doubt). This, however, is also used to call one sharply to attention.
Larra tnassy me^ Lack a daayzy (slight astonished).
SYNTAX.
Rule i. It has been seen in the conjugation of verbs that in Berkshire Dialect the verh does not
agree with its nominative case in
number and person, and that such phrases are used as / sings, We loves, The hwoys plaays, &c.
Rule 2. Two or more nouns or pronouns in the singular number
joined by a copulative conjunction expressed or understood do not hare
verbs agreeing with them in the plural number. For example, one
would say, * Jemps an' Richut was there,* and not * James and
Richard were there.'
Rule 3. As is often used for who, whom, which, and that, as illustrated by the following examples: *
This be the man as I respects; * He be he as zarved I bad *; * I be a man as
wishes 'e well.*
Rule 4. Active verbs govern the nominative case, thus: 'They love us ' is rendered Thaay loves we; * He
hates them ' becomes He haaytes
thaay.*
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(delwedd C3370) (tudalen 014)
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14 INTRODUCTORY.
Rule 5. Participles of active verbs govern the objective case^ the pronoun being preceded by * on/ thus: *I am
tired of seeing him' becomes * I be
tired o' zeeingow un '; * He was teaching them ' becomes ' He was a-tachin* on 'um.'
Rule 6. Two negatives are often used to give simple negative signification. ' I was not there two
minutes * becomes, / wasn't not
thaayre two minnuts^ * I won't have any such doings ' becomes / wunt hev no such doins.
Rule 7. Prepositions sometimes govern the nominative case^ as shown in the following examples, * From
them that hate you expect malice'
becomes From thaay as haaytes V, <S^., * From him that is cunning expect deceit ' becomes
Vrom he as is, S»c.
Looseness in construction not infrequently occurs, as thus: On inquiring who a certain man was, I have
received for reply. That be the new
man zur as belongs to Velder Verm, By this it was intended to inform me that the man I
inquired about had recently become the
owner of Velder Farm.
HI. CUSTOMS.
I give some notes relative to time-honoured customs and observances, superstitions, folk-lore,
&c., which may seem to have kinship
or association with the Glossary itself.
Harvest-whoam. At the home-bringing of the last load of com as many of the labourers as possible
ride on the top of it, others walking
in on either side, or following. Their song, repeated
at short intervals is:
Well ploughed, well zawed, Well
ripped, well mawed, Narra lo-ad
awverdrawed.*
Whoop, whoop, whoop, whoop, harvest whoam.
In the still summer evening this is heard in the adjacent parishes. The festivities of the night,
commencing with a most substantial
supper, are of the heartiest character, all who have taken part in the harvest, together with
all members of their families, being
present. After supper the first song is the
Harvest-Home Song:**
II
♦
Overlhix».\n.
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(delwedd C3371) (tudalen 015)
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CUSTOMS. 15
I. Yer's a health unto our
Me-uster The Vounder of our
Ve-ast; We hope his zawl to God will
go When he do get his rest. Maay iverything now prosper That he do taayke in hand. Vor we be all his zarvants As works at his command.
(chorus.) Zo drink bwoys, drink, An' zee as 'e do not spill. Vor if 'e do 'e shall drink two. Vor that be Me-uster 's will.
II. Yer's a health unto our
Misteress That giveth us good
aayle; We hopes she'll live vor many a
year To cheer us wi out vaail. She is the best Provider In all the country round, Zo taayke yer cup an* drink it up, Nam like her can be vound.
(chorus.)
Zo drink bwoys, drink,
An' zee as 'e do not spill:
Vor if *e do 'e shall drink two,
Vor that be Me-uster' s will.
IRepeated.]
The traascriberof this was born on Harvest Whoam Night at Hampstead Norreys, and the event was
duly announced to the 250 guests at
supper. From that moment the approved singer
of the above song was iti deep thought, with the result that a third verse in honour of** Our Little
Me-uster born to-night" was
given. It is unfortunate that this effort, which fairly brought down the house, was not
recorded.
On Valentine's Day bands of little children go round to
the houses in the villages, singing:
Knock the kittle agin the pan, Gie us
a penny if 'e can; We be ragged an*
you be vine. Plaze to gie us a
Valentine. Up wie the kittle down wi'
the spout, Gie us a penny an' we'll
gie out. (i.e., stop this
singing.)
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(delwedd C3372) (tudalen 016)
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16 INTRODUCTORY.
The penny is at once forthcoming; in some cases an orange a-piece is given also.
Good Friday. On Good Friday the children sing the well-known verse of
One-a-penny two-a-pexmy hot cross buns.
The commencing line, however, is:
When Good Friday comes the awld 'oomen runs.
On Shrove-Tuesday the children go round singing:
Snick-snock the pan's hot, We be come
a shrovin'. Plaze to gie us
zummut, Zummut's better'n
nothin*, A bit o' bread a bit o*
chaze, A bit o' apple dumplin'
plaze.
On the Fifth of November parties go round to collect wood for their bonfire. They carry a figure
of well-known type as representing Guy
Fawkes. The rhymes used are various
and parts are general.
Remember, Remember the Vifth o' November,
Gunpowder trason an* plot. Pray
tell muh the rason why gunpowder trason,
Should iver be vorgot.
Our Qttane*s a valiant zawljer. Car's
her blunderbus on her right shawlder.
Cocks her pistol drays her rapier,
Praay gie us zummit vor her zaayke yer.
A stick an* a staayke vor Quane Vickey*s zaayke, If *e wunt gie one I'll taayke two. The better vor we an* the wus vor you.
(CHORVS.)
Holler bwoys, holler bwoys, maake yer bells ring, Holler bwoys, holler bwo>'s, God zaay ve
the Quane. Hurrah! hurrah! (ad
lib.)
The part about ** the Quane *' is, of course, an adaptation. The original rhyme is very old, and at the
end of it, " God zaayve the King
' formerly came to rhyme with " Maayke yer bcUs ring.**
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(delwedd C3373) (tudalen 017)
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CUSTOMS. 17
In other rhymes and in the "Mummers' Play" local poets have been in the habit of inserting lines
respecting important recent events,
and thus many pieces have become modernized.
We have also
Guy Vawkes an* his companions did contrive*
To blaw the House o' Parliament up alive, Wi* dree scoor barr*ls o' powder down
belaw, To prove Awld England's wicked
awver-draw; But by God's marcy all on
um got catched, Wi' ther dark lantern
an' ther lighted match. Laaydies an'
gentlemen zettin' by the vire. Plaze
put hands in pockuts an' gie us our desire;
While you can drink one glass, we can drink two, An' that's the better vor we an' none the
wus vor you.
Humour, rumour, pump a derry, Prick
his heart an' burn his body, An' zend
his zawl to Purgaterry.
And
Guy Vawkes, Guy 't was his intent
To blaw up the Houses o' Parliament;
Hy God's marcy he got catched,
Wi' his dark lantern an' lighted match.
Ciuy Vawkes, Guy zet un up high,
A pound o' chaze to chawke un;
A pint o' beer to wash ut down,
An' a jolly good vire to ro-ast un.
Up wi' the pitcher an' down wi' the prong, t
Gie us a penny an' we'll be gone.
THE PLAY OF THE ** MUMMERS," As
acted in Mid-Berkshire at Christmas-tide.
DRAMATIS PERSON. E. Molly: A stalwart
many dressed in uwman^s gown, shawl, and bonnet,
with a besom in kand^ with ludicrous imitation of a
woman's voice. King George: A big man
dressed as ^ knight with home-made helmet,
sword, &*c. French Officer: A thin
man with cocked-hat, sword, epaulettes, and uniform. Doctor: Arrayed in very long tail coat,
with pig tail, knee breeches, &>:,
Jack Vinny: Dressed as a jester, and with a kind of tall fool's cap.
H \PPY Jack: In tattered garments.
Old Beelzebub: As Father Christmas.
* iu., plot \ This means that the time is one for drinking beer, and not for
work. C
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(delwedd C3374) (tudalen 018)
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18 INTRODUCTORY.
The Mummers having arrived, singing is heard outside the
house.
God bless the Me-aster of this house,
I hopes he is athin An' if he is
praay tell us zo
An' we ull zoon begin.
(Chorus) With hey dum dum,
With hey dum dum de derry; Vor we be
come this Christmas time A purpose to
be merry.
I hopes the Misteress is athin
An' zettin' by the vire A pityin* we
poor mummers yer
Out in the mud an* mire.
(Chorus) With hey dum dum,
With hey dum dum de derry; Vor we be
come this Christmas time A purpose to
be merry.
We dwoant come yer but once a year,
An* hopes 'tis no offence; An* if it
is praay tell us zo
An' we *ull zoon go hence.
(Chorus) With hey dum dum,
With hey dum dum de derry; Vor we be
come this Christmas time A purpose to
be merry.
Then permission and invitation being given, Molly first enters the kitchen or hall (where the
spectators are assembled) with a hop,
step and jump, and flourishing an old broom, or walking round at times pretending to sweep
with it, sings
First Character.
Molly. A room, a room, I do presume
For me an* my braayve men; For we be
come this Christmas time To maayke a
little rhyme. An* yer we comes at
Christmas time. Welcome or welcome
not, Hoping awld Veyther
Christmas Ull never be vorgot. Laast Christmas daay I turned the spit, Burned my vingers an' veels on't it.* A spark view awver the staayble, The skimmer hit the laaydle. Ah! zes the Gridiron caan't you two agree,
♦ i.e., of
it yet.
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(delwedd C3375) (tudalen 019)
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CUSTOMS.
19
King Gborge:
I be the Justice bring 'em avoor me,
An' now we sho₯rs activity of yoath, activity of aayge, Zuch actin' you never zee upon another
staayge, An' if e' wunt belave what I
hev had to zaay, Walk in bawld King
Gaarge an' clear the waaye
[King Gaarge enters.
Second Character.
I be King Gaarge a nawble Knight,
I lost zum blood in English vight;
I keer not vor Spaniard, Vrench, nor Turk,
Wher's the man as can do I hurt?
An' if bevoor muh he durs stan',
I'll cut un down wi' this deadly han'
I'll cut un an' slash un as small as vlies.
An' zend un to the cook-shop to maayke mince pies.
And zo let all yer vices zing,
As I'm the Royal British King. [Enter French Officer.
Third Character.
French Officer: I be a bowld Vrench Officer,
Beau Slasher is my naayme. An* by my
sharp zoord at my zide, I hopes to win
the gaayme; My body's lined wie
lead. My head is maayde of steel, An' I am come vrom Turkish land. To vight thee in the vield.
King George
Molly:
Doctor:
Oh, Slasher, Slasher dwooant thee be too hot,
For in this room thee'U mind who thee hast got, Zo to battle, to battle, let thee an' I
try, To zee which on the ground vust
shall lie.
(They fight, their swords clapping together with great noise. After a little fighting the French
Officer hits King George on the leg
and down he falls.)
Doctor, doctor, maayke no delaay,
But maayke thee haayste an* come this waay.
Doctor, doctor, wher bist thee.
King Gaarge is wounded* in the knee.
Ten pound if that nawble Doctor was yer.
[Doctor thereupon comes in.
Fourth Character.
1 be the nawble Doctor Good, An' wi'
my skill I'll stop his blood. My vee's
ten pound, but awnly vive. If I dwoant
raaise this man alive.
(Feels his pulse, shakes his leg, and then says)
* Pronounced to rhyme with " sounded."
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(delwedd C3376) (tudalen 020)
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20
INTRODUCTORY.
Molly:
Doctor: Molly:
Jack Vinny
Doctor: Jack Vinny: Doctor:
Jack Vinny: Doctor: Jack Vinny:
This man be not quite dead see how his leg shaaykes,
An' I've got pills as cures all ills,
The itch, the stitch, the palsy an' the gout,
Paains 'athin an* paains 'athout.
An' any awld 'ooman dead zeven year,
If she got one tooth left to crack one o' theuz yer.
(fie then holds up the box, shakes it to rattle the pills, and finally opening it, takes a
large .one out and stuffs it into King
George* s mouth, saying)
Rise up, King Gaarge, an' vight agaain,
An' zee which on *e vust is slaain.
(King George jumps up forthwith into attitude to fight: this time they fight longer, and
uith even more clattering of sti^ords
at length King George hits the
French Officer, who falls down
flat.)
Doctor, doctor, do thy part.
This man is wounded* to the heart;
Doctor, can *e cure this man.
No, I zees 'e's too vur gan.
Then walk in Jack Vinny.
[Jack Vinny enters. Fifth
Character.
My naayme is not Jack Vinny * My
naayme is Mr. John Vinny, A man of
faayme, come vrom Spaain, Do moor nor
any man agaain.
Well, what can'st thee do, Jack?
Cure a magpie wi' the tooth-aayche.
How?
Cut his yead off an' draw| his body into the ditch.
Well, cure this man.
If he 'uU taayke one drap out o* my drug bottle,
Which is one pennoth o' pigeon's milk,
Mixed wi* the blood of a gracehopper,
An' one drap o' the blood of a dyin' donkey,
Well shaayken avoor taayken;
I'll be bound 'e *ull rise up an' vight no moor
Gie I my Spectacles!
(Is handed a pair of wooden spectacles).
Gie I my Pliers I
(Is handed a large-sized pair of pliers, with which, making much parade, he proceeds to draw one
of the French Officer's teeth, and at
length exhibiting a large horse* s tooth.)
Pronounced to rhyme wiih " sounded."
+ i,e., throw.
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(delwedd C3377) (tudalen 021)
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CUSTOMS.
21
Yer's a tooth enough to kill any man,
But he 'ull cure this man; I
comes vrom Spaain an' thee vrom Vrance,
Gie us thy hand, rise up an' dance.
(French officer rises. The two then execute a dance.) Molly: Walk in, Happy Jack.
[Happy Jack comes in.
Sixth Character. Happy Jack: I be poor
awld Happy Jack,
Wie wife an' vamly at my back; Out o'
nine I yent but vive, An' hafe o'
thaay be sturved alive. Roast be-uf,
plum pudden an' mince pie. Who likes
them ther better 'n I. The roo-ads be
dirty, my shoes be bad, Zo plee-uz put
zummut into my bag. Molly: Come in,
Vey ther Beelzebub,
Who on thy sha wider cars a club, Under
thee erm a drippin' pan. Bent 'e now a
jolly awld man.
[Enter Beelzebub. Seventh
Character. Beslzebub: Yer comes I as
yent bin 'it*
Wie my gurt 'yead an' little wit;
My yead's zo big an' my wits zo small,
Zo I brings my Viddle to plaaze 'e all.
{Commences to play on the fiddle, and all dance a reel, from which Molly walks out to collect
from the lookers on.)
The foregoing is the rendering of the Mummers' Play, generally given in Mid -Berkshire, but the
Mummers of most parishes have slight
variations. For instance, we find the
3ompton Mummers have amongst iheix dramatis persona a Turkish ■cnight in place of a French
officer. He thus announces himself:
Yer comes I, a Turkish Knight, Come
vrom Turkeyland to vight; I myzelf an'
zeven moor Vaught a battle o* 'leven
scoor 'Leven scoor o* well-armed
men We never got conquered 'it by
them.
To whom King George replies:
Whoa thou little veller as talks zo bawld,
'Bout thaay other Turkish chaps
I've a bin tawld.
Dray thee zoord mwoast parfic knight,
♦
i.c.<,yd.
a
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(delwedd C3378) (tudalen 022)
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lMTROt)UCtOkV.
Dray thy zoord an' on to vight,
Vor I'll hev zatisvaction avoor I goes to-night.
My yead is maayde o* iron,
My body maayde o' steel,
An* if *e wunt bele-uv muh
Jus' dray thee zoord an* veel.
{They fight.)
In the performance by the Steventon Mummers we find King George announces himself as
the"Africky King." His
antagonist, however, is Beau Slasher, the French officer.
The Brightwaltham Mummers have Molly given the title of Queen Mary.
IV. SUPERSTITIONS.
Superstition is more deeply rooted than might be supposed by any not born and bred amongst the
people. Education has lately done
much, and there is a tendency to conceal faith in the Super-natural, but this concealment
is not quite disbelief. Many of the superstitions in Berkshire are
almost universal. Those common are
A dog howling betokens death.
With thirteen sitting down to a meal, death is certain to happen to one of the party within twelve
months.
In the locality where you first hear the cuckoo, you may probably spend the greater part of the
year, and some important event of your
life will happen there.
A cinder falling alight from the fire in the shape of a coffin signifies death, in the shape of a cradle
a birth, and in the shape of a purse
wealth.
A spark in the candle means a letter; if you snocks it down, it falls towards the person who will get
the letter. Letters were probably few
and far between when this superstition arose.
White spots on the finger nails: If on thumb a gift; first finger a new friend; second finger a foe;
third finger a letter from a
sweetheart; fourth finger an enforced journey.
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(delwedd C3379) (tudalen 023)
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SL'PEBSTITIONS. 2ii
Knives across each other at tahle indicate a quarnt. If the creases of a table cloth are diamond
shape, this is a ;n of death.
Furoiture creaking betokens serious illness. WhtTi martins build their lusls poverty
neverreigivs: N'o one will K the eggs
of a martin nor kill these birds, and good luck and osperity are believed to come under the
roof around which ly build. Their
nests are only destroyed when feathers projpiding from the side aperture show
that sparrows have taken ession and
turned out the rightful owners; then a long pole I brought and the mud structure poked to
pieces to the Istruciion of the eggs
or young family of the pirates. It is
psidered a sign of bad luck to those living in a house if irtins having once built around the roof
discontinue to do so. If a horse be
found in the stable in a sweat in the morning
It is beUeved that he has been taken out and ridden by a Witch or Evil Spirit during the night. A horse
shoe nailed on the 1 outside of the
stable door will prevent this, but it may be noted H^MtaU belief in the efficacy of a horse
shoe nailed on a door seems
^^^Bdespread, for in the West Indies many are nailed on doors of ^^^Hsn official quarters to keep away
yellow fever or cholera, ^^^^ Finding
a horse shoe will bring good luck to the finder.
A stalk swimming in your lea shows that a stranger is coming, it is placed on the back of the
hand and the wrist patted. If it
should faUat the first pat the stranger will arrive that day, if, at the second pat, on the
second day and so on. You then repeat
the operation to ascertain the hour; the first |t leferring to one o'clock, the second to
two o'clock, lic. If the k be a hard
one the stranger will be a man, if a soft one, a If the stranger be not welcome to come, the
tea stalk t not be placed on the hand,
but should be taken out of the teacup
and thrown under the table.
If your nose itches you will be shortly kiucd, curstd, or
xou in
■ref kb »ar
Llf your right ear bums someone is speaking good of you; if f Uft ear burns evil is being spoken of
you.
k cock crowing at an unusual time, shows that a stranger
ming.
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(delwedd C3380) (tudalen 024)
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2-A INTRODUCTORY.
At first sight of the new moon, a piece of hloney should be taken out of the pocket and turned over in
the hand, this will ensure a
prosperous month.
A first sight of the new moon through a window forebodes forthcoming bad luck.
As regards the number of magpies seen at one time, the following rhymes are used:
One sorrow, Two joy, Three a wedding, Four a boy.
And
One sorrow,
Two mirth,
Three a wedding,
Four a birth.
The superstition as regards the necessity to announce the death of the master of a house to the Bees
is deeply rooted. Any omission to do
this would give them such umbrage that they
would certainly all die. My brother tells me that at the death of my father in 1855, the old nurse in the
house (Mrs. Barr), came to him and
said, **The bees should at once be waked, sir." He scouted the proposal, but she continued
to beg to be allowed to do it. At
length she went away to one hive placed amongst many others in the kitchen gardens. She
tapped this hive three times, and then
said, ** Wake, your master is dead! " she explained that the bees of this hive would
at once inform all the others, and
that all was now satisfactory.
A piece of wedding-cake passed through a bride's ring and placed under the pillow will make a girl
plainly to see her future husband in a
dream.
If a person requires money ardently, and should say the Lord's Prayer backwards three times, and
shall afterwards prick his finger and
write on a paper with the blood, ** Beelzebub, Beelzebub, three pounds from thee,"
and place the paper under his pillow,
he will find the paper gone in the morning, and money will certainly shortly come to him,
but his soul has become the property
of the Evil One.
On certain nights of the year it is believed that the Fairies dance around the ** Fairy Rings " of a
different coloured grass from that
usually found on the Downs, and on arriving at any of
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(delwedd C3381) (tudalen 025)
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SUPERSTITIONS. 2^9
these *' Rings '' one should walk round them rather than across them.
Birds pecking at a window announce a death. The coincidences I have known in respect of
this are certainly so remarkable as
almost to justify the superstition. I was in a house, where at daybreak a large number of
pigeons settled themselves along
bedroom window ledges, making great pecking
and noise, and awakening the inmates. About two hours later it was announced that the master of the
house had died about the time referred
to.
Some look with great foreboding on the appearance of a raven; others think there is sad news
conveyed by the pecking of a robin at
the window, but where the robin has been
encouraged to come by feeding him with bread crumbs, no harm is thought of. Robins are regarded
almost with veneration by many. They
are supposed to be incapable of doing any damage to crops, &c., and they are
believed to witness evil deeds when no
other may be near. It is certainly the case that although the robin is not a bird of the
woods, yet if a person should make a
tapping or other unwonted noise in any secluded spot, a robin shortly appears on the scene
and takes an interest in the
proceedings.
.* *« -*«
V 'l» *l* !*
Few villages are witliout their ghost stories. The White Lady who rides on a White Horse along
secluded lanes at Well House is much dreaded.
But such matters fortunately often
admit of being fully cleared up to the satisfaction of the most superstitious.
A short time ago some persons had been frightened by a ghost said to appear in Hampstead Norreys
Churchyard. It was reported slowly to
raise its head to a gigantic height,
make some unearthly noises, and then quickly disappear. At length, on investigation, the ghost proved
to be a large white Turkey Cock that
had taken to roosting on a white tombstone.
On the approach of any one he had raised himself from his sleep, and with gobbling and flapping of
wings had vanished behind his
resting-place.
1 will conclude this with a short account of the satisfactory laying of a ghost.
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(delwedd C3382) (tudalen 026)
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26 IXTRODUCTORV.
At South Moreton, seventy years ago, there was a house where the most extraordinary occurrences took
place. Those who ventured to sleep in the house reported that at times their
candles would bum blue and sometimes
go out with a great flash of light,
that when hing in bed gravel would be thrown over them and about the room by unseen hands, and that a
large family Bible lying on a shelf
would of its own accord fly about the room and even hit them when in bed.
These things made such a stir that my father asked to be allowed to investigate. He went to the
house at nightfall, taking a supply of
candles with him; he stipulated that the
occupiers of the house should not be near it during that night, though these latter had strongly
urged that the ghost had shown no
disposition to hurt them personally, but that the same forbearance would not be exercised towards
others who might go there to set a
supernatural power at defiance. My father was
accompanied by a firiend, Mr. Thomas Humfirey; they kept good watch, and nothing extraordinary
happened during the night.
In the morning they made a careful examination.
They found under a piece of matting by the bedside a small portion of floor-board neatly inserted that
was removable firom the room below;
thus, by standing on the table of the underneath room the board in question was taken out
and gravel scattered as desired over
the bed and bedroom.
Some of the candles left in the house were found to have been cut in two, a small portion of the
wick abstracted, and a gunpowder
mixture inserted in the hollow; the candles
had then been most neatly joined again; this accounted for the candles burning blue and going out with
a flash.
The shelf whereon the Bible was lying was secured to a partition wall, and at the same height in
the room on the other side of the
partition wall a row of wooden pegs was fixed. One of these jxigs had been made to pierce
quite through the wall at the spot on
the shelf whore the Bible was resting, and
by a sharp knock on this peg the Bible might be sent fl>dng about the bedroom.
It subsequently appeared that the occupants of the house had reason to believe that their rent was
about to be raised and
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(delwedd C3383) (tudalen 027)
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Folk lore. 27
had wished to deter others from taking the house in case they should propose to give it up. Supernatural
aid had been enlisted accordingly.
V. FOLK-LORE.
In Berkshire the little blue Tit-mouse is styled the **King of Birds." The legend as commonly told
runs thus:
The eagle summoned all kinds of birds together, to choose their king; it was agreed that the one
which could fly highest should be
elected.
The Rook flew so high that he called out,
Caw, caw, caw, I can zee it alL
The Lark flew quite up to heaven's gate, and there sung a sweet song of triumph.
But whilst these trials were going on the little blue Tit-mouse crept under the feathers of the eagle and
hid itself there. When the eagle's
turn came he soared far higher than any of the others and remained stationary at that
point, looking proudly downwards. At
length when quite exhausted with the prolonged effort, he was obliged to commence to
descend at that moment the little
blue Tit-mouse flew out and mounted still higher than the eagle had done, with its pert note of
" Tit, tit, Higher it, Tit, tit.
Higher it."
All the birds were therefore obliged to acknowledge that the little blue Tit-mouse must be their
King.
The title of King of Birds has somewhat similarly been sometimes claimed for the wren, but this is
not so in Berkshire.
J- L** .r.
■ n' V
&
There was once a King who determined to have the question decided as to which of the animals
should be called the '* King of
Beasts.'* So on a certain day he had all the different
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(delwedd C3384) (tudalen 028)
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28 INTRODUCTORY.
kinds assembled and turned into a large arena. He then had it proclaimed that at a given signal they
might all fall to fighting i and that
the one which survived should win the title of ** King of Beasts " for his
descendants for ever.
The word was given; all the animals began fighting furiously, and as one was slain, the victor would seek
another antagonist. At length the
Lion, crippled, bleeding, and scarcely able to stir, thought himself to be the sole survivor,
but on looking round to make sure that
this might be so, he espied an old Donkey standing with his head thrust into a corner of the
arena. The Donkey had run thither in
very great fright at the commencement of the fray. The maimed Lion with great difficulty
crawled along to where the Donkey was
standing. The latter waited his opportunity, and when the Lion came close up to him, lashed
out with both his heels, striking the
Lion full on the head and rolling him in the
dust.
The Donkey, therefore, became the ** King of Beasts.'*
^;,; J,: >,;
The Magpie has always been the highest authority amongst the Birds in the art of nest-building. Its
own extensive nest of twigs is not
surpassed by anything of the kind in the woods, the * Squirrels Draw * alone approaching it
in appearance.
The poor Wood Pigeon knew not how to build a nest at
all, and in her tribulation besought the Magpie to teach her.
The Magpie consented, so some sticks were collected and the ksson began.
** One stick this waay, t'other stick that waay, one stick a-thurt, t'other stick across,"
chattered the Magpie.
** That 'ooll do-o-o-o, that 'ooU do-o-o-o," coo*d the Wood Pigeon, highly pleased with what had been
done, and feeling that this was as
much as she could possibly manage to remember.
** No t'wunt, no t'wunt, one stick here, t'other stick there, and one betwixt," replied the Magpie,
suiting the action to the word.
** That 'ooll do-o-o-o, that 'ooll do-o-o-o," said the poor Wood Pigeon again, now quite confused and
utterly unable to follow the teaching
any longer.
" W^cU, if tool for thee t'wunt vor I," responded the Magpie, out of patience with so inapt a
pupil, and off she flew.
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(delwedd C3385) (tudalen 029)
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FOLK LORE. 20
Thus it arises that the Wood Pigeon's nest has never been properly constructed, and that it
consists only of a few twigs roughly
laid across each other. '
:ft ii: H: ili
It is said locally that a Dog's Nose and a Woman's Elbow are always cold, never being otherwise when
there is good health. This is
accounted for as follows: In the days of the flood the Ark sprung a small leak and Noah, who had
forgotten to bring carpenter's tools
on board with him, was at his wits' end how
to act. His faithful Dog had followed him to the place where the leak was, and stood watching the influx
of water. In his trouble Noah seized
the Dog and crammed his nose into the
leak.
This stopped it, but in a few moments Noah perceived that the Dog must die if kept in this
position any longer. By this time
Noah's Wife had come up and was standing by his side watching what was taking place. Noah
thereupon released the Dog, and taking
his Wife's arm stuffed her elbow into the crack.
The danger was thus averted, but a Dog's Nose and a Woman's Elbow will remain cold as long as
the World lasts.
The above legend seems to have nothing specially of a Berkshire character about it, but I have
never heard it told outside the
county.
:;; 5;: * ^
Amongst country folk the notes or calls of many birds are given their eqvivalents in phrases. I
remember an old shepherd at Hampstead
Norreys, ** Shepherd Savoury," who seemed to have words or phrases for all birds.
As an instance, he one morning said he had been walking down a lane with his gun (a recent
conversion from a flint arrangement),
and found there a small flock of
sparrows flying along the hedge in front of him. When these birds saw some one coming, they began
to argue as to his identity; some said
** 'tis he, 'tis he," to which others replied, '* t'yent, t'yent.'* This discussion went on
until the birds fell a-fighting over
it, and all flew close together in their struggle, as their manner is. ** Then," said the
Old Man, ** I thate the time had come
vor to show um ** 'tis I," an' zo I let vly an' killed a dozen on um."
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(delwedd C3386) (tudalen 030)
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80 INTRODUCTORY.
VI.
SAYINGS" AND PHRASES.
Dwoant never buy a Peg in a Pwo-ak, This proverb is very common; it signifies that one should not
make a bargain without previous
thorough knowledge of what one is acquiring.
A wkistlin' 'Ooman an' a crawin' Hen
Be-ant good vor God nor it tor Men.
This is quoted with reference to a woman who attempts to do anything which would be more properly
performed by a man. Wliistling is held
to be unwomanly, and it may be added that
there is almost as strong a feeling in some communities in Berkshire against men or boys whistling on
Sundays as there may be in any part of
Scotland.
As frond as a Hen at' one Chick, A very common sa3ring with reference to one who is not able to conceal
pleased pride about some matter, such
as the success of a child at school, &c.
Raain avoor Zeten vine avoor 'Leven is a very common weather proverb.
** Zing aroor Breakcns* Cry aroar Night'* is the phrase which greets those who commence the day with
buoyant spirits too audibly apparent
to others.
To require anything, as mnch as a Two-ad wants a Zide-pockut^ is the expression to indicate that the thing asked
for is quite unnecessar}" and
unsuited to the person who makes the
application.
What be good for the Haay he bad wr the Tnrmmis, This saying has special reference to the fact that fine
hay-making weather s bad for the
}x>ung turnips, which require warm rain, but it is commonly made use of with respect to
an}-thing that may be good in one way
and bad in another.
There are many "sayings" respecting thrift, which is looked on as a very high virtue indeed.
Commonly quoted by pruden: housewives
we have
Tcv-^s/ Ytr BrtJid An* rdskfr \er
VitUk, An" *s i^mg ^s /'
hvts Tkfe \\^i mertr tt Rhk,
« New Bread, new Beer, an gre-an ^Ood, 'nil bring Rnin to any mans hcnse."
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(delwedd C3387) (tudalen 031)
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Children hold a buttercup to the chin to see
if one likes butter \i there be a
bright yellow reflection the liking exists if there be none, they then try whether any
reflection comes from the centre of a
daisy, and this would indicate a liking for cheese, A sliining face usually shows the liking
for butter.
After children have finished eating cherry-pie or cherry-pudding, and
accumulated cherry stones around the edge of the plate, they try to determine what kind of a
house they will spend their lives in.
On touching the first cherry-stone they say,
" Oreat-bouae," on touching the second "
Little-house," at the third
" Pig-sty," and at the fourth " Barn," and so on
again. The word spoken on touching the
last cherry-stone, indicates the
nature of the future residence.
There are similarly other sayings with cherry-stones. A girl thus seeking the status of her future
husband, says, "Tinker, tailor,
soldier, sailor, rich man, poor man, beggar, thief."
Also as regards the time of her marriage " This year, next year, now, or never."
Then for her dress " Silk, satin, muslin, rags."
For her mode of conveyance, "Coach, carriage, wheel-bftrf ow,
dung-cart."
Jf there be one of whom she thinks favourably she will tby touching cherry stones and saying, '■ He loves me;
tn't; he'll marry me; he won't; he would if he could; but
lon't 'cause he can't." ■Girla ascertain how many years will elapse before they
will
married by blowing at the seeds on a dandelion stalk. The of years will correspond with the number of
puffs required to get rid of ail the
seeds. Those with the best lungs would
api>ear to have the best chance ol getting married soon.
Amongst old Servants there is a crustiness of temper that seems inseparable from the honest, sterling
devotion to those vhom they serve. No
affront is ever taken, the old servants
being privileged. On days on which this crustiness of temper is specially apparent fellow servants and
others try to keep clear
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(delwedd C3388) (tudalen 032)
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82 IXtRODrCTORY.
as much as possible. As an instance, I may mention an old carpenter called " Jemps Burgess,*'
who, with his son Dick, w^as employed
about Hampstead Norreys Farm to do all small
repairs and services. His duties ranged from mending dolls* legs and arms to framing buildings; he used
to come in daily at noon, with his
son, for the regulated pint of beer. He was
greatly esteemed and liked.
One day he came in, not accompanied by his son Dick as usual.
The girl who brought his beer said quite civilly, ** Oh, Jemps, wher be Dich to-daay?'* to which
Jemps replied, ** Who d'ye mane by
Dick? beant ut enough vor 'e as his
godveythers an' godmothers christened un Richut, &c,? The maid hastily disappeared. Up till this time
none had ever known ** Dick** under
any other name.
A touch of the same spirit existed in Dick himself; it was usual to take him oft' his regular work for
any odd messages, &c., and one day
he had several times been sent with notes or
messages to a house in the village where the occupants were on very intimate terms with the family of his
master. On another note being at length
handed to Dick he turned it over as if not
understanding, and then said to the servant maid, '* Tell um plaze as I dwoant know my waay."
About fifty years ago there lived at Hagbourn Mr. Robert Appleford. He was a Pig dealer by trade,
was a ** Character," and was well
known throughout the county as ** Bob Applevord."
Bob caused to be circulated far and wide notification that he had, at Hagbourn, a prime fat Pig which he
intended to present to any man who
could prove that he had always strictly minded his own business. For some time nobody
responded to the invitation, and the
one or two who at length did so had weak
claims, which fell through.
But there was a man at Didcot of remarkably taciturn disposition, and his neighbours told him he
was the right man to claim the Pig.
Accordingly he one morning went over
to Bob Appleford's Pig-yard at Hagbourn, and
accosted him with, ** I be the man as minds my awn business an' be come vor that ther Peg." "
Well," says Bob Appleford, ** I
"sayings'* and phrases. 8B
be glad to zee *e then. Come an' look at un." They accordingly went to
the sty where the celebrated Pig was, and for
awhile both gazed admiringly.
Bob Appleford then stroked the Pig and remarked, ** A be a vine un* jus' as I zed vor, be-ant a?
" " Eese, a rayly be," said
the claimant from Didcot; " Zurely a 'markable vine Peg, an' med I ax 'e what 'e hev a-ved* un on to
maayke ." ** That be my
business an' not yourn, good marnin'," replied Bob Appleford interrupting.
"No one else claimed the Pig."
The Mid-Berkshire rebuff to a Busybody is and is likely to be, " You'll never get Bob Applevord's
Peg."
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(delwedd C3389) (tudalen 033)
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THE WELL-HOUSE, ZWILLY-HAWLE.
(I) Willum, ther's zumniut puzzles
I
Med-be as you can zaay vor why
The Waaler yer, runs unner groun',
An' dwoant vlaw ont as can be voun.' "
Well, Richut, 1 hev yeard um tell
As that ther hawle goes like a well;
Down in the yarth, an' zome zes droo'
The vurry bottom on un too."
(3) * Oh, Willum, you a joke hev
tried,
The yarth ent got no bottom zide,
An' that mus' prove, ther yent no doubt,
As what vlaws in atop c^mes out."
(4) * Now, Richut, thee zims sherp
enough.
But what's the good o' tawkin' stuff?
Thess zettle H, an' t'yent no girt zin
Thess get a duck an' put un in.
(5) "Athout the waater ke-ups
inzide,
E med-be zure as he wunt bide;
If that ther stre-am comes droo' a-top.
Athin the yarth that bird wunt stop."
(6) Now, whilst um zo did argivy,
A vlock o' ducks comes paddlin' by.
Why, Richut, look! Why, theuz be zent
Jus' pat vor our experiment."
i.e.. fed, U
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(delwedd C3390) (tudalen 034)
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84 INTRODUCTORY.
(7)
" But, Willum, that ud be a wrong
To shove one down that hawie along,
An' what 'uU awld Daayme Bushell zaay
If us do zar un zuch a waay *'?
(«)
" Well, Richut, lamed chaps do zwaayre
As what's vor vindin' out be vaair,
Zo thess hev hopes the Daavme wunt vret, She'll hev but one the less to
yet."*
(9) By now the ducks was handy
got, An' Willum jumped among the
lot, An' ketched a vine un scotched
his pawle» An' zent un quackin' down
the hawle 1
(10)
Vor moor'n a we-uk um zarched aroun'
Vor any duck as med be voun';
But ater all was zed an' done.
Daayme Bushell 's brood stood shert by one.
(II)
But bym-by comes a taayle to town.
Zome carter bwoys at Ivrinton.l
A baaythin in the river ther.
Had zummut zin as struck um queer.
(12)
Vust \loated veathers vast an* thick,
An' zome time ater zad an* zick,
\ dyin' duck zo woebegone Wi'
narra zingle veather on.
(13) Willum an' Richut went to
zee That duck as shawed zuch
mizeree; Ther a was scotched acrass
the pawle. As thaay'd adone at
Zwilly-Hawle.
(M) Zo that poor mortal duck had
voun' His longvul waay all unner
groun', An' prooved as how that
stre-am do run From Zwilly-Hawle to
Ivrinton.
i.r-, Kat. \ Kvcringion, a hanil«t more than two miles from
Well-Houte.
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(delwedd C3391) (tudalen 035)
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PL.VCE NAMES. 35
VII.
PLACE-NAMES.
It may be of interest to record the various ways in which
the names of Berkshire towns were spelt in the middle of the
seventeenth century. In preparing the Berkshire notes for
the new edition of Boyne's Seventeenth Century Tokens I have
classified the si>elling found on the Tokens, with the following
result:
Abingdon is spelt
5 times Abington,
4 times Abingdon, I time
Abbington, I time Abindon.
Blewbury is spelt
3 times Blbwbbry,
1 time Blbwberey.
Bucklbbury has but one token, Mrhereon the spelling is Bucklebery
CooKHAM was spelt as at present.
CoxwELL was spelt Coxall (Litle Cox all).
Faringdon is spelt
5 times Farringdon, 3 times
Faringdon,
2 times Farindon, I time
Farington.
Hagbourn was spelt
I time Hagborn. I time Hagborne, I time Hagbvrne.
Harwell was spelt as now.
Hungerford was spelt
3 times Hvngerford, I time Hvnger
Ford. I time Hungerford.
Ilslby was spelt as now.
Lambourn was in all four cases spelt Lamborne.
LoNGCoTT was spelt as now.
LoNGWORTH has not changed.
Maidenhead was spelt
3 times Maydenhead, I time
Maydenhad, t time Maiden Hbao.
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(delwedd C3392) (tudalen 036)
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8(>
INTRODUCTORY.
Newbury was spell
6 times Newbery, 4 times Nevvbry, I time Newbvrv, I time Newberry, I lime Nbwbvrye.
Reading is spelt
Z7 times Reading, lo times
Reding, 6 times Readinge, 6 times Redding, 2 times Readine, I time Rbdin, I time Redden.
SoNNiNG is spelt
I time SvNNiNG,
1 time SvNNiNG Towne.
Wallingford is spelt
12 limes Wallingford,
2 times Wallingforde,
1 time Walling Forde.
Wantage is spelt
14 times Wantage,
2 times Wanting, I time WoNTAGE,
I time Wantidge,
1 lime Wantinge.
Windsor is spelt
5 times Windsor,
3 times WiNsoR,
2 times New Windsor, 2 times New
Winsor.
WiNKFlELD is spelt WlNKFEILD.
Wokingham is spelt
6 times Wokingham,
4 times Ockingham,
2 times Wockingham, 1 time
Okingham. I time Oakingham.
Those who issued the Tokens and spelt the names of towns as aboYe were principally inn-keepers and
leading tradesmen.
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(delwedd C3393) (tudalen 037)
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A GLOSSARY
OF
BERKSHIEE WORDS.
A
A. *A' is commonly used as a prefix to the present and past
participles. The following are illustrations of its use thus:
" I be a-gwaain " (I am going).
' I've a-zed what Tve a-got to zaav " (I have said what I have to
say)
Thaay be a-vightin* " (they are fighting).
A. A is also used for *he* or *it*, thus:
" If zo be as a zes a wunt, a wunt " (if he says he won't, he
won*t).
AAYGIN. Getting old in appearance.
Mother's a-bin aaygin vast laaytely ater her cawld at Kursmas."
AAYKERN. The acorn.
When the acorns fall pigs are turned into the woods aaykemin,
AAYPE. To simulate or copy.
" He aaypes the gurt man " (he tries to appear the great man, i.e.,
is consequential).
AAYPRUL VOOL. The almost universal custom of making one an ^^Aayprul Vaol'* on the ist of April
by leading him to look for something
which turns out to have no foundation
obtains throughout Berkshire. But this trick cannot be attempted after noon, for then the proposed
victim would respond with "Aapryl
Vools gan' paast, an' you be biggest
vool at laast.''
ABEAR, or ABER.* Can't afe^r * means * can't tolerate * or '* greatly dislike." Abide is used
much in the same sense. '* I can't
abear zuch a vool as he be."
ABED. In bed.
" If a lez a-hed o* mamins a wunt never graw rich.''
ABIDE. ^To put up with, to tolerate.
I can*t abiJe such me-un waays."
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(delwedd C3394) (tudalen 038)
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88 BERKSHIRE WORDS.
A-BIN. Been; used superfluously thus:
" I've a-hin an* broke a jug."
" The bwoy hev a-hin an* cut his vinger."
ABOVE A BIT. Considerably, to an important extent.
ABRO-AD. Corn or hay is said to be layin* ahro-ad when
scattered about, and neither in cocks nor zwaths,
A farmer is sometimes described as gone abro-ad v/hen walking in the fields.
ACAUSE. Because.
*' A want come acause thee bist yer " (he won't come because yon
are here). ^
ACAWLD. Cold.
" I be a<veelin acawld."
ACCOUNT. Worth, value.
*That ther yent much account" or ('count), f.r., *'That is worth little " or of no avail.
ACELET. Parts of the offal, as the heart, &c., of a hog roasted to form a dish.
ACRASS. Not on good terms.
" Gaarge an' his brother hev a-bin a bit acrass laaytely."
ACTIN-ON*T. Pretending, also doing wrong.
" Zo you bwoys hev a-bin actin on't agin, hev 'e "? (so you boys
have been in mischief again, have
you?)
ADAM. ** As awld as Adam*' is the common phrase to denote great age or antiquity.
ADAMS-AAYLE. Water fit to drink.
ADDER'S TONGUE. The leaf of the common bracken. ADDLE-YEADED. The reverse of quick
witted; stupid.
ADONE. Stop! desist! It is often followed by 'then 'or
*now.*
A girl would say ' Adone then! " or " Adone /" or* "
Adom now! " on her sweetheart
attempting to snatch a kiss.
ADRY. Thirsty.
*' I be adry " (I am thirsty).
AFF. Off.
AGG. To cut unskillfully.
*' What be at a-aggin the me-at like that ther 'twunt go hafe zo
vur."
AGIN. Near to or anighst.
" I left the prong over agin the staayble door." Also used for '
in view of.'
" I hev a-got money put by agin a raainy daay."
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(delwedd C3395) (tudalen 039)
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;F.RKSHIRE WORDS.
Eager, ready. '* Thaay was all agog
ti
AGOGGLE. Having the head shake with palsy. An old man oamed Tailor West, of Hampstead
Norreys, was spoken of there as being
agoggle; he was the terror of little children
from this involuntary shaking of the head at them,
.\GOGS. White-thorn berries.
AGON E. Departed.
-Thaay'i-e a-bin agoni this dree hour."
AGRA-ABLE, Consenting, willing.
"! be agra-abU vor um to gel married if om be agni-ab!c on I'olher
hole.
es AGWINE.
AGROUND. Intoj ■■ The vox be goo
AGWAAIN.sometin '■ I beat ■igi.'aain " I lie jus' i^hiii'iM
AHUNGERD. Hungry.
"I t)ea-veeliii' akitngtrd" (I am feeliog hungry)
AIT, or AAYTE, A river, island, or flat on the hank with osiers growing.
ALANG O'. On account of.
" Ul be all alang n' that ilier cooitin' as a dwoant do no work o'
no
ALANG WI'. In company with.
When a youni; man is accused of flirting with s
perhat
nney did go alaii^ wi' her a
ALE, also VELL and AAVLE. Always used with reference to beer of a strong description.
'■ Odll 'e hev a glass o* iiiijli or a glass o'
beer"? ALF. Short name for
Alfred.
ALL, also AAL or AEL, Very commonly used in formation of compound words or phrases as in the
cases following, LL-A-HO. Standing
awry.
A rick is said lo be all-u-lio when sellled out of ihe perpendicular
-A-MANG. Mixed together in a most confused manner. things out of place, in great
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(delwedd C3396) (tudalen 040)
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40
BERKSHIRE WORDS.
ALL AS IS. A decisive expression used when giving an order. " All as is you hev a-got to work
laayte till I tells 'e to stap.**
ALLEY. A tawl ' used by boys at marbles, when having red streaks it is called * a
hlood-alley.'*
ALL IN A CHARM. A confused noise as when children are talking and playing together around
one.
ALL IN BITS. In small pieces.
A carriage badly smashed by an accident is said to be all in bits.
ALL IN RAGS. One with clothes worn out is said to go about ** all in rags,'*
ALL MANNERS. Various kinds. Generally used in disparagement.
*' Thaay was a-zaayin' all manners o* things about her/* (they were spesdcing evil of her).
ALL ONE. The same thing, or, making no diflference. " 'Tis all one to me wher (whether) e*
goes or not."
ALL-OVERISH. Feeling confused or abashed.
ALLOW, ALLOW. Thus shouted twice to a dog to incite him to chase anything.
ALL TO SMASH. Totally wrecked.
A L L U S . A 1 ways .
ALL VORNOTHIN'. Quite in vain.
A MI NT ED. In the humour to, willing to.
" If e beant aminted to do what I axes e, e med vind a plaayce zome 'er else."
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(delwedd C3397) (tudalen 041)
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AMOVE. Where there is much game.
A copse is said to be ''amove wi' gaayme *' (amove rhymes with »rove.")
AMSIAM. The sign * & " always thus called by children, and named after the letter ** Z " when
saying the alphabet.
AM WO AST. Almost* nearly.
My hwoy be <fw«\\M5/ as tail as I be.
AN. On. AN-EATll. Honoath,
ANEOrST. Just aluMit, near against, almost.
J zin in .tneoitst iho chuke pit " (I ww him near the chalk
pit).
-Something causing trouble, or making
Us'lGHST or ANIGH. Near to.
" Ben not come anighit that tbec boss, uied be hell kick 'e
A STICKS. Mischievous
APE-USO'WORK. damage; a fuss.
A PICKY BACK.^A way of carrying one on the back, with his arms around the neck, and legs under
and supported by
.\PPLE-PIE BED. A bed made up by removing one of the two sheets and turning up the other from
the bottom, so ihat when a person gets
into bed his feet can go no farther
down than the middle of the sheet thus turned up.
APPLE-PIE ORDER. Arranged wilh great regularity; it corresponds with the naval term "ship
shape."
APPLE SCOOP. A scoop made by cutting away part from the knuckle bone of a leg of mutton. The
flavour of apples is best brought out
when eating them with such a
A-PfRPOSE. iDtentionally.
" A drowed I down a-furfosc " (lie ihrew me down
inleniioDally].
ARCHUT, or ERCHUT. An orchar.i.
AREADV. Already.
ARGY, also ARGI VV. To argue.
To ■■ argity nolhun' " means " lo have no weight,
" " not lo tend to
" What a chap like that Ihcr zea dwoant arghy nothun'."
ARLY Early.
ARLY BWONE. The hip bone of a pig. '
ARN. also ARRUN or ARRA-ONE.--One at all, either of them.
ARN EST. Earnest.
The '■»/««("
nr "aru/sl moaiy" is a shilling Riven on hiring a servant; ii completes the contract.
^ARNE
1 place of relative pronouns thiit It
was he who told me),
As ZO, and AS HOW, are also very similarly used, ■■ A telled muh III ,10
his ship was sheared las* TuesHay. '
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(delwedd C3398) (tudalen 042)
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42 BERKSHIRE WORDS.
AS EVER I. As I possibly.
** I'll do 't as zoon as ever I can ** (I'll do it as soon as I possibly
can).
AS LIEV. As readily, as soon.
" I'd ^5 liev be killed as vrightened to death."
ASPRAAL. Falling down with legs and arms helplessly extended on the ground, is said to be
" vallin' all aspraal,**
AS SHOULD BE. Quite correctly, properly; as ought to be
done.
* That bed yent maayde as should be*' (That bed is not made properly.)
AST, also AXT. To ask.
ASTED. Having the banns published in church. " Thaay was asted at church laast
Zunday."
ASTOOR. Shortly, very quickly.
ASTRADDLE. Astride, sitting with legs wide apart, generally one leg on each side of a thing.
ATE R. After.
ATERMATH, also LATTERMATH. The second crop of grass, i,e,y ** Aftermowth.*'
ATERN 00 N .Afternoon .
ATERWARD. Afterwards.
ATH IN. Within, in the house.
* Be the me-uster athin "? * Naw, he be just gan avidd."
ATHOUT. Unless.
" I wunt go athout thee comes too."
ATH URT. Across.
" I zin 'in run athurt the pe-us o' turmuts."
ATOP O'. On the top of.
«♦ Get atop
0' the taayble."
ATWE-UN, or ATWANE. Between.
* Thaay haaved (halved) the apples atwe-un urn.'*
ATWE-UN WHILES. At odd times.
" I never smokes my pipe when I be at work, but hevs a bit o' baccy zometimes atwe-un whiles.'
AT WHOAM. At home. ATWIST.
Twisted.
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(delwedd C3399) (tudalen 043)
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BERKSHIRE WORDS. 48
ATWIXT. Between.
** He was caught atwixt the ge-ut an* the ge-at-pwo-ast.'*
ATWO, In two parts.
*' Cat the taayters aiwo avoor *e plaants 'um."
AUX. ^To cut a slit at the back ot a hare or rabbits' leg, so that the other leg may thereby pass through
it, and a number of them be carried on
a pole by a keeper.
AVEARD. Afraid.
" 'E bent aveard be *e?" (You are not afraid are you?)
AVIELD. IN the field. A farmer is said to be " gone avield " when he has gone to walk about his
farm.
AVOOR. Before; AVORN is "before him," and AVOORT is "before it."
AVRESH. Over again.
*' Thee hast done the job zo bad thee mus' do 't avresh."
Unknown before, new.
*' A be a-doin* things in the parish as be quite avresh."
AVRONT. In front.
" Thee get on avront o* I. ther yent room vor us bwo-ath in the paath."
AWHILE, or AWHILES. A short time ago.
" He was yer awhiUs, but 'ood'nt waait no langer."
AWLD. «* Awld** is specially used as a term of familiarity, or even endearment. Thus a man would say of
his wife, " My awld *ooman *ooll
hev dinner jus' ready vor us.*'
AWLD harry." To plaay Awld Harry " is to perform wild pranks, or commit wilful damage.
AWLD MAN'S LOVE. The plant, Sothernwood.
AWVER. Over. There are numerous compounds of this. AWVER DRAW. To overthrow.
AWVER-LAAY. To kiU by accidentally lying upon. A sow not infrequently " awver-laays
" one of her litter.
AWVER.NIGHT. The night before.
** Mind as *e comes to us awver-night^ zo as we can maayke a stert early in the mamin*."
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(delwedd C3400) (tudalen 044)
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44 BERKSHIRE WORKS.
AWVER-RIGHT. Opposite to, adjacent.
*' I left the rabbuts as I shot awver-rigkt a crooked bache (beech)
tree."
AX. To ask. * Asked* becomes **axt.** See also " Ast" and
** ASTED.'*
AXIN. Asking or requesting.
** She med be had vor the axin " (she would readily consent to an offer of marriage).
B
for sheep generally,
BAA LAMB. A term used by childre and
specially for tambs.
BAAYBY A baby.
BAAVKERS DOZEN. Thirteen.
BAAYLEY. A farm bailiff or overlooker of labourers.
BAAYSTE. To flog.
" K iaayslm" means a ".hipping.
" 111 gie 'e a bjayslin byn by if e' dwoant look out."
BACHELORS' BUTTONS. The common name for the wild
Scabious.
BACK BOORD. A board which children are made to place behind their shoulders holding the two ends
in their hands to improve their
figures.
BACKERDS. Backwards.
" A veil down iiwici'i "
BACKIN Moving in a backward direction, used of a horse principally.
"'iCK out. Withdrawal (unworthily) from an agreement.
BACK ZIDE. Premises adjoining the back of a house. The term occurs, with others, in an indenture
dated 2&th June, 1691, wherein Mr.
John Lowsley leases property at Kingston
Backpurze to Richard Bagoly and Richard Cripps. The ieaserefers to house property and land
called " MiddJetons," and
the lawyer made hi"! description verj- full; it ran thus: " All and singular- Houses, bames,
siables, orchards, gardens. - bach
lidti," lands. m^Jows. paslures, commons, hades, layes, moores.
Irees, woods, undprwooda, tishings,
wayes, waters, easemetils, pro&lls,
comodities, advantages and herediiamenls «■ hal soever ''
£K SOORDIN. Single stick. This is still kept up i
erkshire and the counties westward, A most
»unt of this is given in Hughes" " Scouringi
graphic
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(delwedd C3401) (tudalen 045)
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4G BERKSHIRE WORDS.
BACK UP. A person very angry and ready to fight is said to have his ^^hack up,'* Many animals, as
cats, ferrets, &c., elevate their
backs when ready for action.
BAD.Always used for " ill."
"A was bad vor a year or moor avoor a died."
BAD DOER. An animal that, no matter how well fed, never thrives. A good doer is the reverse of
this.
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(delwedd C3402) (tudalen 046)
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BADGER. To worry or teaze.
" If a badgers 'un any moor a ooll get his back up.*'
BAG. A cow's udder.
" She's got a good bag, i.e. fgives much milk).
" To bag " is also us^ (by boys principally) for to
purloin.*
BAG-O-BWONES. A person who has become extremely thin,
BALK. To thwart.
*' He balked muh jus as I was a-goin' to shoot by callin' out like that ther."
BALLET. A long string of songs on a single sheet sold by itinerant vendors.
BALLY RAGGIN'. Loud continuous fault-finding and scolding.
BALSER. The largest size stone marble, specially used by boys for ** long taw.*'
BAMBOOZLE. To deceive; to hoodwink; to make a fool of one.
BAME. Balm.
BANDY. The game hocky or hurling is so called.
BANG. Quite; totally; decisively.
Thee'd best go bang awaay.
" A bang " is also any sharp loud noise.
BANGER. Something very large; an exaggerated story, hence a lie.
" A banger " on the yead means a resounding blow.
BANGIN'. A very large quantity.
" He gin I a bangin' helpin* o' plum pudden."
BANSKITTLE. The little fish also called stickleback.
BARBERED. To have barber's service, such as having one's hair cut, &c., performed.
*' I be a-gwaayn to be barbered.
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(delwedd C3403) (tudalen 047)
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BERKSHIRE WORDS. 47
BARK. ^To knock the skin off; also to cough.
BARLEYOYLES. The beards of barley.
BARM, or BERM. Yeast.
BARREL TOM-TIT. The long-tailed tit-mouse, so called from the shape of its nest.
BARROW HILL. An ancient tumulus. There are very many of these in the county.
BAW TO A GOOSE. One is said to be not able to say ** haw to a goose " when stupidly shy and
reserved.
BASTE. To tack children's sewing together for them.
BAT, or DRUGBAT. The iron shoe chained to the wheel of a waggon or cart to impede rotation when
going down-hill.
BATE. To lower the price at first demanded; to whip.
BAVIN. A bundle of very small brush wood.
*' A bavin ** differs from a faggot in having the brush wood of much smaller description.
** Bavins " are used principally for burning in kilns, and for
lighting kitchen fires.
BAZE, or BE-UZ. Bees. The following niay come from the same hive in a summer swarm, smart, cast,
and hitch but this does not often
happen. *' A maiden swarm " may
also come out of the first swarm.
BE. Always used for ** are."
BE- AT. Tired out; completely puzzled.
*'Ibed«ad6^-a/."
Also to walk a field in search of game.
*' Which pe-us o' turmuts shall us be-at vust."
BE-AT MY NAAYBOUR OUT O* DOORS. The game of
cards, ^^heggar my neighbour y' is so called {^^ doors'' rhymes with ** moors ").
BEAUTIFY. To make one*s toilette very carefully .
BECALL. To vilify; to abuse.
BEDDERD. -Bed-ward.
" Lets get beddird, an' zo be up in the marnin'."
BED-GOWN D. A night-dress.
BEDIZEN D. Decorated very gaudily and with showy ornaments.
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(delwedd C3404) (tudalen 048)
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48 BERKSHISE WORDS.
BEDWINE. Wild Clymatis.
BEE-UCH GALL, or BACHE GALL. A hard lump on the leaf of a beech tree.
BEE-UCH MAASTS. Beech nuts.
BEER. Pith, worth, solidity.
*'That zannent zimmed to I vurry small beer (i.e.^ poor and
uninteresting).
Naturally heer is much thought of.
In the ** Scouring of the White Horse " we find lines go
* Zartinly the sixpenny's the very best I've zeed yet, I do not like the fourpenny nor yet the
intermediate.*' At the Manor House,
Hampstead Norreys, there is a pair of quaint
old drinking horns. On the first is painted a yeoman of the olden time, and from his mouth comes the legend.
*' I love good heir\ " on the
other is similarly painted a labourer, who responds, and '* So do
I." A country brewing is thus
locally described " Vorty
gallons o* Never Vear, Vorty gallons
o' Taayble beer^ Vorty gallons o' Wus
nor that. An* vorty gallons o* Rattle
tap." The Never Vear is strong
beer. The Rattle Tap is poor stuff
indeed.
In haymaking time or harvest a man who drinks beer would require a gallon a day.
BEERY. Partially intoxicated.
BEGGAR. To impoverish; to make bankrupt.
" That beggared I" (i.e., made me bankrupt).
BEHAWLDEN. Under obligation.
*' I wunt be behawlden to the likes o' thaay."
BELIKE, Very probably, perhaps.
" Now ut raains a wunt come belike."
BELLOCK. To roar loudly; to shout words in a coarse manner.
" When I wolloped un' a bellocked zo e med year'n a mild
awaay."
BELLOWSES. Bellows; also the lungs.
BEN NETS. The long stalks of a species of grass with seeds thereon wherewith children make **
&^»w^ baskets."
BENT, or BE- ANT. Am not.
* I he-tMt a-gwaain to stan' 't," i.^., " put up with it.*'
BERRY. A rabbits warren (a corruption of * burrow ').
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(delwedd C3405) (tudalen 049)
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BERKSHIRE WORDS. 40
BE SHERP. Be quick and careful. In giving orders to an inferior, who is lazy or negligent, the
order often terminates with, ** An be
sherp about ut."
BEST. To get the advantage of.
" A tried to best I but I was too sherp vor'n; " also " bested
" is used.
BEST VOOT VORRUp. To put ones ** best voot vorrud " is to walk at a very quick pace.
BET AS T*OOLL. Be it as it will; in any case.
*' BeH as t'ooll I be a-gwaayn to zell them ship to-daay " (be it as
it will I am going to sell those sheep
to-day).
BETTER. " To better *' one's self is the expression for getting higher wages. This term however seems
almost universal.
To beat. If one player makes a high score at skittles it is common to remark to the player following,
" Thee wun better that
ther."
^ETTERMWOAST. The greater part.
* \^e was the beitermwoast haafe of a daay a-doin' 'ont."
^ETTER nor. Greater than, more than.
Ut be better nor two mild vrom Yattendon to Bucklebur} ."
BE TJS. Arewe?
E-TJSTINS. The milk first drawn after a cow has given birth to a calf.
^^BLE. To tipple; to take alcoholic drink at short intervals,
^'C^E. To stay.
** I wunt bide no langer.*'
^^Le the pot. To cook.
** If I dwoant ketch a rabbut to-night I shan't hev nothin' to bile the pot to-morrer."
*LL hook. A cutlass ^nth top turned inwards used for cutting up fire wood and lopping
branches.
*LlY cock. The wide-awake hat commonly worn.
*N. The corn chest in the stable (always secured by a padlock).
K-bin is the preterit of the verb " to be."
Y^*
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(delwedd C3406) (tudalen 050)
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60 BERKSHIRE WORDS.
BIT. A short space of time.
" Stop a bit, he'll zoon be yer.'*
A little piece.
The word bit is always used for * little * in cases as above referred to,
BITEL. The long'handled wooden mallet with top iron bound, used for driving wedges when
splitting up large clumps or stumps of
wood.
" The BiUl and Wedges" obtains as a pnblic-hoose sign.
BITTER ZWEUT. When a spiteful thing is done with a sunny friendly face this term is used.
BIVER. The quivering of the under lip, which precedes
crying.
" Thee hast 'vronted *un now, zee how a biverSt** would be said to one who had spoken in a way to cause a
child to b^n to cry.
BIZZOM. A bezom or birch broom.
BLAAYRE. To shout out anything in a coarse manner.
BLAB. To tell of any wrong doing; to betray a secret. This word seems almost universal.
BLACK-BOB. A black beetle.
BLACK VRAST. Frost without rime.
BLAST. A common imprecation. *' Blast-naaytion'* is also so used.
BLAWED. Animals in the dangerous condition of having their stomachs distended by eating too much
green or forcing food are said to be
blawed.
BLE-ADIN* HEART. The name of a common bright red wallflower.
BLIND MAN'S HOLIDAY. In darkness so great that nothing can be seen.
BLINK. A spark of fire.
** Ther yent a biiitk left " (the 6re is quite out).
This also is u&ed to signify light enough to see a little. '* 1 c.;u*i zee a kJinA '* (it is quite
dark).
BLIZZY. A blaze. The fire is said to be all of a " biizzy " when pieces of wood have l>cen inserted
amongst the coal to make it bum
cheerfully.
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(delwedd C3407) (tudalen 051)
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BERKSHIRE WORDS. 51
LOOD ALLEV. The favourite marble taw (pronounced tawl) used by boys. Its name arises from
the streaks of red in it.
BLOODY WARRIOR. A wall-flower of rich dark red colour.
BLOWZY. Bloated and red-faced.
BLUBBER. To cry; almost in general use,
BLUR. A blot causing indistinctness to anything beneath it.
BLURT OUT.^To speak out a thing unexpectedly and inopportunely.
BOB A quick downward motion.
""BiEbitd bobbtd'iusxas I shol.' A quick curtsey is also ho called. A Trmftcf Bab 13 often shortly called a
" int."
BOBBERY. A fuss; a disturbance.
BOBBISH. Cheery and well in health.
■■ I lie preily l>abUi!i, Ihenk 'e, how bisi
ihce?"
BOB-CHERRY. The game of taking the end of a cherry stalk between the teeth, and, holding the head
perfectly level, trying to get the
cherry Into (he month without usmg the
hands or moving the head.
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(delwedd C3408) (tudalen 052)
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BODY HOSS, or BODY HERSE. The Ik
rse of a team next lytliing.
BOGGLE. To hesitate about agreeing to a
■■ A togfUil a goodish bit avoor 1 could gel iin lo naay
eese,'* Also opening and shutting the
eyes, as if troubled by a strong
light, but tliis signification may appear common. ' The good Saint Anthony " hogglid
" his eyes. So firmly fixed on
the old bUck liook. When Ho. at the
cnrnera they "gan to rise, ' |
He could'nt choose hut haie a look."
GY. A sort of ghost.
Chililctn are kept quiet by ■ If e Bflgy *ooll came."
The reflection of sunlight from wa
sometinies called Bugy by children
pLT, To rush away quickly.
■ To
holt a rabbit " is to drive open.
Any noiso oatside a warrei
OARD, To foretell.
e-upslilla, : wall of a
The \o«est P»* ^^j^ («^
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(delwedd C3409) (tudalen 053)
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ERkSTllRB WohDS.
BRAAYVERY. Fine dress.
BKAAYZEN. Bold in its bad sense.
" A braayui huzi:ey " is a buld immodesl ss
. \AYZEN Oirr. To carry a bold and innocent face afler i doing a wrong or dishonourable
tiling.
AN NEW. Perhaps a corruption of " brand iieu;" it., with the brand not worn away.
RASS VARDEN. There is the expression, "Not wutli a bran vardcn," used with respect to
anything of no vali;c whatever. It has
been suggested to me that this expression
may owe its origin to ihe fact that the brass tradesaien's farthings, so commonly issued about the
middle of ihi; seventeenth century,
became quite valueless when copper
halfpennies were first issued in 1672.
BRE-ATIi. " To vetch bn-ath " is to pause; to consider,
] recommending cautious procedure one would say, " Lei's vetch ... _ ,. . ._.. I, ., . ^g pause lo
consider about il).
Bread and cheese. [■ ray bri«-thii3c." usually is said for, "I was ealing my mid-day meal."
RESS-PLOUGHIN'. Bwas; ploughing. This is done by
men pushing a kind of spade from the shoulder. The
object of it is to barn the surface of the soil, when this
might not be effected sufficiently by the ordinary method
I of ploughing.
BfiEVETTIN* ABOUT. Prying; a quick searching movemient. ■ " I iJQ 'OQ a
brivtllin' jiuui alang the hedges up to ni
mic 1^
btf-alh a bit awi ^^AtENXHAZE.
^^^^H my mid-day mes
P^EtESS- PLO U G 1
r men pushing
object of it i
I might not be
" (warrant ye),
ItlCK. Applied to a good-hearled, generous fellow, who can be relied on; almost universal.
UCK-BATS, Broken bricks.
RiCK-KILL. A brick kiln.
BRIMMER. A hat.
bROAD-CAST. The act of sowing seed by casta from the hand as distinguished from ' drilling '
it.
BROCK. A badger.
BROKE N -MOUTH ED. Having the front teeth wanting.
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(delwedd C3410) (tudalen 054)
|
54 BERKSHIRE WORDS.
BROW. The part below the crest of a hill.
BRUKKLE. Brittle. BRUM. A
broom.
BRUM OUT O* WINDER. Hanging the *' hruin out o' winder " is a sign that the wife is away from home
and that the husband will give
hospitality to friends.
BRUMSTWUN. Brimstone. BRUSSLES.
Bristles.
A got my brussUs up," means " He made me very angry."
BUCK. The large wash of house linen, &c., in a farm-house.
Articles are kept for the *'buck wash,'* which cannot conveniently be dispcs3d of at the " dab " or
small wash.
BUCKIN*. Extensive washing of linen.
" I vound the house all of a caddie wi' the buckm' on."
BUCK-JUMPER. A horse that jumps like a stag, with the four feet all rising at the same time.
BUCKLE TO. To set to work in down-right earnest; also to get married.
BUCKLE UNDER. To give way somewhat humbly after opposition; to acknowledge superiority.
" Knuckle under " has a somewhat similar signification.
BUCKZOME. JoUy, full of spirits; often followed by "like." " A zimmed got quite well an' buckzome
like."
BULLOCK. A heifer is so called.
BULLASSES. Small sweet green plums, the size of marbles.
BUMBLE BA. A specie of bee that does not sting.
BUMMIN'. A rumbling or humming noise.
BUMPING Large.
" A gid I a bumpin' lot " (he gave me a large quantity or
number).
A noise caused by thumping; also a hard push.
" A was a'bumpm' my yead agin the wall when I called 'e."
BUMPTIOUS. Swaggering, proud, assuming superiority.
BUNCH. A bow of ribbons; the posy of flowers placed in a
button hole.
" O dear, what can the matter be
Johnny zo long at the Vaair, A
pramised to buy muh o' bunch of blue ribbon
To tie up my bonnie brown haain*'
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(delwedd C3411) (tudalen 055)
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^kRkSHIRE WORDS. 56
BUNDLE. To run hastily away (often after having done mischief.)
" Us bundled pretty sherp I can tell 'e."
Also to cause to start off in a great hurry.
" I had to bundle 'um all aff avoor thaay'd done yettin*."
BUNGERZOME. Unwieldy, clumsy.
*' That ther bundle o' zacks be too bungerzomc vor I to car."
Also " A be a hunger zome zart o* chap.*' BUNK. Be off!
" You chaps 'ud best bunk avoor I maaykes 'e." " I zin 'am was a-gettin' quarrelzome
an' zo bunked it zu as nat to get
mixed up wi' *t."
BUNNY. Name for a rabbit; children always use this tern\ Almost universal.
BUNT. To push with the head or horns. Young animals
pushing the udder with the head to make milk flow freely
are said to ** hunt.'*
" Gie us a bunt up '* is the phrase used by a boy when he wishes another to raise him from the ground on his
attempt to mount a tree.
BUNTIN, The wood-lark.
«
BUSINESS. Fuss.
" A maayde a gurt business about um a-taaykin' his spaayde wi'out axin.*'
BUST, or BUSTED. Burst.
There is a rhyme common with boys, the one having anything to give away calling out
" Billy, Billy Bust, Who spakes
vust.'*
BUSTER. An improbable story; a lie; anything very large.
BUTTER-VINGERED. Clumsy in handling and allowing things to slip from the fingers.
BUTTRY. The pantry or place where butter, &c., for home consumption is kept.
BUTTS. Old archery butts still give their name.
At Reading we have the well-known part of the town called "St. Mary's Butts:*
HUZZY, or BUZLY. Rough and bushy, like a fox's brush*
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(delwedd C3412) (tudalen 056)
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50 tJERksHiRR Words.
BWUN. Bone. The expression ** to bwnn,^* meaning to make a petty theft is almost universal. ** Bwun
in my leg," good humouredly used
to children to express inability to do
something they ask.
" I caant do 't vor 'e now I've a-got a bwun in my leg."
13YM BY, or BYN BY. By and by, presently.
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(delwedd C3413) (tudalen 057)
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. bEtiKSHiRE Words. 57
C
CABBAGE. To appropriate without permission; to crib, but not applied to a serions theft.
" I zin a lot o' apples laayin* unner a tree an* zo cabbaged this yer
un.*'
CADDLE, or CATTLE. To hurry so as to confuse.
" Dwoant 'e caddU me an' maayke me do 't all wrong." " In a caddie " is * in great
contusion.'
CADDLIN'. Untidy, slipshod.
" A done that ther job in a cadMin' waay."
CADGER. A beggar, a loafer of dishonest appearance. CAFE.^A calf. CALL. Occasion.
"Thee hasn't no call to spake to I like that ther."
CALLER, or CALLOW. Naked, to ' lie caller'' is to lie bare or without crop.
" Young birds are always described as " calUr " when first
hatched.
CANKERED. Cross grained, misanthropic. A cut or wound is described as ^* cankered " when it
begins to present a bad appearance
through being neglected.
CANTANKEROUS. Easily ruffled in temper, obstructive, with petty obstinacy; almost
universal.
Cant be off. The usual phrase to indicate impossibility
of mistake.
'* If *e goes athirt the vield o* vallers , e' cant be off a zeein' the
haayre as I telled 'e about a zettin
in her vorm."
CAP. To outdo.
" That ther caps all " (that outdoes all that has gone
before).
CAPPENTER. A carpenter. CAR. To
carry. CARDIN. According. CARLINE.-Caroline.
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(delwedd C3414) (tudalen 058)
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68 bERksHiRE Words.
CARPIN\ Fault finding.
CARROTTY PAWLE. A red-haired person.
CAS'NT. Can'st thou not?
CASTLES. A game at marbles where each boy makes a small pyramid of three as a base, and one on the
top; they aim at these from a distant
stroke with balsers winning such of
the castles as they may in turn knock down.
CAT IN PAN. One who changes sides for selfish reasons.
In the old song, ** The Vicar of Bray," we have:
When William our Deliverer came To
heal the nation's grievance, Then I
turned Cat in Pan again And swore to
him all^iance/'
CAT OUT O' THE BAG. Letting the ''cat out o' tJu hag " is the making known something that has been
kept secret.
CATS CRAAYDLE. A game played by means of string across the fingers of the two hands. The
players have to take the string from
each other under different arrangements, without making any mistake.
CATTLE. Hurry; confusion. Vide Caddle.
CA-UV-IN, or CAAYVIN. Chaff and short straw, as collected from a barn-floor after threshing.
CAW, also CAWNEY. A very stupid fellow, almost an idiot.
CAWLD-COMFORT. Cold words or deeds, making one's troubles appear greater.
CESS TO T. Used to encourage a dog to eat anything.
CHAAIR, or CHEER. A chair.
CHAAYKE. Chalk.
CHAAYNGES. Shirts and under-clothing generally.
CHACKLIN'. A noise made by a hen after laying an egg. I yeard 'un eL-chacftlht\ to a mus* hev
a ne-ust zotne 'er yer."
CHAFF-CUTTER. The machine for cutting straw into short lengths for use as chaff.
CHALKERS. Boys* marbles held in the lowest estimation, being made of chalk or of chalk and clay
mixed; tho'^e next above these in
value are called ** stoners.'*
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(delwedd C3415) (tudalen 059)
|
bERkSHtRE WORDS. 59
CHAM. To chew; there is also in use the expression ' A chammed awver't a goodish bit; " this
expresses hesitation and unwillingness
to do a thing.
CHAP. Any man of no great consideration; but we say
equally.
"A goodish zart o' chap,*' and '* apoorish zart of a chap i"'
where a number of men in any station
of life may be banded tc^ether they
are called chaps, the expression then running *' them
(descriptive title) chapsr
CHARLOCK. The wild mustard, which grows to the detriment of corn
crops.
CHASS, or CHERLES.Charles.
CHATTER AT. To scold.
"Measter 'ooll chatter at 'e when a comes to knaw on 't."
CHATTER-WATER. Tea.
CHAY, or CHAW. To bite one's food.
"A be got awld an' can*t chay nothun* now.
CHERM. A mixture of noises of various kinds. ** Clurmin the baze " is the act of ringing a
stone against a spade or watering can;
this music is supposed to cause the bees to
settle in the neighbourhood; another object in doing this is to let the neighbours know who the bees
belong to if they should chance to
settle on adjacent property.
CHEERY. Chary, careful in a mean or stingy sense.
CHE-UZZES, or CHAZES. Seeds of the mallow.
CHICK A BIDDIES. Fowls; but this word is principally used by children.
CHICKEN'S MEAT. The broken grains of corn used for feeding poultry.
CHIDLINS, or CHITLINS. Chitterlings.
CHILDERN, Children.
CHIMBLEY. A chimney: a chimney sweep is a ^'chimhley swape.'*
CHINKIN'. Metallic rattling noise as of a chain dragged over stones.
CHIN MUSIC Impertinence.
*' Dwc-ant gie I none o* thee chin muuc,"' is a common retort.
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(delwedd C3416) (tudalen 060)
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60 ^EkKSHiRE WORDS.
CHIP IN. To break into a conversation going on betWfeeia others.
CHIPPY, also CHIRPY. In good spirits.
CHIT. To sprout; also a sharp troublesome little girl.
CHIVVY. To chase, shouting the while.
CHIZZLE. To cheat.
CHIZZLE BOBS. The bugs found under decaying wood or old bricks, &c.
CHOCK VULL. Full to overflowing.
CHOICE, or CHICE. Difficult to suit as regards food. A choice or pampered child is teazed by being
called " Gaargie."
CHOP. To exchange.
CHOPS. The jaws. ** Cut on the estops *' means a blow on the lower part of the face.
CHOUSE. To cheat; a dishonest action.
CHUCK. To toss carelessly.
CHUCKLE YEADED. Very stupid.
" A chuckle yeaded vool."
CHUMPS. Thick pieces of wood for burning. The chump end of a thing is the thicker end.
CHUNE. Tune.
CHUNE-UP. Commence singing " or ** Sing more loudly.'*
CHUNKS. Split pieces of firewood of more uniform thickness than ** chumps."
CHURCH-VAWK. Those who attend the Parish Church are so called. Those who attend Dissenting
Places of Worship being given the
general title of MATiNERsor Chapel-goers.
CHURLUT. Charlotte.
CIPE. A large basket.
CIRCUMBENDIBUS. A round about route.
CLACK. A woman who is always chattering.
CLAGGY. With sticky mud.
CLAM. To hustle, so as to prevent movement,
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(delwedd C3417) (tudalen 061)
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BERKSHIRE WORDS. Gl
CLAMMED. Chocked up by over-filling.
If an aperture be too small for grain to run through freely it is said to be " clammed: '* also a surfeit
from over-feeding is so called.
CLAMBER, or CLIM. To climb.
" Clamber ** would be used for getting up a rock, and '* dim '* for climbing a tree.
CLAMP. To tread noisily. An arrangement of bricks piled for burning without a kiln is so
called.
CLAMPUTTIN*, or CLUMPUTTIN'. Stumping about.
CLANG. A resounding noise, as the report of a gun.
CLAP. To place quickly.
" Clap 'un down an' be aff."
"Clap on your hat."
Also, in cold weather, to " clap'' is to get warm by beating the
arms across each other.
CLAP-ON. ^To overcharge.
" A alius cUps-on wi' I, acause a tbinks I shall try to be-at un
down a bit."
CLAPPER. The tongue.
CLAPPER CLAWED. Scratched by a woman. *
CLAPPERS. Shallows in a river. The clappers between Reading and Caversham are known to all
upper Thames boating men.
CLAPS. To clasp.
CLAPS-NET. A net where the two parts close together, such an that used for catching sparrows at night
around the eaves of ricks, etc.
CLAT. A patch of dirt or cow-dung thrown against a wall or door.
CLAVER. An instrument to chop bones of meat; a cleaver.
CLAY, or CLAA. To claw.
" To clay hawld on 'un " is to seize a thing with hands or
claws.
CLE- AN, or CLANE. Entire, absolute, altogether.
" A missed 'un cle-an*' (he missed it altogether), as applied to a
shot.
CLE-AN AN' HANZOME. Has the same meaning as
''cle-an** given above, but with stress on the ** Miss "
being remarkable.
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(delwedd C3418) (tudalen 062)
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62 BERKSHIRE WORDS.
CLE- AN AN' ZIMPLE. WhoUy; thus, if a dog gets on a table and eats the whole of the dinner, he is
said to have *' yetted ut all cU'Un
an' zimpU,'
CLENTED OR CLENCHED. Turned back upwards as in the case of a nail. *»
CLICK. Completely; thorough.
" A done we click " (he took us in completely). I have heard
this word used for " select
" or "out of the common way/* thus: It was observed that on an occasion wh^n
entertaining guests, a certain dame of
the middle class appeared to be very affected in her manner. One of her
neighbours remarked afterwards, " '£ zees that ther be jus' her click party, an* that be how His she dos
like that." That was an annual
party to which the lady invited some guests of higher social
standing than most of her friends and
neighbours.
CLICKUTTY-CLACK. The noise made in walking where a clog or patten is loose from the shoe.
CLIM. Vide Clamber. To climb.
CLIMMERS. Climbers; «.^., iron spurs having the point projecting from the
instep, used to assist in climbing trees
which have no branches.
CLINK. Straightforward. A man who is not to be depended upon, or who would take advantage of one in
dealing is said to be * not quite
clink.'
Also a resounding blow.
" I gid 'un a c.ink en the yead."
CLINKERS. Over burnt bricks.
CLITTER-CLATTER. Such a noise as made by knocking plates and dishes together when removing these
from the table.
CLIVERS. Goose grass.
CLO-AZ FRAP. A pole with a fork at the top used for supporting clothes lines.
CLOD HOPPERS. Country folk are thus sometimes disparagingly termed by townsmen.
CLOG. A kind of over shoe or sandal used by women to keep dirt from their shoes when walking short
distances. " Pattens" are
used when the dirt is very deep.
CLOGGY. Dirty.
CLOSE. Reserved, also stingy.
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(delwedd C3419) (tudalen 063)
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BERKSHmE WORDS. G3
CLOSE VISTED, Not willing to part with money for any charitable purpose.
ClOT. A clod. There is the expression ** Ut laays pretty clotty'* when unbroken clods lie on the
surface of tilled land.
CLOUT. A blow.
" I gid un a clout aside the yead.'*
A piece let into a garment; ** a dish-ciout '* is a cloth used for wiping dishes.
CLOVER-LEY. Clover field lately mown.
CLUMPETTY. Used as regards lumps of earth to indicate that they are not friable.
^LUMPY. Stupid. A pair of boots is said to be ^^ clumpy'' Vfhen clumsily made and with very thick
soles.
CLXJNG. Heavy, stiff, adhesive (applied to the soil).
C'LTJTTERY. " Cluttcry weather *' is when it is raining, with thick clouds all around.
C'Cf^BLE^ To stitch coarsely.
C'C>;^BL£S^ Small round lumps of anything; also pebble stones used for paving.
^^fiBLY. Having lumps mixed with fine matter.
COCKCHAFFER. The May bug.
^^CKEY. Conceited, arrogant, bumptious; also applied to a little man who marches about with an
important air, he goes by the name of
Cockcy^ his surname following.
C^C>CKED. Nearly intoxicated.
^^CK-EYED. Cross-eyed, squinting.
^^CK HORSE. Children are said to ride cock horse when riding cross wise as on a horse.
COCK O' THE ROOST. The one who is at the head of a party.
COCK ZU RE. Quite sure.
COCK SHY. To throw at anything after careful aim is to * Taayke a cock shy,**
CODDLE. To pamper.
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(delwedd C3420) (tudalen 064)
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BEHKSHIRE WORDS.
CODGER. A testy old man: an old man having queer habits.
COKERS. Stranger labourers going about on piece-work.
COLLAR. To make a petty theft.
" Them apples looks zo good. 1 me-ans to tollar one,"
COLLARED-ZOUSE.Brawn is always so called.
COLLOP. A rather thick slice of meat,
COLLUTS.- Young cabbages.
COMBE. A hollow in the Downs.
COME. To achieve.
" I can't quite fo
or an 'inferior. At advent of.
" I shall hev a-lived under (he Squi
" In churning butter is said to ' torn
c Laaydy Daay,"
COME BACK. These words are imagined in the note of the Guinea Fowl or Gallini, and children worry
these fowl to
fet them to repeat this just as they also run after Cock 'urkeys calling, " What d'ye hang ycr
vather wi'," to get the reply
" Holier, bolter, holter,"
COME AFF. To happen.
" That ther wunt never tmni uffr
n expression used to horses.
^H co^
L
COM ETHER. Come hither.
■Comilhet 'ool," or - comelhir wut," i To put the " amirlhrr " on a
person is
COME O' THAT. To get the better of something not desirable. If a young girl carries herself
awkwardly, it is said that she will
" come o' that " as she grows older.
COMIN'-AN. Growing, improving, ripening, coming to perfection.
'■ Our bwoys be a.-romm' an now, an' mus' loon go to
schoold."
COMIN' ROUND. Getting into good temper again after anger; recovering from illness; won over to
one's way of thinking.
CONDITION. This word is used to describe degree of fertility in land; fatness in cattle; capacity to do
work in horses. Out o' cexdilioH
" indicftlea an unsatisfactory state.
CONTAAIN MEZELF. To show no outward sign of my feelings.
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(delwedd C3421) (tudalen 065)
|
BERKSHIRE WORDS. G5
CONTRAAYRY. Cross-grained, obstructive.
" A turned contraayry sax' 'ood'nt lend his herse, an* zo us cood'nt
go."
CONVOUND. A form of imprecation. Both syllables are very long.
" Convound that chap! a pramised I to come an' a never did."
CONVOUNDED. Used as an expression of anger or annoyance.
"That convounded bwoy*8 moor plaaygue nor a's wuth."
CONVOUNDED LIKE. Confused. It is often preceded by " zart o\"
" When a tawld I as Dannul was 'listed vor a zawljer I was zart o convounded like, an' cood'nt zaay no
moor."
CONZAIT. To think; to be of opinion.
COOB. Coop. A hen-coop is a ** hen-coob,*'
COOBIDDY. The call for fowls to come to be fed. (In the call the first syllable is much
prolonged.)
COODNST, or COOS'NT. Could you not? Could not.
" If I dwoant do't I be zure thee coos'nt.'*
COOST. Could you?
*'Coosi tell I which be the ro-ad (or rawd) to Alder, plaze?" (" Could you tell me which is the way
to Aldworth, please?")
^OPSE. A wood (not applied to a small wood only). The large wood named " The Park
Wood," at Hampstead Norreys is
generally called " The Copse,** whilst other woods near are given their distinctive names, as
* Laycroft,' ' Beech Wood/
&c.
^ORd WOOD. Wood split up for firewood and stacked ready to be sold by " the
cord."
COTCHED. Caught.
" Us cotch'd um at ut." (We caught him in the act.)
COTCHEL. Part of a sack fuU.
COTTER ALUGG. A bar across the chimney breast to which is fastened the pot-hook.
COUCH. Rank grass; quitch grass.
COUCH-HE-AP. A heap of rank grass roots stacked in the field for burning.
COUNT, or ACCOUNT. UtUity, value, proficiency.
" A yent much count at cricket " (he is a poor playc;. F
(10
liriKKSHlRF.
COURAGE-ON.
To incite.
' A couragid-o
Ihem dogs to n'gh
COW-CALF.-A female calf.
COW.LAAYDY.
-The lady bird
2
i
COW-PIE. A favourite dish with children, made by having a thin layer of paste on the bottom and sides
of a pie dish whereon custard is
poured. This is then baked.
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(delwedd C3422) (tudalen 066)
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COW PARSLEY. Wild parsley obtained and given
as a favourite food to tame
rabbits.
COW STALL. A wooden arrangement for securing a cow's head whilst it is being milked.
CRAAVZY. Dilapidated; out of repair.
CRAAVZY WE-UD. The plant crow's-foot, .to called because it spreads about so wildlj-.
CRACK. A sharp blow.
■■ I gid 'un a crack a lop o' ihe yead." ■' To crack up " is lo
ex(ol.
CRACKLIN'. The scotched skin of roast pork; this is also sometimes called the " scrump."
CRACKY. Peciiliar; not quite right in one's mind.
CRANKS. Aches and slight ailments. A person is said to be full of " crinks and cranks "
when generally complaining of ill
health.
CKAN KV. Out of health; for machinery out of gear; for a structure, in bad repair, likely to give
way. Also sometimes used to mean out
of temper. CRAP. -Crop. CRASS. Obstinate, contrary.
CRASS-GRAAINED. Opposing from obstinacy or utA temper.
CRASS-PATCH. The name a child calls another that is out of temper to teaze him.
CRAW. The crop of a bird; the maw or receptacle for food.
CREAMY VAAYCED, or CRAMY-VEUSED. Having no
roses in the cheeks white faced.
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(delwedd C3423) (tudalen 067)
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Dl;ItKKKlRl^ wonns. 07
CRE-LP-MOUSE. or CRAPE-MOUSE. -A game pUj-ed
wib little childiea, tickling them to make tliem laugh.
*-Rl B BITER. A horse given to the vice of biting away his
manger; almost universal term.
^RlCK. A sharp noise. I have heard this term used of the noise made in the knee joint when one is
kneeling down. A "crick in the
neck " is a temporary stifTnefs in the neck, ' or inabiHty to move the head freely.
^RlMMANY, An exclamation i good-humoured) of surprise.
^I^INKLE. To crease; to rmiiple.
^RlNKLV. With marks as having heen crumpled.
^HlNKS.^See Cranks.
^^^ ISP.^Pork crackling. See also Scrimp.
^^^^RlTTENS. The crilUm are small pieces of lean meat ^^^V strained from lard when it is melted;
these are chopped ^^^r ^[>e and
mixed together with sugar and spice, then flour is \ added and the whole made into a pudding.
^ I*. OAK. To give out the worst v
this is called " a crmktr."
^I%OCK
of tilings; one who does .\n
earthenware pot as distinguished from an iron
To bend.
^l^OOK. or CRUCK
■ Crook yerback<Q'iImed gel iw topand becarr'dawver
ihebruck,"
^^tOWNER. Coroner. ^I^UMBLES.
Crumbs.
^RUMMY. Short and fat, or squatty; also a term applied to one who has money saved up.
'^Rl'NCH. To break between the teeth, also to press to pieces with a breaking noise, thus one
would say of a snail
"' Crmifi *un »i' ihee boot "
CRUSTY. Surly, snappish.
CL'BBY HAWLE. A cave or recess of any kind wliercin
children may creep to hide when at play,
CL'CKOO VLOWEK. The wild Lychnis ftoscnii, so called
because it blooms at the time the cuckoo comes. LCKOO'S MAAYTE. Cuckoo's mate. The male
cuckov.,
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(delwedd C3424) (tudalen 068)
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08 BERKSHIRE WORDS.
CUDDLE. To hold with one's arms closely around.
CULLS. Sheep picked out from a flock on account of not a^ieeing with the others in
appearance.
CUPBOARD LOVE. Such love as children have for those who give them sweetmeats, cakes, etc.
CUP-CUP-CUP. The call to a horse when in a meadow.
CUPS. The bottom part or holder of the acorn.
CURVEW BELL. This is not quite obsolete. At Blewbury it has been the custom for this to be rung
regularly between Michaelmas and Lady
Day, and many a time those who have
been lost on the adjacent downs-have hailed the sound of this bell.
CUSSEDNESS. Obstinacy, wickedness.
CUSTOMER. Always applied to a person in a disparaging or invidious sense, as **a shaaydy customer
,'' *^a sly customer,*' &c,
CUT. A blow.
*' I took 'un a good cut \\V a stick."
It has several combinations, as **cnt awaay," "run away;'* '*
cut up," " much
distressed."
CUTE. With capacity for learning; having ability.
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(delwedd C3425) (tudalen 069)
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b£RkSHIRE WORDS. 00
D
DAAK. Filthy, covered with dirt; slimy.
pAAYME. Dame. An old-fashioned farmer thus usually styles his wife when calling to her, or
speaking to her; he rarely uses her
christian name. Also in a more humble
position an elderly woman has her surname preceded by this title.
DAAYZIES, or DE-UZIES. Daisies.
DAB. A small insignificant wash, not including the house linen set aside for the buck-wash."
A blow. ' " I catched 'un a dab
in the vaayce."
A detached piece of anything.
" Our good Quane Bess, she maayde a pudden, An' stufled 'un vull o' plumes, An' in she put gurt ' dabs ' o' vat As big as my two thumbs."
DABB'D. Blotted over with stains.
DABBY. Flabby; also anything containing small portions of a foreign substance is said to be ** dabby
'* with the strange matter.
* This yer pudden be dabby wi' zuet."
DAB-CHICK. The water hen.
DABSTER. One who excels greatly.
Thus a man is said to be a " dabster " at back-swording or
skittles.
DADDACKY. Decayed or rotten.
The bern doors be daddacky ' an' wunt stan' mendin '."
DADDY-LONG LEGS. The common local nickname for a boy with long legs; the insect which so
easily leaves one of its long legs
behind it being well known by this name.
DADS AWN BWOY. A son having his father's peculiarities, * A chip of the old block."
DAFFIDOWNDILLY. The Daffodil.
DAFT. Stupid, slow of comprehension.
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(delwedd C3426) (tudalen 070)
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70 BERKSHIRE WORDS.
DAIN. Tainted, putrid, bad smelling.
DALL. The smallest pig in a litter.
"Dall 'um " is a mild form of imprecation; thus on a lady sayi " How pretty the Poppies look amongst
the com," the reply w3^ Purty
De um dall um."
DALLED. A swearing expression.
DALLERS. A fit of melancholy.
DALLY. A swearing expression.
DAMPER. A saddening circumstance.
DANCE. The expression " led I a irtwr^," means, gave ni^ much trouble. (Almost universal.)
DANDER UP. Temper raised.
" A got my dander up^ an' I was *bliged to gie 'un a cut.'*
DANDLE. To move a baby up and down in the arms.
DANG 'UN. A swearing expression.
DANK. Unhealthy.
DANNUL. Daniel.
DASH UT. An imprecation.
DAWDLE. A woman who idles over her household work.
DAYL. Deal; much.
" Us had a dayl o' trouble last vail."
DE-AD. There are many expressions to signify quite dead\ those mostly used of animals are ** de-ad
as a nit," dc-ad as a
door-naail,*' &c.
DEAD ALIVE. Sluggish, sleep> looking.
DEAD AN' GONE. An expression sadly used of one who has died.
DEAD AS DITCH WATER. Is said of beer that is flat to the taste.
DEAD RIPE. Used with regard to fruit perfectly ripe.
DE-AN. The common name for a field with rising ground on each side of it, but I have not known a
case where more than one field in a
parish is so called.
DEDDENST. Did you not?
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(delwedd C3427) (tudalen 071)
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BERKSHIRE WORDS. 7l
DEDST, or DIDST* Did you?
DEEDILY. Earnestly, intently.
" A looked at I maain deedily as though a had eummit to £aay.''
DEEDY. Industrious.
" Us was diedy at ut all daay."
DELVE. To dig (but nearly obsolete).
DEMIREP. A word applied to a woman for whom contempt is felt.
BERLIN*. The smallest pig in a litter. The same as " Dall.*'
^ERN. An imprecation.
^ESPERD. Very great, desperate. '* A
zimmed in a dtspetd hurry."
^^W-BIT. A small meal that perhaps could equally well be done without.
i^EWSIERS. The gristle of valves adjoining a pig*s heart.
*BBLE. A gardener's implement. To hole for planting seeds; also to fish by dropping the bait on
the surface of the water, and then
alternately lifting it and letting it fall.
^*BS. A game played with the small knuckle bones taken from legs of mutton; these bones are
themselves called dihs.
^^CKY. "Upon my dicky '^ is a phrase sometimes used in support of an assertion.
DlCKY-BIRDS. Children's phrase for all wild birds.
Diddle, To cheat; to play a trick; to out-wit,
DIDDLED. Out-witted.
DIDNT OUGHT. Ought not.
" A dtdiCt ought to tawk like that ther' avoor the childem." DIFFICULTER. Comparative of
difficult.
" This yer be difficuUer to maayke than what that ther' be."
DILL, or DILLY. The call for ducks, either word is repeated
about four times in the call.
'* Pray what have you for supper, Mrs. Bond?
Ge-U8 in the larder an* ducks in the pond. DiUy, diUy, dilly, dilly, come an* be
killed. Passengers around us an' thaay
must be viPed.'*
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(delwedd C3428) (tudalen 072)
|
72 h'^tLKSHlRE WCFRDS.
IM i/LONS. Earth heaps to mark boundaries on the Downs. |)INO,- To impress repeatedly.
'* A ding^ ut into I zo as I was glad to get awaay/'
I)ING DONG. Men who in fighting hit hard and do not trouble to guard are said to go at it *'
ding dong,"'
DINGICV 0* G " soft).-Coated with dirt.
D1NG1N\ A noise in the ears.
DIP, alao DE-UP, or DAPE. Deep, crafty, cunning.
DISH. -To cheat, to acquire by sharp practice. " A iiUhtd I out o' all the money as I
had.*'
DISH O* TAY, Very commonly used for "cup of tea.*'
" I inus' a\ my awld dooman to gie I a di$h o' tay avoor I do's any moor \N\>rk/'
DISHWASHER. The Water Wag-tail so called from being . always busy in the road side
puddles.
DISKEMIMBER. To l>e unable to call to mind.
'* I dUrtmimbff now asackly what a zaid."
DOCn\ Intelligent*
DV>CK. -*ro cut unythiag short.
D^vK' 1\>K. -To aaulterate an>-thing.
IWI\>K S STIFF.- Medicine.
l\>t'K. '' A ^vkhI lM~4f'* is an animal that thrives well and k\v^>N ut ^vxxl cv>odition even when
not well fed. "A bad it' ** i;:iL
the teviwr^je*
IW» IKv^XS -l t^i^jLht uroas oa each side of an open fire ^4<^svN >kt^h
jk Nur Uid JLCCOss them, whereon may rest
vhua^^vi oi wvvd ia $ucch way that the air gets fireely under'»v\U^;\^
^K\i the tire.
l\\*x Iivsicv \H Ii^hclv £k$t!etujxg split parts of timber vv^vvK^ vv^ ^v^vxmc th«» ^^^y^''^ apart
when wedges are vh«\vH» uuMVvi ^vtt|jL
^^ ^tT Dti^also serre to increase
l.\^ \N - > vs^wviii^ ^ Jit iTMCtbiii; ^aciGfaer; vimgtimes of a
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(delwedd C3429) (tudalen 073)
|
Berkshire words. 7B
DOLE. To entice; * ToU " is also used in the same sense.
DOLLOP. A large lump of anything. Vide Wallop.
DOLLY. A binding of rag around a hurt finger.
DONE. Out- witted; " done up " means tired out.
DOOMAN. " Ooman*' (woman) is thus pronounced only when preceded by ** awld.",
DOUBLE TONGUED. Showing duplicity in speech.
DOUBT. To foretell; to expect.
" I doubt the craps 'ooU be but thin athout us gets zome wet
zoon." Do UP. To tie or fasten
up. DQUSH. To throw water over.
' A doushed \vater awver her to bring her to."
L>0UT. To extinguish a candle or a fire.
^OWdY. A shabbily-dressed woman, or one wearing a dress Out of fashion.
^OWn. Dejected.
" A looked down in the mouth '' is a common expression.
^WN-ARG. To contradict in such a down-right way, and So lay down the law, that the person
opposing can say nothing farther.
^ vVN-STRIT. The opposite direction in the main road through a village from Up-Strit.
^^WN-VALL. A fall of rain, hail, or snow.
^WSE. To immerse in water; also a blow.
*' I gid un a dowse on the vaayce."
^\VSIN'. A ducking or immersion in water.
*^A.BBUT. A swearing expression.
^AG. A large kind of harrow.
*^AGGLED. With the lower part of the dress wet and muddy.
*^RAGGLE TAAIL. An untidy dirty woman.
^RAP into. To beat, to assault.
" If 'e zes any moor I'll drap into *e wi' this yer stick."
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(delwedd C3430) (tudalen 074)
|
74 &EB£SHIS£ in>II>S.
tjUAl" if DKISK^To have had ^dnp^'dwrnk means to be partly tntoxjcated.
" 1 xanney had had a ^Idi^ «' dnmJt mktm I daw that ther.**
i;kAT^" A cofnmon imprecation.
1>KATTLE. A swearing expresdon; also to throttle.
" iJrattU hit neck; a pretty nigh irnld^i I."
1;1<AY, or DKAA, or DRAW. A squirrels nest.
" To dray *' a cover is to turn in the boands and work them through to try to nnd a fox.
UKliCKLY MINUT. Immediately; on the instant.
" Oie I that ther knife </rrrA/y mf mi/, else I'll muchabout drap
into 'e."
DKICIC.- Three. DKKS 11. --To
thrash.
DKICSS. -A butcher ** dresses*' the carcase of an animal when he roniovcH skin and offal and prepares it
for sale. Land is * Um-iirtssed"
with manure, when this is allowed to lie on the Muriiicc.
hU lew. Sleepy, inactive.
hUIPPIN\--Uocf dtip/^in' is much used on bread instead of
hUirPlN' Wl';i\. The usual expression when one is ih^M^m^hly wrl fix)m rain is, ' I be got
drippiiC, wet."
OKM / 1 W K^ini)\|3: in x^ery small drops.
»>KO \\\ rh«^ihrx>iiu
1 > K'\ >\ > \'N . I ,vx\kiiv;t dowiKast.
<M^\>\\ . fxN thuHw nVAWiv^;: preterite Dkowed. ^^^\x^\\^^^^^^ KVV. v>nc ^valxd with nda
is said to look
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(delwedd C3431) (tudalen 075)
|
BERKSHIRE WORBS. 75
DUBBY.--Thick, blunt at the end.
An uousually chubby-faced boy is generally nick-named ** Dubby " by other boys.
DUBERSOM E. Doubtful.
DUCK. To lower the head to avoid a blow; to immerse another in water.
DUCKIN'. A wetting, whether from rain or immersion.
DLXKS AND DRAKES. The jumping out of water of a flat stone when thrown nearly horizontally.
JUDDERED. Stupefied.
DUMVOUNDERED. Surprised or perplexed, so as to be unable to speak.
DUMBLEDORE. The humble bee.
^UMMLE. In animals, sluggish; in corn or hay, damp; in persons slow of comprehension, stupid.
^UMMY-NETTLE, or DUNNY-NETTLE.- A nettle which does not sting.
^U MPS. Low spirits.
^UJIPY. A short person is called a dumpy; also anything with a blunted point is said to be dumpy.
^^^KCH. Deaf.
^^ NCH PASSAGE.---A cul dc sac; the term "blind passage" is sometimes used in this sense.
vJnnY. Deaf, not sharp. See Dummy-nettle or Dunny
NETTLE.
^XJNT. Did it.
" It wan*t I as dua^t I tell 'e " (It was not I who did it I tell
you).
^XJST. Fuss.
" Dwo-ant *e maayke zucli a dust about ut."
lieady money.
" Down wi* yer dust if 'e wants to buy "un."
To ^^dust your jacket** is to wJiip you.
JUSTIN'. A whipping.
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(delwedd C3432) (tudalen 076)
|
70 BERKSHIRE WORDS.
i;i;ST MAN. Sleep. When a child, near bed time, looks very sleepy it is told the * dust nian
" is coming.
DUTCH. Any speech not comprehended is said to be ^'Dittch.''
DWO-ANT, or DWUNT. Don't.
BERKSHIRE WORDS. H
E
'E. Thou, thee, yoo.
** If V wnni go in gie V fiipfwrr " (if joa von*t go I will give
yoa
sixpence).
EARTH-STOPPIN', or YARTH STOPPIN'. Stopping up foxes holes before the hounds come to hunt,
so that foxes may not run to
giouncL
EAST DUMPLINS. Plain dumplings of boiled dough, cut open and eaten with sugar and butter.
EDDERD. Edward.
EDGE-WISE. ^The expression, " I coodn't get a word in edgewise" is used when others have
monopolized the conversation.
EEN-AMWOAST. Almost, nearly.
" I fen-u^msEwut kirtched a young rabbat, bot a slipped into a
hawle."
EESE,or E-US and ISS. Yes.
EFFLT. An eft or neWt.
EGG-HOT. A hot drink taken before going to bed to cure a cold, it is made of beer, eggs, sugar and
nutmeg.
EGG ON. To incite; to urge on.
" A eggi 'on om to vigbt a good bit avoor a 'ood."
^KKERN, or AAYKERX. An acorn.
'^LBaW grace. Energetic work with hands and arms.
" Thee most pot in a bit moor elbau: grace when 'e rubs down yer
bosses."
'^LBaWS. The expression " out at elhaws ** is used with respect to one who has become poorly
off.
^LDERN. Made of elder wood; such things are very common amongst boys on account of the
convenient hollow left by the removal
of the pith.
^LLOOK. Look here!
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(delwedd C3433) (tudalen 077)
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77
HLLRAAYKE. The large sized lake used for raking hay left behind where **cocI^'' have been '*
pitched" into the waggon.
BI.LUM^The elm tree.
KLLUMS. Straw made ready for thatching.
ELNOR, Eleanor.
EMMUT. The ant.
EMMUrS.HILL, or EMMUT-HUMP. The ant's nest.
KMTT, or ENT.-^To empty.
ICNTIN. Emptying.
' Two on '0 bo to go eHtin dung^rart."
1CURIVVIG. Anear-wig. ICHZELL.
Herself.
Shfl mad do't erxeU, vor I wunt.*'
V/l\ nUo YET. Eat.
" A' wunt et nothin*.*' (He won't eat anything.)
ICTIIKK. The brushwood interwoven in 'forming a hedge.
Tho couplet is commonly quoted,
** lUdern staayke an' blackthorn etlur,
Maaykes a hedge vor years together.'*
Kll I N» or YKTTIN. i:ating. We have also in the preterit " /^W;* or «» \^tMr
\<\\<\<. K\w\\\\\o\\W used in the sense of "at all," thus,
" Hev 'o $\\\ /wr A rabbut
to^daay:?** (have you seen a rabbit at alt
VU\ *^ AA <>\tn \ cAu " is used for ' as I possibly can.'
V A i »nM ASriN IA\ Continually,
^Kt^ v\«Ax m-v*N,« » ,>, a yanpa* ai urn aa* ao at last a run awaay
vro«
F
VV i'v ->\- «r4^ «,a^- n. ^ ^.^^ m^ikUi,
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(delwedd C3434) (tudalen 078)
|
BERKSHIRE WORDS. 78
G
GAA. Used to children to indicate that a thing is nasty or not to be touched; (common.)
GAAM. To besmear.
GAAMY, or GAAMED, Besmeared with wet or sticky matter.
" He*d a«bin at the cupboard, vor his vaayce ^%as all gaawy wi*
jam."
GAARGE, or GERGE. George.
GAAY. -In good health; brisk.
*' I be a-veelin' quite gaay this marnin', thenk 'e."
GAAYBY. A stupid-looking person, usually applied to one in the habit of keeping the mouth open.
^AAYPES. The most fatal disease in chicken.
GAB.^Talk.
The phrase, " Stop thee gab" is used for ** hold your
tongue.*' " shut up/'
^ABBARD. Large and old, as applied to buildings; also, out of repair.
^^BBERN. Comfortless.
^BBLE. ^To speak so hastily and indistinctly so as not to be understood.
A nurse would say to a child, " Dwoant 'e gabbU yer praayers zo, else um wunt do *e no good."
^A^Dj^BOUT. One who goes from one to another gossiping, the opposite of a "
staay-at-whoam."
^LL. To make sore by rubbing.
*' I mns* get a new zaddle, that there un alius galls muh.*'
^ ** gall " is a sore caused by rubbitig. *^ALUNI. The Guinea fowl.
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(delwedd C3435) (tudalen 079)
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79
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(delwedd C3436) (tudalen 080)
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80
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(delwedd C3437) (tudalen 081)
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81
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(delwedd C3438) (tudalen 082)
|
82 UliRKSHIRE WORDS.
GO KERT. A child's cart. GONV. A
very stupid person.
GOOD. This word has various significations.
" Oie us a good helpin' o' pudden," i.e., a large helping. '* VoT good" means
"finally." not to return, and in this sense the phrase is often extended to " vot good
an' all."
GOOD DOER. An animal that shows well by its condition the benefit of the food given. The reverse
of a Bad Doer.
GOODISH. -Rather large.
GOOD *UN. An improbable story. When such is told the observation, ** that be a good 'un ** is
common.
' To run a good 'un is to run very quickly."
GOOD VEW. A considerable number.
GO ON AT. To administer a prolonged and irritating scolding. One who has been scolded greatly
for having done work improperly may
retort,
" If 'e goes on at I any moor 'e med do the job yerzelf, vor I
wunt."
GOOSEBERRY. The devil is called '* Awld Gooseberry:' There is also the phrase " Plaayin' up
awld Gooseberry " to indicate
wild pranks. Common.
GOOSEGOGS. Gooseberries.
GORE. Level low-lying land. Most parishes have a field called the * Gore,'* this being, perhaps,
even more common than such well-known
names as the Dean, the Litten, the
Piddle, or the Slad.
GOWGE. Gauge, measure.
** I took gowg4 on 'in when I vust zin 'in an' knawed as a was a bad lot."
GOWND. A gown or frock.
GO ZO VUR. Go so far; last so long.
That chaze wunt go so vur if *e lets the childern two ast ut."
GRAAINS. The forks of a prong, thus: a dung p:ong is a three-graaifted prong.
Malt after all the goodness is extracted in brewing. GRABi To seize quickly.
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(delwedd C3439) (tudalen 083)
|
BERKSHIRE WORDS. 88
GRABBLE. Is perhaps best explained by a phrase ** I drowed the apples among the bwoys an* let
um' grabble vor urn;" thus grabhh
partakes of the two words "grab " and "scramble."
GRACE. " Grease/' and also " grass " are so pronounced.
GRAMMER. Grandmother, always preceded by " awld."
GRAMNAERED. Begrimed with dirt.
GRAMVER, or GRENVER. Grandfather, always preceded by " awld.'*
GRAW. To produce.
*' That ther land wiint grow be-ans.'*
To cultivate successfully.
" 'Tyent no good tryin* to graw turmuts yer.'* GRAWIN' WEATHER. Alternate showers and
sunshine.
"Ym&gratvin* weather zur."
GRE-A-ZY, or GRACEY. Slippery. The roads are said to be gft-a-zy when there is a slight surface
thaw after a hard frost.
GRE-UN HORN, or GRANE HORN. A youth who is very easily imposed on.
GRIB.A.n unexpected bite, as when a horse slinks his ears and gives one a pinch.
GRIDDLE. To broil a piece of meat on a grid-iron.
^RINE. Groin.
GRINSTWUN.-Grindstone.
PRINTED. Dirt pressed into anything is said to be ^' grinned** in.
^RlP. To bind sheaves of corn, also a handful of corn in stalk held to assist in the action of
reaping.
GRIPE._A smaU open ditch.
GRIPES. Pains in the stomach.
GRISKIN. The lean part of the loin of a pi^%
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(delwedd C3440) (tudalen 084)
|
8i BERKSHIRE WORDS.
GRIST. Corn brought to the mill for grinding.
Sometimes capital or means; if a man is not able, from want of these, to work a farm properly, the
expression is common, ** A wants a bit
moor grist to the mill."
GRISTY. Gritty.
GRIT. Good courage; reliable.
A be a man o' the true^nV," /.^., sound and reliable in every
way.
GRIZZLE. To grumble.
GROUND ASH. A straight ash stick, usually about the size of one's finger, cut from underwood; it is
very tough and pliant, and much
selected for purposes of castigation.
GROUTS. Sediment left at bottom of a cask of beer or some other liquors.
GRUB. A dirty little child is called ** a young gruhJ"
GRUBBY. Dirty, as regards the person.
GRUMPY. Surly, complaining, fault-finding.
GRUNSEL. The raised door sill.
" This little peg went to market.
An' this little peg staayed at whoam;
This little peg had zome ro-ast me-at,
An' this little peg had none.
This little peg went * week, week, week, week, 1 can't get awver the grunsel.' "
A line of the above is quoted on pinching each of the toes on a child's foot, beginning with the ** big
toe,'*
GUGGLIN'. The gargling noise which liquor may make in the throat.
GULED. Amazed, bewildered.
" The noise thaay childern maadc quite gulcd muh.*'
GULP. To drink rapidly or greedily.
" A gulped ut all down wi'out vetchin* brc-ath.
GUMPTION. Energy, activity, and resource in one*s work. Common sense.
GURT, or GRET, or GIRT. Great.
GURT-KWUT. A great coat.
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(delwedd C3441) (tudalen 085)
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BERKSHIRE WORDS. 85
GURTS. Saddle girths.
GUTTER. When melted grease forms in the top of a candle, and at length overflows down one side, the
candle is said to " gutter:'
GUZZLE. The hole for slops outside cottages. To drink.
GUZZLER. One who is constantly drinking alcoholic liquors.
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(delwedd C3442) (tudalen 086)
|
^6 PBI^KSHIRH WORDS.
H
HA, or HEV, or HEY. Have.
'* I wunt ha [or hev, or hey] nothin* to do wi't."
HAAIN. To abstain from, or hold off from.
" Us 'ool haain affvrom taaykin' any notice on't vor a daay or two, praps a wunt do't no moor."
HAAK. A hawk.
HAAM, or HAULM, Stubble or straw of vetches, peas, or beans.
The " Haam *' rick in the Vale of Berks, is of bean or wheat straV, and there they do not usually speak of a
" vetch haam rick ** as in the
hill part of the county.
HAAYNIN. The removal of cattle from pasture land to allow the crop of Hay to commence growing.
In the case of " Hobbs versus The Corporation of Newbury," as reported in the ** Newbury Weekly News*' of
February i6th, 1888, Mr. Walter Money,
F.S.A., explained that the word " Hayned " is an old English term signifying to lay in
ground for hay by taking the cattle
off, &c., and is repeatedly made use of in that sense in the records of the Court Baron. With reference
to the above-named case, there was
also read a presentment of the jury to the Court Leet of 1830 as follows: " We present that
no owner or occupier of land in
Northcroft has a right to hitch, enclose, or feed any of the lands
there from the usual time of hayning
to the customary time of breaking. And
if any cattle be found in Northcroft contrary to the usual custom, we order the hay warden to impound
them."
HAAYSTY PUDDEN. A pudding of boiled dough; sugar and butter, or else treacle, being usually
added when eating.
HACK. To fag or reap vetches, peas, or beans.
HACKER. To be unable to speak properly from confusion or fear. One is said to ^^ hacker and
stammer" when answering
disjointedly on account of having no excuse or explanation forthcoming.
HACKIN*. Hardsounding. "A hackin* cough** is a frequent cough often accompanying consumption.
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(delwedd C3443) (tudalen 087)
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BERKSHIRE WORDS, 87
HACKLE. To conspire; a conspiracy. Labourers are said to be '* all of a hackle " when making
agreement together to get higher wages
or shorter time for work.
The straw covering over a bee-hive.
HAFE-A-T\VO. Cracked or cut so as to be in danger of breaking.
" The led o' the box be hafe-atwo an' wunt stan' no mendin'.
HAFT. The handle of an axe.
HAGGAS. The fruit of the Hawthorn.
HAGGED. Worn out; looking thin faced (a corruption of " Haggard").
HAGGLE. To chaffer in dealing. Sometimes also it is used in the sense of * to hesitate in
reply.*
"A haggled a good bit avoor a'd tell I wher a*d a-bin " (he
hesitated a good deal before he'd tell
me where he had been).
HAINT, or HEV'NT. Have not. " We haint got nam '' (we have not got one).
HAMES, or HAAYMES. The wooden portions of cart-horses' collars to which are joined the
traces.
Hammer. The expression * dead as a hammer ** is very common.
" I chucked my stick at that ther rat an* killed un as ' dead as a hammer* "
Hampered. a lock is said to be hampered when out of repair so that the key cannot work it.
Handle. To use dexterously.
" I can't handle a gun no zense " means " I cannot shoot
well.*'
HANDLIN'. In love making, where the swain may not have flow of language, he may sometimes attempt
to put his arm round the girls waist;
this is called * handlin' on her "
and would probably be met by the command to " Adoiie now," or a more decided ** Gie out!
'*
Handy. conveniently near. ** A little me-ad lez handy to the house " (a little meadow is
conveniently near the house).
Also intelligent in work.
" He be a handy zart o' chap."
H ANGER-ON. A person who waits about others better off than himself for such benefits as he may
get. Common.
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(delwedd C3444) (tudalen 088)
|
88 BERKSHIRE WORDS.
HANGIN*. ^The rounded slope or over-hanging part of a hill.
" £'11 vind moor partridges on the hangin* yander 'n anywher."
HANGLE. An iron hook over the fire to suspend pots from.
HANGY. Sticky, as regards soil. See Clung.
HANG UP HIS HAT. The usual meaning of this is that one is an accepted suitor, but it also
sometimes is used to denote that one
is very intimate and is granted freedom of
the house.
HANKERCHER. A pocket-handkerchief.
HANKERIN*. Longing.
HAPS.A hasp.
To hasp or fasten by hitching a thing around or over another.
The withy tie used to secure hurdles to ** vawle staaykes " or to each other.
HARD OTERRIN. Deaf (hard of hearing).
HARL. To entangle, an entanglement.
" If 'e dwoant mind thee 'ooll get that string in a /mW."
HARNESS TACK. A swinging cross tree placed in a stable for harness to be hung upon.
HARPIN. Continually speaking about some distasteful matter.
HARVESTERS. Harvest bugs, prevalent just before harvest time.
HARVEST WHOAM. The festival which winds up harvest work. (An account of this is given in the
Prefatory Notes).
HAT. A small ring of trees, but usually called a Volly when in a conspicuous position, as on a
hill.
H A*T, also HEV UT. Have it, allow it, believe it. ** I tawld *un I zin 't myzelf, but a ood'nt ha't (I
told him I saw it myself, but he
wouldn't believe it).
HATCH. An opening which may be closed by a wooden slide or door, used for passing articles through
by hand.
HATCH GATE. A gate at the junction of Parishes or Manors. The hatch-gate of Hampstead Norreys
is where the Manors of Hampstead
Norreys, Eling, and Bothampstead
meet.
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(delwedd C3445) (tudalen 089)
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BERKSHIRE WORDS. 89
HAW. A dwelling enclosed by woods.
HAWLD HARD. Stop! There is a game commonly played about Christmas time where a number hold a
piece of a handkerchief. One then
moves his hand round the handkerchief,
saying, ** Here we go round by the rule of
Contrairy. When I say ** hawld hard" ** let go," and when I say "let go," " hawld
hard;** forfeits are paid by those not
complying with the above order, which is said suddenly and in a loud tone so as to confuse the
players.
HAWLE. A hole.
HAWLT. Hold. " I can't get hawlt on 'in " (I can't get hold of him).
HAWS. The same as Haggas.
HAZZICK. A wood usually of Scotch firs with much coarse rank grass. There is a " hazzick *' on
the Little Hungerford estate,
Hampstead Norreys.
HEAD.~The face. HEAL. To cover. HEART ZICK. Sadly out of spirits through
trouble.
HECCATS. A short dry wearing cough.
HECCATTY. One having the " hcccaisr
HEDGE-POKER. A hedge sparrow. The name ** hedge-poker " may have been g^ven because the bird pokes
about a hedge and will fly no distance
away.
HEDGIN*. A common sport, where boys go on either side of a hedge when the leaves have fallen, wiih
long light poles. On seeing any bird
fly into the hedge a-head, one gives the
word, and both beat the hedge from opposite sides; the bird gets too confused to fly out and is
generally killed by branches knocked
against it; ten or twelve birds are often
killed in an afternoon's ** hedgin,''
HEFT. To try the weight of a thing by lifting it. A woman selling a turkey will say " heft
'un," i.e., *' Lift it to sec how
much it weighs."
HEN-US. A house fitted round with rows of compartments for hens to lay eggs in, and with perches
for them to roost upon.
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(delwedd C3446) (tudalen 090)
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90 BERKSHIRE WORDS.
HEPPERN. An apron. At old-fashioned village schools the usual punishment for a child was to be
pinned to the ** heppern *' of the
schoolmistress; when in this position a
** thimble-pie" would be the punishment for levity or further misconduct.
HERN. Hers.
HERRIOTT. A fine, payable by a tenant of a leasehold property on succession at death of previous
holder. As an example, in an
indenture, dated 23rd December, 1743,
between Mr. Joseph Lowsley and Mr. Thomas Horde lands were leased for 99 years or three lives on
payment of
" One fatt capon at Christmas and Hcrrioit upon decease of each life."
HEV AT. To encounter, to undertake earnestly.
" I me-ans to hev at killin* down thaay rabbuts avoor long 'um be a-yettin all the young kern."
HEY. Have. See also Ha, or Hev.
HIDE. To whip, to beat.
HIDIN*. A flogging; a beating.
HIGGLE. To demur, to repeatedly raise objections. To chaffer.
HIGH JINKS. Vagaries, merry doings.
HIGHTY-TIGHTY. Conceitedly proud, stuck up; also easily taking offence, huffy.
HIKE. " Move off! *' Always used peremptorily.
" What be you bwoys at ther, hike aff that ther ladder an' be
aflf."
HINDER. To prevent.
" I me-ans to do't, an' who be a-gwaain to hinder muh.'*
HIPS. The seed pods of the dog rose. Children thread these together to form necklaces and
bracelets.
HIST-UP. ("/" pronounced as in '* high.") A command given to a horse to lift up a foot for
inspection; also shouted to a horse
when it stumbles.
HIS-ZELF. Himself. " A wunt go by his-zelf' (he won't go alone).
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(delwedd C3447) (tudalen 091)
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BERKSHIRE WORDS. 01
HIS-ZEN. His.
HITCH, To fasten loosely.
" Hitch yer herse to the gaayte po-ast an' come an' help I get this nitch o' straa upon my back."
HIT. Cast, throw.
'* Hit it away, tent vit to yet '* (throw it away, 'tis not fit to eat).
HIT IT. ^To be in accord.
** Them two dwoant zim to hit it now as um did avoor Kersmas ' (those two do not seem on such good terms
now as they were before
Chriistmas).
HO. To long for, to care greatly for.
HOBBLE DE HOYE.
" A chap be called a " hMU de hoye,'* As be shut of a man but moor'n a
bwoy."
HOBBLES. Shackles; to prevent a horse or donkey straying far when turned into a lane or roadside to
feed; by these a fore leg is often
fastened to a hind leg.
HOCKERD. Awkward, clumsy, obstinate, contrary.
" A was maain hockered an I cood'nt persuaayde un to do 't " (he
was very obstinate and I could'nt
persuade him to do it).
HOCKLY. Awkwardly helpless, having no notion liow to do a thing properly.
HOCKSEY. Deep with mud.
HOCKSIN*. Walking clumsily, or making a noise impertinently in walking.
" When I scawlded un a went hoksin' awaay wi'out a-stoppin' to year what I was a-zaayin'."
HODMEDOD. A scarecrow; usually a figure with a hat on, holding a stick to represent a gun.
HO-GO. A game played by children, each having a number of marbles. The nrst holds up a number in
closed hand and says, **Ho'go;'* the
second says "Hand full;*' the first
then says " How many?" The other guesses. If he should guess correctly he is entitled to
take them all; but otherwise he must
give the difference between the number
he guessed and the number actually held up to *' make it so."
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(delwedd C3448) (tudalen 092)
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92 BERKSHIRE WORDS.
HOG-TUB. A tank at a part of the farm-yard nearest the kitchen, into which all kinds of edible
refuse are thrown. The " hog-tub
" has stock of barley meal, and at feeding time the pi^s assemble eagerly at the call
of * shug," ** shug/' **
shug," and the mixture is then bailed out by means of a sort of bucket, with a very long
wooden handle.
HOG-WASH. The liquor of the Hog-tub.
HOLLER. To call out loudly. In the rhyme sung by boys going their rounds on Guy Fawkes* Day we
have
Holler bwoys, holler bwoys, maayke yer bells ring, Holler bwoys, holler bwoys, God zaayve the
Quane.'* One would say also, "
Holler to 'n to come along quicker."
HONESTY. The wild clematis is always so called.
HOOD. The bonnet worn by women at field labour. It is a poke bonnet which shades the face from the
sun, and which has an enormous flap
covering the neck, shoulders, and
upper part of the back.
HOOSET. A horse's head curiously dressed up, and carried about by men and boys at a " Hooset
Hunt"
HOOSET HUNT. When persons are believed to be guilty of incontinence, men and boys assemble for a
** Hocset Hunt,'* they take with them
pots or pans or anything wherewith to
make discordant noise, and this they call " Roup^h Music," they also carry the ** Hoosef
on a pole. On arrival at a house to be
visited, the ** Rough Music" is"
vigorously played, and the ** Hooset" shaken in front of all the windows, and even poked into them if
any be open.
HOOST. Lift up. ** Hoost up thee end o' plank a bit (lift up your end of the plank a little).
HOOT.** Hold to it." An
expression used to horses.
HOOTCHER. A stick with a bend or turn at the top, used to pull down branches when gathering
fruit.
HOPPERS. Mites in bacon.
HOPPETTY. A little lame.
" I hev a-bin a bit hoppetty zence the hammer veil on my
voot."
HOP, SKIP AN* JUMP PUDDEN'. A plum pudding where plums have been inserted very
sparingly.
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(delwedd C3449) (tudalen 093)
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BERKSHIRE WORDS. 03
"^OSS-PLAAY. Rough, noisy play, approaching practical joking.
OSS-POND. A pond appertaining to the farm j-ard; from its situation the water is often too impure for
animals to drink.
CZ> TJSEN. Houses.
OAVSOMEVER. However.
" A wunt never do t kousomcvcr a med try.'*
U CK. To poke, as by inserting a stick under anything and on pushing it to give a lifting
motion.
X-ICK-MUCK. Confusion caused by all things being out of place. On visiting a small house on
cleaning day the apology comes ** 'E
vinds us in a gurt huck-muck to-daay,
zur."
* ^ *^ ^ D. To take off the outer covering.
" Get them Mramuts huJifcd agin I comes back." he outer covering of nuts, walnuts,
&c., is called the ** hud,''
^ FFY. Easily taking offence. "
A be a huffy zart o' chap.'*
XJGGER, also HUGGER-MUGGER. To hoard.
"A ke-ups his money pretty much huggcr-mu^f^cred up an' dwoant spend none hardly/'
VJLLS. Husks. ^^ U"LLA-BALLOO.
A loud confused noise raised by a number.
■^ tJNCH. To attack with the horns.
"The cow tried to hunch muh."
^VJNK, sometimes HUNCH. A thick piece of bread, bacon, &c.
^XJR, or HAAIR. Hair.
^IJRDLE.HERSE. A hurdle horse; the frame fixed en the ground having holes for the uprights of
hurdles; the brushwood used in making
"vlaayke hurdles,'' is woven horizontally
between these uprights.
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(delwedd C3450) (tudalen 094)
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94 BERKSHIRE WORDS.
I
I. Is used for " me."
'* Gie / one o* them apples?"
IF ZO BE AS. If.
*' If xo be as yoa can come an* hev tay wi* we to-morrow, I hopes yoa ooll."
IMP. ** Young imp,** is a common name for a mischievous boy, as also a ** young rascal.'*
IN, or UN. To be * i«," with a person is to be intimate; well liked, and to have influence.
Also ** him," " I gin *in wernin' " (I gave him warning).
IN-AN'-IN. A term used to express close relationship with reference to cattle breeding.
INBETWANE. Used for "between."
** I veels a stwun in-bttwane my shoe an sock/' IXLY. Inwardly.
INNERDS. "Chitterlings** as frequently go by the name of " peg's innerds " (pig*s
inwards).
IN ON S. Onions.
INVITIN*. The word is used in homely welcome thus: As the food is placed on the table the host
will say to his guest, ** Now you zees
yer dinner avoor *e, an* I hopes as *e
wunt want no mrtVin*.** This is intended as a wish that the guest will eat heartily, ask for what
he may want, and " maayke
his-zelf at whoam.**
IRE. Iron.
I SPY. The game hide and seek. In the way of playing tliis the seeker has to call ** / spy** to the
one he finds before he may start to
run " home."
IT. Yet. " Be thaay comin* it *'? (are they coming yet?)
IT AWHILE. For a short time.
*' Ut hev a-bin a-raatntn* 20 as a mus* ha bin hindered a-s'artin' an' I dwoant expec' un yer U awhik,'*
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(delwedd C3451) (tudalen 095)
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BERKSHIRE WORDS. Do
T
J A A. The jaw.
JAANTIN.' Going off on pleasure.
JAAYNE. Jane.
JABBER. Silly rapid talking.
JACK. The male, as "yo^^-hare."
A contrivance for raising an axle-tree of a cart, &c., so that the wheel on that side is off the ground
and can turn freel}-.
A child whose face is begrimed with dirt is reproached by being called '* Jack nasty
vaayce."
The word is much and commonly used in combination. ' yack in office," " Cheap
Jack;' " jfack of all trades," &c.
JAMMED. Squeezed. As by having one*s hand caught between a door and door post; also would be
said, ** Jam down the zugar zo as to
get ut all into the baaysin."
JAN. John.
JANDERS. Jaundice.
JAWLTER-YEAD. A blunderer, one very stupid.
JEMPS. James.
JENNY SQUIT. The Jenny Wren.
JERKIN. A short all-round coat.
JE-UD, or J AAYDE. Jade.
JIFFY. A short space of time; immediately.
" T wunt taayke I moor'n ^ jiffy to dim to that ther bird's
ne-ast.** I'll bci back in
a;//>;
JIGGAMY. Any implement or tool.
"Gic OS the jiggamy as stans* to ycr han' ther" (referring to
an implemeati the name of which one '
disremimbers* at the moment).
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(delwedd C3452) (tudalen 096)
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06 l^ERKSHlRE WORDS.
JIGGETTY. A sharp up and down motion. Thefe is the old children's rhyme
' To markut, to markut, to buy a vat hog,
Whoam agin, whoam s-gin, jiggetty jog.'*
" Jigf^^ii^'i' " is moving up and down quickly, as in riding a
child on the knee, this is always
called "jiggettin* " the child.
JIMCRACKS. Trifling personal belongings.
JIMMANY. An exclamation of astonishment. Often, " Oh I jimmany.''
JIMP. With well formed waist, applied to a woman in a complimentary way.
JIS, or JUS'. Just.
*' 'OoU 'ejis stop a minnut while I axes if me-uster be at whoam/'
JIST. (The *' i " pronounced as in ** rice.") A joist.
JOB. A thing difficult of performance.
*' Thee 'oolt hev a job to car' that ther' zack o' taayters to Newbury."
JOCKEY. To get the better of one.
* A jockeyed I last time I had dalins wi'n, an' zo I wunt hev no moor/'
JOG. To nudge; to touch one confidentially.
Jog the man t'other zide on e\ plaze, vor'n to look at I.'*
JOGGLE. To shake.
" A joggled the taayble while I was a writin', an' zo ut bcant vit vor
'e to look at.*'
JOG TROT. An ordinary trot, rather slow than quick. A *' jog-trot " way of going on is a way
likely to last long and incur no great
trouble.
JUMPER. A sheep with the vice of springing over the hurdles of the fold is called a ''jumper.''
JUMPIN* STALK. An arrangement of two sticks fixed perpendicularly in the
ground, with another across the top to
test height to which competitors can jump.
J UN KETTINS'. Merry-makings.
JUNKS. Thick pieces. " Chumps " are sometimes so called.
A frugal housewife will say tp her good man,
* Dwoant 'e help the me-ut in jHnkSt ut dwoant go hafe as vur,"
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(delwedd C3453) (tudalen 097)
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Berkshire words. 07
JUS' NOW. A little time ago. In Berkshire this is invariably used of the past, never of the future,
though elsewhere 1 have often heard
the expression refer to the future as thus:
" He will be here just now^^ meaning ** immediately "
or " shortly."
JUST ABOUT. Expresses something large or important.
* Thcr was just about a lot o* rats " (there was a very large number of rats).
" A had jMst about a tumble '* (he had a very severe
tumble).
H
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(delwedd C3454) (tudalen 098)
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i)8 i^ERRSHIRE WORDS.
K
KAAYLE. Caleb.
KECK. To make a choking noise in the throat.
KECKEK. The gullet.
KEER. Care.
KERD.-A card.
KEKKY. Irritable. KERN. Corn. KERT. Cart.
KETCH. To catch. To ketch it is to incur punishment.
" He 'ooll ketch it when the me-uster knaws what a hev a-bin an* a-done."
KETCH Y WEATHER is showery weather.
KE-UP, or KAAYPE. A cape.
KE-UP, or KAPE, OR KIP. To keep. Keep, i.^., food in
quantity that will last some time for sheep or cattle.
" I be zellin' my ship vor my turmuts be vaailed an' I ent got no winter ke-up."
KIBBLE. Sweepings as from garden paths and court yards.
KICK. To become irritated.
'* If 'e zes anything about his wife lockin' the door an' a-tawkin* to 'n out o* wincier a kicks
preciously." This had reference to a man
who was so treated because he came h^me later at night than his spouse approved.
KID. To produce pods. Peas and beans are said to ** Aii" well when bearing large numbers of
pods.
KILL. A kiln.
KILL-DEVIL. An artificial bait used in spinning for Pike when natural baits are not
forthcoming.
KIND. Profitable to breed from.
" That ther be a kind lookin' yowe (ewe)."
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(delwedd C3455) (tudalen 099)
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Berkshire words. 91)
KINKETTY. Matters not going on smoothly are referred to as being "a bit kinketty,''
KIT. The whole lot.
" I hev got a puppy an' dree verrets, an* a mag-pie, an' e med hev the kit vor a crownd if e 'ooll."
KITKEYS. The fruit of the ash.
KITTLE. Not strong, not firm, not safe; requiring gentle treatment.
KLICK. A sharp noise as caused by the shutting of a pocket knife.
KNACKER. A wretched looking horse past work.
KNOCK AFF. To stop operations.
" £ can knock aff ploughin' te-ams at dree o'clock."
KNUCKLE DOWN. To succumb; to give in.
KOFER. A chest for keeping old dress3s, &c. in, when these are stowed away for a time.
KURSMAS. Christmas.
KWUT. A coat.
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