Part 9

“An’ aye she took the tither sook To _drook_ the stoury tow.” Song—The weary pun’ o’ tow.

Drouthy, S, thirsty.

“The well o’ life is dribbling dry, An’ _drouthy, drouthy’s_ kimmer an’ I.” Song—My Kimmer and I.

E.

Eerie, S, fearful, or calculated to cause superstitious fear or awe.

“Gloomy, gloomy was the nicht, An’ _eerie_ was the way.” Old Ballad—Young Tamlane.

Egg, or Egg on, C, incite, urge.

“He was a rare _egg_-battle.”—_Dickinson._ Lamplugh Club.

Eldritch, S, unearthly.

“Quhan words he found, their _eldritch_ sound Was like the norlan’ blast.” _Dr. Jamieson._ The Water Kelpie.

F.

Fash, S and C, trouble, annoy, bother (noun and verb).

“Ye’re sair _fashed_ haudin’ naething together.”—Proverb.

“Oald clish ma clash, thou’s nowt but _fash_— Ga heam to bed, ’Od dye thee!” _Mark Lonsdale._ The Upshot.

Feal, S, comfortable.

“Frae tap to tae that cleeds me weel, An’ haps me _feal_ an’ warm at e’en.” _Burns._ My Spinning Wheel.

Feck, S, a considerable quantity or number, most part.

“Wae sucks for him that has nae _feck_ o’ ’t.” _Ferguson._ Gude Braid Claith.

Feckless, S and C, feeble, useless.

“_Feckless_ fowk are aye fain.”—Proverb.

“A thowte A sud no’but meeak a varra _feckless_ fend, if A was witch’d seck a parlish lang way fray heeam.” _Rev. T. Clarke._ Johnny Shippard.

Fells, C, hills.

“If there were nea _fells_ there wad be nea deals.”—Proverb.

Few, C. This word is hardly translatable, but means to set about a task in a manner likely to accomplish it.

“I’ t’ chimla neùk some gay gud han’s, An’ gaily ill to slocken, Set tea wi’ porringers an’ pans, An’ _few’t_ weel to get drucken.” _Mark Lonsdale._ The Upshot.

Fewsome, C, capable-looking, workman-like.

“She warm’d him up some keàl, An’ Ralph dud mak a varra _fewsome_ meàl.” _Graham._ Gwordie and Will.

Flaitch, C, Fleech, S, coax. Sometimes used as a noun, thus—

“He’s a fair _flaitch_ when he wants owte.”—Said of me.

“She _fleech’t_ him fairly to his bed By ca’in’ him her burdie.” Christ’s Kirk on the Green.

Flaucht, S, flash.

“Ae fire-_flaucht_ darted through the rain, Where a’ was dark afore.” _Kirkpatrick Sharp._ Murder of Carlaverock.

Flay, C, Fley, S, to frighten.

“_Fleying_ a bird’s no the gate to grip it.”—Proverb.

This word has its substantive form in _flayan_—

A blue-devilled fellow at Coniston said he could not stay in his house because there was _flayan_ in it. “Ey,” said his mother, “If there isn’t there will be—there ’ill be empty cupboards, ther needn’t be wār _flayan_ nor that!”

Fletherin, S, Flattering.

“_Fletherin_ fowk’s maistly fause fowk.“—Proverb.

Flipe, C, a hat rim.

A retired sea-captain at Whitehaven used to be called ”_Flipy_ Fisher,” on account of his broad brim.

Flyte, S and C, scold.

“An’ gin she tak’ the thing amiss, E’en let her _flyte_ her fill, Jo.” Song—Steer her up.

Font, C, fond, foolishly attached, “spooney.”

“Whey, Gworge, thou’s owder feul or _font_, To think o’ sec a frow.” _Anderson._ Betty Brown.

Foorsett, C, to get in front of and face, to intercept.

A ghost used to haunt the “Crossgates” in Lamplugh, of which it was said, “Whativer way folk turns it _foorsetts_ them.”

Footh and Foothy, S and C, abundance, well provided, plentifully stocked.

“He’s brought _footh_ o’ foreign trash, An’ dibbled it in our yairdie.” Song—The wee wee German Lairdie.

“It’s a _foothy_ hoose is Betty Turnbull’s.” Said by old Cuddy Wilson at Workington.

Foregather, S, meet.

“To bear the milk-bowie nae pain was to me, When I at the buchtin’ _foregathered_ wi’ thee.” _Ramsay._ The Gentle Shepherd.

Forfouchten, S, over fatigued, exhausted.

“I’m but like a _forfouchten_ hound Has been fechtin’ in a dirty syke.” Ballad.—Hobbie Noble.

Fratch, C, quarrel.

“He’s just a _fratchin_’, feightin’ feul.” _Anderson._ Dick Watters.

Fusionless, S, pithless, insipid.

“God! the aul’ doited body’s as _fusionless_ as a docken!” _Michael Scott._ Tom Cringle’s Log.

G.

Ga, C; Gang, S and C, go.

“I’ll _gang_ nae mair to yon toon.” _Burns._ Song.

Gangrel, S, vagrant.

“A merry core O’ randy _gangrel_ bodies.” _Burns._ The Jolly Beggars.

Gar, S, make, compel.

“The first Scots kirk that they cam’ to They _garr’t_ the bells be rung; The next Scots kirk that they cam’ to They _garr’t_ the mass be sung.” Ballad—The Gay Goss-hawk.

Gay, C; Gey, S, (adverb form, Gaily) tolerable, considerable.

“Here’s a _gay_ canny mwornin’.”—A common salutation.

“No verra, but _gey_.”—By-saying.

“Hoo irr ye preuvin?” “_Gaily, gaily_, gangin’ aboot!” A common salutation and reply.

Geàl, C, split, rend, ache severely as from cold.

“I’ve an oald teuth, when t’ coald gits tull’t, it maks o’ _geàl_ ageàn.”—Said to a Doctor.

Gear, S and C, wealth, substance.

“A gleib o’ lan’—a claut o’ _gear_ Was left me by my auntie, Tam.” _Burns._ Ane an’ twenty, Tam. “Bruff-side lairds bang’t aw the rest For braggin’ o’ their _gear_.” _Anderson._ Bleckell Murry-Neet.

Ged, S, the pike.

“Now safe the stately saumon sail, An’ trouts bedropp’d wi’ crimson hail, An’ eels weel kenn’d for souple tail, An’ _geds_ for greed.” _Burns._ Tam Samson.

Gezlin, C and S, goslin, young goose.

“Peat’ lass, wid her yallow muffs, Steud kaakin like a _gezlin_.” _Mark Lonsdale._ The Upshot.

“If I canna keep geese I’ll keep _gezlins_.”—Proverb.

Ghem, ga way tull’t, C, game, go to it; a hunting phrase; used proverbially to signify any attractive fun or quarreling.

“There was a fine see howe—an’ _ghem ga way tull’t_.”

Gin, S, if.

“_Gin_ a body meet a body.” Song—Coming through the Rye.

Gledge, S, look slyly.

“Mr. Forret, alias _Gledgin_ Gibbie, had borne the brunt of incensed kirk-sessions before that time.” _Hogg._ Tibbie Hyslop.

Glent, S and C, gleam.

“Where flowers an’ gowans wont to _glent_ I’ bonnie blinks beside the bent.” _Ferguson._ Auld Reekie.

Gliff, C and S, glimpse.

“Here, here it was (a wae leet on the pleace) ’At furst I gat a _gliff_ o’ Betty’s feace.” _Relph._ Harvest.

Glime, C, look sideways.

“’Twad mak a deid man laugh to see Them _glime_ at yen anudder.” _Anderson._ The Village Gang.

Gloamin’, S, twilight.

“The _gloamin_’ grey out owre the welkin keeks.” _Ferguson._ The Farmer’s Ingle.

Gloom, S, frown.

“Still away his heid was shyin’, _Gloomin’_ like a boxing bull.” _John Johnston._ Dear Meal Johnnie.

Glower, S and C, stare.

“He _glower’t_ at the mune till he fell i’ the midden.”—Proverb.

“What’s t’e _glowerin_’ at? Does t’e see any cat’ horns?” Sauce.

Glump, C, sulk.

“Neist time we met he _glumpt_ and glower’t An’ leukt anudder way.” _Anderson._ The lass abeun thirty.

God Speed, C, a small wooden partition or screen placed within the house door, when it opens directly upon the sitting room. It has probably been called so from departing guests being wished “God Speed” beside it. I first heard the word at Harrington, from a humourist who asked a group of neighbours if they’d seen Tommy Wilson, who lived next door to him, adding, “If ye sud see him, tell him ’at his barns an’ mine hev been feightin’ till they’ve knock’d t’ _God-speed_ doon.” The fun of this lay in the well known fact that both were childless.

Gorb, C, an unfledged bird.

“Geàp, _gorbie_, an’ thou’ll git a wūrm.”—Proverb.

Gowk, S and C, cuckoo, fool.

“Ye breed o’ the _gowk_, ye’ve nae rhyme but ane.”—Proverb.

“’Bout kings and councils _gowks_ may fratch.” _Anderson._ Gud strang yell.

Gowl, C, to weep vociferously, to howl.

“It greànt, an’ it _gowl’t_, an’ it freetent fwoke sair.” _Dickinson._ Scallow-Beck Boggle.

Gradely, C, a Lancashire and Cheshire word, often used in Cumberland, signifying proper or correct. I have overheard myself, in contravention of the proverb, spoken of as “a varra _gradely_ man” in the lake district.

Grank, C, to covet querulously.

“Hout man! what signifies repinin’, Or _grankin’_, snifterin’, twistin’, twinin’.” _Stagg._ New Year’s Epistle.

Greet, S and C, weep.

“It’s nae mair to see a woman _greet_ than to see a goose gang barefit.”—Proverb.

“When we’d hed our belly full o’ _greetin_’ we gat up, an’ feel’t better for’t.” _Betty Yewdale._ T’ terrible Knitters i’ Dent.

Greg, C, tantalize.

“It does _greg_ yan to hear a hunt yan cannot see.” Said by a veteran hunter whose sight was failing.

Gruesome, S, making the flesh creep with disgust or horror.

“An’ though she wore a human face, It was a _gruesome_ sight to see.” _Hogg._ The Spirit of the Glen.

Gud his-sel’, C, felicitate, or gratify himself.

“Gi’e me anudder kiss.” “Nay, thou mun _gud thysel’_ wid what thou’s gitten!—thou’s git nea mair to-neet.” An over-heard conversation.

Guff, S and C, a silly fellow.

“When sec-like guffs leame decent fwoke, It’s time some laws sud alter.” _Anderson._ The Village Gang.

Gumption, C, tact, cleverness.

“Hed I thy _gumption_ or thy gift o’ gob.” _Graham._ Geordie and Will.

Gyversome, C, voracious, ravenous.

“T’ mair ye give till greedy fwoke t’ mair _gyversome_ they growe.”—Proverb.

H.

Hag, C, to cut with an axe.

“He was seun back, wid his axe ower his shooder, an’ begon to _hag_ his way through t’ deurr.” _Dickinson._ Lamplugh Club.

Hag-worm, C, the viper.

“Theear was beears, an’ lions, an’ tigers ... an’ girt yedtheran _hag-werms_, fower or five yerds lang.” _Rev. T. Clarke._ Johnny Shippard.

Hake, C, a riotous festivity, tumult.

“They drank the yell up ivery drop, Wid nowder _hake_ nor quarrel.” _Mark Lonsdale._ The Upshot.

Ham-sam, C, mingled promiscuously.

“Five or six gat on to t’ bed, An’ sat _ham-sam_ togidder.” _Mark Lonsdale._ The Upshot.

Hank, S and C, skein of thread or yarn; also a loop.

“O though thy hair were _hanks_ o’ gowd, An’ thy lips were droppin’ hinnie.” Song—The Waukrife Minnie. “And when the worsted hanks she wound, Her skill was further proved.” _S. Bamford._ My Wynder.

Hantle, S and C, a considerable number or quantity.

Part of the Rev. Walter Dunlop’s congregation at Dumfries having joined the Baptists, he alluded to the circumstance in the pulpit, thus—“I thocht till ha’e gethered ye under my wings, as a hen gethereth her chickens, but a _hantle_ o’ ye ha’e turn’t oot to be deuks, an’ ta’en to the water.”

“I’ve been a sad deevil, an’ spent gowd i’ gowpens, But still I’ve a _hantle_ left yet.” _Anderson._ Twee Auld Men.

Hap, S and C, cover.

“Ance as gude As ever _happit_ flesh an’ blude.” _Ferguson._ My Aul’ Breeks.

Haver, (pron. Havver) C, oats, oaten.

“Our Ellik likes fat bacon weel, A _haver_ bannock pleases Dick.” _Anderson._ Gud strang Yell.

Hay-bay, C, uproar.

“Wi’ whiskey they weetit their wizzens, An’ seun a sad _hay-bay_ began.” _Anderson._ The Clay Daubin’.

Heartsome, S and C, cheerful, pleasant.

“Let’s creep ower the _heartsome_ turf ingle, An’ laugh the wild winter away.” _Anderson._ The days that are gane.

Heeze, S, hoist, elevate.

“Thae bonnie bairn time Heaven has sent Still higher may it _heeze_ ye.” _Burns._ A Dream.

Heids an’ thraws, S, lying in irregular positions in bed or elsewhere.

“Lie _heids an’ thraws_ like Jock an’ his mither.”—Proverb.

Herdwick, C, probably formed like bailiwick, etc., and first applied to the portion of hill-pasture assigned to the herds of each dale farm; now used to distinguish the hardy, active breed of sheep grazed upon the _herdwicks_.

“He breaks bands like a _herdwick_ tip” is a proverbial saying I have heard applied to a rustic scape-grace.

Herk, S, whisper.

“When a Scotchman wants you to listen he says ‘speak,’ and when he wants yon to whisper he says ‘_herk_.’”—_Anon._

Hirple, S and C, limp, walk lamely.

“The hares were _hirplin_ doon the furs.” _Burns._ The Holy Fair. “Jack Mar, the _hirplin_ pipers son, Can bang them o’ at leein’.” _Anderson._ The Village Gang.

Hoaf-thick, C, half-wit, thick-head.

“Than Watty Ferguson, provwok’t To hear this _hoaf-thick_ rattle.” _Stagg._ The Bridewain.

Hoddingly, C, persistently.

“Does your pain come and go?” “It nayder cūms ner ga’s; it’s theear _hoddingly_.”—Said to a Doctor.

Hooal’t, or Whoal’t, C, holed, “bagged,” applied to anything being secured, thus—

At a school treat in High Furness I was “scrambling” comfits, and having filled a paper packet with gravel, and thrown it up, it was caught by a great hulking fellow, who thrust it into his pocket, exclaiming, “I’ve _hooal’t_ that an’.” His face, when his attention was directed to the contents of his prize, was a sight.

Hosteler, Old S, keeper of an inn or hostel.

“Syne pay him on a gantree, As _hosteler_ wives should do.” Old Song—The Maltman.

Hork, S, to burrow.

“The mouse is a wee merrie beastie; The mowdie _horks_ wantin’ the een.” Old Song—Brose and Butter.

Hound-trail, or Dog trail, C, a drag hunt.

“Whist’s as much afooar lant (loo) as a fox-hunt’s afooar a _dog-trail_.”—Heard at a Merry-Night.

How, S and C, hollow, empty.

“A house looks _how_ without a wife.” _Anderson._ Tib and her Maister.

Howk, S and C, excavate.

“She has _howkit_ a hole baith deep and wide, She has putten them in baith side by side.” Old Ballad—The Cruel Mother.

How-strowe, C, in confusion.

“Thy plew gear’s liggin’ _how-strowe_, An’ somebody’s stown thee thy cou’ter.” _Mark Lonsdale._ Johnnie.

Hugger-mugger, C, huddled up, out of order or system.

“Thus in _hugger-mugger_ make a marriage.” _Shakspeare._

Most philologists hold that this word signifies private or surreptitious; but in Cumberland, where it is still in common use, the sense is as above.

Huller’t, C, coagulated or clotted—applied to blood.

I have heard of an up and down fight in a public-house, where “T’ _huller’t_ bleud laid an inch thick on t’ flooer.”

I.

Ilka, or Ilk, S, each.

“_Ilka_ blade o’ grass keps its ain drop o’ dew.” Proverb, and Song by _J. Ballantyne_.

Intak, C, a piece of land taken in from the common.

“T’ _intak’s_ t’ best o’ t’ grund,”—Said by a Dale-farmer.

Iverly, C, everly, continuously.

“How often do you take your ale?” “Yall? I’ tak it _iverly_!“ ”_Iverly?_” “Ey, ebben endways away!” Part of a professional conversation.

J.

Jannic, C, a Lancashire word, signifying fair or honest.

“Thoo hes ower mickle jaw to be _jannic_.” Said to a voluble Auctioneer.

Jink, S, to escape suddenly, a rapid evasion.

“Our billie’s gi’en us a’ the _jink_, An’ owre the sea.” _Burns._

Job-jurnal, C, a toy on the principle of a humming top, but made with a shouldered stick passed through a perforated nut-shell and an apple, or failing that, a potato stuck upon the lower end, to be spun by pulling a string wrapped upon the shaft within the shell. In Furness this name is applied to the pig-nut, which in central Cumberland is called a _yowie-yorlin_, and in Dumfriesshire a _hornick_.

Joggle, C, to shake sharply, or violently.

“He dreàv us ower rwoads ’at varra nār _joggled_ us to bits.” Said by an old lady at Loweswater.

Jook, S, to shrink, or dip the head to elude observation or missile.

“It’s past _jooking_ when the heid’s off.”—Proverb.

K.

Kail, S; Keàl, C, broth—so called from a frequent ingredient.

“He gat his _kail_ in a riven dish.”—Proverb.

“Swoaps o’ drink an’ gud lythe _keàle_ Cheer up each day.” _Stagg._ The New Year’s Epistle.

Kaim’t, C, literally crooked, but used to signify cross, or peevish.

“Aa boddert my brain thinkan some on them ower, An’ than set to wark an’ wreàtt doon three or fower O’ t’ _kaymtest_ an’ t’ creuktest, like ‘garrak’ an’ ‘dyke-stower,’ Sek like as we use in oald Cummerlan’.” _Dickinson._ The words of oald Cummerlan’.

Keàv, C, to dance awkwardly.

“That barn, says Hyne, i’ Palmer’ toft, ’Ill dea reet weel to _keàv_ in.” _Mark Lonsdale._ The Upshot.

Keek, S and C, to peep.

“He that _keeks_ through a keyhole may see what will vex him.”—Proverb.

“She conquers mair nor Bonnypart Whene’er she _keeks_ aroun’”. _Anderson._ The Thursby Witch.

Ken, S and C, know.

“_Ken_ yersel and yere neighbours ’ill no mis-_ken_ ye.” Proverb.

Kirk-garth, C, church-yard.

“They tak meear pastime e what they see i’ th’ _kirk-garth_ nor what they hear i’ th’ kirk.”—_Mrs. Wheeler._ Dialogues.

Kit, C, a small tub or bucket.

“A riddlin’—a riddlin’, an oald wife striddlin’, An’ a _kit_ full o’ cunning things in a coald morning.” An ancient conundrum.

Kimmer, S, a familiar designation for woman—something like gossip. The young women who assist at christenings are called “maiden _kimmers_.”

“How do ye, kimmer? An’ how do ye thrive— A how monie bairns ha’e ye? _Kimmer!_ I ha’e five.” Song—A’ Noddin’.

Knowe, S, knoll, hillock.

“His gear may buy him glens an’ _knowes_.” _Burns._ To Daunton me.

L.

Lafter, C, a brood of chickens, etc.; also a setting of eggs.

“I hevn’t a ne’bour ’ill lend me a _lafter_ of eggs.” Said by a farmer’s wife.

Laik, C, play.

“But _laiks_ at wate-not-whats within O’ Sunday efterneun.” _Relph._ After Horace.

Laikins, C, playthings, toys.

“Here’s babby-_laikins_—rowth o’ spice, On sto’s an’ stands extended.” _Stagg._ Rosley Fair.

Lait, C, seek.

“Lads i’ t’ dark meade rampin’ wark Or cloaks an’ clogs were _laitit_.” _Mark Lonsdale._ The Upshot.

Lal, C, (in the northern and southern parts, Lile) little.

“I _lal_ thowte fasts sec fearful things to bide.” _Relph._ St. Agnes’ Fast.

Lap, C, wrap.

“_Lap’t_ my cranky neckcloth round his heid.” _Graham._ Gwordie and Will.

Lave, S, the rest, remainder.

“When a’ the _lave_ gang to their bed, I wander dowie up the glen.” Song—Heelan’ Harry.

Lawin, S, a public house reckoning.

“Gude wife, count the _lawin_, An’ bring a drappie mair.” _Burns._ Song.

Leal, or Leil, S, true, pure, loyal.

“O gi’e me a token o’ love, sweet May— A _leil_ love-token true.” _A. Cunningham._ The Mermaid.

Leàne, your leàne, his leàne, etc., S and C, lone, solitary.

“An’ when, sweet lassie, you’re ye’re _leàne_, This heart o’ mine wad joy to know.” _Miss Blamire._ The Toiling Day.

Leàth, C, a barn.

“Why ne had thou put the capel in the _lathe_.” _Chaucer._ The Reeve’s Tale.

Ley, C, a scythe.

“Clogs, splinter new, bass-boddom’d chairs, An’ _lea_-stanes for new _lea_ses.” _Stagg._ Rosley Fair.

Lichtly, S, to make light of.

“The lass that _lichtlies_ may lament.”—Proverb.

Lilt, S and C, a lively tune or song; or, as a verb, to sing merrily.

“Now haste ye turn King David ower, An’ _lilt_ wi’ holy clangour.” _Burns._

It means also to rise on the toes in walking. Diomed’s walk had a _lilt_ in it, as described by Ulysses, thus—

“I ken the manner of his gait, He rises on the toe: that spirit of his In aspiration lifts him from the earth.” _Shakspeare._ Troilus and Cressida.

Lippen, S, to trust.

“Ye’ll deceive nane but them that _lippen_ to ye.”—Proverb.

Lirk, S and C, a wrinkle or fold.

“Sup sūm poddish, an’ tak’ t’ _lirks_ oot o’ thy skin.” Said to a rustic convalescent.

Lish, C, active.

“When I was a _lish_ laughing lass o’ sixteen.” _Anderson._ Auld Robby Miller.

Loan, S; Lonning, C, lane.

“The kye stood rowtin’ in the _loan_.” _Burns._ The Twa Dogs. “The lads an’ the lasses i’ t’ _lonning_ Wer’ pairin’ like sparrows i’ t’ spring.” _Anon._ Raffles Merry-Neet.

Lock, C, a number or quantity.

“A gay _lock_ o’ fwoke hed gedder’t up i’ time to gang tillt’ kurk, an’ away they struttit.” _Dickinson._ Lamplugh Club.