CHAPTER XXI

PLANT NAMES AND NAMES OF ANIMALS

Dialect plant names 332 Biblical names 333-335 Old English names 336 Miscellaneous names 337-339 Personal names for animals 339-341

SELECT LIST OF WORKS CONSULTED

Addy, Sidney Oldall.--A Glossary of Words used in the neighbourhood of Sheffield, including a selection of local names, and some notices of folk-lore, games, and customs. E.D.S. 1888.

Atkinson, J. C.--A Glossary of the Cleveland Dialect: explanatory, derivative, and critical. London, 1868.

Baker, Anne Elizabeth.--Glossary of Northamptonshire Words and Phrases, with examples of their colloquial use. London, 1854.

Bible.--Wyclif, John.--The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments with the Apocryphal books, in the earliest English version made from the Latin Vulgate by John Wycliffe and his followers [c. 1380]. Ed. J. Forshall and F. Madden. Oxford, 1850.

Blakeborough, Richard.--Wit, Character, Folk-lore, and Customs of the North Riding of Yorkshire, with a glossary of over 4,000 words and idioms now in use. London, 1898.

Brockett, John Trotter.--A Glossary of North Country Words in use. 3rd edition corrected and enlarged by W. E. Brockett. Newcastle, 1846.

Browne, Sir Thomas.--Works [1640-80]. Ed. Simon Wilkin. 3 vols. 8vo, London, 1892-94.

Burne, Charlotte Sophia.--Shropshire Folk-Lore: a sheaf of gleanings. Ed. by C. S. Burne, from the collections of Georgina F. Jackson. London, 1883. See Jackson.

Chamberlain, Mrs.--A Glossary of West Worcestershire Words. With glossic notes by Thomas Hallam. E.D.S. 1882.

Chope, R. Pearse.--The Dialect of Hartland, Devonshire. E.D.S. 1891.

Cole, R. E. G.--A Glossary of Words used in south-west Lincolnshire (Wapentake of Graffoe). E.D.S. 1886.

Coles, Elisha.--A Dictionary, English-Latin, and Latin-English; containing all things necessary for the translating of either language into the other. 2nd ed. enlarged. London, 1679.

Cope, William. H.--A Glossary of Hampshire Words and Phrases. E.D.S. 1883.

Cotgrave, Randle.--A French and English Dictionary. London, 1673. [1st ed. 1611.]

Couch, Thomas Q.--The History of Polperro, a fishing town on the south coast of Cornwall: being a description of the place, its people, their manners, customs, modes of industry, &c. by the late Jonathan Couch. Truro, 1871.

Courtney, M. A. and Couch, Thomas Q.--Glossary of Words in use in Cornwall. West Cornwall by Miss M. A. Courtney. East Cornwall by Thomas Q. Couch. E.D.S. 1880.

Cunliffe, Henry.--A Glossary of Rochdale, with Rossendale Words and Phrases. Manchester, 1886.

Darlington, Thomas.--The Folk-Speech of South Cheshire. E.D.S. 1887.

Dartnell, George Edward, and Goddard, Edward H.--A Glossary of Words used in the county of Wiltshire. E.D.S. 1893.

Dickinson, W.--A Glossary of the words and phrases pertaining to the dialect of Cumberland. Re-arranged, illustrated, and augmented by quotations by E. W. Prevost, Ph.D., F.R.S.E. London, 1899.

Ducange, C. D.--Lexicon manuale ad Scriptores Mediae et Infimae Latinitatis, ex glossariis C. D. D. Ducangii et aliorum in compendium accuratissime redactum. Par W.-H. Maigne D’Arnis. Paris, 1866.

Easther, Alfred.--A Glossary of the dialect of Almondbury and Huddersfield. Compiled by the late Rev. Alfred Easther. Ed. from his MSS. by the Rev. Thomas Lees. E.D.S. 1883.

Ellwood, T.--Lakeland and Iceland: being a glossary of words in the dialect of Cumberland, Westmoreland, and North Lancashire which seem allied to or identical with the Icelandic or Norse. E.D.S. 1895.

Elworthy, Frederic Thomas.--The West Somerset Word-book. A glossary of dialectal and archaic words and phrases used in the West of Somerset and East Devon. E.D.S. 1888.

English Dialect Dictionary, The. Edited by Joseph Wright. 1896-1905.

Evans, Arthur B.--Leicestershire Words, Phrases, and Proverbs, ed. with additions and an introduction by Sebastian Evans. E.D.S. 1881.

Ferguson, Robert.--The Dialect of Cumberland, with a chapter on its place-names. London, 1873.

Five Original Glossaries. Series C. English Dialect Society. Edited by the Rev. Walter W. Skeat, M.A. London, 1876.

Five Original Glossaries. Series C. English Dialect Society. London, 1881.

Fletcher, J. S.--Recollections of a Yorkshire Village. London, 1910.

Friend, Hilderic.--A Glossary of Devonshire Plant Names. E.D.S. 1882.

Gibson, Alexander Craig.--The Folk-Speech of Cumberland and some districts adjacent. London, 1869.

Godefroy, F.--Dictionnaire de l’ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IXᵉ au XVᵉ siècle. 1881- .

Gomme, Alice Bertha.--The traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland, collected and annotated by Alice Bertha Gomme. London, 1894.

Gregor, Walter.--Notes on the Folk-Lore of the North-East of Scotland. Folk-Lore Soc. vii. 1881.

---- The Dialect of Banffshire: with a glossary of words not in Jamieson’s Scottish Dictionary. Trans. Phil. Soc. London, 1866.

Hammond, Joseph.--A Cornish Parish: being an account of St. Austell, town, church, district, and people. London, 1897.

Harland, John.--A Glossary of Words used in Swaledale, Yorkshire. E.D.S. 1873

Harland, John, and Wilkinson, T. T.--Lancashire Folk-Lore: illustrative of the superstitious beliefs and practices, local customs and usages of the people of the County Palatine. London, 1867.

Hatzfeld, A., Darmesteter, A., et Thomas, M.A.--Dictionnaire général de la langue française du commencement du XVIIᵉ siècle jusqu’à nos jours. Paris [n. d.].

Heslop, R. O.--Northumberland Words. A Glossary of Words used in the County of Northumberland and on the Tyneside. E.D.S. 1892-94.

Hewitt, Sarah.--Nummits and Crummits, Devonshire customs, characteristics, and folk-lore. London, 1900.

---- The Peasant Speech of Devon. And other matters connected therewith. 2nd ed. London, 1892.

Holland, Robert.--A Glossary of Words used in the County of Chester. E.D.S. 1886.

Inwards, Richard.--Weather Lore; a collection of proverbs, sayings, and rules concerning the weather. London, 1893.

Jackson, Georgina F.--Shropshire Folk-Lore, edited by Charlotte Sophia Burne from the Collections of Georgina F. Jackson. London, 1883. See Burne.

---- Shropshire Word-book, a glossary of archaic and provincial words, &c., used in the county. London, 1879.

Jago, Fred. W. P.--The ancient language, and the dialect of Cornwall with an enlarged glossary of Cornish provincial words. Truro, 1882.

Johnson, Samuel.--A Dictionary of the English Language. London, 1755.

Kirkby, B.--Lakeland Words. A collection of dialect words and phrases, as used in Cumberland and Westmoreland, with illustrative sentences in the North Westmoreland dialect. Kendal, 1898.

La Curne de Sainte-Palaye.--Dictionnaire historique de l’ancien langage françois ou glossaire de la langue françoise depuis son origine jusqu’au siècle de Louis XIV. Niort, 1882.

Leigh, Egerton.--A Glossary of Words used in the Dialect of Cheshire. London, 1877.

Levins, Peter.--Manipulus Vocabulorum. A dictionary of English and Latin words arranged in the alphabetical order of the last syllables [1570]. Ed. H. B. Wheatley. Camden Society, 1867.

Littré, É.--Dictionnaire de la langue française. Paris, 1878.

Long, W. H.--A Dictionary of the Isle of Wight dialect, and of provincialisms used in the island. London, 1886.

Lowsley, B.--A Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases. E.D.S. 1888.

Lucas, Joseph.--Studies in Nidderdale: upon notes and observations other than geological, made during the progress of the Government geological survey of the district, 1867-72. London, c. 1882.

Moisy, Henri.--Glossaire comparatif anglo-normand donnant plus de 5,000 mots aujourd’hui communs au dialecte normand et à l’anglais. Caen, 1889.

Morris, M. C. F.--Yorkshire Folk-talk, with characteristics of those who speak it in the North and East Ridings. London, 1892.

Nevinson, Rev. Thomas K. B.--Local Provincialisms, being a MS. collection made by the Rev. Thomas K. B. Nevinson, Medbourne Rectory, Market Harborough.

New English Dictionary, A, on historical principles. Ed. J. A. H. Murray, H. Bradley, W. A. Craigie. Oxford, 1884-.

Nicholson, John.--The Folk Speech of East Yorkshire. London, 1889.

Nodal, John H., and Milner, George.--A Glossary of the Lancashire Dialect. E.D.S. 1875.

Northall, G. F.--A Warwickshire Word-book, comprising obsolescent and dialect words, colloquialisms, &c., gathered from oral relation, and collated with accordant works. E.D.S. 1896.

---- English Folk-Rhymes. A collection of traditional verses relating to places and persons, customs, superstitions, &c. London, 1892.

Ormerod, Frank.--Lancashire Life and Character. Rochdale, 1910.

Palsgrave, Jehan.--Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse. 1530.

Parish, W. D.--A Dictionary of the Sussex Dialect and collection of provincialisms in use in the County of Sussex. Lewes, 1875.

Patterson, William Hugh.--A Glossary of Words in use in the Counties of Antrim and Down. E.D.S. 1880.

Peacock, Edward.--A Glossary of Words used in the Wapentakes of Manley and Corringham, Lincolnshire. 2nd ed., revised and considerably enlarged. E.D.S. 1889.

Promptorium Parvulorum sive Clericorum, Lexicon Anglo-Latinum princeps, auctore fratre Galfrido Grammatico dicto, e predicatoribus Lenne episcopi, Northfolciensi, A.D. circa 1440. Camden Society, 1843-65.

Robertson, J. Drummond.--A Glossary of Dialect and Archaic Words used in the County of Gloucester. Ed. by Lord Moreton. E.D.S. 1890.

Robinson, C. Clough.--A Glossary of Words pertaining to the dialect of Mid-Yorkshire; with others peculiar to Lower Nidderdale. E.D.S. 1876.

---- The Dialect of Leeds and its neighbourhood. London, 1862.

Robinson, F. K.--A Glossary of Words used in the neighbourhood of Whitby. E.D.S. 1876.

Rye, Walter.--A Glossary of Words used in East Anglia. Founded on that of Forby. With numerous corrections and additions. E.D.S. 1895.

Taylor, Francis Edward.--The Folk-Speech of South Lancashire: a glossary of words which are, or have been during the last hundred years, in common use in that portion of the County Palatine situate between Bolton and Manchester. Manchester, 1901.

Tusser, Thomas.--Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie. The ed. of 1580 collated with those of 1573 and 1577. Together with A Hundreth Good Pointes of Husbandrie, 1557. Ed. W. Payne and S. J. H. Herrtage. E.D.S. 1878.

Wright, Joseph.--The English Dialect Grammar. 1905.

ABBREVIATIONS

Bck. = Bucks. Bdf. = Bedford. Bnff. = Banff. Brks. = Berks. Chs. = Cheshire. Cmb. = Cambridge. Cor. = Cornwall. Cth. = Carmarthen. Cum. = Cumberland. Cy. = country. Der. = Derby. Dev. = Devon. Dnb. = Denbigh. Dor. = Dorset. Dur. = Durham. e.An. = East Anglia. Ess. = Essex. Glo. = Gloucester. Hmp. = Hampshire. Hnt. = Huntingdon. Hrf. = Hereford. Hrt. = Hertford. I.Ma. = Isle of Man. Irel. = Ireland. I.W. = Isle of Wight. Ken. = Kent. Lakel. = Lakeland. Lan. = Lancashire. Lei. = Leicester. Lin. = Lincoln. lit. = literary. M.E. = Middle English. Mid. = Middlesex. Midl. = Midlands. Nhb. = Northumberland. Nhp. = Northampton. Not. = Nottingham. Nrf. = Norfolk. O.E. = Old English. O.N. = Old Norse. Or.I. = Orkney Isles. Oxf. = Oxford. Pem. = Pembroke. Rut. = Rutland. Sc. = Scotland. Sh.I. = Shetland Isles. Shr. = Shropshire. Som. = Somerset. Stf. = Stafford. Suf. = Suffolk. Sur. = Surrey. Sus. = Sussex. Wal. = Wales. War. = Warwick. Wil. = Wiltshire. Wm. = Westmorland. Wor. = Worcester. Yks. = Yorks.

The asterisk * prefixed to a word denotes a theoretical form.

INTRODUCTION

Among common errors still persisting in the minds of educated people, one error which dies very hard is the theory that a dialect is an arbitrary distortion of the mother tongue, a wilful mispronunciation of the sounds, and disregard of the syntax of a standard language. Only quite recently--May 5, 1910--in reviewing a book called _The Anglo-Irish Language_, a writer in the _Times Literary Supplement_ says: ‘The Anglo-Irish dialect is a passably good name for it ..., but it is something more than a dialect, more than an affair of Pidgin English, bad spelling, provincialisms, and preposterous grammar.’ Here we have a very good modern instance of the old error. A dialect, we are to understand, consists of ‘Pidgin English, bad spelling, provincialisms, and preposterous grammar’. This comes of reading dialect stories by authors who have no personal knowledge of any dialect whatever, and who have never studied any language scientifically. All they have done, perhaps, is to have purchased the Dialect Glossary of some district, or maybe they have asked a friend to supply a little local colouring. A lady once wrote to the Secretary of the English Dialect Society as follows: ‘Dear Sir, a friend of mine intends writing a novel, the scene of which is to be laid in Essex in the sixteenth century. Will you kindly give her a few hints as to the local dialect of that period?’ Authors of this type put into the mouths of their dialect-speaking characters a kind of doggerel which the above definition aptly describes, their readers then run away with the idea that this hotch-potch is the ‘spit and image’ of a real, living, English dialect. As a matter of fact, our English dialects exemplify so well the sound-laws of living speech, and the historical development of an originally inflected language, that the Neuphilologen in Germany are calling for Dialect Reading Books for German students studying English. A Professor in the University of Giessen has just bought fifty copies of Wright’s _Grammar of the English Dialects_ for his Seminar. Now and then a solitary German student is sent over to England to encamp in a remote country village and write a learned Dissertation on the characteristic vowel-sounds of the district; an arduous task for a young foreigner whose knowledge of literary English as she is spoke is an uncertain quantity. But the field of English dialects offers other allurements besides those which attract the philologist and the grammarian. The language-specialist merely digs and quarries, as it were, in the bare soil and rock, where he finds rich ores amply sufficient to repay his pains and toil, but there remains plenty of room for the rest of us who are less laboriously inclined, and at every turn are enticing paths. The real charm lies in the fact that it is a ‘faire felde ful of folke’, natural, homely, witty folk. If this book succeeds in pointing out a few of the many ways in which the study of our English dialects may not only contribute to the advancement of knowledge, but also give us a clearer insight into the life and character of the British peasant and artisan, it will have achieved the aim and object of its existence.

‘_Countryman._ We old men are old chronicles, and when our tongues go they are not clocks to tell only the time present, but large books unclasped; and our speeches, like leaves turned over and over, discover wonders that are long since past.’ The Great Frost of January, 1608. _Social England Illustrated, A Collection of XVIIth Century Tracts_, p. 166.