UC-NRLF $B bEM bflS I: V:' i ^¥ I? w HOO AH GAT Holderness Dialect. Fost efther Ah was wed we lived i Olbro, me an mi weyf. We lived iv a raw of hooses, an Ah was sadly plagued wi awd gossapin wimmen. Ivvry neet as seer as ivver Ah cam fra mi si wahk. Ah RID 0' GOSSIPS. North Jutland Dialect. Fost etter A war gift, hoed we i Aalhorre^ mm o mi kuen. We hoed i en rai huhs, o A war tit stent plawed aw gammsl sladder - kwind. Hwar natty saa muar . . . A kam hiem fra mi arhed^ A fan olti saa manne gammel kjellinger sladderend i mi hulls. Mi kuen hand cet lie dem^ o A heller cet. Saa, tinker A vi moesjcd, A well kurer jer, mi toes. No da, yen natt A komnier hiem fra mi arhed, o der war di, trej eller fier aw dem, lig sladderend i daren. Sa>a gceer A lig hen te daren, o sa^a sto&er A stell. " No, A sier A er komm^en ti de feil huhs" A seyer, A lodd som A wild go wier te de ncest. Be saa oil po me en lille ti, o sa^ seyer yen aw dem, ^^ Feyl hulls I hwa my en do?" **i)e er din huhs, er et oit ?" " Mi hulls," seyer A," Wha' what besteller 1 da i et? A tint olti A tow de huhs te moe o mi kuen, m,en de sier (ud te at) A er feil po et. De sier ud te at A kan lie her huhs We well go ud Ice, yer hd' et. We well go ud i monn." heeam fan ivver si monny awd baggishes gossapin i mi hoose. Mah weyf didnt want em, nor Ah neeather. •Seeah, thinks Ah ti missen, A '11 cure yo', mi lasses. Whahthen,yanneet Ah com heeam fra mi wahk, an there they war, three orfower on em, stannin gossapin i deear-steead. Seeah Ah just gans up ti deear, an Ah steead still. " Oh, Ah see Ah 've cum'd ti wrang hoose," Ah says, an Ah pretended ti gan on ti next. They all leeakt at me' a minnit, an then sez yan on em, "Wrang hoose ! what d 'ye meean ?" "This is thy hoose, isn't it^ "My hoose," says Ah, " Whah then what business he' you in it? Ah awlasthowt Ahteeak this hoose fo' me an mah weyf, bud it seems Ah 's wiang (at it). It seeams you want this hoose. Then you sail hev it. We '11 gan oot an let ya hev it. We '11 gan oot ti morn." Mah wod, bud didn't they lewk fond, noo. They bussled oot shahp ; an se ya. Ah niwer had yan on em i my hoose gossapin ageean as lang as Ah stopt at Olbro." THE FOLK SPEECH OP EAST YORKSHIKE. BY JOHN NICHOLSON, Author of " Folk Moots" " Beacons of East Yorkshire" Etc, (HON. LIBRARIAN HULL LITERARY CLUB). London : Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. Hull : A. Brown and Sons, Satile Street. Priffield : T. Holderness, " Observer " Office. 1889. One Hundred Large Paper Copies of this work have been printed, and can only be obtained of the Author , 33, Leicester Street, Hull. Post free for Five Shillings. THOS. HOLDERNESS, PRINTER, DRIFFIELD, 8&U TO WILLIAM ANDREWS, Esq., F.R.H.S., PRESIDENT OF THE HULL LITERARY CLUB, (1888-9), AUTHOR OF " HISTORIC YORKSHIRE," "MODERN YORKSHIRE POETS," ETC., ETC., THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, BY THE AUTHOR, AS A TRIBUTE OF GRATITUDE FOR THE KINDLY SYMPATHY AND ENCOURAGEMENT WHICH HAS EVER BEEN GIVEN TO HIM, AND WHICH FIRST INDUCED HIM TO FOLLOW THE PATH OF LITERATURE. 123 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/folkspeechofeastOOnichrich FOREWORDS. The formation of this work has occupied my leisure moments during the last three years ; and, though the publi- cation of " Beacons of East Yorkshire " retarded its completion, it was a means of bringing me into contact with dialect-speaking people, and thus materially aiding the present work, which has formed the subject of a lecture before the Hull Literary Club ; before the members and friends of the Congregational Mutual Improvement Society, Driffield ; and at the Royal Institution, Hull, on the after- noon of Saturday, April the 27th, 1889. Before the construction of roads and railways, and more perfect drainage, the towns and villages of East Yorkshire, especially in the low-lying parts, between the Wolds and the sea, were isolated and cut off' from communication one with another, by the boggy marshy state of the country ; and thus an archaic form of speech has been preserved. You may yet find an aged person who has never been out of the village (" toon " he very properly calls it) in which he was born. Such an one is the very incarnation of the dialect. The Riding of the Stang (p. 8) was performed on February 18, 19, and 20, 1889, at Hedon, a small ancient borough. VII. FOREWORDS. about live miles from Hull. A description of it, and the nominy used on that occasion, appeared in the local papers. I have to thank Mr. Thos. Holderness, one of the authors of the Holderness Glossary, for many suggestions, and for placing at my disposal his unpublished supplement to that Glossary; also Mr. Wm. Andrews, F.KH.S., for the loan of the engraving on p. 7 ; also Mr. W. G. B. Page, Sub- Librarian, Koyal Institution, Hull, for compiling the Bibliography ; also Mr. Geo. Lancaster, author of " Legends of Lowgate," for valuable help and kindly sympathy ; and numerous friends scattered through the Riding, who have spared neither time nor trouble in gathering information for me ; and the delegates of the Clarendon Press for permission to make extracts from " The York Mystery Plays." Where requisite, the Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse ^ and Jj, for " th," have been used ; and, where two numbers occur together, thus, 260, 143, the first refers to the page and the second to the line on that page ; or, in the case of Hampole's Psalter, the first refers to the Psalm or page, and the second to the verse. The frontispiece was obtained, through Mr. Thomas Holderness, from Mr. William Porter, Liverpool, who had it from a friend in North Jutland. 33, Leicester St, Hull. J. N. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Page. Introduction - - - - - 1. History - . - . . 2. Antiquity ----- 2. Danish Influence . - - - 3. Wealth - - - - - -3. Force - - - - - 4. Humour ----- 6. CHAPTER II.— NOMINIES. Meaning of . - _ . 7, Christmas ----- 8. Stang Riding .... 9, Bird Tending - - ' - - - 10. Robin Taking - - - - 10. Telling Secrets - - - - 11. New Year - - - - - 11. Harvest - - - - - 12. The Thatcher - - - - 12. The Snail - - - - - 13. Fortune Telling - - - - 14. JN'ursery Song - » ir v r 14, X. CONTENTS. CHAPTER III.— SIMILES. CHAPTER IV.— BELLICOSE WORDS. CHAPTER v.— SPECIMENS OF THE DIALECT. A Stooary o' Bonnick Bogglk - - 32. Hoo Neddy Kirby was Robbed - - 33. A Eeast Yorksher Stooary - - 34. Pahson an Keeal Pot - - — - 35. Riding the Stang . . . . 38. A Neet ov Horror - - - - 42. April Feeal Day . - . . 45. Part of the First Chapter of Genesis - 47. CHAPTER VL Illustrated and Illustrative Glossary - 49. Additional Examples of the Dialect - - 89. Bibliography of Dialect Pieces and Publications 97. Gloss ARiAL Index - - - - lOL LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND OF WORKS CONSULTED. Andrews. Best. Ok. Bk. Curs. Mun. Eng. Acc. Eng. Mis. Eng. Prov. F. Q. Gam. Havelok. H. G. Lauder. "Punishments in the Olden Time," by Wm. Andrews, F.R.H.S. London. "Rural Economy in Yorkshire, in 164L" Surtees Society. 1857. "Two 15th cent. Cookery Books." Editor, T. Austin, London. 1888. " Cursor Mundi," a Northumbrian Poem. Editor, Bev. B. Morris, LL.D. London. 1874-8. " Historical Outlines of English Accidence," by Bev. B. Morris, LL.D. London. 1879. "An Old English Miscellany." Editor, Bev. B. Morris, LL.D. London. 1872. "English Proverbs," by W. Carew Hazlett, London. 1882. Spenser's "Faerie Queene." Editor, Bev. R. Morris, LL.D. London. 1879. "The Tale of Gamelyn." Editor, Bev. W^ W. Skeat, M.A. Oxford. 1884. "Havelok, the Dane." Early English Text Society. Extra Series. London. 1868. " A Glossary of Words used in Holderness," by T. Holderness, F. Boss, and B. Stead. English Dialect Society. London. 1877. " The Minor Poems of William Lauder." Editor, F. J. Furnivall, M.A. London. 1870. XII. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS. L. AND D. " Lincolnshire and the Danes," by the Rev. G. S. Streatfeild, M.A. London. 1884. Lister. " A Journey to London," by Dr. Martin Lister. • 1628. Micro. " Micro-cosmographie," by John Earle. London. 1628. Per. Rel. Percy's "Relics of Ancient Poetry." Warne, London. 1880. P. P. " Piers Plowman." Editor, Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. Oxford. 1881. Pr. of Con. Hampole's " Pricke of Conscience." Editor, Rev. R. Morris. Pr. Tr. Hampole's " Prose Treatises." Editor, Rev. G. G. Merry, M.A. London. 1866. PsAL. Hampole's " Psalter." Editor, Rev. H. R. Bramley, M.A. Oxford. 1884. R. R. "Ratis Raving." Editor, J. Rawson Lumby, M.A. London. 1870. Sh. Cal. Spenser's " Shepheard's Calender." Editor, Rev. R. Morris, LL.D. London. 1879. Skeat. "An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language," by Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. Oxford. 1882, Spenser. "The Works of Spenser." Globe Edition. Editor, Rev. R. Monis, LL.D. London. 1879. Stephens. "Runic Monuments," by Professor George Stephens. London. 1866. Wic. Wicliffe's " Bible." Editors, Forshall and Mad- den. Oxford. 1850. YorkPl. "York Mystery Plays." Lady Editor, Miss Lucy Toulmin Smith. Oxford. 1885. FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. CHAPTER I. « INTRODUCTORY. The folk speech of East Yorkshire is almost Introduction, untrodden literary ground. It is not, and has not been, used much by writers : it is only spoken, and that by decreasing numbers. Railways, telegraph, and School Boards — steam, electricity, and education — are surely killing dialects, even though of late years, much attention has been directed to their preservation in Glossaries and dictionaries — perservation in books, as antiquarian discoveries. Though our dialect is rich in vigorous words, and is capable of expressing humour, pathos, sarcasm, and philosophy, in its own peculiar way, we possess no literature such as is produced in the West Riding and Lancashire ; and we have no writers like Ben Preston, John Hartley, or Edwin Waugh. We have hitherto been restricted to Glossaries, and to an occasional fugitive piece in the columns of the local newspapers or magazines. In East Yorkshire there is only one large town, and that, being a sea-port, is cosmopolitan, and contains but a small 2 FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. percentage of dialect-speaking people, so that, scarcity of population, and the absence of " touch " between current literature and the dialect speakers, may be assigned as probabjie reasons why there is a dearth of dialect literature. With ten or twelve large, busy, wealthy manufacturing centres distributed through the Riding, there would doubt- less be both a demand for, and a supply of, dialectic writings and publications. Before the Norman Conquest there were two History, dialects in England — Northern and Southern. Both these dialects were greatly affected where they came into contact with the Midland dialect, which, rising into prominence after the Norman Conquest, has ultimately become our standard English. Had York become the metropolis, instead of London, standard English would have been different, in many things, to what it is now. The Northern dialect was spoken in Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland and the Lowlands of Scotland ; and the folk speech of East Yorkshire presents characteristics which were marks of the old Northern dialect, most particularly in the inflection of the verb, present indicative singular — Northern 1st pers hope or hopes. East Biding (ah) hooap-es „ 2nd ,, hop es „ (thoo) hooap-es „ 3rd ,, hop es „ (he) hooap-es also in the present indicative plural ; for the Northern dialect had such forms as — kinges rides ; fisches etes ; while an East Yorkshire man might say " Them as says seeah, tells a big lee (Jie)." The Northern dialect often had the guttural k where ch is now found — kaff (chaff) ; kist (chest). And this accounts for many of the double forms in modern English, as ditch and dike, pouch and poke, church and kirk, &c. The Holderness dialect bears one mark of Antiquity, antiquity. It has no definite article, while all other parts of Yorkshire have either the word in FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. 3 its entirety, or contracted to "t" (towd man) or "th" (thowd man) or modified into " d " (he went intid hoose). Professor Stephens* says that the article is unknown on the very oldest Runic monuments, as well as in the oldest Scan- dinavian dialects and the oldest English. In the dialect strong forms of past tenses abound : thus — he clam (climbed) three like a squerril. He dhrade (dreaded) maisther gettin ti knaw. We grov (graved, dug) that piece o' grund ower last neet. Lads mew (mowed) 12 acre afooar dinner. It snew (snowed) heavy last neet ; an this mooanin snaw clov (cleaved, stuck) like cobbler wax. Yorkshire and Lincolnshire became so much Danish subicct to the influence of the Northmen that Influence. "^ they were divided into Wapentakes and Ridings, as their own country over the sea was. Place names and personal names (such as Thirkell, Straker, Trigg, Dring, Lill, Tock, Stott, Beal, Swain, Dougall, Brand, Ross, Seward) in abundance, prove their ascendancy ; and in East Yorkshire, the battles of Stamford Bridge certainly, and Brunanburh probably, were fought. The frontispiece shews how closely the dialects of East Yorkshire and Jutland are similar, and the Rev. J. C. Atkinson f has shewn how much the Cleveland and Jutland dialects are alike; and the Rev. G. S. Streatfeild's "Lincolnshire and the Danes," shews what influence they exercise there. These Northmen have given to standard English such words as are, bask, scud, &c., and to our dialects beck, garth, gate (way) middin, rafter, sen or sin (self), flick (flitch) and scores more. The dialect is rich in meaning and in numbers Wealth. of words. In modern English, we still retain " daft" but where are daffen, dafiener, dafienin, daft-like, dafty, daft-heead, daftish, and daftness. We still retain gohhle, but where are gob, gobbet (Spenser) ♦ Rujiic MonumentB, p. 30. f Glossary of CleTeland. 4 FOLK SPEECH OP EAST YORKSHIRE. gobbler, gobful, goblock, gob-fight (fight with words from the mouth) gob-sludge, gob-stick, and gob-meeat] How good such words as these are : — lowth (lowness) fulth (fulness) growsome (favourable to growth) laboursome, healthsome, lithesome, contracted to lissom; betterment, botherment, oddment, muckment, messment. Force. Dialectic speech is vigorous and forceful. (a) A cake is left too long in the hot oven. Is it simply- burnt or scorched'? Oh, no! Ifs getten Jlre-fanged. (6) A new hat has been soaked by a heavy shower of rain. It is not simply spoiled, but "all mense is off it," an expression which will compare most favourably with its modern equivalents — all the gilt is off the ginger-bread, or the bloom is off the peach. (c) Said a sympathiser to a friend in trouble " If Ada dees. Ah think thoo'll sluf thi heart oot." Compare this with being broken hearted, or eating your heart out. (d) The word " dowly " is very expressive. If the morn- ing be wet and miserable, with no sign of amendment, here is " a dowly leeak oot." A sick person is weak, and lonely, and sad, and is " varry dowly " when a friend calls. A lonely, gruesome spot, is a dowly spot, and a dispirited person is said to be dowly ^ and carrying that look, " hez a dowly leeak aboot him." (e) A hawker is a "run-aboot man"; and a morose cross- grained person is "rusty." A huge roaring fire is "up ti galli-balk " the balk or beam on which the reckons are hung. A person who uses filthy language is a " muck-spoot," and a silly foolish person is an " otther-pooak," that is a poke or sack of otther (nonsense). {/) A. piece of fallen wick in a candle flame, which causes the tallow to run to waste, is a " thief " ; and a thoroughly forlorn despairing man is said to be a " hing lug ;" while an old woman who dresses like a young girl, is said to be " a awd yow i' lamb fashion." FOLK SPEECH OP EAST YORKSHIRE. (g) What wisdom and philosophy there is in styling one who spends his whole life in hoarding riches, a "yath worrum " ; that is an earth worm. (h) " Heead-wark's as laboursome as backwark " is the dialectic method of saying that brain work is as hard as hand work. (1) As the days in spring time are lengthen- Humour. ing, they are said to be getting " a cock sthraade (stride) langer noo." (2) If, in making dough, the good wife should put too much water, she has ' ' dhroondid minler " (drowned the miller) ; and there are those living who had no yeast in their younger days, but used sour dough to leaven the bread. So Wicliffe translates the well-known text " Beware of the sour dough (leaven") of the Pharisees." (3) Out of the carrs, black timber is often obtained, and is known as Awd Nooah (old Noah) ; the mouth is a " tatie thrap " (pOtatoe trap), and the throat is a " reead looan," (red lane). (4) The narrow spaces allowed for eaves droppings, between houses, is known as a " dog loup " (dog leap or jump). (5) Should any one boast of his horsemanship, he is quietly asked if he can " sit fling ;" and one who is thoroughly beaten in an argument is sent away " wiv a lop iv his lug," (a flea in his ear). (6) " Well, Jack," said one man to another, "did thahev a good tuck oot (feast) at your young maisther's wedding" " Nay, nut mich ! They meead ma tee up pooak afore it was full." (7) One who is working in vain, or receiving no pay, is trying " ti wakken a deead oss " (to awaken a dead horse). (8) Said one woman to another, "Ah gat sike a callin as Ah niwer had i' mi life. She called ma ivvery thing at she thowt bad ! " 6 FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. " Why ! nivver mind, lass, what she calls tha, seeah lang as she disn't call tha ower leeat fo' dinner." Expressions such as these only skim the surface of the subject. A whole volume could be devoted to the humour of the dialect, for a native cannot speak many words without giving utterance to some droll expression. In comparing the dialects of Yorkshire, the great differ- ence which strikes a listener is the vowel sounds, a difference so marked that a river, a valley, a range of hills, another township, shall cause or give another pronunciation of the same word. The majority of words is common to all northern dialects, but this variation of vowel sounds makes the dialect of a district almost as different as another language. Thus, in East Yorkshire, the word home, is ham in place names, yam in some districts, wom in others ; hooam in others ; and heeam in others. Our standard English could be enriched by an infusion of some of our dialect words — words that are native, expressive, exact, and elegant — words properly formed, easily under- stood, having life in them. Printing has congealed and embalmed words, but there are dialect words in existence as well worth recording and preserving as any that have ever appeared in type — dialect words which would well serve their users, ere they lost their force, and became as empty shells from which the life had departed. SIDING THE STANG. CHAPTER 11. NOMINIES. The word nominy is in use, both in the East and West Ridings, and its meaning in both is the same. A prepared oration, or a set speech or form of words, is a nominy. The town crier and the church clerk use nominies. It was a village lovefeast, and, of the two speakers, one was eloquent and fluent, while the other was all hesitation. The former was said "ti knaw his nominy, like a chotch clerk ; bud tuther chap hadn't getten his nominy off*, an' hackered an' stammered aboot, whahl yan cud niak nowt o' what he said." 8 FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. When boys go Christmas boxing they have a set form of words : Ah wish ya a Merry Chris'mas and a Happy New Year ; A pocket full o' munny an' a cellar full o' beer ; Two fat pigs, an' a new-coved coo ; Good maisther and misthress hoo di ya do. Pleease will ya gi' ma a Chris'mas box ? Should the boy be unable to recite this rhyme, he would be told he "didn't knaw his nominy," and would be sent away empty-handed. The village is in an uproar. The very sparrows, by their lively movements and twittering, and the rooks, in the rookery bordering one side of the village green, by their wheeling flight and incessant cawing and clamouring, seem to partake of the common excitement. A throng of men and boys, aye, and women too, some with sticks and some with old tins and pans, are as eager as bees at swarming time ; and are talking long and loud, with faces red with excitement and intensity of purpose. Jack Nelson has cruelly beaten his wife, a gentle, noble, uncomplaining woman, always willing to help a neighbour ; bat, alas ! as is too often the case, united to a wretch, whom to call a brute, would be to degrade the brute creation. So now public opinion is roused, and Jack must be taught that the whole community disapproves of his cruelty, and if it cannot punish, at least it will endeavour to shame him. An efiigy of Jack is tied on a stang (a long pole, though most frequently a ladder) and carried by two men through the vil- lage, accompanied by a motley crowd, with instruments more famed for sound than music. A drum is a decided acquisition, and he who has a horn is envied by those who have nothing FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. 9 more melodious than a tin whistle, an old kettle, or their own hoarse voice. So on the grand procession sweeps, to halt before Jack's door, when at a given signal all instru- mental music C?) is hushed, while the vocalists have their turn. With voices loud and harsh, they break out Here we cum, wiv a ran a dan dan ; It's neeather fo'mah cause nor tha cause that Ah ride this stang, Bud it is fo' Jack Nelson, that Roman-nooased man. Cum all you good people that live i' this raw, Ah 'd he' ya tak wahnin, fo' this is oor law ; If onny o' you husbans your gud wives do bang, Let em cum to uz, an we '11 ride em the stang. He beat her, he bang'd her, he bang'd her indeed ; He bang'd her afooar sha ivver stood need. He bang'd her wi' neeather stick, steean, iron, nor stower, Bud he up wiv a three-legged stool an knockt her backwards ower. Up stairs aback o' bed, Sike a racket there they led. Doon stairs, aback o' deer, He buncht her whahl he meead her sweear. NoOj'if this good man dizzant mend his manners, The skin of his hide sal gan ti the tanner's ; An if the tanner dizzant tan it well, He sal ride upon a gate spell ; An if the spell sud happen ti crack, He sal ride upon the devil's back ; An if the devil sud happen ti run, We '11 shut him wiv a wahld-goose gun ; An if the gun sud happen ti miss fire, Ah '11 bid ya good neet, for Ah 's oramast tired. The instrumentalists, jealous at their enforced silence, now burst in with an united blast ; not a bad representation of musical chaos. And so, with cheering and loud noise, Jack's effigy is carried round the village, for three successive nights, and finally burned in a huge bonfire on the village green. (Ridden in Hedon, 18th, 19th, and 20th, February, 1889.) 10 FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. The time is early autumn ; the scene a field of ripening turnip seed. Perched on the top of a five-barred gate is a young urchin, bareheaded and energetic, armed with an instrument shaped like a capital Y. Across the top of the Y is str^ched a wire, on which are threaded several pieces of sheet iron, about two or three inches square. He is a " bod-fcenther " (bird-tender) ; and, seeing a flock of finches alighting on the ripening seed, he seizes his rattle, shakes it vigorously, and raises his young shrill voice into a sing-song rhyme : Shoo way, bods ! Shoo way, bods ! Tak a bit, an leeave a bit, An nivver cum ne ma'e bods. This is his work ; and he marches about, singing and shaking his rattle, while the sounds he produces melt away into the natural surroundings, and help to give tone and formation to what we know as " country sights and sounds." In the centre of a village green stands the village cross ; and on the steps of this cross two or three boys have met. They have been *' bod-nestin " (bird-nesting) ; and are com- paring quantities and specimens. Several more boys are about the place, playing at "merrills," or "Jack steean," or cricket, with a pile of old tins for a wicket. The harmony of the whole scene is broken in upon, by one of the bird- nesters exclaiming, in a loud surprised tone, " Ah tell tha, it's a robin egg ! " "It isn't ! " " It is ! " and so the dispute waxes warmer, till all the others leave their sport to become judges. Theii' decision is that one of the nesters has robbed a robin's nest — a shameful act, which meets with summary jurisdiction, whether done ignorantly or not They all draw FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. 11 together from him, point their fore fingers at him, hiss and boo, and finally break into a singing rhythm, Robin takker, robbin takker, Sin, sin, sin ! repeated again and again, with increasing volume and vehemence as others join in the fray, until the offender is driven away. To effect this, his persecutors not unf requently take their caps, or knot their handkerchiefs, and *' mob "him for his cruelty to the bird they protect. Boys have also a similar punishment for those who "blab" secrets. Should a boy have betrayed an intended raid on a neighbour's orchard, or told who chalked a life-size caricature of the school-master on the door of the school porch, or told who had rung the church bell in the middle of the night, after putting a tub full of water before the doors of those likely to rush out to see what was the matter — such an one was hissed at, hooted at, pointed at, and finally driven away, his tormentors singing Tell pie tit Laid a egg an' couldn 't sit ! On New Year's day it is a custom at Driffield for the boys of the town to assemble in the main street, go in disorderly rout to the shops of the chief tradesmen, and, standing in the road before each shop, sing out : Here we are at oor toon end, A shooldher o mutton, an a croon ti spend. Hip! hip! hooray I 12 FOLK SPEECH OP EAST YORKSHIRE. until some of the stock of the tradesman is thrown to them and scrambled for. The Flambro' children, who run after the vehicles which convey visitors to and from their picturesque neighbourhood, have a variation of this rhythm — Here we are at oor toon end, A bottle o' gin, and a croon ti spend. If ya hain't a penny, a hawp'ny '11 do ; If ya hain't a hawp'ny, God bless you! Hip! hip! hooray! The bringing home of the last load of harvest is always a joyous time. At Bilton, when the harvest is safely gathered in, the whole village gives itself up to merriment and festivity. A half -holiday is given to all employees, and they, one and all, enter into sports and joyous holiday-making. But now one scarcely ever hears of the harvest song that used to be sung when the last load entered the well-filled "stagga'th," and when the younger people "scram 'led" for nuts and apples. Then, the master, or foreman, entering the stack-garth at the horses' head, began, Here we are, as tite (from Ice. tittr, soon) as nip, We nivver flang ower bud yance iv a grip, An then oor Jack gav her the slip. Hip ! hip ! hooray ! [Great effort has been made to get the completion of this song, but hitherto without success]. The harvest is all gathered in, the "stagga'th" is full of "pikes " and stacks, and has overflowed into the home field; FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. 13 for the crops have been heavy, and there is no sign of ''deaf" ears in the heavy " shavs." For some days, boys have been " dhrawin sthreeah " (that is, pulling straw out by handf uls from the straw stack made last thrashing day) and laying it straight in bundles ready for the " theeaker," who takes a bundle at a time, and after spreading some of it as evenly as possible, " keeams " (combs) it, by means of a " stower " (staff) having for teeth, long nails driven through it. The thatcher is busy at work. The only sounds which break the silence are the occasional strokes of his " keeam," as he apostrophises some mislaid straw which is difficult to get right. By and by there is a sound of children's voices, playing " heddo " (hide oh !) among the straw, and behind the stacks and buildings. They soon discover the thatcher, and their shrill voices are raised to chant a nearly-obsolete rhythm — Theaker, theaker, theake a span Come off yer lather, an' hang yer man. And should the " theaker" enter into the fun, he would reply When my raaisther hes thetched all his streeah He will then cum doon an' hing him that says seeah.* Two chubby little fellows are going down a country lane. A heavy shower has just ceased, but there are few pools, for the parched earth has sucked up the summer rain, and were it not for the scent-laden air, and the liquid gems that bedeck every blade of grass and jewel every spray, you would scarcely know that a welcome down- pour had cooled the land, for the sun is shining brightly, and the sky is blue overhead. From the topmost twig of an ash tree, a blackbird is pouring forth his j9ute- ♦Best's Rural Economy, p. 147. 14 FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. ' like notes, and the pauses in his hymn of praise, almost as eloquent as his song, are filled in by the shriller tones of the thrush, the lively chatter of the whitethroat, the sweet ditty of the hedge-sparrow, the chirp of the homely sparrow, or the tiny squeak of the shrew as it rustles through the wet grass. High overhead, a skylark is heard but not seen, and its silvery notes ripple through the warm air, already becoming misty, the effect of sun and rain. The boys are seemingly heedless of these things, for their eyes are bent earthward, and they have difficulty in preventing their feet from crushing the numerous black slugs that are crawling over the gi'ound, leaving a slimy track behind them. These they avoid, but noting a small snail, looking over- burdened and top heavy by its cream and brown shell, one of them seizes it by its house, and lifts it up. In an instant it has drawn within its shell, and squeezes itself tight and close, as they poke it with a blade of sword-grass. As their efforts to dislodge it make it withdraw within its shell more and more, they threaten it thus : — Sneel, snael, put oot yer hoan (horn) — Or Ah'll kill yer fay ther and muther te moan (to-morrow) ; but, being unsuccessful in their repeated efforts to dislodge it, they throw it away, and then pretend to read their future occupation or condition by picking off the spikelets of the flower stalk of the piece of grass. Beginning at the lowest one, they take off one for each trade or condition — Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, Kich man, poor man, beggar man, thief ; and that which falls to the last or topmost spikelet represents what they will be when they are to manhood grown. Noon has passed, and the baby, after a fretful and wakeful POLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. 15 night, is only awaking, but bright and refreshed. The nurse takes him, and, swinging him in her arms, keeps time to the following nursery rhyme — Pranky iddity ; pranky aye, Baby hezn 't been pranked ti-day. But let ti-morra come ivver sa soon Baby sail be pranked bi noon. Except in this simple ditty, the word pi-ank is obsolete. It is, however, used by Spenser. " Some prancke (trimmed) their ruffes," (F. Q. Bk. 1. c. 4). " In sumptuous tire she joy'd herselfe to prank." (F. Q. Bk. 2. c. 2). Iddity is also obsolete. It is a compound of Old English dihtan, to dress, deck, or adorn ; and the A.S. prefix ge, corrupted to "i." ** Soon after them, all dauncing in a row, The comely virgins came, with girlands dight." (F. Q. Bk.l.c.l2). " I dighte me derely, and dide me to chirche." (P. P. 1. 12. 963). SQ^M ^.^ssm "^ y^ CHAPTER HL SIMILES. Until attention is drawn to the fact, few people seem to be aware how much simile and metaphor enter into our common speech. Likeness and figure are familiar in our mouths as household words ; and, in some respects a simile is like a proverb, for it often contains the wisdom of many in the wit of one. Among common East Riding similes may be mentioned the following : — As awd as mi tongue, an' a bit awdher then mi teeth. As black as a craw. Crows in the East Yorkshire are "grey backs" and rooks are "craws." Hence the simile. As black as hud. Hud is the hob of a fireplace. As black as thunner. (thunder). As blind as a bat. Doubtless so thought because of the apparently aimless fight of the " fiitter-moose " as it is frequently called. As blue as a whetstan. Blue is the Conservative colour in East Yorkshire, so that to say " He's as blue as a whetstan" means he is a Conservative. But when anyone is blue with cold, they are also said to be as blue as a whetstan. Whetstan is the stone on which tools are whetted or sharpened. As blithe as a lennit (linnet). As brade as narra, like Paddy's plank. The common version is "as broad as long." FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. 17 As brant as a hoose sahd. Brant means steep, upright, high, as applied to rocks, hills, &c. So, of one who has a high forehead it is said, " His broo's (brow is) varry hrant." As one who is vain and conceited holds his head high, so it is said of such an one " He walks as hrant as a pisimire." (red ant). As breet as sun. As breet as silver. As breet as a button, or a new pin. As breet as a bullace. The " bullace " is the fruit of the wild plum, and only those who know how bright it will become by being well rubbed can understand and appreci- ate the simile. — 15th Cent. Cook, Bk., p. 24. *'Take isiyre bolasse wasshe hem clene, and in wyne boyle hem." As broon as a berry. As bug (vain, proud, elated) as a lad wiv a leather knife. As bug as a dog wi' two tails. As bug as a cheese. As cawd (cold) as ice. As cawd as deeath. As clean as a whistle. Clean means complete, perfect, or clear, and refers to the sound made by the whistle, and not to the whistle itself. Just as in " as clear as a bell," the word clear refers to the sound, and not to the instru- ment causing the sound. " Lat it boyle wyl, but loke pat it be dine rennyng (clean running)." (15 cent. Cookery Book, 31, 14.) As croose (lively) as a loose (louse) or lopp (flea). As cross as a wasp. As dark as pick (pitch). Always used adverbially in connection with "dark." As dark as bellas. Is this "bell hoose "1 For belfrys are nearly always dark places. As deead as a deear nail. In Piers Plowman (P. 14, 1. 185) 18 FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. it reads " as ded as a dore tree " where tree means simply wood. As deead as a herrin. As deeaf as a yat stowp (gate post). As deep as Garrick. This seems to be well-known all over the country, for it is current in Cornwall and Wales. * As deep as a well. As deep as Awd Nick. As dhry as a cassan. The cassan was a cake of dried cow's dung, used as fuel. It was formed either by casting the soft dung against a wall, from which it could easily be detached when dry ; or it was spread, two or three inches thick, on a piece of level ground, and cut into squares, oblongs, diamonds, or other shapes, at the pleasure of the maker. When dry, it was stacked or stowed away ready for use. A fire made of cassans and chalk stones burnt well and long, giving oflf great heat, little smoke, and a pleasant perfume. As dhry as a kex. The kex is the dried stalk and seed-pod of the poppy, &c. As eeazy as a awd shoe. As fat as a pig. As fat as a match dipt at beeath ends. The present paraffin match has quite superseded the old brimstone match, made of a splinter of wood about six inches long, and dipped at both ends. They used to be hawked about by pedlars, and sold at a halfpenny per bundle of about 20 matches ; and were only used for ignition by the spark on the tinder, produced by the flint and steel. As fast as a thief iv a mill. The mill referred to would be one of the old wooden wind-mills, built on posts, with only one way of ingress and egress, and which could easily be surrounded, thus giving no chance of escape to the thief therein. * Ha^litt's English Prorerbs, p. 65, FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. 19 As fit as a flea. As ready and eager as a flea for blood. As flat as a pan-keeak (cake). As fond (silly, foolish) as a billy gooat. s As fond as a jackass. As fond as a geease (goose) stuck i' heead. As fond as Dick's hat-band, at went roond his hat nahn tahms (nine times) an then wadn't tee (wouldn't tie). This, slightly varied in form, appears to be widely circulated. * As full as a egg 's full o' meeat. As full as a tick. A tick is a sheep-louse, which has always a full bloated appearance. As good as ivver stepped upo' shoe leather. As good as they mak em. As green as gess (grass). As grey as a badger. As green as a yalla cabbish (cabbage). This saying is used when anyone assumes innocence or ignorance. " Take faire Cabochis, pike hem, and wash hem, and parboyle hem," (15 cent. Cook. Bk., 69, 32). As hahd as nails. ) a • t £ A 1, I. J 1. • 1 > ^aid 01 persons. As hand as a brick. ) ^ As hahd as a grund tooad. As happy as days is lang. As heavy as leead. As holla as a dhnim. As hungry as a hunther. As keeal (cool) as a coo-cummer (cucumber). As keen as musthad. As kittle as a moose-thrap. For kittle^ see Glossary. As lang as a fiddle. Said of one who goes about with a long melancholy face. As lazy as a hoond. As leet (light) as a feather. * Hazlitt's English Proverbs, p, 75. 20 FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. As mad as a March hare. As mucky as muck. Said of dirty roads, &c. As mischievous as a munkey. Applied to children. As mony lives as a cat. As nice as nice could be. As pawky as yo' pleease. Pawky means impudent. As peart as a lop. (flea). As poor as a chotch moose. As ram as a awd fox. It is this ram or strong foetid smell which furnishes the " scent " for the fox-hounds. As reead (red) as a blud puddin. As reead as rudd. E-udd is a material used by housewives to ruddle (redden) the brick floors of their kitchens, &c. As rotten as pash, i.e., as rotten as rotten can be, all broken up and decayed. As rough as a badger. As roond as a ball. As sackless as a goose. Sackless means witless, foolish. As scrugded as three iv a bed. As shahp as a rezzil. A rezzil is a weasel. As shahp as a needle. Sharp, the opposite of blunt. As shahp as leetnin. Sharp, the opposite of slow. As sad as a dumplin. Heavy clayey land is said to be sad. So Wiclifie (Luke vi., 48.) " It was foundid on a sad stoon." As slape as glass, (or ice, or an eel). Boys like ice to be slape, i.e. slippery, for then they can slither or slide well. As slaw as a sneel (snail). See Nominies, p. 14. As small as a sparrable. As smooth as velvit. As snog as a bug iv a rug. As soft as a boiled tonnap (turnip). Said of any person who easily gives way to tears. A boy who cries for a little, or who is cowardly, is sure to have this simile contemptuously thrown at him. POLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. 21 As soor as a crab. A crab is a wild apple. As soor as vahjas. Hazlitt's English Proverbs, p. 77, gives "As sour as verjuice (or vargeis). Leeds. Verjuice is the juice of crabs or sour apples. "Caste thereto pouder ginger, vergeous, salt, and a littul safferon." 15th Cent. Cookery Book, p. 72. As sthreyt as a bolt. A bolt is an obsolete weapon, a knob- headed arrow for a cross-bow. As sthreyt as a yard o' pump wather. As still as a moose. As stoddy as a awd yow (ewe). Many frosts, and many thowes Make many rotten yowes. — Hazlitt's Proverbs, p. 285. As stunt as a mule. Stunt means obstinate, dogged, and is a form of stint. As reet (right) as a thrivet. As sweet as hunny. As sweet as a nut ; where sweet means sound and whole- some. Thus manure, or land, in good condition, is said to be sweet As thick as inkle weeavers. As threw as Ah's standin here. As tite as nip. See Nominies, p. 12. In Hampole's Psalter there are many instances of this word " tite " from Ice. tittr, soon. A nip is that which is done quickly. To nip up to a place is to go nimbly. " If thou here noghte als i^hear not so) tyt i sail noghte leue." (believe) Ps., v., 3. "He helpis noght als tyte as men." Ps. ix, 22. "Als tite i cum to deme." (judge) Ps. xi, 5. " For thou gifes noght als ^i^e as thai wild." Ps., xxiv, 6. As teeaf as wesh-leather. As teeaf as rag-lad (gristle). The peculiar cartilage to which this is applied will split into filaments or " tags," hence it is termed " teeaf -tags." 22 FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. As thick as a booad. Equivalent to " as big as a lump of chalk." As thin as a wafer. As thrang as Throp's wife. Hazlitt's Proverbs, p. 80, gives " As thrang as Thrap's wife, as hanged hersell i' t' dish- clout." As wake as a kitlin. Wake — weak ; kitlin — kitten. As wet as a dishcloot. As wet as thack. Thack — thatch. As white as dhrip. Dhrip, from Ice. dript, a snow-drift. Said of things. As white as a mauk. Mauk — maggot. Said of persons. As yalla as brimston. He dances aboot like a scoperil (a child's teetotum). It sticks like a burr. The burr is the round seed of the hairiff, or goose-grass ; and children, in play, often take a long spray of it, and lay it on the dress of a companion, where it will adhere closely. They call it "having a sweetheart." Ah sweeats like a brock. The brock is a small gi'een insect (cicada spumaria) which exudes a white froth-like moisture, commonly known as " frog-spit." It stinks like ajummat, i.e. a polecat. CHAPTER IV. BELLICOSE WORDS. The dialect of East Yorkshire contains, in gi'eat abnnd- ance, words expressing fighting or quarrelling, either by words, limbs, or instruments. The following list, lengthy though it be, does not profess to be complete. Bam, to brow-beat. "Ah couldn't get a wod in neeah hoo, that lawyer chap hammed ma seeah. " Bash, to bang, to clash together. " He hashed lad's heead ageean deear powst." Baste, (Ice. beysta, to beat), to flog. " Ah '11 haste tha weel, if thoo dizzn't mahnd what thoo's deeahin." Bat, a rap, a blow. " Give him a hat ower heead for his pawk." (impudence). Bats, a beating. "Thoo '11 get thi hats^ mi lad, when thi fayther comes yam." (home) Bell Tinker, a chastisement "Ah '11 gi tha hell tinker if thoo disn't mahnd what thoo 's aboot ! " Beltin, a flogging with a belt. Query — Is " bell tinker " a beltinger ] Bencillin, a beating. " Tom gav his lad a good hencillin for steealin taties." Bray, to flog, to chastise ; literally, to crush. Said a man who discovered his son cheating and lying, "Ah '11 hray him black and blew wi besom shaft." "Take almaundys and 24 FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. blaunche Jbem pan hray hem in a mortere." (15th Cent. Cookery Book, p. '30, 1. 10.) Tone boy with a brande Brayed me full well.— York -PL, 259, 143. Bunch, (1) to kick. "Bunch him, Ned; he sed thoo was a feeal;" (2) a kick. "He ga' ma a hunch ower mi leg." " Ah's nut boon ti he'mah lad hincht ahoot like that; Ah '11 tak him away." It was an assault case at the Driffield Police Court : Magistrate, (to Plaintiff) : Well, my good woman, what did she do 1 Plaintiff (indignantly) : Deeah ? Why ! sha clooted mi heead, rove mi cap, lugged mi hair, dhragged ma doon, an huncht ma when Ah was doon. Magistrate (piteously and amazedly) to Clerk : What did she say'? Clerk (slowly and decisively) : She says the defendant clooted her heead, rove her cap, lugged her hair, dhragged her doon, an buncht her when sha was doon. As he ended the court revelled in laughter for a short time. Said a labourer, to a man who wished to cross a field, " Y'u can gan across that clooase, only mahnd an deean't hunch tonnaps up." Bung up, to close as with a hung. " Bung his ees up for him, he desahves it." Bussel, to drive away angrily. " Noo, away wi y'u ; or Ah '11 hussle ya off i' quick sticks." Callitin-Boot, a wordy quarrel. Cawk, to flog. Hence " cawkin " a flogging. Catch it, to meet with punishment. " Thoo 's gannin ti catch it, mi lad." Cherrup, a sharp blow. "Ah '11 gie tha a ch&rrup ower lug, an then thoo '11 mebby think o' what thoo's tell'd." Chin Chopper, a blow on the jaw or under the chin. Chip, a slight quarrel. " We 've nivver had a chip sin we wer wed." FOLK SPEECH OP EAST YORKSHIRE. 26 Clap, (Ice., klappa, to pat) a stroke with the flat hand, or some broad instrument, so that a noise is made bj the stroke. " Clap his lugs for him." Clash, a violent knock against a hard substance. " Bob clasht Jack's heead an wall tegither." Cloot, (Ice. klutr — rag) to strike as with a cloth — " Cloot him weel." Crawk, a knock on the head. "He gat sike a craxvk wi cunstuble's staff." Crack, a stunning blow. "Ah fetched him a crack" Cob, a kick with the knee, instead of the foot. Cuff, literally, a blow with the cuff or fore arm ; most frequently on the head. Dab, a stroke in the face. "Jack gav him a dah iv his ee. Daffener, a stunning blow. " Ah ga ratten a daffener wi mi speead, an then Ah killed it." Used also as a verb j " He daffen^d it, afooar he killed it. Dandher, literally a blow of such force as to cause shak- ing ; for " dandhers " is a shivering fit ; and " dandhering " is trembling. "Ah gav him a left-handed dandher^ an doon he went." Dhrissin, (dressing) — a flogging. " Ah '11 gi tha a good dhrissin doon.' Dhrop, to knock down with the fist. " Behave thisen, or Ah '11 dhrop tha." (Ice. drepe, a blow). Also used to threaten a flogging. "If tha dissn't dhrop it (give up) Ah '11 dhrop thoo." Dhrub, to flog. " He '11 get weel dhrubbedy an sahve him reet." Differ, a wordy quarrel. " Ah heeahd tell you 'd had a differin boot (bout) ; bud, whativver meead ya differ ? Dig, to poke with a stick, &c. " He ga' ma a dig i' ribs, an its as sare as can be." Ding or Deng, (Ice. dengja, to hammer) " He du7ig ma 26 FOLK SPEECH OP EAST YORKSHIRE. doon." Prof. Skeat (Ety. Dicty.) describes ding as a true English strong verb, though not found in A.S. In the York Mystery Plays, 10, 30, we have « " Dyng Jam doune Tylle aU be dede." Dust, (Ice. dustra, to tilt, fight — Cleasby, Page 109) a scolding, a quarrel or fight. To " kick up a dust " is to create a disturbance, while to have your jacket " dusted " is to be well flogged with a stick, leaving not much dust in your garments. Esh, so called from the esh (ash) plant being the instru- ment used by the castigator. Feeat, to foot, to kick. ^^ Feeat him." Fell, a knock-down blow. " If tha dissn't mahnd (take care) A.h sail be givin tha a. Jell inoo." (soon). Fetch, to deliver a blow. " Ah fetcht him a crack ower heead, an that sattel'd him." Fillip, a quick stinging blow. Fisty Cuffs, a stand-up fight. Gob-Fight, literally a mouth fight. A wordy quarrel. Hammer, to flog severely with some instrument. Next tahm he diz it, Ah '11 Ihammer him weel. Haze, to beat. (Ice. ausa, to abuse or scold. "Line, and the Danes," p. 336.) Hence "hazing," a beating, a chastisement. Hezzle, to flog, as with a hezzle (hazel) rod. " If Ah catch tha, mi lad. Ah '11 hezzle thi hide fo' tha." Hiding, a flogging on the hide, or back. " Ah 's feeard mi fayther'll gi ma a good hidin." Hod, a punishment, a flogging. " Ah '11 gi tha sum hod afooar lang." Hum, to beat or flog, also a punishment inflicted by boys on an obstinate player. They lug (pull) his hair, or strike him with their caps, saying " Hum, hum, hum,'* long drawn out. Such pulling or striking being continued until their POLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. 27 leader cries out "Off 1" when all must at once desist, or be subject to a like punishment themselves. Jowl, to knock together. " None jangill nor jolle at my gate." York PI., 307, U. "Ah '11 jowl thi heead an wall tegither." Knap, (1) a slight blow; (2) to receive punishment "Thoo'll knap it" Lam, to beat. (Ice. lemja). " Lam intiv him." Leather, sometimes " lather " (Ice. lau^rungr), so called from the leather strap used for administering punishment. Leeace, (lace) to flog. " Ah '11 leeace his jacket for him, if Ah can catch him." Let Dhraave, to strike with full force. " He up wiv his neeaf (fist) an let dhraave at him, full slap." Licks, a chastisement. " Thoo '11 get thi licks, mi lad, when thi fayther gets ti knaw." "Ah whop (hope) he weean't lick ma, for his lickins hots (hurt) yan." Linch, a sharp, sudden blow with a pliable instrument. "He lincht ma i' feeace wiv his whip." Loondher, to abuse, to knock about. " What's tha loondherin him aboot like that for'? What's he deean"?" Lug, to pull hair or ears. The ear itself is called a "lug." Loonge, a thumping blow. Lump, to beat on the head with sufficient violence to cause a lump. Mell, literally, to mallet. (Ice. molva, to beat). Sometimes " mill " is used. A mallet is called a mell. Mob, a punishment among boys, inflicted by striking with caps, knotted handkerchiefs, i tunge Thy teeth and thy tongue, j)i Ma we and fi Milte Thy stomach, and thy milt, j)i lyiire and jji lunge Thy liver, and thy lung, And ])i Jjrote bolle. And the swelling of thy throat )pat fu mide sunge, That thou singest with." Old. Eng. Mis., 179. 169. Mind, a resolve ; a determination. " Ah 've a good mhid nut ti gan at all." "To him that mindes (resolves) his chance t'abye." F. Q., Bk. II. 4. 40. Mizzle, fine drizzling rain. "Now gynnes to mizzle^ hye we homeward fast." Sh. Cal. (Nov). " If the mominge bee wette and rnislinge." Best, 44. Moel, mole ; a dark-coloured spot. "Diz tha knaw Tom hez a mood on his ayme." " Upon the little brest, like christall bright. She mote perceive a little purple 7?io^c?." F. Q., 6. 12. 7. Mought, might, p. t. of May. " Iche man mut nedis shryuen oonys (once) in Jje yer." Wic. Works, p. 329. Mouther, or Moother, toll in kind, taken by millers. The custom is quite obsolete and the word seldom heard. A miller who was suspected of helping himself too liber- ally was said to "knaw hoo ti moother." " The miller taketh more mowter than is his due." Best, 103. Mowdiewarp, or Mowthad, (Ice., moldvarpa), a mole. "And a mold werp/' Wic, Lev., XL, 30. "Like Moldwarps nousling." Spenser, p. 556. Muck, (1) dirt. " But mucky filth his braunching armes annoyes." F. Q., Bk. IL, 7. 15. (2) manure. A miuck heeap is a manure heap, and so is a muck middin. To mv^k oot is to clear out manura FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. 75 (3) figuratively, dirt. WicliflTe is very partial to this word. In his Testament and other works it is in regular use for wealth, &c. "To geten worldely muk more ]?an soule heljje." (health), Wic. Works, p. 5. " fei prechen principally for worldeli muh" Wic. Works, p. 10. Mull, to spoil by bad workmanship. Mullock, a piece of work spoilt by bad workmanship. "He framed sa badly at job. Ah thowt he wad mak a mullock on 't." Mun, (Ice., munu), must. "Ah mun be off heeam." " He mon be brought down with sorrow." Psalter, 9. 42. "Thai mun fynd it." Psalter, 24. 12. Neeaf, (Ice., hnefi), the fist. Hence nevill, to strike with the fist. " With fe neue he robert sette Biforn Jje teth a dint ful strong." Havelok, 2,404. " Of that bignesse that one may thrust in theire nea/e." Best, 126. Noddle, the head. " Thoo 's soft i' thi noddle." " ]?ose noddil on hym with nefies, )pat he (do) noghte nappe." York PL, 268. 370. (Strike him on the head with fists, so that he sleeps not). Nope, (1) the head. Akin to knop, knob. (2) to strike on the head. See p. 28. The children have a saying, " Bells is ringing, cats is sing- ing, an dogs is gannin ti chotch," which represents a departed custom. When the church bells were ringing for service, the cats were left at home, to bask before the fire, and sing " three-thrums " on the hearth-rug ; while the dogs went to church with their masters, and lay under the seat of the pew until the service was over. Though usually quiet, they were 76 FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. not always so, and an official was appointed to keep the tiresome ones in oi'der. He was termed a dog-noperj and was armed with a stick, bearing a like name. It is related that on one occasion, a fight began near the pulpit, between two dogs of unequal size ; and, in spite of the dog-nopeVy increased in intensity, until, by reason of noise and excitement, the preacher was compelled to cease preaching. Women stood on the seats for safety, the men in order to see better, and all thoughts of place and time were lost in the common excitement. Finally, the parson leaned over the edge of the pulpit, clapping his hands and saying "Two ti one on lahtle un ! Two ti one on lahtle un !" Other some, others. "Sum fooaks is wahse ti pleease then other sum/* "Maria his moder and ofer sum." Curs. Mun., 18875. Otther, to talk foolishly ; to wander aimlessly. A prolific and forceful word. A slow-witted person is ottherin ; an otther-pooak is literally a poke (sack) of ottJcer (nonsense) ; and an otther-kite (stomach) or otlher-skeeat is somewhat the same ; and so is otthertyhoy. Owmly, (Ice. aumligr), (1) lonely, dismal, dreary, as ap- plied to localities. (2) lonely and spacious, as applied to houses, &c. Almost like " dowly," {i.e. dole-ly). "Ah sudnt like ti sleep wi mi-sen i' that greeat owrrdy hoose." Pale or Pail, a rail. " Noo, keep ofia them paZins." "She is ybrought unto a. paled greene." F.Q., Bk. 1, c. 5. "And stood at his gaxden pale." Per. Rel., p. 75. Pan, to become adapted by use. A new boot is not com- fortable until it pans to the foot. As a man becomes accustomed to his work he pans to it. Two people, living together, have to pan one to the other, before smoothness is possible FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. 77 That which -will become well adapted, or will fit properly by use, is panahle. Pawk, (Ice., puki ; a goblin), insolent impertinent talk. ** Noo lets he' neean o' thi^ai^^, thoo^ai:;^ young raggill." Pet, offence. "He i'BikB pet at ivvery thing yan sez or diz." "He now takes joe^." Earle's Mic, p. 20. One who has had all his pets or fits of ill temper indulged to excess is said to be " pettled." Pissimire, pis-mire, the red ant. So called because it discharges a reddish fluid. Pooak, sack ; bag ; pouch. Pocket is a diminutive of poke. " Nivver thoo buy a pig iv a pooak." " His neather lip was not like man nor beast. But like a wide deepejoo^e, down hanging low. "F. Q., 4. 7. 6. Possessed, held ; controlled. Though not a dialect word, its peculiar use in the dialect justifies its appearance here. "Ah deean't knaw whsit possessed ma, when Ah did it." Pucker, to gather in folds or wrinkles. Literally, to make into pokes or small bags. " She 's puckered up this sowin shamf uUy. It '11 all he' ti cum oot ageean." Puddle, a muddy place. Connected with pool. " Ah '11 skelp tha weel, thoo mucky thing ! Thoo's been thruf ivvery puddle thoo cud find." " And like to troubled puddles have them made." Spenser (Teares of the Muses) 276. Purchass, leverage; advantage. " Ah can't stor it wi this gavlac, for Ah can get neeah purchass." Quietsome, (1) still; not restless. A quietsome bayn, (child.) (2) tranquil. A quietsome neet. (3) not quarrelsome. He 's a quietsome chap. Eaggill, a rascal. 78 FOLK SPEECH OP EAST YORKSHIRE. " And farre away, amid their rakehell bands, They spiede a lady, left all succour lesse." F. Q., 5. 1 1 . 44. Bake, (Ice. reika), to ramble about idly. " He gans rakin aboot cunthry asteead o' gettin on wiv his wahk." "Thai suffire thaire hert to rake in ydel thoghtes." Psalter, 85. 6. Eame, (Ice. remja), to cry out ; to shout. " He ramed oot at ma." "mit (with) te rem =5at he maked." Old Eng. Mis., 1. 22. Ramp, to stamp about ; to scold furiously. " their bridles they would champ. And trampling would fiercely ramp." F.Q., Bk. L, c. 5. Beek, (Ice. reykr), smoke. Akin to " roke " — sea mist. "It was all ov a reek, like a lahm-kill" (lime-kiln.) "For the reek it smithers me." Per. Rel., 79. " Few chymneis reeking you shall espye." Sh. Cal. Eemmon, or Eenunle, to remove. " 0, y'u needn't remmon; Ah can manidge." " Wot no man fe time wanne he sal hennce rimen." (No man knows the time when he removes hence, i.e. dies). Proverbs of Alfred.— Old Eng. Mis., 113. 170. Render, (Ice. renna), to make run, to melt. "The (golden) kalfe thai rendid." Psalter, 15. 19. The leaves of fat from the inside of a pig are rendered, to make lard. That which is left after the liquid fat is poured off, is termed "scraps"; out of which " scrap-keeaks " are made. Bensh, rinse ; wash out. " And rynsche fin dysshe alle abowte with oyle." Ck. Bk., 24. 6. Eig, (Ice. hryggr), (1) ridge of a house, stack, (fee. The piece of wood forming the ridge is called the rig three {i.e, ridge-tree). FOLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. 79 (2) the highest part of a section of ploughing. (3) the back, or backbone. "J?at his rigg on it may reste." York PI., 339. 73. " Bernard stirt (started) up, fat was full big, And cast a brinie (cuirass) upon his rig" Havelok, 1774. Kock, a distaff. Quite obsolete, because the spinning wheel has disappeared, but very old people still remember it, though to mention it to them, forcibly reminds them how very old they are. " Sad cloths held the rocke, the whiles the thrid (thread) was spun with paine." F. Q., 4. 2. 48. Boosin, (1) (Ice., hrosa), boasting. "What rosyng (boasting) of riches." "I cried .... rosand (to boast) me of rightwisness." Psalter, 31. 3. (2) of large size. "That's a roozin lee." (lie). Eyme, (Ice. hrim), hoar. A rime frost is a hoar frost, or a white frost. " And he sloghe in haghil (hail) the vyners (vines) and thaire mours (mulberries) in ryme froist." Psalter, 77. 52. Sad, heavy, as unleavened. " Sad keeaks " and dip form a favourite breakfast. "Bete on Jje cloth with a ladell to make sad." Ck. Bk., 92. 29. Sadly means urgently, of heavy pressing necessity. "It sadly wants mendin." Sag, to bend ; to droop ; having slackness. Clothes-lines, telegraph-wires, &c., which are not tight, are said to Sag. Sang, a song. " Osanna king ! to f e we cri A sang." Curs, Mun., 15,049. 80 POLK SPEECH OP EAST YORKSHIRE. Scrat, scratch. ^^ Scrat her ees cot, Molly; or else she'll rahvethi hair." " And wit shratting he toke fe skurf He barked ouer as a turfe." Curs. Mun., 11,823. Scrudged, crowded; squeezed. " We wer seeah scrudged up, we cud hardlins stor." " And then atweene her lilly handes twaine, Into his wound the juice therefore did scruze." F. Q., 3. 5. 33. Seer, sure ; confident. A contraction of seker ; as sure is. a contraction of secure. " Ah 's as seer on 't as Ah is o' standin here." " For fat is euer mare a sehyr standard })at will noghte (not) faile." Pr. Tr., 40. Settle, a bench with a high back. Connected with sit and seat. " He sat on yal-hoose lang-settle an dhrunk yal, whahl they tonned him oot." " Opon the setil of his mageste." Pr. of Con., 6,122. "Tosittein setlis." Cui-s. Mun., 18,997. Shaav, or Shiv, or Shav, (Ice., skifa), a slice ; a piece cut, as of wheat, &c. "It is safe taking a shive from a cut loaf." Shanks, ankles; legs. "Is tha gannin ti ride] Ay, uppa shanks meear (mare)." (upon my own legs). "Noo then ! sparra shanks (thin legs) get oot o' gate 1" " He broken armes, he broken knes, He broken shanks, he broken thes " (thighs). Havelok, 1,901. Sike, such. " There was sike a row as Ah nivver heead afooar." " Puft up in pryde, sik as wes neuer sene Before, with ony mortallmanniseine." Lauder, 16. 422. POLK SPEECH OF EAST YORKSHIRE. 81 Sile, (Ice., sia) (1) to strain milk. (2) A small wooden bowl, with a large aperture at the bottom, across which a piece of muslin is stretched, for the purpose of straining milk. This piece of muslin is the " sile cloot." *< Mary, is milk siled ] " " Nooa ! " " Then reeach ma fii7e, an Ah '11 sile it." (3) To faint, or glide away. " Ghooast com clooase ti bedsteead, and began luggin at happin. It teeak twilt an pitcht it ower feeat-booad, then blankits, an wad ha thrawn sheet anole, bud Ah stuck tiv it ; an when sumbody spak i' next rum ghooast siled away, an Ah nivver seed it ageean." Skail, to scatter ; to spill. "Deean't skail sthreea (straw) aboot seeah." "]?ai J?at war scaild (scattered)." Curs. Mun., 19,505. " He fetched out his bottle (bundle) and scaled the hay aboute." Best, 78. Skep, (Ice., skeppa) (1) a measure; as, a bushel skep ; a peck skep. (2) A wicker basket. " Of his mete scip, (literally, bread-basket, stomach), was mesur nan, (none). He wold ete seuen seep (sheep) him an." Curs. Mun., 7453. Skrike, (Ice., skrikja) to shriek ; to scream. "The little babe did loudly scrike and squall." F. Q., Bk., 6., c. 5. Slack, (Ice., slakki, a valley), a shallow valley. Common as a place name; e.g.j Nafferton Slack, Garton Slack,