5^
 
 
 
 

 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON.
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH 
 
 OF 
 
 DEVON. 
 
 AND OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED 
 THERE WITH. 
 
 BY 
 
 SARAH HEWETT, 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 LONDON: 
 ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. 
 
 1892. 
 
 \_All rights reserved. ,]
 
 if 7/ 
 
 PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 The unexpected rapidity with which the first edition of my 
 unpretending book was taken up has made it necessary to 
 prepare a second for the press within some six months, 
 Though much pressed for time, I have made a careful 
 revision of the whole work, and many slight defects which 
 had inevitably crept in have been removed. For those 
 which still remain I ask the reader's indulgence. 
 
 The kindly welcome which ' The Peasant Speech of 
 Devon ' has received on all hands has been a source of 
 deep pleasure to me. Her Majesty the Queen was graciously 
 pleased to accept a copy for the Royal Library at Windsor : 
 and from all ranks of society the book has met with gratify- 
 ing evidence of sympathy. I have also to thank the press, 
 both London and country, for many kind notices and appre- 
 ciative criticisms ; and if some of my reviewers' suggestions 
 have not been adopted, it is not for want of careful con- 
 sideration. Some, in themselves valuable, would have 
 required an extension of the scale of my book, for which my 
 time is, alas ! utterly insufficient. To exhaustiveness it 
 makes no pretensions. Its sole claim is as a faithful record 
 of the homely Devonshire speech, and that as such it has 
 been accepted by Devonians all the world over, cannot but 
 fill a Devonshire woman with some pardonable pride. If it 
 
 8699G5
 
 vi PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 leads those who have left their native county in search of 
 success elsewhere, to think again of the home of their child- 
 hood, and to recall its racy accents to their ears, the leisure 
 of many years will not have been spent in vain. 
 
 Sarah Hewett. 
 Tiverton. 
 
 October, 1892.
 
 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 
 
 I have spent a quarter of a century in collecting the words 
 and sentences of which this work is composed. No attempt 
 is made to claim the prerogative of using them in Devon 
 alone, for it is certain that the people of East Cornwall and 
 West Somerset speak the same ' heathenish jargon '; but 
 having moved about amongst the people in every corner of 
 'dear old Devon,' I record that which I have heard without 
 desire to claim originality or exclusiveness. 
 
 There are many books written in the dialect in a more 
 popular form, yet I venture to hope that this will find 
 readers among Devonshire men and women throughout the 
 world, and those who are interested in the study of dialect 
 as a science. 
 
 The speech of the peasantry of Devon and the adjacent 
 counties is undoubtedly the purest remains of the Anglo- 
 Saxon tongue extant in England at the present time. Many 
 words are almost as pure as when spoken by our Saxon 
 ancestors. Compare for example : 
 
 DEVONIAN. 
 
 
 ANGLO-SAXON, 
 
 Dring 
 Bide 
 
 with 
 
 thringan 
 bidan 
 
 Wap 
 Athurt 
 
 11 
 11 
 
 waepan 
 thweorh 
 
 Cussen 
 
 11 
 
 cursen, etc.
 
 viii PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 
 
 Changes have been introduced and modifications wrought, 
 but in the dialect of the people inhabiting the villages im- 
 pinging on Haldon, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Gibbetmoor, and 
 Blackdown is identified the Anglo-Saxon of the ninth 
 century. 
 
 In some parishes family surnames retain their original 
 spelling. The Cruwys of Cruwys Morchard are proud to 
 add their name to the list. ' Cruwys, Coplestone, and 
 Crocker were found at home when the Conqueror came.' 
 
 For high buoyant spirits and dare-devil recklessness, no 
 county can produce a race to surpass, or even equal, the 
 youth of both sexes in Devon. Nor is this elasticity of 
 temperament confined to the peasant population. High 
 and low, rich and poor, all are brimful of fun, and bubble 
 over with laughter-provoking jokes. In most of the men, 
 and not a few of the women, this may arise from the effects 
 of the genial climate and the out-of-door life led by them 
 in the pursuit of ' sport ' across their breezy moors and 
 heathery wilds. Travel from the Blackdown Hills on the 
 east, to Barum town on the west, a-foot, a-horse, or on 
 wheels, meet man, woman, or child, a smile and a warm 
 clasp of the hand will be given to you, and ' Gude marning, 
 zir ! fine marning 's marning !' will greet you as you pass on. 
 
 If it be warm, and you a pedestrian, some hospitable 
 farmer will accost you with : ' 'Tez mortel 'ot tii-day, zir ; 
 wantee plaize tii come inside an' 'a' a drap ov zyder ? Ours 
 be a prime zort, I zuree !' 
 
 Devonians are very keen in their superstitions; they 
 believe in ' whitwitches,' ' charms,' and ' magic' Persons 
 of good position, and presumably of education, are ready 
 to engage the services of the white witch (vide Tiverton 
 Gazette, January 6th, 1891).
 
 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. ix 
 
 In years gone by, not unfrequently has Caulks, of Exeter, 
 been waited upon by people from distant towns and villages 
 wishing to obtain advice as to how their ' awverliiked ' cattle, 
 children, friends, or wife, may be cured. Many country 
 lads and lasses have consulted Caulks as to their future 
 wife and husband, and to know ' Whot's agwaine tii 'appen 
 tii 'm bimbye.' Many a bright sovereign has been added 
 to Caulks' store on Exeter market-days by the charming 
 way in which he ' Cast the Future,' ' Ruled the Planets,' 
 and ' Put the Cards ' for the fair maids of Kirton, Woolsery, 
 and Ban'ton. He sold charms to release ' all ' and ' every- 
 thing' from the mischievous effects of the ' Evil Eye.' Did 
 a ghost appear, a cow withhold her milk, a pig have staggers, 
 a sheep become maze-headed, a child fall down in a fit, a 
 bird nutter against the window, the chimney smoke, the 
 dog howl, and a thousand and one other disagreeable 
 things happen, then old Caulks was consulted and prayed 
 to cure them, which for a cotisideration he would obligingly 
 do. To effect a cure he would teach a prayer (N.B., repeat 
 the Lord's Prayer backwards) to be said over the head of 
 the afflicted • give a charm to tie round the neck of the 
 victim, or to be nailed against the wall, or placed in the 
 chimney ; or would, for an extra fee and a few days' free 
 board and lodgings, obligingly put himself to the incon- 
 venience of going into the country to personally superintend 
 the cure. 
 
 The charms were to be sewn up singly in a linen or silk 
 bag one inch square^ and worn about the person or attached 
 in some convenient way to the animal or place ' awverliiked." 
 The charm itself consisted of either : 
 
 The forefoot of a toad. 
 The head of a snake.
 
 x PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 
 
 The liver of a frog. 
 
 The tongue of a viper. 
 
 The front tooth of a dead child. 
 
 Or a piece of rag saturated with dragon's blood. 
 
 Pixies, too, hold a high place in the imaginations of 
 Devonians. The villagers around Haldon and Dartmoor 
 assert that these little people have their homes among the 
 tors, and keep their houses spotlessly clean ; that they 
 enjoy mad gallops at night on colts, making stirrups in their 
 manes and weaving them so tightly that it is impossible for 
 mortal man to comb them out. If a horse be seen going 
 at a madder pace than usual, the farmer who owns it will 
 say, ' Bagger they pixies, if they bant at they colts again ! 
 Zee 'ow they be a-tearing acrass tha moor !' 
 
 Again, these pixies are supposed to make raids on the 
 dairies and larders, coming and going through the keyholes. 
 They hold their revelries at midnight, and should they 
 encounter a belated traveller they at once trot him round 
 and round a dreary waste until there is no more ' sproil ' 
 left in him. A wise traveller always provides against these 
 machinations by wearing at least one garment wrong side 
 out. Should this precaution be omitted at the outset, it 
 is advisable to turn a garment immediately on becoming 
 fogged. I have known persons wear one stocking inside 
 out when on a journey to prevent being pixy-led, or at least 
 for 'good-luck.' 
 
 Educated people who have lived only in cultured, refined 
 homes can never understand the music of the 'Peasant 
 Speech of Devon,' unless they have been reared in the 
 county. A knowledge of the tone is as important as of 
 the words themselves. The inimitable pathos of such 
 sentences as : 'Aw, my dear sawl !' 'Aw, my eymers, whot
 
 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. xi 
 
 'avee a diied now ?' ' dude Lord, whot a cautch thee 'st a 
 made now !' must be heard to be thoroughly appreciated. 
 
 Gentlemen of the old-school type make it a practice to 
 speak the native dialect when they meet at convivial re- 
 unions. Officers have been known to give the word of 
 command, when they wanted particularly to impress their 
 orders, in the same sweet tongue. A North Devon Colonel 
 of Militia on seeing a hare jump up in the midst of a 
 regiment he was reviewing, exclaimed : ' There 'e go'th, 
 bwoys ! a lashing gert shaver !' On another occasion when 
 he ought to have ordered a retreat, he shouted : ' Charge, 
 bwoys, charge ! us bant voxes and they bant 'ounds, us '11 
 veace um like meyn !' Think of the confusion which 
 resulted ! 
 
 The so-called ' higher education of the working classes ' 
 is swiftly and surely banishing the Saxon element from our 
 midst. Whether the new mis-pronounced ' words ' are an 
 improvement on the old must await the verdict of the 
 future. Here are a few examples of modern words : 
 
 Assiniate instead of assassinate. 
 Reno7'/ate ,, renovate. 
 
 Depraw'/)/ ,, deprivation. 
 
 Presbeterian ,, perspiration. 
 
 The Wilderness School, Tiverton. 
 May, 1892.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 B. Remarks on Pronunciation and Construc- 
 
 tion .... 
 
 C. Anecdotes, etc. 
 
 D. Superstitions and Customs 
 
 E. Old-Fashioned Rectors and thei 
 
 F. Songs and Children's Play-Dit'i 
 
 G. Prayers 
 
 H. Local Phraseology . 
 
 /. Glossary 
 
 . 
 
 i 
 
 . 
 
 14 
 
 . 
 
 26 
 
 lir Doings 
 
 32 
 
 n es 
 
 36 
 
 • 
 
 42 
 
 • 
 
 45 
 
 . , 
 
 • 157
 
 PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 B. REMARKS ON PRONUNCIATION AND 
 CONSTR UCTION 
 
 A FEW HINTS ON PRONUNCIATION. 
 
 In most words ' oo ' takes the sound of the modified 
 German 'u.' 
 
 boot, pronounced biite. 
 foot, , , fiite. 
 
 cook, ,, ciike. 
 
 to „ tii, etc. 
 
 But when 'oo' is followed by 'r,' the second ' o ' is 
 changed into 'a,' as : 
 
 door, pronounced doar. 
 poor, „ poar. 
 
 moor, ,, moar. 
 
 floor, ,, floar, etc. 
 
 ' Eau ' takes the sound of the modified German ' ii ' in 
 
 beauty, pronounced biity. 
 beautiful, „ biitivul. 
 
 As also does the ' iew ' in view, as : 
 
 view, pronounced vii. 
 
 This sound of u is a remnant of Old Anglo-Saxon.
 
 2 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Much stress is laid on ' ii ' in all words, sometimes appear- 
 ing as almost a double sound, and rhymes with ' ew ' in 
 dew, as : 
 
 pure, pronounced pewer. 
 sure, „ shewer. 
 
 future, ,, fewture. 
 
 ' Fe ' and ' a ' take ' y ' to prolong and emphasize them, as : 
 
 fever, pronounced feyver. 
 feeble, ,, feybul. 
 
 eat, „ ayte. 
 
 meat, „ mayte. 
 
 ' F ' is frequently changed into ' v,' as : 
 
 father, pronounced vather. 
 faith, ,, vath. 
 
 fester, ,, viister. 
 
 ' V ' again is changed into ' f,' as : 
 
 very, pronounced fery. 
 view, ,, fii. 
 
 A coachman driving over Haldon once remarked to me : 
 ' Yer 'pin 'tap ov Aldon, mum ; yu get'th a fery fine fii o' tha 
 country right away awver Dartymoar an' tha zay.' 
 
 ' A ' takes a very long sound, as : 
 
 skat, pronounced skaat. 
 clat, „ claat. 
 
 fat, „ faat. 
 
 want, „ waant. 
 
 ' H ' before ' e ' is sometimes changed into ' y,' as : 
 
 heat, pronounced yett. 
 heath, ,, yeth. 
 
 Before ' sh,' 'a ' and 'e ' become 'ai,' as : 
 
 flesh, pronounced vlaish. 
 fresh, „ fraish. 
 
 mesh, „ maish. 
 
 S ' is pronounced as ' z,' as : 
 
 said, pronounced zed. 
 
 seems, ,, • zims. 
 see, „ zee.
 
 REMARKS ON PRONUNCIATION, CONSTRUCTION. 
 
 ' ee ' is joined to verbs, as in 
 
 
 hop, 
 
 laugh, 
 
 tell, 
 
 
 hoppee. 
 laughee. 
 tellee. 
 
 sit, 
 
 
 zittee. 
 
 ' ed ' is used to form the 
 
 past 
 
 tense : 
 
 gone, 
 do, 
 
 
 goed. 
 diied. 
 
 came, 
 
 
 corned. 
 
 die. 
 
 
 divered. 
 
 drowned, 
 
 
 drownded. 
 
 hurt, 
 
 
 hurted. 
 
 lost, 
 
 
 lewsed, or loozed 
 
 bought, 
 
 
 buyed. 
 
 ' The ' is changed into ' tha,' or ' th'.' ' Th ' is also added 
 to the present tense, as : 
 
 go'th. 
 
 go, 
 do, 
 grow, 
 
 dii'th. 
 graw'th, etc. 
 
 THE VERB 'TO BE.' 
 
 INDICATIVE. 
 
 Sing. 
 I be, or I'm. 
 Thee 'rt. 
 'E, or 'er's. 
 
 I wuz. 
 
 Thee 'st. 
 'E or 'er wuz 
 
 Present. 
 
 Plural. 
 
 Us be. 
 
 Yii be, yii'm. 
 
 They be, they'm. 
 
 Imperfect. 
 
 Us wuz. 
 Yii wuz. 
 They wuz. 
 
 Future. 
 
 I be agwaine vur to be. Us chell go vur to be. 
 Thee wi 't ago vur to be. Yii wull go vur to be. 
 
 They'll go vur to be. 
 i — 2 
 
 ' E or 'er will ago vur to be
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Perfect. 
 
 I've abin. Us 'ave abin. 
 
 Thee 'st abin. Yii 'ave abin. 
 
 'E or 'er 'th abin. They 'ave abin. 
 
 Pluperfect. 
 
 I 'ad abin. Us 'ad abin. 
 
 Thee 'st abin. Yii 'ad abin. 
 
 'E'd abin. They 'ad abin. 
 
 'Er 'th abin. 
 
 Future Perfect ! ! ! 
 
 I chell 'ave abin 'an gone vur tii dii 't. 
 
 Thee shet 'ave abin an' gone vur tii dii 't. 
 
 'E will 'ave abin an' gone vur tii dii 't. 
 
 Us chell 'ave abin an' gone vur tii dii 't. 
 
 Yii chell 'ave abin an' gone vur tii dii 't. 
 
 They will 'ave abin an' gone vur tii dii 't. 
 
 SUBJUNCTIVE. 
 
 Present {very irregular /). 
 
 Ef zo be as I be. 
 
 Ef zo be as yii be there, wullee tell'n ? 
 
 Spose 'er be day'd, whot then ? 
 
 S'pose us be. 
 
 S'pose yii be. 
 
 S'pose they'm. 
 
 Imperfect (very). 
 
 I mid, or mit be. Us mid, or mit be. 
 
 Thee midst, or mit be. Yii mid be. 
 'E or 'er mid, or mit be. They mid be. 
 
 Perfect and Pluperfect (same). 
 
 I mid 'ave abin. Us mid 'ave abin. 
 
 Thee midst 'ave abin. Yii mid 'ave abin. 
 
 'E or 'er mid 'ave abin. They mid 'ave abin. 
 
 Imperative (mixed). 
 
 Yii let 'er be. Let 's 'lone. 
 
 Letten 'lone. Diiee be. 
 
 Layve un bide. Layve'm be. 
 
 Letten bide. Bide there. 
 
 Lettum bide ! wi't ?
 
 REMARKS ON PRONUNCIATION, CONSTRUCTION. 5 
 
 Infinitive. 
 
 Pres. Vur tii be. 
 
 Past. Tii 'ave abin. 
 
 Future. Tii be agwaine vur tii be. 
 
 Gerund. Bound vur tii be. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS FORMS — NEGATIVES, INTER- 
 ROGATIVES, ETC. 
 
 These miscellaneous forms have been inserted higgledy- 
 piggledy from the impossibility of classification. 
 
 Bel? 
 
 
 Be us? 
 
 Who be yii ? 
 
 Art thee ? 
 
 
 Be yii ? 
 
 Who wuz 'er ? 
 
 Is 'er ? 
 
 
 Be they ? 
 
 Who'rt thee ? 
 
 Midden 'er i 
 
 > 
 
 Ciidden 'er ? Shudden 'er ? 
 
 Noa I bant. 
 
 
 Noa thee shetten. 'E or 'er shas'n. 
 
 Us bant. 
 
 
 Yii bant. 
 
 They bant. 
 
 I wunt. 
 
 
 Us wunt. 
 
 Yii wunt. 
 
 Thee'd best 
 
 ways 
 
 not. 
 
 They wunt. 
 
 'E or 'er shudden 
 
 
 G'wan ! 
 
 Whot's 'e atelling 
 
 about ? 
 
 Whot's 'er adiiing ov ? 
 
 What be'm 
 
 'bout : 
 
 ? 
 
 Where's 'n tii ? 
 
 
 Auxiliary Verbs. 
 
 Present. 
 
 Past. 
 
 Past Participle. 
 
 Do 
 
 dii 
 
 adiied 
 
 adinned. 
 
 Am = 
 
 'm 
 
 wuz 
 
 bin. 
 
 Have = 
 
 'a' 
 
 'ad 
 
 'ad. 
 
 Shall = 
 
 chell 
 
 , 
 
 
 May = 
 
 mid 
 
 or mit. 
 
 
 
 Interrogative Form. 
 
 Diiee ? 
 
 
 Be-ee ? 
 
 Bantee ? 
 
 Avee? 
 
 
 Chellee ? 
 
 Midden ? 
 
 Willee ? 
 
 
 Widden ? 
 
 Wunt ? 
 
 Negative Form. 
 Dawntee. Shant, shetten, or shessent. 
 
 Interrogations. 
 
 This mode of double questioning is very common 
 throughout the county.
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 'Ave ? Ant 'er ? 
 Ciide ? Ciidden 'er ? 
 Did ? Didden 'er ? 
 'Gwaine ? Idden 'er ? 
 Is ? Idden 'er ? 
 Out? Idden 'er? 
 Mid ? Midden 'er ?' 
 Must ? Mussen 'er ? 
 Tidden ? Is it ? 
 
 Be ? Bant 'er ? 
 Can ? Cant' 'er ? 
 Got'n? Ant'er? 
 'Ad'n ? Didden 'er ? 
 In ? Idden 'er ? 
 Will? Wunt'er? 
 Wid ? Widden 'er ? 
 Twidden ? Wid it ? 
 
 Her is used irrespective of sex. Even a tom-cat is her ; 
 indeed, in speaking of persons, animals, and things, her is 
 the generally used pronoun. 
 
 Yes is pronounced iss or ess, giving the 'e' a very long 
 sound, as in heed. 
 
 Irregular Verbs (very !). 
 
 Present. 
 
 Past. 
 
 Participle. 
 
 Take 
 
 tooked 
 
 tooked. 
 
 Wear 
 
 weared 
 
 weared. 
 
 Draw 
 
 dra.de 
 
 drade. 
 
 Fall 
 
 vailed 
 
 vailed. 
 
 Bleed 
 
 blooded 
 
 blooded. 
 
 Freeze 
 
 vreezed 
 
 vreezed. 
 
 Forgot 
 
 vurgot 
 
 vurgot. 
 
 See 
 
 zeed 
 
 zeed. 
 
 Begin 
 
 beginned 
 
 beginned. 
 
 Stick 
 
 sticked 
 
 sticked. 
 
 Swim 
 
 swimmed 
 
 swimmed. 
 
 Blow 
 
 blawed 
 
 blawed. 
 
 Run 
 
 urned or rinned 
 
 urned or rinned, 
 
 Come 
 
 corned 
 
 corned. 
 
 
 Contracted Verbs. 
 
 Burst 
 
 busted 
 
 busted. 
 
 Hit 
 
 hat 
 
 hat. 
 
 Hurt 
 
 hurted 
 
 hurted. 
 
 Shut 
 
 shet 
 
 shet. 
 
 Auxiliary Verbs. 
 Dii, be, 'ave, chell, will, mid, ciide, let, must.
 
 REMARKS ON PRONUNCIATION, CONSTRUCTION. 7 
 
 Adverbs. 
 
 Avore, arter, ziine, bimeby, tii-wance, wance, bit-ago, yer, 
 ) an, vur, forrads, backsivore, ezackally, 'ess, no-tino-by. 
 
 Interjections. 
 
 Aw ! G'wan ! Harkee ! Listenee ! Liikee ! Aw my ! 
 My Eyemers ! Loramassy ! Crimminy ! Cry ! Oh crickoo ! 
 Ullaw ! Jimminy ! Wurrah ! 
 
 Indefinite Pronouns. 
 
 Awl, inny, boath, zartin, vew, minny, mutch, noan, wan, 
 uther, a-nuther, wan-nth er, aitch-uther, ziveral, zom, zitch. 
 
 Demonstrative Pronouns. 
 
 Sing. Phi?: 
 
 Thease-wan. Theys yer. 
 
 Thick-wan there. Thickee-there. 
 Or, 
 
 Thease. Thews. 
 
 Thickee. Theys. 
 
 Distributive Pronouns. 
 Aitch, ivery, uther, nuther. 
 
 Interrogative Pronouns. 
 Whii, whiise, whiim, witchee, whot (or 'ot). 
 
 Numerals. 
 Wan, tii, dree, vowr, vive, zix, zebben, aite, nine, tayne, 
 lebben, twalve, score, 'underd. 
 
 Personal Pronouns. 
 Nom. 3rd sing. : Her. Norn, istfihtr.: Us. 
 
 Adjectives. 
 
 Positive. Comparative. Stifie?'lative. 
 
 Bad I wuss wust 
 
 ( wusser wustest. 
 
 Far (var) varder vardest. 
 
 Good (giide) glider giidest. 
 
 Little littler littlest. 
 
 What is pronounced whot in Devon generally. In the 
 extreme north and north-west it becomes ' 'ot.' I have
 
 8 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 omitted this form, that it might not be confounded with 
 ' 'ot,' signifying ' hot? 
 
 The substitute for ' you ' and ' he ' is often "e ' ; as : 
 
 Ef 'e (you) zit'th 'pon therns, they'll urn intii 'e (you). 
 
 I tells 'e what tez, I want du't, than. 
 
 I zed 'e (he) shiidden go ! 
 
 Again, ' 'er ' is used instead of ' he' ; as : 
 
 When did 'er (he) zay 'er'd (he would) come ? 
 
 Where's 'er (he) agone tii ? 
 
 Inelegant Expressions. 
 
 i. I bant agwaine tii be put upon. 
 
 2. There ! ef I wadden hiking out vur yii. 
 
 3. I tellee 'e stiide tii 't yii zed zo. 
 
 4. 'Er 'th a-zot 'erzel agin 'n. 
 
 5. 'E urn 'th intii debt tii iverybody. 
 
 6. Us be corned zame purpose vur tii zee 'e. 
 
 7. Come out therevrom thease minit. 
 
 8. Tha vaece aw'n shin'th like a barn's doar agin tha 
 miine-light. 
 
 9. My Eyemers ! yer's a go ! 
 
 10. My ivers ! liikee zee 'ow 'e urned ! 
 
 11. Ef zo be 'er'll let mer, I'll come bimeby. 
 
 12. I zed 'e wuz tii come tii wance ef 'e wanted ort ov us. 
 
 13. I zay, Dick ! Come in yer an' wet thee wizzul. 
 
 14. Aw 'ess, min ! I zee whot yii be up tii ; yii want 'th 
 me tii git stogged in the bog, dissent ? 
 
 15. Thickee baggering dunky tost she off 'pon tap she's 
 back and made she mud all awver ! 
 
 16. Deth 'er knaw'n ? 'Ess, I zim 'er dii. Aw 'ess, fath, 
 'er knawth 'n za well's a bagger knawth es bag. 
 
 1 7. Aw Loramassy ! ef 'e athen a-broked awl tha cloam 
 'pon tap tha dresser. 
 
 18. Now then liikee zee, an' veel ef that idden right. 
 
 19. I'll warndee I be za 'onest as inny chap thease zide o' 
 Lunnun. 
 
 20. 'Er grinn'th like a Chister cat ! 
 
 21. Aw ! dally buttons ! yer's a-hollerballoo ! 
 
 22. Come, sose, let's awl vail tii. 
 
 23. The hailer is zo bad as tha stailer. (This is almost 
 identical with the German proverb ' Der Hehler ist so gut 
 wie der Stehler.')
 
 REMARKS ON PRONUNCIATION, CONSTRUCTION. 9 
 
 24. I tellee what tez, thee shetten adiied et then. 
 
 25. Diiee bide quiet a bit an' zee ef yii can yer'n 
 ahollering ! 
 
 26. I 'ave adiied a little tii twice. 
 
 27. I vatched 'n a clout in tha hayd, I did. 
 
 28. Twidden be right vur tii dii 't. 
 
 29. Beyiiagwaine? No. Than more bant I. 
 
 30. Thease prop helps holds 'n. 
 
 31. Well, yii be a rigler ole zebben zlaper. 
 
 32. Whot's take notice ov zich a norting gert theng as 'er 
 is vor ? 
 
 ^^. 'Er 's a vigger ov nort, 'er is. 
 
 34. They've a putt poar ol' Bill Hill tii beyd wi' a showl 
 tii-day. 
 
 35. I'll be burned ef I dii. 
 
 36. I'll be blamed ef I dii. 
 
 37. I'll be dalled ef I dii. 
 
 38. Listenee, Sue, an' zee ef yii can yer a rittling in 'er 
 inside, et zim'th tii me 'er's cruel bad. 
 
 39. Yii walk intii 'ouze thease minit. 
 
 40. Ef thee dissent come intii ouze d'rectly minit, I'll tan 
 thee tii tha truth of music. 
 
 41. 'Tez fery on'andsome ov 'e tii try tii chayte wan 
 'tother zo. 
 
 42. Why dithen a dii 't than? 
 
 43. 'Ess, 'tez, missis, a fery purty zmil (smell). 
 
 44. Thickee cheel grawth like ol' fun. 
 
 45. Cantee zettle thease bill all tii wance, then ? Noa, yii 
 must bide a bit, an' mayhap I can payee a little tii twice. 
 
 46. Let's zee ef thee canst veel 'n. 
 
 47. Thee wissent go, I tellee. 
 
 48. I be dry jist achucked. 
 
 49. Thickee colly (blackbird) 'atha ayte a gert worm, a 
 viite long, ivery bit an' crime aw'n. 
 
 50. Putt thee nawze tii thease bottle an' zee ef yii can 
 zmil what's abin in 'n last. 
 
 51. Ullaw, Jeames, 'ow be 'e? Aw, I dunnaw, I bant 
 zackly vittee 'et. 
 
 52. Now dawntee cock yer nawse sa 'igh, Jinny. Dissent 
 knaw that pride wi'out profit es like pudden wi'out fat? 
 
 53. I zay, Bill, ef yii be mind tii be a urch man zome day, 
 take my advice, vur
 
 io THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 1 Airly tii beyd an' airly tii rise, 
 Will make a man 'ealthy, wulthy, an' wise.' 
 
 Dawntee be like old Solomon Wise — 
 
 ' Lof tii go tii beyd, 
 And lof tii rise.' 
 
 Cuz then yiill ziine be 
 
 ' Out tii elbaws, 
 Out tii toes, 
 Out ov money, 
 An' out ov cloase.' 
 
 54. Whot a bitzen little maiden thickee cheel is, 'er's tii 
 small tii car about a babby, idden 'er ? 
 
 55. Hi-i ! Ess-ess ! yii wadden there ! ye didden zee ! 
 yii dunnaw nort 't-al-'bout-et ! 
 
 Comparisons. 
 
 Zo black 's a craw. 
 
 Zo black 's a sweep. 
 
 Zo black 's tha dowl. 
 
 Zo black 's my hat. 
 
 Zo black 's a coal. 
 
 Zo black 's a bag. 
 
 Zo black 's night. 
 
 Zo bare 's the palm ov m' 'and. 
 
 Zo bold 's a badger 
 
 Zo bitter 's gal. 
 
 Zo big 's bulls' beef. 
 
 Zo big 's a 'ouze. 
 
 Zo busy 's a riike (rook). 
 
 Zo busy 's a bee. 
 
 Zo blue 's tha sky. 
 
 Zo blind 's a bat. 
 
 Zo biitivul and zo purty like baynes (beans). 
 
 Zo bold 's brass. 
 
 Zo clayne 's a whistle. 
 
 Zo crooked 's a ram's horn. 
 
 Zo cold 's ice. 
 
 Zo cross 's tii sticks. 
 
 Zo cold 's death. 
 
 Zo cold 's a vrog.
 
 REMARKS ON PRONUNCIATION, CONSTRUCTION, u 
 
 Zo dry 's a stick. 
 
 Zo dark 's a hadge. 
 
 Zo drunk 's a lord. 
 
 Zo dead 's a hammer. 
 
 Zo dead 's a door-nail. 
 
 Zo dead 's ditch-watter. 
 
 Zo dear 's saffern. 
 
 Zo dapper 's a vlay. 
 
 Zo dry 's dust. 
 
 Zo deep 's tha say. 
 
 Zo deave (deaf) 's a post. 
 
 Zo deave 's a haddock in changee weather. 
 
 Zo deep 's Garrick. 
 
 Zo dead 's a stone. 
 
 Zo dry 's a bone. 
 
 Zo fat 's a whale. 
 
 Zo fidgetty 's a maggot. 
 
 Zo vlat-vuted 's a duck. 
 
 Zo fat 's a fiile. 
 
 Zo fine 's Billy Riike's wive. 
 
 Zo firm 's a rock. 
 
 Zo fine 's a fiile. 
 
 Zo gray 's a badger. 
 
 Zo green 's a lick (leek). 
 
 Zo gay 's a lark. 
 
 Zo 'eavy 's lead. 
 
 Zo 'ard 's iron. 
 
 Zo 'ungry 's a 'unter 
 
 Zo 'appy 's a bird. 
 
 Zo 'ot 's toast. 
 
 Zo 'ot 's love. 
 
 Zo 'appy 's a biddy. 
 
 Zo itemy 's a bear wi' a zore 'ead. 
 
 Zo jolly 's a zan' bwoy. 
 
 Zo lame 's a craw (crow). 
 
 Zo light 's day. 
 
 Zo long 's m' leg. 
 
 Zo light's a vether (feather). 
 
 Zo lively 's a cricket. 
 
 Zo limp 's a dish-clout. 
 
 Zo mild 's milk. 
 
 Zo maze 's a sheep.
 
 12 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Zo mad 's a March 'are. 
 
 Zo mad 's a 'atter. 
 
 Zo nayte 's ninepence. 
 
 Zo old 's tha 'ills. 
 
 Zo peart 's can be. 
 
 Zo poar 's a church mouze. 
 
 Zo poar 's a craw. 
 
 Zo proud 's tha dowl. 
 
 Zo proud 's a louze. 
 
 Zo plump 's a pattridge. 
 
 Zo poar 's Job. 
 
 Zo plain 's a pike-staff. 
 
 Zo plim 's a want. 
 
 Zo quiet 's a mouze. 
 
 Zo quick 's lightning. 
 
 Zo rich 's a Jew. 
 
 Zo rough 's a grater. 
 
 Zo risty 's a badger. 
 
 Zo round 's a 'oop. 
 
 Zo rough 's a badger. 
 
 Zo savage 's a bear. 
 
 Zo sick 's a 'ound. 
 
 Zo sure 's a gun. 
 
 Zo stupid 's a owl. 
 
 Zo stiff 's a poker. 
 
 Zo snug 's a bug in a rug. 
 
 Zo sly 's a vox. 
 
 Zo sharp 's a needle. 
 
 Zo strong 's a ox. 
 
 Zo smooth 's glass. 
 
 Zo thick 's mud. 
 
 Zo thick 's forty thieves. 
 
 Zo tired 's a dog 
 
 Zo tatchee 's a old broody 'en. 
 
 Zo tough 's leather. 
 
 Zo thin 's a griddle. 
 
 Zo thick 's stodge. 
 
 Zo thin 's a rake. 
 
 Zo thick 's a stick. 
 
 Z' urd (red) 's blid. 
 
 Zo urd 's a turkey-cock. 
 
 Zo ugly 's the dowl.
 
 REMARKS ON PRONUNCIATION, CONSTRUCTION. 13 
 
 Zo vain 's a peacock. 
 
 Zo wayke 's a winnel. 
 
 Zo wayke 's a rabin. 
 
 Zo wayke 's a cat. 
 
 Zo wet 's dung. 
 
 Zo white 's a 'ound's tiithe. 
 
 Zo white 's a sheet. 
 
 Zo yark 's a maggot. 
 
 Zo yellow 's a kit's viite. 
 
 Zo zound 's a bell. 
 
 Zo zour 's a grab. 
 
 Zo zwete 's a nit (nut). 
 
 Zo zaft 's a want (mole). 
 
 Zo zleapy 's a owl. 
 
 Her rinn'th like a long-dog. 
 
 Her rinn'th like a skitty. 
 
 Her stare'th like a gladdy. 
 
 Her zleap'th like a top. 
 
 It stink'th like a fitch. 
 
 Her tongue 's like a mill-clapper. 
 
 Her 's wan-zided, like a peg wi' wan yer (ear). 
 
 The faece aw 'n is like a Death's 'ead 'pon a mop-stick. 
 
 He smawk'th like a furnace. 
 
 Her 'opp'th like a cat 'pon 'ot bricks. 
 
 Months of the Year. 
 
 
 Jan-e-raree. 
 Feb-e-raree. 
 March. 
 Ap-prul. 
 
 May. 
 June. 
 
 July. 
 Augist. 
 
 Septemmer. 
 October. 
 November. 
 Dayzember. 
 
 The Seasons. 
 
 
 Cursemas. 
 Lady-day-day. 
 
 Midzummer. 
 Maykilmus , 
 
 Days 
 
 of the Week. 
 
 
 Munday. 
 Tewsday. 
 
 Wensday. 
 Thezday. 
 Zinday. 
 
 Vriday. 
 Satterday.
 
 C. ANECDOTES, ETC. 
 
 NURSE GARNSWORTHY'S VISIT TO LONDON. 
 
 Nurse Garnsworthy travelled from a West-country town 
 to London, to be a consolation to her daughter during a 
 critical illness. This daughter lived in a narrow street in 
 the crowded East-end. The morning after Garnsworthy's 
 arrival the following incidents occurred : 
 
 Getting up early, as is the custom with Devon folk, she 
 began to ''right up the place] for ' Lunnon is a drefful 
 smeechy twoad ov a hole] and she found ' the ouze was in a 
 turrabul jakes dt.' In primitive days it was usual for women 
 to work in their petticoats, with bare neck and arms, cover- 
 ing the shoulders with a small square shawl. The day 
 gown was hung on a peg behind the door, and only assumed 
 when all the work was over. Garnsworthy was so attired 
 when she commenced her day's work, and she was no better 
 clothed when she had completed it. 
 
 She found the cupboards minus the necessary materials 
 for rubbing, scrubbing, and washing ; hence she took money 
 in hand, and sallied forth, heedless of appearances, to make 
 sundry purchases. In her haste she took turning after turn- 
 ing till she came upon a grocery store, where she filled her 
 arms with small packages, and began to retrace her steps. 
 Alas, poor countrywoman ! she tramped on, and on, and 
 on, and on, hoping every new turning would land her safely 
 at her daughter's house. 
 
 Then she appealed to a policeman, but he could not tell 
 her where Mrs. Pearse lived. ' Didn't she know the name 
 of the street ?' 
 
 ' No, I tellee, I dawn't knaw her draxions a bit.'
 
 ANECDOTES, ETC. 15 
 
 ' But surely you know where the cab took you and your 
 box?' 
 
 ' I tellee I dawnt, then ! I corned up yisterday from 
 Debbenshire, and got tii Paddin'ton Station 'bout aite 
 o'clock ; and as I can't vind out yer where Polly Pearse 
 liv'th, I jist go 'ome again, vur I got tha draxions 'ome tii 
 Kirton, tap a piece ov papper in tha taypot, on the dresser 
 shelve.' 
 
 Forthwith she started in a cab to Paddington, whence she 
 took a return ticket, went down to her home in the far 
 West, found the ' draxions,' and returned triumphant to her 
 daughter in town. Her Kirton friends were astonished 
 when they saw her in deshabille, and ever after told the tale, 
 with some additions, much to Garnsworthy's disgust. 
 
 GUY FAWKES. 
 
 On November 4th it was at one time customary for village 
 children to canvass the neighbourhood for subscriptions, for 
 materials to make a Guy Fawkes' ' momet ' to burn on the 
 night of the fifth. They paraded the streets, singing : 
 
 ' Wul 'e plaize tii remimber 
 
 Tha veefth ov Novimber, 
 Tha gunpowder trayson an' plot ; 
 
 I dawnt zee no rayson 
 
 Why gunpowder trayson 
 Shiide iver be vurgot.' 
 
 After obtaining sufficient funds they proceeded to make 
 the ' momet,' which they carried through the streets on the 
 evening of the fifth, singing : 
 
 ' Guy Fawkes, Guy ! 
 He and 'is companions did contrive 
 Tii blaw all Englan' up alive, 
 With a dark lantern an* a match, 
 By God's massy 'e wuz catched.' 
 
 Then setting fire to the ' momet ' they danced round and 
 round it, singing : 
 
 ' A tuppeny loave tii veed tha Pope, 
 
 A pound ov cheese tii chuck 'n, 
 
 A pint ov beer tii make 'n drunk, 
 
 An' a vaggot ov vuzz tii burn 'n. 
 
 Wurrah ! wurrah ! wurrah !'
 
 1 6 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 JOEY BOND AND HIS 'PEGS.' 
 
 Standing one Tuesday morning in the garden, I observed 
 Joey Bond driving a herd of young swine through William 
 Street. On reaching Barrington Street chiiggies were puzzled 
 which way they were expected to go. Some trotted to the 
 right, a few to the left, two or three stood still and grunted, 
 while others rushed into the opposite garden. When Joey 
 reached the scene he was perplexed — it seemed so impos- 
 sible to get them together again. Several urchins standing 
 by caught the spirit of the scene, and by adding a few 
 derisive shouts to Joey's 'crooked words,' made the next 
 few minutes a time of indescribable tumult and fun ; boys 
 and pigs becoming inextricably mixed, while Joey mopped 
 his brow, and appealed to all within call to come 'an' 'elp 'n 
 wi' thease baggering pegs.' After ten minutes of wild com- 
 motion, the erratic chiiggies were reduced to order, and 
 Joey about to start in a happy frame of mind towards 
 Lowman Green, when a frolicsome ' nestletripe ' turned 
 quickly round, dashed between Joey's feet, and sent him 
 flat on his face. Joey picked himself together with a look 
 of being utterly ashamed of his unruly crew, then suddenly 
 dashing hat and stick at the flying frisky porker, exclaimed : 
 'There, yii umman-tempered twoad ! yii can go tii the dowl 
 vur ort I cares ;' then turned away, and left the truant to his 
 own devices. 
 
 MRS. MARY CHUBB AND HER PONY. 
 
 After the blizzard in March, 1891, Mary Chubb, of 
 Gibbetmoor, told me, with tears in her eyes, how she found 
 her pony in a snow-drift. 
 
 ' He was all zawking wet and purty nigh steeved tii death 
 wi' tha cold, zo I rubbed the poor craycher's vace wi' my 
 appern, an' gied 'n a drap ov brandy, an' he luked up in my 
 vace za pittice-like an' bivered tii mowth like a Curschan ' 
 (Christian). 
 
 JIM SNOOKS AS OLIVER CROMWELL. 
 
 On May 29th, 183 — , at Tiverton, Jim Snooks, young, 
 fleet of foot, strong and agile, was chosen to represent Oliver
 
 ANECDOTES, ETC. 
 
 Cromwell. A thick coating of greased lampblack over- 
 spread his face, neck and hands. From his shoulders de- 
 pended a very tattered cloak, around his waist hung a big 
 bag of soot, and trailing yards behind was a long tail made 
 of hempen rope. Crowds of youngsters awaited Jim's exit 
 from the old Bampton Inn at Town's End. All at once 
 there arose a deafening shout of ' There 'e is, bwoys ! there 
 go'th Oliver Cromwell ! Urn, urn, bwoys, urn !' for Jim had 
 started like a hare down the street, with a mad, uproarious 
 crew at his heels. The fun raged fast and furious, till 'there 
 wadden a whit bwoy among urn, vur Oliver 'ad a-catched 
 most on um,' and blackened them beyond recognition. To 
 his honour it must be added that he ' didden titch any ov 
 tha maidens.' On turning into Fore Street they were met 
 by a procession of a totally different character. Here was 
 ' King Charles ' sitting in an oak-bedecked chair, borne on 
 the shoulders of two stalwart burgesses, followed by a choir 
 of maidens sweetly singing an appropriate ditty. 
 
 MAGICAL EFFECTS OF A SOVEREIGN. 
 
 Scene : Board-room at country workhouse. Noble lord 
 in the chair. Enter poor labourer, recently become a 
 widower, who approaches noble lord, and pulls his forelock 
 humbly. 
 
 Noble Lord. ' Good-morning, my good man. I hear 
 you have recently had the misfortune to lose your wife.' 
 
 Man. ' 'Ess, mi lord, an' a vury bad job tez, tii, vur me.' 
 
 N. L. ' How many children have you ?' 
 
 M. 'Zebben, mi lord.' 
 
 N. L. ' Dear me ! dear me ! it is indeed a very sad case. 
 I deeply sympathize with you, and I am sure the guardians 
 will do all they can to assist you.' 
 
 M. ' Thankee-zhure, mi lord, tez a vury bad job, vur 
 tha poar dear craycher did aim zummat a week tii chiiring. 
 I dawn't knaw whotiver will become of the chillern, an' I be 
 put tii a pass tii knaw 'ow tii bury she.' 
 
 N. L. 'The guardians have decided to give you a little 
 help.' 
 
 M. ' Thankee, mi lord. Tez turrabul lonely an' dismal 
 wi'out Liza.'
 
 18 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Hereupon he again gives his forelock a vigorous pull, and 
 is about to retire, when his lordship says : 
 
 ' Here, my good man, is a sovereign for you, and I hope 
 you will try to bear your sorrow manfully.' 
 
 Man (steps briskly back, takes the sovereign, and with a 
 broad grin on his face exclaims :) ' Thankee-zhure, mi 
 lord, my oP dummon's ago, an' God A'mighty's vury wel- 
 come tii 'er, vur her tvnz a cranky-tempered old twoad, I can 
 tellee !' 
 
 FARMER TATCHELL'S INITIALS. 
 
 A pressman one day called at a farmhouse and asked to 
 see Mr. Tatchell. The wife said 'maister wadden 'ome; he 
 was a-go tii market.' 
 
 ' Never mind,' replied the pressman, 'if you will give me 
 his initials, I will not trouble you farther.' 
 
 The ' missis,' with a troubled look, said : ' Diiee plaize tii 
 come intti 'ouze, an' zit down while I luk'th vor um.' 
 
 Pressman scenting refreshments complied, and was re- 
 galed with ' a crub ov burd an' cheese an' a mug of zider,' 
 while Mrs. Tatchell went in search of the initials. After an 
 interval of a few minutes she returned with a look of deep 
 dejection, and said : 
 
 ' I be turrabul zorry, zur ; I've a-liiked every place an' 
 can't vind um. I've a-turned out maister's box, an' hiked 
 inside awl 'es pockets, but they bant there. I warndee 'e 
 'th acard um tii town, an' I shiidden winder ef they bant in 
 'es gert-coat pocket !' 
 
 A CONVERSATION OVERHEARD IN A BOOT- 
 SHOP IN A NORTH DEVON TOWN. 
 
 Mrs. Docker. ' Good-morning, Mrs. Bell. What can I 
 show you to-day ?' 
 
 Mrs. Bell. 'My veet be za bad, diiee zee if yii've a-got 
 ort'll dii vur me.' 
 
 D. ' Yes, these boots are strong.' 
 
 B. ' Well, 'ess, theys'll dii jist thoft they wuz a-made vur 
 me.' 
 
 D. ' Will you carry them ?' 
 
 B. ' 'Ess, plaize. I be out's ciike now, an' I likes it ; they 
 be zich giide livyers.'
 
 ANECDOTES, ETC. 19 
 
 D. ' I hope you will try to keep your situation. 
 
 B. ' Why, I be voced tii stop, cuz my ol' feller ant got 
 nort but whot I sars. I tell'n he shiide ax vur parish pay, 
 but 'e wunt ! He's a o' viile ; 'e's aveared they'll make 'es 
 darter pay tun. I tells 'n they can't make maidens main- 
 tain vathers, yii knaw. No, fath ! Tez lucky vur 'e I can 
 dii ort, idden et ?' 
 
 SATAN. 
 
 A north Devon countryman entering a draper's shop, 
 
 said: 
 
 ' Plaize, zur, I've a-vurgot whot missis zend me vur, but tez 
 whot they cals tha devil bezides the devil.' 
 
 Country Shopkeeper (a little deaf). ' How dare you, sir, 
 allude to me and my goods as having anything to do with 
 Satan ?' 
 
 'Aw 'ess, zur, that's it, that's it! Sattan ! A yard-an- 
 dree-quarters ov black sattan, at dree-an-sixpence a yard, an' 
 missis zeth yii must cut et 'pon tha crass.' 
 
 AN INQUEST. 
 
 The people speak of an inquest as a 'crowner's quest,' a 
 coroner being called a ' crowner.' 
 
 ' They've a'crowned Joey Tapp, who hanged 'iszell yister- 
 day ;' or, ' They've a-zot upon thicker poar blid that was 
 a-drownded.' 
 
 AN INN SIGN. 
 
 Yer is cider tii cheer 
 And fery giide beer, 
 And ef yii wanth mayte 
 To make up a trayte 
 There be rabbits tii ayte. 
 
 A boy on a racecourse said : ' Ef thickee there gray 'os 
 'ad abin dree or vowr yards varder vore, he'd a-winned !' 
 
 A magistrate reproving a man for being drunk and dis- 
 orderly told him he got so by taking his liquor the wrong 
 way ; for said he : 
 
 ' Cyder 'pon beer is very good cheer, 
 But beer 'pon cyder is a bad rider !
 
 20 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 ' Remember this : 
 
 ' When the cyder's in the can, 
 The sense is in the man ! 
 When the cyder's in the man, 
 The sense is in the can !' 
 
 A BILL SENT TO SQUIRE B. BY THE VILLAGE 
 
 SHOEMAKER. 
 
 Squire B- 
 
 To George G 
 
 Clogged up miss 
 
 Mended up miss 
 
 Tapt maister 
 
 Heel-tapt and bound up madam 
 
 Turned, clogged, and mended the maid 
 
 Heel-tapt maister 
 
 Lined, bound, and put a piece 'pon madam 
 
 Stitched up Miss Kitty 
 
 Sauling the maid 
 
 Tapping madam til twice ... 
 
 Putting a piece 'pon maister 
 
 There is still room for increased educational eCort in 
 rural parishes, as the following extracts from a village 
 carpenter's bill for work done on a neighbouring farm may 
 serve to indicate : 
 
 
 s. a. 
 
 o 10 
 
 
 O 2 
 
 
 o 8 
 
 
 on 
 
 
 I o 
 
 
 o 8 
 
 
 4 3 
 
 
 o 3 
 o 8 
 
 
 o 8 
 
 
 O 2 
 
 10 3 
 
 la 
 
 [ effort 
 
 bording up stol ; finding alam bars making a dor 
 
 reperring dors 
 
 tan pounds of nils 
 
 making frince fram 
 
 reperring sider hous 
 
 making furinicer cuver 
 
 making wheel baro 
 
 reperring close hors and char 
 
 s. 
 
 i3 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 lO 
 
 O 
 
 d. 
 
 o 
 o 
 6 
 6 
 6 
 6 
 o 
 6 
 
 For the benefit of the uninitiated it may be mentioned
 
 ANECDOTES, ETC. 21 
 
 that by ' stol ' is meant stall ; 'alam,' elm ; and ' frince ' and 
 ' furinicer ' both stand for furnace. The other eccentrici- 
 ties of orthography explain themselves. From a phonetic 
 point of view there is something to be said for ' baro,' ' dor,' 
 ' fram,' ' sider,' ' cuver,' ' hors,' and ' char ;' but they cannot 
 be recommended for general use until the recognised 
 authorities on English spelling revise their standards. — 
 Tiverton Gazette, August, 1891. 
 
 AN INVITATION TO SPEND SUNDAY IN THE 
 
 COUNTRY. 
 
 ' Guzemoor Barton, 
 
 ' Thongsleigh Bottom, 
 'Nr. Holsery, R.S.O., 
 
 ' April St/i, 1888. 
 
 ' Deer Bill, 
 
 ' i now zits down and takes up my pen tii rite yii 
 thease vew lines, oping it wil fine yii quit wel, as et layves 
 me at preysint, thank God vor et. 
 
 ' Us've a-killd a peg, 'ers aiteen scor, an' us wants yii an' 
 Sara tii com out next Zindy an' 'ave a bit an' a drap wi' us. 
 Tez a fery long time agone yii com'd awver yer, an us dii 
 zim yii mid com an' 'ave zom diner. Ef yii 'ave a-got zoin 
 airly tatties that be a prim zort bring um along wi 'e an' i 
 can changee 'cuz i've a-got zom biities ov Abrim i can letee 
 'ave insteyd. Zo no mor vrom your's trewly 
 
 ' Naboth Baker : 'e's X. 
 
 ' Pleze tii hexciise papper tez awl us goten 'ouze.' 
 
 THE INVITATION ACCEPTED. 
 
 On Sunday morning on arriving at Guzemoor, Mrs. 
 Hodge and her husband were hospitably entertained by 
 Mr. and Mrs. Naboth Baker. 
 
 Mrs. Baker. ' Aw, my dear life, yii be com'd tii last ! I 
 be zo glad tii zee 'e. Us ! ad a-gived 'e up ; thort yii wadden 
 a-coming at aw ! Where's Bill gone tii ?' 
 
 Mrs. Hodge. ' Aw, 'e's a-coming ; 'e's behind telling tii 
 Mr. Baker.' 
 
 Mrs. B. ' Niver min' 'e ; com' along upen chimmer, and 
 take off yer bunnit.' 
 
 Mr. Baker to Mr. Hodge. ' Ullaw, Bill ! howst a-gitting
 
 22 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 on? Com' in 'ouze, diiee. Yer, yer ! 'ang up yer 'at, an' 
 bring a cheer awver 'side tha vire. I zim 'tez cowld nuff 
 for snaw !' 
 
 Mr. Hodge. ' In tha zin 'tez turrabul 'ot, but tha wind 
 blaw'th cowld in tha shade an' roun' tha cornders, tho' 'tez 
 fery fine vur tha time o' yer. Purty gude sayzon.' 
 
 Mr. B., calling upstairs, says : ' Now then, missis, bantee 
 coming down tii take up tha dinner ? Tha crock is purty 
 near bowled dry.' 
 
 Mrs. B. ' Aw 'ess, I be coming ; duee 'ave pashins vur a 
 minit till Mrs. Hodge 'ave a righted herzel up a bit.' 
 
 Mrs. Baker having dished up the dinner, arranges 'tha 
 mayte, pudden, greens, and tatties, pours out tha zider,' 
 when Mr. Baker says : 
 
 ' Now than, sose, zit round. Yii, Bill, zit next tii my 
 missis, and Mrs. Hodge diiee com' up yer aside o' me. I'll 
 take care ov yii, an' Bill, yii liike arter my missis. A 
 chaange 's giide vur boath o' us !' 
 
 Mr. H. ' 'Ess, tii be sure ! 'Ot yii say 'bout it, Mrs. 
 Baker ?' 
 
 Mrs. B., blushing. ' Git 'long wi' yer rummage, dii ! Yii 
 tii ol' fellers be like tii bwoys, thof yii be zo gray's badgers.' 
 
 Mr. H. ' Zo yii've killed yer peg, I zee. 'Ow did 'er turn 
 out?' 
 
 Mr. B. 'Aw, us didden wey en, but shud thenk 'e wuz 
 between vifteen an' twenty scor. 'Tez licking gert 'ams.' 
 
 Mr. H. ' Howzimever, this yer is a rare bit ov pork. 
 'Tez rich an' tasty-like.' 
 
 Mrs. B. ' I tellee 'ot 'tez. I'll gie 'e zom ov tha nattlings 
 tii take 'ome wi' 'e. Yii nidden be aveard they bant clayne, 
 vur I wash'd um m' ownzel.' 
 
 Mr. H. "Ow 'bout they tatties yii wrote about ? I've a 
 brot a few elefants an' skiilmaisters tii changee vur your 
 biities ov Abrim.' 
 
 Mr. B. ' Thankee ! thankee ! I 'opes as 'ow us chell 
 'ave a giide crap ! I 'ad dree score tii tha yard last yer. 
 'Ot's become ov your Charlie ? I ant a-zeed 'n vur a brave 
 while now ?' 
 
 Mr. H. ' Aw ! he's gone tii zey aboard a-man-e-war, 
 bound vur tha Hinges, an' Silas is a-go vur a hoss-sodger.' 
 
 Mr. B. ' Aw ! poar blids, I zim 'tweel be a longful time 
 avore yii zee'th uther wan ov um again !'
 
 ANECDOTES, ETC. 23 
 
 The men, having finished dinner, retire to the ' chimbly 
 cornder ' to smoke and drink. The women clear the table, 
 tidy up the room, and saunter about the garden, having 
 a gossip until it is tea-time, when Mrs. Baker, coming into 
 the room, says in a bright cheery voice : 
 
 ' Now, then, yii men-vokes, put up yer churchwardins 
 (pipes), an' zit vore an' 'ave zom tay. Yii be like a passel 
 ov ol' wimmen when yii git'th tiigether. Yii tell'th, tell'th 
 till awl's blue !' 
 
 Mr. H. ' Well, us dawnt meet vury offen, an' when us 
 dii us vurgits tha time ! 'Nuther theng, us bant fond ov 
 tay. I niver titches et ef I can git a drap ov giide zider, 
 an' maister's yer be a prime zort.' 
 
 As soon as tea was over and twilight set in, a move was 
 made to put on ' bunnit an' coat.' Mrs. Hodge said to her 
 husband : 
 
 ' Now, then, Bill, let's shet away 'ome avore dark.' 
 
 Mr. B. ' 'Ot's yer hurry, missis ? Yii midden niver 
 come again.' 
 
 Mrs. H. ' Aw ! niver mind that ; us '11 be agwaine now, 
 plaize. Us chell be very glad tii zee yii and Mrs. Baker 
 awver tii zee us zoon ; yii'll be very welcome. Dare zay us 
 '11 be able to vind zommat tii aite an' drink !' 
 
 Mrs. B. ' Thankee, thankee-zhure ! Us'll come zom day 
 when tez vull miine ; then us chell 'ave et light coming 'ome. 
 
 All shake hands two or three times over, and seem never 
 to be able to say ' Good-bye,' till Mr. Hodge starts off in 
 boyish style, exclaiming : 
 
 ' Nightee giide wishee ! Nightee giide wishee ! I'll urn 
 'ome and leave tha tii wimmin-vokes tii tell out their tale. 
 Now, than, Polly, come on, diiee !' 
 
 AT A TITHE DINNER. 
 
 A certain rector at his tithe dinners made it a practice to 
 give each farmer two glasses of gin-and-water, remaining in 
 the room and talking cordially with everyone whilst the first 
 was being drunk. He then wished them good-night, leaving 
 them to enjoy their own chat as it seemed best to them. 
 No sooner was he out of earshot than they began heartily 
 to abuse him and all the ' passens ' in the county. ' They 
 be a d grasping, skinflint set, and wrings a tenth ov
 
 24 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 everything out o' us now,' said one stalwart old yeoman ; 
 ' an' by Gor, ef us dawnt liike shaarp they'll zune 'ave a 
 twentieth ! ! !' 
 
 COPIES OF LETTERS. 
 
 ' Okehampton, Devon, 
 
 'April loth, 1876. 
 ' Dear Mrs. Chown, 
 
 ' I be most mortle plazed wi' yer vury 'anzome an' 
 iizevul weddin pressent yii 've a-zend me, an' I now rites tii 
 thank yii vury much vor'n, and also your kind letter wi' al 
 tha glide wishes in un. I zim tez a zerious theng, arter al, 
 tii get maryed, an' I 'opes me and my man will live 'appy 
 an'" pazible tugither. Anyways, us'll try and not 'ave no 
 quarling and viting arterwards. 
 
 ' I be glad tii yer that yii and your ole man gits on zo 
 vittee, and I 'opes us chell dii tha zame tii and not 'ave 
 upstores wen us be got iized tii wan tuther. 
 
 ' Now giide bye, dear Mrs. Chown, and thanking yii 
 wance moar vur yer kindness, wi' much love, and 'oping yii 
 will henjoy yerzel tii Plymouth, 
 
 ' I remains, 
 
 ' Your vecshinite vrend, 
 
 ' A. A. 
 
 ' P.S. — I 'opes as 'ow yii'l plaze tii hexciise al bad 
 spulling, but my eddication idden vury giide, they tells me. 
 I can talk vast nuff, but I can't rite vury wul' 
 
 11. 
 
 ' Dribblecomhe Crass, 
 ' Nr. Hatherley, Devon, 
 
 ' March iTth, 1839. 
 
 ' Dear Madam, 
 
 ' I sow 'pon tha papper you want a puppil. I got a 
 doughter of 12 that you can heave. She as ben to schol 
 for the lass 5 yers, and she go to schol nough. She is good- 
 liiking, and can reed and right well. If you like, I will 
 bring she in so that you may see she on Vriday. I am 
 nn well, otherways I wud have broughft she in instid of 
 rightting. 
 
 ' Your obedint sirvent, 
 
 'James Cligg.'
 
 ANECDOTES, ETC. ^ 
 
 III. 
 
 ' Brok strete, 1874, 
 
 ' Chawleigh. 
 
 ' Umble gantlemen of the bord of gardents i beg to tender 
 for the suply of cofins for the parish of reigney for the sum 
 of 14 shillen and 3 pence and for baw for the sum of 
 14 shillen and for sanford for the sum of 18 and 6 pence 
 i remain your umble servent 
 
 ' Dick Pitman. 
 
 ' Brok .Street, Chawleigh.' 
 
 IV. 
 
 ' Lew, Nov. i$t/i. 
 
 'Sir, 
 
 ' Will you pleas to pay Mrs. Webber my Money next 
 Friday it his She were i used to Lodge, she his goin to 
 come to you for it for me it his the Boot Money to i am sir 
 Your humble sert. 
 
 ' Thomas Mundy. 
 
 ' Lew Farm, 
 ' Near Chittlehampstead, Devon.'
 
 D. SUPERSTITIONS AND CUSTOMS. 
 
 SUPERSTITION REGARDING CHILDREN'S 
 BIRTHDAYS. 
 
 Munday's cheel is fair in tha face. 
 Tewsday's cheel is vull of grace. 
 Wensday's cheel is vull ov woe. 
 Thezday's cheel hath var tii go. 
 Vriday's cheel is loving and giving. 
 Satterday's cheel work 'th 'ard vur a living. 
 Zinday's cheel's a gentleman. 
 Cheel born upon old Kursemas day 
 Es giide, and wise, and fair, and gay. 
 
 MAGPIES. 
 
 To see 
 
 Wan is vur zorrow. 
 Tii is vur mirth. 
 Dree is vur a wedding. 
 Vowr is vur death. 
 
 CHRISTENING THE APPLE-TREES. 
 
 On old Christmas Eve it is customary for farmers to pour 
 large quantities of cyder on the roots of the primest apple- 
 trees in the orchard, and to place toast sops on the branches, 
 all the while singing the following : 
 
 Yer's tii thee, old apple-tree, 
 
 Be zure yii bud, be zure yii blaw,
 
 SUPERSTITIONS AND CUSTOMS. 27 
 
 And bring voth apples giide enough, 
 
 Hats vul ! Caps vul ! 
 Dree-bushel bags vul 
 Pockets vul and awl ! 
 
 Urrah ' Urrah ! 
 Aw 'ess, hats vul, caps vul, 
 And dree-bushel bags vul. 
 
 Urrah ! Urrah ! 
 
 When enough of this serenading has been accomplished, 
 guns are fired into the branches. 
 
 When asked why this ceremony was gone through, a 
 labourer said to me : ' Yii knaw, mum, us be in 'opes ov 
 'aving a 'bundant crap ov awples next yer, an' tha trees 
 widden giidy a bit ef us didden holly tii 'm !' 
 
 SUPERSTITION WITH REGARD TO EGGSHELLS. 
 
 As soon as a Devonian has eaten a boiled egg, he thrusts 
 a spoon through the end of the shell, opposite the one at 
 which it was begun to be eaten. When I inquired why this 
 was done, the reply given was : ' Tii keep they baggering 
 witches vrom agwaine to zay in a egg-boat.' It is supposed 
 that the witches appropriate the unbroken shells to sail out 
 to sea to brew storms. 
 
 ' You must break the shell to bits, for fear 
 The witches should make it a boat, my dear ; 
 For over the sea, away from home, 
 Far by night the witches roam.' 
 
 THE NEW MOON. 
 
 It is deemed unfortunate to see the new moon through 
 glass, or over the left shoulder. When in the open air one 
 must turn the purse three times round the pocket, at the 
 same time courtseying and saying : ' Welcome, new moon ! 
 welcome, new moon !' to insure crood luck. 
 
 '> 
 
 TO CURE HERNIA. 
 
 If a baby-boy suffers from this, and the parents pass him 
 three times through the split stem of an ash-tree, he is sup- 
 posed to be cured.
 
 28 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 REMEDY FOR SNAKE-BITES. 
 
 Make a circlet of ashen twigs, and tie it round the neck 
 of the person or animal bitten^ and 'they'll be zartin tii be 
 cured.' 
 
 TO CURE FITS. 
 
 Persons suffering from fits are advised to go to the parish 
 church at midnight on June 23rd, and walk through each 
 aisle, then crawl three times from north to south under the 
 communion-table exactly as the clock strikes twelve. 
 
 TO CHARM WARTS. 
 
 Steal from a butcher's stall a very small piece of lean 
 meat, rub the warts three times from left to right with this ; 
 immediately bury the meat and say : ' As you rot, so depart 
 my warts !' 
 
 TO CURE WHOOPING-COUGH. 
 
 Carry the child afflicted into a sheep-fold, and let the 
 sheep breathe on its face, and then lay the child on the 
 spot of ground from which a sheep has just arisen. Con- 
 tinue this daily for a week. ' 'Tez a zartin cure, mum, I 
 zhuree !' 
 
 A CHARM USED TO STANCH BLOOD. 
 
 Jesus wuz borned in Buthlem, 
 Baptized in tha Jardan, when 
 Tha watter wuz wild in tha 'ood, 
 Tha passen wuz jist an' giide, 
 God spoked and watter stride, 
 An' zo chell now thy blid. 
 
 In the name of the Father, etc. 
 
 Amen. 
 
 A CHARM TO CURE A BURN. 
 
 Dree angels corned vrom North, East, West, 
 
 Wan got vire, wan got ice, 
 
 Tha third brot tha Holy Ghost ; 
 
 Zo, out vire, in vrast ! 
 
 In the name of the Father, etc. 
 
 Amen.
 
 SUPERSTITIONS AND CUSTOMS. 29 
 
 TO DETECT A THIEF. 
 
 As soon as a theft is discovered, suspicion immediately 
 falls on some unfortunate person in the parish whose 
 reputation is perhaps a little shady. The suspected person 
 is at once brought to trial, not in person, but in secret, by 
 means of his or her name being written on a slip of paper, 
 which is placed within the leaves of a Bible. The key of 
 the front-door is placed beside it, with the wards resting on 
 the eighteenth verse of the fiftieth Psalm. Both are kept 
 in position by tying the left leg garters of two persons around 
 the Bible. These two place their rig/it hand fore-fingers 
 under the bow of the key, and repeat in monotone the 
 verse above named. If the Bible moves to the right or left 
 the suspected person is condemned ; if it remains stationary, 
 he is acquitted. 
 
 WEATHER RHYMES. 
 
 The west wind always brings wet weather, 
 The east wind cold and wet together, 
 The south wind surely brings us rain, 
 The north wind blaw'th it back again. 
 
 Ef tha zin in urd shiide zet, 
 Tha next day surely will be wet. 
 Ef tha zin shiide zet in gray, 
 Tha next will be a rainy day. 
 
 Urd in tha night is tha shipperd's delight, 
 Urd in tha marning is tha shipperd's warning. 
 
 ST. SWITHIN'S DAY. 
 
 On St. Swiftin's day ef et dii rain, 
 Yor vorty days et weel remain. 
 On St. Swiftin's day ef et be fine, 
 Yor vorty days 'tweel be zin-shine. 
 
 MIDSUMMER-EVE. 
 
 In some districts the young folks believe that their 
 future husbands prowl round their homes at midnight on 
 June 23rd. To make sure that 'He' is there, one will 
 rush into the nearest meadow, and while the clock is 
 striking twelve, scatter hemp-seeds, singing as she runs :
 
 30 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 ' 'Emp zeed I throw, 
 'Emp zeed I sow ; 
 'E that's my true-love, 
 Come arter me an' mow.' 
 
 Then, casting hurried backward glances, scampers off to 
 her home as fast as feet can fly, expecting ' Him ' to pursue, 
 scythe in hand ! 
 
 HARVEST CUSTOM IN DEVON. 
 
 When the last sheaf of wheat is cut at the end of harvest, 
 the reapers plait the ends, and tie it with a piece of bright- 
 coloured ribbon ; then, lifting it high above their heads, 
 wave their sickles frantically and f-hout : 
 
 We-ha-neck ! We-ha neck ! 
 Well-a-cut ! Well-a-cut ! 
 Well-a-bound ! Well-a-bound ! 
 Well a zot upon tha ground ! 
 We-ha neck ! We-ha-neck ! 
 Wurrah ! wurrah ! wurrah ! 
 
 After this ceremony, the never-to-be-lost-sight-of ' verkin ' 
 is passed from ' mouth to mouth ' till all the cyder is 
 ' adiied.' Then a start is made for the master's house, 
 where a heavy meat and pudding supper is washed down 
 with more ' zyder :' then follow indescribable tableaux 
 vivants ! 
 
 LENTEN OBSERVANCES. 
 
 Niver wash cloase upon a Goody Vriday, ef zo be yii dii 
 zornebody in yiire 'ouze '11 die avore the year's out. 
 
 Ef yii wants a giide crap, zaw 'pon Goody Viiday. All 
 zeeds zawed thickee day ull be zure to graw. 
 
 Wean yer cheel 'pon Goody Vriday, then 'e'll graw peart 
 an' strong. 
 
 On Shrove Tuesday children run from door to door, 
 throwing stones and singing : 
 
 Us zees by tha latch 
 There's zummat to catch. 
 Us zees by tha string 
 Tha old dummon's within.
 
 Or, 
 
 SUPERSTITIONS AND CUSTOMS. 31 
 
 Gie us a pan-cake, now us be come ! 
 Or tii yiire doar goes a gert stone. 
 Zo yii be a-bound vur tii gie us wan. 
 
 Tippity, tippity, tidy-oh ! 
 
 Gie me a pancake an' I will go ; 
 
 Gie me zome, or gie me noan, 
 
 Then tii yiire doar will go a gert stone. 
 
 BRIDAL RHYME. 
 
 Ef tha zin 'pin tap 'er shine, 
 
 Then 'er '11 'ave boath cake an' wine ; 
 
 Ef 'e dii but 'ide 'is heyd, 
 
 There'll be no wine, an' little breyd.
 
 E. OLD-FASHIONED RECTORS AND THEIR 
 
 DOINGS. 
 
 A bishop of Exeter visiting an outlying village church was 
 astonished by hearing the following sung in his honour : 
 
 ' Why skip ye zo, ye leetle 'ills (hills) ? 
 Why skip ? Why skip ? Why skip ? 
 Why ? 'Tez becuz we'm glad tii zee 
 His grace tha lard bissh/p ! 
 
 ' Why 'op ye zo, ye leetle lambs ? 
 Why 'op ? Why op ? Why 'op ? 
 Why ? 'Tez becuz we'm glad tii zee 
 His grace tha lard bissh/p !' 
 
 THE HUNTING PARSON*. 
 Passen R was asked to do duty for the Rev. 
 
 at   . This was in the days when all kinds of music 
 
 made up the choir of village churches. The psalm was 
 given out, and the musicians began to tune their instru- 
 ments. Somehow or other the fiddles and bass viols, etc., 
 would not be obliging, and some delay occurred before they 
 were in accord. Said ' passen ' got impatient, and leaning 
 over the rostrum, exclaimed : ' Hark away ! Hark away, 
 Jack ! Hark away ! Tally-ho ! Tally-ho !' 
 
 THE SICK VICAR. 
 
 The Rev. F. B , of A , having offended the bishop 
 
 was once or twice reproved by his diocesan, and finally 
 his lordship decided to call at the vicarage on a Sunday 
 afternoon to give reproof. The vicarage stands on an 
 eminence, from whence all persons approaching it can be
 
 OLD-FASHIONED RECTORS AND THEIR DOINGS. 33 
 
 easily seen. The bishop drove slowly, and was recognised 
 by the vicar, who happened to be dressed for hunting, as 
 the meet was to be an early one next morning at Dunkerry, 
 whither the vicar intended to start immediately after service. 
 At sight of the bishop he rushed to his bedroom, and 
 nestled cosily between the sheets. The bishop was met at 
 the door by Mrs. Vicar, who, with a sad face and a troubled 
 voice, excused her husband's absence by saying he was ill in 
 bed, laid up with scarlet fever. Whereupon the bishop beat 
 a hasty retreat. 
 
 CONFIRMATION CLASS. 
 
 The Rev. J. R was holding a confirmation class. 
 
 One of the candidates was the daughter of the village inn- 
 keeper, and when it came to her turn to be questioned, the 
 following query was addressed to her, with a not very 
 pleasant reply, at least to the parson : 
 
 Parson. ' What is your name ?' 
 
 She (holding her head on one side, and looking roguishly 
 at him). ' As ef yii didden knaw ! when yii comes intii the 
 bar dree or vowr times aday, an' zeth, " Now then, Polly, 
 my dear, gie me anuther quart," an' now yii pertend'th yii 
 dawnt knaw me !' 
 
 THE PARSON'S WIFE. 
 
 The same rector was asked by a parishioner why he had 
 not married a lady instead of taking to wife the daughter of 
 a farmer. 
 
 ' Why, man-alive, diiee zim I want'th tii die avore mi 
 time ?' 
 
 ' How zo, how zo, passen ?' said his interrogator. 
 
 ' Why, if I'd a-married a vine-vingered lady, her mid 'ave 
 a-zend tha game tii table in a most unstomickable fashion. 
 Now, thease dii knaw stuffing vrom nattlings.' 
 
 THE CAREFUL PARSON. 
 
 A hunting parson was requested by his bishop to discon- 
 tinue his custom of hunting and keeping hounds, as he 
 thought it wrong for a clergyman to devote so much time to 
 sport. 
 
 ' I do not keep hounds, my lord,' said the parson ; ' every
 
 34 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 dog in the kennel is my wife's. I take them out for exercise 
 frequently, and if they will run after a fox I am bound to 
 follow them, to make sure that the fox does no harm to my 
 wife's property !' 
 
 THE FISHING PARSON. 
 
 Rev. John C , who was asked to officiate for Rev. 
 
 I. G at Dawlish on a certain Sunday, requested his 
 
 clerk to give notice that there would be no service at B. N. 
 in consequence. The clerk accordingly told the congrega- 
 tion that there would be ' no-a zarvis yer next Zinday, cuz 
 maister wuz agwaine vishing tii Dawlish vur passen G .' 
 
 THE FOX AND THE PARSON. 
 A hunting parson of North Devon was officiating at 
 
 for the Rev. , who was laid up with gout. Just as the 
 
 Psalms were finished the sexton popped his head inside the 
 church, and giving the parson a wink, said in an audible 
 whisper, 'Plaize tii make 'aste, zir, or 'e'll be a-go avore 
 yii've a-dued.' The ' passen ' nodded, and raising his eye- 
 brows in a questioning way, the sexton shouted : ' 'E's urned 
 intii tha vuzz bushes, down in teyn acres. Diiee hike sharp, 
 zir !' The congregation were as much interested as 'passen,' 
 and immediately after service a ' meet ' was arranged for the 
 next morning at 9.30, in ten acres. It has been hinted that 
 said passen was doing duty in ' pink ' under his surplice. 
 
 ORTHODOX ! 
 
 The curate of Swimbridge having left, Mr. Russell adver- 
 tised for another. The parish clerk, William Chappie, was 
 asked by a farmer, ' Hath tha passen got a new curate 'et ?' 
 
 ' Not 'et, zir,' replied Chappie ; ' maister's nation pertikler. 
 Tidden this, tidden that, as ull plaize 'e. Yer's his adver- 
 tize-ment, zo I reckon 'e'll zoon git wan. 
 
 ' " Wanted, a curate for Swimbridge ; must be a gentleman of 
 moderate and orthodox views." ' 
 
 ' Orthodox ! why whot's that, Mr. Chappie ? 
 ' Well, I can't ezackally zay whot 'e mayn'th be that, but 
 I reckon 'tez a feller that can ride purty well tii 'ounds !'
 
 OLD-FASHIONED RECTORS AND THEIR DOINGS. 35 
 
 The rector of a rural parish issued the following notice to 
 his flock : 
 
 ' There will be no sarvice held in thease church next 
 Sunday, as I have a hen sitting in the pulpit, an' I dii not 
 want her disturbed.' 
 
 A high church dignitary addressing a meeting of young 
 people said : 
 
 ' It is yiire duty tii render obedience to yiire parents, and 
 tii pray to Gad unceasingly. If yii don't say yiire prayers 
 night and marning the Lard Gad will not bless yii.' 
 
 A rector who was asked to judge the dogs at a show said 
 in reply to 'Where are you off this morning?' : 'Oh, I'm off to 
 Whipshire tii judge tha dugs. I dawnt knaw nort about lap- 
 dugs an' mastiffs, but if 'twas a vox-'ound, or a tarrier dug, I 
 ciide a diied it w' any man in the country; but sheep dugs 
 an' tha rest aw'm, why, I knaw'th jist so much about um as 
 a cat knaw'th about his grandfather ! ' 
 
 3—2
 
 F. SONGS AND CHILDREN'S PLAY -DITTIES. 
 
 GILES WHAPSTRAW, THE TURNIP-HOER. 
 
 I be a turmit hawer. 
 
 From Debbenshire I dii come : 
 My parents be 'ard-working vokes, 
 
 An' I be jist tha zame. 
 
 Chorus : An' tha vly, ha ! ha ! 
 
 Tha vly, ha ! ha ! 
 Tha vly be on tha turmits, 
 An' tez awl my eye vur me tii try 
 To keep min off tha turmits. 
 
 [I have also heard the following chorus : 
 
 The vly gee hoppee 
 
 An' the vly gee whoppee, 
 Tha vly be on tha turmits ! 
 An' tez awl my eye that thick there vly 
 Can ayte up awl tha turmits.] 
 
 'Twas on a Vriday marning, 
 
 Avore tha break ov day, 
 That I tiiked up my turmit haw, 
 An' tridged dree miles away. 
 Chorus: Tha vly, etc. 
 
 I ziine did git a place ov wurk — 
 
 I tiiked et by tha job — 
 An' ef I 'ad my time again, 
 
 I'd ziinder go tii quod. 
 Chorus: Tha vly, etc.
 
 SONGS AND CHILDREN'S PLAY-DITTIES. 
 
 Tha next I tiiked et by the yard, 
 'Twas vor ol' Varmer Viewer, 
 
 Who vowed an' zwared as how I were 
 A ripping turmit hawer. 
 Chorus : Tha vly, etc. 
 
 There's zome delights in haymaking, 
 An' a few delights in mawing, 
 
 But ov awl the trades that I like best 
 Gie me tha turmit hawing. 
 Chorus : Tha vly, etc. 
 
 THE PARSON'S SHEEP. 
 
 Vather stawl the passen's sheep, 
 
 A murry Cursmus us'll keep, 
 
 Vur us chell 'ave boath vittals an' drink, 
 
 But dawnt zay nort about et. 
 
 I zinged it up an' down awl day, 
 An' passen yerd whot I did zay, 
 An' ax'd me in a civil way 
 Tii zing et awver again, zir ! 
 
 'E zed 'e'd gie me 'a'f-a-crown, 
 A suit ov cloase an' munny down, 
 Ef in tha church I'd go along 
 An' zing et tii tha people. 
 
 But I went 'ome and told me muther whot the passen 'ad 
 a-zed. ' Aw giide gracious, whot iver ail'th tha bwoy? I be 
 zure 'e is agwaine mazed,' zed muther. ' Ef 'e zeth wan 
 wurd moar thee't 'ang theezel and vather tii.' ' Aw ! vary 
 well then, mawther,' zeth I, ' I'll turn tha tale 'pun passen.' 
 So: 
 
 As I wuz in tha veald wan day 
 I zeed tha passen vury gay, 
 A tummulling among tha hay, 
 In a vury, vury undaycint way.
 
 38 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 A LOVE SONG. 
 
 As I wa'ked out wan eveling, 
 
 Down by tha river zide, 
 I gazed awhile around me 
 
 An' a purty maid I spied. 
 
 Zo rid an' rosy wuz 'er chicks, 
 
 An' curdly wuz 'er 'air, 
 An' costly wuz tha robes ov gold 
 
 Thease purty maid did wear. 
 
 'Er shews wuz made ov satin black, 
 
 Besprunkled wi' tha dew. 
 'Er wrunged 'er 'ands, 'er tord 'er 'air, 
 
 An' cried ' Whot chell I dii ? 
 
 ' I'm agwaine 'ome ! I'm agwaine 'ome ! 
 
 I'm agwaine 'ome !' she cried. 
 ' Why wull 'e go a-roving, 
 
 An' slight thease lovely maid ? 
 
 1 Tha vury last time I zeed m' love 
 'E cried wi' might an' main. 
 
 Oh love ! et is a killing theng, 
 Didee iver veel tha pain ?' 
 
 I wish thease maid wuz a rid rid rose 
 
 That in m' geardin grew ; 
 An' I tii be tha geardiner, 
 
 I knaws whot I wid dii. 
 
 I'd garnish 'er wi' lilies O ! 
 
 Zweet-williams, tyme an' rue. 
 I'd zing all night till tha marning light, 
 
 An' ov she I wid tak' kear O ! 
 
 THE RED HERRING. 
 
 I boft a penny urd 'erring, 
 
 Penny an' 'erring an' iverytheng, 
 
 I thenks I diied well wi' my penny 'erring.
 
 SONGS AND CHILDREN'S PLAY-DITTIES. 39 
 
 'Ot's thenk I made ov my 'erring's ole heyd ? 
 Why za giide a oven as iver baked breyd. 
 'Erring an' breyd an' ivery theng, 
 I thenks I diied well wi' my penny 'erring. 
 
 'Ot's thenk I made ov my 'erring's ole tail ? 
 Why za glide a ship as iver zot zail. 
 'Erring an' zail an' ivery theng, 
 I thenks I diied well wi' my -penny 'erring. 
 
 'Ot's thenk I made ov my 'erring's ole ? 
 
 Why za giide a drashel as ever drashed wuts. 
 
 'Erring an' wuts an' ivery theng, 
 
 I thenk I diied well wi' my penny 'erring. 
 
 'Ot's thenk I made ov my 'erring's ole bones ? 
 Why za glide a 'ammer as iver cracked stones. 
 'Ammer an' stones an' ivery theng, 
 I thenk I diied well wi' my penny 'erring. 
 
 'Ot's thenk I made ov my 'erring's ole skin ? 
 Why za giide a blanket as iver man lied-in. 
 'Erring an' blanket an' ivery theng, 
 I thenk I diied well wi' my penny 'erring. 
 
 'Ot's thenk I made ov my 'erring's ole fins ? 
 Why za giide a billises as iver blawed winds. 
 Billis an' winds an' ivery theng, 
 I thenk I diied well wi' my penny 'erring. 
 
 CHILDREN'S PLAY-SONGS. 
 
 One, two, three, four, five, 
 Catching fishes all alive ; 
 Six, seven, eight, nine, ten, 
 I let them go again. 
 
 Why did yii let them go ? 
 'Cause they bit my finger so. 
 Which finger did they bite ? 
 Little finger on the right.
 
 40 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 TOUCH. 
 
 I sent a letter to my love, 
 And carried water in my glove, 
 And on the way I dropt it. 
 Some of you have picked it up, 
 And put it in your pocket. 
 'Tissent you ! 'Tissent you ! 
 But 'tez you, you, you ! 
 
 LAST TACK ! 
 
 Ena, mena, mona, mite ! 
 Caska, lena, lona, lite, 
 Elga, belga, bo ! 
 Eggs, butter, cheese, bread ! 
 Stick, stock, stone dead ! 
 O— u— t, out! 
 
 THE BROKEN EGG. 
 
 Humpitty-dumpitty 
 
 Zot 'pon a wall, 
 H umpitty-dumpitty 
 'Ad a gert vail. 
 An' all tha docters in tha Ian' 
 Cudden make Humpitty-dumpitty stan'. 
 
 THE FAT HEN. 
 
 Hicketty-spicketty my fat hen, 
 Her lays eggs vor gentlemen. 
 Gentlemans comes ivery day, 
 Tii zee ef my fat hen dii lay. 
 
 RING OF ROSES. 
 
 A ring, a ring of roses ! 
 Pocketful of posies. 
 A-tcshm ! A-tcshm ! 
 We all fall down !
 
 SONGS AND CHILDREN'S PLAY-DITTIES. 41 
 
 THE ROSE-BUSH. 
 
 Round and round the rosy bush, 
 Flowers in the middle ; 
 We curtsy up, and curtsy down, 
 And curtsy all together. 
 
 NUTS IN MAY. 
 
 Yer us come gathering nuts in May, nuts in May, nuts in 
 May j 
 Yer us come gathering nuts in May. 
 Zo early in tha marning. 
 
 Now who willee 'ave vur nuts in May, nuts in May, nuts 
 in May ? 
 Now who willee 'ave vur nuts in May, 
 Zo early in tha marning ? 
 
 Aw ! us'll 'ave Kitty Hodge vur nuts in May, vur nuts in 
 May, vur nuts in May ; 
 Aw ! us'll 'ave Kitty Hodge vur nuts in May, 
 Zo early in tha marning. 
 
 Who willee zend tii vatch 'er away, tii vatch 'er away, tii 
 vatch 'er away ? 
 Who willee zend tii vatch 'er away, 
 Zo early in tha marning ? 
 
 Us'll zend Billy Rooks tii vatch J er away, tii vatch 'er away, 
 tii vatch her away ; 
 Us'll zend Billy Rooks tii vatch 'er awaj - , 
 Zo early in tha marning. 
 
 {Repeat)
 
 G. PRAYERS. 
 
 A PRAYER. 
 
 This prayer was in general use among farm labourers 
 about twenty years ago, when I frequently heard it in the 
 neighbourhood of Dawlish and Teignmouth. 
 
 ' Matthew, Mark, Liike, and John, 
 God bless tha beyd that I lies on. 
 Vower cornders tii my beyd, 
 Vower angels lie aspreyed. 
 Tii tii viite, and tii tii heyd, 
 An' vower tii car me when I'm deyd. 
 An' when I'm deyd an' in m' grave, 
 An' all my boans be ratten, 
 Tha greedy wurms my vlaish will ayte, 
 An' I chell be vurgotten. 
 
 Amen.' 
 
 A PRAYER. 
 
 A woodcutter at Bickleigh being asked if he ever prayed, 
 replied : ' 'Ess, I dii zay zom prayers now and agin ;' and 
 when requested to repeat them, said : 
 
 ' Our Father bless me an' my wive, 
 My zin Jan, an' 'is wive ; 
 
 Us vour, no more. 
 
 Amen.'
 
 PR A YERS. 43 
 
 ANOTHER. 
 
 I lay my body down to rest, 
 I pray the Lord my soul to bless ; 
 And if I die before I wake, 
 I pray to God my soul to take. 
 
 Amen. 
 
 A PRAYER. 
 
 This was repeated to me by a labourer over eighty years 
 of age. I refrain from giving it in pure vernacular. With 
 tears in his eyes he said : ' My dear old mawther tayched 
 un tii me za zune's I ciide spake.' 
 
 • O blessed Lord God, I now come before Thee with a 
 heart truly thankful for all Thy goodness and mercy towards 
 me, particularly in preserving me this day from so many 
 dangers as I have been liable to ; and now that I am going 
 to lay down to rest, let this remind me how long my body 
 must lay down in the grave, and my soul must enter upon 
 an eternal state. Oh, let not sickness or death find me 
 unprovided, but grant, O Lord, that I may finish the great 
 work of my salvation before the night cometh, in which no 
 man can work ! I confess that I have been too careless 
 about the one thing needful, and have minded the business 
 of this world more than Thy service, and the great concerns 
 of my soul. O Lord, be merciful unto me a sinner, for Thy 
 Son Jesus Christ's sake ! Pardon and forgive me for all 
 that is past, and give me grace to amend my life for the 
 time to come, that I may avoid all such things as are sinful 
 and displeasing to Thee, and be comfortable in all those 
 religious duties which Thou hast commanded me to do. 
 Make me careful so to live now, as I should wish I had 
 done when I come to die. Lord receive me, and all my 
 relations and friends under Thy protection; let Thy holy 
 angels pitch their tents around about my bed, that I may 
 be safely delivered through all the perils and dangers of this 
 night ; that I may be refreshed with a comfortable moderate 
 sleep, and that I may rise in the morning fit for Thy service, 
 and the duty of my calling. Lord, hear my prayer, and 
 grant me my request in whatever Thou seest best for me to 
 do, I humbly beg, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.'
 
 44. THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 MATT. XIII. 3-9. 
 
 (as read by an old man.) 
 
 Be'old a zawer went voth vur tii zaw ; 
 
 An' when 'e zawed zom zeeds vailed by tha wayzide, an' 
 tha vowls corned an' picked um awl up : 
 
 Zom vailed up, pintap ov stony places, where they hadden 
 a-got much airth : an' vothwith they springed up, 'cuz they 
 hadden a-got no deepness ov airth : 
 
 An' when tha zin wuz up, they wuz searched : an' cuz 
 they hadden a-got no riites they wuthered away. 
 
 An' zom vailed amung therns, an' tha therns springed up, 
 an' chucked um : 
 
 But uthers vailed intii giide groun', an' brat voth friite, 
 zom a 'underedvold, zom zextvvold, zom thertyvold. 
 
 He that 'ath yers tii yer, lett 'n yer.
 
 H. LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 
 
 A. 
 
 'A' = an abbreviation of have. 
 
 ' Willee plaize tii 'a' zom ov this, miss ? Missis zeth 'tez 
 vornoons time.' 
 
 Aboard (val) = to attack furiously. 
 
 "Tez a glide job yii comed when yii did, or I shiide 
 a-valled aboard aw'n in quick-sticks.' 
 
 Abroad (val) = to split open. 
 
 ' Ef theyse yer tatties dii bowl inny longer they'll val awl 
 abroad.' 
 
 A-chucked = choked, thirsty. 
 
 ' They poar chicken be a-chucked tii death vur want ov 
 watter. Diiee git um zom, 'Liza.' 
 
 Aginst = (to go) towards. 
 
 1 'Tez gitting dark ; us 'ad better go aginst Jenny, or 'er'll 
 be a skeard out ov 'er life.' 
 
 Agging = provoking to anger. 
 
 ' Diiee be quiet ! Yii be always a-agg, agg, agging, vrcm 
 cockcraw tii zinzet.' 
 
 Ago = finished. 
 
 'Awl tha tatties be ago, missis; there idden wan a-layved.' 
 
 Agone = time past. 
 
 ' 'Twas zome time agone her went up tii gert ouze.' 
 
 Aight or ayte = eat. 
 
 ' Ht:r '11 aight crayme za vast za dug '11 aight whitpot.
 
 46 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Aight'th = eats. 
 
 A gentleman of West Devon trained a stable-boy to wait 
 at table. One evening at dinner a gentleman, whose appetite 
 was remarkably good, attracted the lad's attention. When 
 the host intimated that this particular visitor should be 
 given more wine, the boy whispered loud enough for others 
 beside the master to hear : 
 
 ' Diiee main thickee there gennelman, zir, that aight'th za 
 much ?' ! ! 
 
 Aimeth = aims. 
 
 ' He's a 'igh-stummicked chap, 'e is ; 'e aimeth tii gert 
 thengs, an' belikes 'ell git urn, tii !' 
 
 Aimses = iron horse-collars. 
 
 ' Where 's ta put tha aimses tii, Tom ?' 
 
 Airth or yarth = earth. 
 
 ' An' tha airth awpened an' zwallered um up.' 
 
 ' Put um down in thickee cornder, an' hale 'm up wi' 
 yarth.' 
 
 Aiven = even. 
 
 ' I'm baggered ef I wunt be aiven wi' yii avore long.' 
 
 Alwes = always. 
 
 • Her's alwes a-trying tii dii tii thengs tii wance, 'er is.' 
 
 Ammil = hoar-frost, when it settles on trees and shrubs. 
 
 ' Diiee liikee ; zee tha trees be Hiking biitivul 's marning. 
 Lukes 'z ef they wuz covered wi' dimonds. Us dawnt offen 
 zee tha ammil za thick, dii us ?' 
 
 Ampassy = the sign &. 
 
 Andugs = fire-dogs. 
 
 'Ankicher = handkerchief. 
 
 ' I broft vive or six 'ankichers yer long wi' me when I 
 corned ; now there idden wan tii be vound. Thickee Ellen 
 hath a-stawled um vur zartin.' 
 
 Ansell = an earnest given on completion of a bargain. 
 
 ' Tellee whot 'tez, min, thee shedstiia-anselled 'n wi' a 
 shilling, an' made zure aw 'un.' 
 
 Ansteeve = the handle of a flail. 
 
 A poor-come-a-long-o'-t' = disastrous in results. 
 
 ' I be terrabul aveared 'twill be a poor-come-along-o'-'t 
 now maister 's dead. The missis is a poar tool ; her athen 
 a-got no notion about nort'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 47 
 
 Appledrane or wopsy = a wasp. 
 
 My little serving-boy said to me : 
 
 ' There's a appledrane's nist down in the cassia-tree moot. 
 May me an' my brither burn en out ?' 
 
 When asked how he knew the nest was there, he replied : 
 
 ' Aw ! cuz I've a-zeed um, an' a appledrane stinged me 
 'pon tha vinger !' 
 
 Apporn = apron. 
 
 c Put Polly on a clayne apporn avore 'er go'th tii skiile.' 
 
 Appinces = halfpence. 
 
 ' Is that a beggar tii tha doar ?' 
 
 "Ess.' 
 
 ' Wull, then, gie 'n a vew appinces, an' 'e '11 ziine go !' 
 
 Apsen = fasten. 
 
 ' Apsen thickee geat there, or us chell 'ave the cows awl 
 awver the place avore marning. 
 
 Aquott = sitting on a low seat. 
 ' 'Er 's agone aquott, I dii zim.' 
 ' Tha hare 's aquott in six acres.' 
 
 Argify = to dispute with. 
 
 ' 'Tidden no use tii argify no longer. I tellee 'tez, then, 
 an' there's an end o't ! !' 
 
 Arm-wrist = wrist. 
 
 Mrs. G. ' Whot's the matter wi' tha babby ?' 
 Nurse. ' I can't ezackally zay, but 'e zims tii be a- 
 scrammed in 's arm-wrist. Liiketh 's ef 'e 'd a-broked 'n.' 
 
 Arrish. or errish = stubble-field. 
 
 ' Turn tha chickens out in tha arrishes ; they'll vind 
 'nough mayte vur tii-day.' 
 
 Arter = after. 
 
 ' Thee'st best urn arter she, an' tell 'er 'er 'th a-layved 'er 
 pattens behind.' 
 
 Assiniate = assassinate. 
 
 ' Aw, 'Liza, whotiver diiee think ? Why, ef they Rooshans 
 ant a-tried tii assiniate tha Ce-zar ! !' 
 
 Athist = thirsty. 
 
 ' I be terrabal athist ! Let's 'a' zome zyder tii wet my 
 missel !'
 
 48 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Aveard = afraid. 
 
 ' Whot's aveard o' now, yli stupid ? Dith zim he '11 bite 
 thee ?' 
 
 Avire = on fire. 
 
 ' Urn, Zue, vatch zom zalt ! Tha chimbly 's avire !' 
 
 Avore = before. 
 
 ' Go avore 'n shipperd !' 
 
 Aw ! daily-buttons ! = a joyful exclamation. 
 
 ' Aw ! daily-buttons ! yer com'th like a 'ouze avire !' 
 
 Awkard = awkward. 
 
 ' Her's ciichy-pawed, an' dii'th thengs oncommon awkard- 
 like.' 
 
 Aw'min = of them. 
 
 ' Ow minny aw'min 'ast-agot ?' 
 
 Awn = oven. 
 
 ' Now, then, Kezia, diiee hike sharp an' yett tha awn. 
 'Tez niest 'pon lebben a'clock.' 
 
 Awnly = only. 
 
 ' Thickee there is tha awnly wan aw 'm I've agot a-layved.' 
 
 Awn-zel = ownself, selfish. 
 
 ' Er's wan ov tha awn-zel zort, 'er is.' 
 
 Awpels = apples. 
 
 ' What iver diiee mayne, miss ? Is et awpels yii want'th ? : 
 
 Awpen = open. 
 
 ' Aw ! diiee plaize tii awpen tha winder an' let out tha 
 zmoak? I'm niest 'pon chucked.' 
 
 Aw 'un = of him. 
 
 ' Tha faace aw 'un 's za yeller 's a kit's viite.' 
 
 Awverliiked = bewitched. 
 
 A man came to me one day and said : 
 
 ' Lor, missis, my poar wive is in a brave mess o' 't. Vur 
 dree weeks her ant abin able tii zlape a wink nor aight zo 
 much as wid kep a mouze alive. Her is aivverliiked, zartin 
 zure ! ! About dree a'clock in tha marning her git'th such 
 a pricking, an' sticking, an' yetting, an' burning in 'er 'ead, 
 that 'er can't bide still tii minits tugether. 'Er's awver- 
 liiked, za zure 's a gun !' 
 
 It transpired that the woman was suffering from a very 
 acute attack of neuralgia.
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 49 
 
 Ax = ask. 
 
 ' Diiee plaize tii urn in an' ax missis tii give 'e a crub ov 
 burd an' cheese vur Joey Chubb's vorniins.' 
 
 B. 
 
 Backalong = homeward. 
 
 ' How long avore yii be a-gwaine backalong, Bill ?' 
 
 'Aw ! dreckly minit ; ziines I've a-had a jiig ov zyder.' 
 
 Backbar = An iron bar fixed inside the chimney, stretching 
 from side to side, to support the barcrooks. 
 
 Backsivore = hind side front. 
 
 ' Aw yii stupid cheel, theest a-put thee apporn on back- 
 sivore.' 
 
 Baist = beast. 
 
 ' 'Ow minny baistes avee a-tiiked up tii Zmithveeld thease 
 yer then, maister ?' 
 
 ' Aw ! I tiiked zebbenteen, an' zold ivery wan aw'm !' 
 
 Bal = to shout. 
 
 1 Whot's stan' there a-haling an' a-baling vur ? Come 
 intii ouze dreckly minit.' 
 
 Ballet = a song. 
 
 ' Kassent thee gie us a ballet or tii avore yii go'th ?' 
 1 Us'll try whot's ken dii.' 
 ' Strike up then, Jim !' 
 ' Whot chell I zing ?' 
 
 'Whot thee'st a-mind tii; unly let et be zommat 
 lively !' 
 
 Ballyrag = to scold. 
 
 'Whotiver diiee kep on zo vor? Yii bant niver 'appy 
 lest yii can ballyrag zombody. Diiee bide quiet vur a 
 bit!' 
 
 Banging-gert = very large. 
 
 ' I've jist a-zeed a banging gert otter down tha river. Us 
 chell 'ave brave sport ef yii tellth Maister Colyer 'bout ! n.' 
 
 Bant = am not. 
 
 ' Yii bant agwaine. I bant agwaine, an' nobody else idden 
 agwaine. No fay ! noan aw us !' 
 
 4
 
 50 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Barley-ile = the beard of ripe barley. 
 ' Yii can't use barley-dowst vur bedties, 'cuz tha iles wid 
 urn intii 'e.' 
 
 Barm, or Bourm = yeast. 
 
 In N. Devon, close on Exmoor : ' Dawntee vurgit tha 
 bourm when yii go'th intii town.' 
 
 In other parts of the county : ' Yii must vatch zome barm 
 tii-day or us shan't be able to bakee tu-morrer.' 
 
 Barrow-pig = a gelt pig. 
 
 ' Now, vather, when yii go'th tii market, dawntee vurgit tii 
 buy a peg. Have a barrow-peg, not a zow.' 
 
 Bar-re-el = barrel. 
 
 ' I zay, Bertie, yer ! Us 'ave a-got a dizen of tar bar-re-els 
 vur tii burn tii-night. Myimers ! whot a spree us chell 'ave 
 if they bobbies '11 let us alone. I'm baggared ef wan aw'm 
 tiches me, ef I dawnt skat un intii tha vire.' 
 
 Barras-apporn, or Cuse-apporn = Hessian. 
 ' Alwes put on a barras apporn tii kip yer cloaths clayne 
 when yu'm tii work.' 
 
 Baste = to beat. 
 
 ' I'll baste thy hide vur thee ef thee dissent come intii 
 ouze dreckly minit. 
 
 (i) Bate, (2) Baty, (3) Batyn = to decrease. 
 
 (1) 'I won't bate wan more steech. 
 
 (2) ' I be agwaine to baty dree more times.' 
 
 (3) ' I be batyn the ca've now.' 
 
 Bawked-up = shut off from sight. 
 
 1 Aw ! 'es I zee whot yii mayn'th, mum. Yii want'th me 
 tii plant thickee biish between tha rockery an' tha cassia 
 tree, zo that tha workshop winder chell be a bawked-up.' 
 
 Bayte = to beat, or thrash. 
 
 A wumman, 
 
 A spanyel, 
 
 And a vrench-nit tree, 
 
 The oftener yii bayte um 
 
 Tha better they'll be.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 51 
 
 Baynes = beans. 
 
 ' Rub tha bee-butts wi' zome bayne-stalks.' 
 An admiring lover said of his sweetheart : ' Why her's za 
 biitivul and za purty, like baynes.' 
 
 Beam, or Beem = a binder. 
 
 'Put a straw beam round yer viite avor yii go'th out 
 thease morning. Tha rawds be a zlippery 's glass.' 
 
 ' Whot a fat ole siss 'tez. Why her liiketh like a bunnel 
 ov straw tied up wi' a hay-beem.' 
 
 Be-ats-'twill = anyhow. 
 
 ' Her'th a-married tii last then, be-ats-'twill.' 
 
 Bedlier = an invalid. 
 
 ' Why, ole Jack Maunder broked 'is leg in dree places, 
 and I knaw he'th abin a bedlier niest upon vorty year.' 
 
 Begurge, or Begridge = begrudge. 
 
 Scene — A sick room ; a bunch of grapes. 
 Dramatis Persona — Doctor, nurse, patient. 
 
 Doctor. Good-morning, Daddy, how are you to-day ? 
 
 Patient. Aw, thankee kindly, zir, I rekkon I be a bit 
 oetter. Midden I aight wan or tii ov they there berries 
 {pointing to the grapes). 
 
 Doctor. No, I think not to-day. To-morrow you may 
 have as many as you like. 
 
 Patient. Well, zir. yii nidden begurge um tii me ; vur 
 passen gied um tii me. 
 
 Nurse {looking into the doctor's face). Plaize to excuse 'en, 
 zir. He said ' begurge] but he mayn'th begridge. 'E ant 
 abin vury well edecated. 
 
 Bettermost = of a higher order. 
 
 ' Now dii yii zim that tha passen's wive and tha better- 
 most zort ov vokes be agwaine tii 'ave ort tii zay tii they ? 
 No, tanoby, they be awnly cattle-daylers ! They'll 'ave tii 
 knaw tha varmering vokes ef they wants inny company at 
 awl, I tellee !' 
 
 Beznez = business. 
 
 ' Hold thee tongue wi' 't ? Whot beznez is it ov thine 
 who I spaykth tii ?'
 
 52 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Bias (out of) = out of reckoning. 
 
 ' I tellee whot 'tez, they've a made a mistake ; they'm out 
 ov their bias thease time.' 
 
 Bides = remains, stays. 
 
 ' Her is cruel wisht I suree, zince 'er mawther died, 'er 
 dawnt zim tii care vur nort, but 'er bides in ouze, moping 
 about awl day azifing an' azighing. 
 
 Biggin — a tin coffee-pot. 
 
 ' I ciide, now 'tez za 'ot, drink a whole biggin-vul ov 
 coffee.' 
 
 Billises = bellows. 
 
 ' Mary, diiee take tha billises away vrom thickee cheel. 
 Her'th aput tha nawse aw'm in 'er mowth an' made 'erzel 
 za beastly 's a peg. Hang urn up in cornder, dii !' 
 
 Bimbye = by-and-bye. 
 
 ' Us be agwaine up tii zee gran'fer bimbye.' 
 
 Bimbye-night = late in the evening. 
 
 ' I wish bimbye-night yii'd go za var 's Bolham and meet 
 little Jinny Tapp, cuz 'er 'ell be aveared in tha dark.' 
 
 Bit-ago = lately. 
 
 'They can't be agone var, cuz they awnly layved tha ouze 
 a bit-ago.' 
 
 Bit = a small piece. 
 ' Give me a bit ov sugar.' 
 
 ' I can't tellee, I dawnt knaw a bit, when or how 'twas a 
 dued.' 
 
 Bittel = a wooden hammer. 
 
 ' Plaize tii vatch in tha bittel an' wadges, I wan'th tii slat 
 thease moots.' 
 
 Biver = to tremble. 
 
 ' ^'hen I zeed um bring tha corpse out ov tha river, I 
 bivered all awver.' 
 
 Black army = fleas. 
 
 A servant girl once said to me : 
 
 ' Dawntee plaize tii awpen yer beydriime winder tii-day, 
 missis, cuz ef yii dii tha black army '11 come in ; an' us shan't 
 git a wink ov zlape all drii tha zummer vur tha vleys. I've 
 a-yerd tell 'ow they comes down Ex'ter 'ill in zwarms 'pon 
 tha fust ov March, alwes !'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 53 
 
 Black-head = an inflamed sore. 
 
 ' Whot's tha matter wi' yer ole man now than, Mrs. Ash ?' 
 ' Aw, nort much, unly 'e 'th agot a black-head pon 'is leg, 
 an' that maketh 'en cruel tayjus.' 
 
 Blaked-away = cried till breathless. 
 
 ' Sally, urn up an' tell mawther that tha cheel 's a-blaked 
 away ; 'er's black in tha vace — urn, vur God's sake, or 'er 
 '11 be deyd avore 'er com'th.' 
 
 Blamed = a polite swear. 
 
 'I'll be blamed ef 'er chell iver 'ave wan appenny more out 
 ov me !' 
 
 Blare = to shout loudly. 
 
 ' Yii should 'ave ayerd urn blare ! They blared an' hollied 
 till they purty nigh bust theirselves.' 
 
 Blawcawl or Blawcoal = a sheet of tin placed before the 
 
 fire to cause a draught. 
 ' Ef thease grate smawk'th like this us must 'a' a blawcawl 
 made avor winter, else there'll be no living yer !' 
 
 Blazing = (i) shouting loudly, (2) spreading abroad. 
 
 (1) ' Whot's Bet blazing about now, then?' 
 
 ' Aw, I dawn't know ; 'tez the likes ov she tii holly za 
 'ard's 'er can.' 
 
 (2) ' Ef you've a-told Alice James about yer uncle gieing 
 'e that stub ov money, her'll be blazing it awl awver tha 
 place. ' 
 
 Blid = (i) blood, (2) a decrepit person, (3) bled. 
 
 (1) ' Tha blid wuz awl awver tha place.' 
 
 (2) ' Poor old blid ! he'th azeed his best days, he 'ath !' 
 
 (3) ' His vinger blid a stream.' 
 
 Bliddy-waryers = wallflowers. 
 
 ' I've agot a 'mazing crap ov bliddy-waryers thease yer.' 
 
 Blooth = blossom. 
 
 The apple-blooth is biitivul thease spring. Ef tha vrast 
 dawnt titch tha trees, us chell 'ave a brave crap.' 
 
 Bluemould or Bluevinnied = mouldy — said of cheese when 
 
 ripe. 
 ' Diiee like bluevinnied Darset cheese ?' 
 ' No, I dawnt, nur 'et maggoty Cheddar.'
 
 54 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Blunk = spark. 
 
 ' There idden a blunk ov vire yer, an' us ant agot no 
 lucifers. I can't tell whotiver tii dii tii yett tha kittle.' 
 
 Bobbery = an uproar. 
 
 ' There's a purty bobbery up tii ouze. The young miss 
 'ath amarried tha groom all unbeknown to innybody.' 
 
 Bobbing- Joan = a gay, sprightly girl. 
 
 ' Aw, whot a bobbing-Joan thee art, Polly ! Wait a bit, 
 m' dear, till yii'm married ; yii'll 'ave tii stap they hantics. I 
 tellee wedlock an' winter tameth maids an' baistes.' 
 
 Bobs-a-dying = a big row. 
 
 ' Luke zee yer, ef thee arten ago out tii work avore yer 
 vather cometh intii ouze, there'll be bobs-a-dying wi' 'e. 
 Diiee, diiee urn along, there's a glide bwoy.' 
 
 Bocked = baulked, prevented. 
 
 ' I wuz abocked ov my holiday yisterday, an' I bant 
 agwaine tii be sard like that again, I'm baggered ef I be !' 
 
 Boneshave = sciatica. 
 
 ' I be main sartin I got tha boneshave in my hip, vur I 
 can't git up nur zit down.' 
 
 Through a small hamlet not far from Nymet Roland 
 meanders a small rivulet, which with some trouble to itself 
 manages to join the main river. On the bank of this 
 stream, on a bitterly cold winter night, old John Roden, a 
 martyr to sciatica, stretched himself out, head against 
 stream, in the hope that ' tha watter wid car tha boneshave 
 down tii tha zay.' At his side was laid an ashen staff. Two 
 women on opposite banks, with joined hands stretched over 
 Jack and the stream, chanted in monotone : 
 
 ' Boneshave right, 
 Boneshave strite ; 
 As tha watter rins by tha stave, 
 Zo follow boneshave.' 
 
 Then silently departed in opposite directions, leaving 
 John Roden to get home ' za zune as his boneshave wuz 
 ago.' Needless to state, ' boneshave sticked tii en,' and ere 
 daylight death had carried him away to a painless home. 
 
 Bootivul or Biitivul = beautiful. 
 
 ' 'Tez a biitivul morning, 's marning, zir !' 
 
 ' 'Ess 'tez, Jan, biitivul.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 55 
 
 Bowled = boiled. 
 
 1 Be they tatties a ciiked 'et ?' 
 
 "Ess.' 
 
 ' Well, than, drain um off or they'll be bowled all abroad.' 
 
 Brad = a thick stick. 
 
 Brandires = an iron three-legged trivet. 
 
 'Stand tha brass milk-pan 'pon the brandires and put 
 zome live cawls under 'n. The milk will yettee alright 
 then.' 
 
 Brath = broth. 
 
 ' Brath ! whot, brath again ! Why, 'twas brath yisterday ! 
 brath tha day avore ! brath tii-day ! an' mayhap 'tweel be 
 brath again tii-morrar ! I'll be darned ef I'll be keep'd 'pon 
 brath !' (Said by a schoolboy when sick with measles. ) 
 
 Braund = a log of wood. 
 
 ' 'Tweel be cruel cold bimbye. There's a sight ov snaw 
 in tha elements ; yii'd best ways bring in a giide stug ov 
 braunds, or yii'll git no vire when tha snaw dith come.' 
 
 Brave = (i) excellent, (2) fine, (3) good. 
 
 (1) ' Thease yer is brave good tay. Where didee git it ?' 
 
 (2) 'There's a brave lot ov vokes ago to Danish by 
 'scurtion train tii-day.' 
 
 (3) ' Aw, well dun, than ! well dun ! Yii be a brave 
 chap, sure 'nuff.' 
 
 Brawked or Broked = broken. 
 
 ' Bill How corned 'ome bosky last night an' brawked awl 
 tha dome 'pon dresser — I min', awl up tii snickets. I'm 
 'nation zorry !' 
 
 Brekzis = breakfast. 
 
 ' How long avore brekzis will be ready, missis ? I've been 
 waiting a brave while.' 
 
 Brimbly = full of brambles. 
 
 ' Didee iver zee sich a stivery head as 'er'th agot. 'Er 
 liiketh 's-of 'er'd been drawed drii a brimbly 'adge 
 back'ards.' 
 
 Brimmels = brambles. 
 
 ' Thickee cheel 's availed intii tha brimmel-bush, an' 
 scratched herzel purty well, I warndee.'
 
 56 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Brin = strong linen. 
 
 ' Ef yii wants inny new shirts, Ned, yii'd best git zome 
 brin ; tez 'mazing strong stuff, an' 'tweel bear a rug an' 
 a tug.' 
 
 Brish = brush. 
 
 ' Where's ta put tha brish tii, Bill ?' 
 
 Brit = to dent. 
 
 ' Now jist liikee zee whot yu've adiied now ! Thee 'st 
 abritted thease bestest taypot, yii gert shacklebrained 
 twoad !' 
 
 Broft = brought. 
 
 ' Urtched Downe drink'th za hard that 'e 's niver zober. 
 He 'ath abroft all 'is vokes tii ruin, 'e 'ath.' 
 
 Brownkitty = bronchitis. 
 
 ' I been most mortal bad thease winter, wuss than iver I 
 wuz avore. I've ahad tha brownkitty drefful bad, an' bin 
 za tizzicked up I elide 'ardly breathe.' 
 
 Browsy = robust. 
 
 ' 'Avee zeed Aryott (Harriet) Wobb's little maid since 'er 
 corned back vrom skule ? Well, idden 'er a dear browsy 
 cheel ? 'Tath adiied 'er giide gwaine away.' 
 
 Bucky = sour. 
 
 Said of milk when turned sour, or has a bitterish taste 
 from being put into an unclean vessel. 
 
 Buckle-tii = to work with a will. 
 
 ' Now I say, Peter, diiee buckle-tii wi' a giide listy will, or 
 us shan't 'a' tha hay 'ouzed avore tha rain com'th. I zee 
 tha clouds hiking cruel 'eavy an' gathering up tii westward.' 
 
 Biike = book. 
 
 ' Yii'll 'a' both forrels off thickee biike ef yii mal'th en 
 about zo.' 
 
 Bulkee = to eructate. 
 
 ' Dawnt yii bulkee in my veace again, dist yer ! or I'll 
 plim thy 'ead vur thee.' 
 
 Bull-'baggar = one who causes a scare. 
 
 ' Betty Vowler 'th a-bin yer again an' purty nigh scared 
 tha cheel tii death ! 'Er's za ugly "s a witch. I'll hat 
 thickee ole bull-baggar a skat in tha 'ead ef 'er cometh yer 
 again. Darned ef I dawnt !'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 57 
 
 Bullums = sloes. 
 
 ' Bullums gin is giide vur tha colic' 
 
 Bungy = short and stout. 
 
 ' He's a nice little chap, sure 'nuff; a proper little bungy. 
 He's like a Dutchman. 
 
 ' Bungy 'pon truckles, 
 All vlaish an' no knuckles.' 
 
 Burd = bread, and bird. 
 
 ' Yii didden put barm enough in tha daw tii-day, vur tha 
 burd's a clit, an' 'tez 'eavy 's lead.' 
 ' Thease little burd's deyd.' 
 
 Burdge = bridge. 
 
 'Urn, Tom, diiee ; little Teddy Ciike 'th availed awver 
 tha burdge intii tha Exe. He'll be adrownded ef yii dawnt 
 Hike sharp.' 
 
 Burkee = to cough. 
 
 ' 'Er cough is terrabul bad, an' 'er dii burkee like a 
 dug.' 
 
 Burned — an oath. 
 
 ' No, I'm burned ef I'll dii 't !' 
 
 Burtches or "britches = breeches. 
 
 ' He 'th atored his burtches in tha brimmel bushes.' 
 
 Busky-eyed = intoxicated. 
 
 ' Liikee zee tit Billy Blake ! I'm baggared ef 'e idden 
 busky-eyed again, an' 'e tiiked tha pledge only last week. 
 There's yer taytottallers again ! They taketh kindly tii 
 liquor.' 
 
 Butt = a kneeling pad. 
 
 Buttwoman or Buttywoman = a sextoness, female verger. 
 
 In many churches a woman is employed to keep the 
 interior of the edifice clean, to show strangers into pews, 
 wash the surplices, and beat the butts (hence buttwoman). 
 At quiet weddings she gives away the bride and signs the 
 register, and often stands sponsor at christenings. 
 
 Butt = a straw beehive. 
 
 It is not unusual in country places, on the death of a 
 member of a family possessing bees, to go into the garden, and 
 tap the butt three times, saying : ' Father's dead ! Father s 
 dead ! Father's dead !' or any other member of the family
 
 5* 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 as the case may be. In the event of this announcement to 
 the bees being omitted, the fear is that other members of the 
 household will die before the expiration of the year. 
 
 The following from the Tiverton Gazette, published by 
 Gregory, Son, and Tozer, on Tuesday, August nth, 1891, 
 is interesting : 
 
 ' The old custom " of turning the bees " at a funeral has 
 not yet died out in Devonshire. Only a few days ago, as a 
 funeral was leaving a cottage in a village not far from 
 Tiverton, the ceremony of turning round the hives was gone 
 
 
 & A J "' 
 
 BEE- BUTT. 
 
 through, and in the process some of the bees escaped, 
 stinging the bearers, who were forced to retire into the house 
 and have their faces dressed before they could proceed. 
 This is not the first time that such a mishap has occurred. 
 A similar incident was recorded some years ago in one of 
 Cassell's publications, as follows : 
 
 ' " A curious superstitious custom formerly prevailed in 
 Devonshire of turning round the beehives that belonged to 
 the deceased— if he had any — at the moment the corpse 
 was carried out of the house. Some years ago, at the 
 funeral of a rich old farmer, a painful circumstance occurred. 
 Just as the corpse was placed in the hearse, and the visitors 
 (a large number) were arranged in order for the procession 
 of the funeral, a person called out ' Turn the bees !' A
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 59 
 
 servant who had no knowledge of such a custom, instead of 
 turning the hives round, lifted them up, and laid them down 
 on their sides. The bees, thus suddenly invaded, instantly 
 attacked and fastened on the visitors. It was in vain they 
 tried to escape, for the bees precipitately followed, and left 
 their stings as marks of their indignation. A general con- 
 fusion took place, and it was some time before the friends 
 of the deceased could be rallied together to proceed to the 
 interment." 
 
 'There is a tradition that if the hives be draped with 
 crape the bees will take their turning quietly, especially if 
 the crape is so arranged that no opening is left for them to 
 get out.' 
 
 Buzzom = bosom. 
 
 ' Havee a yerd about poor 'Liza Turner ?' 
 ' No. Whot es et ?' 
 
 ' Why, tha poor dear sawl hath abin foced tii 'ave 'er 
 buzzom atiiked off, cuz her got a cancer in un.' 
 
 1 Aw, poor blid ! 'er want live very long now, than ?' 
 : No, I rekkon !' 
 
 Buzzymilk = The first milk given by a cow after calving. 
 ' No, mum, us niver useth tha buzzymilk. Tidden glide 
 vur nort.' 
 
 Bwoy = boy. 
 
 ' I've agot dree bwoys an' dree maidens — six aw'm alto- 
 gether. My man awnly arns a pound a week, an' I can 
 tellee I offen got tii take tha zoap and tha biites out ov tha 
 vittels.' 
 
 Bwoy's-love = southernwood. 
 
 C. 
 
 Cab = dirt adhering to plates when not properly washed ; 
 a clot of mud. 
 
 ' There's cabs awl awver thease yer plate ; dawnt yii niver 
 bring sich a beastly cabby theng tii me again.' 
 
 Cabbage — to purloin. 
 
 A farmer's wife once asked a dressmaker, ' How much of 
 this dress material have yii cabbaged? I'm sartin there 
 idden vowerteen yards in thease scrimpy little tail'
 
 60 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Cabbical = very good, capital. 
 
 ' Well, I will zay this vur thee, Jim, thee art a cabbical 
 feller !' 
 
 Caddling = loafing about. 
 
 ' Now then, Harry, whot be yii caddling about vur ? 
 Diiee go tii work an' 'am yer zalt, ef yii get'th yer mayte vur 
 nuthing.' 
 
 Cadge = to loaf, for the purpose of obtaining alms. 
 ' Dick Small do'th nort but cadge about vrom 'ouze tii 'ouze. 
 I widden gie 'n nort ef I zeed 'n starving in tha hadge-traw.' 
 
 Cal-home = to remember. 
 
 ' No, fath ! I can't, jist thease minit, cal-t-home when 'e 
 died. Ax Liza !' 
 
 Car = to carry. 
 
 ' Canst car thickee bag ov tatties awver tii squire's ?' 
 
 ' No, I'm burned ef I can.' 
 
 Canst — Can you. 
 
 ' Canst catch yett, Sam ? 'Tez oncommon cold 's marn- 
 
 ing.' 
 
 'Ess, I zim.' 
 
 Cautch = mess. 
 
 ' Whot a cautch thee art amaking ov that pudden. Git 
 along, dii ; I'll finish 'n.' 
 
 Cautcheries = medicines. 
 
 He. ' Well, whot cautcheries hath Mackenzie zendee now?' 
 She. ' Aw, 'tez zomthing tii miive tha pain, 'e zaith.' 
 He. ' 'Tez awl me eye ! he awnly wan'th tu urn up a bill. 
 I tellee there idden no vartu in the d stuff.' 
 
 Cawed = diseased. 
 
 Sheep are said to be cawed when in wet seasons they 
 contract lung disease, and cough incessantly. 
 
 'I be zo zorry tii tellee that maister's bound vur tii be 
 ruined. Every sheep he'th agot is acawed.' 
 
 Cess = happiness. 
 
 ' Giide cess tii his sawl, poor blid ! He hadden much ov 
 thease world's giides yer. He died game, 'e did, arter awl !' 
 
 Changes = underlinen. 
 When my maid went tii sarvice I gied 'er plenty ov 
 nges, an' now 'er ant a-got a screed tii 'er back.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 61 
 
 Chap = a young man, a sweetheart. 
 
 ' Wanted at once, indoors, chap able to plough ; no 
 swearing. Also a young nurse girl. — Apply, J. Sweet, Beer- 
 down, Uplowman.' 
 
 'Plaize, missis, may I go tii zee tha wild baistes? My 
 chap zaith 'e'll pay vur me.' 
 
 Chat (to) = to kitten. 
 
 ' Our old cat chatted yisterday, an' us be agwaine tii 
 drownd um awl. Never keep May chats, cuz they brings 
 varmints intii 'ouze, zo they zay.' 
 
 Chaynee-eyed = squinting. 
 
 ' Whot, is Joe Strike agwaine tii marry thickee chaynee- 
 eyed baggage, old pumplee Trude's darter ?' 
 
 "Ess, I zim.' 
 
 ' Well, I'm baggared ef I wid, than, wi' awl tha dubs 'er'll 
 'ave.' 
 
 Cheel = child. 
 
 1 Well, miss, whot'th tha missis got thease time than ? A 
 bwoy or a cheel (daughter) ?' 
 
 ' I niver did zee sech a cheel as Zacky Arters is ; 'e's niver 
 plaized wi'out 'e's tormenting zommat.' 
 
 Chillern = children. 
 
 ' They chillern be za vinnied they 'ool go uppen 
 chimmer.' 
 
 Chimber or chimmer = bedroom, chamber. 
 ' Us ant got but wan chimber vur vower aw us tii 
 zlape in.' 
 
 Chitter = chatter. 
 
 1 They chillern chitter like a tree vull ov sparrars.' 
 
 Chitterbox = chatterbox. 
 
 ' Du shiite up yer tattie-trap ! Yii be sich a chitterbox 
 nobody else can't git a word in edgeways.' 
 
 Chockling = cackling. 
 
 ' Urn, Evie, an' zee whot ole Polly's a chockling vur ! 
 I zim her 'th astawled her nist, and layed uppen tha hadge.' 
 
 Chollers = The wattles of a cock. 
 
 ' Liikee, zee tii our ole barn-door cock, ef tha chollers 
 aw'n bant za rid's blid.'
 
 62 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Chow = to chew. 
 
 Said at Christmas, by a recipient of a squire's annual gift 
 of mutton : ' Missy, plaize tii come yer an' liike tii thease 
 piece of mayte that squire zend me. 'Tez a bit ov mutton ; 
 I've a bowled it an' I've a bowled et, I've a chowed et an' 
 I've a chowed et, me an' my ole man tii, an' us ciidden git 
 et abroad, chow za hard 's us ciide. I rekkon 'tez a bit ov 
 tha tail end, missy.' 
 
 Chubble-headed or chuckle-headed = silly, foolish. 
 ' Now, diddee iver zee sich a chubble-headed viile 's 'er is 
 in awl yer born days? I niver didden.' 
 
 Chuckvull = quite full, intoxicated. 
 
 ' Thickee bottle is chuckvull ; 'e'll urn awver zoon.' 
 
 ' Jack Radford hath abin guzzling awl day ; 'e must be 
 
 chuckvull by this time. Won't be able tii stand vur a week, 
 
 I'll warndee.' 
 
 Chuff = ill-tempered. 
 
 ' Ef yii spayk'th za chuff as that tii me again, I'll hat thee 
 upendown !' 
 
 ' Whot be yii za chuff about now, than ? I ant adiied 
 nort tii agervate 'e.' 
 
 Chucks = cheeks. 
 
 ' 'Er chucks be za rid as a rose, bant um ?' 
 
 Chure = char, to do odd jobs. 
 
 ' Now than be peart, Sallie ; there's plenty ov chures tii 
 be adiied tii-day.' 
 
 ' 'Er's gammy-handed, but 'er can churee about a-bit.' 
 
 Clam = to maul. 
 
 ' I'll be jiggered ef yii'm agwaine tii clam en about zo ; 
 yii'll make'n muck awl awver !' 
 
 Clapper-claw = to scold. 
 
 'Well, thee can'st clapper-claw purty tight, when thee'st 
 a-mind tii !' 
 
 Clat = a cob. 
 
 ' I'll henn thease clat at thy 'ead ef thee zaith that again !'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 63 
 
 Clathopper = clodhopper. 
 
 'There never wuz sich a gert 'eavy viited clathopper as 
 thee'rt, George. Thee can'st niver zee where thee'rt agwaine 
 tii.' 
 
 Clatting = fishing for eels. 
 
 ' Mawther, where's vather ?' 
 
 ' Why, dissent knaw ?' 
 
 ' No, I dawnt !' 
 
 ' Well, than he's agone up tha river clatting !' 
 
 Clayned = cleaned, dressed. 
 Visitor. ' Can I see Mrs. Smith ?' 
 
 Servant. ' No, mim, not jist 'et, 'er idden clayned ; 'er 
 wunt be very miny minits now. I'll tell she yii be coined.' 
 
 Cledgee = sticky. 
 
 Here is a letter from a man excusing himself for not 
 having sent butter as usual to a customer in Exeter in which 
 the word ' cledgee ' occurs. 
 
 ' Barton, 
 
 ' North Tawton, 
 
 'March iyh, 1891. 
 
 ' Sir, 
 
 ' i ham main zory i cudden ind yer buter as per 
 usal. the snaw was so dep, and know the rawds be so 
 cledgee us kin arly git dru them ver jakes. hopping you 
 heave not ben incomoded, i ham, 
 
 ' Your's truely, 
 
 'Peter Brown.' 
 Clink = prison. 
 
 ' Idden this a brave job o't ? Tha jistices 'ave 'a clapped 
 Tom Pearce intii clink vur stayling ferrits. A fine tale 
 that'll make in tha parish.' 
 
 Clint = to bend the point of a nail after it has been driven 
 through a hard substance. 
 
 A story is told of two men who made a bet as to which 
 could tell the biggest lie. 
 
 Joe said : ' I droved a nail drii tha miine.' 
 
 Tom replied : ' I went t'other zide and dinted un.' 
 
 Clipper = a knock on the head. 
 
 ' I can tellee, I gied'n a dazzed glide clipper in his 'ead, 
 an' 'e ant been niest me zince.'
 
 64 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Clit = heavy ; applied to bread when it has not risen 
 properly. 
 
 'Thease loave ov breyde a-clit. I 'spose tha flour wuz 
 a-melted.' 
 
 Clitched-hold = caught. 
 
 'Ef 'e hadden a-clitched-hold vast tii me, 'e'd availed 
 skat intii tha watter.' 
 
 Cloam = crockery-ware. 
 
 ' Yer's a tiidii again ! Bill Vrast hath a-tanned 'is wive, 
 an' broked ivery iotum of cloam in tha 'ouze.' 
 
 Clockee = to cackle as a hen. 
 
 ' Thickee hen have a-layed a egg. I yerd 'er clockee 
 avore brekzis. Urn uppen taller., Zacky, an' zee ef 'e can 
 vind 'er nist.' 
 
 Clovel = the beam across the front of the chimney, found 
 only in old farm-houses. 
 
 'Maister, diiee plaise tii come yer an' liikee tii thease 
 clovel ? I zim 'e's purty nigh burned drii.' 
 
 ' 'Ess, by gor, zo 'er is !' 
 
 Cob = a dry ball of earth. 
 
 ' 'E henned a gert cob at 'er 'ead, an' hat 'er a dowst ov 
 a whack in tha eye.' 
 
 Cob = a composition of straw, lime, small gravel, and clay, 
 from which the walls of houses were up to the seventeenth 
 century built. Some of these walls are from two and a 
 half to four feet thick. 
 
 Colly = a blackbird. 
 
 'There's a colly's nist in thickee bush.' 
 
 ' I dii yer tell that tha squire shiite a white colly yisterday. ' 
 
 Conkerbils = icicles. 
 
 ' Diiee lukee zee how tha conkerbils be ahanging tii tha 
 oaths ; bant um biitivul !' 
 
 Coord = cord. 
 
 'Yer, Charlie, urn down tii Bert Toller's an ax un tii 
 lettee 'ave vower yards ov box-coord. Dawntee gie moar'n 
 dree 'appence a yard vor't.' 
 
 Cornder = corner. 
 
 ' The warmest cubby-hole, this zort ov weather, is the 
 chimbley-cornder.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 65 
 
 Cotton = to beat lustily. 
 
 ' I'll cotton thy hide vur thee ef thee dissent come yer 
 dreckly minit' 
 
 Cow-comforts = stone pillars erected on pasture lands 
 against which cattle rub themselves. (None as yet have 
 been heard to say : ' God bless the Duke of Argyle !' though 
 they may experience a sense of inward gratitude.) 
 
 Cowcumber = cucumber. 
 
 ' I be that fond ov cowcumbers, I ciide aight um tii ivery 
 meal ; but I can't disgest um.' 
 
 Cow-hocked = thick at heel. 
 
 ' I dawnt thenk much ov 'er. They did zay 'er was 
 purty, but I dawnt zee 't ! 'Er's cow-hocked ! My ole 
 dummon 's worth a dozen aw that zort.' 
 
 Craking = complaining. 
 
 ' Whot's tha use ov craking about et ? Why dissent go 
 an' git zome work tii dii ?' 
 
 ' Yii've adiied nort but crakee awl day, an' I be most 
 mazed wi' 'e.' 
 
 Cralers = lice. 
 
 ' 'Er 'ead 's za vull ov cralers as iver 'e can 'old.' 
 
 Crams = creases. 
 
 ' My gown is crams awl awver ; that's cuz 'Liza packed 'n 
 za tight tiigether.' 
 
 (Another example, which may perhaps be amusing, was 
 said by a farmer's wife while unpacking her daughter's box 
 on returning from school.) 
 
 ' Yii've a cramed yer vroks purty well ; I can tellee they 
 liike's thof they'd been drawd drii a ca've's mouth.' 
 
 Crams = fidgets. 
 
 Daughter. ' I dawnt like that ; I wish I ciide 'ave 'n 
 made as I wants tii.' 
 
 Mother. 'Git along, dii! Yii got za minny crams, yii 
 dawnt knaw whot yii want'th.' 
 
 Crap = crop. 
 
 ' Us got a 'cabbical crap ov tatties thease yer !' 
 
 Craw = crow. 
 
 'Whot's about now? Picking a craw? Why, thee 
 kassent ayte a craw ! 'Tez a carrion burd ! Draw 'n away 
 diiee.'
 
 66 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Crayme = cream. 
 
 ' 'Er will ayte crayme za vast as a dug will ayte whitpot.' 
 
 Crayturs = creatures, persons. 
 
 ' Poor ole craytur, 'er's pin tap ov' er last legs, 'er is.' 
 
 I (i) to shiver. 
 Creem= < (2) to mash. 
 
 ( (3) to squeeze. 
 
 (1) 'When I zeed the wheel go awver 'n it made me 
 creem awl awver.' 
 
 (2) 'Lizzie, diiee creem up tha tatties tii-day vur dinner ; 
 they '11 Hike iver zo much better.' 
 
 (3) ' Havee a creemed up tha cheese ready vur tha 
 press ?' 
 
 ' 'Ess, 'tez diied.' 
 
 Cricket = a three-legged stool. 
 
 ' Zo then 'tez true that poor ole maister's gone tii kingdom 
 come ?' 
 
 ' 'Ess, sure ! I've a jist layved missis zitting a-ziffing 
 an' a-sighing 'pon tha cricket in tha chimbley-cornder. 
 'Er's fit tii break 'er 'art, vur 'er did analyze (idolize) the 
 poor dear blid ! Aw well, tez whot us must all come tii.' 
 
 Crimminy = an interjection. 
 
 ' Aw crimminy ! I zeeth 'n ; 'e's croped behind tha peg's 
 lews wall.' 
 
 Crinkum-cranklums = fidgets. 
 
 ' 'Er's wan ov tha right zort, 'er is ; 'er ant agot no 
 crinkum-cranklums about 'er, 'er 'athen't.' 
 
 Crint = to groan. 
 
 'Whotiveris tha use ov zitting there a-crinting ? Ef zo 
 De yii've agot tha tiitheache, diiee go an' 'ave 'n out !' 
 
 Crips = crisp. 
 
 'Thease piece o' 'ood es tii crips vur curving, missy; yii 
 must 'a' box-'ood or oak.' 
 
 Crooked words = swear-words. 
 
 A man at Chudleigh Knighton was in the habit of inter- 
 larding his conversation with oaths. His wife, getting weary 
 of it, begged him to give up using they ' terrabul crooked- 
 words.' Observing her tears, he instantly turned, took her 
 in his arms, and said : ' I'm darned ef iver I zays ort again
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 67 
 
 but " Rams-horn !" za long as I liv'th, I'm darned ef I dii !' 
 and he kept his word. 
 
 Oroped-behind = hiding in a stooping position behind an 
 object. 
 
 ' 1 vound thease beastly little twoad of a cheel outzide 
 croped-behind tha back'ouze door — a drabbitted little 
 haggage !' 
 
 Crowner = coroner. 
 
 ' They be agwaine tii vatch tha crowner, 'cuz they saith 
 Bill Veysey 'ath a-powzened hiszel. They'll zit 'pon 'n 
 down tii tha Merry Aryers tu-night.' 
 
 Crowdie = to fiddle. 
 
 At a charity school, not many years ago, the master was 
 fond of imbibing too freely at a small inn opposite the 
 school-house. When the boys discovered that ' maister wuz 
 agone tii 'ave a drap,' they would rush wildly from the 
 schoolroom, shouting : 
 
 ' Crowdie, crowdie Kit ! 
 Holiday yisterday, 
 And zo 'tez 'et !' 
 
 The master was quite content to let them go, for their 
 absence gave him a capital excuse to spend the rest of the 
 day in the company of ' a churchwarden ' and a foaming 
 pot. 
 
 Crowder = a fiddler. 
 
 ' There go'th tha crowder ! I warndee 'e's off tii Worling- 
 ton Revel ! Come along, Jenny, let's go tii, an' 'ave a try 
 at Roger de Coverley wance more.' 
 
 Crub = a crust. 
 
 'Yer, Kezia, come in 'ouze an' cut a crub ov burd an' 
 cheese vur Jack Mayne's supper avore 'e go'th 'ome.' 
 
 Crub = the trough into which chaff and other fodder is 
 put to feed cattle. 
 
 ' Ef yiire bwoy go'th upen tha linhay, 'e'll vind tha crub 
 vull ov tha cob that tha rats 'ave a-digged out ov tha wall, 
 'tez prime stuff tii put intii vlower-nats.' 
 
 5—2
 
 68 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Criiel = very. 
 
 (i) ' Zims tii me yu 'm criiel quiet. VVhot's tha metter 
 wi' 'e ?' 
 
 (2) 'I tellee whot 'tez. 'tez criiel kind ov 'e tii take za 
 much trubbei vur me ! I bant worth et !' 
 
 Criinee = to whine. 
 
 "Tez brave an' dismal 'ome tii 'ouze zince Annie hath 
 adied ; tha chillern criinee an' criinee all day long vur 'er. 
 j be aveared tha babby will pine hiszel tii death.' 
 
 Cubburd = cupboard. 
 
 'Theys yer new 'ouzes be most onconveyniant ; there 
 idden no cubburds tii 'm like there was in tha old coo walls 
 'ouzes.' 
 
 Cubby -hole = a cosy corner. 
 
 Two little girls of seven and eight years of age were 
 missed for many hours, and were at last found fast asleep 
 in a haypook. When remonstrated with for causing their 
 parents alarm, the younger said : ' Oh, us only made a dear 
 little cubby-hole in tha pook, and I 'spose us vailed asleep ; 
 us didden knaw us shiide be alost !' 
 
 Ciichy-pawed = left-handed. 
 
 ' Git away, dii, yii ciichy-pawed little twoad ! Thee 
 kessent dii nort vittee.' 
 
 Cuddie = the wren. 
 
 Cuddie-bum = short tailed. 
 
 'Whot iver 'avee adiied now? Why, yii've a-pulled awl 
 tha tail aw'n out ! A purty shaw 'e'll be now ! A proper 
 cuddie-bum fright !' 
 
 Ciireyus = very particular in the execution of work. 
 
 'I've aturned the legs ov tha stiile voree, missis, an' 
 'opes yii'll like um. I was terrabul ciireyus about um tii 
 make um vittee.' 
 
 Cursemas = Christmas. 
 
 'Cursemas com'th but wance a year, 
 And when 't com'th it bring'th giide cheer !' 
 
 Cussen = to train. 
 
 ' Ef yii want'th a cheel tii dii ort, yii must cussen 'n up 
 proper when 'e's young ; tidden wan iotem ov use tii layve et 
 till 'e's old/
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 69 
 
 D. 
 
 Daffadowndillies = daffodils. 
 
 These grow in wild profusion in orchards and meadows 
 throughout the county. 
 
 Dahngerous = dangerous. 
 
 ' That's a drefful dahngerous stile tii zit 'pon. 'Addenee 
 best vind a zaffer sayte ?' 
 
 Dallee and dalled = an oath. 
 
 (1) 'Dallee! Whot's about now making awl this yer 
 upstore ?' 
 
 (2) ' I'll be dalled ef I pays 'n wan varden more !' 
 Dallylaw = a spoilt child. 
 
 She. ' Glide marning, Maister Gollop. 'Ow's thee 
 missis ?' 
 
 He. ' Aw ! 'er's za well 's can be expected arter awl tha 
 trubbel us 'ave a-had.' 
 
 She. ' Aw ! I ant ayerd nort about that. Whot's tha 
 metter now, then ?' 
 
 He. ' Why, yii zee my wive 'ave alwes zot gert store by 
 thickee bwoy ov ours. 'Er made sich a dallylaw ov 'n 
 that when 'e went vur a hoss sodger, 'e wadden vit vur 
 much ; an' when 'e vailed bad 'e hadden got nobody tii 
 nuss 'n, an' zo I zim 'e pined away like, an' died. 'E was 
 alwes a miity-hearted zort ov a chap. Poor blid ! us chell 
 niver zee 'e no more. My missis dii crint an criinee awl 
 day long about et !' 
 
 Dandy-go-rissit = rusty brown. 
 
 ' I widden wear thickee vrock again ef I wuz you. 'E 
 wuz black wance, but now 'e's dandy-go-rissit colour.' 
 
 Dang-my-ole-wig ! = a swear. 
 
 ' Dang-my-ole-wig vur me ! Ef yer idden a purty jakes 
 o' 't ! Tha babby's a-valled intii tha plump-traw. What 
 chell I dii way min ?' 
 
 Dap = (i) a sharp slap, (2) to drop quickly. 
 
 (1) 'What's stan' there a-baling vur? I ciidden a-hurted 
 thee, vur I awnly gied thee a little dap in tha niddick.' 
 
 (2) ' Mr. Smith, I found a bunch of violets on the ledge 
 of my dining-room window. Did you put them there ?' 
 
 ' 'Ess, mum, I did. I thort yii'd like a fii, an' as nobody 
 wadden about, I jist dapped um inzide tha winder ?
 
 70 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Dapper = sprightly, quick. 
 
 ' I be za dapper 's a vlay when I'm mind tii.' 
 
 Daps = likeness. 
 
 ' Thickee cheel's tha very daps ov 'es vather, idden 'er ?' 
 
 Darnee = an oath. 
 
 ' Darnee ! Ef 'e com'th yer again min, I'll leather 'n !' 
 
 Dashell = the thistle. 
 
 ' Maister Tapp idden a very giide varmer. 'Is ground 's 
 za viile ov dashells as et can hold.' 
 
 Dashed = an oath. 
 
 ' Dash yer ole 'ead vur 'e ! Whot's put thee viite out in 
 my ravvd vur ?' 
 
 ' I'm dashed ef I du !' 
 
 Dashus = audacious. 
 
 ' Ef yii spak'th tii me like that again, I'll hat thee down, 
 thee 'dashus little hussy !' 
 
 Datch. = thatch. 
 
 ' 'Tez mostly cob 'ouzes that be datched. The new wans 
 builded wi' brick be mostly slatted.' 
 
 Datcher = thatcher. 
 
 ' They ricks '11 git wet drii. Yii'd bestways zend vur tha 
 datcher tii come airly tii-morrer marning.' 
 
 Dawbwoys = dough dumplings. 
 
 These are delicious little dumplings made of flour, milk, 
 eggs, and suet. When well boiled they are eaten with 
 sugar or cream and jam. 
 
 Dawcake = a silly person. 
 
 She. ' My dear sawl, I've meet with zich a misfortin' ! 
 Polly Blackmore 'ath a-broked my best chinnee tay-pot.' 
 
 He. ' Well, I bant zorry vuree. Yii shudden a-let zichee 
 dawcake hannel tha taythengs at all.' 
 
 Dawy = silly, daft. 
 
 ' I can't taych thews chillern very much. They zim tii 
 be dawy. Put in wi' tha loaves and tiiked out wi' tha 
 caakes !'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 71 
 
 Debbenshire = Devonshire. 
 
 Devil's-coach -hoss = a large beetle found among the heath 
 growing in N. Devon (possibly on all heathery hills). 
 
 Dicky = a linen shirt front. 
 
 ' Willie, urn down town an' ax Maister Webb tii send me 
 a dicky wi' a stan'-up collar — sixteen inches round tha 
 neck.' 
 
 Dieted = addicted. 
 
 ' 'E wance wuz dieted to drink, but 'e's grawd za zober's 
 a jidge latterly.' 
 
 Diffarns = difference. 
 
 ' Whot's tha differns tii yii whot I dii ?' 
 
 Dimmits, Dimpsy = twilight. 
 
 (1) ' 'Ess sure ! I'll be 'ome avore tha dimmits.' 
 
 (2) ' Dawntee bide out late, come in 'ouze avore 'tez 
 dimpsy.' 
 
 Diraxions = directions, address. 
 
 (1) ' Ef yii'd a listeneed tii my diraxions, yii widden 'ave 
 tuked tha wrong rawd.' 
 
 (2) 'Plaize tii give me Jane's diraxions.' 
 
 Dishwasher = the wagtail. 
 
 Divered = dead. 
 
 ' Theys vlowers be awl divered ; chell I draw 'm away ?' 
 
 Doateth. = dotes. 
 
 ' I shiidden winder ef thickee cheel dithen die airly 
 becuze 'er mawther doateth upon 'er zo.' 
 
 Doed or Diied = done. 
 
 1 I've a diied awl my work, zo I chell go upen chimmer 
 an' clayne myzel.' 
 
 Do'ff=(i) to extinguish, (2) to take off. 
 
 (1) ' Do'ff the kannel an' go tii beyd.' 
 
 (2) ' D'off thee 'at when thee zees a leddy !' 
 
 Doiled = silly. 
 
 ' Thee'rt agoed doiled tii-day by tha liik es o't ! Whot 
 iver 'ast abin adiiins: wi' theezel ?'
 
 72 THE PEASANT SPEECH OE DEVON. 
 
 Dollop = a big lump. 
 
 'Whot iver didee put zich gert dollops ov suet intii the 
 pudden vur, Lizzie ?' 
 
 Doomshaw, or Diitnesliaw = a procession, circus. 
 
 I once heard this word applied to the Lord Mayor's 
 procession : 
 
 'Well, I tellee I wuz up tii Lunnon last week, jist in time 
 tii zee tha Lord Mayor go out in his carridge, and a brave 
 ol' dumeshaw 'twuz sure nuff. Yii niver zeed sich a rally as 
 'twuz. I widden like tii be gapped at like 'e wuz, I c;m 
 tellee !' 
 
 Dotty = half-witted. 
 
 4 Poor old Mrs. Fangdin is getting dotty, th'of 'er Ve a 
 knaw'd a theng or tii in 'er life-time za well's Dr. liudd !' 
 
 Douted = extinguished, put out. 
 
 Maid : ' I've a douted tha fire an' tha kannels, mum !' 
 Mistress : ' Say " extinguished," not " douted," Jane.' 
 Maid : "Ess, mum ! plaise tii zay thickee word again.' 
 Mistress : ' Ex — tin — guished !' 
 
 Maid : ' Thankee, mum ! chell I sting guish tha cat, 
 mum ?' 
 
 Dowl = devil. 
 
 ' Whot tha dowl be 'bout now than ?' 
 
 Down-'ouze = down-stairs. 
 
 ' We 'ave abin foced tii zlape down-'ouze iver zince tha 
 datcher corned. Tha rain corned in pin-tap tha beyds, 
 right drii tha datch.' 
 
 Dowst = the husks of oats and wheat. 
 
 By small tenant-farmers, and the peasantry generally, 
 dowst-beds were not long ago more commonly used than 
 feather-beds. 
 
 Dowst-a-bit = deuce-a-bit. 
 
 ' Dowst-a-bit ef I cares who zeeth whot I dii'th ! I bant 
 ashamed ov nort I dii.' 
 
 Dowsty-poll = a head covered with flour (as a miller's). 
 ' Miller, O miller, O dowsty poll ! 
 How minny zacks hast thee a-stawl ?'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 73 
 
 Drabbitted = bad-tempered. 
 
 'Awl I can zay vur tha drabbitted little twoad is that 'er 
 i^hetten come yer again vur zome time tii come, I warndee !' 
 
 Drade = (i) drawn, or drew, (2) threw. 
 
 (1) ' I drade a whacking gert badger out o' tha hadge 
 down by Barn's Close thease marning. Thickee Trim is a 
 tidy dug tii tackle a badger !' 
 
 (2) ' I zeed 'ow Ted Tripe drade sheep's eyes tii she in 
 church last Zinday arternoon.' 
 
 Draining = drawling. 
 
 ' VVhotiver be yii a-draining out yer words like that there 
 vur? Duet try tii spake up peart.' 
 
 Drangway = a narrow passage. 
 
 'Urn up thickee there drangway, Polly; there's a wild 
 bullick coming awver drii tha strayte.' 
 
 Drash = to belabour. 
 
 ' Ef I catch thee in my orchit again, I'm burned ef I 
 dawnt drash thee black an' blue.' 
 
 Drashel = a thrashel. 
 
 This was the instrument used to thrash out grain previous 
 to the introduction of the steam thrashing-machine. 
 
 Dread = thread. 
 
 ' Willie, just urn down tii shop an' git a pennerd of kiise 
 dread. 
 
 Dree = three. 
 
 ' My cheel will be dree yers ol' tu-morrer.' 
 
 Drexil = threshold. 
 
 ' Ef I catch thee awver tha drexil ov my door again, I'll be 
 dalled ef I dawnt gie thee what vur than /' 
 
 Dring = (i) to crowd, (2) to push. 
 
 (1) ' Whot tha d diiee dring in 'pon tha chillern like 
 
 that vur? Yii'll squatt um tii death.' 
 
 (2) 'Who be yii a-dringing ov ? Keep back, willee !' 
 
 Drip-my-bit = a threepenny-piece. 
 
 ' Liikee zee ! 'er'th agied me a drip-my-bit vur diiing dree 
 houro' work, a skinflint old twoad !'
 
 7 4 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Drippence = threepence. 
 
 ' Bill, I want'th a drink. Canst lend me drippence ?' 
 
 ' No, by Gor ! I ant got nort tii lend !' 
 
 Drish. = the thrush. 
 
 ' I got a biitivul drish ; 'e zing'th better agin rain !' 
 
 Droat = the throat. 
 
 ' I zim Benny idden very well ; 'e zeth 'is droat's zore. I 
 du 'ope 'e idden agwaine tii 'av tha feyver.' 
 
 Drone = to drawl. 
 
 'Diiee read vittee, an' not drone your words like that.' 
 
 Drowed = dried. 
 
 ' Us 'ad a lot ov rain last night, but tha zin shined out 
 bright this marning, an' 'tez drowed up biitivul.' 
 
 Droweth = dries. 
 
 'Tvveel be a cabbical day vur tha revel, thoft 't'ave 
 arained tii-night ; tha wind droweth up tha rawds purty 
 quick.' 
 
 Drii and drii = through and through. 
 
 A clergyman having forgotten his sermon, said to the 
 clerk : ' I've forgotten my sermon, Shopland.' 
 
 'Aw, niver mind, zur; za ziine's 'e can, yii jist urn 'ome 
 and vatch 'n ; I'll keep tha vokes busy while yii be agoed.' 
 
 Thereupon he stood up in his desk, and after sundry 
 coughs, blowings of the nose, and other fussy impromptu 
 movements, he adjusted his spectacles, fumbled over the 
 leaves of his psalter, then, in a very sonorous voice, said : 
 
 ' Let us zing tii tha praise an' glawry of God, tha wan 
 'undered an' nineteenth psalm. Avore yii begin'th tii zing, 
 I'll read 'n drii an' drii.' 
 
 Needless to add, the people were amused, but ' passen 
 corned back avore 'twuz drii and drii.' 
 
 Druel = to allow the saliva to flow over the under lip. 
 ' Babbies always driiel, an' yii can't keep um dry about 
 tha ching (chin) unless yii put um on a giide thick bib.' 
 
 Drummeldrane = bumble-bee. 
 
 'Thews drummeldranes can't sting; they ant agot no 
 spear ; they awnly buzzeth around. I dawnt zee whot they 
 wuz a-made vur, they bant no airthly use.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 75 
 
 Dry = thirsty. 
 
 'Aw, diiee let me drink. Innything '11 dii, vur I be dry, 
 jist a chucked.' 
 
 Dubbed = blunted. 
 
 'Zee whot dubbed little vingers her 'th agot.' 
 
 Dugged = muddy. 
 
 ' Now diiee liikee zee there ! Yii've a-dugged yer tail 
 purty fine, I can tellee.' 
 
 Dugged-tail = muddied skirts. 
 
 'Yii beastly dugged-tailed little varmint. Zee whot a 
 muck yii be in !' 
 
 Dummon = woman. 
 
 A man agreed to give a woman ^5 for the loan of a field 
 in which to hold a large picnic. After this he was offered a 
 field free of cost. Wishing to save ^"5, he sent to ask her 
 to cancel the agreement. On the return of the messenger 
 he said : 
 
 ' I've a lewsed me labour by agwaine tii she, vur tha ol' 
 dummon stick'th tii tha bargain !' 
 
 Dumphead = the miller's thumb, or bull-head. 
 
 ' Havee got any fish, Bill ?' 
 
 ' No ! Nort but tii or dree dumpheads.' 
 
 It is also a term applied to persons whose intellects are 
 below the average. 
 
 'Us can't zay much vur she; 'er's a bit ov a dumphead, 
 'er is !' 
 
 Dunky = donkey. 
 
 'Vather 'ath a-gied us a brave strong dunky, awl vur 
 ourzels.' 
 
 Durns = door-posts. 
 
 ' 'E'th ahat 'is 'ead agin tha durn ov tha door.' 
 
 Dwalee = to talk inconsistently. 
 
 "Er is mortal bad, I'm aveard : 'er ant adiied nort but 
 dwalee awl drii tha night. 'Er is nigher tii 'er end than 
 yii zims 'er 'es, I'm zartin !'
 
 76 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Ekal = equal. 
 
 ' 'Er's a bad lot, 'er is ; 'er's ekal to ort, 'er is.' 
 
 Errish = stubble fields. 
 
 'The fezens be out in tha errishes feeding; there'll be 
 rare glide sport vur squire in October.' 
 
 'Ess = yes. 
 
 ' Is that yii, mawther ?' 
 
 ' 'Ess, cheel.' 
 
 'Ess, fay = yes, by my faith. 
 
 ' I 'spose yii be agwaine tii Susie Tucker's wedding, 
 bantee ?' 
 
 ' 'Ess, fay ; every wan ov us !' 
 
 'Ess, sure =yes, certainly. 
 
 Two very old gentlemen, dining together, were overheard 
 to remark : 
 
 First O. G. ' Do you remember when we were boys, we 
 stole a goose from a farmer living on Exeter Hill, and got 
 Mrs. Folland to cook it for us ? 
 
 Second O. G. ' 'Ess, sure !' 
 
 'Et = yet. 
 
 ' I 'opes tii come an' zee 'e zune, vur I ant a-had noan ov 
 thickee bride-cake 'et !' 
 
 'Et-a- whiles = not yet. 
 
 ' I tellee I bant agwaine 'et-a-whiles.' 
 
 Ezakally zo = just so. 
 
 First Lady. ' My opinion is that Mrs. Short talks much 
 too fast, and is too busy about what does not concern her.' 
 Second Lady. ' Ezakally zo !' 
 
 Fainty = oppressive weather. 
 
 ' I zim tha weather is cruel fainty tii-day, zir. There's 
 thlnder about. I veels wangery.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 77 
 
 Fake-up = to renew. 
 
 ' Annie, vvillee jist urn in ouze an' fake up tha vire ?' 
 
 Fakement = to muddle. 
 
 ' I niver did zee sich a fakement in awl my life. I layved 
 tha 'ouze za nayte za new pin, an' now tidden fit tii be 
 zeed.' 
 
 Fanty-sheeny = extremely fanciful. 
 
 ' Dawntee let me zee no more ov yer fanty-sheeny ways 
 yer, or I'm burned ef I dawn't draw thee out ov 'ouze neck 
 an' crap.' 
 
 Fardle or fardel = a package. 
 
 ' Now then, out ov 'ouze yii goes thease blessed day, pack 
 an' fardel.' 
 
 Fath or fey = faith. 
 "Ess, fath, I be agwaine.' 
 'No, fey, I bant agwaine.' 
 
 Fawny = a finger-ring. 
 
 ' Diiee zee 'ow fine Uncle Tom is ? 'E's sporting a fawny. 
 Where's 'n gwaine tii ?' 
 ' Aw ! that's tii telling !' 
 
 Fegs = an interjection. 
 
 ' Aw fegs ! 'tez a brave bad job !' 
 
 Fess = proud, vain. 
 
 ' Lukee zee, 'er 'th agot a new bunnet. Why, 'er's za fess 
 as a paycock.' 
 
 Fewster = fester. 
 
 ' Ef yii dawnt pull out thickee thern vrom yer vinger 'e'll 
 fewster.' 
 
 Feybul = feeble. 
 
 ' 'Er wunt live long I'm aveard ; 'er git'th more feybul 
 an' feybul ivery day.' 
 
 Feychers = features. 
 
 ' Plaize tii obsarve, mum, 'ow 'is blessed feychers be 
 aweard away wi' tha weather.'
 
 7 S THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Fezens = pheasants. 
 
 'Tha fezens up tii Ugborough Park be za thick 's tha 
 grass in tha ground ; I'll be blamed ef I dawnt think I ciide 
 catch um wi' my tii 'ands.' 
 
 Figgy = full of raisins. 
 
 Christmas puddings are said to be figgy. 
 
 Figgy-pudden = Christmas pudding. 
 A woman placed this notice in her shop-window : 
 ' Figgy pudden wan appenny a slice ; 
 More figgier w r an penny a slice.' 
 
 Fillyloo = uproar. 
 
 This must be an old Saxon word, which has remained 
 almost as pure as it was spoken by our ancestors, for the 
 peasantry in the neighbourhood of the Black Forest still use 
 ' pfilulu,' as in 'Was fiir einen pfilulu ihr macht.' 
 
 Our own people say, ' When us corned 'ome vrom church 
 thease marning there wuz Anna Maria a holling, an' a baling, 
 an' a yalling, an' a crying fit tii drive a feller mad. Yii niver 
 did zee sich a fillyloo in yer born days !' 
 
 Fippence = fivepence. 
 
 "Ow much didee <:ie vur thease wan?' 
 
 ' Awnly fippence a yard. Cheap, wadden 'er ?' 
 
 Fitch = polecat. 
 
 ' 'E stink'th like a fitch.' 
 
 Flickermayte = mixture of flour and milk. 
 ^ lb. of flour, i quart new milk, 2 oz. treacle. Mix to- 
 gether, and bake in a well-buttered dish for half an hour. 
 
 Flickets = blushes. 
 
 ' Whot's the metter now, missie? I zim yer flickets 
 rawzed a bit when young squire liiked thease way.' 
 
 Flink = (i) to sprinkle, (2) to throw, (3) to shake out. 
 
 (1) ' 'E'th a fiinked tha watter awl awver tha room.' 
 
 (2) "E fiinked the dist in my eye.' 
 
 (3) 'Flink out yer apporn till 'e's dry.' 
 
 Flinktail-comb = ordinary dressing-comb.
 
 LOCAL rHRASEOLOGY. 79 
 
 Flip about = to move quickly. 
 
 'Come now, flip about, Susie, or us shan't get diied avore 
 dark.' 
 
 Flip-stick = a thin flexible wand. 
 
 ' I want a nice little flip-stick to tickle tha hide ov thease 
 yer dug. 'E will keep urning awver tha planche dreckly 
 minit I've a-scrubbed 'n.' 
 
 Flower-nat = flower-bed. 
 
 'They pegs have abin in an' skammelled awl awver my 
 flower-nat, an' spoweld ivery wan ov thews bliddy-waryers.' 
 
 Forrel = cover ov a book. 
 
 "Er'th atored off tha forrels ov grammer's Bible. There'll 
 be a dowst ov a upstore 'bout that bimbye.' 
 
 Fowsty = musty. 
 
 ' Pu-h, pu-h ! Diiee awpen tha winders, an' let out this 
 fowsty ole zmell. The winders ant abin awpen vur a week, 
 I shiide thenk.' 
 
 Frawsy = a dainty feast. 
 
 ' Now awl tha vokes be ago tii races, us'll 'ave a frawsy 
 awl tii ourzels. Whot chell us 'ave ?' 
 
 ' Aw, let's 'ave a fowl an' a figgy pudden.' 
 ' Zo us will.' 
 
 French-nits = walnuts. 
 
 Master. ' I think 'tis time to pick the French-nits.' 
 
 Man. ' 'Ess, zir, 'tez, vur I zee tha chaps 'ave abeginned 
 
 hatting aw 'm down. I'll git the line-prop, an' git za minny 
 
 down as I can thease eveling.' 
 
 Frill-de-dills = frills and embroidery. 
 ' Thews frill-de-dills be oncommon itemy tii iron. 'Tez 
 nort but proudness tii put za much o't pin cloase.' 
 
 Frizz = to fizz. 
 
 ' Aw ! I zmell'th zommat giide. Winder whot 'tez a 
 frizzing in tha pan? Make'th me 'ungry tii thenk about 't.' 
 
 Ful tii me = this is an abbreviation of ' God be merciful 
 to me.' 
 
 An old nurse had charge of a few very high-spirited 
 children. Donald, the brightest and merriest, was often the 
 cause of much anxiety to her. At times, when his hilarity 
 and perversity were more than she could endure, she would
 
 So THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 lift her eyes to heaven, clasp her hands in prayer, and 
 murmur, ' Fill til me ! ful til me ! ful til me ! Amen !' 
 
 Furridge = (i) to purloin, (2) to ransack 
 
 (i) 'Barber Bennett cut my 'air yisterday, an' I ciide 
 swear he furridged half ov what he thinned out.' 
 
 (2) ' 'Er's gone uppen chimmer, an' I'll warndee 'er'll 
 furridge out ivery 'ole an' cornder avore 'er com'th down 
 again.' 
 
 Fussocky = to bustle about quickly. 
 
 ' There idden wan bit ov peace tii be 'ad in thease 'ouze, 
 Charlotte, vur yii be vur everlasting fussocking about wan 
 theng or tuther. Diiee bide still.' 
 
 Tustled up = wrapped up. 
 
 ' I niver zeed anybody a-fustled up like yii be. Yii've 
 a-got 'angkerchers enough on vur dree !' 
 
 G. 
 
 Gal = to vex. 
 
 ' Yii zay sich drefful unkind thengs tii me, that yii gal me 
 more'n I can tellee.' 
 
 Gaily = to scare. 
 
 ' They've gallied tha old feller tii death purty near.' 
 
 Gally-bagger = person fond of gadding about. 
 'Mrs. Broom is a rigler ol' gally-bagger, 'er urn'th from 
 'ouze to 'ouze wi' awl tha news ov tha parish.' 
 
 Gally-bagger = scare-crow. 
 
 The three qualifications of an Exmoor pony are : 
 
 (1) ''E'll car drink.' 
 
 (2) ' Can smil a pixy.' 
 
 (3) ' Widden cockee tii a gally-bagger.' 
 
 Gallyment = alarm. 
 
 ' Whot's awl this gallyment about ? There's nort tii 
 frighten 'e.' 
 
 Gallytraps = signs. 
 
 ' When 'e told yer fortin didder make any gallytraps 'pon 
 tha tabul !' 
 
 ' No, 'e didden, but made zum scratches wi'is vinger 'pon 
 tha papper !'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 81 • 
 
 Gaily vanting = going from home. 
 
 "Er's vur everlasting gallyvanting about ; better fit 'er'd 
 bide 'ome an' mind 'er work.' 
 
 Gammetting = frolicking. 
 
 'Stap yer gammetting for giideness sake, there's a dear 
 cheel, an' go tii work.' 
 
 Gammuts = games. 
 
 ' I wunt believe wan word yii zay, vur I knaw yii be 
 awnly making gammuts ov me.' 
 
 ' Stap thews gammuts thease minit !' 
 
 Gammy-handed = hands incapable of much movement. 
 ' 'E'th a squot 'is 'and in tha door, an' 'e'll be gammy- 
 handed vur a brave while.' 
 
 Gappee = to gape. 
 
 ' Whot's gappee tii me vur ? I bant a Otteneetot !' 
 
 Gapping = gaping. 
 
 ' Whot's gapping at ? I bant a doomshaw made vur a 
 gapsnest !' 
 
 Gapsnest = a pretty sight. 
 
 ' Whot gapsnest be yii a-gwaine tii zee now ?' 
 
 ' Aw ! awnly Bostock's wild beastes.' 
 
 Gawked-up = sitting on a very high seat. 
 ' Lor-a-massy, missus ! us be a-^awked-up 'nation 'igh. 
 Ef tha 'oss wuz tii trip us shiide be scat vore intii tha rawd.' 
 
 Gawkim = a fool. 
 
 ' Well-a-day, that iver I shiide 'ave abin born tii be tha 
 mawther ov sich a gawkim as thee art !' 
 
 Gee-wug = get away from. 
 
 Gee-up = step out. 
 
 These are very familiar expressions to all who know any- 
 thing of farm horses and their grooms. 
 
 Gert = great. 
 
 ' Rin, little veard ; gert veard's arter thee !' 
 
 Gibby-lambs = very young lambs. 
 
 ' Aw, my dear sawl ! 'avte azeed whot amazing lot ov 
 
 6
 
 82 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 gibby-lambs butcher Cuke 'ath agot. I rekkon 'e's gitting 
 stocky ; 'e'll be a urch man avore long !' 
 
 G-iglet = a merry young girl. 
 
 ' Mary, my dear cheel, ef yii dawnt give awver being sich 
 a giglet y'iill niver be worth yer zalt.' 
 
 Giglet-market = a hiring-place for servants. 
 
 From time immemorial, to within the last fifty years, on 
 Lady Day young girls have been in the habit of standing in 
 the market-places awaiting a chance of being hired as ser- 
 vants. The custom prevailed very recently at Holsworthy, 
 Okehampton, and South Molton, but has now quite fallen 
 into desuetude. 
 
 Gladdie = a fool. 
 
 ' By Gor ! missis, I knaw 'e's a fool, a rigler gladdie ! 
 Listenee tii 'n 'ow 'e chitter'th tii hiszelf.' 
 
 Gladdy = the yellow-hammer. 
 
 ' There is sich a purty little gladdy out yer. The 'ead ov 
 'n is jist like a canary's.' 
 
 Glazeth = to look intently. 
 
 ' 'Er glazeth at me, 'z ef 'er ciide liike me drii an' drii.' 
 
 Glowring = staring rudely. 
 
 ' Whot art glowring tii me vur now, then ?' 
 
 Glumping = sulking. 
 
 'Tidden no use tii go about 'ouze aglumping like that; 
 twant make thengs better by putting out yer piitch and 
 luking ugly !' 
 
 Glumpy = sulky. 
 
 ' Yii nidden be glumpy wi' me. I ant adiied nort tii 'e.' 
 
 Go = gone. 
 
 ' Awl tha bwoys and maidens in tha parish be go tii 
 Poughill revel, I rekkon.' 
 
 Go-avore = go before. 
 
 ' Go-avore um ship !' is said to sheep-dogs when working 
 the flock. 
 
 Go-against = (i) to go to meet, (2) to inform against. 
 (1) ' Jane is late home tii-night, and 'tez very dark coming 
 down Shute Hill. I wish, Jimmy, yii'd go against her !' 
 ' Awl right, mum ; I'm arter 'er in tii shakes \\
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 83 
 
 (2) 'Squire Stephens tanned Dick Carter last night 
 up tii tha Cat and Fiddle, and I be summoned tii-day tii 
 go against un ; but I'll be blamed if they chell zee me inzide 
 tha court-'ouze !' 
 
 Goar = secretion. 
 
 Mother. ' Dii yii mayn tii zay yii've a-washed yer veace 
 thease marning?' 
 
 Daughter. ' 'Ess, I 'ave.' 
 
 Mother. ' Dawntee tell me no lies. I be zartin yii ant, 
 vur I can zee tha goars in both yer eyes, za plain as a pike- 
 stav. Go an' clayne um thease minit.' 
 
 Gob = a large lump. 
 
 ' I can't ayte thease piece ov pudden, there's za minny 
 gert gobs ov fat in un.' 
 
 Goetb. = goes. 
 
 ' Et goeth agin tha grain tii 'ave tii zay ort tii she, arter 
 awl 'er 'th adiied tii try tii hurt us.' 
 
 G'wan = go on. 
 ' G'wan, I tellee.' 
 
 God-a'mighty's-cow = the ladybird. 
 
 A servant came in from the garden one evening, bringing 
 a bunch of flowers, on which she had placed several lady- 
 birds. Coming near me, she said : 
 
 ' Yer's tii or dree dear little God-a'mighty's cows. Bant 
 um purty little craychers ?' 
 
 Goodger = the devil. 
 
 s Tha goodger take tha theng, I can't dii nort wi' 'n !' 
 
 Goodied = benefited. 
 
 1 Vokes be zaying that Mr. Moral Mackanzie is ago awver 
 tii zee tha emperor. I'll warndee he'll goody purty much 
 by thickee job, ef 'e ant agoodied a'ready !' 
 
 Gornied = an oath. 
 
 ' Yii want'th me tii zill my 'oss, diiee ? I'm gormed if I 
 dii ! 'E's worth more'n yii can gie vur'n.' 
 
 Goyal or Goyle = a ravine. 
 Smalacombe Goyal is near Dawlish. 
 
 On September 13th, 1889, it was reported in the Tiverton 
 
 6 — 2
 
 84 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Gazette that F. P., of Clayhanger, went scaring rooks, and 
 'zeed a deyd sheep down the goyle pin tap 'is back.' 
 
 Grainy = proud. 
 
 ' Yii take my word vur 't, they be got terrabul grainy 
 since they had thickee stub ov money alayved tii um.' 
 
 Gramfer-long-legs = long-legged spiders and flies. 
 
 ' Whot's thenk ov Jack Clatworthy ? Why, 'e 'th 
 acatched some gramfer-long-legs, an' is apulling off their 
 legs za vast as 'e can.' 
 
 Grammer's-pin = a long blanket-pin. 
 
 ' Yer, I say, Jim, I'll gie thee thease gert quarrender vur 
 thickee grammer's-pin. I want 'th 'n tii prick eggs right 
 drii wi'.' 
 
 Grapshold = to grasp. 
 
 ' Yii wunt be drownded ! No, tinoby ; grapshold ov tha 
 end ov thease pole and clitch tii 'n wi' both 'ands.' 
 
 Greyburd = a thrush. 
 
 ' They greyburds be a steeved tii death wi' tha cold. 
 Scores ov um will perish thease winter, vur sure.' 
 
 Greysedaisy = daffodils. 
 
 ' Aw, my dear, what a brave crap ov greysedaisies yii've 
 a got ! I'd zend um up tii Lunnun ef I wuz yii.' 
 
 Griddle = a gridiron. 
 
 Grits = groats. 
 
 'Thews grits be vul ov weavils. Car um back tii shop 
 an' change um.' 
 
 Grizzlee = to laugh derisively. 
 
 'Ef yii dii grizzlee tii me again like that, I'll hat thee down.' 
 
 Growed = grew. 
 
 ' Tha gearden trade dii git on fine now. Zince tha rain 
 corned 't 'ave agrowed like winkey.' 
 
 Giide — good. 
 
 ' If yii dawnt get no giide vrom yer physic, whot's tha use 
 ov taking ort ?' 
 
 Gulging = drinking greedily. 
 
 ' Freddy, if yii go'th on gulging like that, yii'll chuck 
 yerzel.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. $$ 
 
 Gulk = to drink quickly. 
 
 ' He gulked down tha zyder 's-off 'e 'adden adrinked a 
 drap vur a week.' 
 
 Gii-kii = cuckoo. 
 
 ' In Apprul tha gii-kii comes, 
 In May he zings awl day, 
 In Jiine he alter'th his tiine, 
 In July away he'll vly, 
 In August go he must.' 
 
 Gii-kii lambs = Lambs yeaned in April. 
 
 Gushed = startled. 
 
 ' Lor ! yii 've agushed me out ov my life, yii stupid ol' 
 gallybagger !' 
 
 Guttering = eating greedily. 
 
 ' Why, thee 't chuck theezel ef thee aytes za vast. Whot's 
 tha giide ov guttering yer mayte like that ?' 
 
 Guze = a goose. 
 
 ' Whot's giide vur that giize is giide vur tha gander.' 
 
 Giize-gobs = gooseberries. 
 
 ' Thews giize-gobs be ripe. Let's 'ave a giide tuck-in 
 ov' W 
 
 Guzzle = to drink heavily. 
 
 ' Shiidden winder if 'e idden bosky-eyed avore night, 'e 
 'th adiied nort but guzzle awl day.' 
 
 Gwaine or Agwaine = going. 
 ' Where be'st agwaine tii ?' 
 
 Hackmal = tomtit. 
 
 ' There's a hackmal's nest out in a hole in the awpel 
 tree.' 
 
 Hadge = hedge. 
 
 ' Yii can take a short cut acrass the barton ; there's a gap 
 in tha hadge that yii can git drii.' 
 
 Hadge-tacker = a repairer of hedges. 
 
 ' Varmer Bulley's acomed tii zomtheng; they say 'e's
 
 86 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 nort but a hadge-tacker now, an' work'th vur his dairyman 
 that wuz.' V 
 
 Haggage = an untidy woman. 
 
 ' Dawnt 'a' nort tii zay tii thickee slammicking gert 
 haggage !' 
 
 Hagged = pulled at with strength. 
 
 ' Missis, I've abin awver tii Mr. Broom's, an' 'ad out my 
 tiithe, an' 'e hagged tii 'n zo I thort 'e 'd abroked my jaw.' 
 
 Haggee = to argue. 
 
 ' When they beginn'th tii haggee I turns tail an urn'th 
 'ome.' 
 
 Hal = to tug, to pull. 
 
 ' Hal tii 'n, Jack ! 'E'll be foced tii come tii 'e.' 
 
 Hale = to cover up. 
 
 ' There'll be a purty 'ard vrast tii-night, Bill ; thee'st best 
 ways hale up tha tatties, or they'll be spowled.' 
 
 Hange, or Hanje = the purtenance of a sheep. 
 Butchers sell ' sheep's-head and hange ' for a few pence, 
 and from them is made very nourishing food. 
 
 Hand- wrist = the wrist. 
 
 ' Poor little Clara West 'ath a- vailed down pin tap tha ice 
 an' brawked 'er 'and-wrist, an' I dii zim 'er 'th ahat 'erzel 
 purty 'ard bezides.' 
 
 Hannel = handle. 
 
 ' Us chell want a new hannel tii tha frent doar zune.' 
 
 Hantecks = antics. 
 
 ' I niver did zee nobody za vull ov hantecks as 'er is. 
 Tell about er gitting married ! Why, 'er's more fit vur tha 
 silam, a poor jimcrack viile !' 
 
 Hapmy = halfpenny. 
 
 ' Aw ! 'er's a poor tupny-hapmy twoad !' 
 
 ' Canst gie me tii hapmy bits vur a penny ?' 
 
 Happerd = halfpenny worth. 
 
 1 Plaize tii give me a happerd ov twine ; I want'th tii tie 
 up tha burchen.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 87 
 
 Harrest = harvest. 
 
 ' Za zune's the harrest is avvver ; us'll awl come an' 
 zee 'e. 
 
 Hat = knock. 
 
 ' If yu stands there a-grizzling tii me like that I'll hat thee 
 'long tha 'ouze.' 
 
 Hatch = half-door of a cottage. 
 
 ' Shiit tha hatch, Sallie, that tha wet midden come in.' 
 
 Hatchmouthed = coarse, vulgar in speech. 
 
 ' I 'opes our Anna Maria won't graw up sich a hatch- 
 mouthed maid as Amy Keslake is, var ov awl the ciise 
 open-mouthed hussies that ever lived her beats tha lot !' 
 
 Haypook = a mound of hay. 
 
 ' Now tha rain's awver yii'd better draw they haypooks 
 abroad ; us wid be able to save zome now better'n us 
 thort.' 
 
 Heaving, or Sweating = said of floors and walls when they 
 throw out damp. 
 
 Heft = (i) to lift, (2) weight, (3) to throw. 
 
 (1) 'Diiee, plaize, tii heft thea.se flasket up 'pon my 
 showlder; 'e's drefful 'eavy. : 
 
 (2) 'Dawntee vind thickee maid a purty glide heft tii car 
 var?' 
 
 (3) 'Take an' heft tha bagger intii tha river. A giide 
 dowsing 'ull take tha liquor out o' 'n.' 
 
 Hellins = roofing slates. 
 
 This is properly a Cornish word, though it is frequently 
 used in the south-west of Devon when speaking of roofing- 
 slate. I once heard the term used at Tiverton by a gentle- 
 man who had once held a Cornish living. 
 
 Heliums = Haulms of peas, beans, and potatoes. 
 
 ' Us 'ad best w r ays burn up awl tha heliums and rubbage 
 that's lying about, or tha gearden '11 be vull ov slugs come 
 spring.' 
 
 Henn = to throw at. 
 
 ' Ef zo be thee dissent be quiet, I'll henn thease gert cob 
 tii thy heyde !'
 
 88 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Her = the 'indifferent' pronoun; substitute for 'she' 
 and ' he.' 
 
 ' Where's 'er agwaine tii ?' is used for 'Where is he, or she 
 going?' 
 
 A tom-cat having brought a rat into the kitchen, the 
 boot-boy said : ' Liikee zee tii 'er, 'er'th agot a rat ! My 
 eymers, 'ow 'er shak'th 'n !' 
 
 Herzel = herself. 
 
 ' Poor little blid, zee 'ow 'er'th a-hat herzel.' 
 
 Heytters, or Yetters = smoothing-irons. 
 'Us shan't a finished i-oring tii-day. Thews blessed 
 yetters (or heytters) won't yettee !' 
 
 Hide = to beat. 
 
 ' I'm burned ef I dawnt hide thee, ef thee dissent come 
 in 'ouze ! Mind, when I wance begin'th I'll hide thee tii 
 tha truth ov music' 
 
 Hide-nur-tide = news. 
 
 He. ' Well, Bet, 'ows Jack a-gitting on by thease time ?' 
 
 She. ' Aw, dawntee ax me nort about 'e ! I ant a-yerd 
 hide-nur-tide aw'n vur a giiddish bit.' 
 
 He. ' 'Ow's that than ?' 
 
 She. 'Aw ! I dawnt knaw — "out ov zight out ov mind " 
 I spose.' 
 
 High-de-lows = vulgar actions. 
 
 ' I can't abide sich high-de-lows. Tidden modest like 
 vur maidens an' bwoys tii go rumpsing about zo ! I shiide 
 be asheamed o't, I shiide !' 
 
 Hiszel = himself. 
 
 ' Aw, crimminy ! Hike sharp diiee! Jack 'th availed down, 
 an' I'm aveared he'th a-hurted hiszel.' 
 
 Hoaks = clubs in cards. 
 
 Being asked, at a farm-house, to take a hand at whist, I 
 was amused to hear the following : ' Now, Bill, tez your 
 "put" (deal). Now, missis, yii "peart" um (cut). Jimmy 
 yii "pitch" (lead). Your turn tii "shake um " (shuffle). 
 There, I'm beggared ef hoaks bant trumps again ! Why, 
 that's dree times urning !'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 89 
 
 Hollee = to scream. 
 
 ' I graps-en za 'ard, I made 'en hollee tii't.' 
 
 Hollen = calling loudly. 
 
 ' Whotiver be 'e a-hollen vur now, than ?' 
 
 Holmbush = holly-bush. 
 
 Holm-screech = the missel-thrush. 
 
 Holt = hold. 
 
 ' Yer, gie me up tha cloase line; I've a lost holt ov tha 
 bucket ; I mid be able to catch holt ov'n wi' thickee.' 
 
 Homalong = homeward. 
 
 ' Now than, sose, 'tez time vur us tii shett away homalong.' 
 
 Homeby = close to. 
 
 ' Jenny Brook's 'ouze is homeby ours.' 
 
 Hookem-snivey = deceitful actions. 
 
 ' I tellee 'onesty is tha best policy. Niver yii be up tii 
 hookem-snivey ways, twant answer in tha long-rin !' 
 
 Hoosky = hoarse. 
 
 ' I be aveared that tha mare's bad ; 'er's oncommon 
 hoosky tii-night. I thenk I'll gie 'er a bran mash.' 
 
 Hoozee = hoarse. 
 
 ' This yer east wind 'ath a-gied me a zoar droat, an' I be 
 gitting hoozee. Shudden winder if I dawnt 'a' brownkitty 
 avore tez awver.' 
 
 Hoppee = to caper. 
 
 ' They youngsters be a 'appy lot. They dii hoppee an' 
 skitteree about awl day long. 'Tez giide tii veel young, 
 idden et?' 
 
 Hotted = made hot. 
 
 ' If yii widden mind a scrap-dinner yii ciide have tha 
 cold beef hotted up intii a hash tii-day.' 
 
 Hozeburd = a term of mild and playful abuse. 
 
 ' Diiee zee whot thickee young hozeburd's about ? 'E'th 
 broked awl tha eggs Polly zot upon, tii let tha chicken out ! 
 'E zed there wadden no chicken there, an' yii told stram- 
 mers when yii said Polly wid hatch out a biitivul brood ! 
 Thickee bwoy's alwes up tii zome murchy.'
 
 go THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Huckmuck = untidy. 
 
 ' Well, 'er 'ouze is alwes za cautchee I'd be aveard tii zit 
 down in 'n. I niver did zee sich a huck-muck place in awl 
 my born days.' 
 
 Huds = shells of beans and peas. 
 
 ' Gie awl they pea-huds tii tha pegs bimbye, Lucy.' 
 
 Hugger-mugger = thriftless, untidy. 
 
 ' They be a hugger-mugger lot, I can tellee ; they live awl 
 ov a heap like pegs.' 
 
 Hulch = a thick slice. 
 
 ' I be most mortal 'ungry. I can ayte a giide hulch ov 
 burd an' cheese ; wan za big's my tii vistes.' 
 
 Hummun, or Dummun = woman. 
 
 She. ' 'Ow's yer ole hummun agitting on, Charlie ? I 
 yerd 'er wuz bad.' 
 
 He. 'Thankee, 'er'th agiidied bravely thews last vew 
 days. I 'ope 'er'll be down ouze purty zoon now.' 
 
 Humsoever = whomsoever. 
 ' Humsoever will, let 'n come.' 
 
 Hunks = thick pieces. 
 
 ' Dawntee cut sich gert hunks ov mayte 's that; tha chillern 
 can't ayte um.' 
 
 Hu-u-u = to hold obliquely, or carelessly, any article. 
 ' Thease yer post is awl ov a hu-u-u ! 'E won't keep up- 
 right, dii whot I will tii uphold 'n.' 
 
 ' Why dawntee hold 'en straight ? 'Es awl ov a hu-u-u !' 
 
 Idden = is not. 
 
 ' I tellee whot 'tez, than, 'e idden agwaine vur tii dii 't.' 
 
 Idden 'er = is she not. 
 
 ' Idden 'er purty nigh steeved wi' tha cold ?' 
 
 Iked-up = puckered. 
 
 ' Now, diiee zee how yii've iked-up thease zeam ? I ciide 
 sew better'n this when I wuz ten year old.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 91 
 
 In coose = of course. 
 
 1 Be yii gwaine tli be married thease yer ?' 
 ' 'Ess, in coose us be.' 
 
 ' Well, 'tez time tli ! Yii be sich gert loblollies, 'tez tha 
 best theng tu du.' 
 
 Ingyens = onions. 
 
 ' Whot a fine crap ov ingyens yii've agot thease yer, tu be 
 sure ! I dawnt thenk I iver zeed sich whackers.' 
 
 Inse-tez = how it is. 
 
 She. 'Jim Stubbs 'ave a lewzed awl 'is money, and 
 they'll be foced tii go tli workouze.' 
 He. 'Aw, that's inse-tez, than.' 
 
 Iotum = iota. 
 
 ' Plaize, missis, I du zim our Ellen is a proper viile ; 'er 
 ant agot wan iotum ov sense. Yii may tell tii 'er till yii 'm 
 black in the veace, an' 'er idden wan bit tha better. Darned 
 ef I dawnt thenk 'er's wuss !' 
 
 Iss, or 'Ess = yes. 
 
 Some contend that this word is pronounced c iss,' but 
 ' 'Ess,' seems to me the more correct form, sounding the ' e ' 
 long as in heed. 
 
 Item = trick. 
 
 ' Her's za vull ov items as a egg's vull ov mayte.' 
 
 Itemy = tricky. 
 
 ' Thease mare's za itemy I be aveared vur little Jacky tii 
 ride 'n. Best ways not.' 
 
 Jackie-twoad = will-o'-the-w r isp. 
 
 'I bant coming acrass the moor awl be myzel tii-night. I 
 be aveared ov the Jackie-twoads. I zeed scores aw'm when 
 I went acrass Dartymoor last autumn.' 
 
 Jakes = mess. 
 
 ' Ef yii'd azeed tha jakes 'er made wi' thickee there 
 pudden, yii widden ayte wan mossel aw'n.'
 
 92 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Jan Vaggus = a noted highwayman. 
 ' Jan Vaggus zeth, 
 
 " Less stap a minnit an' vetch breth ; 
 I'm dry, jist chucked." ' 
 
 Nathan Hogg's Letters and Poems 
 in Devonshire Dialect. 
 
 ' Ef yii maketh a noise Jan Vaggus will 'ave 'e,' is often 
 said to frighten children, or to subdue their boisterous 
 spirits. 
 
 In South Devon he is called 'Jack,' in North Devon 
 ' Tom.' 
 
 ' Tom Vaggus, the great highwayman, and his young 
 blood-mare, the Strawberry !' — Blackmore's Lorna Doone. 
 
 Jib = a wooden stand for barrels, milk -pans, and cider 
 casks. 
 
 Jibes = an eccentrically dressed woman. 
 ' Mrs. Snooks is a rummee old jibes ; 'er cloase is za old 's 
 aldon an' awl tha colours ov tha rainbow.' 
 
 Jibber-ugly's-fiile = a selfish person. 
 ' 'Er is like jibber-ugly's-fiile — 'er knaws whot's glide vur 
 erzel, 'er dii.' 
 
 Jiggered = an oath. 
 
 ' I'm jiggered ef I'll dii 't tii plaize yii ur innybody else.' 
 
 Jimcrack = fragile. 
 
 ' That's a rigler jimcrack ol' twoad ov a tabul. 'E '11 
 break down tha fust time 'e 's used.' 
 
 Jimmery cry ! — an interjection. 
 
 ' Aw ! jimmery cry! Whot's thur adiied now, than ?' 
 
 Jimmies = door hinges. 
 
 ' Tha jimmies ov they new doors craketh ; yii'd best ways 
 graise (grease) um !' 
 
 Jit = an upward twitch. 
 
 She. ' Diiee want a bit ov tha vlax between tha eyes ov 
 thease yer vox ?' 
 He. ' 'Ess, I dii.' 
 She. ' What vur, than ?' 
 He. ' Aw, tii make vishing vlies !'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 93 
 
 She. ' Well, then, 'elp yerzel. Jist take a pinch between 
 yer vinger an' thumb there, jist atwixt tha eyes avv'n, an' gie 
 un a jit upwards.' 
 
 He. < Will 'er bite ?' 
 
 She. ' Bite ! No, tinoby. Didee iver knaw a dog vox 
 bite when 'e was a-chained up ?' 
 
 He. ' Well, then, yer's at un !' 
 
 He gave a jit upwards, but the result was unsatisfactory. 
 
 Jit = a push. 
 
 ' Gie 'n a little jit ; he'll go vast 'nuf than !' 
 
 Jit = a sharp slap. 
 
 ' I ant a-hurted tha bwoy. I only gied 'n a jit in tha 
 niddick.' 
 
 Johnny Vortnight = a packman. 
 
 These men call from house to house once a fortnight 
 selling drapery goods or tea. Hence the name 'vortnight.' 
 
 Joneys = ornaments — earthenware dogs, cats, cocks, 
 shepherds, shepherdesses, etc., seen in cottagers' houses. 
 
 ' Loramussy, whotiver diiee squander yer money 'pon 
 thease old joneys vur ? Shiide save it vur a rainy day !' 
 
 Jonic = truthful, honest. 
 
 ' Yii may trist " she" I tellee 'er's jonic tii tha back- 
 bone !' 
 
 Junket = a favourite Devonshire delicacy. 
 
 Put three quarts of new milk into a china bowl, add three 
 teaspoonfuls of rennet and place it on the hob to 'set.' 
 When thick enough to bear put a layer of scalded cream on 
 the top, with a little nutmeg and castor sugar to taste. Do 
 not stir it. Add a wine-glassful of either rum, brandy, or 
 sherry. (Omit for T.T.'s.) 
 
 K. 
 
 Kaddy-ball = a tennis-ball. 
 
 ' Charles Orger hath agicd me thease kaddy-ball. 'E zeth 
 'e idden no glide vur tennis, cuz 'e's za beastly !' 
 
 Kannel = a candle. 
 
 I think the following letter rather amusing, and it will 
 throw some light on the use of the word 'kannel ' :
 
 94 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 ' Beescombe Bartin, 
 
 ' Lowton, S. Devon, 
 
 ' Oct. gi/i, 1857. 
 
 'Dear Miss Rudd, 
 
 ' My poar dear wive ave abin dead dree yers come 
 Cursemass, and now the Evelings be gitting long i do vind 
 et cruel wisht zure nuff to sit by myzel arter the kannels be 
 alight. Bant you terrabul dismal too, all by yerzel? I do 
 zim you be, and I thinks aboutee often. I spose you've a 
 saved up a glide stub ov money, and if zo be you thinks wan 
 kannel wid do to light us up stairs with, why zay the word 
 and I'll come in to town tewsday and us'll zee what can be 
 adiied about gitting married sharp. 
 
 ' I am your effecshinet lover, 
 
 'Abraham Hodge.' 
 
 Kayning = looking. 
 
 ' Didst iver zee inny body Hike like 'e dii ? 'E is alwes 
 a-kayning about yer, 's-of 'e 'ad a-lewsed zomtheng !' 
 
 Keive = a mash-tub. 
 
 ' Clayne out tha keive well avore you go tii mash that 
 malt.' 
 
 Keive = cave in which to store mangold or any other root 
 crops. 
 
 ' I rekon us 'ad better hale up tha keives wi' plenty ov 
 straw an' heliums vur us chell 'ave a 'ard vrast avore long.' 
 
 Kerning = ripening. 
 
 ' 'Tez a cabbical saison thease yer vur tha corn tii kernee. 
 'Tez za dry an' 'ot' 
 
 Kerpee = to find fault. 
 
 ' I ciidden live wi' Bill Cox's wive vur a year tii zave my 
 life. 'Er dawnt dii nort but kerpee, kerpee vrom wan 
 week's end tii anuther. I'd ziinder 'ang myzel than put up 
 wi t. 
 
 Keslings, or Gristlings = wild plums. 
 
 ' I zay, Jack, min ! let's go upen Lang's Copse ; there's 
 tii or dree kesling trees breaking down wi' ripe wans. Luke 
 sharp !' 
 
 Kibbed-heel = sore heels. 
 
 ' 'Er can't put on 'er biite ; 'er 'ath agot a gert crack right 
 acrass 'er heel ; kibbed, I zim.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 95 
 
 Kickhammer = a stammerer. 
 
 ' Spake up, diiee, Mai ! Yii be sich a kickhammer, nobody 
 can catch yer mayning. Spake slaw (slow) !' 
 
 Kindiddle = to entice. 
 
 ' Now, liikee, zee yer, Maister Dick ! I bant agwaine tii 
 'ave yii yer za offen. Yii wunt come yer a-kindiddling my 
 maid out arter dark.' 
 
 Kitch. = roll of offal fat. 
 
 ' How minny kitches ov fat willee 'ave tii spare tii-day 
 than, butcher ?' 
 
 ' Dunnaw ! Mayhap a dizen or zo !' 
 
 Knaw-nort = ignorant. 
 
 "E's a knaw-nort gert viile, 'e is. I'm cussed ef 'e 
 idden !' 
 
 Kommical = curious. 
 
 c I'm burned ef twadden a kommical sight ! : 
 Kootch = coarse grass. 
 
 ' Awl that zmoak com'th vrom tha kootch-heaps they be 
 burning upen Blackdown.' 
 
 L. 
 
 Lablolly = A silly person. 
 
 ' Whot's take notice ov ort sich a hollow-pated lablolly as 
 'er is vur ? Thee kissent git no sense out ov tha likes ov she.' 
 
 Lace = to beat with a stick. 
 
 ' Now yii liikee, zee yer ! Ef yii du'th that again, I'll lace 
 thee till thee kissent stand !' 
 
 Lackee = to lack. 
 
 ''Er ant a-got but one drawback, an' that is 'erdii lackee 
 common sense, 'er dii !' 
 
 Lambfashion = in youthful style. 
 
 An elderly lady, very much over-dressed, called one day 
 on a friend. As soon as she left the house, a bright little 
 maid said to her mistress : 
 
 'Mrs. Hodge is a fine-looking ole dummun, but I dii 
 zim 'er dresses 'erzel oncommon fine, 'er's like a oPyaw (ewe) 
 dressed up lambfashion !' 
 
 Lang ciise = long passage. 
 
 ' I've clayned tha 'ouze from tap tii bottom. I've unly 
 got tha lang ciise alayved tii scrubee.'
 
 96 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Larrup = to beat. 
 
 ' Ef thee com'th niest me vur awhile tii come, I'll larrup 
 thy hide vur thee !' 
 
 Larrupping = untidy, thin, tall. 
 
 ' I can't zee that yii've adiied wan bit ov work all thease 
 blessed day, yii larrupping gert haggage !' 
 
 Lattin-plate = tin-plate. 
 
 ' Tha babby 'ave abroked dree or vower plates. I wish 
 when yii go'th tii Dallish again, yii'd buy a lattin-plate 
 vur'n.' 
 
 Laurence = laziness. 
 
 It has been suggested that ' Laurence ' is synonymous 
 with 'the devil of laziness? People say, 'Aw 'es I zees 
 whot 'tez Laurence hath agot holt ov thee tii-day. Thee 
 witten dii nort that yii bant afoced tii, I warndee.' 
 
 Lay = as lief. 
 
 'I'd za lay die 's dii V 
 
 Leary = (i) empty, (2) hungry. 
 
 'Leer' is a common German adjective, e.g., ' mit leeren 
 Handen ' = empty-handed. 
 
 (1) ' Yer, Emma, dawntee go intii tha dairy leary-'anded. 
 Car thews pans wi' 'e.' 
 
 (2) 'I zeed Varmer Ayre agwaine 'ome wi' a leary cart.' 
 
 (3) ' Aw, my dear cheel, diiee gie me zome vorenoons. I 
 be that leary, I dawnt knaw whot tii dii wi' myzel !' 
 
 Leasing = gleaning. 
 
 ' They've agived tha chillern holiday tii-day, tii go leasing 
 upen Squire Poland's arrishes.' 
 
 Leather = to beat. 
 
 ' I'll leather thee za long's I can stand ef thee zeth or 
 diith ort tii 'er again, d'st yer what I zay?' 
 
 Leastwise = at least. 
 
 ' I be agwaine tii 'ave a new frock, leastwise mother 
 zed zo.' 
 
 Leechway = the path to a graveyard. 
 
 Le' 'm — let them. 
 
 ' Le' 'm bide ! tidden your place tii titch urn.' 
 
 Lef =to leave off. 
 
 ' Yii can lef work now, vur tez gitting dimpsy.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 97 
 
 Lenge = to loll. 
 
 'Dawnt lenge agin tha chimbly-piece Vilet, diiee, diiee 
 kirn tii stand vittee.' 
 
 Lerrick = to beat. 
 
 ' I'll lerrick thee tii-tha-truth-ov-music ef thee dissent go 
 tii skiile thease minit' 
 
 'Stand wan zide, or I'll lerrick thee.' 
 
 Lew = sheltered. 
 
 'Tha wind blawth like gert guns. Let's git tha tuther 
 zide tha hadge ; tez lew there.' 
 
 Lewzide = to leeward. 
 
 ' Tellee whot 'tez, yii'd bestways git tha lewzide ov tha 
 hadge gwaine 'ome-along.' 
 
 Lewze = pigs' house. 
 
 ' Put tha pegs intii tha lewze and hale um up wi' plenty 
 ov straw, nice an' hot, or they'll be scrammed wi' tha cold 
 avore marning.' 
 
 Libbits = rags. 
 
 (1) 'Why, Polly, yii've atored yer frock tii libbits !' 
 
 (2) 'Tha vire's za fierce, tha mayte's bowled to libbits.' 
 
 Licky brath = broth flavoured with leeks. 
 
 The following is told of a West Devon farmer. His 
 landlord occasionally invited one or two tenants to dine 
 with him, and talk over matters agricultural. One evening 
 he noticed Mr. Tibbs did not take his soup (vermicelli), but 
 stirred it backwards and forwards with the spoon, and a 
 look of disgust overspread his face. The host, addressing 
 him, said : 
 
 ' I fear you do not care for your soup, Tibbs. Let John 
 remove your plate.' 
 
 Mr. Tibbs smiled somewhat grimly and replied : 
 
 ' Well, zir, I likes a dish of licky-brath or taykittle-brath 
 ov a vrasty marning, but, burnish it awl ! I niver ciide 
 stomick maggoty brath like this es.' 
 
 Like winky = very quickly. 
 
 ' Urn out therevrom like winky, Dick, an' yii'll ziine 
 overgit um !'
 
 98 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Lime-ash = concrete. 
 
 In the neighbourhood of Bampton lime-ash floors are laid 
 in kitchens and cottages. This concrete consists of two- 
 thirds of Sampford Peverel lime ashes, mixed with one- 
 third of chippings or sharp sand. It is spread quite 
 smoothly for about the depth of five or six inches, and 
 beaten until it is settled. In time it becomes a hard, firm 
 floor, and is easily swept and washed. Though cold in 
 winter, it is cleaner and better for cottage floors than wood. 
 
 Linhay = an outbuilding. 
 
 ' I've aput the sheep intii tha linhay, 'tez nice an' lew 
 there. I s'pose they mid bide there till marning.' 
 
 Lippitty-lop = limping. 
 
 ' Aw, Loramassy ! Why, yii be gwaine awl lippitty-lop 
 like a lame craw !' 
 
 Lipsy = lisping. 
 
 ' Whot be yii about now, than ? Nobody can't understand 
 'e, yii dii lipsy zo !' 
 
 Listy = (i) lusty, (2) strong. 
 
 (1) 'Us 'ad tii or dree giide listy showers while yii wuz 
 intii tay.' 
 
 (2) ' Well, 'ess, I 'spose Will Kibbey 's za listy a chap as 
 yii'll zee again in a day's march.' 
 
 Loblolly = food made with flour and milk. See also 
 Whitpot and Flickermayte. 
 
 Lob's pound = jail. 
 
 She. ' Canee tell me whot's become ov Jack Vowler ? I 
 ant azeed 'n this longful time.' 
 
 He. ' Why, dissent knaw ? He stawled Passen Short's 
 ducks, and they send 'n tii lob's pound vur dree yers. Sar'n 
 right tii !' 
 
 Lock ! lock ! = an interjection. 
 
 ' Aw, lock ! lock ! 'tez a mess o' 't, sure nuff !' 
 
 Longful = lengthy. 
 
 ' How d' dii, Mrs. White ? Why, I ant azeed 'e thease 
 longful time. Wheriver 'avee akeeped yerzell ?' 
 
 Longcripple = a viper. 
 
 ' Zims 'tez signs ov fine weather when tha longcripples 
 scralee out.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 99 
 
 Long-dog = greyhound. 
 
 ' Aw, my eymers ! 'e urn'th like a long-dog 1' 
 
 Loozed or Lewsed = lost. 
 
 'Mother, whotiver chell I dii ? I've alewsed vather's 
 baccy-pipe.' 
 
 Loramassy ! = an interjection. 
 
 ' Loramassy upon us ! Who'd iver athort ov zeeing yii 
 thease way, sich a mizzling day as this is tii!' 
 
 Lost holt = let go. 
 
 ' He hal'd tii 'n za tight that I lost holt o' 'n in a jiffey.' 
 
 Lowster = to work laboriously. 
 
 ' I got tha best wive in tha worr'ld. 'Er's wan that 
 lowsters about tha 'ouze awl day long. None ov yer 
 squatting about till tha work's adiied.' 
 
 Lundge = to loll, to loaf. 
 
 ' Whyiver diiee lundge about zo vor, diiing ov nort, when 
 yii knaw how I be adringed up wi' work ?' 
 
 M. 
 
 Maid or Maiden = (1) a young girl, (2) a sweetheart, 
 (3) a woman-servant, (4) a daughter. 
 
 (1) ' There's lots of little maids out there tii play.' 
 
 (2) ' Ah ! yer com'th Bill Rooks an' 'es maid?* 
 
 (3) ' I yer Mrs. Small keep'th dree maids now. I winder 
 'ow 'er can afford that !' 
 
 (4) ' I be most mazed my youngest maid 'th got tha 
 feyver, and I be aveared 'er wunt git awver 't.' 
 
 Mainzorry = very sorry. 
 
 'They dii zay that Betty Gribble, old Jinny Gollop's 
 darter, 'ath a drownded 'erzel. I be mainzorry vur Jinny, 
 poor oP sawl ! Betty wuz tha best ov tha bunch.' 
 
 Mai or Mull = to maul. 
 
 ' Dawntee go vur tii mal'n about zo.' 
 
 ' Whot's mull'n like that vur ?' 
 
 Mallywallops = a tall, untidy woman. 
 ' Didee iver zee sich a mallywallops avore ? I niver 
 didden.' 
 
 7—2
 
 ioo THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Malscral = caterpillar. 
 
 'Tha giizeberry bushes be acovered awl awver wi' 
 malscrals.' 
 
 Manangle = to maul, to tear. 
 
 ' They baggering 'ounds manangled tha vox all tii pieces 
 avore I ciide stap urn.' 
 
 Mapsing = smacking the lips with relish. 
 
 ' 'Er dawnt zim tii 'ave iver 'ad a bit or a croon of glide 
 mayte avore ; jist liike, zee 'ow 'er's a mapsing 'erlips awver 
 'er vittals.' 
 
 Mashmallys = marsh-mallows. 
 
 'Now, ef yer ladyship will unly (only) make a mashmally 
 poultice an' put up tii yer veace, 'tweel dra' out awl tha 
 'flammation avore marning.' 
 
 ' Mashmally-tay is very giide vur colds in the heyde !' 
 
 Masts = acorns. 
 
 'Turn they pegs out in the copse ; there's a brave lot ov 
 masts ablavved down thease marning.' 
 
 Maygames = frolics. 
 
 ' Yii niver did zee sich a feller in yer life. 'E dawnt dii 
 nort vrom cockcraw tii zinzet, but be up tii awl zorts of may- 
 games. There idden a bit ov harm in 'en tho'.' 
 
 Mayhap = perhaps. 
 
 ' Well, loramassy ! whot a gert maid yii be agrawed ! 
 Mayhap yii work'th in tha mill?' 
 ' No, I dawnt; I be out tii sarvice.' 
 
 Mazards = black cherries. 
 
 This fruit is largely grown in north Devon, viz., at 
 Braunton, Landkey, Barnstaple, and South Molton. 
 
 Mazed-finch = the wagtail. 
 
 It is so named because of its incessant motion. 
 
 Mazed-head = dizzy. 
 
 ' How are you this morning, Mrs. Sims ?' said the rector's 
 wife to a parishioner. 
 
 'Aw, mum, I dawnt knaw 'ardly. I bant very well; I 
 veel za mazed-headed as a sheep !' 
 
 Mickled = choked with thirst. 
 
 ! I'm niest 'pon mickled ! Diiee gie me a jiig ov zyder !'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 101 
 
 Mid = may. 
 
 Midden = may not. 
 
 ' Diiee knaw that Jim Liizemore is agwaine to Woolfardis- 
 worthy revel ?' 
 
 ' Well, 'ess, 'e zaid zo ; but yii can't depend 'pon 'e. 'E 
 mid or 'e midden go, jist as tha maggot bit'th.' 
 
 Midst = may. 
 
 Son. ' Vather, mid I 'a' a new pair of biites ?' 
 
 Father. ' 'Ess, thee midst if thee widst.' 
 
 Mimpy-pimsy = dainty. 
 
 ' Whot a poor mimpsy-pimsy craycher 'tez, tii be sure !' 
 
 Min = an interjection. 
 
 ' VVhot's thenk, min ? There's 'underds ov rats up tii our 
 ouze, min ! Us yers um squirling 'round vur 'ours arter us 
 be agone tii bed ; and a dowst ov a racket they maketh tii !' 
 
 (An interesting paper on this word has been written by Mr. 
 Elworthy, of Wellington, and published in the ' Transactions 
 of the Devon Association of Literature, Science and Art.') 
 
 Minds = remembers. 
 
 ' Why, 'ess, tii be sure ; I minds yii when yii lived tii 
 Yarnscombe, 'long a Varmer Muxworthy.' 
 
 Minit = moment. 
 
 ' I be acoming thease minit !' 
 
 Minnit = a tiny thing. 
 
 ' Havee yerd tell that Mrs. Blampey 'ave agot a new 
 zarvint ?' 
 
 ' 'Ess, I 'ave ; but 'er idden no bigger than a minnit.' 
 
 Mist = must. 
 
 This is a mispronunciation of ' must,' or 'may.' 
 ' Her mist go, I tell 'ee !' 
 Mitch, or Meech = to play the truant. 
 Master. ' Billy Skedgell, where is your brother to-day?' 
 Pupil. ' Piaize, zir, mawther zend 'e tii skiile, but 'e's ago 
 mitching up tii Waglands wi' Joey Grills.' 
 
 Mizmaze = perplexity. 
 
 ' I dii veel quare ; my head is awl in a mizmaze like.' 
 
 Mizzle = a mist. 
 
 ' I zim arter thease mizzle us chell 'ave a thinder, vur 'tez 
 very fainty zort ov weather !'
 
 102 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Moar-an'-mewl = root and branch. 
 ' Ef yii pull'th like that, yii'll tear'n up moar-an'-mewl.' 
 ' 'Er's combing thick cheel's 'air za 'ard, 'er '11 pull't out 
 moar-an'-mewl.' 
 
 Mommet or momet = a scarecrow. 
 
 ' A man named Morrish came along and said defendant's 
 little girl was a " mommet." Mrs. Berry accused him of 
 calling her (defendant) that name. He said he had not, 
 and then she said he had called her shadow a "mommet." 
 The male defendant came out and began to abuse them. 
 Both were much the worse for liquor. He could not say 
 that they were sober. — Cross-examined : There was a brass 
 band there. 
 
 ' Mr. Watkins. " What was there at Halberton on Mon- 
 day night ?" 
 
 'Witness. " I don't know." 
 
 ' Mr. Watkins. " What was there on Wednesday ?" 
 
 ' Witness. " Halberton and the people, I suppose." 
 (Laughter.) 
 
 'Witness was sure defendants were " perfectly " drunk. 
 The last witness did not speak the truth if she said they 
 were sober. 
 
 'William Morrish, thatcher, of Halberton, said he went 
 through the village about ten o'clock on the night in ques- 
 tion. When near the Swan he saw five or six men listening 
 to a row. Thomas Gray was with witness, and as they went, 
 down the road he saw something standing against the wall. 
 It gave him a " bit of a turn," and he said, " Oh, what 
 mommet is that ?" He found that it was a child. Mrs. Berry 
 directly after began to abuse him for calling her a " mommet." 
 
 ' Rev. R. B. Carew. " What is a ' mommet ' ? A scare- 
 crow ?" 
 
 'Mr. Watkins. " I am equally ignorant. Perhaps witness 
 can give a definition." 
 
 'Witness. "We stick it up in a cornfield to frighten the 
 birds." 
 
 ' The Chairman. "Now we understand." (Laughter.)' — 
 From the Tiverton Gazette, June, 1891. 
 
 Moot, or Mute = root of tree. 
 
 A farmer at Frithelstock, wishing to please his landlord's 
 wife, said :
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 103 
 
 ' Ef yii'll plaize to zend a 'oss an' kert down tii copse, I 
 got wan or two whacking gert ulkers ov mutes yii can 'ave, 
 mum, vur yer vlowers !' 
 
 Mort = lard. 
 
 ' Aw Lor ! missis, dawntee tell me nort about butter ! 
 Poor vokes' chillern be fo'ced tii ayte burd-an'-mort now 
 times be za bad.' 
 
 Mucks, or Mux = wet mud. 
 
 A young lady once inquired, ' What is mucks f when a 
 countryman replied : 
 
 ' Why, pillum a-wet, missy !' 
 
 Muggetee = sullen. 
 
 ' Us dawnt git on well tiigether, 'er's a very muggetee- 
 tempered body.' 
 
 Mugguts = intestines. 
 
 ' Us be gwaine tii 'ave ca'ves' mugguts vur dinner tii-day.' 
 
 Mull, or Mai = to maul. 
 
 ' Dawntee mull 'n about zo.' 
 
 Mullygrub = an ill-natured person. 
 
 ' Her's a proper old mullygrub ; her niver spakes a civil 
 word to nobody, her dawnt.' 
 
 Mump = (i) to loaf, (2) to beg. 
 
 (1) 'Old Varmer Smart dawnt dii nort but mump 'bout 
 vrom 'ouze tii 'ouze, jist tii zee what 'e can cadge.' 
 
 (2) 'Dawntee gie thick feller nort, he'th abin mumping 
 about drii tha village awl day.' 
 
 Mumpchance = heavy witted. 
 
 ' Now than, git out ov this, yii gert thick-headed mump- 
 chance. I'd dii 't twice over while yii be fumbling about 
 trying tii begin.' 
 
 Mumphead = a foolish person. 
 
 ' Out o' this, mumphead ! Whot art up tii now ? Zome 
 o' yer viile's errants again, I rekkon.' 
 
 Mun = them. 
 
 ' Gie mun tii me.'
 
 104 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Murchy = mischief. 
 
 ' Thickee young hoseburd ov a squire is up tii a burned 
 sight more murchy than 'is vather wuz. That's needless tii, 
 I'm dalled ef ridden.' 
 
 Murrie-man = a merry-Andrew or a clown. 
 
 ' Aw, diiee come yer, Dick ! Lookee zee tii thickee chap. 
 'Tez tha murrie-man in Sanger's Circus. 'E's gwaine tii 
 trat round tha town 'pon a jackass.' 
 
 Mutch = to smooth. 
 
 ' Ef yii will mutch thickee cat down awver tha veace an' 
 eyes za offen 'er'll scratch thee zaf 'nuff.' 
 
 Miity-hearted = sensitive. 
 
 : Little Wormhill, 
 
 ' Zeal Monachorum, 
 ' Devon. 
 
 ' Dear Miss Galliford, 
 
 ' I have sent Emily to your school to-day, and I do 
 hope you will do your best to yummer her a little, for her's 
 a poor miity-hearted little thing, and I'm afraid her will be 
 crying a goodish bit to-night, but p'r'aps her'll soon git over 
 that, but if her shiiden, plese to drop me a line, and I'll rin 
 up and see she. 
 
 ' I am, your's truely, 
 
 'Susan Pugsley.' 
 
 Muzzle = unscientific boxing or fighting. 
 
 ' Ef 'e wid fight like a man twidden be za much odds, but 
 tii go an' scrammellee about and muzzle a feller like that, 
 why tidden right I zay. I call'th et unperncible-like (un- 
 principled).' 
 
 N. 
 
 Napper = a boy. 
 
 'Yer's bones vur thee, napper; they be giide 'nuff vur 
 bwoys.' 
 
 Napper-case = the head. 
 
 ' Ef 'e idden quiet purty zoon I'll vatch 'n a dap in 'es 
 napper-case.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 105 
 
 Nat-sheep = a horned sheep. 
 
 ' Varmer Bowden 'th been out to Simonsbath, an' bought 
 a sight ov nat-sheep. 'E'll make a giide stub out ov thickee 
 bargain, I warndee.' 
 
 Natteral = (i) a fool, (2) natural. 
 
 (1) ' He ant agot no more sense than plaize God 'e shiide 
 'ave. I dii zim 'e is a proper natteral, 'e is.' 
 
 (2) ' Tidden natteral tii quarlee wi' yer awn vlesh and blid 
 like they dii.' 
 
 Nattled = contracted. 
 
 ' I zay, Dick, canst catch yett ? No, us can't ; us be 
 nattled up wi' tha coald.' 
 
 Nattlings = the intestines of the pig prepared for food. 
 
 These are sold in all west-country markets, and by some 
 are esteemed toothsome morsels. 
 
 In several parts of the county they are known as ' chitter- 
 lings.' 
 
 Nayte = neat, tidy. 
 
 ' My wive is nayte and tidy 'bout tha heels. 'Er idden 
 wan ov the cowhocked zort. No, by gor ! 'er's za straight 
 as a line !' 
 
 Nayte but not gaudy. 
 
 Nayte but not gaudy. The common misquotation of 
 Polonius, 'Rich, not gaudy,' Hamlet, Act I., Scene iii., 
 line 71. 
 
 A girl having bought a somewhat pretty, though showy, 
 dress and hat, asked her mother whether she approved of 
 her taste. 
 
 ' Well, tellee whot 'tez, Liza,' said the mother, ' 'tez nayte, 
 but not gaudy, as they said of tha devil when they painted 
 es body paygreen, an' tied up 'es tail wi' urd ribbings.' 
 
 Nestletripe = the smallest of a litter. 
 
 'Why, butcher, I zee yii've got a biitivul lot o' pegs. 
 Diiee gie me thickee smal wan 'er '1 niver giidee. An' yii 
 wunt miss 'n, 'e 's nort but tha nestletripe ; 'er cant raytch 
 that raw tii ayte 'er mayte.' 
 
 Niash = delicate. 
 
 ' Zince 'er 'ad tha fayver 'er's za niash I'm foced tii kep 
 'er warm. I'm most aveard vur tha wind tii blaw 'pon 'er.'
 
 106 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON, 
 
 Nibs, or Nibbly = small pieces, small. 
 ' Cuke, diiee want inny cawl up avore I go tii church ?' 
 "Ess, tii be zure I dii. Gie me a bucketvul or tii ov 
 nibbly cawl. Now, mind, I dawnt want no big nibs, cuz I 
 wants a giide yett tii cuke thease ulking gert piece of mayte 
 wiV 
 
 Nickies = small faggots of sticks and brambles. 
 These are used to make the brick ovens hot, which are 
 built in back-kitchen chimney corners. 
 
 Nickling = making short steps. 
 
 ' Whotiver be yii nickling along like that vur ? Diiee 
 stap out, or us shan't git 'ome avore dark. I can't abide zich 
 mimpsy-pimsy ways/ 
 
 Niddick = the nape of the neck. 
 
 ' I wuz za 'ot yii ciide 'ave bowled a egg in my niddick.' 
 
 Niest = near. 
 
 ' I tehee ! I'll niver go a niest that 'ouze again za long 's 
 I liv'th. I'm baggered ef I dii.' 
 
 Niffed = offended. 
 
 'Whot's niffed about now than? I ant a diied nort tii 
 'fend thee, tii my knolledge.' 
 
 Nimmits = lunch. 
 
 ' Car out tha nimmits tii tha meyn za quick's yii can, 
 else they'll be famished tii death and dry jist chucked.' 
 
 Nimpingang = a fester under the finger nail. 
 
 1 Poor old Betty Butt is 'bliged tii lie abed. 'Er 'th agot 
 a nimpingang 'pon 'er vinger, an' tha 'fiammation isurned up 
 tii 'er elbow.' 
 
 Ninnyhammer = a foolish person. 
 
 ' Git along wi' 't ! I niver did zee sich a gert ninny- 
 hammer in awl my life !' 
 
 Nippence = ninepence. 
 
 ' Eggs be awnly nippence a dizen tii-day in tha market.' 
 
 Nitch = a bundle of reed. 
 
 ' Wanted, a hundred Nitches of good Reed for thatching. 
 State lowest price. — Cundy and Sons, Devonport.' 
 
 Nive = knife. 
 
 1 He'th a-urned tha nive intii 'is leg right up 'ome tii tha 
 hannel.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 107 
 
 No fay, or No fath = no, by my faith. 
 ' Be yii agwaine tii tha zarvints' ball tii Powderham, Jane ?' 
 ' No fay, I ant agot no toggery or frill-de-dills vittee vur 
 that zort ov theng.' 
 
 No, ne ti = contraction of No, not I. 
 
 Nort = nothing. 
 
 ' Dawnt zay nort more tii me about that !' 
 
 No-tany-by, or No tino by, or No-tano-by = no, of course 
 not. 
 
 Some think it is a contraction of ' Not that I know by,' 
 as ' No' V I 'no' by.' 
 
 ' I zay, Bill, yii bant agwaine tii church thease marning, 
 be 'e ?' 
 
 ' No-tany-by ! tidden wo'th while tii go tii listenee tii 
 sich a old drummeldrane as 'e is.' 
 
 Nub = a knob. 
 
 'Poor little blid, 'er 'th availed downstairs an' hat 'er 
 'ead. There's a nub za big's a 'en egg jist above 'er niddick.' 
 
 Nubby = full of knobs. 
 
 ' I wid like a giide sized black-thern walking-stick, ef I 
 ciide git wan, wi' a giide nubby head tii 'n.' 
 
 Nubby = nose. 
 
 A child having fallen down and hurt his nose, his mother 
 in trying to comfort him, said : 
 
 ' What's the matter then, my dear ? Did 'ee hat 'is poor 
 little nubby ? niver mind ! Mawther'll kis 'n and make 'n 
 well' 
 
 A very popular admiral at Plymouth, whose nose was 
 somewhat more prominent than most men's, was always 
 known among the Jacks as ' Nubby G 1.' 
 
 Nubly = same as Nibly. 
 
 Nug = a bunch. 
 
 c Didee iver zee zich doomshaws as tha maidens be ? they 
 dii 'th their 'air pin tap ov their 'eads in nugs ! wan awver 
 tuther.' 
 
 Nuther = neither. 
 
 ' Yii bant agwaine nuther !' 
 ' No, nur yii wunt nuther !'
 
 io8 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Nuzzling = poking the nose in. 
 
 ' They there pegs be out in tha gearden anuzzling up awl 
 tha tatties.' 
 
 Oakweb or Oakubs = cockchafers. 
 
 ' I zay, Polly, diiee put a pin drii thease oakweb's tail, 
 an' yii '11 zee 'ow 'e '11 buzzee when I spin 'th 'n roun' my 
 'ead wi' thease bit ov coord.' 
 
 Onlight = to dismount. 
 
 ' Now, Mrs. Bright, diiee plaize tii onlight ! Chell I 
 bring 'ee a cheer ? Tha trap's za 'igh, I'm aveared yu '11 val !' 
 
 'Ood = wood. 
 
 ' Us liv'th tii near tha 'oods tii bevrightened by tha owls.' 
 
 Ope = interval. 
 
 A gardener said one day : ' Yii zee, mum, I keep's thews 
 yer cabbages straight an' vittee in line, by planting um wan 
 in t'other's ope. Yii can zee tha rills stand whichee zide 
 yii 'in amind tii.' 
 
 Ope or opeway = a passage. 
 
 ' Mr. James B. Babb begs to remind his Pupils that owing 
 to the alterations in the Public Hall (now the Y.M.C.A.), 
 Fore Street, Devonport, their entrance to the Drawing Class 
 will be from the Princess Street Ope.' — Western Morning 
 News. 
 
 'Opes = hopes. 
 
 ' I 'opes tii come tii town tii zee 'e ziine. Yii knaw I 
 ant ahad none ov thickee currantty caake 'et.' 
 
 Organtay = decoction of pennyroyal. 
 ' Organtay sweentened wi' 'oney is a cabbical cure vur a 
 cold, ef yii putt 'th a drap ov zomtheng short in 't.' 
 
 Ort = anything. 
 
 ' Ef yii ant got ort better tii dii, yii can come awver an' 
 'elp me tii-day.' 
 
 Ortch = to probe with horns. 
 
 ' Poor dear oP blid, 'er wuz coming up Smalworthy 'ill
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 
 
 109 
 
 when Varmer Tapper's bull urned out an' ortched 'er in tha 
 zide. 'Tweel be tha death o' 'er, vur sure.' 
 
 Orts = leavings. 
 
 ' I tehee 1 bant agwaine tii ayte your orts, nuther !' 
 
 Other = either. 
 
 ' Aw 'es, yii can 'ave other wan aw 'm. I bant perticler 
 whichee 'tez.' 
 
 Ouze = a house ; a room. 
 
 This word forms part of many common compound nouns. 
 The prefix shows the purpose for which each 'ouze' is used. 
 
 Ash-ouze. 
 
 Back-ouze. 
 
 Bake-ouze. 
 
 Caaves'-ouze. 
 
 Call-ouze (coal). 
 
 Chickens'-ouze. 
 
 Ducks'-ouze. 
 
 Dogs'-ouze. 
 
 Fowl-ouze. 
 
 Giize-ouze. 
 
 Gert-ouze. 
 
 Gearden-ouze. 
 
 Hen-ouze. 
 
 Overgit = overtake. 
 ' Yii make haste 'long 'ome. 
 raytch Dallish Watter.' 
 
 In-ouze. 
 
 Little-ouze 
 
 Out-ouze. 
 
 Pigs'-ouze 
 
 Plump-ouze. 
 
 Pound-ouze. 
 
 Riite-ouze. 
 
 Tattie-ouze. 
 
 Trap-ouze. 
 
 Turmit-ouze. 
 
 Wash-ouze. 
 
 Zummer-ouze. 
 
 I chell overgitee avore yii 
 
 Paixy - untidy, dirty. 
 
 At South Brent a woman said to me, on a very wet day : 
 
 ' Lor ! mum, 'tez a dirty day ; the rawds be cruel paixy.' 
 
 Palsh = to walk slowly through mud. 
 
 ' Now diiee zee ! Thickee cheel is palshing drew tha 
 lane wi' 'er bestest biites, wi' tha watter purty nigh up tii 'er 
 knees. Thews biites will be aspowled.'
 
 no THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Palshing= Patching clothes untidily. 
 
 ' Bless my sawl ! Whyiver dawntee try tii zaw vittee, an' 
 not go palshing tha hawls in tha thengs up like that ! 
 'Tez a proper botch aw't.' 
 
 Pame = a square of velvet, or satin, used as a christening 
 wrap. 
 
 ' 'Twuz squire's fust babby that wuz a cursened tii-day. 
 Hadden 'er a-got a biitivul pame ? By Gor ! 'twuz a satan 
 wan, wi' gold fernge.' 
 
 Panking = panting. 
 
 ' Thickee dug's a-thist. Diiee zee 'ow the poor craycher 
 is a-panking vur life ?' 
 
 Parfuse = profuse. 
 
 At Belstone a man noted for his love of intoxicants said, 
 when a lady was about to mix a glass of gin and water for 
 him : 
 
 ' I wunt trubbel yii tii make it, missis ; yii wunt be parfuse 
 enough.' Whereupon he mixed his grog half and half. 
 
 Passel = many. 
 
 ' Sir Thomas Flew is a rare giide landlord, 'e is ! 'E'th 
 agied us Butling fields, and agied out a passel ov plots vur 
 geardens to tha work-vokes. 'E an't charged much a yard 
 vur't nuther !' 
 
 ' There's a fine passel ov vokes gone tii tha gearden party 
 thease arternoon !' 
 
 Passen = parson. 
 
 The ' passens ' are the targets, in Devon, for everybody's 
 arrows. There are hundreds of anecdotes extant, which 
 one quotes, unfavourable to the profession. The following 
 is perhaps not complimentary : 
 
 At a tithe dinner a farmer was requested to give a toast, 
 when, in a distinct, hearty voice, he said : ' Her Majesty 
 Queen Victoria, God bless her ! May 'er be plaized tii 
 zend us more pegs and less passens !' 
 
 Pattridge = partridge. 
 
 ' I tellee whot 'tez, missis, I zim arter yii been twenty-vive 
 years a tenant in wan 'ouze 'tez time squire zend yii a 
 pattridge or tii, idden it ?'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. m 
 
 Paunch = to handle unnecessarily. 
 
 ' Ef yii dii paunch 'n about like that, yii '11 proper spowl 
 'n. Thengs bant made tii be maled about zo much.' 
 
 Pawking = walking leisurely. 
 
 ' Aw 'es, tii be zure ; I've zeed 'en ! 'E's pawking along 
 wi' 'is 'ands in 'es pocket, an' 'es maid titched up tii 'es zide. 
 I 'opes passen wunt meet 'um. Ef 'e dii there'll be a dowst 
 ov a racket.' 
 
 Pay-cods = pea-kids. 
 
 ' I wish yii wid draw awl they paycods intii tha pegs- 
 lewze, 'twill gie 'm zomething to chow, an' mayhap they'll 
 stap making sich a row.' 
 
 Pays = peas. 
 
 ' 'Avee got a giide crap ov pays thease yer ?' 
 
 ' Aw 'ess, middling-like.' 
 
 Peart = sprightly. 
 
 ' Dawntee thenk 'er's agwaine vur tii kick tha bucket jist 
 'et. 'Er wuz luking za peart 's a rabbin thease marning. 
 'Er idden agwaine tii die 'et. No, tinoby !' 
 
 Peek = to pick. 
 
 1 'Tez time tii peek tha pays, or yii wunt git um kidded 
 avore 'tez time tii ayte 'um.' 
 
 Peek = a two-pronged fork, a pick. 
 Used in making hay. 
 
 Peel = pillow. 
 
 ' I want'th zom giize-vethers tii make a couple ov beyde 
 peels wi'.' 
 
 Peg = pig. 
 
 ' Thews pegs be fit tii kill : the fattest is 'bout lebben 
 score.' 
 
 Pennerd = pennyworth. 
 
 ' I want'th dree pennerd ov nits, plaize, missis. Dawntee 
 let there be no deave wans wi' 'um.' 
 
 Penny-brick = penny-loaf. 
 
 These were originally made exactly the shape of a brick, 
 hence the name, and sold at a penny each. 
 
 Pick = to strip off feathers. 
 
 ' Luke sharp, Jane, and pick tha vowls. Yii knaw there's
 
 H2 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 zebben geeze and dree turkeys 'et tii be picked. Us chell 
 ave tii bide up till owly light.' 
 
 Pickle = condition. 
 
 ' Well, crimminy ! yer's a go ! Yii be in a drefful pickle ! 
 Whot the dowst 'avee a-diied now ?' 
 
 Pilgarlic = person worthy of pity. 
 
 Two young ladies being caught in a thunderstorm near 
 Ilfracombe, took refuge in a cottage, when the good old 
 dame said : 
 
 ' Oh, yii tii dear pilgarlics ! Come in 'ouze dii an' drow 
 yerzels. I be aveard yii'll catch yer death ov cold !' 
 
 Pillion = a double saddle. 
 
 On this, two persons used to ride on one horse, the 
 woman behind the man. 
 
 Pillum = dust. 
 
 She. ' My dear, whot a vellum of pillum there is on tha 
 Holserry rawd !' 
 
 He. ' " A vellum of pillum !" Whot's that, Mrs. Hose- 
 
 giide ?' 
 
 She. 'Why, dawntee knaw "vellum" is volume, and 
 " pillum " is mucks adrowed ?' 
 
 He. ' Oh, yes ! but what is " mucks "?' 
 
 She. 'Oh, yii poor gladdie, why "pillum" a-wet tii be 
 sure !' 
 
 Pillum is said by some to be a corruption of ' pulverem,' 
 the ace. of ' pulvis,' dust. 
 
 Pilth = fluff. 
 
 ' When yii'm sewping out tha chimmer, 'Liza, diiee mind 
 an' sewp up awl tha pilth vrom under tha beyds.' 
 
 Pindy = musty, mouldy. 
 
 Maid. • Missis, diiee plaize tii come yer; thease piece ov 
 beef es tii pindy tii ayte ef tez ciiked.' 
 
 Mistress. ' Nonsense ! 'tis only a little high. Cook it, 
 and we can smother the pindiness with a sauce.' 
 
 Pinnicking = wan, pale. 
 
 ' I'm sure thickee poor little cheel wunt live long, 'er's za 
 pinnicking an' delicate-like. 'Tez a poor pittice object, that's 
 zartin.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 113 
 
 Pinny = pinafore. 
 
 ' Yer, be quick. Yii bant 'af dapper 'nuff ; urn upen 
 chimmer an' put on a clayne pinny, then go tii skiile.' 
 
 Pinswill = a fester, a boil. 
 
 ' Poor old Naboth Daker wadden tii church thease marn- 
 ing. Winder whot ail'th 'n ?' 
 
 ' Aw, they zeth he'th got a pinswill in 'is niddick.' 
 
 Pittice = feeble, delicate. 
 
 ' Lor, cheel, yii be aliiking drefful pittice ! Be 'e bad ? 
 Mayhap yii be steeved wi' the cold. Make 'aste an' urn intii 
 'ouze by tha vire.' 
 
 Pixy = a fairy. 
 
 ' They tell'th that Varmer Lambshead tii Ringmore wuz 
 a pixy-led last night coming 'crass Milbern Down. 'E wuz 
 gallied out ov 'is life. They tried tii kindiddle 'n 'crass 'Aldon, 
 but 'e managed tii turn 'is coat, and they vanished like 
 winky. Mak'th me creem awl awver to thenk 'bout 't.' 
 
 Planche = board floors. 
 
 ' Us dii thenk ourzels mortel fine now us 'ave agot planche 
 floors awl drii tha 'ouze. 'Tez 'otter tii tha veet.' 
 
 Platter-viited, or vooted = flat-footed. 
 
 ' Aw, 'ess, boath 'er veet be za flat's a pancake, an' 'er 
 turns 'um boath out. Luk'th like quarter tii dree by 'um. 
 Whot I call'th platter-viited.' 
 
 Plim = to increase in bulk. 
 
 ' Thews loaves 'ave a plimed well. I dawnt think I've 'ad 
 sich giide plim burd out ov thease grist avore.' 
 
 Plum = warm, comfortable. 
 
 ' My beyd is biitivul an' plum. I zlaped last night za 
 zound 's a bug in a rug.' 
 
 Plump = the pump. 
 
 4 I dii wish they baggering ol' watter-works wuz tii tha 
 dowl ! Us ant 'ad a drap ov watter fit tii drenk zince they 
 diied away wi' our plump.' 
 
 Pook = a mound of hay or turf. 
 
 'Tha wind'th ablawed tha pooks awl awver tha place.' 
 
 Pote = to kick about in bed. 
 
 ' Mawther, I can't zlape no longer wi' sister 'Lizabeth, vur 
 'er dii pote zo I can't tine my eyes awl night.' 
 
 8
 
 U4 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Poteing-stick = a thick stick used to turn the clothes when 
 in the furnace boiling. 
 
 ' 'Avee zeed that poteing-stick, Mary ?' 
 
 'No, I ant. I rekkon 'e's aburned. Us must git 
 anuther.' 
 
 Power = very much. 
 
 ' I can't tell whot thee'st diied tii 'n, but thee'st adiied 'n 
 a power ov glide.' 
 
 Prate-a-pace = talkative. 
 
 'Didee iver yer sich a prate-a-pace little 'aggage ? 'Er 
 tell'th twenty tii tha dizen !' 
 
 Primrosen = primroses. 
 
 There is a superstition attached to these flowers. Should 
 afewbe brought into the house for the first time in the early 
 spring, the goodwife will say : 
 
 ' Whot a viile yii be tii bring in tii or dree primrosen ! 
 Now us shan't a' no chicken vur a brave while, and they 
 that be a-hatched '11 die ov tha gaps.' 
 
 If a large bunch had been gathered and brought in, the 
 results with regard to chicken hatching and rearing would 
 have been quite satisfactory. So goes the belief. 
 
 Prinked = dressed smartly. 
 
 ' Well, I dii zim yii'm a-prinked out purty-fine ! Where't 
 agwaine tii ?' 
 
 ' Aw, tii Kirton fair !' 
 
 ' Well, take kear o' theezel' !' 
 
 Proper-terrified = frightened. 
 
 ' 'Er zeth 'er zeed tha dowl coming down Kenton Rawd. 
 'Er wuz proper-terrified, I can tellee ! Tha preservation 
 stude out ov her vor'ead like gert pays.' 
 
 Proudness = pride. 
 
 ' I tellee whot 'tez, missis, there's that proudness about 
 varmers' daughters nowadays, they wunt milkee, nur zar tha 
 pegs, nur stan' in tha market, nur car a basket drii tha 
 straytes ! Their poor old grammers used tii dii 't awl ! But 
 no ! they be tii fine-vingered ; they can't dii nort but play 
 tha peannee an' rayd biikes ; nuther wan o'm bant no giide 
 tii 'm vor zartin. Purty pass us be corned tii !'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 115 
 
 Puggy = short and stout. 
 
 ' Now, I dawn't cal 'er a fine ummon. 'Er idden no bigger 
 than Joan Tapp, an' I cals 'er a puggy little theng.' 
 
 Pummel = to beat unmercifully. 
 
 'There wuz a owl's nist under tha oaffis ov tha ol' barn, 
 an' Bill'th a-pulled 'n out. I'm burned ef I dawnt pummel 
 tha hide o'n, wance let me git holt o'n !' 
 
 Pumple-viited = malformation of foot. 
 
 ' My dear sawl, 'avee a-yerd tell 'bout Jinny Parr's 
 babbies ? They be tii twins, an' both of 'um be pumple- 
 viited. They be gwaine to take 'um up tii Westminster 
 'Orspital tii zee if Dr. Davy can put 'm vittee.' 
 
 Pussy = short-winded, puffed. 
 
 "Er's drefful pussy tii-day, an' can't walk vast nur var. 
 Tha weather's agin 'er, tii, 'tez za fainty-like.' 
 
 Piitch = pouting lips. 
 
 ' My eymers ! there's a piitch ! Whot's 'er sticked out 
 like that vur ?' 
 
 Putt = a heavy cart. 
 
 ' Put a hoss in tha putt an' go upen six acres vur tha 
 turmits. Yii can layve tha wuzzels vur tii-morrer.' 
 
 Q. 
 
 Quaddle, or Quaddlee = to waddle. 
 
 Mrs. B., a very stout woman, applied for the situation of 
 laundress at a private house. The cook begged the mistress 
 not to engage her, as she said : ' Mrs. B. wid take a vort- 
 night to quaddle up tii the drying-ground tii 'ang out tha 
 clothes.' 
 
 Mrs. B. was, however, engaged, but was often assailed by 
 the other servants with, ' Diiee zee now, Mrs. B., ef yii can't 
 be dapper vur wance, and not quaddlee about za slow !' 
 
 Quarl = quarrel. 
 
 ' Why diiee quarl zo, yii chillern?' 
 
 Quarrenders = red apples peculiar to Devonshire. 
 ' The quarrenders be ripe, midden us 'ave zome ?' 
 ' 'Ess, ef yii be mind tii.' 
 
 Quelstring = sweltering. 
 
 ' Aw, Jimminy ! idden et a quelstring 'ot day ? I'm za 'ot's 
 Mally Palmer, an' 'er ciidden zay 'er prayers vur tha yett.' 
 
 8—2
 
 n6 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Qnerking = grunting. 
 
 ' Whot's tha metter wi' 'e now than ? I zim yii'm alwes a 
 querking an' a crinting !' 
 
 Quott = to sit on the haunches. 
 
 ' Diiee urn an' git yer gun, there's a brave gert hare 
 urned intii tha hadge down zebben acres. 'Er's go quott 
 in the stroil.' 
 
 R. 
 
 Rabbit = an oath. 
 
 ' Rabbit yer 'ead vuree ! Darn'd ef I dawnt lerrickee ef I 
 catchee at they maygames a^ain.' 
 
 Ragrowstering = romping. 
 
 ' Whot tha dowl diiee mayn by awl this ragrowster- 
 ing noise ? Zit down thease minit, an' hold yer row !' 
 
 Raked up = (i) recriminated, (2) rose hastily. 
 
 (1) ' Whot iver is tha giide ov raking up awl 'es vaults vur? 
 'e's a changed carictur. Like 'nuff yii'm wuss than 'e.' 
 
 (2) ' When 'e zeed me a-coming 'e raked hiszel up an' 
 sinned vur's life !' 
 
 Rally, or Rolley = a crowd. 
 
 ' There's a turrabul rally aw'm down there. Niver zeed za 
 minny vokes tii a burrying avore.' 
 
 Ram-cat (mas.) = a tom-cat. 
 Yaw-cat (fcm.) = female. 
 
 ' Ef yii likes tii gie me a ram-cat I'll 'a' 'n, but I wunt 'ave 
 a yaw-cat about tha 'ouze.' 
 
 Ramshakelled = rickety. 
 
 He. ' Whot didee gie vur thews ramshakelled old cheers ?' 
 
 She. ' Vifteen shillen apiece.' 
 
 He. ' Well, whot a viile yii mist abin; I ciide 'ave got urn 
 vur haf tha money !' 
 
 She. ' 'Ess sure, yii be tha peart wan ov tha family ! 
 Ciide lick Solymon !' 
 
 He. ' Whew ! I didden knaw that avore.' 
 
 Ramzacking = romping. 
 
 ' I'm purty near mazed, vur thews yer vokes 'ave at/in 
 ramzacking tha 'ouze awl awver awl the arternoon !'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 117 
 
 Ranticumscour = an uproar. 
 
 'Now than, yii rascals, whot's awl this ranticumscour 
 about ?' 
 
 Rawee = annoyed, sore. 
 
 "Er made me that rawee I ciide 'ave hat 'er down.' 
 
 Raw-milk = new milk. 
 
 'The Plymouth Dairy Company require fourteen gallons 
 raw milk delivered on Saturday mornings. For particulars 
 apply 1 98, Union Street.' 
 
 Rayme = to stretch. 
 
 ' Ef thee pull'th like that, thee'lt pull 'n up moar-an'-mewl, 
 an' rayme 'n tii, then 'e wunt be vit vur nort.' 
 
 Raymes = (i) a skeleton, (2) a very thin person. 
 
 (1) 'Why, thee'st ayte awl tha duck an' awnly layved tha 
 raymes vur me.' 
 
 (2) "Er'th a bin cruel bad I kin tellee ; 'er's nort but 
 tha raymes ov whot 'er wuz.' 
 
 Raymy, or Ropy = said of cider when thick and sour. 
 ' Us cant drink no more ov this yer zyder, 'tez raymy.' 
 
 Renoviate = renovate. 
 
 ' I ciidden go inside tha cathedral 'cuz they'm renoviating 
 tha inside.' 
 
 Rexens = rushes. 
 
 ' Bill, put tha mare in tha putt, and go down in tha 
 meaders an' git in a giide lot ov rexens. They'll dii vur 
 bedding come winter.' 
 
 Rid = red. 
 
 ' 'E'th 'a' had mor'n 'e can car. Tha brandy 'th made 'is 
 veace za rid's blid.' 
 
 Rills = rows. 
 
 ' The tatties 'ill ivery wan o'm be spowled. They wuz up 
 in rills, an' now Hike zee tii 'm.' 
 
 ' For such weather in May inhabitants of Uffculme, in 
 East Devon, have to go back at least fifty years. Crops 
 which a week ago were growing fast are now at a complete 
 standstill. On Monday night potatoes which were up in rills
 
 n8 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 looking healthy and promising were cut down by a severe 
 frost. Last evening a strong wind was blowing from the 
 north-east, and threatening snow.' — Western Morning News, 
 May, 187 1. 
 
 Rimlets = remnants. 
 
 ' I've picked up zom cheep rimlets tu shop ; 'nuff tu 
 make my little maid a tidy vrok or tii.' 
 
 Rinagate = a gadabout. 
 
 ' I niver did zee sich a rinagate, yii'm niver in 'ouze when 
 us wants 'ee.' 
 
 Rinner = a round towel. 
 
 In some places it is called a ' rinner,' in others a jack 
 towel. 
 
 Ripping hark = taking off bark. 
 
 In North Devon the stripping off oak-bark for the purpose 
 of making tan is called ' bark-ripping,' but in South Devon 
 the process is known as 'rinding.' 
 
 'Wanted, twenty men for rinding oak timber. Apply 
 Edred Marshall, Sutton Road, Plymouth.' — Western 
 Morning News, Feb., 189 1. 
 
 Ripping-gert = very large. 
 ' Yer's a ripping gert awpel.' 
 
 Ripping-up = recalling. 
 
 ' I zay now, dawntee go ripping-up vather's vaults. Us 
 'ave got zome our zide tha 'ouze tii, I rekkon.' 
 
 Rishlight = rushlight. 
 
 The night-light of ' long ago.' It was made by stripping 
 a rush of all its rind except one thin straight line, which was 
 dipped into tallow many times, until of the required thick- 
 ness. It gave a very feeble light, and was known by the 
 peasantry as a ' varden dip.' 
 
 Rittelling = wheezing. 
 
 ' I bant very well ; I got such a rittelling in my droat. I 
 be aveard I'm agwaine tii 'ave tha brownkitty.' 
 
 Rogue's-roost = an accumulation of dirt and odds and 
 ends. 
 
 ' 'Avee sewpt out tha pilth vrom behind tha chest ov 
 drawers, Polly ?' 
 
 ' 'Ess I 'ave, an' a purty rogue's-roost aw 't 'twuz.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 119 
 
 Rory-tory = gaudy-gay. 
 
 ' I'll be upzides wi' thee, min. Ef thee keeps ballyragging 
 me, thee shetten 'ave a new rory-tory gown thease summer, 
 I warndee.' 
 
 Round-shave = to scold. 
 
 ' Darn my ole wig, ef I dawn't round-shave thee bimbye ef 
 'e dawnt du thee work.' 
 
 Rowstering = romping. 
 
 ' Now, yii chillern, be quiet dreckly minit ; yii've been 
 rowstering about long 'nuff.' 
 
 Rummage = nonsense. 
 
 ' Whot's tell up that rummage vur ; larn yer biike, that's 
 best vur thee.' 
 
 Rumped up = humped. 
 
 ' I be zartin zomtheng's tha metter wi' old Polly. 'Er's 
 out in tha rawd awl rumped up, luke'th as if 'er'll die.' 
 
 Rucky = to crouch. 
 
 ' Ef yii rucky down yer nobody can't zee 'e.' 
 
 Rumbullioning — making an uproar. 
 ' Whot's all this rumbullioning about ? Tha 'ouze is alwes 
 in a uproar ef my back's aturned vur a minit or tii.' 
 
 Runkle = to fester. 
 
 ' 'Er'th a-pricked 'er vinger wi' a thern, an' 'tweel be 
 zartin tii runkle.' 
 
 S. 
 
 Sally Hatch = an over-dressed woman. 
 
 ' Havee azeed Mrs. Bond tii-day ?' 
 
 ' 'Ess, by Gor ! 'er's dressed tii death like Sally Hatch.' 
 
 Sar = (i) to earn, (2) to serve. 
 
 (1) ' 'Ow much diiee sar a week tii tatty-diggin' ?' 
 ' Aw ! awnly teyn shillen.' 
 
 (2) ' Plaize tii sar tha pegs za ziine 's 'e can, cuz I wants tii 
 go upen chimmer an' clayne mysel.' 
 
 Sass = impertinence. 
 
 ' Ef yii use inny more ov yer sass tii me, I'll gie thee a 
 stramming gert whisterpoop that'll make yer 'ead ring.'
 
 '«' 
 
 120 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Sasst>ox = an impertinent person. 
 
 ' Thickee 'Liza James is a dashus young sassbox : dawntee 
 a.' nort tii zay tii' 'er.' 
 
 Sawk = a timid person. 
 
 ' What a sawk thee'rt ! Pull yerzel tiigether. Thee'rt no 
 pearter than a gladdie !' 
 
 Sayson = season. 
 
 ' Zee if 'tez tha sayson vur salmon ; I dawn't 'zim tez 'et.' 
 
 Scads or Scats = passing showers. 
 
 ' On Friday crowds of people assembled at Cloutsham. 
 There was a cold pressing wind and a few scats during 
 the day. A stag harboured in Sweet Tree gave a lot of 
 trouble ere he was forced away, continually finding substi- 
 tutes in the shape of younger deer. At last he was induced 
 to ascend Dunkerry, on the crest of which the pack was 
 laid on, and ran their deer into the Cutcombe coverts. 
 Here hounds got scattered on other deer, and by an acci- 
 dent a three-year-old was killed. The stag was lost in ex- 
 tensive woods, and a return and further search along the 
 eastern slope of Dunkerry failed to yield another. So we 
 jogged homeward.' — Tiverton Gazette, Sept. 20th, 1889. 
 
 Scawvy = smeary. 
 
 ' Go an' scrub thickee planche floor again ; 'tez za scawvy 
 I'm ashamed tii zee'n.' 
 
 Sclow or Sclum = to scratch like a cat. 
 
 This is said of cats when in the act of scratching, as : 
 
 ' He sclowed (or sclummed) my hand.' 
 
 ' Whot a sclum 'e gied tha dog in tha veace.' 
 
 Scraling = very small. 
 
 ' Thews be scraling little twoads ov awpels. 'Ow can I 
 make dumplings wi' sich scrats as thews be ?' 
 
 Scrall = to loiter. 
 
 ' Now diiee zee how 'er dii scrall along ; 'er dawnt go no 
 vaster than a snail.' 
 
 Screed = a remnant. 
 
 ' I gied Miss Bawden sebben yards ov sarge tii make me 
 a frock wi', an,' 'er'th a-scrimped tha skirt an' ant a-zend a 
 screed back.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 121 
 
 Screwmouze = shrewmouse. 
 
 ' Yer's a screwmouze's nist wi' vive sich purty little naked 
 yung uns in 'un.' 
 
 Scrumps = small apples. 
 
 1 There idden no sizable awpels 'pon thews trees ; they be 
 most o'm scrumps.' 
 
 Shabbed-off= sneaked off. 
 
 ' I tellee 'e shabbed off when nobody wadden Hiking, an' 
 'e ant abin azeed zince.' 
 
 Shan't = shall not. 
 
 ' I shan't go, I tellee, zo there !' 
 
 Sharps = shafts. 
 
 ' Varmer Pearce hath a-drawed down 'es 'oss an' brawked 
 'es knees, an' hat off both sharps ov tha trap !' 
 
 She = substitute for 'her.' 
 
 A man, on being asked if he had seen Mrs. Dunn in the 
 town, replied : 
 
 ' No, mum, I ant azeed she.' 
 
 Sheeny-shii-shan = shot silk. 
 
 ' 'Er've a-bought a vine sheeny-shii-shan silk gound tii 
 be married in.' 
 
 Shet = (1) to go, (2) to shoot. 
 
 (1) 'Come along, sose; let's shet away 'ome avore dark.' 
 
 (2) ' How minny pattridges 'ave 'e a-shet tii-day ?' 
 
 Shetten = should not. 
 
 '•Thee shetten a-diied et, then !' 
 
 Shillerd = shilling's worth. 
 
 ' Plaize tii gie me a shillerd ov awpels, missis.' 
 
 Shillet = shale. 
 
 A man, on being asked the nature of the soil between 
 Bampton and East Anstey, said : 
 
 ' Yii zee there's niithing very c^stantial about thease 
 pearts. A man's liable tii be burried avore he knaw'th 
 where 'e is, vur tha shillet com'th down by tha ton zome- 
 times, and us be forced tii urn vor't tii save our lives.'
 
 122 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Shine = fine, well dressed. 
 
 The question of clothing cropped up recently before a 
 certain Board of Guardians in this district. An old man, 
 who said his ' matics ' were so bad that he could not work, 
 applied for outdoor relief. Rightly enough he was questioned 
 as to the earnings of his sons ; and one of the Guardians 
 asked : 
 
 ' Didn't I see one of them home a little while ago cutting 
 a fine shine ?' 
 
 ' Well, sir,' was the old man's reply, ' I don't know about 
 cutten a vine shine : 'e weer 'ome bad, and wore one of 
 these 'ere coats wi' a cape to ; but they do say down our 
 way as how poor vokes can wear um as well as rich uns. I 
 can't say whe'er 'tis true or no; I bant eddicated up to 
 that.' 
 
 In the end the applicant got relief for a fortnight. — 
 Tiverton Gazette, Atigust 2$t/i, 1891. 
 
 Shivers = very small pieces. 
 
 ' I'll be dalled ef 'e hathen a-brawked en awl tii shivers.' 
 
 Shords = broken earthenware. 
 
 ' Tha pit is vull ov shords. Whot a sight ov cloam they 
 must have broked !' 
 
 Showel = shovel. 
 
 ' Poor Zacky Budd is deyde, they zay. Poor old blid ! 
 he'll zoon be put tii beyde wi' a showel.' 
 
 Showlder = shoulder. 
 
 ' Put thee gun up tii thee showlder an' vire strite like a 
 man !' 
 
 Sich = such. 
 
 ' Aw, 'ess, 'er is sich a purty cheel.' 
 
 Siss = a big fat woman. 
 
 ' 'Eth a-married a vine ol' siss ov a dummon now, than ! 
 'Es fust wive wuz a vine, upstanding, giide-luking body ; 
 but thease ! my eye ! 'er idden vit tii 'old a kannel to Bess.' 
 
 Sissa = a fuss. 
 
 ' Well, yii dii make a purty sissa ivery time passen's wive 
 com'th tii zee 'e. 'Er idden no better than nobody else !'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 123 
 
 Sitchy-wow = crosswise. 
 
 ' Her eyes be Hiking sitchy-wow. 'Er dii'th 'er work jist 
 the same, nort straight, ivery bit o't sitchy-wow !' 
 
 Skace = scarce. 
 
 ' I zim awpels be terrabul skace thease yer.' 
 
 Skammel = to walk badly. 
 
 ' Diiee walk vittee and not skammelee along zo.' 
 
 Skat = (i) to fling, (2) a slap. 
 
 (1) ' I'll skat thease at 'ee ef yii bant quiet in a minit.' 
 
 (2) ' Zay that again wi' 't, and I'll skat thy 'ead vur thee. 
 
 Skeard = scared, frightened. 
 
 1 Git out, yii gert viile, thee'st a-skeard me tii death, purty 
 nigh !' 
 
 Skivertimfoer = wood from which skewers are made. 
 It is called also ' butcher's timber.' 
 
 Skriddick = a remnant. 
 
 ' Well, they've ayte awl tha mayte ; there idden a skriddick 
 alayved.' 
 
 Skrumped-up = huddled up. 
 
 ' My dear cheel, be 'e cold ? Yii liiketh skrumped-up tii 
 nuthing.' 
 
 Skummer = mess. 
 
 ' Whot a skummer yii be a-making wi' that there traycle. 
 Git along, dii.' 
 
 Skun = to scold. 
 
 ' I tell 'ee whot tez, ef yii dii skun thickee tarrier dug zo, 
 he wunt be vit vur nort.' 
 
 Skiite = a reward. 
 
 Tom. 'Whurst a-bin tii, Dick?' 
 
 Dick. ' Up tii passen's.' 
 
 Tom. ' Whot vur than ?' 
 
 Dick. 'Aw, I've droved up tha bullicks.' 
 
 Tom. ' Didder gie 'e a glide skiite vur't ?' 
 
 Dick. ' No, a stingy ol' twoad, 'e didden. 'E unly gied 
 me a dripmybit.' 
 
 Tom. ' Well, I'm burned ef 'e idden like tha rest o'm — 
 git'th awl 'e can, an' kep'th whot 'e got.' 
 
 Slamicking = untidy. 
 
 ' Aw yii gert slamicking theng ! Yer clothes liikes s'off 
 'twuz drawed on wi' a peek !'
 
 124 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Slatterpuche = pouch-liped. 
 
 ' I widden buy a slatterpiiched 'oss. I dawn't like tii zee 
 tha lips aw'n hanging down like a bag !' 
 
 Sleetstone = a round stone. 
 
 This ' sleetstone ' was used before flat-irons were invented, 
 or mangles were used to smooth clean linen. 
 
 Slew = ostentatious show. 
 
 ' George Mogg hath a-married a wive wi' vower 'undered 
 a yer ; an' idden 'er a-cutting a slew, that's awl ! Got Wel- 
 lington butes an' a tap' at ! 'E es coming et, sure 'nuff.' 
 
 Slewching = moving awkwardly. 
 
 ' 'Er can't walk vittee a bit, 'er's alwes slewching an' skam- 
 melling along like a zore-viited mare.' 
 
 Slob = to slop. 
 
 ' Zee what a slob yii be making wi' that watter ! Take 
 tha clath an' wipe 't up.' 
 
 Sloke = to hide. 
 
 ' 'Ave 'e a-zeed a gert 'ulking beggar-chap go by thease 
 way? He sleeped upen tallet last night.' 
 
 ' 'Ess, I rekkon 'tez zame 's I zeed a-sloked gen'st the 
 hadge upen Deepridge.' 
 
 Sloke = to entice. 
 
 ' I 'opes Sid Chugg ant abin and sloked my bwoys off tii 
 Sandford revel ? Eff 'e 'ath I'll hide 'n.' 
 
 Slope = to rot. 
 
 ' Awl tha awpels upen chimmer be a-sloped away. I 
 didden thenk they'd rat za zune.' 
 
 Slouch = to wash one's self, using a good douche of water. 
 ' O Lor ! 'ow 'ot I be, tii be sure ! I'll go out to the 
 plump-traw an' 'ave a giide slouch.' 
 
 Slouger = a big thump. 
 
 ' I zay, mini, didn't I vatch 'n a rigler slouger ?' 
 
 ' 'Ess, I'm burned ef 'e didden, an' zared 'n right tii !' 
 
 Smeech = dust, smoke, 
 
 ' I zay, yer's a dowst ov a smeech ! Where dii 't come 
 vrom ?'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 125 
 
 Smit-smats = little by little. 
 
 He. ' Mrs. Clift awth me dree pound ten shilien', an' 'er 
 dawnt zim likely tii aw me less.' 
 
 She. ' Why, I thort 'er pay'dee zomtheng yisterday.' 
 
 He. ' Zo 'er did, lebben an' sixpence. But I 'ates that 
 zoart ov daylings. When yii gits yer money in they bagger- 
 ing little smit-smats, tidden wan bit of giide tii 'e. Tellee 
 tidden wo'th a cobbler's cuss !' 
 
 Smurry = chemise. 
 
 ' Ef yii dii want a new smurry or tii, go intii shop an git 
 a vew yards ov pulleree-alleree, 'tez za giide as old-fashioned 
 brin.' 
 
 Snaff=to snuff. 
 
 ' Why iver dawntee snaff tha kannel ? I can't zee wan 
 bit awver yer thease zide ov tha tabul.' 
 
 Snickit = a very small piece. 
 
 ' I unly wants jist a snickit. 'Tez tii match me bunnet 
 strings tii me gownd. Tha leastest morsel '11 dii.' 
 
 Snickitty = in tiny bits. 
 
 ' Thease es awnly a snickitty little twoad ov a piece, 'ot's 
 tha use ov zending ort, ef 'erciidden zend zummat better 'n 
 they vew crumbs.' [Said of a small piece of bride-cake 
 which was sadly crushed in transit.] 
 
 Sniffling = whining. 
 
 "Ot's stan' sniffling there vur, ye gert stupid twoad?' 
 
 Snigger, or Sniggeree = to laugh derisively. 
 
 ' If thee sniggers tii me again, I'll hat thee down !' 
 
 "Ot's sniggeree vur ? I ant zaid nort tii make thee grin !' 
 
 Snuggle, or Snugglee = to cuddle closely. 
 ' Come yer, my precious wan, an' snuggle intii me ; yii'll 
 ziine catch yett ! Poor little blid, yii be cold sure 'nuff.' 
 
 Smile = to slobber. 
 
 ' Diddee iver zee tii sich viiles ? They sniile wan an' 
 tuther about zo, mak'th inny body sick tii liike at 'um. 
 Darned viiles I cals 'um.' 
 
 Sodgers = smoked salt herrings. 
 Soldier. ' What 'ee ax vur yer sodgers, mum ?' 
 Siiopkekper. ' Dree vur tuppence 'appenny.' 
 Soldier. ' Gie's vower o'm.'
 
 126 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 S'off=as though. 
 
 ' Whot's tha metter wi' yii, than ? Yii liikes za whopper- 
 eyed 's'off yii lewsed zummat.' 
 
 Sose = good friends. 
 
 ' Well, sose, 'ow be yii tii-day !' 
 
 ' Purty well, thankee — 'ow's the missis ?' 
 
 ' Cabbical !' 
 
 'Aw, that's awlright, than.' 
 
 Spare = very slow. 
 
 ' I dii zim yii'm oncommon spare awver thickee job, diiee 
 try vur tii be a bit spryer.' 
 
 Spar-gads = thatching-pegs. 
 
 ' Wanted, fifty bundles of good spar-gads. — Apply John 
 Osmond, thatcher, Brook, Cullompton.' 
 
 Sparky = piebald. 
 
 ' Vather went to Holsery fair an' buyed dree sparky cows 
 — two aw'm be Garnseys.' 
 
 Spicketty = spotty. 
 
 ' Little Mary Stone 'ad on a new spicketty frock tii-day. 
 Wadden 'er fine, that's awl ?' 
 
 ' I've a-bought zome fine Plymouth Rocks ; they'm 
 rare wans tii lay. They'm spicketty awl awver, an' got 
 yaller legs.' 
 
 Spit (ov butter) = very small piece. 
 
 ' I always likes tii put a vew spits ov butter 'pon tha tap 
 ov a rice pudden — et kep'th 'n vrom burning.' 
 
 S'pose = suppose. 
 
 ' Cuddee lend me teyn shillen' till Zatterday, mawther ?' 
 
 ' 'Ess, I s'pose.' 
 
 Spraddleth = straddles. 
 
 ' Yii mid be zartin Brownie want val coming down hill. 
 Dreckly 'er veel'th 'erzel a-slipping, 'er spraddleth 'er legs 
 abroad and stapp'th dead-still !' 
 
 Spreety = ghostly. 
 
 ' I can't abide gwaine down Mill Lane, 'tez sich a terrabul 
 spreety twoad ov a place.' 
 
 Sproil = strength. 
 
 1 Aw dear ! I be most a-diied up. I ant a-got wan bit ov 
 sproil a-layved in me.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 127 
 
 Spry = sprightly. 
 
 1 Diiee liike spry now, or 'tweel be dimpsy avor yii be 
 ready tii go, an' then yii'll be aveard tli muvvee.' 
 
 Spudlee = to stir about. 
 
 ' Whot be spuddling there vur ? Yii won't vind nort, ef 
 yii spudlee till Diimesday.' 
 
 Squatt, Squab, Squob pie = favourite Devonshire pie. 
 
 Ingredients : 3 lb. mutton or pork cutlets, 6 large apples 
 sliced, 2 large onions sliced, ^ lb. salt fat bacon cut small, 
 2 oz. castor sugar, A- pint of mutton broth, pepper and salt 
 to taste. Place these in layers in a deep pie-dish, cover 
 with rich paste and bake for an hour and a half, or place the 
 whole in a crock and stew an hour and a half. Serve 
 piping hot. I have seen clotted cream served and eaten 
 with this ' delicacy.' 
 
 Stand = to be industrious and reliable. 
 
 'Wanted (indoors), a Man to stand to work. — Apply, 
 E. Salter, Longhayne, Cove, Tiverton.' 
 
 ' Wanted, at Lady-day, Man to stand to work ; good 
 cottage and garden and potato ground. — Mr. Lee, Priorton, 
 Sandford.' — Tiverton Gazette, 1890-91. 
 
 Stainted = short-winded. 
 
 ' Yii 'd better not drayve tha mare vast agin hill, or 'er 
 '11 be stainted avore 'er git 'th tii tha tap ov Week Hill.' 
 
 Standard = an oval salting-tub made of oak. 
 
 These standards will hold the pork, bacon, hams and 
 shoulders of two or three pigs, weighing from ten to fifteen 
 score each when cut up for salting. 
 
 Steeved = numbed. 
 
 ' Tha snaw is vive ur six veet deep out 'pon tha moors. 
 I'm niest upon steeved wi' tha cold. Fake up tha vire.' 
 
 Steffel = to stifle. 
 
 ' Diiee unhale my heyd, or yii'll steffel me.' 
 
 Stertlee = to startle. 
 
 ' Aw, Loramassy, Joan, 'ow yii did stertlee me ! I've abin 
 a-bivering an' a-wivering iver zince. Yii shiide be more 
 thortvul.'
 
 128 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Stewer = dust, fuss. 
 
 ' What a dowst ov a smeech an' a stewer yii be making. 
 Cantee sewp tha room stidy like ?' 
 
 Steyan = an earthenware pot. 
 
 ' Ef I be tii put yii in zome butter, yii 'd better zend me 
 a couple ov steyans ' (or ' steans '). 
 
 Stickjaw = half-cooked suet pudding. 
 
 This word is applied to any food difficult of mastication. 
 
 Stid = to scheme. 
 
 'Whot murchy be yii up tii now, nipper? I zim yii be 
 mortal quiet ! Take kear whot thee 'rt arter ; yii 'ave tii 
 stid 'ard tii outwit a old chap like me.' 
 
 Stid = to study. 
 
 On a boy returning from Blundell's School, Tiverton, 
 to his home at Dawkridge, his fond mother asked the 
 gardener how he thought Master Joe was looking. The 
 gardener looked the lad up and down, then shaking his 
 head, said : 
 
 ' Well, mum, 'e dii liike cruel wisht tii be sure, pale and 
 pittice-like ; I zim 'e 'th a stid tii ard. I rekkon 'e 'th abin 
 keept tii tight tii tha taskis.' 
 
 Still-liquors = spirits. 
 
 _ A coarse kind of spirit distilled from cider dregs. /^Illicit 
 distillation of this spirit has up to a recent date been largely 
 carried on in remote country districts. Still-liquors have 
 the reputation of being 'rare giide physic vur 'osses and 
 bullicks. 'T 'ath abin knawed tii cure tha boneshave in 
 man ! 'Tez cabbical stuff tii zettee up 'pon a cold night.' 
 
 Stirridge = commotion. 
 
 ' My ivers, whot a stirridge yii make vur nort at awl !' 
 
 Stivver = to tousel. 
 
 ' Now dawntee stivver up my 'air. I've awnly thease 
 minit a clayned myzel, an' yii mid be quiet vur wance.' 
 
 Stodge = badly mixed paste, etc. 
 
 ' Lizzie, this yer milted butter id den made vittee ; 'tez za 
 thick's stodge, nobody can't ayte et.' 
 
 Stodgers or Busters = large satisfying buns. 
 Mr. Tom Ward, of Tiverton, some years ago was in the 
 habit of making once a week a batch of very large buns,
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 129 
 
 which he sold at one penny each. Children on going into 
 the shop would invariably say : ' Plaize I wants a penny 
 stodger.' Others would ask for a 'penny buster.' 
 
 Stomickable = agreeable to the taste. 
 
 ' Dist think I elide ayte ort 'er ciiked ? No tanoby, 1 
 niver stomicked tha liike ov she, an' nort 'er ciiked idden a 
 bit stomickable.' 
 
 Stower = dust. (See Stewer.) 
 
 Straky = in lines, or strata. 
 
 Bacon is said to be ' straky ' when layers of lean and fat 
 alternate. It is called also interlean bacon. 
 
 A farmer's wife on being asked how there came to be 'some 
 fat and some lean,' replied : 
 
 ' Yii zee, us feeds 'n wan day and starv'th 'n tha next, 
 zo'e put'th on fat wan day and lean tuther.' 
 
 Stram = to bang violently. 
 
 ' Now than, Jinny, dawntee stram tha doar zo, yii '11 hat 
 tha 'ouze down.' 
 
 Stram-bang = (to fling) violently. 
 
 ' I'm dashed ef I didden skat 'n stram-bang out ov 'ouze. 
 'Twas windervul that I didden hurt 'n.' 
 
 Strammer = a big lie. 
 
 ' I knawed yii ciide stratch a bit, but thee 'st a told a 
 strammer now, by Gor !' 
 
 Stramming gert = very big. 
 
 ' Well, sose, that's a stramming gert lie !' 
 
 Strawmawt = straw. 
 
 ' Aw 'ess, I knaws tha way tii drink out ov a 'ogshead 
 wi'out tappin' o'n ; make a hawl drii tha bung and ziike 
 up tha zyder wi' a strawmawt.' 
 
 Strip = sharp cut with a switch. 
 
 'When 'e com'th 'ome I'll gie 'n a giide strip or tii. 
 They tell'th me 'e 'th abin meeching.' 
 
 Stub = hoard. 
 
 ' They dii zay oP Varmer Padden's deyde. I warndec 
 e 'th alayved a giide stub in 'es stocking.' 
 
 9
 
 130 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Stubberds = delicious apples. 
 
 Stubby = short and fat. 
 
 ' Ess, 'er is a bit stubby. I thort 'e wid be sure tii marry 
 zombody wi' a better figger than 'er 'th got. 'Er idden my 
 fancy !' 
 
 Stubs = roots of feathers. 
 
 These are little black spots in poultry when not cleanly 
 ' picked.' 
 
 ' Well, Ann, I dii zim yii mid' a' picked tha duck clayne : 
 yii 've alayved 'n vull ov stubs.' 
 
 Stiideling = loafing, loitering. 
 
 ' Whotiver diiee dii awl tha day ? Stand stiideling 
 about? Ugh ! yii bant wo'th yer zalt.' 
 
 Stugged = stuck in the mud. 
 
 ' Urn, Zacky, an' git zome ropes ! tha mare is stugged in 
 tha bog — urn !' 
 
 Stuggy = short and stout. 
 
 'They zay Passen Grey is amarried, an' I yer that 'is 
 missis is a stuggy little body. Shiide 'ave thort a fine up- 
 standing feller like 'e is wid a-had zommat tii Kike at. 
 Widden yii ?' 
 
 Suel = a plough. 
 
 ' They there suels shiide be a-tiiked in, ef they bides out 
 in tha wet much longer they'll val awl abroad. Tha shares 
 be aristed purty bad now min !' 
 
 Silent = even. 
 
 ' Why iver dissent cut thickee loave siient? I 'ates lii 
 zee tha breyde awl up in hummicks.' 
 
 Suff=to sob. 
 
 ' Dawntee suff zo, my dear chiel ; yii'll break yer poor 
 little 'art.' 
 
 Surfing = sobbing. 
 
 ' Whot be yii surfing zo vor ? Diiee try tii stap, there's a 
 dear little maid. Yii upzets me tii. Stap, diiee !' 
 
 Stile = to loll. 
 
 'Diiee, diiee git up an' not side about zo. Yii be alwes 
 a-h nging agin zomtheng.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. i 3I 
 
 Sutt = SOOt. 
 
 c Tell tha sweep tii put tha sutt in tha garden.' 
 
 Swale = to burn. 
 
 ' Make haste, bwoys, an' go uppen swale tha yeth and 
 vuzz 'pon little 'aldon 'ill.' 
 
 Swarze = rows. 
 
 ' Us 'ave alayved tha 'ay in swarzes vur tit-night. I 
 dawnt rekkon 'tweel rain avore marning.' 
 
 Sweel = to rinse. 
 
 ' Sweel out thickee glass avore 'e 's a-iised again. I zeed 
 tha cat alicking aw 'n jist now.' 
 
 Swill = to drink heavily. 
 
 1 1 tellee whot 'tez, 'e liveth awver to tha public-'ouze. 
 'E dawnt dii nort but swill, swill, awl day long.' 
 
 Swop = to change. 
 
 ' Willee swop hats wi' me ?' 
 
 Tack = to slap. 
 
 ' I'll gie thee a glide tack ef thee dii'th that again.' 
 
 Tackle = (i) to overcome, (2) to punish. 
 
 (1) 'Can't thee tackle 'e, Jack? Thee 'rt a gude listy 
 chap, strong 'nuff vur ort. I'll gie thee a shillen' ef thee'lt 
 gie'n a dowst ov a giide hiding vur me.' 
 
 (2) ' Liikee, zee yer, Ted, I'll tackle thee tii-tha-truth-ov- 
 music bimbye, zee ef I dawn't.' 
 
 Tackylacky = a person at everyone's beck and call. 
 ' I say, Jack, 'ow minny zarvints dii Passen Wadow 
 kep ?' 
 
 ' Aw, I dawnt knaw ezackally ! There's Bill Swam tha 
 coachman, Dick Ley the grume, and George Urdood tha 
 tackylacky, and tii or dree more besides.' 
 
 Taffety = dainty. 
 
 ' I niver did zee nobody zo taffety as yii be ; yii can't ayte 
 nort like nobody else.' 
 
 Tallet = a loft, over a linhay. 
 
 ' Kissent zlape in tha tallet vur wan night ? Thee'st vind 
 plenty ov straw there tii keepee 'ot.' 
 
 9—2
 
 132 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Tankerabogus = a bogie. 
 
 ' Now, Polly, yii've abin a bad, naughtv maid, and ef yii 
 be sich a wicked cheel again, I'll ze nd vur tankerabogus tii 
 come and car yii away tii 'is pittee-'awl.' 
 
 Tantara = an uproar. 
 
 ' There wuz a brave tantara up tii 'ouze za ziine as 'twuz 
 knawed that Master Jack 'ad a-married Susie Garnsworthy 
 on the sly ! 'Twas a dowst ov a smother, I can tellee.' 
 
 Tap = to put new soles to boots or shoes. 
 ' Ef zo be yii taps thews biites, they'll least awl drii tha 
 zummer.' 
 
 Tatchy = touchy. 
 
 ' 'Er's bad tempered, an' no mistake ; I niver zeed zich a 
 tatchy, ill-contrived little twoad in awl my life.' 
 
 Tatties, or Tetties = potatoes. 
 
 ' Us ant agot no more tatties alayved. Us chell 'ave tii 
 borrer zom vrom Varmer Ridd awver tii Shute.' 
 
 A story is told of a North Molton lad who took service in 
 a titled family in the Midlands. On returning to his native 
 \illage, he was surprised and annoyed to hear his father 
 talk about the ' dayzays in tha tatties? Tapping his father 
 on the shoulder, he said : 
 
 'Fayther, pleeze toe remimber tha "per." Say pertatties. 
 Tez fery fulgar to say " tatties." My lady niver doe.' 
 
 Tattie-traw = potato-trough. 
 
 ' Poor little Teddy 'th vailed in tha tattie-traw. Duee 
 come an' 'elp 'n out !' 
 
 Taykittle = teakettle. 
 
 ' Put on the taykittle, 'Liza Jane, an' let's 'ave a airly cup 
 ov tay.' 
 
 Taykittle-brath = sop. 
 
 Ingredients : i slice of bread cut in dice-shaped pieces, i 
 spit-ov-butter, i tablespoonful of milk, i pint boiling water, 
 pepper and salt to taste. Sometimes chopped leeks are 
 added, when it is called Licky-brath. 
 
 Tawsel = tassel. 
 
 ' When yii've adiied yer shawl, chellee put tawsels all 
 around 'n ?'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 133 
 
 Tearing = very excited. 
 
 ' I tellee whot 'tez, 'er wuz that tearing mad wi' me, that I 
 widden go a stap varder wi' 'er, zo 'er 'ad tii trapsee 'ome in 
 tha dark b' 'erzel.' 
 
 Teehoss = to romp vulgarly. 
 
 ' Be quiet thease minit ! I niver did zee sich a gert 
 teehossing viile as yii be !' 
 
 Teel'd = tilled. 
 
 ' 'Avee teel'd tha wuzzuls 'et, Bill ?' 
 
 ' 'Ess, an' they'm coming up in rills fine !' 
 
 Tervee = to struggle. 
 
 ' Now, be giide chillern, there's dears ! I zim when I'm 
 bad yii makes more noise than iver. Yii nidden keep on 
 trying to tervee with Jackie ; 'e'll be a giide bwoy ef yii 
 lets 'n bide.' 
 
 'Tez = it is. 
 
 She. ' Good-morning, Holmes. It is a fine morning for 
 the hay.' 
 
 He. "Ess, 'tez, missis.' 
 
 Thews = those. 
 
 'Thews shoes be awear'd out.' 
 
 Thickee = that one, or that. 
 
 ' Thickee there bwoy's 'nuff tii drave me mazed !' 
 
 Things = cattle, farm property. 
 
 ' Wher'st abin tii, Sam ?' 
 
 ' Why, tii Chagford wi' tha bullicks, an' I'm scrammed wi' 
 tha cold. Maister Short's things be awl a-zold ; there idden 
 nort a-layved 'pon tha place, indoor nur out. That's wisht, 
 surely !' 
 
 Tho' = then, at that time. 
 
 ' Her corned tho', vur I zeed 'er. 'Twuz jist nine 
 a'clock.' 
 
 Thoight = to whittle. 
 
 ' Willee thoight tii or dree little flip-sticks vur me ?' 
 
 Thorting = ploughing crosswise. 
 ' Whot's agwaine tii dii tii-day, Jacky ?' 
 'Aw, I thort (thought) I'd go up thorting Barn's Close 
 thease marning. Want'th et turrabal bad.'
 
 134 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Th'outs = without. 
 
 ' I bant agwaine vur tii dii't th'outs yii'll gie me zommat 
 vur my trubbul.' 
 
 Thumping = very big. 
 
 ' Well, than, ef 'er zaid that, 'er told a thumping gert lie !' 
 
 Thung = a thong. 
 
 ' Thickee drashel want'th a new thung.' 
 
 Thungy = tough, in threads. 
 ' Emma, 'avee made tha custards ?' 
 
 ' 'Ess, mawther • but tha milk wuz too 'ot, and they'm 
 thungy.' 
 
 Thurdled = meagre. 
 
 ' Aw, poor blid ! 'e's a poor thurdled-stommicked theng. 
 Luke's 'z'of 'e wuz 'a'f-starved. ' 
 
 Tidden = it is not. 
 
 ' If tidden 'ers, 'tez Abram 'Odge's, an' 'er'th a-stawled 'n ' 
 
 Tiddivate = to bedeck. 
 
 ' Wher's Lena ?' 
 
 ' Aw, 'er's upen chimmer ; 'er went up tii clayne 'erzel an 
 hour ago. 'Er du take a brave while tii tiddivate 'erzel. 
 Dawnt liike much 6't, arter awl.' 
 
 Tiddlee, or Tiddle tope = the wren. 
 
 ' There's a tiddlee-tope's nest upen tha datch ov tha pigs' 
 lewze.' 
 
 Tiffles = detached threads. 
 
 ' Dawntee draw awl they tiffles down 'pon tha floor, else 
 yii'll 'ave tii pick um up wan by wan, an' that'll be a tayjus 
 task.' 
 
 Tin = to extinguish. 
 
 ' Tin tha kannels an' go to bed dreckly minit !' 
 
 Tine = to shut to. 
 
 'Tine tha geates as 'e com'th drii.' 
 
 Tino, Tinoby, Tanoby, Tanyby = certainly not. 
 
 ' 'Er gie away a shillerd ov ort ? No, tino (or either of 
 above) ; awl 'er giv'th away es Munday marnings, an' 'e 
 com'th fust gits nort !'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 135 
 
 Tiss = to fizz. 
 
 A clergyman preached a sermon on the sin of attending 
 races. The next day two youngsters discussed the matter in 
 the following way : 
 
 Jack. ' Be yii agwaine tii races, Tom ?' 
 
 Tom. 'No, I bant' 
 
 Jack. ' Whot vur, than ?' 
 
 Tom. ' 'Cuz passen zeth I chell go tii tha wicked place ef 
 I goes tii um.' 
 
 Jack. 'Es it 'ot down there ?' 
 
 Tom. ' 'Ess, I rekkon.' 
 
 Jack. ' Diiee think I shiide tissee ef I went there ?' 
 
 Tom. ' 'Ess, ef yii be fat !' 
 
 The clergyman's sister, who overheard this, gave me the 
 above story. 
 
 Titched = touched. 
 
 ' Yii speyk'th tha truth by accident most-times. Yii ant 
 a-titched Jackie, I s'pose ?' 
 
 ' Aw no ! ciise not ! Leastwise, I zeedee gie'n a dap in 
 tha heyde, zo there !' 
 
 Tizzick = cold on chest, a wheeze. 
 
 ' I ant abin well latterly ; I bin tizzicked up upon my 
 chest. 'Ad the brownkitty, I zim.' 
 
 Tosticated = intoxicated. 
 
 ' Oh dear no ! I niver takes wine. Ef I did I shiide be 
 tosticated, an' ciidden drive 'ome strite. Yii knaw tha rawd 
 tii Chappletown es za dark's a hadge, an' I ant agot no 
 lamps.' 
 
 Tottling = decrepit. 
 
 ' I'm aveard 'e 've azeed 'is best days ; 'e's come tii a 
 tottling ol' blid now.' 
 
 Totty = (i) dizzy, (2) of bad character. 
 
 (1) ' I be za totty-headed I can 'ardly stand.' 
 
 (2) ' I tellee yii bestways 'ave nort tii dii wi' she; 'er's 
 nort but a totty twoad.' 
 
 Towser = a hard-working woman. 
 
 ' 'Er's a out-an'-out towser, 'er is ! Yii niver did zee any- 
 body rout an' lowster about 'ouze as 'er dii.'
 
 136 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Toze = (i) to shake a feather-bed, (2) to comb wool. 
 
 (1) ' Yer, Sissie, come an' toze up thease yer bedtie and 
 make'n plum.' 
 
 (2) 'I wish yii'd wash this yer lambs'-tail-'ool. Spreyd et 
 abroad in tha zin, and when 'tez dry toze it well. 'Tweel 
 make a biitivul kiishin.' 
 
 Trade = (1) leavings, (2) food. 
 
 (1) 'Whot's cal this trade? Orts vrom your dinner? 
 Ayte it yerzel an' git me zummat else. 
 
 (2) ' This trade idden tii my liking. Gie me a beef-stake 
 and zom ingyens.' 
 
 Trapes = an untidy woman. 
 
 ' I winder where thickee old trapes hath abin tii ! Liikee, 
 zee tii 'er gown. Why, e's adugged up tii her knees.' 
 
 Traps, or Trinkrums = household goods, plate. 
 
 A debtor at East Budleigh, being pressed by the Official 
 Receiver to say of what his assets consisted, replied in the 
 following manner : 
 
 Official Receiver. 'What traps had you ?' 
 
 Debtor. ' I'm darned ef I knaw. They wuz put up in a 
 little box.' 
 
 O. R. ' Nonsense ! What was in the box ?' 
 
 D. ' Twadden a box, I tehee.' 
 
 O. R. ' You said it was just now. Was it a barrel ?' 
 
 D. ' No. 1 put a vew trinkrums about a 'undered yers 
 old in a smal box.' 
 
 O. R. ' What were the trinkrums ?' 
 
 D. ' Aw, nort much — awnly a leetle old zilver cup thing 
 an' a vew spiines.' 
 
 Tribbit = a trivet. 
 
 ' I zay, 'tez time tha mayte wuz cukin'. Gie me tha tribbit 
 tii stan' tha drippin'-pan 'pon.' 
 
 Trig = smart. 
 
 ' Whot's agwaine on tii-day, than ? I zim I niver zeedee 
 za trig avore. Yii be agwaine coorting, I rekkon.' 
 
 ' No, I bant than ; I be agwaine tii Passen Shart's 
 funneral' 
 
 Trindle = a round salting-tub.
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 137 
 
 Trubbul = trouble. 
 
 ' I thort I knavved whot trubbul wuz, but I didden avor I 
 lewsed my two bwoys. Wan wuz drownded in tha Cappen, 
 an' tuther wuz killed in Aygipt. I zim I chell niver 'old up 
 my 'ead again. I dii veel drefful bad night-times.' 
 
 Truck = trash. 
 
 (1) 'Whot truck be yii telling up now? Diiee 'ol' yer 
 tongue ef 'e can't spake zense.' 
 
 (2) ' What truck 'avee a-ciiked vur dinner tii-day ?' 
 ' Tez whot tha gintry cal'th "kerry." ' 
 
 ' I bant agwaine tii ayte zich trade 's that es.' 
 
 Tii = (i) to, (2) two, (3) at. 
 
 (1) ' I be gwaine tii market.' 
 
 (2) « I'll gie 'e tii shillen'.' 
 
 (3) ' I chell knock tii tha door.' 
 ' Tii' always follows * going ' : 
 
 ' Wher'st agwaine tii ?' 
 
 Tlibill = twibill. 
 
 This implement of husbandry is called also ' bisgay,' or 
 ' visgay.' 
 
 Tudouble = bent head and knees together. 
 ' Aw, my dear ! I got zichee pain in my chest, I be niest 
 upon tudouble wi' tha angish (anguish) o' 't.' 
 
 Tii-last = at last. 
 
 'Well, sose, yii be agwaine tii-last. I thort yii wid.' 
 
 Tummilled = tumbled. 
 
 ' There ! didst iver zee zichee upstore as 'er'th amade 
 yer ? 'Er've a-tummilled up ivery theng an' crammed my 
 frock tii death !' 
 
 Tuppence = twopence. 
 
 ' I widden gie 'e tuppence vur 'n ! In vact, tidden wo'th 
 nort now.' 
 
 Turmits = turnips. 
 
 ' Vather, 'avee bin upen Long Close 'smarning ?' 
 
 ' No. Whot vur ?' 
 
 ' Cuz tha vlies be in tha turmits cruel bad.'
 
 1 38 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 ' The vly gee hoppee, 
 An' tha vly gee whoppee, 
 An' 'tez awl my eye 
 That thickee there vly 
 Can ayte up awl tha turmits !' 
 
 Turrabul = (i) terrible, (2) very. 
 
 ( 1 ) 'Us 'ave a-had a turrabul starm !' 
 
 (2) 'Idden Mrs. Joss turrabul fine tii-day? 'Er cloase 
 costs a main sight ov money. Where ciide 'er git et tii ?' 
 
 Turves =^ square blocks of peat. 
 
 These are cut on all moorlands and stacked to supply the 
 peasantry with fuel during winter. 
 
 Tii-tha-truth-ov-music = thoroughly. 
 
 This sentence is used to impress on one the completeness 
 with which a sound thrashing is to be administered, as : 
 ' I'll tan thee tii-tha-truth-ov-music' 
 ' 'E'll catch et bimbye tii-tha-truth-ov-music' 
 ' I'll makee holly tii-tha-truth-ov-music' 
 
 Tu-wance - this instant. 
 
 ' Go thease minit ! Ef yii dawn't dii't tu-wance, I'll drash 
 thee !' 
 
 Twant, or Twunt = it will not. 
 
 ' J°y g° w i' ' ee an ' a Dunne l ov moss, 
 Ef yii dawnt come back, twant be no loss.' 
 ' I tellee twunt be giide tii drink ef 'e yetts et zo 'ot.' 
 
 Tweeny-maid = a general help. 
 
 ' Wanted, at once, a Tweeny-maid. —Apply, Mrs. Lewis, 
 Tiverton.' 
 
 'Wanted a young, strong girl as Tweeny-maid. — Apply 
 Proprietor, Angel Hotel, Tiverton.' 
 
 Twidden = it would not. 
 
 ' No, I tellee twidden be right vur tii dii't.' 
 
 Twink = to chastise. 
 
 ' Zo yii bin stayling awpels, 'avee. Well, than, I'll twink 
 thee purty tight vur that, sure 's a gun !' 
 
 Twinkleth = short twitching of the tail. 
 
 A shepherd was inspecting a flock of sheep for the purpose 
 of selecting those afflicted with a disorder peculiar to them 
 in hot weather, when his son said :
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 13 
 
 ' Thickee wan there, vather, that twinkleth 'is tail got um 
 turrabul bad.' 
 
 Twinkling = vibrating. 
 
 This is applied to the quick twitching, or shaking, of the 
 tails of animals, but especially of lambs when they are in the 
 act of ' feeding.' 
 
 Tyne. (See Tine.) 
 
 Ud= would. 
 
 U. 
 
 ' Whot ud 'e dii ef yii wuz me ?' 
 ' I thenks I ud zil 'n.' 
 
 Ulker = great one, big and heavy. 
 
 ' That's a whacking gert ulker, idden et ?' 
 
 Ummits = large pieces. 
 
 'Willee plaize tii gie us zome tidy-zized ummits ov burd 
 an' cheese vur vornoons tii-day. Us chell be mortal 'ungry 
 avore dinner-time.' 
 
 Umpsouze = almshouse. 
 
 Mr. G. built a row of almshouses, and gave one to Betty 
 Winnicombe, who came to tell me the good news. With a 
 face beaming with happiness, and tears filling her eyes, she 
 exclaimed : ' Oh, missis, missis ! whot diiee thenk ? Whot 
 dike the?ik ? That dear old Mr. G. 'ath agied me a umps- 
 ouze ! I be that glad I be zwetting vur thankvulness an' 
 
 j'y.' 
 
 Umsoever = whomsoever. 
 
 ' I'll gie 'n tii umsoever '11 'a' 'n.' 
 
 Unbeknawn = unknown. 
 
 ' 'Ath mawther gied that young rascal 'is brekzis ?' 
 
 ' Dunnaw ; an' ef zo 'tez unbeknawn tii vather.' 
 
 Unbethowted = remembered. 
 
 ' Well, I'm baggered ef I ant ajist unbethowted o' 't. I 
 must go an' tell Bob tii gie tha mare zom wets.' 
 
 Up-a-long = (i) up-hill, (2) towards home. 
 
 (1) 'I be agwaine up-a-long direckly.' 
 
 (2) 'Wait a bit, I chell shet away up-along purty ziine 
 tii.'
 
 i 4 o THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 ' Tam Pearce, Tam Pearce, len' me thy gray mare, 
 
 Awl along, up-along, down-along lee, 
 
 Vur I want'th vur tii go tii Widdicombe vair, 
 
 Wi' Beel Brewer, Jan Stewer, Pet'r Davy. Pet'r Gurney, 
 
 Dan'el Widden, 'Arry 'Awk, ol' Uncle Tom Cobley, an' awl.' 
 
 Up-an'-down = upside down. 
 
 4 I'd za ziine dii 't 's I turn my 'and up-an'-down.' 
 
 Uphome and in-home = close to the hilt. 
 
 ' Shet'n in uphome tii tha hannel !' 
 
 1 'E 've a-urned tha knive into his thigh, inhome tii bone.' 
 
 Upizet = opposite. 
 
 ' Doctor Smale liv'th upizet the Ranters' chapel.' 
 
 Upping-stock = stone steps. 
 
 Three or four stone steps built against the court wall, 
 from which ladies in the olden days mounted the pillion. 
 
 Upstore = noise, quarrel. 
 
 ' Whotiver diiee make thease row vor? Awl tha upstore 
 in tha wurdle wunt make et better. Nur awl yer hollin 
 nuther.' 
 
 Urn = run. 
 
 Urning = running. 
 
 ' Urn, little veard, big veard 's arter thee.' 
 
 ' I be a urning, bant I ?' 
 
 Vady = tainted. 
 
 ' Us can't ayte this yer mayte, 'tez za vady.' 
 
 Vag = to trail on the ground. 
 
 ' Diiee 'old up yer frock, an' not let 'n vag along like that; 
 tha bottom aw'n '11 be tiffled out, and covered wi' mucks.' 
 
 Vair, or vairy = a weasel. 
 
 ' Mawther, yii'd best ways liike arter yer little ducks. I 
 zeed a vairy urn intii tha linhay jist now.' 
 
 Vailed = fell. 
 
 'Jane Brook's babby 'ath a-valled intii tha vire an' scald 
 'iszel.' 
 
 Valled-vore = fell forwards. 
 
 ' Aw, min ! I got a drefful tale tii tellee. I be most
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 141 
 
 mortal zorry tii tellee bad news. Yisterday yii zend me tii 
 drayve Mrs. H. tii Bow Station. Well, jist as us wuz 
 agwaine along Yeoford lane, Brownie put a viite 'pon a 
 stone, and skammeled a giiddish bit. Well, Mrs. H. is a 
 purty giide heft, an' us wuz agawked up za 'igh in tha dug- 
 kert that us boath vailed vore skat intii tha rawd. I'll be 
 burned ef 'er wadden in a dowst ov a smuther. 'Owdzim- 
 iver, I brished tha mucks off 'er gownd za well's I cude, an' 
 'er went 'ome. Ef 'er shiide write tii tellee about et, diiee 
 plaize tii zay twadden no vault o' mine, mum.' 
 
 Valled-vore-skat = fell forwards. 
 
 v 'Er 'itched 'er viite in a gert stone, an' vailed vore skat 
 in tha rawd.' 
 
 Vallee = to value. 
 
 ' 1 wants tii buy a 'oss vur Maister Cruwys. Whot diiee 
 ax vur thickee cob o' yours ?' 
 
 ' Aw, I bant agwaine tii peart wi' 'n. I vallee 'n in vifty 
 pound !' 
 
 Vamp = to sprinkle with water, the font, to increase in 
 knitting. 
 
 Vampdish, and Churchvamp = the font. 
 
 There has been a good deal of controversy over this word 
 and its compounds. 
 
 A gentleman, writing to the Western Morning News, 
 January 28, 1S89, says: 
 
 ' I was born within a score of miles of Cofton Church, 
 near Starcross, Devon, and have spent my life (sixty years) 
 in the neighbourhood. When I was a boy I knew the font 
 by several names, viz. : Vamp, Churchvamp, Christening 
 vamp.' 
 
 Vamping was understood to mean sprinkling, just as 
 dousing means the application of a more copious supply of 
 water, as, 'Jist a leetle more may-watter tii make 'e graw a 
 bit, my dear !' 
 
 The word ' vamp ' is also used in the following sense : 
 
 ' Yii must vamp eight stitches in tha ca've ov yer stock- 
 ing ef yii want'th tii make 'n a giide shape.' 
 
 Vang = to stick close to, to close in a tussle. 
 ' Whot be yii tii 'bout now than ? Shet 'n up sharp, Bill. 
 Vang 'n intii 'e tight, an' ave diied wi 'n.'
 
 142 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Vang-to = to act as sponsor. 
 
 'Tidden no glide vur yii tii ax me tii come awver tii zee 'e 
 next Zinday, 'cuz I'm agwaine tii 'Orsewellake tii vang-to 
 Zue Ridd's babby.' 
 
 Varden = farthing. 
 
 ' Liikee zee, Mr. Gammon 'ath agied me a plat of pins 
 instid ov a varden change.' 
 
 Varmint = reptiles, stoats, hedgehogs. 
 ' There's a sight ov varmints about tha varm, vather. 
 I'm agwaine out tii try tii shet zome.' 
 
 Varry = to farrow. 
 
 Said of sows when they give birth to a litter of pigs. 
 ' 'Adden 'e better put thickee zow intii a warm lewze ? I 
 zim 'er'll varry avore marning.' 
 
 Vatched = fetched. 
 
 ' I tellee what 'tez, 'e gied me zich a whop that boath my 
 eyes vatched vire.' 
 
 Vatches = vetches. 
 
 ' Us got a giide crap ov vatches thease zayson.' 
 
 Veaking = fretful. 
 
 ' 'Er dawnt dii nort but go veaking about, and suffing 
 awl day long.' 
 
 Vearns = ferns. 
 
 Driving over Exmoor, I saw in the distance an extensive 
 patch of dark-green foliage, quite different from the green high 
 grass covering the moor. Pointing to this particular spot, I 
 said to the coachman : 
 
 ' Is that a field of turnips away to the right ?' 
 
 A smile flitted over his jovial, happy-looking face, and, 
 pointing with his whip to the place indicated, said : 
 
 ' Diiee mayne awver there, mum ?' 
 
 ' Yes, there to the right,' said I. 
 
 Then, shrugging his shoulders, he said : 
 
 ' Turmits ! turmits, mum ! why they be vearns, vearns 
 vur tha deer tii lie in ! God bless us, missis ! inny viile 
 wid aknawed that turmits ciidden graw yer pin tap ov 
 Exmoor !'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 143 
 
 Veathervaw = feverfew. 
 
 ' Our gearden is 'awver-rinned wi' veathervaw, but I dawnt 
 mind much, vur tez cabbical stuff tii rub intii tha chillern's 
 necks night-times tii keep away tha vleys.' 
 
 Vigging = spuddling. 
 
 ' Whot be yii vigging about they tatties vur ? Yii'm 
 stayling tha new wans avore they be 'a'f corned.' 
 
 ' Diiee be quiet, an' not keep vigging there. Yii dawnt 
 dii nort but vig, vig, vig, awl day long !' 
 
 Viggle = to wriggle. 
 
 ' Thickee cheel 'II viggle about till 'er wunt be vit tii be 
 zeed, an' 'er 'th agot on 'er best vrock.' 
 
 Vinnied = (i) mouldy, (2) bad-tempered. 
 
 (1) 'This yer cheese is biitivul now ; 'tez vinnied drii' an' 
 drii.' 
 
 (2) 'Yii vinnied little twoad, git out ov my zight thease 
 minit !' 
 
 Vire = fire. 
 
 ' There idden a blunk ov vire pon tha ya'th.' 
 
 Vire-dugs = fire-dogs. 
 
 Visgy, Bisgy, Tiibill = a mattock. 
 
 ' I zim I chell be voced tii use tha bisgy tii 'at thews clats 
 abroad wi'.' 
 
 Vlst (s.) or Vistises (pi.) = fist. 
 
 'Tellee whot 'tez, Jack, ef 'e com'th niest thee agen, shet 
 up yer tii vistises an' 'at un down.' 
 
 Vittee = correctly, properly. 
 
 ' Diiee dii thengs vittee like ! I niver didden zee nobody 
 za ciichypawed avor !' 
 
 Vittels = victuals. 
 
 ' Be us agwaine tii 'ave inny vittels tii-day, mawther ? I'm 
 burned ef I bant mortal wangery vur want o' 't.' 
 
 Vlax = flax, fur of foxes, rabbits, etc. 
 
 ' They poachers bin at et again ! Liikee zee tii tha vlax 
 in thease yer trap. They'm round 'bout yer again, I zim. 
 There'll be blue murder avore 'tez awver !'
 
 144 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Vlail = flail. 
 
 This implement has become obsolete, being superseded 
 by the threshing machine. 
 
 Vleys = fleas. 
 
 ' Yii must wash thease yer dug, Harry ; tha vleys be ayting 
 aw 'n tii death. 'E dii'th nort but vig 'iszel.' 
 
 Vollered = followed. 
 
 1 1 can't get urds aw'n ; 'e 'th avollered me about awl day.' 
 
 Vore = (i) before, (2) forth. 
 
 (1) ' Ef yii'll go vore, I'll voller.' 
 
 (2) ' 'E corned vore avore me.' 
 Voreright = rude, vulgar, careless. 
 
 ' Ef yii want 'th vokes tii respect yii, yii must layve off 
 awl they ugly voreright ways ov yours.' 
 
 Voreteen = fourteen. 
 
 At a country railway-station a woman asked for a ticket 
 and a half for self and son. 
 
 Ticket-Man. ' How old is the boy ?' 
 
 Woman. ' 'E is nearly twelve.' 
 
 Boy. ' Aw, mawther, whot a strammer yii dii tell ! Yii 
 knaw I be voreteen come Tewsday !'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 145 
 
 Voretoken = warning. 
 
 ' I'm zartin zomething is agwaine tii 'appen, vur I yerd 
 tha death-watch atapping in my tester last night. 'Tez 
 a voretoken ov death, I'm veard.' 
 
 Vornoons, or Vorniines = lunch. 
 
 ' Come on intii 'ouze, plaize. Us be jist agwaine tii 'ave 
 our vornoons, an' yii mid jist za well stap an' 'ave zome tii.' 
 
 Vump = knock. 
 
 ' Aw, I knawed twuz yii, Mr. Shart ; ciide tellee by yer 
 vump.' 
 
 Vurgot = forgot. 
 
 ' Us 'ave avurgot tii vull tha verkins. Urn in an' git tha 
 kay ov tha zeller, an' let Jack car um up tii barn like a shot 
 avore vather com'th back, else 'e'll scollee, zure 'nuff !' 
 
 Vustling = fussing. 
 
 ' 'Er ciidden zit still wan minit tiigether. 'Er keeped 
 on vustling about till I wuz ready tii gie 'er a darned gu-ie 
 scat in tha heyde.' 
 
 Vuzz = furze, gorse. 
 
 ' I dii zim I niver did zee tha vuzz za vull ov vlowers as 
 'tez thease yer.' 
 
 Vuzz-chick = a species of finch. 
 
 A small finch frequenting moors covered with furze and 
 heath. 
 
 Vuzz-poll = untidy hair. 
 
 ' Idden Gatty Stabb a vuzzee-poll ? 'Er 'ead is alwes 
 a-stivvered up.' 
 
 Vuzzy = covered with furze. 
 
 ' When Kirton wuz a borough town, 
 Ex'ter wuz a vuzzy-down.' 
 
 W. 
 
 Wab = tongue. 
 
 ' Hold thy wab, wi't, Bet !' 
 
 Wacking-gert = very big. 
 
 ' Yer's a wacking gert awpel vur 'ee ef zo be yii wunt cry 
 no more.' 
 
 10
 
 1 46 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Wallage = an untidy bundle. 
 
 ' What a wallage o't 'er 'th a made of tha gathers ov 
 thease frock ! Tii zome places there idden wan, an' tuthers 
 they'm awl tii a bunch.' 
 
 Wallop = to beat. 
 
 ' Mr. Turner zeth that ef Sayzur (Caesar) com'th yer tii 
 'ouze again, yii must plaize tii wallop 'n.' 
 
 Wangary = limp, weary. 
 
 ' I bant fery well tii-day ; this 'ot wuther mak'th me veel 
 uncommon wangary.' 
 
 Want = a mole. 
 
 • Us must 'ave tha old want-catcher yer next week. They 
 baggaring wants be zaring that field ov young; grass turrabul 
 bad.' 
 
 Want-catcher = a mole-catcher. 
 
 Wapsy = (i) ill-natured, (2) wasp. 
 
 (1) 'There idden a bit ov payee in thease yer 'ouze. 
 Yii'm za wapsy an' za tatchy there's no living vuree.' 
 
 (2) 'A wapsy 'ath a stinged 'n 'pon tha veace.' 
 
 Watter-swate = clean. 
 
 ' I ant a-scrubbed tha back-'ouze tii-day ; I've jist gied 'n 
 a lick an' a promish till Zatterday. Tez watter-swate, anv- 
 
 'ow !' 
 
 Waxing-curls = swollen glands. 
 
 ' Why idden your little maid agone tii skiile tii-day, than ?' 
 
 ' Aw ! poar little blid, 'er idden very well. 'Er waxing- 
 
 curls be down, an' I've abin rubbin' 'urn back wi' 'arts'orn 
 
 an' oil. 
 
 Weared = worn. 
 
 In speaking of clothes, people often say: 'They be a- 
 weared out;' and when one is exhausted they say: *'E's 
 aweared out wi' tha yett,' 
 
 Wee-wow = (i) crosswise, (2) puckered, (3) squinting. 
 (1) 'Thease seam is awl wee-wow.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 147 
 
 (2) ' Why, yii've got thease cloth awl wee-wow, nobody 
 can't use et.' 
 
 (3) "Er babby's eyes is drefful wee-wow-like.' 
 
 Wets = oats. 
 
 ' Mind yii dawnt vurgit tii gie tha 'osses their wets.' 
 
 Whatjecome = what's-his-name. 
 ' Who is living at the Hall now ?' 
 
 ' I can't zay vur zure, but 'tez zome Mr. Whatjecome or 
 uther.' 
 
 Whatzimiver = whatsoever. 
 
 ' Whatzimiver thee widst meyn shiid dii tii yii, dii yii unto 
 they.' 
 
 Whipshire = Tiverton. 
 
 Tradition has it that, in ' olden time,' persons found 
 guilty of minor offences were not sent to prison as at present, 
 but were punished by being whipped at a cart's tail through 
 the streets. This practice was at one time so common at 
 Tiverton, that the name of ' Whipshire ' was applied to the 
 town. An old man at the Warren, near Dawlish, told me 
 that he ' larned cheermaking tii Kentisbeare, an' then zot 
 up in businez tii Whipshire, but was a-foced tii layve tha 
 place, cuz tha Latin-bwoys zot vire tii his 'ouze.' 
 
 Whips-while = every few minutes. 
 
 ' I tellee 'ot 'tez, 'e 'idden a riglar drunkard, 'e dawnt zit 
 tii't long 'nuff. 'E's 'ot I cal'th a zawker — 'e urn't tii tha 
 pub ivery whips-while ef 'es ol' dummun's out chiiring. 
 Dowst ef 'e dawnt spend a fortin in liquor !' 
 
 Whisterclister and Whisterpoop = a backhand slap. 
 ' Well, sose, 'e did vatch 'n a brave gert whisterclister in 
 tha chucks, I thort 'e 'd a-broked 'is jaw !' 
 
 Whitstone Hills = the Blackdown Hills. 
 These hills lie east of Cullompton, and are so called from 
 the whetstones which are dug there. 
 
 *& 
 
 Whitwitch = a white (i.e. benignant) witch. 
 Witchcraft is, up to this day, believed in by the peasantry 
 rhey say ' this cheel,' ' thease 'oss,' ' thickee cow is, I'rr 
 
 m 
 10-
 
 148 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 zartin, awverliiked ' (bewitched or witched). ' Us must go 
 tii Ex'ter or Kirton tii zee tha whitwitch, an' ax'n who'th 
 a-diied et.' 
 
 ' " The White Witch of Exeter " at Dawlish. — At 
 Dawlish, yesterday, before Mr. W. G. Brown (chairman), 
 and Captain W. C. Strickland, Ovino Portsine, a French- 
 man, was charged on remand with obtaining 3s. 6d. by 
 means of palmistry from Richard and Emily Ware, of 
 Dawlish, on September 26th. Defendant pleaded guilty. 
 According to the evidence of Mrs. Ware, defendant met 
 with Richard Ware at a public-house, on September 26th, 
 and borrowed a shilling of him. He afterwards went to 
 Ware's house in Alexandra Terrace, and asked Mrs. Ware 
 for a glass of water and a Bible, from which he read Psalm 
 Ixviii. Then he asked for three half-crowns, and she gave 
 him one. Defendant told her he was a white witch of 
 Exeter. P.C. Edwards, on apprehending the prisoner, 
 asked his name and occupation. He said his name was 
 Protector Portsine, and that his occupation was superior to 
 that of witness, as he was in communication with " Jack the 
 Ripper." Defendant denied having made such a statement. 
 The chairman said it was a very extraordinary case, but 
 there was a law to protect silly people against those who 
 took advantage of their ignorance, as defendant had done to 
 the fullest extent. He had also made a mockery of religion. 
 He would be committed to Exeter prison as a rogue and 
 vagabond for one month with hard labour.' — Western Morn- 
 ing News, Sept. 29th, 1890. 
 
 Whityeth = white heather. 
 
 It is said by West-country folk that a person who gathers 
 and preserves white heather when in early bloom, will have 
 good luck so long as it is kept in possession. 
 
 Whurts, Hurts = whortleberries. 
 She. ' 'Ow be zillin' whurts tii-day, maister ?' 
 He. ' Eve a-had fippence a quart vur'm, but as I've unly 
 got a vew a-layved yii chell 'ave urn vur drippence a quart.' 
 
 Whymsheet, or wimbingsheet = winnovving-sheet. 
 ' Car thickee drashel upen barn, an' hang up the whym- 
 sheet agin tha wall.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 149 
 
 Why vor ? = why. 
 
 ' Why vor be yu a-comed yer ?' 
 
 Wimbing = winnowing. 
 
 ' Vather, whot be I tii go about than, tii-day ?' 
 ' Why, there's awl that weyt (wheat) tii be clayned. Yii'd 
 best ways go upen barn wimbing, and take the bwoy wi' 'e.' 
 
 Winders = windows. 
 
 ' I'm burned ef I dawntdraw doors tii winders ef yu zit'th 
 up inny more upstore.' 
 
 Winnels = thrushes. 
 
 Wishee-washee = weak. 
 
 ' This tay is drefful wishee-washee stuff. 'Tez watter be- 
 witched and tay begridged.' 
 
 Wisht = ill, sickly. The word always implies compassion. 
 ' 'Er idden agwaine vur tii live very long. I never didden 
 zee nobody liike za wisht in my life.' 
 
 Wit-in-anger = hasty flight. 
 
 ' What 'ast a-diied wi' Polly, than ?' 
 
 ' I ant a-diied nort tii 'er, unly 'er's za uppish-like. Got 
 tha munkey 'pon 'er showlder. I didden zay nort tii 'er, 
 'cept thit I zim'd 'er wuz getting tii fantysheeny vur a poor 
 body. 'Owzimiver 'er tiiked wit-in-anger and shabbed off— 
 and jy go wi' 'er.' 
 
 Wive = wife. 
 
 She. ' How's yer wive, Lewis ?' 
 
 He. ' 'Er's better, thankee. 'Er corned down ouze 
 yesterday.' 
 
 She. ' Well din, than !' 
 
 Wivvery = dizzy, shivery. 
 
 ' I bant very well, tii-day. I'm za wivvery, I dawnt knaw 
 whotiver tii dii wi' myzel.' 
 
 Wob = a lump. 
 
 ' A slammicking young hussy ! 'Er'th a-got 'er frock awl 
 up in a gert wob behind !'
 
 150 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Wod = a small wisp of hay or straw. 
 
 ' Shove a wod ov straw intii tha bunghawl, quick ! or awl 
 tha zyder '11 be a-lewsed.' 
 
 Wopper-eyed = tearful. 
 
 ' Oh, my dear cheel ! whotiver es tha metter ? Yii be 
 hiking zo wopper-eyed tii-day.' 
 
 Wopsy = a wasp. 
 
 (See Appledrane.) 
 
 Worrit = worry. 
 
 ' I do zim there's nobody za misfortunate as I be, vur 
 wan or t'uther ov my chillern be alwes bad. They'm 'nuff to 
 worrit me tii death !' 
 
 Wraxling = wrestling. 
 
 ' Be yii agwaine tii Halberton revel ? There's a wraxling 
 match between Joe Gooding and Dick Gollop. I'll lay ten 
 tii wan 'pon Dick.' 
 
 Wunt, or want = will not. 
 ' I wunt zay wan word more.' 
 ' I want gie 'm another shillin.' 
 
 Y. 
 
 Yaffer = heifer. 
 
 ' I've a-zold awl tha young stock — yaffers an' awl.' 
 
 Yammets — ants. 
 
 ' Canee tell me 'ow tii git urds ov yammets ? They be 
 awl^ awver tha place, in tha jam-pots an' the sugar, an' 'ave 
 a-cared off half ov it.' 
 
 Yan-zide = the other side. 
 
 ' Where 's 't 'n tii, vather ?' 
 
 ' Aw, 'e 's up yanzide ov tha hadge.' 
 
 Yark = sprightly. 
 
 ' Aw, my bwoy, yii be Hiking yark 's marning. Whot 's up 
 wi' 'e ?' 
 
 Yaw = ewe. 
 
 ' Yii'd best ways go an' turn tha yaws intii tha yard. 'Tez 
 tii cold vor um upen tha orchit'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 151 
 
 Yaw = to hack. 
 
 ' Can't 'ee carve proper ? Yii dii yaw tha mayte zo, 
 tidden vit tii be zeed tii tabul again.' 
 
 Yawk = the unctuous secretion in sheep's wool. 
 ' Howiver be I agwaine tii git this yer yawk out ov yer 
 cloaze, Jack ? Yii mid aweared a ol' garment to shearee in.' 
 
 Yer=(i) here, (2) to hear, (3) year, (4) ear, (5) your. 
 
 (1) 'Yer 'e com'th, Jack !' 
 
 (2) 'Didst yer 'n?' 
 
 (3) ' Polly's dree yer old.' 
 
 (4) ' I'll gie thee a whisterpoop in thee yer, ef thee 
 dissent a-diied.' 
 
 (5) ' Gie me yer 'at.' 
 
 Yeth = heath. 
 
 ' When be yii agwaine to swale tha yeth, vather ?' 
 
 ' Dun naw ! In a day or two, mayhap.' 
 
 Yett = to heat. 
 
 ' Yett tha awn za ziine 's yii can, plaize !' 
 
 ' Canst catch yett ?' 
 
 Yetters = flat-irons. 
 
 ' Put down tha yetters an' lets begin irking (ironing) zo 
 zune 's can.' 
 
 Yu'm = you are. 
 
 1 Yu'm a viile, tii zay tha best about 'ee.' 
 
 Yummer'th. = indulges. 
 
 ' No winder 'e's sichee ninyhammer, 'es mawther yum- 
 mer'th 'n zo.' 
 
 Yurdles = hurdles. 
 
 1 Hast a-put tha yurdles up in a stack ?' 
 
 ' 'Ess, vather.' 
 
 Z. 
 
 Zad = ' Z.' 
 
 Zaff = safe. 
 
 ' Aw 'es, they be a-comed zaff 'nuff, an' I wish tha Dowl'd 
 agot urn avore they thort ov focing theirzels yer. I tellee 
 whot 'tez, they be alwes a-mumping 'pon zomebody or 
 nuther.' 
 
 (Said of unwelcome visitors.)
 
 152 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Zalt = salt. 
 
 ' This mayte's za zalt 's brine !' 
 
 Zamzawd = sodden. 
 
 ' I bant agwaine tii ayte this mayte, I'm blamed ef I dii ; 
 tidden 'a'f ciiked, 'tez beastly zamzawd trade.' 
 
 Zaw = to sow. 
 
 Zawd = did sow. 
 
 ' I've a-zawd tha wets. Willee zaw tha turmits ?' 
 
 Zawk = a silly person. 
 
 ' I cal'th 'e a proper zawk, I dii ; 'e dawnt knaw great A 
 vrom a 'oss's 'ead.' 
 
 Zee = see. 
 
 ' Diiee zee'n ?' 
 
 ' No, not ezackally.' 
 
 Zeed = (i) saw, (2) seed. 
 
 (1) "Ess, byGor! I zeed'n a-drawing sheep's eyes tii she in 
 church last Zinday arternoon !' 
 
 (2) ' I've a-zawd awl tha zeed us 'ave a got.' 
 
 Zieve = sieve. 
 
 ' Git tha zieve, Sallie, an' range out thease greast, cuz us 
 must bake tii-morrer. 
 
 Zife = to sigh. 
 
 1 Now, my dear cheel, tidden a bit ov giide tii zit an' zife 
 an' zigh awver yer trubbul ; that wunt du'n no giide. Stir 
 yerzel up an' dawnt thenk nort more 'bout et.' 
 
 Zim = to seem. 
 
 ' I dawnt zim yii be up tii tha mark tii-day, Jack ; yii 
 liik'th cruel wisht. Like a 'apperd ov zoap arter a 'ard 
 day's wash.' 
 
 Zimmeth = it seems. 
 
 ' It zimmeth tii me yii'm best off yer.' 
 
 Zin-bunnet = sun-bonnet. 
 
 A country woman called at a shop in Plymouth, and, 
 addressing an assistant, said : 
 
 ' Yer, missy, I want'th yii tii vind tha biggest zin-bunnet 
 yii've agot. I be agwaine out tii Looe tii tha passen's 
 'arresting, an' tha zin's 'ot 'nuff tii vry us.'
 
 LOCAL PHRASEOLOGY. 153 
 
 Zogging = dozing. 
 
 ' I dawnt zim 'e's azlape, 'e'th abin zogging this longful 
 time.' 
 
 Zome = some. 
 
 ' Ef yii've agot a vew shillen' aboutee, lend me zome.' 
 
 Zome-aw-'m, or Zome-aw-min = some of them. 
 'There wuz zome-aw-'m there.' 
 
 Zooker, or Zttker = a sucking pig. 
 
 A gentleman, on remonstrating with a tenant for keeping 
 so many pigs near the house, was appeased by the man 
 saying : 
 
 ' Now, dawntee plaize tii zay nort more about et. I'll gie 
 'e a little ziiker when tha old zow varrieth.' 
 
 Zoop = to take long sips. 
 
 ' I niver did zee innybody zoop-zoop up their gin-and- 
 watter like 'e dii. 'E'll git tosticated ef 'e dii'th that vur 
 long.' 
 
 Zot = sat. 
 
 ' I'll be dalled ef 'er 'athen azot down in a brimmel 
 bush.' 
 
 ' Polly ought tii bring out 'er chicken tii-day ; her'th a zot 
 a-brood vur dree weeks.' 
 
 Zour-zab = sour-tempered. 
 
 ' Er 'th amarried a rigler oP zour-zab. I zim 'er '11 be 
 zorry 'nuff vur that zome day.' 
 
 Zwaller = (i) to swallow, (2) a swallow. 
 
 (1) ' My droat is za zore I ant abin able tii zwaller ort vur 
 tii or dree days.' 
 
 (2) ' I've a zeed lots ov zwallers tii-day. Zim 'tez airly vur 
 they tii come 'et.' 
 
 Zwap = to exchange. 
 
 ' I'll zwap my watch vur thy gert-coat.' 
 
 Zwetting = sweating. 
 
 ' Aw, zir, I be zwetting like a bear.' 
 
 The word ' sweat ' has almost become obsolete, and the 
 working-classes are fighting hard to substitute ' perspire.' A 
 clergyman's daughter told me the following of her parish- 
 ioners' shots at the word :
 
 154 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 (i) 'Lor, miss! I be za 'ot I'm awl awver in a pres- 
 beterian' 
 
 (2) ' 'Tez very 'ot tii-day, and I've walked za vast I'm in a 
 turrabul preservation? 
 
 (3) ' Idden et 'ot ? Et dii make anybody in a drefful 
 presspration? 
 
 (4) ' 'Tez 'ot 'nuff tu milt us ; I'm awl awver in a burning 
 yett, a x\g\er pre ssation.'' 
 
 & = ampassy. 

 
 / GLOSSARY.
 
 /. GLOSSARY. 
 
 
 A. 
 
 
 A' 
 
 . have. 
 
 
 Aboard (val) 
 Abroad (val) 
 Achucked ... 
 
 to attack furiously. 
 .. to split open, 
 thirsty. 
 
 
 Aginst (to go) 
 
 . . to go to meet. 
 
 
 Agging 
 
 Ago 
 
 provoking to anger, 
 finished. 
 
 
 Agone 
 
 Aight, or ayte 
 Aight'th 
 
 time past, ago. 
 did eat. 
 eats. 
 
 
 Aimeth 
 
 .. aims. 
 
 
 Aimses 
 
 . . an iron collar for a horse. 
 
 
 Aiven 
 
 .. even. 
 
 
 Ammil 
 
 .. hoar-frost on trees and shrubs. 
 
 
 Ampassy 
 Andugs 
 
 .. &. 
 
 fire-dogs. 
 
 
 Ankicher 
 
 .. handkerchief. 
 
 
 Ansell 
 
 .. a token given on completion 
 bargain. 
 
 of a 
 
 Ansteeve 
 
 handle of a flail. 
 
 
 A poor-come-along-( 
 
 )'t disastrous in results. 
 
 
 Apporn 
 Appledrane ... 
 Appinces 
 Apsen 
 
 .. apron. 
 
 a wasp. 
 
 halfpence. 
 . . fasten. 
 
 
 Aquott 
 Argyfy 
 Arm-wrist ... 
 
 sitting on a low seat. 
 .. to dispute. 
 .. wrist. 
 
 
 Arrish 
 
 . . stubble-field. 

 
 1 58 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Arter 
 
 . after. 
 
 Assiniate 
 
 . to assassinate. 
 
 Athist 
 
 thirsty. 
 
 Athurt 
 
 . crosswise. 
 
 Aveard 
 
 . afraid. 
 
 Avire 
 
 . on fire. 
 
 Avore 
 
 . before. 
 
 Aw! daily-buttons! . 
 
 . a joyful exclamation. 
 
 Awkerd 
 
 ., awkward. 
 
 Awles 
 
 . . always. 
 
 Aw-min 
 
 .. of them. 
 
 Awn 
 
 oven. 
 
 Awnly 
 
 only. 
 
 Awnzel 
 
 ownself. 
 
 Awpels 
 
 . apples. 
 
 Awpen 
 
 open. 
 
 Aw-un 
 
 . of him. 
 
 Awverliiked 
 
 overlooked, bewitched. 
 
 Ax 
 
 .. to ask. 
 
 
 B. 
 
 Backalong ... 
 
 backward, homeward. 
 
 Backbar 
 
 an iron bar fixed across 
 
 
 of a chimney. 
 
 Backsivore ... 
 
 hind side front. 
 
 Baist 
 
 . beast. 
 
 Bal 
 
 to shout. 
 
 Ballet 
 
 a song. 
 
 Ballyrag 
 
 to scold. 
 
 Banging-gert 
 
 very large. 
 
 Bant 
 
 . am not. 
 
 Barcrook 
 
 a crook hung on backbar 
 
 Barley-ile 
 
 the beard of ripe barley. 
 
 Barm 
 
 . yeast. 
 
 Barras 
 
 . hessian. 
 
 Bar-re-el 
 
 barrel. . 
 
 Barrow-pig ... 
 
 • a gelt pig. 
 
 Baste 
 
 . to beat. 
 
 Bate, batyn, baty 
 
 . to decrease. 
 
 Bawked-up ... 
 
 shut off from sight. 
 
 Baynes 
 
 beans. 
 
 Beam or beem 
 
 . a binder. 
 
 the inside
 
 
 GLOSSARY. 1 59 
 
 Be-ats-will ... 
 
 anyhow. 
 
 Bedlier 
 
 an invalid. 
 
 Begurge, or begridge 
 
 begrudge. 
 
 Bettermost ... 
 
 of a higher social class. 
 
 Beznez 
 
 business. 
 
 Bias (out of) 
 
 out of reckoning. 
 
 Bides 
 
 remains. 
 
 Biggin 
 
 a coffee-pot. 
 
 Billises 
 
 bellows. 
 
 Bimbye 
 
 by-and-by. 
 
 Bitago 
 
 a short time since. 
 
 Bitagone 
 
 lately. 
 
 Bittel 
 
 a wooden hammer. 
 
 Biver 
 
 to tremble. 
 
 Black army ... 
 
 fleas. 
 
 Blackhead ... 
 
 an inflamed sore. 
 
 Blaked-away 
 
 cried till breathless. 
 
 Blamed 
 
 a polite swear. 
 
 Blare 
 
 to shout loudly. 
 
 Blazing 
 
 shouting in a loud voice, to spread 
 
 
 abroad. 
 
 Blid 
 
 blood, a decrepit person. 
 
 Bliddy-waryers 
 
 wallflowers. 
 
 Blooth 
 
 blossom. 
 
 Blowcoal 
 
 a piece of tin placed before the fire 
 
 
 to cause a draught. 
 
 Bluemould, bluevinied 
 
 mouldy, blue-lined like ripe cheese. 
 
 Blunk 
 
 spark. 
 
 Bobbery 
 
 a great uproar. 
 
 Bobbing Joan 
 
 a gay, sprightly girl. 
 
 Bobsadying 
 
 a big row. 
 
 Bocked 
 
 baulked. 
 
 Boneshave ... 
 
 sciatica. 
 
 Bootivul, or butivul 
 
 beautiful. 
 
 Bourm 
 
 yeast. 
 
 Bowled 
 
 boiled. 
 
 Brad 
 
 a thick stick. 
 
 Brandires 
 
 an iron ring on which to stand a 
 
 
 kettle, etc. 
 
 Brath 
 
 broth. 
 
 Braund 
 
 a log of fire-wood. 
 
 Brave 
 
 excellent.
 
 i6o 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Brawked, or broked. 
 
 broken. 
 
 Brekzis 
 
 . breakfast. 
 
 Brimbly 
 
 . full of brambles. 
 
 Brimmels 
 
 brambles. 
 
 Brin 
 
 . strong linen. 
 
 Brish 
 
 brush. 
 
 Brit 
 
 to dent. 
 
 Broft 
 
 . brought. 
 
 Brownkittee 
 
 bronchitis 
 
 Browsy 
 
 . robust. 
 
 Buckle-tii ... 
 
 . to work with a will. 
 
 Bucky 
 
 sour. 
 
 Biike 
 
 . book. 
 
 Bulkee 
 
 . to eructate. 
 
 Bull-baggar 
 
 . one who causes a scare. 
 
 Bullums 
 
 . . sloes. 
 
 Bungy 
 
 short and stout. 
 
 Burd 
 
 . a bird. 
 
 Burdge 
 
 . bridge. 
 
 Burkee 
 
 . to cough. 
 
 Burned ! 
 
 an oath. 
 
 Burtches 
 
 . breeches. 
 
 Busky-eyed ... 
 
 . intoxicated. 
 
 Butt-woman 
 
 a sextoness — female verger. 
 
 Butt 
 
 a kneeling pad. 
 
 Butt 
 
 a beehive. 
 
 Buttersteyan 
 
 an earthen butter-pot. 
 
 Buzzimilk ... 
 
 . the first milk given by a cow after 
 
 
 calving. 
 
 Buzzom 
 
 bosom. 
 
 Bwoy 
 
 . boy. 
 
 Bwoy's-love ... 
 
 southernwood. 
 
 Ca-al home 
 
 C. 
 
 . to remember. 
 
 Cab 
 
 . a piece of dirt adhering to plates or 
 
 
 dishes, or to other materials. 
 
 Cabbage 
 
 to purloin. 
 
 Cabbical 
 
 .. capital, very good. 
 
 Caddling 
 
 loafing about. 
 
 Cadge 
 
 .. to loaf. 
 
 Canst 
 
 can you ?
 
 
 GLOSSARY. 161 
 
 Car or ca-ar 
 
 to carry. 
 
 Cautch 
 
 mess. 
 
 Cautcheries ... 
 
 medicines. 
 
 Cawed 
 
 diseased. 
 
 Cess 
 
 happiness. 
 
 Changes 
 
 underlinen. 
 
 Chap 
 
 a young man. 
 
 Chat 
 
 to kitten. 
 
 Chaynee-eyed 
 
 squinting. 
 
 Cheel 
 
 child. 
 
 Chillern 
 
 children. 
 
 Chimmer 
 
 chamber. / 
 
 Chitter 
 
 chatter. 
 
 Chitterbox ... 
 
 chatterbox. 
 
 Chockling ... 
 
 cackling. 
 
 Chollers 
 
 wattles. 
 
 Chow 
 
 chew. 
 
 Chubbleheaded or 
 
 
 chuckleheaded . . . 
 
 silly, foolish. 
 
 Chucks 
 
 cheeks. 
 
 Chuckvull ... 
 
 quite full, intoxicated. 
 
 Chuff 
 
 ill-tempered. 
 
 Chure 
 
 char. 
 
 Clam 
 
 to maul. 
 
 Clapper-claw 
 
 to scold. 
 
 Clat 
 
 cob. 
 
 Clat-hopper 
 
 a clod-hopper. 
 
 Clatting 
 
 fishing for eels with worm bait. 
 
 Clayned 
 
 cleaned. 
 
 Cledgee 
 
 sticky. 
 
 Clink 
 
 prison. 
 
 Clint 
 
 to bend the point of a nail. 
 
 Clipper 
 
 a knock on the head. 
 
 Clit 
 
 heavy. 
 
 Clitched-hold 
 
 caught. 
 
 Cloam 
 
 crockery. 
 
 Clockee 
 
 to cackle as a hen. 
 
 Clovel 
 
 the beam in a chimney. 
 
 Cob 
 
 a dry ball of earth. 
 
 Cob 
 
 a composition anciently used for 
 
 
 building walls. 
 
 Colly 
 
 a blackbird. 
 
 II
 
 1 62 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Conkerbils ... 
 
 ... icicles. 
 
 Coord 
 
 . . . cord. 
 
 Cornder 
 
 . . . corner. 
 
 Cotton 
 
 ... to beat lustily. 
 
 Cow-comforts 
 
 . . . stone pillars erected on moorlands, 
 
 
 against which cattle rub them- 
 
 
 selves. 
 
 Cowcumber 
 
 cucumber. 
 
 Cowhocked . . . 
 
 ... thick heeled. 
 
 Craking 
 
 complaining. 
 
 Cralers 
 
 ... lice. 
 
 Crams 
 
 creases, fidgets. 
 
 Crap 
 
 . . . crop. 
 
 Craw 
 
 ... a crow, or to crow. 
 
 Cray me 
 
 ... cream. 
 
 Crayturs 
 
 ... creatures, people. 
 
 Creem 
 
 ... to shiver. 
 
 Creem 
 
 to mash. 
 
 Cricket 
 
 ... a three-legged stool. 
 
 Crimminy ! 
 
 ... an interjection. 
 
 Crinkum-cranklurr 
 
 is fidgets. 
 
 Crint 
 
 ... to groan. 
 
 Crips 
 
 crisp. 
 
 Croped-behind 
 
 to hide in a stooping position behind 
 
 
 an object. 
 
 Crooked words 
 
 swearing. 
 
 Crowder 
 
 ... a fiddler. 
 
 Crowdie 
 
 ... to fiddle. 
 
 Crowner 
 
 coroner. 
 
 Crub 
 
 a crust. 
 
 Crub 
 
 ... a trough for feeding horses when in 
 
 
 the stable. 
 
 Cruel 
 
 . . . very. 
 
 Cruel-quiet ... 
 
 . . . silent. 
 
 Criiney 
 
 to whine. 
 
 Cubburd 
 
 ... cupboard. 
 
 Cubby-hole 
 
 ... a cosy corner. 
 
 Ciichy-pawed 
 
 ... left-handed. 
 
 Cuddie 
 
 the wren. 
 
 Cuddie-bum 
 
 . . . having a short tail. 
 
 Cureyus 
 
 neat in execution of work. 
 
 Cursemas . . . 
 
 Christmas. 
 
 Cussen 
 
 to train, to teach.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 163 
 
 Daffadowndillies 
 
 Dahngerous 
 
 Dallee, dalled 
 
 Dallylaw 
 
 1 )andy-go-risset 
 
 Dang-my-old-wig 
 
 Dap 
 
 Dapper 
 
 Daps 
 
 Darnee 
 
 Dashed 
 
 Dashell 
 
 Dashus 
 
 Datch 
 
 Datcher 
 
 Dawbwoys . . 
 
 Dawcake 
 
 Dawy 
 
 Debbenshire 
 
 Devil's-coach-hoss 
 
 Dicky 
 
 Dieted 
 
 Differns 
 
 Dimmits, dimpsy 
 
 Diraxions 
 
 Dishwasher ... 
 
 Divered 
 
 Doateth 
 
 Doed (or diied) 
 
 Do'ff 
 
 Doiled 
 
 Dollop 
 
 Doomshaw ... 
 
 Dotty 
 
 Douted 
 
 Dowl 
 
 Down-'ouze ... 
 
 Dowst 
 
 Dowst-a-bit ... 
 
 Dowsty-poll 
 
 D. 
 
 daffodils, 
 dangerous, 
 a mild oath, 
 a spoilt child, 
 rusty brown. 
 a swear. 
 
 to drop quickly, a sharp slap, 
 quick, sprightly, 
 likeness, 
 a swear, 
 a swear, 
 the thistle, 
 audacious. " 
 thatch, 
 thatcher. 
 dough-dumplings 
 a silly person, 
 silly, soft. 
 Devonshire. 
 
 a beetle common in N. Devon, 
 a white shirt-front, 
 addicted, 
 difference, 
 twilight. 
 
 directions, address, 
 the wagtail, 
 dead, faded, 
 dotes, 
 done. 
 
 to extinguish, 
 silly. 
 
 a big lump, 
 a procession, a circus, 
 half-witted, 
 extinguished, 
 the devil, 
 downstairs. 
 
 husks of oats or wheat, 
 deuce-a-bit. 
 
 a head covered with flour or dust. 
 
 11 — 2
 
 1 64 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Drabbitted ... 
 
 .. bad tempered. 
 
 Drade 
 
 . .. drawn through. 
 
 Draining 
 
 . . . drawling. 
 
 Drangway . . . 
 
 ... a narrow passage. 
 
 Drash 
 
 . .. to belabour, to beat. 
 
 Drashel 
 
 . . . a thrashel. 
 
 Dread 
 
 . . . thread. 
 
 Dree 
 
 . . . three. 
 
 Drexil 
 
 ... threshold. 
 
 Dring 
 
 . . . to crowd, to push. 
 
 Dripmybit . . . 
 
 ... a threepenny bit. 
 
 Drippence . . . 
 
 . . threepence. 
 
 Drish 
 
 . .. the thrush. 
 
 Droat 
 
 ... the throat. 
 
 Drone 
 
 ... to drawl. 
 
 Drowed 
 
 ... dried. 
 
 Droweth 
 
 dries. 
 
 Drii-an'-dru . . . 
 
 ... from beginning to end. 
 
 Driiel 
 
 ... to allow the saliva to flow over the 
 
 
 lips. 
 
 Drummeldrane 
 
 . . . the bumble bee. 
 
 Dry 
 
 ... thirsty. 
 
 Du 
 
 . . . do. 
 
 Dubbed 
 
 ... blunted. 
 
 Diied 
 
 ... done. 
 
 Dugged ... 
 
 . . . muddy. 
 
 Duggletailed 
 
 ... skirts covered with mud. 
 
 Dummon 
 
 ... a woman. 
 
 Dumphead ... 
 
 ... the miller's thumb, a foolish person. 
 
 Dunky 
 
 a donkey. 
 
 Durns 
 
 doorposts. 
 
 Dwalee 
 
 ... to talk inconsistently. 
 
 Ekal 
 
 E. 
 ... equal. 
 
 Errish 
 
 see ' Arrish.' 
 
 'Ess 
 
 ... yes. 
 
 'Ess fay 
 
 yes, by my faith. 
 
 'Ess shure ... 
 
 yes, certainly. 
 
 'Et 
 
 ... yet. 
 
 'Et-a-whiles ... 
 
 not yet. 
 
 Ezackally-zo 
 
 ... just so.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 165 
 
 Fainty 
 
 Fakement . . . 
 
 Fake-up 
 
 Fantysheeny 
 
 Fardle 
 
 Fath! 
 
 Fawny 
 
 Fegs ! 
 
 Fess 
 
 Fewster 
 
 Fey 
 
 Feybul 
 
 Feychers 
 
 Fezens 
 
 Figgy 
 Figgy-pudden 
 
 Fillyloo 
 
 Fippence 
 
 Fitch 
 
 Flickermayte 
 
 Flickets 
 
 Flink 
 
 Flink-tail-comb 
 
 Flip about . . . 
 
 Flip-stick 
 
 Flower-nat . . . 
 
 Forrel 
 
 Fowsty 
 
 Frawsy 
 
 Frenchnits . . . 
 
 Frill-de-dills 
 
 Frizz 
 
 Ful-tii-me ! ... 
 
 Furridge 
 
 Fussocky 
 
 Fustled-up . . . 
 
 Gal 
 
 Gallied 
 Gallitraps ... 
 
 close, oppressive. 
 a muddle, 
 to renew. 
 
 extremely fanciful, 
 a package, 
 faith ! 
 
 a finger ring, 
 an interjection, 
 proud, vain, 
 to fester, 
 faith, 
 feeble, 
 features, 
 pheasants. 
 
 full of figs or raisins. 
 Christmas pudding, 
 an uproar, 
 fivepence. 
 a stoat. 
 
 mixture of milk and flour. 
 blushes. 
 to sprinkle. 
 
 a long- handled comb, a dressing- 
 comb, 
 to move quickly, 
 a flexible wand, 
 a flower bed. 
 cover of a book, 
 musty. 
 
 a treat, a dainty feast, 
 walnuts. 
 
 embroidery and frills, 
 to fizz. 
 
 abb. God be merciful to me ! 
 to purloin, to ransack, 
 bustling about quickly, 
 wrapped-up. 
 
 G. 
 to vex. 
 
 frightened, 
 signs.
 
 1 66 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Gaily 
 
 . to scare. 
 
 Gally-bagger 
 
 . a person fond of gadding about. 
 
 Gallyvanting 
 
 going from home. 
 
 Gammetting 
 
 frolicking. 
 
 Gammuts ... 
 
 . games. 
 
 Gammy-handed 
 
 . a hand incapable of much move- 
 
 
 ment. 
 
 Gapnest 
 
 . to idle. 
 
 Gapnistering 
 
 . staring idly about. 
 
 Gappee 
 
 to gape. 
 
 Gapping 
 
 • gaping. 
 
 Gawked-up ... 
 
 sitting on a very high place. 
 
 Gavvkim 
 
 . a fool. 
 
 Gee-up 
 
 to make a horse move to right or left. 
 
 Gee-wugg ... 
 
 . addressed to a horse. 
 
 Gert ... 
 
 . large, big. 
 
 Gibby-lambs 
 
 very young lambs. 
 
 Giglet 
 
 a young girl full of fun. 
 
 Giglet market 
 
 . a market where maid-servants are 
 
 
 hired. 
 
 Gladdie 
 
 . a fool. 
 
 Gladdy 
 
 the yellow-hammer. 
 
 Glazeth 
 
 looks intently. 
 
 Glowring 
 
 staring sulkily. 
 
 dumping ... 
 
 sour-looking, sulky. 
 
 Glumpy 
 
 sulky. 
 
 Go .. 
 
 . . gone. 
 
 Go-against ... 
 
 .. to inform against, to go to meet one. 
 
 Goar 
 
 secretion in the eyes. 
 
 Go-avor 
 
 . go before. 
 
 Gob 
 
 . a large lump. 
 
 God-a'mighty's cow. 
 
 the lady-bird. 
 
 Goodger 
 
 . . the devil. 
 
 Goodied 
 
 .. benefited. 
 
 Gormed 
 
 an oath. 
 
 Go'th 
 
 . . goes. 
 
 Goyal, or goyle 
 
 . . a ravine. 
 
 Grainy 
 
 . proud. 
 
 Gramferlonglegs 
 
 long-legged spiders and flies. 
 
 Grammer's-pin 
 
 .. a blanket-pin. 
 
 Grapshold ... 
 
 to grasp. 
 
 Greybird 
 
 . the thrush.
 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Greysidaisy ... 
 
 . daffodil. 
 
 Gridle 
 
 a gridiron. 
 
 Grits 
 
 groats. 
 
 Grizzlee 
 
 . to laugh derisively. 
 
 Growed 
 
 . grew. 
 
 Glide 
 
 . good. 
 
 Gulging 
 
 . . drinking greedily. 
 
 Gulk 
 
 .. to drink quickly. 
 
 Gii-kii 
 
 cuckoo. 
 
 Gii-kii lambs 
 
 . . lambs yeaned in April or Ma; 
 
 Gushed 
 
 . . startled. 
 
 Guttering ... 
 
 . . eating greedily. 
 
 Giize 
 
 . . goose. 
 
 Giize-gobs ... 
 
 .. gooseberries. 
 
 Guzzle 
 
 .. to drink heavily. 
 
 Gwaine 
 
 •• going. 
 
 G'wan 
 
 .. go on. 
 
 
 H. 
 
 Hackmal 
 
 .. tomtit. 
 
 Hadge 
 
 . . hedge. 
 
 Hadge-tacker 
 
 . . a repairer of hedges. 
 
 Haggage ... 
 
 . . an untidy woman. 
 
 Hagged 
 
 . . pulled hard. 
 
 Haggee 
 
 ... to argue. 
 
 Hal 
 
 .. to tug, to pull. 
 
 Hale 
 
 . . . to cover up. 
 
 Hand-wrist ... 
 
 ... wrist. 
 
 Hange, or hanje 
 
 . . . the purtenance of sheep. 
 
 Hannel 
 
 . . . handle. 
 
 Hapmy 
 
 . . . halfpenny. 
 
 Happerd 
 
 . . . halfpenny worth. 
 
 Harrest 
 
 harvest. 
 
 Hat 
 
 ... to knock. 
 
 Hatch 
 
 . . . half door of a cottage. 
 
 Hatchmouthed 
 
 . . . coarse, vulgar in speech. 
 
 Haypook 
 
 ... a mound of hay. 
 
 Heft 
 
 ... to lift, weight, to throw. 
 
 Hellins 
 
 . . . slates. 
 
 Heliums 
 
 ... stalks of plants, haulm. 
 
 Henn 
 
 to throw at. 
 
 Her 
 
 ... used instead of 'she.' 
 
 167
 
 1 68 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Herzel 
 
 herself. 
 
 Heytters, or yetters 
 
 smoothing irons. 
 
 Hide 
 
 to beat. 
 
 Hide-nur-tide 
 
 news. 
 
 High -de-lows 
 
 vulgar actions. 
 
 Hiszel 
 
 himself. 
 
 Hoaks 
 
 clubs in cards. 
 
 Hollee 
 
 to scream. 
 
 Hollen 
 
 Holm-bush ... 
 
 calling loudly, 
 holly-bush. 
 
 Holm-screech 
 
 the missel-thrush. 
 
 Holt 
 
 hold. 
 
 Homalong ... 
 
 homeward. 
 
 Homeby 
 Hookem-snivey 
 
 close to. 
 deceitful actions. 
 
 Hooskey 
 
 Hoppee 
 
 Hotted 
 
 hoarse. 
 to caper, 
 heated. 
 
 Hozeburd ... 
 
 a term of mild abuse. 
 
 Hozee 
 
 hoarse. 
 
 Huck-muck... 
 Huds 
 
 untidy. 
 
 shells of beans and peas. 
 
 Hugger-mugger 
 
 untidy, thriftless. 
 
 Hulch 
 
 a thick slice. 
 
 Hummon ... 
 
 woman. 
 
 Humsoever... 
 
 whomsoever. 
 
 Hunks 
 Hu-u 
 
 thick pieces. 
 
 held carelessly, or obliquely 
 
 I. 
 
 is not. 
 
 Idden 
 
 Idden 'er? ... 
 
 is she not ? 
 
 Iked-up 
 Incoose 
 
 puckered. 
 of course. 
 
 Ingyens 
 Insetez 
 
 onions. 
 
 how 'tis done. 
 
 Iotum 
 
 iota. 
 
 Item 
 
 trick. 
 
 Itemy 
 
 full of tricks. 
 
 Jackie-twoad 
 Jakes 
 
 will-o'-the-wisp, 
 mess.
 
 
 GLOSSARY. 169 
 
 Jan Vaggus ... 
 
 a noted South Devon highwayman. 
 
 Jib 
 
 a stand, or rest. 
 
 Jibber-ugly's-fule . . . 
 
 a selfish person. 
 
 Jibes 
 
 an eccentrically-dressed person. 
 
 Jiggered 
 
 an oath. 
 
 Jimcrack 
 
 fragile, feeble. 
 
 Jimmery-cry ! 
 
 an interjection. 
 
 Jimmies 
 
 door-hinges. 
 
 Jit 
 
 an upward twitch. 
 
 Jit 
 
 a push. 
 
 Jit 
 
 a sharp slap. 
 
 Joney 
 
 an ornament. 
 
 Jonic 
 
 truthful, honest. 
 
 Junket 
 
 curds and cream. 
 
 
 K. 
 
 Kaddy-ball 
 
 tennis ball. 
 
 Kannel 
 
 candle. 
 
 Kayning 
 
 looking. 
 
 Keive 
 
 a mash-tub. 
 
 Keive 
 
 a mound of earth in which mangold 
 
 
 or potatoes are stored for winter 
 
 
 use. 
 
 Kerning 
 
 ripening. 
 
 Kerpee 
 
 to find fault. 
 
 Keslings, or gristlings 
 
 wild plums. 
 
 Kibbed-heel 
 
 sore heel. 
 
 Kickhammer 
 
 one who stammers. 
 
 Kindiddle ... 
 
 to entice. 
 
 Kitch 
 
 a roll of offal fat. 
 
 Knacked 
 
 knocked. 
 
 Knaw-nort ... 
 
 ignorant. 
 
 Kommical ... 
 
 curious. 
 
 Kootch 
 
 coarse grass. 
 
 Lablolly 
 
 L. 
 a silly person. 
 
 Lace 
 
 to beat. 
 
 Lackee 
 
 to lack. 
 
 Lambfashion 
 
 in youthful style. 
 
 Langciise ... 
 
 a passage. 
 
 Larrun 
 
 to beat.
 
 170 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Larrupping ... 
 
 . . . gaunt and untidy. 
 
 Lattin-plate ... 
 
 ... a tin platter. 
 
 Laurence 
 
 . . . laziness. 
 
 Lay ... 
 
 ... as lief. 
 
 Leary 
 
 ... empty, hungry. 
 
 Leasing 
 
 . . . gleaning. 
 
 Leastwise 
 
 ... at least. 
 
 Leather 
 
 to beat. 
 
 Leechway . . . 
 
 . . . the path to a graveyard. 
 
 Lef 
 
 ... to leave off. 
 
 Le'm 
 
 ... let them. 
 
 Lenge 
 
 ... to loll. 
 
 Lerrick 
 
 ... to beat. 
 
 Lew 
 
 ... sheltered. 
 
 Lewze 
 
 ... pig's-sty. 
 
 Lewzide 
 
 to leeward. 
 
 Libbits 
 
 . . . rags. 
 
 Licky-brath ... 
 
 . . . broth flavoured with leeks 
 
 Like winky . . . 
 
 very quickly. 
 
 Limeash 
 
 concrete. 
 
 Linhay 
 
 ... an outbuilding. 
 
 Lippetty-lop 
 
 . . . limping. 
 
 Lipsy 
 
 ... to lisp. 
 
 Listy 
 
 ... strong, lusty. 
 
 Loblolly 
 
 ... spoon meat. 
 
 Lob's pound 
 
 ... jail. 
 
 Lock! 
 
 ... an interjection. 
 
 Longcripple... 
 
 ... a viper. 
 
 Long-dog . . . 
 
 ... a greyhound. 
 
 Longful 
 
 . . . lengthy. 
 
 Loozed 
 
 ... lost. 
 
 Loramassy ! . . . 
 
 ... an interjection. 
 
 Lost-holt 
 
 ... let go. 
 
 Lowster 
 
 ... to work laboriously. 
 
 Lunge 
 
 ... to loll. 
 
 
 M. 
 
 Maid 
 
 ... a young girl. 
 
 Main zorry ... 
 
 ... very sorry. 
 
 Mai 
 
 to maul. 
 
 Mallywallops 
 
 a tall untidy woman. 
 
 Malscral 
 
 a caterpillar.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 171 
 
 Manangle 
 
 Mapsing 
 
 Mashmallys 
 
 Masts 
 
 Maygames 
 
 Mayhap 
 
 Mazards 
 
 Mazed-finch 
 
 Mazedheaded 
 
 Mickled 
 
 Mid... 
 
 Midden 
 
 Mimpsy-pimsy 
 
 Min ... 
 
 Minds 
 
 Minit 
 
 Mist . . . 
 
 Mitch 
 
 Mizzle 
 
 Moar-an'-mewl 
 
 Mommet, or momet 
 
 Moot, or mute 
 
 Mort 
 
 Mucks 
 
 Muggetee 
 
 Mugguts 
 
 Mull 
 
 Mullygrub 
 
 Mump 
 
 Mumpchance 
 
 Mumphead .. 
 
 Mun 
 
 Murchy 
 Murrie-man . . 
 Miityhearted 
 Muzzle 
 
 Napper 
 Nappercase , 
 Nat sheep , 
 Natteral 
 
 to maul, to tear. 
 
 smacking the lips with relish. 
 
 marsh mallows. 
 
 acorns. 
 
 frolics. 
 
 perhaps. 
 
 black cherries. 
 
 the wagtail. 
 
 dizzy. 
 
 choked with thirst. 
 
 may. 
 
 may not. 
 
 dainty. 
 
 an interjection. 
 
 remembers. 
 
 a tiny thing. 
 
 must. 
 
 to play the truant. 
 
 a mist. 
 
 root and branch. 
 
 a scarecrow. 
 
 root of tree. 
 
 lard. 
 
 wet mud. 
 
 sullen. 
 
 intestines. 
 
 to maul. 
 
 an illnatured person. 
 
 to loaf. 
 
 heavy in wit. 
 
 a foolish person. 
 
 them. 
 
 mischief. 
 
 a merry-andrew. 
 
 sensitive. 
 
 unscientific fighting. 
 
 N. 
 a farm boy. 
 the head, 
 horned sheep, 
 a fool, natural.
 
 172 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Nattled 
 
 contracted. 
 
 Nayte 
 
 ... neat. 
 
 Niash 
 
 delicate. 
 
 Nibs 
 
 ... small pieces. 
 
 Nibbly 
 
 small. 
 
 Nickies 
 
 . . . small faggots. 
 
 Nickling 
 
 making short steps. 
 
 Niddick 
 
 ... the nape of the neck. 
 
 Niest 
 
 near. 
 
 Niffed 
 
 . . . offended. 
 
 Nimmits 
 
 . . . lunch. 
 
 Nimpingang 
 
 ... a fester under the finger-nail. 
 
 Ninnyhammer 
 
 ... a foolish person. 
 
 Nippence ... 
 
 ... ninepence. 
 
 Nissel-tripe ... 
 
 . . . the smallest of a litter. 
 
 Nitch 
 
 bundle of reed. 
 
 No, fay! ... 
 
 . . . no, by my faith ! 
 
 Nort 
 
 . . . nothing. 
 
 No-tany-by ! 
 
 ... not that I know of. 
 
 Nub 
 
 ... a knob. 
 
 Nubby 
 
 . . . full of knobs. 
 
 Nubby 
 
 ... the nose. 
 
 Nug 
 
 a bunch. 
 
 Nuther 
 
 neither. 
 
 Nuzzling 
 
 ... poking the nose into anything 
 
 
 o. 
 
 Oakweb 
 
 cockchafers. 
 
 Onlight 
 
 ... to dismount. 
 
 'Ood 
 
 wood. 
 
 Ope ... 
 
 . . . interval. 
 
 Ope 
 
 ... passage. 
 
 'Opes 
 
 hopes. 
 
 Opeway 
 
 ... an opening. 
 
 Organtay 
 
 ... decoction of Pennyroyal. 
 
 Ort 
 
 . . . anything. 
 
 Ortch 
 
 ... to probe with horns. 
 
 Orts 
 
 . . . leavings. 
 
 Other 
 
 . . . either. 
 
 Overgit 
 
 . . . overtake. 
 
 Ouze 
 
 ... house. 

 
 
 GLOSSARY. i 
 
 
 P. 
 
 Paixy 
 
 untidy, dirty. 
 
 Palsh 
 
 ... to walk slowly. 
 
 Palshing 
 
 walking slowly, patching cloth 
 
 
 untidily. 
 
 Pame 
 
 ... a satin, or velvet christening wrap 
 
 Panking 
 
 . . . panting. 
 
 Parfuse 
 
 ... profuse, liberal. 
 
 Passen 
 
 parson. 
 
 Passel 
 
 ... many, to divide. 
 
 Passelled 
 
 . . . divided. 
 
 Pattridge 
 
 . . partridge. 
 
 Paunch 
 
 . . to handle unnecessarily. 
 
 Pawking 
 
 . , walking leisurely. 
 
 Paycods 
 
 ... pea-kids. 
 
 Pays 
 
 . . . peas. 
 
 Peart 
 
 . . . sprightly. 
 
 Peek 
 
 ... to pick, a pick. 
 
 Peel 
 
 pillow. 
 
 Peg 
 
 ... pig. 
 
 Pennerd 
 
 ... penny worth. 
 
 Pennybrick . . . 
 
 . . . penny loaf. 
 
 Pick 
 
 ... to strip off feathers. 
 
 Pickle 
 
 ... condition. 
 
 Pilgarlic 
 
 ... a person worthy of pity. 
 
 Pillion 
 
 a double saddle. 
 
 Pi'ilum 
 
 . . . dust. 
 
 Pilth 
 
 ... fluff. 
 
 Pindy 
 
 musty, mouldy. 
 
 Pinnicking ... 
 
 wan, pale. 
 
 Pinny 
 
 . . . pinafore. 
 
 Pinswill 
 
 ... a boil, a fester. 
 
 Pittice 
 
 ... feeble. 
 
 Pixy ... 
 
 ... a fairy. 
 
 Planche 
 
 ... board floors. 
 
 Platter-vooted 
 
 . . . flat-footed. 
 
 Plim 
 
 to increase in bulk. 
 
 Plum 
 
 warm, comfortable. 
 
 Plump 
 
 ... a pump. 
 
 Pook 
 
 ... a mound of hay, or turf. 
 
 Pote 
 
 ... to kick about in bed. 
 
 17.5
 
 174 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Power 
 
 Prate-apace ... 
 
 Primrosen ... 
 
 Prinked 
 
 Proper-terrified 
 
 Proudness ... 
 
 Pummel 
 
 Pumple-vooted 
 
 Pussy 
 
 Putch 
 
 Putt 
 
 Quaddle 
 
 Quarl 
 
 Quarrenders 
 
 Quelstring ... 
 
 Querking 
 
 Quott 
 
 Rabbit 
 
 Ragrowstering 
 
 Raked-up ... 
 
 Rally 
 
 Ram-cat 
 
 Ramzacking 
 
 Ranticomscour 
 
 Rawee 
 
 Raw-milk 
 
 Ray me 
 
 Raymes 
 
 Raymy 
 
 Renoviate 
 
 Rexens 
 
 Rid, urd 
 
 Rills... 
 
 Rimlets 
 
 Rinagate 
 
 Rinner 
 
 Ripping bark 
 
 Ripping-gert 
 
 Ripping-up .. 
 
 very much. 
 
 talkative. 
 
 primroses. 
 
 dressed smartly. 
 
 startled, frightened. 
 
 pride. 
 
 to beat unmercifully. 
 
 malformation of foot. 
 
 puffed, short-winded. 
 
 pouting lips. 
 
 a mud-cart. 
 
 Q. 
 
 to waddle. 
 
 to quarrel. 
 
 red apples peculiar to Devonshire. 
 
 sweltering. 
 
 grunting. 
 
 to sit on the haunches. 
 
 R. 
 
 an oath. 
 
 romping. 
 
 recriminated. 
 
 a crowd. 
 
 a tom-cat. 
 
 romping. 
 
 an uproar. 
 
 raw, sore. 
 
 new-milk. 
 
 to stretch. 
 
 a thin person, a skeleton. 
 
 said of cyder when thick and sour. 
 
 renovate. 
 
 rushes. 
 
 red. 
 
 rows. 
 
 remnants. 
 
 a gadabout. 
 
 a round towel. 
 
 taking off the rind. 
 
 very large. 
 
 recalling.
 
 
 GLOSSARY. 17 
 
 ishlight 
 
 . . rushlight. 
 
 ogues' roost 
 
 .. an accumulation of rubbish. 
 
 oily 
 
 . . a crowd. 
 
 Cory-tory 
 
 . . very gaudy. 
 
 loundshave 
 
 to scold. 
 
 Rowstering ... 
 
 romping. 
 
 Rucky 
 
 to crouch. 
 
 Runkle 
 
 to fester. 
 
 Rummage ... 
 
 nonsense. 
 
 Rumped-up... 
 
 humped. 
 
 S. 
 .. an over-dressed woman. 
 
 Sally Hatch... 
 
 Sar ... 
 
 .. to earn, to serve. 
 
 Sass ... 
 
 impertinence. 
 
 Sassbox 
 
 .. an impertinent person. 
 
 Sawk 
 
 a timid person. 
 
 Saysan 
 
 . season. 
 
 Scads 
 
 . passing showers. 
 
 Scats 
 
 . dashing showers. 
 
 Scawvy 
 
 . smeary. 
 
 Sclow 
 
 . to scratch like a cat. 
 
 Sclum 
 
 to give long scratches with the nails 
 
 Scraling 
 
 . very small. 
 
 Scrall 
 
 . to loiter. 
 
 Scrats 
 
 . little things. 
 
 Screed 
 
 . a remnant. 
 
 Screwmouze 
 
 shrew-mouse. 
 
 Scriddick 
 
 . a remnant. 
 
 Scrumps 
 
 . small apples. 
 
 Shabbed-off... 
 
 went away ashamed. 
 
 Shan't 
 
 shall not. 
 
 Sharps 
 
 . shafts. 
 
 She 
 
 . substitute for ' her.' 1 
 
 Sheeny-shu-shan 
 
 shot silk. 
 
 Shet 
 
 . to go. 
 
 Shet 
 
 to shoot. 
 
 Shetten 
 
 should not. 
 
 Shillerd 
 
 . a shilling's worth. 
 
 Shillet 
 
 . shale. 
 
 Shivers 
 
 very small pieces. 
 
 Shords 
 
 broken earthenware.
 
 176 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Showl 
 
 shovel. 
 
 Showlder 
 
 shoulder. 
 
 Siss ... 
 
 a great fat woman. 
 
 Sissa 
 
 a fuss. 
 
 Sich ... 
 
 such. 
 
 Sitchy-wow ... 
 
 crosswise. 
 
 Skace 
 
 scarce. 
 
 Skammel 
 
 to walk badly. 
 
 Skat 
 
 to fling, a slap. 
 
 Skeerd 
 
 scared. 
 
 Skiver 
 
 a skewer. 
 
 Skivertimber 
 
 wood from which skewers are made. 
 
 Skummer ... 
 
 mess. 
 
 Skrumped-up 
 
 huddled up. 
 
 Skun 
 
 to browbeat. 
 
 Skute 
 
 a reward. 
 
 Slamicking ... 
 
 untidy. 
 
 Slatterpuche 
 
 pouch-lipped. 
 
 Sleetstone ... 
 
 an old-fashioned smoothing-stone. 
 
 Slew... 
 
 ostentatious show. 
 
 Slewching ... 
 
 moving awkwardly. 
 
 Slob 
 
 to slop. 
 
 Sloke 
 
 to hide. 
 
 Sloke 
 
 to entice. 
 
 Slope 
 
 to rot. 
 
 Slouch 
 
 to wash one's self, using a good 
 
 
 douche of water. 
 
 Slouger 
 
 a big thump. 
 
 Smeech 
 
 dust, smoke. 
 
 Smitsmats ... 
 
 little by little. 
 
 Smurry 
 
 chemise. 
 
 Snaff 
 
 to snuff. 
 
 Snicket 
 
 a very small piece. 
 
 Snicketty ... 
 
 very small. 
 
 Sniffling 
 
 whining. 
 
 Snigger, or sniggeree 
 
 to laugh derisively. 
 
 Snuggle 
 
 to cuddle closely. 
 
 Sniile 
 
 to slobber. 
 
 Sodgers 
 
 smoked salt herrings. 
 
 'S-off 
 
 as though. 
 
 Sose... 
 
 good friends. 
 
 Spare 
 
 very slow.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 177 
 
 Spar-gad 
 
 Sparky 
 
 Spickitty 
 
 Spit-ov-butter 
 
 S'pose 
 
 Spraddle 
 
 Spreety 
 
 Sproil 
 
 Spry 
 
 Spudlee 
 
 Squab, or squob pie 
 
 Stainted 
 
 Stand 
 
 Standard 
 Steeved 
 
 Steffel 
 
 Stertlee 
 Steyan 
 Stewer 
 Stickjaw 
 
 Stid 
 
 Still liquors 
 
 Stirredge 
 Stivver 
 
 Stodge 
 
 Stodger 
 
 Stog 
 
 Stomickable 
 Stower 
 Straky 
 Stram 
 
 Strambang ... 
 Strammer ... 
 Stramming-gert 
 Strawmawt ... 
 Strip 
 
 Stub 
 
 Stubberds 
 
 Stubby 
 
 Stubs 
 
 Studding 
 
 Stugged 
 
 thatching pegs. 
 
 piebald. 
 
 spotty. 
 
 small piece of butter. 
 
 suppose. 
 
 to straddle. 
 
 ghostly. 
 
 strength. 
 
 sprightly. 
 
 to stir about. 
 
 pie of mixed ingredients. 
 
 short-winded. 
 
 to be industrious. 
 
 an oval salting-tub. 
 
 numbed. 
 
 to stifle. 
 
 to startle. 
 
 an earthenware pot. 
 
 dust, fuss. 
 
 uncooked suet pudding. 
 
 to scheme. 
 
 spirit distilled from cyder dregs. 
 
 commotion. 
 
 to tousel. 
 
 badly mixed thick paste. 
 
 a large satisfying bun. 
 
 to stick in the mud. 
 
 agreeable to the taste. 
 
 dust. 
 
 in lines, or strata. 
 
 to bang violently. 
 
 (to fling) violently. 
 
 a big lie. 
 
 very big. 
 
 straw. 
 
 a sharp cut with a switch. 
 
 hoard. 
 
 delicious apples. 
 
 short and fat. 
 
 roots of feathers. 
 
 loafing, loitering. 
 
 stuck in the mud. 
 
 12
 
 i 7 3 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Stuggy 
 
 Siiel ... 
 
 Siient 
 
 Suff ... 
 
 Suffing 
 
 Siile ... 
 
 Sutt ... 
 
 Swale 
 
 Swarze 
 
 Sweel 
 
 Swill 
 
 Swop 
 
 short and stout. 
 
 a plough. 
 
 even. 
 
 to sob. 
 
 sobbing. 
 
 to loll. 
 
 soot. 
 
 to burn. 
 
 rows. 
 
 to rinse. 
 
 to drink heavily. 
 
 to change. 
 
 Tack 
 
 Tackle 
 
 Tacky-lacky 
 
 Taffety 
 
 Tallett 
 
 Tankerabogus 
 
 Tantara 
 
 Tap ... 
 
 Tatchy 
 
 Tatties 
 
 Tattie-traw 
 
 Taykittle 
 
 Taykittle-brath 
 
 Tawsel 
 
 Tearing 
 
 Teehoss 
 
 Teel'd 
 
 Tervee 
 
 Tetties 
 
 'Tez... 
 
 Th ... 
 
 Thews 
 
 Thickee 
 
 Things 
 
 Tho' 
 
 Thoight 
 
 Thorft, or thort 
 
 Thorting 
 
 a slap. 
 
 to beat, to punish. 
 
 a person at everyone's beck. 
 
 dainty. 
 
 a loft. 
 
 a bogie. 
 
 an uproar. 
 
 to put new leather on boot-soles 
 
 touchy. 
 
 potatoes. 
 
 potato-trough. 
 
 tea-kettle. 
 
 sop. 
 
 tassel. 
 
 very excited. 
 
 to romp vulgarly. 
 
 tilled. 
 
 to struggle. 
 
 potatoes. 
 
 it is. 
 
 added to verbs in 3rd per. sin 
 
 those. 
 
 that one. 
 
 cattle, farm property. 
 
 then. 
 
 to whittle. 
 
 thought. 
 
 ploughing crosswise. 
 
 
 b -
 
 
 GLOSSARY. i7< 
 
 Th'outs 
 
 without. 
 
 Thumping ... 
 
 very big. 
 
 Thung 
 
 a thong. 
 
 Thungy 
 
 tough, in threads. 
 
 Thurdled 
 
 meagre, thin. 
 
 Tidden 
 
 it is not. 
 
 Tiddivate ... 
 
 to bedeck. 
 
 Tiddlee, tiddlee-tope 
 
 the wren. 
 
 Tiffles 
 
 detached threads. 
 
 Tine... 
 
 to shut-to. 
 
 Tino, tino-by 
 
 certainly not. 
 
 Tiss ... 
 
 to fizz. 
 
 Titched 
 
 touched. 
 
 Tizzick 
 
 cold on chest, a wheeze. 
 
 Tosticated ... 
 
 intoxicated. 
 
 Tottling 
 
 decrepit. 
 
 Totty 
 
 dizzy, of bad character. 
 
 Towser 
 
 a hardworking woman. 
 
 Toze 
 
 to shake a feather bed, to comb wool 
 
 Trade 
 
 leavings, rubbish. 
 
 Trapes 
 
 an untidy woman. 
 
 Traps 
 
 household goods. 
 
 Tribbit 
 
 trivet. 
 
 Trig 
 
 smart. 
 
 Trindle 
 
 a round salting tub. 
 
 Trinkrums ... 
 
 silver articles, jewellery. 
 
 Trubble 
 
 trouble. 
 
 Truck 
 
 trash. 
 
 Tii 
 
 to, two, at. 
 
 Tiibill 
 
 twibill. 
 
 Tii-double ... 
 
 head and knees together. 
 
 Tii-last 
 
 at last. 
 
 Tummilled ... 
 
 tumbled. 
 
 Tuppence ... 
 
 twopence. 
 
 Turmits 
 
 turnips. 
 
 Turrabul 
 
 terrible. 
 
 Turves 
 
 square blocks of peat. 
 
 Tii-tha-truth-ov-music 
 
 thoroughly. 
 
 Tii-wance ... 
 
 this instant. 
 
 Twant, or twunt 
 
 it will not. 
 
 Tweeny-maid 
 
 a maidservant. 
 
 Twidden 
 
 it would not. 
 
 12-
 
 i8o 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Twink 
 
 Twinkleth 
 Twinkling 
 Tyne 
 
 to beat, to chastise. 
 
 shakes quickly. 
 
 vibrating. 
 
 to close, to tie, to extinguish. 
 
 Ud ... 
 
 Ulker 
 
 Ulking-gert 
 
 Ummits 
 
 Umps-ouze 
 
 Umsever 
 
 Unbeknown 
 
 Unbethowted 
 
 Up-along 
 
 Up-an'-down 
 
 Up-home 
 
 Upizet 
 
 Upping-stock 
 
 Upstore 
 
 Upzides with 
 
 Urn 
 
 U. 
 
 would. 
 
 big, heavy. 
 
 very big. 
 
 large pieces. 
 
 almshouse. 
 
 whomsoever. 
 
 unknown. 
 
 remembered. 
 
 towards home, up-hill. 
 
 up side down. 
 
 close to the hilt. 
 
 opposite. 
 
 stone steps from which to mount. 
 
 an uproar. 
 
 revenged upon. 
 
 run. 
 
 V. 
 
 Vady 
 
 Vag 
 
 Vaggus Jack 
 Vair, vairy . . . 
 
 Vail 
 
 Vailed 
 
 Valled-vore ... 
 Valled-vore-skat 
 Vallee 
 Vamp 
 
 Vamp-dish, or church- 
 vamp 
 
 Vang 
 
 tainted. 
 
 to trail on the ground, 
 a highwayman, a bogie. 
 a weasel. 
 fall. 
 fell. 
 
 fell forwards, 
 fell flat on face, 
 value. 
 
 to sprinkle with water, to increase in 
 knitting, the font. 
 
 the font. 
 
 to slick close to.
 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Vang-to 
 
 ... to act as sponsor. 
 
 Varden 
 
 farthing. 
 
 Varmint 
 
 . . reptile, a stoat, a hedgehog 
 
 Varry 
 
 ... to give birth to. 
 
 Vatch 
 
 , . . fetch. 
 
 Vatched 
 
 . . . fetched. 
 
 Vatches 
 
 . . . vetches. 
 
 Veaking 
 
 . . . fretful. 
 
 Vearns 
 
 . . . ferns. 
 
 Vethervaw ... 
 
 . . . feverfew. 
 
 Vigging 
 
 ... spuddling. 
 
 Viggle 
 
 . . . to wriggle. 
 
 Vinnied 
 
 ... mouldy, bad-tempered. 
 
 Vire... 
 
 . . . fire. 
 
 Vire-dugs 
 
 . . . fire-dogs. 
 
 Visgy, or bisgy 
 
 . . . a mattock . 
 
 Vist, or vistises 
 
 . . . fist. 
 
 Vittee 
 
 ... fit, proper. 
 
 Vittels 
 
 . . . victuals. 
 
 Vlail 
 
 . . . flail. 
 
 Vlax 
 
 flax. 
 
 Vleys 
 
 fleas. 
 
 Voller'd 
 
 . . . followed. 
 
 Vore 
 
 before. 
 
 Vore-right . . . 
 
 ... rude, vulgar, careless. 
 
 Voreteen 
 
 fourteen. 
 
 Voretoken . . . 
 
 . . . warning. 
 
 Vornoons . . . 
 
 ... lunch. 
 
 Vump 
 
 . . . knock. 
 
 Vurgot 
 
 . . . forgot. 
 
 Vustling 
 
 . . . fussing. 
 
 Vuzz 
 
 ... gorse, furze. 
 
 Vuzzy 
 
 . . . full of furze. 
 
 Vuzz-chick ... 
 
 ... a species of finch. 
 
 Vuzz-poll 
 
 ... having untidy hair. 
 
 181 
 
 w. 
 
 Wab 
 
 Wacking-gert 
 Wallage 
 
 tongue. 
 
 very big. 
 
 an untidy bundle.
 
 182 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Wallop 
 
 Wangary 
 
 Want 
 
 Wantcatcher 
 
 Wapsy 
 
 Watter-swate 
 
 Waxing-curls 
 
 Weared 
 
 Wee-wow 
 
 Wets 
 
 Whatje-come 
 
 Whatzim-iver 
 
 Whipshire . . - 
 
 Whips' while 
 
 Whisterclister 
 
 Whisterpoop 
 
 Whit-pot 
 
 Whitstone Hills 
 
 Whitwitch 
 
 Whit-yeth 
 
 Whurts 
 
 Whymsheet . . 
 
 Why-vor 
 
 Wimbing 
 
 Winders 
 
 Winnels 
 
 Wishee-washee 
 
 Wisht 
 
 Wive 
 
 Wivvery 
 
 Wob 
 
 Wod 
 
 Wopper-eyed 
 
 Wopsy 
 
 Worrit 
 
 Wraxling 
 
 Wunt 
 
 to beat. 
 
 limp, weary. 
 
 a mole. 
 
 a mole-catcher. 
 
 a wasp, cross, ill-tempered. 
 
 clean. 
 
 swollen glands of neck. 
 
 worn. 
 
 cross-wise, puckered, squinting. 
 
 oats. 
 
 what's -his-name. 
 
 what-so-ever. 
 
 Tiverton. 
 
 every few minutes. 
 
 a back-hand slap. 
 
 a back-hand slap. 
 
 hasty pudding. 
 
 the Blackdown Hills. 
 
 a white witch. 
 
 white heather. 
 
 whortleberries. 
 
 winnowing-sheet. 
 
 why. 
 
 winnowing. 
 
 windows. 
 
 thrushes. 
 
 weak. 
 
 sickly, ill. 
 
 wife. 
 
 dizzy, shivery. 
 
 a lump. 
 
 a small wisp of hay. 
 
 tearful. 
 
 a wasp. 
 
 worry. 
 
 wrestling. 
 
 will not. 
 
 Yaffer 
 Yammets 
 
 Y. 
 
 heifer, 
 ants.
 
 
 GLOSSARY. 1 8 
 
 Yanzide 
 
 . . . the side beyond. 
 
 Yark 
 
 . . . sprightly. 
 
 Yaw ... 
 
 a ewe. 
 
 Yaw ... 
 
 to hack. 
 
 Yawk 
 
 ... an unctuous secretion in wool whe 
 
 
 first shorn off. 
 
 Yer 
 
 . . . here, in this place. 
 
 Yer 
 
 hear. 
 
 Yeth 
 
 ... heath. 
 
 Yett 
 
 . . . heat. 
 
 Yetters 
 
 ... flat smoothing irons. 
 
 Yu'm 
 
 you are. 
 
 Yurner'th . . . 
 
 . . . indulges. 
 
 Yurdle 
 
 ... hurdle. 
 
 z. 
 
 Zad 
 
 Z. 
 
 Zaff 
 
 safe. 
 
 Zalt 
 
 salt. 
 
 Zamzawd 
 
 sodden. 
 
 Zaw ... 
 
 to sow. 
 
 Zawd 
 
 did sow. 
 
 Zavvk 
 
 a silly person. 
 
 Zee ... 
 
 to see. 
 
 Zeed 
 
 seed. 
 
 Zeed 
 
 saw. 
 
 Zieve 
 
 sieve. 
 
 Zife ... 
 
 to sigh. 
 
 Zim ... 
 
 to seem. 
 
 Zimmeth 
 
 it seems. 
 
 Zin-bunnet ... 
 
 sun-bonnet. 
 
 Zogging 
 
 dozing. 
 
 Zom-aw'm, or zom- 
 
 
 aw-min 
 
 some of them. 
 
 Zonae 
 
 some. 
 
 Zooker, or zuker 
 
 a sucking-pig. 
 
 Zoop 
 
 to take long sips. 
 
 Zot 
 
 sat. 
 
 Zour-zab 
 
 a sour-tempered person
 
 1 84 
 
 THE PEASANT SPEECH OF DEVON. 
 
 Zwaller 
 
 to swallow. 
 
 Zwaller 
 
 ... a swallow. 
 
 Zwap 
 
 Zwetting 
 
 ... to exchange 
 ... sweating. 
 
 & 
 
 ... ampassy. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 
 J 
 
 
 Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, London.
 
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