UC-NRLF B ^ 513 3Ma HEREFORDSHIRE WORDS & PHRASES. BERKELEY LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF V 7 ^_ /^ He:^^BO^DSHI^e: Colloquial autr |.it{jaic, ABOUT 1300 IN NUMBER, CURRENT IN THE COUNTY. BY FRANCIS T. HAVERGAL, M.A., Prebendary of Cohvall in Hereford Cathedral aitd ■^tcar of ^pfon ^tsl?op. '^^^^J^^^^^^^^^^^*^ WALSALL: W. HENRY ROBINSON. 1887. PEnn fl3 The Society of Antiquaries, London Mr. F. Hamp Adams, Upton Bishop Captain E. Mynde Allen, Upton Bishop H. G. Apperley, Esq., Hereford J. H. Arkwright, Esq., Hampton Court, Leominster B. St. J. Attwood Matthews, Esq., Pontrilas Court Rev. A. C. Auchmuty, V. Lucton Right Hon. Earl Beauchamp, Madresfield Court Sir Joseph Bailey, Bart., M.P., Glanusk Park Mr. John Baldwin, Upton Bishop Rev. A. Bannister, Ledbury Kev. J. Barker, V. Eardisland Henry C. J5eddoe, Esq., Hereford Rev. S. Bentley, V. Bosbury Miss Bernard, Overross Miss Bodenham, Castle Street, Hereford Mr. J. L. Brace, Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas J. A. Bradney, Esq., Talycoed, Monmouth Arthur H. Brown, Esq., Ross Rev. J. Buckle, V. Stretton Grandison Mrs. Bull, Hariey House, Hereford Rev. C. Burrough, R. Eaton Bishop Rev. G. Bulmer, V. Canon Pyon Right Hon. the Earl of Chesterfield, Horn Lacy E. Caddick, Esq., Edgbaston Thomas Cam, Esq., Hereford Rev. A. J. Capel, V. St. John Baptist J. Carle.ss, Esq., St. John's Street Paul Chapman, Esq., I\LD., Hereford Mr. Edwin Cheiake, Sutton Mrs. Chellingworth, Grendon Court Rev. W. S. Clarke, C. Bodenham Mr. Robert CLarke, Hereford Rev. G. H. Clay, R. Aston f Rev. Prebendary Cobbold, R. Ross Rev. Canon W. Cooke, 6, Clifton Place, Sussex Square, W. John Cooke, E.sq., M.D., Warrior Square, St. Leonards E. C. Cooke, Esq., 21, Masonic Institute, Croydon Rev. G. V. Collison, V. Clodock E. W. Colt Williams, Esq., Gate House, Hereford J. Cranston, Esq., King's Acre O. E. Cresswell, Esq., Morney Cross Mrs. Dansey, Westmoreland Road, Bayswater [ames Davies, Esq., Broomy Hill Rev. H. Dew, R. Whitney Rev. W. D. V. Duncombe, Custos of the College W. Farrer Ecroyd, Credenhill Rev. H. St. H. Evans, Fownhope Rev. R. Firmstone, V. Kllpec J. T. Owen Fowler, Esq., Thornton, Hereford R. W. GiHespie, Esq., Walsall Rev. A. Gray, V. Orcop Rev. J. G. Graham, V. Cowarne Rev. C. E. Maddison Green, V. Lyonshall Right Rev. The Lord Bishop of Hereford Hereford Free Libraiy Hereford Permanent Library Mrs. Hamilton, Holcombe, Somerset G. B. Hanbury, Esq., Castle Street Sir Richard Harington, Whitbourne Court Mr. Arthur Harrison, Anderton Road, Birmingham W. Hebb, E,q., Ro.ss Colonel T. Heywood, Ocle Court Rev. R. Hereford, R. Mordiford Mrs. Hislop, Upton Bishop Eev. W. W. Hill, V. Ocle Pychard W. Hogarth, Esq., Upton Bishop Rev. E. J. Holloway, V. Clehonger Rev. S. Holmes, R. St. Nicholas Rev. Michael Hopton, V. Canon Frome Rev. W. Hulme, R Brampton Abbots W. Humfrys, Esq., Hereford .•\rthur Hutchinson, Esq., Hagley Messrs. Jakeman and Carver, Heieford J. G Wynne James, Esq., Mayor of Hereford Mrs. Jay, Lyde Arundel Mr. Joseph Jones, Hereford Rev. Prebendary Joyce, R. Burford Rev. F. W. Joyce, R. Boraston Rev. J. M. Kennedy, V. Rowlstone Miss M. C. King-King, St. John's Street Rev. G. H. Kirwood, V. St. Martin's J. H. Knight, Esq., Vaga House Rev. W. H. Lambert, R. Stoke Edith Rev. A. C. Lee, V. Lugwardine Mr. A. G. Levason, Hereford Mr. Lippiatt, Upton Bishop Edwin Lloyd, Esq., Leominster Mr. James Lloyd, Kington Mrs. Lloyd, The Broadgate, Ludlow Rev. J, J. Loniax, V. Breinton Manchester Free Library Rev. H. B. Marshall, V. Norton Canon C. G. Martin, Esq., Hereford S. R. Mathews, Esq., M.D., Hereford John J. Merriman, Esq., 45, Kensington Square Harold C. Moffatt, Esq., Goodrich Court Colonel E. Money-Kyrle, Homme House Mr. James Morgan, Ashperton School H. C. Moore, Esq., M.R.C.S., 26, Broad Street Rev. Canon W. P. Musgrave, Hereford W. G. Norri?, Esq., Coalbrookdale Nottingham Free Library Rev, Sir F. G. Ouseley, Bart., Prsecentor and Canort Residentiary Mrs. Oldham, Hampton Park Villas Rev. Phipps Onslow, R. Upper Sapey Rev. E. Orde Powlett, V. Eye Rev. H. S. Oswell, R. Llandinabo Miss Rebekah Owen, New York J. D. Ozanne, Esq., Berkeley T. D'Oyley Pain, E.sq., Pontrilas Rev. E. Palin, V. Linton Major T. Palmer, Eardisley Rev. C. S. Palmer, R. Eardisley Mr. T. C. Paris, Hampton Lodge Rev. E. Parry, V. Dulas Mrs. Partridge, Farchynys, Barmouth Rev. G. Pellew, R. Peterstow Rev. Chancellor Phillott, R. Staunton-on-Wye Mr. E. J. Pilley, Eigne Street Mr. Walter Pilley, 2, High Town Rev. Prebendary Poole, V. Hentland Rev. Andrew Pope, V. Delbury Rev. Prebendary Powell, Hinton Court Captain K. 1\L Power, Ross Courtenay C. Prance, Esq., Hatherley Court, Cheltenham J. E. Prestage, Esq., Manchester Rev. D. Price, R. Little Marcle Mr. G. Alexander Prince, Upton Bishop J. Pulley, Esq., Lower Eaton J. Rankin, Esq., M.P., Bryngwyn Rev. Prior Raynal, Belmont Priory J. J. Reynolds, Esq., Hereford Rev. O. M. Ridley, R. Bishopstone J. A. Rolls, Esq., The Hcndre, Monmouth Mr. C. Rootes, BarroU Street, Hereford Rev. W. H. Rusby, R. Felton Right Hon. and Ven. Lord Saye and Sele, Hereford T. J. Salwey, E.sq., Guildhall, Ludlow Bev. A. D. Saunders, R. Sutton St. Nicholas Rev. W. J. Sawyer, Woodlands, Ross Rev. T. Shackleton, ^Linor Canon, Hereford Rev. W. R. Shepherd, V. Preston-on-Wye 125 Rev. Frebendary T. Ayscough Smith, V. Tenbury Rev. Prebendary I. Gregory Smith, LL.D., Vicar Great Malvern Rev. Canon S. Lidderdale Smith, Hereford Mr. John Smith, Felhampton Rev. (». L. Spencer, Hereford Rev. Hon. B. L. Stanhope, R. Byford Mr. Edwin Stephens, Hereford Rev. H. J. Stillingfleet, R. Hampton Bishop Rev. H. F. St. John, Dinmore Manor House Rev. F. S. Stooke-Vaughan, V. Wellington Heath J. F. Symonds, Esq., Okeleigh, Hereford Rev. J. H. Townsend, V. Hope H. R. Trafford, Esq., Michaelchurch Court Mr. C. W. Tudor, Ledbury Road, Hereford Mr. Theophilus Turner, Upton Bishop E. M. Underivood, Esq., 29, Castle Street R. V. Vassar-Smitli, Esq., iSIayor of Gloucester, Charlton Park H. Vevers, Esq., M.R.C.S., St. Owen's Street, Hereford Rev. A. J. Wake, C. Eardisley Mrs. Wakefield, Lansdown Crescent, Cheltenham Rev. J. M. Ware, R. Ullingswick Rev. Prebendary Warner, V. Clun Rev. M. G. Watkins, R. Kentchurch Rev. Prebendary West, V. Fownhope Rev- H. M. Whatley, R Aston Ingham Rev. Principal Whitefoord, Theological College, Salisbury Rev. Philip Whitefoord, Ledbury Rev. R. H. Williams, V. Bridge Solers Rev. H. P. Williamson, V. Bredwardine Rev. C. T. Wilton, V. Foy Mrs. Wilson, Malvern Link John H. Wood, Esq., M.B., Tarrington Rev. Matthew Wood, V. Kington Rev. T. Woodhouse, Ropley, Hampshire Alfred Wright, Esq., 36, Ladbrook Square, London G. Yeld, Esq., St. Peter's School, York *«****:)^*=)S:******=5i==)s=>)S::X*»*********:^^ NOTE. The following Glossary contains words which are current in the County of Hereford. The compiler makes no attempt to say which of them are peculiar to Herefordshire. The mention of a parish or district indicates the locality whence information was obtained for these pages. The following abbreviations are adopted : — Heref. The city of Hereford and vicinity. W. or E. Her. West or Ea.st Herefordshire. E. Eardisland. G.V. The Golden Valley. L. Ledbury and vicinity. S.-on-Wye Staunton-on-Wye. U.B. Upton Bishop. INTRODUCTION. EW persons have better opportunities of becoming acquainted with the peculiarities of speech in a district than the Country Parson who visits his people. Few besides the clergy take the trouble to note down the quaint expressions used by old and young in the course of their pastoral visits. Curious words and phrases may be heard at our Infirmaries, County Courts, Savings Banks, Markets, Railway Stations, and Auctions ; and at other places where rustics congregate. But in all these places a great change has been gradually coming on ; old customs are dying out, and many old words and sayings are becoming obsolete. The Vicar of — — truly and sadly remarks, " The old words are dying out and our modern education will destroy some pretty words as well as the irritating drawl of the county. Canna, shanna, munna, are only heard from the old, and boys no longer hesple one another. The bush is burnt on fewer hills year by year, and the incantation of 'old cider' I have not heard for forty years. And 'going a gooding' on St. Thomas' Day has almost come to an end.' It has therefore been thought desirable to collect as far as possible all Words and Phrases peculiar to, or current in, the County of Hereford. Nothing has been done in this way since the production of a Glossary by the late Sir G. Cornewall Lewis, in 1839. Meanwhile our neighbours in Gloucester, Worcester, and Shropshire have produced excellent glossaries. The present collection is an attempt to supply, in a cheap popular form, what seems to be a local want. A learned friend thinks the attempt is too late by 40 years ! But he admits " that there are still bits to be picked up." To pick up such bits has been my endeavour; for although some of the words may appear to be in general use, it is hoped that many of them may be found to be genuine Herefordshire productions. In 1886 a com- munication was sent to all the Clergy and Schoolmasters in the County of Hereford, and also to many of the Gentry, inviting co-operation. All the known collections of local words have been consulted or incorporated in these pages ; and it has been my endeavour to indicate the parish or district where many of the words are used, or from which they were supplied for publication. It only remains for me to express my thanks to subscribers and helpers, with the hope that the perusal of this little work may afford them some pleasure and amusement during their leisure hours. Upton Bishop Vicarage, January 25///, 1887. Morb0 anb pbraecs. A, r^.=to have. 'Him a' gone awaay,'/. ^., ' he has gone.' A, pron.^=\\e, she, or it. * Whar be a', or 'Where is a'?' may mean 'Where is he, she, or it?' A, prep.^=a.t or in. ' A' were a church o' ij'-fy Sund'y.' ' Er's a bed mighty bad ^ ' with a paay'n a top o' 'er yud.' Abear, = endure, tolerate. Abide, = suffer, endure. Able, = well to do in money matters. ' Mr. is an able man.' — G. V. Aboove, = above. Aboove-a-bit or More than a bit, =a good deal, extremely. ' I like that man aboove a bit.' Abuseful, = abusive. Accord, = agree. Pronounced accOTd. Ackern,= acorn. A common proverb applied to many things. 'As sound as an ackern.^ Acquaintance, = a sweetheart. 'They've been acquainted a good while.' Acting (of children) = showing off Ledbury. Adland, = a headland. A strip of ground left for a plough to turn upon at the end of the furrows. Adled,= pronunciation of addled. Adle or Adled= addled. 'I be most afeared as the eggs be all adle.' Afeared, = afraid. ' I'm a'most afeared.' Afore, = before. Aorin, = by or against. ' He'll come agin Christmas.' E. iM Ahthern, = Hawthorn. Aim or Haim,=to intend or en- deavour. ' You bain't haimin to muv.' ' I did aim to come.' All about, =in confusion, or light-headed. 'Our 'ouse be all about just now.' All as is, = 1. all that there are. 2. Nevertheless. Common. All-SO,= commonly used for except. ' That row o' taturs was all rotton all-so these few. L. Anent, anunt, or anenst, = near or next to, over against.* Anighst, = near. ' They never come anighst me.' Apern, = apron. Ara, =any or ever. ' Thee han't met ara bwoy?' 'Hast got ara copper?' L. Arc, =a peculiar cloud or cirrus across the sky, N. to S., seen in the morn- ing and evening only on rare occa- sions. It is said to be 'pointed, bright at the ends, and very pretty.' I have found this word only in a low damp part of Upton Bishop among very old people. Archert or Archat, = orchard. See ^ J. Phillips' Poem on Cyder, d^ JA' •»■ Attack = undertake. ' I mean to attack the journey.' Pronounced 'attact.' Archenfield. A voirdupoised, = in doubt about doing a thing. 'I'm all avoirdupoised.' E. Away, = endure. 'I cant awaay with it.' G.V. Sp. Comment. Is. i. 14. Awhile = to spare time for: a favourite expression, 'Can't awhile.' When 'I can awhile,' or 'I did it awhile.' E. Axe, v.=\.o ask. Heref Backen,=To keep back or recede, as growth of crops. Backwards and Forwards, = not a word further. There's an end of the matter. Herf: Badger, = a dealer in poultry, fruit, &c. Baffed=stammering. See Buff. S.-on- ^Vye. Bag, = i. of Wheat, 3 bushels, a sack being 4 bushels. 2 The udder of a cow. Bag, z'.==to cut peas and beans with a hook, called a ' bagging huck,' which is broader than a sickle and is not J serrated at the edge. \ ^ Baggage = a term of depreciation ap- plied chiefly to women and beggars. 'Go away you dirty baggage.'' Bait, =a labourer's luncheon. Bally wray or Ballyrag=to abuse, scold coarsely. Band-hay, =: inferior hay used for hay bands. Bandy, = a game played with bent sticks, hence bandy legs, /. e. bowed legs. Bank or Banky, = sloping, uneven' undulating ground. 'A banky piece.' Burford II. Bannut, =a small kind of walnut. Barberris, = cruel, barbarous. E. Barm, = yeast. Bat,=great speed or pace. 'Coming at a great bat: N. Her. Batch or Bash,=the palm of the hand. L. Bathering,=i. of partridges roozling or ruffling in the dust. Peter- church. 2. Shake or knock down, of fruit. L. Bayly, = Bailiff. Bearbine, =wild convolvulus. Pro- nounced Beer-bine. Bean for a pea. Speaking to a bed- ridden man lately, ' Your sister, I suppose, carries water and does some things for you.' "Well, mighty little, her wont give a Bean for a Pea Lanwarne. Beetle, =a large wooden hammer used for driving wedges into wood. Ring-beetle, =the above with iron bands round the hammer. Bot-beetle,=used for beating up clods. Ashperton. Becall,=to rate or abuse. ' Her becalled muh' sheamful.' Bed, = floor of a waggon or cart. Beer,^When a man is in a fuddled state it is said that ' he is on the beer: Her: Benefit, =1. a living, probably for bene- fice. N, Her. 2. Trouble, as ' I had a pretty benefit in getting them cattle whum.' WORDS AND PHRASES. Beethy,=soft, easy to bed. applied to a cork drawn out of a bottle. Bodenham. Limp or flabby as toast in cider. Orleton. Wet and soft as hops 'didn't like to pack when they were so beathified.' Bellocking,=lowing of cattle. Orcop. Belting, «.=chastisement by using a belt for the purpose. Bents, = stalks of grass. Bizzom,=::of birch or broom. 'There's "tricks in all trades except bizzofn makin, and then you puts the short "'^ J in the middle.' L. Bespoke, adj.=^\. as of a joint of meat. 'That's a bespoke.^ Hereford. 2. Marked for death. "" I saw he was bespoke a month ago.' Archenfield. Bessy-coddle or Molly-coddle, = said of a man who interferes with a woman's business. Archenfield. Best, z^.^beat. To get the better of 'I bested him.' Ashperton. 'How do George come by that black eye ? ' ' Oh, him and Joe had a bit of a turn about that young woman and fought a bit, but Joe bested him.' Lanwarne. Beyond, =get the better of. 'The doctor can't get beyond it no how. Biff, =beef There is a general tendency in this county to turn e into i, as bist for beast. The proper name Beavan being pronounced as Bivan. BigSOrted,=:proud, stuck up. 'As big sorted as a. ass.' N. Her. Bilberry, =7^?"//^ berry or whinberry in Herefordshire and Shropshire. Bine, = stem of hop plants. Binna, =a negative form of 'to.be,' as used by old-fashioned rustics. A remarks ' Its could. ' B replies 'Ay ! it bhina very warm.' The following negatives are in common use : — Anna am not. Canna cannot. Dunna does not. Hanna or Havana ...has or have not. Munna must not. Shunna shall not. Tinna it is not. Wunna will not. Bird clacker,=a clapper to frighten birds. Bishoped,=being confirmed.* E. Black-pole, =a long piece of umvrought timber, about as much as a man can carry. Black-Steer or stare,=a starling. Blaggerd,=pron. of blackguard, one addicted to low language. Blast,=a local inflamation of some ex- ternal part. Also called ' felon ' or Whidow on the hand. Blind, =applied to blossom which does not come to fruit, or to a boil without a head. Common. Bloody Butcher, =the deep purple wild hyacinth. N. Her. Bloody fingers, =foxgloves. Kentchurch. Same as dead man's fingers. Hamlet IV. 7. Called also 'fairy gloves,' which gives the real derivation, ' folks' gloves,' /. ^., the little folks, the fairies. ' But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them.' Hamlet IV. 7. Blow,=i. blossom (pronounced blauw). 2. Wind spoken of as 'a cold blauw.' U.B. Blub or Blob,=to swell up. ' Her face be blubbed up. L. Blue I saac,=hedge sparrow. Sutton St. N. Blue-tail, =a field fare. Blunder out,=puzzle it out. E. Note * This has a second signification, viz., a Horse that has had its teeth operated upon to make him appear^ younger than he really is. Query : Was this formerly practised on horses sent to Bishop's Castle great horse fair ? HEREFORDSHIRE ^^^A^i^? Bock,=back. Bodge or Botch, =to fill up holes in a hedge with croppings called browse. Bogie or Bugabo,=a ghost Bolting, =a bundle of longstraw(i4lbs.) tied with two bands. Pronounced bawten, or bowtin. Bomboly or Bomely,=awkward to fit. ' Its a bomboly stone.' E. Bonds,=twigs for tying up bundles of faggots. Bone, as an intensive=bone lazy, in- nately lazy. Leintwardine. Boo,=bug or louse. Bredwardine. Pro- nounced Bow. L. Boosey, n. = i. Pasture retained till May by a tenant quitting his farm at Candlemas. Golden Valley. 2. Also the gangway and trough in front of stall for feeding cattle. 3. Part of a cow shed for keeping hay in. Bot.^to beat. Ashperton. Bottle, =a small wooden keg for carrying a labourer's cider. 'Bought it off him' (for 'of or from him.') Boughten, said of bread or beer not made or brewed at home. Bost,=to burst open, generally in an execrative sense. Bottle-tit, =long tailed Titmouse. So called from shape of nest. Bound, =obliged, c. g., 'we be all bound to be sinners.' S. on Wye. Bountiful, =a man who looks fat and well, ' quite bou7itiful.' Orleton. Bowk,=nave or stock of a wheel. Bowket,=bouquet. Bowler, = a boulder. E. Box. The treasury of a club. ' On the box,' drawing an allowance from the funds of a club. U.B. B rabbi e, =quarrel. BragS,=boastings. ' He made his brags.' Branter or Brandtail,='a Kitty Bran- tail,' a Redstart, E. Brash, = thin broken stone. Brashy ground, =coarse marley ground Brevit or Breveting, v.^=\. To pry or bustle about. 'A' goes breveting about.' S. -on- Wye 2. Searching or gadding about. Brenth,=breadth. Brea or Breese,=gadfly. Brontitis,=generally \ Brownkites,=not seldom \ Bronchitis. Browntitus,=once C>r\,....^ C^^tp^ Brot, ;/.=loose straw. Kentchurch. Brouse or Trouse,=i. Brushwood, clippings off hedges. 2. Small wood remaining, after cordwood and faggots are cut from felled trees or underwood. Browse line,=the height to which cattle can reach to bite. 'Trim them apple trees, Jim, not too much, but just above the brouse line. Bruck,=brook. Lanwarne. Brun,=a billet of wood. 'Fetch in a bruni' ' They used to take a horse to carry in a brun on Christmas day.' E. Brusling,=bushing roughly against. ' The cow was kicking and brusling agen it' E. Bucking, =a large wash of household linen. ' Buck basket.' Merry Wives of Windsor. Act III. scene 5. Buckles, =twigs of withy shaved flat and twisted, for securing thatch. Spoken of as buckle stuff. Bud Bird or Budding Bird=the bullfinch. Common. Buff or Buffle,=to have an impediment in speech. 'He do biif:i bit.' 'He was a' way buffling in his talk.' W. Her. To bother. Sutton St. N. Bosbury. WORDS AND PHRASES. Bugs words, =boasting words. They occur in an old book written by Rowland Vaughan, a truly Here- fordshire man. Bullocking,=joking a person, bullying. E. Bum-bailie, =sheriff's ofificer. 'The bums be in the house.' Bumlet,=a round stone used for filling up walls in building. E. Bunch, =a bunch of cattle, /. ^., a small drove. Hereford. Bunchy, =rank or coarse. Celery spoken of as ''bunchy busky stuff.' E. Bundation,=an abundance, such as heavy rain, fruit, &c. Common. Bundle off,=go away quickly. 'He bundled off.'' Bunt,=to butt or thrust with the head. Bury, = I. A store of roots covered with earth. 2. A rabbit hole or burrow. Burying or Burial, = a funeral. 'To fetch a burying^ to accompany the corpse. Burr, = the sweetbread or pancreas of an animal. Burr-oak, =a pollard oak. Busgy, := . . ' the quick are ^^wx^y.' Archenfield. Bussock,:= a donkey. G.V. But just, =just this moment. Butty, :=a fellow workman. Butty-collier used elsewhere.* Bye blow, = a bastard. W. Her. By tack,=a farm taken by a tenant who resides on another. Literally a Bye-take. Cade, adj. =^3. cade lamb, one brought up by hand. N. Her. Also called tidling lambs until their tails are cut. Linton. Caddie, v.^=i. to nestle, coddle, or pet* 2. To trifle or potter about. 3. To chatter. Cadger, =a carrier. E. Heref. Cadow or Caddis, =.a poor creature, a simptleton. ' Her's only a poor cadoiv. E. Cag mag,=rbad meat. Call,=need. 'Thee hast no call to take on that a way.' Canbottle,=long-tailed titmouse. N. W. Heref. Cant, z^.=i. To tell tales behind one's back, or gossip. r. r- 2. To tip up a vessel or bottle. (^*^<*--'^^. Cantle,=applied to rounded margin of saddle. Carpeted, to be=to be had in for a scolding. Carrun, = carrion — a worthless fellow. E. Casn, Casna, or Canna,=cannot. ' Thee casn'st lick me. Cast,=a second swarm of bees; the third is called a hob. Castrel,=a labourer's wooden cider bottle. Ashperton. Catching or Catchy, =applied to weather, showery. Caterpillar=cockchafer. Universal in N. W. Heref. Caterpillar, 7'.==to plague or torment ' I was never so caterpillared in my life.' Tretire. Caults or CoatS,=colts. Very common Cauves, =calves. Caz'ulty,=casual, uncertain, as of the weather. 'Its random cutting in the cas'ulty,' was a response made in answer to a question about cut- ting hay in showery weather. (See word Nation.) Upper Sapey. Note '* In some trades the butty is necessarily the inferior man, as with sawyers, &c. But practically some very good workmen prefer working in pairs, as in draining, timber falling, &c., the butty being the younger man. 10 HEREFORDSHIRE Certain sure, = 'l am certain sure of that.' Chark,=the coal or coke burnt in hop kilns. Kentchurch. Charky, =dry in mouth or throat. Charm, =noise of tongues. 'What a charm you young 'uns keep.' W. Her. Chastise, =flnd fault with. Chats, «.=chips. Chat, 7;.=to gather chips. A common excuse for children not being at school. 'Gone with mother a chattin,' U.B. Chatter, 7'.=to rebuke, reprove with anger (mostly of women). L. Chawls,=tines of a pike or fork. E. Chear,=chair. Chimbley, =chimney. Chithngs or ChitterHngs,=entrails of pigs. Christen=to receive a privately baptised child into the Church. Cheese, ^crushed apples in the hairs before pressing. Common. Choir,=' going to choir,' /. ^., attend the Cathedral Service. Heref. Church, — banns of marriage are said to be 'asked in Church' when they are published for the first time, and 'asked out of Church' when pub- lished for the third time. General use. Churchman, =a clergyman who is a good reader of the service, or has a powerful voice is always called 'a good churchman.' Churt or Tiert,=sharp and keen. 'It freezes very churt' E. Also of cyder which is sharp. L, Clam, 7'.=to starve. 'My hands be clummed with cold.' Herefordshire proverb, ' care clammed the cat.' Clem, Z'.^famished. ' I be that clemmed.' Clandestical,=? corruption of clandes- tine, 'Live in that dirty clandestical manner.' Archenfield. Clats, Cleats, or Clet, «.=Quinnett, nails holding blade to handle of scythe. Munnow Valley. A wedge of wood or iron to tighten two parts. Clavvy,==shelf above the grate in kitchen. ' I hung it on the clavvy! N. Heref. and Bishop's frome. Clay or Clee,=the claw of a bird or animal. Clees,=claws. Clean forewell,=clean gone away. Its' clean forewelJ.^ E. Clench, z'.=to clinch a nail or an argu- ment. Clever, =good and right. 'It was all very clever to my face,' /. ■ AJ^t-v *^i S,^~ -Ij^ l-.-v^j.^ J,-^ '..\>- ^f-*^\ ^ l.Sl.V^ HEREFORDSHIRE J2aA C>W«>*'MaA>!1 Curst, = sharp, clever, especially in mis- ^^ chief. ' He's a pretty cursf boy.' Custish, ^sharpish. 'He is a custish sort of chap.' E. Cyder wring, =cyder press. D. ,^aJ^ This appears in a good many words without any apparent reason. ' I'll shound you.' ' He's a good scholard.' ' Borned ' for born. N. Her. Dabbledy day, = when heavy rain falls. Orcop. Dabbly or Draggly,=wet, rainy. Daddocky or Daddiky,= rotten, unsound. S.-on-Wye. Daffidowndiliy,=daffodil. A com- mon Old English word, but used locally. Dahnt,=daunt, dishearten, Dall or D^lJ^e it,=confound it, damn it. ' I'm dauzed if I knows.' D ammock or Dommock, t'.=to Zr ^,CvXia.^, dirty clothes, e. ^., 'Her aint one to davimock her clothes.' N. W. Her. See Mommock. Danker, =an oath, also Drat, very com- mon. Lanwarne. Dannies, =a baby's hands. 'Clap your dannies.^ Common 50 years ago. N. Her. Dawny, = i. damp and not sufficiently made. 'The hay was very dawny.'' 2. Not trustworthy. 'A dawny customer. N. Her. Dazed, =puzzled, stupefied. 'Ever since one day as the sun got hold on her a bit, our Jane has been dazed a deal.' Lanwarne. Dead,=senseless. ' I was dead ever so long,' /. e., in a fainting fit. S.-on-Wye. Dearn, = i. Of weather, raw, cold. 2. Of a man, 'so and so is a very dearn man,' i. e., hard or severe. S:>metimes pronounced as jearn. L. Deawbeater,=a person who turns out the toes very much in walking. Deawbit,=slight early refreshment. ' Deed, =indeed. ' ^Deed if I know,' /. e. , indeed I don't know. Deck of Keards,=pack of cards. Deef,^deaf. 'Hard o' hearing.' An ordinary term. Deepness, =cunning, sly. ' He's a dep un.' E. Denial, ==disadvantage, injury. Loss of a limb or faculty is spoken of as 'a great denial.' Depraved, «^'.=weakly, ill. 'A poor depraved crtdAuxQ.' Dilwyn. Desacly, =exactly. Desperate. This word is in frequent use. To hit desperate hard, a desperate fine or tall man, &c. Deuced, Deeowsid, or Djouced, := deuced, very. Used merely for em- phasis. 'I feel deuced middling.' Hereford. Devil's rings, =hairy caterpillars. N. W. Her. Dewing, = small rain, for deuwing. 'Its deuwing a little.' Upper Sapey. Disannul, =:to turn out, do out. ' They tried to disannul her of what she'd got.' E. Disfuglement, = disfigurement. Dithering, /l"on his head, it nearly dousted him. '^ Dout or Do out, z'.=i. to put out or extinguish, as a candle or fire. 2. To die. ' Ha drawed a sike (sigh) and then ha douted.' N. Her. Downhill. Applied (i) to wind, south— from the south. (2) Applied to a line on the downward slope. Draggletail,= dress trailing on the ground. Drave, = thrave of straw. See Thrave. f Drawed, 7'.==drew. 'He drazved the beautifuUest pictur as ever I did see.' Dreaten,=to threaten. Dresh, = to thresh. D for Th is very common in Herefordshire. Dreshel or Drashel, n. a threshel. See Flail. Drip or Grip, = a rut or little open drain in the road. Pixley. Dripples, =thripples. Dripping bags,=bags of canvass like inverted sugar cones through which cider is passed fresh from the cider press. Drop night, = night fall. 'It'll drop night soon.' Upper Sapey. Drop out, = to fall out, quarrel. Drow, 7A=to throw. Dub, = to bend or pull down. Duff, a^r'.=directly. 'The ball struck him duff on the mouth.' E. & L. Dumb, = Animals always spoken of as '■dumb animals' or '■dumb things,' as distinguished from human beings who are universally summed up as 'Christians.' The phrase is often used 'Christians and dumb things.' Dumb-saucy, = sulky. Sutton St. N. Dummel,= a stupid creature. E. Dunna, =i:do not. Dure, = to endure, particularly to last or wear a long time. Dunch,= heavily of a fair blow. 'He hit him dunch on the ribs. E. Dunching, ^poking against something. 'The pole goes dunching agen it.' E. Dunny, =deaf. Aylton & E. Note Ducks especially lower their heads when passing through a verj- lofty doorway, such as a barn door. Hence the term, t Tkrave ot corn wa.s two Shocks of six, or rather twelve sheaves apiece. Statute II. Henry 6, c. 2. The word comes from the British dresa, i. e., twenty-four. Twelve sheaves make a Stook and two Stooks a Thrave. T. Blunt's Glossographia, 1674. 14 HEREFORDSHIRE Eacle, Eqwal, Hecle, or Hickol, =a green Woodpecker. (Iceicle pronounced in same way.) Universal in Heref. Ean or Yean, = (of ewes) to bring forth young. 'Eaning time.' Earthly, adj, — near death. ' Dear, dear, how ea?-t/ily the old man do look.' G.V. Edder, madder. Bredwardine. Eimer or Eemer, =:near, nearest way. Also Eemest. N. Her. Elmen or Ellum,=elm trees. Other trees are spoken of in a similar way. Ellern,= elder, poplen-poplars, and oaken-oaks. Empt, ^to empty. Ess, = ashes. Aylton. Etherings or Heathenngs,=rods of hazel or other wood used for weaving in and out of the tops of hedge stakes. Ettles,=nettles. Ever or H ever, = hemlock. G.V, Ever so, =in any case. ' Not if it were ever so. ' Exempt, = without a crop. 'I'm quite ^^(?w// of damsons this year. N.Her. Expressions in common use — Come along in. No fear != Never ! Thankee, expressing surprise, 'was its so.' E. Eye, = to glance at. 'Her only eyed the letter.' Eye,=an old saying. ' Blessed is the eye That's between Severn and Wye.' * Faggot, n.=a.n ill behaved girl, E. Fainty, =a weak faint state. Falling weather, — when rain or snow may be expected. Open weather when the ground is not bound by frost. Falter, = to fail in health. Fancical,=: fanciful. L. Fangles, =the teeth of a fork, i e., fangs. Fantigue, = excitement. Farden-piece, =a farthing. Fatch,=: thatch. Fatches, = vetches. Common. Favour, = to bear lightly on, to ease from pressure, as a horse may. 'A' favours one leg more than t'other.' Favoured. Used in a bad as well as good sense. An old woman at Upper Sapey speaking to the clergy- man's lady remarked with reference to a neighbour who had died of asthma, 'yes, mam, and her husband be wonderful favoured with it.' But as the speaker came originally from Norfolk the expression may not be genuine Herefordshire. Fearn and Vearn, ==:fern. Universal. Feature, z'.^resemble, as an ancestor. 'Them do feature one another like two peas.' W. Her. Feg or Fag, = long coarse grass. Fer, Fur, or Vur, = far. Fetch, = 1. To deal as a blow. 2. To make butter by churning, when they are said to 'fetc/i butter.' Fettle, = to set m proper order. To feed or 'bed up' cattle, «S:c, From Victual ? Few, adf, a good few — a good many. ' There were a good fe7v ship at the fair yesterday,' Fickledy,:= fickle, Archenfield. Note * This seems to refer not to the human eye, but rather to the well watered country between Severn and Wye. Eye or Eau Withington may mean Withy Town, by the water, shewing that Eye refers to water. Eye is also a parish and railway station in this county. WORDS AND PHRASES. 15 Fidge or Fizzle := the wriggling or twisting about of a child expected to sit still, to fidget. L. Filbeard, = Not the Filbert. The husk is not so long as that of the filbert. Hereford. Find of, =to feel. Firebrand-tail, =:a redstart. Sutton St. N. Fitchet or Fitchuck, =a pole cat. Fitmeal, adv.=^hy fits. Compare piece- meal. Fittle,=: victual. Flail or Threshel,=an instrument for separating grain from the husks, now fast going out of use. Its various parts are — Handstaff, that part which the work- man holds in his hands. Nile, that which is swung round and beaten againt the straw. P ,. ] that which connects p/,- °' • /• the hand staff and '^ ° ^' ) nile. Ashperton. Flay. See Plough. Fleam, =phlegm. Fleamy, =loose, as a cough. F. Flem or Flen,=: fleas. There is a place called Flen Cub. N. Her. Flit, "==■ to move from one house to another, not necessarily a 'moonlight flitting.' Flizz, = break or fly in pieces. Flopperty, = limp. Fluish, =weak of mind, as applied to a woman. Flummox, = to get bewildered, to lose presence of mind. Flump, =plump, applied to falling. Flush, = fledged, applied to birds. 'Um be all flushed and fled.' L. Fluttermouse, = a bat. N. Her. Forrat, Z'.=bring forward. 'Your taters be too forrat' ' This rayn will forrat the hai a good bit' Some farmers who had claret after dinner being asked how they liked it, replied, 'well no, they didn't get no forrader with it.' Orleton. For sure, = certainly. N. Her. Fould or Fauld,==:fold, the fold yard. Fousty,=: fusty. F rangy, = restive, irritable. 'Some ponies is ?,of rangy.' G.V. Frale or Frail, = a flexible basket. General. Frant,=: fretful, fractious. E. Fraturn, = expressive of facial likeness. ' One hroihtx fratertts another very much.' E. Free-martin, =when a cow brings twin calves, both females, one is believed to be always barren, and is called a.free-?Jiarti?i.' Ashperton. Fresh, = not very drunk. 'Only a bit fresh.' ' Just sprung a bit' Fresh liquor, = hog's lard without salt in it Continually used in Here- fordshire. Fretchet or Fretchy, adf=ci[oss, peevish, vexed, fidgetty. W. Heref. Frighten, =:to conquer, get through (a piece of work). N Her. Frightful, = fearful, easily frightened. Frit, = frightened. 'Isher/r//?' E. Fromward, /r.='The wind do come froviward the East.' Compare inward, outward, toward. Fruit, = in a special sense of Apples, the fruit of the country. F rum, := forward, well grown, as grass, fruit, or potatoes ; also of hops. ' We have picked the frummest.'* Fullaring, =:the groove in a horse shoe Note * This word is derived from the German. Or Frummest seems to be a form of ' foremost,' and then the positive 'frum ' is invented from frummest. i6 HEREFORDSHIRE Fume, = become inflamed, as a wound. S.-on-Wye. Fume,=to get in a passion. Fund, = found. ' I fund it. Furness,^:: distance (farness). Tretire. Fut,=foot. Fit, = feet. Fyaou or Feow,=pron. of few; ow pronounced as in ' how.' ' A good few'=a good many. Gaffer, ■=■ master ; generally spoken of as 'our gaffer.'' Gain, = I. workmanlike, handy. 2. Nearer or more convenient. 'A gayner way.' Gall, ^a spring in a field. Orcop. Gallus, =/. ^ , fit for the gallows. Applied to mischievous boys ; also to any high mettled horse or any cocky mischievous animals. Query — gal- lows, as a gallow's bird? Gamble, =the crooked wood from which the dead carcase of an animal is suspended. Heref Gambo, Gamber, or Gambrel, «.= a cart with sides only ; nofront or back. Rowlston and N. W. Her. Gambol, = to climb (over a style). N. Her. Games, = to make fun of any one. Garment, = a chemise. Gaum, Bygamm, or Gams, =used for ' by God.' Gaum, =to stuff and gorge. E. Gaumed, = stupid. E. Gaun, = a small wooden ladle or bucket holding about one gallon. Gawk, = awkward. N. Her. ? Gauche,=left-handed. Gawkey, ==a gaping idler. Gay, = in good order, well provided. Geat,=gate. Get beyond, = recover, cure, or control. Pronounced ' beyand. ' ' Er's mighty bad and oan't get beyand it this time.' Get the turn, = to pass the crisis. Giglot, =a giddy girl. Glat, = a gap in a hedge. Also called a shard. Glatting, = mending hedges. Very com- mon. Glemmy, =hot, bright, as of the sun. ' So glemmy.' Hereford. Glore, =used as superlative, specially relating to fat or fire. Orleton. Glum, =gloomy. G. O. Tack, = ploughing with two horses abreast. Go back, =to grow worse or lose ground. Golden-chain tree, = laburnum. Good sorted, = of good kind. Gooding day. It was customary for the poor to go round to farm houses for gifts of wheat on St. Thomas' Day. A quartern measure was the quantity usually given to each applicant. Lyde. Gompus, ^to roam, or travel about on pleasure. ' He's gompussing off somewhere.' E. and L. Gone dead, = dead as a plant or tree. A child when shewn a 'pothograph of his father absent at sea, said ' Why that's feather dyud and gone less.' N. Her, Good Evening, = always said after Noon, Goosemachick,=gosling, N, Her. Gorm, 7'.=to mess or make dirty. See Appendix. Gorrells,= young pigs. E. Gosling. A patient recovering from illness makes use of this expression, 'as useless as a midsummer gosling,' the sun making goslings weak and staggering. West Heref WORDS AND PHRASES. 17 Gossips, = God-parents, sponsors. Much used in Yorkshire. Archenfield. Gownd, =a gown. Graft, = a strong narrow spade used for draining. Bredwardine. Grassnail, n.=\xon tie from handle to blade of scythe, to prevent grass from clogging. Munnow Valley. Great, = familiar, intimate with. Pro- nounced ' Greet.' Grip,:=a narrow trench or gutter. 'I would an had some lime, but they are so busy in hauling this tile (drainpipes).' 'What to do.' 'Oh tile for grippin.' 'The horse fell at the grip in the road.' Tretire. A Groanin,=a confinement. Ground ash,=a stick of ash growing direct from the ground, being very tough in consequence. Guides, = circular movable rest placed over front axle as bearing for bed of waggon. Guleing, = making game of any one. L. Gull, = a young goose. Plural Gullets. Gwaying orGwy'in, =zgoing. A word in very common use. Hackasing, replaying the fool. 'What are yer hackasing at.' Lyonshall. Hackle, = i. Conical thatch for beehives. 2. Sheaves inverted and spread on the top of others. Hairs, = Hair cloths used in the cider press. Half baptize, = to baptise privately. Halfoaf moulsin,=a stupid person. W. Heref. Half-strained, = used of a woman half sharp. ' She's a half-strained donkey.' E. Hangstree, =:head of a gate. Hard wick. Hank, «.=hold. 'And a couldna get a hank on him.' Hanky-panky, ^cunning dealing. ' None of your hanky-panky.'' E. Hanna,=have not. '■Hannayo..' Haslet or Aslat,=liver, &:c., of a pig. Haut, = hold. ' Let us have haiit on it.' H aux, = strolling. ' Where are you haux- ing off to.' E. Head stall, =a stout bridle for fastening a horse to the manger. Heal, 7'. =to cover over seed sown by harrows, &c. Heard tell,=heard of A common expression. Heart-sick, = out of spirits. N. Her. Heartwhole or Heartwell,=well as to appetite, or in good spirits. Heaver, = a gate which lifts up. Golden Valley. Hedge-bill, =a long handled hook for cutting hedges. It is also called a hook. Ashperton. Heft, = I. 71. Weight. 2. V. To lift. 3. To do a thing leisurely. ' At my heft.' S.-on-Wye. Hell-rake, = a large broad rake used in haymaking. Lit. Heel-rake. Herds, := tow. Hermiting,==: keeping to oneself E. Hersking,=: hearse. Rowlstone. Hespel or Huspel,=to run about, worry, 'Don't //c'j;/!'6'/ the pig.' 'Don't //i?^;;^^/ yourself ' N. Her. H ice or Hoist, = keep still. 'A done, or be quiet, wull yer,' as said to cattle. Orleton. Hide, ^to whip. ' I'll give thee a good hiding.' Hiding = chastisement, probably from a piece of hide being used for that purpose. Hile, z^=to toss. Said of a bull or mischievous cow. H iling, = tearing. ' The cow's hiling the hedge down with her horns.' E. i8 HEREFORDSHIRE Hindersome, ^hindering (weather). E. Hisht, adverb=Xvi\.tx\. Lanwarne. Hit,=:a good crop. 'A good //// o' fruit.' Hives or H oven, = windy distension of belly in cattle. Robbing, =hollowing, whooping, mak- ing a noise. Tretire. Hobbledy hoy, = neither man nor boy. Hogshead, = the oak casks containing cider, usually loo to 112 gallons. Always called ' hogshut.' All other vessels for cider are casks. Hognel, = uneven, awkward, surly. E. Hog welly, = large, hoggish. 'Ahogwelly fellow.' E. Hollop, ?'.=^to scope out the inside of an apple, turnip, &c. E. Holt, — hold. ' Loose /w//.' Homes, =hames; the crooked metals surrounding a collar to which the traces are attached. Hommoxing,:= messing food about. 'What's the cow /to?ninoxing viilh it.' E. Hone, 7'.=to beat, e. g., a boy speaks of honing another for getting him punished Bredwardine. Honesty,=:wild clematis. Hooch. = to sit in a heap.' ' Hooching over the fire.' E. Hood or 'ood,=wood. General. Hoof, «.=bullfinch. E. Heref. Hoolety or Hooleting, =:like an owl. 'A moping hoolety creatur.' 'Why can't you go by day light instead of hooleting about the country ? ' E. Hoont or Woont, =a mole. 'As slik as a hoont.'' Often applied to a well groomed horse. It is suggested that this word may be derived from 'under' (ground). Hoop or Cock Hoop,=a bullfinch. Hoot, = to cry out. Specially applied to owls. H OOsk, = a dry cough. E. Hop dog, =a white striped grub which feeds on the hop leaf Less com- monly called ladies' lap dog. Aylton. H opples, = apples. Hoppowles, =:hop poles. Horn, = a drinking cup, fast going out of use. Ashperton. Horse block, = stone steps from which to mount a horse, called the Skal- lenge block at Canon Pyon. Horsestinger, := hornet. Much Dewchurch. Hoult, «.=the abode of a badger or otter. ' You canna get at 'im, he's in 'is hotilt: W. Her. H ouse-keepers, = the Bum-bailiffs. N. Her. Housen, =houses. However, =: in short, in any case. Generally used at the end of a sentence. Howgy or Howgeous, rt'^;=huge. ' Did you ever see what hougy great stones the flood did bring down.' Orcop, G.V., and L. Howlet,=a stupid person. 'A regular hoivlet: E. Huck, = hook. Hud, = husk or shells. Hudjuck, n.^^z. mess. 'The house be in such a hudjiuk.'' N. W. Heref. Hull, 7'.=to shell, as peas. Humbug, ::= a dark coloured sweetmeat, much esteemed by children. Humbuz,=a cockchafer. Humersome, =full of whims or fancies. Hunkering, = crowding, applied to cattle. S.-on-Wye. WORDS AND PHRASES. 19 Hurd or Herd,:=to store or hoard. Boys will say they have been hurd- ing apples or nuts, /. ' the wool off its nee ship.' Probably frc peeled off Monn PentIs,=penthouse, th to a smithy wher shod. Perished, =starved or cold. Peruse, =explore, the i Pig-meat, =parts of a pig eaten before being salted down. Pinch-bar, =a crowbar. Kentchurch and L. Pinianated, ^opinionated, obstinate, self conceited. Pink, = a chaffinch. N. Her. Pinsons, = pincers, Pionies, «.=peonies. Pessum, «.=peashauln peas. Kentchurd Physic, ^as aperient m Piefinch or Pierinch Piece, = I. A field, i contempt, as ' 'E( piece.' Piggin or Noggin, = used for carrying i cider to workmen. Note * It is customary at Herefoi ring one bell for abo bell. (4) To tell the Six strokes on each 1 WORDS AND PHRASES. 27 Plough, =a fall. ' I went such ^plough: N. W. Her. Plough, = The various parts of a plough are : Cosp, = that which is placed on the beam to regulate width and depth. Coulter, = the part used for cutting the ground and easing the share. Flay, = used in skimming the surface of foul land and turning it over. Share, = that part which bursts the soil in bottom of furrow. Sheal-board, =that which turns the soil over. Sock, = a ploughshare. Throck, = pronounced Drock, is the frame, now of iron, on which the share rests. Ashperton. Poche or Pooch, = to prick a hole in anything. Tretire. Pole-pitching, = setting up poles in a hop yard. Polering, «.=the ring or head of the scythe into which the snead is fitted. N. \\. Her. Ponger, =:to wander. ' His head was on the /^«^^r all night.' E. Poon or Pounn,=to pound, punch, or knock, as '•poon the door.' Sutton St. N. Poppy, = said of a man who wants to pass as a gentleman. ' Oh he can work well enough but is a bit of a poppy.' U. B. Pot, =a local measure (specially in Wor- cestershire) containing from 4^ to 5 pecks of fruit or vegetables. Potatoe stack, = a potatoe bury. Heref. Pot fruit, ^eating fruit, fit for sale and not for cider, &c. Pound, =pond. 'A mill pound,' is often used in Herefordshire. Tretire. Prawl,=:to patch or mend clothes. Tretire. Pretty well, = do or say. ' He dXA pretty well rate me.' Prills, = purls in a stream. E. Pimmerose, = primrose. Proceeding, j.=commencement. 'That was the first proceeding of the business.' Tretire. Prodigal, ^^■.=proud. 'Yie^z. prodigal sort of man.' N. W. Her. Prompt, ^^'.^fresh, of a horse. 'That coult be so prompt that I canna hould 'im.' Proper, = nice. ' That's /;v/^r.' Heref Public, =ia public house. Puck, ?'.=past tense of to pick. ' I like them shoes best as \ puck out first' Used also by hop pickers. ' We've puck the frummest on 'em.' Ashperton and Kington. Pug, ^ I. to pull, as a hay rick. 2. To pluck poultry. 3. Used metaphorically. ' He pugged his father dreadful,' /. ^., squandered his substance. Pulver,= to pilfer. Tretire. Punishment, =pain. Purgatory, = the receptacle for ashes under a grate. Upper Sapey. Purgy, = cross, surly, quarrelsome, and often=stuck up. Pure, = well or sound in health. 'How is your wife ? ' ' Her he pure thank 'e Sir' Sutton St. N. Put about, =to vex or worry. 'That put me about aboove a bit.' Puther, = to be disturbed, agitated, vexed, troubled. Pronounced like Mother. L. Put up,=as at an Inn. with, = bear patiently. Quabble, ;z.=confusion. 'My head's all of a quabble.'' E. 28 HEREFORDSHIRE Quacked or Queecked, t;.=squeeze. ' He quacked him against the wall,' ' I quecked him right and sharp.' N. W. Her. Quakers, = stich wort or quaking grass. Kentchurch. Quarter time, = quarantine. N. Her. Quat, z'.=to squat or crouch down. Common. Ouell, V. — of a hen crushing her chickens. '^ ' That ere black hen did quell most of her chicks in the nist' G. V. Quick, — I. hasty tempered. 2. Young hawthorn. Quiet, = well behaved, civil. Has a larger '^ signification than 'silent' in com- mending a person's character. ' A very quiet body.' Quietly, = gradually. 'It mends very ^ quietly,' i. e., there is very little improvement. Tretire. Quining. Corruption of coigning=:coign. Hence the name of the apple, Quining Apple. Or a mispronun- ciation of Queening (Apple). L. Quinnett or Quinel, ;?.=the wedge or nail fastening the blade to handle of a scythe. Ashperton. Monnow Valley. Quist or Quice, = woodpigeon. There is a common saying in Herefordshire 'Thee bist a queer quist,' i. e., a queer fellow. See Kivest. W. Her. Quithering,=talking or chattering low, whispering. N. Her. Quop,= throb with pain. Racket, = to stand the racket. 'Wool you do your work better or stand the racket,' i. e., take a good beating. Said by a farmer to his boy. E. Raddle, = red earth to mark sheep. There is a red-soiled hill near St. Michael's, Tenbury, called 'The Raddle Bank.' N. Her. Rail, =: to reel about. Rainified, =like rain. 'It blows rainified.' E. Raisty,:= rancid, as bacon. Rangle, = a wound, fester, or a wearisome rankling pain. ' My arm rangles so.' Orcop. Rare, = underdone meat. Reaming, = very fine. 'A reaming bed of onions.' E. Reasons, = senses. ' Out of his reasons' Tretire. Reck staddle, =rick stool. Recruit, = mend (of a gate). N. Her. Reens, = furrows, or the interval between the ridges of ploughed ground. When there is no necessity for such drainage the ridges are much wider and are called 'lands.' Ashperton. Refuse, =: refusal. Used particularly with reference to sales. Remeddy, = no help for it. Remetic,= an emetic. Rick barton or barten,=the fold yard. Canon Frome. Ridiculous, =scandalous and disgrace- ful. Tretire. Riff, = skin disease. Heref. Right, = ought. 'Farmer A has a rigid to pay his tax.' Tretire. Right, =downright. "Er's right \S\. this time.' Ring-beetle. See Beetle. Rip or Rype, «.=a four-sided strop for putting a fine edge on the scythe, fastened on the sneed. W. Her. Ripping, ^sharp, cutting, frost or cold. Road,=the right way or manner to do anything. Roamish, = i. smelling or tasting un- pleasantly. Tretire. 2. Active, adventurous. ' I feel much better, I feel quite roamish' Heref. Infirmary. WORDS AND PHRASES. 29 shocking.' Robbie, =in confusion or twisted. 'It Sauce, z'.=to abuse was all in a robble.' E, Ronk,=rotten, as timber, or far gone in growth, rank. * Roosling,=covering, as a hen her chickens. E. He sauced me ^ Ropi^,=stringy. Applied to bread and ^^ cider. J^Roughet,=a rough breaky meadow. ' Archenfield. Or a field with bushes, bracken, or briars. L. Rubber, =a whetstone for a scythe. Ruck, = I. a heap. 2. A rut of a road. Pronounced 'rowks.' 3. A fold or crease. Tretire. Rudge,=a ridge in a ploughed field. '^ ^Ruination, =ruin. Rumbly. This word is in Lady V. H.'s copy, without any explanation, j Rump, = a young rabbit. Kentchurch. S. The addition of the letter Sio names of places, and to all kinds of names, is very general, as Dillini- Church, Uptoni' Church, or objections. Sa,=for save. 'Thirty sa one,' /. ? ' T' year,' lately or this year. ' T' week.' ' T' day.' G. V. and Archenfield. Them, = for those. Thern or Theirn, = 'Are all these your children ? ' ' Och, not all on 'em, our naibour, him's got a lot, most on 'em be theirn.'' When a recent Bishop of London, with a family, married a widow also with a family, and there came yet another family, the juveniles were distinguished as His'n, Her'n, and Theii-'n. Llanwarne. These, = this. Thesun,=: these. Thickun,=:for this or that one. Canon Pyon. = this one. Th soft as in Thee. Thiller, ^the shaft horse in a team. Things (meaty things), =ra term applied to cattle and sheep. Think on, =to remember. Thrashel, =a flail. E. Thrape,=to kill small birds. Of an absent Sunday scholar. ' He's gone thr aping: N. Her. Thrave, =:tvventy-four boltings of straw. See Drave. Thripples or Riples,= moveable rails on a cart or waggon. Lit. Three poles. Aylton. Throck. See Plough. Thunder Berries, = the large heavy drops that fall from a thunder cloud. Sutton St. N. Thurn,= thorn. Tice, :=to entice. Tid, :=a horse who prances about, is restive. Also of a child who will not sit still. A Pixley woman said to her child, ' Don't be tid: Tiddle, = i. to make much of, to fondle. 2. To kick gently, as at football. Tidier, «., or Tiddly, adj.=z. tiddly lamb — one brought up by hand. Common. Tidy, = respectable; also good or well. 'A tidy chap.' 'A tidy lot o' currans.' Tilter, :=a form of tilt, 'as a tittering table.' Archenfield. ' Tilth, =a freshly turned furrow. I Note * Tanging Bees. At the time of swarming it is usual for the owner to tang his bees. This performance is supposed to confer upon the owner a right to follow them should they migrate. " I could follow them," said an Ashperton man lately, " even if they went into the Queen's drawing room." — J.M. But if this noise be not made the claim of the loser is not admitted by others on their own premises. This old practice is rapidly passing away. WORDS AND PHRASES. 35 Time a orone,=: common expression. Heref. Tine, v.=lo mend a gap or glat, or bind up a hedge. G. V. Tines, «.=teeth of harrows. Tinnit, ;z.=stuif to mend a gap in a hedge. G. V. Tissucking or Tussiky,=:dry and hacking, as applied to a cough. Archenfield. Tisty tosty, = child's ball of cowslips on worsted. Titter, = to be shaken up and down as on the bough of a tree, or to totter. Titterstone, Totterliill. Tittering, =a swing (the act of). 'Come and have a tittering.' Sutton St. N. Tommy, = food, lunch. 'Bill, what ha' you got in your frail ? ' ' My tommy. ' Of Welsh 'tamad,' a bit. Pro- nounced tz^mmy. Tomsarah or Timsarah, «.=a light gambo or cart. W. Her. Top-and-tail,:=to take off roots and tops from turnips, &c. Top Up, = to finish a rick at the top. Torrel,=a simpleton, same as cadow. E. Tosticated,= intoxicated, puzzled, or confused. Tretire. Also tossed about, disturbed in mind. Tot, ^a small niug or cup. U. B. and Sollershope. Towtree, = horse chestnut. The Toivtree is the sign of an inn at Burghill. Towardly, =:well behaved. ' A uncom- mon towardly pony ; some is so frangy and untowardly.' G. V. Traffic, = a track or passage made by rats or game. Traipse, =: tread in, tramp. Hence a dirty tramping woman. Tram or Tramming, =a framework for supporting casks. Tremenduous, = tremendous. Heref. Trig, = a gutter or small ditch. N. Her. Trig out, = to mark out as in defining boundaries. Trolly, = a low four-wheeled waggon, without sides. Trow, = a pig's trough. Trowse, «.=loppings of trees, hedge stuff with which to mend a hedge. ^V. Her. Tugers, =rods used in thatching. Kentchurch. Tump, n. and ?^=a heap of anything, as tumps of soil on the road side ; or earthworks of considerable size, as the Tumps at Wormbridge, Back- bury, King's Caple, or Callow's Tump near Belmont. There is also a place called Turkey Tump at Llanwarne.* Tun dish,=:a funnel or tun pail. Tup, =a ram. Turmits, = turnips. Turn, = ' to get the turn^ to pass the crisis or shew signs of amendment. ' 'Er's got the turn on it now.' Hence they say 'to be on the mending hand.' Tush,=to drag or push along with diffi- culty, as timber. Bredwardine. Tussock, =a tuft of dry or coarse grass. Twerten,:=stir up. 'Get a bit of a twig and twerten him up. E. Note * There are some old traditionary lines Also another set- Luston short and Luston Long, At every house a tiiinp of dung, Some two, some three. The dirtiest place you ever did see. Hope under Dinmore and if Dinmore should fall, The Devil will have Hope and Dinmore and all. 36 HEREFORDSHIRE Tweselty,= poor looking. E. Twirty, =: saucy. 'He was quite twirty about it.' E. Twivelling, = ploughing for the first time. Tretire. Twy-bill, = a tool like a pick axe, cutting two ways with ends three inches broad ; one cuts in a line with the handle and the other at right angles to it. Ashperton. Twy-fallow,= cross ploughing. Orleton. Tyndton,=:a place bound up, fenced in. Archenfield. Ulster throat, ^ulcerated throat. N. Her. Unaccountable, =very, uncommonly, surprisingly. The first syllable is pronounced 07i. Uncommon, =very much. A boy re- marked of a girl whose charms he felt, 'She takes my eye uncof?imon.^ Sutton St. N. Undeniable, = excellent, good. Underminded,= apparently a combina- tion of the two notions of under- handed and evil minded. Archenfield. Unforbidden, = wilful, unruly, 'An unforbidden child.' ' The most onforbiddenest ronkest young rascal as ever was.' L. and Heref. Ungainly, = unhandy, inconvenient, awkward. Lady V. H.'s copy. U nhonest, = dishonest. Unket, = lonely, solitary. L, Unkind, = bad, unfavourable. Specially as of crops or fruit. Unlucky, = troublesome, mischievous. N. Her. U nproper, = indecent. Untidy trick, =a dishonourable action. Up, = to get up; signifying activity or vigour. ' He upped and got him a stick.' ' He up and hit him.' L. and N. Her. Up-hill, = north, specially applied to wind. Upperter, =taller, as of women. Canon Pyon. Upon times, =: now and then. Uprit, fl'^'.=upright, i. e., a proud man. Upsides with, = tit for tat. Urchin, = a hedgehog. U vvermost, = uppermost. Vally, = I. the felloe of a wheel. 2. A litter of pigs. Clodock. Vails, = perquisites. In former times when a man was hired as a cow- herd, he arranged with his master to have a fee or tip (vail) when he took a cow or a pig from home ; it was his recognised perquisite. L. Veldey-bird,=a field fare. Sutton St. N. Vessel, = a cider cask. Vitrous,= inveterate, bitter, implacable. Void, = empty, of a vacant house. N. Her. Ventur'some, := adventurous. Wad,=a small heap or cock in the hay field. Wallies orWollies, bridges into which hay is raked before being put in cocks and then carried. Possibly from ' Vallum.' Upper Sapey. Wallowish,= faint or sickly tasted. Wankling,=: weakly. 'A little wankling child.' Tretire. Warm, e'=to beat. Pronounced like arm. Warmship, = warmth. St. Michael's, Tenbary. WORDS AND PHRASES. 37 Warned, := warrant. ^ 1 ufarn'd you.^ E. Wassail, = messing; spoken of fowls messing mowing grass. E. Water-sweet, = washed clean. Tretire. Wave, z^.=to fail. 'The poor 'ooman do tvave sadly.' G. V. Weany, = i. said of a sick, weakly child. Archenfield 2. Weeny from Scotch wee. Heref. Welk, = withered. 'The baby seems very poor and welk.^ Heref Well-ended. A term applied to hay ricks which have been closely pulled and neatly finished. Hay of the best quality is usually described thus in Western Counties. Welly, = well nigh or nearly. 'The field is 13 acres welly. ^ Weobly and N. Her. Wench, ^ a girl. In general use. Went, =gone. ' I'd a' ivent myself.' Werrit or Worrit, := one of an anxious fidgetty disposition. W'esh beetle, =a wooden article, spade shaped, used to beat wet linen with on washing block. W. Her. Wesh, =wash. The receptacle for pig's food is usually called 'the wesh tub.' Tretire and U. B. What for, =:a sound threshing. Used as a substantive. ' If ever thee dost that again, depend upon 't I'll give thee ivhatforJ Llanwarne. E. Whipstitch, =as when apples or quick are planted in a careless irregular manner. U. B. and L. Whisket, :=a gardening basket. White fellums (a disease) =: white films. Kentchurch. Whosen, = whose. Whossuck,=:cough. '■Yiox whossucked and ridded wonderful, /. ^., coughed up.' Heref Wig. An old fashioned cake or bun. Leominster was famed for wigs. * Wik,=week. 'Last Wednesday was a wik.' Wild, trough; said of a rough coarse- grained lump of stone. Orcop. Windering,^not doing well. 'The onions come thin and windering.^ E. Winnow, = a sound given forth by a horse when expecting or wishing for food or water. Winter stuff, = borecole, savoys, and other greens. Wires, = the runners of strawberry plants or of hops. Withies, = osiers or cuttings from willow trees. In some parts withies mean bands cut from the Mountain Ash for thatching or tying up faggots. Orleton. Wollop,=to beat. Lacing or belting also in use. Woolly-bears, := caterpillars; bears or oollies if hairy, and 'grubs' if smooth. W^ombling,= clumsy and irregular motion in walking. Archenfield. Woont, Want, or Hoont,=a mole. Woot, =wilt thou. ' Lend me thy knife woot^ or 'oot, or 'ootl. W. Her. Word, = to ^word a person over' is to reprove him. Tretire. Worsen, = to grow worse. Wound, =a sore on the body. Pro- nounced as round. Wozzle,= to twist. ' Wozzled d^ionX..' E. Wum or Oaum, = home. Wyzzel, =:top ridge of straw in thatching a rick. Kentchurch. Note * IVig; Cakes. These cakes are still made at Hereford and Leominster. Formerly they were held in great repute, but are now enquired for only by old-fashioned folk. Messrs. Bomford and Lee (formerly Alcott, or Husbands), 46, Commercial Street, Hereford, make them. Also Mr. Beard, School Lane, Leominster. 38 HEREFORDSHIRE WORDS AND PHRASES. Y. is very commonly prefixed as Yap= heap ; Yent=are you not ; Yent it?=is it not. Eardisland=:Yersland. Eardisley=Yersley. Eardishope=Yarsop. E. Yander, = yonder. Yar, =hair.* Yarb, v.=X.o cut roughly. ' Its badly yarVd.' E. Yarbs, «.=:herbs. Yarning, = staring. 'Stand yarning there.' E. Yars,= hares. Yat, =a gate made of interlaced twigs. Thus a local riddle, — It opens like a barn door, And shuts like a yat. You may riddle all the day, And canna riddle that. Answer — A pair of stays. Yaup, =to yelp as a dog. Yen't, =are you not. Yent it?=is it not ? E. Yocksing,=: stomach heaving. 'He suffers so from yocksing. ' Sutton St. N. Yon, = that or yonder. 'Turn down by yon house.' Yonk, ?'.=to skulk, sneaking off as a fox. E. Yop, =nape. ' He's got the dog by the yop of his neck.' E. Yow or Yoe, =pron. of Ewe. Yud or Yead,=head. Yumbuk, = hymn book. Zeedum, = I saw them. W. Her. Zummut, := something. ^. 71 I (r Note * From High Lane, Bromyard. A person in this neighbourhood told me that he was once so frightened by a Ghost while going through a Churchyard at night that every " Yar on his yead stud an ind." The ghost turned out to be a sheep. Eppenbiy. Also, := all but. 'Have you finished'? Fear, = to frighten, E, 'Yes also that,' / ^., all but that. FlIdReter, = ' going a flidgeter,' i. e., Used ^frequently in W. Her. and ^taking a flying leap. W. Her. „ Ford, = words terminating thus are pro- Buti, =ito stammer. ' Buffing Billy.' ' 'Er nounced as ' fut,' thus :— buffs a bit.' L. Hereford Herefut. Blouse, = pollen of grass, or the mites Mordiford Mordifut. in old cider. Kentchurch. Ludford Ludfut. Blunderbush, = a stumbler. 'I am Whitefoot Whitefut such a blunderbush in the darL^^ ^^^^ heads, =burnett, a plant. ^ ' ' Kentchurch. jDraPfeant, = bombastic, a whiffling fel- tt j- . , /• , , x low. 'A mighty whiffler goes HardlStraw,=ashrew(^. earth shrew.) before.' Shakespeare. Kentchurch. Hard nap, =a shrewd, clever fellow. Caffle,=a ravel of silk or worsted. p^ Town of Hay is frequently spoken Kentchurch. ^ of as 'the Welsh Hay.' Caof=z: the broken stump of a bough. -.^ ,, , ..17 >• Kentchurch. ^one, = thee hast got the hone, t. e., you „,. , are lazy. Heref Lhiming, = of a barrel, the projecting ends. Kentchurch. Kippin Crows, =is sometimes called Chin-cough, =: whooping cough. 'bird squelling.' E. N. Her. Leathering bat, = the general name for A Chip OUt,=:a quarrel, a fall out. 'A the common bat. drop out.' N. Her. t . , ^ , . , Liars, = lawyers. Lompayable, = 'Your dog isnt com- payable till Jan. i.' N. Her. Lout, = a lazy, drunken, scampmg, good /^ J Ji r 1 1 1 c A for nothing fellow. Lruddly,=:as ot a mackerel sky. 'A ^ cruddlv sky means twenty-four Lukestet,=iLuke's-tide. The season of hours neither wet nor dry.' St. Luke's Day in October. Lukestet Monnow Valley. Fair at Bridgnorth. N. Her. Cutten, :=:a^'. of cut. ' A cutten foot.' Lunge, =to ill-treat animals by throwing N. Her. stones or beating with sticks. N. Her. Dwarfs' money, = term applied by the Nibby,=a foal or colt. E. common people to ancient coins _ ■" found at Kenchester and elsewhere. Ninetedum,:=corruption of Anointed W. Her. one, as applied to a 'gallus' fellow. False, := not good bottomed. ' K false horse that sweats at the sight of Nogman, = clumsy, awkward, fumbling, the collar.' E. Also of a lazy man. when at work. 40 APPENDIX. Oaf sometimes means merely stupid. There is an amusing local story of a young man who walked a consider- able distance to see his sweetheart; she failed to keep his appointment. He was wearing a pair of creaking boots, and when describing his return journey said ' I did fancy as um kept a saying Oaf ! Oaf ! all the very way.' Overlight and Overnight, = the night before, between the evenings, /. otX.^>oo<- The following list contains the names of horses which are in general use. Every team in the County has some of them. Blackbird Bonny Bounce Bowler Boxer Brandy Burt (Albert) Captain Charley Darby Diamond (pronounced Diament)* Dobbin Dragon Duke Flower Gilbert Jerry Jolly Lion Lively Short Smiler Snipp Spanker Surley Tommy Venter Whitefoot The following names are not so generally used : — Alexander Mettle Ball Miller Beauty Piert Blossom Poppet Brawn Prince * Buck Punch Buntin Queen Ann Butter Ranter Chieftain Rattler Colonel Rock Doctor Rose Farmer Rufus Goodbird Scot Jack Sharp Julia Strawberry Jarbie Tippler Jewel Traveller Lester Virgin Major Willing Merryman Note See Dr. Trench "English PaU and Present, diamond. 1859." Diamant is the old spelling (and preferable) to the modern 42 fIDi9ceUancou6 pbrasce aa^ Savings. Local Sayings. Dirty Cowarne, Wooden Steeple, Crack'd bell, Wicked people. Lusty Tarrington, Lively Stoke, Beggars at Weston, Thieves at Woolhope. There is another version : — ^ Dirty Tarrington, Lousy Stoke, &c. Acton Beauchamp, the poorest place in all the nation, A lousy parson, a nitty clerk, and a shabby congregation. Bells. " A Dish and a Spoon," say the bells of Bish Frome. " Trip a Trap a Trencher," say the bells of Lemster. " Come old man and shave yer beard," say the bells of Bromyard. Poor Weobly, proud people, low church, high steeple. A Herefordshire comparison — " Shines like Worcester agen Glos'ter." There is a saying formerly used at the time of the Triennial Festival Meetings, to the effect that each city is distinguished for — Gloucester .... Rank. Worcester .... Wealth Hereford Good Music. A burden mother is better than a golden father. Hurden, a coarse holland. So=a rough hard working mother. May day — pay day. As long as the Oak and Ash grow. Proverbially, Always. Let Easter come early or let it come late. It 'uU sure to make the old cow quake. Proverbially, Easter a critical time. " Give the time of day," or " pass the time of day." A common expression, denoting that the speaker had merely wished "good morning or evening," or used a few civil words without further parley. Expressions from Orcop. A murrainous smell — observation made to a medical man. They're sore scholars — said by an old woman who had been teased by the school children. Hark at she — said to a young lady who had been telling a ridiculous story. He's a romancer — spoken of a butcher who praised his meat extravagantly. Its gone abroad — spoken of a carriage, the head of which had given out. We're all in a mullock — house dirty and disorderly. MISCELLANEOUS PHRASES AND SAYINGS. 43 An old woman in Pixley was asked how her daughter was going on. She replied, " I think she's on the mend, for the doctor's drugs are beginning to embrace her." In thanking one for their hospitality they say " thank you for my good place." Rowlston. Old phrase — "Such an one would cut big thongs out of another's leather," /. 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