P/75 ^ M A DIALOGUE DEVONSHIRE DIALECT. A DIALOGUE IN THE DEVONSHIRE DIALECT, (IN THREE PARTS) By a LADY: TO WHI^H IS ADDED A GLOSSARY, BY J. F. PALMER. "... That tint of ancient phrase and that naivete, which we have for ever lost, and which we like to recollect once had an existence."— Curiosities of LiterrJuiie^ ^ ^ . < . .-. ' LONDON: LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN, GREEN AND LONGMAN; AND P. HANNAFORD, EXETER. 1837. • * • -m • • • • v** • I • • «/ • • Prinud by Xichard Taylor, Red Lion Court. Fleet TO THOMAS COPELAND, ESQ., F.R.S. My dear Sts, I OUGHT to apologize for connecting your name with the present production ; but I am unwilling to forgo the first public opportunity which has occurred of expressing my respect for your character, and acknowledging the reception of a long series of fa^ vour8,from the first commencement of my prof es- sional studies. I should also be deficient in gratitude if I did not acknowledge the obligations which I owe to you for your example and constant friendly assistance on various occasions. I remain, my dear Sir, Your faithful and obliged Servant, JAMES F. PALMER. 38, Golden Square, Jan. 1, 1837. M24874: Digitized by the Internet Arciiive in 2007 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/dialogueindevonsOOpalmrich ADVERTISEMENT. 1 HE following Dialogue, which was written, about the middle of the last century, by a sister of the late Sir Joshua Reynolds, was designed to illustrate the most striking pecu- liarities of the Western dialect. In this ob- ject it appears completely to have succeeded, so that no apology seems necessary for pre- senting it to the public. The Glossary which accompanies it was compiled during a late visit to Devonshire, which the Author was under the necessity of making for the benefit of his health. It applies only to the northern parts of the Vm ADVERTISEMENT. county, and will probably be found defective in many particulars. The Author's object, however, will be fully answered if it serves as a nucleus for a more complete collec- tion. A DEVONSHIRE DIALOGUE BETWEEN TWO COUNTRY ;PEOPLE. F.IRST PART. Rab and Bet meet. Rab coming over a stile. Rab. Zo, Bet, how is't ? How de try ? Bbt. Gracious ! Rab, you gusht ma. Rab. Why, Is did'n think thee wart sa zoon a-galled : but where hast a be thicca way ? where com'st vro ? Bet. I 've be to vickrage to vet a book for dame. The passon zeth Is may read an, if Is don't fouss en, nor make dog's- ears o'an. Rab. Pithee now, how dist vend time to read ? Bet. Why I lost none, but shurty and work the harder, and don't stand dodeling whan thare's a book to be had. B 2 A DEVONSHIRE DIALOGUE. Rab. O cryal ! Bet, I'd a geed ever 8a much if thee had but zeed the passon in the hood. Bet. Whan ? Rab. Why a leet rather. Thee cast'n think what hanticks and items a had ; naddling his head, drowing out his hands, and blasting up his ees to the gurt oaks ; than tellingto hiszell, and bamby out hard; .( it^z .gc^odger knowth what of venerable oaks, and agei» past ;) and whan a had greep'd down A WftUige of jnuflSrCL quat down upon the mors of the tree and toz'd! et, and zed words to ct, and yean*d et away, an zeem'd in a brown stiddy. poaching 68 steck into the ground. I watch 'd en to zee iv a made any zercles or gally-traps ; if a had, I'd zoon a be go. Wull, to last, up a rak'd all to wance and vetch'd a vege away to thicca ploshett» ware you and I zeed the jack-a-lantem, and took a bard out of the springal that little maester bad a-teel'd : a broke the twine an took the bard in 68 hand as buys do a shear-a-muze, whan they say Shear-a-muze, shear-a-muze, vlee over me head ; an a told way en as thoft a war telling to a Christian, and zed a shud go an do zum o'at, I doan't knaw what 'twaz, and the poor thing was in such hast to do what a was bid, that a whisk'd away with half his arrant. O gimmeny ! what a A DBVONSHIBE DIALOGUE. 3 pitte 'tis ! 'tis a thousand pittes, vor a is a hover good man. Bet. Po, a fig's-end ! An zo you zim a is maz'd, I'll warnis; — no more lookeedezee than you be. I say maz'd akether. Rab. Na, na, don't be a nift : I zay no more than all the parish zeth, 'facks. I 'm zure I 'd crope on my hands and knees to do en good at midnart as •con as midday. Well but pithee, Bet, what dist thee make o' at than ? Bet. Why I be of dame's meend, that one of his laming vendeth oceans of things that pleaze | en that other vokes see nort in : I, and may be that gall en too, and put en out a zorts, that other vokes make nort o'a; and more zo, mayhap 'tis . ea way to zay es prayers out a book. Rab. Like anuw, sure. Bet. I'd a gurt meend to have up and told the 1 passon just now-raret what a rant-a-come-scour we ha had to our houze to day. Poor dame is amost off her legs ; turmoil'd to death between wan thing and t'ether: quite a cow'd out. Rab. How happ'd thecca tantarra than? Bet. Why you must know that the puggen end of the linney neist to the peg's-looze geed way and was ruseing down : maester was staunding by b2 4 A DBVON8HIRB DIALOGUE. the tallut whan the cob-wall sluer'd away all to wance and made such a sture, that a come heal'd in brist and grute. Bet, siss a, go vet me the latin cup of best drink, the pilam is a go down my droat ; I'm just a mickel'd. (You are sure a hath always some pertence or worther for gulging in a morning.) Well, dame was to brexfast, and had jist weeted out her first dish, and zed to an. You had better drink tay, John Hog. Barn your tay, siss a, 'tis the ruin of the nation ; I wish 'twas cry'd treason to drink ort but organ tay ; and way that, a witherly up with his voot and yand over the tea-kittle and fiosh'd out all the watter, takes up the tea-pot and stram-bang thecca go'th out of the winda, and tore I dunna how many quarrels ; a shod the cream and slot • ter'd it all about, and O dear me ! the bread and butter that many a poor soul woud a jump'd abou ground vor, lied smeeching and frizzing in the vire. I snatch' d up the sugger and clapt et away, and ^uged away the tea-tackle, or a woud a hot all off the board and tore it all in shords ; a slat and scat the things about as thof the godger was in an. Wan wid a thort ha was begeged. Rab. Od rabbet en, if I war dame I'd clow the joulter head o'an; I'd zee and break the lowering A DEVONSHIRE DIALOGUE. 6 lubber of his untowerdly fraxious tricks. What did her zay to et, good-now? Bet. Nort, but zift, an look'd as thof her was tjuealing away ; than pray a call'd her a purting glum-pot, zed her'd a got the mulligrubs, and out a murch'd muttering, and slam'd the door arter en as thof a wid a tore down the dams. Rab. Gimmeny ! would any but a crowdling zokey take it to be kerpt over in this manner by sich a piggish lubby. I did'n think dame was such a zoft and vare to tie. Bet. O cryal ! Rab ; her is'n the totle you zim, but thinks iv her was to begin to aggie way en there wid be no hoa. Dear hart ! that ever such a vitty tidy wive shud vail to his lott : such a stu- erdly body, that can tern her hand to any kindest thing, and thof her looketh so puny and pinikin, her lowersteth and worketh so long as ort is to be do : cleanlyness her zeth is next to godlyness : her lov'th to zee every thing in print. I'm zure her hath no junketings or floistering doings, nor nare bugg'th o'er the dreckstool to zee any gape's- nest from week's-end to week's-end. A drap of tay and a book is all the comfort her hath, poor zoul. I wish her was'n such a houze-cat, but wud go more abroad; 'twid do her good. 6 A DEVOKSHIRB DIALOOVB. Rab. I 've hard her had a power of sweetharta whare her come vro. Hard to go dm tlie hood and take a crooked steek at last. Bet. ITie jail take her father, say I, 'twas his doing ; I did'n care if the old tantarabobs had'n : a geed a good stub way her, too : I think a was a ginghed. Kab. a huges heave-up truly if her had'n had a farding to marry such a stingy hunks : such a purse-proud hectoring braggadocia. Bet. O me! Bevore her married her was as peart as a burd. I meend whan a brort her home : her look'd as cherry as a crap of fresh apple blooth ; but now, dear soul, her's like a daver'd rose, — sweet in the midst o'at. Rab. I, the blue of the plum be a go zure. Bet. Her mother came way her, and a comely bowerly woman her was, as wan wid wish to zee, and a thorra paced huzzy, and wid'n tern her back to any boddy for making pots and puddings and standing pies. I coud'n abide her vather, — a shoul- a-mouth'd, hatchet-faced, bandy-legg'd wink-a- puss ; vidgetting about arter wan : a boddy coud'n tern a dish for en. Rab. Crymaces ! I wish that instead of dame, thee maester had a had thecca scare-crow tagster A DEVONSHIRE DIALOGUE. 7 Mall Teazy: her's another guess homan than dame ; none of your mealy-mouth'd ones, but tit for tat ; wid a geed en as good as he brort, and a laugh'd and tack'd her hands at en, whan a was in his vagaries. Thecca spitfire woud a fitted en to aT. Bet. I sure, that her wid, way a zissarara. But had a ever a simathing arter that harum-scarum ? Rab. Is fath, that a had, and a wanted me pray to be es gubs, thank en ; but es uncle strat the match. Much-how a coud leke zuch a zokey molkit, such an unsoutherly malkin. Bet. Her come vrom a good havage, — the very daps of her mother, — another such a haggagen, maundering, hawk-a-mouth'd trub : take mun every way, I don't think they have their peer. Rab. Mall hath'n, I'm zure, for a mirchivus hizzy : 'twas'n for want of a good will the nasty litter legtrapes had'n a blow'd a coal betwext you an me Bet. Bet. I sure, very true. Wull soce, I must trudge home ; I'm a guess'd I've a be lack'd. Rab. Why, stay a crum : I want to tell way ye. Wan I twitch'd tha by the gown yesterday arternune coming out a church, why didn't 'e look 8 A DBV0N8HIRB DIALOGUE. about ? I vmd a treated tha upon some special buns and toping ale at the Pigeons. How did I lost tha ? Bet. Dame and I did'n go the leach-way, but auver the vreath and down along the lane, and made the best of our way home. Good-now, dame can't abide such may-games and highdelows sab- bath days : gracious ! what a hurly-burly 't was ; how the vokes veas'd out a church, higgcld-a- piggel, helter-skelter ; such jetting, dreving and dringing, — I thort a shud a be squat to death. Well, I'll ne'er go to church again of a Rail Zin- day, I '11 be bound vor 't. Our zeat was as full as a coud stow, whan who shud come in but Joice Joland, — thecca gurt vat zess and Ruth Ramson, and wedg'd theresells in, panking and whizing, way their blowzy faces as rid as roost-cocks, tit- tering and vanning way their hatts as thof 'twas cruel hot, buldering, quilstering weather. Rab. That was to show their high-kick'd loady heads, pnnk'd out in the tip of the mode, way a lamming wallige of hair bevore and a vumping nug beheend, and a race of rory-tory ribbons, stuff 'd out leek so many pincushons. Bkt. How taring fine they were ! A DEVONSHIRE DIALOGUE. 9 Rab. They cut a vlash, that they did; but their vrowsy bacon vaces bant vit to play tricks way. I long'd to het men a good slat in the chucks. Bet. Cryalme! how times be alter'd ! their mo- thers ware their own hair, foap'd back way a vor- rid cloth : if they were to peep out of their graves, they wid'n know their own children so transmoge- refied way their vripery, gausy gare, and their fallals to their elbows, and their vlypick'd, vlimsy, skittering gowns, reeping in the mux or wagging in the weend. Rab. Well but. Bet, wot'n go up to Church Town to rail an zee the wraxlin ? everybody keep'th holyday to day : the crowder and a whole gubby of men be go aready : thee shet dance for the cap. Bbt. I can't go, zure. Rab. Wull, very wull. Bbt. You be a-purt now. Rab. Fay! Bet, I'm a-guest thee wot'n meend my purting : why, but tell ma than why thee cast'n go. Bet. Don't be so pettish, and I wol : why, I be going to Thatchcott to zee my old gonmar. Rab. Won wot go ? how long vurst? 10 ▲ DSVONSHIRE DIALOGUE. Bet. I can't tell tha : I've a gurt many chures to do vust, and here be I driling away my time. Rab. Pithee don't be spare about men: I'll meet tha here a leet odd« of two o'clock. ▲ DEVONSHIRB DIALOGUE. II SECOND PART. Rab and Bet. Rab. I was a- guest thee wist'n come as it began to be mixly. Bet. I'se can't zay I'z much leek to walk in such vady, hazy weather. Rab. 'Twill break up bamby : lookee dist zee, there's blue eneugh in the skey to make thee a pocket. Bet. Po ! your eyes mystry. P.AB. I can zee that thee hast a cruel pretty gown on : 'tis an auver modest colour : spick and span new, is'n et ? you must pay Biveredge. Bet. Bet. I zay zo too : why, I had'n last Ridmas : come pray don't you clum en. Rab. Is'n a crim a-foust, not a voul vinger upon en : but how chonce I ne're zet sight upon en be- vore? Bet. Why, a nare zeeth zin, you must know, but upon choice times. I zim we had best keep along the lane; 'tis cruel poachy in the field; be- sides, thicca bull yender look'th zo. 12 A DBV0N8HIRB DIALOGUE. Rab. Why thee dist'n think a will bush tha mun? Bet. Odds ! I want trust en. Rab. I'll go and veass en away. Bbt. Oh ! no, no don't, for vear a shud gee tha a poke : do but zee : dith'en a look for all the gude in the world leek my maester ? Rab. Co, you pixy. Wull, but how go'th et at home ? pritty vitty ? or e'en zo zo ? Bet. O no, nort but jowering and maundering all this day : whan a come home to dinner, the dog run out to the hatch, tweedling es tail to meet en. Stand awar way tha, siss a, — an a geed en a voot that made en yall agen. Well, thort I, we shall ha et bamby, and zo a had sure eneugh. A was rannish vor es dinner, and eet zo ekeemish that nort would please en forzooth ; — his met was zam- zaw'd and a bowl'd to jouds ; and no marvel, why did a lackee so long and make ma keep et zim- mering in the crock ? He zed his bread was a-clit and pindy ; the dumpling was claggy ; the cheese was a-buck'd and vinned ; the cider was as thick as puddle and had a vinegar tang. Rab. Zo, what next ? Bet. Why, the ale was worse ; — that was a- prill'd, was maukish, dead as dish-watter ; a had A DEVONSHIRK DIALOOUE. 13 as leve drink the addle gutter, when, to be zure, the fob was abu the cup : well, a made a shuret to gulk down a quart o'at, bad as 'twas, and eat a good sliver of vlesh and a luncheon of pudding. Ot, quotha to dame, glumping eet ? zo it sim you are a-purt with your meat ; I, I, do ye : but I *11 eat fire if you am't had one fosy or other, and now you be a-quat you have no stomach make-wise, and this is your orts a-fried up for me; what clibby cauch iz et ? a may ream et a mile : I' 11 eat none o'at : and away a jet the cow-heels in a pet. I told en, but that whether a know et or no, that my dame was abu doing ort in hugger-mugger. What then, siss a, was all that hurry-scurry vor whan I came in ? To take up your dinner, says I. Is to be zure, says he. I have zummet to zay to you, Mrs. Prate-apace, an a glow'd upon ma : I find you be such a blab, that there iz'n the leastest, kindest thing do in my house but you blaze et over the parish; you must tell every living soul that I was bosky and vall'd into the mud-pool, must ye dem ? Rab. Hot, did a zure anew ? Bet. Is sure, that a did, and the stink-a-puss woud a been huddled had'n dame and I tugg'd hsurd to hall en out ; he'd no stroil to help hisself. c 14 A BEVONSUIRB DIALOOUE< Why, quoth I to en agen, you want offer to zay 8o! me tell o*at! I ne'er squek't a word o'at. You tell a stramming fib, says he. Just then zom- l)ody dump'd to door, and in stump'd the old kicking Winkingham. Odds ! thinks I, I'll be to meets with ye : zo I went vore-raret to the old man : Oood-now getfer, said I, did I tell you that maester was drunk last Friday and veil into the mud-pool, and that dame and I lugg'd en out ? The ould man grizzled : No sure, lovy, zed he, I ne'er had the leastest inkling for such a thing ; this is the first time fegs. — How sheepish a look't ! — Who tells the gurtest fibs now, said I ? Rab. Fore George, you wicked en, you wur tbare quits way en. Bbt. I thort I'd be np way en gap or to stile. Rab. I shud a host way laughing. BsT. No laughing sport for poor Batt : he clap- per-claw'd en finely. Batt heard that maester was in his tantarums and had a been up in his chamber looking down dru the squinches in the planching, and was skulking out o' door wan maester glimps'd en and veil aboard en like a bull-dog. Here, you rapscallion-ragamuffin, where be you slinking to ? 'twas you trapping auver head, was it ? what did you there michard ? ods-wenderekins I speak; I'll A DBVONSBIRE DIALOGUE. 15 dawl thee jaws for thee : an way that a geed en zich a whister-clister as made his eyes strike vire. Rab. The old smoker take the glittish gorbelly pig ! I wish some one wid maul he well, — a slou- dring lubber ! Ods dang et, I wish I had the trimming o'an, I'd larrup en to the true ben. Bet. O Jaykle! this was but a vlee-bite; iv you did but zee how he will fulsh and thump en, an the leet windle ne'er blubbereth or weeneth, but look'th pithest and sif th. 'Tis eneugh to make a boddy's hart ache to zee the poor wise- more, in his leet scrimp, short jacket, like a bard that isn't flish, a-dared up in the morning by peep o'day to trounch in the mux arter the bosses, — squash, squash, — shatted up to the huxens in plid. Rab. I zeed en one day, — the innocent face o'an like bassam, an es poor hands plimm'd up like pumples way chilbladders, his hair shivering an end way the weend, and a drap hanging to es nose like a concable. Bet. I, wan a com'th in, shiv'd way the cold, a can't come nare a blunk o' vire : an, may be, nort but a crum o'dry bread vor his supper. Rab. No wonder a look'th so therle. Wan a was bound out, a was a perty strugg'd boy. Well soce, nobody knowth to whose stake their children c2 16 A DBVONSHIRB DIALOGUE. may come. He was the nestle-draft, an coud but jist tottle about whan his mother died. Her, poor homan, took by upon the death of her husband, and never gooded arter. Bkt. I made shift to lam en to read and say es prayers. Wan day a was kneeling to my knee an zaying artcr me, " Give us this day our daily bread," a ream'd es neck, way es sweet begging eyes, and zed saft in my ear, maan't es ask for a crum of butter upon et ? I hugg'd en in : My precious lamb, quoth I, be a good boy, and you want lack butter upon your bread. Pretty soul ! a made rare gammet vor us last neart. There was a whole rally of us at the Pigeons to wance, come tor burm, and his maester was a-palavering away about religion as a always doth, whan he 's half a-go. Come yender, zeth he to Batt; stand vore and pit your hands behind your back, and zay the chief end of man : — who made tha ? Batt nadded es head, and zed, God. What did God make tha vor ? speak, mumchance ; hot did God make tha vor? hot dist stand digging thee head and stuttering zo for } Batt look'd up so harmless, and zed, To carry dung to Cro where. Good sure, what a hullabaloo they zet up and zed a was a fule. I was ready to blake way A DEVONSHIRE DIALOGUE. 17 laughing. Es maester look'd brinded upon en : You drumble-drone-dunder-headed-slinpole, if I had a good smart switch in my hand, I 'd twack thee till I made thee twine like an angletwitch. A was so mad as a scoff j—es lips bever'd agen. 18 A DBV0N8HIRB DIAL0G17K. THIRD PART. Rab and Bet. Rab. JUt bevore candle -teening the passon peep'd in upon us to pat us in meend 'twas Zin- day nart, and Hog began vor to tell about the wickedness o'the times, an rin on a whole rig- nuurole of grievances. The passon clapt es hand on es shoulder, and tell'd en, " He that mines hiszell mines everything that concerns him." Hog pooched out es mouth, and look't glum, an did'nt know what to zay, an zeeing us all glint- ing at en, he got up and went spuddling in the vire, and zoon arter shabb'd off. Bet. I bant sorry to find a was so well a-ruged and roasted. T'other day you must know I went to winding, and took the boy way me to cry to 'em, and ruise away the pegs from muzzling in the com: — 'twas a tingling frost, — quite a-glidder down the lane; 'twas so hard avrore that the juggy-mire was all one clitch of ice ; et blunk'd at the same time, an the weend huffled an hulder'd et in wans eyes : I was in a sad taking, — no A DfiVONSHiRE DIALOGtJE. 19 gwain to the lewside you know, — I must vace it ; though ma nose and lips were a-spray'd, and my arms as spragg'd as a long-cripple. By the time us a-do, the weend was a-go lie. Cryal I I was a stugg'd in plid — I never was in sich a pickle avore — my coats was a dugg'd up and my shoes heal'd in mux, for 'twas as dark as a pit. Well to be sure, whan us come home maester was rout- ing in the zettle (a pix take en !) bevore a gurt rouzing vire, enew to swelter wan, an we a- scrim'd way the cold. Dame sat upon the cricket knitting, and seeing Batt a shrimp'd up, her nadded and mean'd to en, that a shud come by the vire. The tiny pixy went to dring hiszell into the end of the zettle, and was a-jamm'd that a coud na get back nor vore. Maester raked. I, marry, siss he, come up, my dirty cousin ; why don't *ee come and zit down in the zettle, cheek- by-jowl, — hail fellow well met? hey, tatterdemal- lion ! an way that a geed en sich a wap in the niddick that strambang a bet es head agin the clovel, an made a bump in es brow. Dame coud'n help squeaking; but he scrubb'd her off, way, Pray, Mrs. Tittle-goose, none of your documen- tizing. — 'Tis a poor barthless and motherless child, her said. — Who bid you put in your oar ? 20 A DEVONSHIRE DIALOGUE. — ^hold your wab : — 'tis better you did. — What did ye mean by't both o'ye, dinging in my ears about thicca chat ? — you uphold en, — that you do. The tap I geed en widn't kill a vlea. Than a veil waiving and tossing and turning vrom zide to zide, querking and grunting in es kibby heels. T'other day a had a nymphing-gang : — a hath always wan glam or other, and mak'th et worse by his poustering. Rab. a look'th a-boded, that's a zure thing, es vlesh hang'th so flabby about en. I'se war'n't dame's no easy place. Bet. O ! that's sartin. Arter a had been dozing and zogging wan day, a call'd to dame, Come, siss he, muckle down on your marrow-bones and haul oflf my stocking, vor he 's a clitch'd to my heel. Dame muckled down and jist touch'd en, whan a scream'd out. Gingerly, gingerly, how unvitty and cat-handed you go about et, — go thy ways, you fule. Rab. I love dearly. Bet, to hear thee tell ; but, good loving now, let's tell o' zummet else. — Time slips away. Bet. I, Fegs, that it dith. I wamis our vokes wonder what the godger's a come o' me. I '11 drive home. — I wish thee good neart. A DEVONSHIRE DIALOGUE. 21 Rab. Why there now. Oh, Bet! you guess what I ha to tell about, and you wamt hear me. Bet. I, say so, co; — a fiddle-de-dee, — blind mares. Rab. There agen : — did ever any boddy hear the like. Well, soce, what be I to do.? Bet. I wish, Rab, you'd leave vetting me. Pi- thee let's hear no more o'at. Rab. WoU, I zee how 't is. — You'll be the death o'me, that's a zure thing. Bet. Dear hart, how you tell ! I the death o' thee ! — no, not vor the world, Rab. Why I 'd ne'er the heart to hurt thee nor any kindest thing in all my born days. What whimzies you have ! — Why do ye put yourself in such a pucker.? Rab. Why, because the minnet I go about to break my meend, whip soce, you be a- go, and than I coud bite my tongue. Bet. Why than will you veass me away when you know I can't abide to hear o'at ? Good-now don't'ee zay no more about et; Us have always been good friends, let us bide so. Rab. I've now began, and I want let thee go till thee hast a-heard me out. Bet. Well, I woU, but don't'ee cream my hand 2§ A DEVONSHIRE DIALOGUE. Rab. I don't know what I do nor what I zay : — many many nearts I ha' n't a teen'd my eyes vor thinking o'thee. I can't live so, 'tis never the neer to tell o'at; and I must make an end o'at wan way or t'other. I be bent upon 't; there- fore don't stand shilly-shally, but lookeedezee, iv thee disn't zay thee wid ha me, bevore thicca cloud hath heal'd every sheen o'the moon, zure an double-zure I '11 ne'er ax thee agen, but go a soger and never zee home no more. Lock ! lock I my precious, what dist cry vor ? Bet. I be a cruel moody-hearted timersome boddy ; and you scare wan, you do zo. — I'm in a sad quandory. — Iv I zay is, I may be sorry; and if I zay no, I may be sorry too, zimmet. I hop you widn't use me badly. Rab. Dist think, my sweeting, I shall e'er be maz'd anew to claw out my own eyes ? and thee art dearer to me than they be. Bet. Hold not so breach now, but hear first what I 've to zay. You must know, Rab, the leet money I've a croop'd up I be a shirk'd out o', but 'twill never goodee way an. I'll tell thee how I was chonced. Rab. Good-now, lovey, don't 'ee think o'at. We shall fadgee and find without et I can work and A DEVONSHIRE DIALOGUE. 23 will work, an all my carking and caring will be for thee, and every thing shall be as thee woud ha' et. Thee shall do what thee wid. Bet. I say so too. — Co, co, Rab, how you tell! Why, pithee, don't 'ee think I be sich a ninny- hammer as to desire et. If 'tis ordain'd I shall ha thee I'll do my best to make tha a gude wife. I don't want to be cocker'd. Hark ! hark ! don't I hear the bell lowering for aight } — 'tis, as I live : I shall ha et whan I get home. Rab. If I let thee go now, will meet me agen to morrow evening in the dimmet ? Bet. No. To-morrow morning at milking time I woU. Rab. Sure? Bet. Sure and sure. So I wish thee good neart. Rab. Neart, neart, my sweeting! THE END. Explanation of the Contractions used in the Glossary. Abb Abbreviation. Belg Belgic language. Corr Corrupted, or Corruption. Da Danish language. Du Dutch language. Fr French language. Germ German language. Goth Gothic language. Isl. or Ice. . . . Islandic or Icelandic language. Lat Latin. Moeso-Goth. . Moeso-Gothic language, as preserved in Ulphilas's Version of the Gospels. N.E North-Eastern parts of Devonshire. Sax Anglo-Saxon language. Suio-Goth. . . . Suio-Gothic language, or ancient lan- guage of Sweden. Teut Teutonic language. A GLOSSARY OF DEVONSHIRE WORDS. A. A, pron. he : also a prefix to many words of no very definite meaning, as avrore, aprilled, anutting, amost, &c. Sometimes it represents the Saxon ^e prefixed to participles. Abu, prep, above. AcLiT. See Clitch. Addle-headed or pated, a. doltish, thickheaded. A-FEARD, part, afraid. This old word is much used. To Aggie, v. n. to dispute, to murmur, to provoke or incite quarrels : from Aigu, Fr., or Egger, Da., to pro- voke ; hence perhaps the familiar phrase * to edge another on.' Agin, or Agen, adv. against, by that time. Agreeable, adj. acquiescent, consenting. Ajee, adv. awry. Akether, adv. indeed. Aller, s. the alder, Betula alnus of Linnaeus . from Aldr, Sax., L in D mutato. Allernbatch, s. a kind of botch or old sore ; from ^lan, Sax. to burn, and Bosse, Sax. a botch. In the N.E. parts only. 26 GLOSSARY. Allers, 8. an acute kind of boil or carbuncle, so called from the leaves of the Aller being employed as a re- medy, or from Mlaxi, Sax. to burn. An, conj. and, if. Angle-bowing, s. a kind of fencing against sheep, con- sisting of sticks bent into the ground at both ends ; from Angel, Sax. a hook, and Bugan, to bend. Angle-twitch, s. the common earthworm : from Angel- twecca. Sax. Lumbricus, from Angel, a hook, and Twicca, the generic term for earthworm. Anpassy, i. e. And per Se, or the contraction, &c. See Nares in voce. x\nt (of the verb to be), am not. Apple-pie-bed, a school-boy joke, consisting in the duplication of one of the sheets in such a manner as to render an entry into bed impossible. This joke is sometimes practised by frolicksome young women on their lovers. Aprilled, adj. applied to beer or milk which has turned, or is beginning to turn, sour : also metaphorically to a person whose temper has been discomposed. A-purt. See Purt. Aquot. See Quot. Arnt, have not, am not. To Argufy, v. a. to argue. Arrant, s. errand. Arishes, s. the stubble-field after the com has been garnered; hence Arish-mows, little stacks of corn set up j)ro tempore by the reapers. Arish-rakes, rakes constructed with large teeth, with which the gleanings are collected. GLOSSARY. 27 Arter, adv. after. AsLiN, adv. aslope. AsTRouT, adv. astride. In the N.E. only. AvRORE, or AvRAUR, part, frozen, from Bevroren, Du. to freeze : most of the northern languages retain the word frost, but in Dutch the /is changed into v. To Aw, V. a. to owe. This orthography is met with in several old authors. To Ax, V, a. to ask. This word, which now passes for a mere vulgarism, is the original Saxon word. Dex and tax, into desk and task, exhibit similar transform- ations. To AxwADDLE, V. HI. to wallow on the ground. AxwADDLER, s, the same as the verb. Also a dealer in ashes : from Aska, or Axe, Sax. ashes. B. Baa-lamb, *. the nursery term for a lambkin. To Bace, Baste, or Bumbaste, v. a. to beat soundly. Bachelor's-Buttons, s. the burrs or flower-heads of the common Burdock, Arctium lappa of Linnaeus ; called also Beggars' or Cuckholds' Buttons, for what cause I don't know. Also the name of the Campion flower. Lychnis sylvestris of Linnaeus. Backy, *. tobacco. Baggage, s. a saucy wench, so called from such per- sons usually following the camp or baggage of an army. Baginet, s. Bayonet. d2 28 GLOSSARY. To Ballirag, v. a. to abuse vociferously : from two verbs of the same import, — to bully and to rag. Bamby, adv. by and by. Baluster, *. the banister or pilaster of a staircase. The provincial orthography assimilates more nearly with the original etymon Balustre, Fr. than the mo- dem reading. Bandy, ». a game, like that of Golf, in which the ad- verse parties endeavour to beat a ball (generally a knob or gnarl from the trunk of a tree,) opposite ways. From Bendan, Sax. to bend ; because the stick with which the game is played is crook'd at the end; hence the verb to Bandy (a term at tennis), to beat to and fro, and the compound bandy-legged for crooked- legged. To Bang, or Bank, r. a. to thump, to use excessive violence. Barn-gun, *. an eruption of pimples (Shingles, Herpes Zoster or Zona) on the trunk of the body : from Baernan, Sax. to burn. It is a common but un- founded belief, that if the extremities of the zone meet the patient will certainly perish. Barn-you, or Barnish you, a common imprecation of the same import as Burn-you. Barthless, adj. houseless: from Barth (also a Southern phrase), signifying a warm shelter: from the Celtic or old Welsh vocable Bar, a bush ; hence the nau- tical term Berth. Barrow, s a castrated boar. Barton, *. the demesne lands of a manor-house : sometimes for the manor-house itself, and sometimes GLOSSARY. 29 for fold-yards, granaries, and outhouses. Marshall says that it means a large farm; but the etymology would rather signify the farmstead, from Bere-tun, Sax. an area, locus ubi desectum frumentum teritur, from Bere, barley ; hence Bern, a barn, (i. e. bere- ern) a place for barley. Prisoners'-base or barrs, s.a. very ancient rustic game, still retained in most country schools. See Strutt's Sports and Pastimes, p. 79, edit. 1830. Bassam, or BissAM, s. heath : from Besm, Sax. Scopae, the common broom being made of it. To Battil or Battle, v. a. to render fertile; the fol- lowing being, according to Ray, a common provincial expression : " Ashes are an excellent improvement to battil barren land." 1 have never, however, met with the expression, and believe it to have fallen into disuse. Batting, s. the art of snaring birds at night with a net and lantern : from Battre, Fr. to beat, because the ivy- tod or roosting-place is beaten in order that the birds. may be driven out. To Be, v. n. This verb is generally inflected on the infin. mood in the pres. tense, as, I be, thou beest, we be, &c., and in the preter. I war or was, thou wert, he wur. Beam or Beend, s. a band of withy or straw. Beat and Burning-beat, s. peat- or sod-burning; an agricultural operation, which appears to have origin- ated in Devonshire, and hence is called Denshiring in many parts. It consists in spading, veiling, or ploughing off the turf (spine) from old fallow lands, scuffling or tormenting the sods so as to knock out the earth they contain ; then laying them in heaps (beat- 30 GLOSSARY. barrows) to dry, and burning them ; finally, the ashes thus obtained are distributed over the soil previously to the operation of the plough, and are said to enrich and meliorate it in a remarkable degree, partly per- haps by the salts which they contain, and partly by disintegrating a tenacious and clayey soil, and ren- dering it more pervious to moisture. Begeged, p. part, bewitched, hog-ridden, quasi be- hagged. Begorz, one of a numerous tribe of expletives, most of which are foolish evasions of oaths. To THE TRUE BEN, to good purposc, soundly, to the ut- most degree. The phrase Ful bene is used by Gawin Douglas, and is explained by Dr. Jamieson, full well, from the Latin Bene. Latin etymologies, however, are rarely admissible. Belike, adv. probably. An old English word, but now only used iii low language. Betoatled, />./)ar/. affected with imbecility, besotted with stupidity. To Bever, v. n. to tremble, to quiver : from Beven, Teut. contremere. Bewhivered, p. part, bewildered, frightened. Bettermost, adj. somewhat superior. Biveredge, 8. garnish money, or money for drink, de- manded of any one having a new suit of clothes. If the wearer happen to be a damsel, she is generally saluted with a kiss on the occasion, which she is ex- pected to permit as a forfeit. Also a composition of cider, water, and spice. Blackhead, s. a boil or pinswell, from the black spot which appears at the apex. GLOSSARY. 31 To Blake, v, n. to cry till out of breath, to burst with laughing. To Blast, v. w. to cast up the eyes in astonishment. -Blind-marf.s, fudge, twaddle, fiddlededee ; sometimes a deception or cheat. Blood-sucker, s. the common leech. Bloody-warrior, s. the common wall-flower, Cheiran- thus Cheiri of Linnaeus. Blooth, s. blossom : from Bliithe or Bluoth, Germ. Blow, s. a bladder: from Blawan, Sax. flare, sicut blaeddre a blsed, flatus. To Blow a Coal, is to make mischief or sow dissention between neighbours. Blow-maunger, s. a fat pursy person. In the N.E. only. Blowze, s. a contemptuous term applied to a slattern, with red face, vulgar finery, and uncombed hair. Bluff, adj. surly, churlish. Blunk, s. any light flaky body. Flakes of snow are so called ; also the large ignited particles which ascend during a conflagration. To Blunk, to snow, to emit sparks. Boded, part. adj. overlooked, infatuated. Bone-shave, s. the sciatica or rheumatism of the hip, from its being apt to give a peculiar crippled gait to the patient ; hence probably the Exmorian charm : " Bone-shave right Bone-shave straight As the water runs by the stave Good for bone-shave." I found this word recognized at Berry Narbor, but nowhere else. BoosTERiNG, part. pres. labouring busily, so as to sweat. 32 GLOSSARY. BoosY or Bosky, adj. tipsy, inebriated. BoRRiD, part. adj. i. e. boared; sus catuliens. To BosT, V. a. 8i n. to burst. Bursted or Borsten is used for ruptured. To Bother, v. a. to perplex with senseless loquacity. Bothered, or Both-eared, talked to at both ears at the same time ; hence the noun Botheration, to the same import. The word, I believe, is indigenous to Devon- shire and Cornwall, as well as Ireland. To Bow, V. a. the common word for to Bend. BowERLY, adj. applied to a female of an imposing handsome presence, arising from health and embon- point. Boy's-love, s. southernwood, Artemesia ahrotanum of Linnaeus. Braggadocio, s. a vain boasting fellow. Brandis, 8. a trivet, abb. of Brandires : from Brandiron, Sax., ejusdem significationis. Brake, *. Spinetum, Dumetum, a bottom overgrown with thick tangled brushwood : from Brake, Sax. a fern. Braundy, adj. smutty: from Brandig, Germ, blighted. Brave, adj. insignis, egregius, eminently fine ; said also of a person in good health. Bravely, adv. smartly, cleverly, excellently well ; the same as Brawly in Scotch : from Braf, Sw. Brawn, s. the smut of corn : from Brand, Germ. Also the stump of a tree: from Brennan, Sax. to burn. Hence Christmas-brawn, a massy piece of fire-wood, the Yule-Clog of the North. Breach, s. a plot of land preparing for another crop. To Breath, v. n. to bray, to neigh. GLOSSARY. 33 Brick, s. a loaf shaped like a brick. Boarding-bridge. See Clapper. To Bring gwain, an idiom signifying to spend profusely, to accompany another person partly on the road. Brinded, part. adj. bold, angry? Briss or Brist, s. dust, rubbish. Briss-and-Buttoks, sheep's droppings. To Brit, v. a. to indent. Brooking, s. a mungrel jade that is apt to throw her rider. In the N.E. only. Broody, adj. Brodige henne, Sax. a broody hen, i. e. one that incubates, or is ready to do so. From Broeden, Teut. incubare. Brown-george, s. a large earthen pitcher. Bucked, part. adj. spoken of cheese that has a strong hircine flavour and is filled with little holes, like Gruyere; also of milk which has become sour from being kept in a foul bucket. Undoubtedly from Bucca, Sax. the buck or male animal, especially the goat. To Buddle, v. a. to suffocate. Buddled, past part, obrutus mero, half-seas over with liquor. Bueings, s. joints, from the verb to Bow. BuLDERiNG, adj. hot and sultry, as when the air is charged with thunder. BuLLACE, s. a variety of wild plum or sloe, the fruit of the blackthorn. Used by Chaucer in the Romance of the Rose. Bulled, part. adj. said of a cow appetens maris. BuRM, s. barm, yeast : from Beorm, Sax. To Bush, v. a. arietare, to butt or strike with the head. 34 GLOSSARY. Butt, *. any large vessel. Pure Saxon. The term ia used generically in Devonshire for a dung-cart, a beehive, a fishing-basket, &c. BuTTER-AND-EGGs, s. a specics of daffodil or lent rose, Narcissus h'lflorus of Linnaeus. C. Cab, *. any sticky substance, a cold sweat. Linen laid by moist and rumj)led is said to be ' all of a cab.' Cabby, adj. moist, sticky, clammy. Caddy, ». the caddis-worm, or grub of the May-fly. Candle-teening, 8. candle-lighting, primis tenebris: from Tynan, Sax. to inflame. Capel, 8. the horn joint which connects the two parts of a flail. Cat-handed, adj. awkward. See Coochy-handed. Cats'-tails, 8. the catkins of the hazel-nut. Cauch, *. any disgusting mixture or mess. Cauchy, adj. foul, disgusting, clammy. To Caulk or Calk, v. a. to roughen a horse's shoes in order that he may not slip in frosty weather. Cave of Potatoes, i. e. a pit of potatoes earthed up and thatched over for the winter. Caw, 8. the disease of sheep, in which hydatids or flukes breed in the liver. Caw'd, part. adj. affected with the rot or caw. Cass'n, Cass'n't, cannot, canst thou not. Chat, «. a tell-tale ; abb. of chatterbox. Cheek by Jowl, i. e. cheek to cheek, or on terms of GLOSSARY. 35 great familiarity with another. Ceac, Ceole, and Geag], signify cheek in Saxon. Cherry, adj. red and blooming ; color incarnatus. Chilbladders, s. chilblains. Chimley, s. chimney. Chimley-crooks, the trammels or moveable hooks which hang from the soot-bar. Chit, s. a nursery term applied to forward and trouble- some children. To Chonce, v. a. to cheat, from Joncher, Fr.to wheedle. Chops, s. the mouth. Chucks, s. the cheeks. Chuff, adj. churlish, surly : from JofRi, Old Fr. a blunt clown. To Chump, v. a. to masticate audibly, corr. from Champ. Chures, s. little jobs performed by the day, from Cyrre, Sax. work; hence the verb [Exmoor] to Chewry, and the proverb cited by Ray, " That char is char'd, as the good wife said when she had hanged her hus- band." Chare, negotiolum : Junius. Claggy, adj. clammy, tenacious, viscous, as waxy pota- toes or imperfectly baked bread : from Klaeg, Dan. Clapper, s. a plank laid across a running stream as a substitute for a bridge. Perhaps from Klampe, Belg. a beam. To Clapper-claw, v. a. the mingled reprehension of an enraged woman, who spares neither words nor blows : from Clippar, Sax. the tongue of a bell, and Claw, Sax. to strike. Clathers, 8. clothes. Clibby, adj. sticky, adhesive. Clider, s. the herb called goosegrass, Galium aparine of Linnaeus. 36 GLOSSARY. To Clinch, v. a. to confirm an improbable story by a lie. Clincher, s. a corroborative falsehood, as when one lie is capped by another still greater. Clinkers, s. smiths' cinders. To Clitch, v. n. to stick, to adhere ; in the preterite, clit; applied particularly to bread made of new or damaged wheat, which is then apt to sweat or run together, or to be * all a clit.' To the same import is the expression ' a clitch of ice ' in the preceding dialogue. To Unclitch is also common. Clitchy, adj. sticky, tenacious. Clodhopper, s. a country bumpkin, an awkward lout. Clodpoll has reference to the mind rather than the body, and signifies an ignoramus. Cloam, s. earthenware or crockery goods of any sort. Clotting, s. a practice among anglers for catching eels, which consists of stringing a number of earthworms on worsted thread, and then making a bundle or clot of them. The teeth of the eel become inextricably entangled in the fibres of the worsted, and thus is caught. From Klotte, Belg. Globus. To Clout, v. a. to bang or strike with a dish-clout : from Clot, Sax. a cloth. Clouted, part. adj. congealed, coagulated; corrupted from Clotted. " Then will I lay out all my larderie Of cheese, of cracknells, curds and clouted cream." {Barnefield's Affect. Sheph. 1594.) Clouted-shoes are shoes shod with plates of iron both at the points and heels. Clov£l, s. the cross-beam of the mantelpiece. GLOSSARY. 37 To Cluck, v. n. to call, as when a hen calls her chickens : from Cloccan, Sax. glocire. To Clum or Clam, v. a. to rumple or soil by handling, from Clumian, Sax. to daub, foul, or besmear. Clummeusome, adj. dirty, sluttish. Clumming, s. the process of raking together into heaps the turf-roots or spine of a ploughed field previous to the operation of beat-burning. To Clump, v. n. to tramp or tread noisily. Clumpy or Clumpish, adj. that which has adhered or aggregated together. Clutter, .9. noise, bustle, hurry-scurry. Co, Co! interj. i.e. Come, come! equivalent to Pooh, pooh ! Cob-nut, s. a large nut. Cob is used in composition as an augmentative, as cob-loaf, cob-swan, cob-horse, &c. The game of cob is common in Devonshire, and is played on the poll of a hat. CoB-wALL, s. a mud wall, in which is incorporated straw, for the purpose of making it bind. CocKERNONY, s. a small 'cock's egg', ut aiunt, which if hatched is supposed to produce something exceed- ingly noxious. Also a priggish little coxcomb. " Deli- catulus atque inter maternos tantum amplexus enu- tritus puer." (Junius.) In Chaucer, Cockeneye, unde Cockney. Cockle or Cuckle Buttons, s. See Bachelors' Buttons. CocKLEART, s. day-break, prima lux. In the N.E. only. Codger, s. a familiar expression for a mean old person : from Cadger, a huckster, or mean trafficker. 38 GLOSSARY. Codger's-end, s, the end of a shoemaker's thread. CoDGLOvE, s, a thick glove without fingers, worn by hedgers and ditchers. Coin, s. a projecting angle or comer is always so called. From Coin, Fr. a corner. To CoLTEE, V. a. to be skittish, to play the hoyden. Comb, s. the balk or narrow slip which is left in vei- ling the land. Combe, s. a valley. Used principally in composition, as e. g. Ilfracombe, Paracombe, Challacombe, &c. From Comb, Sax. ejusdem significationis. Comforts, s. comfits, fairing. CoNCABLE or Conkerbell, s. an icicle. CoNDiDDLED or DiDDLED, post part, dispcrscd, mislaid, frittered away, stolen. CoocHY-HANDED, adj. left-handed, from Gauche, Fr. left. Cornder. ». a receding corner or angle. Cow-flop or Flop-dock, s. the foxglove. Digitalis pur- purea of Linnaeus. Cows-and-Calves, 8. lords and ladies, the parts of fruc- tification of the Arum maculafum. Chryal, Crial, or O Cryal, interj. expressive of sur- prise or alarm, probably a corruption of O Christ ! Crap, s. a bunch, from Cropp, Sax. the extreme part of any thing. "Croppe rote," root and branch, (Spen- ser). Also the stomach of an animal. From Crop, Sax. the craw of a bird. Crap-full, adj. chock-full, satiated to repletion. Crazy or Crazed, foolish, insane : from Ecraser, Fr. To Cream, v. a. to squeeze, to press together, v. n. to be affected with fugacious chilliness. GLOSSARY. 3^ Creamy, adj. chilly. The comparison I believe is drawn from the appearance which cream presents while un- dergoing the operation of boiling : during this pro- cess the surface is continually agitated by an undu- latory motion, very significant of the creeping chilli- ness intended to be expressed. Cricket, *. a low four-legged stool. Crids, s. curds. Crim or Crum, s. the least bit possible : ' Stay a crim', * not worth a crim'. From Cruma, Sax. a small particle of bread. Crime, s. report ; as e. g. ' the crime of the country'. To Crimp or Scrimp, v. n. to be niggardly in a high de- gree : from Krimpen, Teut. scanty. To Crinkle, v. a. to wrinkle, to bend under a load. hy reduplication Crinkle-crankle : from Krankelin, Da. to twist, to exhibit a great many anfractuosities. Crips, adj. crisp. Claps, aps, waps, and haps are ex- amples of a similar vicious pronunciation depend- ing on the transposition of the final letters. Crock, s. a big-bellied iron vessel with three dwarf legs. Originally an earthen vessel : from Crocca, Sax. vas fictile. To Croon, v. a. to whine or murmur in a low suppressed tone : from Kreunen, Du. to groan. To Croop, v. a. to rake together ; corradere atque ae- cumulare nummos. To Crope, v. a. to creep slowly and heavily ; augmen- tative of Creep. Crowbere, the name of a farm-house near Torrington. Crowd or Crowdy-kit, s, a fiddle : from Crwth, Welsh. e2 40 GLOSSARY. To Crowd, v. n. to fiddle. Crowder, s. fiddler. Crowdling, adj. stupid, dull, sickly. Crowner, 8. coroner : from Corona, Lat. ; hence the dia- lectical orthography is more correct. Crow-toe or Crotto, s. a species of ranunculus. Crub, «. a crust, or hottom of a loaf. Crubby, adj. dry crusty bread is so called. To Crudle, v. n. to collect together as frightened chickens. Cruel, adv. highly intensive, as ' cruel hard', * cruel fast', &c. The expression is equivalent to d— — d, and is I believe peculiar to the county. To Crumple, v. a. & n. to draw into wrinkles, to con- tract ; thus Guernsey cows are said to have crum- pled horns, from the circumstance of these being stunted and wrinkly : from Crump, Sax. crooked. Crumplin, *. a degenerate dwarf apple. Crumply, adj. the state of being much wrinkled. To Crunch. See Scrunch. Crymaces, interj., abb. of * Christ of mercies', or corr. of Grammercye, i. e. Grande mercie, Fr. To Cuddle, v. a. to lie close together, to fondle, to join in a mutual embrace. To Cuff, v. a. to beat. To cuff over a good story, to dilate upon it ; to cuff out the tea, to pour it out. Culver, s. the common and old name for a wood- pigeon. Pure Saxon. Cup, Cup, Cup ! a call to cattle to fetch them home from the field : abb. of ' Come up ! CusTicK or CusTis, s. the schoolmaster's ferule. Per- - baps from Kussen, Du. a pad : that is, metonymi- GLOSSARY. 41 cally, the cushion of the hand ; or corr. of * Cut, stick!' i. e. 'Stick, do your duty'. To Cut, v» a. to beat soundly. Th, or the Saxon ?J, is not unfrequently pronounced as D in Devonshire, as the following examples testify: Draw, tJpapan, throw; drash, tJsepj-can, derschen Du. thrash; dru, tJujrh, through; draed, tJjiaeb, thread; drish, tJjiijc, thrush; dashel, tJijtel, thistle; dvoat, tJjiore, tJjioca, throat ; drashel, tJaejijcpalto, threshold; drang, tJjianj, a throng. Dab, *. a chit, an insignificant person, a proficient in any feat or exercise : also a slight blow. Dad, Daddy, Da Da, father : from Tad, Germ. Dame, s. an appellation bestowed on yeomen's wives. Forby says that in Norfolk it is applied only to the lowest females, and that it would be offensive to de- signate thus a farmer's wife. Dang it, Od dang it. Dash my buttons, or I 'm dash'd, are various forms of vulgar exclamation, or corrupt oaths. Dapper, adj. alert, active, strenuous. Dapper, Belg. Daps, s. likeness. 'The very daps of her mother', the exact likeness of her. To Dare, v. a. to frighten. Mostly a nursery term ; it is used however by Shakspeare and Beaumont and Fletcher. Dark, adj. blind; as e.g. * dark in one eye'. Darns or Derns, s. the door-posts, or rather the frame- 42 GLOSSARY. work of the door, which is let into the masonry : abh. of Door-ends. Darter or Dafter, j». daughter. Dashel, s. thistle. Milky-dashel, tlie sowthistle, which when cut across exudes a milky sap, called by the country-people the Virgin Mary's milk. See Ladies' Thistle. DwEKED, part. adj. faded, withered: from Daveren, Teut. to tremble. D AVI NO, s. a boarded partition. To Dawl, v. a. to dash- Deave, adj. deaf. * As deave as a door-nail' ; a nut without a kernel is said to be deave : Dove noot, Teut. Deaf-corn is pure Saxon. Dem, you slut. Desperd, adj. desperate ; a common augmentative. Devil's Snuff-box or Pixy-puff, s. the puck-fist or puff-baU. Dibs, *. money ; as e. g. * Down with your dibs'. Perhaps from the process of dibbling (planting), having something of the methodical character of counting out money. Diggings and Doings, an idiomatic phrase equivalent to proceedings. To tell DiLDRAMs or Doldrums, to tell improbable stories. DiMMET, s. crepusculum vespertinum, the dusk of the evening. To Ding, v. a. to push or drive, to reiterate, to impor- tune with tedious perseverance : from Denegan, Sax. to beat. GLOSSARY. 4Sr DrsHWASHER, «. the water- wagtail, Motacilla baarula of Linnaeus. To DoATEE, V. n. to nod the head during sleep. Dobbin, s. an appellation for an old jaded horse : from Dobgend, Sax. a decrepid old man. In Dock out Nettle, a sort of incantation repeated by persons who have been nettle-stung, having first ap- plied a dock-^leaf to the aggrieved part. See Wilbra- ham in voce : I am not aware, however, that it is ex- pressive of inconstancy in Devonshire, as it seems i^ be in Cheshire^ SouR-DocK, s. sorrel, Rumex acetosa of Linnaeus. To Documentize, v. n. to preach, to moralise. DoDELiNG or Dawdling^ part. pres. idlings triflings loitering. Dog's-ears, s. the corners of the leaves of a book which have been turned down from frequent fumbling. To TELL DwALE, to talk or mutter incoherently. Douse, *. chaff. To DouT, V. a. the old word to extinguish ; abb. of ' Do out'. DowL, s. the devil. Dr^ed, s. thread : pure Saxon. Draggletail, s. a slut. Drakes, s. a slop, a mess, a jakes : from Dreck, Germ, Drang or Drang-way, s. a narrow passage: from Drang, Germ, (from dringen), a throng : or Thringen, Sax. to throng. " Drang : multitudo concurrentium qui se mutuo premunt." Vide Wachter in voce. Also a cul-de-sac between two blind walls, employed as a receptacle for shords and refuse. These words exist 44 GLOSSARY* in most of the northern languages, but are mostly spelt with the th or Sax. •». To Drash, v. a. to thrash. Drashel, s. threshold ; also a flail. 'Dratt'n or Od-rat-en, a coarse imprecation. To Draw or Drow, v. a. to throw ; in the preterite Draw'd or Droed. Dreck-stool, s. the lower part or sill of the door-frame. Dredge, s. a mixture of oats and barley. Drilino, wasting time, drawling. To Drino, v. a. to throng or push : from Thringen, Sax. to squeeze. Drisu, s. thrush. Drizzle or Drizzling, s. a Scotch mist, i. e. an unin- termitting small rain. Droat or Draught, s. throat. To Drow, v. a. to dry. A countryman, being asked what pilm was, answered, " Why, mux, adrow'd to be sure;" a true Devonshire answer to a Devonshire question. Also, to draw out or extend. Dru, prep, through. Drugeous, adj. huge. To Drum or Drub, v. a. to beat soundly. Drumming or Drubbing, s. a good beating. To Drumble, v. n. to hum or mutter in a sleepy mono- tonous manner: perhaps from Drwm, Welsh, sad. Drumble-drone, s. the humble-bee ; also, metaphori- cally, a lethargic stupid person. Dubbed, adj. blunt. Dubby, adj. dumpy, short and thick. Duberous. adj. doubtful. GLOSSARY. 45 Ducks and Drakes a sport which consists in making flat stones strike and rebound from the water's surface, exclaiming at the same time * Dick, duck, drake ! ' or * Dick, duck, mallard ! " To play ducks and drakes with one's fortune, to be a spendthrift. Dude, past part, of the verb to Do. Sometimes, as in Chaucer, Do is used, as e. g. * I've a do it'. To Dug up, v. a. to gird or tuck up. To Dump, v. a. to knock heavily, to stump ; perhaps from Doomp, Ice. a clumsy serving-girl. Dumps. To be down in the dumps, to be out of sorts or low-spirited: hence the adj. Dumpy, sullen, sub- tristis, from Dom, Du. melancholy. DuNDER-HEADED, adj. thick-skulled, logger-headed. To DwALE or DwALLEE, V. 11. to muttcr deliriously : from Dwellian, Sax. or Dwaelen, Belg. errare, vagari, from Dwale, Sax. a sleeping potion. Dwale, accord- ing to Chaucer, is the deadly nightshade, Solanum dulcamara of Linnaeus. E. EA have almost always the sound of e French, as e. g. in cream, mean, ream, &c. which might be spelt more correctly craym, mayn, raym, &c. To Eave, v. n. to thaw : probably from the water which drops from the eaves at such times. Ees, adv. yes. Eet or It, adv. yet. Emmet, s. an ant, from iEmette, Sax. Eneugh or Enew, adv. enough. 46 GLOSSARY. EvET, s. a small newt or lizard : from Efeta, Sax. Evil, *. a three-pronged dung-fork. F. F and V are interchangeable letters in most cases, the sound for the most part being intermediate. Facks ! Fath ! Fey ! Fegs ! interj. corruptions or eva- sions of the asseveration * By my faith'. To Fadgee and Find, v. to work for one's daily bread; from the verb to Fag, with the infinitive termination in ee, so common in the west. Fagoett, 8. a term of contempt applied to females, as * lazy faggett* : perhaps the feminine of fag, a drudge. Fairing, s. comfits, sweetmeats, or gingerbread nuts, bought at a fair. Fallals, *. the falling ruffs of a woman's dress. Ferrel, 8. the frame of a slate. V6role, Fr. a ring. Few, adj. some, a little, as e. g. give me a few broth. I know of no other noun with which it is thus used. Figs, s. raisins. Plum-pudding, and plum-cake are universally called figgy pudding and figgy cake in Devonshire, as e. g. in the following rhyme : " Rain, Rain, go to Spain ; Come again another day : When I brew and when I bake, I '11 give you a figgy cake." FiNNiKiN, adj. finical. Fisher, s. a sweetmeat, consisting of apples baked in akind of batter, invented by Dr. Fisher, bishop of Exeter. GLOSSARY. 4T FiTCHEE, s. the fitch, Viverra foetida of Linnaeus : Fis- sau, Fr. Fist, Sax. (unde Fiest, Old English) flatus ventris. Flabbergasted, par<.a«^'. bothered, confounded, fright- ened. Flammakin, s. a blowsy slatternly wench. Flannin, s. flannel. Flish, adj. fledged. Floistering, adj. skittish, hoydenish. To Flosh, v. a. to spill : from Fluysen, Belg. fluere. Flusteration, s. nervous excitement, confusion from sudden surprise. To FoAP or Vrope back, v. a. to comb or smooth back. Fob, s. froth, spuma cerevisise. To Fob, v. n. to mantle, to ferment, to foam. Forrel, s. the cover or boarding of a book. To Fouss, V. a, to soil. Fousty, frowsy, and fusty all mean the same thing, viz. fetid or musty : from Fist, Sax. flatus ventris. FozY, s. a tit-bit, a choice delicacy. Frunted, p. ipast^ per aphoeresin, affronted. Similar ex- amples of elision are very common in all provincial dialects. To FuLCH or FuLK, v. a. to squeeze : at taw, to edge on unfairly. See Sniggle. Full-stated, adj. spoken of a leasehold estate which has still three lives on it. Fullsutten in Maeso-Goth. is of analogous import. See Ihre in voce. FuMP, s. the gist, the cream of the joke. Furnace, «. a boiler. 4?8 GLOSSARY. FusTiLUGs, s. a gross unwieldy person. Fuz, s. fiirze. G. G final is generally omitted in the pronunciation of par- ticiples present. To Gab, v. n. to prate loquaciously: from Gabban, Sax. Hence also, by reduplication, Gabble, to the same im- port. Gad-a-bout, s. a gossiping rambling sort of person. Gaffer, Getfer, Gonmer, Gramfer, s. the compella- tions of a man, corresponding to Grammar, &c. To Gall or Gally, v. a. to frighten. In the preterite Galled or Gusht : from Agselan, Sax. In Shakspeare, Gallow. Galli BAGGER, *. a bull-bcggar, a bugbear. Galliment, s. a stutfed figure set up in a field to frighten away birds, a scarecrow. Gallise, s. gallows. Gallitraps, s. i. e. gallows-traps or mysterious circles, into which whosoever entered, having committed any public offence, became infatuated to his own discovery. To Galligant or Gallant, v. n. to play the hoyden, to flirt. Gammerells or Gambrils, s. the hocks or lower hams of an animal ; also a butcher's stretcher, by which the carcase of an animal is suspended in the shambles. In Suffolk, Cambril From Cambr6, Fr. crooked, ac- cording to Moor. GLOSSARY. 49 Gammet, s. fun, merriment. Ganny-cock, s. a turkey. To Gap or to Stile, a proverbial expression by which is signified that a person will not be behindhand another in any matter. Gape's-nest, s. a sight or raree-show. Perhaps it has a similar meaning to mare's-nest. Gapes-seed has the same signification in some counties. To Gather, v. a. to glean. To Gawk, v. a. to hawk and spit. Gawkee or Gawk, s. a loutish idiotical person : from Geek, Germ, a fool. To Gee, v. a. to give. In the pret. Geed. G hard. Geese, s. the under-strap or girth of a horse's harness. To Geese, v. a. to girth or bind. Gee up. Gee Auver, and Com'mither. Imperatives addressed to the leading horses of a team, signifying Go on, Go on the other side. Come on this side. Gerred, p. part, bedaubed. GiB-A-LAMB, s. a young lambkin that has just dropped from its dam. Lamgimber, Isl. agna quae annum implevit. Gigglet, s. a laughing romp, a tom-boy ; for which rea- son wakes and fairs are sometimes called gigglet- fairs : from Gasgl, Sax. lascivus. GiMMENY, Oh Gimmeny, interj. doubtless a colloquial contraction of some profane ejaculation. GiNGHED, past part, bewitched, infatuated. Gladdie, s. the yellow-hammer, Emheriza Citrinella of Linnaeus. GbAM, 8. a wound, ulceration, or botch. F 50 GLOSSARY. A-Glidder, adv. slippery : from Glidan, Sax. to slip. This word, however, expresses the double sense of both to glide and to glitter. To Glint, v, n. to look askew or furtively: from Glenna, Isl. In Spenser, Glent, GuTTisH, adj. gluttonish. To Glow or Glowr, v. a. to stare earnestly and angrily at a person, to have a louring aspect, frontem obnu- bilare : from Gloeren, Du. to look askew. Glumpy, Grumpy, or Glumpino, adj. sullen from smo- thered resentment. Glum-pot, s. quere ? ' As grave as a mustard-pot ' is a similar phrase. Go. Often put for Gone, as 'The corn be a-go lie', ' He be a-go fishing'. In the pret. good. GoDGER, s. what the godger ! i. e. what the pox ! goujere being a French name for that malady. GooD-DEN, adv. a contraction of Good-dayen, the Saxon plural of day. According to .Nares it was formerly applicable to any time after noon ; but in Devonshire it is used for good evening only. GooD-Now and Good-sure, interjectionary expletives. To GooDEE, V. a. to prosper, to be of any profit or ad- vantage. ' It wa'nt goodee', or * It gooded', are very common. Goodger, s. goodman; the correlative of goodie, i. e. good-wife. Goose-cap, s. a silly person. Goose-chickens, s. the proper etymon of goslings ; also the catkins of the salix or willow. Gorbelly or Gorbellied, a. ventricosus, having a large GLOSSARY. 51 • paunch: from Gor, an intensive "Welsh particle, and belly ; or perhaps from Gorre, which in the old ro- mance language signified a sow. See Nares in voce. Gore, s. in sempstry, a diagonal seam, the effect of which is to give breadth to the lower part of the dress : from Gore, a term of similar import in heraldry. Gored, p. part, that which has gores. Gossips, s. the godfathers and godmothers at a christen- ing. To Grabble, v. n. to grope, to grub up, to seize any loose bodies undistinguishably in the dark. Gracious or Good gracious, common interjections. Grammer, Gonmar, Gronmer, or Granny, s. a grand- mother, or old withered woman ; the correlatives of Gaffer, &c. Grammer's Pin, a pin of a large size. Gravel IN, s. a small migratory fish, about six inches in length, commonly reputed to be the spawn of the salmon ; so called from affecting the gravelly shallows. See Mag. of Nat. Hist. No. 45. To Greep, v. a. to grabble, to clutch with the fingers ; from Greipan, Mceso-Goth. to seize. Gregories, s. the name of the Narcissus Pseudo-Nar- cissus by the Frithelstokians. Gribble, s. a young crab-stock, used for grafting. Griddle, s. a gridiron. To Griddle, v. «. to collect round the fire. To BE Begrimed, v. pass, to be thoroughly bedaubed with dirt : from Gryma, Icel. to dirt. Gripping, s. the operation of water-furrowing a field. To Grizzle, v. n. to laugh or grin. A very opposite f2 52 GLOSSARY. . meaning is given to it in Suffolk, unless Moor be mis- taken. Grizzledemundy, *. one that is perpetually laughing without cause, a stupid oaf. Groaning, s. parturition. Groaning -cheese and Groan- ing-ale are common, I believe, everywhere : we have, however, a particular addition in Devonshire, which consists in dividing the cheese the moment the labour commences, with a view of expediting the process. A similar superstition prevails of drawing the locks and bolts of a house in which a person is dying, from the belief that the separation of the soul from the body will thug be rendered more easy. Groping, s. a method of catching trout by tickling them under the belly. See Measure for Measure, i. 2. (jRUBBY, adj. poor, shrunken, stunted. Gruff, adj. savage, chuff, austere : Groff, Belg. Grumpy, adj. glumpy. Grute, *. gravel, dirt, grit : from Gritta, Sax. GuBBS, «. a go-between or gooseberry. * To play goose- berry' is to give a pretext for two young people to be together. GuBBY, *. posse, crowd. To GuLK or GuLGE, V. n. to gulp or swallow voraciously. Gumption, «. common sense, motherwit, shrewdness. GuRT, adj. great. In Scottish, Girt. Gusht, the pret. of Gaily, frightened. To Guttle or Guzzle, v. n. to feed greedily, GwAiN, going. GLOSSARY. 53 H. H. The aspiration of this letter is usually reversed ; but Devonshire is not peculiar in this respect. Haggage, s. a slatternly hag: from Haegeste, Sax. a witch. Haggagen, adj. slatternly, disgusting. Haggle-tooth, s. i. e. aggie- or angle-tooth, so called when any of the second or permanent set appears prematurely through the gum and makes a projection. Ham, s. a rich water meadow or pasture land. Ham is the Saxon for a farm. Hange, s. the pluck of any animal, especially the lights or lungs. Hantick, adj. mad, crack-brained. Hanticks, s. odd ways, tricks, gesticulations. Hantings, s. the handles which fix on to the sneed of a scythe. Hart, s. the haft or handle of an instrument, by meto- nymy : from Hart's-horn, from which it is made. Hatch, s. the half-door of cot-houses ; also a sliding- pannel to answer the same purpose. Hatchet-faced, adj. i. e. lean and furrowed by deep lines : from Hacher, Fr. concidere. The strokes of the graver on the copper plate are still denominated hatchings. Havage, s. breed, ancestry : from Avus, Lat. Hauchee-pauchee or all to pauch, said of potatoes which have been boiled to a mash ; corr. of Hodge- Podge, alias Hoche-pot (Chaucer) • from Hacher, Fr. to cut in pieces, or Hutspot, Belg. S4t GLOSSARY. Haulm, s. the dried stalks of potatoes, beans, peas, and such like : from Healme, Sax. culmus, stipula. Hawk-a-mouth'd, part. adj. one that is perpetually hawking and spitting, foul-mouthed. Hay-maidens, s. the ground-ivy, Glechoma hederacea of Linnaeus. To Hear-tell, v. n, to learn by common report. In the pret. Yeard-tell, in opposition to modern caprice, which sounds the H hard. To Heave, v. a. the usual word for to throw or project. Heave-up, s. disturbance, fuss, to-do. Heckemal, s. the tom-tit or tit-mouse. Heft, *. weight : from Heavan, Sax. to lift. To Hele, v. a. In the original sense, to hide or cover; in Devonshire to roof over with heling-stones or slates, to besmear or daub with dirt, to earth up potatoes : from Helan, Sax. to hide. Hellier, 8. a tiler. Helter-skelter, adv. tumultuously. Several co- gnate expressions, as hodge-podge, hoppetyhoy, ha- rum-scarum, hum-drum, humpy-dumpy, higgle-de- piggledy, hurly-burly, hub-bub, hocus-pocus, hurry- scurry, hullabaloo, hoyty-toyty, hippety-hoppety, &c. are as common in Devonshire as elsewhere. They are found in Todd, and their etymologies traced as far as possible. Her, pron. for she in the notn. case. To Hide, v. a. to beat. Also the noun Hiding, beating. HiQH-DE-Lows, «. boisterous merry-makings. HiGH-KicKEO| part. adj. high-heeled, aspiring, con- ceited. GLOSSARY. 55 To Hitch, v. a. to fasten or hang up. As in the follow- ing sense, to tie a horse to a gate, to suspend a hat to a nail. To hook up is used in the same sense, from Hiegan, Sax. Hizy-Prizy, s. Nisi Prius. HoA, s. stop, cessation: from the interjection Ho ! com- manding a halt. To Hobbyhorse, v. n. to romp. Love's Labour Lost, iii. 1 . Hobbyhorse, s. a hoyden, a tomboy, a rantipole. Also a sort of Saturnalia practised annually on Holy Thursday in the neighbourhood of Combemartin, in commemoration of the wild man of the woods. HocKY, the game of. See Bandy. Hog, s. a yearling sheep ; a heap or barrow of potatoes : from Hog, Suio.-Goth. cumulus. HoLM-scREECH, s. the missel-thrush, Turdus viscivorus of Donavan. Hood, s. wood. Hoop, s. the bull-finch. Horry, adj. mouldy. Horse, s. various supports are so called, as a horse to air linen, a stand (keeve-horse) on which barrels are rested, &c. Horse-corn, s. the small corn which is separated by sifting. HoRSE-sNAP, s. knapweed, Centauria jacea of Linnaeus. Hot or Ox, pr, interj. what ! To HoTCH, V. a. to drive cattle. HouDERY, adj, cloudy, overcast. * It is houdering for rain', i. e. it threatens rain. Hover or Huver, s, a hole under the hanging bank of 56 GLOSSARY. a river, where fish are generally found : dim. of Hofe, Sax. a house ; F in V rautato : or from Hovio, Welch, immiriere. HucK, s. the hock or ham : from Hog. Sax. poples. In the pi. Huxen. * Muxen up to the Huxen', i. e. crotte with dirt up to the hams. HucK-MucK, s. a little short stuggy fellow, a sort of stick-i'-the-mud. To HuFFLE, V. n. to shift, to waver. HuGGERMUGGER, adj. ' In huggermugger fashion', in a mean underhand manner, the contrary to straight- forward : from Hugger, Sax. to lurk about. To HuLDER, V. n. to drive by the wind, to hurtle. HuLKiE, s. a huge loutish fellow. Hulking, adj. unwieldy, untoward. HuMMAN or Umman, s. woman. Hunch, s. a huge lump of food, as opposed to a slice. Hungry, adj. stingy. Hunks, s. a covetous miserly fellow : Hunskur, Isl. HuRRisoME, adj. hasty. HuRTLEBERRY, s, the fruit of the Vaccinium myrtilluSy the bilberry, or whortleberry ; from Heorotberg, Sax. Heidelbeere is one of the German names for this fruit. Huzzy, s. a needle-and-thread case : abb. of Housewife. I. I, IS andEES, adv. ay, yes. 'I sure', 'is sure', and 'ees sure' are equally common. ' I, I Sir ' is always the reply on board ship. GLOSSARY. 57 J. Jack-i'-the-Lantern or Jack-a-t-wad, s. an ignis fa- tuus. The latter term from Wad, Belg. or Vadum, Lat. a swamp or ford. Jack-o-long-legs, a summer fly, Tipula, with very long legs. Jakes, s. spurcitia, sordes, any mess or litter. Jam, s. a squeeze. The same word is always used on board ship. Oh Jaykle, interj. O Jesus I To Jet, v. a. to throw, to jog, to nudge. To Jib, v. n. said of a draught-horse that goes backwards instead of forwards : another sea phrase. JiBB, s. the form or stand on which beer-barrels are rested. A long jibb, a long chin or face. Jiffy, *. an instant, the twinkling of an eye. JiM-cRACK, s. any piece of trumpery contrivance, rattle- traps. Ilt or Elt, s. a gelt sow. Ilthin, s. an inflammation of the finger. A Laughing Jockey, s. a walking-stick made out of a vine-shoot. To Joggle or Joggee, v. a. dim. of to jog. To ride Joliphant, so called when two females ride to- gether on the same horse, one before on a side-saddle, and another on a pillion behind. Jorum, *. a huge pot or mess of anything fluid. JouDs or Jags, s. rags. JouLTER, adj. Joulter-head, a blockhead. In Todd it is Jolt-head. 58 GLOSSARY. JowERiNG, part, swearing. Queiy from Juro, Lat. to swear ? See Nares, who gives an example to this ef- fect from R. Hayman's Quodlibets. Inian or Ingan, s. onion ; as in Scotland. IsE, pron. I, as * Ise warrant me', ' Ise like to see'n'. Items, s. tricks, fancies, caprices. Junket, *. the meaning of this word is restricted in Devonshire to curds and clouted cream ; but the de- rivative from this, Junketing, has a much wider sense, including all kinds of merry-making and feast- ing. From Gioncata, Ital. cremor lactis coagulatus, sic dicta quia in junceis calathis circumfertur. {Skin- ner.) JuGGY-MiRE, a swamp or bog. I suspect from the verb to Joggy, dim. of to jog, from the undulatory nature of the surface. K. Kee, s. kine, cows. Keive or Keeve, s. the mashing-tub or vat used in brewing. Keendest or Kindest, adv. 'any keendest thing', any- thing whatsoever. Kercher, «. the omentum or caul of an animal. To Kern, v. n. the setting of corn or fruit is always so called : from Kerne, Teut. a kernel. To Kerp, v. a. to tyrannize or crow over another. Kess, s. a cap. KiBBY, adj. sore : from Kibe, the old English word for chilblain : from Kerb, Germ, or Gibws, Welch, ejus- dem significationis. GLOSSARY. 59 KicKHAMMER, s, Q. Stammerer. Kicking, adj. smart, well dressed, showy. ' All the kick', an idiomatic phrase, meaning all the fashion ; hence high-kicked, of the same signification as high- flying. Quere, an epithet applied to wrestlers ? Kickshaws, s. foreign dishes, trumpery new inventions of any sort, rattle-traps. A KiDDON OF MUTTON OR VEAL. A loiii of those mcats, because the kidney is situated in that part. Kill, s. a kiln. Kit, s. a family or gang : the phrase * As like as two kittens' sufficiently explains the origin of this word. Kittibats, s. a sort of buskins or gaiters. Knat, s. a small parterre of flowers, i. e. a knot or cluster. Lab or Labb-o'-the-tongue, s. a tittle-tattle, a blab. To Lackee, v. n. to lack, to be absent from home, to loiter. Ladies' Thistle, s. the Carduus Befiedictus of Limiseus. From its broad leaves being dappled with white, in testimony, it is said, of the Virgin's having once em- ployed them as a convenient receptacle for milk when no other was at hand. Laid by the wall. Said of an unburied corpse. Lake, s. any small rivulet is so called. Lambs-wool-sky, a collection of white orbicular masses 60 GLOSSARY. of cloud (the cirrostratus of meteorologists) which pretty certainly prognosticates rain. Lamming, adj. huge, great. To lam, in the sense of to beat, is a provincialism in many counties, from whence may easily be deduced the adjective lam- ming; exactly in the same manner as whapping, whanging, banging, and fifty other similar expres- sions, are directly deducible from their respective verbs, which are all verbs of verberation. Lamps'd, part. adj. lamed, injured. Lark, *. a rattlepate or wild fellow ; also a spree or innocent frolic. To Lark, v. n. to pUy wild pranks. The correspond- ing nautical phrase, * To Skylark' is a sufficient account of the origin of this term. To Larrup, to lick, to lump, to leather, to lace, are different verberatory words in vulgar use, and which abound in all provincial dialects. Lathing, *. invitation : from Geladhian, Sax. to bid. Lattin, .