The Salamanca Corpus: Provincial Words and Expressions Current in Lincolnshire (1866) Author: John Ellet Brogden (1837-1875) Text type: Glosssary Date of composition: 1866 Editions: 1866. Source text: Brogden, John Ellet. 1866. Provincial Words and Expressions Current in Lincolnshire. London: R. Hardwicke. e-text Access and transcription: December 2011 Number of words: 48,175 Dialect represented: Lincolnshire Produced by María F. García-Bermejo Giner and Diego Canelada Sánchez Copyright © 2012– DING, The Salamanca Corpus, Universidad de Salamanca PROVINCIAL WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS CURRENT IN LINCOLNSHIRE. BY J. ELLETT BROGDEN. LONDON: ROBERT HARDWICKE, PICCADILLY. LINCOLN: "THE GAZETTE OFFICE," AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS. 1866. The Salamanca Corpus: Provincial Words and Expressions Current in Lincolnshire (1866) [NP] TO THE REVEREND PREBENDARY TROLLOPE, M.A., F.S.A., RECTOR OF LEASINGHAM, CO. LINCOLN, PROCTOR IN CONVOCATION, AND HON. SECRETARY OF THE DIOCESAN ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETY, THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY HIS OBEDIENT SERVANT, THE AUTHOR. 31, NEWLAND, Lincoln, June, 1866. [NP] PREFACE WHEN first I imposed upon myself the task of producing this volume, I little thought it would have entailed some years of labour; yet such has been the case, and I am aware that my work is still incomplete. Had I, however, abstained from publishing it for a year or two more, probably the same remark might have been applied to it with equal force, I have, therefore, resolved to place my labours at once before the public. I had intended to have entitled my book "The Provincialisms of Lincolnshire," but this, I found, was too contracted a title, because in many instances the same words are used in other counties, and I could not say to which they especially belonged, so that eventually I gratefully accepted the counsel of that learned gentleman to whom I have done myself the honour of dedicating this volume, by terming it " The Provincial Words and Expressions Current in Lincolnshire." Not the least difficult part of my labour has been the selection of suitable words to express the exact meaning of these Provincial Words and Expressions. On this subject Dr. Johnson says:— "That part of my work on which I expect malignity most frequently to fasten, is the explanation, in which I cannot [viii] The Salamanca Corpus: Provincial Words and Expressions Current in Lincolnshire (1866) hope to satisfy those, who are perhaps not inclined to be pleased, since I have not always been able to satisfy myself. To interpret a language by itself is very difficult; many words cannot be explained by synonymes, because the idea signified by them has not more than one appellation; nor by paraphrase, because simple ideas cannot be described. When the nature of things is unknown, or the notion unsettled and indefinite, and various in various minds, the words by which such notions are conveyed, or such things denoted, will be ambiguous and perplexed. Things may be not only too little, but too much known, to be happily illustrated. To explain requires the use of terms less abstruse than that which is to be explained, and such terms cannot always be found; for as nothing can be proved but the supposing something intuitively known, and evident without proof, so nothing can be defined but by the use of words too plain to admit a definition." The remark may be made that my catalogue contains words that are to be found in some well known dictionaries; but on this subject Johnson says, with regard to his English Dictionary:— " Obsolete words are admitted, when they are found in authors not obsolete, or when they have any force or beauty that may deserve revival." If this idea be carried out by all lexographers then, to obtain a redundance of words, they may find "force and beauty" in the provincialisms all over Great Britain. Others may observe that I have included in my work provincial words used in many parts of England. In answer to this I may state, that I have myself heard a great number [ix] of the words contained in this Dictionary made use of, and that I have copied the remainder from lists of words acknowledged to be in use in this county, from the works of Grose, Thompson (Historian of Boston), and Halliwell, or from collections of words made by the Rev. W. Knox Marshall, of Wragby; Rev. J. H. Pooley, of Scotter; and John Bromhead, Esq., of Lincoln; supplemented by kind assistance from the Revs. Edward Trollope, of Leasingham; James Hildyard, of Ingoldsby; T. W. Mossman, of West Torrington; H. Maclean, of Caistor; Atwill Curtois, of Longhills; and Messrs. John Ross, of Lincoln; Ranyard, of Market Rasen; W. Stout, of Boston; Tagg and F. W. Brogden, of Louth; Hardwicke, of Piccadilly; and Wills, of Tetney, to all of whom I am greatly indebted for their valuable aid. [11] PROVINCIAL WORDS A A.—An exclamation of wonder or surprise; also in, to, of. Exs. A-pieces, out a-work. Aback.—By surprise. Ex. When I first saw him I was completely taken aback. A bear.—To detest, to endure. Ex. I cannot abear to think about my recent losses. Abide—To nauseate, to detest, to endure. Ex. I cannot abide to eat such victuals. Abless.—Careless or negligent in the person or dress, helpless. The Salamanca Corpus: Provincial Words and Expressions Current in Lincolnshire (1866) Ablins.—Perhaps. Ex. Ablins he might take tea with us if he were asked. Aboon.—Above. Ex. The sun is now aboon our heads. About.—Inconvenienced, intercepted in one's wonted occupation. Ex. Since our change of residence, I have been sadly put about. About.—Moving or recovering as applied to an invalid. Ex. He will soon be about again, i.e., not compelled to confine himself to his "sick room." A braham-man.—A cheat Abraid.—A feeling of nausea. Acre-spire.—The sprouts of growing corn. [12] Addle, Aidle.—To earn, to make money or profit. Ex. I have aidled my week's wages. Addle-cap.—An unruly boy. Ex. We can do no thing with hirn he is such an addle-cap. A-deal.—Much, many. Ex. There was a-deal of stuff in the crew. A'dent.—Are not. Ex. The eggs a'dent there. A-done.—Have done. Acquittance.—A receipt. A-faix.—In faith. Ex. A-faix it was so. Afeard.—Afraid. Affront.—Offend. Ex. I'm certain sure I've affronted him. After-clap.—An extra demand, a second bill sent in after the first has been paid. Ex. After the bill I had paid I never anticipated such an afterclap. Afterings.—The last of a cow's milk. The squeezing or exhausting the udder is also called stropping, and the milk so drawn from it is called stroppings. See Strappings. After-math.—A second crop of grass, autumnal grass after mowing. Afwore.—Before. Ag, Hag.— To hack or cut awkwardly with a knife. Ex. Don't ag that meat. Agait, Agate.—Starting, the act of doing. Ex. I am going to get agate my work. Agaitsward.—To go towards home. Agate-house.—To accompany a friend home. Ex. I went agate-house with Bill. Age.—Askew, awry, a partly shut door. Ex. The cloth is cut age. Ageen, Agin.—Against. Ex. We pushed ageen the door. The Salamanca Corpus: Provincial Words and Expressions Current in Lincolnshire (1866) [13] Agen.—Again. Ex. He's done it agen. Ager, Heygre.—The first wave of a tide. It is Seen in the Trent and Welland, in this county. Ex. "Roars the hoarse heygre in its course, Lashing the banks with its wrathful force." Baron a Yule Feast. Ager.—The ague. Aggravate.—To vex, to annoy. Ex. Don't aggravate me, or I may strike you. Aggravation.—Vexation, annoyance. Ex. It was only done for aggravation. Agog.—Anxious suspense. Agreeable.—To consent to any proposition. Ex. I am agreeable, if no one else objects. Agnail.—Torn skin near the finger nail. Ah-lack-a-daisy-me.—Unhappy day, unhappy me. Ail.—I will Ailce.—Abbreviation (in pronunciation) of Alice. As may be seen in old parochial registers, this was the way in which Alice was generally spelt and, most probably, pronounced. Ailment.—An illness. Ex. He has had a bad ailment on him for a long time. Ailing.—Still ill. Ex. I'm ailing. Ain.—Own. Aint.—Is not [Very common.] Ex. I aint a-going with yah! Airms.—Arms. Aist.—Thou wilt, you will. Ex. Aist go with me I'll powd it. Aisy.—Easy. Ex. I took it quite aisy. Aitch-bone.—The edge bone. Akimbo.—Folded arms. Ex. He stood akimbo. Alablaster.—Alabaster. [14] Alegar.—Sour beer, used as a substitute for vinegar. Vinegar is the French word vin aigre, wine sour or sharp; and, by the same rule of formation, alegar has become a name for ale sour or sharp. The Salamanca Corpus: Provincial Words and Expressions Current in Lincolnshire (1866) Alick.—Alexander. All-a-bits.—All in pieces, all to bits. All-along.—Because, through, owing to, blame thrown upon another. Ex. It was all- along of him that I came. All-amang-pur.—Mixed confusedly together. Alley.—A lad's marble of superior value to a common one, a church aisle, a narrow passage. All-out—Entirely, quite. All-overish.—A kind of shivering feeling, not well in health. All-to-nought.—Entirely gone. Allust.—Always. Ex. We allust do it that ways. Amper.—To encumber. Ex. You amper me up. (As though shut up in a hamper). An-all.—As well, also, too, and all. Ex. He came an-all. Ancient.—An old man or woman.