Hit. (1) To bear a good crop, to succeed: as 'Th' apples hit well t' year.' Treated by Akerman as a noun instead of a verb.—N.W. (2)v.To pour out or throw out. 'You ought to het a quart o' drenk into 'ee.' 'Hit it out on the garden patch.'—N.W.
Hitchland. SeeHookland.
Hitter. A cow which is ill and appears likely to die is said to be 'going off a hitter.'—N.W.
Hittery. Of cows: suffering from looseness, ill.—N.W.
Hobby.Yunx torquilla, the Wryneck.—S.W. (Bishopstone.).
*Hob-lantern. Will-o'-the-Wisp (A.B.).
Hock about. To treat a thing carelessly; drag it through the mud. 'Now dwoan't 'ee gwo a-hocken on your new vrock about.'—N.W. The usual form in S. Wilts isHack-about.
Hocks. (1) To cut in an unworkmanlike manner (A.). (2) To trample earth into a muddy, untidy condition.—N.W.
Hocksy,Hoxy. Dirty, muddy, miry.—N.W.
'It's about two miles in vine weather; but when it's hocksey like this, we allows a mile vor zlippin' back!'—Wilts Tales, p. 179.
'It's about two miles in vine weather; but when it's hocksey like this, we allows a mile vor zlippin' back!'—Wilts Tales, p. 179.
*Hodmandod,Hodmedod.adj.Short and clumsy (B.).
Hodmedod. (1)n.A snail.—N.W. (Mildenhall.) *(2) Short and clumsy (B.). SeeHodmandod.
Ho for. (1) To provide for. SeeHowed for.—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard; Malmesbury.) (2) To desire, to long for. 'I did hankeran' ho a'ter 'ee zo.'—N.W. (Malmesbury.)
Hog. (1) n. Originally a castrated animal, as a hog pig (D.). (2) Now extended to any animal of a year old, as a chilver hog sheep (D.).
'We have wether hogs, and chilver hogs, and shear hogs ... the word hog is now applied to any animal of a year old, such as a hog bull, a chilver hog sheep.'—Wilts Arch. Mag.xvii 303.'1580 ... Una ovis vocata a hogge.'—Scrope'sHistory of Castle Combe.
'We have wether hogs, and chilver hogs, and shear hogs ... the word hog is now applied to any animal of a year old, such as a hog bull, a chilver hog sheep.'—Wilts Arch. Mag.xvii 303.
'1580 ... Una ovis vocata a hogge.'—Scrope'sHistory of Castle Combe.
(3) To cut a mane or hedge short (D.), so that the stumps stick up like bristles (Village Miners).—N. & S.W.
Hogo. (Fr.haut goût). A bad smell (Monthly Mag.1814). Still frequently used of tainted meat or strong cheese.—N. & S.W.
*Hollardy-day. The 3rd of May. Apparently a perversion of 'Holy Rood Day.'—N.W. (Malmesbury.)
Home, to be called. To have the banns of marriage published.—S.W.
'They tells I as 'ow Bet Stingymir is gwain to be caal'd whoam to Jim Spritely on Zundy.'—Slow.
'They tells I as 'ow Bet Stingymir is gwain to be caal'd whoam to Jim Spritely on Zundy.'—Slow.
Honesty.Clematis Vitalba, L., Traveller's Joy, occasionally. *Maiden's Honesty(Aubrey's Wilts MS.).—N.W.
Honey-bottle. (1) Heather. (2) Furze. It is not clear which is intended inGreat Estate, ch. i.
*Honey-plant. Some old-fashioned sweet-scented plant, perhaps the dark Sweet Scabious, which used to be known as 'Honey-flower' in some counties.
'In the garden, which was full of old-fashioned shrubs and herbs, she watched the bees busy at the sweet-scented "honey-plant."'—Great Estate, ch. ii.
'In the garden, which was full of old-fashioned shrubs and herbs, she watched the bees busy at the sweet-scented "honey-plant."'—Great Estate, ch. ii.
Also seeReproach of Annesley, vol. i. p. 119, for Hants use of the name:—
'Sibyl bent over a honey plant encrusted with pink-scented blossoms, about which the bees ... were humming—an old-fashioned cottage plant.'
'Sibyl bent over a honey plant encrusted with pink-scented blossoms, about which the bees ... were humming—an old-fashioned cottage plant.'
Honey-suckle. (1)Lamium album, L., White Dead Nettle, sucked by children for its honey.—S.W. (Salisbury.) (2) Also applied to both Red and White Clover,Trifolium pratenseandT. repens.—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.)
Hook. Of a bull, to gore (S.). SeeUck.—N. & S.W.
'Comparehuck, to push, lift, gore, Hants; and Prov.hike, to toss.'—Smythe-Palmer.
'Comparehuck, to push, lift, gore, Hants; and Prov.hike, to toss.'—Smythe-Palmer.
Hookland(orHitchland)Field. A portion of the best land in a common field, reserved for vetches, potatoes, &c., instead of lying fallow for two years (Agric. of Wilts, ch. vii). Parts of some fields are still known asHooklandsin S. Wilts, though the system has died out. Sometimes defined as 'land tilled every year.'—N. & S.W.
Hoop.Pyrrhula vulgaris, the Bullfinch (A.B.); alsoRed Hoop.—N.W.
Hoops, orWaggon-Hoops. The woodwork projecting from the sides of a waggon so as to form an arch over the hind wheels.—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.)
Hooset. SeeHousset.
Hop-about. An apple dumpling (B.C.), probably from its bobbing about in the pot. Cf.Apple-bout.—N.W.
Hopper. A grig (Amateur Poacher, ch. i).
Horse-daisy.Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, L., Ox-eye Daisy.—N. & S.W.
*Horse-Matcher.Saxicola rubicola, the Stonechat (Birds of Wilts, p. 150).
'Horse-matchers or stonechats also in summer often visit the rick-yard.'—Wild Life, ch. x. p. 159.
'Horse-matchers or stonechats also in summer often visit the rick-yard.'—Wild Life, ch. x. p. 159.
Horses. In N. Wilts the orders given to a plough or team are as follows:—to the front horse,Coom ether, go to the left, andWowt, to the right: to the hinder horse,Wo-oot, to the right, andGie aayorGie aay oot, to the left. The orders to oxen are somewhat different.
Horse-shoe.Acer Pseudo-platanus, L., Sycamore.—S.W. (Barford St. Martin.)
*Horse's-leg. A bassoon.
Horse-Snatcher.Saxicola oenanthe, the Wheatear (Birds of Wilts, p. 152).—N.W. (Huish, &c.)
Horse-stinger,Hosstenger. The Dragon-fly (A.B.S.).—N. & S.W.
Hound. The fore-carriage of a waggon.—N.W.
House,Houst. To grow stout. 'Lor, ma'am, how you've a-housted!'—N.W.
Housset,Hooset,Wooset. (1)n.A serenade of rough music, got up to express public disapproval of marriages where there is great disparity of age, flagrant immorality, &c. See article onThe WoosetinWilts Arch. Mag.vol. i. p. 88; cp.N. & Q.4 Ser. xi. p. 225. In Berks the 'Hooset' is a draped horse's head, carried at a 'Hooset Hunt.' See Lowsley'sBerks Gloss.—N.W. (2)v.To take part in a housset.—N.W.
*Howe.n.'To be in a howe,' to be in a state of anxiety about anything (C.). SeeHo for.—N.W., obsolete.
*Howed-for. Well provided for, taken care of (A.B.C.H.Wr.).
Huckmuck. (1) A strainer placed before the faucet in brewing (A.B.H.Wr.).—N.W. (2)Parus caudatus, the Long-tailed Titmouse (Birds of Wilts, p. 173).—N. & S.W. (3) General untidiness and confusion, as at a spring-cleaning. A very dirty untidy old woman is 'a reg'lar huckmuck.'—N.W.
Hucks,Husks. (1) The chaff of oats (Village Miners).—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.) (2) Grains of wheat which have the chaff still adhering to them after threshing, and are only fit for feeding poultry.—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.)
Hud. (1)n.The husk of a walnut, skin of a gooseberry, shell of a pea or bean, &c.—N. & S.W. (2)v.To take off the husk of certain fruits and vegetables. Beans arehuddedand peasshelledfor cooking.—N.W. (3) A finger-stall or finger of a glove (S.). AlsoHuddick(S.).—N. & S.W. (4) A lump or clod of earth.—N.W. Cf.Hut.
Huddy,Oddy. Of soil, full of lumps and clods.—N.W.
*Hudgy. Clumsy, thick (A.B.C.H.Wr.).
Hudmedud. (1)n.A scarecrow (A.). In common use in N. Wilts.
'Mester Cullum i sends you back your saddell koz its such a cusnashun rum looking hudmedud of a theng that pipl woll no it direckly.'—Wilts Tales, p. 79.'"That nimity-pimity odd-me-dod!"... Little contemptible scarecrow.'—Greene Ferne Farm, ch. iii.
'Mester Cullum i sends you back your saddell koz its such a cusnashun rum looking hudmedud of a theng that pipl woll no it direckly.'—Wilts Tales, p. 79.
'"That nimity-pimity odd-me-dod!"... Little contemptible scarecrow.'—Greene Ferne Farm, ch. iii.
*(2)adj.Short and clumsy (B.). SeeHodmedod.
Hullocky!'Hullo! look here!' exclamation denoting surprise, or calling attention to anything (S.). This is usually pronouncedHellucky, and is a contraction of 'Here look ye!' AlsoYellucks.—N. & S.W.
'"Now which way is it?"... "Yellucks," said the boy, meaning "Look here."'—Greene Ferne Farm, ch. v.
'"Now which way is it?"... "Yellucks," said the boy, meaning "Look here."'—Greene Ferne Farm, ch. v.
'"This be the vinest veast ... as ever I zeed.... Yellucks!"—as much as to say, Look here, that is my dictum.'—Ibid.ch. xi.
'"This be the vinest veast ... as ever I zeed.... Yellucks!"—as much as to say, Look here, that is my dictum.'—Ibid.ch. xi.
Humbug. A sweet or lollipop.—N.W.
Humbuz. A cockchafer.—N.W.
*Humdaw. To speak hesitatingly (Village Miners).
Humming-bird.Regulus cristatus, the Golden-crested Wren.—N.W. (Huish.)
'We always calls 'em humming-birds here, and they are humming-birds!' said the school-children at Huish, in the most decided manner, when cross-examined as to the Gold-crest. Apparently thesame use obtains in Devon, as Martin speaks of the 'humming-bird' as occurring in certain localities about Tavistock, which are assigned to the Gold-crest by other writers. SeeMrs. Bray'sDescription of Devon, 1836, vol. ii. p. 146.
'We always calls 'em humming-birds here, and they are humming-birds!' said the school-children at Huish, in the most decided manner, when cross-examined as to the Gold-crest. Apparently thesame use obtains in Devon, as Martin speaks of the 'humming-bird' as occurring in certain localities about Tavistock, which are assigned to the Gold-crest by other writers. SeeMrs. Bray'sDescription of Devon, 1836, vol. ii. p. 146.
*Hummocksing. Clumsy, awkward, loutish.
'She had a lover, but he was "a gurt hummocksing noon-naw" ... a "great loose-jointed idiot."'—Great Estate, ch. iv.
'She had a lover, but he was "a gurt hummocksing noon-naw" ... a "great loose-jointed idiot."'—Great Estate, ch. iv.
Humstrum. A home-made fiddle (S.). Sometimes applied also to a large kind of Jew's-harp.—S.W.
Hunch about. To push or shove about.—S.W.
*Hunder-stones. Thunder-bolts (Aubrey'sWilts, Roy. Soc. MS.). Probably either belemnites, or else the concretionary nodules of iron pyrites, called 'thunder-bolts' by the labourers, are here intended. SeeThunder-stones.
Hunked. SeeUnked(A.H.).
Hurdle-footed. Club-footed.—S.W.
Hurdle-shore. The same asFold-shore.—S.W.
Hurkle. To crowd together, as round the fire in cold weather. An old form ofhurtle.
'Hurtelyn, as too thyngys togedur (al.hurcolyn, hurchyn togeder).Impingo,collido.'—Prompt. Parv.c. 1440 (Smythe-Palmer).
'Hurtelyn, as too thyngys togedur (al.hurcolyn, hurchyn togeder).Impingo,collido.'—Prompt. Parv.c. 1440 (Smythe-Palmer).
Husk,Hesk. A disease of the throat, often fatal to calves. SeeHask.—N.W.
Husks. SeeHucks.
Hut. A lump of earth.—N.W. SeeHud(4).
Hutty. Lumpy, as ground that does not break up well.—N.W.
Hyle,Hile,Aisle, &c. (1)n.A shock or cock of wheat, consisting of several sheaves set up together for carrying. The number of sheaves was formerly ten, for the tithing man's convenience, but now varies considerably, according to the crop.Tithingin N.W.Hile-a-whate(S.) The forms given by Davis,aisle,aile, andisle, seem purely fanciful, as also does the derivation there suggested, ahylebeing merely a single shock. In some parts of Wilts the shape and size of a hyle will depend largely on the weather at harvest-time. Thus in a stormy season it will usually be built compact and round, while in a calm one it may sometimes form a line several yards in length.—S.W.
''Tis merry while the wheat's in hile.'—Barnes,Poems.
''Tis merry while the wheat's in hile.'—Barnes,Poems.
(2)v.To make up into hyles. Wheat and rye are always hyled, and oats usually so, about Salisbury.—S.W.
Ichila-pea. The Missel-thrush: only heard from one person, but perhaps an old name.—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.)
Iles. SeeAiles.
Imitate. To resemble. 'The childern be immitatin' o' their vather about the nause.' Participle only so used.—N.W.
In-a-most. Almost.—N. & S.W.
'It inamwoast killed our bwoy Sam.'—Wilts Tales, p. 145.
'It inamwoast killed our bwoy Sam.'—Wilts Tales, p. 145.
Innocent. Small, neat, unobtrusive, as 'a innocent little primrose.' Virtually restricted to flowers.—N.W.
Iron Pear.Pyrus Aria, L., White Beam.—N.W. (Heddington, &c.) Iron-Pear-Tree Farm, near Devizes, is said to take its name from this tree.
*Isnet.Alkanet bugloss(D.).
*Ivors. Hanging woods (Slow).—S.W. There would appear to be some misunderstanding here. The word may refer to the coverts on the hillside above Longbridge Deverill, which are known asThe Ivors, the farm below beingLong Ivor Farm. At Wroughton a field is called 'The Ivory,' but this is perhaps a family name.
Izzard. The letter Z (A.S.). Still in use in S.W.
*Jack. A newt.—N.W. (Swindon.)
Jack,Jack Ern.Ardea cinerea, the Heron (Birds of Wilts, p. 395).—N.W. AlsoMoll 'ern.
Jack-and-his-team. The Great Bear.—N.W. (Huish.) SeeDick-and-his-team.
Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon.Tragopogon pratensis, L., Goat's Beard.—N. & S.W.
Jack-in-the-green. (1)Adonis autumnalis, L., Pheasant's-eye.—S.W. (2) The hose-in-hose variety of Polyanthus.—N. & S.W.
Jack-run-along-by-the-hedge.Alliaria officinalis, Andrzj., Hedge Mustard.
Jacky-Dinah.Sylvia sylvicola, the Wood Warbler.—S.W. (Bishopstone.)
Jacob's-ladder.Polygonatum multiflorum, All., Solomon's Seal.—S.W. (Farley, &c.)
Jag. The awn and head of the oat. Oats are spoken of as 'well-jagged,' 'having a good jag,' 'coming out in jag,' &c.—N.W.
'The despised oats were coming out in jag ... in jag means the spray-like drooping awn of the oat.'—Round about a Great Estate, ch. i. p. 8.
'The despised oats were coming out in jag ... in jag means the spray-like drooping awn of the oat.'—Round about a Great Estate, ch. i. p. 8.
Jan-Chider. SeeJohnny Chider.
Jarl. To quarrel, to 'have words.'—N.W.
Jaw-bit. Food carried out in the fields by labourers, to be eaten about 10 or 11 o'clock.—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.)
Jee. SeeGee.
Jew-berry.Rubus caesius, L., Dewberry; a corruption of the proper name (Wild Life, ch. xi).—N. & S.W.
Jibbets. Small pieces. 'You never did see such a slut! her gownd a-hangin' in dirty jibbets [rags] aal about her heels!'—N. & S.W.
*Jiffle. At Bishopston, N. Wilts, an old bell-ringer was recently heard to accuse the younger men of having got into a regular 'jiffle' (? confusion) while ringing. We have not met with the word elsewhere, but Hal. and Wright havejiffle, to be restless, var. dial.
Jiggery-poke. Hocus-pocus.Jiggery-pokery.Unfair dealing (S.): deception.—N. & S.W.
Jigget.v.To ride or walk at a jog-trot. 'Here we go a jiggettin' along.'—N. & S.W.
Jiggetty.adj.(1) Jolty, shaky. 'This be a ter'ble jiggetty train.'—N.W. *(2) Fidgetty (S.).—S.W.
Jimmy,Sheep's Jimmy. A sheep's head (S.).—N. & S.W.
*Jimmy-swiver.n.A state of trembling. Apparently connected withwhiverorswiver.—N.W.
'"Lor, Miss, how you did froughten I! I be all of a jimmy-swiver," and she visibly trembled, which was what she meant.'—Greene Ferne Farm, ch. vii.
'"Lor, Miss, how you did froughten I! I be all of a jimmy-swiver," and she visibly trembled, which was what she meant.'—Greene Ferne Farm, ch. vii.
*Jitch,Jitchy. Such.—N.W. (Malmesbury.)
Jobbet. A small load (A.).—N.W.
*Jod. The letter J (A.S.).
Johnny Chider,Chan-chider. The Sedge Warbler,Salicaria phragmitis. So called 'because it scolds so.'—S.W. Jan Chider (S.).
Jolter-headed. Wrong-headed; used generally of a jealous spouse. 'Her wur allus a jolter-headed 'ooman.'—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.)
Jonnick. Honest, fair, straightforward in dealings (S.).—N. & S.W.
Joseph-and-Mary.Pulmonaria officinalis, L., Common Lung-wort, the flowers being of two colours, red and blue.—N.W.
Joy-bird. The Jay,Garrulus glandarius. The name commonly used in N. Wilts for the Jay. Fr.geai.—N.W. (Savernake Forest, &c.)
Jumble. A kind of coarse dark brown sweetmeat (My Old Village).—N.W.
Jumping Jesuses. The long-legged water-flies,Gerris, which skim along the surface of streams.—N.W. (Hilmarton.)
Junk. A hunch of bread-and-cheese, &c.; a lump of wood or coal. A solid piece (S.).—N.W.
Junket. A treat or spree; still in use. When potatoes were not so common as now, a man would complain of his wife's 'junketing wi' the taters,' i.e. digging them up before they were ripe, as a treat for the children.—N.W.
Just about. Extremely. SeeAbout(1).—N. & S.W.
*Jut. To nudge, to touch (S.).—N.W.
K.Ksometimes becomest, asbleat, bleak;blunt, blunk. Conversely,tbecomesk, assleek, sleet.
Keach, &c. SeeCatch(1).
Keavin. SeeCave(1).
Keck. To retch as if sick (A.); to cough; alsoCack.—N.W.
Kecker. The windpipe (A.S.).—N. & S.W.
Kecks. Dry stalks of hemlock (A.B.). Hemlock must here be taken to mean several of the largerUmbelliferae, and to include occasionally growing plants as well as dry stems. There are many variants of the word, asKeeks(A.),Kecksey(A.B.),Gix(A.B.H.Wr.),Gicksies(Amateur Poacher, ch. iii),Gicks(Great Estate, ch. v).—N. & S.W.
Keep,Kip. Growing food for cattle, &c. (A.B.S.).—N. & S.W.
Kerf. A layer of turf or hay (A.B.C.). A truss of hay.—N.W.
Ketch. SeeCatch(1).
Keys, or Keyn. Fruit of ash and sycamore (A.B.).—N. & S.W.
*Kibble. *(1) To chip a stone roughly into shape (A.). Cf. Glouc.cabble, to break smelted pig-iron into small pieces, before proceeding to draw it into bar-iron. *(2) To cut up firewood (Wilts Arch. Mag.vol. xxiv. p. 210).—Obsolete.
Kid. (1)n.The cod or pod of peas, beans, &c.—N. & S.W. (2)v.To form pods; used of peas and beans.Well-kidded, of beans or peas, having the stalks full of pods (D.).—N. & S.W.
Kidney-stones. Dark water-worn pebbles (Eulogy, p. 28).—N.W.
'Kin. The same asCiderkin.
Kind. Some woods and soils 'work kind,' i.e. easily, pleasantly.—N.W.
King's-cushion. SeeQueen's-cushion.
Kiss-behind-the-garden-gate.Saxifraga umbrosa, L., London Pride.—S.W. (Som. bord.)
Kissing-gate. A 'Cuckoo-gate,' or swing gate in a V-shaped enclosure.—N. & S.W.
Kiss-me-quick.Centranthus ruber, DC., Red Spur Valerian.—N.W.
*Kite's Pan.Orchis maculata, L., Spotted Orchis.—S.W. (Farley.)
Kitty Candlestick.Ignis fatuus, Will-o'-the-Wisp.Kit of the Candlestick(Aubrey'sNat. Hist. Wilts, p. 17, ed. Brit.).—S.W. (Deverill.)
Kiver. A cooler used in brewing (A.B.).—N. & S.W.
Knacker. To snap the fingers. Nacker (H.Wr.)—S.W.
Knap,Knop. (1)v.To chip stone, as formerly in making a gun-flint.—N.W. (2)n.A little hill; a steep ascent in a road (S.). This is really a Devon use.—S.W. (Dorset bord.)
Knee-sick. Of wheat, drooping at the joints, from weakness in the straw (D.).—N.W.
Knee-socked. Corn beaten down by storms is 'knee-socked down.'—N.W. SeeKnee-sick.
Knit. Of fruit, to set. 'The gooseberries be knitted a'ready.'—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.)
Knitch,Nitch,Niche, &c. Usually spelt incorrectly, without thek. M.E.knucche, Germ.knocke: used by Wycliffe, also inAlton Locke, ch. xxviii. (1)Nitch, a burden of wood, straw, or hay (A.B.), such a faggot as a hedger or woodman may carry home with him at night; a short thick heavy chump of wood (Village Miners). Hence a fine baby is spoken of as 'a regular nitch' (Ibid.). A bundle of gleaned corn (S.).—N. & S.W. (2) 'He has got a nitch,' is intoxicated, has had as much liquor as he can carry (A.B.). Compare:—
'He's got his market-nitch.'—Tess of the D'Urbervilles, vol. i. p. 19.
'He's got his market-nitch.'—Tess of the D'Urbervilles, vol. i. p. 19.
Knot Couch.Avena elatior, so called from the roots sometimes looking like a much-knotted cord or a string of beads.—N.W.
Koomb. SeeComb(S.).
Ladies-and-Gentlemen.Arum maculatum, L., Cuckoo-pint. Leades an Genlmin (S.).—N. & S.W.
*Ladies'-balls.Centaurea nigra, L., Black Knapweed.—S.W. (Charlton.)
*Ladies'-fingers-and-thumbs.Lotus corniculatus, L., Bird's-foot Trefoil.—N.W. (Enford.)
Ladies-in-white.Saxifraga umbrosa, L., London Pride.
Lady-cow. The Ladybird.—N.W.
Lady's-cushion.Anthyllis vulneraria, L., Kidney Vetch.—S.W. (Salisbury.)
Lady's-finger. (1) Applied generally toLotus corniculatusandHippocrepis comosa, and occasionally also toLathyrus pratensis. 'Leades vingers, the wild Calceolaria' (S.), probably refers to one of these flowers.—N. & S.W. (2)Arum maculatum, L., Cuckoo-pint.—S.W. (Barford St. Martin): N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.)
*Lady's-glove. 'The Greater Bird's-foot.'—S.W.
Lady's-nightcap. The flower ofConvolvulus sepium, L., Great Bindweed (A.B.).
Lady's-petticoat.Anemone nemorosa, L., Wood Anemone.—S.W. (Mere.)
Lady's-ruffles. The double white Narcissus.—N.W.
Lady's-shoe.Fumaria officinalis, L., Common Fumitory.—S.W. (Barford St. Martin.)
Lady's-slipper. Applied generally to the same plants as Lady's-finger.
*Lain. Of a smith, to dress the wing and point of a share (D.). SeeLay(4).
Laiter,Loiter. A full laying or clutch of eggs. The whole number of eggs produced by a hen at one laying, before she gets broody and ceases to lay.—N.W.
Lake. A small stream of running water.—S.W. (Hants bord.)
Lambkins. Catkins of hazel.—S.W. (Barford St. Martin.)
Lamb's-cage. A crib for foddering sheep in fold (D.).—N.W.
Lamb's-creep. A hole in the hurdles to enable the lambs to get out of the fold.—N.W.
Lamb's-tails. Catkins of willow and hazel.—N. & S.W.
Land. The 'rudge,' or ground between two water-furrows in a ploughed field.—N.W.
'The ploughman walks in the furrow his share has made, and presently stops to measure the "lands" with the spud.'—Amateur Poacher, ch. vii. pp. 130-1.
'The ploughman walks in the furrow his share has made, and presently stops to measure the "lands" with the spud.'—Amateur Poacher, ch. vii. pp. 130-1.
*Landshard. The strip of greensward dividing two pieces of arable in a common field (D.).
Land-spring. A spring which only runs in wet weather (Gamekeeper at Home, ch. v. p. 109).—N.W.
Lane(abroad). A strip of grass, generally irregular, bounding an arable field.—N.W. (Devizes.)
*Lannock. A long narrow piece of land (A.H.Wr.).
Lanshet. SeeLinch.
*Lark's-seed.Plantago major, L., Greater Plantain.—S.W. (Charlton.)
*Latter Lammas. An unpunctual person (S.)—S.W.
'When a person is habitually late and unpunctual, folks say—"What a Latter Lammas thee beest, ta be sure!"'—Letter from Mr. Slow.
'When a person is habitually late and unpunctual, folks say—"What a Latter Lammas thee beest, ta be sure!"'—Letter from Mr. Slow.
Lattermath. Aftermath (A.B.).Lattermassat Cherhill.—N.W.
Lave. (1) Of a candle, to gutter down (H.Wr.).—N.W. (2) To splash up water over yourself, as in a bath. 'Lave it well over ye.'—N.W.
Law. In N. Wilts, when speaking of relations-in-law, theinis always omitted, asbrother-law,father-law, &c., the only exception beingson-in-law.
Lay. (1)To lay a hedge, to trim it back, cutting the boughs half through, and then bending them down and intertwining them so as to strengthen the fence (A.).—N. & S.W. (2)To lay rough, to sleep about under hedges like a vagabond.—N. & S.W. (3)To lay up a field, to reserve it for mowing.—S.W. (4)To lay a tool, to steel its edge afresh. This appears to be the same as Davis'slain, which is probably a contraction oflay in. At Mildenhall you often hear oflayingorlaying ina pickaxe, and the word is to be traced back for a century or more in the parish accounts there.—N. & S.W. (5) An idle dissipated man is said tolay about.—N.W.
Laylocks. UsuallySyringa vulgaris, L., Lilac, but rarely applied toCardamine pratensis, L., Lady's Smock, in S. Wilts.
*Lay-over. A wooden bar, or a rope, used to fasten tackle together.
'Two or three horses go abreast, each drawing a harrow diagonally, all the harrows being fastened together with a lay-over or rider.'—Agric. of Wilts, ch. v.
'Two or three horses go abreast, each drawing a harrow diagonally, all the harrows being fastened together with a lay-over or rider.'—Agric. of Wilts, ch. v.
Leach. A strand of a rope.—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.)
Lear,Leer. (1) Empty (A.B.C.G.).—N. & S.W. (2) Hence, craving for food, hungry (A.C.S.).—N. & S.W.Learyis the usual form on the Som. bord.
'I never eat but two meals a day—breakfast and supper ... and I'm rather lear (hungry) at supper.'—Gamekeeper at Home, ch. i.
'I never eat but two meals a day—breakfast and supper ... and I'm rather lear (hungry) at supper.'—Gamekeeper at Home, ch. i.
'His bill was zharp, his stomack lear,Zo up a snapped the caddlin pair.'—Wilts Tales, p. 97.
'His bill was zharp, his stomack lear,Zo up a snapped the caddlin pair.'—Wilts Tales, p. 97.
Learn. To teach. 'I'll learn 'ee to do that again, you young vaggot!' 'Her do want some 'un to learn she, 'stead o' she learnin' we!' In general use in Wilts.—N. & S.W.
Lease,Leaze, &c.: sometimes used with a prefix, asCow-leaze,Ox-leaze. (1) As much pasture as will keep a cow (B.).—N. & S.W. (2) A large open pasture.Legh,Lease(Aubrey);Leaze(Amateur Poacher, ch. iii).—N. & S.W.
Lease. To glean (A.S.).—N. & S.W.
Lease-bread. Bread made from lease-corn.—N.W.
Lease-corn. Wheat collected by gleaning.—N.W.
Leaser. A gleaner.—N. & S.W.
Ledged. SeeLodged.
Lemfeg. An Elleme fig (A.H.Wr.).—N. & S.W.
'A cure-peg, a curry-peg,A lem-feg, a dough-feg.'—Wilts Nursery Jingle.
'A cure-peg, a curry-peg,A lem-feg, a dough-feg.'—Wilts Nursery Jingle.
*Length,Lent. A loan (A.B.). *Lenth(S.).
Let-off. To abuse.—N.W. (Cherhill.)
'Maester let I off at a vine rate.'—Wilts Arch. Mag.vol. xxii. p. 111.
'Maester let I off at a vine rate.'—Wilts Arch. Mag.vol. xxii. p. 111.
Lew(pronouncedLoo). (1)adj.Warm (H.).—N. & S.W. (2)n.Shelter (A.B.C.S.). 'Get in the lew,' i.e. into a place sheltered from the wind. A.S.hleo,hleow.—N. & S.W.
Lewis's Cat. A person suspected of incendiary habits. Many years ago fires are said to have occurred so frequently on the premises of a person of this name (whosecatsometimes had the blame of starting them), that the phrase passed into common use, and a suspected man soon 'got the name of a Lewis's Cat,' now corrupted into 'Blue Cat.'—S.W.
Lewth. Warmth (A.B.C.). Usually restricted to the sun's warmth, but inCunnington MS.applied to a thin coat, which 'has no lewth in it.'—N.W.
Lew-warm. Luke-warm.—N. & S.W.
Libbet. A fragment (S.). 'All in a libbet,' or 'All in libbets and jibbets,' torn to rags.—N. & S.W. AlsoLippet.
*Liberty.v.To allow anything to run loose. 'It don't matter how much it's libertied,' the more freedom you can give it the better.—N.W. (Cherhill.)
Licket. 'All to a licket,' all to pieces.—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.)
*Lide. The month of March (A.). A.S.hlýda,hlýdamonath, the stormy month, fromhlúd, boisterous, noisy (so Grein). This has nothing to do withlideorlithe, mild, whence come the A.S. names for June and July. SeeN. & Q.Feb. 6, 1892.
Lieton. SeeLitton.
Lill. To pant as a dog (A.B.H.).—N.W.
Lily, orLilies. (1)Convolvulus sepium, L., Great Bindweed.—S.W. (Farley and Charlton.) (2)Arum maculatum, L., Cuckoo-pint.—S.W. (Barford.)
Limb,Limm. (1)n.A ragged tear (Village Miners).—N.W. (2)v.To tear irregularly, to jag out (Ibid.).—N.W.
Limbers. The shafts of a waggon (S.).—N. & S.W.
Linch,Linchet,Lynch,Lanshet(N.W.),Lytchet(S.W.),Linchard, &c. (S.). A.S.hlinc, a bank. For articles on Lynchet, Linchet, or Linch, seeWilts Arch. Mag.xii. 185, and xv. 88. Also articles and letters inMarlborough College Natural History ReportandMarlborough Times, 1892, Seebohm'sVillage Community, and Britten'sOld Country Words. In an old MS. schedule of land at Huish, N.W., 'Lanshes and borders,' i.e. turf boundary banks and field margins, are enumerated. (1) Certain terraces, a few yards wide, on the escarpment of the downs, probably the remains of ancient cultivation, are locally known asLynchesorLynchets.—N. & S.W. (2) The very narrow ledges, running in regular lines along the steep face of a down, probably made by sheep feeding there, are also frequently so called.—S.W. (3) A raised turf bank dividing or bounding a field.—S.W. (4) A strip of greensward dividing two pieces of arable land in a common field (D.).—N. & S.W. (5) An inland cliff, cf. 'The Hawk's Lynch' (Tom Brown at Oxford); occasionally applied to a steep slope or escarpment, as at Bowood and Warminster.
*LinchardA precipitous strip of land on a hillside, left unploughed (Spring-tide, pp. 79 and 186). SeeLinch. Cf. A.S.hlinc, a bank; and perhapssceard, a piece or portion (Skeat).
*Lined. Of an animal, having a white back (D.).
Linet. Tinder (H.Wr.). Tinder was made of linen.—N.W., not long obsolete.
*Lipe. A pleat or fold in cloth.—S.W. (Salisbury.)
Lipping. Of weather, showery, wet, and stormy. 'I thenks as we shall have a ter'ble lipping summer to-year.' Cf. Lipping-time, a wet season, Glouc., andLippen', showery, Som.—N. & S.W.
*Litten,Litton. A churchyard. Lieton (H.Wr.)Chirche-litoun(Chron. Vilod.). Still used in Hants, but probably now obsolete in Wilts (Wilts Arch. Mag.vol. xxv. p. 129).
'His next bed will be in the Litten, if he be laying on the ground on such a night as this.'—Wilts Tales, p. 161.
'His next bed will be in the Litten, if he be laying on the ground on such a night as this.'—Wilts Tales, p. 161.
*Liver-sand. See quotation.
'Sand-veins ... which are deep and tough, and are of the nature called in Wilts "liver-sand."'—Agric. of Wilts, ch. xii.
'Sand-veins ... which are deep and tough, and are of the nature called in Wilts "liver-sand."'—Agric. of Wilts, ch. xii.
Lob. Of leaves, to droop limply, as cabbages do before rain.—N. & S.W.
Lock. 'A lock of hay,' a small quantity of hay (A.B.).—N.W.
Locks-and-Keys.Dielytra spectabilis, D.C. The usual cottagers' name for it in Somerset.—S.W. (Som. bord.).
Locky. Of hay which has not been properly shaken about, stuck together in locks as it was cut.—N.W.
Lodged. Of wheat, laid or beaten down by wind or rain (D.).—N. & S.W. AlsoLedged(Wilts Arch. Mag.vol. xxii. p. 112).
Log. SeeLug(1).
Loggered. A boy who is at plough all day often gets sologgered, or weighed down withloggers, all the time, that he comes home at night quite exhausted.—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.)
Loggers. Lumps of dirt on a ploughboy's feet.—N.W. (Clyffe Pypard.) In Glouc. a 'logger' is a small log attached to a horse's foot, to prevent straying.
Loggerums. (1)Centaurea nigra, L., Black Knapweed.—N.W. *(2) 'Scabious' (Village Miners).
Loiter. SeeLaiter.
Lolloper. A lazy lout (S.).—N. & S.W.
Lollup. (1) To loll out. 'Look athe, wi' he's tongue a lolluping out o' he's mouth, vor aal the world like a dog!'—N.W. (2) To loll about, to idle about. 'What be a-lollupin' about like that vor?'—N. & S.W.
*Long Eliza. A kind of long blue earthen jar, formerly often seen in cottages.—N.W. (Berks bord.)
'The high black chimney-shelf was covered with crockery of a low type of beauty; pink and yellow china dogs shared their elevated station with "long Elizas" and squat female figures.'—Dark, ch. i.
'The high black chimney-shelf was covered with crockery of a low type of beauty; pink and yellow china dogs shared their elevated station with "long Elizas" and squat female figures.'—Dark, ch. i.
Longful. Tedious (A.B.S.).—N. & S.W.
Long purples.Lythrum Salicaria, L., Purple Loosestrife. Rarely used. Tennyson's 'long purples of the dale' have been identified by himself asVicia Cracca; Shakespeare's are eitherOrchis mascula, orArum maculatum, while Clare applies the name toLythrum.
Long-winded. 'A long-winded man' always means one who is very slow to pay his debts.—N.W.
Long wood. The long branches which are bent down and used to weave in and bind a hedge when it is being laid.—N.W.
Lope along. To run as a hare does.—S.W.
Loppet. (1)v.The same asLope. (2)v.To idle about, to slouch about. 'A girt veller, allus a loppetin' about.'—N.W. Cf.Sloppet.
Loppetty. Weak, out of sorts.—N.W.
Lords-and-Ladies.Arum maculatum, L., Cuckoo-pint (A.B.).—N. & S.W.
Lot. To reckon, expect, think. 'I do lot her's a bad 'un.'—N.W.
Lot-meads. (1) Common meadows divided into equal-sized pieces, for the hay of which lots were cast each year (D.).—N.W., obsolete.
'"Lot Mead" is not an uncommon name of fields in Wiltshire parishes. It is perhaps a vestige of the original partition of lands when cleared, which the chronicler Simeon of Durham says were distributed by lot. See Kemble'sAnglo-Saxons, i. 91.'—Jackson'sAubrey, note, p. 198.
'"Lot Mead" is not an uncommon name of fields in Wiltshire parishes. It is perhaps a vestige of the original partition of lands when cleared, which the chronicler Simeon of Durham says were distributed by lot. See Kemble'sAnglo-Saxons, i. 91.'—Jackson'sAubrey, note, p. 198.
(2) A kind of festival in connexion with this division.
'Here [at Wanborough] is a Lott-mead celebrated yearly with great ceremony. The Lord weareth a garland of flowers: the mowers at one house have always a pound of beefe and a head of garlic every man.'—Jackson'sAubrey, p. 198.
'Here [at Wanborough] is a Lott-mead celebrated yearly with great ceremony. The Lord weareth a garland of flowers: the mowers at one house have always a pound of beefe and a head of garlic every man.'—Jackson'sAubrey, p. 198.
Nothing more appears to be known about this festival.—N.W. (Wanborough), obsolete.
*Lottle.v.To sound as water trickling in a small stream. Cf.Glox.—N.W.
Love-an'-idols, orLoving Idols.Viola tricolor, L., Love-in-idleness, usually the wild form, but occasionally applied to the garden pansy also.Nuffin-idolsat Clyffe Pypard.Lovenidolds(S.).—N. & S.W.
*Loving-andrews.Geranium pratense, L., Meadow Cranesbill (Village Miners).
*Lowl-eared. Long-eared (A.B.H.Wr.).
Luce. (1) Luke-warm.—S.W. *(2) A sore in sheep.—S.W.
Lug. (1) In land measure, a pole or perch (A.B.G.H.S.).Log(MS. Gough: K.Wr.)—N. & S.W.
'A lug ... is of three lengths in this county: 15, 18, and 16½ feet. The first of these measures is getting out of use, but is still retained in some places, particularly in increasing mason's work. The second is the ancient forest measure, and is still used in many parts of the county for measuring wood-land. But the last, which is the statute perch, is by much the more general.'—Agric. of Wilts, p. 268.
'A lug ... is of three lengths in this county: 15, 18, and 16½ feet. The first of these measures is getting out of use, but is still retained in some places, particularly in increasing mason's work. The second is the ancient forest measure, and is still used in many parts of the county for measuring wood-land. But the last, which is the statute perch, is by much the more general.'—Agric. of Wilts, p. 268.
(2) Any rod or pole (D.H.), as a perch for fowls, a clothes pole (A.B.). SeeOven-lug.