CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND WORDS OF ANGLOSAXON OR SCANDINAVIAN ORIGIN.
ANG-NAIL, NAGNAIL, NANGNAIL. A corn upon the foot, but more commonly applied in Cumberland, and also more correctly, to the painful in-gathering of the nails of the feet. N. ángr, A. S. ang, pain, trouble. The Anglo-Saxons had ang-nœgl, a whitlow. A ng, in composition, was commonly used by them to express a complaint—thus ang-breost, the asthma. NANGNAIL is probably merely a euphonic form of either of the two others. NAGNAIL, the writer in the Kendal Mercury derives from D. nage, A. S. gnagan, to gnaw, fret, annoy, which, if it be a separate word, and not a mere transposition of " ang-nail," is a probable derivation. Crav. " nang-nail," a corn.
ANGRY. Painful, inflamed, applied to a sore. A. S. ang, N. ángr, pain; N". ángra, to afflict, torment. The last seems to be the word from which it is immediately derived.
ARDEN. Fallow quarter. N. ardr, a plough, arinn, ploughed. A . S. ared, ered, ploughed.
North. "arder."
ARK. A chest. N. ork, A. S. arc. North. Grav
.
ATTERCOP. A spider's web, but properly the spider itself. A. S. attercoppa, D. eddereop. The meaning is either "poison-cup," or "poison-head." Westm. has "attery," irascible—(literally venomous)— and North. "attermite," an ill-natured person. The latter is one of the severest terms in the whole vocabulary of vituperation—" venom-mite"—combining at once the extremes of insignificance and malignity. North. Grav. Sco.
AW. "Whose aw this?” is a common Cumberland phrase signifying "whose is this?” It seems to be a relic of the Old Eng. verb "awe," to own, to possess. This I take to be derived from N. á, first person singular of the verb eiga, or A. S. ah, third person singular of the verb agan, to possess —"I have," "he has." In this case "whose aw this?" might be a perversion of " who awes this ?" It seems also to have been used by the Northmen, particularly in composition, as a noun. Hence the names of places in the county, as Ulpha, before referred to. In this case "whose aw this?” might be “whose possession is this ?" But the former seems more probable.
BAGGING. Food. " A coarse term used in Cumberland," says the editor of the "Westmoreland and Cumberland dialects." But the writer in the Kendal Mercury suggests that it may not be so coarse after all, signifying simply a “baking," from D. bage, to bake. I am afraid, however, that in this case Cumberland cannot be redeemed, for the word is too obviously derived from A. S. and D. bœlg, the belly. "Bag" in this sense is an Old Eng. word, and "baggie" is still used in North. Hence, observes Halliwell, “eating is bagging, or filling the stomach." Similar phrases are found in various dialects, so that at any rate Cumberland is not singular in its vulgarity.
BAIRN, BARN. A child. N. barn, A. S. beam. North. Cram. Sco.
BASS. Dried rushes; also the inner bark of a tree. N. bast, A. S. bœst, the inner bark of a tree. North. “bass," "bast," matting, Crav. matting made of the inner bark of birch, Sco. a mat.
BALK, BAWK. A. cross beam, of any size, from the beam of a house to the perch of a bird cage. N. biálki, A. S. balca. North. Crav. Sco.
BANE. To afflict with a sore disease— Westm. N. bana, to kill, A. S. bana, death.
BID. TO invite. N. bidia, bióda, A . S. biddan. The two N. verbs have rather different meanings— bidia, which seems to correspond with the A. S. biddan, having more the sense of intreating— bióda, of inviting—Bidia Konu, to ask a lady's hand—bióda til brullups, to ask yonr friends to the wedding. (The sense of bidding or commanding is common to them all).
A “bidden-wedding" in Cumberland is a marriage, generally among rustics in humble circumstances, to which the whole of the neighbourhood is invited, and at which a collection is made to start the young couple in life. It is generally with reference to a wedding or a funeral that the word is applied, and those who go round to give the invitations, and in the latter case to distribute the mourning, are called " bidders." So in Danish bedemand signifies “an undertaker, one who invites to a funeral or a wedding." The sense in question was a common one in Old Eng.
"As many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage."—Matt. xxii., 9. North. Crav.
BIRLER. The master of the revels at a Cumberland feast, whose duty it is to see that the guests have plenty to drink—and that they drink it. N. birla, A.S. byrelian, to give to drink, whence A.S. birle, a butler. Crav.
BIZEN. To become a shame and a bizen—to acquire a disgraceful notoriety. Generally supposed to be ' a corruption of " bye-saying," but clearly from N. bysn, A.S. bisen, a warning, example. North. Sco.
BLINK. A spark of fire.
BLICKENT. Bright, shining — Westm. N. blika, A.S. blican, to shine. Sco.
BORD-CLAITH. A table cloth. N. bordklœdi. The word might also be formed from A. S. bord, a table, and cláth, cloth. Sco.
BOUKS. The divisions or boundaries of a field. N. bálkr, a fence or division, A. S. balca, a ridge. " Bouk " is sometimes used in the general sense of a space or distance, as in the following lines from Stagg, descriptive of a husband running away from his incensed wife.
"Tib, leyke a fury, cursan efter,
And he, though swift, had nae bouk left her
. For baith gat nearly hame togither." North.
Crav. Sco. a ridge of land left unploughed.
BOWER, BOOR. A bed-chamber, an inner room. Or rather, the inner room in a cottage consisting of two rooms. A. S. búr, D. buur. North. Sco.
BOUSE, BOOSE. A stall for oxen, or stable for horses. N. bás, A. S. bós. North. Crew.
BRIT. To break or bruise. BROT-GROUND, (Westm.) land newly broken up. N. britia, A. S. breotan, to break—N. brotinn, A. S. broten, broken. Sco. " brittyn," to break down.
BROCK. A badger. D. brok, A. S. broc. The origin appears to be N. brocka, to go heavily, as a badger does. Brockr in Old Norse signified a clumsy and heavy going horse, and this was also one of the Anglo-Saxon meanings. In the same manner it is applied in North., says Brockett, "to a cow or husbandry horse." Our other word for a badger seems to be of similar origin.—See pate, former list. North. Grew. Sco.
CARL. A country man. N. karl, A S. carl, ceorl, whence Eng. "churl." North. Crav. Sco.
CARLINGS. Grey peas steeped in water, and fried with butter. The anniversary of this dish, general throughout the north, is the second Sunday before Easter, or Mid Lent Sunday. It was formerly called Care Sunday—according to some from being a season of religious care and anxiety —according to others from N. kœra, to accuse, in reference to the accusations brought against our Lord at this time. The termination "ling" is A. S., and may denote an image, example, memorial—" carlings" being memorials of Christ's sufferings, or of the accusations brought against him. In Cumberland the peas are more commonly eaten without any preparation, and the young people are also in the habit of filling their pockets with them, sallying forth into the street, and, in fashion of less somber carnival, saluting the passers by, particularly their own friends, with a handful. This custom has no doubt had its origin in a religious observance, and even the last named practice is probably not without its significance. As the Russian on Easter Sunday presents his friend with an egg, saying, “Christ is risen to-day"—so when the Cumbrian dashes a handful of peas at his friend—the original and solemn meaning was most probably "Take this! In remembrance that Christ suffered, as at this time, for you and me."
CALKERS, CAWKERS. The irons with which the clogs of the Cumberland peasantry are shod. A. S. calc, a shoe, S.-G. klack, calcaneum calcei . North. (Grow. “calkins," the hind part of a horseshoe turned upwards.)
CLAG. TO stick, to adhere. D. klœg, glutinous, A. S. clœg, clay. North. Crav.
CLOUT. A rag, a small piece of cloth, N. klútr, A. S. clút. North. Crav.
CRINK. A very small child—Westm. N. krenkiaz, to be weak or sickly, A. S. cranc, sick, weak.
CROUP. To crouch. N. kriúpa, to fall on the knees, A. S. creópan, to crawl.
CROWDY. A mess of oatmeal . I take this word, Eng. “gruel," and Norwegian gröd, to be all from the same root—N. krú, alias grú, a multitude, A. S. cread, a crowd. North. Crav.
DIKE. A ditch—also a hedge. N. diki, A. S. dic. North. Crav.
DIT. To stop up. N. ditta, A. S. dittan. Crav.
DOW. Good, useful.
DONNET. A good-for-nothing person—also the devil. N. duga, D. due, A. S. dugan, to be of value or use.
"For dancin he was nought-at-dow,
But a prime han for a drinker."
Upshot.
"Donnet," a good-for-nothing person, Brockett derives from do-naught. But in Cumberland " donnet" also means the devil, and do-naught would be a very inappropriate title for the everbusy author of evil. It is evidently dow-not, not good—corresponding to " evil one."
DREPE. To speak slowly. N. dreypa, A. S. dripan, to drop. Crav.
DWINE. To pine, to wither. N. A. dvina, S. dwinan. North. Crav. Sco.
EGG. To urge on, incite. N. eggia, A.S. eggian, to give an edge, sharpen, stimulate; common to most of the northern dialects.
ELDEN. Fuel. N. elldr, fire, ellda, to kindle. A. S. œld, fire, œdan, to kindle. North. Crav.
ELVERS. Young eels— Westm. Possibly from N. elfur, a river. But more probably from A. S. œlfe, S.-G. œlf, an elf. Hence the Old Eng. verb “elfe" to twist into knots, from the popular belief that matted or twisted locks were the work of fairies.
" Elfe all my hairs in knots."
King Lear.
From this verb the word in question seems to be immediately derived—" elvers," signifying simply " twisters." There is a passage in Henry 4th, in which Falstaff compares Prince Hal to an "elfskin," in allusion to his lank person. This has been supposed by some commentators to be a misprint for " eel-skin." But it is probable that it is no misprint, for " elf" may have been an old word for an eel, as " elver," a young eel, is the diminutive still in use.
FAIN. Glad, fond. N.feginn, A. S.fœgan. North. Gram. Sco.
FARE. To go, proceed, travel. N. fara, A. S. fœran, This word, in different forms and with various derivatives, prevails extensively throughout the north. We have FARLIES, strange sights, wonderful events—such as travellers are supposed to witness— FARANTLY, orderly, respectably, (N. farandi, a traveller,) after the fashion of those who have seen the world— FARELOOPER, an interloper, and many others.
FEG. Dead grass—Westm. A. S. fœge, dying. N. feigia, to rot.
FECKLESS. Helpless, inefficient. Mr. Todd thinks " perhaps a corruption of effectless." But might it not be from S.-G. feckta, Sco. " fecht," to fight —a feckless person signifying originally one who was unfit for fighting, and who, in the days when war was the chief business of man, would be considered a useless member of society enough.
FEND. TO make a shift, to struggle for a living.
FENDY. Thrifty, frugal. The N. has fenidingr, niggardly, avaricious, from fé, property, and nidingr, greedy—a stronger sense of fendy. It might be formed more naturally from K fe, property, and neyta, D. nyde, to make use of, to get the benefit of, which gives us very much of the sense of fend. The A. S. has also feoh, property, and nyttian, to enjoy, make use of. Sir J. Sinclair explains fendy as “ingenious in finding out expedients," and connects it with "find." But ingenuity does not seem to enter so much into the sense as care and frugality. North. Crav. Sco.
FETTLE. A cord used to a pannier. N. fetill, A. S. fetel, a band, fastening.
FORE-ELDERS. Ancestors. N. fórelldrer, A. S. forealdian. North. Crav. Sco.
FOOSEN. Liberal. N. and A. S. fús, ready, prompt, willing
.
FORMEL. TO bespeak. N. formáli, a preface, A. S. formœd, a bargain. Grav.
FREMMED. Strange, D. fremmede, A. S. fremed. North. Crav. Sco.
FROSK. A frog. N. froska, A. S. frosc.
FROW. A worthless woman. N. frú, A. S. freó, mistress of a family. North. a slattern, a lusty woman. Crav. a dirty woman. Sco. a lusty woman.
GAIN. Near, ready, convenient. In this sense it is applied in Cumb. to a road or way—"a gainer way," a more direct road. This corresponds exactly with the D. gien-vei, a short cut, a near road In North. it is generally attached to another word to denote a degree of comparison, as "gain brave," "gain quiet." So also sometimes in Cumb., but I think in a stronger sense than that of " tolerably " given by Brockett. It is, I apprehend, the A. S. gin, used in composition to increase the sense; as fœst, fast, ginfœest, very fast. North. Grav, Sco.
GAN, GANG. To go. N. gánga, A. S. gán, gangan. " Gan" seems to be A. S.—" gang" may be either A. S. or Scand. North. “gan," " gang," Crav. and Sco. " gang."
GAVELOCK. An iron bar used as a lever. N. gaflok. A. S. gafeloc. North. Grav. Sco.
GINGER, GINGERLY. Softly, cautiously.
“Then forth to't door ole Brammery went
Right goddartly and ginger."
Upshot.
The adjective is here used for the adverb, for local poets must conform to the exigencies of verse as well as their betters. Presuming the original sense to be that in which it is commonly used, of walking softly or carefully, it might, as Serenius suggests, be formed as a diminutive from “gang." But on the whole it is perhaps more probably from A. S. ging, young, tender. In the south of England, according to Mr. Halliwell, " ginger" signifies brittle, tender, delicate, which is a sense more closely that of the A. S.
GLAD. Smoothe, slippery. N. gledia, to polish, A. S. gléd, slippery. North. Crav.
GRADELY. Honestly, respectably. Also as an adjective—honest, respectable. Brockett and others derive it from A. S. grad, a degree, step. Or it might be from N. greidi, hospitality ; or from greida, to pay—one who pays his way. Or from grœda—to prosper, to do well in the world— respectability in the sense of " keeping a gig." (This definition, by the way, though it has been so much laughed at, seems to me to express what was intended, the position of the man in life, as aptly as " keeping a carriage" does a still higher sphere. I believe the ridicule is partly owing to a mistake of Mr. Carlyle in making the witness apply it to the murderer, Thurtell, instead of to the murdered man.) In addition to the above we have N. greidlegr, ready, prepared, in order, which is in form the word itself. North. Crav.
GRANK. To groan. N. kránkr, A. S. cranc, sick.
GRAVE. To dig. N. grafa, A. S. grafan. North. Crav.
GREET. TO weep. N. gráta, A. S. grœtan. North. Crav. Sco.
GRIP. To seize. N. grípa, A. 8. gripan. North. Sco.
HANDSEL. The first money received at a market—the first use of anything. N. handsöl, the closing of a bargain by striking hands. S.-G. handsœl, the first receipts for sales. A. S. handsylen, a handing over. North. Crav. Sco.
HARRY, HERRY. To rob—now generally confined to birds' nests. N. heria, A. S. herian, to invade, ravage, plunder—from N. her, A. S. here, an army. North. Sco.
HERRET. A pitiful little wretch—Westm. This is evidently the diminutive of N. héri, A. S. hara, a hare, as " leveret" is of the Fr. lièvre. " Herret" was probably the ancient word for a young hare, before the Normans introduced " leveret."
KEMP. To strive, to contend. As a noun, a bold and resolute person. N. kempa, A. S. cempa, a combatant. It is now generally applied to peaceful rivalry.
“See how the kemping shearers bum,
And rive, and bind, and stook their corn."
Stagg.
Two lines in which the sound rings well with the sense, and happily expresses the bustle of emulation. Brockett, perhaps having this passage in view, explains the meaning of kemp “to strive against each other in reaping corn." It has by no means such a restricted sense—at least in Cumberland,
“Auld Nick and Scott yence kempt, they say,
Whea best a reape fra saun cud tweyne."
Stagg.
(" Scott" is Michael Scott the wizard, who seems to be considered in Cumberland fully a match for the devil.)
KEN. To know. N. kenna, A. S. cennan. North. Crav. Sco.
KEP. To catch—as a ball. N. kippa, A. S. cépan.
KIST. A chest. N. kista, A S. cist. North. Crav.
KITTLE. TO tickle. N. kitla, A. S. citelan. North. Crav.
LAKE. TO play. LAKES. One engaged in sport. LAKING. A toy or plaything. N". leika, A. S. lácan, to play, N. leikari, a player. The frequency with which " Cocklakes" occurs in the names of places in Cumberland and Westmoreland shews, as Mr. Williamson observes, how common used to be the barbarous diversion of cock-fighting.* In Scotland "lake" is used only in a limited sense, to denote a stake at play. North. Crav.
LATE. TO seek, to invite. N. leita, A. S. lathian. Both this word and the last are more probably Scandinavian. North. Crav.
LAVE. The rest. In North. also " laver." N. leifar, A. S. láf, remainder, from N. leifa, A. S. lœfan, to leave.North. Sco.
LIG. TO lie. N. liggia. A. S. liggan. "He wears a watch, and ligs by hissel"—a Lancashire definition of a gentleman—as a pendant to which I have just heard a Monmouthshire definition of a lady —" She can't make bread, and goes in at the front
door." North. Crav. Sco.
LOP. A flea. D. loppe, A. S. loppe.
MENSE. Politeness, propriety of conduct.
MENSEFUL. Mannerly, considerate.
MENSELESS. Graceless, unmannerly. N. menskr, A. S. mennise, belonging or pertaining to man. The Old Eng. “menske" preserves the original form. These words have no exact equivalent in the Eng. language—their origin being in that natural feeling of politeness and propriety which makes a man do the thing that is right. In Cumberland, when a man out of civility gives an invitation which is not accepted, he is said to “save both his meat and his mense." We have it also as a verb—
" To mence this merry day,"
is applied in the " Bridewain" to doing proper honour to a wedding. In the following lines from Anderson, which, by the way, are not without simple feeling, the word expresses a mingled sense of ornament, fitness, and utility.
“The sattle neist was thrown aside—
It might ha sarred me and mine—
My mudder thought it mensed a house.
But we think shem of auld lang-syne."
Altogether, this is one of the good old words which is a loss to the language. How hollow is "politeness," and how shallow is "civility," compared with the word which has its origin in the innate proprieties of man!
MESS. Truly. Probably, as Mr. Halliwell suggests, from N. messa, A.S. messe, the mass— the old oath, “by the mess !"
MICKLE, MAIR, MAIST. Much, more, most. N. mikill, meiri, mestr, A.S. micel, mdra, mœst. North Grav. Sco.
MIDDEN. A dunghill. D. modding, A.S. midding. North. Crav. Sco.
MIND. To remember. D. mindes, A.S. mynan. North. Sco.
MIRK. Dark. N. myrkr, A.S. mire. North. Grav. Sco.
MULL. To break into small pieces. As a noun—dust —as of peats, &c. N. mylia, to bruise, to grind, A. S. myl, dust, powder. North. Grav. Sco.
NAG. To gnaw. N. naga, AS. gnagan. North. (Grav. "naggle".)
NAPPY. Strong—applied to ale. Also, according to Brockett, to the state produced by strong ale. N. nabbi, A. S. nab, the head—" nappy" signifying " heady." In Cumb. " apper" is sometimes used for the head.
NEB. Nose, point, beak. N. nebbi, A. S. neb. North. Grav. Sco.
NICKER. To neigh. N. gnaka, A. S. hnœgan. In the " Nick" or " Neck," N. nikr, of the Scand. and other Teut. nations, a water-spirit in the form of a horse (whence our word " Old Nick"), we find a word allied to the above.
NOUS. Judgment, sense, discernment—"Pure Greek" —says Mr. Carr. But how could our Cumberland rustics get hold of a pure Greek word ? Brockett connects it with Lat. noscere. Both the Lat. and the Gr. may not improbably be cognate, but the word from which " nous" is immediately derived I take to be N. hnysa, A. S. ne6sian, to
examine, consider, investigate.North. Crav.
PARRAK. A small field or inclosure near a house. N. parrak. A. S. parruc. The original meaning both of the N. and the A. S. seems to be that of place where an animal is confined or tied up. In Old Eng. "parrick" was sometimes applied to a cattle-stall . And the verb " parroken" was also in use, signifying to inclose or confine. The Eng. words " paddock" and "park," the one a corruption and the other a contraction of " parrak," both retain more or less of this sense.
PACE-EGGS or PASCHE-EGGS. Eggs boiled hard and dyed various colours,—given to children at Easter. N. páska, A. S. pasche, Easter. D. paskœgg, an Easter egg. This custom prevails more or less throughout almost all Christian countries, but in England is now confined to the north. In Russia and the East such eggs are generally dyed red, in memory of the passion of our Lord, but with us are ornamented in any way that fancy may suggest, being frequently stained by boiling in party coloured ribbons. At Carlisle it is the custom for the children to appear in new clothes on this occasion, and the little boy would feel degraded among his fellows who could not sport new corduroys at Easter. This custom may probably have its origin in the ancient practice of baptizing the converts to Christianity only twice a year— viz., at Christmas and at Easter, on which occasions they were arrayed, in emblem of the purity of their profession, in white garments. Within my own recollection the girls used to appear more particularly in white frocks, but whether as a fashion of the time, or as a relic of the ancient custom, I am not sufficiently versed in the mysteries of female attire to decide.
PELL. A rattling shower of rain or hail. Perhaps from N. píla, A. S. píl, a dart or arrow. For among the mountains of Cumberland and Westmoreland the rain sometimes comes down in a manner for which even the expression of “cats and dogs" is inadequate. North. Grav.
RADLINGS. Bribery money at an election—Westm. N. rad, A. S. rœsc the senate. Judging from the word, I am afraid the practice must be an ancient one.
RASH. Quick, brisk. D. rask, A. S. rœsc. This" is the original meaning of Eng. " rash " now only used in the sense of imprudence.
RATCH. To rove about, as a dog does, over hedges, ditches, &c.—generally applied to children. N. racki, A. S. rœcc, a hound or sporting dog, whence Old Eng. "rach."
RAWN. To eat greedily— Westm. Prob. from N. ran, A. S. ran, rapine—the sense being that of snatching.
REEK. Smoke. N. reykr, A. S. rec. North. Crav. Sco.
REEVE. To rob. REEVER. A robber. N. rífa, riufa, A. S. refan, to plunder, N. reyfari, a robber.
RISE. Branches of trees—a word chiefly used in reference to hedging and weiring. N. hrís, A. S. hrís. North. Crav. Sco.
SACKLESS. Innocent, simple. N. saklaus, A. S. sacleas. North. Crav.
SARK. A shirt. N. serkr, D. sœrk, A. S. syrce. North. Crav. Sco.
SATTLE, SETTLE. A long seat with a high back. D. sattel, A. S. setl. North. Crav.
SCAMMELL, SKEMMELL. A stool or small bench. N. skemmXH, A. S. scamd. Sco.
SCATHE. LOSS, damage, hurt. N. skadi, A. S. scathe. North.
SHILL. To shell (as peas, &c.) N. skilia, A. S. scylan, to divide, separate.
North. Crav.
SKEP. A basket made of rushes. Icel. skeppa, A. S. scep.
North. Sc
SKIRL. To scream. N. skralla, to shriek, A. S. scral, a scream. North. Sco.
SMULY. Smoothe, demure. D. smult, A. S. smylt.
SNAAR. Greedy. N. snar, A. S. snear, quick, hasty. Sco. “snarre" Jamieson explains as " tart, severe."
SNARREL. A hard knot. N. snara, to twist, A. S. sneáre, a noose.
SONN. To think deeply. N. sinna, A. S. sinnan
SPAIN. TO wean. N. speni, A. S. spana, a teat. North. Crew. Sco.
SPEER. TO ask. N. spyria, A. S. spirian. North. Grow. Sco.
SPELK. A splinter. N. spelkr, A. S. spelc. North. Grav. Sco.
STAFFLE. TO walk unsteadily. N. stapa, A.S. stapan, to step. The dimin. is "stapple," softened into " staffle." North.
STAG. A young horse. N. steggr, A. S. steig, a male animal, vid. "steg." Grav. Sco.
STANG. A pole. D. and A. S. stang. North. Grav. Sco.
STEEK. To shut, to close. N. stiki, A. S. staca, a stake, referring to the primitive mode of securing a door. North. Grav.
STEG. A gander. See " stag."
North. Grav.
STEVEN. An assembly, or gathering. N. stefna, a public assembly for hearing complaints, and deciding causes. Also an assembly in general. The A. S. has stefen, a voice, sound, also agreement, concert. The word, however, seems more probably Scand. We have the phrase, " to set the steven," to fix a meeting. The N. has at standa stefnu, to “stand the steven"—to answer to a complaint. North. (Grav. Sco. “stewen," a voice, a loud noise—also an appointment.)
STOUND. STOUN. A sudden fit of pain. N. stynia, A. S. stynan, to groan. North. Sco.
STOUP. A pot, a flagon. N. staup, A. S. steap. Sco.
SUL. A plough—Westm. N. síla, to plough, A. S. syl, sul, a plough.
STOUR, STOOR. Dust—but properly, as Jamieson observes, dust in motion. Also tumult, stir, confusion. N. styr, war, strife—A. S. styrian, to stir, excite, trouble.
“Yet, God be thanked, this awful stoor
Suin ceased, wi' a' its feary frays."
Stago.
North. Grav. Sco.
SWELT. To faint with heat, to wither from want of moisture. N. svelta, to starve, svelti, a place parched and unproductive, A. S. sweltian, to die perish. North. Grav. Sco.
SWIPE. TO drink off hastily. N. svipa, A. S. swífan, to hasten, to move quickly. We also use "whip" in the same sense—to " whip up," to eat or drink anything quickly. This is the same word as "swipe," s as before observed, being frequently dropped. North. Crav.
THARM. Gut. D. tarm, A. S. thearm.
THEAK, THACK. To thatch. N. thekia, A. S. thaccan, theccan. North. Crav.
THIRL. TO drill or bore. N. thirla, A. S. thirlian. North. Gram. Sco.
THRAVE, THREAVE. Twenty-four sheaves of corn. D. trove, A. S. threaf.
North. Grav. Sco.
TITE, TITTER Soon, sooner. Also used in the oblique sense, to imply willingness or readiness. N. and A. S. tíd, time. The N. has also tidr, quick, soon. “Tide," as in Easter-tide, is probably from N. tídir, a feast, and not from tíd, time. " Tidings," news, the events of the time, seems also to be from N. tídindi. North. Crav. Sco.
TITTY. Sister—Cumb. TID. Childish—Westm. N. tidr, familiar, títa (feminine) a little bird. A. S. tidder, tender, frail. Hence we have " tit" applied as a familiar diminutive to many small birds, as the titmouse, tit-lark, &c. The N. has títlingr, the hedge-sparrow, a small bird attendant upon the cuckoo. The same name, “titling," is given to it in Northumberland and in Scotland. In West. any little pet animal is called a "tidling." In Crav., says Mr. Carr, " tit," with its adjunct, " puss," is frequently used in calling a cat. All these terms seem to be froni the same root, and to be used in the same sense as familiar diminutives.
TROD. A foot-path. N. trödd, A. S. trod. North. Crav.
WAFFLE. To hesitate, to fluctuate. N. veifla, to vibrate, a frequentative of veifa. A. S. wafian, to be astonished, waful, hesitating. North. (Sco. "waff.")
WANG-TOOTH. A grinder. N". vángi, S.-G. and A S. wang, the cheek, jaw. See " whang." North. Grav.
WANKLE. Weak, unsteady. S.-G. wankla, to fluctuate, A. S. wancol, unstable.
WARK:. Pain, aching. N. verkr, S.-G. waerk, A S. wœrc. North. Grav. Sco.
WAUR. Worse. N. verr, S.-G. waerra, A. S. warra. North. Crav. Sco.
WAX. To grow. N. vaxa, A. S. weaxan. North. Crav.
WELT. To lean on one side, to upset. N. vellta, A S. wealtian. North. Grav. Sco.
WHANG. A large slice of anything eatable, particularly bread or cheese. Probably from "wang," the cheek, jaw. See " wang." North. Sco.
WHILK. Which. D. hvilke, A. S. hwilc. North. Sco.
WIGGIN. The mountain ash—Westm. N. vígia, to consecrate, A. S. wig, holy. The name is derived from the power. of repelling witches superstitiously ascribed to this tree. Or rather, perhaps, from the origin of that power, in the sacred character of the tree. Hence " wiggin" seems to have the same meaning as " roan" or " rowan"—N. ragna, to consecrate.
Crav.
WIZZENED. Withered, shrivelled. N. visna, A. S. wisnian, to wither, to dry up. North. Gra/D. Sco.
YULE. Christmas, N. jól, A. S. júl. May not this be the origin of our word "jolly" 1 It has been generally referred to the Fr. joli, but I think that both the Fr. and Eng. words may be derived— and both characteristically—from the same origin. The difference between the ideas of the two nations as to the mode of keeping a holiday could scarcely be more aptly expressed than by their respective words joli and "jolly."