Moose Allain shared some Devon words and the replies were a dictionary of delights – 18 favourites

10.

My grandma (Manchester, born 1919) and her mates used to say “San fairy Anne” about things that were stupid, immaterial, didn’t matter. From French “ca ne fait rien”

— jokerhystericalface (@jokerhysterica2) July 1, 2020

11.

Two of my favourite Sheffield words – shunkly (anything shiny in a twinkly way) and crozzly (cooked to a crisp, especially bacon, something to do with a furnace byproduct).

— Katherine Orpwood (@korpwood) July 1, 2020

12.

I’d love to know whether Hartlepool grandparents still chide their grandchildren for being ‘pottygoats’. I’ve not heard the phrase since my grandparents died (though, to be fair, I’ve not been back to Hartlepool since, either)

— Karen Ashworth (@Karen__Ashworth) July 1, 2020

13.

Had anyone mentioned the peculiar past participle of the verb to seem being 'sempt' in North Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire? It sempt like a good idea to tell you about it.

— Simon Holcombe (@OllyAitch) July 1, 2020

14.

In our village in Yorkshire all men were called ‘Youth’ until they married. Elderly bachelors like our old gravedigger was ‘Youth’ Smoothy even though he was in his 70’s.

— Alan Parker (@AlanPar46565002) July 1, 2020

15.

My Gran, (West Yorks) would call us “ruddy Lennits” if we were naughty. No idea what a Lennit is, never heard it anywhere else.

— Kevin Chubb (@swanseagas) July 1, 2020

16.

My favourite is "plodging" for paddling. Which also applies if you're plodging in the clarts(mud).

— Andromeda (@andromedababe) July 1, 2020

17.

Did you get dwile? Norfolk (I assume) for a floor cloth or similar. Typical usage 'look at that dwile, dimbalowing about over there'. Meaning; look at that fool, who do they think they are?

— Paul Williams (@paulmw1107) July 2, 2020

18.

Swaledale shepherds used to count sheep using: Yan, Chan, Tether, Mether, Pip, Azar, Sazar, Akka, Cotta, Dik,
Yanadik, Channadik, Thetheradik, Metheradik, Bumfit, Yanabum,
Chanabum, Thetherabum, Metherabum, Jiggit

— Stuart W. Greig (@LoneWalkerUK) July 2, 2020

Moose noticed an interesting variation in spellings and explained the reason for that.

I love how many of the dialect words I’ve been retweeting over the last day have existed for centuries as part of the spoken language. They’re rarely written down, so people often question their spelling, which leads to lots of regional variations.

— Moose Allain Ꙭ (@MooseAllain) July 2, 2020

This might be a good time for people to revive words from previous generations.

I just love seeing all this evidence of local dialect words persisting, although I think my general feeling that much of it is being lost is unfortunately right.

— Moose Allain Ꙭ (@MooseAllain) July 1, 2020

Use it or lose it. Head over to the thread to see if you recognise anything from your area.

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Source Moose Allain Image Taylor Cowling on Unsplash