I Never Knew There Was a Word for It - Adam Jacot De Boinod [148]
averruncator (1842) a long stick with shears for cutting high branches
stercoration (1605) the process of spreading manure
baggin-bill (Shropshire) an implement for reaping peas
reesome (Lincolnshire) to place peas in small heaps
claick (Scotland) the last armful of grain cut at harvest (also called the kirn-cut, mulden, or kirn-baby: it was often kept and hung by a ribbon above the fireplace; in Suffolk harvesters threw their sickles to compete to reap it)
GREEN FINGERS
On a smaller scale, gardeners always have plenty to talk about …
platiecrub (Shetland Isles) a patch of enclosed ground for growing cabbages
olitory (1658) belonging to the kitchen garden
chessom (1626) of soil; without stones or grit
pissabed (Jamaican English 1801) a dandelion (as it is a diuretic)
… and things can get pretty technical on occasion:
suckshin (Yorkshire) liquid manure
sarcle (1543) to dig up weeds with a hoe
graff (Shropshire) a spade’s depth in digging (delve is two spades’ depth)
cochel (Sussex) too much for a wheelbarrow but not enough for a cart
BOSKY
Out on the slopes beyond the hedge the trees too need careful categorizing:
maerapeldre (Anglo-Saxon) an apple-tree on a boundary
pollard (Newfoundland c.1900) a dead tree still standing
rampick (1593) a tree bare of leaves or twigs
stub-shot (Somerset) the portion of the trunk of a tree which remains when the tree is not sawn through
… and beyond that, Nature may be wilder and more magnificent still:
borstal (South English 1790) a pathway up to a steep hill
brucktummuck (Jamaican English 1943) a hill so steep that it seems to break the stomach of one who tries to climb it
UP ON THE DOWNS
Critics from abroad often claim that English weather is dreadful. But this is only one point of view; for others relish the huge variety of effects to be found in such a changeable climate. These are just those found in Sussex:
port-boys small low clouds in a clear sky
windogs white clouds blown by the wind
eddenbite a mass of cloud in the form of a loop
slatch a brief respite or interval in the weather
swallocky sultry weather
shucky unsettled weather
truggy dirty weather
egger-nogger sleet
smither diddles bright spots on either side of the sun
THE RAIN IT RAINETH EVERYDAY …
It may rain often but that’s not to say that there aren’t some happy aspects to the experience:
petrichor (1964) the pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell
eske (Orkney Isles) small spots of rain that precede a heavy storm
fog dog (mid 19C) the lower part of a rainbow
water-gall (Tudor–Stuart) a second rainbow seen above the first
monkey’s wedding (South African 1968) simultaneous rain and sunshine
although its less enjoyable side is also well documented …
trashlifter (Californian slang) a heavy rain (loglifter: a really heavy rain)
duck’s frost (Sussex dialect) cold rain rather than freezing
New York rain (Hong Kong slang) the local term for water that drips annoyingly from air-conditioners onto passers-by
BLOWN AWAY
or those who live on coasts and hills, the wind has always been a constant presence:
pipple (Tudor–Stuart) to blow with a gentle sound (of the wind)
wyvel (Wiltshire) to blow as wind does round a corner or through a hole
whiffle (1662) to blow, displace or scatter with gusts of air; to flicker or flutter as if blown by the wind
not to be trifled with if you’re out on the water …
williwaw (1842) a sudden and powerful downdraught of wind (originally in the Straits of Magellan)
the dog before its master (nautical late 19C) a heavy swell preceding a gale
or a storm is imminent …
brattle (Newcastle 1815) the noise of a thunderclap
rounce robble hobble (b.1582) a representation of the tumult of thunder
heofonwoma (Anglo-Saxon) thunder and lightning, literally a terrible noise from heaven
levin (13C) a bolt of lightning
THE LIVING IS EASY
Every now and then the sun appears, and everyone goes crazy with delight:
apricate (1691) to bask in the