成人快手

Mark, Plymouth
Although not a Plymouthian by birth, I now have the pleasure of living around such people and hearing them converse with one another. The term 'buhy' can still be heard when addressing a 'boy.' 'Helluva' is also an initially confusing term, meaning 'a lot of' or 'very.'

Mike Simms - Ottery St. Mary - Devon
In your Devon Dialect you haven't included APSE meaning abscess. I used to hear this a lot in the 60's when I started in dental practice in Exeter and wondered what my patients were doing with a snake in their mouth!

DOUG from Hampshire
I don't know why, but this morning I was checking out a word my wife uses to describe something smoking a lot (like bacon or wood). The word is smeeching. So I looked it up on Google and found your site. Very interesting. My wife's family has been living on or near the Hampshire/Sussex border for at least three or four generations so I would guess that the word was in more general use than only Devon. It's probably old English. Also the word bint is arabic for girl and was probably imported into England by sailors who had visited foreign ports in exotic parts (or maybe the other way round).

David James - ex Torquay biey
my grandfather from Dartmouth always greeted me by saying "ello mackeral" ! Anyone know the origin of this?

Geoff Dorking
My daughter was attending a talk on dialects, and the the lecturer came upon the Devon term "Dreckly" (Directly), and attempted to describe its use, and came up with the description, "It's rather like 'manyanha', but not quite so urgent."

Kate, Paignton
I've been told many times that the Devon accent sounds like a pirate's dialect!?

Rob, Totnes
My mother-in-law says when the weather is good for drying clothes, "There's a good dryth". I thought this was limited to N.Devon until I heard an elderly woman in South Brent (S.Devon) say zactly the zame! Nice warm breezy day = good 'dryth'.

mike newton abbot
how be ackin?=how are you getting on. as in, can;t hack it!=cant get on. crocky down=crouch down. ort=anything.orts=anythings,leftovers.

Steve Manning - Marwood
mornin' u buggerz. I remember a young buy i goed to school wiv who drashed eezelv jus vor a laaf. I never zee'd any other buyy who could pull 'ees shoulder out of its socket and then drash the bugger back iin jus; by wackin eezselv up against the wall. Ee be called Richard and were a propper bleddy dimwit. Ee uzed to kick up when ee's tea went samzoey (cooled off) and you shoould ev zeed ees vit size, was like bleddy boats twas! Miss the bugger mind, ee flitted of to work overseas. Will be proper if he comed back mind. zee ee again.

Chris, Hong Kong
To Frank - Lyme Regis I think it's an upright form of field dock found in rough pasture; my wife, a Northumbrian calls it sourdock. The wood sorrel in my memory is also sour and really good with cheddar.

Linda Rowland Nottingham
My Nan used to warn "don't stir that cabbage hard, you'll have it all of a jowder".No drowth, meant too wet to dry washing, and chooty pigs or grammer sows for woodlice.I was a little heller up the back, or a limb (of Satan)when naughty.She was Millbrook born and bred.My stepfather who's 86 and from Chumleigh and BROAD Devon still defeats my understanding sometimes!

frank lord, lyme regis
To Chris, Hong Kong: you say "Usn used to ate zowergrabs" We used to call these small leaves "soursabs". do you know exactly what they were? Were they a variety of sorrell?

Michael Newton Abbot
what about Gurt= big (great).. ockerd-like= awkward...bey=boy...draafs=drafts...dauned=don't... maister= boss or mister. most of these are just the plaindialect of the spoken word and need to be heard spoken by bey,maid or varmer person who has been brung up in the parish. Nor' Debben (North Devon !!) is (or was) a greatplace to hear broad dialect used.

Dave South Hams
Thirt: Not upright or plumb. Derns: Door linings and threshold. Buddle-hole:Hole in Devon bank to drain water from a road. Scat abroad: Broken. Scat:Also pebble dash or roughcast. Nash: Chilly, cold. Whittakers: White angular quartz stones. Cawsing: Laid cobblestone pebbles. Angle: Feed gangway in shippon. Pitching:Slate stone roadway laid on edge. Barker: Sharpening stone.

michelle, Exeter(originally south hams)
Reply Eleanor in Scotland I've been in Exeter for a few years now and have noticed a lack of strong devonian accent here. Where I used to live in South Hams the accent is also on the decline. For me the most authentic Devonian accent, if such a thing exists is found in the countryside of mid devon or west dartmoor. As a lifelong Devonian i would consider the plymothian accent to be something different entirely and dare i say it more cornish???

Chris, Hong Kong
Usn used to ate zowergrabs in vields wen us waz thursty affer scrumpin or michin, and got chazed by steers; but trubble waz they waz cuvered vit cukoo spit, but twas luverly!

Ed from Instow
I also know an old boy from Woolfardisworthy near Clovelly, who after hearing a story or a joke always says "daiy main it?" Meaning "do you mean it". He's now known as daymainit.

Ed from Instow
Our old farm labourer used to come out with some classics: Wer be gwain (where are you going), What be dwain (what are you doing). The most memorable quote he ever said to me and my mates returning from a surf was "if i've ever zeed dree bags'v jjit, they'm stood yer right een vront'v me". Classic, rest in peace Keith.

Steve - Birmingham, ex Paignton
It still suprises me when people 'up country' don't understand the simple expression - 'Where to?' when asked where they are/going etc. Also what about pet names. For example my Dad, a Plymouthian always says 'Me Luvver' and if you say that to someone not from the area (esp to another man) people think it's a bit odd.

frank lord, lyme regis
Oi, it's "Plymothian", not "Plymovian"!!!

Jane - Glastonbury
don't know if it counts as a devon word but my grandfather from somerset calls foreigners (meaning anyone not local) 'grockles'.

kirsty
not that many at the moment, i am still researching that! but i have found that i can somehow notice the different of where someone in devon is from, much like you can tell if someone if from devon or cornwall, so using phonetic transcrption i am looking to show how the plymovian accent has developed from a rural accent to a urban dialect etc. i probably just didn't explain myself.

kirsty, barnstaple now living in plymouth
what a cool site, really reminds me of my nan and her crazy sayings! growing up learning what she was on about sure was an education! i'm now at uni and trying to write a disseration on the plymovian accent and dialect, so any janners out there with any interesting dialect words originating from plymouth please post them!! thanks x

Wendy,Plymouth
oooaaaaaaa!!... Oh Yes!!

frank lord, lyme regis
What's the difference(s) between Devon and Plymouth accents / dialect?!

Debbie Harris- Cullompton
i love the old dialect, i love listening to it and i will do everything to make sure not all of it dissapears!!!

Eleanor (from Scotland)
Where abouts in Devon do you think that the local accent is disappearing and where are you likely to hear a traditional Devon accent?

Martin Spray, Forest of Dean, Glos.
I'm interested in bracken. Here in the Forest of Dean it's just called fern, and there's a lot of it. There's a local tradition of couples using 'fern tickets' when they need privacy. Am I right in thinking this is a name still used in Devon as well?

Jo,Exeter
Yerrrrrrr right means i agree.Who said English people all talk "posh"!

kirsty and zo毛 from Bradninch Duchy school
xggs means eggs

richard from plymouth
"bloin' a (h)ooley" = very windy, authentic nautical expression?

Wil Davis (NH, USA)
I'm originally from North Devon. My ol' Dad had a number of sayings which I've only ever heard in Devon. For instance he would say that someone was "as daft as a brish聟" (meaning as daft as a brush or stupid). Another one would be if someone was was being clumsy about doing something, he would say "聟they be like a cow handlin' a musket!". When I was a child learning to read, I remember him explaining the spelling of the word "CONTENTS" at the beginning of the book by the acronym "Cows Ought Not To Eat Nasty Turnip Skins", or (backwards) "Stan Takes Nancy Every Tuesday Night Out Courtin'" - Isn't it amazing just how such trivial things stick in your mind. Another one was "聟rin'd 'cross teddy vield, 'itched toe in earth, 'valled scat!" (translation: "I was running across a potato-field when I caught my foot in a lump of earth, and I fell over!聟" (great site, by the way聟) - Wil

Ted Hewlett, British Columbia, Canada
I think what follows is my last contribution of memories of my grandmother's Devon sayings in dialect, heard via my father. (I don't remember being told any more.) Apparently a villager living by himself had--like others in the same situation-- acquired the habit of conversing with himself. His name was Farmer Gammin (a name that I have discovered was in truth found in my grandmother's village). He was apparently overheard addressing himself thus just before sitting down to a meal: "Sit ye down, Farmer Gammin. Do 'ee help yourzel'. Don 'ee rise up hungry." Gossip about village characters such as this no doubt was a common form of entertainment.

Ron Holsworthy
Its raining again over "Wills Muvvers" the rain has started coming in from the South West

frank lord, lyme regis
To Peter Amesbury: a goyle is a ravine or a very steep valley. I dont know what its origin is, but I dont think it's particularly Devon. (As far as i know.)

R. Hudson, Yeoford
"Spadger" for sparrow is a word a friend (with Devon connections) uses. It is also found in Kipling's Stalky and Co. Is it a Devon dialect word?

Peter Amesbury
Does anyone know what the word "goyle" means? It was used in ther Farmers' Weekly in a description a wooded goyle.

frank lord, lyme regis
"Bock" meaning to knock down or destroy. When another gang of boys pulled your "den" down, you'd complain that they'd bocked it.

John - Japan
Us bei go'in downe towne, me dear! Bei proper job like, me dear! Us com frome High Bickington way, me dear!

Trevor James from Tavistock
Here's a saying you don't hear today: "an old rubber nose cloth-ears" (nosey parker).And how about "rantacket of a catchpenny" meaning a rip off.

Phil Tonkins
Hi John two things i remember my grandfather saying to me were :the nimlegang was giving him socks. meaning a witlow was giving him a lot of pain.the second was cloam scat for broken shards of pottery.Another I've remembered while writing this,is to scammel in the brimmels ,meaning to fall or trip over into the brambles.sorry about the spellings hope they are of intrest.regards Phil Tonkins

Toni, Plymouth
I think the problem with finding true devon words and sayings is that going to school in devonport(in the 70's and 80's)we had a lot of children from naval families who were from elsewhere, but we used to use 'mitching off', and we used to get 'done' for it! We used to play 'Urkey'(hide and seek). Is 'you gert lummock' a devon saying?

lisa whates in Brixton
James Parr, that's an interesting observation, and is quite right. I'd forgotten that! (And lost the habit myself.) Jan ex- Okehampton now Florida; I hope you're wrong about the Sarf Lundun accent; I live here, and it's awful to hear!

James Parr
This is not so much a sying. You wont notice you say it unitl you meet someone from outsie of Devon. Anyway, when we ask were someone is going we always say "Where you going to" I dont know why but we add to onto the end, normally would just be where you going. This is evident in Jamelia's new song, 'see it in a boys eyes. It i co writtn by Chris Martyn, who is from Devon. A line in the song goes "Wanna know where your going to"

Jan ex- Okehampton now Florida
PS Jan comes from the Devonian form of John, always a common name therefore Janners means any male from Devon. Fay! on the end of words or phrases is from "Faith' another mediaeval oath. Rural communities were always isolated and so these words and phrases 'stuck' They will fade as TV spreads the ubiquitous SarfLundun accent nationwide. More parrr to thee elbo, boi!

tom wheatley/devon
We used to use the word "mitching" (or spelt "miching"?) to mean playing truant, but was this specifically Devon, or in general use?

Jan ex- Okehampton now Florida
Wendy W.S.M "Trunkie want a bun" not sure of the spelling, Think it means being nosey. Where does it originate. It means you are nosey, like an elephant searching for a bun with it's trunk. Not a Devonian expression as far as I know. I never knew the origin of Grockles and had commented on the large black birds here in US called Grackles..thanks to this site I have learnt it is a name for jackdaws, who cause trouble and steal things...hmmm. A lot of very old English words and dialect terms came over here with immigrants and remained part of the language. They still call handbags 'pocket books!' terminology which diasppeared in UK hundred years ago! Where be mammy to? Moi dear soul! And once when I came rushing out of the butchers in Okehampton to catch my bus, an old lady said to me " Landsakes, Where be foire then?" It still makes me smile. Bleddy is dialect for bloody which does indeed mean By Our Lady and is a mediaeval oath sworn to do something in the name of Mary. Sad corruption of a noble intent. The Wren Trust does wonderful work in oral history and folk music in Devon. look them up! They're based in Okehampton. NOT Oakhampton!!

tom wheatley/devon
I can confirm some of the ones mentioned. "Smeeching" was used to mean smoking, like a wet wood on a fire. "Proper job" I remember well; it was used to mark approval or give a compliment. "Me bird" too was well used. And of course "Right maid?" and "Right boy?" were standard greetings. (I still think that's lovely, referring to girls as maids!) However, bint, slag and slapper are nothing to do with Devon; they're just words which have been generally fashionable at one time or another to describe girls and women; the first was used for women generally, the other two (still in use) were perjorative.

Toni, Plymouth
Oops just remembered some more! Me and my friends used to say Loike at the end of every sentence. Other words were bint (to describe a girl that was bimbo-ish), slag and slapper(for easy women)yer noggin (your brain- but I don't know if this is frum debn!)Cakey-silly/kitch. Cake'ole-mouth. Shut yer face/teeth/trap(shut up) Dozy cow(stupid woman). Over the way(over there)

Toni, Plymouth
Roit Buy? Roit Maid? (hello boy/girl) (don't pronounce the T's!) Moiy Buurd (My Bird) Me Aansom (My Handsome)Moiy Flower.All from dinner ladies in a Plymouth Primary school. U be maiz u be!(You are mad you are) Doin' the Sen Vitus Daanse(doing the St.Vitus dance) -jumping about wildly- the origin is some sort of illness. These from an old lady who had never been out of devon (I don't think even her village!-Bittaford,South Devon).

Bruce, Northumberland
When I try to explain my accent I say I use a 'long short a'. What I mean is, most folks say the word bath either as 'barth' (posh) or 'bath' (somewhat clipped and northern-sounding). Us Devon folk use the second way but then hold on to the clipped/short 'a' and streych it out so that the word becomes 'baath'.

Bruce Fraser
When I was 18 I worked for the Dartington Rural Archive based within the Dartington Trust at Dartington. I spent many hours recording the accents and stories of the oldest folks in lots of south Devon villages on cassette. They'd all be dead by now as they were well into their 80s and 90s. Worth checking out, though.

Bruce
Whoops! Another one...my mum has always talked about 'shop fuddlin'' for window shopping.

Bruce Fraser
Less often than when I say 'smeech mark' or 'dimpsy', I say 'proper job' and I used to call women 'maids' until I got the pee taken out of me when I went as an 19 year old to work in London. I like the comment about 'lummy days' as I used to hear that a lot as a kid in the 60s & 70s. Cheers Bruce

Bruce Fraser
The two things I still say, having left Torquay in 1979, are: 1. 'Smeech mark' for anything with a sooty mark. I once read a dictionary of dialect in my university library which said that not only was this a Devon word, but specific to south Devon. 2. 'Dimpsy' for that time of night when darkness is just beginning to fall, a sort of in between time after the sun has gone down but before the light has finally failed. Cheers m'dears! Bruce

BT, In Devon for a bit.
Barbara Porter: The "thay" for surprise or disbelief, could be derived from the common "you don't say!". Different variations in this abound across Southern England [and probably beyond]. Round here "'tsay" is common. Now soften the S and you could be in Tennessee. As for "krilled", I don't know, but I've heard one person speak of having "krilpt" their elbow. It might be a corruption of crippled [or it might not]. But that's enough regional talk for now, and I'm going to go before any calls me "My lover".

Grace - originally from East Allington
My father used to work on the roads and to stop the drains from blocking they used to go out and clear the "battalows" not sure of the spelling but sound a bit like "bat-a-l'eau" I live in North Devon now and my husband is a North Devonian and has never heard of "battalow" he reckons it's a South Devon word - anyone else heard of it? I believe it's gutter for the rain water to run along to take the water to the drains.

John from Totnes
We still use 'Proper Job ' for something good. My Uncle when surprised would say ' Lummy days '. I wonder if anybody knows what that meant ? Maid was used around here to mean any woman and bi( boy) for any man .One old fellow used to say ' What be telling of ' to mean talking rubbish .Maize for daft or cakey for silly .

Jeannie from Exmouth
Does anyone else remember frocks and stuff in the 50s made from "peaky/pique waffle" and what is the english word for it?

Andrea Wood Perth WA
I'm Exeter born and bred, my nan always said "as maize as a brush or as maize as a sheep" if someone was "mad". If you were fussing over your appearance she always said" no-one's gwain (going) to stop a runaway horse to look at you my maid!" Another one for being "mad" was "proper doughbake"

tom wheatley/devon
chris northam - palmer: Fuzz is in fact furze, another name for gorse. (Latin name,Ulex europaeus.)

chris northam - palmer
my mother in law has lived in the small hamlet of horndon all of her life and speak a dialect unknown to me even though I am a born and bred Plymothian.For example attached the the end of every sentence is the word trait.I think she means trade.I likes those shoes trait.I bought some curly kale trait today nothing is said without trait tacked on. She uses splittereens for smithareens if she breaks something.Fuzz for gorse.Teddies are spuds - well known that one.She also will address me in a way I think that has died out for many a year certainly nothing I heard from my own Grandparents thus:- Ow be you? I be going dreckly.Er said of course never she said.Nort for nothing.A favourite used after every sentence whether someone is dying or very ill or simply that the weather has changed is Well there tiz,can't do nort about it.I find the repetition of phrases very unsual.

Bob - Plymtree
My favourite phrase that my mother used to come out with was; ee's 'alf scat inn'ee?! half scat meaning 'not all there'

Chris Gitsham - Coventry
When somone is found to be grossly incompetent it may be said "...'eeze /(errze) a proper bleddy doughbake" or 'eeze /(errze)the biggest bleddy doughbake ever I zeed"

Ollie Couzens
you just bide there. A parent would say to their kids "you just bide there" meaning "stay there". Everybody knows that!

Tom Devon
My favourite saying is now that looks like a prober jawb

Nick, California
Several things spring to mind from growing up in N Devon: Daft as a bush (brush pronounced brish) - someone who is not smart I'll square ee up boy (I'll -> oi'll, boy -> Bay) - the method of squaring up involved a swift clip round the 'ead dung pit -> final resting location of soiled straw from a shippen, where the cows lived. Us'll -> we will Alriight, what be 'bout then -> what's up, what are you doing, how're things Cheers 'en -> bye for now Buggered if I know -> I don't know

Nicky Exeter
My dear old Nan always had to take her "umberjig" ( Umbrella ) with her if it looked like rain and "Buggered if i know " if she knew nothing about something. She was also a reknowned speaker of the " Deb'nsure di'lec " amongst the W.I

Ann from Crediton
Praper ol nosebag.Nosey person.

Roger Hooper ex Holsworthy
For Dennis Lee Cleven, who wants to hear what Devon people sound like: the Wren Trust www.wrentrust.co.uk sell a beautiful cassette "A Village Remembers". You can listen to some lovely Devon people from Milton Abbott. I am in exile and I play it often.

Sue - Brixham
When something was hard or difficult to do I have heard it described "t'was was like tryin to push a 'andcart up 'ill bakards" !!!!!

Primrose
I've been scratching my 'ayde about this for a while: there always seemed to be a clear difference between the vocabulary and pronunciations used by women, and that used by men when I was growing up (discounting the latter's cussing, of course, unless they were 'Methodey' and wouldn't dare swear). Is this something others remember, or am I simply picking up the variations which used to be strong between villages? [sigh, nowadays so many people speak with south-east or northern accents that I feel a foreigner in my own home area.]

Darren, Devon
And our dialect is bad...if i get called "duck" one more time lol!

Glyn Squires- Chulmleigh
Ghatt,never. Tis a expression of disbelief.

John Germon
To Simon Lazenby in Australia: The dialect word is Dimpsy or Dimmett, sometimes Families say the words in a different way. In Ashburton it is Dimpsy that is widely used. Thanks for your question. "'N U'zl zee 'ee Dreckly"

Doug Buckfastleigh
''yer, 'ers upstairs iddn she? (Here, she's a bit daft is she not?)

Lance - Bristol
Was born and brought up in God's Own City of Execeter. Two of the words I always remember as a young strapper were "backalong" (a while ago) and "Cuckoospit" which is the frothy secretion found on leaves containing insect eggs. B'aint have a clue on what breed of beetle made it though. Cheers and beers, Lance.

tom wheatley/devon
I'll go ahead and put the poem here. I know that I've forgotten a chunk, but I'll give what I recall. Also, the writer used spellings to try to echo the accent, and my rendering may not be exactly his. (End of lines indicated by /) "There be piskies up on Dartymoor, and tidden good ye say there baint/ I've felt 'en grawpin' at me heart, I've heard their voices calling faint./ I knawed a man be cruel down, his soul fair stogged and heavy like/ Climbed up on bruckle Zaddle Tor, and bared his head vor winds to strike./ And all the gert black mawky grief, and all the pain and fog and grime/ Have blawed away, and left 'en clear, like furze bush fires in swalin' time./ And what med do so brave a thing as piskies' spells to tek and weave/ But little piskies' vitty hands, or God 'imself as gave 'em leave?/ But tidden 'im would stop and spy from Widdecombe to Cranmer Pool/ To maze the schemin' little heart of every Jacky-Lantern fool!/ And this I knaw, the little tods be ever callin', silver faint -/ There be piskies up on Dartymoor - and tidden good ye say there baint!" Some interesting words in there: eg. vitty.

tom wheatley/devon
There is a poem I knew entitled "Piskies" (I think). It begins: "There be piskies up on Dartymoor, And tidden good you say there baint." Anyone know it? Who's it by?

Norice Millen [Norrie] Thornhill Ontario
I have spent all of my time visiting the Ex Pats section of this site and it was only today as a Tinmuth Bay that I decided to check the dialect section out. Someone suggested that a Janner was someone from Plymouth, Janner Defintion: Someone who is born, raised and lives usually by the seaside. Within Naval Terminology:someone from the west country. But specifically Plymouth. In the RN all of us Devon Bays were called Janners or Jan. Cornish guys Jaggers and so on. I remember one old fisherman when I did something wrong or foolish would say "Yer a girt full" You are a big fool. When talking about some girls or woman "Them there maids down road" Living and working all over the Globe my entire ault life, most of my Devon accent has disappeared, especially living in Canada for over 23 years. I am often mistaken for a Londoner or an Australian!

Simon Lazenby - Australia
Hello from across the miles!
I'm after John's assistance if I can. My question is for a similar term I used as a child which is 'dumpsy dark'. The term referred to a particular light during 'twilight', so neither light or dark... and as we used 'dumpsy dark'! This might be specific to a rural area of the west country in England, Somerset in fact. Is this a local colloquialism or simply a fantastic family phrase? I suspect it's an adaption of "DIMPSY, DIMMETT" - Twilight Just as the sun has faded and it is starting to get dark. "Tiz zaid 聭t be getting聮 Dimpsey" Look forward to your thoughts/feedback!

Alice, Honiton
Daps (trainers), der-brain (dimwit), "where's ee to?" (where is he? "to smooth a cat" (stroke it)

Ros from Holsworthy
"Tis a licker" meaning fancy that! "Viddy" meaning something proper, the aforementioned "Frape"is my favourite, I often "frape" the kids up!

tom wheatley/devon
Dear Jeff, Western Australia: I dont know why you're disappointed with my remarks. I wasn't criticising local accents or dialects, just drawing attention to the way they can mocked and twisted to streotypes. What's the first thing anyone says when they know you're from Devon? "OOh arrr, me deary-oh!" Genuine Devon words and accents, but no yokel playing, please!

jeff Western Australia
G'day fellas, I've just discovered this site and found it intriguing..I was a little disappointed by Tom Wheatley's remarks but then it seems he has never travelled any ferver than perhaps Benedorm . Having lived in Oz for 40 years I can still pick out a Hampshire accent from a Bristol accent etc from the ex pats that live here ; though I am orginally fron Plymuf I have a full blown oz accent but I like to indulge in what's old wise and wealthy within the imagination..Luckily I have grow old wise and wealthy my 'ansomes ....so tell me where does the expression come from , which was used heaps by my oldees ....."you bleddy Turk yu". Used when you misbehaved in a litle way .. I'll be gwain nouw if that beright withee.

Kate S Devon
lants = sandeels (goin lantin = going to catch sandeels) vor on = get going/go faster mazed as a stoat = mad as a hatter where's it to? = where is it? proper = really,very (ee's proper ansome or that maid, er's proper strick wi' the buyes) thunder and lightening is a sandwich filled with jam and clotted cream Everyone spoke like this when I were a maid, and every pub had a couple of olduns telling tall tales to the grockles. Don't think my granfer liked the cornish, he used to say "Chop down the bridge and let the buggers float away!" All local dialect should be preserved, and wherever we're from we should be proud of it. Keep up the good work!

Laura Chappell. Hampshire
Does any one know how to contact John Germon. I would like to interview him for a college project.

Ann Crediton
A poem I once heard.A stands vor apple red as a rawse.B stands vor bull with a ring droo ees nawse.C stands vor cow wont do ee no arm.D stands vor dumplin down on the varm.E stands vor ens layin ther eggs.F stands vor frolics wi the maids in the ay.Sorry I cant remember the rest.

Wendy W.S.M
"Trunkie want a bun" not sure of the spelling, Think it means being nosey. Where does it originate.

Jimmy W Crediton
I wuz born yer in Debin my grampy used to tull bout on old varmit down the rud, ee wuz akchully tullin bout oll fulla that ad an archiewichie fur eez tay.

Malcolm Henshall - Leeds
I know 'Janner' means someone from Plymouth but why?

Lisa, Devon
'up tuller side feold'

Barbara Porter
This is really farfetched, but worth a try. I live in eastern Tennessee (the United States of America). A few of the very oldest people in this area and those least influenced by modern contact use the term (sounds like) "Thay" (they) in the context: Expresses mild astonishment, or amazement, or means, "oh, really". If you say that you saw a panther (large cat that has been extinct for at least 100 years in this area), they look at you with large eyes and a polite but unbelieving expression and say "thay" (they). Also, if they step on their ankle the wrong way and hurt it, they say that they "krilled" (sprained) their ankle. Have not been able to find anything to explain these terms.

Ted Hewlett, Surrey, BC, Canada
A few other remembered sayings passed on by my father from my grandmother born in Bratton Fleming: "When fermer John aggis's friends were a-sot, a-smoking their bakky and drinkin' the pot, and the wind whistled through the key-ole of the door . . . ." --Don't suppose anyone knows the rest of the story. I'm curious. Another saying, applied to an aunt of mine: "Thit maid's got a face like a puddin'. " Another saying (Devon or Dorset), used by boys indulging in the cruel sport of squeezing a grasshopper till the juice came oput: "Spit tobackee or I'll kill 'ee. " And an expression from another relative, used by my Devon great-grandmother: "all kindidled away," referring to money squantered.

Carl McBride, Madrid (ex-Janner)
I caynt reed, n I caynt rite, but 'at doun realrly ma'er; cos I cum frum down Debnshur, an I cun dryve a 'tra-er. ;-)

Ed, Somerset
En reeply ter Tom 'aarold: Wee dern't av a vunny aaccent coz wee ezent Southerners, weez West Country volk!

Oliver, Mid Devon
I recommend you get hold of a copy of "Peasant Speech of Devon", a very old and wonderful book which has masses of old Devonian expressions and words with meanings. Then find a true Devonian to read it to you; it is just like a foreign language! If I can find my copy I will put some examples up here...

steve kingett
being a ex barnstaple man, now living in london. the phrase "Drangway", which i think meant gangway. can anyone verify this. thanks steve kingett

Tina - London
My family in Devon always referred to Wood Lice as 'Chuggy Pigs' and fairy cakes as 'nubbies'

Rob
My Mum uses the expression up at crowfart聟.meaning up at the crack of dawn. Got to be added to the list me thinks!

Kristie, Plymouth
You need to get hold of the Janner textbook John!

Chris Chapman .North Qld Australia
After living on Dartmoor for some time before moving overseas .One of my favourite words is "Drash" which i understand to be to hit something with a hammer as hard as possable . still use it today with some funny looks miss the weather 320+ days of sunshine can get to you !!!

Richard Weeks - Plymouth
I remember my gran going on about Erleypigs meaning Earwigs. Don't know if it was a common word.

websafe -- US
Thanks to Jim Dockerty of Wellington for discussing Grockles and Emmetts. Does anyone know the origin of these words? The word "grockle" makes me think of the bird, "grackle," which I think are considered undesirables, "pest" birds, noisy and messy? That would follow, since tourists are regarded with disdain no matter where they are on Earth -- though their money may be sorely needed to prop up the local economy.

J MaTTock hx
IN REPLY TO STEVE BRIXAMS POST FIZZOG MEANING FACE FIZZOOK MEANS BACK OF YOUR HEAD AS MY DAD TOLD ME HE LIVES IN DEVON

Sylvia Herbert
Shillard.... Light Dummen ......Woman

Stephen Selley
My Grandfather, Ronald Selley, came from Devon and grew up on a farm at Stoodleigh near Tiverton between the years 1903 - 1917. He would often recount stories of those days, which would sometimes include dialect words. One word was 'dashell' which meant thistle. The story was that one day he was helping to stook sheaves of corn in the field. The corn was full of thistles the thorns of which got into his hands. he turned out one of his father's farm workers and said "look Mr ... my hands be vull o' dashells" to which the reply was: "never mind boiy - if they be vull up then no more'll go in" He also recounts visiting relations by the name of Tucker who farmed at Cruwys Morchard. On one occasion one of them by the name of Tommy Tucker, having found that someone had left the barn doors wide open came into the farmhouse and said: "who drawed they doors abroad" Another dialect word used by my grandfathers sisters was "chibbles" which were spring or salad onions.

tom herbert/oakhampton
"fizzog", i think, isn't especially Devonian. It's just a humorous shortening of the word "physiognomy".

steve brixham
fizzog means your face

Jennie-Teignmouth
Devonshire prayer Matthew,Mark, Luke and John God bless tha bayd that oy loys on. Vower cornders too me bayd, Vower angels lies asprayed, Two t`voot and two to aid Four to carr me when oim dayd. An` when oim dayd an in me grave an` all me bones be ratten, The greedy wurums moi vlaysh wull ate, And oi shell be vergotten.

Rob-Plymouth
i support plymouth argyle and most of the fans say Argo' instead of the name, Argyle.

Steve Short-Canada
I remember hearing "you'll get 'ang when you get 'ome" especially if it was for "mitching off from school" or "bunking into the pictures"

Derrick Carter Plymouth
"Dryth" A word my mother used to describe favourable drying conditions when drying washing. Good dryth was a sunny and breezy day. "Strapper" A strapper is a person who is incompetant and makes no useful contribution to the job in hand

Claire Depreaux nee Dyer, Nice , France
Having been brought up in Deb'n, I remember various phrases from my family: " 'ers bin fighting an appledrane's nest" - she has been doing something unspecified, "crookey down" - to crouch, "eatin up the orts" - eating the leftovers, "shippen" - cow byre, "'oss ade" - someone who looked like a horse, presumably, "orkword as a camel" - clumsy, "filthy ripe" - very dirty. all this brings back memories!!

Adam Sheppard, Seattle USA
Anyone know the origins of 'Forthy' as used primarily by my grandmother when somebody does something thats a little presumptuous. Thanks Adam.

Tom Herbert/Oakhampton
I remember one type of leaf from a bush being called "soursabs". The leaf had a very bitter taste. What was this? Was it a type of sorrel?

Jo Swingler brought up in Plymouth/Plymstock
Just wondering if anyone knows a dialect word for nosy or nosy parker?

Steve - Torrington but was Hartland
Frape - to get something going, speed it up, tighten it. You've just started the Lister stationary engine to grind some corn. It's not running properly. "Frape 'n up buy! Frape 'n up!" Never heard 'grockle' in the '50s, we just called them visitors. Zoo peg. Woodlouse.

Ian Harding, Hampshire
Hi John I seem to remember my grandad (Deb'n Born 'n' Bred) telling me as a child (+/- 40 years ago) that tourists were derogatorily called 'Grockles', because that was the old name for (I think) jackdaw, which was also a numerous, noisy, unwelcome intruder! Saludos Ian Harding Hook, Hampshire

mandy, ex- pat plymothian
Chuggy pigs are what comes out of your nose according to my mum and dad! Curreny obby, a currant pasty.

Peter Rudd - Ilfracombe
Combe Martin (Shamwick)-speak includes "mazed as a brish (brush)"

Bert Webb,Ugborough,now Brisbane'Australia
After spending some time over seas in the RAF I managed a flight back to St Mawgan. I had to catch a train to Plymouth and I was sat in the compartment with two local fellows on the opposite seat who was into a conversation.I had forgotten how the west country accent sounded and possibly when living there one doesn't notice it. But listening to those two fellows was the best entertainment I can remember. I had my head burried in a news paper with tears down my face with held back laughter. I am not knocking it.I too have a very strong Devonshire accent and would not want it any other way. Wish I could hear more of it now. I talk Debnshire ere and nobody naws wat I'm yappin on bout. Bert Webb

Jason Williams, Leicester
ohh arr you ditty barsted was a phrase that I heard a lot in Devon (lived there for 8 years) Never knew what it meant. can any body help??

London (ex Devonshire girl)
'Cakey' does not mean stupid. Proper 'cakey' refers to someone who is dim. Proper cakey is someone who has no social ettiqette, and above all 'cakey' is rather like 'Tim Nice But Dim' Cakey is one of the harder words to define... It is not merely stupidity.... It is used (in my experience) to refer to people who are nice but lack certain social qualities.

London (ex Devonshire girl)
Maid was always in my understanding, an abbreviation of maiden. People older than me referred to younger women as maidens.

London (ex Devonshire girl)
Tis getting 'dimpsey' (the natural daylight is fading) Oi'd better breeng me woishing in. That 'party' (another woman usually) 'as left 'er woishing out all day, and I saaw 'er walking up the road, bold aaas brass, she'm nearly 'ahhd 'er 'aaands in his powcket! She was wearing scent to add to 'er allure, and wee'm could all smell it a mile affffff... Sheeeemm braaaaizen! Now thennn.. aas for 'err down the road, aaave you seen the ooooge big big knees and thighs on 'err?? (Conversation between two Devonian women about 30 years ago that I can remember)

Lesley, Plymouth
My Dad and Aunt Alice had some phrases they used constantly, they were born & bred in Devon. "Cum into the Office" (an invitation to Auntie's sitting room). "Lets av a frozie" (a treat normally of a little glass of sherry and some sweet treats). "Jack Jack shaw your light" (When someone wanted someone else to shine a torch). "Owright Maid", Howz you maizie, Owright me bird, (all phrases of endeerment). "Get up them stairs". "You'm Porper maze" & "You'm Daft" (both used to indicate that we were being silly). I loved listening to them speak and the phases bring back happy memories.

John. Northlew.
A word often used in these parts is Zamzoi, meaning Very Good.

gillian, connecticul
Some words i remember growing up in the '60's in Plymouth are; allright then (how are you), see you saffty (see you this afternoon) cousties (as in bathing costumes) drek (poop) proper breakfast (bacon and egg breakfast) fags (cigarettes), slag (easy woman) chuffed (proud)

Darren Voysey - Crediton
Some common words and phrases I hear are: me old buckle (friend); me ol buddy (same); maid (to a female); bauy (to a male); dimpsy (getting dark).

Graham Bradshaw - Torquay
"Done ee wurry m'dear, ee be only funnin" meaning do not fret he is only joking.

Mary Weston, North Vancouver. BC
Further to "Yer Tiz" - We had a Plaque on our Bathroom door with the words "Yer Tiz" and for the longest time my daughter-in-law who is Italian thought it was a Ukrainian word for the Toilet!!

Mary Weston,Plymouth but now North Vancouver,
Yer Tiz for "here it is" Mizzle - for Mist and Drizzle

PS N Devon
how about mazed in t'ead tis means not all there

Ron Hill, Maidenhead exiled Barumite.
Oi av ad a gude laff at all the contributions but oi didn zee 'ow be ee then?' translation 'how are you?' and the reply 'purty vitty thank ee'. Mind you the question often triggered a long string of ailments punctuated by commiserations such as 'o my dear zoul ow did that appen then'. I noticed the word 'Grockle' which I had not come across in my young days but I knew the word'Emmet'(an ant). These words were particularly attributed(intolerantly) to those 'wakes weeks' holiday makers who came to Devon by special trains from the Mill Towns in vurrin parts.Up yer in Berkshire the real locals zound a bit like us do zo I veels aizy bout thaat mind yu it baint reely zame as ome. Despite being an exile for some 67 years I am vair chuffed when people tell me that my accent has survived despite having to modify for they there Lunnon yers. Thicky doan af talk vunny ime a tellin uv yu! Be withe agin drekley.

roger davies of plymouth
Not perhaps strictly dialect, but I'm curious. When I was a child - sorry, a tacker! - in Plymouth long ago, we used to call girls "maid" (pronounced, more or less, to rhyme with "head"), and boys were called "boy" (pronounced, sort of, "buhy"). Do kids still use these two terms to address each other, or has it gone now, like so much else?

John Chinner/Plympton
Confused some of my northern friends with "'avin a yap" (talking) They call me Jan (short for Janner)

Jacquie - Marldon
Does anyone know of a Devonian word or phrase for any of the following - maze, change, last house. We're trying to come up with a good name for our house, but want it to be a Devon word. Any ideas?

Tom Herbert/oakhamptom
Mr Brian Herbert (no relation)says "bleddy" is a contraction of "By MY Lady" I remember "bleddy" clearly, but I always thought it was simply a local pronounciation of "bloody". (That bleddy cat! = That bloody cat!)

Ted Hewlett, Canada
A couple of West Country sayings were handed down in our family from my grandmother (maiden name Parkin) of Bratton Fleming, born in 1867. Making allowance for the fact that I heard them mainly from my father, and for my lack of experience in writing dialect, perhaps one or more of your readers could tell me if they recognize one of the sayings as at least approximating Devon dialect. Here is the dialogue-saying: "Where be gwine you?" "Up to Crane's [store] you." "What fer you?" "A ha'penny-worth of zalt, you." "Why done-'ee buy it more at a time, you?" "Coz mither do like it frash and frash." --A small joke, indeed, but interesting to me as a family tradition. Is it from Devon dialect or Dorset? (My grandmother lived there after marriage.) Any information you can give me would be appreciated.

chris andrews expatriate sidmouthian
eesfay is ...its fair, he's right is..... she'll be apples

Chris
hi i lived in sidmouth how about wer be goin or wer be to the first is self explanitory the second means where are you a favourite in sidmouth which has a story is hellabout kennett ware means in effect we dont believe you

TOM HAROLD, NORTH
thank heavens that our southern counterparts also have ridculous phrases and stupid dialects. i think northerners are sick off being the butt of the jokes but, now southerners are now gaining recognintion in having stupid dialects and accents.

Michael Steer
Stewer meaning bullock or steer

Mike Perryman
John, I don't see "gipple" under the G. Gipple as in teddie oggie with gipple, meaning pasty with gravy. "Gipple" is pronounced "jipple" the G as in gypsy. Kind regards,

Janet McxCormick nee Darch born in Barnstaple
I think my favorite phrase was said by my Grandfather "wer bainst thee gwain to me old dear" (where are you going) or another one "swipe thicky ther en off chaar and sut down me dear" (put the hen off the chair and sit down)

tom wheatley/devon
Don't know that i like this interest in dialect. It makes us all sound like quaint stereotypes who sit around in smocks, a blade of grass in the mouth, swigging scrumpy and singing "Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce, lend me your grey mare..." Surely we want to be more than the butt of jokes?

JJ - London
How about these... Whortleberrys (blueberries) Chuggy Pigs (woodlice) Teddies (potatoes) - as in 'Thay teddies are fleurt'n' - the potatoes are boiling.

peter v. from melbourne.
Didnt use much dialect when i was a devon tacker, but remember "cakey" for stupid, and "gawky" for awkward.

Kirsty Kliem
Hi I have been trying to think of words beginning with t...I was born and brought up in Braunton, N. Devon, and come from a braunton family dating back to the 1500s (as far as we can trace!). In the house we lived in when I was growing up (which was incidently quite old) there was a two-story part built on to the back, and the top floor was referred to as the "tallet". I think that a tallet is somewhere where grain, other food or hay was stored. And I think it's a devonshire word!

Kenagain (again)
Just read the query re. the crossword. People were described as "ignorant as a haystack", unfortunately ignorant hasn't got 9 letters, but something similar would fit the bill (or the crossword) not much help really,was it?

Kenagain
I thought an ornywink was an earwig?

george (plymouth originally)
(1) Little kids (round about 6 - 8 years)used to be referred to as "tackers". This still extant?

Chris Nash
Crossword clue: 'West Country phrase describing someone deficient in intelligence (9,2,1,8' - any ideas?!

Michael Gribble - Adelaide
Dear John Ours is an old Devon dating from Walter-atte-Gribele who paid his Lay Subsidy tax in 1330. By 1524 there were 10 of the name in the Lay Subsidy records, and until the early 17th century the name was virtually confined to Devon. The Surname Dictionaries state that "gribele" is Middle English for: "a crab(apple) tree or blackthorn" notwithstanding that these are different plants, one an apple-bearing tree and the other a plum-bearing bush. I think one dictionary has simply copied this suggestion from another, and it has been repeated in subsequent editions and dictionaries. I am interested in the origin of our name which I suspect arose independently in the Barnstaple area and around Crediton, and possibly around Bovey Tracey, too. There are some questions which I would like to follow up: Does, or did, "gribele" really mean a crabtree or blackthorn? If so, would the blackthorn be a more common plant around Barnstaple and the crab-apple more frequent around Crediton or vice-versa? Are there other words in the old Devon dialect which might have given rise to a surname sounding like Gribble or Grebell? I would be most grateful for any help or suggestions which might help me in my search, for my son and I have a web-site on the name, its origins, demography etc, and I am in the process of revising these two sections. With many thanks for any help you might be able to give me, Yours sincerely

Ann Gratz
Hello John, You might remember me; I'm Barbara Bromell's sister from America (Oakton, Virginia actually). A friend has just introduced me to your website and what a joy it is. I wuz proper 'mazed tu zee 'n. Anyway, one of my Aunty's favorite expressions was "a gurt wallage (wallidge?)" meaning, of course, a big dollop, as in cow plop or the contents of a baby's nappy!! Don't know if it's a Devonshire phrase but it certainly ought to be!! All the best my 'ansome, and keep up the good work. Regards P.S. Will have to e-mail Barbara and Tom about this. What a small world it has become!

Beryl Gilham, Woolacombe, North Devon
I can confirm that DRECKLY and DIMPSEY are true Devonian words as I can remember my parents and Grandparents using both. My parents and grandparents came from Devonport and these were words frequently used when I was growing up in Surrey. My husband and I have just moved to North Devon and we think it is great!!

Ken-Bristol
My favourite isn't a word at all. It is a sharp intake of breath over the bottom lip to indicate "Yes" or any other required affirmative, also the word "brave" said like "braav" as in "a braav while" (for a long time) or "braavn fat" (plump), "braav way" etc. "I'm gain in Lanson you". "Caw thas a braav way ta go bennit"?

Geoff Dorking Plymouth
Maize Gawk.First heard in the village of Berrynarbor in 1937, means a stupid feeble minded person.

Pam Farrell
Where I was born in Lympstone, and old fisherman used to say- "When the zin titches th'eelz". Literally- when the sun touches the hills (sunset) I still use "dimpsy" for when it@s getting dark

Anne Kelly, Victoria, Canada.
As a child in Devon, being teased by my Uncle if I was crying " wait you come home with your head under your arm, then you can cry!". Or: "t'was windy up wife's mother's" ; and "get up them stayers"

Dan Whitton - St Buryan
Oiee wesh oiee were en Deam'sher.. Wer aal them berds do flaak 'rownd oiee..... Oiee'd claap moi aands an laaaaf loike buggereee.. an aaal they berds awaee wurd floiee!!!..

Jannerfred UK
Jim of wellington your comments had be laughing for ages. Love the cornishmen who did'n know what thur legs wuz fer! Great

Jannerfred
Thats proper 'chatty' meaning scruffy..cheap....tatty. apparently from an Indian word that I cant spell (!) for lice, from war days when soldiers clothes were living with lice! NICE

HILARY S. AFRICA
how about:- deam - devon aawruyt!!?? - how are you!!?? ma'ansom - pretty boy ma'cocker - my friend trunkie wanna bun?? - don't be nosy oos yer maaaaaaate?? - who's your friend?? daft maid - stupid girl proper job - fine piece of work gaw'jump on me!! - I find you attractive dosy cow - inattentive girl

kevin Pyne
Crokels means white clown as per the white faced circus clown Groke sorry spelling awfull

Primrose
Is "dray-zax-ee" a real word??? I have memories of it being used to describe a lazy, apathetic feeling or person, but I could have misheard - I was only a kiddiwink at the time. How about suent - that smooth, flowing, correct movement of clouds, wind over cornfields, well tuned engine sounds - all going suently. We store out hay and barn owls in the "tallet" over the shippons.

Mary Quick
Girt lummox, A fool Eesfai Yes by faith Futty Filthy

Steve Thomas
With a li'l tacker on the way I am looking verward to all the wopsies that the cheel throws... Shame there aint'any Debn names that I can call owm? Hany ideas?

Robert Selley
Make hay in May, burn the first bay.

Ian Woodgate
How about 聯Janner聰, meaning someone local to Plymouth (I think)

Kate Barlow and family
Hi John. Here is some phrases which my family often still use 1. Mazed a sheep 2. Veesh (as in a bit of fish) 3. Blacks the inside of a beg (bag) 4. Its black out over Bill's mothers (the clouds are out) 5. Where be gwain (where are you going) 6. Yer tiz 7. Bye (boy) 8. Cut (as in coat) 9. Maid (girl) 10. Daw bake (Not too bright) 11. Young eller (eller meaning heller) 12. York's (string cord around the trouser leg) 13. Dish o tay (cup of tea) Hope these are of some use!!

Jim Dockerty - Wellington
A few observations on Devon words, from a man of Devon,'demshir' born, but biding in Somerset. Emmetts was always in Cornish use, but Grockles was more local to South Devon. They tended to be used for day trippers (Emmetts) and Holiday makers (Grockles). Hence we had Grockle barges (pleasure boats)and Grockle shells (caravans). Some other words you have heard before, no doubt: Bowlin (bough-lin), as in 'Tis proper bowlin' - very good or excellent. Montious Ticket - Just the thing, very satisfactory. Oggin - water, more usually the sea, as in "chucked 'n in th' oggin" Cackleberries - eggs Janner - A West Country man, more properly a Devon man. As you know "Cousin Jack (Cornishmen) did'n know what thur legs was fer til they looked over the Tamar an seed Debn men walkin bout" - No offence to Cousin Jack! There is also local reference in Dartmouth (the best place in the world, but don't tell the Grockles) to some of the weekend sailing fraternity as the 'Birmingham Navy' but this is hardly dialect.

Chris Land - Australia
What Devonshire person cannot remember their mother (or grandmother) bowelin their clothes in a bow-ler. In fact, the verb 'to boil' comes out in what I remember of the Devonshire dialect not quite as bowel but rather as 'bowel' without so much of an 'l' sound at the end. Of all the strange pronunciations of common English words, I believe this one to be one of the most peculiar and difficult for outsiders to understand.

Mark Spry - Luton
"Eesfay!", my dad in Devon says this meaning "he's right!"