B

Dialect

Meaning

Source

Term

Cornish

Comment

Earliest Known Date Recorded

Ba-all

to cry out. Howling

55, 57

General

WC, NC,

1940's [57]

Baa'd

mischievously beaten

Genaral

BAAL

to beat

General

1880

BAALED

to be beaten

General

1880

BAALING

A beating

General

1880

Baant

am not

General

BA-ATE

Verb: to abate

General

1940

BAA'T-STAILER

the spider crab [Maia squinado]

Fishing

WC,

1976

General

General

1880

Bacca

tobacco

General

BACK

a rope connecting successive crab-pots in line to form a FLEET from 12 to 15 fathoms long

Fishing

W P,

1976

BACKLET, BACKSIDE

a court or yard behind a house

General

1880

Back-an-forth

back to front. About face. Wrong way round

General

1976

Backalong

formerly in time. The road just traversed

57, 20, 71

General

NC, WP, WC

1940 [57]

Backjowster

Fishwife

Fishing

WP,

1976

BACKSIFORE

Back to front

55,57, 60

General

WC, NC, WP

1880 [60]

BACON RACK

A sturdy rack, some four feet square suspended from the ceiling. Made of wooden bars; it carried the cured bacon and ham, as well as mothers knitting and other sundry items.

Household

N C,

1940

BAD-ILL

Taken ill

Health

WC,

1940's

BAGAROOT [S]

Sweet Turnips, usually a bagful

Household / farming

1976

BAGGLE

Muffle, to swarthe.

General

1976

BAGEL/BAGLE

Nuisance

W P

2009

Bagganet

Bayonet

General

1880

Baggle

Muffle

Baggly-ow

Dried codfish [see also Bucky Jow]

Fishing

Scilly

1976

BAGYL

Crosier or shepherds crook

Farming

W P,

2009

BAID

Bed

Household

N C

BAIDIN

Animal bedding

Farming

N C

BAIL

verb: Chick -to break open an egg.

Farming

N C

Baistly

This is one pronunciation, or `beastly' -- dirty, unkempt, unwashed, filthy. Used in this way could be used by someone crude or coarse or vulgar, reprimanded by, " Don't be beastly!

WC,

1940's

An iron pan used for cooking pasties or cakes

BAKESTER

a baker

General

1880

BAKING IRE

A circular iron plate 3/4 in thick and 2ft to 2ft 6in in diameter, which lay on the open hearth.

Household

N C,

1940

BAL

mine.

55, 43, 60, 86

Mining

WC, WP, EC,

1880 [60]

BAL

(a as in at). A human noise. an incessant talker, or crying child would be told "Hold thy bal". Mechanical noise would be a rattle, a noisy worker would be Rattling Jenny. (52)

A completely different use was to strike, hit. "Eff you vouch on my vit I'l bal you.[56]

52, 56

General

N C,

1940 [52]

BAL

what a bother. "What a bal the dog es".

General

1880

Balch.

A small rope

55, 60, 86

Fishing

E C, WC

1880 [60]

Balely

Barely. Nearly

BALK

to butt. [Timber squared as imported]

43, 55, 60

Building

W P, WC,

1880 [60]

BALK

to Belch

34,

General

MC,

Balk. Bulking

A fisherman's term used in pilchard curing

55, 86,

Fishing

EC, WC,

1880

BALKER, BALKER HOUSE

Huer's hut

Fishing

1976

BALKERS

the Huer were called balkers in E. Cornwall

Fishing

1976

Balm

A story told in jest. A fatal imputation

55,

General

1976

Bal-maiden

Women employed on surface work at mines

55, 60

Mining

WC, WP

1880 [60]

BALL

to beat

General

EC,

1880

BALL EYE

a wall-eye. "Billy Wall-eye."

General

1880

To abuse. Teasing, Annoying.Abusing.

55, 60, 86

General

WC, WP, EC

1880 [60, 86]

BALLSCAT

a cross patch, sometimes applied to wine as ballscat port.

General

1880

BALSH

Strong or stout cord

55,

General

1976

BALSHAG

a course flannel with a long nap used in mines.

55, 60

Mining

WC, WP

1880 [60]

Bamfer

To worry, harass or torment

Brhavour

1976

Banger

A whopper. Very big

55, 60

General

WC, WP

1880 [60]

Banes

Beans

BANDELEER

a wooden toy as in YOYO

Toy

1880

BANJO

tin mine shovel

Mining

MC,

BANKERS & DORSARS

cushions for seats and backs of settles

Household

1976

Bankrout

Bankrupt

60, 86

General

WP, EC

1880

Bank-up

Gathering rain clouds. To pile up.

General

1976

Bannel.

Broom plant

55, 60, 86,

Gardening

WC, WP, EC

1880

BARE

measure [minus] for wood or glass

General

N C,

Bare-ridged

Riding bareback,without a saddle

General

1880

Bare-vamped

Without shoes. Standing in one's stockings

appearance

1976

Bar-ire

A crowbar

55, 57

General

WC, NC

1940 [57]

Barley- mow

Clean barley only. Smaller strawed sheaves.

Farming

WC,

1940's

55, 60, 86,

Household

WC, WP, EC

1880 [60]

Barning.

Phosphorescent. "The sea is barring"

Fishing

WC,

1976

BAR ROW

Windrows. Two or three swars gathered together into one by the rake; by raising the hay from the damp bottom into the sun and wind drying was expediated, and by concentrating the crop, time was saved loading, pooking, or, latterly baling.

Farming

N C

1940

BARRA

Wheelbarrow

General

N C

BARRA-PEG

Barren or castrated pig

Farming

N C

Barragan.

Fustian

55, 60

General

WC, WP

1880 [60]

BARRO

a boar

Farming

1880

Barristers

Bannisters Balasters

Household

WC,

1976

BARWELL

a leather apron worn by fishermen

Fishing

1880

Bassam

Broom made with Besom twigs. A colourful bruise

55, 60, 86

General

WC, WP, EC

1880 [60]

Base-cheel

An illegitimate child

Basting

A beating or thrashing

BASTLY

Cabby dirty "He's a bastly bugger"

56,

Common

N.C.

Bate;bating

Dwindle; decrease

17,

General

M.C.

1984

BATT

Width of ploughland

Farming

N C

Bauld

Bold

55,

General

WC,

1976

BAWJACK or BOJOCK

Rough uncouth

20,

General

W P,

2009

Bawk

Shy. Clumsiness. Hindrance

BAYSTINS

Foremilk or Colostrum

Farming

N C

Beal.

The bill of a bird. Beak.

55, 60, 71

Farming

WC, WP

1880 [60]

Beating. Bealing

Hatching. "The eggs are bearing"

20, 55

Farming

WP, WC

1976 [55]

Beagle or bagle

Blaggard, a troublesome person

43, 60

General

1880 (60)

Bean

A hazel rod for binding wood into faggots

55, 86

General

WC, EC

1880

Bearley Hoggan.

A cake of barley meal.

Bearn

A child

General

1876

Beat

To cut turf for fuel . Also a verb to attend to a fire

55, 60, 86

Household

WC, WP, EC

1880 [60]

Beat-burrow

A heap of weeds or turf partly burned

55, 60, 86,

General

WC, WP, EC

1880 [60]

Beat-burning

The burning of turf in fields for manure

55,

Farming

WC,

1976

BEATING

Mending a fishing net (see Breed also)

Fishing

BEAU

the popular name for a horse or cow on the farm. " Move over, my beauty" said to an animal to encourage it to move

Farming

WC,

1940's

Beauty

" She's a beauty! She's a pretty beauty. Nothing to do with looks. Of doubtful reputation. `Beaut' is the word I am familiar with. "She is a beaut -- an amazing person, one with a rapid and witty turn of phrase or word or expression. Said in admiration of man or woman. Amazing or entertaining

71,

General

1940's

BE-BAINT

are, are not. Like Jan Trezise's geese never happy unless they be where they baint.

General

1880

BECKER

species of bream

55, 86,

Fishing

E C,

1910/14

Bed-ale

Ale brewed for a christening

55, 60

Ceremonial

WC, WP

1880 [60]

BEDABBERD

Faded, as in your flowers are bedabbered.

General

1880

BED-LIER

bed ridden person.

Household

W P

Bedman

A sexton

86,

Church

1880

BedEled

Stupefied with pain or grief. Dismal - low- spirited

BEDOLED Bedoling-pain

Constant pain not acute.

55, 60

Health

WC, WP

1880 [60]

Bed o' the buffet

Bottom shelf of a corner cupboard

Bed-tye

A feather bed

55, 60

Household

WC, WP

1889 [60]

Bedwaddled or bedwattled

Bewildered. Confused

Bedgowned

A woman's working blouse

Bee-butt

A beehive

55, 86

General

WC, EC

1880+

BEEL

To break the shell of a hatching egg.

Farming

N C

1940

BEEBAN BOOBAN

the shrimp [Crangon vulgaris]

Fishing

WC,

1976

BEENS

Bands. When corn was cut by mowing machine, sickle or scythe, the loose stalks were gathered into sheaves and bound with beens made from some of the crop. Wheat straw was long enough to encirle the sheaf without joining, so four straws were used, not twisted to tie the sheaf by twisting the ends together and tucking them into the sheaf. Oaten straw was shorter and weaker, so twelve straws were taken, the heads twisted together, the straw devided to make a double length, twisted for strength and used as for wheat. Barley was even softer and shorter, so a thumb been was spun and used as before. Wads of rushes were bound with ten or twelve rushes treated as oaten straw. Faggots of wood were bound with beens of nuttal or withy; they were twisted at the thin end so that an eye could be made, and at the thick end in order that the end could be bent into the faggot after encircling the faggot and being passed through the eye. Parings from a neglected hedge containing a lot of thorn, furse, briar and brambles was wrapped up with one of the longer barambles, and when dry thrust into the cloam oven and used to heat it.

Farming

N C,

1940

Beere

Bare

BEESKIP

Bee-but, a beehive

Household

1880

Beet.

Bill

BEETLE

beeting-needle

Fishing

W P

1910/14

Beety

To mend fishnets

55, 60

Fishing

W P

1880 [60]

BEGIBD

Allotted, i.e. It is not alloted to me

General

1880

Beheemed

Sickly

Health

1880

Bell-metal

The brass pan in which preserves are made

55,

Household

1976

BELLY HAND BRACE

Engineers' hand drill, as distinct from a carpenter's cranked brace.

General

N C,

1940

60, 86

General

WP, EC

1880

BELONG

I belong to at home,= I live at home.

55, 60, 71, 86,

General

WC, WP, EC

1880 [60]

BELONG TO

accustomed, "he belong to go". "we don't belong to do that.

57, 43,

General

N & W P,

1971 (43)

Belve. Belvin

To bellow

55, 57, 60, 86

General

WC, NC, WP, EC

1880 [60]

Ben. Bin

Been

55,

General

WC,

1976

Bender

Very large. Something extraordinary

55, 60

General

WC,WP

1880 [60]

Berk.

Bark. To cough

BERRY

Burrow

General

N C,

Berrin, Berren

A funeral

55, 60

General

WC, WP

1880 [60]

BERRIN TUNE

A tune to which a hymn is sung on the way to the church.

General

1880

Besily.

Busily

BESOM

a broom made from twigs or similar material

Common

N.C.

BESTING

Deciding. "Besting to go or not"

55, 43, 60

General

WC, WP,

1880 [60]

BESTED

beaten got the better of. "I won't be bested."

43, 52

General

W P, N C,

1940 [52]

Better-fit

To greater advantage. ie. you'd better-fit ha done what I told you.

55, 60

Advice

WC, WP

1880 [60]

Bettermost.

To win Best."I got the bettermost of ee"

55, 60, 86

General

WC, WP, EC

1880 [60]

Bettix

A mattock. One end pointed, the other Battened

55,

Tool

1976

Betty Toddy

An overdressed person

BETWATTLED

Childish behaviour

Behaviour

1976

BESTING

Wondering whether to.

43,

General

W P

1971

BESTED

Beaten, got the better of.

General

W P

1971

Betwattled

Childish

Behaviour

1880

Betwix

Between

Bever. Bevering

Cold. To shiver with the cold

55, 86

Appearance

WC, EC

1880

BEWD

Bent or Buckled

General

N C,

BEZLEN plural BESL

The Mussel [Mytilus gallopprovincialis]

Fishing

1910/14

Bia.

To shout. To bawl

Bib

A blind. A kind of small fish

55, 60

Fishing

WC, WP

1880 [60]

Bibble.

To tipple

55,

General

WC,

1876

Bickem.

A cobblers anvil mounted on a log

BIDDIX

Double ended digging tool flat adze like end and pointed pick like end

34, 56, 60, 86

Tools

MC, NC, WP, EC

1880 [60]

"BIG AS BULLS BEEF"

Arrogant

General

N C,

1940

BIGGAN

A nightcap without a border.

55,

Clothing

WC,

1976

BILDERS

Hemlock, Water Dropwort, Cow Parsley. Very poisonous.

55, 52, 60, 86

Flora

WC, NC, WP, EC

1880 [60]

BILET

Boiled

55,

Household

1976

Billees. Billis.

Bellows

General

1880

Billycock

Hat

Clothing

MC,

Bliet.

Boiled

BIDDICK

Mattock

57, 52

Farming

N C,

1940

Bine

Bind

Bill-tink

Make a row. Give a good hammering

BILLERS

Hogweed

Farming / Garden

N C,

BILLIZ (EZ)

bellows for enlivening fire

57, 43

General

N & WP.

1972 [43].

BILLYCOCK

hat

Clothing

MC,

BINDER

cuts corn and binds into sheaves...pulled by two horses

Farming

MC,

Bindin'

Of a cart-wheel, having its rim tyre shrunk on

BIRDS' EYES

Germander Speedwell

Gardening

N C

1940

Bisgan

Protection for a sore finger

55, 43, 60

Health

WC,WP,

1880 [60]

BISHOP

the fish (Cottus scorpius)

86,

Fishing

1880

Biskey.

A biscuit

55,

Food

WC,

1976

BISSLEY

Filthy

General

N C,

BIT CLIP

A bit tight ie. clothes are a tight fit.

Appearance

MC,

BITE

Grazing quality or quantity

Farming

N C.

Bittle

A thatcher's mallet for driving spars

55, 57

Building

WC, NC,

1940 [57]

BITTER

adj very. He's bitter cross theis morning.

General

1880

BITTERN

draining from pilchards recently bulked

Fishing

WC,

1882

Bitter-weed.

A disgraceful person

55,

Behaviour

1976

BITTER-WEED

a bitter minded person.

General

W P,

1971

BIVVER

verb: to shiver

57, 60

General

N C, WP

1880 [60]

BIVERRING

Shivering with the cold

General

1880

BIZZENS

business

General

N C,

BLACK-A-MOOR'S-TEETH

small white-ribbed cowries (shells)

General

1880

BLACK-CAKE

A weding cake. A rich plum pudding is a black pudding

Food & Drink

1880

BLACK-HEAD

A kind of boil

55, 86

Health

WC, EC

1876 (55)

BLACK JACK

Blend

General

1880

BLACK JACK

Coley (Type of Fish)

Fishing

N.C.

BLACK JANNY

W.D&H.O.Wills Superfine Shag Tobacco. For hand made cigarettes.

General

N C,

1940

BLACKLADE

Blacking for polishing kitchen range

Household

N C

Black-worm.

The cockroach

55, 86

Fauna

WC, EC

1880 (86)

Blade ore

Species of seaweed

BLACK STRAP

A drink of blended gin & teacle. An inferior wine given to inferior guests.

Food & Drink

1880

BLACK TIN

Tin ore ready for smelting

Mining

1880

BLACKY-MONTH

November, The mis diu of the old Cornish

86,

General

EC,

1880

General

EC,

1880

Blanketing shirts

A heavy woollen smock-frock

Clothing

1876

Blast.

A cold wind. A sudden inflamation

55, 60

General / Health

WC, WP

1880 [60]

B'law.

Believe

General

Blaw

A man can't go further then ee can blaw. Can't do impossibilities.

55, 60

General

WC, WP

1880 [60]

BLAWED

Out of breath

Common

N.C.

Bliders

Cow parsnip (very poisonous)

Blinch

To see, catch a glimpse of

55, 86,

General

WC, EC,

1880

Blind-bucca-davy

A game Blind man's buff

55, 60, 86

Games

WC, WP, EC,

1880 [60]

Blind nettle..............

A stingless nettle

Blink.

A spark A small light

55, 60

Household

WC, WP

1880 [60]

Blubber or blob

A large bubble

General

1880

Block-kaded.

Block-headed

55,

Behaviour

1976

Blog,. Bloggy.

Thick-set. Stout

55,

Appearance

1976

Blood sucker

The sea anemone

55, 60

Fishing

WC, WP

1880 [60]

Blood warrior

The dark wallflower

55, 60, 86

Flora

WC, WP, EC

1880 [86]

BLOW

A bladder bouy as used on herring nets. Not known in west Cornwall,

Fishing

E C

1910/14

BLOWNK

burning flying ember

General

N C,

BLOWSER

Person who helps in the pilchard fishery.

Fishing

1880

BLOWSING

Working in Seine boat

Fishing

1880

Blowth

Blossom The May is in blowth"

55, 60, 86

Flora

WC, WP, EC

1880 [60]

BLUBBER or BLOBBER

Sea Nettles, a jelly-fish. See also Morgul

55, 60

Fishing

1880

Blucher Boots

Old-fashioned men's working boots

BLUE POLL

A species of variety of Salmon

60, 86

Fishing

WP, EC

1880 [60]

BLUESTONE

Copper sulphate for foot rot treatment

Farming

N C,

BLUESTONE

Slate flooring slabs

Building

N C,

Boalin'.

Boiling

BOARD

any fish being caught other than the fish being fished for.

Fishing

1910/14

BOARD EM

An old fashioned round game of cards.

Game

1880

BOB

The largest beam of a mine pumping engine.

Mining

1880

Bobbin-Joan

Round excrescences on potatoes

General

WC,

1976

Bobberv

A fuss, row or uproar

Bobble

Pebble. This is a commoner form in S. & S.E. Cornwall

86,

Fishing

EC,

1880

BOBBLE

an ugly bobble in the sea = a ground swell

55, 60

Fishing

WC, WP

1880 [60]

BOBSIDIDOH

Tantrum. "She valled over my boots and played up bobsiddidoh."

General

N C.

1940

BOCK

verb: to blindfold, use in breaking horses.

Farming

N C,

BOCK

to shy. The horse bocked at the hedge.

General

1880

BOCKERS

Blindfold an animal

Farming

N C,

BODLEY

Cast iron cooking range

Household

N C

Boft-en.

Bought it

55, 60

General

WC, WP

1880 [60]

Bogger.

Cut of peat

55,

Household

WC,

1976

BOGGLING

fishing with lines whilst at anchor

Fishing

WP,

1910/14

Boggle.

To be checked by a difficulty

55,

General

WC,

1976

Boggle. Boggler

To lie. Liar

BOILING

a crowd. the whole Boiling of em were here.

General

1880

BOISCAT

Abandoned mine

Mining

WP,

2009

BOIST

Corpulence,

Appearance

1880

Bol.

An iron ladle used for dipping water

BOLDACIOUS

audacious ; bold ; impudent

Behaviour

EC,

1880

BOLK

Probably from Baulk of timber.

General

1880

BOLKER

Carborundum sharpening stone

General

NC,

BOLSTER BAR

competition or game

General

N C

BOLT

stone drain, roofed with stone slabs.

General

WP,

2009

BOLTINK

what for'-a beating in a contest

General

NC,

Bolling.

Crowd. Family. Lot.

Boldering .

Sultry weather, inclined to thunder

Weather

1888

Bolt.

Drain , roofed with stone slabs.

43, 60

General

1880 [60]

Bone-shaker.

Early bicycle

BOND

band...e.g. belly bond

General

NC,

Boo or booev.

A louse (bee)

Fauna

1880

BOO TOWN

A common name for the field above the farm

Farming

NC,

1940

Booba

A wick made of rags and fish oil

Household

1880

BOOLIES

Large pebbles. Sea boolies were used to build cottages near the sea and also for hedging.

General

1940

Boot-and-shoes.

The columbine

BORRID

sow in season

Farming

NC,

BORYER

Gimlet

General

NC,

1940

Bosh. Boshy

Display. Foppish. Smart. Conceited

Boostering.

Getting hot over work

General

1880

Boostis or boistous.

Fat. Corpulent

General

EC,

1880

BOOTS & SHOES

The flowers of the Columbine [Auillegia Vulgaris]

86,

Flora

EC,

1880

BOOTS & SHOES

The flowers of the monk's-hood

60,

Flora

WP,

1880

Boozy.

lntoxicated. 'Always boozy"

BON-CRAB

the female of the edible crab, [Platycarcinus pagurus]

Fishing

EC,

1880

BORYER

a borer, bar of iron used to make hole in granite

Tool

1880

Botany Bay

The hydrangea

Flora

1880

Botham..

A lump or weal caused by a blow

Health

1880

BOTHEM

The Fever Few

Flora

1880

Bottom-pie

Pork and potatoes baked on dough

Food

1880

Bottoms

Low grounds. Valleys

General

1880

BOTTEN TRAADE

Shop goods, not home made.

General

NC,

1940

BOTS

warble fly in cattle.

Farming

WP,

1971

BOSHEY-MAN

A fop ; conceited fellow

Personal

1880

Bouckley. Buckly

Buckled up. Drawn together

Bougan..

The large end of a piece of timber

BOUGHED

Bent

General

N C,

1940

BOUGHTEN

Bought, Boughten Bread.

General

1971

BOUGIE

a sheeps house

Farming

1880

Bould.

Bold

Appearence

1880

BOULTER

a moored line for catching pollock.

Fishing

1880

BOUTIGO, BOUT-A-GO

(pronounced Boutshego) a Tramp.

Personal

1880

BOW-DI-GO

Tramp

General

WP,

2009

BOWED

Bent. A little bowed old man.

Appearance

1880

BOWDJEGO / BOUTAGO

Dressed up like a gypsy

Appearance

WP,

1971

Bowerly

Burly. Good-looking

60, 86

Appearance

WP, EC,

1880

Bowgey. Bowjy

Cowhouse.Cattleshed

Bowings.

The large joints, especially the knees

Health

1880

BOW-JOWLER

(ow like how) A place in fishing boats for hauling foot line through.

Fishing

1880

BOWL

a large boulder (as on Penanwell Beach). Also as a verb - "th onion is bowling." (perhaps should be spelt "Bowel.")

General

WP,

Bowldacious

Brazen Impudent

BOXHEATER

Braising steak

Household

N.C.

Box hetters

For ironing (Heater made red-hot in a fire)

Household

WP,

2009

BOXHOLE or HEADER

Vertical shaft rising from a mine level.

Mining

MC,

BOYS

There are no men in Cornwall, they are all Boys.

Personal

1880

BOYER

a rock drill.

Mining

WP,

1971

BOY-YUR

Augur for drilling holes

Building

N C,

Boy's love

Southernwood

Flora

1880

BRA-AKE

copse, as of gorse

Farming

N C,

BRA-AKER

animal difficult to fence in

Farming

N C,

Braa set-up

A row A fuss

BRAAVE

strong and healthy. He's a Braave lookin' cheeld

Appearance

1880

BRACE

The mouth of a shaft.

Mining

1880

Braggaty

Spotted. Mottled

60, 86

Appearance

WP, EC

1880

Braggashans

Bragging

Behaviour

1880

BRAGE

To scold violently

60, 86,

Behaviour

WP, EC

1880

Braging.

Raging

Behaviour

1880

BRAKE

a large quantity, particularly flowers, i.e. a brake of honeysuckle.

Appearance

1880

BRALLED

brawled, bralling, quarrelsome. A brall - a dent in a saucepan.

General / Household

WP,

1971

Brandis (Z)

A triangle-shaped iron fire stand on which to rest a saucepan over an open fire.

57, 20, 52, 56, 60, 86

Household

N C, WP, EC,

1888, [60]

A considerable number

General

W C

2009

Brah WAY. Braae

A long distance

General

W C,

2009

Brash

A skin eruption
Brath

Health

1880

BRATH

Broth

Food

EC,

1880

Brave

Used in a commendatory sense in any connection except courage, A brave (long) way; A brave (good) bullock; I'm feeling brave ( Hearty. In good health), Big or large, i.e. he's a brave chap.

43, 52, 56, 86

General

WP, NC, EC,

1880 [86]

Brave-few

A good number. Many.

Brave-flink.

To almost accomplish something

BRAVEY

large or good

General

N C,

Farming

BREAK DOWN

verb: to make good tilth

Farm

N C,

BRECH

Tilth ( degree of suitability of earth for sowing seeds.

Farming

N C,

BREACHY

a name for cattle that climb over hedges.

43, 60

Farming

WP,

1880 [60]

BREACHY-WATER

brackish water

food & drink

1880

BREA-CODDLE

a mess. "In a brea stank."

General

WP,

1971

BREAD AN CHEESE

The leaves of the hawthorn often eaten by children.

Flora

1880

Bread-an-dippy.

Barley bread and thin cream

55, 60

Fishing

WP,

1880 [60]

Breaker

Water-keg

BREAR

big; also very "Brear'n cold day.

General

WP,

1971

Breeched.

When a baby wears his first trousers

BREED, BREEDY

to make a new fishing nets with a mesh and needle

Fishing

1880

Breek. Brik.

A small tear or rip

General

1880

BRELY

very much. "She'm brely grown."

General

W P,

1971

BREMBLES

Brambles

Garden

WP,

2009

BREN

to wrinkle the forehead

Appearance

1880

BRICHIN

horse harness

Farming

N C,

BRICK BRECK

rent, tear or flaw.

Appearance

1880

BRIEF

When a man had a severe misfortune he would prepare an account of it and take it around to his neighbours in the hope that they would contribute to a "relief fund". Last used in the 1920's not very successfully.

General

N C,

1940

Brik.

Break

BRIMBLE HOOK

The semi circular hook used for paring hedges.

General

N C

1940

BRIMMING

the phosphorescence of the waves

60, 86

Fishing

WP, EC

1880

Brink

A fish's gill

55, 60

Fishing

WP,

1880 [60]

BRINY

adj. Luminous ; phosphorescent : applied to the sea; the madusse

Fishing

1880

BRISHSTICK

Magpie. Essentially St Gennys, originated in the twenties.

General

NC,

1940

BRISS-PLU

breast plough for skimming spen

Farming

N C,

Brit.

A tiny fish, smaller than a sprat

55, 60

Fishing

WP,

1880

BRITHYLL

A Trout (pron truff)

Fishing

1880

Briton.

A thrift or sea-pink

BRITTED EEN

dented

General

N C,

Broach.

A twisted stick used in rick thatching

Broad-FIG

A Turkey Fig

Flora

1880

BROASEN

burning quickly

General

1880

Brock..

Broken

Broft.

Brought "she was broft home in a cart."

General

1880

BROIL

earth on the surface indicating a vein of metal.

Mining

1880

BROOD

impurities mixed with ore.

Mining

1880

BROOM-SWIKE

a twig of a heath broom.

Household

1880

Bros-of-het

A fierce heat

Mining

1880

Broth.

bread, milk and hot water

Household

N C,

BROTHER-LAW

Brother in law

Personal

1880

BROUGHTEN

bought, "broughten bread."

Brousa

A thick furze, usually brambles

BROUSE

to throw pilchard oil, gut, etc. in the sea to attract fish.

43, 86,

Fishing

WP, EC

1880

BROUZE

thicket of brambles etc.

Farming

N C,

BROW BRENNER

eye winker (old nursery rhyme)

Games

1880

Browjans.

Small wreckage

BROWN-LIMER

ripe hazel nut

General

N C,

BROWN-WORT

figwort or throat-wort

60, 86

Flora

WP, EC

1880

BROWSE

Hedge parings. We pare the hedges and burn the browse.

52, 60

Farming

N C, WP

1880

BROWSE

bruised fish used as bait. "I'll pommel thy noddle to browse."

58,

Fishing

1880

Browshams.

Tea-leaves in a cup

Broze.

A state of blazing or boiling

Brown-wort.

Fig-wort

Browthy.

Light and spongy bread

60, 86

Household

WP, EC

1880

Personal

1880

Bruss.

The dust and prickles from furze

Household

1880

BRUYANS

crumbs

Household

1880

Bubble and squeak.

Cold potatoes and cabbage mixer

Bucca. Buckaboo

A ghost. Hobgoblin. Fool. Scarecrow. Also a nickname for people who come from Newlyn West

56, 20, 43, 60

Folk lore

1880 [56]

BUCCA-GWIDEN

a precocious child.

Personal

1880

Buck

Milk unfit for drinking

60, 86

Household

WP, EC

1880

BUCK

the spittal fly

Fauna

1880

BUCK

to bruise copper ore into small fragments.

Mining

1880

BUCKING IRON

a flat hammer used for crushing copper ore.

Mining

1880

Buckhorn & BUCKTHORN

Dried salt whiting

55, 60, 86

Fishing

EC, WP

1880 [60]

Buckle-up

To shrink, to draw together

Clothes

1880

BUCKSHEE-BUCK

A childrens game.

Game

1880

BUCKY-HOW

a boys game resembling touch timber

Game

1880

Buddle.

Used in processing tin

BUDDLE BOYS

worked the buddle

Mining

Buddy.

A clump. Cluster. Friend

56, 86

Common

NC, EC,

1880 [86]

BULCOD

a rock fish (the smooth Blenny)

Fishing

W P,

BULID

cow in season

Farming

N C,

BULLARD

Bullward in the cow.

Farming

1880

BULL-ED

two syllables. In season of a cow.

Farming

N C,

1940

BULLHORN

a snail.If tinners when going to Bal (the Mine) met with a bulhorn in their path, they always took care to drop before it a crumb from their lunch or a drop of grease from their candle

43 20, 58

Garden

WP,

1880 [58]

BULLIES

round, smooth pebbles ; boulders

General

1880

BULLOCKS

cattle - male of female.

Farming

WP,

BULLOCKY MAN

a swaggering fellow

personal

1880

BULLOMS

Sloe berries

Gardening

NC.

BULLUMS

Sloe, Fruit of the blackthorne.

52, 60, 86

General

N C, WP, EC

1880

BULLY

a pebble. (or a marble).

General

WP,

1971

Bulk

To- toss on the horns of a bull

Farming

1880

BULK

to cure pilchards by placing alternative layers of salt and fish ; also a pile of pilchards about a yard in breadth and five feet in height : with the heads turned outwards.

Fishing

1880

BULK-HEADED FOOL

always running his head against the wall.

personal

1880

BULTYS

an apparatus for catching conger, pollock etc.

Fishing

1880

Bum.

A blow

BUMFIRE

Bonfire

86,

General

EC,

1880

Bumfoozle .

To humbug. To mystify

BUN-BREAD

phrase to express severe thrashing. "I'd beat him to bun-bread

Personal

1880

Bunce.

Unearned profit

BUNKEN, BUMPKIN

a piece of iron projecting from the bow of a boat, to which the jib is fastened.

Fishing

1880

BUNT

the concavity or bellying of a net or sail.

Fishing

EC,

1880

BUNTING

part sifting flour

Food

1880

BURDEN ROPE

A general purpose rope, some eight feet long, used primarily to carry a large heap of loose hay on the shoulders.

Farming

N C,

1940

BURDEN RAWP

Rope for binding oaten sheaves

57,

Farmer

M C,

Burm.

Barm or yeast

Burndockie.

A liquor made from cider, sugar and eggs

BURN

twenty one hakes, (probably a burden)

Fishing

1880

Burn

Burn (load) of hay, cut from a rick

Farming

1880

BURRANET

the Shelldrake

Fauna

1880

Burras.

Grassy hillock

Burrows

Old mine workings' spoil heaps

34, 86

Mining

MC, EC,

1880

BUSH

verb: to toss with horns

Farming

N C,

BUSH

two hoops fixed on a short pole passing through each other at right angles. They are covered in white calico, and used as signals by a person standing on a hill to show where pilchards lie in a bay.

Fishing

1880

BUSH

instead of thrashing corn with a flail, when straw was wanted for thatching, women were employed to beat out the corn into a barrel with the head out ; the ears of corn were beat against the barrel.

Farming

1880

Bush-beating

Poor families did this to make sparrow pie

BUSH THE FIRE

to put on more furze : only used where there are open chimneys and no grate.

Household

1880

BUSK

a thin strip of wood or whalebone, about an inch and a half broad by fourteen inches long ; formerly worn by all, now only by old women, in front of their stays.

Clothing

1880

BUSKER

an undaunter persevering fisherman in stormy weather.

Personal

1880

BUSS-CALF

Calf sucking cow

57, 52, 60, 86

Farming

N C, WP, EC

1880 [60]

BUSSA

an earthenware pot for salting food., bigger than a stain or stug.

20, 34, 52, 43, 60

Household

WC,MC, NC, WP

1880 [60]

Bussa-head

Thick-head. Fool.

Personal

1880

BUSSA-MILK

the first milk after calfing.

60, 86

Farming

WP, EC

1880

Bust

Bankrupt. Gone bust

BUSTER

dreadful event

General

N C,

BUSTER

bit of land

General

N C,

Bustions.

Full. Corpulent

BUSTIOUS

over-fat ; burden-some to oneself.

Personal

1880

BUSy

needs; "Busy all your strength to carry it.

43, 60

General

1880 [60]

BUT

a buttock of beef

Food

1880

BUTS

bots a disease of the horse.

General

1880

BUT-GAP

a hedge of pitched turf

Farming

1880

BUTT

horse-cart with tipping box

57, 60

Farming

N C, WP

1880 [60]

But. Butt.

Sprain. Bee-hive. Boy's trolley (gig)

Health

1880

BUTT CLATT

When a cornish hedge is built it can be faced with stone or clats (turves). If there is a good ream and deep earth, clats are cut resembling concrete blocks and are laid, one on another, with the grass showing on the vertical face.

Farming

N C,

1940

BUTTED

"I've butted my thumb"

Personal

1880

Butter and eggs

Double yellow daffodils

60, 86

Flora

WP, EC,