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The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies

The Dialect of Cornwall

In Conjunction with Brian Stevens

Recorder of Dialect

Dialect words and their meanings.
A WORDS B WORDS C WORDS D WORDS E WORDS F WORDS G WORDS H WORDS I   WORDS J WORDS K WORDS L WORDS M WORDS
N WORDS O WORDS P  WORDS Q WORDS R WORDS S WORDS T WORDS U WORDS V WORDS W WORDS X WORDS Y WORDS Z   WORDS

 

E

  

Click above to compare number with a source.

 

 Dialect Meaning Source Term Cornish Comment Date when collected 

EAR BUSSAS

ear bussums: tonsils. 

   

 

See C.S.W. p.73.  

 

EAR

 of wheelbarrow: the luggs in which the axle turns; also of a pump

   

 

C.S.W. 75.  

 

EAT THE SUN: 

to bask in sunshine: a miners' expression.

   

 

 

  

EAVE:

to thaw. See HEAVE.  

   

 

 

  

EAVER, AYVER, HEEVERS: 

darnel (grass) Fr.ivraie. 

   

Cor. yvre, yvra.  

O.C. V p.476, IX

 p.49.

 

EVIL:

a sore or boil.  

   

 

 

  

EVIL, YEEVIL:

 a farm fork, two pronged hayfork, also three or five pronged yard fork. O.E.  

   

 

 

  

ECCA, EKKA:

see HECCA.  

   

 

 

  

ECKSHEEN:

husks of corn; huskings

   

 

 

  

EEDGE, EEJ, AEEJ:

scream or screech. Cr. uj, uja.  

   

 

 

  

EDJACK:

idiot, foolish fellow.  

   

 

 

  

EGGLETS, AGGLETS:

 haws.  

   

 

 

  

EENA, MEENA, MORA, MY, 

pisca, lara, bora, by. Counting out rhymes before a game. Variants: pasca, lara, bona, by, elke, belke...  

   

 

 

  

EGGS AND BACON:

a daffodil cultivar 1889.  

   

 

 

  

EKEMAULE, EKKYMOWL, EKKYJOEY:

 

the tomtit. See HACKMAL.  

   

 

 

  

ELVAN: 

blue porphyry rock. 

    

Cor. elven, men elven.

 

  

ELIECOMPANIE:

 the blue tit. 'Bird by day, toad by night' (Polwhele) distorted form of half-remembered Cornish pen

 paly, pedn paly. Actually name of the plant Inula campama; a sweet was made of its candied root. Also extended to hard-bake, almond toffee.

   

 

O.C. Ill p.30.  

 

ELIZABETH:

the Martagon lily.  

   

 

 

  

ELMING RAKE: 

 

    

 

O.C. II, 3, p.5

 

ELLECK:

the red gurnard. 

   

Cor. elek 

C.S.W. p.75  

 

ELLENS

A very thin person

20

Personal

 

WC,

 

ELLENS

Slates clapped together

20

Common

 

WC,

 

EMMET:

the ant. Archaic English.  

   

 

 

  

EMMUT:

 the eye of the wind. 

   

 

C.S.W.  

 

ENT:

 to empty, rain heavily.  

   

 

 

  

EUMERS, EMMERS: 

dried cow dung used as fuel. Also embers. 'Rake the eumers over the fire and make a crow in the ashes.

    

 

 

  

' EN:

 

older English suffix: housen, primrosen.  

   

 

 

  

EPIPHANY:

dodder plant on furze, the 'devil's saffern'.  

   

 

 

  

EPPS

Stable door

20

Farming

 

WC

 

ERVINS, HERVINS: 

narcissi; probably for IRVINE's, an old variety.

   

 

 

  

ESTINNEY MARMET,

(tinny marmot: oddly dressed itinerant musician. See MOMMET.  

   

 

 

  

ERRISH:

See Arrish.  

   

 

 

  

ETTAW, ETTER:

 (fetter) A shackle to join two chains. 

   

 

See also C.S.W.  

 

EVERY ONE WEEK: 

every other week.

   

 

 

  

EYEABLE: 

presentable, pleasant to see.