The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies

The Dialect of Cornwall

In Conjunction with Brian Stevens

Recorder of Dialect

Padal, Padel

A dish or pan

Paddles.

Oars. Corn weeding tool

Padelenica.

A great cuttlefish

Paddylincum.

A small boneless squid

Paddick.

A small pitcher

Padge

Temporary repair

Padgypaow.

A lizard. Also Pajerpaw. A newt

Paens

Parsnips

Palchy. Palched

Mending. Poorly from sickness. Weak

Paize

To estimate weight

Pallace.

A cellar used for balking pilchards

Pame

Palm

Panch.

Stomach. Belly (Paunch)

Pancrack.

An earthenware vessel. A small pan

Pankin'

Panting

Panshon. Panshen

A milk pan

Park.

An enclosure. Field

Pard, Pardner.

Partner. Companion

Pare

A gang or company of men working at the same thing

Parramysawnses. Paramasees

Affected ways

Parrick

A small coarse earthenware jug

M.C.

1984

Pasher

A clumsey workmen

Parson-in-the-pulpit

The cuckoo pint

Pass

A beating. A stripe. A punishment

Passage.

A ferry

Passel

A large number. 'Passel of ould trade' - rubblish

Passon.

Parson

Passy.

Etcetera

Pasty nut.

Brazil nut

Patch hook.

A Billhook

Pattic

Simpleton.Senseless person

Pattens

Clogs. Wooden footwear

Papishers

Papists

Pea.

The hard roe in fishes

Peach. Peacher

To entice. A bait. An allurement

Peasen.

Peas

Peart.

Pert. Lively. Brisk

Peath.

A draw-well

Peaze

To weigh in

Pednans

Pieces. Parts

Pedn-a-meen

Head-an-point

Pedn-ha-teen

head and tail (like Pilchards in a barrel)

Pedn-pral.

Horse's head

Pedn-paley

The tomtit

Pedn-jowl.

A term of abuse. 'Devil head'

Peel

Pillow

Peeny

Musty (applied to stale meats)

Peer

Pair

Peethy.

Witty

Pelcher

Pelchard

Pella

Pillow

Pellas. Pelaz.

The naked oats

Pettering

Pelting.Pouring down (as rain)

Pellow-bier

A pillow-case

Peil

Pail. Bucket

Peggels

Legs

Peggy

Obstinate

Pennard. Pennord

A Pennyworth

Pennyleggan.

Penniless

Penny short

Not too wise. Simple

Pentice. Pentiss

Small weather protection over doorway

Pere.

Appear

Pernic. Pernick

Precise. Stiff in manner. Prim. Neat

Pervans.

Frayed edges

Pestic

Pest

Petch

Pitch

Pianner

Piano

Picking fowls

Plucking fowls. Poultry

Piddlemean. Pednamene.

Head to foot. Articles lying side by side in reverse

Piecan.

Patch

Piff. Piffed

To vex. To offend

Piggwidden. Piggywidden.

Smallest of the litter

Pike

Hayfork

Pilf.

Residue of topsoil

Pill

Awkward person. Unruly

Pilliock. Piliack

A person giving annoyance

Pig's crow.

A pig sty

Pillas. Pillum

The naked oat. An absolute grain

Pillyer.

A hummock or small heathy knoll like an ant-hill

Pilm.

Light fibrous dust or down

Pilmer

Downpour of rain

Pinbone. Also pin

The hip

Pindy meat (Mate).

Tainted meat

Pinickin

Puny

Pinnick

The wryneck (attendant on the cuckoo)

Pinnickin

Very small and weakly

Pinny

Apron. Pinafore

Pip

A common disease in fowls

Piskey-laden. Piskey

Drunk. A fairy

Piskey-led

Bewildered. led away by fairies

Piskey-ridden

The nightmare

Piskeystool.

Mushroom. Toadstool

Pitch

To pave (mining term) Also to start

Piched

Taken root

Pitch-haired.

A rough, uncombed coat

Pitch-to

To set to work earnestly

Pitch up to

To make advances. Curry favour

Pitcher

Utensil for carrying water

Pitwork

Mining machinery placed in shaft to draw water

Plaise. Plaised.

Please. Pleased

Planchin. Planchon

A plank floor. A wooden floor

Plat

A level place

Plat down

To smooth. To press down

Plat-footed

Flat-footed

Plaze

Please

Plethon

To plait. To braid

Plisher.

A branch bent down and fastened with crooks

Plod.

Plot. A long-winded tale

Plose

A wet, miry place

Pluck

Liver and lungs (usually of a pig)

Pluff. Pluffy.

Spongy. Soft. Tough. Swollen

Plum.

To 'plum up' to ferment dough

Pluman

A plum

Plump

A draw well

Plump

To shake up cushions and pillows

Plunger

Fall heavily

Plunk. Plonk

Drop heavily

Pluthicks

Cat coughing to clear throat

Poam

To thump. To beat. Pummel

Pock.

Poke. Shove

Podding round.

Doing odd jobs. Working aimlessly

Podger

A small coarse eathenware vessel

Polan.

A saltwater pond

Pomster

Cure

Pon 

Upon

Pook

A cock of hay or turf

Pore. Poar.

Fuss. Rage. Agitation

Poor.

Tainted. Rotten

Poor tender worm

Term of endearment or mild contempt

Poot.

A kick like a horse. A push with the foot

Pop-an-towse

Fuss. Uproar

Pop-dock

The foxglove

Poppydocks

Foxgloves

Por. Pore

A fuss. A temper. A rage

Prentis

Apprentice

Prink.Prinked up. Prinkingg along.

To pleat. To dress in fine clothes

Proper

Handsome. Good. Correct

Project

Experiment

Progue

To prod

Prong

A fork

Proud flesh

Inflamed flesh

Proud

Protruding(such as manhole cover in road)

Prove.

To thrive

P'tic'ler

Particular

Puckie

Pucca

Pulrose

The wheelpit of a watermill

Pult.

Pulse

Punt

Small rowing boat

Punyon

Gable of a house. Angle of a roof

Punyon end

Gable end

Pure.

In good health. Simple. Unpretentious

Purvan

The Pith of a rush used as wicks

Porgy. Porgey.

Short. Stumpy

Purty.

Pretty

Pussivanter

A fussy meddler

Put. Put away

To take. 'He's put away' (buried)

Put the miller's eye out.

To mix to much water with the dough in cooking

Put hom.

Slut

Putcher

Pitcher

Putt

Escort. Early stages of courtship