Page:A Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases.djvu/101

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
84
berkshire words.

GRIST.—Corn brought to the mill for grinding.

Sometimes capital or means; if a man is not able, from want of these, to work a farm properly, the expression is common, "A wants a bit moor grist to the mill."

GRISTY.—Gritty.

GRIT.—Good courage; reliable.

"A be a man o' the true grit," sound and reliable in every way.

GRIZZLE.—To grumble.

GROUND ASH.—A straight ash stick, usually about the size of one's finger, cut from underwood; it is very tough and pliant, and much selected for purposes of castigation.

GROUTS.—Sediment left at bottom of a cask of beer or some other liquors.

GRUB.—A dirty little child is called "a young grub."

GRUBBY.—Dirty, as regards the person.

GRUMPY.—Surly, complaining, fault-finding.

GRUNSEL.—The raised door sill.

"This little peg went to market.
An' this little peg staayed at whoam;
This little peg had zome ro-ast me-at,
An' this little peg had none.
This little peg went 'week, week, week, week,
I can't get awver the grunsel.'"

A line of the above is quoted on pinching each of the toes on a child's foot, beginning with the "big toe."

GUGGLIN'.—The gargling noise which liquor may make in the throat.

GULED.—Amazed, bewildered.

"The noise thaay childern maade quite guled muh."

GULP.—To drink rapidly or greedily.

"A gulped ut all down wi'out vetchin' bre-ath.

GUMPTION.—Energy, activity, and resource in one's work. Common sense.

GURT, or GRET, or GIRT.—Great.

GURT-KWUT.—A great coat.