Page:A Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases.djvu/163

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
146
berkshire words.

SHILLY-SHALLYIN'—Acting with indecision. A mother will keep her daughter out of the way of a man she may think is shilly-shallyin'.

SHIMMY.—A chemise.

SHINDY.—A noisy little quarrel or disturbance; a fuss. "To kick up a shindy" is the phrase usually adopted with respect to this word.

SHIP.—Sheep in both singular and plural.

SHIP DIPPIN'.—Washing the coats of sheep to cleanse the wool before sheep shearing.

SHIP-SNOUT TREE.—The name given an apple tree bearing a rather small favourite eating apple, the tail of the apple bears resemblance to a sheep's snout.

SHIRKY.—Not to be depended on. "Shirkin' about" is prowling about with dishonest intentions.

SHIRTY.—Angry, enraged.

SHIVER-GRACE.—A kind of grass set in motion by the least breath of air, sometimes known as Quaayker Grace.

SHOCK.—A few sheaves of corn placed together in the field, so that the ears and straw may dry in the sun before the rick is formed.

To shock-up is to form the sheaves into shocks.

To shock off is to break off.

SHOCKIN' BAD.—Ordinarily used for "very bad."

"Ther 'ull be a shockin' bad crop o' turmuts if us dwoant get zome raain."

SHOE-MOUSE.—The shrew-mouse, or long-nosed field mouse, found about disused cart-ruts and meadows generally.

SHOOT.—Used instead of "shot" when applied to the firing of a gun.

"I killed dree sparrers at a shoot."

To "shoot" a horse out of a cart is to unharness and take it out of the shafts.

SHOP, or SHAP.—"To go to shap," is to make purchases at the village shop after the weekly pay-night of farm labourers.

SHOP-BREAD.—Baker's bread as distinguished from homemade bread. It is esteemed a treat by those who usually eat bread of their own making.