Page:A Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases.djvu/56

A GLOSSARY

OF

BERKSHIRE WORDS.

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A

A.—'A' is commonly used as a prefix to the present and past participles. The following are illustrations of its use thus:—

"I be a-gwaain" (I am going).

"I've a-zed what I've a-got to zaay" (I have said what I have to say)

"Thaay be a-vightin'" (they are fighting).

A.—A is also used for 'he' or 'it', thus:—

"If zo be as a zes a wunt, a wunt" (if he says he won't, he won't).

AAYGIN.—Getting old in appearance.

Mother's a-bin aaygin vast laaytely ater her cawld at Kursmas."

AAYKERN.—The acorn.

When the acorns fall pigs are turned into the woods aaykernin.

AAYPE.—To simulate or copy.

"He aaypes the gurt man" (he tries to appear the great man, i.e., is consequential).

AAYPRUL VOOL.—The almost universal custom of making one an "Aayprul Vool" on the 1st of April by leading him to look for something which turns out to have no foundation obtains throughout Berkshire. But this trick cannot be attempted after noon, for then the proposed victim would respond with "Aapryl Vools gan' paast, an' you be biggest vool at laast."

ABEAR, or ABER.—'Can't abear' means 'can't tolerate' or "greatly dislike." Abide is used much in the same sense.

"I can't abear zuch a vool as he be."

ABED.—In bed.

"If a lez a-bed o' marnins a wunt never graw rich."

ABIDE.—To put up with, to tolerate.

"I can't abide such me-un waays."