Page:A Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases.djvu/66

BARK.—To knock the skin off; also to cough.

BARLEYOYLES.—The beards of barley.

BARM, or BERM.—Yeast.

BARREL TOM-TIT.—The long-tailed tit-mouse, so called from the shape of its nest.

BARROW HILL.—An ancient tumulus. There are very many of these in the county.

BAW TO A GOOSE.—One is said to be not able to say "baw to a goose" when stupidly shy and reserved.

BASTE.—To tack children's sewing together for them.

BAT, or DRUGBAT.—The iron shoe chained to the wheel of a waggon or cart to impede rotation when going down-hill.

BATE.—To lower the price at first demanded; to whip.

BAVIN.—A bundle of very small brush wood.

"A bavin" differs from a faggot in having the brush wood of much smaller description.

"Bavins" are used principally for burning in kilns, and for lighting kitchen fires.

BAZE, or BE-UZ.—Bees. The following may come from the same hive in a summer—swarm, smart, cast, and hitch—but this does not often happen. "A maiden swarm" may also come out of the first swarm.

BE.—Always used for "are."

BE-AT.—Tired out; completely puzzled.

"I be dead be-at."

Also to walk a field in search of game.

Which pe-us o' turmuts shall us be-at vust."

BE-AT MY NAAYBOUR OUT O' DOORS.—The game of cards, "beggar my neighbour," is so called ("doors" rhymes with "moors").

BEAUTIFY.—To make one's toilette very carefully.

BECALL.—To vilify; to abuse.

BEDDERD.—Bed-ward.

"Lets get beddard, an' zo be up in the marnin'."

BED-GOWND.—A night-dress.

BEDIZEND.—Decorated very gaudily and with showy ornaments.