Page:A Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases.djvu/68

BE SHERP.—Be quick and careful. In giving orders to an inferior, who is lazy or negligent, the order often terminates with, "An be sherp about ut."

BEST.—To get the advantage of.

"A tried to best I but I was too sherp vor'n;" also "bested" is used.

BEST VOOT VORRUD.—To put ones "best voot vorrud" is to walk at a very quick pace.

BE'T AS T'OOLL.—Be it as it will; in any case.

"Be't as t'ooll I be a-gwaayn to zell them ship to-daay" (be it as it will I am going to sell those sheep to-day).

BETTER.—"To better" one's self is the expression for getting higher wages. This term however seems almost universal.

To beat.—If one player makes a high score at skittles it is common to remark to the player following, "Thee wun better that ther."

BETTERMWOAST.—The greater part.

"We was the bettermwoast haafe of a daay a-doin' 'ont."

BETTER NOR.—Greater than, more than.

"Ut be better nor two mild vrom Yattendon to Bucklebury."

BE US.—Are we?

BE-USTINS.—The milk first drawn after a cow has given birth to a calf.

BIBBLE.—To tipple; to take alcoholic drink at short intervals.

BIDE.—To stay.

"I wunt bide no langer."

BILE THE POT.—To cook.

"If I dwoant ketch a rabbut to-night I shan't hev nothin' to bile the pot to-morrer."

BILL HOOK.—A cutlass with top turned inwards used for cutting up fire wood and lopping branches.

BILLY COCK.—The wide-awake hat commonly worn.

BIN.—The corn chest in the stable (always secured by a padlock).

"A-bin" is the preterit of the verb "to be."