Page:A Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases.djvu/69

BIT.—A short space of time.

"Stop a bit, he'll zoon be yer."

A little piece.

The word bit is always used for 'little' in cases as above referred to.

BITEL.—The long-handled wooden mallet with top iron bound, used for driving wedges when splitting up large clumps or stumps of wood.

The Bitel and Wedges" obtains as a public-house sign.

BITTER ZWE-UT.—When a spiteful thing is done with a sunny friendly face this term is used.

BIVER.—The quivering of the under lip, which precedes crying.

"Thee hast 'vronted 'un now, zee how a bivers," would be said to one who had spoken in a way to cause a child to begin to cry."

BIZZOM.—A bezom or birch broom.

BLAAYRE.—To shout out anything in a coarse manner.

BLAB.—To tell of any wrong doing; to betray a secret. This word seems almost universal.

BLACK-BOB.—A black beetle.

BLACK VRAST.—Frost without rime.

BLAST.—A common imprecation. "Blast-naaytion" is also so used.

BLAWED.—Animals in the dangerous condition of having their stomachs distended by eating too much green or forcing food are said to be blawed.

BLE-ADIN' HEART.—The name of a common bright red wallflower.

BLIND MAN'S HOLIDAY.—In darkness so great that nothing can be seen.

BLINK.—A spark of fire.

Ther yent a blink left" (the fire is quite out).

This also is used to signify light enough to see a little.

"I can't see a blink (it is quite dark).

BLIZZY.—A blaze. The fire is said to be all of a "blizzy" when pieces of wood have been inserted amongst the coal to make it burn cheerfully.