108 THE DIALECT OP BaslL A rash of beef = a beefsteak. Basp, the common word for raspberry. Batcli, to stretch. See Cheremas Carols ver. 4. Batching the Bope (pronounced ratchin ^ rooap ; gl. ratchin t* roo'h'p) is ' pidlmg the long bow,' lying, &a [In Lowland Scotch
- to rax a raip ' is to stretch a rope, and = to die by hanging.] In
Dunbar's Discretion in Giving we have :
- Some taks other menn*s tacks.
And on the puir oppression maks. And never remember that he maun die Till that the gallows gars him rax. In taking sould discretion be.' Bather is pronounced rayt/ier (gh raidh'ur). Baton, a rat. Hall, gives this quotation from a Cambr. MS. : ' Batons and mice and soch small dere.' Baioun occurs in the Prologue to Fiers the Plowmany also in the Pardonei's Tale :
- And prayed him that he him wold§ selle
Some poison, that he might his ratouns quelle.' Bauk (pronounced roak, or roke), a ridge in cloth formed in the weaving ; and it is also applied when the dyeing is defective, and the wen shows a different shade of colour. Bave, past tense of to rive ; also raved, Bayel ooppin. When one thread catches another and rives a deal of threads off at once, it is a ravel coppin ; also a wild, disorderly, reck- less fellow — a term derived from maniiPacturing. If a part of the cop comes off with the thread, it is said to be ravelled or snavelled, and is, in fact, spoiled. Therefore ravel coppin is used as a term of reproach for a careless man. {Ravel and rive are not allied words. — W. W. S.] Beaminess, sh, dizziness, &c. Beamy, or Bimy (pronounced rearay adj, dizzy ; half awake, &c. Ream, or reme^ however, in some parts means to cry ; and ream in Suffolk is to droop the head. Bear, or Beere (the latter spelling found in old writings), under- done ; almost raw. Be&ster, reasty horse, or raist-horse, a horse which will not draw ; a restive horse. Beckan, a hook from which a pan is suspended over a fire from a galley-balk. (Beverley.) Beckless, a vulgarism for the flower called the Auricula. Beckling, the smallest or youngest of a family, whether of men or animals.
