I thought I’d do a bit of a different post and introduce you to come fun and interesting words that were used in the Old Dorset Language. I’ve had hours of fun with these during quizzes with friends and sharing them with friends at work.
Airmouse – Bat
Annan? – Say that again? A word you’d need if you were dunch
Ballywrag – Scold or accuse in foul language
Bibber – Shiver
Bit an’ drop – Bit of food, drop of drink. Not a meal, more like a snack.
Boris-Noris – To go on recklessly without thought to risk or decency
Dewbit – First breakfast. First meal of the day, although not breakfast which is bigger and later.
Drawlatcheten – Lazy. Someone who walks slowly and lazily.
Dumbledore – Bumblebee
Dunch – A bit deaf, hard of hearing
Emmet – Ant
God Almight’s Cow – Ladybird
Gally – To scare
Homble – A duck
Joppety-Joppety – Nerves. From ‘jaup’, a Dorset dialect word meaning the breaking of a wave, or a splash or spatter with water.
Lippy – Wet and rainy, often stormy
Loplolly – Lazy or idle person
Miff – A quarrel, a coolness between friends. Nuncheon, Cruncheon, Nummit & Crum – Four more words for meals. Dorset Farmers were said said to have debwit, breakfast, nuncheon, cruncheon, lunch, nammet, crammet and supper.
Overclap – Clouds overclosing the earth
Ramshacklum – Good for nothing
Slommock – A slatternly woman
Twanketen – Melancholy
Torrididdle – Out of one’s mind
Undercreepen – Sly
Wopsy – Wasp
Yop – To talk rapidly
Zummerwold (summer-mould) – Freckles
I hope these made you smile and laugh as much as they did me.
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