Words and where they're from.

[tony38337]

Hi All,

I like to read from the guest books from time to time and was reading Maureen Wardleys entry about Blackpool. Towards the end is mentioned the word nesh in the context of feeling the chill wind or as her Dad puts it the fresh breeze, Maureen asks if anyone knows the origin of the word. It's from an Old English word hnesce, according to Chambers 20th Century Dictionary. The funny thing is that it does not appear in any other dictionary I have the oldest being 1780. So Maureen if you read this then here is a starter for you.

Tony T.

[frankwalsh]

Hi Tony, there are a lot of words we used to use in old Manchester, just a couple ,if people thought you were a bit soft you were mard, and how many times could you not be mithered, or don't mither me, words you just don't hear anymore. Regards, Frank Walsh.P.S. hoping you can be mithered to reply.

[tony38337]

Hi Frank,

It's in't dictionary to pester or annoy which is exactly what I was doing when my Mam told me to b...er off!

Tony T.

[clancy]

the word nesh.is a dialect adjective meaning unusually susceptible to the cold weather . also soft . could be used in avoids any hardship. there is no synonym for the word . don't quote me on this but I'm sure I'm in the ball park. tommy

[frankwalsh]

Thats fine Tony, but there must be a broader definition, what about I can't be mithered, don't mither me, i'm mithered, as in don't bother me, I can't be bothered, I am bothered. And another word we don't hear anymore is bant, as in I like salad but theres no bant in it. Regards, Frank Walsh. P.S. that was a good response from Tommy, he's wick.

[fluffymoat4]

Tony, Wyn and Maureen told me about your post on here. Just had to come on and see for myself. Cheers for finding the origin of the word NESH. Did you become a SuperSleuth in my absence or something?

I belong to a different chat forum these days but do manage to "look in" on MM from time to time. Hope your taking care of yourself. It's members like you that I really miss.

Jean, just missed you by a "hair". Will catch you elsewhere no doubt?

[tony38337]

Hi Maureen,

Not a sleuth really but words do interest me (As well as life in general) I used to collect dictionaries and it all started with Chambers 20th Century 1920 something edition that I pulled out of the paper pulping machine at The Textile Paper Tube Co in Romily in about 1966, I was fascinated by the number of words that I thought were slang but in fact came from Old English and Norse or French all sorts of interesting things really, the title 20th Century apparently means that if a word becomes commonly used it will find it's way into the Chambers. A journalist once told me that the Chambers was the most used dictionary for crosswords.

Tony T.

[lin]

Does anyone remember the words, "Losing your rag" (temper)? I can remember that one as a kid, but I've not heard it for years.

[Lisa]

Hi Lin, I hear it often here in Manchester, usually when I'm out shopping and I overhear converations........

lin said:

Does anyone remember the words, "Losing your rag" (temper)? I can remember that one as a kid, but I've not heard it for years.

[lin]

Hi Lisa, I know it's not a word that would be used down here, but I've not heard it in Manchester either..but I guess I'm not in the right places at the right time

[tony38337]

Hi All,

I remember the expression "Losing ones rag" described in one thesaurus as from British/Australian informal, maybe it's a colloquial expression peculiar to Manchester and exported to Australia by "The £10 Poms" There were thousands emigrated in the 50's & 60's and they must have added to the language base.

Tony T.

[handy]

;D I still use that at times when my dh gets on his high horse
Pat x

[lin]

I guess it's not used down South, and being here from an early age I don't use it myself anymore... when we first moved down here no one could understand each other

[tony38337]

Hi All,

Ructions, a noisy riotous argument, suggested as Dublin slang, possibly an off-spin of insurrection

[lin]

HI TONY, YES RUCTIONS, ANOTHER WORD I DON'T HEAR ANYMORE LIVING DOWN SOUTH...LOVE TO READ WHERE THESE WORDS ALL COME FROM THOUGH

[tony38337]

Hi Lin,

I read somewhere that ructions was thought to be Dublin slang maybe a covert reference to the word insurrection.

Tony T.

[lin]

Hi Tony, it sounds feasible.

It's interesting reading, where do you get all your info from?

[tony38337]

Hi Lin,

I just like words but I suppose it all started with the word antidisestablishmentarianism, when I was at school it was said to be the longest word in the English language but thanks to an inspiring teacher who taught both English lit and history I had great fun finding out what it meant and the literature part spurred me on to discover more and to learn that English is probably the most powerful language in the world, as an example there is no word in French for week-end so they use the English word and there are lots of instances of words and situations that can't be truly interpreted from English into other languages.

Viva l'Anglais?

Tony T.

[lin]

Hi Tony, You obviously do like words, and very good at finding out what they mean, where they originate etc...keep up the good work, I love it as I'm sure everyone else on here does.

[bodzy]

Hi Tony I found a word Terminalogicalinexactitude and I believe it means that something that is said is an inexactitude of terminology in other words a white lie, makes me wonder!!

[lin]

Hi Tony, what about the word shillyshallying, if i've spelt it right, or is it shilly shallying? do you remember being told don't shilly shally?

[frankwalsh]

Hi Lin, my Gran used to sing a song many moons ago ," Oh my old man said follow the van and don't Dilly Dally on the way off went the van with my home packed in it and I followed on with my old C oc k Linnet , well I Dillied and Dallied, Dallied and Dillied lost my way and can't find my way home oh you can't trust the specials like the old time copper when you lose youre way home. Dilly Dally.-Vacillate, Loiter. Shilly Shally.- Vacllate, to be undecided,hesitate to act or choose one's course. Gran had a C ock Linnet, it used to whistle all day long, thanks for reminding me. Regards, Frank Walsh.

[frankwalsh]

Hi all according to the Concise Oxford, ructions is a slang word from 1825, origin unknown meaning disturbance, tumult, row, as in there will be ructions, things will not be allowed to proceed quietly. I suppose a lot of the words we use today, are old Lancs dialect, and slang, from the days int mill, ant pit, I know it's very difficult to read a lot of the poetry of our old friend Ben Brierley, it's in dialect. F. W.

[lin]

frankwalsh said:

Hi Lin, my Gran used to sing a song many moons ago ," Oh my old man said follow the van and don't Dilly Dally on the way off went the van with my home packed in it and I followed on with my old C oc k Linnet , well I Dillied and Dallied, Dallied and Dillied lost my way and can't find my way home oh you can't trust the specials like the old time copper when you lose youre way home. Dilly Dally.-Vacillate, Loiter. Shilly Shally.- Vacllate, to be undecided,hesitate to act or choose one's course. Gran had a C ock Linnet, it used to whistle all day long, thanks for reminding me. Regards, Frank Walsh.

Hi Frank, yes I remember that song as well..I knew what shilly shally meant but wondered if Tony knew what it meant when broken down...glad it brought back a memory

[tony38337]

Terminological inexactitude was said in parliament by Winston Churchill when he didn't believe a line that was being shot by a (not so ?) Honorable Member, two words.

Now shilly shally, when you are trying to make your mind up you keep asking yourself "Shall I? Shall I?" Before you know where you are you are shilly shallying, and the spelling was fine Lin however Frank you are going to get demerits for missing out the apostrophes you should have said in't mill an't pit. Whereas dilly dally is to dawdle vacillate or procrastinate just as Frank said.

Tony T.

[lin]

Hi Tony..I feel like I'm back at school, can I go to the top of the class then for my spelling being correct? ;D Please sir can we have more words? no seriously I thoroughly enjoy reading them, will try and think of more

[Mike]

Hi , maybe this site might help find one or to of the says and where they came from?

www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/index.html

Migky

[lin]

Hi Migky, thanks for the above link, looks very useful.

[Mike]

8-)just like me Lin ;D

Migky

[lin]

Ok and you too Migky ;D