Voices from you From Mike Chamberlain: My mother used to say "I've been all around the bal looking for you" a bal is a mine so I presume this refers to the honeycomb of miles of tunnels.
A word I remember is "screed" for the batter bits from fish shops, but it is an interesting question to ask anyone as everyone from different areas have different names for them. From Dave Coppinger: After complaining to my Cornish workmate about the excessive workload we had, he said " if ee caint scheemy, you mus' louster" Not sure about the spelling of that last word tho'. From Nick Stephens: "Bood" for Bude. "Yoom maze" for you're crazy/stupid. Probably could have written a book on this but sadly my grandparents have passed on now. The above 2 spring to mind. From Sue Tinley: daw't shuv yer granny when she's shevin' - choose the right time to butt in tazy as adder - teasy as an adder yew, wash she like uh? - hello how are you? From Vanda Maslen: Words my Dad used especially in the early sixties when backcombing and beehive hairstyles were popular! "You look like an owl looking out of an ivy bush!" "You look as if you"ve been dragged through a fuzz bush backwards" From Melissa Wadman of Launceston College: Dough balls (dumplings) From Lisa Turvey from Launceston College: Cornish people do it dreckly! (they will do it later) From Sheila Holder, Fowey Some Cornish sayings we can remember, my Mother-in-law use to say-Wet ass no fish, if we came back from fishing without any,Tis like cream on pilchards-rich was another saying And I can remember the Old Cornish Toast:being said it goes-Here's to 'ee. If I hadna' met 'ee,I shouldn'a know'd 'ee, and' now that I know 'ee,I can't abide'ee. Also -Like Lanson Gaol,all upside down,and my Mother would say It's Dear as Saffron' and Maazed as a curlew' Drunk as a hand cart' A Cornishman's gift:I don't want it.You can have it. These sayings comes back to one from time to time- our Daughter thought it a good idea to write them down from a young age in case they get lost. We have plenty more could mention, will leave you with what can remember for now. Sheila Holder. Fowey. Click here for more words and sayings from Fowey Voices from you From Ron Flaxman: Tubbins - Grass in between the layers of granite, in a Cornish Hedge Smeech - Excessive smoke from a fire or boiler Madder doo ah? - Do you think it matters? Crib, Croust, Mossal (Morsal) - Time to eat send in more words and phrases to cornwall@bbc.co.uk with the subject title 'Voices 2005'. |