A Glossary of Lancashire Words as Spoken in Mawdesley
Written by Alan Cobham, School Lane, Mawdesley.

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"M"

MAIDEN (Clothes). a hinged wooden frame for drying clothes by the fire.
MAG-BARRY. of neither sex, sexless. .
MAGRUMS. megrims, in a state of temper or rage.
MANDEROUS THING (any). any object you can think of he has got.
MARR. to pet, to coddle, to spoil as a pet or a child.
MARRED. an affected, soft or spoiled person.
MARROW. the other of a pair.
MATTOCK. a heavy hoe, one usedfor hoeing willows.
MAUND. he must not.
MAWP. a clumsy person.
MAWT. malt.
MAYSTER. Skoo Mayster - School Master.
MAYUDIRT. mole.
MAYUNTIN. mountain, mounting.
MAYUS. mouse.
MAYUT. to moult, to lose feathers.
MAYUTH. mouth.
MAZEDIN. the surname Marsden.
MAZY. dizzy.
MEEEUNS. means.
MEENY. a selfish or mean person.
MEIGHT HOW. meat whole, has not lost his appetite.
MEIGH-WER. a mere (Martin Mere).
MELCH. warm mild weather at an unusual time.
MELDER. a mixture, a profusion of things, a conglomeration.
MELL. a mallet. A large wooden mallet used to drive posts into the ground.
MESTER. Mr. Mister.
MIDDIN. a midden, a dung heap.
MIDGE. a gnat.
MIDDLIN. only, only moderately well.
MISS'TEN. mistaken.
MITCH. much.
MIZZLE. to disappear, to go away. An object has mizzled. - been stolen.
MIZZY. a swampy place showing yellow as traces of iron.I
MOO. mow, hay stacked in a barn.
MOOIST. most.
MOOED AYUT. crowded out, overstocked, cluttered up.
MOOUR. more.
MOOUR. moor.
MOIDER.to annoy, to confuse by asking to many questions.
MOLLYHAWK. to blunder and mako a mess of a job.
MORDER. murder.
MULLOCKS ON ID. a mis up or mess of a job.
MON. a man, a fellah.
MON. must.
MUN. must. He mun be gooin - He must or might be going.
MONNY. many.
MOTTEY. face. Keep thy mottey ayut on id - Keep your face out of it.
MUT. might, He mut do id - He might do it.
MUT US WEEL. might as well.
MUN. must. He mun do id - He must do it.
MURK. mark.
MORKET. market.

"N"

NANGY. bad tempered, short tempered, out of patience.
NAG NAIL. the broken skin or cuticle round a finger nail which smarts.
NAR. near or nearer.
NAST. dirt, nasty - dirty.
NAURE. no body, quality, flavour or value in it.
NAWIHER. neither.
NAYTHER. neither.
NAWGUR HEEUD. a person who contradicts and argues, a know all. :
NAY. no.
NAYU. now.
NEET. night.
NEEST. nest.
NEB. the peak of a cap.
NED. he needed. Ned - Edward.
NEFFY. nephew.
NESH. tender as young plants, or as an invalid who has been confined indoors.
NETLE. to irritate, to aggravate or annoy a person. He was nettled - irritated.
NIP. to pinch with the fingers and thumb, a bite from a small dog.
NINNYHOMMER. an empty headed fool.
NOODLE. an ignorant silly person.
NOOUS. nose.
NOBBLY. a cultivated field covered with hard lumps of t soil.
NODDY. a fool. An ignorant person, 1st of April Fool - April day noddy.
NO.BRY. NOB'DY. nobody.
NOGGIN. cutting the ends off the butts of willows before drafting, sorting.
NOSS. nurse.
NOW. no.
NOWT. nought, nothing.
NOWT. naughty, wicked.
NUDGE. a slight push. To give a person a riminder of
NUZZLIN. nestling closely, nosing as a dog smelling game.
NUCK SHOTT.N. a four sided object of which the corners are not at 90 degrees, Causing it to be crooked and out of shape

"O"

O or OH. overall. O't lot - all the lot.
OH'L OER. all over, everywhere.
OOUTS. oats.
OER-TECK. overtake.
OFF ID. mad, insane.
OFF SIDE. a bit offside, slightly unwell.
OH BUD (WELLY). all but - varry near, well nigh.
OHLUS. always. Ohlus ad id - always working.
OH REET. all right.
OMM. them. Awm nod gooin wi omm - I am not going with them.
O THIS 'N. like this, this way.
ORTER. alter.
ORTERATION. alteration.
ORNERY. vicious, bad tempered.
OSS. to intend or start to work. Thah'd better be ossing and geddin a move on.
OWD. old.
OWLER. alder tree.
OWT. ought, anything.
OWT OR NOWT. anything or nothing.
OUZEL. (Ousel) the blackbird.

"P"

PACE EGGS AND HOT CROSS BUNS. solicited by children from neighbours on Good Friday.
PAD. a path.
PADDOCKS. toadstools.
PANNED AYT. material lasted out was sufficient, the facts tallied.
PANTLES. PANTLE. horse hair nooses, fastened along a cord between two pegs on the ground. This method was used to catch larks who came to feed on the grain scattered along the cord. Larks walk and do not hop like most birds so they are caught by their feet in the nooses.
PALM. flowers of the willow tree.
PAPPER. paper.
PARAPIT. parapet, the name still used for the kerbed footpath on the rodside.
PAWT or POTE. to thrust forward with the foot.
PAYCOCK. peacock.
PAYUR. power.
PAYUND. pound in weight or money.
PAYSON. parson.
PEEDLED OFF. to leave or go away quietly, unnoticed unobserved, tosneak away.
PEEUK. pique or spite.
PEEUKIN. spiteful, annoying as one person with another.
PEEURCH. a perch. To perch as a fowl. Peeurch - a perch - a fish.
PEEURT. bright, alert, a remark describing a peson recovering from an illness.
PEEUS. peace.
PECKLED. spotted or freckled.
PEIGH. a pea.
PEIGH SWADS. pea pods or shells.
PEIGHL. in a temper.
PEIGHLIN AWAY. labouring away, walking fast.
PEIGHLIN. mis-using an article. Overloading or straining it.
PELTER. a sudden heavy storm of rain.
PELT. a blow, to throw stones at a person.
PELTIN AWAY. walking or running quickly away.
PESTLE. the large bone in a ham. The tool used in a mortar to crush grain or meal.
PETCH. a patch, to patch.
PETTY. an old type outdoor lavatory. The petite house.
PICKLE. in a fix, in an awkward situation.
PICK. to give a person a sharp thrust or push.
PICK. to find fault with a person persistently.
PIKE. to pick as fruit or potatoes.
PIKLE. a long handled hay fork.
PILL. to peel as potatoes or willows.
PISSABEDS. Dandelion flowers.
PISSMICE. ants.
PIZEN. poison.
PLAGUE. to tease or torment a child or a dog.
PLAISTER. plaster for a cut, plaster for a house wall.
PLATT. a bridge over a stream or ditch constructed of long beams or large stones, to span the stream or ditch.
PLATT. a woman's hair plaited.
PLATTIN UM. putting his feet down fast, hurrying away.
PLUCK AND LEETS. liver and lungs of a pig.
PLUG. to pull a personts hair.
PLOO. a plough, to plough.
PLOD. plaid or chequered cloth, a skirt would be described as a plod skirt.
POO. to pull.
POOT. a pullet, a young hen which has not yet started to lay eggs.
POOR AND POWN. Poor and polled. Poor and harassed, wrong doers used to have their heads shorn.
POOT. sometimes applied to a girl or a young woman.
POOURK. pork.
PODDITCH. porridge.
POE. a chamber pot. A guzzunder.
POLLYANT. Polyanthus.
PONN. a pan.
PORE. to kick, to punch as at football.
POSS. a purse.
POSSER. used to stir clothes in washing.
POTTER. to engage in small chores, to loiter about.
POW FAGGED. tired out. Exhausted by continued exertion.
POW. to cut a person's hair. A pole.
POWN. to be harrassed. To have had one's hair cut. Poor and Pown an old term describing someone in difficulties.
POWSE. a rubbishy article, goods of inferior quality.
POWSE. form of endealment, applied to a roguish small child.
PRAYTUS I'T JACKETS. potatoes boiled unpeeled, thus] retaining their full flavour. :
PRATE. to speak insolently to an older person, to answer back.
PRAYTUS. potatoes. :
PRICKLES. the spiles on the hawthorn or rose bush.
PRIG MEET. prim, very exact, to be extremely neat and tidy - just so.
PRISE, SPRISE. to lever open or apart, as a packing case.
PROB. to poke or stab with a stick.
PROVVIN. provender, animal feeding stuffs.
PRIAL, PRYAL. a set of three at cards. A breeding prial, a cock and two hens.
PROOIN. prune, a dried plum. '
PULING. weak, weakly.
PUMMER. a big one of its sort. Pummer - a rammer for consolidating earth, stones.
PUNCH. to kick with the foot as in football.
PURK. park.
PURTLY WOD. partly what, neary finished.
PURLOUR. parlour.
PYENUTS. Magpies.
PUCKER. to be in a quandry.

"Q"

QUARHELS. small panes in an old fashioned window.
QUARE. queer.
QUERT. a quart.
QUICK STICKS. to do a thing instantly, in a flash.
QUIFF. hair of a man or boy brushed upwards from the forehead.
QUIRK. a person who makes odd statements, who gives odd answers and awkward replies.
QUILT. to beat. Quilting - a beating.

"R"

RAD. loosely woven.
RADDLE. to weave with willows as in basket making.
RADDLE. red or rose colour, to colour by rubbing with small stones obtained from a stream.
RADDLE. to beat, awl raddle thi boouns.
RAMM BAZZ. to rush at or against a person like a bull at a gate.
RAPPUT. a rabbit.
RAPPOCKIN. rough play, skylarking.
RATTLED. angry, annoyed, vexed, upset abruptly.
RAWM. to over exert oneself in lifting, moving a heavy object.
RATCH. to stretch, to make much of a story, to overstate.
RAWNGE. the passage from which cows are fed indoors.
RAWNK. rank, soft growth in vegetation.
RAWNK. strong smelling as manure or decaying matter.
RAYTHUR. rather.
RAYUKIN AYUT. staying out late at nights.
RAYUM. space or a room.
RAYUND. round.
RAYUS. rouse.
RAYUSTY. rusty.
RAZZUCKIN. frolicing, skylarking.
RAZZERED. vexed, put out, very angry.
ROOUD. road.
ROOUD. do - id this rooud - this way.
REAMER. a person who is exceptionally skilled in any game or craftsmanship.
REET. right.
REEUNINS. reins for a horse.
REEUN. the gutter or channel left by a plough when it turns a furrow.
RECK. wrack, rubbish ashed down by a river or stream.
RECKED UP. blocked up by rubbish as a drain or water course. :
REEUSTY. reasty - home cured bacon which has gone stale, or lost condition through being kept too
RECTIFY. to put right an error, to clear or purify spirits.
REIGHCHED. reached, Reichch - to reach.
RICK. rick the fire. To stir the fire with the poker to release the dust and ashes.
RID. to pull up trees or a growing hedge.
RIFT. to belch, to be relieved of wind by the mouth.
RIMMOCK. a broken or dilapidated article, a broken down cycle
RIGGOTT. a small gutter or channel in which to sow seeds.
RITTLING or RICKLING. the smallest or poorest of a litter.
RIVE - RIVEN. to split or pull asunder.
ROPS. entrails.
ROOUD. road, way, Do id this rooud - Do it this way.
ROOM FULL. full to overflowing. Romm full of mischief. To force material into a space.
ROOUR. to rear.
ROOST. the upper floor in a barn used for storing hay or straw. -
ROOUTIN. rotting.
ROOZE. to rouse.
ROOZIN FIRE. a roaring fire.
ROWL. to roll.
ROWLER. a farm roller.
ROWLIIN PIN. rolling pin.
RUCK. a heap of materials.
RUCK. to gather materials into a heap.
RUN BAR PORE. a running kick.
RUTCHURT. Richard.
RUTT. a channel or track left on land by the wheel of a heavy vehicle.
RUSH BURYING. rush bearing a fair or festiv which used to be held at Burscough.

"S"

SACKLESS. without spirit or energy, lifeless, careless.
SAD. a rich cake which has fallen in the middle. -
SAM. to push as a spade into the ground. To pack soil in a hole with a ranmer.
SANNER. sooner. Awd sanner ride than walk - I would prefer to ride.
SATED. to have eaten to a sufficiency, to be satisfied.
SAWSE. to berate a child, to admonish, to give a tell ing off. SECK. a sack.
SAWT. salt.
SAWVE. salve.
SAYCRUT. a secret.
SAYUND. sound.
SAYUK. to suck.
SAYUR. sour.
SAYUTHPOOURT. Southport.
SCAGGIN. to be beated in a scoring game. i.e. billiards or cricket.
SCALE. to rake the bars of the fire with the poker.
SCAME - SKAME. a scheme, to scheme.
SCAMMER. to scramble, to scammer up a tree - to climb a tree.
SCAPLINS broken stones, graded in sizes for road maing.
SCARR. to scour.
SCARR UM. to run swiftly away, scarrin um
SCARAGRICE. an inferior object or person. Similar to a scapegrace.
SCASE. scarce.
SCATTLE. nervous, frightened.
SCAWD. scald.
SCAWP. a scoop, to scoop.
SCAWP AYUT. to stride out' with long strides.
SCAYUL. scowl, to scowl.
SCENS - SKENS. a person whose eyes do not both look in the same direction.
SCOG. to chat - to talk together, holding a conversation scoggin.
SCOOT. to go away quickly, a command - be scootin.
SCORRICK. a very small scrap. Not a scorrick - not
SCOTCH. to put a stop to incorrect rumours or tales, a wedge put to a wheel.
SCOUSE. a weed which grows on the roadside, Queen Annes Lace.
SCOOUR. a score, 20 yards, 20 lbs in weight.
SCURF. a scarf.
SCOOUR. to score runs in cricket. Goals in football.
SCUTCH. to beat flax ;n preparation for making into linen.
SCUTCH. to beat a child. Awl gi thee a good scutchin. (From the beating of flax).
SCUSE. an excuse.
SECK. a sack. Secked - to be dismissed by an employer.
SEMMED. seemed (he semmed o reet) - he seemed all right.
SEECH. to search.
SEET. he sat.
SEET. a right sight, a rough unkempt dirty person.
SELL. self. His'sell - himself.
SEET. eyesight - ee seet.
SEEUM. seam.
SEEUT. a seat.
SEEUSON. season.
SEEULIN. ceiling.
SECK. a sack.
SECKED. to be dismissed from a post.
SEGS. hard skin on feet or hands.
SEH. say. They say. Sez - he says.
SILE. a sieve to strain milk.
SINUS. sinews.
SENNUGREWN. sinews, stiff or immovable.
SETTIN. planting as of potatoes - (settin praytus)
SEN. they say.
SETUDEH. Saturday.
SET TO. a fight, a scrimmage.
SET. a potato whole or cut with a sprit or sproat used I for planting.
SETTING. (planting) Praylus - being a local term.
SHADE. a shed, a wooden cabin.
SET. sat - to sit down.
SHAFFLIN. Hafflin and shafflin. Avoiding or evading a decision, over an agreement.
SHAMMOCKIN. an ungainly walker. A person who is badly shod.
SHAPE. to make an attempt or effort to work, to get in the right position or posture to work. -
SHIFTLESS. a person without enterprise or energy.
SHAYERS. an eel spear. A three or four pronged instrument with a handle 8-10 feet in length. The prongs are serrated and close together to hold the eel. The spear is used in water with a sandy or muddy bottom by stabbing where an eel is suspected to lie. I saw a new spear strapped on a car travelling towards Rufford about three years ago.
SHRAYUD. a shroud.
SCRAT. to scratch.
SCRAT UM. they got away in a hurry.
SCRATTIN FOR A LIVIN. working hard for a bare living.
SCREEUM. a scream, to scream.
SCXOOF. scurf, scales and dust from the head and hair. ;
SHAYUT. to shout.
SHEPSTER, SHEPPEY. a starling.SHEED. to shed, to spill.
SHINTY. an uproar.
SHINE. a scene or bother. Don't make a shine about a difference.
SHIPPON. a cow shed.
SHIVE. a slice of bread.
SHOO. to shovel.
SHOO/TO SHOOSH. to drive birds away.
SHOODERS. shoulders.
SHOON. shoes.
SHOTT. a debt at the grocerts shop, a debt on the slate.
SHOWLER. a fish, a roach, which swims in a shoal.
SHURP. sharp, as a knife. To look sharp
SHUT. to get shut of an article, to get rid of an article or person.
SIDE. to clear away crockery from the table after a meal.
SIDE. to eat, to put away a great quantity of food. He can side summut.
SIN seen.
SITCH. such.
SIVV. a seive, a sythe
SKAME. a scheme, to scheme.
SKAYUL. to scowl.
SKELTER. to run, to scatter, as a crowd caught in a heavy shower.
SKELPIN. a beating.
SKEW WHIFT. awry, crooked, not in line.
SKITTER. to scatter or run away, as a crowd.
SKITTERING. a thin covering of manure on a field, a thin dusting or showering of lime or powdered material.
SKRIKE. a shriek or yell. To cry as a child.
SLACK. a hollow or depression on farm land sometimes holding water.
SLACK. coal dust.
SLANCE. a cat which steals food from the table or pantry.
SLAT. to throw water or to splash. :
SLAT. to slat or throw an insult or accusation against a person. (He slat id ad im).
SLATTER. to drop or scatter loose materials, to litter.
SLATTERY. showery, broken weather.
SLAYUCH slouch. :
SLAVVER. to emit saliva as a baby.
SLECK. small coal or coal dust (slack). D. to shed, to spill.
SLECK. to put out a fire with water.
SLECK. to slake burnt lime with water for use in mortar and white-wash.
SLEIGHT. a slight on a nerson's character, sleihty shoddy work.
SLEER. a slight to a person by speech or laugh or even a look or derisory manner.
SLEWD. a person who is drunk.
SLOPED OT. went away discreetly, slunk away.
SLIPPY. slipery, be slippy - be quick.
SLOP STOOUN. the kitchen sink which used to be of stone.
SLURR. a slide, to slide.
SLUTCH. mud.
SMITTIE. a stallion or bull, effective in mating.
SMO. small.
SMO TOOTH COMM. small tooth comb.
SMOOK. smoke, to smoke.
SMOOR. smother, to smother.
SNAFFLE. to take possession of, to steal an article.
SNAGGIN. the cutting away of ends of willows on or in a basket.
SNAPE. to check or curb a child, to reprimand.
SECK. the latch of a door. Sometimes operated by a finger through hole in the door.
SNERPLED UP. food dried up or burned in cooking.
SNIG. an eel.
SNOOUR. to snore.
SNORCHIN. snorting, sniffing.
SNOT. mucus or discharge from the nose.
SNOTTY. bad tempered, bad mannered.
SNUTTER. to stumble, to trip, he snuttered and tumbled - he fell.
SNFFED ID. he has died.
SOAKED. to be over charged in price, to be fined heavily.
SOGGER. a big one - of immense size.
SOO. a female pig which has a litter of young ones.
SOPPIN WEET. clothes saturated with water.
SOOUP. soap.
SOOUP. a small quantity of intoxicating liquid.
SOOUP. too mitch (too much) drunk.
SOOURD. rind of bacon. A sword.
SOOU. so - it is so.
SOONER. a person who would sooner lie in bed than go to work.
SOOUR. sore.
SOOURT. sort, to sort.
SORLY. surly.
SOSS. to immerse in water repeatedly, as clothes on wash day.
SOGGER. a big one.
SORLER. a big one.
SOWD. sold.
SOUJER. a soldier.
SUFF. sough a gulley, a drain built of stones.
SOME BIT LIKE. betterp up to standard.
SPADE GRAFT DEEP. digging the full depth of a spades
SPARROW BILLS. the nals used on the soles of hob nailed boots.
SPEAR. a fixed wooden screen inside a house by the side of door to stop the draught.
SPECK. spec, on chance, to act speculatively.
SPELKS. the strong stckes of a basket or framework. Strong willows split down the centre and trimmed to form the framework of a basket.
SPELKS. another term for splints.
SPEIGHK. to speak.
SPILE. a splinter of wood which has penetrated the finger.
SPOCKEN. spoken.
SPOOURT. sport.
SPOll. the span of a bridge, to span with the hand.
SPON NEW. brand new.
SPRAWSIN. talking bombastically, swaggering, talking big.
SPRAYID. to spread, a spread as at a feast.
SPREE. SPREEING. going drinking, leaving their work for days and weeks.
SPRIT or SPROUT. the shoot or growth on seed potatoes.
SPRIT. to sprit to sprout.
SPROD. spread the manure.
SPRODDEN. the manure was spread (wur sprodden).
SPUR. to question a person inquisitively, to quizz.
SQUOZE. he squeezed it.
SQUOZZEN. it was squeezed.
STAWMPLE. to stumble and stagger clumsily.
STAYUT. stout.
STEEL. a stile on a footpath.
STEEUM. steam.
STEIGHL. steal, to steal, the handle of a hammer or rake.
STETTY a bonny stetty. A dirty dishevelled person
STIDDY. steady.
STIFF CURT. a broad wheeled tipping farm cart without springs.
STOO. a stool.
STOODE. he stood.
STOR. to stir, having some stor - having some fun. Stor - a big affair or party.
STO, STOW. to stall, stowin - stalling.
STOWED. stalled - to have eaten to a sufficiency.
STOWE. stolen.
STREEU. straw.
STREEUM. a stream.
STROKE (he struck a blow) stroke of work - a job of work.
STROWL. a stroll.
STRINES. the sides of a wooden ladder or the handles of a wooden barrow.
STRIlGE. a wooden measure for peas or grain, 2 strikes one peck.
STRUNG. strong.
STUB. a wooden fence post or gate post.
STURT. to start.
STURVED THROUGH. chilled or cold through the body.
SUMHAYU. some how.
SUMMAT. something.
SUMBRY. somebody.
SUMDY. somebody.
SUNG. a song - he sang - he sung.
SUIT. to please, to fit or match a person ie. a hat or dress.
SUP. to drink.
SUW. to sew, to stitch, suwin away - walking fast with a swaying motion.
SWADDLE. to drink noisily or often.
SWADS. pea pods, pea shells.
SWANK. a well dressed person. Swanking - showing off. SWAP. to exchange.
SWAT. to sweat, he swat - he was sweating (sweeutin).
SWAPE. sharp as a knife.
SWAPE. quick, he swape, be sharp, be quick.
SWAGE. an iron wedge for splitting wood.
SWALER. a wholesaler of provisions, produce etc.
SWATHE BAWKED. to miss or leave a strip uncut when mowing grass.
SWELT. to soak as dried peas.
SWEWL. SWOOL. to singe off down or hairs from a dressed fowl.
SWILLINS. waste food used to feed the pigs.
SWINGLE TREE. part of a horses' gears made of wood, a space piece between the chains attached to the horse and plough.
SWITH'N. twisted, crooked, out of shape.
SYE. a fine seive or filter.
SYKE. to gasp when entering icy water.
SWURM. a swarm of bees.
SWURM. to swarm, to climb a post by gripping with both hands and feet.