An Irish Country Christmas Part 55

peat (turf): Fuel derived from compressed vegetable matter.

peely-wally: Scots. Under the weather; unwell.

pelmet: Valance.

penny bap: A small bun, usually coated in flour.

petrified: Terrified.

physical jerks: Gymnastics.

p.i.s.s artist: Alcoholic.

poke: Have s.e.x with; a small parcel.

pong: British forces slang for "stink."

pop one's clogs: Die.

poulticed: Pregnant, usually out of wedlock.

powerful: Very.

power of: A great deal of.

praties: Potatoes.

punter: Gambler, particularly on horse races.

quare: Ulster p.r.o.nunciation of queer. Very strange.

randy: s.e.xually aroused.

randy as an old goat: Very s.e.xually aroused.

raparee: Originally an unskilled labourer. Now used pejoratively for a ne'er-do-well.

rapscallion: Ne'er-do-well.

raring to go: Eager and fully prepared.

recimetation: Malapropism for recitation.

registrar, medical: Trainee physician equivalent to a North American resident.

reverse the charges: Call collect.

right enough: That's true. Used interrogatively, is that true?

rightly: Very well.

rightly, it will do: It's not perfect but will serve well enough.

roast: Verbally chastise; not pay humorous tribute to.

ruddy: Euphemism for "b.l.o.o.d.y."

rug rats: Children.

run-race: Quick trip to, usually on foot.

script/scrip: Prescription.

scunner, take a scunner at or to: Dislike someone intensely and bear a grudge.

scutch gra.s.s: Coa.r.s.e gra.s.s found growing in salty soil.

semi: Semidetached house. Duplex.

shebang, the whole: Lock, stock, and barrel. Everything.

sheugh: Bog.

s.h.i.t, to: To defaecate.

s.h.i.te: Faeces.

shufti: Army slang. A quick look at.

Sinn Fein: Literally, ourselves. The political party of the Irish Republican Movement.

skitters: Diarrhoea.

skiver: Corruption of "scurvy." Pejorative. Ne'er-do-well.

skivvy: From "scurvy." Housemaid.

skinful, to get a: To get drunk.

sliced pan, best thing since: Presliced, then wrapped, pan loaf was reintroduced after the Second World War. To be better than it was the acme of perfection.

slip jig: Traditional dance.

slough about: Laze around.

smacker: Pound.

snotters: Runny nose.

soft hand under a duck: Gentle or very good at.

solicitor: Attorney, but one who would not appear in court, which is done by barristers.

sore tried by: Very worried by or very irritated by.

spavins: A disease of horses resulting in a swayback.

s.p.u.n.k: True grit. Nerve.

sponge bag: Toilet bag.

stays: Whalebone corset.

sticking out: Very good.

sticking out a mile: Absolutely the best.

stocious: Drunk.

stone: Measure of weight equal to fourteen pounds.

stoon: Sudden shooting pain.

stout: A dark beer, usually Guinness.

strong weakness: Hangover.

take a gander: Look at.

take your hurry in your hand: Wait a minute.

taste, a wee: Amount. Small amount, not necessarily edible.

ta-ta-ta-ra: Dublin slang, party.

there: Used for accuracy or immediately. Examples: That there dog; that dog. There now; now.

thick: Stupid.

thick as champ: Very stupid.

thole: Tolerate or put up with.

thon: That.

thrapple: Throat.

throw off: Vomit.

thruppenny bit: Three-penny coin.

tinker's d.a.m.n, don't give: Could not care less.

toty: Small.

toty, wee: Very small.

tousling: Roughing up.

tried, to get: Become agitated about.

turf accountant: Bookmaker.

up the spout or pipe: Pregnant.

walk out with: Pay court to. See also coortin'.

wean: p.r.o.nounced "wane." Child.

wee: Small, but in Ulster can be used to modify almost anything without reference to size. A barmaid and old friend greeted the author by saying, "Come on in, Pat. Have a wee seat and I'll get you a wee menu, and would you like a wee drink while you're waiting?"

wee buns: Very easy.

Wellington boots, wellies: Knee-high rubber boots patterned on the riding boots worn by the Duke of Wellington.

wet (wee): Alcoholic drink.

whaling away at: Beating.

wheeker: Very good.

wheen: A large number of.

wheest: Be quiet.

wheezle: Wheeze in chest.

whin: Gorse.

whippet: Small, fast, racing dog, such as a mini-greyhound.

w.i.l.l.y: p.e.n.i.s.

won't b.u.t.ter any parsnips: Will make absolutely no difference.

worser: As bad as it is possible to get; much more so than worse.

you're on: Agreed to, or to indicate acceptance of a wager.