Buckinghamshire Vocabulary

W - Buckinghamshire Vocabulary

The following list of words are quoted from three articles published in the "Records of Buckinghamshire" by Alfred Heneage Cocks, M.A, between 1897 and 1909 (some editing has been used to produce a unified list). See the introduction for further details..

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WAG-WANTON, the quaking grass (Briza media). Wag is to shake to and fro; Wanton, unrestrained.
WAGGONER, "mouse of a rufous colour with a short tail"; obviously the Bank Vole (Evotomys glareolus). No doubt the Field Vole (Microtus agrestis) would share the name, as the two species would not be generally distinguished.
WALLOP, to beat soundly. Also, is used in "to come down wallup," to fall heavily, with emphasis.
WAMBLE ABOUT, TO, for wobble, to walk unsteadily. "A womblin' ol' 'os."
WANTY, the belly-band in cart harness, consisting of a very broad strap, the ends of which buckle round the shafts, and entirely disconnected with the pad or any other part of the harness. Cf. French, ventre, belly.
WAPS, a wasp, pl. WAPSES. Mr. Rye remarks that this is the original word. Plural, also WASPIES.
WARM, TO, used metaphorically for beat, chastise.
WATCHER'D, wet-footed. Halliwell gives watched, wet-shod [various dialects].
WATER-GOGGLES, Marsh-marigolds.
WEEK, TO, to squeak, as rats.
WEL, pronounciation of while, when = until. But as a substantive, it is pronounced wild, or whoild. "I sha'n't be on'y a little wild." "He's a longish whoild at it." See Coolder, supra.
WE'RSELVES, for we ourselves. Mr. Summers says this is characteristic of the village of Seer Green; and Mr. Parker mentions Holmer Green (near Wycombe), etc.
WE'S, for we were.
WER, WERSELVES, for our, ourselves. "Wer ol' gramp." "We didn't like it werselves."
WEST, A, a stye in the eye.
WET-DIAL, the Wryneck (Iynx torquilla). See Nile-bird. Wet-dial appears to be the same word as Whet-ile, a name for the Green Woodpecker (which see, and also Wet-weather Bird).
WET ONE'S WHISTLE, to have something to drink. Halliwell gives whistle, as throat [various dialects]. To WET a bargain, or any special occasion, or transaction, is to stand a drink in honour of the event.
WET-WEATHER BIRD, the Green Woodpecker (Gecinus viridis). See French Magpie, Yaffel, Ickle-bird (supra) and Whet-ile.
WEY, the spreader, to each end of which a horse's traces are attached. See Whipple-tree.
WHACK (verb), to beat; generally in the sense of to thrash, but also to defeat, as in any contest; (subst.) a quantity, a sufficiency; "He had his whack." WHACKER (subst.), a very large one. WHACKING (adj.), very large.
WHAT-FOR, a licking; as if in answer to a query. "I'll give ye what-for."
WHAT YER, a greeting, for "what cheer?"
WHET-ILE, the Green Woodpecker (Gecinus viridis). The late Rev. E. K. Clay informed me that about Kimble it is called WATER-AIGEL.
WHINNICK, TO (for whine), to whine or cry in a subdued manner. "There now, stop whinnickin' do." WINNOCK, to cry.
WHIPPLE-TREE, when a horse draws any agricultural implement by "chain harness," i.e., chain traces without shafts, the spreader behind the horse's heels, to which the ends of the traces are attached, is called the whipple-tree. See Wey. When a pair of horses are similarly harnessed, each whipple-tree is attached by its centre to either end of another and somewhat longer and stouter spreader, the centre of which is in turn attached to the implement. This larger spreader is a WHIPPANCE.
WHILE, until. "I'll wait while morning."
WHISTLE, TO, birds are said to whistle, not sing.
WHITE MONEY, the plant alyssum; see Snow-in-harvest.
WHITTLE, to cut into chips with a knife.
WHOP, TO, to beat, both in the sense of chastise and defeat. WHOPPER (subst.), a very big one. WHOPPING (adj.), very large. Cf. Whack, Whacker, Whacking (which see).
WIDBIN-PEAR, the White-beam tree (Pyrus aria). Sometimes called Bird-cherry.
WIGGLE, TO, to squirm, to wriggle.
WILL-FILL, a hermaphrodite.
WILT, to dry, or, wither (of vegetation). Halliwell gives it as a Bucks word.
WISSUP, or WISSOP, probably for wisp. "There's the kitten bin out in the rain, poor little wissop."
WITHOUT, unless. "I wo'nt go without you come too."
WITHY, willow. A.-S., withig. [Wedgwood's Dictionary].
WITTY, not in the sense of humorous, but clever, having his wits about him; said (e.g.) of Colonel (now General) Baden-Powell, at the beginning of the Transvaal War (October, 1899): "He seems a very witty man; they puts a lot of trust in him."
WIZZLE, for weasel (Mustela vulgaris).
WOBBLE, to reel, or move unsteadily.
WOBBLER, the Pied Wagtail (Motacilla lugubris). See Dishwasher
WOODEN HILL, a whimsical phrase for stairs. "Wal, I s'pose it's about time to climb the wooden hill."
WORRIT, for worry. Also, to be worried, to be fretful.
WOWND, for wound. This, as noted by Mr. Gurney, is "only used by the old men;" as it is fast becoming discontinued.
WROP, for wrap.
WUM, the ripple caused by any disturbance of water.
WUR, common pronounciation for were or was.
WUSSER, the narrow kind of barge for canal work, almost always gaily painted; usually seen two abreast on the wide river. Called elsewhere "Monkey-boat," or "Fly-boat."

[Last updated: 28th December 2000 - KQ]