The Past in our Present. . .

It won't come as any huge surprise when I say that words have always held a great deal of fascination and amusement for me. I particularly enjoy how our common language varies so much from region to region - or, indeed, from country to country. 

Well, today I happened across this little guide, and it makes for some rather interesting reading. The article claims that these so-called 'extinct' words are Lancastrian in origin; 

". . . derived from a mix of Old English and Old Norse words, the rural Lancastrian dialect has some absolutely brilliant old words that we rarely hear any more", 

However, as a Sheffield lass, born and raised, I recognize - and still use - quite a few of these odd little words, in particular, 'mizzling/mizzle' which we experience quite a lot of in this part of the world!

What about you? Do you recognize any of these words? If so, how far away from Lancashire/Yorkshire do you live? I'd love to know.


Mizzling - A word used to describe a very specific type of rain. Used when it is spitting or drizzling.

Thrutch - To physically strain of stretch oneself - especially when you're really giving it some.

Baggin time - The time of the day when work stops and you can finally clock off to go home.

Longerted or cottered - When something is particularly and irritatingly tangled.

Larrup - The action of giving someone a hard smack or a bit of a wallop.

Skit - To mock someone or make fun of them.

Braggarting - When someone is going on and on about something, they are braggarting.

Thronged - A word to be used when you are very busy indeed. Probably related to the word 'throng', used to describe a tightly packed area or crowd.