Dialect/slang

arry_awk · Post by **arry_awk** » Fri 04 Jan, 2008 5:33 pm

Eeeeh! Watta loada bollies!Seriously, all are correct. I must add thatroller skates (PROPER ones!) were classified(by us kids)by the number of ball races in each wheel.We called them 'single,double and maybe(?) triple(or treble) BOLLEYS!' You needed to have 'reverse thrust'fitted,to be able to stop! Most of us lads could onlyafford bearing-less skates which had to be doused with3-in-one oil to make em go! When the oil dried up thewheels wouldn't turn and seized up with disastrous effectto the skater! Never had knee and elbow pads then!Thinks; did this give rise to the expression 'Cheapskate?'Couple more Slang/dialect expressions:W'eers t'a bin? (where have you been)W'eers t'a bahn?(where are you bound for)Braying stick. (Hammer!)Apologies if already quoted (Don't remember!)

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Sun 06 Jan, 2008 1:16 pm

A term I came across only when I started working with people from Leeds (as opposed to people from Heavy Woollen District) in the sixties was "meg" for the old twelve sided threepenny bit. Not sure whether this is just Leeds or more general.

arry_awk · Post by **arry_awk** » Sun 06 Jan, 2008 1:41 pm

Hi TrojanI think you'll find that a Meg was a halfpenny! (Hap'ny -1/2d).at least t'was when I were a lad! (Don't ask!)The old silver threepenny bit was a 'Joey' but don't rememberany slang term for the 12-sider 'bit'. This new variationcaused a lot of consternation at Christmas, as the 'Monkey metal'it was made from was corroded by the sugar and yeast etc in the Christmas Pud! This was got round somewhat by wrappingthe 'coin' in greaseproof paper,but the effect wasn't the same when you got a soggy lump of paper mixed in with the pudding you were chewing! Happy days!

arry_awk · Post by **arry_awk** » Sun 20 Jan, 2008 4:24 pm

Nothing on here since 6th Jan?Had another flashback regarding 'Oft cummed uns'Friend of mine used to have a caravan up near Kettlewelland he said the locals called him and the other 'weekenders''Oft Cummed uns'. because the came very often and left againSunday on night!If the new 'settlers' bought a house and stayed.they only 'cum once and stopped'! (stayed).Another saying of my old Mum, 'Eeeeeh! it's 'ayaf past foweran' no taties on yet! (Half past four), And,' Cum away from that 'fever grate' (Street drain) afore tha' cops Scarlit Fever!'(a contageous disease prevalent in the thiries requiring six weeks in Seacroft Hospital in quarantine and having your house 'Stoved'with a sulphur candle to kill the germs!)

arry_awk · Post by **arry_awk** » Sun 20 Jan, 2008 4:30 pm

oops!Sorry abt the word jumble in 'Oft cummed uns'Bit should read, 'because they came very often and left againon Sunday night'Arry

Post by **chameleon** » Sun 20 Jan, 2008 6:53 pm

Hi arry- don't know if you'll rmember, but those old large open and very high wards at Seacroft used to have open fires, if you were unlucky to be in there in winter and some sole was in a Oxygen tent, it got bloomin cold 'cos they couldn't have the fires lit!Fever grate - not heard that for a while. The Hospital had its own sewage filter beds too, across the field close to the railway line. Four circular tanks in a 'diamond' shape, the discharge then passing ynder the tracks and into the stream which joined wykebeck further down the valley (Well, it was Primrose Valley before it was used as a land fill site.)It was possible to see the site of the tanks on Google Earth but they are less ditinct on the updated version; knowng where they were, you can just make out the outlines on a field trip there.

Si · Post by Si » Mon 21 Jan, 2008 9:03 am

We used to call grates "grids."What about:"That'll learn 'im." That will teach him."Can I lend a fiver?" Can I borrow a five pound note?Also "kayli" - from another thread. Rhubarb triangle, I think.

Pashy · Post by **Pashy** » Mon 21 Jan, 2008 9:10 am

Hi SL what a great site .I haven't been in Leeds for 40 years but still get twinges of nostalgia reading the threads.My Lower Wortley born and bred grandmother & greatgrand used to say.spuds-- holes in socks etccogs-- orange segmentspogged-- constipatedclogged & nithered--cold &wetgirders-- tendons in the handparkin-- bonfire night cakespugs--sparrowsdipping--choosing someone for a gameputsa cuckoos-Pudsey peopleIf they were trying to describe a person to someone else the person always " had a brother with a white handled pocket knife"or "was a jockey for a pig dealer"" if tha cant feet wear a big at" = stop bullshittingI'll be over for a holiday soon so I'll be asking for advice on good pubs & beer from all the boozers on site.I've never tried real ale !!!!!!.seeya

Si · Post by Si » Mon 21 Jan, 2008 9:36 am

Hi Pashy,I work in New Wortley and know a few of those. I thought pogged was when you'd eaten too much? I like spuggies for sparras. I was brought up in Pudsey - why cuckoos? or shouldn't I ask!Cheers Si

Pashy · Post by **Pashy** » Mon 21 Jan, 2008 10:17 am

Hi SiThanks for the response.I dont know about the Pudsey cuckoo one.--cant ask--the old lasses karked it yonks ago.Digression--Where is New Wortley? I went to Lower Wortley PS then West Leeds HS many years ago and only knew of Lower & Upper Wortley.Does Cow Close Secondary HS still exist or changed its name?(sorry wrong thread)Cheers&BeersAndy