The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies

The Dialect of Cornwall

In Conjunction with Brian Stevens

Recorder of Dialect

He/She's as addled as an egg

empty [as of a head]. A forgetful) person. Rotten

As silly as a waggon 'oss-

Stupid. Foolish. No sense at all. Why horses? I found them quite intelligent . As silly as a wagon load of monkeys, another quoted expression, but I've never seen one

As full as a drum

as full with food as one could be. Bloated." Could eat the horse, and chase the driver " said by someone who is starving hungry, or " Eat the horse and chase the jockey "

A crowing hen and a whistling woman are no good to anyone.

To hear a hen attempt to crow as I have is weird beyond belief.

As lively as a cricket

an extremely active person or child

As useless as tits on a boar pig

no good at all

" Found a gold mine, `ave 'ee? "

remark to someone who suddenly appears to have money to spare, who was not thought to be previously `flush `, that is, money in their pockets

 another expression of disbelief with additions. Doubting a tall story.

Greyer than the guts of a toad

dark dull and sinister. Anything to do with a toad was sinister. If a toad was found anywhere near the front door of the farmhouse, it was said that the family had an implacable enemy somewhere.

" grass doesn't grow on a busy street "

another reassurance to a bald person that he need not worry about his condition. They do not put marble on cheap furniture is the one familiar to me

Grinning like a chad 

I think this one referes to a t^ype of fish. It had large eyes and an open mouth full of teeth when seen on a fishmonger's slab. Being a landlubber hardly heard this one

Going like a train 

travelling fast or speedily. Hurtling by. Usually said of a person hurrying by

Greasy as a toad

a slimy creature to touch, and anything which has a film of oil or grease, even mud or butter on it, or even a bar of soap and is difficult to handle, is described as such

It's hot enough to go dog

a somewhat very vulgar expression, heard often by our elders, referring to very hot weather, but indicating a reference to a bitch on heat. Very, very indelicate, and never said indoors in front of ladies or children.

" I'm hotter than hell with the door shut ."

another somewhat irreverent remark said frequently by someone I worked with on the farm during the summer's hot weather.

Going to see the Harbour Master at Tolskithy Harbour

a mythical person of a mythical place. Tolskithy Valley is an old tin streaming valley and had mines at the top, and is miles inland in the mining district of Redruth. If you were asked where you were going and who you were going to see, and you did not want them to know where, you would reply, " I'm going to see the Harbour master at Tolskithy Harbour ! " We are told that the valley was formed in geological time and has been extensively mined since. Do not believe a word of it. Truth is, that a Camborne man wanting to save his tram fare home, accidentally dropped a sixpence down a rabbit's hole !

Have you ever seen a fly swallow a horse and cart 

a riddle posed in my childhood. Of course it was easy when once explained. A fly was often seen. So was a swallow, and then a horse and cart, but the horse and cart would be a rare sight now 

I have summered and wintered 'ee. "

an expression used by someone close to indicate that that person knows all there is to know about you, i.e. husband and wife, mother and daughter, father and son

" If 'ee aren't careful, I'll scat 'ee down ! "

a very boastful and serious threat from one schoolboy to another The start of a 'scrap '

" If it was a dog, it would bite 'ee ! "

said to someone who was looking for something and it was right beside them.

Jumping around like a firecracker

a lively person, often a child, bouncing around full of energy. Our excuse was that we had never seen or heard a firecracker, sowe did not know what one looked like or sounded like.

 H/she's looking like a bundle of straw tied in the middle with one bind `

very badly dressed. Unkempt

like as if the calves been sucking `em `

crumpled clothes, creased clothes, or a shirt collar not ironed properly. If you left your jacket or pullover within reach of calves or yearling, they would invariably mouth it, attempt to suck it, and in general slobberall over it.

like a hen with one chick

a very fussy person, especially a mother too protective over an only child

like a toad under a harrow

the version I know, but I believe it could also read ' toad under a barrow `. A henpecked husband or someone always picked upon and subservient.

Like water on a duck's back

soon gone and forgotten. Ineffective. No impact at all.

Like a fart in a thunderstorm

useless. Could never be heard. We boys soon learned this one and used it amongst ourselves and our school friends.

mazed as a curly' [curlew]

Running around as if possessed. A curlew dodges and weaves around in tall grass or sedge when disturbed by humans.

' May cats bring in adders'

Kittens born in May month were often drowned at birth on account of this superstition that they could bring unwanted adders into the dwelling house. April kittens escaped such a fate.

More keys than Bodmin Jail

reference to the modern custom of carrying a large bunch of keys on a device attached to the belt.

'nobody id'nt going to stop the 'oss from galloping'

in other words no one is going to worry if your pullover is being worn inside out, or if you are wearing odd socks. Conscious of something wrong or odd. Fussy

H/she's not looking too sweet 

comment on someone in a bad mood, or who looks put out by something said or done to which they have taken exception.

"rather put my hand in fire than do that!"

-- said by the lady of the house who would rather not do a chore or a job of world usually around the house. The trick as we observed, was that either the fire was not lit when a hand was placed in the empty fireplace [of the Cornish range or slab] or it had burnt so low as to give off none or little heat, and was therefore safe. We children fell for that ploy, but only once

asked of anyone who is still in bed when they ought to be up and about.

'Scornfull~cats are glad to eat wrotten mice !"

---said of and to someone fussy or' picking `over their food.

"he/she edn't very swift, are they? "

--- not the quickest.

"Stank_on they emmetts, Boy!"

 [The ants, not the holiday makers!] 

--- shoulders withdrawn and bent and rounded as if suffering from the cold. Withdrawn and miserable. Relates to animals or human beings.

 --- said of a devious person. Untrustworthy.

Sick as a shag

--- this sea bird regurgitates its food to its young, so the origin is there, and applies to those vomiting.

Stiff as a crutch

 — expression used to describe underuse of muscles or the whole body which has not moved from one place for a long time.

"Tasted like dishwater !"

--- said o f weak tea.

"Who' s Little maid is this?"

  I remember standing in the crowd at Culdrose -Air Day, when I heard a man behincd me comment to his friend on the length and thickness of my wonderful curly head of hair That was embarrassing! Time to visit Ken Slade's barber's Shop, down by the chapel in Coinagehall Sreet in Helston. he was brother - in- law to Kenny Mitchell from Porthleven, who was at Helston Grammar School with me. Heard a great many intruiging stories from many of the customers there. Wish I had written them down at that time.