SPARROW-MOUTHED. Wide-mouthed, like the mouth of a sparrow: it is said of such persons, that they do not hold their mouths by lease, but have it from year to year; i.e. from ear to ear. One whose mouth cannot be enlarged without removing their ears.
A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)
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DANCERS. Stairs.
A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)
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In other areas of Ireland on the eve of St. Brigid’s day, January 31st, the "Bean an Tí" would call to the front door. Representing Brigid and spring, she would knock, holding fresh green reeds in her arm. The family waiting in the darkened house inside, would open the door and welcome "Brigid" and the coming spring into the home, representing the changing of the season.
And a historic note: until the 1950s, in some parts of Ireland, on St Brigid's day the "Bean an Tí" would pass the Brigid's cross around her body three times in front of the house. She would then walk around the house three times. Then the cross would be welcomed into the front door by the family and hung over the kitchen door, becoming the heart of the house.
Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day:
Bean tí
Also "beantigh" (housewife) and "bean an tí" meaning "woman of the house", "herself", and in Kerry "landlady".
With the rise of Irish language education in the Gaeltacht, or Irish-speaking areas of Ireland, it has come to refer to a landlady who takes in students who wish to learn Irish in a family setting, providing lodging and meals as well as education.
vi pratar om att hon ska komma hit o min dotter messar:
"Vi kan lägga måndag till onsdag eller dylikt"
Vad betyder det? Tänker att hon skrivit fel. Frågar sonen. Nej det är så man säger. Eller, det är så kidsen säger. Betyder här att de kommer måndag till onsdag.
lägga - ungefär som smurfa - det betyder vad som helst utifrån kontext
"ska vi lägga ett bad?" är alltså "ska vi bada?"
typ
varsegod för info
GRUB STREET. A street near Moorfields, formerly the supposed habitation of many persons who wrote for the booksellers: hence a Grub-street writer means a hackney author, who manufactures booss for the booksellers.
A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)
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HAND. A sailor. We lost a hand; we lost a sailor. Bear a hand; make haste. Hand to fist; opposite: the same as tete-a-tete, or cheek by joul.
A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)
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And finally "béal bán", the Irish for "white mouth" used to indicate flattery or soft words, and synonymous with the more common "plámás".
Just to note: the Irish word for folklore and tradition as passed on by word of mouth is "béaloideas" (béal - "mouth", and "oideas" = "teaching" or "education".)
Hiberno-English word/phrase of the day:
Béal
"Béal" can mean both "mouth" and the muzzle of a gun. "Is binn béal inn thost" (Irish proverb) meaning "Silence is golden". And the frequent instruction: "éist do bhéal!", meaning "shut you mouth!"
You also get the phrase "béal bocht", the "poor mouth", pretending to be poor eg, "You're always putting on the béal bocht - I'm fed up listening to you!"
The Vulgar Tongue
Fionnbharr
Malvan