From Danny’s Files: Some Old Local Words & Phrases

Danny Dowling (1927-2021) loved old words and phrases. Danny recorded the following list of words and phrases. Most appear to be Irish. Danny often expressed regret that he didn’t have more Irish, but confessed that he did not enjoy school when he was a boy. For more local Irish words or information on the last Native Irish speaker in Glenmore see our Irish page. See our post of 23 August 2020 regarding Glenmore and the Irish language.

 

Glenmore Farming Words

Ray—9 drills usually of potatoes. This word still in common use in Glenmore.

Girock—Short drills in the corner of a field.

Corcóg—A little heap of sods from baiting, made for drying which resembled a skep or straw beehive preparatory to burning and spreading the ashes as manure.

Fittin—Tilling for a corn crop. “I was Fittin.” A word which was in general use in the Enniscorthy area. Obtained from Vincent Codd, Rathnure, Wexford in 2006.

Scilóg—A portion of a potato tuber containing an eye or sprout used for planting. The practice of cutting larger tubers into portions containing an eye was much in use for potato planting in the old days. This word was used by Paddy Forristal of Graiguenakill on Sunday, 25 March 2007 in Maypark Nursing home.

Sop—A small amount such as a fistful of hay.

Sugan—A hay or straw rope. It was used for holding down a cock of hay. Update: Andrew Doherty of Tides & Tales, stated that the word was also used by fishermen. Sugán meant that the rope or a net was completely twisted and knotted up.  Sometimes a small salmon (peal) would be twisted in a sugán in the nets…ie hard to clear.

Filipín—A piece of timber like a gawlóg for twisting a sugan.

Hinny—a jennet

Dromán—a strap across a horse’s back for holding up the drafts.

Glugger—a hatching hen

Corandy—a loft

Calling Farm Animals

Tiuc-Tiuc—Words used for calling chickens.

Chick-Chick—Words used for calling chickens.

Bí- Bí—Words used for calling turkeys.

Finnie-Finnie—Words used for calling ducks.

Dhock-Dhock—Words used for calling pigs.

Bhoc-Bhoc—Words used for calling piigs.

Hi-Hi—Words used for calling cows.

Cob-Cob—Words used for calling horses.

Glenmore Household Words

Guddy—White bread mixed with tea, milk, and sugar. A food given to children from about the age of 1 to about 3 years or more. Usually given at evening time.

Choppy—Mashed potatoes with butter and a little milk given as food to children from about a year upwards.

Hotchpotch—A Scottish mutton and vegetable dish.

Flummery—A dish made from flour or mill dust, a kind of dessert.

Sillabub—A trifle dish.

Bóshán—A sun or air dried cow dung picked from the field in summertime and used by poor people for burning in the fire.

Tránín—A variety of grass with seed heads which was picked by women from poor households to supplement income of the household.

Mogabulya—A piece of timber which was used in old times at the back of the door to make it more resistant against people who might attempt to break in the door.

Faggot—A bundle of sticks for fuel.

Glenmore Personal Words

Mogalore—A state of intoxication.

Buineac—Diarrhoea or looseness of the bowel. (Tom Roche of Coolnaleen gave Danny this word on the 11^th of January 2007. This word was formerly in use in the Coolnaleen area of Glenmore.)

Bouzhgee—Another word for diarrhoea used in the Coolnaleen area. Also provided to Danny by Tom Roche on 11 January 2007.

Cutting in the guts—The phrase Danny recalled used during his youth for diarrhoea.

The Mudge—Sulking. From Martin Gahan, Ballinamona, Slieverue.

Offensive Local Words

Beak—An offensive word for mouth.

Melt—An abusive word meaning a useless person. From the word meilit meaning blunt or useless. Update: Andrew Doherty of Tides & Tales related that a hoors melt or Whore’s Melt…that was the worst of all.

Bockety—A beggar or deformed person from bacach.

Dunderhead-A stupid person.

Some Local Sayings

The worst cow in the yard balls the loudest (from Mrs. Morrisseyy, Milepost.)

The smartest of flies get caught in a shit.

Don’t care a continental (could not care less).

There was no take on her. (A girl who had no admirers or requests of marriage.)

Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com. The featured photo above is an old postcard depicting the the interior of St. James’ Catholic Church of Glenmore (date unknown but prior to Vatican II).

Dr. Katheen Moore Walsh