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Wurzels
Wurzelspeak
Wurzel
Lingo Explained Fer Furriners!
Dictionary
Compiled by Zider Ed
This
page contains a dictionary of West Country words and phrases
used by Adge Cutler and The Wurzels in their songs,
patter, etc., translated into (more or less) English, which non-West
Country natives or residents might find helpful. Most of the examples
given are extracts from the songs.
This
list was used, with permission, in Mervyn Hancock's Wurzels'
World book in 2004.
This
list is far from comprehensive, so if anyone has any additions,
further explanations, corrections, etc., please let me know - Don't
Tell 'Ee, Tell I!
| Bissn't
|
Aren't, e.g. Thee bissn't goin' far. Opposite of Bist
(see below). |
| Bist
|
Are, e.g. Thee bist = you are. See also 'Ow Bist
below. |
| Cassn't
|
Can't. See also 'N below for an example. |
| Couss
|
Could. |
| Coussn't
|
Couldn't. |
| Dollop
|
Lump, quantity. Examples: a girt dollop of spaghetti;
gave her a dollop o' girt big jollop |
| 'Ee
|
Normally thee (=you); or he, depending on context,
e.g. Hark at 'ee, Jacko; Don't tell I, tell 'ee
|
| 'Em
|
Them - see 'M. |
| Girt
|
Great, big. Examples: girt dollop of spaghetti; put
on thy girt big hat; girt big 'ats 'n' cloaks; girt
big blackthorn stick |
| Hassn't
|
Haven't. See also 'N below for an example. |
| I
|
Me, e.g. Don't tell I, tell 'ee; Look at 'ee lookin'
at I |
| Jollop
|
Medicine |
| 'M
|
Depending on context, means either am, him, or
them. Am is used instead of are, e.g. We'm,
They'm. 'M or 'Em is used instead of him
or they, e.g. don'm = doesn't he or don't
they. Sort o' confusin', en'm?! |
| 'N
|
It, e.g. Thee's got'n where thee cassn't back'n, hassn't?
= You've got it where you can't reverse it, haven't you? |
| Oh
Ar |
Means lots of things, according to context and intonation, e.g.
OK, I see, is that so?,...
See also Ooh Ar. |
| Ooh
Ar |
Popularised by the Wurzels (post-Adge Cutler)
and became a sort of catch-phrase for the band. More of a sort
of triumphant cry of Wurzel jubilation than an expression
having any specific meaning. For prime examples, listen to songs
such as Combine Harvester, I Am A Cider Drinker,
The Tractor Song, Funky Farmyard, Farmer Bill's
Cowman, etc. |
'Ow
bist?,
'Ow bist 'ee? |
How are you? A greeting. |
| Scrumpy
|
Cider. Traditionally the Wurzels' favourite form of refreshment,
rivalled only by beer in Wurzel drinking popularity,
and therefore mentioned in many Wurzel Songs, e.g. I'll
Never Get A Scrumpy Here, I Am A Cider Drinker, Drink
Up Thy Zider, Drink, Drink, Yer Zider Up, etc.
For more information about scrumpy, see the Scrumpy 'n' Western
Scrumpy User Guide.
|
| Thee
|
You. See also 'Ee. |
| Them
|
They - see 'M. |
| They
|
Them, e.g. staler than they = staler than them. |
| Thick
|
The "th" in thick is pronounced as in this
(as opposed to the "th" in thin). Means this or
that, depending on context. Thick thur means yonder.
Examples: Get up off thick mat; All thick sort o'
stuff; What use were all thick learnin' |
| Thur
|
There. See thick above. |
| Thy
|
Your. Sometimes pronounced thee, as in Drink up thy
zider (pronounced "Drink up thee zider"). |
| 'Tis
|
It is. Similarly 'Twill = It will, 'Tain't = It
isn't, etc |
| 'Umman
|
Woman. See Wi' below for an example. |
| Varmer
|
Farmer. Many words beginning with "F" or "Ph"
are pronounced as if they begin with a "V", e.g. Vorty-acre
vield; Veet; Varmacist (although I never 'eard
Adge say this'n) |
| Vernigh
|
Very nearly, almost. Example: the garden's vernigh dug.
Sometimes pronounced burnigh. |
| We'm
|
We are, e.g. We'm off to Barrow Gurney. See 'M.
|
| Wi'
|
With, e.g. An 'umman wi' a few spare pound |
| Zider
|
Cider (see Scrumpy above). Many words beginning with
"S" or a soft "C" are pronounced as if they begin
with a "Z", e.g. Zummerzet = Somerset |
| Zider
Up |
Verb meaning to replenish with a sufficient quantity of cider,
e.g. Landlord - zider I up or Zider we up! |
| Zummat
|
Something, e.g. She upped an' zlipped, an' zummat ripped.
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