Local Words

It was International Poetry Day this week, and BBC Radio had a nice angle on this, focussing on local words. On Radio 4’s Today they brought in lexicographer Susie Dent and poet Liz Berry. Liz read a poem entitled ‘Bowbowler’ a tremendous Black Country word for a big moth. Susie talked about the many words for woodlice names and alleyways, both subjects close to my heart. Over the years I have on occasion gathered local words that people have tweeted me which I've collected together on the website Storify, which allows you to archive collections of tweets. I gathered all the links to the various 'storifies' here. There’s hours of reading here, but it’s time well spent, I promise you.

Pea bugs, Slaters & Monkey Pigs - names for woodlice

https://storify.com/mooseallain/pea-bugs-slater-and-monkey-pigs

Alley Names

https://storify.com/mooseallain/alley-names

Snap, Pack Up and Bait - names for a packed lunch.

https://storify.com/mooseallain/packed-lunch-pack-up-and-bait

Hangnails, Wicklows and Spills

https://storify.com/mooseallain/hangnails-wicklows-and-spills

Backies, Croggers and Takeys - when you give someone a lift on the back of your pushbike

https://storify.com/mooseallain/backies-croggers-and-takeys

Picking Rhymes - playground rhymes

https://storify.com/mooseallain/picking-rhymes

Burmos - a very niche word for trousers

https://storify.com/mooseallain/burmos

Bundles, Piley Ons And Other Playground Heaps

https://storify.com/mooseallain/bundles

Playing Truant

https://storify.com/mooseallain/playing-truant

Nesh - do you feel the cold?

https://storify.com/mooseallain/nesh

Poor Ginger - the game of knocking on doors and running away

https://storify.com/mooseallain/poor-ginger

Pom Pom, Tommy Ho and Releevio - a playground game with many names

https://storify.com/mooseallain/home-games

Sparrows

https://storify.com/mooseallain/sparrows

Chewing Gum

https://storify.com/mooseallain/chewing-gum

Finally, something a little lighthearted and somewhat childish…

Wind Words - what do you say when someone breaks wind?

https://storify.com/mooseallain/wind-words