Page:A Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases.djvu/104

HACKLE.—To conspire; a conspiracy. Labourers are said to be "all of a hackle" when making agreement together to get higher wages or shorter time for work.

The straw covering over a bee-hive.

HAFE-A-TWO.—Cracked or cut so as to be in danger of breaking.

"The led o' the box be hafe-atwo an' wunt stan' no mendin'.

HAFT.—The handle of an axe.

HAGGAS.—The fruit of the Hawthorn.

HAGGED.—Worn out; looking thin faced (a corruption of " Haggard").

HAGGLE.—To chaffer in dealing. Sometimes also it is used in the sense of 'to hesitate in reply.'

"A haggled a good bit avoor a'd tell I wher a*d a-bin " (he hesitated a good deal before he'd tell me where he had been).

HAINT, or HEV'NT.—Have not. "We haint got narn" (we have not got one).

HAMES, or HAAYMES.—The wooden portions of cart-horses' collars to which are joined the traces.

HAMMER.—The expression "dead as a hammer" is very common.

"I chucked my stick at that ther rat an' killed un as "dead as a hammer."

Hampered.—A lock is said to be hampered when out of repair so that the key cannot work it.

Handle.—To use dexterously.

"I can't handle a gun no zense" means "I cannot shoot well."

HANDLIN'.—In love making, where the swain may not have flow of language, he may sometimes attempt to put his arm round the girls waist; this is called "handlin'" on her "and would probably be met by the command to "Adone now," or a more decided "Gie out!"

HANDY.—Conveniently near. "A little me-ad lez handy to the house" (a little meadow is conveniently near the house).

Also intelligent in work.

"He be a handy zart o' chap."

HANGER-ON.—A person who waits about others better off than himself for such benefits as he may get. Common.