Page:A Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases.djvu/127

MED-BE.—Perhaps, possibly.

"Med be you be a-gwaain to Reddin to-morrer, zur?"

MEDDLE.—To touch, to take an active interest in.

"If thee meddles wi' what yent belongin' to 'e agin, I'll gie 'e a larrapin."

The expression meddle nor maayke is used as thus: "I wunt meddle nor maayke wi' e but me-ans jus' to mind my awn business.

MELT—Part of a pig, the spleen. A favourite supper where a pig has been killed is, "heart and melt" the melt which is rather fat being crammed with savoury stuffing, and the heart also stuffed.

MERE.—A bank or boundary of earth.

MERE-STWUN.—A stone dividing two properties.

A Mere path thus divides two properties at Hagbourn.

MERRY GO ROUNDS.—These, composed of revolving wooden horses, always put in an appearance at fairs and merry-makings.

MESS.—A child is told "not to mess it's food," i.e., not to continue to touch it with its fork or spoon without eating.

MESSENGER.—A sunbeam coming through a long crack into a rather dark barn or loft.

MESSY.—Food which is uninviting in appearance is thus described: "I can't et (or yet) that ther pudden' a looks 'messy.'"

Soft or pulpy.

ME-UT, or MAAYTE.—A mate.

MICKLE.—Used in a proverb very common among the thrifty folk of Berkshire.

"Many a little maaykes a mickle."

MIDDLIN'.—Not well and strong in health; a degree or two worse than "tarblish."

"The reply to inquiries after health may commonly be: "I be but middlin' zur, thank 'e; the rheumatics be bad agin."

When work is said to be done "but middlin'," it means that it is rather badly done.

MIFF.—In a temper, in a huff.

"A was in a miff amwoast avoor I begun to tell'n how 'twas."

MILD.—Not strong.

"This yer chaze be vurry mild," i.e., not strong in flavour.