Page:A Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases.djvu/88

D

DAAK.—Filthy, covered with dirt; slimy.

DAAYME.—Dame. An old-fashioned farmer thus usually styles his wife when calling to her, or speaking to her; he rarely uses her christian name. Also in a more humble position an elderly woman has her surname preceded by this title.

DAAYZIES, or DE-UZIES.—Daisies.

DAB.—A small insignificant wash, not including the house linen set aside for the "buck-wash." A blow.

" I catched 'un a dab in the vaayce."

A detached piece of anything.

"Our good Quane Bess, she maayde a pudden,

An' stufled 'un vull o' plumes,

An' in she put gurt 'dabs' o' vat

As big as my two thumbs."

DABB'D.—Blotted over with stains.

DABBY.—Flabby; also anything containing small portions of a foreign substance is said to be "dabby" with the strange matter.

"This yer pudden be dabby wi' zuet."

DAB-CHICK.—The water hen.

DABSTER.—One who excels greatly.

Thus a man is said to be a "dabster" at back-swording or skittles.

DADDACKY.—Decayed or rotten.

"The bern doors be 'daddacky' an' wunt stan' mendin'."

DADDY-LONG LEGS.—The common local nickname for a boy with long legs; the insect which so easily leaves one of its long legs behind it being well known by this name.

DADS AWN BWOY.—A son having his father's peculiarities, "A chip of the old block."

DAFFIDOWNDILLY.—The Daffodil.

DAFT.—Stupid, slow of comprehension.