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ENGLISH AS WE SPEAK IT IN IRELAND.
[CH. XIII.
horsehair on the end of a twig, with which it was very hard to catch them; for, as the boys used to say, 'they were cute little divels'—or directly—like the sportsmen of old—with a spear—the same spear being nothing but an ould fork.
Caish; a growing pig about 6 months old. (Munster.)
Call; claim, right: 'put down that spade; you have no call to it.'
Need, occasion: they lived so near each other that there was no call to send letters. 'Why are you shouting that way?' 'I have a good call to shout, and that blackguard running away with my apples.' Father O'Flynn could preach on many subjects:—'Down from mythology into thayology, Troth! and conchology if he'd the call.' (A. P. Graves.) Used everywhere in Ireland in these several senses.
'Bedad,' says he, 'this sight is queer,
My eyes it does bedizen—O;
What call have you marauding here,
Or how daar you leave your prison—O?'
(Repeal Song: 1843.)
Call; custom in business: Our new shopkeeper is getting great call, i.e. his customers are numerous. (South.)
Cam or caum; a metal vessel for melting resin to make sluts or long torches; also used to melt metal for coining. (Simmons: Armagh.) Called a grisset in Munster. Usually of a curved shape: Irish cam, curved.
Candle. 'Jack Brien is a good scholar, but he couldn't hold a candle to Tom Murphy': i.e. he
