INTRODUCTION. IX ' As eaay as kiss.'
- As fnish as a bennel ' (the withered stalk of fennel).
- As frush (brittle) as a pipe stapple ' (stem).
' As grave as a mustard pot.' ' As great (intimate) as inkle weavers.* ' As hungry as a grew ' (greyhoiind). ' As iU to herd as a stockin' full o' fleas/ very difficult to mind. ' As many times as I've fingers and toes/ a comparison for having done something often. 'As mean as get out.' ' As plain as a pike-staff,' quite evident. ' As sick as a dog/ sick in the stomach. ' As sUS as a proker ' (poker), very stiff : applied to a person. 'As sure as agim.* ' As sure as the hearth money.' ' As tall as a May-pole.'
- As thick as bog butter.' Wooden vessels filled with butter, the
manufacture of long ago, are occasionally dug out of the peat- bogs ; the butter has been converted into a hard, waxy substance.
- As thick as three in a bed,' much crowded.
- As thin as a lat ' (lath).
' As true as truth has been this long time,' of doubtful truth. 'As yellow as a duck's foot' (applied to the complexion). As well as the publications by Canon Hume already enumerated, I should mention one which gives many most characteristic examples of the Belfast dialect It is an almanac for the years 1861, 1862, and 1863, published anonymously, but written entirely by the learned Canon, whose authority I have for making this statement. The full title of the work is Pocnr Rabbin* 8 Ollminickfor the toun o* BUfawst, cofUaining varrious different things *at iwery body ought fbe acquentit withy itrote downy prentety an* put owt^ jist the way the people spakesy by Billy McGaH of the County Down side that uset to be : but now of the Entherim road, toarst the Cave hill. Canon Hume has also collected the materials for a most comprehensive dictionary or glossary of Hibemicisms. It would be most desirable that this should be published. For a description of the scope and aim of this work I would refer to his pamphlet, Remarks on the Irish Dialect of the English Language. Liverpool : 1878. In connection with our local dialect, I should also refer to a little
