Page:The ancient language, and the dialect of Cornwall.djvu/271

251 and stupid. A dull stupid way of speaking, " Such roodling ways ! " In the Armoric language rodella means, to turn or wind about. Rod- shaft. The engine-shaft in a mine, in which are the rods of the pumping gear. Roper's news. News not new, being stale. East Cornwall saying. C. Ropy. A term applied to bread made with milsey flour. See Milsey. Rouan. The name of a good cider apple grown in the Lizard district. Rouan is 'Celtic for Boman. Rory-tory, Anything vulgar in design, or colour. Tawdry. Round or RoundagO. An ancient circle of stones or earth. ^' It is said the priests (Druids) danced within an enclosure of stones, moving sideways in imitation of the dragon, or serpent. This means they danced within a '^ round" of which there are remains in Cornwall." Hogg's Fab. Hist, of CormvalL Polwhele describes it thus — '^ Roimdago, a circle of stones standing erect or piled in a wall-like form without mortar. Stone circles, originally pagan, were probably used by the Christian Cornish for their miracle plays and dances." Polwhele (Hist, of Corn- wall, vol. 2. p. 84.) also says that the rounds were " probably places of meeting of the general stannary assemblies," (in the same manner Crockern Torr in Dartmoor was the seat of assembly for the tinners