A Pitmatic Dictionary - Houghton-le-Spring

WE’RE NOT MACKEMS: A PITMATIC DICTIONARYHOUGHTON-LE-SPRING HERITAGE SOCIETY | UPDATED: 14/04/2013

WE’RE NOT MACKEMS: A PITMATIC DICTIONARYWE’RE NOT MACKEMSA PITMATIC DICTIONARYCREATED BY THE MEMBERS OFHOUGHTON-LE-SPRING HERITAGE SOCIETY2012 - 2013COPYRIGHT © HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING HERITAGE SOCIETY 2012 - 2013As a result of migration, the closure of all the collieries, and the teaching of Standard Englishin schools, the pitmatic dialect, which has its origins in the colliery villages, is dying out. Thefollowing list of words and phrases from the Houghton-le-Spring district was compiled inearly 2012 (and added to in 2013) by the members of Houghton-le-Spring Heritage Society.Many are bound to have their origins outside the area, as the local collieries, quarries, farmsand potteries acted like a magnet in pulling in immigrants from around the United Kingdomand Ireland. If you have any additions or amendments, please get in touch via the Society’swebsite at: www.houghtonlespring.org.ukPAUL LANAGAN, CHAIRMANHOUGHTON-LE-SPRING HERITAGE SOCIETYHOUGHTON-LE-SPRING HERITAGE SOCIETY | UPDATED: 14/04/2013

WE’RE NOT MACKEMS: A PITMATIC DICTIONARYPITMATIC WORDSAl reet Alright; how are you? MRAnarl And all; also; as well; ILAnt thuh? Aren’t they?; ILAnythink Anything; ILAye Yes; ILBakka Riding pillion; RFBairn Child; ALBait box Packed lunch; or lunch box; PLBlaw Blow; PSBogey Go-kart; DABreed Bread; PGBullets Confectionery; see also Kets; AEByuk Book; PL, CHByut Boot; RLCack Not very nice; yucky; BCCannit Cannot; can’t; PLChabble Table; PL, CHChatty Potatoe; see also Taties PSChippy Fish and chip shop; takeaway; PGChods Lumps; HBChow To chew; PSChut Chewing gum; sometimes Chutty; AEClag To stick; PSClagger Mouth; see also Pyatt; PGClarts Mud; DAClarty Muddy; PLClays Clothes; sometimes Claithes; PSClemmy Large stone or marble; RLClip Dressed untidily; smack on the ear; CHClogged Blocked; PSCourtin’ Courting; dating; PLCrackit Stool; PS, ILCraic Talking to your friend; PSCyak Cake; PL, PGDee Do; PSDeeing Doing; PSDinneh Don’t; see also Dint; ILDinnet Don’t; see also Dint; PLDint Don’t; see also Dinnet; PSDraa Draw; PSDuds Clothes; see also Clays; PSDunch Crash; bang together; PSFlee To fly; rush off; evade capture; PSFrock Dress; PGFyass Face; PLHOUGHTON-LE-SPRING HERITAGE SOCIETY | UPDATED: 14/04/2013

WE’RE NOT MACKEMS: A PITMATIC DICTIONARYPITMATIC WORDS CONT...Gallower Horse; see also Hoss; DA, PSGan Go; PL, MRGanning Going; ILGansey Have a go/turn; JBGear Clothes; see also Clays; PLGis Give; PSGive owwer Give over; stop; PS, MRGood hiding Beaten up; smacked; assaulted; PSGrom-more Grandma; PLGully Bread knife; DAHacky Dirty; PS, AEHaddaway Get a away; PGHeed Head; PSHell on Trouble; disorder; JHHinny Term of endearment; see also Pet; AEHirrim Hit him DRHirriz Hit me; see also Is; DRHogger Hose pipe; PSHoggers Pit wear, trousers/pants; PSHoss Horse; see also Gallower; PLHoweh Come on; PLHowker Pit pick; tool; PSHunkers Squatting; sitting low; PSHyem Home; see also Yairm; APIs Me; ILJesting Joking; APKets Confectionery; see also Bullets; PLKnar Know; PLLass Girl; PGLugs Ears; PLMarra Mate; friend; workmate; RLNee way No way; disbelief; PSNee No; PSNetty Toilet; PL, AENivver Never; ILOwt else Anything else; ILOwwer Over; CH, AEPet Term of endearment; see also Hinny; ILPlodge To walk through mud or water; AHPyapper Paper; GDPyatt Mouth; see also Clagger; PLHOUGHTON-LE-SPRING HERITAGE SOCIETY | UPDATED: 14/04/2013

WE’RE NOT MACKEMS: A PITMATIC DICTIONARYPITMATIC SAYINGSDown the lodden Down the street; ILGive owwer I don’t believe you; stop; CHHad thee pash Be patient; PGI haven’t got a tosser I have no money; AP, PSKeep had young ’un Take care, friend; RLMe little cocka sparra Affectionate word for a child; JBESeen more fat on a spuggy’s ankle Skinny; HBShut your fyass Shut your face; be quiet; PLShy bairns get nowtBeing shy makes you miss out; ALWell yer bloke! Exclamation; ILWhat do they call you? What is your name?; PLPulled over the coals Told off; ILHOUGHTON-LE-SPRING HERITAGE SOCIETY | UPDATED: 14/04/2013

WE’RE NOT MACKEMS: A PITMATIC DICTIONARYCONTRIBUTORSThanks are extended to the following contributors for helping to draw up the list of pitmatic wordsand phrases:AH = Alan HewisonAL = Annie LeeAP = Anne PeelAV = Avril ElliottBC = Beatrice CoylesCH = Colin HughesCM = Collin MooreDA = David AnnandDB = David BoltonDR = David RichardsonGD = George DavisonHB = Helen BartlettIL = Irene LanaganJB = June BrownleeJBE = Jackie BellJH = Jo HutchinsonJM = Jane MelvinKH = Kathy HeyworthMR = Margaret RitcheyPG = Pauline GuerreiroPL = Paul LanaganPS = Paul SykesRF = Richard Chuck FletcherRL = Richard LeadbitterFRONT COVER: The Cross family of Houghton-le-Spring, circa 1890.No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a mechanical retrieval system, ortransmitted, in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,without written permission from the author. The author and publisher have made all reasonableefforts to contact copyright holders for permission. Any errors that may have occurred areinadvertent and anyone who for any reason has not been contacted is invited to write to thepublisher so that a full acknowledgement may be made in subsequent editions of this book.HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING HERITAGE SOCIETY | UPDATED: 14/04/2013

WE’RE NOT MACKEMS: A PITMATIC DICTIONARYwww.HOUGHTONleSPRING.org.ukHOUGHTON-LE-SPRING HERITAGE SOCIETY | UPDATED: 14/04/2013