Mountain folk living way back in America’s Appalachian Mountains have a mite different talk than most folks. Their speech and way of life dates back to earlier times when life was more relaxed. Here are some examples of “mountain talk’n.”
A-Fixin’ – Getting ready. “We’re a-fixin’ to go down the holler.”
Aim – To intend to do something. “I aim to buy a new cow.”
Askeered of – Afraid of something. “He’s askeered of his own shadow.”
Awful Poorly – feeling very ill. “Mrs. P been feeling awful poorly lately.”
Biggety – Stuck up. “He’s been acting biggety here lately.”
Book Read – Educated. “We aim for John Boy to get book read whenever.”
Bresh – Brush. “Looks like Jim Bob forgot to bresh his hair.”
Chaps – Childen. “Tell the chaps to go wash up.”
Crick – Stiff muscles or joints. “Ole Ben got a crick in his neck.”
Cuttin’ Up – Making a fool of ones self. “John Boy was cuttin’ up again last night.”
Dask – to dare. “Don’t you dask tell John Boy Erma’s got a crush on him.”
Doin’s – An event or function. “We’ll be serving fried chicken at the church doin’s.”
Et – Eat. “Did you et already?”
Fetch – To get something. “Best go fetch the doc.”
Fibbed – To lie. “Skeeter fibbed on John Boy bout swipping that watermelon.”
Fur Piece – A good distance away. “Erma’s mama lives a fur piece from her own folks.”
Gander – To look at. “Take a gander at Skeeter’s breeches.”
Gully-Washer – A hard rain. “Laud, we got a gully-washer last night.”
Hesh Up – Shut up, be quiet. “Make John Boy hesh up.”
Holler – A small valley down in the mountains. “Erma said she’s goin’ down in the holler.”
Kivver – Covered. “Laud, them young-uns can't keep no kivver on.”
Lollygag – To loaf around, do nothing. “Ole Butch been lollygagging around for years.”
Naw – No. “Naw, I never took no moonshine.”
Parts – An area, neighborhood. “Been livin’ in these parts few 30 years or more.”
Peaked – Pale or sickly looking. “You lookin’ peaked today.”
Pizen – Poison. “I heared George, Jr. almost pizened his self with moonshine.”
Plumb – Completely. “I’m plumb fed up with the way them Camden's carry on.”
Poke – Paper bag. “Sarah put the vegetables in a poke.”
Put Out – Angry or mad. “Ole Doc was put out ‘bout the church meeting.”
Shet – to shut. “Shet the window.”
Skittish – Nervous. “Them horses get right skittish before a bad thunderstorm.”
Smack-Dab – Exactly. “Ben shot that bear smack-dab between the eyes.”
Smart – To hurt. “It shore did smart when John Boy’s horse bit me.”
Vittles – Food. “Yall come over Saturday evening for some vittles.”
Whupped – Whipped. “Pa gave me the whupping of my life when I sobered up.”
Yall Come – Come back again. “Bye, Skeeter. Yall Come.”
You’ns – You or you all. “You’ns ain’t go see Erma tonight are you?”
Bib:
Real live Mountain Folk
©1999 jcpinkerton
Enjoyed this one--and like Joyce, I remember "crick" VERY well. :) A crick was a small stream of water; a creek was a pinch in the neck LOL -- no wonder people looked at me funny--I still say that!
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Peace.