Some of the words included in this glossary are dialect forms; others are sufficiently uncommon that a definition may be helpful. My source for dialect is William Rollinson’s The Cumbrian Dictionary of Dialect, Tradition, and Folklore. For other definitions, I have consulted the Oxford English Dictionary (second edition, Oxford University Press, London, 1989).

Allus. Always.

Auld. Old.

Awt. Something, anything.

Beck. A small stream.

Betimes. Sometimes.

Bodderment. Trouble.

Dust, dusta, dusnta. Does, do you, don’t you.

Goosy. Foolish.

How. Hill, as in “Holly How,” the hill where Badger lives.

Mappen. Mayhap, perhaps.

Mebbee. Maybe.

Nae. No.

Nawt. Nothing.

Off-comer. A stranger, someone who comes from far away.

Pattens. Farm shoes with wooden soles and leather uppers.

Reet. Right.

Sae. So.

Sartin, sartinly. Certain, certainly.

Scotch, as in “Scotch that aeroplane.” To damage, crush, destroy something dangerous.

Seed wigs. Small, oblong tea cakes, flavored with caraway seeds.

Sumbody. Somebody, someone.

Summat. Somewhat, something.

Taties. Potatoes.

Trippers, day trippers. Tourists, visitors who come for the day.

Verra or varra. Very.

Worrit. Worried.

Wudna, wudsta. Would not, would you.