Oct. 14. 1854.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



301 



flutter. A criticism of Dryden, intended to be 

 very severe on Elkana Settle, is written under a 

 mistake as to the meaning of this word as used by 

 tlie latter, to which he applies our now local 

 meaning. He says : 



" To flattering lightning our feign'd smiles conform," 



which is not a mistake of the printer for " flut- 

 tering," but which the great poet might have 

 guessed at if his anger had permitted him. A 

 disease, as a fever, is said to be very flattering, 

 when it often gives signs of amendment and again 

 suffers a relapse. Poor Elkana, who has met 

 with few friendly critics, may be farther justified 

 •when he adds to the above-quoted line — 



" Which, back'd by thunder, do but gild a storm ; " 



by the remark, that those persons who are out of 

 doors in a thunderstorm, may often observe the 

 lightning to flatter or flutter behind or beyond a 

 dark thundercloud, through the edges of which it 

 shines with brilliant effect. 



Flaygerry, a merry-making, or what is now 

 vulgarly called "a spree;" but with an innocent 

 meaning, an excursion for amusement. 



Flickets, flashes of colour ; usually applied to 

 sudden and rapid changes of colour in the face 

 from the alternations of fever. It seems to be the 

 old pronunciation of the word flight; and means 

 something which comes and goes away, to return 

 again very quickly. 



JFlopp, the sound of that motion of water when 

 it is jerked suddenly, as from one end of a cask to 

 another, and then suddenly stopped. The motion 

 itself is sometimes said to be " floxed." 



Fbrthy, officious ; too much disposed to push 

 himself forward. 



Foul. It seems to mean clumsy. A great ybwZ 

 fellow, is a large and awkward man. 



Fouse, to tumble about a thing, and so injure it 

 by frequent use ; to soil it by use. 



Freath, twisted wood-work ; thorns, and other 

 small branches of bushes, twisted together, to stop 

 a gap in a hedge. Leland uses the word in a 

 somewhat similar sense. 



Fuddled, partially drunk ; enough intoxicated 

 to be " the worse for liquor." 



Gaddle, to drink eagerly, and much ; to swallow 

 fluid voraciously. 



Ga'erd, guard. 



Gaerden, garden. 



Gange, to arm with wire the line'attached to the 

 fishing-hook. The hook used to catch large fishes 

 is thus guarded at the place where it is fastened 

 to the line, with fine flexible brass wire, neatly 

 twisted round it. 



Gi, ghi ; probably the ancient pronunciation of 

 the word give. It seems common in Leland's 

 writings. 



Giggle, to laugh, to have a suppressed laugh. 



Gigglet, one who shows her folly by a disposi- 

 tion to grin and laugh for no cause. It is used as 

 a term of slight and contempt, and commonly to a 

 young girl. 



Glaze, to stare. It is probably the root of the 

 word glnze, to cover with varnish, and thus to 

 give a shining appearance. The word glass is also 

 derived from the same word. 



Glib, smoothly. " He speaks glib ;" that is, his 

 words come easily from him. It is the same as 

 glibly, but with us the latter syllable is generally 

 omitted. 



Goal, a sensation of slow, heavy, aching pain in 

 any part. It seems to bear some analogy to the 

 word gall, wlien used to express the infliction of 

 pain on the mind. 



Gooding, or goodying ; to go a gooding, is to go 

 about the parish or country, at the approach of 

 Christmas, to beg flour, meat, or such things as 

 shall enable a poor person to enjoy himself at that 

 season. It is a common practice, and is not 

 thought disgraceful, being practised by the wives 

 of even respectable labourers ; and farmers are 

 accustomed to grind a certain quantity of corn at 

 this season, specially for this purpose. 



Goody, to goody, is for an animal to fatten, 

 thrive, improve in quality. 



Goold, for gold ; and probably the true ancient 

 pronunciation. 



Grab, to lay hold of, to dig the fingers into, a 

 thing ; to grasp at it. To grave, as applied to a 

 ship or boat, is to dig up the pitch on her bottom, 

 before giving it a new coat : to grave, and engrav'e, 

 appear to be derived from this root ; and even 

 the word grave, in which the dead are buried ; as 

 also, perhaps, the word gripe as applied to the 

 word hedge, as already explained. 



Grange, to grind. It is only applied to the 

 teeth ; and a person is said to grange them one on 

 the other. It differs from gnashing them. 



Greet, earth, soil. 



Gribble, the young stock of a tree on which a 

 graft is to be inserted ; chiefly applied to the 

 apple. 



Gripe. That part of the border of a field which 

 is dug out to heap on the hedge, to raise it and 

 keep it in repair. It is often termed the "hedge 

 gripe : " and the owner of a hedge which separates 

 his property from that of another man is sup- 

 posed to possess the right of digging this gripe 

 out of his neighbour's property, to enable him to 

 finish his work. 



Grise, the common word for corn sent to the 

 mill to be ground. A grise, or grist, is as much 

 as is sent at one time. Shakspeare uses it, Twelfth 

 Night, Act III. Sc. 2, 



Grizzle, to grin. 



Gidge, to drink gluttonously. 



Gumpion, aptitude of understanding ; some 

 foundation of skill or talent. " He has no gum- 



