266 HULL SCIENTIFIC AND FIELD NATURALISTS* CLUB. 



Baste. — Here is a word which is a technical tailor's term, 

 meaning " to tack," " to fasten down by means of large 

 stitches ; " it is also a domestic culinary term, the pouring 

 of melted fat over a roasting joint of meat ; so that to 

 " baste " anybody is to give them a "roasting;" but 

 there is an Icelandic word, " beystae," which means " to 

 beat," hence when an East Yorkshire man threatens to 

 give a person a " basting," he may actually be using a 

 word brought over by the warlike Northmen who did so 

 much " basting." 



Bat — A rap, a blow. Originally taken from the name of the 

 instrument used. "That pawky lad ou't to hev a bat 

 ower heead for his pawk." From the word Bat we get 



Bats — A beating. This is cumulative punishment, an en- 

 larged plural of " bat," a veritable multum in parvo. 

 An irate mother may say to her wilful, wayward boy 

 " Thoo'll get thl bats, mi lad, when thi fayther cums 

 yam ? " and that self-same lad at once feels what a fear- 

 some thing the future is. 



Beltin' — A flogging with a belt, and the flogged one ought 

 to be thankful if there be no buckle on the said belt. 

 There is another word perhaps etymologically akin to 

 " beltin'," which also means a punishment inflicted — the 

 word " bell-tinker." It is not an uncommon saying, 

 " Noo, Ah'll gie tha bell-tinker, if tha disn't dhrop it ! " 

 (cease, or give up doing). 



Bencilling. — Here is another word of difficult origin, but its 

 meaning is well understood. A good bencillin' is a 

 thing not easily forgotten, and has been the means of 

 salvation to not a few. 



Bray. — The word "bray" means literally to crush, to 

 pulverise, and is nothing assenine. It recalls mortar and 

 pestle and the fool that was brayed so vainly within, the 

 operation only demonstrating how inseparably com- 

 mingled are a fool and his folly. A broom handle or a 

 besom shaft is an excellent instrument with which to 

 "bray" anybody. One of the characters in the York 

 Mystery Plays complains that " yone boy with a brande 

 brayed me full well." 



Bunch. — Once when seeking to reach Riplingham Clump we 

 wished to cross a field in which a labourer was hoeing 

 turnips. We asked if we might cross the field. He 

 said, " Yo can gan across clooas, nobbut deen't bunch 





