liv PROCEEDINGS. 
Nesh, tender and delicate, used to describe one who cannot stand 
much cold or hard work. This is old English, but marked in the 
dictionaries as obsolete except in the midland counties of England ; 
Halliwell adds Northumberland. 
He was too nesshe and she too harde.—Gower C. A. V. 
It may be noted here that the people of Newfoundland use the word 
twinly with almost the same meaning. It is undoubtedly formed from 
twin like ¢iwinding, a diminutive, meaning a little twin, given by Wright 
as twindling. 
Nunch, the refreshment men take with them on going to the woods. 
It is an old form of the word ‘‘lunch” as “nuncheon” for “luncheon” 
(Wright). But by others it is regarded, we think not so probably, as 
referring to noon, and meaning the refreshments that jaborers partake of 
at that hour. Connected with this is the word nunny bag originally 
meaning a lunch bag, but now used in the general sense of a bag to 
carry all the articles necessary in travelling. They have also a very 
expressive word, though I am not sure that it is general, nunny fudger, 
denoting primarily a man who is thinking more of his dinner 
than of his work, hence generally a man who looks out for his own 
interest. 
Patienate, long suffering. Wright gives it as used in Westmoreland 
in the same sense. 
Peek, to peep, common in New England. 
Perney, an adverb meaning presently or directly, as when a servant 
told to go and do a thing might reply “I will perney.” The word I do 
not find in any dictionary to which I have access, but from cognate 
words I believe that it has come down from the old English. Related 
to itis the Latin adjective pernix, quick, nimble, active, and the old 
English word pernicious, signifying quick. Thus Milton :— 
Part incentive reed 
Provide pernicious with one touch of fire. 
Paradise Lost, vi. 520. 
Hence the noun perndcity, swiftness of motion which lingered longer. 
‘‘Endued with great swiftness or pernicity,” Ray on the Creation, 1691. 
Piddle or peddle, is used to describe dealing in a small way, without 
any reference to hawking or carrying goods round from house to house 
for sale. This was the old meaning of the word. 
