By G. E. Dartneli and the Rev. E. H. Goddard. 163 
Wivel, Wyvel. To blow as wind does round a corner or through a hole. N.W. 
: Wivelly, or Wivel-minded. Undecided, wavering, fickle, and un- 
trustworthy. (Village Miners.) N.W. 
~Wonderment. (1) ~. A sight or pastime of any kind. N.W. 
(2) m. Any fanciful oceupation. A boy who had a turn for inventions 
would be described as always ‘‘ after his ’oonderments.” N.W. 
(3) v. To play the fool, waste time over unprofitable work. N.W. 
*Wood-sour. Of soil, loose, spongy (?) “The strong red land on the high 
level parts of the Downs . . . . once woodland, and sometimes ex- 
 pressly called ‘ wood-sour’ land.” (Agric. of Wilts, ch. 12.) 
Wood-wax. *(1) Genista tinctoria, L., Dyer’s Greenweed. (D.) 
(2) Genista Anglica, L., Needle Whin. S.W. (Farley.): 
~ Wooster-blister. A smack in the face or box on the ear. S.W. (Som. bord.), 
cf. Som.. Whister-twister, and Dev. Whister-poop. 
-*W orks, Ina water-meadow, the system of trenches. (Agric. of Wilts, ch. 12.) 
Wosbird. A term of reproach, probably a corruption of Whore's-bird (A.B.), 
or perhaps from Old English Wurse, the devil. There are many variants, 
as Hosebird and OQozebird. Much commonerin Devon, N.W. 
Wrastle. To spread, as cancer, fire, roots, etc. (Wild Life, ch. 4.) N.W.. 
*Wreaths. The long rods used in hurdle-making. (D.) 
Wrick, Rick. To twist or wrench. “I’ve bin an’ wricked my ankly,’” 
_ -M.E. wrikken. N. & S.W.. 
Wrist. To twist, especially used of wringing the neck of a rabbit or fowl. 
(Amateur Poacher, ch. 11.) N.W. 
‘Wusted. Looking very ill, grown worse. N.W.. 
a . Many words beginning with H., G., or a vowel, are usually sounded with 
Y prefixed, as Yucker, acre; Yeppern, apron ; Yat, or Yeat, gate; Yeldin,. 
- awhilding; and Verriwig, earwig. 
Verbs ending in y often drop that letter. Thus empty and study become 
empt and stud. 
The free infinitive in y was formerly much used, butis now dying out. It 
_ was used in a general question, as “‘Can you mowy?” Were a special 
piece of work referred to, mowy would not be correct, the question then 
being simply “Can you mow thuck there mead ?” 
Yap, Yop. (1) To yelp as a dog. N. & S.W.. 
(2) +o talk noisily. ‘“ What be a yopping there for?’* N.W. 
- ard-land. Land sufficient for a plough of oxen and a yard to winter 
them; an ancient copyhold tenure. (D.) 
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