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 

 twirily with almost the same meaning. It is undoubtedly formed from 

 twin like twiriling, 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 u 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 laborers 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 it is 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 pernicity, 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. 



