FOLK SPEECH OF YORKSHIRE AND NEW ENGLAND. 15 



whistle itself. Just as in "as clear as a bell" the word 

 clear refers to the sound and not the instrument causing 

 the sound. 



As dark as pitch. 



As deead as a deear nail. (In Piers' Plowman, As dead 

 as a door nail.) 



As deead as a herrin. (As dead as a herring.) 



As deeaf as a yat stowp (gate post). 



As fat as a pig. 



As flat as a pan-keeak (cake). 



As full as a tick. A tick is a sheep-louse, which has 

 always a full bloated appearance. 



As good as ivver (ever) stepped upo' shoe leather. 



As good as they mak' 'em. 



As green as gess (grass). 



As grey as a badger. 



As green as a yellow cabbage Used when any one as- 

 sumes innocence or ignorance. 



As happy as the day is lang (long). 



As heavy as leead (lead). 



As holla as a dhrum (as hollow as a drum). 



As keeal as a coo-cummer (as cool as a cucumber). 



As leet (light) as a feather. 



As mad as a March hare. 



As mischievous as a monkey. 



As niony (many) lives as a cat. 



As pawky as you please. Pawky means impudent. 



As poor as a chotch moose (church mouse) . 



As sharp as a needle. 



As snug as a bug iv (in) a rug. 



As still as a mouse. 



As stunt as a mule Stunt means obstinate or dogged. 



As sweet as a nut. Here sweet means sound and whole- 

 some. 



As thin as a wafer. 



