Dialectical Studies in West Virginia. 37' 



his sermon. I need not add that he was from Tuckahoe valley. 

 Slick is used in the sense of slippern, heegum is used for hee- 

 hive. The Century Dictionary gives the word; it was at first 

 the body of the gum tree hollowed oat and used for bees. A 

 larger section, hollowed out in the same way, is used for a grain 

 receptacle, and is called a gum. A hand of music is called 

 musicioners. In Fredericksburg, Ya., I found this summer the- 

 word burr meaning gherkin, and have not yet been able to dis- 

 cover any explanation of it.^ The name may have some connec- 

 tion with bnrr-wced, though I doubt it. Opiionaru is an indi- 

 vidualism for optioned, though having the force of capricious. 

 Pert (pr. piirt) is used in the sense of well, as / am feeling 

 right pert io-day. 



The region is fall of peculiar expressions, and the careful 

 collector would be well repaid for his troable. Like the 

 proverbs, the quaint sayings, the peculiar expressions of a 

 nation form an interesting chapter in its history, and give a 

 better insight into the distinguishing characteristics of a people 

 than long years of its civil history. Often thoughts of ages are 

 crystallized in such expressions and the study of intellectual 

 growth and civilization of a nation cannot be pursued more 

 effectively than by collecting and classifying its apothegms. 

 But it is not my intention to enter so deeply into the subject, 

 as I have giveu most of my time to the peculiarities of pronun- 

 ciation and grammar. Besides, it would require years of study 

 to collect all these expressions and put them in their proper 

 order. I shall here select only a few of the most amusing and 

 peculiar ones to show you what a rich field for such researches 

 this section of the country affords. 



A right smart little bit is extremely common, and right smart 

 seeminghj may find a place beside it. I had laid out to go to tJie 

 Dimkards to-niglit is a not infrequent expression ; of the same 

 signification are to go to do and to aim to do. Let on is common 

 nearly in the whole country; and so is to get shct {shut) of. I 

 Jeel lilce she did not do it meaning I tliink stie did not do it is 



