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A Dictionary of the Sussex Dialect. |
73 |
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Master. (Pronounced Mass.) The distinctive title of a married labourer.
A single man will be called by his Christian name all his life long; but a married man, young or old, is "Master" even to his most intimate friend and fellow workmen, as long as he can earn his own livelihood; but as soon as he becomes past work he turns into "the old gentleman," leaving the bread-winner to rank as master of the household.
"Master" is quite a distinct title from "Mr.," which is always pronounced Mus, thus,'— Mus Smith is the employer. Master Smith is the man he employs.
Master. The old custom of the wife speaking of her husband as her "master" still lingers among elderly people; but both the word and the reasonableness of its use are rapidly disappearing in the present generation.
It may be mentioned here that they say in Sussex that the rosemary will never blossom except where "the mistus" is master.
Masterful. Overbearing.
Maund. [Mand, Ang. Sax., a basket.] A hand basket with two handles.
Maunder, e. [Maudire, French, to curse.] To mutter or grumble.
Maunder. To wander about thoughtfully.
Mavin.* The margin.
Mawkin, w. A scarecrow.
Maxon, m. [Meox, Ang. Sax., dung.] A manure heap.
May-be and Mayhap. Perhaps.
"May be you knows Mass Pilbeam? No! doant ye? Well, he was a very sing'lar mam was Mass Pilbeam, a very sing'lar marn! He says to he's mistus one day, he says, 'tis a long time, says he, sence I've took a holiday—so cardenly, nex marnin' he laid abed till purty nigh seven o'clock, and then he brackfustes, and then he goos down to the shop and buys fower ounces of barca, and he sets hisself down on the maxon, and there he set, and there he smoked and smoked and smoked all the whole day long, for, says he, 'tis a long time sence I've had a holiday! Ah, he was a very sing'lar marn—a very sing'lar marn indeed." |
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May-bug, m. Cockchafer. |
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