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74 A Dictionary of the Sussex Dialect.
May-weed, m. Anthemis cotula.
Mead. [Moid, Ang. Sax.] Still used for meadow.
Meal. [Moil, Ang. Sax., a fixed portion.] The quantity of milk taken from the cow at one milking.
Meece, m. Mice.
"The meece just have tarrified my peas."
Among other Sussex remedies it is said that a mouse roasted alive is good for the whooping-cough. Whether it is really good for the whooping cough or not I cannot say, but I am sure that it must be bad for the mouse.
Mend, m. To spread out manure (amendment) over a field.
Meresman, m. A parish officer who attends to the roads, bridges and water-courses.
Mersc. [Mersc, Ang. Sax.] A marsh.
Mesh, m. The Southdown folk always speak of Pevensey level as The Mesh.
"I went down to Pemseylast week, and walked out on The Mesh. Beautiful place, surelye! No hills, no trees, nor nothing to interrupt the view."
Messengers. Large white flying" clouds, indicating rough weather.
Meuse, w. A hole through a hedge made by a rabbit or hare; an old French sporting term.
Mew. [Men, Ang. Sax.] A seagull.
Middling. This word has many different meanings which are expressed by the tone of voice in which it is said.
It may mean very much, as, "He lashed out middlin', I can tell ye!"
Or it may mean tolerably well, as, "I doant know but what she made out purty middlin'."
Or it may mean very bad, as, " How did the wedding go off?' 'Middling, thank you, sir.' 'What, only middling! wasn't it all right?' 'Why, no sir, not quite, for you see the parson he entirely forgot all about it, and he'd gone away, so we was forced to wait in church two hours.'"
Midge. [Mycg, Ang. Sax., a gnat.] All gnats are called midges in Sussex.
Miff. To give slight offence; to displease.
Mile-stones. The churches in the Downs are called Sussex mile-stones. |
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