Tuesday, July 5, 2022

Quaint Words Of Our New Jersey Ancestors

 


An 1893 book by Francis B. Lee explained some of the quaint words and phrases used by our New Jersey forebears.....and some are still in use today. Consider:

Boughten  -- something you purchased
Boyzee -- referring to your boyhood
Bellywax --  molasses candy
Bellywhistle -- a drink of molasses, vinegar, nutmeg and water
I beant going --  meaning "I'm not going to the party"
Doubled-up --  got married
Golykeeper -- and old South Jersey cuss word
Jimminy crickets --  still used today
Ketchy  --  used to describe changeable weather
Lashin's -- meant plenty, like lashin's of food
Pretty middlin' smart  --  how good health was described
Shacklin' person  --  a lazy, shiftless person
Skyscraper  --  indicated a chap with a mighty high attitude
Snew  --   if snow fell last night
Step-mother  --   a ragged fingernail
Ten fingers  --  an oyster man's term for a thief
O-be-joyful  --  applied to someone a bit under the       influence..."he's pretty oh-be-joyful tonight"
Apple palsy  --  a step beyond applejack, sometimes known as Jersey Lightning

Those of us with New Jersey ancestors, are any of these words or phrases familiar??


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