Dialect names for critters.

[STYRBJORN]

A thread started recently referred to "froglets". No prob, we all know what is meant by the term. What struck me was that in my native dialect of the North East Midlands we call little frogs that have not yet resorbed their tails "shaggy dandies". Where the name arose I have not the faintest idea. I just wondered whether there are any more dialect names for critters (American dialect!) that are used only in certain areas?

I love our term. Shaggy dandies indeed!

[The Woodman]

We've got Jammy Cranes here in the north west. Herons of course!

[Meta menardi]

I was always told that the Yorkshire dialect word for an entire male sheep was "tup".

Further research (working on farms in the named area, with sheep), showed that is also the dialect word in Lancashire, Shropshire, Devon and Cumbria. I suspect it is also a "dialect" word in many other places in the country.

[2dogs2000]

My dad used to work on a farm in Northamptonshire and friends have a farm in Leicestershire and they both refer to their rams as tups. When a ewe has been mated they say she has been tupped. I asked my friend why they call them tups and she has no idea.

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by 2dogs2000

My dad used to work on a farm in Northamptonshire and friends have a farm in Leicestershire and they both refer to their rams as tups. When a ewe has been mated they say she has been tupped. I asked my friend why they call them tups and she has no idea.

I think they are called tups because they are tups. Many common names have been made into "dialect", possibly in a need to make a common term that applies countrywide. For most people who work with sheep a ram is a tup.

To return to the original question, I have always understood a mole to be an oont (spelling not guaranteed). Newts are azguls (spelling not guaranteed). A really good source for this kind of thing is "Fauna Britannica" and for plants "Flora Britannica". Both so thick with information that they would make a warming winter stew with added dumplings.

[Jim Ford]

I always like John Clare's name for a ladybird - clock-o'-clay. I wonder if the name's still known in the Northhants area.

Jim

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I always like John Clare's name for a ladybird - clock-o'-clay. I wonder if the name's still known in the Northhants area.

Jim

Burnie Bee.

I do like John Clare.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

Burnie Bee.

I do like John Clare.

Barnie Bee (or even Bishie Barnie Bee) in Norfolk.

henrya

[Richard G.]

Funnily enough I had this conversation with my father recently, mostly around some of the names he still uses for birds, some examples:

Starling = Shep
Mistle Thrush = Stormcock
Whitethroat = Nettle Creeper
Dunnock = Cuddy
Little Grebe = Dabchick
Yellowhammer = Scribblelark

I expect some of these are recognised colloquial terms, but others, like Spodgers, just slang. I'm sure there are more, but I can't remember them atm...

[bobbarber]

A really good source for this kind of thing is "Fauna Britannica" and for plants "Flora Britannica". Both so thick with information that they would make a warming winter stew with added dumplings[/b].

I agree entirely, I have both and they are excellent, not cheap at £40 a throw but worth every penny...Bob