There's Nowt Wrong Wi' Gala Luncheons (Part One)...

Some of you may recognize the above phrase from a famous Monty Python sketch!  That's not the reason I have posted now, but it is a fine example of the subject about which I am to discuss.  I have mentioned before about the local accents and dialects in Britain, but one of the most fascinating - and best known - is that found in the wonderful county of Yorkshire.

Some 200-300 miles north of the nation's capital, Yorkshire is home to some great words and phrases, many of which are familiar to the rest of the country.  One of the main reasons for this, I suppose, is the proliferation of Yorkshire-based television shows, particularly comedies.  Even the aforementioned Monty Python's Flying Circus, while not being set in the county itself, produced several popular sketches which revolved around the Yorkshire dialect.

What I am concentrating on today are some of the words, and with many, you will probably see that they are derived from the "Queen's English", but some are simply unique.

Attercop
Peculiar to North Yorkshire, this is a now almost-obsolete term for a spider.

Baht
One of the most famous of all Yorkshire terms, meaning "without".  Best-known thanks to the song, "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at", which translates as, "On Ilkley Moor Without a Hat".

Bairn
Not unique to Yorkshire, as it is common across Northern England and Scotland,  Just another name for a child, or tot.

Beck
Simply another word for a stream, or creek, and is used in some place names in the county.

Brass
Slang for money.  Although clearly of northern origin, this is a term that is known nationwide.

Champion
Great, or brilliant; "Ee, it's champion, that!"

Chelping
Speaking out of turn or chattering, particularly with regard to women and children,

Chumping
Rather specific, this, as it means "gathering wood for a bonfire" on Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes Night), which is 5th November.

Chunter
To mutter.  One of the foremost wordsmiths of our time, the late, great singer/songwriter and comedian Jake Thackray, used great artistic license with the following lyric in North Country Bus : "Country bus, north country bus, grunting and chuntering, cantankerous"..
.
Comely
When describing a female, pleasant to look at, agreeable, or suitable.

Croggy
Used in the midlands as well as northern England, this is another strange one!  It means to ride on the handlebars or crossbar of a bicycle!

Gumption
Spirited or courageous; "You're showin' some gumption, lad!"

I'll be back wi' some more next week!