Page:A Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases.djvu/119

102 LAY-YER, or LAA-YER.—A lawyer. The blackberry bush is called a "laa-yer," because when any part of it takes hold of one there is no getting free from the bush without being seized by other parts. There is a paradoxical quotation very common when blackberries are coming in season, "Blackberries be allus red when um be gre-an."

LE-AST-WAAYS, or LASTE-WISE.—At all events. "Me-uster be a-gwaain to begin plantin' ze-ad tayters next wake, le-ast-waays a zed as a 'ood."

LEATHER.—To flog. A leatherin' is a flogging.

LEATHERY.—Tough. "This me-at be maain leathery."

LED.Betted, wagered. "I led 'un a penny as a cood'nt clim that ther tree."

A lid.

LEER.—Empty, hungry. "I wishes 'um 'ud gie we zome dinner, I be a-veelin' maain leer."

LEG UT.—To run away very quickly. "I maayde 'un leg ut pretty sherp, I can tell 'e."

LEG UP.—To give a "leg up" is to give one help from underneath on ascending a wall or tree, &c.

LEM-VIGS.—Imported figs.

LEN'.—"Lend" is always so pronounced.

LESS, or THESS.—"Let us," "Let me." "Less zee what 'e got ther."

LET ALAWNE.—Moreover, in addition to. "He ood'nt len' we no money, let alawne mwoast likely a yent got none to len'."

LET ALAWNE AS.—Is used for "and taking into con- sideration also that." "She hev a-had two new gownds this zummer, let alawne as she had dree put by avoor, zo she wunt want no moor vor one while."

LET IN.—"Begin!" "go to work!" "Now if you chaps be ready let in wi'out any moor tawk."

LET VLY.—To shoot. Perhaps a phrase from archery days when the arrow winged its way on being released from the bow.

LE-UZ.—To glean. "Le-usin" is gleaning.