Page:A Glossary of Words Used In the Neighbourhood of Sheffield - Addy - 1888.djvu/13

 AREA COMPRISED IN THE GLOSSARY.

Before giving an account of the work of others who have preceded the Author in this field of observation it will be convenient to define the area or district in which the words given in the Glossary have been found.

The parish of Sheffield is situate at the point where the most southern extremity of the county of York touches or borders upon the county of Derby. At this juncture, with the exception of two streams, the Sheath and Mesebrook, and the hills which begin to rise from Dore and Totley, there are no natural barriers, and the dialect spoken for five or six miles to the south of the line which divides the counties differs in no sensible degree from that which is spoken on the northern or Yorkshire side. I have thought it best to entitle this work 'A Glossary of Words used in the Neighbourhood of Sheffield,' rather than 'A Glossary of the Dialect of Hallamshire.' The reasons which have influenced my judgment in making this choice are these: 1. The district which bears the name Hallamshire is not well defined. Though the word 'Hallamshire' is pleasing to the ear, and though its use would be agreeable to the fancy of many, it is necessary in a work of this kind to define clearly the area in which the words have been collected, and in which they are commonly used. 2. The word 'Hallamshire,' though well known, in a some-what vague and shadowy way, to people living in the neighbourhood, conveys no sense of geographical limitation to a stranger.

The words have been collected in the parishes of Sheffield, Ecclesfield (which includes the chapelry of Bradfield), Handsworth, and to a very slight extent in Rotherham. It must, however, be