I don't know about you, but when I read and run across a word that I don't know, I look it up.

It's much easier looking up words today because we can do it in the Internet. I still have my OED with magnifying glass, though.
You will find many strange words.here because the literary works here are from 19thC Cornwall. Some words are Cornish, some are old, and some are archaic.

Ihave compiled a glossary for the words found here on these pages from the following sources:

• William Bottrell has a glossary and some Cornish words at the end of his third book, so I have included those.
• I found that http://www.kereve.com/kernewek/cornish.pdf at the waybackmachine is good. I'm sorry the original web site is no longer available. I have included most of the old words there on the theory that old stories may have these words.
• For other Cornish words, I use http://www.freelang.net/ and http://www.howlsedhes.co.uk. Both are useful.
• I downloaded a copy of Jago's Cornish dictionary (see the bibliography) and it is very good, being from the late 19thC.
• For unfamiliar and archaic words, I use my OED and the OED online, plus a few other online dictionaries.

On more than one occasion, I had to look up a word on the definition side of Mr Bottrell's work because the word has since gone into obscurity, at least to me.

If you find an error, I will appreciate you emailing me about it. I am an amateur at Cornish and I am interested in knowing what the words mean, not to speak it. I will not be offended; I will be grateful to correct the wrong.

Glossary for Cornish Folklore and Culture

a-dal

opposite

adit

an entrance to an underground mine which is horizontal or nearly horizontal

a-dreus

across

a-dro

around

a-dryv

behind

Alban

Scotland

alembic

something that refines or transmutes as if by distillation

alhwedh

key

amari

cupboard

an

the

anist

near

anker

a liquid measure in Europe; the Dutch anker, formerly also used in England, contained about 10 of the old wine gallons, or 8-1/2 imperial gallons

annwn

pronounced something like Ann-noon , this is the Celtic other world, the underworld, or the land of the dead. It is a place of great power and contained a cauldron that King Arthur had to travel into Annwn to fetch

a-rag

in front of

aras

plough (v)

areefaa

Exclamation: "dear me"

arghans

money

arvor

coast

aswonn

recognise (v)

attal

refuse, consisting of defective grains, seeds, etc., on the "tail" (leeward end) of a winnowing sheet, as was was called by old "winsters"

a-ugh

above

austull

ceiling of boards

aval

apple

avon

river

a-vorow

tomorrow

back crook

a Cornish wrestling position using a leg crooked over another

baking-ire

a circular iron plate which lay on the oven hearth

bal

a mine

ballowal

a burrow

balsh

small rope

baner

flag

bannel

a broom, a yellow flowering shrub

bara

bread

bare-ridged

bareback

bargen-tir

farm

bed-tester

a bed canopy

beety

to mend nets

benen-vat

a good woman

benkeyl

a living stream

ben-ma-brea

woman of my heart

benow

feminine

benyn

woman

bern

matter

berr

short

Billy-be-damned

the Devil; also Billy Bedam

bleujenn

flower

bloedh

years of age

blunderbore

Blunderbore is the Welsh giant in Jack the Giant- Killer that Jack that Jack kills, with the giant's brother, with a noose and sword.

blydhen

year

boes

food

boesti

café; restaurant

boghosek

poor

bolla

bowl

boobun

wick of the "chill" [lamp]

boryer

steel/iron bar for drilling holes by hand

Bougé

sheep house

bowji

cowshed

bowjowler

a place in the fishing-boat, to keep the foot-line

bownder

lane

braggaty

braggaty: spotted

brake

a thicket; a dense group of bushes or trees

brandis

a metal tripod for a kettle to rest on

bras

big

bre

hill

breal

mackerel

breedy

to make nets, by meshing with needle and pin-roller

bregh

arm

Breten Vyghan

Brittany

breus

opinion

brithel

mackerel

broaze

on the point of boiling

broazen

briskly; the fire burns briskly

broder

brother

brummal

arish mows. [arish mow: mowing a wet field leaving sheaves of grain in a geometric shape standing in a stubble field of remains.] This shape, which is also called a culver-house mow, is in the shape much like an old-fashioned, rounded stone-built pigeon-house having the part which answers to a culver-house roof finished with the sheaves turned, ear end, downwards and outwards. [culver: archaic or poetic name for pigeon or a dove] A brummal mow is the best for continued moist weather, because the ears on a mow-top are less liable to sprout when reversed. An ill-shaped, bulging pederack mow is said, in derision, to be " like an old culver-house," by those who don't know what the object of their omparison means.

An ill-shaped, bulging pederack mow is said, in derision, to be " like an old culver-house," by those who don't know what the object of their omparison means.

Brummal is so much like a Gallic name for the sort of weather we call slaggy (full of misty rain), that they are, probably, offshoots from the same old root.

brutus

According to Geoffrey of Monmouth, Brutus was the founder of Britain. He was a Trojan general fleeing Troy after the Trojan War. After receiving a religious vision, he and Corineus sailed through the Mediterranean and up the Atlantic and founded Britain. The word Britain is supposed to be derived from the name Brutus.

bruyan

crumb

bruz

small furze; remnants

bucca

a bugbear; a bugaboo; a fearsome imaginary creature, especially one evoked to frighten children; a ghost, a spirit, a goblin

bucca-boo

a fool; a bogey; a person or thing that causes fear or alarm

bufflehead

a simpleton

buffle-head

a simpleton

bugh

cow

bul-horn

the shell-snail

bussa

a salting pot for meat

bussa-head

a blockhead

byghan

little

bys

finger; world

bysow

ring (for finger)

caboolen

a stone used by seiners

caboose

a portable fishing-boat's fire-place

cader

chair; seat

caliburn

The Welsh name of Arthur's sword. In medieval legend, the name was Romanticized to Excalibur

cannel coal

also known as candle coal, is a type of terrestrial type oil shale that burns easily with a bright light and leaves little ash

capis

very large meshes in a tram-mel-net

cappry

goat-like

carn

a rock pile

chambour

bedroom

chapbook

Inexpensive paper bound books primarily intended for children and sold on streets by 'chapmen' from a shallow box supported by a cloth tie around the chapman's neck much as cigarettes used to be sold in clubs

chea

word used in calling swine to feed

chea-chanter

hold your tongue

cheens

the loins (old French, echine [backbone]

chi

house

chill

a lamp

chough

a crow

chymbla

chimney

clat

a clot or clog of something; dirty; a mess

cleve

a cliff

clibby

sticky, like molasses

clige

to stick fast

cloam

earthernware [clay]

clomb

earthenware

clunk

to swallow

cobesta

a part of fishing tackle

codgy, clidgy

adhesive; gummy

coffan or coffen

a pit [an open air mine workings]

coits

a pile of rocks; group of stones

collebrand

edefective and smutty ear of grain, supposed to be blighted by the fine weather lightning, called by the same name. [Smutty: dirty]

colp

a short rope for carrying sheaves from a mow-hay to the barn; also a blow.

colpas

anything which serves as a prop, or an underset, to a crowbar, or other object when used as a lever

combe

a short valley or hollow on a hillside or coastline

conjuror, conjurer

a male white witch; a magician that calls up spirits

core

a mine shift

Corineus

According to Geoffrey of Monmouth, Corineus was the founder of Cornwall; he was Brutus's first general. Brutus, according to Geoffrey, was a Trojan who founded Britain.

Cormoran

According to Opie, this giant is alternatively named Cormilian, Cormelian, and Corinoran. Opie attributes the latter possibly to Corineus of Geoffrey of Monmouth.

corncraik

a hand rattle used to frighten birds

Corpus Christi

A fair held in Penzance, the Sunday after Whitson ["White Sunday", the forty-ninth day, the seventh Sunday, after Easter Sunday, making this the eighth Sunday after Easter Sunday)

costan

straw and bramble baskets

courant

a game of running romps (French: courir [to run])

Cousin Jack

Cornish men referred to themselves as Cousin Jack within Cornwall and all over the world. Calling the giant Jack's uncle may be no more than a device to use this phrase.

cowal

fish basket, with a band for the head, carried by fish women

cowl

fish-bladder

cowleck

a glutton

cow's courant

very rough play (French: courir [to run])

cravel

mantel-beam

cricket

a stool

croft

an enclosed field used for tillage or pasture, typically attached to a house and worked by the occupier

croggan

limpet-shell

cronack

a toad

croom

a crumb

croom of a cheeld

a very young child

croust

the afternoon's refreshment, generally of hot fuggans (cakes) and ale (Latin: crusta).

crowd

to fiddle

crowse

refreshnient, carried to field in hay, corn, and potato harvests

cruds

curds

crum

crooked

crush

shrunk with age

culver

pigeon; dove

curley

a curlew [a wading bird]

cursey

going into a neighbour's for a spell of friendly chat (French: couser [swift])

da

good

da lowr

alright; OK

dabban

to pick

daffar

equipment; gear

dalleth

begin

dans

tooth

daras

door

Dash my buttons

dash is a euphemism for a common oath; buttons, wigs, etc., are relics from an old way of swearing without using profane language

daskorr

return (give back)

davas

sheep

deg

ten (10)

degea

close (v)

deges

closed

deghow

right(hand)

dehweles

return (go back)

den-bal

miner

derns

a door-frame

dew (m), diw (f)

two (2)

dewdhek

twelve (12)

dewgens

forty (40)

dewweder

glasses (spectacles)

dhe les

interesting; useful

dhe-dre

homewards

dhe-ves

away

dhiworth

from

didgen

a bit; a small portion

didjan

a tiny bit

diek

lazy

dien

a man

difuna

wake up (v)

difunell

alarm clock

diggle

a miner's feast

dillas

clothes

Ding Dong Mine

An ancient tin mine in Cornwall, one of the oldest in the county, in the parish of Penwith. Popular tradition has it that Joseph of Arimathea may have brough a young Jesus as a boy or young man here, possibly to address the miners.

dinky

very small

distowgh

immediately

diwedha

end (v)

diwes

drink

diwettha

last

diwiska, omdhiwiska

undress (v)

diwotti

pub

dons

dance

donsya

dance (v)

dorn

fist

dorn, leuv

hand

dornla

handle

double

a ring

down; downland

heathland; hills; chalky hills

downs-organ

a donkey

dowr

water

dowse

to throw on the ground

dowsing-rod

divining rod, used to discover minerals, water, etc.

dram

a swathe of cut corn [Corn: wheat]

drehedhes

reach (v)

dres

through

drethen

a saud-pot, a sand-area 'neath the sea

drexel

a threshold [a door treshold]

drizzle

small rain

drizzling-dour

small stream

drog

bad

drog pes

unhappy

droll

A comic or farcical composition, from the noun 'a funny or waggish fellow.' Our use of droll as an adjective means 'intentionally facetious, amusing,' and as a verb 'to jest.'

In Cornwall, a droll-teller can be considered a modern version of a Welsh bard. Droll-tellers wandered from village to village trading telling of standard stories around a blazing hearth for his meals and lodging for the evening. The droll-teller relied on his prodigious memory as did the Welsh bards. Often, the listeners knew the tales just as well, so improvisation was undertaken by the droll with caution. The droll, like the tinker, brought news from outside the parish; but his tools were his memory of hundreds of stories and his mouth to tell them, plus a dash of theater to really bring it off.

drucshar

a small, solid wheel

du

black

dumble-dory

the black-beetle (but this may be a corruption of the dor-beetle)

dummuts

twilight

durn

a sidepost; one of a pair of posts in a roof truss, each set at an equal distance from the center of the truss

dybri

eat (v)

dydh

day

dydhlyver

diary

dyenn

cream

dyghow

right (opposite of left)

dy'goel

holiday

dyowl

devil

dyskador (m)

teacher

dyskadores (f)

teacher

dyski

learn; teach (v)

Dyw

God

dyw genes

goodbye

edhen

bird

eglos

church

enow

enough (archaic)

ensampel

example

enys

an island

esel

member

eskis

shoe

estyllenn

shelf

etek

eighteen (18)

eth

eight (8)

eur

o'clock; hour

euryor

wrist-watch

euth

horror

euthek

horrible

ev

he

eva

drink (v)

ewn

correct

ewnter

uncle

Excalibur

The Romanticized name of Arthur's sword. In Welsh legend, the sword's name is Caliburn.

fatell?

how?

fatla genes?

how are you?

fest

extremely

feusik

lucky

fistena

hurry (v)

flay

a flea

flaygerry

a frolic [a merrymaking]

flea

a fly

flogh

child

flucan-courses

a term in mining; cross-courses

fogous

an artificial cave built to house smuggled goods

folenn

page

fordh

road

fordh-a-dro

roundabout

fos

wall

freathed out

frayed

friday cum-sennet

next friday wee

fuggan

a cake; dinner cake; made of flour and raisins eaten by Cornish miners

fun

a small kind of rush

fur

wise

furze

gorse; a spiny shrub native to Europe having fragrant yellow flowers and black pods

fusy

good

fylm

film

fyn

last

gad

a pointed tool, such as a spike or chisel, used for breaking rock or ore.

galloes

able

gans

with

garm

shout in anger; scold

garma

shout (v)

garow

rough

garth

enclosure; yard

gasa

leave (v)

geek

a sly look; a peep

gell

brown

gelwel

call

genesigeth

birth

Geoffrey Of Monmouth

Geoffrey Of Monmouth is famous for writing The Histories of the Kings of Britain in the twelfth century. Shakespeare is supposed to have based MacBeth and King Lear on this work.

Geoffrey's work is one the earliest manuscripts to survive that mentions King Arthur. Geoffrey's work has been attacked by scholars. The notion of History in Geoffrey's time is not the same as ours today. Geoffrey and his contemporaries used the word to describe accounts of historical figures more like the writer of Genesis; that is, as a suitable myth to frame important events. Geoffrey narrates stories about giants such as Gogmagog that, although entertaining, are not and were not considered as literal, historical fact in order for his work to have value.

ger

word

gerva

vocabulary

ging

to fasten a fish hook to line with wire

ginny-quick

grandmother's cap

glan

clean

glanhe

clean (v)

glaw

rain

glawlenn

umbrella

glesin

lawn

glow

coal

glyb

wet

God's little cow

a ladybird [a ladybug beetle in North America]

godhvos (fact)

know (v)

godra

milk (v)

goedh

goose

goel

sail

goelya

sail (v)

goen

moor

goes

blood

Gogmagog

Geoffrey of Monmouth writes in his The Histories of the Kings of Britain that when Brutus founded Britain that the island was inhabited by a race of giants. One of their leaders, Gogmagog, wrestled with Brutus's general Corineus near where Plymouth, Devon, is today.

golghi, omwolghi

wash (v)

golow

light

gols, blew

hair

goog

a cavern

goolthise

harvest-time at which all comers were welcome to eat, drink, and be merry. This name for an entertainment given on the principal corn-carrying day — generally the last — is preserved from our ancient Cornish. [Corn: wheat] In Scilly a harvest feast is callefl Nichlethise.

gord

a nine-feet rod to measure land

gorhel

ship

gorow

masculine

gorra

put (v)

gorthugher

evening

gorthyp

answer

gortos

wait (for) (v)

goslowes

listen to (v)

gour

husband

gour, den

man

govynn

question; ask

great noddy

a dunce or fool; a simpleton

great Paddy

a disparaging term for an Irish person, especially a man (Patrick)

griffin

A fabulous animal typically half eagle and half lion

grig

a cricket

griglans

heath

griglens

remains of a heath broom

groaning cake

a cake made in some Cornish houses after the birth of a child, of which every caller is expected to partake. The mother often carries a groaning cake when she is going to be "upraised" (churched); this she gives to the first person she meets on her way.

groat

an English silver coin worth four pennies, taken out of circulation in the 17th century

growedha

lie down (v)

grute

finely pulverized soil

gul

do; make (v)

gul glaw

rain (v)

Guldaize

harvest feast

guldize

harvest home

gulph

a rich vein

gunny

a cavity

gurry

a four-handled barrow with enclosed sides

gwag

empty

gwann

weak

gwari

play (v)

gwarrah

the farthest, the most distant

gwav

winter

gwean

going

gwedrenn

glass

gweean

perry-winkle

gweles

see (v)

gweli

bed

gwelivedhes

midwife

gwell yw genev

I prefer

gwella

best

gweres

help (v)

gwertha

sell (v)

gwerther

salesman

gwerthji

shop

gweskel

hit (v)

gweth

worse

gwettha

worst

gwin

wine

gwir

true

gwiska

wear (v)

gwiska, omwiska

dress (v)

gwitha

keep (v)

gwithyas

guardian

gwithyas kres

policeman

gwivrenn

wire

gwreg

wife

gwydhenn

tree

gwynn

white

gwyns

wind

gwynsek

windy

gwyrdh, glas (living things)

green

gyllys

gone

hager

ugly

hanaf

cup

hanaf-oy

egg cup

haneth

this evening; tonight

hanow

name

hansel

breakfast

hanter

half

hanterdydh

midday

hanterkans

fifty (50)

hanternos

midnight

has

seed; semen

hawn

a haven

hayl

a river

hazelen mot

hazelen mot: root of the hazel tree

heb

without

heb mar

without doubt

hedhyw

today

heevil

three-prong fork, a stable implement

hel

hall

hel an dre

town hall

hemm, hemma (m)

this

henn, honna (m)

that

heveli

seem (v)

heyl

estuary

hi

her; she

hilla

the nightmare

hir

tall

hir, pell

long

hoelan

salt

hogan

miners' dinner

hogh

pig

homm, homma (f)

this

honn, honna (f)

that

horner

ironmonger

horny-wink

a plover [a wading bird]

huel

a mine

hurling (Cornish)

an outdoor game played with a silver ball, its origins possibly be connected to the Irish game of the same name

hwans

desire; want

hwath

yet

hweg

nice

hwerthin

laugh (v)

hyns

path

i

they

ianken

walking quickly

igeri

open (v)

igor

open

isel

low

Ishan

dust as comes from winnowing, the result of which process is husks, chaff, etc.

iss

yes

iss fy

by my faith

ivers

eyes; and exclamation of surprise

Iwerdhon

Ireland

joany; joanie

a small china figure

jonic

fair, straightforward

Joshua bar Miriam

I have read someplace that Joshua bar Miriam is the likely Jewish name of the man commonly called Jesus Christ. Jesus is a likely Christian version of the Jewish name Joshua; just as James is of Jacob, and Mary of Miriam.

The word bar means son of the female or son of the mother; whereas, ben signifies son of the male or son of the father.

It is argued that Joshua would have been called Joshua bar Miriam instead of Joshua ben Joseph because of the unmarried state of his mother at conception, which some refer to as 'virgin birth.' To put it another way, Joseph was not Joshua's father; therefore, Joshua could not be named Joshua ben Joseph, but he was the son of Miriam, so he could be named Joshua bar Miriam.is argued that Joshua would have been called Joshua bar Miriam instead of Joshua ben Joseph because of the unmarried state of his mother at conception, which some refer to as 'virgin birth.' To put it another way, Joseph was not Joshua's father; therefore, Joshua could not be named Joshua ben Joseph, but he was the son of Miriam, so he could be named Joshua bar Miriam.

jouder

fish overboiled

jowdy

to walk in water with boots and stockings on

jsenequick

italian-iron

jynn

machine

jynnskrifa

type (v); typewriter

jynn-tenna

tractor

kador, cadar

chair

kador-vregh, cadar vrehek

armchair

Kalann

first of month

kamm

crooked; wrong

kana

sing (v)

kaner

singer

kanker

a small crab

kans

hundred (100)

kar (m), kares (f)

relation

kara

like (v)

karr

car

karrji

garage

kas

hate

kavoes

find (v); get (obtain) (v)

kay

quay

kayer

a coarse sieve (probably a modern corruption of Cadar a-Chair, e.g., Cader Michel; St. Michael's Chair on St. Michael's Mount).

kay-yer

a coarse winnowing machine

ke!

go!

keal-alley

a bowling-green

keals (quilles)

nine-pins

keddened and cabageed

booted with mud; dirty

keg

a dog

keggil

a piece of wood used by thread-spinners

kegin

kitchen

kelli

lose (v)

kelorn

bucket

keltek

Celtic

Kembra

Wales

Kembrek

Welsh

kemmeres

take (v)

kemmyn

common

kennen

film [caul]

kente-pathen-gy

wooden pins belonging to the stone anchor used in punts

kenter

nail

kerdh

walk

kerdhes

walk (v)

kerens

parent

kerensa

love (v)

Kernewek

Cornish Lang.; Cornish

Kernewes

Cornishwoman

Kernow

Cornishman; Cornwall

keskewsel

converse

keskows

conversation

keur

choir

keus

cheese

keveran

a strip of hide or leather which unites the two sticks of a threshal (flail) here called the "hand-staff and slash-staff."

kewer

weather

keygans

small refuse roots

ki

dog

kibbin

to steal

kibble

an iron bucket used to bring ore up a shaft

kibell

bath; tub

kicker

fishing boats' small mizen sail

kick-shaws

(French: quelque chose [some thing])

kig

meat

kiger

butcher

kihbal

a mine bucket.

kikti

butcher's shop

killick

a heavy stone as an anchor for a small craft

kimbly

an offering, generally a piece of bread or cake, still given in some rural districts of Cornwall to the first person met when going to a wedding or christening. It is also sometimes presented to anyone who brings news of a birth.

kinyow

dinner

kiskey

a rotten stick

kist-vaen

stone chest

klappya

chatter

klav

ill; sick

kledh

left (hand)

kledhek

left-handed

klokk

clock

klywes

hear (v)

knack

to stop

knocker; knacker

a elvish miner [a mine spirit]

koffi

coffee

kok

fishing boat

kommol

clouds

kommolenn

cloud

kompes

even

korev

beer

kornell

corner

kosel

calm; quiet

kota

coat

koth

old

koweth (m), kowethes (f)

friend

kowethas

association

kres

middle; peace

kresenn

centre

kreslu

police force

krlfennyades

secretary

krow

shed

krows

cross

krys

shirt

kueney

cunie: a short growing moss

ku-lar

to lend

kuntell

gather (v); collect

kwarter

quarter

kweth

cloth

kyns

before

kynsa

first

kynyav

autumn

kyrghes

fetch (v)

kyttrin

bus

laft

a board using in mining support

lagas

eye

laggen

to splash in the water

laister

yellow iris, or water flag

lamma

jump (v)

Land's End

The extreme southwest point of Cornwall. Cornwall, in turn, is at the southwest corner of Britain.

lanking

keep near shore, a term used by fishermen

lanthorn

an archaic form of lantern

lavar

saying; sentence

lavrek

trousers

layer

a winnowing-sheet

le

less; place

leary; old men's leary

a very old mine working, often surface mining in streams

ledan

wide

lemmyn

now

lenth

shelter, cover from the weather

lenwel

fill (v)

lester

vessel

lestri

dishes

lestrier

dresser

leth

milk

le'ti

dairy

leun

full

leur

floor

lev

voice

leverel

say (v)

lew

lion

lies (+ s noun)

many

ligge

broth; soup

liners

threshed wheat sheaves

ling broom

a broom made of heaather

liw

colour

Lob's Pound

Prison; jail; place of confinement

loes

grey

long-cripple

a viper [a snake]

loophole

slit in wall for light, air, or shooting through

lorgh

staff (rod), walking stick

losowenn

plant

losow-kegin

vegetables

lost

tail

lovan

rope

lowarth

garden

lowen

happy

lowr

enough

ludras

a frame for the (killick). [killick: a heavy stone as an anchor for a small craft]

lugarn

lamp

lyha

least

lyther

letter

lytherva

post office

lyverji

bookshop

lyverva

library

lywyer

drive

ma

this (with noun)

maga

nurture (v); rear (v); feed (v)

magores

nurse, nanny, rearer

magum

1. a facetious person, one who is full of merry pranks 2. May game

mamm

mother

mammik

mummy

mamm-wynn

grandmother

mann

zero

Manow

Isle of Man

mappa

map

mar pleg

please

March

if

marghas

market

martesen

maybe; perhaps

maw

boy

mawn

basket

maylyer

envelope

Me

the month of May

meanolas

a fire place, a square box made of stones and clay, made by fishermen

mebyl

furniture

medhyk

doctor

melin

mill

melyn

yellow

menydh

mountain

mes

but

Mester

Mister

Mestres

Miss, Mistress

metya

meet (v)

meur

great; much

meur ras

thanks

midge-go-morrah

hesitation, doubt, excuse

Midsummer's Day

Today: the 24th of June, around the time of the summer soltice. Before the calendar change effective in 1752: the 5th of July.

miggle-cum-par

mixed fuel — a term used in swine feeding; confusion, a mixture

mil

thousand (1,000)

minch

to play truant — shun school

mires

look (at) (v)

mires (orth)

watch (v)

mis

month

moen, tanow

thin

moes

table

monger

a straw horse-collar

moor cross

a Celtic cross used as a signpost

moppeneede

hide and go seek, a game

mor

sea

mordrep

aunt

more

the root

morthol

hammer

morvleydh

shark

mos

go (v)

mould

Decayed organic matter; earth

mowaz

a maid

mowes

girl

moy

more

moyha

most

mundic

iron pyrite [mineral]

muryan

an ant, emmet. [emmet: an ant]

my

I

mynnes

intend (v); want (v); wish (v)

mynysenn

minute (time)

myrgh

daughter

myttin

morning

na

that (with noun)

na(g)

nor

nacken

pocket handkerchief

namm

defect; flaw; blemish; exception; spot (pimple)

namoy

no more

nans

valley

naw

nine (9)

nes

nearer

nessa

nearest; second

ni

we

niver

number

nos

night

notenn

note

nown

hunger

nowodhow

news

nowydh

new

nuddick

back part of the neck

ny vern

it doesn't matter

nyhewer

last evening; last night

ober

exercise; work

oberenn

job

oberi

work (v)

ogas (dhe)

near (to)

omglywes

feel (v)

omma

here

onan (+ adjective)

one

ottena

there is/are

ottomma

here is/are!

our

hour (duration)

ow

my

oy

egg

oyl

oil

padger-paw

a lizard

padzy-paw

(from padzar, four), a small grey lizard

pag-ae

please

pair

a mining gang

palas

dig (v)

pall

a coffin; a cloth spread over a coffin, hearse, or tomb

pan

when

paper

paper

paper-nowodhow

newspaper

pareusi

prepare (v)

park

field; park

park-kerri

car park

parys

ready

pastes

pie

pasti

pasty

peacher

a lure, an enticement

peber

baker

pederack

arish mows. [arish mow: mowing a wet field leaving sheaves of grain in a geometric shape standing in a stubble field of remains.] This shape is conical, with the ear ends of all the sheaves turned inward and upwards. An ill-shaped, bulging pederack mow is said, in derision, to be " like an old culver-house," [see brummal] by those who don't know what the object of their comparison means.

pedna-a-mean

heads and tails, a game of pins

pedn-borbas

cod's hea

pel

ball

peldroes

football

pell

distant; far

pellar

a white witch, often used to counder ill wishing and evil spells

peller

remover of charms, white witch

pellgowser

telephone

pellwolok

television

penn/pen

head

penn-bloedh

birthday

pennseythun

weekend

pensorcerer; magician

head wizard

perghenn

owner

pes da

pleased

peswar (m), peder (f)

four (4)

peswardhek

fourteen (14)

p'eur?

when?

pigal

a farm implement

piggal

a beat-axe [used in threshing]

pigol

a large pick, or mattock

piler

a farm implement, used to pound, or cut the beards from barley in winnowing [beard: a tuft, growth, or part resembling or suggesting a human beard]

pilles

gleanings in the harvest-field

piw?

who?

planchen

wood floor. [floorboard]

plasenn

record

ple

where?

plegya

fold (v)

plos

dirty

plum

soft

pluvenn

pen; feather

po

either; or

podn

mine dust; tailings

poes

heavy

pol

a pool

pols

moment

polyn

a stick

popti

bakery

poran

exact(ly); precise(ly)

porth

cove; harbour; port

porwels

pasture

pow

countryside

Pow Frynk

France

Pow Sows

England

pow, bro

country

prag?

why?

pras

meadow

prederi

think (v)

prena

pay for (v); buy

prenn

wooden

pris

price

prys

occasion; time

pub

each; every

pubonan

everybody

pulan

pool left by the receding tide among the rocks along shore

pul-cronack

(literally pool-toad) is the name given to a small fish with a head much like that of a toad, which is often found in the pools (pulans) left by the receding tide among the rocks along shore

pullan

a shallow pool

punick

a small person; a dwarf

pup-prys

always

puptra

everything

pur, fest

very

purvans

shreds of cotton used in wick-making for a "chill"

push a stone in his cairn

bury

py eur?

what time?

py lies? pes?

how many?

py liw?

what colour?

py par?

what sort of?

py?

what? (+ noun)

pymthek

fifteen (15)

pysk

fish

pyskessa

fish (v)

pystrier

sorcerer; magician [wizard]

pyth? pandra?

what? (+ verb)

quail

withered

quilkan

a frog (which retains its English name when in the water)

quilken

a young frog

raf

refuse, waste

rag

for (in order to)

rattle-bag

a capsule of the sea-campion [a wildflower that grows on cliffs: was also known as dead man's bells or devil's hatties--were never picked or brought into the house for fear of tempting death

re

too

redya

read (v)

redyans

reading

reeve

to separate with a fine sieve, small corn, seeds, etc., from the good grain

res

must; necessary

resort

archaic: a gathering place

rev

oar

revya

row (boat) (v)

rewer

freezer

rewl

rule

rewler

manager

ri

give (v)

riggling

cleaning out the fire-place with the poker

river

the smallest stream of water

rouse

report [loud noise]

rudh

red

rût

to rub; friction

ryb

beside

sabs

to burn tabs, — grass tufts, raked together into piles for burning, in preparing ground for seed

sagh

bag

salow

safe

scabby-gullion

a stew

scat

to knock; break to pieces

scaval-an-gow

confused chattering

schecojan

call; invitation

scraw

a turf, green sod (obsolete). [broom plant or heather]

scrof

the refuse

scroggan

a worthless person

scruff of the nuddick

nape of the neck

scud

to spill any liquid

seine

net

selsigenn

sausage

seni

ring (v)

seraggen

straggling

serrys

angry

seth

vase; jar

sevel

get up (v); rise (v)

seytek

seventeen (17)

seyth

seven (7(

seythun

week

shag

a cormorant [a sea bird]

shethen

any thing long; a piece of hake used as bait [hake: a large-headed, food fish with long jaws and strong teeth]

shong

a broken mesh

shorl

a black tourmaline mineral

shut

to blast

sinema

cinema

skath

boat

skav

light (weight); nimble

skavarnack

a hare

skaw

elder-tree

skaw-dower

water-elder tree

skedgewith

privet

skerry-werry

a slight, active person

skeusenn

photograph

skillet

small tin saucepan

skillywidden

a piskie baby

sko

school

skoler

schoolchild

skrifa

write (v)

skubmaw

small parts; bits of wreck

skwith

tired

slag

small driving rain (drizzle)

slaggy

weather full of misty rain

slintrim

an incline; going down an incline

sloan, or slone

a sloe berry; the fruit of the blackthorn

slock light

a light of enticement

slotter

a sticky wet mess

smut

dirty; soiled

soedh

employment

soedhva

office

Soedhva an Post

post office

soon

a charm, amulet

sos

mate

soweth

unfortunately

Sowsnek

English; English language

spence

a larder; pantry, cellar; a place when food is stored archaic

spindle shanks

thin legs

spiser

grocer

spisti

grocer's shop

splann! bryntin!

great!

splanna

shine (v)

splice

to issue a ration of spirits to all hands on a ship; to drink spirits

squill

a wildflower with pink, blue, and white blossoms

stag'd

booted in mud

stevell

room

stevell-dhybri

dining-room

stevell-omwolghi

bathroom

stinkibus

smuggled spirits spoiled by being in the water too long

stroath

wild haste

strop

string; a piece of rope

strow

scatter by hand

stumjack

stomach

sturt

start

swap

a wasp

sword and belt

In celtic mythology, a fairy gift that confers immortality. Morgan gives Arthur an embroidered scabbard for his sword Caliburn (later Excalibur) that protected the wearer from loss of blood When Arthur's sword and scabbard are stolen and a fake substituted, he suffers wounds.

sygh

dry

syghes

thirst

synsi

hold (v); seize (v)

sywya

follow (v)

tabs

turf, harrowed fine

Taliesin

Celtic bard, poet, and seer thought to have lived about the time of Merlin and Arthur, putting him somewhere at the end of the fifth century AD to the beginning of the sixth century AD

tallow dips

Candles made by dipping wicks in tallow (clear, whitish animal fat). Candles were often carried home from market tied to the waist belt

tamm

bit; piece

tamm ha tamm

gradually

tan

fire

tanweyth

fireworks

tap a shoe

to put a sole on a shoe

tarow

bull

tas-gwynn

grandfather

tasik

dad(dy)

tavern

inn

taves

tongue

tawesek

silent

te

tea

teg

beautiful; fine

tember

timber

tenna

pull (v)

terrys

broken

tesenn

cake

tew

fat

teylu

family

threshal

flail [flail: A threshing tool consisting of a wooden staff with a short heavy stick swinging from it

thunder axe

a Celtic tool, perhaps made of bronze

thurl

leary

tiek

farmer

timmy-noggy

a notched square piece of wood, used to support the lower end of the vargord [vargord: see later]

tioges

farmer's wife

to

roof

toemm

warm

toemm, poeth

hot

tokyn

ticket

tokynva

ticket office

toll

tax

tolyer-predu

baking-dish

tor

a high, craggy hill

totties

pebbles

touch pipe

to take a short rest from work to smoke a pipe; a break from work

touser

a large apron to come quite round, worn for the sake of keeping the under clothing clean (French: tout serre [conserve all])

toust

toiled or rumpled

towlenn

programme

townplace

a farmyard

towse

noise; tumult

towser

coarse apron

tra

thing

trantums

friskiness; wildness

tre

a farm; home; town

tredan

electricity

tremena

pass (v)

tren

train

treth

beach

treylya

turn (v); translate (v)

tri (m) teyr (f)

three (3)

tributer

a miner who finds ore and raises it to the surface. [Tribute system: Payment to a miner as a proportion of the value of the ore the miner brings up as opposed to being paid by a fixed wage.]

triga

live (v)

trist

sad

troes

foot

tros

noise

trydhek

thirteen (13)

tu

direction

tubbal

double ball-pick. [ball-pick: ?]

tubban

a tuft of earth

tubble

(mutation for Pigol), a large pick, or mattock

tummels

large quantity, applied in agriculture to crops of straw and hay

tus (an dus)

people

tut

hassock. [hassock: 1. a thick, firmly padded cushion, in particular: a footstool chiefly british a cushion for kneeling on in church 2. a firm clump of grass or matted vegetation in marshy or boggy ground]

tutsen

The plant sweet-leaf, a kind of St. John's wort (French: touts saine (heal all))

tut-work

piece-work in mining

Tut-worker

a mine worker paid by the job

ty (s), hwi (pl

you

tyli

pay (v)

ugens

twenty (20)

ughel

high, lofty, loud

unn (+ noun)

one (1)

unnek

eleven (11)

unnver

agreed

usadow

custom

vargord

a spar, used as a foresail; bowline in fishing-boats

vean

little; "child vean," little child; kerris vean, little kerris; treveneth vean, &c

vezy

without; distant; away

visgey

a large pick, or mattock

visnan

the sand-lance [sand-lance: sand eel; small silvery eellike fish that burrow into sandy beaches.]

vougghas

an artificial cave built to house smuggled goods

vug

a cavity in rock, lined with mineral crystals

vumfra

blow; a heavy slap

wad

an ignis faluus or ignis fatuus, a light seen over marshes that is believed to lead people astray; a will-o'-the-wisp. A wisp is a twist of straw burning as a torch. A wisp is also called a wad. A will-o'-the-wisp is also called a Jack-O'-Lantern: a personification of the light as Jack and his lantern. Personification names include Will, Jack, Joan, Gill, and Robin.

wale

seam [in mining]

war

on

war-tu ha

towards

wes

worst

whiddle

a tale

whinz

mmine-winch

white hind

A hind is the female of a red deer. However, to the Celts, any white animal comes from Annwn.

whitenecks

I believe this refers to a hawk or some other predator creature

widden

white

widdles

nonsense; foolishness; romancing

winze

a small shaft with windlass

winze-brace

windlass and tackle

wisht

sad

wor'tiwedh

finally

wosa

after

yagh

healthy; well (fit)

yar

hen

yeghes

health

yet

gate

yeth, taves

language

yeyn

cold

yn

in

yn hwir

really; truly

yn-dann

under

ynk

ink

yn-medh

says/said (quote)

yn-mes a

out of

ynn, kul

narrow

ynwedh

too; also

ynys

island

yowynk

young

yskynna

get on (bus) (v); go up (v); extend (v)

ytho, yndella

thus

zawn

a cavern

zelli

a conger eel