NOTES ON ESSEX DIALECT AND FOLK-LORE. 75
a phrase "Aan de laager wol zyn," to be brought to a low ebb, but the phrase
may well be a corruption from the Anglo-Saxon "woel," death, Ger. "woeles,"
and so meaning "he is laid down by death."
"Moon and mushrooms."—It is a prevalent belief in Essex that the growth of
mushrooms is influenced by the changes of the moon, and the subjoined rule is
often strictly adhered to :
" When the moon is at the full,
Mushrooms you may freely pull ;
But when the moon is on the wane,
Wait ere you think to pull again."
"Not to have her change"—when speaking of a woman—"He has not got all
his buttons" of a man, are expressions used in referring to people not quite right
in the head.
" Essex stiles, Suffolk miles,
Norfolk wiles,
Many a man beguiles."
An Essex stile is a ditch, a Suffolk mile is an ordinary mile and a "bittock,'
and they were often impassable, and hence the way seemed longer. Norfolk is
said to have been remarkable for litigation, and the quirks and quibbles of its
lawyers.
"To put the miller's eye out" means to overdo the milk with water and to make
the pudding too thin.
"Scare a job" implies that the work will soon be completed, or in other
words, "making the job look foolish."
A person who excels in anything is a "fright"—a good gardener is a fright
at gardening, a clever person is a fright, etc. This is not generally understood,
however.
"Caution" is a word also to indicate a clever person—a good farmer is a
"caution," or anyone who attends to business properly.
"Braintree boys "—brave boys.
"Bocking boys"—rats.
"Church Street"—puppy clogs.
"High Garrett"—cats. (See Hazlitt.)
Who fetcheth a wife from Dunmow
Carrieth home two sides of a sow"
The ceremony connected with the granting of the "flitch of bacon" is not
peculiar to Essex. It was established at Dunmow in the time of Henry II., but
was originally founded by Juga, a noble lady, in the year 1111. "He has gone to
Harwich" signifies he has gone to rack and ruin. An old Essex word is
"Marriage," meaning confusion, the "i" is dropped as in marriage, carriage, etc. ,
and the similarity to our Essex sea-port will account for its being used. It is
from the old verb harry, to harass, to drive. French harier.
The word "Hatch" is very common in our county : e.g., Albury
Hatch, Chingford Hatch, Kelvedon Hatch, Pilgrim's Hatch, Rayne
Hatch, West Hatch, etc., etc. Wherever this occurs it signifies
that there is, or was, a gate across a high-road, at the entrance to a
common, to prevent the escape of cattle. In many places where the
commons have been enclosed or thrown open the gate has disap-