It was International Poetry Day this week, and BBC Radio had a nice angle on this, focussing on local words. On Radio 4’s Today they brought in lexicographer Susie Dent and poet Liz Berry. Liz read a poem entitled ‘Bowbowler’ a tremendous Black Country word for a big moth. Susie talked about the many words for woodlice names and alleyways, both subjects close to my heart. Over the years I have on occasion gathered local words that people have tweeted me which I've collected together on the website Storify, which allows you to archive collections of tweets. I gathered all the links to the various 'storifies' here. There’s hours of reading here, but it’s time well spent, I promise you.
Pea bugs, Slaters & Monkey Pigs - names for woodlice
https://storify.com/mooseallain/pea-bugs-slater-and-monkey-pigsAlley Names
https://storify.com/mooseallain/alley-names
Snap, Pack Up and Bait - names for a packed lunch.
https://storify.com/mooseallain/packed-lunch-pack-up-and-bait
Hangnails, Wicklows and Spills
https://storify.com/mooseallain/hangnails-wicklows-and-spills
Backies, Croggers and Takeys - when you give someone a lift on the back of your pushbike
https://storify.com/mooseallain/backies-croggers-and-takeys
Picking Rhymes - playground rhymes
https://storify.com/mooseallain/picking-rhymes
Burmos - a very niche word for trousers
https://storify.com/mooseallain/burmos
Bundles, Piley Ons And Other Playground Heaps
https://storify.com/mooseallain/bundles
Playing Truant
https://storify.com/mooseallain/playing-truant
Nesh - do you feel the cold?
https://storify.com/mooseallain/nesh
Poor Ginger - the game of knocking on doors and running away
https://storify.com/mooseallain/poor-ginger
Pom Pom, Tommy Ho and Releevio - a playground game with many names
https://storify.com/mooseallain/home-games
Sparrows
https://storify.com/mooseallain/sparrows
Chewing Gum
https://storify.com/mooseallain/chewing-gum
Finally, something a little lighthearted and somewhat childish…
Wind Words - what do you say when someone breaks wind?
https://storify.com/mooseallain/wind-words
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