Figure 1.--.

English readers not only have to navigate the terms arising in America and India, but there are many domestic variations. The United Kingdom not only included England (where the English language arose), but Wales, Scotland and for a time all of Ireland. At the time these countries were conquuered or brought into association with England, other languages were spoken there. In addition there are also substantial linquistic variations with England derived from the historical trends in the various regions of England--especially the Celtic areas in the west and the Dane Law regions in the east. We have begun to collect some of these terms. Here a British reader with Yorkshire and Scottish grandparents has helped us get started. It also introduces a chronolgical problem. Some of these terms are English terms over which usage changed over time. The thing is that before the 1980s, there were major regional and generational differences with which new styles and terms were adopted. Here television has had a major imnpact in reducung regional/generaional differences. Hopefully our British readers will provide us more information here.

Terms

We have begun to collect some regional terms. Many are, however, more generational rathr than regional terms.

Breeks: This is the Scottish term for trousers. Our Engluish reader writes, "This is what my aunt Eileen called our short trousers.

Coat: Our English reader writes. "My aunt's name for a suit jacket w coat. I only heared it once when she was dressing Robert up. For us a coat was an overcoat." [HBC note: Americans used both coat and jacket for suits, but jacket is more common.]

Drawers: An english reader tells us, "This was another word my gran used for underpants sometimes. We used to find this hilarious." [HBC note: We believe that this is more of a generational difference. My father in america also used this term.]

Dungarees: An English reader tells us, "My Scottish aunt who lived in Yorkshire used this term for em for jeans. She wouldn't let my cousin Robert have them and was horrified that my mum had bought them for us. We wore them in London, but never brought them to Yorkshire when we visited our grabndparents."

Gumboots: An English reader tells us, "My gran called Welligton boots "Gumboots".

Jersey: An English reader writes. "Jersey is what my aunt Eileen called any sort of non-button up shirt – e.g. a t-shirt. For us a jersey was a woolen jersey. If she'd say “get that filthy jersey off you” to Robert I'd wonder what she meant as to me he wasn't wearing one! ( I think this is a Scottish term.)" HBC does not believe that Jersey is a Scottish term, after all Jersey is a Channel Island. Of course the term may have been used differently in Scotland.

Pumps: Term used in Yorkshire for plimpsoles (sneakers).

Slipppers: An English reader writes, "Another of my gran's words for plimpsoles/pumps (sneakers)."

Stockings: An English reder writes, "Our grandmother in Yorkshire used "stockings" for what we called long socks. For us stockings were what woman wore (nylons) and it embarrassed me when she'd say “get your stockings on” or something – this was the same for Robert so this was due to her age not a London/Yorkshire difference. I remember we both used to laugh about this when we were in bed."

Top: An English reader tells us, "Another one of my aunt's words for any type of shirt."

Trunks An English reader writes, "My grandmother's name for our underpants was "trunks". She used this for both the old fashioned ones she used to buy us or the modern briefs my mum bought us."

Experiences

Bill

The items I have oprovided above are all I can think of now, but I'm sure there were others. It was like having to learn three languages when we went up to Yorkshire: London English,Yorkshire English and Scottish. My mum still used some of these terms – like pumps for plimpsoles and my mates would laugh at me for it – but not in front of her. So I'd have to defend her to them then ask her to speak “proper English” when I got home which she always found amusing. Then she'd put on a real Yorkshire accent like her mum had and call me a “Tyke” and get me laughing in spite of myself.

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Created: April 12, 2003
Last updated: April 12, 2002