So, we all have them and we all use them - words and phrases that will shout to the people "she ain't from 'round here".
I thought I would share with my friends, my new internet friends, some of the words I use because after my last post, I realized there may be some confusion as to what I may be referring.
Let me present to you slang of Saskatchewan:
Back forty: a piece of land (technically 40 acres) or a field that is away from the home on a farm, or a remote location.
Bannock: (besides being absolutely delicious, especially with homemade raspberry jam) unleavened bread made using flour, water and sometimes, lard.
Bee: A co-operative work session where neighbors and family come together to complete a project. Here we use them for darn near everything - barn-raising, combining, perogy-making...
Bin: A place to store grain
Block heater: A device that allows you to plug your car into an electrical source - nothing worse than a dead car battery on a frigid prairie day.
(Do any Americans have block heaters in their cars? I know we bought a car from a friend in Kansas City, Mo and it didn't have one.)
Bunny hug: The rest of the world calls this a hoodie.
Bush party: a large teen party usually held in a field.
Coffee row: a morning coffee break. People from near and far gather at a local coffee shop for a cup and conversation. Topics usually involve weather and/or politics. Usually involve all the retired generation.
Dainties: Sweets, squares, cookies (what do you call them?)
Dugout: No, we are not about to play ball. Here in Saskatchewan it is also a farm's water supply.
Flatlander: Someone from the prairies.
Gibbled: broken, dysfunctional
Gitch: Underwear.
Grid road: A dirt road that has a gravel top.
Prairie Oysters: (disclaimer: never tried them - never will) this is, apparently a prairie delicacy of bull testicles - usually fried. (yuck)
Stubble jumper: A Saskatchewanian.
Supper: The evening meal.
Vico: a small carton of chocolate milk
Washboard: a gravel road that has many consecutive bumps, much like an old fashioned washboard. (aren't we clever?)
So? What are some of your slang words?
We call 'em Rocky Mountain Oysters!! ; )
ReplyDeleteYes, some American's do have block heaters, 'specially us northerners (MN). I don't think it's quite as common as it used to be, and I'm pretty sure it's not a standard feature. We don't have any on our vehicles, but I remember my parents having them.
ReplyDeleteSupper - yes. Around here, the farmers say dinner for lunch. I say lunch for lunch, and dinner is for Sundays.
Vico - is that a brand name?
Dugout - a well?
Dainties - bars? Is it just a general food group term for finger food desserts?
BUnny hug. That's cute. I still can be heard referring to them as hooded sweatshirts. Unless they're hooded tshirts, then I call them hoodies.
And don't you have some funny french word for slippers? Or is that not your territory?
Vico is a brand name. I remember my dad worked with a company from Birmingham, Alabama and the one man was hilarious! V.I.C.O.? V.I.C.O? What in the hell is V.I.C.O?
ReplyDeleteA dugout is not a well (we have those as well) but it would be like a deep, but small pond, I think would be the best way to describe it. We used to have skating parties on our dugout. you could safely have about 10-15 kids skating without people bumping into each other.
Dainties would be like dessert bars or treats of that kind. So, yes, like finger food desserts.
As for the slipper thing, I am trying to think what you may be thinking of and, unless you are thinking of moccassins (the Native American beaded "slipper" not the boot), you must be thinking of a different area. But yes, a lot of us wear moccassins.