e primeval forest, and that they are replete with
notices of ancient men and manners that deserve and will well repay our
careful study.

* * * * *

Since the above has been in type I have had the satisfaction of learning
from Mr. G. P. R. Pulman, of the Hermitage, Crewkerne, that at Axminster,
the river Axe, the ancient British and Saxon boundary line, divides the
dialect spoken to the east of it (the Dorset, to judge from a specimen of
it that he has enclosed) from the Devon. He goes on to say: "On the
opposite, the west side of the river, as at Kilmington, Whitford, and
Colyton, for instance, a very different dialect is spoken, the general
south or rather east Devon. The difference between the two within so
short a distance (for you never hear a Devonshire sound from a native
Axminster man) is very striking." That after a period of 1,200 years the
exact limit of the two races should still be distinguishable in the
accent of their descendants, is an interesting confirmation of the view
that I have taken of the origin of these dialects, and at the same time a
remarkable proof of the tenacity of old habits in a rural population; the
more so that the boundary line of the dialects does not coincide with
that of the two counties.

A GLOSSARY
OF
PROVINCIAL WORDS AND PHRASES
IN USE IN
SOMERSETSHIRE.

A, _pron._ He, ex. a did'nt zai zo did a?

A, adverbial prefix, ex. afore, anigh, athin

A, for "have"

A, participal prefix, corresponding with the Anglo-Saxon _ge_ and _y_,
ex. atwist, alost, afeard, avroze, avriz'd

Abeare _v._ bear, endure, ex. for anything that the Court of this Manor
will abeare. _Customs of Taunton Deane_

Abbey _s._ great white poplar. Abbey-lug, a branch or piece of timber
of the same (D. _Abeel_)

Abbey-lubber _s._ a lazy idle fellow, _i.e._ worthless as abbey wood

Addice, Attis _s._ an adze

Addle _s._ a fester (A S _adl_ disease)

After, along side

Agallied, _past part_, frightened

Agin _pr._ against. Auverginst, over-against, up to, in preparation
for, as Agin Milemas

Agon, _past part._ gone by. Also _adv._

Ail _s._ ailment, a disease in the hind-quarter of animals, ex.
Quarter-ail

Aine _v._ to throw stones at (A S _haenan_ to stone)

Aines, just as. Al-aines, all the same, or all one

Al-on-een, on tip toe, eager

Aller, (A S _alr_) alder tree. Allern made of alder

Amper, Hamper _s._ a pimple. Amp