[Sussex] Sussex words for mud

Bakero · Jun 27, 2021

Reading a Jay Rayner review this morning, I was struck by his mentioning of Sussex's myriad words for mud.

"Just as the Inuit are reputed to have many words for snow, so the people of Sussex, both East and West, are said to have many words for mud. A lot of them have a pleasing onomatopoeic squelch. There is “gawm”, for the nastiest-smelling kind of mud and “stodge” for the thickest pudding-like type. There is “swank” for a muddy bog and “stug” for watery mud, and “gubber” for a trench of rotting matter." https://www.theguardian.com/food/2021/jun/27/jay-rayner-restaurant-review-theres-an-awful-lot-to-like-about-the-sussex-in-london

Can't say I've heard any of these in relation to mud. Have you?

When thinking of other local words, Twitten was the first thing that popped into my head. What other truly local words do we have?

BN9 BHA · Jun 27, 2021

He’s probably found a book with sayings used when Sussex was full of farmers, can’t say I’ve heard any other word for mud and I’ve lived in Sussex all my life. Ive got a few books on Sussex and one has many old sayings.

Is it PotG? · Jun 27, 2021

Stoolball

I got a bit stuggy playing that too.

Bakero · Jun 27, 2021

I think nause is a local word but of more recent origin. As in "He's such a ****ing nause" or "that ****'s been nausing me right up all day".

Bakero · Jun 27, 2021

Just had a read of the wiki page for Sussex dialect and it's quite fascinating. The farmer accent is perhaps best left in the past but we should bring some of the words back. Dumbledore for bumblebee and flittermouse for bat are both great. I also like boco for much (from the French beaucoup).

One that I hadn't realised was local is pug for mortar.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sussex_dialect

Elbow750 · Jun 27, 2021

I use stodge for mud and pug for mortar regularly. Not heard of the other sayings though.

GREASED WEASEL · Jun 27, 2021

Is it PotG? said:
Stoolball

View attachment 138035

I got a bit stuggy playing that too.

The woman fielding at leg slip could at least look ****ing interested :lolol:

studio150 · Jun 27, 2021

A Sussex word of mud, believe it or not is mud.

The one and only word I have ever used for mud, and one that everyone understands refers to mud.

Why on earth would there be a need for any more words to describe mud.

Harry Wilson's tackle · Jun 27, 2021

Not heard of any of those. Mud is mud.

However, my dad (originally a Londoner) and granny (Hove, born and bred) had a range of expressions I've not heard elswhere. See if you can work out what the mean (most are threats of minor violence) and whether you have come across them:

"I'll give you a clip round the ear ole"

"You've giving my arse the ear ache"

"Don't come the old acid with me!"

"You don't know poop from clay"

"I'll give you a clip along side"

"Do you want a thick ear?"

Ah, the violent and threatening world of a childhood in Portslade in the 60s :lolol:

vegster · Jun 27, 2021

Absolute crap Dron Rayner. Mud is mud.

Live by the sea · Jun 27, 2021

Was at the hairy dog brewery last night , never seen so much mud . ( sludge )

Papak · Jun 27, 2021

Harry Wilson's tackle said:
Not heard of any of those. Mud is mud.

However, my dad (originally a Londoner) and granny (Hove, born and bred) had a range of expressions I've not heard elswhere. See if you can work out what the mean (most are threats of minor violence) and whether you have come across them:

"I'll give you a clip round the ear ole" Yes

"You've giving my arse the ear ache" Yes

"Don't come the old acid with me!"

"You don't know poop from clay" Yes

"I'll give you a clip along side"

"Do you want a thick ear?" Yes

Ah, the violent and threatening world of a childhood in Portslade in the 60s

My parents are originally from South London and there are plenty more I've picked up that I can't think of at the moment.

AmexRuislip · Jun 27, 2021

I cannot recollect any mud under any tiger feet.

On my upbringing in Bexhill, I recall our butler used to say m'lud a lot

Postman Pat · Jun 27, 2021

My family always used Twitten instead of alleyway, as kids we were only allowed to go as far as the 2nd Twitten on our bikes. I didn't realise that was pretty exclusively a Sussex term.

I've heard cludge used for heavy mud and slurry in a farming term

KZNSeagull · Jun 27, 2021

Harry Wilson's tackle said:
Not heard of any of those. Mud is mud.

However, my dad (originally a Londoner) and granny (Hove, born and bred) had a range of expressions I've not heard elswhere. See if you can work out what the mean (most are threats of minor violence) and whether you have come across them:

"I'll give you a clip round the ear ole"

"You've giving my arse the ear ache"

"Don't come the old acid with me!"

"You don't know poop from clay"

"I'll give you a clip along side"

"Do you want a thick ear?"

Ah, the violent and threatening world of a childhood in Portslade in the 60s

Clip round the ear and give you a thick ear were regular childhood threats from my father, as was "I will box your ears.". He clearly had a thing for ears. Family was originally from Eastbourne, his father spent time in Canada up until WW1 then lived in Letchworth and Bedford.

Oh and Trug I think is a Sussex word:

beorhthelm · Jun 27, 2021

bn9 bha said:
He’s probably found a book with sayings used when Sussex was full of farmers, can’t say I’ve heard any other word for mud and I’ve lived in Sussex all my life. Ive got a few books on Sussex and one has many old sayings.

most likely. though i have used of stodge for thick mud and pug for mortar.

Raleigh Chopper · Jun 27, 2021

Postman Pat said:
My family always used Twitten instead of alleyway, as kids we were only allowed to go as far as the 2nd Twitten on our bikes. I didn't realise that was pretty exclusively a Sussex term.

I've heard cludge used for heavy mud and slurry in a farming term

We always used Twitten, it was mainly used for a path that was quite wide but not used by vehicles.
This was in Kent, but Tunbridge Wells so close enough to have travelled over the frontier.

Bakero · Jun 27, 2021

beorhthelm said:
most likely. though i have used of stodge for thick mud and pug for mortar.

Pug for mortar along with twitten, kiddy and chipper seem to be the few that have remained in common usage, which is a shame. Yew berries is a terrible name compared to the Sussex term snottgogs. Are there any other sussex laines other than the North Laine?

Perfidious Albion · Jun 27, 2021

Twitter is a word I heard both here and when I lived in Leicester, seems it is not exactly local. The Midlands had a few expressions that were new to me when I went there. I have never heard those words for mud.
When I was a kid, people from rural Sussex had a definite country accent . I have not heard it for years.

Raleigh Chopper · Jun 27, 2021

Perfidious Albion said:
Twitter is a word I heard both here and when I lived in Leicester, seems it is not exactly local. The Midlands had a few expressions that were new to me when I went there. I have never heard those words for mud.
When I was a kid, people from rural Sussex had a definite country accent . I have not heard it for years.

I bet Cornwall has a word for mud, they have a word for everything else it seems (campers are Grockles in their Grundy Bins) I will have a look.

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