Yorkshire Words Of The Week

Recent correspondence regarding “sling your hook” and “leet geen” sent me back 60 years to Elland in the West Riding. “Sling yer ‘ook” or “tek yer ‘ook” were quite common terms of dismissal, often preceded by “Aw..”, to other, unwelcome, youngsters. It’s derived from a naval, Royal or Merchant, term ‘weigh (raise) anchor’, before setting sail. At a time just after the end of the war , the expression carried meaning. Regarding “as leet gi’en as a posser I’ t’ y’ed”. A posser was a washday tool used in a dolly-tub. There were two designs: one like a three-legged stool with a T-bar handle rising from the seat and the other a long broom handle with a copper bell- shaped head. The thin sheet copper was pierced with small holes, to allow the hot soapy water to slosh through. This ‘bell’ was re-enforced by a similarly pierced copper cone. A person who was “As light given as a posser in the head” was thought to have much of the substance missing, a head full of holes. A parallel term “’Ee’s no’but ninepence to t’ shillin’” had similar connotations.

From: Arthur Quarmby, Underhill, Holme, Holmfirth.

Elaine Merlin (Country Week, November 12) does not quite get to the heart of the expression “Leet Geen” – well known in both the Colne and Holme valleys a generation ago. It means, literally, “Lightly Given”, and refers to a young lady who is thought to award her favours rather too freely.

From: Mrs M Bamford, Wheatley Hill Lane, Clayton West, Huddersfield.

REGARDING Mrs Maude’s letter on savoury Yorkshire Pudding – it is called that with sage, breadcrumbs, suet, salt and pepper added to the batter. A simpler way and quite delicious is to add two tabs of sage and onion stuffing mix to the batter. Let it stand to swell the breadcrumbs in the mixture and then cook in a hot oven.You can cook half ordinary and half savoury and vary the amount of stuffing mix.

From: Angela M Holdsworth, West Garth, Sherburn, Malton.

I take exception to Mrs Maude’s remarks re “leavened Yorkshire Pudding” (November 5). Barnoldswick is in Lancashire, so perhaps things are different there. I watched my mother-in-law make what we called “seasoned pudding” and I know what I made for my husband for nearly 50 years. I remember “blade bright” as a child in the Pontefract area. Perhaps it is a mining phrase. One still hears “lowance” used around here for a packed lunch or more often a ‘pack-up’. Carry on the good work!