The Dictionary of American Regional English

The Dictionary of American Regional English, Volume I: Introduction and A-C is part of a multi-volume effort to capture regional expressions and colloquialisms. The DARE project, as it is known, was started in the 1950s by Frederic Cassidy, a linguist who sent field workers out across the United States to interview people. Cassidy's catalogers talked to nearly 3,000 people over six years, making recordings along the way in order to capture pronunciations.

The first volume of the DARE was released in 1975, with additional volumes following in time, but the final volume still had not been published by the time of Cassidy's death in 2000. His tombstone reads, "On to Z!"

Now, after five decades of research, "S to Z" of the DARE will be published next year. Joan Hall, the book's chief editor, says the dictionary is unique because it tells us how we speak, rather than how to speak. "It's very helpful because it's really more descriptive than prescriptive," she says.

And now for a few sample expressions from around the country...How many do you know???

NPR.org, June 11, 2009 · The following definitions were adapted from the Dictionary of American Regional English.

elbedritsch (n) An imaginary creature which, as a practical joke, a greenhorn is sent to hunt or capture. (Usage: Southeast Pennsylvania)

flannel cake (n) A pancake. (Usage: Appalachians)

flea in one's ear (n) A hint, warning, disquieting disclosure; a rebuke. (Usage: chiefly the Northeast)

hell-for-leather (adv) At top speed, in great haste. (Usage: scattered, but especially the West Coast)

honeyfuggle (v) To swindle or dupe; to intend to cheat or trick. (Usage: scattered)

hookem-snivey (adj) Deceitful, sneaky. (Usage: scattered)

Lucy Bowles (n) Diarrhea; loose bowels. (Usage: scattered, but especially Pennsylvania, New Jersey and southeast New York)

mulligrubs (n) A condition of despondency or ill temper; a vague or imaginary unwellness. (Usage: scattered, but especially the South)

nebby (adj) Snoopy, inquisitive. (Usage: chiefly Pennsylvania)

pungle (v) To shell out; to plunk down (money); to pay up. (Usage: chiefly West)

rantum scoot (n) An outing with no definite destination (Usage: scattered)

roller bird (n) blue jay (Usage: In the vicinity of Dothan, Ala., bluejays are often called "roller birds" because when chinaberries are ripe, the birds sit in the trees and gorge themselves until they grow drunk. Then they tumble out of the trees and roll on the ground, and the cats creep out and eat them.)

say-so (n) An ice-cream cone. (Usage: scattered)

DARE is published by the Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. The above definitions were adapted from the University of Wisconsin's DARE Web site.