It’s time for this month’s Appalachian Vocabulary Test.
I’m sharing a few videos to let you hear the words and phrases. To start the videos click on them.
1. Jack up: to foul up; bungle. “He let his truck roll into the ditch and now it’s all jacked up. He’ll have to pay somebody good money to help him get it fixed.”
2. Jailhouse: jail. “If you don’t straighten up you’ll find yourself in the jailhouse one of these days!”
3. Jaggedy: having a ragged or frayed edge. “Paul cut his hair when he was little. As you might guess he did not do a good job. It was all jaggedy around his forehead. I got in trouble because Granny said I should have been watching him better.”
4. Jar fly: annual cicada. “The jar flies and katy-dids sing a song of home to me every summer.”
5. Jasper: a fellow, stranger; person who behaves inappropriately or is unwanted. “She said some jasper come a knocking on her door this morning trying to sell her a insurance policy for her car. Said she told him right quick she didn’t even have no car.”
All of this months words can still be heard in my area of Appalachia except for jasper and jailhouse. I don’t hear anyone say them today although I have in days gone by.
Hope you’ll leave me a comment and let me know how you did on the test.
Last night’s video: A People and Their Quilts 14.
Tipper
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Grandmother in Mtn. City, TN always called cicadas jar flys. Another phrase she used if I sneezed was “Scat chere, your tails in the gravy”. I have never heard anyone else say this in response to a sneeze. I guess it means Scat out of here, your tail is in the gravy, which makes me think of a cat. Maybe related to allergies to cats or other allergies making you sneeze? If only I could go back there and take one more ride with my grandaddy on his mule team, Doc and Kelly. Best days of my life.
Not in this vocabulary test – I can’t find the right on to give a reply – was a verb ending in’t’.
We had ‘learnt’ and others like it for years and was often corrected by some to say ‘learned’ but some things are locked in from childhood. I later found out from a teacher at college that the ‘t’ was used to note past tense in Scottish dialect verbs.
Other words also using this would be felt, crossed (we, as others, pronounced ‘crosst’ at home ), roast, telt, spelt, and more I discovered when listening or reading. It was pleasing to me of Scot ancestry that a few of these word and others similar are another example of our oft overlooked contribution to the English.
Al-thank you for sharing that information. I did not know about the connection to Scotland. Adding a T is common here too. I hear oncet a lot 🙂
I guess these vocabulary tests are for Non-Appalachian speakers (i.e. furiners). To me, these are just common words. BTW, my wife got for me the Dictionary of Southern Appalachian English for my birthday. I like reading the history behind some of the things we say.
(Maryville, TN)
Never heard, Jar Fly or Jasper ! Good ones !
I’ve heard them all but the Jasper. I love it . Congratulations on the newest addition to the family. I am a grandma and I love it. As my mother always says there is a fine line between your children and your grandchildren and I know what she means now. Our newest addition to our family he was born this past November and he is growing fast. I now have 5 grandchildren and 6 grandcats. Have a wonderful Easter. God Bless
Randy’s second comment reminds me of a dog my nephew once had. It looked like it was made from parts from a little dog and a big one. It has short legs in front and much longer legs in the back. I guess it could be called “jacked up”. Keith called it his “racing dog.”
Always heard “locust” for cicadas. Haven’t heard “Jasper” but heard all the others. I’m so glad little Ira is here safely and that Katie is doing well. His name made me think of the Johnny Cash song about Ira Hayes who was a war hero. Miss Granny will be thrilled to meet little Ira–there is nothing like holding a newborn!
All are familiar to me except for jasper. Always enjoy these vocabulary tests.
Tipper. Last night’s reading was so touching to me. Those quilts, absolutely amazing and beautiful but the stories about them were so special, nothing but pure love. I couldn’t pick a favorite if I had to. I plan to go back and watch it again.
Please tell Corie and Austin congratulations on the sale of their house. I had been praying for this to happen and I am so happy for them!! Now all of you will be close by each other and I think it’s wonderful!! What a happy time for everyone!!
I have heard all of those terms, with a slight twist to “jacked up.” I’ve heard that used only two ways: In the literal sense, when a vehicle is on a jack for repair or a tire change, and in sports, as in, “That basketball team was really jacked up last night. Nothing could stop them.” As for jasper, I love that slightly condescending term for a man, like a city dude clearly out of his usual habitat. (I wonder if there’s a similar word for a female of that sort?) Finally, jailhouse always brings to mind the song…”he’s in the jailhouse now….”
Yay! I knew them all this time. I haven’t heard Jasper in a while, but I used to hear it all the time. Jarfly is one I don’t hear anymore but people used it where we lived when I was a child. Thanks for doing these vocab quizzes. I love them! Have a beautiful Easter!
I’ve heard and used jailhouse and jaggedy many times. I have only heard the others in your vocabulary videos. Always glad to learn new Appalachia vocabulary.
Congratulations to Katie and all the families on the arrival of her sweet baby boy!
Congratulations too are in order for Corie and Austin on selling their house and buying their forever home.
It’s just been blessings upon blessing for your families and I am happy for you all!
My husband says “jacked up” often. We work with a lot of second hand jacked up tools 😉
Jasper was a common word used to describe a no-good person when I was growing up. Seems like my cousin who still lives in the area might have said it a few years ago, as a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure she did. He’s In The Jailhouse Now is a song I’ve heard by one of the old country music singers. All the other words are still alive and well here in KY.
All the words except jasper are very familiar.
Everyone have a wonderful day! Blessings to all the BP&A families.
Hmmm I have to heard “jacked up” but cannot recall in just what connection. Must have been way back when. “Jailhouse” sounds like home folks but only from about 60 years ago. “Jar fly” is all the name I knew until probably high school but I don’t hear it anymore. “Jaggedy” I think I have mostly heard and used without the “y”. Sounds like something I would do cutting something. Don’t recall using or hearing” jasper”, just know what it means. Anybody reading this ever heard “Philadelphia lawyer” as in, “He come in this country talking like a Philadelphia lawyer but turned out he was just a big blowhard.”
Yes, Ron, I have heard that term, and known a few.
The words “jack up” are very common in my area. When you have a flat tire you jack up your car to change it. In my teenage years, boys jacked up/raised the rear end of their cars with something called shackles. They did this so they could use the Maximum Sonic 60 tires and keep them from rubbing. These was one of the widest street tires you could buy in the late 60’s. I have heard of Philadelphia lawyers but none of what I heard was good.
Ron, your mention of “Philadelphia Lawyer” has got an old song into my head. Looked it up and the one I remember is “Philadelphia Lawyer”, by Woodie Guthrie. I believe I must have heard Mama singing this as a child.
I still say jailhouse. If they did something real bad I say they ought to put them “under” the jail!!
I’ve heard of all the words mentioned above. I haven’t heard the word “jasper” used in a coon’s age. You reminded me of it. Daddy and my uncles, his brothers, used the word when I was very small. I used to catch jar flies, tie a string to one of their legs and let them fly around in the house. One got caught in my mother’s hair one time and she had a fit, she didn’t like bugs. Instead of an Easter egg hunt in the grass our church is having Easter Egg Trunk Hunt today. Plastic eggs filled with candy are handed out from volunteers’ car trunks which are decorated. My daughter filled over 150 plastic eggs with candy and will be part of the activity. I bought some of the eggs and candy. Have a blessed Resurrection Day Sunday.
I’m certain you were tying string to junebugs. We did that as well.
Jacked-up is alive and thriving amongst descendants of Morgantown Ky now living in E Central IL, as is jailhouse, both are very common to us but definitely I haven’t heard of jasper or jar fly before. Happy Resurrection Day Tipper!
Jarfly and Jasper are new to me. Jailhouse was used, not jail until I grew up.
How’s Granny?
Sheryl-Granny is doing good 🙂
Never heard or used Jasper but the rest are part my own vocabulary. Seem perfectly normal to me and mine. Enjoy the sunshine today.
I’ve heard and used those words except for Jasper. But when I’ve been down south, I sure have traveled thru Jasper, AL., quite a few times and it is a nice little town.
I have heard all of them but did not hear jasper very much. I hear jagged more often than jaggedy. I never worried about being in the jailhouse, but was in the doghouse so much my hound dog expected me to sleep with him every night. My local news station was warning people about the jar fly or cicadas this year. The two hatches, broods or whatever they are being called are going to be together this year (first time since about 1803). They were warning about them jetting their urine on you. They said they can spray/jet it farther than any other creature no matter their size.
Had not heard the word “jasper” used this way since I was a kid!! Here is how I heard it…”Some bad jaysper over yonder in North Kliner done robbed th’ bank in Murphy”
Jasper was my great grandfather. As far as I know he didn’t act inappropriately or unwantedly. There was a rumor spread recently that he was a deserter during the Civil War and was executed at a Confederate prison at Salisbury for his misdeed. He, being born in 1850, would have been under 14 at the time.
I do not ascribe to that notion however, reason being, if my great grandfather had died before 1865 I wouldn’t be here now. It has been suggested that I might have the wrong grandpaw. Well maybe or maybe they have the wrong Jasper.
Or maybe they are right, meaning I do not exist and you are not reading this, as nonexistent persons cannot communicate by normal human means.
I’m quite familiar with all today’s words but Jasper. And might I add that’s a really good term and I’m keeping it! Lol What is sweet, a miracle, adorable, and stole the Pressley’s hearts? Why it’s little IRA and I want to send him a kiss, a hug and lots of blessings this fine Saturday morning…along with all of you wonderful and lively people! Tipper is our lovely Appalachian ambassador and we just adore her and her best ever “fam”!!!! Yesterday we put up my greenhouse ( good size) while I ran barefoot plus I foraged for wild violets and dandelions and made tea! It was great! Blessings to all you BP & A readers this fine spring day with daffodils and tulips and forsythia and Bradford pear blooms!!!
Jack up, jar fly, and jasper are new to me.
Love the photo. Reminds me of an old log road in the woods where we live. Gotta ask. Who’s that walking way back there? Hope all is good with Baby and Mama.
Cheryl-thank you 🙂 It is Matt and Corie
My relatives here in Missouri used all those words except jasper. My mother always called cicadas jar flies; I had forgotten that until I came to your blog today and heard it.
All of the words are heard in our area and in our home except Jasper and jar fly. The first time I heard you talk about jar flies on your you tube channel, I thought you were talking about fireflies or lightning bugs. Lol. I like calling them jar flys instead of cicadas. We always say jailhouse—and say that bad haircuts, raveled out hems on clothes, or rough edges on wood, etc. are jaggedy. Jacked up is a phrase we use to talk about someone who was beaten up or a wrecked car, or maybe even a drunk person being all jacked up.
Hope everyone has a blessed and Happy Easter weekend. My kids and grandkids are all coming this afternoon for a big dinner and an egg hunt—looks like the rain may make us hunt eggs inside. My house will be noisy and busy and wonderful!
Wow…I didn’t realize how ‘Appalachian’ I might be. Although born and reared in Florida, I have used all of those except Jar Fly. Is that the same as Crickets?…Another great read yesterday on our Good Friday. Prayers for Granny, you ‘Grams’, Matt ‘Gramps’ and the newest Pressley. God Bless you guys…He Is Risen.
Glenda-You can see a jar fly and hear it at this link: https://blindpigandtheacorn.com/have-you-been-hearing-jar-flies/ 🙂
Jasper was a new one on me, so now I can’t wait to use it! I’ve heard jar-fly but never knew to what they referred. Thank you for helping me learn something new!! God bless you all during this holy time to celebrate Jesus and our redemption. Praise God!
Matt & Tipper – Congratulations and many blessings upon your inauguration into grand parenthood 😀
Katie – Congratulations upon your graduation into full time mommy hood 😀
Corie – Congratulations upon your inauguration into Auntie hood 😀
Granny – Congratulations upon your newest little great grandchild 😀
May you be able to give the best advice on raising youngins 😀