In Appalachia…
courting = dating
sparking = dating
sweet on = means you like someone
he-ing and she-ing = hugging and kissing
slip off = elope
serenade or shivaree = a loud noisy celebration occurring after a wedding
courts like a stick of wood = a person who is awkward when courting
jump the broom = get married
took up = 2 people who start courting or move in together
going steady = serious dating
struck on = means you like someone
going with = dating
get hitched = get married
Doney-gal = sweetheart
Kin = to love
Take a shine to = start to like or love someone
Many of the words and phrases I shared have fallen out of fashion, but I do still hear some of them.
When I was young someone was always asking me if I was courting yet. Most of the time I was too young to court and they were asking just to see me blush at the thought of it.
Last night’s video: Common Folks: Education, Stereotypes, and Practical Jokes in Appalachia.
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I’ve heard most all of those, they are so sweet for courting! It sure was another time.
I’ve always found this little story endearing about my grandparents. My grandma’s name was Callie Dona. Family and friends affectionately called her Doney. Her name was pronounced with a long O sound, not like Donnie with a short O sound. My daddy told me my grandpa called her Doney-gal from the day he met her. Daddy said the pet name was the same as “Sweetheart”, although it seems to me it might have also been a cute play on her name. Both of my grandparents were born in the 1870s-1880s era. Sadly they both passed before I was born.
All the other words and phrases you mentioned are more than common where I live. Thanks Tipper.
“Doney-Gal” I know as a cowboy song–I’m tickled to hear it has Appalachian roots. “It’s rain or shine, sleet or snow, / me and my Doney Gal are on the go…” A man loves his horse!
Enjoyed all of these old sayings & words Miss Tipper. Many of them I’ve heard and or used in my lifetime. I’ve been stuck on Robbie Lynn for a long time since I took to her and I’m sure glad we got hitched back in 1987 and she’s still my sweet heart today.
Tipper, I’m sure you have but have you heard smitten. Someone smitten on you. I was working at the job and 2 of my bosses said they believed this one guy was smitten with me and I was like WHAT!!!!! I didn’t know what it meant and they told me. I hadn’t heard it before. I just said I hope not cause I was married.
When i was young Going Steady meant you were exclusive to each other. Usually involved trading class rings. Not as formal as engaged, either one could break it off at any time with no fanfare. Now if one had something of the other’s property and refused to give it back, well. . . .
This has more to do with yesterday and Granny and Pap and their love for one another. From the things I have read about them they are or were a lot like my mother and father in law. My father in law died 6 years before my mother in law died in 2019. They eloped or as was most often said ran off and married and were together for around 60 years. No it was not a “ have to”, and both of their families would have approved of the marriage, eloping was pretty common in their time. The first words my mother in law said when she was told she was dying and only had a few months to live were good, I’m glad, I will soon be with Curtis (her husband) again for eternity. They worked together and raised a family of 5 good girls in a one bathroom home. I like to joke and say for many years the bushes around Paw’s backyard would not grow and sometimes even died.
What a wonderful post today, Tipper! I so enjoyed the comments, too. I am a hopeless romantic although things never worked out too well for me in the “love” department. When I was a young career girl working in Atlanta, I was “going steady” with someone and a boy in my office was trying to get me to go out with him. I told him I was going steady. He said “You aren’t in love with him … you’re in love with love.” I’ve thought about that many times over the years and realize now there was a lot of wisdom in what he said. May I never stop being in love with love.
Aunt Pearl DeHart used to accuse one of her granddaughters of “prancing around like a hossin filly”!
Courts like a stick of wood! Lol That one made me bust out laughing. I had never heard that saying but I had alot of the other ones. We used to say “going together” when I was growing up.
I’m still stuck on the word Jewlarker. The town I live in, Loveland, CO., celebrates Valentine’s Day all month long, you can check it out on line. It all started 77 years ago with a re-mailing stamp for letters sent through our Post Office, personalized hearts on light poles on all the main streets and a Miss Valentine contest. The celebration has grown with more events and more people every year. I like to stay at home with my Jewlarker. ❤️ thanks Tipper for all the fun words your teaching me.
Thanks Tipper
The first time I ever heard the word “sparking” in this context, I was about 12 years old. One of my “old lady” (who probably wasn’t all that old, just seemed that way to a kid) relatives said of my cousin and a local boy, “Well, is Glen sparkin’ Rosie?” I couldn’t wait to get my granny off away from the other folks to ask “is Glen doing WHAT to Rosie????”
Loved today’s words and phrases. I never heard of Doney-gal or he-ing and she-ing but the rest I have used or heard. I would say watching Katie and Nick last night that they are sweet on each other. They are so cute together! I also loved last night’s reading. Verna Mae is quite the character. Have a blessed day everyone!!
I really love these words, l8ke Ava’s grandma m8ne said the same thing. they’re talking to each other.
I used to listen to Uncle Dave Macon’s songs a lot and he would occasionally
mention his “Doney.” An obvious reference to a woman, but what I didn’t
realize was that it was an actual term for women in general. Now I’m wondering
if the Italian word for a lady, “donna,” somehow morphed into “doney.”
I’ve heard and used most of these. I also ask younger kids if they’re courting yet just to see them blush.
Haha, love them! Some I’ve heard, some never heard! But I heard an old one, in your story reading last night, that made my day. We used to wear “plats” in our hair, but I haven’t heard it called that since I was little, when they were always called plats, instead of braids. Thank you for reminding me of something I had long forgotten!!
The violets in the basket reminds me of this poem
A flower for you
I should like to be a little flower
Blossoming just for you,
Filling the air with fragrance,
Beauty and sweetness too.
I could not be a rose of flame
Or orchard rich and rare,
Or any other flower of fame
That lovers choose with tender care.
I could only be the violet
Always little and always blue,
Humbly keeping near the ground
But forever looking up to you.
There’d be a dew-drop on my face
As I peep from my little bed,
But look again, you’ll find a smile
For you’re God’s sunlight overhead.
Clarice George Meacham
Yesterday I saw a dad with his two young girls. I winked at them and the smallest one smiled at me. I asked her if she had flirted with any other boys that day. She very angrily said, “I don’t flirt with boys!” I said, “You just flirted with me when you smiled at me.” Her dad agreed in a teasing way. She may not smile at a boy for quite a while now.
Sometimes I wonder if we spoke the language (terminology/vocabulary) of yesterday, if our society would still be in the mess it is in today.
Donna. : )
At one time or another I’ve heard all of these among family and friends. “Kin” though was used differently in our area. We would say “I kin ya” to mean “I understand and feel the same way.”
Ahhh the words of love, loved the old sayings, I’ve heard several that you listed but there were a few I haven’t.
I have heard a lot of these words but the one that stands out for me is “going steady”. I begin going with my wife in January of 1972 in my senior year of high school, when she was a junior. I gave her my high school ring and a necklace that was called a senior key to wear. Back then the boys would buy a ring at jewelry stores called a going steady ring and give it their girlfriends if they were real serious about her. Later on an engagement ring if they married. I bought my girlfriend -later on my wife one with my first paycheck in the summer of 72. This meant she was taken, don’t be trying to date her. There was several fist fights about everyday among the boys at school because of someone else wanting to talk or date your girlfriend. Unlike today it did not go beyond a Fist fight even though nearly all of the boys carried pocket knives. If the principle found out about it, we would either be took to the office and get our butts blistered or took to the gym and given boxing gloves and told to go ahead and settle it. We were together from January of 1972 and married Oct. 26, 1974 until she died April 15, 2021. I never wanted anyone else, although I would glance at the menu ever now and then. Now there is no joy in my life living without her. I often talk to an older man and friend at my church, and he told this to me, when you lose someone that is without a doubt a Christian, we know they are at a much better place and are no longer suffering or hurting, it’s the ones they leave behind that are suffering and hurting. Sorry for writing so much but as usual, I woke up with her on my mind this morning. Many nights I go to sleep with my hand on her pillow.
Thanks for sharing your story, it really touched my heart this morning.
I will pray for for you Randy. God bless you and keep you this day and always.
I’ve heard all them expressions, except “he-ing and she-ing”. I’d never figured out that expression to mean “hugs and kisses”. I’d be stumped on that meaning for sure!
I love the word shivaree. From charivari, “French, perhaps from Late Latin caribaria headache,” according to Miriam-Webster.
My grandmother used “talking to” for dating. “He is talking to a girl from a ways off.”
I think Doney-gal is the ONLY one I have never heard nor said. I love the old sayings and still use some of them today. Loved yesterday’s reading. God Bless.