Jane in Elk Park, North Carolina, grew up hearing her great-uncle say a misbehaving child was cutting a head shine—pulling some caper or carrying on in a noisy, comic way. The expression likely combines shine, used since at least the 1830s for a...
The word julep, from Persian terms meaning “rose water,” usually refers to a mint-and-bourbon alcoholic beverage with a kick as strong as a Kentucky Derby winner. But one family from North Carolina has a sauce they call julep: a half...
Someone should write a love letter to a new book called Letters of Note. It’s a splendid collection of all kinds of correspondence through the ages: Elvis Presley fans writing to the president, children making suggestions to famous...
In parts of the American South, a can of creasies is a can of watercress salad, also known as salad greens. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Creasies” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this is Mary Beth Wood. Hi...
Lori from Swansboro, North Carolina, wonders about pure-T mommicked, which in many parts of the South and South Midlands means “confused.” Its sense of “harrass, tease, impose upon” is particularly common in North Carolina...
Touchous means tender, sore, or painful to the touch, as in a twisted hand that’s still “right touchous” a few days later. Ken in Richmond grew up hearing it from his eastern North Carolina family. The word is heard in the South and South Midlands...