Dictionary
Dictionary

This dictionary lists some words associated with the Southwestern Pennsylvania/Pittsburgh area. Not all of these words are still in use, but some are still quite common in the area today.

 

Babushka
Definition: A scarf traditionally worn to cover the head.

Text example: "This headpiece is a cross between a babushka and a snood."
-From the 1945 New Leader, Richmond, VA

Origin: The exact origin of the word is unknown, but it is originally from the Russian language, where it means "grandmother." It probably came into use in the U.S. in places where Eastern European immigrant women used these scarves.

Source: The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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Berm
Definition: Shoulder of the road. Also common in Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia.

Origin: The bank of a canal opposite the tow path. Later used for a ridge at the side of the road used by loggers and road builders, then the shoulder of a road.

Source: The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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butterbread
Butterbread
Definition: Bread spread with butter.

Text example: 1907: "I only had butterbread
and coffee soup." -Betrothal (Martin, 1970)

Origin: The exact origin of this word is unkown,
but it appears to come from Pennsylvania German, where "Butterbrot" means buttered bread..

Source: The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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Chipped Ham
Definition: Very thinly sliced ham.

Origin: Isaly's, a local delicatessen, chipped ham on a beef chipper to use for luncheon meat.

Source: Klondikes, Chipped Ham, and Skyscraper Cones: The Story of Isaly's, Brian Buttko. (Stackpole Books, 2001)

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Diamond
Definition: Town square. Pittsburgh's "Diamond" was the square around the old city market (now Market Square). Diamond Street still leads to this square.

Text example: "In all the towns of Pa. of any size, the public buildings and offices are built on squares, in the centers of their towns, called 'diamonds.'" -Pennsylvania (Royall, 1829).

Origin: Used in Northern Ireland; its language of origin is English.

Source: Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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Drooth
Definition: Drought; a state of dryness or aridity.

Origin: This is the Scottish pronunciation of the word. Its language of origin is Scots-Irish English.

Source: Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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Flanken
Definition: A cut of beef similar to short ribs or flank steaks.

Text example: " Flanken soup-3lbs plate flank, beef bones, etc."
-Gossenger Jewish Cooking, 1958

Origin: Its language of origin is likely Yiddish; 'flanken' in Yiddish means 'sides of beef'.

Source: Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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Gesundheit
Definition: Used as an expression of goodwill for one who has sneezed.

Text example: "'Zur Gesundheit,' a good wish addressed by Germans to one who has sneezed." -Century Dictionary Supplement, 1911

Origin: Its language of origin is German; it literally means 'health'.

Source: Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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Golumpki
Definition: Pigs in a blanket, or stuffed cabbage holishkes.

Origin: There are many different variations of this word. They all stem from Eastern European roots: 'golabki' (Polish), 'holub' (Ukranian, Czech), and 'holep' (Yiddish).

Source: Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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gumband
Gumband
Definition: Rubber band

Text example: "When they asked for a gumband they (Georgians) had no idea I was asking for a rubberband."
-1972 Atlanta letters

Origin: The source language is English. 'Gum' is a common alternative for 'rubber', as in 'gum boots' and 'gumshoe'. It is possible that rubber bands were originally sold in the Pittsburgh area under the trade name 'gumband'.

Source: Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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Halushky
Definition: Dumplings or broad noodles in with fried cabbage or onions.

Text example: Fry [cabbage in butter]. Now take the wide noodles [halushki] ... put into fried cabbage.
-Randle Cookbooks, 1965.

Origin: The exact origin of the word is unknown, but the source language is Slavic.
It was brought to the Pittsburgh area by Eastern European immigrants.

Source: The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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Hap
Definition: A comforter or quilt.

Text example: "[A hap is] a wadded covering for a bed; a comfort" -German American Annals, 1907.

Origin: Scots-Irish English.

Source: The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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Hidey-go-seek; hide and seek
Definition: Hide and go seek, a popular children's hiding game.

Origin: The exact origin of these alternate forms of 'hide and go seek' is unknown;
they were originally recorded in Pennsylvania and may no longer be in use.

Source: The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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Hoagie
Hoagie
Definition: Throughout Pennsylvania, a hoagie is a submarine sandwich.

Text example: "When my mother was dating,
a common thing to do was to go to one of the neighborhood groceries on the south side,
in the Italian area, and get a hoagie." -author unknown, Philadelphia, 1937.

Origin: The exact origin of the word is unknown. This word is believed to have
originated in Philadelphia.

Source: The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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Hokey-pokey
Definition: An inexpensive confection, especially flavored ice or ice cream.

Text example: "In Pittsburgh around 1900 we boys bought from the itinerant 'hokey-pokey ice-cream
man' a ... confection called a snowball." -quoted in a 1960 dictionary of slang.

Origin: The origin and source language of this word are unknown.

Source: The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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Hutch; hutch-cupboard
Definition: A chest of drawers. (This word is widely used for a different furniture item;
its use for a chest of drawers is limited to an area including Pennsylvania, however.)

Origin: The origin of this word is unknown, but the source language is likely English.

Source: The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE); The Oxford English Dictionary (OED).

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Jag (as in jag off or jagging around)
Definition: Various forms involving 'jag' have to do with annoying, irritating, teasing, or playing tricks on.
To jag someone or jag someone off means to irritate or tease. To jag around means to fool around,
goof off. A jagoff is a person who is irritating because of being inept or stupid.

Text example: "I don't know why she keeps jagging me all the time"
-Dictionary of American Regional English, 1968.

Origin: The exact origin of this word is unknown, but the source language is probably Scots-Irish English. 'To jag' means to turn sharply.

Source: The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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JaggerBush
Jagger
Definition: A thorn or burr.

Text example: "Jagger: any small, sharp-pointed object or implement. Applicablechiefly to thorns or briars." -Dictionary of American Regional English, citation from 1923.

Origin: In British English, a 'jag' is a prickly tendril.

Source: The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).
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Jaggerbush
Definition: A bush with thorns or burrs.

Origin: In British English, a 'jag' is a prickly tendril.

Source: The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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Jumbo
Definition: Bologna sausage.

Text example: "How do you recognize a Pittsburgher? Where else but here does one serve 'jumbo' (bologna) for lunch?" -New Haven Register, Connecticut, 1978.

Origin: A derivative of 'jumbo bologna,' which was likely originally a trade name.

Source: The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE).

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Nebby
Definition: Nosy, snoopy, inquisitive. Used as an adjective or noun.
Another noun form is 'nebnose.'

Origin: In British English, the 'neb' is the nose or snout of an animal.

Source: The Oxford English Dictionary.

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Need x-ed ("The car needs washed";"The grass needs cut", etc.)
Definition: "The car needs washed" = "The car needs to be washed", or, in some British dialects,
"The car needs washing."

Origin: This grammatical construction was brought to the American colonies by Scots-Irish immigrants
in the 18th century.

Source: Thomas E. Murray et al., "Need + Past Participle in American English."
American Speech, Fall 1996.

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PopPop
Definition: a carbonated soda or soft drink.

Origin: In British English, 'pop' is an effervescent drink,
as in ginger pop or soda pop. This form is widespread
in the US as well, as an alternative to 'soda,' 'soft drink,' etc.

Source: The Oxford English Dictionary.

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Redd up

Definition: To clean up or tidy.

Origin: In Scots-Irish English, 'to redd' is to clear an area or make it tidy.

Source: The Oxford English Dictionary.

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Slippy
Definition: Slippery

Origin: The exact origin of this word is unknown, but it is likely Scots-Irish English.
This form of the word 'slippery' is still in use in Belfast.

Source: The Oxford English Dictionary.

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Yinz (also spelled Yunz, Younz, etc.)
Definition: You, plural; you guys.

Origin: Scots-Irish English. Other forms that are also from Scots-Irish are 'you'uns'
(another version of yinz) and 'y'all' (in widespread use in the southern US).



 

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