Words we used to say

A few years ago, I got to thinking about words and phrases we used to say. Not always words I said, but words I heard in the community and area where I grew up – and don’t hear too much anymore. Elsewhere some may have never used them, and some may still do.

• Divan (a sofa, couch)
• Gallery (pronounced “gal-ree,” a porch, the front porch in particular)
• Galluses (Suspenders)
• El-um (the tree)
• Sword (say it all, don’t waste the “w”)
• Chimlee or perhaps Chimblee (the vent on your fireplace)
• Chesterdrawers (Chest-O-Drawers)
• Do tell (not asking someone to tell something, but mildly expressing surprise)
• I have a bone to pick with you (didn’t want to hear Mother say this)
• Jubus (pronounced jew-bus). Used as in: “sounds kind of jubus to me” meaning one is skeptical of he or she just heard. It may be a corruption of “dubious,” and may not technically be an actual word.
• Mess of (lot of; large amount)
• Pure-dee (complete; genuine; without any impurities)
• Settee (wooden bench with a back)
• Stove up (have sore joints or muscles)
• Skedaddle (get a move on out of here)
• Touchous (used to describe someone who is overly sensitive, or we might use fractious to say they are hard to get along with)
• Tump over (spill; turn over; knock over)
• You’re better paid (thanks)
• Wampus cat (a frightening but apparently mythical creature in tales people tell)
• Words ending in “a” vowel changed to a hard “r” sound, especially but not only names (Stella becomes Steller, Ella becomes Eller, and Sarah can even become Saer-er; Potato becomes Potater, or usually Tater; Tomato becomes Tomater/Mater; and China becomes Chiner). Not sure whether this might be a Tennessee dialect. A lot of our community had Tennessee roots.

Ever hear any of these? Have some to add?