D

Dab-hand relates to proficiency. 'He's a dab-hand at hangin' paper' From: Sian Ferguson

Dander: Stroll.

'Dander down til the bakery and git us a wee lodger's loaf and a bap.'

'She's away for a bittava dander, t'git her head sharred.'

Dandlin' - Bouncing a child on a knee. From Bill Dill

Dayin: Doing - as in 'I'm no dayin that!' or 'What are ye dayin?' From: Joanne

Dead - very. "that's dead nice" From m

Dead end (to take one's): Amused, entertained.

'I take m'dead end at that Ricky Gervais fella, so ah do.'

Dead on: Ok.
'Left a bit, that's dead on ni.' 'Ach, he's dead on, so he is.' 'Dead on, mate.' Note: A change of tone and 'Ay dead on' can mean: 'Who do you think you are trying to kid?' 'You haven't a chance' or 'Do you really expect me to believe that?'

Deadly: in Lurgan always means difficult, not excellent or fantastic. e.g. "That computer game's deadly to complete." From: Stephen

Deave: Deafen, annoy with noise, talk or nagging.

'I cudn't stick it in there, ah was near deaved.'

Decko - to have a quick furtive look. Have a wee decko out there an see if ma da's coming

Deid on: Ulster Scots North Antrim for dead on. From: Bob Hamill

Delph: Crockery. Little-used now, except in the expression 'thon fella'll not break much delph', meaning he'll not make much of an impact.

Delph missin.. meaning teeth missing. From Des (Someone with no teeth would be described as having all their delph missin' or as not having a bar in their grate - Ed)

Desbert - How awful. From Kevin

Desperate: Bad.

'That's a desperate cold y've got there.'

'This party's desperate, I'm goin' home.'

Devalve - shut up, take a breath
'he never devalves' From: John.

Dial meaning face. You'll get a punch the dial so you will. From Des

Diddies - large breasts. From Al.

Diddler - person (usually male) of questionable morals; swindler; chancer. Also vb; to diddle. From Gayle

Dig meaning punch. Gi him a dig in the gub. From: Des

Dinge: Dent.

'There's a coupla wee dinges in it but it's drivin' well'. Dominic Campbell adds: Dinge is also used in the expression "Don't put a dinge on her" ie: don't get her in the family way.

Dingin - I'll ge'ye a dingin lug, so I will. I will hit you on the ear, making it ring. From: Bill

Dinny: unsure, I dinny know where the bog is, (I dont know where the toilet is) Mostly used in North Antrim. From Sarah Jessica Parker??

Disabells: (Tyrone):old clothes used for working or relaxing in "he called so early in the morning and me only in my disabells" - probably from the French habiller, to dress. From: Robert.
Pat adds - old clothes, pyjamas. This is a word my mum, from Newry, used to describe what I was wearing most of the time. Definitely not clothes you could be seen in company with.

Divid: Divided.

'The world is ill-divid.'

Dobbing: playing truant from school (Derry City) From: Sally Kelly

Dodgy: Sly, disreputable, of questionable character/morals. From: Sally Kelly

Doin a line: Nothing to do with drugs. Going out with, courting.

'Sure, did ye nat hear? She's bin doin a line wi him at the tap o the street this weeks.'

Doing the Double: To receive unemployment benefit fradulently ie whilst working or in employment. From: Sally Kelly

Donkey: Fringe. -"wud ye look at the hack of that wee fella's donkey" as in poor cut. From: Julie Craig

Donkeys (Ages) - A long period of time. 'How's it goin? I haven't seen ye in Donkey's! From: Terence Donnelly

Donkey's lug: A coconut finger, a kind of bread roll with a coconut topping. See also lug. From: Gavin

Done out: worn out, exhausted. eg: "Don't be bothering yer morr - can't ye see she's done out?" From Dominic Campbell.

Doofer: when someone dosnt know or cant remember what an item or article is called ?? - give us that doofer over there til i sort this out! From: Jim Turkington

Doorsteps: thick sandwiches in your piece. From anon.

Dootsie- not in fashion- 'that dress is wile dootsie' From Deirdre

Dornix - disorganised person (esp. in L'derry). "Sure yon boy's a dornix" From Andy.

Dose: Disparaging term for an extremely wearing, annoying person ie "Isn't yer man a real dose!". From: Sally Kelly

Dote; as in 'aren't you a wee dote'. Said when admiring new baby or small child. From Kathleen Mallon

Doubt - The verb "to doubt" is used in the sense of "to suspect". "I doubt he's not comin'" From: Dermot

Dozer: Lazy, sloppy, careless or dim person. Usually expressed in the negative: 'He's no dozer.'

Drachy: (Pron. draky) Cold and wet (weather). From: Brian

Dreagh day - A day of fine drizzle. From Bill Dill

Drink o' water: an undernourished-looking ineffectual person. "There's not much harm in him; sure he's only a big long drink o'water". From Dominic Campbell

Drooth: Thirst - 'Jaze, Ah've a wile drooth on me'. From: Brian

Dry Boke: To feel particularly stomach churned. From: Sally Kelly

Dub - puddle
'Mind ye don't step in yon dub' From: John

Duckies: fist size stones ("they were firin' duckies at the peelers") From: Fiona Chambers

Duhill/Duhal: A mound of rubbish/a midden; used also to describe a large or overweight untidy person. From: Sally Kelly #

Duke: (look out the window or door) as in 'have a wee duke out the window.' From Lilian Tinsley. (see also jouk)

Duncher meaning cap.I have worn the same duncher for years. From Des

Dunder: Bang noisily.

'Y'll need til give thon door a right dunder, her oul hearin's not the best.'

Dunderin-in: Shabby, dilapidated place.

'Ah'm stayin' here, it's nathin but an oul dunderin-in, so it's nat.'

Dunging out: He gave the place a good dunging out, meaning the cleaned it well. From: Des Hamill

Dunt: Blow, thump.

'Give it a wee dunt wi the heel o' yer hand.'

'He hit him a quare dunt, so he did.' Dominic Campbell adds: Dunch, variant of dunt. eg: "The master gave me a quare dunch when he came in, and scattered all round him"

Dwamel: A weak turn, fainting fit (usually prefixed with 'wee' for small ie "She took a wee dwamel the other day". From: Sally Kelly

Dwamy...unsteady on your feet.
'I can't go out I'm a bit dwamy the day.' From: Gloria Galway.

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