Free the Word: Didlum

28 September 2017

Didlum by Dean Wilson

BBC Radio Humberside

Didlum by Dean Wilson

Humberside. Noun: A Christmas savings scheme.

I dint nick the didlum, it had nowt to do with me

def | a Christmas savings scheme.

Didlums are a way for people to spread out the cost of Christmas over the year... The word was in common use in various parts of England and Ireland from the early 1900s onwards. However, in recent decades, usage has declined in most places with the exception of Humberside. Now, if you hear the word, it’s a fair bet that the person using it will be from Hull.

Read more on the OED Blog

Bobowler by Liz Berry
A large moth. From listeners to BBC Radio WM (West Midlands).
Cheeselog by Hollie McNish
A woodlouse - selected by BBC Radio Berkshire listeners
Didlum by Dean Wilson
A community savings scheme - selected by BBC Radio Humberside listeners.
Dimpsy by Chrissy Williams
Dusk; twilight. From listeners to BBC Radio Devon.
Fam by Caleb Femi
A familiar form of address for a friend. From listeners to BBC Radio London.
City of Geg ins by Chris McCabe
To interrupt; to butt in. From listeners to BBC Radio Merseyside.
Ginnel by Vidyan Ravinthiran
An alleyway. Suggested by listeners to BBC Radio Leeds.
Gurt by Vanessa Kisuule
Very; great - suggested by listeners to BBC Radio Bristol.
Mardy by Toby Campion
Spoilt; sulky; moody. Suggested by listeners to Radio Leicester.
On the huh by Rebecca Watts
Lopsided; wonky. As suggested by listeners to BBC Radio Suffolk.
Ode to Twining by Katie Hale
To moan; to complain. From BBC Radio Cumbria.
Twitten by James Brookes
A narrow lane; an alleyway. From BBC Sussex.

Here's the Weather by Stuart A Paterson
The many Scots words related to the weather are given their freedom in Stuart's poem.

Free the Word
Mardy, gurt, cheeselogs, dreich and dimpsy: 13 poets highlight the local words that matter to you.
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