People of Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, use this word deriving from the German spoken by early settlers. It means "twist", "jog" or "push" as in "Give the peavy a little rutch and the log'll seat in the load".
Wasn't this originally "tinker's dam(n)? The dam was apparently a wad of clay to contain solder while it hardened, and, being worthless, was used in the same sense as "fig" as in "don't give as ...". Timid souls would use it as a euphemism for "damn" in the profane sense.
Comments by glenhaven
glenhaven commented on the word rutch
People of Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, use this word deriving from the German spoken by early settlers. It means "twist", "jog" or "push" as in "Give the peavy a little rutch and the log'll seat in the load".
February 16, 2011
glenhaven commented on the word joist
In Atlantic Canada the common pronunciation of the plural is not "joists" but "joyces". To say it otherwise betrays you as an amateur.
February 16, 2011
glenhaven commented on the word fid
Often used in combination with "hand", as in "Hand fid".
February 16, 2011
glenhaven commented on the word vang
This is still commonly used in yachting, principally in the form "boom-vang".
February 16, 2011
glenhaven commented on the word tinker's cuss
Wasn't this originally "tinker's dam(n)? The dam was apparently a wad of clay to contain solder while it hardened, and, being worthless, was used in the same sense as "fig" as in "don't give as ...". Timid souls would use it as a euphemism for "damn" in the profane sense.
February 16, 2011
glenhaven commented on the word thole
In Nova Scotia the wooden pins used as oarlocks in dories and mackerel flats are set into the tholes and are pronounced "tullpins".
February 16, 2011
glenhaven commented on the word gurry
Used generically in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland as a term for any kind of dried fish offal on a cutting table or boat.
February 16, 2011
glenhaven commented on the word drug
Here in Nova Scotia, seamen and fishermen refer to a sea anchor towed behind a vessel as a "drug", from the local past tense of "drag".
February 16, 2011