DIALECT AND WORD MEANINGS

[Stanley]

[Whyperion]

Snow Pellets
a cold front turning the showers to a sleety hail (hail that is not heavy stones more heavy snowflakes)

mentioned on the Met Office Forecast (Thanks to Stanley for informing me of this)

They fall sometimes, but not often. I assume it is different atmosphere conditions and seems to be when air temps at ground level are only just around freezing or a touch above. Also the Cold front is quite visible as opposed to snow where the cloud is blanketed above where it falls , and hail where the cold front edge is quite cold and even more prounounced at first. at least in my London experience.

I might have happened once or twice when I was in Burnley. The cat came in somewhat sticky in wetness and most keen to find a warmer spot somewhere.

Wikipedia says more :
Snow pellets, also known as graupel, are a type of precipitation that forms when supercooled water droplets in the air collect and freeze on falling snowflakes, creating small balls of crisp, opaque rime. These pellets are generally conical or rounded and can have a diameter of up to 5 mm.

Sciencenow.com goes further
In Scotland, where it snows for about 60 days a year in the highlands, there are 421 commonly known words and phrases used to describe snow crystals. These words range from flindrikin, which means a "slight snow shower," to snaw-pouther, which describes a "fine but driving snow." The Scots clearly aren't lumping all their snowfall into one category.

Neither are many other cultures, including the Inuit people who inhabit Arctic regions of Alaska, Greenland, Canada and Siberia. In the Inuit language there are more than 50 words for snow pellets and snow-adjacent precipitation, such as graupel. In the Inuit dialect spoken primarily in Canada's Nunavik region, "matsaaruti" is the word used to describe wet snow pellets, while "pukak" refers to a crystalline powder snow that has the grainy consistency of salt.

Graupel, in general, has the appearance of riced cauliflower and this gives us a clue as to the origin of the precipitation's name, "graupel." The word graupel first appeared in the Germanic languages and is derived from "graupe," which is the word for pearl barley. The word graupel's first known association with grainy falling snowflakes, pellets or soft hail, was in 1889 when a weather report used it to describe rimed snow crystal pellets. In modern use, the word "graupel" has become a synonym for "soft hail."

It goes on:

The most important criteria of rime is that it is comprised of supercooled rain that freezes and attaches to an exposed surface during winter storms. When that exposed surface is a snowflake, this rime creates graupel, but that's not the only condition in which raindrops freeze around an object at its core, creating ice pellets. This type of freezing process can encapsulate many objects, including trees and branches, resulting in a winter wonderland full of glittery surfaces.

Depending on how these frozen surfaces are coated, however, it may not be rime that's responsible at all — but the hoar frost that forms. Hoar frost has a similar look to rime, but skips the supercooled droplets stage of formation. It goes straight to crystallizing into ice pellets, forming fragile frozen droplets on just about anything it encounters during low-to-the-ground freezing temperatures: grasses, leaves, branches and even the occasional unfortunate spider.
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So rime, thats a word we dont seem to hear so often , and I think what fell on Thursday in SW London wasnt quite a full Graupel, so maybe a variant name somewhere or other.

[Stanley]

I used the word rave this morning, not in the best known sense but in its meaning as a noun: rave; plural noun: raves. A rail of a cart. A permanent or removable framework added to the sides or ends of a cart to increase its capacity.
The ladder like structure you see used in haytime to support high bulky loads of hay.

[Stanley]

"One fell swoop!" crossed my mind this morning because I thought I knew what 'fell' was about so I checked....
The phrase "one fell swoop" originates from Shakespeare's Macbeth, where it's used to describe the swift and cruel manner in which Macduff's family is murdered, with "fell" originally meaning "cruel" or "ruthless"

[Tizer]

In Cornish the word `falh' means a scythe. Perhaps Shakespeare had been on holiday in Cornwall!

[Whyperion]

I thought Fell was "to cut down" / "to bring down"

[Tripps]

Two Irishmen saw an advert saying "Tree fellers required - start immediately".

"No good to us" said Patrick to Michael - there's only the two of us.

[Stanley]

The screen tells me you are online David..... Isn't it funny how groups always have someone who is the butt of jokes? In Cheshire it used to be 'Derbyshire born Derbyshire bred. Strong in the arm and thick in the head.'

[Cathy]

Have you heard of the word Swullocking?
I learnt of it today, while watching The Chase.
.
Swullocking is an old East Anglian dialect word , meaning overpoweringly hot, sweltering, sultry, and sweat inducing.
It’s related to the word “Swelking”.

[Stanley]

No I haven't Cathy but no doubt related to 'sweltering' as well.

[Stanley]

I heard a lady economist use the word 'inchoate' in an answer to a question she was giving. I realised I wasn't sure what it meant... So of course I looked it up....
Inchoate is most often used to describe something that is not, or not yet, completely formed or developed. It's a formal word that's sure to add pizzazz to any conversation—but only if you start working on pronouncing it correctly.

[Tripps]

Nice word - heard of it, but never sure what it actually meant. Thanks.

Here's an interesting new word - Japanese - "Tsundoku". If the cap fits. . . .

The Japanese even have a term for the concept: tsundoku, which literally translates to “pile of books to read”. There is very little in the way of judgement, though – as the memes suggest, the practice comes with a wry self-deprecation, an underlying note of pride rather than shame about being the kind of person who just can’t stop buying books.

[Stanley]

That definitely applied to me once of a day David but as my sight deteriorates (And also my mind I think) I am free of the compulsion now.

On another matter....
They say that small things amuse small minds. Here's a small thing that crossed my path yesterday.
You may remember that a few weeks ago the supermarkets stopped using coloured screw caps on plastic bottles of milk. Purely by chance I was listening to an interview on World Service about recycling and the lady said that an example of a small change that could have inordinate results was stopping using coloured screw caps on milk bottles. These were recycled with the white bottles and were seen by the industry as a contaminant. Changing to white caps has enormous consequences. That all makes sense and my nosey mind is satisfied now.

[Tizer]

I'm surprised that you've only seen them `a few weeks ago', we've had them for much longer. When it began we noticed two things. You had to take more care buying the milk and look at the label and not the top so that you got the type (full fat, skimmed etc) that you wanted. Also, at home I found myself picking up the bottle from the table at breakfast and trying to pour from it and nothing coming out!
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Back to words...
A word from another world.. `clacks'

[PanBiker]

You don't have the problem if you use your local milkman. All our milk has silver tops and a gold one for the orange juice.

[Tripps]

I saw this in the comments section of a website

"his Mam must have taken him out for a walk in his Tansad. "

Wondered how many readers knew what a Tansad was.

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I also heard the word "merch" used without explanation, in a national radio news bulletin.

I think I'll give up. . . .

[Stanley]

Sorry Peter but in the real world a clack is a non return valve in a pipe. So named because of the sharp sound it makes when it closes....
David, I had to look Tan-Sad up!
"Tan-Sad" is a British company that originally manufactured pushchairs and later expanded into producing industrial chairs, particularly for typists and machinists. The name "Tan-Sad" is believed to have come from the French word "Tansad," meaning the extra seat behind a horse or motorcycle. These chairs were known for their adjustable height and comfort, making them a popular choice for industrial settings
Merch.... well spotted David. It seems to be getting established. I hate it!

[Tizer]

I noted the following problem in a recent news report. It said that the price of an item had been `increased three times'. I read that as meaning the price went up in three steps. But I could tell from the context that what the writer meant was `increased three-fold'. Do they no longer teach English Language in schools?

[Whyperion]

I also heard the word "merch" used without explanation, in a national radio news bulletin.
I think I'll give up. . . .

While it derives from Merchandise (itself as present understood a shortening from General Merchandise - often that used in the likes of the objects clauses of Limited Companies and VAT / Tariff Codes ) . Merch has a more specific meaning of things sold by a particular entity , often a website or person mainly promoting themselves - so Manchester United replica kits authorised logo'd pencil cases and mugs , hoodies and the like. Mainly sold by internet ordering on dedicated website or webpage ( though I guess some is mail order or bought in the shop or concession ). Fulfillment may be by the seller or a contract specialist.

[Tripps]

Thanks for "reaching out" and "sharing" that useful information.

[Stanley]

Peter, to try to answer your question. I think the problem is more complex than the level of teaching in schools of English. (Although I was delighted to find I had a head start in 'Linguistics' at Lancaster because they had taught me Grammar at school in the 50's. I hadn't realised but it was no longer taught.)
I think there is a secondary reason, the fact that so many people don't read, they watch screens instead and think that they have the same educational value. Not so, even our comics were well written and spelt.

[Stanley]

I have an idea I have reached out and shared this before, If so please forgive me.
I used to live with a lady who was born at Seascale on the NE coast I learned from her that the crease where the top of your thigh meets your stomach is known as your 'lisk'. Essential knowledge I feel....

[Tripps]

Dysania

Dysania is a term describing the persistent and extreme difficulty in getting out of bed, even after sufficient sleep, and is often associated with a strong desire to stay in bed. It's considered a type of sleep inertia, but more pronounced and often linked to anxiety or mental health concerns. While not a formally recognized medical condition, it can significantly impact one's quality of life.

I think I've caught it. . .

[Stanley]

I've always had it! I always thought it was the same mechanism as not wanting to get in a bath of cold water. It's because it's a voluntary worsening of your condition.....

[Tizer]

I think I've caught it. . .

I think I've always had it.