I didn't grow up around the water, and I've never been part of a boating family. However, I've always loved the water. I think this is the reason my mother got me started early taking swimming lessons.
Now that I live in South Carolina, I'm discovering new words and some of them are related to the ocean or lakes.
One such word is jetty. I mentioned to friends walking to a long stone wall off the beach. They didn't know what I meant, and finally their sweet teenage daughter said, "Do you mean the jetty?" Well, yes I did.
According to Merriam-Webster:
Definition of jetty
plural jetties
1
a : a structure extended into a sea, lake, or river to influence the current or tide or to protect a harbor
b : a protecting frame of a pier
2
: a landing wharf
So, now I know.
Another term is pluff mud. I'd read we have amazing oysters here because of the pluff mud. I even saw a young boy covered in pluff mud at the beach one day. Pluff mud is soft, deep mud. It's slippery and supposed to be found in marshy areas.
"That dog will hunt," means it's a good plan.
"A mind to," means you're thinking about doing something.
A palmetto bug is a nice way to say cockroach. And then there's a palmetto moon. I'll be honest, I'm still trying to figure that out. It's not the moon on the state flag though. (Please don't ask a history teacher that question.)
And the last one I'll share today is I've often seen this written. Instead of the Civil War, it's called The War of Northern Aggression. I'll admit I've never heard anybody say this though.
I know every region of our country has specific sayings. What are some of yours?
Thanks for the education, Jackie! Unfortunately, I was introduced many years ago, after trips to Hilton Head, about the palmetto bug. Yuck! They're huge!
ReplyDeleteHaha! I know. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWe were stationed in Florida early in our marriage. There was a joke going around that the palmetto bugs were so big that they tipped the wings of the jets sitting on the flight line! Ours were a light mossy green color but were jolting to see when you opened the silverware drawer early in the morning trying to get breakfast for your husband who had to be on base at 6:30 a.m. , Crash ! Flatware all over the floor!
ReplyDeleteWe have lived in Missouri for over twenty years now and one word that I cringe at is calling a suite of furniture a "suit" like a man's suit! We lived in Wisconsin for 11 years and there is a phrase from the UP, of Michigan: You betcha!
Thanks for a cute post.
Hi Paula, thanks for stopping by and sharing your experiences. That is way too early in the morning to see palmetto bugs.
DeleteYou betcha, sounds pretty cheerful. I like it.