Volume III of DARE

Immerse yourself in the enchanting, diverse, constantly shifting domain of American English. Find out about julebukking in areas where Norwegians have settled; about May baskets in the Plains States, moving night in Baltimore, and Old Christmas in North Carolina; the children's game called Little Sally Walker in the South, Little Sally Waters in Pennsylvania; about a layover to catch meddlers, the north end of a chicken flying south, or a long drink of water. Learn who uses the names July fly, ivory, mayflower, no-see-um, longear, lawyer, mountain canary, or mulligrub for which of various insects, animals, or plants; discover where you can eat long johns, a lazy wife, or jack wax.

There are just oodlins of expressions and terms waiting to delight you and impress upon you the diversity of our speech, as it is used from coast to coast, farm to city, by old and young, male and female. It makes mighty good reading. We put in our best licks right from the jump.
 

Try this quiz, from Volume III:

  _____1. idiot stick            a. stilts

  _____2. inchworm               b. harvest festival

  _____3. infare days            c. catalpa bean

  _____4. johnny walkers         d. cut into pieces

  _____5. jugarum                e. bell pepper

  _____6. Juneteenth             f. report

  _____7. junk                   g. snack bar

  _____8. kermiss                h. unusual

  _____9. king's ex              i. Spanish moss

  ____10. kram                   j. shovel

  ____11. kensington             k. bullfrog

  ____12. lady cigar             l. time-out

  ____13. lanai                  m. go into hiding

  ____14. larrup                 n. press hard

  ____15. lay up                 o. inquisitive person

  ____16. mango                  p. sandstorm

  ____17. mash                   q. honeymoon

  ____18. maypop                 r. Emancipation Day

  ____19. mulligrubs             s. junky stuff

  ____20. norate                 t. porch

  ____21. neb-nose               u. thrash

  ____22. night prowler          v. passion flower

  ____23. noshery                w. looper

  ____24. off-brand              x. unwellness

  ____25. Oklahoma rain          y. sewing club

  ____26. old man's beard        z. earthworm

Click for the answers.