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In the 1800's, Anderson Valley was an isolated and quite provincial farming and
logging community. Life was hard, and entertainment was a luxury.
Sometime around 1880, a small group of Anderson Valley residents created a
few slang words to use in their private conversations, both for their
own amusement, and to confound anyone who might overhear them
harpin'
(talking). They created new words as they went, trying to
shark
(stump) their companions. Over time the vocabulary grew, as did the number of
people familiar with it. Eventually, every resident of the valley had at
least some knowledge of
Boontling
(Boonville Language), as the lingo came to be called. For many, Boontling
actually became their primary language, and they had difficulty reverting to
English when circumstances required it.
Boontling
flourished in the valley for as much as forty years, and can still be heard,
when some of the
codgy kimmies
(old men) get together. There are very few
Boont harpers
left, and its use has dwindled greatly, but evidence of the language can still
be found, if you know where to look. Local public pay-phones are
designated as
Bucky Walters
(nickel telephones). The local tow-truck has "
Boont Region De-arkin' Moshe"
(Anderson Valley Un-wrecking Machine) stenciled on the side. And the
Anderson Valley Brewing Company has christened their ales with the
Boontling
names of certain valley regions, as a tribute to the spirit of Anderson Valley
and its people. Listed below are some of the terms that we use in reference to
the Boonville beers and an assortment of other Boontling words.
Study the glossary below, and when you are ready, come take the
Boontling Challenge
. Test your knowledge of the short ling! Or, if you'd like to get a feel
of how the language sounded,
click here to read The Brightlighter's Jonnem
, a short story written in Boontling with its English translation.
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Aplenty (also plenty)
- Very, or Many
-
Apple-head
- Girl friend
-
Bahl (-er, -est)
- Good, or great (better, best; greater, greatest)
-
Bahl Hornin'
- good drinking
-
Baldies
- The primarily grassy hills to the east of Boonville, with few trees.
-
Barney Flats
- Hendy Woods National Forest. A spectacular forest of virgin redwoods,
located in Anderson Valley.
-
Belk Region
- Bell Valley. A scenic valley located just beyond the baldies, northeast of
Boonville. It was here in the hop fields, during the turn of the century, that
the language of Boontling originated.
-
Bluetail
- a Rattlesnake
-
Boarch
- To repeatedly partake of an enjoyable event or activity.
-
Boont
- Boonville. The largest community and focal center of Anderson Valley. The
town where the language of boontling originated. Now famous for its local
brewery.
-
Briney
- Ocean.
-
Bucky
- A nickel.
-
Burlap
- Sexual intercourse
-
Can-kicky
- Angry
-
Charlie Ball
- To embarass (A local American Indian of this name was easily embarrassed).
-
Chiggrul
- Food
-
Cock a Fister
- To fight.
-
Deek
- To look or see.
-
Deep Enders
- Residents of the town of Navarro, located west of Anderson Valley and
bordering the Pacific Coast.
-
Frattey
- Wine.
-
Gorm
- Food, or to eat.
-
Greymatter
- The brain; To think.
-
Harp
- To speak, esp. to speak Boontling.
-
Heelch
- A large quantity, or the whole amount of something. All.
-
High Rollers
- Residents of the town of Yorkville, the smallest town in Anderson Valley.
Located 10 miles east of Boonville.
-
Hoot
- Laugh
-
Horn
- A cup, a drink; to drink.
-
It's not just shy sluggin' gorms neemer
- Translates as "It's not just for breakfast anymore."
-
It's a slow lope'n a beeson tree
- Literally a comfortable pace on a horse, while sitting on a very comfortable
saddle. Commonly refers to a relaxed feeling, or "a mellow ride."
-
Jeffer
- A large fire. (A Boonter named Jeff built large fires in his fireplace.)
-
Kimmie
- A Male resident of Boonville. Can be extended to mean any man.
-
Larrup
- To beat up, whip, or kick the tar out of someone or something.
-
Lews and Larmers
- Gossip.
-
Ling
- Language
-
Moshe
- Any machine or devise, especially an Automobile. To use a machine. To drive
a car.
-
Nee-
- A negating combining prefix, meaning "not", "no", "don't", etc. Examples:
neeble
(no
bahl
),
neef
(no finger).
-
Neemer
- No more, not .anymore
-
- On
- A combining element in merged verbs denoting "on", "at", "to", "toward",
etc. Example:
hoot on
(laugh at),
harp on
(discuss),
deek on
(examine).
-
Ose
- A person's bottom, or rear end.
-
Ot
- To work hard; ottin' - working hard
-
Pike
- To hike, walk, or stroll
-
Plenty (also aplenty)
- Very, or Many
-
Poleeko
- Philo. The second largest town in Anderson Valley, located 6 miles west of
Boonville.
-
Region
- Area, place, locale.
-
Rudy nebs
- pristine drinking water, as from a good spring or well water; like that used
in the production of the
Boonville Beers.
-
Seep
- Wine, or to Sip.
-
Shoveltooth
- A doctor; an M.D. (A local doctor was so nicknamed because he had protruding
teeth.)
-
Shy
- to cease, leave, or quit
-
Slug
- to sleep.
-
Steinber
- beer.
-
Stook On
- In love with; infatuated with.
-
String
- To kill, maim, or beat thoroughly.
-
Teem
- Time.
-
Tidrik
- A party; a social gathering.
-
Zeese
- Coffee (A local hunting-camp cook nicknamed Zeese, from his initials Z.C.,
made bitterly strong coffee.)
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