On Thu, Mar 15, 2012 at 3:37 AM, RussellMc wrote: > > > Mixed etymology is the problem here. > > 1. Summat is slang English from certain areas. My Cheshire born uncle > used it, but it may or may not have come from his area. > > http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=3Dsummat > Yorkshire slang for "something." > Can also, more specifically, mean "something like that." > > http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/summat > Etymology > Alteration of somewhat > > Forgot about that one - "summat" is so common round here ("here" being on the border between Yorkshire and Lancashire) that I assumed (quite incorrectly of course) everyone would know what it meant :-) It probably originated in Yorkshire as the link seems to suggest, but I'd say it's used more often in common speech than "something" in both counties. I wonder how long all these less common local dialects and languages will last in the age of the Internet? Maybe one day we'll all speak Googlish? --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .