Grew up on the north shore. Never heard dooryard until I started spending time in Charlotte County. I also heard, "couple few" in that county. "How bad was the lineup at Tim Hortons?" "Not bad, there was a couple few ahead of me."
I've never heard of a dooryard - fascinating post, Mark!
Talking to US contacts I've never quite got to grips with the difference between 'garden' and 'yard'. Over here in UK, a 'yard' is what you'd call a small, concreted, area with a wall around it outside the back of a small terraced house, where you'd store the dustbins and hang out your washing to dry. It might have a coal bunker, and perhaps a small lean-to shed. The house I lived in as a student had exactly this.
Talking to an American lady once about where she lived, I asked her if she had a garden. 'A GARDEN? Gee, I'd LOVE a GARDEN. We have a yard!'
When she explained what her yard looked like, what she was describing was exactly what I'd call a garden! I'm still wondering what is meant by 'garden' in US English. Wish I'd asked her at the time.
The differences are always interesting! In US (and Canada) a garden is a place where we grow plants. Flower garden = place where flowers are grown. Vegetable garden = place where edible vegetables are grown.
My understanding is that the British garden might also be called a lawn in North America, where we would normally have grass, possibly ornaments, etc. Largely unused green space, mainly for decoration but could also be a spot where kids play.
Thanks for the explanation, Mark! It's fascinating that these things are different. Over here a garden is simply the piece of cultivated ground (ie isn't just a concrete yard) around your house. A house might have a front garden and a back garden, and it might have a lawn or vegetable beds or flower beds or trees or a pond or all of those things, but it's the piece of ground that we call the garden. Some gardens don't have lawns, but if you've a lawn on your property, well, the lawn is in the garden!
Dooryard is definitely used in Miramichi! I personally don’t use it but that’s because I have a relatively muddled background (read: my family moved around a lot more, and well before it was common in the region) compared to many Maritimers.
There is a poem by Walt Whitman "When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom'd" that was written when he was visiting his mother. The Walt Whitman House (photo on Wikipedia) does appear to have a dooryard with a lilac bush next to it.
I've only heard dooryard used by a favorite author who lives in Maine, Tim Cotton. He used it in one of his titles: Detective in the Dooryard.
One of the strangest terms I've heard since moving to my town in rural Mississippi is "repast." Mind you, I've lived only an hour away from this town for decades, but I never heard the term until I moved here. It's the meal after a funeral, if you don't know. Interested to know if anyone else uses this term.
I have heard dooryard here in Maine! (And had to figure out the meaning from context clues.) I'm here for the fiddlehead talk (Fiddlehead Friday?). I love them.
Interesting! I like things like this. I can't think of any lingo specific to my area in the PNW, but I'm sure there's something. Perhaps I just don't realize it's not a word regularly used elsewhere? One thing that's been fun for me is learning the different words my British husband uses for things. Shopping carts are "trolleys" for example. He calls rutabagas "swedes," which caused great confusion for the grocery checkers who inevitably have to ask what they are. Words are so fascinating!
Interesting! In a small subsection of the Midwest, including where I live in Michigan, we have a term called "doorwall". It means a sliding glass door that opens to the backyard.
Language is such an interesting thing. I studied linguistics a long time ago and wish I could remember more. I learned English in Germany where we were taught the Queens or Oxford English. Imagine my surprise when I first moved to Florida and how different it was. I was often confused!
Ayuh, you’re right about Mainiacs using the word “dooryard.” And phonetically spot on. I’ve lived all over Maine and hear it mainly downeast (Washington County) and from Bangor north.
I heard of dooryard in the Trenton, Ontario area. Did you play “Nicky Nicky Nine Doors” as a child? That’s ringing the bell and running away. It was popular and every Toronto kid knew what it meant in the 50s but they don’t seem to be familiar with the expression today, or even the game — too busy with their devices, I guess. Too bad, as it provided exercise for both kids and homeowners who had to get up to answer the door and maybe even chase those kids. I understand the practice has different names in other parts of the country
Love this! I grew up in Victoria County and we used dooryard as well. I also had a business for a few years in CC...lovely people. I made friends for life. A colloquialism we used often living near the border with Maine is, "going across", "across the line", and/or "going over cross". I'm not sure if other border towns use this slang as well. It's funny when I'm here in Fredericton and I talk about "going over cross". They always reply, "Across what?" 🤣
Grew up on the north shore. Never heard dooryard until I started spending time in Charlotte County. I also heard, "couple few" in that county. "How bad was the lineup at Tim Hortons?" "Not bad, there was a couple few ahead of me."
I've never heard of a dooryard - fascinating post, Mark!
Talking to US contacts I've never quite got to grips with the difference between 'garden' and 'yard'. Over here in UK, a 'yard' is what you'd call a small, concreted, area with a wall around it outside the back of a small terraced house, where you'd store the dustbins and hang out your washing to dry. It might have a coal bunker, and perhaps a small lean-to shed. The house I lived in as a student had exactly this.
Talking to an American lady once about where she lived, I asked her if she had a garden. 'A GARDEN? Gee, I'd LOVE a GARDEN. We have a yard!'
When she explained what her yard looked like, what she was describing was exactly what I'd call a garden! I'm still wondering what is meant by 'garden' in US English. Wish I'd asked her at the time.
The differences are always interesting! In US (and Canada) a garden is a place where we grow plants. Flower garden = place where flowers are grown. Vegetable garden = place where edible vegetables are grown.
My understanding is that the British garden might also be called a lawn in North America, where we would normally have grass, possibly ornaments, etc. Largely unused green space, mainly for decoration but could also be a spot where kids play.
Thanks for the explanation, Mark! It's fascinating that these things are different. Over here a garden is simply the piece of cultivated ground (ie isn't just a concrete yard) around your house. A house might have a front garden and a back garden, and it might have a lawn or vegetable beds or flower beds or trees or a pond or all of those things, but it's the piece of ground that we call the garden. Some gardens don't have lawns, but if you've a lawn on your property, well, the lawn is in the garden!
Dooryard is definitely used in Miramichi! I personally don’t use it but that’s because I have a relatively muddled background (read: my family moved around a lot more, and well before it was common in the region) compared to many Maritimers.
Seems like it may be fairly common in predominantly English speaking parts of the province!
There is a poem by Walt Whitman "When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom'd" that was written when he was visiting his mother. The Walt Whitman House (photo on Wikipedia) does appear to have a dooryard with a lilac bush next to it.
I’ve never heard that term (outside the Picaroons’ brew). Maybe it’s more northern than southern NB? Or I live in a cave. (Also plausible.)
:: jaw drops ::
I've only heard dooryard used by a favorite author who lives in Maine, Tim Cotton. He used it in one of his titles: Detective in the Dooryard.
One of the strangest terms I've heard since moving to my town in rural Mississippi is "repast." Mind you, I've lived only an hour away from this town for decades, but I never heard the term until I moved here. It's the meal after a funeral, if you don't know. Interested to know if anyone else uses this term.
I haven't heard repast used this way before! I just thought it meant any meal.
I have heard dooryard here in Maine! (And had to figure out the meaning from context clues.) I'm here for the fiddlehead talk (Fiddlehead Friday?). I love them.
Interesting! I like things like this. I can't think of any lingo specific to my area in the PNW, but I'm sure there's something. Perhaps I just don't realize it's not a word regularly used elsewhere? One thing that's been fun for me is learning the different words my British husband uses for things. Shopping carts are "trolleys" for example. He calls rutabagas "swedes," which caused great confusion for the grocery checkers who inevitably have to ask what they are. Words are so fascinating!
Fascinating! Tell us about Fiddleheads!
Oh, I have to save that for another post!
Interesting! In a small subsection of the Midwest, including where I live in Michigan, we have a term called "doorwall". It means a sliding glass door that opens to the backyard.
Language is such an interesting thing. I studied linguistics a long time ago and wish I could remember more. I learned English in Germany where we were taught the Queens or Oxford English. Imagine my surprise when I first moved to Florida and how different it was. I was often confused!
Isn’t there a Dooryard Arts Festival in Carleton co.? And I think picaroons makes a tasty Dooryard IPA 🍺
yes to both!
Ayuh, you’re right about Mainiacs using the word “dooryard.” And phonetically spot on. I’ve lived all over Maine and hear it mainly downeast (Washington County) and from Bangor north.
I heard of dooryard in the Trenton, Ontario area. Did you play “Nicky Nicky Nine Doors” as a child? That’s ringing the bell and running away. It was popular and every Toronto kid knew what it meant in the 50s but they don’t seem to be familiar with the expression today, or even the game — too busy with their devices, I guess. Too bad, as it provided exercise for both kids and homeowners who had to get up to answer the door and maybe even chase those kids. I understand the practice has different names in other parts of the country
Love this! I grew up in Victoria County and we used dooryard as well. I also had a business for a few years in CC...lovely people. I made friends for life. A colloquialism we used often living near the border with Maine is, "going across", "across the line", and/or "going over cross". I'm not sure if other border towns use this slang as well. It's funny when I'm here in Fredericton and I talk about "going over cross". They always reply, "Across what?" 🤣