What in the heck are they saying? A Clingstone Glossary

As a regular part of my blog, I’m going to decipher some of the more unusual expressions found in Clingstone. I developed my characters’ vernacular by examining 19th century dictionaries, correspondence, and civil war diaries. Some phrases were quaint, others imaginative, and still others downright odd. Several make me smile, and I can’t help but think our modern lexicon would benefit from their resurgence. A vernacular renaissance, so to speak. I’ve even provided examples reimagining them in contemporary conversations; all you need do is insert them in everyday chats, and voila! Your friends and family will instantly be baffled, but also impressed. Now go forth and share these charming colloquialisms!

Acknowledge the corn-to admit to or acknowledge a wrongdoing

• EXAMPLE: “Sorry, lady—sorry I didn’t break your cussed leg, that is! I seed you throw that there rock. Time to ’fess up an’ acknowledge the corn, as my mama used to say.”
• EXAMPLE: “I cheated on my diet yesterday and ate a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Karamel Sutra. I humbly acknowledge the corn, but I’m not responsible for the missing pint of Boom Chocolatta.”

 
Honey-fuggle-to deceive or mislead

• EXAMPLE: “He’s still mighty furious with the way Mr. Roché an’ Mr. Adams honey-fuggled ’im. I hear he took a few of the bosses off somewheres for interrogation. Fact is, I seed ’im take John Brown an’ Jason Wood, an’ they was a-howlin’ and a-pleadin’ for their lives! Downright awkward if you ask me, seein’ grown men bawl an’ whatnot.”
• EXAMPLE: “My cable provider really honey-fuggled me when they quoted my monthly bill.”

 
To give him the mitten- an expression describing a girl who rejects her suitor

• EXAMPLE: “I nary said I accepted Lonnie Hoffmire’s absurd proposal. Hmph. I gave ’im the mitten.”
• EXAMPLE: “Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris have been dating for over a year now. I wonder when she’s going to give him the mitten.”

 
To give him Jesse-to thrash, to beat up

• EXAMPLE: “Don’t fret, Mae! Uncle Creighton’s fit as a fiddle.” Owen, literally bouncing with excitement, grabbed Creighton’s shirt from her and tied it around his waist for safekeeping. “He’s a real tough case! He had to be growin’ up. He said the other boys always gave him Jesse comin’ home from school, leastways till he learned how to throw a top rail sockdologer.”
• EXAMPLE: “If I had the writers of The Walking Dead Season 6 finale in front of me right now, I would thump them upside the collective head and generally give them Jesse.”

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