16th-17th Century Language

Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson, as well as Billy Butcherson, all spoke in the way of their time, the late 17th Century. Here are some words the people of that time would have used, and how the witches and Billy still would speak, even in the 20th or 21st century.

(I found it. It was on the Talk Like a Pilgrim of Plimoth Plantation

Instead of “Hi, how are you?” the colonists might say:
"Good morrow"
"How now?"
"How do you fare?"
"What cheer?"

Instead of “Excuse me,” the colonists might say:
"Pray pardon me"

Instead of “Congratulations!” the colonists might say:
"Huzzah!"

Instead of “goodbye,” the colonists might say:
"God bye to you"
"Fare thee well"
"Pray remember me"

Some more “new” words from old English:
Instead of fireplace, say "hearth"

Instead of cat, say "mouser"

Instead of stew or porridge, say "pottage"

Instead of pants, say "breeches"

Instead of skirt, say "petticoat"

Instead of backward, say "arsy varsy"

Instead of pillowcase, say "pillowbere"

Here's a batch of common words:
Thee, Thou, Ye = You
Wouldst, Couldst, Shouldst, etc = Would, Could, Should, etc.
Tis = It is, It’s
Sweet = Treat
Speak with thee = Talk with you
Be off with ye = Politely: Time for you to go. Rudely: Go away!
Morning meal = Breakfast
Mid-day meal = Lunch/Dinner
Evening meal = Supper

And from Billy's famous quote:
From Hocus Pocus, the scene when Billy Butcher cuts the strings holding his mouth shut:
BILLY (to Winifred)
Wench!!! Trollop!!!

BILLY (to Winifred)
You buck-toothed, mop-riding, firefly from hell!!!

BILLY (aside to Max)
I've waited centuries to say that!

Wench = Woman, usually one with loose morals, like a barmaid.
Trollop = Prostitute, Hooker

If you know of any more, please post in this thread. Thank you.

Here's another set, this one from The Colonial House:

Colonial House

a-home: at home
alonely: alone
aneath: beneath
anight: at night
angling: fishing
Bedlam: insane (Bedlam was slang for Bethlehem, in reference to Bethlehem Hospital. In addition to treating the poor and indigent, the hospital was a renowned insane asylum.)
besmirched: soiled or dirty
bewray: reveal
blockish: stupid, inept
boon: bosom (so boon companion=best friends)
brace: a pair
broider: to sew, embroider
caitiff: a wretch (used as a term of endearment)
certes: certainly
changeling: child (often wicked)
chopt: chapped
closet: room or garret
comfits: sweets, treats
con: learn
cote: cottage
counterpane: blanket or quilt
coxcomb: a fool
my dame: my mother
dainties: candies or sweetmeats
desert: wilderness, forest
engines and enticements: devices and tempting items
enroll: write down, record
ewer: pitcher
foison: harvest or abundance
fond: foolish
fortnight: two weeks
gouts: drops
holla: hello
hose: stockings
husbandry: tending to farm animals, farming
huswives: housewives
Huzzah!: Hurray! Whoo-hoo!
ken: know
"the jakes": the toilet
launder: to wash
maize: corn
malapert: brazen; impertinent
marry: a mild oath
maugre: despite
mayhap: perhaps
morrow: morning
mote: might
my lord and lady: my father and mother
napkins: handkerchiefs
ne: not (it negates whatever follows, like "ne" in French)
"needs must": have to
noisome: filthy, unrefined
nis: isn't (a contraction of "ne" and "is")
passing fair: fine, just right
pate: skull or scalp
plashed: splashed
ply the pipkin: use a cooking pot; a poetical way of saying "cooked"
Poor John: salted cod
popinjays: chatterers (popinjays are birds that make a lot of noise)
prithee: will you please (it's a contraction of "I pray thee")
reechy: smoky or dirty
saith: said
salt horse: salted beef
scrap and tittle: bits and pieces, odds and ends
se'n-night: seven nights; one week
sully: to make dirty or unclean
supped: ate
swink: toil, work
tetchy: out of sorts, irritable
thilke: this, these
tho: then
toilings and moilings: hard work, labors
Tom o' Bedlam: a crazy man
'tother: the other
too too: very, very
travailing: working or struggling
trenchers: plates
tway: two
verily: truly
viands: food
weeds: clothing
wherefore: why
whilom: once
whipping with the bastinado: a form of torture in which the feet are whipped
wights: people

Good lord. Thou certes knoweth thy stuff! That's all there is to say. i must ne dawdle so fare thee well! hoping to see thee in t'other forums!


PS: i have some words. I hope thy doth like them.



Full of beauty, full of grace, full of will = beautiful, graceful, willful ect.

From the story page at Plimoth Plantation. Keep in mind that the page is for children, so many of these may seem obvious to you.

Break Our Fast: To eat the first meal of the day. To breakfast.
Chamberpot: A container to go to the bathroom in during the night or during bad weather. In the days before indoor plumbing, people usually went to the bathroom outside.
Cod: A kind of ocean fish.
Curds: A soft cheese, like cottage cheese.
Courtesy: Or curtsy. A show of respect made by bending the knees and lowering the body.
English Corn: Grains that were grown in England, such as wheat, rye, and oats.
Flint and Steel: A piece of hard stone called flint, and a piece of metal that are struck against each other to make a spark.
Fortnight: Two weeks.
Goodwife: A title of address used like we use "Mrs." A child would call a married woman "Goodwife" to show respect. A married man would be called "Goodman."
Harvest: To cut and gather a plant.
Hearth: A place on a house floor where the fire is. Used for cooking, warmth and light.
Husbandmen: Men who make their living through agriculture, or farming the land.
Indian Corn: The kind of corn found in the new world. Maize.
Kindled: Set fire to.
Marjoram: An herb (plant) used for cooking and medicine.
Master: A title of address given to someone respected like the Governor. Also, the wife of the Govenor would be addressed as "Mistress."
Oxen: An ox is a neutered (or "fixed") male cow, which has been carefully trained to pull heavy loads and follow commands. Two working together is called a team or pair of oxen. Oxen are often used to turn over the soil or "plow" to prepare the ground for planting.
Persecuted: Punished with pains and penalties for holding a certain belief or opinion.
Physic: Medical treatment.
Pottage: A thick stew made with indian corn or some other kind of grain, like oatmeal. Sometimes herbs and bits of meat, chicken or pork were added to give it flavor.
Sabbath: A day of rest and worship; for the Pilgrims it was Sunday.
(to) Salt : To dry and preserve meat or fish by rubbing salt into it.
To Stand Watch: To guard the town. A group of men would take occasional military training so that they could defend their town from attack.
Thatched Roofs: Roofs made of layers of straw or other grassy materials.
Tisquantum: A man also known as Squanto.
Weary: Very tired.
Willful: Stubborn.
Yoke: Used to fetch water. A piece of wood that goes over the shoulders, with a bucket hanging on each side.

Y/ye = the
olde = old


By Y way, Art thou PinkuOrbot on fandom?