Nesh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nesh is an English dialect adjective meaning unusually susceptible to cold weather. This is a particularly important word since there is no synonym for this use. Usage has been recorded in Staffordshire and the East Midlands, Lancashire, and South Yorkshire. ^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

[edit] Cultural significance

This word has had a key part to play in both literature and films where other terms have not been available to convey the particular meaning. Despite being considered a dialect word, and somewhat archaic, writers have periodically turned to it.

The earliest traceable use in literature was in The Manchester Marriage, written by Elizabeth Gaskell in 1858. Gaskell's style is notable for putting local dialect words into the voice of middle-class characters and of the narrator:

"Now, I'm not above being nesh for other folks myself. I can stand a good blow, and never change colour; but, set me in the operating-room in the Infirmary, and I turn as sick as a girl."

"At Mrs Wilson's death, Norah came back to them, as nurse to the newly-born little Edwin; into which post she was not installed without a pretty strong oration on the part of the proud and happy father; who declared that if he found out that Norah ever tried to screen the boy by a falsehood, or to make him nesh either in body or mind, she should go that very day."^[5]

In 1885 nesh formed a quarter of a curious monograph entitled Four dialect words, clem, lake, nesh, and oss, their modern dialectal range, meanings, pronunciation, etmology, and early or literary use written by Thomas Hallam.^[6]

The most frequently quoted use of nesh is in D. H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers. Written in 1913, we have this exchange:

"F-ff-f!" he went, pretending to shudder with cold.

"Goodness, man, don't be such a kid!" said Mrs. Morel. "It's NOT cold."

"Thee strip thysen stark nak'd to wesh thy flesh i' that scullery," said the miner, as he rubbed his hair; "nowt b'r a ice-'ouse!"

"And I shouldn't make that fuss," replied his wife.

"No, tha'd drop down stiff, as dead as a door-knob, wi' thy nesh sides."^[7]

D. H. Lawrence used nesh again in 1922 in England, My England, Chapter 4 - Monkey Nuts:

From the background slowly approached a slender man with a grey moustache and large patches on his trousers.

'You've got'im back 'gain, ah see,' he said to his daughter-in-law. His wife explained how I had found Joey.

'Ah,' went on the grey man. 'It wor our Alfred scared him off, back your life. He must'a flyed ower t'valley. Tha ma' thank thy stars as 'e wor fun, Maggie. 'E'd a bin froze. They a bit nesh, you know,' he concluded to me.

'They are,' I answered. 'This isn't their country.'^[8]

Usage continued to be fairly local until the word reached an international audience in the film The Full Monty. This was shot during 1997 on location in Sheffield. In this film nesh was used in the context of feeling cold when others don't.^[9]

As can be seen there has been a progressive change in meaning over the years from an initial meaning of being frightened to its present use. Nowadays, it is considered to be a gently derogatory comment, that can be used to a friend. An example might be 'Why are you wearing a coat? That's a bit nesh isn't it?'.

[edit] Usage and origins

The most accurate definition for current usage is that in the Microsoft Encarta Dictionary:
1. sensitive to cold: very sensitive to cold temperatures
2. timid: lacking courage or self-confidence^[10]

However, the New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary has the sloppier definition:
'soft - in consistency, mind, or morals'^[11]

Webster's Online Dictionary 1913 defines nesh, in its earlier usage, as:
'Soft, tender, delicate'^[12]

The generally accepted origin is that it is from the Old English hnesce meaning feeble, weak, or infirm.^[13]. Again, though, the Oxford English Dictionary goes its own way and ascribes the origin to a 16th century Dutch word nesch typically meaning damp or foolish.^[14]