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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: rainbowfamily on Wednesday 04 November 15 05:31 GMT (UK)
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Hi
I wonder if any of you lovely people might know what 'suck' means as in this sentence used in 1907
'he passed me some suck through the window and I gave it to the baby'
I've searched lots of dictionaries and can't find any definition that would make sense. It was said in Leicestershire, maybe a local word?
Thank you
Paula
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No idea, but my guess would be milk??
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No idea, but my guess would be milk??
That would certainly make sense and could liven up tea with the vicar. Do you take suck with yours?
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A dictionary of slang and unconventional English, amongst other definitions, says "suck" meant strong drink from the late 17th to the early 19th century. In Liverpool, apparently, it could mean a single sweet from the 19th century.
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A dictionary of slang and unconventional English, amongst other definitions, says "suck" meant strong drink from the late 17th to the early 19th century. In Liverpool, apparently, it could mean a single sweet from the 19th century.
Thank you. The man in question was a relative stranger, so handing the girl a sweet which she gave to the baby seems more likely.
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I suppose suck as a sweet makes sense, the baby would be able to suck on it ;D
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Could also maybe have been a little alcohol, wasn't it quite commonplace to dip a rag in brandy or something and give to a teething baby to suck on?
My grandmother-in-law told me to do that when my first baby was teething! I was shocked, and thought it was awful!
Still, I believe that is was almost normal practice way back!