BOSTON DICTIONARY

For those of you NOT from Massachusetts - and we who are going to
college in Boston? "Mary-mutha-<WBR>ah-gawd, you gotta be wicked
smaht!" But we bet you don't know some things. Like, what's a three
decka? A packie? How about a rotary? Ever banged a U-ey? Worn
dungarees or ordered a tonic?

Even a Rhodes scholar would have a tough time deciphering the
language Boston calls its own. "New Englanders have had a long and
strong tradition of eccentric ways of expressing themselves,
especially in Boston," said Boston University Linguistics professor
Michael Feldman. "It's very distinctive.<WBR>" Indeed. ~And we'd have a
pissah time tryin' to stump ya, then make fun of ya behind ya
back.... but that's wicked mean.

Instead, here's a little primer to take with you on the T, while
you're on the Common or in the Gahden, maybe catchin' a Pats game or
sipping a regulah coffee at Dunkies.

American Chop Suey~
Found in school cafeterias, this delightful dish doesn't resemble
anything American or Chinese. It's macaroni with meat and tomato sauce.

Bangin' a U-ey~
This is what you do while driving after you miss a turn and you have
to turn around.

Book it~
To high tail someplace, as in, "I better book it to Stah Mahket
before it closes."

Bubblah~
Spelled bubbler, it's a water fountain.

Der~
An interjection indicating disdain for someone else's stupidity, as
in, "The old Gahden was way betta than the Fleet! Der!"

Down Cellar~
The basement. As in: "run down cella and get me a dishtowel outta the
drya." Derived from upstairs.

Dungarees~
Jeans. Hardly heard anymore, unless you're at some sort of senior
citizens event.

Frappe~
What the rest of the nation calls a milkshake. But in Boston, a
milkshake is just flavored milk- no ice cream allowed.

Fried and Bizaah~
Weird. "That dude is wicked fried." "Yah, he's totally bizaah."

Fudge-icle~
To the rest of the world, a frozen chocolate pop is a Fudgesicle..<WBR>.
but in Boston, the 's' is silent.

Hermits and black and whites~
Cookies. A hermit is a molasses and raisin bar. Black and whites,
known anywhere else as half moons or half and halfs, are round,
cakelike cookies with chocolate frosting on one half, vanilla on the other.

Jimmies~
Sprinkles you put on ice cream.

Packie~
Liquor Store. You'll have to make a packie run if you want a kegga. (keg party)

Pissah~
Good.

Rotary~
traffic circle. And in Massachusetts, those in the rotary have the
right of way.

Scrod~
a generic name for white fish. We think it's cod, but no one's sure.
Usually breaded and laden with butter.

So Don't I/So Aren't I~
So do I, So am I. "I have tickets to Aerosmith tonight." "Oh my Gawd,
so don't I!" "No Suh!" "Yah huh." "Wicked Pissa!"

Three Decker~
Pronounced three decka, it's a three story house in which each story
is a separate apartment.

A time~
A party. "We're going to a time for Sully at McGuire's."

Tonic~
Soda

Wicked~
Extremely. "Nomaaah's a wicked good baseball playa."

Yah huh and no suh~
Yes and no. Usually heard during an intense conversation. "I saw
Mickey at Castle Island and he was with another girl." "No SUH!" "Yah huh."

Other tips: Don't say COPEly Square, it's COPley. Worcester isn't
WOOster, it's Wisstah. Say Commonwealth Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue
or Dorchester Avenue and you'll get pinched. It's Comm. Ave, Mass.
Ave and Dot. Ave.