MASON-DIXONARY---MEASURES

We won’t get into distances this time, like “a hoot and a holler,” and “far as Job could spit.”   This will just cover a few numbers and amounts.

SOME SEVERAL:  more than just several---the “some” also used to indicate severity or duration of events

FIFTY-SOME-ODD:   anything from fifty-one to fifty-nine

BOOCOOS:   too many to count.   From beaucoup---many muches, and usually preceded by “just” to amplify

SCADS:   (a number, not an amount)---lots, and usually followed by “of ‘em” and not “of it”

PINCH:   whatever amount thumb and forefinger can grab and put in the pot.

SPOONCLOP:   heaped-up spoon---refers to a big clump of something like mayo or butter, which would make an audible  “clop” into the dish

PALM:  as in "a palm of salt"---usually a measure for pickles or the spaghetti pot

TEE-NINECY BIT:   just a little

TO FLOAT AN EGG:   from an old pickle recipe---when you had enough salt in the water in the churn to make an egg float, it was right

SIZE OF AN EGG:   usually refers to the size of a lump of butter or lard, or to the size you should make roll dough or meatballs into

HALF AN EGGSHELL FULL:  Mrs. Prysock’s eggnog recipe called for six each of rum and bourbon.   The year Mr. Dero brought home the two dozen Jumbo eggs was a memorable party 

TEACUPFUL:   you measured with the measure you HAD, and if you used the same one for the whole recipe, it usually balanced out pretty well, even in baking.

A WINEGLASS:  who knows what size?

MESS:    in the eye of the beholder---a mess of quail you might hold in your hands, whereas a mess of greens might fill a bushel.    A GOOD mess might be a lavish amount, or a skimpy one, depending upon the speaker’s known generosity.  

A Good Mess of greens from dear Mrs. White would be more than enough, whereas a “good mess” in the eye of Miss Lottie Folger might depict her grudging hand in its meager amount.

CROAKER SACK—burlap sack used to bring home a mess of frogs---like these:

And not THIS:

POKEFUL:   usually a smaller sack, of brown paper, but could refer to a small parcel tied up with string

These three same as everybody's:

BUSHEL   PECK    BALE 

A BAIT:      usually refers to a big amount, AFTER it’s been eaten, and more than you should have.   “I had me a bait of froglegs at Mamma ‘n’ ‘ems last night.”

WHOLE POTFUL:  not necessarily foodstuffs, and not necessarily in a pot.   You can have, variously, whole potfuls of money, luck or misery, to name a few.

And, as my Dad answered, were anyone ever so gauche as to inquire into his financial state, you might have:

ENOUGH MONEY TO BURN A WET DOG.

And to you all:   A Yankee Dime---(A Kiss) and moiré non,