meemaw

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Synonym of mamaw (“grandmother”).

2. 2

   To mouth words so that they can be heard over noise (or later so that they cannot be…

   To mouth words so that they can be heard over noise (or later so that they cannot be overheard), originally in the cotton industry of Lancashire.

   • On working days weavers who had jobs were already meemawing across the racket of looms as the van delivered and in hot weather, with weaving shed doors open, the sound bombarded the streets.
   • Bill, who had nudged the other customer out of the shop and locked the door, meemawed at him to wait.
   • Basically, you meemawed anything you didn't want people to overhear, even when there was no one around to listen in.
3. 3

   Alternative form of mee-maw.

   • Be still, says th'chap: un then fixin his een on th' dug's, un givin his buddy some spasmoddical twitches, un jertin his neck as if his yed wur a burden to it, un he wanted t'throw it off, he begun to make aw sorts o' meemaws wi his honds.
   • “Nor me noather,” replied Ben. “They'n too mony meemaws abeawt 'em for me.”
   • Indeed, the human voice could not make itself heard amidst the terrible din, and the labourers soon developed a system of signs and meemaws, whilst the foremen spoke the language of the strap.

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