Hi David, In the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary the word "Oases" is given as the plural of "Oasis" which makes sense as there are four men. The word therefore is not just of the Black Country. John ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Allen" <allen_d@ntlworld.com> To: <ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, June 05, 2006 12:08 PM Subject: [B.C.] Meaning of oases > Wonder if any one knows enough of Balck Country dialect of the 19th > century I am currently doing a level 3 course and need to know what the > modern day equivelant is. It is taken from "Song of the Nightingales by > Virginia Poole > > The word is in the following sentence: > > Four men, their faces bright, morning-clean oases in their coal-dust > covered working clothes, were gathered round the Hooper door. > > Any help will be greatly appreciated > > > > Regards > > Dave > > > ==== ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY Mailing List ==== > The Assistant List Admins are Jean Morgan and Jan Ross > (Couldn't do it without those two great ladies) >

I am not so sure!! don't blame me for this one, this is pure Tina, my co-conspiritor on the family tree, who lurks on here, but doesn't post! Naughty naughty Tina!! anyway Tina's "get Mel to look stupid" idea today, not that I need any help in that department, is, if someone has died a day or so beofre the census, and they are "laid out" in the parlour (yow can tell she ay black country cor ya!!) therefore, "at home" on the night of the census, albeit very dead, would they be entered on the census? and if so would they be entered as deceased or as their former occupation! now as we haven't found any of ours listed as deceased, on censuses, (hell we cant find half the living ones let alone dead ones,) Tina figures the answer is that they wouldnt be listed on the census, even though they were "at home" albeit laid out and very dead! However, it was the fashion to photograph the dead, (got a couple of ours we are not sure if they are dead or alive on the pics!) so if any of you astutes, find a "dead" listed on the census do let Tina know, and if she askes me any more daft questions like this one I am gonna put her email addy on the list! ROTFLMFAO Note to Tina ~ the opening of the door when we were discussing this and being sacreligious (OK I was being sacreligious) I told you whoever it was was mine not yours LOL yep, they are here pushing folders off the bookshelf! geez i hit a raw nerve with a dead un there LOL Mellie How Come My Coat Of Arms Has Buckles At The Back?