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

Knowing nothing of the dialect the sense suggests oasis - an isolated area of pale skin in the midst of the coal dust covered clothes? Ros ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Allen" <allen_d@ntlworld.com> To: <ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, June 05, 2006 6:08 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) >