Hey You Fellow Mountaineers, Lets not confuse our mountain talk with that other language sometimes spoken in these here United States, namely English. Muck is a common word in the English language, and all the definitions presented here are derivations, such as cleaning the barnyard and cleanup in the mine. Check Webster. Remember the term "muckrakers" applied to investigative reporters? Now thats appropriate slang considering that they usually go after the ---- in Washington. I guess we Appalachian folk understand about gom and gum in our vernacular. They both have definite but different meanings. I suspect gom and gommin are distinctly Appalachian, but gum and gumming (like gumming up the works) seem to be common everywhere. I suspect the usage in the context we refer to comes from the idea of how otherwise smooth running machinery is impacted if the oil gets thick (like gum). (It's all MESSED UP.) A few years back, I found a website that listed hundreds of mountain expressions like these and it requested people to add their own memorable phrases. I submitted several, but have lost the address as I changed computers. Those in my approximate age bracket will understand this expression that is similar to what I so often heard as a boy: "If you don't get this "GOM" cleaned up this instant, I am going to WEAR YOU OUT." Did your parents ever threaten to wear you out? STAN > Dad always said when we kids were messing something up(but I would not > have known a spelling) "You are gumming up the works", perhaps this > was the same as gom as he was a Logan mountain boy:) > Judi > > Carole Hammond wrote: > >> Out here in the Wild West you also muck out a horse or cow barn. >> This involves moving a lot of manure. >> >> When I heard muckin' and gommin I immediately thought of BSing and >> gumming or talking. I've been accused of both. >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: <BurgessWV@aol.com> >> To: <WVLOGAN-L@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 3:41 PM >> Subject: Re: [WVLOGAN] Mountain talk >> >> >>> Muckin is term used by coal miners; means removing rock,dirt,etc >>> from the >>> salable coal >>> >>> Shelby >>> >>> >>> ============================== >>> New! Family Tree Maker 2005. Build your tree and search for your >>> ancestors at the same time. Share your tree with family and friends. >>> Learn more: >>> http://landing.ancestry.com/familytreemaker/2005/ >>> tour.aspx?sourceid=14599&targetid=5429 >>> >>> >> >> >> >> ============================== >> Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for >> ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: >> http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx >> >> >> > > > ============================== > Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for > ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx >