rampike

• Format: Manuscript
• Language: English
• Subjects: English language > Dialects > Newfoundland and Labrador; Newfoundland; Northwest Territories
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/elrcdne/id/71215

rampike _Rampike_, for which I have seen citations (in sense 1) from almost every Province and have twice heard in mainland speech (once each in Ontario and the Northwest Territories) is, nevertheless, rare and somewhat archaic outside Newfounland. A dictionary entry might be phrased: _rampile_. (rarely) rampik n. [< Anglo-Irish and S.W.Eng. dials.; present in provincial English also as _raunpick_, _rampick_, _ranpik_, etc.; < tih _ramus_. a dead tree (earlier, a dead branch) + _piece_, a spruce or fir or < obs. Eng. _rame_, a dried stalk (? < L. _ramus_) + _pike_, a [inc] Gail., Ir. _pic_, a pike, Welsh _pig_, a pike, fused with French [inc] ike ( < Breton); cogn. [inc] S. _pic_, a point, prick)? l. _esp. N_ [inc] tree particularly a tall dead, weatherbeaten spruce, pine or larch broken branches and little or no bark. 2. _Nfld_. [by extension] A study [reverse] pole used as a lever or pry. 3. _Nfld_ [because frequently observed on rampikes (def. 1)] The Yellow-shafted Woodpecker, _Colaptes auratus_. Not used Not used Withdrawn Reverse side of R_15309.