Ten English words which might die out

After a longish blogging hiatus, I thought I would break myself in gently by paraphrasing an online article which claims the following ten words are at risk of becoming obsolete.

Ansum

This is mostly only used in the West Country, and basically means something is really top notch, and perhaps a play on the word 'handsome'. However, it's usage has dropped 97% over the last hundred years or so.

Scran

This one originates from north-eastern England and literally means 'food', although at one point it meant 'bar tab'. However, usage has dropped 96% over the last century. It's one I still hear from time to time, but not too often.

Thoil

Thoil is a variant on the earlier word 'thole' and originates from Yorkshire. It was something the locals would say when they were unable to justify spending money on a specific thing. It has dropped 95% in popularity.

Parky

Another from the north-east, this refers to someone who is a fussy eater, although in some parts of the UK it refers to cold weather. Usage has dropped 84% and this tallies with my experience, as I rarely hear it these days.

Belve

This means to sing loudly, and is another from the south-west of England. It was first used in the 18th century, but has become 82% less popular in the last hundred years.

Liggle

This is (was?) mainly used in the south-east and is a word to describe a situation where you are carrying something that is too big for you to manage comfortably. It has seen a 75% drop in usage.

Sing Small

This is a phrase I have never heard, but apparently means to play a minor part in something, perhaps less than you were hoping. It has dropped 68% in popularity but was once commonly used in London and the south-east.

Grand

In dictionary terms, grand denotes an important person or thing, but in the north-east it commonly means 'great'. However, usage has fallen out of fashion to the tune of 68%.

Bostin'

My favourite word on this list, and one I've only come across relatively recently. It originated in the Midlands and means that something is 'very good' or 'fantastic'. However, it has sadly declined in usage by 60%. I really hope it sees an upturn in fortunes.

Cob

East Midlands dialect for a bread roll, which has lots of different names, depending on where in the UK you live. Sadly cob has declined in popularity by 55%, which is a less sharp drop than the others on this list. This is one I am reasonably familiar with, despite not living in the East Midlands.

Thanks to MSN's Caroline Westbrook for providing the information for this article.