How to Speak Like a Cape Codder: An Old Salt's Dictionary

From A to Z, delve into Cape Cod’s vernacular, so you too can speak like "an old salt". George Higgins is an eleventh generation Cape Codder or "Easthammer" who has researched and collected words peculiar to Cape Cod along with many indigenous expressions. To these, he has added his own unique comments to create this "salty dictionary". Sprinkled throughout How To Speak Like A Cape Codder are illustrations contributed by Gordon W. Brooks for a humorous look at life on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. In the words of an "Old Salt" . . . Ayup: An affirmative reply, roughly the equivalent of "yes." It may even replace "I do" as a legal response in a marriage ceremony. It also conveys to trained ears, "I'm listening to you, but I may not agree with you." Down in Maine, "AYUP" becomes "AYUH." Canal: The only truly significant canal, it separates Cape Cod from what remains of the United States to the west. There are, to be sure, other canals, such as Panama, Suez, Erie, et cetera, but when prefaced by "The," it can apply to but one body of water - The Cape Cod Canal. It is crossed by a native Cape Codder going west only with the greatest reluctance and sacrifice. Such a trip seems designed for the purpose of the native's learning just how much The Cape means to him. This being the case, he drives over The Canal eastward with great relief. Cape Codder: 1. A native (q.v.)2. A resident, which definition is unacceptable to number one 3. An individual who lives on Cape Cod seasonally4. Any person who loves Cape Cod, after at least two visits and grasp the truth that all Americans are divided into two classes: those who are Cape Codders; and those who wish they were