LL-L "Etymology" 2003.10.22 (07) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 22.OCT.2003 (07) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: Brooks, Mark <mark.brooks at twc.state.tx.us>
Subject: Dialects Question

My great-grandfather who was born probably in the 1860's to 1870's in
Tennessee.  He grew up in rural western Tennessee probably around the area
of Gleason.  I understand there was a substantial Scots-Irish influence in
those parts.  I can only vaguely remember him as a very old man probably in
his 90's.  But, I do remember (and my father and grandmother confirm this)
that he had a saying that he repeated every time he would start to leave a
room.  Everyone in the family thought he was just "a little nuts," so they
reckoned he was just babbling.  He very well may have been babbling, but I'd
like to know if this little saying has any significance in any of the Scots
or Scots-Irish dialects.  The saying was "beek-a-bee I'll be on my way."  He
pronounced it as _bik´ a bi_.  When I was studying linguistics at the Univ
of Texas, I checked a Scots-Irish/English dictionary in the library of the
Linguistics Department, and it gave me some reason to think it might
actually mean something.  Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Mark Brooks

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