crick

[A. Maberry]

On Mon, 25 Oct 1999, Pafra & Scott Catledge wrote:

> In the Deep South, a creek or a brook is for wading/bathing
> in--a [crick] (spelling unknown) is what you get in your neck if
> you keep it in a position to which you are unaccustomed.  I
> have heard Nawtheners --I'll be PC and not use the little 'd'
> word ;{)--say "crick" in the sense of "brook."

That is certainly my understanding of the creek/crick distinction, and I'm
about as far north as you can get without leaving the country. Up here
"brook" is not used for streams at all, although the names of many recent
housing developments in the area would make one think otherwise (usually
spelled "brooke".

Allen
maberry at u.washington.edu