sick to one's stomach; Bessie/Bossie

[Joan H. Hall]

According to the DARE evidence, "sick at one's stomach" is widespread,
but least frequent in the Northeast and the Upper Midwest.

"Sick of one's stomach" is scattered and not very common.

"Sick on one's stomach" is chiefly Mid and South Atlantic and Pennsylvania.

"Sick to one's stomach" is widespread, but chiefly North, North Midland,
and West.

As for Bessie and Bossie, we had only a few examples of
Bess/Bessie/Betsy for a cow or calf but lots for Boss/Bossie, especially
in calls such as "co-boss(ie), come boss(ie), so-boss(ie), and soo
boss(ie)."  There's a nice map showing the "boss" forms to be solid
across the north and west, with some in the North Midland also.

Joan

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