Wednesday’s Word

Word: Lumper’s helper (characterization)

Usage:

Since a lumper does absolutely mindless stevedore work, a lumper’s helper would hardly be a fountainhead of erudition. In fact, he’d probably be number than a pounded thumb: “wouldn’t know enough to pour water out of a boot - with the directions stamped on the heel.”

A lumper’s helper might be number’n a hake, but since he does accomplish something in the way of physical labor, he is a cut above a zero.

(Definition from: “How To Talk Yankee”, by Gerald Lewis & Tim Sample, copyright 1979, 1986 by The Thorndike Press; copyright 1989 by the First North Country Press)