H

Haker: Large portion of stone or piece of brick. From Anto McCrory

Half-un: A shot of spirits whiskey, vodka etc. 'Want a wee half-un there to go along with yer pint hi boy?' From: Terence Donnelly

Half tore, half cut: Drunk.

Hallion: Tearaway, good-for-nothing.

'Thon's a right shar o' hallions she's rarin'.'

Hames: A mess or an inept person - 'Ye made a right hames uh that'. 'He's a hames yer man' From: Brian

Hammered: Drunk, inebriated. From: Sally Kelly

Handlin' - general term used to describe the gravity of a situation.
'It's some handlin' I tell ye.' From: JP Devlin.

Hankie ball - a ball made of rags used when no other kind was available. From Des

Hansel. When a handbag, purse, or wallet was given as a gift a small sum of money was put in e.g. 50p . This money was the hansel. From: Linda

Harpin'. Go away an' give ma head pace, yer always harpin on about somethin'. Name - Farnsbarn

Harpin on. Meaning to keep on discussing a point even though it has been resolved. Example don,t keeping harping on about it. From Des

Harp six: meaning to fall. 'If you don't watch yourself you'll go harp six'. From D'Anne

Happed up: Well-wrapped up.

'Don't be goin' out there if y're not well happed up.'

Dominic Campbell adds: Well-happed is used on its own. "Yer lukin' well happed this weather, boy, it wud skin ye"

Happy Days!: (exlamation) excellent, brilliant. Stephen

Hat meaning foreman or manager. likely because foreman and managers used to wear bowler type hats especially in Harland and Wolff. From: Des

Haughlin': walking about aimlessly, he was haughlin about. From Billy McBryde, Brisbane

Haveril - pronounced have eril meaning a big lazy person."you big haveril you". From Mary Kennedy.

Have'ne - Haven't (Ulster Scots) From: Andrew Boyce

He's a head on im lak a Cassidy Skip - He is big-headed (Used a lot in Lurgan) From: Blain

He was givin' her a dixie - Can mean that he was driving fast or he was arguing ferociously. From: Blain

Head staggers - momentary panic. From Mickey Dundun

Head-the-ball: A nutter. From: Brian

Heap: A large portion/amount (usually when referring to food). From: Sally Kelly

Hear dear anyway... I will continue. From Danny Corr

Hectic - not fair From: Chris

Heel: throw out. "There was mould on the stew, so she heeled it into the bin" From Dominic Campbell
Heel - to tip a wheelbarrow. From anon
Heels is also used to describe the slices at the end of the loaf. From Shelley Donaldson. (Ed's note: a good thick heel of plain bread toasted and slathered in butter is hard to beat!).

Heeding. Meaning listening. 'He is not heeding one word you say.' From: Des

Heeling on - driving speedily. From: Sharon.

Heft - Carry, "Heft that up thur'!" see lug. From: Marty

Hefted: To be in great need for the toilet. From: Sally Kelly

Heifer: someone large in stature. 'That big heifer'll not fit through that door.' From Donna Knapper.

Hell's Blazes - rural way to say 'That's very unfortunate' or 'Goodness me, things have taken a turn for the worse. Similarly Hell Roast It. From: Noel O'Rawe

Here's. Used as 'I said' 'he said'. Here's me 'giveus that soda' and here's yer man 'Catch yerself on'. From Marty

Hersil - only ever heard this one when a new baby wheezes as it breathes - 'Ah, the poor wee chile's got a hersil'. From: Davy Osborne

Hi, apart from when it is used by yuppies to say 'hello' can have a few uses:

'Hi! whadda ye doin?' In this instance 'hi' is exclamatory. 'What about ye, hi?' Here, it means nothing. Derry people say 'hi' a lot. From: Ronan

High heid yins: those in authority, management,people in the know. From: Anon

Hilt nor hair: Not a sign.

'Ah've seen neither hilt nor hair of 'im since Christmas.'

Hinch: Thigh.

'Fit? Ah cudn't even get them up over m'hinches!'

Hingin: too big for you. 'That's hingin aff ya!' From: Deirdre

Hippen - nappy. From: Hugh

Hirple: Hobble or walk with a limp or unevenly. Don't let anyone tell you there is no word that rhymes with purple.

Hobble: A dilemma/disaster. From: Sally Kelly

Hogo (Tyrone): a stench, usually from lack of personal hygiene. eg: "You could've smelt the hogo a mile off!" From: Dominic Campbell

Hoke: Scoop out, root around.

'Hoke out thon fire for us, will ye?'

'Have a wee hoke in m'beg, there might be a few odds in it.'
"Wid you quit hoking in there!" From: Roisin Muldoon

Hood - delinquent, criminal, (sometimes) member of (particularly loyalist) paramilitary group. One of the most common pieces of graffiti in Belfast reads "UTH", which has nothing to do with long life milk but stands for "Up The Hoods". From: Mark

Hoof - Kick powerfully, "Hoof that ball over the bar" From: Marty
Hoof - meaning walk. 'I had to hoof up the hill.' From D'Anne
Hoof (it): To run off or away, usually in escape from dire consequences
From: Sally Kelly

Hooley: A party/celebration or drinking spree. From: Sally Kelly

Hot: Description of any goods that may be suspected as stolen or of dubious origin. From: Sally Kelly

Hot Press - airing cupboard. Possibly shared with parts of Scotland: a 'press' being a cupboard, therefore the Hot Press being the airing cupboard. From: Stephen Gowdy

Houl on: meaning take your time. From: Des

Houl on d'yer drawers - Don't be in such a hurry. From: Frank

Houl yer whist - Be quiet, don't butt in

Hoult : hold, as in "Get a hoult o' that heiffer before she gets out onto the road". From Dominic Campbell

Housecoat: dressing gown. From William

Howl your weesht - shut your mouth (hold your tongue). From: Jenny

Huff: To sulk or behave in a petulant, broody manner. From: Sally Kelly

Hump: A sulk, brood or mope. From: Sally Kelly

Hunderd - 100% 'Well how ye doin Jimmy? Am a hunderd so I am.' From Terence Donnelly

Hunkers: Heels.

'There were no seats so ah had to sit on m'hunkers.'

Dominic Campbell adds: Hunker is also used as a verb to mean squat, eg: "He hunkered down to lift the box". Patrick McWilliams adds: Isn't "hunkers" the Belfast way of saying "haunches", i.e. the top of your legs/backside?

Hummin - smelly, unwashed. From: Barbara

Hur dur! (here, dear!) Like 'oh gosh!' As in being told something that's hard to believe. From: Andi

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