Mid-Shore Life

by Mary McCarthy
If you are a newcomer to Centreville, you will need a little vocabulary lesson. We moved to Cville in 2001, then I served on the Centreville Town Council (2004-2007), so the last 8 years have offered ample opportunity for me to learn the lingo of the land. Here’s a little list to help you get started:

Chicken Necker: This means, according to Urban Dictionary:

“Slang commonly used on the Eastern Shore of Maryland to describe a tourist or someone who is not from that area. Comes from the practice of using chicken necks as crab bait.

Eg: These g.d. chicken neckers always turn 50/301 into a parking lot during weekends in July.”

Although I do not use chicken necks to catch crabs (my preferred method is driving to a crab seller and catching them in brown paper bags), I am considered a chicken necker because I do not have three or more generations of family members in an Eastern Shore cemetery. I embrace my chicken necker-ality. If you complain about something in Centreville, natives are happy to remind chicken neckers that ‘the bridge is free on the way back.’

Fahr: This is the Eastern Shore vernacular/slang term for “FIRE.” While I might say “Oh my gosh, the house is on fire” a true Centreville native says that “the house is on fahr.”

Ohl: This is a Centreville term used to describe a heating method for one’s home, or something that needs to be changed in one’s car. While a chicken necker would say “I think I need an oil change in my car” a true Centrevillain would say that ‘the ohl needs changed.’ (note the grammatical change as well.)

Uptown/Downtown: A native resident of Centreville will talk about going ‘uptown’ and ‘downtown.’ This has always confused me. I think ‘uptown’ is the central courthouse-square business district that I would think would be ‘downtown’ but it’s actually reversed, and I’m not sure now myself, really. I would have to call Norman Pinder, the Centreville Town Councilman with whom I proudly served, as he is the local vocab guru.

A'ight: this is the proper Centrevillain pronunciation of the word "Alright."

Subs/Shells/Spirits: This is the slogan painted on the side of Draper Brothers Liquors, a venerable institution located on Centreville Road just outside of town, next to Centreville National Bank’s drive-thru branch. I adore Brian Draper (one of the Draper Brothers) and he’s chatted with me about some of things people have asked for when they come into the store. I guess the ‘subs’ and ‘spirits’ parts are pretty clear, because no one comes in looking for the subway entrance or a ghost, but the ‘shells’ have been confused for pasta, seashells, and who knows what else. It’s shotgun shells, people. For the hunters. Have you not noticed the camo all over town?

If you’re new to town, welcome. And good luck with the new language! Email me if you can think of other shore-friendly terms!

See you next week here at The Centrevillain.