"Draw Damp"

From time to time I use the phrase "draw damp". I thought that was a standard term, but I have encountered many people who hadn't heard of it. I grew up in southwestern Pennsylvania, so I thought that maybe it was a PA thing, but I know someone else from PA who lives out here and she didn't know the phrase. I probably picked it up from my grandparents, but I'm not sure. Are you familiar with the term? Is it old-fashioned or maybe Appalachian? (This is what it means. If something sits around in a humid place, it might draw damp, that is, be spoiled or altered by the moisture.)

I've never heard the phrase before, Kelli, but it makes sense to me. Bill

I've never heard it either, but I'd understand it in a sentence easy. :)

This is the first I'd heard of it.

Bein a displaced Kentucky hillbilly livin in Western PA now since '88, I've never heard the phrase "draw damp" Kelli.
I'll ask my DW, she's from these parts.

TC...

never heard of it either. my husband says "couple few" and he says everyone says it, never ever heard it till he started saying it about a year ago. Now dont that beat all?

I did a Google search on the phrase and most of the hits were from British sites. How I would have picked up a British phrase is beyond me.

Being born and raised in Western PA (and would never live anywhere else) I have heard that particular phrase. It's an "oldie but goodie".

Never heard it here in Michigan either.

Paul

never heard 'draw damp', but I've heard 'couple few'. In fact, I might be guilty of saying 'couple few', a couple few times in my life.

Cheri'

An odd thing my family said was something pronounced like "prin yer". It means pretty near, as in "Prin yer anything kept in the cellar will draw damp." I don't think I say that anymore.

I have never heard that but my granny used to say "pret ner" which also meant it was pretty near.

The reason that you are getting hits from the British sites is that so many of the settlers in those hills were Scott or English.Many old songs exist in their purist form in the isolated communities along the Applaichian Chain. Stands to reason that phrases will be that way too.

I don't exactly remember anyone using the phrase,but knew exactly what it meant...and knew how to correctly use it in a sentence.I'm guessing I've heard it before,but when I was a child.

"Purt near" is how my Mother and Dad say "pretty near".
Ex: "That hog is purt near fat enuff to take to market."

TC...

Well, being from WV I have heard "draw Damp"....also, like TC, we used "pert near" too. Jo

You go below the border to West Virginia, and it's, "taint nary none of my troubles."

Kelli, we use draw damp in western NY, too. And it's "pret near" up here, and "Land o' Goshen!!" "Oh, FIDDLESTICKS" and "nary a one."

"Draw damp" is a phrase often used by my family and those around us. I live in Ontario, raised in south western Ont., now live in eastern Ont. and the phrase is used in both areas. My mother was Welsh and my dad was born in England, there are lots of family ties to the Bristish Isles so that might explain why the phrase is used so much.
"pret near" is common here in eastern Ontario but I never heard that as a kid. Probably too many of my relatives and neighbours still had 'marbles in their mouths'!! D

I realy hate to say I have. My people are from the Mt. in GA. rat bak if ya need more info

Another thing we said was "drug" which is the past tense of drag. Dragged was not good English and I still think it sounds awkward. A field that is full of weeds is "all growed up". Adults are "all grown up", however. A phrase that I still use a good bit is "a good bit". I once had a California boyfriend who thought that was so funny.

Then there's pronunciation. Are and our are pronounced the same, both are like "ar" (rhymes with car). Hour is a little different. It's still "ar", but with a slightly different "a" sound. Also, body and bawdy sound exactly the same. I have no idea how to make the two sound different. I am missing a sound in my language. ;-)

I've never heard "draw damp", but it makes sense how you phrased it. We'd probably just say "it'll get damp in the humidity". I kinda like your term better!