Apple Knocker

A person from the Lower Peninsula. Usually a hunter who likes to hunt in da U.P.

B

Babysit

That yellow stuff in diapers.

Beer

Da Yoopers favorite drink.

Big Bad John

Sixty foot statue of a miner that welcomes you to the Iron Mountain iron mine tourist attraction in Vulcan, Michigan.

Black Ice

It's not in your drink! It's the kind of ice you don't know is on the road until your car starts to go out of control!

"Breakwind"

Nickname given to the student newspaper "Northwind" at Northern Michigan University.

C

Canucks

Canadians (name most often heard in Sault Ste. Marie "Da Soo")

Cheesehead

A native of the neighboring state of Wisconsin.

Choppers

A deer skin mitten with a wool mitten insert. What Yoopers wear to keep their hands warm. Choppers are also part of Yooper active wear that include a Chuke and a pair of Swampers.

Chuke

What the Trolls call a stocking cap. A knitted hat usually with a tassel and usually hand knit by your grandmother. Pronounced "Chook, Sounds like book" or "Chuke, Sounds like puke." (see also "Touke").

Crawler Gear

4WD Low gear in a four-by-four; used for inching or crawling along in treacherous terrain.

CHP

Crawling Home Puker

Cudighi

A hamburger-like sandwich with a spicier meat, mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce.

D

Da Bears

Da NFL team Da Yoopers hate the most!

Da Camp

Where male Yoopers go each Fall - Hunting Camp; usually means deer camp

Da Doo Wop Malt Shop

Da ultimate place to go for 50's style malts, sodas and ice cream treats. Enjoy 50's style decor and juke box. Located at the top of the hill in Norway, MI. Turn right at the top of Norway Hill and follow signs.

Da Locks

The Locks system in the St. Mary's River in Da Soo. Very beneficial maritime navigational aid for shipping, and a source of confusion for Fudgies (Why are the Locks built here? Why weren't they built someplace where more people could see them, like Detroit or Chicago?)

Da Mitten

Another nickname Yoopers have for da Lower Peninsula.

Da Pack

Da NFL team dat da Yoopers love da most!

Da Soo

Sault Ste. Marie, Yooperland. Right across the border from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Great White North.

Da Yooper Bowl

This football game was played for the first time, this fall (1996), in California. It featured Steve Mariucci's California Golden Bears against John Ralston and San Jose State. (Mariucci is a native of Iron Mountain. Ralston is a native of Norway, Michigan.)

Da Yoopers

Not only means the inhabitants of Michigan's UP, but also the name of one of the most popular bands in da U.P.

DNR

The organization most responsible for the extinction of native brook trout in Yooperland. Also known as the Department of No Results.

Dippin'

To go smelt dipping. Especially on the first weekend of the smelt running at the Days River outside Gladstone

Dreaded Dash of Death, The

When you try to cross US 41 by the Yoopers Tourist Trap and not get killed by a boss beer truck.

E

Edmund Fitzgerald

Iron ore carrier, steaming out of Duluth, that sank 15 miles off of Whitefish Point with all 29 hands on 10 November 1975 during a hurricane-force gale on Lake Superior. Also the inspiration for Gordon Lightfoot's tribute, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."

Eh

A word that ends practically every sentence in the U.P. (example: "Say ya to da U.P., Eh!").

Eino

Half of famous Finnish duo Toivo and Eino. Many, many yooper jokes feature Toivo and Eino!

Fifteen-two

The game of Cribbage

Finglish

The official language of Da U.P. Examples- Dese, Dem Dose, and De Udders (and De Udders ain't on De Cow!)

Flatlander

A person from the lower peninsula (see also "Loper" and "Troll").

Flivver

Nickname of Kingsford high school sports teams. It comes from the name given to a Model A Ford that was produced in Kingsford in the 1920's.

Fudgie

Affectionate term for tourists (usually Trolls) who buy massive amounts of homemade fudge while on Mackinac Island and at Da Locks in Da Soo.

G

Gaas (as spoken in Crystal Falls)

Da stuff dat makes cars and lawn mowers go.

Give 'er tarpaper

To work feverishly, something Yoopers are famous for.

Going Shop-ko (or Co-op)

Yooper phrase meaning "Going to the store."

Greater Michigan

What Trolls call the Lower Peninsula.

Great White North

Canada.

H

Head 'er For Sagola

Let's paint the town red!

Heikki Lunta

In Yooperland mythology, the god of snow.

Hematites

Nickname of Ishpeming high school sports teams. Comes from a type of iron ore mined in the Ishpeming area.

Holy Man!

Not used to describe a clergyman, but rather as the ultimate Yooper exclamation. Used when a mere "Holy Whaa" doesn't suffice. The A-bomb of Yooper exclamations.

Holyowha

Yooper expletive meaning, roughly "Holy _______!"

I

IGA

Da Grocery Store

J

Jumbo

Quart of beer you drink while sittin' on da porch and listenin' to da Tigers.

Knockin' Pine

"He's spending Saturday night without a date!"

Kromer

The historical old-fashioned hat with ear flaps and a flannel lining worn by loggers and miners in photos from the U.P. boom years. Made by the Kromer company in Milwaukee Wisconsin, and still sold in select fashion emporiums in the U.P. A favorite of Yooper outdoorsmen.

L

Lambeau Field

Mecca for Yooper football fans. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Home of the 1995 Central Division champion Green Bay Packers! Yoopers have been known to bow toward this structure three times daily!

Lats

Skis, usually homemade.

Loper

Native of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan (see also "Troll" and "Flatlander").

M

Marble Orchard

Cemetery.

The Mining Urinal

Nickname given to the Marquette County newspaper The Mining Journal

Modeltowner

Nickname of Gwinn high school sports teams.

Motor City Madman

See Ted Nugent.

Nine-O-Six (906)

God's area code (the area code for all of Yooperland).

Noseeums

Tiny gnats capable of driving strong men insane.

O

Overseas

Anything sout' of da Bridge.

Packer-Backer-Maki

Budweiser-drinkin-snow machine ridin'-snow suit wearing-Skoal chewing-Green Bay Packer fanatics.

Pasty

Finnish (or Cornish, depending on who you want to believe!) meat pie made with onions beef and potatos. Many variations on the basic recipe have been created. Some include rutabaga and cayanne pepper. The pasty was introduced to the U.P. by immigrants in the 1880's. Best to buy those that are made in da U.P. Those made elsewhere don't taste nearly as good. If it's made below the Mackinac bridge, don't buy it unless a certified Yooper has prepared it!

Pine Mountain Ski Jump

One of the world's best 90 meter free standing ski jumps. Since 1939, has held annual ski jumping tournament. In 1996 held World Cup ski jump event. First one in United States since 1990. Masahiko Harada of Japan set a new hill record with a jump of 459 feet, a jump that also tied the North American Ski Jumping record. Pine Mountain Resort is also a great place for recreational downhill and cross country skiing. Located in Iron Mountain.

Pre'ner

Stands for "pretty near" as in: There were pre'ner tirty bucks out by da camp! Or, We're pre'ner Felch now.

Q

Quill Pig

The native U.P. porcupine.

R

Raha

Money or other medium of exchange.

Ralph

A small community in Da U.P. Also means to drink too much and toss your cookies!

RAM-ing

Running amuck. Out for a road trip or a day of heavy duty shopping!

Rest Stop

Public bathroom near the highway. (rare in Yooperland)

Sail Rabbit

Delicacy enjoyed by diehard Yoopers. Actually it's the flattened rabbit (or other varmint) you find on the highway who just missed making it across US 2 with the rest of his bunny friends. The more vehicles that have run over it, the better! After peeling off the road let dry on the front porch or in the back of your pickup truck. When dry, sail it through the air like a frisbee.

Seney Stretch

The "Seney Stretch" is an approximately 18 mile stretch of M-28 from Seney to Shingleton. This stretch is a straight line run along the northern boundary of the Seney Wildlife Refuge. There are lots and lots of trees here, but not much else. The only notable road that intersects it (in my memory) is the Crieghton Truck Trail. This is nothing but a rut road in the finest tradition.

Side By Each

Standing next to each other. As in, "Der dey were; towsands of deer standing in da field side by each!"

Sisu

The quality possessed by Yoopers which enables them to endure and even enjoy Yooperland winters.

Sitt

Manure.

Skeeter

A large native insect known to suck small animals dry. Rumored to be Yooperland's 'state' bird. Distant cousin to the domesticated mosquito found in other areas.

Skunk Beer

It's the kind of beer that, after you have opened one and taken a sip, you realize why it was on sale for $2.99 a case! It can also make you wonder how they got the skunks to stand still and pee in the bottles!

Smart Pill

Rabbit droppings, in Yooperland legend said to increase intelligence.

Smelt'n

Fishing for smelt. Dip nets are often used. The Days River near Gladstone is a good place to go smelt'n

Snow Cow

Moose (or mother-in-law).

Snow Tank (also Snow Boat)

A big old rusty car, preferably a large Dodge, Chevy or Plymouth from the 1960's 70's or early 80's with at least 140,000 miles on it that gets about 7 miles to the gallon. When a snow storm and bad roads shut down other cars, these cars will get you to your destination. Radio, heater and windshield wipers optional. Also looks better if you have a coat hanger for an antenna and are missing at least one hub cap.

Sparklers

If a Yooper is caught wearing an extremely white pair of socks he is said to be sporting a pair of Sparklers!

Speed Beef