A dictionary of southern expressions, southern speech has been elevated to an art form by those who live below the Mason-Dixon line. Southern dialect springs from a variety of sources: Cajun, Creole, Gumbo, Gullah and Conch, to name a few. All converge to form a uniquely Southern mode of expression. Of the over 3,500 Southern-fried words and expressions contained in Whistlin' Dixie, many have become familiar as they have slipped into the American vocabulary, but many more remain exclusive to the South. All are explored here, with special emphasis on usage, pronunciation, historical and literary references, variations, etymology and locale of use.--[book jacket].