General
down cellar
What does down cellar mean?
New England's stubborn refusal to add the word 'the.' Means 'down in the basement.' Where dad keeps the tools, where grandma keeps the canned tomatoes, where the oil tank hums all winter. Pronounced 'down sullah' — try saying it any other way and a Mainer will correct you.
"Where's the snow shovel? — Down cellar, behind the water heater."
Origin
Archaic English construction preserved in Eastern New England dialect; common across MA, NH, ME, and RI.
Frequently asked questions
What does down cellar mean?
Down cellar is New England dialect for "in the basement," often pronounced "down sullah".
How do you use down cellar in a sentence?
"The canning jars are down cellar next to the furnace."
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
