General
while
What does while mean?
Used to mean 'until'. A famous Yorkshireism that can confuse outsiders.
"The shop's open nine while five."
Origin
Yorkshire dialect extension of 'while' to mean 'until'.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'while' mean in Yorkshire?
It's used to mean 'until', as in 'open nine while five'.
Why can 'while' meaning 'until' confuse people?
Outside Yorkshire 'while' means 'during', so 'nine while five' can be misread.
Is 'while' meaning 'until' correct?
It's a genuine Yorkshire dialect usage, though non-standard in general English.
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