In The Poacher's Son I have several characters who casually toss about some of my state's more colorful expressions. Retired Warden Service Chief Pilot Charley Stevens especially has a masterful command of the Maine idiom. Since my novel doesn't contain a supplementary glossary of regional expressions, I figured I should occasionally use this blog to clarify and explain what the hell these cussed* people are saying to my out-of-state readers. This term didn't make it into the final draft, I just happen to love it because of its sweet perfection.
TOOTH CARPENTER: a Maine dentist, especially one working in an upcountry town.
*CUSSED: A contraction of "cursed," but used in a familiar and genial manner; when applied to a person it usually signifies an obstinate but not altogether unpleasant individual.