Geordies are native to the city of Newcastle You could start an argument there, Betsy! ;o)

lish (I've seen it spelled and pronounced leish, just like the thing you haul the dog around on) means thin in the not-fat sense. So perhaps--not skinny--but fit:

Oh wha's leik my Johnny
Sae leish, sae blithe sae bonny?
He's foermost mong tha mony
Keel lads o' Coaly Tyne - The Keel Row