The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #46638   Message #708363
Posted By: Jim Dixon
10-May-02 - 02:17 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Round & Round, Jug Band Song
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Round & Round, Jug Band Song
"Ary"—I'm not sure of the spelling, but it is pronounced like "airy"—is an archaic word that shows up in dialect sometimes. You won't find it in an ordinary dictionary. It means "any." It's the opposite of "nary"—which you can find in American dictionaries—and which means "none."

The OED says that "nary" is a dialect word derived from "ne'er a" (never a). I can't find "ary" but it seems logical that it comes from "e'er a" (ever a).