Vale, The (n.): the (specific) Vale. ‘The Vale: Walton Vale to Liverpool northenders, Aigburth Vale to south-enders, St. Domingo Vale to in-betweeners’ (Lane 1966: 113). There are a number of vales in Liverpool place names, including: Walton Vale, Everton Vale, Dingle Vale, Woolton Vale, Gateacre Vale.

Vamoose (v.): leave, escape. ‘If he really intended to vamoose’ (Cross 1951: 101). ‘Vamoosed. Not that you could imagine the lad vamoosing anywhere’ (Sampson 2002: 164). Recorded from e.19c.; an Americanism that passed into English use almost immediately though the 20c. usage probably came from Westerns; from Spanish ‘vamos’, ‘let's go’.

Vaults (n.): pub. ‘A narrow lane [in Liverpool], filled with boarding-houses, spirit vaults and sailors’ (Melville 1849: 168). ‘With a sly look Jack steps into the large vaults which have a back entrance in [Mill Street]’ (Shimmin 1863: 5). ‘Repulsive, granite-faced “Vaults” recurrent every five hundred yards’ (Cross 1951: 112). ‘The little pub opposite is called Curiosity Vaults”’ (Channon 1970: 119). Recorded from 16c.; originally a ‘cellar or store for liquor’, extended to South Lancashire dialectal ‘vault’: ‘a place where intoxicating liquors are sold at the counter only’.

Vauxy (n.): Vauxhall Road. ‘Voxey: Vauxhall Road, Liverpool’ (Lane 1966: 113). *NR; Vauxhall Road is one of the main thoroughfares in the north of the city, lying between Great Homer Street and Scotland Road.

Veil (n.): caul. ‘Shortly after the baby's birth a man came to the house and offered ￡25 for the “veil”’ (Kerr 1958: 130). Recorded from m.19c.; dialectal; the membrane that surrounds the foetus at birth was considered by sailors to be protection against drowning and was highly valued.

Vinegar trip (n.): wasted journey. ‘She's gone on a vinegar trip’ (Bainbridge 1973: 115). ‘Vinegar-trip. A wasted journey’ (Howarth 1985: n.p.). *NR; derivation unknown.