re:"mobairns." Similarly, sailors will use windbairns instead of windlasses, and pirates will slit each other's throats with cutbairns.
Bairns is (was 10 years ago) used in Canada? i only know it as a scot's word. and one my grandmother, but not my mother used. My great grandmother was born and raised in irish countryside. i don't know if rubrick is about but i have never heard bairns from a dubliner.
or were you living in another english speaking part of the world? (scotland for example?)