"Up wi' my ploughman lad,And hey my merry ploughman;Of a' the trades that I do ken,Commend me to the ploughman."
"Up wi' my ploughman lad,And hey my merry ploughman;Of a' the trades that I do ken,Commend me to the ploughman."
"Up wi' my ploughman lad,
And hey my merry ploughman;
Of a' the trades that I do ken,
Commend me to the ploughman."
A somewhat different reading of this very obscure and now indeed obsolete proverb has been suggested by an esteemed and learned friend:--"I should say rather it meant that the ploughshare, or country life, accompanied with good luck or fortune was best;i.e.,that industry coupled with good fortune (good seasons and the like) was the combination that was most to be desired.Soel, in Anglo-Saxon, as a noun, meansopportunity, and then good luck, happiness, etc."
There's mae[124]madines[125]nor makines[126]. Girls are more plentiful in the world than hares.
Ye bried[127]of the gouk[128], ye have not a rhyme[129]but ane. Applied to persons who tire everybody by constantly harping on one subject.
The collection by Allan Ramsay is very good, and professes to correct the errors of former collectors. I have now before me thefirst edition, Edinburgh, 1737, with the appropriate motto on the title-page, "That maun be true that a' men say." This edition contains proverbs only, the number being 2464. Some proverbs in this collection I do not find in others, and one quality it possesses in a remarkable degree--it is very Scotch. The language of the proverbial wisdom has the true Scottish flavour; not only is this the case with the proverbs themselves, but the dedication to the tenantry of Scotland, prefixed to the collection, is written in pure Scottish dialect. From this dedication I make an extract, which falls in with our plan of recording Scotch reminiscences, as Allan Ramsay there states the great value set upon proverbs in his day, and the great importance which he attaches to them as teachers of moral wisdom, and as combining amusement with instruction. The prose of Allan Ramsay has, too, a spice of his poetry in its composition. His dedication is, To the tenantry of Scotland, farmers of the dales, and storemasters of the hills--
"Worthy friends--The following hoard of wise sayings and observations of our forefathers, which have been gathering through mony bygane ages, I have collected with great care, and restored to their proper sense....
"As naething helps our happiness mair than to have the mind made up wi' right principles, I desire you, for the thriving and pleasure of you and yours, to use your een and lend your lugs to these guidauld saws, that shine wi' wail'd sense, and will as lang as the world wags. Gar your bairns get them by heart; let them have a place among your family-books, and may never a window-sole through the country be without them. On a spare hour, when the day is clear, behind a ruck, or on the green howm, draw the treasure frae your pouch, an' enjoy the pleasant companion. Ye happy herds, while your hirdsell are feeding on the flowery braes, you may eithly make yoursells master of the haleware. How usefou' will it prove to you (wha hae sae few opportunities of common clattering) when ye forgather wi' your friends at kirk or market, banquet or bridal! By your proficiency you'll be able, in the proverbial way, to keep up the saul of a conversation that is baith blyth an usefou'."
Mr. Henderson's work is a compilation from those already mentioned. It is very copious, and the introductory essay contains some excellent remarks upon the wisdom and wit of Scottish proverbial sayings.
Mr. Stirling's (now Sir W. Stirling-Maxwell's) address, like everything he writes, indicates a minute and profound knowledge of his subject, and is full of picturesque and just views of human nature. He attaches much importance to the teaching conveyed in proverbial expressions, and recommends his readers even still to collect such proverbial expressions as may yet linger in conversation, because, as he observes, "If it is not yet registered, it is possible that it might have died with the tongue from which you took it, and so have been lost for ever." "I believe," he adds, "the number of good old saws still floating as waifs and strays on the tide of popular talk to be much greater than might at first appear."
One remark is applicable to all these collections--viz., that out of so large a number there are many of them on which we have little grounds for deciding that they areexclusivelyScottish. In fact, some are mere translations of proverbs adopted by many nations; some of universal adoption. Thus we have--
A burnt bairn fire dreads.Ae swallow makes nae simmer.Faint heart ne'er wan fair lady.Ill weeds wax weel.Mony sma's mak a muckle.O' twa ills chuse the least.Set a knave to grip a knave.Twa wits are better than ane.There's nae fule like an auld fule.Ye canna mak a silk purse o' a sow's lug.Ae bird i' the hand is worth twa fleeing.Mony cooks ne'er made gude kail.
Of numerous proverbs such as these, some may or may not be original in the Scottish. Sir William remarks that many of the best and oldest proverbs may be common to all people--may have occurred to all. In our national collections, therefore, some of the proverbs recorded may be simply translations into Scotch of what have been long considered the property of other nations. Still, I hope it is not a mere national partiality to say that many of the common proverbsgainmuch by such translation from other tongues. All that I would attempt now is, to select some of our more popular proverbial sayings, which many of us can remember as current amongst us, and were much used by the late generation in society, and to add a few from the collections I have named, which bear a very decided Scottish stamp either in turn of thought or in turn of language.
I remember being much struck the first time I heard the application of that pretty Scottish saying regarding a fair bride. I was walking in Montrose, a day or two before her marriage, with a young lady, a connection of mine, who merited this description, when she was kindly accosted by an old friend, an honest fish-wife of the town, "Weel, Miss Elizabeth, hae ye gotten a' yer claes ready?" to which the young lady modestly answered, "Oh, Janet, my claes are soon got ready;" and Janet replied, in the old Scotch proverb, "Ay, weel,a bonnie bride's sune buskit[130]." In the old collection, an addition less sentimental is made to this proverb,A short horse is sune wispit[131].
To encourage strenuous exertions to meet difficult circumstances, is well expressed bySetting a stout heart to a stey brae.
The mode of expressing that the worth of a handsome woman outweighs even her beauty, has a very Scottish character--She's better than she's bonnie. The opposite of this was expressed by a Highlander of his own wife, when he somewhat ungrammatically said of her, "She's bonnier than she's better."
The frequent evil to harvest operations from autumnal rains and fogs in Scotland is well told in the saying,A dry summer ne'er made a dear peck.
There can be no question as to country in the following, which seems to express generally that persons may have the name and appearance of greatness without the reality--A' Stuarts are na sib[132]to the king.
There is an excellent Scottish version of the common proverb, "He that's born to be hanged will never be drowned."--The water will never warr[133], the widdie, i.e.never cheat the gallows. This saying received a very naive practical application during the anxiety and alarm of a storm. One of the passengers, a good simple-minded minister, was sharing the alarm that was felt around him, until spying one of his parishioners, of whose ignominious end he had long felt persuaded, he exclaimed to himself, "Oh, we are all safe now," and accordingly accosted the poor man with strong assurances of the great pleasure he had in seeing him on board.
It's ill getting the breeks aff the Highlandmanis a proverb that savours very strong of a Lowland Scotch origin. Having suffered loss at the hands of their neighbours from the hills, this was a mode of expressing the painful truth that there was little hope of obtaining redress from those who had nomeansat their disposal.
Proverbs connected with the bagpipes I set down as legitimate Scotch, as thus--Ye are as lang in tuning your pipes as anither wad play a spring[134]. You are as long of setting about a thing as another would be in doing it.
There is a set of Scottish proverbs which we may group together as containing one quality in common, and that in reference to the Evil Spirit, and to his agency in the world. This is a reference often, I fear, too lightly made; but I am not conscious of anything deliberately profane or irreverent in the following:--
The deil's nae sae ill as he's caa'd. The most of people may be found to have some redeeming good point: applied inGuy Manneringby the Deacon to Gilbert Glossin, upon his intimating his intention to come to his shop soon for the purpose of laying in his winter stock of groceries.
To the same effect,It's a sin to lee on the deil. Even of the worst people,truthat least should be spoken.
He should hae a lang-shafted spune that sups kail wi' the deil.He should be well guarded and well protected that has to do with cunning and unprincipled men.
Lang ere the deil dee by the dyke-side.Spoken when the improbable death of some powerful and ill-disposed person is talked of.
Let ae deil ding anither. Spoken when too bad persons are at variance over some evil work.
The deil's bairns hae deil's luck. Spoken enviously when ill people prosper.
The deil's a busy bishop in his ain diocie. Bad men are sure to be active in promoting their own bad ends. A quaint proverb of this class I have been told of as coming from the reminiscences of an old lady of quality, to recommend a courteous manner to every one:It's aye gude to be ceevil, as the auld wife said when she beckit[135]to the deevil.
Raise nae mair deils than ye are able to lay. Provoke no strifes which ye may be unable to appease.
The deil's aye gude to his ain. A malicious proverb, spoken as if those whom we disparage were deriving their success from bad causes.
Ye wad do little for God an the deevil was dead. A sarcastic mode of telling a person that fear, rather than love or principle, is the motive to his good conduct.
In the old collection already referred to is a proverb which, although somewhatpersonal, is too good to omit. It is doubtful how it took its origin, whether as a satire against the decanal order in general, or against some obnoxious dean in particular. These are the terms of it:The deil an' the dean begin wi' ae letter. When the deil has the dean the kirk will be the better.
The deil's gane ower Jock Wabsteris a saying which I have been accustomed to in my part of the country from early years. It expresses generally misfortune or confusion, but I am not quite sure of theexactmeaning, or who is represented by "Jock Wabster." It was a great favourite with Sir Walter Scott, who quotes it twice inRob Roy. Allan Ramsay introduces it in theGentle Shepherdto express the misery of married life when the first dream of love has passed away:--
"The 'Deil gaes ower Jock Wabster,' hame grows hell,When Pate misca's ye waur than tongue can tell."
There are two very pithy Scottish proverbial expressions for describing the case of young women losing their chance of good marriages by setting their aims too high. Thus an old lady, speaking of her granddaughter having made what she considered a poor match, described her as having "lookit at the moon, and lichtit[136]in the midden."
It is recorded again of a celebrated beauty, Becky Monteith, that being asked how she had not made a good marriage, she replied, "Ye see, I wadna hae the walkers, and the riders gaed by."
It's ill to wauken sleeping dogs.It is a bad policy to rouse dangerous and mischievous people, who are for the present quiet.
It is nae mair ferly[137]to see a woman greit than to see a goose go barefit.A harsh and ungallant reference to the facility with which the softer sex can avail themselves of tears to carry a point.
A Scots mist will weet an Englishman to the skin.A proverb, evidently of Caledonian origin, arising from the frequent complaints made by English visitors of the heavy mists which hang about our hills, and which are found to annoy the southern traveller as it were downright rain.
Keep your ain fish-guts to your ain sea-maws.This was a favourite proverb with Sir Walter Scott, when he meant to express the policy of first considering the interests that are nearest home. The saying savours of the fishing population of the east cost.
A Yule feast may be done at Pasch. Festivities, although usually practised at Christmas, need not, on suitable occasions, be confined to any season.
It's better to sup wi' a cutty than want a spune.Cutty means anything short, stumpy, and not of full growth; frequently applied to a short-handled horn spoon. As Meg Merrilies says to the bewildered Dominie, "If ye dinna eat instantly, by the bread and salt, I'll put it down your throat wi' thecutty spune."
"Fules mak feasts and wise men eat 'em,my Lord." This was said to a Scottish nobleman on his giving a great entertainment, and who readily answered, "Ay, andWise men make proverbs and fools repeat 'em."
A green Yule[138]and a white Pays[139]mak a fat kirk-yard.A very coarse proverb, but may express a general truth as regards the effects of season on the human frame. Another of a similar character is,An air[140]winter maks a sair[141]winter.
Wha will bell the cat?The proverb is used in reference to a proposal for accomplishing a difficult or dangerous task, and alludes to the fable of the poor mice proposing to put a bell about the cat's neck, that they might be apprised of his coming. The historical application is well known. When the nobles of Scotland proposed to go in a body to Stirling to take Cochrane, the favourite of James the Third, and hang him, the Lord Gray asked, "It is well said, but wha will bell the cat?" The Earl of Angus accepted the challenge, and effected the object. To his dying day he was called Archibald Bell-the-Cat.
Ye hae tint the tongue o' the trump."Trump" is a Jew's harp. To lose the tongue of it is to lose what is essential to its sound.
Meat and mass hinders nae man.Needful food, and suitable religious exercises, should not be spared under greatest haste.
Ye fand it whar the Highlandman fand the tangs(i.e. at the fireside). A hit at our mountain neighbours, who occasionally took from the Lowlands--as having found--something that was never lost.
His head will ne'er rive(i.e. tear)his father's bonnet. A picturesque way of expressing that the son will never equal the influence and ability of his sire.
His bark is waur nor his bite.A good-natured apology for one who is good-hearted and rough in speech.
Do as the cow of Forfar did, tak a standing drink. This proverb relates to an occurrence which gave rise to a lawsuit and a whimsical legal decision. A woman in Forfar, who was brewing, set out her tub of beer to cool. A cow came by and drank it up. The owner of the cow was sued for compensation, but the bailies of Forfar, who tried the case, acquitted the owner of the cow, on the ground that the farewell drink, called in the Highlands thedochan doris[142], or stirrup-cup, taken by the guest standing by the door, was never charged; and as the cow had taken but a standing drink outside, it could not, according to the Scottish usage, be chargeable. Sir Walter Scott has humorously alluded to this circumstance in the notes toWaverley, but has not mentioned it as the subject of an old Scotch proverb.
Bannocks are better nor nae kind o' bread.Evidently Scottish. Better have oatmeal cakes to eat than be in want of wheaten loaves.
Folly is a bonny dog.Meaning, I suppose, that many are imposed upon by the false appearances and attractions of vicious pleasures.
The e'ening brings a' hameis an interesting saying, meaning, that the evening of life, or the approach of death, softens many of our political and religious differences. I do not find this proverb in the older collections, but Sir William Maxwell justly calls it "a beautiful proverb, which, lending itself to various uses, may be taken as an expression of faith in the gradual growth and spread of large-hearted Christian charity, the noblest result of our happy freedom of thought and discussion." The literal idea of the "e'ening bringing a' hame," has a high and illustrious antiquity, as in the fragment of Sappho, [Greek: 'Espere, panta phereis--phereis oin (or oinon) phereis aiga, phereis maeteri paida]--which is thus paraphrased by Lord Byron in Don Juan, iii. 107:--
"O Hesperus, thou bringest all good things--Home to the weary, to the hungry cheer;To the young birds the parent's brooding wings,The welcome stall to the o'erlaboured steer, etc.Thou bring'st the child, too, to the mother's breast."
"O Hesperus, thou bringest all good things--Home to the weary, to the hungry cheer;To the young birds the parent's brooding wings,The welcome stall to the o'erlaboured steer, etc.Thou bring'st the child, too, to the mother's breast."
"O Hesperus, thou bringest all good things--
Home to the weary, to the hungry cheer;
To the young birds the parent's brooding wings,
The welcome stall to the o'erlaboured steer, etc.
Thou bring'st the child, too, to the mother's breast."
A similar graceful and moral saying inculcates an acknowledgment of gratitude for the past favours which we have enjoyed when we come to the close of the day or the close of life--
Ruse[143]the fair day at e'en.
But a very learned and esteemed friend has suggested another reading of this proverb, in accordance with the celebrated saying of Solon (Arist. Eth. N.I. 10): [Greek: Kata Solona chreon telos hozan]--Do not praise the fairness of the daytillevening; do not call the life happytillyou have seen the close; or, in other matters, do not boast that all is well till you have conducted your undertaking to a prosperous end.
Let him tak a spring on his ain fiddle.Spoken of a foolish and unreasonable person; as if to say, "We will for the present allow him to have his own way." Bailie Nicol Jarvie quotes the proverb with great bitterness, when he warns his opponent thathistime for triumph will come ere long,--"Aweel, aweel, sir, you're welcome to a tune on your ain fiddle; but see if I dinna gar ye dance till't afore it's dune."
The kirk is meikle, but ye may say mass in ae end o't;or, as I have received it in another form, "If we canna preach in the kirk, we can sing mass in the quire." This intimates, where something is alleged to be too much, that you need take no more than what you have need for. I heard the proverb used in this sense by Sir Walter Scott at his own table. His son had complained of some quaighs which Sir Walter had produced for a dram after dinner, that they were too large. His answer was, "Well, Walter, as my good mother used to say, if the kirk is ower big, just sing mass in the quire." Here is another reference to kirk and quire--He rives[144]the kirk to theik[145]the quire. Spoken of unprofitable persons, who in the English proverb, "rob Peter to pay Paul."
The king's errand may come the cadger's gate yet.A great man may need the service of a very mean one.
The maut is aboon the meal.His liquor has done more for him than his meat. The man is drunk.
Mak a kirk and a mill o't.Turn a thing to any purpose you like; or rather, spoken sarcastically, Take it, and make the best of it.
Like a sow playing on a trump.No image could be well more incongruous than a pig performing on a Jew's harp.
Mair by luck than gude guiding.His success is due to his fortunate circumstances, rather than to his own discretion.
He's not a man to ride the water wi'.A common Scottish saying to express you cannot trust such an one in trying times. May have arisen from the districts where fords abounded, and the crossing them was dangerous.
He rides on the riggin o' the kirk.The rigging being the top of the roof, the proverb used to be applied to those who carried their zeal for church matters to the extreme point.
Leal heart never lee'd,well expresses that an honest loyal disposition will scorn, under all circumstances, to tell a falsehood.
A common Scottish proverb,Let that flee stick to the wa', has an obvious meaning,--"Say nothing more on that subject." But the derivation is not obvious[146]. In like manner, the meaning ofHe that will to Cupar maun to Cupar, is clearly that if a man is obstinate, and bent upon his own dangerous course, he must take it. But why Cupar? and whether is it the Cupar of Angus or the Cupar of Fife?
Kindness creeps where it canna gangprettily expresses that where love can do little, it will do that little, though it cannot do more.
In my part of the country a ridiculous addition used to be made to the common Scottish saying.Mony a thing's made for the pennie, i.e. Many contrivances are thought of to get money. The addition is, "As the old woman said when she saw a black man," taking it for granted that he was an ingenious and curious piece of mechanism made for profit.
Bluid is thicker than wateris a proverb which has a marked Scottish aspect, as meant to vindicate those family predilections to which, as a nation, we are supposed to be rather strongly inclined.
There's aye water where the stirkie[147]drouns.Where certain effects are produced, there must be some causes at work--a proverb used to show that a universal popular suspicion as to an obvious effect must be laid in truth.
Better a finger aff than aye waggin'. This proverb I remember as a great favourite with many Scotch people. Better experience the worst, than have an evil always pending.
Cadgers are aye cracking o' crook saddles[148]has a very Scottish aspect, and signifies that professional men are very apt to talk too much of their profession.
The following is purely Scotch, for in no country but Scotland are singed sheep heads to be met with:He's like a sheep head in a pair o' tangs.
As sure's deeth. A common Scottish proverbial expression to signify either the truth or certainty of a fact, or to pledge the speaker to a performance of his promise. In the latter sense an amusing illustration of faith in the superior obligation of this asseveration to any other, is recorded in theEglinton Papers[149]. The Earl one day found a boy climbing up a tree, and called him to come down. The boy declined, because, he said, the Earl would thrash him. His Lordship pledged his honour that he would not do so. The boy replied, "I dinna ken onything about your honour, but if you say as sure's deeth I'll come doun."
Proverbs are sometimes local in their application.
The men o' the Mearns canna do mair than they may.Even the men of Kincardineshire can only do their utmost--a proverb intended to be highly complimentary to the powers of the men of that county.
I'll mak Cathkin's covenant wi' you, Let abee for let abee.This is a local saying quoted often in Hamilton. The laird of that property had--very unlike the excellent family who have now possessed it for more than a century--been addicted to intemperance. One of his neighbours, in order to frighten him on his way home from his evening potations, disguised himself, on a very wet night, and, personating the devil, claimed a title to carry him off as his rightful property. Contrary to all expectation, however, the laird showed fight, and was about to commence the onslaught, when a parley was proposed, and the issue was, "Cathkin's covenant, Let abee for let abee."
When the castle of Stirling gets a hat, the Carse of Corntown pays for that.This is a local proverbial saying; the meaning is, that when the clouds descend so low as to envelope Stirling Castle, a deluge of rain may be expected in the adjacent country.
I will conclude this notice of our proverbial reminiscences, by adding a cluster of Scottish proverbs, selected from an excellent article on the general subject in theNorth British Reviewof February 1858. The reviewer designates these as "broader in their mirth, and more caustic in their tone," than the moral proverbial expressions of the Spanish and Italian:--
A blate[150]cat maks a proud mouse.Better a toom[151]house than an ill tenant.Jouk[152]and let the jaw[153]gang by.Mony ane speirs the gate[154]he kens fu' weel.The tod[155]ne'er sped better than when he gaed his ain errand.A wilfu' man should be unco wise.He that has a meikle nose thinks ilka ane speaks o't.He that teaches himsell has a fule for his maister.It's an ill cause that the lawyer thinks shame o'.Lippen[156]to me, but look to yoursell.Mair whistle than woo, as the souter said when shearing the soo.Ye gae far about seeking the nearest.Ye'll no sell your hen on a rainy day.Ye'll mend when ye grow better.Ye're nae chicken for a' your cheepin'[157].
I have now adduced quite sufficient specimens to convince those who may not have given attention to the subject, how much of wisdom, knowledge of life, and good feeling, are contained in these aphorisms which compose the mass of our Scottish proverbial sayings. No doubt, to many of my younger readers proverbs are little known, and to all they are becoming more and more matters of reminiscence. I am quite convinced that much of the old quaint and characteristic Scottish talk which we are now endeavouring to recall depended on a happy use of those abstracts of moral sentiment. And this feeling will be confirmed when we call to mind how often those of the old Scottish school of character, whose conversation we have ourselves admired, had most largely availed themselves of the use of itsproverbialphilosophy.
I have already spoken of (p. 16) a Scottish peculiarity--viz. that of naming individuals from lands which have been possessed long by the family, or frequently from the landed estates which they acquire. The use of this mode of discriminating individuals in the Highland districts is sufficiently obvious. Where the inhabitants of a whole country-side are Campbells, or Frasers, or Gordons, nothing could be more convenient than addressing the individuals of each clan by the name of his estate. Indeed, some years ago, any other designation, as Mr. Campbell, Mr. Fraser, would have been resented as an indignity. Their consequence sprang from their possession[158]. But all this is fast wearing away. The estates of old families have often changed hands, and Highlanders are most unwilling to give the names of old properties to new proprietors. The custom, however, lingers amongst us, in the northern districts especially. Farms also used to give their names to the tenants[159]. I can recall an amusing instance of this practice belonging to my early days. The oldest recollections I have are connected with the name, the figure, the sayings and doings, of the old cow-herd at Fasque in my father's time; his name was Boggy,i.e.his ordinary appellation; his true name was Sandy Anderson. But he was called Boggy from the circumstance of having once held a wretched farm on Deeside named Boggendreep. He had long left it, and been unfortunate in it, but the name never left him,--he was Boggy to his grave. The territorial appellation used to be reckoned complimentary, and more respectful than Mr. or any higher title to which the individual might be entitled. I recollect, in my brother's time, at Fasque, his showing off some of his home stock to Mr. Williamson, the Aberdeen butcher. They came to a fine stot, and Sir Alexander said, with some appearance of boast, "I was offered twenty guineas for that ox." "Indeed, Fasque," said Williamson, "ye should hae steekit your neive upo' that."
Sir Walter Scott had marked in his diary a territorial greeting of two proprietors which had amused him much. The laird of Kilspindie had met the laird of Tannachy-Tulloch, and the following compliments passed between them:--"Yer maist obedient hummil servant, Tannachy-Tulloch." To which the reply was, "Yer nain man, Kilspindie."
In proportion as we advance towards the Highland district this custom of distinguishing clans or races, and marking them out according to the district they occupied, became more apparent. There was the Glengarry country, the Fraser country, the Gordon country, etc. etc. These names carried also with them certain moral features as characteristic of each division. Hence the following anecdote:--The morning litany of an old laird of Cultoquhey, when he took his morning draught at the cauld well, was in these terms:--"Frae the ire o' the Drummonds, the pride o' the Græmes, the greed o' the Campbells, and the wind o' the Murrays, guid Lord deliver us."
The Duke of Athole, having learned that Cultoquhey was in the habit of mentioning his Grace's family in such uncomplimentary terms, invited the humorist to Dunkeld, for the purpose of giving him a hint to desist from the reference. After dinner, the Duke asked his guest what were the precise terms in which he was in the habit of alluding to his powerful neighbours. Cultoquhey repeated his liturgy without a moment's hesitation. "I recommend you," said his Grace, looking very angry, "in future to omit my name from your morning devotions." All he got from Cultoquhey was, "Thank ye, my Lord Duke," taking off his glass with the utmost sangfroid.
FOOTNOTES:
[49]Stoor is, Scotticé, dust in motion, and has no English synonym; oor is hour. Sir Walter Scott is said to have advised an artist, in painting a battle, not to deal with details, but to get up a goodstoor: then put in an arm and a sword here and there, and leave all the rest to the imagination of the spectator.
[50]Reach me a leg of that turkey.
[51]Clearing ashes out of the bars of the grate.
[52]Mentally confused. Muddy when applied to water.
[53]Preface to 4th edition ofMystifications, by Dr. John Brown.
[54]Worse.
[55]Where.
[56]Lord Cockburn'sMemorials, p. 58.
[57]Frogs.
[58]Killed.
[59]Miss Jenny Methven.
[60]"Civil," "obliging."--Jamieson.
[61]Dam, the game of draughts.
[62]Brod, the board.
[63]Measles.
[64]Nettle-rash.
[65]The itch.
[66]Whooping-cough.
[67]Mumps.
[68]Toothache.
[69]The Scotticisms are printed in italics.
[70]Delicate in health.
[71]Ailment.
[72]Yawning.
[73]Catching.
[74]Tea-urn.
[75]Ver, the spring months.--e.g."This was inverquhen wynter tid."--Barbour.
[76]A number.
[77]Young girls.
[78]Gallows birds.
[79]whistling noises.
[80]Distorted gestures.
[81]Honey jar.
[82]A kind of loose gown formerly worn.
[83]Amongst many acts of kindness and essential assistance which I have received and am constantly receiving from my friend Mr. Hugh James Rollo, I owe my introduction to this interesting Scottish volume, now, I believe, rather scarce.
[84]Kelly's book is constantly quoted by Jamieson, and is, indeed, an excellent work for the study of good old Scotch.
[85]This probably throws back the collection to about the middle of the century.
[86]Nurse.
[87]Daw, a slut.
[88]Would.
[89]Forgive.
[90]Going or moving.
[91]Foot.
[92]Always.
[93]If.
[94]Boasters.
[95]Used as cowards(?)
[96]Jest.
[97]A dog's name.
[98]To skail house, to disfurnish.
[99]Being angry or cross.
[100]Judge.
[101]Know not.
[102]Blames.
[103]To aim at.
[104]A stroke.
[105]Full.
[106]Hold.
[107]Potent or strong.
[108]Is angry.
[109]Settle.
[110]Amends.
[111]Comb.
[112]Seldom.
[113]Painfully.
[114]Wool-combers.
[115]Greasy.
[116]Worthless fellow.
[117]Loses.
[118]Sixpenny.
[119]A sort of dagger or hanger which seems to have been used both at meals as a knife and in broils--"Andwhingersnow in friendship bare,The social meal to part and share,Had found a bloody sheath."--Lay of the Last Minstrel.
"Andwhingersnow in friendship bare,The social meal to part and share,Had found a bloody sheath."
[120]Thong.
[121]No lawsuit.
[122]Robbers.
[123]Rue, to repent.
[124]More.
[125]Maidens.
[126]Hares.
[127]Take after.
[128]Cuckoo.
[129]Note.
[130]Attired.
[131]Curried.
[132]Related.
[133]Outrun.
[134]Tune.
[135]Curtsied.
[136]Fallen.
[137]Surprise.
[138]Christmas.
[139]Pasch or Easter.
[140]Early.
[141]Severe.
[142]The proper orthography of this expression is deoch-an-doruis (or dorais).Deoch, a drink;an, of the;doruisordorais, possessive case of dorus or doras a door.
[143]Praise.
[144]Tears.
[145]Thatch.
[146]It has been suggested, and with much reason, that the reference is to a fly sticking on a wet or a newly painted wall; this is corroborated by the addition in Rob Roy, "When the dirt's dry, it will rub out," which seems to point out the meaning and derivation of the proverb.
[147]A young bullock.
[148]Saddle for supporting panniers.
[149]Vol. i. p. 134.
[150]Shy.
[151]Empty.
[152]Stoop down.
[153]Wave.
[154]The way.
[155]Fox.
[156]Trust to.
[157]Chirping.
[158]Even in Forfarshire, where Carnegies abound, we had Craigo, Balnamoon, Pitarrow, etc.
[159]This custom is still in use in Galloway; and "Challoch," "Eschonchan," "Tonderghie," "Balsalloch," and "Drummorral," etc. etc., appear regularly at kirk and market.