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UNIVERSITY of CALlFOKiNiA
AT
LOS ANGELES
LIBRARY
AN
ETYMOLOGICAL GLOSSARY
OF THE
SHETLAND & ORKNEY DIALECT
WITH SOME DERIVATIONS OF
NAMES OF PLACES IN SHETLAND
{Partly Read at Two Meetings of the Philological Society in the Spring of i2>66)
BY
THOS. EDMONDSTON, F.R.S.L., F.A.S.L.
OF BUNESS, SHETLANO.
EDINBURGH
ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK
1866.
^y n '^' i o
Printed hy v.. Cl.ARK, EJi)tburgli.
^\t\%
\
PREFACE
In offering these pages to the kind forbearance of his friends and the public, the author is aware of their
)J many imperfections.
^ He gratefully acknowledges his indebtedness to
^ those friends who take a warm interest in the pre- servation of the dialect peculiar to the far north, and who have demonstrated that interest by supplying
»'• material for this work. Some four hundred of the words and phrases in this Vocabulary are to be found in that noble work Jamieson's Scottish Dictionary. The writer must acknowledge his special obligations to the MSS. left by the late Mr. William Grant, a Shetlander of considerable linguistic attainments, and
'V of cultivated mind. A large number of words, which
^ had escaped the author's research, were found among Mr. Grant's papers, and the derivations of the names of islands, places, etc., are in many cases also from his pen. Valuable assistance has also been received from the very Eev. Thomas Barclay, D.D., Principal of the College of Glasgow — assistance which is here most gTatefully acknowledged.
vi PREFACE.
Some of the words that will be found in the fol- lowing pages are no doubt in use in other parts of Scotland, and are generally accepted as Scotch words. As the Shetlander employs them, however, it has been thought right not to exclude them, since that alone is interesting, and may be of value to the philologist. Of such words not a few are unquestionably of Norse origin ; and in these cases it is as likely that Scotland has received them from, as that it has given them to, Shetland. It is to be regretted that there are so few Orkney words in this collection. Application was made to several gentlemen resident in those islands, but unfortunately none of them had preserved the words that are now displaced by southern importations.
Most of the Shetland words in this book are derived from or are nearly related to the old Norse, and are still more or less used throughout the islands ; but their strongholds are in the extremities — to wit, Dunrossness, Hillswick, and Unst.
From more frequent business and social intercourse with their southern neighbours, the people of Shetland are rapidly losing, or rather have already lost, a dis- tinctive dialect ; and when the present old inhabitants liave passed away, most of the old Norn will be buried with them.
The author has, on these grounds, deemed it useful to gather noiv, for preservation, what would otherwise in a very sliort time be irrecoverably lost.
PREFACE. vii
The derivations of the names of some of the islands, and of the names of places, private residences, etc., in them, may not be thought uninteresting, and are there- fore appended.
Edinburgh, June 1866.
RUBBING FROM MAESHOW TUMULUS,
GLOSSARY
SHETLAND AND OEKNEY WORDS.
Aaber, eager, anxious to obtain a thing, S. ; isl. aefr ; g.
eifer ; da. pro. abre, id. Aaievhous, the place of meeting appointed by the Foud
general or chief governor, S. Aarm, the end, as of a line, S. ; da. arm, deficiens. Aberzeant, et cetera, S.
Abin, to thresh half a sheaf for giving horses, 0. Abie, a sheaf so threshed, 0.
Abune, out of all character, unreasonable, S, " Abune a'." Abune, above, S. AcAMY, diminutive, 0. Ace, the smallest division of anything, a single particle, a
unit, 0. ; da. as. AcHT, possession, property, S. ; aa. to own ; o. g. aili, I
have ; a. s. agan ; s. aega ; g. and dn. eigen, to possess. ACKADUR, to endeavour (accent on last syllable), S. Ae-beast-tree, a swingle-tree by which one horse draws in
ploughing, 0. and S. Ae-fald, simple, not cunning, upright, S ; g. einfach, einfal-
tig ; 0. g. aenfalt ; a. s. anfeald ; s. eufuldig. Aer, a sandbank or beach ; sometimes a " stone aer," 0. and
S. ; goth. eyr ; isl. eyre ; s?t. g. oer, id.
B
2 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Aessiepattle, a neglected cliild, S. ; g. asclienputtel. Aeth-kent, well known, easily known, S. ; no. audkjend ;
isl. audkendr, id. Affbend, to remove the furniture from a peat-pony, S. Afflude (to), to injure the looks or appearance of anything,
S. ; da. pro. " aflod," id. Affrug ; " affrug of the sea" — a spent wave receding from the
shore, S. Affset, an impulse, S.
Afro, to dissuade, S. ; isl. afroda ; g. abrathen. Aftak, a mockery or jeering : the verb separates the prefix,
and means, 1st, to scoff or jeer ; 2d, applied to weather, to
abate, to lull, S. Aft-hanks, that part of a boat where the bands come together
at the stem and stern, S. Againcalling, recall, revocation, 0. A-GAAIRY ; to go a-gaairy — to leave one's service before the
term-day, 0. Agg, a short breach of the sea, S. ; no. ag. Aggl, to soil, to defile, S.
Aggucks, a kind of fish, the same as awmiicks, S. Air, a peerie air, a mere tasting, 0. and S. ; isl. aur, infini- tesimal. Air, a very small quantity, 0. and S. Air, to taste, 0. and S. AlTTRiE, cold bleak weather, S. ; isl. eitr ; no. da. s. eit,
id. AiVALOUS, doubtful, uncertain, S. AiviNG, being in doubt, S. Aklin, a sullen person, S. ; helg. akel-ig, gloomy ; melancholy ;
dismal. Alamotti, the storm-finch, a fowl (Proccllaria fclagica)^ 0 ;
ital. ala, a wing, and moto, motion, id. Alie, a pet, a favourite ; " an alie lamb," S. ; isl. Al-a, to
pet ; lat. alo, alere.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 3
Alie, to cherish, to nurse, to pet ; a sounded long, S.
Alison, a shoemaker's awl, S. ; teut. aelsene, id.
Almaek, an animal addicted to breaking fences or trespassing
on arable land, S. ; isl. ala, to rear, and da. mark, an enclosed
field ; qu. feeding on enclosed ground, Alto, although, S. Amp, fear, S. ; no. ampe, id. An. See, in.
Andee, a kind of porch, S. ; isl. ond, portions. Andoo, to keep a boat in position by rowing gently against
wind or tide, S. ; no. andou. Angaluck, an accident, a misfortune, S. ; helg. angeluk, mis-
fortime ; da. angaa-e, to concern, to affect, and lykk-e,
luck, fortune. Anker, a dry measure, as an " anker of potatoes," one-third of
a barrel ; also a liquid measure, S. ; da. anker, 38 Danish
quarts, id, Anns, chaff of oats, S. ; no. agn, id. Anns-bere, chaff of here, S. Ant, to pay attention to, to attend, to obey, S. ; isl. ansa ;
da. tendse, id. Antinmas, perhaps Anthony's mass, 24 days after Christmas,
S. Anyestek, a two-year-old slieep, S. Apo, upon, S.
Arby, the sea-gilliflower, O. Arby-root, the root of the sea-gilliflower, 0. Arg, eager, fierce, S. ; da. arg, angry, enraged ; id. arg. Argerie, a crowd, a multitude, S. Argosie, anger, S. ; id. arg ; da. arg, angry ; and isl. ysa ; da.
ose, to pour out. Arvie, a plant (Alcine media), S. ; da. arve, id. Asee, the angle contained between the beam and handle on
the hinder side of a plough, 0.
4 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Ask, drizzle, half-rain half-fog, small particles of snow, S. Ask, a wooden dish for holding ashes, S. ; da. aske, ashes, id. ASLEY ; " horses in asley " — horses belonging to different
persons, bound firm one to another, S. AsooND, a fainting fit — " he fell dead asoond," S. AsTEEES, the beam of a plough, 0. ; perhaps from id. as, and
tre, lignum, id. Aticast, a silly, helpless, odd sort of person, S. Atset, of the ebb — the commencement of the ebb-tide, S. ;
perhaps outset, id. Atteal or ATTEILLE, the pochard, 0. and S. ; isl. tialld-r {Turdus
marinus), id. Attivilts, arable ground lying one year lea, S. ; da. attir,
again, and fallit, ploughed. Atween-liciits, the distance between neighbours' houses, S. Auk, the common guillemot, 0. AuLiN-SCOUTY, the arctic gull, 0. and S. Auskerrie, a scoop for baling out a boat, S. ; da. oesekar ;
no. auskjer, id. Awmucks, a kind of fish found upon sandy beaches ; they
possess the power of inflating their bodies. There are
" ling-awmucks," and " skate-awmucks," and " shell-
awmucks," S. Axes, an agueish distemper, 0. Aze, a large blazing fire, S. ; isl. eys-a, burning coals.
Baa, the calf of the leg, the hollow of the foot, S. ; s. bal, any- thing round.
Bal, the palm of the hand, S, ; da. bald-e, the sole of the foot, the palm of the hand.
Baa, a rock overflowed by the sea, but which may be seen at low- water, S. ; no. baa, id.
Baak, a beam or rafter, the principal rope to which nets or fishing-lines are attached, S. ; g. balk ; du. balk ; a. s. and 110. .■;. and dr/. balk, id.
^AND ORKNEY WORDS. 5
Baalie, a thick cake, S.
Baar, a longitudinal slice of a halibut, including the fin on
one side to the tail, S. ; id. Lard, the margin, the edge, the
lateral extremity. Baaz, a large fat clumsy person, S. ; da. xiro. baas. Back, a wooden bowl in which dough is mixed, S. ; du. bak, id. Backagruf, a ridge at the bottom of a " peat-bank " formed
by the surface of the peat-moss, which is pared off and
thrown on the bottom of the ditch before the peats are
dug out ; da. bakke ; s. bakke, an eminence, a ridge, and
da. grav, groft ; sc. gTaf, a ditch, an excavation. Backburd, the larboard or left side of a boat, S. ; hdg. bak-
boord. Back-feast, an entertainment formerly given by the " best- man" — i.e. groomsman — in return for the wedding-feast
given by the bride's friends, 0. Backlins, backwards, S. ; s. backlaengs ; a. s. bacling ; da.
backlaends. Bad, an article of clothing, as a coat, etc., S. Baenabider, a dog, S. ; da. been ; no. bein ; s. ben, a bone,
and da. bider, a biter. Baenk, a bench, S. ; s. baenk ; da. baenk ; a. s. bene ; (/. bank ;
lat. banca. Baerie, a boar pig, S.
Baes, cattle, beasts, S. ; da. bsest, baest-ick, bestial, id. Baessy-flaas, litter for cattle, composed of heather and dry
earth, S. ; no. bysja, to strew coarse grass or straw on the
floor of a cowhouse, id. Baff, exposure to cold, the effects of exposure to cold, S. ; da.
baeve, to tremble, to shiver ; baeven, a shivering. Baff, to struggle, to buffet a storm, S. Baffer, a struggle ; "to get a baffer" — to have a struggle against
a storm, S. ; isl. bifa, to move or shake. Baffle, a trifle, a thing of no value, 0. ; perhaps dimin. from
teut. beffe, nugae ; beffen, nugari.
6 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Bakie, the blackheaded gull, S.
Bal, to throw at, to pelt, O. and S.
Bald, a ravelled knot, S. ; no. ball, Lalla, to ravel.
Baldin, the halibut [Pleitronectes hippoglossus), S. ; isl. bald-r,
potens. Balfued, to put anything carefully aside, to secrete, S. Balling, pelting, 0. and S. Band, two things ; applied to piltacks, as " a band of piltacks."
S. Bank, a peat-bank, S. ; isl. bank, a pit dug in the soil. Banks (the), the lofty cliffs ^^ilich the cragsman climbs in
search of wild-fowl and their eggs, S. Banksteeship ; "through bankstership" — by force, without
permission, S, Baed, a bold headland, the top of which projects beyond its
base, S. ; isl. bard. Baed, a scold, applied only to women, S. Baem-skin, a leather covering for the breast, S. ; isl. da. no. s.
barm. Baenisdael; " to tell a tale from barnisdael and doun" — to tell
it from beginning to end, with all particulars, S. Bass, the various soft dry substances of which a bird's nest is
composed, S. ; tent, bast, cortex. Baukie, the razorbill {Alca, torda), 0. Bawgie, a name given to the great black and white gull,
S. Bayl, to knot tightly, so as not to be loosened, S. Beacii-boys, boys employed at the fishing-stations to assist in
curing fish on the stone beaches, S. liEAiNEE, a dog, S. ; s. ben ; no. bein ; da. been, a bone, and
da. bider, a biter — i.e. the bone-biter. Beainee-sunday, Sunday before Christmas, on which day it
was usual to hang up an ox-head in the chimney, to make
broth with, S. Bear-pundlah, an instrument used for weighing barley, 0.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 7
Been-hook, the harvest-work a tenant was compelled to give his landlord in part payment of his rent, 0,
Beerin, querulous, discontented, fault-finding, 0.
Befkam, to seaward, S. ; id, fram, from (qu. from the land) and be, signifying in composition towards, beyond.
BeCxOOD, begun, S.
Beguggled, destroyed by mud, slime, etc., S.
Begunk, a mistake, disappointed, S.
Behadden, beholden, obligated, S.
Bekkle, to distort, to put out of shape, S. ; isl. backell, dis- torted, id.
Beltane-eee, a track of stormy weather that usually occurs about Whitsuntide, S.
Bend ; to " bend a horse" — to fasten on him the apparatus necessary for carr}T[ng panniers, S. ; s. bind-a ; da. bind-e, to tie, to fasten, to bind.
Bend, the complete furniture of a peat-horse, S. ; no. and da. pro. bende.
Benkl, to bend, to dimple, S.
Benkle, a dimple, S.
Benon, on the top of, S.
Berg, a rock, S. ; isl. berg ; da. bi?erg, a rock, a cliff.
Bergle, Bergell, the wrasse, a fish, S.
Berguylt, the black goby, a fish, S. ; no. bergylte, id.
Bernacle, Anser hernicla, 0. and S. ; a corruption of the Norwegian " Barngagl," a sea-goose.
Bess, to sew slackly, S,
Bess, cattle, cows (short e, or te), S.
Best ; to best — over and above, gain, saving, S.
Bet, a certain quantity of straw or grass, as a "baet of floss, S.
Bevaar, to protect, to guard, S. ; g. be\vahren, id.
Bevvel, to fit or apply, S.
Bezwell, however, 0.
Biauch, the weather bow of a boat, S.
8 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
BiCK, to pat gently, also to let alone, S.
Bid, the end of the line or gut to which the liook is attached
when using the fly, S. BiEENTEE, a continuance of cloudy weather, always threatening,
but never actually raining, S. BiEiN, a dwelling, S. ; a. s. hying, id. BiGD, a building, a house, S. ; isl. bygg-a ; da. bygg-e. Bigg, to build, S. ; no. biga, to build. BiGHTER, a stone, considerably less than the " steeth stane,"
attached to every weight of lines, in order to keep the
line and hooks lying at the bottom, S. BiLKiE, gristle or cartilage, S. BiNDGE, to bow ; " to beck and bindge " — to bow frequently,
S. BioG, a horse-collar made of straw, S. BiOG, a pattern exhibiting rings of different-coloured worsted
upon stockings ; da. bang, annulus circulus. BiOGiT, applied to stockings so knitted, S. ; da. brogit. BliiTii, a current in the sea caused by a furious tide, but
taking a different course from it, 0. BiSMER, a steelyard, or instrument for weighing resembling
it, 0. and S. ; no. bismar ; da. bismer ; s. besmer. BiSMER, a species of sticldeback, 0. Bister, a town of land, termination of the names of places in
0. and S. Bitlacks, the teeth, S. Biurg, a steep hill, S. ; [/. berg ; a. s. biorg ; no. biarg ; da.
bicrg ; s. berg. Bizzie, the litter with which cattle are bedded, S. I'LAAGIT, dead, S. Black-earth, a black earth found in mossy soil, and used
as a dye, S. Black-head, the jwwit gull, S. Blacking-grass, a wild plant from which a black dye is
extracted, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. g
Blad ; " a blad of a man" — a delicate, weakly person, S. ;
no. blyeda, id. Bladds, a disease like small-pox, S. ; g. blatter, id. Blaigit, a reddish tinge in the wool of a Shetland sheep, S. Blanda-meal, meal made from blanda, S. Bland-hoe, Cldmcra monstrosa, S. Blate (the), a particular spot of fishing-ground, S. Bl.\js"D, a drink made from buttermilk, S ; no. bland, id. Blanda, here and oats mixed and sown together, S. ; no.
blenda ; isl. blanda, to mix, to mingle. Blaw, to dry fish in the open air without salt, S. Blawn-fish, fish dried by exposure to the wind, S. Bleuved, dead, S. Blegdt, wooden wedges for keeping the hoe securely fixed
to the haft, S. ; no. blegg ; da. plyg. Bleggy, a fish-bait, S. Blessit, an animal with a white face, S. ; no. blessut ; da.
blissit ; isl. blessut, id. Blett ; " a mouldy blett" — black muddy soil at the head of
a bay, or the mouth of a burn, S. Blinker, a star, S. ; da. blinke, to gleam, twinkle, glimmer. Bloint, to wink from the effects of drowsiness, S. Bloom, the efflorescent crystallisation upon the outside of
thoroughly-dried fish, S. Blots, water which has been used for washing anything, S. ;
no. bleyti, soakmg. Blue-lit, blue dye, indigo, S. ; no. blaa-lit, id. Bluester-peats, peats cut in bluester soil, S. Bluester, peaty soil of a blueish colour, S. Blura (long u, like oo) ; " in blura" — in company, conjunct, S. Blyd-meat, presents of food given to lying-in women, S. BoADY, body, S. Boat's-draw, the indentation which the keel of a boat makes
when she is drawn in and out of the noost, S. BocKiE, a bogle, S. ; no. bokkie ; da. pro. bakke, id.
c
lo GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Bod, the fretting of the sea on the shore, a heavy swell in the sea either before or after a gale, the impetus given to a floatmg object by a wave of the sea, S. ; isl. bode, id.
BoDEN, pro\ided, supplied ; " well boden" with clothes, etc., S. ; no. budd, id.
BODABID, applied to two boats' crews fishing in company, and dividing the catch equally, S.
BoDDUM-EUNNEK, the boards between the hassins of a boat, S.
BoiLTA, sliort stunted barley, S.
BoKiE-BLiNDiE, a game, blind man's buff, S. ; da. j)ro. blinde- buk ; no. blindekjuke, id.
Bole, a dense cloud of smoke, S. ; isl. bal ; da. bool ; s. bahl, a great fire.
Bole, to burst out, as a volume of smoke, S.
BOLIN, sending forth much smoke, S.
BoLLMAN, a cottager, pronounced " hoiuman" 0.
BoLTA-STANE, a stone of about 16 lbs. weight, attached by fishermen to the buoy-ropes for sinking the long lines at the " Haaf ;" termed also a " a kappie stane," S.
BoNXiE, the name given to the skua gull, S.
Boo ; " a boo of waddir," meaning a long track of weather, good or bad, S. ; isl. byr, a favourable wind.
Boo-HELLY, the fifth day before Christmas, being a sort of holi- day on the observance of which tlie future safety of the cows was supposed to depend, S,
Bool, to play on the surface of the water, as lierrings often do, S. ; no. bulla, a bul)ble ; isl. bulla, to bubble.
BooLACH, a pimple, S.
Boolaag, a race, kindred, family. Tlie word is used only in a disreputable sense, S.
BooLAACj, a particular breed of cattle, metaphorically the same family or kindred, S.
BoOLiN, playing on the water as a fish, S.
Boo-MAN, a good fairy, supposed to assist the family at Yule by threshing the corn while the household are asleep, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. ii
BooNAVARA, in reserve, frugally, economically ; *' to keep in
boonavara," to reserve, to economise, S. ; n. biinadrvisi, id. BoOND, a peasant, a small farmer, S. ; no. bondi, id. ; da. and
s. bonde, id. BoONDSFOLK, peasantry, S. ; no. bondifolk, id. ; s. and da. bonde-
folk, id. BoosAM, active, busy, S. BooRLY, stout-bodied, a "boorly" man, S. Boos, to be busy or active, S. Boos, the shoulders of a horse, S. ; no. bog, bov ; isl. bogr,
armus equi. Boose ; to come into a house with a " boose" — to come in with
a " bounce, S. BoosHiE, way of calling on a cow, S. Boost, pronounced " buist," behoved, was under the necessity
of, S. Boo-TEiND, a tithe on cows, S. Boed. Sec Bard.
Bottle-nose, a species of whale, ca'ing-whale, 0. and S. Bought, the name given to a fishing-line, about 50 fathoms, S. Bougie, a bag made of sheepskin, S. BouRACK, a name for cattle, S.
Boubblawer, an importunate smooth-tongued beggar, S. BouTOCK, a coarse piece of square cloth for covering the
shoulders, 0. BovACK, a bed, S.
Bow, to buoy up, to fasten buoys to, S. Bow, a buoy, S. Bow, the iron rod which passes through the lead stanc from
which the hooks depend, S. Bow-KIG, a small keg used as a buoy, S. Bow-TOW, a buoy-rope, S. ; cj. and da. tau ; du. touw, id. Bozex ; " a bozen chimney" — an enclosed well-built chimney,
S. Bozen-chimney, a chimney built in the wall, S.
1 2 GL OSSAR V OF SHE TLAND
Braed, to melt, S. ; no. Lraeda; a. s. braedan, id.
Braiks, a common or pasture-ground, S.
Brak, the bursting of surges on the sea-shore, broken waves
rolling towards the sea-shore, S. Brammo, a mess of oatmeal and water, 0. Brandaed, brindled, applied to cattle, S. Breaking down a cow, taking down the carcase of a cow or
ox from where it has been suspended, and cutting it up,
S. Breder, brother ; twa breder, two brothers, S. Breekbandit, a wrestling match, S. Bregd, to form a cord of four threads implicated in a peculiar
manner, S. ; isl. bregda, to plait. Bret, to strut, 0. Bridle-backs, short pieces of wood nailed across the upper
end of the cupples, just below the hlines, S. Brief, energetic, forcible, S. Briekit ; " a briekit sheep" — a dark-coloured sheep with white
legs and belly, S. Brigdi^, the basking shark (Squalus maximus), S. ; n. brigde ;
da. 'pro. brygde, id. Brigder, small cord or hair plaited, used as a " tome," S. ; isl.
bregda, to plait. Brimeld, a very old female seal, S. ; isl. brimill, id. BiUMTUD, the sound of waves dashing on the shore, S. ; no.
brimtot, id. Br]X, a brook or rivulet, one in Unst called " Yellia Brin," S. ;
rj. brun and born ; no. brun ; a. s. born and byrna, id. Brinda, a female name, S. Bris, a break or rent, a crack, S. ; da. briste ; da. pro. brist ;
s. brista, id. Brismak, the name given to the tusk fish, S. ; s. brosma,
brasmc, bresma ; da. brosme, id. Britch, to cut into short pieces, S. ; no. britja ; </. pritsche,
id.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 13
Britch'd. Fish are said to be " britcli'd" when they are scored
deeply with a knife, in order to facilitate the process of
boiling, S. Briteack, salt, S. Britta, a female name, S. Bro, a frothy white substance on mossy ground which sickens
animals that eat it, S. Brod, a goose that has hatched goslings, S. ; hdg. brced-en,
to hatch ; sax. brod ; t&iLt. brut. Brodend, habituated to, 0. Broe, the liver of the halibut, S. Brogue, an offtake, S. Bronga or BRUXGA, a well, a spring of water, S. ; da. brond ;
siL (J. brunn , isl. bruun-ur, a well, a fountain. Brongie, a name given to the great cormorant {Pehcanus
cai'ho), S. ; no. bring, the breast (of a bird) ; isl. bringa, id. Brooi, the master of the house, also a term of familiarity and
equivalent to " brother," S. Brook (a) of ware, a quantity of seaweed driven on shore
by stormy weather, S. Browden, impudent, S. Browden, self-willed ; applied to a child at the breast, as
" It's time to wean the bairn, for it's getting browden upo'
the breast," S. Br^t, a common prefix to the names of places in the neigh- bourhood of a bridge, as brugarth, S. ; da. bro, a bridge. Bru (long u), Scotch bree, broth or sauce, S. ; g. bruhe ; die.
broe, id. Bruck, small pieces of wood, or anything much crushed or
broken, S. ; g. bruch ; a. s. brie ; du. breuk ; 0. g.
gabrak. Bruck, to smash in pieces, S.
Bruckl, to crumble, to break small, S. ; g. brockeln. Brucks, the offals of fish or of cattle, broken meat, S. Bruckly, applied to persons in a weak state of health, and to
1 4 GL OSSAR V OF SHE TLAND
unsettled weather ; " It's briickly weather," S. ; da. bra^k-
kelig, id. ; s. braeckelig, id. Brud (long n), a track or path, S. ; no, brot and braut. BruCt, a sandy, mossy, or heathery brag or hillock, S. ; no.
borg ; isl. bruk, an elevation, a swelling. Beulle, to bellow as a bull, S. ; (j. bruUen ; da. brole ; no.
broela. Bruni, a round thick cake of meal, S. Brunkie, a brown horse, S. Brurie, blood, S. Brusk (long u), gristle or cartilage, S. ; da. i^ro. brusk ; no.
brosk; isl. brjosk, id. Brust ; the tide is beginning " to brust," meaning " to ebb," S. Brusted, ebbed, S. Brustin, ebbing, S.
Btr, a term used in old deeds to denote cattle, S. ; n. bu, id. Bu, a manor-house, S. ; no. bu, id.
BUCHT, a coil of fishing-lines, S. ; no. and da. bught, a coil. Buck, a hollow sound which a stone makes when thrown into
the water from a height, S. Buck, to gulp, to make a noise in swallowing, S. Buckie, a name appropriated to one species of whelk in Shet- land, S. BUCKL, to wrap up clumsily, S. Bucks, to tramp upon a soft substance, S. BuD (long u), a booth or shed, S, ; no. bud ; g. bude, id. ; da.
bod, id. BuDDACK, a thick shoe, a brogue, S. ; da. buddik, id. Budie, a basket made of straw, S. ; da. fro. boddel, id. BuGDALiN, ceiling of a boat or ship, S. ; da. 'pro. bagdelen, id. Bught. Bee Bucht. Buggie, a bag ; 2d, a nickname for a person witli a large
paunch, S. ; da. bug, id. BUGGIE-FLAY, to flay an animal in such a manner as to keep
the skin entire from the neck and downwards, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 15
BUGGLE, a large bannock baked on Buggle-day, S. BuGGLE-DAY, 29th IMarcli, a feast-day on which, in times past,
a buggle or great bannock was baked for each member of
the family, S. BuiL, one of the divisions or stalls in a stable, 0. BuiL, to lie down, S. ; isl. l)ola, id. BuiL, a sheepfold, a byre, S. ; no. and isl. bol, id. BuiL (to), to drive sheep into a fold or to house cattle in a
byre, S. ; id. bola, id. BuiLLiNG, the act of enclosing sheep or cattle, S. ; fresl. fart.
of isl. bola. BuiLY, a feast, 0. BuiST, a small box, 0. and S. BuiTiE or BUiTO, a piece of flannel or home-made cloth worn
by women over the head and shoulders, O. BuiTO. Sec Buitie. BuK ; " the buk and the bodie" — meaning the whole person,
S. ; no. buk, the belly. BuLBACK ; to take " bulback" — to take the upper hand, S. BuLDER, to make a loud noise, S. ; da. buldre ; s. bidlra ; du.
bulder, id. Bull, the chief house on an estate, applied to the principal
farm-house, 0. S. Bull, a dry sheltered place, S.
BuLLAMENTS, odds and ends of every kind (pronounced liquid), S. BuLLE, an oil measure, S. BuLLEN, a heap, S. Bulling, building the peats in small stacks prior to bringing
them home, S. Bltxiox, a term for the imdcnda in some parts of Orkney, O. BuLT, to butt with the head or horns, S. Bultin, applied to a cow that butts, S. BuLWAND, a bulrush {Tijinlia latlfolia), S. BuLWAXD, the name given to common mugwort {Artemisia
vulgaris)^ 0. and S.
1 6 GL OSS A R V OF SHETLAND
BuLWAVER, to go astray, S.
BuMBL, a hollow noise produced by a fall, S. ; (/, bummen, id.
Bumble, to make a splash in the sea, S.
BuMMACK, an entertainment anciently given by tenants to
their landlords, 0. BuNE-HOUSE, the kirk, a church, S ; ban-hus, a house of
prayer. Bungle, a clod, or other hard substance, used as a missile to
pelt with, S. Bungle, to throw a sod or turf at one, S. Bunker, a large chest for containing meal, S. BuNNACK, a lump, a large bone, S. Bur, top edge of the upper leather of a shoe, S. BuRBENK, to fortify a frail building with a bank of turf or
stones, S. BuRD, a young seal not weaned, S. BuRN-wooD, wood for fuel, S. BuRRA, a name given to the common kind of rush (Juncus
squarrosus), S. ; no. da. burre, id. BuRRA-soiL, dry peatty soil, S.
BuRRiT, applied to sheep, black with white round the tail, S. BuRSN, breathless, panting from over-exertion, S. BuRSTiN, corn dried in a kettle over the fire, instead of being
dried in a kiln, S. BURSTIN-BRUNI, a round thick cake made of burston, S. BuRTACK, fire, S. ; isl. birta, liglit ; no. byrting, fire. BusNiE, a term of reproach, S. Buss, straw for a lair for animals, S. ; no. bysja, to strew with
soft substances. Buss, the various soft and dry substances of which a bird's
nest is composed, S. ; 7io. bos, id. Bust, a box, S.
BuTLiN, part of the intestines of a sliecp, S. Button-mouse, a small mouse found in the fields, 0. BUYNllOGA, liomo, the place of birth, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 17
BuYRUP, the buoy-rope attached to the lines at the " haaf,"
S. Byack, a useless, good-for-nothing person, S. Byald. Sec Bald Byauch, applied to anything small, as " a small calf," " a puny
child," S.
Caa'in ^VHALE, Delphinus dedudor, S.
Caa'in whales, the mode adopted for driving a shoal of these animals into shallow water to capture them, S.
Caapie, a heavy stone, used as a smker to a fishing-line. One of these, with a buoy-rope attached to it, is fastened to each end of a ground-line, and at intermediate distances smaller sinkers, called bighters, are fixed to keep the line at the bottom, and to prevent the tide from carrying it too rapidly along, S.
Caigered, entangled, S.
Caizie, a fishing-boat, S.
Calf-skins, the sea ruffled by the wind in occasional spots, called by sailors " catspaws," S.
Caller, one who drives horses or cattle under the yoke, 0.
Callow, to calve, to bring forth a calf, S.
Caloo, the pintail duck, 0. and S.
Calwart, somewhat cold, S.
Cammac, a stroke with the hand, 0.
CAiLMiCK, a preventive, a stop, S.
Can, a measure for liquids, S.
Cappie, a term applied to some part of the fishing-gear, 8.
Cappiestane, steeth-stane, S.
Carl, a song, a licentious song, S.
Cash, a tobacco-pouch, S, ; da. kasse, a case.
Cassen, spoilt, applied to meat or fish, S.
Cassen aw a*, applied to a vessel lost at sea, or to anything thrown away as useless, S,
Cassie-cazzie, a sort of basket made of twisted straw, S.
D
1 8 GL OSSAR Y OF SHE TLAND
Casting of the heart, a mode of divination formerly used in Orkney, 0. and S.
Cast up (to), to vomit, S. ; isl. kasta npp ; da. kaste op, id.
Cat-gut, thread fucus, or sea-laces, 0.
Cat-wa, a stone wall which divides a tenant's house into two apartments, S.
Cataclue, a number of persons running in disorder and im- peding each other, S.
Catherine' s-MAS, December 22, S.
Cats-crammacks, clouds over the sky having something of the appearance of hairs streaming from an animal's tail, S.
Catyogle, a species of owl, S.
Cave, a case for holding spirit-bottles, S.
Cavil ; to cavil fish — to take tliem oft' the hook, S.
Cazzie-riva, the straw netting in which the peats are placed to be flitted to the peat-stack, S.
Chack, the wheatear, 0.
Chaffer, the round-lipped whale, S.
Chaldrick-chalder, the name given to the sea-pie {Hmina- tojiiis ostraUgus), 0. and S.
Charve, great, 0.
Cheem (to), to knock one down, 0.
Cheesing-meat : it was formerly the custom that the women who attended an accouchement brought a present of meat next day to the lady in the straw ; it generally consisted of a stoupful of "eggalourie" and a "cubbie" of bannocks, and was conveyed by stealth into the bed of the invalid, 0.
Chouskie, a knave, S.
Citharopes, the traces by whicli a plough is drawn, 0. and S.
Claag, a clamorous sound of many birds or voices, S. ; " Sic claag as dou's makin' ; " such a confused noise of voices ; isl. klak, clangor avium.
Claagin, the cackling of a hen ; applied to vociferous speak- ing, S.
Clair, ready, prepared ; as " dinner is clair," 0. and S.
AND ORKNEY IVORDS. 19
Clamp, a patch either of cloth or wood, S. ; isl. khiiiipi, a
patch over a rent. Clampit, one patch over another, S. Cleavins, sheep, S.
Cleepie, a stroke on the head, 0. and S. Clemel, Clemmel, steatite, a soft stone, 0. and S. Clet, a rock or cliff in the sea, broken off from the adjoining
rocks on tlie sliore, 0. and S. Glibber, a wooden saddle, a pack-saddle, 0. and S. ; isl.
klifberi, clitelli. Clicksie, an eagle, S. Clift, a piece of wood, S. Clin'd, part, of cliue, S. Cline, to cover over, as bread with butter, S. ; isl. klina, to
spread over. Clingera, hillocks of gravel isolated from the shore by the
tide, S. Clinins, slices of bread thickly spread with butter, S. ; isl.
kliningr, ilhnamentum. Clocks-summer, the sunbeams dancing in the atmosphere
during a fine summer day, S. Cloggand, a particular portion of pasture-ground, commonty
or enclosed, to which sheep or cattle have been attached
from being accustomed to feed there, 0. Cloint, a stoutly -made, clumsy person or animal, S. Cloks, a preparation of milk, milk boiled for hours until it
acquires a dark colour and a pecidiar taste, S. CLOOR,a scratch, as that made by a pin or by the claws of a cat, S. Cloor, to scratch oneself, the vicious scratching of a cat, S. ;
isl. klora, to scratch with the nails. Clumbungie, a big, clumsy person, S. Clumpers, shapeless blocks of stone strewed over the surface of
the ground, S. Clumpsed, an oath ; clumpsed — " be damned ;" also, silenced,
S. ; isl. klumsa, unable to open the mouth.
20 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Clumse (to), to die of thirst, S.
Clushie, clumsy, S.
COA.G (to), to be ou the outlook, to peep slily, S.
Coal, a cock of hay, S.
CoCKiLOORiE, a daisy (Bcllis perennis), S. ; su. g. koka, the
sward, and lura, to lie liid. Cock-paddle, the lump, a fish termed the "paddle" in
Orkney, 0. Coff-coffe, to barter, to exchange, 0. and S. CoiST, a term used to denote meal and malt, 0. Collie, an open lamp, pan-shaped, S. ; isl. kola, a lamp. CoMPER, the father-lasher, a fish, O. CoNCURRANS, occurrence, S. Cond^vyn'd, accursed, S. CooB, to bring forth young, applied only to a seal, S. ; isl.
kobbi, a seal ; kopr, phocula, a little seal. Corbie, to speak in a harsh guttural manner, S. Corn ; " I hae na a corn" — I have not a particle, S. CoRS, Corse ; the designation of the signal formerly sent
round for convening the inhabitants of Orkney, 0. Cost, duty payable in kind as distinguished from that paid
in money ; also sustenance given to a servant in place of
money, 0. CoTANAY, annoyance, S.
Count (to), to have a yearly settlement with the landlord, S. Counting, the act of settling the yearly transactions between
landlord and tenant, S. Counting-dram, the dram of spirits it was formerly the custom
always to give after counting. The practice is still in use
in some i)]aces, S. Country-acts, a code of bye-laws or municipal regulations
enacted from time to time in the Foud's head-court,
S. CouUT, the huvn or grass plot about a house, S. CozAiN, to barter or exchange one thing for another, O.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 2i
Crack o' a thing (a), a person arrived at maturity, but of very
short stature, S. Cragacks, the knees in a boat, S. Craigie, a long-necked bottle, S. Craiglugge, the point of a rock, 0. and S. Craigsman, one who climbs craigs or cliffs overhanging the
sea for the purpose of procuring sea-fowl or their eggs, S. Craigs (to go to the), to fish with a rod for cual-fish from the
rocks. Cram, to scratch severely with the finger-nails, S. See
Cromack. Cramp, small heaps of vitrified glass and stones found in
ancient tumuli, 0. Crampis, meal and refuse of tallow mixed together and eaten
hot, S. Crantze, the common coralline {Millciiora 2^oJymorpha), S. Craws-court, a court of judgment held by crows, S, Craw-siller, mica, S. Creeks, traps, snares, S. Cribbage, the person, the body of a person, S. Criggie, a bend or crook in a dyke, S. Cring, a drove of horses fastened together in a row, the head
of the one being tied to the tail of the other, S. Cring, to tie horses head to tail, S. Crixgled, horses so tied, S.
Crocklins, small mussels found among the ebb-stones, S. Crohead, part of a boat, S. Croilk, a hump on the back of an animal, S. Cromack, the hand with the fingers bent as in the act of
clutching an object or of scratcliing with the nails, S.; isl.
krumma, id. Crooks, a mark, a piece cut out of the lower part of an animal's
ear, S. Croopin, the person, including both soul and body, S. Croos, a dumpling filled with fish-livers, S.
2 2 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Ckoss-fish, the name given to the star-fish {Stella marina), S. Croupen ; "blessings be upon thy croupen," meaning body,
S. ; isl. kroppr ; da. krop, id. Ckub, to confine, to press upon, to deprive of convenient room
or space, S. Crubbit, confined, pinched for room, S. Cru, a small enclosure, S. ; isl, kro, id. Crug (to), to crouch under shelter, S, Cruggin, crouchiug under shelter, S.
Crugset, to drive an animal into such a situation as to pre- vent its escape ; also applied to a person driven into a
corner in an argument, S. Cruikne ; " a cruikne of folk" — a number of persons gathered
togetlier, S. Crule, a small cake or bannock, S. ; isl. kril, anything very
small. Crule, meal mixed with cold water and eaten raw, with a
lump of butter in the middle of it, S. Cubbie, a small caizie, 0. CuDDiE, a small basket made of straw, S. CuDDiE, CUTH, tlie coal-fish, 0. CuDDiE-DOOR, a doorway in the gable of a byre through \\ liich
the manure is carried. So soon as the byre is cleaned the
aperture is built up again, S. CULLYAC, a shell-fish (the Tdlina Thomhoidcs), S. CuLLYAT, applied chiefiy to a cow without horns, S. ; isl.
kollottr; da. kuldet, without horns. CuLZEE, a largo straw basket, 0. CUMMAL, a small rising ground, 0. CuMMEKSKOLLS, entertainment given to visitors on occasion of
the birth of a child, S. Cui'PO, a hollow place, 0.
Cure ; " curf of the land " — the surface of tlie soil, S. CuRF, the cuticle or scarf-skin, used only with reference to
leather, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 23
CuRLDODDY, naturally clever, 0. and S,
CuRMULLYiT, a persou with a very dark complexion and ill- favoured countenance, S.
CuRR, a M'hisper, a slight rumour, S.
CuRR, to purr as a cat does when pleased, S. ; id. kaur, mur- niurare.
CURRIE, neat, tidy, S.
CuRRiE, used as an expression of suffering ; " 0 currie, currie ! " 0 dear, dear ! S.
CuRNEY, a large number, as " a curney of piltacks," S.
CusTELL-PEXXiE, a due the bailiff claims out of the goods of the deceased, 0. and S.
CuTHiN, a coal-fish in the second year, 0.
CuTSY, a name given to a calf, S. ; isl. kusa ; no, kussa, id.
Da, to live, to experience, S.
Da, the ; " da man" — the man, S.
Daa, father, S.
Daach, to kill, S.
Daart, to raise the price of an}i;hing ; " daarted," raised in
price, S. Dachin, to abate, applied to the wind, S. Dachinin, abating, S.
Daer, there, S. ; s. daer ; da. der ; g. dar, id. Datfock, a wooden vessel used for bringing water from the
well, S. Dag, a woollen mitten used by fishermen to protect their
hands from the cold, and from the friction of the line, S. Dagen, a day, day, S. Daggon, a junk of meat, S. Daglie, dawn of day, S. ; da. fro. daggry, id. Dagset, the setting of the day, the end of the twdlight, S. ;
no. dagset, id. Daiskit, expressing fatigue on the person or countenance,
S.
24 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Dall, a dale, a valley, S. ; go. oi. s. da. dal, id.
Damp, the end of a line or rope, S.
Dann, then, S. ; g. and du. dann, id.
Dara, a frame on which the hand fishing-lines are kept, S.
Darg, contemptible, S.
Darow. See Dara.
Dat, that, S.
Daw-fish, the lesser dog-fish, 0.
Daarth. See Daart.
Deenin, a full meal, a bellyful, S.
Deepooperit, applied to one in a state of imbecility, mentally
and bodily, S. Deer, to make an impression on, to make progress in a task
or undertaking, S. Deib, to dip frequently in water, as a sea-bird does its bill ;
to be constantly plying the occupation of fishing, S. Deir, to make an impression, 0. Dekkir, to toil, to labour hard, S. Dell, to delve, S. Delling, delving, S.
Dello, a small patch of cultivated ground, 0. Dem, them, S.
Dembl, a plunge, S. ; no. daemla, and damla ; isl. damla, id. Demrl, to dip or plunge, S. Denk, to adorn, S,
Derdel, the extreme end of the spine of a hog, S. Derg, a thing of little value, S. Derls, rags, S.
Desktt, stupid, bewildered, S. Dess, a raised place or seat, S. ; no. dys, id. Dewitt (to), to murder, to assassinate, O. DiACLE, the compass used in a fishing-boat, S. Die, thee, S. ; g. dich, id. DiENEN, to serve, to suit, S. ; g. dienen ; du. dienen ; no.
thiena, id.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 25
DiENEN ; " to get oue's dieiien"' — to be well served, S.
Dill, to shake loosely, to tlajj, S. ; no. dilla, id.
Billing, passing from memory, being forgotten, S.
Dim ; "the head of the dim" — midnight, S. ; no. dim ; id. myr,
kastedima. Dim, dark S. ; isl. dimmr, itl. DiMJiACK, money, S. Dine, thine, S.
DiXGLE, to tingle, to thrill, S. ; no. and isl. dinglr, id. Dintl, thin bend-leather, S. Dip, to sit down, S. Dis, this, S.
DiVET, a thick unshapely piece of bread, meat, or the like, S. DivvADGE, to arrange properly, S. DocKEN-BUDiE, a basket made of dockens, S. Docker, strength, firmness, S. DoGKEE, to strut, S.
DoKKiR, hardy, capable of enduring labour and exposure, S. Dolus, procrastinating, unenergetic, S. ; isl. duglaus, id. DoMLESS, inactive, in a state of lassitude ; applied to both
man and beast, 0. DooLK. See. Dulk. DoRDSHAM, a kind of oath, S. DoRE (to), to make one deaf with noise, 0. S. ; isl. daara, to
bewilder. DoREN, a term used for the purpose of imprecation, as " Doren,
or deil tak you," 0. DoRROW, to fish "with a floating hand-line, S. ; no. dorru and
dorg ; isl. dorga. Dou, thou, S. Dou's GOTTEN DY LIVER DRINK, meaning that death is near at
hand ; applied to man or beast, S. DovENED, benumbed with cold, deafened with noise, 0. and
S. ; isl. dofna, to benumb. DoviNG, confusion, noise, 0. and S.
E
26 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Dow'd, withered, applied to grass ; not fresh, S.
Dkaag, a drink, especially of milk, S.
Deaeg, a small grappling-iron used by fishermen for dredging
for shellfish, S. ; no. draeg ; da. dr?eg, id. Draeg, to drag or dredge for shellfish, S. Draeng, to draw tight, to squeeze, S. ; da. draengeu, id, Deam, a piece of clotli or wool attached to a hole made in the
ears of animals in order to distinguish them, S. Dratsie, the connnon otter {Mustela Intra). The otter's place
of resort is often discovered by its dung, which is found
in great quantities in the neighbourhood of its hold, S. Draw-to, in steering to haul from the wind, applied to a shift
of wind ; no, han drajg'e sunna. Draw, a halliard, a sea term, S. Drawbellie, a hole under each timber of a boat for allowing
the water to run along the keel, S. Draw-fish (to), to wash fish in the pickle ; 2d. to haul fish
on a line, S. ; no. draga-fisk, as opposed to fish caught in a
net. Dreg-tow, the rope attached to a dredging-machine, S. Dreit, cacai'c, S. ; no. drita, id. Dreitten, past tense of " dreit," S. Dreng, to recover from sickness, to be convalescent, S. Drengen, a man, a lad, S. Dretciied, daundcriiig, dreaming, S. Drett, dirtied, defiled, S. Drew, a species of seaweed (Zosicra marina), 0. and S. ; no.
driug ; da. drtii ; isl. drugr, id. Dribbit, a small quantity, S. Dribbit, a trifle, a thing of no value or use, S. Dring, to suffocate by strangulation, S. Dringing, suffocating by strangulation, S. Drittkr, past participle of " dryt," S. Drivlin, trailing through mire, S. Droilt, to M'alk clumsily, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS, 27
Droilt, a climisy person, S.
Droine, tlie plaintive sob of a hungry cow, S. ; id. drynr ; da.
dron. Droine, to moan plaintively, applied to a cow, S ; no. dryja,
droena, id. Drong, a steep rock rising out of the sea, S. Drowels ; " fore and aft drowels" — pieces of wood attached
to the keel of a boat for protecting the stem and stern,
S. Deows, a class of imaginary beings. 8m Trows, S. ; no.
draug, also drog, draur. Sec Ganfir. Druyllin, the coal-fish, within a year of attaining its full
growth to sethe, S. Du (pronounced doo), thou ; generally used in addressing a
person, instead of the plural pronoun you, S. ; da. s. n. du ;
isl. thu, id. Du, to address familiarly ; no. til tale med " du." DUCKIE, a young girl or doll, S. ; da. dukke ; no. dokka, id. DuDDER, to shake, as a sail in the wind, S. DuFFL, a coarse kind of cloth, S. DuLK, a worsted night-cap, S. DuLLACK, water leaked into a boat, S. DULLYAC, a small tub, S. Dulse, Halymcnia i^almata, S. DuMBA, the refuse of corn after it has been dried, S. ; no.
dumba, id. DuMBiT, anything that has lost its sheen, S. ; no. dumbut, id. DuMMAS, a dull taciturn person, S. Dumps, a term used by boys playing at ball, S. DuNDER, a loud rumbling noise like thunder, S. ; da. and s.
dunder ; no. dondre, id. DuNDER, to rumble, to make a thundering sound, S. Dunder, the devil, S. DuNGL, a lump, a clod, S. DuNGL, to pelt, S.
28 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
DiJNKER, close mist, S. ; g. da. s. cliinkel, id.
Dunn, fine dust of meal, S.
DuNTER-DUCK, the eider duck, S.
DuoY, a great-grandchild, S.
DuRDACK, a lump, S.
DwAALLiN, slumbering, S.
DwAAM. Sec Dwall.
DwALL, a slumber, to slumber, S. ; no. dvali ; da. dvali, id.
DwARG, large, great, S.
DwYNE ; " dwyne thee" — an oath. S. ; isl. dwyn.
Dy, thy, S.
Dy, swell of the sea, S.
Dyb, to work patiently, S.
Dyke-end, a dyke built on the ebb-shore, and running sea- ward, to cut off access to the arable land through the ebb, and thus prevent animals from trespassing, S.
Dyns, possessive pronoun thine, S. ; g. dein, id.
Dyr, their ; " dyr ain," their own, S.
Dyste, a heavy blow, the dull sound produced by the falling of a heavy body, S.
Earnsdall, eagle' s-dale, 0. and S.
Earny-couligs, tumuli, 0. ; isl. ern, ancient, and kulle,
tumulus. Earth-bark, the roots of tormentil(Tor/ne%^i7/a o^/Jlctnalis),iised
as a substitute for bark in tanning leather, S. Earth (black), a black earth found in mossy soil, and used
as a dye, S. Eastick, cold showery weather, S. ; da. cesten ; s. cestan. Ebb (to go to the), to gather shellfish at low-water, S. Ebb-bait, shellfish used as bait by fishermen, S. Ei'.h-motiiei!, the last of tlie ebb-tide, S. Ebij-slkp^pkr, a bird, the dunlin {Tringa variabilis), S. Ebb-sleeper, the plover-page, S. EcCLEGRASS, butteiwort or sheep-rot, 0.
AND ORKNEY WORDS, 29
Edder, either ; " edder the taue or the tidder" — either the
one or the other, S. Edderin, either, S. Edgar, the half-roasted, half-ground grain of which biirstou
is made, 0. ; da. sed-a ; isl. oet-a, to eat, and gorr, made,
prepared. Eddrin. 8cc Edderin. Eela, a fishing-place, or ground for small fish, near the shore,
S. Sec Tela. Eel-tows, lines laid in-shore for eels to be used as bait at
tlie haaf, S. Eerest ; " for the eerest" — for the meantime, S. Een, one, S.
Eer (to), to squeak as a pig, to scream, S. Eer, a piercing scream, as that uttered under the influence
of terror, S. Eggalourie, a dish of eggs and milk boiled together, 0. EiD, a tongue of land, S. ; no. and isl. eid, id. Einyaree, the grass-sickness, diarrhoea ; applied to sheej), S. Elishant, a shoemaker's awl, S. Elsk, to love, S. ; id. no. s. elska ; da. elske, id. Elt (to), to injure anything by constant handling, S. Elting, injuring the nap of cloth, or disordering the fur of
a cat or other small animal by handling it roughly, S. Elw, a contraction in the " Old Country Acts" for Elwand,
S. Ember-goose, the Immer of Pennant, 0. and S. Ex. Sec In.
Eenabie, diminutive, small for one's age, S. Endracht, purpose, the object one has in view, S. ExGA, a proper name for a woman, S. Ent (to), to regard, to notice, to obey, S. Erg, a small quantity, 0. Erist, most easily, most probably, S. Erne, the white-tailed eagle {Aquila albicilla), 0. and S.
3 o GL OSSAR Y OF SHE TLAND
EsK, to rain slightly, 0.
Est, tlie east, S.
EsTEN, the east, S. ; da. cesten ; s. oestan, id.
Eth-kent, easily known, applied to animals that have some
distinguishing mark either in colour or in shape, S. EuPHiE, a smart blow on the side of the head, S. EuENASKEP, a mark used to distinguish animals belonging to
two families : in one case both ears are cut half through
from point to middle hcliind, and in the otlier in front ;
vernacularly, " half aliint and half afore," S. Eye-whakm, an eyelash, S.
Faa, the intestines of a cow or ox, S.
Faa-buird, the lee-side of the boat, S.
Faar, an epidemic distemper that attacks sheep, S.
Faater, a criminal, a defaulter, S.
Fadom, a fathom ; id. fadmr, id.
Faenly, amiable, S.
Faid (to), to frown, S.
Faiger, the sun, S. ; isl. fagr, splendens.
Fair, calm as opposed to stormy weather, 0. and S.
Fairlock, a ship, S.
Faittle, to wind a band around an object. 8cc Fettle.
Fake (to), to give heed to, to believe, to credit, 0.
Fame, fatty particles floating on the surface of a liquiil,
foam, S. Fan, found, S.
Fann, a snow-wreath, S. ; no. faun ; isl. f onn, fann, id. Fant, to famish, to starve, S. Fantin, famishing, starving, S. Farr, a boat, S. ; no. isl. farr ; s. fard, id. l^'AS'n<;N, tlie evening l)cfore Lent, S. ; (j. fasten. Fastie, a stone-anchor for a boat, S. ; isl. fcste, a rope. Kastie-band, a rope tied round the fastie, S. Fastkens-een. See Fasten.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 31
Fatifu, affectionate, O.
Feaks, fancies, S.
Fealy-gable, the gable of a house built with turf, S.
Feck ; feck-fack — to trifle, S. ; g. fick-facken.
Fedmill, a clumsy woman, S. ; da. fednie.
Feerie, an epidemic, principally used regarding a disease
peculiar to dogs, S. Feespix, lively, vivacious, S. Feivl, snow falling in large flakes, S. Fendie, applied to ships or boats ; buoyant, safe, S. Fents, remnants of cloth sewed together, S. Ferd, food, provisions, S. ; no. ferd ; s. fcerd. Feed, a journey, a voyage, S. ; isl. etc. ferd. Feed ; " He went off wi' a ferd" — he started at a rapid pace,
S. Ferdameat, bread, etc., provided for a journey, S. Ferokerly, for the most part, most frequently, 0. Ferrabirt, a prevision, a foregoing, S. Fettle, a horse-girth made of straw, a straw-rope, S. ; isl.
fetill ; no. fatl, fetl. Feyadin, the whale, S. ; no. and isl. feit ; da. fed, fat, id. FeyaCt, close warm rain accompanied by wind, S. Feyarmixg, flattering one, insincere, S. Feytlixs, the skin from the legs of an ox, of which " rivlins"
are made, S. FiA.\.G, fine meal-dust, farina, S. FiA,\RM, to fondle, caress, treat kindly, S. FiALGRS, an exclamation of surprise ; isl. fialgr. FiAXSKiEN, an exclamation expressive of kindness, S. FiDDABiRD, part of a fishing-line, S. FiDDACK, a water-pail, S. Fldders, a mark, a thin slice from both sides of the ear of an
animal, S. FiDDL, to humble, S. FiEKiK, a tag, a tassel, an ornamental appendage to dress, S.
32 GL OSSAR V OF SHE TLAND
FiEL, a term affixed to the names of long mountainous ranges,
as "vaalafiel," " crussafiel," etc., S. ; da. fjeld ; isl. fiall, id. FiENDiN, the devil, S. ; da. and s. fienden ; no. fan' en ; i&l.
fiandinn, id. FiERDiE, stout, strong ; applicable to person, S. FiESP, to move smartly, to fuss about, S. ; da. pro. fitesk. FiESPiN, in a moderate state of health, S. ; isl. fus, id. FiESTi-BAA, a fungus-ball filled with dust (Agaricus campestris),
S. FiEVALis, powerless, S. FiEVVLE (of snow), a thin layer of snow, S. Fill, from, since, fill, 0. and S. FiLSKA, a wanton fit, a wild flighty behaviour, S. FiLSKiT, frisky, lively, exuberance of animal spirits, S. FiM, a small quantity, S. FiMMisii, a hurry, a perplexity ; also used as a verb ; " to be
in a fimmish," S. FiMMiSH, to be in a hurry, S. FiNDEN, a finding, a discovery, S. FiNNEE, a species of whale that makes its appearance on the
coasts of Orkney and Shetland, 0. and S. FiORiN, the ebb shore, S. ; no. fjora, fjera, fjere ; isl. fjra,
refluxus maris. FiRDiT, lost, not to be found, S. FiRRABiRD. See Fiddabird. Fisii-niG, the backbone of a fish, used for manure in Shetland,
S. FiSHiCK, the brown whistle-fish, 0. FiSKAFEAL, the boards that separate the several compartments
in a boat from each other to keep the fish separate, S. ;
da. etc. fisk, and da. i:jel ; isl. and 7W. fijol, a thin board. FiSKALEE, fisherman-like, S. FiSKARROE, unlike or unbecoming a practical fisher, S. ; da.
etc. fiskar, and the negative u or o. Fit, an action, a deed ; "dicl fit'' — devil a bit, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 33
Fit, to make feet to stockings, S.
FiTTiE, a short stocking, a person witli deformed feet, S.
FiTTL, to take shoi-t steps in walking, S.
Flaa, a thin turf, S. ; isl. flaga, id.
FLjVAG, a large climisy woman, S.
Flaag, a flock of birds, a shoal of fish, S.
Flachin, a stroke given by something in the liand, 0.
Flachter (to), to flutter as a bird, S.
Flackie, a truss made of straw, used for presei"ving the horse's
back from being hurt by the saddle or creel, 0. and S. Flackie-coex, a large straw mat used for winnowing corn, S. Fliich, a flea, S. Flaichy, troubled with fleas, S. Flais, a large flat rock in the sea, S. Flamp, inactive, in a state of lassitude, 0. Flan, Flann, a gust of wind, S. Flaxxie, squally, S.
Flatsh, to walk clumsily, to knock down, S. Flaughtix, a fluttering or palpitation of tlie heart, S. Flaw, an extent of lea or land under grass ; sometimes " a
broad ridge," S. Flay, to pare oft"" the surface of mossy ground before the sub- soil is dug for peats, S. ; id. flaga, id. Flecked, applied to the bottom of the sea when it has bunches
of seaweed growmg upon it, S. ; no. s. flekkut ; da. flcek-
ket, id. Fleeter, a flat piece of wood used for skimming oil particles,
etc., from the surface of water when cooking, S. Fle:mpter, a hurry ; " To be in a flempter" — to be in a hurry,
S. Fleud, a cuff, a blow with the palm of the hand, S. Fleukners, poultry, S. Fleyoag, a smooth piece of wood nailed and riveted over a split
in any one of the boards of a boat to prevent leakage, S.
F
34 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Flinch, to slice the blubber from the body of a whale, S. ; no.
ilengja, to flinch ; s. flank-a, to slice, id. Fliug, a chaff of corn, S. Fliijg, to clean corn from chaff, to make the chaff fly away
with wind, S. Flinderkin, a weak person or thing, a thin garment, S. Flink, nimble, agile, active, S. Flink, to be agile, etc., S.
Flipper, to wag, to move the hands in walking, S. Fliss, a flake, a film, lamina, S. ; no. and isl. flis, a flake. Fliss, to peel in flakes ; no. and isl, flysja, to peel off. Flistrick, a ledge of flat rocks rising to the surface and
causing a ripple of the sea, S. Flits, a piece of land at a distance from the town cultivated
by different occupants in alternate strips, so called pro- bably from each occupant being obliged to flit the produce
to his farm-yard, S. Floamie, a large or broad piece, S. Floe, the sea, a cant term ; also a swampy place, S. ; id.
floi, id. Floss, the common rush, 0. and S. ; id. floi, and whass, a
reed. Fluchra, snow in broad flakes, S. ; da. flakker ; isl. floegra, id. Fluckadkift, a haste, a hurry, S. ; rj. flucht, id. Flungs, to turn quickly round, to sweep round, S. Flure-bands, the bands that secure the bottom boards of a
boat to the keel, S. Flungs, a liurried motion in turning round, S. Foal, a bannock or cake, any soft and thick bread, 0. FoGRiE, the mackerel {Scomber sconher), S. ; isl. fagr ; no.
fagr, fager ; da. fager. Foir-copland, a phrase used in a deed regarding Orkney and
Shetland, O. and S. FoiTTACK, a moiii^e, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 35
FON, fire, S. ; id. funi, live coals.
FooDiE-SKiKT, a sliort coat or vest, S. ; da. livo. foeskert, id.
FooDiN, a cat, S.
Footer, a term of reproach, S. ; /?•. foutre.
Footer, to disapprove, to hinder, S.
FoREGEXG, a foregoing, a forehappening, an antecedence, S.
Fore-stoops, the fore-legs, and " hind-stoops" the hind legs
of a chair, S. FoRSEL, to harness, 0.
FoRSEL, an implement made of gloy, or ropes made of Lent or straw for defending the back of a horse when loaded with corn, etc., 0. FoRSENS, the refuse of wool, S. FoRSMO, taken aback, disappointed, S. ; id. forsma ; da.
forsmae j s. fcersma, id. FoRSJio, an affront, an insult, S. FoRSMO, to affront, to insult, S. FoRSPEAK (to), to consecrate by charms ; hence " forespokeu
water," O. FoRTiG, fatigue, S. FORTIGGED, fatigued, S. FoRYETTiN, forgotten, S. Fou, how, S.
FouD, the name given to the president of the supreme court formerly held in Orkney and Shetland, 0. and S. ; su. g. fogde, foug-te. FouDAL, procrastinating, O. FOUDRIE also means the different subdivisions grouped and
presided over by the " grand foud," 0. and S. FOUDRIE, the office of chief-governor formerly in Orkney and
Shetland, 0. and S. FoUR.\JiEEN, a four-oared skiff, S, Fou's-A-wi'-DEE, how is all with yon ? S. FoWER, four, S.
36 GL OSS A RY OF SHE TLA ND
FoY, a feast, a festival, S. ; isl. fognud, a feast.
Frack, a weak delicate person, S.
Fkam, strange, foreign; "by fram" — seaward, S. ; no. da. and
isl. fram. Fkambord, that boat at the fishing lying furthest out to sea,
S. Freets, superstitious observances, S. Freevalous, weak, sickly, delicate, S.
Fremd, a stranger, S. ; da. fremmed ; y. fremd ; du. vremd, id. Fremd, strange, foreign, S. Frennezie, a trifling thing, S. Froad, froth ; isl. froda, foam. Frootery, superstitious observances, 0. Frusch, to spit as a cat, to make a sputtering noise with the
lips, S. Frushie-baa. See, Fiesta-baa. Frutt, a superstitious notion, a predilection, S. FuLLDiN, a continuance, a length of time ; " For a fuUdin" —
for a length of time, S. Fun, fire (u as in French), S. ; isl. funi, live coals. FuNGLAY, large, great, S. FuNGLiE-FOO ; "A fungiie-fu bodie" — an obliging, generous
person, S. FuRKiN, melting, 0.
FuiiKiN, hungry, disposed to take a bait ; applied to fish, S. FURSGAM, of the four horses formerly used abreast in the old
Orkney plough, the first or right hand one was called the
" furhorse," the second tlic " furscam," the third the " volar
scam," and tlie fourtli the " outend" horse, 0. FURSIN, the cord to which the hook is attached, S. Fyalgers, the deuce, S. Fyarm, to phrase, to use superfluous expressions of kindness,
S. Fyakmin, phrasing, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 37
Gaa or Gad, a small rainbow in the horizon, suggestive of
approaching bad weather, S. ; isl. galadr, \dtiatus. Gaa-buksen, short-winded, S ; i&l. gall, bilus. Gaa-grass, a plant which grows in burns ; it is boiled and the
liquor given to cattle as a cure for the gall-sickness, S. ;
isl. gall, bilus. Gaa-knot, a tight knot not easily loosened, S. ; isl. galli, a
defect. Gaax, to stare, to gaze vacantly, S. ; isl. gona, id. Gaat, a boar, S. ; isl. galti ; da. gait, id. Gaen afore; "Yea, lamb, he's gaen afore" — that is, he has
fallen over the banks or cliffs, S. Galti, a pig, S. ; isl. galti, id. Galder, a noisy vulgar laugh, S. ; isl. galdr, cautus. Galderie, a large room, a gallery, S. Galderin, laughing in a noisy vulgar manner, S. Gallafer, a prattling sound, S. Ga^imelost, old cheese, S. ; da. and no. gammelst, id. Gaxdiegow, a stroke, also punishment, S. Ganfir, a ghost, S. ; da. gjenferd, id. Gang of peats, a number of ponies loaded with peats ; each
trip is a " gang," S. ; da. and isl. gang, id. Gaxners, the inside of a cow's lij^s, a disease to which cows
are subject, S. Ganska, an expression used by fishermen, meaning " very
good," " quite well," S. ; da. ganske, id. Garr, mud, S. ; isl. gor ; s. garr, filth. Garr, leaven made thin with too much water, S. Garr, to jumble, to injure by stirring, S. Garth, an enclosure ; sometimes it denotes the house and
land attached to it, 0. and S. ; isl. gardr, gerdi, a field or
enclosure. Gatshird, a relation, a cousin, S. Gavelkind, a custom by which, on the death of the father,
;7i 9
38 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
the youngest got the dwelling-house, while the other pro- perty was divided equally. Gelaegit, applied to animals — coloured, S. Gell, a crack or split in wood, S. ; isl. galli, defect. Geng, a row of stitches in knitting, S.
Gep-shot, having the lower jaw projecting beyond the upper, S, Gekbick, a strip of grass between corn ridges, S. Gekts, a common for cattle, waste land, S. Getskord, a mark upon a horse, a circular piece cut out of
the centre of the ear and slit to the point, S. ; no. and isl.
gat, a hole, and skord, a cut or slit. GiAVALis, awkward, careless in handling a thing, S. ; isl.
gafa ; da. gave, GiDDACK, the sandeel {Ammodytes tobianus), S. ; da. giedde,
a pike. GiE, a knack, a facility of doing anything, S, GiEL, the ripple of the sea on a sunken rock, S. Gil, a mock sun, S. ; no. gil ; isl. gyll, id. Gild, acute, clever, knowing, S, ; da. pro. gild, id. Gild, that which has attained its full size or weight ; as " a
gild ling," S, ; isl. gilldr, id. Gill, a deep rut or ravine on the side of a hill, S, ; no. and
isl. gil, id. Giltocks of theck, long low stacks of heather, built loosely
to permit the air to gain admission and thoroughly cure
the theck, S, ; isl. gil, vallus angusta. Gio, a deep ravine which admits the sea, 0. and S. ; 7i. gja,
a fissure. GlOLA, tliin ill-curdled buttermilk, S, GiPPic, a small knife for gutting fish, S, GiVAMiLD, to give freely, to give without imposing any con- ditions or restrictions, S. ; da. gavmild, id. ; isl. giafmilldr,
id. GiRESTA, a strip of grass between ridges of corn, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 39
GlKSE-STRAE, liay, S.
GiURDACK, something valuable ; " to get a giurdack" — to get
a prize, S. GLiVAB (the), any object on a hill defined against the sky, S. Glaan, a small stone used for shaipening the point of a dull
hook, a whetstone, S. ; isl. glcchein. Glafter, a burst of laughter, S. ; g. klaffer, id. Glafterit, vain, giddy, S.
Glaggy, soft, adhesive, S. ; da. klaeg, viscous, glutinous. Glanny, a stone kept in the boat and used by the fishermen
to sharpen the skunie upon, S. ; isl. glcehein. Glashie, part of the intestines of a cow, S. Glep, the act of swallowing, 0. and S. ; id. gleipa. Glep (to), to swallow down greedily, 0. and S. Glet, an intermission of ram, 0. Glinder, to peep through half-shut eyes, S. ; isl. glynr, winking
eyes. Glinderit, ringle-eyed, S. Glinkit, giddy, light-headed, S. ; Scotch, glaikit. Gloags, a mixture of birrstin and milk, S. Vide Glugs. Gloam, the moon, S. ; isl. lionim, brightness. Gloggo, a mixture of burstin and milk, O. Vide Glugs. Glouriks, the eyes, S. ; du. ghuT-en, to peer. Gloursit, haggard, pale, wan, S. Gloy, straw of oats for makmg simmunds ; the longest straws
are selected, 0. and S. ; du. gluye, stramen arundinaceum, id. Gludd, a glow of heat, S. ; isl. glod, id. Gluddery ; "a gluddery sky" — unsettled rainy appearance
of the sky, S. Gluff (to), to affright, 0. and S. Gluffed, made to start back from sudden fright, S. Gluffis, a boisterous brawling person, a frightful appearance, S. Glugs, oatmeal stirred in cold water, and consistent as porridge,
S.
40 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Glumpse, to turn suddenly and rudely upon one with a rougli
reply, S. Glumse, a gruff way of speaking, a snap, S, ; da. 'pro. glams,
a snap. Glush, to devour, to gobble, S. Gluvabane, a bone between the joints of the thigh-bone, S. ;
isl. Idof, id. God-send, a term used to denote the wreck which is driven
ashore by the waves, 0. and S. GoiACK, a piltack, S. Gointack, the rope by which the girth is fastened to the
klibber or saddle, S. ; id. gagntack. GoiT, GuYT, way or road ; Scotch "gate," S. GoLLAMUS, ungainly, large, unshapely ; applied to persons, S. GooLGRAVE, a ditch containing strong manure in a liquid state,
S. ; isl. gull and graf. GoEBACK, a longitudinal heap of earth, perhaps meant as a
line of division between different proprietors, S. ; isl.
giona, facere, and balk-r, strues. GoRDS, lands now waste that had formerly been cultivated, 0. ;
su. (J. gord. GoiiEiiiRDiNCr, the harvest-home, S. ; i&l. gera, to make, and
hirda, to secure. GORIE, an exclamation of surprise, an oath, S. GoRSTA, something resembling the remains of an old dyke,
the boundary of a ridge of land, 0. and S. ; isl. gord and
stadr, id. GosSEN, ropes made of grass or straw, S. GousTER, to speak in a violent blustering manner ; isl. giostr,
applied to the weather. GOWDY-DUCK, the golden-eye (Anas clanynla), S. GoWL, to greet or cry aloud, S. ; isl. gola, to howl. Graam, greedy for food, salacious, S. Graem, to be hi a passion, S. ; isl. gramr.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 41
Gree, the fat that exudes in the boiling of fish or offish-livers, S. Grave, to dig for shellfish in the sand, S. ; id. gTafa, to dig. Greek, daybreak, S. ; da. and s. gry, dawn. Gremit, applied to a cow or ox with a white face spotted
with black, and also to a person with a soiled face, S. :
da. and no. grimet, id. Greenbone, the viviparous blenny, a fish, 0. and S. Grencher, a gTcat-grandfather, S. Gricifer, a name given to a disease that attacks swine and
deprives them of the use of their hmd-legs, S. Griem, to daub with dirt ; English grime, S. Grimack, a rope fitted round a horse's head and chops as a
substitute for a bridle, S. ; isl. gryma, id. Grind, properly a gate consisting of horizontal bars, which
enter at each end iiito hollows in two upright stakes, or
the adjoining w^all, 0. and S. ; hi. no. s. grind, fores
clatratse, id. Grip, an excellent article of its kind ; isl. gripr, id. Grit-line, a long-line with a number of hooks set inshore for
catching fish, S. ; a. s. giith ; isl. grid. Groe, to blow a fresh breeze, S. Groff, thick, large, S. ; isl. grofr ; da. grov, id. Groff-meal, large-gTained meal ; coarse, as " groff thread." Grogie, a grey horse, S. ; da. graa ; isl. grar, grey. Groo, to sigh or groan like the wind before a storm, S. Grop, rain in large drops, S. ; probably a corruption of isl.
gTofr, da. grav. Grotty-buckie, a small shell found on the sandy beaches in
some parts of Shetland, S. Grudack, a large kettle for cooking fish and potatoes, etc., S. ;
da. gryde, a pot. Grudder, grief, the expression of gi'ief, crying, S. ; isl. graeta,
contristare. Gruel, oatmeal porridge, S,
G
42 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Gruel-tree, tlie stick used for stirring porridge, S. Gruggie, applied to the weather ; isl. gruggugr, feculentus. Grugsie, a large pin, S. Grulacks, persons disguised, Hallimas-maskers, S. ; isl. grjdur,
a buo-bear to frighten children with. Grumfie, a spectre, a hobgoblin, S. ; stt. g. grymt-a, to grunt. Grummal, crumbs, fragments, 0. ; perhaps a corruption of
cniTiibs. Grum)-sem, the nails that fasten the lower boards of a boat
to the keel, S. ; da. grund and se. Grun, rocky sea-bottom ; isl. grunn ; da. grund, fundus. Gruni, green isle, S. ; dM. gron, green, and ey, island. Grunzie, full of dregs, S. Grute, the thick sediment of oil, S. ; isl. grutr. GuBB, scum, foam, froth, S. GuDAELY, probably, possibly, S. GuDDEN, manure (excrementum intestinorum), S. ; da. jjro.
giode, giodning, id. GuDDiCK, a riddle, S. ; isl. gata ; s. gata ; da. gaade, id. GuD-TA-TREE, worthy of belief, credible, S. ; isl. trua, to
believe. GuE, a musical instrument formerly used in Shetland, S. GUGGL, to work M'ith the hands among any soft substance, to
knead leaven in a slovenly way ; also to make dirty, S. GuiDABLY, possibly, by any chance, S. GCiiD-roLK, the elfin race, S. GuL, " Sir," by way of address, 0. GULBOW, intimacy or friendship, 0. ; isl. gilld and bo. GuLBRULE, the bellowing of an ox, S. ; isl. gaula, and da. brla,
id. GULLA, pronounced li(|uid ; a young woman who assists at
the christening of a child, S. ; isl. gillia, a young woman. Gully, good, agreeable, 0. GULS-A, the jaundice, S. ; sn. r/. gulsot, id.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 43
GuLSH, to eructate, S.
GuLSH, an eructation, S.
GuMPLFECK, restlessness, S.
GuNNiE, a hobgoblin invoked to frighten cliildren, S. ; isl.
gunni, big men. Gupp, to vomit, S.
Gupp, a vomiting sound, S. ; da. gulpe, to disgorge. GuE, mud, dirt.
GUE, to defile with mud, S. ; da. isl. and s. gor, mud, dirt. GuEBLOiTED, clotlies badly washed, S. ; da. isl. and s. gor, and
isl. bleyti, soaking. GUELIN, a boy, an urchin, S. ; isl. karl, id. GuEM, to make dirty, to defile, S. GuEM, the rheum of the eyes, the viscous matter that collects
on dead fish when allowed to lie long in a heap, S. ; isl.
gormr, ccenum. GuEMiT, soiled, grimed, S. ; no. gurmet, id. GuE-PUG, a small Shetland horse, S. GuTEiv, the anus of a fish, S. ; isl. gotrauf, id. GuYT, the threshold, S. GuYT, a way or road. Vide Goit, S. Gy-keel, a giant, S. Gyle-fat, the vat used for fermenting wort, 0. ; teat, ghijl,
yeast, and vat, a cask. Guzzle, an angry blast of wind, S. ; isl. gusa.
Haaf, the deep sea, the fishing of cod, ling, and tusk, S. ; isl.
haf ; s. da. no. hav ; g. haaf, mare. Haaf (to go to the), to go to the deep-sea fisliing, S. Haaf-boat, a boat fit for going out to sea to prosecute the
ling-fishing, S. Haat-fish, the great seal {Plioca barhata), S. Haaf-fishing, the term used to denote the fishing for cod,
ling, and tusk, S.
44 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Haag, thrift, economy, S. ; isl. hagr, id.
Hx\AK, a filament of flax or hemp, a hair, S,
Haaglet ; " It's come back to its auld haaglet" — applied to
an animal that has strayed, and returned to its old pasture,
S. ; isl. hagi, pasture, and leyta, to seek. Haavers, to possess anything in shares with another, the half,
S. Habbie-gabbie, to throw money, etc., amongst a crowd to be
scrambled for, S. Hackamuggie, the stomach of a fish stuffed with a hash of
meat, sounds, and livers, S. ; isl. hacka, to hash. HACKSEY-LOOia:D, having a coarse visage, gruff, pitted with
small-pox, 0. and S. ; da. hak, a notch. Had, a hole, a place of retreat, S. Had ; to stand along the had — applied to a very young child
supporting itself by a chair, stool, or the like, S. Hadaband, a wooden band fastening securely the ribs of a
boat, S. Haeranger, a boat 15 or 16 feet of keel, S. ; id. heringr. Haffant, a paramour, S. Haffin, a leman, a concubine, S. Hagasted, familiarised to a particular place by a long stay
in it, S. ; da. fro. hugastet, id. Haggle, a subordinate division-mark between districts, S. Hagmark, a stone set up to indicate the line of division be- tween separate districts, S. ; isl. haga, hill-pasture, and
mid, a landmark. Hairen-tedder, a hair tether, S. Hailin-muff, a mitten used by fishermen to protect their hands
when hauling the haaf-lines into the boat, S. Halbert, a tall thin person, S. Half-watter, half-way between the boat and the bottom
of the sea, S. Half-web, the grey plialarope {Phalaropus lohatus), 0.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 45
Halk-HENS, hens falling to be contributed for support of royal
hawks when falconers went to Orkney to procure hawks,
payable and paid down to 1838 and 1839, O. and S. Halligit, wild, wanton, flighty, S. ; id. hali, the tail, and kat,
wanton. Hallow, a certain quantity of straw, a sheaf, S. ; id. halva,
part of anything. Haltugonga, an expression used by fishermen to check the
running of a halibut that has been hooked, S. ; id. haltu,
ganga, cease running. Hamekest, the commonty immediately adjoining the enclosed
land, S. ; isl. heimrost, id. Hammeks, large masses of earth-fast stones on the side of a
hill, S. ; n. hamar, a steep place. Haot)DRIST, to separate corn from the cliaff, etc., after it is
threshed, by rubbing it between the hands, S. Handy-croopen, a game in which one of the players turns his
face to the wall, his hand resting upon his back ; he nmst
continue in tliis position until he guesses who struck his
hand, when the striker takes his place, S. ; id. kroppr, da.
krop, s. krop, the trunk of the body. HANGmG-TOGETHER ; " Yea, lamb, he's just hanging together"
— meaning he is just alive and no more, S. Hanyadu, an invitation to a bird to pick up food thrown from
a boat, S. ; isl. liana, ecce, and du, thou. Haprick, two cazzies united by a band laid over a horse's
back for carry^ing manure, S. Harbin, a young coal-fish, 0. Harkie, a pig, a boar-pig, S. Harle-duck, the goosander, a fowl, 0. and S. Harlikins, kind of tight pantaloons for children, opening
behind, S. Harr, a hinge to a door, S. ; «. s. hearre ; tmt. harre ; isl.
hiara. id.
46 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Harraskap, character, S.
Hassens, the bottom boards of a boat next to the stern, S. ;
da. hals. Hassins-fore-and-att, the boards that adjoin the keel about
one-thu'd of its length, S. Hatter, to treat harshly ; as a " battered bairn ;" id. hatter,
hatred, hatta, to treat with hatred. Hauss -SPANG, an iron rod of the Orcadian plough, O. Hawk-hens. 8c<i Halk-hens. HEAD-BtjiL, a manor-house, the best family residence on an
estate, S. ; hoved-bcelle, head-house, in old Danish laws. Heady-craw, a somersault, S. Hear till him, listen to him ; implying disbelief in what one
is asserting, S. Heart-shot, an exclamation after sneezing, S. Heather-cun-dunk, the dun-diver, bird. Heather-lintie, Linaria montana, 0. Heck, a crutch, S. ; no. hekja, id. Heck, to lunp, to halt, S. HecivABIRNIE, any lean feeble creature, 0. Heckapurdes, a quandary, 0. Heckie, a cripple moving about with the help of a crutch, S. ;
no. ; hekja. HECiOiA, the dog-fish (Squalus archiarius), S. ; isl. hakall, id. Heckster. See Heckie. Hedt, it ; pronounced "hit," S. Heftit, supplied, provided, suited with, S. Hegrie, the heron (Ardea major), S. ; da. and no. heyre,
liegre, id. IIeimilt, the pasture immediately adjoining an enclosure, S. ;
isl. heimilt, id. Hel, to conceal, to hide, S. ; ff. hclilen, id. Helie ; " the hclie" — the interval l.ietween Saturday evening
and Monday morning, 8.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 47
Helier, a cavern into which the tide flows, S. ; n. hellir, id.
Helier-iialse, a cavern with a narrow entrance, S.
Helli-brin. See Yellia-briu.
Hellio, a stone with a rim of clay about it, used in parching corn for burstm, 0. ; %6l. hella, a flat stone.
Helse, to have a liking for, to accept as a lover, S. ; isl. elska ; da. elske, to love.
Helters ; syn. with branks, S.
Heljack, a flat stone at the sea-shore forming a natural quay, S. Vide HelHo.
Helyies-am, a pleasant agreeable person, S.
Helys-cost, food provided for the "helie" — that is, food pro- Added to last from Saturday evening to Monday morning, S.
Hemly, homely, without ceremony, S.
Hem:ma, a wife, a housewife, S.
Hemma, home ; isl. hemma.
Hemskit, foolish, S. ; isl. heimska, folly.
Hexgers, the cm-tains of a bed, S.
Hengsie, a clownish clumsy person, S.
Hengsit, clumsy, clownish, S.
Henk, to limp in walking, S. ; g. hinken, id.
Henkie, a person who limps or halts, S.
Hexkl, to wand up a fishing-line or tether, S. ; isl. hank.
Hent (to), to gather, to glean, to walk with a plunging mo- tion, S. ; isl. henda ; sii. g. hemta, to collect ; hsenta, to lay hold with the hand.
Hented, gathered, gleaned, S.
Heogalds-rig, that part of the spine that adjoins the '•' navers- bane," S. ; isl. hauga-aldur, the top of a mound ; ryg, dirsum.
Herald-duck, the dun-diver {Mergus castor), S.
Heraxger. See Haeranger.
Herda, applied to corn that has been trampled by animals, as " They have laid it iu herda," S.
48 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Herd A, crush, confusion ; "To tramp in lierda" — to tread or
lay in confusion, S. Herms and wallawa, a term used to describe a noisy quarrel,
scolding, and disturbance, S. Hertshot, a burst of laughter, also used as an interjection
when hearing a person laughing loudly or sneezing, S, Hert'skad, hersket, heart-burning, pain at the stomach, S. He's awa wi' it, meaning " He is dead," S. Hesta, a mare, a female of any species, S. Hesten, horses, used as a generic term, S. ; isl. hestin, id. Hestensgot, an enclosure in which a nmnber of horses are
pastured, S. ; isl. hestin and gardr, id. Hev'il, a handle for a pail, S. Hev'il-daffock, a pail with a handle, S. Heykokutty, a ludicrous dance performed by persons squatting
on their hookers, to the tune of " Hey-quo-cutty," S. HiAMSE, awkward and unwieldy, also half-witted, S. ; da. pro.
hiams, liiamsk, id. Hill-dyke, a wall, generally of sods, dividing the pasture from
the arable land, 0. and S. HiMP, the small bit of hair-line or gut which attaches each
hook to the baak or principal line of a fishing-fiy (same as
" Bid"), S. HiMS, HIMST, hurried, hasty, flighty in manner, half-witted,
S. ; isl. heimskur, a foolish person ; s. hemske, id. Hinnie-waar, a species of seaweed (Alaria esculenta), S. ; da.
hinde, membrane. • HiNNiE-spoT, a three-cornered piece of wood connecting the
gunwales with the stern of the boat, S. Hint, a moment of time. See Went, S. Hint, to disappear quickly, to vanish, S. HiONiCK, a little contemptible person, S, ; dimin. from tsl.
hion.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 49
Hit, the English verb to hit or strike ; conjugated thus — pres.
hit, prset. hat, past part, hitten, S. Hit, pers. pro. it, S. ; id. hitt, id.
HiVAD, a heap, a himp, S. ; id. hofud ; dct. lioved, caput. HixiE, a hiccup ; isl. hygste, id.
HOBRIN, the bhie shark [Squalus glaums), S. ; no. haabrand, id. HocKEN, keen for food, greedy for food, S. ; isl. hacka, to
devour greedily, to feed like a dog. HocKiN, scraping out a hole with the hands or with a hoe, S. ;
s. holka ; isl. holka, to scoop out. HoCKLiN, gutting fish, S. HocKNiE, a horse, S. HoE, the dog-fish (^Squalus acanthius), S. ; no. haa or ho ; da.
ho, id. HoE-EGG, the egg or spawn of the hoe, S. ; no. haa-egg, id. Hoe-tusk, the smooth-hound, a fish (Squalus mustelus), S. Hoe-mother, the basking-shark, 0. ; isl. homar [Squalus
maximus). Hoeg, a sepulchral mound. There are several in Shetland, S. ;
isl. haug ; su. g. hoeg, id. HOGALIF, a payment for liberty to cast peats, S. ; probably isl.
hoegg-va, and hlif, hlif-a, id. HoGER, end, upshot ; " To come to an ill lioger" — to come to
an ill end, S. ; isl. hagr, conditio. Holm, a small uninhabited island, an islet, 0. and S. ; su. g.
holme, insula. HooBS, the ebb-shore at the head of a bay over which a rivulet
spreads itself, S. ; da. hob, recessus maris. HooDED-CRAW, the peewit-gull, from its black head, 0. and S. ;
in Scotland the Corvus corax. H001LA.TIE, Krookatie, on the haimches, S. Hookers, bended knees, S. ; da. pro. hokke ; isl. hoka. HooNSKA, a pudding made of the blood of au ox mixed with
meal, S.
H
50 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
HooREN, a disgust, 0. ; perhaps from a. s. horewen, id. HoosAMiL, applied to a road between or past houses, S. ;
isl. hus, houses, and amilli, between. HoosAPAAiL, the head, S. ; isl. haus, the head. Hope, a small bay, 0. ; isl. hop, recessus maris. HoRENG, the seal, "phoca," S.
Horn, horn of a boat, a continuation of the stems, S. HoRRA-GOOSE, the brent-goose, 0. HoRSE-GOOK, the snipe {Scolopax gallinago), 0. and S. ; da.
horse-goeg, hors-gioeg ; s. horsjok, a snipe. HossACK, a knot tied on a stranded line by fishermen to
strengthen it, S. Hot, used substantively, as " What a hot it is," S. HouGGY, HuGGiE-STAFF, an iron hook fastened in a wooden
handle for drawing large fish into a boat, S. ; da. hage,
hugge ; isl. hogga ; su. g. huga, hugga, to fell, to strike. Houghing an oar, placing the handle of an oar under the
tliigh in order to rest oneself after rowing, S. Houlland, the name of many places in Shetland, signifying
" high land," S. ; isl. holl, coUiculus. House-verdeen, a servant who has charge of the outdoor
work on a farm, S. ; isl. hus, and vaurd, custos. Howie, a mound, a tumulus, a knoll, 0. ; isl, haug ; su. g.
hoeg, a sepulchral mound. HoYDDEEN, the clergyman of a parish, S. Hoyttin-geng, the completion of any kind of work, as " the
hoyttin-geng o' peats," S. Hub, to blame or hold guilty of a crime, S. Hubbie, a short jacket worn by women when performing
household work, 0. HuBBiT, blamed or held guilty; "Hubbit for tift" — blamed
for theft, S. HucKFAiL (to), to like or fancy any thing or person, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 51
Hi5ddack, a knot in a fishing-line fastening two parts together,
S. HUDDERIN, empty, ill-filled, 0. HuDEiN, chiding, scolding, S. HuDERON. /S'ce Hudderin.
HuGGiE, a tap, a blow, S. ; isl. hogg, id. ; da. hug, id. Ht-IA. See Hiiya, S.
HuiLK, a small vessel for holding oil, S. ; id. hylke, vascnlum. HuLE, the husk of corn. In Shetland the phrase, " My heart
is out o' hule" is used, meaning "out of its place or cover- ing, S. Hule aisT) hule-band ; " He's gane, hule and hule-band " —
that is. He has removed with everything belonging to him,
S. HtJLGiE, roomy, convenient, S. HULLCOCK, the smooth-hound, a fish, 0. Hulster, a shapeless block of stone, S. ; isl. holt, a stony
place, and stor, great. Hulyie, lasting, economical, S.
H0M, to gTow dark, to darken in the evening, S. ; id. hiim, id. HtJMlN, twilight, S. ; isl. hum. HuMLABAND, a strap fixing an oar to its tliowl, S. ; no. humla-
band, id. Hums. See Hims. HuNDG (the dg pronounced like the English j in joy), to drive
or chase away, S. ; id. hund, a dog, and geyr, to bark. Hunes, the extreme ends in the cupples of a house, where they
join at the pitch of the roof, S. Hung-milk, milk coagulated by the heat of the weather, placed
in a linen bag and suspended until the whey, etc., has
dripped from it, leaving a tliick creamy substance, S. Hungell, a sea-fish, the green-bone {Blennius viviparus), S. ;
id. haengr, the male of fish.
5 2 GL OSSAR y OF SHETLAND
HuNKSiT, hioh - shouldered, tlie head sunk between the shoulders, S.
HUNSH, to shrug the shoulders up, S.
HuREACK, that part of a boat between the after-thoft and the stern ; also " shot," S.
HuEKLiN, the peculiar sound in breathing when there is phlegm in the throat or breast, S.
HrELESS, deafened with noise, S.
HuREALESS, stupid with noise, S.
HusELACK, a small stone hut for drying fish, S.
Hush, a low murmuring wdnd.
HusTACK, a big fat woman ; perhaps " /mystack," S. ; isl. hey- steck, id.
HuTHEEiN, a stupid fellow, 0.
HtrTN-TEtJTN, surly, ill-humoured, S. ; no. patois, trutn.
HuTTEE, a mass or heap, S.
HtJVE ; "To huve up" — to swell, S.
HtJY, thin hair, S.
HtlTA, a height or hill ; name of an island near Unst, S. ; isl. hceie ; da. hoei, id.
HuYLLEE, applied to something that does not justify appear- ances, S.
Hyuck-finnie (the double "n" pronounced liquid), lucky, for- tunate, S.
Hyver, to saunter, lounge, or idle, S.
Hyveeal, a lounger, an idle, lazy person ; same as the French "flaneur," S.
Hwinkle-faced, lantern-jawed, 0. ; sii. g. hwinckel, an angle, a corner.
Iaggee. See Yagger.
Iarto, a term of endearment ; also used as if it were an adj.,
S. ; (la. min hjerte, my heart. Ibbie, a contraction of Isabella, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 53
1CELA2ID-SC0KEY, glauCOUS gllll, S.
Iela, a iisliing-place or ground for small fisli near the shore,
S. I'll bake thee haffits, I'll give you a box on the side of the
head, S. Igg, to incite, to instigate to mischief, S. ; da. egge ; English
egg, id. Ill-bistit, ill-natured, wicked, S. ; da. pro. ildter, bister, id. Ill-coxter'IN, tricky, mischievous, S. iLL-DRnrADGED, ill-arranged, slovenly, S. ; da. ilde, bad. Ill-hyvek, an awkward behaviour ; isl. hiavera, presentia, S. Ill-hyyeeed, awkward in manner, ungainly, S. Ill-less, devoid of evil or malice, S.
Ill-vigkit, full of tricks and mischief, intractable, perverse, S. Ill-yuxen, ill-grown, ill-shaped, S. ; da. voxen ; da. pro. ilde-
voxent, id. Ill-vyxd, an ill shape or manner, S.
Ill-yyndit, badly-made, ill-shaped, ill-mannered, S. ; no. vandi. Ill- WAN, an ill expectation, a faint hope, S. ; isl. van ; f?«. vandt. Ill-yetto-comin, a phrase used as an evil wish — "May ye
come iU back," 0. Ilta, malice, anger, S. ; isl. ilska ; da. pro. ilter, id. Iltafoo, fidl of anger or malice, S. Imak-upo-me, I got ready, I prepared myself, S. Ime, soot, the sooty exhalation that forms a coating on kettles,
S. ; su. g. im, ime, em, id. Imey, sooty, black, S. ; isl. eyme. I.MMEK-GOOSE, the Great Ducker of Gessner, the ember goose,
0. and S. ; no. da. immer, id. In, if, pro\T.ded that, S. ; su. g. sen ; isl. end, id. In, a dwelling, S. ; isl. inni, id. Inbigit, selfish, built in, morose, reserved, S. iNBtr, welcome ; " I'se warrant ye didna get muckle inbu," S. Incep, except, S.
54 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
In-liftin ; when an animal is so weak as to be unable to rise
without assistance, it is said to be in-liftin, S, Inyaby, a defeated cock driven away and kept at a distance
by the ruler of the dunghill ; isl. einbui ; da. eneboer, a
recluse. IsTiCK, a slight temporary post, S. ; 8U. g. is, ice, and sticka,
a splinter. It fell afoee me, it suddenly occurred to me, it suddenly
came into my mind, S. luLGAR, an uneasy rapid motion of the waves, S. ; isl. colga,
a wave.
Jaffse, to make a noise with the jaws in eating ; isl. kiafta,
to move the jaws. Jack (to), to take off the skin of a seal, 0. and S. ; isl. jacka,
secare. Japple ; to j apple clothes — to stamp upon them in a tub, S. Jendl, to be jealous of one, S. Jennapie, a dwarfish person or animal, S. Jeroy, a great-grandchild, S. JiRD, a sudden push, S. Jerrum, a proper name ; probably a corruption of " Jerome,"
S. Jiggle, to rock or shake backwards and forwards, S. Jogged, confined in the " juggs," an instrument of punishment
resembling the pillory formerly used in Orkney and Shet- land, 0. and S. JooR, cattle that are not housed, S. ; isl. djrr ; s. duir, deer or
wild animals. JooT, to tipple frequently, a tippler, S. JuPE, a flannel shirt or jacket, S.
JuPSiE, big-headed, dull, having a slothful appearance, S. JtJRE ; applied to stock, as " 1 ha'ena a jui-c" — ] have not a
single animal, S. See Joor.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 55
Just (to), to adjust, 0. and S, JvEGAK, the sea-urcliin, 0. and S.
Kaa, to chase, to drive ; " to kaa sheep" — to drive them into a fold. "To kaa whales" — whales often appear on the coast in large numbers, when the fishermen put off in their skiffs, get on the outside of the herd, and by making a noise with their oars, throwing stones, shouting, etc., drive or " kaa," the timid animals before them into shoal water, where they run aground and are despatched, S.
Kaak, chalk, S. ; g. etc. kalk, id.
KXvK, to mark with chalk, S.
Kaain, a driving or kaaing of whales, also the number of whales in a drove, S.
Kaa^i, a mould for casting metal into bullets, S.
Kaameeil, the beam from which the carcase of an ox is sus- pended, S.
Kaarm, a mass of dirt, S.
Kaav, to snow heavily, S.
Kaavie, a heavy fall of snow, S.
Kabbielabby, confused speaking, many persons talking at the same time, S.
Kabe, a thowl, or strong pin of wood for keeping an oar steady in its place, S. ; da. kiebe ; id. keipr, id.
Kaddie, an ill-natured person, a spoiled child, S.
Kagg, to grieve, S.
Kaggit, vexed, grieved, S.
Kaivle, to fix a wooden bit in the mouth of a lamb to prevent it from sucking the ewe, S.
KiUVLE, a small rod of wood fastened in a lamb's mouth, like the bit of a bridle, to prevent it from sucking a ewe which it is intended to milk, S. ; da. kievle ; isl. kefli ; s. kafle, a small stick.
56 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Kallowed, calved; "a new-kallow'd cow" — a newly-calved cow, S. ; isl. kalfa ; da. kalve, to calve.
Kalwaet, cold, sharp, applied to weather, S.
Kann, cleverness, capability, adroitness, S.
Kannie, a yoke-shaped piece of wood between the stammareen and stem, S,
I^APPEK-NOITED, ill-natured, fractious, S.
ICardoos, a fine kind of cut tobacco, procured from tlie Hol- landers, S. ; da. karduus, paper case for tobacco.
Kash, a pouch, a tobacco-pouch, S.
Katabelly, the hen-harrier, 0.
Kat-yugl, the eagle-owl, 0. and S. ; no. katugle ; da. ugle ; isl. uggla ; s. ugla, id.
Katmogit, applied to animals, white coloured, with black legs and belly, S. ; isl. quidr and mogottr, the belly of a dark colour ; Scotch, kyte, belly.
Kavabued, snow drifted violently by the wind, S. ; isl. kafa ; teut. kav-en, and byrd, burd, suffocating drift.
Kavvle, to take hooks out of the mouths of large fish by means of a small stick with a notch on its end, S. ; da. kievle ; isl. kefli ; s. kafle, a small stick.
Keel-draught, a false keel to a boat, S. ; no. drag, covering on the keel of a boat.
Keen, a rock jutting out from the face of a cliff ; isl. kani, a prominence.
Keeng, to reunite the pieces of a broken dish by means of clasps, S. ; isl. keingr, a hook, a clasp.
Keeng, a clasp of pewter by whicli broken china or earthen- ware is repaired, S. ; isl. keingr, a clasp.
Kek, gesticulation, a peculiar motion of any part of the body to which one is addicted, S. ; da. gick, a quick move- ment,
Kelliemuff, a mitt, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 57
Kemp-kooth, a rowing-match, a contest at rowing, S. ; da.
kamp, kiaempe ; s. kampa, kamp ; and da. rce ; su. fj. ro, id. Keobe, a reward, a gift, S. ; da. kiob ; isl. kaup, id, Keobe, to bribe, to induce by promise of a reward, S. ; da.
kiobe ; isl. kaupa, id. Keppb, a flat piece of wood secured in the mouth of a horse
to prevent his eating the com when bringing the sheaves
home ; id. keppr, a piece of wood. Ket, dwarfish, 0.
Iveuss (of sillacks), a number of sillacks put into some re- ceptacle, and allowed to remain until they have acquired
a game or spoilt flavour, S. ; isl. kios ; no. kus ; isl. kasadi',
approaching to putrefaction. Kie, to detect, to catch in the act, S. KiED, detected, discovered, S. KiEGER, stiffness in the neck from keeping it long in one
position, S. IviEVE, to strive in emulation, S. KiLN-HUGGiE, the fireplace of a kiln ; same as Scotch " kil-
logie," S. ; hdg. log, a hole. KiLPACic, a small basket made of dockens or twigs, S. ; no.
kipa. KiNG-coikiE-A-LAY, a game played by boys : two sides strive
for the mastery as to which party can secure most prisoners
for the king, S. KmGS-LAlsT), lands formerly in possession of the crown, but
now possessed by Lord Zetland, 0. and S. KiPPOCK, a small number of piltacks banded together, S. ; isl.
kippa, a small bundle. KiRKASUCKEN, applied to the buried dead, as distinguished
from those who have a water}'- grave — (it was formerly
the practice in Shetland, as in other parts of Europe, to
bmy the dead within the churches) — S. ; da. kirke ; goih.
kyerk ; Uut. kirche, kerk ; hdrj. kerk, a church ; su. g.
I
58 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
siunk-a ; da. senk-e ; Uut. sig-en, siukeii, to sink, to descend.
Qu. buried in the cliiirch. KiRR, hush, S. ; no. kyrr ; isl. kirra, to hush. KiRSSEN, applied to a very lean animal ; also to unwholesome
food ; as " It's no kirsen" — It's not eatable, not Christian,
S. ; helg. kerst, kersten, Christian. KiRViE, a certain quantity of straw or grass; "a kirvie of
floss," as windlin, hallow, traev, etc., are all names for
certain quantities of corn, straw, etc., S. ; no. kierve ; da.
'pro. kiserve, three sheaves tied together. KiST, used in chasing away a cat, S.
KiTT, a rather shallow vessel for milking in ; it has a closely- fitting lid, S. KiTTiE-swEERiE, an instrument for winding yarn, S. KiTTiWAKE, a gull {Larus tridactylus), 0. and S. KiUNNiN, a rabbit {Cunimdus) ; isl. kuning ; da. and s. kanin ;
du. konyn, id. KiURKASUCKEN. See Kirkasucken. Kjimsie, a fellow, S. Kjoder, to caress, to fondle, S. Kjoder, kind, caressing, S.
Klaa, a little ill-natured person, an injury by sickness, S. Klacht, to seize hold, S. Klacht, a firm hold, S. Klack, the name of rocky fishing-ground near the shore, as
opposed to '* liaaf," S. ; isl. klackr, a rock. IClag, to lick up, as a piece of soft cloth does wet or dust, S. Klaik, a kind of shellfish or worm growing on wood lying
long in the sea, barnacle, duck-barnacle (Lcpas anatifcra),
S. IvLAMoz (loug o), an outcry, a loud noise, S. ; lat. clamosus,
id. Klasii, a slap, or a collision of soft bodies, S. ; g. klatsch, id. Klasiiek, a noisy talkative person ; y. klatscher, id.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 59
Klat, to prattle, to cliatter, S. ; (j. klatsclie, id.
Klat, prattling, babbling, S.
Klatsh, a slap as with the palm of the hand, the noise caused
by the collision of soft bodies, S. Kleebie, a heated stone plunged into buttermilk to separate
the curd from the whey. The former is precipitated, and
is called " kirnmilk ;" the latter, diluted with water, is
« bland," S. Kleester, to smear with mud or the like, S. ; isl. klestr,
illinitus ; isl. klistra ; da. klistre, glutinare. Kleevins, tongs ; also " femorum intercapedo," S. ; id. kluf,
bifurcation of the thighs. Kleipit, miserly, stingy, S. Klett, a lofty cliff, the top of which is separated from the
main by a fissure, and seems ready to tumble into the sea,
S. ; isl. klettr, rupis. Klibba-taings, tongs made of two bits of wood, S. ; isl. klij:)i-
tong, forceps. IvLiEK, a hook, S.
Kliek, to hook, to fasten with a hook, S. Klikkit, snatched away from the hand, S. Kliv-g.^ng, a great crowd in motion, S. IvLiYSiE, a name applied to sheep, S. Klivven, cloven, S. ; isl. klauf, a hoof. Klookie, cunning, artful, cautious, S. ; isl. kloklegr ; sn. y.
klok, prudens, sapiens. IvLU.MBUNG, an ill-shapen mass, S. Klump, to make a noise in walking, as if with clogs, S. Klujipse, to silence, S.
Klunsh, a lump, S. ; g. kkmsch ; su. rj. kluns, id. Klurt, a lump ; also to daub, to defile. Klush, a clumsy person, a full-built ship, anything clumsy,
S. Kluvie, the claw of a hammer, S.
6o GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Kluvie-hammee, a claw-liammer, S. ; isl. klsefa, to split.
Klymiewick, a small caudle, a taper, S.
Knab-knop, the knoop of a hill, a protuberance, S. Haldors-
son describes nabbi as " en knort " and as " en liden tue," a
small bill ; teut. knoppe. Knabsie, a short, stout, athletic person ; applied also to an
animal, S. ; teut. knoppe. Knap, to eat greedily, to snap up, S. Knap, a crack, S.
Knap, to crack or break in two sharply, S. Knap-for-n AUGHT, a name given to a cake or any morsel so
small as only to serve for a mouthful, 0. Knappel, a thick round stick, S. Knaek, to crack or creak, to crunch with the teeth, S. ; da.
knarke, knirke, id. Knaep, to bite, S. Knarp, a bite, S. Kneeshal, the patula or whirlbone of the knee, S.; da. knce-
skal, the kneepan. Knep, to clench, as the hand, S. ; da. knepp-e, knaeppe ; su. g.
nap, knap, etc. Kneppit; "A kneppit naev" — a clenched fist, S. Kniffie, clever, agile, S. Knippach, two or three small fish tied together, S. ; isl. knippi ;
d%. knippe, fasciculus. Knirk, a creaking or crepitation, S. Knitsiiel, a number of things tied together, S. ; isl. knyti, a
small bundle. Knock-beetle, a person who is severely beaten, S. Knop-tanCxL, FucAis nodosns, S. Knoeen, a boat, S. ; isl. knorr, id. Knub, a smart blow, a short club, S. Knub, a thump, a bump raised by a blow, S. ; da. knub, a
knot, a bunch, a lump.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 6i
Knub, to thump, to pummel, S.
Knubbs, blows, S.
Knuilt, a blow, a smart rap, S.
Knuilt, to strike smartly, S.
Knurls, a game somewhat resembling cricket, in which a
wooden knob, called the " knurl," is struck with a bat, S. ;
su. g. knorl ; da. and tcut. knor, a knob. KOFT, bartered, exchanged, S. KoLE, cabbage, kail, S. ; da. kaal ; cj. kohl, id. KoMiN", duty or obligation ; as " It's gude or ill i' dy komiu
to du it" — It's your duty, etc., S. KoxGL, a piece of burning peat, S. ; Faroese, kongul, id. KooFiE, a broad, Hat, round-shaped sea-shell, S. Koo-FISH, a species of shell-fish, the " Venous" ; isl. kiiskel, id. KooM, anything much broken ; applied to coals, biscuit, etc.,
S. KooRix, cattle ; isl. kp', vacca. KORKIE, a kind of lichen growing on rocks, used for dyeing ;
it produces a purple colour (Lichen tartareus), S. ; no.
korkje, id. KoRKiE-LiT, dye made from the above, S. ; no. korkjelit, id. KoRN, a small quantity of anythmg, S. ; isl. and no. korn, id. KoRS, a cross, a mark on a " bysmar," S. ; no. kors, id. KoRS-MASS, a semi-annual festival, 3d May and 14th Sep- tember, S. ; no. korsmysse, id. KoY, a bed, S. ; su. g. koja, id. Koz, to exchange, to barter, S. Kraa-head, chimney-head, S. Kraahiel, the young black mussels gTowing on half-tide
rocks, S. Kraansie, a coraUite {Millqjora polymorpha), S. Krank, sick, S. ; g. du. krank, Kransit, cross-grained, ill-tempered, S.
6 2 GL OSSAR y OF SHE TLAND
Krieckle, to creep, to crawl, to stagger, S. ; id. kreika, and
keika, id. Kringle-beead, a kind of bread brought from Norway, S. ;
s. kringla, id. Krookatie. See Hookatie. Krubb, a crib, a small enclosure, S. Krubbie, a place or hole in which potatoes, etc., are covered
up, S. Krubbit, straitened for want of room, narroM-, S. Krugie, bait for fish, S. ; da. krog, a hook. KuGGLE, to move from side to side, to rock, S. KUGGLIE, easily rocked or rolled about, unsteady, S. ; da.
kugle, a sphere, a globe. KuNA, a wife, a married woman, S. ; isl. kona, id. Kupp, the stern of a boat or ship, S. KuRF, a surface, a fine surface, S. KuRFiE, a shell, S. KuRFUFFLiT, muffled up, S. KuRNUR ; "Not to say kurnur" — not to say a word, to be
silent, S. KuRR, a whisper ; isl. kaur, murmur. KuRRiE, pretty, dear, amiable, S. ; da. ki?er, id. KuSH, to drive animals away ; also interj., hush ! S. KuvvEL, a warm covering, S. KuvvEL, to wrap oneself carefully up, S. Ky (pronounced like English my, thy, by), to discover, to
betray, S. Kypie, a game played by boys, S.
Laag, to pull or draw l)y united effort, S. ; s\i. g. lugg-a, to drag, to tug ; da. laug, a number of persons associated together.
Laag, a pull, as in pulling a boat over a beach, or pulling in- cessantly at the oars, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 63
La-VGER, eager, keen, S.
La-AGER, the halibut {Pleuronedes hippoglossus), S.
Laamiet, term of endearment, a little lamb, S.
Laar, a light breeze of wind, S. ; da. lar-ing, a light wind.
Laar, a boat, a fishing-boat, S. ; hel(/. laars, boats.
Laav, to hover like a bird, S. ; da. lavere, or lave, id.
Laavin, expressive of the slow motion of a large bird hovering over its prey, S.
Lackie, the third stomach of a ruminating animal, the oma- sum, S. ; no. lakje, id.
Lady's hex (our), the skylark (Alanda ai^cnsis), S.
Laeger. Sec Laager.
Laenerly, lonely, singly, S.
Lagdt, a piece of cloth or wool tied to the mane or tail of a horse, or the wool of a sheep, as a mark by which to dis- tinguish them, S. ; isl. lagd-r ; fa. lagd, a tuft of hair, a lock of wool.
Laggie, a loiterer.
Lagman, the president of the supreme court formerly held in Orkney, 0 ; sti. go. lagman ; da. langniand, a provincial judge, a provost.
Lagraetman, one acting as officer to a lagman, 0.
Laing, a small ridge of land, as distinguished from " skift," 0.
Laite, a smaU quantity of any liquid, S. ; su. go. lite ; da. lidet, nttle.
Lake (to), to give credit to, to trust, O.
LaivE (to), to give heed to ; used always with a negative, as " He never lake't at it" — he gave no heed to it, O.
Lalie, a child's toy, S.
Lamba-teind, a designation given to the wool collected as teinds by the parish minister, now generally commuted to a money payment, S.
Lame (to), to prepare wool by drawing, S.
64 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Landit, appKed to one thrown by a horse, as " He landit me
upo' the braid o' my back," S. Landmaster, the proprietor of land, S. Langspiel, a species of harp, S. ; no. langspel, laangspel, id. Langvia. Sec Longie. Lang-vurden, to become long, S. ; no. langvoren ; g. lang-
werden. Lang-vueden, long-shaped, S. ; do. do. Lantfael, the flood-tide, S. ; land, in every Gotliic dialect, the
shore, and da. fald, in composition, a rushing or rapid
course. Lap o' the lug, the lobe of the ear, S. Lapp, a patch of wood for mending a boat's board when split,
S. ; da. lapp-e, to patch. Lapper, a coagulation, a clot of coagulated blood, S. Lapper, a clot of blood, S. Lappit, patched, S.
Last, a lot of arable land, varying from 16 to 24 merks, S. Last, a measure used in Orkney, O. Laurence-mas, August 23d, S.
Lavie-lugged, the drooping of an animal's ear, when im- properly cut in marking, S. Law-rightman, an officer in ancient times entrusted with the
regulation of weights and measures, S. Lawting, the supreme court of judicature in ancient times in
Orkney and Shetland, O. and S. Lay him till again, said of one who having desisted from
any employment resumes it with as grea.t or greater energy
than before, S. Laying up skip laags, making promises to oneself for the
future that may never be realised, S. Layt, a small quantity of liquid, S. Layum, planks roughly laid so as to form a loft at one end of
an outhouse, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 65
Leaden-heakt, a spell, after sundry incantations, hung around
the neck of the patient ; in disuse now, S. Lead-stane, the weight used for sinking a fishing-line, S. Leaxger, a tax formerly paid by the inhabitants of Shetland
to the cro^vn of Denmark as a punishment for harbouring
pirates, S. ; da. Ise, a harbour, a creek, and auger, sorrow,
contrition, repentance, penalty. Led, a Ud of corn, hay, or peats ; a load for a pony, S. Ledderin, a severe drubbing, S. ; da. laedering, a hurt, an
injury. Leegins, spots of fishing in the deep sea frequented only by
liaaf boats, S. Leek, the persons in a district invited to the funeral of one of
their number, S. Left-ane, the largest bannock of a batch, S. Leftie, a clot or mass of dirt, S. ; su. g. leifa; isl. leif-a ; sa.
Icef-an, id. Lek, like ; " I never saw da lek," S. Lem, a loft in a house ; no. Item, id. Lendit, applied to cows or other animals having the body
black coloured, with a white stripe over the loins, S. ; ().
lenden, the loins. Lexgie, a longitudinal slice of a hahbut cut either from the
back or belly of the fish, S. ; isl. lengi-a, id. Leog, a rivulet running through low swampy ground, S. ; no.
laeg ; m. g. lag, id. Lepp, to lick like an animal, to lap, S. Leppack, a horn spoon, S. Leppel, a spoon, S. ; du. leppel, id. Leure, a fish resembling the " sethe" {Gctdm iJollachus), S. ;
da. lure. Levier. Sec Livier.
Leyverin, making a paste of flour and stirring it up witli
K
66 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
milk or water while boiling, S. ; da. levrencl ; id. lifrancl,
causing to congeal. Li, imperative mood, let, allow, S. ; old Gothic, li-a, to let,
permit, allow. LiCHTLiE, applied to meat or butter, as " kitchen" to the
potatoes or bread, S. Lied, diligence, S. LiEDFUL, diligent, S. LiEF-ON, quite alone, S. LiEGEE, a halibut (Pleuronectes hippoglossus) ; da. lige ; isl.
lig-a. Hat. LiFT-i-DA-SEA, large unbroken waves, S. LiFTiN o' TPIE MOUTH ; " No a liftin o' the mouth" — not a
particle of food, S. LiMPiTS (to sow), to chew limpets and eject them from the
mouth upon the water in order to attract fish to the boat,
S. ; isl. soa, to scatter, as sowing seed. Lin, to sit down, to rest upon or lean against, S. ; 3d, to cease,
to desist ; da. Ia3n-a ; isl. linn-a ; s. linn-a, to cease. LiNEBtiED, the starboard or right side of a boat, so called
because the fishing-/mcs are used on this side, S. ; da. line,
su. g. lin-a, and bord, the upper part or deck of a vessel. LiNE-scoLL, a box for holding fishing-lines, S. Ling, flowering heath, S, ; n. ling, heather. LiNiNS, shirt-sleeves ; " I was standin' i' my bare linms," S. Links-goose, common shieldrake, 0. Linns, pieces of wood or other material over which a boat is
drawn, stretchers, S. Lint (to); "To lint one's hough" — to sit down for a little
while, S. LiOAG. See Loag. Lioo. See Liibit. LipPEE, to ripple, to fret, S. ; isl. hleyp-a, to agitate, to disturb,
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 67
LiSPmo), a weight containing 18 pounds Scots, 0. and S. ; su. (J. lispund ; no. lispuud, id.
Lit ; 0 Ht ! 0 lit !— alas ! alas ! S.
LiTT, indigo, S. ; su. g. lit ; isl. lit-r, dye, tint.
LiTT (to), to dye indigo blue, S. ; isl. lit-a, to dye, to stain.
LiVEE-BANNOCKS, bannocks baked with fisli-livers between them, S.
Liver-cup or Kkoos. A piece of dough is kneaded in the shape of a cup, and this cup is filled with fish-livers, and strips of dough are laid over the top. It is then placed upon the heated hearthstone and baked, S.
LiVER-FLACKiES. Two half-dried piltacks are split, the " rig" is taken out, and fresh livers are put between them. They are then roasted upon the hearthstone, S.
LiVEE-MUGGiE, the stomach of the cod filled with fish-liver, S.
Lr'IEE, to loiter, to linger, to saunter, S.
LoAMiCKS, the hands ; a cant word, S.
Lock, to seize hold of, to grapple with, to clutch, S. ; isl. luka ; su. g. luka ; da. lukke, id.
LociviT, seized hold of, S.
LoDBEEEiE, a kind of enclosed wharf common in Lerwick, S.
LoNGiE, " the guillemot," a corruption of the Danish name "laugivie," S.
LoODEE-HOEX, a large horn with which each fishing-boat is furnished, to be blown occasional!}' in foggy weather and during the darkness of night, in order to ascertain the rela- tive position of all the boats in the same track, S. ; isl. ludr ; su. g. luder, luur ; da. luur, a trumpet, a hunter's horn.
Loom, a sea-fowl {Colynibus scptcntrionalis), S. ; isl. lorn, id.
LooMiN-BUESTiN, drying corn in a kettle, S.
LooPACK, a pigmy, a dwarf, S. ; isl. lubbe, a contemptible person.
LooPACK, a spoon without a handle, a spoon with broken handle, S. ; su. g. Icepa, to cut short, to lop off.
68 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
LooPiE, a small basket made of straw, S. ; isl. laupr, a basket.
Look, interjection or exclamation of sur^Drise, S.
Look, to lull or abate like wind, S.
Losing, the great cormorant {Pelicanus christatus), S.
LOKN, the crested cormorant or shag, S.
Louts, milk, cream, etc., poured into a jar previous to a churn- ing, 0.
Ltr, to listen, S. ; da. ly-e, to listen.
LuBBA, coarse grass of any kind {Juncus squarrosus), 0. and S. ; da. lubb-en, coarse grass ; isl. lubbe, id.
LUBBO, a meal-measure very neatly made of bent, 0. ; da. lubb-en ; isl. lubbe.
LtJBiT, lukewarm, S.
Luck, to entice, to entreat, S. ; isl. loka ; da. lokk-e, id.
LUCKIE, a designation for a witch ; isl. klok, maga, id.
LuCKiE-MiNNiE, a term of reproach to a woman, as " Don's a luckie-minnie," S.
Luckie-minnie's 00, a fleecy substance that grows upon a plant in wet ground, S. ; luckie, a witch, and Scotch oo (qu. witch's wool).
Luckies'-lines, a plant growing in deep water near the shore, and which sj)reads itself over the surface {Chorda filum), S. ; luckie, a witch (qu. witch's lines) ; da. lyng, seaweed.
LtrFF, the tack of a sail, S.
Luff-alaen. See Lief-on, all alone, S.
Luff-an-dkaw, an expression meaning " to let well alone," S.
LUFFSIT, overgrown, bloated, very corpulent, S.
Lug, a loop on the end of a fishing-line, S. ; da. Icekk-e, a noose, a knot, a loop.
LuGGiE, a game in which one is led around a circle by the ear, repeating a rhyme ; if the party selected to repeat the rliyme makes a mistake he in turn becomes "luggie," S.
LuciGiT, a cuff on the ear, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 69
Lug-sky, a part of the ancient plough jutting out obliquely
backwards on the right side, a little above the sky, 0. LuL, niembrum virile ; Ijelcj. lul, the spout of a pump. LuME, LiooM, smooth appearance of the water caused by any
oily substance, S. ; gotli. liom ; isl. liom-a, fulgere. LuME, to spread like oil on the surface of water, S. LuN, a lull, S.
LuN, to lull, also to listen, S. LuNK, a rolling motion like a ship on the waves, S. LuNK, to roll as above, S. LuNKiN, bobbing up and down in walking, S. ; id. link-a, to
hobble, to halt. LuNSH, to recline or loll, S. LuKGAN, a surfeit of food, S. LuRT, a lump, chiefly of dirt, a clumsy person, S. ; no. lort,
id. Lyrie, the shearwater {Procellaria ^pujffinus), 0. and S, ; no.
lyr, id.
Maa, a name given to the gull {Lams canus), S. ; isl. mar, id. Maager, lean, thin, scraggy ; sii. g. da. teut mager ; isl. magr,
id. Maalin, a merlin, a hawk, S. Maa]\iie, a wet-nurse, S. ; da. amme, a nurse ; teut. mamme,
the breast. Maatsiie, to soften or crush the earth by delving or ploughing ;
also as an adj., soft, fine, S. ; da. ijro. malm. Maandred, manhood, strength, S. ; da. mand, a man, and rad,
degree, quality. Maat, a comrade or intimate friend, S. ; English mate ; du.
maat ; isl. meet, id. Maght, might, power, S. ; g. macht, id. Machtless, powerless, S. ; g. machtlos, id. Madderam, madness, folly, S.
70 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Maegsie, one who has large hands, like the flippers of a seal,
S. ; gall. maeg. Maegs, the flippers of a seal, S. ; gall. maeg. Magdum, counterpart, exact resemblance, S. Mail, a measure equivalent to about 7| stones Dutch, O. ;
su. g. maal, a measure. Main, patience, 0. Maisie-maizie, a net with wide meshes made of twisted straw
ropes, 0. and S. ; m. g. maska ; da. maske ; id. meis, a
reticulated bag. Maisk, bashful, 0.
Makin-o'-tay, a sufficient quantity of tea for one infusion, S. Malicefu, sickly, in bad health, 0. Mallemoke, the fulmar petrel {Procellaria glacialis), S. ; oio.
malmok, id. Mallow, a marine plant {Zostera marina), O. Mam, mother (a childish term), S. Manfierdie, marriageable, S. ; su. g. fserdig, paratus. Mankit, worn out with incessant rowing or other exertion,
S. ]\Iakeel, the phosphorescent appearance of the sea on a dark
night, S. ; da. morild ; no. moreld ; s. mareld ; isl. maurildi,
phosphorus. Marfloo, the sea-louse (Pulex litoralis), S. ; isl. mar, sea, and
flo, pulex. Mark, a nominal weight, 0. and S. ; da. mark ; su. g. mark. Mark-merkland, a division of land varying from one to three
acres, O. and S. ; da. mark, land, a field, a cleared field. Marlaic, kind of seaweed (Zostera marina), S. ; no. marlauk,
id. Marool, a sea-fish (same as marsgum), sea-devil, S. ; no.
marulk, id. Marsgum, the groat plucker (Loj^hius inscatorius), S. See Ma- rool.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 71
Masken-of-tea, as much as is made at one time, S. ; su. <j. mask, a mash.
Masten, a mast, S. ; da. masten ; isl. mastr, id.
Master-tree, the trace-tree or swingle-tree which is nearest the plough, 0. and S.
Mate-lu:\i, a kettle in which food is cooked, S.
Mate-hither, the person who serves out food to others, S.
Matilot, the black window-fly, 0.
]\Iaun (to), to shake the head from palsy, S.
Maw. See ]\Iaa.
Meel. See Mail.
Meethe or Meed, to mark a place at sea by the bearings of objects on the laud, S.
Meeths, Meeds, landmarks for directing the course in sailing, or for enabling fishermen to find particular spots of fishing- ground, S. ; no. mied or meed ; da. mede ; isl. mid, id.
Melancholie (accent on second syllable), love-sickness, S.
Meldy-grass {Spergida arvensis), S. ; da. meld, id.
Mell ; " To pick and mell" — to maul, to beat, S.
Mell, a large broad fist, S. ; isl. mjol.
Mellins, the meal kept by one to dust over the bannocks be- fore they are baked, S.
Menz, getting well through any kind of work, S.
Mercal, a piece of wood used in the construction of the plough, the head of a plough, S. ; su. g. mer, large, and kull-e, the head.
Merdal, a contemptuous term for a fat clumsy female, S. ; isl. mardoU, id.
Mere. See Mark.
Merkie-pin, that part of a plough in which the share is fixed, O.
Mermaid's-glove, the sponge {Spongia xjalmata), S.
Mert, a mart, an animal fattened for slaughter and killed at Martinmas, S. ; da. marter, kine.
7 2 GL OSSAR Y OF SHE TLAND
Mestekfil, great or large iu size, S.
Met, a marcli-stone, S. ; isl. met-a ; su. g. niteta, id.
MiDDELT, a mark, a piece out of the middle of the ear, S.
MiD-EOOM, the middle compartment of a boat, S.
Mild, a species of fish, 0. ; isl. mialld-r, ceti genus.
]MiLL-riSH, the turbot, from its round shape, S.
MiLL-GKUEL, porridge made with milk, S.
MiLLiN ; " No ae millin hae I" — i.e. not the smallest jiarticle or scrap, S. ; isl. moli, a crumb.
Milt, the spleen in cattle ; da. milt, id.
Ministers, small spiral shells found on the sea-shore, S.
Minister's-maek, a mark on sheep, both ears are cut off, S.
MiNKSTER, a mixture, S. ; isl. mengun, mixture.
Minn, a strait or sound between islands, having a strong cur- rent running through it ; as " Swarback's Minn," between Vemuntry and IMuckle Eoe, S. ; isl. munni, ostium.
Minnie, a grandmother, S. ; isl. manna, id.
MiNViD ; " To see through minvid" — i.e. in the dusk or dark, S. ; isl. and da. minnr, minus nocere videbatur.
Minx, to mix, to mingle, S. ; isl. meng-a ; da. mseng-e, id,
MiEAKEL (accent on second syllable, the a long and broad), a mockery, a derisive spectacle, S. ; da. mirakel, id.
MiEGE, a multitude, S. ; da. and isl. mergd, id.
MiEKLES, the radical leaves of Fiicus esculcntus, eaten in 0.
MlEia^iN, twilight, S. ; da. mcerkning, id.
MiRL, to move rapidly round, to dance, S.
MiEE, to tremble, to vibrate, to thrill, S.
MiSFUEE ; " A misfure" is a boat that has perished at sea with its crew, S. ; da. isl. misfor, infortunium.
MiSGAR, a kind of trench in sandy ground occasioned by the wind driving away the sand, 0. and S. ; no. mis, defect, and giair, firm.
MissiN, applied to the tide ; " A missin tide"' — a moderate
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 73
tide, not fiill, S. ; su. g. missa, a defect, and isl. misindi, mediocritas.
MiSMORROW, to mismatch, S.
MoARiN, applied to snow being drifted by the wind vehe- mently and thickly, S.
]\IoD (long 0), a small quantity, S.
MoDER-DY, a current setting in towards the land, said to have been the means by which the Shetland fishermen, before they had the mariner's compass, used to know the direction in which the land lay when out of sight of it. Since the introduction of the compass the knowledge, being unneces- sary, appears to be lost, S.
MoDER-sooK. See Moder-dy.
INIOEDER, mother ; su. g. isl. and da. moder, id,
MoiNBty, an invitation to a funeral transmitted as the fiery cross was of old, S.
JNIoLE. See Mool.
MoLiCK, a "bocht" of fishing-lines, measuring 40 to 50 fathoms, S.
MONEN, the moon, S.
M(3-NI]MENT, a ridiculous person, a fool, S.
]\Ioo, to crave, to feel hungry, S.
Mooi, a seaweed of a green colour which cattle eat with avidity, S.
Mool, the extreme point of a promontory, a bluff headland, S. ; isl. mul-i, frons montis.
MooLS, a disease in the heels, S.
Moor, to snow heavily, S.
MooRAKAYiE, a thick shower of drifting snow, S. The etymon of the preceding word, and isl. kafa, teut. kaven, to wliirl or drive before the wind.
MooRAT, brownish colour in wool, perhaps of the colour of the heather of a moor, S. ; da. pro. murret, id.
L
74 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
]\IooEATOOG, an ant, S. ; da. niyre-tue, an ant-hill.
MooRFOWL, red grouse, 0.
MOORIN. See Moarin.
MooRK, to work patiently, to pore over one's work, S.
MooRT, a small thing ; ex. a small fish, S. ; no. murt, id.
MoosFA, a trap for catching mice, a mouse-trap, S. ; no.
musfoll, id. Moot, a small person or thing, same as " moort," S. MooTEN, to grow mouldy like old bread, to decay, S. MoRNiN-MUN, the morning dawn, the gradual increase of the
morning light. See Mim, 0. MoR NOR SWAAL (long o, as in English word more), one who
can neither " mor nor swaal" is one who is incapable of
doing anything, S. Morrow, a companion, one thing which matches another, S. ;
su. g. mager, maghaer, a connection or relative. MoRROWLESS, without a match or fellow, S. MoRTGALD, a severe cold, influenza, S.
MoSE, the dry-rot, 0. and S. ; perhaps from da. mose, a fen. Mou, the notch in the end of the beam into which the rope
used in drawing the old-fashioned plough is fastened, 0. MouGiLDiNS, piltacks or sillacks roasted with the livers inside
them, S. MouPiN, a pin which fastens the rope to the beam of a plough,
0. MousKiT, mouse-coloured, S. ; no. muskut, id. MoYENLESS, powerless, inactive, S. ; /?■. moyens. MoYENS, ability, capability, jDower, S. MuA-siCKNESS, a disease of sheep, the rot, S. MucKAFY, to make dirty, to defile, S. MucK-OUT, to clear a byre or stable of dung, S. ; id. g. mocka,
stabula purgare. MuDDER, fine dnst or powder, S. ; fr. moudre, to grind.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 75
Mud-fish, fish salted iu barrels, S.
MuDViTE, MuDVEETiCK, swine, S.
Muff, an oppressive lieat, a disagreeable smell, S.
MuFFiTEES, woollen wristbands, 0. and S. ; id. muffa ; ila.
moffe, a muff. Mulder, small crumbs or bread-dust, S. Mulder, to crumble, to jDulverise, S. ; /;■. moudre, to grind. MuLiE, weak from want of food, S. JMuLiE, slow, inactive, S.
Mull, to eat, to feed from tbe mouth ; also to kiss, S. MuLLUCK, a handful of gleanings, S. Mullins, eatables, S. jMullio, a bundle of gleanings, 0. Mulls, the lips or the mouth, S. ; g. maul, id. MuN, difference in size and quantity, S. ; no. mun ; isl.
niunr, id. jNIun, to differ or show a difference in size or number, etc.,
S. Mux, to fill up, to occupy space, as water poured into a ves- sel; " It nivver mims" — it does not seem to make it nearer
full, S. ]MuNi, the spinal cord, S. ; Ul. mccna, medulla spinalis. ]Murken, spoiled by keeping, musty ; applicable to grain, S. jMurr, small rain, small things in general, 0. and S. MuRRiCK, an esculent root or vegetable, S. MuRT, a very small individual of any species, a small object,
S. ; da. murt ; isl. murta, id. ]\IUSH, to scallop or plait the edges of a woman's cap, etc.,
S. Musker, a small piece or quantity, S. Muskerin', occasional slight showers, S. Must (long u), a disagTeeable smell, S. MuTTLE, a small knife, S. ; no. mutel, id.
^6 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Mutton-tee, a leg of mutton smoked and salted, S. Mynz, mine, S.
Naabar. See Naavar ; isl. nabbi, tumor, napur, prominent.
Naar, near ; da. user ; su. g. n?er, id.
Naavar, the upper vertebra of a sheep's neck, the nape of the
neck, S. Na-ca-deed-I, I will not, 0. Nackers, testes, S.
Nail ; " There's a bad nail in him," meaning a bad disposi- tion ; applied to man or beast ; used also in the opposite
sense — as " There's a gude nail in him," S. Nammonie, a little while, 0. ; isl. mund, the hand, with na,
a particle indicating proximity. Nappie, a small wooden bowl, also a small kettle, S. Natie, tenacious, niggardly, S. ; su. g. gnetig, id. Near-begaain, of a miserly disposition, S. Nebir, Nebirt, bait for fishing-lines, S. Nedder, neither, S.
Nedder, nether, inferior, S. ; isl. nedri, nedar, inferior, inferius. Nedderin, neither, S.
Neebin, nodding from drowsiness, dosing, S. Neep, a knoop or promontory, S. ; no. nup, id. Neest, the last spark of fire, S. ; isl. neiste, gneista ; da. gnist,
id. Neester, to creak, S.
ISTeesterin, creaking, S. ; da. gniste, gnistre, to crackle. Ness-cocic Sec Nistie-cock. NiAG, to carp, to fret, to be captious, S. Niaggin, carping, constant fault-finding, S. ; isl. gnaga, naga,
rodere. NiAAG, to labour, to work incessantly, S. ; isl. hnauka, to labour
incessantly and servilely.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 77
NiAFF, to carp, S. ; s. nipp, id.
Nick, a cracking sound, S. ; (j. knick, id.
Nick, to make a cracldng sound, S. ; g. knicken, id.
Nick, the angle contained between the beam of a plough and
the handle, 0. NiCKALiE-TAES, long. Small, slender toes, S. NiDDER, to depreciate, to imdervalue, S. ; da. neder, lower,
nether. NiGG, to carp at, to fret and scold, to chide ; same as Niag,
S. NiGGL, to ensnare, to entrap by a ambuscade, S. NiGGLER, in a boys' game one of the mmiber who is placed
in ambush, S. Nile, a plug that fits into the nile-hole, S. ; id. negla, id. Nile-hole, a hole bored in the bottom of a boat, below the
aft stern, in order to run off the bilge-water, S. NiMM, pleasant to the taste ; also used as an exclamation of
pleasure at agreeably-flavoured food, S. Niggle, a sort of water-kelpie, S. ; gotli. gneg, a horse, and
el, water. Qu. the water-horse. NiPSiCKER, captious, ill-natured, S. NiRR, to purr like a cat, S. ; id. knuiTa ; dxi. knurre, mur-
murare. NiRSS, harsh and disagreeable to the taste, S. NiRT, a very small piece, S. NissAC, the name given to a porpoise (JDelpIdnus phoccena), S. ;
no. nise, a porpoise ; isl. hnysa, nisa, id. NiSTiE-cocK, a small suppurating pimple, S. NiTTACK, a little saucy girl, S.
NiTTERET, an ill-natured expression of countenance, S, NiTTiE, clever, agile, smart, neat, S.
NivVEL, to pinch with the fingers, S. ; isl. hnefi, knefi, pugnus. NiWELLiN, pinching, S. Noop, a lofty headland, precipitous towards the sea and slojj-
7 8 GL OSSAR V OF SHE TLAND
ing towards the land, S. ; no. nup, id. nupr, the top of a
mountain. NoK (long o), a snore, to snore, S. NoKALEG, the lower leg-bone of a swine ; used in making a
" snorick," which see, S. ; isl. knurra \ da. knurre, mur-
murare. NoRDEN, the northern part of an island or district, S. ; da. and
s. norden, the north. NOEIE, the puffin {Alca arctica), 0. and S. NoEX ; Norse, "A norn veesick" — a Norse ballad, S. ; isl.
norrsen, id. NoRRALEG, a needle without an eye, S. Nose-band of the lead-stane, a loop of stout cord to which
one end of the lead-stane is attached, the other end being
fastened to the line, S. Nose of a pier, the extreme end that fronts the sea, the
point, S. Nosetirl, a nostril, S. Noss, a promontory, S. NOURN, the north, S. ; isl. and s. norren, id. NousT, a landing-place for a boat, an inlet for permitting a
boat to approach the shore, a sort of ditch into which a
boat is drawn for the purpose of being moored, S. ; isl. and
no. naust, id. NousTER, a landing-place, 0. ; isl. and no. naust, id. NucKiE, a fish-hook, S. NuCKiE, the tassel of a cap, the knob on the top of a night-cap,
S. ; da. knokke, a knot or knob. NuGG, to nod with the head, to jog with the elbow, S. NuGGiN, a sliglit repast, a luncheon, S. ; da. knogeu, a little
piece of meat, a morsel. Nulls, to play at nulls ; " Nul," in Danish, means a cypher,
S. NtNN, to hum a tune, S. ; da. iiynne ; isl. nunna, id.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 79
NuKTRUS, cold, disagreeable, inclement, S. Nyttl, to pick at, to pluck or pinch at, S. Nyttlin, picking, pinching, S.
Oag (to), to creep, S.
Oagarhiunse, a bat, any frightful or loathsome creature, S. ; goth. uggir, horror, fear, ogra, to frighten.
Oagin, creeping, S.
Oat-fowl, the name of a small bird, 0.
Obdee, a porch or portico ; same as " ander," S.
Obgester, the designation given to the person recei\ang per- manent support, according to " upgestry," S. Sec Upgestry.
Obrigdt, an altered mark upon an animal, S.
Odal. 8cc Udal.
Odal-lands, udal-lands, 0. and S.
Oddle, a sewer, 0.
Odious, a superlative — odious good or bad, S.
Odin ; " Promise of Odin" — a promise of marriage, a particular sort of contract, accounted very sacred by some of the inhabitants of Orkney, the contracting parties joining hands through an orifice in the " black stone of Odin," 0.
Ogerhunch, apphed to an animal in ver}- poor condition, S.
OiNDALiE, peculiar, odd, strange, S. ; no. underleg, id.
Okkir, to increase, to add to, S. ; isl. okr ; s. ocker, usuria.
Okeabung, oat-grass {Bromus arvensis) ; the roots of this plant are tuberose, S.
Okragarth, a stubble-field, S. ; no. aaker, a field, and isl. gard, an enclosure, an enclosed field.
Olick, a fish, a yoimg ling, in shape like an eel, S. ; isl. au ; s. al, an eel.
Olla, a proper name for a man, S.
OmCK, a handful, S.
Onstandin, determined, immovable, S.
On THE LAY 0' it, in the humour of it, S,
8o GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Ontakin, assuming, taking on oneself, S.
Ontjeth, an outset (apparently a corruption), S.
OoB, to howl, to wail, S.
OoK, a week, S. ; da. uge, id.
OoL, to treat harshly, S.
OoLD, to tie round, to bind together with string, S.
OoLEN ; " He's oolen ower the fire" — a person so unwell as to
be barely able to move about, S. OOMSKIT, dusky, smutty coloured, S. ; perhaps from su. g. im,
ime, em, fumus tenuis, OoE, to creep, S. OoRACK, a name for potatoes, S.
OoEAN ; " Ooran ower the fire" — cowering over the fire, look- ing poor and miserable, S. OoEiESAM, timorous, S. ; same as Scotch " Eerisome." OoT, to deprive of, S.
OoT-A-DECKS, outside or beyond a wall or dyke, S. OoT-BAiTS, common for pasture, S. OoTERAL, strange, foreign, S. ; isl. utar, extra, exterius. OoTFAL, the ebb-tide, S. ; isl. utfall, recessus maris. OoT-MAAGiT, weary, tired, fatigued, S. ; da. magt, strength,
vigour. OoT-SHOT, the tide setting to seaward, S. OoTENS, going out, visiting, making calls, S. OoT-TAKEN, except, S. OoT-WAELS, refuse, things picked out, S. ; g. auswehten, to
choose or pick out. Opgestrie, a custom according to which an udaller might
transfer his property, on condition of receiving a sustenance
for life, S. ; isl. gestr ; da. giest, a guest. Orapu, gluttonous, greedy, 0. Ormals, the remains of anything, S, ; most probably from old
Norse, aurnial, rudus. OSLA, a proper name for a woman, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 8i
OssiL, a short line to which a fish-hook is attached (same as
" Tome"), S. OuER-TREE, the stilt or handle of the old Orcadian plough, O. Ounce-land, a denomination of land ; an ure of land, 0. and
S. OUNKIN, strange, uncommon, foreign, O. and S. ; sco. unco. OuT-AND-UNDER, applied to one who takes care of his own
interest, irrespective of others, S. OuTAViD, out of the way, applied to a person who shuns the
company of others, S. Outfall, the ebb-tide, S. ; isl. utfall, id. Out-foul, wild-fowl, S. OuT-ON, thereafter, by-and-bye, S. Outset, extension of cultivation, S. OuTTAK ; " There's a great outtak in it" — applied to anything
tliat lasts longer than can be expected, or than appearances
justify, S. OUTTAK ; "There's no muckle outtak in it" — applied to corn
when not expected to yield much meal, or to anything
not likely to give good returns, S. OuTWAiEiN, wearisome, S. OuzE, to empty, to bale out a boat, to pour out, 0. and S. ; da.
oese ; no. ousa ; isl. ansa, id. OvEY, refuse wood used in thatching a tenant's house, S. ; da.
over, across. OvERY, the last bit of leaven, S. OWER-GAIN. Bee Ower-gengin. OwER-GENG, to cxccl, to surpass, S. OwER-GENGiN, unmanageable, domineering, S. OwsTER, the water baled out of a boat, the act of baling, S. ;
no. austr ; isl. austr, id. OwSTER-ROOM, that compartment of a boat from which the
water is baled out, S. ; isl. austrrum, id. OxPENNY, a tax formerly exacted in Shetland, S.
M
82 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Oyce. See Oyse.
Oyse, an inlet of the sea, 0. and S. ; isl. oes ; sn. g. os, ostium
fluminis. OziGEK, the state of fowls when moulting, 0. OzMiLT, dusky, gray-coloured, S.
Paal, a post or pillar, S. ; da. pfel ; su. g. paale, a post ; 5.
pale, a stake. Paal, a fixture against which the feet are planted so as to
afford a purchase in pulling horizontally, S. Paal, to puzzle, to put to a stand, S. Paal'd, puzzled, unable to proceed, S. Paap, a piece of whalebone, or a small iron rod about 18
inches long, connecting the ball of lead used in fishing,
with the lines to which the hooks are attached, S. Paatie, a young pig, S. ; da. patte-grii, a sucking pig. Paavie (accent on last syllable), a kind of fantastic gesture,
waving with the hand, etc. ; when speaking, using such
gestures is called the " paavie," S. Packie, a packman, a pedlar, S. Packie, a bundle of fishing-lines ; no. pakka ; isl. packi ; da.
and s. packe, id. Padle, the lump-fish {Cyclopterus Ium]ius)^ 0. and S. ; isl.
padda ; da. padde, a frog. Paedle, to walk slowly, S. Pannabrad, a pot for melting fish-livers, S. ; isl. panna, a
kettle, and brad, melting, id. Passers, a pair of compasses, S. ; da. passer, id. Pawn (to), to mow, S. Paw^kee, a scythe, S. Peel; "A peel of grass" — a blade of grass, a very small
quantity, S. ; tc^it. pyl ; lat. pihis, a hair. Peerie, little, small, as a peerie-foal, 0. and S. ; no. piren, id. Peerie-weerie, vcrv small, 0. and S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 83
Peerie-weeme-winkie, excessively small, S.
Peester (to), to squeak, to make a peculiar soiuid, S. ; da. pistre, id.
Peester, a squeak, as of a mouse, S.
Peesterin, squeaking, S. ; da. pistren, id.
Peilk, to pick up, to steal small tilings, S.
Peitan, a diminutive, ill-tempered person, S. ; isl. patti, puerulus.
Pell; "A pell of a thing" — anything that is in tatters, as applied to clothing ; or that is very much out of repair, as applied to a vessel, house, etc., S. ; da. pialt, a rag ; pell in ■isl. is a precious garment.
Pellack, a porpoise, S.
Pellat, matted together, S. ; da. pialtet, ragged, tattered.
Pellat-rool, a young horse having his coat hanging in tag- locks, S.
Pells, rags, tatters, S.
Pemmint, a thrashing, a mild chastisement, S.
Pekga, money, S. ; da. penge ; no. penga, id.
Penkl, to twinkle, to sparkle, S.
Penshexs, puddings or tripe, " pinch-puddings," S.
Pernishapas, a pair of tongs, S.
Persowdie, a medley, an incongruous mixture, S.
Pewrl, to fret, to whine, S.
Peyailack, the membranous covering of the roe of a fish, the roe entire, S.
PiAAG, to work hard, to toil assiduously, S.
Pick, wax ; also, as in Scotland, pitch, S. ; du. pik, id.
Pick, to pitch over, S.
PiCKATERXiE, commou tern {Sterna hirnndo), 0. and S. ; da. pikke ; isl. picka, to peck, and tai-re, a kind of seaweed.
PiCKiE, same as " huggiestaff," S. ; da. pikke ; isl. piaka, to peck.
PiCKlT ; " Pickit-wi-dirt" — daubed with dirt, S.
84 GL OSS A RY OF SHE TLAND
PiCKiT-LiNGAL, a shoemaker's waxed thread, S.
PiEG, anything of inferior or diminutive growth ; ex. " a pieg o' kail" — a very small cabbage, S. ; pseg in the da. pro. is the term for the Sirpus palustris, from which the Shet. term is probably derived, and figuratively or comparatively applied.
PiEN, to strike as with a hammer, S.
PiEECEL, a gunlet, S.
PiEEK, to frizzle up, to stand up like the pile of cloth, S.
PiEKKiT, frizzled, rough, S.
PiEKS, a long reddish-coloured worm found under the ebb- stones, S.
Pile, cooks' fat, grease skimmed off the liquor in which fat meat has been boiled, S.
PiLLiE, penis, S. ; su. g. pil ; da. pil, piil, a dart.
PiLTOCK, the coal-fish a year old, S ; no. and isl. pitt, a young person.
Pine fish (to), to dry fish by exposure to the weather, S.
PiNKiEFiELD, a quarrel, a slight disagreement, S.
PiNNiSH, to wither with cold, S.
Pioo, a small quantity, S.
PiooRL, to whine, to whimper, S.
Piper, the name given to the Uchimis cidaris, S.
PiPPEE, to tremble, to vibrate quickly, to hesitate, S.
PiPPEEiN, trembling, vibrating, hesitating, S.
PiEL, a small round lump (excrementum ovium), S.
PiEEAiNA, a female child, 0. and S.
PiSMiEE, a steelyard, 0.
PiTCHEES, pieces of lead used in playing the game of " kypie," S.
Pixie, a spirit which has tlie attributes of the fairies, S.
PLACi, any article of clothing, S.
Plank, a term applied to regular divisions of land, as a distinction from the irregular ridges of the run-rig, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 85
Plank, to measure land, S. Plankek, a land-measurer, S.
Plant-A-ckuive, a small enclosure, circular or square, sur- rounded by a feal or stone dyke for the purpose of raising
colewort plants, 0. and S. Platchack, a large patch, S. Platt, flat ; " platt calm" is very calm ; g. platt ; du. plat,
id. Plee, a name given to the young of every species of gull,
imitative of their cry, S. Pleep (to), to speak in a querulous complaining tone of voice,
S. Pleepin, chirping, complaining, querulous, pleading poverty
or sickness, S. Pleochan, a plough, S.
Pling, a vibrating sound, like a string smartly struck, S. Plink, very small beer, 0. Ploots, a term applied to the feet when bare, S. Ploutsacks, the feet, S. Plovek-page, the jack-snipe {Bcolopax gallinula) ; this bird is
generally an attendant on a flock of plovers, S. Pluckek, the great fishing-frog or sea-devil, S. Plum, a filip with the finger-nail, S. Plum, to give a filip with the finger-nail, S. ; da. plompe, to
plunge. Plung, a pop such as is made when a cork is drawn, S. Plunkie, a trick, S.
Plutt, to whine, to complain whiningly, S. Po, matula or urinal, S.
POBIE, a foster-father, S, ; isl. papi, father, papa. POBIE, a high hill, S. Pock, a net fastened to an iron hoop, and used for catching
coal-fish, S. ; isl. poki, a pouch. PoLONiAN, a singular-looking person, an oddity, S.
86 GLOSSAR V OF SHETLAND
Pone, a thin turf used in thatching houses, S. ; da. spaan, spon,
a shingle or wooden slate ; isl. spann, id. Pone (to), to pare off the surface of the land, 0. and S. PoORJOHN, a name given to a cod found in shoal-water in
poor condition, S. PoosK, to pick, to collect, to search for vermin on the person,
S. PooSTER, power, ability, strength, S. PooSTER, position, attitude, S. ; eng. posture ; da. postjTe,
id. POOTY, a small cod, O. PORTEIDG, a portrait, picture, counterpart, S. Posh, a rough kind of violin made in Shetland, S. POTAATY-MUILD, a field on which a crop of potatoes has been
grown, and considered sufficiently rich to give a crop of
oats without manure, S. PoTESTATA, a person in prosperity and power is said to be
" in potestata," S. Pounce, long meadow-grass, 0. PouRT (to), to part, to divide, S.
PouSHiN ; " a poushin crater" — a sneaking contemptible fel- low ; applicable also to character, S. POUSTED, bewitched, infatuated, O. Pow, the part of a hammer which strikes, the head, S. Peaitie, pretty. S.
Pram, toasted meal stirred in witli cream or milk, S. Pram (to), to press, to straighten for room, S. ; })d(j. pramen,
to press, to squeeze. Preeve (to), to stop at any place at sea in order to make
trial for fish, 0. and S. Prestingolva, a clergj'man ; a term used by the fishermen of
Unst, 8. ; da. prast, a priest, and isl. (')lfa, a cloak. Prettikin, a feat, a trick, S. ; isl. prettur, deceit, craft.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 87
Prigga-trout, the baustickle (Gasterosteus acukatus), S. ; da.
prikke, a prickle, prikket, pointed. Proadge, to poke witli a long instrument. Prodg ; in fisliing " to pr5dg" with the rod is to move the end
of a rod gently up and down in the water to allure the fish
to the fly (long 5), S. Prodg, to push with a stick, etc., S. Proil, spoils, plunder, S. Prop, a cork, S. ; du. prop, id. Prummacks, the breasts of a woman, S. Prunk, ornamented, neat, pretty ; also proud, saucy, S. ; sii.
g. prunk, proud, saucy ; da. prunk, parade, ostentation. Prune ; " to prunk up" — to make oneself smart and neat, S. ;
da. prange, to assume airs of pretension. PuCKLE, a single grain of corn, a small quantity of anything,
S. PUFFLE, to puff out, to distcud, S. PUFFLIT, blown out, distended, puffed up, S. PuiRL, to fret, to whine, S. PmRLiN, greetin', crjdng, S. PuKELix, stealing, petty theft, S. PuND, a small fold for sheep, S. ; a. s. pynd-an, to shut up, to
enclose. •
PuNDLAR, an instrument for weighing resembling a steelyard,
0. PuRiE, a small meagre person, 0. Purl, to fumble, to grope, S. ; sw. g. porla, scaturire. Purl (to), to purl for potatoes, to select the largest of the
young potatoes by feeling them with the fingers without
pulling up the "sliaw" or foliage, S. Purlin, selecting potatoes ; see To purl, S. Purr, a small codlin, S. Putting, touching a person in order to attract his attention,
S.
88 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Pyl, fat, grease, such as floats on the surface of soup, S. Pyogie, a short stout man, S. ; da. pog ; isl. and s. poike, puer. Pysert, a miser, S. ; id. pisa, a sponge. Qu. one who sucks up everything.
QuAAL, to lull, to abate ; applied to the wind, S.
QuAARM, the edges of the eyelids on which the eyelashes grow,
S. QuAEG, a young heifer, S. ; isl. quiga, id. QuEERVE ; after the grass has been mown and spread out to
dry, it is again raked into long separate strips in order to
prevent its drying too quickly, and the consequent loss of
its nutritious qualities ; this process is termed to " queerve
it," S. Quenya. See Whenya. QuERNOGK, a hand-mill, S. ; isl. quorn, mola. QuEY, Quay, a piece of ground taken in from a common, 0.
and S. ; goth. kwi, qui, an enclosure. QuEYLAND, land taken in from the common, 0. and S. Quick, lost without hope of recovery, S. QuiCK-AND-QUiDDER, swiftly, quickly, S. QuiDDER. See Quick. Ba. ino. quidder, swift, quick. QuiNK, the golden-eyed duck, 0. QuiRKABUS, dropsy in the chops, a disease to which sheep
are subject, S. ; da. -pro. quirk, id. QuiRM, to vanish quickly, S. QuoY (sheep), a pen ; syn. with bucht, 0. QuYT, to acquit, to exonerate, S. ; du. quyten, id.
Raa, Rae, the yard of a sail ; isl. and no. raa ; da. raa, id. Raab ; " The raab of a cliff" — a fall of a mass of rock from the
face of a cliff, S. ; isl. hrap, lapsus. Raad, to arrange properly, to regulate, S. ; da. raader, to
regulate, etc.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 89
Eaag, x^rudence, economy, S. ; da. raacl ; id. rad, rada.
Eaag, an idle lounging person, S.
Eaaga, drift-wood, wreck, refuse, S. ; da. vrage, to reject,
despise. Eaaga-teee, a tree that has been torn up by the roots and
drifted by the sea, S. ; da. rage, to pluck up, and trsee, a
tree. EaddjSIAN, a councillor, a term formerly used in Orkney, 0. ;
da. raadmand, id. Eaft, a very tall thin person, S. Eagajbanes, the skeleton of an animal, S. Eagbild, a ragged person, S. Eaggie, a ragman, 0. and S. Eaglins, the vacant space between the top of a wall and the
slates, S. Eaids, a long narrow track of fishing-ground, S. ; da. rad, a
row, a rank, a range. Eain-goose, the red-throated diver, 0. and S. Eakie, a yoke-shaped piece of wood or horn attached to the
yard of the mainsail, and fitting to the mast, to facilitate
the hoisting and lowering of the sail, S. ; no. 'pro. raaken ;
isl. racki ; o. sw. rakka, id. Eakie-band, the cord by which the " rakie" is fastened to the
yard, S. ; isl. racki-band, id. Eallie, to scold, to speak loud, S. Eally, mean, unhandsome, ungenteel, 0. Eamisht, ill-rested, signifying that one has been disturbed in
sleep, S. Eammatrack, rabble. Eamnatrack, ill-spun yarn, S. ; perhaps from m. cj. remna,
and tGut. treck. Eampse, harsh, disagreeable to the taste, S. ; no. romms ; da.
ram, rank, harsh.
N
90 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Ean, a fisli-roe, S. ; isl. ra ; su. g. and da. raa, id.
PtANCEL, to search tlirougliout a parish for stolen or missing
goods, also to inquire into every kind of misdemeanour, S. ;
da. ransage, id. Rancelling, the act of searching for stolen or missing goods,
S. ; da. randsagning, searching. Eancelman, Eancellor, a kind of constable, once employed
in the investigation described above, S. ; da. randsager, a
searcher. Eand, the border or edge of the heel of a shoe, S. ; da. rand, id. Eank, topheavy, liable to overset, applied to ships or boats,
S. ; perhaps isl. Eango, obliquare cursum. Eanksmen. Sec Bodabid. Eant, a merry meeting, with dancing, S. Eanter, to run the heels of new stockings with thread on the
inside, in order to make them more durable, S. Eash, to twinge with pain, a sudden pain, S. Easkit, applied to corn that has rushed up with rank luxuri- ance, S. ; su. g. and da. rask, rapid ; raskt, rapidly. Easmar, a corruption of " Erasmus," S. Eatch, the little auk, 0.
Eat-ehyme, a long speech, a tirade of nonsense, S. Eattak ebb ; equivalent to " redware ebb" — a stream ebb, S. Eaw-gabbed, to speak confidently and authoritatively upon a
matter about which one is evidently ignorant, S. Eawley, ugly, 0. Eeb, a track of fishing-ground of considerable extent, S. ; da.
reb, rceb, a line. Eebbick, a limited track of fishing-ground, a diminutive of
«reb,"S. Eeck, to reacli, to liold out, to transmit with the hand ; " Eeck
me the skunie" — hand me the knife, S. ; sco. rax ; da.
rekk-e ; su. g. raeck-a, id. Ekd, rode, ridden, pret. of tlie verb " to ride," S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 91
Reddee, a comb ; isl. s. etc., rada, to disentangle ; sw. ^. reda-
explicare. Rede-goose. See Rood-goose. Redware-cod, a species of cod of a red colour (Aselhcs varius),
O. aud S. Redware-fishick, the wliistle-fish, 0. Ree, a continuation of stormy weather, S. ; goih. hrid ; da. rie,
an access, a fit. Reebin, the board to which the gunwale is fastened, S. ; da.
ripe, the top or gunwale of a boat. Reek, a house — used metaphorically, S. Reek-hen, a hen bred in the house, the exaction by the land- lord of a hen from each house or reek, S. Reen, to roar vehemently — applied exclusively to a pig in
distress, S. ; goth. rhina, hryna, grunnire. Reenin, squeaking as a pig, S. Reest, synonymous with Scotch roost, S. ; su. g. rrest, the
highest part of a house. Rekster, a going or procedure, S. ; no. rekster, id. Remb, to rave in speaking, to tell lies, S. Rejober, one who tells improbable stories, S. Rembin, raving, telling lies, S. Remmacks, the oars of a boat, S. ; lat. remus, id. Renzie, to writhe with pain, 0. Rettick. See Rebbick. Revoylt, wild, frisky, in very high spirits, S, Revvle, a wattled fence, S. Rick, to pierce with a hook by means of a sudden jerk or pull,
S. ; da. rykke, to pull suddenly. Riding the hagrie ; the heritors of a parish are said to " ride
the hagrie," when examining the scattald marches, S. ; isl.
and su. g. hag, sepimentum rude. RiEB, a narrow strip of cloth or the like, S. ; da. reeb, a cord
or line.
92 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
EiEG, a strip of a different colour from the rest of the body
on an animal, S. EiFT, a rift in a hill or rock, a long, narrow, deep fissure, S. ;
da. rift, id. EiFTED, a mark, a slit from the middle to the extremity of the
ear, S. EiG-FiSH, the backbone of a fish, S. EiGLY, unsteady, rickety, S. ; da. ruggely, id. EiGGA-RENDAL, run-rig, S. ; su. g. rygg, a ridge, and del, a
division. EiGGiN, a term of reproach to a woman, S. EiKKER, a long small spar of wood, such as is used for making
the fish-spears called " sticker," also for small boat spars,
S. EiM, a rocky bottom in the sea, 0. EiNGiT-QUOY, a phrase denoting a circular enclosure, 0. EiNNER, a clue of yarn, S. EiP, a blackguard, a rake, S. EiP, a rip of corn, an ear of oats, S. EiPPiKiNS, coarse stockings of single worsted, S. EiSK (to), to cut grass growing near a dyke with a corn hook,
S. EiSKiNS, coarse grass growing near a dyke, S. EiTTOCH, the greater tern, 0. Eiv, daybreak ; " The riv o' the dim" — the first disappearance
of darkness ; " The lady hen sings to the riv" — the lark
sings to the dawn, S. ; goth. ryf, a rent or tear ; qu. the
rending of darkness. Eiv (to), to sow coarsely or slightly, S. ; isl. rif-a, sarcire. ErvA, a cleft in a rock, S. ; isl. rifa, fissura. EiVLiN, a sandal of raw hide, 0. and S. ; a. s. rifling, obstri-
gillus. EiTV^ocH. See Eiva. Eo ; any poor animal is called " A poor ro," S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 93
EoBBiE-EiN, diarrhoea, S.
EockjNIAN, a bird-catcher, 0.
EoG, a strip, S.
EOGIE, a kind of trow, a supernatural being, S.
EoGiT, striped, S.
EoiCH ; applied to lands held under the Danish regime — meaning not clear, 0. and S.
EoiLER, a buoy, S. ; da. rylle, to roll about, to welter.
EoiLT, to waddle or roll in walking ; also a noun, a jolting hard-paced horse, S. ; da. rulte, to jog, to jolt.
EoLiE, large, clumsy, S.
EoMiyiiEKiL, romping, frolicsome, S.
Eon (long 5), to plunder, to despoil, S.
EoNiN, robbing, "ronin" a bird's nest, S.
EoNiN THE BEE, a rude game ; a cazzie is unexpectedly thrown over the head of a person ; the victim is then pressed down, and buckets of water thrown upon the cazzie until the person beneath is thoroughly satui-ated, S.
EoNTHTJKROK, the barnacle-goose, O.
Eoo, a heap of any kind, to pile up in a heap, 0. and S. ; da. raag-e, id. ; rage, id.
Eoo (to) to pluck wool off sheep instead of shearing them, a barbarous custom, S. ; sii. g. rofw-a ; da. rov-e, to plunder, to take by violence.
Eoo, rest, stillness, S. ; da. roe, id.
EooD-GOOSE, the brent-goose, 0 ; da., radgaas ; no. raatgaas, id.
EoODEEY, covered Avith roother (Lepas halanus), S.
EooF, the ceiling of a room, S.
EooG. See Eoo, a heap, etc. ; da. raag-e, id.
EooK, a thin lean animal, S.
EoOL, a young horse, a year-old horse, S ; da. roll-ing, a lu- dicrous term for a youngster.
EoOLiE, peaceful, still, S. ; da. roelig, id.
94 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
EooM, wide, ample, S ; &il g. da. etc. rum, id.
EoosK, to frizzle up.
EoosKiT, frizzled, as the hair, S.
EooTHER, a species of shell-fish (Leims halanus), S. ; goth.
hrota, a barnacle ; plural, rhotar. EooTSY, a red horse. EossHOLES, holes under the timbers of a boat for allowing the
water to run along the keel, S. EoTCHE ; the Greenland Eotche — a bird, the little auk (Alca
alle), S. EoTJST, a strong and boisterous current, occasioned by the
meeting of rapid tides, 0. and S. ; isl. roest, raust, an
estuary, a rapid current, a whirlpool. EoiJTH, a long spell of rowing, the act of rowing, S. ; the
Scotch routh is used nearly in this sense. EouTH, that part of the gunwale of a boat over which the oar
travels in rowing, S. ; a. s. rowette, remigatio. EovACK, the stump of the tail of an animal, S. EovACK, the rump, the buttocks, S. ; da. rov. climes. EoviESTiCK, an awkward poorly-clad person, S. EucKLE, a wrinkle, S. EuCKLE, to wrinkle, S. EucKLE, rough, uneven, S. EucKLED, wrinkled, S. EuCKLY, unsteady, in a dilapidated state, S. EDd, to rave in speaking, S. ; isl. raeda, to speak. EuDGE, to gather stones, etc., in small heaps on a field, to be
taken away at leisure, S. ; da. rode, to search, to rum- mage. EuG, small rain, 0. and S. EuGFUS, rude, 0. EuGGiE, a small cod, 0.
EuGL, to shake backwards and forwards, S. ; no. rugla, id. EuGLY. Sec Eigly.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 95
KuiLLER, a buoy, S.
RuiST. Se^ Eug.
EuL. See, Eool.
EtJLLiAN. See Eivlin. Cunniugbro or Dimrossness dialect,
S. EuLT, a clumsy person having a rolling gait, S. EuLT, to roll clumsily from side to side, S. EuN-RiG, land belonging to different proprietors, cultivated in
alternate ridges, still prevalent in many parts of Shet- land, S. EuN-]\iiLK, milk coagulated by the heat of the weather, S. EuNG, a hollow sound, S. EuNG, to reverberate, S. EuNGY, Sinayis arvensis, S. EuNi, a heap of stones, S. ; no. rime, id. EuNK, an old woman, S. ; su. g. ryncka ; da. rynke, a wrinkle. EuNK, a twisted useless branch of a tree, S. ; da. ranke, a
branch. EuNK, dry, as applied to the weather — " It's beginning to
runk" — that is, to dry up, S. EuNNALAN. See Euunick. EuNNiCK, a kennel, a drain, S. Elcstnie, a hog, a boar, S. ; su. g. rune, a young boar. EussA, a stallion. Used to denote the male of any species,
as hesta does the female, thus, " Eussa bairn" — a boy ;
" Hesta bairn" — a girl, S. ; Faroese, ros, a horse. EussiE-FOAL, a young stallion, a slovenly person, S. E0TT, to rutt hke a pig, S. ; da. rod-e, to rake up, to trench
the gTound. EuYLT, to roll from side to side — a person who walks in that
manner, S. Euz, to praise or boast of, S. ; s. rosa ; da. rose ; su. g. rosa,
id.
96 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Eynd, a long strip of cloth, etc., S.
Eyp, to clear off obstructions, as clearing a choked pipe, or to clear the nostrils by blowing the nose, S.
Sab, to saturate, to absorb moisture, S.
Sack, sometimes used in Shetland instead of the word " bottle," S.
Sae, a tub with two handles for carrying water, S. ; su. g. saa, id.
Saedick, a fish-hold, a place frequented by fish, S. ; a dimin, from da. ssede, a seat. The fishermen in Shetland call a place in which they fish with hand-lines, a seat, a hand- line seat.
Saeter, Setter, Setr, Ster ; common affixes to names of places in Shetland, and always indicative of good pasture for cattle, S. ; isl. setr, a dwelling.
Sairl, to whine, S.
Sakta, softly ! gently ! S. da. sagte, id.
Salist, to desist or hold, S.
Sambord, the end of the haaf-lines attached to the buoy-rope, S. ; isl. sam, together, and bera, to bring.
Same, Semm, a nail used by boat-carpenters ; a nail whose point is to be riveted, S. Bcc Euve.
Same, the inside fat of swine, unrefined hog's-lard, S.
Sandy-giddack, the sand-eel, S.
Sandy-loo, a name for the sand-lark {Charadriushiaticuld), S.
Sanna, shall not, S.
Sanveelting, a disease of horses occasioned by their swallow- ing sand along with their food, causing them to writhe and roll about, S.
Sanveiltre. See Sanveelting.
Sasser-meat, sausage, S.
Saunt, a saint, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 97
Sax, to scarify with a razor or other sharp instrument, S. ;
id. sax, a knife. Saxie, hacks or rents in the feet, occasioned by exposure to
alternate wet and drought, S, See Sax. Say, a bucket. A vessel of any kind, large or small, that has
two ears for lifting it by, S. ; da. saa ; isl. saa, id. Scalp ; " To scalp the land" — to pare off the surface of the soil, S. Scam, a crack, an injury, S. ; no. s. da. skram, id. ScAMBED, injured, cracked, S. Scab, wild, untamed, S. ; isl. skiar, fugax. Scarf, Scart, the name given to the cormorant and shag
(Pelecanus), 0. and S. ; gotli. skar-fur ; da. skarv, id. Scarf ; " To beat the scarf" — to strike the arms vigorously
across the chest to promote warmth, S. ScAT-BRiTHER, a name given to those whose sheep pasture
promiscuously over the common, S. ScATFU, inclined to steal, 0. and S. SCATHALD, open gTound for pasture, or for furnishing fuel, O.
and S. ; isl. etc., skatt, tax, and lad, land. ScATLAXD, land papng duty distinguishable by the name of
" scat," O. and S. ScATT, the name of a Danish tax still paid in Shetland, S. ;
goth. and su. g. skatt ; da. skat ; sax. sceat, a tax ; isl.
skatt. ScATT (to), to subject to the tax denominated " Scatt," 0. and
S. ; isl. etc. skatta, tributum imponere. ScATTALDER, One who posscsscs a portion of pasture-groimd,
called "scathald," 0. and S. ScATTALDER (in), a possessor of a share of the common or
pasture-ground called " scathald," 0. and S. ScATTALDER (out), one who has no share in the pasture-ground,
0. and S. ScAUD-HEAD, a scrofulous disease which causes the hair to fall
otf, S.
0
98 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
SCAURY, the young of the gull, a bird, 0, and S. ; s. skiura ;
isl. skiure, id. SCAW, Skaw, an isthmus or promontory, S. ; isl. skagi, pro-
montorium. SCEOLDER, the sea-pie, a bird {Hcematopus ostrcdegus), 0. ;
Faroese, kielder, id. ScHALDER, a name given to the sea-pie in S. ScHANKUM, a person or beast that has long small legs, S. Scheie, wind, insincerity, expressing with the lips what does
not come from the heart, S. ScHMYLiCK, a gun or fowling-piece, S. ScHOOi, a name given to the arctic gull, S. ScHOT ; " Schot of a boat" — a compartment in the stern, S. ;
goth. skautu, skut, the stern of a boat or sliip ; old Norse
skutr, puppis. ScLATES, pieces of wood nailed to that part of the oar which
travels over the routh to prevent the oar from feathering, S. SCLATY-SCRAE, a person so very contemptible as only to be
likened to the "slater," a slimy worm found under the
ebb-stones, S. ScoG (long o), that part of fisliing-tackle from which the hook
is suspended, S. ; s. g. sksegg, pilus, coma. ScoiTTULD, the furthest aft tilfer, S.
ScoLL, a round wooden dish, S.; isl. skol ; da. skaal, a dish. Scons, dried cow-dung used as fuel, O. ScoREY. Sec Scaury. ScoRNSUM, scornfid, S.
ScoRNSUM-GANGiNG, slippery walking on the ice, S. Scots- WILLIE, a "peerie" codlin, S. ScouTi-AULiN, the arctic gull (Larus 2Mrasiticus), 0. and S. ;
su. g. skiuta, to move rapidly ; isl. alinn, a parasite. ScoviNS, the crust which adlieres to a vessel in which food has
been cooked, S. ; isl. skof, id. ; no. skova, scrapings.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 99
Scow, a barrel-etave, S.
Scow ; " A great scow of a woman" — a tall, thin, bony wo- man, S.
ScRANEL, a morsel, S.
SCRAPIT-FACE (a), a person with a thin haggard face, S.
Scree; "I may scree on" — Le. I may manage to get on in some way, S.
ScREEBiT, poor, lean, fleshless, S.
ScREEVELiN, a small "coal" of hay or corn, S.
ScuBB. ^ez SkulD.
ScURR, spot of fishing-ground, S.
SEA-BroDiES, large bannocks which fishermen take with them to the haaf, S.
Sea-crow, the razorbill, a bird, S.
Sea-maw, common gull {Larus canus), 0. and S.
Seater, a meadow, S.
Seater, the pasturage attached to a cottage, the termination of the names of many places, S.
Sea-trowe, a marine goblin, S.
Seda-soop, thin unsettled sowens, S. ;
Seggs, Iris pseudacoris, S.
Selch, a name given to the common seal, 0.
Selkie, a seal, 0. and S.
Semivi-kluv, an iron tool used for driving the rivet on the nail, S.
Sestuna, expressive of admiration, equivalent to — " Would you have thought it ?" It is also used after refusing to grant a request. It is evidently — " Seest thou now ?" 0. S.
Sethe-fotjl, lesser black-backed gull, S. ; da. sej, gadus ; isl. seid, id.
Setnin, a motherless lamb brought up by hand, S.
Setten. See Settmg.
I oo GL OSSAR V OF SHE TLAND
Setter, Setr. See Saeter.
Settertoun, a term used in an act of James VI, respecting
Orkney and Shetland — meaning not clear, 0. and S. Setting, a weight containing 24 merks, O. Shaa, a mark, S. Shafts, the jaws, S. Shaggle, to corrode a substance by gnawing it, to gnaw, S. ;
da. sagle, to slaver. Shagl, to cut raggedly, as with a blunt instrument, S. ; i&l.
seigl, tough, sagla, to cut badly. Shair, a chair, S.
Shair ; " To shair the teeth" — to grind the teeth, S. Shaler, a shade of gray peculiar to the wool of Shetland
sheep, S. Shaler, hoar-frost ; isl. hiela, id. Shalmillins, in pieces, S. Shantie, a urinal, S. Shantil. a thing is said to be " shantil" when it is amissing,
and supposed to be carried off by fairies ; perhaps from
the word enchanted, S. Sharg, petulant, unnecessary expostulation, S. Sharg (to), to tease ; applied to language, S. Shargin ; " A shargiu body" — a carping person, S. Sharles, Charles ; a proper name, S. SiiARL-PiN, pin connected with the hinge of a door, S. Sheed ; " A sheed of land" — a measurement, 0. Shell-sickness, a disease of sheep, S. Sheltie, a horse of the smallest size, a Shetland horse, S.
The only etymon to be suggested is "■ Shetland" or "Hialt-
land." SiiocKiT, choked, S. Shocks. See Shafts, S. SiiOLMARKED, a calf With a piece off the ear at the time of
birth, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. loi
Sholmit, having a white face, as applied to an ox or cow, S. ;
isl. hiahnr, a helmet — hialmot naut, bos alba facie. Sholt, a small horse, 0. /See Sheltie.
Shoo (to), to back water with the oars, S. ; Faroese sjoude, id. Shood, the distant noise of animals pasturing, S. Shooie, the arctic gull (Larus jjarasiticus), S. Shooskie, an exclamation used for driving away cattle ; it
also means the devil, and is used as a term of disrespect,
S. ; da. siasked, nasty, slovenly. Shooster, one who sews, S. Shoed, a prop, a support, S. ; no. skor. Shoremil, the water's edge, the margin of the sea, S. ; isl. seer,
the sea, mal, a boundary, id. Shouald, shallow, 0. Shoupiltin, a triton, S. Shu, she, S. ; gothic and sa. g. su. sco. scho, id. Shuck ; " To shuck" — to throw out of the hand, 0. and S. Shug, a call used to entice a horse to come to the hand, S. Shug, mist, fog, S. Shuggie, misty, foggy, S. Shuld, having the ear marked with a shul, S. ; da. skilt,
separated, divided. Shul, a particular mark cut on the ear of an animal, a slit
by which the ear is separated into two lobes, S. Shun ; "A shun of water" — a temporary pool of water, a pit
with water in it, S. ; perhaps from da. seen, the sea. Shundbell, the decreet passed by the Foud, 0. and S. Shurg, wet gravelly subsoU, S. Shurgie, thinly covered with shingle, S. Shut denotes in fishing the act of throwing out the sinker and
hooks, S. ; stt. g. skiuta ; goth. skiota ; da. skyd-e, to
shoot, to project. Shuttles, compartments in a press, S. Shynd, a court of law, S.
102 GL OSSAR V OF SHE TLAND
Shynd or SoiND BILL, a deed executed in a court, S.
Shyndbill. Bee Shundbill.
SiBBENS, the itch, 0.
SlE, a narrow strip of clotli which, after having been soaked
in tar, is placed between the overlaps of a clinker-built
boat, S. ; da. sej, adhesive, causing to stick. SiELACK, a sow having young, S. SiGG, a hard piece of the skin, something like a wart, S. ; isl.
segi, pulpa nervosa. Sill, the milt of a fish, S. Sill, thin cloth, a gauze-like fabric, S. Sillak, Sillock, the fry of the coal-fish, 0. and S. ; goth.
and su. g. sil ; da. sild, a herring. Sill-fish, a male fish, a milter, S. SiMMiSH, to astonish, to make amazed, S. SiMMUNDS, ropes made of straw or of bent, 0. and S. ; the
def. article added to goth. sime, funiculus. Sink, to curse, to imprecate, S.
SiNK-AND-GEAEM (to), tO CUrse, S.
SiiSTNANS, sinews, tendons, S. ; da. sene, scene, id.
SiNNA-PEATS, peats full of fibres, S.
SiNNiE, a small kiln in a barn for drying corn, S.
SiNNiE, female name, contraction of " Siniva," S.
SiNNiE-FYNNiE, the black guillemot, a bird, 0.
SiNTEK, a small quantity, a morsel, S.
Smr, to make the leaven too thin for baking, S.
SiSTENSTATiON, the Smallest possible quantity ; " Not a sisten- station" — not a particle, S.
Sister-part, the portion of a daughter, S.
Sister's-part, the half of a brother's portion, less than one's right, nothing at all, S. (Under the udal system a man's property was divided among all his children, a son re- ceiving double the portion of a daughter. TTcncc "sister's- part" is used proverbially in the two latter senses.)
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 103
SiXAKEEN, a six-oared Norway skiff, S.
Skaab, the bottom of the sea, S.
Skaag, snuff, S.
Skaap, a bed of young mussels attached to stones, S. ; (joili. skap-a, to procreate.
Skaak, a small quantity of anything, a morsel, a candle- snuff, S.
Skacles, people disguised, maskers, S. ; sxh. g. skaeck, varie- gated, from the particoloured and grotesque dresses.
SiCAE, to happen, S. ; isl. ske ; su. g. ske ; da. skee ; no. skje, fieri, contingere.
Skaed, hurt, damage, S. ; da. skade ; sco. skaith, id.
Skaed, to hurt, to injure, S. ; su. g. skada ; da. skade, id. ; cng. skaithe, to blight.
Skaff, food, S. ; su. g. skap, provision.
S1LA.FF (to), to eat greedily, S.
Skaffing, eating greedily, S.
Skair-taft, the furthest aft thoft, S.
Skalv, the straw netting that contains fishing-lines, S.
Skalve, snow in broad flakes, wet snow, S. ; Faroese, skalv.
Skam, a spot or blemish, S.
Skans, scandal, obloquy, S.
Skare, to unite two pieces of wood together by overlapping the ends, and adapting them to each other, S. ; da. skarre, to join or fit together,
Skart, a scratch, to mark or scratch ; isl. skart, id.
Skave, out of shape, awry, S. ; da. skio3v ; isl. skiev, id.
Skavle (to), to put out of shape, awiy, S. ; da. ijro. skitevle, id.
Skaw. See Scaw.
Skeb, a large basket made of straw, used for holding corn ; it will contain about four "kishies" or "cazzies," S. ; su. g. skep, id.
Skee, cacare, S. ; su. g. skita ; mod. s. skijta ; da. skide, cacare.
I04 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Skee, excrement, S.
Skeeling-goose, the sMeldrake, 0.
Skeelkin, loud wanton laughter, S.
Skeetack, the cuttle-fish (Sqna officinalis), S. This fish, when
alarmed, squirts out an inky fluid which discolours the
water. Da. skyde, to spout out ; isl. skita, emittare. Skeg, a sail, S.
Skeik (to), to husband, to guide, S. ; no. skikka, id. Skeil (pron. " skeel"), a wooden drinldng-vessel with a handle,
0. and S. Skelf, lamina, a thin flake ; su. g. skella, in tenues laminas
dissilire. Skengerin, a small quantity, a morsel, S. Skene, a shin of beef, S. ; su. g. skank, the hough ; da. skank ;
SCO. and eng. shank. Skenydouger, a slight peal of thunder, S. ; isl. and su. g.
skin-a, fulgere, splendere. Sio:oMiT, pale, sickly- coloured, S. ; no. skjaamut, id. Skepsit, stretched out, put out of shape, askew, S. Sker, to startle, to frighten, S, See "Scar;" isl. skiar,
fugax. Skerdins, mice, S. Skerry, an insulated rock, O. and S. ; goth. sker, a rock, and
ey, an island ; su. g. skaer ; da. skier, a rock, and oe, an
island. Skertar, the sea-belt, a fucus, 0. ; goth. etc. sker, etc. ; goth.
thare, thari ; s. tar ; da. tarre, seaweed. Skeyld, the surf, S. ; isl. skell-r, ictus cum sonitu ; da. skyll-e,
eluere. Skift, a flying shower, S. ; su. g. skifw-a, mutare. Skift, a broad ridge of land, as distinguished from " Laing," a
narrow ridge, 0. and S. ; su. g. skift, intervallum. Skigga, the sail of a vessel, S. Skilderin, a smooth glazed surface, S. ; da. skildrer, to paint.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 105
Skilm, the cream and milk adhering to the inside of an un- washed milk-pail, S. ; da. skimmel, moiildiness.
Skilmy ; applied to milk tainted by the impurity of the ves- sel in which it has been contained, S. ; da. skimle, to grow mouldy ; skimle, hoary, mouldy.
Skimp (to), to mock in good humour, S. ; da. skiemt ; old isl. skimp a, id.
Skimp, good humour, raillery, S. ; okl isl. skimp, id.
Skimpin, scoffing, traducing, censorious, S.
Skin-claes, waterproof overalls, S.
Skio, a stone-hut for drying fish, S. ; goth. and no. skiar, per- gula piscatoria.
Skione, to ascertain by a practical process whether or not a hen is about to lay an egg, S. ; su. g. skoenia ; da. skionne, to ascertain, to perceive.
Skirl-crake, a bird {Tringa alimia), S.
Skiumpack, a large unshapely piece of turf, S.
Sklates. Sec Sclates.
Skletaskrae, the dunlin {Tringa alpina). These birds fre- quent rocky shores, and are generally huddled together in swarms, S.
Skoagies, a fishing-line with two hooks, and tomes, S.
Skoit, to peep, to reconnoitre, S. ; da. skotte, to look slily.
Skoiter, one who peeps, S.
Skoiter ; in olden times fishermen were wont to set up a piece of wood in the bows of their boats, which they called a " skoiter," S.
Skoitin, peeping, S.
Skoob, the fathom or so of line drawn into the boat to keep the hooks clear of the bottom when fishing, S. ; goth. skopa, discurrere.
Skoodra, the ling ; a fish, S.
Skooi, a species of gull (Lams catarades), S.
p
io6 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Skoom, to skim, S.
Skoomed, skimmed, S.
Skoopacks, sheep, S.
Skooeie, the coalfish Ml grown, S.
Skord, Scoee, a deep indentation in the top of a hill, at right angles to its ridge ; old isl. skard, ruptura, hiatus.
Skorder ; to singe or burn slightly, S.
Skorper, that round kind of bread which in Scotland is called a " cookie," S. ; da. skorpe, a crust ; su. g. skorper, bis- cuits.
Skourdaboggie, the youngest of a family ; vulgarly the " scourings," S. ; su. g. skura ; da. skure, to purge ; and da. bug, the belly.
Skouries, the swathes or ridges in which the scythe lays the grass, S. Perhaps from skove, da. to cut down.
Skout, the guillemot, a bird, 0.
Skow, to knock in staves ; to smash in pieces, S.
Skowis (Skows, perhaps), outside boards of trees.
Skrae, a crowd, a multitude, a swarm as of vermin, S. ; isl. skrid, reptatio.
Skrae-fish, fish dried in the sun without being salted, 0.
Skravl, to grope with a kind of scratching manner, S.
Skree, Skroo, a small stack of corn, S. ; da. j^ro. skrue, a heap or pile ; ex. en torve skrue.
Skreid (to), to be covered with vermin, S. ; isl. skrida, ser- pere, repere.
Skreim, to peer, to look with half-closed eyes into the dark- ness, or thus to descry distant objects, S. ; goth. skrama, to vibrate, to glimmer with an unsteady light.
Skrift, a thin person or thing, S.
Skrit, a tear or rend, S.
Skrit, to tear or rend, S. ; isl. risti, to rend.
Skrotta, dark purple dyer's lichen (Lichen omphalodes), S.
Skrottie, a brown kind of moss growing on stones, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 107
Skrovlin, rustling as a stiff garment (long 0), S.
Skeuddack, a cleft, a crevice in a rock, S.
SKRtrF, tlie surface, either of land or of water, S. ; su. y. skrof,
thin ice ; s. skorf, skorp ; da. skurv, a rough surface, a
dry scab. SkrCl ; to scream or shriek, to bellow, to roar loudly, S. ;
da. skralla ; goth. skraale, to roar. SKRtL, a loud roar as of an angry bull, S. ; da. skrall ; goth.
skall, a loud roar. Skub, a thick fog, small rain, S. ; da. skodde, a mist, a fog. Skubba, milk, S. Skubly, foggy weather, S. Skuddick, a rick of corn or hay, S. ; s?t. g. skoet-a, coagmen-
tare ; isl. skott, coUatio. Skudler, the manager of a feast, the master of ceremonies,
the leader in a band of maskers, S. Perhaps from da.
skiuler, to hide, to disguise, to dissemble. Skulp, the sea-jelly (AcalejjJice) ; also called " whale-blubs,"
S. ; perhaps da. skulpe, to shake, to agitate. Skundg, to gallop, to run quickly ; similar to " spunder," S. Skunie-bait (to), to open the shellfish, and take out the bait
with a small blunt knife, S. Skunkl ; this word appears to be a kind of oath, and is used
as, " skunkl me ;" — the meaning is unknown to me, S. Skunie, a large knife, S. ; ga:l. skean ; 0. cng. skean, a dagger,
a knife. Skurlie-whietee, an insignificant boy or lad, S. Skurm, the shell of an egg, S. ; goth. skurm, an egg-shell ; isl.
skurmr, a hard shell. Skurmack, an egg, S. Skurr, a small spot of fishing-ground, S. ; da. skuur ; goth.
skur, a shelter. Skurt, the bosom, within the folded arms, the lap, S. ; da.
skiort, a petticoat ; goth. skiorta ; s. skorte, the lap.
io8 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Skuvie, the tail of an animal or fish, more frequently applied to the latter, S.
Sky, a small board in j)loughs in place of a mould-board, 0. and S. ; goth. skid ; da. skie, a wooden skate, exactly resembling the Shetland sky.
Sky-eae, a part of the plough jutting out obliquely back- wards, on the right side, a little above the sky, O,
Skyld, a species of tax or land-rent, 0.
Skyle-a-lum, a movable piece of wood used in place of a chimney-can, to prevent smoke, S. ; da. skiul ; gotli. and 8U. g. skiul, a screen, a covering ; da. skyle ; isl. skiola ; su. g. sky la, to cover, to screen.
Skykin, brilliant, shining, gaudy, bright coloured, S. ; no. skyr ; sii. g. skir ; da. skiser ; isl. skir, id.
Slabbery, applied to rainy windy weather, S.
Slacht, race, descent, family, S. ; Dutch, slacht, id.
Slambee, slim, slender, S. ; goth, slambi ; s. slamberi sor- didus.
Sleb, the underlip when projected ; " to set the sleb," is to pout as when sulky, S. ; da. IjEp.
Sleepee, the dunlin, a bird [Tringa aljnna), S.
Slesterin, untidy, careless as to personal appearance, S. ; da. slastevorn, slovenly.
Slestie, to bespatter with filth, to befoul, S. ; da. slaste, to dabble, to paddle.
Slight, smooth, unruffled, applied to the sea ; applied to sur- faces in general, S. ; da. slet ; s. slat, smooth, even ; su. g. sla^ta, to make smooth.
Slip-me-laav, Slip-me-laaber, a person who cannot be de- pended on ; a slippery fish, S. ; da. laban, a lout.
Slippit, broken through all restraint, S. ; da. slipper, to let go.
Slo, the porous bone inside the horns of cattle, S. ; da. and isl. id.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 109
Sloindie, a mob or multitude, or low rabble, S.
Sloo, a layer, as of manure spread on land, a tall spare person,
a lean animal, a lazy fellow, S. ; id. sliof ; s. sloo, slo, slio ;
da. sloev, slow, inactive. Sloo, to spread one substance over another in layers, S. Slooin a midden, making a compost by placing first a layer
of earth, then a layer of byre-manure, and lastly sea-weed,
and repeating this, S. ; perhaps from da. sludste, to slight
over. Sloom, to move stealthily, to slink away, S. ; su. g. slem,
craft. Sloomin, sneaking, slinking, S. Sloomit, sullen, ill-looking, wily, sly, S. Sloomit, sneaked, slunk, S. Sloos, a dash of water, S. Sloos, to dash water out of a vessel, S. Slot, a preparation of the roe and liver of fish mixed with
meal, S. SlCib (short u), slime, S. ; helg. slob, sleb, wet, mire. Slubie, viscous, slimy, sKppery, S. Slucks, to gulp in drinking, to drink in greedily and noisily,
S. ; da. slukke, to quench ; sw. slucka ; sit. g. sluka, etc. Slud, an interval between squally showers, S. Sly, the green slime on the surface of a stagnant pool, the
slippery ooze left on rocks by the receding tide, S. ; isl.
slig, id. Sly-away (to), to slip out of the way secretly, S. Sly-goose, the shieldrake, a bird, 0. Sma-evens, a very small quantity, S. Sma-waters. This term is used when two or three small
lochs occur within a short distance of each other, S. Smikkek, to smirk, to smile alluringly and affectedly, S. ; su.
g. and s. smikra ; da. smigre, to leer, to allure.
no GL OSSAR V OF SHE TLAND
Smill ; "In sniill" — in pieces, S. ; perhaps da. sniule, small particle.
Smircelin, a shellfish [Mya truncatct), S. ; isl. smirslingr, id.
Smirr, butter, S. ; isl. smior ; da. snior, id.
Smirsit (applied to sheep), having white round the mouth, S.
Smod or Smud, a dirty speck or mark, S. ; da. smuds ; s. smuts, id.
Smoilter, Smuilter, things that are small of their kind, a col- lection of small things, S. ; da. smule, a small portion or fragment.
Smoity, a woollen night-cap, S.
Shook, to draw on, as a glove or stocking, S.
Smookit, sly, cunning, artful, S.
Smoot, to hide stealthily, S. ; da. smutte, secret entrance or passage.
Smora, clover, S. ; da. smor, butter ; perhaps because it pro- duces more cream in milk.
Smouterin, concealing a thing in order to gain some private end, S. Sec Smoot.
Smuck, a woollen shoe made of several folds of cloth quilted together, S.
Smuck, a contemptible fellow, S.
Smue, to squeeze through a narrow space ; 2d, to strip off, to pull off ; 3d, to slip stealthily away, S. ; da. smye, smuge, to creep stealthily along.
Smuggar, an eel, S.
Smuilter. See Smoilter, S.
Smuiltie, rabble, S.
Smylleack, a gun, a fowling-piece, S.
Smytem, a hole wrought in a sail for a reef-point, S.
Snaar ; " To snaar a tide " — to catch a tide at a particular stage of it, S. ; goth. snara, to pass quickly away ; goth. s. da. snar, quick, rapid.
Snaar, the turn of the tide, slack between ebb and flood, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. iii
Snaar, the loop of cord forining the fulcrum of a bismar, which is shifted backward and forward along the gradu- ated lever till the heavy end of the lever and the object to be weighed are in equilibrio, S. ; s. snara ; gotli. suara ; da. snare, a noose, a loop, a gin.
Snaara-pin, a primitive contrivance used for catching a fish before hooks were known in Shetland. It w^as made of a wooden pin attached to the line with the bait on it, and when the fish swallowed the bait the pin came across its mouth, when the line was pulled smartly, S. ; da. snare, a noose, a gin.
Snaeut (applied to sheep), light-coloured in body with a white face, S.
Snark, to make a snoring noise, S. ; id. snarka, crepere.
Snaw-FOWL, the snow-bunting [Emheriza nivalis), S.
Sneeg, Snig, to neigh, a neigh. See " Snig," S. ; goth. gnegg, a neighing.
Sneeve, Snee, Snae, to cut wdth a sharp instrument, S. ; goth. sneida, to cut, to divide ; da. pro. snseve, id.
Sneevelack, a snuff-box, S.
Snell, very, exceedingly ; " Snell white" — pure white," S. Not applied, as sco. " snell," to the weather. Da. snild, keen, sharp, acute.
Sneukit, plausible, insidious, artful, S. ; sio. g. snoka ; da. snige, to go insidiously and stealthily about an object; da. snu, artful.
Sneukit -ILL ; "An ill-sneukit bodie" — a cross-grained, ill- natured person, S.
Sneyd, a horse with a white nose, S.
Sniaag, small insignificant things, very small things, S.
Snib, a button, S. ; perhaps from sco. *' snib," to fasten.
Snibbit, anything curtailed of its proper proportions, S.
Snier, to cut, S. See " Sneeve."
Sniet, to blow the nose, S. ; isl. snita ; da. snyde, id.
112 GL OSSAR V OF SHE TLAND
Snietin-the-nase, blowing the nose, S. See Sniet.
Sniggee, a suppressed laugh resembling the neighing of a horse, S. See Sneeg.
Sniggek, to giggle, S.
Sniggin, neighing, S.
Sniog, the shoulder or slope of a hill, S. ; no. sneveg, id.
Snipperit, sharp, thin, peaked up, S.
Snippock, a snipe {Scolo'pax gallinago), S. ; da. sneppe, id. ; s. snseppe, id. ; goth. snoppa, a beak.
Snirkam, a term applied to strong liquor, S.
Snit, a small insignificant person or thing, S.
Snoddie, a thick cake or bannock baked among the ashes, O. and S. ; isl. snad, food.
Snoiltit, abruptly cut short, truncated, S.
Snory-bane, snorick, the leg-bone of a pig, with a double string attached to the middle, leaving two ends, which when drawn produces a droning sound, S. ; da. snor, a string ; snore, to snore ; snurre, to buzz, to murmur.
Snuain, a seaweed, 0.
SNtJD, a twisted line, synonymous with " tome," S. ; su. g. snod, a cord or small line.
Snugamulya, broken in pieces, S. See Smill.
Snuilt, a thick stump, S.
Snuilt, to shorten, to stunt, S.
Snuilt^t, stumpy, stunted, S.
Snurt, snot from the nose, S. ; goth. snerra ; da. snore, to blow through the nose ; goth. snerri, a sneezing.
Snurt, to snort, S.
Snusii, to sniff at with a snoring sound, S. ; da. snuse, id.
SNiysn, a wooden instrument armed with spikes, which is fas- tened on the head of a calf to prevent the mother from suckling it ; da. snuse, to snuff or smell at.
Sny, to cut, to sever, S. ; d^i. snydcn, id.
Snyth, tlie coot, a bird, 0. ; sti. g. snced, bald, from its head.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 113
Sock, to sink in ; when a stone, for example, is thrown with great force, so as to sink into the object it is thrown at, it is said to be " socked into it," S. ; id. sockva, to sink.
Socked, sunk. See, Sock, S.
SoDDiE, a kind of seat made of sods or turf in cottars' houses, S.
SoDiCK, a dull, hea\'y, clumsy woman, S. ; id. sodi, homo sor- didus.
SoE, limpets or other shellfish, crushed and scattered in the sea to collect fish, S. ; isl, soa, to scatter.
SoiND, a court, S.
SoiND. See Shynd.
SoiNDBiLL. See Shundbili.
SoKKiN OF THE TIDE, the last of a tide — i.e. the ebb or flood, S. ; goth. saukva, to sink. Qu. the dregs or last drops.
SoLE-BUiRD, the plank next the hassins in a boat, S. ; da. saale, the sole or bottom, and brod, a board.
SoLE-BUiRD (upper), the plank adjoining the above, S.
Solomon's-avon (even), November 3d ; a superstition of ill- omen connected with this day, S.
SonCtIE, a hermaphrodite, S.
SoNKER, to simmer, to boil slightly, S.
SooD, should ; " Foo sood 1 ken?" — how should I know ? S.
SoOD, the south, S. ; cjer. siid ; da. syd ; du. zuid, id.
SoOK, applied to drought in the atmosphere, S. ; from the verb —
SoOK, to dry, to withdraw moisture from the surface of the earth, as a breeze of wind does, S. ; da. suge ; s. suga ; lat. sugo, to suck, to exhale moisture.
SoOKiT, applied to fish when drying, S.
SooLACK, a reel for a hand-line, S.
SoOLEEN, the sun, S. ; da. solen, id.
SooND, the air-bladder of a fish, S. ; id. sund, the swimming- bladder of a fish, S.
Q
1 14 GL OSSAR V OF SHETLAND
SoOR-FiSH, fisli kept uutil it has acquired a game flavour, S.
SooRLONG, a noted liar, S. ; da. logner, a liar.
SOOSTILEG, by turns, alternately, S.
Soss, the state of being drenched with water, S.
SouiMS, the sounds of the cod-fish dried for food, S.
SovE (long 6), to stun, to stupify by a blow, S. ; sw, cj. sofwa ; da. sove, to sleep — i.e. to lie in a state of unconsciousness.
Sov'd, deprived of sensation by a blow, S.
So WD AY, a name given to the l7th December, 0.
SowDEN, the south, S. 8cc Sood.
Sow^DiAN, a tall stout person, also a native of the south, S. ; isl. sodi, homo sordidus.
SoYNDA (to), to see, S. ; su. g. syn ; isl. sion, visio.
SoYNDiCK, the eye, S.
Spaarl, the rectum intestinum, S. ; 0. isl. sperdill, id.
Spaegie, tired feeling in the legs after long walking, S.
Spair, an opening in a gown, petticoat, shu't, etc., S.
Spalds, long bare legs, S.
Span, a dry measure, 0.
Sparls, the coarse parts of beef sewed up in one of the intes- tines, a sausage, S.
Speavie, a disease peculiar to horses, the spavin, S.
Speer, to spirt or squirt, lOce liquid ejected from a syriage, S.
Speld, to split up, to lay open, S. ; da. spalte ; tcut. spalten ; siL g. splita, to split.
Speeder, a splitter of fish, to prepare them for curing, S. ; teut. spalter, a splitter.
Spencie, the stormy petrel, a bird, S.
Speociian, a tobacco-pouch, S. ; sco. and gad. spleuchan, id.
Speolk, a splint.
Sperr, to stride, to stretch the legs in walking, S. ; perhaps isl. sperra, disteudere ; ger. and du. sperrcn, id.
Spiae, mockery, derision, jeering, ridicide, S.
Spiall, a tall, slender jjerson, S.
AND ORKNhy WORDS. 115
Spieker, a large nail, S. ; cng. " spike ; isl. spikari ; no. spikar,
id. Spik, whale's blubber, fat of animals, S. ; isl. spik ; da. and s.
spek, id. Spilt, grossly fat, bloated, impure, S. Spiolk, a splint placed over a fracture, S. ; 8U. g. spielk ; da.
spielk, spile, a splint. Spiolk, to bind up a fracture with splints, S. ; da. irro. spilke ;
isl. spilkr, id. ; su. g. spiale, lamina Kgnea. Spiolkin, a piltack (Gadus carlonarius) roasted with the liver
inside of it. See Mougildins, S. Spleet (to), to split, 0. and S. Spleetee, the person who splits the fish and takes out the
''rig,"S. Spliet ; " Spliet new" — same as "splinder new," S. Spldtoer ; "Splinder new," "bran new" — that has never
been used, S. Spoe (to), to foretell, S. ; su. g. spo, vaticinarL Spoxg, to stride or take long steps ; v. spang, S. ; sco. spang,
id. Sponshes, the nostrils and the passage from them to the throat,
S. Spout-whale, a name given to the porpoise, 0. Spraagin, swaggering, S. Speagg, a boaster, a braggart, S. ; s. sprag, smart, lively,
vivacious. Sprain, a sprig, a long narrow stripe, S. Spreit, to scamper, to run rapidly, S. ; da. sprette, spraete ;
s. spritta, to leap, to bound. Spret-up, to unstitch a seam, to untwist a rope, S. ; da. sprette-
op, id. ; su. g. spratta, to undo, untie, relax. Sprikkle, to flounce, to flounder about, S. ; goth. sprikkla ; s.
sprakla, membra concutere, id.
1 1 6 GL OSSAR V OF SHETLAND
Spring, to burst, to break, S. ; da. sprenge, to burst, to crack.
Speingers, trouts, from their leaping, S.
Spritt, to leap, to run off suddenly and quickly, S.
Sproan, dung, S.
Sprone, to eject liquid excrement ; applied to birds, S. ; allied
to da. sprenge ; s. sprenga, to si)riukle. Spronins, the excrement of birds, S. Spunder, to gallop, 0. and S. Spundg, to run quickly, S. Spungit, mottled, as " a spungit cow," S. ; gotli. spang ; isl.
spaung ; s. spang, a spangle ; diL spangled. Spurd, the lobe of a fish's tail, S. Spure-CLOUT, a piece of cloth laid on the inner sole of a rivlin,
S. SPtTRE-UP, to be found or discovered after searching, S. ; da.
spore, to trace, to find out ; &co. spure, to ask, to inquire. SptTRiNS, tidings, tracings of anything sought after, S. ; gotli.
spurn, a report, a rumour ; da. spor, a trace, sporen, a
tracing. Spurrie-how ; to rim like a "spurrie-how" — ^to run as fast as
a hawk flies, S. ; da. spurre, a sparrow, and hog, a hawk. Staa, a feeling of disgust or aversion, S. ;. perhaps da. staae,
to stand, to leave off. Staad, surfeited, S.
Staand-wi', to be averse to anything, chiefly food, S. Stab, a stool, a small bench, S, ; da. stabbe ; s. and sn. g.
stabbe, a block, a log. Stablin, half-grown, stout for one's age, S. See Stab. Stablin-cod, a thick fat cod-fish, S. Stack, an insulated rock of a columnar shape, S. ; sii. g.
stack ; da. stak, a stack. Staen-loppen, bruised, crushed as if jammed under a stone,
S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. ii7
Stammakeen, the helmsman's seat in a boat, S. Standin-bands, the tethers "by which cows are bound to the
vaigle, S. Stane-biter, the cat-fish (Anarchicas lujms), S. ; no. stein-
bicler ; da. steenbider ; isl. steinbitr, id. Stane-peckek, the stone-chatter, S. ; s. stens-quelk ; ger.
steinsch-waksr, the wheatear. Stane-chack, the stone-chatter, 0. and S. Stanekaw, rock liverwort, 0. Stank ; " to stank land" — To drain land by means of open
ditches, S. Stank of a byke, a ditch in rear of the cattle in which the
excrement, etc., is caught and retained, S. ; S2L g. staang ;
armoric, stanc, id. Stap, a dish composed of the Hver and the soft parts of the
head of a fish, S. Stap, to hash, to mix together ; " in stap " is in a crushed
state ; isl. stappa, to hash, S. ; sic. g. stappa, to chop. Star, a speck upon the eye, a cataract, S. ; da. stser, id. Steed, Steethe, to found, to lay a foundation, S. Steeple ; " A steeple of fish" — the fish, when partially dried,
are built into small square heaps upon the beaches, and
these heaps are termed " steeples," S. Steer-pin, a pin in the stilt of the old Orkney plough, 0. Steethe, Steed, the bottom, the foundation, S. ; isl. stytta ;
su. g. stod, fulcrum, pedamen. Steethe-stane, a stone attached to the buoy-rope, and which
serves as an anchor to the haaf-lines, S. Steeve, stout, strong, sinewy, S. Steggie, a sprain, or sharp pain in the back, S. Steinraw. Sec Staneraw. Stengle, to enclose, to close in, S.
Stengy, Staing, the mast of a boat, S ; isl. stang ; .<?. stang ; da. stang ; s\i. g. stang, a pole, a long stick.
1 1 8 GL OSSAR V OF SHE TLAND
Stensh, to stop, to desist, to stay, S.
Stee, the green pasture attached to a dwelling ; a termination
of many names of places, 0. and S. See Seater. Steven, the stern of a boat, S. Steyag, an enclosure for geese, S. Stickin-piece, that part of the neck of an animal in which a
butcher plunges his knife, S. Stiggy, a style, a passage over a wall, S. ; s. stega ; da. stige ;
gotli. stigi ; gcr. steg, a stair, a flight of steps. Still of the tide, the interval between the ebb and flow, S. Stimma, strength, power, ability, stamina, S. Sting, the mast of a vessel, S. ; o. no. staung, a pole. Bee
Stengy. Stinkle, a bird, the stone-chat {Mortacilla ruhicold), S. ; da.
stern-kield, id. Stirlin, a starling ; a bird, S. Stien, to congeal with cold, S. See Sturken. Stiwen, to congeal, to coagulate, to stiffen, S ; dtc. stiven. Stobbie, a person whom one can depend upon, who will stand
by one, S. Stock-duck, tlie mallard, 0. and S. ; no. stok-and, id. Stock-owl, the eagle-owl, 0. Stock-stove, the wood for a roof and partition of a small
house, brought from Norway in former times ready made,
S. Stock-whaap, the large curlew (Scolopax arquata), S. Stoind, a long time ; " To stay a stoind" — to stay a long time
(ironically?), S. Stoit. See Stuit. Stolm ; " To gather a stolm" is said of animals when they
are with young, S. Stoo, to cut the mane or tail of a horse, sometimes also the
ears, S. ; su. g. stufwa, to cut short. Stood, a mark ; half the ear cut off across, S.
AND ORKNE\ WORDS. 119
Stooins, the tops of young cabbage-leaves cut off and used as
greens, S. ; su. cj. stufwa, to cut short. Stook, a shoulder-strap, S. Stoor, a stiff breeze, a strong gale, S. ; da. stor, great ; goili.
stor vedr ; sil g. stur wader, high or strong wind. Stooe, to stream copiously, as blood from a ruptured artery
or vein, S. Stooradeink, a mixture of oatmeal and swats stirred together,
S. ; goth. stora ; su. g. stora ; teut. stceren, to stir, to agi- tate. Stoos, green points of land, S. Storey-worm, a slug, S.
Stour, tall, large, great, stout, S. ; isl. s. and da. stor, id. Stourxess, largeness, bigness, S. Stourreen, a warm drink. See Stooradrink. Stow, hush ! silence ! S. Perhaps from su. g. sto ; isl. staa, to
stand. Qu. stop, cease. Strae-dra"\a% a mark, a thin slice cut from the top to the
bottom of an animal's ear, S. Straff, a strait, a difficulty, S. ; the isl. da. and s. straf, means
pcena castigatio, but it is probably cognate. Straik, a longitudinal mark, a streak the breadth of a boat's
board, S. ; goth. strik ; s. strek ; da. streg ; hclg. streek ;
lat. striga, a line, a row, a streak. Steaitie, the shank of the leg ; also the hough, S. Striffen, starch, S. ; perhaps sco. stiffen ; C7ig. stiffening. Strikin-teck, cutting heather with a short scythe, S. String-of-tide, a rapid tideway, S. ; goth. streingr, a cataract. Strinklix, a small quantity, S. Stro, straw ; thus pronounced in some parts of Shetland,
especially Dunrossness, S. ; da. straa, id. ; go-, stroh, id, Strodie, a narrow gown or garment, S. Strodie. See Strothie. Strong-waters, the strongest spirit ; spirits of wine, S.
1 20 GLOSSAR V OF SHETLAND
Steoint, a narrow garment.
Stkonge, rank, harsh to the taste ; hence eny. strong, ap- plied to smell or taste, S. ; gotli. Strang, straung ; da.
strseng, asper, harsh. Strothie or Steodie, an avenue betwixt two parallel dykes
or walls, S. ; s. strat ; da. strade ; goth. strsete ; helg. straat ;
ital. and sj)an. strada ; irish, straid ; arm. street, a street,
a paved way. Steoud ; " Stroud 0' claes" — a suit of clothes, S. ; isl. strutr ;
da. pro. strud, cucullus. Stkouds, shrouds of a boat, S. Stroupie, a tea-pot, S. ; isl. strup ; su. g. strupe, guttur ; da.
strube, a gullet. Strubba, milk that has coagulated, and has then been whipt
till it becomes of the consistence of cream ; goth. storra-
upp, to stir up. Strucken, stricken, struck, S. Strud, to run rapidly, to pull with strength, as a large fish
does when hooked ; to tug, S. ; da. straede, stride, to
struggle, to strive against ; da. strid, a struggle. Strud (to), to pull hard in rowing, S. Struddin-on, pulling very hard against anything that offers
resistance, S. Strunt, the contents of a close-stool, S. ; s. strunt ; da. strunt,
trash, filth. Stuckie, a thick codlin, S. Studdie, to support, to steady, to guard against falling ; goth.
stydia, stoda, to support, to steady, to guard against falling, Stuf, stiff, S.
Stuffen, a vulgar term for starch, S. Stuind, Stoind, a while, a time ; " To stay a stuind" — to stop
a while, S. ; goth. su. g. da. stund ; 7nod. gcr. stunde, time,
an hour, a while. Stuit or Stoit, a fit of ill-temper or sulks, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 121
Stule, past tense of the verb to steal, S.
Stumpie, a bottle, S.
Stumpsed, Stumst, taken aback, stupified with astonishment,
S, ; su. g. stumm ; da. stum ; hclg. stum, stom, id. Stuxd, a sudden, sharp pain, S. Stunk, a gi-oan, a pant, S. Stunk, to make a panting sound as when out of breath, S. ;
goth. and su. g. stanka ; s. stancka, to pant ; da. stonne,
id. Stuke, a penny, S. ; da. styver, helg. stuiver, hamb. stuys^er,
holl. sty\^er, id. Sture 0' THE doit ; " He wants a sture o' the doit" — applied
to the contents of the head as well as the pocket, S. Stueken, congealed, coagulated, S. ; da. storknet, congealed. Sturken, to stiffen, to coagulate, as butter does after having
been melted, S. ; da. storkne, to congeal. Str, she, S. SuccALEGS, stockings without feet, S. ; isl. sock-r, soccus,
caliga, and legg-r ; su. g. laeg, tibia, crus. Suck, a wet state of the ground that one msiy sink in, S. ; old
nor. sockva, to sink. Suck, loose straw rubbish, 0. SucKEN, the territory subjected to a certain jurisdiction, S. ;
su. g. sokn, jurisdictio. SUCKY, untidy, 0.
StJD, SooD, the south, south, S. ; da. sud ; su. g. sud, id. SuDGE, subject to ; probably a corruption of the fr. " sujet,"
S. Sukken, sunk, S. SUKKRABURD, a term of endearment — " Sweet child," S. ; da.
sukker, sugar, and byrd, offspring, progeny. SuL, heat, the influence of the sun, S. ; goth. and su. g. sol,
sool ; da. seel ; lat. sol. These all signify both the suu.
and heat of the sun.
R
12 2 GL OSSAR V OF SHETLAND
StrL (pronounced sool), the brigda or basking shark {Squalus maximus), S.
SuLP (long u, as soolp), a wet state of ground, a marsh, S.
SuLP, to bring cut grass from a swampy meadow, S.
SuMMER-CLOKS, the sunbeams dancing in the atmosphere dur- ing a fine summer day, S.
SuNGiE, a hermaphrodite, S.
SuNiE, a term of reproach, S.
SuN-siTTiN, eggs injured by the heat of the sun, S.
SussLiN, a small Danish coin once current in Shetland, S.
SuTSHKiN, a near relative, all the brothers and sisters of a family, S. ; da. sodskende ; gotJi. syskin ; s. syskon, id.
StTTTiE-RONAMUS, a dirty, sooty-looking woman, S.
SwAADGE, to settle down, to subside, S. ; su. g. swaga ; sw. SAviga, to depress, to weigh down.
SwAAGiN, fluttering as a bird's wing, wavering, S. ; perhaps da. svaining, swinging.
SWAAii, too high, top-heavy, heavy, S. ; da. svcer, heavy, pon- derous ; svarked, heaviness.
SwAAii; "The swaar o' the dim" — the middle of the night, S. ; da. svart ; su. g. swart, dark, black.
SwABiE, the great black and white gull {Larus rnarinus), S. ; a contraction of swartback.
SwAGERS, men married to sisters, S. ; a. s. sweger ; su. g. swoger, socer.
Swam, a swoon or faint, S. ; da. svag, weak, feeble.
SwAMBLE, a disagreement, a wordy quarrel, S.
SwANKLE, a term used to express the sound emitted from a vessel when the liquid which it contains is shaken ; also tlie sound produced by the agitation of fluids in an animal's bowels, S. ; su. g. swange ; da. svang-en, the small guts ; su. g. gala ; da. gale, to crow. Qu. a crowing of the guts.
SwARFisii, the spotted blenny {Blennius gunellus f); da. svart- fisk, id.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 123
SwAERA, thick soft worsted for underclotliing, S.
SwARRA, a knitted woollen iinder-jacket, S.
SwARRACK, SwARRiG; "A great swarrack" — a large quantity
of any liquid, S. ; &u. g. swa^r, gravis. Swart ATEE, black time, an ill-hour ; also expressing contempt
or surprise, S. ; su. g. and isl. swart, black, and tid,
time. SwARTBACK. See Swabie ; no. swartbag, id. SWARTER, black, S. Swash, a dash of water, S. Swash, to dash water out of a vessel, S. Swats, the thin part of sowens, or flummery, S. SwATTLE. See Swittle.
Sway, an iron bar from which the cooking utensils are sus- pended over the fire, and which works upon pivots, S. SwEE (to), to singe, to scorch, S. ; da. svide ; goth. svida ;
su. g. sweda. SwEE (to), to smart with pain, S. ; da. svie ; sw. swida, to
smart, id. SwEED ; "A sweed head" — a sheep's head singed, S. SwEEG, to settle to leeward, to drift slowly, to lose ground,
to swerve, S. ; su. g. swiga ; da. svigte, to give ground, to
recede. SwEEGiN, any liquid oozing out between the staves of a cask
or tub, S. ; perhaps from goth. and su. g. siga, to subside,
to settle down. SWEEIN, singeing, smarting with pain, S. SWELCHIE, a whirlpool, 0. ; isl. swelg-r ; da. swtelg, vorago,
gurges. SwELT, to swallow, to suck in greedily, as a hungry fish does
a bait, S. ; isl. swselt-a, esurire. SwELTiN-coD, a very poor cod-fish, S. ; perhaps from a. s.
swealt-an, swelt-an, mori. SwERT, to suck in and swallow greedily, as a hungry fish does
124 GL OSS A RY OF SHE TLA ND
a bait, S. ; da. suert, the sucker of a pump, from da. sue,
to suck. SWEYN, a proper name, S. SwEYNT, a quick active movement, S. Swift ; " Swift the sail" — to reef, to reduce a sail, S. ; da.
svofte, id. Swill (to), to rinse in water, S. Swill, the swivel of a tether, S. ; isl. sweif, volva ; sw. (j.
scelia, a ring into which a thong is put. Swine-fish, the wolf-fish, 0. Swine's-murricks, the tuberous roots of the oat-grass {Bromus
arvensis). Vide Okrabung, S. See Murrick. SwiNT, to squint, S. Swird-dance, a dramatic martial dance performed by seven
men in armour, representing the seven champions of
Europe, S. SwiSK, a whisk, a small broom, S. ; da. visk, a whisk, a wisp,
a brush. SwiTTLE, thin liquid, such as weak soup or liquor, S. SwivVLE OF WIND, a strong blast of wind whirling round the
gable of a house, corner of a dyke, etc., S. Swiz, to whiz, to buzz, S.
SwORDiCK, the spotted blenny (Gobius nigcr), 0. ; da. sort, black. SwY, a swing ; same as sco. sway, S, SwY, to swing, S. Swiz, a whizzing noise, S.
Syer, a machine for straining or filtering, S. ; cng. sieve. Syp, to sip or drain up, S. ; du. zuypen.
Ta, ti, to ; " Ta gang ti da haf " — to go to sea ; goth. ta, ty. In all the Scandinavian dialects, till, to, towards.
Taa, a thread, S. ; isl. tae, filum.
Taa, a tough fibre or filament, a fibrous root, S. ; sv. g. tag ; isl. taug, a fibre, a filjrous root.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 125
Taaie, fibrous, full of fibres, S. ; da. taved, stringy.
Taand, a brand of fire, a burning peat, S. ; su. g. tanda ; da. tsende, to kindle, to set on fire.
Taatie-hock, a bole dug in the field, in which potatoes are covered to preserve them from frost, S.
Taatie-kro, a boarded corner in a house for preserving pota- toes from frost, S.
Taatit, made of " taats ;" also matted, as " taatit hair," matted locks, S. ; da. taette, to make close or compact.
Taats, thick worsted yam for making rugs, S. ; gotli. thattr, thatt, coarse woollen thread, from tseta, a lock of wool.
Taave, to caulk, to close a rent with oakum or other filaments, S. ; da. tave, a filament.
Taavin, carefully packing cloth or paper into the crevices of a door or window in order to exclude wind or wet, caulking, S.
Tackin, a state of excitement, S.
Tackne, an old ridiculous person, S.
Taet, a nap or small soft lump, such as wool, S. ; isl. tseta, lanugo.
Tagg, a troublesome labour, S.
Taing, a flat tongue of land projecting into the sea, S. ; goth. taung ; su. g. tang ; helg. tang ; a. s. tang, a point or any- thing that tapers to a point — i.e. tongue-shaped.
Tairensie, a fury, a violent behaviour, S.
Tak, a haul or catch of fish ; goth. takia, a capture or catch ; goth. taka ; su. g. taga ; da. tage, to take, to catch.
Tak-about-him (to), to make an end of and kill him, S.
Takin up fish, preparing fish for curing or for cooking, S.
Tamtarrie, the state of being detained under frivolous pre- tences, S.
Tang, the name given to the larger fuci in general, 0. and S. ; isl. thang ; su. g. tang ; da. tang, id.
Tang-bow, round hoUow growths on tang, S.
12 6 GL OSSAR V OF SHE TLAND
Tang-fish, a name given to the seal [Plioca vitulina), S. ; from
su. g. etc. tang. See Taing. This species frequents these
projecting points at ebb-tide, and there basks in the sun. Tangie, a sea-spirit which frequents the shores, supposed at
times to assume the appearance of a horse, at other times
that of an old man, 0. and S. Tangle. See Tang.
Tang-sparrow, rock or shore pipit, 0. and S. Tang-whaap, the whimbrel, O. and S. See Taing. This wary
bird selects the jutting taing in order the more readily to
descry danger. Tant, to sicken from eating disagreeable food, S. ; perhaps a
corruption of sco. fant, to faint, to swoon. Tanyie-maw, a small species of the sea-gull ; perhaps tangie-
maw, from its frequenting the sea-shore. Tarrigrooke, a pitchfork having the prongs at right angles
with the shaft, used for gathering and spreading seaweed
as manure, S. ; s. tar ; da. tarre, seaweed, etc. ; isl. and s.
krok ; da. krog, a crook, anything bent. Tarrow ; to take the " dorts," to be perverse and peevish,
S. See Tirran. Tart-and-purrie, porridge made with the water in which
cabbage has been boiled, S. Teak, an otter, S. ; isl. su. g. tik, canicula. Teck. See Theck. Ted, a brat, applied contemptuously to a child, S. ; goth. tata,
a little child, a puppet. Tedder-herin, a tether made of hair, S. ; su. g. tiudr, tiuder ;
isl. tiodr ; da. tojr, a rope for fastening an animal. Tee, the thigh, S. Teelie, encouraging, affording an inducement, S. ; goth. toela ;
su. g. tcelja, to entice, to allure. Teetick, the titlark {Alanda pratensis, Linn.) S. ; isl. tyta,
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 127
small, tiny, applied particularly to birds ; isl. thuastta, to chatter. Teeverie, theft, S.
Teewhoap, the lapwing, so named from its cry, 0. Temba ; to be upon " temba" — to be upon the alert, S. ; per- haps from da. tempo, movement, time. Tenor, the cross bar between the legs of a chair, S. TERREiM, a long small gut of the sheep, with which the " posh" is strung, used also for bands to a spinning-wheel, S. ; isl. thsermr, id. Terrie, a kind of loft or shelf in the roof of a house, S. Teugs, the thighs of a pair of breeches, S. Tewel, a tool of any kind, S.
Theck, heather brought to the farm-yard as litter for cattle ; in former times, the long coarse grass growing amongst the heather was used as thatch for houses, S. ; goth. thak ; sw. g. tak, tseckia ; s. taak ; da. taekke, thatch, a covering. Thight, close so as not to admit water, tight, 0. Thing, a meeting, a convention, S. ; isl. thing ; su. g. ting, id. Thistle-cock, common bunting {Embcriza miliaria), O. Thraws-spang, a rod of iron forming part of the old Orkney
plough, 0. and S. Thunder-bolt, a steinbart or ancient stone-axe of green porphyry. (Supposed by the vulgar to come from the sky in thunder-storms.) The name, perhaps, has primarily a reference to the destructive effects of the weapon, S. TiBRic, a name given to the young of the coal-fish in Orkney,
0, TiCKSiE, a quarrel, a dispute, S. ; Mg. tik, a pat, a slight blow. Tidder, the other, S. TiEL, to sail fast, S. Tieper, to taper to a point, S. TiEPERiT, tapered, S. Tift, to beat like a pulse, S.
128 GL OSSAR V OF SHE TLAND
TiFTiN, beating like a pulse, S.
Tig, to beg, to importune, S. ; sco. thig ; m. g. tigga ; da.
tigge, id. TiGG, to entice, to entreat, to tease, S. ; goth. tegia, to entice,
to allure. TiGGAR, a beggar, a mendicant, S. ; sco. thiggar ; su. g. tiggare ;
da. tigger, id. Tig-tag, in suspense, S. TiLFER, the loose flooring of a boat, S. ; goth. thil ; s. tilja, a
covering of boards, a floor, a deck ; su. goth. far ; s. farja,
a boat. TiLLiE, anything which moves very slowly and steadily is said
to move " like the sun upon a tillie," S. Tilt ; " To be on the tilt" is to be in a high-minded state, S. Tin, to pick the bones out of the boiled heads of fish, and col- lect the fleshy parts, S. ; goth. tina, to collect, to gather
together. Tin, thin, not thick, S. ; goth. thyn ; a. s. thinne, id. TiNDA, fleecy wet snow, S. Ting, an afl&x to the names of many districts in Shetland.
See Taing. Ting, thing, S.
Ting, a tongue of land jutting into the sea, S. See Taing. TlORDiN, thunder, S. ; da. torden ; s. thordon, id. Tir, an overdressed person, as " Yon's a tip," S. TiPP, a dram of ardent spirits, S. TiPP, a nick, S.
TiPP, to kick, as when playing at football, S. TiRL, the trundle of a mill, S. ; goth. thyrla ; su. g. trill a ; da.
trilde, to trundle, to whirl around. TiRRAN-SPREET, a cross-grained ill-natured person r child, S. ;
old nor. tirrin, austerus. TiRRAN, cross, ill-natured, enraged, S. ; da. tirre ; a. s. tyran,
to exasperate, irritate.
I
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 129
TiRRACKE, the tarrock {Lanis tridactylus, Linn.), S.
TiKSE, a sudden pull or jerk, S.
TiRSE, to tug, to pull with a jerk, S. ; a. s. ta?ran ; s. targa, to
tear. TiRSE, a tug, a sudden and violent pull, S. TiTiNG, the tit-lark (Alauda pratensis), 0. TiTSAJM, short-tempered, easily offended, tetchy, S. Titter, to shiver, to tremble, S. ; goth. titra ; s. tutra ; da. tittre,
to shake, to tremble. TiTTERiN, trembling from the effects of cold, S. Tn^LACH, a thick cake of coarse meal, S. TlVLACH, the tail of an animal, S. TiZE, to entice, S. ToAM, ToiviE, that part of fisliing-gear which depends from the
bow, and to which the hooks are fastened, S. ; isl. taumr,
funis piscatorius. ToB (long o), to chide, to carp at, S. ToBE, to be talkative, S. ; no. tove, id. TOBIN, prosing, talkative, making silly speeches, S.; da. taabe,
a fool, simpleton. TocHT, thought, S.
Tog (long o), a person whom one values or likes, S. ToiG, a small straw basket for holding meal, S. Tome, a line for a fishing-rod, including the whole length, S. ;
isl. taumr, funis piscatorius. Tommie Noddy, the puffin or sea-parrot, 0 Tom Noddy. Sec Tommie Noddy. ToNGABLAA, inccssant speaking, S. TooG, a small hillock with a tuft of grass, S. ; a dimin. of da.
tue, a hillock. TooM, a thumb, S. ; s. turn ; da. tomme, an inch ; that is, the
breadth of a thumb. TooNMALL, TooNWALL, a plot of grouud ah\ays kept in grass,
s
I30 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
in front of a cottar village, S. ; isl. tun, pratum doniesti- cum ; and su. g. mal ; da. maal, a boinidary, a limit.
ToONMiLLS, the grass-land near houses or farms, S.
TooPlE, a knob or standing-up point, S. ; fr. toupee, id.
TouNiT, the manufacturing of wool, S. ; isl. to, lana, and knyt-a, nectere.
Tow, to thaw, a thaw, S. ; da. toe ; s. to ; isl. tha, thaw, a thaw.
Tow-row, a disturbance, an uproar as of a mob, S.
Tows, the halliards of a boat, also fishing-lines, S. ; s. tog ; isl. taug, tog ; da. toug, tov ; sco. tow, a line or rope.
Toy, a woman's cap, 0. and S. ; da. hoved-toi, head-dress.
Traa, a twisting, S.
Teaa, twist, obliquity, perversity, S. ; goth. thra ; s. tra, obsti- nacy, perversity.
Traa, to twist, to wring, to wreath, S.
Traawaed, awkward, contrary, a forward disposition, S.
Tracter, a funnel used for conveying liquids into a cask, etc., S. ; du. trechter, id. ; da. tragt, funnel.
Traff, oakum, the untwisted fibres of a rope, S. ; da. drev, id., trsefie, a filament.
Trag, trash ; su. g. trseck, sordcs, stercus.
Train, a rope used for drawing, 0.
Traked, drawn, infused, S. ; da. trekket, drawn.
Trakin the tay, drawing or infusing tea, S.
Tramsicks, ragged clothes, S.
Trang, a throng, a crowd, S. ; da. tra^ngen, id.
Trang, busy, thronged.
Travaigk, to trudge or travel along, S. ; perhaps from da. tra vie, to be in a hurry.
Tray, stiff, stubborn, 0.
Tray-sitten, lazy, stupified, 0.
Treb, a sort of rampart, a licnp of any kind, 0. ; su. g. trafve, a heap of any kind, wood, etc.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 131
Tree, three, S. ; da. tre, id.
Treed, a thread, S, ; da. traad ; s. trad, id.
Trefold, MeMyanthes trifoliata, S.
Tkemskit, ill-arranged, slovenly, S.
Trid, third, S. ; da. tredie, id.
Trift, work of any kind, but particularly knitting, S. ; isl.
thrifnadr, diligentia; goth. thrif ; s. threfnad. Triftin, seems to be the same as " thriving" in English ; as
" 111. triftin on dat face" — means " May your face (figura- tive for whole person) not thrive," S. Trdi, a humour or state of mind, either good or ill, S. ; in
eng. applied rather to person. Trist (to), to squeeze, S. ; isl. thrist-ja, thriosta, trudere, pre-
mere. Tristin, wringing, twisting, squeezing, S. ; goth. thrista, to
press. Triwle, to grope, to feel one's way in darkness, S. ; no. trivia ;
isl. thrifla, id. Triwling, groping in the dark, S. Troilya, a fairy ; a dimiu. from troll, S. Trojan, an overgrown person, a giant, S. Troll. See Trows. Trooker, an appellation of contempt and reproach for a
woman, S. Troos, a tuck or hem on a gown, S. Trot, the throat, S. ; s. trut, the gullet. Trough, a long wooden trencher used in common by a
family, S. Trow, a name given to the de^dl ; hence, " Trow tak you ; "
a spectre, a goblin, O. and S. Trowe. See Trow. Trowie, sickly, 0. and S. Trows (Hill), spirits supposed to inhabit the hills or moun-
132 GL OSSAR V OF SHETLAND
tainoiis parts of O. and S. ; gotli. troll ; s. troll ; da. trold, a demon, a goblin, a magician, a giant.
Trows (Sea), certain inhabitants of the sea, viewed by the vulgar as malignant spirits, O. and S.
Trow'z ; contraction of " trow wiz " — or believe us, S.
Troytlin, tattlin, gossiping, S.
Troyttle, to tattle, to gossip, S.
Tru, to believe or put credit in, S. ; isl. trua, id. ; da, troe, id.
Truck, trash, refuse, S.
Truck, to trample, S. ; da. trykke, to press down, to crush.
Truck, the surface of the best pasture-land peeled off for the purpose of making compost manure, S. ; apparently a cor- ruption of turf-ick.
Trullascud, a witch-like woman, S. Compounded of troll, and da. skudt, shot — i.e. elf-shot.
Trulla-water, the name given to a lake in Unst whose banks are supposed to be haunted by trows, S. In Scan- dinavia and Iceland troll and trolla are used as prefixes to the names of places supposed to be haunted by trows.
Trullia, sickly ; same as " trowie," S.
Trump (to), to fling as a horse, to kick, S. ; gotli. trumba, to leap up and down, to dance.
Trumpie, the skua-gull, O.
Tr^inie, the snout of a swine, S. ; da. trjme ; goth. and su. y. tryne ; isl. tryni, id.
TrCsh, thrashed ; past part, of " tresh," thrashed, S.
TRtrSHKA, Trutska, a fit of stubbornness or sulks ; also pride, giving oneself airs, S. ; da. trutne, to swell, strut, give oneself airs.
I'uuSHKiT, stubborn, sulky, S.
Truss. To eat in a slovenly manner, so as to break the food into fragments and scatter them, is called "to truss througli," S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 133
Truss, refuse, fragments of cooked fish, S. ; id. tros, trash. Truttl, to mutter, to grumble, to scold in an undertone, S. ;
perhaps from da. trussl, a menace, a threat, or threaten- ing. Tryst, trouble, difficulty, laborious work, S. ; //-. triste, sad,
melancholy. TuACK, a small hillock, 0. ; da. tue, a hillock. TCd (short u), to speak much, to rave, S. ; da. tude, to howL TuDSET, to drive an animal into such a position as to prevent
its escape, S. TtTFA, an appendage to anything, S. ; perhaps fr. touffe, a tuft. TuGGL, a kind of forelock or pin for fastening the ends of a
band (such as a humlaband) together, to form a loop, S. ; .
su. (J. tceg-a, to draw. TuLiE-BUDiE, a basket with different compartments for holding
toots, S. See Budie. TuLLiE, a knife fixed in the haft, S. ; da. tollekniv, a small
dagger. TuJViAiL, piece of arable land next the steading, 0. See Toon-
malL Tumult, the portion of land connected with a cottar-house, O. ;
da. tomt, the ground or premises of a house, a yard. TUNNIR, thunder, S. ; isl. dunur ; s. dunder, etc. etc., id. TuRBOT-REEKLiNS, the flesh of the halibvit cut into strips and
dried in the peat-smoke, S. TuRDEEViL, TuRDiEL, the winged beetle (Scarabeus sterco-
rarius), S. ; no. tordivel ; s. tordifvel, id. TuRRVEN, peats, S. ; s. torfven, id. TusHKAR, an instrument of iron with a wooden handle, for
cutting peats ; properly "torfskar," S. ; goth. sio. g. torf;
da. torv, etc., turf, peat, and goth. su. g. skcera ; isl. skera,
skora; da. skicere, etc., to cut; sti. g. torfskyrd, the cutting
of peats.
134 GLOSSARY 01' SHETLAND
TusHKARRUE, a coiifused struggle, S.
TwA-BE AST-TREE, the swingle-tree of a plough, 0. and S.
Twang, a thong or stripe of hide, a shoe-tie, S. ; old no.
thvengr, corrigia calceamentorum. TwART-BAAKS, the transverse rafters that bind together the
framework of a roof, S. ; da. tverbielke, a cross-beam. TwARTS, thwarts of a boat, S. ; sw. twoert ; da. tver, tvert, etc.,
a cross-beam. TwARTER, cross-grained ; applied to wood, S. Bee, preceding
word. TwARTOUR, across, athwart, S. 8ee, Twarter. TwASPUR, to gallop, S. ; id. su. g. twa, duo, and sporre, cal-
car. TwAT, a termination of names of places and of proper names,
S. TwEETACK, the rock-lark, S. TwET, a fatiguing turn of work, S. TwET, TwiET (to), to cut slices from a piece of wood, S. ; no.
tveite, id. TwETTiN, the act of cutting pieces from wood, S. TwiNiN, stealing, S. TwiRM, to dwine, to wither, S. TwiRMED, withered, decayed, S. Tyke, common otter {Lutra vulgaris), S. Tyste, the black guillemot, a bird {Columbus grylle), O. ; no
teiste ; isl. teista, id. Tystie, the sea-turtle {Columbus grylle) or black guillemot, S.
Uan, over all, everywhere, S.
Ubaadous, useless, S.
Udal, a term applied to land held by uninterrupted succes- sion, without any original charter and without subjection to feudal service or the acknowledgment of any superior ;
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 135
not feudal, 0. and S. ; sit. g. audal ; da. odel; isl. odal ; s. odal, allodium, prasdium liereditarium.
Udaller. See Udalman.
Udalisian, one who holds property by udal right, 0. and S. ; da. odelsmand, id.
Udelae, See Udalman.
Uek, mud, clay, S. ; old no. aur, argilla lapidea,
Uer-eed, small stones of a reddish colour in muddy soil, S.
Ufkongie, Ufrungie, a grotesque object, a person of forbid- ding aspect, S. ; goth. ufrynu ; s. ofrynd, from it. and 0. not, and frynn, of a mild and sprightly countenance ; da. fro, good-humoured, cheerful.
Ugg, to take a slight repast, S.
Uggix, a lunch, a light repast, S.
Uggle, to soil, to besmear with filth, S.
Ugiovous, ha\dng nothing left, destitute, S. ; goth. ogicefa, ugicefa, misfortune.
Ubi, mad, fiuious, 0.
Ule ; " A ule 0' heat" — the mist which rises from the ground on a warm summer day, S.
Ullya, black slimy mud, S.
Ulure, the unctuous filth that runs from a dunghill, S.
UiEBOTH, a term applied to teiud or tithe of an alternate de- scription, 0. and S. ; isl. umbod, tutela, procuratio.
Umboth, procurator}^, factorship, S.
Uncan, strange, foreign ; applied to man or beast, S. ; sco. unco ; a. s. uncuth, alienus.
Unclisbacks, gloves that cover only the backs of the hands, without fingers, S.
Ukdoomis, Undumous, immense, uncoimtable, what cannot be reckoned, S. ; a. s. un, negative, and dem-an, to judge, to reckon.
Une, the oppressive closeness that meets one on opening the
136 GL OSSAR \ OF SHE TLAND
door of a room that has been shut up for a long time, S. ;
su. g. ugn, an oven. Uneran. See Uan. Unfiekdy, unwieldy, overgrown, 0.; da. un, negative, and
feir, fair, blooming. Unfiskalee, unlike a practical fisherman. See Fiskalee, S.
Da. un, negative, and fisker, a fisherman. Ungadrengen, a young man, the youth or young men of a
community, S. ; da. un, negative, and dreng, a boy — i.e.
a young man. Unhagly, unthrifty, untidy, S. ; da. un, and isl. hagr, utilitas. Unkallowed, uncalved, S. ; da. un, and kalver, not to calve. XJnkirsen, not fit to be used as food for man. See Kirsen,
S. Perhaps a corruption of eng. unchristian. Unlinkin, rising up from a stooping position, S. Updorrok, worn out, exhausted, bankrupt, S. ; isl. upp, and
throka and thruga, urgere, premere. IJPGANG, a sudden increase of wind and sea ; often applied to
the weather, S. ; isl. uppgang-r, incrementum. XJPGASTANG, a species of loom anciently used in Orkney, 0. IJPHOUG, ruin, bankruptcy, S. ; da. ophugge, to cut down or
fell. Uplayer, the person who loads the ponies with peats at the
peat-hill, S. (JPPABRAK, wearying, thinking long, S. Uppadoga, eveiywhere, over all, S. Uppa-mura, a term used for a cat washing her head about the
ears with her paws, S. Uppleuse, to disclose, to discover, S. Upsiilaag, a thaw, S. ; da. opslag paa vejret, a changing of
the weather. Uptak of weather, a gale of wind, a storm, S. ; isl. uptak,
typhon.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 137
Ure, a denomination of land, the one-eighth of a nierk, S. ; isl. auri, id.
Ukeen, a ewe, S. ; isl. aer, ovis, agna.
Uren, a scythe, S.
UsT, to heat sweet milk with a small quantity of butter- milk till the curd separates from the whey, S. ; da. ost, cheese.
USTED, the curd of butter-milk heated with sweet milk, S. ; 8u. g. yst-a ; isl. id., pron. ust-a, coagulare.
USTIN, a preparation of sweet milk, in which the curd is separated from the whey without the use of rennet, S.
Uteeal, frem'd, foreign, strange, S.
UvART (long u), unfrequented, S. ; da. uvant, unaccustomed, unused.
UVEILTER, to welter, to wallow, S. ; do., voelte sig, to roll one- self.
Vaadle, a pool at the head of a bay that fills and empties with the flowing and ebbing of the sea, S. ; da. vad, a ford ; vade, to ford, to wade ; isl. vad. vadum.
Vaaless, handless, awkward, S. ; da. vaalen, numb, be- numbed.
Vaar, to guide or direct ; a sailor's term, to veer, S.
Vaav, to fasten a soft bait on a hook by tying a thread around both, to bind, to tie, S. ; isl. vaf, involucrum, involumeu.
Vaavl, to strap securely, to secure with ropes tied around and variously implicated, S.
Vackel, a reef of rocks in the sea, a skerry. A reef on the coast of Dmu'ossness is called the " Vackels," S.
Vaddle, a shallow pool. See Vaadle, S.
Vaddlin, wadding, S.
Vadmell, a species of woollen cloth manufactured and worn in Orkney and Shetland, 0. and S. ; da. vadmel, frieze,
T
138 GL OSSAR V OF SHE TLAND
Vaggle, a place wliere meat is hung for the purpose of bemg
smoked, S. Vaidg, a voyage, S. Vaig, to wander, S. Vaigek, a wanderer, a rover, S. Vaigle, a peg to which cattle are fixed in the stall, S. ; da.
vagi, columella arrectaria. Vaipee, to stroll, to saunter, S. Vair, having no appetite, 0. Vair, a bird skerry, S. Vaity-kabe, an upright piece of wood fitted into the gunwale
of a boat, far aft, on the top of which a notch is cut to
enable the fishing-line to travel freely, S. Vamm, a flavour or odour ; similar meaning to " goo," S. Vandavil, a trifle, a thing of little value, S. Vandt (to), to fit or become the person, S. ; isl. vandi,
mos. Vandtit, ill ; applied to a badly-fitting garment ; also applied
to character, as " An ill-vandtit bodie" — a person disposed
to be discontented, imsocial, etc., S. Vareez, to notice, to observe, S. Varlet, a warlock, a wizard, S. Varnicle-pin, the pin that fastens the horns of the clibber
together, S. ; da. nagie ; isl. nagli, a nail, a spike. Vatn, a fresh-water lake, S. ; id. vatn, lacus. Vats-gaarin, a halo round the sun, perihelion, supposed to
indicate bad weather, especially rain, S. ; id. vatn, aqua. Vattaband, Vaytaband, a string by wliich a i^air of sea- mittens are tied together and suspended round the neck
when not in use ; also a band around the wrist to keep the
sleeve tight — used only by fishermen, S. ; perhaps from
id. vatn, aqua — i.e. waterband. Vaukie, proud, well pleased with anything, S.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 139
Vavvl, to flutter, to waver, S. ; da. vayer, to flutter, to keep
colours flying. Veesick, a ballad, a song, S. ; da. \ase, a song, a ballad. Vegwal, a stake in the wall of a cowhouse to which a cow is
tied, S. Sec Vaigle. Vender, to wander, S. ; da. vandre, id. Venderin, wandering, S. ; da. vandring, id. Venga, a name for a cat, S. This word may be figuratively
derived from the su. g. wenga, plorare, to wail or whine,
and applied to cats from their wailing cry. Verg, to soil, to defile, S. Vergit, striped with dirt, S. Verties, to warn ; abbreviation of " advertise," S. Vestreex, the west, S. ; da. vesten, id. Viand, disposition, temper, S. ViDiMENT, insignificant, the least particle. Ex. " I hae no a
vidiment," 0. ViEVERS, provisions, food, S. ; fr. vivres, id. ViEVLiE, distinctly, life-like, S. ; //'. vif ViFDA. See Vivda. ViLANSiE, violence, S.
Vilipend, to abuse by opprobrious or railing language, 0. ViLLYAROO (accent on last syllable), foolish talk, chatter,
S. Vimmer, to quiver, to tremble, S. ; no. vimra, id. ViMMERiN, trembling, S. ViNSTER. See Winstcr.
ViPPiCK, a small fishing-rod, S. ; perhaps from mg. whip. ViRE, a great beauty, 0. ViRPA, a thin kind of sowens, S. ViSK, a twist, a perverse disposition, S. Vista, a short journey, 0. ViTCH, to visit, S. ; isl. vitia, visitare.
I40 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
VlTCHiN, visiting, S. ; isl. vitiau, visitatio.
ViVDA, beef or mutton hung and dried without salt, 0. and S. ;
da. vift-e, to fan, to winnow, as being dried by the action
of the wind. ViXTER, to grow stout and fleshy, as " There's a vixter upo'
thee," S. ; isl. voxtr, incrementum, augmentum. VoALER, a cat, S. ; isl. vol-a, querulor, perhaps from its cry. VoALEKS-CRAMMACKS. See Cats-crammacks, S. VOAMD, meat injured by being too long kept, S. ; perhaps isl.
voma, nausea, vomitus, as causing nausea. VoAR (Vor, long o), the spring, the seed-time, S. ; isl. var ;
no. da. s. vaar ; lat. ver, id. VoDD, empty, unoccupied, void, S. VoGA ; " In voga" — in atoms, in a crushed state, S. Vole-mouse, the short-tailed field-mouse, 0. and S. ; sii, g.
wall, solum herbidum ; isl. voell-r, campus, pratrum. VoRD, a high hill. Sec Wart, S. VuxEN, well-growTi, S. ; da. voxen ; s. vuxen, id. VuxEN, iU., ill-grown, unshapely, S. ; da. ilde-voxen, id. VuxTER, applied to the position one assumes in sitting or
standing, S. Vyaedick, a stream of filth, S. Vyld, dirty, filthy, vile, S. Vyldness, dirt, filth, S. Vynd, shape, manner, S. ; isl. vandi, mos. Vyndable, an article, a thing, a small morsel, S.
Waaf, a signal, 0. ; s. weft-a, vacillare, to flutter (as a flag). AVaaf, transient eftluvia or odour, S. ; allied to eng. waft, to
float. Waa-geng, a flavour, S. AVaah, anything that occasions surprise or admiration, 0. and
S. ; isl. va, anything unexpected.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 141
Waar, conscious of, pm^ to ; " To be waar o' " — to see, to have a view of, S. ; emj. aware ; da. var, vaar, id.
Wade, that part of the boat aft into which the fish are drawn, S.
Waiden, soft, supple, S.
Wairin, a stripe or edging, as along a boat's gunwale, S.
Wale, gunwale, S.
Wallawae, the devil, S. ; mceso-goth. walawa, interjectio dolentis et abominantis.
Wallawalla, hush ! silence ! 0. and S.
Wan, prospect, hope, liking for anything, S. ; isl. von, spes.
Wanless, hopeless, destitute, S. ; isl. vonlaus, exspes.
Wanlie, agreeable, comfortable (applied to places), S. ; isl. vonlegr, sperandus.
Warback, an insect that breeds in the skin of cattle {Oestrus hovis), S.
Warbecks, larvae of an insect deposited in the skins of cattle, S.
Ward. See Wart.
Warded ; " It's weel warded to thee" — it is thoroughly de- served by you, S.
Ware, drift-weed used as manure, S.
Wared, manured with seaweed, 0.
Warn ; " I warn" — synonymous with the American " I guess," S.
Warp, a stroke in pulling with an oar, S.
Waery, of or belonging to seaware, S.
Wart, a tumulus or mound thrown up on high gi-ound for the purpose of conveying intelligence by signals, 0. and S. ; isl. varda ; s. vard ; da. varde ; g. warte, id.
Wassie, a horse-collar, 0. ; su. g. wase, a bundle of twigs.
Waster, the west part of the country, S.
Water, the name given to disease in sheep, S.
142 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND
Watee-droger, a term applied to the last pig of a sow's
litter, which is generally the smallest, S. Water-teaa, the heartburn. 8eQ Herskat, S. Water-weak, a frail delicate person, S. Water-weikit, frail, delicate, S. Watter, water ; " A watter" — a wave, S. Wattle, a tax paid in Shetland, said to have been introduced
in return for the distribution of holy water, S. Weasses, a species of breeching for the necks of work horses,
0. and S. ; sw. g. wase, a bundle of twigs. Wed, to leap out of the water as trouts do in catching winged
insects, S. Wed ; " To sit in the wed" — to sit by the man who is hauling
fishing-lines, and to assist him in taking the fish off the
hooks, S. Weeg, the kittiwake {Larus tridadylus), S. ; s. kuaka, garri-
tus avium. Weel-at-himsel, applied to a person or animal grown stout,
S. Weff, having a musty smell, S. Weigh, a weigh of fish, one hundredweight, S. Weight, a weight of lines for fishing, S. Wenkl, to wriggle, S. Went, a moment, an instant, S. ; da. vente, a waiting, an
expectation. Wery, cross, vexation ; " That's llic wery o' it," 0. and S. Wez, us ; in some places we, 0. and S. Whaal (skate), a species of cuttle-fish of enormous size, S. Whaals, long undulating unbroken waves, sometimes seen
upon the ocean during a fine summer day, so called from
their supposed resemblance to a whale, S. Whaarl, a round piece of wood or stone, with a hole through
the centre, for putting on the end of a spindle.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 143
Whaar-say, an expression meaning " as if one would say," S.
WHAARTtr, why, wherefore, for what purpose, S.
Wham, a crook, a bend, S.
Whasay, an unfounded report not worth heeding, S.
Whassl-whiezl, to wheeze in breathing, S.
Wheelicreuse, a churchyard, 0. ; i&L hvila, lectus, cubile,
and kro-a, to enclose. Wheen, queen, 0. and S. "Wheerney, a very gentle breeze, O. Whenya, a mill, S. Whett, to quit, to leave, S. Wheylkix, lively coy motions, S. Whiddek, a gust of wind, S. ; id. hvida, cita commotio
aeris. Whidder, whether. Whiddy, unstable, unsteady, applied to the mind, 0. and S.
Se& Whidder. Whigga, couch-grass {Triticum repens), S. While, to suck anything quickly into the mouth, to gulp up,
S. Whilly, a small skiff, S. Whingick, a snuff-box, S, Whingered, silenced (g soft), S.
Whinkin, walking or acting with a wanton or saucy air, S. Whippack, a small fishing-rod, S. ; da. vippe, a whip. Whir, to harden, as bread too much fired, S. Whirlock, anything twisted into a knot, S. Whirm. See Quirm. Whirmd a^vay, spirited away, S. Whiskin, palpitation of the heart, S. Whiss (to), to eat everything set before one, to pick from the
bones, S. White-maa, the herring gull (Zariis canus), S.
1 44 GL OSSAR V OF SHE TLAND
Whittle, a small smooth stone used by mowers to keep a sharp edge on the scythe, a name given to the harvest- hook in Scotland, S.
Whizzin, inquiring, cross-questioning, S.
Wick, an open unsheltered bay, S. ; isl. vig, id. ; da. vig, a creek, a cove.
WiDDERWiSE, contrariwise, against the sun, S.
WiDDLE, to walk slowly about, S.
WiDE-GAB, the fishing frog, S.
WiLDGEiM, a plain at the foot of Eonis Hill, probably signify- ing unclaimed common, S.
WiGG, to move, to shake, to wag, S. ; eng. wag.
Wight, the shrew-mouse, 0. ; su. g. wickt, anything very small.
WiLCOCK, the razor-bill — a bird, S.
Wiles (the), the gunwales of a boat, S.
WiLN, part of the intestines of a sheep, S.
WiMEGiET, the girth that secures the clibber on the back of a horse, S.
WiND-cuFFER, the name given to the kestrel, 0.
Wind-feed, occasional showers which increase the force of tlie wind, S.
WiNGLE, to bend and twist, S.
WiNGLED ; " A wingled prin" — a pin that is bent and twisted, S.
WiNSTER, ViNSTER, a disease in sheep, inflammation of the stomach and bowels, S. ; isl. vinstur, ventriculus quartus ruminantium abomasum ; no. vingstr ; s. venstr, id.
WiNTER-Fisir, fish caught about the middle of August, split and allowed to remain in the brine until the end of spring, wlien they are washed and dried for exportation, S.
WiR, our; "Wir nain" — our own, S. ; isl. vor ; da. vor, noster.
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 145
WiRL, to fret, to whiiie, S.
WiRLiN, querulous, peevish, S.
WiRN ; a contraction for " wir nain" — our omii, S.
WiRN, to become ; as "What's wirned 0' it?" S.
WiRR^VBLAA, a violent and sliort exertion, S.
WiRZ, ours, S.
Wisp, an ill-natured person, as, " A wisp of a bodie," S. ; da. vespe, a wasp.
WiSTER ; " To stand in the wister" — to be exposed to a cold biting wind, accompanied by rain or sleet, S.
WiTCHUCK, the sand-martin ; a bird, 0.
WiTHERON, a rogue ; " A guild mtheron" — a great rogue, 0.
Withers of wind, gusts of wind, S.
Witter, to guide, to direct, S.
Wiz, was, S.
WooDMAiL, a cloth payment imposed anciently upon the Shetland peasantr}^, as part payment of land-rent, some- times written " vadmell," 0. and S.
Wratch, wretch, S.
WUPPLE, to roll up, to bundle up, S.
Wy, way, S.
Yaa, yes, S. ; id. da. s. ja, id.
Yaab, to harp pertinaciously on a subject, S.
Yaag (to), to importune incessantly, S.
Yaagin, keeping the hand-line at the fishing in constant motion to attract the fish, and entice them to take the bait, S. ; isl. jagaz, exercere assiduo labore.
Yaal, to cry or howl, S. ; da. hyl, id.
Yack, a jacket ; Yack or Yackie is also a term for an Esqui- maux, S. ; da. Jakke, id.
Yackle, a grinder, a double tootli, 0. and S. ; isl. jaxl, dens molaris.
u
146 GL OSSAR V OF SHE TLA ND
Yag, fine dust of flour or meal, S.
Yaggee, a travelling pedlar, a hawker, also a clandestine pur- chaser of things unfairly disposed of, S.
Yaggee, a pedlar, 0, and S.
Yagging, peddling, trading, S.
Yakee, a double tooth, whether in man or beast, S. 8ce, Yackle.
Yaldee, the barking of a dog wheu in pursuit of prey, or when bringing an animal to bay, S.
Yaldeeing, barking noisily. 8ce Yalder.
Yallaceack, intemperate altercation, excessive noise of voices, S.
Yammel, born in the same yea.r, S.
Yammils, twins, S.
Yaefast. S>ee Yerfast.
Yakk, to bite greedily, S.
Yaex, a large bite, also a long greedy drink, S.
Yaekin, the space between the forefinger and thumb, S.
Yaeking, incessant fault-finding, S.
Yaekins, the side-seams of a shoe, S. ; da. yarki, exterior margo plantae.
Yael, the title of earl, S. ; da. jarl ; id. jarl, id., etc. etc.
Yarpha, peat full of fibres and roots, x^eat combined with clay or sand, a denomination of land, 0.
Yaeeow, to make meal, S.
Yaeta, a familiar address,,. such as Dearly beloved, S. ; evi- dently cognate with id, hiarta, heart ; da. hierte ; no. jarte, id.
Yat, to pour in large quantity, S.
Yatlin, candles made by dipping cotton-wick repeatedly in melted tallow, S.
Yatlin-bluid. " As red as yatlin-bluid" is an expression meaning anything of a bright red colour. A giant is called " jotun" in the old no. Perhaps this may be cognate in a
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 147
figurative sense ; it may be from " yatt," to pour out, to
shed. Thus "yatlin bluid" would be "newly-shed blood,"
as highly red-coloured as newly-shed blood, S. Yattek, to carp, S. ; perhaps from enrj. chatter, or from the
da. yttre, to utter, to express. Yatterin, captious, S.
Yattle. S)ee Yackle ; i8l. jadl, dens molaris. Yaws, apparently the disorder termed " syphilis," O. Yea, yes ; invariably used in Shetland, S. Yeald. See Yeld. Yeld, in a single state, without a mate ; applied also to bii'ds
in S. ; isl. gelid, gall ; da. gald ; su. cj. gall, infsecundus,
effoetus. Yellia-bein or hellia-brix, a brook or burn in Unst, holy
water, S. ; da. hellig, holy, and su. g. brunn ; isl. brunnur,
a well, a fountain. Yellowing-grass, a plant from which a yellow dye is ex- tracted, S. Yerfast, chains, ropes of straw, etc., used for securing com or
hay during a gale of wdnd, S. ; da. gjore-fast, to secure, to
make fast. Yetland, sometimes written for Shetland or Zetland, although
" Shetland" is the proper orthography, S. Yetlin, a girdle on which cakes are baked, S. Yield. See Yeld. Yield-yow, a violent pressure of the thumb under the lobe of
the ear, S. Yin, this or that, 0.
YiNK, to set apart anything to be given to another, S. YiNK, a lover, a sweetheart, S. Yinked, set aside, S. YiTSA, an interjection — Get on ! S. Yoag, the great mussel {3fytUv.s jnodioiits), S.
148 GLOSSAE V OF SHETLAND d- ORKNE V WORDS-
YocK, a grip, a hold, S.
YocK, to grasp or seize hold of, S.
YoKUL, expressive of assent — " Yes, sir," S.
YooFER, a large clumsy oar not properly shaped or dressed, S.
YooFiE, a thrashing, a beating, S.
YuGGLE, an owl, S. ; da. ngle, id.
Yule-blinker, the north star, S. ; da. jule, and blinker, a
cant word for a star, Christmas-star. YULE-STEEK, a very wide stitch in sewing, S.
NORWICK,
NAMES OF SOME PLACES IN SHETLAND,
REMARKS ON THEIR ORIGIN AND MEANING.
I. SOME OF THE ISLANDS.
Hjaltland, the old northern name for Shetland, has been supposed by some to be derived from the old Norse Hjalt, a hilt, perhaps from some fanciful resemblance the shape or appearance of the country may have presented to the imagination of the warlike Norsemen. This, how- ever, is a very doubtful and far-fetched derivation. With far greater probability it may have been Hjalti, an old Viking of the ninth century, who gave the islands his name. The transition from Hjaltland to Shetland is easy. Indeed, in several Norse dialects, hj is pronounced almost as sh (" Tvar Aasseu Det Norske Folkesprogs Grammatik," Kristiania, 1848). The letter "1" would probably be omitted when the English language began to be intro- duced, and it is the practice in Shetland still to leave out that letter in many words — ex. Skap for scalp ; and as in Orkney the island of Hjalpandsey is modernised to Shapinshay, possibly the Scotch name "Sholto" has been changed from the Norse, Hjalti, as undoubtedly many northern names were not only introduced into Bri-
ISO NAMES OF SOME
tain by the Norman-Frencli nnder William the Con- queror, but were directly brought from Norway, etc., by the lesser conquerors, the Vikings, in their descents and conquests on the coasts of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Witness, for example, the names of many places in Scot- land and the Isles — ex. Wick from Vik ; Thurso, Thorsa, or the river of Thor ; the islands Barrey, Tirey, Colonsay, and many others, all evidently of northern origin.
Mainland. — Perhaps anciently Meginland — i.e. the chief or principal land, being itself as large as all the other islands together.
Yell. — Called by the peasantry Yall, anciently written Jalla, Jala, and more recently Jele or Jelle. Professor Munch (" Mem. de la Soc. Eoy. des Antiq. du Nord, 1850-1860," p. 95) admits that it is not easy to explain the origin of this word. I have, however, come across a derivation in the " Gallic Encyclopaedia" — to wit, " Yell, barren. Islandic, Gelid, Gall ; Danish, Gald ; Su.-Gothic, Gall ; used to de- note sterility of soil. A field is said to be ' Yell' when nothing wiU grow upon it." This derivation is, I think, a most likely one, as the greater part of the surface of Yell is composed of peat-moss, and presents to the eye a most sterile appearance.
Unst. — Old forms, Onyst, Onist, and Ornyst, which latter
would seem to be Ornen-nyst, Eagle's Nest, perhaps from the fact that eagles breed in Unst. Professor Munch (of Cit, p. 98) thinks the most probable derivation to be
from Orn, eagle, and Vist, abode. Fetlak. — Said to have been anciently written Foetilor and Fotilara, and, according to Munch, Foetalar, and Fetelaa, and Fotlara. In Norse, Foti means a foot, and Laer the tliigh ; Leir is clay or mud (argilla). F(')tlagr is short- legged. Fotul, or Fetill, a band to bind with, a fetiU.
PLA CES IN SHETLAND. 1 5 i
Also, ill Norse, is a word Fiutlur, explained by Hal- dorsson as " Tric?e,Hilde, Forvikliug" (i. p. 217), entangling or fettering. All this, however, is very doubtful. It has been suggested to me that this island was formerly " Fedorsoy"— if. "Theodore's Island."
Whalsay. — Doubtless from Hval, a whale, and Ey, island. This island was probably so called from w^hales having been captured there.
Skerries. — From "Skaer" a rock or small isle, and Ey, island.
Bressay. — Corruption and contraction of Bardsey. Isl. Bard, bord, margo, extremitas, prominensora. So far the term is significant as to Bressay and to Mousay. But Bardi is a giant, and the parts of this high rock are called by the fishermen " the giant's legs, breast, head," etc. It is not unlikely that so striking a resemblance as this head- land bears to the parts of a human being suggested the name Bardi, and that the island was thence called Bardsey, the Giant's Island. Munch's Breidey is inadmissible, as the island is not broad positively or relatively. It is often spelt Brassay.
Mousa. — Anciently Jlfosey. Its ancient burg is often men- tioned in the Sagas as Moseyjarborg. Isl. and Dan. Mos, moss ; Isl. llosar, mossy places.
BuRRA. — That is Burgcy, so called from a castle, the remains of which are still to be traced. It is commonly called Burra Isle, and properly so termed.
Hoy. — From Ha-ey, High Isle, which describes its form, being high in proportion to its size.
Papa, perhaps, was a residence of the Papa3, or Christian anchorites, who came, it is said, from Ireland and the west of Scotland to Orkney and Shetland, and of whom traces were found even in Iceland on its discovery by the North- men. Norse, Papar ; Isl. Papa.
152 NAMES OF SOME
Vaila. — Valr. Isl. Vollr, viretiim pratuni, green grass ; thus the grassy plots in front of houses in Shetland are called the " Toonwalls, or Toonmalls." Waes (walls) is no doubt of the same origin.
Vemuntray. — Probably from Vcimmdr, a man's name. It should be written then, as Munch suggests, Vemundarey.
Vaeskekries. — Old Norse Vas, molestiee, iactationes in mari tempestatibus, shipwreck ; or Va, periculum dam- num. Va oc vesoUd — " Damnum et miseria" (Verelius). These rocks lie in a very dangerous position for ships and boats, and are much dreaded.
Balta. — The Belt Island. Bait is a narrow passage open at each end, hence the ^^ BcW which leads into the Baltic, and gives its name to that sea. Balta is the island that forms the Belt from the south entry to the north, form- ing Balta Sound.
HuNEY is "Havn-ey," the island that forms the harbour — the Harbour Island. Isl. Havn, a harbour.
Haf-gruney. — " Hav-graeney," green isle of the ocean, very descriptive of its situation and appearance. It is thus distinguished from the island of Sund Griiney.
LiNGEY. — Heathery Isle. There are several islands of this name in Shetland. Norse, Ling, heather.
Wether-holm. — Apparently Veder-holm, Eam-island, a small pasture island near Unst.
Uya, Uya Sound. — Anciently written " Breideyarsund." In the year 1263 Uya Sound harboured the greatest fleet that ever left the shores of Norway. Munch, in his Danish history of Haco's expedition (in which he has con- verted a most disastrous defeat into a glorious victory), represents the monarch and his fleet arriving at Brcssa Sound, and tliere awaiting a favourable wind. The Norse account, whicli he follows, has " Breideyarsund," which, he concludes, must have been Bressa Sound. Had he known
PLACES IN SHETLAND. 153
there were two Uya Sounds in Shetland, one of them very small, on the west side of the Mainland, he would, no doubt, have seen that Brcideyarsund meant the wide Uya Sound as distinguished from the narrow one. The Norse account says that, having got a favourable wind, Haco's fleet sailed away "/^/n Barafiord^^ along Burrafirtli — an additional proof that the fleet had rendezvoused in Uya Sound, as Burrafirth is in the north of Unst, not many miles from Uya Sound.
Haskussey. — Perhaps " Hoskuldsey!' Hoskuld's Island. Hos- kuld was a common Scandinavian name.
FuLA. — Perhaps from Fugl, the island of birds or fowls, some- times spoken of as Uttrie, that is Ytrie, or the Outer. This island, being easily seen from Orkney, is very pos- sibly the " Tlude" which Tacitus in his life of Agricola says was seen by the Koman fleet when subduing Orkney. No other land but some part of Shetland can be seen from the north of the Orkneys. The name, itself is also very similar.
Fair Isle, as it is commonly spelt, is no doubt more pro- perly Faer Isle. Far in Isl. and Faar in Danish mean- ing sheep, this island is well adapted for pasturing that animal. One of its promontories is called Sheep Craig — sometimes written " Fairhill." Perhaps the Faroe Islands have their name from the same source ; their sheep, next to their fishings, forming the principal support of the inhabitants.
Ey, a, Oe, Ay. — An island. From the Anglo-Saxon ea, Norse oe. Eyot is the diminutive of ey, and Ait the contraction of Eyot — e.g. Ey in Suffolk, Slieppay, Ptona, Faroe, Co- lonsay. {Vide "Words and Places," etc., by Eev. Isaac Taylor, jSI.A. London and Cambridge.)
II. DEEIVATIONS of the Names of some Places in Shet- land, such as Voes, Hills, Farms, Private Residences, etc. etc.
Aer. — ^Applied to several places having extensive "Acts" or smooth beaches near them — ex. The " Aers of Sellivoe," the "Aers of Strom," etc. Old Norse, Uj/ri, sea-shore where no grass grows. A stony beach.
AiTH, as it is commonly but improperly spelt, is a name given to many places in Shetland. The true orthography is A ed, of old written Uid. In the old Norse Uid is a tongue of land, an isthmus. Thus Aiihs-voe is the voe at the tongue of land.
Aness. — In old rentals Andness. Isl. Andness, a projecting tongue of the sea-shore, opposite to another projection. Thus Andness and Hcliness, which are near to each other in opposite directions. The inseparable particle and de- notes opposition.
Arisdale. — Ari has several meanings in Norse : — 1st, A man's name ; 2d, An eagle ; 3d, A demon. This place is probably from the first of these. It will therefore be " the dale or valley of a man called Ari!'
ASTA. — I'robably Astadr, the dwelling on the ridge. From As, a ridge of a hill, resembling the ridge of a roof.
AswiCK. — Probably from the same. Oscy, on the west of Shetland, the Ividge Island.
Ballista. — In Unst, from old Norse Bala, a smooth plain.
Bard. — The " Bard of Bressay," a long projecting headland, no doubt from old Norse, wliich means a projection from
DERIVATIONS. 155
anything, ' marginis prominentia' (Hald. i. p. 61). Bard also means in Norse the beak or prow of a ship, still conveying the idea of projection, very descriptive of the Bard of Bressay. The Bard of Mou&a, being also a steep headland jutting out some distance into the sea, must be derived from the same.
Bakdistek. — From Bardi, a man's name, and Setr, a dwelling.
Beliagart. — In the island of Fetlar. Perhaps from Belia, a cow. Gart is from Gard, an enclosure (English yard, garden). There is also a farm near Lerwick called " Belie!' Another derivation has been given me — to wit, Bala, old Norse, a smooth plain.
Brinnaster, which some speU " Brindasetr," the dwelling of Brenda. It is, however, more probably Brynastadr, the house on the promontory, from old Norse, hryn, hrun^ an overhanging hroio of a rock. There are still to be seen the remains of a large ancient building on the very brink of the precipitous rock at Brinnaster.
Brogh, Burg. — An ancient circular building, called also a " Pecht's House," and a " Pecht's Castle." As an appel- lative it is now pronounced Brocli (gutt.) ; but in com- pounded names of places it is sometimes spelt and pro- nounced " Burg" — as in Bm-galand, Coningsburg ; and sometimes the " g" is dropped altogether — as in Burraness, Burravoe. The shores of Shetland are studded with the remains of these Pictish erections ; but whether they W'ere beacons, dwelling-houses, or fortifications, antiquari- ans have not been able to determine. It is probable, from their situation and structure, as well as from the occa- sional notices respecting them which are scattered through the A^Titings of the Scandinavian historians, and from the names which they have impressed on adjoining localities, that they answered all these purposes. The best descrip- tion which has been given of these interesting monuments
156 DERIVA TIONS.
of antiquity is contained in Hibbert's " Shetland." Dr Jamieson gives as the etymon Anglo-Sax. hconj, munimen- tum, agger, arx, a rampart, a place of defence and succour ; harg, a castle ; and refers to Maes.-Goth. hairg, a mountain, as the origin of the Saxon word. This etymon, however, can only be regarded as a cognate term, for assuredly the ancient Pictish inhabitants of Shetland did not receive their language from the Saxons. Su.-Goth. horg ; Belg. hurg ; Chald. hurg-adh ; Gr. -purgos, a tower ; Goth. horg ; Teut. hui-g ; Sax. liirg ; Isl. heorg ; Armoric, hurg ; Irish, hurg ; Welsh, hurg ; Fr. hourg ; Ital. lorg-a, a fortress, a castle, a walled town. The root appears to be Goth, herga, to defend.
BuGART. — A place in Yell. Bii in Norse means cattle — hence Bugart, iin enclosure for cattle.
BuNESS would therefore mean " Cattle Ness." It may, how- ever, be derived from Bu, a dwelling — the dwelling on the ness.
BusTA is simply Bustadr, a dwelling, or perhaps Busetr, pasture for cattle.
Cliff. — Perhaps from Norse Klif, a slope. The land of Cliff in Unst slojjes down to the edge of the loch.
Crosbister. — Must have been " Krossbustadr," a dwelling near a cross. Perhaps in ancient times in Fetlar a cross has been erected there.
CUNINGSBURG. — In old Norse "Kuningr" and " Kunis" mean a rabbit or coney (cuniculus), and Cuningsburg is re- markable for a rabbit-warren. Another derivation may, however, be inferred from Konuugr, a king, also a man of noble birth ; Burg, from Borg, a castle. Hence this place may have been the residence of some of the old chiefs.
Dael, Dal, Daill, arc names given to many places in Shetland, meaning tlie same as EngHsh dale. Old Norse, Dal
DERIVA TIONS. 157
DUNROSSNESS. — Professor Mimch of Christiania derives it thus : " Dyn-rost-nes " — that is the ness or promontory near the dinning or sounding sea-current, which applies exactly to Dunrossness, Ijdng as its southern extremity does, and called Sumburgli Boost. Haldorsson describes Dyn as sonare, resonare, to sound, to resoimd ; and Bost, series ver- ticosa syrtium maris, banks in the sea on which the waves whirl and break. '
EsHAKESS. — Islandic, " Ess^ a mare. Qu. The ness on which the mares were kept apart from the horses ; or As, mon- ticulus oblongus, or Esia, terra aspera. Either of these is appropriate.
ExNABUE, a place in Dunrossness, is undoubtedly from the Norse Yxn^ a bull, also a cow. Hald. (vol. ii. p. 490) describes Yxn as bos, taurus, taura, taurus castratus ; and Yxna as vitulans marem appetens — that is, skittish, seek- ing the male. Exnabu, or Yxnaby, will therefore be a place for keeping cattle.
FiAEL. — jSTorse, Fiall, a mountain, modern Norwegian Fjel. There is a farm called Fiad situated just at the foot of Eoeness Hill, the highest mountain in Shetland. Also one at the foot of HoiLsa-fiael, a hill in Unst, and in other parts of the islands.
EiEDELAND. — Dr. Hibbert (p. 507) says : " On the north of the parish of North ]Mavine the low hilly ridges formed by the sea into deep fissures or caverns terminate in a line of ragged coast, agreeably diversified by a long narrow pen- insula of gi"een land jutting out far into the Northern Ocean, which is named ' Fiedeland,' an appellation of true ScandinaAdan origin, that is explained by Debes in his description of Feroe. He observes that where grass is found so abundant and juicy that oxen feed thereon both winter and simimer, such places are named 'Fiedelands' ; and it is very remarkable," he adds, " that where there are
158 DERIVATIONS.
any Fiedelands they invariably turn to the north-east and north."
Fitful. — A hill in the southern extremity of Mainland, 929 feet in height ; old Norse Fit, extremitas terrse in mare procurrentis ; also jit, planicies pinguis. This is minutely and strictly descriptive of the locality. This hill slopes down to the south, and then a flat of the richest land in Shetland extends a mile into the ocean, forming the western side of the bay of Quendale. Fitful is a corrup- tion of Fitfimll.
FOGRIGAKT. — Probably from Norse Fagur, fair, bright, and Gardr, a field or enclosure — i.e. Fairfield.
Gerdie, Geet, Gord, Gardishouss, names very common both singly and as compounds, are doubtless from the Norse Gerdie, and Gardr, described by Haldorsson as a field or an enclosure.
Gil. — A narrow pass between hills, in common use in Shet- land. Norse Gil, fissura montium, a cleft of mountains, (Hald. vol. ii. p. 282).
Girlsta, anciently Geirhildirstadr, from the lake there in which Geirhild, the daughter of Eafna Floke, was drowned in 870.
Gloup. — The term Gloup seems to be generic, as it is else- where in these islands applied to other caverns of a simi- lar description, and may probably be derived from the Icelandic word Gloppa, which is used with reference to the crater of a volcano. Vide " Statistical Account of Orkney," note, p. 170 The term gives a title to one of the proprietors in North Yell, where there is a fine cavern much frequented by seals.
Grunaster, Grunataing, Grunavoe. — Norse Graen, green. A green place, a green tongue of land, a voe with green banks.
Hammer, Hammar. — Isl. llamar, terra scopulis obsita, ground covered with boulders. It would be difficult to meet with a more striking example of the above definition than is
DERIVATIONS. 159
afforded by the Hammars between the " Muckle Heog" and the sea in the island of Unst.
Heog. — Isl. Haug, Swed. Hoeg, tmnuhis sepulchralis. In its original signification it is a hill, from har, ha, hat, high. Two conical liills very near each other in the island of Unst, between Balta Sound and Haroldswick. The deri- vation I have given above is a most likely one, as in the summer of 1865 human bones were exhumed from the summit of these hills under the superintendence of James Himt, Esq., Ph.D., F.S.A., F.E.S.L., etc. etc., President of the Anthropological Society of London. For a very in- teresting account of the "Discovery of large Kist-vaens on the Muckle Heog in the Island of Unst, Shetland, containing urns of chloritic schist, by George E. Roberts, F.G.S., Hon. Secy. A.S.L., etc. etc., with Note on the Human Eemains by C. Carter Blake, F.G.S., Assist. Secy. A.S.L.," vide " Memoirs of the Anthropological Society of London, 1863-1864," vol. i.
Helleksness. — In the island of Fetlar, Norse "Hellir," an- trum, specus, a cave. Hellersness is therefore a ness with a cave or caves m it (Hald. i p. 348).
Hestingard. — Norse ffesfi; a horse, Hestin, horses. An en- closure or field for horses.
Hestinsetr is a pasture for horses.
HiVDiGAED. — Norse Hofud and Hofdi, a head.
HuAM. — The name of a farm in the valley of Quendale. From Islandic huamm, a sloping valley, peculiarly descriptive of the locality.
Keldabister. — Dan. Xcld, a well, and Bustadr, a dwelling- place.
Kergord. — In Norse " Ker" means a swamp or marsh, palus, (Hald. i. p. 450). Kergord is therefore a swampy field.
KiRKABiSTER, of which name there are many places in Shet- land, is a dwelling near a kirk or church ; Norse, Kyrkia, a church.
i6o DERIVATIONS.
Lamhoga, Lamb ahoga. —old Norse hdga (pron. lioga), locus pascuriis ; from hag. This is a promontory in Fetlar with good pasture for sheep^ and may therefore be derived from Norse, Lamm, a lamb, and Haug, a hill. If this latter derivation be correct, the name of the hill would likely be Lamhahaugr.
Laxa. — Norse Lax, the salmon, and A, a river or running stream. This applies to Laxa, the burn of that name, abounding in large sea-trout, and perhaps an occasional salmon might be found if sought for. Lax is the generic Norse word for trout and salmon. Vide Professor Wil- son's " Voyage round the Coasts of Scotland and the Isles," vol ii. pp. 267-68, Edin. 1842.
Lerwick. — Perhaps from Norse, Leir, clay, and Vik, a bay. The bottom of Lerwick harbour is mostly clay combined with mud and sand.
Log. — Norse Lag, a low flat place, which is applicable to the situation of L5g-house, Lerwick, spelt Leog by Shetlanders. There is also in Unst, near Burrafirth, a place called the " Brig o' the Leog." This bridge is over a very treacherous quagmire.
Lund. — In Unst, perhaps from Norse Lundi, a puffin. There are great numbers of these birds on the west side of the island not far from Lund. It may also be from Norse Lund, a sacred grove. The peat-mosses give evidence of trees in ancient times.
LUNNA. — Perliaps from Norse Lynia, a farm, a manor.
Mel. — In Cuningsburg. It is close to the beach, which is called Mels-air, and it is both sandy and stony ; old Norse Mod, Isl. Melr, a place covered with sand and stones.
Melby. — Perhaps Melbu, the dwelling near the sandy beach. Very descriptive.
Minn. — " Swarbacks Minn " is an opening leading from
DERIVATIONS. i6i
Aithsvoe to St. Maguus' Bay. The Norse words Munni and Mynni are doubtless tlie same, aud described by Hald. (ii. p. 91) as, ostium, orificium, a mouth or opening.
MOONESS, MUNESS. — Isl. Mio and Ness, the little ness. Per- haps it may be Jl/unness, from its forming the entrance to Uyea Sound, and be derived in the same way as Minn.
MuL, MooL, pronounced Mool, a long promontory, same as Scotch Midi — ex. ]\Iull of Cantyre. There are several in Shetland — ex. Mool of Aswick, of Lund, etc. etc. ; Norse Muli (Hald. ii. p. 89).
Nab, Knab, a rocky headland at the south end of the town of Lerwick, called generally " The Knah" the K being sounded as in Danish, German, etc. In Hald. " Lexicon," Ndbbi is described as " En Knort," a hump or lump, and ^ also as " En liden tue," a small hill. This applies well to the shape of the "Knab" at Lerwick, perhaps also to the Nab Point at Portsmouth.
Neep is another form of Xoop.
Noop OF Noss, a cliff in Noss Island 577 feet high. Norse Nup, old Norse Nypa, Isl. Nupr, cacumen mentis.
NOOSTIGARD, Nestigard, are both evidently from the Norse Naust, statio navalis, a place or station for a vessel, as Noost in Shetland means " an enclosure into which boats are drawn." Noostigard is therefore a farm near a boat's Noost.
NoRNiGARD. — The old Norse Norn signifies a prophetess or sybil. Perhaps Nornigard in Yell has been the residence of some female esteemed by the peasantry a sybil.
NoRWiCK, in Unst means North-bay, which it is, being the most northern bay in the most northern island in Britain.
Odsetter, Odsta, in Fetlar, perhaps from Norse Oddi, lingula terrae, a tongue of land, or from Oddi, a man's name ; it may therefore either be descriptive of its locality, or named after its inhabitant or possessor. One of the
Y
1 62 DERI VA TIONS.
Skalds whom Earl Eagnald took with him from Shetland iu the 12th ceutury, when on his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, was named Oddi. Vide Orkneyinga Saga.
Olligaed, Olisvoe, Ollabekky, are no doubt from Olaf, a man's name. OUaberry was anciently Olafsberg — i.e. Olaf's Castle.
Presgard. — Perhaps from Fred, a priest. This place being in Tingwall parish, which anciently was the chief place in Shetland, it is very probable that it may have been part of the church-lands. Earl Henry, first Sinclair (in 1379 and 1389), promised to pay certain sums, partly in Kirke- vag, and partly " apud ecclesiam beati magni martyris Tyngval^ iu Hialtlandia."
PuND is often used to denote a small farm or enclosure ; it is probably cognate with English Pound, Ang.-Sax. ^ynd, a small enclosure ; pyndan, to shut up in an enclosed place.
QuARFF. — By the natives Huarf. Perhaps from old Norse hiiarf, Isl. huerfi, a low place bounded by hills. This is peculiarly descriptive of the locality.
QUENDAL, always pronounced by the native peasantry Hwan- dcd, Isl. huann, angelica, and dal, a valley. In the im- mediate vicinity of the mansion-house of Quendale there is a winding valley at the base of Eitfiel, in which the plant angelica still grows in great abundance.
Eaewick. — Isl. Ba, angulus, recessus, and ViJc, a bay.
EoENESS Hill, or " Baudaness," from the red colour of its cliffs ; Norse Baud, red. Dr. Hibbert (p. 573) says, " A desert range of precipices presented itself on the northern coast, backed by the ruddy cinincnce of Eoeness ;" and p. 514, "From the Voe I ascended Eoeness Hill by a very steep side. Its surface abounds with several alpine plants ; its height, which is the most considerable in Shetland, has been estimated at 1476 feet. To the north there was nothing in sight but a mountain of granite," etc.
DERI VA TIONS. 1 63
Scalloway. — lu the " Statistical Account of Scotland," vol. XV., the name is said to signify " The harbour beside the mansion-houses" — Scalla signifying house, and Way, or more properly Vic, a roadstead. Some suppose it to have been Scallavick, " the little harbour." A Shetland gentle- man, a Norse scholar, has sent me the following : — " Scal- loway : sJcali, a booth, a temporary abode, a shieling, and vagr, vogr, a voe ; or perhaps vcg, as in Norveg, Norway. Those who came from the south part of Shetland to the annual meeting of the great Thing, erected their booths at Scalloway, in the neighbourhood of the Thing. In old rentals of Dunrossness there are payments mentioned for pasturing horses in Tingwall during the Thing. The fancy that the Court was held on a holm in the Loch of Tingwall is utterly absurd. There is no doubt that the Tingwall (the plain of the Court) was very near Scalloway, and I be- lieve the Loghenj (the Law Stone), is still standing." The Castle of Scalloway, a fine old ruin, stands to the east of the village. It was built in 1600 by Earl Patrick Stewart.
Setter. — Very common both singly and as compounds, form- ing the terminal of many names of places. It occurs in every parish in Shetland. The meaning of Xorsc Sdr is given by Haldorsson as sedxi^, domus, hahitaculum. Sometimes applied to the j^cistv/re near a collection of peasants' houses. In many instances it is contracted to Ster — ex. Cnister, Houster, for Crusetter, Housetter, etc. etc. Bister, also a terminal of many places, is from Biis- ta.clr, " a dwelling-place."
Skaw. — A promontory in the Island of LTnst ; Norse Skaga, promontorium.
Smikgaed. — A farm in Unst famous for the excellent butter it produces ; Norse Smior, butter.
Stoor. — Stoor-Hobn, and Papa Stoor ; Norse Stor, great or large. Stor-Holm is the largest in Yell Sound. Papa Stoor is so called to distinguish it from Papa-/«7//c.
i64 DERIVATIONS.
SuMBUKGH is called in David Sinclair's testament " Swyn- brocht" — that is, Swynburg or Sweyn's Castle.
Symbister, in the island of Whalsay, from Norse Syn, visas, and Bister, a dwelling. The dwelling with a view.
Tangwick, the bay of Tang. Tang is a species of seaweed (large Fuci), Vik, a bay. This place is much exposed to heavy seas from the Atlantic Ocean, and a great quantity of seaweed is driven on its shores.
Thoft, Toft. — ]\Iany dwellings in Shetland bear this name. "Area domus vacua" (Hald. j). 385) ; "The premises of a house" (E. Wolff en Dansk og Engelsk Ord-Bog).
Ting. — This is the termination of the names of several parishes in Shetland, being from the Norse Thing — a court of justice, a council. Each district has its local Ting ; hence the names of Nesting, Sandsting, Delting, Aithsting, Lunnasting, etc. The chief court of all the islands, however, was held at Tingimll, under the presi- dency of the chief magistrate or judge called the Great Foud.
TiNGWALL, Norse Thingvollr, described by Haldorsson (vol. ii. p. 498), "Campus vel locus comitorum" — a field or place where courts are held. The Althing, or chief court of Iceland, was held on the plain of Thingvollr. Vide Mal- let's " Antiquities," etc. etc. Dingwall in Eoss-shire is also Tinwald, and from the same source, the northern counties of Scotland having been long under Scandinavian do- minion.
Troll-houlland, in tlie west part of Mainland, is the hill or high land of Trows or Demons. Dr. Hibbert (p. 444) says, — " Leaving the head of Bigsetter Voe, I ascended a high tract of moorland, where the barking of the house- dog, in signal of the traveller's attempt to explore the indistinct tracks before liim, might still be heard. A few scanty human habitations presented tliemselves, closed in by a melanclioly waste of hills and lakes. In this wild
DERIVA TIONS. 1 6 5
abode, a knoll shrouded by clouds and mists has long been dreaded as a domicile for unclean spirits, hence its name of Troll-houlland, or ' the hill of demons or troius! Several other hills in Shetland are also celebrated for affording, within their internal recesses, a habitation for evil genii ; and it is remarkable that certain places in Norway have, for many centuries, from a similar super- stition, been associated with the name of Trol. Thus Olaus Magnus, in speaking of a place rendered awful by the descent of a rapid and tumultuous river, adds, — ' Nomen habet Trolhetta, hoc est caputium demonis, forte propter horrorem, quern sono stridorque generat, in palu- dinosam, planitiem cadens.' In Iceland a number of craters are known by the name of Troll a-dungiar, which is translated magic heaps." Vide Olaus Magnus' " History of the Goths, Swedes, and Vandals." Translated by J. S., folio, London, 1658.
Ukie. — In Fetlar, close to a very remarkable and extensive beach composed of round sea-rolled stones. Old Norse Eyri, a stony beach.
Uresland, — From Norse Ucr, tliin gravelly soil.
Vatn. — A lake or loch ; Norse Vatn, lacus. There is a lake in the island of Bressay called Sanvatn, or Sandy Loch.
Vatnagard. — A farm near a lake, often contracted to Vatn. This word, forming compounds, is often contracted to Vat and Vats — ex. Vatster, Vatsland, wet or watery places. Vasa is also no doubt from the same — as Vasa in Nesting lies near a loch.
ViRKiE. — Perhaps from Norse Virki, munitio, vallum, ram- part or fortification (Hald. ii. p. 445). Dr. Hibbert, speak- ing of Dunrossness parish, where Virkie is situated, says — " There are also small fortifications occurring in differ- ent parts of the country, which manifest striking marks of Roman construction" (p. 102).
1 66
DERIVATIONS.
Vo or VoE is the name of a number of places, all situated at the head of voes or inlets of the sea — ex. Voe in Del- ting, Voe in Walls, Voe in Dunrossness. Norse Vogr, sinus maris angustus.
VoED-HiLL in Fetlar. The name has doubtless the same meaning as Wart, a look-out.
Wakt. — A name given to the top of a high hill, such as may be used for a look-out, and from which, in ancient times, signals were made to give notice of the approach of an enemy ; cognate with the English, to keep watch and loard ; German, vmrte, a watch-tower, a look-out. Several high liills are so called — ex. the Wart of Bressay, 742 feet high ; the Wart of Whalsay, 376 feet ; the Wart of Scousbra, 854 feet — all of which command an extensive view. Varde, a beacon, a phare, a watch-tower. Vide " En Dansk og Engelsk Ord-Bog." Ernest Wolff, London, 1779.
SAN D W I CK.
NOTICE.
At the instance of the Kev. Isaac Taylor, author of the well-known work Names and Places, the following Glossary, in its first form, Avas laid before the Council of the Philological Society, with a suggestion that they should aid in its publication. This the Council resolved to do, after having had parts of the work read at two of the Society's meetings, in the spring of the present year. They at the same time suggested that derivations should be added to the dialectal words as well as the names of places. These derivations the author has accordingly addedj to the best of his ability, and he is alone respon- sible for them and the rest of the book, neither the Philological Society nor any one on their behalf having supervised the execution of the work, or seen its sheets before their publication.
CONTRACTIONS.
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a. s. |
Anglo-Saxon. |
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da. |
Danish. |
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da. pro. . |
Danish Provincial |
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du. |
Dutch. |
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eng. |
English. |
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fr- |
French. |
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9- |
German. |
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goth. |
Gothic. |
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gr. |
Greek. |
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isl. |
Icelandic. |
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lat. |
Latin. |
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no. |
Norwegian. |
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0. g. |
Old Gothic. |
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0. |
Orkney. |
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s. |
Shetland. |
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s. |
Swedish. |
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SCO. |
Scotch. |
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su. g. |
Sueo-Gothie. |
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tent. |
Teutonic. |
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