The next day Gibbie provided him with something to do. He had the chest of papers found in the Auld Hoose o’ Galbraith carried into his study, and the lawyer found both employment and interest for weeks in deciphering and arranging them. Amongst many others concerning the property, its tenures, and boundaries, appeared some papers which, associated and compared, threw considerable doubt on the way in which portions of it had changed hands, and passed from those of Gibbie’s ancestors into those of Ginevra’s — who were lawyers as well as Galbraiths; and the laird was keen of scent as any nose-hound after dishonesty in other people. In the course of a fortnight he found himself so much at home in his old quarters, and so much interested in those papers and his books, that when Sir Gilbert informed him Ginevra and he were going back to the city, he pronounced it decidedly the better plan, seeing he was there himself to look after affairs.
For the rest of the winter, therefore, Mr. Galbraith played the grand seigneur as before among the tenants of Glashruach.
CHAPTER LXII.
THE BURN.
The moment they were settled in the Auld Hoose, Gibbie resumed the habits of the former winter, which Mistress Croale’s failure had interrupted. And what a change it was to Ginevra — from imprisonment to ministration! She found difficulties at first, as may readily be believed. But presently came help. As soon as Mistress Croale heard of their return, she went immediately to Lady Galbraith, one morning while Sir Gibbie was at college, literally knelt at her feet, and with tears told her the whole tale, beseeching her intercession with Sir Gibbie.
“I want naething,” she insisted, “but his fawvour, an’ the licht o’ his bonnie coontenance.”
The end of course was that she was gladly received again into the house, where once more she attended to all the principal at least of her former duties. Before she died, there was a great change and growth in her: she was none of those before whom pearls must not be cast.
Every winter, for many years, Sir Gilbert and Lady Galbraith occupied the Auld Hoose; which by degrees came at length to be known as the refuge of all that were in honest distress, the salvation of all in themselves such as could be helped, and a covert for the night to all the houseless, of whatever sort, except those drunk at the time. Caution had to be exercised, and judgment used; the caution was tender and the judgment stern. The next year they built a house in a sheltered spot on Glashgar, and thither from the city they brought many invalids, to spend the summer months under the care of Janet and her daughter Robina, whereby not a few were restored sufficiently to earn their bread for a time thereafter.
The very day the session was over, they returned to Glashruach, where they were received by the laird, as he was still called, as if they had been guests. They found Joseph, the old butler, reinstated, and Angus again acting as gamekeeper. Ginevra welcomed Joseph, but took the first opportunity of telling Angus that for her father’s sake Sir Gilbert allowed him to remain, but on the first act of violence he should at once be dismissed, and probably prosecuted as well. Donal’s eldest brother was made bailiff. Before long Gibbie got the other two also about him, and as soon as, with justice, he was able, settled them together upon one of his farms. Every Saturday, so long as Janet lived, they met, as in the old times, at the cottage — only with Ginevra in the place of the absent Donal. More to her own satisfaction, after all, than Robert’s, Janet went home first, — “to be at han’,” she said, “to open the door till him whan he chaps.” Then Robert went to his sons below on their farm, where he was well taken care of; but happily he did not remain long behind his wife. That first summer, Nicie returned to Glashruach to wait on Lady Galbraith, was more her friend than her servant, and when she married, was settled on the estate.
For some little time Ginevra was fully occupied in getting her house in order, and furnishing the new part of it. When that was done, Sir Gilbert gave an entertainment to his tenants. The laird preferred a trip to the city, “on business,” to the humiliation of being present as other than the greatest; though perhaps he would have minded it less had he ever himself given a dinner to his tenants.
Robert and Janet declined the invitation.
“We’re ower auld for makin’ merry ‘cep’ in oor ain herts,” said Janet. “But bide ye, my bonny Sir Gibbie, till we’re a’ up yon’er, an’ syne we’ll see.”
The place of honour was therefore given to Jean Mavor, who was beside herself with joy to see her broonie lord of the land, and be seated beside him in respect and friendship. But her brother said it was “clean ridic’lous;” and not to the last would consent to regard the new laird as other than half-witted, insisting that everything was done by his wife, and that the talk on his fingers was a mere pretence.
When the main part of the dinner was over, Sir Gilbert and his lady stood at the head of the table, and, he speaking by signs and she interpreting, made a little speech together. In the course of it Sir Gibbie took occasion to apologize for having once disturbed the peace of the country-side by acting the supposed part of a broonie, and in relating his adventures of the time, accompanied his wife’s text with such graphic illustration of gesture, that his audience laughed at the merry tale till the tears ran down their cheeks. Then with a few allusions to his strange childhood, he thanked the God who led him through thorny ways into the very arms of love and peace in the cottage of Robert and Janet Grant, whence, and not from the fortune he had since inherited, came all his peace.
“He desires me to tell you,” said Lady Galbraith, “that he was a stranger, and you folk of Daurside took him in, and if ever he can do a kindness to you or yours, he will. — He desires me also to say, that you ought not to be left ignorant that you have a poet of your own, born and bred among you — Donal Grant, the son of Robert and Janet, the friend of Sir Gilbert’s heart, and one of the noblest of men. And he begs you to allow me to read you a poem he had from him this very morning — probably just written. It is called The Laverock. I will read it as well as I can. If any of you do not like poetry, he says — I mean Sir Gilbert says — you can go to the kitchen and light your pipes, and he will send your wine there to you.”
She ceased. Not one stirred, and she read the verses — which, for the sake of having Donal in at the last of my book, I will print. Those who do not care for verse, may — metaphorically, I would not be rude — go and smoke their pipes in the kitchen.
THE LAVEROCK. (lark)
THE MAN SAYS:
Laverock i’ the lift, (sky)
Hae ye nae sang-thrift,
‘At ye scatter’t sae heigh, an’ lat it a’ drift? Wasterfu’ laverock!
Dinna ye ken
‘At ye hing ower men
Wha haena a sang or a penny to spen’? Hertless laverock!
But up there, you,
I’ the bow o’ the blue,
Haud skirlin’ on as gien a’ war new! (keep shrilling) Toom-heidit laverock! (empty-headed)
Haith! ye’re ower blythe:
I see a great scythe
Swing whaur yer nestie lies, doon i’ the lythe, (shelter) Liltin’ laverock!
Eh, sic a soon’!
Birdie, come doon —
Ye’re fey to sing sic a merry tune, (death-doomed) Gowkit laverock! (silly)
Come to yer nest;
Yer wife’s sair prest;
She’s clean worn oot wi’ duin’ her best, Rovin’ laverock!
Winna ye haud?
Ye’re surely mad!
Is there naebody there to gie ye a daud? (blow) Menseless laverock!
Come doon an’ conform;
Pyke an honest worm,
An’ hap yer bairns frae the muckle storm, Spendrife laverock!
THE BIRD SINGS:
My nestie it lieth
I’ the how o’ a han’; (hollow)
The swing o’ the scythe
‘Ill miss ‘t by a span.
The lift it’s sae cheerie!
The win’ it’s sae free!
I hing ower my dearie,
An’ sing ’cause I see.
My wifie’s wee breistie
Grows warm wi’ my sang,
An’ ilk crumpled-up beastie
Kens no to think lang.
Up here the sun sings, but
He only shines there!
Ye haena nae wings, but
Come up on a prayer.
THE MAN SINGS:
Ye wee daurin’ cratur,
Ye rant an’ ye sing
Like an oye o’ auld Natur’ (grandchild) Ta’en hame by the King!
Ye wee feathert priestie,
Yer bells i’ yer thro’t.
Yer altar yer breistie
Yer mitre forgot —
Offerin’ an’ Aaron,
Ye burn hert an’ brain
An’ dertin’ an’ daurin
Flee back to yer ain
Ye wee minor prophet,
It’s ‘maist my belief
‘At I’m doon i’ Tophet,
An’ you abune grief!
Ye’ve deavt me an’ daudit, (deafened) (buffeted) An’ ca’d me a fule:
I’m nearhan’ persuaudit
To gang to your schule!
For, birdie, I’m thinkin’
Ye ken mair nor me —
Gien ye haena been drinkin’,
An’ sing as ye see.
Ye maun hae a sicht ‘at
Sees geyan far ben; (considerably) (inwards) An’ a hert for the micht o’ ‘t
Wad sair for nine men! (serve)
Somebody’s been till
Roun to ye wha (whisper)
Said birdies war seen till
E’en whan they fa’!
After the reading of the poem, Sir Gilbert and Lady Galbraith withdrew, and went towards the new part of the house, where they had their rooms. On the bridge, over which Ginevra scarcely ever passed without stopping to look both up and down the dry channel in the rock, she lingered as usual, and gazed from its windows. Below, the waterless bed of the burn opened out on the great valley of the Daur; above was the landslip, and beyond it the stream rushing down the mountain. Gibbie pointed up to it. She gazed a while, and gave a great sigh. He asked her — their communication was now more like that between two spirits: even signs had become almost unnecessary — what she wanted or missed. She looked in his face and said, “Naething but the sang o’ my burnie, Gibbie.” He took a small pistol from his pocket, and put it in her hand; then, opening the window, signed to her to fire it. She had never fired a pistol, and was a little frightened, but would have been utterly ashamed to shrink from anything Gibbie would have her do. She held it out. Her hand trembled. He laid his upon it, and it grew steady. She pulled the trigger, and dropped the pistol with a little cry. He signed to her to listen. A moment passed, and then, like a hugely magnified echo, came a roar that rolled from mountain to mountain, like a thunder drum. The next instant, the landslip seemed to come hurrying down the channel, roaring and leaping: it was the mud-brown waters of the burn, careering along as if mad with joy at having regained their ancient course. Ginevra stared with parted lips, delight growing to apprehension as the live thing momently neared the bridge. With tossing mane of foam, the brown courser came rushing on, and shot thundering under. They turned, and from the other window saw it tumbling headlong down the steep descent to the Lorrie. By quick gradations, even as they gazed, the mud melted away; the water grew clearer and clearer, and in a few minutes a small mountain-river, of a lovely lucid brown, transparent as a smoke-crystal, was dancing along under the bridge. It had ceased its roar and was sweetly singing.
“Let us see it from my room, Gibbie,” said Ginevra.
They went up, and from the turret window looked down upon the water. They gazed until, like the live germ of the gathered twilight, it was scarce to be distinguished but by abstract motion.
“It’s my ain burnie,” said Ginevra, “an’ it’s ain auld sang! I’ll warran’ it hasna forgotten a note o’ ‘t! Eh, Gibbie, ye gie me a’ thing!”
“Gien I was a burnie, wadna I rin!” sang Gibbie, and Ginevra heard the words, though Gibbie could utter only the air he had found for them so long ago. She threw herself into his arms, and hiding her face on his shoulder, clung silent to her silent husband. Over her lovely bowed head, he gazed into the cool spring night, sparkling with stars, and shadowy with mountains. His eyes climbed the stairs of Glashgar to the lonely peak dwelling among the lights of God; and if upon their way up the rocks they met no visible sentinels of heaven, he needed neither ascending stairs nor descending angels, for a better than the angels was with them.
FOOTNOTES:
1 It amuses a Scotchman to find that the word cakes, as in “The Land of Cakes,” is taken, not only by foreigners, but by some English people — as how, indeed, should it be otherwise? — to mean compositions of flour, more or less enriched, and generally appreciable; whereas, in fact, it stands for the dryest, simplest preparation in the world. The genuine cakes is — (My grammar follows usage: cakes is; broth are.) — literally nothing but oatmeal made into a dough with cold water and dried over the fire — sometimes then in front of it as well.
2 Metrical paraphrases of passages of Scripture, always to be found at the end of the Bibles printed for Scotland.
3 See Sir Thomas Dick Lauder’s account of the Morayshire Floods in 1829 (1st Ed., p. 181) — an enchanting book, especially to one whose earliest memories are interwoven with water-floods. For details in such kind here given, I am much indebted to it. Again and again, as I have been writing, has it rendered me miserable — my tale showing so flat and poor beside Sir Thomas’s narrative. Known to me from childhood, it wakes in me far more wonder and pleasure now, than it did even in the days when the marvel of things came more to the surface.
Note from John Bechard, creator of this Electronic text.
The following is a list of Scottish words which are found in George MacDonald’s “Sir Gibbie”. I have compiled this list myself and worked out the definitions from context with the help of Margaret West, from Leven in Fife, Scotland, and also by referring to a word list found in a collection of poems by Robert Burns and “Chamber’s Scots Dialect Dictionary from the 17th century to the Present” c. 1911. I have tried to be as thorough as possible given the limited resources and welcome any feedback on this list which may be wrong (my e-mail address is JaBBechard@aol.com). This was never meant to be a comprehensive list of the National Scottish Language, but rather an aid to understanding some of the conversations in this text which are carried out in the Broad Scots. I do apologise for any mistakes or omissions. I aimed for my list to be very comprehensive, and it often repeats the same word in a plural or diminutive form. As well, it includes words that are quite obvious to native English speakers, only spelled in such a way to demonstrate the local pronunciation.
There is a web site under construction which will feature the Scottish language; and the National Scottish Dictionary can be consulted if you have access to one.
This list is a compressed form that consists of three columns for ‘word’, ‘definition’, and ‘additional notes’. It is set up with a comma between each item and a hard return at the end of each definition. This means that this section could easily be cut and pasted into its own text file and imported into a database or spreadsheet as a comma separated variable file (.csv file). Failing that, you could do a search and replace for commas in this section (I have not used any commas in my words, definitions or notes) and replace the commas with spaces or tabs.
Word,Definition,Notes
a’,all; every,also have
a’ body,everyone; everybody,
a’ thing,everything; anything,
aboot,about,
absteen,abstain,
abune,above; up,
accoont,account,
accordin’,according,
accre,acre,
ae,one,
aff,off; away; past; beyond,
affrontit,affronted; disgraced,also ashamed; shamed afore,before; in front of,
aften,often,
again,against; opposed to,also again again’,against,
agreeable,in agreement; willing,
Ahchan,Achan,reference to Joshua 7
ahin’,behind; after; at the back of, ahint,behind; after; at the back of,
aiblins,perhaps; possibly,
aigles,eagles,
Aigypt,Egypt,
ain,own,also one
aipple,apple,
airm,arm,
airmour,armour,
airms,arms,also coat of arms; crest airt,quarter; direction; compass point,
airthquack,earthquake,
airts,quarters; directions; compass points, aiss,ashes,
ait,eat,
aiten,eaten,
aith,oath,
aither,either,
aiven,even,
alane,alone,
alloo,allow,
allooin’,allowing,
Almichty,Almighty; God,
amids,amidst,
amo’,among,
an’,and,
ance,once,
ane,one,also a single person or thing aneath,beneath; under,
anent,opposite to; in front of,also concerning aneth,beneath; under,
‘aneth,beneath; under,
angert,angered; angry,also grieved
anither,another,
anker,liquid measure of 4 gallons,
a’ready,already,
arrenge,arrange,
as lang’s,as long as,
as sune’s,as soon as,
ashmy,asthma,
‘at,that,
at farest,at the farthest,also at the latest ates,hates,
a’thegither,all together,
a’thing,everything; anything,
‘at’ll,that will,
‘at’s,that is,
attreebute,attribute,
atween,between,
‘atween,between,
auld,old,
auld langsyne,old days of long ago,also old friendship auld-fashioned,old-fashioned,
auncient,ancient,
Aw,I,also all; owning
awa,away,
awa’,away,
awfu’,awful,
Awva!,At all!,exclamation of surprise; contempt ay,yes; indeed,exclamation of surprise; wonder aye,yes; indeed,
ayont,beyond; after,
bairn,child,
bairnies,little children,diminutive bairns,children,
baith,both,
bale-fire,any large fire; bonfire,
ballant,ballad; song,
ballants,ballads; songs,
banes,bones,
bannin’,cursing; swearing; abuse; scold, bannock,round flat gridle-baked cake,
Barebanes,bare bones (i.e. death),
barkin’,barking,
bawbee,half penny,
bealt,festered,
beastie,beast; animal,diminutive to express sympathy or affection becomin’,becoming,
beets,boots,
beginnin’,beginning,
behaud,withhold; wait; delay,also behold bein’,being,
beirin’,bearing; allowing,
belang,belong,
believet,believed,
believe’t,believe it,
ben,in; inside; into; within; inwards,also inner room be’t,be it,
bethink (oneself),stop to think; reflect, beuk,book,also Bible
Bible-word,word of honour,
bicker,wooden vessel,
bidden,abided; stayed,
biddin’,bidding,
bide,endure; bear; remain; live,also desire; wish bidena,do not bide; do not stay,
bides,endures; bears; remains; lives,also stays for bield,protection; shelter; cover,
bigg,build,
biggit,built,
bilin’,boiling,also the whole quantity bin’,bind,
binna,be not,
birdie,little bird,diminutive
birdies,little birds,diminutive
birk,birch tree,
birks,birch trees,
bit,but; bit,also little-diminutive blate,over-modest; bashful; shy,
blaw,blow,
blawin’,blowing,
bleck,black; smut,also nonplus; perplex blecks,nonplusses; perplexes,
bledder,bleater; snipe,also foolish or idle talker bleedin’,bleeding,
blessin’s,blessings,
blest,blessed,
blether,talk nonsense; babble; boast, blethers,talks nonsense; babbles; boasts, blew,blue,
blin’t,blinded,
blude,blood,
bluidy,bloody,
boady,body,
boasoms,bosoms,
boatle,bottle (of whisky),
boddom,bottom,
bodies,people; fellows; folk,
bodit,boded,
body,person; fellow,also body
bonnie,good; beautiful; pretty; handsome, bonniest,best; most beautiful; prettiest, bonny,good; beautiful; pretty; handsome, boortree,shrub elder,
bosky,wild; unfrequented,
bossie,large wooden bowl,serving bowl boucht,bought,
bow-ribbit,bent in the ribs,
brackens,bracken; coarse fern,
brae,hill; hillside; high ground by a river, brainch,branch,
brainches,branches,
braird,first sprouting of young grain, brak,break,
brakfast,breakfast,
brakin’,breaking,
brander,grating; gridiron; trestle, bra’ner,grating; gridiron; trestle,
braw,beautiful; good; fine,also lovely (girl); handsome (boy) bray,press; squeeze; push,
bree,brew; whisky; broth; gravy,
breeks,breeches; trousers,
breist,breast,
breistie,little breast,diminutive
breith,breath,
bridle,modify,
brither,brother,
brithers,brothers; fellows,
brocken,broken,
brods,boards; (book covers),
broo,brow,
broom,shrub with bright yellow flowers, broonie,brownie; benevolent elf,
broonies,brownies; benevolent elves, brose,water; soup; meal,
broucht,brought,
brunt,burned,
buik,book,also Bible
buiks,books,
bun’le,bundle,
burn,water; stream; brook,
burnie,little stream,diminutive
bursten,burst,
buss,bush,
butterflees,butterflies,
buyin’,buying,
by ordinar’,out of the ordinary; supernatural, byke,hive; swarm; crowd,
byre,cowshed,
byres,cowsheds,
ca’,call; name,
ca’d,called,
ca’in,calling,
ca’in’,calling,
cairried,carried,
cairries,carries,
cairry,carry,
cairryin’,carrying,
caitiff,coward; cowardly,more of an older English word than Scots caller,fresh; refreshing; cool,
cam,came,
cam’,came,
camna,did not come,
canna,cannot,
carena,do not care,
carin’,caring,
carolled,sang (carols),
cast,thrown off; discarded (clothes), casten,spoilt; worthless; thrown aside,
catched,caught,
caul’,cold,
cauld,cold,
caup,small wooden bowl,
caups,small wooden bowls,
’cause,because,
caw,drive; impel; hammer,
cawpable,capable,
‘cep,except; but,
‘cep’,except; but,
certie,of a truth; certainly,
certy,of a truth; certainly,
chaps,knocks; hammers; strikes; raps, chatterin’,chattering,
chaumer,chamber; room,
cheek,side,
cheemistry,chemistry,
cheenge,change,
cheenged,changed,
cheengin’,changing,
cheerie,cheery,
cheese,choose,
chiel,child; young person,term of fondness or intimacy chield,child; young person,term of fondness or intimacy chop,shop; store,
chopdoor,shop door,
claes,clothes; dress,
clan,group; class; coterie,
clappers,door knockers; rattles,
clean,altogether; entirely,also comely; shapely; empty; clean cleansin’,cleansing,
cled,clothed; clad,
cleed,clothe; shelter,
clim’,climb,
cloaset,(prayer) closet,
cloods,clouds,
cloot,clout; box (ear); beat; slap,also patch; mend closed,enclosed,
closet,room; bedroom,
coaties,children’s coats or petticoats, cobblin’,cobbling; shoemaking,
cock-crawin’,crowing of the cock,
coffer,legacy of wealth; fortune,
colliginer,college student,also college boy colloguin’,associating; conspiring; plotting, Come awa’ ben.,Come on in.,
Come yer wa’s in.,Come on in.,
comena,do not come,
comin’,coming,
concernt,concerned,
condescendin’,condescending,
conduckit,conducted,
conneckit,connected,
consaive,conceive,
considert,considered,
consortit,consorted,
contentit,contented,
contrar’,contrary,
coo,cow,
cooard,coward,
cooards,cowards,
coontenance,countenance,
coorse,coarse,also course
cottar,farm tenant; cottager,
cottars,farm tenants; cottagers,
couldna,could not,
couples,rafters,
coverin’,covering,
cowt,colt,
crap o’ the wa’,natural shelf between wall and roof, cratur,creature,
craturs,creatures,
craw,crow; rook (types of birds),
craws,crows,
creepie,(three legged) stool,a child’s chair creepin’,creeping; crawling,
creepit,crept; crawled,
crook,hooked iron chain inside a chimney,for hanging cooking pots on cry,call; summon,
cud,could,
cudna,could not,
cunnin’,cunning,
curriet,curried; dressed,
cursit,cursed,
cuttit,cut; harvested,
cweentry,country,
cwite,coat,
dacency,decency,
dacent,decent,
dale,deal; fir- or pinewood plank,
dammin’,damming; condemning,
damps,coal-pit gases,
dang,knock; bang; drive,
daud,blow; strike; abuse,
daudit,buffeted; struck,
dauner,stroll; saunter,
daur,dare; challenge,
daured,dared; challenged,
daurin,daring; challenging,
daurin’,daring; challenging,
daurna,dare not; do not dare,
daursay,dare say,
Dawvid,David,
dearie,sweetheart; darling,
deavt,deafened,
dee,do,also die
deed,died,also deed; indeed
‘deed,indeed,
dee’d,died,
deein’,doing,also dying
deen,done,
deene,done,
dee’t,do it,
deevil,devil,
deevilry,devilry,
deevils,devils,
defilin’,defiling,
deid,dead,
deif,deaf,
deil,devil,
deils,devils,
deith,death,
delicht,delight,
dementit,demented; mad; crazy,
dene,done,
denner,dinner,
denner-time,dinner time,
denyin’,denying,
dertin’,darting,
despisin’,despising,
deuk-quack,duck quack,
deuks,ducks,
dictionar’,dictionary,
didna,did not,
differ,difference,also differ
din,sound; din,
dingin’,overcoming; wearying; vexing, dings,overcomes; wearies; vexes,
dinna,do not,
dinna fling the calf efter the coo,don’t give up,also baby/bathwater dirt,worthless persons or things,term of contempt dis,does,
disappint,disappoint,
discoorse,discourse,
disna,does not,
dissiples,disciples,
dis’t,does it,
div,do,
dod!,God! (exclamation),
doggie,little dog,diminutive
doin’,doing,
doobt,suspect; know; doubt,have an unpleasant conviction doobtin’,suspecting; knowing,also doubting doobtless,doubtless,
doobtna,do not suspect; do not know,also does not doubt doobts,suspects; knows,also doubts
dooms,extremely; exceedingly,
doon,down,
doon’,down,
door-cheek,door-post; threshold,
door-sill,threshold,
doos,doves,
dos,does,
do’t,do it,
douce,gentle; sensible; sober; prudent, doup,bottom; backside; buttocks,
draigon,dragon,reference to Revelation 12-13 draigons,dragons,
dram,glass of whisky,
drap,drop; small quantity of,
drappit,dropped,
drappy,little drop; a little (liquor),diminutive drawin’,drawing,
drear,dreary; dreariness; tedium,
dree,endure; undergo; suffer,
dree my weird,undergo my doom,
dreemt,dreamed,
dreid,dread,
dreidfu’,dreadful; dreadfully,
drinkin’,drinking,
dronin’,droning,
drookit,drenched; soaked,
droon,drown,
droonin’,drowning,
droont,drowned,
drop,drop-shaped earring,also drop
drouth,thirst; dryness,also drought drouthie,thirsty; dry,
drucken,drunken; tipsy,
du,do,
duds,clothes; rags; tatters,
duin’,doing,
dulse,type of seaweed,
dummie,little mute person,diminutive dune,done,
dyke,wall of stone or turf,
dykes,walls of stone or turf,
ear,early,
ear’,early,
ee,eye,
e’e,eye,
eedit,heeded,
een,eyes,
e’en,even; just; simply,also eyes; evening eese,use,
efter,after; afterwards,
else,otherwise; at another time; already, Embrough,Edinburgh,
en’,end,
endeevour,endeavour,
endeevourin’,endeavouring; trying,
eneuch,enough,
enstance,instance,
er,ere; before,
er’,ere; before,
ettle,reach; intend; purpose; aim,
even,even; compare,
ever,before,also ever
ever-mair,ever more,
exemple,example,
expeckit,expected,
fa’,fall; befall,
failt,failed,
faimily,family,
fain,eager; anxious; fond,also fondly fa’in’,falling,
fallow,fellow; chap,
fallow-feelin’,mutual feeling,
fan’,found,
fan’t,found it,
fa’ntit,fainted,
fardin’,farthing,
faulds,folds,
fause,false,
fau’t,fault; blame,
fauvour,favour,
fawvour,favour,
feared,afraid; frightened; scared,
fearfu’,fearful; easily frightened, fearsome,terrifying; fearful; awful,
feart,afraid; frightened; scared,
feathert,feathered,
fecht,fight; struggle,
fechtin’,fighting; struggling,
feck,value; worth; advantage; majority, fee,hire oneself out,
feel,foolish,also fool
fegs,truly,mild oath; exclamation of surprise fell,very; potent; keen; harsh; sharp,intensifies; also turf fell-dyke,wall made of layers of sod,
fellow-cratur,fellow creature,
fells,sods,
feow,few,
fess,fetch,
fest,fast,
fey,doomed (to death),
fillit,filled,
fin’,find; feel,
fin’in’,finding; feeling,
Fin’on haddie,smoked haddock,
firin’,firing; heating,
fit,foot; base,also fit; capable; able fittin’,fitting,
flax,flax; wick,
flee,fly (insect),
fleers,floors,
fleg,blow; kick; stroke,
fleggin’,blowing; kicking; stroking, fleggit,blew; kicked; stroked,
flegs,blows; kicks; strokes,
fleyt,terrified; frightened,
fling,kick; throw,
fling’t,kick it; throw it,
flit,shift; remove; depart,
flitted,shifted; removed; departed, flittin’,shifting; removing; departing,
flure,floor,
forby,as well; as well as; besides, forgie,forgive,
forgiein’,forgiving,
forgi’en,forgiven,
forgifness,forgiveness,
forkit,forked,
for’s,for his,
for’t,for it,
foucht,fought,
fowk,folk,
fowth,plenty; abundance; full measure, frae,from,
frank,generous; lavish,also generously fricht,frighten; scare away,
frichtit,frightened; scared away,
fule,fool,
fules,fools,
fulfillt,fulfilled,
fundation,foundation,
fun’t,founded,
fut,foot,
gae,gave,
gaed,went,
gaein’,going,
‘gain,by; nearly; almost,
gairdens,gardens,
gait,way; fashion,also route; street gaits,ways,also routes; streets
ga’le,gable,
gane,gone,
gang,go; goes; depart; walk,
gang yer wa’s,go on,
gangin’,going; walking,
gar,cause; make; compel,
garred,made; caused; compelled,
gars,makes; causes; compels,
gar’t,made; caused; compelled,
gat,got,
gauin,going,
gauin’,going,
gear,possessions; money; property,also livestock geese,goose,
German Ocean,,old reference to the English Channel & North Sea gerse,grass,
gether,gather,
gey,very; considerable,
geyan,considerably; somewhat; rather, ghaist,ghost,
ghem,game (hunted animal),
gie,give,
gied,gave,
giein,giving,
giein’,giving,
gien,if; as if; then; whether,also given gien’t,if it,
gies,gives,
gie’t,give it,
gin,if; as if; then; whether,
girdle,griddle for baking scones,iron disc girnels,granaries; meal-chests,
glaid,glad,
glaiss,glass,
glaisses,glasses,
glamour,spell; charm; enchantment,
glaur,mud; dirt; ooze,
gleg,quick; lively; smart; quick-witted, glimp,glimpse; glance,also the least degree glintin’,twinkling; glittering,
gloamin’,twilight; dusk,
gloaming,twilight; dusk,
gnerlet,gnarled,
goodman,master; husband; head of household, gowans,daisies,
gowany,flowered with daisies,
gowd,gold,
gowk,cuckoo; fool; blockhead,
gowkit,foolish; silly,
gowks,cuckoos; fools; blockheads,
graivelly,gravely,
gran’,grand; capital; first-rate,
gran’est,grandest,
gran’father,grandfather,
green bree,cesspool,also stagnant pool by a dunghill greitin’,crying; weeping,
grenite,granite,
gret,great,
grief,grieve,
grip,grasp; understand,
grippit,grasped; understood,
growin’,growing,
growlin’,growling,
grue,feeling of horror; tremor,
grum’lin’,grumbling,
grup,grip; grasp,
gruppit,gripped; grabbed,
gudeman,master; husband; head of household, guid,good,also God
guid-hertit,good-hearted,
guidit,treated; handled; managed,
guiss,guess,
guissin’,guessing,
haddie,haddock,
hadna,had not,
hae,have; has,
hae a news,talk; gossip,
haein,having,
haein’,having,
haena,have not,
hae’s,have his,
hae’t,have it,
haill,whole,
hairm,harm,
Haith!,Faith!,exclamation of surprise haithen,heathen,
haithenish,heathenish,
haiven,heaven,
haiver,talk nonsense,
hale,whole,
half-hoor,half-hour,
hame,home,
han’,hand,
hang,hanged,also made
hangin’,hanging,
hangt,hanged,
hanks,rope; coil; skein of cotton,
han’le,handle,
han’s,hands,
hantle,much; large quantity; far,
hap,cover; wrap; shield,
h’ard,heard,
hark,listen,
harns,brains,
hasna,does not have,
haud,hold; keep,
hauden,held; kept,
haudin’,holding; keeping,
hauds,holds; keeps,
haugh,river-meadow,
hause,neck; throat,
h’aven,heaven,
hawpy,happy,
haymows,large haystacks,
heap,very much; heap,
hearin’,hearing,
hearken,hearken; hear; listen to,
hearkenin’,hearkening; listening to, hearkent,hearkened; heard; listened to,
hear’t,hear it,
hearten,encourage,
Hech!,Oh! strange!,a sighing exclamation hed,had,
hedna,had not,
heedna,heed not; do not heed,
heicht,height,
heid,head; heading,
heids,heads; headings,
heigh,high,
he’ll,he will,
helpin’,helping,
helpit,helped,
hen-scraich,chicken cackle,lit. chicken scream her,she,also her
herd,herd-boy; cow-boy,also herd
hermony,harmony,
hersel’,herself,
hert,heart,
her’t,it to her,
hertenin’,enheartening; encouraging, hertless,heartless,
herts,hearts,
herty,heartily; hearty,
he’rty,heartily; hearty,
hicht,height,
hid,had,also hid
hield,held,
hillie,little hill,diminutive
himsel’,himself,
hin’,hind; backside,
hin’ side afore,back to front,
hing,hang,
hingin’,hanging,
hings,hangs,
hirplin,limping; hobbling,
his,has,also his; us (emphatic)
hit,it,emphatic
hiz,us,emphatic
hoarible,horrible,
hoo,how,
hoor,hour,
hoors,hours,
hoose,house,
hoosemaid,housemaid,
hooses,houses,
hoosie,little house,diminutive
hoot,,exclamation of doubt or contempt hoots,,exclamation of doubt or contempt
hose,stocking,
houff,haunt,
houp,hope,
how,hollow; valley; glen,
hum’le,hornless; fingerless,
hun’ers,hundreds,
hungerin’,hungering; hungry,
hunger-like,shrivelled; lacking nutrients, hungert,starved,
hurtin’,hurting,
hurtit,hurt,
hyne,far (away),
i’,in; into,
I doobt,I know; I suspect,
I wat,I know; I assure (you),
idleseat,idleness; frivolous amusement, idleset,idleness; frivolous amusement,
ilk,every; each,also common; ordinary ilka,every; each,also common; ordinary
ill,bad; evil; hard; harsh,also misfortune; harm ‘ill,will,
ill-fauredest,most unbecoming or unmannerly, ill-guideship,mismanagement; ill-treatment, ill-guidit,mismanaged; ill-treated,
‘im,him,
imaigine,imagine,
immorawlity,immorality,
in atween,in the meantime; between, informt,informed,
ingle-neuk,chimney-corner or recess, in’s,in his,
inten’,intend,
inten’it,intended,
intil,into; in; within,
intill,into; in; within,
intill’t,into it,
intil’s,into his; into us,
intil’t,into it,
inveet,invite; invitation,
inveetit,invited,
ir,are,
‘is,his,
I’s awa.,I’m off.; I’d better go.,
Ise,I shall,
isna,is not,
is’t,is it,
i’stead,instead,
ither,other; another; further,
‘ithin,within,
it’ll,it will,
itsel’,itself,
jabble,ripple; small broken waves,
jaws,billows; splashes; surges,
Jeames,James,
jeedge,judge,
jeedgin’,judging,
Jerooslem,Jerusalem,
jine,join,
jints,joints,
jist,just,
j’ists,joists,
jography,geography,
jokin’,joking,
jooggy,jigger; shot (of whisky),
justifeed,justified,
kail-wife,woman who sells colewort, kaimbt,combed,
keepin’,keeping,
keepit,kept,
keerious,curious,
ken,know; be acquainted with; recognise, kenna,do not know,
kenned,known; knew,
kennin’,knowing,
kens,knows,
kenspeckle,conspicuous,easily recognised from some peculiarity kent,known; knew,
ken’t,know it,
killt,killed,
kin’,kind; nature; sort; agreeable,also somewhat; in some degree kin’ness,kindness,
kirk,church,
kirkyaird,churchyard,
kirkyard,churchyard,
kist,chest; coffer; box; chest of drawers, knicht,knight,
koft,bought,
kye,cattle; cows,
laad,lad; boy,term of commendation or reverence laads,lads; boys,term of commendation or reverence laddie,boy,term of affection
laddies,boys,term of affection
lads,boys,term of commendation or reverence laidders,ladders,
laird,landed proprietor; squire; lord, lairick,larch (type of tree),
lairt,stuck fast (in mud or snow),
laith,loath; unwilling; reluctant,
laithly,loathsome; foul; repulsive, Laitin,Latin,
lan’,land; country; ground,
lane,lone; alone; lonely; solitary, lanes,lone; alone,
lang,long; big; large,also slow; tedious langer,longer,
lang’s,long as,
langsyne,ancient; (old) times; long ago, lan’s,lands; estates,
lass,girl; young woman,term of address lasses,girls; young women,
lassie,girl,term of endearment
lat,let; allow,
lat gang to dirt an’ green bree,go to pot; go to ruin, lat’s,let’s; let us; let his,
latten,let; allowed,
lattin’,letting; allowing,
lauch,laugh,
lauchin’,laughing,
lave,rest; remainder; others,also leave laverock,lark (type of bird),
lawfu’,lawful,
layin’,laying,
lea’,leave,
lear,learning; education; lore,also teach learn,learn,also teach
learnin’,learning,also teaching
learnt,learned,also taught
leddies,ladies,
leddy,boy; lad; laddy,also lady
lee,pasture; fallow ground,also shelter from wind or rain lee’d,lied; told lies,
lees,lies,
leest,least,
leeve,live,
leevin’,living; living being,
leevit,lived,
leeward,towards the grassland,also towards the sheltered side len’,lend; give; grant,also loan
len’th,length,
leuk,look; watch; appearance,
licht,light,
lichtin’,lighting,
lickit,thrashed; punished; struck,
lift,load; boost; lift; helping hand,also sky; heavens like,like; likely to; looking as if to,also as it were; as if likesna,does not like,
likin’,liking,
likit,liked,
liltin’,singing softly; humming,
lingelt,fastened; fettered; hobbled, lippen,trust; depend on,
livin’,living,
‘ll,will,
loch,loch; lake,
lodd,loaded,
lo’denin’,loading,
lo’dent,loaded,
lo’e,love,
lo’esome,loveable; lovely; winsome, lood,loud,
lookin’,looking,
loon,rascal; rogue; ragamuffin,
loons,rascals; rogues; ragamuffins, loot,let; allowed; permitted,
Losh!,corrupt form of ‘Lord’,exclamation of surprise or wonder low,flame,
lowin’,flaming,
lowse,loose; free,
lowsed,loosened; let loose; freed,
lucifer spunks,lucifer-matches,
lug,ear,also shallow wooden dish
luggin’,lugging,
lugs,ears,
luik,look,
luikin’,looking,
luikit,looked,
luiks,looks,
lum,chimney,
lyin’,lying,
lythe,shelter,
‘m,him,
mainner,manner,
mainners,manners,
mainteen,maintain,
mair,more; greater,
mairtins,martins (type of bird),
maist,most; almost,
‘maist,almost,
maister,master; mister,
maistly,mostly; almost,
maitter,matter,
maitters,matters,
mak,make; do,
mak’,make; do,
makin’,making; doing,
maks,makes; does,
mankin’,mankind,
mappies,young rabbits,diminutive
maun,must; have to,
maunna,must not; may not,
mavis,song-thrush (type of bird),
mayhap,perhaps; maybe,
mayna,may not,
mealock,crumb (of oatcake etc.),
meanin’,meaning,
meen,moon,
meenute,minute,
meeserable,miserable,
meesery,misery,
meetin’,meeting,
mem,Ma’am; Miss; Madam,
mendit,mended; healed,
menseless,ill-bred; boorish; unmannerly, mentionin’,mentioning,
mercifu’,merciful; favourable,
merriage,marriage,
merry,marry,also merry
merryin’,marrying,
mervel,marvel,
mervellous,marvellous,
mesel’,myself,
me’t,it to me,
micht,might,
michtna,might not,
michty,mighty; God,
midden,dunghill; manure pile,
midge,midge; gnat; mosquito,
mids,midst; middle,
miltin’,melting,
min’,mind; recollection,also recollect; remember mincin’,mincing,
minnin,minnow,
minnister,minister,
min’s,minds; reminds; recollects,
mint,aimed at; intended to; attempted, mintit,minded; remembered,
mirricle,miracle,
mischeef,mischief; injury; harm,
misguidit,wasted; mismanaged; ill-used, mistak,mistake,
mither,mother,
mony,many,
moo,mouth,
moo’,mouth,
moo’fu’s,mouthfuls,
mornin’,morning,
mornin’s,mornings,
motes,motes; specks; crumbs,reference to Matthew 7:3-5 mou’fu’,mouthful,
moul’,mould; loose earth; top soil, mould,mould; loose earth; top soil,
muckle,huge; enormous; big; great; much, mune,moon,
muntains,mountains,
murderin’,murdering,
muv,move; affect,
My certie!,Take my word for it!,
My certy!,Take my word for it!,
my lane,on my own,
mysel,myself,
mysel’,myself,
na,not; by no means,
nae,no; none; not,
nae wise,nowise; in no way,
naebody,nobody; no one,
naegait,in no wise; nowhere,
naething,nothing,
naither,neither,
naitral,natural,
nait’ral,natural,
nane,none,
nat’ral,natural,
natur,nature,
natur’,nature,
near han’,nearly; almost; near by,
nearhan’,nearly; almost; near by,
necessar’,necessary,
neebour,neighbour,
needcessity,necessity; state of need, needfu’,needful; necessary; needy,
needna,do not need; need not,
neepers,neighbours,
negleckit,neglected,
neiper,neighbour,
neist,next; nearest,
nepkin,large handkerchief,
nestie,little nest,diminutive
‘neth,beneath; under,
neuk,nook; recess; interior angle,
news,talk; gossip,
nicht,night; evening,
nichts,nights,
nick,score; mark (as signature),also cut nickum,mischievous and tricky boy,
niffer,exchange; barter,
nigher,nearer; closer,
nipperty,mincing; affected,
no,not,
no’,not,
noo,now,
nor,than; although; if,also nor
nor’-easter,northeast wind,
notwithstan’in’,notwithstanding,
noucht,nothing; not,
nowt,cattle; oxen,
o’,of; on,
obleeged,obliged,
obligatit,obligated; obliged,
o’er,over; upon; too,
offerin’,offering,
ohn,without; un-,uses past participle not present progressive ohn expeckit,unexpected,
on’t,on it,
ony,any,
onybody,anybody; anyone,
onything,anything,
oogliest,ugliest,
oogly,ugly,
ook,week,
ooks,weeks,
oolets,owls,
oonprovidit,unprovided,
oor,our,
oor lanes,on our own,
oors,ours,
oorsel’s,ourselves,
oot,out,
ootcast,outcast,
or,before; ere; until; by,also or
ordinar’,ordinary; usual; natural,also custom; habit orra,odd job (man),also idle; having no settled occupation o’t,of it,
ou,oh,
oucht,anything; all,also ought
ow,oh,exclamation of surprise
ower,over; upon; too,
owershot,very fast; racing; exploding, owre,over; upon; too,
owse,ox,
oye,grandchild; grandson; nephew,
pairt,part,
pairts,parts,
pale,pointed piece of wood for fencing, paling,fence of pales,
passin’,passing; occasional,
pastern,ankle (between hoof and fetlock), pasturs,pastures,
pat,put; made,
pawkiness,shrewdness; cunning,
peelt,skinned,
peeramid,pyramid,
peetied,pitied,
peety,pity,
percaution,precaution,
perfec’,perfect; thorough; utter,
perfeckly,perfectly; thoroughly; utterly, perplexin’,perplexing,
perris,parish,
persuaudit,persuaded,
perswaud,persuade,
perswaudin’,persuading,
perswaudit,persuaded,
pey,pay,
peyed,paid,
peyin’,paying,
pit,put; make,
pitawtas,potatoes,
pits,puts; makes,
pitten,put; made,
plaguit,plagued; troubled,
plet,plate; dish,
plooed,ploughed,
plottin’,plotting; planning,
ploy,amusement; sport; escapade,
poassible,possible,
pooch,pocket,
pooer,power,
poun’,pound (sterling),
practeesed,practised,
prankit,played tricks on,also played fast and loose with prayin’,praying,
prayt,prayed,
preachin’,preaching,
preacht,preached,
prech,preach,
precher,preacher,
pree,taste; try; prove; experience, preevileeges,privileges,
prentit,printed,
press-bed,box-bed with doors,
prest,pressed,
preten’it,pretended,
priestie,little priest,diminutive
pris’ner,prisoner,
prood,proud,
provokin’,provoking,
pruv,prove,
pruv’t,proven; proved,
pu’,pull,
puckle,small quantity,
puir,poor,
pump,beer-shop,also pump
putten,put,
pyke,pick; pluck,
quaiet,quiet,
quaiet sough,quiet tongue,
quaietest,quietest,
quaitet,quieted; silenced,
quest’ons,questions,
quo’,swore; said; quoth,
railly,really,
raither,rather,
rale,real; true; very,
randy,rough; wild; riotous,also coarse-tongued; abusive rant,make merry; revel,
rase,rose,
rave,tore,
rax,extend; overdo it; stretch,
raxed,extended; overdone it; stretched, reacht,reached,
readin’,reading,
red,rid; free,
redd,set in order; tidy; clean,
reef,roof,
refar,refer,
refeese,refuse,
reid,red,
reik,smoke,
releast,released,
repentit,repented,
reyn,rein,
richt,right; correct,also mend
richtly,certainly; positively,
ridic’lous,ridiculous; unseasonable (weather), riggin’,ridge; roof,
rigs,ridges (in a ploughed field),
rin,run,
rinnin’,running,
rins,runs,
rintherroot,gadabout; homeless vagrant; tramp, risin’,rising,
rist,rest,
ristet,rested,
rizon,reason,
roamin’,roaming,
roarin’,roaring,
ro’d,road; course; way,
roomie,little room,diminutive
roon’,around; round,
rottan,rat,
rouch,rough,
roun,whisper,
roun’,around; round,
rovin’,roving,
rowtin’,bellowing; roaring; lowing, rucks,ricks; stacks,
run k-nots,slip knots (that can not be untied), runkle,wrinkle; crease,
‘s,us; his; as; is,also has
s’,shall,
sab,sob,
sae,so; as,
safe,safely,also safe
safity,safety,
sair,sore; sorely; sad; hard; very; greatly,also serve sairer,harder; sadder; sorer,
saitisfee,satisfy,
saiven,seven,
sall,shall,
san’,sand,
sang,song,
sangie,little song,diminutive
sangna,did not sing,
sangs,songs,
sangy,little song,diminutive
sankna,did not sink,
sarious,serious,
sark,shirt,
sattle,settle,
sattled,settled,
saugh,sallow; willow (type of tree), saven,wise; knowledgeable,
savet,saved,
savin’,saving,also except
Sawbath,Sabbath,
sawmon,salmon,
sawna,did not see,
saw’t,saw it,
Sawtan,Satan,
saxpence,sixpence,
sayin’,saying,
says’t,says it,
say’t,say it,
‘scape,escape,
scatter’t,scattered,
schuil,school,
schuilin’,schooling; education,
schuilmaister,schoolmaster,
schuilmaisterin’,schoolmastering; teaching, scomfished,suffocated; stifled; choked,
scoorin’,scampering,
scornin’,mocking; ridiculing,
Scotlan’,Scotland,
scrape,scrape; shave,
scrattit,scratched; dug,
scrimp,stunted; sparing,also short in weight or measure Scriptur’,Scripture,
scunner,disgust; disgusting; revolting, scunnerfu’,disgusting; loathsome; sickening, seein’,seeing,
seemile,simile,
seemin’,seeming,
seener,sooner,
see’t,see it,
sen’,send,
set,set out; start off; become,
set doon Bony an’ set up Louy,lowers one; exalts another,Psalm 75:7 setna,do not set,
Setterday,Saturday,
Setterdays,Saturdays,
settin’,setting,
settisfaction,satisfaction,
shaidow,shadow,
shal’t,shelled,
shaw,show; reveal,
shee,shoe,
sheen,shoes,
sherp,sharp,
shillin’,shilling,
shillin’s,shillings,
shirra,sheriff,
shirra’,sheriff,
shoothers,shoulders,
shot,speed; blasting; heavy breakers (sea),also shoot shottin’,shooting,
shuitable,suitable,
sic,such; so,
sich,sigh,
sicht,sight,
sids,husks of oats,
siller,silver; money; wealth,
simmer,Summer,
simmerin’,simmering,
sin,since; ago; since then,also sin; sun sin’,since; ago; since then,
singin’,singing,
sitten,sat,
sittin’,sitting,
sizon,season,
skirlin’,screaming; singing shrilly, sklet,(school) slate,also roofing slate
sklet-pike,slate pencil,
sma’,small; little; slight; narrow; young, smokin’,smoking; smouldering,
smokin’ flax,smouldering wick,reference to Matthew 12:20 snap,sharp blow; sudden stumble,
snawba’,snowball,
sneck,door-latch; catch (gate),
snot,small lump (of soot),
soary,sorry,
some,somewhat; rather; quite; very,also some somehoo,somehow,
soo,ache; throb,
soomin’,swimming; floating,
soon’,sound,
soopit,swept,
soucht,sought,
sough,sigh; sound of wind; deep breath, soughie,little sough,diminutive
sowens,sour pudding of oats and water, sowl,soul,
sowls,souls,
spak,spoke,
spate,spate; flood,
speat,spate; flood,
speerin’,asking about; enquiring; questioning, speerit,spirit,
speerits,spirits,
speir,ask about; enquire; question, speirin’,asking about; enquiring; questioning, speirs,asks about; enquires; questions,
speirt,asked about; enquired; questioned, spen’,spend,
spendrife,spendthrift,
speyk,speak,
speykin’,speaking,
spier,ask about; enquire; question, spune,spoon,
spunks,sparks; matches,
spurtle,porridge stick,also wooden rod for turning oatcakes stair,stairs,
stan,stand,
stan’,stand; stop,
stane,stone; measure of weight,1 stone = 14 pounds stanes,stones,
stan’in,standing,
stap,stop; stuff,also step
stappit,stopped; stuffed,also stepped steek,shut; close; push,also stitch (as in clothing) stert,start; jump with surprise,
sterve,starve,
stick,stick; gore; butt with horns, stickin’,sticking; goring,
stickit,stuck; gored,
stippety-stap,short mincing gait,
stirks,steers,
stockin’,stocking,
stockins,stockings,
stockin’s,stockings,
stoot,stout; healthy; strong; plucky, strae,straw,
straik,streak; stroke; caress,
strang,strong,
stray,lost; not at home,
stude,stood,
subjec’,subject,
subjec’s,subjects,
sucklin’s,sucklings,
sud,should,
sudna,should not,
sune,soon; early,
suner,sooner,
sune’s,soon as,
sunest,soonest,
supposit,supposed,
sutor,shoemaker; cobbler,
sweem,swim; float,
sweir,swear,
sweirin’,swearing,
swoord,sword,
syne,ago; since; then; at that time,also in (good) time ‘t,it,
tae,toe,also the one
taeless,toeless,
taen,taken; seized,
ta’en,taken; seized,
tailie,little tail,diminutive
tak,take; seize,
tak a lug,have a dish,
tak tent,look out; pay attention,
takin’,taking,
takna,do not take,
taks,takes; seizes,
tane,the one,
tap,top; tip; head,
tarn,mountain lake,
tarns,mountain lakes,
taucht,taught,
tay,tea,
tee,’to ye’ i.e. to you,also tea; too; also teetle,title,
tellin’,telling,
tellt,told,
tent,attention; care; heed; notice, teuch,tough; hard,
teuk,took,
than,then,also than
thankit,thanked,
the day,today,
the morn,tomorrow,
the morn’s,tomorrow is,
the nicht,tonight,
the noo,just now,
thegither,together,
themsels,themselves,
themsel’s,themselves,
thereoot,outside; out there; out-of-doors, thestreen,last night,
think,feel; experience; expect; wonder, Think ye?,Do you think so?,
thinkin’,thinking,
this lang time,for a long time,
tho’,though,
thoo,thou; you (God),
thoom,thumb,
thoosan’,thousand,
thoosan’s,thousands,
thouch,though,
thoucht,thought,
thouchts,thoughts,
thrapple,windpipe; neck,
thrapples,windpipes; necks,
thraw,throw; turn; twist,
thraw one’s lug,twist one’s ear; punish, three-fauld,threefold; three times,
threep,argue obstinately,also maintain by dint of assertion threip,argue obstinately,also maintain by dint of assertion thro’t,throat,
throt-ro’d,throat,i.e. be drunk
throts,throats,
throu’,through,
thunner,thunder,
tice,entice; coax,
‘tice,entice; coax,
till,to; till; until; about; at; before, till’s,to his; to us,
till’t,to it,
ting-a-ling,sound of a small bell,
tint,lost; got lost,
tiret,tired,
’tis,it is,
tither,the other,
tod,fox,
toom,empty; unload,
toom-heidit,empty headed,
toon,town; village,
tow,rope; string,
tows,ropes; strings,
trail,drag forcibly; haul along,
trailin’,dragging forcibly; hauling along, traivel,travel,
trible,trouble,
tribled,troubled,
tribles,troubles,
trifflin’,trifling,
trim’le,tremble,
trimmin’,beating; scolding,
troth,truth; indeed,also used as an exclamation trouth,truth; indeed,also used as an exclamation trowth,truth; indeed,also used as an exclamation trustit,trusted,
tryin’,trying,
‘ts,its,
tuck,beat (drum),
tuik,took,
tum’ler,tumbler; glass (of whisky), turnin’,turning,
turnt,turned,
twa,two; a few,
‘twar,it were,
‘twarna,it were not,
’twas,it was,
twise,twice,
twistet,twisted,
tyauve,strive; struggle,
tyne,lose; get lost,
ugsome,disgusting; frightful; ghastly, umbrell,umbrella,
unco,unknown; odd; strange; uncouth,also very great un’er,under,
un’erstan’,understand,
up the stair,upstairs,
upliftit,uplifted,
upo’,upon; on to; at,
up-road,road (to heaven),
up’s,up his,
vailue,value,
vainity,vanity,
verra,very; true; real,
v’ice,voice,
vreet,write,
vroucht,wrought; worked,
wa’,wall,also way
wad,would,
wadna,would not,
wae,woe; sad; sorrowful,
waggin’,wagging; nodding,
waitin’,waiting,
waitit,waited,
walcome,welcome,
walkin’,walking,
w’alth,wealth; abundance,
wan,reached; gained; got,
wantin’,wanting; lacking; without; in want of, wantit,wanted,
war,were,
wark,work; labour,
warks,works,
warl’,world; worldly goods,also a large number warl’ ‘s gear,worldly substance,
warld,world,
warna,were not,
warran’,warrant; guarantee,
warrin’,warring,
warst,worst,
warstle,wrestle,
warstlin’,wrestling,
wa’s,walls,also ways
washen,washed,
washin’,washing,
wasna,was not,
was’t,was it,
wasterfu’,wasteful; extravagant,
water-brose,oatmeal stirred into boiling,water until thick wather,weather,
watter,water,
watters,waters,
waur,worse,also spend money
wee,small; little; bit,also short time; while weel,well; fine,
weel-behaved,well-behaved,
weel’s,well as,
weet,wet; dew; rain,
weetin’,wetting; getting wet,
weicht,weight,
weir,wear,also hedge; fence; enclosure weird,doom; disaster,
weirs,wears,
weyve,weave; knit,
weyver,weaver; knitter,also knitter of stockings; spider wha,who,
whae’er,whoever,
wha’ll,who will,
whan,when,
wharfor,what for; why; for what reason, wha’s,who is,also whose
What ca’ they ye?,What is your name?, What for no?,Why not?,
What for?,Why?,
whaten,(on; by) what; what kind of, what-for,why; reason,also punishment; retribution whaul,whale,
whaur,where,
whause,whose,
wheel,eddy; pool; deep still part of the river, wheen,little; few; number; quantity,
whiles,sometimes; at times; now and then, whilk,which,
Whisht!,Quiet! Silence! Hush!,
whiskin’,whisking,
whumled,whelmed; overwhelmed; upset, whup,whip,
whups,whipping,
whusky,whisky,
whustle,whistle,
wi’,with,
wice-like,seem wise,
wicket,back-door of a barn,
wickit,wicked,
wifie,little woman,term of endearment willin’,willing,
willin’est,willingest,
win,reach; gain; get,
win’,wind,
win’le strae,straw or grass dried on its root,weak; unhealthy winna,will not,
wins,reaches; gains; gets,
winsome,large; comely,
wi’oot,without,
wires,knitting needles,
wis,was,
wi’t,with it,
wither,weather,
won’er,wonder; marvel,
won’erfu’,wonderful; great; large,
won’erin’,wondering,
workin’,working,
worryin’,worrying,
worset,woollen fabric; wool; worsted, worum,worm,
wrang,wrong; injured,
writch,rich,
wuddie,gallows,also willow
wuds,woods; forests,
wull,will; wish; desire,also astray; stray; wild wullin’,willing; wanting,
wulls,wills; wishes; desires,
wuman,woman,
wunna,would not; will not,
wur,lay out,
wuss,wish,
wussed,wished,
wut,wit; intelligence; sense,
wuts,wits; senses,
w’y,way,
wydin’,wading,
w’ys,ways,
wyte,blame; reproach,
yaird,yard,
yairds,yards,
ye,you; yourself,
year,years,also year
ye’ll,you will,
yer,your,
yer lane,on your own,
yerd,yard; garden,
ye’re,you are,
yersel,yourself,
yersel’,yourself,
ye’t,it to you,
yett,gate,
yeuks,itches,
ye’ve,you have,
yewky,itchy,
yon,that; those; that there,
yon’er,yonder; over there; in that place, yon’ll,that will; that (thing) there will, yon’s,that is; that (thing) there is,
yoong,young,