Auld Scots

[Russell]

I was looking up a word today wondering whether it was old Scots or just one of those words which are dropped from everyday language due to lack of use. The word was "dottle" which is the ashy lump left in the bottom of a pipe. There are so few pipe smokers nowadays but it was a common practice in my youth (more than sixty years ago !) I found the word in a book called "The Old Scots Tongue" first published in 1858. It got me thinking about how many of the old words are still in use today. Farmers still talk about stirks. The thrush is still a mavis in some parts of Scotland. We still 'gie a dunt' and 'clap' a dog and farmers still make 'dreels' to drop in seeds for next harvest. Does anyone still 'mash' their tea in the teapot ? or does the whole linguistic thing get you in a 'fankle'.
I was interested to learn that my 'oxster' (armpit) has the same meaning in Flemish. How much of old Scots is unique and how much was borrowed from the Low countries in the 1500's when we had better relationships across the North Sea than with our neighbours just over the border ?
Do you have any favourites which leave your non-Scottish friends flummoxed

Russell

P.S. Just discovered that 'dottle' is in the Oxford dictionary

[WilmaM]

My husband found learning Swedish a 'dawdle' as so many words were very similar - flit [to move house], quine [a female], kirk [church] all appear in slightly different forms.

Dicht I think is my favourite - to wipe clean
http://www.scotslanguage.com/word/Sep-2 ... good_order
or 'red up' - tidy

Though I confused my daughter the other day by referring to her grandma's cupboard as 'the press' !

There is a slight language barrier in this household, as I'm from Glasgow of Ulster -Scots descent and my husband [and kids] are all F'kirk Bairns.

[AndrewP]

Though I confused my daughter the other day by referring to her grandma's cupboard as 'the press' !

Was it the lobby press?

All the best,

AndrewP

[ninatoo]

My Mum always used to put a 'shed' in our hair. When the grandkids came along here in Australia, she did the same when she was minding them. One day one of the boys asked her if she could put a garage in his hair

[WilmaM]

Forgot about that one Nina - 'your shed's like a dog's hind leg'

and yes Andrew it was!

[johnniegarve]

I can mind the "Coo's Lick".

How aboot, Strippit, Hackit, Humphy Backit, Gallus, Shauchly, Wabbit & Maukit!

Johnny.

[Corsebar]

Back in Paisley in the early 60's,still remember my Mothers words of "I'll tober you boy", and then getting a skelp on the back of the legs. Can't quite what remember what I'd done to receive this penalty, probably being cheeky or back chat!

Ray

[ninatoo]

Ah, the 'skelp'! I'd forgotten that one!

[Russell]

I just remembered being told "No tae drap your jauries doon that stank" i.e. don't lose your marbles down that open drain. Syvers were OK as they were covered drains.
Some words were quite descriptive. A 'schlaff' was an open handed skite round the 'lug' but could describe the slapping noise of a loose pair of slippers as , y wife carried dishes across the hard kitchen floor.
As a nurse I had to translate for the doctor in casualty as pains were described as 'loupin'. 'gowpin' 'stounin'. Each had a specific usage.
The other day a child was sporting a transfer calling it a tattoo. We used to proudly call them 'dabitties' until your mother sent you to wash them off.
Russell

[Muriel]

Aw tae one side like Gourock. Yer hems aw heughs and howes (girlie one that!). Sapple. I'd get a skelp & had a shed.

Living in London we puzzled people by "doing the dishes" instead of washing up or going a message instead of shopping.

Muriel