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Rtymological Glossary 
 
 OF 
 
 ^he Shetland and Orkney Dia 
 
Published for thf Author and the Philological Society 
 
 BY 
 
 ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK, EDINBURGH ; an 
 ASHER & CO., LONDON AND BERLIN. 
 
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 \^b(>) 
 
 BY 
 
 THOS. EDMONDSTON, F.R.S.L., F.A.S.L. 
 
 OF BUNESS, SHETLAND. 
 
 ASHER & CO., LONDON AND BERLIN 
 1866. 
 
 E.V- 
 

 K<h'\(oi^<^ 
 
 Printed by 'R. Clark, Edinburgh. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In offering these pages to the kind forbearance of his 
 friends and the public, the author is aware of their 
 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 
 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 gratefully 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 
 have passed away, most of the old Norn will be buried 
 with them. 
 
 The author has, on these grounds, deemed it useful 
 to gather now, for preservation, what would otherwise 
 in a very short 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 ORKNEY 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 Fond 
 
 general or chief governor, S. 
 Aaem, the end, as of a line, S. ; da. arm, deficiens. 
 Abeezeant, 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. 
 Agamy, 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. aUi, I 
 
 have ; a. s. agan ; s. aega ; g. and du. eigen, to possess. 
 AcKADUE, 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, einfiil- 
 
 tig ; 0. g. aenfalt ; a. s. anfeald ; s. enfaldig. 
 Aee, a sandbank or beach ; sometimes a " stone api;" 0. and 
 
 S. ; goth. eyr ; isl. eyre ; su. g. oer, id. 
 A- B 
 
2 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Aessiepattle, a neglected cliild, S. ; g. aschenputtel. 
 Aeth-kent, well known, easily known, S. ; iio. 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. 
 Atfeug ; " affrug of the sea" — a spent wave receding from the 
 
 shore, S. 
 Affset, an impulse, S. 
 
 Afeo, 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 stem, S. 
 Againcalling, recall, revocation, 0. 
 A-GAAIEY ; to go a-gaairy — to leave one's service before the 
 
 term-day, 0. 
 Agg, a short breach of the sea, S. ; tvo. eg. 
 Aggl, to soil, to defile, S. 
 
 Aggucks, a kind of fish, the same as awmucks, S. 
 AiE, a peerie air, a mere tasting, 0. and S. ; isl. aur, infini- 
 tesimal. 
 Air, a very small quantity, O. and S. 
 AiE, to taste, 0. and S. 
 AiTTEiE, cold bleak weather, S. ; isl. eitr ; tw. da. s. eit, 
 
 id. 
 ArvALOUS, doubtful, uncertain, S. 
 AiviNG, being in doubt, S. 
 Aklin, a sullen person, S. ; lelg. akel-ig, gloomy ; melancholy ; 
 
 dismal. 
 Alamotti, the storm-finch, a fowl (Procellaria pelagica), ; 
 
 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. ; Uut. 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, porticus. 
 Anuoo, to keep a boat in position by rowing gently against 
 
 wind or tide, S. ; no. andou. 
 Angaluck, an accident, a misfortune, S. ; hdg. angeluk, mis- 
 fortune ; da. angaa-e, to concern, to affect, and lykk-e, 
 
 luck, fortune. 
 Anker, a dry measure, as an " anker of potatoes," one-thii-d of 
 
 a barrel ; also a liquid measure, S. ; da. anker, 38 Danish 
 
 quarts, id. 
 Anns, chaff of oats, S. ; no. agn, id. 
 Anns-beee, chaff of here, S. 
 Ant, to pay attention to, to attend, to obey, S. ; isl. ansa ; 
 
 da. sendse, id. 
 Antinmas, perhaps Anthony's mass, 24 days after Christmas, 
 
 S. 
 Anyestek, a two-year-old sheep, S. 
 Apo, upon, S. 
 
 Arby, the sea-gilliflower, 0. 
 Aeby-eoot, the root of the sea-giUiflower, 0. 
 Aeg, eager, fierce, S. ; da. arg,' angrj^ enraged ; id. arg. 
 Akgeeie, a crowd, a multitude, S. 
 Aegosie, anger, S. ; isl. arg ; da. arg, angry ; and isl. ysa ; da. 
 
 ose, to pour out. 
 Aevie, 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 lialf-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 isl. 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 
 
 viarinus), id. 
 Attivilts, arable ground lying one year lea, S. ; da. attir, 
 
 again, and fallit, ploughed. 
 Atween-lichts, the distance between neighbours' houses, S. 
 Auk, the common guillemot, 0. 
 AuLiN-scouTY, the arctic gull, 0. and S. 
 AuSKEEEiE, 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 rounds 
 
 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 ; dii. balk ; a. s. and 
 no. s. and da. balk, id. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 5 
 
 Baalik, a thick cake, S. 
 
 Baar, a longitudinal slice of a halibut, including the fin on 
 
 one side to the tail, S. ; id. bard, the margin, the edge, the 
 
 lateral extremity. 
 Baaz, a large fat clumsy person, S. ; da. •pro. baas. 
 Back, a wooden bowl in which dough is mixed, S. ; du. bak, id. 
 Backageuf, a ridge at the bottom of a " peat-bank " formed 
 
 by the surface of the peat-moss, whicli 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. graf, a ditch, an excavation. 
 Backburd, the larboard or left side of a boat, S. ; helg. 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. 
 Backoins, 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 ; g. bank ; 
 
 laf. banca. 
 Baerie, a boar pig, S. 
 
 Baes, cattle, beasts, S. ; da. beest, bsest-iek, bestial, id. 
 Laessy-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 
 
 tent, beffe, nugfe ; beffen, nugari. 
 
6 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Bakie, the blackheaded gull, S. 
 
 Bal, to throw at, to pelt, 0. and S. 
 
 Bald, a ravelled knot, S. ; no. ball, balla, to ravel. 
 
 Baldin, the halibut {Pleuronectes hippoglossus), S. ; isl. bald-r, 
 
 potens. 
 Balfukd, 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 which the cragsman climbs in 
 
 search of wild-fowl and their eggs, S. 
 Bankstership ; "through bankstership" — by force, without 
 
 permission, S. 
 Bakd, a bold headland, the top of which projects beyond its 
 
 base, S. ; isl. bard. 
 Bard, a scold, applied only to women, S. 
 Barm-skin, a leather covering for the breast, S. ; isl. da. no. s. 
 
 barm. 
 Barnisdael; " 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. ; teut. bast, cortex. 
 Baukie, the razorbill (Alea 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. 
 Beach-boys, boys employed at the fishing-stations to assist in 
 
 curing fish on the stone beaches, S. 
 Beainer, a dog, S. ; s. ben ; no. bein ; da. been, a bone, and 
 
 da. bider, a biter — i.e. the bone-biter. 
 Beainer-sunday, Sunday before Christmas, on which day it 
 
 was usual to hang vip an ox- head in the chimney, to make 
 
 broth with, S. 
 Bear-pundlar, 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. 
 
 Beekin, querulous, discontented, fault-finding, 0. 
 
 Befeam, to seaward, S. ; isl, fram, from (qu. from the land) and 
 be, signifying in composition towards, beyond. 
 
 Begood, 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 carrying 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. 
 pfo. bende. 
 
 Benkl, to bend, to dimple, S. 
 
 Benkle, a dimple, S. 
 
 Benon, on the top of, S. 
 
 Bekg, a rock, S. ; isl. berg ; da. biserg, a rock, a cliff. 
 
 Bekgle, Beegell, the wrasse, a fish, S. 
 
 Bekguylt, the black goby, a fish, S. ; no. bergylte, id. 
 
 Beenacle, Anser hemicla, 0. and S. ; a corruption of the 
 Norwegian " Barngagl," a sea-goose. 
 
 Bess, to sew slackly, S. 
 
 Bess, cattle, cows (short e, or se), S. 
 
 Best ; to best — over and above, gain, saving, S. 
 
 Bet, a certain quantity of straw or grass, as a "baet of 
 floss, S. 
 
 Bevaae, to protect, to guard, S. ; g. bewahren, 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 hook is attached 
 
 when using the fly, S. 
 BiEENTEK, 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. 
 BiGO, 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. 
 BiKTH, a current in the sea caused by a furious tide, but 
 
 taking a different course from it, 0. 
 BiSMEE, a steelyard, or instrument for weighing resembling 
 
 it, 0. and S. ; no. bismar ; da. bismer ; s. besmer. 
 BiSMER, a species of stickleback, 0. 
 Bister, a town of land, termination of the names of places in 
 
 0. and S. 
 BiTLACKS, the teeth, S. . 
 BniRG, a steep hill, S. ; g. berg ; a. s. biorg ; no. biarg ; da. 
 
 bierg ; s. berg. 
 BizziE, the litter with which cattle are bedded, S. 
 Blaagit, dead, S. 
 Black-earth, a black earth found in mossy soil, and used 
 
 as a dye, S. 
 Black-head, the powit gull, S. 
 Blacking-grass, a wild plant from which a black dye is 
 
 extracted, S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 9 
 
 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, Chimera monstrosa, S. 
 Blate (the), a particular spot of fishing-ground, S. 
 Blaijd, a drink made from buttermilk, S ; no. bMnd, 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, soaking. 
 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 00) ; " 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, 3. ; 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 floating object by a wave of the sea, S. ; isl. bode, id. 
 
 BoDEN, provided, 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-EUNNEE, the boards between the hassins of a boat, S. 
 
 BoiLTA, short stunted barley, S. 
 
 BOKIE-BLINDIB, a game, blind man's buff, S. ; da. pro. bHnde- 
 buk ; 7W. 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 " bowman," 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 the future safety of the 
 cows was supposed to depend, S. 
 
 BooL, to play on the surface of the water, as herrings often 
 do, S. ; no. bulla, a bubble ; isl. bulla, to bubble. 
 
 BooLACH, a pimple, S. 
 
 BooLAAG, a race, kindred, family. The word is used only in 
 a disreputable sense, S. 
 
 BooLAAG, 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 
 
 BooNAVAEA, in reserve, frugally, economically ; " to keep in 
 
 boonavara," to reserve, to economise, S. ; n. bunadrvisi, id. 
 BoOND, a peasant, a small farmer, S. ; w). bondi, id. ; d,a.. and 
 
 s. bonde, id. 
 BooNDSFOLK, peasantry, S. ; no. bondifolk, id. ; s. and da. bonde- 
 
 folk, id. 
 BoosAM, active, busy, S. 
 BooKLY, stout-bodied, a " boorly" man, S. 
 Boos, to be busy or active, S. 
 Boos, the shoulders of a horse, S. ; no. bog, bov ; id. bogr, 
 
 armus equi. 
 Boose ; to come into a house with a " boose" — to come in with 
 
 a " bounce, S. 
 BoosHiB, 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. See Bard. 
 
 Bottle-nose, a species of whale, ca'ing-whale, 0. and S. 
 Bought, the name given to a iishing-line, about 50 fathoms, S. 
 Bougie, a bag made of sheepskin, S. 
 BOUKACK, a name for cattle, S. 
 
 Boukblawer, 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 stane from 
 
 which the hooks depend, S. 
 Bow-KIG, a small keg used as a buoy, S. 
 Bow-TOW, a buoy-rope, S. ; g. and da. tau ; du. touw, id. 
 BozEN; "a bozen chimney" — an enclosed well-built chimney, 
 
 S. 
 BOZEN-CHIMNEY, a chimney built in the wall, S. 
 
12 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Beaed, to melt, S. ; no. braeda ; a. s. braedan, id. 
 
 Braiks, a common or pasture-ground, S. 
 
 Beak, the bursting of surges on the sea-shore, broken waves 
 
 rolling towards the sea-shore, S. 
 Beammo, a mess of oatmeal and water, 0. 
 Beandaed, brindled, applied to cattle, S. 
 Beeaking down a cow, taking down the carcase of a cow or 
 
 ox from where it has been suspended, and cutting it up, 
 
 S. 
 Beedee, brother ; twa breder, two brothers, S. 
 Beebkbandit, a wrestUng match, S. 
 Beegd, to form a cord of four threads implicated in a peculiar 
 
 manner, S. ; isl. bregda, to plait. 
 Beet, to strut, 0. 
 Beidle-baoks, short pieces of wood nailed across the upper 
 
 end of the cupples, just below the h<ines, S. 
 Brief, energetic, forcible, S. 
 Beiekit ; " a briekit sheep" — a dark-coloured sheep with white 
 
 legs and beUy, S. 
 Beigd^, the basking shark {Sgualus maximus), S. ; n. brigde ; 
 
 da. pro. brygde, id. 
 Beigdee, small cord or hair plaited, used as a " tome," S. ; isl. 
 
 bregda, to plait. 
 Beimeld, a very old female seal, S. ; isl. brimill, id. 
 Beimtud, the sound of waves dashing on the shore, S. ; no. 
 
 brimtot, id. 
 Bein, a brook or rivulet, one in Unst called " Yellia Brin," S. ; 
 
 g. brun and born ; no. brun ; a. s. born and byrna, id. 
 Beinda, a female name, S. 
 Beis, a break or rent, a crack, S. ; da. briste ; da. pro. brist ; 
 
 s. brista, id. 
 Beismak, the name given to the tusk fish, S. ; s. brosma, 
 
 brcesme, bresma ; da. brosme, id. 
 Beitch, to cut into short pieces, S. ; no. britja ; g. pritsche, 
 
 id. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 13 
 
 Bkitch'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. 
 Beitta, a female name, S. 
 Beo, a frothy white substance on mossy ground which sickens 
 
 animals that eat it, S. 
 Beod, a goose that has hatched goslings, S. ; lelg. brced-en, 
 
 to hatch ; sax. brod ; teut. brut. 
 Beodend, habituated to, 0. 
 Beoe, the liver of the halibut, S. 
 Beogue, an offtake, S. 
 Beonga or BEUNGA, a well, a spring of water, S. ; da. brond ; 
 
 SM. g. brunn j isl. brunn-ur, a well, a fountaia. 
 Beongie, a name given to the great cormorant {Pelecanus 
 
 carho), S. ; no. bring, the breast (of a bird) ; isl. bringa, id. 
 Beooi. the master of the house, also a term of familiarity and 
 
 equivalent to " brother," S. 
 Beook (a) of waee, a quantity of seaweed driven on shore 
 
 by stormy weather, S. 
 Beowden, impudent, S. 
 Beowden, self-willed ; applied to a child at the breast, as 
 
 " If s time to wean the bairn, for it's getting browden upo' 
 
 the breast," S. 
 BEtr, a common prefix to the names of places in the neigh- 
 bourhood of a bridge, as brugarth, S. ; da. bro, a bridge. 
 Beu (long u), Scotch bree, broth or sauce, S. ; g. bruhe ; du. 
 
 brce, id. 
 Beuck, small pieces of wood, or anything much crushed or 
 
 broken, S. ; g. bruch ; a. s. brie ; du. breuk ; 0. g. 
 
 gabrak. 
 Beuck, to smash in pieces, S. 
 Beuckl, to crumble, to break small, S. ; g. brbckeln. 
 Beucks, the offals of fish or of cattle, broken meat, S. 
 Bbucely, applied to persons in a weak state of health, and to 
 
14 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 unsettled weather ; " It's bruckly weather," S. ; da. brsek- 
 
 kelig, id. ; s. brseckelig, id. 
 Brud (long u), a track or path, S. ; no. brot and braut. 
 Beug, a sandy, mossy, or heathery brug or hOlock, S. ; wo. 
 
 borg ; isl. bruk, an elevation, a swelling. 
 Bbulle, to bellow as a bull, S. ; g. bruUen ; da. brole ; tw. 
 
 brcela. 
 Bruni, a round thick cake of meal, S. 
 BKtJNKiE, a brown horse, S. 
 BfiUKiE, blood, S. 
 Beusk (long u), gristle or cartUage, S. ; da. -pro. brusk ; no. 
 
 brosk ; isl. brjosk, id. 
 Beust ; the tide is beginning " to brust," meaning " to ebb," S. 
 Bkusted, ebbed, S. 
 Beustin, ebbing, S. 
 
 Btlr, a term used in old deeds to denote cattle, S. ; n. bu, id. 
 Bu, a manor-house, S. ; no. bii, 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 clumsUy, S. 
 Bucks, to tramp upon a soft substance, S. 
 Bud (long u), a booth or shed, S. ; mo. 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. -pro. b6ddel, id. 
 BuGDALiN, ceiling of a boat or ship, S. ; da. pro. bagdelen, id. 
 BuGHT. See Bucht. 
 BuGGiE, a bag ; 2d, a nickname for a person with 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, 29tli March, 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, O. 
 BuiL, to lie down, S. ; isl. bola, 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. ; isl. b61a, id. 
 BuiLLiNG, the act of enclosing sheep or cattle, S. ; prest. part. 
 
 of isl. bola. 
 BuiLY, a feast, 0. 
 BuiST, a small box, 0. and S. 
 BuiTiB or BUiTO, a piece of flannel or home-made cloth worn 
 
 by women over the head and shoulders, 0. 
 BuiTO. See 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. 
 BuLDEB, to make a loud noise, S. ; da. buldre ; s. bullra ; 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. 
 Bullion, a term for the pudenda in some parts of Orkney, 0. 
 BuLT, to butt with the head or horns, S. 
 BuLTiN, applied to a cow that butts, S. 
 Bulwand, a bulrush (TypJia latifolia), S. 
 BULWAND, the name given to common mugwort {Artemisia 
 
 vulgaris), 0. and S. 
 
1 6 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 BuLWAVEK, to go astray, S. 
 
 BUMBL, a hollow noise produced by a fall, S. ; g. 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. 
 Bunkee, 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. 
 BuEBBNK, to fortify a frail building with a bank of turf or 
 
 stones, S. 
 BuED, a young seal not weaned, S. 
 BUKN-WOOD, wood for fuel, S. 
 BuEEA, a name given to the common kind of rush {Juncus 
 
 squarrosus), S. ; no. da. burre, id. 
 BuEEA-soiL, dry peatty soil, S. 
 
 BuERiT, applied to sheep, black with white round the tail, S. 
 BuESN, breathless, panting from over-exertion, S. 
 BuRSTiN, corn dried in a kettle over the fire, instead of being 
 
 dried in a kiln, S. 
 BuESTiN-BEUNi, a round thick cake made of burston, S. 
 BuRTACK, fire, S. ; isl. birta, light ; no. byrtiug, 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. ; no. bos, id. 
 Bust, a box, S. 
 
 BUTLIN, part of the intestines of a sheep, S. 
 Button-mouse, a small mouse found in the fields, 0. 
 BUYNHOGA, home, the place of birth, S. 
 
AND ORKNE\ WORDS. 17 
 
 BuYRUP, the buoy-rope attached to the lines at the " haaf," 
 
 S. 
 Byack, a useless, good-for-nothing person, S. 
 Byald. /See Bald. 
 Byauch, applied to anything small, as " a small calf," " a puny 
 
 child," S. 
 
 Caa'in whale, 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 sinker 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. 
 
 Caigeked, entangled, S. 
 
 Caizie, a fishing-boat, S. 
 
 Calf-skins, the sea ruffled by the wind in occasional spots, 
 called by sailors " catspaws," S. 
 
 Oallek, 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. 
 
 Calwaet, somewhat cold, S. 
 
 Cammac, a stroke with the hand, 0. 
 
 Cammick, a preventive, a stop, S. 
 
 Can, a measure for liquids, S. 
 
 Cappie, a term applied to some part of the fishing-gear, S. 
 
 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 awa', 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 heaet, a mode of divination formerly used in 
 Orkney, 0. and S. 
 
 Cast up (to), to vomit, S. ; isl. kasta upp ; 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. 
 
 Cataolue, a number of persons running in disorder and im- 
 peding each other, S. 
 
 Catheeine's-mas, December 22, S. 
 
 Cats-ceammacks, 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 them off the hook, S. 
 
 Cazzie-eiva, the straw netting in which the peats are placed 
 to be flitted to the peat-stack, S. 
 
 Chack, the wheatear, 0. 
 
 Chaffee, the round-lipped whale, S. 
 
 Chaldeiok-chaldee, the name given to the sea-pie {Hmma- 
 topua osiralegus), 0. and S. 
 
 Chaeve, 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 Imave, S. 
 
 Cithaeopes, the traces by which 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. 
 
 Claie, ready, prepared ; as " dinner is clair," 0. and S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 19 
 
 Clamp, a patch either of cloth or wood, S. ; id. klampi, 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 the shore, 0. and S. 
 Clibbek, a wooden saddle, a pack-saddle, 0. and S. ; isl. 
 
 kUfberi, clitelli. 
 Clicksie, an eagle, S. 
 Clift, a piece of wood, S. 
 Clin'd, part, of cline, S. 
 Cline, to cover over, as bread with butter, S. ; isl. klina, to 
 
 spread over. 
 Clingeka, hillocks of gravel isolated from the shore by the 
 
 tide, S. 
 Clinins, slices of bread thickly spread with butter,' S. ; isl. 
 
 kliningr, illinamentum. 
 Clocks-summbk, 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 peculiar taste, S. 
 Clooe, a scratch, as that made by a pin or by the claws of a cat, S. 
 Clooe, to scratch oneself, the vicious scratching of a cat, S. ; 
 
 isl. klora, to scratch with the nails. 
 Clumbungie, a big, clumsy person, S. 
 Clumpeks, 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 on tlie outlook, to peep slily, S. 
 
 Coal, a cock of hay, S. 
 
 CocKiLOOME, a daisy {Bellis perennis), S. ; su. g. koka, the 
 
 sward, and lura, to lie hid. 
 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. 
 CoMPEK, the father-lasher, a fish, 0. 
 CONCURKANS, occurrence, S. 
 Condwyn'd, accursed, S. 
 CooB, to bring forth young, applied only to a seal, S. ; isl. 
 
 kobbi, a seal ; kopr, phocula, a little seal. 
 CoEBiE, to speak in a harsh guttural manner, S. 
 CoKN ; " 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-DEAM, the dram of spirits it was formerly the custom 
 
 always to give after counting. The practice is still in use 
 
 in some places, S. 
 Country-acts, a code of bye-laws or municipal regulations 
 
 enacted from time to time in the Foud's head-court, 
 
 S. 
 Court, the lawn or grass plot about a house, S. 
 CozAiN, to barter or exchange one thing for another, 0. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 21 
 
 Crack 0' a thing (a), a person arrived at maturity, but of very 
 
 short stature, S. 
 Ckagacks, the knees in a boat, S. 
 Ceaigie, a long-necked bottle, S. 
 Ceaiglugge, 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. 
 Ceaigs (to go to the), to fish with a rod for coal-fish from the 
 
 rocks. 
 Cram, to scratch severely with the finger-nails, S. See 
 
 Cromack. 
 Ceamp, small heaps of vitrified glass and stones found in 
 
 ancient tumuli, 0. 
 Ceampis, meal and refuse of tallow mixed together and eaten 
 
 hot, S. 
 Ceantzb, the common coralline {Millepora polymorpha), S. 
 Ceaws-couet, a court of judgment held by crows, S. 
 Craw-siller, mica, S. 
 Ceeeks, traps, snares, S. 
 Ceibbage, the person, the body of a person, S. 
 Criggie, a bend or crook in a dyke, S. 
 Ceing, 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. 
 Cringled, horses so tied, S. 
 
 Crocklins, small mussels found among the ebb-stones, S. 
 Crohbad, part of a boat, S. 
 Ceoilk, a hump on the back of an animal, S. 
 Ceomagk, the hand with the fingers bent as in the act of 
 
 clutching an object or of scratching 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. 
 Ceoos, a dumpling filled with fish-livers, S. 
 
2 2 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Ceoss-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. 
 Ceub, to confine, to press upon, to deprive of convenient room 
 
 or space, S. 
 Ceubbit, confined, pinched for room, S. 
 CRtr, a small enclosure, S. ; isl, kr6, id. 
 Crug (to), to crouch under shelter, S. 
 Ceuggin, crouching under shelter, S. 
 
 Ceugset, 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. 
 Ceuikne ; " a cruikne of folk" — a number of persons gathered 
 
 together, S. 
 Ceule, a small cake or bannock, S. ; isl. kril, anything very 
 
 small. 
 Ceule, meal mixed with cold water and eaten raw, with a 
 
 lump of butter in the middle of it, S. 
 Cubbie, a small caizie, 0. 
 CXJDDIE, a small basket made of straw, S. 
 CuDDiE, CUTH, the coal-fish, 0. 
 CUDDIE-DOOE, a doorway in the gable of a byre through which 
 
 the manure is carried. So soon as the byre is cleaned the 
 
 aperture is built up again, S. 
 CULLYAC, a shell-fish (the Tellina rhomhoides), S. 
 CuLLYAT, applied chiefly to a cow without horns, S. ; isl. 
 
 koUottr; da. kuldet, without horns. 
 CULZEE, a large straw basket, 0. 
 CUMMAL, a small rising ground, 0. 
 CuMMEESKOLLS, entertainment given to visitors on occasion of 
 
 the birth of a child, S. 
 Cuppo, a hoUow place, 0. 
 
 Cure ; " curf of the land " — the surface of the soil, S. 
 CuEF, the cuticle or scaif-skin, used only with reference to 
 
 leather, S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 23 
 
 CUELDODDY, naturally clever, 0. and S. 
 
 CuEMULLTiT, a person with a very dark complexion and ill- 
 favoured countenance, S. 
 
 CuEK, a whisper, a slight rumour, S. 
 
 CuEE, to purr as a cat does when pleased, S. ; id. kaur, mur- 
 murare. 
 
 CuEEiE, neat, tidy, S. 
 
 CuEEiE, used as an expression of suffering ; "0 currie, currie !" 
 dear, dear ! S. 
 
 CuENEY, a large number, as " a curney of piltacks," S. 
 
 CuSTELL-PENNiE, 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 lull, S. 
 
 Daaet, to raise the price of anything ; " daarted," raised in 
 
 price, S. 
 Dachin, to abate, applied to the wind, S. 
 Dachinin, abating, S. 
 
 Daee, there, S. ; s. daer ; da. der ; g. dar, id. 
 Daffock, 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. ; Aa. fro. daggry, id. 
 Dagset, the setting of the day, the end of the twiKght, S. ; 
 
 no. dagset, id. 
 Daiskit, expressing fatigue on the person or countenance, 
 
 S. 
 
24 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Dall, a dale, a valley, S. ; go. n. s. da. dal, id. 
 
 Damp, the end of a line or rope, S. 
 
 Dann, then, S. ; g. and du. dann, id. 
 
 Daea, a frame on which the hand fishing-lines are kept, S. 
 
 Daeg, contemptible, S. 
 
 Dakow. See Dara. 
 
 Dat, that, S. 
 
 Daw-fish, the lesser dog-fish, 0. 
 
 Daakth. See Daart. 
 
 Deenin, a full meal, a bellyful, S. 
 
 Deepoopeeit, 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. 
 Deie, to make an impression, 0. 
 Dekkie, 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. 
 Dembl, to dip or plunge, S. 
 Denk, to adorn, S. 
 
 Deedel, the extreme end of the spine of a hog, S. 
 Deeg, a thing of little value, S. 
 Deels, rags, S. 
 
 Deskit, stupid, bewildered, S. 
 Dess, a raised place or seat, S. ; no. dys, id. 
 Dewitt (to), to murder, to assassinate, 0. 
 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 cue's dieuen"— to be well served, S. 
 
 Dill, to shake loosely, to flap, S. ; no. diUa, id. 
 
 Billing, passing from memory, being forgotten, S. 
 
 Dim ; " the head of the dim" — midnight, S. ; no. dim ; isl. myr, 
 
 kastedima. 
 Dim, dark S. ; isl. dimmr, id. 
 DiMMACK, money, S. 
 Dine, thine, S. 
 
 Dingle, to tingle, to thrill, S. ; no. and isl. dinglr, id. 
 DiNTL, thiq, 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. 
 DocKEE, strength, firmness, S. 
 Docker, to strut, S. 
 
 DoKKiE, hardy, capable of enduring labour and exposiire, 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. 
 DoEDSHAM, a kind of oath, S. 
 DoEE (to), to make one deaf with noise, 0. S. ; isl. daara, to 
 
 bewilder. 
 DoEEN, a term used for the purpose of imprecation, as " Doren, 
 
 or deil tak you," 0. 
 DOEEOW, to fish with a floating hand-line, S. ; no. dorru and 
 
 dorg ; isl. dorga. 
 Dou, thou, S. 
 Dou's GOTTEN DY LIVEE DEINK, 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. 
 
 Djraeg, a small grappling-iron used by fishermen for dredging 
 
 for shellfish, S. ; no. draeg ; da. drseg, id. 
 Draeg, to drag or dredge for shellfish, S. 
 Deaeng, to draw tight, to squeeze, S. ; da. draengen, id. 
 Dram, a piece of cloth or wool attached to a hole made in the 
 
 ears of animals in order to distinguish them, S. 
 Dkatsie, the common otter {Mustela lutra). 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 drseg'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, cacare, S. ; no. drita, id. 
 Dreitten, past tense of " dreit," S. 
 Deeng, to recover from sickness, to be convalescent, S. 
 Dkengen, a man, a lad, S. 
 Dretghed, daundering, dreaming, S. 
 Drett, dirtied, defiled, S. 
 Drew, a species of seaweed {Zostera marina), 0. and S. ; no. 
 
 driug ; da. dr0i ; isl. drugr, id. 
 Dribbit, a small quantity, S. 
 Deibbit, a trifle, a thing of no value or use, S. 
 Dring, to suffocate by strangulation, S. 
 Dringing, suffocating by strangulation, S. 
 Dritter, past participle of " dryt," S. 
 Drivlin, traiUng through mire, S. 
 Droilt, to walk clumsily, S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 27 
 
 Droilt, a clumsy person, S. 
 
 Deoine, the plaintive sob of a hungry cow, S. ; isl. drynr ; da. 
 
 dron. 
 Deoine, to moan plaintively, applied to a cow, S ; %o. dryja, 
 
 drcena, id. 
 Dkong, a steep rock rising out of the sea, S. 
 Deowels ; " fore and aft drowels" — pieces of wood attached 
 
 to the keel of a boat for protecting the stem and stem, 
 
 S. 
 Deows, a class of imaginary beings. See, Trows, S. ; no. 
 
 draug, also drog, draur. See Ganfir. 
 Deuyllin, 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. tiltale med " du.'' 
 DUCKIE, a young girl or doll, S. ; da. dukke ; no. dokka, id. 
 DUDDEE, 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, Halymenia palmata, S. 
 DUMBA, the refuse of corn after it has been dried; S. ; no. 
 
 dumba, id. 
 DuMBiT, anything that has lost its sheen, S. ; no. dulnbut, id. 
 DuMMAS, a dull taciturn person, S. r 
 
 Dumps, a term used by boys playing at ball, S. 
 Dundee, a loud rumbling noise like thunder, S. ; da. and s. 
 
 dunder ; 710. dondre, id. 
 Dundee, to rumble, to make a thundering sound, S. *-c 
 Dundee, the devil, S. 
 DuNGL, a lump, a clod, S. 
 Dungl, to pelt, S. 
 
28 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 DuNKEE, close mist, S. ; g. da. s. dunkel, id. 
 
 Dunn, fine dust of meal, S. 
 
 DuNTEE-DUCK, the eider duck, S. 
 
 DuoY, a great-grandchild, S. 
 
 DuEDACK, a lump, S. 
 
 DwAALLiN, slumbering, S. 
 
 DwAAM. See DwaU. 
 
 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. 
 
 Eaensdall, eagle' s-dale, 0. and S. 
 
 Easny-couligs, tumuli, 0. ; isl. em, ancient, and kulle, 
 
 tumulus. 
 EAETH-BAEK,the roots of tormentil( I'ormewiiZZa qfficinalis),used 
 
 as a substitute for bark in tanning leather, S. 
 Eaeth (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. 
 Ebb-mothee, the last of the ebb-tide, S. 
 Ebb-sleepee, a bird, the dunlin {Tringa variabilis), S. 
 Ebb-sleeper, the plover-page, S. 
 EccLEGEASS, butterwort or sheep-rot, 0. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 29 
 
 Edder, either ; " edder the tane or the tidder" — either the 
 
 one or the other, S. 
 Eddeein, either, S. 
 Edgak, the half-roasted, half-ground grain of which burston 
 
 is made, 0. ; da. sed-a ; id. cet-a, to eat, and gorr, made, 
 
 prepared. 
 Eddein. Bee, Edderin. 
 Eela, a fishing-place, or ground for small fish, near the shore, 
 
 S. See lela. 
 Eel-tows, lines laid in-shore for eels to be used as bait at 
 
 the haaf, S. 
 EjSrest ; " for the eerest" — for the meantime, S. 
 Een, one, S. 
 
 Eee (to), to squeak as a pig, to scream, S. 
 Eee, a piercing scream, as that uttered under the influence 
 
 of terror, S. 
 Eggaloueie, a dish of eggs and milk boiled together, 0. 
 EiD, a tongue of land, S. ; no. and isl. eid, id. 
 EiNYAREB, the grass-sickness, diarrhoea ; applied to sheep, S. 
 Elishant, a shoemaker's awl, S. 
 Elsk, to love, S. ; isl. 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. 
 Embee-goose, the Immer of Pennant, 0. and S. 
 En. See In. 
 
 Eenabie, diminutive, small for one's age, S. 
 Endeacht, purpose, the object one has in view, S. 
 Enga, a proper name for a woman, S. 
 Ent (to), to regard, to notice, to obey, S. 
 Eec, a smaU quantity, 0. 
 Eeist, most easily, most probably, S. 
 Eene, the white-tailed eagle (Aquila albicilla), 0. and S. 
 
30 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 EsK, to rain slightly, 0. 
 
 Est, the east, S. 
 
 EsTEN, the east, S. ; da. CEsteii ; a. CEstan, 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 hehind, and in the other in front ; 
 
 vernacularly, " half ahint and half afore," S. 
 Eye-whaem, 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. 
 
 Faatee, a criminal, a defaulter, S. 
 
 Fadom, a fathom ; isl. fadmr, id. 
 
 Faenly, amiable, S. 
 
 Faid (to), to frown, S. 
 
 Faigee, 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. See Fettle. 
 
 Fake (to), to give heed to, to believe, to credit, 0. 
 
 Fame, fatty particles floating on the surface of a liquid, 
 
 foam, S. 
 Fan, found, S. 
 
 Fann, a snow-wreath, S. ; no. fann ; isl. f onn, fann, id. 
 Fant, to famish, to stance, S. 
 Fantin, famishing, starving, S. 
 Fare, a boat, S. ; no. isl. farr ; s. fard, id. 
 Fasten, the evening before Lent, S. ; g. fasten. 
 Fastie, a stone-anchor for a boat, S. ; isl. feste, a rope. 
 Fastie-BAND, a rope tied round the fastie, S. 
 Fastrens-een. See Fasten. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 3t 
 
 Fatifu, affectionate, 0. 
 
 Teaks, 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. fedme. 
 
 Feeeie, an epidemic, principally used regarding a disease 
 
 peculiar to dogs, S. 
 Feespin, 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. 
 Feed, food, provisions, S. ; no. ferd ; s. fserd. 
 Feed, a journey, a voyage, S. ; isl. etc. ferd. 
 Feed ; " He went off wi' a ferd" — he started at a rapid pace, 
 
 S. 
 Feedameat, bread, etc., provided for a journey, S. 
 Feeokerly, for the most part, most frequently, 0. 
 Feeeabiet, a prevision, a foregoing, S. 
 Fettle, a horse-girth made of straw, a straw-rope, S. ; isl. 
 
 fetill ; no. fatl, fetl. 
 Fbyadin, the whale, S. ; no. and isl. feit ; dM. fed, fat, id. 
 Feyag, close warm rain accompanied by wind, S. 
 Feyaeming, flattering one, insincere, S. 
 Feytlins, the skin from the legs of an ox, of which "rivlins" 
 
 are made, S. 
 FlAAG, fine meal-dust, farina, S. 
 FlAAEM, to fondle, caress, treat kindly, S. 
 FiALGES, an exclamation of surprise ; isl. fialgr. 
 Fianskien, an exclamation expressive of kindness, S. 
 FiDDABlED, part of a fishing-line, S. 
 FiDDACK, a water-pail, S. 
 Fiddees, 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 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 FiEL, a term affixed to the names of long momitainous ranges, 
 
 as "vaalafiel," "crussafiel," etc., S. ; da. fjeld; isl. fiall, id. 
 FlENDiN, the devil, S. ; (La. and s. fienden ; no. fan' en ; isl. 
 
 fiandinn, id. 
 FiEEDiE, stout, strong ; applicable to person, S. 
 FiESP, to move smartly, to fuss about, S. ; da. jpro. fisesk. 
 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. 
 FiMMiSH, a hurry, a perplexity; also used as a verb ; " to be, 
 
 in a fimmish," S. 
 FiMMiSH, to be in a hurry, S. 
 FiNDEN, a findiag, a discovery, S. 
 FiNNEE, a species of whale that makes its appearance on the 
 
 coasts of Orkney and Shetland, 0. and S. 
 FlOEm, the ebb shore, S. ; no. fjora, fjera, fjere ; isl. fjra, 
 
 refluxus maris. 
 FiEDiT, lost, not to be found, S. 
 FiEEABiED. See Fiddabird. 
 FiSH-EiG, 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. fjel ; isl. and no. fijol, a thin board. 
 FiSKALEE, fisherman-like, S. 
 FiSKAEROE, unlike or unbecoming a practical fisher, S. ; da. 
 
 etc. fiskar, and the negative u or o. 
 Fit, an action, a deed ; "diel fit" — devil a bit, S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 33 
 
 Fit, to make feet to stockings, S. 
 
 FiTTiE, a short stocking, a person with deformed feet, S. 
 
 FiTTL, to take short steps in walking, S.' 
 
 Flaa, a thin turf, S. ; isl. flaga, id. 
 
 Flaag, a large clnmsy woman, S. 
 
 Flaag, a flock of birds, a shoal of fish, S. 
 
 Flachin, a stroke given by something in the hand, 0. 
 
 Flaohtek (to), to flutter as a bird, S. 
 
 Flackie, a truss made of straw, used for preserving the horse's 
 
 back from beiag hurt by the saddle or creel, 0. and S. 
 Flackie-coen, a large straw mat used for winnowing corn, S. 
 Flaich, 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. 
 Flannie, squally, S. 
 
 Flatsh, to walk clumsily, to knock down, S. 
 Flaughtin, a fluttering or palpitation of the heart, S. 
 Flaw, an extent of lea or land under grass ; sometimes " a 
 
 broad ridge," S. 
 Flay, to pare off the surface of mossy ground before the sub- 
 soil is dug for peats, S. ; isl. flaga, id. 
 Flecked, applied to the bottom of the sea when it has bunches 
 
 of seaweed growing upon it, S. ; no. s. flekkut ; da. floek- 
 
 ket, id. 
 Fleetee, a flat piece of wood used for skimming oil particles, 
 
 etc., from the surface of water when cooking, S. 
 Flempter, 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. 
 Fleuknees, 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. 
 
34 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Flinch, to slice the blubber from the body of a whale, S. ; no. 
 
 flengja, to flinch ; s. flank-a, to slice, id. 
 FLitrG, a chaff of com, S. 
 FiirtG, to clean com from chaff, to make the chaff fly away 
 
 with wind, S. 
 Flindebkin, a weak person or thing, a thin garment, S. 
 Flink, nimble, agile, active, S. 
 Flink, to be agUe, etc., S. 
 
 Flippee, to wag, to move the hands ia walking, S. 
 Fliss, a flake, a iilm, 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. ; isl. 
 
 floi, id. 
 Floss, the common rush, 0. and S. ; isl. floi, and whass, a 
 
 reed. 
 Fluchra, snow in broad flakes, S. ; da. flakker ; isl. floegra, id. 
 Fluckadkift, a haste, a hurry, S. ; g. flucht, id. 
 Flungs, to turn quicldy round, to sweep round, S. 
 Fluee-bands, the bands that secure the bottom boards of a 
 
 boat to the keel, S. 
 Flungs, a hurried motion in turning round, S. 
 Foal, a bannock or cake, any soft and thick bread, 0. 
 FoGRiE, the mackerel {Scomber scomber), S. ; isl. fagr ; no. 
 
 fagr, fager ; da. fager. 
 FoiR-coPLAND, a phrase used in a deed regarding Orkney and 
 
 Shetland, 0. and S. 
 FoiTTACK, a mouse, S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 35 
 
 S. ; isl. funi, live coals. 
 
 JET, a short coat or vest, S. ; da. fro. fceskert, id. 
 cat, S. 
 ;;^j^ term of reproach, S. ; fr. foutre. 
 
 ^ 3 disapprove, to hinder, S. 
 
 "^ •, a foregoiag, a forehappening, an antecedence, S. 
 
 — *. 3PS, the fore-legs, and " hind-stoops" the hind legs 
 
 O lair, S. 
 
 ^ D harness, 0. 
 
 -4 n implement made oi gloy, or ropes made of hent or 
 
 for defending the hack of a horse when loaded with 
 etc., 0. 
 
 the refuse of wool, S. 
 
 taken aback, disappointed, S. ; isl. forsma ; da. 
 36 ; s. fcBrsma, id. 
 an affront, an insidt, S. 
 to affront, to insult, S. 
 
 c (to), to consecrate by charms ; hence " forespoken 
 water," 0. 
 FoETiG, fatigue, S. 
 FoETlGGED, fatigued, S. 
 FoETETTiN, forgotten, S. 
 Fou, how, S. 
 
 TouD, the name given to the president of the supreme court 
 formerly held in Orkney and Shetland, 0. and S. ; su. g. 
 fogde, fougte. 
 FouDAL, procrastinating, 0. 
 FOUDEIB also means the different subdivisions grouped and 
 
 presided over by the " grand foud," 0. and S. 
 FouDKiB, the oflice of chief-governor formerly in Orkney and 
 
 Shetland, 0. and S. 
 FoxJRAEBEN, a four-oared skiff, S. 
 Fou's-A-wi'-DEE, how is all with you ? S. 
 FOWEE, four, S. 
 
36 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Toy, 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. 
 Fkamboed, that boat at the fishing lying furthest out to sea, 
 
 S. 
 Freets, superstitious observances, S. 
 Fkeevalotjs, weak, sickly, delicate, S. 
 Fkemd, a stranger, S. ; da. frenimed ; g. fremd ; du. vremd, id. 
 Fkemd, strange, foreign, S. 
 Feennezib, a trifling thing, S. 
 Feoad, froth ; isl. froda, foam. 
 Feooteey, superstitious observances, 0. 
 Feusch, to spit as a cat, to make a sputtering noise with the 
 
 lips, S. 
 Feushie-baa. See Fiesta-baa. 
 Feutt, a superstitious notion, a predilection, S. 
 FuLLDiN, a continuance, a length of time ; " For a fulldin" — 
 
 for a length of time, S. 
 FCfN, fire (u as ia French), S. ; isl. funi, live coals. 
 FuNGLAT, large, great, S. 
 FuNGLiE-FOO ; " A funglie-fu bodie" — an obliging, generous 
 
 person, S. 
 FUEKIN, melting, 0. 
 
 Fltekin, hungry, disposed to take a bait ; applied to fish, S. 
 FUESCAM, of the four horses formerly used abreast in the old 
 
 Orkney plough, the first or right hand one was called the 
 
 " furhorse," the second the " furscam," the third the " volar 
 
 scam," and the fourth the "outend" horse, 0. 
 FuEsiN, the cord to which the hook is attached, S. 
 Fyalgees, the deuce, S. 
 Fyaem, to phrase, to use superfluous expressions of kindness, 
 
 S. 
 Fyaemin, phrasing, S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 37 
 
 Gaa or Gad, a small rainbow in the horizon, suggestive of 
 
 approaching bad weather, S. ; isl. galadr, vitiatus. 
 Gaa-buesen, short-wiaded, S ; isl. gall, bHus. 
 Gaa-gkass, 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. 
 Gaan, to stare, to gaze vacantly, S. ; isl. g6na, id. 
 Gaat, a boar, S. ; isl. galti ; da. gait, id. 
 Gaen afoeb; "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, cantus. 
 Galdeeie, a large room, a gallery, S. 
 Galdeein, laughing in a noisy vulgar manner, S. 
 Gallafee, a prattling sound, S. 
 Gammelost, old cheese, S. ; da. and no. gammelst, id. 
 Gandiegow, a stroke, also punishment, S. 
 Ganfie, 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. 
 Gannees, the inside of a cow's lips, a disease to which cows 
 
 are subject, S. 
 Ganska, an expression used by fishermen, meaning "very 
 
 good," " quite well," S. ; da. ganske, id. 
 Gaee, mud, S. ; isl. gor ; s. garr, filth. 
 Gaee, leaven made thia with too much water, S. 
 Gaee, to jumble, to injure by stirring, S. 
 Gaeth, an enclosure ; sometimes it denotes the house and 
 
 land attached to it, 0. and S. ; isl. gardr, gerdi, a field or 
 
 enclosure. 
 Gatshied, a relation, a cousin, S.' 
 Gavelkind, a custom by which, on the death of the father, 
 
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. 
 Geebick, a strip of grass between corn ridges, S. 
 Geets, a common for cattle, waste land, S. 
 Getskoed, 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. ; ul. 
 
 gafa ; da. gave. 
 GiDDACK, the sandeel {Ammodytes tohianus), 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. I 
 
 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 
 
 gQd ling," S. ; isl. gilldr, id. 
 Gill, a deep rut or ravine on the side of a hiU, S. ; tw. and 
 
 isl. gil, id. 
 GiLTOCKS OE THECK, long low stacks of heather, built loosely 
 
 to permit the air to gain admission and thoroughly cure 
 
 the theck, S. ; isl. gU, vallus angusta. "\^, 
 
 Gio, a deep ravine which admits the sea, 0. and»S. ; ra.'gja, 
 
 a fissure. 
 GiOLA, thin ill-curdled buttermilk, S. 
 GiPPic, a small knife for gutting fish, S. 
 GiTAMiLD, to give freely, to give without imposing any con- 
 ditions or restrictions, S. ; da. gavmild, id. ; isl. giafrailldr, 
 
 id. 
 GiRESTA, a strip of grass between ridges of corn, S.. '• 
 
i 
 
 AND ORKNEY WORDS. 39 
 
 GlKSE-STEAE, hay, S. 
 
 GiUKDACK, something valuable ; " to get a giuidack" — to get 
 
 a prize, S. 
 Glaab (the), any object on a hill defined against the sky, S. 
 Glaan, a smaU stone used for sharpening the point of a dull 
 
 hook, a whetstone, S. ; isl. glrehein. 
 Glafter, a burst of laughter, S. ; g. klaffer, id. 
 Glafteeit, 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. gloehein. 
 Glashib, part of the intestines of a cow, S. 
 Glep, the act of swallowing, 0. and S. ; isl. gleipa. 
 Glep (to), to swallow down greedily, 0. and S. 
 Glet, an intermission of rain, 0. 
 Glindbe, to peep through half-shut eyes, S. ; isl. glynr, winking 
 
 eyes. 
 Glindeeit, ringle-eyed, S. 
 ^LINKIT, giddy, light-headed, S. ; Scotch, glaikit. 
 Gloags, a mixture of burstin and milk, S. Vide Glugs. 
 Gloam, the moon, S. ; isl. liomm, brightness. 
 Gloggo, a mixture of burstin and milk, 0. Vide Glugs. 
 Gloueiks, the eyes, S. ; du. glurr-en, to peer, 
 Glotjesit, haggard, pale, wan, S. 
 GLbv, straw of oats for making simmunds ; the longest straws 
 
 aire selected, 0. and S. ; du. gluye, stramen arundinaceum, id. 
 GrUmp, a glow of heat, S. ; isl. glod, id. 
 Gludijeey ; " a gluddery sky" — unsettled rainy appearance 
 
 of -the sky, S. 
 GLUFP.(to), to affright, 0. and S. 
 Gluffed, made to start back from sudden fright, S. 
 GLUFFis,.a bgiSterous brawling person, a frightful appearance, S. 
 GLTJGSjj,oatmeal stirred in cold water, and consistent as porridge, 
 
 S. 
 
40 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Glumpse, to turn suddenly and radely upon one with a rough 
 
 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. klof, 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. ; isl. gagntack. 
 GoiT, GuYT, way or road ; Scotch "gate," S. 
 GOLLAMUS, ungainly, large, unshapely ; applied to persons, S. 
 GooLGEAVE, 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. 
 GoEDS, lands now waste that had formerly been cultivated, 0. ; 
 
 su. g. gord. 
 GoKEHiEDiNG, the harvest-home, S. ; isl. gera, to make, and 
 
 hirda, to secure. 
 GoEiE, an exclamation of surprise, an oath, S. 
 GOESTA, 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. 
 GousTBE, to speak in a violent blustering manner ; isl. giostr, 
 
 applied to the weather. 
 GowDY-DUCK, the golden-eye [Anas clangula), S. 
 GOWL, to greet or cry aloud, S. ; isl. g61a, to howl. 
 Geaam, greedy for food, salacious, S. 
 Geaem, to be in a passion, S. ; isl. gramr. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 41 
 
 Geee, the fat that exudes in the boiling of fish or offish-livers, S. 
 Grave, to dig for shellfish in the sand, S. ; isl. grafa, to dig. 
 Geeek, daybreak, S. ; da. and s. gry, dawn. 
 Gkemit, 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. 
 Gkeenbone, the viviparous blenny, a fish, 0. and S. 
 Geenchee, a grea1>-grandfather, S. 
 Gricifee, a name given to a disease that attacks swine and 
 
 deprives them of the use of their hind-legs, S. 
 Geiem, to daub with dirt ; ErigUsh grime, S. 
 Geimack, a rope fitted round a horse's head and chops as a 
 
 substitute for a bridle, S. ; isl. gryma, id. 
 Geind, properly a gate consisting of horizontal bars, which 
 
 enter at each end into hollows in two upright stakes, or 
 
 the adjoining wall, 0. and S. ; isl. no. s. grind, fores 
 
 clatratse, id. 
 Geip, an excellent article of its kind ; isl. gripr, id. 
 Geit-line, a long-line with a number of hooks set inshore for 
 
 catching fish, S. ; a. s. grith ; isl. grid. 
 Geoe, to blow a fresh breeze, S. 
 Geoff, thick, large, S. ; isl. grofr ; da. grov, id. 
 Geoff-meal, large-grained meal ; coarse, as " groff thread." 
 Geogie, a grey horse, S. ; da. graa ; isl. grar, grey. 
 Geoo, to sigh or groan like the wind before a storm, S. 
 Geop, rain in large drops, S. ; probably a corruption of isl. 
 
 grofr, da. grav. 
 Geotty-buckie, a small sheU found on the sandy beaches in 
 
 some parts of Shetland, S. 
 Geudack, a large kettle for cooking fish and potatoes, etc., S. ; 
 
 da. gryde, a pot. 
 Geuddee, grief, the expression of grief, crying, S. ; isl. grseta, 
 
 contristare. 
 Geuel, oatmeal porridge, S. 
 
 G 
 
42 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Gkuel-tkee, the stick used for stirring porridge, S. 
 Gruggie, applied to the weather ; isl. gruggugr, feculentus. 
 Gkugsie, a large pin, S. 
 Grulacks, persons disguised, HaEimas-maskers, S. ; isl. grylur, 
 
 a bugbear to frighten children with. 
 Grumfie, a spectre, a hobgoblin, S. ; su. g. grymt-a, to grunt. 
 Gkummal, crumbs, fragments, 0. ; perhaps a corruption of 
 
 criimhs. 
 Grund-sem, the nails that fasten the lower boards of a boat 
 
 to the keel, S. ; da. grand and se. 
 Grun, rocky sea-bottom ; isl. grunn ; da. grand, fundus. 
 GRtiNi, green isle, S. ; da. gron, green, and ey, island. 
 Grtjnzie, fuU of dregs, S. 
 Grute, the thick sediment of oil, S. ; isl. grutr. 
 GlTBB, scum, foam, froth, S. 
 GtroABLY, probably, possibly, S. • 
 GUDDEN, manure (excrementum intestinorum), S. ; da. pro. 
 
 giode, giodning, id. 
 GUDDICK, a riddle, S. ; isl. gdta ; s. gata ; da. gaade, id. 
 GtJD-TA-TREE, worthy of belief, credible, S. ; isl. traa, to 
 
 believe. 
 GUE, a musical instrument formerly used in Shetland, S. 
 GuGGL, to work with the hands among any soft substance, to 
 
 knead leaven in a slovenly way ; also to make dirty, S. 
 GuiDABLT, possibly, by any chance, S. 
 Gt!riD-FOLK, the elfin race, S. 
 GuL, " Sir," by way of address, 0. 
 GuLBOW, intimacy or friendship, 0. ; isl. gUld and bo. 
 GuLBRULE, the bellowing of an ox, S. ; isl. gaula, and da, brla, 
 
 id. 
 GuiJjA, pronounced liquid ; a young woman who assists at 
 
 the christening of a child, S. ; isl. gUlia, a young woman. 
 Gully, good, agreeable, 0. 
 Guls-a, the jaundice, S. ; su. g. gulsot, id. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 43 
 
 GuLSH, to eructate, S. 
 
 GuLSH, an eructation, S. 
 
 GuMPLFECK, restlessness, S. 
 
 GUNNIE, a hobgoblin invoked to frighten children, S. ; isl. 
 
 gunni, big men, 
 Gupp, to vomit, S. 
 
 Gupp, a vomiting sound, S. ; da. gulpe, to disgorge. 
 GuE, mud, dirt, 
 
 GUK, to defile with mud, S. ; da. isl. and s. gor, mud, dirt. 
 GURBLOITED, clothes badly washed, S. ; da. isl. and s. gor, and 
 
 isl. bleyti, soaking, 
 GUELIN, a boy, an urchin, S. ; isl. karl, id. 
 GuKM, to make dirty, to defile, S. 
 GuKM, the rheum of the eyes, the viscous matter that collects 
 
 on dead fish when allowed to lie long in a heap, S. ; isl. 
 
 gormr, coenum. 
 GuRMiT, soiled, grimed, S. ; no. gurmet, id. 
 GuE-PUG, a small Shetland horse, S. 
 GuTRiv, 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. ; teut. ghijl, 
 
 yeast, and vat, a cask. 
 Guzzle, an angxy 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 fishing, S, 
 Haaf-boat, a boat fit for going out to sea to prosecute the 
 
 ling-fishing, S, 
 Haaf-fish, the great seal (Phoca barhata), S. 
 Haaf-fishing, the term used to denote the fishing for cod, 
 
 hug, and tusk, S. 
 
44 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND ^ 
 
 Haag, thrift, economy, S. ; isl. hagr, id. 
 
 Haak, a filament of flax or hemp, a hair, S. 
 
 Haaglbt ; " 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. 
 Haavees, 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 hasL 
 Hacksey-looked, having a coarse visage, gruff, pitted with 
 
 smaU-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 cluld 
 
 supporting itself by a chair, stool, or the like, S. 
 Hadaband, a wooden band fastening securely the ribs of a 
 
 boat, S. 
 Haeeangee, a boat 15 or 16 feet of keel, S. ; isl. 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. pro. hugastet, id. 
 Haggle, a subordinate division-mark between districts, S. 
 Hagmaek, a stone set up to indicate the line of division be- 
 tween separate districts, S. ; isl. haga, hill-pasture, and 
 
 mid, a landmark. 
 Hairen-teddee, a hair tether, S. 
 Hailin-muff, a mitten used by fishermen to protect their hands 
 
 when havding the haaf-Unes into the boat, S. 
 Haxbeet, a tall thin person, S. 
 Half-wattee, half-way between the boat and the bottom 
 
 of the sea, S. 
 Half-web, the grey phalarope (Phalaropiis lohahis), 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, 0. and S. 
 Halligit, wild, wanton, ilighty, S. ; id. hali, the tail, and kat, 
 
 wanton. 
 Hallow, a certain quantity of straw, a sheaf, S. ; isl. halva, 
 
 part of anything. 
 Haltugonga, an expression used by fishermen to check the 
 
 running of a halibut that has been hooked, S. ; isl. haltu, 
 
 ganga, cease running. 
 Hameeest, the commonty immediately adjoining the enclosed 
 
 land, S. ; isl. heimrost, id. 
 Hammers, large masses of earth-fast stones on the side of a 
 
 hiU, S. ; n. hamar, a steep place. 
 Handdeist, to separate corn from the chaff, etc., after it is 
 
 threshed, by rubbing it between the hands, S. 
 Handy-ceoopen, a game in which one of the players turns his 
 
 face to the wall, his hand resting upon his back ; he must 
 
 continue in this position until he guesses who struck his 
 
 hand, when the striker takes his place, S. j isl. kroppr, da. 
 
 krop, s. krop, the trunk of the body. 
 Hanging-togethee ; " 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. hana, ecce, and du, thou. 
 Hapeick, two cazzies united by a band laid over a horse's 
 
 back for carrying manure, S. 
 Haebin, a young coal-fish, 0. 
 Haekie, a pig, a boar-pig, S. 
 Haele-duok, the goosander, a fowl, 0. and S. 
 Haelikins, kind of tight pantaloons for children, opening 
 
 behind, S. 
 Haee, a hinge to a door, S. ; a. s. hearre ; teut. harre ; isl. 
 
 hiara, id. 
 
46 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Harrasicap, character, S. 
 
 Hassens, the bottom boards of a boat next to the stern, S. ; 
 
 da. hals. 
 Hassins-fore-and-aft, the boards that adjoin the keel about 
 
 one-third 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, 0. 
 Hawk-hens. B&e, Halk-hens. 
 Head-bt!![IL, a manor-house, the best famUy residence on an 
 
 estate, S. ; hoved-boeUe, 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. 
 Heakt-shot, an exclamation after sneezing, S. 
 Heathee-cun-dunk, the dun-diver, bird. 
 Heather-lintie, Linaria montana, 0. 
 Heck, a crutch, S. ; no. hekja, id. 
 Heck, to limp, to halt, S. 
 Heckabienie, any lean feeble creature, 0. 
 Heckapurdes, a c[uandary, 0. 
 Heckie, a cripple moviug about with the help of a crutch,. S. ; 
 
 no. ; hekja. 
 Heckla, the dog-fish (Squalus archiarius), S. ; isl. hakall; id. 
 Heokster. See Heckie. 
 Hedt, it ; pronounced "hit," S. 
 Heftit, supplied, provided, suited with, S. 
 Hegrie, the heron (Ardea major), S. ; da. and no. heyre, 
 
 hegre, id. 
 Heimilt, the pasture immediately adjoining an enclosure, S. ; 
 
 isl. heimilt, id. 
 Hel, to conceal, to hide, S. ; g. hehlen, id. 
 Helie ; " the helie" — the interval between Saturday evening 
 
 and Monday morning, S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 47 
 
 Helier, a cavern into which the tide flows, S. ; %. hellir, id. 
 
 Heliek-halse, a cavern with a narrow entrance, S. 
 
 Helli-bein. See, Yellia-brin. 
 
 Hellio, a stone with a rim of clay about it, used in parching 
 corn for burstin, 0. ; isl. hella, a flat stone. 
 
 Helse, to have a liking for, to accept as a lover, S. ; isl. elska ; 
 da. elske, t6 love. 
 
 Helteks ; syn. with branks, S. 
 
 Heljack, a flat stone at the sea-shore forming a natural quay, 
 S. Vide Hellio. 
 
 Helyies-am, a pleasant agreeable person, S. 
 
 Helys-COST, food provided for the " helie" — that is, food pro- 
 vided to last from Saturday evening to Monday morning, 
 S. 
 
 Hemly, homely, without ceremony, S. 
 
 Hemma, a wife, a housewife, S. 
 
 Hemma, home ; i&l. hemma. 
 
 Hemskit, foolish, S. ; isl. heimska, foUy. 
 
 Hengees, the curtains 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 Umps or halts, S. 
 
 Henkl, to wind up a fishing-hne or tether, S. ; isl. hank. 
 
 Hent (to), to gather, to glean, to walk with a plunging mo- 
 tion, S. ; isl. henda ; su. 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. 
 
 Hekald-duck, the dim-diver {Mergus castor), S. 
 
 Heeanger. See Haeranger. 
 
 Herda, applied to corn that has been trampled by animals, as 
 " They have laid it in herda," S. 
 
48 GLOSSAJi V OF SHETLAND 
 
 Heeda, crush, confusion ; " To tramp in herda " — to tread or 
 
 lay in confusion, S. 
 Heems 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. 
 Hekt'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. hestia, id. 
 Hestensgot, an enclosure in which a number of horses are 
 
 pastured, S. ; isl. hestin and gardr, id. 
 Hev'il, a handle for a paU, S. 
 Hev'il-daffock, a pail with a handle, S. 
 Heykokuttt, 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, hiamsk, id. 
 HiLL-DTKE, 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-ily (same as 
 
 " Bid"), S. 
 HiMS, HiMST, hurried, hasty, flighty in manner, half-witted, 
 
 S. ; isl. heimskur, a foolish person ; s. hemske, id. 
 HiNNiE-WAAE, a species of seaweed [Maria escuhnta), 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 isl. 
 
 hion. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 49 
 
 Hit, the English verb to hit or strike ; conjugated thus — pres. 
 
 hit, praet. hat, past part, hitten, S. 
 Hit, pers. pro. it, S. ; isl. hitt, id. 
 
 HiVAD, a heap, a lump, S. ; isl. hbfad ; da. hoved, caput. 
 HixiB, a hiccup ; isl. hygste, id. 
 
 HoBKiN, the blue shark (Sgualus glaucus), S. ; no. haabrand, id. 
 HoCKEN, keen for food, greedy for food, S.; isl. hacka, to 
 
 devour greedily, to foed 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-MOTHEE, the basking-shark, 0. ; isl. homar (Squalus 
 
 Tnaximus). 
 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. 
 HoGEK, end, upshot ; " To come to an ill hoger" — 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. 
 HOOKATIE, Keookatie, On the haunches, S. 
 HOOKEKS, bended knees, S. ; da. pro. hokke ; isl. hoka. 
 HoOKSKA, a pudding made of the blood of an ox mixed with 
 
 meal, S. 
 
 H 
 
50 GLOSSAR Y OF SHETLAND 
 
 HOOEEN, 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. ; id. hop, recessus maris. 
 HoEENG, the seal, "phoca," S. 
 
 HoEN, horn of a boat, a continuation of the stems, S. 
 HoEEA-GoosE, the brent-goose, 0. 
 HoESE-GOOK, the snipe {Scolapax gallinagd), 0. and S, ; da. 
 
 horse-goeg, hors-gioeg ; «. hor-sjok, a snipe. 
 HossACK, a knot tied on a stranded line by fishermen to 
 
 strengthen it, S. 
 Hot, u.%ed 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. hnga, hugga, to fell, to strike. 
 Houghing an oab, placing the handle of an oar under the 
 
 thigh in order to rest oneself after rowing, S. 
 HouLLAND, the name of many places in Shetland, signifying 
 
 " high land," S. ; isl. h611, colliculus. 
 HousE-TEEDEKN, a Servant who has charge of the outdoor 
 
 work on a farm, S. ; isl. hus, and vaurd, custos. 
 Ho^VTE, a mound, a tumulus, a knoll, O. ; isl, haug ; su. g. 
 
 hoeg, a sepulchral mound. 
 HOYDDEEN, the clergyman of a parish, S. 
 HoYTTEs'-OEKG, the completion of any kind of work, as " the 
 
 hoyttin-geng o' peats," S. 
 Hub, to blame or hold guilty of a crime, S. 
 HuEBiE, a short jacket worn by women when performing 
 
 household work, 0. 
 HuBBiT, blamed or held guilty ; « Hubbit for tift" — blamed 
 
 for theft, S. 
 HccKFAiL ("toj, to like or fancy any thing or person, S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 51 
 
 HtiDDACK, a knot in a fishing-line fastening two parts together, 
 
 S. 
 HUDDERIN, empty, ill-filled, 0. 
 HUDEIN, chidiag, scolding, S. 
 HuDEKON. See Hudderin. 
 
 HuGGiE, a tap, a blow, S. ; isl. h6gg, id. ; da. hug, id. 
 HtJ-lA. See Huya, S. 
 
 HuiLK, a small vessel for holding oil, S. ; isl. hyUse, vasculum. 
 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 and 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, O. 
 HuLSTEK, a shapeless block of stone, S. ; i&l. holt, a stony 
 
 place, and st6r, great. 
 HuLYiE, lasting, economical, S. 
 
 HtJM, to grow dark, to darken in the evening, S. ; isl. hiim, id. 
 HtJMiN, twilight, S. ; isl. hum. 
 HuMLABAND, a Strap fixing an oar to its thowl, S. ; 110. humla- 
 
 band, id. 
 Hums. See Hims. 
 HUNDG (the dg pronounced like the English j in joy), to drive 
 
 or chase away, S. ; isl. hund, a dog, and geyr, to bark. 
 HtiNES, 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 thick creamy substance, S. 
 HuNGELL, a sea-fish, the green-bone {Blennius vivijaarus), S. ; 
 
 isl. hsengr, the male of fish. 
 
52 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 HuNKSiT, high - shovildered, the head sunk between the 
 shoulders, S. 
 
 HUNSH, to shrug the shoulders up, S. 
 
 HUEKACK, 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. 
 
 HuELESS, deafened with noise, S. 
 
 HuBEALESS, stupid with noise, S. 
 
 HUSELACK, a small stone hut for drying fish, S. 
 
 Hush, a low murmuring wind. 
 
 HteTACK, a big fat woman ; perhaps " Aaystack," S. ; isl. hey- 
 steck, id. 
 
 HuTHEEiN, a stupid feUow, 0. 
 
 HtTTN-TEtJTN, surly, ill-humoured, S. ; no. patois, trutn. 
 
 HuTTEE, a mass or heap, S. 
 
 Ht5TE ; "To huve up"— to swell, S. 
 
 HtJY, thin hair, S. 
 
 HtTYA, a height or hill ; name of an island near Unst, S. ; isl. 
 hoeie ; da. hoei, id. 
 
 HuTLLEB, applied to something that does not justify appear- 
 ances, S. 
 
 Hytjck-finnie (the double "n" pronounced liquid), lucky, for- 
 tunate, S. 
 
 Hyvee, to saunter, lounge, or idle, S. 
 
 Hyteral, a lounger, an idle, lazy person ; same as the French 
 "flaneur," S. 
 
 Hwinkle-eaced, lantern-jawed, 0. ; sw. g. hwinckel, an angle, 
 a corner. 
 
 Iaggee. See Yagger. 
 
 Iaeto, a term of endearment ; also used as if it were an adj., 
 
 S. ; da. min hjerte, my heart. 
 Ibbie, a contraction of Isabella, S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 53 
 
 ICELAND-SCOKEY, glaUCOUS gull, S. 
 
 Iela, a fishing-place or ground for small fish 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-contrivin, tricky, mischievous, S. 
 Ill-diwadged, ill-arranged, slovenly, S. ; da. ilde, bad. 
 Ill-hyvee, an awkward behaviour ; isl. hiavera, presentia, S. 
 Ill-hyveeed, awkward in manner, ungainly, S. 
 Ill-less, devoid of evil or malice, S. 
 
 Ill-vigkit, full of tricks and mischief, intractable, perverse, S. 
 Ill-vuxen, ill-grown, ill-shaped, S. ; da. voxen ; da. pro. ilde- 
 
 voxent, id. 
 Ill-vynd, an ill shape or manner, S. 
 
 Ill-vyndit, badly-made, iU-shaped, ill-mannered, S. ; no. vandi 
 Ill-wan, an ill expectation, a faint hope, S. ; isl. van ; ^a.vandt. 
 Ill-yetto-comin, a phrase used as an evil wish — "May ye 
 
 come ill back," 0. 
 Ilta, malice, anger, S. ; isl. ilska ; da. pro. ilter, id. 
 Iltafoo, full 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. 
 Immee-goose, the Great Ducker of Gessner, the ember goose, 
 
 0. and S. ; no. da. immer, id. 
 In, if, provided that, S. ; su. g. aen ; 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 iabu," 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 ; id. einbui ; da. eneboer, a 
 
 recluse. 
 IsTiCK, a slight temporary post, S. ; sm. g. is, ice, and sticka, 
 
 a splinter. 
 It fell afore me, it suddenly occurred to me, it suddenly 
 
 came into my miad, S. 
 lULGAE, an uneasy rapid motion of the waves, S. ; isl. colga, 
 
 a wave. 
 
 Jaffse, to make a noise with the jaws in eating ; id. kiafta, 
 
 to move the jaws. 
 Jack (to), to take off the skin of a seal, 0. and S. ; id. 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. 
 Jeeoy, a great-grandchild, S. 
 JiKD, a sudden push, S. 
 Jekeum, a proper name ; probably a corruption of " Jerome," 
 
 S. 
 Jiggle, to rock or shake bacltwards and forwards, S. 
 Jogged, confined in the " juggs," an instrument of punishment 
 
 resembling the piUoiy formerly used in Orkney and Shet- 
 land, O. and S. 
 JOOR, cattle that are not housed, S. ; id. dyr ; 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. 
 JlJRE ; applied to stock, as " 1 ha'ena a jure" — I have not a 
 
 single animal, S. t^cc Joor. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 55 
 
 Just (to), to adjust, O. and S. 
 JvEGAB, the sea-urchin, 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. 
 
 Kaak, to mark with chalk, S. 
 
 Kaain, a driving or kaaing of whales, also the number of 
 whales in a drove, S. 
 
 Kaam, a mould for casting metal iato bullets, S. 
 
 Kaameril, the beam from which the carcase of an ox is sus- 
 pended, S. 
 
 Kaaem, 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 
 ia its place, S. ; da. kiebe ; isl. keipr, id. 
 
 Kaddie, an ni-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. 
 
 Kaivle, a small rod of wood fastened in a lamb's moiith, like 
 the bit of a bridle, to prevent it from sucldng a ewe which 
 it is intended to milk, S. ; da. kievle ; isl. kefli ; s. kafle, 
 a small stick. 
 
S6 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Kallowed, calved; "a new-kallow'd cow" — a newly-calved 
 cow, S. ; isl. kalfa ; dau kalve, to calve. 
 
 Kalwaet, cold, sharp, applied to weather, S. 
 
 KA^'^^ cleverness, capability, adroitness, S. 
 
 K.AXXIE, a yoke-shaped piece of wood between the stammareen 
 and stem, S. 
 
 Kappek-noited, ill-natured, fractious, S. 
 
 Kaedoos, a fine kind of cut tobacco, procured from the Hol- 
 landers, S. ; (fa. karduus, paper case for tobacco. 
 
 Kash, a pouch, a tobacco-pouch, S. 
 
 KATA3ELLY, the hen-harrier, 0. 
 
 Kat-ytCtL, the eagle-owl, O. and S. ; iw. katugle ; da. ugle ; 
 id. uggla ; s. ugla, id. 
 
 Katmogit, applied to animals, white coloured, with black legs 
 and belly, S. ; id. quidr and mogottr, the belly of a dark 
 colour ; Scotch, kyte, belly. 
 
 Katabued, snow drifted violently by the wind, S. ; isl. kafa ; 
 ttiit. 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. ; iw. drag, covering 
 on the keel of a boat. 
 
 Keen, a rock jutting out from the face of a cliff ; isl. kani, a 
 prominenca 
 
 Keeng, to reunite the pieces of a broken dish by means of 
 clasps, S. ; isl. keingr, a hook, a dasp. 
 
 Keeng, a clasp of pewter by which broken china or earthen- 
 ware is repaired, S. ; isl. keingr, a clasp. 
 
 Kek, gesticulation, a peculiar motion of any pai-t of the body 
 to which one is addicted, S. ; da. gick, a quick move- 
 ment. 
 
 Kelliemxiff, a mitt, S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 57 
 
 Kemp-eooth, a rowing-match, a contest at rowing, S. ; da. 
 
 kamp, kisempe ; s. kampa, kamp ; and da. rce ; su. g. ro, id. 
 Keobe, a reward, a gift, S. ; da. kiob ; isl. kaup, id. 
 EIeobe, to bribe, to induce by promise of a reward, S. ; da. 
 
 kiobe ; isl. kaupa, id. 
 Keppe, a ilat piece of wood secured in the mouth of a horse 
 
 to prevent his eating the corn when bringing the sheaves 
 
 home ; isl. keppr, a piece of wood. 
 Ket, dwarfish, 0. 
 
 Keuss (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 ; %o. kus ; isl. kasadr, 
 
 approaching to putrefaction. 
 KiE, to detect, to catch in the act, S. 
 KiED, detected, discovered, S. 
 KiEGEE, stiffness in the neck from keeping it long in one 
 
 position, S. 
 KiEVE, to strive in emulation, S. 
 KiLN-HUGGiE, the fireplace of a kiln ; same as Scotch " kil- 
 
 logie," S. ; hdg. log, a hole. 
 KiLPACK, a small basket made of dockens or twigs, S. ; no. 
 
 kipa. 
 KmG-coME-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. 
 Kings-land, 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. 
 KiEKASUCKEN, applied to the buried dead, as distinguished 
 
 from those who have a watery grave — (it was formerly 
 
 the practice in Shetland, as in other parts of Europe, to 
 
 bury the dead within the churches) — S. ; da. kirke ; goth. 
 
 kyerk ; tmt. kirche, kerk ; Idg. kerk, a church ; sw, g. 
 
 I 
 
58 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 siuak-a ; da. senk-e; tad. sig-en, siuken, to sink, to descend. 
 
 Qa buried in the chnTch. 
 KiRB, hush, S. ; no. kvrr ; id. kirra, to husL 
 KiESSES, applied to a very lean animal ; also to unwholesome 
 
 food ; as " It's no kirsen" — If s not eatable, not Christian, 
 
 S. ; helg. kerst, kersten. Christian. 
 KntviE, a certain quantity of straw or grass ; " a kirvie of 
 
 floss," as windlin, hallow, traev, etc., are all names for 
 
 certaiu quantities of com, straw, etc., S. ; no. Iderve ; da. 
 
 •pro. kiserve, three sheaves tied together. 
 KiST, used in chasing away a cat, S. 
 
 KiTT, a rather shallow vessel for milldTig in ; it has a closely- 
 fitting lid, S. 
 KimE-swEERiE, an instrument for winding yam, S. 
 KimwAKE, a gull {Lams tridadylus), 0. and S. 
 Kirx>iN', a rabbit (Cunieulus) ; is!, kuning ; da. and s. kanin : 
 
 du. konyn, id. 
 KiUEKASUCKEN. Sie Kirkasucken. 
 Kjimsie, a feUow, S. 
 Kjodeb, to caress, to fondle, S. 
 Kjodkb, kind, caressing, S. 
 
 'Kt 4 4, a little iU-natured person, an injury by sickuess, S. 
 KxACHT, to seize hold, S. 
 Klacht, a firm hold, S. 
 Klack, the name of rocky fishing-ground near the shore, as 
 
 opposed to " haaf," S. ; is!, klackr, a rock 
 Klag, 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-bamacle {Ltjpas anatijcra), 
 
 S. 
 KLAiioz (long o), an outcry, a loud noise, S. ; lat. clamosus, 
 
 id. 
 Klash, a slap, or a collision of soft bo<Ues, S. ; g. klatsch, id. 
 Klasher, a noisy talkative person ; g. klatscher, id. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 59 
 
 Klat, to prattle, to chatter, S. ; g. klatsche, id. 
 
 Klat, prattling, babbling, S. 
 
 EOiATSH, 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 ciu'd from the whey. The former is precipitated, and 
 
 is called " kirnmUk ;" the latter, diluted with water, is 
 
 « bland," S. 
 Kleestee, to smear with mud or the like, S. ; vil. klestr, 
 
 illinitus ; id. klistra ; da, klistre, glutinare. 
 Kleevins, tongs ; also " femorum intercapedo," S. ; isl. Idof, 
 
 bifurcation of the thighs. 
 Kleipit, miserly, stingy, S. 
 IClett, 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. klipi- 
 
 tong, forceps. 
 Kliek, a hook, S. 
 
 Kliek, to hook, to fasten with a hook, S. 
 Klikkit, snatched away from the hand, S. 
 Kuv-GiENG, a great crowd in motion, S. 
 Klivsie, a name applied to sheep, S. 
 Kliwen, cloven, S. ; isZ. klauf, a hoof. 
 Klookie, cunning, artful, cautious, S. ; isl. kloklegr ; sfiL g. 
 
 klok, prudens, sapiens. 
 Kltjmbung, an iU-shapen mass, S. 
 Klump, to make a noise in walking, as if with clogs, S. 
 Klumpse, to silence, S. 
 
 Klunsh, a lump, S. ; g. klunsch ; su. g. kluns, id. 
 KIlukt, 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-hammer, S. ; isl. klsefa, to split. 
 
 Klymiewick, a small candle, a taper, S. 
 
 Knab-knop, tlie knoop of a hill, a protuberance, S. Haldors- 
 
 son describes nabbi as " en kaort" and as " enliden tue,'' a 
 
 small hill ; U%t. knoppe. 
 Knabsie, a short, stout, athletic person ; applied also to an 
 
 animal, S. ; Uut. knoppe. 
 Knap, to eat greedily, to snap up, S. 
 Knap, a crack, S. 
 
 Knap, to crack or break in two sharply, S. 
 Knap-foe-naught, 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. 
 EJf ARP, to bite, S. 
 Knaep, a bite, S. 
 Kneeshal, the patula or whirlbone of the knee, S.; da. knoe- 
 
 skal, the kneepan. 
 Knep, to clench, as the hand, S. ; c?a.knepp-e, knteppe; sm. 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. ; id. kuippi ; 
 
 <^a. knippe, fasciculus. 
 Kniek, a creaking or crepitation, S. 
 Knitshel, a number of things tied together, S. ; id. knyti, a 
 
 small bundle. 
 Knock-beetle, a person who is severely beaten, S. 
 Knop-tangl, Fucus nodosus, 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 tmt. knor, a knob. 
 KoFT, bartered, exchanged, S. 
 KoLE, cabbage, kail, S. ; da. kaal ; g. kohl, id. 
 KOMIN, duty or obligation ; as " It's gude or ill i' dy komin 
 
 to du it" — It's your duty, etc., S. 
 KONGL, a piece of burning peat, S. ; Faroese, kongul, id. 
 KOOFIE, a broad, flat, round-shaped sea-shell, S. 
 Koo-FISH, a species of sheU-fish, the " Venous" ; isl. kuskel, id. 
 KoOM, anything much broken ; applied to coals, biscuit, etc., 
 
 S. 
 KooEiN, cattle ; isl. kyr, vacca. 
 KoEKlE, a kind of lichen growing on rocks, used for dyeing ; 
 
 it produces a purple colour (Lichen tartareus), S. ; no. 
 
 korkje, id. 
 KOEKIE-LIT, dye made from the above, S. ; no. korkjelit, id. 
 KoEN, a small quantity of anything, S. ; isl. and no. korn, id. 
 KoES, a cross, a mark on a " bysmar," S. ; no. kors, id. 
 KOES-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 growing on half-tide 
 
 rocks, S. 
 Kraansib, a corallite {MilUpora polymorjpha), S. 
 Keank, sick, S. ; g. du. krank. 
 Keansit, cross-grained, ill-tempered, S. 
 
62 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Keieokle, to creep, to crawl, to stagger, S. ; isl. kreika, and 
 
 keika, id. 
 Kringle-breai), a kind of bread brought from Norway, S. ; 
 
 s. kringla, id. 
 Keookatie. See Hookatie. 
 Krubb, a crib, a small enclosure, S. 
 Keubbie, a place or hole in which potatoes, etc., are covered 
 
 up, S. 
 Keubbit, straitened for want of room, narrow, S. 
 KEt^GlE, bait for fish, S. ; da. krog, a hook. 
 Kuggle, to move from side to side, to rock, S. 
 KuGGLiE, easily rocked or roUed 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. 
 KuEF, a surface, a fine surface, S: 
 KuEFiE, a shell, S. 
 KuRFUFFLiT, muffled up, S. 
 KuRNUE ; "Not to say kumur" — not to say a word, to be 
 
 silent, S. 
 KuRE, a whisper ; isl. kaur, murmur. 
 KuEElE, pretty, dear, amiable, S. ; da. kicer, id. 
 KUSH, to drive animals away ; also interj., hush ! S. 
 KxJWEL, a warm covering, S. 
 KUWEL, 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 by united effort, S. ; sxi. 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 
 
 Laager, eager, keen, S. 
 
 Laagek, tlie halibut {Pleuronectes hippoglossus), S. 
 
 Laaiuet, term of endearment, a little lamb, S. 
 
 Laae, a light breeze of wind, S. ; da. lar-iag, a light wind. 
 
 Laae, a heat, a fishiag-boat, S. ; belg. 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 hen (ouk), the skylark {Alanda arvensis), S. 
 
 Laeger. See 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, ; su. go. lagman ; da. langmand, a provincial 
 judge, a provost. 
 
 Lageaetman, one acting as officer to a lagman, 0. 
 
 Laing, a small ridge of land, as distinguished from " skift," 0. 
 
 Laitb, a small quantity of any liquid, S. ; su. go. lite ; da. 
 lidet, Httle. 
 
 Lake (to), to give credit to, to trust, 0. 
 
 Lake (to), to give heed to ; used always with a negative, as 
 " He never lake't at it" — he gave no heed to it, 0. 
 
 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, applied to one thrown by a horse, as " He landit me 
 
 upo' the braid o' my back," S. 
 Iandmastek, 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-vukden, long-shaped, S. ; do. do. 
 Lantfael, the flood-tide, S. ; land, in every Gothic 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 Orlcney, 0. 
 Laurence-mas, August 23d, S. 
 
 Lavie-lugged, the drooping of an animal's car, when im- 
 properly cut in marlcing, S. 
 Law-rig iitman, 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, 0. 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. 
 Laving 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-heaet, 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. 
 Lbangee, a tax formerly paid by the inhabitants of Shetland 
 
 to the crown of Denmark as a punishment for harbouring 
 
 pirates, S. ; da. Ise, a harbour, a creek, and anger, sorrow, 
 
 contrition, repentance, penalty. 
 Led, a Ud of corn, hay, or peats ; a load for a pony, S. 
 Leddekin, a severe drubbing, S. ; da. laedering, a hurt, an 
 
 injury. 
 Leegins, spots of fishing in the deep sea frequented only by 
 
 Aaa/ 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. 
 Leftib, a clot or mass of dirt, S. ; sm. g. leifa ; isZ. leif-a ; sa. 
 
 Icef-an, id. 
 Lek, like ; " I never saw da lek," S. 
 Lem, a loft in a house ; no. laem, id. 
 Lendit, applied to cows or other animals having the body 
 
 black coloured, with a white stripe over the loins, S. ; g. 
 
 lenden, the loins. 
 Lengib, a longitudinal slice of a halibut 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 ; sw. g. lag, id. 
 Lepp, to lick like an animal, to lap, S. 
 Lbppack, a horn spoon, S. 
 Leppel, a spoon, S. ; du. leppel, id. 
 Leuee, a fish resembling the " sethe" {Gadus poUachus), S. ; 
 
 da. lure. 
 Leviek. See Livier. 
 Lbyveein, making a paste of flour and stirring it up with 
 
66 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 milk or water while boUing, S. ; da. levrend ; id. lifrand, 
 
 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. 
 LiEDEUL, diligent, S. 
 LiEF-ON, quite alone, S. 
 LlEGEE, a halibut (Pleuronectes hijppoglossus) ; da. lige ; isl. 
 
 Hg-a, flat. 
 LiFT-i-DA-SEA, large unbroken waves, S. 
 LiFTiN o' THE mouth; "No a liftin o' the mouth" — not a 
 
 particle of food, S. 
 LiMPiTS (to sow), to chew hmpets 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. Icen-a ; isl. linn-a ; s. linn-a, to cease. 
 LiNEBtrED, the starboard or right side of a boat, so called 
 
 because the fishing-Ziwes.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 linins," 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. 
 LiPPER, to ripple, to fret, S. ; isl. hleyp-a, to agitate, to disturb, 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 67 
 
 LiSPUND, a weight containing 18 pounds Scots, 0. and S. ; m. 
 g. lispund ; no. lispund, id. 
 
 Lit ; Kt ! lit !— alas ! alas ! S. 
 
 LiTT, iadigo, 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 fish-livers between 
 them, S. 
 
 LiVBE-cuP or Keoos. A piece of dough is kneaded in the 
 shape of a cup, and this cup is fiUed with fish-livers, and 
 strips of dough are laid over the top. It is then placed 
 upon the heated hearthstone and baked, S. 
 
 Livee-flackies. Two half-dried piltacks are spHt, 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. 
 
 LiviEE, 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 ; 
 sw. g. luka ; da. luldie, id. 
 
 LoOKiT, 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-HOEN, a large horn with which each fishing-boat is 
 furnished, to be blown occasionally 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 (Colymbus septentrionalis), S. ; isl. lorn, id. 
 
 LooMlN-BDESTlN, 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. ; id. laupr, a basket. 
 
 Look, interjection or exclamation of surprise, S. 
 
 Look, to luU or abate like wind, S. 
 
 LOKING, the great cormorant (Pelicanus christatus), S. 
 
 LoEN, 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 kiud {JuncMS 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. loltk-e, id. 
 
 LuCKiB, a designation for a witch ; isl. klok, maga, id. 
 
 LUCKIE-MENOTE, 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'-LlNES, a plant growing in deep water near the shore, 
 and which spreads itself over the surface (Chorda filum), 
 S. ; luckie, a witch (qu. witch's lines) ; da. lyng, seaweed. 
 
 LtFFF, the tack of a sail, S. 
 
 LuFF-AiAEN. 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. loekk-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 
 rhyme makes a mistake he in turn becomes " luggie," S. 
 
 LuGGiT, 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, membrum virile ; Idg. lul, the spout of a pump. 
 LuME, LiooM, smooth appearance of the water caused by any 
 
 oily substance, S. ; goth. Mom ; id. Uom-a, fulgere. 
 Ltjmb, to spread like oil on the surface of water, S. 
 LuN, a luU, S. 
 
 LllN, to luU, also to listen, S. 
 LuNK, a roUing motion like a ship on the waves, S. 
 LUNK, to roll as above, S. 
 LinsTKiN, bobbing up and down in walking, S. ; isl. link-a, to 
 
 hobble, to halt. 
 Ltjnsh, to recline or loll, S. 
 Ltjegan, a surfeit of food, S. 
 LuKT, a lump, chiefly of dirt, a clumsy person, S. ; no. lort, 
 
 id. 
 Lykie, the shearwater {Procdlaria puffinus), 0. and S. ; no. 
 
 lyr, id. 
 
 Maa, a name given to the gull (Larus canus), S. ; isl. mar, id. 
 Maagee, lean, thin, scraggy ; su. g. da. teut. mager ; isl. magr, 
 
 id. 
 Maalin, a merlin, a hawk, S. 
 Maamie, a wet-nurse, S. ; da. amme, a nurse ; teut. mamme, 
 
 the breast. 
 Maamie, to soften or crush the earth by delving or ploughing ; 
 
 also as an adj., soft, fine, S. ; da. fro. mahn. 
 Maandeed, manhood, strength, S. ; da. mand, a man, and rad, 
 
 degree, quality. 
 Maat, a comrade or intimate friend, S. ; English mate ; du. 
 
 maat ; isl. maet, id. 
 Macht, might, power, S. ; g. macht, id. 
 Machtless, powerless, S. ; g. machtlos, id. 
 Maddekam, madness, foUy, S. 
 
70 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Maegsib, 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 ec[mvalent to about 7j stones Dutch, 0. ; 
 
 su. g. maal, a measure. 
 Main, patience, 0. 
 Maisie-maizie, a net with wide meshes made of twisted straw 
 
 ropes, 0. and S. ; su. g. maska ; da. maske ; isl. meis, a 
 
 reticulated bag. 
 Maisk, bashful, 0. 
 
 M!akin-o'-tay, a sufficient quantity of tea for one infusion, S. 
 Malicefu, sickly, in bad health, 0. 
 Mallemokb, the fulmar petrel (Procellaria glacialis), S. ; no. 
 
 malmok, id. 
 Mallow, a marine plant (Zostera marina), 0. 
 Mam, mother (a childish term), S. 
 Maneieedie, marriageable, S. ; su. g. fserdig, paratus. 
 Mankit, worn out with incessant rowing or other exertion, 
 
 S. 
 Makeel, the phosphorescent appearance of the sea on a dark 
 
 night, S. ; da. morQd ; no. moreld ; s. mareld ; isl. maurildi, 
 
 phosphorus. 
 Maefloo, the sea-louse (Pulex litoralis), S. ; isl. mar, sea, and 
 
 flo, pulex. 
 Maek, a nominal weight, 0. and S. ; da. mark ; su. g. mark. 
 Maek-meekland, a division of land varying from one to three 
 
 acres, 0. and S. ; da. mark, land, a field, a cleared field. 
 Maelak, kind of seaweed {Zostera marina), S. ; no. marlauk, 
 
 id. 
 Marool, a sea-fish (same as marsgum), sea-devil, S. ; no. 
 
 marulk, id. 
 Maesgum, the great plucker (Lophius piscatorius), S. See Ma- 
 rool. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 71 
 
 Masken-of-tea, as nnach as is made at one time, S. ; su. g. 
 mask, a mash. 
 
 Masten, a mast, S. ; da. masten ; isl. mastr, id. 
 
 Mastee-tree, the trace-tree or swingle-tree which is nearest 
 the plough, 0. and S. 
 
 Mate-lum, a kettle in which food is cooked, S. 
 
 Mate-mithee, the person who serves out food to others, S. 
 
 Matilot, the black window-fly, 0. 
 
 Maun (to), to shake the head from palsy, S. 
 
 Maw. See Maa. 
 
 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-geass {Spergula armnsis), 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. 
 
 Meecal, a piece of wood used in the construction of the 
 plough, the head of a plough, S. ; su. g. mer, large, and 
 kuU-e, the head. 
 
 Meedal, a contemptuous term for a fat clumsy female, S. ; 
 isl. mardoU, id. 
 
 Meek. See Mark. 
 
 Meekie-pin, that part of a plough in which the share is fixed^ 
 
 0. 
 Meemaid's-glote, the sponge {Spongia palmata), S. 
 Meet, a mart, an animal fattened for slaughter and killed at 
 Martinmas, S. ; da. marter, kine. 
 
7 2 GLOSS J Ji Y OF SHETLAND 
 
 Mesteefil, great or large in size, S. 
 
 Met, a march-stone, S. ; isl. met-a ; su. g. mseta, 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-EiSH, the turbot, from its round shape, S. 
 
 MiLL-GEUEL, porridge made with milk, S. 
 
 MiLLiN ; " No ae millin hae I" — i.e. not the smallest particle 
 or scrap, S. ; isl. moli, a crumb. 
 
 Milt, the spleen in cattle ; da. milt, id. 
 
 MiNiSTEES, small spiral shells found on the sea-shore, S. 
 
 MmiSTEE's-MAEK, a mark on sheep, both ears are cut off, S. 
 
 MiNKSTEE, a mixture, S. ; isl. mengun, mixture. 
 
 Minn, a strait or sound between islands, having a strong cur- 
 rent runniug through it ; as " Swarback's Minn," between 
 Vemuntry and Muckle 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 Fucus esculentus, eaten in 0. 
 
 MiEKNlN, twilight, S. ; da. moerkning, id. 
 
 MiEL, to move rapidly round, to dance, S. 
 
 MiEE, to tremble, to vibrate, to thriU, S. 
 
 MiSFUEE ; " A misfure" is a boat that has perished at sea with 
 its crew, S. ; da. isl. misfdr, infortunium. 
 
 MiSGAE, a kind of trench in sandy ground occasioned by the 
 wind driving away the sand, 0. and S. ; no. mis, defect, 
 and giser, firm. 
 
 MissiN, applied to the tide; "A missin tide" — a moderate 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 73 
 
 tide, not full, S. ; su. g. missa, a defect, and isl. misindi, 
 mediocritas. 
 
 MiSMOKROW, to mismatch, S. 
 
 MOARIN, appUed to snow being drifted by the wind vehe- 
 mently and thickly, S. 
 
 Mod (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. 
 
 MoEDER, mother ; su. g. isl. and da. moder, id. 
 
 MoiNBtr, an invitation to a funeral transmitted as the fiery- 
 cross was of old, S. 
 
 Mole. See Mool. 
 
 MoLiCK, a "bocht" of fishing-lines, measuring 40 to 50 
 fathoms, S. 
 
 MoNEN, the moon, S. 
 
 Md-NIMENT, a ridiculous person, a fool, S. 
 
 Moo, 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 mentis. 
 
 MooLS, a disease in the heels, S. 
 
 Moor, to snow heavily, S. 
 
 MoORAKAVEB, a thick shower of drifting snow, S. The etymon 
 of the preceding word, and isl. kafd, tewt. kaven, to whirl 
 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 
 
 MooEATOOG, an ant, S. ; da. myre-tue, an ant-hill. 
 
 MooEFOWL, red grouse, 0. 
 
 MooRiN. See Moarin. 
 
 MooRK, to work patiently, to pore over one's work, S. 
 
 MooET, 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. 
 MooT^N, to grow mouldy like old bread, to decay, S. 
 MoENiN-MUN, the morning dawn, the gradual increase of the 
 
 morning light. See Mun, 0. 
 MoR NOR SWAAL (long 0, as in English word more), one who 
 
 can neither " mor nor swaal" is one who is incapable of 
 
 doing anything, S. 
 MOREOW, a companion, one thing which matches another, S. ; 
 
 su. g. mager, maghaer, a connection or relative. 
 MORROWLESS, without a match or fellow, S. 
 MoRTCALD, 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 ia drawing the old-fashioned plough is fastened, O. , 
 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. ; fr. moyens. 
 MoYENS, ability, capabUity, power, 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. ; isl. g. mocka, 
 
 stabula purgare. 
 MuDDER, fine dust or powder, S. ; fr. moudre, to grind. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 75 
 
 Mud-fish, fish salted in barrels, S. 
 
 MuDViTE, MuDVEETicE, swine, S. 
 
 Muff, an oppressive heat, a disagreeable smell, S. 
 
 MuFFiTEES, woollen wristbands, 0. and S. ; id. muffa ; da. 
 
 moffe, a muff. 
 MULDEE, small crumbs or bread-dust, S. 
 MuLDEE, to crumble, to pulverise, S. ; fr. moudi-e, to grind. 
 MuLiE, weak from want of food, S. 
 MtlniE, slow, inactive, S. 
 
 Mull, to eat, to feed from the mouth ; also to kiss, S. 
 MuLLiACK, a handful of gleanings, S. 
 MuLLiNS, eatables, S. 
 Mullio, 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. 
 
 munr, id. 
 MuN, to differ or show a difference in size or number, etc., 
 
 S. 
 MuN, to fill up, to occupy space, as water poured into a ves- 
 sel; " It nivver muns" — it does not seem to make it nearer 
 
 fuU, S. 
 MtrNi, the spinal cord, S. ; isl. msena, medulla spinalis. 
 MuEKEN, spoiled by keeping, musty ; applicable to grain, S. 
 MuEE, small rain, small things in general, 0. and S. 
 MUEEICK, an esciilent root or vegetable, S. 
 MuET, a very small individual of any species, a small object, 
 
 S. ; da. murt ; isl. murta, id. 
 Mush, to scallop or plait the edges of a woman's cap, etc., 
 
 S. 
 MUSKEE, a smaU piece or quantity, S. 
 MUSKEEIN, occasional slight showers, S. 
 Must (long u), a disagreeable smell, S. 
 MUTTLE, a small knife, S. ; no. mutel, id. 
 
76 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Mutton-tee, a leg of mutton smoked and salted, S. 
 Mynz, mine, S. 
 
 Naabae. See, Naavar ; isl. nabbi, tumor, napur, prominent. 
 
 Naak, near ; da. nser ; sm. g. user, id. 
 
 Naavak, the upper vertebra of a sheep's neck, the nape of the 
 
 neck, S. 
 Na-ca-deed-I, I will not, O. 
 Nackees, 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. 
 Nammonib, a little while, O. ; i&l. mimd, 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. 
 Nebik, Nebiet, bait for fishing-lines, S. 
 Neddee, neither, S. 
 
 Neddee, nether, iaferior, S. ; isl. nedri, nedar, inferior, inferius. 
 Neddeein, 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. 
 Neestee, to creak, S. 
 
 Neesteein, creaking, S. ; da. gniste, gnistre, to crackle. 
 ISTess-cock. See 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 
 
 NlAFF, to carp, S. ; s. nipp, id. 
 
 Nick, a cracking soimd, S. ; g. knick, id. 
 
 Nick, to make a cracking 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. 
 NiDDEE, to depreciate, to undervalue, 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. 
 NiGGLEE, in a boys' game one of the number who is placed 
 
 in ambush, S. 
 Nile, a plug that fits into the nile-hole, S. ; isl. negla, id. 
 Nile-hole, a hole bored in the bottom of a boat, below the 
 
 aft stern, in order to russ^off the bilge-water, S. 
 NiMM, pleasant to the taste ; also used as an exclamation of 
 
 pleasure at agreeably-ilavoured food, S. 
 Niggle, a sort of water-kelpie, S. ; goih. gneg, a horse, and 
 
 el, water. Qu. the water-horse. 
 NiPSlCKEE, captious, ill-natured, S. 
 NiEE, to purr like a cat, S. ; isl. knuxra ; da. knurre, mur- 
 
 murare. 
 NiESS, harsh and disagreeable to the taste, S. 
 NiET, a very small piece, S. 
 NisSAC, the name given to a porpoise {BeVpTvvwm pJioccena), S. ; 
 
 no. nise, a porpoise ; isl. hnysa, nisa, id. 
 NiSTiE-COCK, a small suppurating pimple, S. 
 NiTTACK, a little saucy girl, S. 
 
 NiTTBEET, an ill-natured expression of countenance, S. 
 NiTTlE, clever, agUe, smart, neat, S. 
 
 NivVEL, to pinch with the fingers, S. ; isl. hnefi, knefi, pugnus. 
 NiWELLm, pinching, S. 
 Noop, a lofty headland, precipitous towards the sea and slop- 
 
78 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 ing towards the land, S. ; no. nup, isl. nupr, the top of a 
 
 mountain. 
 NoK (long o), a snore, to snore, S. 
 NoEALEG, the lower leg-bone of a swine ; used in making a 
 
 " snorick,'' which see, S. ; isl. knurra ; da. knurre, mur- 
 
 murare. 
 NoKDEN, the northern part of an island or district, S. ; da. and 
 
 s. nor den, the north. 
 NoElE, the puffin {Alca arctica), 0. and S. 
 NOEN ; Norse, "A norn veesick" — a Norse ballad, S. ; isl. 
 
 norrsen, id. 
 NoEEALEG, a needle without an eye, S. 
 
 NOSE-BAND OF THE LEAD-STANB, a loop of StOUt COrd to wMch 
 
 one end of the lead-stane is attached, the other end being 
 
 fastened to the line, S. 
 Nose of a piee, the extreme end that fronts the sea, the 
 
 point, S. 
 NosETiEL, a nostril, S. 
 Noss, a promontory, S. 
 NouEN, 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. 
 Noustee, 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 slight repast, a luncheon, S. ; da. knogen, a little 
 
 piece of meat, a morsel. 
 Nulls, to play at nuUs ; " Nul," in Danish, means a cypher, 
 
 S. 
 NtJNN, to hum a tune, S. ; da. nynne ; isl. nunna, id. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 79 
 
 NuKTKTTS, cold, disagreeable, inclement, S. 
 Nyttl, to pick at, to pluck or pinch at, S. 
 Nyttlin, picking, pinching, S. 
 
 Oag (to), to creep, S. 
 
 Oagaehitjnse, a bat, any frightful or loathsome creature, S. ; 
 gofh. 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 receiving per- 
 manent support, according to " upgestry," S. Bee Upgestry. 
 
 Obeigdt, an altered mark upon an animal, S. 
 
 Odal. See 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. 
 
 Ogeehtjnch, apphed to an animal in very poor condition, S. 
 
 OiNDALiE, peculiar, odd, strange, S. ; no. underleg, id. 
 
 Okkie, to increase, to add to, S. ; isl. okr ; s. ocker, usuria. 
 
 Okeabung, oat-grass (Bromus arvensis) ; the roots of this plant 
 are tuberose, S. 
 
 Okeagaeth, a stubble-iield, S. ; no. aaker, a field, and isl. 
 gard, an enclosure, an enclosed field. 
 
 Olick, a fish, a young ling, in shape Like an eel, S. ; isl. au ; 
 s. al, an eel. 
 
 Olla, a proper name for a man, S. 
 
 Omick, a handful, S. 
 
 Onstandin, determined, immovable, S. 
 
 On the lay 0' IT, in the humour of it, S. 
 
Bo 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 &u. g. im, 
 
 ime, em, fumus tenuis. 
 OoE, to creep, S. 
 OoRACK, a name for potatoes, S. 
 
 OoEAK ; " 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. 
 OoiTAL, 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. 
 Opgesteie, 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. 
 Orafu, gluttonous, greedy, 0. 
 Oemals, the remains of anything, S. ; most probably from old 
 
 Norse, aurmal, 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. 
 OHER-TBEE, the stnt or handle of the old Orcadian plough, 0. 
 Ounce-land, a denomination of land ; an ure of land, 0. and 
 
 S. 
 OUNKIN, strange, uncommon, foreign, 0. and S. ; sco. unco. 
 Otjt-and-undee, 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 
 
 that 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. 
 OuTWAiRiN, 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. 
 OvEEY, the last bit of leaven, S. 
 OWEK-GAIN. See Ower-gengin. 
 OwEK-GENG, to excel, to surpass, S. 
 OWEE-GENGIN, unmanageable, domineering, S. 
 OwsTER, the water baled out of a boat, the act of baling, S. ; 
 
 no. austr ; isl. austr, id. 
 OWSTEK-KOOM, 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 
 
 Oyoe. See Oyse. 
 
 Oyse, an inlet of the sea, 0. and S. ; isl. oes ; su. g. os, ostium 
 
 fluminis. 
 OziGEE, the state of fowls when moulting, 0. 
 OzMiLT, dusky, gray-coloured, S. 
 
 Paal, a post or pillar, S. ; da. psel ; su. g. paale, a post ; s. 
 
 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 lumpus), 0. and S. ; isl. 
 
 padda ; da. padde, a frog. 
 Paedle, to walk slowly, S. 
 Pannabead, a pot for melting fish-livers, S. ; isl. panna, a 
 
 kettle, and brad, melting, id. 
 Passeks, a pair of compasses, S. ; da. passer, id. 
 Pawn (to), to mow, S. 
 Pawnee, a scythe, S. 
 Peel; "A peel of grass" — a blade of grass, a very small 
 
 quantity, S. ; teut. pyl ; lat. pilus, a hair. 
 Peeeie, little, small, as a peerie-foal, 0. and S. ', no. piren, id. 
 Peekie-weeeie, very small, 0. and S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 83 
 
 Peerie-wkerie-winkik, excessively small, S. 
 
 Peestee (to), to squeak, to make a peciiliar sound, S. ; da. 
 pistre, id. 
 
 Peestee, a squeak, as of a mouse, S. 
 
 Peesteein, squeaking, S. ; da. pistren, id. 
 
 Peilk, to pick up, to steal small things, S. 
 
 Peitan, a dimiuutive, ill-tempered person, S. ; isl. patti, 
 puerulus. 
 
 Pell ; " A pell of a thing" — anything that is iu 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 ; peU 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. 
 
 Penga, money, S. ; da. penge ; no. penga, id. 
 
 Pbnkl, to twinkle, to sparkle, S. 
 
 Penshens, puddings or tripe, " pinch-puddings," S. 
 
 Peenishapas, a pair of tongs, S. 
 
 Peesowdie, a medley, an incongruous mixture, S. 
 
 Pewel, to fret, to -whine, S. 
 
 Petailack, the membranous covering of the roe of a fish, the 
 roe entire, S. 
 
 Plaag, to work hard, to toil assiduously, S. 
 
 Pick, wax ; also, as in Scotland, pitch, S. ; dv,. pik, id. 
 
 Pick, to pitch over, S. 
 
 PiCKATEENlE, common tern (Sterna hirundo), 0. and S. ; da. 
 pikke ; isl. picka, to peck, and tarre, a kind of seaweed. 
 
 PlCKiE, same as " huggiestaff," S. ; da. pikke ; isl. piaka, to 
 peck. 
 
 PiCKiT ; " Pickit-wi-dirt" — daubed with dirt, S. 
 
84 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 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. ; paeg in the da. fro. is 
 the term for the Sirjpus palustris, from which the Shet. 
 term is probably derived, and figuratively or comparatively 
 applied. 
 
 PiEN, to strike as with a hammer, S. 
 
 PiEKCEL, a gimlet, S. 
 
 PiEEK, to frizzle up, to stand up like the pile of cloth, S. 
 
 PlEEKiT, frizzled, rough, S. 
 
 PlEES, 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. 
 
 PiLLlE, penis, S. ; su. g. pil ; da. pU, piil, a dart. 
 
 PiLTOCK, the coal-fish a year old, S ; no. and isl. pitt, a yoimg 
 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. 
 
 PioOEL, to whine, to whimper, S. 
 
 PiPEE, the name given to the Echinus cidaris, S. 
 
 PiPPEE, to tremble, to vibrate quickly, to hesitate, S. 
 
 PiPPEEiN, trembling, vibrating, hesitating, S. 
 
 PiEL, a small round lump (excrementum ovium), S. 
 
 PiEEAlNA, 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 the attributes of the fairies, S. 
 
 Plag, 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. 
 Plankee, a land-measurer, S. 
 
 Plant-a-ceuive, 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. 
 Plovee-page, the jack-snipe {Scolopax gallinula) ; this bird is 
 
 generally an attendant on a flock of plovers, S. 
 Pluckee, 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. 
 POBIB, 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 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Pone, a thin turf used in thatching houses, S. ; da. spaan, spon, 
 
 a shingle or wooden slate ; id. spann, id. 
 Pone (to), to pare off the surface of the land, 0. and S. 
 PooKJOHN, 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. 
 PoosTEE, power, ability, strength, S. 
 PoosTER, position, attitude, S. ; eng. posture ; da. postyre, 
 
 id. 
 POOTY, a small cod, 0. 
 POKTEIDG, a portrait, picture, counterpart, S. 
 Posh, a rough kind of violin made in Shetland, S. 
 POTAATT-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. 
 PouET (to), to part, to divide, S. 
 
 PousHiN ; " a poushin cratei" — a sneaking contemptible fel- 
 low ; applicable also to character, S. 
 PouSTED, bewitched, infatuated, 0. 
 Pow, the part of a hammer which strikes, the head, S. 
 Peaitie, pretty. S. 
 
 Peam, toasted meal stirred in with cream or mUk, S. 
 Peam (to), to press, to straighten for room, S. ; hdg. pramen, 
 
 to press, to squeeze. 
 Pebeve (to), to stop at any place at sea in order to make 
 
 trial for fish, 0. and S. 
 Peestingolva, a clergyman ; a term used by the fishermen of 
 
 Unst, S. ; da. prast, a priest, and id. 61fa, a cloak. 
 Peettikin, a feat, a trick, S. ; id. prettur, deceit, craft. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 87 
 
 Peigga-tkout, the banstickle {Gasterosteus aculeatus), S. ; da. 
 
 prikke, a prickle, prikket, pointed. 
 Peoadge, to poke with a long iastrmnent. 
 Peodg ; in fishing " to prodg" with the rod is to move the end 
 
 of a rod gently up and down ia the water to allure the fish 
 
 to the fly (long 6), S. 
 Peodg, to push with a stick, etc., S. 
 Peoil, sf)oils, plunder, S. 
 Peop, a cork, S. ; du. prop, id. 
 Peummacks, the breasts of a woman, S. 
 Pkunk, ornamented, neat, pretty ; also proud, saucy, S. ; su. 
 
 g. prunk, proud, saucy ; da. prunk, parade, ostentation. 
 Peunk ; " 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 disteud, S. 
 PuFFLiT, Mown out, distended, puffed up, S. 
 PuiEL, to fret, to whine, S. 
 PuiELiN, greetia', crying, S. 
 PUKELIN, steaUng, petty theft, S. 
 PuND, a small fold for sheep, S. ; a. s. pynd-an, to shut up, to 
 
 enclose. 
 PUNDLAE, an instrument for weighing resembling a steelyard, 
 
 0. 
 PUEIB, a small meagre person, 0. 
 PUEL, to fumble, to grope, S. ; su. g. porla, scaturire. 
 PuEL (to), to purl for potatoes, to select the largest of the 
 
 young potatoes by feeling them with the fingers without 
 
 pulling up the " shaw" or foliage, S. 
 PuELiN, selecting potatoes ; see To purl, S. 
 PuEE, a small codlin, S. 
 Putting, touching a person in order to attract his attention, 
 
 S. 
 
88 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Pyl, £at, grease, such as floats on the surface of soup, S. 
 Pyogie, a short stout man, S. ; da. peg ; isl. and », j»oike, jmer. 
 Fi'SEET, a miser, S. ; M. ijhz, a sixinge. Qn. one who sucks 
 
 up ever^'thiiig. 
 
 QcAAL, to lull, to abate ; applied to the wind, S. 
 
 QuAAEJi, the edges of the eyelids on which the eyelashes grow, 
 
 S. 
 QuAEG, a young heifer, S. ; id. quiga, id 
 QuEEEVE ; after the grass has been mown and spread out to 
 
 dry, it is again raked into lon;^ separate strips in order to 
 
 prevent its drying too quickly, and the consequent lo&s of 
 
 its nutritious qualities ; this process is teiTned to " queerve 
 
 it," S. 
 QuEaJYA. See "Whenya. 
 QcEBXOCK, a hand-mill, S. ; is/, quom, mola. 
 QuEY, Quay, a piece of ground taken in from a common, 
 
 and S. ; goth. kwi, qui, an enclosure. 
 QcEYLAyi), kmd taken in from the common, 0. and S. 
 Quick, lost without hope of recovery, S. 
 QuiCK-ASD-QUiDDEB, swiftly, quickly, S. 
 QuiDDEK. »S<?e Quick. La. 'frro. quidder, swift, quick. 
 QuiXK, the golden-eyed duck, 0. 
 QuiEKABUS, drojey in the (i\ifs^, a disease to which she^p 
 
 are subject, S. ; da. yn. quirk, id. 
 QuiEM, to vanish quickly, S. 
 QuoY 'sheep), a pen ; syn. with bucht, 0. 
 Ql'YT, to acqtiit, to exonerate, S. ; dM. quyten, id. 
 
 Eaa, Eae, the yard of a sail ; id. and no. raa ; da. raa, id. 
 Eaab ; " Tiifi mah of a clifT— a fall of a mass of rock from the 
 
 face of a cli^ S. ; isl. hrap, lapsu-s. 
 Eaad, to arrange properly, to r^ulate, S ; da. raader, to 
 
 regulate, etc. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 89 
 
 Raag, prudence, economy, S. ; da. raad ; isl. rad, rada. 
 
 Eaag, an idle lounging person, S. 
 
 Eaaga, drift-wood, wreck, refuse, S. ; da. vrage, to reject, 
 
 despise. 
 Eaaga-tkee, 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. 
 Eaddman, a councillor, a term formerly used in Orkney, 0. ; 
 
 da. raadmand, id. 
 Eapt, a very tall thin person, S. 
 Eagabanes, 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. 
 Eakte, 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 saU, S. ; no. 'pro. raaken ; 
 
 id. racki ; 0. 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 spealf loud, S. 
 Eally, mean, unhandsome, ungenteel, 0. 
 Eamisht, Hi-rested, signifying that one has been disturbed in 
 
 sleep, S. 
 Eammatkaok, rabble. 
 Eamnateack, iU-spun yarn, S. ; perhaps from su. g. remna, 
 
 and teut. treck. 
 Eampse, harsh, disagreeable to the taste, S. ; no. romms ; da. 
 
 ram, rank, harsh. 
 
 N 
 
90 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Ean, a fish-roe, S. ; isl. ra ; su. g. and da. raa, id. 
 
 Eancel, to search throughout a parish for stolen or missing 
 
 goods, also to inquire into every kind of misdemeanour, S. ; 
 
 da. ransage, id. 
 Eakcelling, the act of searching for stolen or missing goods, 
 
 S. ; da. randsagning, searching. 
 Eancelman, Eancelloe, 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. Bee Bodabid. 
 Eant, a merry meeting, with dancing, S. 
 Eantee, to nm the heels of new stockings with thread on the 
 
 inside, in order to make them more dujable, S. 
 Eash, to twinge with pain, a sudden pain, S. 
 Easkit, applied to corn that has rushed up with rank luxuri- 
 ance, S. ; su. (j. and da. rask, rapid ; raskt, rapidly. 
 Easmak, a corruption of " Erasmus," S. 
 Eatch, the little auk, 0. 
 
 Eat-ehyme, a long speech, a tirade of nonsense, S. 
 Eattae 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. 
 Eawlev, ugly, 0. 
 Eeb, a track of fishing-ground of considerable extent, S. ; da. 
 
 reb, reeb, a Hne. 
 Eebbick, a limited track of fishing-ground, a diminutive of 
 
 " reb," S. 
 Eeck, to reach, to hold out, to transmit with the hand ; " Eeck 
 
 me the skiinie" — hand me the knife, S. ; sco. rax ; da. 
 
 rekk-e ; su. g. raeck-a, id. 
 Eed, rode, ridden, pret. of the verb " to ride," S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 91 
 
 Eeddee, a comb ; isl. s. etc., rada, to disentangle ; su. g. reda> 
 
 explicare. 
 Eede-goose. Bee Eood-goose. 
 Ebdware-cod, a species of cod of a red colour (Aselhis varius), 
 
 0. and S. 
 Eedwaee-fishick, the whistle-fish, 0. 
 Eee, a continuation of stormy weather, S. ; goth. hrid ; da. rie, 
 
 an access, a fit. 
 Eeebin, the board to which the gunwale is fastened, S. ; da. 
 
 ripe, the top or gunwale of a boat. 
 Eeek, a house — used metaphorically, S. 
 Eeek-hen, a hen bred in the house, the exaction by the land- 
 lord of a hen from each house or reek, S. 
 Eeen, to roar vehemently — applied exclusively to a pig in 
 
 distress, S. ; goth. rhina, hryna, grunnire. 
 Eeenin, squeaking as a pig, S. 
 Eeest, synonymous with Scotch roost, S. ; su. g. rrest, the 
 
 highest part of a house. 
 Eekstek, a going or procedure, S. ; no. rekster, id. 
 Eemb, to rave in speaking, to tell lies, S. 
 Ebmbeb, one who tells improbable stories, S. 
 Eembin, raving, telling Hes, S. 
 Eemmacks, the oars of a boat, S. ; lat. remus, id. 
 Eenzie, to writhe with pain, 0. 
 Eettick. See Eebbick. 
 Eevoylt, wild, frisky, in very high spirits, S. 
 Eewle, a wattled fence, S. 
 EiCK, to pierce with a hook by means of a sudden jerk or pull, 
 
 S. ; da. rykke, to pull suddenly. 
 ElDlNG THE HAGKIE ; the heritors of a parish are said to " ride 
 
 the hagrie," when examining the scattald marches, S. ; isl. 
 
 and su. g. hag, sepimentum rude. 
 EiEB, 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 tlie 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. 
 ElGGA-EENDAL, 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-QUOT, a phrase denoting a circular enclosure, 0. 
 EiNNER, a clue of yam, S. 
 EiP, a blackguard, a rake, S. 
 ElP, a rip of corn, an ear of oats, S. 
 ErppiKiNS, 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. 
 EiTTOGH, 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, sarcii'e. 
 EiVA, a cleft in a rock, S. ; isl. rifa, fissura. 
 EiVLiN, a sandal of raw hide, 0. and S. ; a, s. rifling, obstri- 
 
 gillus. 
 ErwoCH. See Eiva. 
 Eo ; any poor animal is called " A poor ro," S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 93 
 
 EOBBIE-RIN, diarrhcea, S. 
 
 EoCKMAN, a bird-catclier, 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 roU in walking ; also a noun, a jolting 
 hard-paced horse, S. ; da. rulte, to jog, to jolt. 
 
 EOLiE, large, clumsy, S. 
 
 EOMMIEKIL, romping, frolicsome, S. 
 
 Eon (long 6), 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 saturated, S. 
 
 EoNTHUEEOK, the barnacle-goose, 0. 
 
 Eoo, a heap of any kind, to pUe 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. ; sw. g. rofw-a ; da. rov-e, to plunder, 
 to take by violence. 
 
 Eoo, rest, stillness, S. ; da. roe, id. 
 
 EOOD-GOOSE, the brent-goose, ; da. radgaas ; no. raatgaas, 
 id. 
 
 EoODEEY, covered with roother {L&pas balanus), 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 yoimg horse, a year-old horse, S ; da. roll-ing, a lu- 
 dicrous term for a youngster. 
 
 EOOLIE, peaceful, stiU, S. ; da. roelig, id. 
 
94 GL OSSAR Y OF SHETLAND 
 
 EoOM, wide, ample, S ; su. g. da. etc. rum, id. 
 
 EoosK, to frizzle up. 
 
 EoosKiT, frizzled, as the hair, S. 
 
 EooTHEE, a species of shell-fish {Lepas ialanus), 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. 
 EousT, 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. 
 EoUTH, 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. clunes. 
 EoviESTiCK, an awkward poorly-clad person, S. 
 EuCELB, a wrinkle, S. 
 ExTCKLE, to wrinkle, S. 
 EUCKLE, rough, uneven, S. 
 EuCKLED, wrinkled, S. 
 EucKLY, unsteady, in a dilapidated state, S. 
 EtJD, to rave in speaking, S. ; isl. raeda, to speak. 
 EcTDGE, 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 smaU cod, 0. 
 
 EuGL, to shake backwards and forwards, S. ; no. rugla, id. 
 EuGLY. See Eigly. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 95 
 
 EuiLLER, a buoy, S. 
 
 EuiST. See Eug. 
 
 EtJL. Sea Eool. 
 
 EtTLLiAN. See Eivlin. CunninglDro or Dunrossness dialect, 
 
 S. 
 EuLT, a clumsy person having a rolling gait, S. 
 EULT, to roU clumsily from side to side, S. 
 EuN-EiG, land belonging to different proprietors, cultivated in 
 
 alternate ridges, still prevalent in many parts of Shet- 
 land, S. 
 EuN-MiLK, milk coagulated by the heat of the weather, S. 
 EUNG, a hollow sound, S. 
 EuNG, to reverberate, S. 
 EuNGY, Sinapis arvensis, S. 
 EuNi, a heap of stones, S. ; no. rune, 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 begianing to 
 
 rank" — that is, to dry up, S. 
 EUNNALAN. See Eunnick. 
 EuNNiCK, a kennel, a drain, S. 
 EuNNiE, 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. 
 EtJTT, to rutt like a pig, S. ; da. rod-e, to rake up, to trench 
 
 the ground. 
 EUYLT, to roU 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. ; &u. g. 
 saa, id. 
 
 Saedick, a fish-hold, a place frequented by fish, S. ; a dimin. 
 from da. ssede, a seat. The fishermen in Shetland caU a 
 place in which they fish with hand-lines, a seat, a hand- 
 line seat. 
 
 Saetee, Settee, Sete, Stee ; common affixes to names of 
 places in Shetland, and always indicative of good pasture 
 for cattle, S. ; isl. setr, a dwelling, 
 
 Saiel, to whine, S. 
 
 Sakta, softly ! gently ! S. da. sagte, id, 
 
 Salist, to desist or hold, S. 
 
 Samboed, 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. See Euve. 
 
 Same, the inside fat of swine, unrefined hog's-lard, S. 
 
 Saitoy-giddack, the sand-eel, S. 
 
 Sandy-loo, a name for the sand-lark (Charadrius hiaticula), S. 
 
 Saitna, shall not, S. 
 
 Sanveelting, a disease of horses occasioned by their swallow- 
 ing sand along with their food, causing them to writhe 
 and roU about, S. 
 
 Sanveiltkb. 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. ; 
 
 isl. 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 ; id. 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. 
 Scar, wild, untamed, S. ; isl. skiar, fugax 
 ScAEF, ScAKT, the name given to the cormorant and shag 
 
 (Pelecanus), 0. and S. ; goth. skar-fur ; da. skarv, id. 
 Scarf ; " To beat the scarf" — to strHce the arms vigorously 
 
 across the chest to promote warmth, S. 
 SCAT-BRITHEE, a name given to those whose sheep pasture 
 
 promiscuously over the common, S. 
 ScATFU, inclined to steal, 0. and S. 
 ScATHALD, open ground for pasture, or for furnishing fuel, 0. 
 
 and S. ; isl. etc., skatt, tax, and lad, land. 
 SCATLAND, land paying duty distinguishable by the name of 
 
 " scat," 0. and S. 
 ScATT, the name of a Danish tax stUl 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 posscsses a portion of pasture-ground, 
 
 called "scathald," 0. and S. 
 ScATTALDER (iq), 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 
 
 off, S. 
 
 
 
98 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 SCAURY, the young of the gull, a bird, 0. and S. ; s. sldura ; 
 
 isl. skiure, id. 
 SCAW, Skaw, an isthmus or promontory, S. ; isl. skagi, pro- 
 
 montorium. 
 SCEOLDEE, the sea-pie, a bird (Hcematopus ostralegus), 0. ; 
 
 Faroese, kielder, id. 
 ScHALDEE, a name given to the sea-pie in S. 
 ScHANKUM, a person or beast that has long small legs, S. 
 ScHEiK, wind, insincerity, expressing with the lips what does 
 
 not come from the heart, S. 
 ScHMYLiCK, a gim or fowling-piece, S. 
 SCHOOi, a name given to the arctic gull, S. 
 SoHOT ; " Schot of a boat" — a compartment in the stern, S. ; 
 
 goth. skautu, skut, the stern of a boat or ship ; 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-soKAE, 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 fishing-tackle from which the hook 
 
 is suspended, S. ; s. g. skeegg, 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, 0. 
 ScoEEY. See Scaury. 
 ScoENSUM, scornful, S. 
 
 ScoENSUM-GANGiNG, slippery walking on the ice, S. 
 ScoTS-wiLLiE, a "peerie" codlin, S. 
 ScouTi-AULiN, the arctic guU (Zarus parasiticus), 0. and S. ; 
 
 su. g. skiuta, to move rapidly ; isl. alinn, a parasite. 
 ScoviNS, the crust which adheres to a vessel in which food has 
 
 been cooked, S. ; isl. skof, id. ; no. skova, scrapings. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 99 
 
 Scow, a barrel-«tave, S. 
 
 Scow ; " A great scow of a woman" — a tall, thin, bony wo- 
 man, S. 
 
 SCEANEL, a morsel, S. 
 
 SCEAPIT-FACE (a), a person with a thia haggard face, S. 
 
 SCKEE; "I may scree on" — i.e. I may manage to get on in 
 some way, S. 
 
 SCREEBIT, poor, lean, fleshless, S. 
 
 SCKEEVELIN, a Small "coal" of hay or corn, S. 
 
 ScuBB. &e Skub. 
 
 SCUKK, spot of fishing-ground, S. 
 
 Sea-biddies, large bannocks which fishermen take with them 
 to the haaf, S. 
 
 Sea-crow, the razorbill, a bird, S. 
 
 Sea-maw, common gull {Larus canvs), 0. and S. 
 
 Seater, a meadow, S. 
 
 Seatee, the pasturage attached to a cottage, the termination 
 of the names of many places, S. 
 
 Sea-teowe, 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. 
 
 Semm-kluv, an iron tool used for driving the rivet on the nail, 
 S. 
 
 Sestiina, 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-foul, lesser black-backed guU, S. ; da. sej, gadus ; isl. 
 seid, id. 
 
 Setnin, a motherless lamb brought up by hand, S. 
 
 Setten. See Setting. 
 
loo GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Settee, Setr. See Saeter. 
 
 Setteetoun, a term used in an act of James VI. respecting 
 
 Orkney and Shetland — meaning not clear, 0. and S. 
 Setting, a weight containing 24 marks, 0. 
 Shaa, a mark, S. 
 Shaets, 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. ; isl. 
 
 seigl, tough, sagla, to cut badly. 
 Shaie, a chair, S. 
 
 Shaie ; "To shair the teeth" — to grind the teeth, S. 
 Shalee, a shade of gray peculiar to the wool of Shetland 
 
 sheep, S. 
 Shalee, hoar-frost ; isl. hiela, id. 
 Shalmillins, in pieces, S. 
 Shantie, a urinal, S. 
 Shantil. a thing is said to be " shantU" when it is amissing, 
 
 and supposed to be carried off by fairies ; perhaps from 
 
 the word enchanted, S. 
 Shaeg, petulant, unnecessary expostulation, S. 
 Shaeg (to), to tease ; applied to language, S. 
 Shaegin ; " A shargin body" — a carping person, S. 
 Shaeles, Charles ; a proper name, S. 
 Shabl-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." 
 Shockit, choked, S. 
 Shocks. See Shafts, S. 
 Sholmaeked, 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. ; 
 
 id. hialmr, a helmet — hialmot naut, bos alba facie. 
 Sholt, a small horse, 0. See Sheltie. 
 
 Shoo (to), to back water with the oars, S. ; Faroese sjotide, id. 
 Shood, the distant noise of animals pasturing, S. 
 Shooie, the arctic guU (Larus parasiticus), 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. 
 Shoostee, one who sews, S. 
 Shoed, a prop, a support, S. ; no. skor. 
 Shoeemil, 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 su. 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. 
 SntrLD, having the ear marked with a shiil, S. ; da. skilt, 
 
 separated, divided. 
 SntrL, a particular mark cut on the ear of an animal, a slit 
 
 by which the ear is separated iato 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. 
 Shundbill, the decreet passed by the Foud, 0. and S. 
 Shueg, wet gravelly subsoil, S. 
 Shuegie, thinly covered with shingle, S. 
 Shut denotes in fishing the act of throwing out the sinker and 
 
 hooks, S. ; su. g. skiuta ; goth. skiota ; da. skyd-e, to 
 
 shoot, to project. 
 Shuttles, compartments in a press, S. 
 Shynd, a court of law, S. 
 
102 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Shynd or SoiND BILL, a deed executed in a court, S. 
 
 Shyndbill. See, Shundbill. 
 
 SiBBENS, the itch, 0. 
 
 SiE, a narrow strip of cloth 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 mUt of a fish, S. 
 Sill, thin cloth, a gauze-Hke fabric, S. 
 SiLLAK, Sillock, the fry of the coal-fish, 0. and S. ; goth. 
 
 and s%. g. sil ; dM. 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. 
 
 SiNNANS, sinews, tendons, S. ; da. sene, seene, id. 
 
 SnmA-PEATS, peats full of fibres, S. 
 
 SiNOTE, a small kiln in a bam for drjdng corn, S. 
 
 SiNNiE, female name, contraction of " Siniva," S. 
 
 SiNNiE-FYNNiE, the black guDlemot, a bird, 0. 
 
 SiNTEK, a small quantity, a morsel, S. 
 
 SiKP, to make the leaven too thin for baking, S. 
 
 SiSTENSTATiON, the Smallest possible quantity ; " Not a sisten- 
 station" — not a particle, S. 
 
 SiSTEK-PAKT, the portion of a daughter, S. 
 
 Sistee'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. Hence "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. ; goih. 
 skap-a, to procreate. 
 
 Skaae, a small quantity of anything, a morsel, a candle- 
 snuff, S. 
 
 Skacles, people disguised, maskers, S. ; su. g. skseck, varie- 
 gated, from the particoloured and grotesque dresses. 
 
 Skae, 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. ; 
 eng. skaithe, to blight. 
 
 Skaff, food, S. ; su. g. skap, provision. 
 
 Skaff (to), to eat greedily, S. 
 
 Skaffing, eating greedily, S. 
 
 Skaie-taft, the furthest aft thoft, S. 
 
 Skalv, the stravir 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. 
 
 Skake, 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. skisev ; isl. skiev, id. 
 
 Skavle (to), to put out of shape, awry, S. ; da. pro. skisevle, 
 id. 
 
 Skaw. See Scaw. 
 
 Skeb, a large basket made of straw, used for holdiag com ; 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. 
 
104 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Skee, excrement, S. 
 
 Skeeling-goose, the shieldrake, 0. 
 
 Skeelktn, loud wanton laughter, S. 
 
 Skeetack, the cuttle-fish (Sepia 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. ; ino. skikka, id. 
 Skeil (pron. " skeel"), a wooden drinking-vessel with a handle, 
 
 0. and S. 
 Skelf, lamina, a thin flake ; su. g. skella, in tenues laminas 
 
 dissilire. 
 Skengeein, a small quantity, a morsel, S. 
 Skene, a shin of beef, S. ; m. g. skank, the hough ; da. skank ; 
 
 SCO. and eng. shank. 
 Skenydougek, a slight peal of thunder, S. ; isl. and su. g. 
 
 skin-a, fulgere, splendere. 
 Skeomit, pale, sickly-coloured, S. ; no. skjaamut, id. 
 Skepsit, stretched out, put out of shape, askew, S. 
 Skee, to startle, to frighten, S. See "Scar;" isl. skiar, 
 
 fugax. 
 Skeedins, mice, S. 
 Skekey, an insulated rock, 0. and S. ; goth. sker, a rock, and 
 
 ey, an island ; su. g. skaer ; da. skier, a rock, and oe, an 
 
 island. 
 Skeetae, the sea-belt, a facus, 0. ; goth. etc. sker, etc. ; goth. 
 
 thare, than ; s. tar ; da. tarre, seaweed. 
 Skeyld, the surf, S. ; isl. skell-r, ictus cum sonitu ; da. skyll-e, 
 
 eluere. 
 Skiet, 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. 
 Skildeein, a smooth glazed surface, S. ; da. skildrer, to paint 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 105 
 
 Skilm, the cream and millf adhering to the inside of an un- 
 washed nulk-pail, S. ; da. skimmel, mouldiness. 
 
 Skilmy ; applied to nulk 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. 
 skimpa, id. 
 
 Skimp, good humom', raillery, S. ; old isl. skimp, id. 
 
 Skimpin, scoffing, traducing, censorious, S. 
 
 Skin-claes, waterproof overalls, S. 
 
 Skio, a stone-hut for drying fish, S. ; goth. and wo. 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. skcenia ; da. skionne, 
 to ascertain, to perceive. 
 
 Skirl-crake, a bird {Tringa alpina), S. 
 
 Skiumpack, a large tmshapely piece of turf, S. 
 
 Sklates. See 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. 
 
 Skoitee, 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. ; gofh. 
 skopa, discurrere. 
 
 Skoodra, the ling ; a fish, S. 
 
 Skooi, a species of gull (Larus cataracies), S. 
 
io6 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Skoom, to skim, S. 
 
 Skoomed, skimmed, S. 
 
 Skoopacks, sheep, S. 
 
 Skooeie, the coalfish full grown, S. 
 
 Skoed, Scoeb, a deep indentation in the top of a hill, at right 
 angles to its ridge ; oW isl- skard, ruptura, hiatus. 
 
 Skoedee ; to singe or burn slightly, S. 
 
 Skorpee, that round kiud of bread which in Scotland is called 
 a " cookie," S. ; da. skorpe, a crust ; sm. g. skorper, bis- 
 cuits. 
 
 Skouedaboggie, the youngest of a family ; vulgarly the 
 " scourings," S. ; su. g. skura ; da. skure, to purge ; and 
 da. bug, the belly. 
 
 Skoueies, 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. 
 
 Skeab, a crowd, a multitude, a swarm as of vermin, S. ; isl. 
 skrid, reptatio. 
 
 Skrae-fish, fish dried in the sun without being salted, 0. 
 
 Skeavl, to grope with a kind of scratching manner, S. 
 
 Skeee, Skeoo, a small stack of corn, S. ; da. pro. skrue, a heap 
 or pile ; ex. en torve skrue. 
 
 Skeeid (to), to be covered with vermin, S. ; isl. skrida, ser- 
 pere, repere. 
 
 Skeeim, 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. 
 
 Skeift, a thin person or thing, S. 
 
 Skeit, a tear or rend, S. 
 
 Skeit, to tear or rend, S. ; isl. risti, to rend. 
 
 Skeotta, dark purple dyer's lichen {Lichen omphalodes), S. 
 
 Skeottie, a brown kind of moss growing on stones, S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 107 
 
 Skkovlin, rustling as a stiff garment (long 6), S. 
 
 Skeuddack, a cleft, a crevice in a rock, S. 
 
 SKKtrp, the surface, either of land or of water, S. ; sm. g. skrof, 
 
 thin ice ; s. skorf, skorp ; da. skurv, a rough surface, a 
 
 dry scab. 
 SKEtJL ; to scream or shriek, to bellow, to roar loudly, S. ; 
 
 da. skralla ; gofh. skraale, to roar. 
 SKEtTL, a loud roar as of an angry bull, S. ; da. skrall ; gofh. 
 
 skaU, a loud roar. 
 Skub, a thick fog, small rain, S. ; da. skodde, a mist, a fog. 
 Skubba, milk, S. 
 Skubly, foggy weather, S. 
 Skxjddick, a rick of com or hay, S. ; sm. g. skoet-a, coagmen- 
 
 tare ; isl. skott, collatio. 
 Skudlee, 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 (Acalephce) ; 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. 
 Skiinkl ; 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. ; gcel. skean ; 0. eng. skean, a dagger, 
 
 a knife. 
 Sktjelib-whietee, an insignificant boy or lad, S. 
 Skukm, the shell of an egg, S. ; goth. skurm, an egg-shell ; isl. 
 
 skurmr, a hard shell. 
 SKUEltACK, an egg, S. 
 Skuee, a small spot of fishing-ground, S. ; da. skuur ; goth. 
 
 skur, a shelter. 
 Skuet, 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 ploughs in place of a mould-board, 
 O. 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 ; goth. and 
 su. g. skiul, a screen, a covering ; da. skyle ; isl. skiola ; 
 su. g. skyla, to cover, to screen. 
 
 Skyein, brilliant, shining, gaudy, bright coloured, S. ; no. skyr ; 
 su. g. skir ; da. skiser ; isl. skir, id. 
 
 Slabbery, applied to rainy windy weather, S. 
 
 Slacht, race, descent, family, S. ; Dutch, slacht, id. 
 
 Slambbe, slim, slender, S. ; goth, slambi ; s. slamberi sor- 
 didus. 
 
 Sleb, the underlip when projected ; " to set the slab," is to 
 pout as when sulky, S. ; da. Isep. 
 
 Sleepee, the dunlin, a bird {Tringa alpind), S. 
 
 Slesteein, 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. 
 slseta, to make smooth. 
 
 Slip-me-laav, Slip-me-laabee, a person who cannot be de- 
 pended on ; a slippery fish, S. ; da. laban, a lout. 
 
 Slippit, broken through aU 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 taU spare person, 
 
 a lean animal, a lazy fellow, S. ; isl. sliof ; s. sl66, sl6, slio ; 
 
 da. sloev, slow, inactive. 
 Sloo, to spread one substance over another in layers, S. 
 Slooin a midden, makiag 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 dM. sludste, to slight 
 
 over, 
 Sloom, to move stealthily, to slink away, S. ; sm. g. slem, 
 
 craft. 
 Sloomin, sneaking, slinking, S. 
 Sloomit, sullen, ill-looking, wHy, sly, S. 
 SioOMiT, 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. 
 SlOb (short u), slime, S. ; hdg. slob, sleb, wet, mire. 
 Slubie, viscous, slimy, slippery, S. 
 Slucks, to gulp in drinking, to drink in greedily and noisily, 
 
 S. ; da. slukke, to quench ; sw. slucka ; su.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-eyens, 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. 
 Smikkee, to smirk, to smile alluringly and affectedly, S. ; su. 
 
 g. and s. smikra ; da. smigre, to leer, to allure. 
 
no GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Smill ; "In smill" — in pieces, S. ; perhaps da. smule, small 
 'particle. 
 
 Smieoelin, a shellfisli {Mya truncata), S. ; isl. smirslingr, id. 
 
 Smikr, butter, S. ; isl. smior ; da. smor, id. 
 
 Smiesit (applied to sheep), having -white round the mouth, S. 
 
 Smod or Smud, a dirty speck or mark, S. ; da. smuds ; s. smuts, 
 id. 
 
 Smoiltee, Smuiltee, 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. 
 
 Smoea, clover, S. ; da. smor, butter ; perhaps because it pro- 
 duces more cream in milk. 
 
 Smouteein, concealing a thing in order to gain some private 
 end, S. See 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 
 pvdl off ; 3d, to slip stealthily away, S. ; da. smye, smuge, 
 to creep stealthily along. 
 
 Smuggae, an eel, S. 
 
 Smuiltee. 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. 
 
 Snaae ; " 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. 
 
 Snaae, the turn of the tide, slack between ebb and flood, S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. iii 
 
 Snaab, the loop of cord forming tlie fulcrum of a bismar, 
 whicli is shifted backward and forward along the gradu- 
 ated lever tiU the heavy end of the lever and the object to 
 be weighed are in equilibrio, S. ; s. snara ; gotJi. snara ; da. 
 snare, a noose, a loop, a gin. 
 
 Snaara-pin, a primitive contrivance used for catching a fish 
 before hooks were known iu Shetland. It was 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. 
 
 Snaelit (applied to sheep), light-coloured in body with a white 
 face, S. 
 
 Snaek, to make a snoring noise, S. ; isl. snarka, crepere. 
 
 Snaw-fowl, the snow-bunting (Eniberiza nivalis), S. 
 
 Sneeg, Snig, to neigh, a neigh. See " Snig," S. ; goth. gnegg, 
 ~a neighing. 
 
 Sneeve, Snee, Snae, to cut with 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. ; su. 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. 
 
 Sniee, to cut, S. See " Sneeve." 
 
 Sniet, to blow the nose, S. ; isl. snita ; da. snyde, id. 
 
112 GL OSS AH Y OF SHETLAND 
 
 Snietin-the-nase, blowing the nose, S. See Sniet. 
 
 Snigger, 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. 
 
 Snippeeit, sharp, thin, peaked up, S. 
 
 Snippock, a snipe {Scol(ypax gallinago), S. ; da. sneppe, id. ; 
 s. snseppe, id. ; goth. snoppa, a beak. 
 
 Snikkam, 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, 0. 
 and S. J isl. snad, food. 
 
 Snoiltit, abruptly cut short, truncated, S. 
 
 Snoet-baue, snoeick, the leg-bone of a pig, with a double 
 string attached to the middle, leaving two ends, which 
 when drawn produces a droniug sound, S. ; da. snor, a 
 string ; snore, to snore ; snurre, to buzz, to murmur. 
 
 Snuain, a seaweed, 0. 
 
 Sir&D, a twisted line, synonymous with " tome," S. ; su. g. snod, 
 a cord or small line. 
 
 Sntjgamulya, broken in pieces, S. See Snull. 
 
 Snuilt, a thick stump, S. 
 
 Snuilt, to shorten, to stunt, S. 
 
 Snuilt^t, stumpy, stunted, S. 
 
 Snuet, snot from the nose, S. ; goth. snerra ; da. snore, to blow 
 through the nose ; gofh. snerri, a sneeziug. 
 
 Snuet, to snort, S. 
 
 Snush, to sniff at with a snoring sound, S. ; da. snuse, id. 
 
 SNtrSH, 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 smeU at. 
 
 Sny, to cut, to sever, S. ; du. snyden, id. 
 
 Snyth, the coot, a bird, 0. ; m. g. snced, bald, from its head. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 113 
 
 Sock, to sinli 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. ; isl. 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, heavy, clumsy woman, S. ; isl. 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. 
 
 SoiNDBlLL. See ShundbilL 
 
 SOKKIN OF THE TIDE, the last of a tide— 1.«. the ebb or flood, S. ; 
 gofh. saukva, to sink. Qu. the dregs or last drops. 
 
 SoLE-BUiED, the plank next the hassins in a boat, S. ; da. saale, 
 the sole or bottom, and brod, a board. 
 
 SOLE-BUIED (upper), the plank adjoining the above, S. 
 
 Solomon's-avon (even), November 3d ; a superstition of iU- 
 omen connected with this day, S. 
 
 SONGIE, a hermaphrodite, S. 
 
 SoNKEE, to simmer, to boil slightly, S. 
 
 SOOD, should,; " Foo sood 1 ken?" — how should I know ? S. 
 
 SooD, the south, S. ; ger. sixd; 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. ; isl. sund, the swimming- 
 bladder of a fish, S. 
 
 Q 
 
114 GL OSSAR Y OF SHETLAND 
 
 SooE-FiSH, fish kept until it has acquired a game flavour, S. 
 
 SooELONG, a noted har, S. ; da. logner, a liar. 
 
 SoosTiLEG, by turns, alternately, S. 
 
 Soss, the state of being drenched ■with water, S. 
 
 SouMS, the sounds of the cod-fish dried for food, S. 
 
 SovE (long 6), to stun, to stupify by a blow, S. ; sw. g. sofwa ; 
 da. sove, to sleep — %.c. to lie in a state of unconsciousness. 
 
 SoVd, deprived of sensation by a blow, S. 
 
 SowDAY, a name given to the l7th December, 0. 
 
 SowDEN, the south, S. See, Sood. 
 
 SowDiAN, a tall stout person, also a native of the south, S. ; 
 id. sodi, homo sordidu5. 
 
 SoYNDA (to), to see, S. ; sm. g. syn ; isl. sion, visio. 
 
 SoYNDiCK, the eye, S. 
 
 Spaael, the rectum intestinum, S. ; o. isl. sperdill, id. 
 
 Spaegie, tired feeling in the legs after long walking, S. 
 
 Spaie, an opening in a gown, petticoat, shirt, etc., S. 
 
 Spalds, long bare legs, S. 
 
 Span, a dry measure, 0. 
 
 Spaels, 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, like liquid ejected from a syriage, S. 
 
 Speld, to split up, to lay open, S. ; da. spalte ; teut. spalten ; 
 su. g. splita, to split. 
 
 Speldee, a splitter of fish, to prepare them for curing, S. ; 
 teut. spalter, a splitter. 
 
 Spencie, the stormy petrel, a bird, S. 
 
 Speoci-ian, a tobacco-pouch, S. ; sco. and gad. spleuchan, id. 
 
 Speolk, a splint. 
 
 Speee, to stride, to stretch the legs in walldng, S. ; perhaps 
 isl. sperra, distendere ; ger. and du. sperren, id. 
 
 Spiae, mockery, derision, jeering, ridicule, S. 
 
 Spiall, a tall, slender person, S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 115 
 
 Si'iiCKRK, a largo nail, H. ; cmj. "spike; isl spiliari; no. spikar, 
 
 id. 
 .Si'iK, whale's blubbor, fat of animals, S. ; isl. spik ; da. and s. 
 
 spelc, id. 
 Si'ii/r, gi'ossly fat, bloated, impure, S. 
 Spiolk, a splint placed over a fracture, S. ; «w. g. spielk ; da. 
 
 sjjiolk, H})il(!, a splint. 
 Spiomc, to bind up a fracture with splints, S. ; da. fro. spilke ; 
 
 ial, spilkr, id. ; su. g. spiah;, lamina lignea. 
 Spiolkin, a piltack {Oadus carhona/rius) roasted with the liver 
 
 inside of it. See Mougildins, S. 
 Spleet (to), to split, 0. and S. 
 Splebter, the person who splits the fish and takes out the 
 
 " rig," H. 
 Spurt ; " Spliet now" — same as "splinder new," S. 
 Hi'LlNDER ; "Splinder new," "bran new" — that has never 
 
 been used, S. 
 Si'Oic (to), to foretell, S. ; su. g. spo, vaticinari. 
 Spong, to stride or take long steps ; v. spang, S. ; sco. spang, 
 
 id. 
 Sponsiies, the nostrils and thu passage from them to the throat, 
 
 S. 
 Spout-wiiale, a name given to the porpoise, 0. 
 Sj'BAAOIN, swaggering, S. 
 Speaoo, a boaster, a braggart, S. ; s. sprdg, smart, lively, 
 
 vivacious. 
 Sphain, a sprig, a long narrow stripe, S. 
 Spbeit, to scamper, to run rapidly, S. ; da. sprctte, spraete ; 
 
 8. spritta, to leap, to bound. 
 Spbet-up, to unstitch a seam, to untwist a rope, S. ; da. sprette- 
 
 op, id. ; su. g. spratta, to undo, untie, relax. 
 Spkikkle, to llounce, to flounder about, S. ; goih. sprikkla ; s. 
 
 sprakla, membra concutere, id. 
 
ii6 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Spring, to burst, to break, S. ; da. sprenge, to burst, to crack. 
 
 Speingees, trouts, from their leaping, S. 
 
 Speitt, to leap, to run off suddenly and quickly, S. 
 
 Speoan, dung, S. 
 
 Speone, to eject liquid excrement j applied to birds, S. ; allied 
 
 to da. sprenge ; s. sprenga, to sprinkle. 
 Speonins, the excrement of birds, S. 
 Spundee, to gaUop, 0. and S. 
 Spixndg, to run quickly, S. 
 Spungit, mottled, as " a spungit cow," S. ; gofh. spang ; id. 
 
 spaung ; s. spang, a spangle ; du. spangled. 
 Spued, the lobe of a fish's tail, S. 
 Spdee-clout, a piece of cloth laid on the inner sole of a rivlin, 
 
 S. 
 SPtTEE-UP, to be found or discovered after searching, S. ; da. 
 
 spore, to trace, to find out ; sco. spure, to ask, to inquire. 
 SPtJEiNS, tidings, tracings of anything sought after, S. ; goth. 
 
 spurn, a report, a rumour ; da. spor, a trace, sporen, a 
 
 tracing. 
 Spueeie-how ; to run 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 su. 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. ; su. g. 
 
 stack ; da. stak, a stack. 
 Staen-loppen, bruised, crushed as if jammed under a stone, 
 
 S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. ii7 
 
 Stammaeeen, the helmsman's seat in a boat, S. 
 Standin-bands, the tethers by which cows are bound to the 
 
 vaigle, S. 
 Stane-bitee, the cat-fish {Anarchicas lupus), S. ; tw. stein- 
 
 bider ; da. steenbider ; isl. steinbitr, id. 
 Stane-peckee, 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 byee, a ditch in rear of the cattle in which the 
 
 excrement, etc., is caught and retained, S. ; su. g. staang ; 
 
 armoric, stanc, id. 
 Stap, a dish composed of the liver 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. ; su. g. stappa, to chop. 
 Stae, 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. 
 Steee-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-stanb, a stone attached to the buoy-rope, and which 
 
 serves as an anchor to the haaf-lines, S. 
 Steevb, stout, strong, sinewy, S. 
 Steggie, a sprain, or sharp pain in the back, S. 
 Steineaw. See Staneraw. 
 Stengle, to enclose, to close in, S. 
 Stengy, Staing, the mast of a boat, S ; isl. stang ; s. stang ; 
 
 da. stang ; su. g. stang, a pole, a long stick. 
 
1 18 GLOSSAR Y OF SHETLAND 
 
 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. Sm Seater. 
 Steven, the stem of a boat, S. 
 Steyag, an enclosure for geese, S. 
 Stickin-pieoe, that part of the neck of an animal in which a 
 
 butcher plunges his knife, S. 
 Stiggt, a style, a passage over a waU, S. ; s. stega ; da. stige ; 
 
 gotlh. stigi ; g&r. 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. See 
 
 Stengy. 
 Stinkle, a bird, the stone-chat {Mortacilla ruhicola), S. ; da. 
 
 stern-kield, id. 
 Stiklin, a starling ; a bird, S. 
 Stien, to congeal with cold, S. See Sturken. 
 Stiwen, to congeal, to coagulate, to stiffen, S ; du. stiven. 
 Stobbie, a person whom one can depend upon, who will stand 
 
 by one, S. 
 Stock-duck, the mallard, 0. and S. ; tio. 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 arquatd), 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 taO. 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. g. stitfwa, to cut short. 
 Stook, a shoulder-strap, S. 
 Stooe, a stiff breeze, a strong gale, S. ; da. stor, great ; goth. 
 
 stor vedr ; su. g. stur wader, high or strong wind. 
 Stooe, to stream copiously, as blood from a ruptured artery 
 
 or vein, S. 
 StooEADEmK, 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. 
 Stoeey-woem, a slug, S. 
 
 Stoue, tall, large, great, stout, S. ; isl. s. and da. stor, id. 
 Stoueness, largeness, bigness, S. 
 Stouekeen, a warm driak. See Stooradrink. 
 Stow, hush ! silence ! S. Perhaps from su. g. sto ; isl. staa, to 
 
 stand. Qu. stop, cease. 
 Steae-deawn, a mark, a thin slice cut from the top to the 
 
 bottom of an animal's ear, S. 
 Straep, a strait, a dif&culty, S. ; the isl. da. and s. straf, means 
 
 posna castigatio, but it is probably cognate. 
 Steaik, a longitudinal mark, a streak the breadth of a boat's 
 
 board, S. ; goth. strik; s. strek ; da. streg ; belg. streek; 
 
 lat. striga, a line, a row, a streak. 
 Steaitie, the shank of the leg ; also the hough, S. 
 Steifeen, starch, S. ; perhaps sco. stiffen ; eng. stiffening. 
 Steikin-teck, cutting heather with a short scythe, S. 
 Steing-of-tide, a rapid tideway, S. ; goth. streingr, a cataract. 
 Steinklin, a small quantity, S. 
 Steo, straw ; thus pronounced in some parts of Shetland, 
 
 especially Dunrossness, S. ; da. straa, id. ; ger. stroh, id. 
 Stkodie, a narrow gown or garment, S. 
 Steodie. See Strothie. 
 Steong-watees, the strongest spirit ; spirits of wine, S. 
 
120 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Steoint, a narrow garment. 
 
 Steonge, rank, harsh to the taste ; hence eng. strong, ap- 
 plied to smell or taste, S. ; gotJi. Strang, straung ; da. 
 
 straeng, asper, harsh. 
 Steothie or Stkodie, an avenue betwixt two parallel dykes 
 
 or walls, S. ; s. strat ; da. strade ; goth. strsete ; helg. straat ; 
 
 ital. and span, strada ; irish, straid ; arm. street, a street, 
 
 a paved way. 
 Steoud ; " Stroud o' claes" — a suit of clothes, S. ; isl. strutr ; 
 
 da. pro. strud, cucullus. 
 Steouds, shrouds of a boat, S. 
 Stkoupie, a tea-pot, S. ; isl. strup ; su. g. strupe, guttur ; da. 
 
 strube, a gullet. 
 Stkubba, milk that has coagulated, and has then been whipt 
 
 till it becomes of the consistence of cream ; goth. storra- 
 
 upp, to stir up. 
 Steucken, stricken, struck, S. 
 Steud, to run rapidly, to pull with strength, as a large fish 
 
 does when hooked ; to tug, S. ; da. strsede, stride, to 
 
 struggle, to strive against ; da. strid, a struggle. 
 Steud (to), to pull hard in rowing, S. 
 Steuddin-on, pulling very hard against anything that offers 
 
 resistance, S. 
 Strxjnt, 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. 
 Stot, 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 ; mod. ger. 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. 
 
 Stdmpie, a bottle, S. 
 
 Stumpsed, Stumst, taken aback, stupified with astonishment, 
 
 S. ; SM. g. stumm ; da. stum ; Idg. stum, stom, id. 
 Stund, a sudden, sharp pain, S. 
 Stunk, a groan, 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. st6nne, 
 
 id. 
 Stuee, a penny, S. ; da. styver, tdg. stuiver, hamh. stuyver, 
 
 holl. styver, id. 
 Stuee 0' the doit ; " He wants a sture 0' the doit" — applied 
 
 to the contents of the head as well as the pocket, S. 
 Stueken, congealed, coagulated, S. ; da. st6rknet, congealed. 
 Stueken, to stiffen, to coagulate, as butter does after having 
 
 been melted, S. ; da. st6rkne, to congeal. 
 StJ, she, S. 
 Succalegs, stockings without feet, S. ; id. sock-r, soccus, 
 
 caliga, and legg-r ; su. g. laeg, tibia, crus. 
 Suck, a wet state of the ground that one may sink in, S. ; old 
 
 nor. sockva, to sink. 
 Suck, loose straw rubbish, 0. 
 SucKEN, the territory subjected to a certain jurisdiction, S. ; 
 
 sw. g. sokn, jurisdictio. 
 SuCKY, untidy, 0. 
 
 SuD, SooD, the south, south, S. ; da. sud ; sv,. g. sud, id. 
 SuDGE, subject to ; probably a corruption of the fr. " sujet," 
 
 S. 
 SUKKEN, sunk, S. 
 SuKKEABUED, a term of endearment — " Sweet child," S. ; da. 
 
 sukker, sugar, and byrd, offspring, progeny. 
 StJL, heat, the influence of the sun, S. ; goth. and su. g. sol, 
 
 sool ; da. seel ; lat. sol. These all signify both the sun 
 
 and heat of the sun. 
 
 B 
 
122 GL OSSAR y OF SHE TLAND 
 
 SfjL (pronounced sool), the brigda or basking shark {Squalus 
 maximus), S. 
 
 SuLP (long u, as soolp), a wet state of ground, a marsh, S. 
 
 StJLP, to bring cut grass from a swampy meadow, S. 
 
 SuMMEE-CLOKS, the sunbeams dancing in the atmosphere dur- 
 ing a fine summer day, S. 
 
 SuNGiB, 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. 
 
 SuTSHKOT, a near relative, all the brothers and sisters of a 
 family, S. ; da. s6dskende ; goth. syskin ; s. syskon, id. 
 
 StTTTiE-EONAMUS, a dirty, sooty-looking woman, S. 
 
 SwAADGE, to settle down, to subside, S. ; su. g. swaga ; sw. 
 swiga, to depress, to weigh down. 
 
 SwAAGiN, fluttering as a bird's wing, wavering, S. ; perhaps 
 da. svaining, swinging. 
 
 SWAAE, too high, top-heavy, heavy, S. ; da. svoer, heavy, pon- 
 derous ; svarked, heaviness. 
 
 SwAAE; "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 marinus), S. ; 
 a contraction of swartback. 
 
 SwAGEES, 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 
 the 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. 
 
 SwAEFiSH, the spotted blenny {Blennius gunellus ?) ; da. svart- 
 fisk, id. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 123 
 
 SWAERA, thick soft worsted for underclothing, S. 
 
 SWAEKA, a knitted woollen under-jacket, S. 
 
 SwAEEACK, SWAEEIG; "A great swarrack"— a large quantity 
 
 of any liquid, S. ; sw. g. swser, gravis. 
 SWAETATEE, black time, an ill-hour ; also expressing contempt 
 
 or surprise, S. ; su. g. and isl. swart, black, and tid, 
 
 time. 
 SwAHTBACK. See, Swabie ; no. swartbag, id. 
 SwAETEE, 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. ; sm. 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 sm. g. siga, to subside, 
 
 to settle down. 
 SWEEIN, singeing, smarting with pain, S. 
 SwELCHiB, a whirlpool, 0. ; isl. swelg-r ; da. swselg, vorago, 
 
 gurges. 
 SwELT, to swallow, to suck in greedily, as a hungry fish does 
 
 a bait, S. ; isl. swaelt-a, esurire. 
 SWELTIN-COD, a very poor cod-fish, S. ; perhaps from a. s. 
 
 swealt-an, swelt-an, mori. 
 Sweet, to suck in and swallow greedily, as a hungry fish does 
 
124 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 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. 
 
 sv6fte, id. 
 Swill (to), to rinse in water, S. 
 Swill, the swivel of a tether, S. ; isl. sweif, volva ; su. g. 
 
 soelia, a ring into which a thong is put. 
 SwiNE-FiSH, the wolf-fish, 0. 
 Swine's-mtteeioks, the tuberous roots of the oat-grass (Bromus 
 
 arvensis). Vide Okrabung, S. See Murrick. 
 SwiNT, to squint, S. 
 SwiED-DAKCE, 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. 
 
 SWOEDICK, the spotted blenny {GoUus niger), 0. ; da. sort, black. 
 SwY, a swiDg ; same as sco. sway, S. 
 SwT, to swing, S. 
 Swiz, a whizzing noise, S. 
 
 Stee, a machine for straining or filtering, S. ; eng. 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, tiU, to, towards. 
 
 Taa, a thread, S. ; isl. tae, filum. 
 
 Taa, a tough fibre or filament, a fibrous root, S. ; sw. g. tag ; 
 isl. taug, a fibre, a fibrous root. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 125 
 
 Taaie, fibrous, full of fibres, S. ; da. taved, stringy. 
 
 Taand, a brand of fire, a burning peat, S. ; sm. g. tanda ; da. 
 tsende, to kindle, to set on fire. 
 
 Taatie-hock, a bole dug in the field, in -wbicb potatoes are 
 covered to preserve them from frost, S. 
 
 Taatie-kro, a boarded corner ia a house for preserving pota- 
 toes from frost, S. 
 
 Taatit, made of " taats ;" also matted, as " taatit hair," matted 
 locks, S. ; da. tsette, to make close or compact. 
 
 Taats, thick worsted yarn for making rugs, S. ; goth. thattr, 
 thatt, coarse woollen thread, from teeta, 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. 
 
 Tackiw, 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 ; hdg. tang ; a. s. tang, a poiut or any- 
 thing that tapers to a point — i.e. tongue-shaped. 
 
 Taikensie, 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-aeotjt-him (to), to make an end of and kUl him, S. 
 
 Takin up fish, preparing fish for curing or for cooking, S. 
 
 Tamtaeeie, 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 hollow growths on tang, S. 
 
126 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Tang-fish, a name given to the seal {Phoca 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-spakkow, rock or shore pipit, 0. and S. 
 Tang-whaap, the whimbrel, 0. and S. See Taing. This war}"- 
 
 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-guU ; perhaps tangie- 
 
 maw, from its frequenting the sea-shore. 
 Tarkickookb, 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. 
 Taeeow ; to take the " dorts," to be perverse and peevish, 
 
 S. See Tirran. 
 Taet-and-pueeie, 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. 
 Teddee-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. toelja, to entice, to allure. 
 Teetick, the titlark (Alanda pratensis, Linn.) S. ; isl. tyta. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 127 
 
 small, tiny, applied particularly to birds ; isl. thusetta, to 
 chatter. 
 
 Tbevekie, 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. 
 
 Tenok, the cross bar between the legs of a chair, S. 
 
 Teeeem, 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. 
 
 Terkie, 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. ; goih. thak ; sw. 
 g. tak, tseckia ; s. taak ; da. taekke, thatch, a covering. 
 
 Thight, close so as not to admit water, tight, O. 
 
 Thing, a meeting, a convention, S. ; isl. thing ; s%. g. ting, id. 
 
 Thistle-cock, common bunting {Emleriza miliaria), 0. 
 
 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, 
 
 TiCKSlE, a quarrel, a dispute, S. ; lelg, tik, a pat, a slight blow. ' 
 
 Ttdder, the other, S. 
 
 Tiel, to saU. fast, S. 
 
 TiEPER, to taper to a point, S. 
 
 TiEPERiT, tapered, S. 
 
 Tift, to beat like a pulse, S. 
 
128 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 TiFTiN, beating like a pulse, S. 
 
 Tig, to beg, to importune, S. ; sco. thig ; su. g. tigga ; da. 
 
 tigge, id. 
 TiGG, to entice, to entreat, to tease, S. ; goth. tegia, to entice, 
 
 to allure. 
 TiGGAK, a beggar, a mendicant, S. ; sco. thiggar ; su. g. tiggare ; 
 
 da. tigger, id. 
 Tig-tag, in suspense, S. 
 TlLFEK, 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, anytbing wMch 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 affix 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. 
 TlOEDiN, thunder, S. ; da. torden ; s. thordon, id. 
 Tip, an overdressed person, as " Yen's a tip," S. 
 TiPP, a dram of ardent spirits, S. 
 TiPP, a nick, S. 
 
 TiPP, to kick, as when playing at football, S. 
 TiEL, the trundle of a miU, S. ; goth. thyrla ; su. g. trilla ; da. 
 
 trilde, to trundle, to whirl around. 
 TiREAN-sPEEET, a cross-graincd ill-natured person r child, S. ; 
 
 old nor. tirrin, austerus. 
 TiEEAN, cross, ill-natured, enraged, S. ; da. tirre ; a. s. tyran, 
 
 to exasperate, irritate. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 129 
 
 TiERACKE, the tarrock {Larus tridactylus, Linn,), S. 
 
 TiESE, a sudden pull or jerk, S. 
 
 TiESE, to tug, to puU with a jerk, S. ; a. s. tferan ; s. targa, to 
 
 tear. 
 TiESE, a tug, a sudden and violent puU, S. 
 TiTiNG, the tit-lark (Alauda pratensis), 0. 
 TiTSAM, short-tempered, easily offended, tetchy, S. 
 TiTTEE, to shiver, to tremble, S. ; goth. titra ; s. tutra ; da. tittre, 
 
 to shake, to tremble. 
 TiTTEEiN, trembling from, the effects of cold, S. 
 TiVLACH, a thick cake of coarse meal, S. 
 TiVLACH, the tail of an animal, S. 
 TiZE, to entice, S. 
 ToAM, Tome, that part of fishing-gear which depends from the 
 
 bow, and to which the hooks are fastened, S. ; isl. taumr, 
 
 funis piscatorius. 
 ToB (long 0), to chide, to carp at, S. 
 ToBE, to be talkative, S. ; no. t6ve, 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 FoDDY, the puffin or sea-parrot, 
 Tom Noddy. See Tommie ISToddy. 
 ToNGABLAA, incessant 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 ground always kept in grass, 
 
130 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 in front of a cottar village, S. ; isl. tun, pratum domesti- 
 cum ; and su. g. mal ; da. maal, a boundary, a limit. . 
 
 TooNMiLLS, the grass-land near houses or farms, S. 
 
 TooPiE, 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. t6e ; 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. 
 
 Teaa, a twisting, S. 
 
 Teaa, twist, obliquity, perversity, S. ; goth. thra ; s. tra, obsti- 
 nacy, perversity. 
 
 Tkaa, to twist, to wring, to wreath, S. 
 
 Tkaawaed, awkward, contrary, a forward disposition, S. 
 
 Teaotee, a funnel used for conveying liquids into a cask, etc., 
 S. ; du. trechter, id. ; da. tragt, funnel. 
 
 Teaff, oakum, the untwisted fibres of a rope, S. ; da. drev, 
 id., trsefle, a filament. 
 
 Teag, trash ; su. g. trseck, sordes, stercus. 
 
 Teair, a rope used for drawing, 0. 
 
 Teakbd, drawn, infused, S. ; da. trekket, drawn. 
 
 Teakin the tay, drawing or infusing tea, S. 
 
 Teamsicks, ragged clothes, S. 
 
 Teang, a throng, a crowd, S. ; da. traengen, id. 
 
 Teang, busy, thronged. 
 
 Teavaigk, to trudge or travel along, S. ; perhaps from da. 
 travle, to be in a hurry. 
 
 Tray, stiff, stubborn, 0. 
 
 Teay-sitten, lazy, stupified, 0. 
 
 Tree, a sort of rampart, a heap of any kind, 0. ; su. g. trafve, 
 a heap of any kind, wood, etc. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 131 
 
 Tkee, three, S. ; da. tre, id. 
 
 Teeed, a thread, S. ; da. traad ; s. trad, id. 
 
 Trefold, Menyanthes trifoliata, S. 
 
 Tkemskit, ill-arranged, slovenly, S. 
 
 Teid, third, S. ; da. tredie, id. 
 
 Teift, work of any kind, but particularly knitting, S. ; isl. 
 
 thrifnadr, diligentia; goth. thrif ; s. threfnad. 
 Teiftin, 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. 
 Trim, a humour or state of mind, either good or ill, S. ; in 
 
 eng. applied rather to person. 
 Teist (to), to squeeze, S. ; isl. thrist-ja, thriosta, trudere, pre- 
 
 mere. 
 Teistin, wringing, twisting, squeezing, S. ; goth. thrista, to 
 
 press. 
 Teiwle, to grope, to feel one's way in darkness, S. ; no. trivia ; 
 
 isl. thrifla, id. 
 Teiwling, groping in the dark, S. 
 Tkoilya, a fairy ; a dimin. from troll, S. 
 Trojan, an overgrown person, a giant, S. 
 Troll. See Trows. 
 Teookee, an appellation of contempt and reproach for a 
 
 woman, S. 
 Troos, a tuck or hem on a gown, S. 
 Teot, the throat, S. ; s. trut, the gullet. 
 Tkough, a long wooden trencher used in common by a 
 
 family, S. 
 Trow, a name given to the devil ; hence, " Trow tak you;" 
 
 a spectre, a goblin, 0. and S. 
 Teowe. See Trow. 
 Trowie, sickly, 0. and S. 
 Trows (Hill), spirits supposed to inhabit the hills or moun- 
 
132 GLOSSAR Y OF SHETLAND 
 
 tainous parts of 0. and S. ; goth. troll ; s. troU ; da. trold, 
 a demon, a goblin, a magician, a giant. 
 
 Trows (Sea), certain inhabitants of the sea, viewed by the 
 vulgar as malignant spirits, 0. and S. 
 
 Teow'z ; contraction of " trow wiz" — or believe us, S. 
 
 Teoytlin, tattlin, gossiping, S. 
 
 Teoyttle, to tattle, to gossip, S. 
 
 Teu, to believe or put credit in, S. ; isl. trua, id. ; da, troe, id. 
 
 Teuck, trash, refuse, S. 
 
 Teuck, to trample, S. ; da. trykke, to press down, to crush. 
 
 Teuck, the surface of the best pasture-land peeled off for the 
 purpose of making compost manure, S. ; apparently a cor- 
 ruption of turf-ick. 
 
 Teullascxid, a witch-like woman, S. Compounded of troll, 
 and da. skudt, shot — i.e. eK-shot. 
 
 Teulla-watee, the name given to a lake in Unst whose 
 banks are supposed to be haunted by trows, S. In Scan- 
 dinavia and Iceland troU and trolla are used as prefixes 
 to the names of places supposed to be haunted by trows. 
 
 Teullia, sickly ; same as " trowie," S. 
 
 Teump (to), to fling as a horse, to kick, S. ; gofh. trumba^ to 
 leap up and down, to dance. 
 
 Tetjmpie, the skua-guU, 0. 
 
 TEi!iinE, the snout of a swine, S. ; da. tryne ; goth. and srw. g. 
 tryne ; isl. tryni, id. 
 
 TEtJSH, thrashed ; past part, of " tresh," thrashed, S. 
 
 TEtJSHKA, Teutska, a fit of stubbornness or sulks ; also pride, 
 giving oneself airs, S. ; da. trutne, to swell, strut, give 
 oneself airs. 
 
 Teushkit, 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 
 through," S. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 133 
 
 Teuss, refuse, fragments of cooked fish, S. ; id. tros, trash. 
 Teuttl, to mutter, to grumble, to scold in an undertone, S. ; 
 
 perhaps from da. trussl, a menace, a threat, or threaten- 
 ing. 
 Teyst, trouble, difficulty, laborious work, S. ; fr. triste, sad, 
 
 melancholy. 
 TuACK, a small hillock, 0. ; da. tue, a hOlock. 
 Tto (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. ; 
 
 SM. g. toeg-a, to draw. 
 TuLiE-BUDiE, a basket with different compartments for holding 
 
 toots, S. /See Budie. 
 TuLLlE, a knife fixed in the haft, S. ; da. tollekniv, a small 
 
 dagger. 
 TuMAiL, piece of arable land next the steading, 0. Bee Toon- 
 
 malL 
 Tumult, the portion of land connected with a cottar-house, 0. ; 
 
 da. tomt, the ground or premises of a house, a yard. 
 TuNNlE, thunder, S. ; isl. dunur ; s. dunder, etc. etc., id. 
 TuEBOT-EEEKLiNS, the flash of the halibut cut into strips and 
 
 dried in the peat-smoke, S. 
 TuEDEEViL, TuEDiEL, the winged beetle {Scarabeus sterco- 
 
 rarius), S. ; no. tordivel ; s. tordifvel, id. 
 TuEEVEN, peats, S. ; s. torfven, id. 
 TusHKAE, an instrument of iron with a wooden handle, for 
 
 cutting peats ; properly "torfskar," S. ; goth. su. g. torf; 
 
 da. torv, etc., turf, peat, and goth. su. g. skcera ; isl. skera, 
 
 skora ; da. skioere, etc., to cut ; su. g. torfskyrd, the cutting 
 
 of peats. 
 
134 GL OSSAR Y OF SHETLAND 
 
 TusHKAREUE, a confused struggle, S. 
 
 TwA-BEAST-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. 
 TwAET-BAAKS, the transverse rafters that bind together the 
 
 framework of a roof, S, ; da. tverbielke, a cross-beam. 
 TWAKTS, thwarts of a boat, S. ; sw. twaert ; da. tver, tvert, etc., 
 
 a cross-beam. 
 TWARTEE, cross-grained ; applied to wood, S. Se,e preceding 
 
 word. 
 TwAETOUE, across, athwart, S. See Twarter. 
 TwASPUE, to gallop, S. ; isl. su. g. twa, duo, and sporre, cal- 
 
 car. 
 TwAT, a termination of names of places and of proper names, 
 
 S. 
 TwEETACE, 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. 
 TwETTm, the act of cutting pieces from wood, S. 
 TwiNiN, stealing, S. 
 TwiEM, to dwine, to wither, S. 
 TwiEMED, withered, decayed, S. 
 Tyke, common otter (iMtra vulgaris), S. 
 Tyste, the black guillemot, a bird (Columbus grylle), 0. ; 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 unititerrupted 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. ; su. g. audal ; da. odel; isl. odal ; s. 
 odal, allodium, preedium hereditarium. 
 
 Udaller. See Udalman. 
 
 Udalman, one who holds property by udal right, 0. and S. ; 
 da. odelsmand, id. 
 
 Udelae. See Udalman. 
 
 Uek, mud, clay, S. ; old no. aur, argiLta lapidea. 
 
 Uee-eed, small stones of a reddish colour in muddy soil, S. 
 
 TJfeongib, TJfetjngib, a grotesque object, a person of forbid- 
 ding aspect, S. ; goth. ufrynn ; s. ofrynd, from u. and 0. not, 
 and frynn, of a mUd and sprightly coimtenance ; da. fro, 
 good-humoured, cheerful. 
 
 Ugg, to take a slight repast, S. 
 
 Uggin, a lunch, a light repast, S. 
 
 Uggle, to soil, to besmear -with filth, S. 
 
 Ugiovous, having nothing left, destitute, S. ; goth. ogicefa, 
 ugioefa, misfortune. 
 
 UiM, mad, furious, 0. 
 
 Ule ; " A ule 0' heat" — the mist which rises from the ground 
 on a warm summer day, S. 
 
 Ullya, black slimy mud, S. 
 
 IJLteE, the unctuous filth that runs from a dimghill, S. 
 
 Umboth, a term applied to teind or tithe of an alternate de- 
 scription, 0. and S. ; isl. umbod, tutela, procuratio. 
 
 Umboth, procuratory, factorship, S. 
 
 Uncajst, 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. 
 
 Undoomis, Undumous, immense, uncountable, 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 GZOSSAJil OF SHETLAND 
 
 door of a room that has been shut up for a long time, S. ; 
 
 SM. g. ugn, an oven. 
 Uneraw. Se,& Uan. 
 Un¥IEKDY, 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. 
 Ungadeengen, a young man, the youth or young men of a 
 
 community, S. ; da. un, negative, and dreng, a boy — i.e. 
 
 a young man. 
 Unhaglt, unthrifty, untidy, S. ; da. un, and isl. hagr, utilitas. 
 Unkallowed, uncalved, S. ; da. un, and kalver, not to calve. 
 Unkiesen, 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. 
 IJpDOEEOK, worn out, exhausted, bankrupt, S.; isl. upp, and 
 
 throka and thruga, urgere, premere. 
 Upgang, a sudden increase of wind and sea ; often applied to 
 
 the weather, S. ; isl. uppgang-r, incrementum. 
 Upgastang, a species of loom anciently used in Orkney, 0. 
 Uphottg, ruin, bankruptcy, S. ; da. ophugge, to cut down or 
 
 fell 
 TJPLAYEE, the person who loads the ponies with peats at the 
 
 peat-hill, S. 
 Uppabeak, wearying, thinking long, S. 
 Uppadoga, everywhere, over all, S. 
 Uppa-muea, a term used for a cat washing her head about the 
 
 ears with her paws, S. 
 Uppleuse, to disclose, to discover, S. 
 Upshlaag, 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 
 
 Uee, a denomination of land, the one-eighth of a merk, S. ; 
 isl. auri, id. 
 
 Ukeen, a ewe, S. ; isl. aer, ovis, agna. 
 
 Uken, a scythe, S. 
 
 UsT, to heat sweet milk with a small quantity of butter- 
 milk till the curd separates from the whey, S. ; Aa. ost, 
 cheese. 
 
 UsTED, the curd of butter-milk heated with sweet milk, S. ; 
 su. g. yst-a ; isl. id., pron. ust-a, coagulare. 
 
 UsTiN, a preparation of sweet mUk, in which the curd is 
 separated from the whey without the use of rennet, S. 
 
 Uteeal, frem'd, foreign, strange, S. 
 
 Utakt (long u), unfrequented, S. ; da. uvant, unaccustomed, 
 unused. 
 
 UvEiLTER, to welter, to wallow, S. ; da. 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. 
 
 Vaae, 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, iavolumen. 
 
 Vaavl, to strap securely, to secure with ropes tied around and 
 variously implicated, S. 
 
 Vackel, a reef of rocks iu the sea, a skerry. A reef on the coast 
 of Dunrossness is called the " Vaekels," S. 
 
 Vaddle, a shallow pool. See Vaadle, S. 
 
 Vaddlin, waddiag, S. 
 
 Vadmell, a species of woollen cloth manufactured and worn 
 in Orkney and Shetland, 0. and S. ; da. vadmel, frieze, 
 
 T 
 
138 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Vagglk, a place where meat is hung for the purpose of being 
 
 smoked, S. 
 Vaidg, a voyage, S. 
 Vaig, to wander, S. 
 Vaigee, a wanderer, a rover, S. 
 Vaigle, a peg to which cattle are fixed in the stall, S. ; Aa. 
 
 vagi, columella arrectaria. 
 Vaipek, 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. ; id. 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, unsocial, etc., S. 
 Vaeeez, to notice, to observe, S. 
 Vaelet, a warlock, a wizard, S. 
 Vaenicle-pin, the pin that fastens the horns of the clibber 
 
 together, S. ; da. nagle ; isl. nagli, a nail, a spike. 
 Vatn, a fresh-water lake, S. ; id. vatn, lacus. 
 Vats-gaaein, a halo round the sun, perihelion, supposed to 
 
 indicate bad weather, especially rain, S. ; id. vatn, aqua. 
 Vattaband, Vaytaband, a string by which a pair 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 
 
 isl. 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. 
 Vbesick, a ballad, a song, S. ; da. vise, a song, a ballad. 
 Vegwal, a stake in the waU of a cowhouse to which a cow is 
 
 tied, S. See Vaigle. 
 Vendee, to wander, S. ; da. vandre, id. 
 Yenderin, wandering, S. ; da. vandring, id. 
 Venga, a name for a cat, S. This word may be figuratively 
 
 derived from the sm. g. wenga, plorare, to wail or whine, 
 
 and applied to cats from their wailing cry. 
 Veeg, to soil, to defile, S. 
 Vergit, striped with dirt, S. 
 Veeties, to warn ; abbreviation of " advertise," S. 
 Vestkeen, the west, S. ; da. vesten, id. 
 Viand, disposition, temper, S. 
 ViDiMENT, insignificant, the least particle. Ex. " I hae no a 
 
 vidiment," 0. 
 ViEVEKS, provisions, food, S. ; ff. vivres, id. 
 ViEVLiE, distinctly, life-like, S. ; fr. vif. 
 ViFDA. See Vivda. 
 ViLANSiE, violence, S. 
 
 Vilipend, to abuse by opprobrious or railing language, 0. 
 ViLLYAEOO (accent on last syllable), foolish talk, chatter, 
 
 S. 
 ViMMER, to quiver, to tremble, S. ; no. vimra, id. 
 ViMMEEiN, trembling, S. 
 ViNSTEE. See Winster. 
 
 ViPPiCK, a small fishing-rod,- S. ; perhaps from e%g. 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 GLOSSAR Y OF SHETLAND 
 
 VlTCHiN, visiting, S. ; isl. vitian, 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. 
 ViXTEE, to grow stout and fleshy, as " There's a \dxter upo' 
 
 thee," S. ; isl. voxtr, incrementum, augmentum. 
 VOALEE, a cat, S. ; isl. vol-a, querulor, perhaps from its cry. 
 VoALERS-CKAMMACKS. S&e, Cats-crammacks, S. 
 VOAMD, meat injured by being too long kept, S. ; perhaps isl. 
 
 voma, nausea, vomitus, as causing nausea. 
 VoAE (Vor, long o), the spring, the seed-time, S. ; isl. var ; 
 
 no. da. s. vaar ; lat. rev, 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. ; su. g. 
 
 wall, solum herbidum ; isl. voell-r, campus, pratrum. 
 VOED, a high hiU. See Wart, S. 
 VuxEN, well-grown, S. ; da. voxen ; s. vuxen, id. 
 VUXEN, ill, ill-grown, unshapely, S. ; da. ilde-voxen, id. 
 VuxTEE, 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). 
 Waaf, transient effluvia or odour, S. ; allied to eng. waft, to 
 
 float. 
 Waa-geng, a flavour, S. 
 Waah, anything that occasions surprise or admiration, 0. and 
 
 S. ; isl. va, anything unexpected. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 141 
 
 Waae, conscious of, privy to ; " To be waar o' " — to see, to 
 liave a view of, S. ; eng. aware ; da. var, vaar, id. 
 
 Wade, that part of the boat aft iato whicli the fish are drawn, 
 S. 
 
 Waiden, soft, supple, S. 
 
 Waiein, a stripe or edging, as along a boat's gunwale, S. 
 
 Wale, gunwale, S. 
 
 Walla wae, the devil, S. ; mmso-goth. walawa, interjectio 
 dolentis et abominantis. 
 
 Wailawalla, 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. 
 
 Waeback, an insect that breeds in the skin of cattle {Oestrus 
 hovis), S. 
 
 Waebecks, larvae of an insect deposited in the skins of 
 cattle, S. 
 
 Waed. See Wart. 
 
 Waeded ; " It's weel warded to thee" — it is thoroughly de- 
 served by you, S. 
 
 Waeb, drift-weed used as manure, S. 
 
 Waeed, manured with seaweed, 0. 
 
 Waen ; " I warn" — sjmonymous with the American " I 
 guess," S. 
 
 Waep, a stroke in puUing with an oar, S. 
 
 Waeey, of or belonging to seaware, S. 
 
 Waet, a tumulus or mound thrown up on high ground for 
 the purpose of conveying intelligence by signals, 0. and 
 S. ; isl. varda ; s. vard ; da. varde ; g. warte, id. 
 
 Wassie, a horse-collar, O. ; su. g. wase, a bundle of twigs. 
 
 Waster, the west part of the country, S. 
 
 Watee, the name given to disease in sheep, S. 
 
142 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 Watee-deogee, a term applied to the last pig of a sow's 
 
 litter, which is generally the smallest, S. 
 Watee-teaa, the heartburn. Bee, Herskat, S. 
 Watee-weak, a frail delicate person, S. 
 Watee-weikit, frail, delicate, S. 
 Wattee, water ; " A watter" — a wave, S. 
 Wattle, a tax paid in Shetland, said to have been introduced 
 
 in retxirn for the distribution of holy water, S. 
 Weasses, a species of breeching for the necks of work horses, 
 
 0. and S. ; su. 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 tridactylus), 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. 
 Weey, cross, vexation ; " That's the 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. 
 Whaael, 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 
 
 Whaae-say, an expression meaning " as if one would say," S. 
 
 WhaaetU, 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. 
 
 Wheeliceeuse, a churchyard, O. ; isl. hvila, lectus, cubile, 
 
 and kr6-a, to enclose. 
 Wheen, queen, 0. and S. 
 Wheerney, a very gentle breeze, 0. 
 Whenya, a mill, S. 
 Whett, to quit, to leave, S. 
 Wheylkin, lively coy motions, S. 
 Whiddee, a gust of wind, S. ; isl. hvida, cita commotio 
 
 aeris. 
 Whiddee, whether. 
 Whiddy, unstable, unsteady, applied to the mind, 0. and S. 
 
 See, Whidder. 
 Whigga, couch-grass {Triticum repens), S. 
 WHHiK, to suck anything quickly into the mouth, to gulp up, 
 
 S. 
 Whilly, a small skiff, S. 
 Whingick, a snuff-box, S. 
 Whingeeed, 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. 
 Whie, to harden, as bread too much fired, S. 
 Whielock, anything twisted into a knot, S. 
 Whiem. See Quirm. 
 Whiemd away, 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 (Zarus canus), S. 
 
144 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND 
 
 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, inq[mriag, cross-questioning, S. 
 
 Wick, an open unsheltered bay, S. ; isl. vig, id. ; da. vig, a 
 creek, a cove. 
 
 WiDDEEWiSE, contrariwise, against the sun, S. 
 
 WiDDLE, to walk slowly about, S. 
 
 WiDE-GAB, the fishiug frog, S. 
 
 WiLDGEiM, a plain at the foot of Bonis HUl, 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. 
 
 WiLGOCK, 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-cxiFFEE, the name given to the kestrel, 0. 
 
 Wind-feed, occasional showers which increase the force of the 
 wind, S. 
 
 WiNGLE, to bend and twist, S. 
 
 WiNGLED ; " A wingled prin" — a piu that is bent and twisted, 
 S. 
 
 WiNSTEE, ViNSTEK, a disease ia sheep, inflammation of the 
 stomach and bowels, S. ; isl. vinstur, ventriculus quartus 
 ruminantium abomasum ; no. vingstr ; s. venstr, id. 
 
 WiNTEE-FiSH, fish caught about the middle of August, split 
 and allowed to remain in the brine until the end of spring, 
 when they are washed and dried for exportation, S. 
 
 WiE, our ; " Wir nain" — our own, S. ; isl. vor ; da. vor, 
 noster. 
 
AND ORKNEY WORDS. 145 
 
 WiEL, to fret, to whine, S. 
 
 WiELlN, querulous, peevish, S. 
 
 WiEN ; a contraction for " wir nain" — our own, S. 
 
 WiEN, to become ; as "What's wimed o' it?" S. 
 
 WiEEABLAA, a violent and short exertion, S. 
 
 WiEZ, ours, S. 
 
 Wisp, an ill-natured person, as, " A wisp of a bodie," S. ; da. 
 vespe, a wasp. 
 
 WiSTEE ; " 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. 
 
 WiTHEEON, a rogue ; " A guild witheron" — a great rogue, 0. 
 
 WiTHEES OF WIND, gusts of wind, S. 
 
 WiTTEE, to guide, to direct, S. 
 
 Wiz, was, S. 
 
 WooDMAlL, a cloth payment imposed anciently upon the 
 Shetland peasantry, as part payment of land-rent, some- 
 times written " vadmeU," 0. and S. 
 
 Weatcii, wretch, S. 
 
 WUPPLE, to roU up, to bundle up, S. 
 
 Wy, way, S. 
 
 Yaa, yes, S. ; isl. da. s. ja, id. 
 
 Yaab, to harp pertinaciously on a subject, S. 
 
 Yaag (to), to importune iacessantly, 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 tooth, 0, and S. ; id. jaxl, dens 
 molaris. 
 
 u . 
 
1 46 GL OSSAR Y OF SHETLAND 
 
 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 ia man or beast, S. Bet Yaclde. 
 
 Yaldee, the barking of a dog when in pursuit of prey, or 
 when bringing an animal to bay, S. 
 
 Yaldeeing, barking noisily. See Yalder. 
 
 Yallaceack, intemperate altercation, excessive noise of 
 voices, S. 
 
 Yammel, born in the same yea,r, S. 
 
 Yammils, twins, S. 
 
 Yaefast. See, Yerfast. 
 
 Yaek, to bite greedily, S. 
 
 Yaek, 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 plantse. 
 
 Yael, the title of earl, S. ; da. jarl ; id. jarl, id., etc. etc. 
 
 Yaepha, peat full of fibres and roots, peat combined with claj^ 
 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 isl. 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. 
 Yattee, to carp, S. ; perhaps from eng. chatter, or from the 
 
 da. yttre, to utter, to express. 
 Yattbein, captious, S. 
 
 Yattle. fe Yackle ; id. jadl, dens molaris. 
 Yaws, apparently the disorder termed " syphilis," 0. 
 Yea, yes ; invariably used in Shetland, S. 
 Yeald. Se?, Yeld. 
 Yeld, in a single state, without a mate ; applied also to birds 
 
 in S. ; isl. gelid, gall ; da. gald ; su. g. gall, infsecundus, 
 
 effoetus. 
 Yellu-brin or hellu-bein, a brook or burn in Unst, holy 
 
 water, S. ; da. hellig, holy, and su. g. brunn ; isl. brunnur, 
 
 a well, a fountain. 
 Yellowing-geass, a plant from which a yeUow dye is ex- 
 tracted, S. 
 Yeefast, chains, ropes of straw, etc., used for securing corn or 
 
 hay during a gale of wind, 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, sef aside, S. 
 YiTSA, an interjection — Get on ! S. 
 YoAG, the great mussel {Mytilus 7nodiolus), S. 
 
148 GLOSSARY OF SHETLAND &- ORKNEY WORDS 
 
 YocK, a grip, a hold, S. 
 
 YocK, to grasp or seize hold of, S. 
 
 YoKUL, expressive of assent — " Yes, sir," S. 
 
 YoOFBE, a large clumsy oar not properly shaped or dressed, S. 
 
 YooFiE, a thrashing, a beating, S. 
 
 YuGGLE, an owl, S. ; da. ugle, id. 
 
 YuLE-BLiNKEE, 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, 
 
 EEMAEKS ON THEIR OEIGIN 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 Aassen 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- 
 
150 NAMES OF SOME 
 
 tain by the Norman-Freuch under "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 JeUe. Professor Munch 
 (" M6m. 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, 
 GeUd, GaU ; Danish, Gald ; Su.-Gothic, Gall ; used to de- 
 note sterility of soil. A field is said to be * YeU' when 
 nothing will 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. 
 Fetlae. — Said to have been anciently written Foetilor and 
 Fotilara, and, according to Munch, Foetalar, and Fetdlaa, 
 and Fotlara. In Norse, Foti means a foot, and Laer the 
 thigh ; Leir is clay or mud (argilla). r6tlagT is short- 
 legged. Fotul, or Fetill, a band to bind with, a felth. 
 
PL A CES IN SHETLAND. 1 5 1 
 
 Also, in Norse, is a word Fiotlur, explained by Hal- 
 dorsson as " Tricse,Hilde, Forvikling" (i. p. 217), entangling 
 or fettering. All this, however, is very doubtful. It 
 has been suggested to me that this island was formerly 
 " Fedorsoy"— ie. "Theodore's Island." 
 
 Whalsay.— Doubtless from Hval, a whale, and Ey, island. 
 This island was probably so called from whales having 
 been captured there. 
 
 Skeekies. — From "Skaer" a rock or small isle, and Ey, 
 island. 
 
 Bressay. — Corruption and contraction of Bardsey. Isl. Bard, 
 
 J,, 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 giants 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 M6sey. Its ancient burg is often men- 
 tioned in the Sagas as M6seyjarborg. Isl. and Dan. Mos, 
 moss ; Isl. Mosar, mossy places. 
 
 BuERA. — That is Burgey, 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 Papaj, 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, viretum pratum, green grass ; thus 
 
 tlie grassy plots in front of houses in Shetland are called 
 the " Toonwalls, or Toonmalls." W(us (walls) is no doubt 
 of the same origin. 
 
 Vemuntray. — Probably from V&triMndr, a man's name. It 
 should be written then, as Munch suggests, Vemuvdarey. 
 
 Vaeskereies. — Old Norse Firts, molestise, iactationes in 
 mari tempestatibus, shipwreck ; or Va, periculum dam- 
 num. Va oc vesolld — " Damnum et miseria" (VereUus). 
 These rocks lie in a very dangerous position for ships and 
 boats, and are much dreaded. 
 
 Balta. — The Belt Island. Bali is a narrow passage open at 
 each end, hence the " Belt" 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. 
 
 HuNET is "Havn-ey," the island that forms the harbour — 
 the Harbour Island. Isl. Rami, a harbour. 
 
 Haf-geuney. — " Hav-graeney," green isle of the ocean, very 
 descriptive of its situation and appearance. It is thus 
 distinguished from the island of Sund Grilney. 
 
 LiNGEY. — Heathery Isle. There are several islands of this 
 name in Shetland. Norse, Ling, heather. 
 
 Wethee-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 Bressa 
 Sound, and there awaiting a favourable wind. The Norse 
 account, which 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 Breideyarsund 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 "fyri Barafiord," along Burrafirth — 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 " Hoshuldsey." 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 " ThuW which Tacitus in his life of Agricola 
 says was seen by the Eoman 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. Fdr in Isl. and Faar in Danish mean- 
 ing sheep, this island is well adapted for pasturing that 
 animal. One of its promontories is called Shee'p Craig — 
 sometimes written " Fairhill." Perhaps the Faroe Islands 
 have their name from the same source ; their sheep, 
 next te 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 Fyot — e.g. Ey in Suffolk, Sheppay, Eona, Faroe, Co- 
 lonsay. {Vide "Words and Places," etc., by Piev. Isaac 
 Taylor, M.A. London and Cambridge.) 
 
II. DEEIVATIONS of the Names of some Places in Shet- 
 land, such, as Voes, Hills, Farms, Private Eesidences, 
 etc. etc. 
 
 Aee. — ^Applied to several places having extensive "Aers" or 
 smooth beaches near them — ex. The " Aers of Sellivoe,'' 
 the "Aers of Strom," etc. Old Norse, JSyri, 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 Aed, of old Avritten JSid. In the old Norse Hid is a 
 tongue of land, an isthmus. Thus Aiths-^oe 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 Heliness, which are near to each other 
 in opposite directions. The inseparable particle aTid 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 wUl therefore be 
 " the dale or valley of a man called Ari!' 
 
 AsTA. — Probably Astadr, the dwelling on the ridge. From As, 
 a ridge of a hill, resembling the ridge of a roof 
 
 AswiOK. — Probably from the same. Osey, on the west of 
 Shetland, the Eidge 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, which 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 Mousa, heing also a steep 
 headland jutting out some distance into the sea, must be 
 derived from the same. 
 
 Baedistee. — From Bardi, a man's name, and Setr, a dwelling. 
 
 Beliagaet. — 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. 
 
 Bkinnaster, which some spell " Brindasetr," the dwelling 
 of Brenda. It is, however, more probably Brynastadr, 
 the house on the promontory, from old Norse, hryn, Irun, 
 an overhanging brow 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. 
 
 Beogh, Bueg. — An ancient circular building, called also a 
 " Pecht's House," and a " Pecht's Castle." As an appel- 
 lative it is now pronounced Broch (gutt.) ; but in com- 
 pounded names of places it is sometimes spelt and pro- 
 nojinced " Burg" — as in Burgaland, 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 
 were 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 writings 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 DERIVATIONS. 
 
 of antiquity is contained in Hibbert's "Shetland." Dr 
 Jamieson gives as the etymon Anglo- Sax. hmrg, munimen- 
 tum, agger, arx, a rampart, a place of defence and succour ; 
 hurg, 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. 
 iwrg ; Chald. hurg-adh ; Gr. purgos, a tower ; Goth. 
 horg ; Teut. burg ; Sax. iurg ; Isl. heorg ; Armoric, hurg ; 
 Irish, hurg ; Welsh, hurg ; Fr. hourg ; Ital. horg-a, a 
 fortress, a castle, a walled town. The root appears to be 
 Goth, herga, to defend. 
 
 BuGAKT. — A place in Yell. Bii in Norse means cattle — hence 
 Bugart, an 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 B'A,setr, 
 pasture for cattle. 
 
 Cliff. — Perhaps from Norse £'lif, a slope. The land of 
 Cliff in Unst slopes down to the edge of the loch. 
 
 Ckosbistee. — Must have been " Krossbustadr," a dwelling 
 near a cross. Perhaps in ancient times in Fetlar a cross 
 has been erected there. 
 
 CUNINGSBUEG. — In oH 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 Konungr, 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, are names given to many places in 
 Shetland, meaning the same as English dale. Old Norse, 
 Dal. 
 
DERIVATIONS. 157 
 
 DuNEOSSNESS.— Professor Munch of Christiania derives it 
 thus : "Dyn-rost-nes" — that is the ness or promoatory near 
 the dinning or sounding sea-current, which applies exactly 
 to Dunrossness, lying as its southern extremity does, and 
 called Sumburgh Boost. Haldorsson describes Byn as 
 sonare, resonare, to sound, to resound ; and Rost, series ver- 
 ticosa syrtium maris, banks in the sea on which the waves 
 whirl and break. 
 
 ESHANESS. — 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 buU, 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. — Norse, Fiall, a mountain, modern Norwegian Fjd. 
 There is a farm called Fiad situated just at the foot of 
 Eoeness HiU, the highest mountain in Shetland. Also 
 one at the foot of Housa-fiael, a hill in Unst, and in other 
 parts of the islands. 
 
 FiEDELAND. — Dr. Hibbcrt (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 gTeen land jutting out far into the Northern 
 Ocean, which is named ' Eiedeland,' an appellation of true 
 Scandinavian 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 summer, such places are named Tiedelands' ; 
 and it is very remarkable," he adds, " that where there are 
 
iS8 DERIVATIONS. 
 
 any Fiedelands they invarialDly 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 fit, 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 FitfiMl. 
 
 FOGEIGAET. — Probably from Norse Fagur, fair, bright, and 
 Gardr, a field or enclosure — i.e. Fairfield. 
 
 Geedie, Geet, Goed, Gaedishouss, names very common 
 both singly and as compounds, are doubtless from the 
 Norse Gerdie, and Gardf, 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). 
 
 GlELSTA, 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. 
 
 Geunastee, Geunataing, Geunavoe. — Norse Graen, green. A 
 green place, a green tongue of land, a voe with green banks. 
 
 Hammee, Hammae. — Isl. Hamar, terra scopulis obsita, ground 
 covered with bovdders. 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, tumulus sepulchralis. In its 
 original signification it is a hill, from har, ha, hat, high. 
 Two conical hills 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 
 Hunt, Esq., Ph.D., F.S.A., F.RS.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. Eoberts, 
 r.G.S., Hon. Secy. A.S.L., etc. etc., with Note on the 
 Human Eemaias by C. Carter Blake, F.G.S., Assist. Secy. 
 A.S.L.," vide " Memoirs of the Anthropological Society of 
 London, 1863-1864," vol. i. 
 
 Helleesness. — In the island of Fetlar, Norse "Eellir" an- 
 trum, specus, a cave. Hellersness is therefore a ness 
 with a cave or caves in it (Hald. i p. 348). 
 
 Hestingaed. — Norse Hestr, a horse, Eestin, horses. An en- 
 closure or field for horses. 
 
 Hestinsete 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. 
 
 Keldabistee. — ^Dan. Keld, a well, and Bustadr, a dwelling- 
 place. 
 
 Keegoed. — In Norse " Ker" means a swamp or marsh, palus, 
 ■ (Hald. i. p. 450). Kergord is therefore a swampy field. . 
 
 KiEKABiSTEK, 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, Lambahoga. — old Norse h6,ga (pron. Tiogd), locus 
 pascurus ; 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 hiU. would 
 likely be Lambahaugr. 
 
 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. 
 
 Leewick. — 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 Log-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. — Perhaps 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 Moel, Isl. Melr, a place covered with sand and 
 stones. 
 
 Melby. — Perhaps Melhu, the dwelling near the sandy beach. 
 Very descriptive. 
 
 Minn. — " Swarbacks Minn " is an opening leading from 
 
DERIVATIONS. i6i 
 
 Aithsvoe to St. Magnus' Bay. The Norse words Munni 
 and Mynni are doubtless the same, and 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 Jkfunness, 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 Mull — ex. Mull of Cantyre. There are several in 
 Shetland — ex. Mool of Aswick, of Lund, etc. etc. ; Norse 
 Muli (Hald. ii. p. 89). 
 
 Nab, KJNAB, 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," 
 Nabhi is described as " En KJnort," a hump or lump, and 
 also as " En liden tue," a small hiU. This applies well to 
 the shape of the "Knab" at Lerwick, perhaps also to the 
 Nab Point at Portsmouth. 
 
 Nbep is another form of Noop. 
 
 Noop OF Noss, a cliff in Noss Island 577 feet high. Norse 
 Nwp, old Norse Nypa, Isl. Nupr, cacumen mentis. 
 
 NOOSTIGAKD, Nestigaed, are both evidently from the Norse 
 Naust, static navahs, 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. 
 
 NOBNIGAED. — The old Norse Norn signifies a prophetess or 
 sybU. 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. 
 
 Odsettee, Odsta, in Fellar, perhaps from Norse Oddi, lingula 
 terrse, 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 
 
 T 
 
1 62 DERIVATIONS. 
 
 Skalds whom Earl Eagnald took with him from Shetland 
 in the 12th century, when on his pilgrimage to the Holy 
 Land, was named Oddi. Vide Orkneyinga Saga. 
 
 Olligaed, Olisvoe, Ollabeery, are no doubt from Olaf, a 
 man's name. OUaberry was anciently Olafsberg — i.e. 
 Olaf's Castle. 
 
 Pkesgakd. — Perhaps from Fre&t, 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 
 TyngvalS, in Hialtlandia." 
 
 PuND is often used to denote a small farm or enclosure ; it 
 is probably cognate with English Pound, Ang.-Sax. pyyid, 
 a small enclosure ; pyndan, to shut up in an enclosed place. 
 
 QUAEFF. — By the natives Huarf. Perhaps from old Norse 
 huarf, Isl. hmrfi, a low place bounded by hUls. This is 
 peculiarly descriptive of the locality. 
 
 QuENDAL, always pronounced by the native peasantry Hwan- 
 dal, 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 Fitfiel, in which the 
 plant angelica still grows in great abundance. 
 
 Eaewick. — Isl. Ba, angulus, recessus, and Vik, a bay. 
 
 EoENESS Hill, or " Baiidaness," from the red colour of its 
 cliffs ; Norse Bavd, red. Dr. Hibbert (p. 573) says, " A 
 desert range of precipices presented itself on the northern 
 coast, backed by the ruddy eminence of Eoeness ;" and p. 
 514, "Prom 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. 
 
DERIVA TIONS. 1 63 
 
 Scalloway.— In the " Statistical Account of Scotland," vol. 
 XV., the name is said to signify " The harhour beside the 
 mansion-houses" — Scalla signifying house, and Way, or 
 more properly Vie, 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 veg, 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 Logherg (the Law Stone), is stiU 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. 
 
 Settbk. — 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 Norse Setr 
 is given by Haldorsson as sedes, domus, habitaculum. 
 Sometimes applied to the pasture near a collection of 
 peasants' houses. In many instances it is contracted to 
 Ster — ex. Cruster, Houster, for Crusetter, Housetter, etc. 
 etc. Bister, also a terminal of many places, is from Bus- 
 tadr, " a dwelling-place." 
 
 Skaw, — A promontory in the Island of Unst ; Norse Skaga, 
 promontorium. 
 
 Smirgaed. — A farm in Unst famous for the excellent butter it 
 produces ; Norse Smior, butter. 
 
 Stook. — Stoor-Hobn, and Papa Stoor ; Norse Star, great or 
 large. Stor-Hohn is the largest in YeU Sound. Papa 
 Stoor is so called to distinguish it from Va.Tpa.-littlc.. 
 
i64 DERIVATIONS. 
 
 SuMBUEGH is called in David Sinclair's testament " Swyn- 
 brocht" — that is, Swynburg or Sweyn's Castle. 
 
 Symbistee, in the island of Whalsay, from Norse Syn, 
 visus, 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. 
 
 Ti-iOFT, Toft. — Many dwellings in Shetland bear this name. 
 "Area domus vacua" (Hald. p. 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 Tingvjall, 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. 
 
 Teoll-houlland, in the west part of Mainland, is the hiU 
 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 him, might still be heard. A few 
 scanty human habitations presented themselves, closed in 
 by a melancholy waste of hills and lakes. In this wild 
 
DERIVATIONS. 165 
 
 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 trows! 
 Several other hUls 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 Trolla-dungiar, which 
 is translated magic hea^ps." 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. 
 
 Ueesland. — From Norse Uer, thin gravelly soil. 
 
 Vatn. — A lake or loch ; Norse Vatn, lacus. There is a lake in 
 the island of Bressay called Sanvatn, or Sandy Loch. 
 
 Vatnagaed. — 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. 
 
 ViEKiE. — 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 Koman 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, Yoe in WaUs, Yoe in Dunrossness. Xorse Vogr, sinus 
 maris angostus. 
 
 VoRD-HiLL in Fetlar. The name has doubtless the same 
 meaning as Wart, a look-out 
 
 Wabt. — A name given to the top of a high hill, such as may 
 be used for a look-oui, and firom which, in ancient times, 
 signals were made to give notice of the approach of an 
 enemy; cognate with the English, to keep watch and 
 ward; Grerman, icarte, a watch-tower, a look-out Several 
 high hills are so called — ex. the Wart of Bressay, 742 
 feet high ; the WaH 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 Wolf^ London, 
 1TV9. 
 
 SAND WICK. 
 
NOTICE. 
 
 At the instance of the Eev. Isaac Taylor, author of 
 the well-known work Names and Places, the following 
 Glossary, in its first form, was 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 
 added, 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. 
 
 a. s. 
 
 Anglo-Saxon. 
 
 da. 
 
 Danish. 
 
 da. pro. . 
 
 Danish Provincial 
 
 du. 
 
 Dutch. 
 
 eng. 
 
 English. 
 
 fr. . . 
 
 French. 
 
 g. 
 
 German. 
 
 goth. 
 
 Gothic. 
 
 gr- 
 
 Greek. 
 
 ist. 
 
 Icelandic. 
 
 lat. 
 
 Latin. 
 
 no. 
 
 Norwegian. 
 
 0. g. 
 
 Old Gothic. 
 
 0. 
 
 Orkney. 
 
 s. 
 
 Shetland. 
 
 s. 
 
 Swedish. 
 
 SCO. 
 
 Scotch. 
 
 su. g. 
 
 Sueo-Gothie. 
 
 teut. 
 
 Teutonic. 
 

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